“ You can take the next train
“ You can take the next train.” 1
100 years ago, This was “The Bridge Whist Club,” an undercover speakeasy run by none other than the NYPD itself. Constructed during the Gilded Age, the brownstone began as a dignified private residence-once owned by a U.S. senator-its high ceilings, formal rooms, entertaining-focused layout reflecting a time when Midtown’s proximity to Grand Central signified prestige rather than congestion. By the height of the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition had radically reshaped New York’s social geography, ushering in an era of jazz, excess, and hidden nightlife. Drinking did not stop; it simply moved behind unmarked doors and into basements. Between 1925 and 1926, as the city pulsed with flappers, bootleggers, and after-hours revelry, the mansion was quietly repurposed into an ambitious NYPD undercover speakeasy overseen by Bruce Bielaski of the Vice Squad, operating as a fully convincing Prohibition-era bar to expose corruption from the inside. Bootleg liquor flowed, passwords circulated, and as criminals arrived with bribes and protection offers, upstairs rooms served as observation posts where conversations, names, and patterns were meticulously recorded-until the strategy proved too effective. After the police-run speakeasy was discovered and quietly abandoned, decades of legal drinking, redevelopment, and reinvention followed, yet the brownstone endured-now reemerging as Dram Central, a spirits lounge and restaurant that replaces secrecy with openness, inviting conversation, curated spirits, and easy sociability in a space that no longer whispers but welcomes, marking a rare harmony between the building’s past and present. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM OUR KITCHEN—p.4 COCKTAILS, WINE & BEER —p.6 BRANDY COGNAC—p.9 ARMAGNAC—p.28 SPANISH BRANDY—p.42 AMERICAN BRANDY—p.44 WHISK(E)Y SCOTLAND —p.47 UNITED STATES —p.190 IRELAND—p.238 JAPAN—p.253 FRANCE—p.282 REST OF THE WORLD—p.285 AGAVE TEQUILA—p.288 MEZCAL—p.302 RUM, RON & RHUM CARIBBEAN—p.302 CENTRAL AMERICA—p.317 3
FROM OUR KITCHEN
FROM OUR KITCHEN TO START Tequila Ceviche Shrimp & Sea Scallops dressed with tequila, topped with corn puffs and Citrus $29 Scotch Gravlax Smoked salmon cured in a peated scotch topped with creme fresh and pickled red onion $33 Arancini Milanese Saffron and porcini Fonina stuffed arancini, with Calvados béchamel and herb salad 5pc $20 MAIN Filet Au Poivre 8oz Filet Mignon pan seared with a cognac peppercorn sauce & frites $79 Duck Old Fashioned Pan-seared Duck Magret with a Grand Marnier reduction, served with a herb salad and frites $54 Short Ribs Braised short ribs upon silken mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms, topped with a whipped Spanish brandy - mustard and fresh grape salad. $56 Glen Chicken (a la Dram Central) 4
Pan seared chicken breast served with whisky sauce mash potatoes & herb Salad $38 SIDE Pommes Frites tossed in parmesan and parsley, paired with a Japanese whisky and yuzukoshō-infused ketchup $18 Grilled Asparagus $15 Heirloom tomato salad $15 Creamed Spinach $15 DESSERT Jean George’s Chocolate Cake A classic dessert with a molten Valrhona center, paired with a passionfruit Vanilla Bourbon Crème Anglaise $24 Sticky Toffee Pudding Paired with a warm vanilla bourbon sauce & whipped cream $15 *Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions. *Automatic gratuity of 20% will be added to any parties over 6. 5
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS ($25)
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS ($25) The Dram Central………… Our signature house cocktail. Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier, dry vermouth with a hint of orange bitters. A beautifully inviting amber glow, just like its surroundings. Tijuana No…………………… Mezcal, chili pepper syrup, pineapple juice, cilantro One sip and you will feel south of the border. Old Fashioned…………….. Sazerac Rye, muddled orange, and whiskey cured cherry Old school never goes out of vogue. The Magic Carpet……….. Singani, Elderflower and Champagne Circle the globe from the comfort of your bar stool! The Third Floor.…………..Elephant Gin, elderflower, lemon, tonic water, Cranberry & Rose petals A floral composition to arouse your senses. Espresso Martini…………. Maker’s Mark wheated Bourbon, Grand Brulot, espresso Wake up in Bourbon land but keep the dream going. RESERVE COCKTAILS Lavender 16 ($31) The Casa Dragones folks in San Miguel de Allende stirred the Tequila industry when recently offering the most expensive clear-as-glass sipping Tequila. We dare to show this unusual Blanco in a different way: a hint of cream laced with lavender syrup and smoked up by a hint of Mezcal. Dangerously addicting. Full-on Mexico. Pods-de-Vie ($28) Cognac Bache-Gabrielsen "American Oak" is a brilliant innovative spirit showing what's best from both American and French oak. This Cognac Sour blends exotic vanilla notes with Madagascar's Caviar into a perfect combination of the World's Premier eau-de-vie attributes and the subtle Tennessee virgin barrels' fruity aromas. Heavenly silky texture. Boulevardier ($27) Loosely translated, a boulevardier is a man-about-town. This cocktail by the same name is simply a variation on the classic Negroni. This rich and warming cocktail is made with Weller Special Reserve (90 Proof), sweet vermouth, Campari and an orange peel; and while others do it well, we do it “weller.” Elephantonic ($25) Elephant Gin, Bergamot Liqueur ‘italicus’, Lime, Ginger Syrup, Tonic Water Here is a German gin made to support the cause of African elephants: 15% of profits or 2% of revenue, whichever is higher, is donated to elephant conservation projects. Drink for a cause with this beautiful Sundowner. 6
Kan-Ro ($38) Let’s toast to the 100 year old Yamazaki distillery! “Kan-ro” does not just mean ‘nectar’ or ‘honeydew’; it’s more like a peaceful state of mind where bitterness has disappeared. This cocktail is composed with Yamazaki Single Malt 12 years as a main ingredient with Pedro Ximénez Sherry (fruity & complex sweetness) and Okinawa Black Sugar (rich & mineral). Mocktail Jamaican Rhapsody…………..hibiscus tea with grenadine, lemon juice and a dash of orange flower water WINE RED Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Barrail de Brisson 2022 $21/glass $84/bottle Côte Rôtie Guigal ‘brune et blonde’ 2019 $115/half bottle Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $88/half bottle Vignetti delle Dolomiti San Leonardo 2015 $156/half bottle Pomerol Château Gazin 2016 $295/bottle Pauillac Château Lynch Bages 2018 $315/bottle Saint Estèphe Les Pagodes de Cos 2014 $213/bottle Gevrey-Chambertin ‘clos des Chezeaux’ Berthaut-Gerbet 2017 $213/bottle Vosne-Romanée 1er cru ‘la croix Rameau’ J. Cacheux 2014 $325/bottle Bourgogne Leroy 2014 $650/bottle Chambolle-Musigny ‘vieilles vignes’ Frédéric Magnien 2014 $217/bottle Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Domaine Michel Noellat 2016 $325/bottle Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione 2018 $305/bottle Etna Rosso Benanti 'contrada Monte Serra’ 2019 $149/bottle Super Tuscan Tenuta San Guido ‘Sassicaia’ $2015 $850/bottle Barbera d’Alba Borgogno 2020 $75/bottle Rioja Loa 2011 $210/bottle Cabernet Sauvignon Orin Swift ‘Palermo’ Napa Valley 2015 $180/bottle WHITE Sancerre Domaine Lesimple & fils 2025 France $ 21 $ 84 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis V.V. 46 2021 $195/bottle Chappellet ‘Grower Collection’ Calesa Vineyard 2018 $235/bottle Zind Humbrecht Clos Saint Urbain Grand Cru Gewurtzraminer 2016 $197/bottle ROSE Château les Valentines Côtes de Provence 2024 $ 19 $ 76 7
SPARKLING Champagne Lallier brut R.021 Reflexion $19 $114 SHERRIES/DESSERT/FORTIFIED Oloroso seco ‘Alfonso’ 100% Palomino, Gonzalez Byass $15/glass Palo Cortado 30 years Bodegas Tradicion $27/glass Amontillado 1975 añada, Gonzalez Byass $275/bottle BEER ($12) Brooklyn Lager (USA) Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic) GIN ($19) Gin Lane 1751…………….Old Tom style 80 proof Roku…………………………….. Dry gin from Suntory, Japan 86 proof Ferdinand’s ($27)……… Saar dry gin (Germany) Riesling based 88 proof Elephant Gin………………..Join the fight against illegal ivory trade! Tanqueray Sevilla……….London Dry Gin with Sevilla Orange power 82.6 proof Bombay Sapphire……….Lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorns are added to the classic botanical blend 84 proof Boodles………………………… London Dry Gin 90.4 proof Hendrick’s…………………….Created from eleven fine botanicals 84 proof 8
BRANDY
BRANDY COGNAC The production of grape brandy did not begin in the Cognac region, but it certainly excelled there. The town, located on the Charente river, was perfectly situated for the distribution of sea salt from the Aunis coast to inland France. Until the 16th century, merchants established warehouses and storefronts devoted to the distribution of “white gold.” When prices fell, the warehouses were converted into luxury housing and the economy shifted to the production of wine and distillation. While many grapes were once used for the production of Cognac, the introduction of an aphid-like vine pest from the Americas destroyed vineyards across Europe. Today, Ugni Blanc represents 98% of plantings in the region. Folle Blanche, one of the original grapes in the region, comprises 1% and can be found in special varietal bottlings. Cognac must be produced in a particular still - a Charentais Alembic - through double distillation. It is then matured in French oak barrels for at least 2 years before bottling. The style and age indication a producer is seeking to release will determine how long Cognac matures. Some distillers prefer to release vintage or multi-vintage offerings after extended time in barrel while others may choose to blend spirits of different ages to achieve a specific flavor or house profile. Appellation rules are in place that dictate how old the youngest spirit in a blend must be for age categories to be indicated on a Cognac label: Very Special (VS): 2 years Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP): 4 years Extra Old (XO): 10 years Extra Extra Old (XXO): 12 years • Bache Gabrielsen — Single Estate Reserve — Petite Champagne Echebrune — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Bache Gabrielsen — Single Estate Petite Champagne — $40 — 45% ABV — #A1-1 Élevage begins in fresh French oak before a long, quiet rest in older refill barrels, drawing clarity from Petite Champagne’s chalk-rich soils. Distilled on a traditional Charentais double pot still, the spirit settles into a supple texture shaped by cool, ventilated cellars and gentle reduction ahead of bottling. Notes of white plum, vanilla husk and polished wood reflect careful oxygenation. Its significance lies in presenting a rare single-estate Cognac from a house better known for blends. 9
• Bache Gabrielsen “American Oak” — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV After initial aging in French oak, the spirit is finished in ex–Tennessee Whiskey barrels. The influence of American oak and Whiskey is seen in the telltale vanilla, coconut, butterscotch, and baking spice framing a core of apricot, caramel, and cocoa. This is very much a modern interpretation of Cognac seeking to explore new flavor combinations. • Bache Gabrielsen Hors d’Age (Grande Champagne) — $70 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This production undergoes long, slow oxidation over 50-70 years with minimal intervention by Bache Gabrielsen. The 1er Cru fruit delivers honey, plum, dark berries, and tea leaf with baking spices offered by oak influence. An extensive collection of deep reserves are saved by Bache Gabrielsen for their Hors d’Age production. • Bache Gabrielsen XO — $52 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Distillate derived from Grande and Petite Champagne grapes comprise this XO style spirit. The 10-20 year blend is floral forward with white blossom, vanilla, and cinnamon leading into honey, dried fruits, and subtle cigar box notes. The finish is long on the palate with cinnamon and baking spice dominating. • Bache Gabrielsen XO “Natur & Eleganse” — $30 — 80 proof / 40% ABV In this bottling is a floral and spice forward cognac that leads with jasmine, cinnamon, and créme brulee before driving candied fruits, honey, and raisins on the palate. The presentation here is classic and focused on historic styles of cognac. • Bourgoin “Micro Barrique” 22 Years (Fins Bois) — $64 — 110.6 proof / 55.3% ABV Distilled from 100% Ugni Blanc and matured for 22 years in traditional 350 liter oak barrels before being transferred to incredibly small, heavily charred 10 liter barrels for finishing. Bottled far above the typical range of Cognac, this near-cask strength Fins Bois developed concentrated tropical fruit, sweet citrus, cooked banana, and rich madagascar vanilla. • Camus VSOP Single Estate (Borderies) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Sourced entirely from the Camus family’s Borderies vineyards, this VSOP expresses violet, white peach, orange zest, and gentle oak notes of butterscotch and soft baking spice. Its youthful quality exudes a racier acidity and lighter, fruit-forward body. • Camus VSOP “Intensely Aromatic” — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Utilizing a proprietary technique to develop the highest ester concentration possible from the second distillation, Camus is able to provide a highly fruity and velvety spirit. Mango, dried apricot, and white florals blend with incense and baking spices on both the nose and palate. • Camus Port Cask Finish — $23 — 86.4 proof / 43.2% ABV 10
After finishing in Port casks, this Cognac integrates dark berry tones, cocoa, and gentle rancio alongside red plum and cherry richness. Soft grape and oak tannin drive a supple palate to a fruit driven finish. • Camus XO “Borderies” — $65 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This XO benefits from long, steady élevage in chai humide conditions, leading to a spirit that expresses classic Camus floral aromas alongside pastry notes. While peach, plum, and candied fruit notes appear on the nose, savory vanilla, raisin bread, and cinnamon complicate a core of dried stone fruit on a powerful and lingering palate. • Camus XO “Intensely Aromatic” — $52 — 80 proof / 40% ABV More aromatically developed toward savory pastry, this XO example of the “Intensely Aromatic” series leans into sweet pastry, fig, and dried tropical notes leading into a creamy, hazelnut, and baking spice palate. Floral notes balance richness, representing the classic Camus style within this modern Cognac design. • Château de Briat — 2004–2022 (18 Years, Bottle №95/410) — $40 — 44.7% ABV — #A11-2 Raised first in new Gascon oak before aging in older barrels on earthen floors, this 2004 Bas-Armagnac matured eighteen years before bottling from a lot of only 410 bottles. Distillation on a traditional wood-fired alambic imparts weight, supporting flavors of prune, cocoa and subtle rancio. Its significance lies in Briat’s unwavering adherence to 19th-century methods—noble, single-vintage releases shaped by time and tradition. • Château Montifaud VS (Petite Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Distilled on the lees and aged in a mix of new French oak for initial structure, then older Limousin casks for gentle rounding, Aged for longer than the minimum 2 years required by the appellation to label a Cognac VS, this excellent entry-level spirit combines garden flower aromas with notes of apple, pear, and stone fruits. Minimal oak influence from the short aging process allows the fruit to shine with hints of almond adding complexity. • Château Montifaud VSOP (Petite Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Stone fruit, canned pears, and dried apricot play forward characters to more subtle baking spice and oak notes in this 8-10 year spirit. The palate is soft and delicate with a lingering warming quality on its moderate finish. • Château Montifaud XO (Petite Champagne) — $39 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Apricot jam, lush peach, and baked pear lead into aromas of almond, prune, raisin, and chocolate. The longer oak influence is felt in the presence of nutmeg and saffron with a tea-like tannic quality on its long, elegant finish. • Château Montifaud XO ‘Majestic’ (Petite Champagne) — $93 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Montifaud — Millésime 1973 — $320 — 43% ABV — #A1-4 11
New Gascon and Limousin oak give way to long repose in older barrels across Montifaud’s cool, humid cellars, allowing this 1973 vintage to deepen without excessive tannin. Distillation on lees contributes to a silky, weighty mid-palate, supported by Petite Champagne’s chalk-mineral drive. Expect rancio warmth, fig, walnut and incense woven through decades of oxidative rest. Its significance lies in the château’s rigorous vintage program—1973 being an especially structured, cool-year harvest. • Château de Montifaud — Millésime 2002 — $40 — 43% ABV — #A1-5 This cognac is a clear reflection of Montifaud’s preference for slow, static cellar evolution. In this we find floral and orchard fruit notes balanced by soft rancio and warm spice from measured oxidation. 2002 reflects the modern growing challenges of warmer vintages and a growing season that yielded particularly fruit-forward Cognac. • Château de Montifaud — Millésime 2003 (Bottle № 026) — $40 — 43% ABV — #A2-2 This 2003 vintage Cognac reflects a notably hot harvest, concentrating Petite Champagne fruit into richer orchard and stone-fruit tones. The body has a noticeably velvet structure shaped by humid-cellar evolution and gentle reduction. Expect apricot paste, nougat and polished cedar. • Château de Montifaud — Millésime 2004 (Bottle № 017) — $40 — 43% ABV — #A2-3 2004 was a cooler, more balanced vintage than 2003, lending the spirit a lifted aromatic profile. Distilled on lees and matured in humid chais, the Cognac develops bright citrus, blossom and almond tones. This is an excellent counterpoint to neighboring years, capturing the elegance typical of early-2000s Petite Champagne. • Château de Montifaud — Millésime 2005 (Bottle № 353) — $40 — 43% ABV — #A2-4 New Limousin oak gives early structure before the spirit settles into long, quiet rest in older barrels across Montifaud’s humid cellars. This spirit is marked by a creamy mid-palate marked by quince, vanilla, and soft spice, with gentle oxidative notes emerging over time. • Château Montifaud L50 (Petite Champagne) — $161 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Triac — (Single Vineyard, Fins Bois) — $18 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Drawn from a single estate parcel in Fins Bois, you will find an expressive, aroma driven Cognac showing honeysuckle, baked apple, and candied fruits on a rich palate showing delicate oak influence. Vanilla and wet earth can be found as supporting notes on the palate and finish. • Jacquy Navarre — Cravache D’Or — $23 — 90 proof / 45% ABV • Courvoisier VSOP (Fine Cognac) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 12
Stone fruit, vanilla, and light spice reveal measured élevage and structured reduction. Its significance lies in its foundational role as Courvoisier’s signature VSOP style—polished, approachable, and classic. • Courvoisier XO “Le Cognac de Napoléon” — $70 — 80 proof / 40% ABV A blend of well-aged Grande and Petite Champagne with Borderies elements, notes of blackberry, vanilla, and orange peel emerge from this velvety spirit. Sweet vanilla, hazelnut, and cinnamon round out the palate. • Courvoisier XO Royal — $75 — 80 proof / 40% ABV A blend of well-aged Grande and Petite Champagne with Borderies elements, notes of blackberry, vanilla, and orange peel emerge from this velvety spirit. Sweet vanilla, hazelnut, and cinnamon round out the palate. • Courvoisier — 21 Years — $40 — 40% ABV — #A3-1 Élevage starts with new Limousin oak supplying early structure before decades of rest in older casks across Courvoisier’s humid riverside chais. Distilled on a traditional Charentais pot still, the spirit develops layered rancio—walnut, dried fig, polished wood—supported by Fine Champagne fruit. Its significance lies in Courvoisier’s long-aged benchmark for the house’s “Le Cognac de Napoléon” lineage, delivering a rare age-stated expression from a major historic maison. • D’Ussé XO (Château de Cognac) — $57 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Aged in French oak within the limestone cellars of Château de Cognac, where humid, river-adjacent conditions foster slow oxidation and aromatic richness. Focused on darker aromas, expect coffee, cinnamon stick, figs, and hints of golden raisin on the nose. The palate leans into toasted wood, tobacco, chocolate, and coffee with blackberries and apricot balancing the intensity of wood aromas. • Deau Napoléon — Kosher — $39 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Deau XO — Kosher — $61 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Delamain 1973–2013 (40 Years, Grande Champagne) — $95 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This rare bottling provides surprisingly complex fresh and aged aromas of apricot, grilled almond, white flowers, and raisins. Orange zest, lychee, black cherry, and quince are framed by an earthy, delicate rancio on the palate. It finishes long with subtle oak spices and lingering tea leaf. • Delamain XO “Pale & Dry” (15 to 25 Years, Grande Champagne) — $34 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This XO bottling is the flagship of Delamain’s production. A blend of 25-year-old Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, a definitive chalky minerality highlights notes of pear skin, dried apricot, and hints of leather. It finishes long and smooth with an easy warming character. 13
• Delamain — Sig Cigar — $59 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Delamain — Pleiade Domaine La Rambaudie (Bottle №236/465) — $70 — 40% ABV — #A3-2 The Pleiade series focuses on single-estate, single-cask, terroir-forward Cognac matured in Delamain’s famously cool, chalk-walled caves. Distilled from Grande Champagne Ugni Blanc and bottled from a single cask, the spirit shows tea leaf, pear skin, quince, and cedar. 465 bottles produced. • Delamain — Vintage 1966–2016 (50 Years, Bottle 18) —$345 — 40% ABV — #A3-3 Élevage progresses from new oak to decades in old Grande Champagne barrels, with the spirit resting in Delamain’s humid, subterranean caves for a full half-century. Distilled on lees, it offers profound walnut oil, citrus peel, and incense shaped by slow oxidative concentration. The rare 1966 vintage and 50-year documented élevage culminated in a tiny, numbered release. • Delamain — Vintage 1973 (40 Years, Bottle 11) — $340 — 40% ABV — #A3-4 The 1973 vintage was a cooler, aromatic-driven year in Grande Champagne. 40 years of maturation in cool and humid conditions produced a satin texture with dried orchard fruit, cocoa, and a restrained rancio nose from long oxidation. • Delamain — Vintage 1995 (40 Years, Bottle 85) — $152 — 41% ABV • De Luze “Extra Delight” (Fine Champagne) — $46 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 95% of the distillate used in the “Extra Delight” is 50-year-old Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie. Incredibly fresh fruit aromas are prominent in the spirit, leaning into apricot, candied orange peel, and overripe plum. Vanilla bean and mushroom bring a fantastic tension to the palate and finish. • De Luze XO (Fine Champagne) — $28 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Aromatically generous with floral aromas of jasmine, orange blossom, iris alongside fig, candied orange peel, and hints of nutmeg. The palate shows a velvety texture with black cherry, tea, and pastry fruit before leading into a long and rich finish driven by caramel and spiced fudge. • Drouet Hors d’Âge “Paradis de Famille” (Grande Champagne) — $78 — 84.6 proof / 42.3% ABV Blended from 25-45 year old family reserves from the estate’s cellars, stewed and cooked fruits stand aside more savory rancio qualities. Stewed pear, overripe plum, mandarin zest, cinnamon, leather, tobacco, and toasted hazelnut are a few of the tasting notes delivered by this Cognac. The palate and finish are smooth and focused with chocolate and dried fruits concluding the experience. 14
• Drouet XO “Ulysse” (Grande Champagne) — $44 — 80.6 proof / 40.3% ABV Hazelnut, coffee cake, and dried orange peel lead from the nose into a palate focused on baking spice. Cedar, nutmeg, and hints of baked apple and honeyed fruits lead to a sweet finish of tobacco, and spiced oak. Classic Grande Champagne minerality persists throughout the experience. • Dudognon “Héritage” (Grande Champagne) — $55 — 82 proof / 41% ABV Crafted from estate-grown Ugni Blanc, distilled over open flame, and aged in pure Limousin oak with no added sugar or color. From this 40 year old Cognac you can expect a stone fruit and citrus character firmly alongside developed rancio notes. Apricot, orange marmalade, and hints of pineapple appear on the nose with almond paste and cocoa powder. The palate offers honeyed peach with impressions of tropical fruit that leads into toasted coconut and oak. • Dudognon “Vielle Réserve” (Grande Champagne) — $31 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Dudognon “Réserve” (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Bottled after 10 years of aging, quince and pear shine on the nose with honey bracing the aromatic impact. Green apple and ripe pear flow into soft baking spice notes and the gentle influence of oak before the finish returns to orchard fruit and vanilla. This is a surprisingly tight, composed, and complex spirit. • Du Peyrat “Organic Sélection” — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Certified organic Ugni Blanc distillate aged in French oak—first in newer barrels for brief structuring, then in older casks to preserve fruit purity. This is a young Cognac screaming with fruit freshness. Ripe, juicy apricots and tropical flavors on the nose blend with white tea, stone fruit, and sweet vanilla on the palate. Minimal oak influence allows supplementary honey and floral aromas to shine throughout. • Fanny Fougerat — SIR Type 72 (50 Years, Petite Champagne) — $110 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #A4-3 Élevage begins in new Limousin oak before nearly half a century of rest in older barrels, allowing Petite Champagne chalk to shape a mineral, incisive core. Lees distillation lends depth, while decades of controlled oxidation layer walnut, leather, and incense-tinged rancio. Its significance lies in its extreme age and the “Type 72” series’ documentation of rare pre-1970s parcels stewarded with extraordinary patience. • Fanny Fougerat — Le Notoire Fins Bois — $59 — 89.6 proof / 44.8% ABV — #A4-2 Fanny Fougerat is a practitioner of modern, precise distillation and is reinterpreting the oft overlooked Fins Bois category. This single-estate Cognac highlights sandy-clay soils and Fougerat’s low-intervention élevage in airy, ventilated chais. Aromas include lively orchard fruit, fresh herbs, and a subtle tea-leaf dryness from restrained tannin extraction. • Fanny Fougerat — Marin 2nd Edition, Lot 16 — $40 — 89.6 proof / 44.8% ABV 15
• Fanny Fougerat — Type 73 (45 Years, Petite Champagne) — $110 — 99.2 proof / 49.6% ABV — #A4-4 A barrel of 1973 distillate was uncovered in Petite Champagne and acquired by Fanny Fougerat to produce this long-aged Cognac. This is unfiltered just as her other spirits, but aged in slightly drier cellars. It presents lifted floral notes, pear skin and a fine, resin-wood rancio shaped by slow oxidative rest. 510 bottles produced. • Fanny Fougerat ‘Iris Poivré’ XO (Borderies) — $39 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Violet petal, honeysuckle, tea, and citrus characterize the opening aromas before dried flowers come into play. Beeswax, walnut, and candied orange blend harmoniously on the palate as the long finish leans slightly peppery. • Fanny Fougerat ‘Le Laurier d’Apollon 2011’ (Petite Champagne) — $28 — 84.4 proof / 42.2% ABV With a very dense and concentrated nose, the aromatic complexity offered in the form of fresh pear, baked apple, quince, and cedar open into aniseed and herbal spice. The palate is fruit driven, showing plum, apricot, apple, and plum. Balancing aromas of toasted almond, vanilla, and clove before a finish of pear, honey, and baking spice. • Fanny Fougerat ‘Petite Cigüe’ (Fins Bois) — $24 — 80 proof / 40% ABV An explosive nose with elaborate floral and fruit notes. Crisp apple, honeydew melon, orange oil, and a subtle minerality on the nose bring you to what can only be described as a citrus bomb on the palate. Cereal, almonds, and a creamy texture keep the acidity in check on the way to a honeyed, floral finish. • Fanny Fougerat “Cèdre Blanc” XO (Fins Bois) — $25 — 88 proof / 44% ABV Rich, earthy, and tobacco forward with complementary orchard fruit notes, expect a complex, warming experience. Dark fruits, caramel, and baking spice are prominent on the nose while the palate displays fresh orchard fruit, tobacco, leather, and licorice. Hints of citrus and chocolate lead into a long, warming finish. • Ferrand ‘10 Générations’ (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 92 proof / 46% ABV Eaux-de-vie aged for 5-25 years, with 20% finished in Sauternes casks, comprises the blend of this bottling which honors the Ferrand family legacy. Honeyed apricot, orange blossom, coconut, caramel, and fruit cake open the stage for a sweeter palate of baked pear, muscat grape, honeyed pineapple, and mixed roasted nuts. The finish is floral before mint and tobacco arrive. • Ferrand ‘1840 – Original Formula’ (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 90 proof / 45% ABV Crafted for versatility and ideal in a cocktail by Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel and Spirit Historian David Wondrich, ‘1840’ is inspired by 19th-century Cognac style; this 3-5 year aged spirit expresses a traditional VS profile. Fresh and bright, complementary flavors of 16
white grape, peach and bergamot lead into a vibrant palate. Flowers blend with ripe pears before evolving into a honeyed sweetness with baking spice driving a smooth finish. • Ferrand ‘Ambré’ (Grande Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Apricot, plum, and pear strudel pair with rose and violet on a tense but welcoming nose. The palate leans crisp and fresh with orchard fruit and baked orange supported by the oak influence of toasted almond. Slightly drying tea leaf and amara notes conclude the smooth finish. • Ferrand ‘Réserve – Double Cask’ (Grande Champagne) — $28 — 84.6 proof / 42.3% ABV This ‘double cask’ expression showcases the Pedro Ximenes second maturation, which enhances the intense notes of rancio charentais. Rich nutty and spicy aromas with a rounding of stewed fruits is what you may identify on this beautiful Cognac. • Ferrand ‘Sélection des Anges’ (Grande Champagne) — $83 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Opening with notes of pastry before the candied orange, raisin, honey, and flowers emerge, the palate leans unexpectedly cherry with chocolate, saffron, candied ginger, and touches of brown butter. The rich and full bodied palate finishes with cigar box and leather softening into a long cocoa and liquorice focused finish. • Ferrand Mémorable – 1er Cru de Cognac (Grande Champagne) — $935 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Frapin — Multimillésime No. 3 (1982–83–86, Part des Anges) — $300 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A5-1 This tri-vintage composition—1982, 1983 and 1986—is aged in Frapin’s cool, humid chais in Grande Champagne. The Cognac benefits from lees distillation and slow oxidation, lending density and a honeyed, spice-lined texture with notes of dried citrus, walnut and soft savory qualities. • Frapin — Multimillésime Series No. 2 (#001270, 1979–83–85) — $350 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A5-2 An inviting and compelling blend from Frapin, this edition of the Multimillesime series showcases a delicate satin texture and light weight with dried apricot, warm spice and polished oak notes. • Frapin — Multimillésime #001270 (1982–83–85) — $340 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A4-5 The viticultural and distillation history of Frapin dates back to 1270 and this cognac is a representation of the estate’s approach to blending across parcels and harvests. A joining of three Grande Champagne vintages, the estate-grown Ugni Blanc spirits are merged and aged to display a broad, honeyed palate supported by citrus zest, nutmeg and fine rancio. 17
• Frapin “1er Cru de Cognac” (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Made from estate-grown Ugni Blanc distilled on fine lees, then matured in older Limousin oak within humid, chalk-floor cellars to preserve aromatic lift and creamy texture. Dried rose petals, linden, and vine blossoms lead a uniquely floral nose into a palate of apricot, peach, and nectarine. Sweeter quince, pear, and caramel notes also shine with cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg leading to a long sweet finish. • Frapin VSOP (Grande Champagne) — $28 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Fresh and baked apples persist on the nose and palate while citrus and candied stone fruit also shine aromatically with flowers. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove present on the palate with hints of vanilla cream and almond. • Frapin XO “Château de Fontpinot” (Grande Champagne) — $42 — 82 proof / 41% ABV Produced entirely within the Frapin family’s 18th century estate, this XO shows considerable structure owing to the dry conditions in the cellar. Dried apricot and fig, marzipan, vanilla, and hints of old leather bring you into a palate of honey, baked apple, toffee, and almond butter. The finish brings toasty oak, dried fruit, and nutmeg to a lingering conclusion. • Frapin — Single Cask — 1994 (28 Years) — Grande Champagne — $176 — 46.7% ABV • Giboin — Millésime 1999 Borderies — $40 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV — #A5-3 The 1999 vintage was warm, leading to distillates of heightened fruit flavors and lower acidity. This example of Borderies was matured in ventilated cellars to slow maturation and express floral, pear, stone fruit, and almond aromas. • Giboin — 2005 - 2023 (18 Years) Borderies — Lot #74-16 — $40 — 89.8 proof / 42.9% ABV • Giboin — Napoléon Borderies — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Gilles Brisson VSOP (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV One of the very best values out there! 100% Ugni blanc grape and a traditional approach to Cognac-making makes this VSOP one of the best of its category. Quite complex and already very elegant for a young Cognac. • Gilles Brisson XO (Grande Champagne) — $36 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Complex and elegant, this XO opens with plum and dried fig with hints of almond. Candied fruits and rich cocoa tied into a silky, light palate that finishes with a peppery cayenne and clove finish. • Hardy “Noces d’Argent” 25 years (Fine Champagne) — $48 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 18
Bottled after 25 years of maturation, this complex and rich Cognac offers dried fruits, honey, leather, and tobacco with layers of candied orange peel, caramel, spice cake, and roasted almonds. The finish leaves you with hazelnut, gentle oak, and mocha. • Hardy VSOP “Organic” (Fine Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Using organically grown grapes sourced from Grande and Petite Champagne, this VSOP plays light on the palate with a distinct weight on the palate. The nose delivers spring flowers, fresh pear, and apricot over a palate of baked fruit, toasted nuts, and chocolate. The finish leads with floral notes before a baking spice conclusion. • Hardy XO Rare (Fine Champagne) — $46 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Floral aromas of rose petals, violet, and jasmine surprise in this 15-25 year aged Cognac. The palate expresses with concentrated fig, orange jam, and baking spices with a finish of butterscotch, sweet tobacco, and leather. • Hennessy “Paradis” — $432 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Of the 10,000 barrels in the Hennessy cellars, only 10 are selected to produce this Cognac. This spirit includes brandy that has been aging since the late 19th century and blended with early 20th century spirit, creating an extraordinarily complex drink. Jasmine, orange blossom, and fields of stone fruit on the nose lead to a surprisingly light fruity and spicy palate before a tremendously long finish. • Hennessy ‘Master blender’s selection’ #5 — $36 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Hennessy XO ‘The Original XO’ — $61 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Opening with notes of fig, brown sugar, and candied fruits, this warming XO leads into dark chocolate, roasted nuts, cinnamon, and espresso. The finish arrives with blackberry, prune, leather, and black tea that persist for ages. Its significance lies in its historical role as the world’s first XO category marker, defining the style since 1870 and uses up to 100 eaux-de-vie aged up to 30 years with grapes sourced from all four of Cognac’s regions. • Hine ‘H by Hine’ VSOP — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Hine ‘Rare’ VSOP — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Fruit forward but inclusive of subtle aged notes that increase the spirit’s complexity. Apricot and peach lead the way with a tinge of citrus zest before oolong tea and hints of cocoa dust begin to emerge. Jasmine and vanilla open with time, but a fruity finish with a touch of baking spice remains throughout. • Hine XO “Antique” (Grande Champagne) — $56 — 80 proof / 40% ABV On the nose, lavender and white flowers open into a core of candied orange peel, cinnamon, and a touch of ginger. The round and velvety palate shows notes of fig, honey, and stone fruits in anticipation of a finish driven by dried fruit, dark chocolate, and subtle oak tannins. 19
• Hine “Homage: 1984/1986/1987” (Fine Champagne) — $86 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Hine — 12 Years Single Cask Selection (K&L 2002–2015, Bottle 044/300) — $40 — 85.8 proof / 42.9% ABV — #A5-5 Élevage begins in fresh French oak before maturing in older barrels across Hine’s cool Jarnac cellars, culminating in a 12-year single-cask bottling from the 2002 distillation. Distilled on lees, the spirit shows lifted citrus, white flower and honeyed grain with gentle tannin from measured oak extraction. Its significance comes from its tiny 300-bottle outturn, reflecting Hine’s long-standing commitment to single-cask transparency and controlled vintage-led selection. • Jean Fillioux “Cep d’Or” Très Vieille (Grande Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Composed of eaux-de-vie between 12-15 years of age, this Cognac is bright with fruit. The initial lilac entry on the nose leads to a profile of banana, melon, peach, prunes, and dried apricot. The silky rich palate maintains acidity and surprisingly starts with oak before drifting into honey, sweet apple, toasted walnut, caraway, and anise. The finish lingers on spice with hints of espresso and cocoa. • Jean Fillioux “La Pouyade” (Vieille, Grande Champagne) — $23 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Sweet flowers and dried apricot with an almost hidden note of marzipan appear quickly on the nose. Pear, green apple, and white peach freshness tie into more cooked notes of orange confit and roasted pear as the finish starts with baking spices and terminates with touches of honey and toasted oak. • Jean Fillioux “Réserve Familiale” (50 Years, Grande Champagne) — $120 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Despite being drawn from parcels aged 50 years and more, a surprising liveliness combines with aged notes to deliver a tense and delicious experience. Fresh apricot, candied peach, and dried stone and orchard fruit begin a journey through prunes, dried chery, leather, baking spice, and cigar box. Caramel presents itself on the palate through the finish. • Jean Fillioux XO Extra “Très Vieux” (Grande Champagne) — $41 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Named “Extra” because of the extended 25 year aging of the spirit, you can expect cooked fruit aromas of baked banana, apricot preserve, pear jam, and soft spice. Warming notes reminiscent of summer garden unfold with stewed quince and fresh mango on a soft but weighty palate. • Jean Fillioux ‘so élégantissime’ XO, Vieille Grande Champagne — $55 — 82 proof / 41% ABV 20
• Jean Fillioux XO “Grande Réserve” (Grande Champagne) — $45 — 88 proof / 44% ABV This XO uses eaux-de-vie that has been aged for at least 30 years. The nose expresses this with aromas of toffee, toasted coconut, and dried fruits, but the palate maintains hints of freshness with ripe peach and apricot alongside candied citrus. Cinnamon, coriander, maple syrup, and roasted almond round out the palate into an easy rich finish. • Jean Grosperrin #67 ‘Héritage’ (Petite Champagne) — $175 — 81.4 proof / 40.7% ABV From the 1967 vintage but not ‘controlled and sanctioned’ by the governmental agency, this very old Cognac was bottled in 2024, making it a 57 year old eau-de-vie! • Jean Grosperrin #72 ‘Héritage’ (Grande Champagne) — $136 — 82.2 proof / 41.1% ABV From the 1972 vintage but not ‘controlled and sanctioned’ by the governmental agency, this very old yet delicate Cognac was mostly aged in a humid cellar and bottled in 2024, making it a 52 year old eau-de-vie! • Jean Grosperrin 1991 (20 Years, Bois Ordinaires) — $45 — 113.4 proof / 56.7% ABV This Cognac is a rarity from its place of origin alone: l’île d’Oléron! Once a fairly large area of production, it is now much smaller and is known for the maritime character of its eaux-de-vie. The unique terroir gives it a powerful and salty bite. This is bottle # 001 of only 357 liters released. • Jean Grosperrin 1989 (20 Years, Borderies) — $47 — 89.2 proof / 44.6% ABV This bottle comes from a very small, 9-liter small lot. • Jean Grosperrin 1989 (33 years, Fins Bois) — $66 — 112 proof / 56% ABV This very powerful Cognac was aged in a dry cellar for 33 years and has lost its alcoholic strength by evaporation only. This bottle comes from Lot #1137. • Jean Grosperrin 1990 (25 Years, Fins Bois) — $60 — 91.8 proof / 45.9% ABV Distilled in 1990 and aged 25 years in seasoned French oak, this Fins Bois vintage spent its later years resting in Grosperrin’s paradis for gentle stabilization before bottling at natural strength. Baked apple, citrus rind, polished wood, and soft rancio reveal slow oxidative evolution and the cru’s rounder, fruit-led structure. Its significance lies in its BNIC-certified vintage identity—a transparent, time-stamped expression of mature Fins Bois. • Jean-Luc Pasquet ‘l’Organique 04’ (Fine Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Distilled from organically farmed Ugni Blanc and matured in older French oak under chai humide conditions, this Grande Champagne bottling shows quiet oxidative depth shaped entirely by refill casks. 21
• Kelt VSOP “Rare – Tour du Monde” (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Light caramel, tangerine, and soft spice present on the nose before the broad and rounded palate enters marine-influenced flavors. Deeper caramel sits beneath ripe white grape, citrus zest, and brighter stone fruit notes. The finish offers impressions of sweetness and oak. • Kelt XO “Tour du Monde” (Grande Champagne) — $43 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Eaux-de-vie aged 15-70 years, averaging between 30-42 years old when blended, is used in the production of this XO. It shows floral at first with narcissus and honeysuckle before fig jam and cigar box take over. Tangerine and nectarine appear on the palate as vanilla, roasted walnut, and dark chocolate lead to a long, silky finish. • Kelt — Blenders Reserve XO 100 Proof Cognac — $40 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #A7-3 Kelt Master Blender Jeffrey Karlovitch believes there is a true beauty of Cognac at higher proof levels. This special bottling from Kelt, part of the Blender’s Reserve series, offers weight and a delicate, rounded body with aromas of caramelized fruit, dark chocolate, and fig jam. • Kelt — Blenders Reserve XO Mizunara Cognac — $40 — 89.6 proof / 44.8% ABV — #A7-4 A higher proof Cognac that is one of a few that sees time in the Japanese oak Mizunara to finish. The extra time in this oak imparts the incense and spices typical of the wood, alongside toasted coconut and honeyed notes. The additional aging at sea provides a more rounded quality than other Mizunara finished Cognacs. • Kelt — Blenders Reserve XO Peated Cognac (100 Proof) — $40 — 44.8% ABV — #A7-5 After time in new and refill Limousin oak, the Cognac is transferred to ex-peated whisky barrels to provide a complementary smokiness to the spirit. Dried fruits, caramel, and vanilla present on the nose alongside a hint of campfire. This style is exceptionally rare and will likely to be uncommon in the traditional Cognac region. • Léopold Gourmel “30 Carats – Quintessence” — $98 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Orange blossom, honey, and germanium shine on the nose of this exceptionally aged spirit. A mineral quality on the nose continues on the palate as gingerbread, spiced apple, and flecks of red berry link with chamomile and gentle baking and exotic spice notes. Vanilla asserts itself on the long, complicated finish. • Lheraud “Cuvée 10” (Petite Champagne) — $40 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Aged 10 years, the ‘Cuvée 10’ maintains freshness with oak notes less apparent as texture but obvious in aroma. Tulips, citrus, sweet spice, and toasted coconut set up a palate of dried peach, espresso, toasted almond, and cocoa. Milk chocolate and caramel lead the long, elegant finish. 22
• Lheraud “Cuvée 20” (Petite Champagne) — $55 — 86 proof / 43% ABV With 20 years of age, more complex and detailed aromas have been able to develop. Vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak arrive before the roasted pineapple, dates, and bananas foster climb from the glass. The palate is deeper as citrus peel on the attack shifts quickly to chocolate, aged leather, and hints of espresso. A slightly smoky finish leaves notes of roasted chestnut and subtle spice after a lengthy engagement. • Louis Royer VSOP — $23 — Kosher — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Louis Royer XO — $60 — Kosher — 80 proof / 40% ABV This Cognac symbolizes the harmony that can be achieved between darker fruit flavors and aged oak indicators. Initial aromas of bread dough, vanilla, cocoa nibs, and banana pudding evolve with air. Pear and baked banana on the palate complement the nutmeg, toasted hazelnut, and vanilla cream notes before a finish that impresses the idea of sweetness alongside maduro cigar leaf. • Louis Royer 32 years 1974-2006 single cask — $190 — 80 proof / 40% ABV A one-off release in 2006 and limited to x bottles. Powerful and long with earthy notes of rancio along with stewed peaches and dried apricot. • Martell “Blue Swift” —VSOP finished in Bourbon Cask — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Martell “Cordon Bleu” — $63 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Cinnamon, candied prune, and toasted almonds on the nose hide the intensely fruity palate of this XO. Honey, raspberry, plum, candied citrus, apple, and gentle spice are a few of the indicators in the wonderfully complex palate. The finish, long and warming, introduces a nuanced leather note to a delightful journey. • Martell XO “Extra Fine” — $105 — 80 proof / 40% ABV An exotic pink peppercorn spice opens the nose before fig, walnut, dried red fruit, and black pepper spice take over. Fig and walnut persist on the palate with blackcurrant, cherry, toffee, and allspice. The finish is long and silky with fruit notes fading into an oaky, baking spice note. • Maxime Trijol “Extra” (Grande Champagne) — $52 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Exotic flowers open into a complex nose of dried and candied orange and pear, anise, and mushroom. Full bodied and silky, the palate offers ginger, assorted stone fruit, pastry dough, and honey on a tannic backbone. The finish goes on forever with a slightly spicy dark chocolate appearing before a refreshing menthol character. • Maxime Trijol VSOP (Grande Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 23
Apricots and white peach lead the experience here. White grapes, honey, tangerine peel, and oak influenced cinnamon and smoke round out the nose while marmalade and biscuit fill out the light palate. The finish is quick and clean with lingering warming spices. • Mery-Melrose VS “Organic” (Grande Fine Champagne) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Apple, wildflower, vanilla, and citrus tones emerge with clean, low-intervention clarity on the nose. Apricot and toffee show on the palate with unexpected notes of toffee and fudge from oak influence. • Mery-Melrose VSOP “Organic” (Grande Fine Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV The nose on this VSOP is quite unique: conventional dried apricot and fig develop with ginger, spiced bread, rose petals, and hints of apple. The palate is soft but broad and the pastry notes continue. Fruitcake, demerara, persimmon, and warming spice build to a long, warming finish. • Meukow XO — $32 — 80 proof / 40% ABV A fruity nose of pronounced dried citrus and baked apricot is supported by caramelized nuts, cocoa, and vanilla. The palate follows the nose while also presenting prune and warm baking spices. Long and warming, Dutch cocoa and hints of espresso dance along the finish. • Monnet XO — $28 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Complex and deep aromas of a range of candied and dried fruits supported by liquorice and roasted nuts define the experience before moving into the palate. A round, soft, and weighty mouthfeel offers darker fruit with ground coffee, cinnamon, very dark chocolate, and gingerbread dominating before a long, roasty finish. • Naud VS (Fine Cognac) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Youthful and fruity with pear, peach, toasted almond, and spicy cinnamon leading the way. The palate plays sweet with honey and creamy vanilla also appearing. The finish is moderate and the cinnamon develops a more allspice quality before the end. • Naud XO (Fine Cognac) — $36 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Candied orange, cinnamon, and cumin open the experience as prune and leather emerge later. The palate develops a sweeter and richer Sevilla orange, tobacco, and mushroom umami develops as leather returns to the fore. Drier fruit notes and baking spice complete the warming finish. • Normandin-Mercier 7 Years VSOP (Petite Champagne) — $42 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Normandin-Mercier ‘Prestige’ 15 years XO (Fine Champagne) — $55 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 24
Concentrated apricot and nectarine, salted caramel, orange peel, tobacco, and sandalwood present on the nose with hints of minerality in this 30 year old XO. The palate shows more chalky lift as the silky, rich palate delivers chocolate, fig, toffee, and candied nuts. Baking spice leads into a floral expression as the finish comes to a close. • Normandin Mercier — 1976 40 Ans (Bottle 228/896 Petite Champagne) — $140 — 82.8 proof/ 41.4% ABV — #A8-3 This Cognac was distilled in 1976 and matured in cool cellars near coastal La Rochelle under conditions that slow evaporation and preserve brightness. 896 bottles were released after 40 years of maturation. The spirit displays baked apple, salted caramel and elegant floral and spice notes. • Normandin Mercier — Christmas Cognac 2016 (Cask 3077, Bottle 34) — $40 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #A8-4 Drawn from cask 3077 and bottled in 2016, this “Christmas Cognac” highlights festive spice, warm citrus notes shaped by careful élevage. This is part of Normandin Mercier’s long running tradition of seasonal, celebratory bottlings. • Normandin Mercier — Christmas Cognac Petite Champagne #33 — $40 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #A8-5 Matured from new oak into older refill barrels, this Petite Champagne parcel benefits from the domaine’s cool, steady, maritime cellar environment. The resulting Cognac shows chalk-driven lift—white fruit, vanilla pod, faint rancio—integrated through time rather than heavy wood. Its significance rests in its status as a terroir-specific holiday release, underscoring Normandin Mercier’s emphasis on purity over ornamentation. • Park — Cognac Chai No. 8 Lot 92 — $40 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A1-3 Park’s transparent lot-specific releases spotlight cellar terroir inside a single estate framework. Élevage for Lot 92 occurs in the slightly drier Chai No. 8 for heightened aromatic lift. This spirit shows tea-leaf dryness, citrus peel and sandalwood driven by slow oxidative concentration. • Park Single Vineyard (Borderies) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This unusual Borderies profile opens with milk chocolate, cinnamon, and clove on the nose while tropical fruits dominate the palate. Ripe mango and pineapple are framed by sandalwood and black tea before faintly floral finish emphasizes notes of coffee and dried fig. • Park “Mizunara” Cask Finish (Borderies) — $25 — 87 proof / 43.5% ABV This 5 year old Cognac opens with floral floral notes of violet and lilac carried by cinnamon and incense. Raisins, lemon peel, and hints of red fruit conclude the nose and lead into a palate inclusive of vanilla, ginger, and hints of the tropics. First matured in French oak casks, it is then transferred for several months into new Japanese oak barrels, which confer smoky and spicy undertones. 25
• Paul Giraud “Très Rare” (Grande Champagne) — $60 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Musky aromas of tobacco, leather, and cigar box are complicated by subtle hints of vanilla, banana, and creamy caramel. The palate is surprisingly light and soft with the caramel, vanilla, and banana more pronounced as stone fruits and cinnamon emerge. Ginger exudes a pleasant spice on the long, exquisite finish. • Prunier XO “Très Vieille” (Grande Champagne) — $34 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Composed of eaux-de-vie aged 15-50 years from several Grand Cru parcels, the sweeter profile here somewhat masks the typical minerality of the region. Profound and complex aromas of orange, vanilla, caramel apple, nutmeg, menthol, and leather lead to a smooth and full palate. Brown sugar, candied walnut, and espresso continue the rich profile before a finish of burnt tangerine and warming clove. • Ragnaud-Sabourin Domaine La Voûte 1973 35 year (Grande Champagne) — $239 — 43% ABV • Ragnaud-Sabourin #20 ‘réserve spéciale’ (Grande Champagne) — $52 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Ragnaud-Sabourin ‘florilège’ (Grande Champagne) — $134 — 92 proof / 46% ABV • Rémy Martin ‘1738 Accord Royal’ (Fine Champagne) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Bold and engaging, this spirit honoring the decree that permitted Rémy Martin’s expansion offers tremendous fruit character balanced by pastry notes. Fig, plum, brioche, spice cake, and berry tart dominate the nose and palate while the long finish softens into fruitcake and vanilla. • Rémy Martin VSOP (Fine Champagne) — $27 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Peach, vanilla, almond, and citrus notes open the show in this fresh spirit. Fleshy summer fruits, vanilla, baked apple, and hints of baking spice fill the palate as a sleek, long finish brings the experience to a close. • Rémy Martin XO ‘Excellence’ (Fine Champagne) — $93 — 80 proof / 40% ABV This blend of nearly 400 eaux-de-vie combines a range of elaborated and developed flavors without loud rancio notes. Fresh fruit notes preside with juicy plum, fresh fig, and sweet orange join with iris and jasmine throughout the nose and palate. Hints of spice and oak add complexity throughout the palate and finish. • Sazerac de Forge “Finest Original” — $36 — 94 proof / 47% ABV The incorporation of the rarely seen Folle Blanche and Colombard grapes and observation of older production traditions brings a considerable complexity. Fresh fruit notes of nectarine, peach, citrus peel, and baked apple turn candied on the palate while clove, cinnamon, 26
honey, and nutmeg can be found throughout the experience. Beeswax and peppercorn round out the finish. • Tesseron — Master Blend 88’s — $40 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A10-4 For this bottling, Tesseron has selected cognacs from 88 of the Grande Champagne parcels worked by the house and blended them for this limited bottling. Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche are included to provide a stone fruit-forward spirit with incense, baking spice, and a velvety body. • Tesseron XO ‘Ovation’ (Lot N° 90) — $35 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Tesseron XO ‘Tradition’ — (Lot 76, Grande Champagne) — $58 — 80 proof / 40% ABV The delicate nose offers nougat, hazelnut, brown sugar, tobacco, dark chocolate, and nougat. A sophisticated and very deep palate brings canned mixed nuts and baking spice to the fore as candied citrus, black grape must, and tobacco complement the early savory notes. A graceful and lingering finish of praline and worn leather offers gentle warmth. • Tesseron XO ‘Perfection’ (Lot N° 53, Grande Champagne) — $135 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Colombard, which is still planted in Tesseron’s Lot 53, is included in the composition of this spirit. Toasted wood on the first aromatic pass deceives as fresh white grapes, golden raisin, ripe pear, and prunes emerge from the core. The palate is rich and opulent, expressing lively citrus, plum, fig, and grape as chocolate, mocha, and tobacco linger before a dry savory finish. • Tiffon VS — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Tiffon VSOP — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Tiffon Suprême — $27 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Tiffon XO — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Caramel, fig, and oak dominate the aroma before a velvety palate offers additional character. Leather, cocoa, and candied almonds lead to cinnamon and nutmeg on a velvety palate before finishing with roasted coffee and hints of the spices that came before. • Tiffon Extra — $107 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Through the Grapevine “Merlet” Lot 84 (Borderies) — $66 — 100.4 proof / 50.2% ABV • Through the Grapevine “Francois Voyer Lot 89/92” (Grande Champagne) — $45 — 87 proof / 43.5% ABV 27
• Through the Grapevine “Francois Voyer Lot N° 93” (Grande Champagne) — $45 — 91.8 proof / 45.9% ABV Wet earth and leather appear just as the bananas foster, ripe pear, and apricots develop. A range of apples from tarte tatin to green apple build into a sweeter marshmallow, toffee, and caramel quality. The finish continues the evolution as dark red fruits and tea leaf lead a long, lingering finish. • Vaudon VSOP (Fins Bois) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Rich, slightly overripe orchard fruits, toffee, salted butter, and caramel define the aromas of this lush VSOP. Though the palate opens softly, candied fruits, violet, geranium, vanilla, and persistent caramel become loud on the palate. The clove, ginger, and cayenne that rises on the palate finishes soft and welcoming on a long finish. • Vaudon “Extra” (Fins Bois) — $46 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Walnut, almond, hazelnut, and beeswax are integrated with cinnamon on a savory nose. The savory nutty quality persists as pistachio and walnut shells alongside fig, plum, and apricot. On the long finish, nuttiness persists as liquorice and ginger offer a freshening experience. ARMAGNAC • Armagnac Domaine Séailles 36 years — Ténarèze 1988-2024 — $40 — 92 proof / 46% ABV Distilled in 1988, this is a single vintage Armagnac revealing prune, fig skin, tea leaf and a pronounced umami with edgy texture. A great expression of Armagnac for a lesser known terroir. • Château du Busca ‘Brandy Library Spirit School Series’ — XO Ténarèze — $40 — 80 proof / 40% ABV An excellent example of a spirit emphasizing the firmer structure of Ténarèze’s clay-limestone soils, this is aged in the château’s traditional low humidity chai. Dried cherry and baked banana come forward with dark honey and tea-leaf dryness framing the body. • Château de Briat — Hors d’Age (Bottled in 2026) — $29 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV • Château de Briat — 2000 24 Year 70% Folle Blanche and 30% Baco — $59 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV • Château de Briat — 2004–2022 (18 Years, Bottle № 95/410) — $40 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 28
Élevage opens in fresh Gascon oak before a slow glide into older barrels within the estate’s earthen chai, allowing the 2004 distillate to mature steadily until its 2022 bottling. Distilled on a historic wood-fired alambic, it offers fig, resin, citrus peel, and a polished oxidative line. Its significance stems from its small 410-bottle release—Briat’s steadfast commitment to vintage Armagnac from one of the region’s most traditional producers. • Château de Laubade — VSOP — Bas Armagnac — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade ‘Brandy Library Spirit School Series’ — VSOP — Bas Armagnac — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — XO — Bas Armagnac — $31 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — Intemporel No. 5, Bottle № 08 — Bas Armagnac — $63 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — • Château de Laubade — 1975–2024 (49 Years) Bottle № 4 — $110 — 88.4 proof / 44.2% ABV An extra long-aged spirit, this nearly 50 year-old Armagnac expresses savory notes such as walnut paste and dried mushrooms alongside dried fig and preserved black fruits. The finish is long and exceptional. • Château de Laubade — 1985–2024 (39 Years) Bottle № 1 — $80 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV Distilled in 1985 and bottled in 2024, this example shows dried apricot, tobacco leaf and refined earthy notes born from slow oxidative depth. • Château de Laubade — 1989-2014 (25 Years) Brandy Library Pick, Bottle No. 58 — $39 — 98.4 proof / 49.2% ABV Distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2014 for the Brandy Library, this selection highlights prune, beeswax, and earthy richness. This selection was chosen specifically for connoisseur service and to highlight the character of Laubade's collared eaux de vie. • Château de Laubade — L’Unique #3 Plant de Graisse (Bottle 740/954) — $30 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV The grape used for this Armaganac, Graisse, is declining in popularity due to its inability to produce quality wines. When this wine is distilled, however, it can produce spirits of excellent quality. This limited bottling by Laubade from a small, experimental 1.45 hectare parcel shows unique and bright floral notes characterized by honey suckle, orange blossom, and lavender. Tannins carry prominently on the palate. • Château de Laubade — L’Unique Single Cask, French Single Malt Whisky Cask Finish (Bottle 203/480) — $30 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV 29
Finished in French single malt whisky casks to add a sweet barley toast and subtle cereal warmth, this unique look at Laubade Armagnac adds complexity to the usual apricot, cherry, and citrus peel notes typical of their younger spirits. Only 480 bottles were released. • Château de Laubade — L’Unique Single Cask, Bottled 2019 — Single Grape Varietal, Colombard — Whisky Cask Finish (Bottle 203/480) — $30 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1965-2001 (36 Years) Bas Armagnac — $115 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1966-2025 (59 Years) Bas Armagnac — $212 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1968-2024 (46 Years) Bas Armagnac — $114 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1974-2024 (50 Years) Bas Armagnac — $198 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1975-2017 (42 Years) Bas Armagnac — $128 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1976-2026 (50 Years) Bas Armagnac — $198 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1978-2025 (47 Years) Bas Armagnac — $117 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1980-2025 (45 Years) Bas Armagnac — $129 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1986-2026 (40 Years) Bas Armagnac — $99 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1987-2024 (37 Years) Bas Armagnac — $87 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1988-2025 (37 Years) Bas Armagnac — $78 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1989-2025 (35 Years), Bas Armagnac — $77 — 80 proof / 40% ABV 30
• Château de Laubade — 1990-2025 (35 Years) Bas Armagnac — $77 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1991-2021 (30 years) Bas Armagnac — $65 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1996-2025 (29 Years) Bas Armagnac — $63 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 1997-2024 (27 Years) Bas Armagnac — $59 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 2000-2022 (22 Years) Bas Armagnac — $57 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 2003-2023 (20 Years) Bas Armagnac — $55 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 2004-2026 (22 Years) Bas Armagnac — $57 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Laubade — 2005-2026 (26 Years) Bas Armagnac — $58 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1973–2022 (48 Years) — $95 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1983–2024 (40 Years) — $93 — 80 proof / 46.5% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1988–2024 (35 Years) — $49 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1989–2024 (34 Years) — $45 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1990–2024 (33 Years) — $47 — 100 proof / 50% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 1991–2024 (33 Years) — $47 — 81 proof / 40.5% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 2000–2022 (21 Years) — $35 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 2001–2022 (20 Years) — $31 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 2004–2024 (19 Years) — $29 — 102.8 proof / 51.4% ABV • Château de Pellehaut — 2005–2024 (18 Years) — $28 — 100 proof / 50% ABV 31
• Château de Ravignan — 2011–2023 (12 Years) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Characterizing Ravignan’s approach of purity over power and their use of a stone-built, cool-temperature Chai, this Tenareze Armagnac delivers pear, apple, light cocoa, and sandalwood aromas. Vanilla oak also shines through in an elegant finish. • Château de Ravignan — 1991–2024 (33 Years) — $77 — 81 proof / 40.5% ABV • Darroze — 1962, Château de Gaube (62 Years) — $167 — 85 proof / 42.5% ABV • Darroze — 1963, Château de Gaube (59 Years) — $159 — 91 proof / 45.5% ABV Deep prune, sandalwood, and resinous tertiary aromas are delivered with a silk-lined texture in this spirit distilled in 1963. Aged 59 years before bottling in 2022. • Darroze — 1967, Domaine de Tucom (55 Years) — $147 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Distilled in 1967, it delivers walnut, rancio, dried fig, and incense-like depth only shaped by humid aging in a clay floor chai. This long aged Armagnac finishes with the classic body and texture of Gascony spirit. • Darroze — 1970, Château de Gaube — $213 — 87 proof / 43.5% ABV Matured in an earthen-floor chai which maintains humidity and a steady temperature, this 1970 vintage shows prune, walnut skin, and tobacco leaf shaped by long, undisturbed maturation. • Darroze — 1972, Château de Gaube — $125 — 87 proof / 43.5% ABV The spirit from this 1972 distillation yields supple fruit, polished cedar, and deep mushroom and leather notes. • Darroze — 1973, Domaine de Coquillon — $225 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Darker spice, fig paste, and resinous wood tones characterize the aromas derived from Coquillon’s 1973 vintage. Tenareze fruit establishes itself firmly here with firm structure and power. • Darroze — Domaine de Tucom 1974 (48 Years) — $91 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV Aged 48 years before bottling, the 1974 Tucson is surprisingly fresh with dark honey, dried fig, and polished wood aromas. Brown sugar and sage round complete the long finish. • Darroze — 1975, Domaine de Tillet — $75 — 80.8 proof / 40.4% ABV With a reputation for long lived spirits, this Tillet 1975 bottling shows dried apricot, cigar box, and gentle tea-leaf tannins characteristic of fully matured Bas-Armagnac. The body is smooth with a medium finish. • Darroze — 1976, Domaine de La Poste (47 Years) — $79 — 96 proof / 48% ABV The 1976 vintage from La Poste offers dried apricot, polished wood, and tobacco leaf with a lean structure and forward acidity. It is successful in framing La Poste’s elegant, fruit-forward style through nearly half a century of aging. 32
• Darroze — 1981, Domaine de Saint Aubin — $195 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV Saint Aubin’s fruit-driven style is softened in this example aged for 45 years. The 1981 vintage offers pear skin, cocoa, and light rancio lifted by slightly drier chai conditions typical of the domaine. • Darroze — 1982, Domaine de Busquet (31 Years) — $195 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV Bottled after 31 years of age from its 1982 distillation year, this Armagnac expresses concentrated fig, clove, and rancio. Even with age, the vibrancy and fruit character of Busquet shines. • Darroze — 1982, Domaine de Bellair (41 Years) — $69 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV • Darroze — 1983, Domaine de Busquet — $52— 94.6 proof / 47.3% ABV Busquet’s production is characterized by consistently expressive vintages balanced by wood and fruit notes. For this 1983 production, anticipate dried plum, warm resin, and tobacco leaf with hints of butterscotch. • Darroze — 1985, Domaine de Bellair (39 Years) — $65— 94 proof / 47% ABV • Darroze — 1986, Château de Lahitte (37 Years) — $57 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV Distilled in 1986, it shows prune, black tea, and polished oak framed by long élevage. The clay and limestone soil in Lahitte’s vineyards provide a soft salinity and rich backbone to the spirit. • Darroze — 1990, Domaine de Pounon (25 Years) — $41 — 100 proof / 50% ABV • Darroze — 1994, Domaine de Martin (21 Years) — $35 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV • Darroze — 1996, Domaine de Martin (26 Years) — $43 — 98 proof / 49% ABV The clean fruit profile typical of Domaine de Martin is shown clearly here in the 1996 vintage, matured for twenty-six years. The spirit reveals pear skin, toasted spice, and pleasant supportive fruit tones with hints of earth and leather. • Darroze — 2002, Domaine de Tucom (20 Years) — $35 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Darroze — 2004, Domaine de Monturon (20 Years) — $39 — 98 proof / 49% ABV A relatively young expression by Armagnac standards, this 2004 vintage by Monturon expresses itself through tension and bright fruit. Plum, cocoa shell, and soft tannin character represent the modern-era distillations that already display the long-aging promise of Bas-Armagnac. • Darroze — 2004, Domaine de Rieston (22 Years) — $39 — 100 proof / 50% ABV 33
• Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 8 ans d’âge — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 12 ans d’âge — $35 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 20 ans d’âge — $47 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 30 ans d’âge — $63 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 40 ans d’âge — $69 — 86 proof / 43% ABV Early aging in structured Gascon oak → long maturation in older barrels yields a deep, concentrated spirit shaped by half a century of oxidation. The alambic armagnacais distillate shows fig paste, rancio, incense, and refined tannic grip. Its significance lies in embodying Darroze’s mastery of long-aged blending—an apex expression within the house’s iconic series. • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 50 ans d’âge — $143 — 86 proof / 43% ABV Rich walnut, rancio, cedar, and dried apricot emerge from the deep oxidative aging of this 50 year blend of Bas-Armagnac. This is a portrait of the Darroze vision of Armagnac at full maturity. • Darroze — Les Grands Assemblages 60 ans — $322 — 86 proof / 43% ABV A blend of long-aged Armagnacs selected from estates across Bas-Armagnac. The 60-year release stands as Darroze’s flagship for extreme long-élevage blending, delivering notes of leather, incense, and dried fruit with a potpourri finish. • Darroze — L’Unique 50th Anniversary (Bottle 818/1974) — $63 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV This is a rare single-cask bottling with an output of 1,974 bottles. The profile shows spiced prune, beeswax, and subtle savory notes. This spirit commemorates fifty years of Darroze as a négociant-éleveur, capturing the house ethos in a celebratory small-batch release. • Darroze — Luxe Gascon 1924 (65 Years, Carafe 3/82) — $600/$1,200 — 83 proof / 41.5% ABV Part of a line of exceptionally aged spirits kept by the family distillers of Armagnac, Darroze has collected 6 vintages of extraordinary character and bottled them to highlight the longevity and devotion to aged eaux de vie in the region. This second release in the series characterizes the 1924 vintage with profound rancio, walnut oil, leather, and incense-like depth. • Darroze — Luxe Gascon 1930 (67 Years, Carafe 7/26) — $700/$1,400 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV • Dartigalongue — 1932–2022 (80 Years) — $600/$1,200 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Raised first in new Gascon oak → extended maturation in seasoned barrels, this 1932 vintage rested for decades in Dartigalongue’s traditional earthen-floor chai before bottling in 34
2022. Alambic distillation yields dried apricot, cocoa, and tobacco leaf with a slow-moving, velvety texture shaped by long oxidation. Its significance lies in representing one of the house’s century-spanning, fully certified single-vintage Armagnacs. • Dartigalongue — Grande Eau-de-Vie (25 Years) — $55 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Delord — Récolte 1937–2017 (80 Years) — $305 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A17-2 New Gascon oak contributes early grip before eighty years of calm, oxidative rest in seasoned barrels across Delord’s humid chais. Distilled in 1937 and bottled in 2017, it layers prune, cocoa, tobacco leaf, and deep rancio carried by the house’s traditional, low-strength alambic distillation. Its significance is its emblematic vintage breadth—Delord’s ability to mature Armagnac for nearly a century while preserving clarity and structure. • Delord — 25 Ans — $39 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Domaine Boingnères — 1975–2014 (39 Years) — $128 — 96 proof / 48% ABV Distilled in 1975 and bottled in 2014, it highlights the domain’s hallmark purity of fruit grown on sandy clay soils. Plum skin, resin, and lifted spice with excellent integration and body are on display here. • Domaine Boingnères — 1981–2021 (40 Years) — Folle Blanche — $137 — 96 proof / 48% ABV • Domaine Boingnères — 2001–2023 (22 Years) — Folle Blanche — $67 — 98 proof / 49% ABV • Domaine de Baraillon — 1988–2013 (26 Years) Folle Blanche — $92 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #A27-6 Élevage starts in new Gascon oak → moves to older barrels to preserve Folle Blanche’s vivid aromatics from the 1988 distillation. Developed over twenty-six years, the spirit offers citrus oil, white pepper, and polished wood with a graceful oxidative edge. Its significance comes from Baraillon’s rare Folle Blanche holdings—one of the region’s great traditional cépages maintained through meticulous family stewardship. • Domaine D’Espérance — Blend No. 3 — Bas Armagnac — $43 — 94 proof / 47% ABV • Domaine D’Espérance — XO (10 Years) — Bas Armagnac — $41 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Domaine de Papolle — Ténarèze — 42 Years, 1975 — $297 — 86 proof / 43% ABV 35
• Jean Cavé — Vieil Armagnac, 1964–2019 — $206 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A28-3 New Gascon oak shapes the early years → mellowed by long rest in older cooperage until bottling in 2019. This 1964 distillate, made on an alambic armagnacais, reveals stewed apricot, cedar, and walnut skin with softly developed rancio. Its significance lies in Jean Cavé’s long-standing vintage program—one of the region’s steady, traditional custodians of deep-aged Bas-Armagnac. • Gélas — 50 Years, 100% Baco — $215 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #A28-2 Élevage begins in assertive new Gascon oak before a decades-long progression through older barrels, allowing Baco’s natural depth to evolve into resin, prune, and polished wood. Distilled on an alambic armagnacais and aged fifty years, it carries a supple oxidative texture with cocoa and tea-leaf dryness. Its significance: a half-century, single-cépage Baco statement—highlighting Armagnac’s most heritage-driven grape. • Laroche-Vacquié LRV Single Oak 22 years (Haut-Armagnac) — $129 — 111.4 proof / 55.7% ABV • Laterrade — Cask Strength (50 Years) — $345 — 90 proof / 45% ABV • Laterrade — 1990, Domaine de Maunegeatau Houga (32 Years) — $47 — 80.4 proof / 40.2% ABV — #A28-5 Élevage begins in vigorous new Gascon oak, transitioning to older barrels for a 32-year maturation in Houga’s traditional chai. Distilled on an alambic armagnacais, it shows fig, cocoa, light tobacco, and refined rancio with a velvety, slow-moving texture. Its significance lies in documenting Maunegeatau’s mature vintages—rarely bottled but prized for their depth and purity. • Laterrade — 1995, Domaine de Priou d’Hontanx (28 Years) — $43 — 83 proof / 41.5% ABV • Laterrade — 2001, Domaine de Gouaillard à Hontanx (22 Years) — $39 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #A28-4 Raised in new Gascon oak and matured for over two decades in older barrels, this 2001 vintage reflects the sandy sables fauves soils of Hontanx. Distilled on an alambic armagnacais, it offers plum skin, toasted spice, and a mineral-dry close driven by steady oxidative layering. Its significance: a rare domaine-designated release, emphasizing Laterrade’s terroir-first approach. • L’Encantada — 1989, Domaine de Dellair (32 Years), Bottle 275/456 — $49 — 102 proof / 51% ABV — #A29-1 Élevage opens in new black Gascon oak → long maturation in older refill barrels, with Dellair’s sandy Bas-Armagnac soils giving a lifted aromatic profile. Distilled in 1989 on an alambic armagnacais and bottled after 32 years from a single cask (456 bottles), it shows 36
orange peel, cocoa husk, cedar, and polished rancio. Its significance lies in L’Encantada’s transparency—championing • L’Encantada — Tattoo Series #3 — Cask Strength, Unfiltered, Batch 2022-1-3000 — $64 — 105.8 proof / 52.9% ABV — #A29-1 • Louis Dupuy — 2010 13 Years — $31 — 103 proof / 51.5% ABV • Louis Dupuy — 1985 38 Years — $63 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV • Marie Duffau — Hors d’Age — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Marie Duffau — Napoléon — $27 — 80 proof / 40% ABV CALVADOS Adrien Camut…the Rolls Royce of Calvados from Pays d’ Auge: elegance and power, comfort and strength! But only 12,000 bottles are released per year, for the entire world…less than what evaporates from the aging stock every year! 115 acres planted with 25 different varieties of apples (no pear), going to fermentation naturally in large wooden vats, double distilled in a wood-fired alembic patented by Emmanuel Camut’s grandfather, and matured in used barrels. Adrien Camut is considered the very best Calvados producer for a simple reason: every mark is spectacular, with a great depth and…apple character. Wait until you taste his balsamic vinegar and his whisky… • Adrien Camut 6 Years — $37— 80 proof / 40% ABV Very fruity and already so accomplished, with subtle wood notes and a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. • Adrien Camut 12 years — $53— 80 proof / 40% ABV Another perfect integration of the wood with the fruit and the balancing acidity. Quite soft but intense also. • Adrien Camut 18 years — $65 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Drink this while you can (well, we don’t get a lot of it, so take your time) as this is a perfect Calvados. Even if you don’t drink anything but Scotch, or Rum, etc. you will fall for this. • Adrien Camut 25 years — Réserve de Semainville — $97 — 80 proof / 40% ABV i.e. the very fine stuff, just brilliant. 80 proof 37
• Adrien Camut — Réserve d’Adrien — $115 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Distilled from long-fermented Norman cider on traditional pot stills, this brandy with spirit aged between 35-40 years brings lush baked apple, hay, dried lemon, and black tea with a supple, earthy finish. An exceptional example of long-aged Calvados with complex fruity and savory elements on a balanced frame. • Adrien Camut — Prestige — $294 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Raised entirely in old oak foudres to maintain purity of fruit while allowing slow oxidative depth, the ‘Prestige’ is characterized by apple tarte, honeycomb, and autumnal spice. The satin texture shapes its moderate finish. This is the hallmark Camut house style. • Boulard — VSOP, Pays d’Auge — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Busnel 12 years Hors D’Age — Pays d’Auge — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Busnel VSOP — ‘Vieille Réserve’ — Pays d’Auge — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Château du Breuil is part of a very interesting company these days…’la Spiriterie’, which is not limited to Calvados, but rather dabbles pretty well in rum aging and blending as well as making whisky of great quality. As far as Calvados is concerned, they are the second largest producer in the ‘Pays d Auge’ appellation, and with 2200 apple trees. Fermentation is wild and distillation is done by Charentais style, gas-heated copper stills, on beautiful grounds (40 000 visitors a year) and the spirit is reduced from 70% to 65% at barrelling (into new oak for a few months first). Further reduction takes place during maturation and until bottling. • Château du Breuil 15 years — Pays d’Auge — $43 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Château du Breuil 12 years — Pays d’Auge — $37 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Château du Breuil ‘Reserve de Seigneurs’ 20 years — Pays d’Auge — $49 — 82 proof / 41% ABV Christian Drouin is a fairly ‘young’ producer: Guillaume, who works with his father at the estate, is only the third generation…but the reputation as ‘Pays d’ Auge’ Calvados is already well established, especially in bars and restaurants throughout the world. Traditional methods are used and the orchards are conducted ‘organically’. The one modern aspect of it is the use of gas to fire the still (alembic Charentais), but Christian Drouin Calvados has also fully embraced the cask finishing trend, with great results. Their forte is on vintages though, with vintages going far back! 38
• Christian Drouin Selection — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Christian Drouin VSOP — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV ‘Pale & dry’ soft and easy, a great intro to Calvados with this 5-ish year old matured in ex-Bordeaux, ex-Sherry, ex-Port and ex-Banyuls casks. 80 proof • Christian Drouin XO — $39 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Maturation is conducted in a mix of ex-Bordeaux, ex-Sherry and ex-Cognac casks, for a great complexity yet very approachable palate, round and well-balanced. 80 proof • Christian Drouin 12 years — ‘Chichibu Angels’ — $55 — 90.6 proof / 45.3% ABV • Christian Drouin 13 years — ‘Arran Angels’ — $55 — 93.8 proof / 46.9% ABV • Christian Drouin 17 years — ‘Savanna Angels’ — $55 — 95 proof / 47.5% ABV • Christian Drouin 19 years — ‘Foursquare Angels’ — $55 — 93.6 proof / 46.8% ABV • Christian Drouin 19 years — ‘Springbank Angels’ — $55 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV • Christian Drouin 14 years — ‘Hampden Angels’ — $55 — 88 proof / 44% ABV One of Drouin’s Experimental series and this one is a Jamaican rum cask finish...a fun combination of this ‘eau-de-vie de cidre’ (not Calvados Pays d’ Auge as they introduced US oak with these casks) with high esters from retort still-processed molasses (8 months on the finish). • Christian Drouin 25 years — $73 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Absolutely gorgeous. • Christian Drouin — ‘Les Millésimés — 1986 Calvados — $87 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Christian Drouin — ‘Les Millésimés — 2000 Calvados — $54 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Christian Drouin — ‘Les Millésimés — 2006 Calvados — $49 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Christian Drouin — 1962–2015 Calvados — $324 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Initial rest in mixed-size French oak gives way to long, quiet aging that spans more than fifty years of oxidative layering. Distilled in 1962 and bottled in 2015, it delivers baked 39
quince, brown sugar, coriander, and oak complexity shaped by Drouin’s meticulous, vintage-forward élevage. • Christian Drouin — 1975–2014 Calvados — $302 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Élevage begins in refill barrels to maintain freshness before decades of calm integration in older oak. Orchard fruit, toffee, and leaf tobacco with a long, oxidative finish. • Claque-Pépin — XO Single Cask #077 — Cognac Barrel Finish — $35 — 122 proof / 61% ABV Julien Frémont is ‘different’...and his ciders and Calvados are, too, but in a good way: he applies biodynamic viticulture techniques to his apple orchards, and has been doing so for the last 20 years, as soon as he took over the farm 20 years ago. A rare sight in Normandy, cows still fertilize the orchards while grazing them, and the spirit carries a sense of terroir, with a true representation of the flinty clay soil the apple trees grow on. • Julien Frémont — $32 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil — 1980 — Scea Girard, Grandouet — $77 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil — 2000 — Michèle Giard — $41 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil — 2012 — Michèle Giard — $31 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • La Cave Normande — PM Spirits Collab, 12 Years — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Old, reused French oak is the basis of the 12 years of maturation in this collaborative effort between La Cav Normande and U.S. distributor PM Spirits. Distilled on traditional pot stills from long-fermented Norman cider sourced from a single lot, it shows pear skin, cider spice, and faint honeyed umami. • La Cave Normande — PM Spirits Collab, 45 Years — $159 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Beginning in refill oak and continuing through decades of quiet rest, this forty-five-year Calvados gains deep oxidative layering without losing the tension of its cider base. You will find baked apple, fig, beeswax, and antique furniture notes with a smooth body and acidity characterized by its long maturation. Lelouvier is located in the Domfrontais area, in the south of Normandy. But Lelouvier makes appellation Calvados, not Domfrontais Calvados, where you would need at least 30% of pears in the cider. However, Calvados Lelouvier is a blend of apples and pears. Specialized in vintage releases, Lelouvier’s stocks are very impressive and the overall quality is stellar. 40
• Lelouvier — Fine — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Lelouvier — Vieux — $25 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Lelouvier — Hors d’âge — $44 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Lelouvier — 1981 — $102 — 84 proof / 42% ABV Lemorton is very special in many ways. First, it is a Domfrontais Calvados, which Implies the use of pear, at a minimum of 30%. But lemorton averages 70% pears in the cider, giving the Calvados a very distinctive pear character, some may say, more ‘perfumy’. Second, the orchards are managed in ‘haute tige’, which simply means the trees are left to themselves rather than being managed like a vineyard on trellis at low height for ease of picking and treatment; and the fruits mature and fall they are picked from the grass bed instead of being picked off the tree. The cider obtained from indigenous fermentation on the lees is ‘aged’ for almost a year before distillation conducted by a roving distiller (wood-fired column still) under the supervision of Didier Lemorton, 6th generation on the estate… • Lemorton — 10 years — Domfrontais — $35 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Lemorton — Réserve — Domfrontais — $27 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Lemorton — Sélection — Domfrontais — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Lemorton — 1980 — $119 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Highlighting the presence of pears in the Domfrontais region, this Calvados is made with 70% pear and 30% apple. It delivers an herbal, quince-forward spirit with bright pear flesh acidity and firm tannins with a long finish. Clarity is the defining character of this brandy. • Lemorton — 1999 — Domfrontais — $55 — 86 proof / 43% ABV Michel Huard is part of the handful of producers who keep doing it like in the old days…and just like for others, i.e. Camut, Groult, Lemorton, Frémont, the Calvados you enjoy has a lot more ‘substance’, intensity, vibrancy. 1800 apple trees (no pear) of 30 varieties adorn the 37-acre property, in ‘haute-tige’, and the whole production is run by 7th generation Jean-François Guillouet. The column still on wheels, wood fired, distills the year-old cider and the brandy is reduced over time to reach the desired bottling proof. • Michel Huard — ‘Le Pertyer’ — 2011 — $35 — 84 proof / 42% ABV 41
• Michel Huard — ‘Le Pertyer’ — 2013 — $31 — 90 proof / 45% ABV • Michel Huard — ‘Le Pertyer’ Hors d’âge — $37 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Pierre Huet Signature VS Pays d’Auge — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Roger Groult is an outstanding producer of Pays d’ Auge Calvados for several reasons: 74 acres planted in 30 to 100 year old apple trees from 30 different varieties from sweet (30%) to bittersweet and bitter (70%) and no pear trees; everything is done on the premises from picking to bottling; the largest stocks of Calvados are housed at this 5 generation-old company, with some 3 000 000 liters of it! Estelle Groult’s great great-grand father, Pierre Groult, started it; wild fermentations on the lees and distillation in Charentais (Cognac type) stills fired with oak logs, reduction at barrelling from 70% to 50% abv. Several ‘designer’ cask finishes have augmented the standard releases as of late and all are of exceptional quality. • Roger Groult — 12 Years — $33 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Roger Groult — 18 Years — $39 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Roger Groult — 25 Years — $54 — 82 proof / 41% ABV • Roger Groult — 15 Years, Sherry Cask Finish (Bottle 219/288) — $54 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Élevage starts in large, neutral foudres before a finishing period in an active Sherry cask (#388), adding dried fruit richness to this structured spirit. Distilled on historic wood-fired pot stills, This complex brandy displays apple tarte, walnut, and subtle raisin warmth shaped by the finishing cask. This is a rare cask experiment yielding only 288 bottles. • Roger Groult — 70th Anniversary ‘Normandy Invasion’ (1944–2014) — $59 — 80 proof / 40% ABV A commemorative bottling drawn from barrels filled from the 1944 distillation and aged for seventy years in Groult’s old foudres under minimal intervention. Layered apple leather, wax, spice, and deep oxidative rancio characterize a brandy with exceptional historical value for France and the Groult family itself. SPANISH BRANDY Bodegas Tradición is equally the youngest and the oldest Sherry bodega in 42
Jerez…started in 1998, the bodega has been acquiring old soleras, warehouses and the highest quality of American oak casks since. Fighting for a spot on the podium, the production is small and of the very best style. • Bodegas Tradición — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva — $37 — 76 proof / 38% ABV Matured in American oak-made Sherry butts, this is a very limited production; it offers a great deal of nutty aromas and raisin syrup. Very long and intense palate with citrus notes on the back end. A brilliant brandy! • Cardenal Mendoza — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Cardenal Mendoza ‘Nebulis’ — Brandy de Jerez — unusually smoky — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Fernando de Castilla is not only the producer of some of the very best sherries around, it also makes incredible brandies, with depth and complexity. Jan Pettersen took over the bodega in 1999 and is proud to show vineyards where no pesticides nor herbicides are used. Both wines and brandies are aged for much longer than standard practice. • Fernando de Castilla XO — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva — $23 — 76 proof / 38% ABV Lustau is a very famous house in Jerez, and even though they don’t make a ton of brandy, it is of the highest quality, and (like most Spanish brandies) incredibly affordable. Airen is distilled in one pass and aged in 500 liter ex-Sherry butts made of American oak. All their brandies are marked by a rich and sweet character. • Lustau Oloroso Sherry Casks — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Fundador ‘Supremo’ — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva, 15 years Amontillado Sherry casks — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Part of the ‘Sherry Cask Collection’, this 15 year old was solely matured in amontillado butts. • Fundador ‘Supremo’ — Brandy de Jerez — Solera Gran Reserva, 18 years Oloroso Sherry casks — $54 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Part of the ‘Sherry Cask Collection’, this 18 year old was solely matured in oloroso butts. 43
• Torres ‘20 Hors d’âge’ — Spanish Brandy — $30 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Torres ‘Jaime I reserva de la familia’ — Spanish Brandy — $53 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Maestro Sierra … AMERICAN BRANDY • Argonaut California Grape Brandy ‘Fat Thumb’ — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Argonaut California Grape Brandy ‘Speculator’ — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV • Argonaut California Grape Brandy ‘Saloon Strength’ — $23 — 91 proof / 45.5% ABV • Charbay — Brandy No. 83, 27 Years (Bottle 0659) — $145 — 40% ABV This brandy is built from wine distillation on small copper stills that is aged in American Oak. Long élevage produces caramelized apple, toasted grain, dried apricot, and a supple, resinous depth. Charbay focuses on micro-releases and barrel quality. • Germain Robin — ‘California Alambic Brandy’ 7 years — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Germain Robin — Brandy Small Blend No. 1 — $129 — 40% ABV The finesse of California wine–based distillate is accentuated in Limousin Oak by Germain Robin. Crafted on antique Cognac stills using traditional methods, it expresses apricot skin, soft florals, and polished spice with a gentle oxidative glow. Its significance lies in its foundational status: one of the blends that cemented Germain Robin as a pioneer of modern American brandy. • Germain Robin — Coast Road Reserve — $32 — 40% ABV Raised in a combination of lightly toasted new French oak and older cooperage, this reserve bottling highlights delicate wine-spirit fruit supported by long, quiet barrel integration. This lovely spirit displays dried citrus, vanilla pod, and warm coastal spice with a silk-like finish. Its significance rests on its role as a statement of the winery-to-brandy path that defines the California craft era. • Germain Robin — Old Havana — $49 — 40% ABV 44
Élevage begins in new Limousin oak before moving into well-used barrels. Distilled on Charentais alembics from high-quality base wine, it shows bold caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, cocoa, cigar box, and a supple, tobacco-edged finish indicative of the cigar blend style it evokes. • Germain Robin — Single Barrel 2010.17.sb/03 (1999–2010) — $42 — 40% ABV A single-barrel release was distilled in 1999 and aged through 2010 in a progression of new French oak to older refill barrels. Notes of dried apricot, citrus oil, and soft leather are prominent in this limited bottling. • Germain Robin — Single Barrel Pinot noir 19 years — $90 — 82.8 proof / 41.4% ABV • Germain Robin — Single Barrel Viognier 17 years — $82 — 83 proof / 41.5% ABV • Germain Robin — Single Barrel Riesling 15 years — $82 — 82.8 proof / 41.4% ABV • Osocalis — Heritage Alambic Brandy — $54 — 80 proof / 40% ABV Élevage unfolds in French oak chosen to mirror classic European brandy houses, moving from new to older cooperage for balance and textural refinement. Distilled on a traditional Charentais still Made from wine grapes grown in coastal California, This spirit opens with pear, quince, pastry cream, before showing restrained savory and spice notes. Its significance: a benchmark expression of Osocalis’ Franco-Californian philosophy, marrying old-world technique with Monterey Bay fruit. OTHER BRANDIES • Vecchia Romagna Italian Grape Brandy ‘tre botti’ — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABV • Vecchia Romagna Italian Grape Brandy ‘trentecinque’ — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABVABV • Metaxa Greek Grape Brandy ‘12 Stars’ — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABV • Metaxa Greek Grape Brandy ‘Grande Fine Collectors’ edition’ — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABV • Asbach Uralt German Brandy 8 years — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABV • Asbach Spezialbrand German Brandy 15 years — $xx — xx proof / xx% ABV 45
• Machu Pisco La Diablada Pisco Peruvian Brandy from Moscatel grape — $23 — 88 proof / 44% ABV • Suyo Pisco Peruvian Brandy from Quebranta grape — $23 — 86.6 proof / 43.3% ABV • Singani Bolivian Brandy from Muscat of Alexandria grape — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV • Metté Poire Williams, Alsace, France — $37 — 84 proof / 42% ABV • Metté Framboise sauvage, Alsace, France — $37 — 90 proof / 45% ABV • Marolo Grappa Italian Brandy from Amarone grapes, barrel-aged — $30 — 84 proof / 42% ABV 46
WHISK(E)Y
WHISK(E)Y SCOTLAND Scotch whisky traces its origins to 15th-century Scotland, when distillation techniques were introduced from Ireland. Early distillates, known as aqua vitae (“water of life”), were produced primarily for medicinal purposes by the Guild of Surgeon Barbers. Through the storage of surplus spirit in oak barrels, Scotland gradually discovered the transformative effects of maturation, laying the foundation for modern whisky production. Today, Scotch whisky remains one of the most influential spirits in the world. While regional styles such as the smoky whiskies of Islay and the rich, fruit-forward whiskies of the Highlands helped define its identity, contemporary producers continue to expand the category through innovative cask maturation and evolving production techniques. Traditional Scotch Regions and Their Notes: Islay (Eye-lah): Smoke, brine, citrus, texture Highland: Rich, sweet, fruity, caramel Campbelltown: Complex, soft smoke, toffee, stone fruit Lowland: Light, grassy, floral, citrus ISLAY Ardbeg is an icon of Islay! With a very distinctive flavor profile, it is unlike every other distillery on the island and has such a great following, with every new release highly sought after by its fans. Now in the hands of Moet Hennessy along with Glenmorangie, it is known for being rich and sweet, essentially matured in ex-Bourbon casks, and…heavily peated (55 ppm on the barley, 25 ppm on the newmake). Somewhat long fermentations paired with a high degree of reflux during distillation (Ardbeg is known for being the ‘2.5 times distilled malt’) may explain the iodine-free, cold smoke, medicinal character of Ardbeg. The distillery ages its whiskies on Islay, mostly in ex-Bourbon barrels, but has been experimenting with all types of oak vessels for some time now. Just like at its sister distillery, Glenmorangie, Dr Bill Lumsden is man in charge of whisky creation. The current Distillery Manager is Colin Gordon, following a 13 year tenure by Mickey Heads. • Ardbeg 10 Year — $32 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #AR10 Matured entirely in ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled non–chill-filtered at 46%, this Islay benchmark shows Ardbeg in its purest voice: briny smoke, malt sweetness, and a citrus edge shaped by long fermentations and copper-rich stills. A post-1997 distillery rebirth icon, the Ten set the modern standard for peated single malt—bridging the intensity of tradition with a new era of precision and purity. • Ardbeg 17 Year — $54 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #AR17C 47
Distilled during the early 1980s and bottled in the late 1990s for the revived Committee, this 17-year expression spent its life in refill Bourbon casks, softening the phenolic edge into a gentle drift of coastal smoke, vanilla, and herbal honey. It captured the last stocks before Glenmorangie’s restoration, preserving the quieter, fruit-led character of pre-modern Ardbeg—a contemplative counterpoint to the distillery’s later bolder style. • Ardbeg ‘An Oa’ — $27 — 93.2 proof / 46.6% ABV — #ARAO A vatting of whiskies aged in new American oak, first-fill Bourbon, and PX Sherry butts, married in the distillery’s Gathering Vat to harmonize smoke and sweetness. ‘An Oa’ rounds the sharp peat edges with honeyed oak and mocha spice, offering a supple introduction to modern Ardbeg’s complexity. It marked the brand’s first permanent release from the new Dr. Bill Lumsden era—a statement of balance over brute force. • Ardbeg ‘Corryvreckan’ — $45 — 114 proof / 57.1% ABV — #ARC Named after the whirlpool north of Islay, Corryvreckan marries heavily peated spirit matured in French oak with classic Bourbon-aged stock. The French oak’s tannins and dark spice coil around dense espresso, tar, and blackberry tones. Introduced in 2009 as a permanent cask-strength offering, it became the distillery’s boldest expression of raw energy—where maritime depth meets continental structure. • Ardbeg ‘Traigh Bhan’ TB/04 — 19 Year — $69 — 92.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #ARTB04 Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2022, this fourth batch of Traigh Bhan blends ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks to evoke the shifting sands of its namesake Islay beach. The long maturation yields notes of smoked almond, leather, and salted honey, laced with quiet fruit warmth. A rare age-statement Ardbeg, it continues the annual vintage series—proof that patience and peat can indeed coexist with grace. • Ardbeg ‘Traigh Bhan’ TB/05 — 19 Year — $69 — 92.4 proof / 46.2 % ABV — #ARTB05 Distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2023, Batch 05 unites ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks with a higher proportion of American oak, yielding a silkier peat profile than its predecessors. Honeyed smoke, almond, and citrus peel thread through the maritime salt and leather core. Now the fifth annual vintage, TB/05 cements Traigh Bhan as Ardbeg’s modern age-statement flagship—refined, coastal, and deeply textural. • Ardbeg ‘Uigeadail’ — $28 — 108.4 proof / 54.2 % ABV — #ARU A vatting of Sherry butts and Bourbon barrels, ‘Uigeadail’ layers Ardbeg’s smoke with treacle, leather, and dark fruit richness. Its name comes from the loch that feeds the distillery springs, and its character embodies that depth—peat meeting plum and espresso heat. First released in 2003, it bridged the classic and contemporary eras, showing how Ardbeg’s raw power could wear a velvet cloak of Sherry-driven sweetness. • Ardbeg ‘Wee Beastie’ — 5 Year — $23 — 94.8 proof / 47.4 % ABV — #ARWB 48
Matured in ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, this five-year-old release celebrates the distillery’s feral youth. Freshly smoked bacon, lemon zest, and wet earth rush forward with unfiltered energy. Its short maturation lets the high-ppm peat sing untamed, recalling the spirit of 1970s Ardbeg new-make. A modern statement that maturity isn’t measured in years but in the clarity of character. • Ardbeg ‘Heavy Vapours’ — $37 — 100 proof / 50 % ABV — #ARHV Distilled without the distillery’s signature purifier for the first time in its history, ‘Heavy Vapours’ retains the thick oils and raw phenolics normally refined out. Aged in ex-Bourbon barrels, it delivers dense tar and pepper over charred vanilla and menthol. Released for Ardbeg Day 2023, this experiment offers a glimpse into a parallel Ardbeg—one where the machinery’s absence reveals the distillery’s untamed core. • Ardbeg ‘Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale’ — 13 Year — $45 — 92 proof / 46 % ABV — #ARHT Matured in a marriage of ex-Bourbon and Sauternes casks, this first chapter of the Anthology series explores peat’s dialogue with sweet white wine wood. Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2023, it layers heather smoke with honeyed grape and candied lime. The result is a mythic balance between Islay and Bordeaux—an evolutionary leap in Ardbeg’s ongoing conversation between fire and fruit. • Ardbeg ‘Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale’ — 14 Year — $46 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARUT The second release in Ardbeg’s Anthology series, distilled in 2009 and finished in Madeira casks after long Bourbon maturation. The fortified wine’s dried-fruit depth mingles with coastal smoke, yielding notes of grilled apricot, sea salt, and bitter cocoa. A sequel to The Harpy’s Tale, it pushes the experiment further—proving that even mythical sweetness can find harmony in the island’s elemental peat. • Ardbeg ‘Anamorphic’ — $39 — 96.4 proof / 48.2% ABV — #ARAN This Committee 2024 release reimagines cask construction itself: ex-Bourbon barrels with “inside-out” heads, their charred surfaces facing inward to amplify smoke contact. The result is deeply textural, with graphite, roasted espresso, and smoked toffee unfurling in tight, rhythmic layers. Anamorphic stands as a playful yet serious act of cooperage innovation—a distorted mirror reflecting Ardbeg’s fascination with the geometry of flavor. • Ardbeg ‘Spectacular’ — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARSP Aged in a mix of ex-Bourbon and ruby Port casks, Spectacular premiered on Ardbeg Day 2024 with circus-themed flair but technical depth to match. Port’s berry richness softens the phenolic backbone, weaving cherry smoke, cocoa, and sea spray. It’s an exuberant yet composed performance piece—proof that Ardbeg can entertain without ever losing precision or place. • Ardbeg ‘Eureka!’ — $36 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #AREU 49
Distilled from roasted malt and matured in PX Sherry butts, Eureka! marks one of Ardbeg’s rare forays into malt modification. The kilning adds roasted hazelnut and dark malt tones to the familiar maritime smoke, while PX casks lend plush date and molasses sweetness. Released for Ardbeg Day 2025, it celebrates the joy of discovery—Islay intensity meeting inventive spirit. • Ardbeg 25 Year — 2022 Release — $409 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #AR25 Distilled in the mid-1990s and aged exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks, this venerable expression reveals the quiet grandeur of mature Ardbeg: candle wax, smoked pear, and iodine-laced oak. Bottled non-chill-filtered, it preserves the texture of its era’s slow distillation and small-batch cask management. The 25 stands as the distillery’s crown jewel—proof that time can polish even the wildest peat into pure elegance. • Ardbeg 11 Year (SMWS 33.115) “Man, That’s Braw!” — 2011 Release — $55 — 110.8 proof / 55.4% ABV — #SMWS-33.115 A single cask, undiluted and unadjusted whisky distilled in August 1999 and bottled in 2011 by the Single Malt Whisky Society. This whisky screams tar-rich peat while dark cocoa, and chili spice ride a drier, tea-leaf finish with gentle framing from the sherry oak. One of 578 bottles, it’s a cult sherried Ardbeg. • Ardbeg 14 Year 2005 — The Whisky Cellar “Private Cellars Selection” — 2019 Release — $49 — 103.8 proof / 51.9% ABV — #ARD-05WC An independent bottling distilled in March 2005 and aged 14 years in an American oak hogshead. This release highlights Ardbeg briny peat, simmering tar, citrus oils, and vanilla on a well structured body that finishes long and smoky. • Ardbeg 17 “The Legend Returns” — Committee Exclusive 2024 — $69 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #ARD-17LR24 This is an example of Ardbeg’s original expression: a gentler profile with chill filtering aged for 17 years. Sea spray, pine resin, and elegant peat sit inside a softer, older-style Ardbeg frame. This 2024 bottling is a revival of the 2004 classic. • Ardbeg 18 Year 1974 — Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) — $95 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #G&M-1974 A snapshot of an era of elegant, low-strength Ardbeg whisky characterized by Gordon & Macphail’s indie bottling style. Aged in refill oak, lean smoke and Islay mineral present over waxed apple and coastal malt with a dry, gently tannic finish. A time-capsule of 1970s Ardbeg filtered through G&M’s classic bottling style. • Ardbeg 18 Year — “Straight From The Cask” (Signatory Vintage) — 1998 — $79 — 113.2 proof / 56.6% ABV — #SIG-SFTC1776 Distilled in 1998 and aged for 18 years solely in a single first-fill Bourbon barrel. The tight-grained Bourbon cask frames briny peat and tar with citrus oils and vanilla, keeping the spirit’s sinew front and center in this cask strength bottling. A textbook Signatory perspective on late-90s Ardbeg. 50
• Ardbeg 19 “Traigh Bhàn” — Batch TB/03-10.10.01/21.BL — $99 — 96.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #TB-03 Pronounced “Try Van”, this beach-inspired whisky is matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks from a blend of whiskys, the youngest of which is 19 years old. Silky smoke, grilled citrus, and dry cocoa are underpinned by sherry-spice tension and a sea-sprayed finish. The third annual release refines the series’ balancing act between coastal clarity and measured sherry richness. • Ardbeg 1975 Vintage — Distillery Bottling — $285 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #ARD-1975OB Distilled in 1975 and bottled in 1998 by the distillery, this whisky is matured in an undisclosed oak treatment. This example is old-school Islay: camphor, lemon oil, and gentle tar over dusty malt, finishing long and dry. A late-century vintage that bridges pre-closure Ardbeg character with the era just before the 1997 revival. • Ardbeg 21 Years — Committee Release 2016 — $75 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARD-21EB This 21 year whisky is a blend of the 1993 and 1994 vintages matured in ex-bourbon casks. Briny peat and tar drift into mint-tinged smoke, citrus oils, and dry oak. A rare release from Ardbeg’s revival years, it reconnects the modern house to spirit laid down at the cusp of its comeback. • Ardbeg Alligator — 2011 Release — $54 — 102.4 proof / 51.2% ABV — #ARD-GATOR This Ardbeg iteration is matured in heavily charred “Alligator” American Oak barrels. The flavors driven by this 10 year oak treatment drives dark spice, tarry coffee, and barbecue smoke. Though this is a heavier-than-typical Ardbeg, it still finishes crisp and dry. • Ardbeg Almost There — 3rd Release 1998 — $58 — 108.2 proof / 54.1% ABV — #ARD-AT07 A third release from Ardbeg highlighting the journey to producing their intended style following the distillery’s reopening. Distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2007 after nine years in ex-bourbon barrels, the distillery turns a corner here: oily smoke and sea spray meet citrus, vanilla, and cocoa, finishing firm and saline. A pivotal step between Still Young and Renaissance, proving youthful Ardbeg could already sing in full voice. • Ardbeg Anamorphic — Committee Release 2023 — $72 — 96.4 proof / 48.2% ABV — #ARD-ANAM23 An experiment on unique oak treatment, the whisky was matured in re-worked casks whose heads were removed and deeply scored, then “high mocha” toasted to expose more active wood. The intensified toast restrains briny edges and draws out chocolate sweetness, mocha, and resinous smoke. 51
• Ardbeg Day — Committee Release 2012 — $73 — 113.4 proof / 56.7% ABV — #ARD-DAY12 A vatting of two undisclosed vintages (one 8-year and one 12-year) matured in ex-bourbon casks first, finished in refill sherry casks previously used for Uigeadail, and then bottled in 2012 at cask strength. Smoke and sea spray meet dried citrus and cocoa, with the sherry finish tightening the edges. The first global “Ardbeg Day” bottling. • Ardbeg Ardbog — Ardbeg Day 2013 — $80 — 104.2 proof / 52.1% ABV — #ARD-ARDBOG13 This second “Ardbeg Day” bottling was built with whisky aging about 10 years old that was matured in ex-bourbon and Manzanilla sherry casks. Briny peat and tar open to dried lemon and saline walnut from the Manzanilla influence. Bottled 2013. • Ardbeg Ardcore — Committee Release 2022 — $50 — 100.2 proof / 50.1% ABV — #ARD-ARDCORE22 Created with 75% normally roasted malted barley and 25% fully roasted black malt, this non-age statement whisky was aged in oak casks and bottled at 50.1% ABV. Charcoal, anise, and dark chocolate ride taut, coastal smoke—more bitter-sweet roast than sweet oak. • Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! “Pirate of the Hebridean” — Committee Release 2021 — $62 — 103.6 proof / 51.8% ABV — #ARD-ARRR21 Matured entirely in ex-rye casks with re-charred hogsheads, expect notes of smoked banana, vanilla, spice, and coastal peat in a lively, peppery palate. Released as a farewell salute to longtime distillery manager Mickey Heads.. • Ardbeg Auriverdes — Ardbeg Day 2014 — $74 — 99.8 proof / 49.9% ABV — #ARD-AURI14 This non-age stated Ardbeg was matured in American oak with specially toasted heads. The toasted ends steer mocha, coffee-ground and vanilla tones through tarry, herbal smoke and grilled citrus. A festival release that showcased Ardbeg’s early experiments with targeted toast profiles. • Ardbeg BizarreBQ — Limited Edition 2023 — $48 — 101.8 proof / 50.9% ABV — #ARD-BBQ23 Continuing Ardbeg’s experimentation with oak treatments, this non-aged whisky was aged in double-charred oak, PX Sherry, and proprietary “BBQ” casks. The finishing blend folds sweet smoke, pepper, and grilled-fruit richness around Ardbeg’s briny core without tipping the palate sweet. It’s the distillery’s first explicitly barbecue-inspired cask program. • Ardbeg Blaaack — Committee 20th Anniversary (2020) — $64 — 101.4 proof / 50.7% ABV — #ARD-BLAA20 Matured primarily in New Zealand Pinot Noir casks with other oak influence, expect sooty peat and cedar to frame black-cherry fruit and soft pastry tones with a dry, ashy close. 52
Marking 20 years of the Ardbeg Committee, this is currently the only red wine cask example of Ardbeg. • Ardbeg Dark Cove — Committee Release 2016 — $75 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #ARD-DARK16 Despite the non-age statement, this whisky is aged extensively in PX Sherry casks to deliver intense color and fruit quality. Treacle toffee, coal-tar smoke and espresso tones run through sea-sprayed peat, yielding a notably inky profile with an uncharacteristic sweeter profile. Bottled at 55% (high by Ardbeg standards) to complement the richness of the whisky. • Ardbeg Drum — Committee Release 2019 — $50 — 104 proof / 52% ABV — #ARD-DRUM19 This bottling introduces Caribbean rum casks to the traditional ex-Bourbon maturation Ardbeg employs. Juicy tropical notes and molasses-tinged sweetness layer briny peat, citrus, and tar while the finish remains crisp and dry. • Ardbeg Galileo 1999 — $72 — 98 proof / 49% ABV — #ARD-GAL12 This tropically flavored whisky is 1999 vintage distillate matured in ex-Marsala and first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Aged 12 years and bottled in 2012, it delivers modern Ardbeg silky smoke and Marsala-forward grilled pineapple, citrus oils, and gentle oak. Released to mark Ardbeg’s space-aging experiment, it does not contain any extra-planetary spirit. • Ardbeg Grooves — Ardbeg Day 2018 — $46 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARD-GRV18 A proportion of this spirit is aged in heavily charred red-wine casks whose re-toasted staves were cut with deep grooves. Soft, savory smoke, red-berry warmth, and leather roll into a dry, coastal close. This is another example of Ardbeg exploring different wood geometries and oak exposure. • Ardbeg Heavy Vapours — Committee Release 2023 — $52 — 100.4 proof / 50.2% ABV — #ARD-HV23 Fully matured in ex-bourbon casks, then bottled for the Committee at 50.2% ABV; for this experiment Ardbeg removed the purifier on the still to let heavier compounds carry over. Dense, darker smoke, licorice, and herbal bite ride a taut, coastal frame. It’s the still-room tweak that reframed Ardbeg’s balance of weight and brightness for a single season. • Ardbeg Hypernova — Committee Release 2022 — $86 — 102 proof / 51% ABV — #ARD-HN22 Matured in oak and bottled non-chill-filtered at 51% ABV, this Committee exclusive pushes Ardbeg into ultra-heavy peat territory (the series’ smokiest to date). Soot, tar, and creosote explode over citrus and brine, yet the finish stays dry and controlled. A milestone in the peated canon—channeling extremity into focus rather than sheer burn. 53
• Ardbeg Kelpie — Committee Release 2017 — $41 — 103.4 proof / 51.7% ABV — #ARD-KEL17 For this expression, Ardbeg sought Adyghe oak casks from the Black Sea to mature a portion of this non-age statement whisky. The rare oak lends herbal resin, dark spice, and oily smoke over Ardbeg’s briny core. • Ardbeg Lord of the Isles — 25 Years — $298 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARD-LOI This is a blend of the 1976 and 1977 vintages bottled between 2001 and 2007. Expect camphor, waxy citrus and measured tar, with a dry, lingering coastal finish. A benchmark late-20th-century Ardbeg that brought pre-closure stocks to the modern era. • Ardbeg Perpetuum — 200th Anniversary 2015 — $84 — 94.8 proof / 47.4% ABV — #ARD-PERP15 Composed from older and younger Ardbeg matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry-influenced casks. Silky smoke, cocoa and citrus glide into a neat, sea-sprayed finish, highlighting the tension between new and old whisky. This release set the tone for modern, multi-era Ardbeg vatting. • Ardbeg Scorch — Committee Release 2021 — $73 — 103.4 proof / 51.7% ABV — #ARD-SCR21 Expounding on the Ardbeg Alligator, this whisky uses heavily charred ex-Bourbon barrels (possibly previously used in the Alligator) to create an intensely smoke-driven Scotch. Dense smoke, charred oak, licorice and pepper ride a taut, dry frame. Bottled at high ABV. • Ardbeg Smoketrails — Manzanilla Edition — Batch SP/MZL:2022/01-ST — $46 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARD-ST-MZL Undergoing an initial maturation in American oak before transfer to Manzanilla sherry casks from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, this Global Travel Retail-exclusive release introduces the classic salty flor quality of Sanlucar Sherry to Ardbeg. Soot, citrus oils, and dry cocoa lead into a clean, bright, ocean spray finish. Bowmore sits right by the water in the town of Bowmore, Islay. Owned by the Japanese group Suntory (now ‘Beam-Suntory’) since 1994, it exhibits ‘the mild side of Islay’, i.e. gently peated malt (25 ppm on the barley), mostly placed in ex-Bourbon barrels, often finished or ‘co-matured’ in ex-Sherry or other wine casks. Malting is done on-site for about a third of the distillery needs and aging also takes place on the island, partly in traditional dunnage warehouses right by the see, conferring a marine character to the malt. The lucky inhabitants of the ‘town’ splash and dive in a swimming pool heated by the heat released when the vapors condense… • Bowmore 12 Year “Lochindaal” — $23 — 80 proof / 40 % ABV — #BM12 Matured in a mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks, Bowmore 12 reflects the distillery’s signature equilibrium between sea salt, smoke, and orange blossom. Its medium peat and long fermentation yield notes of heather honey, lemon peel, and briny malt. Named for Loch 54
Indaal, the bay it overlooks, this bottling remains the defining gateway into Bowmore’s coastal poise—gentle, aromatic, and unmistakably Islay. • Bowmore 15 Year — $55 — 86 proof / 43 % ABV — #BM15 Initially aged in ex-Bourbon casks before a final three-year rest in first-fill Oloroso Sherry butts, the 15 balances dried fruit and smoke in perfect symmetry. Cocoa, raisin, and toffee weave through Bowmore’s saline peat. Since its early-2000s reintroduction, it has become the distillery’s modern signature—proof that judicious Sherry finishing can amplify rather than obscure the spirit’s maritime soul. • Bowmore 18 Year — $73 — 86 proof / 43 % ABV — #BM18 A long marriage of Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks yields mahogany depth and silken peat. Dried fig, espresso, and sea-spray chocolate glide over the supple texture of extended oak integration. Introduced as part of the core range in the 2000s, the 18 represents Bowmore’s mature house balance—where time refines the smoke into quiet resonance rather than volume. • Bowmore 25 Year — $265 — 86 proof / 43 % ABV — #BM25 Matured in a balance of Bourbon and Sherry oak for a quarter century, the 25 offers an opulent blend of dark chocolate, roasted orange, and sea-smoke polish. The long oxidative aging tempers peat into incense-like warmth. Often described as “amazingly rich and complex,” it exemplifies how Bowmore’s coastal maturity can rival Speyside’s elegance while retaining Islay’s elemental depth. • Bowmore 30 Year — 2022 Release — $779 — 90 proof / 45 % ABV — #BM30 Distilled in 1991 and 1992 and aged in a marriage of first-fill Sherry hogsheads and Bourbon barrels, this limited annual release captures the distillery’s rarest harmony. Silken smoke, tropical fruit, and sandalwood unfurl with astonishing poise. Bottled at 45 %, non-chill-filtered, it embodies the quiet grandeur of long-aged Bowmore—proof that Islay’s gentlest voice can still echo the loudest. • Black Bowmore 1964 — Final Edition (bottled 1995) — $1,900/$3,800 — 98 proof / 49% ABV — #BMW-64FE Distilled in 1964 and bottled in 1995, this classic Islay was matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks resting in the No. 1 Vaults. Ebony color ushers in fig, mango, dark cocoa, and polished walnut around a deep, steady peat glow. Final installment of the original trilogy (1,812 total bottles), it epitomizes Bowmore’s 1960s sherry power. • Bowmore No. 1 Vaults 30 Year — Annual Release — $850 — 90.6 proof / 45.3% ABV — #BMW-30V1 Aged three decades in a mix of sherry hogsheads and bourbon barrels drawn from Bowmore’s sea-level No. 1 Vaults and bottled at cask strength. Tropical fruit, honeyed malt and quiet eucalyptus ride through fine, coastal smoke. A modern-age statement from the oldest warehouse in Scotland. 55
• Bowmore 15 Year (2001) — Murray & McDavid, Sherry Butt → 1st-Fill Port Pipe — $69 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MM-2001BWM This independent bottling was distilled in 2001 before maturation in a large 500 Liter Sherry butt. It was then re-racked into a fresh Port pipe for further development until its bottling in 2016. Briny peat and citrus are rounded by cocoa, dark fruits and a gentle wine-tannin snap. 935 bottles produced. • Bowmore 17 Year — Distillery Bottling — $97 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BMW-17OB 17 years of maturation in seasoned oak encourages aromas of sea-spray peat, lemon oil and soft vanilla to settle into a dry, tea-leaf finish. Calm, mineral and old-school in tone, it captures the pre-18-year era when Bowmore’s elegance led the line. • Bowmore 18 Year “Vintner’s Trilogy” — Manzanilla Cask — $112 — 105 proof / 52.5% ABV — #BMW-18MANZ The youngest part of Bowmore’s ‘Vintner’s Trilogy’, this 18 year old whisky spent 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels and 5 years in Manzanilla sherry casks. Saline sherry lines up with soot, spiced orange and dark caramel, tightening the finish clean and dry. • Bowmore 22 Year 1998 — Berry Bros. & Rudd “Conquête” — $138 — 101.2 proof / 50.6% ABV — #BWM-98BBR Selected by Berry Bros. & Rudd for La Maison du Whisky’s Conquête series, this 22 year old whisky was aged in a single refill hogshead. Distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2021at cask strength, you will find the classic Bowmore salted citrus, waxy tropical fruits, and measured soot glide over vanilla and brown sugar notes. • Bowmore 19 Year 1998 — Duncan Taylor “The Octave” — $96 — 107.8 proof / 53.9% ABV — #BWM-98DT After 19 years in oak and a quick 3 month finish in a re-coopered small cask known as an Octave, this 1998 vintage was bottled in 2018 at cask strength. Briny smoke, lemon peel, and fino-leaning nutty sherry notes ride a lively, coastal frame. About 95 bottles were produced. • Bowmore 20 Year 1996 — Douglas Laing “Old Particular” DL12109 — $133 — 103 proof / 51.5% ABV — #BWM-96DL This spirit spent December 1996 through September 2017 in a refilled Bourbon hogshead. It was bottled at cask strength and leans into the citrus forward expression of Bowmore supported by lean smoke, vanilla, and tea leaf. 245 bottles produced. • Bowmore 21 Year — Sherry Oak Cask — $144 — 93.6 proof / 46.8% ABV — #BWM-21SOC The aging begins in ex-bourbon and Oloroso casks before finishing in first-fill PX sherry casks. Tobacco, heather, and treacle fold into measured coastal smoke, the finish tightening with PX grip. Part of Bowmore’s sherry oak series. 56
• Bowmore 22 Year — Aston Martin “Masters’ Selection” (No. 1 Vaults) — $ — 172 proof / 51% ABV — #BWM-22AM Composed from long-aged stocks in European oak, Oloroso sherry casks and American oak hogsheads, this special bottling is married and bottled above-proof at 51% ABV.. Dried fruits, floral honey, tobacco leaf, and sea-spray peat unfold over a firm, dry close. Expect a mature, sweeter smoke alongside Bowmore’s maritime profile. • Bowmore 23 Year 1989 —- “Port Cask Matured” — $234 — 101.6 proof / 50.8% ABV — #BWM-23PC89 This 1989 distillation was aged exclusively in Port casks, a significant departure from the house style. Bottled in 2013 at natural strength, this unique official bottling expresses dark fruit, cocoa, and coastal soot with a gentle integrated wine-tannin grip, keeping the finish firm and dry. • Bowmore 25 Year — Current OB — $283 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BWM-25 Matured in a mix of ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks, the Bowmore 25 year delivers classic tropical fruit, honey, and polished oak with a balanced peated quality and moderate acidity. The flagship elder of the core range, it balances Bowmore’s fruit-and-peat signature with long, even maturation. • Bowmore 25 Year — “Old Version” (Seagull Label, 2004) — $325 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BWM-25OV A counterpart to the modern style, this 25 year whisky bottled in 2004 represents the previous iteration of Bowmore’s house style. Aged in sherry casks and bottled under the classic black-and-gold “Seagull” presentation you will find fig, walnut and old-oak polish wrap gentle peat, finishing dry and composed. A late pre-rebrand chapter that spotlights Bowmore’s sherry-led maturity from stocks laid down in earlier decades. • Bowmore 26 Year — “Vintner’s Trilogy” French Oak Barrique — $192 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #BWM-26VT The second part of Bowmore’s ‘Vintner’s Trilogy,’ this undergoes 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels and 13 years in French oak red wine barriques. Aged in the No. 1 Vaults and bottled at cask-strength, the 26 year displays redcurrant and dark chocolate through earthy smoke and a saline finish. • Bowmore 26 Year — “Vintner’s Trilogy” French Oak Barrique — No. 1 Vaults Label — $192 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #BWM-26VT-V1 Aged in the No. 1 Vaults: 13 years in ex-bourbon - 13 years in French-oak wine barriques, bottled at natural strength. Berry compote, camphor, and oak-spiced smoke unfold with a long, mouth-watering close. This No. 1 Vaults–badged variant underscores the trilogy’s message—Bowmore’s oldest warehouse shaping wine-accented elegance over decades. • Bowmore Darkest Sherry Casked — $50 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BWM-DARK-NAS 57
This is a 15 year aged whisky built from spirit aged in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. It was designed to explore deeper, richer sherry accents while keeping Bowmore’s coastal peat taut and dry. Cocoa, raisin and orange-peel warmth frame sea-spray smoke without tipping sweet. • Bowmore Darkest Vault Edition — Atlantic Sea Salt (1st Release) — $76 — 103 proof / 51.5% ABV — #BWM-VE1 Aged for 15 years in the sea-level No. 1 Vaults with 3 of those years in Oloroso cask, this bottling was released at higher strength to spotlight the warehouse’s saline microclimate and the additional influence of fruit and sweetness from the oloroso. Nectarine and vanilla thread through briny peat and cocoa, finishing crisp and mineral. • Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish — 2015 Limited Release — $198 — 107.8 proof / 53.9% ABV — #BWM-MIZ15 Using spirit that comes from Bowmore’s ex-bourbon and sherry cask expression, the whisky was then finished in rare Japanese Mizunara oak. Sandalwood-spice and coconut lift meet Bowmore’s gentle peat and sea salt for a vivid, dry finish. The first Scotch single malt finished in Japanese oak, it marked a true east-meets-west milestone. 2,000 bottles released. • Bowmore 30 Year — No. 1 Vaults Annual Release — $775 — 90.6 proof / 45.3% ABV — #BWM-30V1 Selected from only two casks each year, this 30 year old whisky is a blend of sherry hogsheads and bourbon barrels from the No. 1 Vaults. Bottled at cask strength, the typical tropical aromas of Bowmore are complemented by honeyed malt, eucalyptus, and gentle briny smoke. • Bowmore Timeless 27 Year — $688 — 105.4 proof / 52.7% ABV — #BWM-TIME27 A limited, high-proof release which spends 15 years in ex-bourbon and sherry casks with a following 12 years in Oloroso buttsDried fruit and chestnut honey weave through soot and citrus with a long, dry, incense-tinged finish. 3,000 bottles were released of this edition. • Bowmore Timeless — No. 1 Vaults 29 Year — $665 — 107.4 proof / 53.7% ABV — #BWM-TIME29 Composed from casks of sherry-seasoned European oak and ex-bourbon American oak filled between 1991-1992, this limited cask-strength bottling highlights the dark dried fruit, cocoa and bitter orange ride measured peat and sea-salt minerality characteristic of the ‘Timeless’ series, though with noticeable difference from its time in the No. 1 Vaults. 3,000 bottles produced. Bruichladdich, or ‘corner of the beach’ for its Gaelic name, is an iconic distillery on the beautiful island of Islay (‘eye-lah’) to the South and West of Scotland. Now in the hands of the Spirits group Rémy Cointreau, it produces 3 main single malts: ‘Bruichladdich’, a non-peated malt whisky, an extremely peated malt ‘Octomore’ and ‘Port Charlotte’, 58
which stands somewhere in between. The company uses Scottish barley only, sometimes from Islay farms, but so far does not malt the barley itself (their own malting floor is scheduled for 2024). Bruichladdich has a focus point on Terroir, and generally speaking, the origins of all elements of the whisky: grain, water, wood. American oak, in the shape of ex-Bourbon barrels, overwhelmingly dominates maturation, but a lot of wine casks are still in use, speaking of the previous owners’ wine trade roots. This is not your regular Scotch with its age statement bearings and consistency holy grail. • Bruichladdich 15 Year — 2002–2017 (North Star Spirits) — $43 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #BL15NS Distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2017 by North Star Spirits from a refill Bourbon hogshead, non-chill-filtered at natural strength. Refill wood preserves the distillate’s barley sugar and lemon barley water while adding coconut husk and a clean mineral snap. Capturing an early post-revival vintage via an independent lens, it spotlights the house’s unpeated purity before the later wave of cask experimentation took center stage. • Bruichladdich “The Classic Laddie” — Scottish Barley — $25 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #BLCL Batch-by-batch cuvées matured predominantly in first-fill American whiskey casks with select European wine casks, bottled unpeated, non-chill-filtered, and color-free. Barley sugar, green apple, and sea-spray softness flow from the gentle oak and long fermentations. As the signature of the 2001 resurrection, it defined modern transparency and provenance—proof that a distillery can lead with raw ingredients and still deliver easy, graceful drinkability. • Bruichladdich ‘Bere Barley’ 2012 — 10 Year — $29 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #BLBB12 Distilled from the 2012 harvest of heritage bere barley and matured a decade in predominantly first-fill Bourbon casks (with measured second-fill for balance), then bottled unpeated and non-chill-filtered. Toasted oat, wild honey, and lemon peel trace directly to the low-yield grain and patient American oak. As part of the Barley Provenance program, it validates that variety—not just place—shapes texture and flavor in profound, delicious ways. • Bruichladdich ‘Islay Barley’ 2011 — 6 Year — $24 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #BLIB11 Grown on local farms, distilled in 2011, and matured six years primarily in first-fill American whiskey casks with a small parcel of European wine wood, then married and bottled unpeated at 50%. Salted porridge, lemon oil, and meadow flower glide over a supple grain-driven core. One of the early age-stated farm vintages, it crystallized the distillery’s thesis: provenance can speak clearly even at youthful maturity. • Bruichladdich ‘Re/Define’ — 18 Year — $67 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #BL18RD Long American-oak maturation forms the foundation, with a judicious parcel of French sweet-wine casks married in to lift fruit and viscosity; bottled unpeated and 59
non-chill-filtered. Silken malt, ripe apricot, and almond nougat unfold with steady, resonant length. Framed as a redefinition of house maturity, this 18 revisits pre-closure elegance through today’s cask craft—an articulate bridge between origin-first philosophy and contemporary polish. • Bruichladdich ‘Black Art 10.1’ — 29 Year (2022 Release) — $205 — 90.2 proof / 45.1% ABV — #BLBA10 From undisclosed 1993 vintage casks in both American and European oak, selected and married by Head Distiller Adam Hannett; unpeated, non-chill-filtered, and intentionally mysterious. Fig cake, walnut shell, and old leather meet citrus oils and dark honey in a quietly powerful weave. The tenth Black Art continues the arc begun under Jim McEwan—an ongoing meditation on pre-closure stocks and the alchemy of memory, wood, and time. • Bruichladdich ‘Black Art 11.1’ — 24 Year (2023 Release) — $195 — 88.4 proof / 44.2% ABV — #BLBA11 An enigmatic 24-year unpeated vintage, matured entirely on Islay and bottled in 2023 with cask details intentionally undisclosed; non-chill-filtered and natural colour. The palate moves from dark honey and citrus oils to polished oak and dried florals, all wrapped in Bruichladdich’s mineral grace. As the eleventh Black Art, it continues the series’ meditation on secrecy and memory—trusting the glass, not a spec sheet, to tell the story. • Bruichladdich 10 Year — “The Laddie Ten” — Signed — $30 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810500531 The signed run of Bruichladdich 10 Year marks the initial bottlings of this aged indication after the distillery’s 2001 reopening. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak and using distillate from the post-revival stocks, you will find vanilla, honeyed barley, and sea-spray brightness leading into lemon peel and a dry, mineral close. • Bruichladdich 12 Year — Second Edition — $42 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #180575459 Aged entirely in ex-bourbon casks, the Second Edition 12 Year keeps the malt centerline clear: citrus oils, barley sweetness, and light vanilla over a saline, tea-leaf-dry finish. This whisky shows extra polish and refinement over The Laddie Ten. • Bruichladdich 14 Year “Cairdean” — Valinch — 50 cl — $72 — 112 proof / 56% ABV — #1883/2000 Believed to be one of the earliest cask-strength, single-cask releases produced by Bruichladdich, this limited release distilled in 1989 was bottled by hand in 2013 directly from the cask using a pipette-like object called a valinch. “Cairdean,” which means Family or Friends, is a release sold exclusively at the Bruichladdich distillery. This whisky displays an oil-satin texture with honeyed cereal, salted lemon, and toasted oak aromas that finish into a firm, coastal freshness. • Bruichladdich 14 Year — The Italian Collection “Barolo” — $94 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810504975 60
This 1993 distillate was aged in ex-bourbon casks before finishing in Barolo wine casks. The contact with Nebbiolo-seasoned French oak barrels adds danish pastry, cocoa dust, and weight to Bruichladdich’s classic citrus-malt clarity. • Bruichladdich 14 Year — The Italian Collection “Sassicaia” — $94 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810505475 Tenuta San Guido, the producer of the Super Tuscan wine Sassicaia, provided used American oak barrels for Bruichladdich to finish this part of their Italian Collection. This whisky opens savory and saline before developing leathery meat notes with air, indicative of mature Cabernet Sauvignon influence. • Bruichladdich 15 Year — Second Edition — $96 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810575173 This second edition of the Bruichladdich 15 Year undergoes finishing in Sauternes casks from Château d’Yquem. Honeyed orchard fruit and vanilla gain a waxy, dessert-wine gloss while sea-spray brightness keeps the finish dry and mineral. • Bruichladdich 15 Year — Valinch & Mallet “Hidden Casks” — Madeira Butt — $84 — 108.2 proof / 54.1% ABV — #V&M-15-MDR Italian independent bottler Valinch & Mallet acquired some 2003 Bruichladdich distillate and matured it in a Madeira butt for 15 years. Pickled citrus and dried fruit notes are the defining features of this unique interpretation of Bruichladdich spirit. • Bruichladdich 15 Year — Vintage 1996 “Oloroso Sherry” (500 ml) — $92 — #1996-OLOR-50CL A rare example of Bruichladdich aged exclusively in Oloroso cask and bottled for distillery release Cocoa-tinged dried fruit and polished oak fold around Bruichladdich’s citrus-malt core, finishing neat and saline. This is a compact, sherry-led window into mid-’90s intimate scale and old-school in tone. • Bruichladdich 16 Year — Cuvée C “Margaux” — $118 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810557875 This third release of the Bruichladdich 16 Year Cuvee series sees the typical Bruichladdich 15 finished in 1 year of Château Margaux wine casks. This delicate whisky carries floral and peach notes on the nose with a silky, red berry palate finishing clean and long. • Bruichladdich 16 Year — Cuvée D “Pessac-Léognan” — $118 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810559075 Finished for 1 year in Château Haut-Brion wine casks, the power and structure of Haut-Brion ae obvious in this blend. Waves of assertive cherry and dark fruit alongside tobacco-leaf dryness and grilled citrus bracket the mineral malt and measured oak spice. • Bruichladdich 18 Year 1989 — Kosher Wine Finish — $128 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810551275 An 18 year single-vintage distillate undergoing ex-Bourbon maturation and then finished in 61
kosher wine casks from Israeli kosher winemaker Carmel. Red-fruited lift and gentle spice frame citrus-bright Laddie malt with a dry, coastal close. • Bruichladdich 30 Year 1973 — $585 — 80.4 proof / 40.2% ABV — #BRU-1973-30 Composed from 65% American oak and 35% refill sherry hogsheads, 4,200 bottles of this whisky were produced. Waxy orchard fruit, vanilla, and polished old oak drift are prominent with Bruichladdich’s mineral, sea-spray finish persisting over its extensive lifespan. • Bruichladdich 30 Year — 1986/30 “Sherry: The Magnificent Seven” #150 — $572 — 89.2 proof / 44.6% ABV — #BRU-1986-M7-150 Distilled in 1986 and bottled in 2017 after 26 years in Oloroso butts (26 years) and a 4 year finish in PX butts. The barrles were sourced from Fernando de Castilla and yielded 4,200 bottles. Dark sherry richness meets floral Laddie clarity, ending firm and coastal. • Bruichladdich 30 Year — 1986/30 “Sherry: The Magnificent Seven” #190 — $572 — 89.2 proof / 44.6% ABV — #BRU-1986-M7-190 Same 1986/30 Rare Cask Series release: Oloroso for 26 years - PX finish from 2012; bottled 2017 at 44.6% ABV, natural colour, no chill-filtration, 4,200 bottles. Dark sherry richness meets floral Laddie clarity, ending firm and coastal. Listed separately here to match your inventory’s individual bottle numbers. • Bruichladdich 30 Year — 1988/30 “The Untouchable” — $572 — 92.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #BRU-1988-UNT-2522 The spirit in this 30 Year example is a blend of spirit aged in refill Bourbon barrel and refill squat hogshead for the entirety of the 30 year maturation. Lemon oil, coconut and old-school malt broaden into tobacco-tinged oak and a clean, maritime finish. Less than 6,000 bottles released. • Bruichladdich — Cadenhead 23 Years 1993 , Authentic Collection — $144 — 94 proof / 47% ABV — #1958801295 A 23 year-old single ex-Bourbon hogshead, distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2017 by Wm. Cadenhead as part of their Authentic Collection. Lean coastal malt and citrus glide over vanilla and soft oak, with the refill bourbon cask keeping the spirit’s mineral line clear. Only 228 bottles produced. • Bruichladdich 21 Years — Cuvée 382 “La Bérénice” (MG41) — $236 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MG41 Citrus-bright malt meets honeyed stone fruit and gentle pastry spice due to the influence of ex-Sauternes and ex-Barsac Limousin oak finishing. A core statement in the Cuvée series, mapping sweet-wine elegance onto Laddie’s coastal clarity. • Bruichladdich 21 Years — Cuvée 407 “La Noche Bocca Arriba” (PX) — $236 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CUV-407 A final touch of PX Sherry casks lends dark dried fruits and cocoa to a lemon-bright malt and measured peat trace. The tension of weight and body alongside the mineral driven 62
character of Bruichladdich distillate highlights this experiment in the 21 Year Old Cuvée trilogy. • Bruichladdich 21 Years — Cuvée 640 “Eroica / Oh Mensch!” — $236 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CUV-640 Using Limousin oak which previously held Cognac, this whisky carries apricot, pear and soft vanilla alongside richer chocolate and oak spice. This edition of the series elevates fruit and texture without blurring the Laddie signature. • Bruichladdich 22 Years 1992 — Signatory Vintage, UCF — $194 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SIG-1992-22 Independent bottler Signatory Vintage secured a single hogshead cask #1386 of 1992 Bruichladdich distillate and aged it with minimal intervention until 2014 for a 22 year expression. Lemon oil, barley sweetness and gentle oak run lean and coastal, finishing tea-leaf dry. 288 bottles released. • Bruichladdich 28 Years 1968 — Signatory Vintage — $279 — 99.2 proof / 49.6% ABV — #SIG-1968-28 A rare 1960’s presentation of Bruichladdich secured by one of Signatory Vintage’s earliest bottlings. The long rest in seasoned oak keeps the distillate crystalline: waxy orchard fruit, citrus oils, and polished old wood over a dry, coastal finish. Bottled at cask strength with a limited production. • Bruichladdich “The Laddie Sixteen” — $82 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #1810500712 Matured entirely in American white oak, this 16 Year Old whisky is characteristic of the Bruichladdich style: vanilla, honeyed barley, lemon peel, and sea-spray minerality, finishing neat and dry. • Bruichladdich “The Stillman’s Dram” — 26 Years — 1995 Bottling — $168 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #000259 Bottled and released during a period of ownership by Whyte & Mackay, this 26 year old whisky spent its time in undisclosed seasoned oak barrels. The profile runs calm and old-school: camphor, lemon oil, malt sweetness and gentle tar over a tea-leaf-dry finish. • Bruichladdich 12 Years 2005 — Alexander Murray “Cask Strength” — $24 — 112 proof / 56% ABV — #AM-2005-12-CS A vatting of refill bourbon barrels from a peated run of the 2005 vintage bottled at cask strength. Vanilla and toasted grain underpin coastal smoke and citrus with a taut, saline finish. This independent bottling highlights the effect of refill barrels and cask strength spirit in comparison to standard Bruichladdich bottlings. • Bruichladdich 1984/32 — Rare Cask Series “Bourbon: All In” — $475 — 87.4 proof / 43.7% ABV — #BRU-1984-32 Produced from the last 12 casks of the 1984 production, this release was matured entirely 63
in ex-bourbon for 32 years. Lemon oil, vanilla and coconut thread through waxy malt and measured oak, finishing long and maritime. A time-capsule bourbon-only Laddie that anchors the Rare Cask Series. Bottled in 2017 with less than 3,000 bottles filled. • Bruichladdich 1985/32 — Rare Cask Series “Bourbon: Hidden Glory” — 2017 Release — $475 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #BRU-1985-32 This 1985 production saw a complex maturation program beginning in 3rd fill bourbon cask before being re-casked to first fill ex-bourbon barrels after 27 years and then a virgin French oak finish for 5 years. Lime and honeyed barley meet coconut and waxy oak, the French oak adding a subtle resinous lift. • Bruichladdich “Sinnsear – Forefathers” — 1988 → 2003 — 500 cl — $88 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #BRU-1988-SIN Distilled in 1988, matured in bourbon casks, and bottled in 2003 as a numbered half-liter release. Clean, old-school Laddie: lemon oil, honeyed malt and coastal mineral notes on a firm, dry finish. A compact homage to the distillery’s “forefathers,” capturing late-’80s fruit in a small-format time capsule. 1,000 bottles released. • Bruichladdich 22 Years 1992 — Signatory Vintage, UCF — $194 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SIG-1992-22-255 Single hogshead cask #1386, distilled in April 3rd, 1992 → bottled in May 14th, 2014 at 46% ABV, 288 bottles, natural color, non-chill-filtered. Lemon zest, barley sugar and vanilla ride a lean, maritime frame to a tea-leaf-dry close. An indie snapshot of early-’90s unpeated Laddie; your bottle is #255/288. • Bruichladdich 30 Years 1986 — Rare Cask Series “Sherry: The Magnificent Seven” — $572 — 89.2 proof / 44.6% ABV — #BRU-1986-M7-166 Oloroso butts for 26 years, re-racked to PX butts in 2012 (Bodega Fernando de Castilla) and bottled in 2017 at natural strength; 4,200 bottles, natural color, NCF. Dried fruits, cocoa and polished oak fold into measured coastal smoke, finishing long and dry. The definitive sherry-side pillar of the Rare Cask trio; bottle #166. • Bruichladdich Black Art 1992 — Edition 09.1 — 29 Years — 2021 Release — $212 — 88.2 proof / 44.1% ABV — #BA-09.1 Composed from undisclosed casks selected by the head distiller and filled with an undisclosed distillate recipe, this 12,000 bottle production delivers silky layers of dark fruit and patisserie tones over the elegant, unpeated Laddie core, This modern Black Art release highlights the line’s intention of using mystery casks for nuance, not noise. • Bruichladdich Black Art 1989 —- Edition 03.1 — 22 Years — 2012 Release — $164 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #BA-03.1 Using American oak and select wine-influenced casks (recipe undisclosed), this 2012 release shows the typical dark fruit and cocoa of the Black Arts production over Bruichladdich’s citrus-bright core, finishing long and dry. 64
• Bruichladdich Black Art 1990 —- Edition 04.1 — 23 Years —- 2013 Release — $182 — 98.4 proof / 49.2% ABV — #BA-04.1 The start of the fourth Black Arts edition trends toward baked orchard fruit and patisserie tones before shifting into mineral malt and a precise coastal close. More nuance, delicate poise than other releases. • Bruichladdich Black Art 1992 —- Edition 05.1 — 24 Years —- 2016 Release — $198 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV — #BA-05.1 This 2016 release of Black Art was the first by distiller Adam Harnett. Here we find dark berry and honeyed grain over fine oak character leading into a dry, sea-sprayed finish. This shows a distinct growth in the series towards richer, mouthfilling character. • Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2006 — Dunlossit Farm — 5 Years —- 2012 Release — $38 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #IB-2006-DUN The grain for this whisky was grown entirely at Dunlossit Farm, showing a rare farm-to-glass example of Islay whisky. A young, brightly fruited whisky, you will find the quintessential Bruichladdich citrus and saline quality with balanced body and aromas due to extended bottle aging. • Octomore 15.1 — 2024 Bottling (5 Years, ex-Bourbon) — $92 — 118.2 proof / 59.1% ABV / 108.2 ppm — #OC15.1 Super-heavily peated spirit aged in first-fill Bourbon and re-charred Bourbon casks, then bottled at natural strength. Vanilla custard, sweet char and bright citrus are wrapped in billowing smoke, the palate surprisingly precise for the power. As the series’ baseline, 15.1 calibrates peat and oak for the vintage—an anchor against which the other 15s push and pull. • Octomore 15.2 — 2024 Bottling (5 Years, American Oak & ex-Cognac) — $94 — 115.8 proof / 57.9% ABV / 108.2 ppm — #OC15.2 American-oak maturation meets French ex-Cognac influence (with select red-wine casks), adding honeyed grape, candied citrus and almond to the smoke-forward core. Texture turns plusher without losing the series’ laser-line finish. Positioned as the set’s aromatic detour, 15.2 shows how a measured Cognac accent can bend Octomore’s intensity toward fruit and gloss. • Octomore 15.3 — 2024 Bottling (5 Years, ex-Bourbon & Oloroso) — $99 — 122.6 proof / 61.3% ABV / 307.2 ppm — #OC15.3 Islay-grown barley from Octomore Farm drives this super-heavily peated vintage, matured five years in first-fill Bourbon casks and Spanish Oloroso hogsheads, then bottled natural strength. Vanilla smoke, grilled stone fruit, and seawater snap meet an unexpectedly precise, sinewy palate. As the 15 series’ terroir chapter—and the second most heavily peated Octomore to date—it proves sheer phenols can still speak with balance and place. • Octomore 16.1 — 2025 Bottling (5 Years, First-Fill Bourbon) — $74 — 118.6 proof / 59.3% ABV / 101.4 ppm — #OC16.1 65
Distilled in 2019 from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley and matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels, this edition is bottled near cask strength, unchill-filtered and color-free. Salted caramel, coconut and citrus thread through billowing smoke with a taut, mineral line. As the Series 16 baseline, it calibrates phenols and oak for the set—clarity first, power in reserve. • Octomore 16.2 — 2025 Bottling (5 Years, Oloroso & Bordeaux → Madeira & Moscatel) — $106 — 116.2 proof / 58.1% ABV / 101.4 ppm — #OC16.2 Distilled in 2019 and matured in Oloroso and Bordeaux casks before a finishing year in Madeira and Moscatel, 16.2 turns the smoke toward dried fruit, toasted nuts and orange-peel lift. The palate grows plusher without losing the laser-line finish that defines Octomore. Positioned as the aromatic counterpoint to 16.1, it shows wine-led richness framing—not blurring—the island’s voice. • Octomore 16.3 — 2025 Bottling (Islay Barley; 5 Years, Bourbon • Sauternes • PX) — $109 — 123.2 proof / 61.6% ABV / 189.5 ppm — #OC16.3 From Octomore Farm’s Islay-grown barley and matured entirely on Islay in bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez casks, then bottled at natural strength, unchill-filtered. Sea-spray salinity, grilled apricot and dark peat ash move with sinewy precision. The heaviest-peated of Series 16, 16.3 is the terroir flagship—place, process and phenols converging in a single, elemental statement. • Octomore 01.1 — 2002 - 2008 — $115 — 127.0 proof / 63.5% ABV — 131 PPM — #OCT-01.1 This is the whisky that started the super heavily peated category. Aged only 5 years in Buffalo Trace bourbon casks and bottled at natural strength, this experiment sought to prove that both extremely peated and young whiskies can show elegance and structure. Phenolic intensity rides vanilla, pear and sea-spray minerality to a long, smoky brick finish. • Octomore 10 Years — 1st Limited Edition — 2002 - 2012 — $135 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — 80.5 PPM — #OCT-10-2012 This 10 year release uses the same spirit from the 01.1 that was left to mature an additional 5 years in Buffalo Trace ex-Bourbon barrels. The extra maturation softens the famously assertive smoke and develops mineral notes with vanilla, lemon oil, and cocoa threaded through a tidy, sea-sprayed close. As the debut 10 Years, it established that Octomore’s power could mature into clarity rather than weight. • Octomore “Futures” — 2002 - 2008 — $115 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — 80.5 PPM — #OCT-FUT-2002 This bottling was the intermediate release of the 10 year sold only to early supporters of Octomore. The early Octomore power shows in clean soot and brine, steadied by vanilla, lemon oil and a noticeable barley sweetness. More lively and mineral forward than the fully matured 10 year and lower in proof. • Octomore 02.2 “Orpheus” — 2004 - 2009 — $136 — 122.0 proof / 61.0% ABV — 140 PPM — #OCT-02.2 66
Finished in Château Pétrus red-wine casks to encourage the development of softer smoke, dark berry and pastry tones, the apparent richness on the palate pulls back to a dry, coastal close. This high phenolic whisky remains a landmark wine-finish experiment that broadened Octomore’s stylistic palette. • Octomore 04.2 “Comus” — 2006 - 2012 — $138 — 122.0 proof / 61.0% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-04.2 Using Chateau d’Yquem wine barrels in its finishing program, the 4.2 presents lush honeyed stone fruit and patisserie over ash-rich peat. The finish is moderately quick and surprisingly dry, showcasing the balance that extremely peated whiskies can obtain in sweet oak. • Octomore 06.1 “Scottish Barley” — 2008 - 2013 — $146 — 114.0 proof / 57.0% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-06.1 There is no finish on this relatively moderate Octomore bottled at 114 proof. Bright vanilla and barley sugar shape the smoke into an oil-satin glide, finishing long, saline and dry. The classic “.1” control—spirit clarity and disciplined oak as a lens for phenolic power. • Octomore 07.1 “Scottish Barley” — 5 Years — 2009 - 2015 — $157 — 119.0 proof / 59.5% ABV — 208 PPM — #OCT-07.1 Despite towering peat, lemon oil and vanilla thread through soot and sea air. There is a playful citrus and floral quality despite the density offered by one of the highest phenolic contents produced by Octomore. • Octomore 07.3 “Islay Barley” — 2010 - 2015 — $157 — 126.0 proof / 63.0% ABV — 169 PPM — #OCT-07.3 Using Spanish red-wine casks from Ribera del Duero in this version, the tannins of Tempranillo influence the grip and barley sweetness in this spirit. Winter chimney, citrus and sea spray from high peat leads to a precise and mineral finish. • Octomore 07.4 “Virgin Oak” — 7 Years — 2008 - 2016 — $159 — 122.4 proof / 61.2% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-07.4 An exploration in oak treatment that begins with 3 years in ex-Bourbon barrel before transfer to virgin French oak for 2 years. A third transfer back to the original Bourbon barrels for 2 years completes is aging process. The virgin oak brings clove-bright spice, toasted coconut and dark honey to ash-rich smoke and coastal minerality. This wood program became so definitive it set the “.4” line’s identity thereafter. • Octomore 10 Years — 2nd Limited Edition — 2005 - 2016 — $217 — 114.6 proof / 57.3% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-10-2016 Half of the maturation time of this whisky is spent in the traditional ex-Bourbon maturation regimen before being moved to Grenache Blanc wine casks. The additional wine cask aging delivers bright orchard fruit and honeyed malt to ash-rich smoke without adding sweetness. This singular 10 Year Limited Edition refracts Octomore’s phenolic depth through fresh white-wine oak. 67
• Octomore 08.1 “Masterclass” — 8 Years — 2008 - 2017 — $198 — 118.6 proof / 59.3% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-08.1 The ex-Bourbon casks for the 8.1 come from Buffalo Trace, Clermont Springs, Four Roses, Heaven Hill & Jack Daniel’s distilleries. In this context the peat’s power reads clean and architectural with obvious bourbon notes of vanilla, citrus and sweet grain over ozone and brine. • Octomore 08.2 “Masterclass” — 8 Years — 2008 - 2017/18 — $198 — 116.8 proof / 58.4% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-08.2 Matured for six years in French Mourvèdre, Sauternes & Austrian sweet-wine casks before finishing for two years in Amarone casks, this rare Octomore example sees no Bourbon influence. Wine-soaked oak adds red-fruit depth and honeyed spice to the smoky coastal verve. A travel-retail showcase for how layered European oak can contour extreme peat. • Octomore 08.3 “Masterclass — Islay Barley” — 2011 - 2017 — $144 — 122.4 proof / 61.2% ABV — 309.1 PPM — #OCT-08.3 44% of this whisky spends its 6 years of maturation in European wine casks from Pauillac, Ventoux, Rhône and Burgundy. The peat level of 309.1ppm is beyond extraordinary, and yet the palate stays poised: smoked citrus, cocoa and salted almond glide to a crisp, mineral finish. • Octomore 09.1 “Dialogos” — 2012 - 2018 — $139 — 118.2 proof / 59.1% ABV — 156 PPM — #OCT-09.1 The ex-Bourbon barrels from this elaboration come from Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Clermont, and Old Grand-Dad. The smoke in 9.1 is architectural and clean, offering clear kiln ash, citrus oil and barley sugar notes gliding over a firm, saline finish. The opening “Dialogos” statement proves a 5 year Octomore can prize clarity and place over sheer impact. • Octomore 09.3 “Dialogos – Islay Barley” — 2012 - 2018 — $142 — 125.8 proof / 62.9% ABV — 133 PPM — #OCT-09.3 Spending a portion of its maturation in sweet wine casks from Rivesaltes and dry red wine casks from the Rhone, this Octomore edition shows a fruity complexity. Bright ash smoke and lemon peel meet subtle red-fruit grip and mineral tension. The finish remains dry and coastal. • Octomore 10 Years — 3rd Limited Edition — 2008 - 2018 — $238 — 113.6 proof / 56.8% ABV — 167 PPM — #OCT-10-2018 This 10 Year Limited Edition saw a complex blending program that includes 1st-fill Port pipes (37%), 1st-fill Cognac (31%), 2nd-fill ex-American whiskey (20%), plus a parcel that ran 3 year 1st-fill ex-American, 2 year virgin American oak, and 6 year ex-American (12%). The blending here led to a whisky balanced between dark fruit and tobacco with savory smoke aromas. • Octomore 12.1 “The Impossible Equation” — 2015 - 2021 — $110 — 119.8 proof / 59.9% ABV — 130.8 PPM — #OCT-12.1 68
High-definition smoke is shaped by vanilla, barley sugar and citrus, finishing taut and sea-sprayed with restrained bourbon oak. As the “.1” baseline, it’s the control that lets the 12.x variants show their hand. • Octomore 12.2 “The Impossible Equation” — 2015 - 2021 — $110 — 114.6 proof / 57.3% ABV — 129.7 PPM — #OCT-12.2 An 18 month finish in 1st-fill Sauternes casks introduces fruitier aromas to the spirit. Savory, nut-edged smoke and cocoa fold into lifted stone fruit and honeyed grain, the finish precise and dry. A deliberate counterpoint to 12.1, it shows dessert-wine wood used for contour and texture rather than sweetness. • Octomore 12.3 “The Impossible Equation – Islay Barley” — 2015 - 2021 — $119 — 124.2 proof / 62.1% ABV — 118.1 PPM — #OCT-12.3 Including spirit matured in 1st-fill PX sherry butts from Fernando de Castilla, this single-field Octomore Farm barley shows cereal sweetness and dried-fruit depth through earthy peat and lemon-salt brightness. The long finish closes with mineral dryness. • Octomore 13.1 — 5 Years — 2016 - 2022 — $99 — 118.4 proof / 59.2% ABV — 137.3 PPM — #OCT-13.1 This iteration of Octomore spent time re-racked into fresh ex-Bourbon barrels. The result is a clean, high-definition smoke joining barley sugar, vanilla custard and apricot in a wide palate with more prominent oak texture. • Octomore 13.2 — 5 Years — 2016 - 2022 — $99 — 116.6 proof / 58.3% ABV — 137.3 PPM — #OCT-13.2 This whisky was matured entirely in 1st-fill Oloroso sherry butts from Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla. This iteration of the “.2” line is more focused on smoked almond and walnut while cocoa and leather frame the peaty citrus and sea-spray. • Octomore 13.3 — 2016 - 2022 “Islay Barley” — $109 — 122.2 proof / 61.1% ABV — 129.3 PPM — #OCT-13.3 A portion of the spirit here was aged in European ex-wine casks from the sweet wine denomination of Rivesaltes and the dry red wine appellation of Ribera del Duero. The sweeter cereal notes of the 13.1 are framed by ash, citrus and salted almond. A gentle grip is provided by the wine casks without accompanying sweetness. • Octomore 14.1 — 2017 - 2023 — $90 — 119.2 proof / 59.6% ABV — 128.9 PPM — #OCT-14.1 Clean, high-definition smoke is layered with vanilla, caramel and bright citrus over a taut, saline finish. The clarity of aroma in 14.1 characterizes the lessons learned by the distillers and blenders regarding the ageability of Octomore. • Octomore 14.2 — 2017 - 2023 — $98 — 115.4 proof / 57.7% ABV — 128.9 PPM — #OCT-14.2 Oloroso Sherry & Amarone casks start the maturation process before the spirit is married 69
and finished in French oak. Savory, nut-edged smoke folds into red-fruit depth and cocoa, finishing firm and coastal. As with the 14.1, the obvious clarity of aromas in the whisky remain a hallmark of this series. • Port Charlotte — 10 Year ‘Heavily Peated’ — $26 — 100 proof / 50% ABV / 40 ppm — #PC10 A marriage of first-fill Bourbon, second-fill Bourbon, and select wine casks, bottled unchill-filtered and colouring-free at 50%. Lemon shortbread, kiln smoke, and sea-spray sweetness flow with a firm, wax-tipped texture. As Bruichladdich’s core peated statement, PC10 anchors the range—farm-to-Islay maturity that bridges Octomore’s extremes and the distillery’s barley-first philosophy. • Port Charlotte 10 Year — 2018 Release — $42 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC-10-2018 Composed from casks matured on Islay: predominantly first-fill American whiskey with parcels of second-fill American and second-fill French wine casks; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. This peated whisky shows a pepper-bright smokiness alongside barley cereal and citrus. The seasoned oak maturation adds gentle vanilla without softening the peat driven line. • Port Charlotte 10 Year — “First Edition” (2012) — $50 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC-10-2012 This first release of the Port Charlotte 10 year saw a complex mix of wood treatment, inlcuding ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Tempranillo and French wine casks. Fruit-lit smoke and briny sweetness ride a tidy, tea-leaf-dry finish. This early PC10 showed the house could balance serious peat with textural nuance long before the permanent 50% release arrived. • Port Charlotte 18 Year — 2024 Limited Release — $86 — 108.6 proof / 54.3% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC-18-2024 This whisky was matured in refill Sherry casks and refill French-oak wine casks. A uniquely honeyed malt quality develops into polished spice and sea-spray peat. Older wood used in the maturation process adds depth to the palate while maintaining a dry finish. • Port Charlotte Islay Barley — $31 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC-IB Ex-Bourbon aged spirit blended with parcels of second-fill virgin oak and second-fill Bordeaux wine contribute a uniquely malty expression. Initial impressions of barley prepare you for oat-biscuit malt, citrus and ash-bright smoke while the wine and virgin-oak add soft grip, hints of spice, and depth of flavor. • Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 — 7 Years — $40 — 118.4 proof / 59.2% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC-MRC01-2010 Distilled in 2010, the spirit spends 6 years in first-fill American-whiskey casks and second-fill French wine casks before marriage and finishing in red wine barrels from Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. Red-fruit glow and cocoa fold into kiln-dry peat and sea-salted malt. 70
• Port Charlotte PC5 “Evolution of Bruichladdich” — 2001 - 2006 — $34 — 127.0 proof / 63.5% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC5-05778/6038 The typical ash-bright peat and lemon oil of Port Charlotte course over vanilla and barley sugar, indicative of the youthful aging in ex-Bourbon barrels before bottling. This whisky expresses with a long, salty, and tea-leaf finish. The first PC release—distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2006—set the series’ blueprint: heavily peated Port Charlotte presented pure and undiluted. • Port Charlotte PC6 “Cuairt-Beatha” — 2001 - 2007 — $45 — 123.2 proof / 61.6% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC6-17526/18000 This PC release was finished in Madeira cask, chosen for the complex dried-fruit tone it would impart on the modern Islay profile. Iodine-rich smoke, vanilla, and pepper lead into a firm and maritime close. The name of this whisky translates from Scottish Gaelic into “Walk of Life.” • Port Charlotte PC7 “Sin An Doigh Ileach” — 2001 - 2008 — $49 — 122.0 proof / 61.0% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC7-19565/24000 7 years across ex-Bourbon and a measure of Sherry casks, expect uniquely briny smoke and kiln ash to usher in cocoa, citrus peel, and a waxy malt vibe. Named “It’s the Islay way,” PC7 celebrated the people behind Bruichladdich’s revival while tightening the series’ textural polish. • Port Charlotte PC8 “Ar Dùthchas” — 2001 - 2009 — $51 — 121.0 proof / 60.5% ABV — 40 PPM — #PC8-27388/30000 Spending 8 years exclusively in American oak, the profile runs clean and coastal. Classic Islay flavors of chimney, sea salt and lemon zest are joined by the obvious American oak notes of vanilla with hints of almond appearing before a dry, compact finish. “Land of our Heritage” anchored PC’s identity: elemental peat shaped by time and place rather than heavy finishing. • Port Charlotte “The Peat Project” — NAS — $43 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — 44 PPM — #PC-PP-92 Composed as a multi-vintage vatting and bottled at 46%, this edition is heavily peated (44 PPM) yet remains brisk and balanced. Baking-spice warmth and barley sweetness weave through medicinal, sea-sprayed smoke. The palate is oil-satin but firmly dry. Bunnahabhain, located in the northern part of the famous isle of Islay, is ‘the other unpeated one’ (Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are considered exceptions to the peated malt character synonymous with Islay) and yet shows some peated iterations as well…Currently owned by Burn Stewart Distillers from South African Distell group, Bunnahabhain (buna-ha-vain, means ‘river mouth’) has recently not only beefed up the quality of their malts, but also worked very hard on making sure you’re too embarrassed to ask for these impossible-to-say, Gaelic-named expressions! Don’t worry and just go by the code #... 71
• Bunnahabhain 12 Year — $33 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #BN12 Matured predominantly in Sherry casks with Bourbon wood for lift, then bottled unpeated, non-chill-filtered, and natural colour at 46.3%. Sea-spray malt, roasted nuts, and orange peel glide over a supple, lightly oily texture shaped by Bunnahabhain’s tall stills. As the core statement of the house, the 12 shows how Islay can whisper: coastal, Sherry-kindled, and quietly generous. • Bunnahabhain 18 Year — $99 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #BN18 A long marriage of Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks layers cocoa, fig, and saline toffee over gentle, unpeated smoke; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Texture is the story—silken and steady, with oak spice arriving late. Within the core range, the 18 represents house maturity in full voice, refining Bunnahabhain’s coastal clarity into sustained resonance. • Bunnahabhain 25 Year — $207 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #BN25 Predominantly Sherry oak shapes dark chocolate, roasted orange, and berry-glossed malt, bottled at 46.3% with natural colour and no chill filtration. Incense-like peat suggestion (from oak, not smoke) and salted caramel length speak to oxidative calm over a quarter century. As the core range’s jewel, it shows how time turns Bunnahabhain’s maritime poise into something grand yet measured. • Bunnahabhain 1988 — 30 Year (Marsala Cask Finish, Limited) — $303 — 94.8 proof / 47.4% ABV — #BN1988M Distilled 1 December 1988 and bottled 18 January 2019, this unpeated vintage spent decades in oak before a finishing period in four Sicilian Marsala hogsheads, yielding a small outturn at 47.4%. Spiced sultana, leather, and dark chocolate ride a resin-tinged, coastal frame. As a late-2010s limited release, it celebrates Bunnahabhain’s Sherry-friendly spirit through a Mediterranean lens without losing Islay line and length. • Bunnahabhain “Stiùireadair” — $29 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #BNST A vatting of first- and second-fill Sherry casks bottled unpeated, non-chill-filtered, and natural colour, Stiùireadair presents the house’s Sherry-led style at a generous strength. Caramelized nuts, toffee, and briny malt flow with easy weight. Introduced as a NAS companion to the 12, it widened access to Bunnahabhain’s Sherry-coastal signature without diluting the distillery’s quietly textural identity. • Bunnahabhain — Fèis Ìle 2024 Ruby Port Cask Finish — 14 Year — $61 — 117.4 proof / 58.7% ABV — #BNFI24 Matured 11 years in Bourbon casks, then finished 3 years in Ruby Port hogsheads, this festival release shows Bunna’s unpeated spirit draped in cherry compote, dark chocolate, and peppered berry. The Port’s red-fruit gloss rides a coastal, nutty core with lingering spice. As the 2024 Fèis Ìle bottling, it frames the house’s Sherry-friendly style through a vivid, Mediterranean-tinted lens. 72
• Bunnahabhain — 2007 Signatory Vintage — 12 Year (Single Cask) — $35 — 116.4 proof / 58.2% ABV — #BN07SV Distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2019 from a first-fill Sherry butt (cask #584), this independent single cask comes natural colour and unchill-filtered. Walnut treacle, roasted orange, and sea-spray malt unfold with cask-strength vigor. It’s a snapshot of Bunna’s unpeated richness through Signatory’s lens—one cask, no camouflage, the sherry leading without drowning the coastline. • Bunnahabhain — 15 Year Murray McDavid (Margaux Finish) — $39 — 117.4 proof / 58.7% ABV — #BN15MM Long American-oak maturation sets the frame before a Bordeaux turn: a Margaux wine-cask finish that adds cassis, cedar, and polished tannin to Bunna’s saline sweetness. Distilled 2008, bottled 2024 in the Benchmark series, it reads like Left Bank meets Sound of Islay. A graceful detour from the usual Sherry path, showing how red-wine structure can lift texture without muting place. Caol Ila is such an easy-to-love single malt! Located on Islay and owned by Diageo, Caol ila (Gaelic for ‘sound of Islay’) produces a peated malt, with rare unpeated expressions, mostly matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. The fairly large production explains a steady stream of official releases, along with aL0LgenerousL0Lamount of independent bottlings, but 0Amost of the distillery’s output is still used in the Johnnie Walker blends, notably ‘Black’ and the pure malt ‘Green label’. Mild peat (35 ppm on the barley, 12 ppm on the newmake), floral notes and a clean palate are the main attributes of this great malt. • Caol Ila — 9 Year Lady of the Glen (PX Octave Finish) — $36 — 111 proof / 55.5% ABV — #CI9LG Initially in a refill Bourbon hogshead, then finished in a Pedro Ximénez sherry octave (cask #303575/4); natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Smoked dates, espresso, and brine charge forward with octave-driven intensity. Distilled February 18, 2014; bottled February 2, 2024, this cask-strength outturn shows how small-format finishing can concentrate Caol Ila’s herbal smoke into a darker, punchier register. • Caol Ila — 12 Year — $24 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CI12 A classic marriage of refill American oak that lets the distillate lead: lemon oil, olive brine, sweet malt, and clean chimney smoke glide over a gently oily palate. As Diageo’s north-Islay reference, the 12 has taught generations what “balanced peat” means—expressive but never loud, maritime yet bright, and endlessly versatile across the table and the bar. • Caol Ila — 12 Year ‘Single Malts of Scotland’ USA Exclusive — $29 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #CI12SMOS A small-batch vatting for the U.S. market at a higher bottling strength, selected from a handful of complementary casks to spotlight citrus, kiln smoke, and coastal herbs with extra drive. The Reserve Casks approach respects Caol Ila’s clarity while dialing up texture and 73
length. It’s the core profile seen through an independent bottler’s prism—familiar lines, sharper focus. • Caol Ila — 31 Year (1988, Gordon & MacPhail) — $198 — 98.8 proof / 49.4% ABV — #CI31GM Distilled in 1988 and bottled three decades later under Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseurs Choice, this long-rested Caol Ila comes from refill oak that lets lemon oil, beeswax, and sea-spray smoke stay luminous. A gentle, old-school phenolic thread runs through polished oak and chamomile. As a mature independent vintage, it shows the distillery’s famed clarity stretched into serenity—Islay’s cleanest peat, aged into poetry rather than power. • Caol Ila — 2008–2018, 10 Year (Signatory Vintage, Hogshead) — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CI10SV From a classic hogshead, bottled un-chill-filtered at 46%, this 2008→2018 vintage keeps things elemental: sweet kiln smoke, lemon barley, and olive brine over a lightly oily palate. The restrained oak lets the herbal, citric core read crystal-clear. As a “UCF” style single-vintage, it frames Caol Ila’s textbook balance—precise, bright, and remarkably versatile behind the bar or as a benchmark sip. • Caol Ila — 2007–2019, 12 Year (Signatory, Cask Strength Hogshead #307337) — $29 — cask strength — #CI12SVCS Drawn from a single refill hogshead (#307337) and bottled by Signatory un-chill-filtered at natural strength, this 12-year tilts the profile darker: sootier smoke, espresso rind, and salted licorice around lemon peel. The higher proof carries a denser mid-palate without smothering maritime lift. As a companion to Signatory’s 46% style, it proves how proof alone can pivot Caol Ila from lithe to thunderous. • Caol Ila 12 Year — The Single Malts of Scotland “Reserve Casks” (USA) — $34 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #SMS-RC-2010USA Distillate from Caol Ila selected by Oliver Chilton for independent bottler Elixir Distillers, this USA exclusive bottling was produced in 2010 and matured in six re-charred bourbon barrels. Smoky BBQ notes and rich bourbon fruit complement the bright ocean brine and clean Caol Ila smoke. Natural coloring and non-chill filtered. • Caol Ila 13 Year — Gordon & MacPhail “Connoisseurs Choice” — $39 — 106.8 proof / 53.4% ABV — #G&M-CC-313567 A small-release single barrel whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. Distilled in 2010 and matured in a refill bourbon hogshead for 13 years with a release of only 165 bottles. The spirit remains taut with lemon oil, sea spray and mineral smoke over a neat, tea-leaf finish. This is a textbook example of the Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice series, showcasing structure over sweetness. Natural coloring and non-chill filtered. • Caol Ila 18 Year — Distillery Bottling — $71 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CI-18-OB Retrained oak influence highlights the distillery style toward elegance. Modern and 74
integrated soft coastal peat, citrus peel, honeyed malt and a dry, mineral close. Sitting between the 12 and 25, it’s the core range’s “quiet middle child,” prized for balance rather than brawn. • Caol Ila 18 Year — Douglas Laing “Old Malt Cask” — $89 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #DL-OMC-9913 A single refill hogshead distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2013 for independent bottler Old Malt Cask. The OMC cut keeps coastal peat vivid while the refill cask frames grapefruit, cocoa and dry oak. 328 bottles released with natural color and non-chill filtration. • Caol Ila 1984 — “Hotel Falster” (Creative Whisky Co.) — Bottled 2007 — $148 — 105.4 proof / 52.7% ABV — #FALSTER-1984 This 1984 production was bottled after 23 years of aging by David Stirk’s Creative Whisky Company. A limited production exclusively for Denmark’s Hotel Falster, the maturation program of this whisky was not disclosed. Mature Islay smoke threads lemon oil and waxy malt with a dry, saline finish. • Caol Ila 30 Year Old — 2014 Special Releases — $387 — 110.2 proof / 55.1% ABV — #CI-30-OB-2014 A special long-matured release from the 1983 vintage aged in refill American & European oak casks. Bottled at cask strength, you will find maritime smoke, wax, and citrus braced by vanilla and almond from gentle, well-seasoned wood. • Caol Ila 32 Year Old — Distiller’s Art (Hunter Laing) — $468 — 101.8 proof / 50.9% ABV — #CI-32-DA-1984 Aged in a single refill hogshead for 32 years before its bottling at cask strength in 2016. The hogshead keeps the peat line fine and mineral, letting orchard fruit and honey glide over gentle ash and brine. A rare, quietly powerful old Islay from Hunter Laing’s single-cask “Distiller’s Art” series. Natural coloring and non-chill filtered. • Caol Ila 33 Year Old — Xtra Old Particular, cask 11620 — $495 — 99.6 proof / 49.8% ABV — #CI-33-XOP-11620 Another long-aged Caol Ila release based on the 1984 vintage and matured in a single refill hogshead, this whisky was bottled in February 2017 at its cask strength A long, precise aging folds beach bonfire smoke into lemon oil, seashells, and almond, with a dry, poised finish. • Caol Ila “Distillers Edition” — C-si; 7-471 — 2011 Release— $56 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CI-DE-7-471 The Distiller’s Edition from Caol Ila is known for taking single-vintage distillate and finishing in a wine wood cask. In this example, spirit from 1998 was initially matured in refill oak cask before finishing in Moscatel-seasoned cask wood. Gentle dried-fruit warmth and cocoa from the sweet wine wood finish combine with Caol Ila’s briny peat and citrus. 75
• Caol Ila “Distillers Edition” — C-si; 7-480 — 2020 Release — $44 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CI-DE-7-480 Another example of spirit aged 12 years with a finish in Moscatel wine casks, this whisky presents brighter and lighter apricot and orange-peel lift over clean coastal smoke and mineral malt. More modern and highlighting the clarity of the spirit through its maturation. • Caol Ila 12 Year — Creetown/Whisky Broker “Cree” — Cask #318247 — 2010 → 2023 — $31 — 104.2 proof / 52.1% ABV — #CI-12-CREE-318247 Finished in Australian Shiraz barriques for 18 months before bottling after 12 years of total aging, this independent bottling adds distinctive notes of strawberry compote, pepper, and cocoa to Caol Ila’s lean, citrus presentation. 302 bottles were produced with the spirit’s natural color and non-chill-filtering. Finlaggan is ‘just a brand’, i.e. not a real distillery. However, the whisky is real, and really well-priced for a great quality. The name of the actual producer is not disclosed, and it seems to borrow elements from Laphroaig, but also Lagavulin, maybe even Ardbeg…regardless, this is probably the best value in the world of peated malts! Islay Boys is currently an independent bottler based in Islay created by whisky afficionados Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie. The company's current bottlings include whisky purchased from Islay distilleries, but the first cask of their new Laggan Bay Distillery (opened with support from Ian McLeod) was filled on April 2nd, 2026. Their offerings include Single Malt, Blended Malt, and Grain whiskies. • Islay Boys ‘Bårelegs’ — Islay Single Malt — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #IBBL Primarily ex-Bourbon oak keeps the spirit’s coastal heart in focus: vanillaed malt, citrus pith, and dry chimney smoke with a clean, modern snap. Bottled at 46% for texture, it’s deliberately distillery-unspecified—an indie take that prizes drinkability over mystique. Within today’s Islay landscape, Bårelegs stands as a friendly compass point: recognizable island character, straightforward wood, and an easygoing, no-secrets pour. Kilchoman was up until recently the newest distillery on Islay, bringing its count to 8, but Ardnahoe was just built…anyway, this is a cute distillery malting some of its barley sourced from the Rockside farm and relying on the Port Ellen Maltings for the bulk of their needs. Using mostly ex-Bourbon barrels for maturation, Kilchoman was, when they released their 3 year old in late 2008, the first Scottish single malt distillery to prove that a malt could be of great quality in its young age, even when dealing with Islay’s climate! The late Dr Jim Swan, ‘the wood doctor’ put in place the right wood policy… • Kilchoman ‘Machir Bay’ — ex-Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #KMMB A marriage led by first-fill Bourbon casks with a measured parcel of Oloroso for depth, bottled at 46% natural colour and un-chill-filtered. Lemon shortbread, sea salt, and fresh kiln smoke glide over a lightly waxy palate. As Kilchoman’s signature, Machir Bay defines 76
the farm-to-glass house style—youthful, vivid peat shaped by careful cask synergy rather than heavy finishing. • Kilchoman ‘Sanaig’ — ex-Bourbon & Sherry Casks — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #KMSN Here the dial tips toward Sherry: a larger Oloroso component layers plum, cocoa, and toasted almond over the bourbon-matured citrus-smoke core; bottled at 46%, natural and NCF. The result is plusher and duskier than Machir Bay, yet still briskly maritime. Within Kilchoman’s core range, Sanaig reads as the richer sibling—Islay peat framed by wine-led sweetness, without losing the distillery’s youthful lift. • Kilchoman — 15 Year Oloroso Sherry Cask (Cask Strength) — $85 — 103.6 proof / 51.8% ABV — #KM15OLO Fully matured in an Oloroso Sherry cask and bottled at natural strength, this rare age statement from a young farm distillery shows peat in slow motion: ember smoke, Medjool date, roasted hazelnut, and leathered citrus. The single-cask concentration gives weight without heaviness. As a milestone Kilchoman, it connects the farm’s early vintages to today—proof that patience suits even the island’s freshest voice. Lagavulin is clearly an iconic Islay distillery, showcasing what Islay is known for: generosity, strong character, bold and sweet at the same time: just like its people, the Ileachs (try to say it). It became so popular (remember when the 16 year old was found in every bar and restaurant throughout the world?) that the ‘hollow by the mill’ malt is now only released as such instead of feeding the Johnnie Walker blends. Except for the yearly Distillers Edition release and occasional special editions, Lagavulin is essentially matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, but it has body and weight due to the very slow distillation protocole it seems. The peated barley (35 ppm) comes from neighbor port Ellen Maltings and leads to an 18 ppm-light newmake spirit. The future will tell if the new way of burning peat (pulverized vs. bricks) in the kiln has an impact on flavor! Pierrick Guillaume is the new Distillery Manager. • Lagavulin 8 Year — $25 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #LG8 Matured in ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at a bracing 48%, this youthful Lagavulin channels lemon oil, white pepper, and dry kiln smoke over a lithe, saline core. The quickened maturation keeps the peat bright and the malt grainy and clean. First revived for the 200th anniversary, the 8 rekindles a historic age statement and shows how worm-tub weight can still read nimble at Lagavulin. • Lagavulin 11 Year ‘Nick Offerman Edition’ — 2024 Release (Caribbean Rum Cask Finish) — $28 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LGNOR24 After long ex-Bourbon maturation, selected parcels take a turn through Caribbean rum casks, folding molasses, grilled pineapple, and toffee into Lagavulin’s savory smoke. The finish adds glow rather than sugar, keeping the coastline in view. As a chapter in the Offerman collaboration, it explores a sweeter dialect of the house style while honoring the slow-run stills and steady, phenolic depth beneath. 77
• Lagavulin 16 Year — $43 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LG16 A classic marriage led by ex-Bourbon casks gives incense-like peat, dark tea, and baked citrus over quietly waxy weight from worm-tub condensation. Oak sits back; the distillate leads. As the cornerstone of the Classic Malts era, the 16 defined modern Islay for many drinkers—proof that power needn’t shout when time and texture can speak in measured tones. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — Double Matured in PX-Seasoned Casks — $42 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LGDE Core Lagavulin spirit, long in American oak, receives a second maturation in Pedro Ximénez-seasoned casks, knitting treacle, fig, and polished spice to the maritime smoke. The texture turns silkier, the finish deeper, without dulling the iodine-salt line. Part of Diageo’s vintage-coded Distillers Edition series, it offers a Sherry-lensed reading of Lagavulin—same contours, warmer light. • Lagavulin 10 Year — Travel Retail Exclusive — $79 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-10TR A rare bottling from Lagavulin that is aged ex-bourbon and rejuvenated American oak barrels in an undisclosed order and bottled at 43% ABV. Uniquely chili-flecked peat, rock salt and toasted almond ride over lemon-bright malt with a crisp, dry finish. A leaner, high-clarity Lagavulin that showcases active bourbon wood without dulling the coastal line. • Lagavulin 11 Year — Offerman Edition (2019) — $35 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LAG-11OFF19 This special edition whisky was aged in a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon and shaved/re-charred ex-Bourbon casks to induce a rich bacon fat and vanilla quality. Briny Lagavulin smoke and ash with peaty citrus notes lead to a slightly tannic finish. The inaugural Offerman collaboration re-centers Lagavulin’s power through this lively, bourbon-led structure. • Lagavulin 11 Year — Offerman Edition “Charred Oak Cask” (2022) — $39 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LAG-11OFF-COC Using heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels in addition to shaved/re-charred American and European red wine casks, this Offerman Edition leans into smoky mocha, dark oak notes, and campfire. The finish is firm and savory with saline peat playing a supporting role. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2024 “Fireside Tales” — $85 — 114.8 proof / 57.4% ABV — #LAG-12SR24 This bottling leans more heavily into ex-bourbon and refill oak casks thatn traditional Lagavulin releases, providing a noticeably sweeter palate. Aromas of thick toffee and vanilla are pulled taut by aromatic spice, hints of coconut and familiar kiln smoke. • Lagavulin 12 Year — “Friends of the Classic Malts” (European Oak) — $82 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #LAG-12-1995-FOCM-01220 After distillation in 1995, this whisky spend the next 12 years in first-fill European-oak 78
sherry casks. As a result, the spirit develops a richer wood quality framing tarry peat with dark cocoa, orange peel and black-tea dryness. Despite the added richness, the whisky remains structured with iodine, sea spray and mineral smoke. A scarce, sherry-led Lagavulin 12, it stands as a bridge between classic Distiller’s Edition sherry tones and the purist 12-year style. • Lagavulin 12 Year — White Horse Distillers era (1995 Bottling) — $95 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-12-WH-01212 Matured in refill oak and bottled in 1995 under the White Horse Distillers imprint, this vintage 12 year shows kiln smoke, lemon oil and waxy malt on a tea-leaf-dry frame. The lean oak regime keeps the maritime core crystalline while soft tannin reins in sweetness. Historically significant as the pre–Classic Malts incarnation of Lagavulin 12, it captures late-20th-century house character before the annual cask-strength run defined the modern template. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2011 — $73 — 115 proof / 57.5% ABV — #LAG-12SR-2011 12 years in refill American-oak hogsheads, bottled at natural cask strength in 2011 to spotlight spirit over cask. Peaty smoke and citrus peel establish a weighty palate while seasoned bourbon wood adds just a brush of vanilla to a brisk, saline finish. Among the clearest early statements of the revived 12 Year Cask Strength line, it set expectations for precision, dryness, and uncompromised phenolic clarity in the series. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2016 (200th Anniversary) — $96 — 115.4 proof / 57.7% ABV — #LAG-12SR-2016 Matured exclusively in refill American-oak hogsheads, this 12 Year old whisky celebrates the bicentennial anniversary of the distillery with a wider texture and mild sweetness. Peppery smoke, citrus rind and ocean water meet subtle toffee and vanilla from lively refill stock, finishing long and maritime-dry. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2017 — $93 — 113.0 proof / 56.5% ABV — #LAG-12SR-2017 Less broad than the previous Special Release, this vintage runs linear and exact. Refill American oak hogsheads deliver bonfire ash, lemon oil and sea spray over a clean, articulate mineral spine with little oak influence. This is widely cited when defining what the Lagavulin 12 Cask Strength should be: spirit-led, coastal, and fiercely precise. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2018 — $91 — 115.6 proof / 57.8% ABV — #LAG-12SR18 The 2018 Special Release is the first step towards and a reference point for the Lagavulin 12 Year Cask Strength. Refill wood keeps the spirit structured with kiln smoke, lemon oil, and sea spray over a mineral backbone. The oak on this spirit adds vanillin which rounds the edges without adding weight. 79
• Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2017 “Peeled Label” — $54 — 113.0 proof / 56.5% ABV — #LAG-12SR17 Ashy bonfire smoke, citrus peel, and coastal salinity lead with seasoned oak giving just enough sweetness to balance the taut, dry close. A widely admired CS year that let the distillate sing with minimal oak imprint. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2022 “The Flames of the Phoenix” — $56 — 114.6 proof / 57.3% ABV — #LAG-12SR22 The incorporation of virgin American oak on top of refill bourbon hogsheads lends toasted coconut, baking spice, and mocha to the classic Lagavulin structure. Expect a broader palate with more wood forward qualities on this distinctive production. • Lagavulin 12 Year — Special Releases 2023 “The Ink of Legends” — $56 — 112.8 proof / 56.4% ABV — #LAG-12SR23 A finish in Don Julio Añejo tequila casks adds herb-tinged smoke, lime zest, and kosher salt with a subtle agave vegetal echo. It’s the series’ first tequila-cask experiment, refracting the 12 Year Cask Strength identity through a lean, savory lens while preserving the distillery’s hallmark intensity. • Lagavulin 16 Year — Late-1980s White Horse era — $75 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-16WH80s Official bottling under White Horse Distillers, matured in an undisclosed seasoned oak program, and bottled at 43%. The DNA of Lagavulin can be seen in the camphor and kiln smoke, waxy citrus, black tea, and dry, coastal minerality. This late-’80s iteration helped define Lagavulin’s international reputation, especially in early Italian and U.S. markets. • Lagavulin 25 Year — “Diageo Special Releases” — $265 — 114.4 proof / 57.2% ABV — #LAG-25SR2002 Another rare example of Lagavulin aged exclusively in sherry oak casks, this 1977 distillate was bottled in 2002 with a 9,000 bottle run. Ebony-tinged smoke, dark cocoa and dried orange ride a taut, mineral finish. This is the first modern 25-year Lagavulin and a cornerstone of the early Special Releases era. • Lagavulin 25 Year — 200th Anniversary (2016) — $270 — 103.4 proof / 51.7% ABV — #LAG-25ANN2016 This replica of the Diageo Special Release was produced as a tribute to Lagavulin’s distillery managers. Exclusively Sherry cask matured, this whisky has dense treacle, walnut, and roast citrus threaded with iodine and kiln smoke for a long, sea-braced close. A commemorative chapter that tied two centuries of stewardship to a resolutely old-school profile. • Lagavulin 30 Year — “Diageo Special Releases” — $510 — 105.2 proof / 52.6% ABV — #LAG-30SR2006 Long maturation in refill American & European oak, distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2006 at natural strength; 2,340 bottles (EU release). Waxy citrus, almond and polished old oak 80
frame measured tar and brine, finishing poised and bone-dry. The oldest official Lagavulin of its time, it defined the distillery’s mature voice for a generation. • Lagavulin 9 Year — “Game of Thrones: House Lannister” — $34 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LAG-9GOT Created as a collaborative marketing effort for the HBO series Game of Thrones. Bright, ashy peat and lemon oil meet vanilla and toasted cereal, closing clean and saline. This is an interesting young example of Lagavulin's style. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1991-2007 — lgv.4/495 — $68 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1991 Characterized by a finish in PX Sherry casks during its maturation, the Distiller's Edition is the template of Lagavulin's sherry cask aging program. Licorice, caramel, tea leaf and polished oak fold into tarry, coastal smoke without a sweet finish. Very old school in its balance. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1993 - 2009 — lgv.4/497 — $64 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1993 More fruit driven than the first DE release, the 2009 brings raisin, cocoa and orange-oil glow around tarry, iodine-laced peat, tightening the finish neat and dry. Often considered the most complete of the Distiller’s Editions as smoke and sherry fruit find a unique balance. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1994 - 2010 — lgv.4/498 — $60 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1994 A unique expression of Lagavulin showing uncharacteristic tropical fruit and lively aromas before trending into cocoa and orange peel. The finish is long but dry, highlighting a clean and intentional whisky. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1995 - 2011 — lgv.4/499 — $58 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1995 The most Sherry forward presentation, walnut, dark chocolate, raisin, and dried citrus shout through campfire smoke and sea spray. It keeps a tight and clean finish despite the apparent richness of the spirit. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1996 - 2012 — lgv.4/500 — $55 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1996 The most mineral-driven and clean of the Distiller’s Editions, you can expect soot, lemon zest and sea salt with hints of PX Sherry involvement in the background. Quite spirit first with delicate palate and more typical Lagavulin qualities. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1997 - 2013 — lgv.4/502 — $53 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1997 Here the PX is vivid yet tidy. Dark cherry, prune and brown-sugar drive a lightly sweet ash, seaweed and iodine mid-palate. Leathery dryness on the finish keeps the sweetness in 81
check. Long, coastal and complex, it’s one of the richest early-2010s DEs without losing the mineral Lagavulin line. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 1998 - 2014 — lgv.4/503 — $52 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-1998 This release offers a moderate body with raisin and citrus oil warmth on a lingering finish of tarry peat and lemon rind. It is an interesting counterpoint to the 1995 and 1996 distillates, sitting between the two in richness while keeping the finish clean. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 2000 - 2016 — lgv.4/505 — $51 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-2000 Menthol and cigar-box aromas stand out against the classic Lagavulin notes with cocoa edging a drier finish. The PX influence is present and obvious, though deliberately restrained. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 2001 - 2017 — lgv.4/506 — $49 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-2001 Golden-raisin lift and soft pastry tones frame briny smoke, iodine and cooling menthol, reading cleaner and less sugary than the fuller ’95/’97 style. More modern in style with higher clarity and focus on the mineral finish. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 2002 - 2018 — lgv.4/507 — $47 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-2002 Marmalade and subtle licorice qualify the aromas before cocoa folds into a long and typical Lagavulin finish. It’s a crisp, mineral-leaning DE that reads spirit-first, • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 2003 - 2019 — lgv.4/508 — $45 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-2003 Again displaying cocoa, marmalade and a touch of licorice this edition drinks cleaner and more mineral than early-2010s counterparts. The sherry is more contour than theme, intended for its quiet depth of flavor in this release. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition — 2006 - 2021 — lgv.4/510 — $44 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LAG-DE-2006 Showing slightly more raisin and a wider mid-palate with smoky cocoa and lemon zest before the whisky pulls back to a neat, tea-leaf-dry close. This recent release of the Distiller’s Edition is indicative of the line’s intended profile. Laphroaig triggers this ‘love or hate’ reaction…a unique character on this ‘most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies’ makes it the best selling Islay malt! Allegedly Great Britain’s new King’s very favorite too…Laphroaig indeed shows a much unusual profile of iodine, cold campfire and liquorice, medicinal peat…Just like its sister distillery on Islay, Bowmore (both belong to the group Beam Suntory), Laphroaig has its own malting facility, and uses local peat in the kiln (50 ppm) which provides for about 20% of its needs; the rest is bought in at a lower phenolic content (35 ppm). The big chunk 82
of the maturation is done in ex-Bourbon barrels with a dominance of Maker’s Mark casks. Following the amazing John Campbell in the position of Distillery Manager, Barry MacAffer is now at the helm of this iconic whisky producer. If you’re fond of Laphroaig, you can become a ‘friend of Laphroaig’ and ‘own’ your square foot of Islay peat! If you are scared of trying Laphroaig, try the blend it plays a major role in…Teacher’s! • Laphroaig 10 Year — $27 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LP10 Matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled at 43%, this iconic Islay pours medicinal peat, seaweed broth, and vanilla-sweet malt with a briny snap. The long, cool ferment and heavy kiln reek deliver that unmistakable iodine-smoke while oak stays supportive. As the house’s banner statement, it defines Laphroaig’s dialect—assertive yet precise, the reference point from which every variant departs. • Laphroaig 10 Year Cask Strength — Batch 016 — $33 — 117 proof / 58.5% ABV — #LP10CS16 Drawn straight from ex-Bourbon barrels, uncut and typically non-chill-filtered, Batch 016 delivers furnace-heat peat wrapped in sweet grain, lemon oils, and vanilla char. Water teases out coconut and brine while keeping the medicinal core intact. The batch-by-batch approach preserves Laphroaig 10’s essence at full volume—an annual reminder that the distillery’s character is built to carry power gracefully. • Laphroaig 10 Year — Sherry Oak Finish — $31 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #LP10SOF Ten years in ex-Bourbon barrels, then a finishing spell in Oloroso sherry oak, gives a richer reading of the house style: dried fruit and heathered honey woven through briny smoke and sweet malt. The sherry wood rounds Laphroaig’s medicinal edges without muting them. As a permanent sister to the classic 10, it shows how a measured finish can add warmth while keeping the coastline in view. • Laphroaig ‘Càirdeas’ — 2023 White Port & Madeira (Cask Strength) — $31 — 104.6 proof / 52.3% ABV — #LPCD23 A festival one-off built from parcels matured in white Port and Madeira casks (with the balance favoring Madeira), bringing almond, citrus peel, and stone-fruit lift to peat and seaweed broth. The texture stays bright and saline, the finish gently sweet. As the 2023 Friends release, it explores a white-wine lens on Laphroaig—a rare, elegant counterpoint to the brand’s darker sherry experiments. • Laphroaig ‘Càirdeas’ — 2024 Cask Favourites, 10 Year (Cask Strength) — $32 — 104.8 proof / 52.4% ABV — #LPCD24 A 10-year assemblage referencing two fan classics—Triple Wood and PX Cask—so the bourbon, quarter-cask, and sherry influences all speak at once. Treacle and toasted nut glide over iodine-rich smoke, with citrus freshness keeping pace. As the 2024 Friends bottling, it’s less a detour than a synthesis: a decade of Laphroaig shaped by the casks drinkers loved most. 83
• Laphroaig ‘Quarter Cask’ — $25 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #LPQC First matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, then re-racked into small quarter casks to amplify wood contact and texture. Vanilla, coconut, and sweet malt ride alongside the signature medicinal peat, finishing with a clean, saline snap. Reviving a nineteenth-century practice, Quarter Cask shows how old logistics can become modern style—more oak intimacy without losing house clarity. • Laphroaig 25 Year — (Cask Strength) — $232 — cask strength — #LP25 Long maturation in a balance of Oloroso sherry butts and Bourbon barrels softens the peat to incense and sea-polished oak, with citrus oils and honeyed malt in slow release. The palate is supple and quietly powerful, finishing with iodine and sweet smoke. As an annual cask-strength release, the 25 presents Laphroaig at full composure—age and ocean speaking in tandem. • Laphroaig 27 Year — 1989–2017 Limited Edition — $180 — 83.4 proof / 41.7% ABV — #LP27 Refill hogsheads formed the base, with portions further matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels and refill quarter casks before being married and bottled in 2017. Tobacco leaf, tropical fruit, and iodine interplay with gently smoldering peat, the texture turning silkier than the younger range. As a late-vintage statement, it captures pre-1990s stock in a luminous, gracefully coastal register. • Laphroaig 28 Year — 2018 Limited Edition (Sherry Cask Finish) — $197 — 88.8 proof / 44.4% ABV — #LP28-2018 Drawn from quarter casks, Bourbon barrels and Oloroso butts for 27 years, then married for a final 12 months in Sherry wood before bottling in 2018. Polished oak, grilled dates and sea-spray iodine move in measured waves, the peat turned incense-soft by time. One of the distillery’s oldest modern statements, it reframes Laphroaig’s intensity as composure—age and finish in deliberate counterpoint. • Laphroaig “Select” — Final Maturation in New American Oak — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #LPSEL A blend of house styles first matured in Oloroso, PX-seasoned hogsheads and first-fill Bourbon/quarter casks, then finished in virgin American oak to brighten spice and vanilla. Medicinal peat and seaweed sit beneath red-fruit lift and citrus. As the brand’s gateway expression, Select shows how wood architecture—not age—can soften Laphroaig’s edges without losing its unmistakable dialect. • Laphroaig “Lore” — $29 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #LPLOR Built from parcels matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and quarter casks, with a final maturation in large European-oak Oloroso sherry butts. Cocoa, ash and briny sweetness thread through firm, savory peat. Conceived as a living history lesson, Lore gathers house eras into one glass—recognizably Laphroaig, yet shaded darker and silkier than the core ten. 84
• Laphroaig “Elements L 1.0” — 2023 Release (100% Islay Malt) — $52 — 117.2 proof / 58.6% ABV — #LPEL10 Made with two mash-tun sizes and both cloudy and semi-cloudy worts, then matured entirely in ex-Bourbon casks before bottling at natural strength. Charred pineapple, peppery smoke and liquorice ride a salty, oily frame. As the inaugural Elements bottling—and rare 100% Islay malt—it opens a new chapter where production variables, not cask theatrics, steer the conversation. • Laphroaig 15 Year — Distiller’s Art (Langside) - 2016 — $84 — 114.4 proof / 57.2% ABV — #LAPH-DA-2001 15 years in a single refill sherry butt and bottled at cask strength. 610 bottles were produced of this 2001 single-cask whisky. Medicinal peat and seaweed are framed by walnut and cocoa delivered by the Sherry wood. Natural color, non-chill-filtered • Laphroaig 33 Year — “Strong Characters: Chapter 1 – Donald Johnston” - 2024 — $355 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV — #LAPH-33-SC With extensive time in ex-Bourbon and European oak Sherry hogsheads, the spirit develops savory peat and brine aromas laced with crème-brûlée and gentle dried-fruit tones. The oak presents polished and steady. This new series from Laphroaig honors its formative figures; this chapter nods to founder Donald Johnston while presenting an elegant, dessert-tinged take on old Laphroaig. • Laphroaig Càirdeas — Port Wood Edition (2013) — $46 — 102.6 proof / 51.3% ABV — #LAPH-CAR-PW13 This limited edition release for the Friends of Laphroaig and Fèis Ìle spends a finishing 16 months in Port pipes to add jammy plum and orange-oil influences to Laphroaig’s typical iodine-rich smoke and sea spray. This unique expression of the house style improves on the diversity of their portfolio without diluting the spirit’s identity. • Laphroaig 17 Year — Francis Mallmann Limited Edition — $74 — 109.8 proof / 54.9% ABV — #LAPH-17-FM Finished in a white Madeira cask selected with Patagonian fire-chef Francis Mallmann, this whisky is bottled at a robust cask strength. Smoked honey, grilled stone-fruit, and a subtle richness from the Madeira ride savory peat and sea salt into a mineral, ember-warm close. A culinary-minded collaboration that reframes Laphroaig’s smoke through a bright, flame-kissed lens. • Laphroaig 34 Year — “The Ian Hunter Story: Book 4 – Malt Master” — 1987 → 2021 — $365 — 92.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #LAPH-34-IH4 Distilled in 1987 and aged in both ex-bourbon barrels and first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry casks, this bottling was released to celebrate the floor malting and oak maturation programs established by Ian Hunter, the last of the Johnston family to own Laphroaig. Waxy citrus and honeyed malt meet polished peat and walnut-spice, with the finish precise and sea-braced. 85
• Laphroaig 28 Year — 2018 Limited Edition — $188 — 88.8 proof / 44.4% ABV — #LAPH-28-2018 Composed from quarter casks, ex-bourbon barrels, and Oloroso sherry butts before being married for 12 months in sherry casks, the extended wood mix brings waxy citrus, honeyed malt and polished spice around medicinal peat and sea-spray. It finishes firm and dry. Bottled at natural strength, this rare bottling broadens the house style. • Laphroaig Elements 2.0 — 2024 — $62 — 119.2 proof / 59.6% ABV — #LAPH-ELM-2.0 Built to showcase an extended fermentation of 115 hours (nearly double the average fermentation length), Elements 2.0 is a unique fruit-and-smoke study. Expect stewed green apple, zesty orange and vanilla-brûlée cues woven through maritime peat on an energetic, yet balanced, palate. Awarded Whisky Advocate’s 2024 Whisky of the Year. • Laphroaig 17 Year — Francis Mallmann Limited Edition — 2023 — $74 — 109.8 proof / 54.9% ABV — #LAPH-17-FM Matured in oak and finished in a white Madeira cask, bottled in 2023 as a single-cask release (≈276 bottles), natural presentation. Smoked honey and grilled stone-fruit ride savory peat and sea salt, the Madeira turn adding glaze without sweetness, finishing ember-warm and dry. A culinary-minded collaboration that refracts Laphroaig’s smoke through the fire-cooking lens of chef Francis Mallmann. • Laphroaig 34 Year — “The Ian Hunter Story: Book 4 – Malt Master” — 1987 - 2021 — $365 — 92.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #LAPH-IH4-34 Ex-bourbon barrels matured and first-fill European-oak Oloroso sherry finish; distilled in 1987 and bottled Oct 2021 at 46.2%. Waxy citrus and honeyed malt fold into polished peat, walnut and a measured coastal line, finishing precise and sea-braced. As the fourth Ian Hunter volume, it ties floor-maltings heritage to a dignified old-Islay voice.\ • Smokehead ‘Sherry Cask Blast’ — Islay Single Malt — $20 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #SHSB Undisclosed-distillery Islay malt finished in Oloroso sherry casks, turning the brand’s brash peat toward dark cherry, cocoa, and spiced citrus while keeping the engine-room smoke humming. The palate is bold but tidy, with sherry gloss carrying through the finish. Within Smokehead’s lineup, this is the cask-driven detour—same island attitude, dressed in richer, red-fruit light. Port Askaig: robust smokiness and fruitiness put together under one name, which is also the name of this lovely little port-village on the north-east of Islay, where the Caol ila distillery is located. This independent bottling company doesn’t disclose where the malts are sourced from, leaving the guessing exercise to the sagacity of your nose and palate. All whiskies found under the Port Askaig brand are non chill-filtered and are not added coloring. 86
Port Ellen distillery was founded in 1825 and operated its coastal facility until 1983. Its whiskies were consistently lauded for their tropical fruit and rich peat qualities, though the whisky lake of the 1980s made it impossible for the distillery to continue operating. Since its closure, bottles of Port Ellen whisky have delighted connoisseurs with their complexity and intensity, causing the producer to become one of the great ghost distilleries and bringing its older bottles into unicorn status. Diageo announced in 2024 that the distillery would be reopening with classic Port Ellen replica stills alongside modern distillation equipment and its first new production occurred in 2025. • Port Ellen 27 Year — Douglas of Drumlanrig “Old Malt Cask” (DL 6836) — 1983 - 2010 — $745 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #PE-OMC-6836 A single Sherry butt-matured spirit distilled in March 1983 and bottled in 2010. Waxy citrus and almond open over coal-tar smoke, iodine and old-oak polish with a clean, sea-braced finish. From Port Ellen’s final distilling year, this Douglas Laing bottling captures late-vintage PE in a taut, dry register—an elemental snapshot of the lost Islay giant. 568 bottles were produced. • Port Ellen 24 Year — “Signatory Vintage Collection” (Cask 146) — 1975 - 1999 — $565 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #PE-SV-1975-146 Distilled in Jan 14, 1975 and bottled in Oct 25, 1999 from a single cask #146. 280 bottles. The profile is poised: lemon oil, soft peat and coastal minerals set against gentle vanilla and waxy malt, finishing tea-leaf dry. A millennium-era Signatory release that shows pre-closure Port Ellen in a graceful, low-intervention style: rare, quiet, and impeccably balanced. Smokehead is a brand hailing from Ian MacLeod distillers and presents an innovative approach to Scotch whisky. As an independent bottler, they have access to a variety of single malts they further mature, sometimes in very unusual casks. While we are not given the name of the distillery they contract to supply the juice, we know it no longer comes from Ardbeg. The other option would be Caol ia… • Smokehead ‘Sherry Cask Blast’ — Islay Single Malt — $27 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #SHSB Undisclosed-distillery Islay malt finished in Oloroso sherry casks, turning the brand’s brash peat toward dark cherry, cocoa, and spiced citrus while keeping the engine-room smoke humming. The palate is bold but tidy, with sherry gloss carrying through the finish. Within Smokehead’s lineup, this is the cask-driven detour—same island attitude, dressed in richer, red-fruit light. HIGHLAND 87
Aberfeldy [NEED Producer’s Note] • Aberfeldy 12 Year — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #AF12 Matured mainly in ex-Bourbon with select Sherry casks, this gentle Highlander leans into long fermentations and slow copper contact for its hallmark honeyed profile. Heather, orange zest, and vanillaed malt glide over soft oak spice. As the core statement from the Pitilie Burn’s “golden” distillery, the 12 anchors Aberfeldy’s house style—approachable sweetness with just enough Highland resin to keep things interesting. • Aberfeldy 16 Year — Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #AF16OLO Long Bourbon maturation sets a bright, honey-citrus frame before a measured Oloroso finish deepens texture and tone. Sultana, cocoa, and toasted almond enrich the malt while keeping Aberfeldy’s floral lift intact. Introduced to push the core into duskier territory, the 16 shows how a finishing pass can amplify richness without smothering the distillery’s easygoing Highland grace. • Aberfeldy 21 Year — Argentinian Malbec Cask Finish — $49 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #AF21MAL Two decades in American oak are crowned by a Malbec cask finish, layering cassis, rose-tinged spice, and satin tannin over the distillery’s honeyed core. The palate reads polished yet buoyant, with red-fruit warmth lifting the long, wax-tipped finish. As a small-batch detour in the Exceptional Cask vein, it reframes Aberfeldy maturity through a South American lens—elegant, not heavy. • Aberfeldy 24 Year — 1994 - 2019 — $115 — 107.8 proof / 53.9% ABV — #8048098519 A single Oloroso sherry cask that yielded only 312 bottles specifically chosen by Aberfeldy Malt Master Stephanie Macleod, this 24 Year Old whisky is part of the distillery’s Exceptional Cask Series. Honeyed malt notes are tied to dried fruit, toffee, and baking spice aromas. Aberlour- One of the top ten best selling malts worldwide and the number 1 selling malt in France, a shining example of a traditional Speyside whisky. The name translates to, “mouth of the babbling brook” and draws the majority from a series of springs from the Benrinnes foothills. Maturation is a well balanced combination of both ex-Bourbon casks and sherry casks. Owned by drinks giant Pernod Ricard, and continuously growing and holding tight to its reputation as stalwart of traditional sherried malts. • Aberlour 12 Year “Double Cask Matured” — $24 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #ABL12DC A classic marriage of American oak and Sherry casks yields baking-spice warmth over orchard fruit and honeyed malt. The texture stays plush but lively, with gentle cocoa at the close. As Aberlour’s gateway, the 12 sketches the house signature in clean lines—bourbon 88
brightness meeting sherry depth—setting the stage for the distillery’s richer, high-strength expressions. • Aberlour 18 Year — Double Cask Sherry (PX & Oloroso) — $76 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #ABL18PXOLO Long maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks turns the fruit darker and silkier: fig cake, orange oil, and polished walnut over a calm, steady palate. Oak reads supportive, not loud. Within the range, the 18 acts as the composed elder sibling—deep sherry tone without the thunder of cask strength, a bridge between elegance and amplitude. • Aberlour A’Bunadh — Batch 074 (Spanish Oloroso Sherry Butt) — $33 — cask strength — #ABLAB074 Matured exclusively in first-fill Spanish Oloroso butts and bottled at natural strength, Batch 74 channels treacle, cherry compote, and ginger cake through a dense, warming core. Water teases out orange oils and nut brittle. Since 1997, A’Bunadh has been the cult standard for old-school sherry heft—batch by batch, a living link to the distillery’s vintage cask tradition. • Aberlour Casg Annamh — (US Oak & Sherry Oak) — $28 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #ABLCASG Built from a high proportion of first-fill Sherry casks (Oloroso and PX) with American oak for lift, bottled at 48% for texture and drive. Dark honey, poached pear, and clove-tinged cocoa move with confident weight. As a batch-led release, Casg Annamh (“rare cask”) threads the needle between the 12’s accessibility and A’Bunadh’s force—modern sherry maturity in a versatile, bar-friendly register. • Aberlour 10 Year — $26 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #ABR-10 Matured ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks to emphasize the traditional orchard fruit character of the distillery's spirit. Expect supple malt, toffee and tea-leaf dryness with a clean, Speyside finish. This whisky represents Aberlour’s modern template: approachable sherry influence over a bright, honeyed core. • Aberlour 1971 Vintage — 24 Years (≈1995/1996 bottling) — $258 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #ABR-1971-24 Distilled in 1971 and bottled in the mid-1990s for the French Market, the style of this whisky is poised and old-school. Dried citrus and wax-polished oak lead to a clean, dry, and compact finish. • Aberlour A’bunadh — Batch 47 — $32 — 121.4 proof / 60.7% ABV — #ABR-ABUN-47 Non-age indicated but aged exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts, this cask strength limited release showcases apricot, vanilla, black cherry and spice through a rich, oil-satin palate. Extremely sherry forward with a tea leaf tannin finish. 89
Ardmore was not initially founded for the production of single malt whisky, nor even for its own bottlings. Adam Teacher built the distillery in 1898 to supply peated malt for his family's blended whisky, the Teacher's Highland Cream. The distillery was expanded twice by 1974 to bring the total stills from 2 to 8 and then sold two years later. After several changes in hands, the first single malt from Ardmore was bottled in 2007. • Ardmore 11 Year — Cadenhead’s (ex-Bourbon & Marsala) — $27 — cask strength — #ARM11CM Ex-Bourbon maturation lays down Ardmore’s gently ashy Highland peat before a Marsala finish adds raisined fruit, almond toffee, and sweet spice. The palate feels wiry yet generous, with sea-spray smoke threading the sweetness. As an independent bottling, it reframes Ardmore’s farmhouse style through Sicilian wine casks—an adventurous detour that keeps the distillate’s earthy clarity in focus. • Ardmore 11 Year — Cadenhead’s (Ruby Port) — $27 — cask strength — #ARM11RP A Ruby Port cask brings red-berry gloss and cocoa to Ardmore’s citrus-tinged peat, while the underlying ex-Bourbon stock preserves malt brightness and line. The finish turns slightly vinous without weight, smoke and fruit moving in stride. As a sibling to the Marsala expression, it sketches a darker, juicier register—proof that Ardmore’s lightly peated heart wears wine wood with ease. • Ardmore 11 Year — Cadenhead (Original Collection) — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARD-CAD-11 This independent 11 Year aged bottling of Ardmore is matured in a combination of Marsala and Bourbon barrels and designed to encourage Ardmore’s clean and brisk clean and brisk style to shine. Expect peaty kiln-smoke and citrus over vanilla and grain, finishing dry and lightly saline. Ardnamurchan is a brand new -and green- distillery (they distilled their first newmake spirit in 2014) located in the Western Highlands and owned by famous independent bottler Adelphi. They make two different malts, one peated and one unpeated and use a variety of barrels to mature these malts. • anCnoc 12 Year (Knockdhu Distillery) — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #ANC12 Matured in a mix of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, this unpeated Highlander leans on slow, careful distillation for its hallmark lightness. Lemon zest, honeyed barley, and vanilla cream glide over a clean, mineral snap. Relaunched under the “anCnoc” name in the 1990s to distinguish it from Knockando, it remains the house’s modern calling card—fresh, elegant, and quietly characterful. Aultmore in Speyside is a Bacardi malt, until recently solely used for blending purposes 90
(mostly Dewar’s), but along with other malts such as Craigellachie, Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla and The Deveron (Macduff), has been made available as a stand-alone whisky. Overall light and round, with honey and citrus notes, quite elegant. Balblair [NEED Producer’s Note] • Balblair 12 Year — ex-Bourbon Barrels — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BB12 Drawn from American oak ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled non-chill-filtered, the 12 channels orchard fruit, blossom honey, and a subtle waxy glide. Oak stays supportive, letting citrus and barley sugar read crystal clear. Introduced with Balblair’s 2019 age-statement core, it sets the house baseline—Highland brightness and texture without adornment, a precise platform for the older expressions to elaborate upon. • Balblair 15 Year — ex-Bourbon with First-Fill Spanish Oak Finish — $78 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BB15 Long American-oak maturation delivers poise, then first-fill Spanish oak (sherry) deepens tone and length. Toffee, dark honey, and clove-laced citrus move over a silken, slightly waxy palate. As the range’s step-up in the 2019 re-cast, it offers a richer, duskier take on Balblair’s orchard-led style—elegant and composed, with sherry warmth framing rather than steering the conversation. The Balvenie, or ‘Glenfiddich II’ as it was called at some point, is in the William Grant family, and is hands down one of the most reliable malts around: generally speaking unpeated, mild and delicate, it lends itself to finishes very well (the distillery pioneered the process without naming it), greatly improves with age, and has always been found on the shelves at the right price (well, until now, but that is true for just about everything!). But Balvenie also excels at releasing new offerings on a regular basis, departing greatly from what was coined a ‘typical Speyside’ even just a few years ago with its sweet, honey and vanilla-driven profile. Even better for us…more whiskies to try! If you like the malts, pay them a visit, it’s worth it…they still malt some of their own barley and there is a cooperage on site! • Balvenie 12 Year ‘The Sweet Toast of American Oak’ — $35 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BV12ST First matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, then finished in twice-toasted virgin American oak casks from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, this 12 year layers vanilla fudge and honeyed malt over gentle spice. The fresh wood’s lactones and toast brighten orchard fruit while keeping Balvenie’s malty core intact. Part of the distillery’s wood-craft narrative, it shows how a thoughtful virgin-oak finish can sweeten without shouting. • Balvenie 14 Year “Caribbean Cask” — Rum Cask Finish — $39 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BV14CC Long American-oak maturation meets a finish in casks seasoned with Balvenie’s own blend of Caribbean rums, drawing out ripe banana, toffee, and warm spice alongside honeyed malt. The sweetness reads supple, not sugary, with a clean oak line beneath. As one of the 91
category’s touchstone rum finishes, it extends Balvenie’s house richness into a tropical register without losing balance or poise. • Balvenie 16 Year — French Oak (Pineau des Charentes Finish) — $65 — 95.2 proof / 47.6% ABV — #BV16FO American-oak maturation sets a honey-citrus frame before finishing in French-oak casks that once held Pineau des Charentes, adding white-grape sweetness, almond, and floral lift. Texture turns silkier without excess weight, smoke absent but oak confident. As a modern “French oak” chapter, it broadens Balvenie’s finishing vocabulary—proof that delicate fortified-wine influence can enrich the house style rather than rewire it. • Balvenie 19 Year ‘A Revelation of Cask & Character’ — $74 — 95 proof / 47.5% ABV — #BV19RCC Matured entirely in European-oak Oloroso sherry casks, this 19 year foregrounds the cooperage itself: clove-spiced cocoa, Seville orange, and polished oak fan out over a stately, slow-building palate. The distillate’s honeyed core remains visible through the sherry’s duskier light. As a Balvenie Stories release, it reads like a masterclass in sherry-led maturity—celebrating cask provenance as the engine of style. • The Balvenie 14 Year “Peat Week” — 2002 - 2017— $58 — 96.6 proof / 48.3% ABV — #8366487375 Distilled during Balvenie’s one-week long annual peated run, ‘Peat Week’ is matured exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels and aged for 14 years. This 2002 example offers gentle Speyside peat and earthy smoke over honeyed malt and citrus. This whisky reintroduced peated Balvenie to the market and became the basis of the ‘Stories’ line for the company. • The Balvenie 14 Year — The Week of Peat — $58 — 96.6 proof / 48.3% ABV — #8366487414 Composed from ex-bourbon casks distilled during the distillery’s once-a-year peated week; the smoke stays measured so the house’s honey-vanilla core can lead. Texture is supple, coastal, and tidy on the close. A Stories-series mainstay, it’s the ongoing expression of Balvenie’s peat program begun with the 2002 vintage. • The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel Sherry Cask — Cask no. 4128 — $82 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #BAL-15SB-SH Matured exclusively in one European-oak Oloroso sherry butt with less than 800 bottles produced. The sherry cask influence drives walnut, cocoa and dark fruit around Balvenie’s honeyed spine, finishing tea-leaf-dry and precise. • The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel Sherry Cask — Cask no. 615 — $52 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #BAL-15SB-615 Released from a single European-oak Oloroso butt, this edition of The Balvenie 15 Year portrays raisin bread, polished spice and cocoa over sweet malted aromas. The finish is firm without being tense and highlights the variability a single barrel provides Balvenie distillate. 92
• The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel — Cask no. 10903 — 1998 - 2013 — $77 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #BAL-15SB-1998 Prior to 2014, The Balvenie 15 year was aged in ex-Bourbon barrels instead of Sherry butts. This 1998 distillate, bottled in 2013, has aromas of vanilla and lemon oil with drying tannins framing The Balvenie’s waxy, cereal malt spirit. • The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel — 1980 - 1997 — Cask no. 12561 — $91 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV — #bottle131 Bottled above the 47.8% ABV The Balvenie is presently released at, this 1980 15 Year whisky was matured in ex-bourbon barrel and characterizes a distinctly old-school approach by the house. Sweet citrus, sugary barley, vanilla, and honey drive a smooth, mature palate with a tannic, quick finish. • The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel — 1998 - 2013 — Cask no. 1406 — $81 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #BAL-15SB-1998-2013-197 Distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2013 from a single ex-bourbon barrel. Expect wax-polished oak, lemon oil and vanilla over Balvenie’s honeyed grain, the finish long, tidy and dry — a pure read of the house style without sherry influence. As the ex-bourbon era of the 15 Single Barrel wound down, bottlings like this became a snapshot of the pre-sherry pivot. • The Balvenie 15 Year — Single Barrel — 1999 - 2014 — Cask no. 203 — $80 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #BAL-15SB-1999-2014-041 The profile on this single barrel is bright and exact, highlighting the rich and sweet profile of the house. Vanilla cream, barley sugar, and citrus present with a spine of gentle oak. These examples maintain a cult following even in the face of Balvenie’s switch to ex-Sherry casks for maturation. • The Balvenie 16 Year — Triple Cask — $49 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #010327545073 This whisky was composed from spirit aged in first-fill bourbon, refill bourbon and first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. The resulting whisky contains a silky body with balanced fruit, vanilla and gentle spice framing the malt. Bottled at 40%, this was bottled with the intention of being more approachable and easy drinking. • The Balvenie 17 Year — Peated Cask (2010) — $58 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #8366487170 Aged for 17 years in ex-Bourbon barrels before finishing for 6 months in a Balvenie ex-peated cask, this unique expression infuses the typical fruit- and honey-driven Balvenie spirit with gentle smoke and peaty texture. The finish leads classic Speyside fruit into an Islay inspired finish. • The Balvenie 21 Year — PortWood (Old Release) — $152 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #8366485841 Red-fruit, cocoa and baking spice are incorporated into the honeyed malty core of Balvenie’s 93
spirit in this Port pip-finished whisky. The whisky finishes long and fruity with a restrained power and considerable composure. • The Balvenie 26 Year — “A Day of Dark Barley” — $164 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #8366487415 Using an experimental batch of dark-roasted barley for fermentation, this rare whisky was matured for over two decades in ex-Bourbon barrels. Roasted-malt chocolate, honeyed vanilla and citrus ride a polished, oak-spiced frame, a unique contrast and complement to the typical house style. • The Balvenie 30 Year — Rare Marriages — $792 — 88.4 proof / 44.2% ABV — #8366486904 Built using long-rested parcels from ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, this example of the Rare Marriages is the fruitiest and most honeyed of the line. Waxy lemon, vanilla and dried citrus fold into gentle sherry depth and old-oak polish. • The Balvenie 40 Year — Rare Marriages — $985 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BAL-40 A combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks with a selection based on complexity and nuance rather than the typical Balvenie fruit power. The palate moves from heathered honey and sultana to walnut, cocoa and wax-polished oak, with a long, dry, sea-breeze finish. • The Balvenie 21 Year — Stories “The Second Red Rose” — $164 — 96.2 proof / 48.1% ABV — #STORIES-REDROSE This example of Balvenie’s ‘Stories’ series is finished in Australian Shiraz wine casks, capturing a blush of red-fruit perfume without tipping sweet. Blackberry and peach settle over honeyed malt and gentle spice to a moderate, dry finish. • The Balvenie Tun 1401 — Batch 9 — $295 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV — #8366487257 This is the last single batch release from the distillery’s historic marrying tun. A combination of aged spirit from ex-Bourbon barrels and European-oak sherry casks, the blending and resting in Tun 1401 adds a more texturally rich honey with vanilla and stewed fruit moving into earthy tobacco and subtle licorice. Released exclusively to the U.S. Market. • The Balvenie Tun 1509 — Batch 2 (2015) — $179 — 100.6 proof / 50.3% ABV — #8366487347 The successor to Tun 1401, 1509 is a larger vessel capable of accommodating the output 32 casks, here a combination of Balvenie’s ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry butts. The nose moves from honeyed malt and orange peel to malt-loaf richness layered with vanilla, dried fruits and fine spice. 94
Banff [NEED Producer’s Note] • Banff 35 Year — Duncan Taylor “Rarest of the Rare” — 1975 - 2011 — $372 — 90.8 proof / 45.4% ABV — #DT-3350-087/289 Drawn from a single legacy cask saved from the distillery before its 1991 demolition, independent bottler Duncan Taylor filled 289 bottles as part of their ‘Rarest of the Rare’ stocks. The profile is wax-polished malt, citrus and old-oak spice with a clean, textured finish, playing more elegant than showy after all this time. Beinn Dubh [NEED Producer’s Note] • Beinn Dubh “Black Mountain” — Toasted Port Cask Finish (Speyside) — $27 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BDBLK Ex-Bourbon maturation followed by Port casks re-toasted to intensify chocolate, berry compote and gentle char around a soft Speyside core. The palate stays plush yet controlled, drying on walnut and baking spice rather than syrup. As the house’s toasted-Port specialty, it casts Speyside sweetness in a darker, dessert-tinged register while keeping balance and flow. Benriach is owned by American whiskey producer Brown-Forman since 2016 and has the uber talented Rachel Barrie for Master Blender/Whisky creator. The newly revamped line shows a lot of work put in crafting flavorful malts with a great texture! All marks but ‘the Twelve’ carry this ‘orchard fruits’ character and have a touch of smoke (using Highland peat for a sweet, campfire smoke), except for ‘the smoky’ ones where a greater amount is introduced. Enjoy these well-balanced drams at a good price while it lasts! • BenRiach ‘Malting Season’ — 3rd Edition (Ex-Bourbon & Virgin Oak) — $44 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #BRMS3 Floor-malted barley from a single season is mashed and distilled on site, then matured primarily in first-fill Bourbon barrels with select virgin-oak casks before bottling non-chill-filtered. Barley sugar, lemon creams and toasted almond glide over a subtly waxed texture. As the third Malting Season, it documents a rare, hands-on production chapter—an annual snapshot of grain, kiln and copper rather than cask theatrics. • BenRiach 10 Year “The Original Ten” — Three-Cask Matured — $25 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BR10OT A marriage of ex-Bourbon, Sherry and toasted virgin-oak casks sets a bright orchard-fruit frame with honeyed malt and vanilla spice. The palate stays lively and balanced, oak supportive rather than loud. Relaunched with the modern range, The Original Ten re-centers the distillery’s fruit-first Highland style—clean, textured and versatile, the platform on which the older and smokier expressions elaborate. 95
• BenRiach 10 Year “The Smoky Ten” — Three-Cask Matured — $28 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR10ST Peated spirit matured in ex-Bourbon, toasted virgin-oak and Jamaican rum casks folds lemon zest and vanilla into savory kiln smoke with a lightly oily glide. Rum wood adds tropical warmth without sweetness creep. As the entry to BenRiach’s smoky thread, it offers a modern, aromatic take on peat—brisk and bright rather than brooding, yet unmistakably coastal at the edges. • BenRiach 12 Year “The Smoky Twelve” — Three-Cask Matured — $31 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR12ST Peated spirit aged in ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Marsala casks turns the smoke silkier and the fruit darker: cocoa-tinged citrus, roasted nuts and gentle ash. The texture gains length without heaviness. Within the core lineup, The Smoky Twelve is the composed middle weight—linking the 10’s aromatic lift to the range’s deeper, wine-led accents while keeping the distillery’s supple mouthfeel intact. • BenRiach 12 Year “The Twelve” — Three-Cask Matured — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR12T Sherry casks lead, with ex-Bourbon and Port casks adding lift and glow; bottled non-chill-filtered. Dark honey, baked orchard fruit, and cocoa move over a supple, lightly waxed texture. Relaunched with the modern range, The Twelve reframes BenRiach’s fruit-first style through a sherry-led lens—richer than The Original Ten, yet still crisp around the edges. • BenRiach 16 Year “The Sixteen” — Three-Cask Matured — $47 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BR16 Long maturation in ex-Bourbon, Sherry, and toasted virgin-oak casks layers orange oil, almond nougat, and gentle baking spice onto BenRiach’s bright malt core. The palate glides—silky, not heavy—with a clean Highland snap. Returned to the lineup as a bridge between 12 and 21, The Sixteen restores a classic age statement while keeping the house’s orchard-led elegance in focus. • BenRiach 21 Year “The Twenty One” — Four-Cask Matured — $79 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR21 Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, virgin oak, and red-wine casks are married to build depth without weight. Fig, citrus peel, and cedar spice unfold over a polished, gently waxy frame. As the range’s mature cornerstone, The Twenty One shows how multi-cask architecture can amplify BenRiach’s orchard clarity into patient, layered resonance—age translating to length rather than oakiness. • BenRiach 30 Year “The Thirty” — Four-Cask Matured — $218 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR30 Three decades across ex-Bourbon, Sherry, virgin oak, and red-wine casks yield walnut cake, dried apricot, and sandalwood over a silken, quietly powerful palate. The finish is long and luminous, peat absent but depth assured. Positioned as the house’s stately elder, The 96
Thirty reads like a culmination of the range’s cask craft—fruit, wood, and time held in elegant proportion. • BenRiach 15 Year — Pedro Ximénez Sherry Wood Finish — $59 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #8722912112 This special release expression was matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in PX sherry butts for richer, deeper fruit aromas. Dark chocolate and sultana fold into honeyed malt, stone fruit, and gentle oak. • BenRiach 15 Year — Tawny Port Wood Finish — $59 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #8722912111 With the use of a Tawny Port hogshead to finish the traditional BenRiach 15 year, cherry, strawberry, red fruit and cocoa are introduced to the vanilla, honeyed, orchard fruit distillate. A companion to the PX finish, it shows how BenRiach uses wine casks for contour and colour without becoming overly sweet. • BenRiach 18 Year — Tawny Port Pipe Finish — 1995 - 2014 — $98 — 111 proof / 55.5% ABV — #1995-TP-577/837 Unlike the 15 Year Tawny Port Wood Finish, this 18 Year Old whisky is a heavily peated example. Chimney and kiln smoke shine over blackberry, cocoa and honeyed malt. The finish is long and tea-leaf-dry. A sought-after vintage that marries BenRiach’s peated chapter with an elegant Port accent. • Benriach 40 Year — “The Forty” — 2023 Release— $620 — 87.0 proof / 43.5% ABV — #BR-40-2023 With four decades of aging in a combination of ex-Bourbon and Port casks, this extra long aged whisky was selected and composed by Master Blender Rachel Barrie. The fruit-laden Benriach core turns silken with so much time in oak barrel. Honeyed pomelo, stone fruit, walnut, and cocoa ride gentle Highland-peat perfume while the finish stays poised and dry. • BenRiach Authenticus — 30 Year (Peated) — $458 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BR-AUTH-30 This 30 Year whisky represents the longest aged spirit in BenRiach’s now retired ‘Authenticus’ lineup. Long maturation in traditional oak with documented parcels from ex-bourbon and ex-sherry develops elegant and resinous peat notes, threading wild honey, vanilla and mature oak into a slow, dreamy finish. Ben Nevis is located on the foot of - and named after - Britain’s highest mountain. Founded by the famous John “Long John” MacDonald, it has survived numerous economic downturns to thrive as a contemporary whisky producer. After considerable success in the middle and late 1800s highlighted by a visit from Queen Victoria, the distillery was forced to closed before reopening after World War 2. In 1989, the distillery was purchased by Japanese whisky company Nikka and the majority of Ben Nevis distillate is used as a principle component of Nikka From the Barrel, a blended world whisky. Nonetheless, a core line of aged whisky is released and appreciated by connoisseurs. 97
• Ben Nevis 10 Year — Adelphi (Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt) — $39 — cask strength — #BNV10AD Full term in a refill Oloroso butt, bottled by Adelphi at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Treacle, roasted nut and dark citrus ride a sinewy, mineral spine as peat flickers in the distance. An independent, single-cask snapshot, it shows West Highland ruggedness in focused sherry tones—one barrel, one vintage, no varnish. • Ben Nevis 10 Year — Signatory; Single Cask #433 — 2014 - 2024 — $31 — 122 proof / 61.0% ABV — #SV-BN-433 A single bourbon hogshead filled on July 2, 2014 and bottled on Aug 27, 2024 at cask strength. This modern Signatory cut lets Ben Nevis’s dense distillate shine without sherry wood influence. Expect soot, dark citrus and vanilla supported by firm Highland malt with a lingering mineral finish. Only 273 bottles were released. • Ben Nevis 11 Year — ex-Bourbon Casks — $39 — cask strength — #BNV11 Matured in first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon to keep lemon oil, barley sugar and faint wax in clear relief, oak reading clean and cedary. The mid-palate stays taut and lightly saline, finishing mineral and dry. As a Bourbon-led counterpoint to sherried picks, it frames Ben Nevis’s muscular make with brightness and texture rather than heaviness. Benrinnes [NEED Producer’s Note] • Benrinnes 11 Year — ‘Single Malts of Scotland’ USA Exclusive (Refill Sherry Butt) — $35 — cask strength — #BRN11SMOS Drawn from a single refill sherry butt and bottled with minimal intervention, the whisky folds cocoa, orange peel and tea-leaf dryness over Benrinnes’s worm-tub weight. Structure leads while sweetness stays measured, the finish long and cedary. As an Elixir Distillers indie—USA exclusive—it frames the distillery’s muscular style through a restrained sherry lens: one cask, one voice. Benromach is a small Speyside distillery owned by independent bottler Gordon & MacPahail, producing light to medium+ peated malts from organic barley and aged in a great variety of casks, mostly second fills. • Benromach 10 Year — ‘Classic Speyside Malt’ (Lightly Peated) — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #BRM10 Matured chiefly in first-fill Bourbon barrels with a parcel of Sherry casks, then bottled light-peat and non-chill-filtered. Apple, malt biscuit, and roasted nut ride a clean thread of bonfire smoke—old-school Speyside in a modern register. Relaunched as the house statement, it restores a pre-industrial style where a touch of peat and fresh American oak give balance, texture, and length. Blair Athol [NEED Producer’s Note] 98
• Blair Athol 23 Year — Limited Release (Natural Cask Strength) — $159 — 116.8 proof / 58.4% ABV — #BAT23SR Long residence in European-oak sherry butts turns orchard fruit and malt biscuit toward polished walnut, black tea and gentle leather; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Power reads composed, with a dry, cedar-lined close. Beyond the Flora & Fauna staple, this late-maturity outing reveals Blair Athol’s nutty house style in full sentences—depth through patience, not sugar. • Blair Athol 14 Year — Cadenhead (Original/Small Batch) — $48 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BA-CAD-14 Drawn from Oloroso-sherry stock, this Cadenhead bottling produced a supple, spirit-first expression of malty sweetness and orange-marmalade wrapped in nutty caramel. Saline notes marry into the sherry wood finish, highlighting a unique perspective on Blair Athol. Brechin • Brechin (North Port) 28 Year — 1977 - 2005 — $238 — 106.6 proof / 53.3% ABV — #BRECHIN-1977-28-01068 This was distilled at the now-demolished North Port (Brechin) in 1977 and bottled in 2005 at natural cask strength. Citrus, vanilla and cereal malt ride a rich texture and restrained coal-tar smoke notes. A rare late-chapter from a lost distillery. Brora was originally established in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford under the name Clynelish in the town of Brora. After an expansion to a second distillery 150 years later, the original location was renamed Brora and initially produced heavily peated whisky for other producers during a temporary peat drought. From 1973 until its closure in 1983, Brora produced lightly peated malt whisky. Reopened in 2021 by Diageo, the distillery famously refurbished and restored the original stills and buildings while also running entirely on renewable energy from a sustainable biomass boiler. • Brora 30 Year — Bottled 2007 (Diageo Special Releases, 6th) — $1,250/$2,500 — 111.4 proof / 55.7% ABV — #BRORA-30-2007-2758 Drawn from a mix of refill bourbon and sherry casks and bottled cask strength, the old-Highland profile is luminous: waxy citrus, meadow honey and gentle farmyard smoke over polished oak, finishing long and dry. A landmark closed-distillery statement that cemented Brora’s cult stature during the years before its revival. • Brora 35 Year — 1978 - 2014 (Diageo Special Releases) — $1,450/$2,900 — 97.2 proof / 48.6% ABV — #BRORA-35-2014 Matured for 35 years in a mix of first-fill American oak and European oak casks, bottled natural at cask strength. Tropical fruits, hay-smoke and polished leather glide over honeyed malt towards a long finish. • Brora 37 Year — 1977 - 2015 (Diageo Special Releases) — $1,600/3,200 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV — #BRORA-37-2015-2660/2976 99
Aged in refill American white-oak hogsheads, the palate moves from paraffin and orchard peel to gentle farmyard smoke and leather. The finish stays compact and rich. Cardhu has 2 claims of fame in modern Scotch history: it is Spain’s favorite malt, and it created a Scotch whisky community uproar when, facing a dwindling stock issue, it turned from single malt to pure malt (mixed with other distilleries’ malts) a few years back…Oh, and the distillery is allegedly haunted by a mashman! Other than that, this Diageo-owned single malt is mostly used for blending purposes (big in Johnnie Walker blends). Located in Speyside, the ‘black rock’ is a soft, round, approachable malt. • Cardhu Gold Reserve — Game of Thrones “House Targaryen” — $34 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GOT-CARDHU Composed from casks of American oak, largely ex-bourbon, this gentle Highland whisky offers caramel and baked apple notes of a silky malt texture and a gentle, easy finish with a faint note of spice. Clynelish distillery was first built in 1819 in the town of Brora as a means for barley farmers affected by the Highland Clearances to profit from their crops. Through the rest of the century and up until 1939, the enterprise was successful. In 1931 and again during World War 2, the distillery shuts down. When blended whisky became popular again in the 1960s, a second distillery was opened next door to the first and the name Clynelish transferred to the new establishment while the original was renamed Brora. Today, Clynelish both releases its own single malts and is a blending component for Johnnie Walker whisky. • Clynelish 14 Year — $31 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CLY14 A marriage weighted to ex-Bourbon casks frames the famed Clynelish wax—lemon peel, beeswax, and briny herbs over a lithe, slightly oily palate. Oak stays discreet; texture and coastal lift lead. As the modern cornerstone of Sutherland’s most distinctive style, the 14 bridges Highland brightness and maritime savor, the bottle many drinkers use to define “waxy” in Scotch. • Clynelish — 2008–2018, 10 Year (Signatory Vintage, ex-Bourbon Barrel) — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CLY10SV Distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2018 from a single ex-Bourbon barrel, un-chill-filtered and natural colour. Lemon peel, beeswax and white pepper ride a lightly oily, coastal frame—the classic Clynelish “wax” in youthful focus. As an independent single-barrel snapshot, it shows how minimal oak seasoning and worm-tub weight can deliver clarity and texture early, a vivid prelude to the distillery’s older, broader expressions. • Clynelish 10 Year — “The Jazz Crescendo” — Special Releases 2023 — $42 — 115 proof / 57.5% ABV — #CLY-10-2023 Bottled by Diageo as a special release in 2023, the whisky was matured exclusively in first-fill bourbon American-oak casks and bottled at natural cask strength. The classic oily texture highlights vanilla, bright citrus, and meadow honey with a firm mineral finish. 100
• Clynelish Reserve — Game of Thrones “House Tyrell” — $36 — 102.4 proof / 51.2% ABV — #GOT-CLY The whisky for this limited release was aged exclusively in ex-Bourbon barrel and bottled at a higher bottling strength than the series norm. Orchard fruit, toffee, wax, papaya and herb-tinged sweetness keep the palate lively before a baking spice finish. Cragganmore was built by “Big John” Smith, one of the most experienced whisky distillers of the 19th century. With experience at Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfarclas, Smith went on to build the first distillery deliberately located near a rail station to capitalize on the efficient transport of materials. The stills were designed by Smith with a “flat top” that allows heavier and more complex flavor compounds to pass through the still. Distillers Company Limited, which would eventually become Diageo, fully acquired the project in 1965. Laura Vernon is the project’s current master blender. • Cragganmore 12 Year — $26 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CRGM12 Matured in a balance of American oak (with select re-char and sherry influence), the spirit comes off flat-topped stills to meet worm-tub condensers—yielding gentle smoke suggestion, honeyed malt and herbal tea warmth over a firm spine. Texture takes the lead rather than oak. As a cornerstone of the Classic Malts era, the 12 defined an intellectual Speyside style: subtle, layered, and quietly complex. • Cragganmore 21 Year — “Special Releases” — 1989 - 2010 — $99 — 112 proof / 56.0% ABV — #CRAG-21-1989 A fruit driven, creamy style distilled in 1989 and released as a rare long-aged expression from Cragganmore. Vanilla custard, apple, and lemon curd highlight the fruit character of this cask strength whisky with forest moss and grassy notes hinted toward the finish. • Cragganmore Distillers Edition — 1992 - 2005 (CggD-6557) — $52 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CggD-6557 The Distiller’s Edition of Cragganmore sees the typical distillery expression finished in Ruby Pot pipes. Layers of raisin and cocoa add depth to Cragganmore’s orchard-fruit core while keeping the finish tidy and dry. • Cragganmore Distillers Edition — 1998 - 2012 (CggD-6564) — $49 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CggD-6564 Plum, fig jam and orange-marmalade lift around malty sweetness and a faint hearth-smoke echo, closing mildly herbaceous with a clean finish . A mid-series DE that reads a touch plusher than the 1992 while preserving balance. • Cragganmore Distillers Edition — 2000 - 2013 (CggD-6565) — $48 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CggD-6565 Driven by milk-chocolate and red-fruit accents, Cragganmore’s honeyed grain and soft smoke are delicate on the nose but loud and singing on the palate. Caramel and gentle baking spices persist with gentle white smoke on the finish. 101
• Cragganmore 15 Year — “Duncan Taylor Dimensions” (Cask 4183) — 1997 - 2012 — $73 — 107.4 proof / 53.7% ABV — #DT-DIM-4183 Bottled in February 2012 from an undisclosed oak cask, this 246 bottle production is bright and spirit-first. The identity of Cragganmore is clear in the fruity, oily, full body with softly smoked finish. Craigellachie. Except for rare appearances under independent bottlers’ labels, Cragellachie was unknown to the American public until 10 years ago, when Bacardi, the family-owned spirits company of rum fame, decided to release official bottlings of the malts that make up the Dewar’s blend…Oily, fruity and yet a bit sulfury as well, the ‘rocky hill’ is one of the few distilleries in Scotland using worm tubs for condensers. Currently under the expertise of Master Blender Stephanie Macleod. • Craigellachie 13 Year — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CRGL13 Primarily ex-Bourbon maturation lets the distillate’s muscular, worm-tub weight shine: grilled pineapple, malt toffee and a faint sulphury edge that reads savory rather than sharp. Bottled without chill filtration, it carries real mid-palate grip and a dry, mineral close. Relaunched as the modern house benchmark, the 13 reasserted Craigellachie’s unapologetically old-school character in a landscape of polished sweetness. • Craigellachie 13 Year — Bas-Armagnac Cask Finish — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CRGL13BA Core ex-Bourbon maturation meets a finishing period in Bas-Armagnac casks, folding Gascon rancio—plum, leather, toasted nut—into the distillery’s meaty, pineapple-tinged profile. The palate turns plusher without heaviness; oak reads cedary and composed. As part of the cask-finishing line, it explores a brandy-led lens that complements, rather than disguises, Craigellachie’s throwback weight and worm-tub texture. • Craigellachie 17 Year — $69 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CRGL17 Extended time in American and European oak deepens the house’s savory backbone into polished resin and dried citrus while preserving that telltale grilled-pineapple lift. Bottled typically un-chill-filtered, it glides with steady wax-tipped length. Within the range, the 17 is the mature voice—old-school structure refined, not softened—bridging the 13’s brawn and the older age statements’ calm authority. • Craigellachie 13 Year — 2008–2022 ‘Distiller’s Art’ (Single Sherry Butt) — $44 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #CRGL13DA Single-cask Speyside drawn from a refill Sherry butt and bottled unchillfiltered, letting Craigellachie’s worm-tub weight show through the duskier cask tones. Dark toffee, grilled pineapple, and a faint meaty savor ride a firm, mineral spine. As a Distiller’s Art release, it’s transparency by design—one cask, one vintage—framing the distillery’s old-school character without the smoothing effect of big-batch blending. • Craigellachie 13 Year — Signatory Vintage (1st-Fill Sherry Butt, UCF) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CRGL13SIG 102
First-fill Sherry wood pulls cocoa, orange oil, and roasted nut over the muscular, slightly sulphury Craigellachie core; bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered. The palate is grippy yet composed, with charcoal warmth in the finish. As part of Signatory’s UCF line, it shows how a single, assertive cask can amplify the house’s throwback texture while keeping the distillate unmistakably in charge. • Craigellachie 15 Year — 2006–2022 ‘Old Particular’ (Single Cask) — $36 — 96.8 proof / 48.4% ABV — #CRGL15OP Selected by Douglas Laing from a single cask and bottled at the label’s hallmark higher strength, this 15-year balances vanillaed malt and grilled citrus against savory, worm-tub depth. The oak reads cedary and dry, carrying cocoa and gentle spice. As an Old Particular pick, it preserves the distillery’s sinewy mid-palate without cask-strength aggression—old-school structure, elegantly dialed. • Craigellachie 14 Year — Saint-Julien Wine Cask Finish (Single Cask) — $39 — cask strength — #CRGL14SJ Ex-Bourbon maturation sets the frame before a Saint-Julien red-wine cask finish adds blackcurrant, cedar, and a touch of rancio to the meaty, pineapple-tinged spirit. The palate turns plusher but stays dry, smoke-kissed, and mineral. As a single-cask detour into Bordeaux, it sketches a darker, vinous register of Craigellachie—structure first, sweetness restrained. • Craigellachie 19 Year — Exceptional Cask Series (2019) — $83 — 110.4 proof / 55.2% ABV — #CRAI-19-ECS-356 19 years in a single second-fill ex-Sherry butt, then bottled cask strength. The sherry wood reads nutty and cocoa-deep around toasted pineapple, honeyed malt and baking spice. The finish is rich, moderate, and firm.. The Dalmore is now a luxury malt…and a higher price tag has certainly helped the brand being appreciated for its true qualities: elegance, silky mouthfeel, and complexity. Richard Paterson has been artfully blending The Dalmore for a long time, and is known for making the best use of the Matusalem Oloroso Sherry butts sourced from Gonzales-Byass. But other wine casks are used, with (almost always) the American white oak-made ex-Bourbon barrel for base maturation. Dalmore malts are often described as showing orange marmalade, chocolate, crème brûlée, raisins and vanilla notes. • The Dalmore 12 Year — Ex-Bourbon & Matusalem Oloroso Casks — $35 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DM12 American oak builds vanilla and citrus cream while Matusalem Oloroso–seasoned casks layer fig, cocoa, and polished spice; spirit runs through long stills for a plush, oily glide. The result is suave rather than sweet, the finish orange-peel bright. As the house cornerstone, Dalmore 12 established the distillery’s signature of Bourbon clarity tempered by sherry richness—Highland luxury with disciplined balance. 103
• The Dalmore 12 Year ‘Sherry Cask Select’ — $32 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DM12SCS Initial maturation in American white-oak ex-Bourbon, then a finishing period in bespoke sherry casks seasoned with a Gonzalez Byass blend of Oloroso and PX, drawing out fig, orange oil, and milk-chocolate spice over Dalmore’s oily malt core. The fresh sherry wood deepens sweetness without tipping into heaviness. Introduced as a modern sibling to the classic 12, it spotlights the house’s sherry partnerships as a driver of style and texture. • The Dalmore 14 Year — Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish — $39 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV — #DM14PX Long American-oak maturation sets a bright vanilla-citrus frame before a PX sherry finish layers date syrup, walnut, and baking spice. Bottled for extra drive, the palate reads plush yet composed, with Dalmore’s signature orange-peel lift intact. Debuting for the U.S. market, the 14 explores a darker, dessert-leaning register of the house style—sumptuous sherry glow anchored by clean Bourbon structure. • The Dalmore 15 Year — Ex-Bourbon then Matusalem, Apostoles & Amoroso Sherry — $51 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DM15 American oak nurtures honeyed malt for twelve years, then a final three years split across Matusalem, Apostoles, and Amoroso sherry casks add cocoa, clove, and roasted orange to the silky Dalmore texture. The result is suave rather than sweet, with cedar-spice poise in the finish. As a long-time range pillar, the 15 refines the distillery’s Bourbon-plus-sherry dialect into an elegant, unmistakable signature. • The Dalmore 18 Year — 2024 Edition (Ex-Bourbon & Matusalem Oloroso) — $129 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DM18-2024 Matured first in American white-oak barrels, then given a four-year second maturation in Matusalem Oloroso casks selected with Gonzalez Byass, it unfurls dark chocolate, espresso, and black-cherry tones over a polished, oily glide. The sherry’s depth reads architectural, not heavy. As an annual edition, the 18 demonstrates how extended finishing can deepen the house’s orange-citrus elegance into quiet, resonant luxury. • The Dalmore 21 Year — Ex-Bourbon & Matusalem Oloroso — $272 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV — #DM21 Long American-oak maturation preserves orange-zest brightness and creamy malt, while Matusalem Oloroso casks add sandalwood, fig, and gentle clove across a satin palate. The integration feels seamless—length and perfume rather than sheer weight. Revived as a limited annual statement, the 21 channels Dalmore’s century-old sherry alliances into a composed, modern register: mature Highland opulence with the house citrus still shining through. • The Dalmore 30 Year — 2021 Release (ex-Bourbon → Tawny Port Pipe Finish) — $950/1,900 — ABV TBC — #DM30-2021 Long maturation in American white-oak barrels lays down orange oil, vanilla and Dalmore’s oily glide, before a final spell in Tawny Port pipes adds fig, cherry skin and cedar spice. The 104
fruit reads deep but taut, the finish polished rather than sweet. Revived as an annual statement, the 30 shows how Port can broaden the house’s sherry-led language without blurring its citrus core. • The Dalmore 40 Year — 2024 Release (ex-Bourbon, Colheita Port & Sherry) — $2,600/$5,200 — ABV TBC — #DM40-2024 Decades in American oak form the chassis; select parcels from Colheita Port and aged Oloroso are married in to amplify plum, walnut and sandalwood over incense-soft malt. Texture is sumptuous yet poised, the citrus line still visible. As the 2024 edition, it captures late-maturity Dalmore at full composure—time, Port and sherry working in concert rather than competing for the stage. • The Dalmore “Cigar Malt Reserve” — ex-Bourbon, Oloroso & Cabernet Sauvignon Casks — $71 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #DMCIG American oak builds vanilla and orange zest, Oloroso adds cocoa and nutty depth, and Cabernet Sauvignon barriques bring dark fruit and fine tannin for structure. The palate is plush and aromatic with a dry, cedary close—built to stand beside a cigar without turning heavy or sweet. Within the permanent range, it’s the most purpose-driven expression of Dalmore’s wood partnerships. • The Dalmore “King Alexander III” — Six Cask Types — $112 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DMKA3 Married from parcels matured in ex-Bourbon, Matusalem Oloroso Sherry, Madeira, Port, Marsala, and Cabernet Sauvignon casks, then composed for balance. Citrus oil, cocoa and dried berry glide over Dalmore’s oily malt with a dry, cedary close. A technical showpiece, it codifies the distillery’s multi-cask philosophy into a single voice—complex, measured, unmistakably Dalmore. • The Dalmore “Port Wood Reserve” — 2018 Release (American Oak → Tawny Port Pipes) — $38 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV — #DMPW-2018 First-fill American oak shapes bright vanilla and orange blossom; a finishing period in Tawny Port pipes brings raspberry, rose-tinged spice and gentle tannin. The result is vivid and silk-edged, with a dry, cedary close. Introduced as a permanent expression in 2018, it reframes Dalmore’s sherry-centric narrative through Port—fruitier in tone, but still anchored by the house’s citrus-oily texture. • The Dalmore ‘Luminary #2’ — 16 Year — 2024 Release (Port & Sherry Cask Finish) — $117 — ABV TBC — #DMLUM2 American-oak maturation lays the citrus-honeyed chassis before a dual finish in Port and sherry casks adds black cherry, cocoa, and polished spice. Texture is satin-smooth with the house’s orange-peel lift intact. As the second chapter in Dalmore’s V&A-linked Luminary series, it showcases architectural cask design—richness layered deliberately rather than piled high, a modern riff on the distillery’s sherry-driven voice. 105
• The Dalmore ‘Luminary #3’ — 17 Year — 2025 Release (Seven-Cask Finish) — $125 — 98.4 proof / 49.2% ABV — #DMLUM3 Initially matured in American white-oak ex-Bourbon, then finished across seven cask types: vintage Calvados, aged Calvados, Matusalem Sherry, Apostoles Sherry, Bordeaux red wine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine, and parcels fully matured in American white oak brought into the final marriage. Glossed cherry, cocoa and cedar fold into Dalmore’s citrus-oily core. The third Luminary—created with architect Ben Dobbin—delivers breadth of wood in service of identity, not spectacle. • The Dalmore — 2009 ‘Select Edition’ — 2024 Release (Matusalem Sherry & Tawny Port Finish) — $83 — ABV TBC — #DMSE2009 Distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2024, this Select Edition marries long American-oak maturation with a twin finish in Matusalem Oloroso and Tawny Port, fusing fig, orange oil, and cocoa to the distillery’s supple malt. The result is richly toned yet poised, the sherry/Port duet extending length rather than adding weight. Within Dalmore’s vintage selections, it’s a precise study in two classic house partners. • The Dalmore 15 Year — 2002–2018 (Duncan Taylor, Single Cask) — $79 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #DM15DT From a single cask laid down in 2002 and bottled in 2018, natural colour and (typically) un-chill-filtered at cask strength. Orange zest, toffee, and walnut ride a plush Dalmore mid-palate, the finish dry-cedary with gentle sherry glow if from European oak. As an independent single-cask lens, it trades blended house polish for specificity—one barrel’s voice, bottled with the texture intact. • The Dalmore 15 Year — “Duncan Taylor Dimensions” — 2002 - 2018 — $89 — 106 proof / 53.0% ABV — #DT-10802053-173/266 Bottled from an undisclosed oak cask, the palate of this whisky frames Dalmore’s orange-marmalade depth with dark chocolate, citrus zest, and caramel. This remains a unique perspective on Dalmore, highlighting the spirit without the usual sherry layering. • The Dalmore 21 Year — 2022 Edition — $255 — 87.6 proof / 43.8% ABV — #DAL-21-2022 Finished in first-fill Matusalem Sherry casks used by González Byass to produce their 30 Year Oloroso, the Dalmore 21 shows prominent silken citrus, dark chocolate and coffee tones ride the house’s marmalade glow. The finish is characteristically long and smooth. • The Dalmore 25 Year — 2020 Release — $978 — 84 proof / 42% ABV — #DAL-25-2020 This whisky is matured across American white-oak ex-bourbon, aged Tawny Port pipes, and 30-year Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks selected for The Dalmore. Expect a glossy texture with layers of fig, cocoa and citrus to unfold over polished spice. • The Dalmore 28 Year — “Stillman’s Dram” — $582 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #DAL-28-SD 106
This special release forgoes extensive contact in sherry casks to emphasize the distillate. Aromas of orange-marmalade, complex spice, and a whisper of coastal brine keep the profile lively. Old oak influences bring texture to the body and encourages a dry finish. • The Dalmore “Castle Leod” — 1995 - 2011 — $112 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #DAL-CL-2011 A special release to support the Clan Mackenzie Charitable Trust, the spirit goes through an initial finish in Spanish sherry wood before an additional 18 months in Bordeaux premier-cru red wine barriques. Black fruits and polished tannins support Dalmore’s marmalade core to a long, finely spiced finish. • The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve — $94 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #DAL-CMR This rich expression of The Dalmore is finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barriques and 30-year Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks to drive fruit character in the spirit. Red-fruit, raisin, cocoa and cherry express loudly over typical jammy citrus notes. • The Dalmore Constellation 19 Year — 1992 — Cask #18 — $1,200/2,400 — 107.6 proof / 53.8% ABV — #DAL-CON-1992-18 This rare Constellation vintage was aged in Dalmore’s traditional method of first-fill bourbon barrels before being transferred to Port casks for a five year second maturation. The port brings cassis and cocoa around the house’s orange oil and toffee. From Dalmore’s ultra-luxury series, it captures a definitive bourbon-to-Port journey in one focused cask. • The Dalmore “Selected by Daniel Boulud” — 2013 — $356 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #DAL-DB A collaboration between the distillery and chef Daniel Boulud, this whisky is finished across Muscatel, Madeira, and Port casks before being married.Though not age indicated, the spirits here are matured for up to 23 years. A plush, dessert-leaning profile of orange peel, praline, and dark chocolate lands with a clean, dry resolve. • The Dalmore Gran Reserva — $97 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DAL-GR The initial maturation in this whisky occurs in both first-fill Oloroso sherry and first-fill ex-Bourbon casks. Following this, the batches are married in sherry wood to emphasize cocoa, orange zest and gentle spice aromas. Introduced as the successor to the original Cigar Malt, this now-discontinued label remains a snapshot of Dalmore’s sherry-forward house style. • The Dalmore Regalis — $87 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DAL-REG Created for travel-retail as part of the company’s Fortuna Meritas range, ‘Regalis’ is finished in first-fill Amoroso sherry cask. Red fruit, vanilla and orange oil ride Dalmore’s marmalade core on a lighter and lower ABV body. • The Dalmore Select Edition 18 Year — 2005 - 2023 — $119 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV — #DAL-SE-2005-23 The 2005 18 Year ‘Select Edition’ sees the spirit finished in both Matusalem sherry and 107
Vintage 2005 sherry casks. Expect dark chocolate and Seville-orange depth over toffeeed malt and polished spice. The higher proof on this whisky deepens the body and complexity of the whisky, a hallmark of future examples. • The Dalmore Select Edition — 2005 - 2024 — 121 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV — #DAL-SE-2005-24 Built on American white-oak bourbon stock, then elevated in Matusalem sherry and Vintage 2005 sherry casks; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The profile carries citrus-marmalade brightness into cocoa, leather and nutty richness with a measured, dry landing. A follow-on vintage that preserves the 2005 signature at assertive bottling strength for a more distillate-forward house read. • The Dalmore Select Edition 18 Years — 2006 - 2024 — $129 — 94.4 proof / 47.2% ABV — #DAL-SE-2006-24 This 2006 ‘Special Edition’ is finished in Matusalem and Amoroso sherry casks for deeper, dark flavors. Black cherry, plum, liquorice and cacao thread through orange-oil sweetness and cedar. • The Dalmore Select Edition 15 Years — 2008 - 2023 — $111 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #DAL-SE-2008-23 With a finish in Matusalem and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, fig and cocoa are added to the house’s citrus-toffee line, with soft spice and a clean, dry finish. This vintage introduces a sweeter sherry accent to the with a slightly higher ABV than the core Dalmore expressions. • The Dalmore Select Edition 15 Years — 2008 - 2024 — $116 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #DAL-SE-2008-24 Distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2024; matured in American white-oak ex-bourbon and then enhanced by hand-selected Matusalem and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks (natural colour, non-chill-filtered). PX lends fig and cocoa while Matusalem adds walnut polish around the house’s orange-oil core; the finish stays poised and dry. As part of the annual Select Editions, this vintage tilts a touch richer than the 18-year 2006/2005 chapters while remaining unmistakably Dalmore. • The Dalmore Vintage — 2003 - 2022 — $186 — 93.8 proof / 46.9% ABV — #DAL-VIN-2003-22 Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2022, the spirit here is finished in Rivesaltes sweet-wine casks, Matusalem and Amoroso sherry casks, and additional small batch ex-Bourbon casks. Complex aromas highlighting the Dalmore distillate with additional honeyed citrus, toffee, cocoa and spiced dried fruit. The finish is long and expansive. Dalwhinnie, or ‘the meeting place’ in Gaelic, is located in the Northern Highlands and is known as ‘the gentle spirit’, although a longer-than-usual maturation is often seeked to polish this ‘sulfury spirit’. Worm tubs are used to condense the vapors at the highest distillery in Scotland, with the coldest annual recorded average temperature in Scotland (6 c.). The main malt found in the Buchanan’s blend, Dalwhinnie was one of 108
the original 6 whiskies in the ground-breaking series of the 1988 ‘Classic Malts’. Part of Diageo’s family of malts. • Dalwhinnie 15 Year “The Gentle Spirit” — $34 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DWH15 Matured in American oak at altitude, Dalwhinnie’s lithe Highland make shows heather honey, lemon tea, and a whisper of smoke over a lightly waxed palate. Oak plays accompanist, letting clean malt and mountain air stay in the foreground. Long a Classic Malts pillar, the 15 distills Highland poise into a calm, welcoming register—subtle complexity meant to unfold, not announce. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 2022 Release — $51 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-2022 Layers of honey and heather meet raisin, cocoa and a wisp of hearth smoke. As a modern chapter of the Classic Malts Distillers Edition line, it frames Dalwhinnie’s bright core with measured sherry depth rather than sweetness. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 1990 - 2005 (D.SM.312) — $91 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-1990 Dried-fruit warmth and chocolate support Dalwhinnie’s lemon-honey clarity over a moderate, clean, mineral driven finish. An early-2000s DE that shows how a light Highland spirit takes a graceful sherry accent. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 1991 - 2008 (D.SP.312) — $89 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-1991 Notes of silky honey and orchard fruit are threaded with raisin and nut tones with a whisper-light smoke and dry finish. A late-2000s release that leans elegant rather than plush. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 1996 - 2012 (D.ST.312) — $75 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-1996 Cocoa and hints of raisin frame the heathered honey and citrus core of the distillate. The finish is clean and the palate remains light, highlighting delicacy over intensity. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 1997 - 2014 — $69 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-1997 Honey, ripe orange and milk chocolate glide over a wisp of smoke leading into a long and gently warming finish. A balanced, fruit-forward DE year. • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition — 2004 - 2019 — $65 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #DALW-DE-2004 Honeyed malt and heather keep the lead while cocoa, raisin and a wisp of hearth smoke add contour. A crisp vintage chapter that shows how the DE treatment frames Dalwhinnie’s bright core rather than sweetening it. 109
• Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost — Game of Thrones “House Stark” — $55 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GOT-STARK-DALW This young, non-age statement whisky was bottled as part of the Game of Thrones special releases of whiskies. Expect warm honey, baked apple and gentle spice with a clean, cooling finish. Deanston, located in the Southern Highlands of Scotland, is a baby: it only dates back from 1966! Currently owned by South-African group Distell, its malts are mostly used for blending purposes but are generally speaking very pleasant, on the mild side, with notes of honey and heather. A longer-than-usual fermentation (100 hours) and a slower-than-usual distillation seem to make for a malt that ages very gracefully. The distillery is proud to produce its needs of power (and more) thanks to the dam and turbine on site! Deanston only uses locally farmed barley. • Deanston 12 Year — $25 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #DNS12 Married from parcels matured in first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon barrels; bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Honeyed cereal, lemon peel and almond nougat ride a lightly waxed, barley-forward palate. As the house cornerstone (hydro-powered since 1966), it sets Deanston’s identity: Highland brightness, honest texture, and oak used for clarity rather than cosmetic sweetness. • Deanston “Virgin Oak” — $23 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #DNSVO Bourbon-matured stock is finished in freshly charred virgin American oak, the cask list unapologetically short and explicit: ex-Bourbon → virgin oak. Vanilla fudge, coconut and white-pepper spice lift the grain’s natural sweetness while keeping the finish dry and clean. A modern study in new-oak influence, it sweetens Deanston’s profile without masking the distillate. • Deanston 2008 — 12 Year (Oloroso Cask Matured, UCF) — $39 — ABV TBC — #DNS08OLO Full-term maturation in Oloroso sherry casks (no finish), bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Fig cake, orange oils and nut brittle unfurl over Deanston’s wax-tipped texture, water teasing out cocoa and clove. As a vintage-stamped 12, it shows the distillery’s sherry register in primary colours—rich, structured, and still recognizably Deanston. • Deanston 15 Year — Tequila Cask Finish (UCF) — $79 — ABV TBC — #DNS15TEQ Ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a finishing spell in ex-Tequila casks; bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Lime zest, green agave and wildflower honey thread through a malty, lightly saline core. A rare Highland-meets-Tequila dialogue, it broadens Deanston’s finishing vocabulary while keeping the house’s bright, grain-first signature intact. The Deveron [NEED Producer’s Note] 110
• The Deveron 18 Year (Macduff) — $53 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DVR18 American-oak ex-Bourbon provides the chassis, with sherry-seasoned European oak deepening tone: baked apple, toffee and soft coastal salt over a polished, mid-weight palate. Oak reads composed, the finish calm and dry-edged. As the mature voice of the Deveron range, the 18 favors quiet composure over heft—Highland fruit and gentle shoreline accents held in steady balance. Edradour was initially a cooperative enterprise founded in 1825 that produced whisky for blends independent of corporate ownership until its purchase by W Whiteley & Sons in 1928. William Whiteley’s company had become profitable through mafia relationships and smuggling his own ‘King’s Ransom’ blended whisky into the U.S. through mob boss Frank Costello. Whitely retired in 1938 and sold his company to Frank Costello associate Irving Haim, remaining in the Haim family until 1978. Andrew Symington, owner of Signatory Vintage, acquired Edradour in 2002, subsequently releasing Ballechin while returning the distillery’s focus toward artisanal, non-chill filtered whisky. • Edradour 10 Year — Un-Chillfiltered Collection — $39 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #EDR10UCF Married from parcels matured in ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Fudge, orange peel and barley sugar flow over a gently waxed palate, oak reading supportive rather than sweet. As the small distillery’s modern signature, this UCF bottling restores pre-polish texture and clarity—an honest Highland voice where grain and cask share the spotlight. • Edradour 10 Year — The Distillery Edition — $33 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #EDR10DE Matured in a mix of ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, then bottled for an easy, silken glide. Caramelized malt, dried fruit and soft spice sit over a creamy core with a clean, nutty close. As the classic house introduction, it sketches Edradour’s gentle style in approachable lines—a calm counterpoint to the single-cask fireworks the distillery is famed for. • Edradour 10 Year — Sauternes Cask Matured (Cask Strength, Single Cask) — $41 — ABV TBC — #EDR10SAU From a single Sauternes wine cask, bottled at natural strength, non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Honeyed apricot, vanilla cream and toasted almond ride a rich, wax-tipped texture, the finish dry and cedary rather than sugary. As one of Edradour’s wine-led single casks, it reframes the gentle house spirit through Bordeaux sweetness—depth and glow without abandoning Highland poise. • Edradour 10 Year — Madeira Cask Matured (Cask Strength, Single Cask) — $41 — ABV TBC — #EDR10MAD Drawn from a single Madeira cask and bottled at natural strength, non-chill-filtered and natural colour. Candied citrus, walnut cake and baking spice layer over malt fudge, the palate dense yet tidy with a gently tannic close. Within the single-cask series, this Madeira 111
cask offers a drier, nut-spiced counterpoint to the Sauternes—same small-scale intimacy, a different accent of fruit and structure. • Ballechin 10 Year — Heavily Peated (≥50 ppm) — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BAL10 Married from ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour at 46%. Kiln smoke, dark honey and roasted nut move over a firm, oily palate, brine and malt keeping the sweetness in check. As Edradour’s peated alter-ego, Ballechin shows how serious phenols can wear a civil suit—Highland richness meeting Islay-level intensity without losing balance. • Edradour 21 Years — Port Cask Finish — 1983 - 2004 — $212 — #EDR-21-1983-PF The initial maturation occurs in ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry cask before finishing a Port cask. Notes of golden raisin, cocoa and wood spice weave through Edradour’s honeyed malt, with a dry, polished close that keeps sweetness in check. • Edradour — Ballechin “Discovery Series #1 – Burgundy Matured” — 2006 Release — $96 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BAL-DS-1 Heavily peated Edradour spirit was matured entirely in first-fill Burgundy casks, then bottled in September 2006. The result is ash-tinged smoke over dark cherry and malt loaf with wine-tannin grip guiding a textured dry finish. • Edradour — Ballechin “Discovery Series #4 – Oloroso Cask Matured” — $96 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #BAL-DS-4 Matured entirely in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled non-chill-filtered with natural color to let peated Edradour read boldly yet precise. Coal-kiln smoke folds into caramelized fruit, walnut and cacao. Early in Ballechin’s wine-led experiments, #4 shows how sherry depth can frame high-peat spirit without blunting its edge. Fettercairn [NEED Producer’s Note] • Fettercairn 24 Year — $212 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV — #FET24 Fully matured for 24 years in American white-oak ex-Bourbon casks, then bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Tropical fruit, vanilla and gentle spice ride a silken, lightly oily palate that stays bright despite the age. As a modern core-age statement, it spotlights Fettercairn’s ex-Bourbon clarity—letting time and copper do the shaping rather than heavy finishing. Glenallachie is now under the supervision of Master Blender extraordinaire Billy Walker, which means high quality whiskies are coming your way…loads of premium wine barrels serve for maturation vessels, not just ex-Bourbon barrels of old days when it used to be a ‘Chivas filler’. The ‘valley of the rocks’ is now releasing interesting drams and the near future holds great promises, once the extra long fermentation-originated new make spirits will have fully matured… 112
Glendullan on its own is not a very well-known distillery, albeit of great output, but it happens to be presented under Diageo’s umbrella brand of ‘Singleton’, and now you’re talking about big numbers, which for us translates into a much lower than usual price point! The other distilleries you may find under this label of Singleton are Glen Ord (Asian market) and another Speysider, Dufftown (Europe). Glendullan is usually described as fruity and grassy. Glen Garioch is the most easterly distillery in Scotland. Founded in 1797, Glen Garioch (pronounced Geery) was originally a producer of heavily peated whisky. Despite periods of inactivity during World War 2 and from 1968-1973, the distillery found consistent success with its focus on smoky whisky. When acquired by Suntory in 1994, the distillery was closed and production shifted from heavily peated to unpeated whiskies. • Glen Garioch 12 Year — $23 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GG12 Married from parcels matured in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks, bottled non-chill-filtered to keep texture vivid. Heather honey, poached pear and crème brûlée move over a firm, lightly oaky spine. Relaunched at higher strength, the 12 reasserts Glen Garioch’s Highland weight and orchard-led warmth—an everyday dram with genuine presence. • Glen Garioch 8 Years (older OB) — $26 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GG-8-OB Using refill Bourbon hogsheads for maturation, this whisky was bottled in the older distillery presentation at 40% for a clean, cereal-forward Highland cut. Expect honeyed malt, soft vanilla and gentle orchard fruit with a lightly drying, mineral close. Glenglassaugh, like Glendronach and Benriach now belong to American group Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve. Under the expert supervision of Rachel Barrie, this ‘partly peated’ malt is bound to have a bright future. Glengoyne is the ‘unhurried malt’...Slow and easy does it at the ‘valley of the geese’ distillery: long fermentations, slow distillations and patient maturations seem to make little business sense but somehow all participate in the overall success of this single malt made just north of Glasgow but that identifies with the Highland style. Glengoyne is a pretty green distillery, generating its own electricity needs and adhering tightly to sustainable practices. Unpeated and dedicated to mostly Sherry casks, the malt has become a favorite of connoisseurs as of late. Glen Grant was started by brothers John and James Grant, both former illegal whisky distillers, in 1840. Following three decades of operation, John’s nephew James “The Major” Grant took over operations and immediately began modernizing its equipment and operations. The development of tall, slender pot stills helped produce the lighter, fruity style the distillery is now known for. He helped establish the northern railway in order to better supply the region with coal, barley, and other needs. Though the company passed to The Campari Group through Seagrams, the present Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm maintains the classic production traditions that his father and grandfather both practiced at Glen Grant. 113
• Glen Grant — ‘Discovery’ (Gordon & MacPhail) 11 Year — ex-Bourbon — $26 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GGR11DIS A bourbon-matured Speyside from G&M’s Discovery series, composed to show the distillery’s citrus-bright spirit without sherry shading; bottled to preserve clarity and poise. Lemon barley, vanilla cream and almond glide over a clean, medium-weight palate. Within Discovery, this is the “Bourbon lens” on Glen Grant—transparent, classical, and a precise study in still character over cask drama. • Glen Grant 12 Year — ex-Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry — $27 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GGR12 Matured in hand-selected ex-Bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, the 12 balances baked orchard fruit and toffee with honeyed malt and gentle spice. The palate is lithe and polished, the finish clean and nut-edged. As the step-up in the core range, it frames Glen Grant’s tall-still elegance through a measured two-cask marriage—brighter than sherry-led peers, fuller than the entry expressions. • Glen Grant 15 Year — Batch Strength — first-fill ex-Bourbon — $36 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #GGR15BS Exclusively matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and bottled non-chill-filtered, this edition turns the house style vivid: spiced pear, apricot and vanilla carried on a silken, energetic palate. It’s the core profile with the volume up—bourbon sweetness and still purity amplified by higher strength. As a modern favorite, it shows how proof and cask selection can invigorate tradition without changing its shape. • Glen Grant 18 Year — $64 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GGR18 Married from parcels matured in American oak (ex-Bourbon) with select sherry-seasoned casks, this age statement lets the tall-still spirit stay bright while layering gentle dried-fruit depth. Honeyed orchard fruit, almond and a clean, wax-tipped glide keep the profile poised. Introduced as the mature anchor of the core range, the 18 shows how Glen Grant’s elegance can stretch into length without turning heavy. • Glen Grant 21 Year — 2022 Release — $128 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GGR21-2022 Composed from American-oak Bourbon barrels alongside sherry-seasoned casks (Oloroso and PX), married to emphasize fruit clarity over oak weight. Citrus, apricot and nut-spice rise through a silken mid-palate, the finish long and quietly savory. As the reimagined range’s modern flagship, the 21 pivots Glen Grant toward higher-strength maturity—showing depth as resonance rather than darkness. • Glen Grant 25 Year — 2024 Release — $253 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GGR25-2024 A careful marriage of first-fill and refill American oak with European-oak sherry casks brings layered sweetness and structure while keeping the distillate’s brightness intact. Baked apple, orange oils and cedar-spice unfold with calm authority and trimmed tannin. As the 114
pinnacle of the renewed lineup, the 25 proves that extended age can amplify Glen Grant’s precision instead of obscuring it. • Glen Grant 62 Years — 1956 - 2019 “Mr George Centenary Edition” (G&M) — $1,000/2,000 — 103.4 proof / 51.7% ABV — #GG-1956-MRGE Released to honor George Urquhart’s centenary, but barreled and bottled by Gordon & Macphail, it encapsulates G&M’s cask-matching legacy at profound age. This first-fill sherry cask released 235 bottles and delivers aromas of fruitcake, Seville orange and beeswax with polished walnut and dark cocoa savory notes. • Glen Grant 22 Years — 1995 - 2017 “The Munros” — $99 — 107.8 proof / 53.9% ABV — #GG-MUN-1995-22 This example, contracted by K&L Wine Merchants, is a select single cask designed to view Glen Grant without the influence of Sherry cask. With maturation solely in ex-bourbon barrels, this long aged spirit develops bright orchard fruit, vanilla and meadow honey over a firm, mineral spine. Citrus oils and herbal lift develop with some dilution. • Glen Moray “Mountain Oak Malt” — 1991 - 2003 (Distillery Manager’s Choice) — $127 — 121 proof / 60.5% ABV — #GM-1991-MO-317/800 The oak used to mature this spirit is grown at high altitude, leading to a tighter wood grain and more nuanced flavor development over time. The virgin oak elaborates aromas of buttered toffee, vanilla and sweet spice. Cask char and pear lead into a balanced, but assertive finish. Glenlivet barely needs introduction…it’s the best-selling single malt Scotch whisky in the US and 2nd best in the world! The origins of the distillery can be found 200 years ago when a certain George Smith decided to go legal…Located in Speyside, Glenlivet is known for being an easy going malt best enjoyed on ice unless you’re having well-aged, i.e. older, iterations. While the distillery’s wood policy has American ooak for focus, the Pernod-Ricard owned Glenlivet has a few very interesting bottlings, from the 15 year old French oak edition to the Nadurra options…unfortunately, very little is now available in the NY market…the price of success? Glen Moray was established in what was formerly the Elgin West Brewery. After the conversion to single malt distillation, the facility ran its first spirit in 1897. Economic forces caused a closure in 1910, but a reopening in 1923 led to a steady period of evolution and expansion. By 1999, Glen Moray was sustainable enough to begin pioneering wine cask finishing and enhance its visibility as a quality whisky producer. The current master blender is Stephen Woodcock, winner of the 2024 Global Master Distiller/Master Blender award at the Icons of Whisky Awards ceremony. • Glen Moray 12 Year — $21 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GM12 Matured entirely in American-oak ex-Bourbon casks, the profile stays classic Elgin: vanilla cream, barley sugar and lemon biscuit over an easy, polished glide. Oak supports rather 115
than leads. As the gateway to the house style, the 12 privileges clarity and drinkability—an approachable Highland-Speyside accent that sets the stage for the richer expressions. •Glen Moray 15 Year — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GM15 Married from American-oak Bourbon casks and sherry-seasoned European oak, bringing cocoa, toasted nut and dried-fruit glow to the distillery’s vanilla-citrus core. The palate is rounder and longer than the 12 while staying clean at the edges. Within the Elgin Heritage range, the 15 is the balanced step-up—measured sherry warmth without losing the house’s easy, bright cadence. •Glen Moray 21 Year — Port Wood Finish — $78 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #GM21PW Married from parcels matured in American-oak ex-Bourbon, then finished in Tawny Port casks to layer red-fruit depth over Elgin’s vanilla-citrus core. Cherry, cocoa and gentle cedar ride a polished, medium-weight palate with Glen Moray’s easy sweetness intact. As the mature voice of the range, the 21 reframes house clarity through Port—adding breadth and length without turning heavy. •Glen Moray “Elgin Classic” — Port Cask Finish — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GMPCF Ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a finishing spell in Port casks gives berry compote, milk chocolate and soft spice over vanillaed malt. The balance stays bright and approachable, with a tidy, dry close. Within the Classic finishes, Port offers the friendliest detour—fruit-led warmth that respects the distillery’s clean, easygoing style. •Glen Moray — Rye Cask Finish (US Exclusive) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GMRYE Core ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked to American rye-whiskey casks adds peppered caramel, vanilla fudge and a mint-tinged lift over Glen Moray’s citrus-malt brightness. The palate stays easy and mid-weight, finishing clean and dry-spiced. As a U.S.-only finish, it nudges the Elgin Classic profile toward a spicier, grain-driven register while keeping the house’s gentle clarity intact. •Glen Moray “Elgin Classic” — Cabernet Cask Finish — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GMCAB Refill ex-Bourbon stocks finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks bring black-currant gloss, cocoa and a light tannic frame to vanilla biscuit and lemon cream. Texture reads supple rather than sticky, the close tidy with cedar and tea-leaf dryness. As a red-wine accent in the Classic line, it paints the bright Glen Moray canvas in deeper hues without masking the malt. •Glen Moray — 2009–2018 ‘The Octave’ (Duncan Taylor) — 8 Year — $29 — cask strength — #GM09OCT Distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2018 from a single cask re-racked into a small “Octave” sherry cask for intensified wood-to-spirit dialogue; bottled at natural strength, 116
un-chill-filtered. Sultana, toffee and roasted nut gather over a bright, cereal-led core, the finish drying on cedar and citrus pith. As an Octave treatment, it delivers concentrated sherry tone while keeping Glen Moray’s lightness in view. Glen Ord [NEED Producer’s Note] • The Singleton of Glen Ord 14 Years — “Autumn Walk” — 2024 Special Release — $53 — 109.4 proof / 54.7% ABV — #ORD-14-2024 After being aged in ex-bourbon casks, the whisky is part-finished with Pyrenean and Spanish oak ends. Orchard fruit and vanilla are lifted by grassy aromatics and a subtle spice frame, keeping the finish neat. Glenrothes - in Speyside- is part of the Edrington group (Macallan, Highland Park, Famous Grouse) and gives its maturation a Sherry cask focus, whether from American or European oak. To many single malt Scotch lovers, Glenrothes is like the second label of Macallan, given its affordability and wood policy. The distillery gives credit to a slow distillation regime and its own cooperage on site for the overall superior quality of its malt. Glen Spey [NEED Producer’s Note] • Glen Spey 21 Years — 1989 - 2010 “Special Releases” — $239 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV — #GLSPEY-5687-10 This 21 Year whisky underwent a maturation that combined first-fill Bourbon barrels with virgin American oak. Aromas of honeyed malt, citrus and light wax over nutty cocoa with apricots and butterscotch leading to a clean, mineral finish. This rare OB age-statement captures Glen Spey’s subtlety with a firm, spirit-first frame. • Glen Spey 10 Years — Dalgety 2013 - 2023 — $33 — 100.4 proof / 50.2% ABV — #DALGETY-272/681 The distillate for this whisky was matured in two separate barrels: a high quality Super Port barrique and regular Port Barrique. The port barrels inject bright red-berry lift, spiced biscuit, and wine tannins to the nutty, oily texture of Glen Spey’s spirit. GlenAllachie is a recent project in Islay. The distillery was built by a subsidiary of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries to meet the increasing American demand for lighter whiskies. The firm contracted William Delmé-Smith to design the facility, opening it in 1967. Through a series of closures, the distillery created blended whiskies under numerous owners until Billy Walker, Tricia Savage, and Graham Stevenson purchased the facility from Chivas Brothers. From 2018 onward, GlenAllachie has been focused on single malt releases. • GlenAllachie 7 Year — ‘Hungarian Virgin Oak’ — $31 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA7HVO Married from parcels matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, then finished in Hungarian virgin oak 117
(Zemplén forests), toasted and charred for a spice-forward accent; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Honeyed barley, clove and almond toffee ride a supple, oak-bright palate. As part of the Virgin Oak Series, it spotlights how oak species and seasoning—not just age—can tilt texture and flavor while keeping GlenAllachie’s malt core in clear view. • GlenAllachie 8 Year — ‘Scottish Virgin Oak’ — $33 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA8SVO Ex-Bourbon maturation provides the frame before a finish in Scottish virgin oak—locally sourced, air-dried, then toasted and charred—adds ginger, honeycomb and a dry, cedary snap; bottled natural colour and NCF. The grain remains center stage beneath the oak’s fresh glow. Within the Virgin Oak Series, this is the provenance chapter: Highland malt meeting native oak to explore place through wood. • GlenAllachie 10 Year — ‘Spanish Virgin Oak’ — $34 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA10SVO American-oak ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a finish in Spanish virgin oak (Quercus robur), carefully toasted to draw cocoa, orange oil and nut-spice; bottled natural colour and NCF. The palate turns richer but stays taut, oak lending structure rather than sweetness. As the deepest shade in the Virgin Oak Series, it shows how Iberian timber can broaden GlenAllachie’s fruit-led style without weighing it down. • GlenAllachie 10 Year — ‘Cask Strength’ (Batch 7) — $32 — ABV TBC (cask strength) — #GLA10CSB7 Oloroso and PX sherry form the backbone, with select virgin-oak and Rioja wine casks integrated into the final composition; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered at natural strength. Treacle, dark cherry and baking spice ride a muscular, malt-rich core. As the cult flagship, it proves cask architecture—not age alone—can deliver intensity with clarity. • GlenAllachie 10 Year — ‘Chinquapin Virgin Oak’ Finish — $31 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA10CHQ Long ex-Bourbon maturation, then a finish in Chinquapin (Quercus muehlenbergii) virgin oak from Missouri, toasted and charred to release sweet-spice and roasted-nut tones; bottled natural colour and NCF. Honeyed malt, vanilla and nutmeg move with an easy, grippy line. This chapter of the Virgin Oak Series underlines species-driven character—American oak beyond classic bourbon staves, rendered in a fresh, expressive register. • GlenAllachie 10 Year — Rye Wood Finish — $34 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA10RYE Married from parcels first matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, then finished in American rye-whiskey casks; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Peppery caramel, toasted grain and orange oils ride a lively, slightly drying palate shaped by rye’s spice. Part of the Wood Finish Series, it tilts GlenAllachie’s fruit-first style toward a crisper register—structure and snap over sweetness. 118
• GlenAllachie 13 Year — Madeira Cask Finish — $51 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GLA13MAD Ex-Bourbon maturation provides the frame before a finishing spell in Madeira wine casks; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Honeyed apricot, almond toffee and gentle sea-spray brightness unfold with measured richness. As a mid-teen chapter of the Wood Finish line, it shows how fortified-wine depth can broaden the house’s orchard-led profile without weighing it down. • GlenAllachie 2010 — 12 Year Single Cask (Oloroso Puncheon) — $35 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #GLA2010OP Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2022 from a single Oloroso sherry puncheon, natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Treacle, roasted walnut and orange-peel bitterness coil around a firm, malt-driven core, the puncheon’s breadth lending quiet power. As an individual cask story—typically a small outturn—it captures Billy Walker–era specificity: one year, one vessel, the sherry dialed for resonance rather than sheer darkness. • GlenAllachie 12 Year — $30 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GLA12 Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks lead, with select virgin-oak staves and ex-Bourbon in support, bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Dark honey, cocoa-tinged citrus and polished spice move over a supple, barley-bright palate. Relaunched under new stewardship, it became the core expression that defines the modern house voice—cask richness balanced by clear distillate lines. • GlenAllachie 15 Year — $38 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GLA15 Long maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks (no finish), then bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Fig cake, orange oil and walnut depth glide with steady composure, the sweetness checked by dry spice. Positioned as the range’s mature heartbeat, the 15 translates sherry intensity into length and poise—power expressed as resonance rather than volume. • GlenAllachie — 2009–2024, 14 Year (Single Cask, Oloroso Hogshead) — $69 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #GLA14-2009OLO Matured full-term in a single Oloroso sherry hogshead, then bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered at cask strength. Treacle, orange oils and roasted walnut coil around a firm, malt-driven core, the sherry reading broad and dry rather than syrupy. As an individual cask story from the Billy Walker era, it trades blend polish for specificity—one vintage, one vessel, the house’s sherry dialect told in precise, resonant tones. • GlenAllachie — 2008–2023, 14 Year (Duncan Taylor, Single Sherry Cask) — $47 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #GLA14DT-2008 A single sherry cask selected and bottled by Duncan Taylor, left natural colour and un-chill-filtered at cask strength. Dark toffee, baked fig and cocoa ride a sinewy barley spine, the finish dry-spiced and long. As an independent counterpoint to the distillery’s own releases, it shows how a lone, assertive sherry cask can frame GlenAllachie’s fruit with focus—one barrel, one voice, no varnish. 119
• GlenAllachie ‘Meikle Tòir’ — The Sherry One (5 Year, PX & Oloroso Finish) — $26 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #MT5SH Ex-Bourbon maturation sets the base before a dual finish in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Silky smoke meets date cake, orange peel and nut-spice, the peat reading plush rather than sharp. As the sherry-led chapter of the Meikle Tòir line, it bends Speyside peat toward richness without losing the brand’s grain-first, modern cadence. Glencadam [NEED Producer’s Note] • Glencadam 15 Year — Highland Single Malt — $31 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GCD15 Ex-Bourbon barrels carry orchard fruit, vanilla cream and bright citrus along Glencadam’s trademark feathery texture; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Oak stays precise and supportive, letting the delicate, slightly waxy mid-palate linger. Reintroduced to anchor the range, the 15 captures the distillery’s quiet elegance—Highland freshness with uncommon length and poise. • Glencadam 21 Year — Highland Single Malt — $63 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GCD21 Long time in ex-Bourbon American oak deepens honeyed malt into polished almond, baked apple and gentle spice while keeping the palate buoyant and clean. The finish is extended, dry-edged and composed. As the mature voice of Glencadam, the 21 shows how age can amplify delicacy rather than smother it—texture, clarity and calm power in measured balance. Glendronach, like Benriach, is under the artful expertise of Master Blender Rachel Barrie. Heavily dedicated to maturing the distillate in Spanish oak-made Sherry casks of first and second fill from Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin, Glendronach, or ‘valley of the brambles’, is oily, rich, complex, powerful, yet always friendly. Every mark in the core lineup is phenomenal, and their special single cask bottlings are pieces of art. • GlenDronach ‘Port Wood’ — Second Maturation in Port Pipes — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GDRPW Ex-Bourbon and sherry casks set the base, then a second maturation in Port pipes layers black cherry, raspberry conserve and cedar spice over the distillery’s rich malt core; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. The palate reads plush yet disciplined, fruit broadened by fine, dry oak. Introduced under Master Blender Rachel Barrie as a rare Port-led detour for this sherry house, it shows breadth without abandoning identity. • GlenDronach 12 Year “Original” — PX & Oloroso Sherry Casks — $29 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GDR12 Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks drive the profile from start to finish, giving 120
dark honey, orange peel and cocoa over a steady malt spine; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. Oak sits structured but calm. As the gateway to the range, the 12 sketches the house’s sherry-first identity in clear lines—inviting, layered, and unmistakably GlenDronach. • GlenDronach 15 Year “Revival” — PX & Oloroso Sherry Casks — $43 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GDR15 Long maturation in Oloroso and PX casks deepens fruit and texture—fig cake, burnt orange and walnut—with a dry, spice-led close; natural colour and non-chill-filtered. The spirit’s weight feels composed rather than heavy. Returned to the lineup after its hiatus, the 15 reads like classic GlenDronach turned a shade darker—sherry power harnessed to clarity and length. • GlenDronach 21 Year “Parliament” — PX & Oloroso Sherry Casks — $133 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GDR21 Two decades in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks yield plum, polished oak and winter spice over a silken, stately palate; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Sweetness stays in check as dry tannin and cedar shape the finish. As the range’s elder statesman, Parliament expresses the house style in full sentences—depth, fragrance and quiet authority. • GlenDronach 27 Year — 1976 “Mission IV” (Murray McDavid) — $562 — 92.0 proof / 46.0% ABV — #GDR-1976-MM-496/600 With maturation occurring exclusively in ex bourbon cask, this single cask plays old school. Nuanced aromas of polished oak, dark fruit, malt, and herbal tea highlight a subtle, complex palate and long finish. This bottle represents a rare snapshot of pre-revival GlenDronach presented at elegant strength. • GlenDronach 27 Year — 1990 - 2017 Single Cask (Sherry Butt 2257) — $444 — 105.8 proof / 52.9% ABV — #GDR-1990-2257-284/451 Released from a single sherry butt filling 451 bottles at cask strength, this iteration of GlenDronach 27 displays rich black cherry and cocoa folding into leathery spice. A long finish characterized by brown sugar and malt emphasizes the depth of a distillate that does not present with extreme weight. • GlenDronach 25 Years — 1991 “Kingsman Edition” — $350 — 96.4 proof / 48.2% ABV — #GDR-1991-KING-572/2137 Blended from several sherry butts to create a tie-in for ‘The Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ and the second edition of the Glendronach 25 Year in this design. A velvet texture from extended aging in Sherry seasoned oak delivers damson, leather and fragrant oak aromas alongside orange, plum, and malt. • GlenDronach 24 Years — 1993 - 2017 Single Cask (Sherry Butt 415) — $438 — 103.6 proof / 51.8% ABV — #GDR-1993-415-501/632 121
This high-proof single cask bottling characterizes the GlenDronach style. Dark-fruit richness and cocoa are balanced by waxy citrus and polished spice, leading into a long finish. • GlenDronach 20 Years — 1994 - 2014 Single Cask (PX Puncheon) — $334 — 109.6 proof / 54.8% ABV — #GDR-1994-PX-2822-504/660 This U.K. exclusive bottling was aged entirely in PX Sherry cask, this cask strength whisky developed massive dark fruit aromas and rich body. Expect dark-cherry richness, cocoa and polished spice around a steady malt core. • GlenDronach 19 Years — 1995 → 2014 Single Cask (Oloroso Butt) — $331 — 111.4 proof / 55.7% ABV — #GDR-1995-OL-2381-482/627 The profile of this single cask whisky is classically GlenDronach: raisined fruit, walnut and leather over bright malt and wax, finishing long and precise. Part of the sought-after mid-2010s OB single-cask era, it captures the 1995 vintage in a firm, spirit-first register. • GlenDronach 11 Years — 2003 → 2014 Single Cask (PX Puncheon) — $124 — 114.2 proof / 57.1% ABV — #GDR-2003-PX-483/609 A young whisky aged entirely in PX Sherry puncheon. Bright and youthful, the fig jam, cocoa and clove aromas play loudly on top of a vigorous malt line before a clean, dry landing. A short-age single cask that proves the house’s PX influence can be vivid without turning sweet or heavy. • GlenDronach 12 Years — 2007 → 2020 Single Cask “NYC Edition” (PX Puncheon #1901) — $98 — 122 proof / 61.0% ABV — #GDR-2007-PX-1901-322/604 Bottled single Pedro Ximénez sherry puncheon, this special New York City release emphasizes richness. Dense chocolate, black cherry and toasted spice ride a powerful, oil-satin palate. This entry is a modern, high-impact statement of the distillery’s sherry identity. • GlenDronach Grandeur 24 Years — Batch 9 — $346 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #GDR-GR-B9-038/1487 Composed from Spanish-oak sherry casks across 1990, 1992 and 1993, ‘Batch 9’ was bottled in 2018 with natural color and at cask strength. Baked quince, cocoa and roast chestnuts encapsulate a waxy malt core before a long and complex finish. • GlenDronach 28 Years — Grandeur Batch 11 — $452 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #GDR-GR-B11-103/3181 Matured fully in Oloroso sherry casks from undisclosed vintages, this livelier iteration of ‘Grandeur’ plays citrus forward. Plum, espresso and orange-oil richness glide over leather and walnut with a tea-leaf-dry close. • GlenDronach 29 Years — Grandeur Batch 12 — $588 — 98.4 proof / 49.2% ABV — #GDR-GR-B12-160/2940 Selected from Spanish Oak Oloroso sherry casks. Deep and engaging notes of plum, dark 122
cacao and orange zest lead before a savory bramble espresso mid-palate. The finish presents with incorporated dried fruits, espresso, and red cherry richness. • GlenDronach 29 Years — Single Cask (Oloroso Puncheon #2153) 1992 - 2022 — $612 — 114.2 proof / 57.1% ABV — #GDR-1992-2153-166/675 A companion piece to the Single Cask PX Puncheon distilled the same year and equally matured, this whisky shows black cherry, molasses and saddle-leather epitomize this single Oloroso puncheon. Complexity and depth characterize the cask, leading to a pronounced, lifting malt quality and balanced finish. • GlenDronach 29 Years — Single Cask (PX Puncheon #5866) 1992 - 2022 — $612 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV — #GDR-1992-5866-062/629 Released alongside the Single Cask Oloroso Puncheon of the same production and bottling years, the PX brings fig, cocoa and sweet spice to a wax-malt backbone. The finish tilts richer with a lingering oily finish while staying identifiably GlenDronach. • GlenDronach Cask Strength — Batch 10 — $40 — 117.2 proof / 58.6% ABV — #GDR-CS-B10 Fully matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at natural cask strength with no chill-filtration and no age statement. Dark fruitcake, roasted nuts and baking spice offer a wide palate while the finish is firm and clean. • GlenDronach 10 Years Port Wood — $37 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GDR-PW The whisky in this youthful Glendronach was finished in Port pipes for a limited release to explore fruit-driven spirit profiles. Notes of blackberry compote, orange peel and gingerbread play against sandalwood and cocoa. Glendullan [NEED Producer’s Note] • The Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #SDL12 American-oak ex-Bourbon casks (refill and re-char) frame a light, orchard-led spirit, with a touch of European oak for subtle spice. Pear, vanilla cream and malt biscuit move over a clean, mid-weight palate. Introduced as the most approachable of the Singleton trio, Glendullan’s 12 sets the house’s easy, fruity cadence—Speyside clarity aimed squarely at everyday enjoyment. • The Singleton of Glendullan 15 Year — $28 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #SDL15 Built on long ex-Bourbon maturation with select European-oak influence to deepen tone, the profile turns richer but stays bright: baked apple, toffee and gentle nut-spice over a supple glide. As the range’s step-up, the 15 adds length and polish while keeping Glendullan’s soft, orchard-led identity firmly in view. • The Singleton of Glendullan 18 Year — $38 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #SDL18 Refill American oak preserves distillate purity while seasoned European oak contributes quiet structure and dry spice. Honeyed citrus, almond and light cedar unfold with calm 123
authority. Positioned as the mature voice of Glendullan, the 18 shows how time can amplify softness into resonance—elegant, composed, and distinctly Singleton. Glenfarclas is curiously not so well-known in the US, in spite of its super-star fame just about everywhere else…family-owned, focused on Sherry cask maturation, affordable, and so beautifully made for every mark in the range, what else can you dream of? Long fermentations, direct heating of the stills, higher-than-standard filling strength, dunnage warehouses…those are some specifics that may explain Glenfarclas’ superior style. And everybody agrees on the sole use of European oak-made Oloroso Sherry casks as a key element to ‘the valley of the green grass’ success. The malt has depth and balance…it makes the world go round. • Glenfarclas 10 Year — Sherry Cask — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GF10 Matured in traditional Oloroso sherry casks, the spirit stays buoyant and barley-forward while the wood adds nutty sweetness and gentle dried fruit. Apple skin, toasted malt and soft spice carry through a tidy, dry-tinged finish. As the gateway to Glenfarclas, the 10 sketches classic family-owned Speyside sherry style in clear, inviting lines. • Glenfarclas 12 Year — Sherry Cask — $29 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GF12 Oloroso sherry casks lead from start to finish, lending orange peel, walnut and toffee around a firm malt core. The palate gains weight and length over the 10 yet keeps its clean, dry finish. A staple in many bars, the 12 embodies Glenfarclas’s independent house promise—straightforward sherry maturity anchored by bright, traditional spirit. • Glenfarclas 17 Year — $57 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GF17 Oloroso sherry casks carry orchard fruit into walnut, orange oil and gentle spice over a firm, barley-bright core; natural colour and traditional dunnage aging keep the texture poised. The palate reads generous yet dry-edged, finishing with polished oak and malt warmth. Sitting between the easy 12 and the stately 25, the 17 is the connoisseur’s “daily special”—classic family-run sherry style with extra length and lift. • Glenfarclas 25 Year — $115 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GF25 Extended maturation in Oloroso sherry casks shapes fig, honeyed walnut and cedar around a calm, silky spirit line; sweetness stays restrained, the finish long and dry-spiced. The depth comes from time, not cosmetic wood. As a benchmark of traditional Speyside sherry maturity—made and owned by the same family—it shows how patience translates into resonance rather than weight. • Glenfarclas “105” — 10 Year, Cask Strength (Sherry Casks) — $48 — cask strength — #GF105-10 Oloroso-led sherry casks give treacle, roasted nut and orange peel over a muscular, malt-forward chassis; bottled at natural strength with no chill filtration. Water teases out cocoa and dried fruit without turning the palate sweet. A rarer age-stamped take on the 105 legend, this 10 year ties the house’s high-proof cult favorite back to its roots—clarity of spirit meeting honest sherry power. 124
• Glenfarclas 15 Years — “100 Proof” (TWE Exclusive) — $56 — 114.2 proof / 57.1% ABV — #GF-15-100P Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange from the typical Glenfarclas 15 Year at cask strength and without chill filtering or color adjustment. Treacle, orange marmalade and sultana ride a lightly smoky, wax-polished malt line to a tidy, dry finish. This beloved one-off amplifies the classic 15 Year’s profile without losing Glenfarclas balance. • Glenfarclas 37 Years — The Family Casks (Sherry Butt #566) — 1970 - 2007 — $885 — 107.2 proof / 53.6% ABV — #GF-1970-566 This bottling is part of a series begun by Glencarclas to highlight filled old-vintage single casks that have remained in the family collection. This production offers fruitcake, dark cocoa and polished oak unfolding over beeswaxed malt. The finish is long, smooth, and delicately integrated. • Glenfarclas 24 Years 1990 — K&L Exclusive — $124 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #GF-1990-KL This 1990 vintage composed from two first-fill sherry butts was bottled overproof for K&L Wine Merchants. The classic Glenfarclas aromas appear louder due to the higher ABV, presenting dark berries, toffee and warm spice across a mouth-filling palate. • Glenfarclas 30 Years — $325 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GF-30 Marzipan and citrus oils lead with dried fruit over a smooth, well aged malty body in this long maturation whisky. The close is lingering and elegant with cocoa and spice taking the lead. Glenfiddich, ‘the valley of the deer’, paved the way for single malt Scotch to be such a strong category today! Offering ‘straight’ whiskies in the 60’s, instead of filling blenders’ needs, was certainly a bold move, but eventually paid off! The Speyside distillery, #1 seller in the world, is property of the private company William Grant & sons, along with Balvenie, is popular for a reason: it’s unpeated, easy and delicate, with orchards notes throughout the range. • Glenfiddich 14 Year ‘Bourbon Barrel Reserve’ — $32 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GFD14BBR • Glenfiddich 15 Year “Solera Reserve” — $32 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GFD15SOL Ex-Bourbon, Oloroso sherry and new oak all play their part, then the whisky is married in a continuous Solera vat to build consistency and depth. Honeyed pear, toffee and warm spice glide on a supple, polished palate. Introduced in the 1990s, it pioneered Solera marrying in Scotch—a stylistic milestone that broadened Glenfiddich’s orchard-led profile without sacrificing elegance. 125
• Glenfiddich 18 Year “Small Batch Reserve” — $57 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GFD18SBR Oloroso sherry and ex-Bourbon casks are selected and married in small batches to emphasize balance over sheer oak. Baked apple, citrus zest and almond toffee move with composed, medium-weight breadth, the finish trim and dry. As a carefully batched elder in the core range, it refines Glenfiddich’s house sweetness into measured maturity—familiar fruit, now speaking in a lower, longer register. • Glenfiddich 21 Year “Gran Reserva” — Rum Cask Finish — $94 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GFD21GR Ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a finishing spell in Caribbean rum casks layers molasses, pineapple and toasted spice onto Glenfiddich’s pear-and-malt core. The palate reads satin and composed, sweetness trimmed by a dry, oaky close. As the range’s celebratory bottling, it extends the orchard-led house style into a tropical register without losing elegance. • Glenfiddich 26 Year — Excellence — $134 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #8366487323 This iteration of Glenfiddich is matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon barrels for a clean, vanilla-forward frame. Orchard-fruit spirit line in front; natural, elegant presentation. Texture is satin and poised—honeyed citrus, crème anglaise and gentle oak spice—finishing long and dry. A modern age-statement pillar from Glenfiddich, it shows house finesse at mature age without a wine or sherry finish. • Glenfiddich 26 Year Grande Couronne — 26 Years — $136 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #GF-26-GC One of several expressions in the distillery’s limited production ‘Grand Series.’ Once initial maturation is complete, the spirit for this bottling is finished in Cognac casks. Patisserie notes and café-crème richness accompany cocoa-dusted sweetness, brown sugar and soft spice. • Glenglassaugh 46 Years — Vintage 1975 — $1,100/2,200 — 83.4 proof / 41.7% ABV — #GGS-1975-1978 Taken from a single ex-Bourbon barrel prior to the distillery’s revival, this coastal aged whisky characterizes a unique and comprehensive maturation. Tropical fruit and honeyed malt ride a saline, coastal line with old-oak polish and a classic, lingering finish. • Glen Grant 50 Years — Gordon & MacPhail - 1956 - 2006 — $820/$1,640 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GG-1956-50 Long aged exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 40%, this half-century Glen Grant layers fruitcake, orange oil and walnut over beeswaxed malt. The finish is moderate, presenting a composed and classic G&M bottling from the Old Speyside style. • Glen Grant 48 Years — Gordon & MacPhail - 1965 - 2013 — $700/$1,400 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GG-1965-48 126
This G&M independent bottling was matured in a mix of refill sherry butt and ex-Bourbon hogsheads. Delicate Sherry tones of stewed fruit, and cocoa combine with the fruit and vanilla of ex-Bourbon on a satin body in a low-intervention whisky presented at a moderate proof. • Glen Grant 23 Years — “Signatory Vintage – Dun Eideann” Cask #689 — 1972 - 1995— $152 — 111.6 proof / 55.8% ABV — #SV-1972-689 Named after the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, this single Sherry cask is dominated by weighty, polished fruit aromas. Notes of fig, orange oil and cocoa complement baking spice and plum on a fruit driven palate and finish. This iteration of the 1972 Glen Grant vintage is significantly different in profile from other examples, marking a significant opportunity to taste the Signatory Vintage approach. GLENGOYNE NEEDS PRODUCER NOTES • Glengoyne 12 Year — $18 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GGY12 Ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned casks frame an unpeated Highland make—honeyed apple, lemon curd and almond toffee over a polished glide; natural colour. Oak supports rather than steers. As the gateway to Glengoyne’s slow-distilled style, it favors clarity and finesse over heft, setting the tone for the older sherry-led expressions. • Glengoyne 25 Year — $212 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #GGY25 Long maturation in European-oak Oloroso sherry casks (with refill support) unfurls fig, cocoa and polished cedar around a silken, weightless palate; natural colour. Sweetness stays disciplined as dry spice shapes the close. The house’s modern icon, it proves Glengoyne’s unpeated spirit can carry deep sherry tone with poise rather than density. The Glenlivet began its journey in distillation by producing whisky illegally. King George IV famously drank the spirit during a visit to Edinburgh in 1822 that led to the Excise Act of 1823. In 1824, much to the chagrin of other illegal distillers and locals, Glenlivet received the first license to distill spirits in Speyside following the Excise Act. The distillery became popular for its departure from the rich, heavy whiskies of the time and its production of lighter, tropically fruited spirit. Over time, the distillery had to rename its product "The" Glenlivet in order to distinguish itself from competitors also using their name. The style persists today and The Glenlivet is one of the most consumed Scotch whiskies in the world. • Glenlivet 25 Year — First-Fill Sherry Cask Finish — $223 — ABV TBC — #GLV25 American-oak maturation provides the bright, orchard-driven chassis before a finishing period in first-fill sherry casks adds sultana, walnut and orange-peel depth. The texture stays sleek, the finish long and dry-edged. As the stately elder of the core lineup, it reframes Glenlivet’s polished style through a richer, sherry-toned lens while preserving that hallmark silky glide. 127
Glenmorangie is quite unique: high reflux created by tall, narrow necks (the ‘giraffe stills’) make for a light and fruity malt enjoyed by most. Dr Bill Lumsden, the whisky creator for Moet Hennessy in charge of both Ardbeg and Glenmorangie, uses this base as canvas to draw different landscapes on: a Sherry finish here, a toasted barley there…Glenmorangie certainly pioneered the sale of ‘finishes’ in the early nineties and is still considered one of the most innovative single malt Scotch brands. The distillery mainly matures its malts in ex-Bourbon barrels, or ex-Jack Daniels barrels, but has plenty of ‘exotic’ casks in its warehouses: Sauternes, Marsala, Madeira, rye whiskey and many more. Vanilla, lemon zest, crème brûlée are common notes found across the range. • Glenmorangie “The Original” — 12 Year — ex-Bourbon Casks — $26 — ABV TBC — #GLM12OR First-fill and refill ex-Bourbon casks keep citrus, vanilla cream and honeyed barley vivid over a feather-light, clean palate. Wood speaks softly; texture and brightness lead. As the brand’s foundational voice, it shows Glenmorangie’s tall-still finesse in its purest register—elegant, relaxed, unmistakably Highland. • Glenmorangie — 18 Year ‘The Infinita’ — $59 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GLM18INF Long maturation in American-oak ex-Bourbon casks with a portion second-matured in Oloroso sherry casks before final composition; natural colour. Orange oil, vanilla cream and honeyed malt glide into polished nut-spice, the finish dry-edged and calm. Introduced in the brand’s modern era under Dr. Bill Lumsden’s cask-led stewardship, it shows Glenmorangie’s tall-still finesse stretched into serene length rather than weight. • Glenmorangie — ‘The Nectar’ 16 Year (Sweet White-Wine Casks) — $39 — ABV TBC — #GLM16NEC Extended American-oak maturation, then a finish in Sauternes-style sweet white-wine casks to layer apricot, acacia honey and almond over the distillery’s lemon-vanilla line; natural colour. The palate reads plush yet poised, with a gently spiced, dry close. As the evolution of the house’s wine-finish idea, it deepens dessert tones while keeping the signature lightness intact. • Glenmorangie — ‘Quinta Ruban’ 14 Year (Port Wood Finish) — $32 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GLM14QR American-oak ex-Bourbon first, then Ruby Port pipes build black-cherry, cocoa and mint-edged spice around bright citrus malt; natural colour. Texture turns velvety but stays fresh, brine and cacao steering the finish dry. Within the core line, Quinta Ruban paints Glenmorangie’s elegance in richer colours without tipping sweet. • Glenmorangie — ‘A Tale of Tokyo’ (Mizunara, Bourbon & Sherry) — $34 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GLMTOKYO Composed from parcels matured in Mizunara oak alongside American-oak ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned casks; natural colour. Incense, citrus peel and cocoa meet a silky, gently 128
drying finish, Mizunara’s sandalwood lift threading through the malt. As a narrative release in the Tales series, it folds a distinctive Japanese oak voice into the tall-still elegance without losing focus. • Glenmorangie — ‘Signet’ (Chocolate Malt) — $107 — ABV TBC — #GLMSIGNET Built around a portion of high-roast “chocolate malt” spirit, integrated with long-aged ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned stocks; natural colour. Espresso, dark cocoa and orange oil ride a plush, polished palate that finishes dry and cedary. A modern house icon, Signet shows how roast level in the mash can shape texture and flavor as profoundly as cask. • Glenmorangie — ‘Signet Reserve’ (PX Sherry Finish) — $132 — ABV TBC — #GLMSIGNETPX Chocolate-malt–led composition matured in ex-Bourbon and sherry stocks, finished in Pedro Ximénez casks for date-rich depth; natural colour. Mocha, fig and spiced orange glide with satin weight, a clean mineral snap trimming the close. As an extended chapter of the Signet idea, the PX accent deepens dessert tones while preserving the line’s dry, architectural finish. • Glenmorangie 10 Years — “The Original” — $26 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-OR10 Vanilla, citrus, and honeyed malt characterize the entrance into Glenmorangie’s age statements. The texture stays silk-light yet persistent with a dry, almond-tinged finish that keeps the fruit precise. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — “Barrel Select Release Calvados Cask Finish” — 2024 — $43 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-CAL12 The addition of Calvados casks as a finishing component layers apple and pear complexity over the distillery’s vanilla-malt core. Sweet and savory notes of apple tarte tatin, pastry, and gentle spice lead to a crisp, drying exit. The result is an especially unique example of Glenmorangie’s typically rich and long-finishing spirit. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — ”Côte d’Or Burgundy Cask Finish” — $96 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-BURG12 Finishing in Côte d’Or Burgundy wine wood for red-berry lift, soft tannins and faint cocoa lean forward and present over lemon-honey malt. The structure is tight and savory, standing as a reference point for the early Wood Finish era at the distillery. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — “Madeira Wood Finish” — $94 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-MAD12 Madeira-wine cask finishing folds in brûléed citrus, toasted nuts and a wax-tinged sweetness over the airy Glenmorangie frame. The palate turns satin-smooth, then dries neatly with spice and peel. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — “Malaga Cask Finish” — 2021 — $85 — 94.6 proof / 47.3% ABV — #GM-MAL12 129
A rare cask used in the production of a Spanish sweet wine known as Malaga is used to finish the spirit in this ‘Wood Finish’ series bottling. The result is the introduction of nougat, golden raisin and almond-cream notes to the citrus-bright spirit. It finishes with a supple mid-palate and pastry-spice finish. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — Nectar D’Or (Sauternes Cask Finish) — $27 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-ND12 A special bottling using Sauternes casks as the finish brings sweet orchard fruit, acacia honey and crème brûlée notes to a typical fruit-driven palate. Pastry spice and citrus peel taper to a clean, easy finish. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — Port Wood Finish — $44 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-PWF12 Port pipes used to finish this whisky set red-berry brightness and cocoa against a lemon-honey malt. The palate stays taut but gains light tannin notes that lead to a tea leaf influenced finish. • Glenmorangie 12 Years — Quinta Ruban (Port Cask) — $32 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-QR12 The use of Ruby Port casks as a finishing element introduces dark chocolate, blackcurrant and mint to the vanilla-citrus core. The texture remains plush yet composed, offering a richer counterpoint to the classic Port Wood Finish. • Glenmorangie 13 Years — Cognac Cask Finish — 1998 - 2021 — $49 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-COG13 This vintage bottling finished in well-seasoned Cognac casks for four years to provide pastry, candied citrus and rancio-tinged oak around lemon-honey malt. The mid-palate widens without going sweet, though the finish leans into oak spice and hints of red fruit. • Glenmorangie 14 Year — Cognac Matured (Bottled 1999) — $72 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-COGNAC-46/850 Fully matured for 14 years in a single Cognac cask, only 850 bottles were released during bottling. Notes of almond crème, candied citrus, dark chocolate, and savory oak spice can be found alongside honey and fresh leather. This plays notably drier than the typical Glenmorangie, leaning into baking spice on the palate and finish. • Glenmorangie 15 Years — $92 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-15 This 15 Year aged example of the Glenmorangie core lineup presents with vanilla, lemon oil and honeyed malt over a lightly oaked frame. Though discontinued, this age statement is prized by fans as a slightly weightier take on ‘The Original’ and its ex-Bourbon clarity. • Glenmorangie 15 Years “Artein” — Private Edition (2012) — $118 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-ARTEIN This whisky is built with 66% 15 year old whisky and 34% 21 year old whisky aged in Super-Tuscan red-wine casks from Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia). Classic red wine cask 130
notes are introduced to the Glenmorangie flavor, with red-berry lift and creamy baked notes complementing the candied orange and tangerine. This is the third of the ‘Private Editions,’ named ‘Stone’ in Scottish Gaelic to represent the soil type of Bolgheri. • Glenmorangie 22 Years — 150th Anniversary — 1971 - 1993 — $255 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-1971-150 This special anniversary edition was aged in Sherry butt to create an elegant vintage depiction. Orange oil, fruitcake and beeswax sit on a calm, oak-polished palate and lead into a long, fruity finish with hints of spice. • Glenmorangie 25 Years — “Tain N.B.” — 1974 — 1999 — $562 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-1974-NB-1951/2000 This classic vintage was released in a 2,000 bottle production and labeled in the traditional name of Scotland used in the 18th and 19th Centuries (Tain, North Britain). The expected core of citrus, honeyed grain and wax is present while quiet old-oak spice guides a clean, mineral finish. A millennium-era vintage that captures mature Glenmorangie with grace rather than weight. • Glenmorangie 28 Year — “Tain L’Hermitage” — 1975 - 2003 — $863 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-1975-HER-3566 A tongue-in-cheek naming referencing the old name for Scotland with the prestigious winemaking commune of Tain l’Hermitage in the Rhone Valley, this whisky spent several years finishing Hermitage red-wine casks. Dark cherry, cocoa and pastry spice broaden the palate before a moderate and integrated finish. • Glenmorangie 17 Years — 1979 - 1996 Vintage Release — $227 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GM-1979-17 This limited release exploring the 1919 vintage is characterized by a lightly oaked frame. Issued when the distillery was transitioning from two stills to four, it’s a clean, pre-finish snapshot of classic ’90s Glenmorangie. • Glenmorangie — Grand Vintage (Bond House No.1) — 1989- 2017— $552 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-GV-1989-0233/6178 Select parcels from the traditional Glenmorangie ex-Bourbon maturation were finished in Côte-Rôtie wine casks before being re-integrated with additional ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry finished distillate. Complexity is added in the form of cocoa dust and dried black and red fruit. • Glenmorangie — Grand Vintage (Bond House No.1) — 1991 — 2018— $528 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-GV-1991-4341/7551 This whisky was finished for over a decade in Oloroso sherry and Burgundy casks before a small amount of spirit matured in virgin American oak was added to soften the spirit. Aromas of milk-chocolate, plum and spice characterize this richer style found here. 131
• Glenmorangie — Grand Vintage (Bond House No.1) — 1996 — 2019 — $549 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-GV-1996-2169 Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks from slow-grown Ozark oak, then bottled in 2019 with natural color and no chill-filtration; Bottle # 2,169 of 10,150. Vanilla custard, citrus oil and honeyed malt glide over polished oak, the finish tea-leaf dry and precise. The sixth Bond House No.1 entry celebrates bourbon-led purity as a definitive 1990s Glenmorangie statement. • Glenmorangie Grand Vintage (Bond House No.1) — 1998 — 2022 — $552 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-GV-1998 The 2022 bottling of the ‘Grand Vintage’ was composed from parcels aged in new American oak and classic ex-bourbon stocks with a portion finished in Oloroso Sherry cask. Chocolate-orange, vanilla cream and gingered spice push forward to a long finish. This vintage was distilled the year Dr. Bill Lumsden took the helm, codifying early new-char experiments as part of the house lexicon. • Glenmorangie 25 Years — “The Altus” — $558 — 86 proof / 43.0% ABV — #GM-25-ALTUS A portion of house distillate was finished in Malmsey Madeira and married back into ex-Bourbon stock. Surprising high-tine aromas of peach, orange blossom, and banana bread deliver a characterful experience in this special release whisky. As the house’s contemporary 25-year chapter, Altus reframes Glenmorangie’s bourbon-led elegance through a subtle Madeira accent. • Glenmorangie 25 Years — Málaga Wood Finish — $460 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-25-MAL Spending one year in Málaga wine casks to finish, this example of the Malaga Wood Finish is exemplified by caramelized fruit, marzipan, and fig. Polished spice and a velvety texture round out the luxurious and elegant experience. • Glenmorangie “A Tale of Cake” — 2020 Limited Edition — $34 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-TALE-CAKE-2020 Designed alongside chef Dominique Ansel for a dessert pairing, Tokaji sweet wine casks are used as the finishing component to introduce deeper layers of honey and stone fruit to the spirit. White chocolate, baking spice, and a juicy acidity lead to a moderate length exit. This is the first edition in the “A Tale Of…” line. • Glenmorangie “A Tale of Ice Cream” — 2024 Limited Edition — $36 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-TALE-ICE-2024 The barrels used to finish this whisky are oak that were specially toasted to maximize vanillin extraction in the distillate. Flavors typical of new American oak are loud, with vanilla, coconut, and peaches leading the aromatic intensity. Sweet-leaning but composed, it channels an old-school ice-cream-parlor vibe without turning heavy. 132
• Glenmorangie “Astar” — The Pursuit of Perfection — 2017 Release — $69 — 105 proof / 52.5% ABV — #GM-ASTAR-2017 The oak barrels used in this production were designed exclusively for Glenmorangie. Slow-grown Ozark oak was air seasoned, heavily toasted, and filled with Bourbon for four years explicitly to remove tannins. The barrels were then transferred to Glenmorangie and filled with house distillate, resulting in high clarity vanilla cream, citrus oils, ginger, and almond toffee lift over a silken palate. • Glenmorangie 10 Years — Cellar 13 — $92 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-C13 Rested in the seaside Warehouse 13 and released originally as a duty-free exclusive, expect bright vanilla, citrus and honeyed malt with a faint saline lift and a clean, dry close. • Glenmorangie Claret Wood Finish — 1976/1979 — $89 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-CLARET Often called Claret in the U.K., Bordeaux casks from Pauillac were used as the finishing element for this whisky. Cocoa, red fruit, and gentle tannin frame the quintessential Glenmorangie lemon-honey malt. • Glenmorangie “Dornoch” — Limited Edition (2014) — $137 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-DORNOCH Incorporating a touch of lightly peated spirit and finished in Amontillado Sherry casks, the ‘Dornach’ (‘Dark’) was released in support of marine conservation as a travel retail exclusive. Heathered honey and citrus meet nutty sherry tones and a wisp of smoke. • Glenmorangie “Sonnalta PX” — Private Edition No.1 (2009) — $128 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PC-SONNALTA Prepared for travel retail with a Pedro Ximénez Sherry finish, the darker fig, raisin and cocoa notes add density and richness. This bottling debuted the Private Edition and introduced consumers to the identity of Glenmorangie’s modern era finishing program. • Glenmorangie “Finealta” — Private Edition No.2 (2010/2011) — $127 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-FINEALTA Aged in both ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks from lightly peated grain, ‘Finealta’ was an attempt to recreate an archived 1903 house recipe. Vanilla pudding, nuts, toasted marshmallows, and dried orchard fruit with hints of peat texture and smoke deliver an essential, classic tasting experience. • Glenmorangie “Artein” — Private Edition No. 3 (2012) — 15 Years — $127 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-ARTEIN Composed primarily of 15-year Glenmorangie with a portion of 21-year spirit, first matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Super Tuscan red-wine casks; non-chill-filtered. The wine wood adds red-berry gloss, cocoa and patisserie notes to the lemon-honey core, landing satin-smooth and neatly dry. Named for the Gaelic word “stone,” it nods to the Hilton of Cadboll stone and Tarlogie’s limestone-filtered 133
water—Private Edition No. 3 that cemented fine-wine finishing in the modern Glenmorangie playbook. • Glenmorangie “Ealanta” — Private Edition No. 4 — 1993 - 2012 — $132 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-EAL-1993 Aged for 19 years exclusively in heavily charred virgin American white oak from Missouri, this whisky highlights cream-soda sweetness, orange oils and vanilla delivered on a frame of polished oak. • Glenmorangie “Companta” — Private Edition No. 5 (2014) — $143 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-COM This whisky was finished in a pair of French red wine casks, one each from the Clos de Tart Grand Cru and the fortified red wine AOC Rasteau. The resulting spirit is satin-textured and malty with black-cherry, cocoa, and spice. • Glenmorangie “Tùsail” — Private Edition No. 6 (2015) — $152 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-TUSAIL Sourced from a rare barley named Maris Otter which fell out of favor in the 1980s, the unique character of this grain developed intense nuttiness, gingerbread, toasted oats, and sweet spice on a long, velvety finish. • Glenmorangie “Milsean” — Private Edition No. 7 (2016) — $165 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-MILSEAN Re-toasted Portuguese red-wine barriques finish this whisky to draw out candy-shop fruit, gingered spice and a gloss of pastry. The whisky remains satin and composed through the finish with hints of lemon drop. • Glenmorangie “Bacalta” — Private Edition No. 8 (2017) — $167 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-BACALTA For this edition, heavily toasted American oak barrels were seasoned with Malmsey Madeira and baked in sunlight on the island of Madeira for two years. The result was a dense and concentrated palate with marmalade, baking spice, caramelized apricots, and white chocolate notes. • Glenmorangie “Spìos” — Private Edition No. 9 (2018) — $167 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-PE-SPIOS Fully matured in ex-American rye whiskey casks, ‘Spìos’ leans into the spice and pepper qualities of rye. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and almond gain a sweeter aromatic boost from vanilla and toffee notes. • Glenmorangie “Allta” — Private Edition No.10 (2019) — 167 — 102.4 proof / 51.2% ABV — #GM-ALLTA-2019 This whisky explores the potential of wild yeast discovered on local Cadboll barley used in the spirit’s fermentation. The presentation is creamy and yeasty, showing butter candy, orange slice, fig, and baked bread aromas. 134
• Glenmorangie Legends “The Duthac” — $37 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-LEG-DUTHAC Named after a church near to the Glenmorangie distillery and referencing the pilgrimage historically taken to it, the spirit was finished separately in Pedro Ximénez sherry and charred virgin oak before being married. Cocoa, raisin and toasted oak enrich the vanilla-citrus core, while the finish delivers baking spice and lingering stone fruit. • Glenmorangie Legends “The Tayne” — $38 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-LEG-TAYNE Using Amontillado Sherry casks to finish this whisky, ‘The Tayne’ references the story of a Spanish Galleon sunk in the 16th Century. Uncharacteristic for Glenmorangie, expect notes of roasted nuts, tobacco, ginger, and dark chocolate on a lighter palate. • Glenmorangie Legends “The Cadboll” — $40 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-LEG-CADBOLL French sweet-wine barriques that once held Muscat and Sémillon are the finishing components here, inspired by Scottish artifact The Cadboll Cup. This whisky has a distinctly dessert-like quality with lemon curd, brioche, toffee, and vanilla balanced by floral aromas. • Glenmorangie Legends “The Tarlogan” — Limited Edition — $55 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GM-LEG-TARLOGAN Named to commemorate the Tarlogan Spring, Glenmorangie’s water source since 1843, virgin-oak casks were used to keep the spirit bright and textural. Typical notes are accompanied by spicy tannins and an emphasis on vanilla and coconut. • Glenmorangie “The Taghta” — Crowd-Sourced Release — $55 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-TAGHTA This whisky, named ‘The Chosen’ in Scottish Gaelic, was crowdsourced to determine the barrel selection, name, and label. A Manzanilla Sherry finish delivers saline and apple tones with leather driving the finish. • Glenmorangie “A Tale of the Forest” — Limited Edition — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GM-FOREST Crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals (juniper berries, birch bark, heather flowers), the distillate maintains fresh pine, herb and citrus in addition to vanilla and gentle smoke. Glen Ord •The Singleton of Glen Ord — 2022 Natural Cask Strength (Wine-Cask Finish) — $44 — cask strength — #SGO2022NCS Refill American and European oak set a bright, orchard-led chassis before a finish in wine-seasoned casks adds red-berry gloss and fine, tea-leaf dryness; bottled at natural 135
strength, un-chill-filtered. The palate reads vivid and textural rather than heavy. As a Special Release from Glen Ord, it shows the Singleton style turned up in definition—clarity of fruit framed by firm, modern oak. •The Singleton of Glen Ord — 2024 Natural Cask Strength (14 Year, Wine-Cask Finish) — $54 — cask strength — #SGO2024NCS14 Refill American and European oak build a bright, orchard-led chassis before a finish in wine-seasoned casks adds red-berry gloss and tea-leaf dryness; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Pear tart, citrus oil and malt biscuit move with firm, textural grip. As a recent Special Release from Glen Ord, it turns the Singleton clarity up in definition—fruit-first, framed by modern oak. Glenrothes was built by James Stuart & Co., who would go on to become famous for their work at nearby The Macallan, in 1879. The Glenrothes facility and production methodology is similar to The Macallan: the same style of ex-Sherry casks are used in the maturation of their whisky, which leans into rich flavors and juicier, floral, and complex territory. The distillery does have a tendency to catch on fire due to the overproof nature of the distillate, which occurred in 1897, 1903, 1922, and 1962. Nonetheless, these spirits are well balanced examples of the Speyside style when bottled. •Glenrothes — Select Reserve — $23 — ABV TBC — #GRSR Composed from first-fill and refill sherry-seasoned and ex-Bourbon casks, aiming for ripe pear, vanilla cream and soft baking spice over polished malt. The palate reads gentle and rounded, finishing tidy and dry. As the approachable house introduction of its era, Select Reserve sketches Glenrothes’ orchard-and-vanilla profile without heavy oak. •Glenrothes — ‘Discovery’ (Gordon & MacPhail) 11 Year — Sherry Cask — $27 — ABV TBC — #GR11DISSH Matured in sherry casks selected for the Discovery series’ “Sherry” style, letting dark fruit, orange peel and nutty cocoa enrich the distillery’s pear-led spirit. Texture stays medium-weight and composed, with a clean, dry close. Within Discovery, it’s the sherry-lens study of Glenrothes—house brightness viewed through a deeper, duskier filter. •Glenrothes — 11 Year (A.D. Rattray, Single Sherry Butt) — $39 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #GR11ADR Drawn from a single sherry butt and bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered and natural colour. Treacle, roasted walnut and spiced orange ride a firm malt spine, the finish cedar-dry and long. As an independent snapshot, it trades brand polish for specificity—one cask, one voice—showing Glenrothes in focused sherry tones. •Glenrothes — 12 Year (Sherry-Seasoned Oak Casks) — $33 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GR12 First-fill and refill sherry-seasoned oak lead, with ex-Bourbon in support, shaping honeyed 136
pear, vanilla and gentle clove around a silky mid-palate. Sweetness stays restrained as fine, dry oak guides the close. Positioned as the everyday age statement, it captures Glenrothes’ modern house style—bright orchard fruit enriched by measured sherry depth. •Glenrothes — 15 Year (Sherry-Seasoned Oak Casks) — $35 — ABV TBC — #GR15 Sherry-seasoned European oak leads with refill ex-Bourbon in support, shaping ripe pear, orange oils and nutty cocoa over a silky mid-palate. Oak reads structured but calm, the finish precise and dry-edged. Positioned between the easy 12 and weightier 18, the 15 focuses the modern Glenrothes signature—orchard brightness deepened by measured sherry tone without tipping sweet. •Glenrothes — 18 Year (Sherry-Seasoned Oak Casks) — $72 — ABV TBC — #GR18 First-fill and refill sherry-seasoned casks broaden baked apple, treacle and clove around the distillery’s vanilla-pear line, with ex-Bourbon lending lift. The palate turns velvety yet stays trim, cedar and citrus keeping balance. As the mature voice of the core range, the 18 translates house fruit into length and resonance rather than heaviness. •Glenrothes — 25 Year (Sherry-Seasoned Oak Casks) — $278 — ABV TBC — #GR25 Long residence in sherry-seasoned European oak—tempered by refill and ex-Bourbon for clarity—unfurls fig, polished walnut and orange-tea dryness over a composed, silk-textured palate. Sweetness stays disciplined as fine tannin shapes the close. Sitting at the top of the permanent range, it expresses Glenrothes’ orchard-sherry dialect at full poise. Glen Spey •Glen Spey — 10 Year (Dalgety, Limited Release — Port Barriques) — $33 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #GSP10DAL Refill ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a finish in Port barriques adds red-berry glow and cedar to Glen Spey’s light, cereal-driven spirit; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. The palate reads crisp and mineral, fruit tucked into a dry, nut-spiced frame. As a Dalgety indie pick, it spotlights a rarely bottled distillery in focused, wine-accented form. Glenturret •Glenturret — 15 Year (2023 Release) — $53 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GTR15-2023 Composed from American-oak ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned European oak, then bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered. Honeyed malt, baked citrus and almond toffee move over a gently waxed texture, the finish firm and dry-spiced. Relaunched in the Lalique era under Master Blender Bob Dalgarno, this 15 shows the house’s quiet Highland richness tuned for precision and length. 137
Linkwood distillery began its official operations in 1825 near the town of Elgin in Speyside. Nearly 50 years later, the distillery was demolished and completely rebuilt to improve volume and quality of production. The next several decades of operations see the distillery honing in on its signature fruity style. They brand themselves the Linkwood-Glenlivet company to piggyback on the success of their competitor. Several modernizations occurred but the most recent, in 2012-2013, brought the original production methods into the 21st century. Long fermentations and wide pot stills ensure the esters that defined the Linkwood fruitiness of the past persists today. • Linkwood — Murray McDavid (Madeira Cask Finish) — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LKWMM Long ex-Bourbon maturation, then a Madeira wine-cask finish adds honeyed apricot, almond toffee and gentle spice around Linkwood’s floral core; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The palate stays silky and fresh, sweetness trimmed by a dry, nutty close. As a Murray McDavid composition—true to the bottler’s wine-finish heritage—it tilts elegant Speyside fruit toward a warmer, dessert-toned register without losing lift. • Linkwood — 18 Year ‘Woven Honor’ (Orphan Barrel Series) — $65 — ABV TBC — #LKW18WH Composed from mature Linkwood casks drawn from historic stocks, assembled to spotlight orchard fruit, vanillaed malt and polished, tea-leaf oak over a graceful glide. Texture reads satin rather than heavy, with a clean, dry finish that keeps the distillate in view. As part of Diageo’s Orphan Barrel Scotch chapter, it frames a classic Speyside voice through a curator’s lens—archive character presented with modern polish. • Linkwood 12 Years — 2000 - 2013 — Chieftain’s Port Finish — $48 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LW-00-CHIEF-PF Independent bottler Chieftain finished the typical Linkwood distillate in a Port hogshead. Candied apple, lemon peel, and delicate brown sugar notes are framed by a dense palate and a long, complex finish. • Linkwood 13 Years — 1997 - 2011 — Douglas of Drumlanrig — $39 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LW-97-DOD-13 From a single ex-Bourbon barrel sourced by Douglas Laing for this independent bottling, pear and lemon oil glide over vanilla and barley sugar in a typical, light, fruit-driven Linkwood spirit. • Linkwood 16 Years — 1998 - 2014 — A.D. Rattray Cask Collection — $54 — 105 proof / 52.5% ABV — #LW-98-ADR-16 Matured exclusively in undisclosed oak, this Linkwood 16 independent bottling is assertively fruit forward with an underpinning of honeyed malt, flowers, and spice. 138
• Linkwood 18 Years — 1995 - 2014 — The Maltman Port Finish — $75 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LW-95-MALT-PF Aged initially in ex-Bourbon before transfer to Port casks and bottling by Meadowside Blending. Cranberry and cherry compote work alongside plums and stewed fruits with well structured tannins on the palate. • Linkwood 18 Years — 1997 - 2016 — The Exclusive Malts — $79 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #LW-97-EXM-18 Bottled from an ex-Sherry hogshead by Creative Whisky Co., this whisky expresses deeply as a Sherry influenced spirit. Dark fruit, toffee and almond fold into the distillate’s pear-and-citrus poise. • Lismore — 15 Year (Speyside, Distillery Undisclosed) — $28 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #LSM15 A Speyside single malt from an unnamed distillery, composed from ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned oak in support to balance vanilla biscuit, pear and gentle nut-spice. The palate is rounded and easy, finishing tidy and dry-edged. As a cloaked-provenance label, it’s designed to deliver classic Speyside harmony—bright malt and measured sherry tone—without the baggage of a named distillery. Loch Lomond distillery's original foundation was set in 1814 but operations did not begin in earnest until 1965. The location was purchased by Barton Brands and the Littlemill Distillery Company, recipients of the first post-Excise Act distillation license ever issued, and also the first issued to a woman. Following a closure due to the whisky loch and several changes in ownership, Loch Lomond expanded its production to include straight neck stills alongside their traditional swan necks. Operations are overseen by Master Blender Michael Henry. •Loch Lomond — 12 Year (American Oak) — $28 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LLM12 Matured in re-charred American-oak casks, the whisky blends multiple spirit styles from Lomond’s straight-neck and traditional pot stills to shape ripe orchard fruit, vanilla and a faint grilled-citrus edge; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The mouthfeel is pliant and lightly waxed, the finish clean and mineral. As the gateway to this versatile distillery, the 12 shows how still design can broaden flavor without leaning on finishes. •Loch Lomond — 18 Year (American Oak) — $48 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LLM18 Re-charred American-oak casks (from multiple still styles—straight-neck and traditional pot) shape ripe orchard fruit, vanilla and grilled-citrus edges while keeping the palate taut; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. A gently waxed texture carries mineral freshness and dry oak. As the mature core expression, it shows how Loch Lomond’s unique still set can broaden flavour without leaning on wine finishes—clarity through distillation, not cosmetics. 139
• Loch Lomond — 30 Year (First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish) — $250 — ABV TBC — #LLM30OLO Long residence in American oak builds honeyed malt and lemon oils before a first-fill Oloroso sherry finish layers fig, walnut and polished spice; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The smoke reads faint and kiln-clean, texture silky with a dry, cedary close. As late-maturity Loch Lomond, it translates distillate complexity into calm resonance—age used for length and definition rather than sheer weight. The Macallan is not the most popular single malt Scotch (volumes speak in favor of Glenfiddich and Glenlivet) but certainly, it is the one getting the most attention! Auctions throughout the world keep showing its vitality…Limited editions, special releases, one-off bottlings, etc., Macallan is a HUGE distillery that has reached the luxury level of Hermès or Chanel. The whisky must be good! It starts with a rather heavy new make spirit, which up until a few years ago was only matched by high quality Spanish oak-made Sherry butts, but now includes American oak in the shape of ex-Bourbon barrels and Sherry butts. • The Macallan — 12 Year ‘Sherry Oak’ — $35 — ABV TBC — #MAC12SO Fully matured in sherry-seasoned oak from Jerez—principally European oak with select American-oak butts—carrying orange peel, sultana and cocoa over a silky malt line; natural colour. Sweetness stays disciplined as fine tannin shapes a dry, nut-spiced finish. As the doorway to Macallan’s sherry program—modern stewardship under Kirsteen Campbell—it sets the house grammar: fragrance, precision, and sherry depth without heaviness. • The Macallan — 18 Year ‘Sherry Oak’ (2024 Release) — $131 — ABV TBC — #MAC18SO-2024 European-oak sherry butts (with select American-oak casks) deliver dark citrus, roasted nut and polished cedar over a composed, satin palate; natural colour. Fruit glows rather than shouts, the finish long and tea-leaf dry. As the annual 18, it’s the benchmark articulation of the house style—vintage-coded sherry maturity that privileges balance and length over showiness. • The Macallan — 25 Year ‘Sherry Oak’ (2022 Release) — $930 — ABV TBC — #MAC25SO-2022 Quarter-century maturation in sherry-seasoned European oak unfurls fig, burnt orange and sandalwood across an effortless glide; natural colour. The sweetness is trimmed by firm, cedar-lined structure, giving poise rather than excess. Sitting atop the classic age-stated line, the 25 distills decades of Macallan’s cask partnerships into calm authority—depth expressed as resonance and perfume. • The Macallan — Harmony Collection ‘Amber Meadow’ — $61 — ABV TBC — #MACHAM Ex-Bourbon–primed stocks with sherry-seasoned oak in support evoke sun-warmed grass, honeyed malt and orange oils, the finish clean and gently nutty; natural colour. Texture stays bright and supple rather than heavy. Part of the eco-minded Harmony 140
line—with packaging designed in collaboration with Stella & Mary McCartney—it explores a lighter countryside register while keeping the house’s sherry-laced poise. • The Macallan — Harmony Collection ‘Intense Arabica’ — $63 — ABV TBC — #MACHCOF Sherry-seasoned oak (European and American) leans the profile toward cocoa, roasted nuts and espresso-tinged spice over Macallan’s orange-citrus core; natural colour. The palate reads plush but disciplined, drying on fine cedar. Created with coffee specialists and packaged using recycled coffee by-products, this Harmony chapter studies the shared language of roast and oak—bittersweet depth without stickiness. • The Macallan — ‘A Night on Earth in Scotland’ — $47 — ABV TBC — #MACNOE Composed from ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned casks to spotlight shortbread richness, vanilla and citrus peel over a silky malt line; natural colour. The close is tidy and dry-spiced. Released for Hogmanay with distinctive box art by Erica Dorn, it captures the celebratory house style in a bright, confection-leaning register—festive without excess. • The Macallan 14 Year — “Whisky Galore” (Duncan Taylor) — 1988 - 2003 — $98 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MAC-88-WG-14 Released from a single ex-Bourbon barrel, this unique bottling highlights orchard fruit, toffee, raisin, and cocoa notes with a notable barley sweetness. This is an uncommon example of Macallan shaped by the early indie era and quite distinct from the distillery’s Sherry profile. • The Macallan 14 Year — “Mackillop’s Choice” (Single Cask) — 1989 - 2003 — $259 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #MAC-89-MCC-14 A single ex-Bourbon cask selected by Lorne Mackillop, this expression is vanilla and coconut forward with baked-apple and gentle spice. The clarity of these notes is neatly layered with oak tannin and hints of tea leaf. • The Macallan 14 Year — Murray McDavid “Yquem Finish” — 1995 - 2009 — $146 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MAC-95-MM-14-YQ Initially matured in bourbon casks and then finished in Château d’Yquem Sauternes barriques for added fruit richness. Honeyed apricot and crème brûlée fold into citrus and malt with a lingering peach and orchard fruit finish. • The Macallan 16 Year — “Mackillop’s Choice” (Single Cask) — 1989 - 2005 — $320 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #MAC-89-MCC-16 Ex-Bourbon matured spirit delivers orchard fruit and vanilla in a more rugged palate than the 14 Year. The finish keeps textured and focused on American oak spice. • The Macallan 18 Year — Murray McDavid “Mission Gold” — 1997 - 2015 — Koval Rye Finish — $376 — 100.8 proof / 50.4% ABV — #MAC-97-MM-18-KOVAL A U.S. exclusive from independent bottler Murray McDavid, this was raised in ex-Bourbon 141
wood and finished in a first-fill Koval Rye barrel/ Rye spice and charred-oak grip add cocoa and orange-oil depth to Macallan’s malt-rich core to a long finish. • The Macallan 18 Year — 1993 - 2011 — $316 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-1993 This 1993 vintage of the 18 year rides orange oil, sultana, dark chocolate, dried fruit, and ginger over a smooth-malt core. • The Macallan 18 Year — 1994 - 2012 — $306 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-1994 This vintage iteration leans more into cinnamon and spice than the cocoa aroma of 1993. • The Macallan 18 Year — 1995 - 2013 — $299 — 86 proof / 43% A BV — #MAC-18-1995 Notes of orange marmalade and dried citrus lead the fig and nutty oak notes on this silky smooth release. • The Macallan 18 Year — 1996 - 2014 — $277 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-1996 Dark fruits and baking spice define the 1996 with layers of blackberry, citrus peel, clove, and cinnamon over Macallan’s dense malt. • The Macallan 18 Year — 1997 - 2015 — $248 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-1997 The last 18 Year whisky from Macallan to indicate a vintage. This is a plusher, fruit-forward profile that characterizes the balance of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and ginger that will be expressed in non-vintage 18 Years to follow. • The Macallan 18 Year — Sherry Oak “2016 Release” — $199 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-2016 Dark fruit, orange oil, cinnamon, and ginger on an oily malt core with a long, complex finish. Following the 1997 vintage 18 Year, this marks the style of the house. • The Macallan 18 Year — Sherry Oak Cask “2022 Release” — $182 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-2022 Dark fruit, orange oil, cinnamon, and ginger on an oily malt core with a long, complex finish. • The Macallan 18 Year — Sherry Oak Cask “2023 Release” — $179 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-18-2023 Dark fruit, orange oil, cinnamon, and ginger on an oily malt core with a long, complex finish. • The Macallan — Speymalt 1972 (Gordon & MacPhail) — $598 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-SPEY-1972 142
Aged for 35 years before bottling, this long and pronounced spirit displays orange oil, fruitcake, toffee, and walnut. This independent bottling holds true to Macallan’s house style of maturation. • The Macallan — Speymalt 1973 (Gordon & MacPhail) — $598 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #MAC-SPEY-1973 42 years of maturation leads to a spirit with grapefruit and orange citrus alongside ripe banana and sweet toffee. Cocoa notes accentuate the full body of the spirit. • The Macallan 25 Year — Sherry Oak — $525/$1,050 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-25-SO Treacle, sultana and dark chocolate fold into orange peel and fine oak spice. The finish goes long and complex, demanding a meditative audience. • The Macallan 25 Year — Sherry Oak “2022 Release” — $525/$1,050 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-25-2022 Aromas in this release include dates, ginger and polished walnut. Dried fruits define the attack and mid palate into a long, warming finish. • The Macallan Cask Strength — Sherry Oak — $99 — 120.2 proof / 60.1% ABV — #MAC-CS-60.1 Intensely fruity and highly aromatic bottling which portrays fig, cocoa, orange oil, and baking spice on a dense frame. Despite the high proof, this whisky is well integrated and highly sought after as a unicorn bottling. • The Macallan Classic Cut — 2017 Limited Edition — $126 — 116.8 proof / 58.4% ABV — #MAC-CC-2017 This bottling represents a recent annual tradition for Macallan of releasing cask strength spirit. Caramelized citrus, nutmeg and cocoa ride a dense malt core in this cask strength whisky. The finish is long and highlights the baking spice character in the distillate. • The Macallan Edition No. 1 — 2015 — $100 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #MAC-ED1-C8.V130.T19 Distinguished from the core Macallan line by the use of eight distinct sherry-seasoned cask styles for maturation and its bottle proof of 96, expect a whisky with more profound depth and clarity with more noticeably oak influence. • The Macallan Edition No. 2 — 2016 — $100 — 96.4 proof / 48.2% ABV — #MAC-ED2-C4.V372.T21 A collaboration with the Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca, this was matured in seven sherry cask types sourced from four bodegas. The result is a whisky with blood orange, treacle, toffee and warm spice notes around Macallan’s malt-rich core and satin finish. • The Macallan Edition No. 3 — 2017 — $100 — 96.6 proof / 48.3% ABV — #MAC-ED3-C6.V523.T23 143
Created with master perfumer Roja Dove to emphasize aroma, citrus oils, vanilla and mocha thread through raisin and ginger in this unique Macallan expression. This sensory outlier of the series is aromatic study that still reads unmistakably Macallan. • The Macallan Edition No. 4 — 2018 Release — $100 — 97 proof / 48.4% ABV — #MAC-ED4 The Edition No. 4 celebrates the new Macallan distillery’s opening showcasing masterful cask selection and blending with this expression. Sherry and orchard fruit on the nose relay a balanced and delicately structured single malt that trades in equal parts candied fruit and sherried oak before a delightfully smooth finish. • The Macallan Edition No. 5 — 2019 Release — $100 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV — #MAC-ED5 This collaboration with Pantone focuses on the natural color of Macallan during its maturation. Matured in first fill and refill Sherry casks selected across three bodegas, the typical Macallan profile is complicated with nutmeg, cocoa, and marcona almond. • The Macallan Edition No. 6 — 2020 Release — $100 — 97.2 proof / 48.6% ABV — #MAC-ED6 Whisky maker Steven Brenner chose five distinct American and European oak ex-Sherry casks for the maturation of this whisky. Plum, orange and toffee lead to a ginger and sweet spice midpalate before a long and clean finish. • The Macallan Rare Cask — 2015 Release — $295 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-RC-2015 Less than 1% of whisky aged at Macallan makes it into this whisky. Aromas of rich raisin and dark chocolate meet citrus zest and polished spice on a supple malt line. An early Rare Cask chapter that cemented the range’s sherry-forward, cask-curation ethos. • The Macallan M — 2022 Release — $1,500/$3,000 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #MAC-M-2022 This luxury bottling was created in tandem with fashion creative director Fabien Baron and Lalique. Black cherry, demerara and polished oak flow to liquorice and dark-chocolate orange. Bottled in a crystal decanter, this represents Macallan’s drive to perfect sherry influence on their distillate. • The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release — 2022 Collection (I–VI) — $540 — 87.4 proof / 43.7% ABV — #MAC-JB This bottling series presents the same spirit across 6 different labels, each representing one of six decades of James Bond. Lemon-lime brightness, vanilla and cocoa frame a suave, malt-rich core with a clean, dry close. • The Macallan Rare Cask — Red Label — $224 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MAC-RC-871435 Composed from first-fill and refill sherry-seasoned casks in European and American oak, 144
then married for depth while keeping the finish dry; natural color. Expect raisin and dark chocolate over orange oil and polished spice, riding a supple malt core to a tidy close. As a modern pillar built on sherry wood and natural color, Rare Cask is the house’s cask-selection showcase. • The Macallan TIME : SPACE “Mastery” — 2024 — $370 — 87.2 proof / 43.6% ABV — #MAC-TSM-2024 A special release from Macallan made with spirit aged in 14 different cask types chosen by whisky maker Euan Kennedy. Aromas of dried vine fruit, milk chocolate and gingered citrus over a silken malt line, finishing long and clean. Released for Macallan’s 200th-year celebrations, Mastery ties bicentennial design theater to a classic sherry-led profile. Mannochmore • Mannochmore — Murray McDavid (Port Cask Finish) — $23 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MNMMDPORT Ex-Bourbon maturation sets a bright, cereal-led frame before a finish in Port barriques adds red-berry gloss, almond toffee and tea-leaf dryness; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. The palate stays crisp and mineral, sweetness kept in check. As a Murray McDavid composition—true to the bottler’s wine-finish heritage—it tilts Mannochmore’s clean Speyside spirit toward a richer register without losing lift. Mortlach in Speyside is known as ‘the beast of Dufftown’ because it produces quite a muscular spirit, essentially due to the lack of copper contact taking place at the condensation stage in the worm tubs. Mortlach is also known for being the ‘2.81 times’ distilled single malt, because of an usual distillation regime resulting in the combination of standard, double distilled new make with some triple distilled new make. Owned by Diageo, Mortlach is made from unpeated barley, matures in Sherry butts and ex-Bourbon barrels, and is an essential component of the Johnnie Walker blends, particularly the black label. • Mortlach — 12 Year “The Wee Witchie” — 2.81 Distilled — $26 — 86.8 proof / 43.4% ABV — #MTL12WW Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks (first-fill and refill) are integrated around Mortlach’s worm-tub weight and 2.81 “Cowie’s Way” partial triple distillation; natural colour. Stewed orchard fruit, cocoa and roasted nut ride a meaty, sinewy core. As the gateway to modern Mortlach, it translates the distillery’s muscular make into an everyday tone—structure and savor balanced by tidy oak. • Mortlach — 16 Year “Distiller’s Dram” — 2.81 Distilled — $48 — 86.8 proof / 43.4% ABV — #MTL16DD Long sherry-led maturation (Oloroso with refill support) shapes dark citrus, walnut and leather over Mortlach’s dense, worm-tub texture; natural colour. The palate reads deep yet composed, finishing dry and cedary. Positioned as the range’s classic sherry voice, the 16 amplifies the house’s savory backbone into length and polish rather than sheer heaviness. 145
• Mortlach — 15 Year ‘Game of Thrones – Six Kingdoms’ — $57 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MTL15GOT Sherry-seasoned maturation followed by a finish in first-fill American-oak ex-Bourbon casks draws vanilla, orange-oil brightness and cedar over the distillery’s sinewy core; natural colour. The result feels stately but nimble, sweetness trimmed by dry spice. Issued as the series’ closing chapter, it frames Mortlach’s muscular style through a celebratory lens—house power, freshly lit. • Mortlach — 2023 Special Release ‘The Katana’s Edge’ (ex-Kanosuke & Pinot Noir Casks) — $89 — cask strength — #MTL2023SE Refill American/European oak stock re-racked into ex-Kanosuke Japanese-whisky casks and Pinot Noir wine casks, fusing sandalwood lift with red-berry breadth; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Meaty Mortlach weight meets incense, cherry and tea-leaf dryness for a layered, textural finish. As a themed Special Release, it explores the house’s 2.81-distilled heft through cross-cask dialogue—distinctive without losing identity. • Mortlach — 2024 Special Release (White & Red Italian Wine Casks) — $99 — cask strength — #MTL2024SE Refill American/European oak stock re-racked into ex–Italian white- and red-wine casks, layering citrus-pith brightness and red-berry breadth over Mortlach’s dense, worm-tub texture; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Meaty sweetness meets tea-leaf dryness and cedar, the finish long and architectural. As a themed Special Release, it reframes the 2.81-distilled heft through a dual-wine lens—distinctive oak accents carried by the distillate’s iron spine. • Mortlach — 20 Year “Cowie’s Blue Seal” — 2.81 Distilled — $93 — 86.8 proof / 43.4% ABV — #MTL20CBS Long sherry-led maturation (Oloroso/European oak with refill support) polishes Mortlach’s sinewy core into leather, orange-tea dryness and roasted-nut depth; natural colour. Texture reads stately and composed, sweetness tightly held. As the elder of the core trio, “Cowie’s Blue Seal” translates the distillery’s famous 2.81 process into calm authority—muscle turned to length and quiet resonance. • Mortlach — 1954 (Gordon & MacPhail, Cask #494) — $600/$1,200 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MOR-1954-GM-494 Distilled in 1954 and matured in an ex-Sherry puncheon until 2019, this whisky emphasizes aged notes of hazelnut, walnut, cocoa, and polished leather. This whisky is a benchmark mid-century Mortlach that also spotlights G&M’s custodianship of historic sherry stock. Nc’nean is the brainchild of Annabel Thomas, a former management consultant who left her job to open a distillery on her parents' estate on the Morvern peninsula. Using 100% Scottish barley and 100% renewable energy, this certified net-zero distillery is unique in their use of two distinct yeast varieties in their exceptionally long 146
fermentations. The two stills, a 5,000 liter wash still and 3,500 liter spirit still, are lantern shaped to increase reflux (the condensation and revaporization of vapors). While the majority of the Nc'nean production is focused on lighter fruity and floral whiskies, the team spends six weeks of the year producing heavier spirits designed for long term maturation. • Nc’nean — ‘Organic’ — 3 Year — $31 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #NCNORG Fully matured in ex-Bourbon with select STR red-wine casks for lift; bottled natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Lemon curd, barley cream and vanilla wafer move with a bright, silky glide, oak reading clean and modern. Distilled at Scotland’s first verified net-zero whisky distillery, this organic single malt shows how a young spirit can carry clarity and poise when production and cask choices are ruthlessly precise. • Nc’nean — ‘Organic AON 17-518’ — 3 Year — $45 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #NCNORG Oban With official records showing active distillation occurring since 1799, and unofficial records suggesting distilling happening as early as 1794, Oban is a legend in the Scotch whisky industry. With global demand high, Oban slows things down with low charges and aeration times to keep copper contact high and fresh. Oban is located in a small seaside town of Argyle, making it one of the few urban distilleries. Currently owned by Diageo and a shining star in their classic malts lineup, Oban can boast that they have never gone under any distillery expansion including never increasing the number of stills. • Oban — 14 Year — $37 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #OBN14 Primarily refill American oak with a strand of European-oak influence keeps citrus, heather honey and briny smoke in balanced relief. The palate is gently oily, finishing tea-leaf dry with coastal salt. As one of the Classic Malts, Oban 14 defines the distillery’s narrow-gauge style—Highland fruit drawn through maritime peat into a poised, quietly savory register. • Oban — ‘Little Bay’ (Small-Cask) — $29 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #OBNLB Mature stocks are re-racked into small casks to quicken oak-to-spirit dialogue, shaping orange zest, malt toffee and polished smoke over a silkier glide. Sweetness stays trimmed as fine tannin firms the close. Positioned as a compact, intensified take on house character, Little Bay captures Oban’s citrus-briny line in a tighter frame—more glow, same coastal poise. • Oban — Distillers Edition (Montilla Fino Seasoned Finish) — $42 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #OBNDE Refill American oak preserves citrus, honeyed malt and shy smoke before a finishing spell in Montilla Fino–seasoned casks adds almond, brine and tea-leaf dryness. The palate reads brighter and more saline than sherry-led finishes. As a long-running DE variant, it 147
refracts Oban’s maritime Highland style through a drier, fino-tinged lens—elegant, taut, unmistakably Oban. • Oban — 10 Year (2024 Special Release, Natural Cask Strength) — $34 — cask strength — #OBN10SR2024 Refill American oak drives lemon oil, barley sugar and coastal herb before a bracing, natural-strength delivery stretches salinity and smoke; un-chill-filtered. The palate feels vivid and textural rather than heavy, with a long, mineral finish. As the 2024 Special Release, it sharpens the house’s citrus-briny line—Oban rendered in high definition. • Oban — 15 Year (Oloroso & Palo Cortado Finish, Cask Strength) — $43 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #OBN15OPC Primary maturation in ex-Bourbon casks is re-racked into Oloroso and Palo Cortado sherry wood, then bottled at natural cask strength, un-chill-filtered. Oloroso lends date-rich warmth and toffee, while Palo Cortado brings walnut, citrus peel and tea-leaf dryness over Oban’s briny, lightly smoky core. A rarer cask-strength chapter for the distillery, it reframes the classic 14’s coastal grace through a drier, sherry-edged lens. • Oban 11 Year — Special Releases 2023 “The Soul of Calypso” — $76 — 116 proof / 58% ABV — #OBA-11-SR23 Highland spirit matured in American oak and Finished in Caribbean pot-still rum casks, this special Oban release presents tropical fruit and gentle brine over a cereal and honeyed backbone with a clean, dry landing. Classic Oban minerality presents on the finish. • Oban Distillers Edition — 1999 - 2014 (Montilla Fino) — $54 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #OBA-DE-1999 The Distiller’s Edition is finished in Montilla Fino Sherry casks, adding nutty depth and orange-peel lift to the malt’s silky, coastal style. The finish stays tea-leaf dry and precise. Old Pulteney is located in the far northern town of Wick on the west coast of the Highlands. Roads were poor and land travel was impractical for industrial deliveries, so barley and whisky were delivered via boat. These conditions, however, created a unique expression of whisky defined by maritime qualities that, for 21 years between 1930 and 1951, could not be enjoyed in Wick due to a local prohibition. Today, the brand is still recognized and appreciated for its obvious coastal influence. • Old Pulteney — 12 Year — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #OP12 American-oak ex-Bourbon casks carry lemon zest, vanilla cream and sea-spray salinity over a clean, lightly oily palate. Oak sits neatly behind maritime freshness. As the Wick distillery’s signature, the 12 sketches coastal Highland clarity—bright citrus, briny sweetness, and an easy, tidy close. • Old Pulteney — 15 Year — $36 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #OP15 Ex-Bourbon maturation with sherry-cask components broadens citrus and brine into 148
toffee, dried fruit and gentle spice; bottled at higher strength for texture. The finish is long and dry-edged, minerality intact. As the balanced step-up, the 15 adds sherry warmth and length while keeping Old Pulteney’s salty snap alive. • Old Pulteney — 18 Year — $58 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #OP18 American-oak Bourbon casks with a stronger sherry influence draw cocoa, orange tea and polished oak around the distillery’s lemon-saline core; natural colour. Texture turns silkier yet remains briny, the close firm and cedary. As the mature voice of the range, the 18 shows maritime fruit dressed in darker, longer lines—depth without losing the gust of sea air. Pittyvaich • Pittyvaich 26 Year — Orphan Barrel “Forager’s Keep” — $139 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #PIT-FK-26-12439 The Diageo ‘Orphan Barrel’ project discovered spirit from the closed Pittyvaich distillery and bottled this whisky after 26 years of maturation in undisclosed oak barrels. The whisky starts with supple orchard fruit, vanilla and gentle wood spice before a smooth, malty finish. This is the first single malt bottled in the Orphan Barrel label. Roseisle • Roseisle — 12 Year (2024 Special Release, Natural Cask Strength) — $49 — cask strength — #RSE12SR2024 Composed from refill and first-fill American-oak ex-Bourbon casks, then bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Bright malt, lemon oils and vanilla wafer ride a firm, textural line with clean, kiln-fresh grain at the core. As an early age-stated outing from Diageo’s ultra-modern distillery, it shows Roseisle’s brief: precision spirit rendered vivid rather than heavy—clarity by design. Rosebank • Rosebank 21 Year — 1990 - 2011 — $352 — 107.6 proof / 53.8% ABV — #ROS-21-1990-2011-5822 Matured in refill American and European oak, this uniquely floral whisky builds to citrus, vanilla and refined oak spice with a poised, dry finish. Released during the distillery’s long closure, this 21-year edition became a touchstone for Rosebank’s elegant, triple-distilled style. Royal Brackla was invented at the Brackla Distillery, built on the Cawdor Castle estate, in 1812. Deeply connected to history, the distillery is sited in the same area as referenced to in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and given a Royal Warrant by King William IV, hence the title "Royal Brackla." During World War II, an airfield was built and an underground water supply tapped to support air combat training. That water source 149
would be acquired by Brackla in the 1960's to facilitate spirits cooling. A 1985 closure and 1991 soft reopening led to a full relaunch in 2019 by new owners Bacardi who are focusing on delivering 12, 18, and 21 year single malts. • Royal Brackla — 12 Year (Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #RB12OLO Ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked into Oloroso sherry casks layers raisined fruit, almond toffee and sweet spice over Brackla’s floral Highland core; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The palate stays bright, the sherry reading polished rather than sticky. Founded under the Duke of Gordon and granted the first Royal Warrant in 1835, Brackla’s 12 channels “King’s Own” elegance through a measured sherry lens. • Royal Brackla — 18 Year (Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish) — $104 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #RB18PC Long ex-Bourbon aging followed by a Palo Cortado finish brings orange-peel dryness, walnut and sandalwood to the distillery’s honeyed, floral line; natural colour, non-chill-filtered. Texture reads satin-smooth with a tea-leaf close. As the sherry-connoisseur’s Brackla, the 18 swaps richness for precision—sherry’s rare, nutty register framing the house’s graceful Highland voice. • Royal Brackla — 2009–2023, 14 Year (Signatory Vintage, 1st-Fill Bourbon Cask) — $41 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #RB14SV2009 Distilled in 2009 and drawn from a single first-fill Bourbon cask, bottled by Signatory Vintage at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Vanilla cream, pear tart and citrus oils glide over a taut, mineral spine, oak reading bright and cedary. As an indie single-cask snapshot, it spotlights Brackla’s orchard-led elegance with no varnish—one cask, one voice. • Royal Brackla — 2007–2019, 12 Year (Signatory Vintage, Refill Sherry Butt) — $34 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #RB12SV2007 From a single refill Sherry butt selected by Signatory Vintage, bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Sultana, hazelnut and cocoa gather over a floral-honey core, the finish dry and precise. As a counterpoint to the Bourbon-cask indie above, it shows how refill sherry can lend depth without darkness—Brackla’s brightness intact, sherry speaking in fine lines. Royal Lochnagar happens to be Diageo’s smallest distillery (it also uses short stills) but is very well-known of Scotch connoisseurs for not only the big part it plays in the Johnnie Walker Blue blend, but also for its use of cast iron worm tub condensers. Well, another claim of fame is its signature flavor in Windsor, a very popular blended Scotch whisky in South Korea! The flavor profile has changed over the recent history of the distillery, moving away from 100% Sherry cask maturation to including a sizable portion of ex-Bourbon barrels. The ‘loch of noise’ is located in the Eastern Highlands. • Royal Lochnagar 12 Year — Game of Thrones “House Baratheon” — $38 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GOT-BAR 150
Composed from ex-Bourbon casks to keep the malt line clear and the Highland elegance intact, this Game of Thrones special edition delivers vanilla cream, toffee and barley sugar with a palate and finish that leans into baking spice and heather. Speyburn, located in Speyside, produces a lightly peated malt mostly aged in ex-Bourbon barrels, with the addition of Pedro Ximenes Sherry casks. Even in today’s successful single malt business, Spyburn turns most of its production to blends, and when released as its own angle malt, the bottles are affordable! The distillery is one of the few in Scotland to employ the old fashioned worm tub to condense the vapors into distillate. • Speyburn — 15 Year (American Oak & Sherry Casks) — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SPB15 Ex-Bourbon American oak provides the bright, cereal-led spine while sherry-seasoned European oak adds cocoa, orange oils and gentle nut-spice; natural colour. Honeyed pear and coastal freshness glide over a tidy, dry-edged finish. Positioned between the easy 12 and weightier 18, the 15 sharpens Speyburn’s orchard clarity with measured sherry tone—length over sweetness. • Speyburn — 18 Year (American Oak & Sherry Casks) — $49 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SPB18 Long American-oak maturation with a stronger sherry component deepens baked apple, treacle and polished cedar around the distillery’s lemon-vanilla line; natural colour. Texture turns silkier yet stays brisk, the finish firm and tea-leaf dry. As the mature core voice, the 18 translates house freshness into resonance rather than weight. • Speyburn — ‘Bradan Orach’ — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #SPBBO Fully matured in ex-Bourbon casks to keep citrus, vanilla biscuit and light apple vivid over a clean, mid-weight palate. Oak stays supportive, the close bright and saline-tinged. As the gateway expression, Bradan Orach presents Speyburn’s coastal-Highland clarity in its most approachable register—crisp, easy, quietly refreshing. Speyside distillery is somewhat young…it started making whisky in 1990 and has already changed hands a couple of times, but the malt, unpeated from the Chariot variety, (except for a yearly peated run) is well considered among single malt Scotch fans, notably for its affordability. Everything is matured on site in traditional dunnage warehouses. The small distillery, located in Speyside, offers a variety of bottlings we only get a few of in the US. A claim of fame? If you’re a Monarch of the Glen series fan, you’ll recognize the Lagganmore distillery… • Speyside — “Fumare” (Peated) — $23 — ABV TBC — #SPYFUM Peated runs at Speyside Distillery matured chiefly in American-oak ex-Bourbon keep the smoke aromatic and the malt line bright, without heavy wine influence. Silky hearth-smoke threads lemon wafer, barley cream and a faint saline snap through a tidy, dry-edged finish. Positioned as the peat-led counterpoint to Trutina, it explores a Highland-Speyside register of smoke—measured, fragrant, and deliberately lighter than island styles. 151
• Speymhor — 15 Year (Mystery Speyside) — $25 — ABV TBC — #SPMH15 • Speymhor — 18 Year (Mystery Speyside) — $41 — ABV TBC — #SPMH18 Composed from ex-Bourbon casks with sherry-seasoned oak in support, balancing vanilla cream, orchard fruit and gentle nutty spice over a calm, satin texture. Sweetness is checked by a dry, cedary close. As a cloaked-provenance Speyside, it’s designed to deliver classic harmony—bright malt framed by mature oak—without naming the distillery. Tamdhu is nestled in the heart of Speyside and wholly dedicated to Sherry casks! American and European oak-made barrels that are either first-fill Sherry butts, second-fill or seasoned with Sherry. That is a lot of Sherry one might argue, but many styles are at play, based on the oak makeup and the previous uses of the casks. A hint of peat in the malt and an unusual high filling strength of near 70% abv add to the malt’s personality and might explain why the Famous grouse, J&B and Cutty Sark. The brand was recently revamped and the packaging is now in par with the high quality of its malts, which, by modern standards, are fairly priced…Now in the hands of Ian MacLeod Distillers, the ‘little dark hill’ is one of the last affordable ‘Sherry bombs’ on the market. • Tamdhu — 12 Year (Sherry Casks) — $31 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #TMD12 Matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks—a mix of European and American oak—then bottled natural colour to preserve depth of tone. Sultana, orange peel and roasted almond ride a supple, barley-bright palate, the finish long and dry-spiced. As the gateway to Tamdhu’s sherry-first identity, the 12 shows richness carried by structure rather than sweetness. • Tamdhu — 15 Year (Sherry Casks) — $57 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #TMD15 Exclusively matured in Oloroso sherry casks (European and American oak), emphasizing orange oil, fig and roasted almond over a poised, barley-bright core; natural colour. Texture turns silkier than the 12, the finish long and tea-leaf dry. As the range’s sweet spot, the 15 shows Tamdhu’s sherry-first identity in high resolution—depth carried by structure, not sugar. • Tamdhu — Batch Strength (First-Fill Oloroso) — $45 — cask strength — #TMDBS Built from a high proportion of first-fill Oloroso casks to amplify dried fruit, cocoa and nut-spice around a firm malt spine; bottled at natural strength, natural colour. Power reads clean and textural rather than thick, water unfolding citrus and cedar. As Tamdhu’s muscular chapter, it proves proof and cask selection can sharpen sherry character without smothering the spirit. Teaninich 152
• Teaninich — 15 Year (Cadenhead’s, Sauternes Finish) — $44 — ABV TBC — #TNN15CAD Refill ex-Bourbon aging sets a crisp, cereal-led spine before a Sauternes wine-cask finish adds honeyed apricot, almond and a wax-tipped glide; natural feel, un-fussy oak. Mineral freshness keeps the finish precise and dry. As a Cadenhead’s selection, it reveals Teaninich’s clean Highland make through a measured dessert-wine lens—lift and texture over sweetness. Tomatin is a fairly large single malt producer owned by the Japanese group Takara Shuzo and located right off the western side of Speyside, close to Inverness. The ‘hill of the juniper bush’ mainly produces non-peated malts but regularly offers smoky iterations such as ‘Cu Bocan’. Their wood policy has a strong ex-Bourbon cask focus but many other barrels are used, such as Port, Sherry and other wine casks. Tomatin is considered a mild single malt, round and pretty fruity, character given by the very lengthy fermentations. • Tomatin — 12 Year “Bourbon & Sherry Casks” — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #TMT12 First-fill and refill ex-Bourbon with sherry casks in support frame honeyed malt, apple and soft spice over a smooth, mid-weight palate. Oak speaks softly; balance leads. As Tomatin’s gateway, the 12 sets the house dialect—gentle Highland fruit, measured sherry warmth, and a calm, tidy close ready for the table. • Tomatin — 18 Year “Oloroso Sherry Casks” — $64 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #TMT18 American-oak ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a second maturation in Oloroso sherry casks layers fig, orange tea and roasted nut over Tomatin’s honeyed core. The palate reads satin and composed, sweetness kept tidy by dry spice and cedar. As the mature sherry voice of the range, the 18 translates gentle Highland fruit into longer, darker lines—depth without heaviness. Tomintoul, or the ‘gentle dram’ is a Speyside distillery known for…its gentle character! Created in 1965 and to satisfy blending needs, the malt is still to this day mostly sold to blenders. Except for the ‘peaty tang’, Tomintoul is a non-peated whisky, and employs American oak-made ex-Bourbon barrels for the big chunk of its maturation. Along with its sister distillery Glencadam, Tomintoul is owned by Angus Dundee Distillers. • Tomintoul — 10 Year “The Gentle Dram” — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #TMTL10 Composed from ex-Bourbon casks to spotlight soft orchard fruit, vanilla biscuit and heather honey over a light, easy glide. Oak stays supportive, the finish clean and faintly mineral. As the gateway to Tomintoul’s style, the 10 defines “gentle dram”: bright malt, relaxed sweetness, no rough edges. • Tomintoul — 12 Year “Oloroso Cask Finish” (Limited Edition) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #TMTL12OLO 153
Ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked into Oloroso sherry casks brings raisined fruit, almond toffee and sweet spice around the distillery’s creamy malt line. Texture turns silkier yet stays fresh, with a dry, nut-spiced close. As a limited finish, it introduces a duskier accent to the house’s easy cadence without tipping sweet. • Tomintoul — 14 Year (Non-Chill-Filtered, Natural Colour) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #TMTL14 First-fill and refill ex-Bourbon casks frame honeyed cereal, lemon zest and almond nougat; bottled non-chill-filtered and natural colour for texture. The palate is fuller than the 10 yet remains graceful, finishing tidy and lightly waxed. As the sweet-spot age statement, the 14 deepens Tomintoul’s gentleness into poise and length. • Tomintoul — 16 Year “The Gentle Dram” — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #TMTL16 Long residence in ex-Bourbon American oak preserves vanilla, pear and soft spice over a calm, silky mid-palate. Oak reads precise and quiet, the finish clean and tea-leaf dry. As the mature counterpart to the 10, the 16 shows how extra time can stretch Tomintoul’s softness into elegant, unhurried length. • Tomintoul — 18 Year (Kedem Port Cask Finish, USA Exclusive) — $56 — ABV TBC — #TMTL18KP Ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked into Kedem Port casks for a final pass that folds red-berry compote, almond toffee and cedar-spice into Tomintoul’s creamy malt line. The palate stays silky, the sweetness checked by a dry, nutty close. As a U.S.-only finish, it gives the “gentle dram” a richer accent while keeping the distillery’s easy cadence intact. • Tomintoul — 21 Year (Speyside–Glenlivet) — $67 — ABV TBC — #TMTL21 Long residence in first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon casks preserves vanilla cream, pear and soft spice over a calm, lightly waxed texture. Oak reads precise, never pushy, with a tea-leaf dry finish. As the range’s stately elder, the 21 stretches Tomintoul’s signature softness into poise and length—maturity expressed as composure rather than weight. • Tomintoul — ‘The Gentle Dram with a Peaty Tang’ — $23 — ABV TBC — #TMTLPT Lightly peated malt integrated with ex-Bourbon cask stocks brings heather smoke, lemon wafer and briny sweetness to the house’s creamy core. Smoke reads silky, not sharp, clearing to honeyed barley and clean mineral lift. As the peat-kissed branch of the line, it nudges Tomintoul toward Islay-adjacent nuance without abandoning its relaxing style. • Tomintoul — ‘Cigar Malt’ (Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured) — $42 — ABV TBC — #TMTLCM Fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks to build cocoa, dried fruit and polished spice around a dense, velvety mid-palate; natural colour. A gentle tannic frame keeps the finish long and dry. Designed to stand up to a smoke, it translates Tomintoul’s gentleness into a darker register—structure and savor that play well with rich pairings. 154
• Tomintoul — ‘Caribbean Rum Cask Finish’ — $23 — ABV TBC — #TMTLCRF Ex-Bourbon maturation followed by a Caribbean rum-cask finish sets vanilla biscuit and pineapple over honeyed malt, the close tidy with soft spice. Texture stays easy and bright, fruit-forward without stickiness. As a playful detour, it lends tropical warmth to the gentle-dram DNA while keeping balance and freshness front and center. Tullibardine is one of the few distilleries in Scotland to mash, distill, mature and bottle on site. Located in the South of the Highlands, close to the Lowlands and owned by French wine group Picard, the whisky is often matured in ex-wine barrels of various origins, along with ex-Bourbon barrels, and more often than not, of the ‘first-fill’ kind. What used to be a filler for blends, with little character to speak of, has become a high quality whisky and their finishes are especially sought-after. • Tullibardine — “228 Burgundy Finish” — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #TBD228 Ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked into 228-liter Pinot Noir barriques from Burgundy to add red-cherry lift, soft tannin and baking-spice contour around vanilla-malt brightness. The palate stays fresh and mid-weight, finishing dry-edged and lightly mineral. As the winery-linked branch of the core line, 228 shows how fine red-wine casks can color Tullibardine’s clean Highland style without tipping it sweet. • Tullibardine — “500 Sherry Cask Finish” — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #TBD500 American-oak ex-Bourbon stocks are second-matured in 500-liter Sherry butts to draw raisin, roasted-nut and orange-peel depth over the distillery’s honeyed cereal core. Texture turns silkier yet stays brisk, the close tidy and tea-leaf dry. As the sherry-toned counterpart to 228, 500 reframes Tullibardine’s brightness through a duskier lens while keeping precision intact. • Tullibardine — 12 Year (Palo Cortado Cask, Cadenhead’s) — $36 — cask strength (ABV TBC) — #TBD12PCAD Ex-Bourbon maturation re-racked to Palo Cortado for a nutty, tea-leaf dryness over vanilla-malt clarity; drawn from a single cask by Cadenhead’s and bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. Apricot, almond and citrus pith ride a taut, lightly waxed line. As an indie pick, it explores a rarer sherry style that sharpens rather than sweetens Tullibardine’s clean profile. LOWLANDS Auchentoshan is the last distillery in the Lowlands to triple distill its malt (all malt distilleries in the region used to triple distill), creating a light and floral whisky to start with, but ends up taking a great deal of character from the casks it matures in, mostly ex-Bourbon casks. Located near Glasgow and its ship building grounds, it was bombarded in 1940 and its whisky flowed into the nearby Clyde river…Today, Auchentoshan is in the hands of Japanese group Suntory, along with its sister 155
distilleries Bowmore on Islay and Glen Garioch in the eastern Highlands. It is unpeated and fairly gentle, to the point of being dubbed the ‘breakfast whisky’ by the Glaswegians! • Auchentoshan — 12 Year (Oloroso & Bourbon Casks) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #AT12 Primary maturation in American-oak ex-Bourbon is integrated with Oloroso sherry casks, shaping vanilla cream, honeyed citrus and almond toffee over a lithe palate. Triple distillation keeps the smoke absent and the texture notably sleek. As the modern house cornerstone, it frames Lowland elegance in clear lines—bright malt, gentle sherry depth, and that signature silky glide. • Auchentoshan — ‘American Oak’ (First-Fill Bourbon) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #ATAM Fully matured in first-fill Bourbon to spotlight coconut, vanilla and lemon zest around a crisp barley core. The palate reads airy and precise, oak giving sweetness without weight. Positioned as the purest read of Auchentoshan’s triple-distilled style, it shows Lowland freshness unadorned—clean, modern, effortlessly drinkable. • Auchentoshan — ‘Three Wood’ (Bourbon → Oloroso → PX) — $35 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #AT3W Ex-Bourbon maturation is second-matured in Oloroso and then finished in PX sherry casks, layering raisined fruit, toffee and chocolate over citrus-bright spirit. Triple distillation keeps the profile sleek as sweetness meets a tidy, dry close. The bottling that broadened Auchentoshan’s canvas, it translates Lowland clarity into a richer, dessert-toned register without losing finesse. Bladnoch Distillery, located in the town of Bladnoch on the river Bladnoch, was the original farm to table whisky. Documentation from 1887 described the then 70-year old distillery as using local river water with 50 acres of the property planted to barley and farmed by the proprietor. In 2017 the latest series of modernizations brought the distillery Douglas Fir washbacks, new wash stills and low wines stills, and a boiler powered by liquefied petroleum gas. Dr. Nick Savage, fomer master distiller at The Macallan, joined the team in 2019. • Bladnoch — 11 Year (ex-Bourbon Barrels) — $35 — 93.4 proof / 46.7% ABV — #BLD11 Ex-Bourbon barrels carry pear drop, lemon curd and vanilla wafer over a supple, lightly waxed texture; natural-feeling oak stays discreet. The finish is clean and tea-leaf dry. Reborn under David Prior’s ownership and guided by Dr. Nick Savage, this age statement re-establishes Bladnoch’s bright, cereal-led Lowland voice with contemporary poise. • Bladnoch — 14 Year (Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured) — $53 — 93.4 proof / 46.7% ABV — #BLD14OLO Long residence in Oloroso sherry casks lends walnut, orange-tea dryness and cocoa to 156
Bladnoch’s lemon-barley core, the palate silken and measured. Sweetness stays disciplined as fine tannin frames the close. As the sherry-led counterpoint to the Bourbon-aged 11, it shows the distillery’s revived style in deeper hues—elegant, not heavy. • Bladnoch — 19 Year (PX Sherry Cask Matured, 2021 Release) — $74 — 93.4 proof / 46.7% ABV — #BLD19PX21 Full-term Pedro Ximénez sherry casks steer dried fig, date syrup and cocoa around Bladnoch’s lemon-barley core, the palate plush yet neatly trimmed by tea-leaf dryness. Vanilla from earlier Bourbon stock peeks through as walnut and citrus pith shape the close. As an early post-revival age statement, this 2021 chapter casts the house’s bright Lowland spirit in duskier, dessert-toned light while keeping balance. • Bladnoch — ‘Samsara’ (Californian Red Wine & ex-Bourbon Barrels) — $33 — 93.4 proof / 46.7% ABV — #BLDSAM Mature stocks in Californian red-wine casks are integrated with ex-Bourbon barrels, folding cherry skin, vanilla cream and soft spice over a silky, cereal-led mid-palate. Sweetness stays measured as gentle oak grip dries the finish. Set near the distillery’s modern relaunch, Samsara broadens Bladnoch’s lifted style into a fruit-toned register without burying the Lowland clarity. • Bladnoch — ‘Vinaya’ (Sherry & ex-Bourbon Barrels) — $24 — 93.4 proof / 46.7% ABV — #BLDVIN Composed from sherry-seasoned and ex-Bourbon casks to frame honeyed citrus, pear and almond toffee over a sleek, modern texture. The sherry reads polished rather than heavy, finishing clean and tea-leaf dry. Positioned as the approachable face of the range, Vinaya expresses the house’s revived elegance with gentle depth and everyday poise. Glenkinchie is a Lowlands malt that ‘came to life’ when owner Diageo included it in the Classic Malts range back in 1988. Unlike in the distant past (although still true for Auchentoshan), you’re dealing with a classic double distillation, not triple. Yet, Glenkinchie is known for its gentle nature, offering a round, fruity and floral character with just a whisper of peat, in spite of minimal copper contact during distillation and its continued use of cast iron worm tubs to condensate the vapors into new make spirit. Also known as ‘the Edinburgh malt’, it starts quite sulfurous but ends up light and grassy after maturation (essentially ex-Bourbon barrels). • Glenkinchie — 12 Year — $32 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GK12 Primarily refill and first-fill ex-Bourbon casks keep lemon peel, apple and vanilla biscuit vivid over a lightly waxed, meadow-fresh palate. Oak sits discreetly behind the spirit, the finish neat and herbal-dry. As the Lowland Classic Malt, it defines Glenkinchie’s crisp, floral signature—bright grain, gentle sweetness, and effortless drinkability. • Glenkinchie — Distillers Edition 2023 (12 Year, Oloroso Finish) — $34 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GK12DE23 157
Refill American oak preserves orchard brightness before a finishing spell in Oloroso-seasoned casks adds walnut, orange-tea dryness and subtle cocoa around the silky core. The palate stays light on its feet, sweetness trimmed by fine tannin. As the annual DE chapter, the 2023 bottling refracts Glenkinchie’s floral finesse through a drier sherry lens—elegant, taut, unmistakably Lowland. • Glenkinchie 12 Year — Distillers Edition (2002 - 2014) — $53 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #GLK-DE-2002 Finished in Amontillado Sherry casks to increase the savory character of the light and bright Glenkinchie distillate, the whisky showcases bright citrus and floral character over a light body with hints of nuttiness and savory smoke enriching the palate. • Eden Mill St Andrews Single Malt — Art of St. Andrews — 2024 Release — $64 — 93 proof / 46.5% ABV — #EDEN-ART-2024 Aged in carefully selected Amarone wine casks, red fruit and clove fold into darker berry compote and fig notes. Pastry richness drives the long, warming finish. This special release spotlights Eden Mill’s St Andrews house identity through a confident, wine-led wood program. Lochlea emerged from an experiment in malting barley. Neil and Jen McGeoch, who acquired the historic Lochlea Farm in 2006, ran a cattle and dairy farm until, in 2015, a section of the farm was converted to explore how barley grew there. Initial results were promising and legendary still maker Forsyth's was contracted to produce long neck, straight arm stills that maximize copper contact. Malcolm Rennie commissioned the facility and its first release was overseen by John Campbell, manager at Laphroaig. • Lochlea — ‘Fallow Edition’ (First-Fill Oloroso) — $26 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LCHFA Fully matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, this small-batch Lowland malt layers date cake, toasted walnut and orange-tea dryness over a supple, barley-bright core. The palate reads plush yet tidy, sweetness reined in by fine tannin and spice. Part of Lochlea’s seasonal series, Fallow marks the quiet post-harvest period—an introspective, sherry-led chapter that still lets the youthful house clarity shine. • Lochlea — Cask Strength Batch 2 (Oloroso, PX & STR) — $34 — 120 proof / 60% ABV — #LCHCSB2 A high-impact composition from Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and STR red-wine casks, delivering raisined fruit, cocoa and spiced cherry over a firm cereal spine; bottled at natural strength for texture and lift. Despite the power, the finish stays clean and tea-leaf dry. As the second cask-strength release, it tilts Lochlea’s bright Lowland spirit toward a darker, modern register without losing balance. ISLANDS 158
Arran • Arran — ‘Barrel Reserve’ (Un-Chill Filtered, Natural Colour) — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #ARN-BR Fully matured in American-oak ex-Bourbon barrels, then bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered to keep the distillate’s clarity front and center. Lemon zest, vanilla cream and barley sweetness glide over a clean, lightly waxed texture. Introduced under the long stewardship of James MacTaggart, Barrel Reserve is the crisp, modern doorway into Lochranza’s island style—bright, poised, and refreshingly honest oak. • Arran — 10 Year (Un-Chill Filtered, Natural Colour) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARN10 A classic ex-Bourbon and sherry-cask composition: Bourbon for citrus-vanilla lift, sherry for honeyed nut and gentle spice; bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered. The palate reads supple and cereal-bright with a tidy, dry close. As the house benchmark age statement, it codifies Arran’s elegant island grammar—clean fruit, measured sherry depth, and effortless balance. • Arran — ‘Sherry Cask’ (Natural Strength, Un-Chill Filtered, Natural Colour) — $33 — 111.6 proof / 55.8% ABV — #ARN-SH Full-term maturation in sherry casks, then bottled at natural strength with no colouring or chill filtration, focuses date cake, cocoa and roasted walnut around a firm malt spine. Despite the power, a tea-leaf dryness keeps the finish precise. As the core sherry-led chapter, it shows Arran’s spirit carrying richness as structure rather than sweetness. • Arran — 21 Year (Un-Chill Filtered, Natural Colour) — $87 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ARN21 Long residence in ex-Bourbon with a measured sherry-cask component polishes orange oils, almond toffee and coastal mineral notes into a calm, satin glide; bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered. Sweetness stays disciplined as cedar and citrus pith shape the close. As the mature pillar of the core range, it translates Arran’s freshness into length and quiet authority. • Arran — 18 Year (Creetown, Single Cask — Cask Strength) — $79 — 109.2 proof / 54.6% ABV — #ARN18CRT Distilled at Lochranza and drawn from a single cask selected by Creetown; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered and natural colour. Single-cask concentration brings focused malt sweetness, orchard fruit and nut-spice over a firm, mineral line, the finish long and dry-edged. As an independent snapshot, it swaps brand polish for specificity—one cask, one voice—showing Arran’s elegance in high relief. 159
Highland Park The origins of Highland Park live in the history of Magnus Eunson, and church official and whisky smuggler who was caught distilling on the current distillery's location in 1798. The distilling license was assigned to Robert Borwick in 1826 before transferring to James Grant in 1898. These whiskies use peat obtained from Hobbister Moor and contain a significant amount of heather compared to Islay sources, imparting the floral notes the distillery is known for. The exclusive use of Sherry oak for maturation emphasizes the smooth body and rich flavors in the spirit. • Highland Park — 12 Year ‘Viking Honour’ — $29 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #HP12VH Matured in a mix of sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, the spirit’s gentle Orkney heather-peat reads as silky smoke over honeyed malt and orange peel. American oak brings vanilla brightness; European oak adds walnut and tea-leaf dryness, keeping the finish trim. As the gateway to the house style, it sets the template: sherry discipline, aromatic smoke, and a calm maritime lift that’s distinctly Orkney. • Highland Park — 15 Year ‘Viking Heart’ — $45 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #HP15VHRT A higher proportion of sherry-seasoned European oak is balanced by American oak casks, deepening dried-fruit tone while preserving citrus-vanilla lift; the heather-peat stays fragrant, not heavy. Texture turns satin, finishing cedar-dry with a flicker of spice. Introduced as a revived age statement, 15 pushes the 12’s framework into richer, more textural territory—an elegant midpoint in the modern Highland Park arc. • Highland Park — 18 Year — $63 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #HP18 Parcels from sherry-seasoned American and European oak marry to unfurl dark citrus, polished walnut and cocoa around a poised, honeyed core; heather-smoke threads the line without crowding the fruit. The palate glides, sweetness kept in check by fine, tea-leaf tannin. Long seen as the connoisseur’s sweet spot, the 18 translates house balance into length and quiet authority—Orkney character rendered in deep focus. • Highland Park — 21 Year — $132 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #HP21 Extended maturation in sherry-seasoned European and American oak turns orchard brightness toward fig, orange-tea dryness and sandalwood, while Orkney peat stays silky and aromatic. The mid-palate is layered yet composed, the finish mineral and cedar-lined. As a periodically released elder, 21 reframes Highland Park’s signature harmony—sherry weight and maritime smoke woven for resonance rather than volume. • Highland Park — 18 Year (Duncan Taylor, 2004–2023 — Single Sherry Cask) — $83 — 106.2 proof / 53.1% ABV — #HP18DT0423 Distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2023 from a single sherry cask selected by Duncan Taylor, this cask-strength Orkney malt threads heather-sweet smoke through dark citrus, walnut and cocoa. The palate glides—silky peat, orange-tea dryness, a cedar-dry close. As an 160
independent, single-cask snapshot, it trades house polish for specificity: one barrel’s sherry voice casting Highland Park’s balance in deep relief. • Highland Park 13 Year — “Prime Malt Selection No.2” — 1989 - 2002 — $82 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #HP-PM-1989 This unique whisky bottled by Duncan Taylor for the ‘Prime Malt Selection’ series, was aged in European oak Sherry butt. Honeyed malt, citrus and a wisp of heather-smoke present on the nose before leading into a rich, medium weight palate. • Highland Park 15 Year “Loki” — Valhalla Collection — $134 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #8723640062 Atypical for the distillery, heavily peated casks are included in this special bottling to represent a playful reference to the Norse trickster god Loki. Heathery smoke and carmelized citrus are layered over the typical Highland Park expression. • Highland Park 16 Year “Odin” — Valhalla Collection — $142 — 111.6 proof / 55.8% ABV — #1206602085 The use of refill ex-Bourbon hogsheads for maturation alongside the typical ex-Sherry butts defines this bottling. Dense dried-fruit, cacao and smoldering peat ride a broad, oil-satin palate to a long, dry close. The high proof on this part of the collection presents with power and muscle. • Highland Park 18 Year — Duncan Taylor “Single Cask / Sherry” — 2004 - 2023 — $131 — 106.2 proof / 53.1% ABV — #HP-DT-2004 An independent bottling that focuses on the depth of single ex-Sherry barrel influence through cask strength proofing. Aromas of baked plum, heather-honey and gentle peat fold into chocolate-almond richness. • Highland Park 25 Year — $375 — 91.4 proof / 45.7% ABV — #HP-25 Some ex-Bourbon barrels are used for this age expression to provide brighter and longer lived citrus and vanilla notes. Also expect treacle, orange oil and polished spice over a supple, honeyed core to produce an essential bottling from the distillery. • Highland Park 30 Year — $750 — 91.4 proof / 45.7% ABV — #1206602032 Bottled at cask strength, the intensity of smoke on this long-aged whisky is excellently managed alongside the savory aromas and palate. Fudge, dark-chocolate orange and aromatic spice ride Highland Park’s floral peat with a decadently long finish. • Highland Park 30 Year — $750 — 96.2 proof / 48.1% ABV — #8723640037 Composed from sherry-seasoned European and American oak selected for depth and tension, presented at the rarer higher strength. Treacle, orange oil and polished spice fold into heathery smoke, landing broad yet dry. This earlier 30 shows a more muscular register than later 45.7% editions. 161
• Highland Park Dark Origins — $48 — 93.6 proof / 46.8% ABV — #1206602082 A non-chill-filtered release that amplifies cocoa-rich fruit and spice around silky smoke. This sherry-forward detour became a cult favorite for its more brooding profile. • Highland Park 19 Year — Duncan Taylor “Dimensions” — 1999 - 2018 — $118 — 107.4 proof / 53.7% ABV — #HP-DT-1999 This precise, high clarity release leans into the citrus and toffee notes of Highland Park’s distillate. 311 bottles were released from this single ex-Sherry cask. • Highland Park “Einar” — Warrior Series (Travel Retail) — $56 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #010314300264 Lighter in body than other productions, this special release offers more tropical richness on top of the usual citrusy and lightly smoky frame of the distillery. • Highland Park 15 Year — “Gotham City” — 2002 - 2017 (Single Cask #3297) — $94 — 119.2 proof / 59.6% ABV — #HP-GOTH-2002 Matured entirely in a refill sherry butt, 588 bottles were released exclusively to the New York City market. Chocolate and coffee notes play underneath the signature house distillate with marzipan and wax characters filling the palate. • Highland Park “Harald” — Warrior Series — $65 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #010314300340 Leaning spicier and more pastry-forward than the ‘Einar,’ ginger, sponge cake and sandalwood mark the prominent aromas of this limited edition whisky. • Highland Park 19 Year — Keepers of the Quaich “No. 3” — 1998 - 2018 (Refill Hogshead #7667) — $205 — 111.4 proof / 55.7% ABV — #HP-KQ-7667 A small production of 297 bottles from a single refill ex-Bourbon hogshead was selected by Gordon Motion and Annabel Meikle for Keepers of the Quaich. This complex and long whisky shows buttered malt, orange oils and polished oak over measured peat. • Highland Park 25 Year — Signatory Cask Strength (Cask #749) — 1988 - 2014 — $346 — 101.4 proof / 50.7% ABV — #SV-HP-1988-749 Only 216 bottles were released from the ex-Bourbon hogshead used to mature this whisky. The high proof delivers intense and complex aromas with orchard fruit, salt water taffy, and cinnamon complicating the typical distillery flavors. • Highland Park “Sigurd” — Warrior Series — $65 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #01314300371 Focusing on darker aromas, you will find chocolate malt and sherried aromas with clear and bright peated citrus and floral smoke in this whisky. • Highland Park 15 Year — Single Cask Series “Le Clos” — 2002 - 2017 — $132 — 110.6 proof / 55.3% ABV — #HP-LC-2911 A tiny 162 bottle production matured in a single refill hogshead made for Le Clos in Dubai, 162
the spirit keeps an up-front floral and citrus quality. This high proof bottling also maintains a rich and oily palate that leads to an extensive finish. • Highland Park 23 Year — Duncan Taylor “The Octave” — 1999 - 2022 — $245 — 108.4 proof / 54.2% ABV — #HP-OCT-5029309-014/078 Following a traditional maturation before a portion is racked into a small 50 liter barrel for an intense finishing period, only 78 bottles of this whisky were produced by Duncan Taylor. The result is an incredibly dense and compact expression with increased complexity and depth. • Highland Park “Valkyrie” — Viking Legend — $38 — 91.8 proof / 45.9% ABV — #1206602178 Liquorice-tinged smoke, green apple and spice aromas characterize the unique expression of this first release in the Viking Legend trilogy. The palate is creamy and maritime with a lingering finish. • Single Cask Nation “Stones of Stenness” — Orkney 18 Year — 1999 - 2018 — $33 — 109.6 proof / 54.8% ABV — #SCN-OSS-1999 Candied lemon and salty, mineral rich sea air dictate the aroma, with a simmering peat smoke in the background. The palate is decidedly peated with more notes of citrus and salinity bursting through a smoky, salty, citrus-forward finish. • John Milroy Selection — ‘Orkney’ 10 Year (Single Cask) — $27 — 113.2 proof / 56.6% ABV — #JMSORK10 Drawn from a single cask at natural strength, sourced from an unnamed Orkney distillery to let the island speak plainly: honeyed malt, lemon peel and silky, heathery smoke over a firm, mineral line. The finish is brisk and tea-leaf dry. As a Milroy indie pick, it offers a candid look at Orkney character—maritime brightness and aromatic peat, focused by single-cask precision. • A.D. Rattray — ‘Orkney’ 15 Year — $52 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #ADROKR15 Matured in a balanced mix of American oak ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned casks in support, bringing vanilla cream and orange oils into walnut, cocoa and a dry, pepper-flecked close; bottled at a textural 46%. The smoke reads aromatic rather than heavy. As a curated A.D. Rattray selection, it frames classic Orkney elegance—sherry discipline and heather-peat perfume—without naming the source. Jura distillery, located just northeast of Islay, boasts over 2 million liters of output per year. Using stills with a proprietary constricted neck, the resultant whisky is high in esthers producing a distinctly light and fruity dram. Prior to 1995 new make was barreled in a variety of sherry and wine casks, but from 1995 to 2016 a massive program was set forth to re-cask every barrel in higher quality ex-Bourbon casks. The final bottles embrace extraordinary complexity due to the multiple caskings. 163
• Isle of Jura — 10 Year (Oloroso Sherry Butts Finish) — $23 — 96 proof / 48% ABV — #JRA10OLO American-oak ex-Bourbon maturation is re-racked into Oloroso sherry butts to add walnut, raisin and sweet spice around Jura’s orchard-bright core. Light island smoke threads the palate, which stays supple and coastal, finishing tidy and tea-leaf dry. As the gateway age statement from this remote island stillhouse—known for tall stills and blending peated with unpeated runs—it balances gentle maritime character with a measured sherry accent. • Isle of Jura — 12 Year (Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish) — $25 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JRA12OLO Long ex-Bourbon aging followed by an Oloroso finish deepens orange peel, roasted nut and cocoa over clean, lightly smoky malt. The sherry reads polished rather than heavy, with mineral freshness keeping the close dry and precise. Sitting between the breezy 10 and bolder finishes, the 12 refines Jura’s island profile into calmer, longer lines—sweetness trimmed by oak discipline. • Isle of Jura — 18 Year (Bordeaux Red-Wine Cask Finish) — $47 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #JRA18BOR Mature stocks from American-oak ex-Bourbon are finished in Bordeaux red-wine casks, layering black-currant, cherry skin and a gentle tannic frame onto briny, honeyed malt. Texture turns satin yet stays lifted, the finish cedar-dry with a wisp of hearth smoke. As the range’s wine-led elder, it shows Jura’s maritime fruit translated through Left-Bank structure—depth expressed as poise, not weight. • Isle of Jura — ‘Seven Wood’ — $39 — 84 proof / 42% ABV — #JRA7WOOD A complex journey: ex-Bourbon American oak followed by time across multiple French-oak casks (from celebrated forests) to weave vanilla, mocha, sandalwood and fine spice around citrus-malt brightness. The palate feels layered yet agile, sweetness checked by dry, cedary grip. As Jura’s oak-study statement, Seven Wood explores how diverse grain and toast levels can broaden the island style without burying its gentle smoke and sea-spray lift. • Jura 30 Year “Camas an Staca” — 2012 Release — $460 — 88 proof / 44% ABV — #JURA-30-CAS The final 3 years of this whisky is spent in González Byass Amoroso sherry butts to develop a sweet date and nutty flavor. Notes of cooked pear, orange oil and date richness present with gentle island smoke. • Jura “Brooklyn” — $70 — 84 proof / 42% ABV — #JURA-BKLYN Finished in Amoroso Sherry and Pinot Noir wine casks, this collaboration with several Brooklyn, NY based organizations, this special edition leans into red berry fruit and vanilla with roasted coffee and malt notes finishing the palate. • Jura 16 Year — “Diurachs’ Own” — $59 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JURA-16-DO Undergoing a two-year finish in Amoroso sherry casks, raisin, toffee and gentle spice are 164
added to Jura’s honeyed island malt. The texture remains supple and the palate typifies the Jura style. • Jura “Prophecy” — $62 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #JURA-PROPH Blended with parcels matured in French Limousin oak, ‘Prophecy’ channels Jura’s heavily peated register into licorice-tinged smoke, cocoa and citrus over a firm, dry backbone. Subtle baking spice notes on the mid-palate and finish characterize the oak influence of this unique release. • Jura “Superstition” — $58 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #JURA-SUP The spiit used in this non-age stated whisky is mix of peated and unpeated spirit up to 21 years old. The mouthfeel is easy and satin, showcasing the house’s typical style in an approachable and experimentally peaty way. • Jura “Tùras-Mara” — Travel Retail — $59 — 84 proof / 42% ABV — #JURA-TURAS This limited release was aged in ex-Bourbon, Spanish sherry, French wine and Port-pipe casks for a complex marriage of distinct aromas. Fruit forward, especially with plums and blackberries, notes of vanilla and gentle spice drive to a shorter, maritime finish. Scapa - Located on the remote Orkney Islands in the far north of Scotland, once one of two distilleries, the islands now host 5 distilleries. With one only one wash still and one spirit still, Scapa utilizes a very unique wash still with a large bulbous base and a thick straight column with no taper or constriction, the spirit is cooled with Lomond cooling system. Warehoused close to the sea, and consistently monitored for any unwanted salt or maritime influence, to this day a debate to be had amongst connoisseurs. Scapa is currently under the umbrella of Pernod Ricard. • Scapa — 16 Year — $47 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #SCPA16 Long residence in first-fill American-oak barrels polishes honeyed pear, vanilla and gentle coastal salinity into a creamy glide. Unpeated spirit and Scapa’s modified Lomond wash still lend a soft, oil-satin texture, finishing neat and citrus-tea dry. A now-retired age statement, the 16 stands as the bridge between old-guard Scapa and the modern Skiren era—Orkney rendered without smoke yet rich in maritime poise. • Scapa 12 Year — $40 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #8954039739 A now discontinued aged expression, the 12 Year is matured in ex-bourbon casks to keep Scapa’s unpeated, honeyed style front and center. Notes of lemon oil, pear and soft toffee are prominent on a calm, elegant palate. Talisker is no longer the only distillery on the isle of Skye, but it is such an amazing whisky, with its chili pepper signature aroma, its gently peated profile, its incredible ability to pair with oysters, its role in the Billion Oyster Project in NY…And it’s one of the last distilleries to use worm tub condensers. Two women now lead the production of this whisky created by blending a non-peated and a heavily-peated new make spirits (overall 18 to 22 ppm), exclusively released as single malts, with the exception of its 165
use in the Johnnie Walker Green perhaps? Talisker got so popular as of late that it is now double the price it was 10 years ago! Is it because Bond is seen drinking it with M? • Talisker 10 Year — $26 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #8807632830 This entry age statement highlights the peppery, sea-sprayed house style with fruitier, fresher, and more youthful qualities. Lemon oil, malt sweetness, and campfire dominate the palate. • Talisker — 18 Year — $79 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TLK18 Long maturation across refill and select first-fill American oak (European-oak support) translates coastal smoke into calm resonance: burnt orange, honeyed malt and polished cedar glide over mineral depth. The close is tea-leaf dry with the signature pepper glow. As the stately elder of the range, it turns Talisker’s elemental power into length and quiet authority. • Talisker — Distillers Edition 2022 (Amoroso Finish) — $39 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TLKDE22 Primary American-oak maturation is second-matured in Amoroso-seasoned casks, which lend raisined fruit, walnut and cocoa to the island’s briny smoke. Texture reads satin and composed; sweetness stays neatly in check as pepper and sea spray frame the close. Within the DE series, the 2022 bottling shows Talisker through a duskier sherry lens without losing maritime clarity. • Talisker — ‘House Greyjoy’ (Game of Thrones) — $37 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TLKHGOT Composed from American-oak ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned elements to underline roasted nut and orange-peel tones around Talisker’s saline smoke. The palate is taut and coastal, finishing on pepper and tea-leaf dryness. Issued for the GOT collection, it situates Talisker’s Iron Islands kinship in whisky culture—maritime character presented in a bright, celebratory register. • Talisker — ‘Storm’ — $29 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TLKSTORM A bolder composition from first-fill and refill American-oak casks that amplifies brine, grilled citrus and pepper over a supple malt core. Smoke reads wind-caught and aromatic rather than heavy, the finish firm and sea-salt dry. Introduced to explore a more elemental profile, Storm turns up the coastal energy while keeping Talisker’s balance intact. • Talisker — Special Release 2022 (Natural Cask Strength, “Light Peat”) — $59 — 110.2 proof / 55.1% ABV — #TLKSR2022 Selected parcels from refill and first-fill American-oak casks are bottled at natural strength to foreground bright citrus, briny sweetness and lifted, incense-like smoke; un-chill-filtered. Despite the power, the palate stays incisive and mineral, pepper driving a long, dry close. As a themed Special Release, it reframes Talisker’s peat as illumination rather than weight—clarity in high definition. 166
• Talisker — 8 Year (2024 Special Release, Natural Cask Strength) — $37 — 117.4 proof / 58.7% ABV — #TLK8SR2024 Built from younger Talisker in first-fill and refill American-oak to emphasize zest, sea spray and kiln-clean smoke; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. The attack is vivid and salty-sweet, easing into pepper, citrus pith and a firm, cedar-dry finish. As the annual 8-year statement, it channels the distillery’s raw coastal energy into precision and lift. • Torabhaig — ‘Allt Gleann’ (The Legacy Series, Batch Strength) — $33 — 122.2 proof / 61.1% ABV / 23 ppm — #TRBAG Composed from first-fill and refill American-oak casks to keep orchard-bright malt in view while the peat reads as silky, aromatic smoke; batch strength, natural feel. Lemon wafer, briny sweetness and soot-kissed spice ride a firm, youthful spine to a clean, mineral finish. As the core Legacy chapter, it establishes Skye’s new voice—structured peat with modern clarity. • Talisker — “Keepers of the Quaich” Single Cask — 1998 - 2017— $88 — 113.2 proof / 56.6% ABV — #TL-KQ-6829 The use of a single refill Sherry butt introduces dark citrus, toffee and briny pepper to Talisker’s coastal smoky frame. Bottled at cask strength for heightened complexity and intensity. • Talisker 175th Anniversary — Bottled 2005 — $183 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #31012959 A special cask selection which includes some spirit aged up to 20 years, this whisky plays more delicate and fruit driven than other expressions from the distillery. Cocoa, orange zest, caramel, hints of chili spice, and sea-spray smoke encapsulate the honeyed malt. • Talisker 18 Year — $79 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #8807616471 Incorporating spirit aged in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks, this age indication develops more integrated plum, butterscotch, and chocolate among the typical Talisker profile. • Talisker 25 Year — Distilled 1975 (2001 Release) — $454 — 119.8 proof / 59.9% ABV — #TAL-25-1975 The first 25 year Talisker ever released. Mature aromas of earth, anise, and mushroom strike first, with lemon custard, key lime, and candied fruits developing over a peat moss structure. This elegant whisky develops further in the glass over time. • Talisker 30 Year — 2010 Special Release — $562 — 114.6 proof / 57.3% ABV — #TAL-30-2010-2944/2958 This high proof limited release presents uniquely sweet with peaches, fruit cup, and honey characterizing the initial aromas. Caramel and smoke lead into sea-spray on a peppery body and long finish. 167
• Talisker 30 Year — 2011 Limited Edition — $578 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TAL-30-2011-2937/2964 More savory and coastal on the nose than the 2010, expect briny smoke, seaweed, and pickled citrus aromas. The palate offers a slightly fruitier core of rum cake and stewed fruits accompanied by fresh peppery ginger. • Talisker 30 Year — 2022 Release — $460 — 99.2 proof / 49.6% ABV — #TAL-30-2022-2939/3195 Showing a waxy, mouth filling palate while delivering salted caramel, apple, orange peel and bonfire, this edition of the Talisker 30 Year marks a return for the distillery to elegant, uplifted, long-aged productions. • Talisker “57° North” — $50 — 114 proof / 57% ABV — #TAL-57N The higher bottling proof of 114 amplifies the typical house profile in this bottling, offering improved clarity of aroma on a denser and more peppery palate. Talisker Distiller’s Edition This near-annual special release from Talisker undergoes the house’s usual maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels before being finished in Amoroso Sherry casks. Amoroso, a sweetened version of Oloroso, typically adds cocoa, raisin, fig, and other stewed fruit qualities to a whisky. The extent to which these qualities are added and the intensity of these flavors changes in each release, showcasing the peculiarities of whisky maturation and the intent of the distiller when marrying casks. We hope you can appreciate the unique qualities of these editions, ranging from the sweetened, fruit driven, heavily Amoroso influenced styles to the brinier and slightly more typical Talisker examples. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 1998 - 2009 — $76 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5LX Cocoa, raisin and orange oil frame Talisker’s briny pepper and embered smoke, finishing neat and dry. As an early-vintage DE, the 1998/2009 balances sweetness and sea-spray without softening the island snap. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 1999 - 2010 — $71 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5MY Red berries shine with nutty depth against Talisker’s coastal smoke and pepper. The texture stays satin to a dry close. This vintage reads a touch plusher than 1998 while keeping the house line taut. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2001 - 2012 — $69 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5OA Cocoa powder, juicy raisin, and dark fruits fold are integrated in a briny pepper and campfire smoke core.. This early-vintage DE sweetens and softens the spirit but does not lose the sea spray. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2002 - 2013 — $65 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5PB 168
The nose presents with a pronounced peat with hints of iodine before giving way to cooked red berry jam. The sweeter notes of dark chocolate and hazelnut opens up on the mid palate. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2005 - 2015 — $61 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5RD The entrance to this edition is softer and slightly more plush. While the salty smoke is present, apples, strawberries, and apricots bring fruity complexity to the dram without extreme sweetness. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2007 - 2017 — $57 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5TF Balance is the point here: richer mid-palate, raisin, toffee and citrus, and a clean, dry, smoky landing. A late-2010s entry that sharpened the DE’s fruit-and-smoke handshake. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2008 - 2018 — 52 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5UG Vanilla is slightly more present here alongside notable iodine and peat notes. Dark chocolate and berries still make their appearance on the nose before dates take over on the palate. The finish is long, dry, and mineral focused. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2009 - 2019 — $47 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5VH Notably richer than other editions, you can expect caramel, cherry cordial, and citrus tart to present ahead of Talisker’s smokiness. Make no mistake, this is still Talisker and keeps menthol and smoke on deck in the mid-palate and finish. • Talisker Distillers Edition — 2011 - 2021 — $41 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #TD-S:5XJ The nose opens with salted caramel, dates, and flecks of lemon on a relatively tamed approach. This leads into a traditionally Talisker palate rich with grilled lemons and hints of honey before a tight, concise close. • Talisker — Game of Thrones “House Greyjoy” (Select Reserve) — $48 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #000267173832 A non-age statement whisky matured in extra-charred and refill ex-bourbon casks, this Game of Thrones tie-in threads vanilla, char and coastal pepper through a silky malt line. It remains briny and smoke driven on the finish in quintessential Talisker fashion. • Talisker Port Ruighe — Port Cask Finish — $59 — 91.6 proof / 45.8% ABV — #000281033143 A combination of whisky aged in ex-Bourbon and European oak is finished in Port casks to produce a more fruit driven profile. This bottling is generally accepted as more easily accessible compared to other Talisker productions. 169
• Talisker 37 Years — Prima & Ultima — 1984 - 2021 — $788 — 103.8 proof / 51.9% ABV — #TAL-PU-1984 The whisky used to produce this bottling represent the final stock of the 1984 vintage. Matured in a rare set of refill American-oak hogsheads and an ex-Sherry European oak butt, the peat shows first with a delicate smokiness and sandy beach before leading into rock candy, leather, and a briny finish. • Talisker “The Wild Explorador” — Special Releases 2023 — $38 — 119.4 proof / 59.7% ABV — #TAL-SR23-WE Finished across White, Tawny and Ruby Port casks, the result is a complex sweet and savory whisky with cherry, salted caramel, cured fish, and spice over Talisker’s sea-spray smoke. • Talisker 27 Year — “Maritime Edition” — 1985 - 2013 — $258 — 112.2 proof / 56.1% ABV — #TAL-27-1985 Deep peppered peat, brine and smoked bacon meet honeyed malt and citrus. Though ocean water is prominent on the nose, the palate stays fruit driven and smooth with a notable smoky quality. • Talisker 45 Year “Glacial Edge” — 2024 — $700/$1,400 — 99.6 proof / 49.8% ABV — #TAL-45-GE Using a process called “ice fracturing” on heavily charred oak barrels to increase the internal surface area of the finishing barrels, this exceptionally aged whisky displays intense ocean aromas of seaweed, ocean water, and iodine before leading into orange, apricot, sandalwood, and salted caramel. This whisky represents the oldest official Talisker release to date. Torabhaig is one of the latest distillery ventures in Scotland, and the second on this Western island of Skye! They opened in 2017 and have already released impressive malts (for the young age) from mildly peated Concerto and Laureate barley varieties. They call it ‘well-tempered peat’...Douglas fir washbacks and ex-Bourbon barrels for maturation. CAMPBELTOWN Glen Scotia [NEED Producer’s Note] • Glen Scotia — 10 Year (‘Fruit & Gentle Spice’, First-Fill ex-Bourbon) — $24 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GS10 Matured entirely in first-fill American-oak ex-Bourbon barrels, then married for balance to spotlight citrus, vanilla cream and soft baking spice over a saline, lightly oily palate. Gentle coastal smoke sits well behind the fruit, the finish neat and tea-leaf dry. As part of Glen Scotia’s modern revival, the 10 reintroduces Campbeltown’s maritime brightness in an easy, contemporary register. 170
• Glen Scotia — 18 Year (‘Aromatic & Spicy’, Oloroso Finish) — $47 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GS18 Long ex-Bourbon maturation is re-racked into Oloroso sherry casks to layer walnut, orange-tea dryness and cocoa over the distillery’s briny sweetness; bottled for texture and length. Smoke reads aromatic rather than heavy, oak firming a cedar-dry close. As the mature core expression, the 18 translates Campbeltown’s coastal line into resonance—depth and spice carried by structure, not sugar. Hazelburn Distillery did a lot of things right but it started off doing very much wrong. Initially an illegal operation in 1792, it obtained its license in 1825 and operated for 100 years until its first closure in 1925. During this time it became Campbeltown’s largest distillery and was host to Masataka Taketsuru, the Godfather of Japanese Whisky who would go on to found Yamazaki and create Nikka (all with Hazelburn’s pot still design!). Though the original whiskies were peated, the 1997 Springback-led revival presents an unpeated, triple-distilled spirit showcasing lightness and fruit. • Hazelburn — 21 Year (Springbank’s Triple-Distilled, Unpeated) — $183 — 86.4 proof / 43.2% ABV — #HZB21 Composed from parcels long-matured in ex-Bourbon and sherry casks, then patiently married to showcase orchard fruit, nougat and nut-spice on a silken glide—Springbank’s triple distillation lending uncommon softness. Sweetness stays trim as fine tannin shapes a dry, elegant finish. As the elder of Hazelburn’s unpeated line, the 21 shows Campbeltown finesse through time and texture rather than smoke. • Hazelburn 13 Year — Oloroso Cask Matured — 2003 - 2017 — $89 — 94.2 proof / 47.1% ABV — #HB-13-2003-OLO This is the first release of Hazelburn’s exclusively Oloroso cask whisky. Dense and concentrated fruit aromas are complemented by chocolate, baking spice, and pronounced nutty and earthy funk. • Hazelburn 12 Year — Oloroso Cask Matured — 2012 - 2022 — $78 — 99.8 proof / 49.9% ABV — #HB-12-2012-OLO Slightly restrained on the nose, this edition offers raspberry tart, peach, licorice and shortbread before a moderate finish. • Hazelburn 14 Year — Oloroso Cask Matured — 2004 - 2019 — $81 — 98.6 proof / 49.3% ABV — #HB-14-2004-OLO A concentrated and fruit-driven release showing dark fruit and tobacco leaf balanced by old wood and earthy aromas. • Hazelburn 15 Year — Oloroso Cask Matured — 2008 - 2023 — $94 — 111.6 proof / 55.8% ABV — #HB-15-2008-OLO Fig, leather, cola, and mocha are delivered on a full bodied, waxy palate that includes cinnamon and ginger spice. 171
• Hazelburn 21 Years — 2022 Release — $189 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #HB-21-2022 Notes of treacle, brown sugar and old books lead into hints of red fruit on the nose. The rich, buttery palate delivers prunes and roasted walnuts before leading to a mineral earthy finish. • Hazelburn 8 Years — 1st Edition (2005) — $95 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #HB-8-FE-2005 A first release of youthful age statement whisky from Hazelburn, expect honey, cut hay, orchard fruits, and cereal on the nose. Hazelnut, walnut, and butterscotch become apparent on the barely medium bodied palate. • Hazelburn 9 Years — “Barolo Cask Matured” — 2007 - 2016 — $97 — 115.8 proof / 57.9% ABV — #HB-9-2007-BAR After 6 years in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, the whisky is moved to Barolo wine barrels for another 3 years of maturation. Cherry and strawberry aromas with rose petal and cocoa fold into malty sweetness and a firm, dry close. Kilkerran was created at the Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown by the Mitchell Family, famously connected to Springbank Distillery, in 1872. The distillery operated in the Mitchell family for 45 years before being sold and, shortly thereafter, was closed due to post-WWI economic conditions. The distillery was purchased in 2000 by J&A Mitchell & Co., current owners of Springbank and associated distilleries. It now not only produces its own lightly peated, coastal whiskies, but also does floor malting on-site for itself and Springbank. • Kilkerran — 12 Year — $39 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #KK12 A classic Glengyle composition: predominantly ex-Bourbon casks with sherry in support, married and bottled natural for a wax-tipped, cereal-bright palate edged by lemon zest, ginger and a flicker of kiln smoke. The finish is mineral and tidy. As the house benchmark, the 12 anchors the revival of the Glengyle distillery—Campbeltown character rendered in clean lines and honest oak. • Kilkerran — 16 Year — $51 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #KK16 Predominantly ex-Bourbon maturation with a measured sherry-cask component, married and bottled natural to keep waxy malt, lemon oils and gingered spice in clear relief. A faint, kiln-clean smoke threads the mid-palate; oak finishes tea-leaf dry. As Glengyle’s mature core statement, the 16 widens the 12’s frame—Campbeltown’s mineral line rendered in longer, calmer sentences without losing its briny snap. • Kilkerran — 8 Year (Bourbon Cask Matured, Cask Strength) — $31 — 111.2 proof / 55.6% ABV — #KK8CSB Full-term American-oak ex-Bourbon barrels deliver citrus, vanilla cream and cereal brightness at natural strength; water teases out honey and a lick of coastal smoke. Texture 172
is wax-tipped and energetic, the close dry and cedary. As the annual cask-strength chapter, the 8 shows Glengyle’s youth as precision rather than blunt force—clarity of spirit carried by honest oak. • Kilkerran 17 Years — Single Cask “20th Anniversary” — $237 — 114.6 proof / 57.3% ABV — #KK-17-20TH Aged in a single refill Sherry hogshead, this cask strength official release of only 269 bottles brings warming spices, raisin, chocolate, and roasted nuts to a long, honeyed, sea salt and gently smoky finish. • Kilkerran “Heavily Peated” — Batch 10 (2024) — $35 — 115.6 proof / 57.8% ABV — #KK-HP-B10 Made with spirit aged in ex-Bourbon and Sherry cask, the smokiness of this whisky becomes immediately apparent. Tar, vanilla and salted caramel integrate with dried fruit before a lightly tannic finish. Longrow has a history tied deeply to Springbank Distillery. Located next door, the two distilleries operated alongside each other until the Longrow closure in 1898. Springbank acquired the property to use as a bottling hall but, in 1970, chose to reopen production as their bottling needs became more sophisticated. To separate Longrow whisky from their core portfolio, the group opted for heavily peated malt whisky. The first 10 Year was released in 1985 and the brand represents the upper tier of peated whisky in the Springbank book. • Longrow — ‘Peated’ — $32 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LNGP A composition of ex-Bourbon and sherry casks frames sweet malt and salted toffee with Campbeltown’s oily, chimney-glow smoke; bottled natural for texture. The palate moves from briny sweetness to peppered ash and tea-leaf dryness. As Springbank’s peat-forward branch, Longrow Peated offers an elemental, old-school register—hearty yet balanced, with maritime lift and firm, drying oak. • Longrow — ‘Peated’ (Cask Strength, Batch 1) — $39 — 114 proof / 57% ABV — #LNGP-CSB1 Selected ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned parcels are married and bottled at natural strength to amplify soot-laced smoke, grilled citrus and malty sweetness over a dense, oily glide; un-chill-filtered. Despite the power, minerality keeps the finish crisp and cedar-dry. As the first cask-strength batch, it casts Longrow’s heritage style in high definition—Campbeltown muscle shaped by balance, not brute heat. • Longrow — 18 Year (Limited Edition) — $92 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LNG18 Parcels long-matured in ex-Bourbon and sherry casks are patiently married and bottled natural to showcase Campbeltown’s oily texture and chimney-glow smoke without heaviness. Kiln-clean peat threads salted toffee, grilled citrus and tea-leaf dryness. As an annual limited release from Springbank’s peated make, the 18 channels old-school Longrow depth—structure and savor shaped by time, not sweetness. 173
• Longrow 18 Year — $88 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LGR-18 Peat forward, this whisky expresses jammy blackberry alongside dark chocolate cake, date, espresso, and a rich, mouthfilling palate. The finish is long, smoky, and saline with a hint of caramel. • Longrow 21 Year (Peated) — $138 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #LGR-21 Antique furniture, cured meat, and wet earth appear on the nose while dark fruits, mango, and savory coal dust smoke enrich the dense, oily palate. A slightly metallic earthy finish rounds out the experience. • Longrow Red — 11 Years “Australian Shiraz Cask” — $99 — 107.4 proof / 53.7% ABV — #LGR-RED-AUS11 A special edition that spends an extensive 5 years in Australian Shiraz hogsheads from Angove’s Long Row winery after an initial 6 years in refill ex-Bourbon barrels, red wine notes of brambly red fruit peppered smoke widen the oily Longrow palate. • Longrow Red — 11 Years “Cabernet Franc Matured” — $99 — 111.8 proof / 55.9% ABV — #LGR-RED-CF11 2 years of finishing in Cabernet Franc barriques from De Toren Private Cellars in South Africa brings redcurrant, rose petal and tobacco to a slightly more petrol and smoke tinged palate. • Longrow Red — 11 Years “Pinot Noir Cask Matured” — $99 — 106.2 proof / 53.1% ABV — #LGR-RED-PN11 Using Pinot Noir casks from New Zealand’s Valli winery for a 3 year finish to this whisky, surprising bright notes of cranberry and cherry integrate with dutch cocoa to create a notably fruit-forward expression of Longow. • Longrow Red — 11 Year Tawny Port Cask Matured — 2022 Release — $99 — 115 proof / 57.5% ABV — #LGR-RED-TP11 After spending 4 years in fresh Tawny Port barrels from an undisclosed producer to finish, the distinctly peated Longrow develops a highly integrated blackberry and currant quality. • Longrow Red — 12 Year Fresh Pinot Noir Casks — 2015 Release — $130 — 105.8 proof / 52.9% ABV — #LGR-RED-PN12 With 1 year in New Zealand Pinot Noir casks, the spirit develops apparent cranberry and strawberry that linger on the palate through peat smoke and licorice to a long and fruit-driven finish. • Longrow Red — 13 Year Malbec Cask Matured — 2017 Release — $130 — 102.6 proof / 51.3% ABV — #LGR-RED-ML13 With 15 months to finish in South African Malbec barriques provided by Stellenbosch, atypical red fruit aromas appear on the nose while plum, black pepper, and tannins integrate with the Longrow distillate. A fan favorite. 174
• Longrow Red — 15 Year Pinot Noir Cask Matured — 2022 Release — $133 — 102.8 proof / 51.4% ABV — #LGR-RED-PN15 This release spent 4 years in Valli Pinot Noir casks to extract more concentrated cherry and strawberry aromas. On the palate, the fruit quickly leads into more typical Longrow flavors and a notable black-tea tannin finish. • Longrow Red — 7 Year Pinot Noir Cask Matured — 2024 Release — $58 — 114.2 proof / 57.1% ABV — #LGR-RED-PN07 The finish here is 3 years in Domaine Florent Garaudet French oak Pinot Noir casks. Raspberry and smoked ham ride mineral, coastal peat in a punchy, youthful entry designed for intensity. Springbank are the survivors of Campbeltown. Originally established by William Reid in 1828 on land on by the maltster Mitchell family, this quintessential malt whisky helped cement Campbeltown as what was then called the “Whisky Capital of the World.” Like most distilleries in Scotland, Springbank suffered myriad downturns related to economic forces including U.S. prohibition, the Great Depression, and the Whisky Loch. Nonetheless, the distillery persevered and continues to perform floor malting and other traditional practices. • Springbank — 10 Year — $36 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB10 A classic composition of ex-Bourbon and sherry casks, bottled natural to preserve the distillery’s wax-tipped texture and coastal snap. Lemon peel, barley sugar and briny sweetness meet peppered malt and a whisper of kiln smoke. As the benchmark of Springbank’s 2.5-times distillation house style, it captures Campbeltown’s balance: vivid fruit, gentle peat, and mineral length. • Springbank — 15 Year — $69 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB15 Core stocks from ex-Bourbon are re-racked to Oloroso sherry for breadth, yielding cocoa, orange-tea dryness and walnut over a dense, oily mid-palate; bottled natural for texture. Smoke stays savory and hearth-like, finishing long and cedar-dry. As the sherry-led pillar of the range, the 15 deepens Springbank’s maritime profile into calm resonance without tipping sweet. • Springbank — 21 Year — $232 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB21 Polished oak, dark citrus, and salted caramel come together around a supple, waxy palate. The peat reads as incense rather than weight. As a periodically released elder, 21 is the house style in long form. • Springbank — 21 Year (Adelphi Selections, Refill Rum Cask Matured) — $212 — 106.8 proof / 53.4% ABV — #SB21-AD-RUM Full-term maturation in a refill rum cask draws molasses warmth, grilled pineapple and sugared citrus into Springbank’s oily, saline core; bottled at natural strength, un-chill-filtered. The peat reads as chimney-glow rather than weight, finishing long and 175
cedar-dry. As an Adelphi pick, it spotlights Campbeltown texture through a Caribbean lens—one cask’s voice giving the house style a tropical, structured tilt. • Springbank — 25 Year (2021 Release) — $231 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB25-2021 Mature parcels from ex-Bourbon and sherry casks are married for poise: dark citrus, polished walnut and salted toffee ride a supple, waxed glide, peat showing as incense. Sweetness stays trimmed by tea-leaf dryness. As a periodic elder, the 2021 edition renders Springbank’s 2.5-times–distilled character in long form—maritime depth and quiet authority rather than sheer weight. • Springbank — 25 Year (The Perfect Fifth, 1993–2019 — 1st-Fill Sherry Butt) — $468 — 104.6 proof / 52.3% ABV — #SB25-TPF1993 Distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2019 from a first-fill sherry butt selected by The Perfect Fifth, this natural-strength single cask layers fig, burnt orange and cocoa over Springbank’s briny, oily spine. Peat hums softly as fine tannin carries a long, cedar-dry close • Springbank 10 Year — Palo Cortado Cask Matured (2024 Release) — $78 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #SB-10-PC-2024 With 3 years in Palo Cortado hogsheads to finish, aromas of dried orange, almond and salted caramel broaden Springbank’s mineral, gently peated core. The long finish includes toasted walnuts, red fruit, and ocean spray. • Springbank 10 Year — Sherry Wood “Amontillado” — 2014 - 2024 — $78 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #SB-10-AMONT-24/197 Half of this whisky’s maturation is spent in Amontillado Sherry hogsheads. Nutty brightness and oak tannins frame citrus, toffee and a wisp of smoke, landing neat and mineral. A taut, savory turn in the Sherry Wood series that leaves the distillate’s backbone clear. • Springbank 10 Year — Sherry Wood “Pedro Ximénez” (2021 Release) — $87 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #SB-10-PX-2021 A finishing period of 3 years in Pedro Ximénez casks of Spanish oak encourages the development of cola and fig notes in this whisky. Dark chocolate and hints of citrus and smoke from gentle peating round out the complex palate. • Springbank 12 Year — Calvados Wood — 2000 - 2012 — $113 — 105.4 proof / 52.7% ABV — #SB-12-CALV-2000 With 6 years in Calvados casks, apple, brown sugar, vanilla and soft spice freshen the malty Springbank core while light peat and citrus keep the finish brisk and dry. A rare apple-brandy detour that reads bright and savory rather than sweet. • Springbank 12 Year “Green” — Organic Barley (2015) — $126 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB-12-GREEN Distilled from barley organically farmed near their distillery and matured entirely in 176
ex-Bourbon barrels, this whisky leans into citrus, white grape, and more delicate coastal profile. • Springbank 12 Year — Cask Strength — $129 — 114.4 proof / 57.2% ABV — #SB-12-CS An oil-satin texture carries salted malt, kiln smoke and lemon peel before a firm, dry finish. As Springbank’s reference cask-strength, it improves the clarity of the spirit without deviating from the core style. • Springbank 13 Year — Local Barley — 2010 - 2023 — $138 — 108.2 proof / 54.1% ABV — #SB-LB-13 A mix of 60% bourbon and 40% sherry casks with floor-malted local barley, ripe bananas, cinnamon, peaches, citrus, and coastal salt meet gentle dunnage earth. The whisky finishes long and complex on the palate. • Springbank 14 Year — “Manzanilla Cask” — 1996 - 2011 — $133 — 109.6 proof / 54.8% ABV — #SB-14-1996-MANZ Matured in a single Manzanilla cask, the typical savory, smoky, and fruit aromas of Springbank are married with green apple, lime, and an accentuated salty quality in this highly regarded limited release. • Springbank 14 Year — “Refill Sherry” (Single Cask) — 1999 - 2014 — $132 — 97.4 proof / 48.7% ABV — #SB-14-1999-RFS This official bottling was created exclusively for spirits importer Pacific Edge Wine and Spirits and remains a U.S. exclusive release. Polished oak, cinnamon and dark citrus ride malty sweetness with a measured wisp of smoke. • Springbank 17 Year — “Fresh Sherry” (Single Cask) — 1997 - 2014 — $156 — 102.8 proof / 51.4% ABV — #SB-17-1997-FS Drawn from a single fresh Sherry butt distilled, dried red fruit and cocoa notes widen the oily Campbeltown palate while coastal spice and gentle smoke keep the profile familiar. Sitting alongside the broader 1997 Sherry Wood releases, this single-cask feels tighter and more focused. • Springbank 17 Year — “Sherry Wood” — 1997- 2015 — $156 — 104.6 proof / 52.3% ABV — #SB-17-1997-SW This whisky underwent maturation in a mix of fresh and refill Sherry butts and hogsheads. Black cherry, fig, plum, and dried orange aromas cover a cocoa, plum, and licorice palate with characteristic Springbank peat throughout. • Springbank 18 Year — $121 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB-18-A Madeira-cake richness, marzipan and gingerbread meet coastal salt and quiet smoke. As a core age statement, 18yrs balances Campbeltown’s earthy, wet stone character with layered oak nuance. 177
• Springbank 18 Year — “Fresh Port” Single Cask — 1996 - 2015 — 189 — 104.2 proof / 52.1% ABV — #SB-18-1996-PORT After 18 years in a fresh Port cask, a depth of fruit notes including cherry liqueur, bramble, and plum are incorporated into Springbank’s oily, coastal spine. This rare single-cask shows peaty and earthy with vivid red-fruit depth. • Springbank 21 Year — $234 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB-21 bottled without chill-filtration or added color. Figs, plums, and brown sugar characterize the sweeter elements of this age indication while savory aromas of Iberico ham, cinnamon spice, and banana bread round out the lightly peated experience. • Springbank 30 Year — $585 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SB-30-46 Powerfully tropical on the nose with tangerines, caramel, and polished wood rounding out the complex nose. The palate highlights a richer caramel quality framed by pineapple, candied ginger, honeycomb, and coconut before leading into gentle peat smoke. • Springbank 31 Year — Dun Bheagan (Ian Macleod) — 1974 - 2006 — $868 — 112.4 proof / 56.2% ABV — #SB-DB-1974-1160 A legacy bottling from a single Sherry butt that yielded 510 bottles. Polished walnut, dark citrus and cocoa integrate into Springbank’s waxy, coastal core. • Springbank 8 Year — Local Barley (Bere, High Ranachan) — 2016 - 2024 — $42 — 116.2 proof / 58.1% ABV — #SB-LB-8-58 Using the Bere barley varietal grown at High Ranachan farm to produce the spirit, this 50/50 marriage of ex-Bourbon and and ex-Sherry matured distillate presents a richer-than-typical Springbank body focused on lemon oil, honey, barley sugar and black pepper. Tobermory Distillery was formerly known as Ledaig when it was built on the Isle of Mull in 1798. Located in the town of Tobermory, the distillery struggled to operate while producing rough, heavy peated malts. Through a significant amount of closures and ownership transfers, the facility was able to reopen in 1972 and renamed after the town in which it is located. Today, Tobermory produces two distinct labels: the unpeated Tobermory and the heavily peated Ledaig. • Tobermory — 12 Year (Un-Chill Filtered, Natural Colour) — $41 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #TBM12 Fully matured in American-oak ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled natural colour and un-chill-filtered, this core expression sets citrus, vanilla cream and honeyed barley over a lightly saline glide. Oak supports rather than steers, finishing neat and tea-leaf dry. Relaunched as the modern house benchmark, the 12 crystallises Tobermory’s unpeated island style—bright fruit, clean oak, and a subtle coastal lift. 178
• Ledaig — 10 Year (Tobermory’s Peated Malt) — $29 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #LDG10 A decade in Bourbon casks frames briny sweetness, lemon oil and malty richness while the peat reads as chimney-glow rather than weight; bottled with a natural feel. The finish is mineral and pepper-lively. As the gateway to Ledaig’s smoky voice from Tobermory, it defines Mull’s maritime peat—characterful, direct, and refreshingly unsweet. • Ledaig — 18 Year (Sherry Cask Finish) — $61 — 92.6 proof / 46.3% ABV — #LDG18 Initially 16 years in American-oak ex-Bourbon, then two years in sherry casks, this mature Ledaig translates coastal smoke into orange-tinged depth, walnut and cocoa over a wax-tipped palate. Sweetness stays disciplined as fine tannin carries a cedar-dry close. A decorated core release, it shows the house’s peat in long form—power shaped by time and sherry poise. • Ledaig — ‘Triple Wood’ (Limited Edition) — $51 — 107.6 proof / 53.8% ABV — #LDG-TW A marriage of malt matured across ex-Bourbon, Port and red-wine casks, then bottled at natural strength, weaving silky smoke with toffee, dark fruit and spicy oak over a firm, coastal spine. The palate stays layered yet agile, finishing tea-leaf dry. Created in partnership with filmmaker Gordon Buchanan supporting the Mull & Iona Community Trust, it casts Ledaig’s island character through a modern, philanthropic lens. • Ledaig — 9 Year (Bordeaux Red-Wine Cask, Cask Strength) — $64 — 117.6 proof — #LDG9BOR Full-term maturation in Bordeaux red-wine barriques sets Ledaig’s saline, oily spirit against dark berry, cassis and cocoa, the oak adding a gentle tannic frame; bottled at natural strength for a vivid, textural delivery. Silky island smoke threads grilled citrus and malt sweetness, finishing tea-leaf dry with mineral lift. As a small-batch wine-cask chapter from Tobermory’s peated make, it refracts Mull’s maritime peat through a refined claret lens—structure without heaviness. The Hearach is produced at the Isle of Harris Distillery, a new facility built in 2015 by Anderson “Burr” Bakewell. The intent behind this project was to resurrect traditional methods of whisky production while attempting to slow depopulation on the island. Ten residents of the Isle of Harris joined together to create the first whisky made on the island since 1840, yielding a lightly peated single malt that is bottled without chill filtering or color adjustment. The first release was 2023. • The Hearach — First-Fill Oloroso Cask Matured — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #HRS-OLO Matured full-term in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts, then married prior to bottling; released non-chill-filtered and natural colour, with batches married for an extended period to knit the casks’ voices. Raisined fruit, walnut and orange-peel dryness ride a supple island malt line 179
with a thread of gentle, silky smoke. As a post-2015 chapter from Harris, it extends the island’s first legal whisky into a duskier sherry register. • The Hearach — ex-Bourbon, Oloroso & Fino Cask Matured — $33 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #HRS-BOF A composition of spirit matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and Oloroso & Fino sherry butts, married in sizable batches for weeks before bottling non-chill-filtered and without colouring. Vanilla cream and citrus from Bourbon meet nutty, tea-leaf sherry tones, all threaded by light, aromatic island smoke. This is the seminal Harris release—the first legal whisky from the Isle of Harris—showing the house style in balanced, contemporary form. SINGLE GRAIN • Caledonian 31 Year — Cadenhead’s Single Cask — 1987 - 2018 — $54 — 103.4 proof / 51.7% ABV — #CAL-31-1987-CA Matured entirely in a hogshead (likely ex-Bourbon) from the distillery’s final vintage, this legacy whisky opens grain-forward and develops hints of malt, pecan pie, and coconut with some time in the glass. • Caledonian 31 Year — Signatory Cask Strength (Cask #18504) — 1987 - 2018 — $49 — 100.4 proof / 50.2% ABV — #CAL-31-1987-SV-18504 Aged in a refill hogshead (likely ex-Bourbon), this version of the 1987 Caledonian vintage presents with coconut flakes, flowers, and yellow cake over a nutty, caramel palate. The long finish is guided by wood, vanilla, and honey. • Caledonian 31 Year — Duncan Taylor “Rare Auld Grain” (Cask #7823875) — 1987 - 2018 — $92 — 105.8 proof / 52.9% ABV — #CAL-31-DT-7823875 A delicate, floral, and slightly citrusy aroma. A silky, sweet palate with candied apple undertones and an elegant finish with herbal notes of jasmine tea and manuka honey. • Cambus 23 Year — Signatory Cask Strength (Refill Sherry Butt) — 1991 - 2014 — $78 — 108.2 proof / 54.1% ABV — #CAM-23-1991-SV-55889 Bottled from a refill Sherry butt, aromas of mocha and espresso drive a palate rich with dark fruits and chocolate. A notable cereal quality rests in the spirit through the finish. • Cambus 26 Year — James Eadie Single Cask (Cask #48094) — 1993 - 2019 — $69 — 110.8 proof / 55.4% ABV — #CAM-26-1993-JE-48094 This single sherry butt was filled in the final year of the distillery’s operation and yielded 610 bottles. Unsweetened chocolate, marzipan, walnut, and fruitcake rest on an oily, chili-flecked palate. The finish is quick and clean. • Cambus 26 Year — Duncan Taylor “Rare Auld Grain” (Cask #1179891, btl. 131/285) — 1991 - 2018 — $89 — 101.0 proof / 50.5% ABV — #CAMB-26-DT-1179891 180
Honeyed cereal and orange oils meet gentle oaky aromas. A medium bodied palate maintains that delicate sweetness while layering complex, earthy, woody notes through the finish. • Cambus 28 Year — Single Cask Nation — 1988 - 2017 — $112 — 85.2 proof 42.6% ABV — #CAMB-28-SCN-121GW Aged in an ex-bourbon barrel and finished with 6 months in a first-fill Muscatel sherry barrique. Honey and cereal grains inform gentle raisin and cocoa from the Muscatel touch; the finish mellow with a hint of peppery dryness. • Cambus 30 Year — Murray McDavid “Mission Gold” (1st-Fill Cognac Finish) — 1990 - 2021 — $127 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #CAMB-1990-MM-1909948/53/57 Cambus stock aged in bourbon casks and finished in cognac casks, the aroma is a rounded sweetness that hints at both baking spices and white pepper. The palate is rich and full bodied with a warm spice that lets through notes of caramel, vanilla, and stonefruit. The finish projects cinnamon, oak, and grapes. • Cameronbridge 26 Year — Special Releases 2022 — $158 — 112.4 proof / 56.2% ABV — #CB-26-SR22 Matured exclusively in refill American-oak casks and bottled at cask strength. Quintessential grain sweetness—vanilla, caramel, with a hint of citrus—meets an oaky, warm, coffee undercurrent. The landing is long and dry. • Cameronbridge 21 Year — James Eadie (Single Cask #75792) — 1997 - 2018 — $63 — 108.8 proof / 54.4% ABV — #CB-21-JE-75792 A single refill ex-bourbon hogshead selected and bottled by James Eadie at natural strength, this spirit showcases the archetypical grain profile offered by Cameronbridge, as notes of Butter toffee and orange peel on the palate imbue a bold, dry, lingering finish. • Cameronbridge 28 Year — The ImpEx Collection (Cask #115125) — 1992 - 2020 — $135 — 103.6 proof / 51.8% ABV — #CB-28-IMPEX-115125 Fully matured in sherry butt(s) and limited to 425 bottles, the classically Cameronbridge sweet aromas belie a delightfully complex palate that expresses rich chocolate and baking spice notes. The finish continues with caramelized sugar and fleeting notes of ripe fruit. • Cameronbridge 26 Year — Special Releases 2022 — $96 — 112.4 proof / 56.2% ABV — #CB-26-SR22 Matured exclusively in refill American-oak casks and bottled at cask strength. Quintessential grain sweetness—vanilla, caramel, with a hint of citrus—meets an oaky, warm, coffee undercurrent. The landing is long and dry. • Cameronbridge 26 yrs — Diageo Special Releases 2022 “The Knight’s Golden Triumph” — $132 — 112.4 proof / 56.2% ABV — #SR-2022CB Matured in refill American oak and bottled at natural cask strength. The palate is velvety 181
and bright—vanilla pod, baked apple and gentle spice—showing how age and humble wood can elevate grain whisky without finish. It marks Cameronbridge’s first appearance in Diageo’s Special Releases, spotlighting Lowland grain on a global stage. • Carsebridge 30 Year — “Artist #7” (La Maison du Whisky) — 1982 - 2017 — $235 — 101.6 proof / 50.8% ABV — #CAR-30-A7-74690c This spirit is sourced from a single hogshead, bottled by LMDS and, limited to 198 bottles. Vanilla, coconut and waxy orange ride a silky grain core with candied fruit and gentle spice. The finish shuffles in more vanilla accented by buttery sweetness. • Carsebridge 44 Year — “The Exclusive Malts” — $213 — 84.6 proof / 42.3% ABV — #CAR-44-CWC-60442 Distilled in March, 1974 and bottled in 2018, this limited release of 278 bottles boast bold aromas of sweet corn and oak. The sweetness follows through the palate, with walnut, citrus peel and gentle cocoa framing the neat and dry finish. • Carsebridge 33 Year — Douglas Laing “Old Particular” —1982 - 2016 — $196 — 89.8 proof / 44.9% ABV — #CAR-33-DL-11339 This spirit was bottled from a single refill hogshead (likely bourbon) and limited to 253 bottles by long-established grain whiskey specialists Douglas Laing. The aroma imparts candied fruit with hints of holiday spices, and a rich, oily palate balances notes of dark fruit and oak before a warm, chocolatey finish. • Compass Box — ‘Hedonism’ (Blended Grain, American Oak) — $63 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CB-HED A composition of mature single grain whiskies aged in American-oak barrels and then patiently married before bottling natural colour and non-chill-filtered. Vanilla cream, toffee and coconut follow directly from the cask regime, gliding on a supple, grain-silk texture. First released in 2000, Hedonism is the whisky that launched Compass Box and helped put blended grain on the modern map. • Dumbarton 20 Year — Single Cask Nation (Refill Bourbon Hogshead) — 2000 - 2021 — $124 — 113.4 proof / 56.7% ABV — #DUM-20-SCN-2000 Limited to 229 bottles, dessert tones of custard cream and pie crust dominate the aroma. True to form, caramel and brown sugar mingle with a rich oaky body before subsiding with a mellow finish suggesting vanilla and coconut. • Dumbarton 28 Year — SMWS G14.1 “East meets West” — 1986 - 2014 — $129 — 95.6 proof / 47.8% ABV — #DUM-28-SMWS-G14.1 Rich aromas of sweet corn and vanilla. The palate is indicative of its long-aged bourbon pedigree with woody, creamy sweetness underscored by a subtle bittersweet finish. • The Exceptional Grain — (Sutcliffe & Son — Blended Grain, First-Fill Sherry Finish) — $43 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #EXG-SUT Built from North British, Strathclyde, Cameronbridge, Loch Lomond and a parcel of 182
Carsebridge grain, the blend is finished in first-fill sherry casks to knit nutty richness with vanilla-led sweetness. Silky texture carries milk-chocolate, toasted cereal and orange-peel lift to a tidy, tea-leaf close. A transparency-minded series that treats mature grain as a canvas, not filler—thoughtful blending in a seldom-spotlit style. • Girvan 27 Year — The Exclusive Malts “10th Anniversary” — 1988 - 2015 — $85 — 106.8 proof / 53.4% ABV — #GIR-27-1988-EM-57871 Fully matured in an ex-bourbon barrel, this long lived whisky plays soft and creamy with oatmeal and cinnamon on the nose and a palate of vanilla, caramel, toffee brittle, and toasted oak. The spirit finishes with coconut and soft oak spice. • Girvan Patent Still 25 Year “No.1 Apps” — $78 — 85.2 proof / 42.6% ABV — #GIR-1APPS-25 Aged in American-oak casks, this long-matured single grain comes from Girvan’s original “No.1 Apps” patent still. Vanilla tablet, citrus and honeyed cereal glide over a silky grain core, the finish sweet with undertones of cinnamon and summer fruit. • Girvan — 33 Year (Cadenhead’s, ex-Bourbon) — $93 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #GVN33-CAD Long maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels focuses crème brûlée, coconut and polished oak around Girvan’s easygoing grain sweetness; bottled at 46% for a natural, textural feel. The palate reads satin and measured, finishing tea-leaf dry with citrus lift. Issued by Cadenhead’s in their Original Collection, this venerable Lowland grain shows how time and bourbon wood can turn subtlety into length and quiet poise. • Invergordon 25 Year — “Berry’s Own Selection” (Cask #8997) — 1988 - 2013 — $93 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #INV-1988-BBR-8997 Matured in a single ex-bourbon barrel by Berry Bros. & Rudd, this spirit balances a palate of toffee and vanilla with bold notes of spice and salinity that shape a complex and lingering finish. • Invergordon 25 Year — “The Sovereign” (Hunter Laing), Cask #10699 — 1988 - 2014 — $103 — 116.2 proof / 58.1% ABV — #INV-1988-SOV-10699 Shortbread and stewed rhubarb fill the nose before a smooth, creamy palate gives notes of nutty oak and candied apple. A reserved sweetness accompanies a long finish with the faintest hint of hazelnut. • North of Scotland — “Pearls of Scotland” (bottle 160/310) —1971 - 2014 — $144 — 86.6 proof / 43.3% ABV — #NOS-1971-POS-160/310 Bottled by Gordon & Co., this whisky spent 43 years maturing in a bourbon cask, earning a layered and delicate palate that balances a bright, rich, and slightly floral sweetness with notes of cereal grain on the finish. • Muckety-Muck 24 Year — Orphan Barrel (Port Dundas) — $93 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #MM-24-OB-5668 183
The youngest of the Port Dundas expressions released by Orphan Barrel, the aromas of vanilla and butterscotch give way to an intricate body that balances rich caramel with baking spiced and a lingering, warm finish. • Muckety-Muck 25 Year (Orphan Barrel) — bottle #13774 — $97 — 91 proof / 45.5% ABV — #MM-25-13774 American-oak-aged grain whisky stocks distilled at closed Port Dundas, aromas of brown sugar and caramel reflect a rich sweetness on the palate. Baked fruit and slight notes of toasted oak shape the finish. • Muckety-Muck 26 Year — Orphan Barrel (Port Dundas) — $102 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #MM-26-OB The very last of the whiskies distilled at the Port Dundas Distillery, Orphan Barrel celebrated this storied distillery with a release at longer maturation with a slightly higher proof. This further intensifies the caramel sweet richness of the grain and adds even more oaky character to its long, woody finish. • North British 30 Year — Signatory “Cask Strength” — 1991 - 2022 — $126 — 110 proof / 55% ABV — #NB-30-SV-262089 (bottle 144/503) Signatory matured this whisky in refill sherry butts for 30 years, informing a gingery, bramble-forward aroma. A measured richness dominates the palate, with background notes of cinnamon and spice that inform a long, meandering finish with hints of pepper and caramel. • North British 17 Year — Creetown Distillers (First-Fill Oloroso, Cask #818369) — $54 — 106 proof / 53% ABV — #NB-17-CRE-818369 (bottle 163/226) Creetown Distillers began this North British stock in ex-bourbon barrels in 2006, maturing it for eleven and a half years before re-racking to a first-fill Oloroso octave for a further six years. A warm, inviting aroma of sweet wine and fresh baked pastries welcome a rounded palate that weaves between notes of dried fruits and chocolate with hints of spicy woodiness. • North British — 31 Year (Creetown, Cask-Strength Marriage) — $79 — 80.6 proof / 40.3% ABV — #NB31-CRT A marriage of three long-matured barrels (casks 200310, 234077, 234099), anchored by spirit filled February 1991, then composed to bottle at a naturally low strength. Time in oak brings crème brûlée, vanilla wafer and polished grain, finishing airy and cedar-dry. As an indie release assembled just above the legal minimum, it preserves delicate grain character rather than chasing weight. • Girvan 25 Year — Distiller’s Art (btl. 109/152) — 1990 - 2016 — $207 — 114.2 proof / 57.1% ABV — #GIR-25-DA-1990 A limited, cask strength, single cask release from Distiller’s Art. A citrusy, honey forward 184
nose belies a full bodied, creamy, oaky palate that melts into lingering sweetness on the finish. • Port Dundas 36 yrs 1978–2014 XOP (Douglas Laing) — $162 — 121.4 proof / 60.7% ABV — #PD-78XOP A sweet, bourbon-forward aroma gives way to a rich, leathery palate balanced with oaky, silky, herbal notes that blend together in a long, sweet, creamy finish. • Port Dundas 18 yrs Single Grain — $48 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #8807618022 The flagship bottle of the now defunct Port Dundas distillery, this single grain is expressive and powerful on the nose, with bright notes of honey and vanilla underscored by contrasting notes of ginger and oak. Buttery toffee and tropical fruits emerge on the palate before a brief, warm finish. • Strathclyde 26 Year — “The Exclusive Malts” — 1988 - 2015 — $67 — 110.2 proof / 55.1% ABV — #STR-1988-EM-62106 An aroma dominated by woody notes of oak and pine before a richly layered body. The palate flows in waves between sweet notes of vanilla and apricot that are cut with a peppery spice that follows through a dry finish. • Strathclyde 28 Year — Duncan Taylor “Rare Auld Grain” — 1990 - 2018 — $93 — 102.4 proof / 51.2% ABV — #STR-1990-DT-642756 (048/113) A distinct citrus note permeates the nose with both a sweetness and an herbal note in the background. A similarly complex palate reflects ripe fruit and butterscotch against a persistent spice that follows a warm glowing finish. • Strathclyde 23 Year — Battlehill — $76 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #841119013181 A sweet, woody aroma informs notes of caramel wafer, lemon oil and vanilla for a supple palate, finishing dry with a lingering warmth. BLENDED • Campbeltown Loch — Blended Malt (All Five Campbeltown Malts) — $28 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CPLK Built from all five Campbeltown single malts—Springbank, Longrow, Hazelburn, Kilkerran and Glen Scotia—matured across ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned parcels, then patiently married for balance. Coastal malt sweetness meets gentle peat and nut-spice, finishing mineral and cedar-dry. Revived under Springbank’s stewardship, it distills Campbeltown’s whole dialect into one glass—textural, briny and quietly old-school. 185
• Chivas Regal — 21 Year “Royal Salute” — $79 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CR21RS Matured stocks of long-aged malt and grain from Chivas Brothers’ Speyside-led reserves are married, the sherry-seasoned European oak adding nutty depth over American-oak vanilla and satin texture. Dried fruits and almond toffee glide into a cedar-dry close. Launched for the 1953 coronation, Royal Salute set the modern luxury-blend template—age as structure and poise rather than weight. • Chivas Regal — 25 Year “Original Legend” — $95 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CR25OL A Speyside-forward composition of mature malts and grain is harmonized after long rests in American oak with a shaping sherry contingent, yielding cocoa, orange oils and polished oak on a velvety line. Sweetness stays trimmed by tea-leaf dryness. Reviving Chivas’s pre-Prohibition prestige era, this 25 reframes historic richness in a contemporary, measured register. • Chivas Regal — 25 Year “Royal Salute” — $97 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CR25RS Selected parcels of well-aged malt and grain—Speyside at the core—are married and rested to deepen complexity, layering fig, apricot and sandalwood over a composed blend body. The finish is long, quiet, and spice-laced. As an elevated Royal Salute chapter, it carries the coronation-born house style into a more contemplative, late-evening tone. • Royal Salute 21 Year — “The Polo Estancia Edition” — $53 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #RS-21-POLO Argentinian Malbec wine casks bring berry dark richness that informs an aroma of plum jam and gentle smoke. Expect velvety fruit, cocoa and a cinnamon note for a bold palate, with a long finish echoing mellow spice. • Compass Box — ‘The Story of the Spaniard’ (Sherry & Spanish Red-Wine Casks) — $32 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CBSPN A malt-whisky blend composed of parcels aged full-term in sherry butts and Spanish red-wine casks, married and rested to knit richness with brightness. Andalusian casks lend raisined fruit, almond toffee and sweet spice over a supple, orchard-led core. As a modern sherry-forward Compass Box, it explores Iberian oak influence with transparency and poise. • Compass Box — “3 Year Old Deluxe” — $153 — 98 proof / 49% ABV — #CB-3YOD Perhaps Compass Box’s cheekiest release. The palate is smooth and waxy with notes of ripe orchard fruit before peated coastal salinity ushers in a faint note of citrus zest and soft smoke on the finish. • Compass Box — “Affinity” (Scotch + Calvados) — 2019 — $84 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-AFF-0423 A unique spirit that balances regional icons’ best qualities.. Bright orchard fruit and vanilla 186
ice cream interplay with malt richness and gentle spice, the finish neat with dry, rich sweetness. • Compass Box — “Art & Decadence” — 2023 Limited Edition — $153 — 98 proof / 49% ABV — #CB-A&D-2023 The aroma is waxy with overtones of tropical fruit hiding a faint sherry note. The palate is sweet and bright, with dried fruit and chocolate counteracting gentle heat and oaky notes through a long, warm finish. • Compass Box — Asyla — $68 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CB-ASY Honey and floral notes in the aroma reflect the well balanced palate that emphasizes its upbringing with a well-oaked texture that pairs with its rich honey quality.c • Compass Box — “Experimental Grain Whisky” — $73 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-EGW A curious blend, the grain quality shines through in its bright, fruity aroma that besets a buttery rich note. The palate holds an element of peat smoke that plays against a rich sweetness before a long, dry finish. • Compass Box “Extravaganza” (Spice Tree 10th-Anniversary) — 2016 — $75 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-STE-2016 A delicate aroma of spiced apple and tobacco leaves indicate a bold palate that exudes forest honey and apricot amidst its oily, oaky texture. A gentle peppery note warms through the finish. • Compass Box — Flaming Heart — 15th Anniversary (bottled July 2015) — $48 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #CB-FH-2015 A limited, NAS release that celebrates the trailblazing marriage of peated malts and new french oak, a balanced nose juggles gentle notes of ginger and vanilla with soft, earthy peat. An oily palate suggests stewed fruit with waxy, tropical undertones that subside to earthy, vegetal peat smoke in a long, complex finish. • Compass Box — Flaming Heart — 2018 Edition (6th) — $53 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #CB-FH-2018 A different blend of peated whiskies in the same line of french-oak-matured releases, the aroma is bold and full, with peat smoke anchoring a rich palate of baking spices and sweet, fruity maltiness. The finish lingers with smoky, umami notes. • Compass Box — Hedonism “Quindecimus” — 15th Anniversary — $91 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-HQ-2015 A limited edition reworking of the flagship release. A loud and oaky nose with subtler notes of melon and coconut, the palate is sweet and creamy with a nutty, woody profile that ushers in an earthy, buttery finish. 187
• Compass Box — “Menagerie” — Limited Edition (Jan 2021) — $75 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-MEN-2021 Aromas of caramel and ripe orchard fruit escort understated tones of musky peat. The palate is waxy and dry, with fruit-forward flavors once again dominating over a subtle, savory smoke and a soft, leathery finish. • Compass Box — “Metropolis” — 2023 Limited Edition — $53 — 98 proof / 49% ABV — #CB-MET-2023 A tribute to the tradition of Edinburgher and Glaswegian whisky blending, the nose imparts dried fruit and honey with hints of cinnamon and polished leather that foretell a well rounded palate. Rotating between dry, ripe apple notes and softer tropical fruit give way to grassy citrus notes and a savory, bittersweet, floral finish. • Compass Box — “Oak Cross” — $87 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #CB-OAKX An aroma of gently toasted oak and cloves interplay with brighter, floral notes of citrus peel and ginger. The palate is creamy and spicy malty, with carmelized notes of butterscotch and dried fruit hinting at a measured finish that suggests vanilla and coffee. • Compass Box — “The Peat Monster” — $49 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-PM An Islay-forward aroma expectedly bombards the nose with unmistakable peat. The palate conveys a richly full bodied character that balances its oily texture and peated smoke with delicate undertones of bright citrus and fruit with a savory note on the finish. • Compass Box — “The Peat Monster” — 10th Anniversary (2013) — $63 — 97.8 proof / 48.9% ABV — #CB-PM10 A special edition reworking that introduces well aged Brora stock, The peaty, lemony nose remains, but the palate’s oily texture adopts a medicinal note in addition to its citric brightness. The finish is measured and spicy, with a hint of peated salinity. • Compass Box — Phenomenology — 2017 Limited Edition — $75 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-PHN-2017 Bottled in 2017 with 7,908 bottles, it framed Compass Box’s philosophy: transparency when it matters, mystery when it helps you focus on flavour. Berries and baking spices on the nose precede a smooth, mineral-forward palate with ashy notes of vanilla and lemon zest. A peppered, earthy note overscores a dry finish. • Compass Box — The Spice Tree — $39 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-ST Mulled wine and brown sugar ruminate among an intriguing aroma that reflects rich honey and spiced oak on the palate, and a gentle, lingering warmth in the finish. • Compass Box — Spice Tree Extravaganza — 2016 10th-Anniversary — $47 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-STE-2016 Built on the Spice Tree Highland-malt core further matured ~4½ years in hybrid American/French oak, then layered with sherry-matured parcels (Glen Ord, Benrinnes, Allt-a-Bhainne); natural colour, not chill-filtered. Richer dried fruit and pastry spice widen 188
the waxy malt line while the finish stays neat and dry. A celebratory chapter that rendered Spice Tree’s oak program in high relief. • Compass Box — The General — $32 — 106 proof / 53% ABV — #CB-GEN A truly one of a kind blend, this whisky tells you its age with flavors of heather honey and tobacco that bleed from the palate through the aroma. These are accented by a delicate body that balances rancio notes and faint peat with bittersweet cherry among a distinct sherry character, following through a lasting, juicy finish, • Compass Box — The Lost Blend — 2014 Limited Edition — $37 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-LB-2014 A heartfelt revival of the brand’s first blend, this 19 year old whisky hides its Islay-heavy consistency behind notes of citrus and marzipan with undertones of smoke sneaking through. Peat smoke is more prominent on the palate, though it washes away with notes of cinnamon sugar and vanilla leading the long, spicy finish with a measured richness. • Compass Box “Magic Cask” — 2020 Limited Edition — $57 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #CB-MAG-2020 The young stock that accents this mostly 24-year blend presents with a punchy aroma that settles into tropical fruit with a waxy texture on the palate that rotates floral, rich, tropical notes with sharper, peppery tones and a delicate, dry finish. • Compass Box — Vellichor — 2022 Limited Edition — $153 — 89.2 proof / 44.6% ABV — #CB-VEL-2022 Specially blended with texture and aroma in mind. Polished leather and pipe tobacco share the limelight with dried fruit and rich, unprocessed honey on the nose. The palate harmoniously blends malt sweetness with gentle smoke and spiced oak rolling around a velvety smooth, oily body. • Copper Dog — Speyside Blended Malt — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #CPRDG A blend of Speyside single malts matured mainly in ex-Bourbon (first-fill and refill), then married for an easy, fruit-first profile. Lemon peel, honeyed cereal and vanilla wafer glide over a clean, mid-weight palate with a tidy, tea-leaf finish. Created for the Craigellachie Hotel, it channels Speyside’s bar-side hospitality—approachable, characterful, and built for conversation. • Dewar’s — 21 Year ‘Double Double’ (Mizunara Cask Finish) — $57 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #DWR21DDMZ Built around Aberfeldy as the heart malt, Dewar’s four-stage Double Double regimen (malts and grains aged separately, blended by style, re-married, then finished in Mizunara oak) prioritizes harmony over heft. The Japanese oak adds sandalwood and incense to honeyed cereal and citrus on a plush glide. Under Stephanie Macleod, it’s a modern East-meets-Scotland statement. 189
• Dewar’s — 18 Year “The Vintage” — $37 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DWR18VTG With Aberfeldy at the core, mature malts and grains from American oak and sherry-seasoned casks are double-aged—returned to oak to knit texture—so vanilla cream, orange oils and cocoa move with velvet ease. A tidy, cedar-dry close keeps balance. As Dewar’s heritage age statement, it renders the house philosophy in full: integration first, weight second. • Dewar’s — “Japanese Smooth” (Mizunara Cask Finish, 8 Year) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #DWRJS8 Anchored by Aberfeldy malt, the blend sees classic maturation before a Mizunara oak finish that threads sandalwood and gentle spice through honeyed grain and citrus. The palate remains bright and silky, closing tea-leaf dry. A contemporary branch of the “Smooth” series, it widens Dewar’s easy elegance with a distinctly aromatic accent. • Douglas Laing — ‘The Gauldrons’ (Campbeltown Blended Malt) — $26 — 92.4 proof / 46.2% ABV — #DLGAUL Small-batch Campbeltown malts matured in ex-Bourbon with select sherry-seasoned casks, non-chill-filtered and married for texture. Briny sweetness, malt biscuit and peppered ash move into a firm, mineral finish. As Douglas Laing’s Campbeltown chapter, it bottles the region’s maritime grit and quiet elegance—smoke as perfume, oak as structure. • Dumbarton Rock — Blended Malt (Non-Chill-Filtered) — $24 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #DBR-MALT A marriage of multi-region single malts matured chiefly in American-oak ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned parcels for contour, then bottled non-chill-filtered to keep texture. Vanilla biscuit, apple peel and honeyed cereal meet a dry, tea-leaf finish. Framed as an everyday blended malt with craft sensibility, it favors clarity and grain-led charm over oak weight—Glasgow’s blending tradition rendered in a clean, modern line. • The Exceptional Malt — (Sutcliffe & Son) — $49 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #EXM-SUT Select single malts—ex-Bourbon matured with a shaping contingent from sherry-seasoned casks—are married and rested to knit brightness and depth; final composition bottled for a natural, mid-weight glide. Citrus oils, barley sugar and almond toffee move into a tidy, cedar-dry close. Conceived as a transparency-minded house blend, it reads like a malt flight in miniature—balanced, articulate, and quietly polished. • The Famous Grouse — (Seasoned Oak Casks) — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #TFG Key malts include Highland Park and The Glenrothes, married with fine grain and seasoned oak influence for soft toffee, toasted cereal and orange zest over a poised mid-weight palate. The finish is neat and lightly dry. A bar-room classic, Grouse favors reliability and balance—versatile without blunting character. 190
• Grand Old Parr — 12 Year — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #GOP12 Crafted with a Cragganmore-led Speyside malt core and supportive grain, long time in American-oak ex-Bourbon with sherry-seasoned elements builds creamy vanilla, baked apple and nut-spice over a calm texture. Tea-leaf dryness tidies the close. A historic export favorite, it’s gently old-school—poise and subtle sweetness with an easy welcome. • Johnnie Walker — “High Rye” — $29 — 90 proof / 45% ABV — #JWHR Composed with a 60% rye grain backbone aged in American oak, then joined by single malts central to the Black Label profile; the rye adds pepper and mint-tinged lift to JW’s citrus-malt core. Texture is lively yet polished. As a modern branch of the house, it nods to American spice while staying unmistakably Scotch. • Johnnie Walker — “Black Label” 12 Year — $23 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JWBL12 Built around Cardhu as the heartbeat malt, then layered with other regions and matured 12 years across ex-Bourbon and sherry-seasoned casks before careful marrying and rest. Silky smoke, orange oils and malt biscuit ride a poised, medium body. The definitive JW age statement, Black remains the reference for balance and reach. • Johnnie Walker — “Blue Label” — $93 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JWBLUE Selected from rare, slow-maturing casks across Diageo’s malt and grain reserves—often including parcels from long-closed “ghost” distilleries—and married for seamless depth. Dark citrus, polished oak and incense-like smoke move in velvet layers. Positioned as the house pinnacle, Blue carries the JW signature into a deeper, more reflective register. • Johnnie Walker — “Blue Label Ice Chalet” — $127 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #JWBLUEIC The Blue Label blend presented at a higher bottling strength, its rare, long-matured components yielding darker citrus, cocoa and cedar around a silkier, more resonant finish. Smoke reads aromatic rather than heavy, carrying length without bulk. As a seasonal collector’s chapter, Ice Chalet reframes Blue’s luxury signature with added presence in the glass. • Johnnie Walker Double Black — $29 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JW-DB Johnnie Walker’s peat-forward expression, the aroma maintains the brand’s trademark fruity sweetness with a mild intrusion of peat smoke. The palate is light and smoky with vanilla toffee leading to a long, sweet finish with an undertone of peated oak. • Johnnie Walker Gold Label — 18 Years — $34 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JW-GL-18 A rich, toffee-sweet nose indicates the buttery palate that complements a light, oily texture with rich caramel notes and a faint suggestion of grassy peat smoke. The finish emphasizes those sleighter notes of peated oak. 191
• Johnnie Walker Green Label (Blended Malt) — 15 Years — $27 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #JW-GL-15 Composed entirely of single malts aged at least 15 years (no grain whisky), blended for a verdant balance of malt richness, subtle smoke and polished oak; bottled at 43%. Texture stays satin, the close tea-leaf dry. As the “malt-only” entry in the JW line, Green restores a classic style to the core range. • Johnnie Walker Blue Label — New York City Limited-Edition Design (2019) — $127 — 80 proof / 40% ABV — #JW-BL-NY-2019 Blended from whiskies aged between 18 and 60 years, a light aroma of marmalade and polished leather reign over a reserved note of smoke. The palate is light and deliciously rounded with notes of caramel and salinity underscoring a distinct peat smoke profile. The finish is unctuous with delicate fruit notes shuffling past nutty dark chocolate and a faint pepperiness. • Monkey Shoulder — “Batch 27” (Blended Malt) — $23 — 86 proof / 43% ABV — #MS-B27 Built from Speyside single malts from William Grant & Sons, matured in ex-Bourbon then married in large tuns for consistency—“Batch 27” nods to the original vatting concept. Vanilla fudge, citrus peel and malt biscuit ride a supple, easy texture, finishing clean and lightly dry. As the modern bar’s go-to blended malt, it shows Speyside fruit in friendly focus—mixable, sippable, unmistakably malt. • Murray McDavid “Cult of Islay” — 32 Year — 1988 - 2021, Batch 3 — $227 — 100 proof / 50% ABV — #MMD-COI-1988-B3 A bright, fruity aroma dominates the nose with subtler notes of smoke and licorice sneaking through. The palate is intensely complex with notes of sweet cream and violets contrasting with peppery ginger and spiced oak. The finish is long with the juxtaposition continuing through tropical fruit notes contrasted with lavender and delicate peat smoke. • Murray McDavid “Malts of Islay” — 34 Year — 1989 - 2023 — Mission Gold — $227 — 82.2 proof / 41.1% ABV — #MMD-MOI-34-1989 The nose is sea air and salinity at the top with green apples and white pepper battling gentle peat smoke in the background. The palate rich and silky with salted nuts and spiced chocolate giving way to orchard fruit before a long, warm, salted caramel finish. • Naked Malt — (Macallan, Highland Park, Glenturret & Glenrothes; First-Fill Oloroso Finish) — $27 — 86 proof / 40% ABV — #NKD Composed of single malts from The Macallan, Highland Park, Glenturret and Glenrothes, matured in American and European oak then extra-matured at least six months in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts. Sherry wood lends raisined fruit and cocoa over a smooth malt core, finishing neat and tea-leaf dry. Born as “Naked Grouse” and reintroduced as Naked Malt, it carries Edrington’s house malts into a modern, sherry-led blended-malt idiom. 192
• Redacted Bros — SRV5 (8 Year, Peated) — $25 — 97 proof / 48.5% ABV — #RB-SRV5-8 An 8-year blended malt from undisclosed distilleries, matured primarily in refill ex-Bourbon with select seasoned casks to shape the edges; bottled at a confident natural strength for drive. Aromatic kiln-smoke threads lemon wafer, briny sweetness and malt toffee, the finish firm and tea-leaf dry. As a small-batch indie vatting, SRV5 frames youthful peat as precision rather than punch—energetic, saline, and neatly structured. • Sheep Dip — 1999 “Amoroso Oloroso” — 12 Years — $68 — 83.6 proof / 41.8% ABV — #SD-1999-AMO This spirit spends 3 years in ex-Bourbon hogsheads in Scotland before being transferred to Oloroso butts at Sánchez Romate in Jerez, Spain for 9 years. Bottled in March 2012, this single-malt showcases the effect of extensive Sherry influence with jammy red fruits, vanilla and milk-chocolate wrapping around peat notes of smoke and citrus peel. This rule bending example of maturation stands out as a curious, flavorful outlier in whisky. • Speymhor — 38 Year Blended Malt — $153 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #SPM-38-1978 This uniquely uber-aged blend offers a unique rancio quality on the nose balancing polished leather with dried fruits and spiced almond butter. The palate conveys roasted malt and candied fruit with a meandering, woody finish. • Wemyss Malts — ‘Kiln Embers’ (Limited Edition, Non-Chill-Filtered, Blended Malt) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV — #WMKE A peated blended malt built with double the smoky Islay component compared to Wemyss’s Peat Chimney and bottled non-chill-filtered at natural texture; the release totaled 12,000 bottles. Sweet, ember-like smoke folds into salted citrus and oat-malt biscuit with a dry, heathery close. Issued as a one-off small batch, it spotlights Wemyss’s flavour-led blending philosophy through a distinctly peat-forward lens. United States of America • 1792 — ‘Small Batch’ (Ridgemont Reserve) — $23 — 93.7 proof / 46.85 ABV Fruit driven with a profile that leans into baked bread and confection, you will find immediate aromas of red and black cherry, maple syrup, nutmeg, and pastry dough. Some fig and peppercorn on the palate emphasizes the butterscotch earned from American oak. • 1792 Small Batch Ridgemont Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Brandy Library barrel pick Spring 2011) — $35 — 93.7 proof / 46.85 ABV 193
• 1792 8 year Small Batch Ridgemont Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — $25 — 93.7 proof / 46.85 ABV • 1792 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond — $27— 100 proof / 50% ABV • 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — $35 — 125 proof / 62.5% ABV • 1792 High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — $35 — 94.3 proof / 47.15% ABV • 2XO ‘Two Times Oak’— ‘The Tribute Blend’ — $35 — 92 proof / 46% ABV For this bottling, low-rye and high-rye straight Bourbons are blended with a high-rye straight Bourbon re-barreled into a #3 char new American oak barrel and a high-rye straight Bourbon aged in a #4 char new American oak barrel. Baking spice, vanilla, and on-the-way caramel lead to orange zest, a touch of stone fruit, and clove on the long, well balanced finish. • 2XO ‘Two Times Oak’— ‘American Oak’ — $23 — 92 proof / 46% ABV A chain of charred American white oak is placed inside of the 2XO Bourbon barrels to induce a “secondary” maturation with increased oak contact. The nose begins the experience with vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, and mild notes of almond and marshmallow sweetness. The palate leans into baking spice and almond with a smooth tannic indication flowing into a moderate finish. • A. Smith Bowman — ‘Bowman Brothers’ (Small Batch, Virginia Straight Bourbon) — $23 — 90 proof / 45% ABV “High Wine,” the second run distillate yielding a 130-160 proof spirit, is purchased from Buffalo Trace and re-distilled at the Bowman Distillery before maturation. Baked apple, vanilla, apricot, and very moderate baking spice aromas lead to a silky, sweet palate with high toned notes of cherry, canned peach, and toffee. • Angel’s Envy — Caribbean Rum Casks Finished Rye — $29 — 100 proof / 50% ABV After initial maturation for 6-7 years in new American oak, this rye is finished for up to 18 months in Caribbean Rum casks. The finishing places brown sugar and citrus notes up front as the influence of American Oak follows. Vanilla and butterscotch on the back of the nose lead to a fruity palate with the rye spice playing a supporting role. • Angel’s Envy — ‘Port Wine Barrel Finish’ (Kentucky Straight Bourbon) — $23 — 86.6 proof / 43.3% ABV Traditional aging for up to 6 years is followed by 3-6 months of finishing in French Oak ex-Ruby Port casks. A spectrum of raisined fruit and roasted nuts is preceded by vanilla and 194
maple on a sweet nose. The palate brings dates, cranberries, and blackberries over a sweet maple texture before finishing long and smooth. • Angel’s Envy — ‘Triple Oak’ (Hungarian, Chinquapin & French Oak Finish) — $29 — 92 proof / 46% ABV A selection of 4-9 year old Bourbon is finished in Hungarian, Chinquapin and French oak barrels. The American Oak pokes through with vanilla a prominent aroma leading into bakery kitchen, salted caramel, cherry, and nutmeg behind it. A soft but slightly textured palate offers molasses, cardamom, sweet red fruits, and coffee before a long sweet finish. • Angel’s Envy — 2024 Cask Strength ‘Port Wine Barrel Finish’ — $87 — 118.8 proof / 59.4% ABV This special release of the ‘Port Wine Finish’ bottling offers louder, clearer, and deeper aromas than its diluted counterpart. The aroma shows prominent red cherry and dark fruits with the sweeter vanilla, caramel, and maple notes leading into a warming, fruity palate. Baking spices emerge on the mid-palate and lead to a long, deep finish. • Angel’s Envy — Cellar Collection Vol. 5 (French Oak Añejo Tequila Cask Finish) — $85 — 114.2 proof / 51.1% ABV A complex and unique bottling that begins with a 7 year old Rye aged in new American Oak and finished in a French oak, ex-Añejo Tequila cask from Patron before blending with an 11 year old Rye for completion. White pepper and floral notes from the rye are uniquely emphasized by the agave contacted barrel. Citrus and capsaicin alongside vegetal notes join with vanilla and brown sugar on the palate with touches of strawberry and tangerine. Angel’s Envy Private Selection New York Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels — $125 — 110 proof / 55% ABV • Augusta — ‘Old Route 8’ (Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Single Barrel) — $41 — 120.2 proof / 60.1% ABV This classically built and structured Bourbon begins with toasted oak, brown sugar, vanilla, and sweet baking spices. A dry-adjacent palate opens into cherries and black tea framing milk chocolate, caramel, and hints of tangerine and ruby red grapefruit zest. A rye-influenced leather, cracked pepper, and nasturtium quality pushes the long, warming finish as butterscotch concludes the taste. • Augusta — ‘Buckner’s’ 10 Year (Single Barrel) — $56 — 117.2 proof / 58.6% ABV Caramel first, then dark cherries and peppery spice arrive on the nose at first smell. The richer oak notes begin developing before entering a full bodied palate of chocolate, toffee, spring pollen, and returning black cherries. The rye begins to develop on the mid palate and the finish as hints of pepper develop into leather and spiced cream before a return to sweeter fruit notes. • Augusta — ‘Buckner’s’ 15 Year (Single Barrel) — $109 — 114.1 proof / 57.05% ABV 195