No Need to Stick to the Tried and True So, where do you find whiskies that are a little unusual? You might track these down when visiting an unusual distillery or by keeping your eyes open for airport exclusives. Discontinued lines may be harder to find, but can be well worth the effort in terms of a unique taste experience! Part of the fun is in the search, so get out your tasting notes and add these harder-to-find whiskies to your ‘Must Try’ list. GlenDronach 12 (Independent Bottle-shop Only) Founded in 1826, GlenDronach is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. GlenDronach Original 12 is a fine sherried single malt that’s matured for at least 12 years in sherry casks. Sweet and creamy with just a hint of ginger and pear, this amber-red gold beauty is worth searching for. Armorik Dervenn (Independent Bottle-shop Only) Warenshem Distillery in France makes this fine single malt whisky in Brittany. Made in copper stills and aged in oak casks made by the last barrel-makers Brittany, Amorim Dervenn this sweet, spicy whisky presents balanced flavours. Made in a limited edition, it’s a good idea not to wait once you’ve found a source! Abomination, the Sayers of the Law (Fast-aged in USA - Islay Malt) Looking for cutting edge whisky? Abomination, the Sayers of the Law may sound like a movie title (and does, in fact, hail from Los Angeles), but this fast-aged whisky makes good use of new technology developed by Bryan Davis, co-founder of Lost Spirits Distillery. Try it - let us know what you think! Glenfiddich 19 Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Finish (Airport) What’s not to love about this rich, single malt whisky from oak casks once used to age Madeira wine? Earthy, rich, and robust, this is a spicy whisky that’s delectable and smooth with plenty of old world charm. Johnnie Walker Blue Cask Strength (Airport) This 2012 limited edition is memorable in terms of both its potency (55.8% ABV) but also the way its smoky presence lingers on the palate. Selectively blended from several casks, this is rich, flavourful and fierce. Bakery Hill Classic Malt (Independent Bottle-shop Only) This light gold Australian malt has a fresh, fruity nose and the fruit continues on the palate. That said, this initial lightness is followed by a surprising intensity. Definitely worth a taste, this is a playful, lighthearted whisky. Kavalan Solist (Independent Bottle-shop Only) A World Whiskies Awards winner in 2017, this Kavalan whisky makes excellent use of oak casks for a rich, woody finish. Mmmm… Not just a flash in the pan, the Taiwanese distillery also took top honours for producing the world’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky in 2015. Keep an eye on this distillery to see what they might be offering next. Longmorn 16 (Discontinued) A fine bottle of single malt Scotch whisky, if you can get your hands on a bottle, Longmorn 16 is no longer being produced as such, having been replaced by a new whisky that uses fewer sherry and European oak casks. That’s a shame, because Longmorn 16 is lovely with an earthy complexity, just dry enough without sacrificing complexity or fullness. BenRiach 16 (Independent Bottle-shop Only) Yes, you’ll detect a hint of peat here in this single malt Scotch whisky. You’ll also find a satisfying, well-balanced nose with a suggestion of honey and vanilla. Apples, spices and toffee round out the taste in what can only be described as a deeply satisfying whisky. Adelphi Laphroaig 17 - (Independent Bottle-shop Only) From the Isle of Islay we love this single malt from the Laphroaig distillery. You can’t miss the smoky peat, the wild, windswept essence of the place where they’ve been honing their whisky-making skills for more than 200 years. This is a robust but smooth whisky with a whiff of dark chocolate and a suggestion of citrus. When it comes to choosing a whisky to suit your tastes, the only way to know for sure how you’re going to respond is to sample some options and start paying close attention to the experience. It can be hard to track down anything more exotic than what you’ll find at the shop around the corner, which is why a subscription to Whisky Loot’s service is so invaluable. Several of our carefully curated whiskies arrive at your door each month in smaller quantities so you can enjoy the widest range of tastes possible without breaking the bank. We’re always curious to know what you think, so after you’ve had a chance to sip and savour, drop us a note and let us know your impressions.