The islands along the west coast of Scotland were governed from the sea, not from land. That is the world the Flatnöse name points back to, and the whisky has been given the same direct character to carry.

The expert description

Flatnöse Blended Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated blend bottled at 43% in small batch.

Where the Islay Boys blended malt sticks to pure malt whisky, this release is a proper blend with both malt and grain. The grain gives softness and a cereal sweetness that malt alone does not deliver, and the smoke therefore has a rounder base to stand on.

The name is taken from Ketill Flatnöse, the Norse chieftain who in the late 800s was king over the islands along the west coast. Bottling happens in small batch and without chill filtration, so the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and sweetness first, with an appealing note of smoke settling in underneath.

Palate

Pleasingly smoky, where pepper steps clearly forward alongside the smoke. The cereal sweetness sits below and holds it together.

Finish

Medium and dry with smoke, pepper and a final malty sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Blended Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110029

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Spiced · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

Very few blends are bottled without chill filtration. The process removes the compounds that can turn whisky hazy at low temperature, and it is used on almost every bottle at this level because haze gets mistaken for a fault. Islay Boys chose to skip it and explain why instead.

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Ketill Flatnöse was a Norse chieftain who ruled the islands along the west coast of Scotland in the late 800s. Islay Boys have borrowed his name for a whisky rather lighter on its feet than the man himself is said to have been.

The expert description

Flatnöse Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated blended malt bottled at 46% in small batch.

Behind the bottle stand Islay Boys, founded by Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie from the Rhinns peninsula on Islay. MacKenzie learned whisky production from Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich, and the firm has since built a set of brands around Norse island history.

This release is a blended malt, meaning malt whisky from several distilleries and not a drop of grain. The smoke is restrained and sits as an edge rather than as the main course, and 46% gives it body without making it hard. It is bottled without chill filtration in small batch, which means the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear first, with a faint peach behind and a note of honey tying it together.

Palate

Pleasingly round, where walnuts and citrus blossom step forward and where the smoke registers without taking up room.

Finish

Medium and soft with malt, nut and a final touch of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Blended Malt
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110081

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Fruity · Soft · Nutty · Honeyed

Did you know?

Islay Boys bought the island only brewery, Islay Ales, in 2018 and have since been working to get their own distillery standing. They began as bottlers of other people whisky and have ended up wanting to make their own, which on Islay is the rule rather than the exception.

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A Norwegian king in a kilt is not the first thing you associate with Islay. But Magnus Barelegs fought alongside the Celts in the late 1000s, and he has lent his name to a whisky just as unafraid of standing out.

Expert description

Bårelegs Battle Axe is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 55.7% without chill filtration, released as a small batch.

Behind the brand stand the Islay Boys, Donald MacKenzie from Port Charlotte and Mackay Smith from Portnahaven. Both are from the island and started blending and bottling whisky themselves with the aim of making something that tasted of Islay without costing a fortune in marketing.

Battle Axe is the most powerful of the expressions in the range and is bottled at high strength without filtration. The peat is present but held back in favour of fruit from the cask, which makes the profile different from the classic smoke monsters of the island's south coast.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear and peach with nutty notes from old oak and a fine layer of peat smoke underneath.

Palate

Round and full with date, walnut and citrus blossom. The smoke arrives late and never takes over.

Finish

Medium and warm with nuts, citrus and a last trace of peat.

Specifications

Name: Bårelegs Battle Axe Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55.7%
Bottler: Bårelegs
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55,7%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Battle Axe Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110234

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Lightly smoked · Maritime · Powerful

Did you know?

Magnus Barelegs earned his nickname because he returned from Scotland wearing a kilt instead of trousers. The saga records that his men went about with bare legs, and the name stuck for the rest of his life.

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Sometimes the best whisky is simply the one you know best. This 1 litre bottle is the same classic Glenfiddich 12 Years Old, just in a format that goes a little further.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old 1 litre is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, exactly like the distillery's well-known 70cl bottle, and offers the same fresh, pear-driven character that has made Glenfiddich 12 Years Old one of the world's best-selling single malt whiskies.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

Light and soft, with pear and malt sweetness carried by mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 1 litre
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: 1 litre format
EAN no.: 5010327324128

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old sells more bottles each year than most other single malt whiskies could ever dream of — hence the extra-large 1 litre format.

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Diageo's Distillers Edition series gives each distillery an extra cask finish, and for Royal Lochnagar that means a stint in sweet Muscatel casks.

Expert Review

Royal Lochnagar 2000/2012 Distillers Edition 12 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in Muscatel casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

Royal Lochnagar 2000 vintage in the Distillers Edition series. This 12-year-old whisky is double matured, first in traditional casks and then finished in Muscatel casks, adding an extra layer of sweetness and fruitiness on top of the distillery's classic, soft style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with raisin, honey and a light floral tone.

Palate

The palate is soft with dried fruit, caramel and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering raisin.

Specifications

Name: Royal Lochnagar 2000/2012 Distillers Edition 12 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Royal Lochnagar
Region: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Muscatel casks
Distilled: 2000
Bottled: 2012
Edition: Distillers Edition
EAN No.: 5000281023847

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Diageo's Distillers Edition series always uses a secondary maturation in wine or sherry casks, unique to each distillery – for Royal Lochnagar, the choice is Muscatel.

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There is a particular joy in finding an old single grain that has been allowed to mature well beyond the ordinary, as with this North British.

Expert's Description

North British The Ten 2007/2016 is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky from French whisky merchant La Maison du Whisky, matured in a used bourbon cask and bottled at 40.1%.

The Ten series from La Maison du Whisky brings together ten different distilleries under a shared concept. This North British is bottled without added colour or chill filtration, with a nose of creamy vanilla and light oak, and a palate of delicate oak, lemon and mild pepper.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with vanilla fudge and fresh straw, while creamy vanilla lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers delicate oak and honeycomb, with a hint of citrus notes.

Finish

The finish is dry and elegant.

Specifications

Distillery: North British
Bottler: The Ten (La Maison du Whisky)
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2016
Edition: The Ten

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Light · Elegant

Did You Know?

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

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Peat and grain sound like an unlikely pairing, but at Loch Lomond that kind of experiment is business as usual. Peated Single Grain is proof that smoke and lightness can happily share the same bottle.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled from peated malted barley on the distillery's continuous Coffey still, giving it a light, grain-like body combined with an earthy, medicinal smoke. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clove, vanilla and blackcurrant, with peat leaning towards bandages and a touch of iodine, alongside fresh lemons and pears.

Palate

Sweet, tangy peat with green apple, lime citrus and aniseed, followed by vanilla and a note of lemongrass.

Finish

Crisp, dry finish with distant peat smoke and a short but clear peaty impression.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Coffey still (continuous distillation)
EAN: 5016840260219
Serving suggestion: Neat or on ice

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Fruity · Fresh

Did You Know?

Even though the whisky is made from heavily peated malt, it is classed as grain rather than malt, because it is distilled on a continuous Coffey still rather than a pot still.

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Twenty-seven years after distillation, a single refill hogshead remains the only witness. Cask No. HL16113 held a mature, rounded Tamnavulin that Hunter Laing chose to let stand entirely on its own.

Expert description

Tamnavulin 1991/2019 Old Malt Cask 27 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in a refill hogshead and bottled at 48.6%.

The whisky is bottled under Old Malt Cask, a series originally created by Douglas Laing in 1998 and continued since 2013 by Hunter Laing & Co., after Stewart Laing left the family business and set up his own house together with sons Scott and Andrew. The series is known for a consistent strength around 50% and for letting each individual cask's character speak for itself.

This release comes from Cask No. HL16113, a refill hogshead that held the whisky from distillation in 1991 to bottling in 2019 - 27 years in total. Only 308 bottles were drawn from this single cask, with no chill-filtration and no added colour, so what reaches the glass is the pure, time-worn character of this particular cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apple and a trace of beeswax meet gentle butter and a muted note of old oak.

Palate

Round and oily, with notes of honey cake, dried apricot and a warm streak of clove spice.

Finish

Long and dry, closing on a hint of walnut and a lightly tannic oak from the many years of maturation.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin 1991 / Old Malt Cask / Hunter Laing
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co. (Old Malt Cask)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 27 Years
ABV: 48.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, Cask No. HL16113
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1991
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 308

Flavour profile

Mature · Honeyed · Spiced · Oily · Dry oak

Investment potential

Medium. A 27-year-old single cask with only 308 bottles from a distillery rarely seen this old tends to draw collectors and enthusiasts as remaining bottles are opened and disappear from shelves.

Did you know?

The Old Malt Cask series was founded in 1998 by Douglas Laing and passed to Hunter Laing & Co. in 2013, when Stewart Laing left the family business and started afresh alongside his two sons.

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A distillery that cannot be named, but a flavour that cannot hide. Scarabus is Hunter Laing's greeting from Islay's peat fields.

Expert's Description

Scarabus 10 Year Old Whisky is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from Hunter Laing, bottled at 46% after 10 years of maturation.

The source distillery is undisclosed, but the earthy, peat-smoked character clearly reveals its Islay origin. Hunter Laing uses the name Scarabus — a scarab, the Egyptian symbol of renewal — as an umbrella for their independent Islay bottlings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich, earthy peat smoke meets leather and menthol, softened by syrup and honey.

Palate

Round and smoky with a honeyed sweetness that balances the maritime peat.

Finish

Long, smooth and seductive with lingering smoke and a final note of leather.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus 10 Year Old
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5060354273661

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Maritime · Honeyed

Did You Know?

The name Scarabus comes from a Bronze Age settlement on Islay where scarab-shaped seals have been found — a detail Hunter Laing has woven into the bottle's identity.

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December 2014, five months after the distillery opened. Cask 440 is a Spanish Oloroso butt filled with unpeated spirit, and it is among the earliest casks in existence from Ardnamurchan. Six hundred and ninety-three bottles, released to one Danish importer.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan AD 12:14 CK.440 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butt of Spanish oak and bottled at 59.1% cask strength. The cask was filled in December 2014 and gave 693 bottles released exclusively for FC Whisky.

This is the unpeated side of the distillery. With no smoke to contend with, the Oloroso cask can work directly on the spirit’s fruitiness, and a full butt of around 500 litres works slowly and in measured fashion. The result is a sherry profile where dark fruit and nuts get room without being forced.

The cask was filled five months after the distillery opened in July 2014, which makes it one of the very earliest casks in the house. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and dark orange first, with walnut and a dry sherry note behind. Beneath sit fresh malt and a lightly waxy fruitiness that is Ardnamurchan’s unpeated signature.

Palate

Full and dark. Dried fruit, walnut and bitter chocolate open, then spice and an oak tannin tighten things mid-palate. At 59.1% the concentration is considerable, and a fresh acidity beneath the sherry keeps it from turning heavy.

Finish

Long and spiced. Raisin, nut and dry oak, with a warmth that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan AD 12:14 CK.440 FC Whisky Single Highland Malt Whisky 59.1%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 59.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butt of Spanish oak, cask no. 440
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: December 2014
Number of bottles: 693
Edition: Single Cask CK.440 for FC Whisky
EAN no.: 5060383651652

Flavour Profile

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

Investment Potential

Medium. The cask dates from the distillery’s first six months, and 693 bottles exist, released through one channel. Casks filled in 2014 are the oldest in existence from Ardnamurchan, and there will be no more.

Did You Know?

Ardnamurchan keeps its peated and unpeated production separate in different periods of the year, and the casks are marked accordingly. CK.440 is marked unpeated, so you know in advance there is no smoke in the bottle, a clarity very few distilleries offer on single casks.

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Red wine casks are rare in Scotch whisky, and there is a reason for that. The tannins can turn a whisky bitter and dry if you are not careful. Here they are used to pull the smoke towards fruit instead.

The expert description

Finlaggan Red Wine Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky first matured in bourbon casks and then finished in red wine casks, bottled at 46%.

The malt comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery, and The Vintage Malt Whisky Company moved it into red wine wood at the end. Where a port cask gives sweet, concentrated fruit, the red wine cask gives something drier and more grapey, plum, berry and a light tannin edge that keeps the sweetness in place.

The result is the most fruit-driven of the Finlaggan finishes, but also the one where the smoke is allowed to stay in front. It is bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lovely peat smoke with sweet red berries, dried fruit, oak and vanilla behind it.

Palate

Salted and smoky with notes of sweet fruit, plum jam, red grapes, orange marmalade and berries.

Finish

Sweet malt notes and grape skin, while the bonfire smoke lingers long afterwards.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Red Wine Finish
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask finished in red wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Red Wine Finish
EAN no.: 5024720322001

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Berry · Sweet · Maritime

Did you know?

Red wine casks are used far less often than sherry and bourbon wood in Scotch whisky. Wine casks are built thinner and have not held strong spirit before, which makes them less predictable, and the tannins can leave the whisky dry and tight if the cask is allowed to work too long.

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Six decades in one bottle. When Glenfarclas came to mark 185 years, the family went into the warehouses and brought out casks from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s — and married them into a single whisky.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed from casks spanning six decades and bottled at 46%.

Around two thirds of the casks are Spanish sherry oak, the rest other cask types from the distillery own warehouses. The whisky carries no age statement, because one would have to follow the youngest cask in the marriage and would say very little about what is actually in the bottle. The outturn is 6,000 bottles.

Glenfarclas was founded in May 1836, and the anniversary release was bottled in May 2021 — exactly 185 years later. It is the kind of marker a family-owned distillery can make precisely because there are still old casks left in its own warehouses to draw on.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep sherry and dried fruit, with raisin, fig and a dark syrup note. The oldest casks show up as a dusty, almost waxy depth behind.

Palate

Full and layered. Dark fruit and nuts from the old casks meet a fresher fruitiness from the younger ones, and the spice builds slowly through the palate. The 46% keeps the many layers apart.

Finish

Very long. Dried fruit, nuts and a dry oak note that keeps shifting.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Casks from six decades, around two thirds Spanish sherry oak
Bottled: May 2021
Number of bottles: 6,000
Edition: Celebrating Our 185th Anniversary - Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5018066200376

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Complex

Investment potential

Medium. 6,000 bottles of an anniversary release drawing on casks from six decades cannot be remade, and the composition rests on old stock that cannot be recreated. Anniversary bottles from family-owned distilleries tend to be collected rather than drunk.

Did you know?

Glenfarclas was founded in May 1836, and the 185th anniversary was marked by bottling in May 2021 — to the month, 185 years later. It is a detail that requires having casks from every decade in between.

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There is Islay whisky you have to work up to. This is not one of them. Original is the way into the range and into the island, peat, salt and malt in the most direct form it can be done.

The expert description

Finlaggan Original is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The malt comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery and The Vintage Malt Whisky Company of Glasgow handles the bottling. It is a model where the distillery sells casks on without wanting its name on the label, and in return you get an island malt on a far more straightforward shelf than the official releases occupy.

The bourbon wood provides the bright frame and 40% keeps it light. This is not a whisky trying to impress. It is trying to be a good Islay dram, and it succeeds.

Tasting notes

Nose

Peat smoke first, then malt and a pale sweetness, with a seaweed and salt note that recalls a coastline a couple of hundred metres away.

Palate

Direct and malty. The smoke carries while caramel and apple sit beneath, and a lightly peppered edge rises towards the close.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and smoky with a final scatter of salt.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Original
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask
Edition: Original
EAN no.: 5024720350004

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Maritime · Peaty · Soft

Did you know?

The peat on Islay is not like mainland peat. The island bogs formed close to the sea out of moss, heather and seaweed, and that is why Islay smoke carries the salted, almost iodine-like note a Highland peat never gives.

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A pirate with no bottle in hand, and that absence alone is the whole reason collectors chase this release.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release French Label 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 "French Label" version is distinguished by the pirate on the label holding no bottle of Ardbeg, unlike the original release, which has made this particular variant especially sought-after among Ardbeg collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye and peat meet a dry, almost peppery sharpness from the rye casks.

Palate

Full cask strength gives an intense, spiced structure, where smoke and rye grain take the lead.

Finish

Long and dry, with lasting spice and smoke that stay on the palate.

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Rye-driven · Cask strength

Did You Know?

The original label shows a pirate holding a bottle of Ardbeg, while this French variant was released without the bottle, a single detail that alone turned it into a sought-after collector's edition.

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There is a quietness to Glenfiddich's best whiskies — a sense that nothing has been rushed. Our Small Batch Eighteen is one of the clearest examples of that philosophy.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Our Small Batch Eighteen is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in selected Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky is drawn from a small number of hand-selected casks, mainly Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks, married in smaller batches than the rest of Glenfiddich's range. That gives it a more personal, slightly varying character from batch to batch, while the distillery's classic style still shines through.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apples and pears alongside honey, toasted almonds and a touch of spiced oak.

Palate

Creamy and round, with caramel, dried fruit and a warm, sherry-driven spice.

Finish

Medium and soft, with a final hint of dark chocolate and oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Our Small Batch Eighteen Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Selected Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks
Edition: Our Small Batch Eighteen
EAN no.: 5010327325323

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Creamy · Spiced · Round

Did you know?

Our Small Batch Eighteen is bottled in far smaller batches than Glenfiddich's 12 and 15 Years Old, which means no two bottles from different batches taste quite the same.

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A blended whisky that has been given time to become more than the sum of its parts. White Heather 21 Year Old is built on casks that each matured separately for eighteen years before being brought together for a final marriage in PX and Oloroso puncheons alongside Appalachian Virgin Oak. Only 2,000 bottles have been released.

Expert's description

White Heather 21 Year Old is a Blended Scotch Whisky, married in Pedro Ximénez puncheons, Oloroso puncheons and Appalachian Virgin Oak casks, bottled at 48% ABV.

The first eighteen years of the whisky's life were spent in used first-fill American barrels, sherry butts and second-fill barrels/hogsheads — a wide spread of cask types, each contributing its own character to the different whiskies in the blend. Only afterwards were they brought together and left to marry in three types of specialist casks, rounding off the story with one final layer of sweetness and spice.

The White Heather brand traces back to Campbell Distillers in the 1950s and was relaunched in 2021 with GlenAllachie and Billy Walker at the helm, giving this 21 year old one foot in tradition and one in present-day craft.

Tasting notes

Nose

A layered aroma where mature sherry sweetness meets notes from American oak and a hint of the fresh, robust character of Appalachian Virgin Oak.

Palate

Round and full-bodied, with sherry spice up front and an underlying sweetness from the puncheons that ties the many cask types together.

Finish

Long, warm and lightly tannic, with a closing dryness from the Virgin Oak casks.

Specifications

Name: White Heather 21 Year Old
Distillery: White Heather
Bottler: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First 18 years in first-fill American barrels, sherry butts and second-fill barrels/hogsheads, then married in Pedro Ximénez puncheons, Oloroso puncheons and Appalachian Virgin Oak casks
Number of bottles: 2,000
EAN no.: 5060568320731

Flavour profile

Sherry sweetness · American oak · Spiced puncheon finish · Virgin Oak dryness · Layered complexity

Investment potential

With only 2,000 bottles of a 21 year old blended whisky from a respected name like GlenAllachie and Billy Walker, this release sits at the high end of investment potential. It combines age, a limited run and a relaunched historic brand — a combination collectors rarely tire of.

Did you know?

The White Heather brand originally dates back to Campbell Distillers in the 1950s and was only relaunched in 2021 — so this 21 year old carries the name forward from an era when blended whisky ruled the Scottish market.

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Same vintage, same age — but a completely different wine world. Where its sister bottle got Barolo, this 1999 distillate instead met Bordeaux.

The expert's description

Edradour 1999 Vintage Bordeaux Cask Finish 21 years old is a Single Highland Malt Whisky finished in Bordeaux casks and bottled at 55.7%.

The whisky was distilled on 12 October 1999 and, after its primary maturation, received a finishing period in casks that previously held Bordeaux red wine. The whisky was bottled on 21 October 2020 after 21 years of total maturation and, like its Barolo sibling, is a discontinued vintage release.

Tasting notes

Nose

Blackcurrant and cassis, with a lightly cedary undercurrent and a hint of tobacco.

Palate

Dark berries and plum, where the Bordeaux cask's tannins meet Edradour's soft, honeyed malt.

Finish

Long with dry tannin, cedar and a finish of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 1999 Vintage Bordeaux Cask Finish 21 years old Single Highland Malt Whisky 55.7%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 55,7 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bordeaux cask finish
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 12/10/1999
Bottled: 21/10/2020
Edition: Vintage 1999

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spicy

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have high investment potential, largely due to the 1999 vintage, 21 years of maturation and a rare Bordeaux cask finish from a discontinued bottling. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

Bordeaux casks are used more rarely for whisky finishing than sherry and port, because French wine casks are traditionally sold on for other purposes rather than ending up with Scottish distilleries — making this cask type a genuine rarity in Scotch whisky.

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1999 was a year when Edradour distilled whisky that, 21 years later, would meet Italian Barolo wine — the result is a discontinued rarity many collectors seek out.

The expert's description

Edradour 1999 Vintage Barolo Cask Finish 21 years old is a Single Highland Malt Whisky finished in Barolo casks and bottled at 54.8%.

The whisky was distilled on 9 August 1999 and, after a long primary maturation, received a finishing period in casks that previously held Barolo, a powerful Italian red wine from Piedmont made from Nebbiolo grapes. The whisky was bottled on 21 October 2020 after 21 years of total maturation and is today a discontinued vintage release.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried cherries and rose petals, with a tannic undercurrent of tar and a hint of fresh malt.

Palate

Dark berries and a lightly bitter tannic grip, where the malt keeps a soft, honeyed base beneath the wine's intensity.

Finish

Long with dry tannins, black pepper and a finish of dark cherries and leather.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 1999 Vintage Barolo Cask Finish 21 years old Single Highland Malt Whisky 54.8%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 54,8 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Barolo cask finish
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 09/08/1999
Bottled: 21/10/2020
Edition: Vintage 1999

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spicy

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have high investment potential, largely due to the 1999 vintage, 21 years of maturation and a rare Barolo cask finish from a discontinued bottling. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

Barolo is often called 'the king of wines' in Italy because of its power and ageing potential — qualities that make the cask particularly well suited to finishing older, already complex whiskies like this one.

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For almost four decades, Signatory Vintage has made a living finding the casks the big names never wanted to bottle themselves. This 2006 Glenlossie is another reason enthusiasts keep an eye on their releases.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2006/2020 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength, 58.5%.

Distilled on 27 November 2006 and bottled on 9 March 2020 by the independent bottler Signatory Vintage, one of Scotland's oldest and most prolific bottlers, this whisky comes from two bourbon casks, No. 3303 and 3304, yielding a small outturn of 335 bottles.

Signatory sources casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under its own name – often from distilleries like Glenlossie, which rarely turns up as a standalone single malt elsewhere.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh barley malt and vanilla custard meet a lightly tart fruitiness, like citrus peel. The bourbon cask lends a clear sweetness without taking over.

Palate

Powerful and warm, with caramelised sugar, ripe pear and a peppery spice from the high strength. The malt stays clear throughout.

Finish

Long, dry and lightly spiced, with a lingering note of vanilla foam and a touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2006/2020 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58.5%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 58.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, Cask No. 3303 + 3304
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27 November 2006
Bottled: 9 March 2020
Number of bottles: 335
EAN no.: 5021944107292

Flavour Profile

Bourbon-cask driven · Vanilla-sweet · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and helped pave the way for independent bottlings to be seen today as a serious, sought-after corner of the whisky world, not just a curiosity.

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Deanston is known for pale honey and bourbon wood. Put the spirit in a first fill sherry cask for thirteen years and the house becomes almost unrecognisable.

Expert description

Deanston 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a first fill sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 64.5% without added colouring.

The cask carries the number 900146, was filled on 14 June 2007 and emptied on 12 March 2021. The outturn was 624 bottles. Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and buys casks from distilleries across Scotland. Deanston rarely sells casks on, so an actively sherried version like this exists essentially only through independent bottlers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark and concentrated. Raisin, fig and orange peel, with cocoa, walnut and a warm spiced note from the wood.

Palate

Massive but round. Dried fruit, dark chocolate and caramelised sugar, with Deanston's honey beneath the sherry and a peppery warmth from the strength.

Finish

Very long and dry, with nuts, dark fruit and a persistent spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 64,5%
Distillery: Deanston
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 64.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill sherry butt no. 900146
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 14/06/2007
Bottled: 12/03/2021
Number of bottles: 624
EAN no.: 5021944112265

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 624 bottles from one first fill sherry cask at high strength, from a distillery that rarely appears with independent bottlers.

Did you know?

Deanston's own range is almost exclusively bourbon matured. That makes the independent sherry bottlings the only place to taste what the house spirit does in dark wood — and they are therefore in more demand than the bottle count alone would explain.

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Seven years is young for a blend. There is not enough cask time to smooth everything out, and that puts demands on the malts going in. Batch 4 is the fourth release in the Adelphi Glenborrodale range, and it shows what the house can do without age as a safety net.

The expert's description

Glenborrodale 7 Year Old Batch Release no 4 is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Adelphi, bottled at 46% in 1,484 bottles.

A young blended malt depends entirely on the selection. There are no decades in wood to pull the whisky together, so the blend has to work first time. That is exactly the kind of work Adelphi has built its name on, and their selection standards are the same whether a cask ends up as a single cask or in a blend like this one.

Adelphi tastes far more casks than it bottles. Alex Bruce and the whisky writer Charles MacLean taste the samples together, and under four per cent of the casks offered are approved. It is an unusually hard sift, and it is the whole basis of the firm’s reputation.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh malt and bright fruit, with vanilla and a trace of honey. The youth registers as a cereal sharpness behind the sweetness.

Palate

Direct and malt-driven. Apple, pear and pale caramel, with a dry spiced edge from the cask. The 46% gives it enough weight not to feel thin.

Finish

Medium and dry. Malt and a touch of oak closing cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Glenborrodale 7 Year Old Batch Release no 4 Adelphi Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Number of bottles: 1,484
Edition: Glenborrodale Batch Release no 4

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Dry · Spiced · Young

Did you know?

Under four per cent of the casks Adelphi is offered are approved for bottling. Alex Bruce and Charles MacLean sit together and taste the samples, and most casks are sent back — including casks that would be perfectly saleable at other bottlers.

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At the far edge of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, where the Atlantic washes over Scotland's westernmost point, lies the valley of Glenborrodale.

Expert description

Glenborrodale 8 Year Old Batch Release No. 3 from Adelphi is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46%. The whisky is the third release in Adelphi's ongoing Glenborrodale series, in which several Scotch single malts are combined into one blended malt built around a firm sherry core. Batch Release No. 3 is bottled with no chill filtration and no added colour, with only 1,014 bottles made of this particular release. The name Glenborrodale comes from the small valley on the Ardnamurchan peninsula where Adelphi's owners built their own distillery in 2014 — the blended malt is thus named after the land the company would later come to distil on. Adelphi itself dates back to 1826, when the name was first used for a distillery in Glasgow's Gorbals district. It closed in 1907, but was revived in 1993 as an independent bottler, and since 2004 Keith Falconer and Donald Houston have led the company.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and malty with layers of fresh sherry, condensed milk and biscuit sweetness, while a hint of citrus cuts through in the background.

Palate

On the palate you meet chocolate-dipped wafers, rum-and-raisin fudge and a mild, coastal peat smoke that can just be glimpsed behind the red fruit.

Finish

The finish is medium-length with prunes and sugared almonds, slowly turning into a dry, lightly smoky tail.

Specifications

Name: Glenborrodale 8 år Batch Release nr 3 Adelphi Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 1,014
Edition: Batch Release No. 3

Flavour profile

Sherried · Fruity · Lightly smoky · Spicy

Did you know?

The name Glenborrodale roughly means 'the fortified valley' — and the valley sits just a short drive from where Adelphi today distils its own Ardnamurchan malt. The blended malt was on shelves long before the distillery itself was even finished.

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Forty-five years in the dark. Distilled in 1975, long before most of us tasted our first whisky, and only bottled in 2020 - this Teaninich is a piece of liquid Scottish history.

Expert description

Teaninich The Black Series 1975 from Xtra Old Particular is a 45 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky at 41.6%, bottled from a single cask by Scottish independent bottler Douglas Laing.

The Black Series is part of Douglas Laing's Xtra Old Particular range, reserved for whiskies over 30 years old, where each cask is personally selected by Fred and Cara Laing. This Teaninich matured in a refill hogshead (Douglas Laing ref: 14547) for nearly half a century, giving the whisky a rare depth and maturity.

Distilled in November 1975 and bottled in November 2020, the whisky is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured. Only 142 bottles of this edition were released worldwide.

Tasting notes

Nose

Old oak and beeswax, with underlying notes of dried apricot and a distant hint of cigar box.

Palate

Delicate and silky despite its age, with notes of honey, sandalwood and a subtle spice garden of clove and nutmeg.

Finish

Very long, dry and elegant, closing on a note of old leather and a faint whisper of smoke from the cask wood.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich The Black Series 1975 Xtra Old Particular
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Douglas Laing - Xtra Old Particular
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 45 years
ABV: 41.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead / DL ref. 14547
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: November 1975
Bottled: November 2020
Number of bottles: 142
Edition: The Black Series / Xtra Old Particular

Flavour profile

old and elegant · honeyed · oak-driven

Investment potential

With only 142 bottles worldwide, an age of 45 years and spirit from an era no longer available from Teaninich, this release ranks among the rarest independent Teaninich bottlings ever produced, giving it high investment potential for the serious collector.

Did you know?

Douglas Laing's Xtra Old Particular range, recognisable by its black label, is reserved for whiskies of at least 30 years of age, with each cask personally selected by siblings Fred and Cara Laing, who took over the family business in 2013.

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Every story has a first chapter. For Torabhaig, this bottle was it – the very first whisky the distillery ever released.

Expert's description

Torabhaig First Release Legacy 2017/2020 Single Malt Whisky Skye 70 cl 46% is a Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in First-fill ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

This first release in The Legacy Series was distilled in 2017 and bottled as early as 2020 after just three years of maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sea, salt, vanilla, oak, candy sugar and citrus.

Palate

Mild smoke, apples, candy sugar and charred oak.

Finish

Long and delicious.

Specifications

Name: Torabhaig First Release Legacy 2017/2020 Single Malt Whisky Skye 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Torabhaig
Region/Country: Isle of Skye
Type: Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2020
Edition: Legacy Series Chapter 1 – Torabhaig's first-ever release
EAN no.: 5060033848005

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Fresh

Investment Potential

Medium – as the very first commercial release from Torabhaig, this bottle marks a historic moment for the distillery, which typically gives debut releases from new distilleries increased collector interest over time.

Did you know?

Torabhaig is located on the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye and names its releases after local places and Gaelic names from the area around the distillery.

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Blue Label arrived in 1999 and quickly picked up a nickname among the distillery staff: bottle of the month, the one that came with the pay slip. It is rarely a bad recommendation when the people who make the whisky take it home themselves.

The expert's description

Dew of Ben Nevis Blue Label is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Dew of Ben Nevis is the blend range of the distillery, with Blue Label sitting as the lightest and sweetest expression. It differs from Special Reserve and Supreme Selection by aiming at accessibility rather than weight, and it was introduced in 1999.

The blend combines malt whisky from Ben Nevis with grain whisky, and the distillery in Fort William handles both production and composition. It is not common for a single distillery to blend and bottle its own blend under its own name as well.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and sweet with vanilla, pale cereal and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and simple with caramel and malt. The sweetness dominates and there are no sharp edges along the way.

Finish

Short and clean with a last malty warmth.

Specifications

Name: Dew of Ben Nevis Blue Label
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Blue Label
EAN no.: 5026673000302

Flavour profile

Light · Sweet · Soft · Malty · Fresh

Did you know?

Ben Nevis is one of the few Scottish distilleries that distils, matures, blends and bottles at the same address. Most send their casks on to central bottling plants in the Lowlands.

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BenRiach makes peated whisky a few weeks a year, and some of that peated malt runs heavier than the rest. Smoke Season is built from the most heavily peated malt the house holds, bottled at a strength that does not let the smoke slip away.

The expert's description

BenRiach Smoke Season Double Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky without an age statement, matured in bourbon casks and virgin oak and bottled at 52.8 %.

The bottling was assembled by Master Blender Rachel Barrie and uses the most heavily peated malt at the distillery. Speyside is not known for smoke, and BenRiach is one of the few distilleries in the region producing peated spirit as a fixed part of the year.

The two cask types pull in different directions. The bourbon wood gives vanilla and bright sweetness, while virgin oak, meaning fresh oak that has never held anything before, lays spice and a dry wood structure on top. Together they hold the smoke in place without muting it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful peat smoke with burnt sugar, vanilla and a note of toasted wood.

Palate

Dense and smoky with caramel, black pepper and spiced fresh oak. The strength carries the smoke all the way without letting it turn dry.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering smoke, wood and a last touch of sweetness.

Specifications

Name: BenRiach Smoke Season Double Cask
Distillery: BenRiach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 52,8 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and virgin oak
Edition: Smoke Season Double Cask

Flavour profile

Smoky · Spiced · Full bodied · Oak driven · Sweet

Did you know?

Virgin oak is fresh wood that has never held wine, sherry or bourbon. The casks give quickly and forcefully, so they are rarely used alone in Scotch whisky, where they typically form a smaller part of a composition.

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Nineteen casks for the entire world. Rachel Barrie walked the warehouse and picked them one by one for the Cask Edition series, and the Danish importer got a share of two. This is one of them, cask number 8562.

The expert's description

BenRiach 2009 Cask Edition 11 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in an Oloroso sherry puncheon, cask no. 8562, and bottled at 58.9 % cask strength.

The Cask Edition Collection is the distillery own range of single casks, selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie. Nineteen casks were chosen for the whole world and distributed to markets individually rather than as a single release.

The whisky went into cask on 8 May 2009 and was drawn after eleven years. A puncheon holds around 500 litres, the size of a butt, but it is shorter and wider, and the 693 bottles fit a cask of that type. The sherry is clear, but the 58.9 per cent gives it enough edge not to turn heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark fruit, candied orange and walnut with a deep sherry note. Behind it sit spiced oak and a little cocoa.

Palate

Powerful and dense with raisin, dark chocolate and warm spice. The cask strength gives it bite, and the sherry fills out without turning sticky.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: BenRiach 2009 Cask Edition 11 år
Distillery: BenRiach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 58,9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry puncheon, cask no. 8562
Distilled: 8 May 2009
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 693
Edition: Cask Edition Collection

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Cask strength · Full bodied · Spiced · Dark fruit

Investment potential

High. Nineteen casks for the whole world is a very small number for an official release, and single casks from the distillery itself are rarer than the independent ones. Selections made by Rachel Barrie also have a steady audience among collectors.

Did you know?

Rachel Barrie is one of the few female master blenders in Scotch whisky and looks after BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh at the same time. She started as a scientist at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute in 1991.

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Second batch, same recipe. 65% bourbon casks, 35% sherry casks, half peated and half unpeated malt. Ardnamurchan found the ratio they wanted and repeated it, which is harder than it sounds when the casks are not the same from one year to the next.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan AD 01.21:01 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed of 65% ex-bourbon casks and 35% sherry casks and bottled at 46.8%. This second batch ran to 14,676 bottles.

The malt is split evenly between peated and unpeated. That is the distillery’s founding choice: rather than making two separate whiskies they bring both styles together in the same bottle, so the smoke works as a floor rather than the main event. The split between bourbon and sherry meanwhile gives both vanilla and dark fruit.

Every bottle carries a QR code giving access to blockchain-registered production data, and the carton is made from 100% recycled board. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and bright fruit first from the bourbon casks, then raisins and orange from the sherry portion. Beneath sits a dry peat smoke, clear without taking over, and a fresh malt note.

Palate

Soft and balanced. Baked apple, honey and vanilla open, then the sherry’s dark fruit and a lightly spiced warmth arrive. The smoke sits underneath and grows clearer towards the close. At 46.8% the body is good without being heavy.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, dark fruit and a dry smoky edge that lets go cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan AD 01.21:01 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46.8%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 65% ex-bourbon casks and 35% sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 14,676
Edition: AD 01.21:01 Batch 02
EAN no.: 5060383651324

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Vanilla · Sherry Matured · Balanced · Malty

Did You Know?

Every bottle from Ardnamurchan carries a QR code giving access to production data registered on a blockchain: which malt, which casks, which dates. It is an unusual degree of openness in a trade where many distilleries would rather not state more than the age on the label.

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Turn up the strength, and the peat follows. The Batch Strength edition of Scarabus is the unpolished side of Islay that Hunter Laing dares to bottle.

Expert's Description

Scarabus Batch Strength Whisky is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from Hunter Laing, bottled at full cask strength of 57%.

Where the 10-year-old is a fixed age statement, the Batch Strength edition combines several casks at a higher, unreduced strength, giving a rawer, more intense expression of the same undisclosed Islay distillery.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh, young peat smoke meets a salty sea breeze.

Palate

Warming and full with leather and vanilla, carried by the high strength.

Finish

Long and spiced with lingering smoke and a light vanilla sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus Batch Strength
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5060354273678

Flavour Profile

Cask strength · Smoky · Maritime · Intense

Did You Know?

Hunter Laing's Batch Strength series is bottled without reduction, meaning the strength varies slightly from batch to batch depending on the casks selected.

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