A mystery in the glass. No distillery name on the label, just a Highland whisky full of caramel, apples and a warm, sherried depth.

Expert description

Tantallan 10 Year Old is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled by independent bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Company at 40% ABV, without disclosing the distillery behind it.

The name Tantallan is borrowed from the 600-year-old ruin of Tantallon Castle on the Firth of Forth, and this whisky was one of the very first brands launched by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company after its founding in 1992. Because the source distillery stays undisclosed, enthusiasts keep guessing at its origin, and one of the most common guesses among connoisseurs is Mortlach.

The whisky is composed to be approachable and uncomplicated, carrying a classic sherried character with a deep golden colour that delivers a soft, rounded experience for beginners and seasoned tasters alike.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked apples, caramel and a hint of floral notes over a sherried base.

Palate

Soft malt sweetness, light spice and a touch of oak deliver a balanced, rounded mouthfeel.

Finish

Medium length, with lingering warmth and sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tantallan 10 Year Old
Distillery: Undisclosed (widely guessed by connoisseurs to be Mortlach)
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5024720600000

Flavour profile

sherried · rounded · approachable

Did you know?

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company was founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, formerly export director for one of Scotland's major distillers, and the business is now carried on by his son Andrew Crook.

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Ten years in bourbon casks at an unusually high natural strength — this release is a good example of just how intense a relatively young Edradour can become.

The expert's description

Edradour 2012/2022 Bourbon Cask 10 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 59.6%.

The whisky was distilled on 8 February 2012 and matured for 10 years across eight selected bourbon casks before being bottled in February 2022. The relatively young age combined with a high natural cask strength gives the whisky a fresh, intense character, where the bourbon cask's vanilla and sweetness come through clearly. 1,783 bottles were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh vanilla and green apple, with a hint of honey and pale oak.

Palate

Intense and spicy with citrus peel, caramel and a fine peppery warmth from the high strength.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2012/2022 Bourbon Cask 10 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.6%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59,6 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: bourbon casks (cask no. 47, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 61, 63)
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 08/02/2012
Bottled: 28/02/2022
Number of bottles: Only 1,783 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944117086

Flavour profile

Spicy · Fresh

Did you know?

Edradour's whisky has traditionally had a heavier, more oily texture than many other Highland malts — a result of the slow, old-fashioned distillation methods the distillery still uses.

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Hidden once more behind the name Whitlaw is Highland Park from Orkney, this time matured in casks given an extra turn through the fire. Rechar butts are not common, and the effect is unmistakable.

The expert's description

Whitlaw 2014/2024 Signatory Vintage 10 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Rechar butts and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in September 2014 and bottled in September 2024 by Signatory Vintage, matured for 10 years in Rechar Butts. These are large 500-litre casks that have been re-charred inside to renew the active char layer, intensifying the interaction between wood and spirit and giving deeper notes of caramel, toasted oak and gentle smoke.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, dried apricots and orange marmalade.

Palate

Vanilla, cinnamon and caramelised banana with a mild smoky tone.

Finish

Long and warm with almonds, sea salt and spice.

Specifications

Name: Whitlaw 2014/2024 Signatory Vintage 10 år Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Whitlaw
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Orkney, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Rechar butts
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 09.2014
Bottled: 09.2024
EAN no.: 5021944127047

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced · Lightly smoky

Did you know?

Rechar butts differ from ordinary sherry casks in that they are re-charred inside after their first use, a technique far less common than classic sherry seasoning.

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Gordon & MacPhail has traded in whisky since 1895, and their Discovery Range is meant as a straightforward way into their vast stock of casks – no detours required.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 11 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The Discovery Range is Gordon & MacPhail's accessible entry point into their archive of Scottish single casks, and this 11 Years Old Bunnahabhain was chosen for its sweetness and easy drinking style. The sherry casks have given the whisky a warm caramel hue and a full sweep of spice.

It's a mild, unpeated take on Islay – a fine place to start if you want to understand why Bunnahabhain is often called the island's quiet exception.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sherry, citrus peel and a hint of milk chocolate.

Palate

Sweet and round with nuts, spice and a light citrus tang.

Finish

Short to medium, soft and gently sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Casks
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: The Discovery Range
EAN No.: 5020613067509

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Fruity · Soft · Approachable

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail started life as a grocer's shop in Elgin in 1895, long before the firm grew into one of the world's largest independent whisky bottlers.

See our full range of Bunnahabhain · See our full range of Gordon & MacPhail

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The Wemyss family has traded wine and spirits from Fife since the 19th century, and their blended malts are named like characters from a deck of cards. Spice King is the spiciest of them all.

The expert's description

Wemyss Malts Spice King Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

Spice King is a blended malt composed of selected single malts, primarily from Speyside and Highland, bottled at 46% without chill filtration. The name refers to the whisky's pronounced spice profile, characteristic of the series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm spice, ginger and a hint of black pepper.

Palate

Full-bodied with cinnamon and caramelised sugar.

Finish

Long and spiced with a dry, warm finish.

Specifications

Name: Wemyss Malts Spice King Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Wemyss Malts
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Full-bodied · Warm

Did you know?

Wemyss Malts names its blended malts after playing card figures, with Spice King serving as the spicy counterpart to, among others, the sweeter and fruitier Peat Chimney.

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The Blueprint series is Tormore's way of thinking out loud. Each release focuses on one specific maturation style that may one day shape the distillery's future. This time it is the sweeter cream sherry casks setting the course.

The expert's description

Tormore Blueprint 10 år Cream Sherry Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Cream sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

This Small Batch release is part of the Blueprint series and matured in cream sherry casks. 1,500 bottles were produced of this specific maturation style, offering a glimpse of the direction Tormore may take in future releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisin, walnut and a creamy caramel scent.

Palate

Full and sweet with dried fruit.

Finish

Medium length with soft spice.

Specifications

Name: Tormore Blueprint 10 år Cream Sherry Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cream sherry casks
Number of bottles: 1.500
Edition: Blueprint series, Small Batch
EAN no.: 5061035821676

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Full-bodied · Sweet

Did you know?

The Blueprint series was created so Tormore's distillers could experiment openly with maturation styles and share the results directly with whisky enthusiasts, rather than keeping the trials hidden away in the warehouses.

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The Blueprint series is Tormore's way of thinking out loud. Each release focuses on one specific maturation style that may one day shape the distillery's future. Here it is the toasting of the cask itself that takes centre stage.

The expert's description

Tormore Blueprint 10 år Toasted Barrels Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Toasted barrels and bottled at 48%.

This Small Batch release is part of the Blueprint series and matured in toasted barrels. 1,500 bottles were produced of this specific maturation style, offering a glimpse of the direction Tormore may take in future releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted bread, caramel and a hint of smoky wood.

Palate

Nutty with burnt sugar and spice.

Finish

Long with dry wood and warm spice.

Specifications

Name: Tormore Blueprint 10 år Toasted Barrels Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Toasted barrels
Number of bottles: 1.500
Edition: Blueprint series, Small Batch
EAN no.: 5061035821713

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Nutty · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The Blueprint series was created so Tormore's distillers could experiment openly with maturation styles and share the results directly with whisky enthusiasts, rather than keeping the trials hidden away in the warehouses.

See our full range of Tormore

The Blueprint series is Tormore's way of thinking out loud. Each release focuses on one specific maturation style that may one day shape the distillery's future. This release dives into classic bourbon barrels.

The expert's description

Tormore Blueprint 10 år Bourbon Barrels Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Bourbon barrels and bottled at 48%.

This Small Batch release is part of the Blueprint series and matured in bourbon barrels. 1,500 bottles were produced of this specific maturation style, offering a glimpse of the direction Tormore may take in future releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, citrus and a hint of fresh oak.

Palate

Lightly sweet with honey and grain.

Finish

Short and clean with a mild vanilla tone.

Specifications

Name: Tormore Blueprint 10 år Bourbon Barrels Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrels
Number of bottles: 1.500
Edition: Blueprint series, Small Batch
EAN no.: 5061035821713

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Fruity · Light

Did you know?

The Blueprint series was created so Tormore's distillers could experiment openly with maturation styles and share the results directly with whisky enthusiasts, rather than keeping the trials hidden away in the warehouses.

See our full range of Tormore

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

Expert's description

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Version 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 omkring 1990.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bonfire smoke, dried fruit and a maritime edge.

Palate

Rich smoke, dark chocolate and spiced oak.

Finish

Dry and smoky with a final salty note.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Old Version 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: omkring 1990

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a discontinued early-1990s release with the original green stripe, bottled shortly after the Royal Warrant, this bottle is a sought-after piece of Laphroaig history for collectors.

Did you know?

Laphroaig received its first Royal Warrant from Prince Charles, today King Charles III, making the distillery the only one on Islay with an official royal endorsement.

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González Byass in Jerez has casks that have held Matusalem oloroso for thirty years. Dalmore gets to borrow them — and that arrangement is what the entire house style rests on.

Expert description

Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The distillery sits at Alness on the shore of the Cromarty Firth and has since 1839 worked in a heavy, sherried style. The partnership with the sherry house González Byass gives Dalmore access to oloroso casks that held wine for three decades, and it is those that give the 18 year old its depth. This release is the 2023 version of the standing 18 year old, which is adjusted from year to year.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and inviting. Orange peel, raisin and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, roasted nuts and a warm note of old oak.

Palate

Full and silky. Dried fruit, caramel and marzipan, with spice from the sherry cask and a malted core underneath. The 43% carries the sweetness without making it sticky.

Finish

Long and warm, with raisin, cocoa and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks
Edition: 2023 Edition
EAN no.: 5013967019324

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Orange · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium. Eighteen year age statements keep getting rarer in the trade, and Dalmore's annual versions of the 18 year old are not reprinted once the year has passed.

Did you know?

Matusalem is González Byass' oldest oloroso, a VORS sherry with at least thirty years in cask. The casks serve sherry for decades and only then whisky — one reason Dalmore can hold such a dark and concentrated style.

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The Scottish midge is a national affliction. It weighs nothing, it arrives in millions, and it ruins any summer evening in the Highlands. Naming a whisky after it is either self-deprecation or defiance, and probably both.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan The Midgie is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed of 50% ex-American bourbon casks, 48% port barriques and 2% sherry casks, bottled at 48%. The whisky is made from 75% unpeated and 25% peated malt.

The cask make-up is unusual in that the port barriques account for almost half. Most distilleries use port as a short finish, while The Midgie carries the casks as a full half of the blend. That gives red fruit and a vinous sweetness that does not normally take up so much room.

The ratio of peated to unpeated malt is also set differently from the house standard: only a quarter is peated here, where AD/ is an even split. The smoke is therefore a suggestion rather than a floor. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Complex from the first moment. Layers of cooked ham meet charred pineapple, prunes dipped in salt and strawberry jam on a salted cracker. The aromas round off with almond oil, coconut macaroon and a fresh touch of green mint.

Palate

Salt-baked pear, meadowsweet and wild flowers joined by lemon thyme. Deeper notes of raisin, cherry and cocoa powder add warmth, while pink peppercorns bring a subtle spiced bite.

Finish

Elegant and persistent with a gentle breath of liquid smoke, Himalayan salt and redcurrant juice. The balance between sweet and salty elements gives a dry, long-lasting close.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan The Midgie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 50% ex-bourbon casks, 48% port barriques and 2% sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Midgie

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Saline · Vinous · Floral · Lightly Smoky · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Scottish midge is Culicoides impunctatus, and only the females bite, needing blood in order to lay eggs. They are most active at dusk and in still weather, which are precisely the conditions you would otherwise choose for a dram outdoors. There is a certain logic in naming a summer whisky after them.

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One cask, full strength, no filtration and no colouring. Signatory does nothing to the whisky beyond moving it from cask to bottle, and with a spirit like Benrinnes that is the most honest way to meet the place.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 1995/2015 Signatory Vintage 19 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in a hogshead, cask no. 5895, and bottled at 52.9 % cask strength without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky went into cask on 6 June 1995 and was drawn on 9 April 2015 after nineteen years. The cask yielded 291 bottles, and the 52.9 per cent is the natural cask strength with no water added.

Benrinnes is known for a heavy, almost meaty spirit with a light sulphur edge, coming from worm tub condensers and from the old system of three stills in series. Nineteen years in a hogshead is enough to round the edges without removing the character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry malt, walnut and apple peel with a light mineral edge.

Palate

Powerful and dry with cereal, spiced oak and a meaty middle. The cask strength gives bite without burning.

Finish

Long and dry with nut, pepper and a last malty warmth.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 1995/2015 Signatory Vintage 19 år
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 52,9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, cask no. 5895
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 6 June 1995
Bottled: 9 April 2015
Number of bottles: 291
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Dry · Malty · Nutty · Spiced

Investment potential

High. Nineteen year old Benrinnes from a single cask in 291 bottles cannot be recreated, and spirit predating the 2007 rebuild of the distillery is sought after by those who know the old house style.

Did you know?

Benrinnes used worm tubs, long coiled copper pipes in cold water vats, instead of modern shell and tube condensers. The method gives less copper contact and therefore a heavier spirit with more meat and sulphur.

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Two casks from the same distillate, bottled just a year apart – a rare chance to see how a single bourbon barrel can pull a whisky in its own direction. This is one half of that story.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2006/2021 Signatory 14 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at cask strength, 58.6%.

Distilled on 27 November 2006 and bottled on 22 April 2021 by Signatory, from two bourbon barrels, Cask No. 3291 and 3302, yielding 388 bottles – with no added colour and no chill filtration, so the colour is exactly what the casks gave it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pale honey and vanilla custard with a hint of coconut from the bourbon cask. Beneath the sweetness sits a dry, cereal malt and a touch of green apple.

Palate

Powerful and sweet, with caramel, vanilla sugar and a warm, peppery spice. The bourbon cask's imprint is clear, but it never smothers the malt beneath.

Finish

Long and dry, with a faintly bitter oak note and a last trace of honey.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2006/2021 Signatory 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Single Speyside Malt Whisky 58.6%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Signatory
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrels, Cask No. 3291 + 3302
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27 November 2006
Bottled: 22 April 2021
Number of bottles: 388

Flavour Profile

Vanilla-sweet · Powerful · Spiced · Dry

Did You Know?

This release shares its distillate and cask year with a sister bottling from Signatory, filled a year later at 15 years old – two takes on the same spirit, separated only by time in cask.

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An independent bottler puts the spotlight on Caol Ila's distillate from a single vintage.

Expert description

Caol Ila 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an independent bottling from Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2021 after 10 years of maturation, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 on the shore of the Sound of Islay, from which the distillery also takes its name — Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. The distillery is today owned by Diageo and is one of Islay's largest producers, although much of its output has traditionally gone into blended whisky such as Johnnie Walker. Despite its peated character, Caol Ila is often somewhat lighter and more elegant than several of Islay's other distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is smoky with sea breeze, citrus and a hint of grain.

Palate

The palate offers smoke, citrus and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, smoky and fairly gentle.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 10 år Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2021
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Citrus-forward · Elegant

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Christmas at Berry Bros & Rudd usually means a handful of sharply chosen single casks, and in 2023 Linkwood was one of them. The cask was selected by Doug McIvor, one of the house's most experienced tasters.

The expert's description

Linkwood 2010/2023 Berry Bros 13 år Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky 52,1% is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, cask no. #301233 and bottled at 52.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and given a finishing maturation in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead before being bottled in 2023 as a limited number of bottles for Berry Bros & Rudd's Christmas range. The PX cask adds notes of stewed apricot, caramel and spiced oak to Linkwood's usually light, floral character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Stewed apricot, buttery biscuit and rich caramel with a hint of spiced oak.

Palate

Rich and complex with berries, sultanas and chocolate-covered walnuts.

Finish

Full and lingering with syrupy fruit cake and warm baking spices.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2010/2023 Berry Bros 13 år Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky 52,1%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Berry's Own Selection
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 52.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, cask no. #301233
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 271
Edition: Christmas range

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Fruity · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Berry Bros & Rudd's annual Christmas range is sold in very limited numbers and tends to sell out quickly, which has historically helped these bottlings hold their value well.

Did you know?

Berry Bros & Rudd is one of Britain's oldest wine merchants, founded in 1698 in London, and has traded from the same address in St James's ever since.

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Californian sunshine and Scottish peat meet in one glass, as if Ardbeg took a detour through Napa Valley on the way home to Islay.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks and bottled at 46%.

The bottle belongs to the Smoketrails series, where Ardbeg travels the globe for casks that have never before touched a drop of Scotch whisky and lets them enter a dialogue with the distillery's peat smoke. This time it's the bold red wine casks from Napa Valley leaving their mark, in the current Batch US/NV 2024/03.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries and intense peat smoke mingle with a hint of spice and a light winey sweetness from the red wine casks.

Palate

Rich and well balanced, where peat smoke meets ripe fruit, oak and a gentle sweetness from the wine.

Finish

Long and lingering, with an elegant combination of smoke and tannin that leaves a rounded finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks
Edition: Batch US/NV 2024/03
EAN no.: 5010494991598

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Winey · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Smoketrails series is Ardbeg's travel diary in a bottle, with every release drawing on casks from a new corner of the world, and the Napa Valley edition is the first to use American red wine casks.

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A universe of smoke, where the peat doesn't just fill the glass but the whole room around it.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smokiverse is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.3%.

The nose delivers an explosion of fruity esters reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, mixed with ripening barley and toasted sourdough. The whisky is non-chill filtered, so its full, oily structure carries right through to the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dense, sweet peat smoke mingles with lightly smoked tropical fruit, and a drop of water draws the aromas out even further.

Palate

Rich and creamy with a luxurious mouthfeel that shifts into sharp, sooty, spiced notes of creosote, aniseed and cloves, balanced by muscovado sugar.

Finish

Almost endless, leaving a lasting impression of earthy peat moss melting into glowing bonfire embers.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smokiverse
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494995305

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Creamy · Fruity

Did You Know?

The name Smokiverse is Ardbeg's own way of suggesting that the distillery's smoke spans a whole universe of nuance, from sweet to sooty, all within a single dram.

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North of the Scottish mainland lie the Orkney Islands, where the sea gnaws at the cliffs and the wind never quite settles. Only two distilleries call these islands home, and this time Douglas Laing has chosen to keep its cards close to its chest.

Expert Description

Old Particular Orkney's Finest 15 Year Emporium Exclusive is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from an undisclosed Orkney distillery, matured in a Refill Hogshead and bottled at natural cask strength of 61.7%.

The bottle belongs to Douglas Laing's Old Particular range, where independently bottled single casks are presented with no added colour and no chill filtration, exactly as the spirit left the wood. This particular release forms part of the Emporium Exclusive Bottling, a hand-picked selection bottled at a noticeably higher strength than the range's usual 48.4%. Only 174 bottles were filled from the single Refill Hogshead, and neither the distillery nor the distillation year is disclosed on the label, a choice Douglas Laing deliberately makes on several of its Orkney releases. With only two distilleries on Orkney, the guessing game is part of the appeal. The style is true to the islands: a lightly smoky, salty character balanced by gentle spice and a clear malted barley backbone.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh sea air and candied ginger meet soft caramel and ripe pear, with a whisper of smoke waiting in the background.

Palate

Full-bodied and spiced, with black pepper and cinnamon carried by the high strength, which gives a warm grip on the palate while malted barley keeps everything grounded.

Finish

Long and salty, with lingering smoke and a final teasing note of spice.

Specifications

Name: Old Particular Orkney's Finest 15 Year Emporium Exclusive
Distillery: Undisclosed distillery, Orkney
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Orkney, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Year
ABV: 61.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 174
Edition: Emporium Exclusive Bottling
EAN no.: 5014218832679

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Smoky · Spiced · Malty

Did You Know?

There are only two whisky distilleries on the whole of Orkney, so when a bottle like this is called secret, the guessing game among whisky enthusiasts really comes down to just two candidates, one Douglas Laing never confirms.

As part of Douglas Laing’s Emporium Exclusive series, this bottling is available through a carefully selected network of specialist whisky retailers, including Whisky.dk. Douglas Laing Emporiums are a curated collection of shops that offer an impressive range of Douglas Laing products, from the renowned Remarkable Regional Malts to rare and exclusive limited editions. A visit to these Emporiums is always worthwhile, providing whisky enthusiasts with the opportunity to explore unique and characterful releases.  

A Secret Orkney 15 Year Old is a whisky that captures the essence of Orkney’s rugged coastline, delivering a rich and complex experience for those who appreciate bold, maritime-influenced single malts. 

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Douglas Laing does not just select casks — it also selects who may sell them. Emporium Exclusive goes only to a handful of shops, and Whisky.dk is one of them.

Expert description

Craigellachie 16 years Emporium Exclusive is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled by Douglas Laing at 51.4% without chill filtration.

The cask gave 210 bottles and belongs to the Old Particular range, in which Douglas Laing bottles single casks from distilleries across Scotland. The Emporium Exclusive line is distributed through a small, carefully chosen group of specialist retailers. Craigellachie condenses in worm tubs and therefore makes a heavier, meatier spirit than the rest of Speyside — sixteen years in cask gives it time to unfold without losing the edge.

Tasting notes

Nose

Aromatic spices first, then liquorice, dark sweetness and a light herbal note. Behind them sit vanilla fudge and a touch of tropical fruit.

Palate

Powerful and layered. Spice, liquorice and malt meet vanilla fudge and a creamy sweetness that softens the intensity. The sulphurous distillery edge runs beneath as a mineral undercurrent.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 16 years Emporium Exclusive Douglas Laing Old Particular Single Speyside Malt Whisky 51,4%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 51.4%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Number of bottles: 210
Edition: Old Particular Emporium Exclusive

Flavour profile

Spiced · Liquorice · Vanilla · Malty · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 210 bottles from one cask in a line distributed only through selected retailers. Old Particular releases over fifteen years old leave the market quickly.

Did you know?

The Old Particular name refers to the old Scots term for a whisky that was something out of the ordinary — and Douglas Laing has used it since 1948 for the casks the family would have kept for themselves.

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Same strait, same story – but at 46%, Sound of Sleat reveals a more approachable side of its character.

Expert's description

Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American bourbon oak casks and bottled at 46%.

This release of Sound of Sleat is bottled at 46% from the same American bourbon oak casks as the Batch Strength version, simply at a milder strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky sweetness, green apples and light honey.

Palate

Round peat with citrus and malted biscuit.

Finish

Medium long with gentle smoke and salt.

Specifications

Name: Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Torabhaig
Region/Country: Isle of Skye
Type: Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Legacy Series Chapter 4 – Sound of Sleat
EAN no.: 5060033848043

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

All of Torabhaig's labels feature artwork by Scottish landscape painter Ellis O'Connor, who specialises in painting Skye's rugged coastal landscapes.

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Twenty-seven winters change a whisky. The peat that once stood sharp has settled into a low, steady hum, and the heather honey has had time to spread across the whole glass. Hunter Laing found the cask, left it a little longer, then emptied it in one go.

The expert's description

Highland Park 27 Year Old The Kinship 2023 Single Orkney Malt Whisky 52.5% is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky drawn from one refill hogshead and bottled without chill filtration at its natural cask strength of 52.5%.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's annual collection of old single casks, presented around Fèis Ìle, the whisky festival on Islay. The Laing family has worked with casks for three generations out of Glasgow, and selection follows a single rule: the cask has to carry its own age. This bottling comes not from Islay but from Kirkwall on Orkney.

Highland Park has been distilling since 1798 and still dries part of its own malt over peat cut at Hobbister Moor, just outside Kirkwall. No trees grow on Orkney, so the peat is heather and moss rather than woody debris, and the smoke it gives is floral and aromatic instead of medicinal. After 27 years that smoke has sunk deep into the spirit.

A refill hogshead has held whisky before, so it gives less wood and more distillery. That is exactly what you want when a malt has to sit for almost three decades without turning dry and tannic. The cask yielded 268 bottles, filled in 2023 at natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked pears and heather honey sit on top, with a ripe, earthy peat underneath that reads more like warm ash than a bonfire. Give it five minutes and beeswax and dried apricot arrive.

Palate

Sweetness leads. Honey, mandarin and a flick of passion fruit, before black pepper and dry oak spice tighten the grip. The 52.5% registers as warmth rather than heat.

Finish

Long and understated. The sweetness lingers, the smoke stays quietly in the back, and heather and a trace of salt close it out.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 27 Year Old The Kinship 2023 Single Orkney Malt Whisky 52.5%
Distillery: Highland Park
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Orkney, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 27 years
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 268
Edition: The Kinship 2023

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Honeyed · Mature · Elegant

Investment potential

High. One cask, 27 years in the warehouse and a small outturn, combined with the fact that Highland Park rarely releases spirit of this age itself. Independent bottlings of old Orkney malt grow scarcer every year.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing bottled other people's whisky for decades before the family built a distillery of its own. Ardnahoe on Islay was completed in 2018 and became the first site the company could call its own.

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On Islay, they say some casks simply wait for the right moment. This is one of them — 18 years in the dark, ready to be celebrated alongside the island's biggest news.

Expert description

Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing, matured in a single cask and bottled at cask strength, 61.5%.

The whisky is part of Hunter Laing's Kinship series, which in 2023 arrived at its seventh and final edition. The series was created to mark the opening of Hunter Laing's own distillery, Ardnahoe, on Islay, and the name Kinship refers to the closeness Ardnahoe shares with the island's other distilleries. The Bruichladdich bottling is the youngest in the closing edition, which otherwise spans whiskies as old as 33 years from names like Bowmore and Bunnahabhain.

The whisky comes from a single cask and is bottled at its natural cask strength, with no colouring or chill filtration. Only 245 bottles were drawn from this particular cask, making it one of the rarer releases in Hunter Laing's Islay portfolio.

Tasting notes

Nose

Black pepper and caramel, combined with a hint of macerated red berries. A richness runs through it all, hinting at the long maturation.

Palate

Baked apples, nutmeg and a distinct hint of French oak. The cask strength gives a solid bite, but never overpowers the fruit.

Finish

Long and spiced, with a lingering oak warmth that lingers on the palate long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 61.5%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2005
Number of bottles: 245
Edition: The Kinship 2023
EAN: 5060354284032

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium — this is the final edition in a now-completed and sought-after series from Hunter Laing, with only 245 bottles from a single cask bottled at cask strength. Being the youngest and most accessible bottling in the Kinship series, however, interest is somewhat more muted than for the series' older releases.

Did you know?

The Kinship series was created to celebrate Hunter Laing finally opening its own distillery, Ardnahoe, after decades as a pure independent bottler. Ardnahoe sits on Islay's north-east coast, overlooking the very distilleries many of the series' bottles come from.

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Thirty-three years is a long time to sit still in a cask, and when Hunter Laing finally bottles it, they do so with the reverence the age deserves.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 33 Years Old The Kinship 2023 is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from a refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at natural cask strength, 48.8%.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestigious series, honouring the Scotch whisky community and the regions that have made the country famous for its whisky. This 33 Years Old Bunnahabhain is bottled from a single cask in 2023, yielding just 292 bottles worldwide.

The long maturation shows Bunnahabhain's ability to craft rich, refined whisky without smoke, where the distillery's clean house style and coastal setting come through beautifully. The nose offers tropical fruits like pineapple and lime, joined by red cherries and a faint floral note.

On the palate the whisky unfolds with a fine balance between freshness and depth – the fruity notes continue with juicy citrus and ripe berries, while Bunnahabhain's signature maritime tones show through with a touch of sea salt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruits like pineapple and lime meet red cherries and a faint floral note.

Palate

Juicy citrus and ripe berries meet sea salt and a lightly oiled texture.

Finish

An elegant close of mild oak, spice and mineral complexity.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 33 Years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Bottled: 2023
Number of Bottles: 292
Edition: The Kinship

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Maritime · Elegant · Mature

Investment Potential

High – 33 years on a single cask, only 292 bottles and a prestigious series from Hunter Laing make this one of the rarest Bunnahabhain bottles Whisky.dk has carried.

Did You Know?

The Hunter Laing family has worked in Scotch whisky for more than three generations and also owns its own distillery, Ardnahoe, which opened on Islay in 2019.

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Thirty-three years in a single cask. While Caol Ila has distilled and matured its well-known 12-year for Diageo's needs, this cask has waited – unseen and untouched – in a refill bourbon hogshead in a Scottish warehouse. Hunter Laing found it in 2023 for The Kinship: the series' most important bottling of the year.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at 44.5% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 300 bottles.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestige series – one expression per distillery, released once a year. For 2023, the choice fell on this 33-year Caol Ila, which according to Hunter Laing itself celebrates the Scottish whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous.

Three decades in a refill bourbon hogshead give a Caol Ila that has changed: the smoke is there, but softened and integrated over time. This is not the young, salty Caol Ila – it is a mature, layered version of it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light peat smoke with caramel, stewed fruit and soft beeswax. A salty sea breeze that immediately sets the scene on Islay's coast – but in a slower, more reflective tone than young bottlings.

Palate

Soft and layered. Clear maritime saltiness, seaweed and fresh oysters. The smoke is discreet and elegantly integrated, with room for deeper notes of oak, dried fruit and medicinal herbs. A bottling to spend time with.

Finish

Long, leathery and satisfying. Worn leather, glowing peat embers and a persistent salty close that is in no hurry.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 300
Series: The Kinship Series

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Leathery · Layered · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A single-cask bottling at 33 years from a respected bottler with only 300 bottles is rare – and Hunter Laing's Kinship series is sought by collectors worldwide.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing also operates Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay – the island's newest distillery, opened in 2019. Ardnahoe uses traditional worm tubs for condensation, giving a heavier and more complex distillate than modern condensers.

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Laphroaig 25 Year Old – The Kinship Series – Single Cask by Hunter Laing

Discover a rare and extraordinary single malt whisky from Islay – Laphroaig 25 Year Old, bottled by the renowned independent bottler Hunter Laing as part of their exclusive Kinship Series. This unique expression was matured for a full 25 years in a single cask and bottled at natural cask strength of 54.2%, offering an authentic and undiluted taste experience for the true whisky connoisseur. Only 332 bottles were released from this cask, making it an extremely limited and highly sought-after release among collectors and enthusiasts.

Hunter Laing & Co., the force behind the Kinship Series, is known for their uncompromising dedication to quality and their talent for selecting and bottling some of Scotland’s rarest and most characterful casks. The Kinship Series pays tribute to the Scotch whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous for whisky.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Complex and intense – with classic Laphroaig notes of soot, coastal brine and olives, elegantly balanced by lemon zest and a sweet hint of honey.
Palate: Layers of tangerine, honeysuckle and pear drops unfold on the tongue. Smoke and citrus merge with a silky texture, creating a harmonious and mature profile.
Finish: Long, persistent and sophisticated, with notes of sea salt, peat and ripe fruit.

Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Edition: Feis Ile
Age: 25 years
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Cask number/type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
ABV: 54.2%
Bottles: 332
Un-chillfiltered
Natural Colour
70 cl
Other: –

The Discovery range is built like a textbook. Three profiles, bourbon, sherry and smoke, and the rest of the label keeps quiet. You have to work out for yourself what a bourbon cask does to a Speyside, and that is the whole point.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon casks and bottled at 43%. It belongs to the bourbon category in the Discovery range, which highlights three fundamental whisky profiles.

Gordon & MacPhail is among Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent bottlers, and the Discovery range is the house’s entry point for anyone wanting to understand what the cask does. By using bourbon wood only, Auchroisk’s bright citrus-driven spirit is allowed to stand out clearly without sherry or smoke clouding the picture.

Auchroisk was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks to supply malt for the J&B blend. The result here is a fresh, fruity whisky that works equally well for beginners and for experienced drinkers wanting to meet Speyside in its purest bourbon matured form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla first, followed by apple, lemon blossom and ripe bananas. A light pastry note runs beneath it all, along with a clean, fresh cereal character the bourbon casks have brought out rather than covered.

Palate

Lively notes of orange peel and black pepper open, then tropical fruit and a soft vanilla sweetness arrive. At 43% the body is good, and the whisky stays fresh all the way without turning thin.

Finish

Medium and rounded with oak and spice, where the citrus note lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon casks
Edition: Discovery Bourbon Cask Matured
EAN no.: 5020613094871

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Citrus · Tropical · Fresh · Spiced

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail has been bottling whisky since 1895 and has spent decades holding casks from distilleries long since closed. The house is known for filling its own casks at the distilleries rather than buying finished whisky, which gives control over the wood from day one. That is why their oldest bottlings are so sought after.

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Only 261 bottles – that's the whole story behind this Oloroso finish from Lady of the Glen. A rare and refined release for collectors and sherry lovers who want Glenlossie in its most intense form.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2013/2024 Lady of the Glen 11 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength, 58.4%.

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2024 by Lady of the Glen, from cask number 5306 – a hogshead with an ex-Oloroso finish. 261 bottles were released, with no added colour and no chill filtration. The whisky presents intense notes of dried fruit, nuts and dark chocolate.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and nuts meet dark chocolate, amplified by the classic Oloroso imprint – deep, rich and full from the first sniff.

Palate

Full and spiced, with raisin, walnut and a warm sweetness that carries all the way through the high strength.

Finish

Rounded and spiced, with a long finish of dark chocolate and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2013/2024 Lady of the Glen 11 Year Old Oloroso Speyside Whisky 58.4%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 58.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask No. 5306, hogshead with ex-Oloroso finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 261

Flavour Profile

Oloroso-matured · Nutty · Chocolate-toned · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Lady of the Glen bottles are typically sold with a detailed account of the exact cask the whisky comes from – a tradition that lets collectors follow a single cask's life from distillation to bottle.

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Eleven years in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel is the simplest recipe there is. No finish, no detours — just an active cask and a spirit big enough to carry it.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 56.4 % cask strength.

Cask no. 311808 was filled in 2013 and emptied in 2025, yielding 214 bottles. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Where the house's 10 year old from 2013 was given a spell in Tawny Port, this one is kept purely in bourbon wood. That makes it a rare and honest portrait of what the Benrinnes spirit looks like when nothing is trying to dress it up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and light honey. Behind the sweetness sit ripe pears and a hint of a warm bakery.

Palate

Full and creamy with vanilla pod, banana and spiced oak. The 56.4 % gives a firm but rounded bite, and the texture is clearly oily.

Finish

Long and warm with honey, oak and a sprinkle of white pepper.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 years old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 56.4%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 56.4 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel, cask no. 311808
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 214

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Vanilla · Creamy · Fruity · Bourbon matured

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen bottle every single cask by hand at their warehouse in Fife. That is also why outturns rarely pass 300 bottles — there is a physical limit to what a small team can manage.

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Only 179 bottles carry this name. Ten years in a hogshead, finished in a small Madeira quarter cask, have given this Teaninich an intense fruitiness rarely found in such a young bottling.

Expert description

Teaninich 2014/2025 from Lady of the Glen is a 10 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky at 53%, bottled from a single cask by Scottish independent bottler Lady of the Glen.

Lady of the Glen is known for its exclusive, non-chill filtered cask strength bottlings. This Teaninich (cask no. 713240) matured in a hogshead finished in a Madeira quarter cask - a small cask that previously held the Portuguese fortified wine Madeira, which accelerates maturation and adds sweet fruitiness and depth.

Distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2025 after 10 years of maturation, the whisky is non-chill filtered with no added colouring. Only 179 bottles of this single cask edition were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and raisin, with a hint of toasted almond and a delicate floral note.

Palate

Powerful and fruit-driven, with notes of stewed cherry, spice and a warm, almost compote-like sweetness.

Finish

Long and lightly tannic, closing on a note of dark fruit and toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2014/2025 Lady of the Glen
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 53%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead finished in a Madeira quarter cask / Cask No. 713240
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 179
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

fruit-driven · spiced · powerful

Investment potential

With only 179 bottles worldwide and a striking, unusual cask combination, this bottling ranks among the more sought-after independent Teaninich releases, which typically supports solid investment potential over time.

Did you know?

A quarter cask is roughly a quarter the size of a standard cask, giving the whisky significantly more contact with the wood - which is why even a short finishing period in a Madeira quarter cask can make a big difference to the flavour.

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Cask 319952 leaked. Lady of the Glen discovered that when they opened the bonded warehouse in 2025 – this refill hogshead with Caol Ila from 2013 had lost a significant portion of its content to the Scottish angels. What remained was 123 bottles and the concentrated essence of eleven Islay years.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single cask – refill hogshead (cask no. 319952) – bottled at 56.6% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 123 bottles.

Lady of the Glen is a Scottish independent bottler focusing on single-cask bottlings from carefully selected casks. The philosophy is simple: selection, not production. Each cask is assessed on its own merits, which is reflected in the small number of bottles per bottling.

A leaking cask is not a mistake – it is geology. The wood breathes, the surroundings pull, and the angels' share is never precisely predictable. The 123 remaining bottles are what it took eleven years and a particular piece of Islay air to produce.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh peat smoke and seaweed, behind which a soft vanilla and citrus from the refill cask. A hint of green apple and toasted oak.

Palate

Oily and full. Salted caramel, lemon and smoke in good harmony. The distillate's power at 56.6% gives body and depth – a drop of water opens it further.

Finish

Long and persistent – ash, freshly ground pepper and citrus peel that slowly fade to a lightly salted close.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 56.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill hogshead (cask no. 319952)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 123

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Maritime · Oily · Intense

Investment potential

Low

Did you know?

The angels' share – what evaporates through the cask's pores – typically amounts to 2-4% of the cask's contents per year in Scotland. Over eleven years, a leaking cask can lose far more. Cask 319952 was one such – and the 123 bottles are the result.

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