Thirty years ago, Glenmorangie innovated in the art of extra-maturation, transferring spirit first matured in ex-bourbon casks, into ex-wine casks so that it could gain further layers of flavour. For The Nectar d'Or, the whisky is finished in barriques from Sauternes: the most famous sweet wine of France. This whisky develops its rich, dessert-like flavours of white chocolate, cr me de caramel, with hints of coconut. Almond croissants flecked with ginger and honey.

“The elemental opposite of the sophisticated Lord of the Isles.” Perched on a wave washed, rocky headland, the Ardbeg distillery was founded in 1815 by the MacDougalls of Ardbeg. The distilleries scattered white washed buildings are reminiscent of a Dutch settlement and add to the dramatic coastal landscape. Ardbeg has had a chequered history and in recent times had been closed down for many years. Glenmorangie acquired Ardbeg in 1997 and has set about restoring the distillery to its former glory. First launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) this cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg is produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives this whisky a velvety texture, with a sweet and smokey finish. Tasting notes: Bright gold appearance. Big, sweet sherry influenced nose offers dried apricot and marmalade scents over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. Excellent balance at cask strength. Boiled lolly and spice aftertaste with a subtle spearmint fade. Latest batch tasted October 2010.

The Dalmore story began in 1839 with Alexander Matheson who lived in the Highlands of Northern Scotland. Matheson found the rich peat and pure water sources of the Highlands to be the makings of a perfect whisky. He built a distillery in the area and produced small batches until 1886, when the Mackenzie family acquired his operation. When a member of the Mackenzie family risked his own life to save Scotland’s ruler, King Alexander III, from a charging stag, the grateful king offered a token of his appreciation by bequeathing the stag to the Mackenzie family as a symbol of valor and courage. And more than 130 years later, the stag head still appears on every bottle of The Dalmore. Today, Dalmore distillery has ten stone warehouses and eight pot-stills, several which date back to the late 1800s. Much of the distillery burned down during World War I while occupied by the U.S. Navy, but production resumed in 1922. The production process is meticulous and includes double distillations in copper pot-stills and aging in white oak and sherry wood casks.

The extreme northern archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands around Orkney is in every sense isolated. It's not known when the first distillery was established in Orkney, but there were almost certainly local producers by the middle of the eighteenth century. Above the capital, Kirkwall, is a rise with fine views out to the northern isles traditionally known as the ‘High Park’. It's here that Highland Park distillery was said to have been founded in 1795. There have been several different owners, before coming into the hands of James Grant and family in the late 1800s. By 1826 when the distillery became legal, the site had already become known as 'Highland Park'. Now owned by The Edrington Group , its location must partly be accountable for the distinctive character of the malt, through the surrounding ocean, the local peat and the Orkney spring water. To blenders, the distillate is prized - many of whom claim it possesses unique 'catalystic' properties which enhance flavours in other whiskies. Nearly always ranked alongside the classic malts, revered as a spectacular after-dinner drink and without doubt '...a malt to challenge any Cognac or Armagnac', the house style is fragrant and floral with a smooth, honeyed character over hints of citrus and smoke. The phenol content of the distillery's own malt is 30-40ppm but the remainder which is imported from Simpson's is unpeated. The distillery is serious about quality oak, spending $20 million a year on wood alone, more than any other Scotch distillery - despite having a fraction of the output of some of the larger brands. First released in 1979, the 12YO is still the best introduction. Employing about 20% first-fill sherry casks, a name change and packaging update took place in 2017. Retasted 2019 ...Surprisingly full at 40% ABV but loses vitality and flattens out towards the finish. Otherwise, mostly unchanged. 90 points First tasted 2012... Brilliant, bright gold appearance. Almost floral in delivery. Honey and toasted barley mingles with a perfectly balanced waft of peat and brine. An exceptionally soft, silky entry offers good concentration and the same seamless integration as found on the nose. Medium dry, subtle nashi-pear fruitiness combines with a judicious slap of peat. Crescendos with a spicy flourish at mid palate. Finishes more peaty than some previous bottlings with drying brine, spice and smoke lingering before a honey fade. Getting closer to what this whisky was 10 years ago. 40% alc./vol. 92 points

A mix of first fill ex-Bourbon and first fill ex-Sherry casks were used to create this rich, lightly smokey malt.

Matured in barrels that previously held Islay whisky, then blended with ex-bourbon barrels left to mature under the hot Tel Aviv sun. The result is a delicate, rather mellow and lightly peated whisky. Non Chill Filtered. Classified Kosher.

For over 150 years, the Dalmore has set the standard in multi cask maturation. Hand selected casks, from the world's finest bodegas and wineries are expertly curated to create a sumptuous and layered whisky of legendary finesse. The 2023 release of The Dalmore 21 Year Old was initially matured in American oak casks and finished in first-fill Matusalem oloroso sherry butts. The casks used to finish this exceptional dram were specially selected by Dalmore’s Richard Paterson. They rested for decades at González Byass in Jerez, where they were used to mature 30-year-old Matusalem Olorosso Sherry, before making the long journey to the Scottish Highlands. This is not the easiest way to source a whisky cask, but the extra effort makes perfect sense when the Dalmore 21 Year Old hits your glass. Seville oranges, bitter chocolate and Colombian coffee tantalise on the nose, while sweet liquorice, black forest fruits and roasted walnuts delight the palate, finishing with notes of peaches, ginseng and pear tarte tatin.

Glenglassaugh is produced using the highest quality of Scottish barley and traditional distilling methods, their key focus being on quality. While many distilleries have become highly automated, at Glenglassaugh their spirit is still handcrafted by a small, highly skilled team dedicated to creating the highest quality product. Only the finest casks are selected to slowly mature their precious spirit in their coastal warehouses until it is ready. Since 1875, Glenglassaugh distillery has sat quietly on the edge of the picturesque Sandend Bay, breathing in the North Sea air which flows through its warehouses and invigorates its sweet Highland spirit with notes of the sea. Silent for a period of more than 20 years, the distillery was re-awakened in 2008 and its stills brought back to life. Unearthed from the coastal warehouses, a rare collection of vintage casks were discovered from before the distillery fell quiet. These forgotten whiskies can now be experienced as part of their Glenglassaugh rare cask series. Glenglassaugh rare single casks are a discovery to be made, each cask telling its own story. All casks are bottled without chill filtration, for natural character, with the pure colour drawn entirely from the wood of the cask. The latest release in the distilleries rare cask series, Batch 3, features whiskies that are no younger than 30 years old, and provides a unique glance into the history of the distillery and the heart of Glenglassaugh. These elegant old whiskies offer a lush, ripe Highland single malt Scotch whisky experience, evoking notes of tropical fruit and the sea, while each cask type offers a unique taste influence. This whisky was matured in an ex Bourbon barrel for forty-two long years. Hand selected by GlenGlassaugh's Master Distiller Billy Walker. A nose of roasted orchard fruits, fresh vanilla pods and gentle cinnamon and ginger notes. The palate is of pears poached in five spice with hazelnuts and dry cedar. Bottle Information Batch - 3 Cask No - 5638 Distilled Date 09/11/1973 Bottling Date - 11/2016 Bottle Number - 82 of 238 Note - the bottle number in the image does not reflect the correct bottle number.

Owned by a family of whisky lovers, Benromach is a traditional Speyside distillery keeping things simple. Their small team of distillers rely entirely on their sense and expertise to create the finest handmade whisky. The 2022 release of Benromach 40 Year Old was bottled at a cask strength of 57.6%, this rare single malt whisky is natural in colour and was laid down in 1981 before spending four decades maturing in the finest first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Aromas of cinnamon, ginger, Seville orange, roasted hazelnut and stewed red berries fill the nose. The palate offers notes of Morello cherries, baked apple, liquorice, dark chocolate, fruit cake and black pepper, with hints of dark berries and rich oak lingering in the finish. Only 1,132 bottles produced of this limited release.

To create The Balvenie PortWood 21 year old single malt whisky, a marriage of rare Balvenie is transferred to port casks, or pipes, which have held fine port wines. Here it is sampled regularly by The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE to ensure that just the right amount of character is imparted by the port casks, enhancing and developing the single malt whilst preserving its original characteristics. Considered by many to be David’s finest creation, this whisky is one of his proudest achievements and has won an array of highly coveted industry awards since its release in 1996. A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes is backed by a nuttiness on the nose. The palate is refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes and a long, gentle nutty finish.