Three great offers on whisky, rum and Champagne

Each month, we choose a whisky and a spirit that we particularly like and knock a chunk off the price. Now and again, we do the same thing with Champagne. We’re nice like that. October is no exception, and we’re delighted to be able to offer three cracking deals on a trio of great products: the whisky is a rich, smoky dram from Caol Ila; the rum is a dark, full-flavoured bottling from Bacardi; and the Champagne is a classic example from the renowned house of Veuve Clicquot.

Let’s start with our Malt of the Month. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay, and much of its 6 million litres of alcohol per year find their way into bottles of Johnnie Walker. But the distillery has also found fame as a single malt in its own right, and quite right, too.

The 2001 Distillers Edition was finished in sweet Moscatel wine casks, adding rich fruitiness and layers of spice; a fine counterpoint to Caol Ila’s smoky, citrusy tones. We’re knocking £14 off our normal price, making the whisky a very reasonable £49.95.

CAOL ILA 2001 DISTILLERS EDITION, 43%

Producer’s Tasting Notes

Nose: Wonderfully concentrated pure, clean Caol Ila – peaty and medicinal, with rich fruit, spicy and fragrant. With water, the fragrant smokiness comes singing through.

Palate: Sweetness and maltiness strike first, then are quickly overwhelmed by peat smoke and intense, clean, crisp flavours. Caol Ila’s signature smoky bonfires are here, and build to quite a size. Overall, drying, in a beautifully balanced, complex, elegant development, complemented with cinnamon spice.

Finish: Long, rounded, robust and multi-layered.

Our Spirit of the Month is from the rum maestros at Bacardi. Rich and dark, Bacardi Black is a full-bodied rum that works as an excellent cocktail base or mixed and served long. We’ve reduced the price by nearly £10 for the whole of October – a 70cl bottle is now just £19.95.

BACARDI BLACK RUM, 40%

TWE tasting notes

Nose: Plenty of spice and toffee notes, with a touch of brûlée topping and liquorice.

Palate: Toffee and vanilla at first, then rich caramel and coffee tones come through along with subtle cinnamon spice, dried fruit and barrel char.

Finish: Pleasantly spicy, with lingering sweetness.

Finally, we’ve dropped the price of bottles of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label – one of the most famous Champagnes around, packaged in a smart gift box. Veuve Clicquot is one of the most iconic Champagne bottles, with its instantly recognisable yellow label, and the wine itself makes a delicious aperitif with its fruity, toasty character.

VEUVE CLICQUOT YELLOW LABEL GIFT BOX, 12%

Producer’s tasting notes

Nose: It is so pleasing: initially reminiscent of white fruits and raisins, then of vanilla and later of brioche. Note the fine balance between the fruity aromas coming from the grape varieties and the toasty aromas following the ageing in the bottle.

Palate: The first sip delivers all the freshness and forcefulness so typical of Yellow Label with a symphony of fruit tastes following on. Here is a true member of the powerful Brut family, well structured, admirably vinous. The lingering aromas echo and re-echo, with each fruit or spice note distinct.

Three great products and three great savings. Whichever of the three you choose, you won’t be disappointed. Remember that we pick a new whisky and spirit each month, so keep checking thewhiskyexchange.com for new, exciting offers. Happy drinking!