The southern tip of Arran is not a gentle place to build a distillery. The wind comes straight off Kilbrannan Sound, and peat sits thick in the ground around Kilmory. That rawness is what Lagg has built its name on – and now it meets something entirely different: the pale, salty world of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Expert's Description

Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch is an Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky, first matured in 1st and 2nd fill Bourbon casks before being finished in 1st fill Manzanilla Sherry casks for over a year, bottled at 57.6%. It's the distillery's second small batch release, following 2025's Palo Cortado Small Batch, and another step in Lagg's ongoing exploration of unusual Sherry cask types for its heavily peated spirit. Manzanilla isn't like most other Sherries – it's produced exclusively in the small coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where it matures under a protective layer of flor yeast right on the Atlantic. That gives it a paler, drier and fresher style than something like Oloroso or PX, with a touch of salt and almond rarely allowed anywhere near peated whisky. Peated to 50 ppm, non-chill filtered and free of added colour, Lagg hasn't held back – only 2,000 bottles exist of this release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet syrup and maraschino cherry arrive first, carried by a gentle warmth that hints at what's underneath. Beneath it, a thread of smoke that never quite fades.

Palate

Hot honey meets spiced red fruit and cherry syrup, while a salted minerality cuts through the sweetness and keeps everything tight.

Finish

Long, dry and warming, with ashy bonfire smoke and a faint brine that recalls the sea just outside the distillery's windows.

Specifications

Name: Lagg Distillery Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch
Distillery: Lagg Distillery
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: 1st and 2nd fill Bourbon casks, finished in 1st fill Manzanilla Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2026
Number of bottles: 2,000
Edition: Small Batch Release
EAN No.: 5037377000116

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Salty · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Graham Omand, Lagg's current distillery manager, learned the trade as a stillman at Arran's Lochranza distillery – under his own uncle, former master distiller James MacTaggart. That knowledge came with him seven years ago, when he set out to build an entirely new distillery from scratch on the island's southern tip.

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Lagg Distillery Palo Cortado Finish Isle of Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 56.2%
This whisky from Lagg Distillery, located on the Isle of Arran, explores a bold combination of smoke and wine cask maturation.
It has a PPM of 50 and has been matured in ex-Palo Cortado sherry casks imported from Spain.
This release is a Small Batch, meaning it is a Limited Edition.

Distillery: Lagg Distillery
Age: NAS
Type: Single Isle of Arran Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask Type: Ex-Palo Cortado Sherry Casks
ABV: 56.2%
PPM: 50
Un-chillfiltered
Natural Colour
Volume: 70 cl
Other: Small Batch

Ledaig 18 Years Tobermory Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46.3%

Ledaig 18 Years is a characterful and heavily peated single malt whisky from Tobermory Distillery, located on the picturesque Isle of Mull off Scotland’s west coast. Founded in 1798, the distillery produces both the unpeated Tobermory and the smoky Ledaig – two distinct expressions from the same source, but with very different flavor profiles.

Ledaig, pronounced “led-chig” and meaning “safe haven” in Gaelic, is the distillery’s tribute to the old style of west coast peated whisky.

Tobermory 18 Years Old is a single malt that demonstrates why the Isle of Mull distillery has become one of Scotland’s most respected names. This edition is the result of patience and careful maturation, spending most of its life in classic bourbon casks before receiving a sherry cask finish, which adds depth and complexity. The combination of these cask types creates a whisky with a unique balance of sweetness, smoke, maritime notes, and spice – all hallmarks of the Tobermory style.

As always, it is bottled at the distillery’s iconic strength of 46.3%, natural, un-chillfiltered, and without added color. This ensures the whisky is experienced exactly as intended by the master blender – authentic, pure, and true in character.

The nose opens with an intense fruitiness that immediately captures attention. Rich, smoky malt wraps elegantly around dried fruit, oak, and sherry aromas. A clear maritime influence is present – a salty sea breeze mingling with underlying sweetness, creating a harmonious balance.

On the palate, the whisky is powerful and full-bodied, yet refined. Layers unfold gradually: first herbal peat smoke, followed by soft caramel with sea salt, freshly grated orange zest, and a hint of old tobacco. Mid-palate, spices emerge, particularly the fresh bite of white pepper, adding structure and depth. This is a whisky that evolves in the mouth, inviting slow contemplation.

The finish is long, warm, and persistent. Smoke and sherry return in a rounded, elegant way, complemented by notes of licorice and a mineral freshness reminiscent of sea spray on an early morning. It is both satisfying and refined – clear proof of a whisky of exceptional class.

It is no surprise that Tobermory 18 Years Old has earned wide acclaim among whisky connoisseurs worldwide. In 2023, it was awarded “Whisky of the Year” by The Whisky Exchange, cementing its reputation as a modern classic. A whisky to be enjoyed by seasoned collectors and enthusiasts alike, as well as those seeking to experience the perfect balance of a Scottish single malt.

Tobermory 18 Years Old is more than just a whisky – it is a story of the Isle of Mull, the sea, tradition, and innovation. A dram that captures the essence of the distillery’s history and its ambition to create whisky of world-class quality.

Distillery: Tobermory
Name: Ledaig
Age: 18 years
Type: Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Un-chillfiltered
70 cl
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Skye rarely goes gentle in November, and Talisker built its 11 Year Old Special Release 2022 for exactly that kind of weather - cask strength, younger and rawer than its older siblings, but carrying every bit of the smoke and salt the island is known for.

Expert Description

Talisker 11 Year Old Special Release 2022 is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured across a mix of American and European oak casks and bottled at a natural cask strength of 55.1%. It belongs to Diageo's annual Special Releases programme, in which distilleries such as Talisker, Lagavulin and Mortlach each contribute an expression that steps outside the core range.

The oak brings a double layer of sweetness and tannin, while the younger age keeps Talisker's trademark pepper and smoke sharp and direct. This is the distillery showing its rawer side rather than its polished one, built for an evening that calls for a bit more intensity in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with salty sea air and peat smoke, quickly followed by citrus oil and a touch of mint. Underneath sit vanilla, green apple and toasted oak, and the high strength lifts the aromas without turning sharp.

Palate

The palate is rich and lively, with seaweed, sea spray and fresh lemon sitting alongside ripe fruit and vanilla. Talisker's pepper arrives quickly and builds into a chilli kick, while the casks add sweetness and a light oak bitterness underneath it all.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with smoke, pepper and a salty minerality that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2022
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 55.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, finished in wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Special Releases 2022
EAN no.: 5000281071053

Flavour Profile

Peated · Peppery · Maritime · Citrusy · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium - an annual, limited Special Release from Diageo that has historically grown in demand among collectors once a vintage sells out.

Did You Know?

Diageo's Special Releases programme dates back to the early 2000s and gives its distilleries room to experiment with cask types and ages that never make it into the permanent range.

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Skye still has cliffs of basalt that were once molten lava. Talisker took exactly those rocks and used them to toast the casks its 14 year old Molten Seas spent its final months in - a whisky that quite literally carries the island's volcanic past forward.

Expert Description

Talisker Special Release 2025 Molten Seas 14 Year Old is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, first matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in new American oak toasted with heat from volcanic basalt rock from Skye, bottled at a natural cask strength of 53.9%.

The toasting is done by heating the rocks to around 2000 degrees and placing them over the casks, giving the wood a deeper caramelisation than standard toasting achieves. The result keeps Talisker's maritime core intact while adding an extra layer of warmth and wood sweetness from the unusual cask treatment.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is mellow and forward with a dry edge, a light prickle and maritime, mineral notes. With a little air it turns fruitier with a hint of white grape, while a vegetal note of parsnip appears in the background.

Palate

The palate is creamy in texture and pleasingly mellow, yet distinctly sweet and salty at the same time. The pepper builds in a controlled way, with a trace of smoky peat sitting underneath it all.

Finish

The finish is long and drying, with a light peppery edge and a faint smoky peat that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2025 Molten Seas
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 53.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks, finished in new American oak toasted with volcanic rock
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Special Releases 2025 - Molten Seas
EAN no.: 5000281080222

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Creamy · Mineral

Investment Potential

Medium - a brand new vintage in Diageo's Special Releases series, where earlier Talisker releases have typically gained interest among collectors once they sell out.

Did You Know?

The casks for Molten Seas are toasted by placing them over a cage of super-heated basalt rock from a quarry on Skye - a technique never previously used for a Talisker release.

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