Dumbarton 1987/2003 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection 15 Years Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky

A red‑brick giant at the meeting of the Leven and Clyde, once home to whisky on a scale few distilleries could match — and guarded by a flock of Chinese geese. That’s the origin of this dram: a rarity from a place that no longer exists.

This is a bottle for the collector who chases the lost. Dumbarton was primarily a massive grain distillery, built in 1938 by Hiram Walker to supply the Ballantine’s blend. But inside the same complex stood a small malt distillery called Inverleven, and it is that malt spirit you find in this bottle. Cadenhead’s — Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, founded in 1842 — chose to label it “Dumbarton” rather than Inverleven, something worth knowing if you search for it in databases or at auction.

It was distilled in 1987 and bottled in March 2003 after 15 years in a single bourbon hogshead. Only 294 bottles came from the cask. The whisky is part of Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection — their series of single‑cask releases, un‑chillfiltered, natural colour, and bottled at full cask strength. This is whisky in its most unfiltered form, and at 58.1% it makes itself known. The Inverleven stills fell silent forever in 1991, and the Dumbarton complex closed in 2002 before being demolished. The stills were moved to Islay, where they now serve Bruichladdich and The Botanist gin. There will be no more whisky like this.

A classic Lowlander in character — light, fresh and grassy rather than heavy or smoky.

Nose: Grassy and fresh, like sitting by a roadside ditch on a summer day. Plenty of citrus and bright fruit.
Palate: Dry and spicy with the warmth of full cask strength. A sweet core beneath the sharpness, with grain and pale fruit.
Finish: Medium length, clean and citrus‑driven. The warmth fades slowly.

Smoky: no · Fruity · Citrus · Grassy · Spicy · Cask Strength

Name: Dumbarton 1987/2003 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection 15 Years
Distillery: Dumbarton (Inverleven stills)
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58.1%
Size: 700 ml
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: March 2003
Bottles: 294
Edition: Authentic Collection
Other: Un‑chillfiltered, natural colour

Investment potential: Medium. A closed and demolished distillery, single cask, only 294 bottles, and a respected bottler — all factors that push value upward. But Inverleven/Dumbarton does not have the same cult following as the big names, so price growth is driven more by rarity than hype. A bottle that typically trades above its original retail price, but without dramatic spikes.

Did you know? Dumbarton had its own security force: around 100 Chinese geese, introduced in 1959 to guard the warehouses. They became so famous they appeared in Ballantine’s adverts. When the distillery closed, the last seven geese were retired and sent to Glasgow Green.

See our full selection of Dumbarton
Listen to our podcast about Cadenhead’s

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

Inverleven 1989/2003 Gordon & Macphail Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40% is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

This bottling comes from Gordon & MacPhail, released as part of the Licensed Bottling range.

The whisky was distilled in 1989 and bottled in 18 July 2003.

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: Inverleven 1989/2003 Gordon & Macphail Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Inverleven
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Lowland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1989
Bottled: 18 July 2003
Edition: Licensed Bottling
EAN no.: 5020613471528

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. Inverleven distillery has been demolished, and any bottling from it becomes progressively harder to find, which over time has driven demand for the last remaining bottles noticeably higher.

Did you know?

Inverleven was fitted with one of Scotland's few Lomond stills, installed specifically to produce a light, Lowland-style malt for blends, a style that has almost vanished along with the distillery itself.

See our full range of Inverleven

Naked Malt stripped the name The Naked Grouse of its bird and kept only what the whisky was really about: two of Scotland's best-known single malts, sherry-matured and blended together.

Expert's Description

Naked Malt is a Blended Malt Whisky matured in sherry casks, combining Macallan and Highland Park, bottled at 40%.

The whisky draws its balance from the two celebrated single malts, creating a rich and intense flavour with clear hints of sherry, caramel and ripe berries – an accessible introduction to the sherry style for newcomers and enthusiasts alike.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with toasted nuts and orange marmalade, while dark chocolate lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers muscovado sugar and brown sugar, with a hint of spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is rounded off with dark sweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Naked Malt (William Grant & Sons)
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Edition: Tidligere kendt som The Naked Grouse
EAN no.: 5010314304904

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

Naked Malt is a blend of Macallan and Highland Park – two of Scotland's most celebrated sherry-matured single malts – and is the newer, malt-only successor to the earlier The Naked Grouse.

See our full range of Naked Malt

Rye rarely makes a whisky gentle. In this cask, it instead gave Bimber's spirit an entirely different, spiced direction – made exclusively for Denmark.

Expert's Description

Bimber Denmark Edition Ex-Rye Oak Cask is a Single Malt London Whisky from a single American oak cask, cask no. 254, previously used to mature American rye whiskey, bottled at full strength at 58.5% ABV.

The bottle is another piece of Bimber's 2020 Country Collection, twenty single casks selected for twenty different countries, with Denmark receiving its very own rye cask. The combination of Bimber's fruit-forward spirit and the spiced rye cask has produced a whisky that stands clearly apart from the distillery's ex-bourbon and sherry expressions.

Only 257 bottles were drawn from this single cask, and they have never been sold outside Denmark.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye bread and dark pepper mix with ripe plums and a touch of clove, while sweet cask wood provides a warm base beneath the sharp spice.

Palate

Full-bodied and spice-driven with overripe plums and raisins, where the rye's characteristic bite cuts through the sweetness and leaves a trace of gingerbread.

Finish

Long and warming, with persistent spice and a dry, faintly bitter close, the fruit sweetness lingering quietly right to the end.

Specifications

Name: Denmark Edition
Distillery: Bimber Distillery
Country: England
Type: Single Malt London Whisky
ABV: 58.5%
Size: 70cl
Cask Type: Ex-rye oak cask no. 254 (single cask)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 257
EAN no.: 5060444431483

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Full-bodied · Peppery

Investment Potential

High. As an exclusive Country Collection bottling made specifically for Denmark, with only 257 bottles from a single rye cask, this is one of the rarest variants of Bimber's single malt available here.

Did You Know?

Cask no. 254 previously matured American rye whiskey before Bimber filled it with its own spirit, which is exactly why the rye spice comes through so clearly in this expression.

See our full range of Bimber Distillery

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2012/2021 Murray McDavid 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky, matured in bourbon hogshead, finish på 1st fill koval bourbonfade and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Murray McDavid as part of the Limited Release – Benchmark series.

It was distilled 2012 and bottled 2021, giving it 8 years.

Only 1614 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The taste unfolds with citrus peel, vanilla and caramel.

Finish

It finishes long and spicy, with gentle sweetness from American oak and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2012/2021 Murray McDavid 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Hogshead, finish på 1st Fill Koval Bourbonfade (#313709A-313713)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1614
Edition: Limited Release – Benchmark
EAN no.: 5060353306537

Flavour profile

Bourbon-matured · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

For a period, Linkwood ran an old and a new still house side by side, each with differently shaped stills, before production was later consolidated.

See our full range of Linkwood

Listen to our podcast:

The very first bottling from a brand-new distillery always sets the standard – for Isle of Raasay Distillery, that standard is Batch 1.

Expert Review

Raasay Batch 1 2021 Single Island Malt Whisky 70 cl 46,4% is a Single Island Malt Whisky matured in a combination of peated and unpeated spirit and bottled at 46.4% ABV.

The first bottling from Raasay in 2021. Batch 1, and the batches that followed, defined the house style that Raasay Single Malt would become known for. The whisky is a blend of peated and unpeated spirit, giving a complex, layered character right from the distillery's very first release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is complex with a hint of smoke, citrus and a light maritime tone.

Palate

The palate is layered with apple, a mild smoky character and a light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long, with lingering smoke and citrus.

Specifications

Name: Raasay Batch 1 2021 Single Island Malt Whisky 70 cl 46,4%
Distillery: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Region: Isle of Raasay, Scotland
Type: Single Island Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a combination of peated and unpeated spirit
Edition: Batch 1
EAN No.: 5060221850629

Flavour Profile

Peated · Complex · Maritime

Did You Know?

Isle of Raasay Distillery, when it opened in 2017, was the first legal distillery ever on the island of Raasay, after several failed historical attempts to establish whisky production there.

See our full range of Raasay

No sherry. Not a single sherry cask in twenty-five years. That is an unusual call for a whisky of this age, where most distilleries reach for oloroso to add depth — here the bourbon wood has been left to work the whole way, and the whisky only woken at the end.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 25 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks with a twelve-month finishing period in 1st fill bourbon casks, bottled at 48.8%.

For most of its life the whisky sits in used bourbon casks, where the wood gives slowly and lets the distillery character lead. In the final year it moves into 1st fill casks, which add fresh vanilla and lift to a whisky that would otherwise have turned very dry. It is a move that demands good timing — too little and nothing happens, too much and the twenty-five years get covered over.

Twenty-five years is where Glen Scotia starts to resemble something other than itself. The maritime character is still present, but it has become brine and an ashy smoke note rather than fresh sea air. This is the oldest permanent bottling in the distillery range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon and ginger first, then pine resin and a trace of sea salt. After a couple of minutes it develops towards banoffee pie and maple syrup, with leather and cocoa underneath.

Palate

Luscious and smooth. Big orchard fruit notes, honey and malt, with a discreet spice and a hint of ashy smoke. The 48.8% gives weight without making it hard.

Finish

Long and drying. A wisp of smoke, brine and peppery oak that lingers well after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48.8%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks with twelve months in 1st fill bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5016840161226

Flavour profile

Maritime · Fruity · Lightly peated · Dry · Honeyed

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old Campbeltown whisky exists in very small numbers, because the region has only three working distilleries and stocks from the 1990s were thin. The bottling is also the oldest permanent release in the distillery range, which makes it a natural reference point for collectors of the region.

Did you know?

Loch Lomond Group bought Glen Scotia in 2014 and has invested heavily in the site since — greater production, new warehouses and a visitor centre. It is the first time in more than a century that the distillery has had an owner able to build rather than merely survive.

See our full range of Glen Scotia

Listen to our podcast:

The bulk of the years in American oak, then a spell in oloroso at the end. The order matters here — had the sherry been there from the start it would have eaten the salty Campbeltown edge. Instead it sits as a layer on top.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 18 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak with a finishing period in oloroso casks, bottled at 46%.

The whisky spends most of its eighteen years in American oak casks, where the maritime character of the spirit is given room to settle. Only then is it moved into oloroso casks, and the short finish is enough to lay walnut and dried fruit in without covering the salt and minerality. The result is clearly sherried without being a sherry bomb.

Eighteen years is where Glen Scotia begins to show its other side. The younger bottlings from the distillery are taut and direct, while the older ones unfold and turn rounder. It is still Campbeltown — there is still sea air in the glass — but the frame around it has softened.

Tasting notes

Nose

Walnut and honey first, then digestive biscuits and toffee. There is an aromatic spice note behind it, and after a couple of minutes the sea air emerges beneath the sweetness.

Palate

Deep and broad. Candied orange, honey, nuts and raisins, with a spiced structure holding it all together. The maritime minerality sits under the sherry rather than alongside it.

Finish

Long and aromatic. Dried fruit and walnut first, then a dry, lightly salted close with spice.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 18 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak with a finishing period in oloroso casks
EAN no.: 5016840181200

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Spiced · Maritime · Honeyed

Did you know?

Glen Scotia's pot stills have onion-shaped bodies and unusually short necks. The shape carries more of the heavy vapours across into the spirit, and that is a large part of why the whisky from this house is oily rather than light and floral.

See our full range of Glen Scotia

Listen to our podcast:

Named after the man who founded both Nikka and the Japanese whisky industry itself, this pure malt is a tribute to his entire legacy.

Expert Description

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt is bottled at 43%.

The whisky is named after Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and often called "the father of Japanese whisky," after he studied the art of distillation in Scotland from 1918 to 1920. The Pure Malt series combines malt whisky from both of Nikka's distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, as a joint tribute to his life's work.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple, honey and a light, floral sweetness.

Palate

Round and soft with vanilla and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length and clean.

Specifications

Name: Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
Distillery: Nikka
Region/Country: Japan
Type: Pure Malt Japanese Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 490423064374

Flavour Profile

Round · Soft · Floral · Clean

Did You Know?

Masataka Taketsuru met his Scottish wife, Rita, while studying chemistry and distillation in Scotland - a marriage that later became the subject of a popular Japanese TV series.

See our full range of {'da': 'Nikka whisky', 'en': 'Nikka whisky', 'sv': 'Nikka whisky'}

Fifteen years, two cask types and a bottle that proves Tomatin's patience always pays off with interest.

Expert's description

Tomatin 15 år Moscatel Wine Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in first 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 5 years in Moscatel wine casks and bottled at 46%.

This Moscatel Wine Cask expression was distilled in 2003 and matured first for ten years in ex-bourbon casks, then five years in Moscatel wine casks from Spain.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted citrus spice and sun-dried fruit.

Palate

Warm and spiced with distinct wine sweetness.

Finish

Creamy and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 15 år Moscatel Wine Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: first 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 5 years in Moscatel wine casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 2003
Edition: Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5018481901803

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

In 1986, Tomatin was saved from closure by the Japanese companies Takara Shuzo and Okura & Co, making it the first Scotch distillery to be fully Japanese-owned.

See our full range of Tomatin

Verdejo wine is rarely seen in Scotch casks. This re-charred cask gives a whisky with a mineral, almost white-wine-like edge.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2009 Single Cask 3386 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Re-charred Verdejo white wine cask #3386 and bottled at 54%.

This single cask was drawn from a re-charred Verdejo white wine cask, marked #3386, yielding as many as 410 bottles at a cask strength of 54%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

White grapes, apple skin and a fresh mineral tone.

Palate

Spiced and tart with green fruit and light oak.

Finish

Fresh and medium long.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2009 Single Cask 3386 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 54%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: almost 11 Years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Re-charred Verdejo white wine cask #3386
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 5. juni 2009
Bottled: 2. november 2020
Number of bottles: 410
Edition: Single Cask
EAN no.: 5018481903180

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Verdejo is a Spanish white wine grape from the Rueda region, and casks that previously held this wine are rare even among independent bottlers.

See our full range of Tomatin

A single cask, re-charred and filled with Tomatin malt, became just under twelve years of patience – and 283 bottles that will never come again.

Expert's description

Tomatin 2008 Single Cask 2907 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52,8% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Re-charred American oak hogshead #2907 and bottled at 52,8%.

This single cask was drawn from a re-charred American oak hogshead, marked #2907, yielding a total of 283 bottles at a cask strength of 52.8%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak, caramel and dark honey.

Palate

Full and spiced with a hint of smoky vanilla.

Finish

Long and warming at full cask strength.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 2008 Single Cask 2907 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52,8%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: almost 12 Years
ABV: 52,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Re-charred American oak hogshead #2907
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: No
Distilled: 8. maj 2008
Bottled: 2. november 2020
Number of bottles: 283
Edition: Single Cask
EAN no.: 5018481903203

Flavour Profile

Round · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Re-charring oak casks – where the inside of the barrel is burned anew – is used to reopen the wood's sugars and give the whisky an extra layer of caramel and spice.

See our full range of Tomatin

Four years may sound young, but when the cask works this actively, the whisky travels a long way in a short time. Murray McDavid's Benchmark series is exactly about showing what a good cask can do.

The expert's description

Tullibardine 2016/2021 Murray McDavid Single Highland Malt Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Bourbon hogshead finished in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez casks, cask #659812/14/46 and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2021 by Murray McDavid as part of the Benchmark series, with an outturn of 1,338 bottles. It matured in a bourbon hogshead and received a finishing period of 16 months in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, giving a delicate, fruit-driven character with clear sherry notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted coffee and vanilla with a hint of sherry.

Palate

Rich in malt notes and chocolate fudge.

Finish

Sweet and spiced finish of moderate length.

Specifications

Name: Tullibardine 2016/2021 Murray McDavid Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tullibardine
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead finished in 1st fill Pedro Ximénez casks, cask #659812/14/46
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1.338
Edition: Limited Release, Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302706

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

Murray McDavid is named after two of the company's founders and was among the first independent bottlers to systematically experiment with wine cask finishes as a regular part of their releases.

See our full range of Tullibardine

Pedro Ximenez is the sweetest sherry that exists – thick, dark and almost syrupy. When Caol Ila's peat smoke encounters seven months in PX hogsheads, the result is surprisingly subtle: the sweetness works its way into the smoke and gives it a fruity, dried dimension.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in Ximenez-Spinola PX sherry hogshead casks (nos. 2005618/19/23), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series is an experimental line that systematically explores cask combinations in larger batches. The PX finish here lasts seven months – short enough to preserve Caol Ila's character, long enough for the Spanish dessert wine to leave its mark.

1,242 bottles were produced. Ximenez-Spinola is one of the most acclaimed PX houses in Jerez, and it is from them that Murray McDavid sourced these casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit – raisins and dark plums – blends with Caol Ila's maritime smoke. A note of mocha and orange peel gives depth.

Palate

Delicate and fruity. Smoke and PX sweetness find each other in good balance. Mocha, dark dried fruit and a soft, lightly oily texture.

Finish

Gentle and lingering. Smoke and sweetness fade side by side with a fresh note of smoke and fruit at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – PX Sherry Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with PX sherry hogshead finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,242
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302669

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · PX-sweet · Delicate · Maritime

Did you know?

The Pedro Ximenez grape is grown in the Jerez region of Spain and is one of the world's sweetest and most concentrated varieties. The wines produced from it are so thick they almost pour like syrup.

See our full range of Caol Ila Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

The world of Cognac and Islay whisky rarely meet – they pull in very different directions. But Murray McDavid found a cask that made them listen to each other: a bourbon hogshead with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks, and Caol Ila's smoke blending with the French spirit's sweetness.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks (nos. 1925785/193/194), bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series systematically experiments with unusual cask combinations in larger batches. This batch produced 1,694 bottles. The 14-month finish in Cognac casks contributes a sweet, lightly winey complexity lifting it above a simple bourbon profile.

Caol Ila at six years is fresh and direct – the smoke is clear, the distillate body is present, and the Cognac finish adds a sweeter frame without erasing the distillate's maritime character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet and smoky at once. Sweet peat, ginger and apple – the Cognac cask adds a lightly fruity glow behind Caol Ila's typical maritime smoke.

Palate

Soft and fruity with good body. Caramel and smoke meet notes of ginger and apple. The Cognac sweetness is discreet but notable.

Finish

Clean and fresh with salted caramel and a light medicinal Caol Ila note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – 1st Fill Cognac Cask Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with finish in 1st fill Cognac casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,694
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302683

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Fresh

Did you know?

Cognac casks are rare in whisky – they come from France and have typically held grape spirit for many years. Their nutty and fruity profile lends a completely different wininess than sherry or port casks.

See our full range of Caol Ila Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Douglas Laing's Provenance series is designed as an honest, unfiltered taste of a distillery — no dressing up, just character.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 2012/2021 Douglas Laing Provenance is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, distilled in September 2012 and bottled in March 2021 after 8 years of maturation at 46%.

With 445 bottles, this young, independent bottling offers a fresh, direct look at Strathmill's character, neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A warm and spiced aroma with notes of lemon.

Palate

Filled with honey, supported by malt, charred oak and spice.

Finish

A long finish with lingering vanilla notes.

Specifications

Name: Strathmill 2012/2021
Distillery: Strathmill
Bottler: Provenance series from Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: September 2012
Bottled: March 2021
Number of Bottles: 445 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Young · Citrus-fresh · Spiced · Honeyed

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing's Provenance series is designed for younger whisky, typically under 10 years, focused on showing a distillery's clean character without heavy cask influence.

See our full range of Strathmill

Listen to our podcast:

Full strength, small bottle. Cask Strength in miniature format is just as uncompromising.

Expert's description

Tomatin Miniature Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 57,5% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 57,5%.

This miniature is bottled at 57.5% from the same blend of bourbon and sherry casks as the full-size bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich sherry sweetness and toasted oak.

Palate

Powerful with dark fruit and spice.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Miniature Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 57,5%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57,5%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: a mix of bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Miniature

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Cask-strength releases are bottled without added water, meaning the alcohol percentage varies from cask to cask and batch to batch.

See our full range of Tomatin

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

Expert's description

Linkwood 2013/2021 Wilson & Morgan 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky, matured in virgin oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Wilson & Morgan.

It was distilled 2013 and bottled 2021, giving it 8 years.

Only 1026 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet blossom, ripe pears and coconut.

Palate

The taste unfolds with beeswax, fresh baked wood and vanilla custard.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with vanilla custard and blossom.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2013/2021 Wilson & Morgan 8 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Virgin Oak (#303765-68-69)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1026
EAN no.: 8033749407337

Flavour profile

Spicy · Sweet · Rich

Did you know?

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

See our full range of Linkwood

Listen to our podcast:

Double distilled in traditional pot stills and matured under Breton skies - Triagoz 1st Edition was the start of one of Warenghem's most distinctive series.

Expert's description

Armorik Triagoz 1st Edition Lightly Peated is a Single Breton Malt Whisky from the Warenghem distillery, bottled at 46 percent.

The whisky is made from Breton barley and French wheat, double distilled in traditional pot stills and matured in oak casks. 2,000 bottles were filled of this, the first edition in the Triagoz series, and the whisky is non-chill filtered.

Warenghem has been distilling in Brittany since the early 1900s and was the first French distillery to commit seriously to whisky. The Triagoz series is named after the archipelago off the coast and is made from Breton barley and French wheat, double distilled in traditional pot stills.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers peach and pear, followed by peat and smoke, medicinal notes and vanilla from the bourbon cask.

Palate

The palate offers smoke from the cask, warm and spicy, with a calm close.

Finish

The finish offers ash along with notes of pear and pepper.

Specifications

Name: Triagoz 1st Edition
Distillery: Warenghem
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Breton Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Number of bottles: 2000
Edition: Triagoz 1st Edition
EAN no.: 3521630021665

Flavour profile

Lightly peated · Fruity · Spicy · Classic

Did you know?

This release was the first in the Triagoz series and laid the foundation for the style that later editions, such as Triagoz 2nd Edition, have since been measured against.

Rum casks and Scotch whisky have travelled together since the trading ships began running the same route both ways. Here that connection is made concrete: a lightly peated blend that has ended its life in Latin American rum casks.

The expert description

Flatnöse Rum Finish is a Blended Scotch Whisky finished in Latin American rum casks and bottled at 43% in small batch.

The base whisky is the same light, peated blend from Islay Boys that the rest of the Flatnöse family is built on. The difference lies in the closing period in rum wood, which among other things has contributed exotic demerara notes, the dark, almost molasses-like sweetness familiar from rum made on cane syrup.

The rum cask makes the whisky softer and rounder without the smoke disappearing. It is bottled without chill filtration in small batch, so the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and sweet with demerara sugar, a light smoky edge and a note of ripe banana.

Palate

Lively and lightly spiced with vanilla and demerara in the background, while the malt and smoke keep it from turning too sweet.

Finish

Medium and soft with syrup, spice and a final touch of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Rum Barrel Finish
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Latin American rum casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110227

Flavour profile

Sweet · Lightly smoky · Spiced · Vanilla · Soft

Did you know?

Demerara takes its name from a river in Guyana where the sugar cane grew along the banks. Today the word covers both a type of sugar and a style of rum, and it is the dark, molasses-like sweetness of that style the rum casks leave behind in the whisky.

See our full range of Whisky

The islands along the west coast of Scotland were governed from the sea, not from land. That is the world the Flatnöse name points back to, and the whisky has been given the same direct character to carry.

The expert description

Flatnöse Blended Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated blend bottled at 43% in small batch.

Where the Islay Boys blended malt sticks to pure malt whisky, this release is a proper blend with both malt and grain. The grain gives softness and a cereal sweetness that malt alone does not deliver, and the smoke therefore has a rounder base to stand on.

The name is taken from Ketill Flatnöse, the Norse chieftain who in the late 800s was king over the islands along the west coast. Bottling happens in small batch and without chill filtration, so the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and sweetness first, with an appealing note of smoke settling in underneath.

Palate

Pleasingly smoky, where pepper steps clearly forward alongside the smoke. The cereal sweetness sits below and holds it together.

Finish

Medium and dry with smoke, pepper and a final malty sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Blended Scotch Whisky
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110029

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Spiced · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

Very few blends are bottled without chill filtration. The process removes the compounds that can turn whisky hazy at low temperature, and it is used on almost every bottle at this level because haze gets mistaken for a fault. Islay Boys chose to skip it and explain why instead.

See our full range of Whisky

Ketill Flatnöse was a Norse chieftain who ruled the islands along the west coast of Scotland in the late 800s. Islay Boys have borrowed his name for a whisky rather lighter on its feet than the man himself is said to have been.

The expert description

Flatnöse Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated blended malt bottled at 46% in small batch.

Behind the bottle stand Islay Boys, founded by Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie from the Rhinns peninsula on Islay. MacKenzie learned whisky production from Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich, and the firm has since built a set of brands around Norse island history.

This release is a blended malt, meaning malt whisky from several distilleries and not a drop of grain. The smoke is restrained and sits as an edge rather than as the main course, and 46% gives it body without making it hard. It is bottled without chill filtration in small batch, which means the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear first, with a faint peach behind and a note of honey tying it together.

Palate

Pleasingly round, where walnuts and citrus blossom step forward and where the smoke registers without taking up room.

Finish

Medium and soft with malt, nut and a final touch of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Blended Malt
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110081

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Fruity · Soft · Nutty · Honeyed

Did you know?

Islay Boys bought the island only brewery, Islay Ales, in 2018 and have since been working to get their own distillery standing. They began as bottlers of other people whisky and have ended up wanting to make their own, which on Islay is the rule rather than the exception.

See our full range of Islay Whisky

A Norwegian king in a kilt is not the first thing you associate with Islay. But Magnus Barelegs fought alongside the Celts in the late 1000s, and he has lent his name to a whisky just as unafraid of standing out.

Expert description

Bårelegs Battle Axe is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 55.7% without chill filtration, released as a small batch.

Behind the brand stand the Islay Boys, Donald MacKenzie from Port Charlotte and Mackay Smith from Portnahaven. Both are from the island and started blending and bottling whisky themselves with the aim of making something that tasted of Islay without costing a fortune in marketing.

Battle Axe is the most powerful of the expressions in the range and is bottled at high strength without filtration. The peat is present but held back in favour of fruit from the cask, which makes the profile different from the classic smoke monsters of the island's south coast.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear and peach with nutty notes from old oak and a fine layer of peat smoke underneath.

Palate

Round and full with date, walnut and citrus blossom. The smoke arrives late and never takes over.

Finish

Medium and warm with nuts, citrus and a last trace of peat.

Specifications

Name: Bårelegs Battle Axe Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55.7%
Bottler: Bårelegs
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55,7%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Battle Axe Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110234

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Lightly smoked · Maritime · Powerful

Did you know?

Magnus Barelegs earned his nickname because he returned from Scotland wearing a kilt instead of trousers. The saga records that his men went about with bare legs, and the name stuck for the rest of his life.

See our full range of Bårelegs
See our full range of Islay Boys

Sometimes the best whisky is simply the one you know best. This 1 litre bottle is the same classic Glenfiddich 12 Years Old, just in a format that goes a little further.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old 1 litre is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, exactly like the distillery's well-known 70cl bottle, and offers the same fresh, pear-driven character that has made Glenfiddich 12 Years Old one of the world's best-selling single malt whiskies.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

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

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 1 litre
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: 1 litre format
EAN no.: 5010327324128

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old sells more bottles each year than most other single malt whiskies could ever dream of — hence the extra-large 1 litre format.

See our full range of Glenfiddich

Listen to our podcast:

In 2021 Ærø Whisky filled another cask. Cask No 6 from that season has now been bottled directly and undiluted at 60%. It is a young whisky — but it does not hide that, and does not need to. What it lacks in maturation it makes up for in intensity.

Expert description

Ærø 2021 Single Cask No 6 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky at 60%, bottled at 50 cl from a single cask distilled in 2021 at Ærø Whisky A/S in Ærøskøbing. It is the sixth single cask in the distillery's series, produced from locally grown barley from Ærø, malted on the distillery's own malt floor and double-distilled in a closed circuit. A cask strength release from the 2021 distillation offers a rare glimpse into what is happening in Ærø's casks before extended maturation. Uncompromising and direct — add water to unfold the flavour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and powerful. Young malt and new oak dominate. Sweetness from the wood and a fresh, spirity undertone. With water, floral notes and light fruit open up.

Palate

Explosive at 60%. Oak and sweet malt with light fruit notes. Water is needed to unfold the full breadth. Young and raw but with clear structure.

Finish

Warm and long with dry oak and sweet malt that holds. A promise of what more maturation will do.

Specifications

Name: Ærø 2021 Single Cask No 6
Distillery: Ærø Whisky A/S
Region/Country: Denmark, Ærø
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 60%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2021

Flavour profile

Single Cask · Cask Strength · Young · Oak · Fresh

Did you know?

Ærø Whisky numbers each single cask sequentially — No 6 is the sixth individual cask bottled from the distillery. A simple but effective way to document the distillery's growing single cask series and allow customers to follow the development from cask to cask.

See our full range of Ærø Whisky

Diageo's Distillers Edition series gives each distillery an extra cask finish, and for Royal Lochnagar that means a stint in sweet Muscatel casks.

Expert Review

Royal Lochnagar 2000/2012 Distillers Edition 12 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in Muscatel casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

Royal Lochnagar 2000 vintage in the Distillers Edition series. This 12-year-old whisky is double matured, first in traditional casks and then finished in Muscatel casks, adding an extra layer of sweetness and fruitiness on top of the distillery's classic, soft style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with raisin, honey and a light floral tone.

Palate

The palate is soft with dried fruit, caramel and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering raisin.

Specifications

Name: Royal Lochnagar 2000/2012 Distillers Edition 12 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Royal Lochnagar
Region: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Muscatel casks
Distilled: 2000
Bottled: 2012
Edition: Distillers Edition
EAN No.: 5000281023847

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Diageo's Distillers Edition series always uses a secondary maturation in wine or sherry casks, unique to each distillery – for Royal Lochnagar, the choice is Muscatel.

See our full range of Royal Lochnagar

There is a particular joy in finding an old single grain that has been allowed to mature well beyond the ordinary, as with this North British.

Expert's Description

North British The Ten 2007/2016 is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky from French whisky merchant La Maison du Whisky, matured in a used bourbon cask and bottled at 40.1%.

The Ten series from La Maison du Whisky brings together ten different distilleries under a shared concept. This North British is bottled without added colour or chill filtration, with a nose of creamy vanilla and light oak, and a palate of delicate oak, lemon and mild pepper.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with vanilla fudge and fresh straw, while creamy vanilla lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers delicate oak and honeycomb, with a hint of citrus notes.

Finish

The finish is dry and elegant.

Specifications

Distillery: North British
Bottler: The Ten (La Maison du Whisky)
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2016
Edition: The Ten

Flavour Profile

Soft · Creamy · Light · Elegant

Did You Know?

Grain whisky like North British is distilled in column stills and typically develops flavour more slowly than malt whisky, making older vintages especially sought after.

See our full range of North British

Peat and grain sound like an unlikely pairing, but at Loch Lomond that kind of experiment is business as usual. Peated Single Grain is proof that smoke and lightness can happily share the same bottle.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain is a Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is distilled from peated malted barley on the distillery's continuous Coffey still, giving it a light, grain-like body combined with an earthy, medicinal smoke. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clove, vanilla and blackcurrant, with peat leaning towards bandages and a touch of iodine, alongside fresh lemons and pears.

Palate

Sweet, tangy peat with green apple, lime citrus and aniseed, followed by vanilla and a note of lemongrass.

Finish

Crisp, dry finish with distant peat smoke and a short but clear peaty impression.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Coffey still (continuous distillation)
EAN: 5016840260219
Serving suggestion: Neat or on ice

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Fruity · Fresh

Did You Know?

Even though the whisky is made from heavily peated malt, it is classed as grain rather than malt, because it is distilled on a continuous Coffey still rather than a pot still.

See our full range of Loch Lomond

Listen to our podcast:

The Busker Single Pot Still pays tribute to the most classic and traditional style of Irish whiskey, where maturation in bourbon and sherry casks gives a spiced, full-bodied dram.

Expert Review

The Busker 88.6 proof Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, bottled at 44.3%.

The whiskey is matured in both bourbon casks and sherry casks, giving it a spiced depth with notes of dried fruit. Single Pot Still is the style most unique to Ireland, as it uses both malted and unmalted barley. The Busker range showcases this classic style in its purest form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spice and dried fruit.

Palate

Full-bodied and spiced, with notes of sherry.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: The Busker Single Pot Still
Distillery: The Busker
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Cask: Bourbon Cask + Sherry Cask
ABV: 44.3%
Size: 70 CL
Other: 88.6 proof
EAN no.: 8001110596119

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Full-bodied · Dried fruit · Sherried · Warming

Did You Know?

Single Pot Still is a whiskey style made exclusively in Ireland, using a mix of malted and unmalted barley.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

The Busker Single Grain is a creamy, approachable Irish whiskey, where maturation in both bourbon and marsala casks gives it a unique sweetness and depth.

Expert Review

The Busker 88.6 proof Single Grain Irish Whiskey is a Single Grain Irish Whiskey, bottled at 44.3%.

The whiskey is matured in both bourbon casks and marsala casks, giving it a creamy character with a light sweetness from the marsala wine. The Busker range is known for showcasing the different styles of Irish whiskey individually, and this single grain edition nicely shows how soft and approachable grain whiskey can be.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Creamy vanilla and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

Soft and lightly sweet, with notes from the marsala wine.

Finish

Round and creamy.

Specifications

Name: The Busker Single Grain
Distillery: The Busker
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Cask: Bourbon Cask + Marsala Cask
ABV: 44.3%
Size: 70 CL
Other: 88.6 proof
EAN no.: 8001110596072

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Lightly sweet · Vanilla-forward · Soft · Approachable

Did You Know?

The Busker range is named after the street performers ("buskers") found on the streets of Dublin.
See our full range of Irish whiskey