Scottish Spring Waters For Whisky

Most Spirits are enjoyed with a mixer and for many, whisky is no exception.

Whisky is a complex spirit with a wonderful array of aromas and flavours which is why experts recommend opening up a dram with nothing more than a dash of pure spring water. Adding water removes the alcohol prickle and releases more aromas and flavours for greater appreciation. Waters with different chemistries will reveal different aromas and flavours in the same whisky which is one reason why experts suggest that its best to add the water that made the whisky or water from the same source as the whisky.

Uisge Source waters come from specially selected private springs close to the leading distilleries in each of the main Scotch whisky regions.

The chemistry of Uisge Source waters matches the chemistry of the waters used in whisky distillation in each region to make the ideal complement for your dram.

We all know adding a few drops of water opens up a whisky, revealing the distinctive aromas and complex fla- vours. But, for the true devotee, is any old water really good enough to share a glass with as fine a spirit as sin- Uisge Source Scottish Sping Waters For Whisky gle malt? Surely it stands to reason that the best water to use is the water from the same region as the whisky? Using water Available at Ballygrant Inn with similar properties will retain the whisky’s true and original character.

Islay, Highland & Speyside 50ml - £3.60 Which is why we embarked on our quest for the most natural waters to complement the malts of Islay, Highland and Speyside. Here they are. Three pure, clear spring waters, drawn by hand from private sources and bottled for the pleasure of whisky aficionados the world over. Uisge Source waters reflect the types of waters typically used in the different whisky regions of Scotland.

Our diagram reveals how Uisge Source waters are different by comparing the mineral content, PH (the extent to which the water is more acidic or more alkaline), conductivity, and total hardness score.

Islay’s Ardilistry Spring produces water with higher natural acidity which is created by filtration through peat.

St Colman’s Well in the Highland region produces a hard water, high in minerals due to filtration through porous and brittle red sandstone and limestone.

The Cairngorms Well in the Speyside region produces a soft water, low in minerals as a result of being filtered through hard rock such as granite. Islay malt Whiskies

Islay malts are often described as being smoky and medicinal.

Islay is a mecca for whisky lovers. Taking their smoky flavour from the peat fuel used for malting the barley used in producing their whiskies, Islay malts are often described as being smoky and medicinal, salty and 'seaweedy'.

There are some nine distilleries on the Isle. To the North there lies Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila, to the west of Loch Indaal sits Bruichladdich and further west, the newly founded Kilchoman - Scotland’s most westerly distillery. To the centre of the isle sits the mighty Bowmore, but it is from the southern coast, not far from Port Ellen and the closed distillery of the same name, that the most pungent whisky emanates, produced by the trio of leviathan Ileach distilleries; Ardbeg, Lagavulin and of course Laphroaig. There is a defined power to the whisky, peat being the obvious attribute, certainly the best associated. Smoke is both a flavour of its own, but is intrinsically linked with peat.

There is a marked reduction in peaty power to the far north; the malts of Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are comparatively soft. In Bruichladdich’s case it is due to the relative shelter from the elements that the Rhinns offers. For Bunnahabhain it is the un-peated malt and the water source, the Margadale spring, cutting their course in stoic avoidance of the peat beds of Islay. Islay single malts also have a refined salinity; there is a profusion of sea-weedy, kelp-rich whiskies.

This is often attributed to the terroir. The Islay distilleries possess a relative close proximity with the sea, all of which save for Kilchoman, the only in-lander. The sea spray is said to whip across the warehouses, the salty air penetrates the barrels and flavours the maturing whisky. Of late, whiskies from Islay have become increasingly sought after.

Ardbeg

Earthy, tarry and very peaty with citrus and apple notes, and a distinct seaside edge.

Ardbeg lies solitary, in a small cove off the south coast of Islay. It was once a stage for illegal distillation, when smugglers took advantage of the remote location and exceptional conditions for whisky production. Eventually, excise men seized the original, illegitimate buildings from the smugglers and destroyed them. It was not until 1815 that a legal dis- tillery was established and founded by John McDougall. Sitting nearby leviathan distilleries; Laphroaig and Lagavulin, Ardbeg has always produced a very sought-after single malt, despite its production scale being less than half that of its neighbours. Until 1976/'77 Ardbeg still had its own malting floor, but take their heavily peated malt from the Port Ellen maltings.

After running into some financial difficulties the distillery closed in 1981 and it was not until 1989 that distillation resumed, although on a very small scale. After closing again in 1996, then owners, Allied Domecq, put the distillery up for sale. It was bought in 1997 by Glenmorangie Co and was, at last, restored to its former grandeur. Its chief water source, Loch Uigeadail, or ‘dark and mysterious place’ in Gaelic, became the inspiration for a bottling launched in 2003 under the same name. Ardbeg Uigeadail was later Jim Murray’s 2009 World Whisky of the Year, a title held previously by Ardbeg’s ten year-old.

A ferociously phenolic dram which retains an impressive finesse, possibly because of high stills and an unusual purifier on the spirit stills. Excellent and exciting when young, endlessly complex and stimulating when bottled old, Ardbeg is a mighty malt and increasingly popular with collectors and auctioneers.

Jim Murray's 2008 World Whisky of the Year! When Ardbeg 10 was released it was the first expression from the distillery not to be chill-filtered. It's a true classic from Islay, and a must have for any fan of single malt whisky.

An Oa is named after the Mull of Oa in the south west of Islay, which offers the Kildaton coast some protection from the worst the Atlantic has to offer! As such, An Oa is intended to show a more approachable side to Ardbeg single malt that's as rounded as the Oa peninsular, without losing the characteristic distillery style. In the summer of 2017 this became the first addition to Ardbeg's core range in over a decade.Maturation took place in a combination of casks including Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon, which were all brought together to marry in Dr. Bill Lumsden's new 'Gathering Vat'!

Uigeadail derives from the Scotch Gaelic for 'Dark and Mysterious Place' and is named for the Loch from whence Ardbeg draws its waters. Jim Murray's 2009 World Whisky of the Year, this cask-strength bottle exudes breath taking balance.

This is one of the legendary Islay malts. This was released to replace Airigh Nam Beist, choosing a more medicinal style over the creamier style of the beastie.

Considered to be among the finest of the old Ardbeg’s, it is increasingly rare as it has been discontinued. Incredibly rich and powerful, and all too easy to drink.

A limited edition bottling, matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46% ABV without chill-filtration. This bottling was unveiled in the latter half of 2016, as was said to mark the turbulent times that the distillery went through in the 1990s.

Released in 2019, Ardbeg's Traigh Bhan is a 19 year old expression named after the local Traigh Bhan beachoin Islay, sometimes known as the Singing Sands. The first core expression from Ardbeg in 20 years to be released with an age statement, this is an impressive dram that captures the character of the coastline brilliantly. It was drawn from a combination of American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, and has been bottled at 46.2% ABV.

This is a very exciting limited edition 22 year old single malt Scotch from Ardbeg. It’s a notable expression because it was distilled in 1996, when Ardbeg was under threat of demolition. It was one of the last spirits distilled using Ardbeg's old equipment, including the retired still that now stands in the distillery's courtyard. It was matured in ex-bourbon casks to capture the classic Ardbeggian profile

Released in late 2017, Ardbeg Twenty Something is 23 year old single malt, matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. The name might suggest that this release is somewhat shy or flippant about its age, but the flavour profile shows off the whisky's maturity brilliantly.

The second release in Ardbeg's journey to the new 10 year old, Still Young was released in 2006.

The third release on the way back to recovery. Follows on from the Very Young and Still Young. This was distilled in 1998, and offers lots of complexity and a unique look into the maturation of Ardbeg single malt.

Blasda represents a rare chance to sample a lightly-peated dram from Ardbeg By taming its usual mighty peating levels Ardbeg created Blasda, peated to an average of just 8ppm compared to the more usual 55ppm.Blasda is still perfectly balanced, but light Blasda is Gaelic for "sweet and delicious."

Limited edition release matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV with no chill-filtration. The name comes from the 1,200 year old Kildalton Cross on Islay. This expression was released to raise money for The North Highland Initiative, a charity set up to support fragile communities in the North Highlands. Funds raised by the release will help build a new community hub in Port Ellen.

The 2014 're-entry' Committee Release of Ardbeg's celebrated Supernova, sought-after super-peaty whisky from this famous Islay distillery. The presence of sherry-matured stock has imparted an extra dimension, created a deeper richness… firing up the spiciness…. and boosting the sweetness. But it’s still one of the peatiest Ardbegs on earth.

As the final release in Ardbeg's Supernova series, this bottle heralds Dr Bill Lumsden's white paper on the effects of zero gravity maturation. Once again this Supernova has been peated to a whopping 100ppm.

Ardbeg has revived its peatiest expression, Ardbeg Supernova, four years after the ‘final’ release of the cult whisky. The fifth – and definitely final? – Ardbeg Supernova was matured in ex-Bourbon casks is described as having aromas of ‘pungent aniseed, menthol and eucalyptus’, with a ‘nebula of bonfires, soot, charred oak, birch tar and menthol’ on the palate.

Released in 2016, this Committee Release of Dark Cove was matured in ex-bourbon and "dark Sherry casks" for "The Darkest Ardbeg Ever". Whilst the colour isn't actually that dark at all, those dark casks provide plenty of oaky depth.

This is the first release from Ardbeg as part of its 200th anniversary celebrations and sees the distillery bottle its "past, present and future." With this distillery exclusive release, Dr Bill Lumsden takes inspiration from the differing styles of whisky his predecessors have created over the last 200 years. An accomplished blend of both young and old stock.

It's the Committee Release of Ardbeg Kelpie, a single malt released in 2017 having been matured in casks made from virgin Black Sea oak and more traditional bourbon casks. The Committee Release is bottled at the higher strength of 51.7% ABV.

The 2018 Ardbeg committee release. The whisky that makes up Grooves was aged in red wine casks that were heavily re-charred, resulting in deep grooves in the wood (hence the name). The Committee Release has been bottled at 51.6% ABV.

Drum is the first whisky released by Ardbeg to have enjoyed a finishing period in rum casks! It was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred over to casks that had previously held rum from the Americas. The result pits the classic savoury smoke of Ardbeg's spirit against the bright, fruity notes introduced by the rum casks - a wonderfully tasty juxtaposition!

An old limited edition bottling of 1977 vintage Ardbeg. This was released in small batches between 2001 and 2004.

Released in April 2012 to commemorate Ardbeg sending some of their new-make spirit up into space to make Ardbeg the first inter-stellar whisky. Unlike recent Ardbeg’s the Galileo features an age statement (1999-2012) and contains whisky matured in both ex-Marsala and ex-Bourbon barrels.

Ardbeg day was released for Feis Ile 2012. It's a fantastic whisky, and a departure for the distillery which normally releases very limited, exceptional single cask bottlings for the festival. Ardbeg Day is selected from and and married in refill sherry casks, previously used for Uigeadail.

A special edition single malt launched on Ardbeg Day 2014 - a day celebrated both at the Islay festival, Fèis Ìle and around the world. Auri (Gold) verdes (Green) is a name used to refer to Brazil's football team, but in this case it refers to the golden whisky and the iconic Ardbeg green bottle it dwells within. n 1815, the Ardbeg distillery was founded by John McDougall on the Isle of Islay. In 2015, Ardbeg Perpetuum was released during Fèis Ìle 2015 in celebration of their 200th anniversary. Dr. Bill Lumsden has created a full-bodied Islay single malt, rich in coastal peat, smoked meat and well-rounded vanilla notes, using a blend of whiskies both young and old, matured in both bourbon and Sherry casks.

Ardbeg Dark Cove is matured in ex-bourbon and "dark Sherry casks" for "The Darkest Ardbeg Ever". Undoubtedly a terrific single malt, there are interesting comparisons to be made with the partly Oloroso matured Uigeadail.

An Ardbeg that's said to be "as deep as the ocean" thanks to the use of virgin Black Sea oak casks sourced by Dr. Bill Lumsden from the Adyghe Republic in Russia. Whisky from these casks has then been married with regular bourbon cask matured Ardbeg and bottled for Fèis Ìle 2017 at 46%.

Ardbeg Grooves was released in celebration of Ardbeg Day 2018, and as ever, they have created a most intriguing expression. Part of the whisky that makes up Grooves was matured in red wine casks that were very well-charred, resulting in heavy grooves in the surface of the wood. A mellow though flavoursome dram.

This year's limited edition Ardbeg release for Ardbeg Day, Ardbeg Drum! Released at Fèis Ìle and around the world, the single malt brings together the best of both Islay and the Caribbean, as it was matured in bourbon casks and then treated to a finish in casks that previously held rum. The final result is a delicious, smoky and fruity party, truly capturing the carnival spirit.

To commemorate the beginning of construction at the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released this range of six single cask whiskies. Hand picked by Jim McEwan. This was the fifth bottle of the six released a twenty six year old Ardbeg.

To celebrate the commencement of distilling operations at their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a third selection of 6 bottlings. This was the sixth bottle in the selection, a twenty six year old Ardbeg matured in a refill hogshead.

A rare single cask Ardbeg, released at the distillery on Ardbeg Day at Feis Ile 2018. This thirteen year old Ardbeg was matured In an Oloroso sherry butt. Distilled on the 1st April 2005 and bottled on the 9th April 2018 from cask #1321. One of only 543 bottles.

A rare single cask Ardbeg, released at the distillery on Friday 11th October 2019. This 12 year old Ardbeg was matured in a 1st fill bourbon barrel. Distilled on 24th December 2007 and bottled on 12th June 2019 from cask #5824 . One of only 245 bottles.

The second single cask release from Ardbeg in 2018. This time a much younger whisky, just six years old. Distilled on the 15th August 2018 and matured in cask 2198, a 1st fill bourbon barrel and then bottled on 17th July 2018. One of only 256 bottles.

Bowmore

Smoky, salty and sometimes with a perfumed character.

Located in the town of the same name on the shores of Loch Indaal. The distillery produces some two million litres annually and adheres to strict traditions; production methods have scarcely changed in two centuries. Founded in 1779, by John Simpson, Bowmore is Islay’s oldest distillery. Following purchase in 1837, by William and James Mutter, the distillery was resold in 1892 to the Bowmore Distillery Company Ltd.

Changing hands twice during the late 1920s, in 1963 the distillery was purchased for £117,000 by Stanley P Morrison. Bowmore has had a long affiliation with Japanese pioneers Suntory, who acquired a stake in the company during the late 1980s. In 1994, they bought the company outright. Bowmore enjoys a curious middle-ground as far as flavour is concerned; far from being a lighter offering - à la Northern Islay-based Bunnahabhain - the spirit is not as heavily peated nor as smoky, as its three Southern cousins surrounding Port Ellen.

Today, Bowmore produces a heralded malt and the second best-selling Islay whisky after the leviathan Laphroaig. The range is quite large and independent bottlings have been released as well as a core range of acclaimed house bottlings, including the rare 1994 released Black Bowmore, a 1964 vintage whose initial asking price was around £2,500.

The new entry level whisky and newest addition to the Bowmore whisky range, it replaces the now discontinued Bowmore Small Batch Reserve. Produced using whisky drawn exclusively from first-fill bourbon casks, imparting a creamy sweetness which blends well with the robust Islay smoke that Bowmore is known for.

The heart of the Bowmore range, the 12 year old exhibits some beautiful coastal notes with a gentle peat, it is the balance that the floral element presents that makes this a great entry bottling for Bowmore.

Bowmore Small Batch is an elegant Islay single malt, matured in both first-fill and second-fill bourbon barrels. A great introduction to Bowmore's lovely smoky flavour profile - the Small Batch is refined, light and well balanced with plenty of honey, coconut and vanilla notes.

Released in 2016, this is a well-Sherried single malt from the Bowmore distillery on the Isle of Islay. Whiskies matured in both bourbon and Sherry casks were used for this release, and Bowmore's distinctive smokiness still shines through.

A 15 year old released in January of 2007 from the legendary Bowmore distillery in Islay. This single malt has enjoyed maturation in Oloroso sherry casks.

A 15-year-old expression from Bowmore, aimed at the travel retail market, Mariner is a very different Bowmore with a maritime twist.

Bowmore Enigma is a 12-year-old expression with a higher proportion of sherry matured whisky than the standard bottling. Bottled for the travel retail market, this is rich and very drinkable.

A comparatively recent release from Bowmore, the 18 year old was launched in January of 2007 to replace the 17 year old. A perfumed, fruity offering from the distillery.

Released for the Travel Retail market, this 10 year old Bowmore single malt is a marriage of Spanish oak Sherry casks and hogsheads, resulting in a fine balance between classic coastal Islay smoke and Sherried sweetness.

One of a trio of bottlings originally released for the Travel Retail market by Bowmore in 2017. The 15 Year Old expression matures in first-fill bourbon casks, resulting in generous bundles of vanilla-y goodness alongside the familiar peaty notes.

Matured in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximenéz casks. This was launched for the Travel Retail Market in the first half of 2017.

2006 was first time Bowmore joined in with the other Islay distilleries to start a yearly release for the Feis Ile. This is first Feis bottling is a cask strength 6 year old matured in fresh bourbon casks. Only 600 bottles were released.

This was distilled at Bowmore on the 14th June 1999, and it was aged in Limousin oak in warehouse 5 for 8 years before bottling for the 2008 Feis Ile. A release of 800 numbered bottles, fabulous stuff.

This very special Bowmore was distilled on the 14th June 1999 and it was aged in sherry, bourbon and wine casks in warehouse 6 before bottling in 2009 for that year's Feis Ile. A release of 900 numbered bottles.

Made especially for the 2011 Feis Ile, this Bowmore was aged for 15 years and finished in a sherry cask before bottling at natural cask strength. A release of just 500 bottles. Very rare!

Laid down in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 vaults, this limited release was finished in Spanish Sherry Casks. Bottled in 2012 to Commemorate the Feis Ile. A release of only 750 bottles.

One of two Fèis Ìle releases from Bowmore for 2014. Matured exclusively in first fill bourbon barrels. Just 1000 bottles released.

A festival release from Fèis Ìle 2015 of 1,000 bottles matured in selected virgin oak casks and bottled at natural strength!

Released during Fèis Ìle 2016, this Bowmore single malt was maturated in a combination of American virgin oak casks and Europeans Oloroso Sherry casks. The use of virgin oak casks is not all that common, though they can be used to impart some very intriguing notes to the whisky. A release of 1,500 bottles.

This Bowmore is from the Feis Ile 2017 Collection. A marriage of Oloroso Sherry and Bordeaux Red Wine Casks that develops layers of rich, cherry wood and walnut.

The first of two releases in the Feis Ile 2018 Collection from Bowmore distillery. This 15 year old was matured exclusively in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength. One of only 3000 bottles.

The first of two releases in the Feis Ile 2019 collection from Bowmore, Islay's oldest distillery. This 15 year old was matured exclusively in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength. One of 3000 bottles.

The third release of the stunningly good Bowmore Tempest, a cask-strength 10 year old from the Islay distillery. This particular expression offers up oodles of fruity flavour and complexity.

Bowmore's 4th release of the 10 year old, bourbon matured Tempest. Described on the box as being "as fresh as the sea-air with wisps of peat smoke and sweet citrus", this matches this batch particularly well. It is certainly fresh and less rugged than some its pre-processors, which in turn were perhaps more reminiscent of the huge storm that gives the series its name.

The fifth release of Bowmore's 10 year old Tempest single malt Scotch whisky. This annual release is matured in first-fill bourbon casks and presented at cask strength. These often go down a storm, especially with fans of peated whisky.

The sixth batch of Bowmore's popular Tempest single malt. After maturing for 10 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, this has been blended by Bowmore's Master Distiller and bottled at 54.9% ABV. A vibrant, intense Islay expression.

Subtitled 'Double the Devil' Bowmore’s third, and final, release in the sought-after Devil’s Casks series drops the age statement but has rather special trick up its sleeve. Marrying spirits matured in both dry Oloroso sherry casks and – for the first time – sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, this whisky has an incredible intensity and remarkable richness.

The first release in Bowmore's Vault Edition series, launched in 2016. This series will explore four of the characteristics found in Bowmore's whiskies after maturing in their No.1 Vaults maturation warehouse. For the first release, the whisky possesses up-front notes of Atlantic sea salt!

The second release of Bowmore’s Vault Edition series. This bottling is named "Peat Smoke" and is dedicated to the smoky character of the Islay distillery. The name of the series pays tribute to the legendary warehouse of the Bowmore Distillery, where the casks are stored under the influence of the sea breeze on the Isle of Islay. This "No. 1 Vaults ", whose basement vaults are below sea level, was built in 1779, so it can look back on a history of 240 years.

A cask strength, non-chillfiltered, Spanish-Sherry-butt-finished 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the Bowmore Distillery. It has been named Laimrig, after the Scottish Gaelic word for "pier". This bottling was an exclusive bottling for The Whisky Shop.

A cask strength, non-chillfiltered, Spanish-Sherry-butt-finished 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the Bowmore Distillery. It has been named Laimrig, after the Scottish Gaelic word for "pier".

An independently bottled Bowmore single malt, mature in a single Sherry butt (#10430) for 12 years. Coming from Douglas Laing's Provenance range, which celebrates the seasons of distillation, the bottle notes that this Islay dram was distilled in autumn 2002 and bottled in autumn 2014.

This is a single cask Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by the folks at Hunter Laing for their Old Malt Cask range. It was distilled in December 2001 and bottled in October 2014 with an outturn of 317 bottles.

This is a single cask Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company for their Coopers

Choice range. It was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2014.

This is a single cask Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company for their Coopers Choice range. It was distilled in September 2002, matured in cask 1858, a bourbon cask and bottled in 2017.

An independent bottling of 15 year old Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky, presented as part of the Old Particular range from Douglas Laing. distilled back in September 1999 and left to mature in a single butt until December 2014.655 bottles were produced, all filled with pleasingly Sherried peaty single malt.

A single cask Islay single malt from Bowmore bottled by Douglas Laing for Fèis Ìle 2016. Distilled in September 1999, it matured in a refill hogshead until March 2016 when the outturn was 246 bottles.

A cask strength 16 year old, a rare edition from a vatting of 134 casks of 1989 vintage Bowmore, most of the casks were ex-bourbon. The resultant single malt is thick and exudes fruit and floral notes.

A 1990 vintage from the Bowmore distillery, bottled at cask strength, this 16 year old was matured in Oloroso sherry casks and the sherry notes really shine through with enough strength to match up to the Bowmore characteristics.

Produced for the travel market, Bowmore 100 degrees Proof is a cask-strength, non chill-filtered Bowmore that packs a hefty maritime punch.

Bowmore Springtide is the distillery's premium offering for the travel retail market, a cask strength, non chill-filtered single malt predominantly matured in first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.

A lovely expression from Bowmore carefully selected by the Maltmen at the distillery. These men continue the traditional floor maltings at the distillery - a rare thing now in modern Scotch whisky production - and this whisky was selected from casks 1551, 1552, 1553, 1559 and 1560 which were distilled on the 13th July 1995. An outstandingly good 13 year old malt.

An expression from Bowmore carefully selected by the Mashmen at the distillery. A 14 year old from American oak Bourbon barrels. A small batch release of only 1500 bottles.

An expression from Bowmore carefully selected by the Stillmen at the distillery. A 17 year old matured in Bordeaux Wine barriques. A small batch release of only 1500 bottles.

The final release of the Craftmen’s Collection, carefully selected by the Warehousemen at the distillery. This seventeen year old has Been matured in three types of cask, bourbon, sherry and wine casks.

A fantastic distillery exclusive from Bowmore, distilled in 1997 and matured exclusively in six first-fill Oloroso sherry hogsheads which were selected by distillery manager David Turner. One of only 3000 bottles.

A travel retail release from Bowmore, Black Rock is matured predominantly in Spanish ex-Sherry casks for a sweet-but smoky dram. Plenty of rich fruit, chewy vanilla and peat smoke, all well balanced. An excellent value Bowmore with tonnes of character.

From Bowmore's travel retail selection, unveiled in 2014, the Gold Reef is a gorgeous coastal dram, matured mostly in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. A fantastic Islay single malt.

A 17 year old Bowmore with a beautifully balanced, rounded palate with notes of soft chocolate, toffee apples and a little wood smoke.

Released in a trio of travel retail bottlings, Bowmore's White Sands 17 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky gets matured in ex-bourbon casks, bringing creamy vanilla and thick treacle notes to the table. This pairs wonderfully with the coastal wafts and peat smoke which people love Bowmore whisky for.

The second edition of this Amazon exclusive Bowmore following on from the overwhelming success of the first edition. This 19 Year old Bowmore fully matured in first-fill ex-Chateau Lagrange French oak barriques. The whisky is bottled at 48.9% abv, and is said to have aromas of candied apple, honey and light peat smoke, with notes of toffee, wild honey and spice on the palate.

A 23 year old single malt from the Bowmore distillery, aged completely in port casks to compliment the floral and peaty flavours the Islay distillery is known for.

A 25 year old from the Bowmore distillery aged in American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. The sherry influence combines wonderfully with the coastal, smoky distillery style to create a sublime aged single malt.

The third and final entry in the Bowmore Vintner's trilogy, bringing in Portugal's best-known wine export – Port. Matured for 13 years in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to port pipes for a further 14 years, this whisky is complex and rich, marrying dried-fruit notes from the pipes with fresher toffee and caramel, and, of course, Bowmore's smoky and fruity character. It's bottled at cask-strength, creating an intensely flavoured examination of whisky and wine casks.

Released for Travel Retail. It is "bursting with warm smoke, oak and honey, balanced with a hint of zesty lime".

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 16 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Bordeaux Wine Barrique for 16 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Bordeaux Wine Barrique for 16 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 15 years.

The second of Bowmore's Feis Ile collection for 2015. Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a 1st fill sherry cask for 12 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Bordeaux Wine Barrique for 17 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a 1st fill bourbon cask for 11 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a sherry cask for 13 years.

This hand-filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Pedro Ximenez cask. This is the first 100% PX matured whisky from Bowmore and it was an instant hit, with some reports claiming it was sold out within 45 minutes.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a virgin oak cask for 7 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Bordeaux Wine Barrique for 10 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a bourbon cask for 13 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a bourbon cask for 18 years.

The second of Bowmore's Feis Ile collection for 2017. Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a 1st fill oloroso sherry puncheon for 19 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in Pedro Ximenez sherry cask for 18 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a red wine cask for 11 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a virgin oak cask for 8 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a Pedro Ximenez cask for 17 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a bourbon cask for 22 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a sherry cask for 19 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a bourbon cask for 14 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in an Oloroso cask for 17 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a bourbon cask for 11 years.

Distillery only single cask. This hand filled bottling from Bowmore was aged exclusively in a sherry cask for 19 years.

A hand filled bottle of Bowmore, available exclusively at the distillery. Distilled on 14th May 2004 and matured in bourbon cask #1873.Bottled just over 15 years later in May 2019.

A hand filled bottle of Bowmore, available exclusively from the distillery. Distilled on 20th January 1999 and matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask #26. Bottled over 20 years later in July 2019.

A hand-filled bottle of Bowmore, available exclusively at the distillery. Distilled on 13/07/1995 and matured in a sherry cask #1558. Bottled over 24 years later on 13/09/2019.

To commemorate the beginning of construction at the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released this range of six single cask whiskies. Hand picked by Jim McEwan. This was the second bottle of the six a thirty year old Bowmore.

To celebrate the coming completion of their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released a second selection of 6 bottlings, following on from the original Kinship collection in 2017. The 2018 Kinship collection was released exclusively to visitors of Islay's Feis Ile festival, and were available to buy at the Ardnahoe gift shop. This is the fourth bottle in the Collection, a 21 year old Bowmore bottled from two refill hogsheads.

To celebrate the commencement of distilling operations at their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a third selection of 6 bottlings. This was the fourth bottle in the selection, a thirty year old Bowmore matured in a refill bourbon hogshead. One of 644 bottled.

A single cask Bowmore from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Distilled on 28th March 2000 and matured for 15 years in a 1st fill bourbon cask. One of only 240 bottles.

A single cask Bowmore from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Distilled on 27th March 1996 and matured for 19 years in an Ex-bourbon refill hogshead. One of only 252 bottles.

A single cask Bowmore from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society released for Feis Ile 2017. one of 252 bottles.

Bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society with the title 'A journey into joy' for the 2018 Feis Ile. Matured for 20 years in a refill ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt. One of only 564 bottles. bruichladdich

The traditional non-peaty Bruichladdich is light to medium bodied, with fruity and salty character.

Bruichladdich was built by Barnett Harvey in 1881. Five years later, the Bruichladdich Distillery Company was founded and renovation and refurbishment com- menced. The ‘Laddie’, as it is affectionately known, is often considered to be the fruitiest, most inventive Islay malt and, indeed, there has been some contention as to whether it has truly attained Islay-status. Bruichladdich countered this with the introduction of the Port Charlotte range and later with the 2008-released Octomore, the world’s most heavily peated whisky with a phenol content of 131ppm.

The gentle character of the spirit is attributed by some to the milder weather conditions at Bruichladdich's locality, sheltered, as it is, from Mother Nature by the Rhinns, the rugged Islay mountain range. Following the death of the then owner, Barnett’s son William Harvey IV in 1936, the distillery was run by Kenneth Harvey and sold a year later to Joseph Hobbs for the sum of £23,000. Silent for the latter part of the Second World War, Bruichladdich closed its in-house maltings in 1961, bringing malt in from the Islay maltings at Port Ellen. Enjoying good fortunes, further stills were added in 1975 to grapple increasing demand.

Blenders Whyte and Mackay acquired the distillery under Invergordon Distillers in 1993. Just two years later, production ceased and in 2000 the distillery was pur- chased by Murray McDavid for £6.5m. The former Bowmore manager, Jim McEwan was brought in as Production Director, and in July of 2001 distillation began once more. Today the range is vast; many cask finishes, or 'ACE'd (additional cask enhancement) whiskies, have been released as well as the formerly mentioned peated offerings and, following a few successful years, the ‘Laddie’s’ future looks promising. In 2012 Bruichladdich was purchased by Remy Cointreau for £58m.

Created by Jim McEwan from whisky matured in American oak casks alongside Lochindaal, and chosen to represent the classic, unpeated distillery style. Bruichladdich's new signature bottling is made with 100% Scottish barley.

An 8 year old single malt from Islay's Bruichladdich distillery, originally released for the Travel Retail Market. The Laddie Eight was created by Head Distiller Adam Hannett, with an aim to capturing the fantastic floral notes along with Bruichladdich's coastal elements.

The very first 10 year old whisky to be wholly distilled, aged and bottled following Bruichladdich's resurrection in 2001. In many ways this marks the beginning of the new era, and this will be snapped up by connoisseurs and collectors. A true milestone bottling.

The middle entry in Bruichladdich's revitalised line-up, sitting between the 10 and 22. An un-peated sixteen year old bottling from an American Oak cask.

Matured for over two decades in Bruichladdies lochside warehouse loch-side warehouse where it as absorbed the subtle maritime flavours of the sea as well as vanilla oak and lemon. Described as a "classic spirit" the Laddie 22 has a shared genealogy with the Laddie 10 and 16, and is considered to represent the essence of Bruichladdich.

A travel retail release of Bruichladdich organic single malt Scotch whisky, made with barley sourced from Mid Coul Farm, Mains of Tullibardine Farm and Coulmore farm. It's an unpeted expression, light and sweet with toffee, citrus, almond and subtle touches of exotic fruit.

A 2009 vintage single malt from Bruichladdich, made with 100% organically grown Scottish barley. In fact, the whole process of making this whisky, from barley to bottle, has been organically certified by the Biodynamic Association.

The whisky distilled from the organic barley of Mid Coul reflects the complex natural flavours of the landscape. Just as Bruichladdich refuse to abandon the traditional crafts of distillation in favour of automation or industrialisation, so farmer William Rose rejects the use of herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Crop rotation is key. The barley must take its turn in a seven year farm cycle that also produces organic cattle, sheep, oats, beans, grass, carrots, market gardening and a megawatt of green electricity. Respecting the land, the soil and the climate nourishes a genuine and thorough understanding of terroir and the results are pure Bruichladdich.

A 2004 vintage single malt from Bruichladdich distillery, made using barley from Kentraw Farm, only a mile away from the distillery!

This 2009 vintage was distilled from grain grown Claggan, Cruach, island and Mulindry Farms on the Island. These farms are centrally located on the island, providing a very different terroir to the wild maritime location of the 2007 release from Rockside.

This first 'regional Islay release' distilled from barley grown by eight family farms on Islay . The fifth in the Islay Barley series. Distilled in 2010 before being filled into ex-Bourbon and French wine casks and matured in the warehouses by Loch Indaal.

The 2011 vintage Bruichladdich Islay Barley single malt was made using Publican and Oxbridge barley varieties grown by six farms around the island. As ever, Bruchladdich has also given us an in-depth look at the casks used for this whisky - 75% was aged in first-fill American whiskey casks, 15% was aged in second and third-fill Sauternes and Austrian sweet wine casks, and 10% was aged in first-fill Rivesaltes wine casks. The whisky was then married together for six months before bottling.

Bere barley is one of the oldest cereal crops in Britain. It is thought to have been brought over by the Vikings in the 9th century and has been grown ever since, having been used in single malt whiskies before (much) higher yielding strains of barley became available. The 21st century has seen distilleries experimenting with these older types of grain. Part of Bruichladdich's Uber Provenance range, Bere Barley 2006 was produced from crops planted in the Achaba and Achfad fields on Kynagarry farm, Islay. The fields hadn't been used for agriculture in over a century and no chemicals were used.

The second release of Bere Barley 2008, this time using barley grown on Islay from Dunlossit Estate.

A travel retail Bruichladdich single malt Scotch whisky, made with Bere barley. For the 2008 vintage Bere Barley Bruichladdich the barley was harvested on Orkney. From one island to another, all to make this light, sweet, refined expression.

Bere Barley is a six-row heritage variety that has long since been forgotten from the modern world of standardised whisky making. Its revival into present day has taken effort and resilience from an entire network of millers, growers and agronomists. This Bruichladdich Bere Barley was distilled in 2010 from a 2009 harvest, brought home by Peter, John, Magnus, Sydney and Duncan on the Orkney Islands.

Packaged in a startling azure coloured bottle, Resurrection was the brainchild of Bruichladdich's Jim McEwan and was distilled from barley with 10ppm and matured in ex-bourbon casks for 8 years.

An excellent Bruichladdich, this 3D3 was produced as a tribute to the well-loved Islay peat-cutter Norrie Campbell, who passed away in 2006. 3D3 contains three malts - Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore - at three different ages, and is the most heavily-peated of the 3D releases.

This is one of a trio of superb 21 year old single malts from Bruichladdich - the Cuvee range. Cuvee 382 "La Berenice" was matured in American oak casks before a finish in sweet Barsac and Sauternes casks. Very good indeed.

Bruichladdich Cuvee 640 is the first of three whiskies from the distillery's Cuvee range. This Eroica edition was aged in American oak and finished in Limousin oak brandy casks before bottling. It comes with a subtitle from the opening line of Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

This Bruichladdich was matured for 21 years in top quality Oloroso sherry casks.

This is a limited edition bottling of Bruichladdich, the third in a series released to commemorate the finding of a small yellow submarine on Islay which apparently belonged to the Ministry of Defence. As with the second release, this is a 1991 vintage, this time aged an impressive 25 years.

A single cask twenty one year old Bruichladdich from Douglas Laing’s Old Particular range. Matured in a single refill hogshead from May 1993 to August 2014. Following the maturation, it was bottled with an outturn of 278 bottles.

The second release of Bruichladdich's Black Art whisky 'Matured in the Stygian’ darkness of Warehouse number 12'. Twenty one year old Bruichladdich, matured in bourbon and a medley of wine casks.

This is the fourth edition of Bruichladdich's Black Art series. The whisky is created by master distiller Jim McEwan and the composition is a secret. All we know is it's aged in a combination of American and French oak.

The fifth release of Bruichalddich's Black Art was made by head distiller Adam Hannett from a recipe passed down from his predecessor Jim McEwan. Distilled in 1992 and aged for 24 years, this is an elegant whisky with notes of pineapple, melon, strawberry and many other fruits, honey, tobacco and vanilla.

The sixth release of Bruichalddich's Black Art was made by head distiller Adam Hannett from a recipe passed down from his predecessor Jim McEwan. Distilled in 1990 and aged for 26 years

Bruichladdich Black Art 7.1 is a marriage of casks distilled in 1994, the year that Bruichladdich closed, laying dormant until 2001. Matured for a quarter of a century, Head Distiller Adam Hannett has kept the casks that aged this Islay single malt a mystery.

Adam Hannett has carefully constructed this twenty five year old single vintage cuvee from a spirit that set out in 1990 along two very different paths towards perfection; refill Sherry butts from Jerez and casks that had previously held American bourbon.

This Bruichladdich was first filled into bourbon casks in 1990 and lay untouched until 2007. It was then transferred into French wine casks from chateau haut-brion. It was matured for a further ten years in the French oak and bottled in 2017.

The Micro-provenance series is unique to Bruichladdich and is conceived as an exploration into cask evolution, each individually picked by master distiller Adam Hannett. Distilled in 2007, bottled in 2015. This single cask is the first ever release of the 2007 harvest of Islay Barley, matured in fresh oak. The barley was grown at Rockside Farm on the wild west coast of the Rhinns. Tasting.

This is nineteen year old Bruichladdich single cask bottled by Coopers Choice. This whisky was distilled before the distillery was closed and then successfully reopened in 2001. One of only 360 bottles.

A ten year old Bruichladdich single cask bottled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company under their Cooper Choice label. Distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2015 after ten years in a bourbon cask.

This was distilled at Bruichladdich in July 2004 and aged for 11 years in a sherry butt before bottling in October 2015 for Hunter Laing's exceptional Old Malt Cask Range. A release of 153 bottles.

A single cask bottling of Bruichladdich by the Queen of the Moorlands, matured in a shery butt for ten years. This is thought to Be one of the first casks to have been filled after the distillery re-opened in 2001. One of only 200 bottles.

Laighe na Grèine ile" Gaelic for "Islay sunset" A private cask bottling from Bruichladdich. Matured in a rum cask for 11 years which was filled at the distillery by Gillespie & McCall family.

A private cask bottling from Bruichladdich. Matured in a rum cask for 10 years for whiskymania.de.

A private cask bottling from Bruichladdich. Matured in a sherry cask for 10 years for whiskymania.de.

The first of two special releases to mark the acquisition and rebirth of Bruichladdich distillery, distilled in 1998 under the previous ownership. 2,500 bottles were produced, matured in bourbon casks and originally released for Fèis Ìle 2011.

A second of two special releases to mark the acquisition and rebirth of the Islay distillery, originally founded in 1881. Distilled in 2001 and matured in bourbon casks, 2,500 unpeated bottles were produced and originally released for Fèis Ìle 2011. A piece of Islay whisky history.

Bruichladdich's Fèis Ìle 2013 festival bottling was a tribute to Jim McEwan's impressive “50 years of whisky creation”. A vatting of various selected vintages, just 700 bottles were released.

Bruichladdich 15 Year Old 2001 vintage PHD_135 Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Limitly peated matured in bourbon casks, wine casks and ACE-ed in virgin oak for one month. 1,881 numbered bottles for the Islay Festival 2016.

This bottling from Bruichladdich has been so-named 'redder still' for its scarlet hue, this single malt is a limited release of just 4,080 bottles, distilled in 1984, it has attained its colour from the Chateau Lafleur Pomerol wine cask it was finished in.

To celebrate the commencement of distilling operations at their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a third selection of 6 bottlings. This was the third bottle in the selection, a twenty seven year old Bruichladdich matured in a refill American oak hogshead. Bruichladdich Valinch bottlings

These are the DIY bottlings available exclusively to visitors to the distillery. A valinch, possibly from a Spanish term, is the name applied to a large, copper pipette used to take cask samples from whisky barrels. Our view is if you have made the effort to get here to Islay then you deserve something just a little extra special. Valinchs are by definition only ever at cask strength, from a single barrel, and selected by Jim or now Adam for individuality. Each Valinch released has it’s own label and title, usually to commemorate a specific event.

Heavily peated Lochindaal spirit 50ppm. Distilled 2007 and bottled 2015. One of 500 bottles.

Heavily peated Rhinns spirit 30ppm. Distilled 2007 and bottled 2015. One of 500 bottles.

Distilled 25.03.07 Bruichladdich quadruple distilled spirit. Cask No 069/Bourbon. One of 800 bottles. Released for Feis Ile 2008.

Distilled 22.04.93 Bottled 2009 Cask No 13 Fresh Sherry Butt. One of 1000 bottles. Released for Feis Ile 2009.

Distilled 2004 Bottled 2010 Cask No 1667 Fresh Sherry Butt. One of 1060 Bottles. Released for Feis Ile 2010.

Distilled 28.11.06 from Islay grown chalice barley. Bottled 2016 Cask No 3304 Rivesaltes Wine cask. One of 410 bottles.

Distilled 10.12.08 from Islay grown chalice barley. Bottled 2016. Cask No. 3821. Rivesaltes cask.

Distilled 05.02.2008 from Islay grown bere barley on Dunlossit Estate. Cask No. 0152 Fresh Bourbon Cask. Bottled for Feis Ile 2017

Distilled 25.11.2006 from organic barley from Mains of Tullibardine farm. Cask No. 3246 Fresh Bourbon Cask. Bottled for Feis Ile 2017

Cask No R07/007-009/1992 matured in a Borubon cask then ACE’d in a Guyana Rum Cask. One of 300 bottles.

Cask No R05/135-019/1989 matured in a Bourbon cask then ACE’d in a Rioja Wine Cask. One of 500 bottles.

Cask No 8 R07/09-125/1992 matured in a Bourbon cask then ACE’d in Spanish Oak. One of 400 bottles.

Distilled 1992 Cask No 25 R07/006-1992 Matured in a Bourbon Cask and ACE’d in a Barbaresco Wine Cask. One of 395 Bottles.

Distilled 1992 Cask No 002 R10/177-1992 Matured in a Bourbon Cask and ACE’d in a Calvados Cask. One of 618 Bottles.

Distilled 1992 Cask No 053 R13/110-1992 Bourbon cask matured. One of 370 bottles.

Distilled 1990 Cask No 062 R07/211-1990 Bourbon Cask Matured and ACE’d in Pessac-Leognan Wine Cask. One of 375 Bottles.

Distilled 1992 Cask No 009 R09/125-1992 Bourbon cask matured and ACE’d in a Figuero Wine cask. One of 396 Bottles.

Distilled 1990 Cask No 13 R12/048-1990 Bourbon cask matured and ACE’d in a Calvados Cask. One of 385 Bottles.

Distilled 1990 Cask No 006-1990 Sherry Hogshead. One of 386 Bottles.

Distilled 20.11.91 Cask No 034 Bourbon cask matured and ACE’d in French Oak. One of 400 Bottles.

Distilled 192 Cask No 018 R07/258-1992 Bourbon cask matured and ACE’d in Sauternes in Cask. One of 310 Bottles.

Distilled 23.06.03 Cask No 002 R13/273 Bourbon cask matured. One of 370 Bottles.

Distilled 18.06.03 Cask No 544 Fresh Port Hogshead. One of 440 Bottles.

Distilled 24.06.04 Cask No R09/155-023 First Fill Sherry Cask. One of 494 Bottles.

Distilled 28.11.06 Cask No 3395 Rivesaltes Wine Cask. Islay Grown Chalice Barley. One of 440 Bottles.

Distilled 19.07.06 Cask No 1344 Sherry Hogshead Bottled 2017. One of 468 Bottles.

Distilled 16.12.04. Cask No. 1724 Bourbon Cask. Bottled 2017.

Distilled 19.08.2002. Cask No. R09/190-003 Sherry Butt. Bottled 2017.

Distilled 29.06.2005. Cask No. 780 Sauternes Cask. Bottled 2017.

Distilled 12.05.06. Cask No. 419 Mourvedre Syrah Cask. Bottled 2017.

Distilled 12.12.07. Cask No. 3684 Premier Cru Claret Cask. Bottled Novmber 2017

Distilled 27.06.07. Cask No. 1308 Rivesaltes Cask. Bottled February 2018.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. Distilled 04.12.03 with Chocolate malt. Cask No. 1543 Syrah Cask. Bottled April 2018.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. Distilled 09.06.04. Cask No. 379 2nd Fill Bourbon Cask. Bottled April 2018.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. Distilled 26.02.2008. Cask No. 360. 2nd Fill Mourvedre Cask. One of 423 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. Distilled 04.04.2007. Cask No. R122460007 Pedro Ximenez Cask. One of 876 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of operations system support manager Andy Fisher. Distilled on 26th November 2007 and matured in a madeira cask, bottled at 10 years old. One of only 410 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of bottling hall operator Colin Tocher. Distilled on 16th June 2006 and matured in a fresh bourbon cask, bottled at 12 years old. One of only 341 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of shift operator Neil Gillies. Distilled on 7th July 2004 and matured in a fresh bourbon cask, bottled at 14 years old. One of only 317 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of the Product Design manager Michael Thomson. Distilled on 27th February 2008 and matured in a refill bourbon cask, bottled at 10 years old. One of only 370 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of financial controller Sharon Foley. Distilled on 21st July 2006 and matured in a 1st Fill Oloroso cask, bottled at 12 years old. One of 850 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of housekeeper Helen McCormick. Distilled on 2nd July 2009 and matured in a Vin Doux Naturel cask, bottled at 9 years old. One of 358 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of bottling hall assistant manager Craig Woodrow. Distilled on 2nd July 2009 and matured in a premium Italian wine cask, bottled at 9 years old. One of 421 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of Global Brand Director Geraldine Le Garrec. Distilled on 29th June 2005 and matured in a fresh bourbon cask, bottled at 13 years old. One of 331 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of Malt Communication Manager Christy McFarlane. Distilled on 1st June 2006 and matured in a premium Spanish wine cask, bottled at 13 years old. One of 533 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of bottling hall operator Ruaraidh MacKinnon. Distilled on 12th November 2003 and matured in a second fill rum cask, bottled at 15 years old. One of 374 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of warehouseman Iain MacLean. Distilled on 1st December 2004 and matured in a premium French Wine cask, bottled at 14 years old. One of 374 bottles.

A distillery exclusive bottle, the 'Valinch' bottlings are only available for hand bottling at Bruichladdich distillery. This Valinch was released in honour of tour guide and shop assistant Ashley MacGregor. Distilled on 26th November 2007 and matured in a Portuguese Fortified Wine Cask #3288, bottled at 11 years old. One of 425 bottles.

A distillery exclusive hand filled bottle, which sold out in under one hour during the Feis Ile 2019. Distilled on 21st September 2005 and matured in Second Fill Sherry cask #9 (Rotation 15/144) for over 13 years. One of only 438 bottles.

bunnahabhain

Gentle, malty, nutty and sometimes salty with an oiliness that blends well with a fresh sweetness.

Deriving from the Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’, Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 by William Robertson and brothers James and William Greenless. A very smooth, easy-drinking Islay malt, Bunnahabhain (pronounced ‘BOO-na-HAven’) closed and reopened twice during the twentieth century.

In 2003, Edrington sold Bunnahabhain to Burn Stewart Distilleries for £10 million. Included in this deal was the popular blend Black Bottle, whose contents feature a quantity of spirit from every distillery on Islay. Today, production stands at 2.5million litres a year. Of this, 21,000 casks are kept at the distillery for maturation and the resultant whisky will be used for the Black Bottle blend and for bottling as Bunnahabhain single malt. In relative solitude, Bunnahabhain is the Northern-most Islay distillery. It sits in a large bay to the North East of the isle, drawing its water from the Margadale Spring.

This entry level Bunnahabhain bottling comes in a redesigned bottle. This 12 year old is lightly peated for an Islay single malt and consequently is a light, fresh dram. Now at the higher strength of 46.3% - for more complexity and flavour.

Bunnahabhain's Stiùireadair single malt pays homage to the distillery's shoreline on the north-east coast of Islay. They used whisky matured in first and second fill Sherry casks, with a leaning towards deliciously coastal malt with notes of caramel, nuts, dried fruit and hints of spice. Stuireadair is gaelic for Helmsman.

A collectible bottle of 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the Bunnahabhain distillery on Islay, released in the 1990s. It features the classic helmsman on the label, westering home.

This Islay single malt has been matured for 10 years before being bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as part of its Discovery range. Sweet aromas of vanilla and toffee mingle with peat smoke and sea salt on the nose. The palate offers notes of lemon zest, candied lime, liquorice and rich bonfire smoke.

11 year old Bunnahabhain, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for the Discovery range. This series places whiskies into three flavour Categories, Sherried' 'Smoky' and 'Bourbon' to make it easy to find a whisky you might enjoy. This one sits in the 'Sherried' category.

An 8 year old heavily peated Bunnahabhain from newly packaged MacPhail's Collection.

An indie bottling from the Bunnahabhain distillery, bottled for the MacPhail's Collection by Gordon & MacPhail. It was distilled on the Isle of Islay in 2005 and bottled in 2014 at 43% ABV.

An indie bottling from the Bunnahabhain distillery, bottled for the MacPhail's Collection by Gordon & MacPhail. It was distilled on the Isle of Islay in 2006 and bottled in 2015 at 43% ABV.

A relatively young Bunnah from Douglas Laing's Provenance range, which features whiskies from 7 to around 14 years old. This 8 year old from Islay was distilled in October 2007 and bottled in November 2015.

An 8 year old independent bottling of Bunnahabhain matured in a single cask for over 8 years. Hunter Laing's Hepburn's Choice range is for their relatively younger, but still excellent, bottlings.

After a string of highly-regarded indie peated Bunnahabhains, the distillery has finally released an official version of their heavily-peated malt. Toiteach (pronounced toch-chach) is Gaelic for smoky, and there's some sherry influence on this as well.

The first peated whisky in Bunnahabhain's core range. Like the limited edition Toiteach that came before it, Toiteach A Dha (which means 'smoky two' in Scots Gaelic) is a smoky single malt with a sherry twist. Matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, with a higher sherry influence than Toiteach, this is a delicate mix of smoke and sweet sherry fruit.

For the Ceòbanach (pronounced 'kyaw-bin-och'), the Bunnahabhain distillers have taken inspiration from the days when the distillery used to produced heavily peated spirit. Meaning 'Smoky mist' in Scots Gaelic, Ceòbanach certainly packs a rich, smoky profile that classic Islay whisky fans will want to pay attention to. It was matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled without chill-filtration.

Bunnahabhain's Eirigh Na Greine was originally released for the Travel Retail market, with its name meaning 'Morning Sky' in Gaelic. A portion of this single malt was matured in red wine casks, resulting in juicy berry notes throughout, blending well with the wafts of sea salt and orchard fruit.

Released in August 2017 for travel retail. An Cladach, meaning "The Shore", is aged in sherry casks. It is bottled at cask strength of 50% ABV. Bunnahabhain say it has a rich sherry influence and aromas of fruit and nuts, this malt is guaranteed to transport you back to the shore at Bunnahabhain.

The relaunched version of Bunnahabhain 18yo, with owners Burn Stewart having ditched the caramel colouring and chill-filtration and upped the strength to 46.3%. A triumph for 'naturalist' whisky drinkers

Cruach Mhóna is gaelic for a pile of drying peat bricks and follows on from Toiteach (gaelic for smoky) as a peaty offering from Bunnahabhain. Although Islay is famed for its peat, Bunnahabhain's spirit is unpeated.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 5614 a seven year old in a red wine Cask. Bottled at 58.0% on 25/2/16.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 3657 an eight year old in a second Fill sherry cask. Bottled at 60.2% on 25/5/16.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 300118 a bourbon cask. Bottled at 56.3% on 30/1/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 5617 an eight year old in a red wine Cask. Bottled at 57.7% on 30/1/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 332 a 12 year old Manzanilla Sherry Cask. Bottled at 52.4% on 20/12/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 555 a 14 year old Pedro Ximenez Noe Sherry Cask. Bottled at 52.4% on 17/02/18.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. AR13000005 a 14 year old Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask. This is a heavily peated Bunnahbahin. Bottled at 52.4% on 12/05/18.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This Bunnahabhain was matured in a bourbon caks for 10 Years before being moved to a Marsala cask for a further 3 years to finish it.Bottled at 46.3% on 12/05/18.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 3657 an eight year old Moine in an Oloroso Sherry Cask. Bottled at 60.2% on 1/06/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 110883 a nine year old which has been finished in a bourbon cask. Bottled at 58.1% on 1/06/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in warehouse 9. This is cask no. 636 an eight year old in a red wine Cask. Bottled at 57.3% on 10/12/17.

An exclusive hand filled Bunnahabhain straight from the cask in Warehouse 9. This 11 year old has been finished in a Muscat red Wine cask. Bottled at 54.7% on 13th June 2018.

This is a thirteen year old Bunnahabhain from Douglas Laing's Old Malt Cask range.The Old Malt Cask range began as a release of fifty bottlings in 1998 to commemorate Douglas Laing's fiftieth anniversary. Today they offer many, many more. All bottlings in the range are non-chill filtered and contain no naughty colouring.

A 26 year old Bunnahabhain single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a single cask from October to 2016. Cask no. 5783 a bourbon cask. One of only 260 bottles.

A 23 year old Bunnahabhain single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a single cask from 1990 to 2014. It comes to us presented by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company's Coopers Choice range, with an outturn of 300 bottles.

A 14 year old, Sherry cask matured Bunnahabhain single malt Scotch whisky, independently bottled by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. for The Cooper's Choice series. A release of 420 bottles.

A 14 year old Bunnahabhain finished in a Marsala cask from the Vintage Malt Whisky Company’s The Cooper’s Choice Range. Distilled In October 2002 and bottled in 2017 from cask no. 9894. One of only 345 bottles.

One of only 363 bottles produced from a single refill hogshead in 2016, this Islay Single Malt from Bunnahabhain distillery was distilled in 2007 and matured for 9 years before bottling.

Distilled in 2007 at the Bunnahabhain distillery, this cask strength single malt Scotch whisky from Islay has been aged for 9 years in 1st fill sherry hogsheads. Bottled at 55.8% in 2016 by independent whisky bottlers Gordon & MacPhail, for their superb Cask Strength series.

Independently bottled Bunnahabhain single malt, distilled in March 2009 and matured in first fill Sherry hogsheads until March 2017. This was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for their Cask Strength range, and as such, this has been presented at a generous 60.5% ABV.

A 20 year old Bunnahabhain single malt, independently bottled by Douglas Laing as part of the Old Particular range. This was distilled in November 1991 and allowed to aged in a refill hogshead until June 2016. 209 bottles were produced.

Distilled in 2005, this is Doulgas Laing's special Old Particular single cask bottling for the 2018 Feis Ile festival on Islay. This was bottled shortly before the festival in April 2018. Matured in refill hogshead ref #DL12519, which yielded just 384 bottles.

A heavily peated 1997 Bunnahabhain from the Queen Of The Moorlands range. Bottled at a cask strength of 60.2% with an outturn of just 82 bottles, this is a muscular and peaty treat for any Islay fan. A terrific and hard to find bottling.

This bottle tells an unusual story as the whisky was produced while John MacLellan was distillery manager of Bunnahabhain distillery and was matured and bottled by him. John worked at Bunnahahbain for 21 years after which he left to begin a new career as Manager of the Kilchoman Farm Distillery. The maturation was carried out firstly at Bunnahabhain and then from April 2010 at Kilchoman before being bottled at Kilchoman. The whisky is fairly unusual as it represents Bunnahabhain in it's peated form. The whisky has been matured for almost 15 years in an ex-sherry hogshead, cask number 5911, which showcases the fine Bunnahabhain peated spirit perfectly.

This limited edition from Islay's Bunnahabhain distillery takes its name from the Scots Gaelic for peat, Moine, and the seven Oloroso sherry casks in which it was matured. Revealing a side of the distillery not often seen, this rich and complex single malt is presented non chill-filtered at a cask strength of 60.1% abv.

Hogshead 733 is an artistic project made by Maxime Berthou and Mark Požlep to produce the first ever whisky finished in casks made from a former fishing boat.The process followed the restoration and decontamination of a typical 1941 wooden fishing boat, her last 733 miles sailing journey and final transformation of her hull, soaked with sea, salt, wind and adventures into two Hogshead whisky barrels. The couple embarked on a unique adventure from the shipyard in Trebeurden, France to the Bunnahabhain distillery in Islay. On their arrival the boat was deconsructed and the oak wood, soaked with the sea, wind and adventures, was used for the production of two 250 litre whisky barrel-Hogshead. Casks were made according to traditional procedure by professional cask makers in Speyside cooperage.The two barrels were filled with a peated whisky - named Mòine - distilled in 2003 by Ian Macmillan in the Bunnahabhain distillery.

A hand filled distillery only exclusive bottling of peated Bunnahabhain finished in a rum cask for two years. One of only 242 bottles. Bottled on 6th October 2016.

A hand filled distillery only exclusive bottling of Bunnahabhain finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask. One of only 833 bottles. Bottled on 6th October 2016.

This is a 14 year old single malt, distilled in 2003 and was initially aged in second-fill Sherry casks until 2011. At this point, the whisky was transferred over to yet more Sherry casks - first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks! It was bottled in 2017 at cask strength.

From Bunnahabhain's Mòine series which sees the distillery giving its single malt a hearty helping of peat at its core, comes an expression that was fully matured in casks that previously held Bordeaux red wine! The juxtaposition between the sweetness of the wine and the rich smokiness of the peat makes for a fascinating single malt.

A very limited distillery exclusive Bunnahabhain, distilled in February 2005 and finished in casks that previously held Palo Cortado sherry. This Distillery Exclusive Limited Edition is creamy, fruity, rich and sweet, with a gentle dry, lingering finish.

A rather impressive limited edition release from Bunnahabhain distillery, featuring 20 year old whisky which has enjoyed a finishing period in casks that once held Palo Cortado sherry. The whisky was distilled in November 1997 and bottled in April 2018 after nearly two years in the Palo Cortado casks, them bottled at cask strength. 1,620 bottles were produced.

This limited edition is special indeed and is the first time brandy casks have been used at Bunnahabhain. Distilled in 2004 and bottled in June 2017.

This rare single cask is limited to only 564 bottles and was sold exclusively at the Distillery. The whisky was distilled in January 2004 and enjoyed 13 years maturation before being bottled in June 2017. The cask was specially selected by distillery manager Andrew Brown.

Just 310 bottles of peated Bunahabhain (Mòine being Gaelic for 'peat') were released for the Fèis Ìle festival in 2004 from a single ex-bourbon cask. A rare and very hard to find bottle for Islay connoisseurs.

A Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old finished in Port Wood. Bottled for Feis Ile 2005. One of 766 bottles.

Mòine is a special release from the Bunnahabhain distillery. This is a peated expression selected by master distillery Ian MacMillan for Feis Ile 2009. This was distilled in 2003. The name is Gaelic for peat, a reference to the high peat levels in this usually unpeated whisky. Finished in Oloroso sherry butts for three months.

A superb and very rare 12 year old Bunnahabhain at natural cask strength, matured in an Amontillado sherry cask. This was bottled especially for the 2012 Feis Ile (Islay Festival) and there are just 346 bottles!

Dràm an Stiùreadair is pronounced 'Dram an Yoù-radar'. It's a heavily peated Bunnahabhain released especially for the Fèis Ìle, in 2014. Matured in Bourbon casks for 9 years, it then spent a final year in a Marsala wine cask the outturn from which was 632 bottles.

One of Bunnahabhain's special bottlings produced for the 2014 Islay whisky festival. Distilled in November 1996, it was moved into a Cognac cask in October 2007 before being filled into a Sauternes wine cask in December 2013. Just 301 bottles were produced. The label was designed by Mathilda Holmqvist, whose design was chosen as the winner of the Tales of the Sea Design Competition. The competition also raised funds for the Fisherman's Mission charitable cause.

One of two expressions released for Feis Ile 2015. Bunnahabhain Rubha a' Mhail was distilled in 2004 and aged in Spanish Manzanilla sherry butts, #550 & #554. Aged for 11 years and bottled for the Feis Ile 2015, Rubha a' Mhail (pronounced rooaval) is named after the lighthouse situated north of Bunnahabhain.

The second release from Bunnahabhain for the Feis Ile in 2015. An eighteen year old finished in a muscatel wine cask. One of Only 250 bottles.

The first of two bottlings from Bunnahbahin for the Feis Ile 2016, a peated Bunnahabhain finished in Pedro Ximenez for three years to complement the sea spray characteristics that it picked up slumbering in sea facing Warehouse 7.

The second bottling fvrom Bunnahabhain for the Feis Ile in 2016. The older sibling to 2012’s Feis Ile Amontillado offering this bottle sees the aging process increased from 2 to 6 years. This results in a greater depth of flavour and a lower outturn, this time just 250 bottles.

One of two bottlings released for the 2017 Islay Festival, this bottling finished its maturation in port pipes. It was distilled on the 1st of December 2004 and bottled on the 8th of March 2017. Only 1596 bottles were produced with the ABV coming in at 55.6%. This whisky was bottled at natural color and was not chill-filtered.

One of three special releases from Bunnahabhain for the 2019 Feis Ile. This peated Bunnahabhain has been finished in French oak casks. Distilled on 7th Febuary 2008 and bottled on 11th of the same month in 2019. One of 1872 bottles.

The second of three special releases from Bunnahabhain. This seventeen year old has been finished in Sauternes wine casks. Distilled on 8th October 2001 and bottled on 17th January 2019. One of 1118 bottles.

The second bottling of exclusive Fèis Ìle 2017 releases this exquisite 20 years old Bunnahabhain is one of only 528 bottles released. Matured in refill casks for twenty years before being finished in highly prized virgin American Oak casks.

One of two releases from Bunnahabhain for the Feis Ile Festival 2018. Distilled in 2007 with one of only 1881 individually numbered bottles all containing Islay single malt which has been finished in Moine Oloroso Sherry.

The second of two bottlings from Bunnahabhain released in celebration of Fèis Ìle 2018. This expression was distilled in 2002 and allowed a finishing period in Spanish oak casks.

The most gentle of the Islay whiskies. And this is truly a limited and unusual bottling of Bunnahabhain. Also this one contains a high amount of cask sediment. So full of flavours and joy!

An update to the much vaunted Bunnhabhain 25 year old, keeping the same age statement and presentation but upping the ABV to 46.3% to bring it line with the rest of the range. A great whisky at 43% but even better now with a little more oomph.

A single cask Bunnahabhain from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, bottled specially for the Feis Ile 2017. one of 186 bottles.

A single cask Bunnahabhain from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, bottled specially for Sweden. This ten year old Bunnahabhain Was distilled on 1st December 2006 and matured in a refillhogshead ex-bourbon before being bottled at 62.0% abv.

A single cask Bunnahabhain bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to celebrate the Islay Feis Ile festival in 2019. Matured in A 2nd fill bourbon barrell. One of only 205 bottles.

A single cask Bunnahabhain, bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to celebrate the Feis Ile festival on Islay in 2019. Matured In a 1st fill Moscatel wine cask. One of only 237 bottles.

An exclusive Feis Ile 2017 to celebrate the commencement of the construction of Arnahoe Distillery. This is the 1st release and is a 28 year old Bunnahabhain single malt whisky which was carefully selected by Jim McEwan and bottled at cask strength by Hunter Laing.

To celebrate the coming completion of their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released a second selection of6 bottlings, following on from the original Kinship collection in 2017. The 2018 Kinship collection was released exclusively to visitors of Islay's Feis Ile festival, and were available to buy at the Ardnahoe gift shop. This Bunnahabhain was bottled from two sherry hogsheads and is one of 372 bottles.

To celebrate the commencement of distilling operations at their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a third selection of 6 bottlings. This was the sixth bottle in the selection, a thirty year old Bunnahabhain bottled from a refill sherry butt and a refill American oak hogshead. One of only 560 bottles.

Caol ila

Oily and smoky, with a seaside tang.

Caol Ila was founded to the North of Islay in 1846 by the pleasingly-named Hector Henderson. It is located near Port Askaig and sits in lush, floral surroundings, overlooking the cove and the Paps of southern Jura. The distillery draws its water from Loch Nam Ban, whose waters travel through limestone and peat before reaching their beneficiary, Caol Ila.

The whisky distillery was sold to Norman Buchanan in 1852 and then, following monetary hardship, to the Glasgow-based blenders Bulloch, Lade and Co who renovated the buildings in 1879. Following liquidation, Distillers Company Ltd acquired Caol Ila and the distillery was subsequently transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers. The majority of the production is used in Johnnie Walker blends. Just 5% is kept for maturation as single malt.

From 1999, unpeated single malts have been experimented with and in 2006 the first unpeated bottling was released in the form of an eight year-old. Caol Ila, whose name de- rives from the Gaelic for ‘Sound of Islay’, has been included in the Diageo Classic Malts range, exhibiting twelve and eighteen year-old expressions as well as a Moscatel-finished Distillers Edition. Independent bottlings can also be found.

This 12 year old is the entry level bottling from the Caol Ila distillery, launched in June of 2002 this expression is light and fresh with that distinctive Caol Ila smoke.

The first edition of Caol Ila's young-ish cask strength unpeated single malt. A big success on its introduction in 2006, though some folk swore it still tasted a bit smoky.

Named after distillery manager Billy Stitchell who retired in 2013, this bottling honours his 39 years at Caol Ila, following in the footsteps of four previous generations of his family! The eighth unpeated Caol Ila single malt from Diageo's Special Releases, it is taken from American Oak, rejuvenated American Oak and ex-bodega European Oak casks.

Released for the 2014 collection of Special Releases, this edition was distilled in 1998 and matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks for 15 years before being bottled at an intense 60.3% ABV with an outturn of 10,668 bottles.

Another one of Diageo's Special Releases In fact, this is now the tenth release in the series. At 17 years old, it's the oldest yet too, having been distilled in 1997.

The Diageo Special Releases 2016 edition of unpeated Caol Ila. This is the first of these unusual Islay malts to have been distilled this millennium, being filled into refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts back in the year 2000.

Caol Ila is renowned for its peat smoke – but there's so much more to this single malt than merely its ember qualities, as Diageo l ikes to remind us every so often with the launch of an unpeated expression. This is what we have here with this 18 year old, American oak hogshead-matured, natural cask strength single malt. Once a year the distillery swaps out its peated regimen for unpeated production runs, and the fruits of that labour shine through in this fragrant little number. But it's still got that Caol Ila signature smoke on the finish.

A sherry-forward edition of the yearly Diageo Special Releases unpeated Caol Ila. While whisky from the distillery is usually very smoky, this yearly release looks at the distillery's other, less well-known side: unpeated spirit. The 2018 bottling was matured in refill and rejuvenated American-oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European oak butts, which give a balance of elegant vanilla and orchard fruit, and richer, sherry oak flavour.

Part of Diageo's Distillers Edition range comes a 2001 vintage single malt Scotch whisky from Caol Ila, which has been matured in American oak and finished in Moscatel wine casks. A limited edition release.

A wonderfully balanced expression from the core Caol Ila range, this 18 year old is malty and thick with notes of Caol Ila smoke and phenols, a lovely Islay single malt without extreme levels of peat.

Moch is Gaelic for dawn, and this release from Caol Ila is an altogether lighter prospect than the distillery's excellent 12 year old standard expression.

A distillery Exclusive from Caol Ila Distillery. Bottled at a natural Cask Strength of 58.8%, limited to only 3000 bottles and only available at the distillery shop.

The 2019 distillery exclusive bottling from Cao Ila. A vatting of 1st fill Kentucky bourbon and 1st fill specially charred Californian Red Wine cask, bottled at natural cask strength. Limited to only 3000 bottles and only available at the distillery shop.

Young & feisty" single malt from the Caol Ila distillery, presented as part of Douglas Laing's Provenance range. This Islay whisky was distilled in the autumn of 2008 and matured in two refill hoggies until summer 2014, when it was bottled at 46% ABV.

An indie bottling of 5 year old Caol Ila single malt, drawn from a refill hogshead which was filled on the Isle of Islay in December 2010 and emptied in August 2016. This is yet another tasty bottling from Douglas Laing's Provenance range, only 476 bottles were produced.

Independently bottled Caol Ila single malt Scotch whisky, aged in a single cask for 6 years (from November 2010 to April 2017). Following that, this was bottled by Douglas Laing for their Provenance range and released in celebration of Fèis Ìle 2017.

The spirit of this single malt Scotch whisky was sourced from Caol Ila Distillery before Gordon and MacPhail matured it in its own casks for its new introductory range, Discovery. It was aged for a total of 13 years before being bottled at 43% ABV.

Made in 2001 at Caol Ila distillery, this Islay single malt was matured in a single American oak hogshead until being bottled in April 2019 for Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice series. Subtle, smoky aromas of fresh citrus, green apple and creamy vanilla fill the nose, and the palate offers notes of bonfire smoke, bright citrus and crunchy apples.

A sixteen year old from the Caol Ila distillery, bottled by the excellent Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice range. The whisky was distilled in 2002 and matured for 16 years in four first-fill bourbon barrels, before being bottled in November 2018. A release of 1,100 bottles. An indie Islay from Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice range here - it's a 2003 vintage single malt from the Caol Ila distillery, bottled in 2016 at 46% ABV.

The 2004 vintage of Caol Ila in Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice range. Bottled in 2018 from first-fill bourbon barrels .

This fabulous Caol Ila was distilled in 2003 and spent the following 15 years in a single first fill bourbon barrel. In February 2019, the barrel was drained and the whisky was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for the brilliant Connoisseurs Choice series, with a limited 210 bottles released at a cask strength of 55.7% ABV.

An intriguing indie bottling of Caol Ila single malt from Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice range. It was initially aged in first-fill bourbon and refill American oak casks, before being moved over to Hermitage wine casks for a three-year long finishing period, then bottled at 13 years old in February 2018.

This smoky single malt was distilled at Caol Ila in 2005 and left to mature in first fill and refill bourbon barrels. Then, the whisky was transferred into Hermitage wine casks where it saw a one year finishing period. Finally, it was bottled on 25 March 2019 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series, with a release of 3,708 bottles.

Matured in four first fill Sherry butts, this is a treat of an independently bottled Islay single malt. Distilled at Caol Ila in February 2005, it was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for their Cask Strength range in July 2016.

This cask strength Caol Ila was distilled back on the 18th June 2008, cask number 311993. Bottled 23rd January 2018.

Distilled at Islay's Caol Ila distillery in 2010, this single cask expression is part of the First Editions series from independent bottler Hunter Laing & Co. of Glasgow. Matured for 6 years in a refill hogshead before bottling in 2017, only 428 bottles have been produced. Presented at a strength of 46% abv, free from chill filtration and artificial colouring.

A Hepburns Choice bottling of Caol Ila bottled exclusively for the Islay Whisky Festival 2018 and only available to buy from the Ardnahoe Shop in Islay House Square at Bridgend. This single cask Caol Ila was matured in a bourbon barrel for seven years andbottled at 46.% abv. One of only 282 bottles.

A 19 year old Caol Ila, presented as part of the long-running Old Malt Cask range of independently bottled whiskies. The whisky was put into its hogshead by the Islay-based distillery in August 1996 and left to age until October 2015, when it was bottled by Hunter Laing at 50% ABV. 239 bottles were produced.

an 8 year old Caol Ila single malt, bottled by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. for the Cooper's Choice range. The whisky was aged in a single bourbon cask #321581, and was released with an outturn of just 360 bottles.

13 year old Caol Ila single malt Scotch whisky, independently bottled for the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection. This tasty Islay dram was distilled in August 2001 and set aside to mature until April 2015, when it was bottled at 45% ABV. 3200 bottles were produced.

A beautiful Caol Ila, filled into cask on the 18th December 1996, and aged for 12 years in European oak sherry cask 19313 before being hand selected by Billy Stitchell for the 2009 Feis Ile.

Caol Ila’s limited edition Fèis Ìle festival bottling is a triple matured release of 3,000 bottles. Spirit distilled in 1998 has been triple-cask matured. For 12 years it rested in a combination of Refill Butts, Hogsheads and Barrels. The vatted whisky was then allowed to mature for several months in active hogshead casks to impart a spicy/oaky note to the existing delicate Caol Ila smoke. Finally it was treated to a final gentle maturation in European oak.

Caol Ila's Fèis Ìle 2014 bottling was selected by new distillery manager David Wood. Matured in refill American oak hogsheads, 1,500 bottles have been released.

Distilled in 1998 and matured in American oak, Moscatel casks and finally old Sherry puncheons, the 2015 Fèis Ìle bottling was bottled at a natural cask strength of 57.3% abv.

This is Caol Ila's 2016 Feis Ile release. Personally selected by Andrew Millsopp, it is a 12 year old which has been matured in Refill American Oak Hogsheads and European Oak ex Bodega Sherry Butts. Bottled at natural cask strength.

This bottling was personally selected by manager Eddie Thom. Double matured in Amoroso Cask Wood.

The 2018 Feis Ile release from Caol Ila aged in a combination of refill American Oak hogsheads and rejuvinated oak butts and bottled at cask strength. The casks were the first to be selected for a Feis Ile bottling by Pierrick Guillaume, Caol Ila's new Distillery Manager, and the last that will be blended by Master Blender, Keith Law, who retires this summer. One of 2500 bottles.

Released on the distillery's open day on May 27th 2019, this Caol Ila has been matured for over 22 years in Sherry-Treated American Oak Casks before being bottled at a very strong 58.4%.. Specially selected by distillery manager Pierrick Guillaume. One of 3000 bottles.

Introduced in 2010, after cask strength versions in 2004 and 2005, this is the first officially-bottled Caol Ila 25yo to be bottled at 43%. It's nice to see growing recognition for this excellent distillery, and this is a very welcome addition to the official range, with a rich, gentle mouthfeel and restrained, coal-esque phenols.

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 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.

Part of 'The Kinship' series released by independent bottlers Hunter Laing to mark the commencement of work on Islay's Ardnahoe distillery. This Caol Ila was bottled from a single sherry butt and features notes of vibrant red berry fruits interspersed with smoke and mellow peat.

A rather special Caol Ila, bottled by Hunter Laing for The 2019 Kinship collection, released to celebrate the opening of the bottler's Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay. The single malt was aged in a refill American hogshead for a whopping four decades! The 40 year old whisky was eventually bottled at cask strength, with only 371 limited edition bottles released.

A single cask Caol Ila bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society released to celebrate the Islay Festival 2018. One of 317 bottles.

A single cask Caol Ila, bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society from cask 52.225. Distilled 12th October 2010 and matured for 7 years in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. One of 308 bottles.

A single cask Caol Ila, bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society from cask 52.279. Distilled 1st September 2008 and matured for 9 years in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. One of 257 bottles.

A single cask Caol Ila, bottled after maturing for 10 years by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. Released to celebrate Islay Festival 2019. One of 295 bottles. kilchoman

Smoke and brine with spice and sweet flavours.

The Kilchoman distillery was founded in 2005 at the Rockside Farm, not far from Machir Bay at Islay’s West Coast. Kilchoman is Scotland’s most Westerly whisky distillery and draws its water from a spring on Cnoc Dubh, just above Rockside Farm. The Kilchoman distillery is the brainchild of Anthony Wills, a former wine in- dustry professional who wished to found a small-scale, traditional distillery. The farm is entirely self-contained, Barley is grown and malted at the distillery, matu- rations will take place onsite, as will bottling. The resultant single malt Scotch whisky will not undergo chill-filtration nor will spirit caramel be added, the standard strength will be at 50% abv, reduced with Islay water. Distillation commenced in November of 2005 and 80% of the spirit is matured in ex-bourbon casks, from Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky, the remaining spirit will be matured in Oloroso sherry butts. There is a visitor centre on the site and a Kilchoman new make spirit has already been released, exhibiting a distinct nuttiness and a sumptuous peat even at this early stage. The two stills at the Kilchoman whisky distillery proffer a total capacity of just 90,000 litres per annum, in terms of scale the Kilchoman distillery is of roughly equal capacity to the Edradour distillery.

Kilchoman's Machir Bay is an excellent single malt Scotch whisky from the isle of Islay. The distillers use whisky which has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso Sherry butts, resulting in a well-balanced flavour profile, with highlights of vanilla biscuits, light fruit and wafts of warm peat smoke. A top expression from Islay's farm distillery.

A handsome release from Islay's newest distillery, Kilchoman Sanaig is an enjoyably peaty single malt which has been vatted from both bourbon and Sherry casks. It's named after a small, rocky creek rather near the distillery on the west coast of the island. Look out for plenty of fruit and earthy peat coming through on this one, with a touch of dark chocolate-covered raisins.

Matured for 3 years in first fill and refill Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels before a 2.5 month finish in fresh Oloroso sherry butts from Spain before a vatting with 3 year old refill bourbon matured Kilchoman single malt. This is intense, peaty stuff!

This is the 5th official release from Islay's smallest distillery and youngest distillery, Kilchoman. This was aged for 3 years in fresh bourbon barrels.

Aged for 3 years in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels, this is a wonderful expression from Kilchoman. This is made 100% on Islay, using nothing but local ingredients from barley to bottle.

Kilchoman 100% Islay is produced from barley "grown, malted, distilled and bottled at the distillery". Originally, Kilchoman intended to produce all of their expressions in this fashion, and whilst that didn't turn out to be viable, it's fantastic to see these true 'farm distillery' releases continuing. 10,000 bottles of the 3rd Edition are available worldwide.

The fourth release of Kilchoman's excellent, lightly-peated release, 100% Islay. To create this release, they used a combination of four and five-year old whiskies from first-fill bourbon barrels (40 in total) and bottled it without chill filtration or added colouring.

This is the 5th edition of Kilchoman's very popular 100% Islay series, released in 2015 - the year of Kilchoman's 10th anniversary. A lightly peated single malt Scotch whisky, made with barley which was grown on Islay, distilled by Kilchoman and matured in a mixture of fresh and refill bourbon barrels, filled in 2009 and 2010. It was bottled without any of that chill-filtration or any of those additional colours at all.

An extraordinary Islay single malt that in this day and age is uniquely made using barley that's grown, harvested, malted, distilled and matured all at a single farm distillery! Lightly peated in comparison to other Kilchoman’s, this 6th edition was filled into ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels in 2010 and bottled in 2016.

The seventh release in Kilchoman's excellent 100% Islay series. For the seventh release, they've used whisky distilled in 2010 and matured in a combination of fresh and refill ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels until 2017.

This is the 8th edition of Kilchoman's excellent 100% Islay single malt, made completely with barley grown on Islay. This edition is not quite as heavily peated as Kilchoman's other expressions,sitting at around 20ppm (the others are around 50ppm), and was drawn from a combination of 23 bourbon barrels and seven Oloroso sherry butts. 12,000 bottles were produced.

The 9th Edition marks a return to the bourbon barrel maturation of previous 100% Islay releases. Distilled from 2007 and 2009 barley crops, the 9th edition is a vatting of 43 ex-bourbon barrels matured for over 9 years. Bottled at 50% abv, we’ve released a total of 12,000 bottles

This Kilchoman is made 100% on Islay, using nothing but local ingredients from barley to bottle. This is a single cask bottling of 100% Islay distilled on 3rd August 2008 and matured in a first fill bourbon cask for five years and bottled on the 11th November 2013.

This is the first sherry matured whisky from Kilchoman, and despite being a mere five years of age it's a very characterful dram from an Islay distillery that's producing some wonderful whisky.

The 2014 release of Kilchoman's Loch Gorm single malt, which has been fully matured in Oloroso Sherry butts from 2009 to 2014. The previous Loch Gorm release won the Islay distillery a Gold Medal in the Scotch Single Malt category of the International Wine & Spirits Competition. The name 'Loch Gorm' comes from a notoriously peaty loch near the distillery.

This is the 2015 release of Kilchoman's fantastic Loch Gorm well-Sherried single malt Scotch whisky. For the 2015 release, along with whisky which was matured in Oloroso Sherry butts.

Another tremendous release of Sherry matured peated single malt from Kilchoman. Taken from 17 Oloroso casks, a combination of first fill and refill, this is their oldest Lock Gorm to date with every component being at least 6 years old.

The sixth and oldest instalment of the range, having been matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts filled in 2009. Loch Gorm releases have been evolving over the years and this, the 2017 edition, is the oldest yet. This extra maturation has afforded it a full-bodied richness which combines with the peat smoke and fruity flavours typical of Kilchoman to create a truly unique Islay single malt.

The well-established Loch Gorm release, the exclusively sherry matured limited edition has been a feature of our range since 2012. The 2018 release of 15,000 bottles is made up of nineteen oloroso sherry butts filled in 2007, 2008 and 2011, containing some of the oldest sherry casks ever filled at Kilchoman.

The 2019 edition of Kilchoman's annual Loch Gorm single malt, which sees the Islay distillery's whisky matured in oloroso sherry casks. This year, Kilchomah has drawn spirit from 20 oloroso sherry butts, resulting in big helpings of dark chocolate and fruit, blending well with the peat smoke at its core.

The first cask strength bottling of Kilchoman. This 5 year old single malt Scotch whisky from Islay's farm distillery came from 35 ex-bourbon barrels which were filled in 2009 and opened in 2014, producing 9,200 bottles. It has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 59.2% ABV, and without any chill-filtration. Gloriously intense with plenty of ripe fruit and a neat core of peat smoke.

This is the second edition of Kilchoman's Original Cask Strength expression. The first one was drawn from ex-bourbon barrels, while this second edition was aged for over 6 years in quarter casks and then bottled at natural cask strength.

Back in 2011, Islay's farm distillery filled up 17 casks which had previously held Madeira wine and set them aside to age. Now they've cracked the casks open, revealing an intense single malt Scotch whisky, packed with peaty notes and elegant, nutty wine elements from the cask! 6,100 bottles were produced.

The first ever Kilchoman single malt Scotch whisky which was matured in casks that previously held intensely sweet Sauternes wine! Distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2016, this intriguing Islay should be an exciting treat for whisky fans looking for something a bit different. Fragrant peat smoke yumminess backed up by huge wine-cask-sweetnes.

Launched in the latter-half of 2017, this intriguing expression from the Kilchoman was fully matured in casks that previously held red wine from the famous Douro Valley in Portugal. It was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2017 at 50%.

The second Port cask matured release from Kilchoman, the first, launched in 2014 being one of the most talked about Kilchoman releases in the distillery’s history. The 2018 edition is a vatting of thirty ruby port hogsheads filled in 2014, yielding a total of 10,000 bottles.

A 2018 release from Kilchoman distillery, initially matured in bourbon barrels before being moved over to casks that previously held Sauternes wine. Within these sweet wine casks the whisky rests for a five months before being bottled at 50% ABV. The combination of earthy smoke from the peated spirit and intense fruit notes from the cask is absolutely wonderful indeed.

the second of two spring releases from Kilchoman, the STR Cask Matured. The Islay single malt was distilled in 2012, and has been matured in a combination of 43 hand-selected shaved, toasted and re-charred (STR) red wine casks. The shaving of the casks results in gentler red wine influence, while the whisky is also able to interact with both seasoned and virgin oak, resulting in both bold and more nuanced flavours. In 2019, the whisky was bottled at 50% ABV with an outturn of 14,500 bottles.

A five year old release from Kilchoman, distilled in 2006. This is actually the first ever whisky of this age from the distillery, 80% aged in first fill bourbon and 20% in refill bourbon. A limited release which we're sure will be very popular.

Distilled in 2007, this whisky enjoyed a maturation in fresh bourbon barrels for 6 years and was subsequently bottled in 2013. We expect this wonderful whisky to be just as well received as the 2006 Vintage was previously.

A very special Kilchoman release - their first ever 7 year old! Distilled in July 2008, it was matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels up until August 2015 when this limited vintage vatting was bottled at 46% abv.

A 2009 vintage single malt Kilchoman distillery, drawn from a combination of Sherry butts and bourbon barrels (previously the vintage releases from Kilchoman have all been drawn exclusively from bourbon barrels). This brings a touch of chocolatey sweetness to the flavour profile, pairing well with the warming smoke and cooked fruit notes.

A single cask Kilchoman distilled 12th April 2006 and bottled 18th April 2011. Matured in a first fill bourbon cask. Cask number 26/2006. One of the first single cask bottlings of Kilchoman.

A single cask Kilchoman distilled 3rd October 2007 and bottled 3rd May 2012. Matured in a first fill bourbon cask. Cask number 328/2007.

A single cask Kilchoman distilled 6th November 2008 and bottled 21st August 2013. Matured in a first fill bourbon cask. Cask number 584/2008. An exclusive bottling for the Kilchoman Distillery Shop.

A limited bottling of Kilchoman released as a 'small batch release' of only 1,000 bottles. Distilled in October 2008 and bottled on 30th November 2013, matured in first fill bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks.

A single cask Kilchoman distilled 26th January 2009 and bottled 28th July 2014. Matured in an oloroso sherry cask. Cask number 85/2009. An exclusive bottling for the Kilchoman Distillery Shop.

A single cask Kilchoman distilled 16th September 2009 and bottled 29th September 2014. Matured in an oloroso sherry cask. Cask number 424/2009. An exclusive bottling for the Kilchoman Distillery Shop.

Exclusive Cask Strength 2nd edition small batch bottling for The Kilchoman Club. Distilled 10/2008, matured in a combination of fresh Bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky and fresh Oloroso Sherry butts from Spain. This is a vatting of 8 specially selected first fill 2008 bourbon barrels finished in 4 fresh Oloroso Sherry butts. Bottled on 04/11/13.

A single cask Kilchoman released only at the Distillery Shop. Distilled 7th August 2008 and bottled 20th February 2014.

A milestone bottling – one of the first available 10 year old whisky from Kilchoman. A private single cask bottling, this was distilled on 12th April 2006 and bottled on 14th May 2016 after maturing in a bourbon cask. A warm and typically smoky Islay whisky.

An exciting single cask release of Islay Scotch whisky from Anthony Wills' farm distillery, Kilchoman. Disilled on 3.10.2007 And aged for three years in a bourbon cask and bottled on 3.5.2012.

Bottled especially for the 2011 Feis Ile, this potent, rich Kilchoman comes at natural cask strength, and it offers up a lot of flavour. Lots of peat going on here.

Kilchoman's Feis Ile 2012 release is a cask-strength sherry-finished whisky with a enticing smokey sweet palate following a floral nose. It's non chill-filtered.

Kilchoman’s Fèis Ìle 2013 festival release is a vatting of two ex-bourbon casks (246 & 247). Only 500 bottles of this 5 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky were produced by Islay's newest distillery.

A special Kilchoman bottling produced specially for the 2014 Islay whisky festival, it was matured for around 5 years, initially in first-fill bourbon casks before spending a finishing period in a Fino Sherry butt. And it's good. Really very good indeed. The outturn was 525 cask strength bottles.

Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in bourbon casks #245, #249 & #250 distilled May 2008 and bottled May 2015. 742 bottles.

Sold exclusively for the Feis Ile 2016, this Kilchoman is matured in a Oloroso Butt cask number 429/2007. Only 635 bottles were produced and each is individually numbered.

The 2018 Feis Ile bottling is a vatting of two 100% Islay casks specifically selected by Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and bottled at cask strength, 58% – Bourbon Barrel 324/2008 filled July 2008 and Oloroso Sherry Butt 443/2009 filled October 2009. One of only 877 bottles.

Kilchoman’s Fèis Ìle 2018 Festival Release, which was sold exclusively at Kilchoman distillery during the Fèis Ìle. It was distilled in March 2007 from a vatting of four bourbon barrels which were matured for over eleven years before it was bottled in May 2018 at 55.5% ABV. It's one of the oldest releases from the distillery, with only 744 bottles released.

An incredibly limited small batch release from Kilchoman, produced from a vatting of just two casks. This is the official Feis Ile 2019 release from the Islay farm distillery. The first cask was fresh bourbon barrel #141, distilled on 13th June 2007, and the second was fresh Oloroso sherry butt ##80, filled on 28th February 2008.

A special single cask release from Kilchoman distillery, bottled exclusively for the Islay Pipe Band. Distilled in 2011 and fully matured in a bourbon cask until 2016 where it was bottled at full cask strength, 59.5% vol. One of only 272 bottles.

This bottle is an exclusive for the distillery shop and is a vatting of three 100% Islay bourbon barrels finished in sherry hogsheads for 8 months.

A distillery exclusive bottling from Kilchoman. From Barley to Bottle, this whisky started with Islay grown barley to then be bottled after a full maturation on site at Kilchoman Distillery. A combination of two fresh American Oak Bourbon Barrels which were distilled in 2008. One of 485 bottles.

A beautiful single cask distillery exclusive from Kilchoman Distillery. This whisky was distilled on November 2012 before being added into a hand-picked rum cask. The whisky was then bottled at a cask strength of 59.1% in August 2017. Limited to only 225 bottles

Distillery Exclusive Single Cask from Kilchoman Distillery. Distilled on April 2012, this is a Sauternes Matured single cask limited to only 290 bottles.

Distillery Exclusive Single Cask from Kilchoman Distillery. Distilled on 11.02.2010 and bottled on 01.03.2018, this is a Madeira Matured single cask limited to only 275 bottles.

A beautiful single cask distillery exclusive from Kilchoman Distillery. This whisky was distilled in May 2013 before being added into a hand-picked bourbon cask and then finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask. The whisky was then bottled at a cask strength of 59.0% in April 2018. Limited to only 209 bottles

A beautiful single cask distillery exclusive from Kilchoman Distillery. This is one of the oldest Kilchoman whiskies bottled to date. Distilled on the 4th May 2006 and bottled on 21st August 2018. One of only 207 bottles.

An exclusive Single Cask release from Kilchoman Distillery using their own grown Islay barley. Distilled on 17th November 2011 And bottled 10th September 2018 after being matured in a Sherry Hogshead for six years. One of 258 bottles.

This single cask expression from Kilchoman was distilled on 17th January 2007 and matured in a bourbon cask for over ten years and bottled on 9th August 2018. There are only 127 bottles as this was former manager Malcolm Rennie’s cask, some of which he sold back to the distillery

Distillery Exclusive Single Cask from Kilchoman Distillery. Distilled on 11th February 2010 and bottled on 1st March 2018, this is a Madeira Matured single cask limited to only 275 bottles.

Another distillery exclusive bottling from Kilchoman. Distilled on 1st September 2011 and bottled on 10th April 2019. This whisky Was first matured in a bourbon cask before being finished in a Madeira cask. One of only 245 bottles.

A distillery exclusive release from Kilchoman, launched at the Kilchoman Day celebrations during the 2019 Feis Ile on 30th May. Until this, 100% of the casks containing Kilchoman's 100% Islay single malt was reserved for their annual release of the same name. This single cask however, was deemed so exceptional it merited its own bottling. Distilled on 28th May 2010 and bottled exactly 9 years later from sherry butt #278. One of only 637 bottles.

Kilchoman 11 Year Old 2008 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single bourbon barrel #327/2008 bottled 24th May 2019. Bottled for the Distillery Shop. 233 numbered bottles.

A seven year old single cask Kilchoman exclusively for sale in the distillery shop. Distilled on 17.11.2011 and bottled 18.09.2019. From Cask No 715/2011 finished in a sherry cask. One of 263 bottles.

The 10th anniversary release is a vatting of sherry and bourbon casks filled between 2005 and 2012 and includes whisky from Cask Number 01/2005, the first cask ever filled at Kilchoman. This limited edition is just 3,000 bottles at cask strength, 58.2%abv. Bottles are all individually hand numbered.

In 1918 troopships the SS Tuscania and HMS Otranto were sunk during World War 1, resulting in the loss of nearly 700 men. To mark the 100th anniversary of both tragedies and to celebrate the community of Islay and the spirit of friendship and self-sacrifice shown by its people during World War 1, Kilchoman bottled a special single cask to raise funds for WW100 Islay, supporting the on-going remembrance of those lost and continued celebration of Islay's unique community spirit. This single cask bottling, cask 742/2010 was distilled here at Kilchoman, within a mile of Machir Bay and matured in an American bourbon barrel for eight years. Bottled at cask strength, 58.0% alc. All funds raised from the sale of the 252 individually numbered bottles will be donated to WW100 Islay. lagavulin

Dry smokiness, with complexity through the phenols.

The single malt whiskies from Lagavulin, such as the legendary Lagavulin 16 Year Old, are amongst the world's smokiest with thick lapsang souchon enveloping the palate without remorse. One of the trio of Ìleach distilleries gracing the isle’s South-Easterly shore, each sharing a characteristic peat smoke as well as being Scotland’s most pungent and per- haps most revered. In 1816, the Lagavulin whisky distillery was founded by John Johnston.

Surrounded by dark peat bog and drawing its water from the Solan Lochs, Lagavulin sits at the head of a bay and not far from the ruins of Dunyvaig castle. The best-selling Islay single malt scotch until 1998, when it was overtaken by the neighbouring Laphroaig.

Lagavulin holds claim to Scotland’s slowest distillation with five hours for the first distillation and a further nine for the second. Despite the pungency ofthe single malt, there is a certain smoothness to the palate which many attribute to the leisurely rate of distillation. The heart of the Lagavulin range receives global acclaim and there have been almost no independent bottlings. Currently as much as 98% of the spirit is earmarked for maturation as a single malt and Diageo have included Lagavulin in their Classic Malts range.

A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The 16 year old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery.

The second of Diageo's special releases of Lagavulin 12 Year Old. This limited release was bottled in 2002 at cask strength.

Diageo’s annual 12 year old releaser. This limited release was bottled in 2007 at cask strength.

Delightfully subtle differences compared to previous 12 year old releases. This is the 2008 edition, a cask strength whisky matured in refill bourbon casks.

An utterly fabulous on-going annual release of Lagavulin, from Diageo's Special Releases. 2011 sees this cask strength monster offering up oodles of complexity thanks to its maturation in refill American oak casks.

Yet another cracking 12 year old limited edition Lagavulin from Diageo's Special Releases, the twelfth of the series. Vatted from refill American Oak casks before being bottled at natural cask strength

A frequent favourite of Diageo's Special Releases, this is the 2014 edition 12 year old Lagavulin single malt Scotch whisky. Featuring malts that were distilled in 2001 and 2002, matured in refill American oak casks and bottled at cask strength.

The least expensive of the 2015 Diageo Special Releases, the 12 year old is now a staple and a firm whisky fan favourite, this being the thirteenth release in the series.

This year's 12 year old Lagavulin Special Release is part of the distillery's 200th anniversary celebrations! Aged in refill American oak hogsheads, it's the fourteenth of these excellent 12 year old bottlings to feature in the Special Releases.

This year's 12 year old candidate brings together the characteristic island smoke with the sweetness of American hogsheads, all wrapped up in a natural cask strength bottling. It's meaty and robust.

Part of the 2018 Special Release from Diageo, this limited edition Islay single malt was distilled at Lagavulin and matured in refill American oak hogsheads for twelve years before bottling at a natural cask strength of 57.8% abv. This expression has a powerfully smoky nose with a tar soap base and sea salt. The palate is oily with with a sweet taste, before a strong and salty finish with plenty of Islay smoke.

This is a delicious 1996 vintage from the Lagavulin distillery, this was given a finish in top-quality Pedro Ximénez dessert sherry casks. The result is a mix of Lagavulin's signature smoky flavour, with the sweet, syrupy flavour of the dessert sherry.

The 1997 Distillers Edition, a fantastic single malt which has been maturing since 1997 and enjoyed a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez cask before being bottled in 2013. Thick and honeyed with characteristic smoky notes.

A Distillers Edition bottling of Lagavulin single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2014 following a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez casks. These Distillers Editions have proved very popular indeed, and with good reason - the Pedro Ximénez finish stands up nicely against the intense coastal qualities of Lagavulin's single malt.

The 2015 release of Lagavulin's Distillers Edition expression, which was distilled in 1999 and finished in Pedro Ximenéz casks before being bottled in 2015.

The 2016 release of Lagavulin's Distillers Edition expression, which was distilled in 2000 and finished in Pedro Ximenéz casks before being bottled in 2016. 2016 was a big year for the distillery on the south coast of Islay, as they were celebrating their 200th anniversary.

Lagavulin's Distillers Edition bottlings are allowed a finishing period in casks that previously held sweet, sticky Pedro Ximénez Sherry. The result is a magnificent blend of classic Islay salty peat smoke and intense Sherried sweetness. This is the 2001 Distillers Edition, which was bottled at 43% ABV in 2017.

A very special Lagavulin, this "distillery only" bottling is made with the remnant of whisky from a previous bottling run of Distiller's Edition. It is then re-casked and left for a few extra years.

Originally released exclusively for the Friends of the Classic Malts, this is one of five triple-matured bottlings across the Classic Malts range that are matured in refill casks, American oak hogsheads and finally European Oak refill casks before being bottled at 48% abv.

Back in the 1880s Alfred Barnard, author of The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, enjoyed an 8 year old Lagavulin he described as "exceptionally fine". As part of their 200th anniversary celebrations, the distillery have therefore decided torecreate an 8 year old! It's bottled at an exciting 48% abv and was matured in refill European and American oak casks.

Lagavulin’s release for the 2012 Feis Ile, distilled on the 23rd February 1998 and bottled in 2012. Cask #1716 was Selected by Iain McArthur.

A 'triple matured' single malt distilled in 1991, matured in bourbon casks with a short period in PX Sherry butts and finally a long, gentle third maturation in old puncheons. Bottled at 59.9% abv in 2015 for the Feis Ile festival.

This is the Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2016 release - an 18 year old single malt drawn from European oak ex-bodega Sherry butts and refill American oak hogsheads selected by Iain McArthur. 2016 saw the Lagavulin distillery celebrate their 200th anniversary, as noted on the label of this collectable expression.

Lagavulin’s 2017 release is 16 years old and has been double matured in Moscatel Wood. Each cask was hand selected by Iain MacArthur.

Lagavulin’s offering for the 2018 Feis Ile, released at the distillery open day on 26th May. Matured for 18 Years in a combination of refill American oak hogsheads, rejuvinated American oak hogsheads and ex-Bodega European oak butts, all personally selected by Iain McArthur.

This years Feis Ile release from Lagavulin personally selected by Iain McArthur. It has been matured in three types of casks: refill American oak cask, second Sherry treated American oak cask and a European oak puncheon. 6000 bottles have been released.

Lagavulin's special Islay Jazz Festival release from 2012, matured in a single refill Sherry butt and bottled at cask strength!

A special bottling of Lagavulin for the 2016 Islay Jazz Festival, matured in sherry butts.

A special bottling of Lagavulin for the 2015 Islay Jazz Festival (released a little later that year), matured in refill American oak as well as European oak casks.

The 2016 edition of the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival bottling. A collectable bottle released during their 200th Anniversary year - the whisky was drawn from refill American oak hogsheads and first fill American oak barrels.

The 2017 Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival expression was matured in a combination of refill American oak hogsheads and first-fill American oak barrels.

This Lagavulin was bottled especially to celebrate the 2018 Islay Jazz festival. A blend of 1st Fill American Oak Barrels, Refill American Oak Hogsheads and European Oak Puncheon hand selected by Iain MacArthur.

A limited edition 21-year-old single malt released to commemorate its eighth annual Islay Jazz Festival commemorative bottling, and the 21st year of the festival. The whisky has been matured in a combination of refill and recharred American oak hogsheads before being bottled at 50.1% abv. Only 2,004 bottles of the 21-year-old have been produced, available to purchase only at Lagavulin distillery. Part of the exciting Game of Thrones Single Malts Collection, this 9 year old whisky was distilled by Lagavulin distillery. It has been exclusively matured in 100% fresh ex-Bourbon casks, giving it a gorgeous light golden colour.

Personally selected by The Distillery Team, this edition features a quadruple maturation including one red wine cask. Limited to only 7,500 bottles and sold exclusively at Distillery.

Rare, massively exciting and extremely sought after peated cask strength single malt whisky from Lagavulin distillery on Islay! 9,000 bottles were released as part of Diageo's Special Releases back in 2002.

Limited to 8,000 bottles, this special 25 year old Lagavulin celebrates the distillery's 200th anniversary with a well-matured expression matured exclusively in ex-Sherry casks and with the names of every distillery manager (with dates) etched on the bottle! laphroaig

Medicinal, iodine, peaty and smoky.

Laphroaig is a distillery whose malts are massively individual and utterly distinctive. The distillery was founded in 1810 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston on what was originally a family run farm in a small bay on the southernmost tip of Islay. Laphroaig’s unique flavour comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed in the distillery’s own floor maltings.

Until 1954, Laphroaig was owned by members of the Johnston family. In 1847, co-founder Donald Johnston died in dramatic circumstances - after falling into a scaulding kettle of burnt ale - and for the next decade Walter Graham, manager of neighbouring distillery Lagavulin, ran the company. Laphroaig returned to John- ston family hands in 1857 when Donald’s son Dugald gained ownership.

Recent owners have included Allied Domecq, who were proprietors from 1990 to 2005. Allied also included the distillery as one of the four single malt makers of Caledonian Malts. Laphroaig (pronounced ‘La-FROYg’) is currently run by the US company Fortune Brands Inc and from 2002 it has consistently been the best- selling Islay single malt whisky worldwide. Within those seven years sales have increased by 50%.

Really smoky and iodine rich. This has to be one of Scotland's most characterful drams. Laphroaig are known for their medicinal malts, and the classic 10 year old is no exception.

Batch 2 of the excellent cask strength Laphroaig 10. This was bottled in January 2010 and it's incredible; full of classic Laphroaig flavour, cranked up to 11.

The 5th batch of Laphroaig's riotously popular small batch editions of their famed 10yo cask strength Islay single malt. This was Bottled in February 2013.

The 6th batch of Laphroaig's riotously popular small batch editions of their famed 10yo cask strength Islay single malt. This was Bottled in March 2014.

The 7th batch of Laphroaig's riotously popular small batch editions of their famed 10yo cask strength Islay single malt. This was Bottled in January 2015.

The 9th batch of Laphroaig's riotously popular small batch editions of their famed 10yo cask strength Islay single malt. This was Bottled in February 2017.

The 10th batch of Laphroaig's riotously popular small batch editions of their famed 10yo cask strength Islay single malt. This was Bottled in 2018.

Batch 11 of Laphroaig's riotously popular small-batch edition of its 10-year-old single malt. Hard to find outside of the distillery, these whiskies are rightfully critically acclaimed, offering a punchy and intense take of the 10-year-old's medicinal and maritime character.

For the Laphroaig Select, the Islay distillery has taken whisky from a number of different types of cask, including Oloroso Sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hoggies, Quarter casks and first fill bourbon casks. A laid-back addition to the Laphroaig core range of single malts.

Created by Distillery Manager John Campbell, Laphroaig Lore is said to be the richest ever Laphroaig! Named after the skills passed down over the generations, this permanent addition to the range is matured in a combination of casks including first fill Sherry butts and quarter casks and is said to contain some of their "most precious stock".

Laphroaig's Brodir single malt Scotch whisky was originally released to the Travel Retail market. 'Brodir' means Brother in ancient Norse. First matured the whisky in ex-bourbon barrels before transferring it over to casks which previous held Ruby Port. The combination of Laphroaig's classic coastal peaty gorgeousness with the elegance of the Ruby Port finish make Brodir a very handsome dram indeed.

A now discontinued bottling, this was replaced this year by the 18 year old. Zesty oak and warm peat smoke top notes, with sweet undertones, reminiscent of fresh nutmeg and toasted almonds. Faintly salty. Laphroaig 15yo is a smoother and more elegant elder sibling to the robust 10 year-old.

In 1815, the Laphroaig distillery was founded. In 2015, the distillery celebrates its 200th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they've brought back their 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky for a limited edition release! The Laphroaig 15 Year Old was first released in the 1980s, though it was eventually replaced with the Laphroaig 18 Year Old.

Distillery Manager John Campbell crafts another Laphroaig Cairdeas 15 year old as a limited edition to celebrate friendship (“Cairdeas” in Gaelic), which is an ongoing part of the Friends of Laphroaig program. This 2017 edition was distilled throughout 2002, then poured into first-fill ex-bourbon barrels to age. The result is a unique expression to be savoured by Friends of Laphroaig, old and new.

This remarkable dram has spent 16 years waiting patiently in ex-Bourbon barrels - giving a leather and vanilla sweetness to complement our signature rich and smoky style. Perfect for the long evenings of late summer and into cosier nights of Autumn.

Laphroaig 18yo was introduced in 2009 as a replacement for the old 15 Year Old. This is a stronger, altogether gutsier affair at 48%.

Bottled to celebrate the 21st birthday of Friends of Laphroaig, but also to coincide with the 200th Anniversary of the Laphroaig Distillery - 1815-2015.This was exclusive to 'Friends of Laphroaig', with 6000 bottles available of this 35cl to get around as many FoL's as possible!

A 1991 vintage Laphroaig, bottled at 23 years of age. It was matured in a combination of first fill Sherry casks and refill hogsheads, resulting in touches of spicy, wine-like sweetness surrounding the classic core of smoky, medicinal Islay peat.

A fourteen year old single cask Laphroaig from Douglas Laing, released to commemorate the Feis Ile 2015. One of 636 bottles.

A Douglas Laing bottling of Laphroaig single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a single cask for 8 years. It was distilled in autumn 2005, aged in a refill hogshead for 8 years and bottled in summer 2014 for the Provenance range

Released in 2004, this bottling was aged for around five years before being finished in a quarter cask for several months, the size of the cask is quite small, thus does not require such a long maturation. This remains a truly great achievement from Laphroaig.

An incredible new release from Laphroaig. This was originally launched for the duty free market, and it is a tour de force from the Islay distillery. First off, they mature this in bourbon barrels, before transfer into quarter casks, and a third maturation in Oloroso sherry European oak butts. Astonishing with oodles of peat smoke and sweetness.

An Cuan Mòr is one of the selection of Laphroaig single malt Scotch whiskies released for the Travel Retail market. For the An Cuan Mòr, which means 'Big Ocean' in Gaelic, the whisky is initially matured in first-fill American white oak bourbon barrel and then finished in European oak casks.

The Laphroaig PX Cask is made with whisky matured in three types of cask - American oak casks, Quarter casks and the Pedro Ximénez casks. This leads to a flavour profile which ties together classic, powerful Laphroaig smoke and wine-like sweetness. It was originally released for Travel Retail.

First released for the Travel Retail market, Laphroaig Four Oak features a marriage of whisky matured in a quartet of casks, namely ex-bourbon barrels, quarter casks, virgin American oak barrels and European oak hogsheads. Somewhat following on the theme from their popular Triple Wood expression.

Laphroaig The 1815 Legacy Edition was created by Distillery Manager John Campbell in honour of the members of the Laphroaig team that have been producing the much-adored whisky on Islay over the years. This expression features whisky aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and new European oak hogsheads.

An independent bottling of 12 year old single malt from the Laphroaig distillery, drawn from a single refill hogshead which was filled in September 2004 and emptied in February 2017. 350 bottles were produced for the Douglas Laing Provenance range.

A Laphroaig from independent bottler Hunter Laing & Co. has been distilled at Laphroaig in 2005. Matured in a single refill hogshead for 11 years, it was bottled in 2017 at a preferred strength of 46% abv. Limited to just 364 bottles, it is free from chill-filtration and artificial colouring.

A single-cask Laphroaig bottling from Hunter Laing's Old Malt Cask range bottled exclusively for the Islay Festival 2018 and only available from the Ardnahoe shop. The traditional medicinal notes are joined by oysters, peat, iodine and dense smoke. A rich and warming dram. This single malt was distilled in March 2006 and bottled in April 2018.

A 28 year old single cask whisky from the Laphroaig distillery. This was distilled in October 1990, matured in bourbon caskt number 10869 and bottled for the Coopers Choice range in 2019 There are just 228 bottles of this.

Cairdeas derives from the Gaelic for 'Friendship', this is a rare cask strength edition from the Laphroaig distillery. This bottling was Released for the Feis Ile 2008.

A special bottling of Laphroaig 12yo, this Cairdeas was the first bottling overseen by incoming distillery manager John Campbell and was released at the 2009 Feis Ile festival celebrating Islay whisky & music.

The master edition of Cairdeas, which means 'friendship' in Gaelic, is a masterful harmony of spirit ranging from 11 to 19 years of age. It was specifically selected by Laphroaig Master Blender Robert Hicks in celebration of the 2010 Feis Ile and Friends of Laphroaig worldwide.

A special version of Laphroaig Cairdeas, the Ileach edition is named in reference to John Campbell, the whisky's creator. John is the first ever Islay-born Master Distiller at Laphroaig. He used Maker's Mark bourbon barrels in the creation of this, and bottled it at natural cask strength.

Release at the Feis Ile 2012, Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin was bottled to celebrate 18 years of the Friends Of Laphroaig programme. Combining the original liquid used to first create Cairdeas along with newer Laphroaig spirit that has been fully matured in quarter casks.

The 2014 Cairdeas release was matured in bourbon barrels and Amontillado hogsheads. Created by Laphroaig Master Distiller John Campbell, it's bottled at 51.4% abv.

Released during Fèis Ìle 2015 and marking the distillery's 200th anniversary, for this special edition of Laphroaig Cairdeas Master Distiller John Campbell used 100% floor malted barley (from the distillery's own small malting floor) and used only the two smaller, older stills during distillation! It was matured in ex-bourbon casks for around a dozen years.

Laphroaig Cairdeas, 'For The Friends of Laphroaig'! The 2016 edition is "fully matured" in bourbon barrels, married and then finished in Madeira hogsheads.

The 2017 Feis Ile offering from Laphroaig was a cask strength edition of the Quarter cask. First fill Makers Mark casks have been used for the first maturation of 5+ years in Warehouse 1 next to the Atlantic Ocean. Different ages have been awoken temporarily to be brought together, before laying to rest for a second time in our smaller quarter casks (125lt). After a further 6 month maturation, the liquid from 177 of these casks were put into the bottle at Cask Strength, with no colour, no chilling and a simple barrier filtration.

The Fèis Ìle 2018 release from Laphroaig was another instalment of the Cairdeas series. For this expression, the intense Islay single malt was given a finishing period in Fino sherry casks.

This is the 2019 Feis Ile release from Laphroaig. Cairdeas 2019 showcases a special triple maturation, first maturing in ex-bourbon barrels, second maturation in quarter casks and then a third maturation in European oak casks previously used for Oloroso sherry.

This is the first release of the 25 year old Laphroaig from 2007. Bottled at 40% and matured in a mix of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, this is a beautifully elegant and fruity aged Laphroaig that should delight fans of the old style Islay whiskies.

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.

2017 marks the third annual version of Laphroaig's limited-edition aged releases. This 27-year-old whisky has been matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and refill quarter casks. Smoky and fruity with notes of citrus fruit, leather and sea spray.

This is the 2016 release of Laphroaig 30 Year Old. Distilled in 1985, this has been aged exclusively in bourbon barrels. Classic Laphroaig with notes of orange peel, vanilla, coriander and cigar box.

Laphroaig's 200th anniversary celebrations have been leading up to this extraordinary bottling of rare single malt Scotch whisky from Islay all through 2015. Just 5,880 bottles of this exclusively first-fill Oloroso Sherry cask matured 32 year old Laphroaig have been produced.

Part of 'The Kinship' series released by independent bottlers Hunter Laing to mark the commencement of work on Islay's Ardnahoe distillery. This Laphroaig was bottled from a single bourbon hogshead.

To celebrate the coming completion of their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released a second selection of 6 bottlings, following on from the original Kinship collection in 2017. The 2018 Kinship collection was released exclusively to visitors of Islay's Feis Ile festival, and were available to buy at the Ardnahoe gift shop. This Laphroaig was from 2 refill hogsheads. One of 470 bottles.

To celebrate the commencement of distilling operations at their Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a third selection of 6 bottlings, following on from the original Kinship collection in 2017 (celebrating the commencement of construction), and the second in 2018 (celebrating the completion). The 2019 Kinship collection was released exclusively to visitors of Islay's Feis Ile festival, and were available to buy at the Ardnahoe gift shop. This Laphroaig is one of 609 bottled from a refill Oloroso sherry butt.

A single cask Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Distilled on 1st July 1999 and matured for 16 years in a refill bourbon hogshead. One of only 210 bottles.

A single cask Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society aged in a single cask for twenty one years. One of only 228 bottles. Bottled by the SMWS to celebrate the Feis Ile 2017.

A single cask Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society . This Laphroaig was distilled in 1989, matured for 27 years in a refill ex-Oloroso butt which yielded 368 bottles.

A single cask Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society . This Laphroaig was distilled on 11th February 2009 and aged for eight Years in a refill bourbon barrel. Bottled at 60.2% abv. One of only 246 bottles.

Bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society with the title 'Weaving wonderous dreams,' this is one of two Laphroaig releases for the 2018 Feis Ile. One of only 222 bottles.

A well-aged single cask Laphroaig from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, distilled in 1999 and matured in a Oloroso sherry butt for over 19 years. One of 507 bottles released to celebrate Islay Festival 2019. octomore

The most heavily peated whisky in the world.

Clinging to the hill high above Port Charlotte on the Rhinns of Islay is the enigma that is Octomore Farm, for Octomore too once housed a distillery. Even older than the beautiful village it overlooks, Octomore is a throwback to the days of fierce independence, when self sufficiency was the only option, and the legality of distillation itself still a revolutionary concept.

The men who tended the fires at Octomore would have grown the barley on their land, and cut the peat from their banks. The distillery burst into life in the distant days of 1816, long before the Clyde puffers were bringing coal in from Glasgow, and burnt brightly for a few short years. The spirit they produced would also have been heavily peated, and sold very young to a market keen to experience the unique flavours that emerge from this extraordinary island. We are confident they would have saluted Octomore today. The iron fist in the velvet glove.

Octomore is Bruichladdich's limited edition range of ever popular super peated whiskies; some of the most peated whiskies on the entire planet! Octomore 03.1 is aged for 5 years and made with malt that has a phenol content of 152 ppm (parts per million). To place that into perspective, 40-60 ppm would usually be considered an intensely peated Islay whisky.

A quadruple distilled Octomore, this dangerous, perilous 'usquebaugh-baul' came off the still at 89% abv but has retained an extraordinary amount of flavour. Just 1,695 bottles have been released, a nod to the fact that usquebaugh-baul was last created back in 1695. This was released for the Feis Ile 2014.

Bruichladdich Octomore 6.2 Islay single malt Scotch whisky. 2013 release of the heavily peated Scotch matured in Limousin oak casks. This edition is only available at the distillery or in selected travel retail stores.

A Travel Retail bottling of Bruichladdich intensely-peated Octomore single malt Scotch whisky, which weighs in at a powerful 208 PPM. For the 07.2 release, this 5 year old whisky combines spirits which were matured in American oak casks as well as casks which previous held Syrah wine, then bottled at 58.5% ABV.

7.3 is the second edition of 'Octomore from Octomore, made using barley grown on the eponymous farm. Distilled in 2010 and peated to 169ppm, this was aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and red wine casks from Ribera del Duero in Spain. Big and bold, yet also elegant with notes of oranges, honey, cinnamon and clove.

An early 2016 release of Bruichladdich's extremely peaty Octomore series. Octomore 07.4 has endured quite an interesting maturation - 25% of it was aged entirely in virgin oak casks, while 75% of it spent 3 years in first fill bourbon casks, followed by 2 years in virgin oak casks and then 2 more years in first fill bourbon casks.

Distilled in 2009 using Scottish barley from the 2008 harvest, this Octomore was peated to a level of 168 PPM. Matured exclusively in first fill American oak casks. 08.1 has been bottled at a healthy 59.3% abv with neither artificial colouring nor chill filtration.

A stunning new release from Octomore and part 2 in the Masterclass series. All of the spirit in 08.2 spent the first six years of its life in one of three different styles of wine cask, French Mourvedre, Austrian sweet wines and French Sauternes. All were second fill casks which had calmed the wood perfectly in preparation for a longer maturation with the mighty Octomore before being ACEd into fresh Amarone casks for a period of two years.

The fourth edition of the Octomore Masterclass range and the second Octomore to be matured in Virgin Oak casks. Although all of the spirit in 08.4 is eight years old just 20% has been held full-term in virgin oak. 80% was originally introduced to American oak, first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, before being transferred into the European virgin oak that had previously held Octomore 07.4.

An enjoyably punchy and heavily peated single malt from Bruichladdich's Octomore range. Octomore 09.1 sets out to challenge the idea that older means better when it comes to whisky, and it does so by offering up a 5 year old Islay whisky weighing in at 156 PPM, matured in ex-American whiskey casks. The Octomore 9 series has been named dialogos (dialogue in ancient Greek) in recognition of the whisky's ability to provoke debate amongst whisky enthusiasts.

As with all great experiments, one variable must change. Octomore 09.2 has followed the same path as its 09.1 counterpart until its final year. Distilled just one week apart, this edition explores the influence of flavourful European oak. Matured entirely on Islay in for five years in ex-american whiskey casks (4yrs) and 2nd fill Bordeaux red wine casks (1yr).

Made solely from barley grown on Octomore Farm (peated to 133 PPM) and aged for five years in mostly second-fill American whiskey barrels, this is a fascinating study of how a single-vintage low-yield harvest affects the whisky character. This has intense notes of malted barley, black tea, golden syrup, burning heather and smoke.

The third release of 10 year old Octomore from Bruichladdich. This heavily peated expression was drawn from a variety of casks. 37% of the whisky was fully aged in first-fill Port pipes, 31% in first-fill Cognac casks and 20% in second-fill American whiskey casks. The remaining 12% was initially aged in American whiskey casks, then in virgin oak casks, and then back in to more American whiskey casks. The spirit itself was malted to 167 PPM, so expect a familiar helping of powerful smoke. 12,000 bottles were produced.

Distilled from Scottish barley in 2013, Octomore 10.1 is the benchmark of the 10s series. Deliberately stripped back to an ex- American oak maturation, aged just 5 years old, the .1 edition exposes the structure and presence of the Octomore spirit. Combining smoke with a modest maturation, this 10.1 first and foremost demonstrates the true potential of a considered, patient distillation.

Octomore 10.2 edition has spent the first four years of its life in fresh bourbon barrels, before being moved into exceptionally high quality, and incredibly rare Sauternes casks. The reputable chateau who originally managed these casks had filled them three times over with French sweet wine, allowing the oak to mellow and therefore temper its influence in our subsequent spirit. The combination of the softer smoke and oak influence has created a sublime balance with tropical fruit notes.

Distilled in 2013 from the 2012 harvest, the Octomore 10.3 has been brought home by farmer James Brown. For the first time, the .3 is matured for six aged years but crucially only in ex-American oak. These top-quality casks have gently coaxed this Octomore spirit into life in Warehouse 16, next to the 10.1 edition. The components of our 10.1 and 10.3 are so similar, the distinct flavour difference must be owed to the barley’s respective growing location.

An independent bottling of notably intensely peaty Octomore single malt Scotch whisky from the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay. This one has was distilled in December 2007, matured in a Sauternes wine cask for 6 years and bottled in November 2014 for the Rest & Be Thankful bottling range. 300 bottled were produced, presented at a robust 63.8% ABV.

A limited edition second release of 10 year old Octomore. The barley was peated to a massive 167 ppm, and the spirit was matured in casks that previously held bourbon and casks the previously held Grenache Blanc wine. 18,000 bottles were produced.

Released in 2019 at the annual Bruichladdich Day celebration during Feis Ile . The Event Horizon Octomore is oldest yet, matured for over 12 years in Fernando de Castilla Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Octomore is the super-heavily peated expression from Bruichladdich, here peated to a PPM of 162.6. One of only 2000 bottles.

Port charlotte

Very smoky, with a good oily texture.

The decision to reopen the Port Charlotte distillery was a bold one. The town of Port Charlotte was founded by Walter Frederick Campbell in 1828 and named for his mother. Port Charlotte was built to accommodate workers at the Lochindaal distillery, which was founded a year later in 1829. The distillery lies on Islay’s southern shores and , over the course of its existence, was known as the Rhinns distillery and, of course, Port Charlotte.

In 2007, Bruichladdich announced their plans to reopen the distillery. In a press release they commented on their wish to build "an example of green and ethical distillation". Barley will be grown and malted on Islay and electricity will be produced using sea power. The equipment has seen life before; the stills and machin- ery were transported from the now silent Inverleven distillery in Dumbarton. The distillery will have been shut for the best part of a century, closing as it did in 1929. The US Prohibition had left such a lack in demand that many distilleries closed around this time, though some reopened after Prohibition was relinquished, Lochindaal did not.

Bruichladdich have already experimented with heavily peated whisky, releasing the Port Charlotte series in 2006, though not to be confused with the bottlings that will surely come from their new venture. The organic malted barley used at the Port Charlotte distillery will be at least 50ppm, reaching those lofty peat levels of the more pungent Ìleach single malts. One can already reserve whisky from the distillery, Bruichladdich have destined the first 100 casks for general sale to the public.

To keep the customers satisfied Bruichladdich released the PC range of whiskies, labeled ‘Port Charlotte’. These are distilled at the Bruichladdich distillery, and are well-peated, paying homage to the very peated whisky once produced at the Port Charlotte distillery. The PC range of whiskies is matured in the warehouses at Port Charlotte. The first few releases were all distilled in 2001.

Introduced as the flagship Port Charlotte expression produced by Bruichladdich in 2018, this 10 year old single malt is a lip-smackingly smoky number indeed. It's peated to 40ppm, and drawn from a combination of first-fill American whiskey casks, second-fill American whiskey casks and second-fill French wine casks.

Well-peated Port Charlotte single malt from Bruichladdich, made exclusively with barley grown Islay. Of course, when you're dealing with Bruichladdich, it gets a little more in-depth than that. The two varieties of barley used (Oxbridge and Publican barley) were grown by three Islay farms - Dunlossit, Kilchiaran and Sunderland. The whisky was distilled in 2011 and allowed to mature in 75% first-fill American whisky casks and 25% second-fill red wine casks (Syrah and Figero wine) for 6 years, and has been peated to 40PPM.

Another Islay barley release of Port Charlotte single malt from Bruichladdich. A total of eight Islay farms came together to harvest the 2011 crop of four different barley varieties, Oxbridge, Publican, Propino and Concerto. The whisky distilled in 2012 Was then matured in 75% first-fill American whisky casks and 25% second-fill red wine casks for 6 years, and has been peated to 40PPM.

Master distiller Jim McEwan specially chose the casks that create the Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, which highlight the elegance within this heavily peated single malt. Made with 100% Scottish barley and matured in the village of Port Charlotte.

The second release of Port Charlotte 10 Year Old has been matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon, sherry, Tempranillo and French wine casks. This peated whisky has notes of vanilla, caramel, toffee and soft fruit.

The first bottling of heavily peated Port Charlotte made with Islay barley has been released. It's crisp and clean, with a engaging mix of fruit and cereal and an elegant peatiness.

Originally released for the Travel Retail Market in the first half of 2016, Port Charlotte 2007 CC:01 is a peated expression Bruichladdich which has been fully matured in French oak casks!

PC6 represents a peatier release from the Bruichladdich distillery, this 6 year old is part of the Port Charlotte series, a limited release of 18,000 and peated to 40ppm.

PC7 is a heavily peated release from Bruichladdich distillery from the limited release Port Charlotte range. Aged for 7 years in oak casks, this whisky was limited to 24,000 bottles.

PC8 is possibly the best of the 'PC' releases. A superb cask-strength classic. “Ar duthcas” is Gaelic for “Land of our heritage”. This is very well-peated to 40ppm, matured in American Oak and bottled at cask strength.

An incredibly limited release from Bruichladdich, this edition of the ferociously peaty Port Charlotte was aged for 9 years in American oak, and there are just 6,000 bottles

PC10 expression from Bruichladdich powerfully peaty Port Charlotte series of releases. This release also marked 10 years of Allan Logan, who became the youngest distillery manager in Scotland, working with Jim McEwan. This was referenced in this expression's subtitle, 'Tro Na Linntean', which means 'Through the Generations'. Only 6,000 bottles of PC10 were released.

The 7th release of the Port Charlotte PC series, and their first Port Charlotte release that went straight into Travel Retail. Full and rich in texture, smooth and smoky sweet, and absolutely incredible to believe that it is bottled at cask strength 59.5%.

A Port Charlotte Travel Retail exclusive, distilled in 2009 and matured in a combination of 48% French oak casks (48%) and American whisky cask (52%) for 6 years prior to finishing in Sicilian wine casks for a further 2 years, given those together only give 8 years and the liquid is ostencibly 9 years old we guess there must be a bit of change on both those figures.

Peated Bruichladdich single malt released under the Port Charlotte name, produced exclusively with Scottish barley. 50% of the whisky was matured in first-fill American whiskey casks, while the remaining 50% was matured in second-fill French wine casks. These two whiskies were combined and allowed an extra year of maturation in Bordeaux left bank wine casks.

An 11 year old Port Charlotte single malt, bottled by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. for the Cooper's Choice range. The whisky was distilled in October 2006 and was aged in a single bourbon cask #2336, and was released with an outturn of just 345 bottles.

From the Bruichladdich distillery comes a peated single malt released under the Port Charlotte name. It was distilled in 2004 and matured in butt #1034 for 9 years, before being bottled for the Coopers Choice collection. 640 bottles were produced.

A well peated, port cask matured 10 year old single malt distilled and released under the port Charlotte name by the Bruichladdich distillery on the island of Islay. Distilled in October 2005 and bottled in February 2016 by the folks at Douglas Laing for their Old Particular range. A release of 445 bottles.

A private cask bottling of Port Charlotte.

Port Charlotte Transparency, a fantastic, heavily peated single malt, released during Feis Ile 2017. Created from 12 casks, with all the whisky being distilled using 100% Islay barley and matured on the island itself. Each bottle has it's own unique 5 digit bottle code, which can be used to find out exactly what's been used to create this special release.

This Port Charlotte is one of two launched for the annual Feis Ile festival in 2018, to coincide with the rebrand of the Port Charlotte Range. This distillery exclusive was launched at their Feis Ile open day on 27th May 2018. This is a marriage of the last 5 casks filled during the first year of Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte production in 2001. he casks in question had previously held American whiskey, rum, and fine French wine. One of 1300 bottles.

"Cantina Mexicana" is the 2016 Feis Ile release from the SMWS. A beautiful deep amber colour comes from being aged for 12 years in a single 2nd Fill Oloroso butt. Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2016 with an out-turn of only 588 bottles.

A single cask 12 year old Port Charlotte called Meteorite chosen by Whisky Blogger Ralfy. Matured in a sherry hosgshead this Is one of 233 bottles, bottled at cask strength with no colouring added or any chill filtration.

Port charlotte Valinch bottlings

These are the DIY bottlings available exclusively to visitors to the distillery. A valinch, possibly from a Spanish term, is the name applied to a large, copper pipette used to take cask samples from whisky barrels. Bruichladdich take the view that if you have made the effort to get here to Islay then you deserve something just a little extra special. Valinchs are by definition only ever at cask strength, from a single barrel, and selected by Jim or now Adam for individuality. Each Valinch released has it’s own label and title, usually to commemorate a specific event.

Distilled 10.12.08 Bottled 2016 Cask No 3821 Rivesaltes Wine Cask. One of 410 bottles.

Distilled 08.11.02 Cask No 1202 Sauternes Wine Cask. 12 Years Old. One of 375 bottles.

Distilled 07.07.03 Cask No 637 Pessac-Leognan Wine Cask. 11 Years Old. One of 360 bottles.

Distilled 13.09.04 Cask No 953 Sherry Hogshead. 10 Years Old. One of 440 bottles.

Distilled 27.10.04 Cask No 1248 Cadiz Sherry Cask. 10 Years Old. One of 414 bottles.

Distilled 07.10.04 Cask No 1064 Oloroso Sherry Cask. 10 Years Old. One of 680 bottles.

Distilled 12.10.05 Cask No 1615 Grenache Blanc Wine Cask. 10 Years Old. One of 432 bottles.

Distilled 30.08.06 Cask No 1653 Rivesaltes Wine Cask. 9 Years Old. One of 393 Bottles.

Distilled 05.12.05 Cask No 2286 Rioja Wine Cask. 10 Years Old. One of 572 Bottles.

Distilled 09.10.06 Cask No 2175 Viognier Wine Cask. 9 Years Old. One of 430 Bottles.

Distilled 04.12.03 Cask No R15/358-001 Bourbon Cask. 12 Years Old. One of 328 Bottles.

Distilled 27.10.04 Cask No R12/202-010 VDN Wine Cask (Vin Doux naturels). 11 Years Old. One of 430 Bottles.

Distilled 07.09.07 Cask No 1739 Barolo Wine Cask. 9 Years Old. One of 436 Bottles.

Distilled 27.10.2004 Cask No 12/202-27 Bourbon/Monbazillac Cask Matured. 12 Years Old. One of 438 bottles.

Distilled 21.11.2005 Cask No R15/195-001 Sherry Butt. 11 Year Old. One of 896 bottles.

Distilled 04.11.2005 Cask No 1905. Fresh Bourbon Barrel. 11 Year Old. One of 268 bottles.

Distilled 19.10.2006 Cask No 2170. Banyuls Cask. 10 Year Old. One of 428 bottles.

Distilled 12.10.2005 Cask No 1571. Hermitage Blanc Cask. 12 year Old. One of 438 bottles.

Distilled 05.10.2007 Cask No 2188. 1st Fill Pomerol Cask. 10 Year Old. One of 418 bottles.

Distilled 25.11.2008. Cask No 3404. 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel. 9 Year Old. 1of 330 bottles.

The Valinch bottlings from Bruichladdich are only available at the distillery's visitor centre. This Port Charlotte is one of two launched for the annual Feis Ile festival in 2018, to coincide with their rebrand of the Port Charlotte range. Distilled in 2005, this distillery exclusive was launched at their Feis Ile open day on 27th May 2018. It is 12 years old and was matured fully in 2nd fill Oloroso sherry cask #2087. One of only 956 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch's released after the 2018 rebranding, distilled on 15th October 2003 and bottled at 14 years of age. Matured in single bourbon cask #917. One of only 323 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch's released after the 2018 rebranding, distilled on 7th September 2007 and bottledat 10 years of age. Matured in a 2nd Fill Brunello wine cask #1743. One of only 323 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 27th September 2006 and bottled at 11 years of age. Titled SYC:01, this was matured in 2nd fill Syrah cask #13/080-17. One of 431 bottles.

One of the earlier Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 30th November 2006 and bottled at 13 years of age. Titled SHC:02, this was matured in 2nd fill sherry cask #2005. One of 776 bottles.

Distilled on 30th November 2005 and bottled at 12 years of age. Titled MNC: 01, this was matured in a 1st fill Costieres de Nime wine cask. One of only 429 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 13th September 2006 and bottled at 12 years of age. Titled BC:01, this was matured in a single first-fill bourbon barrel #1776. One of 368 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 20th October 2006 and bottled at 12 years of age. Titled PAC:01, this was matured in a single first-fill Pauillac cask . One of 448 bottles.

Distilled on 28th November 2005 and bottled at 13 years of age. Titled MOC: 01, this was matured in a 1st fill Moulis wine cask. One of only 419 bottles.

A Port Charlotte Valinch release following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 20th July 2007 and bottled at 11 years of age. Titled BC:02, this was matured in first fill bourbon cask #1410. One of 337 bottles.

One of the first Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 28th September 2007 and bottled at 11 years of age. Titled CSC:01, this was matured in second fill Cabernet Sauvignon cask #2053. One of 433 bottles.

A single cask bottling of peated Bruichladdich, matured in 2nd fill virgin oak cask #3832. One of 390 bottles.

One of the earlier Port Charlotte Valinch releases following the 2018 rebranding. It was distilled on 30th November 2006 and bottled at 13 years of age. Titled SHC:02, this was matured in 2nd fill sherry cask #2005. One of 776 bottles.

A Port Charlotte Valinch release, distilled on the 9th October 2006 and bottled at 12 years of age. Titled VGC:01, this was Matured in a Viognier Condrieu wine cask #2177. One of 421 bottles.

A Port Charlotte Valinch Release, distilled on 9th October 2006 and bottled at 12 years of age. Titled RIC:01, this was Matured in a Rioja Wine Cask #2187. One of 509 bottles.

Port ellen

Very smoky, with a good oily texture.

The Port Ellen distillery was founded in 1825 by Alexander Ker Mackay. The distillery lies not far from the centre of its namesake town, Islay’s main port, and draws its waters from the Leorin Lochs. John Ramsay, a local Member of Parliament, acquired the distillery after Mackay went into bankruptcy. Ramsay was a leader in his field and recognised the opportunities that exportation to America could offer.

The Port Ellen whisky distillery remained in Ramsay family hands until 1920, when John Dewar & Sons and James Buchanan & Co purchased it, merging with Distill- ers Company Limited five years later. In 1930, the Port Ellen distillery was transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers. The distillery had ceased whisky production a year prior, but continued to malt barley. Indeed, to this day the maltings at Port Ellen supply most of the distilleries on Islay as well as the Isle of Jura distillery.

A new maltings was installed in 1973, a few years after the distillery reopened in 1966. In 1967, further stills were installed and the distillery underwent extensive renovations. During the 1980s the Scotch whisky market became saturated and, regrettably, Port Ellen did not survive - the stills fell silent in May of 1983. There have been both independent releases as well as a handful of official bottlings.

The eleventh Port Ellen in Diageo's Special Releases series was distilled in 1979 and bottled at 32 years old.

Bottled from a mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks at 52.5%abv and with an impressive thirty-two years of cask ageing - this offering from the long-closed distillery is sublime. Only 2,964 bottles were released in the 2012.

A Hunter Laing bottling of single malt Scotch whisky from one of the most renowned closed distilleries in Scotland - Port Ellen. Distilled in September 1982 and aged in a refill butt untl August 2013, when it was bottled at 30 years old with an outturn of 60 bottles. Part of Hunter Laing's Old & Rare Platinum range, this bottling was specially selected and bottle For the Islay Whisky Shop.

An independent bottling of Port Ellen single malt Scotch whisky from Gordon & MacPhail, who bottled the 1979 vintage Port Ellen in 2014 for their Rare Old series.

To celebrate the commencement of the construction of the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released a selection of 6 bottles called the Kinship collection. Each celebrates a different Islay distillery. This is Edition 6 and is a well-aged Port Ellen at 34 years old. It was American oak matured and is one of 545 bottles. Island malt Whiskies

The whiskies vary although all seem to have been influenced by their seaside locations.

The Islands represent a very diverse region and one that is not strictly recognised as a region by the Scotch Whisky Association - technically the Islands are a part of the Highlands. It is most probably for geographic ease that this small group of islands is lumped together. There are so many different characters to be found, although usually a slight salinity is to be found, thanks to the vicinity to the sea. To the very north there is Orkney, whose single malts are coastal and full in the case of Highland Park, with plenty of honey, malt and heather and smoky malt. The other Orcadian distillery, Scapa, has a delightful citrus and herbal quality. Then there is the Isle of Skye with its sole distillery: Talisker. Single malts here are often described as being 'volcanic' in character with plenty of body. There's Arran, who make a malty, rich whisky. It's a recently founded distillery on the Isle of Arran, founded in 1995. Finally, there's Mull and Jura. Each with a single distillery a piece. On Mull the Tobermory distillery produces a sweet, thick, slightly herbal whisky (and a heavily peated version called Ledaig) whilst on the Isle of Jura, the distillery with the same name produces some slightly maritime, oily drams with a nutty cereal character.

speyside malt Whiskies

The whiskies from Speyside are typically the sweetest of the malts.

Speyside has always been at the centre of whisky distilling in Scotland. Lying between Inverness and Aberdeen in the Grampian mountains, there are no less than 84 distilleries producing whisky (and 12 currently not producing). As a style, Speyside whiskies are usually lighter and sweeter than other Scotch single malts. As they grow older, they develop body. The Speyside region has the vast majority of all the Scotch distilleries, and thus there is a great variation. Aside from the lighter, honeyed single malts, there are also a small group of distilleries which produce a heavily sherried style Speyside whisky. Glenfarclas and The Macallan, for example, produce big bodied drams, The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich distilleries produce the most classic, typical Speyside drams, and both are world famous.

Highland Malt whiskies

The largest of the regions and the one that has the greatest of diversity of style.

Single Malt from the Highlands takes on many shapes and forms. Because the region is so vast it is difficult to make sweeping statements. Typically, single malt from the region is put into four subregions, named for the cardinal compass points. To the north there are big bodied single malts, with cereal sweetness and richness, take The Dalmore, for example. Toward the south there are lighter, fruitier whiskies with a definite dryness. Aberfeldy is a shining example of this. To the east there are some full-bodied, dry whiskies with lots of fruit and pungency. The superb Glen Garioch is one such single malt distillery. The Western High- lands offer full body and real power with peaty, smoky overtones, nearer the coast there are some more maritime flavoured whiskies too. The most popular Highland single malt - if Speyside is treated as a separate region (Speyside, of course, is situated in the Highlands) - is Glenmorangie.

lowland Malt whiskies

The whiskies tend to be light, fruity and dry whiskies that are elegant and subtle rather than robust and peaty.

The Lowland region lies South of an imaginary line that runs from Dundee to Greenock. The Lowlands is a region of more gentle, floral whiskies. Their single malt distilleries have earned the nickname "The Lowland Ladies". In this region, triple distillation is preferred, which makes the whisky more delicate. Auchentoshan is perhaps the most famed Lowland distillery, though there are other great distilleries, including Glenkinchie and the recently restarted Bladnoch. Rosebank and Ladyburn, meanwhile, are sadly defunct distilleries that earned great reputations for their superb whiskies.

campbeltown Malt whiskies

Towards the end of the Kintyre peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland lies Campbeltown.

Campbeltown was once one of the most prolific regions in Scotland, once home to 32 whisky distilleries at its peak, sadly US Prohibition affected the area and until recently there were only 2 distilleries producing whisky. Campbeltown sits on the Mull of Kintyre and the single malt whiskies from the region reflect this with a slight coastal character. They are known for their dryness and often for their pungency. There are also a few peated releases, for example Longrow, which is produced at the Springbank, with Glen Scotia andGlengyle completing the modern day complement of distilleries.

vatted Malt whiskies

These are a mix of malt whisky from different single malt distilleries. They differ from true Blends in that they contain no grain whisky. This is the category that became con- troversial when Diageo labelled their Cardhu Vatted Malt as 'Pure Malt'. As a result, the Scotch Whisky Association actually refers to these as Blended Malts, but we think vatted is a little simpler!

Mystery malt whiskies

Mystery single malt that don't want to reveal their true identity. Single grain whiskies

Single malts get the headlines, but they almost certainly wouldn’t exist without grain whisky – essential to the creation of the blended Scotch brands which are the backbone of the industry. The vast majority of grain whisky goes into blends, but there are a small (and growing) number of specialist grain bottlings. You make grain whisky by cooking up unmalted cereal grains – wheat or maize, but typically wheat these days – and then combining them with some malted barley to help kick-start fermentation. Distillation is carried out using the continuous patent still process, a method pioneered and refined in the 19th centu- ry. Apart from the obvious efficiencies of this being a continuous process – in contrast to single malt distillation, which happens in batches – the aim here is produce a spirit high in alcohol and light in character. If this makes grain spirit sound neutral and unexciting, that’s unfair. The rules governing Scotch whisky production stipulate that grain whisky must keep some flavour from its raw materials, and different grain distilleries – like their malt cousins – produce different styles. With practice, you can tell your Cameronbridge from your North British or your Girvan. Add in oak maturation, typically in first-fill former Bourbon casks, and you have a gentle, often fruity and sweet whisky which at its best acquires a refined, velvety character as it ages. Bottlings from the big grain distilleries, whose main role remains to feed the vast blended Scotch whisky industry, have long been bottled and sold, mostly as curiosities to pique the interest of the whisky enthusiast. But things are changing. Scotch whisky iconoclasts Compass Box’s blended grain whisky Hedonism (you can blend grains from different distilleries in a similar way to blended malts) has been a favourite for several years, while fellow blended grain Snow Grouse, unusually designed to be drunk cold, is a good introduction to the world of grain. And now William Grant, owner of the Girvan grain distillery, has gone further by producing its own range of aged single grain whiskies, including an NAS bottling and a distinctly high-end 25-year-old. Exciting times – at last – for grain whisky.

world whiskies

Whisky is inextricably linked with Scotland, to such an extent that the whisky distilled there is widely known as 'Scotch'. Although whisky distilling is not exclu- sively a Scottish past-time, Ireland is argued to be the home of whisky, it being widely regarded that whisky was first distilled on the 'Emerald Isle' before distil- ling was brought over the Irish Sea to Islay.

The USA and Canada both produce its own style of whiskey, and likewise, we try to source as many of these bourbons and other whiskeys from across the At- lantic. Outside these historically important centres of distilling, we also stock some from Japan, New Zealand and Canada. Japanese whiskies have recently be- come increasingly high-profile, receiving overdue recognition for an industry that is over 80 years old. Their scotch-style spirit is winning many fans, mostly con- verted during a blind tasting. We also stock whiskies from other countries including France, India, Sweden and Wales.

Blended whiskies

Blended whisky is more than just simply a mix of whisky from two different distilleries, it contains two different types of spirit: grain and malt. Grain whisky is easily and inexpensively produced, using continuous distillation in large and highly efficient machinery, but the spirit islighter and less characterful. Malt whisky is expensive and slow to produce, but has more intense flavour. The Master Blender carefully selects spirit from many different distilleries, skillfully reproducing the character of previous bottlings so the customer enjoys the same taste year after year.

Blended whisky is the principal earner for the whisky industry, with only a small proportion of sales coming from single malts, despite recent growth. Scotland should be grateful to the pioneers of blended whiskies such as Dewar, Buchanan, Bell, Walker and Mackie who established some of the earliest truly interna- tional brands in the world.

All whiskies are subject to availability All whiskies are sold in measures of 35ml

KEY TO BOTTLERS

NOVOct 2019 2013