Dave Pickerell's bold gamble on mature rye whiskey, bottled after 15 years in the barrel.

Expert description

WhistlePig 15 Year Straight Rye Whiskey has matured for 15 years, one of the brand's older expressions, bottled at 46%. WhistlePig was founded by Dave Pickerell, former master distiller at Maker's Mark and often called the 'godfather of craft distilling', who bought an old dairy farm in Shoreham, Vermont, in 2007. Pickerell took a bold gamble by investing in 10-year-old rye whiskey from an undisclosed Canadian distillery, made from 100% rye, at a time when rye whiskey had not yet been rediscovered by the American market. The distillery officially opened in 2015 in a renovated 150-year-old barn and is today the world's most awarded producer of rye whiskey.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers spiced rye, caramel and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

The palate is complex with rye, honey and spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is long, spiced and warm.

Specifications

Name: WhistlePig 15 år Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: WhistlePig Farm
Region/Country: Shoreham, Vermont, USA
Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Age: 15 years

Flavour profile

Spiced · Complex · Rye · Warm

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Three hundred and seventy bottles for the whole world. That is what a refill hogshead gives when it is emptied, and it is also the entire reason the Old Particular series exists. Douglas Laing does not marry casks here, they let them stand alone.

The expert's description

BenRiach 2008/2018 Old Particular 10 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in a refill hogshead, cask no. DL12939, and bottled at 48.4 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

Old Particular is the Douglas Laing range for single casks, where each bottling carries its own cask number and its own outturn. This cask was filled in December 2008 and emptied in December 2018, exactly ten years later, and gave 370 bottles.

A refill hogshead gives up its influence slowly, and that is a deliberate choice with a ten year old whisky. The cask is not meant to take over but to let the malty, lightly honeyed core of BenRiach stand out clearly, and the bottling strength of 48.4 % keeps the texture intact.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale cereal, honey and green apple with a note of vanilla from the cask.

Palate

Clean and malty with honeyed sweetness, citrus peel and a light peppery edge. The cask stays in the background the whole way.

Finish

Medium and dry with malt, oak and a last touch of warmth.

Specifications

Name: BenRiach 2008/2018 Old Particular 10 år
Distillery: BenRiach
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48,4 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, cask no. DL12939
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: December 2008
Bottled: December 2018
Number of bottles: 370
Edition: Old Particular

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Fresh · Dry · Lightly spiced

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask of 370 bottles cannot be recreated, and Old Particular has a steady following among collectors. BenRiach predating the 2016 change of ownership is also spirit that grows harder to find in independent bottlings.

Did you know?

Douglas Laing puts DL in front of every cask number so the cask can be traced back through the house archive. The system makes it possible to establish exactly when a cask was bought and what has happened to it since.

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

Expert's description

Laphroaig 1990/2019 28 Year Coopers Choice Single Islay Malt Whisky 40,8% is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured on bourbon cask, cask ref. 10869 and bottled at 40,8%.

This bottling comes from The Coopers Choice.

The whisky was distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2019.

Only 228 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft toffee, pear and a light floral note.

Palate

Soft toffee, lemon and a mellow oak.

Finish

Medium length, clean and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 1990/2019 28 Year Coopers Choice Single Islay Malt Whisky 40,8%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 40,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask, cask ref. 10869
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 228

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. 28-year-old single-cask Laphroaig bottlings are rare, and with only 228 bottles from The Coopers Choice, this is one of the rarest releases in this whole delivery.

Did you know?

Only a small share of Laphroaig's production reaches 28 years of maturation, since the distillery's powerful peat smoke often peaks earlier than in milder whisky styles.

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Pineau des Charentes is neither wine nor cognac but something in between: grape must blended with young cognac and rested in cask. Putting peated Highland malt into a cask like that is an idea few would have had, and the name on the bottle says exactly what came out of it.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore Coopers Choice Peat & Fruit is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a Pineau des Charentes cask and bottled at 56.5% cask strength. Cask 9522 gave 340 bottles.

Pineau des Charentes is made in the cognac region by blending fresh grape must with young cognac, which stops the fermentation and keeps the sweetness. The cask therefore leaves both fruit sweetness and a light brandy character, a combination that meets Ardmore’s peat smoke in a very different way from sherry or bourbon.

The result is right there in the name: smoke and fruit side by side rather than one on top of the other. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured, and it is bottled at cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and sweet grape fruit at the same time. There is apricot, grape and a light honey note, and beneath it the dry earthy smoke Ardmore always carries. At 56.5% the alcohol is obvious, so let the glass sit a moment.

Palate

Sweet opening with grape fruit, apricot and caramel, then the smoke arrives from the side and tightens things along with a dry peppery note. The two elements work against each other in a way that keeps the mouth awake. The texture is full and lightly syrupy.

Finish

Long. Fruit sweetness and smoke let go at roughly the same time, with a dry oak note and a final trace of grape must.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore Coopers Choice Peat & Fruit Single Highland Malt Whisky 56.5%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 56.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in a Pineau des Charentes cask, cask no. 9522
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 340
Edition: Peat & Fruit

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Sweet · Vinous · Cask Strength · Spiced

Did You Know?

Pineau des Charentes is said to have come about by accident in the sixteenth century, when a winemaker mistakenly poured grape must into a cask that still held cognac. Decades later he discovered the contents had turned into something else entirely, and far better than he had expected. It is not often a cask type has such a specific origin story.

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Glenturret isn't usually a peated whisky – but under the name Ruadh Maor hides a heavily peated version, which Coopers Choice has captured from a single bourbon cask.

Expert's Description

Glenturret 2010/2019 Ruadh Maor Heavily Peated is part of the Coopers Choice series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, who has more than 20 years of experience in the whisky trade.

The whisky was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2019, after 8 years of maturation in a bourbon cask, cask ref. 176. It's bottled at cask strength, 57.5%, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour. Only 330 bottles were filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat and smoke, balanced by a sweet vanilla tone from the bourbon cask.

Palate

Powerful and smoky, with tar, salt and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Long, smoky and dry, with lingering peat.

Specifications

Name: Glenturret 2010/2019 Coopers Choice Ruadh Maor Heavily Peated 8 Year Old Single Highland Malt 70cl 57.5%
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 2010, Bottled: 2019
Age: 8 years
Cask number/type: Cask ref. 176 / Bourbon Cask
Bottles: 330
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Powerful · Salty

Investment Potential

With only 330 bottles from a single cask and an unusual, heavily peated version of a distillery that doesn't normally make smoky whisky, this release belongs to the single cask bottlings that often attract collectors.

Did You Know?

Glenturret normally makes a soft, unpeated Highland style, but under the name Ruadh Maor the distillery occasionally produces a heavily peated version, which is highly sought-after among whisky enthusiasts.

See our full range of Glenturret

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Fire and cane — two elements rarely mentioned in the same sentence as Glenfiddich. Fire & Cane is the distillery's take on what happens when classic Speyside meets both smoke and rum.

Expert description

Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Experimental Series #04 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in peated malt from another of William Grant & Sons' distilleries, ex-bourbon casks and a finish in rum casks and bottled at 43%. The whisky combines a small proportion of peated malt from another William Grant & Sons distillery with Glenfiddich's classic ex-bourbon-matured spirit, which is then finished in casks that previously held rum. The result is the fourth release in the Experimental Series and one of the most unconventional whiskies Glenfiddich has made.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light smoke, burnt sugar and a warm, tropical rum sweetness.

Palate

Sweet and spiced with smoky caramel, tropical fruit and a muted smoky base note.

Finish

Medium, sweet and lightly smoky.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Experimental Series #04 Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Peated malt from another of William Grant & Sons' distilleries, ex-bourbon casks and a finish in rum casks
Edition: Experimental Series #04 - Fire & Cane
EAN no.: 5010327325712

Flavour profile

Smoky · Sweet · Spiced · Complex

Did you know?

The name Fire & Cane refers directly to the two elements that shape the whisky: the fire from the peated malt and the sugar cane behind the rum casks.

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The rye that started it all — the whiskey that gave the brand its name.

Expert description

Redemption Rye American Rye Whiskey is the brand's foundational expression, discovered as a stock of rye whiskey barrels that inspired the brand's name, bottled at 46%. Redemption was founded in 2010 by Dave Schmier and Michael Kanbar, after they serendipitously discovered a cache of rye whiskey barrels they believed to be the perfect expression of the classic American spirit. The whiskey is distilled at the historic MGP distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and then trucked to a bottling facility in Bardstown, Kentucky, where each batch and bottle is hand-numbered on the label.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spiced with rye, pepper and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate offers rye, spice and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, dry and peppery.

Specifications

Name: Redemption Rye American Rye Whiskey
Bottler: Redemption
Region/Country: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA
Type: American Rye Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Grainy · Dry

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A bourbon born of chance, when its founders stumbled upon a perfect stock of barrels.

Expert description

Redemption Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey is the brand's bourbon expression, distilled at MGP in Indiana, bottled at 42%. Redemption was founded in 2010 by Dave Schmier and Michael Kanbar, after they serendipitously discovered a cache of rye whiskey barrels they believed to be the perfect expression of the classic American spirit. The whiskey is distilled at the historic MGP distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and then trucked to a bottling facility in Bardstown, Kentucky, where each batch and bottle is hand-numbered on the label.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is soft with caramel, grain and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers brown sugar, vanilla and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and round.

Specifications

Name: Redemption Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey
Bottler: Redemption
Region/Country: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA
Type: American Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Round · Caramel

See our full range of Redemption

"Toiteach" is Gaelic for smoky, and "A Dhà" means number two – a reminder that Bunnahabhain can also play the role its island neighbours are best known for.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured in a mix of sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 46.3%.

Where Bunnahabhain's core range is traditionally known for its light, unpeated style, Toiteach A Dhà turns that on its head. Here the peated Staoisha spirit is allowed to take centre stage, resulting in one of the most heavily smoked whiskies the distillery sends out.

It's a great chance to try a different side of Bunnahabhain, without ever leaving the distillery's own core range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Unmistakable peat smoke meets a spiced warmth and a touch of sweet fruit.

Palate

Dates and sweet fruit mingle with peat smoke and crushed pepper as the whisky moves across the tongue.

Finish

Dry and slightly dusty with lingering smoke as the final impression.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Mix of Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
EAN No.: 5029704219063

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Maritime · Full-Bodied

Did You Know?

Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 by the Islay Distillery Company specifically to supply the light, unpeated style for blends – the fact that the distillery today also makes heavily peated whisky like Toiteach is a newer chapter in its story.

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The second chapter. Same 1992 vintage, one year longer in wood and a touch less strength. The Platinum Edition is the middle of the three — and the one where the balance between smoke and maturity sits closest.

The expert's description

Big Peat 26 years Vintage 1992 Platinum Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 51.5 % cask strength.

The whiskies were distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2018 in an outturn of 3,000 bottles. The release is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The Platinum Edition is the second in Douglas Laing's Vintage Series, between the Gold Edition at 25 years and The Black Edition at 27 years. All three are assembled from Islay's most sought after single malts of the same vintage.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry ash, seaweed and salted liquorice. Beneath the smoke hide dried apricots, honey and a warm nuttiness.

Palate

Rich and broad with peat smoke, dark caramel and roasted malt. There is a mineral salt edge and a hint of leather that only comes with age.

Finish

Very long with dry smoke, cocoa and a sweet note that holds on for some time.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 26 years old Vintage 1992 Series No 2 Platinum Edition DL Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 51.5%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 26 years
ABV: 51.5 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2018
Number of bottles: 3,000
Edition: Vintage Series No 2 The Platinum Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Mature · Nutty · Cask strength

Investment potential

High: The middle release in a completed trilogy of 3,000 bottles from the 1992 vintage. Complete sets of all three editions are difficult to assemble, and demand for mature Islay whisky has been rising for years.

Did you know?

All three editions in the trilogy were bottled in exactly 3,000 bottles, regardless of age. Douglas Laing had the cask volumes planned from the moment the series was decided.

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Green Spot Léoville Barton is a Single Pot Still whiskey where Irish tradition meets classic Bordeaux elegance in a finish using wine casks from the renowned château Léoville Barton.

Expert Review

Green Spot Leoville Barton Irish Pure Potstill Irish Whiskey is a Pure Potstill Irish Malt Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is first matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, before receiving its finishing period in wine casks from the renowned Bordeaux château Léoville Barton. This gives a deep, fruity and wine-driven dimension that lifts the classic Green Spot profile in a darker, more complex direction. The nose offers ripe red berries, light spice, vanilla and the characteristic pot still spiciness. The palate is full and rounded, with notes of dark grapes, blackcurrant, malt, caramel and a mild tannic structure from the wine casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe red berries, light spice and vanilla.

Palate

Dark grapes, blackcurrant, malt and caramel.

Finish

Long, soft and fruity with a hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: Green Spot Léoville Barton
Distillery: Green Spot / Midleton
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pure Potstill Irish Malt Whiskey
Cask: Bourbon & Sherry Casks, finished in Léoville Barton Bordeaux wine casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5011007025694

Flavour Profile

Wine-driven · Fruity · Spiced · Full-bodied · Complex

Did You Know?

Léoville Barton is a renowned wine château in Bordeaux, and a finish in its wine casks gives Green Spot a unique, dark, wine-driven dimension.
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The distillery is called Knockdhu. The whisky is called anCnoc. The reason is mundane, another distillery had a name too close to it, but the upshot is that one of the Highlands most quietly capable distilleries has spent decades living under a borrowed name.

The Expert's Description

anCnoc 18 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in second fill Oloroso sherry casks and second fill bourbon casks, bottled at 46%. That both cask types are second fill is a deliberate choice: the wood gives less, but it gives it more slowly, and over 18 years the result is balanced rather than forceful.

The spirit from Knockdhu is bright, floral and lightly waxy, a style easily drowned by aggressive casks. Using second fill wood leaves room for the distillate's own character throughout the maturation. That is why the 18 year old does not taste markedly darker than the 12, it tastes deeper.

Knockdhu was founded in 1894 by John Morrison, who had bought the Knock Estate from the Duke of Fife two years earlier. The distillery stands near Knock Hill in Banffshire and is officially in the Highland region, though it is often mislabelled as a Speyside. It closed in 1983, was bought by Inver House Distillers in 1988, and production resumed in February 1989.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, lemon peel and pale flowers first, very much the house signature. Behind them a light waxy note, candied orange and a trace of dried apricot from the sherry wood. Clean and precise with nothing heavy about it.

Palate

Soft opening with honey and malt, then spice and a drier orange note. There is a fine waxy texture carrying the flavour well, and the 46% gives body without taking over. The sherry sits underneath as depth rather than as fruit.

Finish

Long and clean. Honey, dried fruit and a lightly spiced oak dryness that lets go slowly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: anCnoc 18 Years Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Knockdhu
Bottler: Inver House Distillers
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Second fill Oloroso sherry casks and second fill bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5010509880039

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Floral · Fruity · Waxy · Spiced · Sherry Matured

Did You Know?

The argument over the name concerned Knockando, a Speyside distillery owned by a far larger group. The two names were close enough that Knockdhu had to find an alternative, and from 1993 the whisky was sold as anCnoc, Gaelic for the hill. Independent bottlers, however, still happily use the original name on their labels.

See our full range of anCnoc

On Arran's west coast lies a windswept peat moor called Machrie Moor. Legend says the warrior Fingal tied his dog to a stone here — and the distillery named its peated whisky after the place.

A different side of Arran, where the familiar citrus character meets peat smoke.

Expert Description

Arran Machrie Moor is a Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky made from lightly peated malt and bottled at 56.2%.

Since 2004, Arran has distilled a small amount of malt peated to around 20 ppm every year — a medium smoke level that offers more than just bonfire and tar. Machrie Moor has become a permanent part of Arran's range, bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with natural colour, put together by the distillery's manager James MacTaggart.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and ash meet an underlying sweetness and a lightly salted coastal aroma.

Palate

Smoky yet balanced, with Arran's classic citrus note shining through.

Finish

Medium length with lingering smoke and a dry, spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Arran Machrie Moor
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 56.2%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060044482793
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass, a drop of water helps open the smoke

Flavour Profile

Peated · Coastal · Citrus-forward · Spiced

Did You Know?

The name Machrie Moor comes from a peat moor on Arran's west coast with Bronze Age stone circles, one of which has a carved hole said to be where the warrior Fingal tied his dog.

See our full range of Arran

Blackadder calls its releases 'Raw Cask' for good reason — nothing is adjusted, nothing is dressed up. Just Islay, exactly as the cask handed it over.

Expert's Description

Smoking Islay 2017 is a Blended Islay Malt Whisky from Blackadder, bottled in November 2017 from cask number SI 2017-04 at 55%.

The 'Smoking Islay' series is Blackadder's umbrella brand for independent Islay bottlings with an undisclosed source distillery, bottled in a very limited run of just 248 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky peat and sea air with a raw, unfiltered intensity.

Palate

Powerful and maritime with peat, salt and a light sweetness from the unadjusted spirit.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky with lingering salt and peat.

Specifications

Name: Smoking Islay 2017
Bottler: Blackadder
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Blended Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Cask no. SI 2017-04
Bottled: November 2017
Number of Bottles: 248 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Raw · Maritime · Cask strength

Investment Potential

Medium. A very limited run of just 248 bottles from a respected independent bottler makes this bottle interesting for collectors of smoky Islay whisky.

Did You Know?

Blackadder is owned by Robin Tucek, one of Scotland's most experienced independent bottlers, known precisely for the 'Raw Cask' philosophy of no filtration or adjustment.

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September 2018 – and Stauning sends out another KAOS edition. This time slightly more spiced than the June edition, with a more pronounced oak note.

Expert description

Stauning KAOS September 2018 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 47.1% in Stauning's KAOS series. A blend of malted grain types gives the characteristic complexity, and each batch reflects the specific composition from this particular bottling. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

KAOS September 2018 differs from the June edition of the same year with a slightly higher ABV and a bit more oak and spice. Stauning uses each batch as an opportunity to experiment with grain composition and maturation time.

Tasting notes

Nose

Peach and apricot with slightly more oak than earlier editions. Honey and light blossom in the background.

Palate

Creamy malt core with fruit sweetness. Slightly more structure and spice than the June edition. Elegant.

Finish

Moderately long with sweetness and light oak. Clean and pleasant.

Specifications

Name: Stauning KAOS September 2018
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 47.1%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: September 2018

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Spiced · Rare · Vintage

Did you know?

In 2018 Stauning released KAOS three times – in June, September and December. All three batches differ slightly in profile, ABV and composition, even though they were produced in the same year.

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The oak trees at Erholm Estate in Funen have been standing for a long time. Two hundred years ago the plan was for them to become warships. Instead they became whisky casks – which is a better idea.

Expert description

Ardor Danish Oak Batch 167 is an organic Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 46% at 5 years of age. Distilled by Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery in Nyborg, Funen, and matured in casks made from oak trees at Erholm Estate in Funen – part of the historic Danish "fleet oak" planting. The casks were used as a "boost": the whisky spent a short period on these Danish oak barriques from March 2018 to October 2018 to absorb the powerful tannins and characteristic bitterness of young Danish oak. 954 bottles produced.

Tasting notes

Nose

Beautifully fruity with pears and apricots as the main elements. Hazelnuts and Virginia tobacco lay a nutty, aromatic base, and the fresh oak tannin gives a sharp, bright note.

Palate

Gentle and sweet at 46% with the fruitiness carried from the nose. The oak tannins from the Danish barriques are present as a fresh, lightly astringent frame around the sweet fruit core. A surprisingly elegant balance.

Finish

Medium with lingering pear and apricot sweetness, and a dry oak bitterness in the tail of the close.

Specifications

Name: Ardor Danish Oak Batch 167
Distillery: Isle of Fionia / Nyborg Distillery
Region/Country: Funen, Denmark
Type: Organic Danish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Boosted on Danish oak barriques from Erholm Estate, Funen
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 954

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Fresh · Elegant

Did you know?

The oaks at Erholm Estate are part of the royal decree for "fleet oak" issued after the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. Planted to secure timber for new warships that never came – and now they make whisky from them instead. A circle struck in oak.

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Named after a medieval castle in County Clare, Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old combines two classic cask types and a triple distillation to reach its rounded character.

Expert Review

Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old is a Single Malt Irish Whiskey matured in used bourbon and sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is triple distilled, a method that gives a clean, light base character, before maturing in a combination of used bourbon and sherry casks for 14 years. The combination of the two cask types, known as "twin wood", gives a balanced flavour profile that draws on both the sweetness of bourbon and the depth of sherry.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft grain and a touch of sherry sweetness.

Palate

Round and balanced, with vanilla and dried fruit.

Finish

Medium, soft and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Knappogue Castle 14 Year Old
Distillery: Knappogue Castle
Region/Country: County Clare, Ireland
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Age: 14 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon and sherry casks (Twin Wood)
Other: Triple distilled

Flavour Profile

Round · Balanced · Grain-sweet · Lightly sherry-driven · Soft

Did You Know?

Knappogue Castle is a well-preserved medieval castle in County Clare, Ireland, built in 1467, from which the brand takes its name.
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Six years in cask. Peated single malt at cask strength 60.8%. ROMMER is Whisky.dk's Private Cask from Stauning – one barrel, bottled in 2017, impossible to replicate.

Expert description

Stauning Private Cask ROMMER Whisky.dk 6 Year 2010/2017 is a Danish Peated Single Malt Whisky bottled at cask strength 60.8%. ROMMER is the name given to this specific Private Cask, owned and matured by Whisky.dk for six years from 2010 to 2017. The peated style draws on Stauning's West Jutland peat, delivering a green and herbal smoke character. Six years brings more integration and depth than younger releases – the smoke is well-integrated with oak sweetness and a complexity that shorter maturations rarely achieve. At 60.8%, this is a powerful, undiluted version of Stauning's peated style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Well-integrated smoke with a light herbal edge. Vanilla, gentle citrus and oak sweetness grow beneath the smoke.

Palate

Powerful and complex. Smoke, spices and a sweetness of vanilla and light caramel. Citrus fruit and pepper spice lurk in the background.

Finish

Long and warming with smoke and oak persisting. A trace of salt at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Private Cask ROMMER Whisky.dk 6 Year 2010/2017
Distillery: Stauning
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Peated Single Malt Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 60.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask strength: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Whisky.dk Private Cask ROMMER

Flavour profile

Peated · Spicy · Complex · Warming · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask owned by Whisky.dk – six years old, bottled at cask strength, and never re-released.

Did you know?

Stauning's peated single malt is smoked with peat from West Jutland bogs, not Scottish peat. This gives a more green and herbal smoke profile rather than the iodine-driven character associated with Islay whiskies.

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A Private Cask is one cask, one decision and one chance. Whisky.dk chose malted rye whisky from Stauning – and five years later this came out of the barrel at cask strength 57.5%.

Expert description

Stauning Private Cask Whisky.dk 5 Year 2011/2017 is a Danish Malted Rye Whisky bottled at cask strength 57.5%. This Private Cask was commissioned and owned by Whisky.dk – a single cask from Stauning's distillery, selected, matured and bottled exclusively for our shelves. Malted rye differs from Stauning's standard rye by using 100% malted rye grain, resulting in a softer, sweeter and more complex profile with rye's characteristic spiced fruitiness. Distilled in 2011 and bottled five years later in 2017, this is a unique bottle that cannot be replicated.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced rye, green fruit and vanilla. A hint of cardamom and honey beneath the characteristic rye edge.

Palate

Full-bodied and spiced with rye bread, gentle sweetness and dark fruit. Pepper notes arrive mid-palate and persist.

Finish

Medium to long with dry rye spices and a warm finish. Clear, clean rye character throughout.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Private Cask Whisky.dk 5 Year 2011/2017
Distillery: Stauning
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Malted Rye Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask strength: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Whisky.dk Private Cask

Flavour profile

Rye-spiced · Fruity · Complex · Warming · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium. A Single Cask owned and selected by Whisky.dk – never re-released and existing only in one cask's worth of bottles.

Did you know?

Stauning's standard Rye uses a combination of malted and unmalted rye grain. This Private Cask uses exclusively malted rye, producing a softer, fruitier profile than the classic KAOS expression.

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The tropical sweetness of Teeling's Small Batch in a small bottle, perfect for trying the rum maturation character without opening a full 70cl bottle.

Expert Review

Teeling Miniature Small Batch Rum Cask is a blended Irish Whiskey matured in rum casks, bottled at 46% in a small 5cl bottle.

The miniature contains the same whiskey as Teeling's standard Small Batch Rum Cask: a blended Irish Whiskey of malt and grain whiskey, further matured for six months in casks that previously held rum from Central and South America. The rum maturation gives the whiskey its characteristic tropical sweetness. The small bottle is intended for tasting, gifting, or taking on the go.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruit, banana and vanilla.

Palate

Sweet and spiced, with caramel and ripe banana.

Finish

Soft and of medium length, with a lightly sweet close.

Specifications

Name: Teeling Miniature Small Batch Rum Cask
Distillery: Teeling
Region/Country: Dublin, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Rum casks (6-month finish)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5391523270144

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Sweet · Banana-forward · Spiced · Soft

Did You Know?

Teeling was the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years when it opened in 2015, and has since gained international attention for its use of unconventional cask types such as rum, madeira and port.
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Stauning Rye 2018 is the 17th edition of Stauning's malted rye whisky – a series that has grown from ambitious experiments to one of the most acclaimed rye expressions in Europe.

Expert description

Stauning Rye 2018 November is a Danish Rye Whisky bottled at 50% and distilled in 2015. Released November 2018 as the 17th edition in the Rye series. The whisky is made from 100% Danish rye malt, floor-malted in-house at Stauning and distilled in copper pot stills. 4,800 bottles produced. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Stauning Rye represents the best from the Jutland rye fields. With a spicy and fruity profile – and no smoke – it is a markedly different expression from Stauning's SMOKE and KAOS series. The November 2018 edition is characterised by rye at its most complex.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced rye with dried fruit, orange peel and a touch of ginger. A malt-rich depth with hints of vanilla and nut.

Palate

Full and spicy. Rye bread, dark fruit and light pepper. Good structure without being heavy.

Finish

Long and warm with spice and dried fruit that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Rye 2018 November
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Rye Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: November 2018
Number of bottles: 4,800
Edition: 17th edition

Flavour profile

Spiced · Rye bread · Dark fruit · Complex · Vintage

Did you know?

Stauning Rye is inspired by the Danish rye bread tradition. The distillery uses 100% rye malt and floor-malts everything in-house – a practice that is rare even among the world's best rye producers.

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Young is not an apology. In Enghaven's Young Rye it is a description of freshness, grain and raw material that does not hide behind years in a cask.

Expert description

Enghaven No 1 Young Rye Whisky is a Danish Rye Whisky made from rye mash and bottled at 42.5%. "Young" in the name signals shorter ageing — delivering a fresher, more grain-forward profile than expressions that have sat in cask for many years. It is not a compromise, it is a deliberate style choice. Rye's natural spice takes centre stage. 50 cl.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and grain-forward with rye, light yeast and green notes. Simple and direct.

Palate

Light to medium-bodied at 42.5%. Spicy rye, grain and fresh herbs. Clear and clean.

Finish

Short to medium-length with dry rye. Clean and fresh.

Specifications

Name: Enghaven No 1 Young Rye Whisky 50 cl
Distillery: Enghaven
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Rye Whisky
ABV: 42.5%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Fresh · Grain-forward · Spicy · Light · Clean

Did you know?

Many of the world's most iconic whisky producers started by releasing young expressions — it gives enthusiasts a chance to taste the distillery's DNA without waiting years for cask ageing.

Enghaven set out to make a Danish Single Malt Whisky that does not apologise for itself. No 1 is the opening chapter.

Expert description

Enghaven No 1 Single Malt Whisky is a Danish Single Malt Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 48.7%. It is the distillery's first whisky — carefully distilled and aged with a focus on quality over quantity. Single Malt means 100% malted barley from a single distillery. 50 cl bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and oak with soft fruit notes and a hint of honey. Fresh and inviting.

Palate

Round and well-balanced at 48.7%. Malt, caramel and dried fruit with light oak. Pleasant sweetness and gentle spice.

Finish

Medium-length with vanilla and oak. Clean and elegant.

Specifications

Name: Enghaven No 1 Single Malt Whisky 50 cl
Distillery: Enghaven
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.7%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Smooth · Oak · Sweet · Malty

Did you know?

The "No 1" in the name is not just a serial number — it marks the start of Enghaven's whisky journey and serves as a natural reference point for all future expressions from the distillery.

The series is called Closed Distilleries, and when the cask was selected in 2013 the name fitted precisely. Glen Keith had stood still since 1999, and a French bottling house got hold of a bourbon cask from 1995. It yielded 175 bottles.

The expert's description

Glen Keith 1995/2013 Part des Anges 17 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength 55.5%.

The cask was filled in 1995 and emptied in 2013 after 17 years. The bottling gave 175 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour, and the whisky formed part of the Closed Distilleries series — Part des Anges' selection of whisky from distilleries that were silent or shut. The irony is that Glen Keith was started up again in 2013, the very year the bottle appeared.

Part des Anges is a French bottling house founded in 2005 by Thierry Richard and Laurent Buob. They have specialised in whisky from distilleries without a future, which has produced a set of bottles that now works rather like an archive of a period when Scotch whisky was shutting down instead of building.

Tasting notes

Nose

Concentrated and bright. Pineapple, yellow melon and vanilla pod, with a sharp orange peel on top. A cask that has had plenty of time without taking over.

Palate

Powerful and oily without being heavy. Tropical fruit, coconut and honey, with a firm peppery middle from the 55.5%. The malt sits clearly beneath it all.

Finish

Very long. Vanilla, pineapple and white pepper drying slowly into a note of pale oak.

Specifications

Name: Glen Keith 1995/2013 Part des Anges 17 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 55.5%
Distillery: Glen Keith
Bottler: Part des Anges
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2013
Number of bottles: 175
Edition: Closed Distilleries

Flavour profile

Tropical · Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. 175 bottles from a single cask, a 17 year old from a distillery that sat silent for fourteen years, and a series that collects nothing but closed addresses. All three pull in the same direction, and Part des Anges bottlings are rarely seen in ordinary trade.

Did you know?

During the fourteen years Glen Keith stood silent, parts were stripped from the plant to keep other distilleries running. When the decision came to reopen, there was not much left to start from — the new distillery was in practice built inside the old walls.

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The original bottle, the original horse figure on the stopper — the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon.

Expert description

Blanton's Single Barrel 93 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the brand's original edition, where each bottle comes from a single, hand-selected barrel, bottled at 46.5%. Blanton's is named after Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton, who started as an office boy at the Buffalo Trace distillery at age 16 and became the company's president in 1921, a role he held until 1952. He personally selected the best 'honey barrels' from Warehouse H for his guests and bottled whiskey one barrel at a time. In 1984, master distiller Elmer T. Lee honoured him by launching the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon, based on barrels from that same warehouse.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers caramel, vanilla and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate is round and full with caramel, honey and lightly spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, warm and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Blantons Single Barrel 93 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Region/Country: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 46.5%
Size: 70 CL
Single Barrel

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Caramel · Rounded · Sweet

Investment potential

Blanton's original Single Barrel edition is among the most sought-after bourbons internationally and often has limited availability.

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Cap A Pie means 'from head to toe' - a fitting name for a blend built with care in every single step.

Expert's description

Michel Couvreur Cap A Pie is a Blended Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 45 percent.

The blend is made from selected young Scotch whiskies, matured further on fresh sherry casks using the house's fresh filling method for at least 3 years. The name Cap A Pie is an old French expression meaning equipped from head to toe, underlining that every part of the process - from the chosen whiskies to the right cask - has been carefully considered.

Michel Couvreur's blends follow the same philosophy as his single malts: young Scotch whiskies chosen with an unrelenting eye, matured further on fresh sherry casks in the cool cellars of Burgundy until the style is exactly as he wanted it.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is round and inviting with honey, sherry and a light creamy vanilla tone.

Palate

The palate is soft and lightly sweet, with caramel and ripe apples, tied together by a warm spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium and gentle, closing with a last hint of nut and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Cap A Pie
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Blended Whisky
Age: min. 3 years
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cap A Pie

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Soft · Round · Approachable

Did you know?

The expression Cap A Pie comes from medieval chivalry, where a knight 'equipped from head to toe' was ready for battle in full armour - an image Michel Couvreur borrowed to underline how thoroughly this blend was put together.

Pale by name, but certainly not by character - Pale Single Single shows that colour and richness don't always go hand in hand.

Expert's description

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

The whisky has at least 3 years of cask maturation and, like the rest of the house range, is matured via Michel Couvreur's fresh filling method, where sherry casks are refilled with whisky the same day they're emptied of sherry. 1,000 bottles were filled of this release, which despite its pale colour offers a surprising depth of flavour.

Uncompromising is probably the word that fits Michel Couvreur best. He went where the fence was highest and found his own path by pairing Scotch malt with sherry casks that never had a chance to dry out before the whisky went in.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is light and elegant with honey, sherry and a hint of apple, without the heavy colour tone the name might suggest.

Palate

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

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Pale Single Single
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: min. 3 years
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Fresh sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 1000
Edition: Pale Single Single

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Light · Elegant · Soft

Did you know?

The name Pale refers to the whisky being deliberately bottled without added colour, so the pale hue is an honest picture of what the cask has actually given - not the result of added caramel colouring.

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

Expert's description

Jura Journey Single Island Malt Whisky 40% is a Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Custard, malt and a hint of citrus zest.

Palate

Creamy vanilla, oak spice and ripe orchard fruit.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final vanilla note.

Specifications

Name: Jura Journey Single Island Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Isle of Jura
Type: Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
EAN no.: 5013967012462

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Did you know?

Jura sits on the remote island of the same name off Scotland's west coast, where the island's roughly 200 residents share the land with several thousand red deer.

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

Expert's description

Jura Seven Wood Single Island Malt Whisky 42% is a Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky matured on syv forskellige fadtyper: American white oak ex-bourbon and fransk eg af sorterne Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges and bottled at 42%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Custard, malt and a hint of citrus zest.

Palate

Creamy vanilla, oak spice and ripe orchard fruit.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final vanilla note.

Specifications

Name: Jura Seven Wood Single Island Malt Whisky 42%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Isle of Jura
Type: Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Syv forskellige fadtyper: American white oak ex-bourbon and fransk eg af sorterne Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges
Edition: Seven Wood
EAN no.: 5013967012523

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced

Did you know?

Jura Seven Wood is named after the seven cask types it matures in, an unusual combination even for Jura's already experimental core range.

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Some whiskies shout their pedigree from the label. This one from Jura prefers to let the liquid do the talking. This particular release from Island (Isle of Jura) shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Jura 12 Year Single Island Malt Whisky 40% is a Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon casks with a finish in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, toasted almonds and a rich sherry sweetness.

Palate

Toffee, dark fruit and a layer of warming spice.

Finish

Rich and sweet with a slow fade of dark fruit.

Specifications

Name: Jura 12 Year Single Island Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Island (Isle of Jura)
Type: Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks with a finish in Oloroso sherry casks
EAN no.: 5013967012509

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Smooth · Spiced

Did you know?

Jura's spirit is distilled in some of Scotland's tallest pot stills, producing a lighter spirit that can later carry a pronounced sherry finish without being overpowered.

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