Robbie's Whisky Merchants

31/03/2025

CLUB NIGHT 🥃

Massive thanks to from for coming along and hosting Friday’s club night 👍🏼

We sampled the entire core range and three limited release bottles before being treated to the ultra rare first 10yo single cask which had previously only been enjoyed by the Distillery Team. Quite an honour!

🥃🥃🥃

27/03/2025

Lochlea Ploughing Edition - Third Crop - Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Launching Thursday 27th March, Online and In-Store

The fourth in a new and final series of limited edition seasonal bottlings.

This is now the end of the seasonal release bottles

Lochlea ‘Plough Edition’ (third Crop) reflects the season of Winter on the farm, when they start to plough the fields in preparation for sowing the barley seed in Spring.

In this release they have used 100% ex-Islay Barrels.

The main differences from Ploughing Edition (Second Crop) is in the extra ageing which has resulted in what the distillery describe as their peatiest / smokiest whisky to date.

Nose: Fresh green apple, sweet toffee and comforting notes of signature Lochlea cereal

Palate: More fresh fruit, giving way to wonderful savoury smoke and malted biscuits.

Finish: Moreish fresh coastal notes of sea salt and a long lingering hint of peat.

25/03/2025

NEW ARRIVAL 🚨

BRUICHLADDICH PORT CHARLOTTE HEAVILY PEATED 18 YEAR OLD ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY - 2025 RELEASE

Only 8,000 bottles have been produced.

This Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 18 year old has been fully matured on Islay and displays this full provenance in the flavour profile.

A combination of first fill bourbon casks (53%) and second fill sherry casks (31%). A further small and interesting parcel of Port Charlotte (16%) was also filled into sherry casks for 11 years, before being recasked into Virgin French Oak for around five years. This spirit was then recasked into second fill bourbon barrels, before all components were married for bottling

40 parts per million (PPM)

Nose: Dried fruits are immediate on the nose, with the aroma of figs, sultanas and raisins mingling with sweet smoke and mellow oak. As the whisky breathes, charred oak, to***co and earthy heather come to the fore, complimenting the delicate sweetness of caramel, toffee and date syrup.

Palate: Luxuriously smooth in texture, dark brown sugar, apricot jam and sweet heather honey coat the palate. This initial sweetness is punctuated by Port Charlotte’s signature peat smoke, with the subtle influence of toasted oak adding depth and complexity. The earthy, barbeque smoke adds a savoury element, beautifully balanced with rich crème brûlée, hazelnut and toasted coconut. A subtle minerality not only nods to the whisky’s all-Islay maturation but adds a hint of salt, cutting through the sweetness.

Finish: Wood spices, smoked leather and a subtle nutty salinity settle on the finish, while the inimitable whisper of Port Charlotte peat smoke lingers.

Tasting Notes Courtesy of Bruichladdich.

🥃🥃🥃

24/03/2025

GOLDEN WEEK AT LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES 😜🏆

Delighted for who have won over 50 awards and distillery of the year! Incredible effort 👏🏼

To celebrate this achievement, from 24th-31st march we are offering 20% off ALL LOCH LOMOND PRODUCTS 🤩

Make use of this offer while it lasts 🥳

Use code LL20 at checkout 👍🏼🥃

24/03/2025

We are super excited to be helping launch the final piece of the Lochlea seasonal release jigsaw on Thursday 27th March.
This release will be available online and in-store.
To secure a bottle feel free to contact us now! 🥃🥃

Our smokiest whisky yet! Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop) is the last ever Seasonal Limited-Edition and will be available from the 27th of March.

With this marking the end of our Limited-Edition Seasonal Range, have you managed to taste them all?

Let us know your favourite in the comments!

18/03/2025

We are delighted to have available the full Batch 17 range.
Congratulations Alistair Walker Whisky Co for another fantastic selection.
Available online and in-store now!
🥃🥃

Landing gear engaged... Infrequent Flyers Batch 17 cleared for landing... AWW Release Numbers 155 to 161. Six single malts and one single grain. Here are the details:

Girvan 1997 / 27YO / Tawny Port Finish
Croftengea 2005 / 19YO / Peated / Moscatel Finish
Inchgower 2007 / 17YO / Marsala Finish
Dailuaine 2008 / 16YO / Pedro Ximenez Finish
Benriach 2011 / 13YO / Madeira Finish
Glentauchers 2012 / 12YO / Virgin Oak Finish
Tullibardine 2012 / 12YO / Virgin Oak Finish

13/03/2025

CHEESE & WHISKY PAIRING OF THE MONTH IS BACK 🧀😍

In partnership with 🤩

🥃 Glasgow 1770 Peated 🥃

Glasgow 1770 Peated is matured in American virgin oak casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The subtle peat helps bring out the sweet and nutty flavours of the wonderful Mayfield.

Experience wonderfully floral and sweet BBQ smoke on the nose. Notes of rich toffee and dark fruits combine on the palate with hints of to***co leaf and dried apricots before a wonderfully rich and long finish with a hint of spice.

TO BE PAIRED WITH…

🧀 Mayfield 🧀

A gold and silver award winner from master cheesemakers Alsop and Walker, Mayfield has been compared to Emmental, with its sweet and nutty flavours and characteristic oval holes, or eyes, which develop naturally during the cheesemaking process.

Maturing for 5-7 months gives Mayfield a subtle tangy and nutty flavour making it perfect for fondue or your evening cheeseboard.

12/03/2025

This is the 14th annual Loch Gorm Single Malt to be released by Kilchoman.

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Loch Gorm 2025 Edition is the first ever Loch Gorm aged for over 10 years in oloroso sherry butts.

This vatting is made-up of 23 casks - 20 fresh and 3 refills - from two different distillation years. True to its previous editions, it boasts aromas of rich dark fruits, sweet spices, and toasted nuts while showcasing the characteristic savoury peat smoke.

Loch Gorm 2025 Edition was matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts from Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin.

This range is named after a famously peaty loch over looked by the distillery; Kilchoman draws water for the production of Loch Gorm and their other releases from the burn that runs into the loch.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: custard tart, freshly roasted coffee with notes of candied ginger.

Palate: Honey roasted figs, cloves and sticky toffee pudding with a suggestive smokiness evocative of barbecued bananas.

Finish: Lingering finish with a savoury undertone held together by a smoky and earthy influence

04/03/2025

Kilchoman 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Limited Edition

The second age statement release.

This limited release has been matured for 13 years in a combination of bourbon barrels, octaves and calvados casks. The whisky exudes an abundance of juicy fresh fruits, intense sweetness and waves of Islay maritime peat smoke.

Nose: Fragrant and delicate with bursting notes of fresh pineapple, hibiscus and lemon sherbets.

Palate: Herbaceous with undertones of dried apple granola, caramelised puffed wheat and buttered popcorn.

Finish: Light and graceful with reminiscence of orchard fruits and zesty freshness

26/02/2025

Check out HearlandFM to win x2 tickets for our “Pride of Scotland” show with Strathearn Arts Crentre, Crieff on Fri 7th March 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🕺

12/02/2025

Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask Release 2025
The second release of Madeira-matured spirit.

Bourbon Barrels re-racked into Madeira
43% Peated Spirit
57% Unpeated Spirit
Unchill filtered
Natural Colour
52% ABV

Nose: Cocoa powder, stewed plums, sugared almonds, bread and butter pudding, nutmeg, sandalwood, bracken, fruit scone, redcurrants.

Palate: Cinnamon sweets, cedar bark, salted trail mix withchocolate chips, rosemary stalks, toffee apple, pine needles, strawberries with black pepper.

Finish: Medium weight, dusty, long and slightly drying finish.

🥃🥃🥃

31/01/2025

Launching Saturday 1st February!

Bruichladdich Octomore Single Cask 11 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 2025 Release

Introducing the 1st Octomore Single Cask!

Available for the first time this Octomore Single Cask is matured and bottled exclusively in Islay and hand selected by Head Distiller, Adam Hannet.

Matured in 100% first fill bourbon casks

Malted to 107PPM.

Bottled at 59.4%abv.

Aged 11 years.

UK Exclusive

Only 246 Bottles

29/01/2025

Daftmill 2009 15 Year Old Fife Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Daftmill Distillery is situated near Cupar in Fife, making it one of just seventeen Lowland distilleries currently releasing whisky, with 6 more under construction or active but not yet releasing. However, Daftmill was the pioneer - commissioned in 2004, though only began production in earnest in 2005, it marked start of the new wave of distilleries. At that time it was the first malt whisky distillery in Fife since Auchertool closed its doors in 1927.

The business is owned by Francis and Ian Cuthbert whose family has farmed the land since the 1980s.

The third Daftmill 15 year old release is made with Optic Barley, grown on their south fields. 20 casks were used for this release, a fifth of their annual production! 19 ex bourbon casks and 1 PX sherry cask.

As far as we are aware this is the first time an ex PX Cask has been included

21/01/2025

Introducing the final whisky & cheese pairing in partnership with 🤩

🥃 Lochlea Fallow 🥃


This Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese oozes character and should be paired with a robust full-bodied whisky which compliments the buttery, tangy and earthy flavours.

I have chosen this wonderful Ayrshire Single Malt aged in 1st-fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and has direct links to our National Poet Robert Burns to complete our trilogy of Whisky and cheese recommendations for Burns Night.

Nose: Delightful baked apple and sweet medjool dates

Palate: Manuka honey and nutty fresh malted bread

Finish: Rich buttery sandalwood oils and mixed peppercorns

🧀 Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop 🧀

Dunlop cheese can be traced back to 1690, first made by Barbara Gilmore in the village of Dunlop, from the milk of her own dairy herd of Ayrshire cattle. The resulting milk was high in butterfat producing a creamy cheese, with distinct buttery, earthy and tangy flavour.

Adding to the lore, there are records of Robert Burns having a brief stint making Dunlop cheese before his career as a successful poet, believed to have been gifted a cow by Barbara herself. Ann Dorward is the present maker of Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop, awarded PGI status in 2015, firmly cementing it as a fixture in Scottish cheese history and doing Ayrshire proud as one of the only regionally protected cheeses in Scotland!

12/01/2025

Next up on our cheese & whisky pairing 👀🧀🥃

Connage Organic Clava 🧀

Handcrafted by Connage Highland Dairy of Inverness, Clava, is named after prehistoric burial cairns situated just a few miles from the farm. The organic dairy herd graze on the luscious pastures around and along the shore of the Moray Firth which produces the rich milk used to make this award winning cheese.

Clava is silky and smooth, becoming even more luscious if allowed to ripen. Its strong earthy, grassy and buttery flavours make this a very special and delicious addition to your Burns Supper cheeseboard.

TO BE PAIRED WITH…

Arran Port Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky🥃

The subtleness of Connage Organic Clava with its silky and smooth texture, means that a big powerful whisky won’t work. A sweeter, fruitier whisky really complements the robust earthy and grassy flavours. This is why I’d recommend the Arran Port Finish

Nose: Wonderful aromas of vanilla spice and ripe citrus with dried fruits and nuttiness.
Palate: Fruity and spicy with cinnamon baked apple wrestling with raisin and plum pudding.
Finish: Sweet with a hint of pear.

11/01/2025

We are delighted to announce that tickets for our 22nd annual festival will be going on sale to the public on Monday (20th January)
Please note that tickets will be sold IN STORE ONLY and it is maximum x 2 per purchase
Price: £45
Date: Saturday 31st May 2025
Time: 2pm-6pm
Location: Ayr Town Hall

🥃🥃🥃

Tickets available at
Robbie’s Whisky Merchants
3 Sandgate
Ayr
KA7 1BG

07/01/2025

We are delighted to be in partnership with fellow local business for the month of January, recommending some truly excellent pairings 🧀🥃

🥃Lagg Kilmory Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky 🥃

The influence of the peat combined with the vanilla and creamy influence of the American oak ex bourbon Casks form the backbone of this Single Malt and marry together perfectly with the salinity found in this wonderful Arran Blue cheese.

• Nose: Heather smoke and charred citrus
• Palate: Initial burst of fruit gives way to subtle bonfire smoke and a long-lasting finish
• Finish: Long with hints of stone fruits and vanilla.

🧀 Arran Blue Cheese 🧀

Arran Blue hails from its namesake, a small island situated off the West Coast of Scotland, made using the milk of a single dairy herd. Semi soft in texture, the flavours vary greatly depending on the age of the cheese, from creamy and slightly salty when young, to tangy as it matures.

Keep following us for more pairings as the month goes on 🤩👍🏼

30/12/2024

Still looking for that special dram to welcome 2025?

Available now! 🥃

Arran 12 Year Old - Marsala Cask -Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Ambassador's Dram Release 5

In 2016 Robin Russell was proudly selected as the first UK retailer to become an Arran Malt Ambassador. This special accolade recognises his great support and efforts over the past 29 years in promoting The Arran Malt brand on both a personal and professional level. Robin has specially chosen this Refill Marsala Wine Cask which is the fifth in a series of unique Arran “Ambassador’s Dram” bottlings.

The Arran Ambassador's Dram Release 5
Distilled on 01-10-12 and bottled 03-10-24.
A Refill Marsala Wine Cask, fully matured 12 years old non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 58.8%alc./vol. and deeming only 265 individually numbered bottles.

Cask #2085

Colour: Rich Copper

Nose: Rich vanilla, apricot, demerara sugar and light spice.

Palate: Well rounded, richly fragrant with candied tangerine peel, dry figs, manuka honey, citrus truffles, white chocolate and hazelnuts.

Finish: Satisfyingly long and fruity with hints of key lime pie and toasted oak.

Tasting notes by

Robin Russell