A hogshead that received a final kiss from an Italian Barrique cask, and a spirit that answers back with depth and the full force of cask strength.

Expert description

Teaninich 13 Year Old Rare Cask from Lady of the Glen is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2023 from cask no. 721009, a hogshead finished in a Profiler Barrique cask, at full cask strength of 58%.

The bottling belongs to Lady of the Glen's Rare Cask range, where the whisky, after its primary maturation, gains an extra layer of complexity from a Barrique cask, a cask type more commonly associated with wine. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, so what sits in the glass is as close to the raw spirit as it gets.

The 13 years of maturation and the subsequent Barrique finish have given the whisky a deep, spiced character that balances Teaninich's natural cereal lightness with a darker, more wine-toned dimension.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark berries, a touch of tobacco and a warm spiced scent from the Barrique cask.

Palate

Rich and intense, with notes of dark chocolate, red fruit flesh and a hint of pepper.

Finish

Long and spiced, with lingering warmth from the full cask strength.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 13 Year Old Rare Cask
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead with Profiler Barrique finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2023

Flavour profile

spiced · wine-toned · intense

Investment potential

As a single cask release with an unusual Barrique finish and full cask strength, this Teaninich sits in a category where demand typically outpaces supply, giving it solid investment potential compared with standard bottlings.

Did you know?

In 1887, Teaninich became the first whisky plant north of Inverness to have both electricity and a telephone, well ahead of most other distilleries in the region.

See our full range of Teaninich

North British 1992/2023 Lady of the Glen 30 Year Old Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 47.7%

Lady of the Glen is an independent whisky merchant and bottler specializing in releasing small batches of high-quality whiskies from carefully selected casks. They focus on creating unique and exclusive releases, often from lesser-known distilleries or special cask types. Here, they have found a unique cask from the grain distillery North British, with only 188 bottles available.

Distillery: North British
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Vintage: Distilled: 1992 Bottled: 2023
Age: 30 years
Type: Single Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Cask number/type: Rare Cask
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 47.7%
70 cl

On the banks of the River Lossie just outside Elgin stands a distillery that has been distilling since 1897. Twelve years after the spirit ran clear from Glen Moray's stills, a small independent bottler in Fife found its way to these two casks and bottled them under the name Dalgety - named after the bay where its warehouses sit.

Expert's Description

Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two refill hogsheads and bottled at cask strength 52.5%.

The whisky comes from Glen Moray Distillery, but is bottled by the independent bottler Hannah Whisky Merchants under their Dalgety series - a lesser-known sibling to the house's better-known Lady of the Glen. The casks were filled on 5 July 2011 and left to rest for twelve years before being bottled on 25 September 2023 under the direction of Gregor Hannah. That yielded a total of 683 numbered bottles from this limited small batch release.

Because the casks had already held whisky before, they work quietly in the background. They draw less colour and tannin from the wood than a first-fill cask would, letting Glen Moray's own light, fruity character stand out clearly. The whisky is bottled without chill-filtration or added colour, so everything - from nose to finish - comes straight from spirit and wood.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose opens with honey and ripe white grapes, quickly followed by crisp notes of caramel wafer and a hint of toasted pecans.

Palate

On the palate it's full-bodied and slightly oily, with caramel wafer and honey up front, while black pepper offers a spicy counterpoint to the sweetness.

Finish

The finish lands on toasted walnut and a lingering touch of pepper that stays long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Dalgety Glen Moray 12 Year Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Glen Moray
Bottler: Hannah Whisky Merchants
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Year
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 5 July 2011
Bottled: 25 September 2023
Number of bottles: 683
Edition: Dalgety - Limited Release, Small Batch

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Nutty · Spicy

Investment Potential

Medium - independent bottlings from a well-regarded house like Hannah Whisky Merchants, known for Lady of the Glen, attract collectors. With only 683 bottles, cask strength, and neither colouring nor filtration, this release fits well into a collection of small, limited bottlings.

Did You Know?

Beneath Glen Moray's distillery in Elgin lies a grim piece of history: the site was once home to the town's gallows, and when workers excavated for a new warehouse in 1962, they uncovered seven skulls - one with a musket ball lodged in the jaw.

See our full range of Glen Moray

See our full range of Dalgety

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A bottle named after a Nirvana song and a distillery that may not be named. Uncharted Whisky Co. makes a virtue of not taking itself too seriously.

Expert description

Dalrymple Come As You Are 2012/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 11 years is a Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-oloroso sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 55% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The cask carries the number UC026, was filled in July 2012 and emptied in October 2023 with an outturn of 687 bottles. Dalrymple is the name the bottler uses for malt whisky from the Lowlands where the source may not be disclosed. The Lowlands is Scotland's gentlest region, and eleven years in an active sherry cask gives that light style a depth it otherwise rarely reaches.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark fruit and cereal. Raisin, orange peel and a light herbal note, with cocoa and spice underneath.

Palate

Full for a Lowland malt. Dried fruit, malt and dark chocolate, with a dry sherry edge and a peppery warmth from the cask strength. The region's lightness is still there under the sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry, with nuts, dark fruit and a warm spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Dalrymple Come As You Are 2012/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 11 years Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55%
Distillery: Lowlands Distilleries
Bottler: Uncharted Whisky Co.
Region/Country: Lowlands Scotland
Type: Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 55 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-oloroso sherry butt no. UC026
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 07/2012
Bottled: 10/2023
Number of bottles: 687
Edition: Come As You Are

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Malty · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask at cask strength in 687 bottles from a small-scale bottler. Lowland malt in active sherry wood is an unusual combination.

Did you know?

Uncharted Whisky Co. names its releases after songs. Come As You Are is Nirvana from 1991 — the same decade the whisky in the bottle was heading towards, if you count a few years from the record to the cask.

See our full range of Uncharted Whisky Co.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood Peaches 2010/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 13 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in red wine barrique and bottled at 50%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Uncharted Whisky Co. as part of the Peaches series.

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

Only 345 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with beeswax, honey and light tannin.

Palate

The taste unfolds with ripe pears, light tannin and spice.

Finish

The aftertaste is medium in length, with spice and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood Peaches 2010/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 13 år Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Uncharted Whisky Co.
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Red Wine Barrique (#UC021)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: Juni 2010
Bottled: September 2023
Number of bottles: 345
Edition: Peaches

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spicy · Rounded

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.

See our full range of Linkwood

In the far reaches of North Jutland, where winter storms sweep across open farmland and ancient ruins speak of a thousand years of history, Søgaard Destilleri has created a whisky with something to say. Bisgaardsmark Børglum Kloster is named after one of Denmark's most remarkable medieval monasteries.

Expert description

Bisgaardsmark Børglum Kloster Single Malt Danish Whisky is a limited single malt from Søgaard Destilleri in Aalborg, bottled at 46.1% in a 50 cl bottle and presented as a gift set with a whisky glass. Named after Børglum Monastery — an Augustinian monastery dating back to the 12th century in northern Jutland — the whisky pays tribute to the region's deep cultural history. Only 501 bottles were produced, bottled on 13 November 2023. Søgaard Destilleri is part of Søgaards Bryghus in Aalborg, a project that started in 2018 when the distillery equipment was ordered from CARL, a German firm founded in 1869. The distillery focuses on terroir-driven Danish whisky production using grain from North Jutland's islands. The whisky is matured in bourbon oak casks and is unpeated.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and approachable with sweet malt and fresh barley grain. Vanilla and light caramel from the bourbon cask appear early, with delicate floral notes and a hint of honey in the background.

Palate

Round and harmonious. Sweet malt and caramel lead, followed by fresh fruit notes — hints of pear and green apple. A gentle warming spice develops toward the finish.

Finish

Medium-long and smooth, with lingering vanilla and light oak. A clean, fresh close that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Bisgaardsmark Børglum Kloster Single Malt Danish Whisky
Distillery: Søgaard Destilleri
Region/Country: North Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.1%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Bourbon oak casks
Bottled: 13 November 2023
Number of bottles: 501
Edition: Gift set with whisky glass

Flavour profile

Sweet · Fruity · Bourbon-matured · Danish Terroir · Limited Edition

Investment potential

Medium. With only 501 bottles produced and from a young Danish distillery gaining recognition, Bisgaardsmark Børglum Kloster has potential as a collector's item — particularly as Søgaard Destilleri is still relatively unknown outside North Jutland.

Did you know?

Børglum Kloster, which inspired the whisky's name, is one of Denmark's best-preserved medieval monastery complexes. Founded by the Augustinian order in the 12th century in North Jutland, it is today a listed heritage site open to visitors.

See our full range of Søgaard Destilleri

Sun-ripened apples, honeydew melon and a whisper of wine-toned sweetness greet the glass long before the first sip.

Expert description

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in American oak casks and finished in white wine casks that previously held Sauvignon Blanc, bottled at 40% ABV.

The bottling belongs to Tamnavulin's Cask Edition range, where the distillery's naturally soft and approachable character is paired with different cask finishes. It carries no age statement, prioritising fruit and roundness over heavy oak influence.

The white wine casks have layered fresh acidity and floral sweetness onto Tamnavulin's already gentle spirit, resulting in an easy-drinking whisky with a clear wine-driven signature.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet honeydew melon, crisp green apple and a creamy touch of vanilla and coconut.

Palate

Citrus fruit, baked apple tart and a hint of ginger and cinnamon spice sit atop a soft malt core.

Finish

Short to medium, with lingering sweetness and a final flash of white orchard fruit.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: No age statement
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks
Edition: White Wine Cask Edition
EAN no.: 5013967018891

Flavour profile

fruity · wine-toned · sweet

Did you know?

Tamnavulin translates loosely as "the little hill of the mill", and the distillery was founded in 1966 on the banks of the River Livet in the heart of Speyside.

See our full range of Tamnavulin

Mahogany gold in the glass and Spanish red wine in the casks. Red Wine Cask Edition No. 2 is Tamnavulin's take on a whisky that tastes of caramelised orange and red berries in the same breath.

Expert description

Tamnavulin Red Wine Cask Edition No. 2 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in American oak casks and finished in Spanish Grenache red wine casks, bottled at 40%.

Edition No. 2 is part of Tamnavulin's ongoing series of wine cask releases, where the distillery's soft, sweet base style is set against different European wine styles. Here the choice falls on Grenache, a red wine grape widely grown in Spain, known for lending casks bold fruit and a lightly spiced warmth.

After maturing in American oak, the whisky moves into the used Grenache casks, where it picks up colour and flavour from the red wine. The result is a mahogany-gold whisky with a distinct layer of red fruit on top of Tamnavulin's characteristic sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Caramelised orange and marzipan with nuances of vanilla and a light creamy sweetness.

Palate

Charming notes of red berries meet subtle tones of toffee apple, peach and a hint of coffee.

Finish

Short to medium, softly rounded, closing on a hint of red wine fruit and lightly toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin Red Wine Cask Edition No. 2
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in Spanish Grenache red wine casks
Edition: Red Wine Cask Edition No. 2
EAN nr.: 5013967016613

Flavour profile

Red wine fruit · Sweet · Nutty · Creamy · Softly rounded

Did you know?

Grenache is one of the world's most widely planted red wine grapes and often features in classic Spanish Rioja and French Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends before the casks get a second life as whisky casks.

See our full range of Tamnavulin

Peat and bourbon are two things that don't always go hand in hand. But Mosgaard has done it – and batch number one is here. Peated malt meets the bourbon cask's vanilla and sweetness in an organic Danish expression at 48.4%.

Expert description

Mosgaard Peated Bourbon Batch #1 is an organic Peated Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 48.4% from Mosgaard Distillery in Odense. The whisky is the first batch in Mosgaard's Peated Bourbon series – peated malt matured in ex-bourbon casks. It is a combination that creates an interesting contrast: the smoke from the peat meets the sweet vanilla and caramel of the bourbon cask, and the result is a smoky expression with a softer, fruitier edge than typical peated whiskies matured in ex-sherry casks. Bottled in 50 cl format.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoky peat with the bourbon cask's sweet vanilla and caramel underneath. An interesting intersection of smoke and sweetness.

Palate

Fresh smoke with bourbon vanilla, light citrus sweetness and grain in the background. The bourbon cask softens the peat and gives a more fruity and approachable smoke style.

Finish

Medium long with lingering smoke and a soft, lightly vanilla-sweet close from the bourbon cask.

Specifications

Name: Mosgaard Peated Bourbon Batch #1
Distillery: Mosgaard Distillery
Region/Country: Odense, Denmark
Type: Organic Peated Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.4%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon cask
EAN: 0602989758479

Flavour profile

Smoky · Vanilla · Peated · Bourbon

Did you know?

Ex-bourbon casks are one of the most widely used cask types in the whisky world – but the combination with peated malt is relatively uncommon. Most peated single malts use ex-sherry casks to amplify the smoke. Mosgaard's Peated Bourbon Batch #1 does the opposite and gives the peat a light, fresh bourbon foundation instead of a dark, fruity sherry base.

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Three cask types at once is rare for an Irish blend, but Clan Colla Family Bond 11 Year Old dares to try. The result is a whiskey with more layers than most of its peers.

Expert Review

Clan Colla Family Bond 11 Year Old is a Blended Irish Whiskey matured in Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry and peated casks, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is a smooth yet complex blend of double distilled malt whiskey combined with grain whiskey. The triple cask maturation across ex-Bourbon casks, Oloroso Sherry casks and peated casks brings together sweetness, depth and a hint of smoke in one glass. The expression has previously won gold at the Irish Whiskey Masters and the Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit and sherry sweetness, with a subtle hint of smoke in the background.

Palate

Caramel and dried fruit meet a light, smoky spice character from the peated casks.

Finish

Long, with cocoa, oak and a lingering smoky note.

Specifications

Name: Clan Colla Family Bond 11 Year Old
Distillery: Ahascragh Distillery
Region/Country: County Galway, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, Oloroso Sherry casks & Peated casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Family Bond Series
EAN no.: 5391539220010

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Lightly smoky · Deep · Spiced · Complex

Did You Know?

This edition of Clan Colla is the only one in the Family Bond Series to combine three different cask types, including peated casks, in a single whiskey.
See our full range of Ahascragh

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Three styles, one bottle. Uais is Ahascragh Distillery's attempt to gather the core of Irish whiskey into a single glass, and the name means "noble" in Irish.

Expert Review

Uais The Triple Blend is a Blended Irish Whiskey combining Pot Still, Single Malt and Grain Whiskey, matured in Ex-Bourbon and Virgin Oak casks, bottled at 43%.

The blend consists of 25% Pot Still, 25% Single Malt and 50% Grain Whiskey, representing the three core styles of Irish whiskey in a single bottle. It is bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour, letting the character of the casks come through clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft grain and vanilla meet a touch of fresh oak from the Virgin Oak cask.

Palate

Round and lightly spiced, with the pot still character clearly present behind the soft grain sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, with a dry, oak-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Uais The Triple Blend Irish Whiskey
Distillery: Ahascragh Distillery
Region/Country: County Galway, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon casks & Virgin Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5391539220133

Flavour Profile

Grain sweetness · Round · Lightly spiced · Oak-driven · Balanced

Did You Know?

The name Uais means "noble" in Irish and was chosen because the blend is meant as a tribute to all three classic Irish whiskey styles at once.
See our full range of Ahascragh

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Most distilleries choose one grain and stick with it. Spirit of Hven never got that memo. Old Hare is built from four different grains grown right around the distillery, and the result tastes broader and rounder than most things coming out of the Nordics.

The Expert's Description

Spirit of Hven Old Hare is a Blended Swedish Whisky finished in PX sherry and red wine casks and bottled at 40.4%.

Where most Nordic distilleries stick to single malt, Hven takes a different route with Old Hare. The whisky is built from four grains grown locally on the island: wheat, rye, corn and malted barley. Each grain spirit is matured separately in new European and American oak for three to five years, before the distillery blends them with its own malt whisky and lets the marriage continue for up to twelve months.

The final stage happens in casks that once held sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry and Spanish Gran Reserva red wine, and that is where Old Hare picks up its round sweetness and light fruit notes. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and it is bottled directly at the distillery.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mild and inviting, with vanilla and pear leading, followed by a soft grain sweetness and a light touch of oak. Not powerful, but easy to approach from the first sniff.

Palate

Oak and sweetness meet in fine balance, while ripe red fruit and dried fruit come through alongside a wine-like softness from the red wine casks. The malt sits underneath as a round base for it all.

Finish

Short but warm, with a gentle grain-spiced close that settles quietly without sharp edges.

Specifications

Name: Spirit of Hven Old Hare Blended Swedish Whisky
Distillery: Spirit of Hven
Region/Country: Hven, Sweden
Type: Blended Swedish Whisky
ABV: 40.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New European and American oak, finished in PX sherry and Spanish red wine casks
EAN no.: 7350044859045

Flavour Profile

Soft · Fruity · Sherry-toned · Oaky · Lightly spiced

Did You Know?

The name Old Hare nods to the German hares released on Hven in the 1850s under kings Oscar I and Oscar II. Hare hunting has been a local tradition ever since, and Spirit of Hven calls itself the world's smallest pot still distillery.

See our full range of Spirit of Hven

August 1991. A cask is filled at Glen Spey in Rothes. The world pays no attention. And then it waits — 24 years and six months — until Gordon & Company pulls bottle number 30 of 291 in February 2016 and puts the cork in. That is the definition of patience.

Expert's description

Glen Spey 1991/2016 The Pearls of Scotland 24 year is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside matured in a single cask for 24 years and bottled at 49.5% by Gordon & Company. The Pearls of Scotland is Gordon & Company's series of cask strength bottlings — "a pearl is something valued highly for its beauty and rarity" is the philosophy behind it. Each release is single cask, bottled at cask strength, without colouring or chill filtration.

24 years in a single cask produces a whisky of rare complexity. Glen Spey's light, floral base character has had time to transform: the fruit has become jammy and concentrated, the oak has added vanilla depth and a light nutty resinousness, and the natural strength of 49.5% still holds everything in balance. Cask no. 2533 yielded exactly 291 bottles — no. 30 is the one you see here.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dense and malty with dark chocolate and a sharp green apple note. Blueberry and vanilla reveal themselves slowly, followed by pale honeycake and a faint suggestion of leather.

Palate

Vanilla-first, full and creamy with apple and orange as supporting elements. The tannins from the extended cask life are balanced by natural sweetness — never sharp, always well-integrated.

Finish

Long and creamy with rich toffee and a gentle oak note. Warm and slowly fading — the classic hallmark of a well-aged single cask.

Specifications

Name: Glen Spey 1991/2016 The Pearls of Scotland 24 year
Distillery: Glen Spey
Bottler: Gordon & Company (Distillers) Ltd. – The Pearls of Scotland
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 24 years
ABV: 49.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask
Bottled: February 2016
Number of bottles: 291 (bottle no. 30)
Cask no.: #2533
EAN no.: 5060371830663

Flavour profile

Malty · Chocolatey · Creamy · Fruity · Vanilla-rich

Investment potential

High — a 24-year single cask bottling from 2016, now over 10 years old as a release. Only 291 bottles exist, and Glen Spey single malts of this age are extremely scarce.

Did you know?

Glen Spey was the first Scottish distillery to come into English ownership when W. & A. Gilbey — a London wine merchant — acquired it in 1887. It opened the door for English capital in the Scottish whisky industry.

See our full range of Glen Spey

At the mouth of the river in Bushmills, County Antrim, whiskey has been distilled since 1608, the oldest licensed whiskey production in the world. Ten years on cask is where the newcomer meets Bushmills at its most classic.

Expert Review

Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt is an Irish Single Malt Whiskey matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is a marriage of single malts, each matured for at least 10 years in hand-selected Bourbon barrels and Sherry casks. Bushmills distils exclusively from malted barley and is known for a light, fruity style that sets it apart from the heavier pot still whiskeys further south in Ireland.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and lively, with notes of ripe fruit.

Palate

Creamy vanilla and softly toasted wood, balanced by the fresh fruitiness from the nose.

Finish

Soft and lightly spiced, with a lingering wood and vanilla note.

Specifications

Name: Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Distillery: Bushmills
Region/Country: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon & Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5055966820037

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Creamy · Lightly spiced · Vanilla-forward · Soft

Did You Know?

Bushmills has held a licence to distil since 1608, making it the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
See our full range of Bushmills

Eighteen years in two types of oak. Macallan's Double Cask philosophy is straightforward: let American and European oak work together to shape the final whisky. Then give it enough time for the two systems to find each other.

Expert's Description

Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask 2023 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 18 years in sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, bottled at 43%. The two cask types complement each other: American sherry oak lends citrus, vanilla and butterscotch, while European sherry oak provides gentle spice and depth. The 2023 release is the current vintage of one of Macallan's most classic age-stated expressions.

For many collectors, Macallan 18 Year Old is a benchmark — not because it surprises, but because it consistently delivers on its promise. That's no small thing.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and ginger with toffee and rich orange. Hints of clove and nutmeg.

Palate

Rich raisins and sultanas with caramel, vanilla and ginger. Balanced by wood spice and zesty citrus.

Finish

Warm oak spice with ginger that softens into sweet orange. Long and well-integrated.

Specifications

Name: Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask 2023
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Annual 2023 Release
EAN no.: 5010314309862

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Soft · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium — Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask in its vintage-limited 2023 release is attracting growing interest on the secondary market as retailer stocks are depleted. The Macallan 18 Year Old series is generally sought-after given the distillery's reputation and the documented complexity that age brings.

Did you know?

Macallan uses exclusively small copper pot stills — among the smallest in Scotland. They are designed to maximise contact between vapours and the copper surface, contributing to the distillery's characteristically fruity and soft house style.

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Most whiskies go cold and close up. This one was made for the opposite. It belongs in the freezer until it turns thick, and only then does it make sense.

The expert description

The Snow Grouse is a Blended Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 2 cl bottle.

Where the rest of the Famous Grouse family builds on malt bound together by grain, Snow Grouse is grain whisky throughout. That is a deliberate choice, because grain whisky is softer, sweeter and carries fewer sharp edges, which is precisely why it can be served ice cold without the flavour disappearing the way it would in a malt.

The producer recommends keeping the bottle in the freezer and pouring it straight from there. The cold makes the whisky syrupy in texture and pushes it towards vanilla and cream. It is a different way of drinking whisky from the usual one, and that is the entire idea.

Tasting notes

Nose

Discreet and clean. Vanilla, pale caramel and a touch of green fruit, more restrained still when the bottle comes straight from the freezer.

Palate

Soft, sweet and almost creamy. Vanilla and cream in front, cereal sweetness underneath, with no sharp alcohol edge.

Finish

Short and clean with a final sweetness of malt and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: The Snow Grouse
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 2 CL
Edition: The Snow Grouse

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Creamy · Vanilla · Light

Did you know?

Grain whisky accounts for the great majority of all Scotch whisky produced, yet it is almost never sold on its own. It disappears into blends where nobody names it. Snow Grouse is one of the few cases where it gets to stand alone on the label.

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The black label signals what has happened here: somebody has laid peat smoke underneath the soft Grouse profile. The result is not an Islay whisky, but it is not the same bird as before either.

The expert description

Famous Grouse Smoky Black is a Blended Scotch Whisky made with peated malt, bottled at 40% in a 5 cl bottle.

The release was originally called The Black Grouse and was later renamed Smoky Black. The recipe takes the classic blend and raises the proportion of peated malt whisky, so the smoke becomes a load bearing element rather than a seasoning. The underlying honey and fruit are still there, but they now sit behind a sooty foreground.

The miniature is a sensible way to settle whether the style is for you. Smoky blends divide opinion, and 5 cl is enough to answer the question without committing to a full bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry smoke and bonfire ash first, then honey and dried fruit working their way up through it.

Palate

Soft and sweet at the base with the smoke as a clear frame. Malt, vanilla and a touch of dark chocolate as the peat builds.

Finish

Medium and sooty with a dry, almost peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse Smoky Black
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Smoky Black
EAN no.: 5010314302481

Flavour profile

Smoky · Soft · Sweet · Malty · Peaty

Did you know?

The change of name from The Black Grouse to Smoky Black was not incidental. The black grouse is a threatened species in Scotland, and for years the brand supported conservation work with a share of the proceeds, but a name describing the flavour sells better on a shelf than one describing a bird.

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Two whiskies from the same distillery that were never meant to meet. One peated and finished in Bordeaux red wine casks. The other triple distilled and finished in Ruby Port. Somebody opened both and poured them together, and what came out makes more sense than it should.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Red Wine & Ruby Port Cask 4 Years Old is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Bordeaux red wine casks and Ruby Port casks, bottled at 57.5%. It brings together two different malt whiskies, both made at Glasgow Distillery, released in the distillery’s Small Batch Series at 1,925 bottles.

The first part is peated and took its finish in casks from Bordeaux, which lays dark berries and a drier tannic edge into the smoke. The second is triple distilled and unpeated, finished in Ruby Port, giving red fruit, sweetness and a fuller texture. Because every drop comes from the one distillery, the whisky is still a Single Malt.

The water comes from Loch Katrine, the mash ferments for more than 72 hours, and distillation runs slowly in copper pot stills. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries first, blackberry and preserved cherry, and behind them a dry earthy smoke closer to cold ash than a bonfire. There is vinous sweetness too and a streak of liquorice. The smoke is clear but it does not fill the whole glass.

Palate

Sweet and full to start: raspberry, redcurrant and a little dark chocolate. Then the smoke arrives from the side along with black pepper and a drier tannin from the red wine wood. At 57.5% the body is generous, and a pleasant tension between sweet and smoky runs the whole way through.

Finish

Long and in two halves. The fruit lingers first, then a drier note of ash and pepper takes over and releases slowly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow 2018/2022 Red Wine & Ruby Port Cask 4 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 57.5%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Bordeaux red wine casks and Ruby Port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Traditional and triple distillation in copper pot stills
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,925
Edition: Small Batch Series
EAN no.: 5714772002074

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Vinous · Spiced · Cask Strength · Full Bodied

Did You Know?

Glasgow Distillery runs peated, unpeated and triple distilled production within the same year. Most Scottish malt distilleries stick to one style, but here the recipe is deliberately switched so there is something different to build with when the casks are brought together. This bottle is a direct result of working that way.

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One cask, 114 bottles, and a Danish importer who sat and waited for seven years. The spirit ran off the stills on a July day in 2016 in an industrial park in the west of Glasgow, and exactly seven years and ten days later the cask was emptied. Timing like that is rarely an accident.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow 2016/2023 Mac Y Selection 7 Years Old is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon cask and finished in Virgin Oak, bottled at 55.8%. Cask 16/844 was distilled on 17 July 2016 and bottled on 27 July 2023, yielding 114 bottles selected by the Danish importer Mac Y.

Just over three years went by in the first fill bourbon cask, where the spirit picked up vanilla, coconut and a light cereal sweetness. Then came almost four years in new charred American oak. Virgin Oak has never held spirit before, and it works fast and hard: cinnamon, nutmeg, burnt sugar and a drier tannic edge shift the whole profile. Seven years does not sound like much, but in virgin oak seven years can do more than twice that in a refill cask.

Glasgow Distillery uses malted barley and water from Loch Katrine, ferments for more than 72 hours and distils slowly in traditional copper pot stills. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Freshly planed oak and warm cinnamon bun first. Behind that come vanilla, toasted coconut and a hint of yellow fruit, mostly pear with a little pineapple. There is also a drier pencil shaving note that virgin oak casks tend to give.

Palate

Sweet and spicy at once. Burnt sugar, nutmeg and baked apple meet a firm oak tannin that tightens things up mid-palate. At 55.8% it runs warm but the body holds. A few drops of water draw out more honey and calm the wood a little.

Finish

Long and woody, with pepper, toasted oak and a faintly bitter cocoa note. The sweetness lets go slowly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow 2016/2023 Mac Y Selection 7 Years Old Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky 55.8%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and finished in Virgin Oak, cask no. 16/844
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 17 July 2016
Bottled: 27 July 2023
Number of bottles: 114
Edition: Mac Y Selection
EAN no.: 5714772002067

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Vanilla · Oaky · Fresh · Cask Strength · Fruity

Investment Potential

Medium. A single cask with only 114 bottles, released into one market, is hard to find again once it has gone. Bottlings from Glasgow Distillery’s early years have also drawn steadily more attention as the distillery has established itself.

Did You Know?

The water for 1770 comes from Loch Katrine in the Trossachs, the same loch that has supplied Glasgow with drinking water since 1859. The city built an aqueduct system running more than 50 kilometres to fight cholera, and today that same water runs through a malt distillery on the western edge of town.

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The tall bottle, the yellow label and the word Highland instead of Speyside. This is what Cardhu looked like before the marketing department worked out where Knockando sits on the map.

Please note: Wear and scuffs on the label.

Expert description

Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version is a Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% in a 75 cl bottle.

The release dates from before the current bottle shape, when Cardhu was sold as a Highland Malt. Speyside sits geographically within the Highlands, and until regional names took hold on labels that was the wording used. The 75 cl size and 43% strength also belong to the past, both later changed to 70 cl and 40%. For collectors it is exactly that kind of detail that makes a bottle interesting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fuller than today's Cardhu. Honey and baked apple, old library wood and a dry, nutty cereal note that comes with years in glass.

Palate

Rounder and more oily than the modern release. Malt, honey, dried apricot and a hint of dark cocoa, with a warmth the extra three percentage points clearly contribute.

Finish

Medium long and dry, with malt, hazelnut and a last breath of spice.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 75 cl 43%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Tall Bottle Old Version

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Nutty · Soft · Unpeated

Investment potential

High. The release is discontinued, the bottle shape is no longer produced, and the 75 cl format at 43% only exists in older stock. The supply of well-kept examples keeps falling.

Did you know?

Cardhu was called Cardow until 1981. The name changed because the pronunciation tripped people up outside Scotland — but the water still comes from the same springs on Mannoch Hill.

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Some whiskies try hard to impress you. Penderyn Myth doesn't bother — it's sweet, light and a little flirtatious, like a summer afternoon in the Brecon Beacons when the sun still has warmth but the shadows have started to stretch.

Expert description

Penderyn Myth is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and rejuvenated oak casks and bottled at 40%. The name draws on Y Ddraig Goch, the red dragon on the Welsh flag, and the myths that surround it — and the whisky itself is just as fable-like in character: sweet, fruity and surprisingly light on its feet.

It belongs to Penderyn's Dragon range, relaunched in new packaging in 2021, and it's distilled on the same single Faraday still that sets Penderyn apart from most of the world's distilleries — a column still designed by a relative of the physicist Michael Faraday. The result is a spirit of unusual purity that leaves the casks plenty of room to do their work.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose weaves together citrus fruit and apple, with pear drops and the merest hint of tropical fruit before it fades again.

Palate

The palate opens sweet before a refreshing bitterness takes over, while the mixed fruit carries through the whole sip — more pineapple and ripe apple than sharp citrus.

Finish

The finish is short and light by design: a memory of a lively, easy-drinking whisky you'll want to come back to.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Myth Fruity & Sweet Single Malt Welsh Whisky 70 CL 40%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Brecon Beacons, Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and rejuvenated oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Faraday distillation
EAN no.: 5011594002566

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Light

Did you know?

Penderyn takes its name from the very mountain that overlooks the distillery in the Brecon Beacons — and although the distillery only opened in 2000, the Welsh insist whisky has been distilled in the region since the 1400s, long before Scotland claimed the word.

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A wedding gift for a son grew into one of Canada's best-selling whisky brands.

Expert description

Seagram's V.O. Blended Canadian Whisky is a Canadian blended whisky, bottled at 40%. Seagram's was founded in 1857 in Waterloo, Ontario, and Joseph E. Seagram became sole owner in 1883. V.O. was originally made in limited quantity in 1913, when Joseph's son Thomas asked the distillery's blender, William Hortop, to prepare a special whisky for his own wedding to Dorothy Pearson. Joseph was so taken with the result that he insisted on putting the blend on general sale — it went on to become one of the company's biggest successes. The letters V.O. are said, by family tradition, to stand for 'Very Own', though others claim 'Very Old'.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers grain, caramel and a hint of rye.

Palate

The palate is soft with vanilla, honey and light spice.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and round.

Specifications

Name: Seagrams VO Blended Canadisk Whisky
Bottler: Seagram's
Region/Country: Ontario, Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Grainy · Sweet · Round

Did you know?

The meaning of the abbreviation V.O. was never officially written down — family tradition says 'Very Own', but no one knows for certain today.

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A journey to Bolgheri hides inside this 10 year old GlenAllachie. After its time in American oak, the spirit was allowed to rest in wine casks from Grattamacco, one of Tuscany's oldest and most respected wine producers, and the result is a honeyed elegance with a well-rounded finish.

Expert's description

Glenallachie 10 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at 48% ABV, matured in American oak casks and finished in wine casks from Grattamacco in the Bolgheri area of Tuscany, Italy. Grattamacco is considered the second-oldest wine estate in the area and is known for its powerful, earthy red wines, whose character now carries through into the whisky's casks.

Only 15,600 bottles of this release exist globally, without individual bottle numbering, making it one of the more limited expressions in the Wine Cask Finish series.

Tasting notes

Nose

A honeyed sweetness settles first, supported by a light earthy depth from the Italian wine casks.

Palate

The elegance from the nose carries through to the palate, where honey and a warm cask spice balance one another neatly.

Finish

Well-rounded and gentle, closing without rushing or fading too quickly.

Specifications

Name: Glenallachie 10 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in Grattamacco wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 15,600
Edition: Wine Cask Finish
EAN number: 5060568326962

Flavour profile

Honey · Elegance · Earthy depth · Cask spice · Gentle finish

Investment potential

Medium. The collaboration with a renowned Italian wine producer like Grattamacco, combined with a limited global bottle count, makes this release interesting for collectors with an eye for rarer cask partnerships.

Did you know?

Grattamacco helped put the Bolgheri area on the wine map long before the region became known for its so-called "Super Tuscans" – a story the whisky's wine casks now carry forward.

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Some releases never travel far from home, yet still turn out exotic. GlenAllachie Moscatel Finish 12 Year Old was created specifically for the European market and draws its sweetness from Moscatel casks, giving the whisky a golden hue and a fruit-driven character.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie Moscatel Finish 12 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, finished in Moscatel casks, bottled at 48% ABV.

The release is part of GlenAllachie's Only for Europe series, created specifically for the European market, where the distillery experiments with cask types rarely seen across the wider range. The Moscatel cask, originally used to age the sweet Spanish dessert wine of the same name, gives the whisky its distinctive golden colour.

The Moscatel finish adds layers of ripe fruit and honey on top of the spirit's underlying Speyside character, and the result is a whisky that stays approachable without giving up complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peaches and cinnamon meet honey, raisins and sweet grapefruit in an aroma that feels both fresh and mature at once.

Palate

Honey and pineapple unfold alongside orange peel, cinnamon and a light aniseed spice.

Finish

Medium length and gentle, with a final hint of sweet fruit and spice trailing quietly away.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie Moscatel Finish 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Moscatel (finish)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060568326580

Flavour Profile

Honey · Peach · Moscatel sweetness · Citrus · Spiced aniseed

Investment Potential

Investment potential is rated Medium. As a regional Only for Europe release built around a rarely seen Moscatel cask, it stands apart from GlenAllachie's more widely available range.

Did you know?

Did you know Moscatel casks are originally used to age a sweet, aromatic Spanish dessert wine made from Muscat grapes — and that this wine heritage is exactly what gives the whisky its golden colour and fruit-driven sweetness?

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Autumn on Speyside — golden fields and orchards settling into rest. Harmony Collection Amber Meadow is made for the season that smells of ripe fruit and warm cinnamon. A whisky that invites slow, deliberate breathing.

Expert description

Macallan Harmony Amber Meadow is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in European Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 44.2%. Amber Meadow is the autumn edition in Macallan's Harmony Collection — a series that combines whisky with sustainable thinking, with packaging made from recycled materials. The sherry casks contribute dried fruit, fig and toffee, while the ex-bourbon casks add honey, coconut and light spice.

This is a whisky that tastes like its name — a golden autumn meadow bottled.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden apple and honey-drizzled apricot with soft cinnamon. Elderflower sweetness, coconut and citrus peel in the background.

Palate

Vanilla pod and toasted almonds with fresh pear and honeydew melon. A green tea note runs through the middle with soft sweetness.

Finish

Persistent oak spice with a touch of butterscotch. Clean and warm close.

Specifications

Name: Macallan Harmony Amber Meadow
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: European Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5010314313395

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honey-sweet · Lightly spiced · Autumnal character

Did you know?

The Harmony Collection is Macallan's sustainability series — the packaging is designed to minimise the carbon footprint and is made from recycled materials, including recycled apple pulp from apple production.

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Some whiskies tell you everything about themselves. Black Art does the opposite. Edition 10.1 is the tenth release in Bruichladdich's most secretive series, where neither the barley nor the cask type is ever revealed, and the mystery is the whole point.

Expert description

Black Art Edition 10.1 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured for 29 years and bottled at 45.1%.

The Black Art series is the distillery's most secretive release. Neither the barley variety, the cask type, nor the exact maturation recipe is ever disclosed, and that's deliberate. The series is about alchemy rather than facts, leaving the interpretation to nose and palate instead of a spec sheet.

Edition 10.1 was bottled in 2022 after 29 years of maturation, an age that gives the whisky a deep, almost shimmering complexity. Non-chill filtered and with natural colour, it stands exactly as the cask has shaped it over nearly three decades.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark dried fruit, old oak and a tangy sherry edge, mixed with a touch of wax and smoked tea.

Palate

Rich and layered with fig, dark chocolate and spiced ginger, slowly giving way to a dry, tannic oak note.

Finish

Long, dry and enigmatic, with a persistent spiciness and a hint of smoked wood that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Black Art Edition 10.1
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 29 years
ABV: 45.1%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 1993
Edition: Black Art Edition 10.1
EAN no.: 5055807415521

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Fruity · Oak-driven

Investment potential

Medium — Black Art is one of Bruichladdich's most sought-after releases among collectors, known for its secret recipe and long maturation. Earlier Black Art editions have historically held their value well once sold out.

Did you know?

Aside from a very small core team, no one at Bruichladdich knows the full recipe behind Black Art. Even the distillery's own staff can only guess at which casks were used.

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In the fields around Dalcross, north of Inverness, the Rose family has farmed the land since 1913. The Organic is Bruichladdich's love letter to their organic barley, distilled unpeated and built entirely around fruit, honey and blossom.

Expert description

The Organic 2011 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured in first-fill bourbon casks and bottled at 50%.

The Rose family has run Mid Coul Farm in the north of Scotland since 1913, and their organic Publican barley is still grown on principles that build on earlier generations' farming, without artificial fertiliser or pesticides. Bruichladdich uses this barley to show that organic growing can produce a whisky with a character entirely its own.

The whisky was distilled in 2011 and matured for 11 years on cask, unpeated throughout. The result is a light, fruit-forward single malt in which the grain and the wood are left to speak undisturbed.

Tasting notes

Nose

Creamy caramel and cantaloupe melon meet ripe stone fruit and lemon zest, followed by toasted oak, orange blossom, honey and malted barley sugar, spiced with honeysuckle, rose and geranium.

Palate

Barley sugar sweetness carried on a full texture opens into honeyed citrus, toasted oak, vanilla fudge and ripe pear, while a fresh, salty sea breeze mingles with vanilla and cedar from the cask.

Finish

Soft and lightly tangy, with a finish of honey, toasted oak and a trace of sweet barley that lingers for a long time.

Specifications

Name: The Organic 2011 Mid Coul Farms Dalcross
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2011
EAN no.: 5055807415941

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Creamy · Maritime

Did you know?

Mid Coul Farm in Dalcross has been in the Rose family's hands since 1913, and their organic barley has supplied grain to Bruichladdich's terroir series across several vintages.

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Orkney grows a grain older than whisky itself. Bere Barley 2012 is Bruichladdich's tribute to this almost-forgotten variety, distilled unpeated and matured for a full decade so the grain's own character can stand entirely on its own.

Expert description

Bere Barley 2012 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 50%.

Bere is Britain's oldest cultivated grain variety, used by Scottish farmers and distillers for centuries before modern, high-yield barley strains took over the fields. As part of its terroir project, Bruichladdich sourced this barley from the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College to show what a single grain can do for flavour, independent of soil or cask.

The whisky comes from the 2011 harvest, was distilled in 2012 and has spent a full decade on cask, so both the grain and the wood are left to speak for themselves, with no peat to get in the way.

Tasting notes

Nose

White grapes, toasted oats and a touch of orris root meet ripe apricot, peach and honey. There's an earthy, cereal base with a whisper of creamy vanilla and nuts.

Palate

White pepper opens things up, quickly giving way to orange marmalade, peach and nectarine. The texture turns creamy at first, then crisp with malt, vanilla and grain, with a faint salted liquorice note tucked underneath.

Finish

Savoury and lightly spiced, with notes of warm flatbread, black pepper and a touch of rosemary that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Bere Barley 2012 Orkney
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2012
EAN no.: 5055807416146

Flavour profile

Fruity · Cereal · Creamy · Spiced

Did you know?

Bere barley was grown in Scotland as far back as the Viking age, making it one of the oldest cereal strains still in active cultivation, kept alive today by a small breeding programme in Orkney.

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Islay speaks with many voices, but Port Charlotte's is deep, briny and thick with tar. PMC:01 is the sixth release in the distillery's Cask Exploration series, where the peated Islay character meets the fruit-laden oak of Pomerol wine casks for the very first time.

Expert description

Port Charlotte 2013 PMC:01 is a peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, first matured in bourbon casks and later finished in French Pomerol wine casks, bottled at 54.5%.

Port Charlotte is Bruichladdich distillery's peated single malt, distilled on the same Victorian equipment on Islay's west coast as the distillery's unpeated core range, but taken to a far higher phenol level. PMC:01 is made from Concerto barley peated to 40 ppm and is the sixth bottling in the Cask Exploration series, where the distillery studies what different cask types do to the same peated spirit.

The whisky was distilled in 2013 and spent its first four years in first-fill bourbon casks, before being moved in 2017 into Pomerol wine casks from Bordeaux's Right Bank, one of the world's most sought-after red wine regions. It's the first time Port Charlotte spirit has been allowed to mature in this cask type, and the result is a whisky where salty Islay peat meets dark berries and tanned leather from the wine casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

Blackberry, plum and tanned leather sit on top of a solid base of peat smoke and brine. A tart edge of red berries, a touch of rose and a whisper of honey soften the maritime weight.

Palate

Dry smoke and salt water arrive first, quickly followed by dark berries, clove and a deep, leathery tannin from the wine casks. The fruit is sweet without tipping into sugariness, and the peat keeps everything grounded with an earthy weight.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a finish of dried plums, spiced clove and a whisper of ash that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Port Charlotte 2013 PMC:01
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon casks, finished in Pomerol wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2013
Edition: Cask Exploration Series PMC:01, 6th release
EAN no.: 5055807417310

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Pomerol is the smallest of Bordeaux's great appellations, yet home to some of the world's most sought-after red wines. PMC:01 is the first Port Charlotte ever allowed to mature in these casks.

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Every December, Paul John sends a Christmas edition to the shelves, and the 2023 vintage is dedicated to what a port cask finish can do to an Indian single malt.

Expert's description

Paul John Christmas Edition 2023 Indian Single Malt Whisky is an Indian Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in a Single Vintage Colheita Tawny port cask, bottled at 46%.

The port cask finish gives the Christmas malt a deeper, more spiced character than the classic Paul John style, making it a natural choice for dark, cosy December evenings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers dried fruit, spice and a sweetness of caramel from the port cask.

Palate

The palate is warm with raisin, nuts and a light wine-like sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long with a closing spiced dryness.

Specifications

Distillery: Paul John
Region/Country: Goa, India
Type: Indian Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon casks finished in a Single Vintage Colheita Tawny port cask
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Christmas Edition 2023
EAN No.: 8904014810407

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spicy · Fruity · Round

Did you know?

Paul John releases a new Christmas Edition every year with a unique cask combination, making each vintage its own, non-repeatable release.

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