Diploma at the Port of Leith Distillery 🧡

We’ve still got a few spaces left on our next in-person Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (12 & 13 May) at the stunning Port of Leith Distillery. Join us for an immersive two-day experience where you’ll dive deep into the science, history and craftsmanship behind single malt whisky right in the heart of Edinburgh’s vibrant whisky scene. Whether you’re working in the industry or simply passionate about whisky, this is a rare chance to explore flavour, fermentation and distillation with expert tutor Vic Cameron and other like-minded learners.📖  Learn More

Study whisky: explore your passion, kickstart your career. We are the leading provider of certified Scotch whisky education. 12,000+ candidates globally enjoy our SQA-Approved courses. Learn directly from the experts when you study online or in-person.

Big Peat

Finished in Rum Casks

Big Peat has taken his classic Islay Malt recipe on a bold adventure – finishing it in specially selected Rum Casks. The result? A big, sweet, and smoky Buccaneer of an Islay Malt!

Nose Peated barley and smoke give way to a warming, spicy style plus toasted marshmallows.

Palate Oily and thick with a distinctly Islay character alongside flambéed banana, barbecued meat and honey’d Malt.

Finish Coal dust lingers with a charred pineapple and allspice sweetness.

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ralfy review 1076 – Ballechin 10yo @46%vol: (2025)

Raise a Dram to Dad: Tomatin Distillery Unveils the Ultimate Father’s Day Whisky Gift Guide

Highland distiller Tomatin has recommended the perfect dram for every kind of dad ahead of Father’s Day (Sunday 15 June) – whether he’s a seasoned connoisseur, a thrill-seeking adventurer or a vintage soul who savours the classics.

With a carefully curated selection of single malts – including the richly indulgent 12 Year Old Sherry Cask, the bold and approachable Double Cask, and the luxurious 18 Year Old – Tomatin invites whisky lovers to celebrate what truly matters: time well spent together.

Crafted with care in the Scottish Highlands, each expression embodies Tomatin’s commitment to tradition, flavour and the enduring spirit of community.

For the thrill-seeking dad – Tomatin Double Cask

RRP £37 | ABV 40% | 70cl

Adventurous, open-minded and always up for something new, Tomatin Double Cask is the go-to gift for dads who embrace life with arms wide open. Matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, it’s bold, balanced and full of personality – the perfect companion for dads who prefer the scenic route, whether hiking through the Highlands or tackling new taste frontiers.

Available from Tesco and Amazon.

For the retro dad – Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask

RRP £50 | ABV 40% | 70cl

For the dad who loves old-school charm and enduring quality, Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is a classic reborn. Fully matured in sherry casks for 12 years, it delivers a nostalgic richness with modern flair. Think warm memories, Sunday roasts, and tales of “how it used to be” – this dram is as comforting and characterful as the man himself.

Available at https://tomatin.com/shop and specialist whisky retailers.

For the connoisseur dad – Tomatin 18 Year Old

RRP £126 | ABV 46% | 70cl

Tomatin 18 Year Old is a dram for those who know – and love – their whisky. Rich, complex and award-winning, this expression is matured in traditional oak and first fill Oloroso sherry butts, delivering a depth and sophistication that make it the jewel of Tomatin’s core range. Ideal for dads with refined taste, an appreciation for the finer things, and a whisky shelf worth showing off.

Available at https://tomatin.com/shop and specialist whisky retailers.

For more Father’s Day inspiration, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tasting notes 

Tomatin Double Cask tasting notes 

Nose: Aromas of vanilla-sweetened baked apples and pears lead. 

Palate: Dark fruit flavours, gently balanced with ginger and cinnamon.

Finish: Sweet and spicy.

Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask 

Nose: Caramelised apple, pear, sultana, orange peel, apricot and hints of aged leather.

Palate: Chocolate fudge, manuka honey, dried fruit and nut.

Finish: Cinnamon spice.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Nose: VORS Oloroso Sherry; dried apricot, plum, nougat and distinctive nutty tones. Sweet notes of vanilla fudge and cinnamon baked pears are balanced with a faint suggestion of cigar box and leather-bound books.

Palate: A wonderful marriage of Oloroso Sherry and well-aged Tomatin provides bursts of tropical fruit and mellow savoury notes. Incredibly complex with marmalade, cooked apple, butterscotch and granola, cocoa powder and salted caramel all coming through.

Finish: Full bodied and rich with continued nutty undertones and uplifting orange zest lingering on the palate.

Notes

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of 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 sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin’s success continued when the distillery’s ‘Legacy’ was awarded Gold at IWSC. That same year, Tomatin also 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.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

At the 2024 IWSC Awards, Tomatin Legacy was awarded the IWSC Trophy for no age statement single malt Scotch, demonstrating its exceptional quality as best in class.

This year, Tomatin has been awarded Gold designation for its Tomatin Sherry Collection Ximénez Edition and Silver for both its Sherry Collection Manzanilla Edition and Sherry Collection Palo Cortado Edition in the inaugural 2025 Whiskey Wash Awards.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

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

Introducing our latest Hearts and Crafts release

We are delighted to announce the release of our Hearts and Crafts Calvados Single Malt Whisky (55% ABV) – the sixth expression in our annual Hearts and Crafts series.

This series celebrates the Arts & Crafts movement, which flourished in the Cotswolds in the late 19th century and stood for the importance of traditional craftsmanship – the same values upon which the rural distillery was built. This latest expression embodies this spirit, meticulously crafted, thoughtfully matured, and undeniably inspired by the creative soul of the Cotswolds.

For this limited-edition release, our single malt whisky has matured in hand-selected Calvados casks, delivering rich notes of orchard fruits and a gentle, lingering sweetness that beautifully reflects the essence of traditional craftsmanship. A lighter, fruit forward and accessible whisky which is an elegant celebration of subtlety, sweetness and skilled maturation.

This whisky will go on sale for our general release today from 10am (Monday 5th May 2025).

Tasting Notes 

 Nose: Subtle notes of poached pear, baked pastry, and a gentle hint of oak bring warmth and depth to the nose, evoking the aroma of a rustic apple tart straight from the oven.

Palette: Delightfully sweet, this dram opens with pronounced stewed apple and sticky toffee pudding. Hints of vanilla custard and golden sultanas emerge mid-palate, adding softness and richness.

Finish: Clean and balanced, tapering gently into light wood spice with a trace of cinnamon and nutmeg. Lingering flavours of dried apple and sweet malt give it a graceful conclusion without overwhelming the palate.

Hearts and Crafts Calvados Cask Single Malt Whisky ABV: 55% | RRP £100 for a 70cl bottle

Launch of the 7th Annual

Scottish Whisky Awards

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 7th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards — Scotland’s national celebration of excellence in whisky production.

Over the past six years, the Scottish Whisky Awards have grown to become a benchmark of quality, craftsmanship, and innovation across our world-famous whisky industry. This year, we are proud to continue that tradition, shining a spotlight on the outstanding people, products and places that make Scotch whisky a true global icon.

Whether you are a distillery entering your latest creation, a brand championing tradition with a modern twist, or part of the team behind the scenes, this is your chance to be recognised on Scotland’s biggest Scotch Whisky stage.

Check out our entry guide.

Image © Peter Kwasniewski

Is location important to maturation? We think so. In the quiet coastal village of Ardhasaig, nestled between sea and stone, our island warehouses offer more than just shelter—they shape the best of our whisky.

The Outer Hebridean climate, with its salt-laden winds and shifting seasons help breath life into the spirit which fills every oak cask. Our single malt is matured in first fill ex-Bourbon, ex-Oloroso, and Fino sherry casks, each carefully selected to define the spirit’s character.

The result is a complex, elegant dram that unfolds slowly in the glass and reflects the elemental nature of our island home.

FROM THE ISLAND

Capture the spirit of our Whisky Wanderers Festivals 2025 releases and join us as we embrace adventure and exploration with new casks live this morning.  This year we’re celebrating Scottish whisky festivals differently. You’ll find whiskies you wouldn’t normally expect from certain distilleries or regions with specially selected casks curated to take you on the path less trodden.

EXPLORE THE CASKS

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 560: Kilchoman 100% Islay

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries the 14^th Edition already of the Kilchoman 100% Islay. Unlike the other releases of this Ileach, their 100% Islay is a whisky made exclusively from home-grown and peated barley, in this case Publican with 20ppm. And its popularity is proven by the fact that it has been on the market for so long. This is already the 14th edition. The whisky is 9 years old and matured in a combination of bourbon (90%) and Oloroso sherry casks (10%).

https://youtu.be/S2oWGhrUnCc

LOST LANTERN LAUNCHES MONTHLY DISCOVERY CLUB TO SHOWCASE RISING STARS OF AMERICAN WHISKEY

Members-Only Exclusive Bottlings, Insider Access, and More

Vergennes, VT (May 1, 2025)— Lost Lantern, an award-winning independent bottler known for highlighting innovative and noteworthy whiskies from distilleries across the United States, is delighted to announce the launch of the Lost Lantern Discovery Club, a subscription-based monthly whiskey club designed to help whiskey lovers discover emerging stars and hidden gems in American whiskey.

Every month, Discovery Club members will receive a new, never-before-released Lost Lantern bottling from a rising star or lesser-known distillery that is breaking new ground in the whiskey world. Members will experience firsthand the innovation and diversity shaping American whiskey today. These bottles will be exclusive to Discovery Club members and will not be released any other way.

“Our goal with the Discovery Club is to share our journey of exploration with whiskey enthusiasts,” says Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern Co-Founder and Head of Whiskey Sourcing. “I visit every distillery we work with, and I’m constantly discovering exceptional whiskies from innovative distilleries all across the country. The Discovery Club is our way of sharing these whiskies and these stories directly with passionate whiskey drinkers.”

Membership Details:

• Monthly membership is $90 plus shipping
• Signup bottle shipped upon Discovery Club purchase
• Members receive a new 750ml Discovery Club release every month
• Discovery Club releases are exclusively available to members
• Behind-the-scenes stories and insights into featured distilleries
• Invitations to exclusive events, virtual tastings, and conversations with partner distilleries hosted by Adam Polonski
• Early access to all new Lost Lantern releases
• Access to Discovery Club library bottlings

Beginning May 1, visit the Lost Lantern website to sign up for membership. The initial signup bottle and first monthly release will feature whiskies from two of Lost Lantern’s most sought-after partners. The following 12 monthly releases will come from distilleries Lost Lantern has never previously collaborated with, many of which are only available in one or two states. Club releases will span a wide range of American whiskey styles, with about half being bourbons.

Members (limited initially to a maximum of 180 people) will also benefit from flexible account management options, including the ability to add additional bottles from the Lost Lantern shop, delay or skip shipments, or pause and cancel their subscription at any time. The Club will be available to customers in states where Lost Lantern can ship through its website, as well as at the Lost Lantern Tasting Room in Vermont.

The Discovery Club underscores Lost Lantern’s commitment to transparency, quality, and exploration, offering a unique opportunity to explore the breadth of American whiskey’s evolving landscape.

For more information or to sign up, visit HERE .

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey based in Vergennes, VT. The brand has been honored as Independent Bottler of the Year at the 2023 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, and founders Nora and Adam were both named to Beverage Information Group’s 40 Under 40 list for 2025 and named to SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators of the Year. The company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies from across the U.S. and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. Lost Lantern has now released whiskey from more than three dozen distilleries in over 20 states.

For more information about Lost Lantern, to learn about upcoming, available, and retired whiskies, to visit the tasting room, or to subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter, please visit LostLanternWhiskey.com. Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on Instagram and Facebook: @lostlanternwhiskey.