Something happens to a blend when it puts on winter clothes. Christmas Reserve arrives in festive dress, yet the heart of it is the same calm, honeyed Speyside tone the house has traded on since 1827. A dram for the dark hours, once the tree is decorated and the house has gone quiet.

The expert's description

Ballantine's Christmas Reserve Limited Edition is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Christmas Reserve is the house's festive release, a limited December bottling built on the same blending school George Ballantine founded when he opened his grocery shop in Edinburgh in 1827. The backbone is Speyside malt from Miltonduff and Glenburgie, two distilleries Ballantine's has drawn on for decades, and the source of the blend's soft, faintly floral centre.

The Christmas dressing is more than decoration. This one is made for the December shelf and disappears again once the new year has turned, which is exactly the sort of bottle that ends up standing unopened in the cabinet. Malt and grain whisky are married here, and the grain gives the round, almost creamy texture that lets it drink well without water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Flower honey and ripe apple first, then vanilla and a dry cereal sweetness. Behind it sits a hint of almond and pale oak.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel, pear and light cinnamon. Malt steps forward halfway through and lends a little weight before the grain settles as a creamy film.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and malty with a last note of honey and oak.

Specifications

Name: Ballantine's Christmas Reserve Limited Edition
Distillery: Ballantine's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Christmas Reserve Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5000299603161

Flavour profile

Soft · Honeyed · Fruity · Creamy · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

George Ballantine was 19 when he opened his first shop in Edinburgh. He sold groceries for years before whisky became the main business at all, and the firm received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1895.

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The harbour town of Portsoy lies a few kilometres from the distillery, and that is where this whisky takes both its name and its direction. The smoke here is not island-hard, but it is clear enough to change the whole expression.

The expert's description

Glenglassaugh Portsoy is a peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry, bourbon and port casks and bottled at 49.1%.

The smoke comes from peated malt and is laid over the distillery coastal character. It is a maritime smoke with seaweed and tar rather than the dry ash smoke known from several of the islands.

Portsoy is the smoky one of the three permanent expressions Glenglassaugh launched in the summer of 2023. The port casks are what set it apart from the other two, laying a dark fruit note in beneath the smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich maritime notes of tropical fruit with hints of soy from the sherry cask, followed by liquorice port notes and finally seaweed.

Palate

Full-bodied with dark chocolate, fermented soy and charred mango with syrup and a crack of sea salt.

Finish

Medium length with campfire smoke, cinnamon, leather and black pepper.

Specifications

Name: Glenglassaugh Portsoy Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 49.1%
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: No age statement
ABV: 49.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, sherry and port casks
EAN no.: 5060716144189

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Pepper

Did you know?

Portsoy is known for its green serpentine stone, which the story goes was used for two fireplaces in the Palace of Versailles. The stone was quarried right by the harbour the whisky is named after.

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The crescent beach in Sandend Bay lies a couple of hundred metres from the warehouses. That is what the whisky is named after, and the bright, salted character fits the picture.

The expert's description

Glenglassaugh Sandend is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks and bottled at 50.5%.

The manzanilla casks are the unusual element. Manzanilla is a dry sherry from the coast at Sanlúcar, and the casks give a chalky, lightly salted dryness rather than the dark sweetness known from oloroso.

Bourbon casks make up most of the recipe, which pushes the whisky in a bright and fruity direction. Sandend is the unpeated one of the three permanent 2023 expressions and the easiest to approach.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft, buttery vanilla ice cream, tropical fruit, chocolate and a touch of sea salt.

Palate

Salted caramel with a fizzing burst of pineapple, cherry and grapefruit. White pepper and almond sit behind the fruit, with a light chalky dryness from the manzanilla.

Finish

Clean and medium length with light oak, apple and vanilla biscuits.

Specifications

Name: Glenglassaugh Sandend Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50.5%
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: No age statement
ABV: 50.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks
EAN no.: 5060716144165

Flavour profile

Coastal · Tropical fruit · Vanilla · Light salt · Fresh

Did you know?

Glenglassaugh stood silent for twenty-two years. The distillery closed in 1986 and reopened on 24 November 2008, when the then First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, fired the plant up again.

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The distillery sits so close to the North Sea that the warehouses take salt air in through the walls. You can taste it, and that is the whole point of this bottling.

The expert's description

Glenglassaugh 12 Year is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon, sherry and red wine casks and bottled at 45%.

The cask recipe is what sets it apart from the rest of the range. The bourbon casks give vanilla and light fruit, the sherry adds nuts and dried fruit, and the red wine casks lay in a berry note you rarely meet in a permanent twelve year old.

The whisky became the flagship when Glenglassaugh rebuilt its entire core range in the summer of 2023. It was put together by master blender Rachel Barrie and matured in the distillery coastal warehouses looking out over Sandend Bay.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and fig with toasted vanilla. A soft, warm fruitiness with a hint of salt air behind it.

Palate

Candied nuts, dates and sweet fig with cherry and cream. The 45% gives it some weight without making it heavy.

Finish

Medium length with nuts, cocoa and a lightly salted caramel at the close.

Specifications

Name: Glenglassaugh 12 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 45%
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, sherry and red wine casks
EAN no.: 5060716144202

Flavour profile

Coastal · Ripe fruit · Nutty · Vanilla · Light salt

Did you know?

Glenglassaugh was founded in 1875 by the grocer James Moir from Portsoy. He built the distillery because he wanted a whisky good enough for his own customers in the shop.

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Picture a cask that has never held anything but this one whisky - no prior life with bourbon or sherry, just virgin oak and fourteen quiet years of maturation. That is the essence of Batch 5, a distillate personally selected by Billy Walker and bottled in a strictly limited release for the Danish market.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 2008/2023 Virgin Oak 14 Year Old Batch 5 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured entirely in a virgin oak cask (Cask No. #473) and bottled at cask strength of 55.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and left to rest until 2023, when Billy Walker - the distillery's owner and one of Speyside's most respected noses - selected this exact cask for the Batch 5 series. The series is known for pushing the boundaries of GlenAllachie's cask philosophy, and a virgin oak cask marks a deliberate departure from the bourbon and sherry casks the distillery is otherwise celebrated for.

With only 263 bottles in total, released exclusively for the Danish market, this is a single cask experience unlikely to be repeated. Non-chill filtered and free of added colour, the whisky stands with its full, unadulterated character intact.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and toasted coconut meet sweet caramel, a touch of clove and a fresh scent of freshly cut oak.

Palate

Creamy vanilla and brown sugar unfold alongside a gentle spiced edge of nutmeg, ripe apples and an underlying honeyed sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry-spiced, with notes of cedar, cinnamon and a lingering sweetness that speaks to how much character a single virgin cask can impart.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2008/2023 Virgin Oak 14 Year Old Batch 5
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin Oak, Cask No. #473
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 263
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5060568326450

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Coconut · Spice · Caramel · Cedar

Investment potential

High. A single cask with only 263 bottles, released exclusively for Denmark, guarantees a rarity that rarely returns to shelves. The combination of Billy Walker's personal cask selection and an unusual virgin oak maturation makes this release a natural collector's item for enthusiasts chasing the unconventional.

Did you know?

Virgin oak casks are traditionally used for bourbon and rarely seen in Scotch whisky production. Billy Walker's decision to mature this whisky entirely in a virgin cask is a deliberate experiment within his renowned approach to cask management - and one of the clearest examples of how much character a single, unused oak cask can lend a distillate.

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In Portugal's Douro Valley, port wine matures in large, flat casks known as pipes, where the wine slowly oxidises and develops its signature nutty sweetness. One of those very casks has now become home to an 11 year old GlenAllachie from the Batch 5 series - a single cask bottling brought directly to Denmark and selected personally by Billy Walker.

Expert's Description

GlenAllachie's 2011/2023 Tawny Port Pipe, Batch 5, is an 11 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single cask, matured in tawny port pipes and bottled at 53.5% ABV.

The whisky was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2023 from cask number 7872, a pipe - the traditional, elongated cask shape used across the port districts of northern Portugal. Tawny port ages oxidatively over many years in wood, where contact with oxygen slowly builds the nutty, caramelised character the style is known for. The same qualities show up in the whisky after years of interplay between spirit and residual cask sweetness.

The bottling belongs to Batch 5, a series imported exclusively for the Danish market, where each cask has been personally selected by Billy Walker for age, cask type and flavour. That makes this single cask a rare chance to experience GlenAllachie in its most unfiltered form, without casks being blended together.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted hazelnuts and caramelised brown sugar meet dried figs and a fine trace of tobacco leaf.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied with burnt sugar, walnuts and dark chocolate, carried by a warm, oxidative port sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm, closing with a last wave of nutty sweetness and a touch of spiced oak from the cask strength.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2011/2023 Tawny Port Pipe 11 Year, Batch 5
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 53.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Tawny Port Pipe, Cask No. #7872
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 311
Edition: Single Cask, Batch 5
EAN no.: 5060568326504

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Caramel · Full-bodied · Warm · Oxidative

Investment Potential

With only 311 bottles drawn from a single cask and bottled at 53.5% cask strength, this Batch 5 release sits in the Medium investment potential category. The combination of single cask status, Billy Walker's personal cask selection and the exclusive Danish import deal makes it appealing to collectors who prioritise traceability and rarity over volume.

Did You Know?

A "pipe" is one of the oldest and largest cask formats in the port wine world, originally designed to be rolled and shipped from the Douro Valley to Porto without ever needing to be lifted. Because tawny port ages oxidatively over long periods rather than reductively in bottle, as with ruby port, the cask itself matters far more to the final flavour - and that same quality is exactly what GlenAllachie passes on to this whisky.

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Four islands. Four soils. The same seed — yet whisky with a different voice from each of them. That is the essence of Vindblæst Danish Island Whisky, Denmark's first island whisky, released in 2023 after years of quiet maturation in North Jutland.

Expert description

Vindblæst Whisky Søgaard Destilleri Limited Edition is Denmark's first island whisky — four versions of Danish Single Malt Whisky, bottled at 46.1%, available as a set of 4x20 cl bottles from Livø, Læsø, Egholm, and Fur respectively. The concept is built on a collaboration with farmers on four North Jutland islands, all growing the same variety — Odyssey, a malting barley specially suited for whisky production. The same grain, the same distillery, but four different terroirs that produce measurably different flavour profiles from island to island. The raw spirit is matured in used Jack Daniels bourbon oak casks on Livø before bottling. The whiskies are organic and unpeated. The first release took place on 10 June 2023 at Musikkens Hus in Aalborg, with 50 tasting judges from around the world. Søgaard Destilleri is part of Søgaards Bryghus in Aalborg, which began distillation in 2018 using equipment from German manufacturer CARL.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and fruity with sweet malt as a base. Vanilla and caramel from the bourbon casks provide a classic roundness, alongside delicate floral notes and a hint of honey that varies subtly from island to island.

Palate

Smooth and well-balanced, with sweet malt and caramel notes leading. Fruity complexity — pear, apple, a touch of citrus — followed by gentle warming spice. The terroir differences show as nuances rather than contrasts.

Finish

Medium-long with lingering vanilla, light oak, and fresh grain. A clean and composed finish typical of bourbon-matured, unpeated single malt.

Specifications

Name: Vindblæst Whisky Søgaard Destilleri Limited Edition Danish Whisky 4x20 cl
Distillery: Søgaard Destilleri
Region/Country: North Jutland (Livø, Læsø, Egholm & Fur), Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.1%
Size: 4x20 CL
Cask type: Used Jack Daniels bourbon oak casks
Bottled: 2023
Edition: Limited Edition — 4 island variants

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Bourbon-matured · Terroir · Danish Island Whisky · Unpeated

Did you know?

Søgaard Destilleri stored the first Vindblæst casks on the islands themselves — at the farms of the very farmers who grew the grain. The whisky from Livø matured literally in the same barn as the Odyssey barley it was made from.

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Guitar Edition: Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash Guitar Edition Whiskey is released with a special packaging that features a guitar silhouette design. genuine mini Jack Daniel’s guitar case, screw on guitar head stock for the bottle - This edition celebrates music and rock 'n' roll culture and is a collector's item for enthusiasts and fans of both Jack Daniel's and the music world.

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A secret source distillery hides behind a name that makes no secret of its focus.

Expert description

Mister Peat Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. Mister Peat is the label from independent bottler Fox Fitzgerald, run by Eamon Jones and Aidan Smith, who specialise in heavily peated single malts from an undisclosed Scottish distillery. By keeping the source distillery anonymous, the bottler can focus marketing entirely on the whisky's character rather than its origin.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers intense peat smoke, bonfire and a hint of salt.

Palate

The palate is powerful with peat, iodine and a touch of sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and salty.

Specifications

Name: Mister Peat Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Mister Peat
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Smoky · Salty · Powerful · Iodine

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The Whistler 16 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish "El Misterioso" is produced at the newly built Boann Distillery and has matured first in first fill bourbon casks and then in used Palo Cortado casks.

Expert Review

The Whistler 16 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The Whistler is produced at the Boann Distillery, which is brand new and one of the finest distilleries in all of Ireland. This edition of The Whistler is 16 years old and has first matured in first fill bourbon casks, then moved to used Palo Cortado casks. The distillery calls this edition "El Misterioso" due to the complex, enigmatic character the Palo Cortado casks impart.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Nutty with sherry depth.

Palate

Complex and enigmatic, with bourbon-driven sweetness met by the depth of the Palo Cortado casks.

Finish

Long and mysterious.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler 16 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish "El Misterioso"
Distillery: Boann Distillery
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Age: 16 years
Cask: First fill bourbon casks, finished in Palo Cortado casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Sherried · Complex · Mysterious · Oaky

Did You Know?

Boann Distillery calls this edition "El Misterioso" due to its enigmatic, complex character.
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The Whistler 10 Year Old French Oak Finish is produced at the newly built Boann Distillery and has matured first in first fill bourbon casks and then in used cognac casks infused with red wine.

Expert Review

The Whistler 10 Year Old French Oak Finish Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The Whistler is produced at the Boann Distillery, which is brand new and one of the finest distilleries in all of Ireland. This edition of The Whistler is 10 years old and has first matured in first fill bourbon casks, then moved to used cognac casks infused with red wine – or as they call it: N.E.O.C Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Red wine-driven with French oak notes.

Palate

Bourbon-driven sweetness met by the depth of the cognac casks.

Finish

Elegant and wine-driven.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler 10 Year Old French Oak Finish
Distillery: Boann Distillery
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Age: 10 years
Cask: First fill bourbon casks, finished in cognac casks infused with red wine (N.E.O.C Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux)
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Wine-driven · Elegant · Bourbon-driven · Complex · Oaky

Did You Know?

Boann Distillery is one of the newest and finest distilleries in all of Ireland.
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The Whistler Dark Symphony is produced at the newly built Boann Distillery and has been given a 12-month finish in used cognac casks using their N.E.O.C (New Era Oak Cask) method.

Expert Review

The Whistler Dark Symphony Cognac Cask Finish Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 43.14%.

The Whistler is produced at the Boann Distillery, which is brand new and one of the finest distilleries in all of Ireland. This edition is called The Whistler Dark Symphony and has been given a 12-month finish in used cognac casks using the method they call N.E.O.C (New Era Oak Cask). It is a mix of 20% single malt and 80% grain Irish whiskey, triple distilled. The whiskey is un-chillfiltered and has no added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cognac-driven with depth from the bourbon and cognac casks.

Palate

Rounded and full-bodied with grain sweetness and a touch of fruit.

Finish

Soft and elegant.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler Dark Symphony
Distillery: Boann Distillery
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Cask: Bourbon casks and cognac casks (N.E.O.C)
ABV: 43.14%
Size: 70 CL
Other: 20% Single Malt, 80% Grain Irish Whiskey, Triple Distilled, un-chillfiltered, natural colour

Flavour Profile

Cognac-driven · Grain sweetness · Fruity · Rounded · Elegant

Did You Know?

N.E.O.C stands for "New Era Oak Cask" and is Boann Distillery's own name for their innovative cask-finishing method.
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Honey from Irish hives gives this whiskey liqueur a natural, golden sweetness.

Expert description

The Whistler Irish Honey Boann Distillery Irish Whiskey Liqueur combines Irish whiskey with honey for a golden, sweet liqueur, bottled at 33%. The Whistler is named after Pat Cooney, whose whistling can be heard through Boann Distillery, founded by the Cooney family in 2015 in the Boyne Valley, County Louth — the first distillery in the Drogheda area in over 160 years. The family has over 40 years of experience in the Irish drinks industry through their bottling company Gleeson Group.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate is sweet and round with honey, caramel and light whiskey spice.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler Irish Honey Boann Distillery Irsk Whiskeylikør
Bottler: Boann Distillery
Region/Country: Boyne Valley, Ireland
Type: Whiskey Liqueur
ABV: 33%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Sweet · Honey · Rounded · Soft

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

Expert's description

Lagg Distillery Kilmory Single Isle of Arran Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Single Isle of Arran Malt Scotch Whisky matured on used first-fill bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

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: Lagg Distillery Kilmory Single Isle of Arran Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Lagg
Region/Country: Isle of Arran
Type: Single Isle of Arran Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used first-fill bourbon casks
Edition: Kilmory 2023 Release
EAN no.: 5060044487170

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Did you know?

Lagg distillery uses only mash tuns and washbacks built from Oregon pine, a choice of material that supports a slow and controlled fermentation process.

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Koval is a distillery in Chicago making whiskey from millet, oats and other grains most Scots would never touch. Their used casks have ended up in Speyside, and the result is not what you expect.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk Murray McDavid Cask Craft Batch 2 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a Koval quarter cask and bottled at 44.5%. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

A quarter cask holds around 125 litres, half a hogshead, and therefore has markedly more wood contact per litre. The finishing works quickly, and that is the whole idea behind the range: to give a young whisky a clear imprint in a short time.

Koval in Chicago distils from unconventional grains such as millet and oats, and their casks carry the mark of it. Auchroisk was built in 1974 for the J&B blend, and the distillery’s bright style takes well to that kind of cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweetness and spice first. Vanilla and honey sit beneath a clear oak note, and there is a lightly nutty, cereal character from the American cask.

Palate

Soft and spiced. Vanilla and honey open, then cinnamon, a dry oak note and a light peppery edge arrive. At 44.5% there is good body, and the small cask shows clearly in the oak.

Finish

Medium and spiced. Oak, vanilla and a dry close with a little pepper.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk Murray McDavid Cask Craft Batch 2 Koval Quarter Cask Single Speyside Malt Whisky 44.5%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in a Koval quarter cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Craft Batch 2
EAN no.: 5060353304144

Flavour Profile

Quarter Cask · Spiced · Vanilla · Oak · Honeyed · Nutty

Did You Know?

Murray McDavid was founded in 1995 by, among others, Mark Reynier, who later bought Bruichladdich and then built Waterford in Ireland. The house has always had finishing as its trademark, and the Cask Craft range is their accessible entry to the principle: young casks, short finishes and cask types you do not see elsewhere.

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Murray McDavid's newest series is called Cask Craft, and the philosophy is simple: double maturation, clearly told. This batch from Tullibardine they call, in their own words, "Chocolate & Fruit".

The expert's description

Tullibardine Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 2 Sherry Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 44,5% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Used bourbon casks finished in used PX sherry casks from Spain and bottled at 44.5%.

The whisky is doubly matured, first in used bourbon casks and then moved to used PX sherry casks from Spain, bottled at 44.5% as Batch #SHRY-02 in the Cask Craft series. The release was created by Murray McDavid's Head of Whisky Creations, Dean Jode.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and stewed fruit.

Palate

Full sweetness with raisin and a hint of nuts.

Finish

Medium length with cocoa and a lightly bitter finish.

Specifications

Name: Tullibardine Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 2 Sherry Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 44,5%
Distillery: Tullibardine
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon casks finished in used PX sherry casks from Spain
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Craft, Batch #SHRY-02
EAN no.: 5060353304168

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Sweet · Spiced

Did you know?

The Cask Craft series was created by Murray McDavid's Head of Whisky Creations Dean Jode, who deliberately names each batch after its dominant flavour theme rather than a traditional cask label.

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Adelphi is known for finding and bottling single casks from around the world, and this 2013 Chichibu is one of the rarest finds in their Japanese portfolio.

Expert Description

Chichibu 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection 7 Year is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 57.8%.

The whisky was distilled at Chichibu Distillery in 2013 and independently bottled by the Scottish company Adelphi Selection after 7 years of maturation. Adelphi is an independent bottler founded in 1993, known for selecting high-complexity single casks without colouring or chill-filtration.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh oak, honey and a tangy citrus note.

Palate

Intense with spice, caramel and ripe pears.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering oak.

Specifications

Name: Chichibu 2013/2023 Adelphi Selection
Distillery: Chichibu
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Saitama, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 57.8%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Intense · Spicy · Full-bodied · Warm

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

Independently bottled single casks from Chichibu are among the most sought-after in collector circles, and with a limited number of bottles per cask, prices often rise significantly once a batch sells out.

Did You Know?

Adelphi Selection is named after the founding family's Scottish estate and has bottled single casks from distilleries worldwide since 1993 without adding colouring.

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Twenty-five years is a long time to hold your patience. The cask works slowly, a quarter of the contents disappears into the rafters along the way, and what is left has been allowed to find its own shape without anyone pushing it.

The expert's description

Balvenie 25 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 48 %.

The bottling is the flagship of the house and was selected by David Stewart, who led the Balvenie malt master role for more than five decades. The whisky is drawn from a small number of casks that lay separately for twenty-five years and are only brought together shortly before bottling. Both American and European oak are represented.

The 48 % is a deliberate choice. At that strength the whisky keeps its texture and its sherried core without the wood taking charge, which is often the risk with long maturation. After twenty-five years there is still fruit left, and that is rarer than it sounds.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep honey, dried fig and orange peel. Behind it sit old oak, dark chocolate and a note of pipe tobacco.

Palate

Dense and velvety with raisin, candied ginger and warm spiced oak. The sherry notes run deep without turning sticky, and the malt still holds its ground.

Finish

Very long with dark fruit, dry oak and a warm, spiced close that keeps going.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie 25 år
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 48 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks and sherry casks
EAN no.: 5010327515892

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Full bodied · Spiced · Honeyed · Oak driven

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old bottlings from a distillery with the standing of Balvenie hold a steady market, and stocks of whisky from the early 1990s shrink year by year. Older Balvenie has shown a steady development in value.

Did you know?

David Stewart joined William Grant & Sons in 1962 at the age of 17 and spent his first twelve years learning to nose whisky before he was allowed to blend at all. He passed six decades in the trade, making him one of the longest serving malt masters ever.

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Dublin, 1791. A small distillery on a street called John's Lane begins to distil a whiskey so sought after that customers soon ask for it by name – "gold label", they call it. Today the story lives on, twelve years older and with even more body.

Expert Review

Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year Old is an Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

Powers John's Lane Release is a tribute to the original Powers distillery on John's Lane itself in Dublin, which closed its doors in 1976. Today the whiskey is distilled at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, but the name and philosophy are drawn directly from the old pot stills in Dublin. The whiskey is made from a mash of both malted and unmalted barley and triple distilled in the traditional Irish way – single pot still, a style unique to Ireland. Most of the whiskey is matured in refill American oak casks, while a smaller portion matures in casks that previously held Oloroso sherry. The combination gives a whiskey with markedly more body and spice than most Irish blends, evident from the very first nose. 12 years on cask, 46% and no chill filtration give Powers John's Lane a fullness and bite that has made it a firm favourite among those who love the classic Irish pot still style, on par with names like Redbreast and Green Spot, but with its own spiced and darker profile.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Earthy notes of leather and tobacco meet dark chocolate and charred wood, with a hint of sweet cinnamon-spiced syrup in the background. A fine scent of orange peel and potpourri gives the nose both depth and lightness at once.

Palate

Full and spiced from the first sip, with vanilla, honey and dried apricots unfolding on the tongue. Behind the sweet front lies dark fruit – raisins, blackcurrant – and a lightly bitter coffee note that keeps it all in balance.

Finish

Long and warm, with a lingering sweetness of honey on toasted oak. Copper and pepper arrive late, and the finish closes creamy and round.

Specifications

Name: Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year Old
Distillery: Midleton Distillery (Powers)
Region/Country: County Cork, Ireland
Type: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
Age: 12 years
Cask: American Oak Casks and Oloroso Sherry Casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Non-chill-filtered
EAN no.: 5011007001919

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sherried · Fruity · Creamy · Oaky

Did You Know?

When John's Lane Distillery closed in 1976, it was the last remaining distillery in Dublin city itself, having distilled whiskey continuously since 1791. The old pot stills still stand today as part of the National College of Art & Design in Dublin.
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Lemongrass and ginger belong to neither the Scottish kitchen nor the moorland, but the fresh, spicy combination has become a fixture at Highland Soap Co all the same.

About the product

Highland Soap Co Lemongrass & Ginger Hand Care Gift Set is a handmade gift set from the Scottish brand Highland Soap Co, with lemongrass and ginger as the defining scent. The set brings together several of the brand's hand care products in one box.

A fresh, spiced gift idea for the bathroom shelf.

Speyside hides several distilleries that work quietly in the background. Miltonduff is one of them, and when it appears solo, it is worth noticing.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 12 Year Old Version 1 Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky is an early 1980s label version, bottled at 43%.

The designation "Old Version 1" refers to the earliest of several known label designs from the same period, when Miltonduff was sold under the Glenlivet name. For collectors of older Speyside whisky, this release represents an early chapter of that story.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, citrus peel and honey.

Palate

On the palate there is honeycomb and fresh citrus acidity, while creamy vanilla adds a final twist.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Old Version 1
EAN no.: 5010106170250

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Investment Potential

Medium. As an early, well-documented label version from a period when the Glenlivet naming was still permitted, this type of bottle has shown growing interest among collectors of older Speyside whisky.

Did You Know?

Miltonduff sits on the Black Burn, the very same stream the monks of Pluscarden Priory reportedly used for brewing ale back in the 13th century.

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Tormore was built as an entire village, not just a distillery. This bottle from the 1980s dates from a time when the whisky mostly lived hidden in blends.

Expert's description

Tormore 10 år Old Version 1 Pure Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43%.

This 10-year-old Old Version 1 is bottled in a 100cl format and dates from a 1980s bottling, long before Tormore began marketing itself as a single malt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe orchard fruit, pear and a hint of nuts.

Palate

Soft malt with sweet fruit and a light honey tone.

Finish

Mild and rounded.

Specifications

Name: Tormore 10 år Old Version 1 Pure Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Old Version 1, a 1980s bottling
EAN no.: 5010019636270

Flavour Profile

Round · Spiced · Fresh

Investment Potential

Medium – as a discontinued 1980s bottling, long before Tormore developed its current single malt profile, this type of older bottle typically attracts interest from collectors of vintage Speyside whisky.

Did you know?

Tormore Distillery was built in 1959 in the Cromdale Hills of Speyside and was so beautifully designed that it early on earned the nickname "the Pearl of Speyside".

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Three distilleries, one region, and a shared handshake from Douglas Laing - The Gauldrons gathers the best of Campbeltown into a single bottle, named after the rugged terrain surrounding the town.

Expert Description

The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 2 is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt from the region's distilleries, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50%.

The range is part of Douglas Laing's newer output, gathering malt from Campbeltown's three remaining distilleries into a shared blend. Batch 2 stands out from the first release with a higher strength, lifting both the smoke and the sherry spice a notch further. The sherry casks bring a spiced, rounded character, kept in check by the region's typical salty, lightly smoky backbone.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisin-sweet sherry meets toasted nuts and a whisper of smoke, with a hint of salted caramel behind it.

Palate

Spiced and round with dark chocolate, dried fruit and a clear but balanced smoke note.

Finish

Warm and lightly salty, the sherry sweetness fading into a dry, smoky close.

Specifications

Name: The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 2
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Number of bottles: 5,580
Edition: Batch 2
EAN no.: 5014218825893

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spicy · Lightly peated · Maritime

Did You Know?

The name Gauldrons refers to the rugged, rocky landscape around Campbeltown, which historically supplied both peat and good water to the town's whisky industry.

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Vanaheim is the homeland of the Vanir gods in Old Norse mythology — peaceful, fertile and set slightly apart from the other realms.

Expert description

Bivrost Vanaheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky is part of the distillery's series named after the Nine Realms of Old Norse mythology, bottled at 46%. Bivrost is distilled at Aurora Spirit Distillery in Lyngen, northern Norway, 69 degrees north of the equator, making it one of the world's northernmost distilleries. Construction began in 2016, and the name Bivrost comes from Old Norse mythology, where it denotes the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth — a nod to the Northern Lights often seen above the distillery. Local botanicals and glacial meltwater are used in production.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is fresh with a hint of honey, apple and light sea air.

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is medium-length, warm and fairly mellow.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Vanaheim Arctic Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
Distillery: Aurora Spirit Distillery
Region/Country: Lyngen, Northern Norway
Type: Single Malt Norwegian Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Round · Arctic

Did you know?

Some of the maturation takes place in Aurora Spirit's underground vaults, which were formerly part of a Cold War-era NATO base tunnel system.

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In Vestkysten, Skotland, some distilleries never shout about themselves — they let the whisky speak. Adelphi is one of them.

Expert's description

Macleans Nose Blended Scotch Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherryfade and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is blended and bottled by Adelphi.

The whisky blends Ardnamurchan- og Campbeltown-malt, put together to highlight the west coast character.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with fruit, spice and sherry toffee.

Palate

The palate delivers fruit, raisins and sherry toffee.

Finish

It finishes long and spicy, with stewed plums and malt.

Specifications

Name: Macleans Nose Blended Scotch Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Vestkysten, Skotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherryfade
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060383653007

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rounded · Spicy

Did you know?

Adelphi was founded in 1993 and traces its name back to a distillery of the same name in Glasgow that closed as early as 1902.

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Once a year, Four Roses gathers its rarest barrels into one limited release — the 2022 vintage is the kind whisky fans wait for.

Expert description

Four Roses Small Batch 2022 Limited Edition is an annual, limited bottling blended from selected, older barrels across several of the house's ten recipes, bottled at cask strength, 54.5%. This release is blended from four recipes with barrels aged 12 to 17 years. Four Roses was founded in 1888 by Paul Jones Jr. The story behind the name has it that Jones proposed to a Southern belle who said yes while wearing a corsage of four roses — hence the brand's name. The current distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 in an unusual Spanish Mission style and has been on the US National Register of Historic Places since 2000.

Four Roses is known in the bourbon world for using no fewer than 10 different recipes, combining the house's five yeast strains with two different mash bills. Each yeast strain brings its own character — from spicy and floral to fruity and herbal — giving the distillery an unusually broad flavour palette to blend from.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is complex with ripe fruit, caramel, oak and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate is full and layered with caramel, dried fruit and spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spicy with a dry, oak-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Four Roses Small Batch 2022 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Four Roses
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Strength

Flavour profile

Spicy · Full-bodied · Oak · Dried fruit

Investment potential

Four Roses' annual limited releases are often sought by collectors and can rise in value after selling out, especially when the vintage is praised by reviewers.

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Càrn Mòr is one of the bottlers that manages to make good, reasonably priced single malt without compromising on quality – this 11 year old Glentauchers is a solid example.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 2011/2022 from Càrn Mòr, part of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022, after 11 years of maturation in a first fill bourbon cask.

The whisky is bottled at 47.5% non-chill-filtered and with natural colour, giving a clear, direct expression of Glentauchers' soft, fruity Speyside character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh apple, pear and a light vanilla tone from the bourbon cask.

Palate

Soft and round, with honey, citrus and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 2011/2022 Carn Mor 11 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 47.5%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Càrn Mòr (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 2011, Bottled: 2022
Age: 11 years
Cask type: First Fill Bourbon Barrel
Bottles: 1,223
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Citrus-driven · Round

Did You Know?

Càrn Mòr means "big hill" in Gaelic, and the series is known for offering access to well-matured single cask whiskies at prices more affordable than many other independent bottlers.

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From a vintage nearly three decades back comes this rare Old Perth Vintage Collection release, where time itself is the main ingredient.

Expert Review

Old Perth 1994/2022 Vintage Collection 28 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,6% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 44.6% ABV.

Old Perth is old-school blended whisky, named after the town of Perth, historically the epicentre of blended whisky in Scotland. The Vintage Collection gathers exclusive vintages, and this 1994 release was distilled and matured for 28 years in sherry casks before being bottled in August 2022.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is deep and sherry-driven, with dried fruit, walnut and a hint of old oak.

Palate

The palate is rich with fig, sherry sweetness and a warm, woody spiciness built up over the years in cask.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering oak and a final hint of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Old Perth 1994/2022 Vintage Collection 28 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,6%
Distillery: Old Perth
Region: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 Years
ABV: 44.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
Distilled: 1994
Bottled: August 2022
EAN No.: 5060109229592

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Dried fruit · Oak · Complex

Investment Potential

With 28 years of maturation and a limited Vintage Collection series, this release appeals to collectors interested in older blended malt whisky with documented provenance.

Did You Know?

The name Old Perth honours the Scottish town of Perth, home in the 1800s to several of the country's most important whisky trading houses, long before Speyside and Islay became household whisky names.

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Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 is an earlier vintage bottling from Walsh Whiskey Distillery, uniting matured single pot still and single malt whiskey.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 Irish Whiskey is a Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey, bottled at 54.8%.

This edition from Walsh Whiskey Distillery unites matured single pot still and single malt whiskey, matured in bourbon casks. Each year, only specially selected casks are chosen for this benchmark within super premium cask strength Irish whiskey, making the 2023 edition one of the rare Irish whiskeys at cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and complex with pot still character.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied from the cask strength.

Finish

Long and intense.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023
Distillery: Walsh Whiskey
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot & Malt Irish Whiskey
Vintage: Bottled 2023
Cask: Bourbon Cask
Bottles: 6050
ABV: 54.8%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Triple Distilled, Un-chillfiltered
EAN no.: 5099811090978

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Complex · Full-bodied · Intense · Exclusive

Did You Know?

Only 6050 bottles of Writers Tears Cask Strength 2023 were produced.
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Sometimes it's just about trying before you buy a full bottle. This miniature offers a taste of the very foundation of Glenfiddich's range.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Signature Malt Miniature is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The miniature contains the same whisky as Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Signature Malt — matured in American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks — just in a small 5cl format, ideal for tasting or giving as a small thoughtful extra.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

Light and soft, with pear and malt sweetness carried by mild spice.

Finish

Short, clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Signature Malt Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky Miniature
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: Our Signature Malt - miniature
EAN no.: 5010327000251

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old is called 'Our Signature Malt' because it represents the very core of the distillery's style — the same recipe that has defined Glenfiddich since 1963.

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