IMPECCABLY CRAFTED SPECIAL RELEASES 2016

INTRODUCING...

THE TEN 2016 SPECIAL RELEASES

525.-

795.-

1900.-

3300.-

365.-

330.-

alle Preise in Schweizer Franken / solange Vorrat

SPECIAL RELEASES 2016 Highly Confidential

119.50

106.-

400.-

990.-

CONTENTS

Special Releases 2016 03

Contents

04

Essential Notes

05

Summary

06

What Makes a Special Release Special

07

2016 Highlights

08

Exploring the Special Releases summary, tasting guide, facts

09 Auchroisk 12 Brora 15 Cambus 18 Caol Ila

21 Cragganmore 24 Glenkinchie 27 Lagavulin 30 Linkwood 33 Mannochmore

36 Port Ellen 39

Detail shots & Smart Brand details

SPECIAL RELEASES 2016 Highly Confidential

ESSENTIAL NOTES

Special Releases: Essential Notes A series of small annual releases of limited edition, usually natural cask strength single malts; very old and unusual bottlings from famous and closed distilleries.

Sought after at whisky auctions and collectable too, these are above all magnificent and unusual whiskies to drink and enjoy - perfect for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

Exquisitely packaged by leading designers, two being released this year would make a very special gift for a 25 year old - or could celebrate a 25th anniversary.

Truly special, from individually designed packaging, to scarcity - often individually numbered, only a few thousand bottles worldwide. Sometimes, just a few hundred. SPECIAL RELEASES 2016 Highly Confidential

Special Releases: 2016 Summary ESSENTIAL NOTES

There are ten Special Releases in this year’s range A 40 year old CAMBUS is this year’s oldest release and the third ever single grain release in this series. An unusual and rare 25 year old from MANNOCHMORE aged in rejuvenated casks could make a superb 25th Anniversary present. Another 25 year old release is of the rarely seen AUCHROISK. The third flavour led release in this series is of a delicious CRAGGANMORE. This year’s 16th release of PORT ELLEN is our oldest ever and a quite wonderful 37 year old. It is the most expensive Special Release ever. Another 37 year old is a highly regarded LINKWOOD.

The 38 year old 1977 BRORA is also the oldest ever bottled in this series. So is the 24 year old GLENKINCHIE. For those who like their Classic Malts to come from Islay, the unusual and rare unpeated cask strength CAOL ILA, this year bottled at 15 years old, or the distinctive 12 year old cask strength LAGAVULIN are equally excellent. Each is quite different from the other, and from its sister Classic Malts regular bottling. Lagavulin is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

Highly Confidential

WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL?

What Makes A Special Release “Special”? Exquisite Liquids

Award Winning Cask Strength Non-Chill Filtered

Rare

Limited Bottlings

Often using diminishing liquid from closed distilleries

Small bottlings, most individually numbered

Highly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors - also a great choice for those who simply want an extra special gift for a loved one 6 Highly Confidential

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2016 REELASES

2016 Special Releases: Highlights

10 6 3 4

Rare Bottlings

New Expressions

Closed Distilleries

Return of the Greats

7 Highly Confidential

EXPLORING THE 2016 SPECIAL RELASES

8

Highly Confidential

Auchroisk 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 51.2% Region: Speyside

AUCHROISK

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt. From Auchroisk, an active distillery on Speyside, rarely seen as a single malt. A third limited release in this series. Interesting to compare with the 20 year old released in 2010 and the 30 year old released in 2012. From a mix of refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts filled in 1990. Just 3,954 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 436. SKU # 727468

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AUCHROISK – TASTING GUIDE

Auchroisk 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 51.2% Tasting Guide A fruity apéritif malt, at its best with a little water; enjoyable at the start of an evening and indeed at other times too. Gloriously fresh and fruity, with a light body and good structure; the initially clean nose gives little hint of the spicy flavours of fruit that follow. Appearance: Amber gold. Long-legged beading.

Nose: Light and precise, soon growing in depth and complexity. Top notes of fresh, crisp, juicy fruit (orange peel, pear skin) are backed by fragrant almond oil. Later, leather and the merest suggestion of smoke. Water attractively increases the scented oil and brings up aniseed and fruit salad (tinned pears). Some late, faint smoke. Body: Light to medium, oily. Palate: Initially cool and sweet, with fresh acidity and a light smooth texture, then quickly hotter, with spicy fruit, as in a spiced fruit tea-cake. With a little water, slimmer, still cooling and not so sweet as the perfume grows and the heat reduces in favour of a softer spiciness. This descends into an attractive drier nuttiness, developing as dark chocolate, with hints of menthol and a grating of orange zest. Still fresh and well balanced, with a pleasing chewy texture. Finish: Sustained and warming, with notes of liquorice and peppermint cordial, green pistachio, clove. Highly Confidential

AUCHROISK – DISTILLERY FACTS

Auchroisk 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 51.2% Distillery Facts One of Scotland’s newest distilleries, established in 1974 at Mulben, in Banffshire, a mile from the River Spey where it leaves the valley behind to start its final run to the sea. The most northerly distillery on Speyside. The name means “Ford of the Red Stream” in Gaelic. A burn flowing from Dorie’s Well provides plentiful water for distilling. Situated in a wooded rural district midway between Keith and Rothes. Rarely available so far as a single malt. Highly unusual as one.

There have been four previous distillery releases as AUCHROISK. A 12 year old ‘Flora and Fauna’ distillery only bottling was available from the early 1990s. Light, sweet and fresh, it had a pleasant mouth-feel and a surprisingly dry finish for a Speyside malt. A 28 year old cask-strength 1974 was released as a Rare Malt in 2003. Soft, liquorice toffee nose, smooth soft body, sweet with some acidity on the palate, warming, long finish. A 20 year old was a Special Release in 2010. Light yet rich in style, with an attractive, creamy texture and charming sweetness to balance its considerable strength. A 30 year old was a Special Release in 2012. Gloriously fresh and fruity, with real body and structure; the clean and well-structured nose giving little hint of the complex, silky fruit and nut flavours to follow. Highly Confidential

Brora 38 Year Old Distilled 1977 ABV 48.6% Region: Coastal Highland A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt.

BRORA

From a closed distillery at Brora on the Sutherland coast. The oldest BRORA we have bottled in this series. Fifteenth of a limited series of annual releases. Annual allocation has extended availability of this irreplaceable malt but stocks are now depleted. From refill American Oak hogsheads and refill European Oak butts filled in 1977.

Only 2984 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 2,262.00 per bottle.

SKU # 727371 Highly Confidential

Brora 38 Year Old Distilled 1977 ABV 48.6%

BRORA – TASTING GUIDE

Tasting Guide A superb, well-balanced example of this outstanding single malt; robust, with breezy maritime notes on the nose, yet soon showing an easy charm, self-assured and approachable, retaining distillery character even at this advanced age with more smoke, ash and peat than recent expressions, while with a drop of water it is also smoothly seductive. Appearance: Old gold or mid-amber. Slow, fine legs. Nose: Confident, wide ranging and lightly drying. A wave of fresh lemons, smoke and wood ash with accents of mint and toffee rolls in above a base note of damp sand or leather polish. Both aroma and smoke fade as hints of sweet malt grow. Later, there’s a trace of vanilla sponge and a hint of snuffed candle. Peppery, with wood ash, it’s clean, fresh and appetising. Water brings up sweet, waxy notes of cream soda and minty toffee, wood smoke and ash.

Body: Medium. Palate: Very easy to drink at natural strength: cool, smooth and slightly waxy, with lemon peel and rising wood ash above sweet, coating, caramel. Sweet and fragrant. Depth and complexity emerge together as lightly spicy smooth tannins and a minty, peaty pungency develop. Water silkily increases the well-balanced sweetness and seductive spice and adds a venerable air. Finish: Firm and lengthy; nicely charred and chewy, with warming ginger and dark chocolate followed by immediate scented smoke, leaving the tongue tingling as it cools the breath with sweet mint. Softly pungent with water; distant wood smoke and smooth chocolate with faint cedar and pine Highly Confidential

BRORA – DISTILLERY FACTS

Brora 38 Year Old Distilled 1977 ABV 48.6% Distillery Facts Founded 1819 as Clynelish by the Marquess of Stafford, soon Duke of Sutherland. Cost to build CHF 750. This would barely buy half a bottle today! One of Scotland's earliest purpose-built malt whisky distilleries. Leased to James Harper, then Andrew Ross and George Lawson – all local men. Sold in 1896 to Leith blenders, Ainslie & Co. "A singularly valuable property, as the make has always obtained the highest price of any single Scotch whisky" Harper's Weekly 1896. Rebuilt & steam power introduced 1897. Closed 1931-38, 1941-1945. Stills direct coal-fired until 1961. New Clynelish distillery built 1967-8 and old distillery closed. Old distillery re-opened with re-built mash house 1975. Now named Brora. Produced alongside new Clynelish into the early 80s in a heavily peated “Islay” style. Closed 1983. As a big whisky, well suited to long ageing in cask; only very small stocks remain.

The first BRORA 30 year old won a Gold medal at IWSC 2003. A 25 year old bottled in 2008 won Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009. A Rare Malts BRORA 20 year old won the Trophy for Best Cask Strength Malt at IWSC 2004.

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Cambus 40 Year Old Distilled 1975 ABV 52.7% Region: Central Lowland (Single Grain) A limited edition, natural cask strength single grain whisky. From Cambus, a closed distillery near Alloa.

CAMBUS

A very rare limited release of very old CAMBUS. The oldest CAMBUS ever released by the original distillers. The third single grain whisky to be bottled as a Special Release and very interesting to compare with the recent 40 yo THE CALLY bottling.

Distilled in 1975. From refill American Oak hogsheads. Just 1812 individually numbered bottles available worldwide.

From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 1,170 per bottle. SKU # 727428 Highly Confidential

Cambus 40 Year Old Distilled 1975 ABV 52.7%

CAMBUS – TASTING GUIDE

Tasting Guide Highly approachable and very rewarding; deceptively complex and fresh for its age, this is an incredibly wellintegrated and harmonious (not to mention, very rare) forty-year-old single grain that is light yet sumptuous, fresh and clean; at its best with water and with a fine, relaxed finish, it makes an unusual and delicious apéritif. Appearance: Deep gold with amber lights

Nose: Surprisingly lively, quickly mellowing to sweetness. Clean, fruity top-notes of ripe red apples, pineapple and cape gooseberry rise above a wide-ranging, softly sweet melange of boiled and soft-chew strawberry sweets, shortcrust pastry and milk chocolate with smooth, succulent toffee. Nutty, with a trace of candle-wax, it becomes softer with a little water, slowly building a gently piney, mint-fresh wood note with faint, waxy, red-berries; then gaining depth with dark toffee, fruit and almond before a fresh, green apple sharpness with ginger spice. Body: Light. Very soft. Palate: Cool, light, drying and pine-y; gaining heat and sweetness together as if a salted caramel ice cream was infused with savoury smoke. Then quite dense and raisiny, with hints of pear drops and plum, and a pungency right to the finish. Water brings out its best, now cooler, lightly sweet, salty and softly waxy with ginger and white pepper spice, growing chewy and coating; briefly fruity then warming like a rich, moist ginger cake. Finish: Short yet warm, gentle and sweet, with crème brûlée and ginger beneath light, cleansing eucalyptus. There’s a faint woodiness as the sweetness is underscored by subtle tannins. Light with water; appetising, apéritiflike. Highly Confidential

CAMBUS – DISTILLERY FACTS

Cambus 40 Year Old Distilled 1975 ABV 52.7% Distillery Facts Originally founded in 1806 by James Moubray to distil malt whisky. Re-equipped for grain distilling in 1837. One of the six Lowland grain distilleries that combined to form the Distillers Company in 1877. On the night of 23rd September 1914, there was a great fire that destroyed much of the distillery. Completely rebuilt, Cambus reopened twenty-four years and CHF 275,000 later, in 1938. Described by Alfred Barnard 1886, the buildings were “spread over fully eight acres of ground” and on January 12th that year the six warehouses were home to “17,002 casks, holding 1,365,287 gallons of whisky, of various ages since 1865”. They were about two thirds full at the time. Closed twenty-three years ago, in 1993. Now vanishingly rare as a single grain. A smooth seven-year-old CAMBUS Patent Still Scotch Grain Whisky was launched in 1906 using the unlikely advertising slogan “Not a headache in a gallon”. Heavier pot still malt whisky producers who felt commercially threatened by this new light challenger contested its right to be called whisky and as a result, a Royal Commission eventually ruled that spirit produced from malted and/or unmalted barley on patent or pot stills could be termed whisky.

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Caol Ila 15 Year Old HS Distilled 2000 ABV 61.5% Region: Isle of Islay A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt. From Caol Ila, an active Isle of Islay distillery.

CAOL ILA

An eleventh limited release of unpeated CAOL ILA. From a batch made once a year, from unpeated malt, for blending in the “Highland Style”. Distilled in 2000: the first of this series to come from the new millennium.

From refill American Oak hogsheads and refill European Oak butts. Limited availability worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 140 per bottle. SKU # 727373 Highly Confidential

Caol Ila 15 Year Old HS Distilled 2000 ABV 61.5%

CAOL ILA – TASTING GUIDE

Tasting Guide Adopting the forceful style of earlier unpeated expressions, this complex CAOL ILA faithfully displays the make’s typical youthful and vibrant DNA as it marries their glorious fruit and hints of smoke and the sea with smooth mature tannins, becoming succulent and softly relaxed with water. Appearance: Pale gold with green lights. Fine, brief beading.

Nose: Unhurried, delicate and precise, offering little clue to the forceful palate. Fresh and squeaky-clean, opening with fresh green apple above a soft, creamy layer of toffee and malt. An acetic note gradually becomes increasingly maritime (salt, dried edible seaweed) and attractively spirity, with mint, hints of citrus (fresh lemon) and a drying gooseberry sharpness. Clean and cautiously defined throughout. Water introduces a softer, cooler note of freshly laundered cotton, with a whole fruit stall of fresh fruits plus hints of strawberry, caramel and resin. Body: Light. Palate: Challenging and perhaps too powerful to really appreciate at natural strength, yet essentially fresh, light and spirited, with a sweet taste overall. There’s cooling menthol, sharp fruit, then lots of malt and toffee. Much more accessible when reduced with water, the taste now soft, lightly sweet and succulent; the fruity sweetness balanced by salt and slightly sour (as with bitter lemons). Ending chewy, with more fruit, barley sugar and mint. Finish: Compelling, though still powerful! Deeply warming, with bracing late menthol and eucalyptus. Soft and smooth with water: shorter yet still warming and gingery, with a bitter fennel-like edge and an aftertaste evoking pistachio nuts. Highly Confidential

CAOL ILA – DISTILLERY FACTS

Caol Ila 15 Year Old HS Distilled 2000 ABV 61.5% Distillery Facts Established in 1846 near Port Askaig, by Hector Henderson. Caol Ila means “Sound of Islay” in Gaelic. A waterfall supplied power for the barley hoists and pressure for the fire hydrants. Today, a novel heat exchanger uses the sea to cool hot process water before returning it to the condensers. CAOL ILA 12 year old, 18 year old and cask-strength regular bottlings since 2002. Both 12 and 18 year old won IWSC Gold Medals in 2004 and 2005, 2008. CAOL ILA 12 year old won Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF) 2010; Gold, 2015. Master at Scotch Whisky Masters (SWM) 2010; Gold, 2011, 2015. IWSC Gold 2012. ISC Gold 2014. Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) Chairman’s Trophy 2012. Best Single Malt Scotch 12 years and under IWC 2015. Gold, Internationaler Spirituosen Wettbewerb (ISW) 2015. Best in Category (11-20yo) Gold LA Spirits 2015. Gold, Spirits International Prestige Awards (SIP) 2015. New 25 year old and MOCH bottlings extended the range, with new packaging throughout in 2010. 25yo won Best Islay Malt 21 years and over WWA 2011. Best Peated Whisky, Ultra Premium, Malt Maniacs Awards (MMA) 2015. CAOL ILA MOCH won Master, SWM 2011; Gold, 2014, 2015. Gold, IWSC 2014, 2015. First 8 year old Unpeated bottling voted Best Islay (unpeated) single malt whisky under 12 Years Old at the World Whiskies Awards (WWA) 2007. Distillers Edition (DE) Gold & Best in Class at IWSC 2009, Gold at ISC 2009, SWM 2010, Double Gold & Best Single Malt Scotch whisky, SF 2011. Sweet starting, maritime style within a characteristic lingering, smoky finish. Highly Confidential

Cragganmore FL ABV 55.7% Region: Speyside

CRAGGANMORE

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt. Distilled at the Classic Malts Speyside distillery, Cragganmore. A sixth distillery release of CRAGGANMORE in this series.

From three cask types chosen for flavour alone: both refill & rejuvenated American Oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European Oak butts. Just 4,932 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 624 per bottle. SKU # 727453

Highly Confidential

CRAGGANMORE – TASTING GUIDE

Cragganmore FL ABV 55.7% Tasting Guide Beautifully structured and contemplative, with a soft, sweet nose, this CRAGGANMORE is charming throughout as it shows off the dry distillery character to the full; it has a compellingly intense palate that gradually dries in a clever interplay between oak and malt to a long, warming finish that’s superbly subtle with water. Appearance: Warm yellow-gold, with good beading.

Nose: Warming and welcoming. Softly fresh, with gentle traces of beeswax then orange zest or tinned mandarin oranges and fruit salad on a base of broad, soft malt-loaf. With time, a beautifully balancing spicy acidity appears, followed by ripe red apple. Much later, clean and dry, with a little dried herb and a marzipan sweetness. Softer and approachable with a drop of water, which introduces a menthol note; floral and heady, with hints of banana chew or fresh fruit salad with Crème Anglais. Then honey and butter on more malt loaf. Slightly nutty. Body: Medium. Smooth. Palate: A smooth texture, with a sweet start; sugary and intense, with fragrant fondant in the mid-palate. Soon, becoming more drying; cedary and aromatic, although still unctuous. Slowly developing beautiful notes of cocoa and liquorice, then growing savoury, with porcini and a little salt. At reduced strength, still smooth but spicier and richer, cooling with soft cherry notes; then a real spritziness; finally mint imperials and late toasted grain. Finish: Long, warming and cleansing. Growing charred, like a burnt fruit on a panettone; rounded and drying, with late flinty notes and coating tannins. Subtle smoke and spice with water; long and coating, with fresh fruit compote. Later, mint and finally, herbal again; still fiery and cleansing. Highly Confidential

CRAGGANMORE – DISTILLERY FACTS

Cragganmore FL ABV 55.7% Distillery Facts Founded 1869 by John Smith, formerly commissioning manager at Glenlivet. First Speyside distillery built to take advantage of railway transport. Designed by the doyen of whisky architects, Charles Doig of Elgin. Control passes to Gordon Smith 1893. Rebuilt 1901.

1923 Smith dynasty ends. Control passes to syndicate led by Sir Peter Mackie. Rated “A1” by blenders 1925. Closed 1931-34, limited production1941-46, reconstructed 1948. Capacity doubled 1964. Stills converted to steam heating 1972. Represents Speyside as a CLASSIC MALT 1987. IWSC Gold 2002. Gold at Scotch Whisky Masters (SWM) 2010, 2011. Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF) 2008; Double Gold 2015. Gold, LA 2015. Best in Class, Platinum, SIP 2015. CRAGGANMORE Distillers Edition won three IWSC Gold Medals plus Double Gold, SF 2008 & 2009. Gold, ISC 2008. Master, SWM 2011.

There have been five previous distillery releases in this series. A 29 year old 1973 was released in 2004, closely followed by a 10 year old 1993. A 17 year old 1988 followed in 2006 and a 21 year old 1989 in 2010, while a 25 year old joined them in 2014. Sweet starting, maritime style within a characteristic lingering, smoky finish. Highly Confidential

Glenkinchie 24 Year Old Distilled 1991 ABV 57.2% Region: Lowland A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt.

GLENKINCHIE

Distilled at the Classic Malts Lowland distillery, Glenkinchie. The third distillery release of cask strength GLENKINCHIE available in this series.

From refill European Oak butts filled in 1991. The oldest cask strength GLENKINCHIE released to date in this series and the first from European Oak.

5,928 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 468.

SKU # 727446

Highly Confidential

GLENKINCHIE – TASTING GUIDE

Glenkinchie 24 Year Old Distilled 1991 ABV 57.2% Tasting Guide A lively GLENKINCHIE, with more body than younger expressions and considerably more spice. After a cautious start the nose opens to reveal clearly defined floral, fruit and cereal aromas that with water become more indulgent, while on the palate there’s complexity and a wonderfully drying, aromatic and bittersweet finish. Appearance: Rich gold, clear amber. Good legs.

Nose: Mature and considered. Gentle at first, then soon rich and generous, with tangy top notes of lime and toffee apple then a suggestion of walnuts on a soft, sweet, biscuit layer. A mossy base too, with traces of pine resin. Becoming more juicy in time, when pineapple, orange and raisin notes appear as the base note becomes more ashy, with caramel leading to burnt butter. Water dries the aroma more, making it appetisingly tart with stewed fruit and vanilla custard, and increasing the toffee note as it introduces a trace of warm sanded wood. Body: Medium. Oily. Palate: Smooth textured and warming, with a bittersweet start. Soon becoming spicy and woody, with cedar, banana toffee and vanilla cream. Quite drying, and growing warmer with deep, gingery notes in sweet, crunchy cereals. With water, the taste is still sweet, if less so, and smooth; delicate now, with a subtle, spicy pungency.

Finish: Long and warm, with a trace of Szechuan pepper (spicy and mouth-cooling). Gingery with cinnamon and cedar; more toffee and chocolate-smooth tannins; then cleansing. Longer, drier and still warming with water, sweet and ashy; charred treacle toffee, again bitter-sweet.

Highly Confidential

GLENKCINCHIE – DISTILLERY FACTS

Glenkinchie 24 Year Old Distilled 1991 ABV 57.2% Distillery Facts Founded 1837 by farmers, George and John Rate. Known as “The Edinburgh Malt” – just twenty miles from the city. Rebuilt as a model distillery village in the 1890s. Unusually, has worked almost continuously: even, with a brief pause, through two world wars. 1914 further expansion and rebuilding as one of the five Lowlanders in Scottish Malt Distilleries. Still house rebuilt and converted to steam heating 1981. Two of the largest stills in Scotland. Wash still holds 32,000 litres. Represents the Lowlands as a CLASSIC MALT 1987.

IWSC Gold Medals 1993, 1999-2000-2001. Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF) 2008, 2010, 2015. Best Lowland Single Malt World Whisky Awards (WWA) 2011, 2013, 2014. Master Scotch Whisky Masters (SWM) 2008; Gold 2010, 2011, 2014. Best Lowland Single Malt 12 years and under WWA 2016. GLENKINCHIE Distillers Edition won Gold, IWSC 2008, 2011. Gold SF 2008. World’s Best Lowland Single Malt WWA 2009. Gold SWM 2008, 2011. A 20 year old Special Release in 2007 was matured in American Oak refill then in ex-brandy casks, in each case for ten years. A second 20 year old Special Release in 2010 was matured in refill American Oak casks.

Sweet starting, maritime style within a characteristic lingering, smoky finish. Highly Confidential

Lagavulin 12 Year Old 200th Anniversary ABV 57.7% Region: Isle of Islay A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt whisky.

LAGAVULIN

From the essential Islay distillery, Lagavulin, on Islay’s rocky south coast. Fourteenth in a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks. From refill American Oak hogsheads, each at least 12 years old. Commemorative 200th Anniversary 1816-2016 label. Available in limited quantities worldwide. RRSP CHF 124 per bottle. SKU # 727456

Highly Confidential

LAGAVULIN – TASTING GUIDE

Lagavulin 12 Year Old 200th Anniversary ABV 57.7% Tasting Guide A classic, well-structured LAGAVULIN that smoke heads will love: wonderfully smoky, oily and bitter-sweet, pure in style and beautifully balanced with an inspiring sophistication and as much at home with food as afterdinner, being lighter in aroma and texture and less drying than recent expressions. Appearance: Very pale gold, grey-green lights. Slow legs.

Nose: At one level, direct and straightforward, with immediate, powerful, smouldering peat smoke backed by fresh, clean notes. In another, sweeter dimension, though, the aromas multiply, first as icing sugar balanced by a cleansing note, then as lemons and spearmint above syrup on a warm baguette, with notes of spirit and orange zest. Later, barbecued meats, maple syrup and traces of pine and eucalyptus all appear. Finally, there’s sugary candy-floss, and volcanic smoke. With a little water, it’s all more youthful and lively. Sweet and minty now, with tart, sweet fruit, then distant volcanic smoke and clean newsprint. Body: Light and smoothly oily. Palate: Surprisingly mild, smooth and sweet, with balancing salt. Intense and cool, with fruity chocolate at first, then warming and smoky, with grainy cereal, mint and volcanic smoke. Finely oily too, with smooth tannins. Reduced, the taste relaxes to become cool and oily then gains a huge, chewy smoky-honeyed sweetness, still balanced by salt and growing slightly charred and warming. It’s all aromatic, woody and faintly cleansing. Finish: Very long and refined; first smoothly cooling, then warming, pungent and smoky with an appetising bitter edge. With water all this remains intact; long, sweet and pungent still, with zesty herbs, leaving the palate smoky. Highly Confidential

LAGAVULIN – DISTILLERY FACTS

Lagavulin 12 Year Old 200th Anniversary ABV 57.7% Distillery Facts On Lagavulin Bay, overlooked by Dunyvaig Castle, ancient stronghold of Lords of The Isles. Founded 1816 by John Johnston on site of earlier illicit stills. Succeeded by Alexander Graham 1836. Peter Mackie takes over 1890. Opens a second distillery on site, Malt Mill, 1908. Closed for one season 1918. Mackie & Co. becomes White Horse Distillers 1924. Closed 1941-45. Electric light 1948. Rebuilding begins 1951; explosion and fire 1952; production resumes 1953. Malt Mill closes 1962. Lagavulin converted to steam heating 1969. Bottled at 12 years until 1987; since then, bottled as a 16 year old Classic Malt. LAGAVULIN 16 year old has won well over a dozen International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) Gold Medals including one in every year 2008-2014 inclusive. Master at Scotch Whisky Masters (SWM) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014. Gold, 2012. Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF) 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 (Best Single Malt Scotch 13-19yo); Gold 2009, 2010. Gold, International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015. Best Islay Peated Single Malt, World Whisky Awards (WWA) 2008. Best Islay Peated Single Malt 13-20yo 2009, 2011, 2012. Best Peated Single Malt and Best 13-20 IWC 2015. Gold ISW 2015. Gold LA 2015. Platinum SIP 2015. Gold C.M. Brussels 2015. Best Peated Whisky, Daily Dram, Malt Maniacs Awards (MMA) 2015. LAGAVULIN Distillers Edition: 2 x IWSC trophies 2007, best Special Edition in 2009, Gold in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Double Gold, SF 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 (Best Single Malt Scotch 13-19yo). Gold, ISC 2008, 2009, 2010. Master, SWM 2008, 2010, 2013. Gold, 2011, 2013. Best Islay Peated Single Malt No age (WWA) 2008. Earlier 12 year old LAGAVULIN Special Releases won Gold, IWSC 2004, 2005, Double Gold, SF 2015; Gold, 2011. Gold, SWM 2009. Gold, ISW 2015. Highly Confidential

Linkwood 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 50.3% Region: Speyside A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt.

LINKWOOD

From Linkwood, an active distillery on Speyside. Rarely available as a single malt from the original distillers. Only the second Special Release bottling and the first for eight years. From Refill American Oak hogsheads and refill European Oak butts.

Only 6114 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 936 per bottle.

SKU # 727372

Highly Confidential

LINKWOOD – TASTING GUIDE

Linkwood 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 50.3% Tasting Guide A delightfully clean and light LINKWOOD, both elegant and stylish: the epitome of Speyside ‘finesse’. Displaying typical fresh fruit and floral characters in its slow desire to be approachable, the nose yet gives no hint to the wonderful elegance and complexity evident on the palate and in the finish of this sophisticated malt. Appearance: Full gold. Polished antique brass.

Nose: Soft, and takes time to open up, but then slowly fills out to present delicate fresh-fruit notes; a sweet, clean fruit salad including honeydew melon, grape, mandarin zest, apple and pear over a base of crumbly fudge. Gradually it becomes deeper and richer, like fruit salad in syrup; creamier perhaps, with marzipan, vanilla and a trace of sweet liquorice. Growing gracefully heady and intoxicating, with white rose over a smooth crème brûlée. A drop of water opens up the aroma but doesn’t alter it. More fudge, then an old fashioned fruit shop in summer. Body: Medium. Palate: Compelling. First, a generous, smooth texture: fruity, sweet and sugary overall, then warming and tart, with baked apple in the mid palate. An appetising dryness rapidly develops, with black tea and herbal cough candy offset by rum and raisin ice cream, lime and waxy vanilla. Finally, some ginger, clove and a little salt. With water, the apple becomes slightly caramelised, with a suggestion of saccharine-sweet vanilla sponge. Finish: Long and warming, with a peppery tingle. Oaky and herbal with dry, coating tannins and a clean, aromatic conclusion; that spice lingers in the aftertaste, which combines milk chocolate and sanded hardwood. With water it’s drier, but still warming; lighter, more cedary and waxy, the late tannins smoother and longer. Highly Confidential

LINKWOOD – DISTILLERY FACTS

Linkwood 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 50.3% Distillery Facts Established by 1825. Built and nurtured for seventy years by Peter Brown and his son. One of the few malts sold as a single malt in Victorian times. A later manager, Roderick Mackenzie, so resisted change as to refuse to remove cobwebs. Traditionally distilled at lower alcohol levels to bring out its fragrant richness. One of Speyside’s most romantic distilleries, its cooling water drawn from a lake that is home to swans and other wildlife.

A complex, classic and highly regarded malt-maker’s single malt. Demand for LINKWOOD has always outstripped supply, but this became so marked in the years leading up to 1971 that a new still house was built to run alongside the old. When this 37 year old was made the two were both producing, side by side.

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Mannochmore 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 53.4% Region: Speyside

MANNOCHMORE

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt. From Mannochmore, a relatively young Speyside distillery whose whisky is still rarely seen as a single malt. From a unique mix of first-fill ex-bourbon American Oak barrels, new American Oak barrels and new and ex-bodega European Oak butts. Fascinating to compare with an earlier Special Release 1990 18 year old from a similarly unusual mix of re-charred exsherry bodega European Oak with re-charred ex-Bourbon and new American Oak casks that had also held sherry, filled in 1993 after a short initial maturation in refill cask, and released in 2009. Just 3954 individually numbered bottles available world-wide, from specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 390 per bottle. SKU # 727375 Highly Confidential

MANNOCHMORE – TASTING GUIDE

Mannochmore 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 53.4% Tasting Guide An unusually rich MANNOCHMORE that makes a highly competent and self-assured digestif at natural strength, yet reveals more complex depths with water. Perfectly mature yet retaining its distillery character, it’s a consummate study in appetising, charred bitter-sweet pungency. Appearance: Deep amber with copper lights. Good beading.

Nose: Mellow: slow, deep and ethereal. Fruity in the main, as candied orange peel, waxy red apple peel, sweet Muscat grapes, ripe red apple and tart green apple all emerge from a dense, sugary, scorched fruitcake layer. Warming and powerful, growing faintly spicy and earthy with a late scent of gorse flowers. Fresh and immediate with a little water, which adds a creamy note; now it evokes a fruit salad on crushed ginger nuts, lemon glazed Danish pastries; fresh cherries. Later, menthol-cool. Body: Light to medium. Palate: Smooth textured and coating, the taste starts hot and sweet, with suggestions of burnt orange peel, vanilla toffee and creamy coffee. Becoming fragrant and floral, as orange oil and Turkish delight appear, set against a charred and compelling burnt pastry bitterness and a rising oaky dryness. At reduced strength the texture remains soft, the taste sweet, yet now joined by bitter black coffee; herbal, and oily too, with cool liquorice. Finish: Of medium length: firm, bitter-sweet and pungent with a faintly smoky warmth and an aftertaste of gorse flowers (coconut) or dried mixed fruit and eucalyptus. Oily and tarry. Cleansing, warming and bitter with water, with orange oil and burnt orange peel. The aftertaste is now of macaroon biscuits, with milk chocolate. Highly Confidential

MANNOCHMORE – DISTILLERY FACTS

Mannochmore 25 Year Old Distilled 1990 ABV 53.4% Distillery Facts Established in 1971 at Birnie, south of Elgin. Named after the Mannoch hill, which supplies the water used in distilling, along the northern slope of which the whole Glenlivet region lies. A picturesque district of barley-growing farmland, criss-crossed by streams. Built as a partner to the Victorian distillery, Glenlossie, with a similarly aromatic house style.

Rarely available as a single malt. Highly unusual as one even today. There have been three previous distillery releases. A 12 year old ‘Flora and Fauna’ distillery only bottling was available from the early 1990s. Fresh and clean, with an aperitif bite and a surprisingly dry finish for a Speyside malt.

A 22 year old cask-strength 1974 was released as a Rare Malt in 1997. Fresh, floral nose, smooth body, peppery fruit on the palate, robust finish. An 18 year old cask strength 1990 was released as a Special Release in 2009. Rounded, delicious and elegant with an appealing balance between silky, oily smoothness and flightier, more aromatic characteristics.

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Port Ellen 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 55.2% Region: Isle of Islay From Port Ellen, a closed distillery on the Isle of Islay.

PORT ELLEN

Now very rare and highly sought after at this age.

Sixteenth of a limited series of annual releases. The oldest PORT ELLEN ever released and unsurprisingly the most expensive Special Release yet. Annual allocation ensures availability of this irreplaceable malt for only a little longer. From refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts filled in 1978. Just 2940 individually numbered bottles world-wide. From specialist retailers only. RRSP CHF 3,900 per bottle. SKU # 727445 Earlier, larger releases in this series now change hands among collectors for large sums. Highly Confidential

PORT ELLEN – TASTING GUIDE

Port Ellen 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 55.2% Tasting Guide A self-assured, well-integrated and hugely complex PORT ELLEN in which subtlety is all, with an effortless balance of sweet fruit notes, deeper sapid tones, citrus, honey, smoke, fire and oak, this is the oldest PORT ELLEN ever released, and in the words of one taster “these old PORT ELLENS get better and better!” Appearance: Polished teak. Good beading.

Nose: Sophisticated and understated; dry overall, opening with distant, faint smoke, before a wave of familiar sweet and smoky notes, among which hints of hessian and warm wood are all that suggest great age. The distant smoke soon grows closer and more fragrant, while above it drift pleasing sweet aromas of honey-cured smoked meats or root vegetable. Through all this a fresh, cleansing note rises, to vie with sweet mint and sharp citrus winey hints too. Finally, smooth, dark cocoa, some vanilla and more wood smoke. With water, first sweet, then more muted and savoury, though later a fruity clarity sweetly returns. Body: Medium. Palate: Wonderful at natural strength. Sweet, prickly and drying, with a great mix of wood ash, burnt jam tarts, treacle toffee and caramelized orange. Then yet more all-pervading smoke with a spicy-herbal complex featuring cloves. Water makes things cooler and milder yet doesn’t alter the well-balanced flavour profile. Dark toffee first, then smoked meats, kippers, ash and cleansing phenols. Finish: Long, cooling and complex: drying, yet also coating. Instantly appetising, with toffee apple, burnt toast, lemon zest, ripe red apples, a burnt plum tart. Deeply herbal and heavy with wood smoke, which is softer with water. Highly Confidential

PORT ELLEN – DISTILLERY FACTS

Port Ellen 37 Year Old Distilled 1978 ABV 55.2% Distillery Facts Port Ellen was established as a malt mill on Islay’s famous south coast in 1825. It developed into a major distillery under John Ramsay from 1833-92. Trading directly with North America, in 1848 Ramsay secured the right to export whisky in larger casks and to store it in bonded duty free warehouses prior to export. The system endures.

The warehouses he built also still exist, and are listed buildings today. In 1967 the distillery was rebuilt, producing through the 1970s and closing in 1983. The Port Ellen name is kept alive by the island’s maltings.

Previous Special Releases of PORT ELLEN have regularly won Gold or Silver Medals at IWSC. A 29 year old was also voted Best Single Malt Scotch, winning Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2009. The oldest PORT ELLEN ever released, we think that this example perfectly illustrates the remarkable potential longevity of this now legendary single malt.

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