Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky Bundle, 7x70cl

1 of Caol Ila Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - Established in 1846 near Port Askaig on Islay by Hector Henderson, Caol Ila means “Sound of Islay” in Gaelic. A fresh water supply was one reason for its siting and water has been important in many ways, ever since - 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, which for many years all supplies arrived and casks departed by sea, on a small coaster called the Pibroch. Caol Ila has been regularly globally awarded at the most prestigious events, since 2002.

1 of Cragganmore Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - Founded in 1869, Cragganmore was built at a time when no new distilleries had risen on Speyside, for twenty years. It was the brainchild of whisky legend John Smith. His timing was good; this was the first distillery purpose-built to take advantage of railway transport and could easily take its whisky to market. The stills, unique in Scotland, were and are flat-topped - a Smith design to encourage reflux. Only the lighter, more subtle vapours pass through the lye pipe to be condensed in the traditional worm tubs outside, leaving the spirit clean, serious and complex. The regular release of CRAGGANMORE is highly praised by experts and deserves to be far better known.

1 of Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - “Madly sited”, perched high between two mountain ranges on a pass once a meeting point for cattle drovers on their way to market. The name Dalwhinnie translates from Gaelic as “Plain of Meetings”. Surviving periods of closure, the distillery has produced its distinctive single malt since 1947, only being completely modernized in 1996. Dalwhinnie has the coldest annual mean temperature of any inhabited place in Scotland and is so cold in winter, that the water in the outside worm tubs can freeze. That very coldness lends an intensity to the spirit that is even more marked in winter.

1 of Glenkinchie Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - Founded in 1837 by farmers George and John Rate, twenty miles from the heart of Edinburgh, Glenkinchie was completely rebuild in the 1890s to become a large model distillery. And it has worked almost continuously ever since, even through two world wars. It occupies a sylvan setting with its own bowling green, yet possesses two of the largest stills in Scotland. The buildings converted to steam heated stills in 1981, with the wash still alone holding some 32,000 litres. One of the last working Lowland distilleries for many years, Glenkinchie is known as “The Edinburgh Malt” for its proximity to Scotland’s capital city.

1 of Lagavulin Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - Created with passion and skill since 1816, this iconic Lagavulin celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2016 and is for many the pinnacle of Islay malts; intense in flavour, smoky and rich. It’s quite a legacy to carry in a bay from which the sons of Somerled, Lord of the Isles, sailed to war; a bay guarded still by his ruined castle, Dunyvaig. Barley malted over local peat smoke imbues Lagavulin with its rich mix of shoreline airs and scented, smoky dryness. Here’s a whisky so intense it turns away the cold. Lagavulins special editions and older releases are vanishingly rare and highly sought after.

1 of Oban Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - The tiny distillery of Oban was founded by brothers Hugh and John Stevenson way back in 1794, and the town grew up around it. Oban was advertised to be “the finest sma’ (small) still whisky in the Highlands” by new owner J. Walter Higgin in 1883. Due to the non-expandable distillery size they use small stills, which don’t run continuously. Judicious rest is needed to maintain the spirit’s light, fruity and spicy character. Oban almost fell victim to its size but fortunately a reprieve was granted and in 1972 a new still-house was built. Oban’s current 14-year-old is highly regarded.

1 of Talisker Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl - The oldest working distillery on Skye, Talisker was founded 1830 by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill. By late Victorian times it had become one of the largest selling single malts going from strength-to-strength, showing that then as now, the whisky had its own distinct style. But in 1960, the still-house was destroyed as flaming whisky ran into Loch Harport, that set it ablaze. The rebuilt distillery contained exact replicas of the old stills, featuring U shaped lye pipes that yield a form of double distillation and together with cooling in traditional worm tubs. These features still give Talisker unique texture and character.

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