The Kylver Stone from Gotland carries the oldest known complete runic alphabet, and Wolfburn has borrowed exactly those symbols for its most experimental series. This release carries the rune ᚢ, uruz.

The expert's description

Wolfburn "N" Kylver Series Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 50%.

The whisky is part of The Kylver Series, Wolfburn's most experimental release line, where each bottle is named after a rune from the old futhark alphabet. Wolfburn is one of Scotland's most northerly distilleries, located near Thurso in Caithness, producing an unpeated style built from scratch with a clear focus on craftsmanship.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh citrus, grain and a hint of honey.

Palate

Full and spiced with vanilla and a touch of oak.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Wolfburn "N" Kylver Series Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Wolfburn
Region/Country: Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: The Kylver Series, rune symbol ᚢ

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Full-bodied · Fresh

Investment Potential

Medium. The Kylver Series is a sought-after collector series where each rune release is limited and often in demand, which has historically kept interest in earlier releases high.

Did you know?

Wolfburn takes its name from a burn running through the distillery grounds, and the name comes from a historic distillery on the same site that closed in the 1860s, long before the current Wolfburn was reborn in 2013.

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The label looks like something lifted from an old pharmacy, and that is deliberate. Elixir Distillers built the whole range around the idea of Islay as an element you could extract and bottle in its pure form.

The expert description

Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask is a Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon barrels and bottled at 54.5%.

The range began in 2008 with small apothecary bottles and a code in place of a distillery name. Bourbon Cask is one of the core releases and brings together malt from several Islay distilleries, where the heavy barbecue smoke of the south coast meets the lighter, zestier style of the north. Elixir Distillers does not disclose which distilleries are involved.

The bourbon wood was chosen because it lets the smoke stand clearly in front. Where a sherry cask would lay dark fruit over the top, American oak contributes vanilla and coconut that push the peat forward instead of covering it. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and the 54.5% was chosen to give it full weight.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sugar and vanilla pod first, then tropical fruit, mango and pineapple, and behind it a thin ribbon of chimney smoke drifting in and out.

Palate

Cappuccino dusted with cocoa, warm vanilla brioche and fruit poached in maple syrup, while a peat fire builds underneath it all.

Finish

Long and sooty with salt, lemon peel and a dry ash note that stays well after the sweetness has gone.

Specifications

Name: Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask
Distillery: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Elements of Islay
EAN no.: 5060880920435

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Fruity · Vanilla · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Elixir Distillers was founded by brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, the pair behind The Whisky Exchange. They are now building on Islay themselves with the Portintruan distillery, so a range that started by bottling other people’s whisky will end up with its own.

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Apples, pears and a whisper of honey in a whisky that has followed Glasgow drams since the 1800s.

Expert description

Teacher's Highland Cream is a Blended Scotch Whisky from William Teacher & Sons, bottled at 40% ABV in a generous 100 cl bottle.

The blend was registered as a trademark in 1884 and built its reputation as a robust, malt-heavy blend, with the Ardmore distillery in Aberdeenshire, founded by the Teacher family in 1898, forming the backbone of the whisky ever since. The brand is now owned by Beam Suntory, yet the recipe still follows the tradition of a full-bodied, malt-forward blend.

The character is defined by a deep maltiness up front, which softens into a sweeter profile of fruit and honey, helping make Teacher's one of the best-selling blends in the UK for decades.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apples, pears and a sweet hint of honey over a solid malt base.

Palate

Deep maltiness up front, developing into sweeter notes of ripe fruit and honey.

Finish

Medium length, with warm sweetness and a hint of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Teacher's Highland Cream
Distillery: William Teacher & Sons (core malt from Ardmore)
Region/Country: Highland/Scotland (blended)
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
EAN no.: 5010093210007

Flavour profile

malt-forward · fruity · honeyed

Did you know?

William Teacher started out selling whisky from his wife's grocery shop in Glasgow in 1830, long before the Highland Cream name was registered in 1884.

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For more than a century nobody distilled malt whisky inside Glasgow. The city had shipyards, cranes and a proud industrial past, but no copper stills. This bottle is the one that broke the silence, and it comes from an industrial estate rather than a glen.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow The Original is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon and Virgin Oak casks and bottled at 46%. It is the distillery flagship and carries the subtitle Fresh & Fruity, the bottle everything else in the range is measured against.

The malt is unpeated and the spirit is distilled twice in traditional copper pot stills after a fermentation of more than 72 hours. That long fermentation is no accident: it develops fruity esters, and those are what you meet as pear and apple in the glass. First fill bourbon casks add vanilla and coconut, while a smaller proportion of Virgin Oak lays in spice and structure.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. The water comes from Loch Katrine, and there is no age statement, as the distillery bottles when the casks say so.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh pear, green apple and a touch of melon. Vanilla follows along with toasted coconut and a soft cereal sweetness, close to white bread straight from the oven. Clean and inviting, with no hard edges.

Palate

Soft and lightly creamy, with baked apple and custard first. Mid-palate the new oak tightens things with cinnamon, nutmeg and a drier wood note. The 46% gives enough body that the whisky handles a few drops of water without turning watery.

Finish

Medium length. Vanilla and malt linger, and a dry, lightly spiced oak note arrives at the end.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow The Original Fresh & Fruity Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill ex-bourbon and Virgin Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled in copper pot stills
EAN no.: 5060411501201

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Fruity · Vanilla · Soft · Malty · Spiced

Did You Know?

The distillery sits in Hillington, an industrial area in the west of Glasgow, between warehouses and businesses. There are no whitewashed walls, no pagoda roof and no burn running past. That was a deliberate decision: the whisky was to be made in the city, not in a postcard version of Scotland.

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A third of the production year goes to this style. It is not a side project or a trial, it is a deliberate decision to use a technique almost every other Scottish malt distillery has put down.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow Triple Distilled is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill ex-bourbon casks plus Virgin Oak and bottled at 46%. The distillery calls it Smooth & Vibrant and runs triple distillation for a third of the year.

The malt is Concerto, a barley variety widely used in Scottish distilling, and the water comes from Loch Katrine. The third distillation removes the heavier oily compounds so that only the lightest and purest part of the spirit is collected. Most of the maturation happens in bourbon casks, while a smaller share, around five to eight per cent, comes from new American white oak barrels supplied by Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky.

The result is a whisky with less fat and more clarity. Neither chill filtration nor colouring is involved, and there is no age statement.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Shortbread and light honey first, then double cream and a hint of lemon peel. There is a fine bakery quality to it, close to freshly baked biscuits, and a warm drier wood note sits at the back.

Palate

Round and lightly creamy, with honey, vanilla and juicy apple. The body is lighter than in a double distilled malt but it is not thin, and a warm spicy wood edge arrives mid-palate. Clean and well balanced the whole way.

Finish

Medium and soft. Honey and malt linger, and a warm oak spice note closes things quietly.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow Triple Distilled Smooth & Vibrant Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill ex-bourbon casks plus Virgin Oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Triple distilled in copper pot stills
EAN no.: 5060411501225

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Fresh · Honeyed · Light · Spiced

Did You Know?

The new oak barrels for this whisky come from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky, a cooperage originally founded in Glasgow in 1963 that later moved to the United States. The casks therefore travel from Kentucky back to the city where the business began. It is a coincidence, but it makes a good story.

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Smoke from the Lowlands is a rarity. For decades the region stood for the light and floral while peat was left to the islands. Glasgow Distillery decided to do it anyway, and laid the smoke down in Pedro Ximénez casks where it found sweetness to lean against.

The Expert's Description

1770 Glasgow Peated is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Virgin Oak and PX Sherry casks and bottled at 46%. The distillery calls it Rich & Smoky, and it is their peated core expression, made from peated malt during part of the production year.

The cask choice is what makes it. Virgin Oak gives spice, cinnamon and a drier wood edge, while the PX Sherry casks lay in a thick, almost syrupy sweetness: raisins, dates and dark sugar. The smoke sits between the two and comes out rounder for the company than it would have on neutral wood.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and bottling at 46% was chosen to keep the body intact. The water comes from Loch Katrine and fermentation runs beyond 72 hours.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet smoke first, closer to singed raisins than a bonfire. Behind it come dates, dark sugar and a note of burnt orange. There is a layer of cinnamon and dried ginger from the new oak as well.

Palate

Full and sweet. Raisins and molasses open, then the smoke steps in as a dry earthy floor. The spices arrive last: cinnamon, clove, a touch of chilli. The texture is thick and slightly clinging, which is the PX cask signature.

Finish

Long. Smoke and dark sweetness go hand in hand, and a drier, almost coffee-like bitterness lingers at the end.

Specifications

Name: 1770 Glasgow Peated Rich & Smoky Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glasgow Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin Oak and PX Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060411501218

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry Matured · Sweet · Spiced · Full Bodied · Dried Fruit

Did You Know?

Glasgow Distillery launched Makar Gin long before the first whisky was ready. It is a common strategy at new distilleries: the gin can be sold immediately and pays the bills while the whisky sits maturing for years. Without the gin, 1770 would probably have had a harder time reaching 2018.

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Every single drop from Auchentoshan is distilled three times. Not some of it, not in special series, all of it. No other Scottish distillery does this consistently, and it is the whole reason the whisky is as bright as it is.

The Expert's Description

Auchentoshan 12 Years Old Double Cask is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 40%. It combines the distillery’s characteristic triple distillation with maturation in two cask types.

The third distillation removes the heavier, oily compounds and collects only the lightest and purest part of the spirit. The result is a soft, bright and fruity malt with less body than a double distilled whisky, but with far more clarity in the fruit.

The Double Cask maturation adds depth and warmth without the whisky losing the light, silky style Auchentoshan is known for. The distillery sits at Dalmuir just outside Glasgow and was founded in 1823.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and bright citrus first, with toasted nuts and a light honeyed sweetness behind. There is a fine clean malty floor, and the sherry casks give a suggestion of dried fruit without taking up room.

Palate

Soft and silky. Vanilla sweetness and citrus open, then nuts and a touch of spiced oak from the sherry portion. At 40% it drinks easily, and the triple distillation is clearly felt in the light texture.

Finish

Medium length. Vanilla, malt and a light nutty dryness that lets go cleanly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Auchentoshan 12 Years Old Double Cask Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Auchentoshan
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Edition: Double Cask
EAN no.: 5010496001769

Flavour Profile

Soft · Fruity · Vanilla · Nutty · Light · Spiced

Did You Know?

Auchentoshan sits at Dalmuir on the Clyde, practically within the suburbs of Glasgow. The distillery was bombed during the Second World War when German aircraft targeted the shipyards along the river, and one of the warehouses burned. The story goes that the whisky ran down into a pond on the grounds. That pond is still there.

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Tullamore Dew in the large 175cl bottle is an obvious choice for the home bar, the party, or for always having some on hand for an Irish Coffee.

Expert Review

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey is an Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is Tullamore Dew's classic blend, here available in a large 175cl bottle. The blend combines malt, pot still and grain whiskey into an approachable, well-balanced whiskey that is our favourite for an Irish Coffee. The large bottle is ideal for those who often enjoy a dram or host parties where guests need a good, reliable whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Lightly spiced with a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and rounded.

Finish

Short and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Tullamore Dew
Distillery: Tullamore Dew
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 175 CL

Flavour Profile

Lightly spiced · Vanilla-forward · Soft · Rounded · Approachable

Did You Know?

The large 175cl bottle is handy for parties and gatherings, saving you from opening several bottles.
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Signed by one of the distillery's well-known faces, and built on a higher share of first-fill bourbon casks than its predecessors.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 4 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

No two Traigh Bhan batches are alike, and Batch 4 stands out with a silkier character thanks to a higher share of first-fill bourbon casks working alongside the sherry casks. Every batch carries its own batch number and the signature of one of the distillery's well-known faces, in this case Colin Gordon.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Faint hints of sweet smoky wood and crème fraîche develop into bold notes of fennel, celery and toasted tea.

Palate

A salty mouthfeel turns into soft herbal notes, followed by salted peanuts, smoked pineapple and lime juice, as waves of aniseed roll across the palate.

Finish

An intense finish of caramel and smoke breaks through after the milder middle notes.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 4
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak (first-fill) and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Batch 4
EAN no.: 5010494975574

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Herbal · Salty

Did You Know?

Every Traigh Bhan batch carries the signature of one of Ardbeg's well-known staff members, and Batch 4 is signed by Colin Gordon as a personal mark on this particular batch.

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Some releases look backward without turning nostalgic. GlenAllachie 16 Year Old Past Edition does exactly that — a look back at Billy Walker's early years in the whisky industry, poured at full sherry-driven strength.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 16 Year Old Past Edition is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 57.1% ABV.

Past Edition is the first release in the same anniversary trilogy as the Present Edition, and where the latter looks ahead to new cask experimentation, this one turns to the past — to the classic sherry casks that have defined GlenAllachie's style since Billy Walker took over the distillery.

The sherry casks the whisky has rested in lend it depth and weight, reinforced by its high strength. Bottling without dilution keeps the cask's character in its rawest form, and the result is a whisky that demands — and rewards — patience in the glass.

The whisky was bottled in August 2022 in a run of 4,000 bottles worldwide, making it the more widely available, though still limited, chapter of the anniversary series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry, cane sugar, orange and dark chocolate meet dried figs, while the high strength adds a touch of spiced warmth.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied, with raisins, toasted almonds, dark marmalade and a peppery spice bite, carried by classic sherry tones.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced, with a dry, faintly tannic finish that lingers.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 16 Year Old Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Past Edition Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 57.1%
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 4,000 (worldwide)
Edition: Past Edition – 50th Anniversary
EAN no.: 5060568325101

Flavour Profile

Sherry · Dark chocolate · Raisin · Spiced oak · Marmalade

Investment Potential

Investment potential is rated Medium. With 4,000 bottles released worldwide and a central place in Billy Walker's anniversary series, this release remains limited, though more widely available than its sister releases in the series.

Did you know?

Did you know Past Edition is bottled at cask strength, meaning no water is added after it leaves the cask — the strength you find in the bottle is exactly what the whisky arrived at on its own?

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Dark chocolate, dried fruit and spiced oak come together in a 30 year old release, personally selected by Billy Walker. Three decades of patience, gathered in one glass.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 30 Year Old Batch #2 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks as well as virgin oak and Rioja barriques, bottled at 50.8%.

The whisky belongs to GlenAllachie's older range, where Billy Walker himself selected the casks for the composition. Batch #2 was bottled in 2022, with 2,000 bottles produced of this exact combination.

Three different cask types have worked on the whisky across 30 years: the sherry casks provide classic depth and sweetness, while the Rioja barriques and virgin oak add a layer of spice and structure that only really unfolds after such a long maturation.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and dried fruit arrive first, followed by raisins and figs. Toasted nuts and spiced oak add depth, while a hint of tobacco hints at the many years of maturation.

Palate

Sherry sweetness sits centre stage, supported by dark berries and a coffee-like bitterness from espresso. Honey and orange peel break through before the spices take over towards the end.

Finish

Long and complex, with a lingering sherry sweetness that slowly gives way to dry oak and a final hint of spiced tobacco.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 30 Year Old Batch #2 Billy Walker Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 50.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: PX, Oloroso and New Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 2,000
Edition: Batch #2
EAN no.: 5060568324821

Flavour profile

Dark chocolate · Dried fruit · Espresso · Spiced oak · Tobacco · Sherry depth

Investment potential

With 30 years of maturation and only 2,000 bottles of this batch, the whisky ranks among GlenAllachie's rarer releases. The combination of high age, Billy Walker's personal selection and a limited run makes it a natural collector's item, where the rarity speaks for itself.

Did you know?

Rioja barriques are relatively rare in Scotch whisky production — they're used far more often for wine than whisky, making this cask combination something of a curiosity even within GlenAllachie's experimental range.

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Some whisky you buy. Some you pass down. Springbank 30 Year Old belongs to the second kind - a bottle that waited quietly in cask while three decades passed outside the warehouse walls in Campbeltown.

Expert Description

Springbank 30 Year Old 2022 Release is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 1992, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

This whisky sits at the oldest end of the distillery's core range, and the 2022 release draws on a cask makeup of roughly 85% ex-bourbon and 15% ex-sherry casks. Three decades in wood have brought a depth and roundness that only comes with time, layered on top of Springbank's signature 2.5 times distillation, which gives the whisky its oily, complex style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot and beeswax arrive first, followed by old oak and a touch of salted caramel.

Palate

Full and oily with layers of honey, toasted almonds and a dark, dry sherry note that ties it all together.

Finish

Long and dry, with a final hint of sea air and old oak lingering well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Springbank 30 Year Old 2022 Release
Distillery: Springbank
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: 2.5 times distilled
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,400
Edition: 2022 Release
EAN no.: 610854004835

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Creamy · Maritime · Spicy

Investment Potential

High - with only 1,400 bottles released worldwide and 30 years of maturation from a distillery with one of the most loyal fanbases in whisky, this release belongs to the category that typically climbs sharply in value on the secondary market over time.

Did You Know?

Springbank is the only Scottish distillery where part of the spirit is distilled twice and another part three times in the same batch, before the two streams are blended back together.

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Campbeltown was a harbour town before it was a whisky town. The ships that carried whisky out came home with other things in the hold, and rum was part of that trade. Putting a Campbeltown malt into demerara casks is therefore less contrived than it sounds.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum Cask Finish is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with a finishing period in demerara rum casks, bottled at 46%.

Demerara rum comes from Guyana and is heavier and more molasses-driven than the light rum of Barbados or Cuba. The casks therefore add dark sweetness and a clear syrupy note rather than bright tropical fruit, and that suits the oily Glen Scotia spirit well. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured and carries no age statement.

Rum and whisky share more than you might think. Both mature in oak, both take colour and spice from the cask, and a used rum cask has already given up most of its sharpness by the time the whisky moves in. What remains is sugar cane as a warm undertone rather than a dominant flavour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark melted sugar and molasses, with banana, toasted coconut and ripe peach. The maritime note sits under the sweetness and only becomes clear after a couple of minutes.

Palate

Full and oiled. Caramel, brown sugar and tropical fruit, balanced by a light peat smoke and a touch of spice. The sweetness is warm rather than cloying.

Finish

Short to medium. Maritime nuances take over as the sweetness falls away, and the close is dry and spiced.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum Cask Finish Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks with a finishing period in demerara rum casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Double Cask Rum Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5016840261216

Flavour profile

Tropical · Sweet · Maritime · Lightly peated · Spiced

Did you know?

West Highland Malt Distillers bought Glen Scotia in 1919 and went bankrupt around five years later. The distillery changed hands several times in that period, and each new owner inherited a plant that was harder to run than the year before.

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2008/2020 Wilson & Morgan 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on sherry PX-casks #308645 & #308646 and bottled at 58%.

This bottling comes from Wilson & Morgan.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2020.

Only 548 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Stewed fruit, walnut and a gentle sherry spice.

Palate

Christmas cake, orange peel and a spiced oak backbone.

Finish

Dry and nutty with a final touch of pepper.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2008/2020 Wilson & Morgan 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry PX-casks #308645 & #308646
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 548
EAN no.: 8033749407214

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. With 548 bottles from two named PX sherry casks, bottled at cask strength by a respected Italian bottler, this is a release that will not be repeated in identical form.

Did you know?

Wilson & Morgan was founded in Italy in 1992 and was among the first independent bottlers to introduce Italian whisky enthusiasts to Scotch single malt whisky in a serious way.

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In Gaelic, Dailuaine means green meadow, and the name fits the hollow by the Carron Burn where whisky has been made since 1852. Most of it quietly disappears into other people's blends. This time, an Italian whisky merchant pulled a couple of casks aside and sent them on a sweet detour via Andalusia.

Expert description

Dailuaine 14 year 2007 Wilson & Morgan is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads, finished for 20 months in a 1st fill Pedro Ximénez sherry cask and bottled at cask strength, 53.9%. It was distilled in 2007, bottled in 2021, and only 529 bottles exist.

The bottle belongs to Wilson & Morgan's Barrel Selection, specifically the Cask Strength line, where the whisky goes from cask to bottle without being watered down. Fabio Rossi founded Wilson & Morgan in 1992 and the company is based in Treviso, Italy, though this release was bottled for them in Edinburgh. The cask numbers, 303877+881, are printed at the bottom of the front label.

Plenty of people have tasted Dailuaine without knowing it. The distillery belongs to Diageo, and the lion's share of its spirit goes into Johnnie Walker. For years, the official 16 year old in the Flora & Fauna series was about as close as you could get to a regular Single Malt Whisky from the place. The spirit is double distilled in six copper stills, and long fermentation paired with a brisk distillation gives a heavy, meaty, malty style built to handle long years in wood. The malt is unpeated, and the distillery stopped doing its own malting back in 1983.

Then there's the PX cask. You'd expect 20 months in wood that once held the sweetest sherry of them all to turn a whisky dark and sticky. Not here. After 14 years in refill hogsheads the spirit was still pale and floral, and the sherry shows up mostly as a winey edge, a touch of fruit on the nose and a dry, slightly astringent finish. Dailuaine does the rest of the talking, with cereal, flour and a whiff of the farmyard that no amount of PX sweetness could cover up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Surprisingly delicate for a Dailuaine. Springtime and flowering meadows, a spoonful of honey and just a faint trace of fruit and wine from the sherry cask.

Palate

This is where it wakes up. Big cereal and flour notes first, then something properly farmy. Wood shavings, wet leather and beeswax, before it swings back towards sweetness with tropical fruit and orange.

Finish

Drier with every sip. The winey astringency of the cask finally comes through, followed by lively spice and a mineral, almost stony note.

Specifications

Name: Dailuaine 2007/2021 Wilson & Morgan 14 year PX Sherry Finish
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 53.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogsheads, finished for 20 months in a 1st fill Pedro Ximénez sherry cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 529
Edition: Barrel Selection Cask Strength, cask no. 303877+881
EAN no.: 8033749408808

Flavour profile

Floral · Malty · Sherry finished · Tropical fruit · Dry · Spicy

Did you know?

Dailuaine is where architect Charles Doig built his very first pagoda roof, over the distillery's malt kiln in 1889. The shape caught on fast and has since become almost a logo for the Scottish whisky distillery. Doig's original roof burned down in 1917.

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Somewhere between the wash still and the warehouse, Haddock built a reputation few casual drinkers ever hear about. This particular release from Islay shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Haddock 2007/2020 Wilson & Morgan 13 Year Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured on oloroso Sherry-fad and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from Wilson & Morgan.

The whisky was distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2020.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark chocolate, dried figs and a warm sherry depth.

Palate

Sultanas, cocoa and a rounded sherried sweetness.

Finish

Long and warming with a lingering spiced oak note.

Specifications

Name: Haddock 2007/2020 Wilson & Morgan 13 Year Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Haddock
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry-fad
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2020
EAN no.: 8033749407115

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Rounded · Smoky · Spiced

Did you know?

Wilson & Morgan was founded in Italy in 1992 and was among the first independent bottlers to introduce Italian drinkers to Scotch single malt and blended malt whisky in a serious way.

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Custard cream biscuits and a still, quiet hint of orchard apples — that is how a Sunday afternoon in the Cotswolds begins, and how this whisky begins too.

Expert's Description

Cotswolds Reserve Small Batch Release is a single malt English whisky assembled in small batches and bottled at 50% ABV.

The whisky belongs to the distillery's Classics Collection and is made from 100% locally grown, floor-malted Cotswolds barley. The casks are premium first fill ex-bourbon barrels and STR (Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred) ex-red wine casks of American oak, where the bourbon casks contribute classic vanilla and honey notes while the red wine casks add richness, fruitiness and sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Custard cream biscuits, malted milk and juicy toffee popcorn, spiced with apples, pears and orange.

Palate

A punchy hit of malt and citrus spice, followed by waves of fudge, caramel and creamy custard.

Finish

Soft and gently nutty, with cinnamon and a lingering creaminess that rounds the flavour off nicely.

Specifications

Name: Cotswolds Reserve Small Batch Release Single Malt English Whisky
Distillery: Cotswolds Distillery
Region/Country: England
Type: Single Malt English Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrels & STR ex-red wine casks of American oak
Non-chill filtered
Natural colour
EAN no.: 5060404511958

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Honey · Caramel · Citrus spice

Did You Know?

Reserve belongs to the distillery's Classics Collection, designed as the most accessible entry point into Cotswolds Distillery's style, while the Small Batch Release label underlines that each batch varies slightly, since no two casks are ever quite the same.

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Some whiskies are left to rest for decades before anyone deems them worthy of a bottle. This pearl from Mull waited twenty years before The Pearls of Scotland opened the cask.

Expert's description

Tobermory 1996/2017 The Pearls of Scotland 20 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53,9% is a Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Cask No. 82 and bottled at 53,9%.

With only 274 bottles from cask number 82, this 20-year-old Tobermory is one of the rarest expressions of the distillery ever to reach the Danish market.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sea salt, dried apricot and a touch of old oak.

Palate

Full and oily with honey, sweet spice and ripe pears.

Finish

Long, soft and lightly maritime.

Specifications

Name: Tobermory 1996/2017 The Pearls of Scotland 20 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 53,9%
Distillery: Tobermory
Bottler: The Pearls of Scotland
Region/Country: Isle of Mull
Type: Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 53,9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask No. 82
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: december 1996
Bottled: maj 2017
Number of bottles: 274
EAN no.: 5060371830991

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Spiced · Rich

Investment Potential

Medium – with only 274 bottles from a single cask and a bottler that rarely repeats its releases, this type of rare Tobermory bottling has historically shown rising interest among collectors.

Did you know?

The Pearls of Scotland is an independent bottler specialising in single-cask releases from across Scotland, often from casks left to mature far beyond the usual.

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Portugal rarely lends its name to Scotch whisky. This release from The Portuguese Collection makes an exception, with Madeira at its centre.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Madeira cask Portuguese Collection 3 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Madeira cask and bottled at 46%.

This third release in The Portuguese Collection is matured in a Madeira cask and, together with the other two, forms a shared story about Portuguese fortified wines.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sun-dried figs and a light nutty sweetness.

Palate

Caramelised fruit and spiced oak.

Finish

Medium long with lingering madeira sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Madeira cask Portuguese Collection 3 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Madeira cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 8. september 2006
Bottled: 9. maj 2022
Edition: The Portuguese Collection 3 of 3
EAN no.: 5018481902602

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

The Portuguese Collection is a trio of Tomatin releases, all distilled on the same day in September 2006 and each finished in a different Portuguese cask type.

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Moscatel is sweeter than most fortified wines, and it clearly rubs off on this release from The Portuguese Collection.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Moscatel finish Portuguese Collection 2 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Moscatel cask and bottled at 46%.

This second release in The Portuguese Collection is matured in a Moscatel cask, giving a more aromatic, floral sweetness than its two siblings in the series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honeydew melon, white grapes and a light floral scent.

Palate

Sweet and aromatic with citrus peel and vanilla spice.

Finish

Soft and perfumed.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Moscatel finish Portuguese Collection 2 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Moscatel cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 8. september 2006
Bottled: 9. maj 2022
Edition: The Portuguese Collection 2 of 3
EAN no.: 5018481902626

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Cù Bòcan – Tomatin's peated side brand – is named after a local legendary creature, a ghost dog said to roam the area around the distillery.

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Port has darker fruit and more tannin than its siblings. The first in this series shows exactly that difference.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Port Cask Portuguese Collection 1 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in port cask and bottled at 46%.

This first release in The Portuguese Collection is matured in a port cask and gives the series its deepest, most spiced character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries, raisins and a touch of cocoa.

Palate

Rich fruit sweetness with spiced oak and a light tannic structure.

Finish

Long and wine-toned.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2006 Limited Edition 15 år Port Cask Portuguese Collection 1 of 3 Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: port cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 8. september 2006
Bottled: 9. maj 2022
Edition: The Portuguese Collection 1 of 3
EAN no.: 5018481902640

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

In 2002, Tomatin removed eleven of its 23 stills to shift focus from bulk blended-whisky production towards dedicated, high-quality single malt releases.

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A yellow band and a discontinued label that still hold on to Tamnavulin's classic Speyside sweetness. A fragment of the distillery's design history that no longer sits on the shelf.

Please note: this is a discontinued label version with a yellow band, no longer produced by the distillery.

Expert description

Tamnavulin 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

This bottling carries the older yellow band that Tamnavulin used before the distillery modernised its label design. Tamnavulin sits on the River Livet in Speyside and is now owned by Whyte & Mackay, part of the Philippine Emperador group. The distillery was founded in 1966 and is known for a soft, approachable style that has historically also served as a backbone in several well-known blends.

The 12 Year Old has for many years been a fixture in Tamnavulin's range, matured in standard oak casks with no additional finish. With its yellow band, this bottle belongs to an earlier chapter of the distillery's history, before the current core range of sherry, port and wine-cask finishes took over the shelves.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and ripe apple mingle with a hint of vanilla biscuit and a touch of dried citrus peel.

Palate

Soft malt and caramel with a light nutty body that glides across the palate without sharp edges.

Finish

Short to medium, closing on a gentle honeyed sweetness with a whisper of oak.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin 12 Year Old
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN nr.: 5011311024901

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Soft · Malty · Light nutty · Approachable

Investment potential

Medium. The discontinued yellow-band label makes this bottle interesting to collectors documenting Tamnavulin's label history, as this version is no longer produced.

Did you know?

Tamnavulin roughly means "mill on the hill" in Gaelic, a nod to the old woollen mill that stood on the site before the distillery was built in 1966.

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Jack Daniels Bonded 100 Proof Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey

Portuguese red wine casks are rare guests in Scotch whisky. Casado 2022 Release is Kilchoman's take on what happens when classic Islay peat gets company from deep, red-wine-tinged fruit out of Iberia.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Casado 2022 Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and Portuguese red wine casks and bottled at 46 %.

The release is the result of carefully selected casks, brought together to create a harmonious flavour experience. Combining ex-bourbon casks with Portuguese red wine oak casks achieves a deep and complex flavour profile, where the red wine's fruit sweetness layers on top of Kilchoman's classic peated character.

The result is a soft, round whisky where notes of peated smoke, caramel, vanilla and dried fruit dance in a different balance to the distillery's more familiar sherry and port-matured releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Enticing smoke, sweetness and spice meet dark berry fruit and a light winey acidity from the red wine casks.

Palate

Soft and round, with notes of peated smoke, caramel, vanilla and dried fruit gliding elegantly across the palate.

Finish

Long-lasting, with a pleasant warmth and a final trace of dark fruit and oak.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Casado 2022 Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon and Portuguese Red Wine Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Casado 2022 Release, Batch No. 12,900
EAN no.: 5060210706029

Flavour profile

Peated · Red wine-matured · Fruity · Spicy · Soft

Did you know?

Portuguese red wine casks are used far less often in Scotch whisky production than sherry or port casks, making Casado one of the more unconventional cask choices in Kilchoman's catalogue.

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Miyagikyo is already known for its floral style, and this edition explores just how much further that character can be pushed with a different yeast strain.

Expert Description

Nikka Discovery Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022 is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 47%.

This edition is the sister release to Yoichi Aromatic Yeast from the same Discovery series. By applying an aromatic yeast strain to Miyagikyo, already known for its soft profile, the distillery's natural floral and fruity character is further enhanced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense floral aroma, apple and a light honey sweetness.

Palate

Very soft with pear, vanilla and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Medium length and aromatic.

Specifications

Name: Nikka Discovery Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022
Distillery: Miyagikyo
Region/Country: Miyagi, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4904230071235

Flavour Profile

Very soft · Aromatic · Floral · Fruity

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

As part of the limited Discovery series, experimental yeast releases from Miyagikyo are rare, increasing their appeal to collectors of Japanese whisky.

Did You Know?

Miyagikyo has historically used more different yeast strains than most other Japanese distilleries, an experimental approach dating back to the distillery's founding.

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Yeast is often the least discussed ingredient in whisky production, but this Discovery edition puts it centre stage.

Expert Description

Nikka Discovery Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022 is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 48%.

This edition in the Discovery series explores how an aromatic yeast strain affects Yoichi Distillery's character. By switching yeast type from the usual to a more aromatic variant, the distillery reveals a different dimension of its flavour profile, normally overshadowed by the powerful peat.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Floral fruit, honey and a light, clean malt sweetness.

Palate

Soft with apple, pear and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length and aromatic.

Specifications

Name: Nikka Discovery Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022
Distillery: Yoichi
Region/Country: Hokkaido, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4904230071228

Flavour Profile

Soft · Aromatic · Floral · Fruity

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

The Discovery series consists of limited vintage releases, and experimental yeast variants like this are rare, making them attractive to collectors of Japanese whisky.

Did You Know?

The yeast strain has a far greater influence on a whisky's flavour than most consumers realise - the Discovery series is Nikka's way of making the invisible ingredient visible.

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Cask strength from Bowmore's own Vaults — bottled before 2007, carrying the old Vaults label with its distinctive graphic. This is a bottle you bring out for special occasions. Not something you open without people to share it with.

Expert's description

Bowmore Vaults Cask Strength is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled directly at cask strength 56%. Bowmore's cask strength Vaults expression is bottled from the iconic No. 1 Vaults — the maturation warehouses partially below sea level on Islay. This edition carries the original Vaults label design from before 2007, making it a collector-relevant variant for those who follow Bowmore's historical bottlings. At 56%, without any dilution, this is Bowmore in its most concentrated and direct form — a whisky that tells the distillery's maritime and peated identity more clearly than the more restrained standard expressions. Non-chill filtered, natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense and rich. Sea salt and peat, dark fruit and vanilla. Concentrated and direct — a drop of water opens it gradually.

Taste

Powerful and full at 56%. Smoke, maritime notes and a deep fruit sweetness from the oak. Complex and layered.

Finish

Long, smoky and warming. Salt and oak dry down slowly, leaving a lingering maritime character that stays long after the glass is empty.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore Vaults Old Version Cask Strength
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Old Version – Vaults (pre-2007)
EAN no.: 5010496030844

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Peated · Maritime · Oak · Collector

Investment potential

Medium. Pre-2007 Bowmore from Vaults at cask strength is a sought-after collector's expression. Older Bowmore from this period is increasingly difficult to find and consistently well-regarded among enthusiasts.

Did you know?

The pre-2007 period is widely regarded as one of the finest chapters in Bowmore's history. The distillery underwent ownership changes when Suntory acquired it in the 1990s, and the spirit from this era is considered to have a particularly distinctive and complex character.

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The 2022 edition of Paul John's Christmas malt brings together four different cask stories in one bottle, a layer more complex than the following year's release.

Expert's description

Paul John Christmas Edition 2022 Indian Single Malt Whisky is an Indian Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks, used brandy casks and casks that previously held both oloroso sherry and peated whisky, bottled at 46%.

The four different cask types give the Christmas malt chestnut-brown hues and a depth of spice, baked apple and dark chocolate, making it a natural companion for dark December evenings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers spice, baked apple and dark chocolate.

Palate

The palate is warm and round with a hint of peated malt from the previous whisky casks.

Finish

The finish is long with a closing spiced sweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Paul John
Region/Country: Goa, India
Type: Indian Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon casks, used brandy casks and casks that previously held oloroso sherry and peated whisky
Edition: Christmas Edition 2022
EAN No.: 8904014809180

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spicy · Fruity · Rich

Did you know?

Christmas Edition 2022 is composed of four different cask types, making it one of the most complex vintages in Paul John's Christmas line.

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An independent bottling from one of the whisky world's oldest and most respected bottlers, a world apart from Ardbeg's own labels.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 1994/2004 Connoisseurs Choice 10 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail at 40%.

Connoisseurs Choice is Gordon & MacPhail's classic series of independent bottlings, where the whisky is distilled at the named distillery but selected and bottled by the bottler itself. This release was distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2004 after 10 years of maturation, giving a different expression than Ardbeg's own official releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Classic Islay peat at a calmer, more restrained pace than the more powerful official bottlings, with a light maritime freshness.

Palate

Gentle smoke and peat balanced by a dry, malt-forward sweetness, characteristic of Gordon & MacPhail's style.

Finish

Mild and dry, with a lingering smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 1994/2004 Connoisseurs Choice
Distillery: Ardbeg
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1994
Bottled: 2004
Edition: Connoisseurs Choice
EAN no.: 5020613151321

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Mild · Classic

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail started as a grocery shop in Elgin in 1895 and is today one of Scotland's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, with warehouses stretching back decades.

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A protest song from 1981 became the national football team's anthem, and eventually the name of a whisky. It isn't often a bottle carries this much national pride inside it.

Expert description

Penderyn Icons of Wales No. 10 Yma O Hyd is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky matured in American rye casks and bottled at 43%. The name is taken from Dafydd Iwan's iconic Welsh-language protest song 'Yma O Hyd' from 1981, a tribute to the survival of the Welsh language and culture, since adopted as the anthem of the national football team's supporters, known as 'The Red Wall'.

The bottle launched in 2022 as the official whisky partnership with the Football Association of Wales, tied to Wales's World Cup campaign that year. The rye casks give the whisky a spiced, peppery edge that sets it apart from most of Penderyn's other releases, where bourbon, sherry and port casks tend to dominate.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is floral with baking spice, caramel and the scent of baked apple and pear.

Palate

The palate offers sweet caramel and sultana, spiced with cinnamon-apple, pepper and a touch of ginger and clove from the rye casks.

Finish

The finish is caramel-sweet with a herbal, peppery close that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Icons of Wales No 10 Yma O Hyd Single Malt Welsh Whisky 70 CL 43%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Brecon Beacons, Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American rye casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Faraday distillation
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Icons of Wales No. 10
EAN no.: 5011594001781

Flavour profile

Spiced · Sweet · Rye-matured

Did you know?

'Yma O Hyd' means 'still here' in Welsh, and the song has served since 1981 as a defiant reminder that the Welsh language is still alive — a line sung today just as loudly on football terraces as at folk concerts.

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