Blended / Vatted Malt
163 products
A blended malt, formerly called a vatted malt, or pure malt, is a blend of different single malt whiskies from different distilleries, as opposed to single malt whisky, which is the blending of different casks or batches from the same distillery. Blended malts are typically soft textured, delicious, flavourful whiskies with broad appeal. Johnnie Walker Green has long been a benchmark, but you'll find a good cross-section of styles represented here, many of which we taste and rate to further guide your purchase. You can also subscribe to our Spirits and Liqueurs Email Newsletter to keep up to date with new arrivals, whisky tastings, special offers and more.
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$290.00$250.00$250.00Bottle$3,000.00DozenABV: 52.9%Continuing what started with last year’s ‘Glover’ release (an uber expensive Japanese and Scotch 'fusion'), Kincardine is another ambitious cross-country blending exercise, this time the result of marrying whisky from Scotland and India. The regime included refill ex-Bourbon casks from India's already famous Amrut Distillery and Glen Elgin Distillery, Speyside, Scotland, plus refill Spanish oak ex -Sherry from Macallan. 796 bottles are on offer. Extremely limited Australian allocation and obviously quite collectable. 52.9% Alc./Vol. Notes from Adelphi... Aroma: initially spicy, fruity and floral with notes of ripe bananas, freshly opened jar of Dundee marmalade, green apple skin and lemon curd. White chocolate and coconut ice cream in the development with lychees, melon balls and citrus brullée. Taste: almost chilli-hot spices from the High Ranges of Kerala, tempered by fresh coconut, sweetening to Tunnock’s Snowballs with black cherry cola. Finish: Black Forest Gâteau, ground pepper and a hint of mustard seed. - 92
- Limit Twelve per customer
- Nicks Import
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Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLANDReduced from$169.99$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 46%"...a fully naked Campbeltowner, undisguised and maskless. Very cool proposition, and certainly a true 'regional malt'." - whiskyfun.com
This Springbank novelty could easily be mistaken for the Campbeltown Loch Blend, as the label looks almost identical - only the age statement has been dropped. It is, actually, a little more exciting than that. Instead of blending malt with grain whisky, Springbank have re-invented the label using Campbeltown single malts sourced from the district's five distilleries (or distillates): Unpeated Kilkerran forms the base, followed by Springbank, Glen Scotia, Hazelburn and Longrow. The upgrade promises a genuine celebration of Campbeltown character, and the distillates all get a showing - from the dirtiness of Glen Scotia to the minerality and citric fruits of Springbank, the chalkiness, saltiness, and florality of Kilkerran, to the peat of Longrow and the clean honeyed notes of Hazelburn. All were drawn from ex-Bourbon and x-Sherry casks and combined and bottled at Springbank, although the whisky's deep colour suggests more of the latter.
If you want to get your head around Springbank without emptying your wallet, Campbeltown Loch is about your only option. The peated elements do most of the heavy lifting, balanced by a lovely malt and sherry richness. That combination, capped off by a salivating salt and pepper tang recalls certain peatier bottlings of Springbank 10 year old (which is reasonable to assume as the inspiration for this whisky). Also bottled at 46%, there's no shortage of Campbeltown chutzpah on offer: Sweet and sooty with a coastal bite, it firmly ranks amongst the most flavoursome, characterful blended malts of recent years. Buy it whenever the price is right.
Other reviews... ...Now, I just see that this is actually a blended malt – I used to believe Campbeltown Lochs were blended Scotch, no? Looks like this one's made out of all single malts in Campbeltown, namely Springbank, Glen Scotia, Hazelburn, Macallan, Kilkerran/Glengyle and Longrow (spot the odd one out!) Colour: white wine. Nose: young, starting citric and chalky, with some lemonade and kiwi juice. Then there's sourdough, a fresh pack of lemon drops, yellow Haribos and a little lime grass. This one should repel any mosquitos, perhaps even Campbeltown's famous – and voracious - midges. Mouth: very good, with a similar chalky, doughy and lemony development, supplemented with a little fresh mint, green pepper and tiny roots and saplings (quinoa?) Finish: rather long, on pretty much the same flavours and with a smokier signature. Longrow, I presume. This wee chemicalness too… Comments: a fully naked Campbeltowner, undisguised and maskless. Very cool proposition, and certainly a true 'regional malt'. Perhaps for your favourite hipflask rather than for your most expensive crystal sniffer (a.k.a. fishbowl). 86 points - whiskyfun.com
...There’s a fruitier freshness and a slightly peppery grip added with a mineralic fizz that makes things a little more pleasing for me. Yet objectively, this remains good, easy sipping whisky and regardless of which batch you grab, you’ll be in good company. The rumours have moved towards this being mostly Glengyle malt (Kilkerran) in the mix here and that would make a lot of sense, despite that distillery only running 25% of the year (from the same team - and malt - as Springbank) they’ve been making whisky since 2004 ,and a lot more since 2018, they’ve gotta free up that precious warehouse space somehow. Why not step in to alleviate some of the demand for Campbeltown whisky with a good honest malt blend?...Very good indeed. - dramface.com
Notes from Springbank... Nose: A distinct buttery note and characteristic hint of sea salt introduce this dram, along with notes of ginger loaf and pecan pie. Palate: Creamy coffee, salted caramel, date syrup and crystallised brown sugar on the palate, with a subtle hint of peat smoke. Finish: The peat smoke builds in the finish, with a leathery note developing over time.
Collectors note: Springbank's labels almost always arrive with minor wearing and markings, most often to the top of the front labels. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these whiskies.
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$144.99$130.00$130.00Bottle$1,560.00DozenABV: 40%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
In 1950, Chivas Brothers began the search for a secure supply of exceptional malt whisky. Strathisla Distillery in Keith, the oldest and most beautiful distillery in the Highlands, was the obvious choice. From that day to this, the world-famous Strathisla Single Malt Scotch whisky became the foundation of the Chivas blend. The international reputation of Chivas Regal has been built upon this distillery and the skill of successive generations of Master Blenders. Legally, a blended Scotch whisky must contain both single malt Scotch whiskies and single grain Scotch whiskies. Chivas Regal 12 and 18 year old whiskies are blended using a special process called triple blending. First of all, the selected single malts are blended together. The second stage sees the selected single grains blended together, and then thirdly, the vatted malts and the vatted grains are brought together. These spirits are each married in selected oak casks for an extended period of maturation in order to produce an exceptionally smooth, rich whisky.'The smooth taste of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old reflects the traditional style of blended Scotch whiskies with a powerful array of rich, fruity aromas, and a defined smokiness that develops into a long and memorable finish.' So says Colin Scott, Master Blender of Chivas. Colin hand-picks each whisky designated for Chivas Regal 18 Year Old from the distilleries most precious stock - including certain whiskies that are now exceedingly rare.
Winner of three major awards, each bottle of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old bears its own unique serial number, sourcing it back to the one particular triple blending. And because only selected casks are matured to such a great age, the quantity of Chivas 18 Year Old produced every year is always strictly limited.
Tasting notes: Brassy gold appearance. Bubblegum / marshmallow opening is a little bourbonesque. Second pass reveals vanilla and biscuity malt with a judicious slather of peat. The palate combines a silky mouthfeel with solid concentration - nothing like the comparatively beige 12 Year Old - delicate spices, biscuity, honeyed grains with hints of dried fruits. The finish is crisp with a lingering confectionary note. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Nose: A little closed without water; hints of grass, crystallised fruits and butter toffee. Water brings a note of dry cracker which mellows into juicier aromas. Palate: Solid rich stuff that stays in the mouth, all polished wood, soft leather, chocolate, black fruits, pipe smoke and balancing crunchiness. Finish: Lush and fruity slowly crisping up. Comment: Like a gentleman's club: all leather chairs, cigar smoke and murmured conversations. A beauty. 90 points - David Broom, www.whiskymag.com
Brilliant rich amber color. Caraway and nut fudge aromas. A very soft entry leads to an oily medium-to full-bodied palate with elegant balanced melon and dried fruit, brown spice, and heathery malt flavors. Finishes with a nice long fade of toffee and spice. A complex and elegant blended Scotch for sipping. International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal 91 points (Recommended) - tasting.com
- Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$169.99$169.99Bottle$2,039.88DozenABV: 50%
Part of Cooper's Choice new 'Golden Cut' series, into which only the most characterful casks make the cut. This should bring a smile to the face of those partial to Campbeltown styles - regardless of presumed origin - and there is speculation that it's a tea-spooned Springbank (which is why it's classified as a blended malt rather than a single). Comes finished in an x-Martinique Rum cask with a yield of 318 bottles at high strength. Be quick! 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... An extremely pleasant 50% ABV; there's absolutely no harshness here. Initially, a hint of caramel reminiscent of Glengyle, but the taste quickly moves away from this impression and towards what it already impressed with on the nose: delicious fresh apricots and peaches, along with mandarin orange blossom and mirabelle plums, damp pebbles, a touch of salt and pepper, and eventually, dry wood. Finish: Medium-length, almost creamy finish, maritime, mineral, fruity, fresh. - whiskybase.com
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- Australian Exclusive
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2014 Cooper's Choice Campbeltown 10 Year Old Australian Exclusive Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLANDReduced from$189.99$169.99$169.99Bottle$2,039.88DozenABV: 54.5%A hefty bouquet precedes a heftier delivery. A hard one to nail down but there’s no pronounced peat so if it’s from Springbank it’s a Hazelburn distillate or Glengyle? A slight grittiness to the mouthfeel reminds us of Glen Scotia, as does the slightly prickly attack. The sprite finish is flattened by the sweetness of the wine before a rush of coastal freshness relieves the sugars. Initially the wine input smothers, but it gets better as you go, which brings us back to Springbank… Whatever the mix, it's very characterful. Finished in a muscat cask. 312 bottles for the Australian importer. 54.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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Douglas Laing's Remarkable Regional Malts Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Gift Pack (6 x 50ml)SCOTLAND$54.99$54.99Bottle$659.88DozenDouglas Laing have been well known as a bottler of blends, and since the mid 1990s, for two well-established independent brands under the very successful Provenance and Old Particular labels. About a decade ago, they expanded into a range of seriously good Blended Malts. It started with the instantly recognisable 100% Islay edition named Big Peat. That paved the way for what was to become their 'Remarkable Regional Malts’ series – vatting different single malt whiskies from each official whisky region and the islands. The collection doesn't cut corners, sourcing from some of Scotland's most respected names, including Macallan, Ardbeg and Caol Ila. The family's passion for these creations is partly explained by Cara Laing's personal affection for blended malts. “In a way, single casks are easy,” she says. “They’re either ready to be bottled or they’re not. Blended malts take more effort.” She adds, "...unfortunately, many people turn up their nose at blended malts, simply because some have a negative connotation with the word blend."
Since the launch of Big Peat in 2009 a slew of bottlings have followed. You can now take your tastebuds on a tour around Scotland with a series of playfully presented drams that include Scallywag from Speyside, Rock Oyster (now Rock Island) from the islands, The Epicurean from the Lowlands, The Gauldrons from Campbeltown and Timorous Beastie from the Highlands. For the first time, they're all represented in miniature format in one wonderful gift pack! Six 50ml bottles at an average of around 46% ABV are featured, with no coloring or chill-filtration, each embodying the overarching characteristics of the region they're sourced from. A more detailed breakdown of what the pack includes is as follows:
The Epicurean (Lowlands) Crunched sugar, mixed spices, thyme, peaches and hard candy.
Timorous Beastie (Highlands) Sweet, light barley and spicy honeyed tones with crunchy meringue on the finish.
Scallywag (Speyside) Layer on layer of Sherry heritage - sweet stewed fruit, chocolate and cinnamon.
Rock Island (The Islands) Brimful of maritime character, with sea-salt, pepper, gentle smoke and sweet honey.
Big Peat (Islay) Big, leathery, ashy, coal-dusty marriage of Single Malts from Islay, with a sweet side, too.
The Gauldrons (Campbeltown) Salty & maritime with a spicy finish.- Lowlands, SCOTLAND$109.99$109.99Bottle$1,319.88DozenABV: 46%
The cheeky Glaswegian returns with a bigger age statement in another marriage of some of the Lowland's finest malts featuring the best that the East and the West of Scotland have to offer. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Sweet with honeyed barley, candied peels and toasted nuts. Palate: Sugar with citrus zest, ripe peaches and a touch of spice. Finish: Cut grass and a herbal character, a gristy quality with coconut flakes and brown sugar.
- Lowlands, SCOTLANDReduced from
$109.99$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 46.2%The "Lowland" Epicurean joins Douglas Laing's regional range of colourfully packaged drams. The packaging features the Epicurean himself, with no attention to detail spared, from the cocktail shaker, crystal decanter and barley husk illustrations, to the charmingly rhythmic pack copy that matches the whisky style and well and truly brings the spirit and its namesake to life. Fred Laing, Managing Director and 2nd Generation in the Laing family business, adds, "Back in 1930s Glasgow, The Epicurean, as everyone knew him, was the life and soul of any party. Wherever he popped in for a dram, you’d find him surrounded by a circle of admirers, regaling them with captivating tales of derring-do, of chance encounters in foreign climes and of the fine food and drink he feasted upon his travels. Our new expression is in honour of that roguish character who never fails to deliver charm, charisma and just a little bit of cheek."
The whisky pours like young Riesling with a very pale straw hue. Floral aromas are grassy / mildly gingery with a fruitiness developing as hints of elderflower, geranium and delicate vanilla wafer. Crisp, spicy delivery suggests flavours of rice crackers, straw and vanilla; fresh, zesty with white pepper and delicate citrus peel and more vanilla hinted at the finish. Lively and appetising, as the label suggests. 46.2 Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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$129.99$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 46.8%A blended malt under Douglas Laing's updated Rock Island label (formerly known as 'Rock Oyster'). Bottled at 46.8% and without colouring or chill-filtration, top notch whiskies from Scotland’s islands are employed including Islay, Arran, Orkney and Jura. It’s no wonder Master Blender Fred Laing says “If I could select just one dram to transport the Whisky enthusiast to the Islands of Scotland, it would be this!" Sea breeze then faint iodine followed by lanolin and kipper on the nose lead into a lipsmacking, tangy, lanolin and salt'n'pepper profile fading with vanilla and faint citrus. Salty, vibrant and medium long - a delicious blend with a undeniable 'island' edge. 46.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The final cornerstone of Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts range, this blended malt celebrates the best from the Islands. The peat smoke finds harmony with the nose of pine, lemon curd, dewy lawns, and vanilla fudge. This is gloriously full-flavored; the peatiness certainly delivers, but there is a pleasant nip of saltiness too. The black pepper finish leads to a long lasting salty smack on the lips. Make this your hipflask essential for bracing excursions along the shoreline. 87 points - maltadvocate.com (Fall 2015) Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick
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$109.99$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 46.8%A non chill filtered vatted malt including whiskies from Blair Athol, Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne distilleries.
Other reviews... This wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie is a blended malt of Highland whiskies from Douglas Laing, the latest of their regional recipes to join Scallywag and Big Peat. Perfumed soaps in muslin bags, dried sprigs of heather, beeswax, and Edinburgh rock give this an intriguing bouquet. Juicy: mandarins glow with green plums and Granny Smith apples. Ripe, yellow fruits and spices mid-palate conclude with sweet malt and fading creaminess sweeping around the gums. Distinctive and laudable. 86 points - whiskyadvocate.com (Spring 2015) Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick
- Islay, SCOTLANDReduced from
$119.99$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 46%"...it doesn't disappoint. Big AND peaty." - whiskyadvocate.com
An acclaimed vatted Islay malt containing spirit from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and the rare Port Ellen. Soon after it was launched, Big Peat was awarded the top prize in its category at the World Whisky Awards 2010, while the Malt Maniacs awarded it “BEST PEATED WHISKY/DAILY DRAM.” If you’re a beginner, this whisky may pack a punch but it's an excellent entry point into peated malts, especially at the price. If you’re already a fan of Laphroaig and Ardbeg, you’re likely to love this. Bottled without chill filtration at 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... So which independent bottler comes out in the 'Big' battle of the Islay blended malts? Given this is bottled at a lower strength and it's at a lower price, I'm calling it a draw. The latest batch of this is the best yet, with Ardbeg, Caol Ila, and Bowmore the main components, although there is also some Port Ellen in the mix. So you know what to expect—and it doesn't disappoint. Big AND peaty. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com
[circa 2016 bottling] ...A recent batch of Douglas Laing’s total hit showcasing that famous Captain Haddock look-alike. It’s still advertised as containing some Port Ellen, let’s see if we notice it. Of course I’m joking. Colour: pale white wine. Nose: by blending these young malts (well the PE can’t be young, can it), what you kind of do is erase the rawness, and probably gain a good five years of apparent age. In truth, this is very brilliant, and I’ll tell you what, should you need only one fresh and clean Islayer in your bar, better select this than any very young single malt. Really, yeah, Serge speaking. The blending clearly adds complexity in this case. Mouth: superb young clean ashy smoke with lemons and pears, although the pears remain discreet and are not shouting ‘I’m young!’ I hope you see what I mean. I also like this feeling of smoking a menthol cigarette – as far as I can remember from my younger days. Kool, Stuyvesant and all that. Finish: surprisingly un-long (yeah that means short), but perfectly chiselled. Pears, pineapples, ashes, smoke. Comments: I think the ones at cask strength are better, because you may need powah to stand the high peat levels, but anyone could watch whole seasons of Inspektor Derrick without falling asleep when sipping these very smart babies. Totally a fan of Big Peat. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Awarded best vatted malt of the year - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2011.
Glasgow-based Douglas Laing & Co are independent bottlers and blenders headed by brothers, Fred and Stewart Laing. The company has traditionally specialised in blending super premium whiskies for Far East markets. The brothers succeeded their father, Fred Douglas, who founded the company in 1948 and they’ve not let their Dad down over the past 25 years, significantly expanding the enterprise. Key to their success has been the management and marketing of the vast stocks of old and rare malts the family has built up over the last half century.
- Islay, SCOTLAND$149.99$149.99Bottle$1,799.88DozenABV: 54.5%
First-fill and refill x-Bourbon Barrels have yielded a robust Islay blend combining coal smoke, sea salt and barbecue peat with pineapple, citrus, vanilla custard, maple syrup and dark chocolate. 7-12 year old whiskies from Caol Ila (43%) and Laphroaig (57%) were married and bottled at 54.5% ABV, without added colour or chill filtration. Despite the substantial smoke and texture, the whisky remains sweeter and more approachable than its strength might suggest. Awarded 94 points and described as "balanced and delectably smoky" at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
Other reviews... While most Islay whiskies tend to have a strong peaty character that’s, for the most part, an acquired taste, this is definitely one of the more approachable ones I’ve tasted so far. Rich in savory smokiness, it’s nicely balanced with a smooth, oily texture that pleasantly coats the tongue ending in a medium to long finish. This is a satisfying Islay whisky that walks a comfortable line between being a weeknight dram or sharing with your tried and true fellow Scotch enthusiasts on a special occasion. - thewhiskeywash.com
- Islay, SCOTLAND$150.00$150.00Bottle$1,800.00DozenABV: 54.5%
We're used to seeing the Elements series in 500ml formats. This bottling upgrades drinkers to 700ml. It's part of a new core trilogy of blended malts introduced in 2022 (the others are 'Cask Edit' and 'Bourbon Cask'). Matured in first-fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads and combining whiskies from the north and south of Islay before bottling at a hearty strength, components are kept secret, but just looking at the bottle tells you everything you need; there are the expected aromas of sweet peat reek, joined by raisin cake, prunes, dried orange peel and baking spice, followed by a massive flavour drive that adds lanolin, walnut brownies, maritime salinity and chimney soot. Chilli-infused dark chocolate, smokey dates and trace iodine finish off this impressive blending effort that also comes non chill-filtered. 54.5% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Nose: obviously more sherried, with a rather dry profile on tobacco leaves, dark chocolate and Lapsang tea. Cigar boxes and hints of black peppercorns. Quite aromatic. Mouth: again more on the dark and dry side of the spectrum. Plenty of leafy notes, liqourice, dark chocolate and dried orange peels. A lot of sweet pepper, hints of seashells and a gingery edge. Rather sooty. Finish: really long, with dry smoke, dark chocolate, tobacco and a hint of muscovado sugar. - whiskynotes.be
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: The lingering scent of tobacco remains in an empty sandalwood cigar box. Arbroath smokie sits alongside aromatic notes of lemon oil, ginger root and a hint of menthol. Palate: Rich and unctuous. Dark-chocolate-dipped candied orange slices and chunks of crystalised stem ginger. Muscovado sugar syrup provides a sticky, dark drizzle over date-studded ginger cake. Sweet smoke and dried autumn fruits sit in the background. Finish: Treacle toffee and smoky black tea, sweetened by dark brown sugar. A long, sweet, rich and spicy finish.
- Highlands, SCOTLAND$199.00$199.00Bottle$2,388.00DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Hedges & Butler is a London merchant house founded in 1667, with whisky production coming later as part of its wider spirits business. By the early 20th century, it was producing its own blended Scotch whiskies, and its name carried a strong association with royal warrants and long-established trade. They produced a traditional malt-led Scotch expression that reflected the old-style blending practices of the era. Made entirely from malt whiskies rather than grain whisky, it carried the vatted malt character that was common before the term blended malt became more widely used. - SCOTLAND$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 46%
Two new additions to Laing's "Journey Series" have arrived. This one showcases the rugged western region of the Hebrides. Long popular with ornithologists, climbers and anglers, the Hebridean Islands are fast becoming a destination for connoisseurs of the amber spirit! Think coastal styles like Talisker, Ardnamurchan, Tobermoray and Torabhaig. 46% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... On the nose we are immediately transported to the rugged Hebridean isles off Scotland’s west coast, with a wonderfully zesty, coastal brininess. A gentle peat smoke on the palate, ripe apples, malted barley and a touch of seaweed. A long, satisfyingly warming finish calls us back for another sip.
- Highlands, SCOTLAND$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 42%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
A limited edition Black Label under the sub-title of "Highlands Origin", emphasising the source of Diageo's malts that make up the blend. The label depicts the Scottish Highlands in gold, describing aromas and flavours of orange rind, marmalade, honey and a spicy finish. Keen eyes will note this format is actually a blended malt (no grain included) and it arrives at a slightly higher ABV of 42% as opposed to 40% for the standard Black Label bottling. - 94
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- Packaging may vary
Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Fife, SCOTLAND$114.99$114.99Bottle$1,379.88DozenABV: 43%'...God, I love this stuff... this is exactly how a vatted malt should be and one of the best samples I've come across since its launch.' - 95 points, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017.
Johnnie Walker Green Label is the only whisky in the Walker range to carry the 'Blended Malt Scotch Whisky' certification. It replaces the older term 'Vatted Malt' and indicates that the whisky has been blended exclusively from single malts, and not blended with inexpensive grain whisky. The Walker family began buying some of Scotland's finest distilleries over 100 years ago. Now, with over 27 malt whisky producers in ownership, the company doesn't have to look too far for the very best material. They can choose from the cream of the crop, and have also acquired over a century of distilling experience in the process, guaranteeing the quality of their whisky well into the future.
Undisputed as one of the all-time classics in its genre, Green label is instantly recognisable as a Walker blend, with a profile of fresh and slightly fruity aromas with hints of mango and toffee followed by the trademark whiff of peat & sea air that distinguishes most of the JW stable.
Tasting note: Brassy gold / impeccable clarity. A sophisticated, expressive nose offers an assemblage of soft, sweet peat, oatmeal biscuit, dried mango / fig, white pepper with good freshness - sustained even after several minutes in the glass. Full and well rounded in the mouth with nipping spices carrying the malty attack, along with flavours of salted crackers, restrained peat and an oily-yet-crisp finish with strong staying power. The vivacious and intensely flavoured character of this vatting will keep you coming back time and again. Forget Blue Label: Green and Gold remain the stars in the JW line up. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Just as complex as Johnnie Walker Gold, but fuller and more richly textured. (Not surprising, given that there are no grain whiskies in Johnnie Walker Green.) This is one of the finer vatted malts on the market. Its flavors are well-integrated. You’ll find creamy toffee and nougat at its core, which is then layered with notes of vanilla, mint, fresh brine, and even a hint of mustard seed. Excitingly fresh and vibrant on the finish. A whisky for both the blend and single malt drinker. And at the price, it is also fairly valued for an all-malt whisky.
89 points - maltadvocate.com (Summer 2005) Reviewed by: John Hansell- SCOTLAND$109.99$109.99Bottle$1,319.88DozenABV: 55.8%
Lum Reek Batch 2 repeats the successful formula of Batch 1, using Islay, Speyside, and aged GlenAllachie malts, which come together in Spanish sherry casks, wine barriques & virgin oak casks. 55.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtrered.
Other reviews... This gives a deep peat boost, big enough to counter most of the red wine character. It shows a dry and tannic side at times, but overall it is well composed and a good option for an intense, affordable peat bomb. - whiskynotes.be
A blend by Glenallachie's famous Billy Walker. It does come with a story and, apparently, with some peat. Colour: gold. Nose: smoke and soot and ashes and dough and tons of bacon. With water: lemon peel, grass, plasticine, hand cream, garden bonfire. Mouth (neat): Islay. That's the thing, when you add 5%, you feel it. When you add 10%, it's smoky. And when you add 20% and beyond, it's a peater. With water: an excellent, crisp, chiselled, uncomplicated citrusy peater. Finish: long and peaty. Zillions of companies are having such peaty blends these days, but I believe this one's particularly, err, peaty. And good. Walnuts and teas in the aftertaste, that should be the 'sherry'. Comments: of course it's good. 83 points - whiskyfun.com
"The nose brings notes of peat together with more subtle hints of toffee, nuts and cinnamon. Moving on to the palate, there are some light sherry notes together with sultanas, toffee and a hint of smoke. The cinnamon note develops and leads in to the finish." - Bronze - World Whisky Awards 2023
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- Packaging may vary
Monkey Shoulder Batch 27 Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Dufftown, SCOTLAND$72.99$72.99Bottle$875.88DozenABV: 40%Named after an afflication sufferred by distillery workers engaged in the back-breaking work of turning the malting barley with a shiel (a kind of large wooden spade). Thankfully machines do this now, but this whisky has been named in honour of their passion. Produced by Malt Master David Stewart at William Grant & Sons, the whisky is a blended malt made up of 27 casks from Kininvie, Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries. (Kininvie has been in production for over a decade but without a bottling of any kind coming onto the market). The slick presentation features a triplet of monkeys, representing the three distilleries. Re-tasted in early 2024, the whisky delivers a medium sweet, pleasantly fruity, mainstream blend that oils-up nicely with ice but flattens out with minimal dilution. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… ...a big toffeed personality makes for a pleasant if limited experience. 85.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
Nose: Ripe, very sweet and long. Toasted/polished oak, light resin notes, nutmeg. Palate: Still sweet: a soft start, vanilla custard, a hint of dried fruit, baked banana, cinnamon, vanilla. Honeyed centre. Toasted, indeed roasted, wood gives much needed grip. Finish: Membrillo. Comment: Exuberant, sweet and extremely well balanced. A great introduction to whisky. 83 points - David Broom, whiskymag.com
Outstanding vatting here by David Stewart who clearly has the malts in the palm of his hands... Nose: Busy, complex and wonderfully weighted: the theme is orangey citrus softened by vanilla. Excellent malt-oak ratio. Palate: soft mouth arrival and then a steady increase in malt intensity; shards of Demerara sweetness help counter the vanilla…some grain early on…enormous length…A joy. 93 points - Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2006
This one is enjoyed from time to time, being a very important malt in France, a vatting of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie. Since its introduction in 2005, it has always been Batch 27—surely the largest vatting tank in the world! Jokes aside, I used to prefer earlier versions, but things can always evolve. Colour: gold. Nose: well, it’s lovely, ever so slightly cardboardy, but also on shortbread, acacia honey, ripe mirabelles, and cinnamon cake. Honestly, I really like this nose… Perhaps they’ve increased the Balvenie proportion? Mouth: yes, it’s good, not as light as you might expect, with flavours close to the nose, plus a touch of orange. It only loses momentum after about thirty seconds—that’s the 40% for you. Finish: very short, indeed, and that’s its main flaw. A return of cardboard. Comments: a shame, I felt it was heading beyond 80 points. 79 points - whiskyfun.com
- SCOTLAND$169.99$169.99Bottle$2,039.88DozenABV: 54.3%
This small batch release of 4,200 bottles is from a vatting of whiskies matured in ex-Manzanilla sherry casks (6 hogsheads and 5 butts). A lightly scented malt, slightly dry and nutty, a bit like the sherry itself, then on the palate, mildly sweet. The finish is tangy, with a spike of pepper and brine through the brisk finish. 54.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Notes from the bottlers... Zesty and coastal, bursting with fragrant and floral notes with layers of amaretti biscuits.
- SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 48.2%
The Old Perth Double Sherry Wood joined the core lineup of Old Perth Whiskies in late 2024. Drawn from ex-Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks, we have clean and fairly contemporary sherry at play here with some basic, fresh fruit cake character and a light nuttiness and late bitter cocoa intruding in the sweetness of the malt. 48.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Other reviews... Nose: To begin, lots of baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel) before brown sugar, sultanas, crème caramel, then a hint of raspberry. Palate: Spanish custard slice, fragrant vanilla bean, and cinnamon sugar crêpes all make this a sweet treat on the palate. Finish: Some notes of wood spice emerge, alongside heather honey and a medium-length finish. Comment: Perfectly pleasant whisky but lacks some complexity. 7.2 points - whiskymag.com
- SCOTLANDReduced from
$299.00$250.00$250.00Bottle$3,000.00DozenABV: 56.7%From one of Scotland's oldest whisky families, previous owners of Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch. The Morrison family purchased the Old Perth brand and brought the legacy back to life for all to enjoy. This 2007 vintage blended malt is a small batch release of only 1292 bottles created using whiskies from the Glenlivet region, 100% drawn from sherry casks. Australia's allocation is all of 30 bottles! 56.7% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the importers... While the alcohol is obvious on the nose, so is the quality of these sherry casks! Orange peel, raisins, stewed apricots, a deft touch of rancio, alongside ginger, dark chocolate, forest floor & leather notes. The palate is more than rich enough to handle the 56.7% ABV. Cinnamon and clove spices, join the mix. Texturally this veers comfortably into a silky oiliness. An extremely long finish! Wow!
- SCOTLAND$139.99$139.99Bottle$1,679.88DozenABV: 46%
Named for the city of Perth in Scotland, the Old Perth blends have a history dating back to the early 20th century when Peter Thompson, a grocer from Perth, started to create his own whiskies which proved to be popular. Eventually, the lights went out for Old Perth in the early 1970s. Almost half a century later, the brand was resurrected by independent bottlers, Morrison & Mackay, and now Morrisons. The range consists of four different expressions, all of which have matured in sherry casks. The latest and oldest to date is this deeply coloured twelve year old. According to the back label, sherry-sweet stewed fruits and spicy orange marmalade give this vibrant blended malt a beautifully balanced flavour with a warm, lasting finish. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$899.00$899.00Bottle$10,788.00DozenABV: 47.5%
A mystery malt. The Fiddichside Inn is a legendary bar started by the late Joe Brandie, but this teaspooned whisky is said to have a clue to its provenance in its title (is there more than one distillery with ‘fiddich’ in its name?) The second component is reported to be Balvenie - but we can't say for sure. What we do know is that Murray McDavid finished the duo in two first-fill sherry casks: Six months in PX and two years in Oloroso. Two barrels and two different distilleries technically makes this a blended malt rather than a single. Reuniting both has resulted in a whisky with flavours of baked apple, waxy fruits, creamy vanilla and sweet oak. 47.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The palate is very gentle but does have a bit of a sawdust dryness. Again, a pastry like sweetness with egg-washed puff pastry, apples, raisins and cinnamon. So yeah, Tarte-Tatin, cobbler, what have you. Quite some oak and after a while some pepper starts shining through. Swallow: The finish lingers with dryness and the hint of pepper. It’s less sweet than the palate and nose, and a little bit more spicy. An apple seed bitterness joins the fray, with baking spices and some pear skins. It is quite true to the character of the distillery that we don’t know about, with notes of fruit and apples, some honey throughout as well. A very gorgeous dram, especially because it has mellowed so much over three long decades. Highly recommended. - maltfascination.com
- 91
- Nicks Import
Selkie Batch No.003 Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (500ml)SCOTLAND$89.99$89.99Bottle$1,079.88DozenABV: 50%The myth of the Selkie originates from the Scottish Northern Isles. Therianthropes who can shape shift from seal to human by shedding their seal pelt, the bottlers felt the Selkie imagery with its 'blend' of man and animal fit the bill well for a blended malt brand. This batch contains a combination of peated Highland malts, predominantly from ex-bourbon casks. The peat is salient enough to conclude that Ardmore must be a key component, however that gives ground to a nutty/fruity Speyside character. At 50% it's one of the heftier examples going around with no shortage of flavour, creamy enough to enjoy straight, although the peppery spices don't give up, and you have to be partial to a bit of wood smoke. The finish unfolds with cocoa and gingerbread, ending on an attractively saline / coastal note. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... blond in colour with some smoke, vanilla & marzipan on the nose. Understated peat with good body and a long satisfying and sweet finish.
- SCOTLAND$69.99$69.99Bottle$839.88DozenABV: 43%
For reasons unknown, the term 'Hogshead' has come to refer to a cask size in the whisky industry. These are usually rebuilt ex-bourbon barrels, but they tend to be larger than regular bourbon casks, usually around 52 and a half imperial gallons (or 225-250 litres). Therefore, the title of this whisky is purely incidental and not related to the contents. Independent bottlers, Signatory Vintage have created Hogshead as a daily-drinker or 'House Scotch' using a high proportion of whiskies from Islay, so the flavour comes with a distinctive though not overpowering injection of peat. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... a nice composition, not particularly complex, but a very good malt. The Islay whiskey must have been very smoky or you used a portion of your own ballechin again. In addition, some sherry barrels show the aromas and color, at least the whiskey is not colored according to the information. For the price you get a great malt whiskey. (2021) - whiskybase.com
- 91
- Nicks Import
Watt Whisky Peatsmoke on Gorgie 5 Year Old Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 57.1%Marrying 42% 5 year old peated blended malt with 12 year old North British grain whisky has resulted in an enormous dessert-styled dram with the textural exuberance of a cask strength single malt. Sweet wood smoke melts into honey drizzled muesli, vanilla cream and dates as the mid palate gathers momentum becoming oily and mouth filling with flickering alcohol and a coastal tang bringing vibrancy to the finish. A bombshell that defies both its age and category. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 618 bottles produced.
Notes from the bottlers... Dry peat, soft sherry, distant smoke, toffee shortbread, ginger, custard and black cherries.
- SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 57.1%
This curious blend of 50% Benrinnes and 50% Glasgow single malts has a dry, nutty sherry influence of a kind rarely encountered nowadays; Vaguely sulphury notes, like pencil eraser or matchbox are followed in a warm, grassy profile including traces of walnuts, ginger biscuits and sulphur. Tasted blind you might pick it as young Auchroisk. A somewhat old fashioned composition that nevertheless grows on you. 282 bottles from a butt. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Rich Sherry, dark cherries, soft black pepper, liquorice and marmalade.
Other reviews... This hippy whisky combines fifty percent Benrinnes and fifty percent Glasgow Dist. Let’s try to avoid overly frosty commentary. Colour: Nose: an unusual start, quite fermentary, with notes of cooked vegetables, courgettes, and even Brussels sprouts. Then comes saltpetre, soot, cherry stalks (in herbal tea), and roasted aubergines. It’s very polarising, as they say. With water: still those cooked vegetables, but now joined by honey and slightly "evolved" dried figs. Mouth (neat): more sherry-driven, but spicy and almost fizzy. Think chilli-infused Schweppes, kirsch straight off the still, pink grapefruits, and braised cabbage. With water: it settles down, revealing walnuts, baked apples, marmalade, tobacco, honey, and sweet peppers. Finish: similar, and it lingers for a good while, with a peppery aftertaste. Comments: don’t be fooled—my notes may seem odd, but this little UFO is rather charming, taking you on a journey from Brussels sprouts to meadow honey. Almost a thriller. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
- Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$399.00$399.00Bottle$4,788.00DozenA circa 1970s square bottle of eight year old Aberlour containing 100% malt whiskies and "proudly featuring Campbell's Glenlivet Malt" (likely a reference to Aberlour, see below). Very good condition, with original presentation box and bottle in plastic wrapper. One only from a private collection. * For those puzzled by the 'Aberlour-Glenlivet' title on the label, history suggests the use of the 'Glenlivet' suffix was a convention in earlier times as means of association with Speyside and / or the Glenlivet distillery's enviable reputation. Tamnavulin, Glen Moray, Speyburn and Tomintoul all still carry "-Glenlivet" in their registered names. However, the suffix is now only used on the labels of some independent bottlers.
- $299.99$299.99Bottle$3,599.88DozenABV: 56.4%
Now in its seventh iteration, 'Glover' is a blend of Scotch and Japanese Whiskies named in honour of 19th century Scottish industrialist, Thomas Glover. This time around, 8 year old peated Chichibu and unpeated Ardnamurchan are in the mix, both distilled in 2014 and both matured in Bourbon barrels. Described as complex, perfumed and coastal, it should be another very tasty addition to Adelphi's Fusion series. As word has travelled, these limited editions now routinely sell out. 56.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- $230.00$230.00Bottle$2,760.00DozenABV: 58.9%
Adelphi achieves another world first in this cask strength fusion. The fifth in a series is a combination of two sherry barrels of six year old malt from Adelphi's own distillery, 'Ardnamurchan' and two barrels of Swedish single malt distilled at 'High Coast', drawn from x-Bourbon barrels. All whiskies in the mix were peated. Named, 'Sändebud' a Swedish word meaning 'envoy' or 'emissary', it's an appropriate title for this whisky, which is dedicated to Colin Campbell, a Scottish lawyer born in the 17th century who moved to Sweden in 1731 and set up the Swedish East India Company bringing huge trade and wealth to his adopted country. 1176 bottles at 58.9% ABV are on offer globally. Due to the limited allocation and expected high demand, this is limited to one per customer.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Mild smoked mackerel, Arbroath smokies, Fisherman's Friends, ground ginger... Dried fruits, bbq smoke slight sweetness. Palate: Smoke, salt, ash, hawthorn berries... Finish: Spices leading to fruity finish. The perfect balance of Scottich and Swedish flavour and a great balance between bourbon and sherry.
- SCOTLANDReduced from
$140.00$110.00$110.00Bottle$1,320.00DozenABV: 46%Notes from Adelphi... Honeysuckle, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and flapjacks with honey. Oodles of McCowan’s Highland Toffee, salted popcorn and a hint of fresh mint with a wisp of smoke. The youngest component is 11 years old. 46% Alc./Vol. 1404 bottles. - SCOTLAND$135.00$135.00Bottle$1,620.00DozenABV: 46%Batch 6 of Adelphi's annual blended malt consists of Highland Park, Bunnahabhain, Tamdhu and Glenrothes. The combination was transferred to sherry butts fourteen years ago and topped up with an eight year old sherry cask release from Glenrothes (hence the younger age statement). Bottled in 2018 non chill filtered and with no added colour. 1500 bottles world wide. Notes from Adelphi... Nose: smoked meat with warm toast, butter and heather honey. Palate: dark cherries with white peaches and kiwi compote finished with some Nutella. Finish: rich and round. 46% Alc./Vol.
- SCOTLAND$185.00$185.00Bottle$2,220.00DozenABV: 46%The fourth batch of Adelphi's blended malt is the best to date. This is reported to be considerably older than the label suggests, the majority being quite mature Speyside and Highland whiskies, with only a small amount of 7 year old added to 'freshen' it up - hence the young age statement. Tasting note: Matured in sherry casks. Pale gold. Evokes suggestions of lemon meringue, honey, sponge cake and mocha while also being pithy, dry and peppery. The sweetness builds with air contact. A medium to full bodied, perfectly rounded malt with flavours of salted oatmeal biscuits, straw and a tangy, oily, keenly balanced finish that resonates in the mouth. Lively and lipsmacking with a classically Speyside profile. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 1,484 bottles released.
- SCOTLAND$310.00$310.00Bottle$3,720.00DozenABV: 49.2%A 'hybrid malt', made from whiskies sourced from both Scotland and Japan that have been aged for at least 18 years. The provenance is not disclosed. Tasting note: Deep bright gold. Impeccable purity to the floral-beeswax and pear drop opening bouquet. Evokes Clynelish at its best. Air contact further emphasises the beeswax key-note adding sponge cake and hints of honeydew. A slightly firm, spicy entry, broadening and softening as the whisky rolls across the tongue. Honey-drizzled orchard fruits are countered by powdery tannins. Concludes delicately tart with a silk-thread of sugars woven through the fade. Impossible not to like. 49.2% Alc./Vol. Very limited allocation.
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$299.00$199.99$199.99Bottle$2,399.88DozenABV: 57.8%Another impressive example of Adelphi's remarkable blending flair. Following on from the sell-out Kincardine comes the second incarnation of Adelphi’s Indian-Scotch fusion. Vatted from two casks of India’s Amrut single malt and Scotland’s Ardmore and Glenrothes, with all whiskies being a minimum of 5 years of age, the "E&K" pays homage to the 9th Earl of Elgin and 13th Earl of Kincardine, Victor Bruce. As Governor of India from 1894 to 1899, Bruce oversaw improvements to India’s railway system, worked to combat drought and famine and helped stabilise the currency. There's also a personal connection to the historical reference: Bruce is the Great Grandfather of Alex Bruce, Adelphi's Managing Director. Capped at 825 bottles world wide. Tasting note: Bright gold. A shifting bouquet offering an engaging amalgam of tropical fruits, flashes of sherry and lifted spices. 5-10 minutes accents toffee apple, peppermint and cocoa. A vibrant whisky brimming with flavour and mini spice explosions that dapple the tongue. Very well integrated. Dried fruits with a smokey-sherried edge? Amrut dominates at natural strength. Water broadens and softens the profile adding length and drawing out attractive fruity-oily Speyside notes. 57.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. - SCOTLAND$310.00$310.00Bottle$3,720.00DozenABV: 48.6%Another hybrid malt in the Adelphi portfolio is "The Glover", named after the 'Scottish Samurai' Thomas Blake Glover. This is the third release. Whiskies from Scotland (Longmorn and Glen Garioch) make up 35% of the blend. The remainder is sourced from refill ex-sherry hogsheads from Japan's now closed Hanyu distillery. All whiskies are at least 18 years of age. The consensus on the blogosphere is that this really is something genuinely different. 1448 bottles on offer, but we have less than a handful to sell. Notes from Adelphi... Ripe corn – sunshine. Good beading. Light nose prickle. Richly fruity – ripe pear, juicy red apples, cherries, orange juice – on a base of vanilla sponge, spread with strawberry jam and whipped cream. A drop of water introduces fondant. A sweet overall taste, with chocolate and coconut (Bounty Bar). Water introduces ripe pineapple and Szechuan pepper (both spicy and mouth-cooling). Parma violets in the development. Multi-faceted and exotic. 48.6% Alc./Vol.
- SCOTLAND$160.00$160.00Bottle$1,920.00DozenABV: 46%A first for Adelphi, Glenborrodale (meaning 'Fortified Valley') is an eight year old blended malt, with the innaugural release limited to 1226 bottles. The vatting was created in a refill ex-Sherry Butt. Reportedly the composition includes Macallan, Highland Park, Bunnahabhain, possibly Glengoyne and a good splash (half a cask or so) of Glenrothes 8 years old from an active sherry cask. According to Adelphi, expect flavours of brandy snaps, toffee fudge, orange peel and distant camp fires. 46% Alc.Vol. Extremely limited stocks.
- SCOTLAND$399.00$399.00Bottle$4,788.00DozenABV: 40%
We've one bottle only to sell of this curio that evoked a combination of cynicism and praise when it was released as the result of a 'blending accident' - see below. Evidently, in the late 1990s, there was a product called "80:20" which was 80% Glenmorangie and 20% something else, and with an identical marketing speel from Glenmorangie. It would have been a no brainer to repeat the 'accident', but a stroke of genius was required to make it seem plausible a second time.
Other reviews... Serendipity came about as a result of an error, when two parts of 12-year-old Glen Moray were inadvertently vatted with eight parts of much older Ardbeg. Indeed, the Ardbeg could be approaching its quarter-century. Cynics may suggest this smacks of something dreamt up by a marketing department, but whatever its origins, this 'Ardbeg Lite' blended malt whisky has much to commend it. The Glen Moray has given Serendipity a sweeter, more floral nose than is usual with Ardbeg. On the palate the defining dry, earthy, peat notes of Ardbeg lurk beneath a soft, mellow peachy character, but they remain steadfastly present. The result is notably harmonious. An inspired accident? 40.0% - www.whisky-pages.com
- Dumbarton, SCOTLAND$59.99$59.99Bottle$719.88DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
George Ballantine, the founder of Ballantine's came from a farming family in the Scottish Borders. He established a grocers shop in Cowgate, Edinburgh in 1827, eventually extending his business into wines and spirits. The founders son, also named George, set up in Argyll Street, Glasgow, in 1872 as a whisky, wine and cigar merchant, with many export interests, especially the promotion of their Old Glenlivet and Talisker Fine Malt brands. In 1903 the family business was granted a Royal Warrant and was recorded as "transacting an immense trade in supplying wines and spirits to families of distinction all over Scotland and in many parts of England and Ireland." The company was subsequently sold, however the new owners had similar success, establishing solid markets in the United States and elsewhere. The rest is history...The Malt and Grain whiskies used to produce Ballantine’s Finest are all aged for more than three years. The original flavour, complexity and refinement comes from more than 50 single malt flavours. The unmistakable Ballantine's flavour is dependent on these 50 single malts, 4 single grains and in particular the fingerprint malts from Miltonduff and Glenburgie. No one single component dominates. The Ballantines range also includes: Ballantine's Gold Seal, a smooth and complex 12 years old whisky; Ballantine's 17 year old, a super premium brand with a deep complex flavour which is regarded as THE Scotch whisky by consumers in the Far East and Ballantine's 30 year old, a rare and exclusive blend of Scotland's finest malts.
Tasting note: Bright gold. Attractive scents of breakfast cereals, husk and caramel. Super soft throughout, as grains and cocoa feature on the light to medium bodied palate, drying towards the finish which is clean, a little flabby and very gently warming. Although this latest bottling seems sweeter than previous batches, it's still one of the picks of current blends if you’re looking for a lighter style at an entry level price point. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… Nose: Perfumy. Very fragrant smokiness. Palate: Soft and light. Silky, oily peaty. A therapeutically medicinal relaxant. Finish: Lemon-honey. Some late sweeetness. Late surge of gentle warmth. Comment: Very gentle, but a precise clarity of flavours. Drink while listening to Vivaldi. Rating: 85 - www.whiskymag.comsize>
Medium golden color. Caramel, roasted nuts and old rose aromas with a good dose of hot vapor. A brisk entry leads to a dryish somewhat bitter, light to medium-bodied palate with mild toffee, light peatiness, and a sharp turn of white pepper. Finishes quickly with a pepper and caramel fade. Thin and uninteresting. 40% Alc./Vol.
International Review of Spirits Award: Bronze Medal
RATED: 81 points (Recommended)- www.tastings.com - Islay, SCOTLANDReduced from
$89.99$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 44.2%Whiskyfun.com's favourite bang for your buck bottling (May 2020) "...classic Islay...Impeccable blended malt, where are the oysters?"
A blend of malts from Islay, composed of whiskies from some of the island's most iconic distilleries. Very pale straw gold. Light citrus, crisp barley and sweet sooty peat, all perfectly tuned, with air contact adding smoked meats, dark chocolate and hints of pencil shavings. Juicy maritime-accented delivery - creamy and sweetly smokey with brine, cocoa, white pepper and hints of dried banana through the aftertaste. Offers a complex and beautifully integrated range of delicious flavours. 44.2% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... An endearing vatting which sums up the island's whiskies without any drama but still highly attractively and with no wrong turns. 90.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
One of four new affordable blended malts in the range, this delivers a direct line of clean, pure smoke; richly peaty, with shrimp shells, salty sea spray, fresh citrus peel, vanilla, and the aroma of fine cigar smoke. There's an elegant purity to the nose. The palate takes a different course, with tangy, sharp citrus, bitter orange, herbal notes, lemon sherbet, shortbread, and jagged spices. Quite a stallion. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
I can’t see what could go wrong here. Colour: a whiter shade of pale (aarf). Nose: fresh, peaty, very coastal, gristy (youth) and pretty tarry and on diesel oil. I would imagine ¾ young CI and ¼ young Laphroaig would be a bit like this. No bad names. Mouth: just very good, more on brine, gherkins and olives, roots, pure mezcal and a little mercurochrome. Excellent briny ashes. Finish: long, crystalline, peaty, salty. Salty smoked almonds in the aftertaste. Comments: classic Islay, I’m not so sure. Not all young Islays are this good if you ask me. Impeccable blended malt, where are the oysters? 87 points - whiskyfun.com
- SCOTLANDReduced from
$89.99$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 44.2%"...imbued with a pretty smoky flavor for a peated cask, and leaves a creamy aftertaste to savor. " - Whisky Advocate
Historically, almost all Scotch whiskies possessed a distinctive smoky character, as peat was the most readily available fuel to dry barley. Berry's 'Peated Cask' blend has been matured in a cask that previously contained heavily peated malt, keeping the barrel input relatively subtle. Pale straw gold. A few off-notes aside, the nose shows lovely freshness, the latent fruitiness given a subtle maritime edge, soon overtaken by milk chocolate - all mirrored in the delivery which is genteel, momentarily succulent, the edges blurred by feather-soft brush strokes of smoke. Concludes deeply warming, delicately oily, medium long. Wonderfully pure. 44.2% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Gentle and evenly paced. 92 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
A pale blend with hidden depths of flavor and a sweet nose of honeyed pear, vanilla, Golden Delicious apples, taffy, and custard tarts, all overlaid with ashy smoke and drifting smoke trails from snuffed-out candles. Pear, apple, clove, and cracked black pepper meet butter toffee, vanilla, and nippy spices. It's imbued with a pretty smoky flavor for a peated cask, and leaves a creamy aftertaste to savor. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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Berry Bros & Rudd Classic Sherry Cask Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLANDReduced from$89.99$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 44.2%High quality sherry casks are considered a luxury in the world of whisky, and the spirits they mature often command top dollar. The boys at Berry Bros have done a great job here with heritage director Ronnie Cox and spirits buyer, Doug McIvor, clearly enjoying the job of blending this sought after and uniquely engaging style. Spectacular deep copper colour. Dry nose-feel is attractively sherried with some Seville orange and nuttiness, dates, raisins and even a touch of rancio. Same goes for the palate; initially spicy before settling into a superb blend - a lovely definition of dried fruits (dates, prunes and raisins) – especially towards the finish. Follows with cinnamon and pepper warmth, zesty freshness, hints of bitter dark chocolate and Christmas cake through the aftertaste. The balance is spot on. A primer for anyone wanting to acquaint themselves with sherried styles without emptying their wallet. 44.2% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The Islay just kills, but I’ve never tried the ‘Sherry Cask’, so now’s the time. I’m a fan of what they do at BB&R’s, they have this kind of understated, slightly posh way of doing things that should inspire many loudmouths from all around the world. Even politicians who don’t drink! Colour: deep amber. Nose: concrete and saltpetre at first, then roasted pine nuts, chestnuts, and a blend of well-roasted coffee beans and chocolate pods that have just been torrefied. A very pleasant proposition, not very common. Mouth: but yes! More coffee, orangettes, thin mints, 90% chocolate, dried dates and figs, coffee liqueur (I’ve decided to take it easy with quoting brands), and touches of tarry black liquorice from some of the most extreme Dutch liquorice makers. But yes! Finish: long, superb, extremely well-constructed, chocolaty and coffeeish, with the most perfect balance. Comments: wow, have they added some 1940s Glenlivet or something? At not even 50€, bang-for-your-euro, guaranteed. Genius.- 90 points - whiskyfun.com
This is rich in cask characters, with baked orange, pronounced nutmeg notes, mace, peppercorn, and petrichor. The opening flavors of dark orange and syrupy caramel swerve headlong into pepper, root ginger, allspice, and nippy clove. Despite appearances, this is not awash with sherry-dominated fruitiness, but the finish is long, with spice-led dried fruits. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
I'm certain there are types who will fight to the death for a bottle of this. A whisky, let us say, to divide opinion. 84 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
- Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLANDReduced from
$89.99$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 44.2%Note: Some bottles have mild label damage.
"Great value whisky [that] encapsulates Speyside's appealing regional character" - Whisky AdvocateA very pure and emphatically Speyside malt that oozes charm from the first sniff with floral-soft aromas of poached orchard fruits, light toasted marshmallow and even a touch of musk. Continues the theme flavour-wise, but with a slightly grassier/woody accent. Excellent concentration, spicing up towards the finish. Everything in its place. 44.2% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This great value whisky encapsulates Speyside's appealing regional character with notes of green apple, airy florals, vanilla fudge, honey, pecan nut, toasted croissant, marzipan, and light dry spices. With its lovely structure and weight, this unwraps apple, golden syrup, tart citrus, banana, and caramel. A smart aperitif choice for a carefree day, this delivers a sweet, light, delicious dram with an active spicy finish. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
A lot of malt to get your teeth into. The oak isn't exactly sympathetic, but the big wave of vanilla at the midpoint carries some attractive maple syrup. 84 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
Another one that ‘captures the very essence of the region’. Oh the BS you have to come up with when you have no age statement, even when you’re a great old house such as BB&R! Colour: white wine. Nose: yep, naturally. Bread, sawdust, vanilla, barley, hand cream. What you can get out of some super-young malt whisky from Speyside and some good modern wood. We shall call it ‘gristy’. Mouth: of course it’s good, of course. Malt, vanilla, shortbread, stout, burnt caramel, apple pie, corn syrup. Really, it’s good, but a tad soulless. Some kind of ueber-blend, perhaps, fighting in the same category as that of Cardhu, Knockando, Glenlivet, Monkey Shoulder, and ‘stuff’. High volume, I hope! Finish: rather long, malty and caramelly. Ovaltine, come out of this whisky! Comments: yeah, sure! Made to perfection, but… bzz… 80 points - whiskyfun.com
- 94
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Berry Brothers & Rudd Blue Hanger 11th Limited Release Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLANDReduced from$149.99$129.99$129.99Bottle$1,559.88DozenABV: 45.6%Awarded 'Blended Malt of the Year’ by Whisky Advocate Magazine in 2016.
Final shipment.The Blue Hanger releases were originally reserved for the diplomatic market in the 1930s but faded into history until being revived in 2003 by Doug McIvor, Master of Cask Selection at Berry Bros & Rudd. The first edition was a sublime marriage of Glenlivet and Glen Grant which produced just 723 bottles from a total of 4 hogsheads. It sold out almost immediately upon release, and its success was repeated by many subsequent expressions. Creation of a new edition only takes place when Doug feels they've secured the right casks to create a complimentary addition to the range.
And the name? It's a tribute to one of Berry's early customers, so called because of the shade of clothes he wore. William 'Blue' Hanger, aka 'Lord Coleraine', was a loyal regular of the Wine Shop at the end of the 18th century and considered "one of the best dressed men of his day."Tasting note: [15ml sample] Another outstanding vatted malt from BBR. The 11th in the series is a sultry combination of eight casks – four hogsheads, three butts and a puncheon, including both peated and unpeated Bunnahabhain. Very light / pale gold. A semblance of Johnnie Walker Green to this (as it was a few decades back); the same seamless integration of fruit, vanilla-laced malt and menthol-freshness overlaid by a delicate blanket of oily peat. The smokiness is slightly more evident in the flavour but kept in check by the vibrant, salivating malt, orange spice cake and peel freshness. Spot on balance. Beautifully rounded and very moreish. Non-chill filtered. 45.6% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... It’s the intensity of flavor that just grabbed me by the lapels and spun me round. It harbors intense tangelo juiciness; that unparalleled concentration of deep citrus skillfully mingled with dark vanilla, dried apricots, and gentle smoke. This goes the distance, delivering wave after delicious wave: peach juice, mandarin, pineapple cubes, and lemon zest. A firm, unctuous finish shows a little charred wood and dark sugar cloaked in fine smoke. Tongue pleasing and very special indeed. 92 points
- maltadvocate.com (Spring 2015) Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick- SCOTLAND$165.00$165.00Bottle$1,980.00DozenABV: 45.6%Recently awarded Whisky Advocate'sBlended Malt Whisky of the Year award.
Berry Brothers (a UK wine merchant established in 1698) have tributed the Blue Hanger series to one of their early customers, so called because of the shade of clothes he wore as a young man. Willam 'Blue' Hanger, aka 'Lord Coleraine', was a loyal regular of Berrys at the end of the 18th century, and reputedly one of the best dressed men of his day.According to www.dramaticwhisky.me, "...the Blue Hanger releases originally came to the diplomatic market in 1932 but had faded into history, until being revived in 2003 by Doug McIvor, [Master of Cask Selection at Berry's]. The first release was a sublime marriage of Glenlivet and Glen Grant casks which produced just 723 bottles from a total of 4 hogsheads. Unsurprisingly, it sold out almost immediately upon its release as has been the fate of every subsequent release in the Blue Hanger range. Creation of a new addition only takes place when Doug feels they have secured the right casks in the best condition and can create a complimentary expression addition to the range".
Bottled in 2012, the 6th release is composed of a Sherry butt of Glenrothes 1990, a Sherry Butt of Bunnahabhain 1990, a Hogshead of Bowmore 1980 and a Hogshead of Bowmore 1987. Only 2223 bottles produced. Non Chill Filtered.
Tasting note Deep gold / brass appearance. First pass reveals nutty, vanillin notes. Develops intensity and complexity as a fruity dimension emerges from the peppery background. Unripe pear? Cumquot? Now more like spicy raisins. A hint of peat adds to the allure. A soft entry leads into a medium bodied profile that slowly builds in concentration with fruit cake like notes and lively spices. Outstanding depth and poise. Concludes dry with the vanillin malt and Christmas mince pie flavours persisting. A robust, bracing dram. 45.6% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Over the years Blue Hanger has built a reputation for fine quality, and each creation can be viewed as something of a master class in whisky making. But this release takes an unexpected turn for the better, surpassing even our highest expectations by offering an extra peaty, rustic dimension to a perfect mix of orange and berry fruits, cocoa, vanilla, and spice. With John Glaser still setting the pace for blended malts with the most recent versions of Flaming Heart and Spice Tree, and this release raising the bar still further, this category is on fire...
If you want proof that blended malts can be world class, you’ll find it in any bottle of Blue Hanger. Lovingly created by Berry Bros. whisky maker Doug McIvor, every release has been exceptional. Even by the series’ own high standards, this sixth release surpasses itself. The nose is fresh, clean, and citrusy, with wafts of sherry. But there are smoky hints, too. And it’s that peaty, earthy note on the palate that gives this release a new dimension, enriching the fruity Speyside sweetness at the whisky’s core. The age and quality of the malt asserts itself throughout. This really is stunning stuff.
94 points - Dominic Roskrow, Fall 2012 issue, www.whiskyadvocate.com - Islay, SCOTLAND$135.00$135.00Bottle$1,620.00DozenABV: 53.8%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
A marrying of different single malts is what the Scotch Whisky Industry previously termed "Vatted Malt" but now refer to as "Blended Malt". The 2015 Christmas edition of Big Peat includes a shovel full of weighty whiskies from such iconic Islay distilleries as Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and even Port Ellen. Bottled at cask strength without chill filtration, expect massive maritime and bon fire flavours and aromas. 53.8% Alc./Vol.
- UNITED KINGDOM$129.99$129.99Bottle$1,559.88DozenABV: 46.3%
Bimber's foray into sourced whiskies sees twelve year old Highland and Speyside malts matured and blended in spice-forward Bimber x-Bourbon casks. Tasted from a 15ml sample, as you'd find in many a Speysider, the opening sniffs include fresh cut oak, before moving into malty gear with gorgeous, ripe aromas of poached pears, apple tart, tea biscuits and vanilla wafer. It sounds a bit pedestrian in terms of flavour descriptors, but compensates in a superbly textural delivery with an almost fresh orchard fruit crunch and crispness, backed up by sweet wood notes and furry tannins. The fruit / malt / spice interplay is skilfully harmonised, but it's that special something to the mouthfeel that makes this more than an everyday drinker and more of a quiet treasure. Bottled without chill-filtration in a striking, custom bottle which features a tactile glass fashioned to imitate the surfaces of Bimber’s small copper pot stills. 46.3% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Spiced pears and oven-baked apricot flans are sweetened by candy necklaces and scented with rosewater, nutmeg and powdered ginger. Palate: Syrupy orchard and stone fruits provide a bright and fresh mouthfeel supported by lightly charred oak, gentle white pepper and cooling mint. Finish: Lingering ripe and sweet fruits alongside sympathetic, aromatic oak.
- SCOTLAND$165.00$165.00Bottle$1,980.00DozenABV: 59.3%Robin Tucek's Blackadder range of independent bottlings continues to diversify with a selection of blended malts, first offerred in 2014 under the Black Snake label and derived from a "solera system". Although the number of barrels involved is not disclosed, it works on traditional Spanish principles: the lowest row of barrels is referred to as the "solera" (from the Spanish word 'suelo', or 'ground'). These will contain the oldest whisky. The butts in the row immediately above it contain somewhat younger whisky than the row beneath and so on up the rows. Whisky for bottling is extracted from the barrels on the ground-level and replaced by the same quantity from those above it with the highest row replenished with the youngest material. Tucek uses ex-oloroso sherry casks then finishes his blends off in PX casks. Bottled in February 2016, only 436 bottles of Vat 6 were released. Tasting note: Bright gold with pale straw edges and thick legs. Several twists and turns to the nose which starts spirity and acidic with a subtle sulphury edge; second pass reveals thick malt as cream tea biscuit / cafe creme / creamy soda like scents come to the fore. Wavers back and forth during five minutes of air contact. Huge delivery with a fabulous, viscous texture and a big vanilla / dried fruit hit; finish is creamy yet bittersweet, moderately alcoholic but well balanced, with juicy dates, fruit'n'nut chocolate, ginger biscuit and light vanilla wafer lingering with the spices. A robust, never-too-sweet sherried style that draws parallels with several full throttle Australian releases - think Black Gate or Iniquity. Non chill filtered and natural colour. 59.3% Alc./Vol.
- SCOTLAND$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 40%Always interesting to try whiskies from decades back.... On the market circa 1980, we have one bottle of this youthful blended malt at a price to attract the curious. Reportedly blended from around 20 different single malts, this is said to have a whisper of smoke to it. 40% Alc./Vol. From a private collection. Note: Some markings to the packaging.
- Lowlands, SCOTLANDReduced from
$69.99$49.99$49.99Bottle$599.88DozenABV: 40%A blend produced from the Bladnoch Distillery, Bonailie is word used to describe a last drink between friends, or a "parting drink". Bonailie is a product heavily aimed at sustainability with labels made from recycled barley and glass bottles produced with a smaller carbon footprint. An easy-going blend, enjoy at the climax of a gathering of your closest friends.
- Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$499.00$499.00Bottle$5,988.00DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
A charming Cardhu labelled as "Pure Malt" (although oddly, the box also says "single malt"), probably produced for the travel retail market and bottled through the 1980s. The malt from this distillery forms the heart of the Johnnie Walker blends, hence the striding man depicted on the front of the box. 43% Alc./Vol. - Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$399.00$399.00Bottle$4,788.00DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
The name 'Schivas' is derived from the old Gaelic 'seimh as', meaning 'the narrow place.' It perfectly describes the spot where a medieval castle once stood, at a narrow stretch of the River Ythan, in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland. In 1950, Chivas Brothers began the search for a secure supply of fine malt whisky. Strathisla Distillery in Keith, the oldest and most beautiful distillery in the Highlands, was the obvious choice. The distillery was purchased and now the highly praised Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky lies at the heart of the Chivas Regal blend. Aged for a minimum of 12 years, Chivas is distinguished by its light, lingering aroma, full, smooth, balanced palate with a hint of smoke - very subtle and complex. 'A good whisky blender knows intimately the character of all the whiskies he uses,' says Chivas's Master Blender Colin Scott. 'They are as unique as people. Some are subtle, some are bolder. My job is to produce a distinctive blend of whisky of the highest possible quality which is consistent in flavor and bouquet from year to year. I would describe Chivas Regal as smooth, with a honeyed richness, round and full-bodied, slightly smoky with a long, lingering finish. The classic, premium Scotch whisky.'Other reviews... Nose: Distinct marshmallow. Peach blossom. Faint cocoa. Palate: Light hazelnuts. Cream. Buttercups. Violets. Lavender. Herbal. Finish: A little snappy and aggressive. Comment: The flavours tail off, as though the whisky is going to sleep. Smooth and easy, but lacks livliness. Springtime never quite blossoms into summer.. Rating: 75 - Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com
Brilliant golden amber color. A somewhat closed nose of light caramel, toast, and vapor. A soft, buoyant entry leads to a off-dry, somewhat thin light-to medium-bodied palate with sweet toasty malt, peppery spice, and a brush of grain alcohol. Finishes dryly with a quick, hot fade. International Review of Spirits Award: Bronze Medal 83 points (Recommended) - tastings.com
- Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$79.99$79.99Bottle$959.88DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
***Multiple packaging styles available. Please get in touch for more information.***
The name 'Schivas' is derived from the old Gaelic 'seimh as', meaning 'the narrow place.' It perfectly describes the spot where a medieval castle once stood, at a narrow stretch of the River Ythan, in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland. In 1950, Chivas Brothers began the search for a secure supply of fine malt whisky. Strathisla Distillery in Keith, the oldest and most beautiful distillery in the Highlands, was the obvious choice. The distillery was purchased and now the highly praised Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky lies at the heart of the Chivas Regal blend. Aged for a minimum of 12 years, Chivas is distinguished by its light, lingering aroma, full, smooth, balanced palate with a hint of smoke - very subtle and complex. 'A good whisky blender knows intimately the character of all the whiskies he uses,' says Chivas's Master Blender Colin Scott. 'They are as unique as people. Some are subtle, some are bolder. My job is to produce a distinctive blend of whisky of the highest possible quality which is consistent in flavor and bouquet from year to year. I would describe Chivas Regal as smooth, with a honeyed richness, round and full-bodied, slightly smoky with a long, lingering finish. The classic, premium Scotch whisky.'Other reviews... Nose: Distinct marshmallow. Peach blossom. Faint cocoa. Palate: Light hazelnuts. Cream. Buttercups. Violets. Lavender. Herbal. Finish: A little snappy and aggressive. Comment: The flavours tail off, as though the whisky is going to sleep. Smooth and easy, but lacks livliness. Springtime never quite blossoms into summer.. Rating: 75 - Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com
Brilliant golden amber color. A somewhat closed nose of light caramel, toast, and vapor. A soft, buoyant entry leads to a off-dry, somewhat thin light-to medium-bodied palate with sweet toasty malt, peppery spice, and a brush of grain alcohol. Finishes dryly with a quick, hot fade. International Review of Spirits Award: Bronze Medal 83 points (Recommended) - tastings.com
- SCOTLANDReduced from
$250.00$199.99$199.99Bottle$2,399.88DozenABV: 57.1%It looks like a Blended Malt offering is going to become part of every annual release following the success of the 'Collectivum'. Diageo have endless potential to create these interesting expressions with their massive array of 27 distilleries and huge blending team working on all the Johnnie Walkers et al. They've gone full coastal this year, combining six distilleries: Caol Ila, Clynelish, Inchgower, Lagavulin, Oban and Talisker. The whiskies are on the younger side and were matured in first fill oak which makes for a vibrant, energetic dram. Tasted at the Diageo launch, we thought this was pretty satisfying, with a lovely oily texture, brooding smokiness and loads of pepper. A little water transforms the profile to salted caramel ice cream. Other reviews... Sun-bleached driftwood, iodine, curry spices, and hot asphalt, with a highly charged, aromatic smokiness: a combination of peat kiln and crackling moorland blaze. There is serenity too, with soft cream, ripe citrus, and key lime pie. Thick and glossy, it’s an intense, mouth-puckering, cask-strength prospect. Chocolate, cinnamon, and mint collide with a barrage of clove and barrel char. Booming spices reverberate in the grip of an extremely long finish.
92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2018) - 93
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2013 Claxton's Exploration Series Smoke on the Spey 10 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 50%We do enjoy these blends that often capture a kind of 'quintessential' Speyside character. It's probably a second or third-fill sherry casked malt; regardless, the region's classic traits come accompanied by the gentlest puff of smoke: Chewy muesli, barley cakes, poached orchard fruits, a dollop of honey and a hint of vanilla are all seamlessly stitched together, delicate peat adding depth and old-world charm to the finish. A profile that shows a level of integration and poise beyond its age statement. If you enjoy whiskies from Glenfiddich or Balvenie, this has a similar kind of vibe. 50% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered. Tasted from a 50ml sample.
Notes from the bottlers... An undisclosed Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky that has a sweet yet smoky finish. Nose: Smoky shortbread. White pepper. Biscuits. Vanilla. palate: Sweet and malty at first with oakiness before a wave of herbal peat. finish: Peaty, but not smoky. Sweet pepperiness with shortbread.
- 93
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2016 Claxton's Warehouse No.1 Campbeltown 8 Year Old Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$149.99$149.99Bottle$1,799.88DozenABV: 51.8%A delicious, beautifully rounded, plump and mouth filling blend with little to no peat but a good dose of fruit cake and spice. Wine-soaked tobacco, wild honey and sponge cake are finished off by peel tang and a touch of salt. Buxom! Sources undisclosed. 339 bottles from a sweet sherry barrel. 51.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
- 88
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Claxton's Exploration Series Orkney Islands 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLANDReduced from$120.00$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 50%Possibly a budding HP? The distillate has its charms even at this modest age. But considering Claxton's have identified a Highland Park in the latest shipment, it leads us to suggest this could be Scapa... If it is Highland Park, it's a fairly elementary expression with the distillery's honeyed-cereal character just starting to shine. Experiment with dilution to release the oils and find its sweet spot. Bottled from a single hogshead without chill filtration at 50% Alc./Vol.
- 94
- Nicks Import
2001 Claxton's Exploration Series The Great Road West 19 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLAND$140.00$140.00Bottle$1,680.00DozenABV: 45%Tasting note: The Great Road West's co-ordinates on the label point towards Edrington's HQ, which would suggest it includes spirit from Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes. Beautiful copper penny colour. Ugg boots and tempered malty sweetness on the nose, the sherry input well managed as low key spice and fruit cake. A delicate waxiness accompanies the sherry laced malt; Full and rounded through the middle stages, then sleek and long with spiced raisin cake suggested at the finish. A sense of 'breed' and old-world class to this. Something akin to very good Mannochmore or Glen Elgin (or Glenrothes or Macallan!) Stays with you. 45% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from Claxton's... Nose: Sweet Sherry and oak in harmony. Demerara sugar with raisins. Marzipan. Palate: Sweet stewed fruits at first before the oak and Sherry notes cuts through. Finish: Rich and spicy finish with a hint of raisins in syrup on the aftertaste.
- 93
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Claxton's Exploration Series Campbeltown 5 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 50%The second tea-spooned malt from Claxton's collection comes from a mystery Campbeltown distiller. To our knowledge, Kilkerran are yet to sell to independents so it's either Springbank or Glen Scotia. Matured in a PX sherry hogshead, a sedate coastal whiff competes with a winey overlay of chocolate, prunes, dried figs and apricots. Young yet seductive, this starts out fresh and lively and ends with a decadent injection of sherried sweetness; hints of ginger biscuit, raisin cake and dark chocolate carry the finish. Very satisfying after dinner malt. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- Islay, SCOTLAND$110.00$110.00Bottle$1,320.00DozenABV: 50%Tasting note: A teaspooned malt from a legendary South Islay producer. If you've never heard of teaspooning, it's when an indie bottler buys a cask, but the distillery doesn't want their name on the label. As a control, a teaspoon of another malt is added. By law, this procedure prevents buyers from bottling the cask(s) under the official distillery name - or as single malt Scotch whisky - hence the classification as a Blended Malt. Youthful straw gold in colour, the nose offers a high definition Islay sniff with lifted, peppery openings, becoming more maritime and minerally; empty sea shells, pickled citrus and menthol tobacco; big peat gains an earthy edge after 3-4 minutes air contact. Solid ABV and no shortage of phenols, but the sherry has a rounding effect. Smoked citrus, light brine and eucalyptus enliven the finish. Official age statements from this distillery have been wimpish of late. This fills a void. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- SCOTLANDReduced from
$265.00$219.99$219.99Bottle$2,639.88DozenABV: 57.3%For many, the most intriguing whisky in this year's line up. Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach has stated he's particularly keen to see the response to the new Collectivum XXVIII: An ambitious blending excercise utilising whiskies from all 28 of Diageo's working single malt distilleries. There's no confirmation that Collectivum XXVIII will be repeated. This fact combined with a very accessible price point should make it a strong choice for collectors. The full breakdown includes malts from Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dailuaine, Dalwhinnie, Dufftown, Glendullan, Glen Elgin, Glenkinchie, Glenlossie, Glen Ord, Glen Spey, Inchgower, Knockando, Lagavulin, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Oban, Roseisle, Royal Lochnagar, Strathmill, Talisker and Teaninich. Serge Valentin notes the inclusion of Roseisle, "...which suggests that this blended malt cannot be older than 6 years, as Roseisle Distillery was inaugurated on October 11, 2010. Are you following me?" Regardless of age, blended malts can be as exciting as any great Single Malt. Serge's verdict? "...it's possibly the best 6yo ever. Ha!" See review below. Tasting note: Burnished gold. Pillowy soft on the nose - puffs of shortbread and sponge cake, faint peat, beeswax and emerging sweet, fruity malt in its purest form imaginable. There’s a sense of elegance here. In the mouth, it’s medium bodied with notes of fruit cremes, honey-laced malt (beeswax) and vanilla framed by a lively and tangy freshness. Outstanding balance. Mildly waxy and nutty through the finish with lingering orchard fruits. Very good, but needs time to open up. Don't hurry this one. 57.3% Alc./Vol. Other reviews… An incredibly complex creation... this has minted toffee, gummy bears, raw gooseberry, fresh whole grain bread, and earthy spices shaken over sweet banoffee pie. Rich fruit, cocoa, granular white chocolate, dark citrus, waxy caramel bars, nutmeg, cinnamon, and bitter dark chocolate. Water stimulates green fruit notes. A beautiful sugared almond note materializes with sweet fudge and dried apple dipped in chocolate. 94 points
whiskyadvocate.com, Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2017) This is advertised as a blend of all 28 operational malt distilleries owned by Diageo – not a 28yo mind you - which implies that there’s some Roseisle, which suggests that this blended malt cannot be older than 6, as Roseisle Distillery was inaugurated on October 11, 2010. Are you following me? Colour: gold. Nose: everybody knows that Diageo have great blenders who do not only work with spreadsheets, and it seems that this is more evidence. Starts perfectly cake-y, with some custard, apple pie, beeswax, then hints of beef bouillon (sherry?) and fresh cigars, then a mossy side, as well as mushrooms. We knew this was going to be well composed, didn’t we. With water: very, and I mean very malty. Some spicy oak and some paraffin in the background. Mouth (neat): wow! It’s a tad ‘jumbled’ at first, which is normal, but there are leading malts in there, possibly Clynelish for example, and clarity is soon to appear. It’s not impossible that they’ve added quite some Talisker too, if you ask me. The whole is excellent, getting peatier by the second. Good pepper, good oranges. With water: swims very well, citrus up, peppermint up as well. Finish: long, rather sharp, keeping your palate fresh. Smoky aftertaste. Comments: possibly the best 6yo ever. Ha!
89 points - Serge Valentin, www.whiskyfun.com - SCOTLAND$129.99$129.99Bottle$1,559.88DozenABV: 46%
Other reviews... A whiff of mealy, floury apples, pear, candied lemon peel, and fruit teas, this is certainly light and fruity, genteel even, yet a little timid overall. Soothing and creamy to drink, there's poached pears in condensed milk, white grape, a slow-paced crescendo of spice, and a dash of tangy citrus peel, followed by canned pears and a whir of spices on the finish. Carefree whisky for happy-go-lucky drinkers. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...This isn’t an Autumnal whisky, though. At least, not for me it isn’t. The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness generally sees me reaching for decadent drams from the likes of Edradour, Glendronach and Glenallachie, as the nights draw in and the spicy warmth of a sherry cask begins to trump the understated elegance of something that’s matured in ex-bourbon. If anything, this is a whisky for these long, warmer days of summer; a dram to pour alongside one of those hazy IPAs as you sit out late into the night with friends. It’s a bottle that you can leave on the table when you have guests over for a barbeque, secure in the knowledge that it’s easily replaced if they drink it all, and that there are no idiosyncrasies or challenging notes that a beginner might find off putting. The only thing I would suggest, if you do buy a bottle, is to give it a chance to open up. Like I said, I’ve had several now, and one thing I’ve found is that the neck pour often tends to be quite uptight. - dramface.com
- Edinburgh, SCOTLAND$89.99$89.99Bottle$1,079.88DozenABV: 46%
Compass Box is a specialist Scotch whisky company founded in 2000 devoted to making some of Scotland's most unique whiskies through the art of blending. John Glaser, Whisky Blender & Company Founder, runs Compass Box in a similar fashion to fine wine negociants. The company chooses individual casks of whisky from different distilleries that offer complementary sets of flavours. They then carefully blend these casks in small batches to make proprietary whiskies. A range of types of Scotch whisky are bottled: malt whiskies, grain whisky, malt & grain blends from twelve distilleries across Scotland. Compass Box is also renowned for having (arguably) the industry’s highest quality standards for oak cask selection. When one considers that oak is responsible for up to 70% of the flavour of a mature whisky, one understands their mania. Only 100% American oak is used (predominantly first-fill casks). The colour of all the Compass Box whiskies is the natural colour of the whiskies from the casks. No caramel colouring is added. The whiskies are also not chill filtered (a cosemtic process which strips flavour and texture from the whisky). As John Glaser says, “Hazy whisky is a good sign that the whisky maker wants you to taste everything the whisky has to offer.” These are indeed alluring whiskies for the free-thinking enthusiast. Limited stocks have arrived in Australia. Each is a must try.
This whisky, like all vatted malts, is made by marrying 100% single malt whiskies from different distilleries. Compass Box Eleuthera Malt is a combination of 18 year old Glenlossie, 12 year old Caol Ila and 12 year old Clynelish single malt whiskies. Eleuthera was awarded a double gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirit’s Competition.
Tasting note: Nose: A hearty whiff of marine air with phenolic notes in the background. White currant and lemon zest. Tender vanilla echoes. Palate: Silky. Coating. Oily mouthfeel. Sea lettuce. Finish: Big, warm, exploding waves of spices. Water disciplines the outburst. Comment: Hold your glass to your ear and listen to water lapping against the tarred boat hull.46% Alc./Vol.Rating: 85 - tasting note sourced from Martine Nouet, www.whiskymag.com
- SCOTLAND$144.99$144.99Bottle$1,739.88DozenABV: 46%
Compass Box is a specialist company started in 2000 devoted to making some of Scotland's most unique whiskies through the art of blending. Similar to fine wine negociants, they choose individual casks from different distilleries that offer complementary sets of flavours. They then carefully blend these casks in small batches to make proprietary malt whiskies, grain whiskies, and malt & grain blends from distilleries across Scotland. Compass Box is also renowned for having (arguably) the industry’s highest quality standards for oak cask selection. When one considers that oak is responsible for up to 70% of the flavour of a mature whisky, one understands their mania. Only 100% American oak is used (predominantly first-fill casks). The colour of all the Compass Box whiskies is the natural colour of the whiskies from the casks. No caramel is added. The whiskies are also not chill filtered (a cosmetic process which strips flavour and texture from the whisky). As founder, John Glaser says, “Hazy whisky is a good sign that the whisky maker wants you to taste everything the whisky has to offer.” These are indeed alluring whiskies for the free-thinking enthusiast.
Peat Monster, like all vatted malts, is made by marrying 100% single malt whiskies from different distilleries, including lead distilleries like Ardmore, Caol ila and Laphroaig (they might change over time). Components are aged between 10-15 years, however. we're informed that the recipe has evolved to include older and more elegant Islay malts since 2019. This is a fantastic late-night whisky that also works beautifully in a classic Scotch whisky Highball.
Other reviews... The formula for this whisky has changed slightly since its inception -- and I think for the better. They've added some Laphroaig into the mix of Caol Ila and Ardmore. This whisky demonstrates the layered complexity that can be achieved by marrying whisky from different distilleries and different regions. I particularly enjoy the rich maltiness and oily texture that provide firm bedding and flavor contrast to the classic Islay notes: tar, boat docks, brine, smoked olive, seaweed, and kiln ash. More subtle cracked peppercorn, mustard seed, and citrus fruit add complexity. Long, warming finish. Amazing how a small change in composition can significantly benefit the overall flavor profile of a whisky. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Pale golden color. Sweet clover honey, heather, and peat aromas. A soft, yet rich, entry leads to a sweetish medium-full body with caramel, orange peel, raw honey, toast, vibrant peat and pepper flavors. Finishes with a honeycomb, iodine, and toasty grain fade. Very drinkable, exquisitely balanced, and approachable with vibrant, but (despite the name) not dominant peatiness. 46% Alc./Vol.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal - 93 points (Exceptional) - tastings.com - SCOTLANDReduced from
$140.00$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 44.1%Tasting note: [15ml sample] Including components from Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Laphroaig, Mortlach and Benrinnes, post blending this was finished in a single refilled sherry cask. Beyond the sedate though seamless aromatics, it's a highly accessible malt that pretty much does what the label says: The balance of vanilla, toasty cereals, soft sweet phenols and light oils at medium concentration is near perfect. Cocoa, light citrus and vanilla follow, becoming drier and more ashy. A pussycat that defines ‘easy drinking’. 570 bottles. 44.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.Notes from the bottlers... Expect smoked oysters with tobaccos and old leather. A complex and sweet malt with dried fruits, bonfire smoke and an oily texture. A soft and gentle finish as the peat fades.
- Edinburgh, SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
An older bottling of one of the staple, age statement blends from the late 2000s.
This distinguished, deluxe Scotch is a subtle blend of 15 year old whiskies considered as special as the uniquely designed 'pinched' bottle that holds it. The container was actually the world's second trademark bottle design, officially registered in 1919 - Coca Cola's was the first. The wire netting around the bottle, now merely decorative, was originally used to keep the cork from expanding out in extremes of temperature.Tasting Note: Medium amber in colour, this is an elegant scotch with some complexity, wood aromatics and a light palate that finishes dry. Glenkinchie, a lowland distillery features strongly in the blend and is no doubt responsible for a degree of Dimple's softness.
Other reviews... A sturdier dram than before, but over-sweet and still fails to get my pulse racing. Rating: 79- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2006.
- Highlands, SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 52.5%
Matured exclusively in x-bourbon barrels, this extra Beastie edition is offered at a natural cask strength of 52.5%. The source of the single malts in the blend is not disclosed. Tasting notes include “burnt orange zest, waxy honeycomb and spicy vanilla” in a dram the Douglas Laing team describe as a “massive amplification” of the original Timorous Beastie. 3000 bottles produced. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... "For a 13 year old malt blend this is remarkably drinkable neat. ... It's a splendid, relatively simple, fresh whisky..." - whiskybase.com
...The 13 year old cask strength bottling easily has the most character, depth and personality of the three, and while it’s fuller and more matured, resulting in a nice flavour profile, it always remains very drinkable. Pleasant, but never complex, nor very exciting. There are many things you might label this, but ‘monstrous’ isn’t one of them. Far from it, in fact. Even when you’re playing your cards right with the branding, it turns out you can still overplay that hand. - dramface.com
- SCOTLAND$129.99$129.99Bottle$1,559.88DozenABV: 46.8%
Following the success of the 14 year old Sherry Edition in 2023, the Laings decided to take it a step further. This is the first time a whisky under the Rock Island label has been released as a 16 year old. Uniting single malts from the famous Whisky islands of Orkney, Arran, Jura and Islay, before experiencing a maturation predominately in hand-selected Spanish Sherry Casks, it's a subtle, smoky and sweet celebration of maritime character. Expect notes of dried fruits, walnuts, and nutmeg, while malt and vanilla add depth, culminating in a finish of honeycomb and toasted almonds. 46.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I really enjoyed this, and I’m sad to say that Douglas Laing’s selection of blended malts always fly under my radar, and I’m honestly not sure why. I don’t taste a lot of sherry in this at all, but it certainly is driving some of those sweeter notes on the nose through in a very loving way. A great style of softly peated whisky that has bundles of dessert sweetness to welcome you in. What a wonderful bottle. - thewhiskywash.com
- Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$119.99$119.99Bottle$1,439.88DozenABV: 52.9%
Douglas Laing’s The Gauldrons represents the Campbeltown region through a range of blended malts. The exact make-up is known only to the Laings, but an educated guess says they're heavy on Glen Scotia, simply because of how scarce Springbank and Kilkerran are. This limited edition is unusual for being finished in Orange Wine Casks, sourced from the cellars of Jerez de la Frontera in Southern Spain. Besides walnuts, honey, ginger and toasted almonds, the secondary maturation is reported to leave traces of tangy orange with an almost otherworldy edge. 3000 bottles were produced at 52.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Nose: Immediate hints of orange marmalade, touches of cough syrup, jammy apricots and some light notes of marzipan. There’s a thin layer of cereals lingering, as well as green olives and some ozone, but then we veer into the likes of cherry-flavoured candy canes also. Taste: A mixture of roasted peanuts, char and liquorice with a hint of sourdough. Also honeyed influences, orange pith, nectarines and a very gentle smokiness with soft mineral notes. Water highlights the distillates oiliness and enhances the stone fruits. Finish: Medium length. Sweet spices with barley husks and citrus zest. Quite cereal-forward there in the end. A whisky with character, The Gauldrons does a good job representing the Campbeltown region. There’s a funkiness combined with coastal elements, but also a pleasant sweetness to bring balance. It seems to have improved compared to how I remember it. The Gauldrons Eclipse loses some of its Campbeltown-esque qualities, outshined by the orange wine finish, presumably. However, it gains a distinct fruitiness – peels and stone – that adds a new layer. - wordsofwhisky.com
"Wow, what an interesting whisky ! Love the orange taste (even if orange wine has no orange in it). A special whiksy, really enjoyed it!" - whiskybase.com
- Nicks Import
Douglas Laing's Sweet Wee Scallywag 10 Year Old Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$109.99$109.99Bottle$1,319.88DozenABV: 46%With a label inspired by the Laing family’s Fox Terriers, Scallywag 10 Year Old joins the classic, core edition as an ongoing offering. The marriage of Speyside Single Malts (reported to be Macallan, Mortlach & Glenrothes) comes matured exclusively in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry casks for a rich, fruity and dark chocolatey profile. Batches are limited to around 4500 bottles. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... "The nose gives plenty of sweetness—lots of cotton candy and brown sugar. A good amount of honey too. The palate has a very sweet arrival, which is a further testament to the sherry maturation. Milk chocolate, but also plenty of spices which linger for a long while. A very proper, rich blended malt whisky." - distiller.com
- Islay, SCOTLAND$350.00$350.00Bottle$4,200.00DozenABV: 52.1%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
To our knowledge, this is the oldest Big Peat ever released, and probably one of the oldest vatted malts on the market. Bottled in 2017 at what is presumably cask strength, the outturn was around 3000 bottles. Because it's much older than most other Big Peats, this won't be as assertive or as smokey as the younger editions. 52.1%% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... They may be milking the cow here, but all the bovines seem to be most happy with that, so I can’t see why anyone not totally insane should complain. Certainly not this humble amateur taster! By the way, if it’s a 1992, there cannot be any Port Ellen inside, am I not right? Colour: pale gold. Nose: it is a rather leafy, grassy peat, dry and pretty camphory, with a wee buttery side, some fresh almonds, and all things related to a walk on Islay under some heavy shower. So yeah, any day. Damp textiles, raw wool, all that. With water: fermentary, definitely. Smoked yoghurt, perhaps? Mouth (neat): it’s true that this is extremely good. Perhaps a little simple, as if all peaters had annihilated each other in some kind of way, but this lemon plus seawater plus smoke combination just works. With water: a little more sweetness, smoked apple juice, iodine, our friends the whelks… Finish: medium, rather easy going and gentle, cidery… Saltier aftertaste. Comments: excellent, just a tad gentle, perhaps. I’m not sure anyone should add any waters, in fact. No, better not, I don’t think it’s a great swimmer. I’m even wondering if I don’t like the brighter youngsters a little better, to tell you the truth… 83 points - whiskyfun.com
