SPEYSIDE As a style, Speyside whiskies are usually lighter and sweeter than other Scotch single malts. As they grow older, they develop body. The Speyside region has the vast majority of all the Scotch distilleries, and thus there is a great variation. Aside from the lighter, honeyed single malts, there are also a small group of distilleries which produce a heavily sherried style Speyside whisky. Balvenie Doublewood 12yr 4.00 Glenfarclas 15yr 4.30 Glenfarclas 21yr 6.60 Glenfarclas 30yr 9.50 Glenfarclas 105 (Cask strength) 4.80 Glenfarclas 175th Anniversary Edition 7.00 Glendfiddich 21yr 8.00 Glendfiddich 18yr 5.20 Glendfiddich 15yr 4.40 Glendfiddich 12yr 3.40 Glenrothes Select Reserve 1992 4.80 Macallan 10yr Fine Oak 3.80 Macallan 15yr 4.90 Macallan 18yr 7.50 Singleton of Dufftown 12yr 3.10
HIGHLAND Single Malt from the Highlands takes on many shapes and forms however, as the region is so vast it is difficult to make sweeping statements. Typically, single malt from the region is put into four subregions, named for the cardinal compass points. To the north there are big bodied single malts, with cereal sweetness and richness. Towards the south there are lighter, fruitier whiskies with a definite dryness. To the east there are some full-bodied, dry whiskies with lots of fruit and pungency. The Western Highlands offer full body and real power with peaty, smoky overtones, nearer the coast there are some more maritime flavoured whiskies too. Dalmore 12yr 4.20 Dalmore King Alexander III 10.00 Dalwhinnie 15yr 4.20 Glen Garioch 4.00 Glenmorangie Finealta 6.50 Glenmorangie Nectar D or 4.50 Glenmorangie Original 3.60 Glenmorangie Signet 10.00 Oban 14yr 4.50 ISLAND The Island represents a very diverse region and one that is not strictly a recognised as a region by the Scotch Whisky Association technically the Islands are a part of the Highlands. It is most probably for geographic ease that this small group of islands are lumped together. There are so many different characters to be found, though usually a slight salinity is to be found, thanks to the vicinity to the sea. Coopers Choice Highland Park 1995 Cask No. 1481/380 11.40 Highland Park 18yr 7.50 Highland Park 12yr 3.80 Isle of Jura Prophecy 4.90 Talisker 10yr 3.70 Talisker 18yr 6.20
LOWLAND The Lowlands produce gentle, light whiskies, often very dry and devoid of peat. Lowland whiskies are commonly referenced as a feminine dram The Lowland Ladies. Most of the whisky regions of Scotland, and indeed the world, there can be some crossover. For example, it is quite possible to produce a heavily peated whisky outside of Islay or the Highlands, simply distilling peated barley can facilitate that. Adelphi Clynelish 15yr Cask No. 7548/289 Bottles 12.50 Auchentoshan Three Wood 4.60 Auchentoshan 12yr 3.70 Auchentoshan Valinch 4.20 Glenkinchie 12yr 4.10 ISLAY Ardbeg 10yr 4.40 Ardbeg Blasda 6.50 BR2 7.50 Bruichladdich Bourbon Cask 16yr 5.20 Bruichladdich First Growth Cuvée D: Pessac Leognan (Chateau Haut-Brion) 16yr 5.20 Bruichladdich Peat 4.00 Bunnahabhain 12 Year 4.20 Lagavulin 16yr 4.80 Laphroaig 10yr 3.40 Laphroaig 18yr 6.50 CAMPBELTOWN Glen Scotia 12yr 3.30 Hazelburn 8yr 4.30 Hazelburn 8yr Sauternes Wood 7.50 Longrow 10yr 100 Proof 4.00 Longrow 13yr Sherry Cask 10.50 Springbank 15yr 5.40
IRISH Most Irish pot still whiskey is distilled three times, while Scotch whisky, apart from Auchentoshan, is distilled twice. Peat is rarely used in the malting process, so that Irish Whiskey has a smoother finish as opposed to the smoky, earthy overtones common to some Scotches Bushmills Original 3.40 Connemara Peated 4.40 Redbreast 12yr 3.20 WELSH The ingredients of this spirit known universally as aqua-vitae or gwirod in the Welsh language, are said to have been a mix of barley, yeast and honey, distilled to make a basic raw spirit. On 14th September 2000, history was made when the first distillation was carried out at The Welsh Whisky Company s Penderyn Distillery, in the picturesque Brecon Beacons National Park. Penderyn 4.10
JAPANESE Japanese whiskies are crafted in Scottish style. We find they lie between Lowland and Speyside in style. Delicate and perfumed with honeyed sweetness. One regularly hears them described as being smooth, but that is doing them an injustice. Light sherry and floral notes, sometimes they have been peated for smoky, quasi Islay style. Nikka Pure Malt Black 5.60 Nikka Super 4.75 Nikka from the Barrel 4.20 Nikka All Malt 3.70 ENGLISH English Chapter 7 5.60 English Chapter 9 4.50 English Royal Marriage 6.50 REST OF THE WORLD Amrut Fusion 3.95
KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON, TENNESSEE, RYE, WHEAT & CORN WHISKIES Straight corn whiskey refers to an American whiskey which is distilled from a mash bill of at least 80% corn. These are usually not aged in new charred oak barrels (the custom with bourbon) and are thus not referred to as Straight Whiskeys. Typically, Straight Corn whiskeys are old-fashioned and their production has enjoyed a renaissance recently, as these early styles of whiskey are produced in a similar manner to that in which they were produced hundreds of years ago. Straight Wheat Whisky, The Scottish and Irish distillers emigrated to America and brought with them distillation. American spirits tend to be a little rough around the edges and we love them. Due to the warmer climates, they tend to mature much faster, thus there are few much older than their early twenties. Straight wheat whiskey is an American whiskey that differs from bourbon in the mash bill. American bourbon whiskey really is a fascinating thing. It was the Irish and Scottish immigrants who brought distillation to the country. We associate American whiskies with those wonderful high notes, a sort of tangy, sharp quality they offer. We like our American Whiskey a little rough around the edges. That is not to say, it s inferior, far from it, rather it s more rustic. Bourbon is America s national spirit. Tennessee whisky differs only slightly from Bourbon whisky. American Rye whiskey, without question is synonymous with the cocktail; all of the classic mixes were based around the American spirit. The Manhattan, The Old- Fashioned, The Sazerac the classics based on the rustic spirit from America. The whiskey possesses the wonderful high notes and spice because of the prolific use of virgin oak in the maturation. Rye Whiskey is one of the original; American spirits, the basis of many of the classic cocktails we still enjoy today.
KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON, TENNESSEE, RYE, WHEAT & CORN WHISKIES Bernheim Original 6.50 Blanton s Gold 6.70 Blanton s Special Reserve 3.70 Buffalo Trace 3.30 Bulleit 3.40 Eagle Rare 10yr 4.40 Elijah Craig 12yr 3.30 Elmer T Lee 4.90 Fighting Cock 6yr 3.70 George T Stagg 10.50 Georgia Moon 3.20 Jack Daniels 3.20 Jack Daniels Single Barrel 4.60 Jim Beam Black Label 3.40 Jim Beam Red Stag 3.50 Jim Beam White Label 3.30 Knob Creek 9yr Small Batch 3.80 Maker s Mark 3.30 Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 4.65 Pikesville Rye 3.20 Rittenhouse Rye 3.30 Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof 3.30 Rock Hill Farms 6.00 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12yr 7.20 Willett s Pot Still Single Barrel 4.10 Woodford Reserve 3.40
BLENDED WHISKY Blended Scotch whiskies need little introduction. It is the best-selling of all whisky and fills back bars and liquor cabinets the world over. Blended Scotch Whisky, like all Scotch whisky must be matured for at least three years and a day in oak casks. Blended Scotch whisky is made from grain whisky, which is cheap and efficient to produce, though it has a more neutral character, so they include malt whisky as well, this peps everything up and brings body and complexity. Blended malt Scotch whisky is slightly different from a standard blended whisky. The reason is it includes no grain whisky, it is simply a blended of single malts. Grain whisky is cheap and very easy to produce, for it is distilled in column stills. However, it does not have the same depth and character as malt whisky. Thus blended malts are usually much more characterful than blended whiskies. Asyla, Scotland 4.40 Bailie Nicol Jarvie, Scotland 3.50 Black Grouse, Scotland 3.30 Canadian Club, Canada 3.20 Chivas Regal, Scotland 3.40 Dewars 12yr, Scotland 3.80 Famous Grouse, Scotland 3.20 Hedonism, Scotland 5.00 J & B Rare, Scotland 3.20 Jameson, Ireland 3.20 Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Scotland 9.50 Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Scotland 6.60 Johnnie Walker Green Label, Scotland 3.80 Johnnie Walker Black Label, Scotland 3.50 Johnnie Walker Red Label, Scotland 3.20 Monkey Shoulder, Scotland 3.30 Peat Monster, Scotland 4.50 Suntory Hibiki 12yr, Japan 4.80 Suntory Hibiki 17yr, Japan 7.50