DOUGLAS LAING LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION EPICUREAN LOWLAND MALT SCOTCH WHISKY:

THE EPICUREAN PEATED EDITION

Douglas Laing & Co. releases The Epicurean Peated Edition, a limited first for the brand’s Remarkable Lowland Malt. This new Small Batch bottling introduces a subtle peated influence to the traditionally fresh and vibrant Lowland spirit, offering a new dimension of flavour while celebrating the Master of Versatility at its core.

Rather than overpowering the delicate Lowland character, the gentle peat influence elevates it – bringing earthy warmth, structure and refinement. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 50.5%, and offered without colouring or chill-filtration, this Small Batch release is one of only 1,800 bottles produced globally.

On the nose, expect soft earthy peat smoke alongside thyme, green apple and toasted barley. The palate delivers honey’d cereal and Malt, leading to smoky embers, a peppery warmth and a touch of oak spice. The finish reveals drying peat smoke and a gentle ashy quality, complemented by lemon peel and a whisper of vanilla.

It’s a meeting of fresh Lowland vibrancy and true peated opulence – refined, understated and beautifully balanced.

The Epicurean Peated Edition is presented bottle-only, reinforcing the quiet sophistication of the release. Its authenticity is championed through the absence of added colouring and chill-filtration, allowing the natural character of the Whisky to shine.

In this release, The Epicurean continues to demonstrate why it is regarded as the Master of Versatility – balancing Lowland brightness with subtle smoke and spice in a manner that is both expressive and controlled. The result is a Whisky that broadens the brand’s flavour spectrum without compromising its identity.

Chloe Wood, Brand Manager, commented:

“The Peated Edition marks an exciting chapter for The Epicurean. We were keen to explore how peat could complement rather than overpower the Lowland style. The result is a Whisky that retains its trademark freshness and citrus lift, now enriched with earthy smoke, warming spice and a refined ashy character. It’s a showcase of versatility and a testament to the brand’s continued evolution.”

The Epicurean Peated Edition will be available from specialist retailers and selected international markets from April 10^th 2026 with an RRP of £50 / €57.

Our April 2026 Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (GMT) Friday 17^th April until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 26th April.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Port Ellen – 37 Year Old (1981) Casks Of Distinction #1297

Glenlivet – 21 Year Old (1963) For The Chairman

Laphroaig – 1976 Vintage (75cl)

Talisker – 8 Year Old (1970s) 75cl

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

🥃 From Collector to Collector – The Whisky Vault Taiwan Opens Its Private Collection

The founder of The Whisky Vault Taiwan www.whiskyvault.com.tw is opening the doors to his personal collection — but not in the usual way. This is an exclusive opportunity for collectors in Taiwan, or travelers visiting Taiwan from the US, Japan, South Korea, or anywhere else.

Over the past 20 years, he has curated rare and exceptional bottles from all over the world, building a collection that could rival any top-tier whisky store. Now, select bottles are available to fellow collectors — directly, personally, and without the middleman.

Browse, inquire, and connect through www.thewhiskycollector.com , or set up a private meeting the next time you’re in Taiwan. Discuss bottles, negotiate prices, and share your passion with someone who truly understands the art of collecting.

This is your chance to discover extraordinary whiskies at unprecedented prices — a personal, collector-to-collector experience like no other.

@whisky_collector_taiwan

www.thewhiskycollector.com

info@whiskyvault.tw

Producer Of The Year:
The Heart Cut

Winning the Best Independent Bottler award at the World Whiskies Awards in both of their first two years of operation is no small feat. But that’s exactly what husband-wife team Fabrizio Leoni and Georgie Bell have achieved with The Heart Cut.

A new-school bottler curating outstanding single cask whiskies from exciting distilleries around the globe, they take the hard work out of exploring the wide world of whisky – and discovering your next favourite dram. It’s exactly why we’ve named them our first-ever Producer of the Year.

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We love peat. And we love the flavours it creates.

The peat on our Islay home is an essential ingredient in every drop of Laphroaig, allowing us to create the unforgettable taste loved around the world.

Our love for peat also means we need to look to the future and ensure we responsibly extract and restore peatland. And so, we’re on a mission to restore and replenish Islay’s peatlands. Putting back what we take out.

The award-winning Peatland Water Sanctuary™ project on Islay has seen significant restoration already at Glenmachrie-Grianan and The Oa, a stunning coastal area owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Laphroaig has played a leading role in the restoration – typical of our bold character.

Check out the video below for a unique bog-based tasting…

Watch the video

Four Casks. One Remarkable Dram for the Journey.

At Tamdhu, every drop we bottle begins its life in exceptional Oloroso sherry oak. It’s a commitment we don’t waver from, because great whisky deserves nothing less. Our newest Travel Retail exclusive – Tamdhu Cuatro Reserva 12 Years Old – is a celebration of that dedication, brought to life through the remarkable influence of four distinctive cask styles.

This is a single malt shaped by time, tradition and the quiet craft of those who know their casks intimately.

Crafted From Four Distinctive Sherry Casks

To create Cuatro Reserva 12, our Distillery Manager, Sandy McIntyre, hand‑selected a quartet of Oloroso sherry casks from our traditional dunnage warehouses in Speyside. Each one brings its own character:

• European Oak (First‑Fill) – deep spice and intense sherry richness.
• American Oak (First‑Fill) – fresh fruit and sweet vanilla.
• European Oak (Refill) – elegant warmth and balance.
• American Oak (Refill) – subtle sweetness and refined depth.

Individually, these casks shine. Together, they create a single malt of quiet complexity – layered, harmonious and unmistakably Tamdhu.

A Spectrum of Flavour

Cuatro Reserva 12 offers drinkers a guided journey through the essence of sherry‑matured Speyside whisky:

Nose: Rich oak spice leads, followed by dark chocolate brightened with orange zest.
Palate: Deep sherry notes intertwine with mouth‑coating vanilla and vibrant summer berries.
Finish: Long, fruity and rewarding — figs and honeyed oak slowly unfolding into a soft cinnamon warmth.

This is a whisky built for those who appreciate depth, balance and the slow reveal of sherry‑soaked character.

A Travel Exclusive Worth the Detour

Tamdhu Cuatro Reserva 12 Years Old is exclusive to Global Travel Retail — ready to discover in World Duty Free stores across the UK. Whether your journey begins in Edinburgh, Heathrow or beyond, you’ll find it waiting as the Malt of the Month.

At £55 for 70cl, it’s a thoughtful purchase for the sherry‑oak enthusiast, the curious traveller or the whisky fan who loves discovering something a little different on their way through the terminal.

After all, some bottles simply deserve to be taken on the journey.

Murray McDavid

Caperdonich 50 Years Old ULTRA

ABV: 47.1% 70 cL

Old Forester K&L Exclusive Single Barrel “Warehouse L, Floor 1, L-01-020-03” Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whisky (750ml)

$49.99

Don’t get me wrong here, I love barrel proof offerings. It seems like that’s all we’ve gotten lately from the single barrel program, and while they’re great for adding your own dilution, sometimes it’s just nice to have a bottle that’s already perfectly dialed in. There is something to be said for a whiskey you can sip neat or throw into a cocktail and not be afraid to have a couple more. Nailing a barrel right at 100 proof is a skill not every distillery has, but Old Forester knows how to do it right. They were the very first to bottle their own whiskey to protect its integrity, and we got ourselves a fresh one from them. It’s coming in a little shy of 5 years old, essentially making it our own “bonded” bourbon ready to go out the gate. It has that classic Old Forester spice and caramel with chocolatey undertones, almost like a cinnamon graham s’mores in a bottle. Between the clove, anise, root beer, and wet oak, you get mocha latte with a touch of pink peppercorn and red bean mochi. This whiskey begs to be enjoyed next to your favorite pilsner or mixed into an Old Fashioned or Paper Plane. Josh Gelfand

Old Forester has been knocking it out of the park recently. The Whiskey Row series has seen tremendous demand with each release, the Birthday Bourbon is one of the hottest whiskies every year, and the single cask program remains one of the most straight forward, delicious, and accessible programs in Kentucky. This new release was filled into the barrel on February 4th 2021, dumped on December 18, 2025 and bottled the following day. Diluted down to 100 proof, this is a exemplery expression of classic Old Forester, ready for a neat or rocks pour, and perfectly proofed for your favorite bourbon cocktail.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Barley During Whisky Production

Another one from the archive of short video explainers here. Vic helps you make sense of how barley – a cereal packed with starch – is used by distillers in the different stages of the Scotch whisky production process.

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

ralfy review 1124 – Old Perth 2009 Vin: 15yo @53.4%vol: