A Finnish idea born in a sauna became a tribute to rye's role in the country's history.

Expert description

Juuri Kyrö Rye Single Malt Spirit is a Finnish rye spirit, bottled at 46.3%, from Kyrö Distillery. The idea for the distillery emerged when five Finnish friends were sitting in a sauna drinking American rye whisky and wondered why no rye-based whisky distilleries existed in Finland, a country where rye has historically been a central crop. The distillery was registered in 2012 and built in an old dairy building in the village of Isokyrö. 'Juuri', meaning 'roots' in Finnish, is made entirely from whole rye grain, the most demanding grain to distil, highlighting rye's role in Finnish culture and agriculture.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers rye bread, spice and a hint of citrus.

Palate

The palate is spicy with rye grain, pepper and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, dry and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Juuri Kyro Rye Single Malt Spirit
Distillery: Kyrö
Region/Country: Isokyrö, Finland
Type: Rye Spirit
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 50 CL

Flavour profile

Spicy · Rye-forward · Dry · Citrus-forward

Did you know?

The idea for Kyrö Distillery emerged while the founders sat in a Finnish sauna drinking American rye whisky — they wondered why no one made rye whisky in Finland, where rye has played a central role in agriculture and culture for centuries.

See our full range of Kyrö

From Paul John's distillery in Goa, where the sea air mingles with the heat of the warehouses, comes Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky.

Expert's description

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

Unlike Fusion, the entire barley content here is peated, giving a more consistent smoky character while still carrying the signature Indian fruitiness underneath.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers peat smoke, toasted malt and a sweetness of honey.

Palate

The palate is warm and spicy with smoke, caramel and a touch of tropical fruit.

Finish

The finish is long and peaty with a closing sweetness.

Specifications

Distillery: Amrut
Region/Country: Bangalore, India
Type: Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American oak casks
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 8901193003828

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Round · Fruity

Did you know?

The tropical climate means up to 10-12% of the whisky evaporates from the cask each year, far more than the roughly 2% typically seen in Scotland.

See our full range of Amrut

There is a mouse in Scottish literature that still makes people jump. Douglas Laing has given it four legs, a bottle and a bite that is impossible to mistake.

Expert's description

Timorous Beastie Douglas Laing Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8% is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and sherry casks and bottled at 46,8%.

This small batch expression is composed of Highland malts from several well-known distilleries and bottled at 46.8% without chill filtration or added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Very sweet with spiced honey notes.

Palate

Spiced with raisins, caramel and sugar.

Finish

Sweet with camphor drops and meringue.

Specifications

Name: Timorous Beastie Douglas Laing Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46,8%
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Highland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46,8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Small Batch Release
EAN no.: 5014218794540

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Spiced · Fresh

Did you know?

The malt in Timorous Beastie originates from several named Highland distilleries, including Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne, though the official source is never mentioned on the label.

See our full range of Timorous Beastie

When the Duke of Gordon pushed a new excise law through in 1823, he forced a young farmer named George Smith to pick a side. That choice created the distillery that has since given its name to the entire valley, and to this bottle.

Expert Description

Glenlivet 21 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail is a Single Highland Malt Whisky, matured for 21 years and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is distilled at The Glenlivet and bottled by the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin, who since 1895 have specialised in selecting and maturing single malt whisky from Scottish distilleries. The Glenlivet distillery's roots trace back to 1815, when illicit distilling was already taking place in the area, long before George Smith leased land at Upper Drumin Farm in 1817 and obtained the first official licence in 1824. The distillery's success led several neighbours to attach "Glenlivet" to their own names, which in 1880 ended in a court case ruling that only one whisky had the right to be called "The Glenlivet".

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature and rounded, with dried fruit and a hint of honey, typical of a long-matured Gordon & MacPhail bottling.

Palate

Soft and rounded with notes of nuts and a light spiced warmth that builds on the fruity base character.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a dry, lightly oaked close.

Specifications

Name: 21 Year Old
Distillery: The Glenlivet
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 21 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Nutty · Soft · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium. Older Gordon & MacPhail bottlings of The Glenlivet from previous years are no longer in production in this exact form, giving them growing interest among collectors of independent bottlings.

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail historically classified The Glenlivet under the "Highland" designation rather than "Speyside", an older regional division still seen on some of their labels, even though most whisky drinkers today place the distillery in Speyside.

See our full range of The Glenlivet and our full range of Gordon & MacPhail

The same abandoned railway tunnel beneath Hiroshima that gives Togouchi's older releases their calm also lays the foundation for this 12 year old.

Expert Description

Togouchi 12 Year Old is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 40%.

The whisky comes from Sakurao Brewery and Distillery, which has developed the Togouchi brand since 1990. Like the other Togouchi releases, part of the whisky matures in an old railway tunnel with constant temperature and humidity, giving a softer, more rounded character than ordinary warehouse ageing.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and light honey with a delicate, floral aroma.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel and a fine, mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, soft and clean.

Specifications

Name: Togouchi 12 Year Old
Distillery: Togouchi
Region/Country: Hiroshima, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4901903064051

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Mild · Sweet

Did You Know?

Togouchi is named after the small town in Hiroshima Prefecture where the railway tunnel sits - a tunnel originally bored for train traffic that never actually saw use for that purpose.

See our full range of Togouchi

Norway buys its spirits through a state monopoly, and when Vinmonopolet picks a single cask it does so after a blind tasting with no regard for name or label. This cask made it through. It is number 21 in the series.

The Expert's Description

Ardmore 2008/2015 Signatory Vintage 7 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 40%. Cask 800083 was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2015 as a single cask for Vinmonopolet, giving 357 bottles.

The combination is unusual: a single cask at 40%. Most single cask releases go into the bottle at cask strength, but here the whisky has been reduced to standard strength. In return it is neither chill filtered nor coloured, which at 40% requires a cask with real body behind it.

Ardmore makes peated whisky as its core style at around 12 to 14 ppm. After seven years in a bourbon barrel the smoke is still fresh and direct, with the cask’s vanilla and cereal standing clearly alongside.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and pale malt first, with peat smoke as a dry line underneath. There is honey and green apple in it, plus a light soot or ash note that tells you peat is in play.

Palate

Soft and straightforward. Malt, vanilla and baked apple open, then the smoke arrives as a dry earthy floor along with a light peppery spice. At 40% it drinks easily, and the smoke never dominates.

Finish

Medium length. Malt, honey and a dry smoky note that lets go calmly without bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Ardmore 2008/2015 Signatory Vintage 7 Years Old Vinmonopolet Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel, cask no. 800083
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 357
Edition: Single Cask for Vinmonopolet No. 21

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Vanilla · Fruity · Soft · Dry

Investment Potential

Medium. Single casks for Vinmonopolet are not reissued, and they exist only in the outturn the cask gave, here 357 bottles. Because they are distributed through one channel in one country, they rarely surface on the wider market afterwards.

Did You Know?

Vinmonopolet was established in 1922 and has since been Norway’s only legal channel for the sale of spirits. That is precisely what makes their single cask selections interesting: there are no competing chains to accommodate, and the choice is made by a buying team rather than by a brand.

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

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Balance is the word Douglas Laing chose for this single cask — a whisky where peat smoke and sweetness meet without either dominating the other.

Expert's Description

Spiritualist Balance 2005/2020 is a Single Cask Islay Malt Whisky from Douglas Laing's Old Particular series, distilled in November 2005 and bottled in April 2020 after 14 years of maturation at natural cask strength of 53.2%.

The whisky comes from a single refill hogshead, cask ref DL14032, letting the spirit's natural character shine through. The source distillery is not officially disclosed, but the style points toward a respected Islay distillery. Only 325 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pronounced peat smoke, fresh sea air and subtle mineral notes, spiced with green apple and vanilla.

Palate

Full and complex with smoke balanced by light caramel, baked fruit and white pepper.

Finish

Long, dry and warm with smoke, baked citrus and a touch of dark chocolate and salted oak.

Specifications

Name: The Spiritualist Balance
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Cask Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 53.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill hogshead, cask ref DL14032
Distilled: 11/2005
Bottled: 04/2020
Number of Bottles: 325 bottles
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Complex · Cask strength · Balanced

Investment Potential

Medium. As a discontinued single cask from Douglas Laing's Old Particular series with only 325 bottles, it is attractive to collectors of independent Islay bottlings.

Did You Know?

Douglas Laing's Old Particular series is named after a Victorian term for specially selected sherry, a nod to the series' focus on quality over quantity.

See our full range of Douglas Laing

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Not every great dram carries a famous name on the label — Jura is proof that quiet distilleries can still produce remarkable whisky. This particular release from Isle of Jura shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Jura Tastival 1997/2015 Feis Isle Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 52% is a Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 52%.

The whisky was distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2015.

Only 3,970 bottles were produced from this cask, making it a limited release for collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green apple, vanilla and a gentle grassy note.

Palate

Malt sweetness, citrus and a touch of oak spice.

Finish

Soft and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Jura Tastival 1997/2015 Feis Isle Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky 52%
Distillery: Jura
Region/Country: Isle of Jura
Type: Single Jura Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1997
Bottled: 2015
Number of bottles: 3,970
Edition: Tastival Fèis Ìle 2015
EAN no.: 5013967010345

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium. Fèis Ìle releases are annual and stop being produced once the festival is over, making a bottling from ten years back still harder to source.

Did you know?

Fèis Ìle is an annual whisky festival on Islay, where distilleries across the region, including neighbouring Jura, release exclusive festival bottlings for the event.

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There is something rebellious about a Miltonduff that steps out of the Chivas blending vats to stand alone in the glass.

Note: This older bottle may show minor signs of age just below the label and a scratch on the box.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 12 Year Old Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky in the 70cl format is a late-1980s Speyside malt, bottled under the historic "Glenlivet Malt" designation at 43%.

Like its smaller 50cl sibling, this bottle dates from a time when several Speyside distilleries added "Glenlivet" to the label to signal regional origin – a practice since prohibited, making this 70cl release a rare piece of whisky history.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma opens with coconut and ripe pear, while vanilla lingers in the background.

Palate

The palate delivers creamy vanilla and light caramel, with a hint of honeycomb.

Finish

The finish is short and fresh.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Glenlivet Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Gammel udgave fra slutningen af 1980'erne

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Miltonduff was once home to a Lomond still named Mosstowie, which produced a distinctly different style of malt until 1981.

See our full range of Miltonduff

Rock Oyster from Douglas Laing is a tribute to the rugged, wind-swept whisky islands of the Scottish archipelago, gathered into one salty, smoky bottle.

Expert Review

Rock Oyster Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is an Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% ABV.

Rock Oyster from Douglas Laing is an Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, created as a tribute to the rugged, wind-swept whisky islands of the Scottish archipelago. It brings together malt whisky from several island distilleries, including Orkney and Islay, in one balanced blend.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is maritime with sea salt, smoke and a light sweetness.

Palate

The palate is smoky and saline, with honey and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long, with lingering smoke and salt.

Specifications

Name: Rock Oyster Douglas Laing Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Rock Oyster
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: The Scottish Islands, Scotland
Type: Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Maritime · Peated · Balanced

Did You Know?

The name Rock Oyster refers to oysters, which have been harvested for centuries along the rocky shores of the very islands whose whisky goes into this blend.

See our full range of Rock Oyster

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The world's second best-selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon, named after one of the state's earliest distillers.

Expert description

Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the brand's core expression, bottled at 40%. Evan Williams is named after the Welshman who, according to tradition, opened Kentucky's first commercial distillery on the banks of the Ohio River in 1783. When the Shapira brothers founded Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown in 1935, shortly after Prohibition ended, they chose to honour Williams' name for their flagship bourbon in 1957. Today Evan Williams is the second best-selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon brand in the world, second only to Jim Beam, and is made from a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

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

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Region/Country: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Caramel · Rounded

See our full range of Evan Williams

The core bottling in the Writers Tears range is also one of its most elegant: a pot still whiskey with a long, refined finish that gave the brand its name.

Expert Review

Writers Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey is a Pot Still Irish Whiskey matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks, bottled at 40%.

The whiskey combines pot still and single malt whiskey and is distilled in traditional copper pot stills, hence the name "Copper Pot". The flavour is gently spiced with a hint of ginger and caramel, along with notes of toasted oak, and the finish is known for being long and elegant. Copper Pot is the distillery's core release and represents the classic Writers Tears style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft grain and ginger, with a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Gently spiced, with caramel and toasted oak.

Finish

Long and elegant, with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Writers Tears Copper Pot
Distillery: Writers Tears
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Pot Still Irish Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon American oak casks
EAN no.: 5099811905739

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Grain-sweet · Elegant · Toasted oak · Soft

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.
See our full range of Writers Tears

In the summer of 2010, Fary Lochan was still a young distillery. The summer distillation from that year carries a freshness and lightness that the warm season provides – a brighter expression than the heavy autumn batches.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Summer 2010/2015 Batch 01 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky from the summer 2010 distillation, bottled in 2015 at 46%, 50 cl. Fary Lochan distillery in Give, Jutland, works with four seasonal distillations as a core principle. The summer distillation happens in the warmest months, when fermentation temperatures increase speed and can influence fruity esters. Batch 01 is the first bottling from summer 2010. Non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh fruit, apple, honey and a light floral note.

Palate

Light and fresh malt, citrus, white peach and mild vanilla.

Finish

Short to medium, fresh and lightly fruity with a gentle oak note.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Summer 2010/2015 Batch 01
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2015

Flavour profile

Fresh · Fruity · Light · Floral

Did you know?

Summer distillations in Denmark happen at higher temperatures than other seasons – fermentation runs faster and typically produces more fruity esters, giving summer batches a light and lively character.

The original Stronachie distillery vanished long ago, but the name lives on as A. Dewar Rattray's tribute to a bygone whisky style.

Expert's Description

Stronachie 10 Year Old is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky from A. D. Rattray, bottled at 43% after 10 years of maturation.

The name Stronachie comes from a distillery that closed long ago, and A. D. Rattray revived the name as a brand to recreate the style of the original Stronachie whisky, based on an old bottle found by the Rattray family.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt and light sweetness meet a hint of fruit and a touch of spice.

Palate

Round and balanced with honey, apple and a mild oak influence.

Finish

Medium length and soft with lingering malt and a dry, clean close.

Specifications

Name: Stronachie 10 Year Old
Bottler: A. D. Rattray
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
EAN No.: 5060056921495

Flavour Profile

Soft · Balanced · Fruity · Classic

Did You Know?

A. D. Rattray revived the Stronachie name after finding an old, original bottle from the original distillery, which inspired the style of the modern reissue.

See our full range of A.D. Rattray

A California rye born when a city dweller's love of Sonoma country turned into a distillery.

Expert description

Sonoma County Rye California is an American rye whiskey, bottled at 48%, from Sonoma Distilling Company. The distillery was founded in 2010 by Adam Spiegel, who grew up in San Francisco and discovered his passion for spirits in 2008 while helping a distiller friend in Santa Rosa. The rye whiskey is double distilled in handmade copper pot stills, made from a mash of 80% unmalted Californian and Canadian rye and 20% malted rye from the UK, giving it a distinctly spicy backbone with nutty and fruity overtones. The whiskey is aged for at least 15 months in smaller casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers rye bread, pepper and a hint of nuts.

Palate

The palate is spicy with rye grain, fruit and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, dry and spicy.

Specifications

Name: Sonoma County Rye California
Region/Country: Sonoma County, California, USA
Type: Rye Whiskey
ABV: 48%

Flavour profile

Spicy · Rye-forward · Nutty · Dry

Taiwan's subtropical climate and port casks — Concertmaster is Kavalan's best-known expression.

Expert description

Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Taiwan Whisky is finished in port casks, giving a fruity, sweet character, bottled at 40%. Kavalan Distillery was founded in 2005 by King Car Group in Yuanshan, Yilan County, Taiwan, and was the country's first whisky distillery. The name Kavalan is drawn from the old name for the Yilan area and the name of its indigenous people. The distillery is located where cold air from the Xueshan Mountains meets humid Pacific breezes, giving a unique subtropical microclimate and access to mineral-rich spring water. Since its first product launched in 2008, Kavalan has won over 950 gold medals in international spirits competitions.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers red berries, caramel and a sweet port tone.

Palate

The palate is fruity and full with berries, caramel and a hint of spiced oak.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, sweet and lightly wine-toned.

Specifications

Name: Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish Single Malt Taiwan Whisky
Distillery: Kavalan Distillery
Region/Country: Yilan, Taiwan
Type: Single Malt Taiwan Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in port casks

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Full-bodied · Wine-toned

Did you know?

Taiwan's warm, subtropical climate causes whisky to mature significantly faster than in Scotland, meaning even young Kavalan expressions can show surprising depth.

See our full range of Kavalan

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Rich local barley, canny local knowledge, soft water from the River Teith and first fill bourbon casks. And then time. A great deal of time.

Expert description

Deanston 18 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in first fill bourbon casks and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

First fill casks are the ones taking Scotch for the first time after bourbon. The wood is still active and gives vanilla, coconut and a clear sweetness — over eighteen years that becomes a deep, honeyed character without the oak taking over. It is the house signature, sweet honeyed fruit with a long swell, pushed as far as it goes. Deanston has distilled in a converted cotton mill at Doune since 1966.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep honey and ripe fruit. Baked apple, vanilla and coconut, with a light floral note and malted cereal underneath.

Palate

Full and creamy. Honey, vanilla fudge and ripe fruit, with spice from the oak and a waxy mouthfeel that the absence of filtration preserves.

Finish

Long and warm, with honey, malt and a soft oak spice fading slowly.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 18 years Single Highland Malt Whisky 46,3%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5029704218073

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Waxy · Fruity · Creamy · Spiced

Investment potential

Medium. Eighteen year age statements keep getting rarer, and Deanston's 18 year old is the oldest standing release in the house range.

Did you know?

A bourbon cask may only be used once in the United States. That is why thousands of used casks sail to Scotland every year to begin a second — and often third and fourth — life. Without that American rule, Scotch whisky would look completely different.

See our full range of Deanston Whisky

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Tullamore Dew Phoenix is a powerful cask strength release at a full 55%, where the spirit competes with the cask's nuances to come through.

Expert Review

Tullamore Dew Phoenix Limited Edition Irish Whiskey is an Irish Whiskey, bottled at 55%.

The whiskey is bottled at cask strength, giving it a dark, yet somewhat neutral nose. On the palate it is very spirit-forward, with the cask nuances working to come through the high strength. Coffee, chocolate, toffee and vanilla are clearly noticeable, and the whiskey finishes with a very sweet ending that almost recalls crème brûlée.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark and lightly neutral.

Palate

Spirit-forward, with coffee, chocolate, toffee and vanilla.

Finish

Very sweet, with notes of crème brûlée.

Specifications

Name: Tullamore Dew Phoenix
Distillery: Tullamore Dew
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Irish Whiskey
ABV: 55%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5391516891622

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Spirit-forward · Coffee-forward · Sweet · Toffee-like

Did You Know?

Cask strength means the whiskey is bottled without further dilution, giving it a much higher alcohol strength than most standard bottlings.
See our full range of Irish whiskey

Batch 001 is the pair of digits collectors look for first. Signature was the Balvenie attempt at showing what three cask types can do together, and the first batch is the one every later release has been measured against.

The expert's description

Balvenie Signature 12 Batch 001 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks, refill bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 40 %.

Signature launched in 2008 as a bottling built on three cask types rather than the usual two. David Stewart selected the casks by hand, and each batch carried its own number. Batch 001 is the first release in the series, which was phased out again a few years later.

Each cask type plays its own part. First fill bourbon gives vanilla and coconut, the refill casks let the honey character of the spirit come through, and the sherry casks lay raisin and spice on top. Bottling at 40 % keeps the whole thing restrained and coherent.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, vanilla and pale apple, with a note of coconut and a discreet sherry sweetness behind.

Palate

Soft and rounded with caramel, raisin and lightly spiced oak. The three cask types pull in different directions but are held together by the malt.

Finish

Medium and warm with spice, honey and a dry note of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Signature 12 år Batch 001
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, refill bourbon casks and sherry casks
Edition: Batch 001
EAN no.: 5010327525617

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Vanilla · Soft · Spiced · Lightly sherried

Investment potential

Medium. The series is discontinued, and Batch 001 is the first and most sought after of the numbered releases. First batches generally hold a stronger position on the collector market than those that follow.

Did you know?

Balvenie is one of the few Scottish distilleries still growing part of its own barley in the fields around the site. Grain from the Balvenie Mains farm goes straight into the floor maltings for a few weeks each year.

See our full range of Balvenie Whisky

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Royal origins, Canadian craft — Crown Royal's classic blend since 1939.

Expert description

Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky is the brand's classic core expression in a large 100 cl bottle, bottled at 40%. 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 is soft with vanilla, caramel and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate is light and sweet with vanilla, caramel and grain.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Blended Canadian Whisky
Distillery: Crown Royal
Region/Country: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Type: Blended Canadian Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Light · Vanilla

See our full range of Crown Royal

Blue corn from the High Plains of Texas gives this whisky its name and character.

Expert description

Balcones True Blue 100 proof Texas Corn Whisky is made from Hopi blue corn grown in the Texas High Plains region, bottled at 50.2%. Balcones was founded in Waco, Texas, in 2008 by Chip Tate and Jared Himstedt and was the first distillery to release a whisky in Texas since Prohibition. The distillery quickly stood out for using stills Tate designed and built himself, as well as for experimenting with local Texan ingredients such as blue corn, giving the distillery a distinctive, unconventional expression within American whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with corn, caramel and a hint of spice.

Palate

The palate offers sweet corn, honey and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, warm and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Balcones True Blue 100 proof Texas Corn Whisky
Distillery: Balcones Distilling
Region/Country: Waco, Texas, USA
Type: Corn Whisky
ABV: 50.2%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Sweet · Corn-forward · Warm · Sweet

See our full range of Balcones

Two distilleries, one bottle - Double Distilleries brings together malt from Chichibu and its Scottish partner distillery in a single composition.

Expert Description

Ichiros Malt Double Distilleries Chichibu is a Pure Malt Whisky, bottled at 46%.

Ichiro Akuto, founder of Chichibu Distillery, blends his own Japanese malt here with Scotch single malt whisky from a named partner distillery, creating a more complex, layered profile than a pure Chichibu single malt.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and honey meet a touch of peat and light spiced oak.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel, ripe pears and a fine, tangy edge.

Finish

Medium length, mild and lightly smoky.

Specifications

Name: Ichiros Malt Double Distilleries
Distillery: Chichibu
Region/Country: Saitama, Japan
Type: Pure Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet · Lightly Smoky

Did You Know?

The Double Distilleries series is Ichiro Akuto's way of showing how Japanese and Scotch malt whisky can complement each other's character without either losing its identity.

See our full range of Chichibu

Texas's post-Prohibition whisky history begins with this single malt.

Expert description

Balcones 1 Texas Single Malt Whisky is the distillery's core single malt expression, distilled in self-built pot stills, bottled at 52.2%. Balcones was founded in Waco, Texas, in 2008 by Chip Tate and Jared Himstedt and was the first distillery to release a whisky in Texas since Prohibition. The distillery quickly stood out for using stills Tate designed and built himself, as well as for experimenting with local Texan ingredients such as blue corn, giving the distillery a distinctive, unconventional expression within American whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate offers brown sugar, honey and spice.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and spiced.

Specifications

Name: Balcones 1 Texas Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Balcones Distilling
Region/Country: Waco, Texas, USA
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 52.2%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Powerful · Spiced · Full-bodied · Fruity

See our full range of Balcones

Six cask types in one bottle. Not because it reads well on a label, but because Dalmore wanted to see how many layers you can put into a whisky before it falls apart.

Expert description

Dalmore King Alexander III is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in six different cask types and bottled at 40%.

The whisky brings together components from bourbon casks, oloroso sherry casks, Madeira casks, Marsala casks, port pipes and Cabernet Sauvignon casks. When it appeared it was the first single malt built on that many different cask types. The name refers to King Alexander III, who according to legend was saved from a charging stag by an ancestor of Clan Mackenzie — and in gratitude granted the clan the right to carry the animal on its arms. It is the same stag that appears on every Dalmore bottle today.

Tasting notes

Nose

Layered and sweet. Red fruit, orange and vanilla first, then raisin, marzipan and a warm spiced note from the port and Madeira.

Palate

Soft and round. Passion fruit, citrus and caramel meet dried fruit, chocolate and spice, while the many cask types settle in layers rather than colliding.

Finish

Long and soft, with fruit, spice and a lightly dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Dalmore King Alexander III Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: The Dalmore
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, oloroso sherry, Madeira, Marsala, port and Cabernet Sauvignon casks
Edition: King Alexander III
EAN no.: 5013967005044

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sherried · Spiced · Soft · Complex

Investment potential

Medium. The bottle is a fixture in the Dalmore range, but nobody else has repeated the six-cask concept — and demand for the house's upper tier has climbed steadily.

Did you know?

Marrying six cask types sounds simple but requires each component to mature separately and only be brought together at the end. The distilling team at Dalmore therefore has to hit the balance in six directions at once — and do it again on the next batch.

See our full range of Dalmore Whisky

Whisky writer Alfred Barnard called the style one seldom met with now, and that was in the nineteenth century. Craigellachie has changed nothing since — which is exactly the point.

Expert description

Craigellachie 13 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The distillery was built in 1891 on the rock of Craigellachie between Rothes and Dufftown, where the rivers Fiddich and Spey meet. The name is Gaelic and means rocky hill. Condensing still happens in worm tubs, giving less copper contact than modern plant, which is why the whisky carries the meaty, faintly sulphurous edge that sets it apart from its neighbours. For decades most of the production went into blends such as White Horse, and only in 2014 did the distillery get a range of its own.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked apple, pear and ripe pineapple first. Then vanilla, honey and cereal, with a spiced smoke and a light mineral note that is the house signature.

Palate

Full and oily. Pineapple, citrus, sweet malt and caramelised sugar, with a touch of flint and smoke from the sulphurous edge. The oak gives depth without taking over.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced, with oak, fruit and a hint of toasted malt.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 13 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000277003389

Flavour profile

Fruity · Spiced · Malty · Mineral · Lightly Smoked

Did you know?

Pineapple runs through the entire Craigellachie range, and it is no accident. The heavy vapour from worm tubs leaves sulphur compounds behind, and years in cask turn them into a clear tropical fruit note — one of the strangest and most recognisable signatures in Scotch whisky.

See our full range of Craigellachie Whisky

The name honours a tax inspector's legendary habit of 'sampling' the whiskey stocks.

Expert description

John E Fitzgerald Larceny 92 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a wheat-forward bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery, named after John E. Fitzgerald, a 19th-century tax inspector who, according to legend, had his own key to the warehouses and a fondness for 'borrowing' whiskey from the finest barrels, bottled at 46%.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is soft with honey, bread and a hint of fruit.

Palate

The palate offers brown sugar, wheat bread and a soft sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, soft and round.

Specifications

Name: John E Fitzgerald Larceny 92 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Region/Country: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Wheat-forward · Sweet · Round

See our full range of Buffalo Trace

361 metres beneath the streets of Hiroshima lies an old railway tunnel where Togouchi lets its whisky sleep in constant cold and darkness until it's ready.

Expert Description

Togouchi 18 Year Old is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 43.8%.

The whisky comes from Sakurao Brewery and Distillery (formerly Chugoku Jozo), which has blended and matured whisky under the Togouchi name since 1990. What sets Togouchi apart is its ageing: part of the whisky matures in an abandoned railway tunnel with a constant temperature of 14°C and 80% humidity - conditions that produce an unusually soft, rounded maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and ripe pears with a light smoky aroma and a touch of old oak.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with caramel, dried fruit and a fine, rounded spice.

Finish

Long and soft, with a last note of honey.

Specifications

Name: Togouchi 18 Year Old
Distillery: Togouchi
Region/Country: Hiroshima, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
Age: 18 Years
ABV: 43.8%
Size: 72 CL
EAN no.: 4901903060039

Flavour Profile

Soft · Full-bodied · Sweet · Rounded

Investment Potential

Medium. Togouchi's older age-stated releases are made in limited quantities and are already harder to find than the younger core range.

Did You Know?

The railway tunnel where Togouchi ages its whisky was originally bored in 1970 by the Japanese railway company and stood empty for decades before Togouchi discovered its constant conditions were perfect for maturing whisky and shochu.

See our full range of Togouchi

Cragganmore is almost always sold at forty percent and twelve years. Every so often Diageo opens the warehouse door and lets it out at full strength — and then it becomes a different whisky entirely.

Expert description

Cragganmore 2016 Annual Release is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 55.7% without an age statement.

The release belongs to Diageo's annual Special Releases and was made in 4,932 bottles. Cragganmore sits at Ballindalloch between mountain and sea, in the triangle of land locally called the Garden of Scotland, where barley is a natural crop and the Spey is Scotland's fastest flowing river. It was precisely that combination of barley, water and peat from the uplands to the south that made John Smith build here in 1869. At 55.7% the herbal, malted house style stands far more clearly than in the 12 year old.

Tasting notes

Nose

Concentrated heather and honey, dried herbs and a warm resinous note. Underneath sit malt, apple skin and a trace of wood smoke.

Palate

Powerful and dense. Honey, sandalwood, malt and candied citrus, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry herbal edge keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish

Very long and dry, with malt, herbs, oak and a slowly fading smoked warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cragganmore 2016 Annual Release Single Speyside Malt Whisky 55,7%
Distillery: Cragganmore
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 55.7%
Size: 70 CL
Number of bottles: 4,932
Edition: Annual Release 2016
EAN no.: 5000281046082

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Herbal · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. The outturn is 4,932 bottles, the vintage is bottled once and never repeated, and Cragganmore appears rarely in the series. Older Special Releases have risen sharply as they left the shelves.

Did you know?

Cragganmore sits in what locals call the Garden of Scotland — a fertile triangle between mountain and sea where barley grows well. John Smith chose the spot because everything a distillery needs lay within walking distance: grain, water, peat and a railway.

See our full range of Cragganmore Whisky

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Blending is a craft in its own right, and this expression shows exactly why patience and a steady hand matter. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

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 JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B JET

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B JET is one of the lesser-known members of the J&B family, no longer marketed as widely as J&B Rare in every market.

See our full range of J&B

Behind every well-balanced blend sits a master blender who has tasted more casks than most drinkers will in a lifetime. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

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

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Blended 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 is one of the best-selling Scotch whisky blends in the world and has for decades been a bar staple thanks to its versatility in cocktails.

See our full range of J&B