In a green Perthshire valley, Edradour's tiny copper stills have been distilling whisky since 1825. But there's another, smokier side to this quiet farm distillery. Ballechin takes its name from a neighbouring distillery that closed nearly a century ago, and the name now lives on in these heavily peated bottlings.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 13 years old SFTC 2004/2018 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a port cask and bottled at 53.3%.

The whisky belongs to the Straight From The Cask series, where every bottling comes from a single cask with no filtration and no added colour. This particular release was distilled in April 2004 and matured for 13 years in cask no. 199, a port cask that has given the whisky a deep reddish-brown hue and a wine-like sweetness that meets Ballechin's signature peat smoke head-on. The series has long been discontinued, and only 396 bottles were drawn from this one cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red berries and dark chocolate arrive first, quickly followed by pecans and damp oak. The port cask lends a sweet, almost wine-like depth that melts into a heavy, earthy peat smoke.

Palate

Strawberries and dark brown sugar sit in layers over the peat, which is present without ever taking over. Spiced oak, caramel and a touch of dried herbs round things off.

Finish

Long and lingering, with flamed orange peel, dark smoke and black pepper, closing on warm spice and a sweetness that takes its time to fade.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 13 years old SFTC 2004/2018 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 53.3%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 53,3 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Port cask (cask no. 199)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 15/04/2004
Bottled: 15/01/2018
Number of bottles: Only 396 bottles
Edition: SFTC
EAN no.: 5021944093960

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spicy

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have high investment potential, largely due to the discontinued SFTC series, only 396 bottles and a single cask bottled at cask strength. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

The Ballechin name comes from a small distillery near Edradour that closed in the 1920s — today it lives on as the name for Edradour's peated bottlings.

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SBCS is Ballechin's take on small, hand-picked batches — every batch with its own personality, but always with the same insistent peat underneath.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 15 years old SBCS 2022 1st Release is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 58.9%.

SBCS stands for Small Batch Cask Strength, and this 1st Release is the first bottling in the peated arm of the series. The whisky matured for 15 years, split between 1st fill bourbon barrels and 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, which gives it both vanilla sweetness and a darker, dried-fruit character. 3,520 bottles were released to the global market.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoked caramel and ripe plums, with a hint of the sherry's nutty depth and a touch of fresh tar.

Palate

Full-bodied and powerful at cask strength, with peat smoke woven together with raisin, dark brown sugar and a slightly bitter cocoa note.

Finish

Long and spicy with lingering smoke, dried figs and a dry, faintly gripping finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 15 years old SBCS 2022 1st Release Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.9%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 58,9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels and 2nd fill Oloroso Sherry butts
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: Only 3,520 bottles
Edition: SBCS 1st Release
EAN no.: 5021944116713

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Spicy

Did you know?

The Ballechin series is always bottled without chill filtration and with no added colour — the philosophy being that the whisky should show itself without any cosmetic intervention.

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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 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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On the edge of the Cairngorms, where the mountains throw long shadows across the Mearns, Fettercairn makes a spirit that has always leaned towards the sweet and the full. Nineteen years of quiet, and then bottled by one of the oldest independent houses in Scotland. This is not a bottle that shouts. It lets the time do the talking.

The expert description

Fettercairn 2006/2025 Cadenhead's Original Collection 19 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

The bottling comes from Cadenhead's, the oldest independent bottler in Scotland, founded in Aberdeen in 1842. The Original Collection is the plain-spoken sort: single malt bottled without colouring, unfiltered, and at a strength that lets the cask and the distillery speak without burning. Unlike the official Fettercairn releases this bottle does not carry the distillery livery but Cadenhead's sober green label, where everything is about what is inside.

The whisky spent nineteen years in bourbon casks throughout. No finishing, no sherry to cover anything up. This is Fettercairn in its purest form, where the heavy, sweet house style and the oak from old American casks shape the flavour together, and the bourbon wood pulls it in the bright, fruit-sweet direction with vanilla and soft caramel rather than smoke or dryness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sherbet lemons and quince first, then a soft toffee bonbon that rounds the whole thing off. Sweet and inviting, but not sticky.

Palate

Creamy and round, think vanilla custard and toffee popcorn, with juicy nectarines breaking through to keep it fresh.

Finish

Dries out slightly towards green notes and broom, where crisp Granny Smith apples and a dusting of clove give it a spiced touch at the close.

Specifications

Name: Fettercairn 2006/2025 Cadenhead's Original Collection 19 Years Old
Distillery: Fettercairn
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks throughout maturation
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2025
Edition: Original Collection

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Oaky · Sweet · Mature

Investment potential

Medium. Nineteen year old Fettercairn from an independent bottler exists in small quantities, and Cadenhead's Original Collection has a settled collector following that watches the range closely. Bottlings from the house tend to leave the shelves within a couple of seasons.

Did you know?

Fettercairn is the only Scottish distillery with a copper ring around the top of its pot stills that lets cold water run down the outside during distillation. It cools the vapour and produces the light, clean spirit the distillery is known for.

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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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The colour resembles strawberry wine, and the story is just as rare – this is the very first Madeira cask GlenWyvis ever filled, captured by Little Brown Dog on the distillery's own 5th birthday.

Expert's Description

Little Brown Dog buys casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under their own brand. This time they got hold of a cask from the young distillery GlenWyvis. According to Little Brown Dog, they're rarely given free rein to explore GlenWyvis' warehouse, but here they found a truly exceptional cask – the very first Madeira cask the distillery ever filled, making it a significant part of GlenWyvis' young history.

The whisky is bottled at cask strength, 56.5%, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour, filled the day after the spirit's 5th birthday. Only 299 bottles exist of this release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apricot, a unique nuance of cider and pecans.

Palate

Strawberry tart, panforte and Ethiopian coffee beans.

Finish

Sweet notes of angelica and a hint of English mustard.

Specifications

Name: GlenWyvis 2019 Little Brown Dog Madeira Cask Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 56.5%
Distillery: GlenWyvis
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 2019
Cask type: Madeira Cask
Bottles: 299
ABV: 56.5%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Wine-driven · Coffee-toned · Spiced

Investment Potential

As the very first Madeira cask GlenWyvis ever filled, and with only 299 bottles from a still very young distillery, this release belongs to the whiskies that often become historically interesting and sought-after among collectors as the distillery grows more established.

Did You Know?

GlenWyvis is Scotland's first community-owned whisky distillery, founded in 2017, and this Madeira cask was the first of its kind the distillery ever filled – Little Brown Dog expects Madeira casks may become an important part of GlenWyvis' future identity.

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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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Pedro Ximénez is the sweetest sherry there is. The grapes are dried in the sun before pressing, giving a wine so thick it is close to syrup. The casks then work quickly on a whisky — even one as bright as Glencadam’s.

The expert's description

Glencadam PX Sherry Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The main maturation takes place in traditional American oak bourbon casks, where the bright distillery fruit gets room. Only then does the whisky go into selected PX casks, and the short finish is enough to lay dark fruit and chocolate in without erasing the starting point. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

PX casks are the most powerful in the sherry family and are normally used sparingly. On a spirit like Glencadam’s — light, fruit-driven and without much weight of its own — it is a balancing act, and the finish is therefore kept short enough that the whisky is not run over.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruits and dark chocolate, with spice and a rich sherry sweetness. Beneath the sweetness sits a brighter fruit note from the bourbon casks.

Palate

Full and rich. Raisin, fig and dark chocolate, with a spice that builds towards the end. The 46% and the absence of chill filtration give a clearly oily mouthfeel.

Finish

Medium to long. Sherry sweetness and cocoa drying slowly into a lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam PX Sherry Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: PX Sherry Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349609704

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Glencadam sits inside the town of Brechin itself, not out in the countryside like most Scottish distilleries. The town has grown around the site over two hundred years, and production today takes place in the middle of an ordinary residential area.

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White port is a rarity in the whisky world. Most port casks that end up in Scotland have held ruby or tawny, and those give dark fruit. White port pulls the other way — towards stone fruit, citrus and something almost floral.

The expert's description

Glencadam White Port Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American ex-bourbon casks with a finishing period in white port casks from Portugal, bottled at 46%.

Main maturation takes place in American oak that previously held bourbon, and the finishing period runs in casks from white port. White port is made from white grapes and is brighter and fresher than the red varieties, which suits the Glencadam expression rather than competing with it. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

The combination is unusual, even among the many cask finish releases out there. White port casks are rarely used for whisky, partly because they are hard to come by and partly because the effect is more subtle than sherry or red port — you need a spirit that can carry a light hand.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft, tart fruits and stone fruits, with buttery orange cakes and vanilla custard.

Palate

Delicate shades of sweet summer fruit and apple cakes, with raisins coated in honey and a trace of cedarwood. The texture is soft and round without turning heavy.

Finish

Pleasant with a peppery warmth, well balanced by vanilla, the scent of oak and flavourful butter biscuits. Medium.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam White Port 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: American ex-bourbon casks with a finishing period in white port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: White Port Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349597704

Flavour profile

Fruity · Stone fruit · Vanilla-sweet · Soft · Spiced

Did you know?

White port makes up only a small share of total port production. The great majority is red, and that is exactly why white port casks are a rarity in Scottish warehouses compared with ruby and tawny casks.

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PX only. No oloroso to dry it out, no bourbon to lighten it. Ode to The Dark is the most uncompromising of the three in The Master’s Anthology, and the name was not chosen at random.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Dark is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured entirely in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 50.8%.

PX is the sweetest and most concentrated sherry type, and a whisky that sits in it alone picks up a depth and a colour no other cask combination can give. The 50.8% is pitched high to keep the heavy fruit in check — at a lower strength the sweetness would easily turn cloying.

The bottling forms part of The Master’s Anthology, a trio of Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed by master blender Rachel Barrie and launched in December 2024. The three releases carry no age statement and are each built around their own cask direction — Ode to The Valley, Ode to The Embers and Ode to The Dark.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and black cherries, with dates and a hint of bitter coffee. There is a heavy syrup note that PX casks always lay in.

Palate

Dense and sweet. Dates, raisin and dark chocolate, with a coffee bitterness cutting through. The cask strength gives the whisky enough structure not to collapse under its own sweetness.

Finish

Very long. Cocoa, dark fruit and a dry, almost burnt close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Dark Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50.8%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Dark
EAN no.: 5060716145506

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Sweet · Powerful

Did you know?

The Master’s Anthology was launched in December 2024 as three releases at once. That is unusual for Glendronach, which normally sends out single releases, and the three are meant to be tasted alongside each other rather than separately.

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Glendronach and smoke is not an obvious combination. The distillery has built its whole name on sherry, and peated spirit is something it makes rarely. Ode to The Embers is one of the few times the two meet in the same bottle.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Embers is a peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 48.4%.

Most of the maturation takes place in oloroso casks with a share of Pedro Ximénez, and that is a deliberate build: the oloroso gives the dryness the smoke can play against, while the PX rounds off the sharp edges. The whisky carries no age statement, because the composition was chosen by cask rather than by year.

The bottling is the peated one of the three in The Master’s Anthology, composed by master blender Rachel Barrie and launched in December 2024. The series is intended as three different answers to the same question — what sherry casks can actually be used for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoked malt and glowing charcoal, with dark fruit and sherry behind. There is an oily note beneath the smoke that does not resemble Islay.

Palate

Full and smoky. Dried fruit and nuts from the sherry casks meet an earthy, warm smoke, and the PX share lays in a sweetness that holds it all together.

Finish

Long. Smoke and dark fruit giving way slowly to a dry, spiced close with a trace of ash.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Embers Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48.4%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Embers
EAN no.: 5060716145490

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Full

Did you know?

Glendronach only distils peated spirit in short spells, and smoky releases from the distillery can be counted on a few hands. That is one of the reasons each one draws a comparatively large amount of attention when it arrives.

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The valley at Forgue is where Glendronach sits, and the name of this release points back to the place rather than to the cask. It is the brightest and fruitiest of the three in The Master’s Anthology — the one where the spirit gets the most room.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Valley is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

At 46.2% it is the gentlest of the three in the series, and that is a deliberate choice. Where Ode to The Dark is dense and syrupy and Ode to The Embers is peated, Valley goes for floral nectar and summer berries — the bright end of what sherry casks can deliver. The whisky carries no age statement.

The Master’s Anthology appeared in December 2024 as three releases at once, composed by master blender Rachel Barrie. Valley is the entry to the series and the one that shows the Glendronach fruitiness without the heavy sherry layer the distillery is otherwise known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral nectar and summer berries, with pale honey and a trace of peach. The sherry sits as a calm undertone rather than as the lead.

Palate

Fruity and round. Red berries, honey and ripe stone fruit, with a lightly spiced edge and a hint of nuts from the casks. The 46.2% keeps it light without making it thin.

Finish

Medium. Fruit and honey sliding out into a dry, lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Valley Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46.2%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Valley
EAN no.: 5060716145483

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Honeyed · Soft · Sherried

Did you know?

All three releases in The Master’s Anthology carry no age statement. That is a deliberate choice by Rachel Barrie, who wanted to compose them by cask type and character rather than let a year dictate what could go into the bottle.

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Distilled on 31 December 1999. That is the last day of the millennium, and the cask was filled while the rest of the world was getting ready for fireworks. Twenty-two years later it yielded 203 bottles — for Denmark only.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 1999 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single sherry cask, bottled at 50%.

The cask was filled on 31 December 1999 and emptied on 27 June 2022 after twenty-two years. Cask number 7512 gave 203 bottles, and the release forms part of The Family Casks — the Glenfarclas series of individual casks selected and bottled by the family without blending.

The Millennium casks hold a particular status, because the date is one of the few in whisky where you know exactly what was happening that day. This one was selected for the Danish market and has never been sold anywhere else.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep sherry with raisin and dried fig, over a base of aged oak. There is a waxy depth that twenty-two years in a single cask has created.

Palate

Full and concentrated. Dark fruit, walnut and a spiced middle, with a firm oak note keeping the sweetness in check. The 50% gives the whisky structure without being hard.

Finish

Long and dry. Nuts, dark fruit and oak ebbing away slowly with a spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 1999 #7512 Highland Single Malt Whisky 50%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask no. 7512
Distilled: 31 December 1999
Bottled: 27 June 2022
Number of bottles: 203
Edition: The Family Casks - Millennium Cask, selected for Denmark

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. 203 bottles from one cask, distilled on the last day of 1999 and selected for the Danish market alone. The Millennium date makes the cask easier to recognise than most single casks, and the outturn is closed for good.

Did you know?

The Family Casks was launched in 2007 with a bottling from every single vintage between 1952 and 1994. It is a series no other distillery has been able to match, precisely because it requires unbroken stock across four decades.

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Another bourbon cask, another heavily peated Glenturret – Coopers Choice keeps finding fine examples of the distillery's rare Ruadh Maor expression.

Expert's Description

Glenturret 2010 Ruadh Maor Heavily Peated is part of the Coopers Choice series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, who has more than 20 years of experience in the whisky trade.

This release was distilled in December 2010 and bottled in 2020, after 9 years of maturation in a bourbon cask, Cask No. #186. The whisky is bottled at cask strength, 58%, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour – only 342 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful smoke and peat, with a sweet vanilla tone in the background.

Palate

Full-bodied and salty, with tar, ash and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Glenturret 2010/2020 Coopers Choice Ruadh Maor 9 Year Old Cask 186 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 58%
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: December 2010, Bottled: 2020
Age: 9 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Cask / Cask No. #186
Bottles: 342
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Powerful · Peated

Investment Potential

With only 342 bottles from a single cask and a rare, heavily peated version of Glenturret, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors of smoky Highland whisky.

Did You Know?

Glenturret is considered one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, but it's only under the name Ruadh Maor that they occasionally produce a heavily peated style.

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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.

See our full range of Glenturret

Hear more about Coopers Choice and The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. in our podcast:

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".

See our full range of The Uncharted Whisky Co.

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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Sometimes a whisky is not just a celebration of a golf tournament, but also a story about the sea. Loch Lomond's 22 Year Old The Open Course Collection takes its final maturation in Spanish oak – a nod to a shipwreck that has rested off Portrush's coast since 1588.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond 22 Year Old The Open Course 2025 153rd Royal Portrush is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak with a Spanish oak finish and bottled at 46.7%.

The whisky was distilled in 2002 using spirit exclusively from the distillery's unique straight neck pot stills and matured for over 21 years in American oak before receiving a six-month finish in specially toasted virgin Spanish oak from the distillery's own cooperage. The Spanish oak is a tribute to the Spanish Armada ship La Girona, which sank off the coast of Portrush in 1588. Master Blender Michael Henry crafted this expression, with just 3,500 bottles available worldwide. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak, crisp apple and fresh ginger with soft vanilla and gentle spice.

Palate

Toffee and ripe pineapple followed by bright lemon zest and warming cinnamon.

Finish

Long and satisfying, with lingering oak spice, soft smoke and gentle warmth.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 22 Year Old The Open Course 2025 153rd Royal Portrush Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 46.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in toasted Spanish oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Straight neck pot stills
Distilled: 2002
Number of bottles: 3,500
Edition: The Open Course Collection, 153rd Royal Portrush 2025
EAN: 5016840167259
Serving suggestion: Neat, in a tulip glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Smoky · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

High – a 22-year-old, master-blended release of just 3,500 bottles with a unique cask concept and a historic Royal Portrush story makes this one of the most sought-after Loch Lomond releases for collectors.

Did You Know?

The Spanish oak in the cask is chosen as a tribute to the Spanish Armada ship La Girona, which sank off the coast of Royal Portrush in 1588 – a story as old as the course's own landscape.

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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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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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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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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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On the remote Morvern peninsula, where Scotland's west coast is at its most inaccessible, Annabel Thomas built a distillery from the ground up, with every decision filtered through sustainability.

Expert's Description

Nc'nean Huntress 2023 is an Organic Single Highland Malt Whisky from the Nc'nean distillery, bottled at 48.5%.

The Huntress series is built around a philosophy of discovery – forging your own path, inspired by the guiding star Neachneohain. For this 2023 edition, the distillery used four different yeast strains, including some borrowed from winemaking, resulting in an unusually complex flavour with caramel sweetness, forest berries and a touch of spice. Only 4,556 bottles were filled for worldwide release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers dried fruit, red berries and ripe plum.

Palate

On the palate there is pepper and light tannin, while dark berries adds a final twist.

Finish

The finish is lightly bitter and elegant.

Specifications

Distillery: Nc'nean
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Organic Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.5 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 4556
Edition: Huntress 2023
EAN no.: 5060608100163

Flavour Profile

Winey · Full-bodied · Fruity · Spicy

Did You Know?

Nc'nean takes its name from the Celtic goddess Neachneohain, "guiding star of the wild ones", and the distillery runs entirely on renewable energy with a philosophy of forging its own path.

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Nc'nean is Scotland's first certified organic whisky distillery, built on an old farm on the Morvern peninsula by entrepreneur Annabel Thomas.

Expert's Description

Nc'nean Organic Single Highland Malt Whisky is the distillery's core release, bottled at 46%.

The whisky is the vision of founder Annabel Thomas, who started production in 2017 with a clear mission to make whisky more sustainable without compromising on flavour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with shortbread, quickly followed by honey and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with malt, apple compote and creamy vanilla.

Finish

The finish is gently sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Nc'nean
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Organic Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060608100033

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Nc'nean recycles 100% of its glass bottles and runs entirely on renewable energy, making it one of the most sustainability-focused distilleries in all of Scotland.

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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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Wilson & Morgan has an Italian soul, but the whisky is Scottish through and through. This Highland malt is a textbook example of what sherry casks can do.

Expert's Description

Sherry Cask Malt Whisky is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Wilson & Morgan, matured for 6 years and bottled at 43%.

The source distillery is undisclosed, but the whisky is designed as an accessible introduction to the delicate aromas found in Highland single malts, shaped by cask no. 3544/3550.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Buttery cake and fruit meet a subtle wine-like sherry tone with a hint of nuts.

Palate

Balanced with apricot, peach, raisin and a hint of honey.

Finish

Robust yet easy-drinking, with lingering dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Sherry Cask Malt
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry casks, cask no. 3544/3550
EAN No.: 8033749400581

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Nutty · Balanced

Did You Know?

Wilson & Morgan is an Italian family company from Livorno that has travelled to Scotland since 1992 to select and bottle casks — a rare European angle on Scotch whisky.

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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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271 bottles, one cask, and sixteen years of quiet maturation in a Refill Hogshead that let the spirit speak for itself.

Expert description

Teaninich 2004/2020 is a 16-year-old Single Highland Malt Whisky from independent bottler Lady of the Glen, distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2020 from cask no. 301139, a Refill Hogshead, at full cask strength of 53.2%.

This is a single cask release, meaning the entire run of 271 bottles comes from one and the same cask. This Limited Release is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and the nearly 16-year maturation in a refill cask has given the whisky plenty of flavour without letting the wood dominate too heavily.

The result is a whisky that still lets Teaninich's cereal-driven core character shine through, while the cask strength adds an extra dimension of body and intensity.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh cereal, green pears and a light honeyed sweetness.

Palate

Round and full-bodied, with notes of vanilla, ripe fruit and a touch of ginger.

Finish

Medium to long, with lingering warmth and a dry, cereal-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2004/2020
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 53.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead, cask no. 301139
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 271
Edition: Limited Release

Flavour profile

cereal · round · full-bodied

Did you know?

Teaninich is one of only two Scottish distilleries that use a mash filter instead of a traditional mash tun, giving a cleaner, more cereal-focused spirit.

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Only 179 bottles carry this name. Ten years in a hogshead, finished in a small Madeira quarter cask, have given this Teaninich an intense fruitiness rarely found in such a young bottling.

Expert description

Teaninich 2014/2025 from Lady of the Glen is a 10 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky at 53%, bottled from a single cask by Scottish independent bottler Lady of the Glen.

Lady of the Glen is known for its exclusive, non-chill filtered cask strength bottlings. This Teaninich (cask no. 713240) matured in a hogshead finished in a Madeira quarter cask - a small cask that previously held the Portuguese fortified wine Madeira, which accelerates maturation and adds sweet fruitiness and depth.

Distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2025 after 10 years of maturation, the whisky is non-chill filtered with no added colouring. Only 179 bottles of this single cask edition were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and raisin, with a hint of toasted almond and a delicate floral note.

Palate

Powerful and fruit-driven, with notes of stewed cherry, spice and a warm, almost compote-like sweetness.

Finish

Long and lightly tannic, closing on a note of dark fruit and toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2014/2025 Lady of the Glen
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 53%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead finished in a Madeira quarter cask / Cask No. 713240
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 179
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

fruit-driven · spiced · powerful

Investment potential

With only 179 bottles worldwide and a striking, unusual cask combination, this bottling ranks among the more sought-after independent Teaninich releases, which typically supports solid investment potential over time.

Did you know?

A quarter cask is roughly a quarter the size of a standard cask, giving the whisky significantly more contact with the wood - which is why even a short finishing period in a Madeira quarter cask can make a big difference to the flavour.

See our full range of Teaninich