Ezra Brooks' classic profile gets a sweet, fruity lift from the port cask.

Expert description

Ezra Brooks Port Cask Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the brand's core expression finished in port casks, bottled at 49.5%. Ezra Brooks was founded in 1957 by Frank Silverman and was originally distilled at the Hoffman Distilling Company by two of Kentucky's most respected distilling families, first the Ripy family and later the Medley family. The brand changed hands several times over the years, most recently to Luxco in 2006, and since 2018 Ezra Brooks has been distilled at the family's own distillery, Lux Row Distillers, in Bardstown, Kentucky — known as the capital of bourbon.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers red berries, caramel and a hint of port sweetness.

Palate

The palate is fruity and full with berries, caramel and spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, sweet and lightly wine-toned.

Specifications

Name: Ezra Brooks Port Cask Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Lux Row Distillers
Region/Country: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 49.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in port casks

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Full-bodied · Wine-toned

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Lemon and meadow flowers give this Nc'nean edition a bright, herbal character.

Expert description

Nc'nean Huntress Lemon Meadow Organic Single Highland Malt Whisky is an aromatic edition of the distillery's whisky, bottled at 48.5%. Nc'nean Distillery was founded by Annabel Thomas, who left her job in London in 2013 and spent four years raising capital and building the distillery from scratch on the Morvern peninsula on Scotland's west coast. The distillery opened in 2017 and helped pioneer an organic, sustainable approach to whisky production, becoming the first in the UK to reach net-zero carbon emissions in its whisky production. The name Nc'nean comes from Neachneohain, a Gaelic legend meaning 'Queen of Spirits'.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers lemon, meadow flowers and a hint of honey.

Palate

The palate is fresh and fruity with citrus, caramel and botanical herbs.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, fresh and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Ncnean Huntress Lemon Meadow Økologisk Single Highland Malt Whisky
Distillery: Nc'nean Distillery
Region/Country: Morvern, Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Huntress – Lemon Meadow

Flavour profile

Citrus · Fresh · Botanical · Sweet

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

The Expert's Description

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

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

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

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

The expert's description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Dry · Malty · Nutty · Spiced

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert's Description

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Vanilla-sweet · Powerful · Spiced · Dry

Did You Know?

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

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Watt Whisky is redefining what an independent bottler can be — this Strathmill from 2014 is one of the casks showing why.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 2014/2025 Watt Whisky is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2025 after 10 years of maturation in a bourbon hogshead at 56.4%.

With only 310 bottles, this is an exclusive release from the relatively new independent bottler Watt Whisky, neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Stewed fruit, plum and honey cake meet a lightly tart note of gooseberry.

Palate

Full-bodied with apricot and vanilla, carried by the high strength.

Finish

Long and warming with lingering fruit sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Strathmill 2014/2025
Distillery: Strathmill
Bottler: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 56.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex Bourbon Cask
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2025
Number of Bottles: 310 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5060825691086

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Cask strength · Honeyed · Rare

Did You Know?

Watt Whisky is one of the younger independent bottlers on the market, founded in Campbeltown, and has quickly built a reputation for finding exciting single casks.

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A cask already used twice in Kentucky gets a third turn in Scotland. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is made by moving finished bourbon into yet another freshly charred barrel. That barrel then came over here, with peated Scottish malt inside it.

The Expert's Description

Annandale Double Oaked Man O' Sword Cask 1437 is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-Woodford Reserve Double Oaked cask and bottled at 61.1% cask strength. The cask was filled in 2017 and emptied in 2023, giving six years.

Man O' Sword is Annandale's peated range, named after Robert the Bruce. The combination of peat smoke and a double-charred bourbon barrel is unusual: the cask has already given up most of its bourbon character in Kentucky, but the extra char released fresh sugars in the wood, and it is those that meet the smoke here.

The result is powerful and full of character. At 61.1% there is nothing cautious in the bottle, and the whisky is non-chill filtered. Annandale sits in Dumfriesshire in the far south of Scotland and has run both peated and unpeated production since reopening in 2014.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Charred pineapple first, a note you do not meet often, alongside peat smoke and crisp biscuits. Behind them come burnt sugar and a warm, almost resinous wood note from the double-charred cask.

Palate

Black pepper and fire embers open, quickly followed by caramel and a thick sweetness from the wood. The smoke sits in the middle of it all rather than beneath, and the 61.1% gives a full, insistent mouthfeel. There are no soft edges here.

Finish

Long and warm. Smoke, spice and burnt sugar hold on for a good while, with a dry ash note right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Annandale Double Oaked Man O' Sword Cask 1437 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 61.1%
Distillery: Annandale
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 61.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Woodford Reserve Double Oaked cask, cask no. 1437
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2023
Edition: Double Oaked Man O' Sword

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Burnt Sugar · Cask Strength · Oaky · Powerful

Did You Know?

Double Oaked is a bourbon technique, not a Scottish one. Woodford Reserve takes fully matured bourbon and moves it into another new charred oak barrel for an extra spell. When that barrel is later shipped to Scotland it arrives with two layers of char and has already given up most of its bourbon sweetness, which produces a very different cask influence from a standard ex-bourbon barrel.

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Orange oil, cherry and blackberry jam. That does not sound like Craigellachie — until you notice the cask is a sherry butt, and that it has had twelve years to do its work.

Expert description

Craigellachie 2011/2023 Duncan Taylor 12 years Private Cask Bottling is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 52.4%.

The cask gave 667 bottles and belongs to Duncan Taylor's Private Cask line. The house is based at Huntly in Aberdeenshire and has since 1938 built one of the largest private stocks of Scotch whisky in the trade. Craigellachie condenses in worm tubs and makes a heavy, meaty spirit that needs an active sherry cask to find balance — here twelve years is enough to give colour and fruit without erasing the distillery.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense and dark. Orange oil, juicy cherries, red grapes and blackberry jam, with dates, spiced cake, nutmeg and dark chocolate behind.

Palate

Full and rounded. Chocolate-coated raisins, fig syrup, rosehip jam and black cherries, joined by candied orange, malt, roasted coffee beans and cinnamon.

Finish

Long and intense, dominated by juicy oranges, honey, sherry and dried fruit with a touch of caramel and roasted notes.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 2011/2023 Duncan Taylor 12 years Private Cask Bottling Single Speyside Malt Whisky 52,4%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 667
Edition: Private Cask Bottling

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Berry · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 667 bottles from one sherry cask at cask strength. Sherried Craigellachie at this age is in demand, and Private Cask bottlings are never remade.

Did you know?

Duncan Taylor bought large parcels of Scotch casks in 1938 and set them aside. That stock is why the house can today bottle vintages many distilleries have used up themselves — they simply bought in while nobody else bothered.

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

The expert's description

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Fruity · Spiced

Investment Potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert Review

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Winey · Spiced

Did You Know?

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

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In the small village of Farre in central Jutland, time is not measured in quarterly reports. It is measured on the cask. Fary Lochan let this single malt wait for twelve years — and what came out carries patience in every sip, from the first breath to the long, slow finish.

Expert description

Fary Lochan 12 Year XII - Bourbon 2011/2023 Batch 01 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 52.2% Vol. Distilled on 12 March 2011 and bottled on 9 October 2023, this release represents twelve years of Danish whisky history from one of the country's pioneer distilleries.

Fary Lochan Distillery was founded in 2009 in the village of Farre near Silkeborg and is widely regarded as one of Denmark's first dedicated Single Malt craft distilleries. The XII series focuses on extended cask maturation — this Batch 01 was drawn from 1st fill bourbon barrels and released in a strictly limited edition of just 322 bottles. No chill filtration, no colouring added.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clear vanilla and buttery caramel from the bourbon barrel, with ripe apple and honey biscuit. A subtle floral note and a gentle hint of beeswax in the background.

Palate

Creamy and rounded. Vanilla and baked apple lead, followed by lightly spiced oak and dried citrus peel. 52.2% brings good body without overwhelming the subtleties.

Finish

Medium-long and warm with oak sweetness and a gently dry edge. Vanilla and citrus linger on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan 12 Year XII - Bourbon 2011/2023 Batch 01
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Farre, Central Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 52.2%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 12 March 2011
Bottled: 9 October 2023
Number of bottles: 322
Edition: XII Batch 01

Flavour profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Cask matured · Creamy · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Fary Lochan is one of the very few distilleries in the world to smoke malt using dried stinging nettles rather than peat — giving a gentle, herbal character quite unlike the Scottish style. The XII Bourbon release carries none of that nettle smoke, instead showcasing pure, slow bourbon cask maturation: two very different sides of the same distillery.

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

Expert Review

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Creamy · Fruity

Did You Know?

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

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Some distilleries refuse to put their name on the label, yet the whisky speaks clearly enough on its own. This 16 year old Speyside malt is one of those bottles where the silence around the source only sharpens the curiosity.

Expert Description

Speyside (GL) 16 Year Old Signatory Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #8 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled at cask strength of 57.1%.

The bottle belongs to Signatory Vintage's Exceptional Cask series, where independent releases from named and undisclosed distilleries are gathered under a single theme: casks that stand out from the crowd. The distillery behind this release has not been disclosed, but the character points clearly toward Speyside's classic, sherry-driven style. 16 years of maturation has given the whisky a deep, concentrated sherry character, and the Edition #8 number confirms there are several casks behind the series, of which this one was selected for its power and weight.

At 57.1% ABV, the strength once known in the English-speaking world as "100 Proof", this is a whisky built for those who want the flavour in its most uncompromising form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried dates, raisins and figs meet honey and dark chocolate, with a hint of leather and tobacco in the background.

Palate

Full-bodied and oily with malty, spiced notes, a light peppery heat and a sweetness reminiscent of sultanas in dark syrup.

Finish

Long and rounded, where tart fruit and a soft sweetness stay together to the very end.

Specifications

Name: Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #8
Distillery: Undisclosed Speyside
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Bottled: 25.04.2025
Edition: Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #8

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Full-bodied · Spiced · Fruity

Did You Know?

When a Speyside distillery chooses to bottle without a name on the label, it is usually down to contractual agreements between the distillery and the owners of the bottle supply. Whisky drinkers often call it "a secret Speyside", and part of the fun of a bottle like this is guessing the source from the flavour alone.

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100 proof is an old American measure of strength that translates to exactly 57.1% today. Signatory has turned it into their own signature series of selected casks.

The expert's description

Tormore 2015/2025 Signatory Vintage 9 år 100 Proof Edition #45 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,1% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Refill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels and bottled at 57.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2015 and bottled in April 2025 by Signatory Vintage as part of the house's 100 Proof series, a collection of hand-selected casks all bottled at exactly 57.1%. It was matured in a combination of refill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, giving a whisky with both body and freshness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cane sugar, dried apricot and a hint of sherry.

Palate

Spiced and full-bodied with caramel and dark fruit.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Tormore 2015/2025 Signatory Vintage 9 år 100 Proof Edition #45 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57,1%
Distillery: Tormore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 28.04.2025
Edition: 100 Proof Edition #45
EAN no.: 5021944128662

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The term "100 proof" comes from an old British method of testing spirit strength by soaking gunpowder in the liquid and setting it alight; only at exactly the right strength would it burn evenly.

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Nearly two decades in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt give this whiskey a depth that takes patience to create and time to enjoy.

Expert Review

The Irishman 17 Year Old is a Single Malt Irish Whiskey matured in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt, bottled at 54%.

The whiskey is a small batch release from The Irishman brand, with the entire maturation period of nearly 17 years spent in a single first-fill Oloroso sherry butt. The long, consistent cask influence gives the whiskey a concentrated sherry character with depth and complexity that sets it apart from multi-cask releases. It is non-chill filtered, preserving as many flavour compounds as possible and a full-bodied texture.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense and spiced, with sweetness and depth from the sherry cask.

Palate

Rich and complex, with stewed raisins, fruitcake, dark chocolate and nuts.

Finish

Long and warm, with a balance of sweetness and subtle dryness.

Specifications

Name: The Irishman 17 Year Old
Distillery: The Irishman
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Age: 17 years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5099811090992

Flavour Profile

Rich · Sherry-driven · Dark fruit · Spiced · Warm

Investment Potential

As a 17-year-old small batch release with a single, concentrated cask type, this bottle may hold collector interest, but Whisky.dk recommends buying it primarily for enjoyment.

Did You Know?

The Irishman was founded by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh, who set out to revive the classic pot still style that had nearly vanished from Ireland during the 20th century.
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Ireland meets the Caribbean in this limited release, where classic pot still whiskey gets a final finish in casks from Saint Lucia.

Expert Review

The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish is a Pot Still Irish Whiskey matured in American bourbon casks and finished in Caribbean rum casks, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is a limited edition from The Irishman brand, first matured in American oak and then finished in rum casks from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. The rum finish adds an exotic sweetness and tropical character that sets it apart from The Irishman's other, more classically matured releases. The bottle appeals to whiskey lovers looking for something outside the traditional, while retaining the core character of Irish pot still distillation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruit and cane sugar, with a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Sweet and spiced, with rum, caramel and ripe banana.

Finish

Soft and of medium length, with a light tropical close.

Specifications

Name: The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish
Distillery: The Irishman
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot Still Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon & Caribbean rum casks (Saint Lucia)
EAN no.: 5099811906385

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Sweet · Cane-sugar-forward · Spiced · Soft

Did You Know?

The Irishman was founded by Bernard and Rosemary Walsh, who set out to revive the classic pot still style that had nearly vanished from Ireland during the 20th century.
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Andrew Symington has tasted his way through thousands of casks over the years, and when he puts his own name on a series, it's worth paying attention.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 2001/2025 Symington's Choice 23 Years Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an oloroso sherry butt and bottled at cask strength, 59.5%.

Symington's Choice is Signatory Vintage's newer series, named in honour of the founder himself, gathering some of the most richly matured casks from the house's vast stock. This Bunnahabhain was distilled in October 2001 and rested for 23 years on cask #1438, before being bottled straight from the wood in April 2025.

The long maturation on oloroso sherry has given the whisky a deep, almost mahogany hue, and at 59.5% cask strength, every drop of water you add opens fresh layers in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark chocolate, dried plums and a warm spiciness of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate

Intense and full with sherry sweetness, walnuts and a wave of warmth that speaks to the cask strength.

Finish

Very long, dry and spicy with a final hint of espresso.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 23 Years
ABV: 59.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt / Cask No. #1438
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 08/10/2001
Bottled: 10/04/2025
Number of Bottles: 540
Edition: Symington's Choice

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Cask Strength · Spicy · Mature

Investment Potential

Medium – 23 years on a single oloroso cask and a series named after Signatory's own founder make this an interesting bottle for collectors following the house's older releases.

Did You Know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and his brother, and since 2002 the house has also owned Edradour distillery, where all of its bottling now takes place.

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

The expert's description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Creamy · Cask Strength

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert Description

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Smoky · Spiced · Malty

Did You Know?

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

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

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

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

Expert description

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Spiced · Liquorice · Vanilla · Malty · Cask Strength

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert's description

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky sweetness, green apples and light honey.

Palate

Round peat with citrus and malted biscuit.

Finish

Medium long with gentle smoke and salt.

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

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

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

The expert's description

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

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Honeyed · Mature · Elegant

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Oaky

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

Expert's Description

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

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

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Maritime · Elegant · Mature

Investment Potential

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

Did You Know?

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

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Two guys from Aberdeenshire, a couple of bourbon barrels and a good deal of patience. Glen Garioch is Little Brown Dog's closest neighbour, and they waited a long time for casks worth putting their name on.

The expert's description

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength 56.2%.

The spirit ran off the stills at Glen Garioch on 17 November 2014 and went into glass on 17 February 2025. Little Brown Dog married two 1st fill bourbon barrels for this Small Batch, giving 337 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Glen Garioch sits in Oldmeldrum north-west of Aberdeen and has been distilling since 1797. It is the most easterly working malt distillery in Scotland, and the house style runs drier and more cereal-driven than the softer Speyside profile you meet an hour's drive west. 1st fill bourbon barrels lay vanilla and bright fruit over that cereal core without burying it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear tart straight out of the oven, kiwi and baked apple. There is a whisper of whipped cream behind the fruit, and a few minutes in the glass draws out something floral.

Palate

Full and juicy. Tinned pineapple, honeydew melon and rhubarb crumble, carried by a cask strength that gives the whisky body without scorching. Cereal malt sits under the fruit the whole way.

Finish

Crème anglaise and conference pear, fading into a dry twist of white pepper. Long and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 56.2%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 56.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 17 November 2014
Bottled: 17 February 2025
Number of bottles: 337
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Creamy · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

For years Glen Garioch put the distillery's surplus heat to work in greenhouses right next to production. Tomatoes were grown on steam from the whisky.

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

Expert's description

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

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

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

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Leathery · Layered · Elegant

Investment potential

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

Did you know?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cask number 39 was filled in the first year the distillery ran after nearly a century of silence. Ten years later it has been emptied again: 239 bottles of the peated style Annandale named after a king who beat the English.

The Expert's Description

Annandale 10 Years Old Man O' Sword Cask 39 is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill ex-bourbon cask and bottled at 58.6% cask strength. Cask 39 was distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2025, yielding 239 bottles.

Man O' Sword is the distillery's peated range, named after Robert the Bruce, Scotland's warrior king and the seventh Lord of Annandale. The unpeated style is called Man O' Words after Robert Burns. Two Roberts, two entirely different whiskies, and it is the peated one in this bottle.

A refill bourbon cask is a more restrained choice than a first fill. The wood gives less vanilla and less sweetness, letting the smoke and the spirit’s own fruitiness come through more plainly across ten years. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and the colour is a pale clear gold precisely because the cask gave little.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet peat smoke first, mixed with dark syrup and soft butter. The smoke is present but restrained rather than overwhelming. Ripe apples and a drier cereal note sit behind.

Palate

Fresh and rounded at the same time. Apples and pears open with clear fruitiness, quickly followed by the smoke and a green grassy freshness that tells you the whisky comes from the Lowlands. The texture is oily and carries the flavours well.

Finish

Long, warm and persistent. Wood, spice and smoked malt in balance, where the smoke lengthens the experience rather than shouting over the finer nuances.

Specifications

Name: Annandale 10 Years Old Man O' Sword Cask 39 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58.6%
Distillery: Annandale
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 58.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon cask, cask no. 39
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 239
Edition: Man O' Sword

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Fresh · Spiced · Cask Strength · Grassy

Investment Potential

Medium. The cask was filled in the distillery's first year of production, and only 239 bottles exist. Ten year old releases from revived distilleries are a one-off performance: once that vintage is emptied, it cannot be repeated.

Did You Know?

Annandale fell silent in 1918 and was later used as a production line for Provost porridge oats. The buildings stood decaying for decades until David Thomson and Teresa Church began a thorough restoration. The first spirit ran from the stills on 9 November 2014, and cask number one was filled six days later, in the original 1830s warehouse.

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Five years after the distillery's 2019 release in the same series, this 2024 bottling shows how far Chichibu has come in its maturation and development.

Expert Description

Ichiro's Malt On The Way 2024 is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky from Chichibu Distillery, bottled at 54.5%.

The whisky is part of the ongoing On The Way series, showing Chichibu Distillery's development year by year since its founding in 2008. The 2024 edition draws on more mature cask stocks than previous vintages, showing a deeper, more complex character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak, dried fruit and a light spiced sweetness.

Palate

Full-bodied with caramel, spice and ripe pears.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering oak.

Specifications

Name: Ichiro's Malt On The Way 2024
Distillery: Chichibu
Region/Country: Saitama, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Vintage: 2024
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4580617290729

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Spicy · Mature · Warm

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

Chichibu bottles remain among the most sought-after in the Japanese whisky market, and each new vintage in the On The Way series typically sells out quickly.

Did You Know?

The On The Way series was originally conceived as a way to keep whisky enthusiasts updated on the distillery's progress while the first bottles of sufficient age awaited release.

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

The Expert's Description

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

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

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Citrus · Tropical · Fresh · Spiced

Did You Know?

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

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