Ximénez-Spinola is a small sherry house in Jerez working only with the Pedro Ximénez grape. Their casks rarely end up in whisky — but when they do, you can taste it.

Expert description

Dalmunach 7 years Murray McDavid PX Sherry Finish is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Ximénez-Spinola PX casks and bottled at 48.5% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The release belongs to Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series and was made in 2,062 bottles. Murray McDavid was founded in 1996 and has made cask finishing its signature — the house buys casks from named wine and sherry producers rather than settling for generic sherry wood. Dalmunach opened in 2015, so everything that exists from the distillery is young.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark and sweet. Raisin, date and dark chocolate, with a layer of young malt and cereal under the concentrated fruit.

Palate

Round and syrupy. Dried fruit, caramel and cocoa, with a lightly spiced edge from the oak. The 48.5% keeps the sweetness from turning heavy.

Finish

Medium and sweet, with raisin, nuts and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmunach 7 years Murray McDavid PX Sherry Finish Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48,5%
Distillery: Dalmunach
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ximénez-Spinola PX cask finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 2,062
Edition: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353304625

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Sweet · Young

Did you know?

Murray McDavid names the sherry and wine houses their casks come from. It sounds like a detail, but it is rare in the trade — most simply write sherry cask and leave the customer to guess at the quality.

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Lady of the Glen sticks to one simple rule: casks from silent distilleries, or rare, tightly limited parcels. This Glenlossie is another reason the Scottish bottler has built such a following among collectors in recent years.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 10 Year Old Lady of the Glen is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at full cask strength, 56.6%.

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2023 by the independent bottler Lady of the Glen, run by Hannah Whisky Merchants, the whisky comes from a single cask, No. 5308, a refill hogshead finished in an ex ruby port cask. Lady of the Glen always bottles single cask, non-chill filtered and with no added colour, so what lands in the glass is the whisky exactly as the cask left it.

Glenlossie rarely appears as a standalone single malt, since most of its output feeds blends such as Haig's and Dimple – every independent Glenlossie release is a small look behind that curtain.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe red berries and a touch of port-wine sweetness sit over Glenlossie's cereal base. There's a hint of dried apricot and a light, spiced warmth from the high strength.

Palate

Full and powerful, with red-wine berries, caramel and a clear cask-strength bite. The malt still comes through, carried by a faintly sweet, wine-toned note from the port cask.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering berry and spice notes that slowly settle into a dry, faintly tannic finish.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 10 Year Old Lady of the Glen HHD First Fill Ex Ruby Port Finish Rare Cask Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 56.6%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 56.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, ex ruby port finish (Cask No. 5308)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2023

Flavour Profile

Sherry/port-toned · Fruity · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did You Know?

Lady of the Glen's name comes from a private memory held by founder Gregor Hannah, who started the company in 2012 – so behind the name isn't a historical figure, but a small personal nod to Scottish folklore.

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A hogshead that received a final kiss from an Italian Barrique cask, and a spirit that answers back with depth and the full force of cask strength.

Expert description

Teaninich 13 Year Old Rare Cask from Lady of the Glen is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2023 from cask no. 721009, a hogshead finished in a Profiler Barrique cask, at full cask strength of 58%.

The bottling belongs to Lady of the Glen's Rare Cask range, where the whisky, after its primary maturation, gains an extra layer of complexity from a Barrique cask, a cask type more commonly associated with wine. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, so what sits in the glass is as close to the raw spirit as it gets.

The 13 years of maturation and the subsequent Barrique finish have given the whisky a deep, spiced character that balances Teaninich's natural cereal lightness with a darker, more wine-toned dimension.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark berries, a touch of tobacco and a warm spiced scent from the Barrique cask.

Palate

Rich and intense, with notes of dark chocolate, red fruit flesh and a hint of pepper.

Finish

Long and spiced, with lingering warmth from the full cask strength.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 13 Year Old Rare Cask
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead with Profiler Barrique finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2023

Flavour profile

spiced · wine-toned · intense

Investment potential

As a single cask release with an unusual Barrique finish and full cask strength, this Teaninich sits in a category where demand typically outpaces supply, giving it solid investment potential compared with standard bottlings.

Did you know?

In 1887, Teaninich became the first whisky plant north of Inverness to have both electricity and a telephone, well ahead of most other distilleries in the region.

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North British 1992/2023 Lady of the Glen 30 Year Old Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 47.7%

Lady of the Glen is an independent whisky merchant and bottler specializing in releasing small batches of high-quality whiskies from carefully selected casks. They focus on creating unique and exclusive releases, often from lesser-known distilleries or special cask types. Here, they have found a unique cask from the grain distillery North British, with only 188 bottles available.

Distillery: North British
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Vintage: Distilled: 1992 Bottled: 2023
Age: 30 years
Type: Single Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Cask number/type: Rare Cask
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 47.7%
70 cl

Eighteen years in two types of oak. Macallan's Double Cask philosophy is straightforward: let American and European oak work together to shape the final whisky. Then give it enough time for the two systems to find each other.

Expert's Description

Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask 2023 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 18 years in sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, bottled at 43%. The two cask types complement each other: American sherry oak lends citrus, vanilla and butterscotch, while European sherry oak provides gentle spice and depth. The 2023 release is the current vintage of one of Macallan's most classic age-stated expressions.

For many collectors, Macallan 18 Year Old is a benchmark — not because it surprises, but because it consistently delivers on its promise. That's no small thing.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and ginger with toffee and rich orange. Hints of clove and nutmeg.

Palate

Rich raisins and sultanas with caramel, vanilla and ginger. Balanced by wood spice and zesty citrus.

Finish

Warm oak spice with ginger that softens into sweet orange. Long and well-integrated.

Specifications

Name: Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask 2023
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Annual 2023 Release
EAN no.: 5010314309862

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Soft · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium — Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask in its vintage-limited 2023 release is attracting growing interest on the secondary market as retailer stocks are depleted. The Macallan 18 Year Old series is generally sought-after given the distillery's reputation and the documented complexity that age brings.

Did you know?

Macallan uses exclusively small copper pot stills — among the smallest in Scotland. They are designed to maximise contact between vapours and the copper surface, contributing to the distillery's characteristically fruity and soft house style.

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Two whiskies from the same distillery that were never meant to meet. One peated and finished in Bordeaux red wine casks. The other triple distilled and finished in Ruby Port. Somebody opened both and poured them together, and what came out makes more sense than it should.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Red Wine & Ruby Port Cask 4 Years Old is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Bordeaux red wine casks and Ruby Port casks, bottled at 57.5%. It brings together two different malt whiskies, both made at Glasgow Distillery, released in the distillery’s Small Batch Series at 1,925 bottles.

The first part is peated and took its finish in casks from Bordeaux, which lays dark berries and a drier tannic edge into the smoke. The second is triple distilled and unpeated, finished in Ruby Port, giving red fruit, sweetness and a fuller texture. Because every drop comes from the one distillery, the whisky is still a Single Malt.

The water comes from Loch Katrine, the mash ferments for more than 72 hours, and distillation runs slowly in copper pot stills. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries first, blackberry and preserved cherry, and behind them a dry earthy smoke closer to cold ash than a bonfire. There is vinous sweetness too and a streak of liquorice. The smoke is clear but it does not fill the whole glass.

Palate

Sweet and full to start: raspberry, redcurrant and a little dark chocolate. Then the smoke arrives from the side along with black pepper and a drier tannin from the red wine wood. At 57.5% the body is generous, and a pleasant tension between sweet and smoky runs the whole way through.

Finish

Long and in two halves. The fruit lingers first, then a drier note of ash and pepper takes over and releases slowly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Red Wine & Ruby Port Cask 4 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57.5%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Bordeaux red wine casks and Ruby Port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Traditional and triple distillation in copper pot stills
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,925
Edition: Small Batch Series
EAN no.: 5714772002074

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Vinous · Spiced · Cask Strength · Full Bodied

Did You Know?

Glasgow Distillery runs peated, unpeated and triple distilled production within the same year. Most Scottish malt distilleries stick to one style, but here the recipe is deliberately switched so there is something different to build with when the casks are brought together. This bottle is a direct result of working that way.

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One cask, 114 bottles, and a Danish importer who sat and waited for seven years. The spirit ran off the stills on a July day in 2016 in an industrial park in the west of Glasgow, and exactly seven years and ten days later the cask was emptied. Timing like that is rarely an accident.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow 2016/2023 Mac Y Selection 7 Years Old is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon cask and finished in Virgin Oak, bottled at 55.8%. Cask 16/844 was distilled on 17 July 2016 and bottled on 27 July 2023, yielding 114 bottles selected by the Danish importer Mac Y.

Just over three years went by in the first fill bourbon cask, where the spirit picked up vanilla, coconut and a light cereal sweetness. Then came almost four years in new charred American oak. Virgin Oak has never held spirit before, and it works fast and hard: cinnamon, nutmeg, burnt sugar and a drier tannic edge shift the whole profile. Seven years does not sound like much, but in virgin oak seven years can do more than twice that in a refill cask.

Glasgow Distillery uses malted barley and water from Loch Katrine, ferments for more than 72 hours and distils slowly in traditional copper pot stills. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Freshly planed oak and warm cinnamon bun first. Behind that come vanilla, toasted coconut and a hint of yellow fruit, mostly pear with a little pineapple. There is also a drier pencil shaving note that virgin oak casks tend to give.

Palate

Sweet and spicy at once. Burnt sugar, nutmeg and baked apple meet a firm oak tannin that tightens things up mid-palate. At 55.8% it runs warm but the body holds. A few drops of water draw out more honey and calm the wood a little.

Finish

Long and woody, with pepper, toasted oak and a faintly bitter cocoa note. The sweetness lets go slowly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow 2016/2023 Mac Y Selection 7 Years Old Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55.8%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and finished in Virgin Oak, cask no. 16/844
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 17 July 2016
Bottled: 27 July 2023
Number of bottles: 114
Edition: Mac Y Selection
EAN no.: 5714772002067

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Vanilla · Oaky · Fresh · Cask Strength · Fruity

Investment Potential

Medium. A single cask with only 114 bottles, released into one market, is hard to find again once it has gone. Bottlings from Glasgow Distillery’s early years have also drawn steadily more attention as the distillery has established itself.

Did You Know?

The water for 1770 comes from Loch Katrine in the Trossachs, the same loch that has supplied Glasgow with drinking water since 1859. The city built an aqueduct system running more than 50 kilometres to fight cholera, and today that same water runs through a malt distillery on the western edge of town.

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A journey to Bolgheri hides inside this 10 year old GlenAllachie. After its time in American oak, the spirit was allowed to rest in wine casks from Grattamacco, one of Tuscany's oldest and most respected wine producers, and the result is a honeyed elegance with a well-rounded finish.

Expert's description

Glenallachie 10 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at 48% ABV, matured in American oak casks and finished in wine casks from Grattamacco in the Bolgheri area of Tuscany, Italy. Grattamacco is considered the second-oldest wine estate in the area and is known for its powerful, earthy red wines, whose character now carries through into the whisky's casks.

Only 15,600 bottles of this release exist globally, without individual bottle numbering, making it one of the more limited expressions in the Wine Cask Finish series.

Tasting notes

Nose

A honeyed sweetness settles first, supported by a light earthy depth from the Italian wine casks.

Palate

The elegance from the nose carries through to the palate, where honey and a warm cask spice balance one another neatly.

Finish

Well-rounded and gentle, closing without rushing or fading too quickly.

Specifications

Name: Glenallachie 10 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in Grattamacco wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 15,600
Edition: Wine Cask Finish
EAN number: 5060568326962

Flavour profile

Honey · Elegance · Earthy depth · Cask spice · Gentle finish

Investment potential

Medium. The collaboration with a renowned Italian wine producer like Grattamacco, combined with a limited global bottle count, makes this release interesting for collectors with an eye for rarer cask partnerships.

Did you know?

Grattamacco helped put the Bolgheri area on the wine map long before the region became known for its so-called "Super Tuscans" – a story the whisky's wine casks now carry forward.

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A small whitewashed warehouse on the Islay shore, salt in the air, and a batch that exists only until the next one takes its place.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

Traigh Bhan means white beach, named after the small bay just below the distillery. The series is released in a new batch every year, and each one is its own irreplaceable blend that disappears from the shelf once the next arrives. Batch 5 brings together casks that give the whisky a depth not always found in Ardbeg's more widely available releases, without losing the distillery's trademark backbone of peat and smoke.

The whisky is non-chill filtered, so everything the casks gave it along the way is still in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green peppers and a hint of smoked mango open things up, quickly followed by guava and a sweet whiff of maple syrup over crisp bacon.

Palate

Peat arrives first, warm and earthy, before the sherry casks unfold with dark fruit and a lightly salted caramel.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a finish of toasted nuts and a last trace of sea salt.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5010494980943

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Salty

Did You Know?

Traigh Bhan takes its name from a small white beach right below the distillery, a name mostly known only to the locals.

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Forest berries and sweet spices open the door, then cocoa powder and gingerbread take over. This is GlenAllachie at full strength — Batch 11 poured straight from the cask, no water added.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 11 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, red wine barriques and virgin oak casks, bottled at cask strength of 59.4%.

The Cask Strength series has become something of a signature since Billy Walker took over the distillery in 2017. Where the core range tells the story at a gentler strength, here you get the whisky exactly as it left the cask — no water added to tame the intensity.

Batch 11 builds on the sherry and virgin oak combination that has become GlenAllachie's trademark: Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks bring depth and sweetness, while red wine barriques and virgin oak casks add spice and structure. The result is a 10 year old malt that tastes well beyond its years.

Tasting notes

Nose

Forest berries and sweet spices greet you first, quickly followed by cocoa powder and a hint of gingerbread. Orange peel adds a fresh edge, while heather honey ties it all together with floral sweetness.

Palate

The sherry unfolds on the palate with the same forest-berry sweetness from the nose, this time closer to dark chocolate. Spices take over midway, and heather honey returns alongside a touch of orange peel.

Finish

Long and spiced, with cocoa powder and a lingering sweetness from the gingerbread that stays with you well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 11 Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry, virgin oak & red wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Batch 11
EAN no.: 5060568326788

Flavour profile

Sherry-sweet · Spiced · Forest berries · Cocoa · Gingerbread · Cask strength

Did you know?

Cask strength means the whisky is bottled straight from the cask without any water added to adjust the strength — 59.4% is exactly what it measured on leaving the warehouse.

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

Expert's description

Laudale 12 Year Dailuaine Adelphi Batch 6 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from Adelphi, released as part of the Laudale Batch 6 range.

Only 2,100 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh malt, orchard fruit and a light floral note.

Palate

Honey, pear and a mellow barley character.

Finish

Crisp and drying with a gentle spice.

Specifications

Name: Laudale 12 Year Dailuaine Adelphi Batch 6 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 2,100
Edition: Laudale Batch 6
EAN no.: 5060383653229

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Dailuaine means 'the green valley' in Gaelic and was the first Scottish distillery to have its own internal railway installed for transporting casks and grain.

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A bar, a band and a casino — Brave New Spirits builds a speakeasy story around McKintyre's The Game, three 10-year-old releases each in its own cask.

Expert's Description

McKintyre's The Game 10 Year Old is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Brave New Spirits, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at 46%.

The range consists of three editions, each matured in unique oak casks, all 10 years old and bottled at the same strength, connected by a theme drawn from a fictional Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and light sweetness meet a hint of vanilla from the bourbon cask.

Palate

Round and approachable with caramel, apple and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length with lingering malt and a lightly sweet close.

Specifications

Name: McKintyre's The Game
Bottler: Brave New Spirits
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Bourbon Cask
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
EAN No.: 5060909040069

Flavour Profile

Approachable · Round · Caramel · Themed

Did You Know?

The 'The Game' series is one of three parallel McKintyre's releases from Brave New Spirits, each built around a speakeasy narrative and matured in its own unique oak cask.

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Torabhaig bid farewell to the Allt Gleann chapter at full cask strength – one last, powerful full stop before the series moved on.

Expert's description

Torabhaig Allt Gleann The Legacy Series Batch Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 61,1% is a Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon and refill whisky casks and bottled at 61,1%.

The Batch Strength release marks the closing bottling of the Allt Gleann chapter and is matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon and refill whisky casks at 61.1%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense peat smoke and spiced oak.

Palate

Powerful at full cask strength with smoke and sweetness.

Finish

Very long and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Torabhaig Allt Gleann The Legacy Series Batch Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 61,1%
Distillery: Torabhaig
Region/Country: Isle of Skye
Type: Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 61,1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon and refill whisky casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Legacy Series Chapter 2 – Allt Gleann Batch Strength
EAN no.: 5060033848111

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Torabhaig is part of Mossburn Distillers, an independent bottler with roots dating back to 1992, which also stands behind several other Scotch whisky projects.

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Burgundy casks are known for their finesse in the wine world, and that same finesse shows up in this 17-year-old Ballechin, where the smoke gets company from something more delicate.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 2005/2023 Burgundy Cask 17 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill Burgundy hogsheads and bottled at 53.5%.

The whisky was distilled in November 2005 and matured for 17 years across two 1st fill Burgundy casks, numbers 327 and 334, before being bottled in July 2023. The Burgundy cask's delicate red fruit character meets Ballechin's peat smoke and gives the whisky a surprisingly elegant, almost delicate profile for a peated whisky. 2,103 bottles were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raspberry and blackcurrant sit finely over an earthy smoke, with a hint of violet and fresh forest floor.

Palate

Delicate and fruity with red berries and a touch of pepper, before a soft, warm smoke emerges underneath.

Finish

Medium length with dry fruit acidity, light smoke and a fine, spiced finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 2005/2023 Burgundy Cask 17 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53.5%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 53,5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Burgundy hogsheads (cask no. 327 and 334)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: November 2005
Bottled: 05/07/2023
Number of bottles: Only 2,103 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944123605

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Fresh

Did you know?

The Ballechin name is used only for Edradour's peated bottlings — the unpeated core range is simply called Edradour, even though both whiskies come from the same stills.

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Two Madeira casks, 19 years of patience and Ballechin's insistent peat — the result is a whisky that feels both sun-warmed and smoky at once.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 2004/2023 Madeira Cask 19 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Madeira puncheons and bottled at 53.5%.

The whisky was distilled in April 2004 and matured for 19 years across two Madeira puncheons, cask no. 184 and 189, before being bottled in July 2023. The Madeira's characteristic, lightly oxidised sweetness has melted into Ballechin's peat smoke, creating a whisky with both sun-ripened fruit character and earthy smoke. Only 1,323 bottles were drawn.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and caramelised sugar meet an earthy, faintly medicinal smoke, with a hint of toasted nuts underneath.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied with raisin, burnt sugar and walnut, before a warm, lingering peat smoke takes over.

Finish

Long, with notes of dried fig, soot and a fine, bitter cocoa tone.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 2004/2023 Madeira Cask 19 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53.5%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 53,5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Madeira puncheons (cask no. 184 and 189)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: April 2004
Bottled: 05/07/2023
Number of bottles: Only 1,323 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944123599

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have medium investment potential, largely due to 19 years of maturation on just two Madeira casks and a limited bottle count. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

Madeira casks were historically popular for whisky maturation because the fortified wine from Madeira held up well during long sea voyages — a tradition that today lives on as a sought-after but rare cask type.

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Barbaresco casks are a rare sight in Scottish warehouses. This 12-year-old is a small experiment where Italian red wine meets Highland malt.

The expert's description

Edradour 2011/2023 Barbaresco Casks 12 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill Barbaresco hogsheads and bottled at 48.2%.

The whisky was distilled in March 2011 and matured for 12 years across eight 1st fill Barbaresco casks, numbers 51 to 58, before being bottled in July 2023. The Italian red wine has left a tannic, almost wine-like character in the whisky, which contrasts with Edradour's usually light and floral style. 2,921 bottles were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red cherries and dried rose petals, with a faintly tannic undercurrent from the wine cask and a touch of fresh malt.

Palate

Juicy red berries meet a light tannic grip, while the malt keeps a soft, honeyed base beneath the wine's intensity.

Finish

Medium length with dry tannins, a touch of pepper and a finish of dark cherries.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2011/2023 Barbaresco Casks 12 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48.2%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 48,2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Barbaresco hogsheads (cask no. 51-58)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: March 2011
Bottled: 03/07/2023
Number of bottles: Only 2,921 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944123568

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spicy · Fresh

Did you know?

Edradour is one of the few Scottish distilleries actively experimenting with Italian wine casks such as Barbaresco — a cask type far more common in cognac and rum than in whisky.

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There's a quiet confidence to a whisky that's been allowed to rest for 21 years in a single sherry cask. No rush, no shortcuts — just time and good wood.

The expert's description

Edradour 2001/2023 Oloroso Sherry Butt 21 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead and Oloroso sherry butt and bottled at 52.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2001 and matured for 21 years, split across cask no. 2413, 2414 and 2504, before being bottled in July 2023. The Oloroso sherry has given the whisky a deep, reddish-brown colour and a rich, nutty sweetness that balances Edradour's light, unpeated character. With 1,919 bottles, this is one of the rarer releases from the distillery's core range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, walnut and a hint of orange peel sit over a soft malt aroma, with a deep, sherry-dark sweetness underneath.

Palate

Rich and rounded with dried apricot, dark chocolate and a lightly spiced oak. The sherry gives the whisky body without ever drowning out the malt's character.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering notes of dark caramel, walnut shell and a dry, elegant finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2001/2023 Oloroso Sherry Butt 21 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.1%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 52,1 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead and Oloroso Sherry butt (cask no. 2413, 2414 and 2504)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 03/07/2023
Number of bottles: Only 1,919 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944123575

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spicy · Smooth

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have medium investment potential, largely due to 21 years of maturation, sherry influence and a bottle run under 2,000. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

Edradour sits so close to Signatory Vintage's bottling facilities in Pitlochry that the two companies practically share a home — Signatory has owned the distillery since 2002.

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Independent bottler Signatory continues to keep Port Dundas' legacy alive, one bottle at a time, with this 14-year-old release.

Expert Review

Port Dundas 2008/2023 Signatory Vintage 14 år Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in a selected cask and bottled at 46% ABV.

Independent bottler Signatory sources casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under its own series. This Port Dundas from 2008 was matured for 14 years and bottled in 2023, from the now-closed grain distillery in Glasgow.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is light with vanilla, grain and a mild sweetness.

Palate

The palate is soft and lightly sweet, with toffee and a lightly spiced finish.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, sweet and soft.

Specifications

Name: Port Dundas 2008/2023 Signatory Vintage 14 år Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Port Dundas
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a selected cask
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2023
EAN No.: 5021944123070

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Light · Vanilla

Investment Potential

As another bottling from the closed Port Dundas distillery, this 14-year-old release represents a dwindling, non-renewable stock, giving it some appeal for grain whisky collectors.

Did You Know?

Grain whisky like Port Dundas is traditionally used mainly for blends, but independent bottlings like this one offer a rare glimpse of how grain spirit tastes entirely on its own.

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Chinquapin is an American oak species you rarely encounter in Scotch whisky – at Meikle Tòir it becomes a surprisingly spicy frame around the distillery's smoky style.

Expert description

Meikle Tòir 5 Year Old The Chinquapin One is a peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in virgin oak casks made from chinquapin oak, bottled at 48%.

Meikle Tòir is GlenAllachie's peated sister series, launched in 2023. The name means "the big pursuit" in Scottish Gaelic. The whisky undergoes a fermentation of around 160 hours, markedly longer than usual, giving the spirit a fruitiness that plays off the peat smoke. The peat comes from the Scottish mainland and sits at around 35 PPM.

The Chinquapin One is named after the American oak species chinquapin, used for the virgin oak casks in this release. Chinquapin oak is rare in Scotch whisky production and known for imparting a more intense and spicy character than common American white oak.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers peated smoke alongside sweet vanilla and freshly sawn wood, with a spicy undercurrent of coconut and lightly toasted caramel from the chinquapin oak.

Palate

The palate combines smoke with a pronounced sweetness of vanilla and butterscotch, while the oak's spice gives a touch of pepper and dry wood structure.

Finish

The finish is smoky and lightly sweet, with a dry, spiced ending where the oak lingers long after the smoke has faded.

Specifications

Name: Meikle Tòir 5 Year Old The Chinquapin One
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin oak casks made from chinquapin oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Chinquapin One
EAN number: 5060568326818

Flavour profile

Peat smoke · Vanilla · Spiced oak · Butterscotch · Coconut

Did you know?

Chinquapin is a small American oak species rarely used for whisky casks, but known for imparting a more concentrated vanilla and spice character than the more common American white oak.

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Smoke and sherry sweetness in the same glass sounds like a contradiction, but at Meikle Tòir it is exactly that contrast that drives the story forward.

Expert description

Meikle Tòir 5 Year Old The Sherry One is a peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in PX and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 48%.

Meikle Tòir is GlenAllachie's peated sister series, launched in 2023. The name means "the big pursuit" in Scottish Gaelic and refers to the distillery's search for a peated style that still carries GlenAllachie's signature. The whisky undergoes an unusually long fermentation of around 160 hours, giving a spirit with more fruit and depth than you would normally associate with peated whisky. The peat comes from the Scottish mainland and sits at around 35 PPM.

The Sherry One is matured in a combination of PX and Oloroso sherry casks, layering dark fruit sweetness on top of the smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoke greets you first, quickly followed by dark sherry sweetness – think plum jam and cane sugar – with an underlying aroma of ash and dried seaweed.

Palate

The palate offers peated smoke and stewed dark fruit side by side, with baking spices and a touch of dark chocolate tying the two sides together.

Finish

The finish is long and smoky, with a sweet tail of sherry that slowly gives way to ash.

Specifications

Name: Meikle Tòir 5 Year Old The Sherry One
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: PX and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Sherry One
EAN number: 5060568326801

Flavour profile

Peat smoke · Sherry sweetness · Dark fruit · Ash · Spice

Did you know?

Meikle Tòir uses a fermentation time of up to 160 hours, markedly longer than at many other distilleries, giving the mash time to develop fruity esters that later balance the smoke from the peat.

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Forty years in cask is longer than most distilleries dare wait. The oak turns dominant, the alcohol drops, and every further year is a gamble that the whisky still has something to say when someone finally opens the valve.

The expert's description

BenRiach The Forty 40 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks and refill port casks and bottled at 43.5 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The bottling is the flagship of the house, assembled by Master Blender Rachel Barrie. Refill casks were a deliberate choice, since first fill wood would have run the whisky over long before the forty years were up. The port casks lay a layer of dark fruit over the bourbon matured core.

The 43.5 per cent is not a choice but a result. After forty years in a Scottish warehouse the strength falls on its own, and the whisky is bottled close to what the cask itself delivers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep dark fruit, plum and old oak with honey and a hint of tobacco.

Palate

Concentrated and velvety with dried fruit, cocoa and spiced oak. After forty years there is still fruit left, which is rarer than it sounds.

Finish

Very long and dry with dark fruit, oak and a warm note of spice.

Specifications

Name: BenRiach The Forty 40 år
Distillery: BenRiach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 40 years
ABV: 43,5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks and refill port casks
Edition: The Forty 40 år

Flavour profile

Dark fruit · Full bodied · Oak driven · Spiced · Honeyed

Investment potential

High. Forty year old bottlings exist in very small quantities, and stocks of Scotch whisky from the 1980s shrink every year. Official flagship releases in that age bracket hold an established position on the collector market.

Did you know?

Around two per cent of a cask evaporates each year in Scotland. Over forty years that means well over half the original volume has vanished through the wood long before anyone got to taste it.

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The northern lights dance across the tin, while the whisky inside holds a full year of sherry maturation and a strength that bites back.

Expert's Description

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2023 is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Douglas Laing, fully matured in sherry casks and bottled at 52.5%.

With 6,000 bottles, the 2023 edition is one of the larger Winter Edition releases, and the tin's fox terrier under the northern lights has become a recurring signature of each year's winter drop.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and toasted nuts sit heavily over a sweet sherry character with a hint of dark marmalade.

Palate

Full and robust with sherry sweetness, walnut and a warm alcoholic edge lifted by the high strength.

Finish

Long and spiced with lingering dried fruit and a dry, slightly bitter close.

Specifications

Name: The Winter Edition 2023
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Number of Bottles: 6,000 bottles
Edition: The Winter Edition 2023
EAN No.: 5014218827941

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Full-bodied · Nutty

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing deliberately limits how many bottles of each Winter Edition reach the Danish market, even though the total release is larger — a distribution strategy that makes the Danish batches especially sought after.

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Cocoa beans roasting slowly while a Speyside malt quietly matures in sherry casks nearby — that is where Scallywag's sweet winter indulgence begins.

Expert's Description

Scallywag The Chocolate Edition 2023 is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Douglas Laing, fully matured in sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

This is a small batch release of 4,200 bottles, composed entirely of Speyside malts chosen for their cocoa-rich cask character, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted cocoa and brown sugar sit over a malty sweetness with a hint of dried fig.

Palate

Silky smooth with dark chocolate, caramelised nuts and a gentle spiced warmth from the sherry cask.

Finish

Medium length with lingering cocoa and a dry, slightly bitter close, like coffee after a meal.

Specifications

Name: The Chocolate Edition 2023
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Number of Bottles: 4,200 bottles
Edition: The Chocolate Edition 2023
EAN No.: 5014218827125

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Cocoa · Sweet · Smooth

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing selects the casks for the Chocolate Edition purely by nosing for cocoa and roasted notes — a method the team simply calls 'nosing for chocolate'.

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Glasgow's restless energy is poured into a glass. This edition celebrates the city with a finish that leaves a sparkling, tangy touch of cuvée wine.

Expert description

The Epicurean Glasgow Edition Ex-Cuvée Cask Finish is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Douglas Laing, finished in Ex-Cuvée casks and bottled at 50.4% ABV.

The "Glasgow Edition" is a tribute to the city The Epicurean calls home, created as a marriage of some of the finest Single Malts from the Scottish Lowlands, assembled to capture the city's friendly and energetic spirit.

The Ex-Cuvée casks previously held cuvée wine, adding a lightly tangy, winey character to the blend that sets it apart from the house's other Epicurean expressions.

5,100 bottles of this edition were produced, with no added colouring and no chill filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Crisp apple, white flowers and a hint of ripe pear, lifted by a light, sparkling tanginess.

Palate

Citrus fruit, toasted almond and a fine winey sweetness that ties the blend together.

Finish

Medium, dry and refreshing, with a last hint of apple skin.

Specifications

Name: The Epicurean Glasgow Edition Ex-Cuvée Cask Finish
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask type: Ex-Cuvée Cask Finish
ABV: 50.4%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 5,100
Edition: Glasgow Edition
EAN: 5014218827934

Flavour profile

Winey tang · Apple · Citrus

Did you know?

Cuvée casks are typically used to age quality wine blended from multiple grape varieties, and when reused for whisky they often add a light, tangy, faintly sparkling character.

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Thirty years is a long time to wait for a blend. The casks stood still while the world outside changed, and the result is a whisky where nothing is in a hurry any more.

Expert description

Black Bull 30 Years is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

This is the oldest standing release in the range and comes from Duncan Taylor Ltd. in Huntly. Both the malt and grain components have spent thirty years in wood, which is unusual for a blend, where the grain share is normally used young. The weight sits on Highland malt, and the 50% keeps the aromas together despite the long maturation.

The release marks Sir Nick Faldo's three world championships and three Masters victories, and the number thirty runs through both the age and the story. It is a blend where the cask has been allowed to work at length without taking command of the spirit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Handsome gold with a full aroma of fruitcake, almond and a hint of roses.

Palate

Beautifully balanced with warm winter spices and a whole cocktail of citrus fruit that keeps the profile fresh despite the age.

Finish

Fine and lightly spiced with notes of dried fruit that linger.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull 30 Years Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5056510005306

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Elegant · Mature · Citrus

Investment potential

High. Thirty years across both malt and grain is an unusual resource to commit to a blend, and the release is limited in scale. Older Black Bull bottlings have appreciated since launch.

Did you know?

Grain whisky is rarely matured this long, because it is traditionally treated as the filler in a blend. That is precisely why thirty year old grain has become one of the most sought-after categories among enthusiasts.

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Highland cattle do not step aside for weather. Neither does the whisky with the bull on the label — 50% and eighteen years in oak give a blend that holds its ground against whatever you put it next to.

Expert description

Black Bull 18 Years is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The range comes from Duncan Taylor Ltd. in Huntly, an independent bottler with one of Scotland's better stocked cask inventories. Black Bull stands apart from most blends through its bottling strength, where competitors typically land at 40%. The recipe leans on Highland malt, and both the malt and the grain carry eighteen years.

The brand itself is a tribute to the golfer Sir Nick Faldo, whose career Duncan Taylor has marked with several bottlings. The Black Bull name comes from Scottish Highland cattle, whose hardiness the range borrows.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep gold in the glass with a delicate aroma of dried fruit, creamy yoghurt, Turkish delight and sweet oak.

Palate

Open and direct, but full of character. Apples, pastry, cinnamon and clove, carried by the 50% without burning.

Finish

Long and intense with clear, creamy notes of spice and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull 18 Years Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5056510005290

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Powerful · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium. Age-stated blends at this strength form a small category, and the Black Bull range has drawn steady collector interest since Duncan Taylor revived the name.

Did you know?

Duncan Taylor was founded in Glasgow in 1938 as a cask and warehousing business. The reason the company now holds one of Scotland's oldest private cask stocks is that for decades it bought casks with no concrete plan to bottle them.

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In the shadow of the famous names, Linkwood quietly does its work — consistent, without fanfare.

Expert's description

Macbeth Lady Macduff 31 år Linkwood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48,2% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in american oak & first fill bourbon cask and bottled at 48,2%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Livingstone as part of the Macbeth – Lady Macduff, The Thanes series.

Only 650 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with honey, ripe pears and coconut.

Palate

On the tongue you find blossom, gentle sweetness from American oak and coconut.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with caramel and blossom.

Specifications

Name: Macbeth Lady Macduff 31 år Linkwood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48,2%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Livingstone
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 31 years
ABV: 48,2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak & First Fill Bourbon Cask
Number of bottles: 650
Edition: Macbeth – Lady Macduff, The Thanes
EAN no.: 5060880922934

Flavour profile

Bourbon-matured · Soft · Sweet

Investment potential

Medium. With 31 years of maturation and only 650 bottles, Lady Macduff is one of the rarer Linkwood releases, reinforced by the Macbeth series' status as an illustrated collector's item.

Did you know?

For decades, most of Linkwood's output went straight into blends such as Johnnie Walker and White Horse, and official single malt releases have historically been rare.

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Glen Garioch belongs to the kind of spirit whisky people speak of quietly, with respect.

Expert's description

Macbeth Angus 31 år Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,6% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in american oak & first fill bourbon cask and bottled at 54,6%.

The whisky is distilled at Glen Garioch and independently selected and bottled by Livingstone as part of the Macbeth – Angus, The Thanes series.

Only 600 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with light smoke, honey and coconut.

Palate

On the tongue you find spice, vanilla and caramel.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and warm, with gentle sweetness from American oak and light smoke.

Specifications

Name: Macbeth Angus 31 år Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,6%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Livingstone
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 31 years
ABV: 54,6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak & First Fill Bourbon Cask
Number of bottles: 600
Edition: Macbeth – Angus, The Thanes
EAN no.: 5060880922897

Flavour profile

Bourbon-matured · Soft · Sweet

Investment potential

Medium. The Macbeth series is illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake in collaboration with Elixir Distillers, and with 31 years of maturation and only 600 bottles, Angus is a sought-after collector's item.

Did you know?

Glen Garioch, in Aberdeenshire, is known for having reused waste heat from distillation to warm local greenhouses.

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BenRiach belongs to the kind of spirit whisky people speak of quietly, with respect.

Expert's description

Macbeth Menteith 31 år BenRiach Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53,1% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in american oak & refill hogshead and bottled at 53,1%.

The whisky is distilled at BenRiach and independently selected and bottled by Livingstone as part of the Macbeth – Menteith, The Thanes series.

Only 650 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers malt, light fruit and light oak.

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is medium in length, with mild sweetness and honey.

Specifications

Name: Macbeth Menteith 31 år BenRiach Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53,1%
Distillery: BenRiach
Bottler: Livingstone
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 31 years
ABV: 53,1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak & Refill Hogshead
Number of bottles: 650
Edition: Macbeth – Menteith, The Thanes
EAN no.: 5060880922880

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Investment potential

Medium. 31 years on cask and only 650 bottles make Menteith a rare BenRiach, further sought after by collectors for the Macbeth series' illustrated labels.

Did you know?

BenRiach stood silent for much of the 20th century but is today known for experimenting widely with both peated and unpeated malt from the same site.

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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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