We’re stoked to share our whisky loot with you, following our beautiful holiday in the hills. Our friends travelled far and wide and yes, they came bearing malts. While we are yet to crack open these lovely golden spirits, we thought we’d give you a sneak preview into each one so you can share our excitement. So, here goes.

From left to right:

Talisker Dark Storm – Matured in heavily charred oak casks, this amber gold whisky is said to have a salty, smoky edge combined with hints of oak and aromatic spices including black pepper and clove. Some have even acknowledged a few notes of blackcurrant. In the words of the makers, the malt it “designed to capture the wild, untamed spirit of a full-blown storm at sea.”

Bowmore 12 YO – Also known as “Islay’s medium peated malt”, the Bowmore 12 is said to be perfectly balanced while displaying incredible complexity. The malt is said to have notes of lemon and honey, held together by that classic Bowmore smokiness that we all love.

Amrut Intermediate Sherry  – This spirit begins its journey in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry oak casks. This is a brand new concept by Amrut, who have been known to wow whisky lovers with previous editions like Amrut Fusion and Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky. This expression by Amrut is particularly exciting given its journey from Bourbon to Sherry and back to Bourbon casks.

Glen Garioch 12 YO – One of Scotland’s oldest distilleries and still in production, Glen Garioch is wildly popular for its ageing potential. Like the aforementioned Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured, the Glen Garioch 12 YO too is a mix of ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks, bottled at a very bold 48% and is said to exude tremendous character.

Bakery Hill – From the Bakery Hill Distillery, located in Victoria, north-east of Melbourne, these whiskies have earned themselves some appreciation worldwide. The Classic Malt expression is made using Australian Schooner barley and is matured in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, the Double Wood features single malt whisky that was first matured in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels and finally finished in French oak casks, while the Peated Malt which was originally made with imported UK peat, is now made with Australian peat, albeit with a mild hint of Speyside peat.

Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask – An award winning product of the Tasmanian Distillery, Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask is yet another terrific expression from the Sullivan’s cove range. The malt is matured in American Bourbon casks and French Oak casks, lending it a stunning complexity that eludes its low alcoholic strength. Much has been said about this beauty and rest assured, you will hear a lot more about it from us.

Timboon Single Malt Whisky – Another surprise from our Aussie friends, this little bottle is said to have gained the respect of whisky drinkers both old and new. The Timboon Distillery is located in Timboon, Victoria, Australia and brings to life the colourful history of illicit whisky production in Victoria. Connoisseurs have called this whisky “mild-mannered” and “fresh” with distinctive flavours of maple and oak.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select – The Suntory Distillery has some rare and precious gems, and this particular whisky seems to be the rarest of that lot. Believed to be the epitome of the Hibiki blend, the Japanese Harmony Master’s Select displays hints of Yamazaki Sherry Cask with a lengthy finish and is said to have more oak than the standard Hibiki blends.

K5 Himalayan Malt – A pleasant discovery, the K5 comes from the mountains of Bhutan. This Himalayan malt is named after the 5^th king of Bhutan and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle is donated towards helping veterans of the Bhutanese army. The make is particularly interesting as 65% of it is a blend of 8- and 12-year-old Scotch malt whiskies, aged in bourbon and sherry casks and blended with homegrown Bhutanese and Himalayan grain spirit.

Johnnie Walker Green Label – Of all the whiskies that come under the house of Johnnie Walker, the Green Label has been sorely missed for years. The elusive blend has recently been reintroduced, much to the joy of whisky lovers around the world. The Green Label is the only blended malt in the Johnnie Walker range comprising whiskies from the Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood distilleries.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve – Referred to as the “Celebration Scotch” of the JW portfolio, the backbone of the Gold Label Reserve is the Clynelish 14 YO which comes from the Kildonan Hills, famed for the discovery of gold in the Helmsdale River, hence the gold bottle, which is particularly striking in this Bullion edition.

We’re looking forward to sharing our exclusive reviews of these whiskies with you so keep your eyes peeled. Drink responsibly!