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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $61.77 $65.02
6 bottles: $58.25
An impeccably balanced lowland malt, displaying a dazzling spectrum of aromas, from fresh-cut grass to dried cereal...
12 FREE
UBC
95
WE
92
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $58.52 $61.60
6 bottles: $50.95
Smooth and light, this single-malt Scotch segues effortlessly from vanilla, butterscotch and coconut sweetness to...
12 FREE
WE
93
BTI
90
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $84.49 $88.94
6 bottles: $79.10
An assortment of dried fruit interweaves with fresh chopped pine and hazelnut ganache on the nose. A silky, smoky...
12 FREE
UBC
95
WE
94
Case only
Spirits
700ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $70.80
Bright and golden, Alinta uses PX Sherry barrels, ex-Bourbon casks, and 100% peated malt to achieve maximum...
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Case only
Spirits
700ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $70.80
Copper gold in color with sweet floral aromas of fresh apples and vanilla cream. Palate is clean and fresh with...
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Case only
Spirits
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $52.56
Notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate and pepper. Matured in a combination of Sherry and...
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Case only
Spirits
700ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $67.20
12 FREE
Case only
Spirits
700ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $126.00
12 FREE
Case only
Spirits
700ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $198.00
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Sale
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $62.12 $65.39
Time, and the distiller’s skills have worked their magic. Three ingredients - water, malted barley, and yeast -...
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Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $88.39
6 bottles: $87.60
12 FREE
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Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $62.74 $71.70
A whiff of green apples and rubber bands on the nose gives way to cereal sweetness on the palate. A light, vibrant...
UBC
92
Sale
Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $80.73 $114.94
This 2004 vintage Distillers Edition from Glenkinchie has been finished in amontillado-sherry casks for an extra...
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Spirits
12 FREE
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $58.60 $61.68
6 bottles: $49.20
12 FREE
Sale
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $57.00 $60.00
6 bottles: $56.40
12 FREE
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $68.40
6 bottles: $64.80
12 FREE
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $36.14 $38.04
12 bottles: $30.44

Single Malt Scotch Tequila White Rhone Blend Scotland Lowland

Tequila is probably Mexico’s greatest gift to the world of fine spirits, and is also possibly one of the most underestimated and misunderstood drinks in the world. Widely used for shots and slammers, and more often than not associated with parties and hangovers, Tequila is in fact a wonderful drink full of subtleties and expression of terroir, that is highly rewarding for those who look into its finer points.

One of the special things about Tequila is the fact that it is capable of expressing the fine nuances and subtle notes of its raw material, far more so than other, similar spirits. That raw material is, of course, the Blue Agave - not a cactus, as is commonly believed, but rather a succulent quite like a lily, which grows in the deserts of Mexico mainly around the province of Jalisco. The Blue Agave takes a decade to mature, and during those ten years, it takes in many of the features of its surroundings, just like a grapevine would. This is why Tequila varies in flavor and aroma from region to region, from the earthier Tequilas of the lowlands, to the more delicate and floral examples from areas of a higher altitude.

The picking and peeling of the spiky Agave, and the distillation process of Tequila is a complicated one, and one which is carried out with enormous skill by the jimadors and master craftsmen who produce the spirit. Steam cooking of the body of the plant is followed by crushing, then fermentation and distillation completes the process. The end product is categorized according to whether or not it is made with pure (‘puro’) agave, or blended with other sugars, and according to how long the spirit is aged for.

The Rhone region of France has been producing superb quality white blended wines for centuries, and is a region highly respected and esteemed around the world, with plenty of New World countries keen to emulate the styles and techniques displayed by the historic wineries and skilled vintners of the area. The secret to the Rhone's success when it comes to blended white wines is the careful and expert selection of certain grape varietals, which each lend special features to the blended wine and bring balance and harmony to the bottle. Most commonly, blended white Rhone wines feature no more than two grapes of either the Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne or Grenache Blanc varietals, and are renowned for their exceptional flavors and highly aromatic, floral character.

As you move south through Scotland, towards the English border where wars have been fought over territory and sovereignty for hundreds of years, you begin to notice some dramatic differences not only in lifestyle, attitude and landscape, but also in the production of scotch whisky. The Lowland region of Scotland is the second most industrious whisky region, due to the enormous number of distilleries which can be found here. In the past, the Lowlands were synonymous with high quality, single malt whiskies, but while a couple of excellent single malt producers still remain in the area, today the majority of whiskies of this region are very different.

The Lowland region is now primarily associated with blended whiskies, and grain whiskies which appeal to a wide international audience. While in the past, the Lowlands were thought of as a poor-quality whisky region, with a negative reputation in the 18th and 19th centuries, today, quality is back up to where it should be thanks to stringent new laws and regulations overseeing the production of the distinctive drinks which are distilled here.

Of the surviving single malt distilleries in the Lowlands, quality is exceptionally high. This is a region with a lot to prove, and it has significant competition with its northern neighbour in the Highlands. As such, Lowland single malt whisky is ferociously traditional, and uses every trick in the book to achieve exceptionally smoothness, typified by grassy, creamy whisky which is packed full of complex flavors of toffee and honeysuckle.