Three casks from April 2010 sat for twelve years before somebody decided they belonged together. That is the kind of choice that never makes it onto the label, yet it decides what ends up in the glass.

Please note: This bottle has wear and rust on the cap.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2010/2022 Signatory Vintage 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks 800518, 800527 and 800531 and bottled at 46%. It was distilled in April 2010 and bottled in November 2022 in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection.

The Un-Chillfiltered Collection was created for those who want single malt in its most natural form: bottled without chill filtration and without added colour, so the whisky reaches the bottle as it came out of the cask, apart from an adjustment of strength to 46%.

Three bourbon casks give a broader starting point than one. Each cask has its own small quirk, and vatted together they even each other out. The result is an Ardmore where the peat smoke and the malt sweetness hold each other in balance rather than one cask’s character dominating.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted malt and dry smoke first, with honey and baked apple behind. There is a light coconut and vanilla note from the bourbon wood and a fine, clean cereal floor running through it all.

Palate

Full and malty. Honey and vanilla open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy floor along with a touch of pepper and citrus peel. After twelve years the edges have been smoothed off, and balance is the real strength here.

Finish

Medium to long. Malt, honey and dry smoke, letting go slowly and cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2010/2022 Signatory Vintage 12 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks no. 800518, 800527 and 800531
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: April 2010
Bottled: November 2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Honeyed · Vanilla · Dry · Balanced

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and is today one of Scotland’s most prolific independent bottling houses. The company also owns the Edradour distillery in Perthshire, and Signatory’s warehousing and bottling facilities sit right beside it. The journey from cask to bottle is therefore a short one.

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Two hogsheads, twelve years and no treatment along the way. Signatory calls the range Un-Chillfiltered, but in practice it is just as much about what you refrain from doing.

Please note: Rust on the cap and wear to the carton label.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogsheads and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The casks carry the numbers 307385 and 307386. The whisky was distilled on 6 May 2009 and bottled on 4 February 2022. The range gathers hand-picked releases from distilleries across Scotland, where the whisky is allowed into bottle in its most untreated form. Dailuaine delivers a heavier spirit than most of its Speyside neighbours, and twelve years in hogsheads is enough to give balance without erasing the malted core.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and cereal-led. Green apple, malt and vanilla, with a light herbal note and a touch of citrus peel.

Palate

Clean and malty. Cereal, honey and baked fruit, with vanilla from the oak and a dry, lightly spiced middle. The texture is fuller than filtered whisky at the same strength.

Finish

Medium and dry, with malt, apple and a mild oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory 12 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 307385 and 307386
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 06/05/2009
Bottled: 04/02/2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Vanilla · Clean · Dry

Did you know?

Six-digit cask numbers such as 307385 come from Signatory's own warehouse system rather than from the distillery. They make it possible to trace exactly which cask a bottle came from — one reason the house has such a loyal following among collectors.

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Eight years and one month between filling and bottling. Signatory notes the dates precisely, down to the day, and that is not pedantry. It is the kind of information that makes it possible to understand why two bottles from the same distillery taste different.

Please note: The cap on the bottle is rusty. It has no bearing on the whisky inside, but we would rather say so up front.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in hogsheads, casks no. 427 and 429, and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky went into cask on 17 October 2013 and was drawn on 19 November 2021. Two hogsheads were bottled together, which gives a slightly larger outturn than a single cask, but it remains a limited release from two casks that lay side by side.

This and the seven year old sister bottling come from the same distillation day. The difference lies purely in which casks were chosen and when they were drawn, which makes the pair an unusually good exercise in what a single year in cask actually means.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, pear and pale oak with a note of melted butter. A hint of wet stone sits behind it.

Palate

Rounder than the seven year old with honey, cereal and a touch of cinnamon. The oily texture is still there, but the edges have been worn down a little.

Finish

Medium and warm with malt, oak and a dry close.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, casks no. 427 and 429
Distilled: 17 October 2013
Bottled: 19 November 2021
EAN no.: 5021944116133

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Soft · Oily · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Signatory has printed the distillation date and the bottling date on the label from the start. That was far from normal in 1988, when most bottlers made do with an age statement, and the practice has since spread across the trade.

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Two years later, Gordon & MacPhail repeated the exercise with a new Tomatin cask – same philosophy, new vintage.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2009 Gordon MacPhail The Discovery Range Highland Malt Whisky 43% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon cask and bottled at 43%.

This bourbon-cask 2009 vintage from The Discovery Range was distilled two years after its sister release and shows the same clean, bourbon-led malt character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, pear and a light honey sweetness.

Palate

Soft and round with citrus and vanilla.

Finish

Short and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2009 Gordon MacPhail The Discovery Range Highland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Tomatin
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2021
Edition: The Discovery Range
EAN no.: 5020613077898

Flavour Profile

Round · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Gordon & MacPhail is one of Scotland's oldest independent bottlers and has run both a shop and a bottling house from Elgin in Speyside since 1895.

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In the Monadhliath Mountains south of Inverness lies a distillery whose whisky rarely raises its voice – but this sherry-cask expression speaks a little louder.

Expert's description

Tomatin 12 år Sherry Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is one of the most approachable expressions in the range and shows the distillery's soft, fruity Highland style lifted by the warmth of sherry casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apples, citrus, vanilla and a discreet sherry sweetness.

Palate

Round and silky with sweet fruit, honey and a creamy malt profile.

Finish

Medium long with mild spice, sweet malt and a clean finish.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 12 år Sherry Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
EAN no.: 5018481101845

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Tomatin sits 315 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest-altitude distilleries in Scotland, giving a cooler, slower maturation climate.

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There is something nerve-wracking about a first release. Everything the distillery has learned sits in that one bottle, and there is no earlier batch to hide behind. The Morrison family had not distilled for over 30 years when they fired up the stills on the farm at Aberargie. This is the answer to whether it was worth the wait.

The Expert's Description

Aberargie Inaugural Release is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks and 1st fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 48.2%. It is the distillery's first single malt, distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2026, and the first whisky created from grain to bottle on the family's own land.

The barley is grown on the farm’s 300 acres and splits 52% Golden Promise and 48% Laureate. Golden Promise is an older variety with lower yield and more cereal character, Laureate a modern and efficient one, and the combination gives both depth and a clean, clear malt profile. Maturation is divided evenly between American bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks from Miquel Martin, with every cask shipped whole to protect the aroma in the wood.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. It was released to specialist whisky retailers worldwide in March 2026 and marks the Morrison family’s return to distilling after a break of more than three decades.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Baked apple and golden pastry first, close to sugared puff pastry. Behind come fresh barley, vanilla and a light tropical note of mango and pineapple. The sherry casks add a layer of dried fruit and a subtle spiced sweetness.

Palate

Clean and malty with clear cereal character. Honey and citrus open, then soft oak and a natural sweetness from the barley. The sherry portion lays in raisins and a mild spiced depth without taking over. At 48.2% there is good body and a neat balance between fruit and wood.

Finish

Medium length and clean, with malt, oak and a herbal, lightly dry close that keeps the mouth fresh.

Specifications

Name: Aberargie Inaugural Release Single Malt Scotch Lowland Whisky 48.2%
Distillery: Aberargie
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and 1st fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2026
Edition: Inaugural Release

Flavour Profile

Malty · Fruity · Honeyed · Fresh · Sherry Matured · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. First releases from new distilleries carry built-in scarcity: there will never be more of this exact bottling, and they often become sought after if the distillery goes on to do well. Aberargie is also barley-to-bottle on its own land, which makes the bottle interesting beyond the historical marker.

Did You Know?

The Morrison family is one of the longest established names in Scotch whisky, yet they had not distilled themselves for more than 30 years before Aberargie came on stream. The farm sits just outside Perth, and the barley grows literally outside the warehouse door, something very few Scottish distilleries can claim.

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Some whiskies you can simply go out and buy. Others required you to be standing in a particular room on a particular evening. Douglas Laing turned 70 in 2018, and for the celebration a single sherry butt was emptied. Seventy bottles. Every one of them signed by hand.

The Expert's Description

Douglas Laing 70th Anniversary 20 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single Sherry Butt and bottled at 52%. It was created for the importers and staff who attended the company’s 70th anniversary celebration, never reached a retail shelf, and that alone explains a great deal about how few exist.

The Speyside distillery behind the whisky is undisclosed. That is standard practice when Douglas Laing bottles single casks sourced from distilleries that will not lend their name, and it is why the label reads Single Speyside Malt rather than a distillery name. The style, however, is unmistakable. Twenty years in Spanish sherry oak has pushed dark fruit and depth into the spirit without flattening Speyside's brighter malt sweetness. The cask yielded 70 bottles, hand filled and numbered, each label carrying the signatures of both Fred and Cara Laing.

Douglas Laing has been bottling whisky since 1948 and the firm remains in the family's hands. The 70th Anniversary was their own birthday present to themselves, and one of the rarest pieces of whisky history the family has ever released.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark ripe fruit leads: prunes, figs and long-steeped raisins. Behind that sit honey, orange peel and a dry nuttiness from the sherry oak. Give the glass fifteen minutes and vanilla arrives, along with a whisper of old leather.

Palate

Full and close to oily. Caramel and baked apple meet cinnamon and a touch of clove, with oak tannin keeping the sweetness on a short leash. The 52% reads as warmth rather than heat. A few drops of water do not break it apart, they round it out.

Finish

Long and dry. Dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and a nutty bitterness that hangs around well after the last sip. Right at the end the honey comes back.

Specifications

Name: Douglas Laing 70th Anniversary 20 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 52%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Butt
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 70
Edition: 70th Anniversary

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Fruity · Spiced · Nutty · Full Bodied · Oaky

Investment Potential

High. One cask, 70 bottles, never released for general sale and signed by the family behind the firm. That combination makes the bottle genuinely hard to track down, and it has climbed considerably in value since 2018.

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing. That year Scotch was still rationed after the war, and most of the whisky bottled in Scotland was shipped abroad to earn foreign currency for the British Treasury. The firm was born into a market where whisky was treated almost as a trading commodity, on a par with coal.

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Danish retailers got to decide. Ardnahoe took their young, oily Islay spirit and moved it into small Pedro Ximénez quarter casks, the sweetest sherry in the smallest cask. At 60.6% there is no caution left anywhere.

The Expert's Description

Ardnahoe Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in small Pedro Ximénez quarter casks and bottled at 60.6% cask strength. It was distilled in June 2019 and bottled in February 2026, giving six years.

The release shows Ardnahoe’s signature plainly: slow distillation, high cut points and the iconic worm tubs, which give a fuller and oilier spirit than a modern condenser would. After the primary maturation the whisky was moved into quarter casks, small casks of around 125 litres where wood contact per litre is far greater.

PX is the sweetest of the sherry styles, and in a small cask it works fast. The result is a marked layer of dark fruit, syrup and spiced depth over Islay’s maritime peat smoke.

Tasting Notes

Nose

An intense combination of peat smoke, sea spray and sweet PX notes. Dried fruit, raisins and dark caramel sit as a warm layer over the fresh smoke, while a saline minerality recalls the coastline. Both youthful energy and a surprising maturity.

Palate

Powerful and full, carried by the high strength. The oily texture from the worm tubs gives a marked mouthfeel where smoke, dark chocolate, raisins, spices and a deep syrupy sweetness melt together. The PX casks add a rich, dessert-like character in fine contrast to the smoke.

Finish

Long, warm and lingering. The smoke holds on together with dark fruit, oak and a lightly bittersweet note.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026 PX Quarter Cask Single Islay Malt Whisky 60.6%
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 60.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Pedro Ximénez quarter casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Slow distillation with worm tubs
Distilled: June 2019
Bottled: February 2026
Edition: Small Batch for Danish Retailers 2026

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry Matured · Sweet · Maritime · Cask Strength · Dark Fruit

Investment Potential

Medium. A small batch made for one market and bottled at cask strength exists only in the outturn the casks gave. Releases from Ardnahoe’s early years have also drawn steadily more attention as the distillery has established itself.

Did You Know?

A quarter cask holds around 125 litres and therefore has far more wood contact per litre of liquid than a standard cask. In the nineteenth century the size was practical, because casks could be carried on horseback along paths a cart could not reach. Today they are used precisely for that rapid cask influence.

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Sometimes the simplest expression is also the most honest. The Original One is Woodrow's of Edinburgh's answer to what a Highland single malt tastes like when everything extra is stripped away and the grain, the oak and the time are left to speak for themselves.

Expert description

The Original One from The Jane Street Collection is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.5% ABV by independent bottler Woodrow's of Edinburgh.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh, founded in 2020 by brothers Mark and Chris Watt in Leith, works from a philosophy of transparency and flavour-led releases. The Jane Street Collection is built around clear sensory themes, and The Original One is the collection's most straightforward expression: an honest picture of Highland style without additional cask finishing.

The whisky is matured in bourbon casks, allowing the spirit's own fruitiness and malt character to shine rather than heavy cask influence.

Tasting notes

Nose

Green apples and pear meet a mild malt profile, lifted by soft vanilla and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and slightly oily, with apple, pear and a hint of peach, while the malt provides structure and a subtle spiced edge.

Finish

Medium-length and clean, with notes of malt, citrus and a light dryness from the oak.

Specifications

Name: The Original One
Series: The Jane Street Collection
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malt · Clean

Did you know?

The name Jane Street refers to a street in Leith, Edinburgh's historic dockside district, home to many of the city's whisky merchants and bottlers throughout history.

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Dark fruit, deep sherry and a whisky unafraid to show its strength. The Sherried One is Woodrow's of Edinburgh's tribute to the classic sherry cask, cultivated to its full potential without losing its balance.

Expert description

The Sherried One from The Jane Street Collection is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.5% ABV by independent bottler Woodrow's of Edinburgh.

Where The Original One represents the collection's clean baseline, The Sherried One explores the opposite extreme: the deep, dark and fruit-laden character of the sherry cask. Woodrow's is known for working with small, carefully selected batches, and this release is a clear example of that approach, with cask quality at its core.

The whisky is matured in sherry casks, which have contributed both colour and a deep concentration of dried fruit and spice to the finished spirit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, prunes and figs mingle with warm spices, cocoa and a light nutty depth.

Palate

Rich and silky, dominated by dried fruit, caramel and dark chocolate, with a fine depth of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish

Long and dark, with dried fruit, oak and a lightly bitter-sweet close of toasted nuts.

Specifications

Name: The Sherried One
Series: The Jane Street Collection
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Sherry · Dark fruit · Spiced

Did you know?

Sherry casks must first mature Spanish sherry for several years before they become empty and can be shipped to Scotland, making a good sherry cask a far more time-consuming and costly resource than a standard bourbon barrel.

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Black label, gold lettering. That is how Glen Scotia 15 Year Old looked until the distillery changed design in June 2022 and moved to silver. The whisky inside follows the same recipe — it is the packaging that has become history.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 15 Year Old Old Version is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak casks and bottled at 46%.

This is the bottling in the old design with a black label and gold lettering that Glen Scotia used until the summer of 2022. The whisky has spent fifteen years in 1st fill and refill American oak casks and is non-chill filtered. There is no sherry or wine cask in play, so it is the salty, oily character of the distillery that carries the bottle.

Glen Scotia has not had an easy history. The distillery was founded in 1832, and through the twentieth century it stood silent for several periods while the whisky industry in Campbeltown shrank from around thirty distilleries to three. That distilling continues in the town at all is down to equal parts stubbornness and luck.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salted caramel and toasted vanilla, with ripe fruit and a layer of light spices. The citrus note only arrives after a couple of minutes, and beneath it all sits a sea-like tone.

Palate

Full and spiced. Oak, dried fruit and honey, with a taut minerality in the middle. The smoke is held back and shows itself as a dry shadow rather than as peat.

Finish

Long. Pepper and dark chocolate first, then a slow, salted close that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 15 Year Old Old Version Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Old Version - black label
EAN no.: 5016840171218

Flavour profile

Maritime · Spiced · Fruity · Lightly peated · Salty

Investment potential

Medium. The design with a black label and gold lettering was replaced in June 2022 and will not return. Label variants are a well-established collecting category, and a fifteen year old in the discontinued packaging is easier to place in time than most — bottles like that disappear quietly as the remaining stock is drawn down.

Did you know?

Glen Scotia sat so close to closure for decades that the distillery was run several times with a minimum of staff. The plant is still one of the smallest in Scotland by output, and some of the equipment is older than many of the distilleries that closed around it.

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

Expert's description

Jura 19 Year The Paps PX Finish Single Island Malt Whisky 45,6% is a Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon casks with a finish in used PX casks and bottled at 45,6%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark chocolate, dried figs and a warm sherry depth.

Palate

Sultanas, cocoa and a rounded sherried sweetness.

Finish

Long and warming with a lingering spiced oak note.

Specifications

Name: Jura 19 Year The Paps PX Finish Single Island Malt Whisky 45,6%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Island (Isle of Jura)
Type: Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 45,6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks with a finish in used PX casks
Edition: The Paps
EAN no.: 5013967013186

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Smooth · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. 19 years is one of the longer maturation periods in Jura's core range, and the PX finish makes The Paps a more sought-after bottle than the distillery's younger core expressions.

Did you know?

The Paps of Jura can be seen from large parts of western Scotland on a clear day and historically served as a landmark for ships along the coast, long before the whisky carried their name.

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With no named distillery on the label, Port Askaig sticks to a tradition of discretion, letting the whisky itself speak for Islay's character.

Expert Review

Port Askaig 15 år Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50,5% is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 50.5% ABV.

Port Askaig 15 Years Old is a limited edition single malt whisky from Islay – and as always with Port Askaig, the distillery itself is kept undisclosed, in line with an old tradition among independent bottlers on the island. The whisky is bottled at high natural strength without filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is smoky with tar, salt and a hint of citrus.

Palate

The palate is powerful with peat, soot and a rich sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long and smoky, with lingering salt.

Specifications

Name: Port Askaig 15 år Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50,5%
Distillery: Port Askaig
Region: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 50.5%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Limited Edition
EAN No.: 5061035820426

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Powerful

Did You Know?

Port Askaig is named after the ferry port itself on Islay, from which the whole island's whisky has historically been shipped out to the rest of Scotland.

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Vino de Naranja is an Andalusian speciality made from sun-dried orange peel and matured in solera. Putting it on a seventeen year old Highland malt is not something many had thought of.

Expert description

Deanston 17 years Orange Wine Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured fifteen years in ex-bourbon casks with a final finish in Vino de Naranja casks and bottled at 53.6% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Deanston has occupied a converted cotton mill at Doune since 1966 and has never followed the crowd. The first fifteen years in bourbon wood give the honeyed depth and waxy texture the house is known for. The whisky is then moved into casks from Vino de Naranja, a Spanish orange wine made from sun-dried peel and aged in a traditional solera system.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel and honey first, then dried apricot, vanilla and a warm spiced note. A lightly bitter citrus note sits under the sweetness.

Palate

Full and concentrated. Marmalade, honey and malted barley, with a dry orange edge from the finish and a peppery warmth from the strength. The wax from the bourbon casks is still clear.

Finish

Long and dry, with orange, spice and a faintly bitter peel note that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 17 years Orange Wine Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 53,6%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 53.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks with a Vino de Naranja finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Orange Wine Cask Finish

Flavour profile

Orange · Honeyed · Spiced · Waxy · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. An unusual cask type on a seventeen year old whisky at cask strength. Vino de Naranja finishes barely exist elsewhere in Scotch whisky.

Did you know?

Vino de Naranja is made by steeping sun-dried orange peel in young wine for months before it enters the solera. It is an Andalusian farming tradition rather than an industrial process — which is why the casks exist only in very small numbers.

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Virgin Oak was Deanston's first attempt at doing something unexpected with the house honey. This bottle predates the redesign — same idea, older packaging.

Expert description

Deanston Virgin Oak Old Version is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in traditional oak casks with a final maturation in new American oak casks and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The release comes from an earlier version of Virgin Oak, which Deanston later gave a new design. The idea is unchanged: fresh, untreated casks lift the pale, fruity and naturally honeyed house style with spice and vanilla sweetness. Deanston has distilled in a converted cotton mill by the River Teith since 1966 and uses no peat at all.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean, fresh and inviting. Citrus, malt, vanilla and lightly spiced oak, with touches of honey, fresh apples and a mild nutty note.

Palate

Soft but lively. Vanilla, caramel, citrus and pale fruit, where the virgin oak casks contribute warm spice, a hint of pepper and a creamy sweetness.

Finish

Medium and lightly spiced, with vanilla, oak and a soft honey note.

Specifications

Name: Deanston Virgin Oak old version Single Highland Malt Whisky 46,3%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks with a new American oak finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Virgin Oak Old Version

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Citrus · Spiced · Honeyed · Creamy

Investment potential

Medium. A discontinued bottle design from a range still in production. Older versions of a running series become interesting precisely because they can be dated by appearance.

Did you know?

Deanston sends surplus electricity from its own hydroelectric plant out to the grid. The distillery uses nowhere near everything the River Teith can deliver, and the money from the sold power goes back into production.

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Sea salt, bonfire smoke and peat flames in the distance. The Smokey One is Woodrow's of Edinburgh's uncompromising tribute to Islay's smoky whisky tradition, made for those unafraid to meet the peat head-on.

Expert description

The Smokey One from The Jane Street Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.5% ABV by independent bottler Woodrow's of Edinburgh.

The whisky comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery, chosen for its ability to deliver the classic combination of sea salt, peat smoke and deep malt richness. The series is built around clear sensory themes, and The Smokey One is the collection's most uncompromising expression, placing peat smoke at its centre without sacrificing balance or complexity.

Woodrow's of Edinburgh works as an independent bottler and is known for choosing casks that express both the distillery's DNA and their own philosophy of pure, honest, unadulterated whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry smoke and sea salt meet a deep malt sweetness, with a hint of seaweed and iodine.

Palate

Intense peat smoke wraps around an underlying sweetness of honey and malt, carried by a robust salty edge.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a lingering ash note and a light sweetness that keeps the balance to the last drop.

Specifications

Name: The Smokey One
Series: The Jane Street Collection
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NA
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Peated · Salty · Smoky

Did you know?

The peat used to smoke the malt on Islay is formed from thousands of years of decomposed plant matter shaped by the island's damp climate, and the unique mix of sea plants and heather is one reason Islay whisky carries its signature briny, smoky flavour.

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New oak is whisky's hard school. The cask has never held anything before, so it gives everything it has at once — spice, vanilla and tannin, unfiltered.

Expert description

Deanston Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and subsequently in new American oak casks, bottled at cask strength of 58.5% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Virgin oak means casks that have never held spirit or wine before. They give a far stronger cask influence than refills, which is why they are typically used only for a shorter finishing period. This release is the first batch of Deanston's Virgin Oak at cask strength, which makes both the spice and the house honey markedly more concentrated than in the standard version.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful vanilla and coconut, with cinnamon, honey and a warm note of freshly planed oak.

Palate

Dense and spiced. Vanilla, caramel and malted barley, with pepper and a dry tannic edge from the new wood. The cask strength pushes it all forward without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and warm, with spice, vanilla and a dry oak close.

Specifications

Name: Deanston Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 58,5%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and new American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Virgin Oak 2023 Edition Cask Strength Batch 1
EAN no.: 5029704221189

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Spiced · Oak · Honeyed · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. The first batch of Virgin Oak at cask strength, released as a 2023 edition. First numbers in a series usually become hard to find fastest.

Did you know?

New oak casks cost many times what a used bourbon cask does. That is why virgin oak is almost always used as a finish rather than for full maturation — few distilleries can afford to leave whisky for decades in wood nobody has used before.

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A chessboard holds 32 pieces, and The Chess Malt Collection has given every single one of them a bottle of whisky – this 17 Years Old Bunnahabhain is one of them.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry hogshead and bottled at 53.4%.

The Danish bottler The Chess Malt Collection has, since 1989, selected single casks from across Scotland and let each bottle stand for a piece on the chessboard – two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, split between the classic black and white. This Bunnahabhain is bottled as rook A8-F7, number 22 in the line-up.

The whisky was distilled in November 2008 and rested for 17 years in a sherry hogshead before being bottled in November 2025 without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry and dried fruit settle around a whisper of peat ash and toasted almond.

Palate

Full and spicy with raisins, walnuts and a touch of leather, balanced against the sherry's sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry with lingering spice and a faint last trace of smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 53.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: November 2008
Bottled: November 2025
Number of Bottles: 272
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Full-Bodied · Lightly Peated

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection is the work of a Danish spirits importer that has traded in wine and spirits since 1989 – the collection counts 32 unique single cask bottlings in total, one for every piece on the board.

See our full range of Bunnahabhain · See our full range of The Chess Malt Collection

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French oak and Spanish sherry rarely share a glass. In this release, Billy Walker brings the two together, and the result tastes like nothing else coming out of Speyside.

Expert description

GlenAllachie 2014 The Sinteis Series Part 3 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of French virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at cask strength of 57.4%.

The Sinteis Series is Billy Walker's ongoing exploration of cask types rarely used in Scotch whisky production. The name is taken from the Scottish Gaelic word for synthesis, and each release in the series looks at how two very different cask types can shape the same spirit in their own way. Part 3 puts the focus on French virgin oak, whose tight, spicy oak character stands in clear contrast to the heavy fruit sweetness of Oloroso sherry.

This whisky comes from the 2014 vintage and was bottled in 2026, giving it around 12 years of cask maturation before it was bottled non-chill filtered and without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with toasted oak and a touch of vanilla pod, quickly followed by dark sherry sweetness – think raisins, fig and a hint of leather. Underneath sits a spicy note of clove and fresh sawn oak from the French casks.

Palate

On the palate, the characteristic Oloroso sweetness arrives first with stewed dark fruit, before the French oak takes over with a dry, slightly tight tannic spice. The cask strength gives the whisky a weight that holds the flavours together without becoming fiery.

Finish

Long and dry, with a finish of dark chocolate, toasted nuts and a last trace of sherry sweetness fading slowly away.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2014 The Sinteis Series Part 3
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 57.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Sinteis Series Part 3
EAN number: 5060568329871

Flavour profile

Sherry sweetness · French oak spice · Cask strength · Dark fruit · Toasted notes

Did you know?

Most Scottish distilleries stick to American or European oak, but GlenAllachie is one of the few that deliberately experiments with French virgin oak – a cask type far more common in cognac and wine production than in Scotch whisky.

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"Mòine" means peat in Gaelic, and the name leaves no doubt about what waits once the bottle is opened.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Mòine is a Single Islay Malt Whisky distilled from peated malt and bottled at 46.3%.

Mòine shows the other side of Bunnahabhain – the smoky one – and does it with a depth that matches the distillery's classic maritime character. Peat smoke, sweet malt and a spiced warmth play together without the whisky losing its elegance.

It's a full and authentic Islay experience for those seeking smoky complexity without compromising on finesse in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and a maritime breeze meet sweet malt and a touch of spice.

Palate

Full-bodied with smoke, sweet malt and a balanced spiced warmth.

Finish

Medium length and smoky with a touch of sea air at the very end.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704218141

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

Mòine takes its name from the peat bog the malt is sourced from, standing in sharp contrast to the light, unpeated style Bunnahabhain is best known for on Islay.

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

Expert's description

Macduff 2009 The First Edition 14 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58,4% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in oloroso butt and bottled at 58,4%.

The whisky is distilled at Macduff and independently selected and bottled by The First Editions as part of the The First Editions series.

It was distilled 2009.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with grain, a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit and stewed plums.

Palate

On the tongue you find a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit, dried fig and walnut.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with stewed plums and malt.

Specifications

Name: Macduff 2009 The First Edition 14 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58,4%
Distillery: Macduff
Bottler: The First Editions
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 58,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Edition: The First Editions

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Macduff is known for its unusual stills, some fitted with as many as five lyne arms, a rare design in Scotch whisky production.

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Fifty percent, every time. Old Malt Cask has bottled at the same strength for decades, which makes distilleries easy to compare — and here it is Craigellachie in the firing line.

Expert description

Craigellachie 2007/2022 The Old Malt Cask 15 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at 50%.

The cask was filled in 2007 and emptied in 2022 by Hunter Laing & Co for the Old Malt Cask range, where every release goes into bottle at exactly 50%. Hunter Laing is the third generation of a Glasgow family that has traded whisky since the middle of the twentieth century. A sherry butt over fifteen years lays dried fruit and dark sweetness over Craigellachie's meaty, mineral core — two opposing forces that suit each other.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin, fig and orange peel first, then walnut, dark chocolate and a dry mineral note from the distillery.

Palate

Full and dry at the same time. Dried fruit, malt and cocoa meet the sulphurous flint edge, with spice and an oily texture carrying it all.

Finish

Long and dry, with nuts, dried fruit and a persistent spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 2007/2022 The Old Malt Cask 15 years Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2022
Edition: The Old Malt Cask

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Mineral · Spiced · Nutty

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask from a sherry butt with fifteen years in wood. Old Malt Cask releases of that age disappear quickly, and sherried Craigellachie is not common.

Did you know?

Old Malt Cask bottles consistently at 50% — not at cask strength and not at 46%. The idea is that a fixed strength lets you compare distilleries directly, without the alcohol level clouding the picture.

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See our full range of The Old Malt Cask

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The Elgin area lent its name to some of Speyside's best-known distilleries. Miltonduff remains one of the more reserved of the bunch.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 1994 The First Editions 28 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing's The First Editions series, matured in a refill hogshead and bottled at cask strength 50.6%.

The First Editions is an exclusive series of single cask releases from the family behind Hunter Laing, selected with great expertise and deep insight into whisky craftsmanship. The series features unique whiskies from across Scotland, always bottled at cask strength, without added colour or filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers citrus peel, vanilla and honey.

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: The First Editions (Hunter Laing & Co.)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 50.6 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1994
Edition: The First Editions

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Investment Potential

Medium. A 28-year-old single cask Miltonduff at cask strength from a respected family bottler like Hunter Laing is a rare combination that typically appreciates in value over time.

Did You Know?

Miltonduff was once home to a Lomond still named Mosstowie, which produced a distinctly different style of malt until 1981.

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Some whiskies shout their pedigree from the label. This one from Inchgower prefers to let the liquid do the talking. This particular release from Speyside shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Inchgower 2008 The First Edition 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from The First Edition, released as part of the The First Edition range.

The whisky was distilled in 2008.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, barley and a soft citrus lift.

Palate

Soft vanilla, malt and light spice.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2008 The First Edition 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: The First Edition
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Edition: The First Edition

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Hunter Laing, the family behind The First Edition, was established in 2013 but carries on a whisky tradition going back to Stewart Laing's father and grandfather in the Scotch trade.

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62 percent is not a number you hand anyone unprepared. In return nothing has been filtered out, no colour added and no water poured in — you get the contents of the cask as they were when the bung came off.

Expert description

Braeval 2009 The First Edition 14 Years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a Refill Oloroso Butt, bottled at cask strength, 62%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

The First Edition is the series from Andrew Laing and Edition Spirits, where single casks from across Scotland are selected and bottled without compromise. Andrew Laing is the son of Stewart Laing and carries the family tradition of independent bottling forward under his own name.

Braeval is a high-lying Speyside distillery whose spirit is light and floral. Fourteen years in a refill oloroso butt adds nut and dried fruit without covering the spirit, and the high strength makes the profile dense and concentrated.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and walnut with pale honey, cinnamon and a stroke of freshly cut oak.

Palate

Dense and spiced with raisin, almond and baked apple. The alcohol is pronounced, but the fruit holds its ground.

Finish

Very long and dry with nuts, spice and a warm oak note.

Specifications

Name: Braeval 2009 The First Edition 14 Years Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 62%
Distillery: Braeval
Bottler: The First Edition
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 62%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Oloroso Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Edition: The First Edition

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Nutty · Fruity · Very powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask bottling from a smaller series and a distillery without an official range. Releases from Edition Spirits appear in small volumes.

Did you know?

The Laing name runs through three generations of independent bottlers in Scotland. The family businesses have been divided several times over the years, and today different branches of the family each run their own company.

See our full range of Braeval
See our full range of The First Edition

Madeira is wine that has been deliberately heated. The casks carry that treatment with them, and it is a quite different sweetness from sherry — more caramelised, less raisiny. On the bright Glencadam spirit it makes for an unusual combination.

The expert's description

Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a finishing period in madeira casks, bottled at 46%.

Madeira is made by heating the wine over an extended period, which gives it a dry, nutty and lightly burnt character. The casks therefore add dried fruit, honey and spice rather than the dark syrup you get from Pedro Ximénez. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured and carries no age statement.

The Glencadam spirit is bright and fruit-driven, and precisely for that reason it takes a cask finish without disappearing. The madeira settles as a layer of rich fruit over the softer core, and the result is rounder than the core release without turning heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and honey, with spice and a lightly burnt sweetness. Behind it the bright Glencadam orchard fruit keeps things fresh.

Palate

Rich and fruity. Dried apricot, honey and nuts, with a soft, round sweetness and a spice that arrives late. The 46% gives the whisky enough body to carry the cask.

Finish

Medium and soft. Honey and dried fruit sliding out into a dry, lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam Madeira Wine Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finishing period in madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Madeira Wine Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349706588

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Spiced · Soft · Wine-finished

Did you know?

The Glencadam pot stills have lyne arms angled upwards rather than down. That forces more of the vapour back into the still, and the extra reflux is why the spirit comes out so bright and fruit-driven.

See our full range of Glencadam

Ian MacLeod Distillers belongs to the kind of spirit whisky people speak of quietly, with respect.

Expert's description

MacLeods Six Miniature Regional Malts Scotch Whisky 6x5 cl 40% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is blended and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers under the name Six Miniature Regional Malts.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet grain, fruit and light oak.

Palate

The palate delivers grain, spice and light oak.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and warm, with spice and grain.

Specifications

Name: MacLeods Six Miniature Regional Malts Scotch Whisky 6x5 cl 40%
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 6 x 5 CL
Edition: Six Miniature Regional Malts

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

Whisky.dk keeps a close eye on new releases from this distillery and its independent bottlings.

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Macallan took the two great oak traditions — European and American — and set them to work together. Double Cask is the result: a whisky that doesn't have to choose sides, but benefits from both.

Expert description

Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and bottled at 40%. While the classic Sherry Oak uses only European oak, Double Cask introduces American oak casks seasoned with Oloroso sherry. American oak provides a softer, sweeter profile with more vanilla and coconut, and the result is a lighter, more accessible Macallan than its Sherry Oak sibling.

Double Cask is a good entry point into the Macallan range and a great everyday dram. It does not eclipse its older Sherry Oak sibling, but it is more approachable and has broader appeal.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toffee, banana and fudge with soft sherry. Dark fruit, red berries and mild chocolate with baking spices like cardamom and vanilla.

Palate

Marshmallow and anise with ginger and citrus. Medium-thin mouthfeel with light dryness, fig notes and maltiness.

Finish

Plums and oaky sherry with smooth, fruity caramel. Long and soothing with vanilla and light black pepper.

Specifications

Name: Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned European and American oak casks
EAN no.: 5010314302863

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Vanilla-sweet · Fruity · Soft and accessible

Did you know?

American oak is far more commonly used for bourbon than for Scotch whisky — Macallan was one of the first distilleries to introduce American sherry casks into Speyside distillation as a systematic part of their production.

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Càrn Mòr bottled two Glenburgies from 2010 in the same year. One sat in oloroso, the other — this one — in Pedro Ximénez. Same spirit, same vintage and almost the same age, but two different sherry types, and the difference is clear in the glass.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2022 with an outturn of 1,418 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. PX sherry is made from sun-dried grapes and is far sweeter than oloroso. The casks give raisin, fig and dark syrup rather than the dry nuttiness oloroso lays in, and on a bright spirit like Glenburgie’s that means a noticeably rounder whisky.

The Glenburgie style is fruity, soft and elegant, with juicy apples, pears and bright malt notes. Càrn Mòr bottlings are known for letting that clean profile through, and here the PX cask gives a balance of sweetness, freshness and lightly spiced depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and fig first, with dark syrup and a warm spice note. Beneath the sweetness sit ripe fruit, vanilla and a trace of citrus.

Palate

Round and sweet. Ripe fruit, honey and vanilla, with cereal malt underneath and a lightly spiced depth towards the end. The PX cask takes up room, but the appley freshness gets through.

Finish

Pleasant and medium. Raisin and vanilla drying slowly into a lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,418
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229608

Flavour profile

Sherried · Sweet · Fruity · Malty · Spiced

Did you know?

Glenburgie is one of the largest distilleries in the Chivas Brothers portfolio, yet it is almost never released as an official single malt. Nearly all of it goes into blends, which is why independent bottlers account for the great majority of bottles carrying the name.

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The casks had held Islay whisky before Ardmore moved in. It sounds like a footnote, but it changes everything: here Highland peat meets the remains of coastal peat in the wood itself.

Please note: This bottle has wear and rust on the cap.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2009/2020 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks that previously held Islay whisky and bottled at 46%. It was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2020 in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection.

A cask does not forget. If it has held heavily peated Islay whisky, phenols remain in the staves and leach into the next filling. When the contents are already peated Highland malt from Ardmore, you end up with two different kinds of smoke layered on each other: the dry earthy one from Aberdeenshire and a hint of the maritime one from the west coast.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. Bottling at 46% was chosen to preserve body and mouthfeel without going all the way to cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry smoke first, with a suggestion of seaweed and iodine behind it that has no business being in a Highland. Vanilla, malt and green apple from the bourbon wood sit underneath.

Palate

Malty and soft to begin, then the smoke arrives in two layers: first the dry earthy one, then a saltier, more medicinal note from the cask’s past life. At 46% there is good body, and the two kinds of smoke stand clearly beside each other.

Finish

Medium to long. Ash, salt and malt, with a dry close where the Islay inheritance lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2009/2020 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks that previously held Islay whisky
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2020
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Malty · Vanilla · Dry · Spiced

Did You Know?

Ardmore was built in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family blend, Teacher's Highland Cream. For decades the distillery was almost invisible to consumers, because virtually all of its output went straight into blends. That is why most Ardmore bottles on the market still come from independent bottlers.

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