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Chateau de Tariquet 12yo Folle Blanche Armagnac
700ml 45.00% |
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Ret
$220.00 |
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Courvoisier VS Cognac
700ml 40.00% |
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Ret
$70.00 |
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Well, well, well a commercial Cognac on the TOWC list. What is going on? I've added this to the list because in the world of brown spirits, you need to have a quality brandy. Somewhat surprisingly Courvoisier is double-distilled (unlike many brandy houses) from the four finest Crus (regions) of the Cognac region, Courvoisier is then matured in barrels handcrafted from oak trees grown in the Limousin region of France.
VS (Very Special or 3 Star) refers to the youngest component in the blend (no vintage dating here). Traditionally this means three and half years but In this case the youngest component is 5 years old with a majority of the blend being 8yo. Fresh, youthful and grassy, light bodied.
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Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
700ml 40.00% |
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Ret
$90.00 |
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Fine Champagne (a region of Cognac) cognac, aged from five to twelve years of age. Typical Fine Champagne character: fruity & flora aromas, oak, round and soft with spicy overtones.
One of the world's great brown spirits!
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St Agnes Old Liqueur Brandy
700ml 37.10% |
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Ret
POA |
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The Australian brandy industry, once so illustrious and hard working, is now a shadow of itself. But family owned Angove's still fly the flag for this rapidly disappearing spirit and the Old Liqueur is a fine example of what fine Aussie brandies are all about.
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| GIN |
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Cadenhead Old Raj Gin
700ml 55.00% |
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Ret
$78.00 |
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Haven't tried it yet? Our star performer in 2008 - big, intensive, clean & pure & makes one mighty dry
martini. And look at the alcohol weight...55%!
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Hendricks
700ml 41.40% |
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Ret
POA |
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Sadly out of stock. Hendricks a fatuously unctuous gin.
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Tanqueray 10 Gin
1000ml 47.30% |
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Ret
POA |
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One Litre of pure gin & tonic joy.
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| GRAIN |
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Adelphi Cameronbridge 1978 30yo Single Grain
700ml 56.60% |
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Ret
POA |
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I have a fascination for well aged grain whiskies. This is a Diageo grain distiller, and a massive one at that, but every so often they save a little spirit and mature it in some pretty classy casks. This single grain initially spent quite some time in an ex sherry butt but was transferred to an ex-bourbon cask due to leakage. According to Alex & Charlie McLean, "To taste, rich, melted Crunchie bars, plenty of chocolate, then coconut, cedar wood, now chocolate Grappa, Banoffee Pie, and a huge, lingering sweetness – so rare in a single grain." brilliant stuff.
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BOS Girvan Grain 1989
700ml 46.00% |
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Ret
POA |
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Girvan 1989 has a pronounced fragrance for a grain spirit. It's fruity, reminiscent of apple crumble, vanilla and custard
creams. The palate is surprisingly full and oily with waves of spice and juicy lime, finishing with a satisfying, warm, spicy cake.
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Cadenhead Cameronbridge 11yo
700ml 64.00% |
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Ret
$130.00 |
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A well aged grain whisky is always a treat, and this 11yo from Diageo's biggest distillery does not dissapoint: Oranges, tangerines & citrus fruit. Very crisp and clean…and no its not a riesling!
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Cadenhead North British 21yo
700ml 57.80% |
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Ret
$176.00 |
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North British is Edinburgh's only remaining grain distillery and is owned by a group called Lothian Distillers, a joint venture between Diageo (Johnnie Walker, J&B et al) and the Edrington group (The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark et al). Nutty, sweet and full of character. Very fine.
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Milroy's Cooley Grain Single Cask 1991
700ml 46.00% |
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Ret
POA |
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Creamy vanilla, with a touch of spiced crème brulee. This enticing single grain reveals ripe sweetcorn with a soft melting palate. Dangerously smooth with impressive panache on the finish. This is a top dram from Ireland's finest grain distillery.
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| INDEPENDENT |
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Aberdeen Distillers Ben Nevis 1992 15yo
700ml 46.00% |
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Ret
$110.00 |
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Say hello to Robin Tucek: whisky nut, whisky author, whisky bottler and one helluva excellent fellow! His Aberdeen Distillers offers a selection of single malts bottled at 46%. I picked up this sherry matured Ben Nevis, pure and simply because you don't see a lot of them in the marketplace. Famously owned by Nikka of Japan who in their infinite wisdom, consign most of the distillery's 2mil litre annual output as exports to Japan! A malt famous for its old fashioned weightiness.
(Label is indicative only)
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Aberdeen Distillers Caperdonich 1996 13yo
700ml 46.00% |
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Ret
POA |
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Say hello to Robin Tucek: whisky nut, whisky author, whisky bottler and one helluva excellent fellow! His Aberdeen Distillers offers a selection of single malts bottled at 46%
I just couldn't go past Robin's bottling of Caperdonich, that enigmatic mothballed distillery owned by Pernod Ricard. Haven't had a chance to try yet...but will report soon.
(Pic indicative only)
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Adelphi Benrinnes 1984 21yo Sherry
700ml 57.80% |
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Ret
POA |
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This would have to be the lightest sherry matured malt I think I've ever tried. Not often seen as an official bottling, let alone as an Independent one. Overall, light and peaty.
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Adelphi Breathe of the Isles Bourbon 1992 13yo
700ml 52.60% |
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Ret
POA |
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So which distillery do you think this one comes from? Plenty of seaside character, big waft of peat with a hint of kitchen spice. Crisp & dry and quite refreshing.
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Adelphi Bunnahabhain 1997 Sherry
700ml 59.60% |
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Ret
POA |
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Brilliant! Peated Bunny with a big dose of European oak soaked in Oloroso sherry. This comes from one of the last batches put through by the old owners Edrington and presumably it was destined for the famed Black Bottle. New owners are Burns Stewart Distillers.
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Adelphi Caol Ila Bourbon 1993 13yo
700ml 59.40% |
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POA |
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Have you ever come across a bad Caol Ila? I haven't and Alex at Adelphi has not let me down. Very fresh, lively, lots of antiseptic and dare I say windswept beach flavours along with Caol Ila's classic pungent peat.
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Adelphi Clynelish 1993 14yo Bourbon
700ml 57.00% |
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POA |
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I love Clynelish, so beautifully poised and mouthfilling with just the right amount of peat in the background. And so underrated. This Clynelish is a big fruit salad malt with a touch of dark chocolate. Starts sweet, finishes dry.
Part of the Diageo empire.
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Adelphi Clynelish Sherry 1996 10yo
700ml 59.60% |
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POA |
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I describe this malt as breathtaking, dramatic and oh so lively. Big alcohol with plenty of toffee apple, honey & hot clove flavours along with the hallmark background peat.
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