A.D. Rattray

Yet another independent bottler hits Australian shores, boasting a strong reputation for quality. Founded by Andrew Dewar Rattray in 1868, the company began trading as an importer of French wines, Italian spirits and olive oil. More importantly, the firm established itself as a specialist in the field of blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies. After several changes in ownership, it returned to the family and is presently owned by Tim Morrison, previously of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and fourth generation descendent of the founder. The company’s resurgence came about in 2002 with the bottling of a ‘new’ Stronachie. In April 2004, using his extensive industry knowledge, Morrison then bottled a selection of his own handpicked whiskies and the A.D. Rattray Cask Collection was born.

The Cask Collection series focuses on Single Cask Cask Strength whisky matured until the team at A.D. Rattray deem it ready, and then bottled at natural colour and cask strength, with zero chill-filtration. If unusual aromas and flavours are what you seek from a whisky, then single casks are the place to find them. Beyond the fruity esters and the softening sweetness imparted by oak that distillers like to amplify, seasoned drammers relish the road less travelled. Their eyes light up to the smell of sweaty leather or burlap sacks or birthday candles. Master distillers may cringe, yet these weird and wacky side notes are what keeps whisky interesting. Of course, it would be a brave decision for any major distillery to release thousands of cases of anything exhibiting flavours that some might consider to be “off” notes. But for an independent bottler, the tiny quantities involved in a single cask make releasing whiskies that may be deemed out of character much less risky. That's why many of A.D.Rattray's single cask picks cater to the curious, often valuing intrigue over perfection. In stock evaluations they often note casks as “flawless” - a technical assessment of quality, but on its own, not necessarily high praise from Rattray. Everything is there, but where is the hook? Can a whisky be too balanced? In fact, it's not unusual for Rattray to overlook casks that simply aren’t interesting enough, rather than reject them for exhibiting peculiar notes. For drinkers who share their passion, this is the collection for you.

Plans for their new Glasgow-based distillery, The Clydeside Distillery, were approved in 2014 and their first whisky under that label bottled in 2021.