The summer is already over as we roll into October and the beginning of autumn/fall season, and with a new month means we here at whiskys.co.uk have to pick out a selection for our top 10 picks. This also could be a good opportunity to snag a early Christmas present for that whisky lover.
You can view the full collection here Monthly Top Collection From Whiskys.co.uk
Bladnoch 10 Year Old Celebrating 200 Years £169.00
This Bladnoch 10 year old Bourbon Expression is a Limited Release Celebrating 200 years from the new owners of Bladnoch Distillery. One of the few Lowland Single Malt Whisky producers.
Tasting Notes:
Nose : Sweet grassy notes with delicate floral aromas. Spicy oak and vanilla with hints of citrus and orange.
Palate : Spicy and sweet oak with citrus notes and hints of coconut, ginger, vanilla and gooseberry.
Finish : Clean, sweet, spicy citrus, crisp and refreshing.
Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 2 £70
From an independent, family run Distillery in the heart of Ayrshire, Lochlea Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the first in an annual series of releases.
Matured in a combination of 1st-fill Bourbon Barrels & Oloroso Sherry casks
Limited Edition
Distillery Tasting Notes:
Nose: Fruit Punch, Cigar notes, Coffee Beans
Palate: Signature Lochlea Fruits, Brazil nuts
Finish: Orange Syrup, aged oak shavings
Scapa 2001 Gordon & Macphail 12 Year old £180
This rare discontinued 2001 vintage Scapa single malt whisky bottled in 2013 by Gordon & Macphail.
Tasting Notes:
Light and fruity with green apples, white grapes and sweet vanilla. On the palate chilli spices initially, with grapefruit and a lingering creamy milk chocolate edge.
Bunnahabhain The Coterie Trio 2019,2020,2021 Bottlings £599
A limted editon set of Bunnahabhain Coterie Exculsive club bottling from the years of 2019, 2020 and 2021. Orignally for Bunnahabhain's Private members. All finished in diffrent cask types to provide a unique twist on the Bunnahabhain flavours.
The Coterie 2019 Pedro Ximenez Finish 2004
54% ABV
Distilled 2004
Bottled 14/11/2019 by Billy Sinclair.
The Coterie 2020 Rum Finish 2012
56% ABV
Distilled 2021
Bottled on 14/11/2020 by Billy Sinclair
The Coterie 2021 French Wine Cask Finish 2009
60% ABV
Distilled 2009
Bottled November 2021
Lagavulin 8 Year Old 200th Anniversary £99
A special release Lagavulin 200th Anniversary 8 year old Limited Edition,in celebration of the founding of Lagavulin Distillery in 1816. Matured in Refill American Oak Casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose : Immediately soft with clean, fresh notes partnering faint hints of milk chocolate and lemon.
It then develops fragrant tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas, with subtle cereal.
Palate : Light in texture, with a magnificent full-on Lagavulin taste that's even bigger than you may expect. Sweet, smoky and warming, with a growing pungency, then dry, with more smoke.
Finish : Lovely: clean, very long and smoky. This is a polished and exquisitely crafted celebration of Lagavulin with smoky-clean aromas and a mighty taste.
Ardmore Old Malt Cask 20 Year Old £249.00
This Ardmore Old Malt Cask 20 Year Old was distilled in October 1996 and bottled in April 2017 by Hunter Laing.
Charged from a single Refill Hogshead (Ref HL13467) this is one of only 295 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
Nose : Pepper, stewed apples, hints of sandalwood.
Palate : Malty with orange, ash and more pepper.
Finish : A long finish with more apples and a smoky tail.
Kilchoman 100% Islay Inaugural Release 2011 £275.00
This Kilchoman 100% Islay inaugural Edition Released in 2011, this Single Malt Whisky has been produced from barley grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery.
This is exceptional for a relatively young whisky.
Port Charlotte PC9 £300
Port Charlotte PC9 An Ataireachd Ard Single Malt Whisky.
Produced at Bruichladdich Distillery by Master Distiller Jim McEwan, in homage to the exceptional Single Malt produced in the village of Port Charlotte, until 1929.
Heavily peated and unmistakably Islay. This Cask Strength bottling of 6,000 bottles, is the fifth in the PC series.
Distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2011.
Glenfiddich Age of Discovery 19 Year Old Madeira Cask £299
An rare and unique bottling from Glenfiddich as a part of the Age of Discovery series. Aged for 19 years , with time maturing in madeira cask.
Tasting Notes.
Nose : Deep earthy aromas of sweet ripe fig and orange marmalade create a backdrop to bright notes, fresh gooseberry and grapes ripening on the vine.
Palate : Rich, spicy cinnamon and crushed black pepper rest on a deep earthy base. Caramelised fruits, crystallised ginger, raisins and a hint of dry oak unravel. A satisfying, silky smooth, almost oily texture.
Finish : Dry with warmth that fades into sweet marmalade notes.
Highland Park Artic Explorer John Rae 17 Year Old £300
This Limited Edition Highland Park 17 year old was created by using predominantly ex-bourbon casks and refill casks.
Along with smaller quantities of Highland Park's hallmark Sherry seasoned American and European oak casks.
A limited Edition of only 1212 bottles in total.
Tasting Notes:
Light, golden, clear and bright, John Rae Arctic Explorer opens with enticing aromas of heather, honey sweet flowering currant and just a suggestion of charred driftwood in the background.
Delicious notes of whipped vanilla cream and toffee sponge cake, owe much to the ex-bourbon cask,
Whilst the fruitier notes of caramelised grapefruit and citrus zest, are driven by the sherry seasoned casks.
A sweet breath of aromatic peat smoke lingers at the end.
These are our spotlighted picks for October, for Holiday season fast approaching for November and December our spotlighted bottles will extend to a bumper 20 selections to help you find that perfect bottle for the that whisky lover in your life (or a present to yourself, we won't tell anyone.)