MacTalla unveils second Lighthouse Series bottling, shaped by the whisky community for 2025

September 2025 Islay single malt whisky Mac-Talla has released the second bottling in its Lighthouse Series – and for the first time, its network of hand-picked global retail and bar partners helped select the final liquid.

Following the inaugural bottling in 2024, which celebrated the lighthouse as a guiding light, this new edition shifts focus to the guiding hand – a tribute to the skill and intuition that shape great Scotch whisky.

“Just as a ship’s skipper uses knowledge and experience to steer through treacherous waters, a whisky maker guides spirit on its journey from cask to bottle,” says Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers Head Distiller Graeme Mackeddie. “Lighthouse 2025 is about celebrating that human touch – the decisions, the craft, and the expertise that bring whisky safely to its destination.”

This year, Mac-Talla invited its network of hand-picked Lighthouse retailers and bars across the EU and UK to help select the final spirit. These Lighthouse partners are talented whisky specialists who can offer expertise, passion, and a deeper exploration of Mac-Talla’s journey of taste. The partners included Vin et Whisky in Paris, 3 Greek St in London, The Black Cat in Edinburgh, and Tara Spirits in Munich.

This has resulted in a whisky that reflects Islay’s rugged maritime character, that also carries the insight of a global whisky community.

Crafted from a complex combination of First Fill Bourbon, First Fill Oloroso and PX, and a First Fill Bordeaux barrique – all finished in Virgin American Oak – Lighthouse 2025 offers a rich and indulgent flavour profile.

On the nose, expect treacle toffee, milk chocolate, dried fruits, and a lift of spice. The palate delivers chewy caramels dipped in chocolate, balanced with soft peat smoke, gentle wood spice, and a long finish of toasted coconut – a decadent Islay treat likened to a caramel log in a glass.

This special bottling is only available at Mac-Talla Lighthouse partners. A few of them will be holding special tastings in the coming months; details can be found here: https://mactallawhisky.com/lighthouse.

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: Treacle toffees and milk chocolate. Subtle dried fruit and a hint of spice.
• Taste: Chewy caramels dipped in milk chocolate, balanced with peat smoke and gentle wood spice.
• ABV: 54.7%
• RRP: £74

Mac-Talla Lighthouse 2025 is exclusively available from MacTalla Lighthouse partners from September 24th across the UK and EU.  Find your local lighthouse: https://mactallawhisky.com/stockists

ABOUT MSWD

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers (MSWD) is an independent, family-owned company based in Perth, Scotland. Rebranded in 2020, MSWD represents five generations of Morrison whisky heritage under one name, with a focus on single malt production, brand development, blending and bottling. Its flagship brands include Aberargie, Old Perth, Mac-Talla, Càrn Mòr and Bruadar.

Further Background

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers is solely owned and operated by one of Scotland’s oldest and most prominent whisky families, Jamie and Brian Morrison. There has been over five generations of the Morrison family involved in the whisky business including grocers, brokers, blenders, bottlers and distillers, making them one of Scotland’s oldest whisky families.

Their heritage gives them access to a wide variety of unique and exceptional casks from pedigree distilleries across Scotland. Their family’s values are run through everything they do and they proudly showcase these underneath each of their bottles reiterating their commitment to Patience, Intuition and Integrity.

In every whisky they release, they are committed to continue to impart the knowledge that has been passed down from generations of family whisky makers. Our chairman’s great-grandfather, William Walker, one of the pre-eminent whisky brokers of his era, worked closely with various distilleries on the island, even advocating on behalf of the Islay whisky trade to American businesses on the repeal of US prohibition in 1933.

Walker grew very fond of Islay, where he eventually purchased a home, and played an integral part in developing transport, trade and marketing of the Island’s produce.  His philanthropic nature was deeply appreciated by Islay residents – with the Glasgow Islay Association (of which he was a life member and chairman) noting in 1934 “In the Island itself, he has closely identified himself with every cause worthy of support”.

In 1963 a chance lunchtime encounter at a Glasgow restaurant led to Stanley P Morrison, the son-in-law of William Walker, purchasing of Islay’s oldest distillery — Bowmore (established in 1779) — that evening. Morrison Bowmore Distillers was created and emerged as a globally-recognised brand of quality Single Malt Scotch

Whisky, producing a characterful spirit with some legendary bottlings. Morrison Bowmore Distillers was acquired by Suntory in 1994.

To find out more about Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers visit www.morrisondistillers.com or for MacTalla visit www.mactallawhisky.com