Every summer, Islay fills with smoke, music and whisky people from every corner of the globe – that's Fèis Ìle, the island's own festival for the peat-loving crowd. Big Peat has marked it with a special release every year since 2013, and in 2026 the festival turns 40. Beneath this year's mosaic label sits a peated whisky that's been left to rest a little longer, in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks.

Expert's Description

Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2026 Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks and bottled at cask strength, 52.6%. The bottle's full name is Friends of Fèis Ìle 2026, Douglas Laing's contribution to the island's legendary whisky festival in its anniversary year.

Big Peat isn't tied to a single distillery. Douglas Laing in Glasgow blends single malt whisky from several of Islay's distilleries into one whisky that gathers the island's peated character into a single bottle, without disclosing the exact sources. For this release, the father-daughter team behind the house, Fred and Cara Laing, let the blend rest further in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, and every bottle is then signed by hand. The casks lay a layer of figs, dates and roasted coffee over the earthy Islay smoke, while the whisky is neither coloured nor chill-filtered – so whatever the cask gave it stays in the glass.

The label is a small work of art in itself: a mosaic portrait of Big Peat's bearded mascot, built from thousands of faces submitted by fans around the world. It makes the 2026 release as much a tribute to the community around the festival as to the whisky itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Earthy Islay peat leads the way, followed by sweet bonfire smoke, sticky figs, dates, dark-roast coffee and a hint of sea air.

Palate

Toasted walnuts and cocoa meet a velvety sweetness from the Pedro Ximénez Sherry, while medicinal peat and charred oak keep things balanced.

Finish

Long and warming, with a dry Sherry richness and a lingering, coastal smokiness that stays in the mouth.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2026 Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Bottled: 2026
Edition: Friends of Fèis Ìle 2026

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spiced · Rich

Investment Potential

Medium. Big Peat's annual Fèis Ìle releases tend to become sought-after among collectors, and this one carries extra weight as an anniversary bottling for the festival's 40th year, plus Fred and Cara Laing's hand signature on every bottle.

Did You Know?

This year's label is a mosaic portrait of Big Peat's iconic bearded face, built from thousands of small portraits submitted by whisky fans from all over the world.

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There's something about an old Chivas bottle that makes time slow down for a moment — the silver-embossed box, the heavy cap, a small label on the back still speaking of import rules from another era. This isn't just a whisky. It's a fragment of Aberdeen, sealed away in a cupboard for decades.

Expert's Description

Chivas Regal 12 Year is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43%. This particular bottle comes from an original bottling for the German market, imported by Übersee Spirituosen-Import GmbH of Hamburg — a company that fades from the record later in the 1970s, once Seagram Deutschland took over distribution. The back label's wording, "Ausländisches Erzeugnis," was a legal requirement on all Scotch whisky sold in West Germany until the end of 1983, and combined with the importer's name it points to a bottling from the 1970s, possibly earlier.

The blend is created by Chivas Brothers Ltd in Aberdeen, a company whose roots trace back to 1801, when brothers James and John Chivas ran a well-stocked grocery and wine merchant's shop in the city. At its heart, then as now, sits Strathisla Distillery in Speyside — the oldest working distillery in the Highlands, founded in 1786 — whose rich, fruity malt ties the blend together. The box carries relief-printed scenes of Scottish Highland life, a style that disappeared from the packaging during the 1980s, and the bottle is sealed with its original screw cap rather than the cork that later became standard.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and ripe apples meet a hint of resin and old timber. There's a depth here rarely found in today's 12 Year bottling — a touch more sherry character, likely because blends of that era typically carried a higher proportion of older whiskies than the stated age suggests.

Palate

Soft and rounded, with baked fruit, dried apricot and a whisper of cinnamon. Custard-like sweetness meets a light citrus edge reminiscent of lemon peel, with a warm, spiced undercurrent of clove sitting beneath it all.

Finish

Long and gentle, closing with vanilla and a dry, faintly smoky note that speaks of an old, well-used cask.

Specifications

Name: Chivas Regal 12 Year
Distillery: Chivas Brothers Ltd
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Natural colour: No
Bottled: 1970s

Flavour Profile

Honey · Dried Fruit · Spiced · Soft Oak · Classic

Investment Potential

Medium-High. This specific 1970s bottling for the German market has long been discontinued and is consistently sought after by collectors in both the UK and continental Europe — it typically changes hands for several times the current recommended price of the standard bottling, partly because the box, cap and label style document a period of Chivas history that no longer exists in production.

Did You Know?

The "Ausländisches Erzeugnis" wording on the back label isn't just decoration — it was a legal requirement for all Scotch whisky sold in West Germany right up until 1983, and today it's one of the most reliable ways collectors date old Chivas bottles.

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Scotland's oldest independent bottler pulls a forgotten name out of the cellar and dusts it off. Seven Stars is not a bottle that shouts. It whispers about old warehouses in Campbeltown and about a time when a blend had to prove itself with flavour.

Expert description

Cadenheads 7-Stars is a Blended Scotch Whisky finished in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

Seven Stars revives a historic Cadenhead's brand originally bottled to show that outstanding whisky could be made by blending carefully chosen casks from the house's own stocks. Wm Cadenhead was founded in 1842 and is Scotland's oldest independent bottler, today run by J & A Mitchell, the people behind Springbank and Glengyle.

The contents combine malt and grain whisky from distilleries across Scotland with the weight on the grain share. After blending, the whisky is finished in oloroso sherry casks, and that is where the character gains depth, body and a darker tone.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dried fig with malted grain, orange peel and a stroke of toasted nut.

Palate

Soft and creamy with toffee, dark fruit and a fine sherry spice. The 46% carries more weight than a standard blend.

Finish

Medium and dry with nuts, grain and a lightly bitter oak note.

Specifications

Name: Cadenheads 7-Stars Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Seven Stars

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Malty · Creamy · Spiced

Did you know?

Wm Cadenhead has never owned a distillery in its own name, but its owners J & A Mitchell run both Springbank and Glengyle in Campbeltown. That leaves the company independent of the large groups in a way very few others are.

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A great blend is never an accident — it is the sum of dozens of quiet decisions made over many years. This Isle of Skye release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

Isle of Skye 25 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

This bottling comes from Ian MacLeod Distillers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, toffee and a whisper of peat.

Palate

Honey, malt and a light peppery spice.

Finish

Medium length with a soft smoky close.

Specifications

Name: Isle of Skye 25 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Isle of Skye
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010852047301

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. 25-year-old blends are rare, because both the malt and grain components must mature for the same length of time — making Isle of Skye 25 Years an unusual example within the category.

Did you know?

Even though Isle of Skye is a blend, the philosophy is the same as for a single malt: nothing in the bottle is younger than the stated age, including the grain components.

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A blend normally holds dozens of whiskies. The Double Single holds two. One single malt and one single grain, and after that there is nothing left to hide behind.

Expert description

Compass Box The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 53.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The original Double Single arrived in 2010 built on exactly two components, which is where the name comes from. This anniversary edition marks ten years on and is bottled at cask strength rather than the usual strength, which makes it fuller and more intense without breaking the idea. The concept is unchanged: as few moving parts as possible, so you can taste precisely what the malt and the grain each contribute.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden and layered. The natural sweetness of cereal first, then creamy vanilla, honey and ripe apples, with a light citrus freshness and a suggestion of smoke underneath.

Palate

Full and velvety. Honey, vanilla and ripe pear meet citrus and dark caramel, while the malt base gives depth and a touch of spiced smoke. The strength warms without cutting.

Finish

Long and warm, with cereal, vanilla, light oak and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Compass Box The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 53,3%
Bottler: Compass Box
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition

Flavour profile

Creamy · Honeyed · Vanilla · Lightly Smoked · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. A limited edition at cask strength, built on a concept the house rarely returns to. Anniversary releases from Compass Box have historically sold out quickly.

Did you know?

The word blend has been used as an insult among malt enthusiasts for decades. The Double Single was made as a counter-argument: two components, full transparency about the recipe, and a whisky that shows what grain can actually contribute when it is good enough.

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Behind every well-balanced blend sits a master blender who has tasted more casks than most drinkers will in a lifetime. This Isle of Skye release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

Isle of Skye 12 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

This bottling comes from Ian MacLeod Distillers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: Isle of Skye 12 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Isle of Skye
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010852000184

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

The label on Isle of Skye shows Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most photographed castles, even though it actually stands on the mainland near the bridge to Skye.

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Blending is a craft in its own right, and this expression shows exactly why patience and a steady hand matter. This Isle of Skye release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

Isle of Skye 18 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

This bottling comes from Ian MacLeod Distillers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, heather and a light smoky lift.

Palate

Balanced malt and grain sweetness with a mellow smoke.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Isle of Skye 18 Year Ian MacLeod Distillers Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Isle of Skye
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010852030884

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

Ian MacLeod Distillers, the company behind Isle of Skye, was founded in 1933 and today also owns distilleries such as Glengoyne, Tamdhu and Rosebank.

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Big Peat's peaty power meets the sweetness of a Madeira cask in this winter edition.

Expert description

Big Peat Winter Edition Madeira Cask is a seasonal release of the Islay blend, with part of the whisky finished in Madeira casks, bottled at cask strength, 53.6%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a sweet Madeira-driven fruitiness.

Palate

The palate is smoky and full with peat, dried fruit and a sweet Madeira character.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Winter Edition Madeira Cask Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.6%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Cask type: Finished in Madeira casks

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Sweet · Fruity

Investment potential

Annual, limited Big Peat releases like this one are often sought by collectors and Islay enthusiasts, and can become hard to find once sold out.

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Second round for the little brown dog. Same idea, a cask strength that lands low all by itself, but nine years on a different combination of wood, and the result has a firmer edge than its predecessor.

The expert description

Drookit Dug 9 Years Old is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at cask strength 45.2%.

Little Brown Dog has assembled it from malt and grain whisky, with a smaller share of older grain pulling the balance in a softer direction. The wood covers both 1st fill and refill bourbon and sherry casks, and nine years have given the whisky more depth than the original Drookit Dug without shifting its underlying character.

Like the rest of the range it is bottled at cask strength with no dilution, no chill filtration and no added colour. The 45.2% is simply where the casks themselves ended up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale caramel from the bourbon wood, with dried apricot and a thread of cinnamon coming off the sherry side.

Palate

Rounder and more settled than its predecessor. Honey and coconut first, then raisin and dark chocolate, with a grain sweetness holding it together.

Finish

Medium length and dry with oak, black pepper and a last nutty note.

Specifications

Name: Drookit Dug 9 Years Old
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 45.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Creamy · Spiced · Malty

Did you know?

Grain whisky has long carried a reputation as the anonymous filler in a blend, yet it is precisely older grain that gives bottles like this their creamy texture. Little Brown Dog uses it deliberately as an ingredient rather than as padding, and says so on the label.

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In miniature format, An Gearasdan packs all of Roslin Distillers' classic blended style into a small bottle, perfect for getting to know the brand.

Expert Review

Roslin Distillers Miniature An Gearasdan Blended Scotch Whisky 5 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% ABV.

A classic blended Scotch in miniature format. An Gearasdan offers an accessible, rounded style that represents Roslin Distillers' philosophy of creating well-balanced blended whiskies with broad appeal.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is soft with caramel, apple and a light malty sweetness.

Palate

The palate is round and lightly sweet, with honey and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is short and soft, with lingering caramel.

Specifications

Name: Roslin Distillers Miniature An Gearasdan Blended Scotch Whisky 5 cl 40%
Distillery: Roslin Distillers
Region: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL

Flavour Profile

Soft · Caramel · Approachable

Did You Know?

The name An Gearasdan is Gaelic for Fort William, a town at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, with close historical ties to Scotch whisky production.

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A souvenir decanter from the 1986 World Cup is the kind of bottle that ties whisky interest and football history together in one piece of glass.

About the product

The Dimple 12 Year Old Souvenir Decanter was released to mark the FIFA World Cup in Mexico 1986 and holds Dimple's classic Blended Scotch Whisky at 40%. The distinctive triangular Dimple bottle makes it instantly recognisable as part of the brand's long history of special and souvenir editions.

Today it's mainly of interest as a collector's item for whisky and football fans alike — check condition and fill level before assuming it's ready to drink.

A tantalus was originally a Victorian invention for displaying expensive spirit bottles under lock and key. Whyte & Mackay uses it here to celebrate the house's double maturation method across two ages at once.

The expert's description

Whyte & Mackay 21 år & 12 år Tantalus Set Blended Scotch Whisky 2 x 37,5 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

The set combines two iconic expressions from Whyte & Mackay, a 21 year old and a 12 year old, both created using the house's signature double maturation method, where malt and grain whiskies first mature separately before being blended and matured again together in sherry casks. The 21 year old was created by the house's Master Blender Richard Patterson.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear, dried apricots and sweet toffee.

Palate

Silky smooth with dark chocolate, vanilla and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish

Long, round and elegant with a discreet hint of dry smoke.

Specifications

Name: Whyte & Mackay 21 år & 12 år Tantalus Set Blended Scotch Whisky 2 x 37,5 cl 40%
Distillery: Whyte & Mackay
Region/Country: Glasgow, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 Year Old & 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%
Size: 2 x 37,5 CL
Edition: Tantalus presentation

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Elegant · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium. As a giftable set in a dedicated tantalus presentation with two mature age statements, this is the type of release that typically becomes highly valued by collectors in the years following release.

Did you know?

Whyte & Mackay can trace its roots back to 1844 in Glasgow, where founders James Whyte and Charles Mackay wanted to give the city's hard-working population a Scotch alternative to cognac.

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An everyday dram does not have to be dull. This one has spent ten years in oak, and you hear it straight away: the smoke has gone tender, the caramel deep, and there are no sharp edges left.

Expert description

Black Bottle 10 Years CVH is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

The release is a limited follow-up to standard Black Bottle, with every component in the blend matured for at least ten years. Fruity grain whisky meets both peated and unpeated single malts, and as across the range it is the Islay component that sets the tone. The extra time in wood shows most clearly in the texture, which is oilier than in the young expression.

The producer's own notes for the ten year old point to smoked cherry wood, caramel and charred embers, and that is a fair description: the smoke has a sweet, woody edge rather than the medicinal peat associated with the southern Islay distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Caramelised sugar and smoked fruitwood, almost like a barbecue burning down. Behind it sit dried apricot and a brush of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and full with toffee and malted grain, then the smoke rolls in as glowing ash and a nip of black pepper.

Finish

Medium and lightly spiced. The smoke drops away slowly and leaves toasted malt and a dry, pleasant sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Black Bottle 10 Years CVH Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Black Bottle
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5029704219810

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sweet · Spiced · Soft · Fruity

Did you know?

Black Bottle was created by tea merchants. The Graham brothers made their living blending tea in Aberdeen before working out that the same craft applied to whisky — and gave up the tea.

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Port wine's dark sweetness has had three years to sink into an already 21 year old blend. The result is deep, jammy and spiced.

Expert description

The Antiquary 21 Year Old Port Cask is a blended Scotch whisky matured for at least 21 years and then married in Port Casks, casks that previously held tawny Port wine, before bottling at 40% ABV.

The Port casks come from the Symington family's estates in Portugal, and the whisky has been allowed to rest in them for up to three years after its long base maturation, giving it a markedly deeper and sweeter profile than the house's standard 21 year old.

The Antiquary was founded by the Hardie brothers in Edinburgh and is now owned by Tomatin Distillery Co, which relaunched the brand in 2024 with a new trio of blends, of which this Port Cask expression is one.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral peat, waxy hessian and drying hay, carried by vanilla and freshly brewed coffee.

Palate

Stewed plums, dark berry jam and a hint of chocolate-dipped orange.

Finish

Smoky, meaty malt that slowly gives way to a warm, Port-like sweetness.

Specifications

Name: The Antiquary 21 Year Old Port Cask
Bottler: The Antiquary
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Port Casks
EAN: 5018481101623

Flavour profile

Port sweetness · Smoke · Dark fruit

Investment potential

As a 21 year old blend with an exclusive Port cask finish, relaunched in limited scale, this bottle carries appeal for collectors of modern reissues of classic Scotch brands.

Did you know?

The Port casks used for this bottling come from Symington Family Estates, one of the most respected Port producers in Portugal's Douro Valley.

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Bordeaux's red heritage meets old Edinburgh craft in a bottle. A well-aged blend unfolds in layers of dark berries and worn leather.

Expert description

The Antiquary 15 Year Old Claret Cask is a blended Scotch whisky matured for at least 15 years and finished in Claret Casks, casks that previously held Bordeaux red wine, before bottling at 40% ABV.

The blend follows The Antiquary's classic style of Highland and Speyside malt whisky married with Lowland grain whisky, and it is exactly this balance between malt and grain that lets the Claret casks leave such a clear mark.

The Antiquary brand traces back to Victorian Edinburgh, where the Hardie brothers registered the name in 1888 after Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same title, and the brand now belongs to Tomatin Distillery Co.

Tasting notes

Nose

Polished mahogany, pipe tobacco and a touch of candied orange, softened by the sweetness of the red wine casks.

Palate

Rhubarb, tamarind and juicy raspberries woven together with a soft layer of vanilla and ripe stone fruit.

Finish

Medium and warming, with a last echo of stewed berries and a light, dry winey tannin edge.

Specifications

Name: The Antiquary 15 Year Old Claret Cask
Bottler: The Antiquary
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Claret Casks (Bordeaux red wine casks)
EAN: 5018481101609

Flavour profile

Red wine sweetness · Leather · Ripe berries

Did you know?

The name The Antiquary comes from Sir Walter Scott's 1816 novel, and the brand's distinctive diamond-shaped bottle was introduced in the mid-20th century as one of its trademarks.

See our full range of The Antiquary

There is a calm to Long John that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Note: This bottle was filled in the 1970s and shows clear signs of its age, with wear and marks on the label.

Expert's description

Long John Special Reserve Finest Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43% is a Finest Blended Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes straight from Long John's own warehouse and belongs to the Special Reserve series.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with soft malt, grain and spice.

Palate

The taste unfolds with grain, light oak and mild sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with spice and light caramel.

Specifications

Name: Long John Special Reserve Finest Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Long John
Type: Finest Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Special Reserve

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

The brand is named after John 'Long John' MacDonald, an unusually tall Scot who ran the Ben Nevis distillery in the 19th century and lent his name to the blend.

Lowland whisky rarely takes up much shelf space, and a blended malt from the region is rarer still. "Dalrymple" is the name Watt Whisky has given this rich, sweet-toned release.

The expert's description

Watt Whisky 2012/2024 Dalrymple 11 år Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1% is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Hogshead and bottled at 57.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2024 by Watt Whisky from a hogshead, with an outturn of 294 bottles. "Dalrymple" is a rare Lowland blended malt that, after 11 years of maturation, has developed a full, delicate flavour profile with sweetness and nutty nuances.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toffee apples and marzipan.

Palate

Creamy sweetness of honey cake and roasted peanuts.

Finish

Fruity finish of peach and crème brûlée.

Specifications

Name: Watt Whisky 2012/2024 Dalrymple 11 år Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1%
Distillery: Dalrymple
Bottler: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 294
EAN no.: 5060825690997

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Nutty · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The Lowland region once produced the vast majority of Scotland's whisky, but today it is one of the smallest whisky regions, making independent releases like this one particularly interesting.

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Campbeltown was once whisky's capital city, with more than thirty distilleries in operation. Today only a handful remain, and Watt Whisky itself is based right in the middle of town.

The expert's description

Watt Whisky 2017/2024 Campbeltown 7 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Barrel and bottled at 57.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2024 by Watt Whisky from a barrel, with an outturn of 246 bottles. It is made with malt from the two oldest, still-operating distilleries in Campbeltown, giving it an authentic sense of coast and tradition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Creamy notes and a light funk.

Palate

A subtle hint of peat and salty pebble beaches.

Finish

Characterful and lingering with maritime depth.

Specifications

Name: Watt Whisky 2017/2024 Campbeltown 7 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1%
Distillery: Campbeltown
Bottler: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 246
EAN no.: 5060825690980

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did you know?

Campbeltown is still officially recognised as its own whisky region, even though it today counts only three active distilleries, a remnant of a time when the town was home to more than thirty.

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The name is an affectionate play on words, and the contents live up to it. Ben & Sherry is a blended malt where two contrasting characters meet in the same bottle.

The expert's description

Watt Whisky 2017/2024 Ben & Sherry 6 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Butt and bottled at 57.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2024 by Watt Whisky from a sherry butt, with an outturn of just 282 bottles. The blend consists of 50% Benrinnes and 50% single malt from Glasgow, giving a unique blended malt with pronounced sherry character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Creamy notes and a hint of sherry sweetness.

Palate

Round and full with a hint of funk.

Finish

Short to medium with a lightly bitter finish.

Specifications

Name: Watt Whisky 2017/2024 Ben & Sherry 6 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1%
Distillery: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 282
Edition: Ben & Sherry
EAN no.: 5060825690935

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

Benrinnes, one of the two malts in Ben & Sherry, still partly uses a traditional distillation method with worm tubs, an old-fashioned cooling method that gives the spirit a heavier, more sulphurous character.

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Somewhere in a Scottish warehouse sat a cask nobody could quite place anymore. Pure Highland malt whisky, matured for years on bourbon oak, without a name and without a story, until two curious bottlers from Fintry found it and gave it a new finish and a new chapter.

The expert's description

Heart of Gold 2013/2024 is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, composed of malt whisky finished in a fresh Sauternes cask and bottled at 50%.

Behind the bottle stands The Uncharted Whisky Co., a small independent bottler run by Jack Breslin and Dana de Vos from Fintry, Scotland. The spirit in Heart of Gold is a marriage of malt whiskies from the Highland region, first matured in standard ex-bourbon casks before Uncharted Whisky discovered the parcel and chose to give it a final chapter in a fresh Sauternes wine barrique, cask reference UC030. The whisky was distilled in April 2013 and bottled in March 2024, giving it 10 years of total maturation, with only 363 bottles produced of this release.

Because the original distilleries behind the blend are not disclosed, Heart of Gold is a whisky that lives on its cask treatment rather than a named distillery, the Sauternes cask leaving a clear, sweet signature over the clean Highland malt character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe stone fruit and pineapple meet dried apricots and a light lemon-sherbet freshness, with a sweet, wine-like undertone from the Sauternes cask.

Palate

Candied pineapple and a full, buttery character that moves into honey and freshly baked brioche.

Finish

Long and sweet, with peaches and a creamy, almost custard-like close where the Sauternes wine sweetness lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Heart of Gold 2013/2024
Bottler: The Uncharted Whisky Co.
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon, finished in a Sauternes cask (Cask no. UC030)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: April 2013
Bottled: March 2024
Number of bottles: 363

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Soft

Did you know?

The Uncharted Whisky Co. does not run a fixed portfolio of regular releases but instead searches for single casks that have somehow been overlooked or forgotten in Scottish warehouses, hence the name, meaning "uncharted".

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Twenty-one years is rare for a blend. Time settles here as a quiet layer of honey and old oak over every drop.

Expert description

The Antiquary 21 Year Old is a blended Scotch whisky in which Highland and Speyside malt whisky is married with Lowland grain whisky for at least 21 years before bottling at 43% ABV.

This bottling carries no additional cask finish, letting the long maturation alone shape the character, a counterpoint to the house's finished expressions in Claret and Port casks.

The Antiquary was founded by the Hardie brothers in Edinburgh in the late 19th century and now belongs to Tomatin Distillery Co, which carries on the Victorian blending tradition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Beeswax, dried apricot and a touch of toasted almonds over a deep, malty base.

Palate

Soft caramel, old oak and a hint of orange peel gliding easily across the tongue.

Finish

Long and dry, with a last suggestion of spiced honey.

Specifications

Name: The Antiquary 21 Year Old
Bottler: The Antiquary
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN: 5018481217003

Flavour profile

Honey · Old oak · Spice

Investment potential

As an age-stated 21 year old blend from a respected Edinburgh brand, this bottle holds appeal among collectors of aged classic Scotch blends.

Did you know?

The Antiquary was one of the first blends to market itself directly on its high age, at a time when most blends carried no age statement at all.

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A tribute to the masters of any craft, where every drop is distilled with the same pride a craftsman pours into a life's work.

Expert description

The Deacon is a blended Scotch whisky with no age statement, bottled at 40% ABV by Sovereign Brands in partnership with Pernod Ricard.

The name "Deacon" is a Scottish term for a skilled master craftsman, and the blend was created as a tribute to the finest practitioners of any trade, a concept also reflected in the bottle's bold, industrial design.

The Deacon launched in February 2023 as a newer addition to the modern blended Scotch scene, combining traditional malt and grain whiskies from several Scottish regions into an accessible and versatile blend.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft grain, honey and a light vanilla sweetness that welcomes without overwhelming.

Palate

Round and approachable, with caramel, apple and a hint of spiced oak.

Finish

Short to medium, mild and lightly sweet, well suited for everyday enjoyment.

Specifications

Name: The Deacon
Bottler: The Deacon
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN: 0813497003047

Flavour profile

Honey · Caramel · Soft grain

Did you know?

The Deacon was developed by Sovereign Brands, the same company behind brands such as Bumbu Rum and Luc Belaire, in partnership with spirits giant Pernod Ricard.

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In a region crowded with famous names, Douglas Laing has quietly gone about its business for generations. This particular release from Scotland shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

King of Scots 50 Year Douglas Laing Blended Scotch Whisky 46% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: King of Scots 50 Year Douglas Laing Blended Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 50 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: King of Scots
EAN no.: 5014218829310

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. A 50-year-old blend is rare, because both the malt and grain components must mature for the same length of time, and this anniversary release from Douglas Laing will not be repeated.

Did you know?

Douglas Laing was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing, and the name King of Scots has been part of the company's identity since the early days of its history.

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Where the Kintyre peninsula runs into the sea and the waves still roll into Campbeltown Loch, the story of Scotland's smallest and once most famous whisky region lives on. This bottle gathers that story into a single glass - the three distilleries still keeping Campbeltown alive.

Expert Description

Campbeltown Loch is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt whisky from all three of the region's distilleries and bottled at 46%.

Behind the bottle stands J&A Mitchell & Co, the owners of Springbank Distillery, who blend malt from Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle into a shared tribute to Campbeltown. Springbank itself contributes three different styles to the overall character - the lighter Hazelburn, the medium-peated Springbank and the heavily peated Longrow - matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. The result is a blend that gathers the region's maritime salinity, cask fruit and a whisper of smoke into one glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft peach and apricot meet honey and a touch of citrus zest, while a hint of salty soot lingers in the background.

Palate

Oily in texture with herbaceous notes creeping in beneath sweet vanilla caramel and juicy baked fruit. Salty sea spray and baking spice keep it balanced, with a whisper of peat poking through.

Finish

Long and warming, with smoked almonds, oak and a maritime salinity that never quite lets go - a dry, earthy close.

Specifications

Name: Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: J&A Mitchell & Co
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
EAN no.: 610854005016

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Fruity · Spicy · Lightly peated

Did You Know?

Campbeltown once housed more than 30 distilleries and was known as the whisky capital of the world - today only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle remain, and Campbeltown Loch is the only blend to gather malt from all three.

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Most whiskies go cold and close up. This one was made for the opposite. It belongs in the freezer until it turns thick, and only then does it make sense.

The expert description

The Snow Grouse is a Blended Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 2 cl bottle.

Where the rest of the Famous Grouse family builds on malt bound together by grain, Snow Grouse is grain whisky throughout. That is a deliberate choice, because grain whisky is softer, sweeter and carries fewer sharp edges, which is precisely why it can be served ice cold without the flavour disappearing the way it would in a malt.

The producer recommends keeping the bottle in the freezer and pouring it straight from there. The cold makes the whisky syrupy in texture and pushes it towards vanilla and cream. It is a different way of drinking whisky from the usual one, and that is the entire idea.

Tasting notes

Nose

Discreet and clean. Vanilla, pale caramel and a touch of green fruit, more restrained still when the bottle comes straight from the freezer.

Palate

Soft, sweet and almost creamy. Vanilla and cream in front, cereal sweetness underneath, with no sharp alcohol edge.

Finish

Short and clean with a final sweetness of malt and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: The Snow Grouse
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 2 CL
Edition: The Snow Grouse

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Creamy · Vanilla · Light

Did you know?

Grain whisky accounts for the great majority of all Scotch whisky produced, yet it is almost never sold on its own. It disappears into blends where nobody names it. Snow Grouse is one of the few cases where it gets to stand alone on the label.

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The black label signals what has happened here: somebody has laid peat smoke underneath the soft Grouse profile. The result is not an Islay whisky, but it is not the same bird as before either.

The expert description

Famous Grouse Smoky Black is a Blended Scotch Whisky made with peated malt, bottled at 40% in a 5 cl bottle.

The release was originally called The Black Grouse and was later renamed Smoky Black. The recipe takes the classic blend and raises the proportion of peated malt whisky, so the smoke becomes a load bearing element rather than a seasoning. The underlying honey and fruit are still there, but they now sit behind a sooty foreground.

The miniature is a sensible way to settle whether the style is for you. Smoky blends divide opinion, and 5 cl is enough to answer the question without committing to a full bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry smoke and bonfire ash first, then honey and dried fruit working their way up through it.

Palate

Soft and sweet at the base with the smoke as a clear frame. Malt, vanilla and a touch of dark chocolate as the peat builds.

Finish

Medium and sooty with a dry, almost peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse Smoky Black
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Smoky Black
EAN no.: 5010314302481

Flavour profile

Smoky · Soft · Sweet · Malty · Peaty

Did you know?

The change of name from The Black Grouse to Smoky Black was not incidental. The black grouse is a threatened species in Scotland, and for years the brand supported conservation work with a share of the proceeds, but a name describing the flavour sells better on a shelf than one describing a bird.

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Some whiskies are made to be analysed. This one is made to be shared. The name says it plainly: Storyman, the bottle that sits in the middle of the table while somebody finishes telling it.

The Expert's Description

Annandale Storyman 2nd Edition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% by Annandale Distillery. It was created by the distillery and personally selected by the actor and storyteller James Cosmo, and the second edition carries on from the first.

A blend mixes malt whisky with grain whisky, and the result is usually softer and more approachable than a single malt. At 46% and without chill filtration, however, this sits higher than most standard blends, which are typically bottled at 40%. That gives more body and a clearer texture without giving up the approachability.

Annandale sits at Annan in Dumfriesshire in the far south of Scotland and has been running again since 2014 after nearly a century of silence. Alongside the two single malt ranges, Man O’ Sword and Man O’ Words, the distillery also stands behind Storyman.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and honey first, with baked apple and a touch of vanilla behind. There is a light cereal sweetness running through it, the signature of the blend, and a clean straightforward aroma with no sharp edges.

Palate

Soft and round. Caramel, malt and bright fruit open, then a mild spiced warmth and a light nutty note. The 46% gives more body and length than you would expect from a blend, so there is something to hold on to.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, honey and a dry cereal note that lets go cleanly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Annandale Storyman 2nd Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 46%
Bottler: Annandale
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: 2nd Edition
EAN no.: 5060427430526

Flavour Profile

Malty · Soft · Honeyed · Fruity · Spiced · Light

Did You Know?

James Cosmo is a Scottish actor with decades of film and television work behind him, and he is as well known as a storyteller as he is as an actor. Putting his name to a blend rather than a single malt makes sense: a blend is the bottle that has to sit out on the table while the story gets told.

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Same herd, but this one stood closer to the fire. Kyloe Peated Finish takes the malt-led blend and rests it in casks that once held peated whisky — the result smells of outdoors.

Expert description

Black Bull Kyloe Peated Finish is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50% without chill filtration.

The release builds on the same malt-dominated base blend as standard Kyloe, then adds a finishing period in casks that carry peat smoke. It is not a blend of peated spirit from the ground up, but a blend where smoke is applied at the end. The method gives a drier, ashier smoke than the oily peat associated with the southern Islay malts.

Duncan Taylor has kept the 50% and the decision to skip chill filtration, and it shows in the texture. The smoke has body to rest on rather than standing alone.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale gold with a dry, smoked aroma. Dark malt, green apples and brown sugar sit beneath the smoke.

Palate

Heavily smoked, yet creamy and layered. Salted nuts, citrus and a balanced sweetness that keeps the peat in check.

Finish

Long and warm, both salty and sweet, with apple, cinnamon and clove and a clear smoky trace at the end.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull Kyloe Peated Finish Blended Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Kyloe Peated Finish
EAN no.: 5056510006587

Flavour profile

Smoky · Salty · Creamy · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

A peated finish means the whisky has rested in casks that previously held peated whisky. The cask gives back its remaining peat character, which is why the smoke here reads drier than in whisky distilled from peated malt.

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Thirty years is a long time to wait for a blend. The casks stood still while the world outside changed, and the result is a whisky where nothing is in a hurry any more.

Expert description

Black Bull 30 Years is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

This is the oldest standing release in the range and comes from Duncan Taylor Ltd. in Huntly. Both the malt and grain components have spent thirty years in wood, which is unusual for a blend, where the grain share is normally used young. The weight sits on Highland malt, and the 50% keeps the aromas together despite the long maturation.

The release marks Sir Nick Faldo's three world championships and three Masters victories, and the number thirty runs through both the age and the story. It is a blend where the cask has been allowed to work at length without taking command of the spirit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Handsome gold with a full aroma of fruitcake, almond and a hint of roses.

Palate

Beautifully balanced with warm winter spices and a whole cocktail of citrus fruit that keeps the profile fresh despite the age.

Finish

Fine and lightly spiced with notes of dried fruit that linger.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull 30 Years Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5056510005306

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Elegant · Mature · Citrus

Investment potential

High. Thirty years across both malt and grain is an unusual resource to commit to a blend, and the release is limited in scale. Older Black Bull bottlings have appreciated since launch.

Did you know?

Grain whisky is rarely matured this long, because it is traditionally treated as the filler in a blend. That is precisely why thirty year old grain has become one of the most sought-after categories among enthusiasts.

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Highland cattle do not step aside for weather. Neither does the whisky with the bull on the label — 50% and eighteen years in oak give a blend that holds its ground against whatever you put it next to.

Expert description

Black Bull 18 Years is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The range comes from Duncan Taylor Ltd. in Huntly, an independent bottler with one of Scotland's better stocked cask inventories. Black Bull stands apart from most blends through its bottling strength, where competitors typically land at 40%. The recipe leans on Highland malt, and both the malt and the grain carry eighteen years.

The brand itself is a tribute to the golfer Sir Nick Faldo, whose career Duncan Taylor has marked with several bottlings. The Black Bull name comes from Scottish Highland cattle, whose hardiness the range borrows.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep gold in the glass with a delicate aroma of dried fruit, creamy yoghurt, Turkish delight and sweet oak.

Palate

Open and direct, but full of character. Apples, pastry, cinnamon and clove, carried by the 50% without burning.

Finish

Long and intense with clear, creamy notes of spice and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull 18 Years Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5056510005290

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Powerful · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium. Age-stated blends at this strength form a small category, and the Black Bull range has drawn steady collector interest since Duncan Taylor revived the name.

Did you know?

Duncan Taylor was founded in Glasgow in 1938 as a cask and warehousing business. The reason the company now holds one of Scotland's oldest private cask stocks is that for decades it bought casks with no concrete plan to bottle them.

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