Some whiskies don't need to surprise – they just need to be good, every time. Loch Lomond Reserve is the distillery's take on a classic blend, where both malt and grain come from the very same address on the loch's shore.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Reserve is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is composed entirely of malt and grain whisky distilled and matured at Loch Lomond Distillery – with no whisky sourced from other distilleries. That makes it a rarity among blends: a "single-site blend", where the entire process happens in one place.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet honey and caramel with a touch of toffee and light vanilla.

Palate

Light and easy-drinking with honeyed sweetness, creamy caramel and a soft, round body.

Finish

Short, mild finish with lingering sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Smooth · Light

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond is one of the few Scottish distilleries able to make a complete blended whisky using only its own malt and grain whiskies, without sourcing anything from other distilleries.

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Every distillery needs a solid core expression to go the distance. Loch Lomond Original is exactly that – an easy-going whisky still built on the distillery's own, slightly unusual way of making malt.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Original is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is a lightly peated single malt with no age statement, designed as an accessible introduction to the distillery's style. It combines a full, soft body with a discreet hint of smoke that never overtakes the sweet, fruity notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramel, tropical fruit and toasted oak, with a fresh green note like freshly cut hay.

Palate

Honeyed sweetness and vanilla meet green herbs and fruit, with a touch of bitter chocolate, pepper and ginger, and gentle smoke in the background.

Finish

Short, crisp finish of pepper and lemon peel.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Original Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
EAN: 5016840033219
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Lightly Smoky

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond Original is often used as the distillery's "entry point" for new whisky drinkers, because it brings together several of the distillery's styles in one accessible whole.

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Campbeltown once had thirty distilleries. Today it has three. Glen Scotia is one of them, and the 15 year old is where the town’s character shows most clearly — salt, oil and a peat that sits like a shadow behind rather than filling the foreground.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia 15 Year Old is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky has spent fifteen years in a mix of 1st fill and refill American oak casks, with no sherry or wine casks to turn the direction. It is non-chill filtered, and the 46% is pitched high enough that the maritime minerality does not vanish. The bottling carries the silver label design Glen Scotia moved to in June 2022.

Glen Scotia has been distilling in Campbeltown since 1832 and sits a few hundred metres from the harbour. In the nineteenth century the town was the whisky capital of Scotland, until the market collapsed and the distilleries closed one after another. Glen Scotia barely survived, stood silent for several periods in the twentieth century, and is run today by Loch Lomond Group.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted vanilla and ripe fruit first, then a salted caramel sweetness. There are light spices and a hint of citrus, and behind it sits the maritime note Campbeltown is known for.

Palate

Rich and full. Spiced oak, dried fruit and honey, with a mineral tautness mid-palate that points straight at the harbour. The smoke is discreet and only arrives at the end.

Finish

Long and warm. Pepper, dark chocolate and a withdrawn smoke that lingers long after the fruit has gone.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia 15 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5016840171218

Flavour profile

Maritime · Spiced · Fruity · Lightly peated · Mineral

Did you know?

Campbeltown is still recognised as a whisky region in its own right, even with only three working distilleries left. The town sits on the Kintyre peninsula, and the drive there from Glasgow is longer than to most Speyside distilleries — part of the reason so few make the trip.

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The name points back to the years when Campbeltown had thirty distilleries and called itself the whisky capital of the world. The casks behind the bottle point somewhere else — towards a deep char that lays a layer of burnt wood and cocoa into the whisky.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia Victoriana is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in heavily charred bourbon casks and Pedro Ximénez sherry butts, bottled at cask strength 54.2%.

The batch is built from two components: ten to twelve year old whisky from 1st fill bourbon casks and sixteen to eighteen year old whisky from refill European oak. The two are brought together, given their finishing period in heavily charred casks and PX butts, and then rested for six months before bottling. There is no age statement — it would have been misleading for a whisky that deliberately marries two ages.

A heavy char is not the same as an ordinary toast. The inside of the cask is burnt until a layer of charcoal forms, and that layer works both as a filter and as a flavour source. It is why Victoriana picks up cocoa, burnt sugar and a dry smoke note that comes from no peat at all.

Tasting notes

Nose

Crème brûlée and plenty of vanilla, with cedarwood that reads more like perfume than timber. Behind it sit toasted sugar and citrus peel.

Palate

Rich and robust. Roasted sugars, dark fruits and spice, with toffee apple and caramelised sugar at the centre and ripe berries running underneath. The charred wood is clearly discernible but measured.

Finish

Long and warm. Dark fruit and spice first, then a gentle smoke from the charred oak and a dry bitterness at the close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia Victoriana Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 54.2%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks and refill European oak with a finishing period in heavily charred casks and Pedro Ximénez butts
Edition: Victoriana
EAN no.: 5016840192220

Flavour profile

Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Lightly smoky · Cask Strength

Did you know?

By the time Duncan MacCallum had to close Glen Scotia in 1928, the golden age of Campbeltown was long past. The town had already lost most of its distilleries, and the Victorian era that Victoriana refers to lay some fifty years behind.

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If you are only going to taste one Campbeltown whisky to understand what the region is about, this is it. Bourbon casks for the base, Pedro Ximénez for the sweetness, and underneath it all the salt of a town that sits with the sea on three sides.

The expert's description

Glen Scotia Double Cask is a Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The name comes from the two cask types. The bourbon casks lay vanilla and bright fruit into the spirit, and the PX casks add the dark, syrupy sweetness that Pedro Ximénez sherry is known for. The order means the sweetness comes last and settles as a layer over the salt rather than soaking through it. There is no age statement, which gives the blender freedom to build the batch by taste rather than by year.

Thomas Rydberg of Whisky & Rom Magasinet awarded the bottling 90 points. That is a high score for a whisky with no age statement, and it says something about the Glen Scotia spirit having enough body to manage without many years of cask time behind it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked fruit and vanilla, with spiced wood behind. The PX sherry gives a dark sweetness that sits clearly over the salty base note.

Palate

Round and soft. Caramel, dried fruit and a touch of spice, with the oily texture that marks the house. The salt only comes forward on the second sip.

Finish

Pleasant and lasting. The sherry sweetness holds on while a maritime, lightly dry note takes over at the end.

Specifications

Name: Glen Scotia Double Cask Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glen Scotia
Region/Country: Campbeltown, Scotland
Type: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: Double Cask
EAN no.: 5016840151210

Flavour profile

Sherried · Soft · Fruity · Spiced · Maritime

Did you know?

Glen Scotia still ferments in nine stainless steel washbacks. That is a small number for a distillery today, and the short, controlled fermentation times are part of what gives the whisky its firm, malty character rather than a fruity, floral profile.

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A trading house dating back to 1868 lies behind this creamy Irish liqueur.

Expert description

Merrys Irish Cream Liqueur is an Irish Cream liqueur based on cream, Irish whiskey and cocoa, bottled at 17%.

Merrys originates from the historic trading house Robert A. Merry & Co., founded in 1868 in south-eastern Ireland. The modern cream liqueur was first produced in 1994 and is made today in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, in the heart of the fertile dairy region known as the Golden Vale, from where the liqueur is now exported to more than 20 countries.

Taste

The nose is creamy with cream, caramel and a hint of whiskey. On the palate, Merrys Irish Cream Liqueur offers cream, caramel and a soft sweetness, while the finish is medium-length, creamy and round.

Specifications

Name: Merrys Irish Cream Liqueur
Producer: Robert A. Merry & Co.
Region/Country: Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland
Type: Cream liqueur
Main ingredients: Cream, Irish whiskey, cocoa
ABV: 17%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5097779123458
Shelf life after opening: About 12 months, store cool and dark
Allergens: Milk
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat, over ice or in coffee – can also be used in cocktails and desserts

Flavour profile

Creamy · Caramel · Soft · Sweet

Did you know?

Merrys' cream liqueur is now exported to more than 20 countries, and the cream in every bottle comes from the Golden Vale, one of Ireland's most fertile dairy regions.

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Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve has won numerous international awards and is a tribute to the Irish triple blend tradition.

Expert Review

Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey is a Blended Irish Whiskey, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey is a carefully crafted blend of three different whiskey types: malt, pot still and grain, creating a perfect balance of sweetness, spice and a lovely soft finish. The individual whiskies are triple distilled and matured between 12 and 15 years in old bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, giving a sherry finish with sweet nuttiness and a pleasant spicy undertone. The colour is golden with a nose of orange peel, spice and vanilla, while the palate offers heather, candied fruits, honey and vanilla with a creamy texture.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel, spice and vanilla.

Palate

Heather, candied fruits, honey and vanilla.

Finish

Pleasantly long, light and sweetish.

Specifications

Name: Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve
Distillery: Tullamore Dew
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
Age: 12 years
Cask: Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5011026108163

Flavour Profile

Complex · Honeyed · Spiced · Creamy · Rounded

Did You Know?

Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve has won Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2006, 2007 and 2008, as well as the Trophy for Best Irish Whiskey at the International Spirits Challenge in 1999 and 2000.
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The whiskey that restarted New York's whiskey history after decades of silence.

Expert description

Hudson Manhattan Rye Tuthilltown Whiskey was, in 2007, the first 100% New York-based rye whiskey since Prohibition, bottled at 46%. Hudson Whiskey was created by Tuthilltown Spirits, founded in 2003 by Ralph Erenzo and Brian Lee as the first distillery in New York State since Prohibition. The distillery is housed in a former 1788 gristmill listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and uses ingredients sourced exclusively from local family farms in the Hudson Valley.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers rye, spice and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, dry and peppery.

Specifications

Name: Hudson Manhattan Rye Tuthilltown Whiskey
Distillery: Tuthilltown Spirits
Region/Country: Hudson Valley, New York, USA
Type: Rye Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Grainy · Dry

Did you know?

Hudson Manhattan Rye was, in 2007, the first commercially available rye whiskey from New York State since Prohibition.

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Finlaggan is the name of the island in the loch from which the Lords of the Isles once ruled the Hebrides. The whisky carries the name but not the distillery, because who made it is something you do not get told.

The expert description

Finlaggan Cask Strength is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength 58%.

Behind the bottle stands The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, a family firm from Glasgow founded in 1992. They buy casks from an undisclosed Islay distillery and bottle them under the Finlaggan name, which is an entirely ordinary arrangement when a distillery sells casks on without wanting its name on the label.

Cask Strength is the heaviest in the range and is bottled without dilution, without chill filtration and without colouring. The 58% makes a difference you notice immediately: the smoke sits denser and oilier than the same whisky would at 46%.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep peat smoke and burnt wood, enriched by subtle hints of iodine and seaweed of the kind Islay is known for.

Palate

Vigorous and full bodied with an intense wave of smoke and malt, and a slight underlying sweetness that balances the robust peat character.

Finish

Long and persistent with an enveloping warmth that gradually releases nuances of dark chocolate and spices.

Specifications

Name: Finlaggan Cask Strength
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Islay Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Strength

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peaty · Maritime · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Finlaggan is a small island in Loch Finlaggan on Islay, and from here the Lords of the Isles governed much of the Scottish islands and the western seaboard in the Middle Ages. The ruins are still there, a couple of kilometres from the distillery nobody will put a name to.

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Glentauchers is a distillery most people only know from blends – but this 19 year old single cask bottling from Signatory Vintage shows what the spirit can do when it's allowed to stand alone.

Expert's Description

Glentauchers 1996/2015 was distilled in the mid-1990s and bottled in November 2015 by independent bottler Signatory Vintage, after 19 years of maturation in two bourbon casks, Cask No. #1407 and #1408.

The whisky is bottled at 49.9% with natural colour. 328 bottles were filled from the two casks, making this a fairly limited release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft fruit, honey and a light vanilla tone from the bourbon casks.

Palate

Round and elegant, with pear, caramel and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Glentauchers 1996/2015 Signatory Vintage 19 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 49.9%
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage: Distilled: 1996, Bottled: 2015
Age: 19 years
Cask number/type: Bourbon Barrels / Cask No. #1407 + #1408
Bottles: 328
ABV: 49.9%
Size: 70 CL
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Soft · Elegant · Fruity · Vanilla-driven

Investment Potential

With 19 years of maturation and only 328 bottles from two casks, this whisky belongs to the single cask releases that often become sought-after among collectors as bottles become rarer.

Did You Know?

Glentauchers is primarily used as a key ingredient in well-known blended whiskies such as Buchanan's and Ballantine's, and it's relatively rare to find the spirit bottled as a single malt.

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Some names leave no doubt who they're made for. Dannebrog is Highland Park's tribute to the Danish market — a 13-year-old release bottled at cask strength, well beyond the strength of the distillery's standard releases.

Expert Description

Highland Park Dannebrog is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky, 13 years old and bottled at cask strength 60.3%.

The name is a direct nod to the Danish flag and to Highland Park's long relationship with the Danish whisky market. At 60.3%, it's considerably stronger than the distillery's standard releases, giving a more intense and concentrated expression of the characteristic Orkney style.

The high strength means the whisky tolerates — and often benefits from — a few drops of water, which opens up the layers of spice, fruit and peat.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted malt and dark honey meet a warm, spiced peat and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

Intense and full-bodied, with caramel, ginger and a distinct, warming peat smoke.

Finish

Long and powerful, with lingering spice and smoke.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Dannebrog
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 60.3%
Size: 70 CL
EAN: 5010314303440

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Full-bodied · Intense

Did You Know?

The name Dannebrog is a direct nod to the Danish flag and to Highland Park's long history in the Danish whisky market.

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A ready-made Manhattan, developed with Esquire and barrel-finished a second time after blending.

Expert description

Jefferson's The Manhattan Barrel Finished Cocktail is a pre-mixed cocktail, bottled at 34%, developed by Jefferson's in collaboration with Esquire magazine and then editor-in-chief David Granger. The cocktail is built on Jefferson's 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, originally distilled to 125 proof and reduced to 82 proof, before being blended with sweet and dry vermouth in a 'Perfect Manhattan' style, along with barrel-aged spiced cherry bitters. After blending, the cocktail is aged a further roughly 4 months in used bourbon casks before bottling at 68 proof — a process that gives it a deeper, more integrated character than a freshly mixed Manhattan.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers Madeira, vanilla and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate is complex with bitter herbs, vermouth and citrus.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, dry and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Jefferson The Manhattan Cocktail not Whisky
Bottler: Jefferson's
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Pre-mixed cocktail (Bourbon, vermouth, bitters)
ABV: 34%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spicy · Dry · Complex · Herbal

Did you know?

The cocktail was developed in collaboration with Esquire magazine, and the extra barrel-ageing after blending is a technique normally used for whisky, applied here to a pre-mixed cocktail to give it more depth.

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A litre of Bell's is not a bottle you buy for the display cabinet. It gets bought for the house, put at the back of the cupboard and pulled out when someone drops by. That is its function, and it has held it for decades without complaint.

The expert's description

Bell's Original 100 cl is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Original was previously called Specially Selected and took its current name in 2008. The blend is built around Blair Athol in Pitlochry, regarded as the home distillery of the house, supported by malt from several other distilleries and by grain whisky, which supplies the light, round texture.

The litre format is a practical decision more than a collector decision. The larger bottle is still around, mainly in airports and with retailers who have the shelf space, and it is meant for households where the whisky gets drunk rather than kept.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and cereal led with vanilla, apple and a dry malt note. A little caramel sits underneath.

Palate

Soft and simple with honey, cereal and a hint of nut. No edges, no surprises, and that is deliberate.

Finish

Short and dry with a last malty warmth.

Specifications

Name: Bell's Original 100 cl
Distillery: Bell's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000387905504

Flavour profile

Light · Malty · Soft · Honeyed · Dry

Did you know?

Bell's took over Blair Athol in 1933 and has used the distillery as the fixed pivot of the blend ever since. The visitor centre in Pitlochry remains one of the busiest in Scotland.

See our full range of Bell's Whisky
See our full range of Blended Scotch Whisky

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21 years on cask and only 8,268 bottles in the world, an age Ardbeg rarely puts on display.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Twenty One 21 Year Old Committee Release 2016 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky distilled in spring 1995, bottled in 2016 after 21 years of maturation, at 46%.

The release is a Committee Release, reserved for members of Ardbeg's own fan community, and is among the oldest vintage bottles the distillery has ever released at this scale.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Restrained, mature peat alongside a soft sweetness that only truly shows after so many years on cask.

Palate

Rounded and well balanced, where the classic Ardbeg smoke has been smoothed by decades of maturation without losing its identity.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a lasting smoky warmth that speaks to the age.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Twenty One
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: Spring 1995
Bottled: 2016
Number of bottles: 8,268 bottles
Edition: Committee Release 2016
EAN no.: 5010494934410

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Mature · Elegant · Rounded

Investment Potential

High. As one of Ardbeg's oldest releases, limited to 8,268 bottles and long sold out from the distillery, Twenty One is regarded as one of the most sought-after bottles among Ardbeg collectors.

Did You Know?

Ardbeg won "World Whisky of the Year" two years running in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, a recognition that cemented the distillery's status in the very years this 21-year-old was bottled.

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November 2016. Stauning releases the 13th edition of the Rye series – and calls it "Young Rye" with a transparency about age that was unusual in the whisky world at the time.

Expert description

Stauning Young Rye 2016 November is a Danish Rye Whisky bottled at 52.3% and distilled in 2013. Bottled March 2016 and released November 2016 as the 13th edition in the Rye series. Made from 100% Danish rye malt, floor-malted in-house. Approximately 3,000 bottles. Non-chill filtered. Sold without original box.

The Young Rye designation is Stauning's way of saying: what you see is what you get. Young, but not undeveloped – the rye malt provides a natural spiciness that does not require decades of maturation to make sense.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and spicy with green apple, rye bread and citrus peel. Intense and lively for its age.

Palate

Sharp and spiced rye core with pepper, ginger and light sweetness. Energetic and clear in profile.

Finish

Shorter with spiced warmth and light oak. Clean and direct.

Specifications

Name: Stauning Young Rye 2016 November
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Rye Whisky
ABV: 52.3%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: March 2016
Number of bottles: approx. 3,000
Edition: 13th edition

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fresh · Rye · Pepper · Vintage

Did you know?

When Stauning called their early editions "Young Rye", they broke with an industry angle of hiding age behind terms like "NAS" (No Age Statement). It was a deliberate choice of honesty that earned respect in the whisky community.

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The ruby red colour is no coincidence, but a direct result of the finest Oloroso sherry casks the whiskey has been allowed to rest in.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Red Head is a Single Malt Irish Whiskey matured in Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at cask strength 46%.

The whiskey is matured in some of the finest Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a beautiful ruby red colour and a deep, sherry-driven flavour profile. Red Head is a triple distilled single malt, a production method that gives a clean, rounded base character before the sherry casks add depth and complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sherry sweetness and dried fruit, with a ruby-red depth.

Palate

Round and full, with raisin, nut and a touch of spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering sherry character.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Red Head
Distillery: Writers Tears
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Triple Distilled Single Malt Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5099811906156

Flavour Profile

Sherry-driven · Ruby red · Round · Nutty · Warm

Did You Know?

The name "Writers Tears" pays tribute to Ireland's great literary tradition, where whiskey was often a faithful companion during the writing process for names like James Joyce and Brendan Behan.
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Taiwan's tropical climate forces whisky to mature far faster than in Scotland or Japan, and Omar is one of the clearest proofs of that.

Expert Description

Omar Bourbon Cask Nantou Distillery is a Single Malt Whisky from Taiwan, bottled at 46%.

Nantou Distillery is located in central Taiwan and is run by Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation. The Omar series is the distillery's flagship brand and is matured in bourbon casks, giving a sweeter, more approachable style than many of its European counterparts.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and ripe tropical fruit.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied with caramel and light honey.

Finish

Medium length and warm with a hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: Omar Bourbon Cask
Distillery: Nantou
Region/Country: Nantou, Taiwan
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4711588854232

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Tropical · Warm

Did You Know?

Taiwan's hot, humid climate causes whisky to mature up to three times faster than in the cool Scottish highlands, giving Omar its characteristic body even after relatively short maturation.

See our full range of {'da': 'Nantou whisky', 'en': 'Nantou whisky', 'sv': 'Nantou whisky'}

Same Taiwanese distillery, this time with the deep colour and spice of Spanish sherry casks.

Expert description

Omar Sherry Cask is a Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky matured in sherry casks. The whisky comes from Nantou in central Taiwan, where the subtropical climate with high humidity drives far more intense maturation than in traditional whisky regions. The Sherry Cask expression draws its character from Spanish sherry casks, which lend the whisky deeper colour and a spicier, fruitier profile compared to the bourbon cask expression.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers dried fruit, sherry and light spice.

Palate

The palate is round with raisins, caramel and a hint of dark chocolate.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, spicy and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Omar Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Nantou
Region/Country: Nantou, Taiwan
Type: Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky
Cask type: Sherry casks

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spicy · Fruity · Round

Did you know?

In under two decades, Taiwan has established itself as one of the world's most respected whisky nations, and Nantou helped lay the groundwork even before the now far more famous Kavalan distillery opened.

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Award-winning rye whisky from the Canadian prairies, in a large 1-litre bottle.

Expert description

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Canadian Rye Whisky is a rye-dominant whisky from the same distillery as Crown Royal's core expression, bottled at 45%. Crown Royal was created in 1939 by spirits magnate Samuel Bronfman to celebrate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's royal visit to Canada — the first visit by reigning monarchs in the country's history. According to legend, Bronfman tested over 600 different blends before arriving at the final recipe, presented to the royal couple in a decanter wrapped in a purple velvet bag with gold embroidery. The whisky is produced today at the distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, where about 80% of the grain comes from the local region, and the water is naturally filtered through limestone.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate is spicy and full with rye, caramel and vanilla.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Canadian Rye Whisky
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Canadian Rye Whisky
ABV: 45%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Rye · Full-bodied · Sweet

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Spanish malt whisky, selected by the same critical palates that made the La Bota series legendary.

Expert description

Equipo Navazos La Bota no 66 12 Year Single Cask Spanish Malt Whisky is a single-cask malt whisky matured for 12 years in Spain, bottled at 46%. Equipo Navazos started in 2005 as a group of Spanish sherry enthusiasts led by Jesús Barquín and Eduardo Ojeda, who found 65 casks of exceptionally fine, over 20-year-old Amontillado hidden away in a bodega in Sanlúcar. Together with a circle of friends, they bought one cask and released it under the name La Bota de Amontillado — the first in what is now the celebrated, chronologically numbered La Bota series. Since then, Equipo Navazos has expanded its repertoire to include white wine, brandy, rum and whisky, always with the same philosophy: finding and bottling exceptional, often overlooked casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers malt, dried fruit and a light sherry-driven sweetness.

Palate

The palate is round and full with malt, caramel and a hint of nut.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Equipo Navazos La Bota no 66 12 år Single Cask Spansk Malt Whisky
Bottler: Equipo Navazos
Region/Country: Andalusia, Spain
Type: Spanish Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Age: 12 years, Edition: Bota no 66

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Malt · Sweet · Sherry

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Eight years sits below the distillery own entry age. It is a whisky where the sherry casks have not yet taken over, and where the apple pie and the almonds lie closer to the surface than they do in the rest of the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 8 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

The permanent range begins at ten years, so an eight year old is the youngest release the distillery sends out. The sherry is still there, but it is lighter and more fruit-driven, and at 40% the whisky is easy to approach without being thin. The apple and cinnamon come from the spirit rather than from the cask.

Glenfarclas came into the Grant family by chance. John Grant was a cattle breeder whose fields lay next to the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell in 1865 it was the natural move. The family has held it ever since.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apple pie, almonds and cinnamon, with hay, honey and raisins behind. Brighter and fresher than the rest of the range.

Palate

Nuts, butter and chocolate, with a hint of grass underneath. The sherry is present without dominating, and the 40% makes the whisky easy to drink over a longer stretch.

Finish

Vanilla fudge, apple and raisins. Medium and soft with no bitter edges.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 8 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066704089

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Malty · Soft · Light

Did you know?

John Grant was a cattle breeder, not a distiller, when he bought Glenfarclas in 1865. His fields lay right up against the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell and return to England, the deal was the easiest decision in the world.

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Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish is matured in Caribbean rum casks, adding sweet, tropical notes to the classic Irish whiskey.

Expert Review

Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey is an Irish Whiskey, bottled at 43%.

The whiskey has received a finishing period in casks that previously held Caribbean rum, giving it sweet, tropical notes. This rum finish adds an extra dimension to Tullamore Dew's classic, well-balanced character, resulting in a whiskey with a fresher and more fruity expression than the original Tullamore Dew.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruit and sweetness.

Palate

Sweet with notes of rum and tropical fruit.

Finish

Fresh and sweetish.

Specifications

Name: Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
Distillery: Tullamore Dew
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Whiskey
Cask: Rum Cask Finish
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5391516892209

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Sweetish · Fruity · Fresh · Distinctive

Did You Know?

A "cask finish" means the whiskey, after ordinary maturation, is transferred to another cask for a shorter period to add extra flavour nuances.
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Eighteen years marks a milestone in Arran's core range — the oldest age-statement whisky the distillery offers as a standing release.

A combination of cask types that ends in a genuine sherry bomb.

Expert Description

Arran 18 Year Old is a Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of 1st and 2nd fill hogsheads and bourbon casks, bottled at 46%.

After the bulk of its maturation, the whisky is given a finish in 1st fill Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a marked depth and fullness. The result is one of Arran's most popular age-statement releases, bottled non-chill filtered and with natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramelised citrus and tropical fruit meet a backdrop of charred oak.

Palate

Deep sherry character with layers of dried fruit, spice and a full sweetness.

Finish

Long and warming with lingering sherry tones.

Specifications

Name: Arran 18 Year Old
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st and 2nd fill hogsheads and bourbon casks, finished in 1st fill Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5060044483073
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did You Know?

Arran 18 Year Old is the distillery's oldest permanent age-statement release — anything older typically comes from limited single cask releases, several of which also feature in this range.

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Before Prohibition, rye was just as common as corn in American whiskey — this expression brings that recipe back.

Expert description

Pre-Prohibition Rye is a rye whiskey referencing the style from before American Prohibition (1920-1933), when rye-based whiskeys were far more common than today. Bottled at 40%. The Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, dates back to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of bourbon under the name "Old Jake Beam". The family has made bourbon in Kentucky for over 200 years and seven generations, and the brand took its current name in 1943 in honour of James Beauregard "Jim" Beam, who rebuilt the distillery in 120 days after Prohibition ended.

It's made from a rye-dominant mash rather than Jim Beam's usual bourbon recipe, giving a spicier, drier profile.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spicy with rye, pepper and a hint of citrus.

Palate

The palate is dry and spicy with pepper and rye, balanced by light sweetness from the barrel.

Finish

The finish is medium, spicy and warm.

Specifications

Name: Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye
Distillery: Jim Beam
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Rye Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spicy · Dry · Pepper · Rye

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At the foot of Ben Rinnes, the Lour burn runs past a distillery that has stood in Charlestown of Aberlour since 1879. The whisky made here is matured twice over, first in American oak and then in Spanish sherry casks. This 16 year old release is no longer in production.

The expert's description

Aberlour 16 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured first in 1st fill Bourbon casks and then in Sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

Aberlour was founded in 1879 by James Fleming in Charlestown of Aberlour, where the Lour burn comes down off Ben Rinnes and joins the Spey. A fire in 1898 flattened most of the site and took the buildings and the stocks with it. The distillery was rebuilt, and since 1975 it has belonged to Pernod Ricard.

Double Cask Matured is the maturation method the whole range is built on. The spirit starts out in 1st fill Bourbon casks of American oak, picking up vanilla, coconut and a bright sweetness. It is then racked into Sherry casks, and that is where the darker layers arrive: raisin, plum and spice. The two cask types pull in opposite directions, and the meeting point between them is the whole idea behind the bottle.

Aberlour 16 Years is bottled at 40%, slightly lower than earlier releases of the same whisky. The expression has been discontinued and is no longer produced.

Aberlour is one of the best-selling Single Malt Whisky brands in France, and the French market has been the distillery's most important for decades. The soft, sherried style caught on there long before the rest of the world found its way to Speyside.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm golden amber in the glass. The nose is creamy and soft with sweet raisins, dried plums and spiced nuts, and a trace of vanilla sits behind it all from the American oak.

Palate

Soft and round from the first sip. Flowers and mild spice land first, then the sweet plums and raisins arrive, and a light oak note finally keeps the sweetness in check. The body is more light than heavy, which makes it easy to drink neat.

Finish

Long and warm. Spiced honey lingers alongside a dry, nutty tone from the sherry cask, and it takes a good while before the mouth is clean again.

Specifications

Name: Aberlour 16 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Aberlour
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Bourbon casks followed by Sherry casks
Edition: Double Cask Matured

Flavour profile

Sherried · Fruity · Spiced · Soft · Honeyed

Investment potential

Medium. Aberlour 16 Years Double Cask Matured has been discontinued, and a 16 year age statement from a Speyside distillery with Aberlour's reputation only gets harder to track down as the years pass.

Did you know?

James Fleming left a substantial sum to build a hospital in his home town. Fleming Cottage Hospital in Aberlour opened in 1900, five years after his death, and the building is still in use. His motto, Let the deed shaw, appears on the bottles to this day and is old Scots for letting the deed speak for itself.

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A craft beer and a single malt whisky have more in common than you might think. Glenfiddich IPA Experimental Series is the proof.

Expert description

Glenfiddich IPA Experimental Series is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks finished in casks that previously held India Pale Ale and bottled at 43%. The whisky is finished in casks that previously held India Pale Ale, brewed specially for the project by a local brewery. The cask finish adds a fresh, lightly hoppy character that is unusual for a Speyside single malt and sets it clearly apart from Glenfiddich's more classic releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh citrus notes, a light hoppy bitterness and a delicate malt sweetness.

Palate

Light and refreshing with citrus, green apple and a subtle hoppy spice.

Finish

Short and clean, with a final hint of citrus peel.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich IPA Experimental Series Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks finished in casks that previously held India Pale Ale
Edition: Experimental Series - IPA Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5010327325606

Flavour profile

Fresh · Hoppy · Fruity · Light

Did you know?

The beer used to season the casks for this whisky was brewed specifically for the project — a rare crossover between beer and whisky production.

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What happens if you let twenty different cask types meet in a single whisky? Project XX is Glenfiddich's answer — an experiment that ended up becoming a fixed part of the Experimental Series.

Expert description

Glenfiddich XX Experimental Series is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 20 different cask types, selected by Glenfiddich's brand ambassadors and bottled at 47%. XX Experimental Series was created by a group of Glenfiddich's own brand ambassadors, each of whom was allowed to select a cask they believed would add something special. The 20 chosen casks — a mix of bourbon, sherry and wine-type casks — were then married together into a single whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe oranges, spiced oak and a light caramel sweetness.

Palate

Complex and rich with layers of dried fruit, spice and a slight citrus tang.

Finish

Medium and spiced, with a final hint of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich XX Experimental Series Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 20 different cask types, selected by Glenfiddich's brand ambassadors
Edition: Experimental Series - Project XX
EAN no.: 5010327325330

Flavour profile

Complex · Spiced · Fruity · Experimental

Did you know?

Each of the 20 brand ambassadors behind Project XX had their name printed on the whisky's label — a rarity for a Glenfiddich release.

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First came Darth Vader, then Yoda, and now Luke Skywalker. The names are the Danish whisky retailers' own joke, and the last one is a nod to Billy Walker — the man who lifted Glendronach out of obscurity, and whose surname fitted a little too well.

The expert's description

Glendronach 10 Year Old Luke Skywalker is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

The bottling was made officially for professional Danish whisky retailers in an outturn of around 3,000 bottles, sold only on the Danish market. The whisky sits entirely in PX sherry casks, the sweetest and most concentrated sherry type, and it is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Glendronach is built on sherry. Since 1826 the distillery has matured its whisky in Spanish oak casks from the bodegas of Andalucía, so a ten year old entirely in PX is not a side step but a concentrated version of the house style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark sherry and raisin, with fig, dark chocolate and a layer of spice. The youth registers as a fresh berry note beneath the heavy fruit.

Palate

Full and sweet. Raisin, dates and dark chocolate, with a firm spiced middle. The 48% gives the whisky the weight a ten year old would otherwise lack against this much sherry.

Finish

Long. Dark fruit and cocoa drying slowly into a lightly bitter, nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach 10 Year Old Luke Skywalker Danish Whisky Retailers Highland Single Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: Approximately 3,000
Edition: Luke Skywalker - Officially Bottled for Professional Danish Whisky Retailers
EAN no.: 5060399683517

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Full

Investment potential

High. Around 3,000 bottles for a single market, bottled officially for the professional trade and part of a named series. Exclusive market releases of that kind get collected as a run, and both Darth Vader and Yoda are now hard to find.

Did you know?

James Allardice, who founded Glendronach in 1826, was only the second person in Scotland to obtain a legal distilling licence after the excise legislation of 1823. The distillery has therefore been there from the very beginning of the legal Scotch whisky industry.

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When Teeling opened its doors in Dublin in 2015, it was the first time in over a hundred years that whiskey had been distilled in the city centre. Small Batch was one of the releases that put them on the map.

Expert Review

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

The whiskey is a blend of malt and grain whiskey, further matured in casks that previously held rum from Central and South America. The rum maturation gives the whiskey a characteristic tropical sweetness that sets it apart from more traditional bourbon- and sherry-matured blends. Small Batch was one of Teeling's first releases and remains one of the distillery's best-known bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruit, banana and vanilla.

Palate

Sweet and spiced, with caramel and ripe banana.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Teeling Small Batch Rum Cask
Distillery: Teeling
Region/Country: Dublin, Ireland
Type: Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Rum casks
EAN no.: 5391523270021

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Sweet · Banana-forward · Spiced · Soft

Did You Know?

Teeling was the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years when it opened in 2015, and has since gained international attention for its use of unconventional cask types such as rum, madeira and port.
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Written by two men who work with whisky every day, not two authors who researched their way into a topic.

About the product

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

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

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