190 years is a long time to keep faith with the same recipe, but that is exactly what the Grant family have done in Ballindalloch since 1836. No outside investors, no strategy reshuffles every decade – just sherry casks, patience and a distillery that still fires its stills with direct flame. For the anniversary, they have brought five decades of that whisky together in one bottle.

The Expert's Description

Glenfarclas 190 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky married from 78 sherry casks and bottled at 51.4%. The bottle is the third and final release in the distillery's Anniversary Trilogy, following Glenfarclas 175 and Glenfarclas 185, and marks 190 years since the distillery was first licensed in 1836.

Behind the selection are Distillery Manager Callum Fraser and Managing Director Douglas Belford, who dug through the warehouses and pulled casks from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. The idea was not simply to blend old and new, but to draw something specific from each decade: the fruitier notes from the 70s, the richer sherry character from the 80s and 90s, and the soft caramel from casks laid down in the 2000s. The whisky carries no added colouring and is non-chill filtered, and the strength is no accident either – 51.4% corresponds to 90 British proof, the unit Glenfarclas printed on its labels for the first 154 years of the distillery's history.

Glenfarclas has never strayed far from the sherry cask. Since being licensed in 1836, virtually everything the distillery makes has gone into sherry casks sourced through a long-standing arrangement with a family-run bodega in Jerez, and its direct-fired stills are among the last of their kind in Scotland. The label on the 190 release draws on designs from across the decades, wrapping the bottle in a piece of the distillery's own history rather than hiding it away.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apples and sherry sweetness arrive first, quickly followed by spiced Christmas cake and a touch of candied fruit.

Palate

Rich and velvety on the mouth, with toffee, caramel and a solid sherry weight balanced against a light apple tartness.

Finish

Long, with dark chocolate and a dry hint of tobacco leaf that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 190
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 51.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Casks from Jerez, Spain
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Bottled: 2026
Number of Bottles: 15,000
Edition: 190th Anniversary

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Caramel-rich · Spiced · Rich

Investment Potential

Medium. The two earlier releases in the Anniversary Trilogy, 175 and 185, have both become sought-after among collectors, and with only 15,000 bottles of the 190 release going around the world, the same is likely here – helped by Glenfarclas' standing as one of Scotland's last truly family-owned distilleries.

Did You Know?

The figure 51.4% is not a random choice. It corresponds to 90 British proof – the strength Glenfarclas printed on its labels for the first 154 years the distillery existed, before the British proof system was phased out.

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There's a quiet confidence about a bonded warehouse in Leith. For centuries, Edinburgh's merchants bought, blended and sold on whisky from across Scotland here, long before single malt meant anything to ordinary drinkers. Woodrow's of Edinburgh found a cask they couldn't bear to pass on. It came from Ardmore – the distillery that spent over a hundred years hiding its peated character inside someone else's blend.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 11 Year Old Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill bourbon barrel and bottled at cask strength, 60.2%.

Distilled on 4 December 2014 and bottled on 15 April 2026, the cask yielded 229 bottles in total. Ardmore was founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family's blend, Teacher's Highland Cream, and for decades the distillery stayed almost anonymous outside the trade – a workhorse whisky with someone else's name on the label. It wasn't until around 2007 that Ardmore began marketing itself seriously as a single malt. What sets it apart is the smoke: while most Highland distilleries moved to unpeated malt long ago, Ardmore still insists on locally cut peat from around Kennethmont. The smoke is softer and spicier than Islay's, but it's there, vintage after vintage.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh started out in 2020 as cask traders, run by brothers Mark and Chris Watt. They bought and sold casks on to other bottlers, but naturally tasted along the way – and some casks turned out too good to let go. Those become Warehouse Reserve, always bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. This particular 1st fill bourbon barrel has left the Ardmore with a layer of white chocolate, vanilla and light tropical sweetness sitting on top of the earthy smoke from the malt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky and slightly earthy, with citrus peel, forest floor, cedarwood and a hint of rose petal.

Palate

Creamy in texture with a light tannic grip. Orange zest and dark chocolate sit alongside old leather, a touch of tropical fruit and a lingering, earthy smoke underneath.

Finish

Long and aromatic, with lemon zest, cardamom and cinnamon that stay for a while.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 11 Year Old Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 60.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: 1st fill bourbon barrel
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2026
Number of Bottles: 229
Edition: Warehouse Reserve
EAN no.: 5060769810765

Flavour Profile

Peated · Citrus · Spiced · Creamy · Earthy

Did You Know?

Ardmore was one of the last distilleries in Scotland to fire its stills with coal – right up until 2001. When it finally switched to steam, the distillery spent months designing new steam coils with built-in kinks to replicate the hot spots the coal fires had created, so the character of the spirit wouldn't change.

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In the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fort William, where the highest mountain in Scotland looms over the distillery, sits some of the most understated character in whisky. No smoke, no noise, just malt, clay and time, caught in a pair of old sherry casks.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory Vintage 8 years Un-Chillfiltered Collection is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in two 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, casks no. 277 and 278, and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the Signatory range where everything is released unfiltered and uncoloured, so the whole character of the cask stays in the glass. The whisky was distilled on 8 December 2014 and bottled in January 2023 after eight years in wood.

The two refill butts give a more restrained sherry influence than a first fill cask would, but enough to draw out dried fruit, nuts and a lightly spiced warmth. The Ben Nevis spirit is rustic and powerful and built for this kind of maturation, where the weight of the malt meets the sweetness of the cask without either taking charge.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, hazelnut and an earthy malt note. Behind it sit a hint of wet clay and orange.

Palate

Rustic and powerful with raisin, nut and spiced warmth. The malt takes up more room than the cask, and that is the whole point of the range.

Finish

Long and dry with nut, spice and an earthy undertone.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory Vintage 8 år Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Two 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, casks no. 277 and 278
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 8 December 2014
Bottled: January 2023
Edition: Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Rustic · Nutty · Spiced · Dry

Did you know?

Chill filtration spread in the 1960s because supermarkets complained about cloudy whisky on the shelves. The process removes the fatty acids that cause haze at low temperatures, but it takes a share of the texture with it.

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The Original Collection is the Cadenhead way of keeping quiet. No cask stories on the front, no series names with swords and mountains, just distillery, vintage and strength. The rest has to stand up in the glass.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2012/2025 Cadenhead's 13 years Original Collection is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in bourbon hogsheads and Oloroso hogsheads and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The Original Collection is the standing range of the house, where the whisky is bottled at 46 % rather than at cask strength so it is ready to drink straight away. The series still uses neither colouring nor chill filtration, and the cask types are not hidden.

The two cask types pull in different directions. The bourbon wood gives the brightness and the sweet core, while Oloroso lays the darker, nuttier layers on top. Thirteen years is enough for the muscle of the Ben Nevis spirit to remain intact underneath the cask influence.

Tasting notes

Nose

Biscotti and clootie dumpling, the Scottish steamed pudding full of dried fruit. Apricot marmalade and a sneeze of ginger on top.

Palate

Walnut whip and golden syrup, soft and sweet, with spiced cardamom buns adding warmth and bite.

Finish

Hazelnut and cocoa slide into blackcurrant, fading out on a dark, slightly bitter note.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2012/2025 Cadenhead's 13 år Original Collection
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogsheads and Oloroso hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2025
Edition: Original Collection

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Nutty · Spiced · Fruity · Full bodied

Investment potential

Medium. Cadenhead bottlings are made in limited parcels and not repeated, and the house has a steady following among collectors. Ben Nevis is also a distillery where independent releases are in demand, since official bottlings are few.

Did you know?

Cadenhead moved from Aberdeen to Campbeltown in the 1970s, when J & A Mitchell, the owners of Springbank, bought the firm at auction. The stocks came along, and the house has bottled from the same site as the distillery ever since.

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A cask filled on the last day of September 1996, and then seventeen years in which nobody touched it. Signatory left it standing until it was finished with itself, and bottled it as it was.

Please note: wear and rust on the lid and the box.

The expert description

Fettercairn 1996/2014 Signatory 17 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single hogshead and bottled at 46%.

The cask, number 4339, was filled on 30 September 1996 and bottled on 20 February 2014. Signatory Vintage of Pitlochry buys single casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them without chill filtration and without added colour, and it is exactly this kind of release where the character of Fettercairn is allowed to stand without being tidied up.

Seventeen years in a hogshead is a calm maturation. The cask is large enough that the oak never takes charge, and the result is the clean, fruity house style in a more mature and restrained form than the official releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft notes of ripe barley, citrus oil and vanilla, with light tropical fruit and a touch of fresh oak and honey behind.

Palate

Round and full with classic Fettercairn tones of malt, pale caramel and fresh fruit, held together by a discreet spiced warmth from the cask.

Finish

Long, clean and lightly mineral with a dry elegance that reveals both the age and the quiet work of the cask.

Specifications

Name: Fettercairn 1996/2014 Signatory 17 Years Old
Distillery: Fettercairn
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead no. 4339
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 30 September 1996
Bottled: 20 February 2014

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Soft · Mineral · Single Cask

Did you know?

Signatory was founded in 1988 by brothers Andrew and Brian Symington and sits next to Edradour in Pitlochry, a distillery they later bought. The firm is therefore both an independent bottler and a distiller at the same address.

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The cask arrived leaking. Ten kilos of whisky had gone somewhere along the way, and most people would have written it off. Little Brown Dog poured what was left into a smaller cask instead, and later gave it a spell in a cognac barrique over thirty years old. Sometimes the best thing comes out of something that went wrong.

The Expert's Description

Ardlair 2014 Little Brown Dog 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill bourbon barrel and finished in a cognac barrique over thirty years old, bottled at 52.6%. It was distilled on 22 February 2014 and bottled on 23 February 2026, twelve years and a day.

The cask history is anything but straightforward. It arrived partly leaking and had already lost around ten kilos in transit, so the whisky was decanted into a smaller refill bourbon barrel. In December 2024 it was then given an extra finish in the cognac cask to lift the fruitiness without drowning the spirit.

The cognac cask was used with a light hand. The oily, lightly spiced Highland style still stands at the centre, while the vinous sweetness supports and refines it. Ardlair is the Ardmore distillery’s unpeated whisky, and at Little Brown Dog it goes by the in-house nickname Ardless.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The colour is a warm waxy gold. On the nose muscovado sugar, glazed carrots and a yoghurt with hedgerow berries, a fruit profile at once rustic and creamy. A lightly spiced oak note sits beneath it.

Palate

Oily and full. Dark syrupy sweetness opens, then a lightly spiced warmth and a vinous fruitiness from the cognac barrique. The whisky opens up markedly with a drop of water, where both fruit and spice step forward more plainly.

Finish

Medium to long. Spiced oak, dark fruit and a dry waxy close that holds on.

Specifications

Name: Ardlair 2014 Little Brown Dog 12 Years Old Cognac Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 52.6%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 52.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon barrel, finished in a cognac barrique over 30 years old
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 22 February 2014
Bottled: 23 February 2026
Edition: Cognac Cask Finish

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vinous · Spiced · Creamy · Cask Strength · Waxy

Investment Potential

Medium. The cask history makes this a one-off performance: a leaking cask, a decanting and a cognac finish from wood over thirty years old cannot be repeated. Little Brown Dog single casks also come in small outturns and have a loyal following.

Did You Know?

At Little Brown Dog, Ardlair goes by the in-house nickname Ardless, with a grin, because it lacks the smoke Ardmore is otherwise known for. It says something about the relaxed approach behind the company, which started in 2018 on a farm at Fetternear in Aberdeenshire and has since grown from pure bottling into distilling as well.

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Three casks from April 2010 sat for twelve years before somebody decided they belonged together. That is the kind of choice that never makes it onto the label, yet it decides what ends up in the glass.

Please note: This bottle has wear and rust on the cap.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2010/2022 Signatory Vintage 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks 800518, 800527 and 800531 and bottled at 46%. It was distilled in April 2010 and bottled in November 2022 in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection.

The Un-Chillfiltered Collection was created for those who want single malt in its most natural form: bottled without chill filtration and without added colour, so the whisky reaches the bottle as it came out of the cask, apart from an adjustment of strength to 46%.

Three bourbon casks give a broader starting point than one. Each cask has its own small quirk, and vatted together they even each other out. The result is an Ardmore where the peat smoke and the malt sweetness hold each other in balance rather than one cask’s character dominating.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted malt and dry smoke first, with honey and baked apple behind. There is a light coconut and vanilla note from the bourbon wood and a fine, clean cereal floor running through it all.

Palate

Full and malty. Honey and vanilla open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy floor along with a touch of pepper and citrus peel. After twelve years the edges have been smoothed off, and balance is the real strength here.

Finish

Medium to long. Malt, honey and dry smoke, letting go slowly and cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2010/2022 Signatory Vintage 12 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks no. 800518, 800527 and 800531
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: April 2010
Bottled: November 2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Honeyed · Vanilla · Dry · Balanced

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and is today one of Scotland’s most prolific independent bottling houses. The company also owns the Edradour distillery in Perthshire, and Signatory’s warehousing and bottling facilities sit right beside it. The journey from cask to bottle is therefore a short one.

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Eight years and one month between filling and bottling. Signatory notes the dates precisely, down to the day, and that is not pedantry. It is the kind of information that makes it possible to understand why two bottles from the same distillery taste different.

Please note: The cap on the bottle is rusty. It has no bearing on the whisky inside, but we would rather say so up front.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in hogsheads, casks no. 427 and 429, and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky went into cask on 17 October 2013 and was drawn on 19 November 2021. Two hogsheads were bottled together, which gives a slightly larger outturn than a single cask, but it remains a limited release from two casks that lay side by side.

This and the seven year old sister bottling come from the same distillation day. The difference lies purely in which casks were chosen and when they were drawn, which makes the pair an unusually good exercise in what a single year in cask actually means.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, pear and pale oak with a note of melted butter. A hint of wet stone sits behind it.

Palate

Rounder than the seven year old with honey, cereal and a touch of cinnamon. The oily texture is still there, but the edges have been worn down a little.

Finish

Medium and warm with malt, oak and a dry close.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, casks no. 427 and 429
Distilled: 17 October 2013
Bottled: 19 November 2021
EAN no.: 5021944116133

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Soft · Oily · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Signatory has printed the distillation date and the bottling date on the label from the start. That was far from normal in 1988, when most bottlers made do with an age statement, and the practice has since spread across the trade.

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Sometimes the simplest expression is also the most honest. The Original One is Woodrow's of Edinburgh's answer to what a Highland single malt tastes like when everything extra is stripped away and the grain, the oak and the time are left to speak for themselves.

Expert description

The Original One from The Jane Street Collection is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.5% ABV by independent bottler Woodrow's of Edinburgh.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh, founded in 2020 by brothers Mark and Chris Watt in Leith, works from a philosophy of transparency and flavour-led releases. The Jane Street Collection is built around clear sensory themes, and The Original One is the collection's most straightforward expression: an honest picture of Highland style without additional cask finishing.

The whisky is matured in bourbon casks, allowing the spirit's own fruitiness and malt character to shine rather than heavy cask influence.

Tasting notes

Nose

Green apples and pear meet a mild malt profile, lifted by soft vanilla and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and slightly oily, with apple, pear and a hint of peach, while the malt provides structure and a subtle spiced edge.

Finish

Medium-length and clean, with notes of malt, citrus and a light dryness from the oak.

Specifications

Name: The Original One
Series: The Jane Street Collection
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malt · Clean

Did you know?

The name Jane Street refers to a street in Leith, Edinburgh's historic dockside district, home to many of the city's whisky merchants and bottlers throughout history.

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Third batch of the 18 year old, bottled before Deanston changed the packaging. Same whisky, different wardrobe — and that is exactly the kind of detail collectors watch.

Expert description

Deanston 18 years Batch 3 Old Version is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American bourbon casks and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The long maturation in American oak gives the whisky natural colour, rich texture and a balanced sweetness. Deanston uses Scottish barley, long fermentation and classic pot stills, and the house has occupied a converted cotton mill by the River Teith since 1966. Batch 3 is a limited release from before the current bottle design, which makes it easy to tell apart from today's 18 year old.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey from wildflowers, creamy vanilla and floral notes, followed by citrus and mild spice.

Palate

Sweetness and warmth in interplay. Barley sugar, lemon confection, ginger cake and deep Manuka honey, with a rich, waxy texture.

Finish

Long and dry with clear ginger, light oak and a soft honeyed warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 18 years Batch 3 Old Version Single Highland Malt Whisky 46,3%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Old Version Limited Release Batch 3

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Waxy · Citrus · Ginger · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. A limited release in a bottle design no longer in use. Batch numbers make the series collectable, and the early numbers get hard to find first.

Did you know?

Batch numbers are the whisky world's answer to edition numbers. Even when the recipe is the same, the casks vary from batch to batch — so batch 3 does not necessarily taste like batch 6, however alike the labels look.

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

Expert's description

Macduff 2009 The First Edition 14 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58,4% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in oloroso butt and bottled at 58,4%.

The whisky is distilled at Macduff and independently selected and bottled by The First Editions as part of the The First Editions series.

It was distilled 2009.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with grain, a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit and stewed plums.

Palate

On the tongue you find a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit, dried fig and walnut.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with stewed plums and malt.

Specifications

Name: Macduff 2009 The First Edition 14 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58,4%
Distillery: Macduff
Bottler: The First Editions
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 58,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Edition: The First Editions

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Macduff is known for its unusual stills, some fitted with as many as five lyne arms, a rare design in Scotch whisky production.

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Madeira is wine that has been deliberately heated. The casks carry that treatment with them, and it is a quite different sweetness from sherry — more caramelised, less raisiny. On the bright Glencadam spirit it makes for an unusual combination.

The expert's description

Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a finishing period in madeira casks, bottled at 46%.

Madeira is made by heating the wine over an extended period, which gives it a dry, nutty and lightly burnt character. The casks therefore add dried fruit, honey and spice rather than the dark syrup you get from Pedro Ximénez. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured and carries no age statement.

The Glencadam spirit is bright and fruit-driven, and precisely for that reason it takes a cask finish without disappearing. The madeira settles as a layer of rich fruit over the softer core, and the result is rounder than the core release without turning heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and honey, with spice and a lightly burnt sweetness. Behind it the bright Glencadam orchard fruit keeps things fresh.

Palate

Rich and fruity. Dried apricot, honey and nuts, with a soft, round sweetness and a spice that arrives late. The 46% gives the whisky enough body to carry the cask.

Finish

Medium and soft. Honey and dried fruit sliding out into a dry, lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finishing period in madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Madeira Wine Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349706588

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Spiced · Soft · Wine-finished

Did you know?

The Glencadam pot stills have lyne arms angled upwards rather than down. That forces more of the vapour back into the still, and the extra reflux is why the spirit comes out so bright and fruit-driven.

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The same day in September 1996, the same distillery, two casks. Signatory left them for nineteen years and then married them together, nearly two decades in the coolest corner of the Highlands gathered into one bottle.

Please note: wear and rust on the lid.

The expert description

Fettercairn 1996/2015 Signatory 19 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two married hogsheads and bottled at 46%.

The casks, numbers 4351 and 4356, were filled on 30 September 1996 and bottled on 29 October 2015. Two casks from the same filling day give a slightly broader profile than a single cask without losing the stamp of the individual vintage.

Nineteen years is enough for the light, sweet spirit of the distillery to gain depth without turning woody. The whisky is bottled in natural colour and without chill filtration, so every nuance stands untouched.

Tasting notes

Nose

Opens with ripe cereal notes, citrus and vanilla, and a light tropical sweetness followed by fresh oak and a touch of honey.

Palate

Full and rounded with classic Fettercairn tones of malt, pale caramel and green fruit, and a mild spiced warmth from the cask.

Finish

Long, clean and lightly mineral with a dry elegance that speaks of nearly two decades of quiet maturing in the Highland climate.

Specifications

Name: Fettercairn 1996/2015 Signatory 19 Years Old
Distillery: Fettercairn
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 4351 and 4356
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 30 September 1996
Bottled: 29 October 2015

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Soft · Mineral · Mature

Did you know?

When two casks from the same filling day are married, it is no longer called single cask, but it is not a blend either. Bottlers do it because two identical casks rarely taste identical, and because two casks stretch to twice as many bottles as one.

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Two lads on a farm in Aberdeenshire had grown tired of good single malt always vanishing from the shelf before they got there. The idea was simple: make a whisky people can actually find on the shelf. This bottle is the first proof of how it should taste, and it went out of the door before the labels were ready.

Please note: The label on this preview release is handwritten and hand signed, because the printed labels did not arrive in time. Future batches will carry the final design.

The Expert's Description

Aberdeenshire Glen Garioch 12 Years Old Little Brown Dog is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 60% 1st fill bourbon casks and 40% Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 46%. It was distilled at Glen Garioch in 2013, bottled in 2025 by Little Brown Dog and limited to 500 hand-numbered bottles.

Andrew Smith and Chris Reid of Little Brown Dog have spent years working towards a signature bottling that does not simply appear in small rare batches but stays on the shelf. The vatting is their own work: the bulk from first fill bourbon for vanilla and cereal sweetness, the rest from sherry casks, both refill and first fill, for fruit and depth. The result lands somewhere different from an official Glen Garioch, which tends to be drier and maltier.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. This release is a preview bottling that shows the direction of Little Brown Dog’s forthcoming regular single malt under the Aberdeenshire name.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear and honey first, with a clear malty floor underneath. The sherry portion reports in as raisins, orange peel and a streak of dark sugar. There is a light waxy note too, which Glen Garioch often gives.

Palate

Soft and full. Vanilla and baked apple open, then the sherry brings dried fruit and a mild spiced warmth of cinnamon and a little ginger. At 46% it is round enough for a weeknight, yet there is still body enough to reward attention.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, honey and a drier oak note, with a final suggestion of raisin. Clean and free of bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Aberdeenshire Glen Garioch 12 Years Old Little Brown Dog Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 60% 1st fill bourbon casks and 40% Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 500
Edition: Aberdeenshire Preview Release

Flavour Profile

Malty · Fruity · Honeyed · Sherry Matured · Soft · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Five hundred bottles with handwritten, hand signed labels amount in practice to a one-off release, and preview bottlings from the start of a bottler’s project tend to become sought after once the regular series is running.

Did You Know?

Little Brown Dog is named after Andrew's dog, whose nickname was exactly that, the little brown dog. The company started in 2018 on a farm at Fetternear in Aberdeenshire and has since grown from pure bottling into distilling as well, running both a small copper pot still and a larger column for neutral spirit.

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Castle Leod still stands at Strathpeffer and is still the Mackenzie clan home. Dalmore has carried the clan stag on its label for nearly two centuries — here the castle gets a bottle of its own.

Expert description

Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a final finish in 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011 in an outturn of 5,000 bottles. It belongs to the Lands of Clan Mackenzie series, where each release is tied to a place in the clan's history. Castle Leod at Strathpeffer is the clan seat and lies a few kilometres from the distillery. The Bordeaux finish is unusual for Dalmore and lays a dry fruit acidity over the usual house sherry sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dark fruits, orange peel, honey and caramel, accompanied by warm spices, chocolate and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and silky. Raisins, prunes and ripe fruit melt together with vanilla, spices and dark cocoa, while the oak contributes structure and depth.

Finish

Long, warm and elegant with lasting notes of fruit, spice and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux finish
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2011
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Castle Leod
EAN no.: 5013967007116

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A 1995 vintage in 5,000 bottles from a closed series. Lands of Clan Mackenzie is collected as a whole, and the individual releases will not return.

Did you know?

Castle Leod has been in Mackenzie hands since the fifteenth century and is still lived in. The castle sits at Strathpeffer, a short drive from Dalmore — and that geographical closeness is what the whole series is built on.

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Cromartie is the name of the earldom the Mackenzie clan received from the crown. Third bottle in the series, third place on the map — and the whisky gets darker with each release.

Expert description

Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45%.

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is the third release in the Clan Mackenzie Series, where the clan's twelve-point stag appears on every bottle. The combination of American oak first and oloroso at the end is the classic house recipe, and the 45% gives more weight than most of Dalmore's standing releases. The series is limited and ties each bottling to a place or title in the clan's history.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate and caramel, accompanied by warm spices and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and round. Raisin, prune and ripe fruit bind together with vanilla, cocoa and spice, while the distinctive Dalmore sweetness holds it all together.

Finish

Long and warm, with dried fruit, spice and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 45%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks
Distilled: 1996
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Cromartie
EAN no.: 5013967007758

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment potential

High. A 1996 vintage in a closed series where each release is tied to a specific place in the clan's history. Collectors go after the whole run.

Did you know?

The title Earl of Cromartie was granted to the Mackenzie family in 1861 and still exists. The Lands of Clan Mackenzie series follows those traces through the landscape north of Inverness — and the distillery sits in the middle of it.

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A refill hogshead gives up very little. It has been used before, the sugar layers are spent, and so it takes twenty-six years to reach where a first fill cask would have been at ten. In return, what you taste is the spirit and not the wood.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 1998/2025 Lady of the Glen 26 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in a refill hogshead, cask no. 176, and bottled at 43.2 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled on 11 May 1998 and bottled on 4 April 2025. The cask yielded 276 bottles, and the strength of 43.2 % is what the cask gave after twenty-six years rather than the result of dilution. That says something about how long it lay and how much evaporated along the way.

Lady of the Glen is run by Gregor Hannah under Hannah Whisky Merchants and works consistently with natural colour, no chill filtration and bottling at the strength the cask offers. It is a line that lets the character of the distillery come through, and with Ben Nevis that is precisely the point.

Tasting notes

Nose

Tropical fruit with pineapple and passion fruit up front, then sweet malt and light pastry.

Palate

Soft and balanced with fruity sweetness, a creamy texture and discreet spice. The low cask strength makes it remarkably easy to drink for its age.

Finish

Long, warm and complex with fruit, malt and a last touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 1998/2025 Lady of the Glen 26 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 26 years
ABV: 43,2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, cask no. 176
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 11 May 1998
Bottled: 4 April 2025
Number of bottles: 276

Flavour profile

Tropical fruit · Soft · Creamy · Malty · Lightly spiced

Investment potential

High. Twenty-six years in cask, 276 bottles and a single refill hogshead is a combination that cannot be repeated. Lady of the Glen has built a steady following among single cask collectors, and their older Ben Nevis casks disappear quickly.

Did you know?

A hogshead holds around 250 litres and is typically rebuilt from 200 litre American bourbon barrels by adding extra staves. The slightly larger volume gives a lower wood to liquid ratio, so the whisky matures more slowly.

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In the shadow of the famous names, Ian MacLeod Distillers quietly does its work — consistent, without fanfare.

Expert's description

Macleods Highland 8 år Ian MacLeod Distillers Single Highland Malt Whisky 40% is a Highland Single Malt Whisky, matured in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is blended and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers under the name MacLeod's Regional Malts – Highland.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers fruit, grain and light oak.

Palate

On the tongue you find grain, spice and light oak.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with spice and fruit.

Specifications

Name: Macleods Highland 8 år Ian MacLeod Distillers Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: MacLeod's Regional Malts – Highland

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

Whisky.dk keeps a close eye on new releases from this distillery and its independent bottlings.

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Diageo has once again sent its distillers into uncharted territory. 'Into the Blue' is Glen Ord's answer to the question: what happens when mezcal meets Highland malt?

Expert's Description

Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Year Old Special Release 2025 'Into the Blue' is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Glen Ord distillery, matured in ex-mezcal casks and second-fill ex-sherry casks, bottled at natural cask strength of 55.5%.

The release is part of Diageo's annual Special Releases 2025 and showcases the distillery's experimental side, where the unusual mezcal maturation adds an exotic, lightly smoky edge to the classic Highland character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot, caramel and vanilla rise alongside a hint of agave and smoke from the mezcal cask.

Palate

Round and creamy with tropical fruit, toasted nuts and spiced honey, lifted by a delicate smoky minerality.

Finish

Long and intricate with spice, nutty undertones and toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2025 Into the Blue
Distillery: Glen Ord
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-mezcal casks and second-fill ex-sherry casks
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Special Release 2025

Flavour Profile

Experimental · Smoky · Fruity · Cask strength

Investment Potential

Medium. As part of Diageo's annual Special Releases series, previous years' editions have typically seen growing collector interest after being discontinued.

Did You Know?

Mezcal casks remain rare in Scotch whisky production, making 'Into the Blue' one of the most experimental Special Releases in Diageo's history.

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Rye inside a Scottish still house. It sounds like something went wrong, but at Teaninich in Alness it was entirely deliberate. Back in 2016 they mashed rye alongside barley, ran it through the plant and put it away in ex-bourbon casks. Then eight years passed before anyone was told what was sitting there.

The Expert's Description

Teaninich 8 Years Old Special Release 2025 Rye Rebel is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 60.3% cask strength. It is the only bottling in Diageo's Special Releases 2025 collection, Horizons Unbound, that is not a Single Malt Whisky, and the first whisky built around rye that Teaninich has ever let out of the door.

Because the mash carries malted rye as well as malted barley, the whisky cannot be called Single Malt. It is Single Grain: one grain beyond barley, one distillery. Ex-bourbon casks were chosen because they give vanilla and coconut without drowning the dry peppery edge of the rye. The result tastes more American in the middle than at the edges.

Teaninich was founded in 1817 by Hugh Munro and is now Diageo’s third largest malt distillery. Most of what it makes disappears into large blends such as Johnnie Walker Red Label, which is exactly why a bottling under the distillery’s own name is unusual. Rye Rebel also carries the name Daring Rye in some markets.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh rye bread crust and dried dill meet vanilla and coconut macaroon from the bourbon wood. Underneath sit honey, white pepper and a faintly resinous note you rarely find in Scottish malt whisky. At 60.3% it is forceful; a little water brings out lemon peel and cinnamon sugar.

Palate

The rye takes charge immediately: dry, peppery, almost green. Then the bourbon cask arrives with vanilla, caramel and baked corn, and the two pull in opposite directions in a way that keeps your mouth awake. The texture is oily and fills out well. The alcohol is obvious but it pushes rather than burns.

Finish

Medium length and dry. Pepper, oak and a last rye note that grips the tongue lightly. A trace of aniseed right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 8 Years Old Special Release 2025 Rye Rebel Single Grain Scotch Whisky 60.3%
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Diageo
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 60.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Edition: Special Releases 2025 Horizons Unbound

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Dry · Peppery · Vanilla · Cask Strength · Grain Forward

Did You Know?

Teaninich runs the only mash filter in operation at a Scottish malt distillery. Instead of a traditional mash tun the wort is pressed through filter plates, producing unusually clear wort, and clear wort tends to give a light, grassy, almost fruity spirit. That is also why the rye can push through so plainly here.

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The heart of the harbour town beats in this 12-year-old release, where Oban's clean, maritime style is left to stand fully on its own in American oak.

Expert Review

Oban Special Release 2025 Heart of the Harbour 12 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,7% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks of American oak and bottled at 54.7% ABV.

Oban 12 Year Old Special Release 2025 is an exclusive single malt from the legendary Oban Distillery, bottled at natural cask strength and part of Diageo's sought-after Special Releases series. Maturation takes place solely in ex-bourbon casks, giving a clean, full style that puts the focus on the malt's fruitiness and the cask's vanilla character.

Oban Distillery is among Scotland's smallest, with just two stills, which keeps production volume low but consistent year after year. Its location in the heart of the small harbour town gives the whisky its name, Heart of the Harbour, underlining the close bond between distillery and town.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with sea salt, fresh breeze and a hint of dried kelp, balanced by green apple, pear and mild vanilla from the oak.

Palate

The palate brings soft malt sweetness, baked apple, toffee and subtle wood spice, with sea breeze and light smoke in the background.

Finish

The finish is warm and medium-long with notes of oak, fruit and a hint of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Oban Special Release 2025 Heart of the Harbour 12 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,7%
Distillery: Oban
Region: West Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 54.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: ex-bourbon casks of American oak
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Special Release 2025
EAN No.: 5000281080406

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Fruity · Cask Strength · Spicy

Did You Know?

Oban is the only distillery in Scotland where the name refers to both the distillery and the entire town it sits in – both are simply called Oban.

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Some whisky exists to quench a thirst, and some whisky exists to be sat with, because it has something to say. Loch Lomond 21 Year Old belongs firmly in the second category – a mature, unhurried story from a distillery unafraid to do things its own way.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was launched alongside the distillery's major brand relaunch and is built from three different spirit styles from the distillery, two of which are peated. All three are matured separately in American oak casks before being married for up to three months in cask ahead of bottling. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and suet pastry give an impression of old-fashioned steamed pudding, growing thicker and sweeter over time with a hint of char.

Palate

Sweet and lightly salty with warming spice, while sherry casks shine through with a deep hit of dried fruit and chocolate.

Finish

Sharp fruit and barley notes meet the sweet chocolate tones in a long, rounded finish.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, partly peated spirit
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass, ideally with a few drops of water to open the sweet notes

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spiced · Smooth

Investment Potential

Low to medium – as part of Loch Lomond's relaunched core range it is not an obvious investment bottle, but the 21-year age and peated components make it attractive to collectors building a vertical Loch Lomond series.

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old is composed of three different spirit styles from the same distillery – a combination only Loch Lomond's unique set-up of multiple still types makes possible.

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Named after one of Scotland's most beautiful waterfalls, close to the distillery's home.

Expert description

Loch Lomond 16 Year Old Waypoint Falls of Falloch Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky is part of the distillery's Waypoint series, matured for at least 16 years, bottled at 46.2%. Loch Lomond Distillery sits on the shore of the famous loch of the same name and is known for its unusual straight-necked stills, which allow the distillery to produce several different styles of whisky at the same site.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is full with honey, dried fruit and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, toasted wood and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and round.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 16 år Waypoint Falls of Falloch Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Loch Lomond, Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Honeyed · Warm · Round

Did you know?

The Waypoint series is named after distinctive natural and geographical landmarks around Loch Lomond, including the Falls of Falloch waterfall near the loch's northern end.

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Salty sea air, peat and charcoal – this 10 year old Ruadh Maor from cask 177 is one of the most maritime, smoky expressions of Glenturret we've had in the range.

Expert's Description

Glenturret 2010 Ruadh Maor is an exclusive Highland Single Malt Whisky, distilled in December 2010 and bottled in January 2021 by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company as part of the acclaimed Coopers Choice series. The whisky is bottled from a single bourbon cask, Cask No. #177.

With only 336 bottles from this one cask, this is a rare single cask whisky that appeals to enthusiasts seeking a smoky Highland whisky with depth and character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful smoke, salty sea air and peat, balanced by sweet notes of vanilla fudge.

Palate

Maritime nuances like seaweed and ash, combined with sweet toasted malt, oak and soft caramel with sooty smoke.

Finish

Long, dry and complex, with pepper, charcoal and lingering salted smoke.

Specifications

Name: Glenturret 2010/2021 Coopers Choice Ruadh Maor 10 Year Old Cask 177 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 56%
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: December 2010, Bottled: 2021
Age: 10 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Cask / Cask No. #177
Bottles: 336
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Smoky · Salty · Complex

Investment Potential

With only 336 bottles from a single cask and a rare, strongly maritime and smoky version of Glenturret, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors.

Did You Know?

Glenturret sits near the River Turret in the Scottish Highlands, but the maritime, salty character in this Ruadh Maor release comes primarily from the peat and the cask's own qualities, not from a coastal location.

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In 2018, Macallan launched a series that would challenge everything the distillery had done before. Concept Number 1 is the first bottle — inspired by surrealist art and designed to break with received notions of what Macallan whisky can and should taste like.

Expert description

Macallan Concept Number 1 is a discontinued Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from 2018, matured equally in sherry seasoned oak casks and ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 40%. The Concept series was Macallan's response to contemporary art's urge to challenge and provoke — the whisky is made to deviate, not to confirm. The maturation time is split equally between the two cask types, and the result is an expression that is lighter and more citrus-oriented than the classic Macallan expressions dominated by sherry casks.

As the first in the series and as a discontinued expression, Concept Number 1 attracts attention from collectors. It was not produced in unlimited quantities, and access to bottles continues to decrease.

Tasting notes

Nose

Butterscotch toffee with almonds and ginger. Cinnamon and dried fruit, citrus and green banana in the background.

Palate

Fresh orange and lemon citrus with soft oak spices and ginger. Lively fruit presence with good drive.

Finish

Medium length with a touch of sweetness and dryness. Oak, citrus fruit and ginger linger.

Specifications

Name: Macallan Concept Number 1
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned oak casks and ex-bourbon casks
Edition: Concept Number 1 (2018, discontinued)
EAN no.: 5010314307394

Flavour profile

Citrus-driven · Lightly spiced · Fruity · Lighter Macallan style

Investment potential

High — Concept Number 1 is discontinued and the first bottle in a groundbreaking series from Macallan. The combination of limited production, discontinued status and collector interest makes it a bottle with strong investment potential.

Did you know?

The Concept series was created with surrealist art as its source of inspiration and was Macallan's first real attempt to break with the classic sherry cask expression in an annual limited edition series.

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Andrew Symington has spent almost four decades picking casks for other people. Symingtons Choice is the range where he picks for himself — and he started with a sherry butt from 1995.

Expert description

Clynelish 1995/2024 Symingtons Choice 28 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an oloroso sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 53.5%.

The cask is numbered 11250, was filled on 21 November 1995 and emptied on 29 April 2024. It gave 447 bottles. The Symingtons Choice range is named after Signatory founder Andrew Symington, who entered the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2021. Leaving Clynelish for 28 years in oloroso is a bold call — the distillery's waxy core can easily be buried in sherry, but here the two hold each other in check.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and dark. Raisin, fig and toffee first, then orange peel, walnut and a damp tobacco note from the old wood.

Palate

Full and oily. Dried fruit, dark chocolate, candied ginger and a layer of cocoa. Beneath the sherry, Clynelish still pulls with its waxy texture and a trace of salt.

Finish

Very long and warm, with fig, nuts, dark cocoa and a dry spiced close that keeps going.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish 1995/2024 Symingtons Choice 28 years Signatory Single Highland Malt Whisky 53.5%
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 53.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry butt no. 11250
Distilled: 21/11/1995
Bottled: 29/04/2024
Number of bottles: 447
Edition: Symingtons Choice

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Full-bodied · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. Twenty-eight years in one cask, 447 bottles and a range carrying the founder's own name. Old sherried Clynelish is scarce, and demand for the distillery has climbed steadily since Brora reopened.

Did you know?

Signatory bought Edradour in 2002 — then Scotland's smallest distillery, where three men could run the whole production. Andrew Symington went from bottler to distiller without giving up either role.

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Ten years in bourbon casks at an unusually high natural strength — this release is a good example of just how intense a relatively young Edradour can become.

The expert's description

Edradour 2012/2022 Bourbon Cask 10 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 59.6%.

The whisky was distilled on 8 February 2012 and matured for 10 years across eight selected bourbon casks before being bottled in February 2022. The relatively young age combined with a high natural cask strength gives the whisky a fresh, intense character, where the bourbon cask's vanilla and sweetness come through clearly. 1,783 bottles were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh vanilla and green apple, with a hint of honey and pale oak.

Palate

Intense and spicy with citrus peel, caramel and a fine peppery warmth from the high strength.

Finish

Medium length with lingering vanilla and a dry, spicy finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2012/2022 Bourbon Cask 10 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.6%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59,6 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: bourbon casks (cask no. 47, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 61, 63)
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 08/02/2012
Bottled: 28/02/2022
Number of bottles: Only 1,783 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944117086

Flavour profile

Spicy · Fresh

Did you know?

Edradour's whisky has traditionally had a heavier, more oily texture than many other Highland malts — a result of the slow, old-fashioned distillation methods the distillery still uses.

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González Byass in Jerez has casks that have held Matusalem oloroso for thirty years. Dalmore gets to borrow them — and that arrangement is what the entire house style rests on.

Expert description

Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The distillery sits at Alness on the shore of the Cromarty Firth and has since 1839 worked in a heavy, sherried style. The partnership with the sherry house González Byass gives Dalmore access to oloroso casks that held wine for three decades, and it is those that give the 18 year old its depth. This release is the 2023 version of the standing 18 year old, which is adjusted from year to year.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and inviting. Orange peel, raisin and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, roasted nuts and a warm note of old oak.

Palate

Full and silky. Dried fruit, caramel and marzipan, with spice from the sherry cask and a malted core underneath. The 43% carries the sweetness without making it sticky.

Finish

Long and warm, with raisin, cocoa and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks
Edition: 2023 Edition
EAN no.: 5013967019324

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Orange · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium. Eighteen year age statements keep getting rarer in the trade, and Dalmore's annual versions of the 18 year old are not reprinted once the year has passed.

Did you know?

Matusalem is González Byass' oldest oloroso, a VORS sherry with at least thirty years in cask. The casks serve sherry for decades and only then whisky — one reason Dalmore can hold such a dark and concentrated style.

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The Scottish midge is a national affliction. It weighs nothing, it arrives in millions, and it ruins any summer evening in the Highlands. Naming a whisky after it is either self-deprecation or defiance, and probably both.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan The Midgie is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed of 50% ex-American bourbon casks, 48% port barriques and 2% sherry casks, bottled at 48%. The whisky is made from 75% unpeated and 25% peated malt.

The cask make-up is unusual in that the port barriques account for almost half. Most distilleries use port as a short finish, while The Midgie carries the casks as a full half of the blend. That gives red fruit and a vinous sweetness that does not normally take up so much room.

The ratio of peated to unpeated malt is also set differently from the house standard: only a quarter is peated here, where AD/ is an even split. The smoke is therefore a suggestion rather than a floor. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Complex from the first moment. Layers of cooked ham meet charred pineapple, prunes dipped in salt and strawberry jam on a salted cracker. The aromas round off with almond oil, coconut macaroon and a fresh touch of green mint.

Palate

Salt-baked pear, meadowsweet and wild flowers joined by lemon thyme. Deeper notes of raisin, cherry and cocoa powder add warmth, while pink peppercorns bring a subtle spiced bite.

Finish

Elegant and persistent with a gentle breath of liquid smoke, Himalayan salt and redcurrant juice. The balance between sweet and salty elements gives a dry, long-lasting close.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan The Midgie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 50% ex-bourbon casks, 48% port barriques and 2% sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Midgie

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Saline · Vinous · Floral · Lightly Smoky · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Scottish midge is Culicoides impunctatus, and only the females bite, needing blood in order to lay eggs. They are most active at dusk and in still weather, which are precisely the conditions you would otherwise choose for a dram outdoors. There is a certain logic in naming a summer whisky after them.

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Two guys from Aberdeenshire, a couple of bourbon barrels and a good deal of patience. Glen Garioch is Little Brown Dog's closest neighbour, and they waited a long time for casks worth putting their name on.

The expert's description

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength 56.2%.

The spirit ran off the stills at Glen Garioch on 17 November 2014 and went into glass on 17 February 2025. Little Brown Dog married two 1st fill bourbon barrels for this Small Batch, giving 337 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Glen Garioch sits in Oldmeldrum north-west of Aberdeen and has been distilling since 1797. It is the most easterly working malt distillery in Scotland, and the house style runs drier and more cereal-driven than the softer Speyside profile you meet an hour's drive west. 1st fill bourbon barrels lay vanilla and bright fruit over that cereal core without burying it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear tart straight out of the oven, kiwi and baked apple. There is a whisper of whipped cream behind the fruit, and a few minutes in the glass draws out something floral.

Palate

Full and juicy. Tinned pineapple, honeydew melon and rhubarb crumble, carried by a cask strength that gives the whisky body without scorching. Cereal malt sits under the fruit the whole way.

Finish

Crème anglaise and conference pear, fading into a dry twist of white pepper. Long and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 56.2%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 56.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 17 November 2014
Bottled: 17 February 2025
Number of bottles: 337
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Creamy · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

For years Glen Garioch put the distillery's surplus heat to work in greenhouses right next to production. Tomatoes were grown on steam from the whisky.

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