FIFE BOTTLER LANDS SIX SCOTTISH WHISKY AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Saltire Rare Malt shortlisted for Independent Bottler of the Year as three of its single cask whiskies compete in the same category

Falkland, Fife;  September 2026 – Fife-based independent Scotch whisky bottler Saltire Rare Malt has landed six finalist spots across four categories at the 2026 Scottish Whisky Awards, including Independent Bottler of the Year and Excellence in Branding.

Four Saltire whiskies have also made the taste finals, with an impressive three of the eight places in Single Cask Scotch 13 and Over going to its Aultmore 15 Year Old, Caol Ila 17 Year Old and Tamnavulin 17 Year Old. Saltire’s Port Dundas has also been shortlisted in Single Grain & Blended Grain Scotch.

The nominations mark another major milestone for Saltire Rare Malt, which was crowned Newcomer of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Whisky Awards, as the independent bottler continues its rapid growth at home and internationally.

Launched in 2024 by friends and founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie, Saltire Rare Malt works alongside internationally acclaimed whisky experts Hans and Becky Offringa – The Whisky Couple – to curate its collection of rare single cask and limited-edition Scotch whiskies.

From its home in Falkland, the business has grown rapidly in just over two years, with its bottlings now reaching collectors and trade partners across Europe, North America, Asia and South Africa.

Keith Rennie, Co-Founder of Saltire Rare Malt, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Saltire recognised across so many different areas at this year’s Scottish Whisky Awards. To have four of our whiskies in the taste finals – including three in the same single cask category – is particularly special, alongside recognition for our branding and a nomination for Independent Bottler of the Year.

“We launched Saltire just over two years ago with a shared passion for exceptional Scotch whisky and big ambitions for the business. To see the whisky, the brand and the team recognised together means a huge amount to us.”

The nominations come during Saltire Rare Malt’s biggest period of international growth to date, following the recent appointment of five whisky professionals across North America and Asia Pacific as the business continues to expand in key global markets.

The winners of the 2026 Scottish Whisky Awards will be announced later this year. The Saltire Rare Malt Collection is available to buy online on their website at: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/

About Saltire Rare Malt Whisky

Saltire Rare Malt are bottlers of a unique range of limited-run single malt whiskies. The independent bottling company was born from a longstanding partnership between friends & Founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie. The pair have worked together for three decades, before moving into the whisky world to collect fine and rare single malts. A shared passion for the ‘water of life’ led to the creation of Saltire Rare Malt – a global vehicle to share their outstanding collection of Single Malt Whiskies.

The founders felt that 2024 would be a good year to launch the very first bottlings of Saltire Rare Malt, 530 years after the birth of Scotch Whisky – in the beautiful, historic town of Falkland. Among Saltire Rare Malt’s meticulously curated collection are ‘well-known labels’, ‘rare gems’ and casks from ‘lost distilleries’ with Single Malt Scotch Whisky releases that are ‘never rushed or hurried — they’re bottled when the right time arrives’.

W: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/
I: https://www.instagram.com/saltireraremaltwhisky
F: https://www.facebook.com/people/Saltire-Rare-Malt-Whisky/61554723364117/

About Falkland, Fife; The Birthplace of Scotch Whisky

Falkland is a beautiful Scottish market town in the Kingdom of Fife, built around the 12th century Falkland Palace. 1494 saw the first record of Scotch Whisky. King James IV, staying at the Palace, issuing the famous order: “8 bolls of malt to Friar John Cor, werewith to make the ‘water of life”. This can be considered the birth certificate of Scotch Whisky. Saltire Rare Malt is now situated in the market square opposite Falkland Palace. Over 530 years after the birth of Scotch whisky, its story has now come full circle.
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In the immortal words of King Henry V (well, Shakespeare but you get the picture) once more unto the breach dear friends!  Welcome one and all to our now live 184^th auction.  We have a fabulous range of whiskies available this month running the whole gamut of distilled goodies, so whatever it is that wets your whistle we’ll have something to float your boat.

Our first whisky highlight comes from a distillery with a long and storied past and which has only relatively recently started production again, this is the Brora 1978 40 Year Old 200^th Anniversary.  Released in 2019 to mark two centuries since the distillery was founded in 1819 this exclusive whisky was distilled only five years before the distillery was mothballed during the now infamous cull of the 1980’s.  Aged for four decades this is a dram of superlative quality and historical significance.

Our next highlight comes from a distillery with an impressive reputation for quality releases (not to mention an equally impressive new premises), this is the Macallan 1946 52 Year Old Select Reserve with Certificate & Keys. This tremendous dram has been waiting patiently in a sherry cask for 52 years prior to being bottled. No fancy packaging or bling, this is one classy act. We would say that it’s a must have for Macallan collectors but that’s too obvious, this is a bottle for connoisseurs of whisky.

Well, if you thought 1946 was an auld vintage our next highlight has it beat; this is the Mortlach 1936 Gordon & MacPhail 75cl.  Founded in 1895, Gordon and MacPhail has been bottling single malt whiskies for 120 years and by the 1950s it held the largest range of bottled malt whiskies in the world.  This particular gem from the ‘beast of Dufftown’ is staggeringly old and offers one lucky punter the chance to sample some pre-war whisky just like your Grandad used to drink.

Our final highlight began its life on the sleepy shores of Islay before being whisked off to the Far East where it was bottled, marketed and released, this is the Bunnahabhain 1980 45 Year Old Little Sleeping Bear Boy.  If whimsical labels are your thing this dram has you covered with an evocative little artwork by acclaimed Japanese oil painter Mayuka Yamamoto gracing the label.  If it’s the whisky you are after, then you are also in luck for behind the sleeping bear boy lies a fantastically well-aged Islay single malt from one of the island’s most celebrated distilleries.

As always, we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

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Killowen Distillery Celebrates
Five Years of Rum & Raisin Single Malt
with Exclusive Gift Set

Killowen Distillery is celebrating five years of its much-loved Rum & Raisin Single Malt with the launch of an exclusive new gift set. Matured in Pedro Ximénez (PX) and Killowen’s own rum casks, this multi award winning Cask Strength Rum & Raisin Single Malt brings together rich, sweet and fruity notes, with the casks contributing flavours reminiscent of rum-soaked raisins, dried fruits and warming sweetness.The special anniversary gift set features two crystal glasses housed in a handcrafted wooden presentation box, making it a fitting tribute to five years of this distinctive expression.

Killowen Distillery would like to thank everyone who has supported the Rum & Raisin over the years.

Limited to just 100 gift sets, this release offers a special opportunity for whiskey lovers to celebrate five years of a Killowen favourite.

Available now on our website.

Purchase Here

ARDNAMURCHAN

AD/ HERITAGE BARLEY

Batch Two of the AD/ Heritage Barley Release is here, and this year Ardnamurchan have split it in two. Same Golden Promise barley, two different routes to the bottle, built to be tasted side by side.

The Ex-Bourbon

Entirely bourbon-matured, drawn from weighty, oily Golden Promise distillate laid down in 2018. A full 8-year-old age statement at a natural cask strength of 58.6% ABV, with extra time in the distillery’s dunnage warehouses lending real roundness and depth over last year’s release.

The Sherried

Ten sherry butts of 2019 Golden Promise, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez, vatted into one decadent bottling at a natural cask strength of 58.4% ABV. Big and robust, with that unctuous Golden Promise texture running through it. Two whiskies, one barley, meant for a side-by-side pour. Both are strictly limited, and both are in stock now.

Available now while stocks last…

SHOP NOW

ralfy review 1147 Extras – How I research a whisky for review.

Tomatin unveils UK exclusive 2011 Pedro Ximénez sherry matured single cask for specialist whisky retailers

Highland distiller Tomatin has released a remarkable 2011 single cask whisky, matured in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry butt and bottled exclusively for UK specialist whisky retailers.

Sherry has played a key part in Tomatin whisky for over 100 years with the distillery maturing its spirit in casks sourced from Jerez throughout its history, and the 2011 single cask expression offers whisky aficionados a unique chance to discover decades of experience in sherry maturation.

Carefully selected by Tomatin’s expert team, Cask No.37316 presents a 15-year-old whisky that has gently matured to develop a complex flavour profile. The brand’s quintessential soft, fruit-led spirit deepens with layers of dark chocolate and warm spice, creating an elegant balance of distillery character and rich sherried style.

The single malt opens with notes of candied orange peel, berry compote and honey and vanilla sweetness on the nose, while the fruity spirit develops on the palate with flavours of rich dark chocolate, sultanas and tarte tatin, with a long, lingering finish of baking spices.

Tomatin’s first-class wood policy sees the team continuously invest in high-quality casks from across the world, from the US to Jerez, ensuring quality and consistency across its range.

The Highland distillery is one of only four in Scotland to have an in-house cooperage, a key component in upholding its high standard wood practices. Tomatin’s cooper Allan Bartlett was recognised for his expertise in managing and maintaining the supply of the distillery’s cask stock at the Icons of Whisky Awards 2025, being named ‘Cooper of the Year’.

Jamie Muir, distillery manager at Tomatin, said: “Sherry casks are woven into the Tomatin story, and the flavours created in this whisky show exactly why we return to them time and time again. A first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry butt is a bold cask to work with, and the lengthy maturation has drawn out real richness and depth in our spirit without masking the soft, fruit-led Highland character Tomatin is known for.  

“Our first-class wood policy means every cask is looked after with genuine care, and having our own cooperage on site led by Allan is a big part of that.” 

Gordon Hynd, UK sales director at Tomatin, said: “Specialist whisky retailers are where enthusiasts go to find something they won’t see anywhere else, and we wanted to give them a release that lives up to that. This single cask whisky has been created with their customers in mind, offering a limited Tomatin expression unlike anything else in our range. 

“Specialist wine and spirit retailers in the UK carry real expertise and a passion for choosing the right bottle for every customer. At Tomatin, we have built up trusted relationships with UK merchants over decades and value them enormously, so this 2011 single cask is our way of offering them something special.” 

Bottled at 58.8% ABV and limited to only 608 bottles, the Tomatin 2011 single cask release is presented in a premium 70cl bottle, encased in elegant dark green-hued packaging with subtle detailing nodding to the rolling hills of the distillery’s Highland setting. It has an RRP of £105 and will be available to consumers from 29 September 2026 in specialist whisky retailers throughout the UK.

For more information, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tomatin 2011 single cask tasting notes

Nose: Candied orange peel, berry compote, honey and vanilla sugar.

Palate: Rich dark chocolate, sultanas and tarte tatin.

Finish: Long, lingering finish with baking spices.

About Tomatin Distillery

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its refined and elegant whiskies. The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ’Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ’Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ’Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainability at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ’Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world. 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secure Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status.

Tomatin has a first-class wood policy and a commitment to knowing the history of each cask that passes through its warehouses. It is one of only a handful of Scotch whisky distilleries to have its own cooperage on-site, with cooper Allan Bartlett being named ’Cooper of the Year’ at the 2025 Icons of Whisky Awards.

’To What Matters’ lies at the heart of the brand’s ethos and is a belief in savouring what is truly important.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Rare Character 11 Year “Untitled by Chris King” K&L Liquors Exclusive Single Barrel #HRC-5018 Cask Strength Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(750ml)

$109.99

View

Rare Character has quickly built a reputation as one of the most compelling independent bottlers in American whiskey, with a particular talent for uncovering unusual parcels and bottling them in a way that preserves their individual character. Barrel #5018 comes from one of their more distinctive finds, the HRC series, short for High Rye Canton. Distilled and aged in Indiana from a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley, these barrels already stand apart from more familiar Indiana bourbon recipes.

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

We would like to re-introduce an old friend. Friar John is back, with a new label and a shorter name, though our dedication to the liquid remains exactly the same. Friar John ’26 is our annual single malt, released each year in tribute to the man at the heart of Lindores’ whisky legacy.

The name commemorates Friar John, the Lindores Abbey monk who, in 1494, was commissioned by King James IV to distil Aqua Vitae, creating the earliest written record of Scotch whisky. Every 1st June, our whiskymakers gather to mark the day he received that royal commission, selecting the finest casks in the warehouse to create an exceptional single malt in his name. It is both a celebration and a ritual: a yearly act of remembrance for the friar whose work over five centuries ago laid the foundation for everything we distil today.

THE CASKS
The recipe will continue to evolve every year, with a different cask selection chosen to mark the occasion. This year, Friar John ’26 is fully matured in Ruby Port casks and bottled at 52.5% ABV.

THE LIQUID
Mahogany in colour, with a rich, inviting nose of dark fruits, chocolate-wrapped raisins and warming cinnamon. On the palate, soft and beautifully textured, with caramelised dates, dark sugar syrup, and vibrant spice, balanced by oaky vanilla and roasted almonds. The finish is long, sweet and warming.

ORDER YOUR BOTTLE

Speyside · 10 Year Old

Glen Spey 2016

£69

50% · 70cl · 456 bottles

A collaboration with Wasted Degrees, spending more than two years in casks that previously held Ancient Amber Imperial Rye Beer. Stone fruits, gentle spice and orange marmalade with a rich, coating texture. This Glen Spey 2016 vintage was created as a collaboration with Wasted Degrees, with the light Speyside spirit spending more than two years in casks that previously held Ancient Amber Imperial Rye Beer. The beer cask maturation has given the whisky a new character, bringing together the delicate Glen Spey spirit with richer fruit and spice notes. Expect stone fruits, gentle spice and orange marmalade, alongside a coating texture. This collaboration bottling is limited to 456 bottles and is presented at 50% ABV.

View Bottle →

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Ralfy review 1147 – TB/BSW 9yo @45%vol (Final Release)