A refill cask from 2006 sat quietly maturing while the world outside changed. When it was finally tapped in 2016, it turned out to hold one of the most ash-laden, smoky expressions of Croftengea you can find.

Expert's Description

Croftengea 2006/2016 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill cask and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2006 under Loch Lomond's heavily peated Croftengea profile and rested in a single refill cask until being bottled in 2016 by independent bottler Cooper's Choice. Only 725 bottles were filled from this one cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich and heavy with plums, figs and dates – no smoke on the nose.

Palate

Smoke and ashy tobacco meet milk chocolate, smoked meat and oily malt, with a touch of pink peppercorn and sweet toffee.

Finish

Short but sweet finish that dries out with cracked peppercorns and a lingering hint of bonfire embers.

Specifications

Name: Croftengea 2006/2016 Heavily Peated Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: Cooper's Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill cask
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2016
Number of bottles: 725
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium – with only 725 bottles from a single cask and ten years of age, this release is already scarce and sought after among collectors of peated independent bottlings.

Did You Know?

Croftengea is named after an old farm close to Loch Lomond Distillery and is used solely as the name for the distillery's heavily peated single malt style.

See our full range of Loch Lomond – See our full range of Cooper's Choice

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Croftengea is Loch Lomond's peated alter ego – the name the distillery uses when the smoke is allowed to run free. This release comes straight from a single cask and takes one last, colourful detour through a Jamaican rum barrel.

Expert's Description

Croftengea 2016/2024 Jamaican Rum Cask is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak with a rum finish and bottled at 53%.

The whisky was distilled at Loch Lomond in 2016 under the distillery's heavily peated Croftengea profile and, after its time in American oak, was given a final finish in a Jamaican rum cask before being bottled in 2024 by the independent bottler Cooper's Choice. Cask strength and single-cask bottling mean no other bottle is quite like this one.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Heavy smoke and earthy peat meet sweet molasses and preserved tropical fruit from the rum cask.

Palate

Full and oily with burnt caramel, black pepper and a wave of cane sugar that ties the smoke together with the rum's sweetness.

Finish

Long, smoky finish with lingering spice and a hint of tar.

Specifications

Name: Croftengea 2016/2024 Jamaican Rum Cask Heavily Peated Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: Cooper's Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in a Jamaican rum cask
Distilled: 2016
Bottled: 2024
EAN: 5024720862996
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water to tame the cask strength

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium – single-cask peated Croftengea releases from Cooper's Choice are limited and sought after among collectors of independent bottlings, and the cask strength adds extra appeal for the dedicated collector.

Did You Know?

Croftengea is not a distillery in its own right, but the name Loch Lomond uses for its heavily peated style – named after an old farm on the shore of the loch.

See our full range of Loch Lomond – See our full range of Cooper's Choice

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Lennox is the old name for the land around Loch Lomond, and Murray McDavid has used it as the title for this young, heavily peated take on Croftengea – a whisky with no time for caution.

Expert's Description

Croftengea Lennox Peat 2018/2022 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2018 under Loch Lomond's heavily peated Croftengea profile and, after four years of maturation, was bottled by independent bottler Murray McDavid in 2022 under the name "Lennox Peat" – named after the historic term for the land surrounding the loch. Murray McDavid always bottles at a minimum of 46% with no added colouring or chill filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coastal smoke meets sweet lemon sponge and a hint of freshly baked bread.

Palate

Medicinal, fresh peat with orange blossom and a creamy sweetness that keeps the smoke in check.

Finish

Gentle malt, sea spray and a hint of smoky peach in the finish.

Specifications

Name: Croftengea Lennox Peat 2018/2022 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2022
EAN: 5060353303628
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Fresh

Did You Know?

"Lennox" is the historic name for the landscape surrounding Loch Lomond – a name that goes back several centuries and is still used in the area's history and heraldry.

See our full range of Loch Lomond – See our full range of Murray McDavid

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Barley's sweetness takes centre stage in this entry in Crown Royal's prestigious Noble Collection.

Expert description

Crown Royal Barley Edition Noble Collection Blended Canadian Whisky is part of the brand's prestigious Noble Collection, where barley plays a prominent role in the blend, bottled at 45%. Crown Royal was created in 1939 by spirits magnate Samuel Bronfman to celebrate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's royal visit to Canada — the first visit by reigning monarchs in the country's history. According to legend, Bronfman tested over 600 different blends before arriving at the final recipe, presented to the royal couple in a decanter wrapped in a purple velvet bag with gold embroidery. The whisky is produced today at the distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, where about 80% of the grain comes from the local region, and the water is naturally filtered through limestone.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers malt, honey and lightly toasted grain.

Palate

The palate is soft and full with malt, caramel and a hint of fruit.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Barley Edition Noble Collection Blended Canadian Whisky
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Noble Collection – Barley Edition

Flavour profile

Malt · Soft · Full-bodied · Sweet

See our full range of Crown Royal

Royal origins, Canadian craft — Crown Royal's classic blend since 1939.

Expert description

Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky is the brand's classic core expression in a large 100 cl bottle, bottled at 40%. Crown Royal was created in 1939 by spirits magnate Samuel Bronfman to celebrate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's royal visit to Canada — the first visit by reigning monarchs in the country's history. According to legend, Bronfman tested over 600 different blends before arriving at the final recipe, presented to the royal couple in a decanter wrapped in a purple velvet bag with gold embroidery. The whisky is produced today at the distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, where about 80% of the grain comes from the local region, and the water is naturally filtered through limestone.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is soft with vanilla, caramel and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate is light and sweet with vanilla, caramel and grain.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Light · Vanilla

See our full range of Crown Royal

The purple velvet bag is as famous as the bottle. Crown Royal was created for a royal visit in 1939, and the bag was originally packaging for a gift nobody expected to sell commercially.

Expert description

Crown Royal Fine De Luxe is a Blended Canadian Whisky bottled at 40% in a 5 cl miniature.

The whisky is built from around fifty different Canadian whiskies and was developed in 1939 for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's tour of Canada. It was first sold outside the country in 1964 and is today produced at Gimli in Manitoba. The miniature format makes it an obvious sample, gift filler or travelling companion.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and round. Vanilla and pale fruit first, with cereal and a touch of oak underneath.

Palate

Creamy and soft. Vanilla, caramel and apple, with a lightly spiced warmth and a dry cereal base. No edges — Canadian whisky is built to be approachable.

Finish

Long and lingering for its strength, with vanilla, oak and a mild sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Miniature Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky 40%
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 5 CL
Edition: Fine De Luxe Miniature
EAN no.: 08735609

Flavour profile

Soft · Vanilla · Creamy · Fruity · Lightly Spiced

Did you know?

The purple velvet bag was never meant to be a retail item. It was sewn for the single case of whisky presented at the royal visit in 1939 — and when the bottle later reached the shops, it turned out people were keeping the bags.

See our full range of Crown Royal Whisky

Award-winning rye whisky from the Canadian prairies, in a large 1-litre bottle.

Expert description

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Canadian Rye Whisky is a rye-dominant whisky from the same distillery as Crown Royal's core expression, bottled at 45%. Crown Royal was created in 1939 by spirits magnate Samuel Bronfman to celebrate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's royal visit to Canada — the first visit by reigning monarchs in the country's history. According to legend, Bronfman tested over 600 different blends before arriving at the final recipe, presented to the royal couple in a decanter wrapped in a purple velvet bag with gold embroidery. The whisky is produced today at the distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, where about 80% of the grain comes from the local region, and the water is naturally filtered through limestone.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers spiced rye, caramel and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate is spicy and full with rye, caramel and vanilla.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Canadian Rye Whisky
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Canadian Rye Whisky
ABV: 45%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Rye · Full-bodied · Sweet

See our full range of Crown Royal

In the forest at Gaick they tell of the witch of Laggan, who had a heart as black as night. Cú Dhub is named after her — and the whisky comes in the same colour.

Expert description

Cú Dhub Batch No 1 The Black Dog is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%.

The name means black dog in Gaelic and refers to a Highland folk tale about the witch of Laggan, who could change shape. The whisky is a marriage of Scottish malt whiskies, assembled and bottled by the Danish spirits company Mac Y. The dark colour is part of the concept and makes the bottle easy to spot on a shelf — behind it sits a thoroughly malted whisky with a clear liquorice character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Roasted coffee beans and dusty malt sweetness, English liquorice and a hint of dryness.

Palate

Creamy and intense. Sweetness and liquorice first, then vanilla and a distinctly spiced middle. The malt character runs right through and carries the whole flavour.

Finish

Medium and sweet with liquorice, malt and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Cu Dhub Batch No 1 The Black Dog Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Cú Dhub
Bottler: Mac Y
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 1 The Black Dog
EAN no.: 5714772001039

Flavour profile

Malty · Liquorice · Creamy · Sweet · Spiced

Did you know?

Cú Dhub means black dog in Gaelic, and the name points at one of the most widespread ghost motifs in British folklore. The black dog turns up everywhere from the Highlands to the English moors — always as an omen, never as company.

See our full range of Cu Dhub Whisky

Captain William McCoy ran whisky into the United States during Prohibition and never watered it down. People started asking for the genuine article — the real McCoy. This bottle is a nod to him.

Expert description

Cutty Sark Prohibition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The edition was made as a tribute to Prohibition, when Cutty Sark was among the most smuggled whiskies on the American east coast. McCoy anchored outside territorial waters and sold bottles on to small boats — and because he never diluted the goods, his name turned into a phrase. The 50% strength was chosen to reach the body the whisky had before it passed through many hands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Stronger than the yellow label. Vanilla, dried fruit and cereal, with a touch of spice and a warm oak note.

Palate

Full and oily. Caramel, orange peel and malt, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry oak edge. There is more body than in the standard release, but the same pale fruit character underneath.

Finish

Long and dry, with spice, cereal and a persistent warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Prohibition Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Prohibition Edition
EAN no.: 5010504100309

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Vanilla · Dried Fruit · High Strength

Did you know?

The phrase the real McCoy is, on one widely repeated account, down to Captain William McCoy, who refused to dilute or adulterate his smuggled whisky. The expression stuck long after Prohibition ended.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

Fifty percent on a blend is rare today. It was not in post-war America, where 100 proof stood for something you did not have to apologise for.

Expert description

Cutty Black 100 Proof is a Blended Whisky bottled at 50% in a 75 cl bottle.

The 100 proof designation comes from the American system, where the proof figure is exactly double the alcohol percentage. The 75 cl format and the black label place the bottle in an earlier era, when the Cutty Sark house ran several parallel expressions for different markets. The higher strength gives more body and a longer finish than the ordinary bottlings from the same family.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and dried fruit first, then honey, oak and a warm spiced note from the strength.

Palate

Full and powerful. Cereal, caramel and orange peel, with a dry oak edge and a peppery warmth that the fifty percent carries without burning.

Finish

Long and dry, with malt, nuts and a persistent spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Black 100 Proof Blended Whisky 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 75 CL
Edition: 100 Proof
EAN no.: 721059207508

Flavour profile

Malty · Dried Fruit · Spiced · Full-bodied · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. The release is discontinued, the 75 cl format is out of production, and blends at 50% are a rarity outside American market editions.

Did you know?

The proof system comes from an old British method where spirit was poured over gunpowder and set alight. If the powder caught, the strength was proven — hence the word proof. The Americans later fixed the number at double the alcohol percentage.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

If a single malt is a virtuoso soloist, a blend is a full orchestra. Cutty Sark was created in 1923 by the wine merchants at Berry Bros & Rudd — and they wanted something pale while the rest of the trade made it dark.

Expert description

Cutty Sark is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

The blend is built on around twenty selected single malts, mostly from Speyside, married with high quality grain whisky. When the bottle appeared in 1923 it was deliberately pale at a time when whisky was otherwise sold dark — a decision taken by Berry Bros & Rudd in London, who also named it after the tea clipper Cutty Sark. The yellow label was drawn by the Scottish artist James McBey.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden and light. Grass, flowers and coconut, with a touch of vanilla underneath.

Palate

Complex for something so light. Gentle notes of vanilla and coconut, with American oak, malt and a soft fruit sweetness. The broad palette is the whole idea — no single note sticks out.

Finish

Dry, fruity and spiced, with cereal and a mild oak warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 501050100095

Flavour profile

Soft · Light · Vanilla · Fruity · Fresh

Did you know?

Cutty Sark was one of the most heavily smuggled whiskies during American Prohibition. Captain William McCoy shipped it in from the Bahamas without watering it down, and his reputation for genuine goods gave the language the phrase the real McCoy.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

Nobody keeps the half bottle. It gets drunk, packed in a bag or taken to the cabin — which is exactly why the old ones are hard to find in good condition.

Expert description

Cutty Sark Yellow Label is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 37.5 cl bottle.

The yellow label has followed Cutty Sark since 1923, when the Scottish artist James McBey drew it for Berry Bros & Rudd's new blend. The half bottle format was made for travel, bars and gift sets, and for that reason very few were ever kept. The contents are the same pale, fruity blend of around twenty Speyside malts and grain whisky that made the bottle known worldwide.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and fresh. Grass, citrus and coconut, with vanilla and a trace of malt behind.

Palate

Light and soft. Vanilla, apple and cereal, with American oak and a mild spiced warmth. No edges, no smoke.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and fruity with a touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Yellow Label Blended Scotch Whisky 37,5 cl 40%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 37.5 CL
Edition: Yellow Label
EAN no.: 5010493008785

Flavour profile

Light · Fresh · Vanilla · Fruity · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. Half bottles are rarely kept, so well-preserved examples with the old yellow label are less common than the corresponding full bottle.

Did you know?

James McBey, who drew the label, was a respected Scottish etcher and war artist. The vivid yellow is said to be down to a misunderstanding at the printer — it was meant to be more muted, but Berry Bros decided to keep it.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

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.

See our full range of Daftmill Whisky

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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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Dailuaine has supplied malt to other people's blends for over a century without getting its name on the bottle. Douglas Laing put it there — and packed the whisky in a ceramic decanter.

Expert description

Dailuaine 10 years Douglas Laing Premier Barrel is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry wood and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The release gave 602 bottles and belongs to the Premier Barrel range, in which Douglas Laing bottles single casks in ceramic decanters rather than glass. Dailuaine sits at Carron in Speyside and has since 1852 supplied a heavy, sherry-friendly malt that has almost entirely ended up in blends. Official bottlings are rare, which is why independent bottlers are the ones keeping the distillery name on the shelves.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark and round. Raisin, dark chocolate and orange peel, with a warm spiced note and a trace of nuts.

Palate

Full and malty. Dried fruit, cocoa and a lightly tart sherry edge, with cereal and a warm spiced middle. The 46% carries the sweetness without making it heavy.

Finish

Medium and dry, with nuts, malt and a faintly bitter cocoa note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 10 years Douglas Laing Premier Barrel Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry matured
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 602
Edition: The Premier Barrel ceramic decanter
EAN no.: 5014218820140

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Malty · Chocolate · Spiced

Did you know?

The Premier Barrel range comes in ceramic decanters with screw caps — a choice that shields the whisky from light and makes the bottle impossible to mistake for anything else. The decanters get collected in their own right, precisely because they look like something from another century.

See our full range of Dailuaine Whisky
See our full range of Douglas Laing Whisky

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Filled in May 1997, emptied in February 2018. Twenty years and nine months in a warehouse where nobody was in a hurry — and a distillery few people know by name.

Please note: Wear to the tube and rust on the cap.

Expert description

Dailuaine 1997/2018 Signatory 20 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogsheads and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The casks carry the numbers 7223 and 7224. Dailuaine sits at Carron in Speyside, was founded in 1852 and has throughout its history supplied malt for blends rather than for its own bottles. Signatory Vintage, founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington, is among the bottlers who systematically bring distilleries like this forward — and with twenty years in bourbon wood, Dailuaine's heavy, malted core stands clearly.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and baked apple first, then honey, vanilla and a dry nutty note from the many years in cask.

Palate

Full and malty. Cereal, honey and candied citrus, with a layer of spice and an oily texture the 46% carries well.

Finish

Long and dry, with malt, nuts and a mild oak warmth.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 1997/2018 Signatory 20 years Single Speyside Malt 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 7223 and 7224
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 21/05/1997
Bottled: 28/02/2018

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Nutty · Fruity · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty years in cask from a distillery with very few official bottlings. Dailuaine from the 1990s steadily gets harder to find as the casks are emptied.

Did you know?

In 1884 Dailuaine became the first Scottish distillery to get a pagoda roof over its kiln — the pointed cap that is today the very symbol of a whisky distillery. The architect Charles Doig drew it, and everyone else copied it afterwards.

See our full range of Dailuaine Whisky
See our full range of Signatory Vintage Whisky

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Distilled on the same day as its four-year-younger sister, but these casks were left standing. Four extra years in hogsheads sounds like little — in the glass the difference is obvious.

Expert description

Dailuaine 1997/2022 Signatory 24 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogsheads and bottled at 47.4% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The casks are numbered 7227 and 7235, were filled on 21 May 1997 and emptied on 20 January 2022. The outturn was 369 bottles. The release belongs to Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, where the whisky goes into bottle at the strength the cask delivers. Dailuaine is one of those distilleries where almost the entire production disappears into blends, and twenty-four year old bottlings exist essentially only through independent bottlers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apples, pears and quince, with vanilla, malt and a mild spiced oak behind.

Palate

Silky with well-integrated alcohol. Sweetness and freshness first, then vanilla, malt and spiced oak, in a balanced and elegant mouthfeel.

Finish

Dry and harmonious, with the complexity and maturity stepping forward at the close.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 1997/2022 Signatory Vintage 24 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 47,4%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 24 years
ABV: 47.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 7227 and 7235
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 21/05/1997
Bottled: 20/01/2022
Number of bottles: 369
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Vanilla · Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

High. Twenty-four years in cask, 369 bottles and a distillery whose own bottlings barely exist. Old Dailuaine is increasingly traded among collectors.

Did you know?

Quince is a fruit you rarely meet in modern whisky, but it turns up in old Speyside malts from bourbon wood. It sits somewhere between apple and pear, and it is often a sign of a cask that has been allowed to work long and quietly.

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No filtration, no colouring, no adjustment. The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is Signatory's attempt to show a distillery as it actually comes out of the cask.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2008/2021 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled on 20 June 2008 and bottled on 6 August 2021, and the outturn was only 157 bottles. The range gathers hand-picked releases from distilleries across Scotland, chosen for their clear flavour profile rather than their name value. Dailuaine is one of those distilleries that almost never appears on its own bottles, and thirteen years in bourbon wood gives a clean, malted version with no cask make-up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and malty. Apple, cereal and vanilla, with a light floral note and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Clean and full. Malt, honey and baked apple, with vanilla from the bourbon cask and a dry spiced edge. The 46% gives good weight without tightening up.

Finish

Medium and dry, with cereal, vanilla and a light nutty note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2008/2021 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 20/06/2008
Bottled: 06/08/2021
Number of bottles: 157
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113354

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Vanilla · Clean · Dry

Did you know?

Chill filtration was introduced to stop whisky going hazy in the fridge — not to make it better. Signatory drops the step entirely in this range, which is why the whisky may cloud when cold. That is a sign the oils are still in it.

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Dailuaine has enough body to take an oloroso butt without being buried in it. That is why the distillery has been so useful in blends — and why the sherry finish works here.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2008/2025 Signatory Vintage 16 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in an oloroso sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 57% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled on 9 April 2008 and bottled on 19 February 2025 from cask number 6, with an outturn of 681 bottles. The release belongs to Signatory's Cask Strength Collection. The combination of Dailuaine's fruity, malted base and the dark oloroso notes gives a whisky where sweetness and spice pull in different directions without fighting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruits such as raisins and figs, alongside roasted nuts, dark chocolate and spiced oak.

Palate

Deep and balanced. Sweetness and spice in fine interplay, with a full, oily texture in which the alcohol is elegantly integrated despite the 57%.

Finish

Long and warm, with hints of coffee and leather.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2008/2025 Signatory Vintage 16 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 57%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 57 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in oloroso sherry butt no. 6
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 09/04/2008
Bottled: 19/02/2025
Number of bottles: 681
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 681 bottles from an oloroso finish at cask strength, from a distillery whose own bottlings barely exist. Signatory's Cask Strength Collection is followed closely by collectors.

Did you know?

A finish in oloroso is not the same as full maturation in sherry wood. The whisky sits in its main cask first and is moved across for the final years — enough to give colour and fruit, but not long enough for the cask to take over the distillery's own voice.

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Two hogsheads, twelve years and no treatment along the way. Signatory calls the range Un-Chillfiltered, but in practice it is just as much about what you refrain from doing.

Please note: Rust on the cap and wear to the carton label.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogsheads and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The casks carry the numbers 307385 and 307386. The whisky was distilled on 6 May 2009 and bottled on 4 February 2022. The range gathers hand-picked releases from distilleries across Scotland, where the whisky is allowed into bottle in its most untreated form. Dailuaine delivers a heavier spirit than most of its Speyside neighbours, and twelve years in hogsheads is enough to give balance without erasing the malted core.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and cereal-led. Green apple, malt and vanilla, with a light herbal note and a touch of citrus peel.

Palate

Clean and malty. Cereal, honey and baked fruit, with vanilla from the oak and a dry, lightly spiced middle. The texture is fuller than filtered whisky at the same strength.

Finish

Medium and dry, with malt, apple and a mild oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2009/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory 12 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 307385 and 307386
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 06/05/2009
Bottled: 04/02/2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Vanilla · Clean · Dry

Did you know?

Six-digit cask numbers such as 307385 come from Signatory's own warehouse system rather than from the distillery. They make it possible to trace exactly which cask a bottle came from — one reason the house has such a loyal following among collectors.

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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.

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Tawny port has sat long enough to lose the fresh berry edge and find nuts and caramel instead. Laid over ten years of Dailuaine, the result is darker than the age suggests.

Expert description

Dailuaine 2013/2023 Lady of the Glen 10 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill hogshead with a subsequent tawny port finish and bottled at cask strength of 59%.

The whisky was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2023 by Lady of the Glen, the Scottish independent bottler from Fife founded in 2012 by Gregor Hannah. A refill cask works more slowly than a first fill, which leaves room for the port finish to make its mark without fighting the oak. Dailuaine's heavy, malted spirit has enough body to carry both.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark fruit and nuts first. Dried fig, walnut and caramel, with malt and a warm spiced note underneath.

Palate

Powerful and dense. Caramelised nuts, dried fruit and malt, with the dry edge of the port and a peppery warmth from the 59%. The texture is oily despite the young age.

Finish

Long and dry, with nuts, caramel and a warm spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2013/2023 10 years Lady of the Glen Tawny Port Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59%
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead with tawny port finish
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2023

Flavour profile

Nutty · Dried Fruit · Caramel · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask at full strength with an unusual finish, from a distillery that almost never appears on its own bottles. Lady of the Glen never repeats its releases.

Did you know?

Tawny port ages in cask for years and oxidises along the way, which gives nuts and caramel instead of the fresh berries you find in ruby. That is why a tawny cask often suits a whisky that already has malted weight.

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Dallas Dhu stopped production in 1983 and was never demolished. The distillery stands today as a museum with all the equipment in place — but without a drop of new spirit since the Thatcher years.

Expert description

Dallas Dhu 12 years Gordon & MacPhail is a Highland Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

The distillery sits near Forres and closed in 1983 during the great wave of closures, when overproduction brought a string of Scottish houses to their knees. The buildings were preserved and are run today as a museum, which makes Dallas Dhu one of the few places you can walk through a complete distillery that no longer produces. Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin has bottled whisky from across Scotland since 1895 and is among the most important sources of bottles from closed distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and malty. Honey, dried apple and cereal, with a dusty note from the years in glass.

Palate

Round and light. Malt, honey and pale caramel, with a touch of spice and a mild oak note. The 40% keeps it easy to approach.

Finish

Medium and dry, with malt, nuts and a faint herbal warmth.

Specifications

Name: Dallas Dhu 12 years Gordon & MacPhail Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Dallas Dhu
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Forres Scotland
Type: Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Old Version

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Honeyed · Nutty · Unpeated

Investment potential

High. The distillery has not produced since 1983, and all existing Dallas Dhu is already in cask or bottle. Supply can only fall.

Did you know?

Dallas Dhu is the only Scottish distillery preserved complete as a museum with the whole production plant intact. You can walk from malting floor to warehouse without anything missing — apart from the spirit.

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A Danish retailer series named after the mayors of Ringsted does not sound like where you find an independent Dalmore. That is nonetheless exactly what is in the bottle.

Expert description

Dalmore 14 years MacKarl 1896–1904 Limited Edition is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an American hogshead and bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2015 for Skjold Burne in Ringsted as part of the Ringsted Whisky series, where each edition is dedicated to a former mayor of the town. This one carries the name MacKarl after Karl Kristian Ludvig Jürgens, mayor from 1896 to 1904. Dalmore on the Cromarty Firth releases almost exclusively official bottlings, so independent bottles from the distillery are rare — and a Danish retailer bottling rarer still.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe fruit and honey first, then vanilla, malt and a warm spiced note from the American oak.

Palate

Soft and round. Orange, honey and caramel, with malt and a layer of spice. The 46% gives good weight without turning sharp.

Finish

Medium and warm, with vanilla, oak and a mild spiced sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 14 years MacKarl 1896–1904 Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 2015
Edition: MacKarl 1896–1904 Limited Edition

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Vanilla · Spiced · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. An independent Dalmore is unusual in itself, and an outturn made for a single Danish shop makes the bottle hard to find outside the country.

Did you know?

Dalmore's twelve-point royal stag comes from Clan Mackenzie. The story goes that the clan founder saved King Alexander III from a charging stag, and in return was permitted to carry the animal on his coat of arms. The distillery has used it ever since.

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Dalmore from an independent bottler is a rare sight. Dalmore from 1990 in a single sherry butt at full cask strength is close to an anomaly.

Expert description

Dalmore 1990/2008 Signatory Vintage 17 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 59.2% without added colouring.

The cask carries the number 9411, was filled on 11 September 1990 and emptied on 25 March 2008. The outturn was 501 bottles. Dalmore sits at Alness on the shore of the Cromarty Firth and is known for its heavy, sherried house style — which is exactly why a single sherry cask suits the spirit so well. The distillery lets very few casks go on to independent bottlers, making this release unusual.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and dark. Raisin, orange peel and dark chocolate, with walnut, leather and a warm spiced note from the wood.

Palate

Massive and concentrated. Dried fruit, cocoa and caramelised sugar, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry sherry edge keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish

Very long and dry, with nuts, dark fruit and a persistent spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 1990/2008 Signatory Vintage 17 years Sherry Butt Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59,2%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 59.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt no. 9411
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 11/09/1990
Bottled: 25/03/2008
Number of bottles: 501

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. Independent Dalmore bottlings are scarce, the vintage is 1990, and an outturn of 501 bottles from one sherry cask cannot be repeated.

Did you know?

Dalmore's motto Luceo non uro means shine, not burn. It comes from the Clan Mackenzie coat of arms and has followed the distillery since the family took it over in the nineteenth century — even after the whisky had long since changed owners.

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González Byass in Jerez has casks that have held Matusalem oloroso for thirty years. Dalmore gets to borrow them — and that arrangement is what the entire house style rests on.

Expert description

Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The distillery sits at Alness on the shore of the Cromarty Firth and has since 1839 worked in a heavy, sherried style. The partnership with the sherry house González Byass gives Dalmore access to oloroso casks that held wine for three decades, and it is those that give the 18 year old its depth. This release is the 2023 version of the standing 18 year old, which is adjusted from year to year.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and inviting. Orange peel, raisin and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, roasted nuts and a warm note of old oak.

Palate

Full and silky. Dried fruit, caramel and marzipan, with spice from the sherry cask and a malted core underneath. The 43% carries the sweetness without making it sticky.

Finish

Long and warm, with raisin, cocoa and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore 2023 Edition 18 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks
Edition: 2023 Edition
EAN no.: 5013967019324

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Orange · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium. Eighteen year age statements keep getting rarer in the trade, and Dalmore's annual versions of the 18 year old are not reprinted once the year has passed.

Did you know?

Matusalem is González Byass' oldest oloroso, a VORS sherry with at least thirty years in cask. The casks serve sherry for decades and only then whisky — one reason Dalmore can hold such a dark and concentrated style.

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Castle Leod still stands at Strathpeffer and is still the Mackenzie clan home. Dalmore has carried the clan stag on its label for nearly two centuries — here the castle gets a bottle of its own.

Expert description

Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a final finish in 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011 in an outturn of 5,000 bottles. It belongs to the Lands of Clan Mackenzie series, where each release is tied to a place in the clan's history. Castle Leod at Strathpeffer is the clan seat and lies a few kilometres from the distillery. The Bordeaux finish is unusual for Dalmore and lays a dry fruit acidity over the usual house sherry sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dark fruits, orange peel, honey and caramel, accompanied by warm spices, chocolate and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and silky. Raisins, prunes and ripe fruit melt together with vanilla, spices and dark cocoa, while the oak contributes structure and depth.

Finish

Long, warm and elegant with lasting notes of fruit, spice and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux finish
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2011
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Castle Leod
EAN no.: 5013967007116

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A 1995 vintage in 5,000 bottles from a closed series. Lands of Clan Mackenzie is collected as a whole, and the individual releases will not return.

Did you know?

Castle Leod has been in Mackenzie hands since the fifteenth century and is still lived in. The castle sits at Strathpeffer, a short drive from Dalmore — and that geographical closeness is what the whole series is built on.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

There are not many whiskies built to be drunk alongside something else. Cigar Malt is one of them — made to hold its ground against the smoke of a cigar.

Expert description

Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 44%.

The whisky is assembled from selected casks aged roughly ten to fifteen years and is deliberately bottled a little stronger than the rest of the house range. The point is that it should stand up to the weight of tobacco without disappearing. This release is Version No. 2 of Cigar Malt, which Dalmore revived after a pause. The distillery at Alness has worked with sherry casks since the nineteenth century, and it is that same dark, concentrated style underneath.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful and dark. Raisin, orange marmalade and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, clove and a warm note of tobacco and leather.

Palate

Full and dense. Dried fruit, caramel and spice, with an oily texture and a dry oak edge. The 44% gives extra weight compared with the house 40% releases.

Finish

Long and warm, with spice, dark fruit and a dry, almost tobacco-like close.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Single Highland Malt Whisky 44%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak, oloroso sherry casks and Cabernet Sauvignon casks
Edition: Cigar Malt Reserve Version No. 2
EAN no.: 5013967008427

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Spiced · Tobacco · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The original Cigar Malt was discontinued in the mid-2000s and missed enough that Dalmore brought the name back in 2012. It is rare for a distillery to revive a discontinued bottling — but the demand from cigar bars would not go away.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Cromartie is the name of the earldom the Mackenzie clan received from the crown. Third bottle in the series, third place on the map — and the whisky gets darker with each release.

Expert description

Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45%.

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is the third release in the Clan Mackenzie Series, where the clan's twelve-point stag appears on every bottle. The combination of American oak first and oloroso at the end is the classic house recipe, and the 45% gives more weight than most of Dalmore's standing releases. The series is limited and ties each bottling to a place or title in the clan's history.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate and caramel, accompanied by warm spices and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and round. Raisin, prune and ripe fruit bind together with vanilla, cocoa and spice, while the distinctive Dalmore sweetness holds it all together.

Finish

Long and warm, with dried fruit, spice and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 45%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks
Distilled: 1996
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Cromartie
EAN no.: 5013967007758

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment potential

High. A 1996 vintage in a closed series where each release is tied to a specific place in the clan's history. Collectors go after the whole run.

Did you know?

The title Earl of Cromartie was granted to the Mackenzie family in 1861 and still exists. The Lands of Clan Mackenzie series follows those traces through the landscape north of Inverness — and the distillery sits in the middle of it.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky