Tawny port is an old and nutty affair — years in wood, where the fruit has dried down to fig and caramel. Let a heavy Speyside mature in one of those casks and something happens that sherry cannot deliver.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2013/2023 Lady of the Glen 10 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a first fill Tawny Port cask and bottled at 57.8 % cask strength.

Cask no. 300746 was filled on 15 January 2013 and emptied on 14 April 2023. The release yielded 282 bottles and is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Lady of the Glen was founded in 2012 by Gregor Hannah and is run from Fife. The house bottles single casks at cask strength only and seeks out casks from closed distilleries or casks with an unusual expression — one such as this.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red berries, dried fig and a touch of rose petal. The port gives a sweet, almost perfumed nose sitting on top of the dryness of the malt.

Palate

Full bodied and sweet with cherry, walnut and dark caramel. The 57.8 % brings warmth, and a clear tannin edge from the port cask runs through the middle.

Finish

Long with dried fruit, cocoa and a lightly bitter nuttiness.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2013/2023 Lady of the Glen 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57.8%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 57.8 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill Tawny Port cask, cask no. 300746
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 15/01/2013
Bottled: 14/04/2023
Number of bottles: 282
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour profile

Port matured · Sweet · Berries · Nutty · Cask strength

Did you know?

Tawny port matures in wood until the colour shifts from red to golden brown — hence the name. A 20 year old tawny can have rested so long that the cask, once filled with whisky, is already deeply marked by dried fruit.

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A refill Pedro Ximenez cask doesn't just give sweetness, it gives depth – Lady of the Glen has found a fine balance between Glentauchers' soft character and the PX cask's raisin sweetness in this 10 year old limited edition.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 2013/2023 from Lady of the Glen was distilled on 21 March 2013 and bottled on 17 April 2023, after 10 years of maturation in a refill ex-Pedro Ximenez cask, Cask No. #800466.

The whisky is bottled at cask strength, 58.9%, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour. Only 265 bottles exist of this limited edition release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisin sweetness, dark chocolate and a hint of dried fig.

Palate

Full-bodied and sweet, with sultana, caramel and a warm PX spice.

Finish

Long, sweet and warming, with lingering notes of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 2013/2023 Lady of the Glen 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 58.9%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 21/03/2013, Bottled: 17/04/2023
Age: 10 years
Cask number/type: Refill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Cask / Cask No. #800466
Bottles: 265
ABV: 58.9%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Raisin-driven · Warm

Investment Potential

With only 265 bottles from a single PX cask and limited edition status, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors as bottles become rarer.

Did You Know?

Pedro Ximenez is a Spanish dessert sherry made from dried grapes, giving it a very concentrated raisin and caramel sweetness – far sweeter than a regular Oloroso sherry.

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Something happens to a blend when it puts on winter clothes. Christmas Reserve arrives in festive dress, yet the heart of it is the same calm, honeyed Speyside tone the house has traded on since 1827. A dram for the dark hours, once the tree is decorated and the house has gone quiet.

The expert's description

Ballantine's Christmas Reserve Limited Edition is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Christmas Reserve is the house's festive release, a limited December bottling built on the same blending school George Ballantine founded when he opened his grocery shop in Edinburgh in 1827. The backbone is Speyside malt from Miltonduff and Glenburgie, two distilleries Ballantine's has drawn on for decades, and the source of the blend's soft, faintly floral centre.

The Christmas dressing is more than decoration. This one is made for the December shelf and disappears again once the new year has turned, which is exactly the sort of bottle that ends up standing unopened in the cabinet. Malt and grain whisky are married here, and the grain gives the round, almost creamy texture that lets it drink well without water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Flower honey and ripe apple first, then vanilla and a dry cereal sweetness. Behind it sits a hint of almond and pale oak.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel, pear and light cinnamon. Malt steps forward halfway through and lends a little weight before the grain settles as a creamy film.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and malty with a last note of honey and oak.

Specifications

Name: Ballantine's Christmas Reserve Limited Edition
Distillery: Ballantine's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Christmas Reserve Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5000299603161

Flavour profile

Soft · Honeyed · Fruity · Creamy · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

George Ballantine was 19 when he opened his first shop in Edinburgh. He sold groceries for years before whisky became the main business at all, and the firm received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1895.

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Picture a cask that has never held anything but this one whisky - no prior life with bourbon or sherry, just virgin oak and fourteen quiet years of maturation. That is the essence of Batch 5, a distillate personally selected by Billy Walker and bottled in a strictly limited release for the Danish market.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 2008/2023 Virgin Oak 14 Year Old Batch 5 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured entirely in a virgin oak cask (Cask No. #473) and bottled at cask strength of 55.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and left to rest until 2023, when Billy Walker - the distillery's owner and one of Speyside's most respected noses - selected this exact cask for the Batch 5 series. The series is known for pushing the boundaries of GlenAllachie's cask philosophy, and a virgin oak cask marks a deliberate departure from the bourbon and sherry casks the distillery is otherwise celebrated for.

With only 263 bottles in total, released exclusively for the Danish market, this is a single cask experience unlikely to be repeated. Non-chill filtered and free of added colour, the whisky stands with its full, unadulterated character intact.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and toasted coconut meet sweet caramel, a touch of clove and a fresh scent of freshly cut oak.

Palate

Creamy vanilla and brown sugar unfold alongside a gentle spiced edge of nutmeg, ripe apples and an underlying honeyed sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry-spiced, with notes of cedar, cinnamon and a lingering sweetness that speaks to how much character a single virgin cask can impart.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2008/2023 Virgin Oak 14 Year Old Batch 5
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin Oak, Cask No. #473
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 263
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5060568326450

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Coconut · Spice · Caramel · Cedar

Investment potential

High. A single cask with only 263 bottles, released exclusively for Denmark, guarantees a rarity that rarely returns to shelves. The combination of Billy Walker's personal cask selection and an unusual virgin oak maturation makes this release a natural collector's item for enthusiasts chasing the unconventional.

Did you know?

Virgin oak casks are traditionally used for bourbon and rarely seen in Scotch whisky production. Billy Walker's decision to mature this whisky entirely in a virgin cask is a deliberate experiment within his renowned approach to cask management - and one of the clearest examples of how much character a single, unused oak cask can lend a distillate.

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In Portugal's Douro Valley, port wine matures in large, flat casks known as pipes, where the wine slowly oxidises and develops its signature nutty sweetness. One of those very casks has now become home to an 11 year old GlenAllachie from the Batch 5 series - a single cask bottling brought directly to Denmark and selected personally by Billy Walker.

Expert's Description

GlenAllachie's 2011/2023 Tawny Port Pipe, Batch 5, is an 11 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single cask, matured in tawny port pipes and bottled at 53.5% ABV.

The whisky was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2023 from cask number 7872, a pipe - the traditional, elongated cask shape used across the port districts of northern Portugal. Tawny port ages oxidatively over many years in wood, where contact with oxygen slowly builds the nutty, caramelised character the style is known for. The same qualities show up in the whisky after years of interplay between spirit and residual cask sweetness.

The bottling belongs to Batch 5, a series imported exclusively for the Danish market, where each cask has been personally selected by Billy Walker for age, cask type and flavour. That makes this single cask a rare chance to experience GlenAllachie in its most unfiltered form, without casks being blended together.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted hazelnuts and caramelised brown sugar meet dried figs and a fine trace of tobacco leaf.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied with burnt sugar, walnuts and dark chocolate, carried by a warm, oxidative port sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm, closing with a last wave of nutty sweetness and a touch of spiced oak from the cask strength.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2011/2023 Tawny Port Pipe 11 Year, Batch 5
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 53.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Tawny Port Pipe, Cask No. #7872
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 311
Edition: Single Cask, Batch 5
EAN no.: 5060568326504

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Caramel · Full-bodied · Warm · Oxidative

Investment Potential

With only 311 bottles drawn from a single cask and bottled at 53.5% cask strength, this Batch 5 release sits in the Medium investment potential category. The combination of single cask status, Billy Walker's personal cask selection and the exclusive Danish import deal makes it appealing to collectors who prioritise traceability and rarity over volume.

Did You Know?

A "pipe" is one of the oldest and largest cask formats in the port wine world, originally designed to be rolled and shipped from the Douro Valley to Porto without ever needing to be lifted. Because tawny port ages oxidatively over long periods rather than reductively in bottle, as with ruby port, the cask itself matters far more to the final flavour - and that same quality is exactly what GlenAllachie passes on to this whisky.

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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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Koval is a distillery in Chicago making whiskey from millet, oats and other grains most Scots would never touch. Their used casks have ended up in Speyside, and the result is not what you expect.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk Murray McDavid Cask Craft Batch 2 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a Koval quarter cask and bottled at 44.5%. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

A quarter cask holds around 125 litres, half a hogshead, and therefore has markedly more wood contact per litre. The finishing works quickly, and that is the whole idea behind the range: to give a young whisky a clear imprint in a short time.

Koval in Chicago distils from unconventional grains such as millet and oats, and their casks carry the mark of it. Auchroisk was built in 1974 for the J&B blend, and the distillery’s bright style takes well to that kind of cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweetness and spice first. Vanilla and honey sit beneath a clear oak note, and there is a lightly nutty, cereal character from the American cask.

Palate

Soft and spiced. Vanilla and honey open, then cinnamon, a dry oak note and a light peppery edge arrive. At 44.5% there is good body, and the small cask shows clearly in the oak.

Finish

Medium and spiced. Oak, vanilla and a dry close with a little pepper.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk Murray McDavid Cask Craft Batch 2 Koval Quarter Cask Single Speyside Malt Whisky 44.5%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in a Koval quarter cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Craft Batch 2
EAN no.: 5060353304144

Flavour Profile

Quarter Cask · Spiced · Vanilla · Oak · Honeyed · Nutty

Did You Know?

Murray McDavid was founded in 1995 by, among others, Mark Reynier, who later bought Bruichladdich and then built Waterford in Ireland. The house has always had finishing as its trademark, and the Cask Craft range is their accessible entry to the principle: young casks, short finishes and cask types you do not see elsewhere.

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Murray McDavid's newest series is called Cask Craft, and the philosophy is simple: double maturation, clearly told. This batch from Tullibardine they call, in their own words, "Chocolate & Fruit".

The expert's description

Tullibardine Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 2 Sherry Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 44,5% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Used bourbon casks finished in used PX sherry casks from Spain and bottled at 44.5%.

The whisky is doubly matured, first in used bourbon casks and then moved to used PX sherry casks from Spain, bottled at 44.5% as Batch #SHRY-02 in the Cask Craft series. The release was created by Murray McDavid's Head of Whisky Creations, Dean Jode.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and stewed fruit.

Palate

Full sweetness with raisin and a hint of nuts.

Finish

Medium length with cocoa and a lightly bitter finish.

Specifications

Name: Tullibardine Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 2 Sherry Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 44,5%
Distillery: Tullibardine
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon casks finished in used PX sherry casks from Spain
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Craft, Batch #SHRY-02
EAN no.: 5060353304168

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Sweet · Spiced

Did you know?

The Cask Craft series was created by Murray McDavid's Head of Whisky Creations Dean Jode, who deliberately names each batch after its dominant flavour theme rather than a traditional cask label.

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Speyside hides several distilleries that work quietly in the background. Miltonduff is one of them, and when it appears solo, it is worth noticing.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 12 Year Old Version 1 Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky is an early 1980s label version, bottled at 43%.

The designation "Old Version 1" refers to the earliest of several known label designs from the same period, when Miltonduff was sold under the Glenlivet name. For collectors of older Speyside whisky, this release represents an early chapter of that story.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, citrus peel and honey.

Palate

On the palate there is honeycomb and fresh citrus acidity, while creamy vanilla adds a final twist.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Old Version 1
EAN no.: 5010106170250

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Investment Potential

Medium. As an early, well-documented label version from a period when the Glenlivet naming was still permitted, this type of bottle has shown growing interest among collectors of older Speyside whisky.

Did You Know?

Miltonduff sits on the Black Burn, the very same stream the monks of Pluscarden Priory reportedly used for brewing ale back in the 13th century.

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Three distilleries, one region, and a shared handshake from Douglas Laing - The Gauldrons gathers the best of Campbeltown into a single bottle, named after the rugged terrain surrounding the town.

Expert Description

The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 2 is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt from the region's distilleries, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50%.

The range is part of Douglas Laing's newer output, gathering malt from Campbeltown's three remaining distilleries into a shared blend. Batch 2 stands out from the first release with a higher strength, lifting both the smoke and the sherry spice a notch further. The sherry casks bring a spiced, rounded character, kept in check by the region's typical salty, lightly smoky backbone.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisin-sweet sherry meets toasted nuts and a whisper of smoke, with a hint of salted caramel behind it.

Palate

Spiced and round with dark chocolate, dried fruit and a clear but balanced smoke note.

Finish

Warm and lightly salty, the sherry sweetness fading into a dry, smoky close.

Specifications

Name: The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 2
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Number of bottles: 5,580
Edition: Batch 2
EAN no.: 5014218825893

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spicy · Lightly peated · Maritime

Did You Know?

The name Gauldrons refers to the rugged, rocky landscape around Campbeltown, which historically supplied both peat and good water to the town's whisky industry.

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In Vestkysten, Skotland, some distilleries never shout about themselves — they let the whisky speak. Adelphi is one of them.

Expert's description

Macleans Nose Blended Scotch Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherryfade and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is blended and bottled by Adelphi.

The whisky blends Ardnamurchan- og Campbeltown-malt, put together to highlight the west coast character.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with fruit, spice and sherry toffee.

Palate

The palate delivers fruit, raisins and sherry toffee.

Finish

It finishes long and spicy, with stewed plums and malt.

Specifications

Name: Macleans Nose Blended Scotch Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Vestkysten, Skotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherryfade
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060383653007

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Adelphi was founded in 1993 and traces its name back to a distillery of the same name in Glasgow that closed as early as 1902.

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Càrn Mòr is one of the bottlers that manages to make good, reasonably priced single malt without compromising on quality – this 11 year old Glentauchers is a solid example.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 2011/2022 from Càrn Mòr, part of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022, after 11 years of maturation in a first fill bourbon cask.

The whisky is bottled at 47.5% non-chill-filtered and with natural colour, giving a clear, direct expression of Glentauchers' soft, fruity Speyside character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh apple, pear and a light vanilla tone from the bourbon cask.

Palate

Soft and round, with honey, citrus and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 2011/2022 Carn Mor 11 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 47.5%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Càrn Mòr (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 2011, Bottled: 2022
Age: 11 years
Cask type: First Fill Bourbon Barrel
Bottles: 1,223
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Citrus-driven · Round

Did You Know?

Càrn Mòr means "big hill" in Gaelic, and the series is known for offering access to well-matured single cask whiskies at prices more affordable than many other independent bottlers.

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From a vintage nearly three decades back comes this rare Old Perth Vintage Collection release, where time itself is the main ingredient.

Expert Review

Old Perth 1994/2022 Vintage Collection 28 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,6% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 44.6% ABV.

Old Perth is old-school blended whisky, named after the town of Perth, historically the epicentre of blended whisky in Scotland. The Vintage Collection gathers exclusive vintages, and this 1994 release was distilled and matured for 28 years in sherry casks before being bottled in August 2022.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is deep and sherry-driven, with dried fruit, walnut and a hint of old oak.

Palate

The palate is rich with fig, sherry sweetness and a warm, woody spiciness built up over the years in cask.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering oak and a final hint of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Old Perth 1994/2022 Vintage Collection 28 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,6%
Distillery: Old Perth
Region: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 Years
ABV: 44.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
Distilled: 1994
Bottled: August 2022
EAN No.: 5060109229592

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Dried fruit · Oak · Complex

Investment Potential

With 28 years of maturation and a limited Vintage Collection series, this release appeals to collectors interested in older blended malt whisky with documented provenance.

Did You Know?

The name Old Perth honours the Scottish town of Perth, home in the 1800s to several of the country's most important whisky trading houses, long before Speyside and Islay became household whisky names.

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A honeycomb on the label, a hint of honey in the glass. The Hive is Wemyss Malts' sweet tribute to everything a Blended Malt can be when the family behind the bottle thinks more like wine merchants than traditional whisky blenders.

Expert description

The Hive Small Batch is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% ABV by Wemyss Malts, assembled from carefully selected casks sourced from several Scottish distilleries.

The Wemyss family, whose name derives from the Gaelic word for "caves," has a background in wine merchanting and approaches whisky the way a negociant approaches wine: by seeking out and selecting the finest casks rather than focusing on a single distillery profile. The Hive is named for its character rather than its origin, and the bee on the label reflects that sweet, honeyed style.

This Small Batch release brings together a smaller number of carefully chosen casks, ensuring a consistent yet still hand-crafted character from batch to batch.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and inviting, with acacia honey, crisp apples and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and round with honeyed sweetness, ripe pear and a light, creamy vanilla note.

Finish

Medium length and sweet, closing with a hint of honey cake.

Specifications

Name: The Hive Small Batch
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN: 040232144936

Flavour profile

Honey · Fruity · Soft

Did you know?

The Wemyss family home, Wemyss Castle in Fife, sits just a few miles from the Cameron Bridge distillery, and the family has had close ties to the whisky industry since John Haig built his first distillery on their land in the 19th century.

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Turn the strength down to standard, and the spices become more approachable without losing their character — Small Batch is Spice King's everyday edition.

Expert's Description

Spice King Small Batch is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Wemyss Malts, bottled at 46% with no fixed age statement.

Unlike the Batch Strength editions, Small Batch is reduced to a more approachable strength, making it the range's most everyday-friendly release without compromising the spiced core character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced malt meets a light sweetness of honey and dried fruit.

Palate

Soft and spicy with pepper, ginger and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Medium length with lingering spice and a dry, clean close.

Specifications

Name: Spice King Small Batch
Distillery: Wemyss Malts
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN No.: 04023214495

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Soft · Approachable · Clean

Did You Know?

The Small Batch edition is the most widely available in the Spice King range and acts as the series' 'base model', from which the Batch Strength releases diverge with higher strength.

See our full range of Wemyss Malts

Nine cask numbers on one label. Wilson & Morgan gathered a small handful of casks from the same vintage and gave them a shared finish in Pedro Ximénez — an Italian exercise in making single casks play together.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2011/2022 Wilson & Morgan 11 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Pedro Ximénez casks and bottled at 46 %.

Cask no. 301607, 301611, 301614 and 301617 to 301623 were filled in 2011 and emptied in 2022 for the Barrel Selection range. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Where the house's 14 year old spent 36 months alone in one PX cask, this one is built more broadly: several casks vatted together and a shorter, more restrained sherry finish. The result is easier to approach while still carrying Rossi's handwriting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin, toasted almond and a touch of orange marmalade. Fresh barley and a lightly sweet grain note sit under the sherry.

Palate

Soft and round with dates, brown sugar and cinnamon. The 46 % keeps it light, and the sherry lies as a layer on top of the spirit rather than swallowing it.

Finish

Medium long with dried fruit, a hint of cocoa and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2011/2022 Wilson & Morgan 11 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Pedro Ximénez casks, cask no. 301607/11/14/17-23
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Barrel Selection
EAN no.: 8033749408945

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Soft · Fruity · Spicy · Round

Did you know?

Since 1992 Wilson & Morgan have kept one firm rule: no cask is bottled unless Fabio Rossi has tasted it himself in Scotland. The family spirits business in Treviso goes back to the 1920s.

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Ardlair is not a distillery. It is a name Ardmore uses when the smoke stays at home, the unpeated half of the house, named after a stone circle out in the surrounding landscape. Here it has spent eleven years in a sherry cask at 62.5%.

The Expert's Description

Ardlair 2011/2023 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill Oloroso Sherry Butt and bottled at 62.5% cask strength. Cask 900032 was distilled on 27 January 2011 and bottled on 11 January 2023 in Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, giving 597 bottles.

Ardmore is one of the few Highland distilleries with peat smoke as a core style, and Ardlair is the name given to the unpeated production. Without the smoke the spirit’s own fruitiness and malt sweetness step forward more clearly, which makes the whisky far more receptive to a sherry cask.

That the cask is refill rather than first fill matters here. A refill Oloroso Butt gives up less colour and less tannin, so the sherry settles as a layer on top instead of taking over. The whisky is bottled without filtration and without added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and figs first, with roasted nuts and honey behind. There is dried ginger and spice in it, and beneath the sherry sits a bright apple fruitiness that tells you the spirit is unpeated.

Palate

Dark chocolate and walnut open, followed by sweet sherry and spiced oak. The vanilla arrives late. At 62.5% the concentration is considerable, and the whisky takes water well, turning rounder rather than thinner.

Finish

Long and warming with persistent sherry sweetness and elegant oak tannins that let go slowly.

Specifications

Name: Ardlair 2011/2023 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 62.5%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 62.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt, cask no. 900032
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27 January 2011
Bottled: 11 January 2023
Number of bottles: 597
Edition: Cask Strength Collection
EAN no.: 5021944121526

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Nutty · Spiced · Fruity · Cask Strength · Honeyed

Did You Know?

Ardlair is named after a stone circle near the distillery. Ardmore itself was built in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family blend, Teacher's Highland Cream, and the house has made peated whisky ever since. Ardlair is the exception, the half that never sees peat.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 år Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in oloroso sherry butt and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage.

It was distilled April 2012 and bottled 2023, giving it 10 years.

Only 1127 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet beeswax, honey and walnut.

Palate

The taste unfolds with blossom, dates and sherry toffee.

Finish

The aftertaste is short but concentrated, with raisins and blossom.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 år Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: April 2012
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 1127
EAN no.: 5021944120338

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

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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The cask was filled by George Grant. It was emptied for his son John, who had spent fifty years in the trade by the time the bottle appeared. That is the kind of timeline only a family-owned distillery can deliver.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old 50th Anniversary is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50% in 836 bottles.

The bottling marks chairman John Grant’s fifty years in the whisky industry. The whisky was laid down by his father, George Grant, and was allowed to sit for half a century before bottling. The 50% is high for a whisky of this age and says something about how slowly the casks work in the Glenfarclas warehouses.

Fifty years in sherry casks is rare, but it is not unusual at Glenfarclas. The family has held back from selling its oldest casks over generations, and precisely for that reason the distillery can make a bottling like this without having to buy casks in from outside.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and concentrated. Dried fruit, dark syrup and old leather, with a dusty library note only decades in wood can create.

Palate

Full and dense. Raisin, walnut and dark chocolate over a base of aged oak, with a spiced depth that keeps unfolding. The 50% carries the whisky without being sharp.

Finish

Very long. Dried fruit, tobacco and oak drying slowly and lingering for many minutes.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 50 Year Old 50th Anniversary Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 50 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Number of bottles: 836
Edition: 50th Anniversary - John Grant’s fifty years in the trade

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Leather · Complex

Investment potential

High. 836 bottles for the whole world, fifty years in cask and an anniversary that will not come round again. Old Glenfarclas casks still sit in the family warehouses, but a bottling tied to a particular person and a particular year cannot be repeated.

Did you know?

The whisky was laid down by George Grant and bottled for his son John, marking fifty years in the whisky industry. A cask filled by one generation and emptied by the next is only possible when the same family name has been on the deeds the whole way.

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Miltonduff's malt usually ends up in Ballantine's blends, but the occasional cask is allowed to travel its own path to the bottle.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 2006/2022 Let's Stay Together 16 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Uncharted Whisky Co., matured in a first fill Pedro Ximénez sherry cask and bottled at 50%.

The "Let's Stay Together" release is part of Uncharted Whisky Co.'s Two Quarter Cask concept, where the whisky spends the final part of its maturation in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask, adding notable sweetness and a deeper colour than Miltonduff's typical style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with dried fig, quickly followed by raisin and a hint of dark chocolate.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with sherry sweetness, dried fruit and brown sugar.

Finish

The finish is warm with a hint of oak.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: Uncharted Whisky Co.
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Let's Stay Together

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spicy · Full-bodied · Dark fruit

Did You Know?

Miltonduff sits on the Black Burn, the very same stream the monks of Pluscarden Priory reportedly used for brewing ale back in the 13th century.

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It is called Tapestry because three cask types are woven together rather than following one another. That is a different idea from the classic finish, where one cask gets the last word.

The expert description

Glen Elgin 2009/2022 Tapestry 13 Years Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oloroso sherry casks, Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and bourbon casks, bottled at 50%.

The whisky was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2022 after thirteen years. Tapestry is a range from the Uncharted Whisky Company, founded by the Scot Jack Breslin and the Dutch-German Dana de Vos, who both worked in the whisky trade for many years before setting up on their own.

The three cask types each pull in their own direction. The bourbon casks give vanilla and pale fruit, oloroso adds nut and dried fruit, and Pedro Ximenez brings the dark, almost syrupy sweetness. Put together they land on a profile none of them would have given alone. The whisky is bottled at 50% without chill filtration and without colouring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dried apricot first, then vanilla and walnut, with a note of dark syrup in the background.

Palate

Full and layered. Yellow fruit and honey from the bourbon wood, dates and nut from the sherry, and a dark sweetness tying it together.

Finish

Long and warm with dried fruit, a touch of cinnamon and a dry oak close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Elgin 2009/2022 Tapestry 13 Years Old
Distillery: Glen Elgin
Bottler: Uncharted Whisky Company
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry casks Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Tapestry

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sherry matured · Sweet · Nutty · Spiced

Did you know?

The Glen Elgin fruitiness is no accident. It comes from clear wort, long fermentation and slow distillation, which together clean the sulphur notes out of the spirit, and only afterwards does the whisky get its weight back from the distillery worm tubs.

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25 years is a long time to wait for a bottle, and Murray McDavid spent the last three of them on something unusual: a cask that previously held Guyanese rum. The result is a single grain that tastes more of the Caribbean than of the Highlands.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond 1996/2022 Murray McDavid 25 Year Old is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogsheads with a rum finish and bottled at 55.9%.

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and spent 22 of its 25 years in bourbon hogsheads, before receiving a final finish in an SXG Diamond cask from the Guyanese Diamond rum distillery. Murray McDavid bottled the whisky in 2022 as part of its Mission Gold series, with only 391 bottles in total.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Exotic bouquet of pineapple, banana and mango, layered with vanilla, honey, sugarcane and a touch of oak and ginger.

Palate

Full-bodied and creamy, with waves of ripe tropical fruit, soft toffee, rum-soaked raisins and a hint of coconut.

Finish

Long, sweet finish with lingering tropical fruit and a warm rum tone.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 1996/2022 Murray McDavid 25 Year Old Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 55.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogsheads, finished in a rum cask
Distilled: 1996
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 391
EAN: 5060353303505
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water to tame the cask strength

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

High – a 25-year-old single grain with a rare rum finish and only 391 bottles makes this one of the most unusual and sought-after Loch Lomond releases for collectors of independent bottlings.

Did You Know?

The Diamond distillery in Guyana, whose casks were used for the finish, is one of the most celebrated rum distilleries in the Caribbean and uses several different historic still types in its own production – not unlike how Loch Lomond does with whisky.

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North British is today jointly owned by Diageo and Edrington and supplies the backbone of flavour to some of Scotland's best-known blends.

Expert's Description

North British 2007/2022 Murray McDavid 14 Year Old is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky finished in a Koval oat cask, bottled at 46%.

The cask comes from the American Koval distillery, known for its oat-based whiskey – an unusual choice for a Scotch grain whisky, giving this release a softer, creamier character with a touch of oatmeal and honey.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with light oak, quickly followed by coconut and a hint of creamy vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with mild pepper, light sweetness and delicate oak.

Finish

The finish is lightly spiced.

Specifications

Distillery: North British
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Koval Oat Cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 849
Edition: Limited Release – Select Grain
EAN no.: 5060353303659

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Light · Elegant

Did You Know?

Grain whisky like North British is distilled in column stills and typically develops flavour more slowly than malt whisky, making older vintages especially sought after.

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Grain whisky is rarely treated as something that deserves a fine cask. Murray McDavid did the opposite and put an eleven year old Girvan into a Ximenez-Spinola PX cask, and suddenly the cereal is no longer the dull part of the equation.

The expert description

Girvan 2011/2022 Murray McDavid 11 Years Old is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky finished in a Ximenez-Spinola PX cask and bottled at 46%.

Girvan was built in 1963 by William Grant & Sons on the Ayrshire coast and is today one of the largest grain distilleries in Scotland. This release was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022 by Murray McDavid, who rank among the bottlers working most deliberately with wood.

The PX cask is the decisive part. Pedro Ximenez is the sweetest of the sherry styles, almost syrupy, and on a soft grain whisky it lays down a layer of dark fruit that a malt would have had to supply itself. The release yielded 1228 bottles, bottled without chill filtration and without colouring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dark syrup first, then vanilla and coconut from the grain character, and a note of fig behind.

Palate

Soft and oily with dates, muscovado and dark chocolate. The cereal sweetness sits underneath and keeps it from turning heavy.

Finish

Medium and sweet with dried fruit, a touch of oak and a light spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Girvan 2011/2022 Murray McDavid 11 Years Old
Distillery: Girvan
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Lowland Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ximenez-Spinola PX cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1228
Edition: Limited Release Select Grain
EAN no.: 5060353303642

Flavour profile

Sweet · Sherry matured · Creamy · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Murray McDavid is based at the old Coleburn distillery near Elgin, which has been closed since 1985. The buildings are used today for warehousing and cask work, so a distillery that no longer distils has become the workplace of a bottler.

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Pauillac is Bordeaux at its finest – Lafite, Mouton, Latour. When casks from one of the world's most celebrated wine regions meet Caol Ila's Islay smoke, something unexpected happens: the powerful wine residue in the wood gives a peaty and fruity note rarely found at the distillery.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2022 Murray McDavid 8 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Pauillac wine casks, bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 1,399 bottles.

Pauillac casks come from the Pauillac wine district in Bordeaux – home to Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Latour. The casks are laden with red Bordeaux wine and add tannin-rich, fruity and slightly earthy notes to spirits that have rested in them.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series puts the distillate's character at the centre and finds casks that lift it without overpowering it. Eight years and 50% in Pauillac casks give a Caol Ila with an unexpected winey depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoke and dark fruit – blueberry and cherry from the wine cask, with Caol Ila's salty maritime smoke in the background. A hint of earth and tannins.

Palate

Smoke and wine sweetness in good balance. Dark berry fruit, salt and a touch of Bordeaux tannins. Good body at 50%.

Finish

Peat and fruit alternate in a medium-length finish with a light, dried fruit note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2022 Murray McDavid 8 Years Benchmark – Pauillac Wine Casks
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pauillac wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,399
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353303567

Flavour profile

Peated · Winey · Dark Fruit · Fresh · Tannic

Did you know?

Pauillac is home to three of the world's five classified Premier Cru chateaux in Bordeaux. Casks that have held wines from these estates are rare and highly sought after in the whisky world.

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Murray McDavid calls their mysterious Speyside series 'Mystery Malt' — Juniper Hill is an Italian wine twist on a young but characterful dram.

Expert's Description

Strathdearn Juniper Hill 2015/2022 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Murray McDavid, distilled in 2015 and bottled in 2022 after 6 years of maturation at 46%.

The whisky is matured in a Barolo wine cask, giving an unusual wine-like character to the young Speyside malt. The source distillery is not officially disclosed under the 'Mystery Malt' name. A relatively large run of 1,673 bottles was produced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries and a light wine-like acidity meet malt and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Fruity and lightly tannic with cherry, spice and a fresh acidity from the Barolo cask.

Finish

Medium length with lingering berries and a dry, wine-like close.

Specifications

Name: Juniper Hill
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Barolo Wine Cask
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2022
Number of Bottles: 1,673 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5060353303635

Flavour Profile

Wine-matured · Fruity · Young · Spiced

Did You Know?

Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' from Piedmont in Italy, and a Barolo cask is rare in Scotch whisky production compared to the more common port and sherry casks.

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Lennox is the old name for the land around Loch Lomond, and Murray McDavid has used it as the title for this young, heavily peated take on Croftengea – a whisky with no time for caution.

Expert's Description

Croftengea Lennox Peat 2018/2022 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2018 under Loch Lomond's heavily peated Croftengea profile and, after four years of maturation, was bottled by independent bottler Murray McDavid in 2022 under the name "Lennox Peat" – named after the historic term for the land surrounding the loch. Murray McDavid always bottles at a minimum of 46% with no added colouring or chill filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coastal smoke meets sweet lemon sponge and a hint of freshly baked bread.

Palate

Medicinal, fresh peat with orange blossom and a creamy sweetness that keeps the smoke in check.

Finish

Gentle malt, sea spray and a hint of smoky peach in the finish.

Specifications

Name: Croftengea Lennox Peat 2018/2022 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2022
EAN: 5060353303628
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Fresh

Did You Know?

"Lennox" is the historic name for the landscape surrounding Loch Lomond – a name that goes back several centuries and is still used in the area's history and heraldry.

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Hungarian dessert wine and Scottish malt whisky are not an obvious match. Yet a Tokaji barrique sat waiting in a Glasgow warehouse, and for the final months before bottling the whisky was allowed to stretch out in it. You can smell that somebody took a chance.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Mac Y Selection Tokaji Finish is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks and finished in a Tokaji barrique, bottled at 52%. Cask 18/968 was distilled on 3 February 2018 and bottled on 25 October 2022, giving 303 bottles for the Danish importer Mac Y.

Tokaji is a Hungarian sweet wine made from botrytised grapes, and its casks are used only very rarely for Scotch. Where a sherry cask brings dark fruit and nuts, Tokaji pulls towards apricot, honey and a tart marmalade note that leaves the whisky brighter and fresher than a typical finish. The bourbon wood underneath keeps the vanilla and cereal sweetness in place.

The whisky was distilled at Glasgow Distillery, where the mash ferments for over 72 hours before slow distillation in copper pot stills. Neither chill filtration nor colouring came anywhere near the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot and orange marmalade first, with honey and a little yellow plum behind. Then the bourbon cask brings vanilla and a light pastry note, close to a Danish. A fine acidity runs through it all and stops the sweetness turning sticky.

Palate

Sweet and juicy to begin: apricot, honeydew melon and candied lemon. Mid-palate the oak and white pepper tighten up and a faintly waxy texture appears. The 52% gives body without heat. After a few minutes in the glass a dried mango note steps forward.

Finish

Medium length. Honey and citrus peel first, then drier oak and a touch of ginger. The sweetness fades calmly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Mac Y Selection Tokaji Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and finished in a Tokaji barrique, cask no. 18/968
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 3 February 2018
Bottled: 25 October 2022
Number of bottles: 303
Edition: Mac Y Selection
EAN no.: 5714772001978

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Fresh · Spiced · Cask Strength · Vinous

Did You Know?

Tokaji was for centuries the most sought-after wine in Europe. Louis XIV is said to have called it Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum, the wine of kings and the king of wines. Casks like these almost never turn up in Scottish warehouses, and when they do it is usually because a small distillery fancied trying something the big ones cannot be bothered with.

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Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily most people know from a veal sauce rather than from whisky. BenRiach put it in as the third cask type anyway, and it is decisions like that which make the range worth following.

The expert's description

BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks, sherry casks and Marsala casks and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky is built on the peated spirit of the distillery and matured, somewhat unconventionally, in three cask types. Bourbon gives vanilla, sherry gives dark fruit, and the Marsala wood adds a nutty sweetness different from both sherry and port.

The combination has given the whisky an almost creamy, soft structure with layers of ripe fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and warming oak spice. The two extra years over the Smoky Ten read as more depth rather than as more smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful smoky notes with vanilla, toasted orange peel and roasted almond.

Palate

Dark chocolate, fruit, brown sugar, smoke and cocoa. The structure stays creamy and soft despite the smoke.

Finish

Persistent with a full smoky flavour and warming oak spice.

Specifications

Name: BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 år
Distillery: BenRiach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, sherry casks and Marsala casks
Edition: The Smoky Twelve 12 år
EAN no.: 5060716140259

Flavour profile

Smoky · Creamy · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced

Did you know?

Marsala comes from the town of the same name on the west coast of Sicily and was developed by English merchants in the 1700s as an alternative to port and sherry. The casks remain rare in Scotch whisky.

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As piece A7 in a series of 32 unique chess-piece bottlings, this 19-year-old Old Pulteney represents one of Scotland's maritime distilleries on the unusual whisky chessboard.

Expert Review

Old Pulteney 19 år The Chess Malt Collection A7 Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 59,6% is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in a single selected cask and bottled at 59.6% ABV.

The Chess Malt Collection is a series of 32 different bottlings from various distilleries, where each bottle represents a piece on a chessboard. This 19-year-old Old Pulteney, piece A7, is bottled from a single selected cask at full cask strength, without filtration or added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is intense with salted caramel, citrus and a distinct alcohol strength.

Palate

The palate is powerful and saline, with orange, honey and a warm spiciness.

Finish

The finish is long and salty, with lingering citrus.

Specifications

Name: Old Pulteney 19 år The Chess Malt Collection A7 Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 59,6%
Distillery: Old Pulteney
Region: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 19 Years
ABV: 59.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a single selected cask
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection A7

Flavour Profile

Cask Strength · Maritime · Single Cask

Investment Potential

As part of a series of just 32 different chess-piece bottlings from various distilleries, this 19-year-old Old Pulteney appeals to collectors of the Chess Malt Collection.

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection brings together 32 single-cask bottlings in total, one for each piece on a chessboard, with every bottle coming from a different Scottish distillery.

See our full range of Old Pulteney