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Spirits,Brandy,Bourbon, Cognacs & Liqueurs > Scotch Whisky
 From the sixth century to the mid-nineteenth century, scotch whisky was largely unknown outside of Scotland and England. There was no whisky industry as such, and each laird probably had a still that supplied neighbours and a little outside trade. No doubt, the Scotch Whisky of those years was harsh and smoky, imbued with the taste of peat (a kind of pre-coal consisting of partially carbonized vegetable matter, largely heather, formed in bogs).
In 1853, Andrew Usher began to blend Scotch whisky for sale. Britannia then ruled the world, or at least much of it, and the demand for a taste of home far exceeded any supply the malt distilleries could provide. He mixed malt spirit with grain whisky and produced a lighter, less expensive, more consistent, and significantly larger supply of whisky. Usher also used a vastly more efficient continuous or patent still instead of the old fashioned pot still.
There are four regions of whisky production in Scotland....The Lowlands located in the south, just below Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although most Lowlands scotch whisky goes into blends, the single malts are light, delicate, fruity, and lack the smoke of peat and smack of sea that characterise their cousins to the north.... Campbeltown This region is located on a peninsula on the west coast. only two operating distilleries remain, but one , Springbank, is thought to be among Scotland's best. The sea exerts a strong influence on Campbeltown's Scotch Whisky...Islay this island just north of Campbeltown commands a view of Northern Ireland.
Eight distilleries make single malts here that are known for their heft and pungency, their strong flavours of peat, smoke, seaweed, and brine. The Scotch Whisky Laphroaig and Ardberg, can be unbelievable.....The Highlands being the largest district is home to the majority of distilleries. It includes cities such as Aberdeen and Perth and stretches north to the Orkney Islands. As a single malt producer, it deserves to be segmented more precisely, as a single malt producer they are full of flavours of peat, and on the coasts, the sea.
It is thought to be the finest area in Scotland - and thus the world - for creating Scotch Whisky. A web of rivers, including the Spey, Avon, Findhorn, Fiddich, and Livet, carrying pure waters from springs and lochs, crisscross the region. As noted each provenance also comes in a number of ages. Bladnoch (Lowlands), Bowmore (Islay), Clynelish (Northern Highlands), Cragannmore (Speyside), Dalwhinnie (Central Highlands), Deanston (Southern Highlands), Glenfarcas (Speyside), Glenlivet (Speyside), Glenmorangie (Northern Highlands), Highland Park (Orkney Island), Isle of Jura (Jura Island), Longmorn (Speyside), The Macallan (Speyside), Oban (Western Highlands), Springbank (Campbeltown), Talisker (Skye Island), and Tobermory (Mull Island). This is a small sampling offer of a broad range of style and regions, and do not forget the traditional Scot's toast is pronounced SHLAN-jer. Slainte!
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Pig's Nose Whisky 700ml
A blended whisky made up with a high proporation of Speyside malt, named after the expression 'Soft as a pig's nose'. Described in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2006 as “A big, sweet, chunky, gawky, grainlashed but hugely enjoyable blend. Pig's Nose Scotch Whisky is delicate and refined. Soft sensual floral notes arise in perfect harmony supported by an attractive array of complex fruit flavours. Melon, pear and orange with a hint of almonds conclude this profusion of charming nuances.
Taste: Finesse and elegance gives way to a majestic assertion of pure malty flavours drawn from the four distilling regions of Scotland. Each area forges and makes its own inimitable contribution to this outstanding pure malt - the main accent being expressed from the Highlands and Speyside Valleys.
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Scottish Leader Whisky BIS 700ml
Scottish Leader Whisky is a blended whisky that first appeared on the market during the 1940s. The brand is currently owned by Burn Stewart Distillers and they use single malt from their Deanston and Tobermory distilleries to form the foundation of the blend. This is then blended with other grain whiskies to produce the final blend. As with many blends, there is no age stated and this can indicate that there is some young whisky present (in a blend, if there is an age it legally has to indicate the youngest whisky that has been used). Scottish Leader is one of the biggest selling whiskies in Scotland but few places sell it elsewhere.This whisky has a colour of dark reddish amber and the nose is sweet and initially pretty aggressive. There is lots of spirit rawness that attacks your nose hairs but once you get passed this there is sugary caramel and toffee present, some woodiness and maybe just a hint of peaty smokiness. On the palate, things take a similar course. You are immediately hit with raw spirit (this suggests that there is some young whisky in the blend) but again once your mouth gets used to this some more pleasant characteristics come through. That caramel (reminding me of burnt sugar, I think) is present again as is the woodiness (that is almost makes it a little bitter) and the smokiness in the background. There is also lots of malted barley that gives a slightly bittersweet feeling. The finish is fairly short with the lasting characteristic being the raw alcohol spirit. This is a cheap blended whisky and while not being my favourite whisky when drunk straight, I think that it would be a decent whisky to have with a mixer as it has enough interesting elements present.
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Talisker Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml
Talisker Malt Scotch Whisky was founded on the banks of loch Harport, the Talisker distillery was founded by the brothers Mac Askill. Talisker later went bankrupt when a subsequent proprietor went to jail for swindling on the quality of the goods. The distillery was closed during the second world war, and following a fire in 1960 was eventually refurbished. Whilst a large amount of Talisker's production is bottled under it's own label, Talisker is also blended into Johnnie Walker and White Horse.Talisker Malt Scotch Whisky Brilliant gold in appearance with a powerful peat-smoke, hinting at sea-water saltiness, citrus sweetness and the liquor of fresh oysters. Powerful, smoky-sweet and peppery palate full of clear malt flavours and developing warmth with a huge, peppery finish. A rich dried-fruit sweetness with clouds of smoke and strong barley-malt flavours, warming and intense. At the back of the mouth is an explosion of pepper. Huge, long, warming peppery finish with an appetising tropical aftertaste.
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Tamdhu Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml
Tamdhu Malt Scotch Whisky has a good, light-to-medium Speyside malt, which is slightly peaty but with a delicate sweetness and a logn, subtle finish. Reasonably priced single malt and a great introduction to Scotch for the beginner.
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Teachers Scotch Whisky 40% BIS 700ml
Teachers Scotch Whisky is a complex blend: Teacher's uses over 30 different single malt whiskies in it's blend. It's our master blender's skill that ensures that these malts are balanced and harmonized delivering the same full rich taste that W M Teacher created over 175 years ago. Teachers Scotch Whisky Color is brass with a nose of being ripe apple, chocolate, fresh leather, sweet toffee. Let it open up a little and there's hints of citrus and maybe white coffee. The body of Teachers Scotch Whisky is Oily, creamy, very very mouth watering. The palate with overtures of pepper and spice, bitter sweet wood, smoky, somewhat peaty. Water adds more smoke. The finish bitter, dry, lots of wood, smoke, malty, warm. Last for a while, after the bitterness went away, there's a faint barley sugar sweetness that last for minutes. Overall unexpectedly good, especially for the price. Although not "silky", but it's smooth enough that the "Highland Cream" name is well justified. Extremely mouth watering, saliva won't stop flowing when you roll it around in your mouth. A few drops of water helps, but drowns easily if added more than a few drops. Anyone who likes spicy and smoky scotch should give this a try.
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Vat 69 Scotch Whisky 40% BIA 700ml
Vat 69 Scotch Whisky was originally blended in 1882 by one William Sanderson, a young Wine & Spirit Merchant based in Edinburgh. Intent on launching a new brand, Sanderson commissioned 100 different blends from noted blenders and carried out his own market research. After tasting the samples with a group of asscosciates, it was blend number 69 that was chosen. The label still emulates the original which was inspired by Portugese port labels of the time. Vat 69 is distilled in Scotland, imported and bottled in Australia. 40% alc./vol.
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White Heather Deluxe Scotch Whisky BIS 700ml
White Heather Scotch Whisky has been made at the Campbell's Kilwinning Distillery in West Byrehill since 1845. The base malts that comprise White Heather are aged for a minimum of five years before inclusion into the final assemblage. A full flavoured style with a good combination of peat, malt and wood characters, White Heather is treated to more ageing than many other blended whiskies. Offering a litany of memorable flavours that linger long on the palate, White Heather finishes soft and satisfying, a fine blend of the most distinguished whiskies
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