Laphroaig sits right at the water's edge on Islay's south coast, where the seaweed smells of iodine and peat smoke settles into your coat. They've been making whisky here since 1815, and it has never once apologised for itself. For this bottle, though, they've left the door open a crack for something softer. Sherry.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks, finished in European oak Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

The starting point is the classic Laphroaig 10 Year Old. After the bourbon casks, the whisky moves into hand-picked sherry casks and rests there for twelve to eighteen months. It arrived in 2021 as a permanent addition to the Laphroaig range, and the distillery calls it "the sweet one". That's relative, because the smoke is still very much there.

The spirit is the same as ever. Peated malt, part of it still malted on the distillery's own floors, then double distilled. The sherry casks add honey and fruit on top, but they don't take over. Laphroaig picks the casks to suit the peat, not the other way round. The result is full-bodied and round, with maple syrup and bacon sitting next to pine needles and sea salt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet and smoky in the same breath. Manuka honey, grilled bacon and maple syrup come first, then tar and pine needles. Further back there's dark chocolate, cedar wood and a whiff of iodine.

Palate

Round and full. Dark chocolate, honey and vanilla meet a peat fire and toasted wood, with salt spray running underneath it all. The iodine stays in the background, a reminder of where the bottle comes from.

Finish

Long, sweet and spicy. Chestnut honey lingers well after the sip, and the smoke retreats slowly with a faint medicinal edge.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak Cask Finish
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished in European oak Oloroso sherry casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Sherry Oak Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5010019000545

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Honeyed · Maritime · Spicy

Did You Know?

The box tells you how to say the name itself: La-Froyg. There's good reason, as hardly anyone gets it right on the first try. The company behind it is still called D. Johnston & Co., after the Johnston brothers who founded the distillery.

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Down the side of the box, in small slanting handwriting, it says "The powerful one". The rest of the bottle backs that up in fewer words: 58.3%, no water added, no chill filtration. Batch 017 was bottled in November 2023, and what lands in your glass is what came out of the casks, apart from a filter that catches flecks of charred wood. The smoke is blue, the seaweed is in your nose, and a thick sweetness runs underneath it all.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 10 year Cask Strength Batch 017 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for ten years in charred oak casks and bottled at cask strength, 58.3%.

This is the distillery's original Cask Strength, and every batch stands on its own. Laphroaig doesn't blend one batch to match the last. The casks decide, and once they're emptied they're gone. Batch 017 went into bottle in November 2023. It's made from peated malt and nutty barley, with the peat smoke Laphroaig itself calls blue.

The only thing done to the liquid is barrier filtration straight from the cask, which takes out char particles from the burnt oak. It is non-chill filtered, and the strength has not been reduced. The charred casks add vanilla, nuts and toasted oak to the peat, while ten years on Islay bring the salt and the sea.

The distillery itself drinks it with a splash of water. The whisky goes slightly hazy, and the aroma and sweetness open up without flattening your palate.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet, lively and smoky with a flick of citrus. Candied apple slices, crème brûlée and sugary pastry, with iodine and peat fire behind them.

Palate

Sweet fruit first: stewed apple, vanilla cream and pears in syrup. Then salt, peat and crisp seaweed. Clove and cardamom arrive last, leaving a trace of liquorice behind.

Finish

Very long. Black pepper, old leather and a sweet, grassy smoke that slowly turns to tarry peat.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 year Cask Strength Batch 017
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 58.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: November 2023
Edition: Batch 017
EAN no.: 5010019000828

Flavour Profile

Peaty · Smoky · Spicy · Maritime · Sweet

Did You Know?

Laphroaig is pronounced roughly "la-froyg", and the distillery prints that on the box itself, so nobody has to guess at the bar. It's more useful than it sounds, because the spelling trips up almost everyone.

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The wind on Octomore Farm comes straight off the Atlantic and finds very little to stop it. Irene's Field is the name of the barley plot, and two miles away sits the distillery that turns its harvest into some of the smokiest whisky ever poured.

Expert description

Octomore 17.3 5 year is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and 2nd fill wine casks and bottled at 60.9%. It is Edition 17.3 in Bruichladdich's Octomore Series 17, and at 132.1 ppm in the malted barley it is the most heavily peated of the 2026 releases.

Everything happens on Islay. The barley is 100% Concerto from the 2019 harvest, grown in Irene's Field on Octomore Farm. It was distilled in 2020 at Bruichladdich Distillery, then matured and bottled on site, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The back label calls it The Impossible Equation and sets out age, cask types, barley origin and variety like a sum on a blackboard. Adam Hannett's signature sits on the bottle on behalf of the distillery.

Five years in wood, no more. The bourbon casks are 1st fill and bring vanilla and coconut. The rest is 2nd fill European oak that previously held Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah, and those casks add sweetness, ripe fruit and dark spice on top of the smoke instead of pushing it aside.

Tasting notes

Nose

Coastal peat with salt, tar and a medicinal edge underneath. Above it sit salted caramel, smoked apple, green apple and pear, lemon zest, marzipan and vanilla cream. Give it a few minutes in the glass and beach bonfire and dried apricots appear.

Palate

Full-bodied and firm, with pepper from the first sip. Salted caramel, toasted coconut and praline arrive first. Then charred peat takes over, dry and ashy, with a mineral saltiness running right through.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky. Citrus oil and sea salt linger, and in the end only earthy peat is left, staying with you well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Octomore 17.3 5 year Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 60.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon and 2nd fill casks from Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2020
Edition: 17.3
EAN no.: 5055807422031

Flavour profile

Super heavily peated · Smoky · Salty · Caramel · Fruity · Spicy

Investment potential

Medium. Octomore appears in limited annual series, and at 132.1 ppm the 17.3 is the most heavily peated in the lineup, which appeals to collectors who follow the range.

Did you know?

The 132.1 ppm figure is measured in the malted barley, not in the whisky in your glass. A good share of the phenols is lost during distilling and maturation, so what ends up in the bottle sits well below the number on the label.

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Locals on Islay say Loch Indaal turns red at sunset. Some blame the light. Others remember Kranna Dubh, the sea-dragon that Fionn mac Cumhaill woke with a thrown stone and sent back to the deep with an enchanted sword. Here the legend is bottled, nine years after the spirit first went into the cask.

Expert's Description

Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength, 57%.

The spirit was distilled at Bowmore, the oldest working distillery on Islay, on 28 March 2017. Lady of the Glen bottled it on 29 July 2026, after nine years in one and the same cask, number 56. Only 268 bottles exist. The sea-dragon on the label is no coincidence either, since it has long featured on Bowmore's own bottles.

This release belongs to the Samhain Series, where Lady of the Glen pairs single casks with Scottish folklore. The series takes its name from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marks the turn from harvest to winter. This year it runs to seven releases, and this is the only one from Bowmore. The story on the label follows Fionn and his two hounds, Bran and Seeolang, across Islay. To amuse them he hurls a huge standing stone into Loch Indaal, and the splash wakes a dragon that has slept beneath the dark sands for a thousand years.

A 1st fill bourbon cask gives a lot to a nine-year-old spirit. Here it shows up as milk chocolate and toffee, while sea salt and lemon make sure you never forget which island this comes from. Like every Lady of the Glen release, it is non-chill filtered and keeps its natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet and soft to begin with, then sea salt, lemon and a hint of sea spray. The sweetness stays in the background throughout.

Palate

Milk chocolate and toffee meet tobacco and a whisper of lightly smoked ham. Lemon peel and gingerbread build after a few seconds.

Finish

Long, with dark chocolate cherries and buttered malt loaf.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28 March 2017
Bottled: 29 July 2026
Number of bottles: 268
Edition: Samhain Series

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Maritime · Lightly smoked · Citrus · Chocolate

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen takes its name from the Green Lady said to haunt Stirling Castle. The Fife-based bottler was started in 2012 by Gregor Hannah.

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A tiny black elf trails a knight through a battle on Islay. He offered his help, got laughed at, and went over to the other side instead. The story is printed on the label, and in the bottle sits seven-year-old Laphroaig, peated and powerful, exactly as it left the cask.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 7 year The Eighth Part Measure of a Carle is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill barrel and bottled at cask strength, 58.6%.

It belongs to the Samhain Series from Lady of the Glen, a run of Single Cask releases where every whisky carries a Scottish myth or legend on its label. The bottler is Hannah Whisky Merchants of Fife, founded in 2012 by Gregor Hannah. The title is the elf's nickname in the story: a very small, brownie-like creature known as the Eighth Part Measure of a Carle.

The spirit comes from Laphroaig, where peated malt and double distillation deliver the smoke, seaweed and medicinal edge the distillery is known for. It went into cask no. 66 on 29 November 2018 and was bottled on 29 July 2026, seven years and eight months later. A refill barrel has held whisky before, so it adds less vanilla and wood sweetness than a 1st fill cask and leaves the spirit in charge.

Only 137 bottles were filled from the cask. The whisky was bottled without dilution.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tar and creosote first. Vanilla, coconut and green apple follow from the cask.

Palate

Ripe peach, blackcurrant and candied lemon sit on top. Underneath runs Laphroaig's own smoke, in the form of salted liquorice.

Finish

Long and dry. Cloves, ginger and nutmeg, wrapped in something close to cigar leaf.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 7 year The Eighth Part Measure of a Carle
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Hannah Whisky Merchants
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask, refill barrel no. 66
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 29 July 2026
Number of bottles: 137
Edition: Samhain Series, The Eighth Part Measure of a Carle

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Tarry · Fruity · Spicy · Liquorice

Did You Know?

The labels in the Samhain Series are drawn by Edinburgh-based designer Steven Shand. The series is named after Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the turn from harvest to winter, and the forerunner of modern Halloween.

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There is a corner of south-east Islay that locals call the Enchanted Cape, and Trudernish sits on it. Ardbeg took the name for its first permanent 15 year old, a whisky where the smoke has settled down and something creamy has moved in underneath.

Expert description

Ardbeg Trudernish 15 year is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks, new charred oak casks and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48.8%.

It is the first 15 year old in Ardbeg's core range, released in September 2026 alongside a fresh look for the whole line-up. The spirit spent fifteen years in a mix of three cask types. According to Ardbeg, the casks bring the rich vanilla, while the years bring the mellow creaminess. At 48.8% it is bottled stronger than the 46% used for several of the distillery's other core releases.

Ardbeg is known for heavily peated whisky, and that is still the backbone here. The peat has just been rounded off, so it sits next to the vanilla instead of shouting over it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla cream and fudge come first, followed by woodsmoke and earthy peat. Think vanilla ice cream with fudge sauce, next to a fire that is dying down. A few dried herbs drift in at the edges.

Palate

Creamy and full, with a silky texture. Peat and gentle smoke are tucked into the vanilla, along with pine needles and damp forest floor. Dark liquorice, chocolate lime and mint follow, then orchard fruit and nuts in milk chocolate.

Finish

Long and soft. It glows with peat embers, vanilla pod and toasted nuts, and the very last note is smoke.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Trudernish 15 year Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 year
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, new charred oak casks and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Ardbeg's core range
EAN no.: 5063547001461

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Creamy · Vanilla · Nutty

Did you know?

The Trudernish well is famously hard to find, hidden in a thick copse of trees. According to Ardbeg, anyone who takes a pebble home from the beach at Trudernish will one day return to Islay.

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Down at Bowmore the warehouses sit below the waterline, with the Atlantic pressing against the walls. Eighteen years is a long time for peat smoke to settle. Then Pedro Ximénez arrived and added one last coat of dark sweetness.

Expert description

Bowmore 18 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

It belongs to Bowmore's Sherry Oak Collection, launched in 2024 in four ages: 12, 15, 18 and 21 years. The range is built around European oak and sherry, and only the 18 and 21 get a final Pedro Ximénez finish.

The cask story is a long one. First 18 years in hand-selected ex-bourbon casks of American oak and oloroso sherry casks of European oak. The bourbon wood brings vanilla and lighter fruit, while the oloroso adds nuts and dried fruit. Finally the whisky is finished in European oak casks that previously held Pedro Ximénez, a sherry that tastes almost like raisin wine and pulls the whisky towards the darker end: dates, cocoa, treacle.

The smoke is still there, but it sits behind the fruit rather than in front of it. The citrus notes keep the sweetness from turning heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and freshly ground cocoa right away, then toffee with a dense, treacly sweetness. Dates, orange zest and a surprising chunk of fresh pineapple. Underneath it all the peat smoke hums away.

Palate

Bitter orange peel and plump sultanas. Aniseed and cocoa nibs follow, and halfway through the smoke slips in softly, a little meaty and warm. The sweetness never quite lets go.

Finish

Long and fruity. Raisins, cocoa and a thread of smoke that fades very slowly.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 18 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Natural colour: No
Edition: Sherry Oak Collection
EAN no.: 5010496002674

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Sherry-matured · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Citrus

Did you know?

The black bottle and label of the Sherry Oak Collection pay tribute to Black Bowmore, the famous whisky distilled in 1964.

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Where Loch Indaal beats against the walls and part of the warehouse sits below the waterline, one of Islay's most recognisable drams matures. Bowmore 12 Year is where most people begin their journey into the island's peat smoke — and where many keep returning.

Expert's description

Bowmore 12 Year is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The flagship expression and first step in the core range from Bowmore, Islay's oldest distillery, founded in 1779. A classic permanent expression — not a limited edition, but a whisky that has stood the test of time and defined what an accessible Islay malt tastes like. Bowmore is one of the few distilleries still running its own traditional floor maltings, where barley is peated to around 25 ppm — notable but never as aggressive as Ardbeg or Lagavulin. This moderate smoke level is a major reason why Bowmore 12 Year is often called the ideal entry point to Islay. The whisky matures in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks in the legendary No. 1 Vaults, one of the world's oldest maturation warehouses.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and inviting. Honey and citrus at the front, wrapped in Bowmore's characteristic mild peat smoke. A touch of vanilla and fresh flowers.

Taste

Well-balanced with warm honey, plum and a restrained peat smoke. The sherry cask contributes dark fruit and gentle spice; the bourbon cask provides sweetness and vanilla.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly smoky. Honey and sea salt linger — a satisfying, classic Islay finish.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 12 Year Single Islay Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry
EAN no.: 5010496080818

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Honey · Maritime · Balanced

Did you know?

Bowmore still operates its own traditional floor maltings — one of fewer than ten distilleries in Scotland to do so — producing a portion of its own peated malt on site.

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Eighteen years is a long time to sit still in a warehouse on the edge of the Atlantic. The tide has rolled in and out along Islay's south coast more than 12,000 times while the casks lay in the dark and let the smoke settle. It never left. It just made some new friends.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 18 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 18 years in ex-bourbon American oak barrels and bottled at 48%.

This bottle has had a bumpy ride. It first appeared in 2009, replacing the old 15 Year Old that the then Prince Charles was famously fond of. Around 2015 Laphroaig simply ran short of old enough stock, and the 18 was quietly pulled from the range. Collectors cleared the shelves of whatever was left. Almost ten years later it came back, now in a white carton with Distillery Manager Barry MacAffer's signature on the back.

It all starts on Laphroaig's own malting floor, where part of the barley is still turned by hand and dried over fires of Islay peat. The spirit is double distilled and filled into barrels that once held American bourbon. Then it stays put. No sherry, no finish, no detours. The same kind of cask from the first day to the last.

The cask explains most of what's in the glass. American oak pulls out vanilla, honey and ripe fruit and takes the edge off the peat, so it no longer kicks the door in the way it does in the 10 Year Old. Laphroaig's own words on the box promise sweetness, gooseberry and apple, leather, seaweed and intense peat. It's unmistakably Laphroaig. Just a more patient one.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet peat smoke, like a campfire burning down to embers, with soft vanilla and toffee underneath. Gooseberry, freshly cut leather and seaweed left to dry in the sun on the beach.

Palate

Full and slightly oily. Cinnamon and warm apple tart arrive first, followed by orange, honey and ginger. Tobacco and smoke sit underneath as a foundation rather than a lid.

Finish

Long. The fruit lingers, then fresh mint and a woody, spicy peat smoke with a faintly salty edge that hangs around for quite a while.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 18 Year Old
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon American oak barrels
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5010019001061

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peaty · Vanilla · Fruity · Maritime · Herbal

Did You Know?

When Bessie Williamson arrived at Laphroaig in 1932, it was as temporary help in the office. She never left. She inherited the distillery from its owner Ian Hunter in 1954 and went on to run it herself, and she is widely regarded as the first woman in the 20th century to manage a Scotch whisky distillery.

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Fifteen years in a warehouse on the south coast of Islay, where the wind comes in off the sea carrying salt. That's long enough for the smoke in a Laphroaig to loosen its grip a little. Not by much. Just enough that you suddenly notice the grapefruit hiding behind it.

Expert's Description

Laphroaig 15 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 15 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

It's had a bumpy ride. The 15 Year Old first hit the shelves in 1985 and quickly picked up a loyal following. In 2009 it was pulled from the range and replaced by an 18 year old. For the distillery's 200th anniversary in 2015 it resurfaced as a limited release at 43%, then vanished again. In June 2026 it came back for good, as a permanent part of the range alongside the 10 Year Old and the 18 Year Old. And with a bit more muscle this time, at 46%.

It starts with peated malt. Part of the barley is still turned by hand on the distillery's own malting floors and dried over Islay peat smoke, before being double distilled in Laphroaig's copper stills.

All of the maturation has happened in American oak that previously held bourbon. No sherry, no finish, no tricks. The bourbon casks bring vanilla and a soft, yellow fruit sweetness, and the long years do the rest. The medicinal edge gets rounder, and the smoke folds in with citrus, peach and spices like clove and coriander. Laphroaig's master blender, Dr Calum Fraser of Suntory Global Spirits, has said they waited patiently for the whisky to be ready before bringing it back.

The whisky is non-chill filtered with no added colour. On the box, Laphroaig sums up the flavour in three words: citrus, clove, smoke. Which is actually spot on.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh orange peel and grapefruit come first, a bit like peeling the fruit right over the glass. Underneath sits dry hay and a thin line of barbecue smoke. Give it a few minutes and vanilla appears, along with a single clove.

Palate

A broad wave of sea salt and smoke, oily and rich like smoked mackerel. Then cracked black pepper, cinnamon, clove and ground coriander. Towards the end it lifts, and juicy peach and ripe grapefruit take over.

Finish

Long and smoky. Your mouth waters, and the salty and the sweet keep pulling in opposite directions, in the best possible way.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 15 Year Old
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5010019001719

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Citrus · Maritime · Spicy · Vanilla

Did you know?

The name Laphroaig comes from Gaelic and means something along the lines of the beautiful hollow by the broad bay. The pronunciation, La-Froyg, is printed right there on the label, so nobody has to guess.

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Most whiskies are shaped by the cask. This one was shaped by the soil. A windswept field on Orkney, a farm in Wiltshire where the sowing follows the moon, and organic fields on the Scottish mainland. Three barleys, fifteen years, one first fill bourbon barrel at a time.

Expert description

Bruichladdich Greener Still 15 year is an unpeated Islay Single Malt Whisky, matured for its entire life in 1st fill bourbon casks and bottled at 51.6%.

It's part of Bruichladdich's 25th Anniversary Limited Release and the third anniversary bottling of 2026, following Old Skool and Yellow Submarine III. It was launched in August 2026. It's also the fourth chapter of the Still series, which the distillery hadn't touched in almost 20 years. Back then, Blacker Still, Redder Still and Golder Still were all about the casks. This time the barley takes the lead.

The recipe is 45% biodynamic barley, 30% organic barley and 25% Bere. The biodynamic share comes from Yatesbury House Farm in Wiltshire, a carbon-positive farm. In 2021 Bruichladdich used that barley to make the world's first biodynamic Scotch Whisky, and it's one of the few exceptions to the distillery's Scottish-barley-only rule. The organic barley is grown on the Scottish mainland without artificial fertilisers or sprays, something Bruichladdich has done since 2003. The last quarter is Bere, an ancient barley variety the distillery has worked with since 2005. This Bere was grown on Orkney together with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Everything was distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, and Islay spring water was used to bring the whisky down to bottling strength. The 1st fill bourbon casks bring vanilla and a soft sweetness without taking over, so the barley stays in front: florals, ripe fruit and a rich, malty body. Master Blender Adam Hannett puts it simply: each of the three parcels brings something different, whether that's texture, spice or fruit.

The bottle is opaque green, and it doesn't come in a tin. That's a deliberate choice to cut down on packaging.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lavender and honeysuckle up front, followed by pear, baked apple with cinnamon and a hint of lightly toasted oak. Leave it in the glass for a while and you'll get apricot and a touch of dry grass.

Palate

Soft, almost creamy. Ripe pear, malt and honey with a sharp flash of citrus. Caramel with a hint of chocolate in the middle, then a pinch of pepper that reminds you it's 51.6%.

Finish

Velvety and fairly long. Vanilla, dry oak spice and a fresh, salty coastal note at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Bruichladdich Greener Still 15 year
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 51.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 25th Anniversary Limited Release, fourth release in the Still series

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Honeyed · Vanilla · Unpeated

Investment potential

Medium. It's a limited 15 year old anniversary release that brings back a series collectors already know, and it sold out on the distillery's own web shop shortly after launch. The number of bottles hasn't been published, so it's hard to say how scarce it will become.

Did you know?

In 2020 Bruichladdich became the first Scotch Whisky distillery to be certified as a B Corp. It's an independent standard that measures how a company treats its staff, its community and the environment. In a way, Greener Still is that certificate in a bottle.

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When you're accused of hiding weapons of mass destruction, you can either issue a denial or bottle a whisky. Bruichladdich bottled a whisky. A few years later a stray yellow submarine turned up off the coast of Islay, and it got a whisky too. Two decades on, the sub has surfaced once more.

Expert description

Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III Reclassified 14 year is an unpeated Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and 1st and 2nd fill French red wine casks from Bordeaux, bottled at 54.2%.

It's the second limited release marking 25 years since Bruichladdich was brought back to life in 2001, and the third chapter of the Whisky of Mass Distinction series that started in 2005 and returned in 2018. The backstory is hard to beat. In the early 2000s, US military intelligence had the distillery flagged as a possible weapons site. Bruichladdich played along, and when a Ministry of Defence submarine went astray and was found off the island in 2005, the name of the next bottling wrote itself.

The maturation profile is inspired by the recipe behind the very first Yellow Submarine. 75% of the whisky spent its time in 1st fill bourbon barrels, 25% in red wine casks. Back in 2005 those were Spanish Rioja. This time they're 1st and 2nd fill Bordeaux casks. The spirit is made from 100% Scottish Appaloosa barley, grown on the mainland and malted without peat. Bourbon brings honey, vanilla and a soft creamy base, while the Bordeaux casks add ripe fruit, toasted nuts and warm spice. Non-chill filtered, no added colour, reduced with Islay spring water. Master Blender Adam Hannett calls it one of those whiskies that makes you smile as soon as you nose it.

Yellow Submarine III was released on 1 June 2026 in limited quantities.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey-sweet oats and buttery shortbread up front. Hazelnut and praline follow, with nutmeg and a gentle nip of ginger underneath.

Palate

Smooth and full despite the strength. Fresh orange zest and honeysuckle open, then crisp apple and pear. It rounds out into crème brûlée, finished with a pinch of sea salt.

Finish

Long and lingering. Honeyed sweetness, warming spice and toasted hazelnut that stay with you.

Specifications

Name: Bruichladdich Yellow Submarine III Reclassified 14 year
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 54.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 75% 1st fill bourbon barrels and 25% 1st and 2nd fill Bordeaux red wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Whisky of Mass Distinction part III, 25th anniversary
EAN no.: 5055807422185

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Fruity · Nutty · Honeyed · Spicy

Investment potential

Medium. A limited anniversary release in a series collectors already follow, and it sold out quickly at several major retailers.

Did you know?

The real submarine was collected by the Ministry of Defence, but an exact replica still stands in the distillery grounds on Islay today.

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On the western shore of Islay, facing the grey water of Loch Indaal, stands a distillery that once fell silent. In 2001 the stills were fired up again. Twenty-five years on, Bruichladdich looks back with a bottle that could have come straight off a 1980s shelf. The whisky inside is anything but old-fashioned.

Expert's description

Bruichladdich Old Skool 10 year is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and 1st fill Sauternes casks and bottled at 50%.

It is the first of three limited releases marking 25 years since the distillery was brought back to life. The label borrows its look from Bruichladdich's own bottlings of the 1980s, a deliberate glance over the shoulder. Every grain of barley was grown on Islay by 14 local farmers, all within roughly nine miles of the distillery. For Bruichladdich that is the point: barley has a sense of place, and you should be able to taste it.

There is no peat here. The spirit is double distilled and spent ten years mostly in 1st fill American oak bourbon casks, which bring vanilla, coconut and soft caramel. A smaller parcel went into 1st fill Sauternes casks, and that is where the floral sweetness and ripe apricot come from. The casks were married, then reduced with Islay spring water to 50%, with no chill filtration and no added colour.

The bottle itself contains around 60% recycled glass. Bruichladdich has not published a bottle count, but this is a limited release, and several UK retailers sold out within weeks of the March 2026 launch.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and nectarine lead, followed by red plum and vanilla custard. Underneath sits a gentle, salty sea breeze, a quiet reminder of where it was made.

Palate

Rounded and slightly oily. Stone fruit and citrus zest, barley sugar and stewed pear. The oak adds creamy coconut and caramelised vanilla, while clove, ginger and toasted almond give it warmth and a bit of grip.

Finish

Apricot jam and toasted coconut linger, with barley sugar and dry toasted oak fading out last.

Specifications

Name: Bruichladdich Old Skool 10 year
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks and 1st fill Sauternes casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 25th Anniversary Limited Release
EAN no.: 5055807422161

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Unpeated · Bourbon cask · Maritime · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

The label on Old Skool carries a map of Islay printed with the names of the farmers who grew the barley for this very whisky. 14 of the distillery's 19 farming partners on the island made the cut.

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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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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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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