Not every hero wears a cape — some wear a label with a bird. Glen Spey 12 year is one of the quiet classics from Diageo's Flora & Fauna series: a distillery that rarely performs as a soloist, here caught in a bottle in its purest form. Fruity, light and genuinely accessible.

Expert's description

Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% as part of Diageo's Flora & Fauna series. Glen Spey distillery sits at the heart of Rothes, Speyside, and is one of the smallest in Diageo's portfolio. Founded in 1878 as Mill of Rothes by James Stuart, acquired by W. & A. Gilbey in 1887 and since 1962 part of IDV, later Diageo. Almost all production goes into the J&B blend, and official single malt bottlings have historically been rare.

The Flora & Fauna series was launched in 1992 by United Distillers (now Diageo) as a tribute to distilleries that don't normally appear as single malt. The 26 original labels depict plants and animals from each distillery's local environment. Twelve years in oak casks at 43% produces a classic, balanced Speyside profile: fresh, floral and gently fruity with a creamy mid-palate.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and floral with light citrus — lemon, grapefruit and clementine — underpinned by green apples, pears and a faint vanilla sweetness. Freshly cut grass and a hint of malted bread.

Palate

Soft and silky on the palate with orchard fruit — green apples and pears — combined with toffee, vanilla and a discreet spiced oak element. Orange and light almond round off the mid-palate.

Finish

Medium-length and clean with fresh fruit and a gentle sweetness. Classic, uncomplicated Speyside finish.

Specifications

Name: Glen Spey 12 year Flora & Fauna
Distillery: Glen Spey
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Non-chill filtered: No
EAN no.: 5000281016108

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Light · Creamy · Fresh

Did you know?

The name "Flora & Fauna" is credited to whisky writer Michael Jackson, who helped United Distillers market the series in the early 1990s. The labels depicting local plants and animals have since become highly sought after by collectors.

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South of Elgin, where Speyside flattens out toward the coast, sits a distillery few outside the trade have ever heard of. Glenlossie has spent decades quietly propping up blends like Haig's and Dimple – Flora & Fauna is one of the rare chances to meet it on its own.

Expert's Description

Glenlossie 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%.

The bottle belongs to the Flora & Fauna series, launched in 1992 by the then United Distillers (today Diageo, the world's largest spirits company). The original series comprised 26 different single malts, chosen to show the breadth of Scotland's whisky regions – most bottled at 43%, a handful at cask strength, and some presented in wooden cases.

Glenlossie sits just south of Elgin alongside several other distilleries most drinkers have never heard of, since their output mainly feeds blends. Glenlossie is a well-known component of Haig's and Dimple, and it rarely appears on a label by itself.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cornflakes and freshly cut vanilla arrive first, quietly rather than loudly – Glenlossie isn't a whisky that shouts. Behind the pale, cereal sweetness sits a hint of ripe orchard fruit, held back almost politely.

Palate

Ginger and toasted bread define the palate, carried on a soft, creamy body. The sweetness stays restrained and malty rather than fruity, and the texture is round without turning heavy.

Finish

White pepper adds a small spark to an otherwise quiet finish – short, dry and precise, like a parting remark from a whisky that would rather do its work inside a blend than stand alone on a shelf.

Specifications

Name: Glenlossie 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glenlossie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281010465

Flavour Profile

Malty · Lightly fruity · Spiced · Dry finish

Did You Know?

The Flora & Fauna series takes its name from the animal and plant illustrations Diageo placed on every label in the range – a small nod to the nature surrounding the 26 distilleries that otherwise rarely stepped into the spotlight themselves.

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Somewhere between the wash still and the warehouse, Inchgower built a reputation few casual drinkers ever hear about. This particular release from Speyside shows a side of the distillery worth slowing down for.

Expert's description

Inchgower 14 Year Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43% is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, barley and a soft citrus lift.

Palate

Soft vanilla, malt and light spice.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Inchgower 14 Year Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Inchgower
Region/Country: Speyside
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281024387

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Spiced

Did you know?

Inchgower was built in 1871 using stone salvaged from the closed Tochineal distillery a few kilometres away, so part of its foundation literally comes from its predecessor.

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Before new designs and new cask combinations, there was this 15-year-old expression of Highland Park, as it looked when it was first introduced as an exclusive release back in 2003. A taste of how the distillery's style once was, before it evolved further.

Expert Description

Highland Park 15 Year Old Old Version is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

This is the original 15-year-old, as it was introduced in 2003 as an exclusive release, before later becoming a permanent part of the distillery's international range. The whisky builds on the 12-year-old style, but with an extra layer of complexity from the longer maturation — more floral, more aromatic, with a milder smoke.

Today this exact edition is discontinued and replaced by newer versions, making it an interesting glimpse into how Highland Park tasted for an earlier generation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Aromatic smokiness with a hint of camphor, backed by fresh citrus notes and a light floral scent.

Palate

Rich and initially sweet, gradually developing into a dry, smoky character.

Finish

Rich and long, first medium sweet, then medium dry with lingering smoke.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park 15 Year Old Old Version
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Discontinued version
EAN: 5010314311315

Flavour Profile

Peated · Floral · Rich · Soft

Did You Know?

The 15 year old was first launched in 2003 as an exclusive, limited release, before it later became a permanent part of Highland Park's international range.

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An unblended American whiskey that doesn't fit the classic categories.

Expert description

Michter's US 1 Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey is an unblended expression that falls outside the traditional bourbon and rye categories, bottled at 41.7%. 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 is soft with caramel, grain and light vanilla.

Palate

The palate is round with caramel, honey and a hint of fruit.

Finish

The finish is short to medium, soft and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Michter's US 1 Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey
Distillery: Michter's Distillery
Region/Country: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Type: Unblended American Whiskey
ABV: 41.7%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Sweet · Caramel · Rounded

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The Classic Laddie is where most people meet Bruichladdich for the first time. No peat, no age statement, just Scottish barley, distilled and matured on Islay from start to finish.

Expert description

The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured in American oak casks and bottled at 50%.

The whisky is the distillery's flagship without an age statement, blended from several vintages to keep a consistent, unpeated profile. The barley is Scottish, much of it grown on Islay itself, in line with Bruichladdich's terroir philosophy.

Maturation in American oak gives a light sweetness and a full body, without overpowering the bright, floral character that defines the house's unpeated style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Barley, honey and fresh citrus, with a light maritime undertone and a touch of freshly cut grass.

Palate

Soft and creamy with vanilla, green apples and a gentle spiciness that keeps the palate fresh throughout.

Finish

Medium length with honey, soft grain and a lightly salty finish reminiscent of Islay's coastline.

Specifications

Name: The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5055807416948

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Soft · Maritime

Did you know?

The Classic Laddie is the only whisky in Bruichladdich's range without a vintage or age statement, precisely because it's designed as the house's permanent, recurring expression.

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Strathmill's first appearance in Diageo's prestigious Special Releases series — a 25-year-old proving the distillery's ability to keep its style light, even after a quarter-century in cask.

Expert's Description

Strathmill 25 Year Old Limited Edition 2014 is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky, matured in refill American oak and bottled at natural cask strength of 52.4% in a run of only 2,700 bottles.

As the distillery's debut in Diageo's Special Releases, the 2014 edition was the lightest in style among that year's selection, underscoring Strathmill's characteristically elegant, lightly cask-influenced profile.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft malt and citrus meet a delicate vanilla sweetness from the long refill maturation.

Palate

Elegant and light with honey, apple and a hint of spice.

Finish

Long and soft with lingering malt and a dry, clean close.

Specifications

Name: 25 Year Old Limited Edition 2014
Distillery: Strathmill
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill American Oak
Number of Bottles: 2,700 bottles
Edition: Special Releases 2014
Natural Colour: Yes

Flavour Profile

Elegant · Light · Cask strength · Rare

Investment Potential

High. As the distillery's debut in Diageo's prestigious Special Releases and with only 2,700 bottles from 2014, it has become a sought-after bottle among Speyside collectors.

Did You Know?

The 2014 edition was Strathmill's first-ever appearance in Diageo's annual Special Releases series, making it a landmark for the distillery's rare solo releases.

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Booker Noe's philosophy of full flavour and strength carried forward into rye whiskey.

Expert description

Knob Creek Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is the brand's rye-based expression, bottled at 50%. Knob Creek was created in 1992 by Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam, as part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Noe drew inspiration from the Bottled-in-Bond Act to create a whiskey representing the full flavour and quality of the pre-Prohibition era. The brand name was actually used as early as 1898, but was revived by the Beam family after acquiring National Distillers in 1987. Knob Creek helped revive interest in full-proof bourbon at a time when many other brands were lowering their alcohol content.

Tasting notes

Nose

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

Palate

The palate is spicy and full with rye, caramel and a hint of citrus.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, spiced and lightly peppery.

Specifications

Name: Knob Creek Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: Knob Creek
Region/Country: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spicy · Rye · Full-bodied · Pepper

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Ballechin's most approachable expression is also one of its most characterful — a solid peated Highland whisky without unnecessary fuss.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 10 years old Peated Cask is a Single Highland Malt Whisky bottled at 46%.

This 10-year-old release is one of the more approachable bottlings in the Ballechin series and serves as a solid introduction to the distillery's peated style. At a moderate strength of 46%, the whisky shows Ballechin's earthy, powerful smoke in an accessible and well-balanced form, without compromising on character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Earthy smoke and fresh malt, with a hint of citrus and a touch of tar.

Palate

Full-bodied smoke meets a soft sweetness of honey and caramel, with a lightly salty undercurrent.

Finish

Medium length with lingering smoke and a dry, spicy finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 10 years old Peated Cask Single Highland Malt 46%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 5021944087846

Flavour profile

Peated · Fresh

Did you know?

Ballechin takes its name from a small distillery near Edradour that closed in the 1920s — Edradour revived the name in 2003 for its own peated series as a tribute to local whisky history.

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2010 was an early year for Fary Lochan. The distillery had only been running a short time, and the spring distillation was among the first batches ever released. These are the bottles that are hard to find again.

Expert description

Fary Lochan Spring 2010/2014 Batch 01 is a Danish Single Malt Whisky from the spring 2010 distillation, bottled in 2014 at 47%, 50 cl. Fary Lochan distillery in Give, Jutland, works with seasonal distillations – spring, summer, autumn, and winter – as a core principle. Each season gives the malt a slightly different character, and the spring 2010 distillation is one of the earliest bottlings from one of Denmark's first single malt distilleries. Bottled non-chill filtered with natural colour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lightly fruity, honey, warm oak and a delicate floral note.

Palate

Creamy malt, fresh fruit, vanilla and mild oak.

Finish

Medium length, fresh and gentle with a light oak dryness.

Specifications

Name: Fary Lochan Spring 2010/2014 Batch 01
Distillery: Fary Lochan
Region/Country: Jutland, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 47%
Size: 50 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2014

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honey · Smooth · Delicate

Investment potential

Medium. An early bottling from Fary Lochan with an older distillation vintage and limited supply. Rare older batches from Danish micro-distilleries have historically increased in value once they are no longer available.

Did you know?

Fary Lochan works with four seasons as a core production principle – spring, summer, autumn, and winter – under the philosophy that temperature and environment influence fermentation character and, in turn, the soul of the distillate.

A litre of Bowmore with a silk-screen printed label — the kind of bottle that no longer makes it onto the shelves, but that recalls a time when Islay whisky was presented with rather more character. A collector's bottle from an era when bottles had personality.

Expert's description

Bowmore 12 Year Screen Printed Old Version is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured on ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 43%. This is the old 100 cl format with a screen-printed label applied directly to the glass — a presentation that has since been discontinued. Screen printing directly onto bottles was standard on several of Bowmore's export markets and is today a hallmark collectors look for in older expressions.

The whisky inside is the classic Bowmore 12 Year from the distillery on the banks of Loch Indaal, founded in 1779. Matured on ex-bourbon and sherry casks at 43%, and developed in the distillery's iconic No. 1 Vaults — a warehouse that sits partly below sea level. That maritime environment leaves its mark on both nose and palate: salt breeze, a trace of smoke and honey from one of Islay's most storied distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and inviting with heather honey, a little citrus and Bowmore's soft, gentle peat smoke. A trace of sea salt and vanilla.

Palate

Soft and creamy with ripe citrus, honey and a light, salted smoke. Discreet sweetness balances the peat nicely.

Finish

Medium-length and gentle. The smoke fades slowly with a dry, lightly peppery note and a final breath of honey.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 12 Year Screen Printed Old Version
Distillery: Bowmore
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry
Edition: Old Version – Screen Printed (discontinued format)

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Honey-sweet · Fruity · Soft

Investment potential

Medium. The discontinued 100 cl format with screen-printed label is sought after by collectors, and older Bowmore bottlings in this presentation have been rising in price on the auction market.

Did you know?

Bowmore is the only Islay distillery that still produces a portion of its malt on its own floor maltings — a method that has all but disappeared from the wider industry, giving the distillery direct control over the peat levels in its production.

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Most whisky travels through several hands before it reaches the glass. The 100% Islay series does the opposite: grain, malting, distilling, maturing and bottling all happen within the same patch of land. 4th Release is one of the early chapters in that story.

Expert's description

Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, at least 5 years old and bottled at 50 %.

The 100% Islay series is unique even by Kilchoman's own standards: the barley is grown on the distillery's own land, floor malted on site, and distilled, matured and bottled without ever leaving the farm. That makes the series a genuine "Single Farm Single Malt" — a rarity in the whisky world as a whole. 4th Release is built from selected 5 year old first fill and refill bourbon casks from the distillery's own warehouse.

Because the barley here is more lightly peated than the malt Kilchoman normally buys in for its other releases, the 100% Islay series carries a different, more floral and delicate character than, say, Machir Bay — the smoke is still there, but it acts more as an undercurrent than a lead role.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate and floral, with soft fruit notes and pear drops that slowly give way to a light peat smoke.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet, where the peat smoke unfolds on the tongue and leaves a long, sweet finish with soft smoky tones.

Finish

Long and lingering, with a gentle smoke that never becomes dominant.

Specifications

Name: Kilchoman 100% Islay 4th Release Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: 100% Single Farm Single Malt Islay Whisky
Age: Min. 5 years
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 100% Islay 4th Release

Flavour profile

Peated · Floral · Delicate · Sweet · Farm-to-bottle

Investment potential

Medium. The 100% Islay series is now up to more than ten releases, and early numbers like 4th Release become harder to find as collectors chase a complete run.

Did you know?

Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland that completes every step of whisky production in one place — from growing the barley to the finished bottle — making the 100% Islay series close to unique in the entire whisky world.

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The scent of an ashtray, a whisky guru who can't help but praise it, and the bottle most Islay lovers eventually come back to.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 10 years and bottled at 46%.

The peaty aroma signals a high phenol content, and the pronounced ashtray character is part of what has made this particular 10-year-old one of the most praised entry-level single malts on the market. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries a ppm content of 50-55, keeping it close to the distillery's raw starting point.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean and smoky with a hint of citrus freshness, with barbecue notes lying just beneath the surface.

Palate

Iodine, salt, spice and liquorice in a heavy, intense smoke carried by an underlying sweetness.

Finish

Marked by peat, smoke and sweetness, powerful and with good length.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: The Ultimate
EAN no.: 5010494195286

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Citrus-fresh

Did You Know?

Many Islay connoisseurs point to Ardbeg Ten as the 10-year-old that best shows what the distillery is about, without needing to pay for a limited edition batch.

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The core of Douglas Laing's Speyside range is a sherry-driven blend with a badger for a mascot and a cheerfully irreverent style.

Expert Review

Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46% is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV.

Scallywag is a Scotch whisky with an aromatic flavour of oak, vanilla and a sherry finish. Scallywag Whisky blends several Speyside malts, all matured or finished in sherry casks, giving the range its rich, sweet signature style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is sweet with raisin, caramel and a lightly spiced oak.

Palate

The palate is soft with sherry sweetness, dried fruit and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering sherry.

Specifications

Name: Scallywag Douglas Laing Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Scallywag
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: sherry casks
EAN No.: 5014218796490

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Sweet · Approachable

Did You Know?

Scallywag was launched by Douglas Laing as part of a series of characterful blends, where each bottle has its own animal mascot, from Big Peat to Rock Oyster.

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In 1963 William Grant & Sons found themselves without access to grain whisky and built their own distillery in nine months. Girvan is the result, and these twenty-five years are what happens when you leave that plant to get on with it for long enough.

The expert description

Girvan Patent Still 25 Years Old is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with some sherry wood and virgin oak, bottled at 42%.

The distillery was raised in 1963 on the Ayrshire coast in answer to a trade dispute with the large blending houses of the day, and it has supplied the backbone of the William Grant blends ever since. The Patent Still range was the first serious attempt by the house to sell grain whisky under its own name, and the twenty-five year old opened the series.

The composition is a marriage of whisky from 1st fill and refill bourbon casks with a smaller share from sherry wood and virgin oak. The bourbon casks carry the creamy vanilla character, while the others lay darker fruit and spice underneath. The 42% is pitched low enough to let the texture do the carrying.

Tasting notes

Nose

Masses of buttery vanilla, fresh apple and cinnamon stick, with dark peel and chocolate pralines behind.

Palate

Creamy and unctuous with white chocolate, citrus and lime, chewy caramels and pineapple, while soft American oak sits underneath.

Finish

Vanilla, ground cinnamon and a final cool note of mint.

Specifications

Name: Girvan Patent Still 25 Years Old
Distillery: Girvan
Region/Country: Lowland Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon casks with sherry wood and virgin oak
Edition: Patent Still
EAN no.: 5010327445038

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Fruity · Sweet · Mature

Investment potential

Medium. Twenty-five year old single grain with an age statement from an official distillery has become noticeably harder to find as the old grain stocks have been drawn down. The Patent Still range was also the first of its kind from the house, which gives it a place in the record.

Did you know?

Inside the Girvan complex also stood the malt distillery Ladyburn, which ran only from 1966 to 1975 and is today one of the most sought after silent addresses in Scotland. On the same ground Ailsa Bay opened in 2007, so the site holds both a closed and a new malt distillery alongside the grain plant.

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In the valley by the Nikkawa river north of Sendai, Masataka Taketsuru built his second distillery - deliberately different from his first, to give Nikka two distinct voices.

Expert Description

Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old is a Single Malt Japanese Whisky, bottled at 45%.

The whisky comes from Miyagikyo Distillery, founded in 1969 by Nikka founder Masataka Taketsuru in a spot he himself described as resembling Scotland's Speyside. With its slender stills and a milder, more fruit-forward spirit than sister distillery Yoichi, Miyagikyo is known for its floral, sherry-rich style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples and pears meet a delicate sherry sweetness and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and fruity with honey, light spice and a fine, sherry-driven depth.

Finish

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

Specifications

Name: Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old
Distillery: Nikka
Region/Country: Sendai, Japan
Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4904230104735

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Floral · Soft · Sherry-driven

Investment Potential

High. Nikka discontinued most of its age-stated releases around 2015 due to limited stock, making a 12-year-old Miyagikyo like this one increasingly hard to find.

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 could each speak in their own voice within Nikka's blends.

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Ragnvald was the Viking age's great traveller — a sailor, explorer and trader who brought spices, fabrics and gemstones home from across Europe. Highland Park has given him a whisky that, like the man himself, holds more layers than first expected.

Expert Description

Highland Park Ragnvald The Warrior Series is a Single Orkney Malt Whisky matured in a combination of European and American oak and bottled at 44.6%.

Ragnvald was one of the Viking age's most well-travelled figures — a skilled sailor and explorer whose trading voyages brought exotic spices, textiles and gemstones back to Orkney. The whisky balances the best of European oak with a smaller share of American oak, giving a rounded, spiced profile.

Ragnvald is part of The Warrior Series and was originally created for Global Retail, though a limited number of bottles have found their way to the Danish market.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe damsons, oriental spices, candied peel and a touch of night-scented stock.

Palate

Well-balanced between smoke and sweetness, with grated nutmeg, vanilla pods and dark chocolate.

Finish

Complex and lingering, with gingery spice and a calm smoke.

Specifications

Name: Highland Park Ragnvald The Warrior Series
Distillery: Highland Park
Region/Country: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Orkney Malt Whisky
ABV: 44.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: European and American oak
Edition: The Warrior Series, wooden box
EAN: 5010314300388

Flavour Profile

Peated · Spicy · Fruity · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

Ragnvald was originally created exclusively for the Global Retail market, and only a limited number of bottles have since found their way to Danish shelves.

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Sometimes a dram just needs to be small - a single tasting measure to try a new bottle or round off an evening. This little glass is made for exactly that moment.

The Expert's Description

Mini Whisky Glass Perfect Dram with Glenrothes Logo is a small whisky glass made of glass, with the Scottish whisky brand Glenrothes' logo engraved on the side. The glass is shaped as a smaller version of a classic whisky glass and holds 8 cl, making it well suited to a single, measured tasting pour rather than a full dram. The compact size makes it a natural choice for tastings, where you want to try several whiskies in a row without pouring too much at a time.

Design & Materials

The glass is made of glass and keeps the recognisable, gently tulip-shaped body known from classic whisky glasses, just at a smaller scale. The Glenrothes logo is printed or engraved directly onto the glass, making it clear which brand the glass belongs to.

Use & Recommendation

The glass suits whisky in smaller tasting measures - both for home tastings and as a fun detail when comparing several whiskies side by side. Wash it by hand to protect the engraving and logo as well as possible.

Specifications

Name: Mini Whisky Glass Perfect Dram with Glenrothes Logo
Material: Glass
Capacity/Volume: 8 cl
Quantity per set/pack: 1 pc.
Dishwasher: Hand Wash Recommended

Did You Know?

Glenrothes is one of Speyside's most respected distilleries and is known for stating vintage years rather than age statements on many of its bottles - a tradition that underlines how much each individual vintage batch matters to the house style.

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PC6 is one of the early Port Charlotte releases, from a time when the series was still finding its shape. Distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2007, it shows the young, raw power that set the direction for the house's peated style.

Expert description

Port Charlotte PC6 is a peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Bruichladdich, matured for 6 years and bottled at 61.6%.

PC6 is one of the early numbered Port Charlotte releases, peated to 40 ppm and distilled in 2001, shortly after Bruichladdich was revived as a distillery. The whisky was bottled in 2007 after 6 years of maturation, at a high natural cask strength of 61.6%.

The young age combined with the high strength gives a raw, intense peat character, setting it apart from later, more rounded Port Charlotte releases with longer maturation.

Tasting notes

Nose

Direct peat smoke and sea salt, with a young, grainy sweetness and a hint of citrus beneath the smoke.

Palate

Powerful and raw with intense peat, black pepper and an oily, full texture carried by the high strength.

Finish

Long and smoky with a dry, ashy finish and a persistent warmth.

Specifications

Name: Port Charlotte PC6
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 61.6%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 2007

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Spiced · Powerful

Did you know?

PC6 was bottled just six years after Bruichladdich was revived as a distillery in 2001, and is among the earliest Port Charlotte releases that set the course for the entire series.

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An independent bottler with roots in 1933 brings together regional character under one shared label.

Expert description

Macleod's Island 8 Year Old is a Single Island Malt Whisky, matured for 8 years and bottled at 40%, from Ian Macleod Distillers. Ian Macleod Distillers was founded in 1933 and taken over by the Russell family in 1963, and is today an independent, family-owned spirits company that owns Glengoyne Highland Distillery, Tamdhu Speyside Distillery and Edinburgh Gin Distillery, among others. The Macleod's range, which Island belongs to, is a collection of regional single malts representing Scotland's different whisky regions — Island, Islay, Highland, Speyside and Lowland — under one shared label.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers malt, exotic fruit and a light, building smoke.

Palate

The palate is round with honey, salt and a hint of peat.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, lightly smoky and salty.

Specifications

Name: Macleods Island 8 år Ian MacLeod Distillers Single Island Malt Whisky
Bottler: Ian Macleod Distillers
Region/Country: Isle of Skye/Islands, Scotland
Type: Single Island Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Fruity · Salty · Lightly smoky · Round

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At the foot of Ben Rinnes two burns run together, and right there sits a distillery whose founder had his life motto printed on the label. Let the deed show. No grand words, just do the work. This bottle is the distillery’s most straightforward answer to what it can do.

The Expert's Description

Aberlour 12 Years Old Double Cask Matured is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in traditional oak casks and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 40%. The name says it: the whisky has rested in two different cask types, and the interplay between them is what the whole release is built on.

Aberlour's new make carries a distinctive crisp citrus character, and the sherry casks are there to complement rather than drown it. The bourbon and oak casks hold on to that freshness and a clear malt sweetness, while the Oloroso casks lay in raisins, orange and a soft spiced depth. The balance sits closer to Christmas cake than to a sherry bomb.

The distillery was founded in 1879 by the grain merchant James Fleming in the village of Aberlour, where the Lour Burn meets the River Spey. Every oak cask is chosen by the team behind the whisky, and the sherry casks are nosed through before they are filled.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel and honey first, over a clear malty floor. The sherry arrives as raisins and a streak of cinnamon, and a light nuttiness with a hint of soft caramel sits further back.

Palate

Soft and round from the first sip. Baked apples, malt and orange marmalade open, then dried fruit and a mild spiced warmth from the sherry casks. The 40% makes it easy to drink, yet there is still a decent layer of fruit to follow.

Finish

Medium length and soft. Malt, honey and a light dried fruit note that lets go calmly with no sharp edge.

Specifications

Name: Aberlour 12 Years Old Double Cask Matured Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Aberlour
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Traditional oak casks and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Double Cask Matured
EAN no.: 3047100017849

Flavour Profile

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

Did You Know?

James Fleming spent much of his fortune on the village rather than on himself. He paid for the town hall, the local hospital and the Penny Bridge across the River Spey, which locals could cross for a penny. The bridge still stands, and his motto, Let the deed show, still appears on every bottle.

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On the edge of Elgin, where the barley fields stretch toward the Moray Firth, Miltonduff has been distilling since 1824 – mostly for Ballantine's, rarely under its own name.

Expert's Description

Miltonduff 10 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky, bottled by the renowned family-owned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail at 43%.

Gordon & MacPhail has matured whisky from across Scotland in its own casks in Elgin since 1895, just a few kilometres from the Miltonduff distillery, giving the company unique insight into how this particular malt develops over time.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers citrus peel, vanilla and honey.

Palate

On the palate there is fresh citrus acidity and honeycomb, while creamy vanilla adds a final twist.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering.

Specifications

Distillery: Miltonduff
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5020613067486

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Floral

Did You Know?

Miltonduff was built on the site of the old Pluscarden Priory brewery from 1233, where monks reportedly brewed ale using water from the Black Burn.

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The same grain-to-glass philosophy, but with rye in the driver's seat.

Expert description

FEW Rye 93 proof Straight Rye Whiskey is the distillery's rye-forward expression, distilled from grain to bottle in Evanston, bottled at 46.5%. FEW Spirits was founded in 2011 by Paul Hletko in Evanston, Illinois — the birthplace of the American temperance movement, which remained dry for 117 years from 1855 to 1972. The name FEW is a cheeky nod to Frances Elizabeth Willard, one of Evanston's most prominent temperance advocates, and the distillery was founded as a grain-to-glass project, distilling everything from scratch on site.

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: FEW Rye 93 proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: FEW Spirits
Region/Country: Evanston, Illinois, USA
Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 46.5%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spiced · Peppery · Grainy · Dry

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Some whiskies shout to be heard. Then there is Black Bottle, which slips quietly into the room, lays a trail of smoke across the table and lets everyone else wonder where that depth came from.

Expert description

Black Bottle New Version is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

New Version refers to the relaunch, when the brand returned to black glass, the recipe was tightened and the smoky Islay character was pushed back to the centre. It is a blend where malt and grain work together and where smoke is structural rather than decorative.

The ambition from the start has been to let every Scottish whisky region speak in the same bottle, with Islay as the note that holds it all together. The result is an approachable blend that works as an everyday dram and as a gentle way into smoky whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke settles first, followed by malty sweetness, a brush of vanilla and a light maritime saltiness in the background.

Palate

Round and malty with caramel and honey, seasoned by pepper and a steady, earthy smoke that rolls across the palate without taking over.

Finish

Medium and warm with a gentle ash smoke that fades out alongside a last note of malty sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Black Bottle New Version Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Black Bottle
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: New Version
EAN no.: 5029704111442

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Soft · Spiced · Maritime

Did you know?

When the brand was to be relaunched in its original black glass, no original bottle survived to work from. Only when an example from 1906 turned up could the shape be recreated.

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Two rye whiskeys meet for a rendezvous of spice and depth.

Expert description

High West Rendezvous Blended Straight Rye Whiskey is a blend of two different straight rye whiskeys, a younger high-rye expression and an older, more classic mash bill, bottled at 46%. High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by former biochemist David Perkins and his wife Jane, who moved to Park City, Utah, in 2004 to start the distillery. When the distillery opened in 2007, it was the first legal distillery in the state since Prohibition ended in 1870 — Utah had gone over 130 years without a legal distillery. The distillery started in a historic livery stable with a small 250-gallon still and expanded in 2015 with a larger facility in Wanship outside Park City. High West is known for blending and finishing whiskey from multiple sources into unique, complex expressions.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers spiced rye, pepper and a hint of mint.

Palate

The palate is spicy and lively with rye, caramel and pepper.

Finish

The finish is medium-length, spiced and warm.

Specifications

Name: High West Rendezvous Blended Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery: High West Distillery
Region/Country: Park City, Utah, USA
Type: Blended Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Spicy · Rye · Lively · Pepper

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The Unique carries its name for good reason - a whisky that insists on going its own way, from cask to bottle.

Expert's description

Michel Couvreur The Unique is a Single Malt Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 44 percent.

The Unique is bottled after roughly 3 years of cask maturation at natural strength via Michel Couvreur's fresh filling method, where young Scotch malt whiskies are refilled onto fresh sherry casks the same day the casks are emptied. This gives a silky character that feels more mature than the relatively few years in cask would otherwise suggest.

Michel Couvreur's story doesn't begin in Scotland but in Burgundy, where he traded wine for decades before whisky drew him in during 1978. His fresh filling method meant the sherry casks never had time to dry out between sherry and whisky, something almost nobody else still does today.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is soft with honey, sherry and ripe apples, spiced with a hint of nutmeg.

Palate

The palate is silky and round, with sherry and caramel up front, supported by a light nutty dryness.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, warm and rounded, with a last sweetness of dried apricot.

Specifications

Name: The Unique
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 44 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Unique

Flavour profile

Soft · Sherry-matured · Round · Creamy

Did you know?

Michel Couvreur was unusually particular about his sherry casks and only accepted casks from Jerez that Emilio Lustau himself had selected for him - a detail that still defines the house's whisky today.

Frank Sinatra drank Jack Daniel's his whole life — this expression is the brand's tribute back.

Expert description

Sinatra Select is a Tennessee Whiskey made in memory of Frank Sinatra, one of Jack Daniel's most famous ambassadors for decades. The whiskey is aged in specially made barrels with grooves cut into the wood, increasing the contact surface between whiskey and oak and adding extra character during ageing. Jack Daniel's Distillery was founded in 1866 by Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and is officially registered as America's first distillery. All production still happens on the same site, where the whiskey is filtered drop by drop through nearly 3 metres of sugar maple charcoal before going into new, charred oak barrels — the Lincoln County Process that defines Tennessee Whiskey.

Bottled at 45%, a strength slightly above the core range's 40%.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers rich caramel, toasted oak and a hint of dark fruit.

Palate

The palate is full and sweeter than Old No. 7, with caramel, vanilla and lightly spiced oak from the grooved barrels.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with lingering caramel and wood.

Specifications

Name: Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select
Distillery: Jack Daniel's
Region/Country: Tennessee, USA
Type: Tennessee Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Column distilled, Lincoln County Process
Edition: Sinatra Select

Flavour profile

Rich · Sweet · Caramel · Oak · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium — a tribute release with the Sinatra connection, making it appealing to whisky and music collectors alike.

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Under the name Old Ballantruan hides Tomintoul's peated alter ego – a heavily smoked Speyside malt from a distillery otherwise known for the opposite.

Expert Review

Old Ballantruan 10 år Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50% is a Peated Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks and bottled at 50% ABV.

Tomintoul Distillery sits in the beautiful Cromdale Hills in the Speyside-Glenlivet region, near the source of the River Avon, and is known as one of Scotland's highest-altitude distilleries. While the core spirit is soft and light, the name Old Ballantruan is used for the distillery's peated expressions, where peated malt gives an entirely different, smoky character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers peat and caramel, with a hint of oak and a light vanilla sweetness.

Palate

The palate is round and sweet with clear smoke, supported by caramel and a mild spiciness.

Finish

The finish is soft and medium-long, with lingering peaty smoke and a final hint of sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Old Ballantruan 10 år Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Tomintoul
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Peated Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: bourbon casks
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
EAN No.: 5021349701842

Flavour Profile

Peated · Caramel · Sweet

Did You Know?

Old Ballantruan is named after an old settlement near Tomintoul and is used exclusively for the distillery's peated bottlings, while the Tomintoul name is reserved for the soft, light core range.

See our full range of Tomintoul