10 Winter Warming Spirits

Are you looking for some more ideas to warm up those winter evenings? We like to put out these little lists to hopefully help introduce you to spirits you may not have thought about. From Highlands of Scotland to the Island of Japan, and back to Northern Wales!

1-Glenfiddich Orchard Experimental Series – 43% 70cl

A Fruity, juicy creamy dram, this whisky combines the Scottish and Somerset influences in a beautiful way! Aged in casks that formerly housed Somerset Pomona Spirit from the Somerset Cider Brandy Co.

2-Glendronach Port Wood – 46% 70cl

A classic that’s now back on our shelves, this exquisite expression enjoys a second maturation in Port pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal, giving it a gloriously rich, fruity palate.

3-Nikka from the Barrel – 50cl 51.4%

The unique square bottle symbolises the concept of “a small block of whisky” and embodies the powerful and rich flavours of the liquid contained within. Long after its release, this bottle remains a classic and admired for its ultimate simplicity.

4-The Lakes Whiskymakers Reserve No.5 – 52% 70cl

An exquisite and Moorish evolution, holding the same sherry-led, wood-forward qualities as its predecessors, having been matured in the finest, bespoke Oloroso, PX, and red wine casks made of Spanish and American oak.

5-Foragers Soulful Sloe Gin – 30% 70cl

Using hand-foraged native botanicals such as the freshest Late Harvest Sloe berries and the clearest Snowdonia Mountain waters, this Sloe is rich, fruity, and just fantastic! Gold medal winner.

6-Glenmorangie A Tale of Forest – 46% 70cl

Glenmorangie’s first whisky crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. Whirls of peppermint. Bursts of eucalyptus. Rustles of bitter orange. All floating on notes of vanilla with intriguing hints of black liquorice.

7-Bowmore 12-year-old – 40% 70cl

This bottling from Bowmore presents a classic character of the distillery with plenty tropical fruit notes and of course smoke! A slightly peated expression with pepper, mango, and sweet honey on the palate.

8-Eminente Reserva 7 Year Old Rum – 41.3% 70cl

Aged in ex-whisky barrels, this Cuban rum is light and delightful! The palate offers notes of vanilla, soft smoke, ginger, tobacco, and coffee flavours that linger in the finish.

9-Tomatin 12-Year-Old 2008 Sauternes Cask – 46% 70cl

This limited-release bottling was inaugurated in 2021. Benefiting from a second maturation in Sauternes Wine casks, the palate presents flavours of coconut, ginger, and creamy peaches.

10-Stalla Dhu Single Cask Glen Elgin Port Wood – 48% 70cl

Silver Winner at the World Whisky Awards 2022, this excellent Single Cask is a perfect dram to share with your loved ones this Christmas! Toasted nuts, nougat and delicate plum sweetness followed by mellow gooseberries notes appear on the palate, with a long, fruity finish.

Happy Holidays from The Whisky Merchant

10 Great Tipples for Cold Evenings

1- Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish – 48% 70cl

Peat and sherry go hand in hand, and this whisky proves it! The 10-year-old release was finished in ex-sherry casks for up to 12 months, adding an amazing layer of fruitiness to the Islay smoke bomb, followed by dark chocolate sweetness, and of course peat.

2- Oban Little Bay – 43% 70cl

With Oban literally meaning “Little Bay” we must say they used some pleonasm for this release, nevertheless, the liquid in the bottle is very robust and pleasant, with complex flavours invading the palate, like orange, chocolate, spices, and nuttiness. Yum!

3- Hennessy XO Cognac – 40% 70cl

Up for a fancy dram? The XO is Hennessy’s synonymous with excellence. The iconic Cognac is well-rounded and full of heat, sweet notes, woodiness, chocolate, and a spicy edge. Created in 1870 for Maurice Hennessy’s circle of friends, it was one of the first Cognacs to be classified as “extra old”.

4- Stalla Dhu Linkwood 13 Year Old Reserve Cask Strength – 57.3% 70cl

Nothing better than a cask-strength whisky to warm you up. This “handsome” release of 13-year-old Linkwood will surely surprise you, as even if bottled at the high abv of 57.3% it carries itself extremely well. Balanced notes of nougat richness, silky mouthfeel, and hints of salinity on the finish. Just delicious.

5- Lagavulin 16 Year Old – 43% 70cl

Brine, orange, exotic fruits, kippers, and smoke. The age statement on this release from Lagavulin adds in more complexity to the dram. As expected from an Islay malt, the peat is heavily present, but it also has a lovely sweetness to it, making it a great sipping whisky.

6- Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky – 40% 50cl

Due to Taiwan’s warm and humid climate, this whisky has an incredible complexity, even without an age statement. Kavalan, being a relatively new distillery, has achieved a great following in the whisky world, winning multiple international awards over the years. Tropical and elegant would describe this dram well.

7- Hakushu Distillers Reserve Single Malt Japanese Whisky – 70cl 43%

Herbal, slightly smoky, and citrusy Japanese Single malt, Hakushu distillery is located at the foothills of Mount Kaikomagatake. Heavily peated and lightly peated malt was used to create this no-age statement whisky.

8- Edradour 10 Year Old – 40% 70cl

Once the smallest distillery in Scotland, Edradour’s 10-year-old is a classic sherried Highland dram, matured in both ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Dried fruit richness, spice and nuttiness notes on the palate are followed by a syrupy warmth.

9- High West Whisky Campfire – 46% 70cl

The distillery founder, David Perkins, sought to combine peated single malt with bourbon and rye to create a unique and interesting dram. These three types of spirit balance each other beautifully, bringing together toffee sweetness, honey, rye spiciness, and a slight peat influence on the finish.

10- Tobermory 17 Year Old 2004 Oloroso Cask Matured – 55.9% 70cl

This Scotch comes from the Islay of Mull, aged for 17 years in Oloroso Sherry casks, and bottled at the cask strength of 55.9%. Full-bodied, rich, and spicy, the palate brings forest fruit sweetness with lingering orange and warming spices. Perfect for Autumn.

American Whiskey Cocktails

With the weather getting better, the thought of sitting outside with a nice cocktail just sounds glorious. So I had chat with everyone around here and decided to put together a list of some of our favourite American whiskey cocktails!

Kentucky Buck – w/ Maker’s Mark

A harvest of sweetness and spice with fresh strawberry, citrus, bourbon and ginger beer. Just right for right now, this buck gets its perfect kick from deliciously bold Maker’s Mark.

Ingredients

2 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
2–3 whole strawberries, hulled
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Ginger beer
Fresh strawberry for garnish

FORBIDDEN SOUR – w/ Elijah Craig

Take your whiskey sour to new heights with this Bourbon & Pomegranate cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
1 oz. Pomegranate Flavored Liqueur
.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Simple Syrup
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain cocktail into glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

MINT JULEP – w/ Knob Creek

INGREDIENTS

1 ¹/₂ PARTS Knob Creek
2 BUNCHES mint
1 PART simple syrup
1 SPLASH soda

DIRECTIONS

In a julep cup, mix the mint sprigs with simple syrup and a splash of soda.
Add fine crushed ice and pour in the bourbon.
Lift out two mint leaves for garnish.
Add powdered sugar over mint to add an optional frosted appearance.

Handsome Devil – w/ Smooth Ambler

Ingredients

2 oz Old Scout American Whiskey
.75 oz Lillet Blanc
.75 oz Simple syrup (1 to 1)
.50 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Dashes of Peach Bitters
3 Mint Leaves

Preparation

Combine all of the ingredients in an ice filled Boston Shaker. Shake thoroughly then double strain into a chilled rocks glass that is filled with ice. Garnish with a twist of Orange.

Sugar Shack – w/ WhistlePig

Ingredients

2 oz WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Aged 10 Years
¼ oz Maple Syrup
¾ oz fresh Lemon Juice
½ oz Blackberry Simple Syrup
¼ oz Pimento Dram or Allspice Dram
2 dashes Maple Bitters
Star Anise for garnish

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a shaker.
Add ice to the shaker.
Shake.
Fill your favorite tiki mug with pearl ice.
Strain into mug.
Garnish with star anise and your favorite tropical adornments.
Enjoy!

World Gin Award Winners

It’s that time of year again! Gin awards time!

I really enjoy going through the winners, seeing what ones I have tried and making notes of winners I have yet to try. There are so many categories that my list at the end is always big enough to keep me busy for a while! So many good looking gins this year. Sweden sweeping the London Dry category was very cool to see.

I thought I’d make a list of 2021 winners we currently have in stock. Maybe you can grab one that you have not had!

Edinburgh Gin coming in hot and taking multiple awards!

Edinburgh Gin – Rhubarb & Ginger

SILVER – Flavoured Gin

Bottled at 40%, this perfectly balanced juniper-forward gin is full of natural flavour. Aromas of rhubarb are complemented by a lift of spice, leading to a smooth, full finish.

Edinburgh Gin – Gooseberry & Elderflower

SILVER – Flavoured Gin

A deliciously refreshing and aromatic gin that harmonises tangy Gooseberry with sweet Elderflower creating a refreshing and balanced gin.

Edinburgh Gin – Raspberry

BRONZE – Flavoured Gin

It is distilled with five traditional gin botanicals and a combination of fresh Scottish raspberries and raspberry leaves to a create a perfectly balanced gin with an incredible depth of flavour.

Rock Rose Gin – Navy Strength

BEST IN SCOTLAND – Navy Strength

The higher ABV version of Rock Rose gives a strong warm pine release at the front of the drink with notes of lemon sherbet. The heart of the drink is very bold berries from the blaeberries, rowan and hawthorn. These give way to the deeper earthier notes that are hidden in the original Rock Rose, such as angelica and orris.

Hernö Gin – London Dry

GOLD – London Dry

Crafted from natural and carefully selected organic botanicals, Hernö Dry Gin is a round and smooth London dry gin diluted to 40,5% ABV. Hernö Dry Gin is awarded with IWSC World’s best London Dry Gin and World’s best Gin & Tonic but is also very enjoyable on its own.

Edinburgh Gin – Classic

SILVER – London Dry

Our classic London Dry style gin. A clean, zesty, juniper-forward gin which balances softness with bright citrus. Launched in 2010, this is our modern London Dry gin, with a nod to Scotland in its recipe including native plants and botanicals.

Nikka – Coffey Gin

SILVER – Contemporary Style Gin

Coffey Gin’s complexity is achieved through the perfect balance between 11 selected botanicals and the silky texture of Coffey distillates. The bright and zesty aroma originating from four kinds of Japanese citruses, Yuzu, Kabosu, Amanatsu and Shequasar, compliments the traditional gin botanicals of juniper berries, angelica, coriander seeds, lemon and orange peels.

Foragers – Yellow Label

BRONZE – Contemporary Style Gin

Starting with soft juniper tones, Foragers gently takes you to fresh, semi-sweetness of apple and elderberry, before giving way to incredible, subtle, unmistakable floral notes from gorse and heather flowers. This truly is an authentic expression of Britain and the terrior of North Wales.

Grab one of these or any other one of our many gins! Find your new G&T gin!

Til next time.

Andrew

Random Spirits To Enjoy On That Random Holiday

We’re nearing that 14th of February Hallmark holiday again where it’s like Cupid threw up red and pink things everywhere! We are always up for making a list of spirits we are currently enjoying, so that’s what we did. Whether you enjoy celebrating this holiday or not, that doesn’t matter here. These fabulous drinks are sure to tickle your tastebuds and bring upon that warming feeling deep inside. So hopefully this completely random list can inspire you to try something new!

Weller Antique 107 Bourbon – 53.5% 75cl

I swear, it’s not because it is red! This is an absolutely incredible wheated bourbon that has been accompanying my evenings by the fire more often these days. A wonderfully crafted bourbon that is bold and complex, but offers delicious fruity and floral notes. This higher proof offering works well sipped or in cocktails.

Foragers Black Label Gin – 46% 70cl

This gin has been my go to for G&Ts and martinis since we got Foragers in stock. I don’t know how I’ve without this gin for so long! Praised by chef James Martin on his Great British Adventure. Intense and smooth juniper notes, with richness from the sea buckthorn. Wonderfully crisp and elegant.

Brugal 1888 Gran Reserva Doblemente Anejado Rum – 70cl 40%

The rum for whisky lovers! This bottling from Brugal range is a beautifully distinct rum that crisp and dry, but not overly sweet. Double-wood aged for 6-8 years in White American Oak Casks, followed by 2-4 years in first-filled Spanish Sherry Oak Casks. The cask aging is where it makes it more reminiscent of a single malt.

Suntory Chita Japanese Single Grain Whisky – 70cl 43%

This is the first single grain whisky from the house of Suntory. Originally Chita grain whiskies have been used to enhance the flavours and harmony of Suntory blends. Now, it has gained a level of complexity and sophistication that allows it to walk on it’s own! Clean and mild, with wonderful rich honey & spiced oak flavours.

Stalla Dhu Single Cask Glen Elgin Port Wood – 48% 70cl

Can’t finish this list without our newest release from the Stalla Dhu range of independent bottlings. This Glen Elgin port wood finish is perfectly aged and bottled at the best ABV, hitting the sweet spot. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in first fill Port cask. Flavours of toasted almonds, fresh plums, and nougat. Intensely creamy!

Happy Sipping,

Andrew

Whisky to Enjoy on Burns Night

As Robert Burns’ birthday is approaching, we get our favourite haggis and our bottle or 2 of whisky to enjoy! This year is definitely going to look a lot different, but doesn’t have to be less enjoyable. We can embrace the suck and press forward with some delicious food and great whisky! It’s definitely going to be smaller, just your small pod of people, or a video gathering of all your favourite people. It’s up to you. Do something a bit more special or unique this year to compensate for the lack of gatherings.

We have put a small list of whiskies to help give you ideas for that wonderful Burns night tipple.

Stalla Dhu Caol Ila 11 y/o – 60.4%

This beautiful Islay is the newest edition to our Stalla Dhu range of independent bottlings. Bottled at cask strength and aged 11 years in a hogshead cask. You get a lightly salted sweetness, toasted almonds, slight pepper with smoldering embers. This is rich and peaty, sure to satisfy those Islay lovers out there. Limited to 287 bottles!

Singleton of Dufftown 17 Year Old Diageo Special Release 2020 – 55.1%

Part of last year’s Special Releases from Diageo, these are chosen to be a unique offering from some of our favourite distilleries. This is an unusual first-ever refill cask release of Singleton, being matured 17 years in refill American oak hogshead. This release lives up to the distillery’s smooth and balanced nature! Wonderfully creamy, fruity, a touch of fresh cut grass, and perfectly balanced.

Glendronach 12 y/o Original – 43%

A tried and true Highland whisky that brings the wonderful sherry flavours from Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks. A great after dinner dram to wash down your lovely haggis, neeps & tatties! This GlenDronach is just a fantastically smooth dram with creamy vanilla, dried fruits, and of course the heavy dose of sherry!

Arran Port Cask Finish – 70cl 50%

Another one for those that love the wine cask finished whiskies. This Port cask finish from Arran is a perfect pairing with a lovely cheese board, maybe bought from the Isle of Arran Cheese Shop! Charming and rich, with splashes of citrus, vanilla fudge, and ripe cherries.

Highland Park Triskelion – 45.1%

A special edition Highland Park, that for the first time was created buy 3 of the distillery’s legendary whisky makers! Three principal cask types were hand chosen by each of the distillers, then combined to showcase the influence of wood and cask seasoning. First-fill sherry seasoned Spanish oak butts, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks and first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads casks. A complex, full-flavoured Highland Park that boasts vibrant orchard fruit notes, with heather honey, and just the right amount of peat smoke!

5 Great Affordable Whiskies

Not all whisky has to make a dent in your wallet for it to be good. Too many people are under the assumption that you have to pay a lot to get a quality whisk(e)y. That’s not the case. We’ve put together a small list of whiskies that you can pick up if you don’t want to spend too much. We’ll stick to a price tag under £40.

Edradour 10 Year Old – £38.95

One of Scotland’s smallest distilleries, Edradour is tucked away in the hills of Pitlochry. Their whisky output is such a small fraction of most of the other distilleries. This 10 year old bottling is a great offering from the southern Highlands and at a great price point. Quite soft with notes of toasted cereals and rich fruits. A very easy dram.

Talisker 10 Year Old – £36.89

Want a bit of that coastal flare? Grab a bottle of this whisky from the only distillery on the Isle of Skye! Part of Diageo’s Classic Malts Collection, this dram gives you a true taste of the elements. Wonderful notes of smoked meats, maritime saltiness, and candied fruits.

Teeling Small Batch – £36.95

I wanted to throw an Irish in here just because we are big fans of Teeling! This is an excellent blend if you want to make a move away from Jameson. Using ex-rum casks to finish off the maturation, you get an undoubtedly tasty sweetness. Lovely caramel apple flavours with an easy smoothness.

Springbank 10 Year Old – £39.99

Easily one of my favourite distilleries. Based on Campbeltown, Springbank are still a family run distillery that does every bit of the whisky making process in house! Not many can say that these days. This 10 year old is rich and full toasted malt flavours with tangy fruit notes. The slight and perfect amount of peat gently passes over the tongue.

Tomatin Legacy – £25.95

This wonderful bottling from an equally wonderful distillery, was bottled to pay homage to the dedicated community that is at the heart of the distillery. As part of it’s legacy, Tomatin remains one of the only distilleries that provides a home for it’s craftsmen. Flavours of vanilla cake, crisp citrus and a piney freshness.

Made up Drink List for a Made Up Holiday

We’ve put together a random list of drinks for you to enjoy alone or with that special someone on the 14th of February. If you’re not into this overly pink and red holiday coming up, maybe this list can help you see a bottle of something new! So we all brainstormed some ideas of what we may want to drink on that romantically charged holiday. Some of these will suit the day perfectly and others might be a stretch, but they will all go down well!

Mermaid Pink Gin

Yes, it’s on the list because it is pink! This gin from the Isle of Wight Distillery doesn’t just fit the aesthetic, it is an refreshingly delicious gin. Infused with fresh island strawberries, Mermaid is an incredibly aromatic and smooth with complex citrus flavours.

Stalla Dhu Saorsa

This may not have anything to do with V-Day but there is always a good time for our very own independent bottling, Saorsa. This Speyside single malt was aged in sherry butts and offers peppery notes with heaps of fresh forest fruits. Exclusive to us, you are getting something truly unique.

Two Birds Gin Gift Pack

When one’s not enough, get two! This pack of two gins is a great little gift to enjoy together. Inside you’ll find one London Dry Gin and one of their specialty cocktail gins. Wonderful traditional dry taste with a bold kick. Something to get your night started off right.

Liverpool Rose Pedal Gin

What’s this holiday without some roses?! We’ll stick with the alcoholic variation instead. Produced in small batches, Liverpool Gin is 100% organic and this bottle is crafted with rose pedals as one of the key botanicals. Beautifully delicate and fragrant with soft floral notes.

Blanton’s Gold

A little bit of gold seems like a good gift for Valentine’s Day! Most definitely one of the greatest bourbons ever crafted! Hand bottled from the best casks Blanton’s distillery has to offer. What makes this even more special, this a bourbon that is not regularly available in the US. A very full flavoured and complex drink with wonderful rich honeyed fruit flavours.

5 Great Gins to Start the Summer off Right.

Let me start this off by saying this is not an end all, be all list! This is just a list of some our favourites at this very moment, and changes all of the time. There are SO many great gins out right now with more and more coming out every day. This list is in no particular order.

Nikka Coffey Gin

Where it’s from: Japan, Nikka Distillery

WM Thoughts: Easily one of the best gins out there. In true Nikka fashion, they have put an incredible amount of work and passion into this gin. It’s honestly miles above a lot of other gins out there. Knowing what we know about Nikka, we had a feeling this gin would be good, just didn’t realise it would be this good! It is pricier than most gins on the market, but man is it worth the try. They used 11 botanicals that were perfectly handled and made this gin so nicely balanced. You can taste the complexity and the silky texture you get from that Coffey Still. The bright and zesty nature is perfect for your summer cocktails. There is a touch of apples, exotic citrusy fruits relating to the history of Nikka, at the end you get a nice citrus zest and spice hints of the Japanese Sansho pepper on the finish.

Price: £47.83 – bit.ly /31y8Udg

Aviation Gin

Where it’s from: Portland, Oregon

WM Thoughts: I know since Ryan Reynolds bought over this gin, it just exploded on the market. Please don’t let that put you off if you haven’t tried it yet. I do know a lot of people that avoid mass marketed products, alcohol or otherwise. You would be doing yourself a disservice not trying it. I remember before RR had bought it, Aviation was known amongst enthusiasts as a fantastic gin. After the takeover they had an injection of life with an absolutely stellar marketing team! Carefully crafted in Portland, you can definitely taste the juniper throughout, with sarsaparilla flavours and the citrus peel helps punch out the lavender.

Price: £32.09 – bit.ly /2MNOJVj

Caorunn Raspberry Scottish Gin

Where it’s from: Scotland, Balmenach Distillery

WM Thoughts: We absolutely love Caorunn’s standard expression, but thought we’d add something a little different to this list with tasty raspberry gin. Caorunn is carefully crafted in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park at the Balmenach Distillery, where the surroundings provide them with some of the best ingredients to create this delicious spirit. The distillery has so much wonderful heritage producing some great spirits, it’s not surprising their gin is so good. In addition to the 11 botanicals (5 local and 6 traditional) used in the base spirit, they are crafting it with Perthshire raspberries in small batches. The raspberry infusion gives it such a nice and bright fruity flavour with some great tartness coming from the Rowan berries! Perfect in a G&T garnished with raspberries and apple.

Price: £20.99 – bit.ly /2RafWQm

Hernö Gin

Where it’s from: Sweden

WM Thoughts: This one is not as widely known outside of Europe. Hernö was the most awarded gin in Europe 2013-2017, as well as being named World’s best gin by IWSC. Needless to say this a must try gin so you can form your own conclusion! They were the first dedicated gin distillery in Sweden, so from day one their sole focus has been to craft the best possible gin. Using natural and organic ingredients, along with being distilled in their hand hammered copper stills just adds to the great story behind Hernö. Tastes of ripe berries, lemon zest and finishes with a nice bite of black pepper.

Price: £31.95 – bit.ly /2F8uyeh

Isle of Harris Gin

Where it’s from: Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

WM Thoughts: This one is a fun one for us! A couple of us have our roots in Harris and are always pleased when we can support something so close to our chest! This gin is the first spirit release from the distillery and is being received well. It is nicknamed “The Social Distillery ” because it holds tight to it’s connection to the local community and embracing nature of the people who live there! You would be doing yourself a favour by taking a trip up there. The gin uses 9 carefully selected botanicals, one of which being the local sugar kelp. The sugar kelp is hand-harvested by a friend of the distillery and local diver, from the sea-lochs nearby. This botanical gives the gin great intricate maritime flavours. Orange peel, grapefruit and coriander, with a nice crisp and sweet seaweed taste. Getting a hold of this one is a bit different as the only place you can order it is from Harris Distillery itself, through delivery or click & collect. I highly recommended you ordering a bottle from them!

Price: £37.00 – bit.ly /Isleofharris

AN EXTRA ONE FOR GOOD MEASURE!

The Botanist Gin

– A gin known by most already and needs no real introduction! Created by the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay. Most definitely an essential gin for anyone’s shelf! Always ranks as a favourite from all of us here! – bit.ly /2wPNV7r