A litre rather than the usual 70 centilitres. That format was sold in airports, and this bottle has been standing since June 1990.

Please note: Part of the tax strip is missing, and the bottle has a small scratch or knock mark in the glass. The bottle came from Copenhagen Airport, June 1990.

The expert's description

Glenkinchie 10 Year Old Version is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% in a one litre bottle of 100 CL.

The ten year old was the distillery standard expression until it was replaced by the twelve year old. The change came because the two extra years in oak gave more vanilla, and the twelve has been the one on the shelves ever since.

Litre bottles like this were made for duty-free sales. Label, capsule and format all belong to that period, which makes the bottle as much a piece of airport history as a whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and floral with lemon, grass and a note of honey.

Palate

Soft and light at 43% with citrus, malt and a mild spiced sweetness. The Lowland style is clear: clean and without weight.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and lightly grassy.

Specifications

Name: Glenkinchie 10 Year Old Version Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43%
Distillery: Glenkinchie
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Other: Older bottling, duty-free, Copenhagen Airport June 1990

Flavour profile

Light · Floral · Citrus · Malty · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. The litre format was phased out along with duty-free sales within the EU, and the ten year old no longer exists. Bottles with documented origin and date are easier to place with collectors than those without.

Did you know?

Glenkinchie stopped malting its own grain in 1969, and the malting floors were turned into a whisky museum. The museum has been open to visitors ever since and is one of the oldest attractions of its kind in Scotch whisky.

See our full range of Glenkinchie

The label reads Pure Malt and the bottle holds 75 cl. Two small details that place this whisky somewhere quite different in time from what stands on the shelves today. This is Glen Grant as it was sold in the 1980s.

The expert's description

Glen Grant 10 Year Old Old Version is a Highland Pure Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside, bottled at 43%.

Pure Malt was the term used before Single Malt became the fixed standard, and 75 cl was the European bottle size until 70 cl took over in the early 1990s. The label calls the whisky Highland, which was common practice then — Speyside was for many years treated on paper as part of the Highland region, even for distilleries sitting in the middle of Rothes.

Glen Grant was founded in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant and has since been one of Speyside's largest houses. The style is light and dry, and that is no accident: the distillery runs tall pot stills fitted with purifiers, which send the heavier vapours back and let only the lighter spirit pass.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, apple skin and a dried floral note. There is a waxy depth behind the bright fruit that you often find in bottlings from this period.

Palate

Dry and firm, with barley, green apple and a hint of honey. The body is slimmer than a modern Speyside, yet there is more oily texture than 43% would promise.

Finish

Medium. Malt and white peppercorn, with a dry, almost mineral close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Grant 10 Year Old Old Version Highland Pure Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glen Grant
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Pure Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 75 CL
Bottled: 1980s
Edition: Old Version
EAN no.: 8700065013

Flavour profile

Malty · Dry · Lightly fruity · Waxy

Investment potential

Medium. Bottlings from the 1980s carrying the Pure Malt wording and the 75 cl bottle cannot be remade, and the supply only shrinks with the years. Glen Grant from this period also has a reputation for being fuller than the modern releases, which keeps collector interest alive.

Did you know?

Major Grant once had a safe cut into the rock in the distillery's garden, where he kept a bottle of whisky and two silver cups. Guests walking the garden were served on the spot, and the safe is still there.

See our full range of Glen Grant

Before DoubleWood took over the shelf, this was the bottle people pointed at when someone asked for Balvenie. The broad cognac shaped bottle, the green label and a distillery that had not yet become a name everyone knew.

The expert's description

Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 years Old Version is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 43 % in litre format.

Founder's Reserve was the Balvenie core bottling through the 1980s and 1990s, named after William Grant, who founded the distillery in 1892. It was phased out in the early 2000s when DoubleWood 12 took over as the entry bottle of the house, and it has not been in production since.

This is the older version in the distinctive broad bottle that looks more like a cognac bottle than a whisky bottle. The label calls the whisky a Highland Malt, which was common practice at the time, when Speyside was often treated as part of the Highland region rather than as a designation of its own.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, pale cereal and peeled apple. A soft sherry note sits behind it along with a hint of almond.

Palate

Round and malty with honeyed sweetness, vanilla and a lightly nutty middle. The sherry is discreet and pulls mainly towards raisin.

Finish

Medium, soft and dry at the end with malt and a touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 år Old Version
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks
Edition: Old Version in cognac shaped bottle

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Malty · Soft · Nutty · Lightly sherried

Investment potential

Medium. The bottling is discontinued and exists only in the quantities made at the time, and the litre format left the market along with intra-EU duty free. Discontinued Balvenie bottles in original condition are sought after by collectors.

Did you know?

William Grant built Balvenie in 1892 by reusing materials from the disused Balvenie New House, and the distillery still stands in the shadow of the 13th century ruins of Balvenie Castle.

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There was a time when the litre bottle sat on every airport shelf, and when the Highland Park label still read Orkney Islands rather than Viking Honour. This bottle belongs to that era: a full litre of the distillery's everyday 12 year old, wearing the design that came before the overhaul.

The expert's description

Highland Park 12 Year Old Version Orkney Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl is an Orkney Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky made from barley partly dried over heather peat cut at Hobbister Moor, bottled at 40% in the litre format.

This is the older presentation of the distillery's 12 year old. The 100 cl size was for many years the standard in duty free shops and on board the ferries, where travellers could buy larger bottles than the domestic trade offered. It has become rare, which is exactly why these litre bottles tend to be set aside rather than opened.

The label is a date stamp in itself. It reads Orkney Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky, wording Highland Park used until the distillery reworked the whole range in 2017 along Norse lines and renamed the 12 year old Viking Honour. Typeface, colours and bottle shape changed at the same time, and the old label became history.

The whisky itself is the distillery's cornerstone. Highland Park has been distilling at Kirkwall since 1798 and is known for keeping its peat restrained, so the smoke runs beneath the malt and honey instead of taking charge. At 40% the result is soft and easy to approach without losing character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heather honey and pale caramel first, then a dry, almost floral smoke closer to warm heather than to a bonfire. A twist of orange peel sits behind it.

Palate

Soft and malty, with toffee, stewed apple and a touch of cinnamon. The smoke arrives late and gently, like a thin layer of ash laid over the sweetness.

Finish

Medium. Malt and honey ebb away slowly, leaving peat and a small breath of salt at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 12 Year Old Version Orkney Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 40%
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney, Scotland
Type: Orkney Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Edition: Older release in litre format

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Honeyed · Malty · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. The label is discontinued, the litre format is no longer stocked for duty free, and older bottlings of Highland Park 12 Year Old now surface mainly at auction. This is not a single cask, but a piece of distillery history in a size that will not return.

Did you know?

Highland Park is one of very few Scottish distilleries still running its own floor maltings. Roughly a fifth of the barley is turned by hand on the floors at Kirkwall and dried over peat, while the rest arrives unpeated from the mainland. That blend is what keeps the smoke measured.

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Some bottles have sat on a shelf longer than most of us have been driving. This Talisker 10 Year Old dates from the 1980s, when the label still carried the classic "Map Label" motif, and the 100cl format makes it a genuine rarity today.

Expert Description

Talisker 10 Year Old Old Version Map Label 100cl is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the 1980s, matured in American oak casks and bottled at 45.8%. "Map Label" refers to the illustrated map of Skye that decorated Talisker's labels in this era, before several design changes through the 90s, 2000s and 2012 changed the look.

The 100cl format was common in the export and bar market of the period, but is rare to find today, especially combined with a bottle that is genuinely over 40 years old. The whisky itself is the same powerful 10 Year Old, just from a time when Talisker looked markedly different on the shelf.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is powerful and classic Talisker, with smoke, sea salt and citrus, backed by a deep sweetness typical of whisky that has been left standing for a long time after bottling.

Palate

The palate is rich and warming, with smoke, salt and citrus up front and a peppery edge building throughout.

Finish

The finish is long and intense, with a lingering pepper note and a lightly salty close.

Specifications

Name: Talisker 10 Year Old
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 45.8%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Old Version, Map Label, 1980s

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Citrusy · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

High - a genuine 1980s vintage in the rare 100cl format with the classic Map Label, making it one of the more remarkable older Talisker bottles to find today.

Did You Know?

The "Map Label" era was one of the earliest in which Talisker printed an illustrated map of Skye directly on the label, long before the distillery's current, more minimalist design.

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

Expert's description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Balanced

Did you know?

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

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Chapter by chapter, Torabhaig is building its own story on Skye. Allt Gleann is the second chapter in that tale – a little closer to the peat than the first.

Expert's description

Torabhaig Allt Gleann Legacy Series Single Malt Whisky Skye 46% is a Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in First-fill ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

Allt Gleann is the second release in The Legacy Series and was distilled in 2017, where the barley was peated to 77 ppm before distillation and settled at 17 ppm in the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke, citrus and crisp green apples.

Palate

Spiced smoke with a light sweetness.

Finish

Long and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Torabhaig Allt Gleann Legacy Series Single Malt Whisky Skye 46%
Distillery: Torabhaig
Region/Country: Isle of Skye
Type: Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Legacy Series Chapter 2 – Allt Gleann, 2nd release

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Torabhaig opened in 2017 as only the second whisky distillery ever built on the Isle of Skye and uses its own house style, 'smoke with taste', as a guiding principle for every release.

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

Expert's description

Lagavulin 16 Year White Horse Single Islay Malt Whisky 100 cl No Box 43% is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

This bottling comes from White Horse Distillers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bonfire smoke, dried fruit and a maritime edge.

Palate

Rich smoke, dark chocolate and spiced oak.

Finish

Dry and smoky with a final salty note.

Specifications

Name: Lagavulin 16 Year White Horse Single Islay Malt Whisky 100 cl No Box 43%
Distillery: Lagavulin
Bottler: White Horse Distillers
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. Vintage bottles from the 1980s under the former White Horse name are no longer produced, and even without the original box the contents remain a rare find for collectors.

Did you know?

White Horse Distillers once owned Lagavulin and used the distillery's whisky as the heart of its well-known blend, before Diageo brought the brand together under the Lagavulin name alone.

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Some distilleries never become household names on the shelf. They work quietly, supply malt for other people's blends, and only rarely let a single bottle out on its own. Braes of Glenlivet is one of them.

Expert Description

Braes of Glenlivet 1979/1995 Signatory Vintage 15 Year Old is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes from the Braes of Glenlivet distillery, today known as Braeval, rarely seen bottled as a single malt since most of its production traditionally goes into blends. This release was distilled on 6 June 1979 and bottled by the independent bottler Signatory Vintage in May 1995 from two sherry casks (cask no. 16042 and 16043), after 15 years of maturation. Only 1,200 bottles were released in Signatory Vintage's classic dumpy bottle, making it a sought-after collector's item from a distillery rarely seen in this form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark amber with a reddish tint, and an aroma of roasted nuts, dark berries, raisins, leather and old orange peel, in a complex and harmonious sherry nose with a hint of tobacco and herbs.

Palate

Soft and full with dates, raisins, old oak and black pepper, carried by leather, a light sulphur note, tobacco, menthol and a touch of liquorice.

Finish

Long and warm with dark fruit and a lingering sherry character.

Specifications

Name: 1979/1995
Distillery: Braes of Glenlivet (Braeval)
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Casks, cask no. 16042 and 16043
Distilled: 06.06.1979
Bottled: 05.1995
Number of bottles: 1,200 bottles
Edition: Signatory Vintage Dumpy Bottle

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Full-bodied · Spiced · Old-school

Investment Potential

High. Braes of Glenlivet, today Braeval, is very rarely bottled as a single malt, and a vintage bottling from 1979 with only 1,200 bottles is exactly the kind of release that rises sharply in demand among collectors of closed or rarely seen distilleries.

Did You Know?

Braes of Glenlivet officially changed its name to Braeval in 1994, precisely to avoid confusion with The Glenlivet, yet bottles like this one, released before the name change had fully taken hold, still carry the original name.

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A screen-printed label from the 1990s, a classic Bowmore 12 Year and the unmistakable Islay identity. This is the bottle many people remember as their first real Islay malt — and as a collector's piece, it is now more sought-after than ever.

Expert's description

Bowmore 12 Year Old Version is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 40%. This is the screen-printed edition from the 1990s — a format that has been discontinued and marks a specific chapter in Bowmore's design history. Screen printing directly onto the glass bottle was the standard for the export market at the time, and today it is a marker for collectors of historical whiskies. The contents are classic Bowmore 12 Year: matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks in the iconic No. 1 Vaults, partially below sea level. At 40%, with light peat smoke, honey, citrus and sea salt — Bowmore from the ground up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light peat smoke, honey and a little citrus. A salty sea breeze and a hint of vanilla. Inviting and accessible.

Taste

Soft and balanced. Heather honey and ripe fruit, the smoke drawing discreetly through and giving Islay character without overpowering.

Finish

Clean and medium length. A trace of honey and sea salt remain.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 12 Year Old Version Screen Print Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry
Edition: Old Version – Screen Print (1990s)
EAN no.: 5010496080818

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Honey · Collector · Vintage

Did you know?

Screen printing directly onto glass bottles — as used on this edition — was a popular premium packaging method in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly for the export market. It was eventually replaced by adhesive labels as production volumes increased.

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Oban sits wedged between the cliffs in the centre of the town that shares its name, with the sea right outside the door leaving its mark on every cask.

Expert's Description

Oban 14 Year Old is a Single West Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, the distillery's classic core release, bottled at 43%.

Oban is wedged between cliffs and harbour in the middle of the town sharing its name, and that maritime location is clearly felt in this 14-year-old core release, which balances a touch of smoke with fruity sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, citrus peel and honey.

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: Oban
Region/Country: West Highlands, Scotland
Type: Single West Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
EAN no.: 5000281005447

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Oban is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, founded in 1794 – seven years before the town itself was officially granted burgh status.

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Murray McDavid has built its name on giving whisky one last, distinctive turn on unusual cask types — and here that turn is cognac. This GlenAllachie, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2020 after 12 years, spent its final year in ex-cognac casks following maturation in a sherry butt. The result is creamy malt, fruity toffee and a touch of vanilla.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 2008/2020 Murray McDavid 12 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in a sherry butt and finished in 1st fill cognac casks, bottled at 50% ABV.

Murray McDavid calls itself the "pioneers of whisky maturation" and has built its reputation on exactly this kind of cask experimentation, where an already mature distillate is given one final finish that pulls it in a new direction. Here, the last 12 months of maturation took place in two specific 1st fill cognac casks (#1910865 and #1920865), after the whisky had already drawn its base character from a sherry butt.

The result is a whisky where GlenAllachie's creamy, fruity sherry character meets the softer, more perfumed wood notes of cognac casks — a combination rarely seen outside the kind of independent bottlings Murray McDavid is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Creamy malt and fruity toffee, with an underlying note of soft oak and a touch of vanilla from the cognac casks.

Palate

Soft fruit and vanilla sit up front, supported by a round, creamy sweetness from the original sherry maturation.

Finish

Medium length, with a gentle oak note and a lingering hint of cognac's perfumed sweetness.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2008/2020 Murray McDavid 12 Year Old 1st fill Cognac Casks
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Butt, finished in 1st fill cognac casks (#1910865, #1920865)
Number of bottles: 771
Edition: Limited Release – Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302645

Flavour profile

Creamy malt · Fruity toffee · Soft oak · Vanilla · Cognac finish

Investment potential

With only 771 bottles and a rare cognac finish from a respected independent bottler like Murray McDavid, this release sits at the high end of investment potential. The Benchmark Series is known among collectors for exactly this kind of unconventional cask choice, hard to come across twice.

Did you know?

The two specific cognac casks behind this finish — #1910865 and #1920865 — are named by their own cask numbers, something Murray McDavid often highlights to underline just how specific and traceable each finish is.

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The pirate holds the bottle on this one, the original, and the version that came first of the two.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in used rye casks and bottled at cask strength, 51.8%.

The release was created to honour outgoing Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, who left the role after 13 years at Ardbeg. This is the original Committee Release label, where the pirate on the front holds a bottle of Ardbeg in hand.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye and peat in close interplay, with a dry sharpness from the rye casks.

Palate

Full cask strength gives an intense, spiced structure, with smoke and rye grain dominating.

Finish

Long and dry, with lasting spice and a smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used rye casks
Edition: Committee Release, cask strength

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Rye-driven · Cask strength

Did You Know?

This release is the original Committee Release label, with the pirate holding a bottle of Ardbeg in hand, unlike the later French Label variant where the bottle is left out.

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Cask number 9711 sat maturing for 22 years before Gregor Hannah moved the contents into an oloroso cask that had just been emptied. Six months later 307 bottles were filled. A move like that can go either way — this one went the right way.

The expert's description

Glen Grant 1998/2021 Lady of the Glen 23 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a hogshead finished in an oloroso cask, bottled at cask strength 50.4%.

The spirit went into cask in 1998 and was bottled in 2021 from cask number 9711. For its final months the whisky sat in a freshly emptied oloroso hogshead, a far more aggressive form of finishing than an older sherry cask would deliver. The result is 307 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Lady of the Glen is run by Gregor Hannah under the name Hannah Whisky Merchants, and the whole business model is single cask. He buys individual casks, follows them closely and often adds a short finish when he judges a cask needs a nudge. Glen Grant's light, dry spirit is a rewarding starting point for exactly that, because there is room for the sherry without losing the malt.

Tasting notes

Nose

Prunes and maple syrup first, then dark chocolate and coffee grounds. Behind that sit currants, cinnamon and a trace of old leather. Orange peel emerges after a couple of minutes.

Palate

Deep, dry sherry rather than sweet sherry. Dark fruit, walnut and cocoa, with a firm, almost bitter edge from the cask. Underneath it all the light Glen Grant malt keeps the whisky from turning heavy.

Finish

Long. Dark chocolate, dried figs and tobacco ebbing slowly into a dryness of oak and cinnamon.

Specifications

Name: Glen Grant 1998/2021 Lady of the Glen 23 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50.4%
Distillery: Glen Grant
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 23 years
ABV: 50.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead finished in an oloroso cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 307
Edition: Single Cask no. 9711

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Dry · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. A 23 year old single cask in 307 bottles cannot be repeated, and Glen Grant at that age from independent bottlers is growing steadily scarcer. The combination of high age, cask strength and a documented cask number is what collectors look for.

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen sells its casks as casks — Gregor Hannah routinely puts the cask number, fill date and bottling date openly on the label. It is a level of transparency many larger houses still hold back.

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This bottle was filled while single malt was still something few people outside Scotland had heard of. The label, the cork and the 75 cl belong to another era, and that is the whole reason it is interesting now.

Please note: this is an old bottling from the 1970s in a 75 cl bottle.

The expert description

Glen Deveron 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from MacDuff, bottled at 40% in a 75 cl bottle.

MacDuff stands near Banff on the north coast where the river Deveron meets the Moray Firth, and the distillery was built in 1962. Glen Deveron was for decades the name on the official house single malt, while the MacDuff name was left to the independent bottlers. The range has since been replaced by The Deveron, which makes any Glen Deveron bottle a closed chapter.

This one dates from the 1970s and holds 75 cl, the standard European format before 70 cl came in during the 1990s. The bottle size alone dates it, and for a collector that is part of the point.

Tasting notes

Nose

Old fashioned and restrained. Wax, dried apple and malt, with a dusty note like the inside of an old cupboard.

Palate

Soft and malty with pale caramel and nut, and the oily texture the spirit of that era so often had.

Finish

Medium, dry and mineral with a final sweetness of honey.

Specifications

Name: Glen Deveron 12 Years Old
Distillery: MacDuff
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 75 CL
Edition: Old bottling from the 1970s
EAN no.: 5010752000802

Flavour profile

Malty · Waxy · Soft · Mineral · Mature

Investment potential

Medium. An official bottling from the 1970s under a brand name that no longer exists cannot by definition be recreated. Old bottles from this period also carry a different production reality behind them, and that is exactly what collectors of vintage bottlings are after.

Did you know?

The 75 cl format was the European standard until the 1990s, when 70 cl became the common measure across the EU. Bottle size is therefore one of the quickest ways to date an old European whisky bottle, long before you start reading the label.

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

Expert's description

Inverleven 1989/2003 Gordon & Macphail Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40% is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

This bottling comes from Gordon & MacPhail, released as part of the Licensed Bottling range.

The whisky was distilled in 1989 and bottled in 18 July 2003.

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: Inverleven 1989/2003 Gordon & Macphail Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Inverleven
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Lowland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1989
Bottled: 18 July 2003
Edition: Licensed Bottling
EAN no.: 5020613471528

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. Inverleven distillery has been demolished, and any bottling from it becomes progressively harder to find, which over time has driven demand for the last remaining bottles noticeably higher.

Did you know?

Inverleven was fitted with one of Scotland's few Lomond stills, installed specifically to produce a light, Lowland-style malt for blends, a style that has almost vanished along with the distillery itself.

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Naked Malt stripped the name The Naked Grouse of its bird and kept only what the whisky was really about: two of Scotland's best-known single malts, sherry-matured and blended together.

Expert's Description

Naked Malt is a Blended Malt Whisky matured in sherry casks, combining Macallan and Highland Park, bottled at 40%.

The whisky draws its balance from the two celebrated single malts, creating a rich and intense flavour with clear hints of sherry, caramel and ripe berries – an accessible introduction to the sherry style for newcomers and enthusiasts alike.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with toasted nuts and orange marmalade, while dark chocolate lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers muscovado sugar and brown sugar, with a hint of spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is rounded off with dark sweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Naked Malt (William Grant & Sons)
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Edition: Tidligere kendt som The Naked Grouse
EAN no.: 5010314304904

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

Naked Malt is a blend of Macallan and Highland Park – two of Scotland's most celebrated sherry-matured single malts – and is the newer, malt-only successor to the earlier The Naked Grouse.

See our full range of Naked Malt

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2012/2021 Murray McDavid 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky, matured in bourbon hogshead, finish på 1st fill koval bourbonfade and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Murray McDavid as part of the Limited Release – Benchmark series.

It was distilled 2012 and bottled 2021, giving it 8 years.

Only 1614 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet citrus peel, beeswax and vanilla.

Palate

The taste unfolds with citrus peel, vanilla and caramel.

Finish

It finishes long and spicy, with gentle sweetness from American oak and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2012/2021 Murray McDavid 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Hogshead, finish på 1st Fill Koval Bourbonfade (#313709A-313713)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1614
Edition: Limited Release – Benchmark
EAN no.: 5060353306537

Flavour profile

Bourbon-matured · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

For a period, Linkwood ran an old and a new still house side by side, each with differently shaped stills, before production was later consolidated.

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The very first bottling from a brand-new distillery always sets the standard – for Isle of Raasay Distillery, that standard is Batch 1.

Expert Review

Raasay Batch 1 2021 Single Island Malt Whisky 70 cl 46,4% is a Single Island Malt Whisky matured in a combination of peated and unpeated spirit and bottled at 46.4% ABV.

The first bottling from Raasay in 2021. Batch 1, and the batches that followed, defined the house style that Raasay Single Malt would become known for. The whisky is a blend of peated and unpeated spirit, giving a complex, layered character right from the distillery's very first release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is complex with a hint of smoke, citrus and a light maritime tone.

Palate

The palate is layered with apple, a mild smoky character and a light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long, with lingering smoke and citrus.

Specifications

Name: Raasay Batch 1 2021 Single Island Malt Whisky 70 cl 46,4%
Distillery: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Region: Isle of Raasay, Scotland
Type: Single Island Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a combination of peated and unpeated spirit
Edition: Batch 1
EAN No.: 5060221850629

Flavour Profile

Peated · Complex · Maritime

Did You Know?

Isle of Raasay Distillery, when it opened in 2017, was the first legal distillery ever on the island of Raasay, after several failed historical attempts to establish whisky production there.

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No sherry. Not a single sherry cask in twenty-five years. That is an unusual call for a whisky of this age, where most distilleries reach for oloroso to add depth — here the bourbon wood has been left to work the whole way, and the whisky only woken at the end.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 25 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks with a twelve-month finishing period in 1st fill bourbon casks, bottled at 48.8%.

For most of its life the whisky sits in used bourbon casks, where the wood gives slowly and lets the distillery character lead. In the final year it moves into 1st fill casks, which add fresh vanilla and lift to a whisky that would otherwise have turned very dry. It is a move that demands good timing — too little and nothing happens, too much and the twenty-five years get covered over.

Twenty-five years is where Glen Scotia starts to resemble something other than itself. The maritime character is still present, but it has become brine and an ashy smoke note rather than fresh sea air. This is the oldest permanent bottling in the distillery range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon and ginger first, then pine resin and a trace of sea salt. After a couple of minutes it develops towards banoffee pie and maple syrup, with leather and cocoa underneath.

Palate

Luscious and smooth. Big orchard fruit notes, honey and malt, with a discreet spice and a hint of ashy smoke. The 48.8% gives weight without making it hard.

Finish

Long and drying. A wisp of smoke, brine and peppery oak that lingers well after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48.8%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks with twelve months in 1st fill bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5016840161226

Flavour profile

Maritime · Fruity · Lightly peated · Dry · Honeyed

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old Campbeltown whisky exists in very small numbers, because the region has only three working distilleries and stocks from the 1990s were thin. The bottling is also the oldest permanent release in the distillery range, which makes it a natural reference point for collectors of the region.

Did you know?

Loch Lomond Group bought Glen Scotia in 2014 and has invested heavily in the site since — greater production, new warehouses and a visitor centre. It is the first time in more than a century that the distillery has had an owner able to build rather than merely survive.

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Fifteen years, two cask types and a bottle that proves Tomatin's patience always pays off with interest.

Expert's description

Tomatin 15 år Moscatel Wine Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in first 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 5 years in Moscatel wine casks and bottled at 46%.

This Moscatel Wine Cask expression was distilled in 2003 and matured first for ten years in ex-bourbon casks, then five years in Moscatel wine casks from Spain.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted citrus spice and sun-dried fruit.

Palate

Warm and spiced with distinct wine sweetness.

Finish

Creamy and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 15 år Moscatel Wine Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: first 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 5 years in Moscatel wine casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2003
Edition: Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5018481901803

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

In 1986, Tomatin was saved from closure by the Japanese companies Takara Shuzo and Okura & Co, making it the first Scotch distillery to be fully Japanese-owned.

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Verdejo wine is rarely seen in Scotch casks. This re-charred cask gives a whisky with a mineral, almost white-wine-like edge.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2009 Single Cask 3386 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Re-charred Verdejo white wine cask #3386 and bottled at 54%.

This single cask was drawn from a re-charred Verdejo white wine cask, marked #3386, yielding as many as 410 bottles at a cask strength of 54%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

White grapes, apple skin and a fresh mineral tone.

Palate

Spiced and tart with green fruit and light oak.

Finish

Fresh and medium long.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2009 Single Cask 3386 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: almost 11 Years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Re-charred Verdejo white wine cask #3386
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 5. juni 2009
Bottled: 2. november 2020
Number of bottles: 410
Edition: Single Cask
EAN no.: 5018481903180

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Verdejo is a Spanish white wine grape from the Rueda region, and casks that previously held this wine are rare even among independent bottlers.

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A single cask, re-charred and filled with Tomatin malt, became just under twelve years of patience – and 283 bottles that will never come again.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2008 Single Cask 2907 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52,8% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Re-charred American oak hogshead #2907 and bottled at 52,8%.

This single cask was drawn from a re-charred American oak hogshead, marked #2907, yielding a total of 283 bottles at a cask strength of 52.8%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak, caramel and dark honey.

Palate

Full and spiced with a hint of smoky vanilla.

Finish

Long and warming at full cask strength.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2008 Single Cask 2907 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52,8%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: almost 12 Years
ABV: 52,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Re-charred American oak hogshead #2907
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 8. maj 2008
Bottled: 2. november 2020
Number of bottles: 283
Edition: Single Cask
EAN no.: 5018481903203

Flavour Profile

Round · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Re-charring oak casks – where the inside of the barrel is burned anew – is used to reopen the wood's sugars and give the whisky an extra layer of caramel and spice.

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Four years may sound young, but when the cask works this actively, the whisky travels a long way in a short time. Murray McDavid's Benchmark series is exactly about showing what a good cask can do.

The expert's description

Tullibardine 2016/2021 Murray McDavid Single Highland Malt Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Bourbon hogshead finished in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez casks, cask #659812/14/46 and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2021 by Murray McDavid as part of the Benchmark series, with an outturn of 1,338 bottles. It matured in a bourbon hogshead and received a finishing period of 16 months in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, giving a delicate, fruit-driven character with clear sherry notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted coffee and vanilla with a hint of sherry.

Palate

Rich in malt notes and chocolate fudge.

Finish

Sweet and spiced finish of moderate length.

Specifications

Name: Tullibardine 2016/2021 Murray McDavid Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tullibardine
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead finished in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez casks, cask #659812/14/46
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1.338
Edition: Limited Release, Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302706

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

Murray McDavid is named after two of the company's founders and was among the first independent bottlers to systematically experiment with wine cask finishes as a regular part of their releases.

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Pedro Ximenez is the sweetest sherry that exists – thick, dark and almost syrupy. When Caol Ila's peat smoke encounters seven months in PX hogsheads, the result is surprisingly subtle: the sweetness works its way into the smoke and gives it a fruity, dried dimension.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in Ximenez-Spinola PX sherry hogshead casks (nos. 2005618/19/23), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series is an experimental line that systematically explores cask combinations in larger batches. The PX finish here lasts seven months – short enough to preserve Caol Ila's character, long enough for the Spanish dessert wine to leave its mark.

1,242 bottles were produced. Ximenez-Spinola is one of the most acclaimed PX houses in Jerez, and it is from them that Murray McDavid sourced these casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit – raisins and dark plums – blends with Caol Ila's maritime smoke. A note of mocha and orange peel gives depth.

Palate

Delicate and fruity. Smoke and PX sweetness find each other in good balance. Mocha, dark dried fruit and a soft, lightly oily texture.

Finish

Gentle and lingering. Smoke and sweetness fade side by side with a fresh note of smoke and fruit at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – PX Sherry Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with PX sherry hogshead finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,242
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302669

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · PX-sweet · Delicate · Maritime

Did you know?

The Pedro Ximenez grape is grown in the Jerez region of Spain and is one of the world's sweetest and most concentrated varieties. The wines produced from it are so thick they almost pour like syrup.

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The world of Cognac and Islay whisky rarely meet – they pull in very different directions. But Murray McDavid found a cask that made them listen to each other: a bourbon hogshead with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks, and Caol Ila's smoke blending with the French spirit's sweetness.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks (nos. 1925785/193/194), bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series systematically experiments with unusual cask combinations in larger batches. This batch produced 1,694 bottles. The 14-month finish in Cognac casks contributes a sweet, lightly winey complexity lifting it above a simple bourbon profile.

Caol Ila at six years is fresh and direct – the smoke is clear, the distillate body is present, and the Cognac finish adds a sweeter frame without erasing the distillate's maritime character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet and smoky at once. Sweet peat, ginger and apple – the Cognac cask adds a lightly fruity glow behind Caol Ila's typical maritime smoke.

Palate

Soft and fruity with good body. Caramel and smoke meet notes of ginger and apple. The Cognac sweetness is discreet but notable.

Finish

Clean and fresh with salted caramel and a light medicinal Caol Ila note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – 1st Fill Cognac Cask Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with finish in 1st fill Cognac casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,694
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302683

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Fresh

Did you know?

Cognac casks are rare in whisky – they come from France and have typically held grape spirit for many years. Their nutty and fruity profile lends a completely different wininess than sherry or port casks.

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Douglas Laing's Provenance series is designed as an honest, unfiltered taste of a distillery — no dressing up, just character.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 2012/2021 Douglas Laing Provenance is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, distilled in September 2012 and bottled in March 2021 after 8 years of maturation at 46%.

With 445 bottles, this young, independent bottling offers a fresh, direct look at Strathmill's character, neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A warm and spiced aroma with notes of lemon.

Palate

Filled with honey, supported by malt, charred oak and spice.

Finish

A long finish with lingering vanilla notes.

Specifications

Name: Strathmill 2012/2021
Distillery: Strathmill
Bottler: Provenance series from Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: September 2012
Bottled: March 2021
Number of Bottles: 445 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Young · Citrus-fresh · Spiced · Honeyed

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing's Provenance series is designed for younger whisky, typically under 10 years, focused on showing a distillery's clean character without heavy cask influence.

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Full strength, small bottle. Cask Strength in miniature format is just as uncompromising.

Expert's description

Tomatin Miniature Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 57,5% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 57,5%.

This miniature is bottled at 57.5% from the same blend of bourbon and sherry casks as the full-size bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich sherry sweetness and toasted oak.

Palate

Powerful with dark fruit and spice.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Miniature Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 57,5%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57,5%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: a mix of bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Miniature

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Cask-strength releases are bottled without added water, meaning the alcohol percentage varies from cask to cask and batch to batch.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2013/2021 Wilson & Morgan 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky, matured in virgin oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Wilson & Morgan.

It was distilled 2013 and bottled 2021, giving it 8 years.

Only 1026 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet blossom, ripe pears and coconut.

Palate

The taste unfolds with beeswax, fresh baked wood and vanilla custard.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with vanilla custard and blossom.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2013/2021 Wilson & Morgan 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin Oak (#303765-68-69)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1026
EAN no.: 8033749407337

Flavour profile

Spicy · Sweet · Rich

Did you know?

When the distillery was rebuilt in 1962, manager Roddie Mackay insisted on copying the old stills down to the last detail, and reportedly refused to have cobwebs removed from the old still house because he believed they were part of the character.

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Rum casks and Scotch whisky have travelled together since the trading ships began running the same route both ways. Here that connection is made concrete: a lightly peated blend that has ended its life in Latin American rum casks.

The expert description

Flatnöse Rum Finish is a Blended Scotch Whisky finished in Latin American rum casks and bottled at 43% in small batch.

The base whisky is the same light, peated blend from Islay Boys that the rest of the Flatnöse family is built on. The difference lies in the closing period in rum wood, which among other things has contributed exotic demerara notes, the dark, almost molasses-like sweetness familiar from rum made on cane syrup.

The rum cask makes the whisky softer and rounder without the smoke disappearing. It is bottled without chill filtration in small batch, so the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and sweet with demerara sugar, a light smoky edge and a note of ripe banana.

Palate

Lively and lightly spiced with vanilla and demerara in the background, while the malt and smoke keep it from turning too sweet.

Finish

Medium and soft with syrup, spice and a final touch of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Rum Barrel Finish
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Latin American rum casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110227

Flavour profile

Sweet · Lightly smoky · Spiced · Vanilla · Soft

Did you know?

Demerara takes its name from a river in Guyana where the sugar cane grew along the banks. Today the word covers both a type of sugar and a style of rum, and it is the dark, molasses-like sweetness of that style the rum casks leave behind in the whisky.

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