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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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See our full range of Berry Bros & Rudd

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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.

See our full range of Loch Lomond – See our full range of That Boutique-y Whisky Company

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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

See our full range of Jim Beam

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.

See our full range of Braeval
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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.

Browse our full range of Cotswolds Distillery
Browse our full range of That Boutique-Y Whisky Company

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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Sometimes you just want to try before you commit to a full bottle – this miniature solves exactly that problem.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Miniature 12 Years Old is a Single Islay Malt Whisky in 5cl, bottled at 46.3%.

The contents are identical to the distillery's well-known 12 Years Old core bottle, just in pocket size. That makes the miniature ideal as an introduction to Bunnahabhain's light, unpeated style, or as a small addition to a tasting alongside several Islay whiskies.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A remarkably fresh, aromatic hit of sea air with a faint hint of smoke.

Palate

Light and clean with fruit, olives and nuts, moving into heavier, malty-sweet tones.

Finish

Strikingly malty, fresh and a touch dry.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 5 CL
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Edition: Miniature

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Maritime · Fruity · Soft

Did You Know?

Miniatures like this one come from the same cask stock as the full 70cl bottles, just poured into a smaller measure – the taste is identical, only the quantity differs.

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Some bottles are built to impress. This one is built to be there. Finest is the workhorse of the Ballantine stable, the blend standing at the back of every bar from Glasgow to Barcelona, and it has never tried to be anything other than exactly what it is.

The expert's description

Ballantine's Finest is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Finest is the house bestseller and has been for generations. The blend draws on more than 40 different single malts, with Miltonduff and Glenburgie as the load-bearing Speyside voices, and the grain whisky ties it together into something light, floral and very approachable. The Master Blender role has been handed down since 1827, and the recipe has stayed remarkably steady.

This is not a whisky that demands concentration. It is built to be drunk over ice, in a highball or in a simple cocktail, and it takes that treatment without falling apart. If you are teaching someone to drink Scotch, this is a sensible place to start.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and light. Apple blossom, vanilla and a dry cereal note, with a hint of hay and pale oak behind it.

Palate

Light in the good sense, with honey, green apple and a little vanilla sweetness. The malt is there but it does not push forward.

Finish

Short, clean and slightly dry. No bitterness, no edges.

Specifications

Name: Ballantine's Finest
Distillery: Ballantine's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5010106113127

Flavour profile

Light · Floral · Honeyed · Soft · Fresh

Did you know?

Ballantine's once kept its own guards at the Dumbarton warehouses. Two Scottish eagles, Glen and Nevis, were used for years to keep gulls and pigeons off the buildings, and they appeared on the company's own letterhead.

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Ichiro Akuto once saved 400 casks from his family's closed distillery by selling them individually as playing cards - today those same cards have become one of Japan's most sought-after whisky universes.

Expert Description

Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2018 is a World Blended Whisky from Chichibu Distillery, bottled at 48%.

Behind the bottle is Ichiro Akuto, who founded Chichibu Distillery in 2004 after saving the last casks from his family's former Hanyu Distillery. The Malt & Grain series combines Japanese malt and grain whisky with selected whiskies from several countries, and each vintage is a unique, non-repeatable composition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and tropical fruit meet a light smoky core and a touch of spiced oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and complex with caramel, ripe apples and a fine, tangy edge.

Finish

Long and warm, with a last note of dried fruit and smoke.

Specifications

Name: Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2018
Distillery: Chichibu
Region/Country: Saitama, Japan
Type: World Blended Whisky
Edition: Limited Edition 2018
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Complex · Full-bodied · Smoky · Sweet

Investment Potential

Medium. Each vintage of Malt & Grain is a one-off composition never repeated, making earlier releases like this one increasingly hard to find.

Did You Know?

When Ichiro Akuto's family distillery Hanyu closed in 2000, he saved the last 400 casks and released them as a series of whiskies named after the 54 cards of a playing deck - a move now regarded as one of modern whisky history's most iconic rescue stories.

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Fewer than 4% of the casks Adelphi tastes make the cut. This cask passed the test and became an exclusive bottling for Adelphi Club Denmark.

Expert description

Teaninich 2007/2019 is an 11-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled on 4 July 2007 and bottled on 18 April 2019 by independent bottler Adelphi Selection at full cask strength of 53.8%.

The whisky comes from cask no. 303668 and was selected by Adelphi's longstanding partners, manager Alex Bruce and whisky writer Charles MacLean, who together taste numerous casks for every single release allowed to carry the Adelphi name. This particular release was made specifically as Adelphi Club Denmark for Whisky.dk and bottled in 306 bottles, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

The long 11-year maturation at full cask strength has given the whisky a concentrated intensity, where Teaninich's cereal-driven core meets a clear cask influence.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apples, honey and a light vanilla note from the cask.

Palate

Intense and full-bodied, with notes of caramel, cereal and a touch of spiced oak.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering sweetness and a dry, cereal-driven close.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2007/2019
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 53.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask no. 303668
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 04/07/2007
Bottled: 18/04/2019
Number of bottles: 306
Edition: Adelphi Club Denmark

Flavour profile

intense · cereal · caramel-sweet

Investment potential

As an exclusive single cask release made specifically for the Danish market under Adelphi Club Denmark, with Adelphi's notoriously strict selection process where only a fraction of tasted casks are approved, this Teaninich sits in a sought-after category among independent bottling collectors.

Did you know?

Teaninich stayed in the same family's ownership from its founding in 1817 all the way until 1934, when it was taken over by the Distillers Company Limited, the forerunner of Diageo.

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The lighthouse on the label is Japan's oldest of its kind - a symbol of safety and guidance that Hatozaki has borrowed for its own name.

Expert Description

Hatozaki The Kaikyo Distillery is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 40%.

The whisky comes from Kaikyo Distillery in the town of Akashi, run by Akashi Sake Brewery, which has made spirits since 1856 and whisky since 2017. Hatozaki is named after Japan's oldest stone lighthouse, located near the distillery, honouring the Yonezawa family's long craft tradition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and pear with a light, floral aroma and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel and a mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and gently sweet.

Specifications

Name: Hatozaki The Kaikyo Distillery
Distillery: Kaikyo
Region/Country: Akashi, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4970860800002

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet · Light

Did You Know?

Hatozaki is named after Japan's oldest stone lighthouse, a protected historic structure near Akashi Sake Brewery, which has made spirits since 1856.

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Old Reserve is the Finlaggan you reach for without making an occasion of it. Peated enough to be Islay, mild enough to drink on an ordinary Wednesday.

The expert description

Finlaggan Old Reserve is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company buys the casks from an Islay distillery that does not want its name on the label and bottles them under the Finlaggan name. Old Reserve is the slightly more mature of the two entry releases, and the bourbon wood is chosen because it lays vanilla and pale sweetness beneath the smoke rather than fighting it.

At 40% this is the softest end of the range. That makes it a sensible way to meet Islay for the first time, and a bottle you can keep on the shelf without having to be in the mood for it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke and vanilla, with a lightly salted edge and a note of dried citrus peel behind.

Palate

Round and malty with the smoke as a frame. Caramel and pale fruit in the middle, and a light ashy dryness that keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Medium and clean with smoke, malt and a final touch of pepper.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Old Reserve
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask
Edition: Old Reserve
EAN no.: 5024720900001

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Soft · Vanilla · Maritime

Did you know?

On the smallest of the islands in Loch Finlaggan, Eilean na Comhairle, stood the Council Isle. The fourteen councillors who governed the Lordship of the Isles met here, and decisions taken on that small islet applied from the Hebrides to Ulster.

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Sherry and peat smoke are the oldest pairing in Scotch whisky. The dark fruit settles like a blanket over the ash, and the result has been a favourite since somebody first happened to do it.

The expert description

Finlaggan Sherry Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky first matured in bourbon casks and then finished in sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The base whisky is the same peated Islay malt from an undisclosed distillery that the rest of the range is built on. The Vintage Malt Whisky Company has given it a closing spell in sherry wood, and that pulls it in a darker and fuller direction than either Original or the other finishes.

Sherry casks are the most used partner for smoke for a reason: raisin, fig and dark chocolate carry enough weight to meet the peat without either side disappearing. The whisky is bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without colouring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Peat smoke and dark dried fruit, with raisin, a touch of fig and a light nutty note from the wood.

Palate

Full and sweet with raisin and dark chocolate in front, while the smoke works its way up from below and lays salt and ash beneath the sweetness.

Finish

Long and warm with dried fruit, dry smoke and a final touch of spice.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Sherry Finish
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask finished in sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Sherry Finish
EAN no.: 5024720315003

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sherry matured · Sweet · Maritime · Spiced

Did you know?

Very few sherry casks in Scotch whisky have ever held sherry meant for drinking. They are sherry seasoned: new oak casks are sent to Spain, filled with sherry for a couple of years purely to give the wood character, and then shipped north. Genuine old bodega casks have become a rarity.

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Port and peat smoke ought not to work together. One is sweet and grapey, the other ashy and salty. The combination has nonetheless become one of the most used in modern Islay whisky, and here is why.

The expert description

Finlaggan Port Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky first matured in bourbon casks and then finished in port casks, bottled at 46%.

The malt comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery, and The Vintage Malt Whisky Company has given it a spell in port wood after the main maturation. The port leaves red berries and a grapey sweetness that settle on top of the smoke rather than mixing into it, and that layering is the entire point of a finish.

At 46% the whisky has enough body to carry both, and it is neither chill filtered nor coloured. The reddish tone in the glass comes from the wood alone.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoky and medicinal peat first, with a clear touch of red berries and grapes behind.

Palate

Plenty of port sweetness with the smoke lying underneath. Raisin, pepper, leather and red berries unfold as it goes.

Finish

Long with grape skin, dry smoke and a warm spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Port Finish
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask finished in port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Port Finish
EAN no.: 5024720313009

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Sweet · Spiced · Berry

Did you know?

A port cask, a pipe, holds around 550 to 650 litres, making it far larger than the bourbon casks the whisky sat in first. That means a port finish works more slowly than you might think, taking months where a small cask would have done the job in weeks.

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