The Tartan Tryst

In this collection of seductive spirits, each one is a chapter in a flirtatious saga of Scotland’s storied landscapes that will leave you yearning for one more sip.

Begin your romance with Kilchoman Machir Bay, the enigmatic Islay whisky that captivates with its subtle peat and refined elegance. Crafted at the first new distillery on Islay in over a century, it charms with its commitment to tradition, boasting barley grown on Islay's fertile grounds and nurtured through traditional floor maltings. Let its gentle complexity whisper sweet nothings, drawing you deep into the mysteries of Islay's windswept shores.

Next, fall under the spell of Nc'Nean Organic Single Malt, the eco-conscious siren that embodies both beauty and brains. Named after Neachneohain, the Queen of Spirits, this whisky is a tribute to nature's seductive power. Crafted with organic barley and matured in red wine and American whiskey barrels, its vibrant palate offers a taste of sustainable serenity—a harmonious blend of elegance and environmental passion that awakens the soul.

Finally, give in to the tempting embrace of Man O'Words Sherry Butt 2016 Cask #160. This whisky, snatched for our Flaviar family exclusively, is a bold declaration of devotion, matured for seven years in a single sherry butt. At a potent 60% ABV, it invites you to delve into its rich, complex depths—an intoxicating interplay of flavors that seduces your senses and leaves a lingering impression.

Let each sip transport you to Scotland, where passion and craftsmanship meld into an unforgettable tryst that will leave you head over heels for Scotland's whisky artistry.

Smartass Corner
 
1. Whisky distilling goes way back to 1494 when the first recorded batch was made by a posse of monks who acquired about 60 gallons of barley and decided to turn it into "aqua vitae". They created the first 1,500 bottles of Scotch in history.

2. The term "whisky" comes from the Gaelic "uisge beatha", which means "water of life". The medieval folks called the spirits "aqua vitae" and the French call them "l’eau de vie", which means the same thing.

3. Single Malts have been around for ages, but while the general population drank blends, distilleries gave sample drams to their employees and the locals to see which batches were better. Glenfiddich put their first Single Malt on the market in 1963 and the Don Drapers persuaded everyone that Single Malt is the way to go.

4. To be considered a Single Malt Scotch, a bottle may only contain whisky distilled from malted barley and produced at a single distillery.  

5. The Five(ish) Single Malt Regions of Scotland are divided into the following:
- Speyside — has the largest number of distilleries. 
- Highlands — effectively, all the areas surrounding the Speyside region & The Islands, an unrecognized sub-region.
- Lowlands — located south of the imaginary line between Glasgow & Edinburgh.
- Islay — a small, rugged island off the west coast of the mainland.

6. The island of Islay itself plays a large role in the taste of its whiskies. That’s because Islay is largely composed of peat. In fact, most of the water there has a brownish hue due to its abundance. But that’s not all—the winter gales that blow sea salt inland also factor into some of the briney notes you’ll find in their whiskies.

7. What exactly is peat? Peat is thousands of years’ worth of decaying vegetation, animals, and moss which have evolved into layers that eventually form a bog. It grows at approximately 1mm per year, meaning a bog that’s one meter thick has been around for about a thousand years.

8. Good things come in small batches: Kilchoman is one of the smallest Scotch distilleries, producing around 120,000 liters a year. By comparison, Ardbeg—one of Islay’s most famous distilleries—pumps out over one million liters annually.

9. Nc'Nean runs a net-zero distillery, ensuring each bottle is crafted with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, it's bottled in 100% recycled glass, making it a sustainable choice with a touch of eco-friendliness.

10. Annandale Distillery crafts two distinct whisky styles: the sweet "Man of Words," honoring Scottish poet Robert Burns, and the peaty "Man of the Sword," named after Scottish hero Robert the Bruce.