Valdespino Vermouth Origen is a Jerez vermouth built around the longstanding connection between Valdespino’s sherry wines and The Macallan’s oak cask programme. Its base uses sherry wines specifically selected for seasoning virgin oak casks destined to mature The Macallan Single Malt, meaning the vermouth represents the first liquid to interact with these casks before their journey to Scotland.
Inspired by a Valdespino recipe dating to the 1920s, Origen combines the character of Oloroso sherry with Moscatel and a selection of botanicals and spices. The result brings together citrus and spice with the oxidative richness of sherry, balanced by a measured bitterness and gentle sweetness.
The maturation provides an unusual link between Jerez and Scotch whisky production. Rather than simply using an ex-whisky cask, Origen is connected to the beginning of The Macallan's cask journey, through the sherry seasoning process that prepares oak casks before they are subsequently used for whisky maturation.
Tasting Note by Valdespino:Nose: Rich and intense spices intertwine with notes of caramelised citrus fruits, layered over a delicate backdrop of sherry aged in oak casks.Palate: Well-balanced and harmonious, full-bodied, with fresh citrus notes woven together with gentle spices and a refined bitterness — a subtle legacy of the oak casks of The Macallan. Deliciously rich, it reveals a long, smooth finish.
Join JPHA and Laphroaig for an afternoon of BBQ, cocktails, and whisky at The Melody Whisky Bar.
Saturday, 12 September, 2pm – 9pmThe Melody Whisky Bar London, 153 Hammersmith Road, London W14 0QL
Your ticket includes:
Full BBQ — pork belly, steak burgers, lamb skewer, Cumberland sausage, halloumi skewer, corn on the cob, and sides
Two Laphroaig cocktails
A tasting of Laphroaig Strong Characters Chapter 2, 35 Year Old
Live music and a magician
Davidoff cigars, while stocks last
Spaces are limited — booking secures your place.
Produced at Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Octomore is the world's most heavily peated single malt whisky, with each edition rooting its character in barley provenance, peat level and cask influence. Edition 17.3 is the estate expression of the 17 Series, distilled from 100% Islay Concerto barley grown at Irene's Field on the Octomore Farm, grounding the spirit firmly in place and provenance.
Malted to an extraordinary 132.1 PPM and aged for 5 years in a cuvée of first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah casks, Edition 17.3 balances muscular peat with elegance and nuance. With time, the spirit, cask and grain knit tightly together into a powerful yet composed dram that is weather-beaten, coastal and deeply satisfying. Bottled at 60.9% ABV at natural cask strength.
Tasting Notes by Bruichladdich:Nose: Immediate coastal peat smoke — salty, tarry and medicinal — evocative of sea spray, coal smoke and weathered rope. As the phenols settle, the barley speaks clearly: warm malted grain, brown sugar and fresh barley flour. Lemon peel and crisp orchard fruit bring lift; green apple, pear and pear drops, alongside soft vanilla and marzipan sweetness. Herbal notes of marram grass and wildflowers add freshness, grounding the dram firmly in its Islay home.Palate: Full and commanding in texture — viscous, weighty and peppery. Sweet first-fill oak shows as salted caramel, smoked apple and toasted coconut, quickly joined by praline and vanilla cream. Then the peat rises: earthy and deeply charred, wrapping the palate in dry, ashy smoke. Citrus oils and mineral salinity rise sharply through the smoke, creating tension and precision. With time, the spirit, cask and grain knit tightly together — smoked malt, sweet barley and peat woven as one.Finish: Long, dry and resonant. Malty sweetness, soft florals and vanilla fade gradually into earthy smoke and maritime salt. The peat lingers for an age — savoury, warming and unmistakably Octomore.
Produced at Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Octomore is the world's most heavily peated single malt whisky, defined by an uncompromising approach to barley provenance, peat level and cask selection. The 17 Series, presented as Chromatic Signatures, explores how distinct cask combinations shape and transform Octomore's signature super-heavily peated spirit.
Edition 17.2 is the second step in the 17 Series journey and the most complex in its maturation, spending 4 years in second-fill French oak that previously aged Californian red wine then bourbon, before being finished in first-fill port barriques. Distilled from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley malted to 81.0 PPM and aged for 5 years in total, the port influence amplifies fruit and spice while allowing the barley and peat to remain present throughout. Rich, vibrant and beautifully composed, it is less overt in smoke on the nose yet profoundly smoky in structure.
Tasting Notes by Bruichladdich:Nose: Opens with ripe red fruits and soft, jammy sweetness suggestive of late-harvest berries and stone fruit jam. Raspberry and blackcurrant preserve and florals redolent of Turkish Delight mingle with toasted oak, clove and aniseed spice. The smoke is dry - wood-fired rather than phenolic, like smouldering embers. Hints of barley flour, fresh linen, leather and coastal iodine bring freshness and structure, with coconut and ginger warmth developing in the glass.Palate: Supple and viscous, immediately coating the mouth in wine-poached berries and spiced fruits. Strawberry, blackberry and cassis are followed by barley sugars and dark syrup sweetness. Peat smoke builds steadily, pepper y and earthy, alongside lemon zest and lime oils that brighten the palate. Oak tannins and gentle warmth lend depth and balance.Finish: Long and luxurious. Raisins, toasted oak and sweet malt fade gradually into dry, maritime salt and char. As the fruit recedes, a distinct Octomore signature remains — persistent peat smoke and soft spice linger on irresistibly.
Produced at Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Octomore is the world's most heavily peated single malt whisky, defined not by age but by the extraordinary peat levels achieved through Bruichladdich's commitment to provenance, transparency and craft. Each edition in the series is built around a distinct combination of barley origin, peat level and cask type, with the 17 Series presenting the Chromatic Signatures collection.
Edition 17.1 opens the 17 Series with a marriage of smoke and char drawn from full-term maturation in first-fill bourbon barrels. Distilled from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley malted to 81.0 PPM and aged for 5 years, it is an exercise in refinement and control, where profound and balanced smoke demonstrates Octomore's signature interplay of intensity and finesse. Bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.
Tasting Notes by Bruichladdich:Nose: Clean and precise at first, opening on sweet malt and creamy vanilla custard. Charred American oak brings toasted coconut and butterscotch, while delicate citrus peel and green melon lend freshness. Smoke rises gently rather than dominates — glowing peat embers and the distant memory of a beach bonfire carried on a salty Atlantic breeze. With time, floral barley notes, soft ginger spice and a distinct minerality emerge, anchoring the dram in its coastal origin.Palate: Texture leads the experience — viscous, mouth-coating and richly sweet. The high strength brings peppery heat without force. Vanilla milkshake, Scottish tablet and warm custard tart meet pear drops and malt syrup. The peat builds in waves: dry, earthy smoke then smouldering oak and ash, with Octomore’s signature balance. Salinity cuts through the sweetness, creating clarity with hints of coconut and gentle oak spice adding depth.Finish: Long and evolving. Sweetness fades to dry minerality, then lingering peat smoke and warm embers. Maritime salt and soft char persist, leaving a powerful, resonant smokiness that belies the spirit’s elegance.
The second release in Laphroaig's Strong Characters series celebrates Dugald Johnston, one of the figures who helped shape the distillery's history.
Following the death of his father Donald Johnston in 1847, Dugald took responsibility for Laphroaig at an extraordinarily young age. Before he was 21, he had learned the complexities of Laphroaig whisky production and farm management, later helping to grow the distillery in both size and reputation.
Chapter 2 tells his story through a 35 Year Old Laphroaig, matured in the distillery's signature American oak casks, barrels and hogsheads. After three and a half decades of maturation, the whisky retains Laphroaig's unmistakable character, with peat smoke and spice developing into a creamy mouthfeel alongside fruit and oak.
The presentation is an important part of the release. Laphroaig commissioned award winning British illustrator Bill Bragg, who spent time sketching on Islay and immersing himself in island life before creating the artwork that brings Dugald Johnston's story to life.
Combining 35 year old Laphroaig, distillery heritage and commissioned artwork, Strong Characters Chapter 2 continues the collectible series that began with Donald Johnston in Chapter 1.
JPHA is an Exclusive Launch Partner for Laphroaig Strong Characters Chapter 2.Tasting Note by Laphroaig:Nose: Enticing sweetness, followed by notes of freshly baked pastry and then fruity scents of apple and cherry, comparable to Bakewell or crumble.Palate: Inviting smokiness to start and spice on the palate. A creamy mouthfeel opens up to light raisin and a warm note in the background.Finish: Lingering aniseed and a light tingling, peppery mouthfeel, which fades slowly back to the original peat smoke notes.
Fielden Rye Whisky is made from diverse grains grown across the fields of England, combining rye, floor malted rye, floor malted barley and wheat. Fielden places the character of its grain at the centre of production, using different grain recipes alongside fermentation in stainless steel tanks and wooden vats before distillation through both pot and column stills.
The new make spirit is matured in a combination of new and used American oak. Approximately 20% to 25% of the blend also matures and finishes in light dessert and fortified wine barrels, including Sauternes, Ramandolo, Moscatel do Douro and Moscatel de Setúbal, while Madeira wine barrels are also used. This combination of casks is intended to retain the fruity and herbal qualities of the grain alongside Fielden’s rye character of nuttiness, caramel and spice.
The whisky has a minimum maturation of 42 months and undergoes a 93-day marrying period before bottling at 48% ABV.
Tasting Notes by Fielden:Nose: Flowers and fruit, like thewild berries that grow in our hedgerows.Palate: Flaky pastry with caramel,hazelnut and freshly baked bread.Finish: The freshnessofthe grainand minty, peppercorn spice.
Fielden Fieldnotes Hazybower Rye Whisky is the second release in the Fieldnotes collection, a series exploring different elements of the fields in which Fielden’s grains are grown. Hazybower focuses on the herbs, wildflowers and other plants that grow naturally alongside the grain, including clover, poppies, thistles and mayweed. The release is limited to 1,000 individually numbered bottles.
Produced at Oxford Distillery, Hazybower uses heritage varieties of rye, wheat and barley grown across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Norfolk. The grain composition is 70% rye, 20% wheat and 10% malted barley, with some rye and wheat grown together as traditional maslin. The spirit was fermented with the grain before undergoing pot distillation followed by pot and column distillation.
After a minimum maturation of 36 months, the whisky comprises 85% liquid matured in second-fill American oak and 15% matured in an old Hungarian oak Tokaji wine cask. The used American oak was chosen to allow more of the grain and fermentation character to remain prominent, while the Tokaji cask contributes to the whisky’s citrus, floral honey and ginger character. The components were married for 62 days before bottling at 46.3% ABV.
Tasting Notes by Fielden:Nose: Fresh citrus and blossom with custard and freshly baked scones. Herbaceous notes with hints of green banana and pineapple.Palate: Lemon tart, cream and nuts with hints of honey and sorrel.Finish: Fresh peppercornand ginger with a refreshing spiced finish.
Fielden Harvest 2019 Rye Whisky is the first edition in the distillery’s annual Harvest series, created to explore how individual growing seasons influence its heritage grains and ultimately the character of the whisky. The 2019 vintage refers to the year in which the grains were grown and harvested. A dry, warm spring followed by a mild, wet summer produced grain described by Fielden as bright and delicate in character.
The whisky was produced from 73% rye, 18% wheat and 9% malted barley grown across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Norfolk. Two grain recipes were used, including Fielden’s classical 70% rye, 20% wheat and 10% malted barley recipe alongside a 100% rye recipe comprising 75% raw rye and 25% malted rye. Following fermentation, the spirit was double distilled using pot and column stills.
The resulting spirits were matured across nine casks for a minimum of 38 months. The maturation comprised 37.5% used American oak, 37.5% American STR casks, 12.5% Sauternes and 12.5% Ramandolo. After maturation, the whisky underwent an 82-day marrying period and was gradually reduced to 50% ABV. A total of 2,680 bottles were produced.
Tasting Notes by Fielden:Nose: Roses and herbs with fresh ginger, apricot and a little butter.Palate: Refreshing herbs and delicate summer fruits, soft pastries: brioche bun, cream and warming apple crumble.Finish: A pinch of white pepper and fresh thyme.
Fielden Harvest 2020 Rye Whisky is the second release in Fielden’s annual Harvest series. Each vintage captures grain from a particular growing season, exploring how variations in weather, soil and growing conditions influence the resulting whisky. In 2020, a wet early spring was followed by a hot, dry summer, producing fully developed and ripe grain that became the foundation of this release.
The whisky was made with 73% rye, 18% wheat and 9% malted barley sourced from Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Norfolk. Some of the rye and wheat were grown together as maslin. Two grain recipes were used, comprising Fielden’s classic 70% rye, 20% wheat and 10% malted barley recipe and a second 100% rye recipe containing 75% raw rye and 25% malted rye. The spirit was fermented for four to five days and double distilled through pot and column stills.
Maturation took place for a minimum of 47 months across seven casks, comprising 42% new American oak, 42% old American oak and 16% ex-wine STR cask. Following maturation, the whisky was married for 77 days and slowly reduced to 50% ABV. The release consists of 2,004 bottles.
Tasting Notes by Fielden:Nose: Soft layers of apple strudel, banoffee and roasted lemon. Hints of raspberry and thyme.Palate: Creamy and flaky pastry, biscoff and malted cereals. Caramelised nuts and toasted grain.Finish: Warming ginger and cinnamon with a gentle trace of cardamom and cumin.
Ellis & Angel 10 Year Old Maiden Voyage Release is a limited edition Irish Single Malt Whiskey produced in Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. Released as a single cask expression, the Maiden Voyage combines a 10 year age statement with a limited outturn of just 360 individually numbered bottles.
The whiskey was initially matured in American oak before being finished in a French oak Bordeaux wine cask. This two-stage maturation brings together the influence of American oak with a final period in wine-seasoned French oak. The release is triple distilled, non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour.
Bottled at 46% ABV, the Maiden Voyage Release marks Ellis & Angel's first limited release, with its single cask production and individually numbered bottles forming a central part of the expression.
Batch 7 of the 21 Year Old Cask Strength is matured in a selection of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso puncheons and hogsheads, sourced from Spain and hand-selected by Billy Walker for their depth and complexity. Twenty-one years of maturation in these exceptional sherry casks produces a whisky of opaque mahogany colour and considerable richness, with layers of espresso, spiced plums and dark chocolate running through the spirit. Bottled at 51.9% ABV without added colour or chill filtration, this is The GlenAllachie at its most unguarded and represents a serious collector's acquisition.
Tasting Note by The GlenAllachie:Nose: Baked ginger and mocha, followed by honeycomb, spiced orange and candied hazelnuts, with toasted cinnamon and cocoa.Palate: Black cherries, mocha and poached red apples, followed by manuka honey, crystallised ginger and muscovado sugar, with damson plums, raisin buttercream and treacle.
Batch 13 draws on a 2015 vintage and is elevated through maturation in Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso, red wine and virgin oak casks, a combination that produces the distillery's signature sherry-forward profile with additional layers of depth and complexity. Bottled at 59.8% ABV at natural cask strength without added colour or chill filtration, it is a multi-award-winning expression that rewards both those discovering The GlenAllachie for the first time and collectors building across the batch series.
Tasting Note by The GlenAllachie:Nose: Mocha, crystallised ginger and cinnamon, followed by manuka honey and muscovado sugar, with treacle and maraschino cherries.Palate: Cocoa, salted caramel and warmed honey, followed by baking spices, blood orange and molasses tart, with glazed blackberries and fig syrup.
A historic, very limited release marking 300 years of the House of Rémy Martin. Built through the Réserve Perpétuelle — a process of transmission between cellar masters, where each anniversary coupe is nourished by the one before it. This 300th Anniversary Coupe draws on the 290th Anniversary Coupe, itself nourished by the 275th, enriched by current Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau with eaux-de-vie sourced exclusively in Grande Champagne.
Each decanter is individually numbered and presented in a bespoke wooden case containing a numbered certificate, a personal note from the Cellar Master, and a unique QR code to exclusive digital content. Only 6,724 units have been released worldwide.
Tasting Note by Rémy Martin:Nose: Radiance and directness with aromas of candied orange, passion fruit, sandalwood, leather, mixed spices, undergrowth and a hint of floral notes. Rancio notes have retained freshness.Palate: Candied fruit, passion fruit, fig, exotic fruits, nuts, discreet oaky notes, elegance and tension, with a very long finish.Finish: An impressive structure, explosiveness and a refined fresh fruit expression with a persistence that prolongs the tasting experience for a long time.
The sixth and concluding release in The Macallan Harmony Collection, Inspired by Fresh Coconut is the first expression in The Macallan range to place coconut at the heart of its character — not through any added flavouring, but through the natural oak lactones present in specially selected sherry-seasoned American oak, finessed by bourbon casks for balance.
This is a flavour-led release, not an age-stated one. The Whisky Mastery Team's focus throughout the Harmony Collection has been maturation itself — identifying, cask by cask, the flavours that oak alone can bring forward. Here, that process draws out fresh coconut, zesty lime and tropical fruit, layered with vanilla, sweet oak and gentle spice. The colour is entirely natural, with no added colouring.
On the palate: sweet lime, lemon and vanilla sponge, desiccated coconut, coconut milk and dried tropical fruits, closing on a finish of coconut and floral honey.
As the final chapter in a six-part series, this release completes The Macallan Harmony Collection. The presentation box is made from paper incorporating discarded coconut fibres, charred using an emission-free process for a natural black finish — in keeping with the release's character throughout.
Tasting Note by The Macallan:Nose: Fresh coconut, zesty lime, citrus notes of lemon and orange, tropical mango and papaya, layered with vanilla, almond, sweet oak and a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.Palate: Sweet lime, lemon and vanilla sponge with desiccated coconut, icing sugar, coconut milk, sweet oak and dried tropical fruits.Finish: Bursts of coconut and floral honey.
Some master what others can't see. Glenfiddich's Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, returns for a second release in the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team partnership — a whisky built the way a race-winning car is built: through relentless refinement, layer by layer.
This 16 Year Old expression is a marriage of whiskies matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and fine wine and fortified wine casks, then finished in sequence across four further cask types — Port pipes, Oloroso sherry casks, wine casks, and a final, delicate rest in Fino Sherry butts. Where last year's Release No. 1 was shaped by American oak wine casks and second-fill bourbon, this new edition adds a fourth layer of cask influence — deeper, richer, and more complex still.
On the nose, rich stewed fruits unfold alongside marzipan and polished leather. On the palate, mellow toffee sweetness meets caramelised cane sugar, balanced by dry oak tannin. The finish is long, oaky, and quietly assured.
Bottled at 43% ABV, this is Glenfiddich at its most awarded — with more accolades since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky across the IWSC and ISC, two of the industry's most prestigious competitions.
Tasting Note by Glenfiddich:Nose: Rich stewed fruits with a beautiful array of floral top notes. Hints of marzipan and polished leather. A drop of water accentuates the fresh, ripe fruits.Palate: Mellow and silky smooth with a creamy buttery toffee sweetness. Caramelized cane sugar with a lovely counterbalance of dry oak tannin.Finish: Long lasting oaky sweetness
Maker's Mark has been distilling on its Star Hill Farm estate in Loretto, Kentucky since 1954, where the distillery's commitment to estate-grown grain production sets it apart from the majority of American whisky producers. The Star Hill Farm annual release series explores how farming decisions, soil, and grain selection directly shape the character of the whisky in the glass, with each year's edition focused on a distinct agricultural question.
The 2026 Release turns its attention to wheat, examining how different wheat varieties influence depth and character. Built from a blend of soft red winter, hard white, and heirloom hard red wheat alongside 62% malted wheat and a touch of malted barley, this expression is underpinned by a regenerative agriculture philosophy and fully estate-grown production. Bottled at cask strength, it is a release of genuine provenance and ambition, as compelling for collectors as it is for those drawn to whisky with a story rooted in the land.
Tasting Note by Maker's Mark:Nose: Dark and dense with notes of molasses, fig and delicate spice.Palate: Vibrant and complex with notes of zesty citrus, ripe pear and shortbread.Finish: Lingering and harmonious with notes of rich sweetness and soft cinnamon.
Distilled on the southern shore of Islay, Laphroaig has been producing one of Scotland's most distinctive single malts since 1815. The distillery's character is shaped by its own floor maltings, peat cut from the Islay bog, and the brackish coastal air of the Kildalton coast, producing a spirit of deep, unmistakable smokiness that has defined the house style for over two centuries.
This 14 Year Old limited edition was personally selected by actor and Friend of Laphroaig Willem Dafoe alongside Senior Whisky Blender Sarah Dowling, chosen entirely on instinct and without formal tasting notes. Finished in Oloroso sherry casks, the expression brings a layer of soft sweetness and depth to Laphroaig's signature peat-driven character. With no formal notes from the distillery, the bottle is designed to provoke personal interpretation rather than guided expectation, making it a singular collector's piece and a gift unlike any other in the current Laphroaig range.
Tasting Note by JPHA:Nose: Deep, unmistakable peat smoke with a coastal edge and the quiet richness of Oloroso sherry.Palate: Sea salt, warming spice and soft sweetness, with layers that shift and evolve in the glass.Finish: Long, smoky and mouthwatering, with a lingering complexity that resists easy definition.
Produced at James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky, Booker's is an uncut, unfiltered small batch bourbon created by the late Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam and one of the most influential figures in American whiskey. Each batch is drawn from a select number of barrels chosen for their exceptional quality, bottled straight from the cask at natural proof with no chill filtration and no water added.
The Big Easy Batch, the first release of the 2026 Collection, is composed of five separate production dates drawn from five different warehouse locations across the Jim Beam campus, each floor and warehouse position contributing its own influence on the maturing spirit. Aged for 7 years, 2 months and 15 days in new charred white oak barrels and bottled at 61.9% ABV, this is a bourbon of considerable power and character, named in tribute to Booker Noe's lifelong affection for New Orleans.
Tasting Note by Booker's:Nose: Aromas of vanilla, spices.Palate: Big and bold, and unmistakably Booker's Bourbon.Finish: Long and delightful.
Distilled on the Orkney Islands at Highland Park's Kirkwall distillery, founded in 1798, Between You and I marks a first in the distillery's history: a whisky led by virgin Swedish oak casks. The expression was created in collaboration with Björn Frantzén, the only chef in the world to hold three Michelin stars across three restaurants simultaneously, whose personal flavour associations shaped the packaging design and concept.
The 16 Year Old is crafted from a combination of virgin Swedish oak casks, which impart a distinctly nutty spiciness, ex-bourbon casks for sweetness and warmth, and sherry seasoned American and European oak casks contributing vanilla and dried fruit. In place of formal tasting notes, each bottle is designed to prompt the drinker's own personal associations, making it a singular and thought-provoking addition to any collection.
Tasting Note by JPHA:Subtly smoky with nutty spiciness, sweetness and warmth, notes of vanilla and dried fruit, with complex and personal layers of flavour inviting individual interpretation.
Produced at Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull, one of Scotland's oldest distilleries established in 1798, Ledaig is the distillery's peated single malt expression, shaped by the rugged maritime climate and wild Hebridean character of Mull's coastline. As the island's only whisky distillery, Tobermory crafts its spirits under the direction of Master Blender Julieann Fernandez, whose award-winning portfolio spans both the unpeated Tobermory range and the bold, smoky Ledaig expressions.
Castaway is a limited edition of just 6,428 bottles worldwide, matured in a rare marriage of Caribbean rum casks and Mexican tequila casks, a first of its kind for the brand. Non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour and cask strength, the dual-cask influence layers exotic fruit and agave depth onto Ledaig's signature island peat smoke, producing a whisky of vivid contrast and considerable complexity. A portion of proceeds supports the Mull and Iona Community Trust, adding further purpose to an already compelling release.
Tasting Note by Ledaig:Nose: Coastal peat smoke with caramelised banana, lime zest and vanilla. Green apple, white pepper and a hint of sea spray.Palate: Bold smoky spice leads, balanced by grilled pineapple, brine and herbal agave. Black pepper, charred citrus and rich toffee develop through the mid-palate.Finish: Long and warming with smouldering peat embers, demerara sweetness, chilli heat and a final twist of lime.
Founded in 1892 by William Grant in Dufftown, at the heart of Speyside, The Balvenie is one of Scotland's most craft-focused distilleries, maintaining its own floor maltings, cooperage and coppersmith team on site. It is a place where traditional methods have been preserved not as a point of heritage but as a genuine commitment to quality, and that philosophy runs through every expression in the range. The distillery's Malt Master lineage is among the most celebrated in the industry, with David C. Stewart MBE spending over five decades shaping its character before passing the role to Kelsey McKechnie.
DoubleWood 12 was launched in 1993, built on a wood finishing technique pioneered by David C. Stewart in 1982 that has since become widely adopted across the industry. The whisky first matures in traditional whisky oak casks before being transferred to European oak sherry casks for a further period of maturation, adding fruity, honeyed depth and greater complexity. The whiskies are then married for three to four months in large oak tuns before bottling. This limited edition presents the expression in exclusive narrative-led packaging by award-winning illustrator Victo Ngai, making it a particularly distinctive gift.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Sweet fruit and Oloroso sherry notes, layered with honey and vanilla.Palate: Smooth and mellow with beautifully combined flavours ~ nutty sweetness, cinnamon spiciness and a delicately proportioned layer of sherry.Finish: Long and Warming.
Established in 1923 in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Yamazaki is Japan's first and oldest malt whisky distillery and the foundation of Suntory's whisky heritage. The distillery's mastery of Mizunara oak, a rare and characterful Japanese timber notoriously difficult to season and cooperage, is among the most distinctive aspects of its craft, and one that sets Yamazaki apart from any other whisky producer in the world.
The 18 Year Old Mizunara 2024 Edition is the product of years of experimentation by Yamazaki's blending team, who discovered that the true potential of Mizunara casks is unlocked only through extended maturation. Eighteen years in this exceptional Japanese oak imparts an unmistakeable spiciness alongside notes of sandalwood and aloe, producing a whisky of rare complexity where fruit, spice and wood notes engage in a rich and elegant harmony. It is an expression for the serious collector and a gift of genuine distinction.
Tasting Note by Yamazaki:Nose: Rich and elegant with dark cherry, ripe peach and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.Palate: Subtly spiced organette with undernotes of Japanese incense.Finish: Long and lingering, accentuated with clove, sandalwood and hints of dried coconut.
Distilled on the Orkney Islands at one of Scotland's most storied distilleries, Highland Park has crafted whisky on its Kirkwall site since 1798. Under Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, each release is built around the precise marriage of hand-selected casks, with the distillery's signature lightly peated Orcadian heather malt underpinning every expression.
The 25 Year Old 2023 Release is drawn from just 22 casks: ten first-fill sherry seasoned European oak hogsheads, two first-fill sherry seasoned American oak hogsheads, four first-fill sherry seasoned American oak butts, five refill hogsheads and one refill butt. Each cask was selected by Gordon Motion for its marrying potential, depth of flavour and complex character, producing a whisky of natural deep copper colour and considerable aged richness. At this level of maturation and rarity, it is as much a collector's piece as it is a drinking whisky, and presents exceptionally well as a landmark gift.
Tasting Note by Highland Park:Honeyed peaches, sweet satsumas, pistachio biscotti, crushed coriander seed, aromatic oregano, crème brûlée, citrus zest and heathered peat smoke.
Established in 1824 on the Easter Elchies Estate in Speyside, The Macallan has long defined its house style through an unwavering commitment to exceptional oak cask selection. The distillery's Master of Wood sources, crafts, toasts and seasons each cask to precise specifications before filling, ensuring the wood imparts the full measure of its character to the maturing spirit.
The Sherry Oak 18 Year Old 2024 Release is matured exclusively in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks sourced from Jerez, Spain. Eighteen years of undisturbed maturation in this single cask type produces the deep, natural mahogany colour and layered complexity for which this expression is celebrated annually. Each year's release marks a distinct moment in The Macallan's Sherry Oak Collection, making the 2024 edition a worthy addition to any serious collection and an exceptional gift for those with a discerning palate.
Tasting Note by The Macallan:Nose: Treacle tart with stem ginger, soaked raisins and sultanas with a hint of orange and ground cinnamon.Palate: Soft and rich, with flavours of dark chocolate coated ginger with dates and dried apricots, balanced with oak and the sweetness of vanilla.Finish: Lingering with dried fruits, ginger and oak.
Crafted in Glasgow since 1823, Auchentoshan is one of Scotland's few remaining Lowland distilleries and the only one to triple distil every drop of its spirit. This process, carried out through three copper pot stills, produces a characteristically smooth and delicate new make that serves as the foundation for every expression in the range.
The 24 Year Old was released to mark the distillery's 200th anniversary and represents the highest-aged expression in the current Auchentoshan range. Distilled on 22 June 1998, it has been matured through a marriage of American bourbon casks and European oak sherry casks, with carefully curated refill casks completing the vatting. Twenty-four years of maturation have produced a whisky of considerable depth and refinement, presented in a premium gift box that makes it an exceptional choice for collectors and celebratory occasions alike.
Tasting Note by Auchentoshan:Nose: Mint leaves, menthol, beeswax, juicy green grapes, warm autumnal fruits and citrus.Palate: Candied citrus peel, creamy vanilla, moist raisins and chocolate coated almonds.Finish: Long and fruity, with citrus and soft spices.
Established in 1824 on the Easter Elchies Estate in Speyside, The Macallan has built its reputation on an exceptional commitment to cask selection and wood management. The Double Cask Collection, first launched in 2016, sits at the heart of the distillery's range, celebrating the complementary relationship between sherry seasoned American and European oak casks, each crafted and seasoned in The Macallan's own cooperages and bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera.
The Double Cask 18 Year Old 2026 Release is matured exclusively in sherry seasoned oak for a minimum of eighteen years, with every selected cask having spent its entire maturation period in sherry seasoned wood. The American oak contributes unmistakable sweetness and vanilla, while the European oak delivers soft spices and dried fruit, producing a naturally coloured single malt of smooth, creamy balance. Released annually, each vintage represents a considered addition to any collection and a gift of genuine distinction.
Tasting Note by The Macallan:Nose: Dried fruit and toffee with rich candied citrus peel, ginger and nutmeg.Palate: Raisin, sultana and dried apricot with notes of treacle toffee, vanilla and ginger. Toasted wood spice and baked apple.Finish: Long with warm oak and citrus.
Situated on the Highland Line just north of Glasgow, Glengoyne has distilled without peat since 1833, allowing the quality of its slow-distilled spirit and the influence of oak to define every expression. The distillery is known for the longest distillation time in Scotland, a process that strips away harsher notes and produces a characteristically smooth and fruity new make spirit.
Batch 11 is matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon and refill casks, bottled at natural colour and without chill filtration at 60.5% ABV. The absence of peat places the full weight of character on the spirit itself and the European oak, producing a release of considerable intensity and aromatic clarity. As a limited-edition cask strength bottling, it represents Glengoyne at its most unguarded and is a compelling addition to any serious collection.Tasting Note by Glengoyne:Nose: Ripe orchard fruits, red berries and marzipan with lemon sherbet and digestive biscuit.Palate: Rich and full-bodied with dark chocolate, stewed fruits, warming winter spice and a prickle of pepper.Finish: Long and warming with lingering spice and the smooth, slow-distilled character for which Glengoyne is renowned.
Established in 1923 in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Yamazaki is Japan's oldest malt whisky distillery and the foundation of Suntory's whisky heritage. Nestled at the confluence of three rivers, the distillery benefits from a humid, mist-laden microclimate that contributes to a distinctively soft and elegant house style, drawing on a diverse range of cask types and a breadth of distillation techniques unmatched in Japanese whisky production.
The Golden Promise is composed entirely from Golden Promise barley, a Scottish varietal first cultivated in the 1960s and prized for its exceptional malting characteristics and depth of flavour. Matured in American oak casks, the expression accentuates the natural richness of the Golden Promise grain, producing a whisky of malty, fruity character with a notably refined sweetness. It is a release that speaks to Yamazaki's enduring curiosity about the relationship between raw ingredient and finished spirit.
Tasting Note by Yamazaki:Nose: Sweet malt, vanilla and honey with a fragrant, delicate character.Palate: Rich and full with hints of orange marmalade and custard.Finish: Sweet and fruity with citrus, long and lasting.
Founded in 1881 on the north-eastern shore of Islay at the mouth of the Sound of Islay, Bunnahabhain is the island's most northerly distillery and one of its most distinctive. Unlike its Islay neighbours, Bunnahabhain produces an unpeated single malt, allowing the quality of the spirit itself and the influence of cask maturation to define every expression. The distillery's tall, pear-shaped stills with unusually long swan necks promote a lighter, more delicate character, while non-chill filtration and natural colouring preserve the full integrity of the spirit.
The 15 Year Old White Port Cask Finish is the first release under the An Cuan Garbh chapter of the Westering Home Collection, a series inspired by Islay's anthem of return and belonging. Master Blender Julieann Fernandez selected white port casks from Portugal's Douro Valley to finish the spirit, imparting layers of orchard fruit, honeyed depth and soft citrus that complement the distillery's naturally smooth and oily character. The expression was awarded Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2026, and as a limited Fèis Ìle release it represents a significant addition to any Bunnahabhain or Islay collection.
Tasting Note by Bunnahabhain:Nose: Honeysuckle, elderflower, orchard fruit, candied citrus and honey warmth.Palate: Peach, apricot, candied lemon zest, honeyed almonds, toasted malt and ginger spice.Finish: Lingering nutty warmth with sweet candied fruit.
