Peat smoke and oloroso are not an obvious pair. One wants to fill your mouth with ash and salt, the other with dried fruit and syrup. Elixir Distillers put them in the same bottle and let them work it out.

The expert description

Elements of Islay Sherry Cask is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads and bottled at 54.5%.

The range divides Islay by cask type, and this is the dark end. Where Bourbon Cask leaves the smoke standing free with vanilla underneath, the sherry wood here lays down a layer of figs, dates and dark chocolate that the smoke then has to climb through. The result carries more weight and more spice than anything else in the range.

The malt comes from several Islay distilleries and which ones is not disclosed. The 54.5% is chosen to hold both the smoke and the sherry together, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting notes

Nose

Tobacco lingering in an emptied sandalwood cigar box, smoked fish, and above it lemon oil, fresh ginger root and a hint of menthol.

Palate

Smoky, phenolic and slightly medicinal. Figs and dates arrive first as the smoke builds, with honey, orange marmalade and citrus underneath as counterweight. Further in: dark chocolate around candied orange, crystallised stem ginger and muscovado syrup over a sticky ginger cake.

Finish

Long, with a gentle smoke that lingers alongside dried autumn fruit.

Specifications

Name: Elements of Islay Sherry Cask
Distillery: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Elements of Islay
EAN no.: 5060880920459

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sherry matured · Spiced · Maritime · Cask Strength

Did you know?

A sherry butt holds around 500 litres, making it nearly twice the size of a hogshead. The larger the cask, the less wood each litre of whisky meets, which is why a butt can mature for longer before the whisky turns dry and the oak takes over.

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Twenty-five years on wood is a long time to wait for a bottle, but Bunnahabhain's own flagship proves patience and a quiet corner of Islay make a fine pair.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old Small Batch Distilled is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled without chill filtration and without added colour at 46.3%.

The whisky is assembled in small batches from selected casks, letting the distillery show off Bunnahabhain's mature side rather than just its younger, fresher character. Sherry, caramel and toasted nuts sit on top of the distillery's core maritime, unpeated style, cultivated since 1881.

The result is a whisky that can stand alone for quiet reflection, yet still impress a collector already familiar with the distillery's younger releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced oak, dry sherry and a hint of dark marmalade, lifted by a light salty breeze.

Palate

Smooth and sweet with caramel, toasted almonds and ripe berries, tied together by a soft, spicy warmth.

Finish

Long and soft with lingering oak and a final hint of dried figs.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 Years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Small Batch Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704217397

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Creamy · Spicy · Mature

Investment Potential

Medium – as one of the oldest age-stated bottles in Bunnahabhain's own range, the 25 Years Old has historically held collector interest well as the distillery's older stocks shrink.

Did You Know?

Whisky.dk often calls it the distillery's flagship, and with good reason – it's the oldest age-stated bottle Bunnahabhain itself puts its name to in the core range.

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Cognac and Islay peat sounds like an unlikely pairing — until you taste it. Kilchoman sourced casks from a single French cognac house and let them lay a layer of dried fruit and warm spice over their spirit, without the smoke ever losing ground.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Cognac Cask Matured Limited Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in ex-cognac casks and bottled at 50 %.

The casks come from Bossuet Cooperage in France and all originate from the same cognac house — a detail that ensures a consistent, characterful cask influence across the whole release. The 300-litre casks previously held cognac, itself double distilled in copper pot stills and matured for a minimum of two years in French oak, typically Limousin, before being emptied and refilled with new-make Kilchoman spirit.

The result builds on Kilchoman's classic house style — citrus-fresh peat smoke carried on Islay's coastal air — while adding an extra layer of dried fruit, caramel and warm spice from the cognac casks' history. It's a release that shows how much a single cask type can shift a whisky without it losing its identity.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricots and orange peel meet caramel and a hint of freshly brewed coffee, while the peat smoke sits as a calm undercurrent throughout.

Palate

Soft and spiced, with notes of raisin, honey and warm cinnamon that slowly give way to a rising wave of Islay smoke and a touch of dark chocolate.

Finish

Medium length, dry and spiced, with lingering smoke and a final hint of the cognac casks' sweet oak character.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Cognac Cask Matured Limited Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: Min. 6 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Cognac Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Number of bottles: 15,100 bottles
Edition: Limited Release
EAN no.: 5060210706678

Flavour profile

Peated · Cognac-matured · Fruity · Spicy · Creamy

Did you know?

By French law, cognac must be distilled twice in copper pot stills and matured for at least two years before it can even be called cognac — a process that echoes Scotch whisky production in several ways, even though grapes replace the barley.

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Three figures bent over a cauldron in the mist, a prophecy whispered out over the heather, and a 19-year-old Ardbeg dressed for the occasion.

Expert Review

Macbeth First Witch 19 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Ardbeg, matured in Pedro Ximenez casks and bottled at 51.7%.

First Witch is the opening bottle in the Witches series, part of Livingstone's wider Macbeth Collection, where every release is named after a character from Shakespeare's tragedy and illustrated by British artist Quentin Blake. Underneath the imaginative label sits an unadulterated Ardbeg, left to rest on Pedro Ximenez casks so it can pull both sweetness and depth from the dark sherry wood. 1,800 bottles of this release were filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tar and peat smoke meet a deep, dark sweetness of dried fig and raisin, with a hint of fish leather in the background.

Palate

Bold and oily, where the smoke is carried by syrupy sweetness, dark chocolate and a touch of salted liquorice.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky, with a final wave of spiced sherry and ash from an old bonfire.

Specifications

Name: Macbeth First Witch 19 Year Old
Distillery: Ardbeg
Bottler: Livingstone
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 51.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximenez casks
Number of bottles: 1,800 bottles
Edition: The Witches – First Witch
EAN no.: 5060880923054

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Dark · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. A 19-year-old Ardbeg limited to 1,800 bottles, from a sought-after collection with striking artwork, typically draws in collectors as well as drinkers.

Did You Know?

Livingstone's full Macbeth Collection runs to 42 bottles, one for every named character in Shakespeare's play, and First Witch is the very first you meet in the line-up.

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A secret source distillery hides behind a name that makes no secret of its focus.

Expert description

Mister Peat Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. Mister Peat is the label from independent bottler Fox Fitzgerald, run by Eamon Jones and Aidan Smith, who specialise in heavily peated single malts from an undisclosed Scottish distillery. By keeping the source distillery anonymous, the bottler can focus marketing entirely on the whisky's character rather than its origin.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers intense peat smoke, bonfire and a hint of salt.

Palate

The palate is powerful with peat, iodine and a touch of sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and salty.

Specifications

Name: Mister Peat Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Mister Peat
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Smoky · Salty · Powerful · Iodine

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Adelphi tests around 25 casks for every one they approve. That is not accidental. Alex Bruce and Charles Maclean sit with samples and ask: is this exceptional? Fewer than four per cent of the casks offered to them get a yes. This Caol Ila cask from 2013 was one of them.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2013/2021 Adelphi Selection 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single bourbon cask (no. 300371), bottled at cask strength 58.4% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 324 bottles.

Adelphi Selection is an Edinburgh-based independent bottler with roots in a distilling dynasty going back to 1826. The same principle always applies: only the casks that truly impress make it into a bottle bearing Adelphi's name. The bourbon cask produced a clean, classic Caol Ila expression – maritime notes, peat smoke and a touch of sweetness.

The high cask strength of 58.4% and 324 bottles make this a rare bottling for those who want Caol Ila without compromise.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and maritime with peat smoke upfront. Salty sea air, light citrus and a soft vanilla note from the bourbon wood. Fresh and direct.

Palate

Concentrated and salty. Smoke, citrus and good body. The bourbon sweetness is present but understated – Caol Ila's maritime notes dominate.

Finish

Long and warm with persistent smoke and a lightly peppery dryness. Add a drop of water for more openness.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2013/2021 Adelphi Selection 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 58.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 324

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Salty · Fresh · Concentrated

Did you know?

Adelphi Selection is named after the Adelphi Distillery in Edinburgh, which closed in 1902. The company was revived by a descendant of the original distilling family and is today one of Scotland's most selective independent bottlers.

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The label looks like something lifted from an old pharmacy, and that is deliberate. Elixir Distillers built the whole range around the idea of Islay as an element you could extract and bottle in its pure form.

The expert description

Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask is a Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon barrels and bottled at 54.5%.

The range began in 2008 with small apothecary bottles and a code in place of a distillery name. Bourbon Cask is one of the core releases and brings together malt from several Islay distilleries, where the heavy barbecue smoke of the south coast meets the lighter, zestier style of the north. Elixir Distillers does not disclose which distilleries are involved.

The bourbon wood was chosen because it lets the smoke stand clearly in front. Where a sherry cask would lay dark fruit over the top, American oak contributes vanilla and coconut that push the peat forward instead of covering it. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and the 54.5% was chosen to give it full weight.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sugar and vanilla pod first, then tropical fruit, mango and pineapple, and behind it a thin ribbon of chimney smoke drifting in and out.

Palate

Cappuccino dusted with cocoa, warm vanilla brioche and fruit poached in maple syrup, while a peat fire builds underneath it all.

Finish

Long and sooty with salt, lemon peel and a dry ash note that stays well after the sweetness has gone.

Specifications

Name: Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask
Distillery: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Elements of Islay
EAN no.: 5060880920435

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Fruity · Vanilla · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Elixir Distillers was founded by brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, the pair behind The Whisky Exchange. They are now building on Islay themselves with the Portintruan distillery, so a range that started by bottling other people’s whisky will end up with its own.

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A bottle with no box, but decades behind it – this 12 Years Old dates back to when Bunnahabhain still wore the Westering Home label.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old Old Version is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky from the 1980s, bottled at 43%.

The whisky belongs to the same discontinued Westering Home series as the distillery's other old version bottlings, from a time when the standard strength sat at 43% rather than today's 46.3%. The bottle arrives without a box, which is typical for cellar finds of this age.

It's a rare chance to taste how Bunnahabhain sounded long before the distillery became a familiar name among independent bottlers worldwide.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Gentle sea air and a hint of peat, backed by oily malt.

Palate

Round and oily with nuts, light fruit and a classic malty sweetness.

Finish

Medium length and malty with a calm, dry finish.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Old Version – Westering Home

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Oily · Soft · Classic

Investment Potential

High – a discontinued 1980s bottling with no box, no longer in production, appealing to collectors of older Bunnahabhain releases.

Did You Know?

In the period this bottle comes from, Bunnahabhain was far better known as a supplier of malt for blends like Black Bottle than as a standalone single malt name.

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Nine years is enough time to let peat smoke settle in. Hepburns Choice matured this Caol Ila in bourbon casks and finished it in a sherry butt – the classic double maturation, a reminder that it is the combination of time and wood that shapes a whisky.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with a sherry butt finish, bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 797 bottles.

Hepburns Choice is a series from Langside Distillers – a Scottish independent bottler specialising in single-cask bottlings from a wide range of distilleries. The series is named after the Scottish whisky enthusiast and writer Hepburn.

The bourbon cask provided the structural base – vanilla and fresh fruit – and the sherry butt added the winey layer on top: raisins, honey and spice. Caol Ila's smoke binds it all together.

Tasting notes

Nose

A soft opening with bourbon sweetness and light sherry fruit, behind which Caol Ila's salty smoke and seaweed wait. Raisins and a hint of cloves.

Palate

Soft and balanced. Bourbon vanilla and sherry fruit meet peat smoke and a touch of salt. Good body and light preserved-fruit notes from the finish.

Finish

Medium-length with persistent smoke and a sweet sherry close that slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years Sherry Butt Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Langside Distillers (Hepburns Choice)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks with sherry butt finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 797
Series: Hepburns Choice
EAN no.: 5060354272848

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Balanced

Did you know?

A sherry butt is the largest standard cask in Scotch whisky tradition, holding around 500 litres against a standard bourbon hogshead's 250. The larger cask gives a slower and more subtle influence, which is why sherry butts are used for finishing.

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Gordon & MacPhail created the Discovery Range as a gateway to three styles: Sherry, Bourbon and Smoky. Caol Ila is – as one would expect – the Smoky expression. Thirteen years and 43% mean the smoke is accessible and rounded rather than edgy.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% – the third line in the Discovery Range series under the Smoky theme.

Gordon & MacPhail from Elgin is one of the world's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, founded in 1895. The Discovery Range is the company's most approachable series – created to give new and existing whisky drinkers access to classic regional characters without compromise.

Thirteen years in oak casks have given this Caol Ila a rounded, accessible smoke profile. It retains the distillery's maritime signature, but the lower strength of 43% makes it easy to enjoy without adding water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh maritime notes lead – sea salt and seaweed. Then light peat smoke with citrus and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Round and accessible. Smoke and freshness dominate with a light fruit sweetness and good balance. Lightly spiced with pepper in the tail.

Finish

Moderate and clean. The smoke recedes gently with a maritime trace and a lightness that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Series: The Discovery Range – Smoky
EAN no.: 5020613067660

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Approachable · Lightly Spiced

Did you know?

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has stored casks from distilleries that have long since closed. The company holds some of the world's oldest active whisky stocks and has bottled whiskies over 80 years old.

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Not every great dram carries a famous name on the label — Laphroaig is proof that quiet distilleries can still produce remarkable whisky. This particular release from Islay shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Laphroaig 1990/2019 28 Year Coopers Choice Single Islay Malt Whisky 40,8% is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured on bourbon cask, cask ref. 10869 and bottled at 40,8%.

This bottling comes from The Coopers Choice.

The whisky was distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2019.

Only 228 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 1990/2019 28 Year Coopers Choice Single Islay Malt Whisky 40,8%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 40,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask, cask ref. 10869
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 228

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. 28-year-old single-cask Laphroaig bottlings are rare, and with only 228 bottles from The Coopers Choice, this is one of the rarest releases in this whole delivery.

Did you know?

Only a small share of Laphroaig's production reaches 28 years of maturation, since the distillery's powerful peat smoke often peaks earlier than in milder whisky styles.

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"Stiùireadair" means helmsman in Scottish Gaelic, a nod to the distillery's life on the edge of the Sound of Islay, where the tide toward Jura demands a steady hand.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured in a combination of first- and second-fill sherry casks and bottled at 46.3%.

The whisky is assembled from older, seasoned sherry casks, giving it a round, soft character without drowning out the distillery's core light, maritime style. It shows Bunnahabhain's unpeated side rather than the island's more familiar peat smoke.

Stiùireadair is meant as a permanent fixture in the range and a fine introduction to how Bunnahabhain sounds when the sherry cask is allowed to speak the loudest.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, caramel and vanilla with a touch of salty sea air.

Palate

Creamy and balanced with burnt sugar, raisins, toasted nuts and a hint of spice.

Finish

Long and soft with warm spices, sherry sweetness and a maritime edge.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First- and Second-Fill Sherry Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704218639

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Soft · Maritime · Creamy

Did You Know?

The name honours the distillery's location at the end of a single-track road on the Sound of Islay, where the tidal current between Islay and Jura has demanded skilled helmsmen for centuries.

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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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21 years on cask and only 8,268 bottles in the world, an age Ardbeg rarely puts on display.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Twenty One 21 Year Old Committee Release 2016 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky distilled in spring 1995, bottled in 2016 after 21 years of maturation, at 46%.

The release is a Committee Release, reserved for members of Ardbeg's own fan community, and is among the oldest vintage bottles the distillery has ever released at this scale.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Restrained, mature peat alongside a soft sweetness that only truly shows after so many years on cask.

Palate

Rounded and well balanced, where the classic Ardbeg smoke has been smoothed by decades of maturation without losing its identity.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a lasting smoky warmth that speaks to the age.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Twenty One
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: Spring 1995
Bottled: 2016
Number of bottles: 8,268 bottles
Edition: Committee Release 2016
EAN no.: 5010494934410

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Mature · Elegant · Rounded

Investment Potential

High. As one of Ardbeg's oldest releases, limited to 8,268 bottles and long sold out from the distillery, Twenty One is regarded as one of the most sought-after bottles among Ardbeg collectors.

Did You Know?

Ardbeg won "World Whisky of the Year" two years running in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, a recognition that cemented the distillery's status in the very years this 21-year-old was bottled.

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Balance is the word Douglas Laing chose for this single cask — a whisky where peat smoke and sweetness meet without either dominating the other.

Expert's Description

Spiritualist Balance 2005/2020 is a Single Cask Islay Malt Whisky from Douglas Laing's Old Particular series, distilled in November 2005 and bottled in April 2020 after 14 years of maturation at natural cask strength of 53.2%.

The whisky comes from a single refill hogshead, cask ref DL14032, letting the spirit's natural character shine through. The source distillery is not officially disclosed, but the style points toward a respected Islay distillery. Only 325 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pronounced peat smoke, fresh sea air and subtle mineral notes, spiced with green apple and vanilla.

Palate

Full and complex with smoke balanced by light caramel, baked fruit and white pepper.

Finish

Long, dry and warm with smoke, baked citrus and a touch of dark chocolate and salted oak.

Specifications

Name: The Spiritualist Balance
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Cask Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 53.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill hogshead, cask ref DL14032
Distilled: 11/2005
Bottled: 04/2020
Number of Bottles: 325 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Complex · Cask strength · Balanced

Investment Potential

Medium. As a discontinued single cask from Douglas Laing's Old Particular series with only 325 bottles, it is attractive to collectors of independent Islay bottlings.

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing's Old Particular series is named after a Victorian term for specially selected sherry, a nod to the series' focus on quality over quantity.

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Somewhere between the wash still and the warehouse, Laphroaig built a reputation few casual drinkers ever hear about. This particular release from Islay shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Laphroaig PX Cask Triple Matured Single Islay Malt Whisky 100 cl 48% is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured on pedro Ximénez sherry casks as part of a triple maturation and bottled at 48%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig PX Cask Triple Matured Single Islay Malt Whisky 100 cl 48%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks as part of a triple maturation
Edition: PX Cask Triple Matured
EAN no.: 5010019637291

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. As a discontinued PX-matured 100 cl edition no longer part of Laphroaig's range, this combination of intense smoke and sherry sweetness becomes harder to find over time.

Did you know?

Pedro Ximénez is a Spanish sherry style made from sun-dried grapes, giving an unusually concentrated sweetness when the casks are reused for whisky maturation.

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Named after one of the world's most notorious whirlpools, and just as violent and untamed in the glass as the current is at the coast.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Corryvreckan is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in French oak and ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 57.1%.

The name comes from the Corryvreckan whirlpool north of Islay, a natural phenomenon that mirrors the whisky's raw power. It's neither chill filtered nor coloured, letting the full cask strength show through from the first sip to the last.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold black coffee meets dense, rich dark chocolate tones, with sweet autumn fruit like blackcurrant and cherry in the background.

Palate

Elegant, softly spiced oak ties it all together with heavy peat and a touch of salt that bites gently on the tongue.

Finish

Long, with a lingering salty edge that stays with you well after each sip.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French oak and ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494296280

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Cask strength

Did You Know?

The Corryvreckan whirlpool the whisky is named after is considered one of the third largest tidal whirlpools in the world and can be heard for miles when it's at its wildest.

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