The heart of the harbour town beats in this 12-year-old release, where Oban's clean, maritime style is left to stand fully on its own in American oak.

Expert Review

Oban Special Release 2025 Heart of the Harbour 12 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,7% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks of American oak and bottled at 54.7% ABV.

Oban 12 Year Old Special Release 2025 is an exclusive single malt from the legendary Oban Distillery, bottled at natural cask strength and part of Diageo's sought-after Special Releases series. Maturation takes place solely in ex-bourbon casks, giving a clean, full style that puts the focus on the malt's fruitiness and the cask's vanilla character.

Oban Distillery is among Scotland's smallest, with just two stills, which keeps production volume low but consistent year after year. Its location in the heart of the small harbour town gives the whisky its name, Heart of the Harbour, underlining the close bond between distillery and town.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with sea salt, fresh breeze and a hint of dried kelp, balanced by green apple, pear and mild vanilla from the oak.

Palate

The palate brings soft malt sweetness, baked apple, toffee and subtle wood spice, with sea breeze and light smoke in the background.

Finish

The finish is warm and medium-long with notes of oak, fruit and a hint of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Oban Special Release 2025 Heart of the Harbour 12 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54,7%
Distillery: Oban
Region: West Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 54.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: ex-bourbon casks of American oak
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Special Release 2025
EAN No.: 5000281080406

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Fruity · Cask Strength · Spicy

Did You Know?

Oban is the only distillery in Scotland where the name refers to both the distillery and the entire town it sits in – both are simply called Oban.

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Swansea once smelled of copper smoke. For over two hundred years, half the world's copper was smelted right here, and Penderyn has now poured that legacy into a bottle, distilled inside the old copperworks' own powerhouse.

Expert description

Penderyn Icons of Wales No. 12 Copperopolis is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky finished in sweet red wine casks and bottled at 46%. The name Copperopolis was Swansea's nickname from around 1720, when the town accounted for roughly half of the world's copper smelting and around 90% of Britain's — and Penderyn's Swansea distillery sits inside the former Copperworks Powerhouse, right in the middle of that history.

The red wine casks add a sweet, fruity layer on top of Penderyn's clean, light spirit from the Faraday still. The result ties Welsh industrial history to modern craft — equal parts tribute to the past and proof that the distillery can still surprise you.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers orange blossom, peach and cherry, backed by vanilla, honey and a touch of dried fruit and spice.

Palate

The palate is rich with caramel and honey, raisins, figs and a peppering of oak spice, driven by the sweetness of the red wine casks.

Finish

The finish dries gradually toward oak, citrus and a light cocoa note that ties the whole sip together.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Icons of Wales No 12 Copperopolis Sweet Red Wine Finish Single Malt Welsh Whisky 46%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Swansea, Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sweet red wine casks (finish)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Faraday distillation
Edition: Icons of Wales No. 12
EAN no.: 5011594003440

Flavour profile

Red wine-finished · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Copperopolis isn't poetic licence but historical fact: at its peak, Swansea produced so much of the world's copper that the town effectively set the global price of the metal — an influence it lost long ago, but which Penderyn now keeps alive in a bottle.

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The Vikings called it exactly that — a giant serpent lurking off the coast at Llandudno. Now that same coastline has its own distillery, and its first bottle carries the name of the beast sailors once feared.

Expert description

Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky made with peated malt and bottled at 46%, distilled at Penderyn's new site in Llandudno, North Wales — the first place in around 125 years where peated whisky has been distilled in Wales. The name comes from the Great Orme, a limestone headland at Llandudno whose name derives from the Old Norse word for 'great serpent,' a nod to the Viking sailors who once feared its steep cliffs.

The first release is limited to around 6,000 bottles, some of which sold directly online at launch in 2025. Where Penderyn's Gold range draws its smoke entirely from the casks, Serpents Tears is different: here the smoke comes from the peated malt itself, making it something new within Penderyn's otherwise light, cask-driven range.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers dried leaves, ripe orchard fruit and a note of smoke, backed by toasted bread.

Palate

The palate combines sweet peat with creamy vanilla and baked apple, spiced with pepper and a touch of clove.

Finish

The finish is warm and softly smoky, with a barley sweetness that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release Single Malt Welsh Whisky 46%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Llandudno, North Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: Approximately 6,000
Edition: First Release
EAN no.: 5011594003693

Flavour profile

Peated · Smoky · Spiced

Did you know?

Serpents Tears is the first whisky distilled from peated malt in Wales in more than 125 years — Penderyn's Gold range, including the Peated bottling, draws its smoke from the casks instead, not from the malt itself.

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Distillery Edition is Fary Lochan on home turf. The expression they send out as a calling card – accessible, well-balanced, and carrying the hallmarks of the distillery.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Distillery Edition 04 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 46.8%, 50 cl. It is the fourth edition of Fary Lochan's Distillery Edition series, which serves as the distillery's standard line. Fary Lochan in Give, Jutland, uses locally grown grain and works with a combination of traditional oak casks. Bottling at 46.8% ensures body without dilution, and the series is consistently non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh fruit, vanilla, honey and light oak.

Palate

Creamy malt base, light nuts, apple and mild sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, smooth and fruity with warm oak in the background.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Distillery Edition 04
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.8%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Distillery Edition 04

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Smooth · Honey

Did you know?

The Distillery Edition series is Fary Lochan's way of giving new whisky drinkers and distillery visitors a reliable and representative encounter with their style.

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

Expert's description

Ledaig Miniature 10 Year Tobermory Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46,3% is a Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46,3%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Ledaig Miniature 10 Year Tobermory Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46,3%
Distillery: Tobermory
Region/Country: Isle of Mull
Type: Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46,3%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Ledaig
EAN no.: 5029704217441

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Did you know?

Ledaig means 'safe harbour' in Gaelic, a name referring to Tobermory's well-sheltered harbour on the Isle of Mull, where the distillery has stood since 1798.

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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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A tax band is really just a small strip of paper across the cork - but its absence tells a story about where a bottle originally came from. This Talisker 10 Year Old is an Old Version without the Danish tax band, most likely brought in through a different channel than standard Danish retail.

Note: This release has no Danish tax band.

Expert Description

Talisker 10 Year Old Old Version without tax band is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in American oak casks and bottled at 45.8%. The whisky is identical to the classic 10 Year Old, but the bottle lacks the Danish tax band normally placed across the cork on bottles sold through the Danish duty system.

That makes it a slightly different edition for the collector, without changing what's in the bottle - the smoke, salt and pepper are still the same signature Talisker has always been known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, sea salt and citrus, with a sweetness that keeps things balanced and a hint of pepper foreshadowing the palate's later edge.

Palate

The palate is powerful and warming, with smoke, sea salt and citrus up front, backed by a pleasant sweetness and a clear peppery edge.

Finish

The finish is intense and fairly long, with a touch of pepper that stays well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Talisker 10 Year Old
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 45.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Old Version, no tax band
EAN no.: 5000281005416

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Citrusy · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium - a discontinued label version without a tax band, which makes it a slightly different variant for collectors of Talisker's older editions.

Did You Know?

The Danish tax band on spirits bottles is historically a duty stamp, and its absence typically signals that a bottle originally entered the country through a different distribution route than standard Danish wholesale.

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No other whisky has made the sherry cask a world-famous synonym for quality the way Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak has. It is not just an expression — it is a reference point. The bottle against which most others are measured.

Expert description

Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks and bottled at 40%. Macallan was one of the first distilleries to systematically use 100% sherry casks for maturation, and the 12 Year Old Sherry Oak is the core expression of that tradition. The oak casks are produced in Spain, seasoned with Oloroso sherry before being sent to Macallan, and give the whisky its characteristic dried fruit, warm spices and silky smooth structure.

12 years is the classic age, and this is where Macallan's DNA is most clearly expressed. Not too young to have edges, not too old to have freshness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and candied citrus peel with oak, ginger and nutmeg. Raisins, sultanas and orange notes with festive spices like cinnamon and clove.

Palate

Raisins and sultanas with ginger syrup and sweet cinnamon. Sherry, plums and powdered sugar sweetness with a silky mouthfeel.

Finish

Long with oak and warming ginger. Dried fruit and mandarin linger.

Specifications

Name: Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned European oak casks
EAN no.: 5010314017408

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Dried fruit · Spiced · Silky smooth

Did you know?

Macallan has produced Sherry Oak as its core style since 1824 and helped make the concept of "sherry-matured whisky" internationally recognised. The distillery owns its own woodland in Spain, where it grows the oak trees later used for sherry casks.

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Six months. That is the whole time the whisky spends in oloroso, after twenty-one years in bourbon casks and hogsheads. A period that short is not an attempt to change the whisky — it is a last stroke of the brush.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 21 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks and American hogsheads with a six-month finishing period in 1st fill oloroso casks, bottled at 46%.

The main maturation takes place in used casks, which give less wood and let the distillery character come through. Only at the end does the whisky go into 1st fill oloroso, and even after six months the imprint is clear — 1st fill sherry casks work fast. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

The 21 year old sits as a link between the distillery 18 and 25 year olds. Where the 18 still has the tautness of youth and the 25 has pulled towards the dry and ashy, the 21 lands somewhere in between: perfumed, spiced and with the sea air intact.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet, almost perfumed notes from the sherry first, then spiced red apple and peppercorn. Beneath it sits the characteristic Campbeltown aroma with a trace of sea air.

Palate

Baked red apples and raisins, with cloves, star anise and cinnamon. The structure is soft and spiced at the same time, and the 46% keeps the whisky together without making it heavy.

Finish

Long, dry and delicately sweet. Maritime undertones and a subtle spiced complexity that keeps shifting on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 21 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks and American hogsheads with six months in 1st fill oloroso casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5016840162124

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Fruity · Maritime · Elegant

Investment potential

Medium. Glen Scotia in that age bracket is produced in limited quantity, and Campbeltown has only three working distilleries to supply old whisky from the region. A 21 year old with a documented cask build is a bottle that becomes hard to replace once the batch is gone.

Did you know?

The Galbraith family held Glen Scotia from its founding in 1832 right through to 1919. Nearly ninety years under one family is rare in Scotch whisky, and it is a large part of why the distillery survived the Campbeltown collapse at all.

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A British tea company from China meets a Scottish distillery from Speyside. Macallan and Jing Tea set out to find what Phoenix Honey Orchid Oolong and the complexity of sherry casks have in common — and found more than either perhaps expected.

Expert description

Macallan Harmony Collection Jing is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43.9%, created in collaboration with Jing Tea. The whisky is inspired by Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea — an oolong tea from the mountain range of the same name in China's Guangdong province. Harmony Collection Jing is the fifth release in the series and combines Macallan's cask maturation with the world of tea sensory.

The result is a whisky with an unexpected floral-fruit complexity — something between the classic depth of sherry and the light, floral character of tea. A whisky that is fun to taste and even more fun to discuss.

Tasting notes

Nose

Summery peach and apricot with the heady sweetness of floral honey. Tropical fruits, toffee and sweet oak. Red currants and raspberries, followed by dried dates and light orange peel.

Palate

Fresh peaches in rich syrup with warm citrus and toffee. Light floral notes leading to a delicate leafy astringency. Ginger and clove with milk tea warmth, soft vanilla and polished oak.

Finish

Fruity, sweet and complex. Baking spices with soft pepper, aromatic clove and cassia. Light cocoa and a faint espresso note at the close.

Specifications

Name: Macallan Harmony Collection Jing
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43.9%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010314314064

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Tea-inspired · Complex sweetness

Did you know?

Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea, which inspired this whisky, is grown on high mountain slopes in China's Guangdong province and is one of the most sought-after and expensive oolong teas in the world.

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

Expert's description

Ledaig 18 Year Tobermory Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky 46,3% is a Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46,3%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Ledaig 18 Year Tobermory Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky 46,3%
Distillery: Tobermory
Region/Country: Isle of Mull
Type: Single Isle of Mull Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46,3%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Ledaig
EAN no.: 5029704218059

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Ledaig and Tobermory are distilled in exactly the same place by the same distillers, but Ledaig is made with peated malt while Tobermory uses unpeated malt.

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Glen Scotia distils peated spirit for only a few weeks a year. The rest of the time the plant runs unpeated, so by the time the festival bottle appears the raw material is already a rarity at the distillery. The 2025 release added five months in Spanish red wine casks on top.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia Campbeltown Festival 2025 is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks with a finishing period in Ribera del Duero red wine casks, bottled at 54.3%.

The whisky is nine years old and built on the distillery peated spirit. Main maturation took place in 1st fill bourbon casks, and the final five months were spent in casks from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain — a region known for powerful tempranillo wines. The combination of peat smoke and dark wine fruit is unusual, and the bottling is a limited edition, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Campbeltown Malts Festival is held every spring, when the three distilleries in town open their doors and each releases a special bottling. It is the one time a year that Campbeltown fills up with whisky people, and the festival bottles are usually gone as fast as they arrive.

Tasting notes

Nose

Creamy vanilla and salty sea air, with peat smoke settling on top. Behind it come dark berries and a vinous, almost preserved note.

Palate

Full and oiled. Smoked malt meets juicy blackberries and ripe red fruit, with a trace of liquorice underneath. The cask strength holds the smoke and the wine fruit in tension against each other.

Finish

Long and soft. Well-integrated smoke, dark fruit and a spiced, almost luxurious close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia Campbeltown Festival 2025 Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54.3%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 54.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks with five months in Ribera del Duero red wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025 - Limited Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Dark fruit · Wine-finished · Spiced

Investment potential

Medium. Festival bottlings are made in one run for one weekend and are not reissued. This one is also built on the distillery peated spirit, which is only produced a few weeks a year, and that combination of peat and Spanish red wine cask has not appeared before in the series.

Did you know?

The distillery was originally called simply Scotia. The Glen came later, and on old bottles and nineteenth-century documents the name still appears without it. It is a detail that can date an old label immediately.

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Some whisky exists to quench a thirst, and some whisky exists to be sat with, because it has something to say. Loch Lomond 21 Year Old belongs firmly in the second category – a mature, unhurried story from a distillery unafraid to do things its own way.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was launched alongside the distillery's major brand relaunch and is built from three different spirit styles from the distillery, two of which are peated. All three are matured separately in American oak casks before being married for up to three months in cask ahead of bottling. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and suet pastry give an impression of old-fashioned steamed pudding, growing thicker and sweeter over time with a hint of char.

Palate

Sweet and lightly salty with warming spice, while sherry casks shine through with a deep hit of dried fruit and chocolate.

Finish

Sharp fruit and barley notes meet the sweet chocolate tones in a long, rounded finish.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, partly peated spirit
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass, ideally with a few drops of water to open the sweet notes

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spiced · Smooth

Investment Potential

Low to medium – as part of Loch Lomond's relaunched core range it is not an obvious investment bottle, but the 21-year age and peated components make it attractive to collectors building a vertical Loch Lomond series.

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old is composed of three different spirit styles from the same distillery – a combination only Loch Lomond's unique set-up of multiple still types makes possible.

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Named after one of Scotland's most beautiful waterfalls, close to the distillery's home.

Expert description

Loch Lomond 16 Year Old Waypoint Falls of Falloch Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky is part of the distillery's Waypoint series, matured for at least 16 years, bottled at 46.2%. Loch Lomond Distillery sits on the shore of the famous loch of the same name and is known for its unusual straight-necked stills, which allow the distillery to produce several different styles of whisky at the same site.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is full with honey, dried fruit and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, toasted wood and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and round.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 16 år Waypoint Falls of Falloch Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Loch Lomond, Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Honeyed · Warm · Round

Did you know?

The Waypoint series is named after distinctive natural and geographical landmarks around Loch Lomond, including the Falls of Falloch waterfall near the loch's northern end.

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A triple distilled whisky is light in body from birth. Leaving one in cask for twenty-four years and still having something left requires the wood to have been gentle, and somebody to have had the patience not to empty it too early.

The Expert's Description

Auchentoshan 1999/2024 Signatory 24 Years Old Symingtons Choice is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2024 at 55.6% cask strength. It belongs to Signatory’s Symingtons Choice range, created as a tribute to the house founder Andrew Symington.

Auchentoshan is the only Scottish distillery that consistently distils everything three times. That gives a silky, elegant spirit which with age has developed a complex and refined character rather than turning heavy. Twenty-four years is a long time for that particular style.

The whisky is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration and with natural colour. Auchentoshan sits at Dalmuir outside Glasgow and was founded in 1823.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Delicate notes of honey, ripe stone fruit and fresh citrus open, beautifully balanced by vanilla and a light nutty tone from the maturation. At 55.6% the alcohol is up front, but the aromas carry it.

Palate

Full and harmonious with layers of caramelised malt, dried fruit, orange peel and subtle spice. The high cask strength gives intensity while Auchentoshan’s characteristic softness is preserved. There is no harshness despite the strength.

Finish

Long, warm and silky with persistent notes of oak, chocolate and a wisp of tobacco, testimony to the whisky’s long maturation.

Specifications

Name: Auchentoshan 1999/2024 Signatory 24 Years Old Symingtons Choice Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55.6%
Distillery: Auchentoshan
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 24 years
ABV: 55.6%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Distilled: 1999
Bottled: 2024
Edition: Symingtons Choice

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Nutty · Soft · Cask Strength · Oaky

Investment Potential

High. Twenty-four year old Lowland releases are rare, because the region has few active distilleries and because the light style does not always survive such long maturation. On top of that, Symingtons Choice is a named tribute range of limited scope, and the cask cannot be recreated.

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington, and the Symingtons Choice range carries his name. The company today also owns the Edradour distillery in Perthshire, and Signatory’s warehousing and bottling sit right beside it. Naming a range after the founder is not unusual; doing so while he is still active in the business is rather more so.

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Ærø is a small island in the South Funen Archipelago. The distillery in Ærøskøbing is even smaller. Barley is grown locally, malted on the distillery's own malt floor, and double-distilled in a closed circuit. What comes out the other end is some of Denmark's most genuinely local whisky.

Expert description

Ærø Single Cask No 1 First Release is a Danish Single Malt Whisky at 61%, bottled at 50 cl and presented as a gift set with two whisky glasses. It is the first single cask release from Ærø Whisky A/S — the absolute debut of the distillery's single cask series. Ærø Whisky is a passionate micro-distillery located on Torvet 5 in Ærøskøbing, founded in 2013, producing whisky exclusively from local ingredients from Ærø. The barley is grown on local fields, malted on the distillery's own malt floor, and double-distilled in a closed circuit. The whisky is aged in oak casks — a combination of sherry casks and new oak. A single first-fill cask at 61% is a rare find from one of Denmark's most locally rooted distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and complex with oak and a touch of sherry. Honey, vanilla and dark fruit from the maturation. A fresh, local malt base that shines through the concentration.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied at 61%. Fruit, dried plum and caramel. The oak provides structure rather than dominating the flavour. Water opens floral notes and light spice.

Finish

Long and warm. Dark fruit and oak hold and gradually recede.

Specifications

Name: Ærø Single Cask No 1 First Release Gift Set Single Malt Danish Whisky
Distillery: Ærø Whisky A/S
Region/Country: Denmark, Ærø
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 61%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Oak casks (sherry and new oak)
Distillation method: Double distilled

Flavour profile

Single Cask · Cask Strength · Dark Fruit · Oak · Sherry

Investment potential

High. Ærø Single Cask No 1 First Release is the debut expression of the distillery's single cask series, produced in extremely limited quantities from one of Denmark's most craft-focused and locally rooted distilleries. First releases from micro-distilleries of this calibre are historically an interesting category for collectors.

Did you know?

Ærø Whisky produces a maximum of 50 bottles per year of their most exclusive expression. This is not about scale — it is about one island, one malt floor, and one distillery that takes no shortcuts.

See our full range of Ærø Whisky

The spirit of exploration, bottled. The Explorer 2015 shows Box Distillery's (today High Coast) experimental side, back when it was still laying the groundwork for its later reputation.

The Expert's Description

Box Whisky The Explorer 2015 is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky from the Swedish Box Distillery, today known as High Coast Distillery, bottled at 48.3%.

This release marks the distillery's exploration of new maturation methods and cask experiments, matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and select sherry casks. The combination gives a fine balance between sweetness, spice and oak character, resulting in a whisky of complexity and depth.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh fruit notes of pear, green apples and citrus, followed by vanilla, honey and a light nutty character from the sherry casks.

Palate

Rich and lively with layers of malt, dried fruit, light caramel and spices like cinnamon and ginger.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced with a touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Box Whisky The Explorer 2015
Distillery: Box Distillery (High Coast Distillery)
Region/Country: Ångermanland, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.3%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon casks and select sherry casks

Flavour Profile

Rich · Fruity · Spiced · Sweet · Complex

Did You Know?

The Explorer 2015 was bottled under the name Box Distillery, before the company later renamed itself High Coast Distillery - a rare chance to taste the distillery's early, experimental style.

See our full range of High Coast

A tantalus was originally a Victorian invention for displaying expensive spirit bottles under lock and key. Whyte & Mackay uses it here to celebrate the house's double maturation method across two ages at once.

The expert's description

Whyte & Mackay 21 år & 12 år Tantalus Set Blended Scotch Whisky 2 x 37,5 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

The set combines two iconic expressions from Whyte & Mackay, a 21 year old and a 12 year old, both created using the house's signature double maturation method, where malt and grain whiskies first mature separately before being blended and matured again together in sherry casks. The 21 year old was created by the house's Master Blender Richard Patterson.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear, dried apricots and sweet toffee.

Palate

Silky smooth with dark chocolate, vanilla and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish

Long, round and elegant with a discreet hint of dry smoke.

Specifications

Name: Whyte & Mackay 21 år & 12 år Tantalus Set Blended Scotch Whisky 2 x 37,5 cl 40%
Distillery: Whyte & Mackay
Region/Country: Glasgow, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 Year Old & 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%
Size: 2 x 37,5 CL
Edition: Tantalus presentation

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Elegant · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium. As a giftable set in a dedicated tantalus presentation with two mature age statements, this is the type of release that typically becomes highly valued by collectors in the years following release.

Did you know?

Whyte & Mackay can trace its roots back to 1844 in Glasgow, where founders James Whyte and Charles Mackay wanted to give the city's hard-working population a Scotch alternative to cognac.

See our full range of Whyte & Mackay

Miltonduff is one of those distilleries that works mostly behind the scenes, carrying Ballantine's forward while occasionally letting a cask out under its own name.

Note: This bottle is an older release from the late 1980s, so minor signs of age may appear on the label or capsule.

Expert's Description

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

Until the 1980s, several Speyside whiskies, including Miltonduff, were marketed with "Glenlivet" added to the label to signal regional origin – a practice now prohibited, which makes this bottle a piece of whisky history in its own right.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with shortbread, quickly followed by honey and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with malt, apple compote and creamy vanilla.

Finish

The finish is gently sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 50 CL
Edition: Gammel udgave fra slutningen af 1980'erne

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Miltonduff runs two pairs of stills of noticeably different sizes, giving the distillery more room to vary its spirit character than many of its Speyside neighbours.

See our full range of Miltonduff

Thirteen years in the making, with the final stretch spent alongside one of sherry's most intense expressions - Pedro Ximenez has darkened both glass and palate on this single cask Teaninich.

Expert description

Teaninich 2011/2024 Coopers Choice is a 13 year old Highland Single Malt Whisky at 51%, bottled from a single cask (cask no. #711942) by independent bottler The Coopers Choice.

The whisky finished its maturation in a used Pedro Ximenez sherry cask - a Spanish fortified wine known for its intense sweetness and dark colour, which here adds depth and a rich, dried fruit structure on top of Teaninich's light base character.

Distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2024 after 13 years of maturation, the whisky is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured. 348 bottles of this single cask edition were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark treacle and dried fig, spiced with a hint of clove and toasted almonds.

Palate

Full and sweet, with notes of raisin, liquorice and dark chocolate, carried on a pleasant warmth.

Finish

Long, sweet and lightly bitter towards the end, closing on a last trace of dried fig seeds.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2011/2024 Coopers Choice PX Sherry Finish
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 51%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximenez sherry cask (finish) / Cask No. #711942
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 348
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

dark sherried · fig-like · full-bodied

Did you know?

Pedro Ximenez, often shortened to PX, is a Spanish grape dried in the sun after harvest to concentrate its sugars, giving the resulting sherry an almost syrup-like consistency - one of the most intense sources of sweetness found in the whisky world.

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Salty sea air, peat and charcoal – this 10 year old Ruadh Maor from cask 177 is one of the most maritime, smoky expressions of Glenturret we've had in the range.

Expert's Description

Glenturret 2010 Ruadh Maor is an exclusive Highland Single Malt Whisky, distilled in December 2010 and bottled in January 2021 by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company as part of the acclaimed Coopers Choice series. The whisky is bottled from a single bourbon cask, Cask No. #177.

With only 336 bottles from this one cask, this is a rare single cask whisky that appeals to enthusiasts seeking a smoky Highland whisky with depth and character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful smoke, salty sea air and peat, balanced by sweet notes of vanilla fudge.

Palate

Maritime nuances like seaweed and ash, combined with sweet toasted malt, oak and soft caramel with sooty smoke.

Finish

Long, dry and complex, with pepper, charcoal and lingering salted smoke.

Specifications

Name: Glenturret 2010/2021 Coopers Choice Ruadh Maor 10 Year Old Cask 177 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 56%
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: December 2010, Bottled: 2021
Age: 10 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Cask / Cask No. #177
Bottles: 336
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Smoky · Salty · Complex

Investment Potential

With only 336 bottles from a single cask and a rare, strongly maritime and smoky version of Glenturret, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors.

Did You Know?

Glenturret sits near the River Turret in the Scottish Highlands, but the maritime, salty character in this Ruadh Maor release comes primarily from the peat and the cask's own qualities, not from a coastal location.

See our full range of Glenturret

Hear more about Coopers Choice and The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. in our podcast:

Ruby port is the most forward of the ports — young, dark and full of berries. Put on a Speyside spirit with body, it gives a whisky that does not resemble itself.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2011/2024 Coopers Choice Port Wood Finish is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak with a subsequent finish in ruby port wood and bottled at 53.5% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled in April 2011 and bottled in 2024 by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company as part of the Cooper's Choice range. The cask carries the number 0720, and the outturn was 300 bottles. The Glasgow house has since 1992 selected single casks from distilleries across Scotland, and Cooper's Choice is their range for exactly that kind of find.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red berries, dark fruits and spices first, with vanilla and a touch of oak behind.

Palate

Full and balanced, with sweet shades of port, toasted malt and nuts. The cask strength carries the fruit without making it heavy.

Finish

Soft and long with touches of spice, chocolate and caramel.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2011/2024 Coopers Choice Port Wood Finish Speyside Single Malt Whisky 53,5%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 53.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak with ruby port finish, cask no. 0720
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 300
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Red Berry · Spiced · Chocolate · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask with a port finish in 300 bottles from a distillery that almost never appears on its own bottles. Cooper's Choice releases are never repeated.

Did you know?

Ruby port is the youngest and most fruit-driven of the ports, where tawny is aged longer and moves towards nuts and caramel. The choice between the two decides whether a port finish pulls towards fresh berries or dried fruit — and it is rarely accidental.

See our full range of Dailuaine Whisky
See our full range of Coopers Choice

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There is a certain charm to whisky from a distillery that rarely gets to take a bow of its own.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 2007/2020 Imperial Milk Stout Finish is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from The Coopers Choice, matured in a bourbon cask and finished in an Imperial Milk Stout cask at 51.1%.

The beer cask came from Spey Valley Brewery and had previously held an Imperial Milk Stout, itself matured in a used Bruichladdich cask, giving this Miltonduff an extra layer of dark malt and chocolate on top of the distillery's usually light style. Only 304 bottles were filled from cask #9087.

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is short and fresh.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 51.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel, Imperial Milk Stout Finish, cask #9087
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 304
Edition: Imperial Milk Stout Finish

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Miltonduff was built on the site of the old Pluscarden Priory brewery from 1233, where monks reportedly brewed ale using water from the Black Burn.

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

Expert's description

Invergordon 1987/2024 Coopers Choice 33 Year Single Grain Scotch Whisky 46,5% is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured on bourbon Cask, fad ref. 88794 and bottled at 46,5%.

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

The whisky was distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2024.

Only 276 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Invergordon 1987/2024 Coopers Choice 33 Year Single Grain Scotch Whisky 46,5%
Distillery: Invergordon
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 46,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Cask, fad ref. 88794
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 276
Edition: Coopers Choice

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Creamy · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. 33 years of maturation is extremely high for a single grain whisky, and with only 276 bottles produced this is a rare chance to taste grain whisky at its most mature.

Did you know?

Grain whisky is usually matured for a shorter time than malt whisky, because its fuller corn sweetness can be overwhelmed by too much oak — holding its balance for 33 years is unusual.

See our full range of Invergordon

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In 2018, Macallan launched a series that would challenge everything the distillery had done before. Concept Number 1 is the first bottle — inspired by surrealist art and designed to break with received notions of what Macallan whisky can and should taste like.

Expert description

Macallan Concept Number 1 is a discontinued Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from 2018, matured equally in sherry seasoned oak casks and ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 40%. The Concept series was Macallan's response to contemporary art's urge to challenge and provoke — the whisky is made to deviate, not to confirm. The maturation time is split equally between the two cask types, and the result is an expression that is lighter and more citrus-oriented than the classic Macallan expressions dominated by sherry casks.

As the first in the series and as a discontinued expression, Concept Number 1 attracts attention from collectors. It was not produced in unlimited quantities, and access to bottles continues to decrease.

Tasting notes

Nose

Butterscotch toffee with almonds and ginger. Cinnamon and dried fruit, citrus and green banana in the background.

Palate

Fresh orange and lemon citrus with soft oak spices and ginger. Lively fruit presence with good drive.

Finish

Medium length with a touch of sweetness and dryness. Oak, citrus fruit and ginger linger.

Specifications

Name: Macallan Concept Number 1
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned oak casks and ex-bourbon casks
Edition: Concept Number 1 (2018, discontinued)
EAN no.: 5010314307394

Flavour profile

Citrus-driven · Lightly spiced · Fruity · Lighter Macallan style

Investment potential

High — Concept Number 1 is discontinued and the first bottle in a groundbreaking series from Macallan. The combination of limited production, discontinued status and collector interest makes it a bottle with strong investment potential.

Did you know?

The Concept series was created with surrealist art as its source of inspiration and was Macallan's first real attempt to break with the classic sherry cask expression in an annual limited edition series.

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Francis Cuthbert built a distillery in a farm building in 2005 and then waited twelve years before selling a single bottle. This is the first one. There is no earlier.

Expert description

Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release 12 years is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in three first fill ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength of 55.8%.

The release gave 629 bottles and marks the beginning of Daftmill as a whisky distillery. The farm sits near Cupar in Fife, where brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert grow their own barley and distil only in the periods when the fieldwork allows it — summer and winter. With an annual production of around 20,000 litres, Daftmill is among Scotland's smallest distilleries, and waiting twelve years for a first release is close to unheard of in the trade.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and fruit-driven. Orchard apple and pear, with tropical notes of pineapple and mango behind.

Palate

Lively and precise. Orchard fruit, honey and pale malt, with a gentle spiced note from the oak rounding it off. The cask strength carries the fruit without drowning it.

Finish

Long and clean, with apple, cereal and a mild oak warmth.

Specifications

Name: Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release 12 years Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55,8%
Distillery: Daftmill
Region/Country: Lowlands Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Three first fill ex-bourbon barrels
Distilled: 2005
Number of bottles: 629
Edition: Inaugural Release

Flavour profile

Fruity · Fresh · Tropical · Honeyed · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. The very first bottle from a distillery that has since become one of the most sought after in Scotland, in an outturn of 629 bottles. An inaugural release cannot by definition be repeated.

Did you know?

Daftmill distils only when farming leaves room for it. The plant runs in summer after sowing and in winter after harvest — the rest of the year the Cuthbert brothers are farmers. That is why production stays at around 20,000 litres a year.

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They only distil when the fields can spare the people. The winter batch comes after harvest, when the grain is in and there is time to fire up — and it tastes different from the summer one.

Expert description

Daftmill 2006/2018 Winter Batch Release is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in five first fill ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled on 16 December 2006 and bottled twelve years later in 2018, in an outturn of 1,265 bottles. Daftmill splits its releases into summer and winter batches because the distillery only runs in the periods when the farm work allows. Winter spirit is generally reckoned to be slightly fuller than summer spirit, because cooler water and lower temperatures change the way the spirit condenses.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm and baked. Rhubarb compote, honey, citrus and pancakes with maple syrup. After a while in the glass, fresh pears and crisp apples appear.

Palate

Round and silky with shades of vanilla, almond and citrus, accompanied by a lightly waxy texture.

Finish

Long and spiced with hints of nutmeg, wood and sweet stone fruit.

Specifications

Name: Daftmill 2006/2018 Winter Batch Release Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Daftmill
Region/Country: Lowlands Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Five first fill ex-bourbon casks
Distilled: 16/12/2006
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 1,265
Edition: Winter Batch Release
EAN no.: 5010493050098

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Vanilla · Waxy · Fresh

Investment potential

High. 1,265 bottles from a distillery where demand consistently outstrips production. Daftmill's early batches have become noticeably harder to find since release.

Did you know?

The difference between summer and winter batches is not marketing. Water temperature in the condensers changes with the season, which affects how much copper contact the spirit gets — enough that a winter distillate tastes different from a summer one made in the same plant.

See our full range of Daftmill Whisky

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A Bavarian whisky that began as a bet between friends on a Scottish study trip.

Expert description

Slyrs 2003 is a German Single Malt Whisky distilled at Slyrs in Schliersee, Bavaria. The story begins in 1994, when master brewer Florian Stetter was on a study trip to Scotland and made a bet with his colleagues that first-class whisky could be distilled in the heart of Bavaria. He won the bet, and in 1999 the first Slyrs Single Malt was distilled. The distillery in Neuhaus am Schliersee was completed in 2007 and is today Germany's largest whisky distillery, where the alpine climate of warm summers and cold winters drives distinctive maturation.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers honey, apple and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is round with caramel, ripe fruit and light malted sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Slyrs 2003 Tysk Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Slyrs
Region/Country: Schliersee, Bavaria, Germany
Type: German Single Malt Whisky
Distilled: 2003
Distillation method: Double distilled in pot stills

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Round · Soft

Did you know?

Slyrs was born out of a bet — a Scottish distiller wagered a crate of wheat beer that good whisky couldn't be made in Bavaria. He lost, and the rest is history.

See our full range of Slyrs

An older release of Corryvreckan, pulled from the shelf storeroom, carrying the character only years on a shelf can give a label.

Note: This 2009 release has been pulled from Whisky.dk's own storeroom and carries bottle code L9 231 12:21 6ML, along with minor wear on the box and a yellow duty seal.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Old Version 2009 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and French oak casks and bottled at 57.1%.

The name Corryvreckan comes from the mythical whirlpool north of Islay, a natural phenomenon reflecting the whisky's raw power and depth. Non-chill filtered, it retains its natural oils and full flavour richness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold notes of tar, creosote and linseed oil meet dark fruit such as blackcurrant and cherry.

Palate

Spiced meat, espresso and dark chocolate are balanced by a splash of sea salt and aromatic spices like star anise and cloves.

Finish

Long, smoky and spiced, with notes of coffee and chocolate-covered cherries.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Corryvreckan Old Version 2009
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and French oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494296280

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Cask strength

Did You Know?

This bottle has been pulled from Whisky.dk's own storeroom and has therefore sat untouched for many years, giving the box natural wear while the whisky inside remains unaffected.

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Helen Cumming raised a red flag over the farm whenever the exciseman came near. Two hundred years later Cardhu still stands in the same spot at Knockando, making the softest malt in Speyside.

Expert description

Cardhu 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The distillery was founded in 1824 by John and Helen Cumming, and in 1893 John Walker & Sons bought it. Cardhu has been the heart of Johnnie Walker ever since, and the house style — light, honeyed and almost smokeless — is exactly what the blenders build on. The 12 year old is the flagship and has for decades been the bottle you hand a beginner without the enthusiast raising an eyebrow.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, pear and pale meadow flowers. Behind them sits a dry malted cereal note and a hint of vanilla from the wood.

Palate

Soft and light, with poached pear, honey, cereal and a touch of cinnamon. There are no edges here — this is a whisky that slips down rather than demanding attention.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and malty, with a faint spiced warmth at the end.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 12 years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000267102573

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Unpeated

Did you know?

Cardhu was the first Scottish distillery run by a woman. Elizabeth Cumming took over in 1872 and rebuilt the place completely — and she sold the old timber walls on to William Grant, who used them to raise Glenfiddich.

See our full range of Cardhu Whisky