Adelphi picks casks by tasting their way through and saying no to most of them. It is an old fashioned way to work, and it is the reason their labels are so plain, because there is no room for anything except what is actually in the cask.

The expert description

Glen Elgin 13 Years Old Adelphi Selection is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength 54.6%.

The cask, number C802276, gave 302 bottles. Adelphi Selection takes its name from a Glasgow distillery that closed in 1907, and the name was revived in 1993 for an independent bottling house. Every release is a single cask at cask strength, without chill filtration and without colouring.

Glen Elgin is one of the distilleries Adelphi returns to. The house fruitiness is clear and stands up to high strength, and a bourbon cask lets it show without being wrapped in dark fruit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pineapple and ripe melon first, then vanilla custard and a touch of green banana from the American wood.

Palate

Concentrated and sweet. Tropical fruit and honey in front, then a creamy middle and a growing note of white pepper.

Finish

Long and dry with oak, malt and a final cool note of mint.

Specifications

Name: Glen Elgin 13 Years Old Adelphi Selection
Distillery: Glen Elgin
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 54.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask no. C802276
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 302
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Creamy · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. Adelphi bottles single casks in small runs and has a settled international collector following, and at 302 bottles this is among the smaller releases. Glen Elgin also appears rarely as a single malt, which keeps the field narrow.

Did you know?

Glen Elgin has for decades been the backbone of White Horse, one of the great Scottish blends. Most of the production disappears in that direction, which is why the distillery is far better known among blenders than among malt drinkers.

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Cragganmore is already the heaviest of the Speyside classics. Add a port cask and the herbal dryness suddenly has dark berries to push against.

Please note: The bottle is supplied without a carton.

Expert description

Cragganmore 2003/2015 Distillers Edition 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in port casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2015 under the batch code CggD-6567. Distillers Edition is Diageo's annual range in which the Classic Malts distilleries receive a second maturation in a cask suited to their own style. For Cragganmore that means port, laying dark berries and a lightly tart fruit over the herbal, honeyed core. Each vintage is bottled once and never repeated.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heather and honey first, then plum, dark berries and a warm spiced note from the port wood.

Palate

Rounder and darker than the standard 12 year old. Raisin, cherry and malt, with sandalwood and light wood smoke beneath. The port brings a tart edge that keeps the sweetness from turning heavy.

Finish

Long and dry, with dark berries, malt and a herbal warmth fading slowly.

Specifications

Name: Cragganmore 2003/2015 Distillers Edition 12 years Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Cragganmore
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in port casks
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2015
Edition: Distillers Edition CggD-6567
EAN no.: 5000281014104

Flavour profile

Fruity · Dark Berry · Malty · Herbal · Lightly Smoked

Investment potential

Medium. Each vintage of the Distillers Edition is bottled once and never returns. Older vintages steadily get harder to find as they are drunk.

Did you know?

Distillers Edition began in the 1990s as a way of showing what a second maturation can do to a familiar whisky. The cask type is fixed per distillery — Cragganmore has had port from the start, while Lagavulin, for instance, always gets Pedro Ximénez.

See our full range of Cragganmore Whisky

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Iowa's first legal distillery since Prohibition, run by a ninth-generation farmer.

Expert description

Cedar Ridge Single Malt Whiskey Handcrafted Small Batch USA is the distillery's handmade single malt, bottled at 40%. Cedar Ridge Distillery was founded in 2005 by Jeff and Laurie Quint and was the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition. Jeff Quint is a ninth-generation farmer and fermenter whose family roots trace back to German immigrants who arrived in the US in 1881, and the family's own farm-grown grain forms the basis of the whiskey.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is soft with honey, malt and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, malt and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and round.

Specifications

Name: Cedar Ridge Single Malt Whiskey Handcrafted Small Batch USA
Distillery: Cedar Ridge
Region/Country: Swisher, Iowa, USA
Type: Single Malt Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Sweet · Round

Did you know?

Cedar Ridge was the first licensed distillery to open in Iowa since Prohibition and released its first whiskey batch in 2010; the distillery has since become nationally recognised for its craft production.

See our full range of Cedar Ridge

The last chapter before the whisky. AD4 is the fourth and final Spirit release from Ardnamurchan, and the following year the distillery could finally write whisky on the label. Octaves are in play here too, the smallest casks in the house.

The Expert's Description

Ardnamurchan 2019 AD4 Spirit is a Highland Single Malt Spirit matured in sherry casks in the form of hogsheads, butts and octaves and bottled at 57.4% by Adelphi. Approximately 5,100 bottles were made. It is legally a Spirit because it has not spent the three years in cask that Scottish law requires.

Octaves are the addition compared with the year before. An octave holds around 50 litres, the smallest cask in common use, and with so little liquid per square centimetre of wood it works very fast. It is an efficient way to give young spirit more cask character than the years alone would allow.

AD4 is the last in the run of Spirit releases that spanned 2016 to 2019. In September 2020 the distillery’s first proper Single Malt Whisky arrived. The spirit is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit and syrup first, more concentrated than the preceding years. There are raisins, dates and a clear spiced sherry note, and beneath sit fresh malt and a light peat smoke.

Palate

Full and sweet, almost dessert-like in the middle. Dark fruit, spice and burnt sugar open, then the cereal character and the smoke come through. At 57.4% the concentration is marked, and the small casks make themselves felt in the texture.

Finish

Medium to long. Spice, dark fruit and a dry, lightly smoky close.

Specifications

Name: Ardnamurchan 2019 AD4 Spirit Adelphi 57.4%
Distillery: Ardnamurchan
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Spirit
ABV: 57.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks, hogsheads, butts and octaves
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2019
Number of bottles: Approximately 5,100
Edition: AD4 Spirit
EAN no.: 5060383650730

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Sweet · Spiced · Young · Cask Strength · Dark Fruit

Did You Know?

An octave holds around 50 litres and is the smallest cask used in ordinary whisky production. The name comes from it being roughly an eighth of a butt. Because the ratio of liquid to wood is so extreme, an octave can deliver in a few months what a butt takes years to give.

See our full range of Ardnamurchan
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Forty-two casks, four grain recipes, one whisky. Hvenus is Spirit of Hven's take on a rye whisky that insists on complexity over simplicity, and the name is a small, double-edged love letter to both the goddess and the island itself.

The Expert's Description

Spirit of Hven Hvenus is a Swedish Rye Whisky matured in American oak casks and bottled at 45.6%.

Hvenus is assembled from no fewer than 42 American oak casks, all at least six years old, each contributing its own share to the final grain recipe. The result after blending is 78.6% rye, 11.9% wheat, 4.8% corn and 4.8% barley, a composition that gives the whisky unusual breadth for a rye-based expression.

Neither chill filtration, added colour nor sugar is used in production, so the whisky stands entirely on its own, with only grain, cask and time as collaborators.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense vanilla meets freshly cut grass and a touch of menthol, an unusual combination for a rye whisky.

Palate

Smooth and soft on the tongue, with vanilla developing into spiced toffee notes, malt and a hint of dark chocolate.

Finish

Fruity and soft with vanilla and lavender notes that settle calmly.

Specifications

Name: Spirit of Hven Hvenus Swedish Rye Whisky
Distillery: Spirit of Hven
Region/Country: Hven, Sweden
Type: Swedish Rye Whisky
ABV: 45.6%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: 42 American oak casks, minimum 6 years old

Flavour Profile

Grain-forward · Spiced · Soft · Vanilla-led · Fruity

Did You Know?

The name Hvenus is a double nod to both the goddess of love and the island of Hven itself. The whisky is assembled from 42 different casks, each contributing its own share to the final grain blend.

See our full range of Spirit of Hven

Glenrothes is known for its sherry-driven fingerprint, and the 12 Year Old Soleo Collection is the distillery's way of showing exactly what a proper sherry cask can do for a whisky.

Expert's Description

Glenrothes 12 Year Old Soleo Collection is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky from the distillery in Rothes, matured exclusively in casks that have been sherry-seasoned.

The whisky is bottled with natural colour at 40%, and the Soleo Collection name refers to the Spanish sunning process, where casks are dried in the sun to prepare them for whisky maturation – a method central to Glenrothes' signature sherried style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sherry sweetness, dried fruit and a light nutty tone.

Palate

Soft and round, with orange marmalade, honey and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length, warm and sherried.

Specifications

Name: Glenrothes 12 Year Old Soleo Collection Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70cl 40%
Distillery: Glenrothes
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Soft · Fruity · Round

Did You Know?

The name "Soleo" comes from the Spanish sunning method, where sherry casks are dried and prepared in the sun before being filled with whisky – a process Glenrothes places great emphasis on in its cask management.

See our full range of Glenrothes

Hear more about the Glenrothes distillery and its sherry tradition in our podcast:

21 years in cask lift Rock Island to a more mature, complex level than the younger releases in Douglas Laing's island range.

Expert Review

Rock Island 21 år Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8% is an Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46.8% ABV.

Rock Island 21 years old is a blended malt from Douglas Laing, composed entirely of whisky from Scotland's islands. With 21 years in cask, the whisky has developed a depth and body that sets it apart from the more accessible releases in the range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is maritime with sea salt, smoke and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

The palate is full with smoke, honey and a light spiced warmth.

Finish

The finish is long and smoky, with lingering salt.

Specifications

Name: Rock Island 21 år Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8%
Distillery: Rock Island
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: The Scottish Islands, Scotland
Type: Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 Years
ABV: 46.8%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Peated · Complex

Did You Know?

Rock Island brings together malt from several of the Scottish islands, including Orkney, Jura, Arran and Mull, into a single blended malt representing the full range of island whisky.

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A new charred oak cask with no previous spirit inside. That is virgin oak – raw and direct. No sherry, no bourbon. Just the wood and the distillate, for six years.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Virgin Cask 2013/2019 Batch 01 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky matured exclusively in a new oak cask – virgin oak – and bottled at 47.1%, 50 cl. Fary Lochan distillery in Give, Jutland, experiments with cask types as part of its production approach. Virgin oak delivers more powerful oak notes than used casks, along with more tannin and a characteristic spice. Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2019 after six years of maturation. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Coconut, vanilla, fresh oak and a light sweet caramel.

Palate

Bold oak, coconut, malt and a warm tannic spice.

Finish

Dry, long and oak-spiced with a hint of fruit in the background.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Virgin Cask 2013/2019 Batch 01
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 47.1%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: New oak cask (virgin oak)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2019

Flavour profile

Oak-forward · Coconut · Tannin · Spiced

Did you know?

Virgin oak – new, charred oak casks with no previous spirit – delivers a significantly more intense oak impact than used casks. It is one of the fastest and most striking cask experiments a distiller can run.

Ten years is where many whisky drinkers first really meet Arran — an age-appropriate, easy-to-grasp introduction to the distillery's style.

A combination of mostly bourbon and a smaller sherry component that shows the breadth of Arran's character.

Expert Description

Arran 10 Year Old is a Single Islands Malt Whisky matured mostly in American bourbon casks with a smaller share of sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

Around 60% of the whisky comes from bourbon casks, with the rest sherry-matured, giving a balance between bright fruitiness and a deeper sweetness. The classic citrus tone Arran is known for comes through clearly across both cask types.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet vanilla, banana, melon and cocoa.

Palate

More complex aromas with a deep character that never covers up the classic citrus tone.

Finish

Medium length and soft with lingering citrus and a light sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Arran 10 Year Old
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Mostly bourbon casks, smaller share of sherry casks
EAN no.: 5060044480638
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Citrus-forward · Sweet · Creamy

Did You Know?

Arran 10 Year Old is often considered the distillery's clearest calling card — it combines nearly all of Arran's hallmarks in one easy-drinking bottle.

See our full range of Arran

Smaller casks mean more contact between whisky and wood — and The Bothy is Arran's proof of how fast that contact can leave its mark.

A full-bodied, oily whisky with an extra push from Quarter Cask maturation.

Expert Description

Arran Quarter Cask The Bothy is a Single Islands Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and finished in Quarter Casks, bottled at 56.2%.

The whisky spends around eight years in 1st fill bourbon casks before moving to 100-litre Quarter Casks for about 18 months. The smaller casks give markedly more contact between whisky and wood than standard casks, speeding up maturation and delivering a more intense character in less time.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla sweetness and freshly ground pepper in a full-bodied, oily aroma.

Palate

Spiced and intense with the same rich, oily character the nose promises.

Finish

Powerful and warming, with the cask strength's clear kick.

Specifications

Name: Arran Quarter Cask The Bothy
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Whisky
ABV: 56.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, finished in Quarter Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060044483790
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass, a drop of water is welcome

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Full-bodied · Oily · Intense

Did You Know?

A Quarter Cask typically holds only around 100 litres, compared to a standard hogshead's 250 — the much larger surface area relative to volume is why maturation moves faster and hits harder.

See our full range of Arran

The name refers to the Spanish bodega where the sherry casks live before they travel to Arran and are filled with new whisky.

Seven years in a 250-litre sherry hogshead gives this release a surprising depth for its age.

Expert Description

Arran The Bodega Sherry Cask is a Single Islands Malt Whisky matured in a 250-litre sherry hogshead for a minimum of 7 years, bottled at 55.8%.

The cask size gives more contact between whisky and wood than a standard cask, speeding up maturation and explaining why a relatively young whisky like this one still achieves a clear sherry character. The whisky is bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clear sherry character with dried fruit and a light nutty tone.

Palate

Rich and spiced, carried by the sherry cask's power.

Finish

Medium length and warming.

Specifications

Name: Arran The Bodega Sherry Cask
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 55.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 250-litre sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060044483776
Serving suggestion: With a few drops of spring water

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Nutty · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

A 250-litre hogshead is smaller than a standard butt but larger than a Quarter Cask — that medium size is part of why this 7-year-old reaches a depth normally associated with older whisky.

See our full range of Arran

Port casks rarely make a whisky more reserved. At Tomatin, the sweetness is allowed to fully unfold in this 14-year-old expression.

Expert's description

Tomatin 14 år Port Casks Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in port casks and bottled at 46%.

Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Casks is matured in used port casks, bringing a distinct fruit sweetness into the distillery's characteristically soft Highland style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweetness from the port cask, raisins, orange and fresh malt.

Palate

Toffee and spice, creamy and lightly full.

Finish

Soft with a late fruit sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin 14 år Port Casks Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: port casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
EAN no.: 5018481023345

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

By 1974, Tomatin operated no fewer than 23 pot stills and was, at the time, the largest malt distillery in the world by capacity.

See our full range of Tomatin

Stauning Young Rye in an edition unlike any other. Ryes Brigade is the distillery's salute to the rye whisky faithful – packaged as a collector's set with two glasses.

Expert description

Stauning Young Rye Ryes Brigade is a Danish Rye Whisky bottled at 48% and delivered as an exclusive collector's set including two whisky glasses. Young Rye is Stauning's flagship rye expression – made from Danish rye, floor-malted and distilled in copper pot stills in Skjern. Ryes Brigade is a special edition celebrating those who believed in the Danish rye whisky project from the start.

Stauning Whisky opened in 2005 with a simple mission: to prove that world-class whisky could be made in Denmark. Young Rye was one of the early expressions that defined the distillery's DNA. With Ryes Brigade, the collector's set is made complete – two glasses, one bottle and a statement that ties the whole project together.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh rye with light notes of citrus, vanilla and a mild, bright fruit sweetness. Young and lively.

Palate

Spiced rye notes and light pepper. Vanilla and caramel from cask maturation. Lighter in build than most Stauning single malts.

Finish

Shorter and fresh with rye and light sweetness. Clean and uncomplicated.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Young Rye Ryes Brigade
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Rye Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled

Flavour profile

Rye · Spicy · Fresh · Vanilla · Collector's set

Investment potential

Medium. Ryes Brigade is a limited exclusive edition from Stauning's rye whisky range. The special collector's set with two glasses adds rarity and collectability that sets it apart from standard releases.

Did you know?

Stauning's Young Rye is made from 100% Danish rye – a grain that historically dominated Nordic distilling traditions but nearly disappeared from the whisky world. Stauning is helping to bring it back.

See our full range of Stauning Whisky

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Tullamore Dew 18 Year Old is the distillery's prestigious flagship, matured across four different cask types to create a deep, complex tasting experience.

Expert Review

Tullamore Dew 18 Year Old Triple Distilled Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a Single Malt Irish Whiskey, bottled at 41.3%.

The whiskey is triple distilled and matured for 18 years across four different cask types: ex-bourbon casks, Oloroso sherry casks, port wine casks and madeira casks. This combination of casks gives the whiskey an unusual depth and a broad spectrum of flavour nuances, ranging from dried fruit to spice and a light sweetness from the port and madeira.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and spice.

Palate

Complex, with sherry, port and madeira.

Finish

Long and deep.

Specifications

Name: Tullamore Dew 18 Year Old
Distillery: Tullamore D.E.W
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Age: 18 years
Cask: Ex-Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry, Port Wine & Madeira
ABV: 41.3%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5391516892162

Flavour Profile

Complex · Dried fruit · Spiced · Sherried · Deep

Did You Know?

Tullamore D.E.W. is named after founder Daniel E. Williams, whose initials form part of the name.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

The first release in a series that never repeats itself, from the moment Traigh Bhan was set free for the very first time.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 1 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

Batch 1 was the starting gun for the entire Traigh Bhan series, with a new batch released every single year since. This first release sets the tone for the rest of the series, with a deep sherry influence combined with Ardbeg's signature peat smoke.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoked pineapple and a hint of chilli open things up, followed by dark chocolate.

Palate

Smoke and wood in close interplay, with the peat carrying it all through with a light sweetness in the background.

Finish

Dry and smoky with a lasting woody sharpness that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 1
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Batch 1

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fruity

Investment Potential

Medium. As the first release in the Traigh Bhan series, long sold out from the distillery itself, Batch 1 has become a reference point for collectors tracking the series batch by batch.

Did You Know?

Batch 1 is the release that set the standard for how a Traigh Bhan should taste, and many collectors still hold on to a bottle just to compare it against the later batches.

See our full range of Ardbeg

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The most accessible gateway into the Scarabus family — young, direct and honest Islay without detours.

Expert's Description

Scarabus Whisky is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from Hunter Laing, bottled at 46% with no fixed age statement.

As the most widely available Scarabus release, it acts as the family's cornerstone — a clean, young Islay malt without an extra cask finish, where the distillery's natural character shows clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh vanilla meets peat and a light salty sea breeze.

Palate

Warming and delicious with notes of leather and vanilla over a smoky base.

Finish

Long with lingering smoke and a soft vanilla close.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5060354267271

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Young · Maritime · Vanilla-sweet

Did You Know?

The Scarabus range is one of the best-selling independent Islay releases in the Nordics, precisely because the core expression holds a stable quality from batch to batch.

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Berry Bros & Rudd has traded wine and spirits from the same London address since 1698. When they pick a single cask of Craigellachie, it is not by accident.

Expert description

Craigellachie 2007/2017 Berry Bros 9 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky drawn from a single cask at 46%.

The cask carries the number 900640, was filled in 2007 and bottled in 2017. The release belongs to Berry's Own Selection, the house range of single cask whisky where the distillery character is left unadjusted. Nine years is young for Craigellachie, but that is exactly why the meaty, mineral style from the worm tub condensing comes through so clearly before the cask starts to dominate.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and young. Green apple, pear and pineapple, with cereal, vanilla and a flinty mineral note underneath.

Palate

Oily and spiced. Citrus, malt and baked fruit, with the sulphurous edge as a dry undercurrent. The 46% gives bite without tightening.

Finish

Medium and dry, with cereal, oak and a lightly smoked mineral note.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 2007/2017 Berry Bros 9 years Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: Berry Bros & Rudd
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask no. 900640
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Berry's Own Selection Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Fresh · Mineral · Malty · Spiced

Did you know?

Berry Bros & Rudd has occupied 3 St James's Street in London since 1698 and has supplied the British court for over two centuries. Whisky bottling is a relatively recent branch of a very old business.

See our full range of Craigellachie Whisky
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Nine years is young in Glenlossie's world, but even here you can sense why the distillery is so prized by blenders. Berry Bros & Rudd has captured the fresh, direct side of the whisky before time got to round off anything.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 2007/2017 Berry Bros 9 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at 46%.

Distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2017 by Berry Bros & Rudd under the Berry's Own Selection label, from a single cask, No. 10103, at just nine years old this is one of the youngest Glenlossie releases in our range, showing the distillery's clean, cereal character more clearly than the older bottlings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh barley malt, green apple and a light honeyed sweetness. No obvious cask influence yet – this is clean, young Glenlossie.

Palate

Crisp and direct, with cereal, pear and a light peppery spice. The texture is lighter than its older siblings, but still with good body.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and cereal-driven, with a last hint of apple skin.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 2007/2017 Berry Bros 9 Year Old Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky 70cl 46%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Berry's Own Selection (Berry Bros & Rudd)
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask no. #10103
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2017

Flavour Profile

Cereal · Fresh · Lightly fruity · Short finish

Did You Know?

Berry Bros & Rudd still sells its wine and whisky from the cellars beneath its London shop, where the ceiling in places is barely a metre and a half high – a physical reminder of just how old the business really is.

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One cask, ten years, and one of London's oldest wine merchants as the sender. Berry Bros & Rudd have traded spirits from the same address on St James's Street since 1698, and their whisky range shows the hand of people who have had plenty of time to learn how to taste.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2006/2017 Berry Bros 10 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single cask and bottled at 46 %.

Cask no. 309927 was filled in 2006 and emptied in 2017 for Berry's Own Selection. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and 46 % was chosen because that strength keeps the texture intact without drowning the spirit.

Ten years is long enough for the heavy Benrinnes distillate to settle its fruit and vanilla, but not so long that the oak takes over. The distillery's own character stands at the front here — which is precisely the point of a single cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pear, lemon peel and vanilla custard. Underneath sits a lightly waxy note and a hint of freshly cut grain.

Palate

Oily and malty with yellow apples, honeydew melon and a sprinkle of white pepper. The 46 % gives a fine mouthfeel without burning.

Finish

Medium long, clean and lightly spiced with malt biscuit and a touch of citrus oil.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2006/2017 Berry Bros 10 years old Single Cask Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Berry Bros & Rudd
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask, cask no. 309927
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Berry's Own Selection

Flavour profile

Fruity · Fresh · Malty · Vanilla · Clean

Did you know?

Berry Bros & Rudd still trade from their original shop on St James's Street in London, where the floor visibly slopes. For centuries the firm weighed its customers on a coffee scale — Lord Byron is in the books.

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Inchfad is the least known of Loch Lomond's island-named styles – but once an independent bottler like That Boutique-y Whisky Company gets hold of it, it becomes hard to ignore.

Expert's Description

Inchfad (Loch Lomond) 2018 That Boutique-y Whisky Company 13 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 49.5%.

The whisky is distilled at Loch Lomond under the Inchfad profile – one of the distillery's three island-named, peated styles – and after 13 years in cask was selected and bottled by British independent bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company in 2018. Batch 1 of this release totalled 2,473 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Nutty malt with earthy smoke and a hint of cigar box.

Palate

Light fruitiness of green apple and apricot meets sweet sultana and white grape, while the peat stays firmly present.

Finish

Long, smoky finish with lingering peat and a sweet aftertaste of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Inchfad (Loch Lomond) 2018 13 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Bottler: That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 49.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Bottled: 2018
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Nutty · Fruity

Investment Potential

Low to medium – That Boutique-y Whisky Company releases in clearly defined batches, and Inchfad is one of the rarer Loch Lomond marques to find as an independent bottling.

Did You Know?

Inchfad is one of three "Inch"-named styles from Loch Lomond – all named after islands in the loch on which the distillery sits.

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Blacker label, longer ageing — the Black expression is Jim Beam's answer for anyone wanting a bit more depth than White Label.

Expert description

Jim Beam Black Extra Aged is a Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey aged longer than the core White Label, giving it more colour and depth. Bottled at 43%. The Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, dates back to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of bourbon under the name "Old Jake Beam". The family has made bourbon in Kentucky for over 200 years and seven generations, and the brand took its current name in 1943 in honour of James Beauregard "Jim" Beam, who rebuilt the distillery in 120 days after Prohibition ended. The recipe is built on the Beam family's traditional mash of corn, rye and malted barley, a blend the family says has stayed largely unchanged across all seven generations.

The extra ageing time draws more character from the charred oak barrels, giving a darker, more complex profile.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is deeper than White Label, with caramel, dark vanilla and toasted oak.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with caramel, spiced oak and a touch of dark fruit.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm with lingering oak spice.

Specifications

Name: Jim Beam Black Extra Aged
Distillery: Jim Beam
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Deep · Caramel · Spiced · Full-bodied

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Braeval was once called Braes of Glenlivet and sits so high in the hills that it is Scotland's highest distillery. Whisky from it is rarely seen — and almost never carries the distillery name from the owners themselves.

Expert description

Braeval 2018 That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 23 Years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky bottled at 44.6% in 50 cl.

The release is Batch 3 from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company and appeared in 2018 in a run of 600 bottles. The series is known for its cartoon labels, where each bottle tells a story about the distillery in comic form, and for bottling in half bottles.

Braeval was built in 1973 by Chivas Brothers and has never carried a permanent official single malt. The spirit is light, floral and grassy in the classic Speyside sense, and after 23 years the cask has had plenty of time to lay honey and oak over it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heather and apple blossom with honey, pale oak and a trace of dried pear.

Palate

Soft and malty with vanilla, grass and baked fruit. The age reads as a round, waxy texture rather than heavy oak.

Finish

Medium and dry with grain, honey and a lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) 2018 That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 23 Years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 50 cl 44.6%
Distillery: Braeval
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 23 years
ABV: 44,6%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Batch 3
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 600

Flavour profile

Floral · Honeyed · Fruity · Soft · Mature

Investment potential

Medium. A batch bottling of 600 bottles from a distillery with no official range, and the That Boutique-Y labels have a following of their own.

Did you know?

Braeval sits in the Braes of Glenlivet at around 350 metres above sea level. For many years the distillery was unmanned in the sense that it was operated remotely from neighbouring Allt-a-Bhainne.

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Spirit from Cotswolds' very earliest years, singled out by the sharp-eyed independent bottler That Boutique-Y and captured on bottle while the whisky was still young and full of promise.

Expert's Description

Cotswolds 2018 That Boutique-Y Whisky Company is a 3 year old single malt English whisky bottled at 50.4% ABV.

The whisky was distilled at England's Cotswolds Distillery, but selected, further matured and bottled by the independent bottler That Boutique-Y Whisky Company. It is the bottler's very first batch from Cotswolds Distillery, distilled in 2018 and bottled in November that same year as Batch 1, in a run of 1,783 bottles. The malt is 100% locally grown Cotswolds barley.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramelised almonds, sweet pineapple and cherries, with a soft hint of vanilla underneath.

Palate

Citrus-driven, with notes of lemon, orange and grapefruit that give a fresh, sweet character.

Finish

Short to medium, with a lingering citrus freshness and a hint of youthful malt sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Cotswolds 2018 That Boutique-Y Whisky Company 3 Years Single Malt English Whisky
Distillery: Cotswolds Distillery
Bottler: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Region/Country: England
Type: Single Malt English Whisky
Age: 3 years
ABV: 50.4%
Size: 50 CL
Bottled: November 2018
Number of bottles: 1,783
Edition/Batch: Batch 1

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Almonds · Pineapple · Young malt sweetness

Did You Know?

This bottle was That Boutique-Y Whisky Company's very first release from Cotswolds Distillery — the starting point of a partnership that has since continued with several more batches from the young English distillery.

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Stauning's festival releases are rarely aimed at those who play it safe. Festival 2018 is smoky and raw – bottled at cask strength 59.9% for a specific occasion, in strictly limited numbers.

Expert description

Stauning Peated Festival 2018 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at cask strength 59.9%. It belongs to Stauning's limited festival series – editions produced in small quantities for specific whisky events. The peated style draws on malt smoked with peat from Stauning's own West Jutland bogs, producing a clean, distinctive smoke character with genuine local terroir. With high bottling strength and low total production, this is a bottle with clear appeal for dedicated collectors of Danish whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pronounced smoke from West Jutland peat. Green woodland, a hint of citrus and herbs beneath the smoke. Fresh and complex.

Palate

Powerful and intense with smoke upfront, spices and a sweetness lurking behind. Lime and light herbal notes emerge.

Finish

Long with sustained smoke and a trace of salt. Warming and almost coastal.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Peated Festival 2018
Distillery: Stauning
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 59.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask strength: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Festival 2018 – Limited Release

Flavour profile

Peated · Spicy · Intense · Fresh · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium. A limited festival edition from Stauning with low total production. Festival editions from the distillery are never re-released.

Did you know?

Stauning is one of the only distilleries in the world that digs its own peat for malting. The peat comes from the West Jutland bogs and produces a more herbal, green smoke profile that is quite different from the medicinal, iodine-driven smoke of Islay whiskies.

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Ardor is Latin for fervour or burning passion – and Nyborg Distillery's Ardor series lives up to that. Batch 117 is a 50 cl bottling at 46.8%: a compact, direct entry into the distillery's single batch world.

Expert description

Isle of Fionia Ardor Batch 117 is an organic Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 46.8% in a 50 cl bottle. The Ardor series from Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery represents the distillery's batch releases, where each batch reflects a specific cask or special cask combination. Made from 100% organic barley and distilled in copper pot stills in the historic DSB train depot in Nyborg, Funen.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh organic malt with fruity sweetness and light vanilla and honey notes from bourbon-influenced wood.

Palate

Round and approachable with a sweet malt core and light fruity body. A discreet warmth from the bottling strength and a lovely oak finish.

Finish

Medium length and gentle with lingering sweet malt and a warm fade.

Specifications

Name: Isle of Fionia Ardor Batch 117
Distillery: Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery
Region/Country: Funen, Denmark
Type: Organic Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.8%
Size: 50 CL
Natural colour: Yes

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Gentle · Sweet

Did you know?

The Ardor series is Nyborg Distillery's way of letting each individual batch speak for itself. The batch numbers testify to a production that is carefully tracked and documented from cask to bottle – a philosophy that reflects the distillery's craft approach.

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Like its stout sibling, Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is born from the collaboration between Jameson and Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery – this time using casks from a hoppy IPA.

Expert Review

Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition Blended Irish Whiskey is a Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is matured in casks that previously held an Irish IPA beer. The collaboration between Jameson's master distiller and the brewmaster from Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery, which began with the stout edition, has here been extended to include IPA as well. Jameson Caskmates retains the softness of the triple-distilled Jameson Original, but here gains a fresher, more hop-forward and citrus-driven character from the IPA casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Hops and citrus.

Palate

Fresh and lightly bitter, with a hint of tropical fruit.

Finish

Dry and hop-forward.

Specifications

Name: Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition
Distillery: Jameson
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5011007025960

Flavour Profile

Hop-forward · Citrus-driven · Fresh · Lightly bitter · Distinctive

Did You Know?

The Caskmates IPA casks previously held an Irish IPA beer from Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery, before being filled with Jameson whiskey once again.
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Jameson Caskmates was born from an unexpected meeting between a whiskey distiller and a brewmaster – the result is a whiskey with notes of cocoa, coffee and hops.

Expert Review

Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Blended Irish Whiskey is a Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

In 2013, Jameson's master distiller met the brewmaster from Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery. They decided to send a few Jameson casks to the brewery to see how they might influence their handcrafted Irish stout. Once the beer had been tapped, the casks were sent back to the Jameson distillery with their new stout character, and the whiskey was filled in once more. Jameson Caskmates retains the softness of the triple-distilled Jameson Original, but adds notes of cocoa, coffee, cream caramel and a gentle touch of hops.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cocoa and coffee.

Palate

Cream caramel with a touch of hops.

Finish

Soft and lightly bitter.

Specifications

Name: Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition
Distillery: Jameson
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Caskmates Series - Stout Edition
EAN no.: 5011007025410

Flavour Profile

Cocoa-forward · Coffee-sweet · Hop-touched · Soft · Distinctive

Did You Know?

The Caskmates casks previously held handcrafted Irish stout from Cork's Franciscan Well Brewery, before being filled with Jameson whiskey once again.
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There is a reason whisky people speak of Mortlach with a certain reverence: distillation here still follows "The Way", a process no one else has copied.

Expert's Description

Mortlach 12 Year Old The Wee Witchie is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, the official entry expression from the Mortlach distillery, bottled at 43.4%.

The Wee Witchie combines ex-bourbon and ex-sherry matured whisky to balance the distillery's traditionally weighty, dried fruit character against fresher fruit and vanilla. The name refers to the smallest of Mortlach's six stills, named after a local witch.

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: Mortlach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43.4 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks
Distillation method: Distilled 2.81 times through 6 stills
Edition: The Wee Witchie
EAN no.: 5000281054674

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

Mortlach distils its spirit 2.81 times through six stills of varying sizes – a method no other Scottish distillery has dared to copy.

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Straight Rye isn't just a variant — it's a different grain recipe, filtered through the same Lincoln County Process.

Expert description

Tennessee Straight Rye is made from a mash of at least 51% rye, which classifies it as a 'straight rye' under US law, while going through the same charcoal filtering as the rest of the range. Jack Daniel's Distillery was founded in 1866 by Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and is officially registered as America's first distillery. All production still happens on the same site, where the whiskey is filtered drop by drop through nearly 3 metres of sugar maple charcoal before going into new, charred oak barrels — the Lincoln County Process that defines Tennessee Whiskey.

Bottled at 45%, giving a solid foundation for rye's natural spiciness.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spicy and lightly sweet, with rye, pepper and a hint of caramel.

Palate

The palate is dry and spicy with clear pepper, balanced by vanilla and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Straight Rye
Distillery: Jack Daniel's
Region/Country: Tennessee, USA
Type: Tennessee Rye Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Column distilled, Lincoln County Process

Flavour profile

Spicy · Dry · Pepper · Rye · Warm

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Where the blended expression welcomes you in, Pure Malt goes a step further - pure malt whisky from Kaikyo Distillery, with no grain to dilute the character.

Expert Description

Hatozaki Pure Malt The Kaikyo Distillery is a Japanese Whisky, bottled at 46%.

This pure malt is composed entirely of malt whiskies from Kaikyo Distillery in Akashi, run by Akashi Sake Brewery. The style is denser and spicier than the blended expression, sharing the same lighthouse on the label as a nod to the distillery's hometown.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples, vanilla and a hint of toasted oak.

Palate

Full-bodied with caramel, dried fruit and light spice.

Finish

Medium length with warm oak and a faint smoky note.

Specifications

Name: Hatozaki Pure Malt The Kaikyo Distillery
Distillery: Kaikyo
Region/Country: Akashi, Japan
Type: Japanese Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4970860880080

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Spicy · Warm · Lightly smoky

Did You Know?

Pure malt means the whisky is made entirely from malted barley across several casks - with no grain whisky blended in, unlike a standard blend.

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