The casks had held Islay whisky before Ardmore moved in. It sounds like a footnote, but it changes everything: here Highland peat meets the remains of coastal peat in the wood itself.

Please note: This bottle has wear and rust on the cap.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2009/2020 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks that previously held Islay whisky and bottled at 46%. It was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2020 in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered Collection.

A cask does not forget. If it has held heavily peated Islay whisky, phenols remain in the staves and leach into the next filling. When the contents are already peated Highland malt from Ardmore, you end up with two different kinds of smoke layered on each other: the dry earthy one from Aberdeenshire and a hint of the maritime one from the west coast.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. Bottling at 46% was chosen to preserve body and mouthfeel without going all the way to cask strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry smoke first, with a suggestion of seaweed and iodine behind it that has no business being in a Highland. Vanilla, malt and green apple from the bourbon wood sit underneath.

Palate

Malty and soft to begin, then the smoke arrives in two layers: first the dry earthy one, then a saltier, more medicinal note from the cask’s past life. At 46% there is good body, and the two kinds of smoke stand clearly beside each other.

Finish

Medium to long. Ash, salt and malt, with a dry close where the Islay inheritance lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2009/2020 Signatory Vintage 11 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks that previously held Islay whisky
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2020
Edition: The Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Maritime · Malty · Vanilla · Dry · Spiced

Did You Know?

Ardmore was built in 1898 by Adam Teacher to secure malt for the family blend, Teacher's Highland Cream. For decades the distillery was almost invisible to consumers, because virtually all of its output went straight into blends. That is why most Ardmore bottles on the market still come from independent bottlers.

See our full range of Ardmore
See our full range of Signatory

Listen to our podcast:

The same day in September 1996, the same distillery, two casks. Signatory left them for nineteen years and then married them together, nearly two decades in the coolest corner of the Highlands gathered into one bottle.

Please note: wear and rust on the lid.

The expert description

Fettercairn 1996/2015 Signatory 19 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two married hogsheads and bottled at 46%.

The casks, numbers 4351 and 4356, were filled on 30 September 1996 and bottled on 29 October 2015. Two casks from the same filling day give a slightly broader profile than a single cask without losing the stamp of the individual vintage.

Nineteen years is enough for the light, sweet spirit of the distillery to gain depth without turning woody. The whisky is bottled in natural colour and without chill filtration, so every nuance stands untouched.

Tasting notes

Nose

Opens with ripe cereal notes, citrus and vanilla, and a light tropical sweetness followed by fresh oak and a touch of honey.

Palate

Full and rounded with classic Fettercairn tones of malt, pale caramel and green fruit, and a mild spiced warmth from the cask.

Finish

Long, clean and lightly mineral with a dry elegance that speaks of nearly two decades of quiet maturing in the Highland climate.

Specifications

Name: Fettercairn 1996/2015 Signatory 19 Years Old
Distillery: Fettercairn
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads no. 4351 and 4356
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 30 September 1996
Bottled: 29 October 2015

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Soft · Mineral · Mature

Did you know?

When two casks from the same filling day are married, it is no longer called single cask, but it is not a blend either. Bottlers do it because two identical casks rarely taste identical, and because two casks stretch to twice as many bottles as one.

See our full range of Fettercairn
See our full range of Signatory Vintage

Listen to our podcast:

Thirteen years of quiet rest in a Highland warehouse have given this Teaninich a maturity that only truly unfolds once the cork comes out.

Expert description

Teaninich 2008/2021 from Signatory is a 13 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky at 46%, distilled on 9 October 2008 and bottled on 23 November 2021 by the Scottish independent bottler Signatory Vintage.

The whisky matured in hogsheads, the mid-sized cask type often used for a steady, controlled maturation that lets the spirit lead. The result is a whisky that shows Teaninich's characteristic light, elegant style clearly.

The bottling is part of Signatory's extensive single distillery catalogue, where the company has specialised since 1988 in sourcing and bottling outstanding casks from across Scotland.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apple and pear mingle with light honey and a hint of freshly baked bread.

Palate

Round and gently creamy, with notes of caramel, malt and a faint touch of nutmeg.

Finish

Medium length, dry and lightly spiced, closing on a last trace of oak.

Specifications

Name: Teaninich 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old
Distillery: Teaninich
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Distilled: 09/10/2008
Bottled: 23/11/2021

Flavour profile

ripe · creamy · lightly spiced

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 and was one of the first independent bottlers to print both the distillation date and the bottling date directly on the label - a practice that has since become an industry standard.

See our full range of Teaninich

Listen to our podcast:

On the label sits the dunes of Kintra, painted by a Danish artist in memory of his grandfather. Behind that story lie 22 years in a single bourbon cask, the one Little Brown Dog called the jewel of their collection.

Expert description

Bruichladdich 2003 Little Brown Dog is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured for 22 years in a bourbon barrel and bottled at 53.6%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2025 by independent bottler Little Brown Dog, after more than two decades of maturation in a single bourbon cask. The cask was originally part of a parcel of four, but stood out so distinctly in taste, depth and structure according to the bottler that it was purchased on its own.

Only 140 bottles were drawn from this single cask. Each bottle carries an original label featuring an oil painting by Danish artist Bjarne Helverskov Andersen, depicting the dunes at Kintra on Islay, a personal tribute to the artist's grandson, who sold the cask on to Little Brown Dog.

To preserve its raw, authentic character, the whisky is bottled through a 20-micron filter rather than the finer filters typically used, which can leave natural cask sediment in the bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm bourbon notes, vanilla and light caramel, with a hint of ripe fruit and citrus oil.

Palate

Deep, mature and creamy with warm bourbon sweetness, citrus oil and a maritime undercurrent from the Islay coast.

Finish

Long, full-bodied and oily, with a lingering sweetness and a hint of salt.

Specifications

Name: 2003 Little Brown Dog
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 53.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 140

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium — with only 140 bottles from a single cask that the bottler itself called the best of a parcel of four, this release is sought after among collectors of Little Brown Dog's Bruichladdich bottlings.

Did you know?

The label carries an original oil painting by Danish artist Bjarne Helverskov Andersen, painted as a tribute to his role as grandfather to the friend who originally sold the cask on to Little Brown Dog.

See our full range of Bruichladdich
See our full range of Little Brown Dog

Listen to our podcast:

Two lads on a farm in Aberdeenshire had grown tired of good single malt always vanishing from the shelf before they got there. The idea was simple: make a whisky people can actually find on the shelf. This bottle is the first proof of how it should taste, and it went out of the door before the labels were ready.

Please note: The label on this preview release is handwritten and hand signed, because the printed labels did not arrive in time. Future batches will carry the final design.

The Expert's Description

Aberdeenshire Glen Garioch 12 Years Old Little Brown Dog is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 60% 1st fill bourbon casks and 40% Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 46%. It was distilled at Glen Garioch in 2013, bottled in 2025 by Little Brown Dog and limited to 500 hand-numbered bottles.

Andrew Smith and Chris Reid of Little Brown Dog have spent years working towards a signature bottling that does not simply appear in small rare batches but stays on the shelf. The vatting is their own work: the bulk from first fill bourbon for vanilla and cereal sweetness, the rest from sherry casks, both refill and first fill, for fruit and depth. The result lands somewhere different from an official Glen Garioch, which tends to be drier and maltier.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. This release is a preview bottling that shows the direction of Little Brown Dog’s forthcoming regular single malt under the Aberdeenshire name.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear and honey first, with a clear malty floor underneath. The sherry portion reports in as raisins, orange peel and a streak of dark sugar. There is a light waxy note too, which Glen Garioch often gives.

Palate

Soft and full. Vanilla and baked apple open, then the sherry brings dried fruit and a mild spiced warmth of cinnamon and a little ginger. At 46% it is round enough for a weeknight, yet there is still body enough to reward attention.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, honey and a drier oak note, with a final suggestion of raisin. Clean and free of bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Aberdeenshire Glen Garioch 12 Years Old Little Brown Dog Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 60% 1st fill bourbon casks and 40% Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 500
Edition: Aberdeenshire Preview Release

Flavour Profile

Malty · Fruity · Honeyed · Sherry Matured · Soft · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Five hundred bottles with handwritten, hand signed labels amount in practice to a one-off release, and preview bottlings from the start of a bottler’s project tend to become sought after once the regular series is running.

Did You Know?

Little Brown Dog is named after Andrew's dog, whose nickname was exactly that, the little brown dog. The company started in 2018 on a farm at Fetternear in Aberdeenshire and has since grown from pure bottling into distilling as well, running both a small copper pot still and a larger column for neutral spirit.

See our full range of Glen Garioch
See our full range of Little Brown Dog

Listen to our podcast:

Two casks. Exactly half from each. Thy Whisky FIFTY FIFTY is an experiment in equality – cask 664 and cask 1036, combined in precisely equal proportion and bottled straight from the cask.

Expert description

Thy Whisky FIFTY FIFTY Danish Retailers Cask 664 + 1036 is a Danish Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky bottled at 59.3% in a 70 cl bottle. Made from certified organic barley distilled and matured at Thy Whisky Distillery in northwest Jutland. FIFTY FIFTY denotes a precise 50/50 composition from cask 664 and cask 1036 – two individual casks selected and combined in equal proportion. Bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, natural colour.

Danish Retailers is an exclusive series created in collaboration with selected Danish specialist retailers. Whisky.dk is one of the retailers that has had access to select and present these limited releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful and concentrated – but with the raw and clean distillate character Thy Whisky is known for. Malt-sweet, lightly fruity and a little herbal.

Palate

Full-bodied and warm at 59.3%, with malt, light oak notes and good balance. Water opens it up and rounds it off.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering malt sweetness and oak spice.

Specifications

Name: Thy Whisky FIFTY FIFTY Danish Retailers Cask 664 + 1036
Distillery: Thy Whisky
Region/Country: Thy, Denmark
Type: Danish Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 59.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: Very limited

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Malt · Concentrated · Warm · Unfiltered

Investment potential

Medium. The Danish Retailers series from Thy Whisky is produced in very limited numbers for specific retailers. Single-cask style releases from sought-after Danish single estate distilleries have shown growing interest in the Nordic whisky market.

Did you know?

Blending exactly 50% from two specific casks requires precise knowledge of each cask's volume, strength and character. The FIFTY FIFTY concept is Thy Whisky's way of letting two individual casks complement each other without letting one dominate the other.

Three more years do more than you might expect. Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask is not simply the 12-year-old with more patience behind it — it is a whisky that has found another gear. More depth, more complexity, more oak.

Expert description

Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and bottled at 43%. Like the 12-year-old it uses two cask types — but 15 years in cask delivers a noticeably deeper and more complex profile. European oak contributes dried fruit and warm spices, while American oak adds vanilla and caramel. The result is a whisky with orange peel, light smoke and a finish that surpasses the 12-year-old in length and complexity.

This has stepped up from everyday dram to an expression worth enjoying slowly. A bottle that deserves time.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and butterscotch with baked apple and chocolate. Smooth oak with cinnamon, clove and fig nuances.

Palate

Sweet raisin and sultana with cinnamon and nutmeg. Creamy vanilla and black pepper that slowly dries with orange peel.

Finish

Long and dry with nutmeg and fresh ginger. Orange peel, ginger warmth and a discreet note of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask
Distillery: Macallan
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry seasoned European and American oak casks
EAN no.: 5010314304613

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spiced · Deeper and more complex

Did you know?

Macallan is one of the few distilleries that consistently offers 12-, 15- and 18-year-old expressions in the same Double Cask series — a rare opportunity to taste exactly what the extra years do to the whisky.

Listen to our podcast:

Before 2012, Talisker 10 Year Old looked different on the shelf. This bottle predates the redesign most people know today - a small time capsule for anyone collecting Talisker's packaging history.

Note: Light wear on the box/bottle.

Expert Description

Talisker 10 Year Old Isle of Skye Old Version Pre-2012 is an Isle of Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in American oak casks and bottled at 45.8%. The whisky inside is the same classic 10 Year Old, but the bottle carries the label used before the distillery's packaging redesign around 2012.

For a collector, it's exactly this kind of detail that turns an otherwise familiar bottle into something interesting - a chance to own an earlier edition of a whisky still produced today, just with a different look.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, sea salt and citrus, with an underlying sweetness and a hint of pepper foreshadowing the power to come in the palate.

Palate

The palate is powerful and warming, with smoke, salt and citrus up front, while the sweetness balances a clear, spicy peppery edge.

Finish

The finish is intense and fairly long, with a lingering pepper note drifting into a lightly salty close.

Specifications

Name: Talisker 10 Year Old
Distillery: Talisker
Region/Country: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 45.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Old Version, pre-2012

Flavour Profile

Peated · Maritime · Spicy · Citrusy · Full-bodied

Investment Potential

Medium - a discontinued label version of an otherwise active core release, which typically draws moderate interest from collectors of Talisker's packaging history.

Did You Know?

Talisker updated its packaging around 2012 as part of a wider visual overhaul across several of Diageo's Classic Malts, which makes bottles from before that period a small marker in time.

See our full range of Talisker

Listen to our podcast:

Peat. Smoke. Organic grain from Odense. Mosgaard Dark Peat is the smoky side of Mosgaard Distillery – and this release comes with a miniature to get acquainted with the style first.

Expert description

Mosgaard Dark Peat is an organic peated Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 50% from Mosgaard Distillery in Odense. The whisky is made from peated malt, which gives it the characteristic smoke and peat character. Mosgaard's dark peat expression is part of the distillery's broad flavour palette and represents a contrast to the more fruity and winey sherry bottlings. The package includes a miniature, allowing you to taste the style before opening the full bottle. Bottled in 50 cl format.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoke and peat dominate the nose. A clean organic grain base lies beneath the smoke. Light notes of coastline and medicinal.

Palate

Round at 50% with a manageable smoke intensity. Peated malt, light sweetness from the cask maturation and a warm smoky finish. Approachable for those interested in smoke.

Finish

Medium long with lingering smoke and a light peat base close.

Specifications

Name: Mosgaard Dark Peat
Distillery: Mosgaard Distillery
Region/Country: Odense, Denmark
Type: Organic Peated Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 50 CL (incl. miniature)
Cask type: Peated malt

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Clean · Organic

Did you know?

Non-chill filtered: Peated malt is produced by drying the germinated barley over smoke from peat – burnt plant material from marshland. Peat from different regions has very different character: Scottish Islay peat is powerful and medicinal, while Danish peat is typically softer and more earthy. Mosgaard Dark Peat is an example of Danish peated whisky on organic grain.

Listen to our podcast:

Castle Leod still stands at Strathpeffer and is still the Mackenzie clan home. Dalmore has carried the clan stag on its label for nearly two centuries — here the castle gets a bottle of its own.

Expert description

Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a final finish in 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011 in an outturn of 5,000 bottles. It belongs to the Lands of Clan Mackenzie series, where each release is tied to a place in the clan's history. Castle Leod at Strathpeffer is the clan seat and lies a few kilometres from the distillery. The Bordeaux finish is unusual for Dalmore and lays a dry fruit acidity over the usual house sherry sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dark fruits, orange peel, honey and caramel, accompanied by warm spices, chocolate and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and silky. Raisins, prunes and ripe fruit melt together with vanilla, spices and dark cocoa, while the oak contributes structure and depth.

Finish

Long, warm and elegant with lasting notes of fruit, spice and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Castle Leod 1995 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak and Spanish sherry oak with a 1er Cru Classé Bordeaux finish
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2011
Number of bottles: 5,000
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Castle Leod
EAN no.: 5013967007116

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A 1995 vintage in 5,000 bottles from a closed series. Lands of Clan Mackenzie is collected as a whole, and the individual releases will not return.

Did you know?

Castle Leod has been in Mackenzie hands since the fifteenth century and is still lived in. The castle sits at Strathpeffer, a short drive from Dalmore — and that geographical closeness is what the whole series is built on.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Cromartie is the name of the earldom the Mackenzie clan received from the crown. Third bottle in the series, third place on the map — and the whisky gets darker with each release.

Expert description

Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45%.

The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is the third release in the Clan Mackenzie Series, where the clan's twelve-point stag appears on every bottle. The combination of American oak first and oloroso at the end is the classic house recipe, and the 45% gives more weight than most of Dalmore's standing releases. The series is limited and ties each bottling to a place or title in the clan's history.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate and caramel, accompanied by warm spices and a touch of roasted nuts.

Palate

Full and round. Raisin, prune and ripe fruit bind together with vanilla, cocoa and spice, while the distinctive Dalmore sweetness holds it all together.

Finish

Long and warm, with dried fruit, spice and a dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore Cromartie 1996 Vintage Lands of Clan Mackenzie Single Highland Malt Whisky 45%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 45 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American white oak with a final maturation in oloroso sherry casks
Distilled: 1996
Edition: Lands of Clan Mackenzie Cromartie
EAN no.: 5013967007758

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment potential

High. A 1996 vintage in a closed series where each release is tied to a specific place in the clan's history. Collectors go after the whole run.

Did you know?

The title Earl of Cromartie was granted to the Mackenzie family in 1861 and still exists. The Lands of Clan Mackenzie series follows those traces through the landscape north of Inverness — and the distillery sits in the middle of it.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

A blend normally holds dozens of whiskies. The Double Single holds two. One single malt and one single grain, and after that there is nothing left to hide behind.

Expert description

Compass Box The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 53.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The original Double Single arrived in 2010 built on exactly two components, which is where the name comes from. This anniversary edition marks ten years on and is bottled at cask strength rather than the usual strength, which makes it fuller and more intense without breaking the idea. The concept is unchanged: as few moving parts as possible, so you can taste precisely what the malt and the grain each contribute.

Tasting notes

Nose

Golden and layered. The natural sweetness of cereal first, then creamy vanilla, honey and ripe apples, with a light citrus freshness and a suggestion of smoke underneath.

Palate

Full and velvety. Honey, vanilla and ripe pear meet citrus and dark caramel, while the malt base gives depth and a touch of spiced smoke. The strength warms without cutting.

Finish

Long and warm, with cereal, vanilla, light oak and a dry spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Compass Box The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 53,3%
Bottler: Compass Box
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Double Single 10th Anniversary Limited Edition

Flavour profile

Creamy · Honeyed · Vanilla · Lightly Smoked · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. A limited edition at cask strength, built on a concept the house rarely returns to. Anniversary releases from Compass Box have historically sold out quickly.

Did you know?

The word blend has been used as an insult among malt enthusiasts for decades. The Double Single was made as a counter-argument: two components, full transparency about the recipe, and a whisky that shows what grain can actually contribute when it is good enough.

See our full range of Compass Box Blended Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

1991 was an unusual year to distil Caol Ila. The distillery had just gone through a modernisation and found its current style. Ian MacLeod's Chieftains series took a cask from that year and gave it a finish in German oak – before it was bottled in 2009.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a German oak cask (cask no. 91821), bottled at 48% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 288 bottles.

Chieftains is Ian MacLeod's series for independent single-cask bottlings from Scottish distilleries. Ian MacLeod Distillers – owners of Glengoyne and Tamdhu – have had their finger on the pulse of Scotch whisky since 1933.

German oak (Quercus Robur) is denser and gives more tannin and spice than American oak casks. It gives a spicy finish to a Caol Ila that is otherwise elegant and balanced – light tobacco smoke, sea salt, citrus and green apples with well-integrated smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light tobacco smoke, sea salt and seaweed combined with citrus and green apples. A subtle sweet malt profile and a hint of spice from the German oak.

Palate

Soft and complex. Dry mineral smoke and pleasant sweetness in balance. Citrus, pear and lemon complemented by honey, vanilla and a touch of salty liquorice. The smoke is elegant and well-integrated.

Finish

Long, clean and persistent – fresh smoke, light salt and a rounded fruity sweetness blending with malt and spice from the German oak.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years German Oak Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers (Chieftains)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – finished in German oak (cask no. 91821)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 03/1991
Bottled: 05/2009
Number of bottles: 288
Series: Chieftains

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Elegant · Spiced · Complex

Investment potential

High. An 18-year Caol Ila from 1991 with 288 bottles, bottled in 2009, is discontinued and rare. Products from this period are sought by collectors.

Did you know?

Ian MacLeod Distillers is one of Scotland's oldest family-owned whisky companies, founded in 1933. They today own Glengoyne Distillery in the Lowlands and Tamdhu in Speyside – and operate the Chieftains series as a window into other distilleries.

See our full range of Caol Ila Whisky

See our full range of Islay Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

From a distillery that closed over three decades ago, this 1990 Rosebank offers a rare glimpse of Lowland whisky the world can no longer produce more of.

Expert Review

Rosebank 1990/2011 Chieftains 20 år Single Lowland Malt Whisky 55,7% is a Single Lowland Malt Whisky matured in a selected cask and bottled at 55.7% ABV.

Rosebank 1990/2011 Chieftains 20 Year Old Single Lowland Malt Whisky is a rare and elegant whisky from the legendary, now-closed Rosebank distillery, bottled under the independent Chieftain's series by Ian Macleod Distillers. The whisky was distilled in 1990, while the distillery was still operating, and bottled 20 years later in 2011.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is floral and elegant, with green apple, honey and a light grassy freshness.

Palate

The palate is light and refined, with citrus, honey and a delicate spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long, elegant and dry.

Specifications

Name: Rosebank 1990/2011 Chieftains 20 år Single Lowland Malt Whisky 55,7%
Distillery: Rosebank
Bottler: Chieftain's
Region: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Single Lowland Malt Whisky
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 55.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: a selected cask
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2011

Flavour Profile

Floral · Elegant · Rare

Investment Potential

Rosebank Distillery closed in 1993 and is today one of the most sought-after names among closed Scottish distilleries. Bottles like this one, distilled while production was still running, trade at markedly higher value than at bottling, and demand continues to rise among collectors.

Did You Know?

Rosebank was often called the Rolls-Royce of the Lowlands due to its triple distillation, a technique used today by only a handful of Scottish distilleries, which gave the whisky its characteristic lightness and finesse.

See our full range of Rosebank

Thirty-two bottles, thirty-two pieces. The Chess Malt Collection is built as a chess set where each distillery is assigned a role — and Craigellachie is not a pawn.

Expert description

Craigellachie 21 years The Chess Malt Collection is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 52.3%.

The whisky was distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2017. The collection consists of 32 unique single cask releases, each bottle representing a chess piece: two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, split between black and white. Craigellachie condenses in worm tubs and makes a heavy, meaty spirit, which after twenty-one years in a sherry cask has gained both depth and a dark fruit sweetness without losing its mineral edge.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich and inviting. Raisins, dark dried fruits, chocolate and spiced Christmas cake.

Palate

Powerful and complex, with layers of caramel, orange peel, nuts and dark chocolate, underpinned by tobacco notes and spiced oak.

Finish

Long and persistent with bittersweet fruit, chocolate and a touch of white pepper.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 21 years The Chess Malt Collection Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,3%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 52.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2017
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dried Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. Twenty-one years in one sherry cask within a collection that exists only in 32 releases. The Chess Malt Collection is actively collected as a whole, and individual pieces get hard to find quickly.

Did you know?

The chess pieces in the collection are not assigned at random. The rarer and older the whisky, the higher the rank it receives — so a king or queen in the series is at the same time a signal of what is in the bottle.

See our full range of Craigellachie Whisky
See our full range of The Chess Malt Collection

Listen to our podcast:

Fondillón is the wine of kings — produced in tiny quantities near Alicante in Spain, rarely seen beyond the Iberian peninsula. Maturing Danish whisky in these casks is not merely an experiment. It is the world's first distillery bottling of whisky finished in Fondillón casks — and it was made in Denmark.

Expert description

Sall Whisky 5 Year Fondillon Cask is a Danish Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in rare Fondillón casks from Alicante, bottled at 55.4% Vol. This is a historic release: World First Ex-Fondillón Distillery Bottling.

Fondillón is an oxidative red wine from the Monastrell grape, produced exclusively in the Alicante region in quantities so small that it rarely reaches international markets. Sall Whisky is a Single Farm Single Malt distillery near Ebeltoft in Central Jutland with full control over barley, malting and maturation. The result is a 100% organic Danish whisky at 55.4% with a wine cask profile never previously seen in Danish whisky history. 340 bottles, no chill filtration, no colouring added.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried orange peel and dark raisins from the Fondillón cask, with hints of fig and old wine cellar. Beneath the wine character lies Sall Whisky's clean malt and a gentle nutty sweetness.

Palate

Powerful and vinous with dark dried fruit, orange and a suggestion of dark chocolate. Malt and oak provide a steady foundation as the Fondillón cask takes clear command.

Finish

Long and lingering with dried fruits and a fine tannin grip from the Fondillón wine. Warm and complex — unlike almost anything else in Danish whisky.

Specifications

Name: Sall Whisky 5 Year Fondillon Cask
Distillery: Sall Whisky
Region/Country: Ebeltoft, Central Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 55.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon Casks, Finished (in Fondillón Cask)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 340
Edition: Fondillon Cask – World First Ex-Fondillón Distillery Bottling

Flavour profile

Dried fruit · Vinous · Complex · Powerful · Unique

Investment potential

Medium. 340 bottles worldwide and a documented "world first" in a growing Danish whisky category makes this of clear interest to collectors. Fondillón casks are extremely rare and repeat releases are highly unlikely.

Did you know?

Fondillón is documented in historical records from the 16th century, when it was served at European royal courts — hence the name "Wine of Kings". Today it is produced by only a handful of bodegas in the Alicante region, and Sall Whisky is the first distillery in the world to have bottled a distillate matured in these very casks.

See our full range of Sall Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

32 bottles, 32 chess pieces — The Chess Malt Collection places Tamdhu on the board as one of the white pawns, ready to advance with complexity.

Expert's Description

Tamdhu 16 Year Old The Chess Malt Collection is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in May 2009 and bottled in August 2025 after 16 years of maturation in a single Oloroso sherry hogshead at 57.5%.

As number 21 in the collection, H2 White Pawn, this release represents Tamdhu's classic sherry style in its purest form. Only 258 bottles were produced, neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisin, dried fruit, burnt sugar and dark caramel with a hint of spiced sweetness.

Palate

Layered and full with ripe fruit, nuts and spice, rounded off by a soft mouthfeel.

Finish

Long, harmonious and warm, where the sherry's sweetness and spice melt together.

Specifications

Name: The Chess Malt Collection H2 White Pawn
Distillery: Tamdhu
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Hogshead
Distilled: May 2009
Bottled: August 2025
Number of Bottles: 258 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection #21

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Cask strength · Complex · Rare

Investment Potential

Medium. As a numbered release within a well-regarded themed collection with only 258 bottles, it is attractive to collectors chasing complete sets or individual pieces.

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection consists of 32 unique bottlings from various Scottish distilleries — 2 kings, 2 queens, 4 bishops, 4 knights, 4 rooks and 16 pawns — each represented by its own whisky.

See our full range of Tamdhu
See our full range of The Chess Malt Collection

Listen to our podcast:

Soraghan 7 Year Old Irish Single Malt Whiskey is matured for seven years in oak casks, giving it a mature, nuanced character with a golden amber colour.

Expert Review

Soraghan 7 Year Old Irish Single Malt Whiskey is an Irish Single Malt Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

This Irish single malt is matured for seven years in oak casks, giving it a mature, nuanced character. It appears with a golden amber colour and a complex aroma, where fresh fruit notes meet vanilla, spice and a discreet malt sweetness. At 46% ABV, Soraghan 7 Year Old has an intensity that adds extra depth and character while still retaining the classic Irish smoothness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruity and aromatic with notes of apple, citrus and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Rounded and full with layers of caramel, spice and nutty undertones.

Finish

Long, soft and harmonious, where sweetness and spice merge in an elegant close.

Specifications

Name: Soraghan 7 Year Old
Distillery: Soraghan
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Age: 7 years
Cask: Oak Casks
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Caramel · Nutty · Mature

Did You Know?

Soraghan 7 Year Old is great to enjoy neat, but also works as an exclusive dram for special occasions.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Soraghan 3 Year Old Blended Irish Whiskey blends single grain and single malt from Bushmills Distillery into a light, approachable dram – perfect for Irish Coffee.

Expert Review

Soraghan 3 Year Old Blended Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

You take single grain and single malt Irish whiskey from Bushmills Distillery and blend them together, creating this delicious dram from Ireland. Soraghan 3 Year Old is a young Irish whiskey that shows the classic soft and approachable style Ireland is known for. It is matured for three years in oak casks, giving it a fresh, light character while still showing clear layers of flavour. On the nose you meet a mild aroma with fruity notes, a touch of vanilla and a discreet spiced tone. The palate is rounded and balanced, with an initial sweetness of caramel and fruit sliding into a lightly spiced finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mild aroma with fruity notes and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Rounded and balanced with caramel and fruit.

Finish

Soft, pleasant and lingering.

Specifications

Name: Soraghan 3 Year Old
Distillery: Soraghan (Bushmills Distillery)
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Blended Whiskey
Age: 3 years
Cask: Oak Casks
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Vanilla · Caramel · Lightly spiced · Versatile

Did You Know?

Soraghan 3 Year Old is a great introduction to Irish whiskey, yet has enough character for experienced enthusiasts.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

11 years is a long time for a distillery that in its early years was mainly known for 3 year old releases. This sherry-matured bottling shows what happens when Kilchoman's peat smoke gets the time sherry casks need to reach their full depth.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 11 years old, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50 %.

Kilchoman is one of the youngest distilleries on Islay, founded in 2005, but has quickly established a style that combines classic Islay peat smoke with modern craftsmanship. This 11 year old sherry-matured release is an example of how longer maturation in sherry casks can add extra depth and complexity to the distillery's characteristic peated profile.

With over a decade in cask, the whisky has had time to settle and develop a noticeably more complex character than many of the house's younger sherry releases, without losing the freshness that defines Kilchoman's style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich dried fruit, raisins and dates, with warm spice and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Full and balanced, where the sherry's sweetness and spice meet Islay's characteristic peat smoke, with layers of nuts, dark chocolate and fresh citrus.

Finish

Long and lingering, with dark chocolate, toasted nuts and a salty sea breeze.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release 11 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Full-bodied · Complex · Spicy

Did you know?

When Kilchoman was founded in 2005, it was hard to imagine the distillery would one day release an 11 year old sherry bottling — a reminder of how far it has come in less than two decades.

See our full range of Kilchoman

Listen to our podcast:

Harvest is the time when everything comes in. The grain is stored, the air is sharper, and there is a calm to things. Stauning bottled that feeling and called it Høst – a single malt soft enough for everyday, complex enough to keep you interested.

Expert description

Stauning Høst is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 40.5%. Stauning Whisky was founded in 2005 by nine friends in Skjern, West Jutland. Høst is an approachable, balanced single malt focused on fresh fruit, soft sweetness and a light grain character from floor-malted barley. New design – the whisky remains the same familiar expression in updated packaging.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and fruity with green apple, light honey and a hint of blossom. A touch of cream and soft vanilla.

Palate

Light and smooth. Green fruits, a trace of pear and soft maltiness. Harmonious and inviting.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and gentle. A little honey and fresh grain at the end.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Høst Danish Whisky
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: West Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 40.5%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled, pot stills
EAN no.: 5744002860631

Flavour profile

Fresh · Fruity · Soft · Light · Sweet

Did you know?

Stauning's floor malting operation is one of the few examples of a craft distillery controlling the entire production chain – from grain to bottle – in-house, giving complete control over the flavour profile from the very first step.

Browse our full range of Stauning Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Eight years is young for a Campbeltown. The spirit is still raw at the edges, the salt stands out sharply, and there are not many years of oak to soften anything. Then Lady of the Glen moved the cask into tawny port, and suddenly the youth made sense.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 2016/2025 Lady of the Glen 8 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in an ex-tawny port cask and bottled at cask strength 56.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2025 from cask number 8924, which gave 231 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. The choice of tawny over ruby is worth noting: tawny port has spent a long time in wood and is oxidative, nutty and drier, where ruby is fresh and berry-sweet. That suits a young, salty spirit better, because it adds depth rather than sweetness.

Lady of the Glen is run by Gregor Hannah and buys individual casks from across Scotland. The firm always bottles at cask strength, unfiltered and uncoloured, and it often goes for younger casks where there is still distillery to taste. An eight year old Glen Scotia is exactly the kind of cask the larger houses would typically have left alone for longer.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sea salt and seaweed meet red fruit and dried berries. The port lays a nutty sweetness on top, and there is a trace of dark chocolate beneath it all.

Palate

Full and intense. Dark fruit, spiced oak and chocolate, carried by a lightly oily texture. The cask strength pushes the salt forward, so the sweetness is never allowed to take over.

Finish

Long and warm. Balanced sweetness with maritime nuances and a final touch of spice.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 2016/2025 Lady of the Glen 8 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 56.5%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 56.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in an ex-tawny port cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 231
Edition: Single Cask no. 8924

Flavour profile

Maritime · Dark fruit · Port-finished · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Glen Scotia still mashes in a 2.8 tonne cast iron mash tun. It is old-fashioned equipment that most distilleries have swapped for stainless steel, and it is one of the reasons the spirit carries that heavy, oily body.

See our full range of Glen Scotia
See our full range of Lady of the Glen

Listen to our podcast:

There is a calm to Linkwood that only truly reveals itself once you give it time in the glass.

Expert's description

Linkwood 2015/2025 Lady of the Glen 10 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 61% is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky, matured in hogshead, ex.pineau des charentes blanc barrique-finish and bottled at 61%.

The whisky is distilled at Linkwood and independently selected and bottled by Lady of the Glen.

It was distilled 2015 and bottled 2025, giving it 10 years.

Only 251 bottles were released from this batch, making it an exclusive release for collectors.

Tasting notes

Nose

On the nose you meet honey, beeswax and red berries.

Palate

The taste unfolds with honey, red berries and light tannin.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and spicy, with red berries and beeswax.

Specifications

Name: Linkwood 2015/2025 Lady of the Glen 10 år Single Speyside Malt Whisky 61%
Distillery: Linkwood
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 61%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, Ex.Pineau des Charentes Blanc Barrique-finish (#312761)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 251

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spicy · Rounded

Investment potential

Medium. Only 251 bottles and an unusual finish on Pineau des Charentes casks make this Lady of the Glen release a niche collector's bottle.

Did you know?

For a period, Linkwood ran an old and a new still house side by side, each with differently shaped stills, before production was later consolidated.

See our full range of Linkwood

Listen to our podcast:

A refill hogshead gives up very little. It has been used before, the sugar layers are spent, and so it takes twenty-six years to reach where a first fill cask would have been at ten. In return, what you taste is the spirit and not the wood.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 1998/2025 Lady of the Glen 26 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in a refill hogshead, cask no. 176, and bottled at 43.2 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled on 11 May 1998 and bottled on 4 April 2025. The cask yielded 276 bottles, and the strength of 43.2 % is what the cask gave after twenty-six years rather than the result of dilution. That says something about how long it lay and how much evaporated along the way.

Lady of the Glen is run by Gregor Hannah under Hannah Whisky Merchants and works consistently with natural colour, no chill filtration and bottling at the strength the cask offers. It is a line that lets the character of the distillery come through, and with Ben Nevis that is precisely the point.

Tasting notes

Nose

Tropical fruit with pineapple and passion fruit up front, then sweet malt and light pastry.

Palate

Soft and balanced with fruity sweetness, a creamy texture and discreet spice. The low cask strength makes it remarkably easy to drink for its age.

Finish

Long, warm and complex with fruit, malt and a last touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 1998/2025 Lady of the Glen 26 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 26 years
ABV: 43,2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogshead, cask no. 176
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 11 May 1998
Bottled: 4 April 2025
Number of bottles: 276

Flavour profile

Tropical fruit · Soft · Creamy · Malty · Lightly spiced

Investment potential

High. Twenty-six years in cask, 276 bottles and a single refill hogshead is a combination that cannot be repeated. Lady of the Glen has built a steady following among single cask collectors, and their older Ben Nevis casks disappear quickly.

Did you know?

A hogshead holds around 250 litres and is typically rebuilt from 200 litre American bourbon barrels by adding extra staves. The slightly larger volume gives a lower wood to liquid ratio, so the whisky matures more slowly.

See our full range of Ben Nevis Whisky
See our full range of Lady of the Glen Whisky

Listen to our podcast:

Sometimes the label says less than it could. Burnside is one of those names used when a distillery does not want its real name on the bottle — but the character in the glass is unmistakable.

Please note: Burnside is the designation for so-called teaspooned Balvenie. It means a cask from the Balvenie distillery has had a minimal amount of spirit from another distillery added, typically Glenfiddich. This is done to prevent the whisky being marketed as an official Balvenie single malt, but it still clearly carries Balvenie's character.

Expert description

Burnside 14 Years Woodrow's of Edinburgh is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from Single Cask #900019, bottled at cask strength, 52%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled on 27 April 2011, and the cask gave 330 bottles. Woodrow's of Edinburgh is an independent bottler based in Leith that buys and matures casks in its own bonded warehouse and bottles in small batches or as single casks.

The house philosophy is about bringing out the personality of the individual cask rather than smoothing it away. Natural colour, no filtration and cask strength are standard, and that makes the bottlings considerably more direct than most official releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and malted grain with baked apple, vanilla and a trace of flower honey.

Palate

Full and sweet with honey cake, dried fruit and pale oak. The strength brings warmth without shouting.

Finish

Long and dry with grain, spice and a lightly bitter oak note.

Specifications

Name: Burnside 14 Years Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52%
Distillery: Burnside
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask #900019
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27/04/2011
Number of bottles: 330

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Malty · Fruity · Spiced · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask of 330 bottles from a smaller bottler, and teaspooned names like Burnside have a steady following among collectors of Speyside malt.

Did you know?

The practice of teaspooning arose because distilleries wanted to sell casks without losing control of their own trademark. A single spoonful from another distillery legally turns the whisky into a blended malt.

See our full range of Burnside

Listen to our podcast:

An independent bottler puts the spotlight on Westland's raw power in this multi-vintage edition.

Expert description

The Whisky Trail Westland Distillery Multi Vintage American Single Malt Whiskey is an independent bottling combining whisky from several distillation vintages from Westland Distillery into one powerful edition, bottled at 56.5%. Westland Distillery was founded in 2010 by Matt Hofmann and Emerson Lamb in Seattle's SoDo neighbourhood with the ambition of creating an American single malt that could stand alongside the world's best whiskies. The distillery was acquired by Rémy Cointreau in 2017 and uses exclusively malted barley fermented with a Belgian Saison yeast, after which the whiskey is matured in a mix of new American oak, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is intense with caramel, toasted wood and dark fruit.

Palate

The palate is powerful with brown sugar, spice and a hint of nut.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spiced.

Specifications

Name: The Whisky Trail Westland Distillery Multi Vintage American Single Malt Whiskey
Distillery: Westland Distillery
Region/Country: Seattle, Washington, USA
Type: American Single Malt Whiskey
ABV: 56.5%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Multi Vintage

Flavour profile

Powerful · Spiced · Intense · Nutty

See our full range of Westland

Listen to our podcast:

In an old wireworks beside the River Derwent, surrounded by Derbyshire's UNESCO-listed industrial heritage, White Peak Distillery brews and distils a malt that borrows as much from brewing craft as from whisky tradition. This bottling was selected by Sukhinder Singh for Elixir Distillers' series The Whisky Trail and shows the distillery's style as it stood in its early years.

Expert's Description

The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage is a Single Malt English Whisky matured in first fill bourbon casks and bottled at 52.4%.

White Peak Distillery was founded in 2016 by husband and wife Max and Claire Vaughan in the former Johnson & Nephew wireworks in Ambergate, within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. The distillery ferments with both brewer's yeast from local brewer Thornbridge and traditional distiller's yeast, and part of the mash is made from lightly peated malt, giving the spirit a discreet smoky undertone beneath its fresh, fruity core. This bottling was distilled in 2018, bottled in 2025 from a small batch of four first fill bourbon casks, and is limited to 1,254 bottles.

The Whisky Trail is part of Elixir Trails, where Sukhinder Singh — co-founder of Elixir Distillers and one of the whisky world's most respected bottlers — selects single distilleries for their craft and character rather than name or hype.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla and soft caramel from the bourbon cask, backed by a faint smoky undertone and fresh apples.

Palate

The palate is fruity with ripe pear and citrus peel, while a soft malty sweetness and a hint of smoke add depth without taking over.

Finish

The finish is medium in length and spiced, with a final trace of wood smoke and vanilla powder.

Specifications

Name: The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage
Distillery: White Peak Distillery
Bottler: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Derbyshire, England
Type: Single Malt English Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill bourbon casks
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 1,254
Edition: The Whisky Trail

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Lightly Smoky · Creamy · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium — The Whisky Trail is a new series from Elixir Distillers, and as one of the first releases to carry Sukhinder Singh's name, early bottlings from White Peak Distillery are seeing rising interest from collectors following the distillery's progress closely.

Did You Know?

White Peak Distillery uses yeast from local brewer Thornbridge in its fermentation — a method more common in brewing than in whisky production, giving the distillery's spirit an unusually fruity character even before it reaches the cask.

See our full range of The Whisky Trail

Listen to our podcast:

2020. A good year for rye in Thy. The Whisky Trail chose to bottle it and put a year on it. Here is the result – a vintage rye whisky from one of Denmark's most locally rooted distilleries.

Expert description

The Whisky Trail Thy Whisky 2020 Vintage is a Danish Rye Whisky bottled at 50.5% in a 70 cl bottle. Distilled in 2020 from certified organic rye at Thy Whisky Distillery in northwest Jutland and bottled by The Whisky Trail – a respected bottler focused on exceptional distillate releases from Scandinavian and European distilleries. The 2020 vintage stamp places this as a specific harvest from that year.

Bottling with a year gives the whisky a traceability and identity anchor that anonymous releases lack. The rye from 2020 is now a whisky that speaks from a specific place and a specific time in Thy Whisky's history.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh rye with spice, light herbs and a natural, earthy sweetness. Authentic and precise.

Palate

Spiced rye core with light pepper, a little citrus and a softer malt dimension in the background. Well balanced.

Finish

Moderate with rye spice and light warmth. Clean and clear.

Specifications

Name: The Whisky Trail Thy Whisky 2020 Vintage
Distillery: Thy Whisky
Bottler: The Whisky Trail
Region/Country: Thy, Denmark
Type: Danish Rye Whisky
ABV: 50.5%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2020

Flavour profile

Vintage · Rye · Spiced · Earthy · Traceable

Did you know?

Vintage dating on whisky gives the buyer knowledge of when the grain was harvested and distilled. For single estate distilleries like Thy Whisky, which grow their own grain, this is particularly meaningful – the character of the crop varies year by year depending on weather and growing conditions.

Glenlossie sits just south of Elgin, and it's a name most drinkers have tasted without ever knowing it, since the bulk of its output disappears into Haig's blends. Signatory Vintage went digging in the warehouses anyway and pulled out a cask for their 100 Proof series, where quality and an honest price matter more than fanfare.

The Expert's Description

Glenlossie 12 Year Old Signatory 100 Proof Edition #35 is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in first-fill Oloroso Sherry butts and bourbon hogsheads and bottled at cask strength, 57.1%.

The whisky was distilled in 2012 and spent 12 years resting across a mix of sherry and bourbon casks before Signatory Vintage selected it as number 35 in their 100 Proof series, a line that gathers small-batch releases from different distilleries at the same classic strength, 57.1%, the old British measure for "100 proof". It's bottled without added colouring and without chill filtration, so whatever the casks gave it during those 12 years is still in the glass.

Glenlossie itself is a workhorse for Diageo. Its stills are fitted with purifiers that send part of the vapour back into the pot before it reaches the condenser, producing a light, slightly oily spirit with a distinctive green, grassy edge. It's a style built to disappear into a blend without dominating it, yet it shows a completely different side once it's allowed to stand alone as a single malt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and pear meet honey and a hint of florals, with almonds and a touch of sherry sweetness sitting behind.

Palate

Toffee and candied orange peel unfold alongside a barley sweetness, while Glenlossie's green, herbal character keeps everything grounded.

Finish

Medium in length and warming, with a sherry note lingering in the background and a light spiced oak rounding things off.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 12 Year Old Signatory 100 Proof Edition #35
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: First-fill Oloroso Sherry butts and bourbon hogsheads
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2025
Edition: 100 Proof Edition #35
EAN no.: 5021944127870

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Honeyed · Floral · Green and herbal

Did You Know?

Glenlossie's founder, John Duff, left the distillery after ten years and headed to South Africa to build the country's first-ever distillery, a project that ran straight into political headwinds and never got off the ground. He tried his luck in the US afterwards, but eventually came back to Scotland and ended up managing a distillery in Aberdeen instead.

See our full range of Signatory Vintage

Listen to our podcast:

The first cask strength batch from a distillery that has only been making whisky since 2018. There is no history to lean on and no older vintages to compare against. There is just five years in first fill bourbon and 60.9% in the bottle.

The Expert's Description

Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for five years in carefully selected 1st fill bourbon casks and bottled at 60.9% natural cask strength. It is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

First fill bourbon casks are a deliberate counterweight to the young age. The casks are active and give vanilla, coconut and body quickly, and they meet a spirit that is already full thanks to Ardnahoe’s worm tubs and long lyne arms. The combination delivers more weight than five years would normally allow.

Ardnahoe is Islay’s ninth distillery and was built by the independent bottler Hunter Laing. It opened in October 2018 and is the only one on the island using worm tubs.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A fresh coastal breeze first, then earthy peat smoke and rich cocoa. Vanilla and coconut from the new bourbon wood sit beneath, and at 60.9% the alcohol is pronounced, so let the glass rest a couple of minutes.

Palate

Orchard fruits open, followed by herbal tea and salted caramel developing into a complex, full body. The smoke sits underneath and comes forward more clearly with a little water. The texture is oily and fills out well.

Finish

A smoky close with elegant citrus shades that hang on the palate for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 Single Islay Malt Whisky 60.9%
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 60.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Strength Batch 1

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Cask Strength · Vanilla · Fruity · Maritime · Salted Caramel

Investment Potential

Medium. A first batch in a series is by definition a one-off expression, and from a distillery producing only since 2018, early releases are the kind of bottle collectors look for once the house has established itself.

Did You Know?

Ardnahoe’s stills have the longest lyne arms in Scotland, 7.5 metres from still to condenser. Normally a long lyne arm gives a lighter spirit, because heavy vapours fall back along the way. But the distillery also uses worm tubs, which pull in the opposite direction. The two choices partly cancel each other out, and that is precisely the intention.

See our full range of Ardnahoe

Listen to our podcast: