Single-malt scotch

The Dalmore Aurora in Time For Christmas

Filed under: Spirits

The Dalmore Aurora, 45-year old whisky expression has been making its way to the better whisky purveyors around the world in time for collectors and extra special holiday gift giving.

The super-premium collectible, priced at £3500, or $5,537.00 is named after the Aurora Borealis, a natural phenomenon also known as the Northern Lights. The whisky was put into a Oloroso sherry butt on 29 April 1964. Having aged for 46 years, it was was selected for this special bottling. There are only 200 decanters released at 45% ABV.

Taste notes: Honeyed pear, banana and passion fruit. Blood oranges, figs, marmalade and coffee notes are also very present, typical of long aging in sherry casks. The color is dark amber.

Tags: Single-malt scotch, The Dalmore, The Dalmore Aurora, whisky, Whisky Gifts

Ardmore Releases Exceptional 25-Year Old Single-Malt

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Scottish Highland distillery Ardmore has been coming on strong the last few years with a terrific non-age-stated single-malt whisky it markets as Ardmore Traditional Cask. Now, it has complimented its portfolio with a cask strength 25-year old.

Ardmore has long been the principal single-malt contributor to Teacher's blended whisky. But a few years ago, seizing the popularity of single-malts, it started distributing its own expression. Previously it also released a highly regarded 30-year old, priced about $450.

Ardmore is a unique player in Scotland in that it is the only Highland distillery still using peat in its malting. Rather than coming through strong like an Islay malt, though, Ardmore's peatiness is more leathery than smoky. It is an utterly unique flavor among Scotch whiskies.

The 25-year old carries through the Ardmore signature but the spiciness and citrus that aren't s much in evidence in Traditional are incredibly well done in this older expression. And then there is the streak of smoke and leather jetting through. A first-class job.

Look for Ardmore 25-year old in duty-free and some of the better whisky shops in major cities. Price: About $195.

Tags: ardmore, Ardmore 25-year old, Ardmore 25-year old whisky, Ardmore whisky, scotch, Single-malt Scotch, whiskey, whisky

Glenfiddich 40-year Old Collectible Released

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Single-malt Scotch distillery Glenfiddich announced the launch of a limited edition 40 Year Old expression. It is the 6th set of Glenfiddich 40 Year Old, and only 600 will be presented on the world market at a price of $2,600 per bottle.

This whisky was aged in oak barrels for at least 40 years and then added to the rest of the whisky of the previous year. Glenfiddich's limited editions have been highly praised. But the last release of the 40-year underwhelmed the critics. Jim Murray, author of The Whisky Bible, for example, rated the last 40 Year Old release an 86.5 on his scale. There is more peat in this release than the last, which should make it more desirable.

The bottles make quite a display: the thick glass bottoms have their own numbers, have a hand-written signature and are sealed with wax and have a copper sign. The bottle is placed in a luxury case covered with calf leather; and an engraved copper sign on the top of the case is decorated with delicate filigree. This luxe packaging also contains a lock and a key. The case has a certificate signed personally by Peter Gordon, a CEO of William Grant & Sons and four oldest master of blending at the distilling house.

Tags: Glenfiddich, Glenfiddich 40-year-old, Glenfiddich40-year-old, scotch whisky, ScotchWhisky, Single-malt Scotch, Single-malt whisky, Single-maltScotch, Single-maltWhisky, whisky