Top 10 August picks

Widow Jane 10 year old Bourbon - 45.5% 70cl - Widow Jane 10 Year Old Bourbon is crafted in Brooklyn, New York from not more than 5 barrels which have been sourced from an undisclosed distillery. It’s then proofed down to 45.5% ABV with pure limestone mineral water from the Rosendale mines and bottled without chill-filtration. Although Widow Jane currently sources their bourbon and rye, they do distil their own spirits and plan to one day make 100% of their own whiskey. Dark bitter chocolate, peanuts, toffee, orange.

Foragers Yellow Label Gin - 42% 70cl - Starting with soft juniper tones, Foragers gently takes you to fresh, semi-sweetness of apple and elderberry, before giving way to incredible, subtle, unmistakable floral notes from gorse and heather flowers. This truly is an authentic expression of Britain and the terroir of North Wales. Perfect served in a variety of drinks including a dry martini or in the simple, but classic Gin & Tonic using either BTW Tonic water or Fever Tree Tonic, with a slice of British red apple.

Dalmore 12 Year Old - 40% 70cl - The Dalmore 12 Year Old is a robust Highland single malt with plenty of notes from the sherry wood maturation. The attractively perfumed nose offers sweet malt, thick cut orange marmalade, sherry, and a hint of leather. It’s full-bodied, with sweet sherry on the palate, along with spice and balanced, delicate, citrus notes. The finish is long, with spice, ginger, lingering Seville oranges and even a hint of vanilla.

Jura 18 year old - 44% 70cl - At the peak of the Jura distillery's core range (relaunched in mid-2018) sits the Isle of Jura 18 Year Old. This expression is aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels before enjoying a finishing period in Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, imparting a rich fruitiness. Top dram for late evening. The palate offers notes of brandied cherries, Turkish delight, milky coffee, and blackcurrant jam.

Aged Key West Raw & Unfiltered Rum - 40% 75cl - This is Key West's first legal rum distillery since Prohibition. Chef Paul Menta's award winning Key West rums are aged in Salt Cured Barrels using locally and naturally-sourced authentic food flavours. Aged in brand new American Oak Barrels they take the new barrel to the ocean and fill it with fresh sea water. After the barrel swells over night, they drain out the ocean water and let it cure. This removes all the fresh water and leaves a salt residual that opens the pores of the wood letting it age better and release the good flavours from the wood into the rum.

Aviation Gin - 70cl 42% - A batch-distilled American gin that's inspired by the fuller-bodied Dutch style and championed by Ryan Reynolds. Created by distillers Lee Medoff and Christian Krogstad, who teamed up with Seattle mixologist Ryan Magarian, this spicy, floral gin is made with rye neutral grain spirit and a ‘botanical democracy’ of juniper, cardamom, coriander, lavender, anise, sarsaparilla and orange peel.

Tamdhu 12 Year Old - 43% 70cl - A fabulous Tamdhu, matured exclusively in a combination of first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks for 12 years. Sherried Speyside whisky is always a winner, with oodles of fruit and spice. Check out that handsome retro bottle, too. Stunning stuff. Lots of plum, juicy raisin, fried banana, raspberry jam doughnuts and oak spice on the palate, with chocolate fudge, a whisper of smoke and sweet cinnamon on the finish.

Hakushu Distillers Reserve Single Malt Japanese Whisky - 70cl 43% - From the Hakushu distillery in the foothills of Mount Kaikomagatake comes their Distiller's Reserve single malt whisky, a no-age-statement expression, that captures the smoky, herbaceous characteristics of their whiskies. Both lightly-peated and heavily-peated malts were used for this complex and deeply enjoyable whisky. One of two Spring 2014 release from Suntory.

Auchentoshan 12 year old - 40% 70cl - A more recent release from the Auchentoshan distillery, replacing the previous staple 10 year old, this 12 year old bottling launched at the same time Auchentoshan had a dramatic rebrand back in 2011. Oaky and sweet palate, with barley sugar, a little passion fruit and vanilla custard too. Perhaps some rose petal jelly in there. A lengthy, dry and oaky finish with barley sweetness and cocoa powder.

Fettercairn 12 Year Old - 40% 70cl - The Fettercairn 12 Year Old is intended to embody the distillery’s floral and exotic fruit-driven character. It was matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 40% ABV. On the palate we can find tropical fruit and sticky Jamaican ginger cake add a sweet and spicy depth which a flicker of bitter herbs and vanilla complement.