Over the bar: What’s new in November

This is a list of new whiskies selected, tasted and released weekly by our passionate team. We put around 10 whiskies on the bar each week, so our menu is forever changing and evolving and includes a broad selection of new, vintage and independently bottled whiskies.

Here we bring you our tasting notes, and we hope they’ll inspire you to explore the world of whisky further, and give you some great ideas about what to look for the next time you visit the bar.

 

1. Ben Nevis 18 year old by Brachadair 56.8% Highlands –
Tasting Notes: Red Delicious apples and fresh fennel. Neapolitan ice-cream, chilled berry compote, raspberry jubes with a hint of dank oak. Great balance with a finish of chocolate coated raspberry bullets.

2. Braeval ‘Braes of Glenlivet’ 23 years old by Maltbarn 48.7% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Apricot nectar, barley sugar and the old hay shed. Lemongrass, honeysuckle, orange rind with an almond skin dryness and a hint of raw spring onion.

3. Bunnahabhain Moine PX 54.6% Islay –
Tasting Notes: Sharp vintage cheddar on the nose. Beef nachos or beef ribs, perfume at a strip club. Gunpowder smoke. An excellent finish of a fancy ham and cheese toasted sandwich!

4. Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 7 57.9% Highlands –
Tasting Notes: Orange Marmalade, dry spice and liqueur chocolates.

5. Glen Scotia Ruby Port Finish 2008 vintage for the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2018 57.8% Campbeltown –
Tasting Notes: Cherry chocolate milkshake, barbecued prawns on a hot Christmas day, cherry ripe. Bagged cement… but the prawn cocktail just keeps on coming! A seafood lovers delight.

6. Inchgower 18 year old by Douglas Laing Old Particular 48.8% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Chamomile tea with a spoonful of honey. Strawberry and starburst chews. Nectarine, mandarin peel delivered with a lusciously silky month-feel.

7. Lagavulin 12yr bottled 2016 for 200th Anniversary 57.7% Islay –
Tasting Notes: Jalapeno corn bread, crumpets and green peppercorns. Honey glazed ham, earth and green flowers with a little lemon and lime zest.

8. Teeling 10 year old Single Cask by the Irish Whiskey Society 57.6% Ireland –
Tasting Notes: Ovaltine, old wine cellars, instant coffee and Brasso. Chocolate dipped fruit eaten off a rusty fork. Finished with tons of green cardamom.

9. Twenty Third Street Distillery Hybrid Whisky 42.3% Australia –
Tasting Notes: Apple danish and fantails. Caramel ice-cream, a touch of spice and Swedish cinnamon scrolls.

*On pour at Whisky & Alement from Wed 31 Oct

 

 

10. SMWS C6.1 Wood fired wonder juice 67.9% Cognac Borderies –
Tasting Notes: Big ripe banana, musk and saltines on the nose. Memories of leather bound books, banana bread, curry leaf, and mustard seed on the palate, ending with a finish of pink pepper.

11. SMWS A4.1 Elegant and inviting 49.1% Bas Armagnac –
Tasting Notes: Nut and marzipan, peanut brittle, tomato puree and sweet corn. A dry but balanced finish leaves your mouth watering for more!

12. SMWS B3.4 Bucking bronco 57% Arkansas (Bourbon) –
Tasting Notes: On the nose strawberry, raspberry lollies, dark plums and forest floor. Raspberries carry through to the palate with the addition of wood tannin and green banana, finishing with a hint of wood spice.

13. SMWS 10.146 Sweet smoky succulent sensation -% Islay –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

14. SMWS 3.308 A maritime meander -% Islay –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

15. SMWS 93.92 Fruit pie in a cleaning cupboard 57.7% Campbeltown –
Tasting Notes: A nose of mineral notes, salt, meaty, custard cream and old leather. Mineral notes of granite carry through on the palate with charcoal chicken, peat, seaweed and industrial notes of burnt coal. A little hint of citrus on the finish.

16. SMWS 10.151 Reminder of the sea 60.3% Islay –
Tasting Notes: A classic salty, floral nose with perfumed peaches and cream. Again peaches on the palate, rich and creamy moving to salted caramel and Weiss bars. A tangy and refreshing finish.

17. SMWS 4.238 Surrender your soul 59.7% Highland –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

18. SMWS 122.23 Highly a-musing 57.7% Highland –
Tasting Notes: Bonito flakes! seaweed, orange oils and charred lemon on the nose. A waxy, maritime palate with an initial big hit of peat finishes with vanilla creaming soda.

19. SMWS PTB.M01 Peat faerie 50% Blended Malt –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

20. SMWS 26.123 Attractive, lively fun 59.4% Highland –
Tasting Notes: A nose of perfumed soap, white flowers and lemon. A light crisp palate of lemon curd, lime zest and soft malt finishes with more soap and white flowers.

21. SMWS 135.7 Yoghurt and fruit candies 58.2% Highland –
Tasting Notes: A nose of sour apple candies, orange oils and boysenberry yoghurt! Delicious oily pastry is delivered on the palate in the form of chicken salt, burnt peaches, fried vegetable gyoza, biscuit and french pastries with a puff of peat.

22. SMWS 123.26 Blossom falling onto sponge cake 61.2% Highland –
Tasting Notes: We suggest a drop of water to open this up. Tasting notes coming soon.

23. SMWS 12.16 Moonlight in New York 59.6% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: One for lolly lovers! A vibrant nose of Tutti Fruity, vanilla, Starbursts, panna cotta and pizza. A more adult rye bread, spice, pizza herbs on the palate finishes with Vegemite and cacao powder.

24. SMWS 63.49 In the dark of the abyss 60.6% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

25. SMWS 53.259 Succumb to desire 56.8% Islay –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

26. SMWS 72.64 All sweetness and fight 59.7% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

27. SMWS 112.31 One for the low road 58.7% Highland –
Tasting Notes: A nose of rich salted caramel fudge, strawberry and coconut. Milk chocolate, vanilla fudge and hazelnut cream on the palate with a creamy, sweet finish of amaretti biscuits.

28. SMWS 112.29 A little glass of fascination 53.3% Highland –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

29. SMWS 54.67 Sensational sipping 49% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

30. SMWS 35.211 Putting on the ritz 53.3% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: coming soon

31. SMWS 9.149 Delightful gravitas 55.1% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: A nose of Cherry Ripe, dusty cupboards, cocao nibs, boot polish and cut grass. Delicious chocolate on the palate accompanied by leather, rich oiled timber, maraschino cherries and green capsicum. A dry piney and green finish.

*On pour at Whisky & Alement from Wed 14 Nov

 

 

32. Cotswolds 2014 Odyssey single malt whisky 46% England –
Tasting Notes: Biscuity, crunchy nut, toasted oak, chocolate cake with berry jam. Finishes with cherry bakewell tart and a great touch of wood spice.

33. Shane Triple Casked Irish Whiskey 40% Ireland –
Tasting Notes: Lavender, mocha and milky coffee. Finishes with cola bottle lollies and vanilla sugar.

34. Benrinnes 14 year old by Old Malt Cask in refill hogshead 50% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Creamy honey, slat and pepper squid, iron filings and mandarins. A warming finish of bread and butter pudding, rust and brie.

35. Lowry’s NZ workshops distillery 46% New Zealand –
Tasting Notes: Mahogany wardrobes and delicate spirit that is quickly overtaken by tannin. Recovers with a finish with baked apples.

36. Caol Ila 18 year old unpeated 2017 release 59.8% Islay –
Tasting Notes: A nose of toasted sesame and turkish delight follows into a palate of creamy, biscuity, salty seaweed. Hints of peat with minerality, flint and coconut rough!

37. Glenrothes Whisky Makers Cut 48.8% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: A nose of condensed milk, dulce de leech, and melted butter. A palate reminiscent of ganache on the hob finishes with butter menthol, orange candy and wood spice.

38. Hazelburn 13 year old oloroso cask distilled 2004 47.4% Campbeltown –
Tasting Notes: YUM! Soft chewy caramel and fig jam delivered on the nose. A palate that leaves you craving Christmas dinner on a summer day with glazed roast chicken skin, bubblegum and jasmine flowers. Finishes with boysenberry macaroons and plum jam.

39. 1792 High Rye Straight Kentucky Bourbon 47.15% Bardstown, US –
Tasting Notes: First impressions of cherry cola, Dr. Pepper, Sars and liquorice allsorts. Dill and spearmint follow with blue bubblegum, imperial leather soap and a finish of sunscreen (?).

*On pour at Whisky & Alement from Wed 21 Nov

 

 

40. Balmenach 13 year old by Hidden Spirits 51.2% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Buttermilk, Brioche, Lemon, pancake mix with a finish of pineapple fritters on the beach.

41. Craigellachie 12 year old by Berry Bros. for Dufftown Whisky Shop 55.9% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: A familiar nose of old leather and shoe polish. More old familiar leather on the palate with creme brûlée, grapefruit, ginger – all with an earthy undertone. A beautifully soft finish of allspice.

42. Orkney 14 year old The Poisonous Frog Series for Bresser & Timmer 50.3% Islands –
Tasting Notes: Creamed honey, white flowers and damp Scottish earth on the nose. Followed by a palate of dried peas (wasabi peas?), peach, custard cream and finishing with crisp salt and malt.

43. A Fine Christmas Malt 17 year old Single Malt by The Whisky Exchange 58.7% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Nose… is this whisky… or sherry? Public health announcement – do not drink this whisky without first adding a splash of water! Water uncovers orange sherbet and more complex Christmas pudding notes on the palate that finish with notes of brandy soaked raisins. Definitely released for the serious whisky drinker.

44. Dailuaine 10 year old Peated Cask Finish by Hidden Spirits 56.1% Speyside –
Tasting Notes: Oh sweet peat! A palate of green banana skins. Finishes with pot scrapings from the Christmas roast tray!

45. Croftengea 12 year old The Poisonous Frog Series for Bresser & Timmer 51.6% Highlands –
Tasting Notes: Close your eyes and the nose on this whisky will take you to the kids sports section of K-mart! A pleasant nose of rubber, apple cider vinegar and a wood-sap fire. Finishes with mineral lime stone, fresh tarmac and burnt artichoke.

46. Ben Nevis 21 year old The Poisonous Frog Series for Bresser & Timmer 50.6% Highlands –
Tasting Notes: A nose of gorgeous rich honey develops into thick leatherwood honey on the palate. Finishes with flamed orange, dark chocolate coated dried orange wedges and hot toddy!

47. Wolfburn Langskip 58% Highlands –
Tasting Notes: A complex nose of sorbet, Irn-Bru, lemon sherbet, grain husk and Vicks VapoRub. Mouthfuls of Passiona on the palate finish with green chilli and vanilla sugar.

48. Bruichladdich 15 year old sherry cask by Hidden Spirits 53.1% Islay –
Tasting Notes: A nose of juicy raspberry jubes, leather shoes, tobacco. Surfboard wax, neoprene and brandy soaked apricots on the palate with a nice little bit of rancio developing on the finish.

49. Heartwood Darkest Before Dawn 8 year old Lark single cask #559 64% Australia –
Tasting Notes: Eucalypt and burnt red gum on a camp fireplace on the nose. Completely changes on the palate and finish with  lots of rancio, grape lollies, marsala, sweet cinnamon and notes of a big bold red (wine).

50. Bowmore 22 year old by Hidden Spirits 53.6% Islay –
Tasting Notes: A nose of spruce, olive brine and rubber. Christmas trees, chlorophyl, fresh tropical hops on the palate. Finishes with a lovely earthiness and hints of bandaid.

51. Caol Ila 12 year old The Poisonous Frog Series for Bresser & Timmer 52.4% Islay –
Tasting Notes: Lime juice and oven roasted brussel sprouts and broccoli on the nose. Smoked BBQ mix on the palate finishes with sweet smoked paprika.

52. Laphroaig Brodir Batch No.1 Port Finish 48% Islay –
Tasting Notes: Immediately recognisable as Laphroaig. A nose of flamed oranges. A palate of tar, burning rubber, bean sprouts and the docks (fishy) finishes with charred kale.

*On pour at Whisky & Alement from Wed 28 Nov