A litre bottle from 1996 is a time capsule in its own right. Back then the big formats were made for airport duty free, and most of them were drunk on the way home from holiday. This one never got opened.

The expert's description

Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Cask No. 13282 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in one single oak cask and bottled at 50.4 % in litre format.

The cask was filled on 6 October 1980 and drawn on 18 January 1996. The outturn was 300 bottles, and the bottling is neither chill filtered nor colour adjusted. The litre format suggests the bottle was originally intended for the duty free market, where the larger sizes dominated through the 1990s.

The Balvenie Single Barrel series launched in the early 1990s and was among the first official single cask bottlings from a major Speyside distillery. Casks from 1980 are hard to find in original bottling today, and an unopened litre from 1996 counts among the more unusual finds.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry oak, honey and a strong note of wax. Behind it sit walnut, orange marmalade and a little old leather.

Palate

Dense and warm with honey, dried fruit and spiced wood. A clear malt core sits under it all, keeping the oak at arm’s length.

Finish

Long and dry with wax, nut and a warm close.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie 15 år Single Barrel Cask No. 13282
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 50,4 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Oak cask, Cask No. 13282
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 6 October 1980
Bottled: 18 January 1996
Number of bottles: 300
EAN no.: 5010327518138

Flavour profile

Waxy · Honeyed · Nutty · Full bodied · Dry

Investment potential

High. A 1980 cask drawn in 1996 in 300 bottles, in a litre format no longer produced, hits several of the criteria collectors look for. The supply of original 1990s Balvenie Single Barrel bottlings shrinks year by year.

Did you know?

Litre bottles quietly disappeared from whisky shelves when intra-EU duty free was abolished in 1999. The format survives in places, but the old 1990s litre bottlings exist only in the numbers made back then.

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Cask number 777. It looks like something made up for the occasion, but the number sat on the barrel long before anyone thought of selling the whisky as a single cask. Seventeen years later it went into litre bottles.

The expert's description

Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Cask No. 777 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in one single oak cask and bottled at 50.4 % in litre format.

The cask went into the warehouse on 3 February 1981 and was drawn on 9 April 1998. The outturn was 300 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. The bottling falls in the period when Balvenie began giving its single casks a place of their own in the range.

Seventeen years passed between filling and bottling, even though the label states fifteen years. The age statement refers to the guaranteed minimum age on the bottle, and the gap tells you the cask stood a little longer than it had to before anyone found it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, ripe pear and pale oak. A note of almond and dried flowers emerges after a couple of minutes in the glass.

Palate

Full and sweet with vanilla, honey and candied ginger. The oak is clear but soft, and the alcohol is carried well.

Finish

Long, warm and lightly spiced with a last touch of honey sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie 15 år Single Barrel Cask No. 777
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 50,4 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Oak cask, Cask No. 777
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 3 February 1981
Bottled: 9 April 1998
Number of bottles: 300
EAN no.: 5010327518138

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Full bodied · Spiced · Soft

Investment potential

High. A 1981 cask in 300 bottles, drawn in 1998 and in a litre format no longer produced. Early Balvenie Single Barrel bottlings are sought after, and unopened bottles grow scarcer with every passing year.

Did you know?

Balvenie sits right next to Glenfiddich, and the two distilleries share an owner, a water source and part of the site in Dufftown. The spirits are still markedly different, because still shape, fermentation and cask policy are not the same.

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A sherry-matured Tamdhu given an extra layer of port on top — Coopers Choice calls it 'Winter Fruits', and the name doesn't lie.

Expert's Description

Tamdhu 2022 Coopers Choice Winter Fruits is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled by The Coopers Choice at 59% from cask no. 9522.

The whisky has been given a Port Wood finish on top of Tamdhu's classic sherry character, adding an extra layer of dark berry sweetness. With 762 bottles, this is a relatively accessible yet still limited release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries and port sweetness meet Tamdhu's characteristic sherry depth.

Palate

Full and fruity with raisin, dark chocolate and a warm alcoholic edge.

Finish

Long and sweet with lingering berries and a dry, wine-like close.

Specifications

Name: Winter Fruits
Distillery: Tamdhu
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 59%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Port Wood Finish, cask no. 9522
Bottled: 2022
Number of Bottles: 762 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5024720861890

Flavour Profile

Port-matured · Fruity · Full-bodied · Sweet

Did You Know?

The name 'Winter Fruits' refers to the dark berry and fruit sweetness added by the Port Wood finish on top of Tamdhu's already sherry-driven base character.

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The Coopers Choice has been hunting down great casks since 1992 — this Speyburn shows why an old bourbon cask and a port cask can become good friends.

Expert's Description

Speyburn 2022 Coopers Choice Speyside Preserve is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled by The Coopers Choice from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. at 56% from cask no. 8872.

The whisky has matured in a combination of American oak and a Ruby Port cask, giving a fruity, port-driven depth over Speyburn's light base character. Only 420 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe red berries and port sweetness meet a lightly malty freshness.

Palate

Full-bodied with port fruit, caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length with lingering berry sweetness and a dry, wine-like close.

Specifications

Name: Speyburn 2022 Speyside Preserve
Distillery: Speyburn
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American Oak & Ruby Port Cask, cask no. 8872
Bottled: 2022
Number of Bottles: 420 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5024720862088

Flavour Profile

Port-matured · Fruity · Full-bodied · Rare

Did You Know?

The Coopers Choice range was founded in 1992 by Brian Crook under The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. and is known for seeking out unusual, often wine-based cask finishes.

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Adelphi once closed as a distillery, was reborn as a legendary bottler, and today approves under 4% of the casks it tests.

Expert description

Breath of The Highlands 2009/2022 is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2022 after 12 years of maturation, selected by Adelphi Selection. The Adelphi distillery was founded in 1826 on the banks of the Clyde on the outskirts of Glasgow, but closed in the early 1900s. The name was revived in 1993 as an independent bottler, known for its strict quality standards — Adelphi tests around 25 casks for every one approved for bottling under the Adelphi name, equating to under 4% of the casks tested. The company today also owns its own distillery, Ardnamurchan, the westernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers heather, honey and a hint of fresh fruit.

Palate

The palate is round with malt, caramel and light spice.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and malty.

Specifications

Name: Breath of The Highlands 2009/2022 Adelphi Selection 12 år Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2022

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Malty · Fruity · Round

Investment potential

Medium — a single cask bottling from one of Scotland's most discerning independent bottlers, which approves under 4% of the casks it tests.

Did you know?

Adelphi tests an average of 25 casks for every one that meets its quality standard and is bottled under the Adelphi name — an approval rate of under 4%.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2012/2022 Adelphi Selection 10 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59,9% is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in cask and bottled at 59,9%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Adelphi Selection as part of the Adelphi Selection series.

It was distilled 2012 and bottled 2022, giving it 10 years.

Only 280 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet beeswax, citrus peel and spice.

Palate

The taste unfolds with citrus peel, light oak and mild sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with mild sweetness and citrus peel.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2012/2022 Adelphi Selection 10 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59,9%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59,9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask (#305947)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 280
Edition: Adelphi Selection
EAN no.: 5060383652628

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Investment potential

Medium. With only 280 bottles selected by Alex Bruce and Charles MacLean, this Adelphi release ranks among the rarer Linkwood releases on the market.

Did you know?

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

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Adelphi's nosing panel has Charles MacLean at the head of the table, and they say no to far more casks than they say yes to. Cask no. 305256 got through — and you can taste why in the nose alone.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2011/2022 Adelphi Selection 11 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled as a single cask at 56.2 % full cask strength.

Cask no. 305256 was filled in 2011 and emptied in 2022, yielding 341 bottles. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and Adelphi bottle, as always, without reduction.

Adelphi was revived as an independent bottler in 1993 and today owns Ardnamurchan Distillery on the west Highland peninsula of the same name. Casks are selected by a nosing panel chaired by whisky writer Charles MacLean, and only a fraction of the casks tasted reach the bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful and malty with baked apple, cinnamon sugar and a touch of melted butter. The alcohol takes up space at first but settles quickly.

Palate

Intense and oily. Barley, honey and peppery spice gather around a core of yellow fruit. Water loosens it up and draws out vanilla.

Finish

Long and warm with toasted grain, nutmeg and a dry oak conclusion.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2011/2022 Adelphi Selection 11 years old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 56.2%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 56.2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask, cask no. 305256
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 341
EAN no.: 5060383652550

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Malty · Spicy · Fruity · Intense

Did you know?

Adelphi originally began as a distillery in Glasgow in 1826 and closed in 1902. The name lay dormant for nearly a century before the great-grandson of the last owner revived it as a bottling house.

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Whitlaw is the name Signatory uses when the original Orkney distillery does not want its name on the label. This "Denmark Cask" was hand-selected specifically for the Danish market.

The expert's description

Whitlaw 2013/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 år Denmark Cask Single Orkney Malt Scotch Whisky 58,7% is a Single Orkney Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Sherry butt finish, cask no. #119 and bottled at 58.7%.

The whisky was distilled on 19 June 2013 and bottled on 27 September 2022 by Signatory Vintage, with an outturn of 686 bottles selected as a "Denmark Cask" for the Danish market. It received a finish in a sherry butt, cask no. #119, adding depth on top of Orkney's characteristic maritime base tone.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sherry, honey and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

Full-bodied with dried fruit and a light maritime spice.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering sherry sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Whitlaw 2013/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 år Denmark Cask Single Orkney Malt Scotch Whisky 58,7%
Distillery: Whitlaw
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Orkney, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 58.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt finish, cask no. #119
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 19.06.2013
Bottled: 27.09.2022
Number of bottles: 686
Edition: Denmark Cask, selected for the Danish market
EAN no.: 5021944120437

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Maritime · Full-bodied

Did you know?

Whitlaw is named after a hilltop near Kirkwall on Orkney and is used specifically by Signatory Vintage for releases from this particular Orkney distillery when the name cannot appear on the label.

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One cask, 651 bottles, and Signatory Vintage's guarantee of quality — this 10-year-old sherry butt release is a small but concentrated look into Edradour's character.

The expert's description

Edradour 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Sherry Butt is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single sherry cask and bottled at 58.9%.

The whisky was distilled on 22 June 2012 and matured for 10 years in a single sherry butt, cask #304, before being bottled by Signatory Vintage on 28 September 2022. As a single cask bottling, the whisky shows the sherry cask's full, undiluted influence, with a rich and concentrated flavour profile. Only 651 bottles were drawn from this one cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dark chocolate, with a full, nutty sweetness and a hint of old oak.

Palate

Rich and spicy with dried fig, caramelised sugar and a warm peppery edge from the high strength.

Finish

Long with lingering dark fruit and a dry, elegant finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Sherry Butt Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 58.9%
Distillery: Edradour
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 58,9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt (cask no. 304)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 22/06/2012
Bottled: 28/09/2022
Number of bottles: Only 651 bottles
EAN no.: 5021944120451

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Spicy · Creamy

Investment potential

This release is assessed to have medium investment potential, largely due to single cask status from Signatory Vintage, with only 651 bottles from one sherry cask. This is a general assessment based on available information about rarity and demand, not a guarantee of future value growth.

Did you know?

A single cask bottling means the entire bottle run comes from one and the same cask — unlike most commercial whiskies, which are blended from many casks to ensure consistency year after year.

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At 63.8% on the label, this is one of the strongest Bunnahabhain releases ever to leave a Signatory warehouse.

Please note: the box for this bottle is damaged/dented.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength, 63.8%.

The whisky was distilled in May 2012 and bottled in September 2022 from cask #900789, a sherry cask that has held onto both colour and power well through the ten years. Signatory bottled 622 bottles from this single cask, all at full cask strength.

The high strength means the whisky can – and rewards – a few drops of water, which open up the sherry cask's deeper layers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry, raisins and an intense spiciness of cloves and cinnamon.

Palate

Powerful and concentrated with dried fruit, walnuts and a burning warmth from the cask strength.

Finish

Very long, dry and spicy with lingering sherry.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 63.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Butt / Cask No. 900789
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 28/05/2012
Bottled: 13/09/2022
Number of Bottles: 622
Edition: Signatory Vintage
EAN No.: 5021944120284

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Cask Strength · Spicy · Intense

Did You Know?

At 63.8%, this bottle sits close to the upper end of what a sherry cask typically yields at bottling without adjustment – the longer the maturation, the more alcohol normally evaporates, so a high strength after ten years is unusual.

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Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is about letting the whisky stand on its own. Ten years in a hogshead, 46% and no chill filtration. It has one chance to impress – and it uses it.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in hogshead casks, bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection presents selected casks from Scottish distilleries at an accessible strength without compromise on bottling principles. Ten years in a hogshead gives a Caol Ila with more depth than young bottlings without losing the characteristic freshness.

Compared to the 9-year (R65), this is one year older – which in practice gives a little more oak depth and a calmer, more integrated smoke. The profile is otherwise the same classic Caol Ila: salty, maritime and balanced.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sea salt, light peat smoke and citrus with a soft vanilla undertone. A hint of seaweed and fresh oak.

Palate

Balanced and clean. Smoke, maritime notes, honey and a mild maltiness. Good body for 46% – well-made and accessible.

Finish

Moderate and fresh. Citrus, salt and a discreet smoke that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2022
EAN no.: 5021944120420

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Balanced · Approachable

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage owns Edradour Distillery in Pitlochry, Perthshire – one of Scotland's smallest distilleries. It still runs by hand and produces fewer than 12 casks a week, while Signatory bottles many times more from external distilleries.

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Helheim is the realm of the dead in Old Norse mythology, ruled by the goddess Hel — dark, deep and on the far side of Bivrost.

Expert description

Bivrost Helheim 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 dark and deep with smoke, dark fruit and a hint of earth.

Palate

The palate is powerful with smoke, dark caramel and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, dry and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Bivrost Helheim 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

Smoky · Dark · Powerful · Spicy

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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Rye in the driver's seat from the same Québécois distillery.

Expert description

St Laurent 3 Year Old Double Distilled Copper Still Canadian Rye Whisky is the distillery's rye-forward expression, matured for at least 3 years in new charred oak casks, bottled at 43%. Distillerie du St. Laurent is located in Rimouski in eastern Québec, Canada, where the whisky is distilled in a Scottish-inspired copper pot still. The distillery works to revive the Canadian whisky tradition with an experimental approach that blends styles, using corn from Québec together with rye and malted barley grown in the local Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spiced with rye, pepper and a hint of grain.

Palate

The palate offers rye, spice and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, dry and peppery.

Specifications

Name: St Laurent 3 år Double Distilled Copper Still Canadian Rye Whisky
Distillery: St. Laurent
Region/Country: Rimouski, Québec, Canada
Type: Canadian Rye Whisky
Age: 3 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Grainy · Dry

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Three grains from Québec's soil, double-distilled in a copper pot still.

Expert description

St Laurent 3 Grains 3 Year Old Double Distilled Copper Still Canadian Whisky is made from a mash bill of three grains — corn, rye and malted barley — matured for at least 3 years in new charred oak casks, bottled at 43%. Distillerie du St. Laurent is located in Rimouski in eastern Québec, Canada, where the whisky is distilled in a Scottish-inspired copper pot still. The distillery works to revive the Canadian whisky tradition with an experimental approach that blends styles, using corn from Québec together with rye and malted barley grown in the local Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is grainy with grain, honey and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate offers sweet corn, caramel and a light spiced note.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, grainy and fairly gentle.

Specifications

Name: St Laurent 3 Grains 3 år Double Distilled Copper Still Canadian Whisky
Distillery: St. Laurent
Region/Country: Rimouski, Québec, Canada
Type: Canadian Whisky
Age: 3 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Grainy · Sweet · Soft · Fresh

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An oloroso sherry hogshead is a mid-sized cask with a heavy payload. Càrn Mòr put a Glenburgie into one in 2010 and emptied it eleven years later. It produced 1,795 bottles, which is a lot for one cask — hogsheads hold around 250 litres.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 11 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an oloroso sherry hogshead and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2022 with an outturn of 1,795 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. A hogshead gives faster than a butt because there is more wood per litre, and over eleven years the oloroso cask has managed to lay dark fruit and nuts in without taking over the brighter Glenburgie character.

Strictly Limited is the Càrn Mòr range for younger casks, and the strength is fixed at 47.5% throughout. Behind the range stands Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, where the fourth generation of the Morrison family runs the business from Aberargie in Perthshire.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark fruit and malt, with raisin, walnut and a trace of orange peel. Beneath the sherry the appley Glenburgie fruit sits and waits.

Palate

Round and spiced. Dried fruit, honey and nuts, with a light bitterness from the cask towards the end. The 47.5% gives the whisky firmness without making it sharp.

Finish

Medium to long. Malt, dark fruit and a dry, nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 2010/2022 Càrn Mòr 11 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,795
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229424

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Malty · Spiced

Did you know?

Glenburgie was built in 1810 by William Paul, making it one of the older distilleries in Speyside. It has changed owner and name several times along the way, but has been distilling almost without interruption for more than two hundred years.

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Linkwood belongs to the kind of spirit whisky people speak of quietly, with respect.

Expert's description

Linkwood 2011/2022 Carn Mor 10 år Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 47,5% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in first-fill bourbon cask and bottled at 47,5%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Càrn Mòr as part of the Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited series.

It was distilled 2011 and bottled 2022, giving it 10 years.

Only 1255 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

The aroma offers citrus peel, ripe pears and gentle sweetness from American oak.

Palate

The taste unfolds with honey, gentle sweetness from American oak and coconut.

Finish

The finish is long and spicy, with gentle sweetness from American oak and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2011/2022 Carn Mor 10 år Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 47,5%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Càrn Mòr
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 47,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill Bourbon Cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1255
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229431

Flavour profile

Bourbon-matured · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

For decades, most of Linkwood's output went straight into blends such as Johnnie Walker and White Horse, and official single malt releases have historically been rare.

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Elgin's older distilleries hide characters that never quite step into the light. Miltonduff is one of the more interesting of them.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 2015/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 6 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a PX sherry hogshead and bottled at 47.5%.

As a young representative of Càrn Mòr's Strictly Limited series, this Miltonduff shows how much character a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead can impart in just six years. The series has previously featured malt from distilleries such as Ardmore, Glen Ord and Mortlach.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with dried fig, quickly followed by raisin and a hint of dark chocolate.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with sherry sweetness, dried fruit and brown sugar.

Finish

The finish is warm with a hint of oak.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: Càrn Mòr (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 47.5 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: PX Sherry Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1812
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229462

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spicy · Full-bodied · Dark fruit

Did You Know?

Miltonduff runs two pairs of stills of noticeably different sizes, giving the distillery more room to vary its spirit character than many of its Speyside neighbours.

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The only Welshman ever to become British Prime Minister accidentally laid the foundations for modern whisky. That story deserves its own bottle — and now it has one.

Expert description

Penderyn Icons of Wales No. 9 The Headliner is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky matured in Jamaican rum casks and ruby port casks, bottled at 46%. The bottle honours David Lloyd George (1863-1945), the only Welshman to serve as British Prime Minister, and the wartime chancellor who introduced the Immature Spirits Act of 1915 — a law requiring at least three years of cask ageing for spirits, which unintentionally laid the groundwork for the entire modern premium whisky industry.

The combination of rum and port casks gives the whisky a full, fruity character that builds on Penderyn's clean spirit from the Faraday still. The Headliner is one of the more storytelling-driven bottles in the Icons of Wales series, where the tale of the law — and the man behind it — is as much part of the experience as the flavour itself.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers red berries, strawberries and cream and cranberry, alongside light oak, vanilla and a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate

The palate is full of dried fruit and salted caramel, spiced with floral honey, black pepper and a dry, firm tannin from the casks.

Finish

The finish opens sweet and drifts gradually toward a dry, fruity close, with the spice lingering longest.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Icons of Wales No 9 The Headliner Welsh Whisky 46%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Brecon Beacons, Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Jamaican rum casks and ruby port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Faraday distillation
Edition: Icons of Wales No. 9
EAN no.: 5011594001729

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Cask-forward

Did you know?

The law David Lloyd George introduced in 1915 to curb alcohol consumption during the First World War required at least three years of cask maturation for all spirits — a rule that still governs Scotch and Welsh whisky today, more than a century later.

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With only 375 bottles worldwide, this is one of the rarest releases from Writers Tears, refined by a finish in Sicilian marsala wine casks.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Marsala Cask Finish is an Irish Whiskey finished in Marsala wine casks, bottled at 45%.

The whiskey builds on Writers Tears' classic style and is further refined through a finish in casks that previously held Marsala, the sweet, fortified wine from Sicily. The finish adds an extra layer of sweetness and complexity to the whiskey. With only 375 bottles worldwide, this is a rare release from the brand.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet wine and dried fruit, with a touch of nut.

Palate

Round and complex, with marsala sweetness and a spiced base character.

Finish

Medium, with lingering wine-driven sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Marsala Cask Finish
Distillery: Writers Tears
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Whiskey with Marsala wine finish
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Marsala wine casks
Other: Only 375 bottles worldwide

Flavour Profile

Wine-driven · Sweet · Complex · Spiced · Dried fruit

Investment Potential

With only 375 bottles worldwide, this is a rare release that may hold collector interest. Whisky.dk always recommends valuing a bottle for its own enjoyment rather than as an investment object.

Did You Know?

Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily, traditionally used in cooking but increasingly also used for finish maturation of whisky due to its characteristic sweetness and nutty tones.
See our full range of Writers Tears

Arran's second distillery debuts with a peated single malt from the island's southern tip.

Expert description

Lagg Distillery Inaugural Release 2022 Batch 1 is a Single Island Malt Whisky, bottled at 50%. Lagg is the second distillery on the Isle of Arran, built by Isle of Arran Distillers near the site where the island's last legal distillery closed in 1837. Construction was completed in 2019, with the first spirit run that March and the official public opening in June 2019. Unlike sister distillery Lochranza, which makes unpeated whisky, Lagg focuses exclusively on peated whisky, using barley with a phenol content of 50ppm. This first release, only 10,000 bottles, spent 3 years maturing in bourbon casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a hint of salted caramel.

Palate

The palate is powerful with peated malt, citrus and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and salty.

Specifications

Name: Lagg Distillery Inaugural Release 2022 Batch 1 Single Island Malt Whisky
Distillery: Lagg
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Island Malt Whisky
ABV: 50%
Age: 3 years
Cask type: Bourbon casks
Number of bottles: 10,000
Edition: Inaugural Release, Batch 1

Flavour profile

Smoky · Salty · Spicy · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium — the distillery's very first release ever, produced in a limited run of 10,000 bottles, making it appealing to collectors of new Scottish distilleries.

Did you know?

Lagg is built near the ruins of Arran's last legal distillery, which closed in 1837 — over 180 years later, the island resumed its peated whisky heritage with Lagg's opening.

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The Loch Lomond Group's 200 years of combined distilling experience is used to reinvent the single grain category.

Expert description

Spearhead Single Grain Whisky is a Scotch Single Grain Whisky, bottled at 43%. Spearhead is produced by the Loch Lomond Group, drawing on over 200 years of combined distilling experience. The whisky is made entirely from 100% malted barley, undergoes an unusually long fermentation, and is distilled on a Coffey column still, before maturing in ex-bourbon barrels ahead of a final finish in a combination of fire- and infrared-toasted virgin American oak barrels. The whisky launched globally in the summer of 2021, marking an attempt to give the single grain category a more prominent place alongside single malt.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, toasted oak and a hint of honey.

Palate

The palate is round with caramel, spiced wood and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and woody.

Specifications

Name: Spearhead Single Grain Whisky
Bottler: Spearhead
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Coffey column

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Spicy · Round · Warm

Did you know?

Spearhead uses 100% malted barley rather than the more typical neutral grain base, which is unusual for the single grain category and gives the whisky a more pronounced malt character.

See our full range of Spearhead

Octomore Farm sits three kilometres from the distillery, and in 13.3 you can taste that distance. Edition 13.3 is the most rounded in its series, giving fruit just as much room as the smoke.

Expert description

Octomore 13.3 is a super-peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured for 5 years and bottled at 61.1%.

The barley is 100% Concerto, grown on Octomore Farm itself and peated to 129.3 ppm. The whisky is matured for five years in a combination of first-fill European oak casks from Rivesaltes in France and Ribera del Duero in Spain, along with first-fill American whiskey casks.

The combination of terroir-driven barley and three different cask types gives 13.3 a more rounded fruitiness than many other Octomore editions, without compromising on the peat.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon and orange peel meet a subdued, ash-free smoke, with malted grain notes beneath the fruit.

Palate

Nutty nougat and fruit play alongside a lightly salted, bonfire-like smoke reminiscent of an evening by the coast.

Finish

Medium length with smoky salt, seaweed and a lingering, dry sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Octomore 13.3
Distillery: Octomore (Bruichladdich)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 61.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill European oak casks and American whiskey casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2016
Edition: 13.3, The Impossible Equation

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Maritime · Nutty

Did you know?

The barley for 13.3 is grown directly on Octomore Farm, just three kilometres from the distillery itself, making it one of the most terroir-driven releases in the entire Octomore series.

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A former ballerina left the stage to prove that French terroir could be captured in a single malt.

Expert description

Brenne Ten Organic French Single Malt Whisky is a French single malt whisky, bottled at 48%, distilled in the Cognac region. Brenne was founded by American whisky entrepreneur Allison Parc, a former ballerina, who started the brand with her own savings and a dream of proving that terroir — the landscape's imprint on flavour — could be achieved in whisky, just as in wine. The whisky is distilled from 100% malted barley grown in the region, on classic copper alembic Charentais stills, the same type used for Cognac production, in partnership with a third-generation Cognac house whose farm has distilled eau de vie since the 1920s. Brenne was the world's first single malt whisky matured exclusively in French Limousin oak and used Cognac casks. The first expression debuted in New York in 2012, with Parc personally distributing bottles by bicycle to stores and bars — the batch sold out within two months.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers tropical fruit, vanilla and a hint of florals.

Palate

The palate is round with apricot, honey and light spice.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and fruity.

Specifications

Name: Brenne Ten Økologisk Fransk Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Brenne
Region/Country: Cognac, France
Type: French Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French Limousin oak and Cognac casks

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Sweet · Round

Did you know?

Brenne was the world's first single malt whisky matured exclusively in French Limousin oak and used Cognac casks — a distinction that still makes it unique among French whiskies.

See our full range of Brenne

The golden, more powerful edition of the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon.

Expert description

Blanton's Single Barrel Gold Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a more powerful version of the iconic single-barrel concept, bottled at 51.5%. Blanton's is named after Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton, who started as an office boy at the Buffalo Trace distillery at age 16 and became the company's president in 1921, a role he held until 1952. He personally selected the best 'honey barrels' from Warehouse H for his guests and bottled whiskey one barrel at a time. In 1984, master distiller Elmer T. Lee honoured him by launching the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon, based on barrels from that same warehouse.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers caramel, vanilla and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

The palate is full with caramel, honey and spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Blantons Single Barrel Gold Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Region/Country: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 51.5%
Size: 70 CL
Single Barrel

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Caramel · Spiced · Warm

Investment potential

Blanton's Single Barrel editions, including the Gold Edition, are among the most sought-after bourbons internationally and often have limited availability.

See our full range of Blanton's

Some whiskies celebrate the past. This one celebrates the direction the distillery was heading. GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Future Edition pays tribute to the distillery's very first peated distillation ever – a young, powerful dram pointing forward.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Future Edition 4 year old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky distilled from the distillery's first ever peated distillation, bottled in August 2022 at 60.2% ABV.

The series was created to mark Billy Walker's 50 years in the whisky industry, with each release in the range looking in its own direction – some back at history, others forward. Future Edition belongs to the latter category: it points toward a new branch of GlenAllachie's production, which later led to the peated Meikle Tòir series.

Putting a peated spirit from GlenAllachie into the world is no small thing – the distillery is far better known for its sherry-matured, unpeated single malts. This release is therefore a small piece of distillery history in its own right, young and direct in its expression.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky and lively, with fresh peat mingling with sweet malt notes and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Powerful and direct, where the smoke drives forward alongside spicy pepper and an underlying sweetness from the malt.

Finish

Dry and smoky, with a lingering warmth from the high strength.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Future Edition 4 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 60.2% 50 CL
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 60.2%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: First Peated Distillation cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 10,000
EAN no.: 5060568325439

Flavor Profile

Peat smoke · Spicy pepper · Malt sweetness · Citrus · Powerful

Investment Potential

Medium. As part of a limited anniversary series and the distillery's first ever peated distillation, the bottle carries historical value for collectors, though the larger bottle count keeps rarity at a moderate level.

Did You Know?

Future Edition marks one of the most unusual moments in GlenAllachie's history: a distillery best known for its unpeated, sherry-matured single malts took on its very first peated distillation – a decision that later paved the way for the peated Meikle Tòir series.

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A bourbon smuggled in cans during Prohibition, revived 168 years after its birth in Kentucky.

Expert description

Chicken Cock The Famous Old Brand 90 Proof is an American Bourbon Whiskey, bottled at 45%. Chicken Cock was founded in 1856 by James A. Miller in Paris, Kentucky, and was one of America's oldest bourbon brands until it closed after Prohibition. During Prohibition, the whiskey became a fixture in speakeasies, including the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, where it was often smuggled in tin cans to avoid detection — earning it the nickname 'The Famous Old Brand'. The label lay dormant until spirits entrepreneur Matti Anttila revived it in 2011 using original bottles and promotional materials. Since 2018, the whiskey has been produced at Bardstown Bourbon Company through a collaborative distillation program.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers caramel, vanilla and a hint of toasted nuts.

Palate

The palate is round with brown sugar, spice and oak.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Chicken Cock The Famous Old Brand 90 Proof American Bourbon Whiskey
Bottler: Chicken Cock
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Caramel · Spicy · Warm · Nutty

Did you know?

During Prohibition, Chicken Cock was often smuggled in tin cans rather than bottles to avoid detection during raids — hence the nickname 'The Famous Old Brand', which still graces the label today.

See our full range of Chicken Cock

Late summer in the Cotswolds sits inside this bottle: sun-dried hay, honey and the faintest trace of smoke from a landscape freshly harvested.

Expert's Description

Cotswolds 2022 Golden Wold is a blended single malt English whisky matured across three cask types and bottled at 52.5% ABV.

Golden Wold is the opening release in Cotswolds Distillery's annual Harvest Series, a series built around the harvest itself, on the very fields where the distillery's barley is grown. The whisky combines spirit matured in bourbon casks, STR-treated (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) ex-red wine casks, and casks that previously held peated whisky, bottled in September 2022 in a run of 5,000 bottles.

The presentation tube carries original artwork by local artist Josephine Trotter, a tribute to the Cotswolds landscape the whisky is named after.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sun-warmed hay, caramelised honey and soft oaken vanilla, rounded off by a fleeting suggestion of smoke in the background.

Palate

Silky cream and custard meet toasted oak, cocoa nibs and warm baking spices for a full, rounded character.

Finish

Long and spiced, with a lingering sweetness from the honey and a dry, gently smoky close.

Specifications

Name: Cotswolds 2022 Golden Wold Blended Single Malt English Whisky
Distillery: Cotswolds Distillery
Region/Country: England
Type: Blended Single Malt English Whisky
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, STR ex-red wine casks & ex-peated casks
Non-chill filtered
Natural colour
Bottled: September 2022
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition/Batch: Harvest Series No. 1
EAN no.: 5060404512207

Flavour Profile

Honey · Toasted oak · Baking spice · Hint of smoke

Investment Potential

Medium. Golden Wold is the opening release of a new annual series from Cotswolds Distillery, and a distillery's first entry in a series tends to attract collector interest once later editions follow.

Did You Know?

The tube is more than packaging — the artwork by Josephine Trotter was painted specifically for this release and depicts the very Cotswolds landscape the barley for the whisky was harvested from.

Browse our full range of Cotswolds Distillery

A personal label on one of the bourbon world's most recognisable bottles.

Expert description

Maker's Mark VIP Bespoke Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky is the distillery's classic core expression with a custom, personal label, bottled at 45%. Maker's Mark was founded in 1953, when Bill Samuels Sr. bought the old Burks' Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. His wife Margie created the entire brand identity — the name, the square bottle and the hand-dipped red wax seal, still hand-dipped on every bottle today. Bill Samuels wanted to create a softer bourbon than the typical rye-based styles of the day and replaced rye with red winter wheat in the mash bill. The distillery was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1980.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate is round and sweet with caramel, vanilla and spiced oak.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Maker's Mark VIP Bespoke Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Distillery: Maker's Mark
Region/Country: Loretto, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: VIP Bespoke Label

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Caramel · Rounded

See our full range of Maker's Mark