Another batch of the same discontinued label, this time bottled at 40% – the strength many whiskies carried before 40% became a minimum requirement rather than a standard.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old Old Version 1 is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky from the 1980s, bottled at 40%.

Like the rest of the Westering Home series, this bottle dates from before Bunnahabhain settled its range around the 46.3% known today. At 40%, this is the mildest of the discontinued old version bottlings in this delivery.

It's a bottle for the collector who wants to line up several batches of the same historic label and taste the difference between them.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Gentle sea air and a hint of peat, backed by oily malt.

Palate

Round and oily with nuts, light fruit and a classic malty sweetness.

Finish

Medium length and malty with a calm, dry finish.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Old Version 1 – Westering Home

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Oily · Soft · Classic

Investment Potential

High – another discontinued 1980s batch of the Westering Home label, no longer in production.

Did You Know?

This batch is bottled a couple of percentage points lower than its sister bottle from the same series, giving collectors a rare chance to compare two old version bottlings side by side.

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A bottle with no box, but decades behind it – this 12 Years Old dates back to when Bunnahabhain still wore the Westering Home label.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old Old Version is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky from the 1980s, bottled at 43%.

The whisky belongs to the same discontinued Westering Home series as the distillery's other old version bottlings, from a time when the standard strength sat at 43% rather than today's 46.3%. The bottle arrives without a box, which is typical for cellar finds of this age.

It's a rare chance to taste how Bunnahabhain sounded long before the distillery became a familiar name among independent bottlers worldwide.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Gentle sea air and a hint of peat, backed by oily malt.

Palate

Round and oily with nuts, light fruit and a classic malty sweetness.

Finish

Medium length and malty with a calm, dry finish.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Old Version – Westering Home

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Oily · Soft · Classic

Investment Potential

High – a discontinued 1980s bottling with no box, no longer in production, appealing to collectors of older Bunnahabhain releases.

Did You Know?

In the period this bottle comes from, Bunnahabhain was far better known as a supplier of malt for blends like Black Bottle than as a standalone single malt name.

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For years, this 12 Years Old was more or less all you could expect from Bunnahabhain – light, delicate and just a little different from the rest of Islay.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Whisky bottled without chill filtration and without added colour at 46.3%.

The 12 Years Old is the distillery's best-known bottle and the gateway to Bunnahabhain's light, unpeated style – a style that stands well apart from its neighbours' peated whiskies on Islay. The whisky won gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2011.

It's a whisky that proves Islay holds more than peat smoke, and that freshness and elegance can be just as defining as smoke.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A remarkably fresh, aromatic hit of sea air with a faint hint of smoke.

Palate

Light and clean with fruit, olives and nuts, moving into heavier, malty-sweet tones.

Finish

Strikingly malty, fresh and a touch dry.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704217366

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Maritime · Fruity · Soft

Did You Know?

In 1887, Bunnahabhain's owners merged with the owners of Glenrothes to form The Highland Distilleries Company – a merger that laid the groundwork for much of the ownership structure Scotch whisky still knows today.

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Bunnahabhain sits at the edge of nowhere, where Islay turns its back on the mainland and faces the open sea. An Cuan Garbh No.1 carries the name of that crossing – it simply means "the rough sea" – and it drinks that way too: sweetness and salt, weather and calm, sitting side by side.

Expert Description

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old An Cuan Garbh No.1 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in White Port casks from Portugal's Douro Valley and bottled at 51.6%.

This is the first release in the 2026 chapter of Bunnahabhain's Westering Home Collection, a three-part collector series built around the journey home to Islay. Last year's opening chapter, Turas Math, was about setting sail. An Cuan Garbh is about the crossing itself, the rough and changeable stretch that comes in between. The whisky has spent 15 years resting on oak before being transferred into casks that previously held White Port from the Douro Valley. It's an unusual finishing cask for Scotch whisky, and it shows: Bunnahabhain's salty, nutty backbone picks up a brighter, more fruit-driven edge. The whisky is unpeated, naturally coloured and non-chill filtered, and arrives in a limited release tied to Fèis Ìle 2026.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright and floral, honeysuckle and elderflower giving way quickly to ripe stone fruit and candied citrus peel. Underneath sits a warm, honeyed note of ripe malt.

Palate

Peach and apricot lead, backed by candied lemon and honey-roasted almonds. Toasted malt gives it weight, while a light ginger spice keeps things lifted.

Finish

Long and nutty, with a last trace of candied fruit and a touch of coastal salt air.

Specifications

Name: Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old An Cuan Garbh No.1
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 51.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oak, finished in White Port casks from the Douro Valley
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2026
Edition: An Cuan Garbh No.1, Westering Home Collection, Fèis Ìle 2026
EAN No.: 5029704221745

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Floral · Coastal · Lightly Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium – An Cuan Garbh No.1 is a limited Fèis Ìle release and the opening bottle in a new trilogy chapter from Bunnahabhain. Earlier chapters in the Westering Home series have drawn growing collector interest, and the limited outturn points toward solid value growth over time.

Did You Know?

Until the 1960s, Bunnahabhain could only be reached by boat, there was simply no road in. That remote setting still runs through the brand's story, which is why the journey home is the thread tying the whole Westering Home Collection together.

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A chessboard holds 32 pieces, and The Chess Malt Collection has given every single one of them a bottle of whisky – this 17 Years Old Bunnahabhain is one of them.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry hogshead and bottled at 53.4%.

The Danish bottler The Chess Malt Collection has, since 1989, selected single casks from across Scotland and let each bottle stand for a piece on the chessboard – two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, split between the classic black and white. This Bunnahabhain is bottled as rook A8-F7, number 22 in the line-up.

The whisky was distilled in November 2008 and rested for 17 years in a sherry hogshead before being bottled in November 2025 without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry and dried fruit settle around a whisper of peat ash and toasted almond.

Palate

Full and spicy with raisins, walnuts and a touch of leather, balanced against the sherry's sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry with lingering spice and a faint last trace of smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 53.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: November 2008
Bottled: November 2025
Number of Bottles: 272
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Full-Bodied · Lightly Peated

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection is the work of a Danish spirits importer that has traded in wine and spirits since 1989 – the collection counts 32 unique single cask bottlings in total, one for every piece on the board.

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It took decades before Bunnahabhain added an 18 Years Old to the core range, and the wait shows in every glass.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 18 Years Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-sherry casks and bottled at 46.3%.

Eighteen years on sherry wood has given the whisky a golden depth and a maturity that builds on the distillery's lighter core style. It's a dram that takes its time unfolding in the glass and rewards whoever gives it the space to do so.

The small batch assembly keeps every bottling at the same high standard, without sacrificing the variation single casks would otherwise bring.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sugared nuts and a greeting from the sea, backed by generous caramel and leathery oak.

Palate

Soft sherry tones meet fruit and nuts across a full, round palate.

Finish

Dry, spiced impressions mixed with light sea salt.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 Years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-Sherry Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Small Batch
EAN No.: 5029704217373

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Maritime · Spicy · Mature

Did You Know?

The 18 Years Old is one of the newer additions to Bunnahabhain's age-stated core range, which for many years consisted only of the 12 and 25 Years Old expressions.

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Another single cask from Lady of the Glen, this time with a sherry maturation that gives an entirely different character from the house's bourbon cask releases.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 2010/2021 Lady of the Glen 10 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky from an oloroso sherry hogshead, bottled at cask strength, 58.6%.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in January 2021 from cask #901213, where the oloroso sherry maturation has added plenty of flavour to the relatively young whisky. Only 325 bottles came from this single cask.

Like the rest of Lady of the Glen's range, it is both unfiltered and free from added colour, letting the sherry cask's full character shine through.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark raisins, caramel and a hint of toasted almond.

Palate

Sherry sweetness meets spiced warmth and a light tart fruitiness.

Finish

Medium length, warm with lingering sherry.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Hogshead / Cask No. #901213
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 12/01/2021
Number of Bottles: 325
Edition: Limited Release

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Cask Strength · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Investment Potential

Medium – a single sherry cask with only 325 bottles makes this one of the more limited Bunnahabhain releases from Lady of the Glen.

Did You Know?

At Lady of the Glen, every cask is followed closely by founder Gregor Hannah himself, who personally selects which ones are good enough to carry the brand's name.

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Lady of the Glen has built its name on unadorned single casks since 2012, and this 10 Years Old Bunnahabhain is one of the house's more limited finds.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 2011/2022 Lady of the Glen 10 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky from a single cask, bottled at cask strength, 57.7%.

The whisky was distilled in December 2011 and bottled in April 2022 from cask #878, an ordinary barrel that has given a modest yield of just 250 bottles. Lady of the Glen always bottles at cask strength, without chill filtration and without added colour.

In the glass it offers smoky tea, honeydew melon and crisp biscuits – a combination worth cutting with a touch of water to draw out the full picture.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky tea, honeydew melon and crisp biscuits.

Palate

Fruity sweetness meets a faint peaty smoke and a touch of pepper.

Finish

Medium length, spicy with a final hint of honey.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 57.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Barrel / Cask No. #878
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 12/12/2011
Bottled: 21/04/2022
Number of Bottles: 250
Edition: Limited Release

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Lightly Peated · Cask Strength · Spicy

Investment Potential

Medium – with only 250 bottles from a single barrel and a high cask strength, this is one of the more limited Lady of the Glen bottlings of Bunnahabhain to pass through Whisky.dk.

Did You Know?

Lady of the Glen was founded by Gregor Hannah in 2012 and has since built a reputation for bottling at full cask strength, without chill filtration and without added colour across the entire range.

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At 63.8% on the label, this is one of the strongest Bunnahabhain releases ever to leave a Signatory warehouse.

Please note: the box for this bottle is damaged/dented.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength, 63.8%.

The whisky was distilled in May 2012 and bottled in September 2022 from cask #900789, a sherry cask that has held onto both colour and power well through the ten years. Signatory bottled 622 bottles from this single cask, all at full cask strength.

The high strength means the whisky can – and rewards – a few drops of water, which open up the sherry cask's deeper layers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry, raisins and an intense spiciness of cloves and cinnamon.

Palate

Powerful and concentrated with dried fruit, walnuts and a burning warmth from the cask strength.

Finish

Very long, dry and spicy with lingering sherry.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 63.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Butt / Cask No. 900789
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 28/05/2012
Bottled: 13/09/2022
Number of Bottles: 622
Edition: Signatory Vintage
EAN No.: 5021944120284

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Cask Strength · Spicy · Intense

Did You Know?

At 63.8%, this bottle sits close to the upper end of what a sherry cask typically yields at bottling without adjustment – the longer the maturation, the more alcohol normally evaporates, so a high strength after ten years is unusual.

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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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"Mòine" means peat in Gaelic, and the name leaves no doubt about what waits once the bottle is opened.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Mòine is a Single Islay Malt Whisky distilled from peated malt and bottled at 46.3%.

Mòine shows the other side of Bunnahabhain – the smoky one – and does it with a depth that matches the distillery's classic maritime character. Peat smoke, sweet malt and a spiced warmth play together without the whisky losing its elegance.

It's a full and authentic Islay experience for those seeking smoky complexity without compromising on finesse in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and a maritime breeze meet sweet malt and a touch of spice.

Palate

Full-bodied with smoke, sweet malt and a balanced spiced warmth.

Finish

Medium length and smoky with a touch of sea air at the very end.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704218141

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

Mòine takes its name from the peat bog the malt is sourced from, standing in sharp contrast to the light, unpeated style Bunnahabhain is best known for on Islay.

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The name says it all – here Bunnahabhain's peated spirit meets a finishing period in oloroso sherry, bottled by one of Scotland's most respected independent houses.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Sherried Smoke Coopers Choice is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky finished in an oloroso sherry butt and bottled at 46%.

Coopers Choice is the work of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, which since 1992 in Glasgow has specialised in selecting and bottling rare, characterful single casks from Scotland's finest distilleries. At Coopers Choice, quality trumps quantity – every bottle is bottled in small batches, typically without chill filtration and with natural colour.

This release was distilled at Bunnahabhain and finished in oloroso sherry casks from cask #0322, adding both depth and a warm smoky character to the already peated spirit.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky notes combined with sweetness from dried fruit and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

A harmonious balance of peat, caramel, tobacco ash, sherry sweetness and spiced undertones.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering smoke and fruity nuances.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt / Cask No. #0322
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Bottled: 2024
Number of Bottles: 480
Edition: The Coopers Choice
EAN No.: 5024720863269

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company has run the Coopers Choice series since 1992, naming it in honour of the coopers – the craftsmen whose casks ultimately shape the flavour of every whisky.

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"Stiùireadair" means helmsman in Scottish Gaelic, a nod to the distillery's life on the edge of the Sound of Islay, where the tide toward Jura demands a steady hand.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured in a combination of first- and second-fill sherry casks and bottled at 46.3%.

The whisky is assembled from older, seasoned sherry casks, giving it a round, soft character without drowning out the distillery's core light, maritime style. It shows Bunnahabhain's unpeated side rather than the island's more familiar peat smoke.

Stiùireadair is meant as a permanent fixture in the range and a fine introduction to how Bunnahabhain sounds when the sherry cask is allowed to speak the loudest.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, caramel and vanilla with a touch of salty sea air.

Palate

Creamy and balanced with burnt sugar, raisins, toasted nuts and a hint of spice.

Finish

Long and soft with warm spices, sherry sweetness and a maritime edge.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First- and Second-Fill Sherry Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704218639

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Soft · Maritime · Creamy

Did You Know?

The name honours the distillery's location at the end of a single-track road on the Sound of Islay, where the tidal current between Islay and Jura has demanded skilled helmsmen for centuries.

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"Toiteach" is Gaelic for smoky, and "A Dhà" means number two – a reminder that Bunnahabhain can also play the role its island neighbours are best known for.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured in a mix of sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 46.3%.

Where Bunnahabhain's core range is traditionally known for its light, unpeated style, Toiteach A Dhà turns that on its head. Here the peated Staoisha spirit is allowed to take centre stage, resulting in one of the most heavily smoked whiskies the distillery sends out.

It's a great chance to try a different side of Bunnahabhain, without ever leaving the distillery's own core range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Unmistakable peat smoke meets a spiced warmth and a touch of sweet fruit.

Palate

Dates and sweet fruit mingle with peat smoke and crushed pepper as the whisky moves across the tongue.

Finish

Dry and slightly dusty with lingering smoke as the final impression.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Mix of Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704219063

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Maritime · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 by the Islay Distillery Company specifically to supply the light, unpeated style for blends – the fact that the distillery today also makes heavily peated whisky like Toiteach is a newer chapter in its story.

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Sometimes the label says less than it could. Burnside is one of those names used when a distillery does not want its real name on the bottle — but the character in the glass is unmistakable.

Please note: Burnside is the designation for so-called teaspooned Balvenie. It means a cask from the Balvenie distillery has had a minimal amount of spirit from another distillery added, typically Glenfiddich. This is done to prevent the whisky being marketed as an official Balvenie single malt, but it still clearly carries Balvenie's character.

Expert description

Burnside 14 Years Woodrow's of Edinburgh is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from Single Cask #900019, bottled at cask strength, 52%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled on 27 April 2011, and the cask gave 330 bottles. Woodrow's of Edinburgh is an independent bottler based in Leith that buys and matures casks in its own bonded warehouse and bottles in small batches or as single casks.

The house philosophy is about bringing out the personality of the individual cask rather than smoothing it away. Natural colour, no filtration and cask strength are standard, and that makes the bottlings considerably more direct than most official releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and malted grain with baked apple, vanilla and a trace of flower honey.

Palate

Full and sweet with honey cake, dried fruit and pale oak. The strength brings warmth without shouting.

Finish

Long and dry with grain, spice and a lightly bitter oak note.

Specifications

Name: Burnside 14 Years Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52%
Distillery: Burnside
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask #900019
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27/04/2011
Number of bottles: 330

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Malty · Fruity · Spiced · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask of 330 bottles from a smaller bottler, and teaspooned names like Burnside have a steady following among collectors of Speyside malt.

Did you know?

The practice of teaspooning arose because distilleries wanted to sell casks without losing control of their own trademark. A single spoonful from another distillery legally turns the whisky into a blended malt.

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

Expert description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Lightly smoked · Maritime · Powerful

Did you know?

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

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Caledonian sat in the middle of Edinburgh and was in its day the largest grain distillery in Europe. Today there are flats on the site, and the only thing left stands in bottles.

Expert description

Caledonian 1987/2018 Signatory Vintage 31 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 50.2% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2018 in a run of 249 bottles. Caledonian was founded in 1855 in Edinburgh's Dalry district and closed in 1988, which places this spirit among the final production years.

Grain whisky is rarely matured for three decades, because it is traditionally used young in blends. That is precisely why old grain bottlings have become a category of their own: the light, creamy character develops over time into vanilla, fudge and coconut with a velvet texture.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and cream caramel with coconut, ripe pear and a stroke of freshly cut oak.

Palate

Silky and creamy with toffee, honey and citrus oil. There is a fine grainy elegance that only long maturation delivers.

Finish

Long and warm with fudge, light spice and a pleasant dryness.

Specifications

Name: Caledonian 1987/2018 31 Years Signatory Vintage Single Grain Scotch Whisky 50.2%
Distillery: Caledonian
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 31 years
ABV: 50,2%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 249
EAN no.: 5021944097937

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Sweet · Elegant · Mature

Investment potential

High. The distillery is closed and demolished, the vintage comes from its final operating years, and the run is 249 bottles. Whisky from closed grain distilleries is a steadily shrinking group.

Did you know?

Caledonian was known as the Caley by Edinburgh residents, and its old chimneys were a landmark in the west of the city for decades. Only a single distillery building remains standing today.

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Cambus was for decades the quiet supplier nobody wrote about. The distillery closed in 1993, and only afterwards did people realise how good that old grain spirit had become with time.

Expert description

Cambus 1988 The Clan Denny 25 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky from a Refill Hogshead, bottled at cask strength, 58.1%.

Clan Denny is Douglas Laing's series of single cask grain whiskies, and grain is a category the house has worked with extensively. The whisky was distilled in 1988, five years before Cambus closed, and spent 25 years in a quiet refill cask.

A refill cask does not dominate the spirit but lets the natural sweetness of the grain and its developed depth come through. At cask strength all the concentrated aromas from both grain and wood are preserved.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and cream caramel with light coconut, ripe pear and a soft, creamy sweetness. A trace of fresh oak and light spice sits underneath.

Palate

Full and rounded with toffee, vanilla pod, honey and citrus oil, carried by a grainy elegance.

Finish

Long, warm and silky with fudge, light spice and a pleasant dryness from the hogshead.

Specifications

Name: Cambus 1988 The Clan Denny 25 Years Single Grain Whisky 58.1%
Distillery: Cambus
Bottler: Clan Denny
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 58,1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead
Distilled: 1988
EAN no.: 5014218795585

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Sweet · Powerful · Mature

Investment potential

High. Cambus is closed and today functions only as a cooperage, the vintage comes from its final operating years, and single cask bottlings from the distillery are becoming harder to find.

Did you know?

Cambus was one of the distilleries that combined in 1877 to form the Distillers Company Limited, the forerunner of what is today Diageo. The distillery itself closed in 1993.

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Thirty years in the same bourbon cask, no finish, no detours. It is the most honest way to show what time alone does to grain whisky — and why old Cambus casks have become hunted.

Expert description

Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 Years is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky from Bourbon Cask #29218, bottled at 49.5% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in May 1991 and bottled in 2021 after thirty years in the same cask. The cask gave 300 bottles. The Coopers Choice is the series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, which buys and selects single casks from across Scotland.

Cambus stood in Clackmannanshire and was one of the classic Lowland grain distilleries. It closed in 1993, and the buildings today serve only for cask repair. With no wine or sherry finish, this bottling is a clean reading of what time and American oak can do.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and white chocolate with ripe pear and a lightly toasted almond note.

Palate

Silky with vanilla custard, caramel and pale grain. The oak is present but never dry or sharp.

Finish

Long and creamy with fudge, coconut and a fine, warm dryness.

Specifications

Name: Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 Years Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 49.5%
Distillery: Cambus
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 49,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask #29218
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: May 1991
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 300
EAN no.: 5024720861623

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Coconut · Soft · Elegant

Investment potential

High. Thirty years in one cask from a distillery closed for more than three decades, in a run of 300 bottles.

Did you know?

The large grain distilleries ran column stills around the clock. Cambus could produce far more spirit than a malt distillery, but the whisky was rarely bottled under its own name.

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264 bottles. That is everything that came out of thirty-two years in a single bourbon cask. Evaporation took the rest, and what remains is concentrated in a way young whiskies cannot imitate.

Expert description

Cambus 1991/2024 Coopers Choice 32 Years is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky from Bourbon Cask #79880, bottled at 47.5% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in September 1991 at the now closed Cambus distillery and bottled in January 2024 as part of the Cooper's Choice series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. The cask gave 264 bottles.

After thirty-two years the strength sits at 47.5%, which tells you the cask lost some power along the way. That is typical of very long maturation in a quiet warehouse and gives a softer whisky than bottlings still above 50%.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla custard and coconut macaroon with ripe banana and a trace of pale oak.

Palate

Very soft and creamy with fudge, honey and white chocolate. The age reads as texture rather than as wood.

Finish

Long, soft and sweet with vanilla, grain and a fine, dry close.

Specifications

Name: Cambus 1991/2024 Coopers Choice 32 Years Bourbon Cask Finish Single Grain Scotch Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Cambus
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 32 years
ABV: 47,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask #79880
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: September 1991
Bottled: January 2024
Number of bottles: 264
EAN no.: 5024720862989

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Sweet · Very soft · Mature

Investment potential

High. Thirty-two years, 264 bottles and a distillery that no longer exists. The number of 1991 Cambus casks is severely limited.

Did you know?

The angel's share is the amount of whisky that evaporates through the cask each year. After thirty-two years more than half the contents can be gone, which is one reason very old whiskies exist in such small volumes.

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There are not many left who remember the sound of Cambus running. The distillery closed in 1993, and all that remains are the casks and the stories they hold.

Expert description

Cambus 1991/2025 Woodrow's of Edinburgh 34 Years is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky from 2nd Fill Puncheon #103260A, bottled at 52% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The bottle belongs to the Curators Cut Edition from Woodrow's of Edinburgh, an independent bottler based in Leith. The spirit was distilled on 29 November 1991 at Cambus, one of the large Lowland grain distilleries that closed for good in 1993. Today the old distillery site is reduced to a cooperage for Diageo, where nothing is distilled and only casks are repaired.

Thirty-four years is a long time for a grain whisky, but that is also what makes the bottle interesting: the cask has had plenty of time to work without drowning out the light, elegant character grain whisky is known for. The cask gave 275 bottles.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla fudge and white chocolate first, then caramelised sugar and ripe pear. Behind them sit toasted almonds and a trace of oak that never becomes too much.

Palate

Creamy, almost silky in the mouth. Toffee and vanilla custard glide across the palate with pale oak and a fine, dry grain note underneath.

Finish

Long and warm with fudge, almond and a pleasant dryness from the puncheon.

Specifications

Name: Cambus 1991/2025 Woodrows of Edinburgh 34 Years Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 52%
Distillery: Cambus
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 34 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 2nd Fill Puncheon #103260A
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 29/11/1991
Number of bottles: 275
Edition: Curators Cut Edition

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Nutty · Soft · Very mature

Investment potential

High. Thirty-four years, a closed distillery and a run of 275 bottles. Old Cambus casks are among the most sought after in grain whisky.

Did you know?

A puncheon typically holds around 500 litres like a butt, but is shorter and wider. The shape gives a different wood to liquid ratio, and the cask type is used more often for rum than for whisky.

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Amontillado is the dry sherry that has been allowed to oxidise. It does not bring sweetness but nuts, salt and a dry edge — an interesting counterweight to the natural softness of grain whisky.

Expert description

Cameronbridge 2007/2023 Coopers Choice 15 Years is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in American Oak and Amontillado Sherry Casks #462894, bottled at cask strength, 56%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in November 2007 and bottled in 2023 in a run of 306 bottles. The Coopers Choice is The Vintage Malt Whisky Company's series for single casks, often with unusual cask combinations.

Fifteen years is young for grain, but the high bottling strength and the amontillado cask give the whisky more edge than the soft thirty year olds have. It is a different kind of grain experience: drier, spicier and less creamy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted almonds and dried apple with pale caramel, salt and a trace of orange peel.

Palate

Dry and spiced with nuts, grain and a fine bitterness from the sherry cask. The 56% gives good concentration.

Finish

Long and dry with almond, oak and a lightly salted close.

Specifications

Name: Cameronbridge 2007/2023 Coopers Choice 15 Years Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 56%
Distillery: Cameronbridge
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak and Amontillado Sherry Casks #462894
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: November 2007
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 306
EAN no.: 5024720862583

Flavour profile

Nutty · Dry · Spiced · Salty · Powerful

Did you know?

Amontillado begins as fino under a veil of yeast and continues as oxidative ageing once the veil dies. The sherry therefore carries both a fresh and a nutty character, and that transfers to the casks.

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Harmony is the name on the bottle, and it is not far off. Twenty-eight years have made this grain whisky calm and balanced without costing it the natural sweetness it started with.

Expert description

Cameronbridge Spiritualist Harmony 1991/2020 Old Particular 28 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 52.6% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in October 1991 and bottled in August 2020 from a single cask that gave 297 bottles for the entire world. Old Particular is Douglas Laing's series for single casks, and The Spiritualist is a sub-range where each bottle receives its own name.

Cameronbridge in Fife is Europe's largest grain distillery and has been producing since 1824. The spirit is light and smooth, and after nearly three decades in cask it has developed the creamy depth old grain whisky is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale caramel with ripe pear, coconut and a stroke of light grain.

Palate

Natural sweetness balanced by a spiced edge. Fudge, honey and citrus peel with a soft, oily texture.

Finish

Long and warm with vanilla, spice and a fine, dry close.

Specifications

Name: Cameronbridge Spiritualist Harmony 1991/2020 Old Particular 28 Years Single Grain Scotch Whisky 52.6%
Distillery: Cameronbridge
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 52,6%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: October 1991
Bottled: August 2020
Number of bottles: 297
Edition: Old Particular The Spiritualist
EAN no.: 25014218816222

Flavour profile

Creamy · Sweet · Spiced · Soft · Mature

Investment potential

High. Twenty-eight years, one cask and 297 bottles for the whole world. Douglas Laing's older grain bottlings have become hard to find on the market.

Did you know?

Douglas Laing was founded in 1948 and for many years was primarily a blending house. The company was divided in 2013, when Hunter Laing was split off, and the two halves are today run by separate branches of the family.

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Most people know Campbeltown Loch as the easy introduction to the region. The 21 year old is something else entirely - a mature, age-stated blend where time has been allowed to shape both malt and grain into something deeper.

Expert Description

Campbeltown Loch 21 Year Old is a Campbeltown Blended Scotch Whisky composed of up to 60% single malt whisky and the remainder grain whisky, all a minimum of 21 years old, and bottled at 46%.

Where the younger Campbeltown Loch is a blended malt with no grain content, the 21 year old is a classic blended whisky carrying a substantial share of Springbank in its malt component. The long age guarantee across every component gives it a maturity and roundness that clearly sets it apart from the range's younger expressions.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Beeswax and graphite meet crisp apples, with ripe peaches sitting deep beneath the surface.

Palate

Complex and spiced, with ginger biscuits, cinnamon and orange peel unfolding across the palate.

Finish

Soft and spiced, with a lingering sweetness of orange and cinnamon that slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Campbeltown Loch 21 Year Old
Bottler: J&A Mitchell & Co
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spicy · Creamy · Maritime

Did You Know?

Campbeltown Loch 21 Year Old contains a substantial share of Springbank malt, giving it a depth and oily character usually only associated with the distillery's own single malts.

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Where the Kintyre peninsula runs into the sea and the waves still roll into Campbeltown Loch, the story of Scotland's smallest and once most famous whisky region lives on. This bottle gathers that story into a single glass - the three distilleries still keeping Campbeltown alive.

Expert Description

Campbeltown Loch is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt whisky from all three of the region's distilleries and bottled at 46%.

Behind the bottle stands J&A Mitchell & Co, the owners of Springbank Distillery, who blend malt from Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle into a shared tribute to Campbeltown. Springbank itself contributes three different styles to the overall character - the lighter Hazelburn, the medium-peated Springbank and the heavily peated Longrow - matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. The result is a blend that gathers the region's maritime salinity, cask fruit and a whisper of smoke into one glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft peach and apricot meet honey and a touch of citrus zest, while a hint of salty soot lingers in the background.

Palate

Oily in texture with herbaceous notes creeping in beneath sweet vanilla caramel and juicy baked fruit. Salty sea spray and baking spice keep it balanced, with a whisper of peat poking through.

Finish

Long and warming, with smoked almonds, oak and a maritime salinity that never quite lets go - a dry, earthy close.

Specifications

Name: Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: J&A Mitchell & Co
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
EAN no.: 610854005016

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Fruity · Spicy · Lightly peated

Did You Know?

Campbeltown once housed more than 30 distilleries and was known as the whisky capital of the world - today only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle remain, and Campbeltown Loch is the only blend to gather malt from all three.

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A moderately smoky classic from the sound that gives the distillery its name.

Expert description

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Islay Malt Whisky is the distillery's official age-stated core expression, matured for at least 12 years, 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 12 år Single Islay Malt Whisky
Distillery: Caol Ila
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Citrus-forward · Elegant

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Gordon & MacPhail created the Discovery Range as a gateway to three styles: Sherry, Bourbon and Smoky. Caol Ila is – as one would expect – the Smoky expression. Thirteen years and 43% mean the smoke is accessible and rounded rather than edgy.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% – the third line in the Discovery Range series under the Smoky theme.

Gordon & MacPhail from Elgin is one of the world's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, founded in 1895. The Discovery Range is the company's most approachable series – created to give new and existing whisky drinkers access to classic regional characters without compromise.

Thirteen years in oak casks have given this Caol Ila a rounded, accessible smoke profile. It retains the distillery's maritime signature, but the lower strength of 43% makes it easy to enjoy without adding water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh maritime notes lead – sea salt and seaweed. Then light peat smoke with citrus and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Round and accessible. Smoke and freshness dominate with a light fruit sweetness and good balance. Lightly spiced with pepper in the tail.

Finish

Moderate and clean. The smoke recedes gently with a maritime trace and a lightness that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Series: The Discovery Range – Smoky
EAN no.: 5020613067660

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Approachable · Lightly Spiced

Did you know?

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has stored casks from distilleries that have long since closed. The company holds some of the world's oldest active whisky stocks and has bottled whiskies over 80 years old.

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

Expert's description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Balanced

Did you know?

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

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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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James Eadie is a Worcestershire-based independent bottler with a single aim: to find casks that say something interesting. For this batch of Caol Ila from 2012, they chose refill bourbon casks and made a small batch – a blended vatting delivering more consistency than a single cask.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2020 James Eadie 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks (small batch), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

James Eadie is an independent bottler from Worcestershire, England, founded by Tristan Eadie as a revival of the family's historic whisky trade from the 19th century. Their small batch approach combines casks for consistency and accessibility over single-cask variation.

Refill bourbon casks give a discreet wood influence that lets the distillate's own character come through. For Caol Ila at 8 years, that means clean, fresh and maritime smoke – toffee, sea mist and green apples.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toffee, sea mist and green apples – fresh and direct with a clear note of Caol Ila's peat smoke. No heavy wood influence, just the distillate's own voice.

Palate

Light and fresh. Smoke, fresh citrus and a soft toffee sweetness. Good balance for the age – accessible and clean.

Finish

Relatively short but clean. Smoke and salt with a fresh, green close.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2020 James Eadie 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: James Eadie
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks (small batch)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2020
EAN no.: 5060485430926

Flavour profile

Peated · Fresh · Fruity · Toffee · Maritime

Did you know?

James Eadie's ancestor William Eadie ran one of London's most respected whisky merchants in the 19th century. Tristan Eadie revived the company name in 2020 as a tribute to the family's heritage.

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