The same triple distillation, but with rye in the driver's seat.

Expert description

Woodford Rye Distillers Select Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey follows the same triple-distillation process as the house bourbon, but with a rye-forward mash bill, bottled at 45.2%. Woodford Reserve is distilled at the historic distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, whose roots go back to 1812, when it was originally named the Oscar Pepper Distillery. The site is today designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark and is owned by Brown-Forman. The whiskey stands out for being triple-distilled in copper pot stills, unlike most bourbons, which are column-distilled.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is spiced with pepper, 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: Woodford Rye Distillers Select Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery
Region/Country: Versailles, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 45.2%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Triple distilled

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Grainy · Dry

See our full range of Woodford Reserve

A great blend is never an accident — it is the sum of dozens of quiet decisions made over many years. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, toffee and a whisper of peat.

Palate

Honey, malt and a light peppery spice.

Finish

Medium length with a soft smoky close.

Specifications

Name: J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B Rare
EAN no.: 5010103800259

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B Rare takes its name from the founder's spirit of experimentation, an Italian-inspired approach to blending that has stayed central to the brand since the 18th century.

See our full range of J&B

Douglas Laing's Christmas release has never been the soft, cosy type. It is the one that comes in from the cold in a wet coat smelling of bonfire — the 2016 edition in particular.

The expert's description

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2016 is an Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 54.6 % cask strength.

The blend consists solely of single malts from Islay, and the Christmas release is traditionally bottled stronger than the standard version. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

The Christmas Edition has been a fixed annual event at Douglas Laing since Big Peat was launched in 2009. Every edition has its own strength and its own composition, and they are bottled only in the year they are named after.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried seaweed, bonfire smoke and ash with a pronounced medicinal note. Sweet malt, vanilla and a touch of spice keep it from turning cold, and a freshness of citrus and pepper lifts it.

Palate

Powerful and warm with clear peat smoke, salty sea air and a marked ash profile. Black pepper, liquorice, toasted barley and a hint of caramel step forward, and the 54.6 % is well integrated.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky with persistent ash, pepper and a salty minerality.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Christmas Edition 2016 Douglas Laing Islay Blended Malt Whisky 54.6%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 54.6 %
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2016
Edition: Christmas Edition 2016

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Cask strength · Ashy · Spicy

Investment potential

Medium: A vintage-specific Christmas release bottled only in 2016 and never repeated. Older Christmas Editions are becoming harder to find, and complete vintage runs are in demand among Big Peat collectors.

Did you know?

Big Peat's Christmas release is the only one in the range that changes strength every year. That makes it possible to identify the vintage from the strength alone — 54.6 % can only be 2016.

See our full range of Big Peat Christmas
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Beneath the northern lights that give this whisky its name, Wolfburn's casks mature slowly in warehouses at the very edge of mainland Scotland. Aurora is the house's tribute to that very light phenomenon.

The expert's description

Wolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was created by distillery manager Shane Fraser in a limited outturn of 3,000 bottles, matured in a combination of American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. The long fermentation and slow, gentle distillation produce a spirit later matured on-site in the distillery's own warehouses.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sherry sweetness, dried fruit and malt.

Palate

Warm notes of autumn fruit and nutty flavours, with a hint of spice.

Finish

Smooth and mellow with lingering sherry sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Wolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Wolfburn
Region/Country: Thurso, Caithness, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Number of bottles: 3.000
Edition: Limited edition, created by Distillery Manager Shane Fraser
EAN no.: 0634158496363

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Smooth · Fruity

Did you know?

Aurora is named after the northern lights, occasionally visible from Wolfburn's location up in Caithness, closer to the North Pole than to London.

See our full range of Wolfburn

Heavily Peated it says on the label, and that is worth reading twice. Ardmore normally sits moderate on the peat, but when the distillery turns it up and a single cask catches it, you get something quite different from the usual Highland smoke.

Please note: The label on this bottle is wrinkled.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2016 Heavily Peated Coopers Choice is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a used bourbon cask and bottled at 46%. Cask 8048 was distilled in 2016 and gave 270 bottles.

The Coopers Choice is the single cask range from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co., a house founded in 1992 by Brian Crook. He holds an honours degree in food science and had twenty years in the malt whisky trade behind him, latterly as export director for one of Scotland’s principal distillers, before setting out on his own.

A used bourbon cask gives less vanilla and less colour than a first fill, and that is precisely why the smoke can stand out so clearly here. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dry peat smoke first, more soot and embers than open fire. Behind it come vanilla, toasted malt and a light citrus peel. There is a clear earthy note that is Ardmore’s fingerprint.

Palate

The smoke fills the mouth immediately and stays. Beneath it sit malt sweetness, baked apple and a touch of honey, while a dry peppery note tightens things mid-palate. At 46% the body is good, and the cask’s restraint lets the smoke take the lead.

Finish

Long and dry. Ash, malt and a lightly bitter oak note that lets go slowly.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2016 Heavily Peated Coopers Choice Bourbon Cask Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used bourbon cask, cask no. 8048
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2016
Number of bottles: 270
Edition: The Coopers Choice

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Dry · Malty · Vanilla · Spiced · Earthy

Did You Know?

The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. is behind more familiar names than The Coopers Choice. The house also owns the Islay brands Finlaggan and The Ileach, both bottled without a distillery name on the label. It is an old tradition in the trade: whisky from a distillery that may not be named, sent out under a brand of its own.

See our full range of Ardmore
See our full range of The Coopers Choice

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Bourbon as the base, apple as the point — a lighter, sweeter take on Jim Beam for anyone not drinking it neat.

Expert description

Jim Beam Apple is a bourbon-based liqueur, where Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is infused with natural apple flavour. Bottled at 32.5%. 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 meant to be enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktails rather than neat like a regular bourbon.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is led by apple, caramel and vanilla from the bourbon base.

Palate

The palate is sweet with clear apple character over the bourbon's caramel and vanilla.

Finish

The finish is short and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Jim Beam Apple
Distillery: Jim Beam
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Bourbon-based liqueur
ABV: 32.5%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Sweet · Apple · Light · Approachable

See our full range of Jim Beam

An organic French single malt carrying the name of a classic game bird on its label.

Expert description

Pheasants Flight Organic French Traditional Malt Whisky is a French single malt whisky, bottled at 40%, made from organic raw materials using a traditional distillation method. The name Pheasants Flight refers to the classic game bird often associated with the French countryside and its farming traditions.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate is round with grain, caramel and light fruit.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and malty.

Specifications

Name: Pheasants Flight Organic French Traditional Malt Whisky
Region/Country: France
Type: French Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Malty · Round · Fruity · Soft

Organic barley for whisky sounds like marketing until you discover how few distilleries bother with the effort. Deanston has been doing it since the early 2000s.

Expert description

Deanston 15 years Organic is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky made from organic barley, matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Organic whisky requires the whole chain to be certified — the field, the maltings, the distillery and the casks must be kept apart from anything conventional. That is the main reason so few do it. Deanston sits in a converted cotton mill by the River Teith, which drives the distillery's own hydroelectric plant, and the house has worked with organic production for over two decades.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and pale. Malt, honey and green apples, with citrus peel and a light herbal note.

Palate

Soft and precise. Malted barley, honey and pale fruit, with vanilla from the cask and a dry spiced edge. The cereal character stands out more clearly than in the 12 year old.

Finish

Long and dry, with malt, citrus and a mild spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 15 years Organic Single Highland Malt Whisky 46,3%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Organic
EAN no.: 5029704218264

Flavour profile

Clean · Malty · Honeyed · Citrus · Herbal

Investment potential

Medium. Organic single malt with an age statement is a small category, and Deanston is one of the few distilleries producing it as a standing range.

Did you know?

For a whisky to be called organic, the casks must be too. In practice that means casks traced back to certified sources and kept physically separate in the warehouse — a logistical exercise that costs more than the barley itself.

See our full range of Deanston Whisky

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Michter's core expression — a modern take on a whiskey history spanning 270 years.

Expert description

Michter's US 1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the distillery's core bourbon expression, bottled at 45.7%. Michter's history dates back to 1753 and Shenk's Whiskey, considered America's first whiskey company, founded in Pennsylvania. Around 1860 the distillery changed its name to Bomberger's, and in the 1950s the name Michter's was created — named after the sons Michael and Peter, whose names were combined into 'Mich-ter's'. After a bankruptcy in 1989, the trademark was revived in the 1990s by Joseph J. Magliocco and his mentor Dick Newman, who moved production to Kentucky. Today Michter's operates from three locations around Louisville: the large Shively Distillery, where production takes place, the historic Fort Nelson building, and a farm in Springfield.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Michter's US 1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Michter's Distillery
Region/Country: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45.7%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Caramel · Rounded · Spiced

See our full range of Michter's

Without a year on the label, Miyagikyo can focus on what the distillery does best: a floral, fruity style built from Nikka's best available stocks.

Expert Description

Nikka Miyagikyo is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 45%.

The whisky comes from Miyagikyo Distillery north of Sendai, founded in 1969 by Nikka founder Masataka Taketsuru. Without an age statement, this release gives Nikka the flexibility to compose the whisky from the best available casks, while preserving the distillery's signature floral, fruity style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and pears with a delicate sherry sweetness.

Palate

Soft and fruity with honey and light spice.

Finish

Medium length and soft, with a last note of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Nikka Miyagikyo
Distillery: Nikka
Region/Country: Sendai, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4904230042242

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Floral · Soft · Sherry-driven

Did You Know?

Masataka Taketsuru deliberately chose Miyagikyo's location because its climate and water were the exact opposite of Yoichi's - he wanted two distilleries that each spoke in their own voice.

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Amontillado is drier than oloroso and lays in nuts and salted fruit rather than dark sweetness. That is exactly the kind of cask a light Lowland malt can carry without disappearing.

The expert's description

Glenkinchie Distillers Edition 2003/2015 is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a second maturation in amontillado sherry casks, bottled at 43%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2015 after twelve years. The first part of maturation took place in ordinary casks, after which the whisky spent a period in amontillado casks — what Diageo calls double maturation.

Distillers Edition exists for each of the Classic Malts distilleries, and each one was given its own type of sherry. Glenkinchie got amontillado, which is dry and nutty and does not flatten the light distillery style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lemon and meadow flowers with nuts, dried apricot and a note of salted caramel from the cask.

Palate

Softer and rounder than the standard bottling. Vanilla and citrus at the base with nuts, dried fruit and a dry sherry edge on top.

Finish

Medium length and dry with nuts, spice and a lightly salted close.

Specifications

Name: Glenkinchie 2003/2015 Distillers Edition 12 Year Single Lowland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glenkinchie
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Second maturation in amontillado sherry casks
Vintage: Distilled 2003, bottled 2015
Range: Distillers Edition, Classic Malts of Scotland
Batch code: G/228-7-D
EAN no.: 5000281022598

Flavour profile

Light · Nutty · Dry sherry · Citrus · Round

Investment potential

Medium. The 2003/2015 vintage is discontinued, and Distillers Edition appears in new vintages every year, so the older ones quietly disappear from the shelves. It is a range people collect by vintage rather than by single bottle.

Did you know?

Glenkinchie runs only two pot stills, but they are among the largest in Scotland. The wash still is charged with around 21,000 litres, and that kind of volume gives a light, clean spirit with long copper contact.

See our full range of Glenkinchie

After the first tentative steps comes the second phase. The 2nd Step Collection marks the moment High Coast truly began exploring the depth of its own spirit through experimental, well-balanced bottlings.

The Expert's Description

Box Destilleri The 2nd Step Collection 01 is a Swedish Single Malt Whisky matured in first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, bottled at 51.1%.

The whisky is created from a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and casks that previously held sherry, giving a fine balance between sweetness, spice and cask character, while preserving the distillery's clean, elegant profile. It was bottled in February 2016.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh fruit notes of green apples, pears and citrus, followed by honey, vanilla and a subtle nutty tone from the sherry casks.

Palate

Full-bodied and lively with layers of malt, dried fruit, light caramel and spices such as ginger and cinnamon.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced with a touch of oak and a light dryness.

Specifications

Name: Box Destilleri The 2nd Step Collection 01 Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: High Coast Distillery
Region/Country: Ångermanland, Sweden
Type: Swedish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First-fill bourbon and sherry casks
Bottled: 2016
Edition: The 2nd Step Collection 01
EAN no.: 7350076380159

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spiced · Full-bodied · Nutty · Oaky

Did You Know?

The 2nd Step Collection marks a milestone for the distillery, then still known as Box, when it truly began experimenting with combinations of cask types to show what Swedish whisky can match from the classic Scotch benchmarks.

See our full range of High Coast Distillery

If Machir Bay is Kilchoman's bright, fresh public face, Sanaig is the darker, more contemplative younger sibling. Named after a rocky coastline north of the distillery, it's built to balance sherry depth against Islay peat smoke.

Expert's description

Kilchoman Sanaig is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46 %.

Sanaig was developed as a counterpoint to Machir Bay: where the flagship rests mainly on bourbon casks, Sanaig is built from a majority of oloroso sherry casks, giving it a deeper, darker and spicier profile. The sherry casks come from Miguel Martin in Jerez, the same supplier that also provides casks to Glenfarclas.

The result is a whisky that holds on to Kilchoman's citrus-fresh signature smoke, but lets it play alongside caramel, dried fruit and a distinct sherry sweetness — a balance that has made Sanaig a fixed point in the distillery's core range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Caramel and honey meet dried fruit and a sweet, coastal peat smoke, with a hint of citrus in the background.

Palate

Round and spiced, with the sherry's sweetness first, followed by a growing wave of smoke and a touch of dark chocolate.

Finish

Medium to long, with lingering smoke and a final, gentle sweetness from the sherry casks.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman Sanaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Spicy · Fruity · Balanced

Did you know?

Sanaig is named after a rocky coastline north of the distillery, known for its dramatic cliffs and harsh weather — a landscape that, like the whisky itself, is both beautiful and raw at once.

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Behind Balvenie's walls sits a distillery few people know by name. For decades, Kininvie has supplied whisky for other William Grant & Sons bottles — without ever appearing on the label itself.

Expert description

Kininvie 17 Years Old Batch 001 is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 42.6%. Batch 001 was, in 2016, the very first single malt Kininvie ever released under its own name, after decades in which the spirit was used exclusively in blends. It is matured in ex-bourbon casks, which highlight Kininvie's soft, fruity base character — a style closer to Balvenie than to Glenfiddich.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe pears, honey and a light nutty aroma of almonds.

Palate

Soft and round, with tropical fruit, vanilla and a hint of spiced oak.

Finish

Medium, soft and lastingly fruity.

Specifications

Name: Kininvie 17 Years Old Batch 001 Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Kininvie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years old
ABV: 42.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Edition: Batch 001 - Kininvie's first official single malt
EAN no.: 5010327457031

Flavour profile

Fruity · Soft · Rare · Round

Investment potential

Medium. Batch 001 was the very first single malt William Grant & Sons ever released from Kininvie, and debut releases like this tend to grow more sought-after over the years.

Did you know?

Kininvie distillery has no malting floor of its own — the grain is processed at neighbouring Balvenie before being sent on to Kininvie's still house.

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Blackford sits where the Highlands truly begin to unfold, and Tullibardine's water comes from the same source King James IV once bought beer from. This 2007 vintage shows the distillery's clean, classic style.

The expert's description

Tullibardine 2007/2015 Spirit & Cask 8 år Single Cask Highland Malt Whisky 46% is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Barrel #0035 and bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled on 7 July 2007 and bottled in 2015 by the independent bottler Spirit & Cask from a single cask, Barrel #0035, with an outturn of just 294 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, grain and a light honey sweetness.

Palate

Soft and rounded with pear and vanilla.

Finish

Short to medium with a dry, clean finish.

Specifications

Name: Tullibardine 2007/2015 Spirit & Cask 8 år Single Cask Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tullibardine
Bottler: Spirit & Cask
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Barrel #0035
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 07.07.2007
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 294

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Fruity · Light

Did you know?

Tullibardine uses water from the same source that supplied the area's first legal brewery, from which King James IV reportedly bought beer himself in 1488.

See our full range of Tullibardine

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

Expert's description

Laphroaig LORE Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48% is a Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon-, quarter cask- and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Stewed fruit, walnut and a gentle sherry spice.

Palate

Christmas cake, orange peel and a spiced oak backbone.

Finish

Dry and nutty with a final touch of pepper.

Specifications

Name: Laphroaig LORE Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48%
Distillery: Laphroaig
Region/Country: Islay
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon-, quarter cask- and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: LORE
EAN no.: 5010019652019

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Smooth · Smoky · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. LORE draws on some of the oldest casks in Laphroaig's warehouses and is released without a fixed vintage number, meaning the exact cask composition is not repeated batch to batch.

Did you know?

The name LORE refers to the oral stories and traditions passed down at the distillery over generations, and the whisky combines some of Laphroaig's oldest surviving casks.

See our full range of Laphroaig

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There is a reason Indian whisky has moved from curiosity to cult status among enthusiasts, and Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky is part of the proof.

Expert's description

Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky is an Indian Single Malt Whisky matured in American oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The whisky is a blend of different vintages of the same Indian single malt, composed to give a soft and elegant character that shows the Amrut style without any extra cask finish or peat.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is soft with ginger, pepper and a touch of salt.

Palate

The palate combines sweetness, vanilla and burnt caramel with an edge of dusty malt and peat.

Finish

The finish is long and mild with notes of citrus.

Specifications

Distillery: Amrut
Region/Country: Bangalore, India
Type: Indian Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American oak casks
EAN No.: 8901193007765

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Round · Soft · Elegant

Did you know?

Amrut was the first Indian brand to truly break through with international whisky critics, paving the way for the entire Indian single malt category.

See our full range of Amrut

One cask, 564 bottles, four Nordic countries to share them. That is how the story of Coupar Angus begins, a bottle never meant for a large audience, and precisely for that reason so sought after.

Expert Description

Glenlivet Coupar Angus 15 Year Old Limited Edition is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, drawn straight from a single sherry cask at cask strength of 57.9%.

The whisky is a distillery bottling, released exclusively to be shared between the four Nordic countries, with only 564 bottles of this specific release reaching Scandinavia. The cask has spent 15 years maturing in American white oak and belongs to what the distillery calls its Nordic Cask series, single casks selected specifically for the Nordic market. The name Coupar Angus refers to a location near the distillery, in keeping with The Glenlivet's tradition of naming single cask releases after places in the area.

To join the community around The Glenlivet's single cask releases, whisky lovers can sign up to the distillery's Guardians of The Glenlivet through theglenlivet.com.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruity with banana and orange, carried by sharpened pencils, nuts and a hint of clove. With water, more tropical fruit and a touch of dark berries such as blackcurrant and blackberry emerge.

Palate

Sweet from the start with berries and citrus fruit, cinnamon and a creamy texture, where caramel and a touch of chocolate mingle with a peppery, tingling heat mid-palate.

Finish

Long and spiced with notes of chocolate, caramel and liquorice, finished with a touch of fruit.

Specifications

Name: Coupar Angus 15 Year Old
Distillery: The Glenlivet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 57.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Sherry Butt, American white oak (Cask No. 9940)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Bottled: 02.12.2015
Number of bottles: 564 bottles to Scandinavia
Edition: Nordic Cask Coupar Angus

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spiced · Creamy

Investment Potential

Medium. Single cask releases from the Nordic Cask series are bottled in very limited numbers specifically for the Scandinavian market, making them interesting to collectors focused on Nordic-exclusive Glenlivet bottles.

Did You Know?

The Glenlivet is the second best-selling Scotch single malt in the world and already reached sales of 5.7 million litres in 2010, yet a bottle like this, drawn from a single cask for four countries, is far rarer than most of the distillery's other releases.

See our full range of The Glenlivet

Fifteen years exclusively in first fill casks is an expensive decision. Benromach took it anyway, and the whisky carries the result: dark fruit, black pepper and a thread of smoke that never quite lets go.

The expert's description

Benromach 15 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured exclusively in first fill sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at 43 %.

The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured. Using first fill casks for the full fifteen years is unusual — most distilleries mix in refill wood to keep the oak from taking over.

Benromach reopened in 1998 after fifteen silent years, so the 15 year old is among the first releases distilled entirely under Gordon & MacPhail's stewardship. It shows the house style at full length.

Tasting notes

Nose

Forest fruits, apple and dark chocolate with cracked black pepper on top. The sherry is rich, and a puff of smoke drifts across the whole thing.

Palate

Creamy and nutty with almond, roasted malt and orange peel. Sherry sweetness meets a dry spiced edge, and a hint of peat smoke still sits in the middle.

Finish

Balanced and warming with dried fruit, oak and a touch of smoke at the end.

Specifications

Name: Benromach 15 years old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Benromach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill sherry casks and first fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5020613051485

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Lightly peated · Spicy · Creamy · Dark fruit

Did you know?

Benromach still uses a wooden mash tun and larch washbacks — something most distilleries swapped for stainless steel decades ago, because wood is harder to keep clean.

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An annual tribute to a master distiller who fought publicly against a fatal disease.

Expert description

Parker's Heritage Collection 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey is part of Heaven Hill's annual limited edition series, launched in 2007 to honour then-master distiller Parker Beam, matured for at least 8 years, bottled at 54%. In 2010, Parker Beam was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and fought publicly against the disease until his death in January 2017. Since 2013, a portion of proceeds from each bottle in the series has gone toward ALS research through the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund, which has together raised over $1.4 million.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers toasted malt, honey and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and grainy.

Specifications

Name: Parkers Heritage Collection 8 år Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey
Distillery: Parker's Heritage Collection
Region/Country: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey
Age: 8 years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Malty · Powerful · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

Since 2013, sales of Parker's Heritage Collection have contributed over $1.4 million to ALS research and patient support through the fund Parker Beam and his wife Linda established during his illness.

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For decades this whisky went by a completely different name. Auchroisk was considered impossible to pronounce outside Scotland, so Diageo called it The Singleton instead. Only in 2001 was the distillery allowed to use its own name again, and it happened on this very bottle.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 10 Years Old Flora & Fauna is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%. It belongs to the Flora & Fauna range, which United Distillers, today Diageo, launched in 1992 with 26 different single malts to show the differences between Scotland’s whisky regions.

Auchroisk was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks with one purpose: to supply malt for the J&B blend. The first single malt appeared in 1978, and from 1986 it was sold as The Singleton, because the name Auchroisk was judged too difficult for consumers outside Scotland. The name returned in 2001 with this very Flora & Fauna release.

Most bottles in the series are released at 43%, a few at cask strength, and some editions came in wooden boxes. For a number of Diageo distilleries that otherwise supply blends only, the series is the sole route to an official bottling.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus-driven and fresh, with good weight. There is orange peel and a dry spiced note, and liquorice, tobacco and white pepper sit behind.

Palate

Fairly dry and spiced. Citrus opens, then salted caramel, nuts and pepper arrive. A little smoke mingles in the background. At 43% there is good body without weight.

Finish

Medium and dry. Orange peel, pepper and a lightly nutty close that lets go cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 10 Years Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Diageo
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281016085

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Spiced · Dry · Nutty · Salted Caramel · Lightly Smoky

Did You Know?

The name Auchroisk is pronounced roughly orth-rusk. It was precisely that pronunciation which led the owners to rename the whisky The Singleton in 1986, on the view that consumers outside Scotland would not dare ask for it in a bar. Fifteen years later they went back to the original name, and it has been on the label ever since.

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Yamazaki 12 Year Old was the bottle that truly put Japanese whisky on the world map - and it remains a benchmark for the entire category today.

Expert Description

Yamazaki 12 Year Old is a Single Malt Whisky from Japan, bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes from Yamazaki Distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii as Japan's very first whisky distillery. The 12 year old matures across a combination of American white oak, Spanish sherry casks and Japanese mizunara oak, giving it the characteristic depth that has made Yamazaki world-famous.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe peach and pineapple meet a delicate sherry sweetness and a touch of mizunara.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with honey, caramel and a light, dry spice.

Finish

Medium length, warm and gently sweet, with a last note of sandalwood.

Specifications

Name: Yamazaki 12 Year Old
Distillery: Yamazaki
Region/Country: Osaka, Japan
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4901777020313

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Sweet · Exotic

Investment Potential

Medium. Yamazaki 12 Year Old has become steadily harder to find at standard price as Suntory prioritises its no-age-statement range to keep up with global demand.

Did You Know?

Yamazaki 12 Year Old won gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2003 - the first international award that truly made the world take Japanese whisky seriously.

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Few distilleries have a town that literally grew up around them – Oban is one, and you can clearly taste that maritime closeness.

Expert's Description

Oban Little Bay is a Single Highland Malt Whisky, finished in small ex-bourbon casks, bottled at 43%.

Little Bay refers to the small bay by which the Oban distillery sits, and to the smaller casks the whisky receives a finishing period in, giving extra contact with the oak and a more intense flavour profile than the distillery's 14-year-old core release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The glass first greets you with honey, quickly followed by shortbread and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied with apple compote, malt and creamy vanilla.

Finish

The finish is gently sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Oban
Region/Country: West Highlands, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Small ex-bourbon casks (Little Bay casks)
Edition: Little Bay
EAN no.: 5000281039336

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Oban's still house holds only two pairs of stills, making it one of the smallest distilleries in Diageo's entire portfolio by production capacity.

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Stauning KAOS is the opposite of the system – a multi-malt whisky that blends grain types instead of keeping to one. The 2016 edition is one of the earliest releases and sets the standard for the series.

Expert description

Stauning KAOS 2016 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky bottled at 46.5% and made from a blend of malted grain types. Distilled 2011-2013 and released in February 2016. KAOS is Stauning's most complex expression – a counterpoint to the peated single malts, characterised by fruity, creamy notes and elegant complexity. The bottling is non-chill filtered.

Stauning Whisky opened in 2005 in Skjern and has since earned international recognition for its floor malting and copper pot distillation of Danish grain. KAOS represents the experimental side of the distillery – each batch is a new composition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fruity and creamy with apricot jam, vanilla and a hint of citrus. A light oak note in the background.

Palate

Full and smooth. Peach, honey and caramel with a spiced oak finish. Well balanced.

Finish

Medium long and pleasant with sweetness and light wood. Clean ending.

Specifications

Name: Stauning KAOS 2016
Distillery: Stauning Whisky
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46.5%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2011-2013
Bottled: February 2016

Flavour profile

Fruity · Creamy · Vanilla · Complex · Rare

Did you know?

The KAOS name is not accidental: it refers to the chaotic blend of grain types used in distillation. Stauning deliberately experiments with the composition from batch to batch, so no two editions are identical.

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The Tay valley is green, wet and fairly quiet. Aberfeldy works the same way: no smoke, no rush, just time in wood. By sixteen years the distillery's pale honey has picked up something darker, and the whisky starts to seem like one that has slept long and slept well.

Expert description

Aberfeldy 16 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill, refill and re-char bourbon casks and finished for roughly six months in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry casks, bottled at 40%. It sits at the top of the core range, above the 12 and below the rarer releases.

The buildings outside the town of Aberfeldy were drawn by Charles Doig, the man behind the pagoda roofs on a good share of Scotland’s distilleries, and the Dewar brothers bought the land from the Marquis of Breadalbane. The distillery opened in 1898 with one purpose: to feed the heart malt into the house blends. Bacardi has owned the place since 1998, and it is really only in that period that Aberfeldy has been built up as a single malt brand in its own right.

The malt is unpeated, so there is no smoke here either. The cask history runs in two stages. First sixteen years in American oak, where the mix of 1st fill, refill and re-charred bourbon casks gives vanilla, honey and a lightly toasted note. Then half a year in 1st fill Oloroso casks, and that is the stay that lays fruitcake, dark chocolate and orange peel across the top. The sherry never quite takes over, but it shifts the centre of gravity noticeably.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and orange, then a dry clove-like spice a moment later. Ginger sits behind it, together with raisins and a hint of cake batter.

Palate

Fuller than the age and the 40% would suggest. Fruitcake, marzipan and milk chocolate first, then orange turning steadily more bitter. The spice is soft and nutty rather than sharp.

Finish

Long and mouth-coating. Dark chocolate and bitter orange hold on while the sweetness pulls back, leaving something close to dry.

Specifications

Name: Aberfeldy 16 Year Old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Aberfeldy
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill, refill and re-char bourbon casks, finished in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5000277000579

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Honey · Fruitcake · Orange · Spiced

Did you know?

Aberfeldy was built as a supplier, not as a star. For close to a century almost everything it made went straight into blends, and the first official single malt from the distillery only reached the market in 1991.

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Autumn air settles into the fermentation. That is at least Fary Lochan's philosophy – and the autumn distillation is one of the most aromatically rich in the seasonal series.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Autumn Batch 02 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky from the autumn distillation, bottled at 48%, 50 cl. Fary Lochan in Give, Jutland, distils in four seasons as a core principle, as temperature and environment influence fermentation character. Autumn batches are known to be slightly heavier and more aromatic than summer ones. Batch 02 is the second bottling in this seasonal line. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe fruit, lightly dried leaves, vanilla and a touch of oak.

Palate

Smooth malt, apple, honey and a warm spice.

Finish

Gentle and fruity with a hint of oak and delicate sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Autumn Batch 02
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: Autumn Batch 02

Flavour profile

Fruity · Smooth · Seasonal · Honey

Did you know?

Fary Lochan does not always publish exact distillation dates for seasonal batches – but autumn distillations typically happen in September-October, when fermentation temperatures are cooler than in summer.

Yamazakura means "wild mountain cherry blossom" - a fitting name for a whisky from the rugged, beautiful mountain landscape of the Tohoku region.

Expert Description

Yamazakura 16 Year Old is a Blended Japanese Whisky, bottled at 40%.

The whisky comes from Sasanokawa Shuzo, a sake and shochu brewer founded in 1765 in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, which has also made whisky since 1946. The Yamazakura brand was revived in 2015 with the reopening of Asaka Distillery, and this 16 year old shows the depth of the company's older stocks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and caramel with a touch of old oak.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with honey, dark chocolate and a fine, rounded spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with a last note of dried cherries.

Specifications

Name: Yamazakura 16 Year Old
Distillery: Sasanokawa
Region/Country: Fukushima, Japan
Type: Blended Japanese Whisky
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4973373500261

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Sweet · Round · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Age-stated releases from Sasanokawa are limited and becoming harder to find as the distillery's international reputation grows.

Did You Know?

Sasanokawa Shuzo has brewed sake and shochu since 1765, but only began making whisky in 1946, as one of the very first "Ji-whisky" producers in the Tohoku region.

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A rare edition of Suntory's classic Royal series, built around malt from Japan's first and most celebrated distillery, Yamazaki.

Expert Description

Suntory Royal 60 Yamazaki is a Single Malt Whisky from Japan, bottled at 43%.

The expression carries the Royal series' faceted design heritage, but stands apart by being built on malt from Yamazaki Distillery - founded in 1923 as Japan's very first whisky distillery. That makes the bottle a rare meeting of the Royal series' history and Yamazaki's celebrated single malt style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe peach and honey with a delicate sherry sweetness.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with caramel, dried fruit and a light, spiced oak.

Finish

Medium length and warm, with a last note of sandalwood.

Specifications

Name: Suntory Royal 60 Yamazaki
Distillery: Yamazaki
Region/Country: Osaka, Japan
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Soft · Sweet · Round

Investment Potential

Medium. As a discontinued Yamazaki-based special release from Suntory's Royal series, this bottle is already hard to find in good condition.

Did You Know?

Yamazaki Distillery was built where three rivers meet west of Kyoto - a spot chosen for the purity of its water long before whisky ever reached Japan.

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Suntory Royal has been the company's prestigious flagship since 1960, and the faceted bottle has become an icon in its own right in Japan.

Expert Description

Suntory Royal 15 Year is a Blended Whisky from Japan, bottled at 43%.

The whisky is composed by Suntory, Japan's oldest whisky producer, founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1899. The Royal series was launched in 1960 to mark the company's 60th anniversary and has since been one of the most recognised names in Japanese blended whisky, known for its elegant, balanced style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, apple and a light, floral aroma.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel, vanilla and a hint of spice.

Finish

Medium length and elegant.

Specifications

Name: Suntory Royal 15 Year
Distillery: Suntory
Region/Country: Japan
Type: Blended Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4901777039049

Flavour Profile

Soft · Elegant · Floral · Round

Did You Know?

The faceted bottle shape that Suntory Royal is known for was designed to symbolise a Japanese lantern and has remained unchanged since its launch in 1960.

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The iconic square bottle packed together with two glasses and a pouring stopper - a ready-made gift that needs nothing but unwrapping.

Expert Description

Nikka From The Barrel Gift Set contains a Blended Japanese Whisky bottled at 51.4%, together with two whisky glasses and a pouring stopper.

The whisky itself is Nikka's classic From The Barrel, combining up to a hundred different malt and grain whiskies from Nikka's distilleries, married together in cask a second time to round off the flavour. The gift set turns this powerful whisky into a complete, ready-to-give present.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and caramel with a hint of spiced oak and a whisper of smoke.

Palate

Powerful and full-bodied with brown sugar, dark chocolate and peppery spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering notes of oak and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Nikka From The Barrel Gift Set
Distillery: Nikka
Region/Country: Japan
Type: Blended Japanese Whisky
ABV: 51.4%
Size: 50 CL
Other: Incl. 2 glasses and pouring stopper
EAN no.: 3700597353349

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Spicy · Full-bodied · Rich in Caramel

Did You Know?

The small square From The Barrel bottle was originally designed so more bottles could fit tightly on shelves in Japanese shops.

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