A whisky maker and a music producer have more in common than you might think — both are about balance. Highland Park Fullvolume was created with that idea as its starting point, wrapped in packaging inspired by vintage guitar amplifiers.

Expert Description

Highland Park Fullvolume is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 47.2%.

The whisky was distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2017 by the distillery's then master whisky maker Gordon Motion, who used 100% ex-bourbon casks to create a brighter, more citrus-driven profile than many of Highland Park's sherry-heavy releases. The packaging is inspired by classic guitar amplifiers, where dials on the side illustrate the whisky's different flavour elements of bourbon, peat, vanilla and fruit.

Fullvolume is a limited edition release that shows a different, lighter side of the distillery's style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus and creamy vanilla, with a light smoky undertone in the background.

Palate

Fresh and creamy, with citrus peel, vanilla and a mild, peated finish.

Finish

Medium in length and lightly smoky, with lingering citrus and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Fullvolume
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
ABV: 47.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Distilled: 1999
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Fullvolume, limited edition
EAN: 5010314303587

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Light

Did You Know?

Fullvolume's packaging is shaped like a vintage guitar amplifier, with the dials illustrating the whisky's different flavour elements.

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Captain William McCoy ran whisky into the United States during Prohibition and never watered it down. People started asking for the genuine article — the real McCoy. This bottle is a nod to him.

Expert description

Cutty Sark Prohibition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The edition was made as a tribute to Prohibition, when Cutty Sark was among the most smuggled whiskies on the American east coast. McCoy anchored outside territorial waters and sold bottles on to small boats — and because he never diluted the goods, his name turned into a phrase. The 50% strength was chosen to reach the body the whisky had before it passed through many hands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Stronger than the yellow label. Vanilla, dried fruit and cereal, with a touch of spice and a warm oak note.

Palate

Full and oily. Caramel, orange peel and malt, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry oak edge. There is more body than in the standard release, but the same pale fruit character underneath.

Finish

Long and dry, with spice, cereal and a persistent warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Prohibition Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Prohibition Edition
EAN no.: 5010504100309

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Vanilla · Dried Fruit · High Strength

Did you know?

The phrase the real McCoy is, on one widely repeated account, down to Captain William McCoy, who refused to dilute or adulterate his smuggled whisky. The expression stuck long after Prohibition ended.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

The world's best-selling single malt gathered in three ages in one gift set.

Expert description

Glenfiddich Gift Set 12+15+18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky brings together the distillery's three classic age expressions in 20 cl miniatures, bottled at 40%. Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, was founded in 1887 by William Grant and is still owned and run by his descendants today — Glenfiddich means 'Valley of the Deer' in Gaelic, reflected in the distillery's iconic stag logo.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose ranges from fresh and fruity in the 12-year-old to deeper and more complex in the 18-year-old.

Palate

The palate offers apple, pear and caramel with increasing depth and spice the older the expression.

Finish

The finish ranges from short and fresh to long and warm depending on the expression.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich Gavesæt 12+15+18 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 3 x 20 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Varied · Elegant · Caramel

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No age statement, no fuss. Tomatin Cask Strength is the distillery's answer for those who want the malt undiluted.

Expert's description

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

At 57.5%, this is one of Tomatin's strongest core releases, bottled without an age statement from a mix of bourbon and sherry casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich sherry sweetness and toasted oak at full cask strength.

Palate

Powerful and juicy with dark fruit and spice.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Whisky 57,5%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: a mix of bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Tomatin Cask Strength was assembled by the distillery's former manager Graham Eunson, who selected bourbon and sherry casks to give the whisky its full power.

See our full range of Tomatin

A new name on the smoky whisky shelf — Smokestack is made for those who want smoke without being knocked over by it.

Expert's Description

Smokestack 30 PPM Limited Edition is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from The Vintage Whisky Co. Ltd., matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

With a smoke intensity of around 30 PPM (phenol level), the whisky sits in a range where the peat is prominent yet still open to nuances of sweetness and citrus. The range is bottled in limited batches of 4,200 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and sweet peat smoke meet ginger and citrus with a faint maritime iodine note.

Palate

Dry, pronounced smoke accompanied by spiced sweetness, honey and lemon.

Finish

Long and drying, where the smoke slowly unfolds and lingers.

Specifications

Name: Smokestack 30 PPM Limited Edition
Bottler: The Vintage Whisky Co. Ltd.
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American Oak
Number of Bottles: 4,200 bottles per batch

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Citrus-fresh · Maritime

Did You Know?

PPM (parts per million) measures the phenol content in the peated malt, not in the finished whisky — Smokestack's 30 PPM places it in the moderate-to-heavy end of the scale.

See our full range of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company

Most know Wolfburn for its clean, unpeated style, but Morven is the exception that proves the rule. It is the house's careful handling of smoke for the curious drinker.

The expert's description

Wolfburn Morven Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was created by distillery manager Shane Fraser as a lightly peated release, the only one of its kind in Wolfburn's core range. It is designed as a gentle introduction to smoky whisky, without compromising the distillery's clean, craft-driven base style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and honey with a light hint of smoke.

Palate

Soft and rounded with a discreet twist of peat.

Finish

Medium length with a mild, smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Wolfburn Morven Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Wolfburn
Region/Country: Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Created by Distillery Manager Shane Fraser, lightly peated
EAN no.: 0634158496370

Flavour Profile

Lightly peated · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

Morven is named after a mountainous area in the west of Scotland, and the name fits well with the whisky's role as the distillery's only peated release, a kind of change of landscape in bottle form.

See our full range of Wolfburn

Tun 1509 is not a cask but a vat. A large, old wooden tun standing in warehouse 24, where whisky from several barrels is left to sit together for months until the edges have worn off and the whole thing speaks with one voice.

The expert's description

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks, married in Tun 1509 and bottled at 51.7 % without chill filtration.

The series works by having David Stewart select a small number of casks, empty them into the large wooden tun known as Tun 1509 and let the contents stand and find each other over several months. Batch 4 is assembled from 23 casks, few enough that each individual cask can still be felt.

Bottling happens without chill filtration and at high strength, so the oils and fatty acids filtration would otherwise strip out are allowed to stay. That gives a denser texture and a fuller mouthfeel than the standard bottlings of the distillery carry.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, dried fruit and cinnamon. Behind it sit vanilla, ginger and a note of old oak.

Palate

Full and oily with malt, honey and warm spice. The high strength gives it an edge without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and warm with spice, dried fruit and a soft close of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 51,7 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks, married in Tun 1509
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Batch 4
EAN no.: 5010327525983

Flavour profile

Full bodied · Honeyed · Spiced · Sherry matured · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium. The Tun 1509 batches are made in limited runs and never repeated, and the early batches are the hardest to find. The series has an established following among Balvenie collectors.

Did you know?

Tun 1509 is named after the vessel itself, which was brought back into use after standing idle for years. It holds around 8,000 litres and sits in warehouse 24 on the distillery site.

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Four and a half litres of whisky is not a bottle you lift with one hand. That is why it comes with a cradle, and why it ends up being the centrepiece of the evening rather than something standing on a shelf.

The expert description

Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 450 cl bottle.

The bottle is supplied with a metal pouring cradle so it can be served without being lifted. That is a practical necessity rather than an accessory, since a full bottle at this size weighs far too much to handle freehand at a table.

The whisky inside is the classic Famous Grouse, created in Perth in 1896 and owned by William Grant & Sons since July 2025. Malt whisky from Scottish distilleries, with Highland Park historically among those providing the character, is bound together with grain whisky into a soft blend with no sharp edges. The format is aimed at parties, bars and collectors with shelf space.

Tasting notes

Nose

Calm and harmonious with dried fruit, honey and vanilla, and nuts plus a touch of citrus underneath.

Palate

Soft and round with clear fruit, ripe undertones and a lightly spiced edge.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet with malt at the close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 450 CL
Edition: Supplied with a metal pouring cradle

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Large bottles do not mature differently from small ones, since whisky does not develop in glass, but they do last longer once opened. The less air there is relative to liquid, the slower the oxidation, so a nearly full large format is better off than a nearly empty standard bottle.

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A cheeky chappy from 1930s Glasgow lives on in a glass. Citrus, caramel and exotic fruit dance through this light Lowland blend.

Expert description

The Epicurean is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, assembled by the Scottish bottler Douglas Laing purely from malt whisky sourced from several Lowland distilleries and bottled at 46.2% ABV.

The concept behind The Epicurean tells the story of a fictional 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky chappy and true connoisseur who valued good company as much as good taste, a spirit reflected in the blend's accessible, charming style.

The whisky belongs to Douglas Laing's series of "Remarkable Regional Malts", each representing a Scottish region, and The Epicurean is the house's take on the best of the Lowlands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Barley-rich, citrus-fresh notes with a touch of florals and herbs.

Palate

Sweet sugar, burnt citrus peel, mixed spice and ripe peaches.

Finish

Medium, gently sweet and light, with a closing hint of honey.

Specifications

Name: The Epicurean
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN: 5014218794540

Flavour profile

Citrus · Caramel · Exotic fruit

Did you know?

Douglas Laing named each of its "Remarkable Regional Malts" after a Scottish personality type, and The Epicurean represents precisely the connoisseur who loves fine food and drink.

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A recipe said to have travelled with a prince in flight, an inn on Skye and a Gaelic phrase about a dram that satisfies. Drambuie has had almost three hundred years to embroider its own story, and it has used them well.

The expert description

Drambuie is a Scotch Whisky Liqueur built on malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, sweetened with heather honey and seasoned with herbs and spices, bottled at 40%.

The story starts in July 1746. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was in flight after the defeat at Culloden, and on his way to the Isle of Skye he was helped by John MacKinnon of Clan MacKinnon. In return, the prince is said to have handed MacKinnon the recipe for his personal liqueur. By 1873 it could be had at The Broadford Hotel on Skye, where guests called it an dram buidheach, the dram that satisfies. The Ross family registered the name as a trademark twenty years later, and The Drambuie Liqueur Company was founded in 1914.

In 1916 Drambuie became the first liqueur admitted to the House of Lords, and it reached Buckingham Palace the following year. Prohibition in the United States and the Second World War came close to killing the brand off, but it survived. Drambuie is owned today by William Grant & Sons.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel and honey first, then aniseed, saffron and a dry herbal edge that keeps the sweetness in check.

Palate

Oily and full. Honey, toffee and citrus settle first, then the malt whisky pushes through with spice and a clean acidity that lifts the whole thing.

Finish

Warm and long with nutmeg, clove and a final bitter orange note.

Specifications

Name: Drambuie
Producer: Drambuie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Scotch Whisky Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010391100703
Serving suggestion: Neat over ice or in a Rusty Nail with Blended Scotch Whisky

Flavour profile

Sweet · Spiced · Honeyed · Citrus · Herbal

Did you know?

The name Rusty Nail only appeared in the 1960s at a club in New York, but the drink had been around for decades under other names, among them BIF, D and S and Little Club No. 1. It was only once bartenders settled on a single name that it truly caught on.

See our full range of Drambuie

Scars tell stories. With Viking Scars, Highland Park gave its 10 year old a new look in 2017, carrying details inspired by Viking-age symbols and marks — a reminder that every bottle has its own story to tell.

Expert Description

Highland Park 10 Year Old Viking Scars is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The name Viking Scars belongs to the design Highland Park introduced in 2017, giving the bottles a more rugged look with details inspired by Viking-age symbols and scars. The whisky itself is the distillery's entry-level 10 year old, built to be accessible without compromising on the characteristic Orkney style.

It offers an unusually soft and round palate with a light peated character, making it a solid introduction to Highland Park's world.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light smoke with nuances of honey and heather, a light sweetness and a touch of sherry.

Palate

Unusually soft and round, with a characteristic, lightly peated flavour.

Finish

Medium in length and soft, with a lingering, lightly peated aftertaste.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 10 Year Old Viking Scars
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Viking Scars, 2017 design
EAN: 5010314303556

Flavour Profile

Peated · Soft · Round · Light

Did You Know?

The Viking Scars design was introduced in 2017 as part of a broader update to Highland Park's entire bottle range.

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

Expert's description

Laphroaig 10 Year Pre Royal Warrent Unblended Tin Box Single Islay Malt Whisky 40% is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured on american oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky was bottled in 1989-1990.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coastal smoke, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Peat, sea salt and a honeyed sweetness.

Finish

Rich and smoke-laden with a slow fade.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Pre Royal Warrent Unblended Tin Box Single Islay Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Bottled: 1989-1990

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a pre-Royal Warrant release from around 1989-1990 in its original tin, this is one of the oldest and rarest Laphroaig bottles still circulating among collectors.

Did you know?

Before Laphroaig received its Royal Warrant, bottles were marketed with a blue stripe instead of the green one that is the distillery's trademark today.

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A good whisky glass is about more than looks — the shape controls how much of the aroma reaches the nose.

About the product

The Glenmorangie Whiskyglas (1 stk. med Glenmorangie-logo) is made with et officielt brandet glas fra destilleriet. The narrowed top is the hallmark of a good whisky glass, helping gather the aromas so you get the most out of the whisky in the glass.

A solid choice, whether it's for a daily dram or a tasting with guests.

See our full range of whisky glasses

Tormore is often called "the Pearl of Speyside," a name given by neighbours and visitors shortly after it was completed in 1959. This 10 year old comes from an earlier era of the bottling, before the range was relaunched.

The expert's description

Tormore 10 År Pure Speyside Malt Old Version Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43% is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

The whisky was distilled in the late 1980s at Tormore distillery in the heart of Speyside and bottled without a stated cask type or bottle count. This "Old Version" represents Tormore's classic, fruit-driven style, from before the distillery's more recent rebranding.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pears, almond and a hint of honey.

Palate

Soft and lightly sweet with grain and a touch of citrus.

Finish

Short to medium with dry grain and a mild nutty tone.

Specifications

Name: Tormore 10 År Pure Speyside Malt Old Version Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Discontinued edition
EAN no.: 5010019636379

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Tormore was built as an entire village with housing for its workers, a post office and even a golf course, which was unusual for a Scottish distillery in the 1950s.

See our full range of Tormore

Two cask types, one rounded whole. Tamnavulin Double Cask is the distillery's take on a soft everyday dram, where American oak and used sherry casks meet in a calm, golden glass.

Expert description

Tamnavulin Double Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in American oak casks and finished in used sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

Double Cask is part of Tamnavulin's core range and represents the distillery's contemporary, approachable style, prioritising softness over complexity. After primary maturation in American oak, the whisky moves into casks that previously held sherry, adding an extra layer of sweetness and a light floral character without losing the underlying Speyside lightness.

The style is designed as an accessible entry point into the Tamnavulin range and is often used as a reference point for the distillery's other finished expressions, including Sherry Cask Edition and the various wine-cask series.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden honey and ripe apple with a light floral scent and a hint of vanilla custard.

Palate

Medium-bodied and soft, with notes of caramel, dried apricot and a lightly tart freshness that keeps the whisky light on the palate.

Finish

Short to medium, refreshing and clean, closing on a hint of nuts and oak.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin Double Cask
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in used sherry casks
EAN nr.: 5013967011557

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Soft · Floral · Light nutty · Approachable

Did you know?

Tamnavulin sits on the River Livet, a tributary of the Spey, and by pure coincidence the river's name reads almost like the Danish word for "life" - a small linguistic quirk locals enjoy pointing out to visitors.

See our full range of Tamnavulin

High above the Glenlivet valley sits a hill that once mattered a great deal to smugglers. Creag An Innean gave them a view over the road south, and an edge over the excisemen.

Expert Description

Glenlivet Nordic Single Cask 2017 Creag An Innean is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, drawn from a single Oloroso sherry cask at cask strength of 61.2%.

The whisky is a distillery bottling from The Glenlivet, released specifically for the Scandinavian market, with only 618 bottles from this one Spanish Oloroso sherry cask (cask no. 58013). The name Creag An Innean refers to a hill near the distillery that, in the 19th century, served as a lookout point for whisky smugglers heading south to the market in Dundee, a place from which they could watch for excisemen and plan their routes well in advance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A rich aroma of sweet dates and sherry-soaked raisins, carried by spiced oak and liquorice, with caramel, toffee, candied orange peel and a touch of ginger.

Palate

Spiced cinnamon meets soft raisins and freshly baked ginger biscuits, well balanced against a sweetness reminiscent of strawberry jam.

Finish

Soft with a discreet, spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Nordic Single Cask 2017 Creag An Innean
Distillery: The Glenlivet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 14 Years
ABV: 61.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Butt, Cask No. 58013
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Number of bottles: 618 bottles to Scandinavia
Edition: Nordic Single Cask Creag An Innean

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fruity · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium. As a single cask release bottled specifically for the Scandinavian market in a very limited number, Creag An Innean is a bottle that typically grows in demand as remaining bottles leave the market.

Did You Know?

The name Creag An Innean is Gaelic and translates roughly as "the crag by the cattle fold", a reminder that the land around The Glenlivet was for centuries shaped as much by farming and cattle as by the illicit distilling that later made the place famous.

See our full range of The Glenlivet

One field, one distillery, one whisky. 100% Islay 5th Release is another chapter in Kilchoman's most particular project — proof that terroir isn't just a word for wine.

Expert's description

Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, at least 5 years old and bottled at 50 %.

The 100% Islay series differs from every other Kilchoman release in that the entire process — from the barley growing on the distillery's own land, through floor malting and distilling, to maturing and bottling — happens in one and the same place. 5th Release continues that story with selected 5 year old first fill and refill bourbon casks.

Because the barley used is home-grown and more lightly peated than the bought-in malt Kilchoman otherwise uses, the series carries a more delicate, floral character, where the smoke acts as a gentle layer rather than a dominant force.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft fruit notes and pear drops meet a light, delicate peat smoke, with a hint of honey.

Palate

Sweet and round, where the peat smoke slowly unfolds and leaves a warm, gentle finish.

Finish

Long and sweet, with soft smoky tones that never become overwhelming.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th Release Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: 100% Single Farm Single Malt Islay Whisky
Age: Min. 5 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 100% Islay 5th Release

Flavour profile

Peated · Floral · Delicate · Farm-to-bottle · Sweet

Investment potential

Medium. As one of the early releases in a now well-established annual series, 5th Release historically becomes harder to find as collectors seek a complete run.

Did you know?

The word terroir is normally used for wine, but Kilchoman's 100% Islay series is one of the best examples in the whisky world that the same principle applies to barley — the soil, climate and water leave their own distinct mark.

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High in the Japanese Alps, 798 metres above sea level, sits Japan's highest-altitude whisky distillery - home to Mars Maltage COSMO.

Expert Description

Mars Maltage COSMO is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes from Hombo Shuzo, which has produced spirits in Japan since 1872, and its Shinshu Distillery in Nagano Prefecture. COSMO combines malt and grain whisky in a blend that reflects Shinshu's cool high-altitude location, which gives a slow, even maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and pear meet a light floral sweetness and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and round with honey, light spice and a fine, clean finish.

Finish

Medium length, mild and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Mars Maltage COSMO
Distillery: Mars Shinshu
Region/Country: Nagano, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4976881501164

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet · Fresh

Did You Know?

Shinshu Distillery sits 798 metres above sea level in the Japanese Alps, making it Japan's highest-altitude whisky distillery - the elevation gives a cooler climate that significantly slows the pace of maturation.

See our full range of Mars Shinshu

The second release in Scallywag's Cask Strength series turns up the intensity, without compromising on the sherry-driven, characterful style.

Expert Review

Scallywag Cask Strength Edition No 2 Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,1% is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 54.1% ABV.

Scallywag Cask Strength Edition No. 2 is a Speyside blended malt from Douglas Laing, bottled at full cask strength without filtration or added colour. The new limited edition release builds on Scallywag's well-known, sherry-driven style, only at a markedly higher strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is intense with raisin, dark chocolate and a warm spiciness.

Palate

The palate is full with sherry sweetness, fig and a distinct alcohol warmth.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with lingering dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Scallywag Cask Strength Edition No 2 Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,1%
Distillery: Scallywag
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Strength Edition No. 2

Flavour Profile

Cask Strength · Sherry-matured · Powerful

Did You Know?

Scallywag is named after the Scottish slang term for a charming rogue, reflected in the label's cheerful badger mascot.

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Cream and whisky sounds like a shortcut, but it is not when the whisky is actually good. Arran makes its own single malt at Lochranza and uses that rather than anonymous spirit, and you can taste it.

The Expert's Description

Arran Gold is a cream liqueur made with Single Island Malt Whisky from Arran, bottled at 17%. It is therefore not whisky but a cream-based liqueur in which the distillery’s own malt whisky forms the spirit component.

The difference from an ordinary cream liqueur lies precisely there. Most use neutral spirit or an anonymous blend, while Arran uses malt whisky from its own distillery. That gives a cereal sweetness and a light malt character beneath the toffee and chocolate which would otherwise disappear.

Arran Gold was named World’s Best Whisky Liqueur at Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards in 2007. The distillery sits at Lochranza at the northern end of the Isle of Arran and was founded in 1995.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toffee and milk chocolate first, with cocoa and a clear cream note. Beneath the sweetness sits a malty cereal note from the whisky, which makes the nose less one-dimensionally sweet than an ordinary cream liqueur.

Palate

Full and creamy. Caramel, chocolate and vanilla open, then the malt whisky comes through with a light cereal sweetness and a hint of oak. At 17% it is soft and easy to drink, but not thin.

Finish

Medium and creamy, with cocoa and a final malt note lingering after the sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Arran Gold Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky 17%
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky
ABV: 17%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Arran Gold
EAN no.: 5060044480270
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled with coffee or over ice as a welcome drink

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Toffee · Chocolate · Sweet · Malty · Soft

Did You Know?

The Arran distillery at Lochranza was founded in 1995 and was the first legal distillery on the island in over a century and a half. Arran otherwise had a long history of illicit distilling, since the island’s remote bays were well suited to keeping the excise at arm’s length. Today the family also runs a second distillery, Lagg, at the southern end of the island.

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Every story has a first chapter. For Kilchoman, this bottle was it — the very first whisky the distillery ever sent out into the world, and the proof that a small farm distillery on Islay could make something people would remember.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Inaugural Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 3 years old and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky was released in 2009 and is the very first bottle of malt whisky Kilchoman ever put its name to. It was matured for between 2.5 and 3 years in bourbon casks, before receiving a finishing period of 6 months in sherry casks — a recipe that set the tone for much of what the distillery has since become known for.

The release was met with considerable acclaim from the start, including 92 points from the respected publication Malt Advocate — an unusually high accolade for a distillery still in its absolute infancy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Young, energetic peat smoke meets citrus peel and a sweetness of honey and vanilla from the sherry finish.

Palate

Direct and spiced, with peppery smoke, sweet malt and a light fruitiness confirming the cask finish's influence.

Finish

Medium length, dry and smoky, with a final trace of raisin and oak.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Inaugural Release Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 3 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Casks with Sherry Finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2009
Edition: Inaugural Release

Flavour profile

Peated · Young · Citrus-fresh · Spicy · Historic

Investment potential

High. This is the very first whisky Kilchoman ever released, making it the most historically significant bottle in the distillery's entire catalogue.

Did you know?

When Inaugural Release was reviewed by the American publication Malt Advocate, it scored a full 92 points — an unusually high rating for a distillery that had only existed for four years at the time.

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Straight neck stills sound like something for technical nerds, but the result is anything but dull. Inchmurrin 12 Year Old is a fruit salad in glass form – peach, apple and pear meeting dark chocolate and exotic spice.

Expert's Description

Inchmurrin 12 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled on Loch Lomond's distinctive straight neck pot stills, which help give Inchmurrin its pronounced fruitiness. After 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon, refill and re-charred American oak casks, the whisky comes across as a lively, sweet and versatile dram.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pear, red apples and ripe blueberries with cereal, allspice, ginger and pepper in the background, balanced by a sweet toffee tone.

Palate

Peach, red apples and pears create a juicy fruit salad, while grapefruit gives a zesty edge to creamy fudge and vanilla.

Finish

Medium length finish with fruity sweetness, drying oak and a peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Inchmurrin 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak (ex-bourbon, refill and re-charred)
Distillation method: Straight neck pot stills
EAN: 5016840155218
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass, ideally with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Creamy · Spiced

Did You Know?

Inchmurrin's high fruitiness comes from both the straight neck still distillation and an unusually long fermentation time – a combination unique to Loch Lomond.

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Madeira casks often give whisky a sun-soaked, fruity glow, and with Inchmurrin it turns into a feast of red berries and spiced chocolate. This expression shows just how far the distillery's fruity style can be stretched with the right cask.

Expert's Description

Inchmurrin Madeira Wood Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with a Madeira finish and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is first matured in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to casks that previously held Madeira – a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name. The finish gives the whisky its signature fullness of red berries, chocolate and spice, without ever drowning Inchmurrin's natural fruitiness. The whisky is non-chill filtered.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright and sweet with light smoke, orange, mango and toffee, plus a dusty fruitiness of red berries and fortified wine.

Palate

Dark and full with charred wood, cinnamon and coffee cake, along with chocolate confectionery filled with red berries and creamy vanilla.

Finish

Intense finish of smoke and roasted chestnuts, with lingering black pepper and a touch of liquorice.

Specifications

Name: Inchmurrin Madeira Wood Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished in Madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN: 5016840153214
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sherry-matured · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

The Madeira wine that previously filled these casks comes from the Portuguese island of the same name – historically famous for fortified wines once "matured" on long sea voyages through warm climates.

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There are small flakes at the bottom of the bottle. That is not a fault — it is the whole point. Raw Cask means the whisky has gone from cask to glass without being cleaned up in any way.

Expert description

Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek 2016 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single Oak Hogshead, bottled at cask strength, 61.8%.

Peat Reek is Blackadder's series for peated Islay whisky where the distillery name is withheld. Robin Tucek, who runs the house, has consistently kept the source confidential, but the series name leaves little doubt about what waits in the glass. Cask PR2016-2 yielded 279 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Raw Cask is the house signature: filtration is coarse enough only to hold back the largest pieces of wood. Everything else comes along, including the particles and sediment that settle in the bottle over time. The method produces an unusually thick, flavour-saturated whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry peat smoke and heather, with lemon peel, salted caramel and a trace of iodine underneath. Cask strength makes the aroma sharp and penetrating.

Palate

Massive and oily. Soot, black pepper, toasted barley and a honeyed sweetness fighting the smoke for room.

Finish

Very long with ash, salt and dried citrus. The smoke stays put well after the glass has been set down.

Specifications

Name: Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek 2016 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 61.8%
Bottler: Blackadder
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 61,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak Hogshead PR2016-2
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: April 2016
Number of bottles: 279
Edition: Raw Cask Peat Reek

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Powerful · Salty · Iodine

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask bottling of 279 bottles from a series no longer produced in this form. Blackadder's Raw Cask releases are followed closely by collectors.

Did you know?

The word reek is Scots for smoke. Auld Reekie, the old nickname for Edinburgh, comes from the same root and refers to the city's thick coal smoke.

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Some whiskies don't need to surprise – they just need to be good, every time. Loch Lomond Reserve is the distillery's take on a classic blend, where both malt and grain come from the very same address on the loch's shore.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Reserve is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is composed entirely of malt and grain whisky distilled and matured at Loch Lomond Distillery – with no whisky sourced from other distilleries. That makes it a rarity among blends: a "single-site blend", where the entire process happens in one place.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet honey and caramel with a touch of toffee and light vanilla.

Palate

Light and easy-drinking with honeyed sweetness, creamy caramel and a soft, round body.

Finish

Short, mild finish with lingering sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Smooth · Light

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond is one of the few Scottish distilleries able to make a complete blended whisky using only its own malt and grain whiskies, without sourcing anything from other distilleries.

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Every distillery needs a solid core expression to go the distance. Loch Lomond Original is exactly that – an easy-going whisky still built on the distillery's own, slightly unusual way of making malt.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Original is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is a lightly peated single malt with no age statement, designed as an accessible introduction to the distillery's style. It combines a full, soft body with a discreet hint of smoke that never overtakes the sweet, fruity notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramel, tropical fruit and toasted oak, with a fresh green note like freshly cut hay.

Palate

Honeyed sweetness and vanilla meet green herbs and fruit, with a touch of bitter chocolate, pepper and ginger, and gentle smoke in the background.

Finish

Short, crisp finish of pepper and lemon peel.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Original Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
EAN: 5016840033219
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Lightly Smoky

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond Original is often used as the distillery's "entry point" for new whisky drinkers, because it brings together several of the distillery's styles in one accessible whole.

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Campbeltown once had thirty distilleries. Today it has three. Glen Scotia is one of them, and the 15 year old is where the town’s character shows most clearly — salt, oil and a peat that sits like a shadow behind rather than filling the foreground.

The expert's description

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

The whisky has spent fifteen years in a mix of 1st fill and refill American oak casks, with no sherry or wine casks to turn the direction. It is non-chill filtered, and the 46% is pitched high enough that the maritime minerality does not vanish. The bottling carries the silver label design Glen Scotia moved to in June 2022.

Glen Scotia has been distilling in Campbeltown since 1832 and sits a few hundred metres from the harbour. In the nineteenth century the town was the whisky capital of Scotland, until the market collapsed and the distilleries closed one after another. Glen Scotia barely survived, stood silent for several periods in the twentieth century, and is run today by Loch Lomond Group.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted vanilla and ripe fruit first, then a salted caramel sweetness. There are light spices and a hint of citrus, and behind it sits the maritime note Campbeltown is known for.

Palate

Rich and full. Spiced oak, dried fruit and honey, with a mineral tautness mid-palate that points straight at the harbour. The smoke is discreet and only arrives at the end.

Finish

Long and warm. Pepper, dark chocolate and a withdrawn smoke that lingers long after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Maritime · Spiced · Fruity · Lightly peated · Mineral

Did you know?

Campbeltown is still recognised as a whisky region in its own right, even with only three working distilleries left. The town sits on the Kintyre peninsula, and the drive there from Glasgow is longer than to most Speyside distilleries — part of the reason so few make the trip.

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If you are only going to taste one Campbeltown whisky to understand what the region is about, this is it. Bourbon casks for the base, Pedro Ximénez for the sweetness, and underneath it all the salt of a town that sits with the sea on three sides.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The name comes from the two cask types. The bourbon casks lay vanilla and bright fruit into the spirit, and the PX casks add the dark, syrupy sweetness that Pedro Ximénez sherry is known for. The order means the sweetness comes last and settles as a layer over the salt rather than soaking through it. There is no age statement, which gives the blender freedom to build the batch by taste rather than by year.

Thomas Rydberg of Whisky & Rom Magasinet awarded the bottling 90 points. That is a high score for a whisky with no age statement, and it says something about the Glen Scotia spirit having enough body to manage without many years of cask time behind it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked fruit and vanilla, with spiced wood behind. The PX sherry gives a dark sweetness that sits clearly over the salty base note.

Palate

Round and soft. Caramel, dried fruit and a touch of spice, with the oily texture that marks the house. The salt only comes forward on the second sip.

Finish

Pleasant and lasting. The sherry sweetness holds on while a maritime, lightly dry note takes over at the end.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia Double Cask Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: Double Cask
EAN no.: 5016840151210

Flavour profile

Sherried · Soft · Fruity · Spiced · Maritime

Did you know?

Glen Scotia still ferments in nine stainless steel washbacks. That is a small number for a distillery today, and the short, controlled fermentation times are part of what gives the whisky its firm, malty character rather than a fruity, floral profile.

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Finlaggan is the name of the island in the loch from which the Lords of the Isles once ruled the Hebrides. The whisky carries the name but not the distillery, because who made it is something you do not get told.

The expert description

Finlaggan Cask Strength is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength 58%.

Behind the bottle stands The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, a family firm from Glasgow founded in 1992. They buy casks from an undisclosed Islay distillery and bottle them under the Finlaggan name, which is an entirely ordinary arrangement when a distillery sells casks on without wanting its name on the label.

Cask Strength is the heaviest in the range and is bottled without dilution, without chill filtration and without colouring. The 58% makes a difference you notice immediately: the smoke sits denser and oilier than the same whisky would at 46%.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep peat smoke and burnt wood, enriched by subtle hints of iodine and seaweed of the kind Islay is known for.

Palate

Vigorous and full bodied with an intense wave of smoke and malt, and a slight underlying sweetness that balances the robust peat character.

Finish

Long and persistent with an enveloping warmth that gradually releases nuances of dark chocolate and spices.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Cask Strength
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Strength

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peaty · Maritime · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Finlaggan is a small island in Loch Finlaggan on Islay, and from here the Lords of the Isles governed much of the Scottish islands and the western seaboard in the Middle Ages. The ruins are still there, a couple of kilometres from the distillery nobody will put a name to.

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