Havana House’s Top Whiskies to Try This Autumn

We all know that every season is whisky season. However, we have to admit, now the darker evenings are drawing in and there is a nip in the Great British air, now is the perfect time to start warming up with a selection of fantastic and intriguing whiskies. Below is a comprehensive list of whisky that inspires us here at Havana House, and we hope you too can have the pleasure of enjoying these Scotch fineries. 

Ardbeg Uigeadail

A stunning masterpiece when it comes to a fine Scotch. The Ardbeg distillery, located on the south side of the Isle of Islay, has been producing whisky since 1798. Upon opening a bottle, you can tell the level of commitment and expertise that goes into every bottle, especially once tasted. If you’re a peat head, you will appreciate this whisky as Ardbeg whiskies are considered the peatiest in the world. The particular whisky we stock here at Havana House was announced in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2008 as the number one whisky in the world.

An interesting face about Ardbeg is that in 2011, 20 vials of Ardbeg spirit and particles of wood were sent to the International Space Station to investigate their interaction. The vials returned to earth in 2014; we wonder many of those were still full, or whether the cosmonaut had a cheeky dram for all the hard work.

Aroma

The whisky is a dark golden colour after carrying all that deliciously smoky peat. The aroma is stunning, very heady and smoky yet lightened by the fresh smell of cedar and oceanic spice, then ends with the smell of well-oiled leather boots drying next to a hot smouldering log fire. On top of all these fragrances dances a sweet raisin and treacle aroma, and together these notes are incredibly indulgent and beautifully balanced.

Taste

As expected from a quality whisky, on the tongue the flavours are rich and silky, coating the mouth easily. There is a complex balance of sweet, spicy and smoky flavours.

The character starts as Christmas cake with the treacle and raisins coming through; then you get hit with the spicy-smoky glaze over your tongue. A conversation happens between the rich, smoky glaze and sweet, aromatic treacle continually working together and building on each other. This reminds us of a good Montecristo cigar, which would pair incredibly well with this dram. The finish is warm mocha and raisin with a puff of peat smoke. Stunning.

The Glendronach Allardice, 18-year-old

Founded in 1826 by James Allardes (referred to by many as Allardice) the Glendronach distillery has been producing traditional whisky ever since. They pride themselves on handcrafting their whisky and using age-old techniques to produce their fantastic spirits; the distillery has its water supply drawn from the Dronac burn located on site. After the whisky is distilled and then distilled again, it is put into the finest sherry casks. Nearly 70% of whisky flavour is derived from the cask, which is why Glendronach make no compromises when choosing their barrels, and this is very apparent when tasting their absolutely beautiful whisky.

 Named after the renowned founder of the distillery, James Allardice, the Allardice 18-year-old is a sherried malt, non-chill filtered and matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, and bottled at cask strength which is 46%.

Aroma

Dark brown sugar and fudge, mixed with fruit compote and Morello cherries, adding to this already luxurious experience.

Taste

Beautiful stewed fruit flavours which are remarkably dark and intriguing, then there is a spiciness which pairs so beautifully with the classic Oloroso sherry cask taste, finished with an elaborate and long toasted hazelnut, bread and chocolate orange flavour. Try pairing with a medium bodied cigar.

Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength Batch 3

On the beautiful Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland lives the Arran distillery, located in Lochranza. The island is slightly separated from the Hebrides by a small finger of the Scottish mainland, so it doesn’t receive the same cult status. Though, as the only legal distillery on the Isle, it does have a stamp somewhere with its small cult following and very collectable batches. Arran produces mainly unpeated malt, in a very traditional way, using things like wooden washbacks and non-chill filtration. If you venture to the western side of the island you will find the ancient peat bog named Machrie Moor, a thing of local legend due to stone circles, thousands of years old, which makes quite the fitting name for this very legendary whisky.

Aroma

A soft amount of peat floating in the background, plenty of citrus lemon, herb oil and a scorched pineapple topped with floral soaps, dried earth and chilli with that touch of oak. Rather soft on the nose for such a substantial proof.

 Taste

Sharp, earthy peat with that citrus kick and herby oil calming the palette, the scorched peat and pineapple come through to coat the tongue and a fantastic complex mix of acrid smoke, and sharp acidity comes out towards the finish. Then it’s chilli chocolate and creamy peat with a small amount of smoked stewed fruits. Pair with a dark cigar for the ultimate experience and to bring in more smoky notes.

Edradour 2006 Scotch

The Edradour distillery, “Scotland’s little gem”, as it says on the label is situated at Milton of Edradour, close to Pitlochry was formed in 1925 by a group of eight farmers. The distillery is still a farm-sized operation with only three employees. The distillery is equipped with a Morton refrigerator for cooling the wort and the two small stills with their single worm spirit cooler. While still benefiting by being ranked amongst the small working stills of Scotland the owner’s Signatory Vintage are planning to increase the size and output. We say, as long as it doesn’t have an adverse effect on the quality of the product, then fantastic news.

Bottled straight from the cask at a strength of 59.3% you’re certainly going to taste the alcohol! This is no whisky for beginners and can only really be enjoyed by a grizzled connoisseur. If you would like to try it a bit lighter, leave it out in an open tumbler for a while to let the alcohol evaporate.

Aroma

Plenty of molasses and treacle scorched onto baking paper followed with tangy redcurrant jelly, cranberries and chocolate.

Taste

As you can guess, strong alcohol, very potent throughout, grippy on the tongue with dark chocolate and walnut skins, ground mace and hazelnuts give off a little sweetness, finished quite long with a dry draw. Beautiful with a drop of distilled water and a Davidoff, late hour.

If there is any Scotch you think we have missed or perhaps you’re keen to buy cigars online from us that you’d like to pair with any of these whiskies then comment below, we would love to know which ones they are!