A distillery that cannot be named, but a flavour that cannot hide. Scarabus is Hunter Laing's greeting from Islay's peat fields.

Expert's Description

Scarabus 10 Year Old Whisky is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from Hunter Laing, bottled at 46% after 10 years of maturation.

The source distillery is undisclosed, but the earthy, peat-smoked character clearly reveals its Islay origin. Hunter Laing uses the name Scarabus — a scarab, the Egyptian symbol of renewal — as an umbrella for their independent Islay bottlings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich, earthy peat smoke meets leather and menthol, softened by syrup and honey.

Palate

Round and smoky with a honeyed sweetness that balances the maritime peat.

Finish

Long, smooth and seductive with lingering smoke and a final note of leather.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus 10 Year Old
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5060354273661

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Peated · Maritime · Honeyed

Did You Know?

The name Scarabus comes from a Bronze Age settlement on Islay where scarab-shaped seals have been found — a detail Hunter Laing has woven into the bottle's identity.

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Turn up the strength, and the peat follows. The Batch Strength edition of Scarabus is the unpolished side of Islay that Hunter Laing dares to bottle.

Expert's Description

Scarabus Batch Strength Whisky is a Single Islay Malt Whisky from Hunter Laing, bottled at full cask strength of 57%.

Where the 10-year-old is a fixed age statement, the Batch Strength edition combines several casks at a higher, unreduced strength, giving a rawer, more intense expression of the same undisclosed Islay distillery.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh, young peat smoke meets a salty sea breeze.

Palate

Warming and full with leather and vanilla, carried by the high strength.

Finish

Long and spiced with lingering smoke and a light vanilla sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus Batch Strength
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5060354273678

Flavour Profile

Cask strength · Smoky · Maritime · Intense

Did You Know?

Hunter Laing's Batch Strength series is bottled without reduction, meaning the strength varies slightly from batch to batch depending on the casks selected.

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There's a bottle on Islay nobody will name a name for. Behind the bronze label with its hidden symbols sits a peated dram, born to mark the opening of Hunter Laing's own distillery, Ardnahoe. Scarabus means "a rocky place" in Old Norse - and that's about as much as the Laing family are willing to give away.

Expert's Description

Scarabus Cigar Malt is a peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, fully matured across Oloroso sherry casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and Ruby Port casks, and bottled at 46%.

Scarabus Cigar Malt is the newest addition to Hunter Laing's Scarabus collection, and it stands apart from the other expressions through its cask composition. Where the original bottling sticks to a more classic maturation, Cigar Malt is matured simultaneously across three cask types - Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Ruby Port - each layering something different on top of the signature Islay peat. The source distillery is undisclosed, as is tradition across the whole Scarabus range, though the depth of the smoke and the oily texture hint at one of the island's better-known peated producers.

The name Cigar Malt is no accident. The whisky is built to hold its own against a bold cigar without either one drowning the other out - cocoa, roasted notes and a persistent smokiness give it the weight for it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich and generous with candied orange peel, stewed red berries and almonds, while an earthy peat works through underneath.

Palate

Dry peat smoke layers with dark treacle, dark fruit and a gentle, toasted sweetness from the casks.

Finish

Long and warming, with a rounded sweetness that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus Cigar Malt
Distillery: Undisclosed
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Scotland, Islay
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and Ruby Port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060354289983

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry and Port matured · Dark fruit · Spiced

Did You Know?

The symbols on the Scarabus label are deliberately cryptic and draw on islander John Francis Campbell's invention, a sunshine recorder that tracked the hours of daylight on Islay - the same urge to measure the unmeasurable runs through the brand's whole "only those who seek shall find" philosophy.

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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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Sherry and peat are rarely seen together on Islay, but Hunter Laing insists the two can dance well in a single glass.

Expert's Description

Scarabus Sherry Cask Edition is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing, matured in first-fill sherry casks, including Oloroso sherry casks, and bottled at 46%.

The release was exclusive to the German market and combines Scarabus's signature smoky Islay profile with the sweet, nutty tones from the sherry casks. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Smoky peat meets dry sherry, toasted nuts and a hint of orange peel.

Palate

Sweet and smoky at once, with Oloroso depth and an underlying salty peat.

Finish

Long and complex with lingering smoke and a dry sherry note.

Specifications

Name: Scarabus Sherry Cask Edition
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First-fill Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5060354288047

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Smoky · Nutty · Complex

Did You Know?

This edition was originally made exclusively for the German market, making it one of the rarer Scarabus releases to find outside Germany.

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Written by two men who work with whisky every day, not two authors who researched their way into a topic.

About the product

Skotsk Whisky Uden Farve Uden Filter (Scotch Whisky, Uncoloured, Unfiltered) is written by Peter Kjær, known from the whisky bar Krut's Karport, and Lars Gregersen from spirits importer LAGO. The book gives a short, professional introduction to the Scotch whisky industry and its key players, spiced with interviews with well-known names from the whisky world.

It speaks to both the beginner wanting a quick overview and the experienced enthusiast after the industry's inside perspective.

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A wedding gift for a son grew into one of Canada's best-selling whisky brands.

Expert description

Seagram's V.O. Blended Canadian Whisky is a Canadian blended whisky, bottled at 40%. Seagram's was founded in 1857 in Waterloo, Ontario, and Joseph E. Seagram became sole owner in 1883. V.O. was originally made in limited quantity in 1913, when Joseph's son Thomas asked the distillery's blender, William Hortop, to prepare a special whisky for his own wedding to Dorothy Pearson. Joseph was so taken with the result that he insisted on putting the blend on general sale — it went on to become one of the company's biggest successes. The letters V.O. are said, by family tradition, to stand for 'Very Own', though others claim 'Very Old'.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers grain, caramel and a hint of rye.

Palate

The palate is soft with vanilla, honey and light spice.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and round.

Specifications

Name: Seagrams VO Blended Canadisk Whisky
Bottler: Seagram's
Region/Country: Ontario, Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Grainy · Sweet · Round

Did you know?

The meaning of the abbreviation V.O. was never officially written down — family tradition says 'Very Own', but no one knows for certain today.

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Campbeltown was once the whisky capital of the world with over 30 distilleries. Today only three remain — but Dràm Mòr has found a secret fourth voice.

Expert's Description

Secret Campbeltown Distilleries 8 Year Old is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Dràm Mòr, distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2024 at 52.9%.

The whisky has been finished in a first fill Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrel, cask number 111, and bottled in an extremely limited run of just 275 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Salty sea air and malt meet sweet bourbon vanilla from the finishing cask.

Palate

Full and maritime with a touch of caramel and a light spiced warmth.

Finish

Medium length with dry sweetness and a final whisper of sea salt.

Specifications

Name: Secret Campbeltown Distilleries 8 Year Old
Bottler: Dràm Mòr
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 52.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First fill Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrel, cask no. 111
Number of Bottles: 275 bottles

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Bourbon-finished · Spiced · Rare

Investment Potential

Medium. A very small run of 275 bottles from a region with only three active distilleries makes this whisky interesting for collectors of Campbeltown whisky.

Did You Know?

At its peak in the late 1800s, Campbeltown was known as 'the whisky capital of the world', with more than 30 distilleries operating at the same time.

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Some whiskies whisper their origin instead of shouting it. Secret Orkney keeps its distillery under wraps on the label, but not in the glass — a single-batch bottling from Signatory Vintage, thirteen years in the making on Orkney's salt-swept air.

Expert Description

Secret Orkney 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads and bottled at 46%.

The distillery behind the discreet name cannot be printed on the label, but Orkney is home to only two distilleries, and the cask codes point firmly towards Highland Park. Signatory Vintage filled the whisky into a run of refill hogsheads, cask numbers DRU 17/A67-9/-10/-13/-21, without adding colouring or chill filtering before bottling.

The whisky was distilled on 31 March 2009 and left to mature until January 2023, when 483 bottles were filled — a small, hand-picked release that shows Orkney character in an unfiltered, natural state.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Heather blossom and a whisper of smoky peat meet salt sea air and ripe apple, with a soft honey sweetness underneath tying it all together.

Palate

Soft and lightly oiled, with citrus peel, toasted malt and a warm spice run of ginger and clove. The natural colour keeps the flavour clean and direct.

Finish

Medium in length, gently peated towards the end, with a lingering heather sweetness and a touch of salted caramel that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Secret Orkney 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old
Distillery: Orkney (undisclosed distillery, believed to be Highland Park)
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 31 March 2009
Bottled: January 2023
Number of bottles: 483
EAN: 5021944121755

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Fruity · Soft

Did You Know?

Orkney only has room for two distilleries — Highland Park and Scapa — and both sit on the edge of Kirkwall, less than a kilometre apart.

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Behind the label "Secret Speyside" hides one of Scotland's most sought-after distilleries. Signatory Vintage chose well here — 13 years in cask, 46%, bottled in 2023.

Expert description

Secret Speyside 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2023 at 46%. Behind the anonymous name is Macallan distillery — a common practice among independent bottlers who purchase casks directly from distilleries. Signatory Vintage, founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington, is one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers, known for selecting and bottling single cask whiskies with minimal intervention.

13 years is a fine age for Speyside spirit — old enough to have rounded off the sharper edges, young enough to retain fruit character and vitality. The result is a whisky that moves from a gentle, fruity nose to a lightly sweet, spiced palate with good balance.

Tasting notes

Nose

Stewed plums and vanilla with soft malt notes. Light shortbread and icing sugar, supported by a hint of citrus and light syrup.

Palate

Sweet entry with golden syrup and vanilla cream. Citrus notes emerge — bergamot and pomelo — with light oak behind.

Finish

Medium length and sweet with a touch of spiced oak. Banana and soft freshness linger.

Specifications

Name: Secret Speyside 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old
Distillery: Macallan
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2023
EAN no.: 5021944117796

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Lightly spiced · Smooth

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage is one of the independent bottlers that still uses their iconic green bottle design as a trademark — a choice that makes their bottlings instantly recognisable on the shelf.

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The label looks like something torn out of a 1960s action comic. The whisky behind it is rather more restrained: sixteen years in one bourbon cask from a Speyside distillery that cannot be named.

The expert's description

Adventures In The Meadow is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from a single bourbon hogshead, bottled at cask strength 54.7%.

The cask carried number 48 and gave 308 bottles after sixteen years. The whisky is non-chill filtered and of natural colour, so what is in the glass comes from the cask and nothing else.

The bottling comes from Whiskyheroes, a range by the Glasgow-based company Brave New Spirits. The series consists of single casks and small batches matured in classic bourbon and sherry casks, and the labels are drawn from vintage action comics. Read the full story behind the series in our blog post.

Tasting notes

Nose

Gooseberry and baked apples with a fresh menthol note. Rosemary and a touch of baking powder behind it.

Palate

Dry and citrus-fresh with white fruit, vanilla and a grassy edge. The cask strength gives bite without drowning the light spirit.

Finish

Medium length and dry with green apples, herbs and a hint of peppery oak.

Specifications

Name: Secret Speyside Distillery 16 Year Adventures In The Meadow Whiskyheroes Single Speyside Malt Whisky 54.7%
Distillery: Undisclosed Speyside distillery
Bottler: Whiskyheroes / Brave New Spirits
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 54.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead, cask no. 48
Number of bottles: 308
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Colour: Natural

Flavour profile

Fresh fruit · Herbal · Vanilla · Dry · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 308 bottles from one cask, and the series is new enough that the first releases can still be found. Single casks from undisclosed distilleries move more slowly than named ones, but the outturn is small enough to count.

Did you know?

Brave New Spirits was granted planning permission in 2023 for its own distillery, Witchburn in Campbeltown. It is not an everyday move for an independent bottler to go the other way and start distilling.

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The dark Irish liqueur comes here with four matching shot glasses for sharing the experience.

Expert description

Shanky's Whip Gift Pack with 4 Shot Glasses Irish Liqueur includes a bottle of the house's dairy-free whiskey liqueur together with four shot glasses, well suited for enjoying the liqueur with friends, bottled at 33%. Shanky's Whip was launched in 2021 by Shanky & Shireman, a company formed by Biggar & Leith, and is distilled, blended and bottled in Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland. The liqueur combines Irish pot still whiskey with natural vanilla and caramel flavours in a dairy-free recipe, and is named after the fictional character Shanky, known in the brand's storytelling for his love of horse racing and good whiskey.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with caramel, vanilla and a hint of whiskey.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, vanilla and a deep, dark sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, sweet and lightly whiskey-driven.

Specifications

Name: Shanky's Whip Gavepakke med 4 shotglas Irish Likør
Region/Country: Bailieborough, Cavan, Ireland
Type: Whiskey Liqueur Gift Set
ABV: 33%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Sweet · Caramel · Dark · Vanilla-forward

A dark, dairy-free Irish liqueur named after a fictional racing enthusiast.

Expert description

Shanky's Whip Irish Liqueur combines Irish pot still whiskey with vanilla and caramel in a dairy-free recipe, bottled at 33%. Shanky's Whip was launched in 2021 by Shanky & Shireman, a company formed by Biggar & Leith, and is distilled, blended and bottled in Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland. The liqueur combines Irish pot still whiskey with natural vanilla and caramel flavours in a dairy-free recipe, and is named after the fictional character Shanky, known in the brand's storytelling for his love of horse racing and good whiskey.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with caramel, vanilla and a hint of whiskey.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, vanilla and a deep, dark sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, sweet and lightly whiskey-driven.

Specifications

Name: Shanky's Whip Irish Likør
Region/Country: Bailieborough, Cavan, Ireland
Type: Whiskey Liqueur
ABV: 33%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Sweet · Caramel · Dark · Vanilla-forward

Wilson & Morgan has an Italian soul, but the whisky is Scottish through and through. This Highland malt is a textbook example of what sherry casks can do.

Expert's Description

Sherry Cask Malt Whisky is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Wilson & Morgan, matured for 6 years and bottled at 43%.

The source distillery is undisclosed, but the whisky is designed as an accessible introduction to the delicate aromas found in Highland single malts, shaped by cask no. 3544/3550.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Buttery cake and fruit meet a subtle wine-like sherry tone with a hint of nuts.

Palate

Balanced with apricot, peach, raisin and a hint of honey.

Finish

Robust yet easy-drinking, with lingering dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Sherry Cask Malt
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry casks, cask no. 3544/3550
EAN No.: 8033749400581

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Nutty · Balanced

Did You Know?

Wilson & Morgan is an Italian family company from Livorno that has travelled to Scotland since 1992 to select and bottle casks — a rare European angle on Scotch whisky.

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Shizuoka is one of Japan's most talked-about new distilleries, and this independent bottling from Blackadder shows the whisky completely unfiltered and undiluted.

Expert Description

Shizuoka 2019/2023 Blackadder Raw Cask 4 Year Cask No. 1129 is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 64%.

The whisky was distilled in 2019 at Shizuoka Distillery, founded in 2016 by Gaia Flow and quickly established as one of the most acclaimed new Japanese distilleries. This release is bottled by Blackadder, an independent Scottish bottler known for its Raw Cask series, where the whisky is delivered straight from the cask with no filtration, dilution or colouring.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense tropical fruit, fresh oak and a light mineral note.

Palate

Very powerful with spice, honey and ripe pears.

Finish

Very long and warm with lingering oak.

Specifications

Name: Shizuoka 2019/2023 Blackadder Raw Cask
Distillery: Shizuoka
Bottler: Blackadder
Region/Country: Shizuoka, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Age: 4 years
Cask number: 1129
ABV: 64%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5055030621355

Flavour Profile

Very powerful · Spicy · Tropical · Intense

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

Shizuoka Distillery is one of the most sought-after new names in Japanese whisky, and independent single cask bottlings like this Raw Cask release from Blackadder typically sell out quickly.

Did You Know?

Shizuoka Distillery uses six different still shapes in its production, an unusual variation that gives the distillery a wide range of flavour characters to work with.

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Named after the site where the world's first transatlantic wireless signal was received.

Expert description

Signal Hill Whisky Premium Canadian Whisky is an unfiltered blend of 95% corn and 5% malted barley whiskies, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, new white oak and Canadian whisky casks, bottled at 40%. The brand was developed in 2014 by a team with decades of combined experience from major international whisky brands and is blended and bottled in St. John's, Newfoundland — within sight of the historic Signal Hill, where Guglielmo Marconi received the world's first wireless transatlantic message in 1901.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers sweet corn, honey and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and grainy.

Specifications

Name: Signal Hill Whisky Premium Canadian Whisky
Bottler: Signal Hill
Region/Country: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Type: Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Grainy · Soft · Sweet · Round

Did you know?

The whisky's logo is inspired by the Old Norse symbol 'Valknut', whose three triangles symbolise the three key elements of Signal Hill Whisky: the grain, the water and the barrels.

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Dufftown is called 'the whisky capital', with seven distilleries packed into a few kilometres. Singleton is the gentlest voice in that chorus.

Expert's Description

Singleton 12 Year Old Dufftown is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Dufftown distillery in Speyside, bottled at 40% after 12 years of maturation.

This release replaced the earlier Singleton of Auchroisk in Diageo's Singleton portfolio and is defined by a soft, rounded style with fine spice notes and a pleasant fullness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft malt and ripe apples meet light spice notes and a touch of honey.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet with vanilla, pear and a hint of ginger.

Finish

Medium length and soft with lingering malt and a lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Singleton 12 Year Old
Distillery: Singleton of Dufftown
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5000281021621

Flavour Profile

Soft · Fruity · Spiced · Approachable

Did You Know?

Dufftown boasts seven distilleries, earning it the nickname 'Scotland's whisky capital' — more than any other town in the country.

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Diageo has once again sent its distillers into uncharted territory. 'Into the Blue' is Glen Ord's answer to the question: what happens when mezcal meets Highland malt?

Expert's Description

Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Year Old Special Release 2025 'Into the Blue' is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Glen Ord distillery, matured in ex-mezcal casks and second-fill ex-sherry casks, bottled at natural cask strength of 55.5%.

The release is part of Diageo's annual Special Releases 2025 and showcases the distillery's experimental side, where the unusual mezcal maturation adds an exotic, lightly smoky edge to the classic Highland character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot, caramel and vanilla rise alongside a hint of agave and smoke from the mezcal cask.

Palate

Round and creamy with tropical fruit, toasted nuts and spiced honey, lifted by a delicate smoky minerality.

Finish

Long and intricate with spice, nutty undertones and toasted oak.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2025 Into the Blue
Distillery: Glen Ord
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 55.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-mezcal casks and second-fill ex-sherry casks
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Special Release 2025

Flavour Profile

Experimental · Smoky · Fruity · Cask strength

Investment Potential

Medium. As part of Diageo's annual Special Releases series, previous years' editions have typically seen growing collector interest after being discontinued.

Did You Know?

Mezcal casks remain rare in Scotch whisky production, making 'Into the Blue' one of the most experimental Special Releases in Diageo's history.

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The leaves fall, the air turns crisp, and a glass of 'Autumn Walk' feels like a stroll through the Highland forest in October — with spice at every step.

Expert's Description

Singleton of Glen Ord Special Release 2024 'Autumn Walk' is a 14-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in first fill bourbon and Spanish oak casks, bottled at natural cask strength of 54.7%.

The release is part of Diageo's Special Releases and is inspired by a walk in autumn weather, with a flavour profile supporting that theme through ripe apples, spice and baked notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and pears meet warm spices and a hint of honey.

Palate

Velvety with caramelised nuts, baked apple and cinnamon.

Finish

Long and warming with sweet malt, dried fruit and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Special Release 2024 Autumn Walk
Distillery: Glen Ord
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 54.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First fill bourbon and Spanish oak casks
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Special Release 2024

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Fruity · Cask strength · Warm

Investment Potential

Medium. As part of Diageo's annual Special Releases, previous editions have typically seen growing collector interest once discontinued.

Did You Know?

Each year's Diageo Special Releases gets its own theme and name, with Glen Ord's 'Autumn Walk' conceived as a sensory interpretation of the Scottish autumn forest.

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618 steps lead up to the rock of Skellig Michael, where monks once built their monastery high above the Atlantic. That number has given its name to Ireland's only distillery on the Ring of Kerry.

Expert Review

Skellig Six18 Step Collection Limited Edition is an Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey matured in three cask types, bottled at 43%.

The whiskey is the first expression from Skellig Six18 Distillery in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, and the first Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey with a peated profile, inspired by the Atlantic peatlands and the maritime history along the Skellig Coast. It is mashed from both malted and unmalted barley and triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, giving it the silky structure the style is known for. The distillery is housed in a former dry dock, from which locals and visitors once sailed out to Skellig Michael.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh maritime peat meets young grain and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Silky structure with spiced grain and a light, smoky depth.

Finish

Peat and salt linger, rounded off by a light sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Skellig Six18 Step Collection Limited Edition
Distillery: Skellig Six18 Distillery
Region/Country: County Kerry, Ireland
Type: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Edition: Six18 Step Collection, Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5391536650216

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spiced · Silky · Salty

Did You Know?

Skellig Six18 Distillery is housed in a former dry dock for boats that once carried visitors out to the UNESCO rock of Skellig Michael, and the name refers to the 618 steps monks once carved into the rock to reach their monastery.
See our full range of Skellig Six18

Silkie The Legendary Dark is a rich, smoky blend crafted by Sliabh Liag Distillers in Donegal, Ireland, known for its soft character and complex flavour nuances.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Sliabh Liag The Legendary Dark Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is made by combining double-distilled single malt and triple-distilled peated single malt, matured in sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is non-chill-filtered, giving it a natural colour and depth. The whiskey is lightly peated.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and sweet start with hints of salted caramel, dark chocolate and sweet pipe tobacco.

Palate

Smoky with a touch of malt and peanut butter.

Finish

Warm and full-bodied with a smoky flavour reminiscent of the old Donegal whiskeys.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Dark Silkie
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Cask: Sherry Casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated
EAN no.: 5391532620237

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Caramel · Chocolatey · Full-bodied · Complex

Did You Know?

Sliabh Liag Distillers is located near the dramatic Slieve League cliffs in Donegal, one of Ireland's most remote corners.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Silkie The Legendary Dark in miniature format is the smoky, sherry-matured variant of the Silkie series from Sliabh Liag Distillers in Donegal.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Miniature Sliabh Liag The Legendary Dark Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is made by combining double-distilled single malt and triple-distilled peated single malt, matured in sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is non-chill-filtered, giving it a natural colour and depth. The whiskey is lightly peated.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft and sweet start with hints of salted caramel, dark chocolate and sweet pipe tobacco.

Palate

Smoky with a touch of malt and peanut butter.

Finish

Warm and full-bodied.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Dark Silkie Miniature
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Cask: Sherry Casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Caramel · Chocolatey · Full-bodied · Complex

Did You Know?

Sliabh Liag Distillers is located near the dramatic Slieve League cliffs in Donegal, one of Ireland's most remote corners.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Silkie The Legendary is a premium Irish whiskey from Sliabh Liag Distillers, known for carefully blending malt and grain whiskey into a harmonious and rich flavour profile.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Sliabh Liag The Legendary Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey offers a lovely combination of warm notes of vanilla, honey and light oak, with subtle hints of spice. It has a soft, medium-long finish, making it versatile to enjoy neat, with ice or in cocktails. The whiskey reflects the distillery's dedication to Irish craftsmanship, where tradition and innovation meet, and is inspired by the mystical cliffs in Donegal, where the distillery is located. It is lightly peated and non-chill-filtered.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and honey.

Palate

Light oak with subtle spice.

Finish

Soft and medium-long.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Silkie
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated
EAN no.: 5391532620183

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Honeyed · Oaky · Spiced · Versatile

Did You Know?

Sliabh Liag Distillers is located near the dramatic Slieve League cliffs in Donegal, one of Ireland's most remote corners.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Sliabh Liag The Legendary Silkie Gift Set is a beautifully composed gift set with three 5 cl bottles of the award-winning Legendary Silkie whiskey.

Expert Review

Sliabh Liag The Legendary Silkie Gift Set 3x5cl Blended Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

This whiskey, distilled by Sliabh Liag Distillery in Donegal, is known for its smooth, honey-like texture and a hint of smoke. The whiskey blend consists of a mix of double- and triple-distilled malts, with a small amount of peated malt and a large proportion of column-distilled maize whiskey. The result is a refined, elegant drink offering fresh malted notes, hints of honey, orange peel and digestive biscuits with a subtle smoky flavour. Legendary Silkie won Best Irish Blend at the World Whiskies Awards in 2021. It is a versatile whiskey, good to drink neat, over ice or mixed in cocktails, for example with ginger beer and a slice of orange peel. Perfect as a gift or for those wanting to explore the finer side of Irish whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh malted notes and hints of honey.

Palate

Orange peel and digestive biscuits with subtle smoke.

Finish

Smooth and honey-like.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Silkie Gift Set
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 3 x 5 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated

Flavour Profile

Honeyed · Malty · Elegant · Refined · Lightly smoky

Did You Know?

Legendary Silkie won Best Irish Blend at the World Whiskies Awards in 2021.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Sliabh Liag The Legendary Silkie Gift Pack is the perfect gift for the whiskey lover – a bottle of the award-winning Legendary Silkie together with four glasses and a travel pouch.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Sliabh Liag The Legendary Gift Pack with 4 Glasses Blended Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

Legendary Silkie is a premium Irish whiskey from Sliabh Liag Distillers, known for carefully blending malt and grain whiskey into a harmonious and rich flavour profile. The whiskey offers a lovely combination of warm notes of vanilla, honey and light oak, with subtle hints of spice. It has a soft, medium-long finish, making it versatile to enjoy neat, with ice or in cocktails. This pack includes 1 x The Legendary Silkie 70 cl 46%, 4 x small glasses and 1 x travel pouch for the glasses.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and honey.

Palate

Light oak with subtle spice.

Finish

Soft and medium-long.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Silkie Gift Pack
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Contents: 1 x bottle 70 cl, 4 x glasses, 1 x travel pouch
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated
EAN no.: 5391532620664

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Honeyed · Oaky · Spiced · Versatile

Did You Know?

The Legendary Silkie won Best Irish Blend at the World Whiskies Awards in 2021.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Silkie The Legendary in miniature format is the perfect way to get acquainted with this award-winning, harmonious blend from Sliabh Liag Distillers.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Miniature Sliabh Liag The Legendary Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey offers a lovely combination of warm notes of vanilla, honey and light oak, with subtle hints of spice. It has a soft, medium-long finish, making it versatile to enjoy neat, with ice or in cocktails. The whiskey is lightly peated and non-chill-filtered.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and honey.

Palate

Light oak with subtle spice.

Finish

Soft and medium-long.

Specifications

Name: The Legendary Silkie Miniature
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Honeyed · Oaky · Spiced · Versatile

Did You Know?

The Legendary Silkie won Best Irish Blend at the World Whiskies Awards in 2021.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Midnight Silkie is the smoky, characterful variant of the Silkie series from Sliabh Liag Distillers, inspired by the legendary silkie beings from Irish folklore.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Sliabh Liag The Midnight Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

Midnight Silkie is a rich, characterful blended Irish whiskey that differs from the other whiskeys in the series by having a higher proportion of peat-smoked malt whiskey, giving it a marked smoky profile, more pronounced than the other Silkie variants. It combines a smoky, lightly spiced flavour with classic Irish whiskey notes of sweetness and fruit. Midnight Silkie is inspired by the legendary silkie beings from Irish folklore – seals that could transform into beautiful humans – and seeks to capture the mystery and magic of Donegal's night sky and the wild landscapes around the distillery. The whiskey is a fantastic choice for those who appreciate Irish whiskey with a more pronounced smoky character, but who still want a soft and nuanced flavour experience.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and light spice.

Palate

Classic Irish whiskey notes of sweetness and fruit.

Finish

Smoky and nuanced.

Specifications

Name: The Midnight Silkie
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, medium to light smoke
EAN no.: 5391532620510

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Sweet · Fruity · Nuanced

Did You Know?

Midnight Silkie is named after the silkie beings from Irish folklore, seals that could transform into humans.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Midnight Silkie in miniature format is the smoky, characterful variant of the Silkie series, inspired by the legendary silkie beings from Irish folklore.

Expert Review

Silkie Whiskey Miniature Sliabh Liag The Midnight Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

Midnight Silkie is a rich, characterful blended Irish whiskey that differs from the other whiskeys in the series by having a higher proportion of peat-smoked malt whiskey, giving it a marked smoky profile, more pronounced than the other Silkie variants. It combines a smoky, lightly spiced flavour with classic Irish whiskey notes of sweetness and fruit. Midnight Silkie is inspired by the legendary silkie beings from Irish folklore – seals that could transform into beautiful humans – and seeks to capture the mystery of Donegal's night sky.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and light spice.

Palate

Classic Irish whiskey notes of sweetness and fruit.

Finish

Smoky and nuanced.

Specifications

Name: The Midnight Silkie Miniature
Distillery: Sliabh Liag Distillers
Region/Country: Donegal, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Other: Natural colour, non-chill-filtered, lightly peated

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Sweet · Fruity · Nuanced

Did You Know?

Midnight Silkie is named after the silkie beings from Irish folklore, seals that could transform into humans.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

A Bavarian whisky that began as a bet between friends on a Scottish study trip.

Expert description

Slyrs 2003 is a German Single Malt Whisky distilled at Slyrs in Schliersee, Bavaria. The story begins in 1994, when master brewer Florian Stetter was on a study trip to Scotland and made a bet with his colleagues that first-class whisky could be distilled in the heart of Bavaria. He won the bet, and in 1999 the first Slyrs Single Malt was distilled. The distillery in Neuhaus am Schliersee was completed in 2007 and is today Germany's largest whisky distillery, where the alpine climate of warm summers and cold winters drives distinctive maturation.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers honey, apple and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is round with caramel, ripe fruit and light malted sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Slyrs 2003 Tysk Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Slyrs
Region/Country: Schliersee, Bavaria, Germany
Type: German Single Malt Whisky
Distilled: 2003
Distillation method: Double distilled in pot stills

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Round · Soft

Did you know?

Slyrs was born out of a bet — a Scottish distiller wagered a crate of wheat beer that good whisky couldn't be made in Bavaria. He lost, and the rest is history.

See our full range of Slyrs