Back when whisky houses shipped promotional items to bars worldwide, this type of jug was one of the most common — and today, one of the most collected.

About the product

The Black & White water jug is a classic branded jug, originally made as a promotional item to sit at bars and in homes where Black & White was poured. It's used to add water to whisky drop by drop or in small amounts, letting the aromas open up.

Today it's as much a collector's item for whisky enthusiasts as a piece of everyday bar kit — both uses work well.

Before plastic advertising existed, the branded water jug was the spirit house's most common gift to the bar — a small, standing ad next to the bottle.

About the product

The Black & White water jug is a classic branded jug, originally made as a promotional item to sit at bars and in homes where Black & White was poured. It's used to add water to whisky drop by drop or in small amounts, letting the aromas open up.

Today it's as much a collector's item for whisky enthusiasts as a piece of everyday bar kit — both uses work well.

Before plastic advertising existed, the branded water jug was the spirit house's most common gift to the bar — a small, standing ad next to the bottle.

About the product

The Black & White water jug is a classic branded jug, originally made as a promotional item to sit at bars and in homes where Black & White was poured. It's used to add water to whisky drop by drop or in small amounts, letting the aromas open up.

Today it's as much a collector's item for whisky enthusiasts as a piece of everyday bar kit — both uses work well.

Twenty year old Deanston is not something the distillery sells itself. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company found the casks, drew a story on the label and put it in a half bottle.

Expert description

Deanston That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 20 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 49.1% in a 50 cl bottle.

This is the house's batch 7 from Deanston and gave 450 bottles. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company was founded in 2012 by Ben Ellefsen and is known for its hand-drawn labels, where every bottle gets its own illustration. Deanston itself rarely releases whisky over eighteen years, and twenty years in cask shows a side of the house the core range never reaches.

Tasting notes

Nose

Marmalade first, developing into barley, vanilla, caramel, milk chocolate and a little coconut.

Palate

Fresh notes of ripe plums combined with mint leaves, with honey and malt underneath. The 49.1% gives good weight without drowning the finer notes.

Finish

Long and soft, with caramel, malt and a mild spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 20 years Single Highland Malt Whisky 49,1%
Distillery: Deanston
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 49.1%
Size: 50 CL
Number of bottles: 450
Edition: Batch 7
EAN no.: 5025988178451

Flavour profile

Caramel · Fruity · Chocolate · Malty · Soft

Investment potential

High. 450 bottles from a batch of twenty year old Deanston — an age the distillery does not release itself. The Boutique-y labels are also collected in their own right.

Did you know?

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles in 50 cl rather than 70 cl so rare casks can be shared across more hands. With twenty year old whisky from a distillery that does not release at that age itself, the decision makes rather good sense.

See our full range of Deanston Whisky
See our full range of That Boutique-Y Whisky Company

Listen to our podcast:

The label is a comic strip. The contents are a twenty-four year old Clynelish. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company built its entire identity on that contrast, and it still holds.

Expert description

Clynelish That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 24 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 49.7% in a 50 cl bottle.

This is the house's batch 5 from Clynelish and gave 154 bottles. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company was founded in 2012 by Ben Ellefsen and is known for its hand-drawn labels, where every bottle gets its own illustration with a story inside it. Behind the playful packaging sits a quite serious selection of casks — and a twenty-four year old Clynelish is not something you stumble across.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey cake and red berries first, then wax, orange peel and a warm spiced note from the old wood.

Palate

Full and round. Saffron, sea salt, golden syrup and ripe apples, with mild smoke appearing towards the end. The texture is thick and oily, as the age suggests.

Finish

Long, spiced and rich, with syrup, salt and a dry oak note that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 24 years Single Highland Malt Whisky 49,7%
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 24 years
ABV: 49.7%
Size: 50 CL
Number of bottles: 154
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5052598158163

Flavour profile

Waxy · Spiced · Syrupy · Maritime · Lightly Smoked

Investment potential

High. 154 bottles from a single batch, 24 years in cask and a distillery whose bottles have become markedly harder to find. The Boutique-y labels also have a collector following of their own.

Did you know?

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles in 50 cl rather than 70 cl, precisely to make rare and old casks available to more people. The idea has since spread to other bottlers, but the house was among the first to make it a standing policy.

See our full range of Clynelish Whisky
See our full range of That Boutique-Y Whisky Company

Listen to our podcast:

The label looks like a page torn out of a comic, and it is easy to miss what is actually in the bottle. This is twenty-one year old Aberfeldy. On the label the whisky writer Ian Buxton stands panning for gold in the Pitilie Burn, exactly where the distillery draws its water.

Expert description

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 48.9%. It was released in 2018 as Batch 2 in an outturn of 261 bottles and has long since sold out at the bottler.

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company is an independent bottler that started in 2012 and belongs to Atom Brands in England. They do not distil a drop themselves. They buy casks, bottle them in 50 cl format and commission illustrators for labels that usually hide an in-joke about the distillery. This one was their second Aberfeldy and the first to carry an age statement on the label.

The spirit comes from Aberfeldy in Perthshire, where the malt is unpeated and the stills run twice. At twenty-one years the pale honey the distillery is known for has drawn together into something denser and more syrupy, and the wood has had time to add both spice and a very faint smoky edge. The 48.9% is higher than the distillery's own official bottlings, and you feel it in the weight.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cinnamon and orange zest, with something behind it like the crust on a cake straight out of the oven. A very faint smoky edge sits on the outside, more old cask than peat.

Palate

Syrupy and rich. Pancakes with maple syrup, melted butter and small pieces of dark chocolate. The spice builds slowly and drags the whisky away from pure sweetness.

Finish

Long and spiced. The sweetness drops away and leaves a dry, almost savoury cooking spice with a touch of cayenne.

Specifications

Name: Aberfeldy That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 21 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 50 cl 48.9%
Distillery: Aberfeldy
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 48.9%
Size: 50 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 261
Edition: Batch 2
EAN no.: 5052598134365

Flavour profile

Syrupy · Spiced · Fruity · Orange · Faintly smoky

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-one years of age, 261 bottles and a batch long gone from the bottler make it hard to replace, and the labels from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company have a collector following of their own.

Did you know?

The half bottle is deliberate. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles almost its entire range in 50 cl because they would rather people tasted a lot of different casks than spent the whole budget on one.

Browse our full range of Aberfeldy

Browse our full range of That Boutique-Y Whisky Company

Picture an afternoon where the light slants low through a window, carrying the scent of orange peel and heather honey. That is how GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish greets you — a whisky given extra time on a cask it rarely visits.

Expert's Description

GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky at 48%, matured in American oak casks and finished in French Virgin Oak casks — virgin French oak that has never previously held spirit. It belongs to the distillery's Virgin Oak series, where experimentation with different oak origins takes centre stage.

French oak lends the whisky a different spice character than American or European sherry oak — more restrained, yet carrying a clear sweetness that plays against the spirit's natural fruitiness. The colour is golden bronze, a sign the cask has released some of its colour without any help from caramel.

Behind the bottle stand Billy Walker and the GlenAllachie team, known for an almost stubborn insistence on letting the casks speak. This 10 year old is a limited edition, and as such a snapshot of what a single cask choice can do to an already characterful spirit.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel and heather honey meet a mild spiced aroma, while caramel and mocha settle underneath as a deeper base.

Palate

Heather honey and mocha continue from the nose, joined by brittle toffee and a touch of grapefruit. Cinnamon and earthy tannins give the whisky structure.

Finish

The finish is warm and lightly spiced, with ginger lingering long after.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish
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 French Virgin Oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Honey · Spiced · Mocha · Citrus · Oak

Investment Potential

As a limited release from a sought-after series, this 10 year old carries a cask profile that will not be repeated indefinitely. Investment potential is rated medium, driven by limited availability and GlenAllachie's rising reputation among collectors.

Did You Know?

French Virgin Oak casks are used far less often in Scotch whisky production than American or European casks, partly because the dense French oak requires a different toasting process to unlock its aromatic compounds.

See our full range of GlenAllachie

Listen to our podcast:

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is exactly what it says: whisky bottled without chill filtration, in its natural form. From hogsheads 319473 and 319477, distilled in June 2012 and bottled in February 2022 – nine years and eight months in oak.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogshead casks (nos. 319473 and 319477), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the accessible line – a step lower in strength than the Cask Strength Collection, but with the same philosophy: selected casks, natural colour and no manipulation. The result is a whisky you can enjoy neat without adding water.

Caol Ila's maritime smoke at 46% is balanced and light. The hogshead casks from 2012 have given nine years of oak structure – classic Caol Ila with good body.

Tasting notes

Nose

Classic Caol Ila: sea salt, light peat smoke and citrus. A soft vanilla undertone from the hogshead casks and a hint of seaweed.

Palate

Balanced and light. Smoke, maritime notes and a little honey. Body and freshness in good harmony – accessible and clean.

Finish

Moderate and fresh. Smoke fades gently with citrus and salt carrying through.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28/06/2012
Bottled: 03/02/2022
EAN no.: 5021944116140

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Citrus · Balanced

Did you know?

Chill filtration removes the fatty acids and proteins that give whisky its body and flavour intensity. Bottling without chill filtration preserves these – which is why many collectors and enthusiasts specifically seek 'non chill-filtered' bottlings.

See our full range of Caol Ila Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2008/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky matured on hogshead and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from Signatory Vintage, released as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection range.

The whisky was distilled in 18 February 2008 and bottled in 7 January 2022.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2008/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 18 February 2008
Bottled: 7 January 2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113880

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Inchgower's older cooling system once relied on seawater in the condensers, giving the spirit a faintly salty character that can still be traced in many of the distillery's releases.

See our full range of Inchgower

Listen to our podcast:

There is a calm to Mannochmore that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Expert's description

Mannochmore 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 43% is a Highland Single Malt Whisky, matured in hogsheads and bottled at 43%.

The whisky is distilled at Mannochmore and independently selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection series.

It was distilled 27. april 2007 and bottled 2021, giving it 13 years.

Only 286 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet floral notes, green apples and mild sweetness.

Palate

On the tongue you find green apples, light oak and mild sweetness.

Finish

The aftertaste is short but concentrated, with spice and pear.

Specifications

Name: Mannochmore 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Mannochmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Highland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads (#6666 og 6669)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27. april 2007
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 286
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113965

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

In the 1990s Mannochmore was the source spirit behind the notorious 'Loch Dhu – The Black Whisky', whose near-black colour from heavy cask charring and caramel made headlines and is now a cult collector's item.

See our full range of Mannochmore

Listen to our podcast:

Signatory Vintage has followed this Strathmill cask for 14 years — from distillation in 2007 to bottling in 2022, without folding it into a blend.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 2007/2022 Signatory Vintage is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled on 13 September 2007 and bottled on 8 February 2022 after 14 years of maturation at 43% from two hogsheads, cask no. 805451 and 805453.

With 683 bottles, this independent bottling offers a rare look at Strathmill outside J&B blends, with natural colour retained.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and citrus meet a light nutty sweetness and a hint of oak.

Palate

Soft and round with honey, apple and a lightly spiced warmth.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Strathmill 2007/2022
Distillery: Strathmill
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Hogsheads, cask no. 805451 & 805453
Distilled: 13/09/2007
Bottled: 08/02/2022
Number of Bottles: 683 bottles
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5021944116812

Flavour Profile

Elegant · Fruity · Natural colour · Rare

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage is one of Scotland's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, founded in 1988, known for following casks over long maturation periods.

See our full range of Strathmill

509 bottles from two hogsheads. The figure is printed on the label, and there is a reason for that. When you can count the bottles, you can also see that no more are coming.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 2009/2022 Signatory 12 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for twelve years in two hogsheads and bottled at 43%. The release gave 509 bottles and is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Cask numbers 804051 and 804052 are printed on the label along with the distillation and bottling dates. That is Signatory’s standard and one of the reasons the house has become a reference point for independent bottlings.

Auchroisk sits in Speyside and was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks to supply malt for the J&B blend. The style is bright, citrus-driven and lightly spiced, and twelve years in refill hogsheads lets that character stand clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and clean. Citrus and green apple first, then vanilla, honey and a lightly cereal note from the spirit.

Palate

Soft and fruity. Apple and pear open, then citrus, vanilla and a lightly peppered oak note arrive. At 43% the body is good, and the absence of chill filtration gives a fuller mouthfeel than the figure suggests.

Finish

Medium and clean. Citrus, vanilla and a dry, lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 2009/2022 Signatory 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Two hogsheads, cask nos. 804051 and 804052
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 509
Edition: Signatory The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944116140

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Citrus · Vanilla · Fresh · Honeyed · Lightly Spiced

Did You Know?

Signatory today bottles at Edradour in Pitlochry, which the Symington brothers bought in 2002. Edradour was for many years Scotland’s smallest distillery with only three employees, and even after expansion the site works as distillery, warehouse and bottling plant for all of Signatory’s production.

See our full range of Auchroisk
See our full range of Signatory

Listen to our podcast:

No filtration, no colouring, no adjustment. The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is Signatory's attempt to show a distillery as it actually comes out of the cask.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2008/2021 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled on 20 June 2008 and bottled on 6 August 2021, and the outturn was only 157 bottles. The range gathers hand-picked releases from distilleries across Scotland, chosen for their clear flavour profile rather than their name value. Dailuaine is one of those distilleries that almost never appears on its own bottles, and thirteen years in bourbon wood gives a clean, malted version with no cask make-up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and malty. Apple, cereal and vanilla, with a light floral note and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Clean and full. Malt, honey and baked apple, with vanilla from the bourbon cask and a dry spiced edge. The 46% gives good weight without tightening up.

Finish

Medium and dry, with cereal, vanilla and a light nutty note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2008/2021 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 20/06/2008
Bottled: 06/08/2021
Number of bottles: 157
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113354

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Vanilla · Clean · Dry

Did you know?

Chill filtration was introduced to stop whisky going hazy in the fridge — not to make it better. Signatory drops the step entirely in this range, which is why the whisky may cloud when cold. That is a sign the oils are still in it.

See our full range of Dailuaine Whisky
See our full range of Signatory Vintage Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Another vintage, another pair of casks, the same philosophy: no chill filtration, no added colour. Signatory's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is a reminder of just how different the same distillery can taste from year to year.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at 46%.

Distilled on 14 April 2009 and bottled on 6 January 2022 by Signatory Vintage, from two bourbon casks, No. 3378 and 3379, yielding 218 bottles, with no added colour and no chill filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pale honey, freshly baked shortbread and a fresh lemon note. The bourbon cask gives a clear, but not overwhelming, vanilla sweetness.

Palate

Soft and round, with malty sweetness, vanilla and a hint of pear. The lack of filtration gives good body to the relatively gentle 46%.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet, closing with a hint of honey and cereal.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, Cask No. 3378 + 3379
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distilled: 14 April 2009
Bottled: 6 January 2022
Number of bottles: 218
EAN no.: 5021944116263

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Soft · Malty · Lightly fruity

Did You Know?

Compared to the 2008 vintage also released in the Un-Chillfiltered Collection, this 2009 vintage is paler and more honeyed – a good example of how much difference even a single year can make for the same distillery.

See our full range of Glenlossie

Listen to our podcast about Signatory:

Another Royal Brackla cask from Signatory Vintage, this time 12 years old and distilled in the summer of 2009.

Expert Review

Royal Brackla 2009/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 år Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 43% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a selected cask and bottled at 43% ABV.

Royal Brackla 2009/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt Whisky. Distilled in June 2009 and bottled in August 2021 by independent bottler Signatory Vintage, from a single selected cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is light with apple, honey and a mild oak.

Palate

The palate is round with caramel, citrus and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and soft.

Specifications

Name: Royal Brackla 2009/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 år Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Royal Brackla
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a selected cask
Distilled: 16/06/2009
Bottled: 02/08/2021
EAN No.: 5021944113972

Flavour Profile

Soft · Citrus · Single Cask

Did You Know?

Royal Brackla was founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser and still stands on its original site near Nairn on Scotland's north-east Highland coast.

See our full range of Royal Brackla

Six small bottles, six Scottish regions. This is about as close to a tour of Scotland as you can get without leaving the kitchen table, and Douglas Laing has packed it into a box worth leaving out on display.

The expert description

Douglas Laing Remarkable Regional Malts is a set of six Blended Malt Scotch Whisky in 5 cl bottles, bottled between 46% and 46.8%.

The range is Douglas Laing’s attempt to translate the geography of Scottish whisky into six bottles. Each release draws malt from a single area, so the difference between a Lowland and an Islay becomes something you taste your way towards rather than read about. All six are bottled at a minimum of 46% and without chill filtration.

The set holds The Epicurean from the Lowlands at 46.2%, Timorous Beastie from the Highlands at 46.8%, Scallywag from Speyside at 46%, The Gauldrons from Campbeltown at 46.2%, Rock Island from the Islands at 46.8% and Big Peat from Islay at 46%.

Tasting notes

Nose

The range is the entire point. From the bright citrus and cut grass of The Epicurean, through the sherry sweetness of Scallywag, to the tar, smoked ham and sea salt of Big Peat.

Palate

Timorous Beastie gives honey and heather, The Gauldrons salted caramel and apple, Rock Island a soft smoke with seaweed underneath. Tasted side by side, regional character stops being an abstraction.

Finish

Short and clean at the pale end, long and sooty at the smoky one. Order matters here. Begin with Big Peat and the rest of the evening tastes of peat.

Specifications

Name: Remarkable Regional Malts
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46-46.8%
Size: 6 x 5 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Remarkable Regional Malts
EAN no.: 5014218817362

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sherry matured · Fruity · Fresh · Maritime · Soft

Did you know?

Douglas Laing was founded in 1948 and has never owned a distillery in the conventional sense. The firm bought casks from others and grew large by choosing well. Big Peat, named after a fictional Islay fisherman, is now in such demand that the Christmas edition sells out in hours.

See our full range of Douglas Laing

Listen to our podcast:

There is a calm to Lochlea that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Expert's description

Lochlea First Release Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in bourbonfade med finish på pedro ximénez-fade and bottled at 46%.

The whisky comes straight from Lochlea's own warehouse and belongs to the First Release series.

Only 7000 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet vanilla, honey and dried fig.

Palate

The palate delivers honey, sherry toffee and dates.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, with dark chocolate and fresh barley.

Specifications

Name: Lochlea First Release Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Lochlea
Region/Country: Lowland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbonfade med finish på Pedro Ximénez-fade
Number of bottles: 7000
Edition: First Release
EAN no.: 5065008253006

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Lochlea's releases are named after the farming calendar, such as Sowing, Harvest and Ploughing Edition, reflecting the distillery's close ties to the land.

See our full range of Lochlea

Why choose between Kilchoman's two core releases when you can have both? This gift set puts Machir Bay's fresh citrus smoke up against Sanaig's darker sherry character — a direct comparison in two small bottles.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Gift Set Machir Bay and Sanaig is a set of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky in two 20cl bottles, both bottled at 46 %.

Machir Bay is matured mainly in ex-bourbon casks and offers a lovely taste of coastal peat smoke with notes of tropical fruit, fresh vanilla, butterscotch, herbs, stone fruit and citrus sweetness. Sanaig, on the other hand, is matured in ex-sherry casks from Miguel Martin in Jerez, the same supplier that also provides casks to Glenfarclas, and offers caramel, honey and dried fruit, sweet Islay peat smoke and citrus sweetness.

The two bottles offer a simple but effective way to experience Kilchoman's stylistic range — from the bright and fresh to the darker and spicier — without having to invest in two full bottles.

Tasting notes

Nose

Machir Bay offers citrus and sea breeze with light smoke; Sanaig offers caramel and dried fruit with a deeper, sherry-tinged peat smoke.

Palate

Machir Bay is creamy and fresh with tropical fruit and butterscotch; Sanaig is rounder and spicier with the sherry's sweetness and a growing smoke.

Finish

Both finish with lingering peat smoke, but Machir Bay dry and citrus-tinged, Sanaig warm and spiced.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Gift Set Machir Bay and Sanaig Islay Single Malt Whisky 2x20cl
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 2 x 20 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Gift Set Machir Bay and Sanaig
EAN no.: 5060210701208

Flavour profile

Peated · Citrus-fresh · Sherry-matured · Balanced · Gift-worthy

Did you know?

Sanaig's sherry casks come from the same Spanish supplier, Miguel Martin in Jerez, that also provides casks to the acclaimed distillery Glenfarclas — a small but interesting detail for the curious whisky enthusiast.

See our full range of Kilchoman

Listen to our podcast:

Big Peat is not a distillery but a fisherman with a wild grey beard and four Islay distilleries behind him. The twelve year old is the one where he has picked up some manners — the smoke is still there, but the edges have softened.

The expert's description

Big Peat 12 years is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The blend consists solely of single malts from Islay, all at least twelve years old: Caol Ila contributes sweetness, Bowmore balance, Ardbeg the medicinal and earthy character, and Port Ellen a measure of elegance.

Douglas Laing created Big Peat in 2009 as a single-bottle account of Islay. The firm was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing and is still run by the family from Glasgow, where they now also operate their own distillery.

Tasting notes

Nose

Charred oak, chimney smoke and wet rock pools. Under the smoke sit vanilla, butterscotch and dark fruits such as blackcurrant and black cherry.

Palate

Fruit driven with toffee, dark chocolate and a nutty edge. The spiced peat smoke settles around the sweetness instead of fighting it, and the salt of the coast is obvious.

Finish

Long and lingering with brown sugar, bonfire ash and a dry phenolic quality that stays.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 12 years old Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5014218814903

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Smoky · Sweet · Full bodied

Did you know?

Port Ellen closed in 1983 and only reopened in 2024. Big Peat has over the years contained whisky from the closed distillery — one of the few ways ordinary people have ever tasted Port Ellen.

See our full range of Big Peat
See our full range of Douglas Laing

Listen to our podcast:

There is a calm to MacNair's that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Expert's description

MacNair's Lum Reek 10 år Small Batch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 55,4% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 55,4%.

The whisky is blended and bottled by MacNair's under the name Small Batch, Cask Strength Batch 1.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers grain, smoke and spice.

Palate

The taste unfolds with smoke, spice and light oak.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and spicy, with light oak and malt.

Specifications

Name: MacNair's Lum Reek 10 år Small Batch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 55,4%
Bottler: MacNair's
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 55,4%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Small Batch, Cask Strength Batch 1
EAN no.: 5060568324760

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

The name Lum Reek is Scots slang for chimney smoke, a small nod to the smoky character hidden in this blended malt.

See our full range of MacNair's

Cask number 159, 332 bottles, and that was that. Valinch & Mallet are two Italians who bought a bourbon cask of Glenburgie in 2010 and left it alone for eleven years before emptying it. No finish, no adjustment — just the cask as it was.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 11 Year Old Valinch & Mallet 2010/2021 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single bourbon cask, bottled at cask strength 52.6%.

The cask was filled in 2010 and emptied in 2021 — bourbon cask number 159, which gave 332 bottles. A single bourbon cask with no finishing period is the most honest way to show a distillery: there is no sherry to cover anything and no blending to smooth out the cask’s quirks. What you taste is what those eleven years ended up giving.

Valinch & Mallet was founded in 2015 by two Italians, Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, who wanted to carry the Italian tradition of whisky bottling forward. Italy has had access for decades to Scottish casks that never reached the British market, and a number of the most talked-about bottlings of the 1970s and 80s arrived exactly that way.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and clean. Green apple, pear and lemon peel, with vanilla and coconut from the bourbon cask. A cereal malt note sits under the fruit.

Palate

Powerful and fruit-sweet. Honey, ripe pear and vanilla, with a peppery edge from the 52.6%. The soft, fruity Glenburgie style comes through clearly with nothing to hide behind.

Finish

Long and warm. Vanilla and apple first, then a dry close of American oak and white pepper.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 11 Year Old Valinch & Mallet 2010/2021 Highland Single Malt Whisky 52.6%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 52.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask no. 159
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 332

Flavour profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Cereal · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Valinch & Mallet was started in 2015 by two Italian friends who wanted to return to the tradition of whisky bottling Italy was known for in the 1970s and 80s. Back then Italian importers had access to casks the rest of Europe never got to see.

See our full range of Glenburgie
See our full range of Valinch & Mallet

A valinch is the copper tube you push into a cask to draw a sample. Two Italians named their company after that very tool, and after the mallet that knocks the bung loose. It says rather precisely what they do.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 12 Years Old Valinch & Mallet 2009/2021 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Sherry Hogshead and bottled at 52.2%. Cask 706023 was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2021, giving 338 bottles.

Ardmore makes peated whisky as its core style, which is unusual for a Highland distillery. The smoke sits at around 12 to 14 ppm, moderate compared with Islay but clear enough to give the whisky a dry earthy floor. Combined with a sherry cask it produces a profile where dark fruit and smoke pull in opposite directions.

A hogshead holds around 250 litres, so between a bourbon barrel and a sherry butt. It gives more wood contact per litre than a butt, which is why twelve years in a hogshead can travel further than twelve years in a larger cask. Valinch & Mallet was founded in 2015 by two Italian friends.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and dark orange first, with peat smoke as a dry undercarriage. Behind them come toasted malt, walnut and a hint of leather. The smoke is not maritime, it reads more like smouldering wood than sea air.

Palate

Full and in two halves. The sherry’s dried fruit and chocolate open, then the smoke enters from the side along with black pepper and a dry oak tannin. At 52.2% the concentration is good, and the two elements keep each other in check the whole way.

Finish

Long. Smoke, dark fruit and spiced oak leave together, with a dry ash note right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 12 Years Old Valinch & Mallet 2009/2021 Single Highland Malt Whisky 52.2%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 52.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Hogshead, cask no. 706023
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 338

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry Matured · Dark Fruit · Spiced · Cask Strength · Nutty

Did You Know?

The word valinch describes the copper tube a warehouse manager pushes down through the bung hole to draw a sample, and a mallet is the wooden hammer that knocks the bung loose again. Valinch & Mallet have therefore named themselves after the two tools an independent bottler uses most, the ones in your hands when you decide whether a cask is good enough.

See our full range of Ardmore
See our full range of Valinch & Mallet

Valinch & Mallet is one of the newer independent bottlers on the market, but this 11 year old Glenrothes from a single bourbon cask shows they know how to find good whisky.

Expert's Description

Glenrothes 2009/2021 from Valinch & Mallet was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2021, after 11 years of maturation in a single bourbon cask, Cask No. #8925.

The whisky is bottled at cask strength, 53.3%, giving a full-bodied, direct expression of Glenrothes' character without the sweetness of a sherry cask – a cleaner profile closer to the raw spirit. 288 bottles were filled from this one cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh citrus, vanilla and a hint of honey.

Palate

Full-bodied and spiced, with apple, pear and a warm, sweet caramel from the bourbon cask.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering citrus and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Glenrothes 2009/2021 Valinch & Mallet 11 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70cl 53.3%
Distillery: Glenrothes
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 2009, Bottled: 2021
Age: 11 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Cask / Cask No. #8925
Bottles: 288
ABV: 53.3%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Citrus-driven · Full-bodied · Spiced · Vanilla-sweet

Investment Potential

With only 288 bottles from a single bourbon cask and a cask strength bottling, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors as bottles become rarer.

Did You Know?

A bourbon cask typically gives a lighter, more vanilla- and citrus-driven character than a sherry cask, because it previously held American bourbon rather than Spanish sherry.

See our full range of Glenrothes

A long history sits behind every drop of Miltonduff, even though the name rarely appears on labels outside independent bottlings.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 2011/2021 Valinch & Mallet 10 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength 53.4%.

Valinch & Mallet is an Italian independent bottler, named Scotland's Best Independent Bottler in 2022, known for choosing casks with strong individual character rather than following a fixed house style. This Miltonduff was filled from cask #800524, yielding only 236 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with ripe pear and coconut, while vanilla lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers light caramel and creamy vanilla, with a hint of honeycomb.

Finish

The finish is short and fresh.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 53.4 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask, cask #800524
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 236

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

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.

See our full range of Miltonduff

Four years in fresh Pinot Noir casks have laid a layer of dark berry fruit over Longrow's signature smoke - the result gathers two very different worlds into a single glass.

Expert Description

Longrow 15 Year Old Red Pinot Noir Cask is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled at Springbank, matured 11 years in bourbon casks followed by 4 years in fresh Pinot Noir casks, and bottled at 51.4%.

The cask journey gives this Longrow expression a markedly different character to the classic bourbon and sherry-matured releases: the smoke is still there, but it is now joined by a deep, almost wine-like berry sweetness from the red wine casks. A total of 9,400 bottles were released of this limited edition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark forest berries and a hint of red wine meet Longrow's signature smoke and a whisper of salty kelp.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied with blackcurrant and cherry playing against an earthy, peaty smoke.

Finish

Long and lightly tart, with the berry fruit lingering alongside a dry, smoky close.

Specifications

Name: Longrow 15 Year Old Red Pinot Noir Cask
Distillery: Springbank
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 51.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 11 years in bourbon casks, then 4 years in Pinot Noir casks
Number of bottles: 9,400
Edition: Limited Edition
EAN no.: 610854004873

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Spicy · Maritime

Did You Know?

Pinot Noir casks are relatively rare in Scotch whisky production compared to the more common port and sherry casks, making this cask combination one of the more unusual in the Longrow range.

See our full range of Longrow

Listen to our podcast:

Arran's peated side also comes with a fixed age statement — ten years in cask gives Machrie Moor an extra layer of flavour.

The same peaty character as the distillery's classic Machrie Moor, but now with time to round off the edges.

Expert Description

Arran Machrie Moor 10 Year Old is a Single Islands Malt Whisky made from lightly peated malt and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour after ten years of maturation, giving the peat smoke time to blend more smoothly with Arran's natural fruit sweetness than in the younger, no-age-statement Machrie Moor.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Softer smoke than the younger edition, with a clear underlying fruitiness.

Palate

Round and balanced, where the smoke and Arran's citrus character meet in good harmony.

Finish

Medium length with lingering, mild smoke.

Specifications

Name: Arran Machrie Moor 10 Year Old
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060044484742
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass, a drop of water is welcome

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Round · Citrus-forward

Did You Know?

Although Machrie Moor has existed as an expression since 2004, the age-stated 10-year-old is a more recent addition, letting whisky fans compare the younger and more mature peated side of Arran directly.

See our full range of Arran

Red wine and whisky rarely meet in the same bottle, but the Age of Discovery series was created exactly to explore that kind of unusual combination.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 19 Years Old Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks finished in red wine casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky matures for 19 years in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in casks that previously held red wine. That adds a deep, fruity character with a touch of tannin, clearly setting it apart from the other expressions in the Age of Discovery series.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark berries, toasted oak and a light wine-like tang.

Palate

Rich and fruity with blackcurrant, spiced oak and a light tannin edge.

Finish

Medium and dry, with a final hint of dark berries.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 19 Years Old Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks finished in red wine casks
Edition: Age of Discovery - Red Wine Cask
EAN no.: 5010327045108

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spiced · Rich · Round

Investment potential

Low. The Age of Discovery series has been discontinued from Glenfiddich's core range, which makes the remaining bottles gradually scarcer.

Did you know?

Red wine casks are among the rarest cask types in Scotch whisky production, because the wine's tannins can dominate the flavour if the finish runs too long — a balance Glenfiddich's whisky makers have fine-tuned carefully.

See our full range of Glenfiddich

Listen to our podcast:

Càrn Mòr is the name of a mountain in the north-west Highlands, 829 metres above sea level. The series takes its name from it, and the principle is simple: once a release is gone, it does not come back. No refill, no second batch.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2015/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 7 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at 47.5 %.

Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited is a range from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers where every release is bottled at a fixed 47.5 % and consists of either a single batch or a single cask. The series covers distilleries from every region of Scotland, and each release is made only once.

This bottling was distilled in 2015 and drawn in 2022 after seven years in a sherry butt. The outturn was 1,840 bottles, which is high for a single butt and points to a single batch rather than one cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet maple syrup, toasted cereal and a note of smoked bacon. Dried fruit from the cask sits behind it.

Palate

American pancakes with smoked bacon, wrapped in sweet maple syrup. The sweetness and the salty edge pull in opposite directions and meet in the middle.

Finish

Medium and warm with syrup, cereal and a last salty note.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2015/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 7 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 47,5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1.840
Edition: Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229073

Flavour profile

Sweet · Malty · Salty · Spiced · Full bodied

Did you know?

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers today owns warehousing in Speyside and runs its own cask programmes, buying new make spirit and maturing it themselves. That is a different model from the classic bottlers who buy fully matured casks.

See our full range of Ben Nevis Whisky
See our full range of Càrn Mòr Whisky

Listen to our podcast: