Two hogsheads, filled on the same day in May 1997, emptied on the same day in February 2018. Exactly twenty years and eight months in between. Signatory has a habit of writing the dates out in full, and here it gives a neat picture of how closely the two casks tracked each other.

Please note: The image is a stock photo.

The expert's description

Glen Keith 1997/2018 Signatory 20 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from two hogsheads, bottled at 46%.

The casks were filled on 26 May 1997 and emptied on 26 February 2018 — hogsheads number 72609 and 72610, married into one bottling, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The 46% is chosen rather than cask strength, and it suits a spirit like Glen Keith: bright and lightly waxy, where too much alcohol easily tramples over the fruit.

The spirit dates from 1997, which is two years before Glen Keith was mothballed. Seagram used the distillery as its experimental plant and ran trials on yeast strains and mashing here, so production varied more than at an ordinary Speyside distillery. That is exactly why the year on a Glen Keith matters more than on most others.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and clean. Pear, green apple and lemon peel, with vanilla and a dry malt note behind. After a couple of minutes a trace of beeswax emerges.

Palate

Soft and lightly oily. Honey, ripe pear and pale caramel, with a hint of toasted almond. The dryness only arrives at the end and keeps the whisky from turning dully sweet.

Finish

Medium. Malt, pear and a dry, faintly peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Keith 1997/2018 Signatory 20 Year Old Speyside Single Malt 46%
Distillery: Glen Keith
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 72609 and 72610
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 26 May 1997
Bottled: 26 February 2018
EAN no.: 5021944094752

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Honeyed · Dry · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. The spirit dates from 1997, from the final years before Glen Keith closed, and those bottlings exist in a number that cannot grow. A 20 year old from the period at an ordinary bottling strength is the kind of bottle that quietly disappears from shelves without being speculated on.

Did you know?

Seagram used Glen Keith to trial new yeast strains and mashing methods before putting them into service at other distilleries. That makes the older spirit less predictable than most — two vintages from Glen Keith can sit further apart than you are used to.

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From Rothes to Normandy — that is the journey this Glen Spey cask has taken. Eleven years matured in American oak, followed by a finish in a calvados cask from the apple orchards of Normandy. The result is a Speyside single malt that combines the familiar with the unexpected.

Expert's description

Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and finished in a calvados cask, bottled at 55% by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. The Coopers Choice is the series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded in 1992 by Brian Crook in Milngavie. The company is named after the cooper — the cask-maker — one of the oldest and most essential crafts in the whisky world. Every release is single cask, natural colour and without chill filtration.

Glen Spey is the Rothes distillery that is rarely seen as a single malt. Distilled on 1 June 2010 in American oak casks, this bottling received a finishing period in a calvados cask (#803006) before being released in January 2021. Calvados — the Norman apple spirit — leaves clear traces: sweet, crisp apple fruitiness and a lightly spiced complexity. Only 354 bottles.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate peaches and sweet vanilla open first, supported by tropical notes — mango and passionfruit — along with apple peel from the calvados cask.

Palate

Soft spice and walnut whip with sweet poached pears and cooked apples in balance with lightly malty oak. The calvados cask adds a sweet, fruity complexity without dominating.

Finish

Crisp and dry with fruit and spice cutting through. Clean and well-defined.

Specifications

Name: Glen Spey 2010/2021 Coopers Choice 11 year
Distillery: Glen Spey
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak & Calvados Cask
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 354
Cask no.: #803006

Flavour profile

Fruity · Apple · Spicy · Floral · Creamy

Did you know?

Calvados is France's answer to whisky — a distillate based on apple cider or pear cider from Normandy, matured in oak casks. Combining it with Scotch single malt is a relatively new trend, but the results can be surprisingly harmonious.

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In Rothes, wedged between churchyard walls and the more famous names next door, stands a distillery few have heard of — yet one that has given the J&B blend its light, floral backbone for decades. Now it steps forward alone, without added colour, without filtration, honestly and directly.

Note: Rust on the cap may occur and signs of wear on the label.

Expert's description

Signatory Vintage Glen Spey 11 year Un-Chillfiltered Collection is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside matured in 1st use hogsheads, bottled at 46% non-chill filtered. Glen Spey is one of the most retiring distilleries in all of Speyside. Founded in 1878 by grain merchant James Stuart, who initially built the site as a harbour mill before buying Macallan and selling Glen Spey to English wine merchants W. & A. Gilbey in 1887 — the first Scottish distillery to come into English hands. Since then the distillery has primarily been used as a supplier to blends.

This bottle is released by Signatory Vintage as part of their Un-Chillfiltered Collection — always bottled at a minimum of 46% and without chill filtration, preserving all the natural oils and structure. The spirit was distilled on 16 September 2010 and rested in a pair of 1st use hogsheads before being bottled on 7 January 2022. The result is a full, rounded version of a distillery otherwise known for its light and delicate style — thanks to Glen Spey's distinctive purifiers on the spirit stills, which increase reflux and create a cleaner, more perfumed spirit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral tones meet ripe pears and apples, spiced with a trace of vanilla from the casks. Beneath it all lies a light malty sweetness reminiscent of freshly baked cake.

Palate

Soft and rounded with a grainy sweetness, fresh fruit and a hint of honey. The unfiltered style delivers a slightly fuller body than one usually associates with this distillery's light character.

Finish

Medium-length with notes of malt, soft oak and a gentle spice that slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Signatory Vintage Glen Spey 11 year Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Glen Spey
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st use hogsheads
Bottled: 7 January 2022
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944116270

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Malty · Creamy · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Glen Spey is the only distillery in Rothes said to be haunted — according to local legend, the place is visited by the ghost of a soldier who lost his life in an electrical accident during the Second World War.

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Picture an afternoon where the light slants low through a window, carrying the scent of orange peel and heather honey. That is how GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish greets you — a whisky given extra time on a cask it rarely visits.

Expert's Description

GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky at 48%, matured in American oak casks and finished in French Virgin Oak casks — virgin French oak that has never previously held spirit. It belongs to the distillery's Virgin Oak series, where experimentation with different oak origins takes centre stage.

French oak lends the whisky a different spice character than American or European sherry oak — more restrained, yet carrying a clear sweetness that plays against the spirit's natural fruitiness. The colour is golden bronze, a sign the cask has released some of its colour without any help from caramel.

Behind the bottle stand Billy Walker and the GlenAllachie team, known for an almost stubborn insistence on letting the casks speak. This 10 year old is a limited edition, and as such a snapshot of what a single cask choice can do to an already characterful spirit.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel and heather honey meet a mild spiced aroma, while caramel and mocha settle underneath as a deeper base.

Palate

Heather honey and mocha continue from the nose, joined by brittle toffee and a touch of grapefruit. Cinnamon and earthy tannins give the whisky structure.

Finish

The finish is warm and lightly spiced, with ginger lingering long after.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in French Virgin Oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Honey · Spiced · Mocha · Citrus · Oak

Investment Potential

As a limited release from a sought-after series, this 10 year old carries a cask profile that will not be repeated indefinitely. Investment potential is rated medium, driven by limited availability and GlenAllachie's rising reputation among collectors.

Did You Know?

French Virgin Oak casks are used far less often in Scotch whisky production than American or European casks, partly because the dense French oak requires a different toasting process to unlock its aromatic compounds.

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Scottish virgin oak and Oloroso sherry meet in a glass that smells of honey cake and ripe berries – a combination you rarely see from the same distillery.

Expert description

GlenAllachie 2015 The Sinteis Series Part 2 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of Scottish virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at cask strength of 58.2%.

Part 2 of the Sinteis series continues Billy Walker's exploration of how two very different cask types can each shape the same spirit. Where Part 3 uses French oak, this release draws its character from Scottish virgin oak paired with the heavy fruit sweetness of Oloroso sherry.

The whisky was distilled in 2015 and spent 9 years in cask before being bottled non-chill filtered and without added colour. The colour is burnt mahogany – a result of extended contact with the sherry casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers mocha and grilled honey cakes, followed by sun-dried red berries and a warm note of cinnamon butter. Toasted lemon peel and a touch of muscovado sugar round things off.

Palate

On the palate you find heather honey and citrus, quickly followed by baking spices and ginger cakes. Poached fruits and mocha add depth, while a creamy vanilla buttercream settles as a soft finish on every sip.

Finish

The finish is warm and lightly spiced, with a last trace of honey and toasted mocha that lingers for a good while.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2015 The Sinteis Series Part 2
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 58.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Scottish virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Sinteis Series Part 2
EAN number: 5060568329277

Flavour profile

Honey sweetness · Mocha · Spiced baking notes · Ripe berries · Citrus

Did you know?

The burnt mahogany colour comes entirely from the casks, thanks to extended contact with Oloroso sherry, which is known for imparting some of the darkest natural colour of any sherry cask type.

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French oak and Spanish sherry rarely share a glass. In this release, Billy Walker brings the two together, and the result tastes like nothing else coming out of Speyside.

Expert description

GlenAllachie 2014 The Sinteis Series Part 3 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of French virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at cask strength of 57.4%.

The Sinteis Series is Billy Walker's ongoing exploration of cask types rarely used in Scotch whisky production. The name is taken from the Scottish Gaelic word for synthesis, and each release in the series looks at how two very different cask types can shape the same spirit in their own way. Part 3 puts the focus on French virgin oak, whose tight, spicy oak character stands in clear contrast to the heavy fruit sweetness of Oloroso sherry.

This whisky comes from the 2014 vintage and was bottled in 2026, giving it around 12 years of cask maturation before it was bottled non-chill filtered and without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with toasted oak and a touch of vanilla pod, quickly followed by dark sherry sweetness – think raisins, fig and a hint of leather. Underneath sits a spicy note of clove and fresh sawn oak from the French casks.

Palate

On the palate, the characteristic Oloroso sweetness arrives first with stewed dark fruit, before the French oak takes over with a dry, slightly tight tannic spice. The cask strength gives the whisky a weight that holds the flavours together without becoming fiery.

Finish

Long and dry, with a finish of dark chocolate, toasted nuts and a last trace of sherry sweetness fading slowly away.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2014 The Sinteis Series Part 3
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 57.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French virgin oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Sinteis Series Part 3
EAN number: 5060568329871

Flavour profile

Sherry sweetness · French oak spice · Cask strength · Dark fruit · Toasted notes

Did you know?

Most Scottish distilleries stick to American or European oak, but GlenAllachie is one of the few that deliberately experiments with French virgin oak – a cask type far more common in cognac and wine production than in Scotch whisky.

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Picture a bottling where only 194 siblings exist in the whole world. This 8 year old GlenAllachie comes straight from a single first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead selected by Dràm Mòr, carrying all the dark, sticky sweetness a sherry cask can impart in such a short time.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 8 year old Dràm Mòr is an independently bottled Speyside single malt whisky, distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2024 from a first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead, cask no. 210, at cask strength 53.8%.

Dràm Mòr is a Scottish independent bottler that specializes in tracking down single casks with character rather than chasing a uniform house style. With this release, they have captured some of the best GlenAllachie's distillery can deliver: a spirit robust enough to stand up to an active sherry cask without being overwhelmed by it.

Eight years might not sound like much in whisky terms, but in a first-fill cask the wood works fast. The result is a dram that tastes older than its age – dark, spicy and with a richness usually associated with far more mature releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet dark fruits meet raisins and stewed plums, while lightly toasted honey notes sit beneath, adding depth without weighing things down.

Palate

Full-bodied and spicy from the first sip, with sticky ginger cake and a whole array of Christmas spices spreading across the palate.

Finish

Warm and long, with the spice and sherry sweetness lingering well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 8 Year Old Dràm Mòr Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 53.8%
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Bottler: Dràm Mòr
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 53.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask No. #210, First-fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead
Number of bottles: 194
EAN no.: [Find the EAN number, possibly on the bottle, and insert here]

Flavor Profile

Sherry sweetness · Christmas spice · Ginger cake · Dark fruit · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium. A single cask with a limited number of bottles will always carry a certain rarity factor, and demand for independent GlenAllachie releases with active sherry influence has been growing among collectors.

Did You Know?

Dràm Mòr takes its name from the Gaelic term for "big dram" – a fitting detail from a bottler that prizes casks with character over following a fixed template.

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Cask number 9. Not one of the long numbers that usually fill Signatory labels, but a single low figure — and behind it sits a Glendullan that spent its final stretch in a 1st fill oloroso hogshead.

The expert's description

Glendullan 2009/2025 Signatory Vintage 15 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a finishing period in a 1st fill oloroso sherry hogshead, bottled at cask strength 55.6%.

The spirit went into cask on 19 November 2009 and was bottled on 11 April 2025 from cask number 9. The bottling gave 344 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour, and forms part of the Signatory Cask Strength Collection. A 1st fill oloroso hogshead works quickly, and even a short finish leaves clear marks.

Glendullan was built in 1897 by the Aberdeen blender William Williams and sits in Dufftown in the middle of Speyside. The distillery supplies large volumes to the Diageo blends today, not least Old Parr, so only a fraction of production is ever bottled under its own name.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark raisins and toasted almonds, with rich caramel and a trace of cinnamon. Beneath the sherry lies a warm, sweet malt note.

Palate

Full and layered. Sherry-soaked figs, dark chocolate, nutmeg and oak spice. The interplay between dried fruit and spice keeps the 55.6% in check.

Finish

Long and warming. Lasting sweetness from the dried fruit and subtle tannins fading gradually into toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Glendullan 2009/2025 Signatory Vintage 15 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55.6%
Distillery: Glendullan
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 55.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finishing period in a 1st fill oloroso sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 19 November 2009
Bottled: 11 April 2025
Number of bottles: 344
Edition: Cask Strength Collection - Cask No. 9

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Creamy · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 344 bottles from one cask, fifteen years in wood and cask strength are three things that cannot be repeated. Glendullan is rarely bottled as a single malt, and releases from independent bottlers are in practice the only way to meet the distillery.

Did you know?

Glendullan is one of the cornerstones of Old Parr, a blend that has never taken up much room in Europe but has been large in South America and Asia for decades. That is a large part of why the distillery is so little known closer to home.

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Sherry from the first sip. Glenfarclas does not use sherry casks as a finish but as the foundation itself, and you can taste it already in the youngest release in the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 10 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

Ten years is the distillery entry release, and it is built to show the house style rather than to impress with age. The sherry takes up clear room, but at 40% the whisky is light enough to be drunk without ceremony, and there is a trace of smoke in the background that comes from the direct firing under the stills.

Glenfarclas sits at Ballindalloch by the River Spey and has been in the hands of the Grant family since 1865. The water comes from a spring in the Ben Rinnes hills, and the distillery is one of very few left that still fires its pot stills directly with gas rather than using steam heating.

Tasting notes

Nose

Plenty of sherry, with honey, a touch of caramel and barley behind.

Palate

Spices, dried fruit, pastry and caramel, with a very small hint of smoke in the middle. The body is light at 40%, but the sherry gives it more weight than the number suggests.

Finish

Medium. More spice, dried fruit and oak closing quietly.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066104018

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Dried fruit · Malty · Light

Did you know?

John Grant bought Glenfarclas in 1865 for £512, and the distillery has been in the family ever since. That makes Glenfarclas one of very few Scottish distilleries still run by the same family after more than a century and a half.

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It began as a Christmas present. In 1968 George S. Grant bottled a cask of Glenfarclas at full strength and gave it to family and friends, and it later became the 105 — the first cask strength single malt to be regularly available.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured primarily in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength 60%.

The whisky carries no age statement, but the contents typically sit somewhere between eight and ten years. The number 105 refers to the old British proof scale, where 105 degrees equals the 60% alcohol. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

When the 105 reached the market, the cask strength category barely existed as something you could buy in a shop. It was a time when almost all single malt was reduced to 40 or 43%, and Glenfarclas took a chance sending something this powerful out to ordinary customers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, nuts and dark chocolate, with a touch of oak. There is a light floral note that balances the heavy sherry elements.

Palate

Intense and full from the first sip. Sweet malt and dark syrup, followed by spiced oak, cloves and a trace of liquorice. The strength registers clearly, but it is warming rather than sharp.

Finish

Long, dry and lasting. Spices, dark fruit and a pleasant warmth that hangs on for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 60%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 60%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Primarily oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: 105 Cask Strength
EAN no.: 5018066105015

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Powerful · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Glenfarclas 105 was born in 1968 when George S. Grant bottled a cask at full strength as a Christmas gift for family and friends. It later became a permanent part of the range and is regarded as the first regularly available cask strength single malt.

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Two years more than the ten year old and three percentage points higher. It does not sound like much, but at Glenfarclas it makes the difference between a whisky you drink and a whisky you sit with.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The twelve years is the distillery best-selling release and the one most people use as a reference point for the house style. The sherry is clear but has not taken over yet, and at 43% the whisky carries more body than the 10 year old without demanding anything particular of the drinker.

The name Glenfarclas means the glen of the green grassland, and it is exactly that freshness you find beneath the sherry here. It is a note that runs through the whole range and keeps turning up, however many years the cask is given.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and crisp, with a lightly spiced sweetness and a touch of orange. The sherry sits as a warm base beneath it all.

Palate

Full with notes of dried fruit, new wood and a light sweet smoke. The 43% gives the whisky a firmness the 10 year old lacks, and the spice builds slowly towards the end.

Finish

Surprisingly long. Elegant spice and dried fruit lingering further than the age suggests.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Dried fruit · Fruity · Malty

Did you know?

Glenfarclas has a board room panelled with wood from the ocean liner Empress of Australia. The panelling came from the ship’s drawing room and was put up in the visitor centre, which has been called The Ship’s Room ever since.

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Five casks, hand-picked by John L.S. Grant himself for a single importer in Paris. That is how a small batch comes about when the distillery knows the recipient and can afford to choose by taste rather than by volume.

Please note: The wooden case shows signs of wear, and there is a yellow band on the bottle.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from five sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2011 after eight years in sherry casks number 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876. Eight years is young for Glenfarclas, but the marriage of five casks gives enough breadth for the whisky to stand up, and the 46% keeps the texture oily.

The selection was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. It is an approach close to the Family Casks idea — individual casks chosen by the family itself — but here gathered into a small batch rather than bottled separately.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe pears, quince and raisins, with light citrus and a discreet herbal freshness. The sherry casks contribute warm, sweet tones.

Palate

Rounded and full with a sweet, fruity core. Ripe pears and light citrus meet the soft sweetness of the malt, and a subtle spiced tone from the cask maturation gives depth. The mouthfeel is soft and oily.

Finish

Medium to long with lasting notes of fruit, malt and a lightly spiced undertone.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch Speyside Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks no. 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2011
Edition: The Private Reserve Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Sherried · Soft · Spiced

Investment potential

Medium. A small batch from five named casks, selected for one importer and bottled in 2011, cannot be remade. Parcels of that kind are rarely seen outside the market they were made for, and the supply can only fall.

Did you know?

The selection for this small batch was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. The French importer has taken its own selected parcels from Scottish distilleries for decades, and several of them have never travelled beyond the French market.

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Twenty-five years is where the coffee arrives. Not as an addition, but as something that emerges on its own once sherry cask and time have worked together long enough — and at Glenfarclas it comes alongside orange marmalade and sweet smoke.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 25 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The 43% may look low for a twenty-five year old, but it is a deliberate choice. After that many years in sherry casks the whisky is already concentrated, and a higher strength would make it hard rather than elegant. The balance between the sherry and the alcohol is the whole point of this bottling.

Glenfarclas can offer a continuous ladder from ten to forty years, which few family-owned distilleries can. It is because several generations have held back from selling the old casks off — something that requires being able to do without the income in the short term.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate sweet smoke, orange marmalade and honey, with freshly ground coffee, sherry and nuts over a base of aged wood.

Palate

Robust and full with great body. Sweet smoke and nuts, with a fine balance between the sherry casks and the alcohol. Dark chocolate settles at the back of the mouth.

Finish

Intense and long. Dry, malty, nutty and lightly smoky, with a dark chocolate note that lingers well afterwards.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066254317

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Coffee · Lightly smoky · Full

Investment potential

Medium. A twenty-five year old from a family-owned distillery that owns its own old stock is not a bottle produced in large volumes. Glenfarclas has kept its older age statements in the range, but the quantities shrink as the casks empty.

Did you know?

Glenfarclas can offer an unbroken age ladder from ten to forty years because the family has let the old casks stand over generations. It is a luxury few distilleries have, and it cannot be built up in a short time.

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There's something steady and unhurried about the valley outside Dufftown, where the distillery has stood since 1887. William Grant built it with his own hands and named it Glenfiddich – Valley of the Deer in Gaelic. This 12 Year Old is still the distillery's signature malt, the one people keep coming back to.

Expert Description

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks, bottled at 40%.Yellow danish taxstamp, 1990´ies.

The whisky is made from malted barley, double distilled in traditional copper pot stills, using water drawn from the distillery's own Robbie Dhu spring just outside Dufftown. Fermentation happens in Douglas fir washbacks rather than the more common stainless steel, giving a longer, slower process that pulls extra fruitiness out of the spirit.

After a minimum of 12 years in cask, the bourbon- and sherry-matured whiskies are brought together by Malt Master Brian Kinsman in large oak marrying tuns, where they're left to settle before bottling. Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is part of the distillery's permanent core range, not a limited release – it remains the world's best-selling single malt whisky.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and fruity, with clear notes of pear and green apple, backed by honey and a touch of malt.

Palate

Soft and gently sweet, with butterscotch, creamy vanilla and a mild spice held together by delicate oak.

Finish

Short to medium, with a hint of citrus and warm spice that slowly gives way to soft wood.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Casks and Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN: 5010327000176

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Lightly Spiced · Soft Oak

Did You Know?

It was actually Glenfiddich that, back in 1963, took the leap and began marketing single malt whisky internationally, at a time when almost all Scotch was sold as blended. Without that move, the "single malt" category as we know it today would look very different.

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Some whiskies you remember forever because they were the first. For a great many whisky drinkers around the world, that bottle is a Glenfiddich 12 Years Old.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Original Twelve is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. Our Original Twelve is Glenfiddich's best-selling release and the very foundation of the range. It matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, giving the fresh, pear-driven style Glenfiddich is known for worldwide.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

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

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing, with a final hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Original Twelve Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: Our Original Twelve
EAN no.: 5010327025155

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich was the first Scotch distillery to actively market single malt whisky outside Scotland, back in 1963 — a decision that effectively created the category as we know it today.

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Madeira is an island where the sun bakes the wine denser and sweeter than most European climates allow. Glenfiddich has borrowed exactly that sweetness for one of its most exotic expressions.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 19 Years Old Age of Discovery Madeira Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks finished in Madeira casks and bottled at 40%. Age of Discovery Madeira Cask matures for 19 years in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in casks that previously held Madeira wine. That adds a deep, nutty sweetness that clearly sets it apart from the distillery's other Age of Discovery expressions.

Please note wear on the top of the box and on the inside of the box

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted nuts, dried apricot and a warm, wine-like sweetness.

Palate

Round and sweet with caramelised nuts, raisin and a slightly tangy fruitiness.

Finish

Medium and warm, with a final hint of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 19 Years Old Age of Discovery Madeira Cask Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks finished in Madeira casks
Edition: Age of Discovery - Madeira Cask
EAN no.: 5010327315669

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Round · Nutty

Investment potential

Low. The Age of Discovery series has been discontinued from Glenfiddich's core range, which makes the remaining bottles gradually scarcer.

Did you know?

Madeira wine was historically shipped across the oceans in oak casks, because the heat and movement of the voyage was found to improve the wine's flavour — the same cask tradition is now reused to shape whisky.

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Thirty years in a cask is a long time. The world outside Dufftown has changed a great deal since this whisky went into wood sometime in the 1980s, and since 2007, when Glenfiddich redesigned the 30 Year Old and raised the strength to 43%, this version has stood apart as a small piece of distillery history in its own right. This bottle is from before that change, back when it carried the name Blue Label and was bottled at 40%.

The Expert's Description

Glenfiddich 30 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Oloroso Sherry Casks and American Bourbon Casks and bottled at 40%. This is the original edition of Glenfiddich's 30 Year Old, launched in 2000 and discontinued when the distillery gave both the label and the strength an overhaul in 2007. Since then the 30 Year Old has been bottled at 43%, while this particular bottling still carries the old strength. Every cask is personally nosed and approved by Glenfiddich's Malt Master before it earns a place in the final vatting, and only a limited number of casks make it all the way through thirty years in the warehouse. Maturation alternates between Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks, which lend depth and dark fruit, and American Bourbon Casks, which contribute vanilla and a touch of sweetness. The result is a whisky that carries three decades of patience within it, complex but never heavy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark oak, toasted almond and a hint of spiced sherry greet the nose first. Behind that sits dried fig and a faint, damp earthiness reminiscent of an old library.

Palate

The palate is round and full-bodied with notes of date, caramelised sugar and a slightly bitter orange peel. Oak steps forward clearly alongside warm festive spices, cinnamon and clove.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with a last flicker of dark chocolate and worn wood that lingers well after the final sip.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Casks and American Bourbon Casks
Bottled: 2007
Edition: Blue Label, discontinued edition prior to the 2007 redesign
EAN no.: 5010327395258

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spiced · Fruity · Oak-Driven · Round

Investment Potential

The investment potential is rated medium to high. This pre-2007 edition is discontinued and is becoming harder to find every year, and it now trades noticeably above what a comparable newer 30 Year Old from Glenfiddich costs. Collectors are especially drawn to the old 40% strength and the original Blue Label design.

Did You Know?

Glenfiddich was the first Scotch distillery to open its doors to visitors, back in 1969, at a time when most other distilleries kept production firmly behind closed doors.

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

Expert description

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet.

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Fruity · Light · Soft · Classic

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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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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Glenlossie is one of Speyside's quiet names. Most of what it distils disappears into blends and is never seen as single malt. So when an independent bottler like Cadenhead's chooses to put the name on the label, it's a rare chance to meet the distillery on its own terms – no sherry cask masking the character.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie-Glenlivet 2013/2025 Cadenhead's Original Collection 12 Year Old is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46%.

The whisky is a release from Cadenhead's Original Collection, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, with roots dating back to 1842. It has spent twelve years in bourbon hogsheads – the slightly larger ex-bourbon casks – exactly the cask type that lets Glenlossie's pale, green and lightly bakery-toned style speak for itself. No finish, no detours. Just distillery and oak.

The name "Glenlossie-Glenlivet" is a leftover from an era when a string of Speyside distilleries appended "-Glenlivet" to borrow some shine from the famous name. Today it's mostly a nerdy nod to history.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Lemongrass and fresh herbs first, then a dusting of sherbet and soft, poached pears. Pale and lightly perfumed.

Palate

Shortbread and crisp gooseberries sit atop a core of caramelised brown sugar. Creamy without turning heavy.

Finish

Vanilla pod and icing sugar slide into crème brûlée and a nutty hint of pistachio. Lingers, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Cadenhead's Glenlossie-Glenlivet 12 Year Old
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Cadenhead's (Original Collection)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogsheads

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Creamy · Floral · Oaky

Did You Know?

Glenlossie actually shares its site and staff with neighbouring distillery Mannochmore – the two sit side by side south of Elgin, and almost everything from here ends up in blends, which is exactly why it's so rare to see the name alone on a bottle.

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66.3% in the glass isn't for the faint-hearted – but behind that fierce strength hides one of the most intense, sherry-heavy Glenrothes releases we've had our hands on.

Expert's Description

Glenrothes Nordic Edition is an exclusive single cask bottling from Speyside, distilled in April 2006 and bottled in April 2021 at full cask strength, an impressive 66.3%. The whisky has matured for 14 years in a single first-fill Oloroso sherry cask (#5463), giving it an intense, complex character with depth and warmth.

Nordic Edition is unfiltered and has no added colouring, preserving the whisky's authentic expression. Only 570 bottles were filled, making it a rare and sought-after release for collectors and enthusiasts seeking intensity and sherried finesse in its purest form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark dried fruit, Christmas cake, dark chocolate and toasted walnuts, with notes of leather, cinnamon and smoked spices.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied with layers of sultanas, dark cherries, ginger, nutmeg and orange marmalade, rounded off by dark treacle and subtle oak tones.

Finish

Long, warming and spiced, with lingering notes of chocolate and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Glenrothes 2006/2021 Nordic Edition 14 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 66.3%
Distillery: Glenrothes
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: April 2006, Bottled: April 2021
Age: 14 years
Cask number: #5463 (First-fill Oloroso sherry)
Bottles: 570
ABV: 66.3%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Unfiltered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Intense · Sherry-heavy · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

With a cask strength of 66.3%, only 570 bottles and a name in the sought-after Nordic Edition series, this whisky belongs to the releases that often attract collectors and typically become harder to find as bottles sell out.

Did You Know?

66.3% is an unusually high bottling strength – most cask strength whiskies sit between 55-60%, making this Nordic Edition one of the most powerful bottlings Glenrothes has ever released.

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Only 207 bottles were filled to celebrate FC Whisky's 25 years in the trade – an exclusive Adelphi bottling of Glentauchers that shows the distillery's full complexity when allowed to stand alone as a single malt.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 15 Year Old Adelphi Selection is a powerful single malt whisky, carefully selected by Adelphi – one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers. Glentauchers is known for its soft, fruity and floral character and is otherwise used primarily as a key component in popular blends.

The whisky has matured in a used bourbon cask, giving it a well-balanced flavour profile with notes of vanilla, honey and caramel from the American oak casks. The bourbon cask's influence rounds off the whisky's natural sweetness and adds subtle spice, coconut and a hint of citrus. Bottled in only 207 examples to celebrate FC Whisky's 25 years in the trade.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh pear, apple and flowers, followed by a light creamy character with a hint of spice.

Palate

Soft and rounded, with mild oak notes, vanilla cream and light toffee.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a pleasant sweetness and lightly spiced finish.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 2009/2025 Adelphi Selection 15 Year Old FC Whisky 25th Anniversary Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 58.6%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
Cask type: Used bourbon cask
Bottles: 207
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Vanilla-driven · Elegant

Investment Potential

With only 207 bottles from an exclusive anniversary bottling made in partnership with FC Whisky, this release belongs to the bottlings that often become sought-after among collectors as bottles become impossible to find.

Did You Know?

This release was bottled specifically to celebrate FC-Whisky's 25th anniversary in the trade – a collaboration between a respected independent bottler and a Danish whisky retailer.

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65.6% and "Raw Cask" in the name leave no doubt about what you're getting – Blackadder is known for bottling whisky with no filtration at all, exactly as it comes straight from the cask.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 2012/2024 Blackadder Raw Cask is a 12 year old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled on 23 January 2012 and bottled in March 2024 by independent bottler Blackadder.

The whisky has matured in a refill sherry butt, Cask No. #900473, and is part of the Raw Cask series, known for being neither chill-filtered nor coloured. With 657 bottles and a strength of 65.6%, this whisky offers a deep, intense flavour experience typical of the Speyside region.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep sherry sweetness, dried fruit and a touch of old oak.

Palate

Intense and full-bodied, with raisins, caramel and a warm, spiced sweetness.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced, with lingering sherry notes.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 2012/2024 Blackadder Raw Cask 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 65.6%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Blackadder
Series: Raw Cask
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 23/01/2012, Bottled: 03/2024
Age: 12 years
Cask number/type: Refill Sherry Butt / Cask No. #900473
Bottles: 657
ABV: 65.6%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Intense · Sherried · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

With a very high cask strength of 65.6% and status as part of Blackadder's respected Raw Cask series, this whisky belongs to the releases that often attract collectors of raw, unfiltered cask strength whisky.

Did You Know?

Blackadder's "Raw Cask" series is known for consistently bottling whisky without any form of treatment – neither chill-filtration nor added colouring – to give as authentic a picture of the cask as possible.

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2008 The First Edition 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from The First Edition, released as part of the The First Edition range.

The whisky was distilled in 2008.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, barley and a soft citrus lift.

Palate

Soft vanilla, malt and light spice.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2008 The First Edition 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: The First Edition
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Edition: The First Edition

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Hunter Laing, the family behind The First Edition, was established in 2013 but carries on a whisky tradition going back to Stewart Laing's father and grandfather in the Scotch trade.

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2010/2023 Adelphi Selection 12 Year Palo Cortado Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,4% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on first fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butt, fad nr. 809889 and bottled at 57,4%.

This bottling comes from Adelphi Selection, released as part of the Adelphi Selection range.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2023.

Only 512 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2010/2023 Adelphi Selection 12 Year Palo Cortado Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,4%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 57,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butt, fad nr. 809889
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 512
Edition: Adelphi Selection

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Palo Cortado casks are rarely used for whisky, and the combination of that rare sherry style with a run of only 512 bottles makes this Inchgower a sought-after single cask release.

Did you know?

Palo Cortado is the rarest of all sherry styles, because it begins its life ageing as a Fino before unexpectedly developing a character that leads the cellar master to reclassify it as an Oloroso.

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2010/2025 Adelphi Selection 14 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,7% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on first fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butt, fad nr. 809891 and bottled at 57,7%.

This bottling comes from Adelphi Selection, released as part of the Adelphi Selection range.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2025.

Only 542 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2010/2025 Adelphi Selection 14 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,7%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 57,7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butt, fad nr. 809891
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 542
Edition: Adelphi Selection
EAN no.: 5060383654394

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Two extra years on the rare Palo Cortado cask have produced an even deeper and more powerful whisky, and with only 542 bottles produced it is attractive to collectors of Adelphi's Inchgower series.

Did you know?

Adelphi owns its own working distillery, Ardnamurchan, the most westerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, where the same uncompromising philosophy is carried into production.

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2012 Hepburns Choice 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from Hepburn's Choice, released as part of the Hepburn's Choice range.

The whisky was distilled in 2012.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, barley and a soft citrus lift.

Palate

Soft vanilla, malt and light spice.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2012 Hepburns Choice 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Hepburn's Choice
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Edition: Hepburn's Choice

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

William Hepburn, after whom this range is named, worked in the Glasgow whisky trade for more than 50 years and taught his grandson Stewart Laing the craft from the ground up.

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

Expert's description

Knockando 2008/2025 Signatory Vintage 16 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 51,6% is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured on first Fill Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, cask nr. 103 and bottled at 51,6%.

This bottling comes from Signatory Vintage, released as part of the Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection range.

The whisky was distilled in 5 November 2008 and bottled in 7 February 2025.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Knockando 2008/2025 Signatory Vintage 16 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 51,6%
Distillery: Knockando
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 51,6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First Fill Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, cask nr. 103
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 5 November 2008
Bottled: 7 February 2025
Edition: Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Single cask bottlings from Signatory Vintage are sold in strictly limited numbers per cask, and a PX-sherry-matured Knockando of this strength is an unusual combination that will not return.

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 and is one of Scotland's oldest independent bottlers, known for sticking to the tradition of natural colour and no chill filtration.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 11 Year Dram Mor Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 54,8% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on single first-fill bourbon cask and bottled at 54,8%.

This bottling comes from Dràm Mòr.

The whisky was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2024.

Only 325 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Custard, malt and a hint of citrus zest.

Palate

Creamy vanilla, oak spice and ripe orchard fruit.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final vanilla note.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 11 Year Dram Mor Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 54,8%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Dràm Mòr
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 54,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single first-fill bourbon cask
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 325

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. With only 325 bottles from a single first-fill bourbon cask, bottled by an independent bottler, this is a Linkwood release that will not return in identical form.

Did you know?

Linkwood distillery in Speyside is known for sending most of its output into blends, making single cask releases like this one a rare chance to meet the spirit on its own.

See our full range of Linkwood