From a deeply underrated distillery, this Allt-a-Bhainne bottled by the Stewart Whisky Company under their Stiùbhart Single Cask label is a glorious example of what happens when a cask is simply allowed to mature as it should. A natural cask strength of just 44.9% after 24 years makes it clear that this was maturing at an accelerated rate, losing a lot of alcohol and water but the phenolic oils that remain have led to an extremely concentrated whisky; a masterclass in bourbon-wood maturation.

Appearance: Showing a brilliant old-brass colour courtesy of the bourbon wood and that unique concentration through the ageing process.

Nose: this whisky jumps out of the glass with notes almost reminiscent of a great White Burgundy. Crushed river stones and struck flint alongside golden delicious apple and herbes de provence come across on the nose.

Palate: The palate is gentle as one would expect from the lower ABV but it is oily and viscous with a sensation of scented candle followed by sea salt, delicate earthy peat and a return of that golden delicious apple note.

Finish: Extremely long and gentle with the initial notes of crushed stones mingling with sea salt and stewed orchard fruit.

Showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of winemaker Luigi Scavino, the Azienda Agricola LaLu Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 is a true testament to Piedmontese viticulture. Famed for producing world-class Italian wines, Scavino meticulously crafts this Nebbiolo from vines grown on the steep hills of Langhe region. The 2019 vintage boldly radiates the vineyard's unique terroir through its ruby tint and elegant tannins.

Grapes are harvested by hand, ensuring ripe, flawless berries. Fermentation and maturation occur in stainless steel vats to preserve Nebbiolo's natural aromas and flavours. Dancing on the palate are luscious notes of red cherries, plums, and floral hints, beautifully balanced by a mineral undertone. With its moderate alcohol content, it pairs brilliantly with robust, savoury dishes.

The Azienda Agricola LaLu Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 is an embodiment of Scavino's dedication and passion, offering an unforgettably opulent drinking experience that lingers in both memory and palate.

Experience the exquisite Benriach Speyside Single Malt 25YO NV – a remarkable representation of the Speyside region’s ability to produce an extraordinary malt. Distilled at the world-renowned Benriach Distillery, nestled in the heart of Speyside, Scotland, this sublime single malt benefits from a meticulous crafting process and time-honoured traditions.

Matured for 25 years under the watchful eye of their Master Blender, the spirit is aged in an assortment of barrels, conferring complexity and depth to its flavour profile. Upon the palate, one can indulge in a medley of honeyed fruits, caramelised nut and a hint of dark chocolate, finishing with a spicy oak undercurrent.

Crafted for the seasoned malt enthusiast, the Benriach Speyside Single Malt 25YO NV encapsulates the quintessence of high-quality Speyside Malts. Encased in a beautiful presentation box, it offers an unparalleled tasting experience, sure to impress any whisky connoisseur.

Step into the world of exquisite Italian viticulture with the Canonica Giovanni Langhe Nebbiolo 2018. Exclusive to Piedmont, Italy, this exemplary vintage was meticulously crafted by the venerated Canonica Giovanni, a winery renowned for its dedication to tradition whilst embracing innovative winemaking techniques. This bottle encapsulates the very essence of Piedmont's distinctive terroir.

The Langhe Nebbiolo is 100% Nebbiolo grapes, fermenting for 10 days in steel tanks and maturing in large Slovenian oak barrels for 15 months. Reflections of ripe cherry, currants, dried rose petals, and a subtle hint of tobacco define the heady bouquet of this harmonious wine. On the palate, its striking freshness is tempered with a well-rounded synergy of tannins, concluding with an elegantly long finish. Indeed, the Canonica Giovanni Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 exemplifies the finest Piedmont wines, offering an unforgettable sip of Italian heritage. Savour the authentic legacy of Piedmont, beautifully encapsulated in each bottle of Canonica Giovanni Langhe Nebbiolo 2018.

An exquisite blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo grapes, the Conterno Fantino Langhe Monpra 2007 hails from Italy's renowned Piedmont region. The vintners of Conterno Fantino, noted for their meticulous wine-making methods, have expertly balanced these varietals on the rolling Langhe hills, resulting in a striking wine that impresses with its deep ruby colour and lingering finish.

Indulge your senses with the Conterno Fantino Langhe Monpra 2007's evocative bouquet - an intoxicating mix of ripe red fruits, sultry spices, and rustic undernotes of sweet tobacco and leather. After an 18-month maturation process in French oak barrels, it seamlessly merges vivacity and elegance, encapsulating a multidimensional flavour profile that is characteristically Conterno Fantino.

Tease your palate with this full-bodied and tannic vintage, a testament to Conterno Fantino's dedication to crafting world-class Italian wines. Experience for yourself why connoisseurs deem the Conterno Fantino Langhe Monpra 2007 a paramount expression of the Langhe terroir.

We are thrilled to have secured a small parcel of 2011 casks from this rising Speyside superstar and to be able to present them with recent regauges carried out just this past August and compelling prices which combine to suggest excellent upside for the next ten-plus years.

Indulge your palate with the exquisite Fontanabianca Langhe Nebbiolo 2019. Hailing from the heart of Piemonte, Italy, this fine wine is produced by the esteemed Fontanabianca winery, renowned for preserving authentic traditions in winemaking. Grown on south-east facing vineyards situated on mountainous terrains, the Nebbiolo grapes yield complex, powerful, yet delicately balanced wines.

Fontanabianca Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 undergoes alcoholic fermentation for 11 days in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in barrels, accentuating its luscious character and depth. Displaying a vibrant ruby-red hue, it entices with rich aromas of dried fruits, spices, and subtle floral notes of rose. On the palate, the wine lavishes you with intense, harmonious flavours, paired with well-integrated tannins and a pleasingly persistent finish.

Trust Fontanabianca's commitment to producing wines of unparalleled quality to offer you the noble essence of the Langhe terroir condensed into a bottle of their splendid 2019 Nebbiolo.

Vinous (94+)

The 2016 Langhe Freisa Kyé is a gorgeous wine, but it is going to need at least a few years in bottle to be at its very best. Scorched earth, smoke, tobacco, grilled herbs and black pepper give the Kyé its distinctive brooding personality. As always, the Kyé is a powerful, deep wine, but, as in recent years, the style is a bit more restrained than the more explosive wines in the past. The Kyé emerges from a parcel in the Vajra family's Bricco delle Viole home vineyard.

Vinous (89)

Vajra's 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo is a jewel of a wine. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal and spice lend complexity, but it is the wine's balance and sheer deliciousness that stands out most. This is beautifully done.

Whisky Base (93)

n/a

Colour: Full, rich dark gold.

Nose: Full, complex aromas with dried berries and sherry-infused malty tones

Palate: Sweetness akin to a fine, aged cognac with incredible oloroso depth and freshness. Fruit, nuts, marzipan and Christmas cake warming spice.

Finish: A whisky you never want to end and it almost feels as if it won't, the finish goes on forever with spice, decadent dark cocoa and forest floor. A final flourish of spiced demerara rum leaves you longing for more.

Colour: Autumnal, red gold.

Nose: Fresh sweetness with fruity Turkish delight with a power akin to the first whiff from a freshly opened bag of Java coffee beans.

Palate: An undeniably decadent sweetness on the palate with salted caramel, dark cocoa and Oloroso-soaked raisins. Sherry comes through with excellent power, bringing with it Sherry and spicy demerara notes.

Finish: Lingering and persistent with alternating layers of sweetness and dry roastiness and peppery spice. Extremely complex and enthralling.

A special, limited edition release from one of Scotland's most iconic distilleries, this fabulous bottling celebrates the long history of Glenfarclas and its independent ownership under the Grant family, the distillery's custodians since 1836. A classically sherried, balanced and refined Speyside, everything we have come to expect and love about Glenfarclas, this is a must have for the collector and a treat for the drinker. A vatting of casks from the past 50 years this combines the best of the mature stock lying in Glenfarclas' historic warehouses with the vibrance and verve that makes the younger bottlings so thrilling and complex. A beautiful rewarding whisky by any measure and a must-have collector's item to boot!

Colour: Amber with dark-gold highlights.

Nose: Complex yet refined with tempting aromas of marmalade, nuts, freshly ground coffee and chocolate.

Flavour: Full-bodied and robust with some oaky tannins courtesy of its exceptional age in sherry barrels.

Finish: Powerful but never overbearing with exceptional balance. Intense and long in the mouth with beautiful finesse and freshness.

One of the hottest commodities on the cask market over the past year is assuredly The Glenrothes. Stablemate to Macallan and Highland Park and under the masterful guidance of Gordon Motion who took the reins in 2009, there are few Speysiders which have the reputation for longevity and excellence as The Glenrothes. After a rapturous reception to our recent offering of the 2011s and a follow up of 2012, we are pleased that we can offer a last butt of 2013 to our customers as well.

Glenrothes is best known as a sherry-aged Speysider and this cask shows why that reputation is so justified; taking the best elements of the wood and developing into a thoroughly impressive malt. Having spent the last decade in first fill butts and taking on some remarkable characteristics as well as impressive depth of colour, they are nothing short of blue chip casks in the early days of their trajectory.

Stored at Glenrothes distillery since distillation, this has not been regauged hence the cask being listed with OLA details but a sample drawn has indicated excellent colour extraction and a recent regauge of the 2011 casks we purchased registered RLA 262.5 which is par for the course on a 1st fill Sherry butt and we would expect this to be regauged in the coming weeks between 262 and 285 RLA or thereabouts with an ABV in the low to mid 60s, indicating excellent longevity.

Tasting Note
Glenrothes’ spirit generally sports a clear barley-driven aromatic profile the key to this cask’s appeal is the classically oily, muscular structure that has become a hallmark of Glenrothes’ extremely age-worthy spirit over the years. The sherry wood is working wonders inregards to the develoment of a complex, decadent flavour profile as well as colour; a not insignificant element of the overall experience, so be sure.

We are pleased to have secured a number of 2021s in a year when many distillers are severely cutting their allocations of casks to the market and it is a particular coup's barrels specially selected for us; bourbon-sized barrels previously used for top-grade Oloroso sherry giving a smaller surface area than ex-sherry hogsheads, butts or puncheons. Therefore the whisky will develop relatively quickly, rewarding the years more profoundly than lower-quality, lower-cost refill barrels.