In 1963, Glenfiddich did something no other Scotch distillery had dared before — they sold their single malt outside Scotland. The Original is a direct tribute to the bottle that changed the whisky world.

Expert description

Glenfiddich The Original Limited Edition is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The release is built on the same cask combination Glenfiddich used for its very first export bottling: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks. The Original was created in a limited run to celebrate the distillery's pioneering work, rather than as a fixed part of the core range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pear and a touch of honey, with a delicate underlying sherry sweetness.

Palate

Light and fruity with soft malt, honey and a mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich The Original Limited Edition Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Number of bottles: Limited release
Edition: The Original - tribute to the 1963 release
EAN no.: 5010327325569
Notice: No box

Flavour profile

Fruity · Light · Soft · Classic

Investment potential

Low. The Original pays tribute to the 1963 release that first brought Scotch single malt to the world, and historic tribute bottlings like this tend to appreciate quietly over time.

Did you know?

The original 1963 release was sold in a triangular bottle — a design detail that still echoes in Glenfiddich's bottles today.

See our full range of Glenfiddich

Listen to our podcast:

In 1824, George Smith stood alone with his licence and his defiance of the Scottish farmers who refused to pay tax on their home-distilled whisky. Two centuries later, this bottle still carries his name forward as a tribute to the man who founded The Glenlivet.

Expert Description

Glenlivet Founders Reserve is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, bottled at 40% with no age statement.

The whisky launched in 2015 as a tribute to the distillery's founder and was intended to eventually take over from the popular Glenlivet 12 Year Old in the core range. Founders Reserve is matured in a combination of traditional American oak casks and new bourbon casks used only once, the first time The Glenlivet had used this cask type. The combination gives the whisky a creamy, sweet character with pronounced vanilla. On release, Founders Reserve won gold at the 2015 Scotch Whisky Masters, cementing its place in the distillery's range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus and a hint of orange open things up, carried by a gentle sweetness.

Palate

Orange peel, pears, peach and blossom meet vanilla in a classic fruity Glenlivet style.

Finish

Creamy and soft, with a lingering sweetness that rounds off the flavour nicely.

Specifications

Name: Founders Reserve
Distillery: The Glenlivet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and first fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
EAN: 5000299609347

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Floral · Sweet · Creamy

Did You Know?

Founders Reserve was the first Glenlivet expression ever matured in new, once-used bourbon casks, a cask choice the distillery had never tried before in nearly 200 years of history until 2015.

See our full range of The Glenlivet

Wemyss Malts name their single cask bottlings after flavour rather than distillery – this 17 year old Glenrothes has been named "Buttered Tealoaf", and that's no accident.

Expert's Description

Glenrothes 1997/2014 Buttered Tealoaf is a Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky with only 384 bottles, bottled by the family-owned whisky merchant Wemyss Malts, who over many years have built an extensive portfolio of casks from almost every distillery in Scotland.

Each of Wemyss' single cask bottlings is given a name referring to flavour notes and aromas identified by their tasting panel – including whisky expert Charles Maclean, author and member of the Master of the Quaich.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Buttery baked cake, honey and a light sweetness of dried fruit.

Palate

Round and soft, with notes of butter cake, caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Glenrothes 1997/2014 Buttered Tealoaf 17 Year Old Single Malt Speyside Cask 70cl 46%
Distillery: Glenrothes (Wemyss Buttered Tealoaf)
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 1997, Bottled: 2014
Age: 17 years
Cask type: Hogshead
Bottles: 384
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Soft · Cake-like · Honeyed · Round

Investment Potential

With 384 bottles from a single cask and an age of 17 years, this whisky belongs to a type of release that often becomes sought-after among collectors of Wemyss' named single cask series as bottles become harder to find.

Did You Know?

Wemyss' names for their single cask releases, like "Buttered Tealoaf", aren't random – they're chosen by the company's tasting panel to capture the essence of each individual whisky's character.

See our full range of Glenrothes and Wemyss Malts

In a region crowded with famous names, Invergordon has quietly gone about its business for generations. This particular release from Highland shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Invergordon 1984/2015 Coopers Choice 30 Year Single Grain Scotch Whisky 57% is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured on refill Butt, fad ref. 12 and bottled at 57%.

This bottling comes from The Coopers Choice, released as part of the Coopers Choice range.

The whisky was distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2015.

Only 360 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, toffee and roasted almonds.

Palate

Creamy vanilla, brown sugar and a hint of nut.

Finish

Soft and lingering with a delicate spice.

Specifications

Name: Invergordon 1984/2015 Coopers Choice 30 Year Single Grain Scotch Whisky 57%
Distillery: Invergordon
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Butt, fad ref. 12
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1984
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 360
Edition: Coopers Choice

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. 30-year-old single grain bottlings from Invergordon rarely appear on the market, and the run of 360 bottles makes this edition attractive to grain whisky collectors.

Did you know?

Invergordon distillery was built in 1961 on the Cromarty Firth and remains one of Scotland's largest grain whisky distilleries, mostly supplying blends.

See our full range of Invergordon

Listen to our podcast:

On the small island of Inchmurrin in the middle of Loch Lomond lies the name for one of the distillery's most fruit-forward styles. 18 years in cask has given this expression a depth of nuts, spice and ripe apple that surprises those expecting a light summer whisky.

Expert's Description

Inchmurrin 18 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

Inchmurrin is distilled on Loch Lomond's straight neck Lomond still, which captures the spirit at an unusually high strength of around 83-85%, giving it a highly fruity character reinforced by an extra-long fermentation. After 18 years in cask, the whisky has developed a depth of nuts, dried fruit and spice, building on the distillate's natural fruitiness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Hob nobs and whole grain biscuits, cinnamon bark and caramel-coated almonds and hazelnuts, with overripe orange and a hint of mint.

Palate

Green grass and herby notes meet black pepper, old leather and caramel, with tropical fruit and tobacco.

Finish

Long, warming finish with spice and liquorice, drying oak and caramel.

Specifications

Name: Inchmurrin 18 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Distillation method: Straight neck Lomond still
EAN: 5016840157212
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass, ideally with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Nutty · Spiced · Smooth

Did You Know?

Inchmurrin is named after the largest island in Loch Lomond, where the ruins of an old monastery can still be visited today.

See our full range of Loch Lomond

Listen to our podcast:

On the banks of the Pitilie Burn, where people still crouch down and wash the gravel looking for gold, sits a distillery that has been making honeyed malt since 1898. Aberfeldy calls its whisky the Golden Dram. The colour is only half of what they mean.

Expert description

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks alongside refill, re-char and sherry casks, bottled at 40%. It anchors the core range and is almost always the first Aberfeldy anyone tastes.

The distillery stands in Perthshire, just outside the town of Aberfeldy. John Alexander and Tommy Dewar started building it in 1896, barely a few kilometres from where their father was born, and spirit was running by 1898. The plan was never modest: Aberfeldy would supply the heart malt for the blends that John Dewar & Sons built its name on. That job never went away, which is why it took surprisingly long for the single malt to get proper attention in its own right.

The barley malt is unpeated, so there is no smoke here at all. The spirit runs through two wash stills and two spirit stills, double distilled, then spends twelve years in wood. American oak from the bourbon industry supplies vanilla, coconut and the pale honey note Aberfeldy is known for. The sherry casks lay dried fruit and a little spice over the top. Re-char casks are older casks burnt out again on the inside, and they pull the sweetness back up without making the whisky heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale heather honey and vanilla arrive first, then peeled green apple and pear. Behind that sits a dry toasted note, roughly like toast pulled a moment before it turns too dark, and a lift of orange peel.

Palate

Soft and round without going slack. Honey and malt carry the whole thing, orange and pear keep it fresh, and a light cinnamon spice arrives in the second half. At 40% it is mild, but it is not thin.

Finish

Medium length. The honey hangs on, the spice ebbs away slowly, and a dry malty note is the last thing left.

Specifications

Name: Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Aberfeldy
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak ex-bourbon casks, refill casks, re-char casks and sherry casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5000277000982

Flavour profile

Honey · Fruity · Malty · Soft · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

The Pitilie Burn that feeds the distillery genuinely carries gold. People still pan the gravel along its banks, and Aberfeldy has spent years using that gold as the image for what ends up in the bottle.

Browse our full range of Aberfeldy

There is a mouse in Scottish literature that still makes people jump. Douglas Laing has given it four legs, a bottle and a bite that is impossible to mistake.

Expert's description

Timorous Beastie Douglas Laing Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8% is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and sherry casks and bottled at 46,8%.

This small batch expression is composed of Highland malts from several well-known distilleries and bottled at 46.8% without chill filtration or added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Very sweet with spiced honey notes.

Palate

Spiced with raisins, caramel and sugar.

Finish

Sweet with camphor drops and meringue.

Specifications

Name: Timorous Beastie Douglas Laing Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Small Batch Release
EAN no.: 5014218794540

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

The malt in Timorous Beastie originates from several named Highland distilleries, including Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne, though the official source is never mentioned on the label.

See our full range of Timorous Beastie

Norway buys its spirits through a state monopoly, and when Vinmonopolet picks a single cask it does so after a blind tasting with no regard for name or label. This cask made it through. It is number 21 in the series.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2008/2015 Signatory Vintage 7 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 40%. Cask 800083 was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2015 as a single cask for Vinmonopolet, giving 357 bottles.

The combination is unusual: a single cask at 40%. Most single cask releases go into the bottle at cask strength, but here the whisky has been reduced to standard strength. In return it is neither chill filtered nor coloured, which at 40% requires a cask with real body behind it.

Ardmore makes peated whisky as its core style at around 12 to 14 ppm. After seven years in a bourbon barrel the smoke is still fresh and direct, with the cask’s vanilla and cereal standing clearly alongside.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale malt first, with peat smoke as a dry line underneath. There is honey and green apple in it, plus a light soot or ash note that tells you peat is in play.

Palate

Soft and straightforward. Malt, vanilla and baked apple open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy floor along with a light peppery spice. At 40% it drinks easily, and the smoke never dominates.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, honey and a dry smoky note that lets go calmly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2008/2015 Signatory Vintage 7 Years Old Vinmonopolet Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel, cask no. 800083
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 357
Edition: Single Cask for Vinmonopolet No. 21

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Vanilla · Fruity · Soft · Dry

Investment Potential

Medium. Single casks for Vinmonopolet are not reissued, and they exist only in the outturn the cask gave, here 357 bottles. Because they are distributed through one channel in one country, they rarely surface on the wider market afterwards.

Did You Know?

Vinmonopolet was established in 1922 and has since been Norway’s only legal channel for the sale of spirits. That is precisely what makes their single cask selections interesting: there are no competing chains to accommodate, and the choice is made by a buying team rather than by a brand.

See our full range of Ardmore
See our full range of Signatory

Listen to our podcast:

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

Expert's description

Jura Tastival 1997/2015 Feis Isle Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 52% is a Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 52%.

The whisky was distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2015.

Only 3,970 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Jura Tastival 1997/2015 Feis Isle Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 52%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Isle of Jura
Type: Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1997
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 3,970
Edition: Tastival Fèis Ìle 2015
EAN no.: 5013967010345

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Fèis Ìle releases are annual and stop being produced once the festival is over, making a bottling from ten years back still harder to source.

Did you know?

Fèis Ìle is an annual whisky festival on Islay, where distilleries across the region, including neighbouring Jura, release exclusive festival bottlings for the event.

See our full range of Jura

Listen to our podcast:

There is something rebellious about a Miltonduff that steps out of the Chivas blending vats to stand alone in the glass.

Note: This older bottle may show minor signs of age just below the label and a scratch on the box.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 12 Year Old Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky in the 70cl format is a late-1980s Speyside malt, bottled under the historic "Glenlivet Malt" designation at 43%.

Like its smaller 50cl sibling, this bottle dates from a time when several Speyside distilleries added "Glenlivet" to the label to signal regional origin – a practice since prohibited, making this 70cl release a rare piece of whisky history.

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is short and fresh.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Gammel udgave fra slutningen af 1980'erne

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

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

See our full range of Miltonduff

Rock Oyster from Douglas Laing is a tribute to the rugged, wind-swept whisky islands of the Scottish archipelago, gathered into one salty, smoky bottle.

Expert Review

Rock Oyster Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is an Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% ABV.

Rock Oyster from Douglas Laing is an Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, created as a tribute to the rugged, wind-swept whisky islands of the Scottish archipelago. It brings together malt whisky from several island distilleries, including Orkney and Islay, in one balanced blend.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is maritime with sea salt, smoke and a light sweetness.

Palate

The palate is smoky and saline, with honey and a mild spiciness.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Rock Oyster Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Rock Oyster
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: The Scottish Islands, Scotland
Type: Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Peated · Balanced

Did You Know?

The name Rock Oyster refers to oysters, which have been harvested for centuries along the rocky shores of the very islands whose whisky goes into this blend.

See our full range of Rock Oyster

Listen to our podcast:

The original Stronachie distillery vanished long ago, but the name lives on as A. Dewar Rattray's tribute to a bygone whisky style.

Expert's Description

Stronachie 10 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky from A. D. Rattray, bottled at 43% after 10 years of maturation.

The name Stronachie comes from a distillery that closed long ago, and A. D. Rattray revived the name as a brand to recreate the style of the original Stronachie whisky, based on an old bottle found by the Rattray family.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and light sweetness meet a hint of fruit and a touch of spice.

Palate

Round and balanced with honey, apple and a mild oak influence.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Stronachie 10 Year Old
Bottler: A. D. Rattray
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5060056921495

Flavour Profile

Soft · Balanced · Fruity · Classic

Did You Know?

A. D. Rattray revived the Stronachie name after finding an old, original bottle from the original distillery, which inspired the style of the modern reissue.

See our full range of A.D. Rattray

Batch 001 is the pair of digits collectors look for first. Signature was the Balvenie attempt at showing what three cask types can do together, and the first batch is the one every later release has been measured against.

The expert's description

Balvenie Signature 12 Batch 001 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks, refill bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 40 %.

Signature launched in 2008 as a bottling built on three cask types rather than the usual two. David Stewart selected the casks by hand, and each batch carried its own number. Batch 001 is the first release in the series, which was phased out again a few years later.

Each cask type plays its own part. First fill bourbon gives vanilla and coconut, the refill casks let the honey character of the spirit come through, and the sherry casks lay raisin and spice on top. Bottling at 40 % keeps the whole thing restrained and coherent.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, vanilla and pale apple, with a note of coconut and a discreet sherry sweetness behind.

Palate

Soft and rounded with caramel, raisin and lightly spiced oak. The three cask types pull in different directions but are held together by the malt.

Finish

Medium and warm with spice, honey and a dry note of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Signature 12 år Batch 001
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, refill bourbon casks and sherry casks
Edition: Batch 001
EAN no.: 5010327525617

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Vanilla · Soft · Spiced · Lightly sherried

Investment potential

Medium. The series is discontinued, and Batch 001 is the first and most sought after of the numbered releases. First batches generally hold a stronger position on the collector market than those that follow.

Did you know?

Balvenie is one of the few Scottish distilleries still growing part of its own barley in the fields around the site. Grain from the Balvenie Mains farm goes straight into the floor maltings for a few weeks each year.

See our full range of Balvenie Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Whisky writer Alfred Barnard called the style one seldom met with now, and that was in the nineteenth century. Craigellachie has changed nothing since — which is exactly the point.

Expert description

Craigellachie 13 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The distillery was built in 1891 on the rock of Craigellachie between Rothes and Dufftown, where the rivers Fiddich and Spey meet. The name is Gaelic and means rocky hill. Condensing still happens in worm tubs, giving less copper contact than modern plant, which is why the whisky carries the meaty, faintly sulphurous edge that sets it apart from its neighbours. For decades most of the production went into blends such as White Horse, and only in 2014 did the distillery get a range of its own.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked apple, pear and ripe pineapple first. Then vanilla, honey and cereal, with a spiced smoke and a light mineral note that is the house signature.

Palate

Full and oily. Pineapple, citrus, sweet malt and caramelised sugar, with a touch of flint and smoke from the sulphurous edge. The oak gives depth without taking over.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced, with oak, fruit and a hint of toasted malt.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 13 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000277003389

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spiced · Malty · Mineral · Lightly Smoked

Did you know?

Pineapple runs through the entire Craigellachie range, and it is no accident. The heavy vapour from worm tubs leaves sulphur compounds behind, and years in cask turn them into a clear tropical fruit note — one of the strangest and most recognisable signatures in Scotch whisky.

See our full range of Craigellachie Whisky

Cragganmore is almost always sold at forty percent and twelve years. Every so often Diageo opens the warehouse door and lets it out at full strength — and then it becomes a different whisky entirely.

Expert description

Cragganmore 2016 Annual Release is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 55.7% without an age statement.

The release belongs to Diageo's annual Special Releases and was made in 4,932 bottles. Cragganmore sits at Ballindalloch between mountain and sea, in the triangle of land locally called the Garden of Scotland, where barley is a natural crop and the Spey is Scotland's fastest flowing river. It was precisely that combination of barley, water and peat from the uplands to the south that made John Smith build here in 1869. At 55.7% the herbal, malted house style stands far more clearly than in the 12 year old.

Tasting notes

Nose

Concentrated heather and honey, dried herbs and a warm resinous note. Underneath sit malt, apple skin and a trace of wood smoke.

Palate

Powerful and dense. Honey, sandalwood, malt and candied citrus, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry herbal edge keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish

Very long and dry, with malt, herbs, oak and a slowly fading smoked warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cragganmore 2016 Annual Release Single Speyside Malt Whisky 55,7%
Distillery: Cragganmore
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55.7%
Size: 70 CL
Number of bottles: 4,932
Edition: Annual Release 2016
EAN no.: 5000281046082

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Herbal · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. The outturn is 4,932 bottles, the vintage is bottled once and never repeated, and Cragganmore appears rarely in the series. Older Special Releases have risen sharply as they left the shelves.

Did you know?

Cragganmore sits in what locals call the Garden of Scotland — a fertile triangle between mountain and sea where barley grows well. John Smith chose the spot because everything a distillery needs lay within walking distance: grain, water, peat and a railway.

See our full range of Cragganmore Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Blending is a craft in its own right, and this expression shows exactly why patience and a steady hand matter. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, toffee and a whisper of peat.

Palate

Honey, malt and a light peppery spice.

Finish

Medium length with a soft smoky close.

Specifications

Name: J&B JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B JET

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B JET is one of the lesser-known members of the J&B family, no longer marketed as widely as J&B Rare in every market.

See our full range of J&B

Behind every well-balanced blend sits a master blender who has tasted more casks than most drinkers will in a lifetime. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Blended Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Blended Whisky 40%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B Rare
EAN no.: 5010103800259

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B Rare is one of the best-selling Scotch whisky blends in the world and has for decades been a bar staple thanks to its versatility in cocktails.

See our full range of J&B

Not every hero wears a cape — some wear a label with a bird. Glen Spey 12 year is one of the quiet classics from Diageo's Flora & Fauna series: a distillery that rarely performs as a soloist, here caught in a bottle in its purest form. Fruity, light and genuinely accessible.

Expert's description

Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% as part of Diageo's Flora & Fauna series. Glen Spey distillery sits at the heart of Rothes, Speyside, and is one of the smallest in Diageo's portfolio. Founded in 1878 as Mill of Rothes by James Stuart, acquired by W. & A. Gilbey in 1887 and since 1962 part of IDV, later Diageo. Almost all production goes into the J&B blend, and official single malt bottlings have historically been rare.

The Flora & Fauna series was launched in 1992 by United Distillers (now Diageo) as a tribute to distilleries that don't normally appear as single malt. The 26 original labels depict plants and animals from each distillery's local environment. Twelve years in oak casks at 43% produces a classic, balanced Speyside profile: fresh, floral and gently fruity with a creamy mid-palate.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and floral with light citrus — lemon, grapefruit and clementine — underpinned by green apples, pears and a faint vanilla sweetness. Freshly cut grass and a hint of malted bread.

Palate

Soft and silky on the palate with orchard fruit — green apples and pears — combined with toffee, vanilla and a discreet spiced oak element. Orange and light almond round off the mid-palate.

Finish

Medium-length and clean with fresh fruit and a gentle sweetness. Classic, uncomplicated Speyside finish.

Specifications

Name: Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna
Distillery: Glen Spey
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
EAN no.: 5000281016108

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Light · Creamy · Fresh

Did you know?

The name "Flora & Fauna" is credited to whisky writer Michael Jackson, who helped United Distillers market the series in the early 1990s. The labels depicting local plants and animals have since become highly sought after by collectors.

See our full range of Glen Spey

See our full range of Flora & Fauna

Listen to our podcast:

South of Elgin, where Speyside flattens out toward the coast, sits a distillery few outside the trade have ever heard of. Glenlossie has spent decades quietly propping up blends like Haig's and Dimple – Flora & Fauna is one of the rare chances to meet it on its own.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%.

The bottle belongs to the Flora & Fauna series, launched in 1992 by the then United Distillers (today Diageo, the world's largest spirits company). The original series comprised 26 different single malts, chosen to show the breadth of Scotland's whisky regions – most bottled at 43%, a handful at cask strength, and some presented in wooden cases.

Glenlossie sits just south of Elgin alongside several other distilleries most drinkers have never heard of, since their output mainly feeds blends. Glenlossie is a well-known component of Haig's and Dimple, and it rarely appears on a label by itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cornflakes and freshly cut vanilla arrive first, quietly rather than loudly – Glenlossie isn't a whisky that shouts. Behind the pale, cereal sweetness sits a hint of ripe orchard fruit, held back almost politely.

Palate

Ginger and toasted bread define the palate, carried on a soft, creamy body. The sweetness stays restrained and malty rather than fruity, and the texture is round without turning heavy.

Finish

White pepper adds a small spark to an otherwise quiet finish – short, dry and precise, like a parting remark from a whisky that would rather do its work inside a blend than stand alone on a shelf.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281010465

Flavour Profile

Malty · Lightly fruity · Spiced · Dry finish

Did You Know?

The Flora & Fauna series takes its name from the animal and plant illustrations Diageo placed on every label in the range – a small nod to the nature surrounding the 26 distilleries that otherwise rarely stepped into the spotlight themselves.

See our full range of Glenlossie

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 14 Year Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, barley and a soft citrus lift.

Palate

Soft vanilla, malt and light spice.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 14 Year Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Inchgower
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281024387

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Inchgower was built in 1871 using stone salvaged from the closed Tochineal distillery a few kilometres away, so part of its foundation literally comes from its predecessor.

See our full range of Inchgower

Listen to our podcast:

Before new designs and new cask combinations, there was this 15-year-old expression of Highland Park, as it looked when it was first introduced as an exclusive release back in 2003. A taste of how the distillery's style once was, before it evolved further.

Expert Description

Highland Park 15 Year Old Old Version is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

This is the original 15-year-old, as it was introduced in 2003 as an exclusive release, before later becoming a permanent part of the distillery's international range. The whisky builds on the 12-year-old style, but with an extra layer of complexity from the longer maturation — more floral, more aromatic, with a milder smoke.

Today this exact edition is discontinued and replaced by newer versions, making it an interesting glimpse into how Highland Park tasted for an earlier generation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Aromatic smokiness with a hint of camphor, backed by fresh citrus notes and a light floral scent.

Palate

Rich and initially sweet, gradually developing into a dry, smoky character.

Finish

Rich and long, first medium sweet, then medium dry with lingering smoke.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 15 Year Old Old Version
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Discontinued version
EAN: 5010314311315

Flavour Profile

Peated · Floral · Rich · Soft

Did You Know?

The 15 year old was first launched in 2003 as an exclusive, limited release, before it later became a permanent part of Highland Park's international range.

See our full range of Highland Park

Listen to our podcast:

The Classic Laddie is where most people meet Bruichladdich for the first time. No peat, no age statement, just Scottish barley, distilled and matured on Islay from start to finish.

Expert description

The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured in American oak casks and bottled at 50%.

The whisky is the distillery's flagship without an age statement, blended from several vintages to keep a consistent, unpeated profile. The barley is Scottish, much of it grown on Islay itself, in line with Bruichladdich's terroir philosophy.

Maturation in American oak gives a light sweetness and a full body, without overpowering the bright, floral character that defines the house's unpeated style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Barley, honey and fresh citrus, with a light maritime undertone and a touch of freshly cut grass.

Palate

Soft and creamy with vanilla, green apples and a gentle spiciness that keeps the palate fresh throughout.

Finish

Medium length with honey, soft grain and a lightly salty finish reminiscent of Islay's coastline.

Specifications

Name: The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5055807416948

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Soft · Maritime

Did you know?

The Classic Laddie is the only whisky in Bruichladdich's range without a vintage or age statement, precisely because it's designed as the house's permanent, recurring expression.

See our full range of Bruichladdich

Listen to our podcast:

Strathmill's first appearance in Diageo's prestigious Special Releases series — a 25-year-old proving the distillery's ability to keep its style light, even after a quarter-century in cask.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 25 Year Old Limited Edition 2014 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in refill American oak and bottled at natural cask strength of 52.4% in a run of only 2,700 bottles.

As the distillery's debut in Diageo's Special Releases, the 2014 edition was the lightest in style among that year's selection, underscoring Strathmill's characteristically elegant, lightly cask-influenced profile.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft malt and citrus meet a delicate vanilla sweetness from the long refill maturation.

Palate

Elegant and light with honey, apple and a hint of spice.

Finish

Long and soft with lingering malt and a dry, clean close.

Specifications

Name: 25 Year Old Limited Edition 2014
Distillery: Strathmill
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill American Oak
Number of Bottles: 2,700 bottles
Edition: Special Releases 2014
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Elegant · Light · Cask strength · Rare

Investment Potential

High. As the distillery's debut in Diageo's prestigious Special Releases and with only 2,700 bottles from 2014, it has become a sought-after bottle among Speyside collectors.

Did You Know?

The 2014 edition was Strathmill's first-ever appearance in Diageo's annual Special Releases series, making it a landmark for the distillery's rare solo releases.

See our full range of Strathmill

Ballechin's most approachable expression is also one of its most characterful — a solid peated Highland whisky without unnecessary fuss.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 10 years old Peated Cask is a Single Highland Malt Whisky bottled at 46%.

This 10-year-old release is one of the more approachable bottlings in the Ballechin series and serves as a solid introduction to the distillery's peated style. At a moderate strength of 46%, the whisky shows Ballechin's earthy, powerful smoke in an accessible and well-balanced form, without compromising on character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Earthy smoke and fresh malt, with a hint of citrus and a touch of tar.

Palate

Full-bodied smoke meets a soft sweetness of honey and caramel, with a lightly salty undercurrent.

Finish

Medium length with lingering smoke and a dry, spicy finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 10 years old Peated Cask Single Highland Malt 46%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5021944087846

Flavour profile

Peated · Fresh

Did you know?

Ballechin takes its name from a small distillery near Edradour that closed in the 1920s — Edradour revived the name in 2003 for its own peated series as a tribute to local whisky history.

See our full range of Edradour Ballechin

Listen to our podcast:

A litre of Bowmore with a silk-screen printed label — the kind of bottle that no longer makes it onto the shelves, but that recalls a time when Islay whisky was presented with rather more character. A collector's bottle from an era when bottles had personality.

Expert's description

Bowmore 12 Year Screen Printed Old Version is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 43%. This is the old 100 cl format with a screen-printed label applied directly to the glass — a presentation that has since been discontinued. Screen printing directly onto bottles was standard on several of Bowmore's export markets and is today a hallmark collectors look for in older expressions.

The whisky inside is the classic Bowmore 12 Year from the distillery on the banks of Loch Indaal, founded in 1779. Matured on ex-bourbon and sherry casks at 43%, and developed in the distillery's iconic No. 1 Vaults — a warehouse that sits partly below sea level. That maritime environment leaves its mark on both nose and palate: salt breeze, a trace of smoke and honey from one of Islay's most storied distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and inviting with heather honey, a little citrus and Bowmore's soft, gentle peat smoke. A trace of sea salt and vanilla.

Palate

Soft and creamy with ripe citrus, honey and a light, salted smoke. Discreet sweetness balances the peat nicely.

Finish

Medium-length and gentle. The smoke fades slowly with a dry, lightly peppery note and a final breath of honey.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 12 Year Screen Printed Old Version
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry
Edition: Old Version – Screen Printed (discontinued format)

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Honey-sweet · Fruity · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. The discontinued 100 cl format with screen-printed label is sought after by collectors, and older Bowmore bottlings in this presentation have been rising in price on the auction market.

Did you know?

Bowmore is the only Islay distillery that still produces a portion of its malt on its own floor maltings — a method that has all but disappeared from the wider industry, giving the distillery direct control over the peat levels in its production.

Browse our full range of Bowmore

Listen to our podcast:

Most whisky travels through several hands before it reaches the glass. The 100% Islay series does the opposite: grain, malting, distilling, maturing and bottling all happen within the same patch of land. 4th Release is one of the early chapters in that story.

Expert's description

Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, at least 5 years old and bottled at 50 %.

The 100% Islay series is unique even by Kilchoman's own standards: the barley is grown on the distillery's own land, floor malted on site, and distilled, matured and bottled without ever leaving the farm. That makes the series a genuine "Single Farm Single Malt" — a rarity in the whisky world as a whole. 4th Release is built from selected 5 year old first fill and refill bourbon casks from the distillery's own warehouse.

Because the barley here is more lightly peated than the malt Kilchoman normally buys in for its other releases, the 100% Islay series carries a different, more floral and delicate character than, say, Machir Bay — the smoke is still there, but it acts more as an undercurrent than a lead role.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate and floral, with soft fruit notes and pear drops that slowly give way to a light peat smoke.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet, where the peat smoke unfolds on the tongue and leaves a long, sweet finish with soft smoky tones.

Finish

Long and lingering, with a gentle smoke that never becomes dominant.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th 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 4th Release

Flavour profile

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

Investment potential

Medium. The 100% Islay series is now up to more than ten releases, and early numbers like 4th Release become harder to find as collectors chase a complete run.

Did you know?

Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland that completes every step of whisky production in one place — from growing the barley to the finished bottle — making the 100% Islay series close to unique in the entire whisky world.

See our full range of Kilchoman

Listen to our podcast:

The scent of an ashtray, a whisky guru who can't help but praise it, and the bottle most Islay lovers eventually come back to.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 10 years and bottled at 46%.

The peaty aroma signals a high phenol content, and the pronounced ashtray character is part of what has made this particular 10-year-old one of the most praised entry-level single malts on the market. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries a ppm content of 50-55, keeping it close to the distillery's raw starting point.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean and smoky with a hint of citrus freshness, with barbecue notes lying just beneath the surface.

Palate

Iodine, salt, spice and liquorice in a heavy, intense smoke carried by an underlying sweetness.

Finish

Marked by peat, smoke and sweetness, powerful and with good length.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: The Ultimate
EAN no.: 5010494195286

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Citrus-fresh

Did You Know?

Many Islay connoisseurs point to Ardbeg Ten as the 10-year-old that best shows what the distillery is about, without needing to pay for a limited edition batch.

See our full range of Ardbeg

Listen to our podcast:

The core of Douglas Laing's Speyside range is a sherry-driven blend with a badger for a mascot and a cheerfully irreverent style.

Expert Review

Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV.

Scallywag is a Scotch whisky with an aromatic flavour of oak, vanilla and a sherry finish. Scallywag Whisky blends several Speyside malts, all matured or finished in sherry casks, giving the range its rich, sweet signature style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with raisin, caramel and a lightly spiced oak.

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Scallywag
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
EAN No.: 5014218796490

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Sweet · Approachable

Did You Know?

Scallywag was launched by Douglas Laing as part of a series of characterful blends, where each bottle has its own animal mascot, from Big Peat to Rock Oyster.

See our full range of Scallywag

Listen to our podcast:

In 1963 William Grant & Sons found themselves without access to grain whisky and built their own distillery in nine months. Girvan is the result, and these twenty-five years are what happens when you leave that plant to get on with it for long enough.

The expert description

Girvan Patent Still 25 Years Old is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with some sherry wood and virgin oak, bottled at 42%.

The distillery was raised in 1963 on the Ayrshire coast in answer to a trade dispute with the large blending houses of the day, and it has supplied the backbone of the William Grant blends ever since. The Patent Still range was the first serious attempt by the house to sell grain whisky under its own name, and the twenty-five year old opened the series.

The composition is a marriage of whisky from 1st fill and refill bourbon casks with a smaller share from sherry wood and virgin oak. The bourbon casks carry the creamy vanilla character, while the others lay darker fruit and spice underneath. The 42% is pitched low enough to let the texture do the carrying.

Tasting notes

Nose

Masses of buttery vanilla, fresh apple and cinnamon stick, with dark peel and chocolate pralines behind.

Palate

Creamy and unctuous with white chocolate, citrus and lime, chewy caramels and pineapple, while soft American oak sits underneath.

Finish

Vanilla, ground cinnamon and a final cool note of mint.

Specifications

Name: Girvan Patent Still 25 Years Old
Distillery: Girvan
Region/Country: Lowland Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon casks with sherry wood and virgin oak
Edition: Patent Still
EAN no.: 5010327445038

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Fruity · Sweet · Mature

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old single grain with an age statement from an official distillery has become noticeably harder to find as the old grain stocks have been drawn down. The Patent Still range was also the first of its kind from the house, which gives it a place in the record.

Did you know?

Inside the Girvan complex also stood the malt distillery Ladyburn, which ran only from 1966 to 1975 and is today one of the most sought after silent addresses in Scotland. On the same ground Ailsa Bay opened in 2007, so the site holds both a closed and a new malt distillery alongside the grain plant.

See our full range of Girvan

Ragnvald was the Viking age's great traveller — a sailor, explorer and trader who brought spices, fabrics and gemstones home from across Europe. Highland Park has given him a whisky that, like the man himself, holds more layers than first expected.

Expert Description

Highland Park Ragnvald The Warrior Series is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in a combination of European and American oak and bottled at 44.6%.

Ragnvald was one of the Viking age's most well-travelled figures — a skilled sailor and explorer whose trading voyages brought exotic spices, textiles and gemstones back to Orkney. The whisky balances the best of European oak with a smaller share of American oak, giving a rounded, spiced profile.

Ragnvald is part of The Warrior Series and was originally created for Global Retail, though a limited number of bottles have found their way to the Danish market.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe damsons, oriental spices, candied peel and a touch of night-scented stock.

Palate

Well-balanced between smoke and sweetness, with grated nutmeg, vanilla pods and dark chocolate.

Finish

Complex and lingering, with gingery spice and a calm smoke.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Ragnvald The Warrior Series
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
ABV: 44.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: European and American oak
Edition: The Warrior Series, wooden box
EAN: 5010314300388

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Fruity · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Ragnvald was originally created exclusively for the Global Retail market, and only a limited number of bottles have since found their way to Danish shelves.

See our full range of Highland Park

Listen to our podcast: