A single cask, chosen with a clear purpose in mind. Calle Cask No 1 is one of the rarer Highland Park releases, where the whisky has never touched any other cask — what you taste is exactly what that one cask gave.

Expert Description

Highland Park Calle Cask No 1 is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky from a single cask, bottled at cask strength 59.8%.

As a single cask bottling, the entire release comes from one and the same cask, without being blended with whisky from other casks. That makes every bottle part of a unique, unrepeatable batch, where the cask's full character comes through directly at high strength.

The powerful ABV means the whisky benefits from a few drops of water, which loosens up the layers of spice and fruit that the cask strength otherwise holds tightly together.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted malt and dark honey, with a warm spice trail and a hint of sherried nuts.

Palate

Intense and full-bodied, with caramel, dried fruit and a clear, warming peat.

Finish

Long and powerful, with lingering spice and a final smoky note.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Calle Cask No 1
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
ABV: 59.8%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Single cask bottling
EAN: 5010314303518

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Full-bodied · Intense

Did You Know?

In a single cask bottling, the entire release comes from one and the same cask — no other bottle in the world will therefore taste quite like this one.

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The first chapter of a trilogy that began with a question: what happens to Islay smoke when it is left for a quarter of a century? The answer is not less smoke — it is smoke with manners.

The expert's description

Big Peat 25 years Vintage 1992 Gold Edition is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 52.1 % cask strength.

The whiskies were distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2017 in an outturn of 3,000 bottles. The release is neither chill filtered nor coloured and is the first of three in Douglas Laing's Vintage Series.

The Gold Edition opened a trilogy that continued with the Platinum Edition at 26 years and The Black Edition at 27 years. All three come from the same 1992 vintage and are built from some of Islay's most sought after single malts.

Tasting notes

Nose

Complex and nuanced. Smoke meets caramel and vanilla, with dried fruit, sea salt and a light medicinal tone behind.

Palate

Full and oily. Powerful peat smoke up front, balanced by honey and burnt sugar, followed by dark chocolate, leather and spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with peat and sweetness fading slowly. An elegant dryness of oak and nuts closes it.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat 25 years old Vintage 1992 Series No 1 Gold Edition Douglas Laing Blended Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 52.1%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 52.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1992
Bottled: 2017
Number of bottles: 3,000
Edition: Vintage Series No 1 The Gold Edition

Flavour profile

Peated · Mature · Smoky · Sweet · Cask strength

Investment potential

High: The first release in a completed trilogy from the 1992 vintage, in an outturn of 3,000 bottles that will not be made again. Complete sets of the three editions are sought after by collectors, and the Gold Edition is the hardest of them to track down.

Did you know?

Cara Laing, whisky director at Douglas Laing, explained at the launch that the casks had been tasted year after year until the team felt the vatting was finally ready. The trilogy was not planned from the outset — it was decided along the way.

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In a region crowded with famous names, Jura has quietly gone about its business for generations. This particular release from Isle of Jura shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Jura One and All 20 Year Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 51% is a Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 51%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh malt, orchard fruit and a light floral note.

Palate

Honey, pear and a mellow barley character.

Finish

Crisp and drying with a gentle spice.

Specifications

Name: Jura One and All 20 Year Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 51%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Isle of Jura
Type: Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 51%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: One and All
EAN no.: 5013967012424

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. The release marks the end of a distillery manager's era at Jura, which typically increases interest in exactly this kind of personal, limited bottling over time.

Did you know?

Jura distillery was founded in 1810 but stood unused for more than 60 years before being essentially rebuilt from scratch in 1963.

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Dark sherry, concentrated in a small bottle. Eighteen years of maturation pressed into 5cl.

Expert's description

Tomatin Miniature 18 år Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Oloroso sherry cask finish and bottled at 46%.

This 18-year-old miniature carries an Oloroso sherry cask finish and is bottled at 46% in a 5cl format.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry sweetness and toasted oak.

Palate

Full with spiced sherry character.

Finish

Medium long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Miniature 18 år Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry cask finish
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Miniature

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Tomatin's fully sherry-matured 18-year-old is considered one of the distillery's most complex releases, and this miniature offers the same profile in a small format.

See our full range of Tomatin

Port cask sweetness in pocket format. A small bottle carrying the same story as its bigger sister.

Expert's description

Tomatin Miniature 14 år Port Casks Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in port casks and bottled at 46%.

Like the full bottle, this 14-year-old miniature is matured in port casks and bottled at 46%, in a convenient 5cl format.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweetness from the port cask, raisins and orange.

Palate

Toffee and spice, creamy.

Finish

Soft with a late fruit sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Miniature 14 år Port Casks Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 46%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: port casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Edition: Miniature

Flavour Profile

Wine-toned · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

Tomatin still uses a significant share of its production to supply well-known blended whiskies, a tradition dating back to the distillery's early years.

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The first release in a new range is always something of a milestone. The Gauldrons Batch 1 was Douglas Laing's first attempt at gathering Campbeltown's character into a single, accessible bottle.

Expert Description

The Gauldrons Batch 1 is a Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of single malt from the region's distilleries and bottled at 46.2%.

As the very first release in The Gauldrons range, Batch 1 set the tone for what has since become a staple in Douglas Laing's line-up: a maritime, honeyed blend bottled without added colour or chill filtration, in smaller batches to preserve variation and character from cask to cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and sea air meet crisp apples and a hint of spiced oak.

Palate

Maritime and round, with a clear saline edge and an underlying sweetness that holds balance throughout.

Finish

Long and salty, with a lightly spiced close that builds on the nose's honey notes.

Specifications

Name: The Gauldrons Batch 1
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Batch 1
EAN no.: 5014218803129

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Spicy · Fruity

Did You Know?

The Gauldrons Batch 1 was the very first release in the range and laid the groundwork for Douglas Laing's continued work of gathering Campbeltown's three distilleries into one shared blend.

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The distillery sits on the Highland boundary itself. The pot stills stand in the Highlands while the casks mature across the road in the Lowlands — same address, two regions.

The expert's description

Glengoyne 12 Year is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of first fill bourbon and sherry casks along with refill casks, bottled at 43%.

Around forty percent of the casks are first fill and the rest are refill. That balance gives the whisky more weight than the ten year old without making it heavy, and the 43% gives it a little more body in the glass.

The malt is unpeated like the rest of the range. Without smoke it is citrus peel, coconut and sherry that carry the flavour, making this one of the more fruity twelve year olds from the Highlands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon zest, coconut and shortbread with toffee apple. Sherry, ginger and vanilla behind it.

Palate

Round and malty with dried fruit, nuts and soft oak. The sherry is clear but does not lie over everything.

Finish

Medium length and lightly spiced with nuts, malt and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Glengoyne 12 Year Single Highland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glengoyne
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon and sherry casks plus refill casks
EAN no.: 5010852026641

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Citrus · Sherried · Nutty · Round

Did you know?

Glengoyne distils in the Highlands and matures in the Lowlands. The Highland boundary runs under the road in front of the distillery, so the warehouses on the other side technically sit in a different whisky region than the pot stills.

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A whisky maker and a music producer have more in common than you might think — both are about balance. Highland Park Fullvolume was created with that idea as its starting point, wrapped in packaging inspired by vintage guitar amplifiers.

Expert Description

Highland Park Fullvolume is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 47.2%.

The whisky was distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2017 by the distillery's then master whisky maker Gordon Motion, who used 100% ex-bourbon casks to create a brighter, more citrus-driven profile than many of Highland Park's sherry-heavy releases. The packaging is inspired by classic guitar amplifiers, where dials on the side illustrate the whisky's different flavour elements of bourbon, peat, vanilla and fruit.

Fullvolume is a limited edition release that shows a different, lighter side of the distillery's style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus and creamy vanilla, with a light smoky undertone in the background.

Palate

Fresh and creamy, with citrus peel, vanilla and a mild, peated finish.

Finish

Medium in length and lightly smoky, with lingering citrus and vanilla.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Fullvolume
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
ABV: 47.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Distilled: 1999
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Fullvolume, limited edition
EAN: 5010314303587

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Light

Did You Know?

Fullvolume's packaging is shaped like a vintage guitar amplifier, with the dials illustrating the whisky's different flavour elements.

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Skördetid, harvest time in Swedish, draws its sweetness from an unusual source: Italian Amarone casks that have given this Mackmyra release a fullness of red grapes and raisins rarely found in Nordic whisky.

The Expert's Description

Mackmyra Skördetid is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky partly matured in Italian Masi Costasera Amarone casks and bottled at 46.1%.

The whisky is assembled from several cask types: primarily first-fill Masi Costasera Amarone casks, first-fill bourbon casks and first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, supplemented by smaller amounts of American oak previously filled with Pedro Ximénez sherry, as well as Mackmyra's own 30-litre Reserve casks. The result is a whisky with rich colour and clear fruitiness from the red wine casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet, rich tones of red grapes and raisins, crossed with soft herbal spice.

Palate

Full-bodied and fruity with clear Amarone character, where sweetness and spice go hand in hand with Mackmyra's clean, malty base.

Finish

Long and warm with a final tone of dried red-wine fruit.

Specifications

Name: Mackmyra Skördetid Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Mackmyra
Region/Country: Gästrikland, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Masi Costasera Amarone, bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks
EAN no.: 7350029667092

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Rich · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Skördetid is one of the few Scandinavian whiskies to use Italian Amarone casks in maturation. Amarone is known for its intense, dried-grape sweetness, giving the whisky an unusual red-wine character.

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Captain William McCoy ran whisky into the United States during Prohibition and never watered it down. People started asking for the genuine article — the real McCoy. This bottle is a nod to him.

Expert description

Cutty Sark Prohibition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The edition was made as a tribute to Prohibition, when Cutty Sark was among the most smuggled whiskies on the American east coast. McCoy anchored outside territorial waters and sold bottles on to small boats — and because he never diluted the goods, his name turned into a phrase. The 50% strength was chosen to reach the body the whisky had before it passed through many hands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Stronger than the yellow label. Vanilla, dried fruit and cereal, with a touch of spice and a warm oak note.

Palate

Full and oily. Caramel, orange peel and malt, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry oak edge. There is more body than in the standard release, but the same pale fruit character underneath.

Finish

Long and dry, with spice, cereal and a persistent warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Prohibition Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Prohibition Edition
EAN no.: 5010504100309

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Vanilla · Dried Fruit · High Strength

Did you know?

The phrase the real McCoy is, on one widely repeated account, down to Captain William McCoy, who refused to dilute or adulterate his smuggled whisky. The expression stuck long after Prohibition ended.

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The world's best-selling single malt gathered in three ages in one gift set.

Expert description

Glenfiddich Gift Set 12+15+18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky brings together the distillery's three classic age expressions in 20 cl miniatures, bottled at 40%. Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, was founded in 1887 by William Grant and is still owned and run by his descendants today — Glenfiddich means 'Valley of the Deer' in Gaelic, reflected in the distillery's iconic stag logo.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose ranges from fresh and fruity in the 12-year-old to deeper and more complex in the 18-year-old.

Palate

The palate offers apple, pear and caramel with increasing depth and spice the older the expression.

Finish

The finish ranges from short and fresh to long and warm depending on the expression.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich Gavesæt 12+15+18 år Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 3 x 20 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Varied · Elegant · Caramel

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No age statement, no fuss. Tomatin Cask Strength is the distillery's answer for those who want the malt undiluted.

Expert's description

Tomatin Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Whisky 57,5% is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 57,5%.

At 57.5%, this is one of Tomatin's strongest core releases, bottled without an age statement from a mix of bourbon and sherry casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich sherry sweetness and toasted oak at full cask strength.

Palate

Powerful and juicy with dark fruit and spice.

Finish

Long and warming.

Specifications

Name: Tomatin Cask Strength Single Highland Malt Whisky 57,5%
Distillery: Tomatin
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: a mix of bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Tomatin Cask Strength was assembled by the distillery's former manager Graham Eunson, who selected bourbon and sherry casks to give the whisky its full power.

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It does not say which distilleries are in the bottle, and that is deliberate. Glenalmond is a marriage of Highland malts, and who supplied what is a trade secret at The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. What you are told is how it tastes.

The expert's description

Glenalmond is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

A blended malt is not the same as a blended whisky. There is no grain whisky in the bottle — only single malt from several distilleries married together. That lets the blender build a profile no single distillery could deliver alone, and it is exactly what Glenalmond is meant to be: an approachable Highland style with no sharp edges.

The bourbon casks lay vanilla and bright fruit in, while the sherry casks add the darker sweetness. At 40% the whisky is light and round rather than powerful, and the bottling carries no age statement, which allows the profile to stay consistent from batch to batch.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla fudge and sweet malt, with cinnamon and a trace of honey. Bright and welcoming rather than complex.

Palate

Fruity sherry notes and fresh pale stone fruit, with candied citrus and soft vanilla. The body is light, and there are no sharp edges anywhere.

Finish

Mild and warming. Malt and vanilla ebbing away quietly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Glenalmond Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks

Flavour profile

Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Fruity · Light · Malty

Did you know?

Brian Crook founded The Vintage Malt Whisky Company in 1992, having been a director at Morrison Bowmore. Glenalmond was one of the very first brands the company put on the market, and it has been there ever since.

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A new name on the smoky whisky shelf — Smokestack is made for those who want smoke without being knocked over by it.

Expert's Description

Smokestack 30 PPM Limited Edition is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from The Vintage Whisky Co. Ltd., matured in American oak and bottled at 46%.

With a smoke intensity of around 30 PPM (phenol level), the whisky sits in a range where the peat is prominent yet still open to nuances of sweetness and citrus. The range is bottled in limited batches of 4,200 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and sweet peat smoke meet ginger and citrus with a faint maritime iodine note.

Palate

Dry, pronounced smoke accompanied by spiced sweetness, honey and lemon.

Finish

Long and drying, where the smoke slowly unfolds and lingers.

Specifications

Name: Smokestack 30 PPM Limited Edition
Bottler: The Vintage Whisky Co. Ltd.
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American Oak
Number of Bottles: 4,200 bottles per batch

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Citrus-fresh · Maritime

Did You Know?

PPM (parts per million) measures the phenol content in the peated malt, not in the finished whisky — Smokestack's 30 PPM places it in the moderate-to-heavy end of the scale.

See our full range of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company

Most know Wolfburn for its clean, unpeated style, but Morven is the exception that proves the rule. It is the house's careful handling of smoke for the curious drinker.

The expert's description

Wolfburn Morven Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was created by distillery manager Shane Fraser as a lightly peated release, the only one of its kind in Wolfburn's core range. It is designed as a gentle introduction to smoky whisky, without compromising the distillery's clean, craft-driven base style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and honey with a light hint of smoke.

Palate

Soft and rounded with a discreet twist of peat.

Finish

Medium length with a mild, smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Wolfburn Morven Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Wolfburn
Region/Country: Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Created by Distillery Manager Shane Fraser, lightly peated
EAN no.: 0634158496370

Flavour Profile

Lightly peated · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

Morven is named after a mountainous area in the west of Scotland, and the name fits well with the whisky's role as the distillery's only peated release, a kind of change of landscape in bottle form.

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Heather on the moors of West Jutland. Stauning has used it since the beginning – an ingredient that gives HEATHER its floral and honeyed character.

Expert description

Stauning HEATHER September 2017 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 48.7% and made with heather added during the drying of the malt. Distilled 2013-2014 and released in September 2017. Heather is a traditional ingredient in Nordic brewing and distilling, and Stauning revives the tradition in the HEATHER series. The result is a whisky with a unique floral and honeyed profile – clearly different from the rest of Stauning's range.

HEATHER is one of Stauning's most original expressions. It is not just a variation on a theme – it is a whisky that could not come from any other region. The Jutland heather moor is the invisible ingredient.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heather and wildflowers, light fruits and a discreet honey sweetness. Very aromatic and fresh.

Palate

Floral and sweet with malt, honey and heather tones. Light spice and a mild fruit core. Elegant and different.

Finish

Moderate and floral with blossom and a little sweetness. Fades gently.

Specifications

Name: Stauning HEATHER September 2017
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48.7%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2013-2014
Bottled: September 2017

Flavour profile

Floral · Heather · Honey · Fresh · Rare

Did you know?

The use of heather in whisky making has roots in medieval Nordic brewing. Stauning is one of very few modern distilleries actively reviving this practice in their HEATHER series.

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Tun 1509 is not a cask but a vat. A large, old wooden tun standing in warehouse 24, where whisky from several barrels is left to sit together for months until the edges have worn off and the whole thing speaks with one voice.

The expert's description

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks, married in Tun 1509 and bottled at 51.7 % without chill filtration.

The series works by having David Stewart select a small number of casks, empty them into the large wooden tun known as Tun 1509 and let the contents stand and find each other over several months. Batch 4 is assembled from 23 casks, few enough that each individual cask can still be felt.

Bottling happens without chill filtration and at high strength, so the oils and fatty acids filtration would otherwise strip out are allowed to stay. That gives a denser texture and a fuller mouthfeel than the standard bottlings of the distillery carry.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, dried fruit and cinnamon. Behind it sit vanilla, ginger and a note of old oak.

Palate

Full and oily with malt, honey and warm spice. The high strength gives it an edge without turning sharp.

Finish

Long and warm with spice, dried fruit and a soft close of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 51,7 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks, married in Tun 1509
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Batch 4
EAN no.: 5010327525983

Flavour profile

Full bodied · Honeyed · Spiced · Sherry matured · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium. The Tun 1509 batches are made in limited runs and never repeated, and the early batches are the hardest to find. The series has an established following among Balvenie collectors.

Did you know?

Tun 1509 is named after the vessel itself, which was brought back into use after standing idle for years. It holds around 8,000 litres and sits in warehouse 24 on the distillery site.

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Half a percentage point below the year before, but an entirely different mood in the glass. The 2017 edition has more sea and less bonfire — a Christmas dram for anyone who would rather stand on the pier than sit by the fire.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2017 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 54.1 % cask strength.

The blend is assembled from single malts from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen and bottled as a small batch without chill filtration and without added colour.

In the Christmas editions Douglas Laing emphasise the maritime side of Islay, and the 2017 vintage is a clear example: salt, seaweed and cold sea air take up more room than the dry ash.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salt and bitter peat with heavy smoke, yet bright enough for citrus to break through. Seaweed and wet stone sit beneath it all.

Palate

Peat from the first drop, with shifting layers of oil and salt turning into light vanilla and spice. There is a clear sea flavour, put there on purpose.

Finish

Long and persistent with smoke, salt and a dry peppery close.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2017 Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Whisky 54.1%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2017
Edition: Christmas Edition 2017

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Salt · Spicy · Cask strength

Investment potential

Medium: The Christmas editions are bottled only in the year they are named after, and the 2017 vintage has long been discontinued. Older Christmas Editions grow steadily scarcer as the bottles are drunk.

Did you know?

Port Ellen, part of the blend, closed in 1983 and lay silent for more than forty years. Every bottle of Big Peat containing Port Ellen therefore holds whisky from a distillery that in practice did not exist when the bottle was filled.

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Bulleit's older core expression shows what the rye-forward recipe becomes with time.

Expert description

Bulleit 10 Year Old Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is matured for at least 10 years, bottled at 45.6%. Bulleit was revived by Tom Bulleit, who built the brand on his great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit's 1830s recipe. The whiskey is characterised by a high proportion of rye in the mash bill, giving a more spiced profile than many classic bourbons. The brand is now owned by Diageo and is primarily distilled at Bulleit Distilling Co.'s own distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which opened in 2017.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is full with caramel, spice and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

The palate offers brown sugar, toasted wood and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spiced.

Specifications

Name: Bulleit 10 år Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottler: Bulleit Distilling Co.
Region/Country: Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45.6%
Size: 70 CL
Age: 10 years

Flavour profile

Spiced · Full-bodied · Warm · Caramel

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Four and a half litres of whisky is not a bottle you lift with one hand. That is why it comes with a cradle, and why it ends up being the centrepiece of the evening rather than something standing on a shelf.

The expert description

Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 450 cl bottle.

The bottle is supplied with a metal pouring cradle so it can be served without being lifted. That is a practical necessity rather than an accessory, since a full bottle at this size weighs far too much to handle freehand at a table.

The whisky inside is the classic Famous Grouse, created in Perth in 1896 and owned by William Grant & Sons since July 2025. Malt whisky from Scottish distilleries, with Highland Park historically among those providing the character, is bound together with grain whisky into a soft blend with no sharp edges. The format is aimed at parties, bars and collectors with shelf space.

Tasting notes

Nose

Calm and harmonious with dried fruit, honey and vanilla, and nuts plus a touch of citrus underneath.

Palate

Soft and round with clear fruit, ripe undertones and a lightly spiced edge.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet with malt at the close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 450 CL
Edition: Supplied with a metal pouring cradle

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Large bottles do not mature differently from small ones, since whisky does not develop in glass, but they do last longer once opened. The less air there is relative to liquid, the slower the oxidation, so a nearly full large format is better off than a nearly empty standard bottle.

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The Solist series is Kavalan's most exclusive, with every bottle coming from a single cask with no additives or dilution.

Expert Description

Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Cask MA110223015A is a Single Malt Whisky from Taiwan, bottled at 57.8%.

This single cask is matured in a Manzanilla sherry cask, a dry Spanish sherry style that gives the whisky a distinct salty, nutty character. The cask number MA110223015A identifies this specific bottling, part of Kavalan's acclaimed Solist series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Salty nuts, dried apricot and a light sea breeze.

Palate

Intense with sherry, almond and spicy oak.

Finish

Long, dry and nutty.

Specifications

Name: Kavalan Solist Manzanilla Cask
Cask number: MA110223015A
Distillery: Kavalan
Region/Country: Yilan, Taiwan
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.8%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4710085225262

Flavour Profile

Intense · Nutty · Dry · Salty

Investment Potential

Investment perspective

Kavalan Solist bottlings are among the most sought-after Asian whiskies on the international collector market, and single casks like this typically sell out quickly.

Did You Know?

Manzanilla is the lightest and driest of all sherry styles, and casks that held it are rare in the whisky world compared to the more common Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks.

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A cheeky chappy from 1930s Glasgow lives on in a glass. Citrus, caramel and exotic fruit dance through this light Lowland blend.

Expert description

The Epicurean is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, assembled by the Scottish bottler Douglas Laing purely from malt whisky sourced from several Lowland distilleries and bottled at 46.2% ABV.

The concept behind The Epicurean tells the story of a fictional 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky chappy and true connoisseur who valued good company as much as good taste, a spirit reflected in the blend's accessible, charming style.

The whisky belongs to Douglas Laing's series of "Remarkable Regional Malts", each representing a Scottish region, and The Epicurean is the house's take on the best of the Lowlands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Barley-rich, citrus-fresh notes with a touch of florals and herbs.

Palate

Sweet sugar, burnt citrus peel, mixed spice and ripe peaches.

Finish

Medium, gently sweet and light, with a closing hint of honey.

Specifications

Name: The Epicurean
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN: 5014218794540

Flavour profile

Citrus · Caramel · Exotic fruit

Did you know?

Douglas Laing named each of its "Remarkable Regional Malts" after a Scottish personality type, and The Epicurean represents precisely the connoisseur who loves fine food and drink.

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A recipe said to have travelled with a prince in flight, an inn on Skye and a Gaelic phrase about a dram that satisfies. Drambuie has had almost three hundred years to embroider its own story, and it has used them well.

The expert description

Drambuie is a Scotch Whisky Liqueur built on malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, sweetened with heather honey and seasoned with herbs and spices, bottled at 40%.

The story starts in July 1746. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was in flight after the defeat at Culloden, and on his way to the Isle of Skye he was helped by John MacKinnon of Clan MacKinnon. In return, the prince is said to have handed MacKinnon the recipe for his personal liqueur. By 1873 it could be had at The Broadford Hotel on Skye, where guests called it an dram buidheach, the dram that satisfies. The Ross family registered the name as a trademark twenty years later, and The Drambuie Liqueur Company was founded in 1914.

In 1916 Drambuie became the first liqueur admitted to the House of Lords, and it reached Buckingham Palace the following year. Prohibition in the United States and the Second World War came close to killing the brand off, but it survived. Drambuie is owned today by William Grant & Sons.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel and honey first, then aniseed, saffron and a dry herbal edge that keeps the sweetness in check.

Palate

Oily and full. Honey, toffee and citrus settle first, then the malt whisky pushes through with spice and a clean acidity that lifts the whole thing.

Finish

Warm and long with nutmeg, clove and a final bitter orange note.

Specifications

Name: Drambuie
Producer: Drambuie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Scotch Whisky Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010391100703
Serving suggestion: Neat over ice or in a Rusty Nail with Blended Scotch Whisky

Flavour profile

Sweet · Spiced · Honeyed · Citrus · Herbal

Did you know?

The name Rusty Nail only appeared in the 1960s at a club in New York, but the drink had been around for decades under other names, among them BIF, D and S and Little Club No. 1. It was only once bartenders settled on a single name that it truly caught on.

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Without an age statement, Yamazakura Blended can focus on the essentials: an approachable, everyday take on the brand's mountainous origins.

Expert Description

Yamazakura Blended is a Blended Whisky from Japan, bottled at 40%.

The whisky comes from Sasanokawa Shuzo, a sake and shochu brewer dating to 1765 in Fukushima Prefecture, which has also made whisky since 1946. This no-age-statement release combines malt and grain whisky in a light, approachable style that serves as a natural entry point into the Yamazakura range.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and light honey with a delicate, floral aroma.

Palate

Light and soft with caramel and a mild spice.

Finish

Short, clean and gently sweet.

Specifications

Name: Yamazakura Blended
Distillery: Sasanokawa
Region/Country: Fukushima, Japan
Type: Blended Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4973373500223

Flavour Profile

Light · Soft · Sweet · Approachable

Did You Know?

Yamazakura means "wild mountain cherry blossom", referring to the mountainous landscape in Fukushima where Sasanokawa Shuzo has brewed sake and shochu since 1765.

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Scars tell stories. With Viking Scars, Highland Park gave its 10 year old a new look in 2017, carrying details inspired by Viking-age symbols and marks — a reminder that every bottle has its own story to tell.

Expert Description

Highland Park 10 Year Old Viking Scars is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The name Viking Scars belongs to the design Highland Park introduced in 2017, giving the bottles a more rugged look with details inspired by Viking-age symbols and scars. The whisky itself is the distillery's entry-level 10 year old, built to be accessible without compromising on the characteristic Orkney style.

It offers an unusually soft and round palate with a light peated character, making it a solid introduction to Highland Park's world.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light smoke with nuances of honey and heather, a light sweetness and a touch of sherry.

Palate

Unusually soft and round, with a characteristic, lightly peated flavour.

Finish

Medium in length and soft, with a lingering, lightly peated aftertaste.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 10 Year Old Viking Scars
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Viking Scars, 2017 design
EAN: 5010314303556

Flavour Profile

Peated · Soft · Round · Light

Did You Know?

The Viking Scars design was introduced in 2017 as part of a broader update to Highland Park's entire bottle range.

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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 10 Year Pre Royal Warrent Unblended Tin Box Single Islay Malt Whisky 40% is a Single Islay Malt Whisky matured on american oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky was bottled in 1989-1990.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coastal smoke, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Peat, sea salt and a honeyed sweetness.

Finish

Rich and smoke-laden with a slow fade.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig 10 Year Pre Royal Warrent Unblended Tin Box Single Islay Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Bottled: 1989-1990

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. As a pre-Royal Warrant release from around 1989-1990 in its original tin, this is one of the oldest and rarest Laphroaig bottles still circulating among collectors.

Did you know?

Before Laphroaig received its Royal Warrant, bottles were marketed with a blue stripe instead of the green one that is the distillery's trademark today.

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Tormore is often called "the Pearl of Speyside," a name given by neighbours and visitors shortly after it was completed in 1959. This 10 year old comes from an earlier era of the bottling, before the range was relaunched.

The expert's description

Tormore 10 År Pure Speyside Malt Old Version Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43% is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

The whisky was distilled in the late 1980s at Tormore distillery in the heart of Speyside and bottled without a stated cask type or bottle count. This "Old Version" represents Tormore's classic, fruit-driven style, from before the distillery's more recent rebranding.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pears, almond and a hint of honey.

Palate

Soft and lightly sweet with grain and a touch of citrus.

Finish

Short to medium with dry grain and a mild nutty tone.

Specifications

Name: Tormore 10 År Pure Speyside Malt Old Version Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Tormore
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Discontinued edition
EAN no.: 5010019636379

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Tormore was built as an entire village with housing for its workers, a post office and even a golf course, which was unusual for a Scottish distillery in the 1950s.

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A unique collaboration between two masters of their respective crafts: Midleton Distillery in Ireland and Bodega Lustau in Jerez, Spain, united in one bottle.

Expert Review

Redbreast Lustau Edition is a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey finished in Lustau Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey is finally matured in casks that previously held the finest Oloroso sherry from Bodega Lustau, known as one of Jerez's most respected sherry houses. The collaboration between Redbreast and Lustau is unique because both parties excel in their respective crafts, giving the whiskey a deep and well-balanced sherry character with full notes of dark fruit, liquorice and warm spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Full dark fruit such as prunes, dates and figs, with liquorice and marzipan.

Palate

Toasted oak and warm spice, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and roasted nuts.

Finish

Very long, with lingering sherry sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Redbreast Lustau Edition
Distillery: Redbreast (Midleton Distillery)
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Lustau Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez
EAN no.: 5011007015787

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Sherry-driven · Spiced · Dark fruit · Long

Did You Know?

Bodega Lustau in Jerez is one of the most respected sherry houses in Spain and collaborates with several international whisky producers to supply casks for finish maturation.
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Two casks, one whisky. Amrut Double Cask 2017 is the third instalment in a series where bourbon and port wine casks each contribute their own chapter to the flavour.

Expert's description

Amrut Double Cask 2017 Release 3rd Edition Indian Single Malt Whisky is a Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky matured in bourbon cask #3189 and Port Pipe #2715 for 5 years, bottled at 46%.

The peated Scottish barley was distilled in May and March 2012 and bottled in June 2017 in just 1,050 bottles worldwide. The combination of the two cask types delivers a balance of sweet vanilla and coconut from the American oak and rich fruitiness from the port cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is rich with sweetness of vanilla, coconut and a hint of peated malt.

Palate

The palate offers ripe red fruit, caramel and a peaty undertone that ties the two cask types together.

Finish

The finish is long with a fine balance between sweetness and smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Amrut
Region/Country: Bangalore, India
Type: Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Bourbon cask #3189 and Port Pipe #2715
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distilled: Maj/marts 2012
Bottled: Juni 2017
Number of Bottles: 1,050
Edition: 2017 Release, 3rd Edition
EAN No.: 8901193502956

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Rich

Investment Potential

Medium – A discontinued vintage release limited to 1,050 bottles worldwide. Limited Amrut releases are typically sought after by collectors in growing numbers as they become harder to find.

Did you know?

Amrut Double Cask 2017 was bottled in just 1,050 bottles worldwide, making it one of the most sought-after releases in the Double Cask series among collectors.

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Two cask types, one rounded whole. Tamnavulin Double Cask is the distillery's take on a soft everyday dram, where American oak and used sherry casks meet in a calm, golden glass.

Expert description

Tamnavulin Double Cask is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in American oak casks and finished in used sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

Double Cask is part of Tamnavulin's core range and represents the distillery's contemporary, approachable style, prioritising softness over complexity. After primary maturation in American oak, the whisky moves into casks that previously held sherry, adding an extra layer of sweetness and a light floral character without losing the underlying Speyside lightness.

The style is designed as an accessible entry point into the Tamnavulin range and is often used as a reference point for the distillery's other finished expressions, including Sherry Cask Edition and the various wine-cask series.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden honey and ripe apple with a light floral scent and a hint of vanilla custard.

Palate

Medium-bodied and soft, with notes of caramel, dried apricot and a lightly tart freshness that keeps the whisky light on the palate.

Finish

Short to medium, refreshing and clean, closing on a hint of nuts and oak.

Specifications

Name: Tamnavulin Double Cask
Distillery: Tamnavulin
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in used sherry casks
EAN nr.: 5013967011557

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Soft · Floral · Light nutty · Approachable

Did you know?

Tamnavulin sits on the River Livet, a tributary of the Spey, and by pure coincidence the river's name reads almost like the Danish word for "life" - a small linguistic quirk locals enjoy pointing out to visitors.

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