Starward steps off the beaten path, letting French oak and red wine shape this expression.

Expert description

Starward LEFT-FIELD French Oak Red Wine Matured Single Malt Whisky is matured in French oak casks that previously held red wine, bottled at 40%. Starward was founded in 2007 by David Vitale, who set out to create an unmistakably Australian whisky and rejected the notion that great whisky could only come from Scotland, Ireland or Japan. The distillery's hallmark is that the whisky is matured exclusively in Australian wine casks rather than the traditional ex-bourbon or sherry casks, establishing an entirely new style within world whisky. In 2016 the distillery moved to a purpose-built site in Port Melbourne.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is fruity with red berries, vanilla and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers dark fruit, caramel and a light wine-like note.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and fruit-driven.

Specifications

Name: Starward LEFT-FIELD French Oak Red Wine Matured Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Starward Distillery
Region/Country: Melbourne, Australia
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Wine-driven · Soft · Berry-forward

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The Warehouse Tasting bottles are drawn straight from the Cadenhead warehouse in Campbeltown and filled for the tastings held on site. You rarely meet them anywhere other than with a glass in hand between the casks.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2012/2021 Cadenhead's 9 years Warehouse Tasting is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in a Manzanilla hogshead, finished from 2020 and bottled at 56.7 % cask strength without chill filtration and without added colour.

Wm Cadenhead is the oldest independent bottler in Scotland, founded in Aberdeen in 1842 and based today in Campbeltown next door to Springbank. The Warehouse Tasting series consists of a small handful of casks each year, chosen for the tastings the house runs itself, and they are bottled raw and unadjusted.

Manzanilla is a dry sherry from Sanlucar de Barrameda on the Atlantic coast, and the cask gives a saltier, more mineral influence than an Oloroso would. The Ben Nevis went into the cask in 2020 after eight years in its original wood, and the combination of dry sherry and the oily weight of the distillery is unusual.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salted almond, dry hay and a sharp mineral note. Behind it sit oily malt and a touch of green apple.

Palate

Powerful and dry with salted nut, lemon peel and an oily middle. The cask strength bites, but the whisky has the body to carry it.

Finish

Long, dry and salty with a lingering mineral edge.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2012/2021 Cadenhead's 9 år Warehouse Tasting
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Cadenhead's
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 56,7 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Manzanilla hogshead, finished from 2020
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Warehouse Tasting

Flavour profile

Dry · Maritime · Mineral · Nutty · Cask strength

Investment potential

High. Warehouse Tasting bottlings are made in very small quantities for the Cadenhead tastings and rarely reach normal distribution. The combination of Ben Nevis and a Manzanilla cask makes it harder still to replace.

Did you know?

Cadenhead has never put a distillery logo or house colours on its labels. The firm uses the same sober template for everything, whether the contents come from an obscure distillery or from one of the best known names in Scotland.

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See our full range of Cadenhead's Whisky

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La Plume – the feather. Light as a thought, but with 57.3% in the glass there is more substance here than the name suggests. An organic Danish Single Malt Whisky offering genuine cask character straight from the source.

Expert description

Isle of Fionia La Plume is an organic Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 57.3%. Distilled at Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery in the historic DSB train depot in Nyborg, Funen, La Plume is bottled at cask strength and gives access to a more unmediated expression of the distillery's character. Made from 100% organic barley and distilled in copper pot stills. Bottled with natural colour and without chill filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and fruity with a well-formed malt base. Light notes of vanilla and gentle caramel, plus a fresh fruity depth from the cask.

Palate

Full and warm with the characteristic organic malt body. Concentrated with a delicate balance between oak sweetness and light fruity acidity.

Finish

Medium to long with a warm oak note and a lasting malt impression.

Specifications

Name: Isle of Fionia La Plume
Distillery: Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery
Region/Country: Funen, Denmark
Type: Organic Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Warm · Cask strength

Did you know?

Bottling a whisky at cask strength is a statement of confidence in the distillate. No dilution, no chill filtration – what is in the glass is exactly what came out of the cask. La Plume is Isle of Fionia's way of saying: here we are, unadorned.

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Same name, new story. Slainte Peated is a peated sibling to the un-sherried release, this time matured in bourbon with a wholly different, smoky expression.

The Expert's Description

High Coast Slainte Peated is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky distilled on 13 March 2017 and bottled on 14 June 2022 after 5 years of maturation, at 61.9%.

The whisky matured in a single bourbon cask (cask no. 2017-599) and carries the peated character High Coast is known for. With only 65 bottles from this cask and the high strength of 61.9%, this is an intense and rare release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat, smoke, salted caramel and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Bold smoke and peat upfront, supported by vanilla, honey and a light peppery spice from the high strength.

Finish

Long, peaty and warm with lingering smoky tones.

Specifications

Name: High Coast Slainte Peated Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: High Coast Distillery
Region/Country: Ångermanland, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Vintage: Distilled 13 March 2017, bottled 14 June 2022
Age: 5 years
ABV: 61.9%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, cask no. 2017-599
Number of bottles: 65

Flavour Profile

Peaty · Smoky · Salty · Powerful · Spiced

Did You Know?

Slainte Peated shares its name with its un-sherried sibling, but it is a wholly different whisky: bourbon-matured, peated, and drawn from a single cask of just 65 bottles.

See our full range of High Coast

Starward draws inspiration from the Spanish solera system for this release.

Expert description

Starward SOLERA Apera Wine Matured Single Malt Australian Whisky is matured in Australian Apera casks (the Australian term for sherry-style wine) using a solera-inspired system, bottled at 43%. Starward was founded in 2007 by David Vitale, who set out to create an unmistakably Australian whisky and rejected the notion that great whisky could only come from Scotland, Ireland or Japan. The distillery's hallmark is that the whisky is matured exclusively in Australian wine casks rather than the traditional ex-bourbon or sherry casks, establishing an entirely new style within world whisky. In 2016 the distillery moved to a purpose-built site in Port Melbourne.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers raisin, nut and a soft, wine-like sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and fruit-driven.

Specifications

Name: Starward SOLERA Apera Wine Matured Single Malt Australian Whisky
Distillery: Starward Distillery
Region/Country: Melbourne, Australia
Type: Single Malt Australian Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Nutty · Wine-driven · Sweet

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A more powerful edition of Starward's wine-cask style, bottled at a higher strength.

Expert description

Starward FORTIS American Oak Red Wine Matured Single Malt Australian Whisky is matured in American oak casks that previously held red wine, bottled at a high strength of 50%. Starward was founded in 2007 by David Vitale, who set out to create an unmistakably Australian whisky and rejected the notion that great whisky could only come from Scotland, Ireland or Japan. The distillery's hallmark is that the whisky is matured exclusively in Australian wine casks rather than the traditional ex-bourbon or sherry casks, establishing an entirely new style within world whisky. In 2016 the distillery moved to a purpose-built site in Port Melbourne.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is intense with dark berries, caramel and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate is powerful with red wine, dark fruit and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and fruit-driven.

Specifications

Name: Starward FORTIS American Oak Red Wine Matured Single Malt Australian Whisky
Distillery: Starward Distillery
Region/Country: Melbourne, Australia
Type: Single Malt Australian Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Powerful · Fruity · Wine-driven · Spiced

See our full range of Starward

Three different sherry styles in one cask programme give this edition a layered complexity few other Kavalan releases can match.

Expert Description

Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Matured is a Single Malt Taiwan Whisky, bottled at 40%.

The whisky is matured using a combination of three different sherry cask types from Kavalan Distillery in Yilan county, founded in 2005. The combination of several sherry styles gives a deeper layering of flavour than a single cask programme can typically provide.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins, dark chocolate and a light nutty note.

Palate

Round and sweet with sherry, caramel and ripe berries.

Finish

Medium length and warm.

Specifications

Name: Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Matured
Distillery: Kavalan
Region/Country: Yilan, Taiwan
Type: Single Malt Taiwan Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4710085240593

Flavour Profile

Round · Sweet · Nutty · Warm

Did You Know?

Kavalan is one of the youngest distilleries in the world to have gained international recognition in just two decades, often attributed to Taiwan's intense maturation climate.

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With no water between itself and the cask, this edition of the Glasgow spirit stands razor-sharp and unfiltered, ready to be tamed with a few drops of water.

Expert description

The Epicurean Glasgow Edition is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Douglas Laing, bottled in limited numbers and at full cask strength, 56.8% ABV, without dilution before bottling.

Like the house's other Epicurean expressions, this is a tribute to Glasgow and built on a marriage of Single Malts from several Lowland distilleries, but here without the smoothing a normal reduction to drinking strength would provide.

Due to the high strength, we recommend adding a few drops of water, which opens up the characteristic citrus and caramel notes Epicurean is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense citrus peel, warm caramel and a tangy hint of green apple, concentrated by the high strength.

Palate

Powerful, with burnt sugar, exotic fruit and a peppery spice that softens with a few drops of water.

Finish

Long, warm and lightly bitter, with a closing sweetness of honey.

Specifications

Name: The Epicurean Glasgow Edition
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 56.8%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Glasgow Edition, cask strength

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Citrus · Caramel

Did you know?

Because this edition is bottled at full cask strength without dilution, you can adjust the strength and flavour yourself with water and experience how the whisky changes character drop by drop.

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Without any water added, The Gauldrons shows its most intense side - a cask strength edition that gathers Campbeltown's character with nothing filtered between cask and glass.

Expert Description

The Gauldrons Cask Strength is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt from the region's distilleries and bottled at cask strength, 53.4%.

As the cask strength edition in Douglas Laing's The Gauldrons range, this whisky is produced in a limited run of 3,120 bottles, offering a well-balanced, smoky and sweet character lifted by the high strength. The label glows in the dark, a small extra detail underlining the range's playful take on Campbeltown's heavy heritage.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold smoke meets salted caramel and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

Full and intense, with smoke and spice kept in check by an underlying sweetness.

Finish

Long and warming, with a lingering smoke that slowly gives way to a dry, salty close.

Specifications

Name: The Gauldrons Cask Strength
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.4%
Size: 70 CL
Number of bottles: 3,120
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Peated · Cask strength · Spicy · Maritime

Did You Know?

The label on The Gauldrons Cask Strength glows in the dark - a detail that gives the bottle a distinct look on bar shelves and in whisky collections.

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Rum Edition Batch 3 is the series at its most accessible. 48.5% instead of Batch 1's formidable 64.7% – but the rum finish is still there, warm and sweet, without getting in the way of everything else.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Rum Edition Batch 3 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky finished in rum casks and bottled at 48.5%, 50 cl. It is the third bottling in Fary Lochan's Rum Edition series, and with a strength well below the earlier batches, it is the most drinkable expression in the lineup. The rum cask provides its characteristic sweetness and tropical note, but at 48.5% it allows the malt's own qualities more space. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sugarcane, banana, light vanilla and a honeyed malt base.

Palate

Soft rum character, malt, tropical fruit and a spiced warmth in the centre.

Finish

Medium length and sweet with rum-cask notes and a touch of oak at the end.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Rum Edition Batch 3
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.5%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Rum cask (finished)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Rum Edition Batch 3

Flavour profile

Rum finish · Sweet · Tropical · Accessible

Did you know?

Rum Edition Batch 3 is the most accessible in the series – at a strength well below Batch 1, it can be drunk neat by most people without water. The ideal introduction to Fary Lochan's rum-finish style.

The journey to Islay begins on the ferry from Kennacraig, where the sea air starts to smell properly of seaweed and smoke. Islay Journey is the Laing family's take on exactly that crossing, a bottle built entirely from the island's own distilleries, assembled by the people behind Ardnahoe.

The expert's description

Hunter Laing Islay Journey Series is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, composed of malt whisky from several Islay distilleries and bottled at 46%.

The whisky belongs to Hunter Laing & Co.'s Journey Series, a range of regional blended malts in which Islay Journey represents the island's characteristic peated style. Behind the bottle stands Hunter Laing & Co., a family-owned bottler founded in 2013 by Stewart Laing together with his sons Andrew and Scott, and since 2018 also owner of Islay's newest distillery, Ardnahoe. The malt behind Islay Journey has matured in bourbon hogsheads before being married together for this no-age-statement release.

Islay Journey is designed as an accessible introduction to the island's whisky style, with several distilleries contributing to the overall character rather than letting a single signature dominate.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry smoke, ash and tar settle like a blanket over the aroma, with a touch of salted caramel behind it.

Palate

Robust peat meets sea salt and seaweed, with an oily texture that ties the different distilleries together.

Finish

Medium length and dry, with lingering smoke and a light ashy note that fades like a burnt-out beach fire.

Specifications

Name: Hunter Laing Islay Journey Series
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogsheads
Edition: Journey Series
EAN no.: 5060354263181

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Salty · Robust

Did you know?

Hunter Laing & Co. was founded by Stewart Laing, who previously ran sister company Douglas Laing together with his brother; the two split the business in 2013, and Stewart established his own family firm with sons Andrew and Scott.

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Hunter Laing Hebridean Journey Series Blended Malt Whisky

Hunter Laing Highland Journey Series Blended Malt Whisky

Hunter Laing Campbeltown Journey Series Blended Malt Whisky

Watt Whisky operates from Campbeltown, the same town home to two of Scotland's most respected distilleries. This 19 year old blended malt shows what the house can do when the cask is given a long time to speak.

The expert's description

Watt Whisky 19 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,9% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Sherry butt and bottled at 44.9%.

The whisky was distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2020 by Watt Whisky from a sherry butt, with an outturn of 630 bottles. The long maturation has given a deep, full-bodied blended malt, unchill-filtered and with natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit, sherry and a hint of toasted wood.

Palate

Full-bodied with raisin, caramel and spiced oak.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering sherry tones.

Specifications

Name: Watt Whisky 19 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 44,9%
Distillery: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 44.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 630

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

Watt Whisky was founded by siblings Mark and Kate Watt and is based in Campbeltown, a town once called the whisky capital of the world with more than thirty distilleries in operation.

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Port wine has left its clear mark on this 2008 GlenAllachie. A Ruby Port hogshead has given the whisky a deep, berry-laden character, and 13 years of maturation have given the cask plenty of time to work. With a cask strength of 55.2% and just 313 bottles from cask 2583, this is a rare release exclusive to the Danish market.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 2008 Ruby Port Hogshead 13 Year Old is a single cask Speyside malt whisky, matured in a Ruby Port hogshead and bottled at 55.2% cask strength.

The bottling forms part of Batch 4 in GlenAllachie's ongoing series of single cask releases, where whisky maker Billy Walker lets each cask show its own personality. Cask 2583 was filled on 20 November 2008 and left to mature for nearly 13 years before being bottled in July 2022. Over the years, the Ruby Port cask has given the whisky a deep reddish hue and a character of dark berries that stands clearly apart from the distillery's cask strength releases matured in bourbon or sherry wood.

Only 313 bottles have been drawn from this single cask, and they are reserved for the Danish market. That makes this release an ideal chance to experience how a port wine cask can shape a Speyside malt whisky from the ground up.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe raspberries and blackberries meet a sweetness of cane sugar and a hint of clove. Underneath lies a light earthy tone and a touch of dark chocolate that ties the berry-driven aromas together.

Palate

The palate offers juicy red berries, a whisper of liquorice and a warm spiciness that builds alongside the cask strength. Towards the middle comes a creamy sweetness reminiscent of dark cherry jam, backed by a light tannin from the cask.

Finish

Long and full-bodied, with a persistent tone of dark berries and herbal spice that slowly turns drier, leaving a light peppery warmth.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2008 Ruby Port Hogshead 13 Year Old
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 55.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask 2583, Ruby Port Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 313
Edition: Batch 4

Flavour profile

Berry-driven · Port-toned · Spiced · Creamy · Cask strength · Dark chocolate

Investment potential

With only 313 bottles from a single cask, reserved for the Danish market, this release sits in the medium tier of investment interest. The unusual Ruby Port finish and single cask status make it attractive to collectors chasing GlenAllachie releases with a distinct cask imprint.

Did you know?

A hogshead is larger than a standard cask, typically holding around 190-200 litres, and is often built by reassembling used bourbon barrels into a new, larger construction. Once such a cask has held Ruby Port, it gains an extra dimension, giving the whisky more colour and fruit than a standard bourbon cask ever could.

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A French red wine cask from a Premier Cru Classé vineyard has left its mark on this 2009 GlenAllachie. The result is a 12 year old single cask with enough backbone to carry the wine's character through, bottled at a cask strength of 59.1%. Just 323 bottles have been drawn from cask 1040, exclusively for the Danish market.

Expert's description

GlenAllachie 2009 Premier Cru Classé 12 Year Old is a single cask Speyside malt whisky, finished in a French red wine cask from a Premier Cru Classé vineyard and bottled at 59.1% cask strength.

This release belongs to Batch 4 in GlenAllachie's series of single cask bottlings, where the distillery's whisky maker Billy Walker lets each individual cask speak for itself. Cask 1040 was filled on 5 November 2009 and left to rest for nearly 13 years before being bottled in July 2022. Along the way, the red wine cask from a renowned French vineyard has layered the whisky with dark fruit and tannin not found in the distillery's standard releases.

Only 323 bottles have come from this single cask, and they have been bottled exclusively for the Danish market. That makes this bottling a rare chance to taste what happens when GlenAllachie's clean spirit meets the legacy of a French wine cellar.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark forest berries, redcurrant jelly and a hint of tobacco meet sweet vanilla and a gentle spiced warmth from the oak. Underneath sits a touch of fresh brioche and a tangy note reminiscent of red wine left to breathe.

Palate

Full-bodied and powerful, with flavours of dark chocolate, blackcurrant and a whisper of clove. The cask strength brings noticeable warmth, but the dark fruit and soft tannins keep it balanced, while caramelised sugar and toasted almonds emerge along the way.

Finish

Long and dry, with lingering notes of dark fruit, cedar wood and a light bitterness from the wine cask, slowly giving way to a sweetness reminiscent of dark marmalade.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 2009 Premier Cru Classé 12 Year Old
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 59.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask 1040, Premier Cru Classé finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 323
Edition: Batch 4

Flavour profile

Fruity · Wine-toned · Spiced · Full-bodied · Cask strength · Dark chocolate

Investment potential

With only 323 bottles from a single cask, bottled exclusively for Denmark, this release sits in the medium tier of investment interest. The combination of single cask, cask strength and an unusual French wine cask finish makes it relevant for collectors seeking GlenAllachie releases with a story beyond the ordinary.

Did you know?

Premier Cru Classé comes from Bordeaux's famous 1855 classification of vineyards, where only a small number of the finest chateaux carry the title. Having a whisky cask rest in a cask from precisely such a vineyard makes this finish something of a rarity in the whisky world.

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Seventeen years on Oloroso sherry does something to a whisky. On Mull, time has been allowed to work slowly, and the result is dark and mature.

Expert's description

Tobermory 17 år Oloroso Matured Single Malt Island Whisky 55,9% is a Single Malt Island Whisky matured in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 55,9%.

Tobermory keeps only two cask types in regular rotation – bourbon and sherry – which makes fully sherry-matured releases like this one a rare variation in the range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Juicy berries and festive christmas spice.

Palate

Dark sherry sweetness with cinnamon and roasted nuts.

Finish

Long and warming with a late sherry dryness.

Specifications

Name: Tobermory 17 år Oloroso Matured Single Malt Island Whisky 55,9%
Distillery: Tobermory
Region/Country: Isle of Mull
Type: Single Malt Island Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 55,9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2004

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Maritime · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

This 17-year-old expression was distilled in 2004 and has lain fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks ever since – an unusually long single-cask maturation for Tobermory.

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Somewhere between the wash still and the warehouse, Laphroaig 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

Laphroaig 10 Year Original Cask Strength 1 liter Old Version Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 55,7% is a Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 55,7%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bonfire smoke, dried fruit and a maritime edge.

Palate

Rich smoke, dark chocolate and spiced oak.

Finish

Dry and smoky with a final salty note.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Original Cask Strength 1 liter Old Version Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 55,7%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 55,7%
Size: 100 CL
Edition: Original Cask Strength
EAN no.: 5010019641830

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a discontinued 1-litre cask strength edition no longer in production, this bottle is among the more sought-after older Laphroaig releases on the Danish market.

Did you know?

The Original Cask Strength series was created to let whisky enthusiasts experience Laphroaig the way it tastes straight from the cask in the distillery's warehouses on Islay.

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On the Isle of Mull, the salty sea meets a whisky that has never needed smoke to tell its story.

Expert's description

Tobermory 12 år Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46,3% is a Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46,3%.

Tobermory 12 Year Old is the distillery's unpeated core release and shows the maritime, lightly salted style that sets Tobermory apart among Scotland's island whiskies.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, crisp green apples and pickling brine.

Palate

Sea water and malt with underlying notes of pepper.

Finish

Vanilla and a lingering maritime sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tobermory 12 år Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46,3%
Distillery: Tobermory
Region/Country: Isle of Mull
Type: Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46,3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Tobermory and its peated sister brand Ledaig share the very same stills – the difference lies solely in whether the barley is peated or not.

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Bottled at full cask strength after a quarter century in wood, this 1996 vintage is one of the most powerful releases in the Old Perth Vintage Collection.

Expert Review

Old Perth 1996/2021 Vintage Collection 25 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 55,8% is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in selected casks and bottled at 55.8% ABV.

Old Perth 1996/2021 Vintage Collection Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is another exclusive vintage in the series, distilled in 1996 and only bottled 25 years later in 2021, at a high natural strength of 55.8%.

The long maturation time and high strength give the whisky an intensity that sets it apart from the younger releases in the Old Perth range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is intense with dark sherry, raisin and a warm clove spiciness.

Palate

The palate is powerful with dark fruit, caramel and a distinct alcohol warmth that carries the flavour far.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with lingering spice and dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Old Perth 1996/2021 Vintage Collection 25 år Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 55,8%
Distillery: Old Perth
Region: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 Years
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: selected casks
Distilled: 1996
Bottled: 2021
EAN No.: 5060109228427

Flavour Profile

Cask Strength · Sherry-matured · Spicy · Powerful

Investment Potential

25 years of maturation, cask strength and a limited vintage series make this release interesting for collectors of older blended malt whisky.

Did You Know?

Old Perth's Vintage Collection is released unfiltered and in natural colour, meaning each vintage varies in both colour and strength depending on the casks used.

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When this cask was filled in 1993, almost all of Aultmore’s production went into Dewar’s White Label, and nobody thought of the distillery as a name in its own right. Twenty-eight years later things look different.

The Expert's Description

Aultmore 1993/2022 Càrn Mòr 28 Years Old Celebration of the Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for twenty-eight years in a hogshead and bottled at 47.4%. The cask gave 233 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Twenty-eight years in a refill hogshead is a slow maturation. The cask does not give much colour, but it gives time, and it is the time that creates the soft, honeyed texture and the deep fruit found only in old whisky.

The strength of 47.4% shows how much has evaporated along the way. Càrn Mòr is Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers’ range of single casks, and Celebration of the Cask is the house’s line for the oldest and rarest casks in the warehouse.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and deep. Honey, ripe pear and tropical fruit first, then vanilla, wax and an old, dry oak note. There is a fine mineral edge that Aultmore keeps even after this long.

Palate

Soft and oily. Honey and ripe fruit open, then vanilla, candied citrus and a dry, spiced oak arrive. At 47.4% there is good weight, and the texture is thick in the way only many years of maturation give.

Finish

Long and soft. Honey, fruit and a dry oak close that lets go very slowly.

Specifications

Name: Aultmore 1993/2022 Càrn Mòr 28 Years Old Celebration of the Cask Single Speyside Malt Whisky 47.4%
Distillery: Aultmore
Bottler: Càrn Mòr
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 47.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1993
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 233
Edition: Celebration of the Cask
EAN no.: 5060109229356

Flavour Profile

Old Malt · Honeyed · Tropical Fruit · Waxy · Soft · Dry Oak

Investment Potential

{'en': 'Twenty-eight year old single malt from one cask is a limited category, and with only 233 bottles no more exists. Aultmore has drawn increasing attention as a distillery since official bottlings reached the market, and old independent casks from before that attention are harder to find year on year. Bottles like these are typically drunk rather than kept, which steadily reduces the number.'}

Did You Know?

Càrn Mòr sits under Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, which the Morrison family runs from Perthshire, where they have also built the Aberargie distillery. Celebration of the Cask is the house’s range for the oldest casks in the warehouse, and every release comes from one cask, with number and bottle count printed on the label.

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Càrn Mòr means the great cairn in Gaelic, and the Strictly Limited range is the house’s younger half: whisky that has not yet reached double figures but already has something to say. This one is nine years old and comes from a bourbon barrel.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr 9 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 47.5%. It was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2022 in the Strictly Limited range, giving 1,184 bottles.

Strictly Limited is Càrn Mòr’s range for younger releases, all bottled at 47.5% and typically composed from a small group of casks. Over the years the series has held whisky from Glen Ord, Bunnahabhain, Benrinnes, Ben Nevis, Pulteney, Caol Ila, BenRiach and Mortlach, and now Ardmore too.

Nine years in a bourbon barrel is enough for Ardmore’s peated character to settle without being rounded away. The smoke is still fresh, and the cask’s vanilla and cereal stand clearly beside it. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. Càrn Mòr is part of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted malt and dry smoke first, with vanilla and pale honey behind. There is green apple and a light coconut note from the bourbon wood, and it all reads clean and young.

Palate

Fresh and malty. Vanilla and baked apple open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy line along with white pepper. At 47.5% the body is good, and the youthful freshness is part of the point rather than a shortcoming.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, dry smoke and a light oak dryness that lets go cleanly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2012/2022 Càrn Mòr 9 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Càrn Mòr
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,184
Edition: Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229295

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Vanilla · Fresh · Dry · Spiced

Did You Know?

Càrn Mòr is run by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, one of Scotland’s oldest whisky families. The same house is behind the Aberargie distillery and the Old Perth range. The family formally traded as Morrison & Mackay until October 2020, when the name was changed to the present one.

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PX sherry casks are known for lending whisky a deep, almost jammy sweetness, and when a GlenAllachie spirit is allowed to rest eight years in one, the result balances power and sweetness well. This bottle comes from independent bottler Càrn Mòr, part of their Strictly Limited series.

Expert's Description

Glenallachie 2013/2022 Càrn Mòr 8 Year PX Sherry Hogshead is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky at 47.5%, distilled in 2013 and matured for 8 years in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead cask, bottled by independent bottler Càrn Mòr, part of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers.

The Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited series is known for gathering smaller cask parcels from a wide range of Scottish distilleries and bottling them at a fixed strength of 47.5%, without chill filtration and without added colour. This release is limited to 1,296 bottles, making it a relatively rare representative of GlenAllachie's spirit.

The PX cask — short for Pedro Ximénez — is well known in the sherry world for its dark, jammy sweetness, and it leaves clear marks on both colour and flavour when used for whisky maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry tones, jammy fruit and a hint of spiced warmth from the cask.

Palate

Rich sweetness from the PX sherry meets GlenAllachie's fruity base character, with a layer of dark chocolate and spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with sherry sweetness fading softly.

Specifications

Name: Càrn Mòr – Strictly Limited
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Bottler: Carn Mor / Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: PX Sherry Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 1,296

Flavour Profile

Sherry · Jammy Fruit · Dark Chocolate · Spiced · Sweetness

Investment Potential

With a run of 1,296 bottles and a well-regarded PX sherry cask behind it, this release stands out as an attractive bottle for collectors of independent bottlings. Investment potential is rated medium, supported by the Càrn Mòr series' strong reputation and GlenAllachie's growing status.

Did You Know?

The Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited series has bottled spirit from a long list of Scottish distilleries, including Ardmore, Glen Ord, Bunnahabhain and Benriach, making the series something of a travel guide through Scotch whisky for those wanting to explore several distilleries at the same bottling strength.

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Eleven years in bourbon barrels, then two years in casks that had held rum from Barbados. This is not a finish of a couple of months — it is long enough for the rum to settle properly into the whisky. The light Glen Grant spirit could carry it.

The expert's description

Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 13 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in rum casks and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and spent eleven years in bourbon barrels before moving into rum casks from the West Indies Rum Distillery on Barbados for two years. Bottling took place in 2022 and produced 1,233 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Strictly Limited is the range in the Càrn Mòr family where the younger casks get their space, and where the strength always sits at 47.5%. Behind the range stands Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, with the fourth generation of the Morrison family at the helm and the Aberargie distillery in Perthshire on the books.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apple and pear first, then orange peel and cinnamon pastry. There is a toasted, biscuity cereal note behind it, and a trace of cocoa that only just shows itself.

Palate

Juicy and lightly tropical. Banana, ripe pineapple and stewed orchard fruit, with toffee and marmalade underneath. The rum shows up as a warm sweetness rather than as molasses.

Finish

Long and light. Burnt sugar, orange marmalade and biscuity malt sliding out into a drier close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr 13 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glen Grant
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrels finished in Barbados rum casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,233
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229318

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Sweet · Spiced · Light

Did you know?

The Morrison family has been in Scotch whisky for four generations and once stood behind both Bowmore and Auchentoshan. Today they run Càrn Mòr and Old Perth, and they built the Aberargie distillery in Perthshire from the ground up.

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The North British distillery sits in the heart of Edinburgh's Gorgie district and has worked in the shadow of the better-known malt distilleries since 1885.

Expert's Description

North British 31 Year Old The Sovereign 1988/2020 is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength 52.4%.

The Sovereign series from Hunter Laing is dedicated exclusively to single cask grain whisky, always bottled at cask strength without added colour or filtration. This 31-year-old North British is limited to 197 bottles from a single bourbon cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with coconut, quickly followed by light oak and a hint of creamy vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with light sweetness, mild pepper and delicate oak.

Finish

The finish is lightly spiced.

Specifications

Distillery: North British
Bottler: The Sovereign (Hunter Laing & Co.)
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 31 years
ABV: 52.4 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: Oktober 1988
Bottled: Februar 2020
Number of bottles: 197
Edition: The Sovereign
EAN no.: 5060354272619

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Light · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium. A 31-year-old single cask grain whisky with only 197 bottles from a dedicated grain series like The Sovereign is a rare combination that has historically attracted collectors of older grain whisky.

Did You Know?

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

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

Expert's description

Invergordon 25 Year The Sovereign Single Grain Scotch Whisky 42% is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured on bourbonfad and bottled at 42%.

This bottling comes from Hunter Laing & Company, released as part of the The Sovereign range.

The whisky was distilled in May 1995 and bottled in March 2021.

Only 63 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Invergordon 25 Year The Sovereign Single Grain Scotch Whisky 42%
Distillery: Invergordon
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Company
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbonfad
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: May 1995
Bottled: March 2021
Number of bottles: 63
Edition: The Sovereign

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Creamy · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. A run of just 63 bottles from a 25-year-old cask makes this Invergordon one of the rarest single grain bottlings in the entire Sovereign series.

Did you know?

With only 63 bottles from a single cask, this is one of the smallest bottlings in the whole range — a single cask rarely stretches to more than a handful of cases.

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Thirty-two bottles, one for every piece on a chessboard. That is how The Chess Malt Collection is built, and each bottling carries a square name. D7 is a pawn’s starting square, and behind that particular piece sits a refill hogshead of Glenburgie from February 1998.

The expert's description

Glenburgie 23 Year Old The Chess Malt Collection D7 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a refill hogshead, bottled at 54% in 238 bottles.

The cask was filled in February 1998 and emptied in October 2021 after twenty-three years. A refill hogshead gives slowly, and over that length of time the result is a whisky where the distillery takes up more room than the wood. The bottling is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

The series consists of thirty-two different bottlings from different distilleries, split evenly between black and white: two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns. It is a collecting project as much as a whisky range, and several of the squares are already hard to find.

Tasting notes

Nose

Tropical fruit and old oak, with pineapple, mango and a trace of wax. There is a light smoky note under the fruit and a nuttiness that twenty-three years has laid in.

Palate

Full and oily. Tropical fruit and nuts first, then a dry, lightly smoky edge and a firm spiced middle. The 54% gives the whisky weight without hiding the age.

Finish

Long. Nuts, dry oak and a final wisp of smoke that lingers well after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

Name: Glenburgie 23 Year Old The Chess Malt Collection D7 Speyside Single Malt Whisky 54%
Distillery: Glenburgie
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 23 years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: February 1998
Bottled: October 2021
Number of bottles: 238
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection D7

Flavour profile

Tropical · Nutty · Lightly smoky · Waxy · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. A twenty-three year old Glenburgie in 238 bottles cannot be repeated, and the bottling forms part of a series of thirty-two that is collected as a whole. That series structure means demand comes not only from whisky drinkers but also from those chasing the missing squares.

Did you know?

In 1958 Glenburgie had two Lomond stills fitted, producing a heavier spirit under the name Glencraig. It was intended for blending, and very little has ever been bottled as single malt. The stills were removed again in 1981.

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Not every great dram carries a famous name on the label — Inchgower 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

Inchgower 23 Year The Chess Malt Collection B1 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 57,5% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky matured on hogshead Refill and bottled at 57,5%.

This bottling comes from The Chess Malt Collection, released as part of the The Chess Malt Collection B1 range.

The whisky was distilled in November 1998 and bottled in May 2022.

Only 206 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh malt, orchard fruit and a light floral note.

Palate

Honey, pear and a mellow barley character.

Finish

Crisp and drying with a gentle spice.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 23 Year The Chess Malt Collection B1 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 57,5%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 23 years
ABV: 57,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead Refill
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: November 1998
Bottled: May 2022
Number of bottles: 206
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection B1

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. 23 years is unusually long for Inchgower, and a run of 206 bottles from The Chess Malt Collection makes the bottle interesting to collectors of themed series.

Did you know?

The Chess Malt Collection mirrors an actual chessboard exactly: two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, each in a black or white bottling.

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