Intravaganza is the name of a whisky that doesn't hold back - bottled at its full, natural strength.

Expert's description

Michel Couvreur Intravaganza New Version is a Single Malt Whisky matured in fresh casks and bottled at 50 percent.

The whisky has around 3 years of cask maturation and is bottled at its natural strength without chill filtration or added colour, following the house's fresh filling method. This release comes with a new bottle design, while the silky, powerful character is retained from the original release.

Intravaganza is one of the more playful names in Michel Couvreur's range, and the whisky behind it lives up to it: bottled at natural strength, without filtration or added colour, after roughly three years of cask maturation in Burgundy.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is intense with sherry, honey and a warm spiciness of cloves and nutmeg.

Palate

The palate is powerful yet silky, with caramel and sherry, carried by a light, warm strength.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with a last sweetness of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Intravaganza (nyt design)
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Fresh casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Intravaganza (nyt design)
EAN no.: 5760150950521

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Sherry-matured · Powerful · Soft

Did you know?

The name Intravaganza plays on the word 'extravaganza' and underlines that this release - despite its relatively few years in cask - offers a power and richness that feels far more lavish than its age alone would suggest.

Pale Single Single has a new outfit - the same sherry-matured soul, wrapped in a fresh, updated look.

Expert's description

Michel Couvreur New Version Pale Single Single is a Malt Whisky matured in fresh sherry casks and bottled at 45 percent.

The whisky is, like the original Pale Single Single, matured via the house's fresh filling method and bottled in a release of 1,000 bottles. This version comes with an updated bottle design, while the whisky itself retains the pale, elegant style the house is known for.

Pale Single Single is one of the names that best shows Michel Couvreur's flair for the distinctive - a whisky that insists on its own style, matured on fresh sherry casks using the house's fresh filling method, now presented in a new bottle design.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is light and elegant with honey, sherry and a hint of fresh apples.

Palate

The palate is soft and rounded with sherry and a light nutty character, spiced with a touch of pepper.

Finish

The finish is medium and dry, with a last hint of almond.

Specifications

Name: Pale Single Single (nyt design)
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Fresh sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 1000
Edition: Pale Single Single (nyt design)
EAN no.: 3760150950248

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Elegant · Soft · Light

Did you know?

The updated design on this release is one of the clearest signs that the Michel Couvreur house continually refines its visual identity, even when the whisky behind the label stays true to the original.

Another bourbon cask, another heavily peated Glenturret – Coopers Choice keeps finding fine examples of the distillery's rare Ruadh Maor expression.

Expert's Description

Glenturret 2010 Ruadh Maor Heavily Peated is part of the Coopers Choice series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, who has more than 20 years of experience in the whisky trade.

This release was distilled in December 2010 and bottled in 2020, after 9 years of maturation in a bourbon cask, Cask No. #186. The whisky is bottled at cask strength, 58%, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour – only 342 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful smoke and peat, with a sweet vanilla tone in the background.

Palate

Full-bodied and salty, with tar, ash and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky.

Specifications

Name: Glenturret 2010/2020 Coopers Choice Ruadh Maor 9 Year Old Cask 186 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 58%
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: December 2010, Bottled: 2020
Age: 9 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Cask / Cask No. #186
Bottles: 342
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Powerful · Peated

Investment Potential

With only 342 bottles from a single cask and a rare, heavily peated version of Glenturret, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often attract collectors of smoky Highland whisky.

Did You Know?

Glenturret is considered one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, but it's only under the name Ruadh Maor that they occasionally produce a heavily peated style.

See our full range of Glenturret

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Talisker had never used rum casks before 2020. Then came Special Release 2020, and suddenly the distillery's salty, peppery backbone found itself sharing space with demerara sugar and tropical fruit from the Caribbean - a combination never seen before or since.

Expert Description

Talisker Special Release 2020 8 Year Old is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, finished in ex-rum casks from the Caribbean and bottled at a natural cask strength of 57.9%. It belongs to the "Rare by Nature" collection, Diageo's 2020 Special Releases, and marked the first time the distillery used rum casks for a finish.

The young age lets Talisker's raw, maritime character stand right at the front, while the rum casks add a sweeter, more tropical layer on top. The colour is gold with a faint greenish tinge, and at just 8 years old this whisky shows the distillery's power without the polish that older releases can carry.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers sweet, maritime salt, molasses and dried seaweed, with notes of demerara sugar and tropical fruit from the rum casks. Underneath sits a smoky base with a trace of charred meat and white pepper.

Palate

The palate is soft and full with an explosion of salted caramel, quickly followed by Talisker's trademark pepper. Banana, coconut and sugar cane from the rum casks bring a sweetness that balances the drying, spicy finish.

Finish

The finish is long and evolves with mint, burnt caramel and a lightly bitter cocoa note, while the pepper lingers.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2020
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 57.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in ex-rum casks from the Caribbean
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2011
Edition: Special Releases 2020 - Rare by Nature
EAN no.: 5000281063461

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Sweet · Spicy · Tropical

Investment Potential

High - a discontinued 2020 vintage that was Talisker's first ever rum cask finish, and this kind of first-of-its-kind release tends to gain the most value on the secondary market.

Did You Know?

Special Release 2020 marked the first time in Talisker's history that the distillery used rum casks for a finish - something never seen before and never repeated since.

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Rothes lost Caperdonich in 2002, and the walls came down a few years later. Only the casks remain, and there are fewer of them every year. This is one of them, pulled from the warehouse after 22 winters.

Expert description

Caperdonich 1997/2020 Lady of the Glen 22 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead and bottled at cask strength of 60.5%.

The cask carries the number 19130 and was filled in 1997, five years before Chivas Brothers closed the distillery for good. Lady of the Glen, the Scottish independent bottler from Fife, bottled it in 2020 without chill filtration and without added colouring. Caperdonich was originally built as Glen Grant No. 2 and mostly made malt for blends, which is why official bottlings are scarce. Bottlers like this one keep the distillery character alive.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and hay first, then vanilla, coconut and a thick waxy note from the bourbon cask. Give it five minutes in the glass and baked apple and a touch of white pepper appear.

Palate

The strength is there from the first sip, but it does not bite. Caramelised pear, honey, malt and toasted oak, with an oily texture that coats the tongue. A few drops of water open up a clear lemon peel.

Finish

Long and dry, with oak, nutmeg and a faintly bitter almond note that lingers well after the sweetness has gone.

Specifications

Name: Caperdonich 1997/2020 Lady of the Glen 22 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 60,5%
Distillery: Caperdonich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 60.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon hogshead no. 19130
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1997
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 171
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Waxy · Malty · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. Caperdonich is closed and demolished, and the supply of single cask bottlings with two decades in wood keeps shrinking. Bottles from the distillery have risen sharply in value since it shut down.

Did you know?

Caperdonich was originally named Glen Grant No. 2 and stood across the road from its parent distillery. A pipe ran under the road carrying spirit from one house to the other, and locals called it the whisky aqueduct.

See our full range of Caperdonich Whisky
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Amontillado is a sherry style rarely used alone for finishing. Lady of the Glen found a cask where it made all the difference.

Expert's description

Tomintoul 2005/2020 Lady of the Glen 15 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 55,7% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Ex-bourbon hogshead #19A with first-fill Amontillado sherry finish and bottled at 55,7%.

This single cask was drawn from hogshead #19A with a first-fill Amontillado finish, yielding 251 bottles at full cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ginger and dried apricot.

Palate

Spiced sherry sweetness at full cask strength.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomintoul 2005/2020 Lady of the Glen 15 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 55,7%
Distillery: Tomintoul
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 55,7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon hogshead #19A with first-fill Amontillado sherry finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2005
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 251
Edition: Limited Release

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Amontillado sherry sits stylistically between the light Fino and the dark Oloroso, giving whisky a more nutty than fruity sweetness.

See our full range of Tomintoul

Five yeast strains, two mash bills, ten recipes — Four Roses' core range is the sum of the most complex bourbon approach in Kentucky.

Expert description

This 100 cl edition of Four Roses' core range is a Travel Retail Exclusive, sold mainly at airports and duty-free stores. Same recipe and strength as the standard 70 cl bottle. Four Roses was founded in 1888 by Paul Jones Jr. The story behind the name has it that Jones proposed to a Southern belle who said yes while wearing a corsage of four roses — hence the brand's name. The current distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 in an unusual Spanish Mission style and has been on the US National Register of Historic Places since 2000.

Four Roses is known in the bourbon world for using no fewer than 10 different recipes, combining the house's five yeast strains with two different mash bills. Each yeast strain brings its own character — from spicy and floral to fruity and herbal — giving the distillery an unusually broad flavour palette to blend from.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is light and floral with caramel, fruit and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate is soft and balanced with caramel, ripe fruit and light spice.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Travel Retail Exclusive, 1 liter)
Distillery: Four Roses
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Travel Retail Exclusive

Flavour profile

Soft · Floral · Fruity · Lightly spiced

See our full range of Four Roses

Once a year, Four Roses gathers its rarest barrels into one limited release — the 2020 vintage is the kind whisky fans wait for.

Expert description

Four Roses Small Batch 2020 Limited Edition is an annual, limited bottling blended from selected, older barrels across several of the house's ten recipes, bottled at cask strength, 55.7%. This release is blended from two recipes, OBSV and OESK, with barrels aged 11 to 16 years. Four Roses was founded in 1888 by Paul Jones Jr. The story behind the name has it that Jones proposed to a Southern belle who said yes while wearing a corsage of four roses — hence the brand's name. The current distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 in an unusual Spanish Mission style and has been on the US National Register of Historic Places since 2000.

Four Roses is known in the bourbon world for using no fewer than 10 different recipes, combining the house's five yeast strains with two different mash bills. Each yeast strain brings its own character — from spicy and floral to fruity and herbal — giving the distillery an unusually broad flavour palette to blend from.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is complex with ripe fruit, caramel, oak and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate is full and layered with caramel, dried fruit and spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spicy with a dry, oak-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Four Roses Small Batch 2020 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Four Roses
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 55.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Strength

Flavour profile

Spicy · Full-bodied · Oak · Dried fruit

Investment potential

Four Roses' annual limited releases are often sought by collectors and can rise in value after selling out, especially when the vintage is praised by reviewers.

See our full range of Four Roses

Pedro Ximénez sherry is known as one of the sweetest sherry styles around, and the name of this release makes no secret of how thrilled Boann Distillery is with the result.

Expert Review

The Whistler P.X. I Love You is an Irish Single Malt Whiskey finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey from Boann Distillery has matured in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks for 12 months, a finish that gives pronounced notes of dried fruit, brown sugar, citrus and walnut. PX sherry is among the sweetest sherry styles and is often used precisely for finish maturation, where even a shorter period can give the whiskey a distinct, sweet character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and brown sugar, with a touch of citrus.

Palate

Sweet and nutty, with walnut and caramel.

Finish

Medium, sweet and lightly citrus-driven.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler P.X. I Love You
Distillery: The Whistler (Boann Distillery)
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks, 12-month finish
EAN no.: 5391528252220

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Nutty · Citrus-driven · Dried fruit · Rich

Did You Know?

Pedro Ximénez is a grape variety often dried in the sun before pressing, concentrating the sugar content and giving the characteristic sweet, dark sherry style many whisky producers seek out for finish maturation.

The casks for this whiskey travel all the way from Jerez in Spain, where Boann Distillery's partners at Bodegas de la Frontera fill them with Oloroso sherry before they get a new life in Ireland.

Expert Review

The Whistler 5 Year Old Bodega Cask is an Irish Single Malt Whiskey matured in ex-sherry casks of the Oloroso type, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey from Boann Distillery is matured for five years in Oloroso sherry casks sourced directly from the distillery's partners in Jerez, Spain: Bodegas de la Frontera. The direct connection to a Spanish bodega gives the whiskey an authentic sherry character with fine notes of dried fruit, chocolate and spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and sherry sweetness, with a touch of spice.

Palate

Chocolatey and spiced, with notes of raisin and oak.

Finish

Medium, with lingering sherry sweetness.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler 5 Year Old Bodega Cask
Distillery: The Whistler (Boann Distillery)
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Age: 5 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-sherry casks (Oloroso) from Bodegas de la Frontera
EAN no.: 5391528252244

Flavour Profile

Sherry-driven · Chocolatey · Spiced · Dried fruit · Rich

Did You Know?

Bodegas de la Frontera in Jerez is among the Spanish bodegas that specialise in producing casks specifically for the whisky industry, a practice that has grown significantly alongside demand for sherry-matured whiskies.

Pinot Noir is the thin-skinned diva of grapes — hard to grow and harder still to get right. Putting Deanston's honey into a Pinot Noir cask was therefore a gamble that could have gone wrong.

Expert description

Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir Cask Finish 17 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Pinot Noir casks and bottled at 50% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled in 2002 and had seventeen years before it went into bottle. Pinot Noir does not give the heavy, dark fruit you know from sherry — it contributes acidity, light red berries and a dry tannic edge. On a spirit like Deanston's, already pale and honeyed, the result turns fresher rather than darker.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright, crisp fruit notes with creamy vanilla and oak, leaving room for a suggestion of green grapes.

Palate

Dry and lightly malted with a tart edge and a rich hint of tannin. The 50% keeps the acidity up without making the whisky sharp.

Finish

Long and tart, with grape acidity, malt and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir Cask Finish 17 years Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pinot Noir casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2002
Edition: Pinot Noir Cask Finish
EAN no.: 0502970400288

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tart · Vanilla · Dry · Wine Cask

Investment potential

Medium. A seventeen year old vintage with a cask type rarely used in Scotch whisky. Pinot Noir finishes exist only in very limited numbers.

Did you know?

Pinot Noir has thinner skins than most grapes, which is why the wine turns pale and fresh rather than dark and tannic. That very quality makes the casks interesting in whisky — they add freshness rather than weight, the opposite of what sherry does.

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Harmony is the name on the bottle, and it is not far off. Twenty-eight years have made this grain whisky calm and balanced without costing it the natural sweetness it started with.

Expert description

Cameronbridge Spiritualist Harmony 1991/2020 Old Particular 28 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 52.6% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in October 1991 and bottled in August 2020 from a single cask that gave 297 bottles for the entire world. Old Particular is Douglas Laing's series for single casks, and The Spiritualist is a sub-range where each bottle receives its own name.

Cameronbridge in Fife is Europe's largest grain distillery and has been producing since 1824. The spirit is light and smooth, and after nearly three decades in cask it has developed the creamy depth old grain whisky is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale caramel with ripe pear, coconut and a stroke of light grain.

Palate

Natural sweetness balanced by a spiced edge. Fudge, honey and citrus peel with a soft, oily texture.

Finish

Long and warm with vanilla, spice and a fine, dry close.

Specifications

Name: Cameronbridge Spiritualist Harmony 1991/2020 Old Particular 28 Years Single Grain Scotch Whisky 52.6%
Distillery: Cameronbridge
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 52,6%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: October 1991
Bottled: August 2020
Number of bottles: 297
Edition: Old Particular The Spiritualist
EAN no.: 25014218816222

Flavour profile

Creamy · Sweet · Spiced · Soft · Mature

Investment potential

High. Twenty-eight years, one cask and 297 bottles for the whole world. Douglas Laing's older grain bottlings have become hard to find on the market.

Did you know?

Douglas Laing was founded in 1948 and for many years was primarily a blending house. The company was divided in 2013, when Hunter Laing was split off, and the two halves are today run by separate branches of the family.

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Edition No 6 was the last in Macallan's Edition series — and it signed off with one of the heaviest sherry cask compositions in the range. 74% sherry butt casks and 48.6% — not a rounding off, but a definitive statement.

Expert description

Macallan Edition No 6 is a discontinued Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from 2020, matured in 26% sherry seasoned hogsheads and 74% sherry seasoned butts and bottled at 48.6%. The Edition series was Macallan's annual limited edition range, combining the distillery's whisky with creative collaborations. Edition No 6 was created in collaboration with Master of Wood Stuart MacPherson and focused on the role of wood itself in whisky. The cask composition is heavy and sherry-dominated — and that is clear in the glass.

As the closing release in a well-known series, No 6 is particularly sought after by collectors. It is discontinued and no longer in production. Availability continues to fall.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toffee apples, plums and peaches in syrup with orchard blossom and vanilla. Prunes, beeswax and honeyed fruits with dark chocolate and toffee.

Palate

Sultana raisins and walnuts with creamy fudge, ginger and raspberries. Black pepper and cinnamon with sultanas and cocoa.

Finish

Citrus zest and candied citrus with Christmas cake spices. Medium length with lingering fudge and milk chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Macallan Edition No 6
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned hogsheads (26%) and sherry seasoned butts (74%)
Edition: Edition No 6 (2020, discontinued)
EAN no.: 5010314309886

Flavour profile

Sherry-dominated · Dark fruit · Spiced · Rich and deep

Investment potential

High — Edition No 6 is the closing bottle in Macallan's Edition series, discontinued in 2020, with high sherry cask concentration and strong collector interest. Bottles from the series continue to grow in rarity.

Did you know?

Edition No 6 was created in collaboration with Macallan's Master of Wood Stuart MacPherson, a specialist in cask selection and the influence of oak on whisky flavour.

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A cask that has travelled from bourbon via sherry to imperial stout at Boyne Brewery gives this whiskey an unusual coffee and cocoa note, rare in Irish whiskey.

Expert Review

The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish is a Limited Release Irish Whiskey matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in ex-imperial stout casks, bottled at 43%.

The whiskey from Boann Distillery is first matured in ex-bourbon casks, then moved to a cask that previously held imperial stout from Boyne Brewery, which had itself previously held sherry. The dual cask history gives the whiskey fine notes of coffee, cocoa and creamy caramel, a flavour profile unusual for Irish whiskey. The whiskey is 4.5 years old and part of Boann's limited release series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coffee and cocoa, with a touch of creamy caramel.

Palate

Rich and creamy, with notes of dark chocolate and toasted malt.

Finish

Medium, with lingering coffee notes.

Specifications

Name: The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish
Distillery: The Whistler (Boann Distillery)
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Limited Release Irish Whiskey
Age: 4.5 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon & ex-imperial stout casks (previously sherry)
EAN no.: 5391528252138

Flavour Profile

Coffee-forward · Cocoa-like · Creamy · Rich · Malty

Did You Know?

Boyne Brewery, whose imperial stout casks are used for this whiskey, is located in the same area as Boann Distillery and is part of the local craft scene in Meath north of Dublin.

Twenty-five years is the oldest age the Arran distillery has put on a bottle — a testament to how far the distillery has come since its first year in 1995.

A limited number have reached Denmark of this mature, deeply complex release.

Expert Description

Arran 25 Year Old is a Single Islands Malt Whisky matured in a mix of used bourbon and sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

As the distillery's oldest release, this bottle represents a quarter century of patience. The two cask types work together, giving a fullness and complexity that only truly shows after this many years in the warehouse.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruit cake with toasted almond and honey notes.

Palate

Complex with black pepper and many nuances of ripe fruit and spice.

Finish

Long and warming with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Arran 25 Year Old
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Mix of used bourbon and sherry casks
EAN no.: 5060044484001
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Mature · Spiced · Nutty · Complex

Investment Potential

Medium – as the distillery's oldest permanent release, with a limited number of bottles reaching Denmark, it typically draws interest from collectors wanting to cover the full Arran age range.

Did You Know?

When this whisky was distilled, the Arran distillery was still brand new — making this bottle one of the earliest proofs of how well Lochranza's whisky can develop over time.

See our full range of Arran

Winter falls fast in Speyside, and the little fox terrier with the oversized moustache returns to keep the cold at bay with sherry and spice.

Expert's Description

Scallywag Douglas Laing The Winter Edition is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and Oloroso casks, and bottled at cask strength of 52.6%.

Douglas Laing blends together several Speyside distilleries under Scallywag's distinctive fox label. This winter release leans into deep sherry character, with only 3,000 bottles produced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark cocoa and plump raisins meet a whisper of tobacco, while warming winter spices like clove and cinnamon simmer underneath.

Palate

Full and round with sherry sweetness, dark chocolate and a touch of orange peel, carried by the high strength without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and warming, closing on spiced oak, dried fruit and a final bitter note of coffee grounds.

Specifications

Name: The Winter Edition
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Number of Bottles: 3,000 bottles
Edition: The Winter Edition

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Dark · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

The scruffy fox terrier on the label is drawn specifically for the Scallywag range and changes backdrop with each seasonal release — in winter he stands beneath the northern lights.

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"Tailored" means custom-made, and that is exactly what Nikka's whisky makers have done: composed a blend suited to several occasions at once.

Expert Description

Nikka Tailored is a Premium Blended Japanese Whisky, bottled at 43%.

The whisky is composed of malt and grain whisky from Nikka's two distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, and is designed to be versatile - equally suited to a highball or drinking neat. The name refers to how the whisky is "tailored" to fit different drinking occasions.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple, honey and a light vanilla.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

Short to medium and clean.

Specifications

Name: Nikka Tailored
Distillery: Nikka
Region/Country: Japan
Type: Premium Blended Japanese Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4904230057918

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Versatile · Clean

Did You Know?

Nikka Tailored was specifically developed to work well in highball cocktails, a hugely popular drinking style in Japan where whisky is mixed with soda water and ice.

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Six and a half years passed between firing up the stills and anyone daring to write whisky on the label. Ardnamurchan was busy finding the right ratio between bourbon and sherry, and in September 2020 they were done. This is bottle number one in the distillery’s history.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan AD 09.20:01 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed of 65% ex-bourbon casks and 35% sherry casks and bottled at 46.8% in September 2020. It is the distillery’s first official Single Malt Whisky, and 15,950 bottles were made.

The malt is split evenly between peated and unpeated, the choice that has since become the house signature. The smoke works as a floor rather than the main event, and the split between bourbon and sherry gives vanilla, bright fruit and dark sherry fruit in the same glass.

The distillery was built by the independent bottler Adelphi at Glenbeg on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, looking out over Glenmore Bay towards the island of Mull. Seven years of work went from the idea to the finished distillery, and the doors opened in July 2014. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh malt and bright fruit first, pear and apple from the bourbon casks. Then raisins and orange peel from the sherry portion, and beneath it all a dry peat smoke, clear without being dominant.

Palate

Soft and well balanced. Vanilla, honey and baked fruit open, then the sherry’s darker fruit and a lightly spiced warmth arrive. The smoke gathers everything up towards the close. At 46.8% the body is good, and the whisky reads more finished than six and a half years would suggest.

Finish

Medium to long. Malt, dark fruit and a dry smoky edge that lingers neatly.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan AD 09.20:01 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46.8%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 65% ex-bourbon casks and 35% sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: September 2020
Number of bottles: 15,950
Edition: AD 09.20:01 Batch 01
EAN no.: 5060383651256

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Vanilla · Sherry Matured · Balanced · Malty

Investment Potential

High. This is the first official Single Malt Whisky a distillery ever released, and 15,950 bottles exist and never any more. First releases from distilleries that go on to succeed are among the most sought after bottles on the secondary market.

Did You Know?

There is no age statement on the bottle, but the arithmetic is easy: the distillery began distilling in July 2014, and the whisky was bottled in September 2020. That gives around six years and two months for the youngest content. The distillery chose to state the dates rather than a number, which says more precisely what you are holding.

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Ice dilutes. Whisky stones chill without giving up a single drop of water — all the flavour stays exactly where it belongs.

About the product

The 9 whisky stones in glass go in the freezer for a few hours before use, then give the whisky a pleasant chill without watering it down along the way. They're reused again and again and make an easy gift for anyone who loves their whisky neat, but a little cold.

Rinse the stones in warm water after use, dry them off, and put them back in the freezer for next time.

Ice dilutes. Whisky stones chill without giving up a single drop of water — all the flavour stays exactly where it belongs.

About the product

The 9 whisky stones in mørk/sort go in the freezer for a few hours before use, then give the whisky a pleasant chill without watering it down along the way. They're reused again and again and make an easy gift for anyone who loves their whisky neat, but a little cold.

Rinse the stones in warm water after use, dry them off, and put them back in the freezer for next time.

Ice dilutes. Whisky stones chill without giving up a single drop of water — all the flavour stays exactly where it belongs.

About the product

The 9 whisky stones in lysegrå go in the freezer for a few hours before use, then give the whisky a pleasant chill without watering it down along the way. They're reused again and again and make an easy gift for anyone who loves their whisky neat, but a little cold.

Rinse the stones in warm water after use, dry them off, and put them back in the freezer for next time.

A single cask is always a promise of something that will never come again. Loch Lomond 2008/2019 Single Cask 18/385-3 is the distillery's own single-cask series, where each cask stands alone and tells its own story from barrel to bottle.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond 2008/2019 Single Cask 18/385-3 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an oak cask and bottled at 49.9%.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and rested in a single, named cask until bottling in 2019, without being blended with any other casks. This makes it a pure, unfiltered representation of how Loch Lomond's spirit develops in that specific cask over 11 years of maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and honey with an underlying malt note and a touch of warm spice.

Palate

Full and oily with caramel, dried fruit and a light peppery spice that the cask strength brings forward.

Finish

Long, warm finish with lingering oak and a sweet aftertaste.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond 2008/2019 Single Cask 18/385-3 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 49.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single oak cask
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2019
EAN: 5016840333883
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water to tame the cask strength

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium – as a single-cask release straight from the distillery, the bottle is unique and cannot be recreated, making it attractive to collectors chasing Loch Lomond's own single-cask releases.

Did You Know?

The cask number 18/385-3 is the distillery's own internal mark for this exact cask – no other bottle in the world shares precisely this combination of cask, vintage and bottling year.

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Teeling Single Pot Still is best enjoyed neat and chilled, where the blend of unmalted and malted barley gives the whiskey its very special character.

Expert Review

Teeling Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is a blend of unmalted and malted barley, which contributes to the special character the whiskey has. The colour is golden amber, and the nose offers a lovely honey aroma combined with lemon, peach, grapefruit and toasted almonds. The palate gives bright, pleasant notes of stone fruit, vanilla, white pepper, honey and biscuit. The whiskey is best enjoyed neat and chilled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, lemon, peach, grapefruit and toasted almonds.

Palate

Stone fruit, vanilla, white pepper, honey and biscuit.

Finish

Soft and pleasant.

Specifications

Name: Teeling Single Pot Still
Distillery: Teeling Whiskey
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5391523270533

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Nutty · Spiced · Best enjoyed chilled

Did You Know?

Single Pot Still is a whiskey style made exclusively in Ireland, where both malted and unmalted barley go into the mash bill.
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Drumshanbo Single Pot Still uses a unique Irish touch with oats in the mash bill, giving the whiskey an extra creamy, delicious mouthfeel.

Expert Review

Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, bottled at 43%.

The whiskey is distilled three times and subsequently matured in Oloroso sherry casks and Kentucky bourbon casks. It is made from a blend of Irish malted barley, Barra oats and unmalted barley, a unique Irish touch that gives the whiskey a creamy, delicious mouthfeel. Drumshanbo comes from The Shed Distillery, known for experimenting with unconventional ingredients in their whiskeys.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and light sweetness.

Palate

Creamy with notes from sherry and bourbon.

Finish

Soft and delicious.

Specifications

Name: Drumshanbo
Distillery: The Shed Distillery
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Cask: Kentucky Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry Casks
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Triple Distilled
EAN no.: 5391530350273

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Malty · Sherried · Soft · Unique

Did You Know?

Drumshanbo uses Barra oats in its mash bill, an unusual choice among Irish whiskeys that contributes to the creamy mouthfeel.
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A tribute to the Beam who broke from family tradition and bet on rye instead of bourbon.

Expert description

Minor Case Sherry Cask Finished Straight Rye Whiskey is an American rye whiskey, bottled at 45%, named after Minor Case Beam, a pioneer in the historic Beam family. In 1883, Minor Case Beam founded his own distillery, M.C. Beam & Co., near the town of Gethsemane, Kentucky, rather than joining the family's main operation. While bourbon was king in Kentucky at the time, Minor Case chose to specialise in rye whiskey. Minor Case is the distillery's modern flagship rye, launched in 2017 by two present-day Beam descendants who reopened Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, near the site where their great-great-grandfather once ran his distillery. The whiskey is finished in sherry casks for around 8 months to add depth and spice.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers rye bread, dried fruit and a hint of sherry.

Palate

The palate is spicy with rye grain, raisins and light caramel.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, spicy and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Minor Case Sherry Cask Finished Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: Minor Case
Region/Country: Lebanon, Kentucky, USA
Type: Rye Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask finished

Flavour profile

Spicy · Rye-forward · Sherried · Sweet

Did you know?

Minor Case Beam was the only member of the otherwise bourbon-focused Beam family to specialise in rye whiskey — a niche his present-day descendants have revived at Limestone Branch Distillery.

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Spelt and rye from the 2020 harvest in Thy. This vintage edition of Thy Whisky's spelt-rye combination is bottled at 50% – a clear step up in complexity from the Core Expressions edition.

Expert description

Thy Spelt-Rye 2020 is a Danish Spelt Rye Whisky bottled at 50% in a 70 cl bottle. Distilled from certified organic spelt and rye from the 2020 season at Thy Whisky Distillery in Thy. The vintage stamp ties this expression to a specific harvest – and gives the opportunity to compare with other years. A rare chance to experience what spelt and rye from a specific year in northwest Jutland tastes like.

50% is a good balance point: strong enough to show the full complexity of the spelt-rye combination flavour profile, but approachable enough to enjoy without water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced and slightly nutty with rye bread, spelt sweetness and light herbs. Earthy and authentic.

Palate

Full rye core with spelt's character in the background. Pepper, light citrus and baked grain. Good balance.

Finish

Moderate with spice and malt sweetness. Clean and well-kept ending.

Specifications

Name: Thy Spelt-Rye 2020
Distillery: Thy Whisky
Region/Country: Thy, Denmark
Type: Danish Spelt Rye Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2020

Flavour profile

Vintage 2020 · Spelt · Rye · Spiced · Earthy

Did you know?

Spelt and rye both have historical roots in north European agriculture and were once the dominant grain varieties in Denmark. Thy Whisky is one of the first distilleries in the world to combine these two grain varieties in a whisky and produce vintage releases based on specific harvest years.

Chaos is not the absence of order. It is the moment three things meet at once and create something unexpected. Barley, rye and smoked malt – Stauning's signature blend – distilled, matured and bottled as one coherent thought.

Expert description

Stauning Kaos Triple Malt is a Danish Triple Malt Whisky bottled at 46%. Stauning Whisky was founded in 2005 by nine friends in Skjern, West Jutland. Kaos is the distillery's flagship expression – a blend of three malted grains: barley, rye and peated barley, all floor-malted on-site. Kaos represents the essence of Stauning Whisky: a little smoke, a little spice, fresh fruit and a West Jutland character running through everything. Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh fruit and a discreet smoke undertone. A little honey, light bread and a hint of cinnamon. The rye contributes a fine pepper spice in the background.

Palate

Round and complex with fruity sweetness up front, then spiced rye and a light smoke. Pear, plum, light syrup and warm bread spice.

Finish

Medium length with gentle smoke and persistent spice. Finishes cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Kaos Triple Malt Danish Whisky
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: West Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Triple Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled, pot stills
EAN no.: 5711978010643

Flavour profile

Spiced · Lightly smoked · Fruity · Complex · Balanced

Did you know?

The name Kaos is no accident. When the distillery first experimented with blending three grain types together, the result was unpredictable – and that is precisely what created the distillery's most beloved whisky.

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In a region crowded with famous names, Inchgower 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

Inchgower 2007/2020 Adelphi Selection 12 Year Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 55,8% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on refill Sherry Hogshead, fad nr. 801246 and bottled at 55,8%.

This bottling comes from Adelphi Selection, released as part of the Adelphi Selection range.

The whisky was distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2020.

Only 561 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 2007/2020 Adelphi Selection 12 Year Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 55,8%
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 55,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Sherry Hogshead, fad nr. 801246
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 561
Edition: Adelphi Selection

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Adelphi Selection's very low approval rate and the limited run of 561 bottles make this Inchgower bottling sought after among collectors of independent cask-strength releases.

Did you know?

Inchgower was originally built to replace Tochineal distillery, which closed in 1870 after supplying the Buckie area with whisky since 1824.

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Three expressions, one box, this gift set is the fastest way to understand the range within Paul John's core lineup.

Expert's description

Paul John Miniature Gift Set Indian Single Malt Whisky 3x5cl is a set of three miniature bottles of Indian Single Malt Whisky matured in American oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The set includes 1 x 5cl Brilliance Single Malt Whisky, 1 x 5cl Edited Single Malt Whisky and 1 x 5cl Bold Single Malt Whisky, giving one box the unpeated, the lightly peated and the more powerful peated style from Paul John.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose ranges from honeyed Brilliance to smoky Edited and Bold.

Palate

The palate varies from soft sweetness to clear peat, depending on which bottle you choose.

Finish

The finish shows three different endings, from smooth sweetness to lingering smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Paul John
Region/Country: Goa, India
Type: Indian Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 3x5 CL
Cask Type: American oak casks
Edition: Gift set, 3x5 cl

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Lightly peated · Round · Fruity

Did you know?

The gift set is composed so you can taste your way through the full range from unpeated to peated Paul John without opening three full bottles.

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