In our first Points of Distinction, we explored the depth and structure of first-fill European Oak through the Cigar Malt series. In our second, we turned our attention to the fruit-forward elegance of American Oak in the Distinction Series. This time, we look at the whisky that brings both perspectives together. Tamdhu 12 Year Old.

Every distillery has a whisky that captures its character most completely. For Tamdhu, many would argue that whisky is the 12 Year Old. Matured in a harmonious combination of first-fill and refill American and European Oak Oloroso sherry casks, it showcases the qualities that have defined Tamdhu for generations: rich fruit, warming spice, natural colour and remarkable balance.

It is neither dominated by one oak nor another. Instead, it demonstrates what happens when each is allowed to contribute its strengths, creating a whisky that is unmistakably Tamdhu from first sip to last. Together, they create a whisky that captures the very essence of Tamdhu.

NOSE Rich and enticing, iced cinnamon rolls, orange boiled sweets, fresh sweet oak with raisins, and the faint hint of mint.

PALATE Silky texture that coats the mouth with banana, berry jam, malt biscuit, and classic sherry oak depth.

FINISH Pleasantly long and balanced with ground spice, dried fruit and soft Scottish tablet – finally unveiling the merest wisp of peat smoke.

Behind every bottle is the expertise of Tamdhu’s blending team, whose understanding of cask character, maturation, and house style allows them to bring together the right casks, at the right moment, to create the distinctive fruit intensity and smoothness that define our 12 Year Old.

Their role is often unseen, yet it is one of the most important in whisky making. Every cask contributes something different. The skill lies in recognising how those individual qualities can come together to create a whisky that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Tamdhu 12 Year Old was awarded Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – a recognition for a whisky that continues to demonstrate the value of exceptional casks, expert craftsmanship, and dedication.

A whisky worth revisiting.

SEPTEMBER 2026 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

Our September Auction is now underway, bringing together a selection of rare and sought-after whiskies, including a particularly special piece of Macallan history. The Easter Elchies expressions were released annually and exclusively through the distillery from 2008 until the final expression in 2013. Produced in exceptionally small numbers, these single-cask releases have become highly sought-after, particularly for their rarity as cask-strength Macallan bottlings. Distilled in 1996, this 2013 expression is the final release in the six-part series. With just 386 bottles produced, it represents an exceptionally rare example of Macallan’s single-cask heritage and a fitting highlight for the September Auction.

Another standout lot of the September Auction is this distinguished Glenfarclas 1974, distilled at Glenfarclas Distillery and matured in Sherry Butts before being bottled in 2001 as part of The Family Malt Collection. A fine example from this era of the distillery, this vintage expression has earned an impressive 91/100 on Whiskybase, highlighting the quality and character associated with Glenfarclas of the period.

Another notable highlight is this Aberfeldy 19 Years Old Manager’s Dram, distilled at Aberfeldy Distillery and bottled at cask strength in 1991. The Manager’s Dram series comprises annual releases made available to workers across the distilleries now within the Diageo portfolio. Each year, a single distillery was selected, with its manager entrusted to choose the finest casks for the release, which was then bottled in limited numbers at cask strength. A fascinating example of Aberfeldy from an earlier era, and a distinctive piece of the distillery’s history.

Another highlight is Balvenie Rose, released in 2008 and named for the story of Margaret Douglas, the Fair Maid of Galloway. According to legend, King James II of Scotland allowed her to remain at Balvenie Castle in exchange for an annual payment of a single red rose. Available exclusively to visitors at the end of their Balvenie distillery tour, the expression quickly became a popular and highly limited release. Bottled at cask strength, only 426 bottles were produced. A distinctive piece of Balvenie history, combining an intriguing local legend with an exceptionally limited bottling.

These featured lots are just a glimpse of what’s on offer in our September Auction. Visit clickwhiskyauctions.com to browse the full auction and discover many more exceptional bottles. Bidding closes from 8pm BST on Sunday, 20th September. Make sure you’re registered and ready to bid on your favourite drams – you have to be in it to win it!

Our newest Creators Collection, Elgin Marvels: Icons from Speyside presents two whiskies from the same town with two very different creation stories.

We hinted that Cask No. 35.405: Statuesque elegance has had a more complex journey – let’s get into it.

This distillery 35 release started with maturation in two bourbon hogsheads, one filled in 1987, and the other in 1988.  After three decades they were then transferred separately into first fill PX barriques. After three years, the content of the 1987 was married with the 1988 cask. Two years later, we moved the entire content into a second fill bourbon barrel so the flavours could mellow into their final form.

By contrast, Cask No. 7.286: Fruit bomb frieze was matured in a refill bourbon hogshead for the entirety of its creation, this Marvel features the kind of juicy extravagance you’d associate with earlier eras of this make. No twists or transfers – just time and patience to let the cask really shine.

While the cask approaches are vastly different, at 33 and 38 years old they are united not only by their lengthy maturation but also by their intense fruitiness. Together they emphasise the diversity that can come from one small corner of Speyside.

READ THE STORY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Invergordon Finn Thomson Single Cask Single Grain Scotch Whisky

50 Year Old·1974 Vintage

£399.95

Distilled at Invergordon in 1974, this exceptional single grain Scotch whisky was matured for 50 years in a single bourbon barrel before being selected and bottled by independent bottler Finn Thomson. Released as part of the prestigious Crown Collection, it was bottled at its natural cask strength of 47.1% ABV without chill filtration or added colouring, preserving the full character developed across five decades in oak.

Scotland’s most exceptional casks. Drawing on generations of family expertise in the whisky trade, the company carefully selects and bottles rare single cask and small-batch whiskies that celebrate authenticity, provenance and outstanding quality.

New Menus!

The Grain Store Restaurant has also had a busy month. We have launched our new summer menus, and our talented head chef,Callum, has been putting together some wonderful dishes using the best of local seasonal produce. We are now serving lunch throughout the week, dinners on Friday and Saturday and on Sundays we have a brilliant all-day menu that includes a Sunday roast — the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon. If you have not yet come in for a meal, we would love to see you!

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THE GLENALLACHIE UNVEILS PIONEERING WHISKY MATURED IN RARE MONGOLIAN VIRGIN OAK

The GlenAllachie Distillery today, Thursday 10th September, introduced the fourth chapter in its celebrated Sinteis Series – a 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

This 10-year-old limited edition marks the first Scotch whisky matured in elusive Mongolian virgin oak to be bottled for global release, reflecting The GlenAllachie’s pioneering approach to wood mastery and its continued evolution of the Sinteis Series. This fourth edition embodies an ethos of ‘A Convergence of Three: Three Casks, Three Stories, One Exceptional Whisky.’

‘Sinteis’ (pronounced sin-teesh), meaning ‘synthesis’ in Scottish Gaelic, captures the essence of The GlenAllachie’s cask innovation, uniting the bold and expressive virgin oak with the familiar warmth of sherry casks to create distinctive, boundary-pushing expressions.

While previous expressions in the series explored a dual cask approach, Part IV was initially matured in bourbon barrels before spending time separately in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. The whiskies were then combined and transferred to rare Mongolian virgin oak casks.

Mongolian virgin oak casks, crafted from Quercus Mongolica, are hard to source and unforgiving in character. Consequently, this wood type has remained largely unexplored in Scotch whisky. This oak is scarce in nature, having to be grown for over a century and naturally felled in order to be used commercially. Sourced from the forests of East Asia and noted for their tight grain structure and remarkable density, the wood reveals rich caramel, subtle sandalwood and oriental incense nuances.

Sinteis Part IV showcases this harmony with two types of sherry casks. Oloroso infuses the whisky with layers of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and nutty complexity, while Pedro Ximénez brings sweet toffee and treacle. The final whisky reveals dark chocolate, layered orchard fruits and warm pastries; a celebration of each cask’s distinct character, converging perfectly into one.

Commenting on the new release, Master Distiller Billy Walker said:

“The Sinteis series has allowed us to explore the interaction between different virgin oak and sherry casks. The series has explored dual-cask maturation in considerable depth already so for Sinteis Part IV I wanted to invite a pivoted approach that would be both a challenge and an adventure.

“We work intensively with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, so moving the liquid into Mongolian virgin oak was certainly an exciting challenge. The wood’s unforgiving nature and rarity in whisky-making meant we had little precedent to work from. As a team, we trusted in our instinct and experience, and I’m exceptionally proud of the whisky we’ve created and to be able to showcase the beautiful character of Mongolian oak.”

Sinteis IV is bottled at a cask strength of 58.5%, with natural colour and without chill filtration, preserving the full character and integrity of cask maturation. Each release in the Sinteis Series is a limited-edition bottling, distinct in its own right.

The bespoke packaging features a hand-drawn motif inspired by Quercus Mongolica and united by an endless knot, based on the geometric ornamentation found throughout traditional East Asian art as well as the enduring relationship between wood, whisky and time. The balance between natural forms and precise geometry, accented with ornate gold foil, reflects the intricate balance of nature and craft found within this expression.

The GlenAllachie Sinteis Part IV, 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured, is available with a UK RRP of £75.99 from The GlenAllachie Distillery and online at www.theglenallachie.com from September 10. It will become available globally in the coming weeks.

The Sinteis Series – Sinteis Part IV, 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez  & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured

• 10 years old single malt whisky
• Limited edition release
• Bottled at cask strength 58.5%
• Natural colour and non-chill filtered

Tasting Notes

Colour: Burnished Chestnut.
Nose: Baked pastries, and butterscotch, followed by brandied orchard fruits, cocoa and treacle tart, with cinnamon and crystallised ginger.
Taste: Candied hazelnuts, baking spices and plum syrup, followed by spiced baked orange, vanilla ice cream and mocha, with mānuka honey and fig jam.

About The GlenAllachie
Since re-emerging under independent ownership in 2017, The GlenAllachie has made bold, strategic choices rooted in flavour integrity over volume. By fine-tuning fermentation practices, streamlining production, and investing heavily in cask management, the distillery has cultivated a house style renowned for depth, complexity, and individuality.

Beyond the stillhouse, The GlenAllachie’s influence continues to grow, with high-profile and innovative releases such as The Sinteis Series, and age-stated limited editions earning global acclaim. The distillery’s commitment to transparency – bottling at natural colour, non-chill filtered, and often at cask strength – underscores its dedication to the discerning whisky drinker.
Prioritising the production of quality spirit, the GlenAllachie Distillery chose to reduce its production capacity from four million to around one million litres of alcohol and increase its fermentation period to 160 hours – almost three times the industry standard – for an ester-rich, fruity spirit.

The GlenAllachie also maintains a strong focus on sustainability and provenance, with local sourcing and traditional methods guiding much of its ethos. Supported by the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), a state-of-the-art Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) system was installed at the distillery to capture and recycle waste heat from distillation, using it to reheat the stills. It is a distillery that not only honours Scotch whisky heritage but actively shapes its future.

About Billy Walker
With a career spanning over 50 years, Billy Walker is a legendary figure in the Scotch whisky industry, renowned for his transformative leadership of distilleries like Benriach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh. Celebrated for his innovative use of casks and unwavering commitment to quality, he is now the owner and Master Blender at The GlenAllachie.

Under his stewardship, the company has achieved widespread acclaim. Among its many accolades, the GlenAllachie 12-year-old was named World’s Best Single Malt at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards.

It’s from this incredible record of success that Billy has cemented his reputation as one of the most prominent whisky figures of his generation.

Laphroaig
15 Year Old Islay Single Malt
70cl · 46% ABV

Laphroaig 15 Year Old brings extra depth to the distillery’s unmistakable Islay style, offering a more mature and rounded take on its bold coastal character. Now back in the core range after a ten year absence, it stays true to Laphroaig’s signature peat smoke while adding more richness, balance and complexity through 15 years of maturation on Islay.

£78.95

The return of Laphroaig 15 Year Old marks the arrival of one of Islay’s most celebrated age-statement whiskies as a permanent addition to the distillery’s core range. Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks for 15 years and bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration, this expression showcases a more refined and mature side of Laphroaig while remaining unmistakably true to the distillery’s iconic smoky character.

Produced on the rugged south coast of Islay, Laphroaig has been crafting distinctive peated single malts since 1815. The extended maturation allows the powerful medicinal peat smoke, maritime salinity and coastal influence to integrate beautifully with layers of vanilla, citrus and orchard fruit drawn from the American oak. The result is a whisky of remarkable balance, offering exceptional depth without sacrificing the bold personality that has earned Laphroaig its loyal following across generations.

Compared with the distillery’s younger expressions, the 15 Year Old introduces greater elegance and complexity. Richer oak influence, softer smoke and enhanced fruit sweetness create a rounded, sophisticated dram that appeals equally to long-time Islay enthusiasts and those looking to step into older peated whiskies. Its combination of maturity, natural presentation and classic Laphroaig character makes it one of the standout age-statement releases in the modern range.

Whether enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to reveal additional layers of fruit and spice, Laphroaig 15 Year Old delivers a memorable tasting experience. It is an outstanding choice for collectors of Islay whisky, fans of heavily peated single malts and anyone seeking a premium Scotch that perfectly balances smoke, sweetness and coastal complexity.

(la-FROY’g) Located on Islay’s southern coast, the Laphroaig distillery is known for its pungent, heavily peated single malt whiskies. The profound and unique character of these oily, smoky, medicinal whiskies has divided opinion since the distillery was founded. Once highly prized by blenders, Laphroaig is now the best-selling Islay single malt, enjoyed by whisky enthusiasts the world over, including King Charles who awarded the distillery a Royal Warrant in 1994. Founded on the west coast of Islay in 1815, Laphroaig is famous for its intensely smoky and peaty single malt whisky, characterised by distinctive notes of sea salt, smoke, iodine and earthy sweetness.

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ralfy review 1144 Extras – Distillery integrity = bottle competency.