Home » 4 items in Wine, Spirits & Tobacco for $1,000 or less

Best of the best: Voted world's best single malt Scotch whisky, 2003. This is the world's finest single malt Scotch whisky, according to the panel of 75 international whisky experts who gave Glenfiddich the Gold medal in the 2003 Whisky Magazine independent blind tastings in Edinburgh, Kentucky and Tokyo. The Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Rare Collection is a limited edition of 600 bottles that justifies the time -honoured, unchanged techniques and craftsmanship of the Glenfiddich distillery. 'This malt has matured with elegance,' says world-renowned whisky expert Michael Jackson, author of The Malt Whisky Companion. 'It is the most urbane Glenfiddich that I have tasted... it tells a story a little at a time, dryly, almost teasingly. It makes such good company that I am reluctant to share it.' ABV 43.6% (first batch); ABV 45.4% (second batch); both 70cl. Limited edition of 600 bottles; packaged in a hand-made oak box with a brass plaque; bottle label and tasting notes personalised with the bottle number and bottling date; each bottle is signed by Peter Gordon, the great-great-grandson of Glenfiddich distillery founder William Grant; in 2001 it won three awards: Gold Medal - International Spirit Challenge; Silver Medal - International Wine and Sprits Competition; top score (9.5 out of 10), Whisky Magazine.

Bruichladdich 40 Year old vintage, the oldest Bruichladdich ever, distilled on 24th October 1964 - The oldest Vintage in their cellars. Only 500 bottles available worldwide with a cask strength of 43.1%. Islay bottled, caramel free and non-chill filtered for a fuller flavour, Bruichladdich Forty is the first ever release of their oldest whisky. Fulsome, rich and exceedingly elegant with a smooth clover honey texture. Sensuous fragrances of butterscotch and mint, maple syrup and oak, candied almonds. Sweet dark vanilla, poached pear and cinnamon - lots of fantastic combinations. Soft pear and mandarin orange aromas. The yellow sherbert tingle from 40 years of maturation on the wild Atlantic Coast. The concentration of toasted oak bursts onto the palate with a rush of heat but slows down and turns mellow and magical. The mouthfeel is succulent soft fudge and exotic yellow fruits with a twist of lime and grapefruit, and is sublimely smooth.

This small batch of Cognac has been naturally aged in oak barrels for over a century. With a high degree of 'rancio' this delicate, elegant and rounded luxury Cognac has a long lasting flowery aroma.

The highest quality Cognac on the market today, Louis XIII has been carefully tended by three generations of Remy Martin cellar masters. The result is a magical combination of savoir-faire, art and patience. Remy Martin Louis XIII uses only grapes from the Grande Champagne region which guarantees it's unique, exclusive quality. It is blended from eaux de vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in 'tiercons', barrels that are several hundred years old, in a cellar set apart for it alone. Undoubtedly the world's finest, this exceptional Cognac has always been a favourite in the world of politics, fashion, and art. It's connoisseurs include Christian Dior and Elton John. Queen Elizabeth II, who was served Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac in Versailles Palace in honour of her 1957 visit to France, and Winston Churchill, who celebrated his election victory with it in 1951. It's colour is a very dark golden yellow with a fiery red tint and mahogany hue. The first nose is of narcissus, jasmine, very old tawny port, cigar box scent, curry, saffron, nutmeg and passion fruit. The second nose is of violet, iris, litchi, pineapple, eucalyptus and sandalwood. The first palate is very concentrated and wonderfully rich in aromas, warm and harmonious. Second palate is of the highest complexity including aromas from the first and scond noses. A long finish of up to an hour.