Organic whisky sounds like something invented last week. Benromach started in 2006, and the entire chain from barley to bottle is certified — something nobody had done before them.

The expert's description

Benromach Contrasts Organic 2013/2022 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in virgin American oak and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2022 after nine years in virgin American oak casks. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and the entire production is accredited by the British Soil Association from field to bottle.

Benromach launched the world's first fully certified organic single malt in 2006. The Contrasts range is the distillery's playground, where they push one variable at a time — here both the organic barley and the completely new wood.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet malt, banana and creamy vanilla. Virgin oak gives a clear sawdust freshness and a hint of coconut.

Palate

Malt rich and creamy with pepper, coffee and cocoa. The new oak pulls the whisky towards a carpenter's workshop and toasted sugar rather than the soft bourbon vanilla most people know.

Finish

Medium long, dry and spicy with cocoa, oak and a warm peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Benromach Contrasts Organic 2013/2022 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Benromach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin American oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Contrasts: Organic
EAN no.: 5020613091160

Flavour profile

Creamy · Spicy · Vanilla · Cocoa · New oak

Did you know?

Virgin oak is almost never used for Scotch whisky, because it can overwhelm the spirit in a few years. Benromach could use it here because their distillate is powerful enough to stand up to fresh wood.

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The closed distillery in Lillkyrka outside Örebro lives on through The Art Collection, a series of single casks showing what a small Swedish distillery could do while it still existed.

The Expert's Description

Bergslagens The Art Collection No 2 Port Cask is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky matured in a port wine cask and bottled at 55%.

The whisky is number two in The Art Collection series and comes from a 225-litre port wine cask from 2011. The cask was bottled in February 2019, and the result is a smoky whisky with clear notes of leather and dried fruit from the port cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoke meets leather and dried fruit, carried by the port cask's deep character.

Palate

Full-bodied and smoky with sweet port tones that balance the smoky base.

Finish

Long and smoky with a final tone of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Bergslagens The Art Collection No 2 Port Cask Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bergslagens Destilleri
Region/Country: Lillkyrka, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 55%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: 225-litre port wine cask, cask #250
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 492
Edition: The Art Collection No 2
EAN no.: 7350064740835

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Port-toned · Full-bodied · Leathery · Dried fruit

Investment Potential

Medium. Bergslagens Destilleri is closed, making every bottle from The Art Collection a piece of whisky history that can never be recreated.

Did You Know?

Bergslagens Destilleri was located in Lillkyrka outside Örebro, but is now closed. The Art Collection is one of the last series the distillery managed to release before production ended.

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Same closed distillery, same vintage, but a completely different cask story. The Art Collection No 3 comes from a French Sauternes barrel, giving this smoky whisky a distinctive sweet-tart twist.

The Expert's Description

Bergslagens The Art Collection No 3 Sauternes Cask is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky matured in a Sauternes cask and bottled at 54%.

The whisky is number three in The Art Collection series and comes from a 225-litre Sauternes barrel from 2011, the French sweet wine known for its honeyed acidity. The cask was bottled in February 2019, and the whisky is smoky with notes of crisp apple and tobacco.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoke meets crisp apple and a touch of tobacco from the Sauternes cask.

Palate

Full-bodied and smoky with a tart-sweet fruitiness that clearly differs from its sister bottle's port character.

Finish

Long and smoky with a final, tart fruit tone.

Specifications

Name: Bergslagens The Art Collection No 3 Sauternes Cask Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bergslagens Destilleri
Region/Country: Lillkyrka, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 54%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: 225-litre Sauternes cask
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 492
Edition: The Art Collection No 3

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Tart · Full-bodied · Apple-forward · Tobacco-toned

Investment Potential

Medium. Bergslagens Destilleri is closed, making every bottle from The Art Collection a piece of whisky history that can never be recreated.

Did You Know?

Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Bordeaux region, known for its honeyed acidity. It is an unusual cask type for whisky, giving this release a distinctly different expression than its sister bottle matured in a port cask.

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Bertelsen has hand-picked five drams with character for December — more than chocolate in this year's advent calendar.

Expert description

Bertelsens Favorites Whisky Advent Calendar 5 x 3 cl Unique Whisky Samples is an exclusive whisky advent calendar featuring five carefully selected samples, personally hand-picked by Bertelsen at Whisky.dk. He has a soft spot for cask strength whisky, bourbon-matured expressions, old grain whisky and unexpected surprises, and it clearly shows in the calendar's contents: Linkwood 2012/2022 Adelphi Selection 10 år 59,9%, North British 32 år Little Brown Dog Small Batch 44,2%, Balvenie 12 år Montilla Wine Cask 47,3% and Arran 10 år Arran Barley Batch 001 50%, plus an extra bonus dram in Macduff 2007/2024 Adelphi Selection FC Whisky Cask 16 år 57,3%.

You get four 3 cl samples for the advent Sundays, plus an extra surprise, adding up to five unique whiskies to look forward to throughout December. 2 Perfect Dram glasses are included, so every dram can be enjoyed in style.

Specifications

Name: Bertelsens Favorites Whisky Advent Calendar 5 x 3 cl Unique Whisky Samples
Number of samples: 5 x 3 CL
Accessories: 2 Perfect Dram glasses

Flavour profile

Cask Strength · Bourbon-driven · Old Grain · Surprising

The number of calendars is limited, and the contents may change from year to year.

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The name comes from an old expression about dressing in one's finest.

Expert description

Bib & Tucker 6 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon 92 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash bill of 70% corn, 26% rye and 4% malted barley, double-distilled through both column and pot stills, filtered through maple charcoal and matured for at least 6 years, bottled at 46%. The brand was founded in 2014 by 35 Maple Street Spirits and draws inspiration from the early 1900s, when all bourbon was produced in small batches.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is full with caramel, toasted wood and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers brown sugar, honey and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and round.

Specifications

Name: Bib & Tucker 6 år Small Batch Bourbon 92 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottler: Bib & Tucker
Region/Country: Tennessee, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 6 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Sweet · Warm · Caramel

Did you know?

The expression 'putting on your best bib and tucker' is an old English phrase for dressing in your finest clothes, which the brand uses as an image of quality and craftsmanship.

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Big Peat is not a distillery but a fisherman with a wild grey beard and four Islay distilleries behind him. The twelve year old is the one where he has picked up some manners — the smoke is still there, but the edges have softened.

The expert's description

Big Peat 12 years is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The blend consists solely of single malts from Islay, all at least twelve years old: Caol Ila contributes sweetness, Bowmore balance, Ardbeg the medicinal and earthy character, and Port Ellen a measure of elegance.

Douglas Laing created Big Peat in 2009 as a single-bottle account of Islay. The firm was founded in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing and is still run by the family from Glasgow, where they now also operate their own distillery.

Tasting notes

Nose

Charred oak, chimney smoke and wet rock pools. Under the smoke sit vanilla, butterscotch and dark fruits such as blackcurrant and black cherry.

Palate

Fruit driven with toffee, dark chocolate and a nutty edge. The spiced peat smoke settles around the sweetness instead of fighting it, and the salt of the coast is obvious.

Finish

Long and lingering with brown sugar, bonfire ash and a dry phenolic quality that stays.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 12 years old Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5014218814903

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Smoky · Sweet · Full bodied

Did you know?

Port Ellen closed in 1983 and only reopened in 2024. Big Peat has over the years contained whisky from the closed distillery — one of the few ways ordinary people have ever tasted Port Ellen.

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Fifteen years of the grey bearded fisherman on the label called for a celebration, and Douglas Laing chose red wine casks for the occasion. Smoke and red wine is a risky pairing — it works when the casks are hand selected.

The expert's description

Big Peat 15th Anniversary Limited Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in hand-selected red wine casks and bottled at 50 %.

The release marks Big Peat's fifteenth anniversary and consists, as always, solely of single malts from Islay. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured and arrives in a specially designed gift box containing fifteen facts about Big Peat, Islay and the whisky itself.

For the occasion Douglas Laing's blender assembled the finest Islay single malts and matured the greater part in hand-selected red wine casks. The result is a darker and more fruit driven Big Peat than the standard release.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bonfire smoke and dried seaweed meet dark berries, plum and a lightly tart wine note. A sweet edge of cane sugar sits under the smoke.

Palate

Powerful and round with blackberry, dark chocolate and salted liquorice. The red wine casks give a tannin edge that tightens the whisky halfway through, and the 50 % provides good drive.

Finish

Long with ash, dark berries and a dry, lightly bitter close.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 50%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in hand-selected red wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: 15th Anniversary Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5014218830873

Flavour profile

Peated · Red wine cask · Dark berries · Salt · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium: An anniversary bottling in limited numbers with special packaging and a cask programme that will not be repeated. Big Peat's special editions have historically been in demand and typically disappear from the market quickly.

Did you know?

The Big Peat character was drawn before the whisky existed. Douglas Laing had the figure first and then built the blend to match the fisherman they had imagined.

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The first chapter of a trilogy that began with a question: what happens to Islay smoke when it is left for a quarter of a century? The answer is not less smoke — it is smoke with manners.

The expert's description

Big Peat 25 years Vintage 1992 Gold Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 52.1 % cask strength.

The whiskies were distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2017 in an outturn of 3,000 bottles. The release is neither chill filtered nor coloured and is the first of three in Douglas Laing's Vintage Series.

The Gold Edition opened a trilogy that continued with the Platinum Edition at 26 years and The Black Edition at 27 years. All three come from the same 1992 vintage and are built from some of Islay's most sought after single malts.

Tasting notes

Nose

Complex and nuanced. Smoke meets caramel and vanilla, with dried fruit, sea salt and a light medicinal tone behind.

Palate

Full and oily. Powerful peat smoke up front, balanced by honey and burnt sugar, followed by dark chocolate, leather and spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with peat and sweetness fading slowly. An elegant dryness of oak and nuts closes it.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 25 years old Vintage 1992 Series No 1 Gold Edition Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 52.1%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 52.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2017
Number of bottles: 3,000
Edition: Vintage Series No 1 The Gold Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Mature · Smoky · Sweet · Cask strength

Investment potential

High: The first release in a completed trilogy from the 1992 vintage, in an outturn of 3,000 bottles that will not be made again. Complete sets of the three editions are sought after by collectors, and the Gold Edition is the hardest of them to track down.

Did you know?

Cara Laing, whisky director at Douglas Laing, explained at the launch that the casks had been tasted year after year until the team felt the vatting was finally ready. The trilogy was not planned from the outset — it was decided along the way.

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The second chapter. Same 1992 vintage, one year longer in wood and a touch less strength. The Platinum Edition is the middle of the three — and the one where the balance between smoke and maturity sits closest.

The expert's description

Big Peat 26 years Vintage 1992 Platinum Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 51.5 % cask strength.

The whiskies were distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2018 in an outturn of 3,000 bottles. The release is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The Platinum Edition is the second in Douglas Laing's Vintage Series, between the Gold Edition at 25 years and The Black Edition at 27 years. All three are assembled from Islay's most sought after single malts of the same vintage.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry ash, seaweed and salted liquorice. Beneath the smoke hide dried apricots, honey and a warm nuttiness.

Palate

Rich and broad with peat smoke, dark caramel and roasted malt. There is a mineral salt edge and a hint of leather that only comes with age.

Finish

Very long with dry smoke, cocoa and a sweet note that holds on for some time.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 26 years old Vintage 1992 Series No 2 Platinum Edition DL Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 51.5%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 26 years
ABV: 51.5 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 3,000
Edition: Vintage Series No 2 The Platinum Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Mature · Nutty · Cask strength

Investment potential

High: The middle release in a completed trilogy of 3,000 bottles from the 1992 vintage. Complete sets of all three editions are difficult to assemble, and demand for mature Islay whisky has been rising for years.

Did you know?

All three editions in the trilogy were bottled in exactly 3,000 bottles, regardless of age. Douglas Laing had the cask volumes planned from the moment the series was decided.

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The final chapter. After twenty-seven years the peat has become something else — barbecued meat, coal dust and rock salt, as Douglas Laing themselves described it when the bottle was let loose in 2019.

The expert's description

Big Peat 27 years Vintage 1992 The Black Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.3 %.

The whiskies were distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2019 in an outturn of 3,000 bottles, without chill filtration and without added colour. It is the closing release in the Vintage Series trilogy.

The series began with the Gold Edition at 25 years in 2017 and continued with the Platinum Edition at 26 years in 2018. The Black Edition closes the row and is at once the oldest and the most restrained of the three in strength.

Tasting notes

Nose

Coal dust, barbecued meat and rock salt. Beneath the heavy smoke lie dried figs, coffee and a hint of old oak.

Palate

Deep and broad with ash, black pepper and salted caramel. The 48.3 % makes it softer than its two predecessors, and the texture is clearly oily.

Finish

Very long and dry with smoke, cocoa beans and a mineral salt edge.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 27 years old Vintage 1992 Series No 3 The Black Edition DL Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 48.3%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 27 years
ABV: 48.3 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 3,000
Edition: Vintage Series No 3 The Black Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Meaty · Salt · Mature · Smoky

Investment potential

High: The closing release in a complete trilogy and the oldest of the three. The series will not be repeated, the outturn is 3,000 bottles, and the Black Edition is the one collectors most often lack to finish the set.

Did you know?

Big Peat celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2019, the very year the Black Edition appeared. Douglas Laing marked it with both a 10 year old limited edition and the close of the trilogy in the same season.

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Thirty-three years. The whisky in this bottle was distilled while Port Ellen had only recently fallen silent, and it has rested in wood longer than most whisky enthusiasts have been interested in whisky.

The expert's description

Big Peat 33 years Vintage 1985 Limited Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in cognac and sherry casks and bottled at 47.2 %.

The individual distillates were made in 1985 and bottled 33 years later in 2018 in an outturn of 1,500 bottles. Of those, 15 bottles came exclusively to Denmark through Whisky.dk.

Douglas Laing added the release to the Big Peat range as an old and rare expression, where the combination of cognac and sherry casks lays a layer of dark fruit and sweetness over the mature Islay smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Old oak, dried plums and the sweet fruit of cognac. The smoke sits deep down as cold ash and wet seaweed.

Palate

Soft, broad and oily with raisin, dark chocolate and salted caramel. The peat is tempered by the years and works as a dry undercurrent rather than as the lead.

Finish

Very long with dried fruit, tobacco and a last breath of ash.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 33 years old Vintage 1985 Limited Edition Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 47.2%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 47.2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in cognac and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1985
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 1,500
Edition: Vintage 1985 Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5014218812176

Flavour profile

Mature · Peated · Cognac matured · Sherry matured · Dark fruit

Investment potential

High: Only 1,500 bottles worldwide and an unusual combination of 1985 vintage, cognac casks and Islay smoke. Whisky from this period exists in ever smaller quantities, and the release has long been discontinued at the producer.

Did you know?

Cognac casks are rarely used for peated whisky, because the delicate grape sweetness is easily run over by peat. After 33 years the smoke has quietened enough for the two finally to meet.

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Douglas Laing's Christmas release has never been the soft, cosy type. It is the one that comes in from the cold in a wet coat smelling of bonfire — the 2016 edition in particular.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2016 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 54.6 % cask strength.

The blend consists solely of single malts from Islay, and the Christmas release is traditionally bottled stronger than the standard version. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The Christmas Edition has been a fixed annual event at Douglas Laing since Big Peat was launched in 2009. Every edition has its own strength and its own composition, and they are bottled only in the year they are named after.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried seaweed, bonfire smoke and ash with a pronounced medicinal note. Sweet malt, vanilla and a touch of spice keep it from turning cold, and a freshness of citrus and pepper lifts it.

Palate

Powerful and warm with clear peat smoke, salty sea air and a marked ash profile. Black pepper, liquorice, toasted barley and a hint of caramel step forward, and the 54.6 % is well integrated.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky with persistent ash, pepper and a salty minerality.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2016 Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Whisky 54.6%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.6 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2016
Edition: Christmas Edition 2016

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Cask strength · Ashy · Spicy

Investment potential

Medium: A vintage-specific Christmas release bottled only in 2016 and never repeated. Older Christmas Editions are becoming harder to find, and complete vintage runs are in demand among Big Peat collectors.

Did you know?

Big Peat's Christmas release is the only one in the range that changes strength every year. That makes it possible to identify the vintage from the strength alone — 54.6 % can only be 2016.

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Half a percentage point below the year before, but an entirely different mood in the glass. The 2017 edition has more sea and less bonfire — a Christmas dram for anyone who would rather stand on the pier than sit by the fire.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2017 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 54.1 % cask strength.

The blend is assembled from single malts from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen and bottled as a small batch without chill filtration and without added colour.

In the Christmas editions Douglas Laing emphasise the maritime side of Islay, and the 2017 vintage is a clear example: salt, seaweed and cold sea air take up more room than the dry ash.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salt and bitter peat with heavy smoke, yet bright enough for citrus to break through. Seaweed and wet stone sit beneath it all.

Palate

Peat from the first drop, with shifting layers of oil and salt turning into light vanilla and spice. There is a clear sea flavour, put there on purpose.

Finish

Long and persistent with smoke, salt and a dry peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2017 Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Whisky 54.1%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Christmas Edition 2017

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Salt · Spicy · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium: The Christmas editions are bottled only in the year they are named after, and the 2017 vintage has long been discontinued. Older Christmas Editions grow steadily scarcer as the bottles are drunk.

Did you know?

Port Ellen, part of the blend, closed in 1983 and lay silent for more than forty years. Every bottle of Big Peat containing Port Ellen therefore holds whisky from a distillery that in practice did not exist when the bottle was filled.

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The colour is paler than you would guess, and the nose recalls soot on the inside of a wood burner's glass. The eleventh time Douglas Laing sent Big Peat on his Christmas holiday — and still no sign of him settling down.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2021 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 52.8 % cask strength.

It is the eleventh edition in Douglas Laing's Christmas series, assembled from single malts from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The Christmas release is bottled every year at cask strength and with its own composition, and the 2021 vintage is among the paler in colour — a sign that bourbon leaning casks dominate the vatting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soot and stove glass, dried seaweed and a sharp medicinal edge. Under the smoke sit lemon, vanilla and a light sweetness.

Palate

High-octane peat smoke with sea salt, pepper and toasted barley. The 52.8 % gives a firm grip, and a dry, almost chalky minerality runs through the middle.

Finish

Long and dry with ash, salt and a hint of vanilla at the end.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2021 Douglas Laing Blended Malt Whisky 52.8%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52.8 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Christmas Edition 2021

Flavour profile

Peated · Ashy · Salt · Mineral · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium: A vintage release that will not be repeated, in the series with the most collectors among Big Peat's bottlings. Older Christmas editions are steadily harder to find unopened.

Did you know?

The Christmas series began in 2011, which makes the 2021 edition the eleventh in the row. Douglas Laing have continued the tradition every single year without skipping one.

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For the first time in the history of the Christmas series, Big Peat was given a spell in sherry wood. Smoke met raisin, and the result became the most Christmassy version the fisherman has ever been allowed to carry.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2023 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in sherry casks and bottled at 54.8 % cask strength.

It is the first time in the history of the Christmas series that Big Peat has been given a sherry finish. The blend is assembled from single malts from Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Douglas Laing have bottled a Christmas Edition every year since 2011, always at cask strength and always with its own composition. The 2023 vintage stands out through its cask programme rather than through its strength.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dark syrup meet bonfire smoke and dried seaweed. A warm spice edge of clove and cinnamon fits December neatly.

Palate

Powerful and sweet with dried fruit, dark chocolate and salted liquorice. The sherry gives body, and the 54.8 % keeps the smoke forward so it never turns cloying.

Finish

Long with sweet smoke, raisin and a dry ashy close.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2023 Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 54.8%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.8 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Edition: Christmas Edition 2023
EAN no.: 5014218828016

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry matured · Sweet · Spicy · Cask strength

Did you know?

It took twelve Christmas editions before Douglas Laing tried sherry casks on Big Peat. Until 2023 the series had stuck to the clean, undressed Islay profile every single year.

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The ultimate distillation of Islay — four distilleries in one bottle.

Expert description

Big Peat Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Whisky is the series' core expression, a blend of single malt whisky from several Islay distilleries, bottled at 46%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

The palate is smoky and full with peat, caramel and a hint of citrus.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, smoky and lightly salty.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Salty · Full-bodied

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An early Fèis Ìle release of Big Peat, created for Islay's 2018 whisky festival.

Expert description

Big Peat Feis Ile 2018 is a limited edition of the Islay blend, created specifically for the 2018 Fèis Ìle festival, bottled at 48%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

The palate is smoky and spiced with peat, caramel and a hint of citrus.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and lightly salty.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Feis Ile 2018 Douglas Laing Fèis Ìle Blended Islay Malt Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Fèis Ìle 2018

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Salty · Spiced

Investment potential

Older Fèis Ìle releases like this one from 2018 are hard to find today, which can make them attractive to collectors of limited Islay bottlings.

See our full range of Douglas Laing

A rare Fèis Ìle release, created for Islay's annual whisky festival.

Expert description

Big Peat Feis Ile 2024 The Thropaigeach is a limited edition of the Islay blend, created specifically for the 2024 Fèis Ìle festival, bottled at 48%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

The palate is smoky and spiced with peat, caramel and a hint of citrus.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and lightly salty.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Feis Ile 2024 The Thropaigeach Fèis Ìle Blended Islay Malt Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Fèis Ìle 2024

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Salty · Spiced

Investment potential

Fèis Ìle releases of Big Peat are often produced in limited numbers and can become sought after by collectors after the festival.

See our full range of Douglas Laing

Big Peat's peaty power meets the sweetness of a Madeira cask in this winter edition.

Expert description

Big Peat Winter Edition Madeira Cask is a seasonal release of the Islay blend, with part of the whisky finished in Madeira casks, bottled at cask strength, 53.6%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a sweet Madeira-driven fruitiness.

Palate

The palate is smoky and full with peat, dried fruit and a sweet Madeira character.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Winter Edition Madeira Cask Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.6%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Cask type: Finished in Madeira casks

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Sweet · Fruity

Investment potential

Annual, limited Big Peat releases like this one are often sought by collectors and Islay enthusiasts, and can become hard to find once sold out.

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Some whiskies tell the story of a single cask. Apogee XII tells the story of a distillery unafraid to blend its own craft with the best of Scotland.

Expert's Description

Bimber Apogee XII is a 12 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky, composed of selected single malts from the Highlands and Speyside and finished in ex-bourbon casks that had previously matured Bimber's own spirit, bottled at 46.3% ABV.

Bimber Distillery sits in the heart of London and was founded in 2015 by whisky enthusiasts with Polish roots – the name "bimber" is Polish slang for homemade moonshine, a nod to the founders' own journey from home experiments to an acclaimed distillery. With the Apogee series, they step outside their own distillate and show a deep understanding of vatting and cask management in the more classic Scottish tradition.

The name Apogee means "highest point," a tribute to the oldest and most developed malts used in the blend. It's a whisky that bridges two whisky cultures: Scottish heritage and Bimber's own London craft.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Nutmeg and honeycomb meet brown sugar and soft oak, while cooked orchard fruit and a touch of orange blossom honey give the nose a warm, baked character.

Palate

Syrupy pears and stewed peaches roll into crushed pepper and menthol, while caramel settles beneath a cool, gentle cedar note.

Finish

White pepper and lightly charred oak provide contrast to the sweet fruit, which slowly fades into mint and a hint of peach candy.

Specifications

Name: Bimber Apogee XII
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Region: Scotland/England (blend)
Type: Pure Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon (previously used for Bimber's own spirit)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2021
EAN no.: 5060444431322

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Spicy · Round

Investment Potential

Medium. The Apogee series is among the more sought-after corners of Bimber's output among collectors, combining mature Scottish malts with the distillery's own casks in a way not replicated elsewhere in the range.

Did You Know?

The ex-bourbon casks used to finish Apogee XII previously matured Bimber's own London spirit, meaning this bottle literally carries a piece of the distillery's own history into a Scottish composition.

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Some bottles never get sent out into the world. They get made for one place only. This one was made for Denmark.

Expert's Description

Bimber Denmark Edition Ex-Bourbon Cask is a Single Malt London Whisky from a single American ex-bourbon cask, cask no. 169, bottled at full strength at 58.7% ABV.

The bottle comes from Bimber's Country Collection, a series of twenty single casks the distillery selected in 2020 for twenty different countries, Denmark among them. Cask no. 169 was filled in May 2016, among the very first casks Bimber ever laid down, and was bottled in October 2020 in a limited run of 263 individually numbered bottles exclusively for the Danish market.

That makes this a genuine rarity: a single cask whisky never available anywhere outside Denmark, drawn from one of the casks that laid the foundation for Bimber's reputation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet red fruits and creamy vanilla meet soft oak spice, green apples and a touch of caramel, giving the nose a fresh, slightly tart edge.

Palate

Full-bodied and oily with ripe apple and baked pear, where caramel and warm vanilla tie the sharp bourbon spice together with a hint of honey.

Finish

Long and spiced with lasting oak structure, where the sweet fruit notes gradually give way to a dry, faintly peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Denmark Edition
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Country: England
Type: Single Malt London Whisky
Age: Min. 3 Years
ABV: 58.7%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon cask no. 169 (single cask)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: Cask filled May 2016
Bottled: October 2020
Number of bottles: 263

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Caramel · Oaky

Investment Potential

High. As part of Bimber's sold-out Country Collection, an exclusive country edition made specifically for Denmark and drawn from one of the distillery's earliest casks, this is one of the rarest Bimber bottles ever to circulate here.

Did You Know?

Cask no. 169 was filled in May 2016, only months after Bimber began laying down its very first casks, making this bottle a piece of the distillery's earliest history.

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Rye rarely makes a whisky gentle. In this cask, it instead gave Bimber's spirit an entirely different, spiced direction – made exclusively for Denmark.

Expert's Description

Bimber Denmark Edition Ex-Rye Oak Cask is a Single Malt London Whisky from a single American oak cask, cask no. 254, previously used to mature American rye whiskey, bottled at full strength at 58.5% ABV.

The bottle is another piece of Bimber's 2020 Country Collection, twenty single casks selected for twenty different countries, with Denmark receiving its very own rye cask. The combination of Bimber's fruit-forward spirit and the spiced rye cask has produced a whisky that stands clearly apart from the distillery's ex-bourbon and sherry expressions.

Only 257 bottles were drawn from this single cask, and they have never been sold outside Denmark.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye bread and dark pepper mix with ripe plums and a touch of clove, while sweet cask wood provides a warm base beneath the sharp spice.

Palate

Full-bodied and spice-driven with overripe plums and raisins, where the rye's characteristic bite cuts through the sweetness and leaves a trace of gingerbread.

Finish

Long and warming, with persistent spice and a dry, faintly bitter close, the fruit sweetness lingering quietly right to the end.

Specifications

Name: Denmark Edition
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Country: England
Type: Single Malt London Whisky
ABV: 58.5%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: Ex-rye oak cask no. 254 (single cask)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 257
EAN no.: 5060444431483

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Full-bodied · Peppery

Investment Potential

High. As an exclusive Country Collection bottling made specifically for Denmark, with only 257 bottles from a single rye cask, this is one of the rarest variants of Bimber's single malt available here.

Did You Know?

Cask no. 254 previously matured American rye whiskey before Bimber filled it with its own spirit, which is exactly why the rye spice comes through so clearly in this expression.

See our full range of Bimber Distillery

A bourbon cask at full strength gives a spirit nowhere to hide. Batch 3 shows exactly why Bimber's London malt can handle that kind of exposure.

Expert's Description

Bimber Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 3 is a Single Malt London Whisky, vatted from selected ex-bourbon oak casks and bottled at cask strength at 51.6% ABV.

The batch was assembled and bottled in June 2021 and represents Bimber's house style stripped back to essentials: no sherry, no additional cask finish, just the spirit as it develops in American oak ex-bourbon casks. It offers an honest look at what makes Bimber's own distillate distinctive without letting the cask steal the show.

Because Batch 3 is one of the larger releases in the series, it also happens to be one of the most accessible ways to meet Bimber's pure ex-bourbon character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple peel and dried stone fruit sit alongside milk-soaked cereal, while vanilla sponge cake and desiccated coconut mix with toasted bread.

Palate

Crisp orchard fruit and baked apricot meet sprightly pepper and lightly charred oak, while chewy caramel and a touch of dark chocolate keep the palate broad and full.

Finish

Lasting sweetness is balanced by peppery spice, with hints of anise gradually unfolding into layers of vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Ex-Bourbon Oak Cask Batch 3
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Country: England
Type: Single Malt London Whisky
ABV: 51.6%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: June 2021
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition/Batch: Batch 3

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Spiced · Creamy

Did You Know?

Batch 3 is one of the largest releases in Bimber's Ex-Bourbon series, making it the most accessible entry point into the distillery's pure, unfinished house style.

See our full range of Bimber Distillery

There is something about a sherry cask that makes a whisky sing a little louder. Batch 3 of Bimbers Oloroso series is one of the clearest examples of why this London distillery has become a talking point among sherry-cask lovers.

Expert's Description

Bimber Oloroso Cask Batch 3 is a Single Malt London Whisky, matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and finished in Spanish oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 51.4% ABV.

The batch consists of 980 individually numbered bottles, assembled from selected oloroso-finished casks from Bimber's own warehouse in west London. The distillery grows much of its own barley and floor malts it using traditional methods, giving the long sherry finish a rich foundation to build on.

Where earlier batches in the series have varied in intensity, Batch 3 stands out for its particularly silky texture and a focused, fruit-driven character that lets the oloroso casks shine without overpowering the spirit's own sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cinnamon rolls and freshly baked waffles sit with fresh and dried red berries, while ground ginger is tempered by creamy vanilla and a touch of lemon posset.

Palate

A silky texture carries generous sherried notes of red berries, chopped banana and chocolate-dipped walnuts, while golden syrup and pineapple chunks meet cinnamon dusting and lightly scorched orange peel.

Finish

The sherried sweetness lingers, supported by warm spice and a dry, lightly toasted finish where the scorched citrus notes return at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Oloroso Cask Batch 3
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Country: England
Type: Single Malt London Whisky
ABV: 51.4%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: First-fill ex-bourbon, finished in oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 980
Edition/Batch: Batch 3

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Fruity · Creamy · Spicy

Investment Potential

Medium. Bimber's sherry-cask series has built a loyal following, and with just 980 bottles, Batch 3 has already become hard to find at most specialist retailers, pointing to growing collector interest.

Did You Know?

Bimber lets its oloroso casks rest far longer than many distilleries dare to, precisely so the sherry character fully integrates into the spirit rather than simply sitting on top of it.

See our full range of Bimber Distillery

Asgaard is the home of the gods in Old Norse mythology, connected to Midgard via Bivrost, the rainbow bridge the distillery is named after.

Expert description

Bivrost Asgaard Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is bright and elegant with honey, apple and a hint of citrus.

Palate

The palate is round and fruity with honey, caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, warm and fairly gentle.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Asgaard Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Elegant · Fruity · Honeyed · Round

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

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Helheim is the realm of the dead in Old Norse mythology, ruled by the goddess Hel — dark, deep and on the far side of Bivrost.

Expert description

Bivrost Helheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is dark and deep with smoke, dark fruit and a hint of earth.

Palate

The palate is powerful with smoke, dark caramel and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, dry and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Helheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Smoky · Dark · Powerful · Spicy

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

See our full range of Bivrost

Jotunheim is the home of the giants in Old Norse mythology — rugged, wild and shaped by the Arctic mountains around the distillery.

Expert description

Bivrost Jotunheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is rugged and mineral with a hint of smoke and grain.

Palate

The palate is powerful with spice, dark caramel and a hint of fruit.

Finish

The finish is long, dry and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Jotunheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Powerful · Mineral · Spicy · Rugged

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

See our full range of Bivrost

Midgard is the realm of humans in Old Norse mythology — the one we know ourselves, connected to the other realms via Bivrost, the rainbow bridge.

Expert description

Bivrost Midgard Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is clean and mineral with a hint of citrus and grain.

Palate

The palate offers grain, light honey and a fresh, mineral note.

Finish

The finish is medium-length and clean with a dry close.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Midgard Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Mineral · Clean · Grainy · Fresh

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

See our full range of Bivrost

Nidavellir is the underground realm of the dwarves in Old Norse mythology, known for masterful craftsmanship deep beneath the earth.

Expert description

Bivrost Nidavellir Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is deep and earthy with nuts, dark caramel and a hint of mineral.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with roasted nut, dark fruit and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and lightly smoky.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Nidavellir Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Nutty · Full-bodied · Dark · Earthy

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

See our full range of Bivrost

At 69 degrees north, the Lyngen Alps rise out of the Arctic Ocean like a wall of snow and granite. Beneath them runs a network of tunnels, blasted into the rock by NATO during the Cold War. Down there, in the dark, the casks quietly do their work. This is where the world's northernmost whisky is made.

The Expert's Description

Bivrost Niflheim First Release is an Arctic Single Malt Whisky from Aurora Spirit Distillery in Norway, matured in virgin oak casks and 1st fill bourbon casks, finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

This is the very first whisky ever released by Aurora Spirit Distillery at Lyngseidet, north of Tromsø. It opens the Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology series, in which every release takes its name from one of the nine realms of Norse mythology. Niflheim is the world of mist, the home of cold, darkness and ice, and it is hard to imagine a better name for a whisky matured above the Arctic Circle. The release sold out from the distillery long ago and now surfaces almost exclusively at auction and with specialist retailers.

The barley is Nordic, the Planet and Popino varieties, malted as Pilsner malt at Viking Malt in Finland. No peat smoke anywhere in this one. The wash comes from the Mack brewery in Tromsø, and the water is drawn from Elvejordvannet, fed by glacial meltwater off the Lyngen Alps. The spirit runs three times through the distillery's combined copper pot and column still, each run taking eight to ten hours, with the heart collected at roughly 75%.

The cask history runs in three stages, in this order: the spirit began life in 50 litre virgin oak casks, moved into 190 litre 1st fill bourbon barrels, and finally spent its last stretch finished in 250 litre ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The small casks are a deliberate choice, because Arctic cold slows maturation down and more wood per litre makes up the difference. The result tastes considerably older than three years. Virgin oak brings vanilla and spice, the bourbon cask contributes honey and coconut, and the Oloroso cask layers dried fruit and nuts over the top. Distilled in 2016, bottled in 2020, 1,622 bottles in total.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Juicy dried fruit leads the way. Raisins, sultanas, figs and dried cherries, followed by caramelised peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts. Black pepper sits underneath it all, and given time in the glass a big malty note comes through, something close to toasted malt loaf with hazelnut spread. Honey and beeswax in the background.

Palate

Medium bodied and spicier than the nose suggests. Black pepper takes the lead, balanced by oak sweetness and dried fruit from the sherry cask. There is something warm and woody about it, like shavings on a wood burner, with clear clove and vanilla. Dry in character without ever turning tight.

Finish

Long and sweet with spice in the tail. Caramel, oak and vanilla spread out, leaving behind a lightly earthy malt note and a hint of chocolate. Chewy and juicy in the mouth, which is unusual for a whisky this young.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Niflheim First Release Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngseidet Norway
Type: Arctic Single Malt Whisky
Age: 3 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Virgin oak casks, 1st fill bourbon casks and finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Distilled: 2016
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 1,622
Edition: First Release, Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology
EAN no.: 7090040060396

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sherry-matured · Spicy · Nutty · Sweet

Investment Potential

High. The first ever release from the world's northernmost distillery, just 1,622 bottles, and it has risen sharply in value since leaving the shelves in 2020. First releases from a distillery that later attracted international attention tend to become very hard to find.

Did You Know?

The whole distillery exists because a group of friends went on a trip to Islay. They came home to northern Norway with the idea that if the Scots could make whisky on a windswept island in the Atlantic, you could just as well make it under the northern lights. Nine years later the first bottle of Niflheim was ready.

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