The art of contrast

Rare Find explores four distinct journeys of maturation

in latest single cask collection

Rare Find, the award-winning Edinburgh-based independent bottler announces the launch of its latest collection of single cask whiskies, exploring the diverse relationship between spirit character and cask influence.

Following continued momentum throughout 2026 and growing demand for the company’s distinctive single cask releases, Rare Find’s newest collection brings together four carefully selected whiskies that demonstrate how different styles of maturation can shape, enhance and transform some of Scotland’s most compelling distillates.

From the clarity of 1st fill bourbon to the richness of Napa Valley red wine to the intensity of 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter casks, each release offers a unique perspective on the art of maturation. Together, they showcase the remarkable breadth of flavour that can be achieved when exceptional spirit is paired with exceptional wood.

This latest Rare Find collection brings together four distinctive single cask expressions that explore the relationship between spirit and wood across Highland, Speyside and Islay whisky styles. As with all Rare Find releases, each whisky is bottled without compromise – at natural cask strength, natural colour and without chill filtration.

Blair Athol 12-Year-Old

Matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

Blair Athol is renowned for its rich, characterful spirit and distinctive Highland style. This single cask release has been matured a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, a perfect partnership that enhances the distillery’s natural depth and elegance while allowing its classic honeyed character to shine through.

Deanston 14-Year-Old

Matured in a 1st fill Napa Valley red wine barrique

Known for its bright and approachable Highland character, Deanston’s waxy, cereal-led spirit has been matched with a first-fill Napa Valley red wine barrique. The result is a whisky that balances the distillery’s trademark sweetness with layers of ripe fruit, gentle spice and rich complexity.

Dalmunach 9-Year-Old

Finished for 17 months in a 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter cask

As one of Speyside’s modern distilleries, Dalmunach produces a light, fruit-forward spirit that responds beautifully to active maturation. A 17-month finish in a first-fill oloroso seasoned quarter cask has amplified the whisky’s naturally vibrant character, adding depth, richness and a generous sherried influence.

Mystery Islay 9-Year-Old

Finished for 18 months in a 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter cask

This unnamed Islay distillery produces a bold coastal spirit shaped by its maritime surroundings and traditional production methods. An extended finish in a first-fill oloroso sherry quarter cask has introduced layers of dried fruit, spice and richness, creating a compelling interplay between smoke, salinity and sherry influence.

Speaking on the new collection, James Zorab, Whisky Supply Manager for Rare Find, commented: “Every cask tells a different story, and this collection is all about showcasing those contrasts. Whether it’s the modesty of bourbon maturation, the influence of premium wine casks or the intensity that quarter cask sherry maturation can bring, each whisky demonstrates how carefully selected wood can reveal different dimensions of a distillery’s character. Together, they represent exactly what Rare Find seeks to achieve – exceptional single casks that offer something distinctive, memorable and genuinely worth discovering.”

The Rare Find Summer 2026 Collection will be available via Rare Find stockists from 2nd July 2026.

Rare Find Summer 2026 Collection

Blair Athol 12-year-old

Maturing in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

56.1%, 205 bottles

£75.00

NOSE Buttery shortbread, golden syrup, baked apples, vanilla, and a hint of white pepper.

PALATE Rich and syrupy with orchard fruits, pastry, iced buns, and a touch of lemon.

FINISH Long on brown-sugar apples with subtle oak.

Deanston 14-year-old

Matured in a 1st fill Napa Valley red wine barrique

57.3%, 268 bottles

£95.00

NOSE Balsamic strawberries, fresh raspberries, buttery flapjack, with hints of cinnamon and ginger.

PALATE Ripe berries, plums, sultanas, golden syrup, and a touch of peppery spice.

FINISH Long, fruity, with drying cask spice. 

Dalmunach 9-year-old

Finished for 17 months in a 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter cask

60.6%, 126 bottles

£70.00

NOSE Lemon sponge, vanilla custard, toffee, hedgerow berries, and a hint of ginger.

PALATE Fresh apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, and redcurrants, with toffee, chocolate walnut, and gingerbread.

FINISH Long, fruity, with developing citrus notes.

Mystery Islay 9-year-old

Finished for 18 months in a 1st fill oloroso sherry quarter cask

57.9%, 186 bottles

£85.00

NOSE Briny, medicinal, lemon zest, maritime smoke, olive, sea salt, and malt.

PALATE Creamy toffee, berries, smoke, iodine, citrus, nuts, and mineral peat.

FINISH Long on driftwood, smoked lemon, and salt.

About Rare Find

Each Rare Find release is an unrepeatable, limited-edition whisky sourced from sought-after distilleries. With every bottle, we celebrate liquid excellence – meticulously selecting, maturing, and finishing in the highest quality casks to deliver whisky that’s rare by design.

From the millions of casks maturing in Scotland, only a small percentage are destined for single malt bottlings, and from those, only the best become a Rare Find.

www.rarefindwhisky.co.uk

INTRODUCING THE ISLE OF HARRIS SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Change is in our nature. Like the island itself, everything is always in motion as the seasons change and the cycles of life continue to turn.  So, after more than a decade of distilling we’re entering an exciting new chapter here at the Isle of Harris Distillery.

We are introducing a wonderful new addition to our spirits range, once again proudly from the Isle of Harris but now putting the island’s name to the fore, as we do with our much-loved gin and distillery enterprise.

We’re delighted to now give you an exclusive look at our new signature dram, aptly named the Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky.

Made, matured and married entirely on the Isle of Harris, the new release encapsulates the lightly peated, fresh and vibrant island style created by our team of local distillers.

Our new whisky is a delicious and approachable single malt that invites a more relaxed way of enjoying our island spirit, without compromising quality or character.

This is a dram crafted for drinking with good friends and family, made to be poured, shared and savoured.

With notes of butterscotch, floral sweetness and gentle spice, this latest dram is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for a smooth and complex profile.

The new whisky will be on sale on-island from 14.07.26 and in our online store from 22.07.26 .

As a valued Journal subscriber, we’ll be delighted to share more details with you next Friday about the opportunity to pre-purchase your bottle ahead of the wider online release.

Meantime, explore more and enjoy a new short film via the button below!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

The Isle of Harris Distillery Team

BUTTERSCOTCH, FLORAL, FRUITS

“There’s butterscotch and iced cherry Bakewell tart on the nose. A pastry-shop sweetness gives way to bright fruit and delicate floral notes, with hints of boiled fruit sweets and a lingering warmth of spice. Rich buttery caramels unfold on the palate with a touch of sweet clove and ginger. All this is balanced by the signature dry, flinty character of our Isle of Harris spirit. The finish is long and creamy with a gentle hint of Outer Hebridean peat smoke.”

SHONA MACLEOD – DISTILLERY BLENDER

“The Isle of Harris Single Malt Whisky emphasises how far we’ve come as a distillery over the last 10 years. From the outset, our ambition has been to create spirits that share the story of our island with the world. This new expression has been crafted with moments of relaxed enjoyment very much in mind – an easy pour for time spent with friends – and with a desire to introduce our spirits to a wider community”

RON MACEACHRAN  – EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

MEET OUR NEW DRAM

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

KILKERRAN HEAVILY PEATED
BATCH 14

58.3% ABV

NOSE
Honeycomb, wholemeal toast, chargrilled sea food, smokey bacon.

PALATE
Lemon shortbread, melon, ham.

FINISH
Nicely balanced: Peat smoke and a sweet, buttery mouthfeel.

UK RRP £53 – £55

ralfy review 1135 – Talisker 2009 D.E. @45.8%vol: (TD-S:5LX)

Hebridean Whisky Festival Announces 2026 Lineup

HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND – The Hebridean Whisky Trail is proud to announce the return of the Hebridean Whisky Festival, taking place from 5–12 September 2026. Marking its fifth year, this annual island-hopping adventure continues to offer a world-class exploration of Scotland’s established and new maritime distillery locations.

The 2026 festival links multiple island distilleries through a week-long programme of open days, exclusive tastings, masterclasses, and guided tours. Beyond the dram, visitors will experience the heart of island life through live music, traditional ceilidhs, local food, and Gaelic culture. An annual highlight for staff and visitors alike, this festival is an opportunity to enjoy the best of the Hebrides on a wild and beautiful whisky adventure.

2026 Festival Calendar

The trail winds through the Inner and Outer Hebrides, culminating in a grand finale with all distilleries present at the Isle of Raasay:

● 5 Sept: North Uist Distillery Day
● 6 Sept: Tobermory Distillery Day
● 6–7 Sept: Benbecula Distillery Day
● 7–11 Sept: Celebrations at Torabhaig Distillery
● 8 Sept: Isle of Harris Distillery Day
● 10 Sept: Isle of Tiree Distillery Day
● 11 Sept: Talisker Distillery Day
● 12 Sept: Festival Finale at Isle of Raasay Distillery

The Festival Finale

The Festival Finale will be hosted this year by the Isle of Raasay Distillery, named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards 2026. In addition to the many activities on offer that day, including a special festival bottling, special tours and tastings, a unique whisky blending session, and interactive cocktail experiences, Raasay Distillery will be joined by the other members of the Hebridean Whisky Trail. Bringing together spirits from as far away as Tiree, this is an eagerly anticipated event, and tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 20 at 7pm. Full information and tickets can be found on the Hebridean Whisky Trail website at https://hebrideanwhisky.com

A Growing Celebration

This year’s festival is set to be the most ambitious yet, bolstered by support from VisitScotland. This funding will enable the festival to reach a wider audience, develop exclusive festival merchandise, and create a formal sponsorship programme.

Rebecca Edser, Head of Events at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is an exciting year‑round destination, with every season and region offering something distinctive to enjoy. Whisky remains a powerful draw for attendees and combining that with the stunning landscapes and unique local spirit of the Hebrides creates something truly special.

“Supported through our National Events Programme, the Hebridean Whisky Festival is an important part of Scotland’s diverse events landscape, bringing communities and visitors together to share memorable experiences.

“By helping organisers deliver high‑quality, well‑designed events, we support positive impacts for local communities and the wider visitor economy. It is wonderful to see the festival return this year as a standout fixture in Scotland’s events calendar.”

The investment also allows the festival to extend a warm invitation to groups, such as international whisky clubs and travel organisations, further cementing the Hebrides as a premier destination for luxury and cultural tourism.

Interested parties are encouraged to get in touch with the Hebridean Whisky Trail development manager Cindy Campbell, cindy.campbell@hebrideanwhisky.com.

Join the Adventure

Whisky enthusiasts and travelers are encouraged to mark their calendars for this unique maritime journey. While tickets will be released in the coming weeks, organisers promise an immersive experience that captures the true spirit of the islands.

To be the first to receive updates on the full programme and ticket releases, subscribe to the official newsletter at hebrideanwhisky.com.

● The Hebridean Whisky Trail is a collaboration of eight single malt Scotch whisky distilleries in the Hebrides, including Talisker, Torabhaig, Isle of Raasay Distillery, Isle of Harris Distillery, North Uist Distillery, Benbecula Distillery, Isle of Tiree Distillery and Tobermory Distillery.
● Festival Dates: 5–12 September 2026, across the Hebrides.
● Festival Finale: Saturday, 12 September 2026 at Isle of Raasay Distillery.

Prophecy Wins Silver Medal

We’re thrilled to share that Prophecy has been awarded a Silver Medal for Taste at the International Spirits Challenge. Sampled blindly by a group of industry expert judges, our spirit was graded on the taste experience alone.

This recognition celebrates the craftsmanship, character, and flavour profile that define Prophecy, and our vision for future Benbecula whisky.

To our members, cask owners, and supporters: thank you for being part of the journey. Your belief in what we’re building has helped shape this milestone in our distillery’s foundation.

Prophecy was created to deliver a glimpse into the future of Benbecula, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our vision recognised on the international stage.

Whether you’ve followed us from the beginning or discovered Prophecy more recently, we’re raising a dram to you today.

EXPLORE PROPHECY

If you can tear yourself away from the superb spectacle that is the World Cup (slightly less hard for us Scotland fans) then you might like to marvel instead at the thousands upon thousands of fantastic drams in our now live 181st auction!  Fear not though if you want get back to the football for we have picked out a few choice lots to whet your appetite and ease your scrolling burden as you build your watchlist.

This solid looking specimen is the terrific Ledaig 42 Year Old Dusgadh.  The peated spirit in this release is some of the last to come out of the distillery before the stills were replaced in 1996. ‘Dusgadh’ is Gaelic for ‘awakening’ and each bottle comes with a memento card made from the copper from the now retired stills this spirit came from.  A little piece of history as well as a delicious dram from a highly reputable distillery.

The stuff of legend this next one, here we have the Glengoyne Tea Pot Dram Batch #1.  As the story goes the Glengoyne workers were given three large drams of 1st fill sherry whisky a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner (nice work if you can get it).  There was a large tea pot in the break room used as a receptacle for any ‘unwanted’ drams, which would be thoroughly drained by the more seasoned distillery workers throughout the day.  The Teapot Dram was created to encapsulate those days and consists of five first fill sherry casks between the ages of nine and 11 years old.

Next is a very well-aged whisky from a now silent distillery which had a legitimate claim to being the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, though ‘licensed’ is very much the key word here, this is the Littlemill 1989 30 Year Old Artist #13 La Maison du Whisky.  This excellent example of lowland style whisky has been bottled by French whisky specialists La Maison du Whisky as part of their Artist series.

Finally we have a one-off bottle from one of Scotland’s most popular distilleries, this is the Glenfarclas 40 Year Old for Burns Night 2023 Master of Malt.  A genuine rarity this one since it was bottled specifically for Master of Malts Burns Night celebrations in 2023 and as such is a 1 of 1 release.  As if the fact it was a Glenfarclas 40 year old wasn’t enough, a thoroughly delicious dram we can all agree, it also comes with that inimitable sheen of exclusivity!

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.

Exciting Releases

Here at The Whisky Exchange we pride ourselves on having as comprehensive a range as humanly possible. Of course, a big part of that is sourcing exciting new releases and getting them into your hands without delay. Alongside tempting arrivals such as Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Bourbon 2018, Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old Batch 5 and Thompson Bros’ Mystery Malt Series No.6, we’re also delighted to offer three new Tormore releases, available exclusively from us for the next two weeks. There’s sure to be something to pique your interest.

​ SHOP NOW ​

HAZELBURN 7 OLOROSO

47.9% ABV

NOSE
Maraschino cherries, fudge, treacle, dates, brandy butter.

PALATE
Brown sugar, ginger, raisins, red currant jelly.

FINISH
Sweet sticky toffee pudding, black currants, herbs, tarragon.

UK RRP £75 – £78