In Irish folklore, the Dullahan, a headless rider, roams the night gathering stories. Outwalker is named after that very restless spirit.

Expert Review

Outwalker The Restless Spirit is a Blended Irish Whiskey combining Single Malt, Pot Still and Grain Whiskey from four different cask types, bottled at 44.5%.

The blend brings together Single Malt matured in white Burgundy wine casks, Pot Still matured in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, and Grain Whiskey from both Virgin American Oak and Rye casks. The whiskey is distilled, blended, matured and bottled in Ireland, and the brand was founded by, among others, Sean Muldoon, co-founder of the award-winning New York bar Dead Rabbit, together with Jillian Vose, Adrian McLaughlin and Darren Cave. Outwalker launched in October 2023 in Belfast.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honeyed sweetness with a touch of wine-driven fruit from the Burgundy cask.

Palate

Spiced rye meets creamy vanilla from the American oak, with a light sherry note in the background.

Finish

Medium length and round, with a dry, spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Outwalker The Restless Spirit
Distillery: Outwalker
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: White Burgundy wine casks, Ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, Virgin American Oak & Rye casks
EAN no.: 5070002522706

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Spiced · Wine-driven · Creamy · Complex

Did You Know?

The name Outwalker refers to the Dullahan, a headless rider from Irish folklore said to roam the night gathering stories, an image reflecting the brand's idea of the free, restless spirit.
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Old-school Speyside with a wine-like attitude — Wilson & Morgan finds the casks that bite back properly.

Expert's Description

Speybridge 2011/2023 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Wilson & Morgan, distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2023 after 12 years of maturation at 57.1%.

The whisky is matured in a refill butt and first fill Oloroso sherry butt, cask no. 3589, giving an intense sherry character with clear tannin and a wine-like, aperitif-style bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry, tight Oloroso sherry with hints of bitter aperitif, orange peel and roasted chestnut.

Palate

Full and wine-like with sherry tannin, dried fruit and a warm alcoholic edge.

Finish

Long and dry with lingering nuts and a lightly bitter sherry close.

Specifications

Name: Speybridge 2011/2023
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill butt and 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt, cask no. 3589
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2023
Number of Bottles: 776 bottles
EAN No.: 8057760350434

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Wine-like · Nutty · Cask strength

Did You Know?

'Speybridge' is one of the names independent bottlers such as Wilson & Morgan use for undisclosed Speyside distilleries — the name references the region's characteristic bridges over the River Spey.

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This elusive Speyside distillery is almost never released as an official bottling – and even among independent releases, it's a rarity. Wilson & Morgan has captured a young, sherry-toned expression that shows a different side of Glenlossie.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2013/2023 Wilson & Morgan 10 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46%.

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2023 by Wilson & Morgan, from a refill hogshead with a 2-year finish in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt, Cask No. 131-32/135-36, yielding 1,423 bottles. The influence of the two years in sherry cask is clear in the wine-toned, faintly tart note on the nose.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Wine-toned and faintly tart, with raisin and a hint of dried blackcurrant over the cereal Glenlossie base.

Palate

Round and sweet, with caramel and dark fruit, carried by a soft sherry tone that never turns heavy.

Finish

Medium length, with a faintly tannic close and a last hint of raisin.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2013/2023 Wilson & Morgan 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 46%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead with a 2-year finish in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt (Cask No. 131-32/135-36)
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 1,423

Flavour Profile

Sherry-toned · Wine-like · Round · Faintly tart

Did You Know?

Glenlossie is so rarely seen as an official bottling that even seasoned whisky collectors often only know the distillery from independent releases like this one – the name mostly lives a hidden life inside blends.

See our full range of Glenlossie

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Three years in a first fill Pedro Ximénez cask is not a finish, it is a rebuild. Fabio Rossi let the cask work until the whisky had ended up somewhere entirely different from where it started — dark, mature and almost wine-like in its sweetness.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2009/2023 Wilson & Morgan 14 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill hogshead, finished in a Pedro Ximénez cask and bottled at 57 %.

Cask no. 306993 was filled in 2009, first rested in a refill hogshead and then spent 36 months in a first fill Pedro Ximénez cask before being emptied in 2023. It produced 267 bottles in the Barrel Selection range.

Wilson & Morgan was founded in 1992 by Fabio Rossi in Treviso, and the Rossi family has traded in spirits in the Veneto since the 1920s. The house's signature is long secondary maturation in active casks — an Italian approach where whisky is handled with the same logic as wine.

Tasting notes

Nose

Very organic and almost farmyard at first, with overripe plums, fig and raisin on top. A clear wine streak runs across the whole thing.

Palate

Rich and dark with Pedro Ximénez up front: dates, dark syrup and pumpernickel. The meaty core of the spirit pushes back against the sweetness, and the 57 % gives the whisky a warm, spiced middle.

Finish

Very long and sweet with raisin, dark chocolate and a lightly bitter oak note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2009/2023 Wilson & Morgan 14 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 57 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, finished for 36 months in a 1st fill Pedro Ximénez cask, cask no. 306993
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 267
Edition: Barrel Selection
EAN no.: 8057760350953

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Rich · Sweet · Cask strength · Ripe fruit

Did you know?

Pedro Ximénez grapes are dried in the sun before pressing, which is why PX casks deliver such concentrated sweetness. A first fill PX cask can turn a whisky almost black in under three years.

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A mermaid swims across the label. That is no accident. The bottle was drawn for Denmark, and The Highlander Inn in Craigellachie let Hans Christian Andersen have the final word on how a Danish exclusive should look.

The expert description

Deveronside 2007/2023 Maggies Collection 16 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from MacDuff, matured in a hogshead and bottled at 49.8%.

MacDuff stands near Banff on the north coast, where the river Deveron meets the Moray Firth. The distillery started in 1962, and the name Deveronside appears whenever independent bottlers release MacDuff casks under something other than the distillery name. This cask, number 800219, was filled in 2007 and bottled in 2023 after sixteen years in a single hogshead. It gave 224 bottles.

Maggies Collection is The Highlander Inn’s own series, named after Maggie Riegler, a local artist from Craigellachie. She drew the labels for the inn’s bottlings until 2012 and died in 2018, but her hand still marks the range. This release is bottled without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and orange marmalade, honey on warm bread, and behind it a faint waxy note like old furniture polish.

Palate

Powerful without being harsh. Malt and pale caramel first, then baked apple, cinnamon and a nutty middle drawn out of the active hogshead.

Finish

Long and dry with pepper, orange peel and a last touch of salted caramel.

Specifications

Name: Deveronside 2007/2023 Maggies Collection 16 Years Old
Distillery: MacDuff
Bottler: The Highlander Inn
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 49.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 224
Edition: Maggies Collection

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Spiced · Waxy · Single Cask

Investment potential

Medium. One cask, 224 bottles and a release made solely for the Danish market is a combination that has historically made bottles hard to find again. The series also carries a settled collector following around The Highlander Inn.

Did you know?

The Highlander Inn is a pub with rooms in the middle of Craigellachie, and more than five hundred different whiskies stand behind the bar. It has been run by Tatsuya Minagawa from Japan since 2011. A Scottish village inn with a Japanese landlord is not the obvious arrangement, but it works.

See our full range of MacDuff

The bottle sits low and broad with a short neck, closer to an apothecary jar than a whisky bottle. Signatory has used that shape for its Decanter Collection for years, and it stands out on the shelf against everything else in the range.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 8 years Decanter Collection is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The Decanter Collection is the Signatory range in the distinctive broad bottle. The series holds a fixed bottling strength of 46 %, and casks are chosen for their ability to carry sherry influence without the distillery style disappearing. This whisky was distilled in 2014 and lay eight years in cask.

Sherry butts hold around 500 litres, giving a lower wood to liquid ratio than smaller casks. Maturation is therefore slower and more restrained, and after eight years the weight of the Ben Nevis spirit still sits clearly beneath the dried fruit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fig, raisin and walnut with a dry sherry edge. Behind it sit malt and a suggestion of dark chocolate.

Palate

Full and dry with dark fruit, nut and spiced oak. The oily core of the spirit keeps the sherry in check all the way through.

Finish

Long and dry with nut, cocoa and a warm note of spice.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 8 år Decanter Collection
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry butts
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Edition: The Decanter Collection
EAN no.: 5021944124923

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Dry · Nutty · Full bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

The Signatory Decanter Collection uses a bottle shape originally used for pharmacy goods and spices. The form makes the bottle heavy and low, and it takes more room in the case, which is why few other bottlers have copied it.

See our full range of Ben Nevis Whisky
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Same distillery and same vintage as the Old Malt Cask release, but no water has been added here. 57.7% is where the cask stood when it was emptied.

The expert's description

Glengoyne 2007/2023 The First Edition is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single refill hogshead, bottled at cask strength 57.7%.

The cask carries the number HL20035 and gave 319 bottles after fifteen years. A hogshead holds around 250 litres, half the size of a butt, which is why the outturn is smaller than the Old Malt Cask release from the same year.

The First Editions is the Hunter Laing range of single casks at full cask strength. The whisky is non-chill filtered and of natural colour, so it reaches the glass exactly as it left the cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Barley, citrus peel and vanilla with a sharp, clean malted note. The cask strength pushes the aroma forward.

Palate

Powerful and dry with green apple, malt and white pepper. The 57.7% brings warmth, but the light character of the spirit still shows through.

Finish

Long, warm and dry with malt, nuts and spiced oak.

Specifications

Name: Glengoyne 2007/2023 The First Edition 15 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57.7%
Distillery: Glengoyne
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Range: The First Editions
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 57.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, cask no. HL20035
Vintage: Distilled 2007, bottled 2023
Number of bottles: 319
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Colour: Natural
EAN no.: 5060354283875

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Malty · Citrus · Pepper · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 319 bottles from one hogshead at full cask strength, and Glengoyne rarely turns up from independent bottlers. Cask strength and a small outturn is the combination collectors watch for in this range.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing was formed in 2013 when the Laing brothers split the family firm they had run together for decades. Stewart Laing and his sons took Old Malt Cask and The First Editions with them into the new company.

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

Expert's description

Jura 2011/2023 The First Edition 11 Year Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,9% is a Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on sherry Butt, fad nr. HL20748 and bottled at 52,9%.

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

The whisky was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2023.

Only 161 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Jura 2011/2023 The First Edition 11 Year Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,9%
Distillery: Jura
Bottler: The First Edition
Region/Country: Island (Isle of Jura)
Type: Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 52,9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Butt, fad nr. HL20748
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 161
Edition: The First Edition
EAN no.: 5060354285190

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. A run of just 161 bottles from a single sherry butt makes this Jura one of the rarest independent bottlings in this whole delivery.

Did you know?

Jura distillery sits closer to Islay's distilleries than to the Scottish mainland, which often leads to confusion between the island's whisky and its famous, more heavily peated neighbour.

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Fifty-five percent of Glengoyne own range sits in sherry casks. Here Hunter Laing has done the opposite and left one refill butt alone for sixteen years.

The expert's description

Glengoyne 2007/2023 Old Malt Cask is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single refill butt, bottled at 50%.

The whisky was distilled in June 2007 and bottled in October 2023 after sixteen years. The cask gave 677 bottles, which is a lot for a single cask — a butt holds around 500 litres against half that for a hogshead.

Old Malt Cask is the oldest range from Hunter Laing and is always bottled at 50%. The whisky is non-chill filtered and of natural colour, so the strength is the only thing adjusted.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, apple and light caramel with a dry nutty note. The refill cask has let the spirit stand forward.

Palate

Dry and malty with green apples, nuts and a hint of honey. The 50% gives bite, but the whisky is still bright in its expression.

Finish

Long and dry with malt, nuts and peppery oak.

Specifications

Name: Glengoyne 2007/2023 Old Malt Cask 16 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Glengoyne
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Range: Old Malt Cask
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill butt
Distilled: June 2007
Bottled: October 2023
Number of bottles: 677
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Colour: Natural
EAN no.: 5060354285527

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Malty · Apple · Nutty · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. 677 bottles from one cask, and Glengoyne is rarely met from independent bottlers because the distillery sells few casks on. The range has a steady following that tracks the releases year by year.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing built its own distillery on Islay. Ardnahoe opened in 2018 and was the family first plant after generations in which they had only bought and bottled other people casks.

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In Speyside, some distilleries never shout about themselves — they let the whisky speak. Linkwood is one of them.

Expert's description

Linkwood 2010/2023 Old Malt Cask 13 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in canasta butt and bottled at 50%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Hunter Laing as part of the Old Malt Cask series.

It was distilled September 2010 and bottled Oktober 2023, giving it 13 years.

Only 762 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers beeswax, citrus peel and light oak.

Palate

The taste unfolds with beeswax, spice and mild sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with light oak and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2010/2023 Old Malt Cask 13 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Canasta Butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: September 2010
Bottled: Oktober 2023
Number of bottles: 762
Edition: Old Malt Cask
EAN no.: 5060354285558

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

When the distillery was rebuilt in 1962, manager Roddie Mackay insisted on copying the old stills down to the last detail, and reportedly refused to have cobwebs removed from the old still house because he believed they were part of the character.

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Eight years. That is what it takes to get Thy Whisky's single malt to this point. No 24 is the distillery's oldest release in the core line – and the proof of what time and north Jutland climate can do to certified organic barley.

Expert description

Thy Whisky No 24 – 8 years is a Danish Organic Single Malt Whisky bottled at 52.1% in a 50 cl bottle. Distilled and matured at Thy Whisky Distillery in Thy from certified organic single estate barley. No 24 refers to the serial number in the distillery's numbered release line. Eight years in a cask in a northwest Jutland climate gives a whisky with depth and complexity that places Thy Whisky No 24 in a class of its own within Danish whisky.

At 52.1% ABV, No 24 is bottled at a strength that lets the cask and distillate character express itself without excessive alcohol presence. A remarkable bottle for anyone who wants to understand what eight years does to the finest expressions from Thy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and mature with dried fruit, vanilla, honey and light oak bitterness. Eight years is clearly felt.

Palate

Complex and layered with dark fruit, malt, oak and light spices. Finely balanced and persistent.

Finish

Long and warm with oak, dried fruit and a little hazel. An outstanding ending.

Specifications

Name: Thy Whisky No 24 – 8 years
Distillery: Thy Whisky
Region/Country: Thy, Denmark
Type: Danish Organic Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 52.1%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

8 years · Mature · Dried fruit · Honey · Oak

Investment potential

High. Thy Whisky No 24 is the oldest numbered release from one of Denmark's most sought-after single estate distilleries. Eight-year-old Danish whisky in limited release is a very rare combination.

Did you know?

No 24 is the 24th release in Thy Whisky's numbered release series – a series that documents the distillery's maturation journey and experiments with local grain varieties and cask types. Each number is a time capsule.

Twenty-five percent first fill sherry casks is a lot for a permanent bottling. It is the sort of cask split usually only worked out on paper by people rather too interested in wood — and here you can taste it.

The expert's description

Glengoyne 15 Year is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a fixed mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 43% with natural colour.

The split is twenty percent first fill bourbon casks, twenty-five percent first fill sherry casks and fifty-five percent refill sherry casks. The bourbon casks keep the whisky bright, the first fill sherry casks add colour and dried fruit, and the refill casks tie it all together.

The malt is unpeated as in the rest of the range. Without smoke there is plenty of room for the casks, and the fifteen years give a clearly deeper tone than the twelve year old without making the whisky heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, nuts and orange peel with a note of cinnamon cake and soft oak.

Palate

Round and malty with raisin, walnut and dark caramel. The sherry takes up more room than in the younger expressions, with a firm spiced middle.

Finish

Long and dry with nuts, malt and spiced oak.

Specifications

Name: Glengoyne 15 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Glengoyne
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, 1st fill sherry casks and refill sherry casks
Colour: Natural
EAN no.: 5010852026658

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Sherried · Dried fruit · Nutty · Spiced

Did you know?

The warehouse George Connell built alongside the distillery in 1833 is still standing. It serves today as the shop and visitor reception, so guests step straight into the oldest building on the site.

See our full range of Glengoyne

An exclusive single-cask edition, selected specifically for Whisky.dk.

Expert description

Boulder Single Cask Whisky.dk American Single Malt Whiskey is a single-cask bottling, selected specifically for Whisky.dk, bottled at 50.5%. Boulder Spirits was founded by Scotsman Alastair Brogan, who moved to Colorado in 2011 and started the distillery as Vapor Distillery. The goal was to create a single malt whiskey 'unique to Colorado with a Scottish accent'. The distillery installed one of Colorado's largest copper pot stills and helped establish the American Single Malt Whiskey category, which was only officially recognised in the US in 2025.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers honey, toasted wood and a hint of pepper.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spiced.

Specifications

Name: Boulder Single Cask Whisky.dk American Single Malt Whiskey
Distillery: Boulder Spirits
Region/Country: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Type: American Single Malt Whiskey
ABV: 50.5%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Single Cask selected for Whisky.dk

Flavour profile

Powerful · Spiced · Full-bodied · Vanilla-forward

Investment potential

Medium

Did you know?

As an exclusive single-cask edition selected specifically for the Danish market, the number of bottles is limited to that cask's yield, making it of interest to collectors.

See our full range of Boulder Spirits

Tamdhu bets everything on sherry — no other cask comes close at this distillery. This 12-year-old is proof that the gamble pays off.

Expert's Description

Tamdhu 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Tamdhu distillery, matured exclusively in European and American oak Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 43%.

As the distillery's signature whisky, the 12-year-old is built on Tamdhu's philosophy that only sherry casks can deliver the right balance and depth, an approach that has made it an award-winning classic.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich sherry sweetness with raisin, orange peel and toasted nuts.

Palate

Full and balanced with dried fruit, caramel and a lightly spiced warmth.

Finish

Medium length with lingering sherry sweetness and a dry, soft close.

Specifications

Name: Tamdhu 12 Year Old
Distillery: Tamdhu
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Oak Cask
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5010852036688

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Award-winning · Balanced · Classic

Did You Know?

Tamdhu is one of very few Scottish distilleries that uses exclusively sherry casks across its entire core range — no bourbon casks are ever used.

See our full range of Tamdhu

Turn the sherry up to cask strength, and Tamdhu becomes something else entirely — intense, dark and without the dampening hand of added water.

Expert's Description

Tamdhu Batch Strength No 5 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Tamdhu distillery, matured exclusively in sherry oak casks and bottled at natural cask strength of 59.8%.

As the fifth release in the Batch Strength series, it shows how Tamdhu's signature use of top-quality sherry casks gives the whisky its natural colour and characteristic flavour profile, amplified by the high strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense sherry sweetness with dark raisin, toasted nuts and a hint of dark chocolate.

Palate

Powerful and full with dried fruit, caramel and a warm, spiced alcoholic edge.

Finish

Long and warming with lingering sherry sweetness and a dry, nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Batch Strength No 5
Distillery: Tamdhu
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 59.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Oak Cask
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Batch Strength No 5
EAN No.: 5010852045161

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Cask strength · Intense · Powerful

Did You Know?

Tamdhu's Batch Strength series is bottled without water reduction, meaning the strength varies slightly from batch to batch depending on the sherry casks selected.

See our full range of Tamdhu

Grain whisky rarely gets celebrated on its own, but this North British from Edinburgh shows what patient maturation can do for an overlooked category.

Expert's Description

North British 1987/2023 Adelphi Limited 36 Year Old is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in a refill bourbon cask and bottled at 47.5%.

Adelphi is run by two whisky enthusiasts who over 20 years have built an import business focused on great flavour and the ability to stand out from the crowd. This 36-year-old North British was filled from cask #235959, with only 208 bottles released worldwide.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with fresh straw and vanilla fudge, while creamy vanilla lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers honeycomb and delicate oak, with a hint of citrus notes.

Finish

The finish is dry and elegant.

Specifications

Distillery: North British
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 36 years
ABV: 47.5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Bourbon Barrel, cask #235959
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 208
Edition: Adelphi Limited
EAN no.: 5060383653496

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Light · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium. A 36-year-old single grain whisky with only 208 bottles is an unusual combination of age and rarity, making this release relevant for collectors of older grain whisky.

Did You Know?

The North British distillery in Gorgie is one of the last grain whisky distilleries in Edinburgh and has run continuously since the mid-1880s.

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

Expert's description

Imperial 1996/2023 Adelphi Limited 27 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,4% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on refill Bourbon Barrel, fad nr. 3411 and bottled at 52,4%.

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

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2023.

Only 187 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Imperial 1996/2023 Adelphi Limited 27 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,4%
Distillery: Imperial
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 27 years
ABV: 52,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Bourbon Barrel, fad nr. 3411
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1996
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 187
Edition: Adelphi Limited
EAN no.: 5060383653489

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. 27-year-old single cask bottlings from the closed Imperial distillery are highly sought after by collectors, and the run of just 187 bottles makes this edition hard to come by again.

Did you know?

Adelphi typically rejects around 24 out of every 25 casks it tastes, only bottling under its own name the ones that pass a very strict test.

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On Sweden's west coast, where the Skagerrak meets land by the tiny fishing village of Smögen, a lawyer with a taste for smoke distils his own spirit in one small copper still. This ten-year-old single cask left that still in 2013, was bottled by independent bottler Adelphi Selection in 2023, and only 232 bottles exist.

The Expert's Description

Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky matured in a first-fill bourbon cask and bottled at 58.1%.

Smögen distillery was founded in 2009 by lawyer and whisky author Pär Caldenby, who insisted on one thing from the start: the whisky had to be heavily peated. Production runs in small batches through a single, small copper still, giving the distiller tight control over every batch and a result packed with character.

This particular release was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2023 after ten years of maturation in cask #58, a first-fill bourbon cask selected by Adelphi Selection's team for its series of independent bottlings. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and with only 232 bottles released, it belongs to whoever is quick and curious enough to find it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry smoke meets fresh bourbon vanilla, with sea salt and tarred rope close behind. Underneath sits a sweetness of honey and ripe pear that keeps the smoke from taking over entirely.

Palate

Powerful and cask-strength intense from the first sip, with smoke, black pepper and burnt sugar in tight interplay. The bourbon cask shows clearly through vanilla and coconut, while coastal salt adds a maritime edge.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering smoke, toasted oak and a dry, ashy close that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Smögen 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection 10 Year Old Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Smögen
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Bohuslän, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 year(s)
ABV: 58.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon cask, cask #58
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 232
Edition: Adelphi Selection
EAN no.: 5060383653458

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Cask strength · Spiced · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium. Smögen ranks among the most sought-after Scandinavian distilleries with collectors, and with only 232 bottles from this particular cask, it will not be easy to find again once it is gone. The peated house style and Adelphi's name on the label both work in this bottle's favour.

Did You Know?

Smögen produces under 35,000 litres a year, making it one of the smallest distilleries in the Nordics. Pär Caldenby, the man behind it, wrote a book about enjoying malt whisky long before he ever distilled a drop of his own.

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Just north of Filey Bay on the Yorkshire coast, a distillery grows its own barley and fills it into cask a few hundred metres from the field. This bottling is drawn from a single Moscatel hogshead by Adelphi, one of Scotland's most experienced independent bottlers, offering a rare look at the distillery's early, energetic style.

Expert's Description

Spirit of Yorkshire 2018/2023 Adelphi Selection 5 Year Old is a Single Malt English Whisky matured in a first fill Moscatel hogshead and bottled at 48%.

The distillery on Filey Bay is Yorkshire's first of its kind, growing and malting its own barley, distilling and maturing it all on the same family farm in Hunmanby. This single cask was distilled in 2018 and drawn from cask number 3054 in 2023, giving the Moscatel wood five years to leave its mark on the spirit. The release is limited to 330 bottles.

Adelphi has spent twenty years building its reputation as an independent bottler on exactly this kind of find: young distilleries, unusual casks, and bottlings released without colouring or chill filtration, letting the spirit speak for itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with cinnamon and honeycomb, quickly followed by orange marmalade and a dusting of dark cocoa. Underneath the sweetness sits a faint cereal freshness that hints at the whisky's youth.

Palate

The palate is warm and spiced, carrying dried fruit, marzipan and a tart edge of citrus peel. The Moscatel cask lends a wine-like sweetness that ties the cinnamon and honey together.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, dry, faintly peppery, with a last trace of honey cake.

Specifications

Name: Spirit of Yorkshire 2018/2023 Adelphi Selection 5 Year Old
Distillery: Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Yorkshire, England
Type: Single Malt English Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Moscatel hogshead, cask no. 3054
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 330
Edition: Adelphi Selection
EAN no.: 5060383653465

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spiced · Wine-Cask · Creamy

Did You Know?

Cask number 3054 was selected as part of Adelphi's celebration of the bottler's 30th anniversary — a nod to exactly the kind of independent bottling that made the company's name.

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Thirteen years is a long time for an Irish blend to sit and wait, but Ahascragh Distillery has the patience for it. This edition of Clan Colla is the oldest in the Family Bond Series and shows it clearly in the glass.

Expert Review

Clan Colla Family Bond 13 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish is a Blended Irish Whiskey matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is assembled from double distilled malt and grain whiskey from Ahascragh Distillery. After a long primary maturation in Bourbon casks, it gets a finishing period in Oloroso Sherry casks, adding depth, sweetness and spice beyond what is typically found in the younger expressions of the series.

The whiskey is bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit, raisins, vanilla and a touch of spice.

Palate

Caramel, nuts and dried fruit, with a clear thread of sherry running through.

Finish

Long and warming, with cocoa and spiced oak.

Specifications

Name: Clan Colla Family Bond 13 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish
Distillery: Ahascragh Distillery
Region/Country: County Galway, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks & Oloroso Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Family Bond Series

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Deep · Full-bodied · Rounded

Did You Know?

The Clan Colla series takes its name from a historic Irish clan, and the Family Bond releases are Ahascragh's way of experimenting with cask maturation while the distillery's own new-make spirit matures in the background.
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Same cask type, different vintage — but never the same whisky. This 12-year-old Burgundy maturation shows just how much variation hides from cask to cask.

The expert's description

Edradour 2011/2023 Burgundy Casks 12 years old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill Burgundy hogsheads and bottled at 48.2%.

The whisky was distilled in March 2011 and matured for 12 years across eight 1st fill Burgundy casks, numbers 92 to 101, before being bottled in December 2023. The Burgundy casks' light, red fruit character gives the whisky a fresh, almost delicate profile that sets it apart from Edradour's sherry-matured releases. 2,840 bottles were released.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh red berries and a hint of rhubarb, with a lightly floral apple blossom scent underneath.

Palate

Fresh and fruity with raspberry and a touch of pepper, supported by Edradour's soft, honeyed malt.

Finish

Short to medium in length with a dry, lightly spiced finish and a lingering fruitiness.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2011/2023 Burgundy Casks 12 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48.2%
Distillery: Edradour
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 48,2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Burgundy hogsheads (cask no. 92-101)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: March 2011
Bottled: December 2023
Number of bottles: Only 2,840 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944125043

Flavour profile

Fruity · Fresh

Did you know?

Edradour still uses traditional worm tub condensers in production — an old-fashioned method that gives the whisky a heavier, more oily character than many modern distilleries achieve with shell-and-tube condensers.

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In Speyside, some distilleries never shout about themselves — they let the whisky speak. Linkwood is one of them.

Expert's description

Linkwood 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 11 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in 1st fill oloroso sherry butts and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection series.

It was distilled 25. juli 2012 and bottled Oktober 2023, giving it 11 years.

Only 1565 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers ripe pears, citrus peel and dried fig.

Palate

The taste unfolds with blossom, walnut and sherry toffee.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with raisins and ripe pears.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 11 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts (#102 og 103)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 25. juli 2012
Bottled: Oktober 2023
Number of bottles: 1565
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944124701

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Linkwood was founded in 1821 just outside Elgin, making it one of the oldest working distilleries in Speyside.

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From the north of Scotland to the Italian vineyards and back - this Teaninich has picked up an unexpected wine-inspired dimension from casks that once held one of Tuscany's most sought-after red wines.

Expert description

Teaninich 2009/2023 from Signatory is a 13 year old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky at 46%, bottled under Signatory's The Un-chillfiltered Collection range.

The whisky matured in four first-fill hogsheads (cask no. #9, #13, #14 and #15) that previously held Bolgheri - a celebrated Italian red wine from the Tuscan coast. This unusual cask history gives the whisky a subtle, wine-touched dimension layered over Teaninich's classic light style.

Distilled in September 2009 and bottled in March 2023 after 13 years of maturation, the whisky is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured. 701 bottles were released of this edition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Red berries and a hint of dried herbs, backed by soft vanilla and lightly toasted malt.

Palate

Mild and round, with notes of raspberry, cherry and a delicate tannic structure from the wine casks.

Finish

Medium length with a lingering, lightly tart berry note that fades into dry oak.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2009/2023 Signatory The Un-chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Series: The Un-chillfiltered Collection
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st Fill Bolgheri Hogsheads / Cask No. #9, #13, #14 & #15
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 09/2009
Bottled: 03/2023
Number of bottles: 701
EAN no.: 5021944121731

Flavour profile

berry-toned · wine-touched · mild

Did you know?

Bolgheri is a small but world-famous wine region on the Tuscan coast, known for its 'Super Tuscans' - powerful red wines blending Italian and French grape varieties, which here have left a unique imprint on a Scotch whisky.

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100 proof is not a round number, it is a historical measure. In the British system it corresponds to 57.1% alcohol, and that is exactly where every single bottle in this series sits, whatever the distillery and whatever the age.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2010/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Years Old 100 Proof Edition #4 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and bottled at 57.1%. Cask 137 was distilled in 2010 and bottled on 5 December 2023.

The 100 Proof series gathers single malts from different Scottish distilleries, all bottled at precisely the same strength. That makes the series an unusually clean comparison: with the alcohol content identical, the differences between distillery and cask stand out without the strength clouding the picture.

Here Ardmore’s peated Highland spirit meets first fill Oloroso wood. It is a forceful combination, since fresh sherry casks give dark fruit, tannin and colour in quantity, and the smoke has to work to get through. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit first: raisins, prunes and preserved cherries. Beneath sit dry smoke and roasted nuts, along with a resinous sherry note that only first fill casks provide.

Palate

Full and dark. Raisins and bitter chocolate open, then the smoke arrives as a dry undercurrent alongside spiced oak and black pepper. At 57.1% the concentration is considerable, and sherry and smoke pull in opposite directions all the way.

Finish

Long and spiced. Dark fruit, ash and oak tannin, with a warmth that lingers well afterwards.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2010/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Years Old 100 Proof Edition #4 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57.1%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, cask no. 137
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 5 December 2023
Edition: 100 Proof Edition #4
EAN no.: 5021944125081

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Smoky · Dark Fruit · Spiced · Cask Strength · Nutty

Did You Know?

The proof system comes from an old British method of checking whether spirit had been watered down: you poured it over gunpowder and set it alight. If the powder burned, the spirit was strong enough and had passed the proof. One hundred degrees proof was later fixed at 57.1% alcohol, and that is exactly the strength this series is bottled at.

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Five centilitres is enough to work out whether a distillery is for you. This small bottle holds the Glasgow Distillery house style in undiluted form: bright, fruity and bottled at 46% with no filtration and no colouring. An honest sample, not a splash in a plastic cup.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow The Original is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon and Virgin Oak casks and bottled at 46% in 5 cl format. It is the distillery’s core release and carries the subtitle Fresh & Fruity, which describes what happens in the glass rather accurately.

The whisky is unpeated and double distilled. The bourbon casks give vanilla, coconut and a soft cereal sweetness, while the Virgin Oak lays in spice and a drier edge so the profile never turns cloying. There is no age statement; the distillery bottles when the casks are ready rather than when the calendar says so.

The mash ferments for more than 72 hours and distillation runs slowly in copper pot stills using water from Loch Katrine. Neither chill filtration nor colouring is involved.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pear and green apple first, clear and fresh. Beneath sit vanilla, desiccated coconut and a light honey note. There is a fine cereal thread too, close to warm porridge oats.

Palate

Soft and lightly creamy. Vanilla and baked apple arrive first, then a brief spicy tightening from the new oak, cinnamon with a little white pepper. The 46% gives good body for a bottle this size.

Finish

Short to medium. Vanilla, malt and a dry oak note that lets go cleanly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow The Original Fresh & Fruity Single Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and Virgin Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060411500952

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Fruity · Vanilla · Soft · Malty · Spiced

Did You Know?

The number 1770 is not the founding year of the current distillery but of the original Glasgow Distillery, which opened that year. When the modern distillery was built it became the first malt distillery inside Glasgow itself for more than a century, and the name was chosen to tie the two together.

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618 steps lead up to the rock of Skellig Michael, where monks once built their monastery high above the Atlantic. That number has given its name to Ireland's only distillery on the Ring of Kerry.

Expert Review

Skellig Six18 Step Collection Limited Edition is an Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey matured in three cask types, bottled at 43%.

The whiskey is the first expression from Skellig Six18 Distillery in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, and the first Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey with a peated profile, inspired by the Atlantic peatlands and the maritime history along the Skellig Coast. It is mashed from both malted and unmalted barley and triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, giving it the silky structure the style is known for. The distillery is housed in a former dry dock, from which locals and visitors once sailed out to Skellig Michael.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh maritime peat meets young grain and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Silky structure with spiced grain and a light, smoky depth.

Finish

Peat and salt linger, rounded off by a light sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Skellig Six18 Step Collection Limited Edition
Distillery: Skellig Six18 Distillery
Region/Country: County Kerry, Ireland
Type: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Edition: Six18 Step Collection, Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5391536650216

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spiced · Silky · Salty

Did You Know?

Skellig Six18 Distillery is housed in a former dry dock for boats that once carried visitors out to the UNESCO rock of Skellig Michael, and the name refers to the 618 steps monks once carved into the rock to reach their monastery.
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The rye field lies three hundred metres from the stills. That is not a romantic turn of phrase, it is an address. At Arbikie everything is sown, harvested, distilled, matured and bottled on the same farm running down to Lunan Bay, and that makes this whisky something very few Scottish distilleries can imitate.

The Expert's Description

Arbikie 1794 Batch 22 is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in new charred American oak casks and bottled at 48%. The batch yielded 2,490 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The rye makes it a Single Grain rather than a Single Malt, since the term Single Malt is reserved for whisky made solely from malted barley. 1794 was the first rye whisky ever made in Scotland, and the name refers to the year distilling first took place at Arbikie. Maturation happens entirely in new charred oak, which is unusual in Scotland but entirely normal for American rye.

Every batch turns out differently, because weather, field and grain variety shift from year to year. Batch 22 carries a deep rich amber colour from the new wood and aromas of hedgerow berries, black tea and caramel. The Stirling family has been farming since 1660 and has been at Arbikie for four generations.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Hedgerow berries and black tea first, with a layer of warm caramel underneath. The rye reports in as dried dill and a peppery, almost green note. The new oak gives vanilla and a light resinous scent, more American than Scottish.

Palate

Spicy and dry from the start. The rye fills the mid-palate with pepper and a sweetish cereal character, while the charred oak lays caramel, cinnamon and burnt sugar on top. At 48% there is body enough to carry it without the whisky turning hard.

Finish

Long and spicy. Pepper, dried fruit and a dry woody close, where the rye hangs on longest.

Specifications

Name: Arbikie 1794 Batch 22 Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Arbikie
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New charred American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 2,490
Edition: Batch 22
EAN no.: 5060398440616

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Dry · Caramel · Berry · Peppery · Oaky

Did You Know?

The Stirling family has been farming since 1660, originally on the west coast. The land passed through seven generations before great uncle Bill moved to Lunan Bay on the Angus coast in the 1920s. The family has now worked that farm for four generations, and it is the same ground the rye for this whisky grows on.

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Palo Cortado is sherry's rare middle path, and that same complexity gives this Old Perth release a different, more enigmatic expression.

Expert Review

Old Perth Palo Cortado Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55,8% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Palo Cortado sherry casks and bottled at 55.8% ABV.

Palo Cortado is a sherry style of great complexity, combining the delicate bouquet of an amontillado with the full-bodied power of an Oloroso. Old Perth Palo Cortado is matured in exactly this rare cask type, giving the whisky an unusual depth and a spicy, nutty expression.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is complex with walnut, dried apricot and a light, spiced oak.

Palate

The palate is nutty and spiced, with underlying sweetness and good body.

Finish

The finish is long and spiced, with lingering nuts and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Old Perth Palo Cortado Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55,8%
Distillery: Old Perth
Region: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Palo Cortado sherry casks
EAN No.: 5060996640432

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Nutty · Spicy

Did You Know?

Palo Cortado is the rarest of all sherry styles, arising from a random, unpredictable process in the cask – no bodega can deliberately produce it from the start.

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Most whiskies use two cask types and call it a day. Here there are three, and two of them are bourbon casks of different sizes. That sounds like a detail. It is not, because the volume of a cask decides how fast the wood works.

The Expert's Description

Aberlour Triple Cask Matured is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon barrels, bourbon hogsheads and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 40%. The three cask types were not chosen for the sake of symmetry but because each one contributes something different.

A bourbon barrel holds around 200 litres, a hogshead around 250. The smaller cask has more wood contact per litre and therefore works faster and more directly, giving more vanilla and coconut. The hogshead moves more slowly and yields a rounder, maltier character. The Oloroso casks then stack raisins, orange and spice on top of the other two.

There is no age statement. Aberlour assembles the whisky by flavour profile rather than by date, and three cask types give exactly that freedom. The distillery sits at the foot of Ben Rinnes in the village of Aberlour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and light caramel first, clearly bourbon-driven. Then honey, ripe pear and a gentle coconut note. The sherry sits discreetly behind as orange marmalade and a streak of cinnamon.

Palate

Round and lightly creamy. Custard and malt open, then baked apples and a mild spiced warmth from the Oloroso casks. There is more vanilla and less raisin here than in the distillery’s sherry-heavy expressions. Soft the whole way through.

Finish

Medium length. Vanilla, malt and a light oak dryness. The sweetness fades calmly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Aberlour Triple Cask Matured Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Aberlour
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrels, bourbon hogsheads and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Triple Cask Matured
EAN no.: 5000299620120

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Fruity · Malty · Soft · Honeyed · Spiced

Did You Know?

The difference between a barrel and a hogshead is not only size. A hogshead is typically built by gathering staves from several bourbon barrels and fitting new heads. The cask is therefore recycled material reassembled, and that is why hogsheads are so common in Scotland: they can be built from American offcuts.

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