Sixty-six point eight percent after thirteen years. The cask has barely given up any alcohol along the way — and there is a very concrete reason for that.

Expert description

Deanston 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a first fill sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 66.8% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The cask is numbered 900076, was filled on 13 August 2008 and emptied on 11 March 2022 with an outturn of 574 bottles. The release belongs to Signatory's Cask Strength Collection. A strength that high after thirteen years means the cask lost more water than alcohol — which happens in dry, airy warehouses rather than in damp earth-floored cellars.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dense and dark. Raisin, date and orange marmalade, with dark chocolate, nuts and a warm spiced note.

Palate

Fierce but well balanced. Dried fruit, cocoa and burnt sugar, with a dry sherry edge and a peppery warmth. Deanston's honey sits underneath and keeps the sweetness natural.

Finish

Very long, dry and spiced, with dark fruit, nuts and a slowly fading warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 2008/2022 Signatory Vintage 13 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 66,8%
Distillery: Deanston
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 66.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill sherry butt no. 900076
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 13/08/2008
Bottled: 11/03/2022
Number of bottles: 574
Edition: Cask Strength Collection
EAN no.: 5021944117277

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 574 bottles at unusually high cask strength from a first fill sherry cask. Sherried Deanston is a rarity at any age.

Did you know?

Whether a whisky rises or falls in strength during maturation depends on the humidity in the warehouse. Where it is dry, water evaporates fastest and the strength climbs. Where it is damp, the alcohol goes first — which is why two casks filled the same day can end up in very different places.

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

Expert's description

Lindores Abbey Whisky The Exclusive Sherry Cask Lowland Single Malt Whisky 52,6% is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on sherry cask #2018/0582 and bottled at 52,6%.

The whisky was distilled in 2 August 2018 and bottled in 14 March 2022.

Only 790 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

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: Lindores Abbey Whisky The Exclusive Sherry Cask Lowland Single Malt Whisky 52,6%
Distillery: Lindores Abbey
Region/Country: Lowland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52,6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask #2018/0582
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2 August 2018
Bottled: 14 March 2022
Number of bottles: 790
Edition: The Exclusive

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. With 790 bottles exclusive to Denmark from a single sherry cask, this is a release not found outside the Danish market.

Did you know?

Lindores Abbey is the place where King James IV in 1494 asked Friar John Cor to distil 'aqua vitae', an order now regarded as the first written mention of Scotch whisky.

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

Expert's description

Lindores Abbey Whisky The Exclusive Bourbon Cask Lowland Single Malt Whisky 54,3% is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on bourbon cask #2018/0382 and bottled at 54,3%.

The whisky was distilled in 24 May 2018 and bottled in 14 March 2022.

Only 220 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Custard, malt and a hint of citrus zest.

Palate

Creamy vanilla, oak spice and ripe orchard fruit.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final vanilla note.

Specifications

Name: Lindores Abbey Whisky The Exclusive Bourbon Cask Lowland Single Malt Whisky 54,3%
Distillery: Lindores Abbey
Region/Country: Lowland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54,3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask #2018/0382
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 24 May 2018
Bottled: 14 March 2022
Number of bottles: 220
Edition: The Exclusive

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a single cask release bottled exclusively for Denmark with only 220 bottles, this Lindores Abbey is not available elsewhere and will not be reissued.

Did you know?

Lindores Abbey traces its roots back to 1494, when the first documented distillation of Scotch whisky took place on this very site in Fife.

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In Dufftown, where seven distilleries share the same stream, Mortlach stands out as the most stubborn and darkest of them all.

Expert's Description

Mortlach 2007/2022 Signatory Vintage 14 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky with a sherry cask finish, bottled at cask strength 52%.

Signatory Vintage has bottled single casks from across Scotland since 1988 from its facilities near the Edradour distillery. This Mortlach received a finishing period in a sherry cask, reinforcing the distillery's heavy, meaty character, with 687 bottles in total.

Tasting Notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is warm with a hint of oak.

Specifications

Distillery: Mortlach
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Cask Finish, cask #3
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 30/04/2007
Bottled: 08/04/2022
Number of bottles: 687
EAN no.: 5021944117550

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

Mortlach earned the nickname "the Beast of Dufftown" for its powerful, meaty style, setting it apart from the town's six other distilleries.

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Asgaard is the home of the gods in Old Norse mythology, connected to Midgard via Bivrost, the rainbow bridge the distillery is named after.

Expert description

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

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is bright and elegant with honey, apple and a hint of citrus.

Palate

The palate is round and fruity with honey, caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

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

Specifications

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

Flavour profile

Elegant · Fruity · Honeyed · Round

Did you know?

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

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Bordeaux casks are not common in whisky. They give something entirely different from sherry, more berry, more acidity and a dry tannic edge that a Speyside rarely comes near.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for fourteen years in a Bordeaux cask and bottled at 46%. It is number 25 in Mossburn’s Vintage Casks range and is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Red wine casks from Bordeaux have been used by several bottlers in recent years, because they add red berries and a dry tannic structure instead of sherry’s dried fruit. The effect requires a spirit with the right lightness, as the tannins can quickly take over.

Auchroisk’s bright, citrus-driven style suits that exercise well. The distillery was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and official bottlings are rare, so independent casks like this one are the usual way in.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Red berries first, with cherry and raspberry clearly to the fore. Vanilla and apple from the spirit sit beneath, and there is a dry, lightly tart note from the wine cask.

Palate

Fruity and dry at once. Red berries and a little marzipan open, then citrus, white pepper and a dry tannic edge arrive. At 46% the body is good, and the whisky holds its freshness all the way.

Finish

Medium and dry. Berries, oak and a lightly bitter close from the tannins.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 Years Old Vintage Cask no. 25 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Mossburn Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bordeaux cask, cask no. 10.0407.30
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Mossburn Vintage Casks No. 25
EAN no.: 5060033847329

Flavour Profile

Red Berries · Dry · Fruity · Wine Cask · Fresh · Tannic

Did You Know?

Mossburn Distillers sits under the Swedish Molson family’s investment company and has bottled whisky from other distilleries since 2015 while building its own at Torabhaig on the Isle of Skye. The Vintage Casks range is the house’s numbered series of single casks, where every bottle carries its own number in the sequence.

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

Expert's description

MacDuff 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 56,4% is a Highland Single Malt Whisky, matured in ruby port hogshead and bottled at 56,4%.

The whisky is distilled at Macduff and independently selected and bottled by Mossburn as part of the Release nr. 29 series.

It was distilled 2007 and bottled 2021, giving it 14 years.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose opens with malt, a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit and dark berries.

Palate

The taste unfolds with a fleeting sulphur note that clears to fruit, port sweetness and dark berries.

Finish

It finishes long and spicy, with spice and malt.

Specifications

Name: MacDuff 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 56,4%
Distillery: Macduff
Bottler: Mossburn
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 56,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ruby Port Hogshead (#05.1107.29)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Release nr. 29
EAN no.: 5060033847312

Flavour profile

Fruity · Dark · Spicy

Did you know?

Macduff is known for its unusual stills, some fitted with as many as five lyne arms, a rare design in Scotch whisky production.

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Ben Nevis has never tried to be elegant. The spirit is heavy, waxy and a shade unpolished, and that is exactly why the Japanese bought the distillery. They wanted raw material with muscle, not with manners.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 10 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The distillery sits in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, and has been running since 1825. Nikka bought it in 1989, and a large share of production has found its way into Japanese blends since, which has made official bottlings a smaller part of the house than at most others.

The ten year old is the standing release of the distillery and one of the clearest expressions of the house style. The combination of bourbon and sherry casks gives both honey and dried fruit, but it is the weight of the spirit itself that carries the whisky, not the wood.

Tasting notes

Nose

A flower shop, honey and citrus fruit, with cream toffee behind. A faintly waxy note sits under it all.

Palate

Spiced at the start with a turn towards honeyed sweetness. Spice and acidity give a warm feel in the mouth, and the texture is thick without being heavy.

Finish

Long and powerful with dark chocolate and spice.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 10 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5026673000234

Flavour profile

Full bodied · Honeyed · Spiced · Waxy · Fruity

Did you know?

Ben Nevis supplied new make spirit to Japan for many years, where it was matured and later sold on as Japanese whisky. That was entirely legal at the time, and binding rules for what may be called Japanese whisky only arrived in 2021.

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In a region crowded with famous names, Imperial has quietly gone about its business for generations. This particular release from Speyside shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Imperial 1995/2014 The Ultimate 19 Year Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on hogshead, fad nr. 50168 and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from The Ultimate, released as part of the Rare Reserve range.

The whisky was distilled in 21 August 1995 and bottled in 8 December 2014.

Only 319 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Imperial 1995/2014 The Ultimate 19 Year Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Imperial
Bottler: The Ultimate
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, fad nr. 50168
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 21 August 1995
Bottled: 8 December 2014
Number of bottles: 319
Edition: Rare Reserve

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a bottling from a demolished distillery, with a limited run of 319 bottles, this is a type of Imperial release that keeps becoming rarer to find on the market.

Did you know?

The Ultimate Whisky Company focuses specifically on bottlings from recently closed or demolished Scottish distilleries, and Imperial is one of the names most represented in their range.

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Coire Leis is the name of the north-east corrie on Ben Nevis, the side climbers use in winter when snow has closed the rest of the mountain. The whisky is named after it, and it is considerably softer than the terrain.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis Coire Leis is a Single Highland Malt Whisky without an age statement, bottled from carefully selected casks at 46 %.

The bottling carries the subtitle Expertly Selected Casks and has no age statement, because it is assembled from casks of different ages. That gives the distillery a freer hand to hit a particular profile rather than follow the youngest cask in the mix.

The profile sits close to the ten year old from the distillery but softer and a shade sweeter. It comes in a cardboard box and belongs to the part of the range meant to be drunk rather than kept.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cream toffee and vanilla sweetness with a mild breath of wood and barley.

Palate

Ripe pear and apricot, followed by malt and sweetness. Softer than you expect from Ben Nevis, without the weight disappearing entirely.

Finish

Soft and creamy, with the cask clearly noticeable at the end.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis Coire Leis Expertly Selected Casks
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Coire Leis
EAN no.: 5026673000982

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Fruity · Creamy · Malty

Did you know?

Coire Leis is also the name of the route rescue teams use when coming down from the summit of Ben Nevis in bad weather. Two large stone cairns mark the entrance, put there precisely to keep people away from the cliffs.

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Two landscapes, one Scottish and one Swedish, meet in a single glass. The Sandebud is Adelphi's own experiment: a blended malt where a spirit from their own Ardnamurchan distillery marries a spirit from Sweden's High Coast.

The Expert's Description

The Sandebud by Adelphi is a Blended Malt Whisky combining Ardnamurchan and High Coast, bottled at 58.9%.

Adelphi owns the Ardnamurchan distillery, the westernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland, and with The Sandebud has paired a spirit from there with a spirit from Sweden's High Coast. The result is an unusual fusion that bridges two landscapes and two distilling traditions in one bottle.

The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and with 1,136 bottles it is the most accessible of Adelphi's special series, without compromising the cask-strength intensity the bottler is known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A combination of freshly cut oak and a hint of smoke, hinting at the two spirits' different origins.

Palate

Full-bodied and complex with caramel, malt and a light salty, maritime undercurrent that ties the two styles together.

Finish

Long and warm with a dry, smoky close that lingers for a good while.

Specifications

Name: The Sandebud by Adelphi Fusion of Ardnamurchan and High Coast Blended Malt Whisky
Distillery: The Sandebud
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Scotland and Sweden
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
Age: 6 year(s)
ABV: 58.9%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 1,136
EAN no.: 5060383652307

Flavour Profile

Cask strength · Smoky · Maritime · Full-bodied · Oaky

Did You Know?

Adelphi was founded in 1826 by the River Clyde in Glasgow, closed in the early 1900s, and was reborn in 1993 when a grandson of one of the original owners relaunched the company as an independent bottler.

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Forty casks peated, ten casks unpeated. That is not an approximation but an arithmetic, and it is exactly the sort of figure Ardnamurchan is willing to state where most distilleries settle for saying blended.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan Cask Strength AD 02.22 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 58.7% full cask strength by Adelphi. It was composed from forty peated bourbon barrels and ten unpeated casks, and 12,886 bottles were made.

Ardnamurchan makes both peated and unpeated malt, and both styles go into this series. Cask strength means the whisky has not been diluted with water before bottling, giving more concentration and a clearer cask character than the house standard at 46.8%.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and every bottle carries a QR code giving access to blockchain-registered production data. The distillery sits at Glenbeg on the westernmost mainland peninsula in Scotland.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and maritime salinity first, then vanilla and coconut from the bourbon wood. A clear cereal sweetness runs beneath it all, and at this strength the alcohol is up front, so let the glass rest a couple of minutes.

Palate

Powerful and oily. Vanilla, honey and baked fruit open, then the smoke arrives with weight along with black pepper and a dry oak note. The cask strength gives concentration, yet the whisky is not harsh.

Finish

Long and dry. Smoke, salt and spice, with a final malt sweetness lingering beneath it all.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan Cask Strength AD 02.22 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 58.7%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Forty peated bourbon barrels and ten unpeated casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 12,886
Edition: Cask Strength AD 02.22
EAN no.: 5060383652215

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Cask Strength · Maritime · Vanilla · Spiced · Malty

Did You Know?

The ratio of forty to ten is one quarter unpeated malt. That is a smaller share than in the house AD expression, where the split is even, which is why the smoke stands out more clearly in the Cask Strength series. The figures appear on the bottle, which is rare in the trade.

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Five years more than the ten year old, the same strength, the same approach. It is an honest way to show what time alone does to a spirit when nothing else is changed along the road.

The expert's description

Glencadam 15 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Where the ten year old is bright and citrus-driven, the fifteen years have given the whisky a creamy texture and pulled it towards nuts and baking. The fruit is still there, but it has grown deeper and less sharp. The strength is the same, and the whisky is still neither chill filtered nor colour-adjusted.

The bottling won gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2020 and scored 90.5 out of 100 in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible in 2014. Glencadam is not a name that takes up much room in whisky conversation, but the awards the distillery brings home stand in sharp contrast to how little it is talked about.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet malt and vanilla mixed with citrus and toasted nuts. There is a baked note behind it that the ten year old does not have.

Palate

Sweet and creamy. Sugared almond and panna cotta, with dried apple, nutmeg and cocoa powder. The texture is clearly fuller than in the younger release.

Finish

Long and calming. Nuts and vanilla ebbing away into a lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5021349761334

Flavour profile

Creamy · Nutty · Vanilla-sweet · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Glencadam is owned by Angus Dundee plc, which is also behind the Tomintoul distillery in Speyside. It is one of the few remaining independent family companies in Scotch whisky, and they run both distilleries without a large group behind them.

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No finish, no sherry, no tricks. Glencadam 10 Year Old is the distillery core release, and it is built to show what the house in Brechin actually makes when nothing has been laid over the top.

The expert's description

Glencadam 10 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

The 46% is a deliberate choice. Many distilleries put their entry release at 40%, but Glencadam has held on to the higher strength, and it gives the whisky noticeably more body. It is neither chill filtered nor colour-adjusted, which is unusual at that end of a range.

The bottling has won several awards and scored 94.5 out of 100 in the 2014 edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible. That is a high mark for a ten year old entry whisky, and it says something about the Glencadam spirit not needing many years of cask time to work.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet malt and vanilla, with warm grass, pear and fresh meringue. Bright and welcoming the whole way.

Palate

Soft and full. Orange marmalade, bourbon sweetness and charred cask, with lemon sorbet cutting through the sweetness. The 46% gives it the weight a ten year old rarely has.

Finish

Long and calming. Vanilla and citrus drying away slowly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5021349761327

Flavour profile

Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Citrus · Soft · Malty

Did you know?

Glencadam was founded in 1825 by the merchant George Cooper in Brechin. That makes the distillery a contemporary of the first wave of legal Scottish distilleries that appeared after the excise legislation of 1823.

See our full range of Glencadam

Bushmills 16 Year Old is an exquisite premium release from the historic Bushmills Distillery, which has produced whiskey since 1608.

Expert Review

Bushmills 16 Year Old Triple Distilled Single Malt Rare Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Rare Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is triple distilled to achieve an extraordinary smoothness and purity, and matured for 16 years across three different cask types: Oloroso sherry casks, bourbon casks, and a finishing period in port pipes. This combination creates a deep, layered tasting experience with notes of ripe fruit, spice and a hint of dark chocolate, balanced by a subtle sweetness from the sherry.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe fruit and spice.

Palate

Dark chocolate with a subtle sherry sweetness.

Finish

Deep and layered.

Specifications

Name: Bushmills 16 Year Old
Distillery: Bushmills
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Rare Irish Whiskey
Age: 16 years
Cask: Oloroso Sherry + Bourbon Cask + Port Pipes Finish
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Triple Distilled
EAN no.: 5055966825025

Flavour Profile

Rich · Complex · Fruity · Chocolate-forward · Deep

Did You Know?

Bushmills Distillery holds a whiskey-making licence dating back to 1608, making it one of the world's oldest distilleries.
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The Irishman Single Malt Irish Whiskey is made from 100% malted barley, matured in American bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry casks for a rich, full-bodied flavour.

Expert Review

The Irishman Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey consists of 100% malted barley, matured in American bourbon casks as well as Oloroso sherry casks. The flavour is rich and full-bodied with notes of honey and malt, combined with soft notes of candied fruit from the finishing maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and malt.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied with candied fruit.

Finish

Soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: The Irishman Single Malt
Distillery: The Irishman
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Whiskey
Cask: American Bourbon Casks and Oloroso Sherry Casks
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Other: 100% malted barley
EAN no.: 5099811905692

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Malty · Sherried · Full-bodied · Soft

Did You Know?

The Irishman Single Malt is made exclusively from 100% malted barley.
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The Irishman The Harvest is a single malt-dominant whiskey, composed of 70% Single Malt and 30% Single Pot Still, matured in bourbon casks.

Expert Review

The Irishman The Harvest Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey consists of 70% Single Malt and 30% Single Pot Still, matured in bourbon casks. The combination of the two whiskey styles gives it a rounded, approachable character with a touch of classic pot still spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Gentle malt with vanilla notes from the bourbon casks.

Palate

Rounded and approachable with a touch of pot still spice.

Finish

Soft and light.

Specifications

Name: The Irishman The Harvest
Distillery: The Irishman
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Whiskey
Cask: Bourbon Casks
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Other: 70% Single Malt, 30% Single Pot Still
EAN no.: 5099811905654

Flavour Profile

Malty · Vanilla · Spiced · Soft · Rounded

Did You Know?

The Irishman The Harvest combines two whiskey styles, Single Malt and Single Pot Still, in one bottle.
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In Scotland, some distilleries never shout about themselves — they let the whisky speak. Long John is one of them.

Expert's description

Long John 12 År Finest Scotch Whisky i Keramikkande 43% is a Blended Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes straight from Long John's own warehouse.

The bottle is presented in a classic Scottish-style ceramic jug, making it a striking addition to any collection.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet soft malt, light caramel and mild sweetness.

Palate

On the tongue you find light caramel, spice and mild sweetness.

Finish

The finish is short but concentrated, with light oak and soft malt.

Specifications

Name: Long John 12 År Finest Scotch Whisky i Keramikkande 43%
Distillery: Long John
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 75 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

The brand is named after John 'Long John' MacDonald, an unusually tall Scot who ran the Ben Nevis distillery in the 19th century and lent his name to the blend.

Twenty year old Deanston is not something the distillery sells itself. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company found the casks, drew a story on the label and put it in a half bottle.

Expert description

Deanston That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 20 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 49.1% in a 50 cl bottle.

This is the house's batch 7 from Deanston and gave 450 bottles. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company was founded in 2012 by Ben Ellefsen and is known for its hand-drawn labels, where every bottle gets its own illustration. Deanston itself rarely releases whisky over eighteen years, and twenty years in cask shows a side of the house the core range never reaches.

Tasting notes

Nose

Marmalade first, developing into barley, vanilla, caramel, milk chocolate and a little coconut.

Palate

Fresh notes of ripe plums combined with mint leaves, with honey and malt underneath. The 49.1% gives good weight without drowning the finer notes.

Finish

Long and soft, with caramel, malt and a mild spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 20 years Single Highland Malt Whisky 49,1%
Distillery: Deanston
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 49.1%
Size: 50 CL
Number of bottles: 450
Edition: Batch 7
EAN no.: 5025988178451

Flavour profile

Caramel · Fruity · Chocolate · Malty · Soft

Investment potential

High. 450 bottles from a batch of twenty year old Deanston — an age the distillery does not release itself. The Boutique-y labels are also collected in their own right.

Did you know?

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles in 50 cl rather than 70 cl so rare casks can be shared across more hands. With twenty year old whisky from a distillery that does not release at that age itself, the decision makes rather good sense.

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The label is a comic strip. The contents are a twenty-four year old Clynelish. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company built its entire identity on that contrast, and it still holds.

Expert description

Clynelish That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 24 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 49.7% in a 50 cl bottle.

This is the house's batch 5 from Clynelish and gave 154 bottles. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company was founded in 2012 by Ben Ellefsen and is known for its hand-drawn labels, where every bottle gets its own illustration with a story inside it. Behind the playful packaging sits a quite serious selection of casks — and a twenty-four year old Clynelish is not something you stumble across.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey cake and red berries first, then wax, orange peel and a warm spiced note from the old wood.

Palate

Full and round. Saffron, sea salt, golden syrup and ripe apples, with mild smoke appearing towards the end. The texture is thick and oily, as the age suggests.

Finish

Long, spiced and rich, with syrup, salt and a dry oak note that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 24 years Single Highland Malt Whisky 49,7%
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 24 years
ABV: 49.7%
Size: 50 CL
Number of bottles: 154
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5052598158163

Flavour profile

Waxy · Spiced · Syrupy · Maritime · Lightly Smoked

Investment potential

High. 154 bottles from a single batch, 24 years in cask and a distillery whose bottles have become markedly harder to find. The Boutique-y labels also have a collector following of their own.

Did you know?

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles in 50 cl rather than 70 cl, precisely to make rare and old casks available to more people. The idea has since spread to other bottlers, but the house was among the first to make it a standing policy.

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The label looks like a page torn out of a comic, and it is easy to miss what is actually in the bottle. This is twenty-one year old Aberfeldy. On the label the whisky writer Ian Buxton stands panning for gold in the Pitilie Burn, exactly where the distillery draws its water.

Expert description

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 48.9%. It was released in 2018 as Batch 2 in an outturn of 261 bottles and has long since sold out at the bottler.

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company is an independent bottler that started in 2012 and belongs to Atom Brands in England. They do not distil a drop themselves. They buy casks, bottle them in 50 cl format and commission illustrators for labels that usually hide an in-joke about the distillery. This one was their second Aberfeldy and the first to carry an age statement on the label.

The spirit comes from Aberfeldy in Perthshire, where the malt is unpeated and the stills run twice. At twenty-one years the pale honey the distillery is known for has drawn together into something denser and more syrupy, and the wood has had time to add both spice and a very faint smoky edge. The 48.9% is higher than the distillery's own official bottlings, and you feel it in the weight.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cinnamon and orange zest, with something behind it like the crust on a cake straight out of the oven. A very faint smoky edge sits on the outside, more old cask than peat.

Palate

Syrupy and rich. Pancakes with maple syrup, melted butter and small pieces of dark chocolate. The spice builds slowly and drags the whisky away from pure sweetness.

Finish

Long and spiced. The sweetness drops away and leaves a dry, almost savoury cooking spice with a touch of cayenne.

Specifications

Name: Aberfeldy That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 21 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 50 cl 48.9%
Distillery: Aberfeldy
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 48.9%
Size: 50 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 261
Edition: Batch 2
EAN no.: 5052598134365

Flavour profile

Syrupy · Spiced · Fruity · Orange · Faintly smoky

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-one years of age, 261 bottles and a batch long gone from the bottler make it hard to replace, and the labels from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company have a collector following of their own.

Did you know?

The half bottle is deliberate. That Boutique-Y Whisky Company bottles almost its entire range in 50 cl because they would rather people tasted a lot of different casks than spent the whole budget on one.

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Picture an afternoon where the light slants low through a window, carrying the scent of orange peel and heather honey. That is how GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish greets you — a whisky given extra time on a cask it rarely visits.

Expert's Description

GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky at 48%, matured in American oak casks and finished in French Virgin Oak casks — virgin French oak that has never previously held spirit. It belongs to the distillery's Virgin Oak series, where experimentation with different oak origins takes centre stage.

French oak lends the whisky a different spice character than American or European sherry oak — more restrained, yet carrying a clear sweetness that plays against the spirit's natural fruitiness. The colour is golden bronze, a sign the cask has released some of its colour without any help from caramel.

Behind the bottle stand Billy Walker and the GlenAllachie team, known for an almost stubborn insistence on letting the casks speak. This 10 year old is a limited edition, and as such a snapshot of what a single cask choice can do to an already characterful spirit.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel and heather honey meet a mild spiced aroma, while caramel and mocha settle underneath as a deeper base.

Palate

Heather honey and mocha continue from the nose, joined by brittle toffee and a touch of grapefruit. Cinnamon and earthy tannins give the whisky structure.

Finish

The finish is warm and lightly spiced, with ginger lingering long after.

Specifications

Name: GlenAllachie 10 Year French Oak Finish
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in French Virgin Oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Honey · Spiced · Mocha · Citrus · Oak

Investment Potential

As a limited release from a sought-after series, this 10 year old carries a cask profile that will not be repeated indefinitely. Investment potential is rated medium, driven by limited availability and GlenAllachie's rising reputation among collectors.

Did You Know?

French Virgin Oak casks are used far less often in Scotch whisky production than American or European casks, partly because the dense French oak requires a different toasting process to unlock its aromatic compounds.

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Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is exactly what it says: whisky bottled without chill filtration, in its natural form. From hogsheads 319473 and 319477, distilled in June 2012 and bottled in February 2022 – nine years and eight months in oak.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogshead casks (nos. 319473 and 319477), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the accessible line – a step lower in strength than the Cask Strength Collection, but with the same philosophy: selected casks, natural colour and no manipulation. The result is a whisky you can enjoy neat without adding water.

Caol Ila's maritime smoke at 46% is balanced and light. The hogshead casks from 2012 have given nine years of oak structure – classic Caol Ila with good body.

Tasting notes

Nose

Classic Caol Ila: sea salt, light peat smoke and citrus. A soft vanilla undertone from the hogshead casks and a hint of seaweed.

Palate

Balanced and light. Smoke, maritime notes and a little honey. Body and freshness in good harmony – accessible and clean.

Finish

Moderate and fresh. Smoke fades gently with citrus and salt carrying through.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28/06/2012
Bottled: 03/02/2022
EAN no.: 5021944116140

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Citrus · Balanced

Did you know?

Chill filtration removes the fatty acids and proteins that give whisky its body and flavour intensity. Bottling without chill filtration preserves these – which is why many collectors and enthusiasts specifically seek 'non chill-filtered' bottlings.

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

Expert's description

Inchgower 2008/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky matured on hogshead and bottled at 46%.

This bottling comes from Signatory Vintage, released as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection range.

The whisky was distilled in 18 February 2008 and bottled in 7 January 2022.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2008/2022 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Signatory Vintage 13 Year Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 18 February 2008
Bottled: 7 January 2022
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113880

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Inchgower's older cooling system once relied on seawater in the condensers, giving the spirit a faintly salty character that can still be traced in many of the distillery's releases.

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There is a calm to Mannochmore that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Expert's description

Mannochmore 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 43% is a Highland Single Malt Whisky, matured in hogsheads and bottled at 43%.

The whisky is distilled at Mannochmore and independently selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection series.

It was distilled 27. april 2007 and bottled 2021, giving it 13 years.

Only 286 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet floral notes, green apples and mild sweetness.

Palate

On the tongue you find green apples, light oak and mild sweetness.

Finish

The aftertaste is short but concentrated, with spice and pear.

Specifications

Name: Mannochmore 2007/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Mannochmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Highland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads (#6666 og 6669)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27. april 2007
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 286
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
EAN no.: 5021944113965

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Classic

Did you know?

In the 1990s Mannochmore was the source spirit behind the notorious 'Loch Dhu – The Black Whisky', whose near-black colour from heavy cask charring and caramel made headlines and is now a cult collector's item.

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