Whisky Releases

Ben Nevis Distillery 12 Years Old

Bourbon Hogshead | 54.7% vol | 12 years old | Cask 117

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2025

89/100
Ben Nevis is a distillery with many faces. Depending on the era, its spirit can be wonderfully fruity, or deeply funky. This particular cask proudly embraces the latter side, and we absolutely love this dirtier side.

The nose is gloriously old-fashioned, opening with soot, ashes, leather, yeast and engine grease. Pickled walnuts, fresh mushrooms and overripe green apple add to the wonderfully unruly character. With a little water, bright citrus appears, bringing a surprising freshness to all that funk. On the palate, the whisky is rich and slightly fatty, with wax, charcoal, tar and maritime notes sitting alongside nectarines and apricots. There’s a touch of mint too, and as it opens, the fruity sweetness becomes increasingly apparent, adding a juicy counterpoint to the earthy, savoury character. The finish is long and beautifully balanced, returning to ashes and ripe stone fruits while retaining that unmistakable funky Ben Nevis character.

This is certainly not a whisky that tries to please everyone. It is bold, slightly unruly and wonderfully individual. For those who appreciate the dirtier side of Ben Nevis, this one is an absolute joy.

Ailsa Bay 13 Years Old

Oloroso Hogshead | 54.4% vol | 13 years old | Cask 801396

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2025

89/100
Ailsa Bay is one of those Lowland distilleries you rarely come across in independent bottlings, which makes every release feel that little bit more special. Having enjoyed our previous expression, we were curious to see what a 13-year-old spirit would bring when given a very different home in an Oloroso sherry cask.

The nose starts delicately, with straw, barley and fresh spring meadows, before the sherry gently joins in. Almond, coffee and floral notes add a little extra depth, but the spirit remains firmly in charge. On the palate, this is a drier and more assertive dram. Barley and straw meet pepper, oak and warming wood spice, followed by dried fruits and a subtle nuttiness. There is a rustic quality here that we find particularly charming. The finish softens considerably, bringing dried fruit, steeped grains and a touch of sticky toffee pudding before returning to dried flowers and straw.

What we enjoy most is the balance. The Oloroso cask adds richness without masking the light, floral character of the Ailsa Bay spirit. A wonderfully distinctive Lowland whisky, and a worthy follow-up to our earlier release.

Mortlach 7 Years Old

Sherry Quarter Cask | 54.7% vol | 7 years old | Cask 216A

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2024

89/100
Mortlach has always had a reputation for a robust, meaty character, and this little seven-year-old is a fine reminder of why. Matured in a PX quarter cask, it packs an impressive amount of character into every drop. A quarter cask gives whisky considerably more wood contact than a traditional cask, allowing the oak and previous sherry maturation to make their influence felt much more quickly. In this case, that means rich dried fruit and sherry notes wrapped around the powerful Mortlach spirit, rather than simply covering it up.

The nose brings dried raisins, fruitcake and honey, mingling with pipe tobacco, leather and a distinctly earthy, meaty character. There’s even a touch of chocolate and bay leaf hiding underneath. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied, bringing toffee, dark fruit, liquorice and chocolate alongside Mortlach’s savoury, almost meaty character. With a little water, it relaxes beautifully, revealing bitter orange, pepper and a gentle hint of sulphur. The finish is long, warming and sherry-driven, with dried fruit, clove and lingering spice.

A lively little beast that proves young whisky can have serious depth when the right spirit meets the right cask. This one certainly has plenty to say.

Benriach 26 Years Old

PX Sherry Cask Finish | 57.1% vol | 26 years old | Cask 7355

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2024

90/100
When drinking a BenRiach, you can never completely know what to expect. The style of this whisky ranges from bright and fruity to richly sherried and gently smoky. This 26-year-old brings several of those characters together, with a late PX influence adding an unexpected final touch.

The nose is wonderfully soft and inviting, opening with fresh strawberry, mountain honey and ripe mirabelles. Garden mint, sultanas and a gentle touch of oak follow, while hints of leather, walnut and tobacco slowly emerge. There is a lovely depth here, but nothing feels heavy. On the palate, it is remarkably gentle for a whisky bottled at full strength. Raspberry ganache, caramel, chocolate and buttery shortbread bring a rich sweetness, balanced by herbal tea, orange and a subtle earthy bitterness from fruit stones and walnut. The sherry influence is present, but beautifully integrated. The finish is long and warming, with leather, tobacco and walnuts joined by wax, dried fruit and a hint of liquorice.

A wonderfully balanced old BenRiach: rich without becoming cloying, mature without losing its fruitiness, and just a little bit unexpected. Sometimes the oddball turns out to be the most interesting one in the room.

Caperdonich 25 Years Old

Hogshead | 56.2% vol | 25 years old | Cask 30900

RELEASED MARCH 2023

90/100
A unique bottling coming from the closed distillery Caperdonich. A distillery that has been silent for more than two decades, yet whose spirit continues to remind us just how good old-fashioned Speyside whisky can be. This 25-year-old is a particularly lovely example.

The nose brings stewed apples, ripe pear, peaches and sultanas, wrapped in honeyed butterscotch, vanilla icing and a gentle floral character. There is something wonderfully rustic here too, with old oak, orange pith and a hint of herbal tea. It takes a little time to open, but patience is rewarded. On the palate, it becomes brighter and more vibrant. Juicy peach, nectarine, banana and orange zest meet a waxy texture, white pepper and toasted oak, with just enough molasses-like sweetness to keep everything beautifully balanced. The finish is long and warming, leaving lingering orchard fruits, cinnamon, caramel and those lovely old-fashioned oak notes.

A whisky with real maturity, but without losing its youthful fruitiness. Gentle, complex and unmistakably from another era. This is the kind of Caperdonich that makes you wish the stills were still running.

Ailsa Bay 10 Years Old

Bourbon Cask | 54.6% vol | 10 years old | Cask 801404

RELEASED APRIL 2022

88/100
Often overshadowed by the big, smoky drams of Islay and the richer styles from elsewhere in Scotland, the lighter Lowland character can be incredibly rewarding when you take the time to sit with it. Paddy’s Milestone ("teaspooned" Ailsa Bay) is a fine example of exactly that.

The nose opens with ripe apricots, peaches and mango, intertwined with fresh-cut grass, green apple, vanilla and a gentle hint of eucalyptus. There is a subtle touch of charred peat in the background, adding just enough depth without stealing the show. The palate is creamy and lively, bringing back the orchard fruits alongside nutmeg, honey and butterscotch. As it develops in the glass, the whisky becomes increasingly expressive, revealing more of its fresh and distinctly Lowland character. The finish is smooth and gently warming, with pear drops, lemon zest and a lingering grassy sweetness.

A wonderfully honest dram: fresh, fruity and quietly complex, with just enough smoke to keep things interesting. This is a whisky to pour, sit back with, and let unfold. A proper Lowland character and, at its price, a seriously good dram.

Bunnahabhain 15 Years Old

PX Sherry Cask | 55.3% vol | 15 years old | Cask 2000085

RELEASED APRIL 2022

90/100
Islay always has a special place in our hearts, and whenever we visit the Bunna distillery along the beautiful coastline, with seagulls fighting their way against the wind, it always feels like coming home a bit. With this Bunnahabhain Mòine, coming home goes hand in hand with gentle wafts of a hearth fire burning.

The nose combines gentle peat smoke and Lapsang Souchong tea with sweet red forest fruits, dried apricots, and roasted chestnuts. On the palate, it is creamy and complex, opening with a savory barbecue campfire smoke alongside blackcurrants, chili pepper spice, and dark honey. It closes with the finish, long and warming, of apricot marmalade, dried figs, and a lingering, salty-sweet oak finish.

A masterclass in balancing rich sherry sweetness with delicate Islay peat smoke.

Ben Nevis Distillery 10 Years Old

Shiraz Cask finish | 56.7% vol | 10 years old | Cask 1800020

RELEASED APRIL 2021

89/100
We have always been big fans of Ben Nevis. The oily, chocolate hints interwoven with overripe fruit, it has always been one of those styles we really like in our Rums as well. It's perfect in its little imperfections. With this Ben Nevis, we got the opportunity to age it on a Syrah cask, and with the grain and waxiness that was already there, we though: why not!. This turned out to be a perfect move!

The nose is full of signature industrial and oily notes—damp gravel, leather, and pu-erh tea—blending with brioche toast, sour cherries, and strawberry jam.On the palate, it is rich and muscular, opening with chili spice, black pepper, and bitter almonds alongside pickled fruits, rhubarb, and roasted barley. It transitions into the finish, long and weighty, with sweet red berry preserves, hessian, and dark oak.

Strikingly complex and beautifully balanced without harsh wine tannins, it offers a captivating, deeply flavorful twist on a classic High Highland malt.

Glenallachie 24 Years Old

Hogshead | 55.1% vol | 24 years old | Cask 23

RELEASED JANUARY 2021

90/100
When we heard that none other than Billy Walker (the man behind BenRiach and GlenDronach) and his team would be taking over GlenAllachie, we were overjoyed. The excellent cask management he is capable of, transforms every spirit into something truly amazing. We immediately contacted our good friend Mark Watt, and he was able to select a stunning cask for us to bottle.

The nose opens rich and inviting, led by heather honey, dark chocolate, and cinnamon, accented by sticky raisins, espresso, and sweet butterscotch.

On the palate, it is thick and creamy, delivering flavors of marzipan, stewed orchard fruit, and warming mocha spice. It closes with the finish, long and satisfying, of grated nutmeg, toffee, and lingering dark cocoa.

A robust, beautifully balanced, and sherry-forward Speyside classic.

Ardbeg 25 Years Old

Sherry Cask Finish | 50.1% vol | 25 years old

RELEASED JANUARY 2020

92/100
Our second Ardbeg 25 year old release. This bottle really captures the wild and untamed character of Islay and displayed is the Puffin, a symbol for the seas surrounding the distillery. It is one of our most popular releases, especially due to the amazing artwork from Hans Dillesse fitting the profile of this old-school Ardbeg perfectly.

The nose reveals a subtle and elegant aromatic profile dominated by gentle coastal peat, dried chamomile, beeswax, and salted butter, intertwined with faint traces of smoked pears and lemon peel.

On the palate, it is rich and soft, delivering nuanced flavors of sooty ash, maritime salinity, and almond paste, balanced by notes of green tea and grapefruit zest. It transitions into the finish, long and warming, characterized by lingering campfire smoke, dried herbs, and a clean, chalky mineral edge.

"Puffin" stands as a beautifully complex, restrained classic from Ardbeg's golden 1990s era.

Glenrothes 20 Years Old

Bourbon Cask | 52.8% vol | 20 years old | Cask 10/1996

RELEASED OCTOBER 2017

88.5/100
Glenrothes is often associated with a rich, sherried style, which makes a bourbon-matured expression like this all the more interesting. After two decades in oak, this cask shows a remarkably fresh and natural side of the spirit, with citrus taking centre stage.

The nose is bright and inviting, led by lemon, grapefruit and fresh fruit peel, with hints of wet grass, straw and vanilla underneath. There is something wonderfully clean and chalky about it, reminiscent of limestone after rain, while stewed apple and fresh bread add a little softness.

On the palate, the whisky is creamy and zesty, bringing lemon yoghurt, apples and pears alongside cinnamon, cane sugar and a touch of bitter oak. Black pepper, cloves and a hint of menthol add a gentle spice, while a little water brings out even more citrus and those lovely chalky notes.

The finish is medium to long, dry and refreshing, with grapefruit, lemon, pear and apple lingering alongside a pleasant mineral character.

A wonderfully unorthodox Glenrothes. Fresh, precise and refreshingly citrus-driven, this is a bottle that shows just how different the distillery can be when the sherry cask steps aside and lets the spirit speak for itself.

Ardbeg 25 Years Old

Bourbon Cask | 49.8% vol | 25 years old | Cask 649

RELEASED NOVEMBER 2016

90/100
There is something rather special about an older Ardbeg from the difficult years of the 1980s and ’90s. With the distillery spending long periods closed or operating only briefly, very little spirit from this era remains. Finding a cask like this feels like uncovering a small piece of Islay history.

The nose immediately shows its age and elegance. Earthy peat, warm ashes and tarry rope mingle with hessian, kelp and a gentle farmyard character. Beneath it all sit vanilla custard, banana, lemon peel and a subtle medicinal note, bringing a lovely softness to the smoke.

On the palate, the whisky is powerful but remarkably composed. Smoked fish, walnuts and grapefruit meet briny olives, pepper and a deep earthiness, while an oily, almost creamy texture keeps everything beautifully integrated. The peat is certainly there, but this is not about brute force. It is about balance.

The finish is long, oily and wonderfully coastal, with warm ashes, tar, smoke and lingering saltiness alongside a gentle sweetness.

A beautiful example of mature Ardbeg: elegant rather than aggressive, deeply maritime and full of character. For us, this is exactly why old Islay whisky remains so captivating.

Auchentoshan 24 Years Old

Bourbon Cask | 51.5% vol | 24 years old

RELEASED AUGUST 2016

88/100
The Auchentoshan 24 Years Old (Distilled 1990) stands as a landmark release, marking the inaugural single-cask bottling for The Duchess label. Hand-selected in collaboration with industry experts Luc Timmermans and Eiling Lim, this ex-bourbon single malt captures the pinnacle of mature Lowland character bottled at Cask Strength.

On the nose, it reveals an inviting bouquet of vanilla, dry straw, and dusty oak, seamlessly layered with soft milk chocolate, white peach, and a hint of lime zest. The palate expands into warm clove spice, linseed oil, and a signature undertone of fresh pear and banana peel. A balanced, elegant finish lingering with crisp grassiness and yellow orchard fruits ensures a sophisticated drinking experience.

This premiere release perfectly defines the refined standards of The Duchess.