The Whisky Grotto

The original blend of Irish whiskey, cream and fine spirits. Delicious with ice. Perfect with friends.

Cointreau: a masterpiece crafted through the unique distillation of all-natural sweet and bitter orange peels, resulting in a crystal clear liqueur that strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and freshness. For more than 30 years, the finest orange peels are carefully selected by our Master Distiller, Carole Quinton, to create the definitive orange liqueur.

Pure roasted coffee aromas with a rich, thick consistency that makes it perfect for cocktail use. Another liqueur whoseprecise production details are shrouded in secrecy. All we can tell youis the coffee beans are finest Mexican and the alcohol comes fromdistilled cane sugar.

The set up at Talisker produces a highly individual new make which mixes smoke, fruit, sulphur, salt and pepper. The malt is medium-peated, the worts clear and the fermentation long, but distillation is atypical with minimal copper contact, plenty of reflux and the use of worm tubs. The result is a heavier style of malt which lends itself nicely to a coastal influence and a smoky peat that is definitely there, but not too heavy.

Nose: A fresh and fragrant nose. Through pungent smoke comes sweet pear and apple peels, with pinches of maritime salt from kippers, seaweed.

Palate: It's a bonfire of peat crackling with black pepper, with a touch of brine and dry barley. A welcome delivery of orchard fruit provides a delicate and beautiful balance.

Finish: In a long finish, bonfire embers toast malt and crystallise a sugary underlay.

A dark spiced Caribbean rum from Trinidad and Tobago. Named after a mythical sea monster, it has a cult following amongst rum drinkers. As they say at Kraken: "Put a beast in your belly". Drink it neat with an ice cube or with your favourite mixer.

Campari is an Italian drink developed by Gaspare Campari in 1860. It is made by steeping a secret mixture of herbs in alcoholic spirits, creating a strongly flavoured alcoholic beverage. Used in a wide variety of cocktails or in the classic Campari and soda.

At Dalwhinnie, clear worts and long ferments create a starting point form which one might expect a light floral whisky. However, the stills are run in such a way as to minimise the conversation between malt and copper, and when this is combined with the use of worm tubs to condense, the result is a heavy and somewhat sulphurous malt. After fifteen years in cask though, this is combined into the whisky, and the thick honeyed and almost sticky quality that Dalwhinnie is so famous for, shines through.

Nose: Aromatic, toffee, fruit salad, lush nectarine, custard. Floral, apple blossom, honeysuckle. Apple peels, pear, touch of smoke.

Palate: Malty. Walnuts steeped in manuka honey with vanilla sponge. Gentle smoke weaves its way through the cereal with a touch of spice.

Finish: Long, malty, walnut, almond.

For this, "The Botanist", small-batch, artisanal Islay gin we use nine of the classic gin aromatics; orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, etc and augment these with a heady harvest of 22 wild, native island botanicals, hand-picked by our expert foraging team from the windswept hills, peat bogs and Atlantic shores of this Hebridean island of Islay.

This truly seasonal and exotic cocktail is then slow "simmer" distilled in our unique and cherished Lomond pot-still, "ugly betty". Betty prefers to work at low-pressure and won't be rushed. 

So our precious botanicals are slowly and gently coaxed into releasing their complex, signature aromatics. This was a unique project for our head distiller, Jim McEwan. Jim says he had to "learn a new dance" with Betty, and none of us knew what to expect from that first, achingly-slow 17 hour distillation. The result: a highly distinctive, complex, floral gin with outstanding finish and impeccable provenance.

 In an age of re-badged industrial gins, the Botanist stands out as a truly artisanal, small-batch, hand-crafted labor of love and distiller's art. A breath of botanical Islay in every glass.

Hendrick?s is something of a household name. Perhaps you've heard of it? This terrific Scottish gin is made using two different stills - the Bennett stillsteeps its botanicals overnight before distillation, while the Carter-Head has its botanicals in a basket up in the still neck, steaming them gently. It features the likes of juniper, cubeb berries, elderflower, chamomile, angelica, lemon peel, orange peel, coriander, yarrow and orris, alongside an infusion of cucumber and rose petal. If you're making a G&T with this, it just has to be garnished with a ribbon of cucumber.

Nose: Big, creamy aromas right off the bat, with a little zesty citrus, juniper, rose petal jelly and cucumber.

Palate: Astoundingly fresh notes of cucumber with juniper, oak, a touch more citrus and vanilla. Creamy and savoury.

Finish: A long, refreshing, floral finish.

Caol Ila is one of Islay's best loved distilleries and this 12 year old is their entry level bottling.

This expression is light and fresh with that distinctive Caol Ila smoke and notes of zesty limoncello. A perfect introduction to the joys of Islay malt and the mercurial qualities of peat smoked whisky.

Tanqueray No. Ten is a different expression from the TANQUERAY range of products. It is made with fresh citrus fruits in addition to other botanicals. Under the watchful eye and uncompromising senses of the Master Distiller, small batches of fresh citrus fruits and handpicked botanicals are distilled in the No. Ten Still to produce this exceptional luxury Gin.

The TANQUERAY? Perfect Serve?

1. First of all, take a fresh lime and cut it into wedges. 
2. Take one of these wedges and squeeze the juice from it into the bottom of your hi-ball glass. 
3. Next, fill the glass two thirds with premium quality ice and then pour in a 35ml measure of TANQUERAY? gin (43% ABV). 
4. Now, top up the glass with premium quality tonic and stir well. 
5. Finally, run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass, so that the fresh smell and taste of citrus greets you as you drink, and for the finishing touch, drop a fresh piece of lime into your now perfectly made T&T.

Nothing beats an original, and Malibu is not only an original, it is the world?s best-selling Caribbean rum with natural coconut flavour.; The taste of Malibu is Barbados in a bottle? smooth, fresh coconut flavour with a sweet finish--- perfect for bringing the island to anytime.

Cuervo^? Gold is golden-style joven tequila made from a blend of reposado (aged) and younger tequilas. Ever the story-maker, Cuervo^? Gold?s own story includes the leading role in the invention of The Margarita, and it is still the perfect tequila for that beloved cocktail.

During his time in Scotland, Charles Edward Stuart would carry with him a mysterious draught, from which he would drink a few drops every day. Nobody knew for certain what this formula was; only that it had been created by the Royal Apothecary. The apothecary would have imbued the drink with protective properties. He must have chosen Cloves - a dried flower bud of an Indonesian tree. This aromatic spice is still used for its powerful analgesic properties. Only the most prized spices would have been used. Many are convinced that saffron was the main ingredient. Not only was it renowned for its medical and sedative properties, but it would also have given the drink its rich golden colour. The secret selection of herbs, spices and Scottish heather honey is then infused by hand into the Scotch whisky base. Malts from the Speyside andHighland regions, renowned for their softness and smoothness, are used to complement the herbs and spices of the elixir. A unique highland spirit royal in appearance, exquisite in taste and deliciously potent. Source: drambuie.com 

Created by Jim McEwan from whisky matured in a multitude of different American oak casks, and chosen to represent the classic, unpeated distillery style. Bruichladdich's new signature bottling is made with 100% Scottish barley.

Nose: Elegantly sweet with honeyed barley, boiled sweets and orange petals. Wafts of sea air and a splash of sulphur.

Palate: Red apples and white grapes, with touches of sweet cinnamon and brown sugar. Still softly coastal.

Finish: Mineral-rich malt, with toffee and more honey.