Whisky Brands

Aberfeldy 28 Year Old is a superb example of long-aged Highland whisky. Fruity with notes of peach, orange, lemon, vanilla and butterscotch.

A well aged 22 year old edition of whisky from Knockdhu (aka anCnoc), bottled at 46% with no colouring or chill filtration. It's a mix of American ex-bourbon casks and some Spanish ex-oloroso butts, adding a bit of leathery smokiness to anCnoc's traditionally silky style.

A rare independent bottling of Ardmore, the peated whisky produced close to the Speyside border. This was distilled in May 2000 and bottling in June 2016 as part of Gordon & Company's Pearls of Scotland series.

A single malt matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts sourced from Jerez for a minimum of 12 years. It is a creamy, rich and sweet release expect spice, fruit and chocolate notes, an IWSC Trophy winner back in 2011.

Bowmore 9 Year Old Sherry Cask is the latest addition to the Islay favourite's core range. This entry-level whisky has spent all of its life maturing in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, resulting in Bowmore's distinctive smokiness.

Finished in Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes casks, this has all the expected Bruichladdich characteristics - seaspray, brine, floral notes - with a deliciously smooth extra veneer of sweetness. A deservedly popular 'Laddie.

A very handsome distillery-bottled Glen Elgin 12 year old from the 1970s.

Part of a pair of 2016 releases from Glenglassaugh aged in small, octave casks. The unpeated bottling has sweet and citrus-fruit notes and a toasty finish.

Released in 2016 as part of a pair of whiskies fully matured in small, octave casks. This is the peated expression and is smoky and subtly sweet with notes of plums and black pepper.

This is the 1999 vintage from the Distillers Edition series from Diageo. Finished in casks which previously held amontillado sherry, the medium-dry nuttiness complements the lighter style of this Lowland whisky.

Relaunched in 2011, Glenmorangie's Sauternes-finished Nectar d'Or is now proudly boasting a prominent age statement that wasn't there before, proclaiming it to be 12 years old. Give it a couple of years and it'll be staying out after supper and growing a weedy moustache on its top lip.

The 2013 release in Glenmorangie's annual Private Edition series of small batch wood experiments, Ealanta differs from its predecessors as it has been full-term matured (rather than finished) in its designer casks, which in this instance are made from heavily toasted new white oak.

Higher in strength than the standard 10 Year Old, this heavily peated edition is part of the Legends of Scotia series and honours Campbeltown's The Picture House.

Hazelburn 12 year Old is triple distilled malt from Springbank, first released in August 2009, with a limited release of just 3,900 bottles.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Pungent and aromatic with notes of dried fruits, plenty of sherry integration with notes of citrus, toffee and nuts.
• Palate: Spicy on the palate, nutty and cocoa rich, oak, coffee, gentle peat.
• Finish: Coffee, spices, citrus, chocolate, long finish.

A late 2012 release of Highland Park's excellent 25 year old whisky. A mix of ex-sherry and bourbon cask matured whisky to balance honey with rich fruit, as well as a lick of the distilleries trademark Orcadian peatiness.

Highland Park Capella was released in 2002 as a commemorative bottling to mark the 60th Anniversary of Orkney's famous Italian Chapel. The Chapel was built during 1942 and 1945 at Camp 60, a WW2 prisoner of war camp. It features a vatting of exquisite, old and very rare whiskies. Only 5,400 bottles were ever produced in 2002, and exclusively sold at the distillery itself.

Complete with original presentation box, this rarely seen bottle is much sought after by collectors. 

A very special bottle of Arran. This was bottled exclusively for those who invested in the Arran distillery in 2001.

A super release from Jameson, with a high proportion of Irish pot still whiskey as well as small batch grain. The result is an increased body and level of richness giving it a much richer flavour than regular Jameson. 

Kingsbarns New Make Spirit 

While we wait for the Kingsbarns Distillery's whisky to mature, take a change to taste their new make spirit when it goes into cask. Fruity floral characters. Add water to taste.

Longrow 18 Year Old is a double distilled, heavily peated single malt from Springbank Distillery.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Apple peels, and smoke. Earthy peat, damp leaves, notes of truffle, woodshed, porridge oats and soot.
• Palate: Peaty with notes of spicy. Very oily, with hints of orange zest, pepper. Very "big". Kippers, smoked meats and honey.
• Finish: Spicy and oily, with notes of dark, earthy peaty.

A marriage of 100% aged Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Dalaruan Distillery. Dalaruan was an integral part of the rise of Campbeltown into a ‘Whisky Capital.’ Dalaruan produced a triple-distilled Campbeltown Malt whisky but was eventually sold for closure at auction in 1925 during the whisky industry collapse.

Tasting note: A nose of spice, fruits and maritime. The palate delivers sweet ripe fruits and smoke. On the finish you get smoke leading to sea salt.

UK Customers Only

A marriage of 100% aged Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Gerston One Distillery. The story of Gerston whisky is a tale of two distilleries, known as Gerston One and Gerston Two. Gerston One was a family-owned farm- house scale distillery, with a typically small output, making high quality spirit that was in demand both at home and further afield. Gerston Two had four tall stills that were centrally fired by a steam boiler placed at one end of the still house. It had external worms for cooling vapour and the new spirit passed to the receivers again by gravitation.

Notes: Ripe Fruit, Toffee, Smoke & Spice

UK Customers Only

A marriage of 100% extra mature Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Jericho Distillery. Jericho was renamed Benachie after the nearby mountain, although the whisky was still sold as Jericho for a number of years.

UK Customers Only

A marriage of 100% extra mature Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Gerston One Distillery. Presented in a deluxe gift canister

• Silver Medal WSWA, Las Vegas.
• Silver Medal ISW Germany
• 93 Rating Whisky Cask

UK Customers Only

A Blend of 100% Very Rare Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Auchnagie Distillery.

Auchnagie was one of several small farm distilleries in the Ballinluig area of Perthshire. All have been destroyed except Edradour and Glenturret which continue to flourish to this day. Presented in a wooden display case with a booklet telling the stories of the legendary Auchnagie Distillery.

UK Customers Only

A Blend of 100% Very Rare Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, a modern interpretation of the legendary Gerston Distillery. The story of Gerston whisky is a tale of two distilleries. Presented in a wooden display case with a booklet telling the stories of the legendary Gerston Distillery. Strictly limited availability.

UK Customers Only

Mackmyra's core expression is a light Swedish whisky matured primarily in first fill bourbon barrels but also includes whisky aged in Sherry and Swedish oak casks. The award winning whisky is light, well-balanced and fruity dram with a touch of spicy juniper smoke.

The 1999 vintage entry for Oban in Diageo's Distillers Edition range, finished in Montilla fortified wine casks for more depth and a kick of spice.

A delicious Highland dram from Old Pulteney, this 17yo is comprised of 90% refill bourbon casks with the remainder being from oloroso casks. Lovely sweet aromas of butterscotch, honey and chocolate, with some faint salt and oak spice on the palate.ice and honey.

Old Pulteney is the most northerly mainland distillery in Scotland and known for their love of the sea - some of which rolls over into their whisky. The 21 year old is a mix of fino sherry and refill bourbon cask matured whisky and sits at the top of their regular range.

Flatnöse blended scotch whisky is full-flavoured blend, with hints of pepper and smoke, as there is Islay whisky in the blend. The Islay Boys wouldn't have it any other way!

Bottled at a higher strength, it is unchill-filtered, like much more expensive whiskies, for more flavour and a longer lasting finish.

This cask strength Tobermory single malt whisky from 1972 with oloroso sherry finish, was bottled 2005. Number Bottled 897 with original packaging.

Hankey Bannister Original is a light, sweet and subtle blend with notes of honey and spice.

NV Whisky is a blend of fine Speyside Malt and Grain whiskies, aged in oak casks, using traditional distilling methods.

A half bottle of Glenmorangie's ever popular 10 year old - a perfect introduction to the world of Single Malt Whisky.

A half-bottle of Bowmore's 12-year-old whisky, a great place to start year oldur journey through the smoky mystery of Islay's single malt whiskies. The current 12 year old bottling is a welcome return to the classic Bowmores of the 1960s and '70s, with the emphasis on tropical fruit and smoke. A deserved runner-up in our Whisky of the Year 2014-15 blind tasting.

Hankey Bannister Heritage Blend was inspired by the find of a 1920s' bottle in perfect condition. Master Blender Stuart Harvey has recreated the style for the modern day – it's sweeter and peatier than their usual blend.

Johnnie Walker Black Label's iconic square bottle makes it one of the world's most recognisable Scotch whiskies - and it's also one of whisky critic Jim Murray's favourite blends: 'If there is a silkier delivery on the market today, I have not seen it: this is sublime stuff...one of the world's most masterful whiskies back in all its complex glory'

Hankey Bannister's 12 Year Old is aged exclusive in bourbon casks. The result is a medium-bodied whisky with notes of sweet vanilla and a hint of smoke.

Glen Moray's Classic range of bottlings always represent great value. This gift set contains two glasses and a bottle of the expression which is finished in port casks, adding sweetness and extra richness.

A half bottle of Bowmore's sherry finished 15 year old. It's finished for three years in oloroso sherry casks for rich, chocolatey and spicy flavour along with Bowmore's trademark maritime peatiness.

Laphroaig Select is aged in a combination of Oloroso sherry butts, American white oak (we suspect some of this is virgin oak), hogsheads seasoned with Pedro Ximenez, quarter casks and first fill bourbon casks. This results in a restrained and toned down version of this Islay classic.

Glendalough Double Barrel is a single grain Irish whiskey, aged in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch and honey from the American oak and dried fruit from the Spanish.

An eight-year-old Ardmore from Douglas Laing's Provenance range. One of the few distilleries in the Highlands that produces peated whisky, this was distilled in July 2008 and bottled in November 2016. Sweet and mouthcoating with notes of smoke, smoked meat and sugar syrup.

A reinvigorated release from Tullibardine, upping the quality of presentation as well as their whisky. This bourbon barrel matured dram is packed with vanilla and spice.

A 2015 addition to Glendronach's core range, this 8-year-old is named The Hielan. Aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, this is rich with notes of nuts, butterscotch and spice.

Bowmore's Small Batch is matured in first and second fill ex bourbon casks, resulting in a sweet, spicy and smoky whisky. This is a lighter example of Bowmore and an excellent starting point for Islay whiskies.

Since the Teelings parted company with Cooley, the company they started, we've been waiting for their return and here it is – Teeling Whiskey. Finished in rum casks and bottled at 46% without chill-filtration, it's an excellent statement of intent. The blend is said to contain a high proportion of first-fill bourbon cask whiskey, and a higher-than-normal ratio of malt to grain.

Benromach Peat Smoke distilled in 2007 is part of the small number of batches of peated whisky produced at the Speyside distillery. With a level of 62ppm, this is seriously smoky with notes of liquorice, orange (without water) or grapefruit (with water).

This limited-edition release of The One comes from the team at the Lakes Distillery. A blend of whiskies from around the British Isles, this was finished in oloroso sherry hogsheads at the fledgling Cumbrian distillery and released in 2015.

The new presentation of an old Bowmore favourite, the no-age-statement Legend.

The ongoing unpeated release from The English Whisky Co, Original is aged in bourbon casks, creating a whisky with notes of vanilla ice cream, nuts and a hint of sea spray.

This is The English Whisky Co's ongoing smoky release. Peated to 45ppm, this has notes of vanilla, aniseed, ginger and of course, smoke. A great introduction of peated whisky.

This is a rare example of peated Glendronach. Subtly smoky, this has been aged using sherry casks, resulting in a floral, spicy and lightly smoky Highlander.

Blended from a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks, the light colour of this malt belies the richness of its character.

The nose has a wide range of aromas, from citrus fruits to pears and a hint of peat, while the palate shows touches of smoke, vanilla essence, nutmeg, cinnamon and the salty tang characteristic of the distillery.

The 10 year old from the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown, a mixture of both bourbon and sherry matured whisky.

A dense, heavily-sherried dram from a distillery now producing again after a six-year layoff. A malt best suited to after-dinner sipping.

Released in 2013, Teeling's Single Grain Whiskey has been matured full term in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels, resulting in a spicy and fruity whiskey.

The 7 Year Old from Wicklow's Glendalough distillery is silky smooth with sweet butterscotch, cinnamon, pepper and dark chocolate.

This elegant gift pack contains a bottle of Teeling's rum-cask-finished Small Batch blended Whiskey and a pair of tumblers. The blend is said to contain a high proportion of first-fill bourbon cask whiskey, and a higher-than-normal ratio of malt to grain.

Glenmorangie Lasanta now boasts an age statement of 12 years old. Lasanta is a finished in both oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and is said to mean 'warmth and passion' in Gaelic.

Glenmorangie's Quinta Ruban was upgraded in late 2010, and is now sporting a 12 year old age statement where previously there was none.

This gift pack contains a bottle Benromach's highly regarded entry-level 10-year-old whisky, a note book and a pencil, so you can 'enjoy a dram and share your thoughts'. A creamy and toasty whisky with light smoky notes.

Old Deer is the unpeated release from Switzerland's Langatun distillery. This triple-distilled whisky has been aged in a combination of Chardonnay and sherry casks, leading to a malty style of whisky.

The cask-strength release of Old Bear, a peated whisky from Langatun distillery in Switzerland. Triple-distilled and aged in ex-Chateauneuf-du-Pape casks, this is a big and bold peated whisky with notes of peat, oak spice and dark fruit.

A special bottling of Edradour 12 year old which songwriter Dougie Maclean has selected. This single Oloroso cask from 1997 was part of the Homecoming celebrations and named it after his most famous song.

A gift pack containg a bottle of Bruichladdich's The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley and a pair of glasses. It is made entirely from Scottish-grown barley, trickle distilled and then matured in American oak. The distillery class it as the signature bottling. This has an enticing mix of creaminess and salinity.

Glenmorangie's Nectar d'Or is finished in Sauternes casks for 12 years. This is sweet and spicy with notes of ginger, nutmeg lemon meringue and honeycomb.

This 2004 vintage Caol Ila has been selected by The Whisky Exchange from stocks owned by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail and bottled as part of the Reserve Series. Aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel, this is rich, fruity and smoky.

Amrut Fusion gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish - with the latter being peated for good measure. Fusion has been picking up awards ever since it first appeared in 2009, and in 2012 was named the best whisky for a Rob Roy in the Ultimate Cocktail Challenge in New York.

A young peated Highlander from the excellent Ardmore distillery, this has been finished in quarter casks to speed up maturation. Gold Medal in its category at the World Whisky Awards.

Glenfiddich's Malt Master Brian Kinsman was the first to double-mature a Glenfiddich whisky in two different casks (although shorter finishing periods in more than one kind of casks has of course been done several times before). This whisky has been matured for some time in traditional oak casks before finishing its maturation in sherry casks.

The new 46% Amruts are a very different proposition to the pleasant but unexciting original release. At the higher strength this 24ppm peated effort fairly fizzes along the tastebuds. This is excellent - hugely improved stuff from a distillery coming along in leaps and bounds.

A 1999 vintage Caol Ila bottled by The Whisky Trail in 2011. Briny smoke, like a bonfire on the beach, medium-bodied with a slightly spicy finish - a great session whisky.

The fourth release in Bowmore's Tempest series, taking a small batch of first-fill bourbon casks and marrying them before bottling at cask strength. A classic example of relatively young and fully flavoured Bowmore.

Bowmore Gold Reef was released for the travel retail market in 2014. A No Age Statement whisky that was matured predominantly in first fill ex-bourbon casks, this is a coastal whisky with tropical fruit flavours.

The cask-strength edition of Old Deer – the unpeated release from Switzerland's Langatun distillery. The high ABV has been tempered by the use of triple distillation. Matured in a combination of Chardonnay and sherry casks, this is a malty style of whisky.

Continuing the run of impressive cask strength bottlings, this edition from Amrut clocks in at a pokey 61.8% and promises their usual balance of spice and fruit.

The first in a new series from Teeling celebbrating the spirits of the Liberties area of Dublin where its distillery is based. This celebrates William Brabazon, 3rd Earl of Meath and has been aged entirely in sherry casks, with 5% from 2001, 5% from 2002, and 30% each from 2005, 2007 and 2008. Rich and sherried with notes of toffee, red berries, liquorice, clove and toasted marshmallow.

The third batch of Deanston 18 Year Old – finished in first-fill bourbon barrels. This is typical of the Highland distillery's signature profile, sweet with hints of spice.

Initially released for travel retail, this release from Bruichladdich is made entirely with organic Scottish-grown barley. Rich in texture with an underlying sweetness and notes of honey, almond and pear.

The Vault Editions from Bowmore is a four-part series of whiskies that highlight one characteristic of the distillery's style. The first release is named Atlantic Sea Salt and focuses on Bowmore's maritime style, while displaying its classic smoky and fruity nature.

A long-awaited whisky from Bruichladdich - a 10 year old comprising solely of unpeated spirit produced since Murray McDavid took over the distillery at the turn of the century. A landmark in their production and the beginning of a new age for the distillery. Notes of gingerbread, honey and sultanas.

A unique whisky from Glenmorangie – everything about The Taghta was designed by consumers: the finishing cask, the name and the label design. Taghta (pronounced tuh-tah) is Scots Gaelic for 'chosen' and the whisky was finished in ex-Manzanilla casks.

From Amrut distillery, founded in 1948, just one year after Indian independence, this is a stormingly hot and spicy whisky, peated and bottled at a punchy cask strength of 62.8%.

An Cuan Mor (Gaelic for 'big ocean') is a travel retail bottling of Laphroaig. Aged in first-fill American white oak bourbon barrels, it is finished in European oak. Rich and spicy with a maritime character.

The 2001 vintage of Caol Ila's entry in Diageo's Distillers Edition range, taking their regular smoky malt and finishing it in sweet Moscatel-wine casks for an extra depth of sweetness.

More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into ex-bourbon casks. It combines the traditional vanilla and coconut flavours with the rich fruit you'd expect from a port cask for an interesting mix.

A new concept from Amrut. The spirit for Intermediate Sherry Matured starts life in a mix of ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks. It is then transferred to sherry casks for a period before going back into bourbon casks to complete its maturation. There's been a huge buzz about this, and we've only got a small allocation,

The second release of 1990 vintage Balblair. Long known to blenders as a category 'A' malt, Balblair is a terrific malt whisky worthy of the renewed attention its 2007 makeover and thrilling vintage releases have bestowed.

Just like the 15 year old, Glendronach Allardice 18 year old (named after the distillery's founder) has been 100% matured in oloroso sherry casks. We're delighted to welcome Glendronach back from the wilderness – Billy Walker and his team are doing outstanding work here.

The middle entry in Bruichladdich's revitalised line-up, sitting between the 10 and 22 to provide a bourbon-cask-focused slice of unpeated Islay whisky.

Volume III in Teeling's The Revival series is a 14-year-old whiskey. Matured initially in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for the final year in Pineau-des-Charentes casks, this has notes of dried fruit, toffee, almonds and chocolate.

The sixth release of Tempest – Bowmore’s cask-strength 10-year-old. Aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, the emphasis is on tropical-fruit character. A peaty, smoky and fruity dram with great balance.

One of the best ongoing bottlings from this great distillery. This is more lightly peated, allowing its fresh, coastal maritime character to shine through. This is a real gem.

2013's unpeated release of Caol Ila is named for distillery manager Billy Stitchell, who is retiring after almost 40 years at the distillery. This year it's been bottled without an age statement and despite being 'unpeated' there's a definite smoky tang to the whisky, although less so than in previous years.

A delicious no-age-statement dram from Glenmorangie, some of the spirit in Signet has been made using a unique heavily roasted chocolate malt that really beefs up the rich flavours. The packaging is impressive, too.

Originally a travel retail exclusive, Glenfiddich have now released Age of Discovery on the general market. Their first 19 year old whisky, finished in Madeira casks in honour of the Portugese explorers of the 15th century.

A deliciously smooth, mellow long-aged Auchentoshan. This 21 year old Lowland single malt is a sophisticated and well-balanced dram to savour slowly after a good meal.

A 2011 release to fill a gap in the rapidly expanding Glendronach range and named for the Parliament of rooks that live in the trees near the distillery. A tasty combination of sherry matured whiskies, both Oloroso and PX, perfect for sherry-heads.

The third of the first three whiskies to appear in Bruichladdich's Cuvee range - Eroica, subtitled 'Oh mensch! Gieb acht! Was spricht die tiefe mitternacht?', the opening line from a song in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It's an American oak matured whisky finished in Limousin oak that once held brandy.

An old bottling of Glen Elgin 12 year old. Most of the distillery's production is used for blending as it's rarely seen as a single malt. We estimate this bottle dates from the 1980s.

The second release of Amrut's Double Cask is a blend of two whiskies: one aged in a bourbon cask from June 2009 and one PX sherry cask from May 2010. This shows excellent balance between sweet vanilla and coconut flavours from American oak and rich fruit from the European wood.

The 2017 release for Ardbeg Day is Kelpie. A combination whiskies aged in virgin Black-Sea oak casks and bourbon barrels, this is rich and intense with notes of pepper, treacle toffee, Turkish coffee, dark chocolate and smoky bacon.

An old bottling of Bowmore 12 year old. This looks to have been bottled sometime in the 1990s and has a wonderful screen printed label.

A post 1974 bottling (as they didn't use their own name before then) of single malt whisky from Deanston. This one has the added interest of the back label calling the whisky Deanston Mill.

A wonderful old 1970s official bottling of Tomatin 10 year old, with an understatedly picturesque black and gold label.

The first ever release of Indian single malt rye. Made with European rye and aged for five years in American oak, this is fruity and floral with notes of sweet spice. A unique whisky that's much more elegant than is usual for Amrut.

An 8 year old whisky bottled in 1995 to celebrate Morrison-Bowmore winning the first ever IWSC Best Distiller award. It's a vatting of whiskies from Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch.

An old Bowmore gift set containing a bottle of their 10 year old and a Bowmore branded tumbler. We estimate this pack dates from the 1980s.

A special no-age-statement bottling of Glen Elgin for the Japanese market, proudly displaying its status as one of the key ingredients of the iconic White Horse blend.

The fifth of Glenmorangie's yearly Private Edition special releases - Companta, Scots Gaelic for friendship. It's a marriage of whiskies finished in Clos de Tart Grand Cru wine casks and sweet fortified wine casks from Côtes du Rhône. Dr Bill Lumsden likes to experiment each year and we suspect this will be excellent.

The 12th release of 12 year old Lagavulin from Diageo's Special Releases range. A perennial favourite, balancing price against a punchy cask strength edition of whisky from one of Islay's most mysterious distilleries.

The 13th release of Lagavulin 12 year old from Diageo's Special Releases range. A longstanding favourite, this was the biggest and most fully flavoured of the 2013 lineup, and could well be the best 12yo yet.

A combination of classic and new Bruichladdich, at release the oldest in the distillery's revitalised range of unpeated Islay whiskies.

A very special, rare, bottling of Glenmorangie 10 Year Old. This was released top commemorate the opening of the Dornoch Firth Bridge by The Queen Mother on Tuesday 27 August 1991.

Lagavulin 12 year old is always one of the most anticipated bottlings in Diageo's Special Releases. As before, this is a full strength bottling from American oak casks.

The 2009 release of cask-strength Lagavulin 12 year old is a simply superb bottling. One of the highlights of this year's Special Releases, this will delight fans of the distillery.

Distilled in 1991, this 24-year-old whiskey from Teeling was aged initially in bourbon barrels before being finished in Sauternes casks. Made with a small amount of peated malt, this is a subtly sweet whiskey with notes of ripe fruit and a hint of smoke.

Released to celebrate the distillery's centenary, this 17 year old Benromach spent its final two years in sherry casks dating from 1886, 1895 and 1901 before bottling in 1998 by Gordon & Macphail, who had recently taken over and re-invigorated the distillery after a fifteen year distilling hiatus.

As reliably excellent as ever, the 2011 Special Releases Lagavulin 12 year old was distilled in 1999 and vatted from refill American oak casks. As year oldu'd expect, this is a very upfront, sooty-sweet Lagavulin in the classic style.

Zesty oak and warm peat smoke top notes, with sweet undertones, reminiscent of fresh nutmeg and toasted almonds. Faintly salty. Laphroaig 15 year old is a smoother and more elegant elder sibling to the robust 10 year-old.

Bruichladdich Valinch 2013 Lions Tour is commemorative bottling to mark the British Lions tour of Australia in 2013. A great sporting achievement presented by an incredible distillery. Aged for 23 years and enhanced in Pomerol casks. Only 400 bottles ever released and sold exclusively on Islay, this is a true collectible.  

One of the most anticipated releases of 2014 – the second edition of Bowmore Devil's Casks. A fully sherry matured whisky from the capital of Islay, this is slightly sweeter than the first batch, but just as delicious.

This limited-edition ceramic decanter of 10-year-old Bowmore was released for the Garden Festival in Gateshead which took place between 18 May and 21 October 1990.

Long-aged Caol Ila can be excellent, and this is one of the best we've tried. With age, the smokiness of the whisky softens, revealing layers of fruit, gentle spice and elegance. A cracking dram, selected by and exclusively bottled for The Whisky Exchange. This was awarded 88 points by Serge Valentin of whiskyfun.com

An early example of double-matured whisky, this was predominantly aged initially in bourbon casks before being finished in sherry casks. We don’t know the exact length of the finishing period, but the whisky is approximately 12 years old.

One of Bruichladdich's single cask Valinch whiskies. This particular edition was released for the Islay Festival in 2006 and was matured in a Guigal Hermitage Syrah wine cask.

Only 430 ever produced and we have bottle number 15.

Bruichladdich Laddie Crew 25 Year Old is a single cask celebrating David Hope.
Limited to 375 bottles, finished in Pessac Leognan, and only ever sold exclusively on Islay at Bruichladdich Distillery. 

Cask no. - 062

**One bottle available - Number 60**

The 4th edition in Bruichladdich's DNA series, digging into the heart and soul of the distillery's character. This time it's from 1985 and has been aged for 27 years before cask selection and bottling.

The third edition in Bruichladdich's DNA series, examining the component parts that make the distillery's whiskies tick. This one marries together some of their best casks of the 1980s - their final batch of sherry butts. Bottled at cask strength and limited to only 1665 bottles, this is one for all fans and collectors of Bruichladdich.

A superpremium Glen Elgin 1998 bottled at full cask strength, this is part of Diageo's Managers' Choice series of single casks bottled in 2009.

A rare independent release of Lagavulin, bottled in 2004 for The Syndicate, which seems from the back label to be a group of five guys, in Bruichladdich's bottling hall.

An old bottling of 26 year old Bruichladdich released by then owners Whyte & Mackay as part of their Stillman's Dram series of bottlings.

An old bottling of 26 year old Bruichladdich released by then owners Whyte & Mackay as part of their Stillman's Dram series of bottlings.

A bottling of whisky from Deanston under the name Deanston Mill. We know this dates from the latter half of the 1970s as the whisky wasn't bottled under the distillery's name before 1974.

A limited release from Benromach distillery, this 35-year-old whisky was distilled in the early 1980s and aged in first-fill sherry casks. Released in two tranches during 2016, this has notes of honey, chocolate, menthol and clove.

This is the 2010 version of Ardbeg Supernova, and no doubt will be hoping to follow on from the success of last year's edition, which scooped Scotch Whisky of the Year from Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010.

An old bottling of 21 year old Bruichladdich. From the style of packaging we estimate this dates from the late 1980s or early 1990s.

An old bottling of 1976 vintage Tomatin from independent bottler Cadenhead's Distilled in October, it was aged for 13 years before being bottled in September 1990 at 60.5%.

A much anticipated release from Bowmore, The Devil's Casks is a small batch 2013 release of 10 year old whisky aged entirely in first fill sherry casks. The delicious combination of peated whisky and sherry wood maturation strikes again.

A special bottling of Bruichladdich to celebrate the distillery's centenary in 1981. Bottled at 15 years old, this is presented in a beautifully shaped decanter and accompanying damaged box.

The 2013 bottling of Laphroaig's highly lauded 25 year old. Matured in a combination of Oloroso sherry casks and bourbon barrels, both of which were first-filled. After a quarter of a century of ageing, it as bottled at cask strength.

The second in Glenmorangie's series of Private Editions (the first being the hugely popular Sonnalta), Finealta is lightly peated barley that has been matured partly in ex-sherry casks and partly in plain new American oak casks. The name means 'Elegance' in Gaelic.

A 21 year old whisky bottled by Glenmorangie in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the distillery, presented in a white ceramic bottle.

This whisky was filled on the 17th May 1993 for Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to conquer Mt. Everest. 10 years later, it was bottled to celebrate both the 10th anniversary of this acheivement and the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Everest.

The travel exclusive Laphroaig 20 year old Double Cask, matured for 18 years in bourbon hogsheads and finished for 2 years in Laphroaig's bespoke quarter casks.

A stunning 1983 vintage Caol Ila released at 30 years of age as part of Diageo's 2014 Special Releases. Aged in a combination of refill American and refill European oak, this is reminiscent of a cross between Brora and Port Ellen, combining the waxiness of the former with the chamois leather note of the latter.

A mid-1970s distillery bottling of 12 year old Glendronach distilled in 1963. Bottled at 43% for the Italian market.

This whisky has been matured for at least 12 years in American Oak Casks then finished in port pipes for a few years longer. This is the first release of the Port Wood which was at the higher strength of 46.5%, much bigger, bolder and a damn good whisky.

A very special Bruichladdich Valinch 1970, bottled at full strength from a bourbon cask to celebrate the first distillation of the re-opening of the distillery in May 2001.

This Bruichladdich Valinch is a single cask release of 1970 vintage whisky. Bottled to celebrate the first distillation of the re-opened Bruichladdich Distillery in May 2001. Bottled at cask strength and limited to just 250 bottles.

A 1970 vintage Bruichladdich as part of the Valinch label. This is the name given to the 'fill your own bottles' obtained on the distillery tour and rarely come on to the market. This one comes from cask 5085 and was bottled not long after the turn of the millennium.

A very limited edition Glenmorangie, matured for 14 years in a cask that previous held Cognac.

A characterful old bottle of Tomatin 10 year old bottled in the 1960s.

A litre bottle of Ardbeg 17 Year Old. A tad less peaty than early bottlings, this is still a great whisky, but is sadly becoming very thin on the ground as demand increases and supply runs low - it's now a good few years since owners Glenmorangie discontinued it. The first bottling of this sparked the revival of Ardbeg's fortunes after the takeover by Glenmorangie.

This 1974-vintage Ardbeg was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in 1994 as part of the Spirit of Scotland series to commemorate 500 years of Scotch whisky.

A 1991 vintage Glenmorangie produced as part of one of their successful experiments with interesting wood. This was matured in new oak from Missouri in the USA and has a bourbony tang in addition to the regular Glenmorangie character.

This is a rarely-seen bottling of Glenmorangie. Distilled in 1988 it was aged full term in a Madeira cask for 15 years, producing 856 bottles in 2003.

The Mitchell family has called Campbeltown home since the 1660s, and this 1978 Springbank is filled with the uisge beatha that’s kept the firm in business since 1828.

This 19-year-old Springbank was distilled in June 1972 and bottled in January 1992. A sought-after bottling with the popular white label.

The 2013 release of Hankey Bannister 40 year old, the 2007 bottling of which won Best Blended Whisky in the World at the World Whisky Awards. The blend includes some 1967 and 1970 sherried Highland whiskies combined with Lowland grain.

A vintage distillery bottling of Glenmorangie. This was distilled in 1974, aged for 20 years and was a travel retail exclusive at the time of its release.

A big cask strength Caol Ila released as part of Diageo's Rare Malts series. Distilled in 1978 and released at the turn of the millenium at a eye-watering 61.7% ABV.

An extremely rare old bottling of Dalmore at 20 years old. This was bottled in the 1930s, when the distillery had just been purchased by Whyte & Mackay. Sadly with low level but no sign of leaking.

A 1965 vintage Ardmore from independent bottler Cadenheads. Famed for being a peated Highland malt, this was distilled in October and was matured for 22 years before being bottled in November 1987.

A very desirable bottle of Balvenie Classic, rare because it has a 12 year-old age statement, whereas most bottles we've seen are either 18 year-old or no-age-statement.

A rare commemorative bottling of Bowmore released to commemorate the 2003 fly fishing championships on Islay. Only a small number of bottles, with their wooden display case, were produced and this is sought after by collectors.

Very few expressions of Glen Elgin have been bottled, so this is a rare treat. Released in 2003, this is a delicious honeyed, fruity dram from an often overlooked distillery that has long been rated 'First Class' by blenders lists.

A rare and very sold out expression of Glenmorangie, augmenting the normal maturation with some time finishing in claret casks. A limited release showing off Glenmorangie's ways with wood.

A special bottling of Glenmorangie consisting of whisky hand selected by the distillery manager and bottled in 1998. 1981 has been a much loved vintage of the distillery's staff and this looks to have been one of the first bottlings to start off that affection.

A special bottling of Glenmorangie consisting of whisky hand selected by the distillery manager and bottled in 1998. 1981 has been a much loved vintage of the distillery's staff and this looks to have been one of the first bottlings to start off that affection.

First bottling, with only 65 bottles made for directors, staff and shareholders.

Released in 2005, this was a limited bottling of 32-year-old Auchentoshan. Distilled in 1973 and aged in ex-sherry wood, just 480 bottles were produced.

An unboxed version of an official release of single cask Bowmore, distilled in August 1980 and bottled in July 2004 at cask strength. This is presented with a replica-copper still decanter, embossed with a name plate featuring the bottle number.

An official release of single cask Bowmore, distilled in August 1980 and bottled in July 2004 at cask strength. What's more, it comes with a rather nifty replica copper still decanter, embossed with a name plate featuring the bottle number.

Released in 2017, Deanston 40 Year Old has been finished in oloroso-sherry butts, and is limited to 480 bottles. Rich and sweet with notes of heather honey, apple, vanilla and citrus.

A very special bottling of Glenmorangie 1971, this was selected to mark the 150th anniversary of the distillery's official opening in 1843.

A seldom seen large bottle (2 litres!) of 5 year old whisky from Springbank. A beautiful presentation, considering it's quite ungainly size, and a treat for the Springbank lover.

A very rare 1970s decanter of Springbank 25 year old.

A 'Very Old' bottling of 30 year old Ardbeg with the old-style black label. Supplied without its wooden box.

At 25 years old this whisky embodies the richness, depth and sweetness of all Ardbegs. Light gold in colour and powerful in character. A phenomenal, much-sought-after bottling of a really outstanding malt.

Part of Bowmore's tradition of commemorating Scottish sporting events with limited-edition special bottlings, this one is in honour of the 2001 international horse trials at Blair Castle.

A 20 year old Caol Ila bottled by the distillery to celebrate their 150th birthday in 1996.

A special edition Glenmorangie bottled for the 250th Anniversary of the battle of Culloden, the final major battle of the Jacobite Rebellion. A 1970 vintage whisky presented in a 'wonky' bottle.

Lagavulin is probably Diageo's most highly-rated distillery, with its muscular peaty presence and flashes of honey sending most of the cognoscenti into a swoon. This 15yo from 1993 is probably the most eagerly-awaited of the Managers' Choice series, particularly as it's one of only a handful of sherried single cask Lagavulins ever released.

A bottle of Glens Extra 8 Year old West Highland Malt Scotch whisky. Distilled, matured and bottled at Springbank, this was originally intended for the Italian market and, we estimate, dates from the 1960s.

An independent bottling of 1966 Caol Ila from Gordon & Macphail released as part of the Centenary celebrations. Distilled in 1966 and matured for 29 years in a sherry cask.

Distilled in 1971 and matured in a small batch of exquisite Oloroso sherry casks, this 33 year-old dram appeared in 2004 and at the time was the oldest and quite possibly the best Glendronach ever released. Boasting 95/100 from Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Spirits Competition, this is not a dram to miss.

A very special Bowmore from a hogshead filled on August 9th 1980, the day that Queen Elizabeth II visited the distillery. Cask #5774 was acquired by Jim Howat, then Chairman of Morrison Bowmore and was left in his will to the JTH Charitable Trust he created with his wife Christine. Designed and bottled in 2011 by Morrison Bowmore as a special limited edition for the charitable trust yielding 156 bottles at a natural strength of 46.7%.

A rare special bottling of 1965 vintage Springbank. Distilled in the year Everest, a British double-glazing and home improvement company, was founded, this was bottled in 1993 in commemoration of The Everest Challenge cycle ride.

Another supremely contemplative malt that demands time and concentration – the first Glenmorangie to carry a vintage statement and the first to talk about a 'finish'. This bottling is from bourbon casks that were re-racked into Oloroso sherry casks for the final stages of maturation. One of the most difficult-to-find Glenmorangie.

A rare old bottling of 1963 Glenmorangie, and one of the very first releases of Glenmorangie that mentions sherry finish on the label. This complex whisky has notes of tropical fruits, oak and sweet spices with a long, fresh and spicy finish.

One of the most difficult-to-find Glenmorangies, the first to have an age-statement and also the first to mention a sherry cask finish on the label. A rare and sought after bottling.

An incredibly rare bottle of 1973 Bowmore, produced in 2001. This was never commercially sold, but was given to attendees of a dinner held at Blair Castle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Stanley P Morrison Limited, Bowmore's then owners. An exceptional collector's item.

From the now-defunct vintage series from Bowmore comes this sherry-cask-aged 1973 vintage, which we estimate was bottled in the 1980s.

A special bottling of Glenmorangie released to commemorate Concorde's first ever commercial flight on 21st January 1976, the day this whisky was distilled. Presented in a wooden box, this is a rare bottle.

A rare bottling of Glenmorangie using whisky distilled on 21st January 1976, the day of Concorde's first ever commercial flight. Presented in an elegant wooden box, this is a hard to find whisky.

An incredibly rare bottle of 19 year old Longrow whisky. There were only 218 of these bottled, which makes this quite the collectible.

Bottled for the Feis Ile in 2006, this rare Ardbeg 1975 was matured in a single Fino sherry cask.

A 1969 Bowmore by Douglas Laing, as part of their Old Malt Cask series. This has been aged for 31 years, and bottled March 2001.

Another legendary bottling in the always-impressive Prestonfield, this 20 year old Springbank 1967 received 93-94 points from Malt Maniac Serge Valentin on Whiskyfun and despite being from a multi-cask batch is now extremely difficult to find, having been bottled in the late 1980s.

A rare long-aged Irish whiskey, limited to just 275 bottles, from Teeling. Matured in a pair of bourbon barrels for 33 years, this is complex, floral and lightly spicy. The presentation includes a hand-bound booklet detailing the history of the release.

The oldest-ever release from the distillery, this 37 year old was part of Diageo's 2013 Special Releases. A mix of European and American oak, it has depth and incredible intensity for such an old Islay whisky.