A busy month of Laphroaig releases with Berry Bros & Duncan Taylor chipping in with a host 11 & 12 year old single casks.

Laphroaig 1998, 11 Year Old
70cl  / 61.1% / Berry Bros. ~ £45.99  (£39.14 ex VAT)

Laphroaig Royal British Legion 1998
70cl  / 55.4% / Berry Bros. ~ £48.99  (£41.69 ex VAT)

Laphroaig Coopers Choice, 10 Year Old
70cl / 46.0% / Vintage Malt Whisky ~ £37.99  (£32.33 ex VAT)

Laphroaig Rare Auld 1997, 12 Year Old
70cl / 54.9% / Duncan Taylor ~ £54.99  (£46.80 ex VAT)

Laphroaig NC2 1997, 12 Year Old
70cl / 46.0% / Duncan Taylor ~ £36.79  (£31.31 ex VAT)

Laphroaig Cairdeas, 12 Year Old
70cl / 57.5% / Distillery Bottling ~ £101.99  (£86.80 ex VAT)

The 2nd batch of Managers' Choice releases arrived with single casks of Talisker & Blair Athol still available.

Talisker Managers' Choice 1994
70cl / 58.6% / Distillery Bottling ~ £299.99  (£255.31 ex VAT)

Blair Athol Managers' Choice 1995
70cl / 54.7% / Distillery Bottling ~ £199.99 (£170.20 ex VAT)

A few spare bottles from the Old Malt Cask 60th Anniversary series lurking in the deepest corners of the Douglas Laing warehouse arrived along with a new Port Ellen (sherry) and a very rich looking Tamdu (sherry).

Glenfarclas 1991, 18 Year Old
70cl / 54.9% / Douglas Laing ~ £99.99  (£85.10 ex VAT)

Glenfarclas 1969, 40 Year Old
70cl / 54.9% / Douglas Laing ~ £199.99  (£110.20 ex VAT)

Macallan 1989, 20 Year Old
70cl / 54.3% / Douglas Laing ~ £129.99  (£110.63 ex VAT)

Glen Grant 1979, 30 Year Old
70cl / 52.5% / Douglas Laing ~ £204.99  (£174.46 ex VAT)

Dalmore 1976, 32 Year Old
70cl / 55.4% / Douglas Laing ~ £284.99  (£242.54 ex VAT)

Port Ellen 1983, 26 Year Old Sherry Cask
70cl / 46.0% / Douglas Laing ~ £119.99  (£102.12 ex VAT)

Tamdhu 1989, 20 Year Old Sherry Cask
70cl / 55.6% / Douglas Laing ~ £99.99  (£85.10 ex VAT)

Duncan Taylor released some cracking Glenlivets and single grains in 2009 - here are some of those sister casks along with a highly collectable Port Ellen of which there are only 12 avilable for the Scotland and the UK.

Glenlivet 1987, 22 Year Old Auld & Rare
70cl / 56.1% / Duncan Taylor ~ £69.99  (£59.57 ex VAT)

Cameronbridge 1979, 30 Year Old
70cl / 51.3% / Duncan Taylor ~ £75.99  (£64.67 ex VAT)

Port Ellen Rarest of the Rare 1983, 26 Year Old
70cl / 54.6% / Duncan Taylor ~ £189.99  (£161.69 ex VAT)

Bowmore 1982, 27 Year Old Octave Cask
70cl / 50.6% / Duncan Taylor ~ £87.99  (£72.33 ex VAT)

Cameronbridge 1978, 31 Year Old Octave Cask
70cl / 54.6% / Duncan Taylor ~ £77.99  (£66.37 ex VAT)

Caperdonich 1972, 37 Year Old Octave Cask
70cl / 46.8% / Duncan Taylor ~ £114.99  (£97.86 ex VAT)

A new bottling of Ichiro's Malt Card series along with single cask of Chichibu (Japans Kilchoman if you like) and Miyagikyo fresh off the boat from Japan.

Chichibu Newborn Cask 446
70cl / 61.3% / Distillery Bottling ~ £64.99 (£55.31 ex VAT)

Hanyu 1990 Five of Clubs Cask 371
70cl / 57.4% / Ichiro Akuto ~ £109.99 (£93.61 ex VAT)

Hanyu 1990 No.1 Drinks Cask 370
70cl / 57.3% / Number One Drinks ~ £104.99 (£89.35 ex VAT)

Yoichi 20 Year Old
70cl / 52.0% / Distillery Bottling ~ £179.99 (£153.18 ex VAT)

Miyagikyo 1990, 19 Year Old
70cl / 61.0% / Distillery Bottling ~ £114.99 (£97.86 ex VAT)

Several rare and collectable Ardbegs including one of the top rated Commitee releases from 2006. The mystery malts could well contain a single cask Port Charlotte.

Bruichladdich Valinch 1991 Temple of Drams
50cl / 53.3% / Distillery Bottling ~ £119.99  (£102.12 ex VAT)

Benrinnes 18 Year Old, Robert Burns 250th Anniversary
70cl / 50.0% / Independent ~ £114.99  (£97.86 ex VAT)

Ardbeg Black Mystery 2nd Release
70cl / 46.0% / Distillery Bottling~ £101.99 (£86.80 ex VAT)

SMWS 33.70
70cl / 57.3% / Scotch Malt Whisky Society ~ £199.99  (£170.20 ex VAT)

SMWS 23.61
70cl / 68.2% / Scotch Malt Whisky Society ~ £199.99  (£170.20 ex VAT)

SMWS 23.61
70cl / 59.9% / Scotch Malt Whisky Society ~ £199.99  (£170.20 ex VAT)

Ardbeg Oogling
70cl / 59.9% / Distillery Bottling ~ £399.99  (£340.42 ex VAT)

Islay's newest distillery Kilchoman launch their next official bottling on 30th November and we expect another rush for these very limited bottles.

We have been inundated with requests for the "Autumn 2009" bottling. Matured in Fresh Bourbon barrels for 3 years and then finished for 2.5 months in fresh Oloroso sherry butts.

**UPDATE** Stock now expected mid-late December; we cannot guarantee you a bottle but if you would like a heads-up email as soon as this bottle is available to order on the web site please contact info@thewhiskybarrel.com

Independent Bottlers' Challenge 2010

Category: Campbeltown 13-18 Years Old

GOLD AWARD: Glen Scotia 1992 Vintage, 16 Year Old

Category: Islay 19 Years Old Plus

BRONZE AWARD: Bowmore 1989 Vintage, 18 Year Old

Category: Lowland 19 Years Plus

GOLD AWARD: St Magdalene BBR, 1982 Vintage, 25 Year Old

Category: Speyside 12 Years Old and Under

BRONZE AWARD: Longmorn BBR, 1996 Vintage, 11 Year Old

Single Malt Whiskies:-

Brora 1981, 27 Year Old (330 bottles)

Glenlivet 1970, 39 Year Old (128 bottles)

Royal Lochnagar 1990, 17 Year Old (259 bottles)

Dalmore 1990, 18 Year Old (298 bottles)

Caol Ila 1982, 27 Year Old (221 bottles)

Isle of Jura 1990, 18 Year Old (312 bottles)

Single Grain Whiskies:-

Carsebridge 1979, 30 Year Old (164 bottles)

Very rarely available Carsbridge in Alloa (Lowland) was once the biggest distilling plant in Europe, it was a major victim of the distilling recession of the early eighties. The site was demolished in 1992.

Cameronbridge 1979, 30 Year Old (206 bottles)

Cameronbridge in the Kingdom of Fife (Lowland) was the very first distillery to install a continuous still and so the first to produce grain whisky Scotland. Today this vast distilling complex produces many other types of white spirits along side grain whisky.

Benriach 19 Year Old, 1990, Cask #970 (ex-bourbon, 195 bottles)
Benriach 20 Year Old, 1988, Cask #4224 (Gaja Barolo cask, 322 bottles)
Benriach 24 Year Old, 1984, Cask #1048 (Pedro Ximinez cask, 279 bottles)

BenRiach's sister distillery Glendronach has enjoyed something of a revival this year and a series of annual vintage single cask bottlings is proving a hit with collectors and connoisseurs and for 2009 Batch 1 comprises five vintage sherry cask releases including:-

Glendronach 16 Year Old, 1993, Cask #523 (634 bottles)

Islay:-

Bowmore 21 Year Old, John Milroy Selection
Bowmore 1989 Vintage, 18 Year Old
Laphroaig 10 Year Old, John Milroy Selection

Highland:

Macduff 1991 Vintage, 17 Year Old

Speyside:-

Dailuaine 1974 Vintage, 32 Year Old

See all available Berry Bros & Rudd bottlings.

Islay:-

Bowmore 36 Year Old, 1972
Port Ellen 26 Year Old, 1982

Highland:-

Ben Nevis 31 Year Old, 1975
Glenturret 21 Year Old, 1985
Dalmore 18 Year Old, 1990
Royal Lochnagar 17 Year Old, 1991
Glen Ord 10 Year Old, 1998

Lowland-

Glenkinchie 21 Year Old, 1987
Auchentoshan 25 Year Old, 1984

Speyside:-

Mannochmore 17 Year Old, 1991
Mortlach 19 Year Old, 1988
Imperial 25 Year Old, 1982
Linkwood 17 Year Old, 1990
Macallan 20 Year Old, 1988
Longmorn 18 Year Old, 1989
Glenrothes 33 Year Old, 1972
Glenlivet 22 Year Old, 1985

First in the Series: The Peacock

Limited Edition of 6,000 bottles worldwide

• 13 Ex-Bourbon Barrels
• 7 Ex-Sherry Hogsheads
• Stunning Packaging
• Non- Chill Filtered
• No added Colouring

The proud peacock that roams the grounds at the Isle of Arran Distillery has become an endearing symbol of our distinctive whisky. His vivid character is reflected in this glorious single malt, from 20 casks chosen exclusively by our Distillery Manager, James MacTaggart. This 1996 Distillation, aged for 12 years, is typically Arran in style, with orchard fruits and rich vanilla sweetness followed by a spicy twist in the tail, resulting in a truly impressive display.
 

Raymond Armstrong and his team at Bladnoch Distillery have bottle up a series of three very well received Caol Ila casks in June; some of these bottles are made available to the trade and we have managed to secure a parcel of cask #4939 - a 29 year old sherry hogshead filled 21st May 1980 and bottled 15th June 2009.

Caol Ila 29 Year Old 55.1%

Ardbeg 18 Year Old 50%
Laphroaig 21 Year Old 50%
Macallan 30 Year Old 51.3%
Rosebank 19 Year Old 50%
Highland Park 11 Year Old 50% (SAVE £15)
Port Ellen 26 Year Old 50%
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old 50%

West Register House, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh plays host to an exhibition of whisky documents and treasures on display until 26th June 2009.

Albeit a modest exhibition, entrance is free and is well worth dropping in if your in Edinburgh's west end. There are displays charting the story of 'Whisky Galore' along with a fascinating official ledger signed by Rab' Burns in 1796.

A range of collectable Dewar’s blends and exhibits from Diageo's extensive history are also on display.

The main draw is a rare opportunity to see the 'Exchequer Roll of 1494' a parchment which documents the earliest known reference to whisky in Scotland.

The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) West Register House, Edinburgh.

Wednesday 7 May until Friday 26 June, Monday to Friday, 9.00 – 4.30.

Photographs © www.scottjphotography.com

Following on from last years 18 year old Longrow (we still have just a few bottles left) is the eagerly awaited 18 from Springbank.

We will give this a full rating later in the month with our blind tasting roundtable - needless to say the cork is already off the sample bottle and we reckon this release is a sure-fire hit. Big on sherry, marzipan notes, liquorice and green apples.

Springbank 18 Year Old 46% (2009 Release)

Longrow 18 Year Old 46% (2008 Release)

Aberlour Single Sherry Cask, Warehouse No.1 62.6%

Aberlour Single Bourbon Cask, Warehouse No.1 63.5%

Glen Moray is normally only available in NAS form (actually an 8 year old) in the UK while some lucky markets enjoy a 12 and 16 year old. Here we have two single cask offerings normally only available at the distillery. A tremendous rich Oloroso sherry matured 12 year old and a first fill bourbon.

Glen Moray Single Sherry Cask, 1995 Vintage 59.6%

Glen Moray Single Bourbon Cask, 1995 Vintage 60.7%

Bladnoch 16 Year Old 55%
Bladnoch 18 Year Old 55%
Bladnoch 6 Year Old 58%

Linkwood 17 Year Old Single Cask 54.1%
Caol Ila 25 Year Old Single Cask 53.2%
Longmorn 11 Year Old Single Cask 60.2%
Glen Grant 28 Year Old Single Cask 51.7%