A warehouse in Aberdeenshire, rows of quiet oak casks — and then one barrel that refused to blend in. When Little Brown Dog worked their way through a parcel of 2015 Bowmore, this was the cask that stopped them in their tracks. It didn't smell like the rest. It didn't taste anything like the rest. So they sketched a rough chicken on the side of it, just so they'd never lose track of which one it was.

Expert's Description

Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog Refill Bourbon Barrel is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Refill Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 58.3%. The whisky was distilled at Bowmore on 23 February 2015 and bottled by independent bottler Little Brown Dog in May 2026, after 11 years of maturation. Only 272 bottles exist of this release.

This whisky was originally meant to disappear into a larger parcel – Bowmore typically vats several casks together before filling new ones. But when Little Brown Dog's Andrew and Chris tasted their way through the samples in the warehouse, this one cask stood out sharply from the rest. It carried more peat than Bowmore usually gives, and a striking, almost salty finish that made them sketch a rather amateur chicken on the side of the cask so they wouldn't mistake it for anything else. Rather than pouring it back into the parcel, they chose to bottle it on its own – which also explains why the label leans into a crisp-packet theme.

The whisky is bottled without added colour and without chill filtration, straight from the cask at natural cask strength. The barrel it matured in had already been used once before, which means it doesn't sit heavily on top of the spirit – instead it lets Bowmore's own character, the soft smoke and the fruity sweetness, come through clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke settles under ripe nectarine and a touch of honey, while a hint of smouldering birch and toasted bread add depth.

Palate

The texture is creamy and full, with stewed peaches, sweet malt and a light honeyed sweetness that slowly turns towards something saltier and more savoury.

Finish

Long and unexpected – soft Islay peat mixed with ripe orchard fruit, ending in an unmistakably salty, snack-like savoury note that mostly resembles roast chicken crisps.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog Refill Bourbon Barrel
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 58.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Barrel
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 23 February 2015
Bottled: May 2026
Number of Bottles: 272

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Sweet

Did You Know?

The name Little Brown Dog comes from founder Andrew Smith's own dog, who followed him on distillery visits for years and gave the company both its name and its logo. The dog, known as "the little brown dog", passed away in 2022 at the age of 15, but lives on in the dog silhouettes printed all the way around the bottle.

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Caol Ila usually means smoke and brine in every drop. But once a year the distillery leaves the peat behind, and what comes out the other end almost always disappears straight into a blend. Little Brown Dog caught a rare batch of casks before that could happen.

Expert Description

Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two Refill Bourbon Barrels and bottled at 57.3%.

Caol Ila is Islay's largest distillery, usually known for a lightly smoky, maritime style. Since 1999, though, the distillery has occasionally run an unpeated production, and it's exactly this rare unpeated spirit from 2013 that independent bottler Little Brown Dog, based in rural Aberdeenshire, has captured across two Refill Bourbon Barrels. The whisky was filled into cask on 27 December 2013 and bottled on 5 May 2026 after 12 years of maturation, in a small batch of 384 bottles. Little Brown Dog considered a Sherry finish, but deliberately chose to let the whisky stand entirely on its own, with no extra cask influence, so the distillate's own character could speak for itself. A high cutting point during distillation gives a spirit that is unusually elegant, sweet and delicate for Islay – a long way from the heavy, peated style most people associate with Caol Ila.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pineapple chunks, white clover and candied clementine marmalade – fresh and lightly fruity, without a trace of smoke.

Palate

Passionfruit, creamy custard tart and juicy white grape juice give a sweet, gently creamy fullness.

Finish

Lemon sherbets, elderflower cordial and a touch of sea salt keep the finish fresh and lightly saline.

Specifications

Name: Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 57.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Two Refill Bourbon Barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27 December 2013
Bottled: 5 May 2026
Number of bottles: 384
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour Profile

Unpeated · Fruity · Creamy · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium. Unpeated Caol Ila is a rarity in itself, and with only 384 bottles from Little Brown Dog, a bottler that has built a strong reputation among collectors in a short space of time, there's real potential for rising demand as the bottle becomes harder to find.

Did You Know?

Little Brown Dog actually forgot to mention on the label itself that the whisky was unpeated – and had to add a round sticker reading "It's unpeated! No peat!" to every single bottle after the fact.

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The south coast of Islay doesn't invite you to linger. Wind cuts sideways off the sea, and somewhere behind the spray, Laphroaig is quietly doing what it's done since 1815.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cadenhead's Original Collection is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in bourbon barrels and bottled at 46%. The release belongs to Cadenhead's Original Collection, a series built from only a handful of casks at a time so the bottler's own reading of the distillery's character comes through, rather than the house style of the official range. This whisky was distilled in 2015 and bottled in August 2026, giving it a full ten years in wood. The barley is peated malt, and roughly a fifth of it is still floor-malted on-site at Laphroaig, a labour-intensive method most distilleries of comparable size gave up decades ago. The peat itself is cut on Islay, and it's what gives the spirit its trademark tarry, iodine-like edge. Distillation runs twice through seven copper pot stills, with an unusually long foreshot on the second run that keeps the heaviest, oiliest notes out of the final spirit. Only bourbon wood is used here, so there's no sherry or finishing cask softening the profile — this is Laphroaig stripped back to peat, brine and distillate character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Gooseberry and sharp green fruit meet a cool menthol lift, with the tarry, salted smoke Laphroaig is known for sitting underneath.

Palate

Bold and direct, lime oil and tart Bramley apple cutting through the smoke, while salt and a light iodine bitterness hold it in check.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a dry, ash-like close where the citrus freshness lingers a while after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky Cadenhead's Original Collection
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: August 2026
Edition: Original Collection
EAN no.: 610854013066

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Fresh · Maritime

Did You Know?

Laphroaig is one of the very few whiskies in the world to hold a Royal Warrant, granted by the then Prince of Wales in 1994 and still displayed on the label today.

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Bunnahabhain has always marched to its own beat on Islay. While the neighbours fill the air with peat smoke, this distillery keeps things unpeated, quietly stubborn about it. Thirteen years in, Woodrow's of Edinburgh has given this particular cask a final chapter in a barrel that had just been vacated by rum from Barbados, sending the spirit somewhere very few Islay whiskies go.

Expert Description

Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old Islay is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled at Bunnahabhain, matured in a Refill Hogshead and finished in a 1st fill Foursquare rum barrel, bottled at 61.3%.

The whisky belongs to Woodrow's of Edinburgh's Warehouse Reserve line, where the small Edinburgh outfit only bottles casks too good to pass on to anyone else. The spirit was distilled in March 2013 and spent its early years quietly resting in a used cask, before being re-racked in summer 2026 into a barrel that had just held rum from the Foursquare distillery in Barbados, one of the most respected rum houses in the world. The rum cask pulls Bunnahabhain's usually restrained, unpeated character somewhere warm and tropical, without losing its Islay roots entirely. Just 188 bottles came from cask number 7465, bottled in July 2026 at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet pineapple, ripe banana and lemon sherbet, with a touch of varnish and vanilla custard where the rum cask has clearly left its mark.

Palate

Rich and oily on the palate, with juicy pineapple, mango and lychee, seasoned with caramel-like Scottish tablet, banana and a fine hint of sea salt.

Finish

Long and warming, with tropical fruit lingering alongside vanilla, clove and cinnamon spice.

Specifications

Name: Woodrow's of Edinburgh Warehouse Reserve Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old Islay
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 61.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead, finished in a 1st fill Foursquare rum barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: March 2013
Bottled: July 2026
Number of bottles: 188
Edition: Warehouse Reserve
EAN: 5060769810819

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Rum-finished · Sweet · Spiced · Unpeated

Did You Know?

Woodrow's of Edinburgh is named after a real person. Behind the brand are Woody Tan and Megan Brown, based in Leith, Edinburgh, and Woodrow is actually Woody's full first name. The story goes that the idea came to them one evening while doing the dishes.

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One field, one distillery, one whisky. 100% Islay 5th Release is another chapter in Kilchoman's most particular project — proof that terroir isn't just a word for wine.

Expert's description

Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, at least 5 years old and bottled at 50 %.

The 100% Islay series differs from every other Kilchoman release in that the entire process — from the barley growing on the distillery's own land, through floor malting and distilling, to maturing and bottling — happens in one and the same place. 5th Release continues that story with selected 5 year old first fill and refill bourbon casks.

Because the barley used is home-grown and more lightly peated than the bought-in malt Kilchoman otherwise uses, the series carries a more delicate, floral character, where the smoke acts as a gentle layer rather than a dominant force.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft fruit notes and pear drops meet a light, delicate peat smoke, with a hint of honey.

Palate

Sweet and round, where the peat smoke slowly unfolds and leaves a warm, gentle finish.

Finish

Long and sweet, with soft smoky tones that never become overwhelming.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th Release Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: 100% Single Farm Single Malt Islay Whisky
Age: Min. 5 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 100% Islay 5th Release

Flavour profile

Peated · Floral · Delicate · Farm-to-bottle · Sweet

Investment potential

Medium. As one of the early releases in a now well-established annual series, 5th Release historically becomes harder to find as collectors seek a complete run.

Did you know?

The word terroir is normally used for wine, but Kilchoman's 100% Islay series is one of the best examples in the whisky world that the same principle applies to barley — the soil, climate and water leave their own distinct mark.

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Bunnahabhain sits at the edge of nowhere, where Islay turns its back on the mainland and faces the open sea. An Cuan Garbh No.1 carries the name of that crossing – it simply means "the rough sea" – and it drinks that way too: sweetness and salt, weather and calm, sitting side by side.

Expert Description

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old An Cuan Garbh No.1 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in White Port casks from Portugal's Douro Valley and bottled at 51.6%.

This is the first release in the 2026 chapter of Bunnahabhain's Westering Home Collection, a three-part collector series built around the journey home to Islay. Last year's opening chapter, Turas Math, was about setting sail. An Cuan Garbh is about the crossing itself, the rough and changeable stretch that comes in between. The whisky has spent 15 years resting on oak before being transferred into casks that previously held White Port from the Douro Valley. It's an unusual finishing cask for Scotch whisky, and it shows: Bunnahabhain's salty, nutty backbone picks up a brighter, more fruit-driven edge. The whisky is unpeated, naturally coloured and non-chill filtered, and arrives in a limited release tied to Fèis Ìle 2026.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright and floral, honeysuckle and elderflower giving way quickly to ripe stone fruit and candied citrus peel. Underneath sits a warm, honeyed note of ripe malt.

Palate

Peach and apricot lead, backed by candied lemon and honey-roasted almonds. Toasted malt gives it weight, while a light ginger spice keeps things lifted.

Finish

Long and nutty, with a last trace of candied fruit and a touch of coastal salt air.

Specifications

Name: Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old An Cuan Garbh No.1
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 51.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oak, finished in White Port casks from the Douro Valley
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2026
Edition: An Cuan Garbh No.1, Westering Home Collection, Fèis Ìle 2026
EAN No.: 5029704221745

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Floral · Coastal · Lightly Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium – An Cuan Garbh No.1 is a limited Fèis Ìle release and the opening bottle in a new trilogy chapter from Bunnahabhain. Earlier chapters in the Westering Home series have drawn growing collector interest, and the limited outturn points toward solid value growth over time.

Did You Know?

Until the 1960s, Bunnahabhain could only be reached by boat, there was simply no road in. That remote setting still runs through the brand's story, which is why the journey home is the thread tying the whole Westering Home Collection together.

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When Stewart Laing died in the spring of 2026, he left behind more than a distillery on Islay's north-east coast. He left one last bottle, composed to his own taste, boxed with a personal letter written in his own hand.

Expert Description

Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured 6 years in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength 60.2%.

This is a tribute release, composed to Stewart Laing's own specifications shortly before his death, and it carries his name as the final whisky he personally signed off on. Ardnahoe drew on older stock for this release and selected the distillery's most heavily peated spirit for the job - making Chairman's Selection the smokiest whisky Ardnahoe has bottled to date. The casks are predominantly first-fill sherry, topped up with bourbon, and the combination gives a depth not found elsewhere in the distillery's range. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Ardnahoe was Islay's ninth distillery when the first spirit ran from the stills in October 2018 - the culmination of over 50 years in the whisky trade for Stewart Laing. The distillery runs Islay's only worm tub condensers alongside Scotland's longest lyne arms at 7.5 metres, giving the spirit weight and a creamy texture under the smoke from an early age.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peated smoke arrives first, followed by sea salt air and a dark, rich cocoa note.

Palate

The smoke deepens into an earthy, glowing intensity, joined by citrus from the sherry cask, honeyed malt and stewed plums.

Finish

Long and dry, with ash from burnt-out peat embers, cracked black pepper and a touch of salted caramel.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 Years
ABV: 60.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Worm tub condensing (Islay's only) with 7.5-metre lyne arms
Edition: Chairman's Selection
EAN No.: 5060354290002

Distillery: Ardnahoe

Flavour Profile

Peated · Smoky · Sherry-matured · Complex · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. This is the final whisky Stewart Laing composed before his death, and only a strictly limited number of bottles have come to Denmark. The story and the personal signature make this a bottle collectors will hold onto - and prices on the international market have already climbed sharply since launch.

Did You Know?

Only 120 bottles of Chairman's Selection have been allocated to the Danish market - a fraction of an already tightly limited release.

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There's something sun-drenched about Islay's cliffs this year. Ardbeg has brought a taste of Sicily home to its rugged, windswept coast, and the result looks like an old Italian film poster painted in smoke, orange peel and sunlight.

Expert's Description

Ardbeg Dolce Islay is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and Marsala Dolce casks and bottled at 47.8%.

This is Ardbeg's official release for Ardbeg Day 2026, the distillery's annual celebration during Fèis Ìle on Islay, built this year around the theme "La Dolce Vita" — a nod to the glamour of 1960s Italian cinema. The whisky brings together malt matured in Marsala Dolce casks, the sweetest style of Sicilian fortified wine, with classic bourbon cask-matured Ardbeg. The Marsala casks add a deep, dry sweetness of dried fruit and a slightly oxidative edge, while the bourbon casks keep the distillery's usual citrus brightness and smoke intact. It's a limited release, only available while stocks last.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and raisins meet orange marmalade, with a hint of roasted almonds and a distant, smoky peat in the background.

Palate

Dark chocolate and roasted nuts sit on top of Ardbeg's signature smoke, while the Marsala casks add a sweet, almost wine-like depth.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a trailing note of applewood smoke and a last touch of sweet fruit.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Dolce Islay
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Scotland, Islay
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 47.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and Marsala Dolce casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Ardbeg Day 2026 "Cue The Smoke"
EAN no.: 5010494999860

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Sweet · Nutty · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium-high. Ardbeg Day releases are among the most sought-after in the whisky world, often sold with a strict per-customer limit, and past releases like Smokiverse and the Anthology series have risen markedly in value since going out of stock.

Did You Know?

Ardbeg Day always falls on the last Saturday of Fèis Ìle, Islay's annual whisky and music festival — and in 2026 the whole celebration is built around a film-reel motif on the label, a nod to the 1960s cinema theme.

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There are whiskies you open for a special occasion. And there are whiskies that are the occasion. A 21-year-old Bowmore from 1989, bottled directly from a single sherry cask — only 240 bottles, exclusively for the Danish market — falls unmistakably into the second category.

Expert's description

Bowmore 1989/2010 A.D. Rattray 21 Year is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry cask (cask no. 1099) and bottled at 52.2%. A. Dewar Rattray is one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers, and Tim Morrison behind the company knows Bowmore from the inside — his family owned the distillery from 1963 to 1994 before Suntory took over. This gives the bottling a particular credibility. Cask no. 1099, a sherry cask, received new make spirit on 18 February 1989 and was bottled exactly 21 years later, on 18 February 2010. That symmetry is rare. Non-chill filtered, natural colour, at natural cask strength of 52.2% and selected specifically for the Danish market — only 240 bottles in total.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark fruit at the front — stewed plums, raisins and a trace of leather. Behind it, Bowmore's sea salt and gentle smoke, now wrapped in the warmth of old sherry oak.

Taste

Rich and layered. Dark chocolate, dried fig and orange peel with a warming peat smoke running through the middle. The sherry cask has left its mark deeply — yet the Islay character remains intact.

Finish

Long and complex. Smoke, dried fruit and gentle spice continue for minutes. One of the longest finishes you will find in a Bowmore of this age.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 1989/2010 A. Dewar Rattray Individual Cask Bottling
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: A. Dewar Rattray
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 52.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask (cask no. 1099)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 18.02.1989
Bottled: 18.02.2010
Number of bottles: 240
Edition: Individual Cask Bottling – Danish exclusive

Flavour profile

Sherried · Aged · Peated · Maritime · Single Cask

Investment potential

High. A 1989 vintage Bowmore single cask with only 240 bottles, a Danish exclusive and bottled by a family with direct ties to the distillery. An exceptional and increasingly rare collector's bottle.

Did you know?

The Morrison family, who owned Bowmore from 1963 to 1994, also owned Highland Park and Auchentoshan. Tim Morrison — the man behind A. Dewar Rattray today — grew up with Bowmore as part of his family's heritage, giving these releases a personal dimension most independent bottlings lack.

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Danish retailers got to decide. Ardnahoe took their young, oily Islay spirit and moved it into small Pedro Ximénez quarter casks, the sweetest sherry in the smallest cask. At 60.6% there is no caution left anywhere.

The Expert's Description

Ardnahoe Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in small Pedro Ximénez quarter casks and bottled at 60.6% cask strength. It was distilled in June 2019 and bottled in February 2026, giving six years.

The release shows Ardnahoe’s signature plainly: slow distillation, high cut points and the iconic worm tubs, which give a fuller and oilier spirit than a modern condenser would. After the primary maturation the whisky was moved into quarter casks, small casks of around 125 litres where wood contact per litre is far greater.

PX is the sweetest of the sherry styles, and in a small cask it works fast. The result is a marked layer of dark fruit, syrup and spiced depth over Islay’s maritime peat smoke.

Tasting Notes

Nose

An intense combination of peat smoke, sea spray and sweet PX notes. Dried fruit, raisins and dark caramel sit as a warm layer over the fresh smoke, while a saline minerality recalls the coastline. Both youthful energy and a surprising maturity.

Palate

Powerful and full, carried by the high strength. The oily texture from the worm tubs gives a marked mouthfeel where smoke, dark chocolate, raisins, spices and a deep syrupy sweetness melt together. The PX casks add a rich, dessert-like character in fine contrast to the smoke.

Finish

Long, warm and lingering. The smoke holds on together with dark fruit, oak and a lightly bittersweet note.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026 PX Quarter Cask Single Islay Malt Whisky 60.6%
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 60.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Pedro Ximénez quarter casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Slow distillation with worm tubs
Distilled: June 2019
Bottled: February 2026
Edition: Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry Matured · Sweet · Maritime · Cask Strength · Dark Fruit

Investment Potential

Medium. A small batch made for one market and bottled at cask strength exists only in the outturn the casks gave. Releases from Ardnahoe’s early years have also drawn steadily more attention as the distillery has established itself.

Did You Know?

A quarter cask holds around 125 litres and therefore has far more wood contact per litre of liquid than a standard cask. In the nineteenth century the size was practical, because casks could be carried on horseback along paths a cart could not reach. Today they are used precisely for that rapid cask influence.

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Islay smoke wrapped up in something you can hand over. The same whisky as the standard Cask Edit, but delivered in a box with a metal hip flask, which makes it a gift with something to drink and something to keep.

The expert description

Elements of Islay Cask Edit is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

This version is sold in a gift box together with a metal hip flask. The whisky in the bottle is identical to the standard release, so you get no more and no less in the glass, but the packaging is what makes the difference when the bottle is being given away.

Cask Edit is the most approachable bottling in the range. Elixir Distillers has assembled it from smoky Islay malts matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, and the result is a clean, salted coastal smoke rounded off by sweetness, vanilla and fruit from the wood. It is bottled without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke and sea spray, a light mineral edge, and vanilla, citrus and pale fruit behind it.

Palate

Well balanced. Smoke and ash meet caramel, candied fruit and malt, with a discreet sherry sweetness as counterweight.

Finish

Medium length with smoke, oak and a mild spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Elements of Islay Cask Edit
Distillery: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Gift box with metal hip flask
EAN no.: 5060880924945

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Fruity · Sherry matured · Soft

Did you know?

A hip flask should be rinsed with warm water and dried completely before it is put away. Leave whisky sitting in it for weeks and the metal picks up flavour, so the next time you fill it the contents taste of the previous trip.

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Sea salt, bonfire smoke and peat flames in the distance. The Smokey One is Woodrow's of Edinburgh's uncompromising tribute to Islay's smoky whisky tradition, made for those unafraid to meet the peat head-on.

Expert description

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

The whisky comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery, chosen for its ability to deliver the classic combination of sea salt, peat smoke and deep malt richness. The series is built around clear sensory themes, and The Smokey One is the collection's most uncompromising expression, placing peat smoke at its centre without sacrificing balance or complexity.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh works as an independent bottler and is known for choosing casks that express both the distillery's DNA and their own philosophy of pure, honest, unadulterated whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry smoke and sea salt meet a deep malt sweetness, with a hint of seaweed and iodine.

Palate

Intense peat smoke wraps around an underlying sweetness of honey and malt, carried by a robust salty edge.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a lingering ash note and a light sweetness that keeps the balance to the last drop.

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Peated · Salty · Smoky

Did you know?

The peat used to smoke the malt on Islay is formed from thousands of years of decomposed plant matter shaped by the island's damp climate, and the unique mix of sea plants and heather is one reason Islay whisky carries its signature briny, smoky flavour.

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A fire on the beach, marshmallows on a stick and two chocolate biscuits to press them between. Elixir Distillers has carried the American s’mores tradition over to Islay and built a festival whisky on top of it.

The expert description

Elements of Islay Campfire Feis Ile 2025 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks, bourbon casks and toasted new oak and bottled at 54.5%.

The bottle was made for Fèis Ìle 2025, the annual whisky and music festival on Islay, and holds whisky from three different Islay distilleries. Which three is not revealed. The flavour target, by contrast, is entirely specific: the whole release is built to land on s’mores, with smoke, burnt sugar and chocolate arriving in the same mouthful.

To get there, Elixir Distillers worked with three types of wood. Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry casks deliver the dark sweetness, 1st fill bourbon casks give vanilla and body, and toasted new oak contributes the burnt, almost caramelised edge. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pronounced smoke straight away, then ginger, dark chocolate, burnt caramel and candied orange.

Palate

Intense and powerful. The notes from the nose return, but tighter and sweeter, with toasted marshmallow, sooty chocolate and a rich, almost syrupy texture.

Finish

Very long. The smoke lingers alongside dried orange and a warm, peppery note from the toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Elements of Islay Campfire Feis Ile 2025
Distillery: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry casks 1st fill bourbon casks and toasted new oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Feis Ile 2025

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sherry matured · Sweet · Chocolate · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. Fèis Ìle bottlings are made in one run for one week of the year and are never reissued. Elements of Islay also carries an international collector following, and the festival editions have historically been among the first to leave the shelves.

Did you know?

Fèis Ìle started in 1986 as a modest local celebration of Gaelic language and music. Today several thousand people travel to an island of roughly 3,000 residents during festival week, and every distillery has its own day in the programme.

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A chessboard holds 32 pieces, and The Chess Malt Collection has given every single one of them a bottle of whisky – this 17 Years Old Bunnahabhain is one of them.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry hogshead and bottled at 53.4%.

The Danish bottler The Chess Malt Collection has, since 1989, selected single casks from across Scotland and let each bottle stand for a piece on the chessboard – two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, split between the classic black and white. This Bunnahabhain is bottled as rook A8-F7, number 22 in the line-up.

The whisky was distilled in November 2008 and rested for 17 years in a sherry hogshead before being bottled in November 2025 without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry and dried fruit settle around a whisper of peat ash and toasted almond.

Palate

Full and spicy with raisins, walnuts and a touch of leather, balanced against the sherry's sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry with lingering spice and a faint last trace of smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 53.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: November 2008
Bottled: November 2025
Number of Bottles: 272
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Full-Bodied · Lightly Peated

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection is the work of a Danish spirits importer that has traded in wine and spirits since 1989 – the collection counts 32 unique single cask bottlings in total, one for every piece on the board.

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"Mòine" means peat in Gaelic, and the name leaves no doubt about what waits once the bottle is opened.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Mòine is a Single Islay Malt Whisky distilled from peated malt and bottled at 46.3%.

Mòine shows the other side of Bunnahabhain – the smoky one – and does it with a depth that matches the distillery's classic maritime character. Peat smoke, sweet malt and a spiced warmth play together without the whisky losing its elegance.

It's a full and authentic Islay experience for those seeking smoky complexity without compromising on finesse in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and a maritime breeze meet sweet malt and a touch of spice.

Palate

Full-bodied with smoke, sweet malt and a balanced spiced warmth.

Finish

Medium length and smoky with a touch of sea air at the very end.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704218141

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

Mòine takes its name from the peat bog the malt is sourced from, standing in sharp contrast to the light, unpeated style Bunnahabhain is best known for on Islay.

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On the label sits the dunes of Kintra, painted by a Danish artist in memory of his grandfather. Behind that story lie 22 years in a single bourbon cask, the one Little Brown Dog called the jewel of their collection.

Expert description

Bruichladdich 2003 Little Brown Dog is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured for 22 years in a bourbon barrel and bottled at 53.6%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2025 by independent bottler Little Brown Dog, after more than two decades of maturation in a single bourbon cask. The cask was originally part of a parcel of four, but stood out so distinctly in taste, depth and structure according to the bottler that it was purchased on its own.

Only 140 bottles were drawn from this single cask. Each bottle carries an original label featuring an oil painting by Danish artist Bjarne Helverskov Andersen, depicting the dunes at Kintra on Islay, a personal tribute to the artist's grandson, who sold the cask on to Little Brown Dog.

To preserve its raw, authentic character, the whisky is bottled through a 20-micron filter rather than the finer filters typically used, which can leave natural cask sediment in the bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm bourbon notes, vanilla and light caramel, with a hint of ripe fruit and citrus oil.

Palate

Deep, mature and creamy with warm bourbon sweetness, citrus oil and a maritime undercurrent from the Islay coast.

Finish

Long, full-bodied and oily, with a lingering sweetness and a hint of salt.

Specifications

Name: 2003 Little Brown Dog
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 53.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 140

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium — with only 140 bottles from a single cask that the bottler itself called the best of a parcel of four, this release is sought after among collectors of Little Brown Dog's Bruichladdich bottlings.

Did you know?

The label carries an original oil painting by Danish artist Bjarne Helverskov Andersen, painted as a tribute to his role as grandfather to the friend who originally sold the cask on to Little Brown Dog.

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1991 was an unusual year to distil Caol Ila. The distillery had just gone through a modernisation and found its current style. Ian MacLeod's Chieftains series took a cask from that year and gave it a finish in German oak – before it was bottled in 2009.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a German oak cask (cask no. 91821), bottled at 48% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 288 bottles.

Chieftains is Ian MacLeod's series for independent single-cask bottlings from Scottish distilleries. Ian MacLeod Distillers – owners of Glengoyne and Tamdhu – have had their finger on the pulse of Scotch whisky since 1933.

German oak (Quercus Robur) is denser and gives more tannin and spice than American oak casks. It gives a spicy finish to a Caol Ila that is otherwise elegant and balanced – light tobacco smoke, sea salt, citrus and green apples with well-integrated smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light tobacco smoke, sea salt and seaweed combined with citrus and green apples. A subtle sweet malt profile and a hint of spice from the German oak.

Palate

Soft and complex. Dry mineral smoke and pleasant sweetness in balance. Citrus, pear and lemon complemented by honey, vanilla and a touch of salty liquorice. The smoke is elegant and well-integrated.

Finish

Long, clean and persistent – fresh smoke, light salt and a rounded fruity sweetness blending with malt and spice from the German oak.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years German Oak Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers (Chieftains)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – finished in German oak (cask no. 91821)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 03/1991
Bottled: 05/2009
Number of bottles: 288
Series: Chieftains

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Elegant · Spiced · Complex

Investment potential

High. An 18-year Caol Ila from 1991 with 288 bottles, bottled in 2009, is discontinued and rare. Products from this period are sought by collectors.

Did you know?

Ian MacLeod Distillers is one of Scotland's oldest family-owned whisky companies, founded in 1933. They today own Glengoyne Distillery in the Lowlands and Tamdhu in Speyside – and operate the Chieftains series as a window into other distilleries.

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11 years is a long time for a distillery that in its early years was mainly known for 3 year old releases. This sherry-matured bottling shows what happens when Kilchoman's peat smoke gets the time sherry casks need to reach their full depth.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 11 years old, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50 %.

Kilchoman is one of the youngest distilleries on Islay, founded in 2005, but has quickly established a style that combines classic Islay peat smoke with modern craftsmanship. This 11 year old sherry-matured release is an example of how longer maturation in sherry casks can add extra depth and complexity to the distillery's characteristic peated profile.

With over a decade in cask, the whisky has had time to settle and develop a noticeably more complex character than many of the house's younger sherry releases, without losing the freshness that defines Kilchoman's style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich dried fruit, raisins and dates, with warm spice and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Full and balanced, where the sherry's sweetness and spice meet Islay's characteristic peat smoke, with layers of nuts, dark chocolate and fresh citrus.

Finish

Long and lingering, with dark chocolate, toasted nuts and a salty sea breeze.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release 11 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Full-bodied · Complex · Spicy

Did you know?

When Kilchoman was founded in 2005, it was hard to imagine the distillery would one day release an 11 year old sherry bottling — a reminder of how far it has come in less than two decades.

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The first cask strength batch from a distillery that has only been making whisky since 2018. There is no history to lean on and no older vintages to compare against. There is just five years in first fill bourbon and 60.9% in the bottle.

The Expert's Description

Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for five years in carefully selected 1st fill bourbon casks and bottled at 60.9% natural cask strength. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

First fill bourbon casks are a deliberate counterweight to the young age. The casks are active and give vanilla, coconut and body quickly, and they meet a spirit that is already full thanks to Ardnahoe’s worm tubs and long lyne arms. The combination delivers more weight than five years would normally allow.

Ardnahoe is Islay’s ninth distillery and was built by the independent bottler Hunter Laing. It opened in October 2018 and is the only one on the island using worm tubs.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A fresh coastal breeze first, then earthy peat smoke and rich cocoa. Vanilla and coconut from the new bourbon wood sit beneath, and at 60.9% the alcohol is pronounced, so let the glass rest a couple of minutes.

Palate

Orchard fruits open, followed by herbal tea and salted caramel developing into a complex, full body. The smoke sits underneath and comes forward more clearly with a little water. The texture is oily and fills out well.

Finish

A smoky close with elegant citrus shades that hang on the palate for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 Single Islay Malt Whisky 60.9%
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 60.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Strength Batch 1

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Cask Strength · Vanilla · Fruity · Maritime · Salted Caramel

Investment Potential

Medium. A first batch in a series is by definition a one-off expression, and from a distillery producing only since 2018, early releases are the kind of bottle collectors look for once the house has established itself.

Did You Know?

Ardnahoe’s stills have the longest lyne arms in Scotland, 7.5 metres from still to condenser. Normally a long lyne arm gives a lighter spirit, because heavy vapours fall back along the way. But the distillery also uses worm tubs, which pull in the opposite direction. The two choices partly cancel each other out, and that is precisely the intention.

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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 Islay 8 år Ian MacLeod Distillers Single Islay Malt Whisky 40% is an Islay 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 – Islay.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet fruit, grain and mild sweetness.

Palate

On the tongue you find grain, mild sweetness and spice.

Finish

It finishes medium in length, with spice and grain.

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic · Smoky

Did you know?

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

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Kilchoman Cask Strength Machir Bay 2025 Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.1%

Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength 2025 Edition is a powerful and unfiltered Islay single malt whisky that combines peat smoke, citrus, and sea salt with a natural cask strength of 58.1 percent. This limited edition from Kilchoman Distillery is a tribute to the iconic Machir Bay beach on Islay’s west coast and offers an intense tasting experience for those who seek raw elegance and terroir-driven character.

The whisky is composed of carefully selected bourbon casks with a smaller proportion of oloroso sherry casks, resulting in a balanced profile of sweetness, spice, and smoke. The high alcohol content enhances the complexity and provides a rich mouthfeel without compromising subtlety. Kilchoman is one of the few distilleries in Scotland that grows its own barley, uses traditional floor malting, and distills on-site, giving the whisky a clear connection to Islay’s landscape and climate.

The nose opens with fresh lemon zest, peat smoke, vanilla, and sea breeze. The palate is rich and oily with notes of orange, malt, spices, and earthy smoke. The finish is long and warming with hints of cinnamon, oak, and light medicinal tones. The natural color and absence of chill-filtration ensure that all flavor layers are preserved, making this whisky an authentic expression of Islay.

Distillery: Kilchoman
Name: Machir Bay
Edition: 2025
Age: NA
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Alcohol: 58.1%
Un-chillfiltered
Natural Colour
Volume: 70 cl
Other: Cask Strength – 2025 Edition

A universe of smoke, where the peat doesn't just fill the glass but the whole room around it.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smokiverse is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.3%.

The nose delivers an explosion of fruity esters reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, mixed with ripening barley and toasted sourdough. The whisky is non-chill filtered, so its full, oily structure carries right through to the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dense, sweet peat smoke mingles with lightly smoked tropical fruit, and a drop of water draws the aromas out even further.

Palate

Rich and creamy with a luxurious mouthfeel that shifts into sharp, sooty, spiced notes of creosote, aniseed and cloves, balanced by muscovado sugar.

Finish

Almost endless, leaving a lasting impression of earthy peat moss melting into glowing bonfire embers.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smokiverse
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494995305

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Creamy · Fruity

Did You Know?

The name Smokiverse is Ardbeg's own way of suggesting that the distillery's smoke spans a whole universe of nuance, from sweet to sooty, all within a single dram.

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On Islay, they say some casks simply wait for the right moment. This is one of them — 18 years in the dark, ready to be celebrated alongside the island's biggest news.

Expert description

Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing, matured in a single cask and bottled at cask strength, 61.5%.

The whisky is part of Hunter Laing's Kinship series, which in 2023 arrived at its seventh and final edition. The series was created to mark the opening of Hunter Laing's own distillery, Ardnahoe, on Islay, and the name Kinship refers to the closeness Ardnahoe shares with the island's other distilleries. The Bruichladdich bottling is the youngest in the closing edition, which otherwise spans whiskies as old as 33 years from names like Bowmore and Bunnahabhain.

The whisky comes from a single cask and is bottled at its natural cask strength, with no colouring or chill filtration. Only 245 bottles were drawn from this particular cask, making it one of the rarer releases in Hunter Laing's Islay portfolio.

Tasting notes

Nose

Black pepper and caramel, combined with a hint of macerated red berries. A richness runs through it all, hinting at the long maturation.

Palate

Baked apples, nutmeg and a distinct hint of French oak. The cask strength gives a solid bite, but never overpowers the fruit.

Finish

Long and spiced, with a lingering oak warmth that lingers on the palate long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 61.5%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2005
Number of bottles: 245
Edition: The Kinship 2023
EAN: 5060354284032

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium — this is the final edition in a now-completed and sought-after series from Hunter Laing, with only 245 bottles from a single cask bottled at cask strength. Being the youngest and most accessible bottling in the Kinship series, however, interest is somewhat more muted than for the series' older releases.

Did you know?

The Kinship series was created to celebrate Hunter Laing finally opening its own distillery, Ardnahoe, after decades as a pure independent bottler. Ardnahoe sits on Islay's north-east coast, overlooking the very distilleries many of the series' bottles come from.

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Thirty-three years is a long time to sit still in a cask, and when Hunter Laing finally bottles it, they do so with the reverence the age deserves.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 33 Years Old The Kinship 2023 is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from a refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at natural cask strength, 48.8%.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestigious series, honouring the Scotch whisky community and the regions that have made the country famous for its whisky. This 33 Years Old Bunnahabhain is bottled from a single cask in 2023, yielding just 292 bottles worldwide.

The long maturation shows Bunnahabhain's ability to craft rich, refined whisky without smoke, where the distillery's clean house style and coastal setting come through beautifully. The nose offers tropical fruits like pineapple and lime, joined by red cherries and a faint floral note.

On the palate the whisky unfolds with a fine balance between freshness and depth – the fruity notes continue with juicy citrus and ripe berries, while Bunnahabhain's signature maritime tones show through with a touch of sea salt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruits like pineapple and lime meet red cherries and a faint floral note.

Palate

Juicy citrus and ripe berries meet sea salt and a lightly oiled texture.

Finish

An elegant close of mild oak, spice and mineral complexity.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 33 Years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Bottled: 2023
Number of Bottles: 292
Edition: The Kinship

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Maritime · Elegant · Mature

Investment Potential

High – 33 years on a single cask, only 292 bottles and a prestigious series from Hunter Laing make this one of the rarest Bunnahabhain bottles Whisky.dk has carried.

Did You Know?

The Hunter Laing family has worked in Scotch whisky for more than three generations and also owns its own distillery, Ardnahoe, which opened on Islay in 2019.

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Thirty-three years in a single cask. While Caol Ila has distilled and matured its well-known 12-year for Diageo's needs, this cask has waited – unseen and untouched – in a refill bourbon hogshead in a Scottish warehouse. Hunter Laing found it in 2023 for The Kinship: the series' most important bottling of the year.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at 44.5% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 300 bottles.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestige series – one expression per distillery, released once a year. For 2023, the choice fell on this 33-year Caol Ila, which according to Hunter Laing itself celebrates the Scottish whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous.

Three decades in a refill bourbon hogshead give a Caol Ila that has changed: the smoke is there, but softened and integrated over time. This is not the young, salty Caol Ila – it is a mature, layered version of it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light peat smoke with caramel, stewed fruit and soft beeswax. A salty sea breeze that immediately sets the scene on Islay's coast – but in a slower, more reflective tone than young bottlings.

Palate

Soft and layered. Clear maritime saltiness, seaweed and fresh oysters. The smoke is discreet and elegantly integrated, with room for deeper notes of oak, dried fruit and medicinal herbs. A bottling to spend time with.

Finish

Long, leathery and satisfying. Worn leather, glowing peat embers and a persistent salty close that is in no hurry.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 300
Series: The Kinship Series

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Leathery · Layered · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A single-cask bottling at 33 years from a respected bottler with only 300 bottles is rare – and Hunter Laing's Kinship series is sought by collectors worldwide.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing also operates Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay – the island's newest distillery, opened in 2019. Ardnahoe uses traditional worm tubs for condensation, giving a heavier and more complex distillate than modern condensers.

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Laphroaig 25 Year Old – The Kinship Series – Single Cask by Hunter Laing

Discover a rare and extraordinary single malt whisky from Islay – Laphroaig 25 Year Old, bottled by the renowned independent bottler Hunter Laing as part of their exclusive Kinship Series. This unique expression was matured for a full 25 years in a single cask and bottled at natural cask strength of 54.2%, offering an authentic and undiluted taste experience for the true whisky connoisseur. Only 332 bottles were released from this cask, making it an extremely limited and highly sought-after release among collectors and enthusiasts.

Hunter Laing & Co., the force behind the Kinship Series, is known for their uncompromising dedication to quality and their talent for selecting and bottling some of Scotland’s rarest and most characterful casks. The Kinship Series pays tribute to the Scotch whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous for whisky.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Complex and intense – with classic Laphroaig notes of soot, coastal brine and olives, elegantly balanced by lemon zest and a sweet hint of honey.
Palate: Layers of tangerine, honeysuckle and pear drops unfold on the tongue. Smoke and citrus merge with a silky texture, creating a harmonious and mature profile.
Finish: Long, persistent and sophisticated, with notes of sea salt, peat and ripe fruit.

Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Edition: Feis Ile
Age: 25 years
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Cask number/type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
ABV: 54.2%
Bottles: 332
Un-chillfiltered
Natural Colour
70 cl
Other: –

A true classic in a new disguise!
Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Finish combines the characteristic smoky style of Islay with a rich, fruity sweetness from Spanish oak sherry casks.
After maturation in traditional bourbon casks, the whisky gains extra depth from a final aging in specially selected Sherry Oak Casks.

On the nose, you'll encounter lovely aromas of peated smoke, dark caramel, raisins, and a hint of orange peel.
The taste is silky-smooth and balanced with notes of dark chocolate, licorice root, spices, and an elegant smokiness that lingers in a long, warm finish.

In short:
Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Finish is an experience for those who love classic Islay smoke — with added layers of sweetness, power, and elegance. Perfect for relaxation or as a gift for any whisky lover.

Distillery: Bowmore
Age: 15 years
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region: Islay
Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry
ABV: 43%
70 cl
Other: 

The Beast has a name that doesn't lie. 167 ppm makes this Octomore one of the smokiest encounters you can have with a whisky, and yet citrus and honey hide beneath the ash.

Expert description

Octomore The Beast is a super-peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured for 6 years and bottled at 60.5%.

The whisky has a phenol content of 167 ppm, making it one of the most heavily peated whiskies in the world. It was distilled in 2008 and matured for five years in American first-fill bourbon casks, as part of the Octomore series The Futures.

The bottle was released as a limited edition with a total of 9,600 bottles worldwide, one of the larger outputs in the Octomore family, yet still a sought-after release for peat lovers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense smoke reminiscent of a campfire with fresh ash, gradually giving way to citrus, honey, caramel and vanilla.

Palate

Powerful smoky experience with warmth from the alcohol, initially dominated by citrus fruit and floral honey, with a maritime, mineral edge and notes of oak and caramel.

Finish

Long and complex with a dry ash aftertaste.

Specifications

Name: Octomore The Beast
Distillery: Octomore (Bruichladdich)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 60.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill American bourbon casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2008
Number of bottles: 9,600
Edition: The Beast, The Futures

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

At 167 ppm, The Beast is one of the most heavily peated whiskies Bruichladdich has ever released, measured in pure phenol strength before dilution and maturation.

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The Bholsa caves sit in the cliffs not far from the distillery. You can walk into them, and most people remember the trip. Ardnahoe named a whisky after them, and it is as dark and as insistent as the name suggests.

The Expert's Description

Ardnahoe Bholsa is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured mainly in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 50%. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured, which preserves its natural depth.

Ardnahoe opened in October 2018 as Islay’s ninth distillery, built by the independent bottler Hunter Laing. It stands out technically: it is the only distillery on Islay using worm tubs to cool the spirit, and its lyne arms are the longest in Scotland at 7.5 metres. Both choices give a fuller, oilier spirit.

The Oloroso casks lay dark fruit and nuts beneath the Islay peat smoke, and at 50% there is body enough to carry both without either taking over.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense red fruit first, then roasted walnuts and fresh orange peel. Beneath sits an elegant peat smoke, clear without being sharp.

Palate

Layers of raisins, sweet dates and juicy plums open, all balanced by Islay’s characteristic peat smoke. The texture is full and lightly oily, worm tubs in practice. At 50% the concentration holds the whole way.

Finish

Long and spiced, with a touch of black pepper and a smoke that lingers beneath the dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Bholsa Single Islay Malt Whisky 50%
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Mainly Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Bholsa
EAN no.: 5060354287996

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry Matured · Dark Fruit · Spiced · Full Bodied · Maritime

Did You Know?

Ardnahoe draws its water from Loch Ardnahoe, said to be the deepest loch on Islay. That was one of the main reasons the site was chosen for the distillery: plentiful clean, soft water with a natural peat character from the surrounding landscape.

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

Expert's description

Laphroaig 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 40% is a Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on american oak casks and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke, brine and toasted malt.

Palate

Smoky malt with dried fruit and pepper.

Finish

Long and smoky with a lingering warmth.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Did you know?

Laphroaig means 'the beautiful hollow by the broad bay' in Gaelic, and it is the only Islay distillery to have received an official Royal Warrant, originally from Prince Charles.

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