Released in the UK in 2021, 'A Tale Of Winter' is the latest annual limited edition from Glenmorangie to arrive in Australia, coinciding with the approaching Winter season and World Whisky Day (Saturday the 21st of May). Like its predecessor, "A Tale of Cake', this is a concept whisky from the inside out. Bill Lumsden has used 13 year old (plus) x-Bourbon matured single malt and finished it in Sicilian Marsala wine casks. The flavours of Marsala typically hint at apricot, vanilla and brown sugar and range from dry to very sweet. Evidently Lumsden felt these casks were perfectly suited to provide the profile he was looking for. The marketing team have responded with an eye catching knit-sweater-patterned presentation to evoke the feeling of the season. As for the whisky itself, it kind of reminds you of mulled wine or spiced rum. The colour is deeper and the nose heavier and richer than most 'Morangies to date; Festive spices feature, with cinnamon and nutmeg over ginger snaps and hints of orange cake and boiled confectionary. The palate is more full bodied again with a deliberate spice theme: Ginger beer, fruit cake and persistent warming spices ricochet around the drying finish. Ultimately, it's a whisky that achieves exactly what the label suggests - a genuine Winter warmer. Besides sipping straight, Glenmorangie recommend it in a Winter Old Fashioned (recipe below). 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

The Teeling 13-Year-Old Irish Single Grain consists of triple distilled Irish whiskey distilled predominantly from maize, initially matured for 9 years in ex-Bourbon barrels before being given extra maturation for over 4 years in ex-Bordeaux Red Wine casks and bottled at 50% ABV to capture all its natural flavour. This new, older expression of Teeling Single Grain also differs through its dual cask maturation. The initial Bourbon cask maturation produces a beautiful base of sweet vanilla and caramel with buttery oak, which is then complimented by the extra aging in the Bordeaux Red Wine casks, layering on a beautiful bouquet of red berry and soft orchard fruits with honey notes.

Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years has rich sweet fruit aromas along with toffee caramel, vanilla and a hint of smoke. Its warming and sweet on the palate with dark fruits, malty cereal, smooth creamy vanilla, fragrant almonds and tangerines, and a gentle smoke developing. A lingering finish brings notes of dark chocolate, caramelised citrus peel and very light smoke.

Camus Borderies XO has delicate violet and vanilla oak aromas due to part of the process is aging it slowly in oak casks. This allows the boutique to develop into fruity, spicy notes with a long floral finish. A recipe and method used over five generations of the same family, this Cognac is smooth with exceptional quality.

Laphroaig, founded in 1815 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, has an extremely rich history; neighbourly disputes with Lagavulin and many ownership changes to name a couple. The 10 Year Old Single Malt is Laphroaig's signature malt that is full sparkling gold in colour and has that signature rich smoke and seaweed character with a hint of sweetness. Surprisingly the palate is rich with subtle sweet hints and complex layers of salt and peatiness that evolve on the palate and continue to the long and dry finish.

This peaty Single Malt dates back to 1816, when John Johnston and Archibald Campbell each constructed a distillery on what today is the Lagavulin site. After Johnston died, Campbell consolidated the two, before selling it to malt merchant Alexander Graham. Today it continues to uphold the traditions of its past, using meticulous preparation to create powerful whisky. Their signature 16 year old malt has a strong peat, smoke and seaweed nose that is followed by a nutty complexity and light fruitiness. In the mouth characters of Charcoal, dry woodiness and iodine followed by chilli chocolate and a hint of toffee.

Created from a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons along with a small quantity of virgin oak casks and red wine barriques. 46% Alc./vol. Non chill filtered.

Deep, caramel aromas are balanced by sea salt, dry seaweed and warm sand on a smoky barbecue base. The texture is smooth, the taste hugely rich and sweet before the classic Talisker heat builds with a dash of salt and chilli pepper to a smoky, peppery and drying finish.