A (Sensory) Date for January?

We all know January can feel… long. After all the festivities, who wouldn’t welcome an indulgent day to lift the spirits? The Certificate in Sensory Appreciation (16 January), is all about flavour and having fun with it. Teachers Vic Cameron and Gordon Steele will lead four hands-on workshops, delicious samples and plenty of sensory surprises. Get ahead and book two spots for the perfect gift or treat yourself solo to a day your senses won’t forget!

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THREE ‘banger’ peated scotch whiskies for 2026

THE VIDEO

Rare Find unveils extraordinary 42-year-old Caol Ila single cask release

Landmark whisky bottled to celebrate culmination of 10th anniversary year 

Rare Find, the acclaimed independent bottler, marks the end of its 10th anniversary year with the release of a 42-year-old single cask, single malt Scotch whisky from Caol Ila Distillery.  Drawn from refill hogshead #1288, this exceptional Islay whisky pays homage to the company’s journey – fittingly returning to Caol Ila, the source of Rare Find’s very first bottling.

This milestone single malt release is a celebration of time, craftsmanship, and the Rare Find ethos: of producing whiskies that are “rare by design.” Aged for over four decades and with 42 bottles bottled at a natural cask strength of 51.7% ABV, the Rare Find Caol Ila 42- year-old offers aromas of Cuban cigars and candied tropical fruits alongside delicate, earthy peat smoke. The palate offers vibrant banana and lemon together with minerality and elegant, ethereal smoke, leading to a finish that is exceptionally long and contemplative.

The anniversary release has an RRP of £999 and will be available from select Rare Find stockists from 12th December 2025 .

The Caol Ila 42-year-old not only embodies Rare Find’s founding vision of creating whiskies that are truly rare by design but also marks a milestone in the brand’s 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of growth and its reputation as one of the most trusted names in the whisky world.

Speaking of the release, Founder Derek Mair said: “Our Caol Ila 42-Year-Old is a whisky of distinction – remarkable not just for its lineage, echoing the spirit of our very first release, but for embodying the essence of everything we pursue: profound depth, genuine authenticity and singular character. Decades of patient maturation have sculpted this venerable spirit into an archetype of what Rare Find represents – whiskies defined by character that are pure enjoyment in every sip.”

Like all Rare Find whiskies, the Caol Ila 42-Year-Old is bottled without compromise – natural cask strength, natural colour, and no chill filtration – ensuring the whisky’s integrity is preserved from cask to bottle.

Caol Ila 42-year-old

Drawn from refill hogshead #1288

51.7%, 42 bottles only

RRP £999

Available from selected retailers from 12th December 2025 

Nose: Cuban cigars, camphor and earthy peat smoke join candied tropical fruits, sea spray and cold ashes.

Palate: Vibrant fruits – banana and preserved lemons – sit alongside ethereal, maritime peat smoke – whilst chiselled minerality, chamois leather and eucalyptus are supported by honey and orange oil.

Finish: Lingering beach bonfire and light medicinalness are tempered by fading tropical fruit juices.

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.

Is it too early to be putting “festive” in an email header? On the one hand we’re only just in December, on the other I’ve already had grief for the lack of mince pies round my gaff…

As I mentioned last time, plans for the final bit of 2025 went a bit, shall we say, shonky, but we have ended up with quite a fitting line-up to see the year out. There’s hopefully something for everyone with this trio, and the prices have worked out pretty keen too.

Right, here we ho-ho-go:

First up we have a 15-year-old Linkwood. I was heartened by how many people seemed excited by news of this one – a distillery with a growing fanbase it seems!

On the nose – an elegant sort of fruitiness, with white peach, apple and lime, backed up with some buttery pastry and a lightly mineralic feel in the background. It’s very clean and direct, but with lots of little subtleties: touches of liquorice wood, beeswax, clay and orange cream.

On the palate – a big arrival, with green apple sweets, cherry drops, Ricola, and fab waxy citrus. There’s a long development with peach, herbs, pink grapefruit, and almost a salty tang in the finish.

With a drop of water: fatter, more exuberantly (and inappropriately) summery, with ripe yellow peaches, light honey, spearmint. Gorgeous.

Poised, restrained, elegant. A fruity Speysider for grown-ups!

This ex-bourbon hogshead produced 277 bottles at 57.5%, and they are available for £77.50 each.

Next up we have a 14-year-old Auchroisk, fully oloroso-matured. We might still be in Speyside, but we’re a million miles away from the Linkwood.

On the nose – rum & raisin, hazelnut syrup, peanut brittle and melted milk chocolate. Little touches of plummy fruitiness, coffee, liquorice, malted milk, and dried orange peel.

On the palate – treacle toffee, Daim bar, peanut M&Ms, tiramisu, and that danger point when you make caramel and get a puff of smoke. That adds a nice bitter-sweetness that carries through the finish, with dark cocoa, toasted nuts, a drop of Cointreau, and toffee.

Old-school sherry, this, rich but never cloying. Darkly sweet, really, and Christmas is saved, basically.

This oloroso hogshead produced 255 bottles at 58.4%, and they are available for £69.50 each.

Last, but by no means least, we have a 21-year-old Highland. This is undisclosed heavily-peated Jura. Quite a rare old bird, I believe.

On the nose – imagine a really sweet, ripe red apple … but it’s somehow been peat-smoked. Fruit gums, orange, herbs on the BBQ, spearmint, leather, and light smoke and coal tar drifting around in the background.

On the palate – really rich and viscous in texture, with smoked honey, crystalised orange, and a drop of tar stirred through custard. The development is creamy, with baked pineapple jelly and herbal pastilles, leading into a lingering finish with sweet wisps of peat smoke, tar and pine needles.

This is ace, with mellow smoke, and a fruity richness that you wouldn’t expect from Jura. It doesn’t quite resemble any other peated whisky either, but the result is deliciously idiosyncratic.

This refill barrel produced only 198 bottles at 54.5%, and they are available for £125 each.

A quick note

The lift to my storage unit has, with wonderfully helpful timing, broken down and I’m currently having to lug boxes by hand down several flights of stairs. This is slowing me down a bit (although I’m sure it’s great cardio) so please bear with me if it takes an extra day or two to dispatch orders.

And…

…that’s it for now. I’ll be back in 2026 with new whiskies (and new labels!). There’s some great stuff lined up, and of course please do feel free to get in touch if I can be of assistance in the meantime.

Thank you, as ever, for your support of this rickety old jalopy that I call Chorlton Whisky through another year. It really does mean a lot.

Cheers!

David

A whisky tasting and live music gig with The Rhythm and Booze Project!

Sometimes an event comes along that shouldn’t be missed; this is one of those times.

SMWS Canada is beyond thrilled to welcome to Vancouver The Rhythm & Booze Project, a blues duo out of the UK which incorporates whisky tastings into their roots, folk, and blues live music gigs. Blending infectious showmanship with their high-energy music, you’re in for an amazing evening of fantastic music and delicious SMWS whiskies.

Tuesday, January 20th

Heritage Hall – 3102 Main Street, Vancouver

Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start (should wrap up around 9:30pm)  $65

GET TICKETS HERE

Here’s a little teaser of what to expect (ignore the whiskies in the video; we’re pourin’ SMWS drams!):

Thompson Bros.

Aldunie Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 52.5% 70 cL

£180.00

SPRINGBANK 10YO LOCAL BARLEY

The next edition of our Springbank Local Barley series is a 10 year old single malt distilled from bere barley which was grown at the Clochkiel Farm, roughly five miles from the Springbank Distillery. 8,000 bottles are available worldwide.

NOSE Notes of fig rolls, date syrup, plums and star anise kick off this year’s Local Barley.

PALATE A savoury element becomes more pronounced on the palate, with notes of burdock, shiitake mushrooms, tamari soy sauce and liquorice.

FINISH Notes of camp campfire ash and treacle molasses come to the forefront in the finish.

55.2% ABV

UK RRP £90 – £95

The Good Dram Show – Episode 615 ‘Penderyn & Wireworks’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at some new releases from two of my favourite distilleries, Gwalia and White Peaks. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 615 Featuring Two Of My Favourite Distilleries

Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Penderyn Icons of Wales No12 ‘Copperopolis’ 46%

Penderyn Icons of Wales No13 ‘Bad Wolf ‘10 year old 46%

Penderyn Serpents Tears – Limited First Release (Llandudno Peated) 46%

www.penderyn.wales

White Peak: Wireworks Necessary Evil (2025 Release) 51.3%

White Peak: Wireworks Amarone Finish 53.6%

White Peak: Wireworks Coastal Smoke 50%

www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

The Dalmore Unveils Third in Cask Curation Series:

The Red Wine Cask Edition

 The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition has been created in collaboration with esteemed cask partner, Château Mont-Redon of Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

Highland Single Malt, The Dalmore, has unveiled the highly anticipated third instalment of their Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition.

First launched in 2023, Cask Curation Series was created to celebrate The Dalmore’s innovative approach to cask maturation, which can be traced back to 1868. The Dalmore truly treasure the cask, making the most of the maturation time by moving spirit from rare cask to rare cask, enriching every drop, and creating the rich and complex style and finesse, that defines The Dalmore.

The Dalmore curate casks from the world’s finest wineries and bodegas in their ongoing quest to create Single Malt Whiskies that elevate every moment, and the Cask Curation Series pays homage to these casks and the spirit of travel that they invoke, their cherished partners, and to their whisky making artistry.

For this chapter of the series, The Dalmore looked to France and the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, a long-standing favourite of The Dalmore whisky makers.

Located in the Rhone Wine Region in the Southeast of France, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is well regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world, characterised as rich and plummy. Over time, more complex flavours develop, with savoury and jammy notes, giving this style of wine a mature finish.

It was these flavour notes that The Dalmore’s whisky makers wished to explore in this edition, to demonstrate and showcase the incredible impact these precious red wines can have on their uniquely robust New Make Spirit.

Working closely with partner Château Mont-Redon and fourth generation winemaker Pierre Fabre, The Dalmore gained access to the freshest Châteauneuf-du-Pape casks. Château Mont-Redon’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape red, is made primarily from Grenache Noir (57%), along with Syrah (33%), Mourvèdre (9%) and small quantities of others including Cinsault and Vaccarèse.

To add further intrigue and expertise, The Dalmore chose to use the same 2023 Château Mont-Redon red wine casks to finish each of the three whiskies which comprise the set, creating the opportunity to clearly showcase how flavour, imparted from these special casks, can embolden The Dalmore’s spirit and signature house style, at three different ages – 24, 34 and 43 Years Old.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition – Aged 24 Years is 40.7% ABV. It offers aromas of rich honey, sweet citrus, hints of orchard fruits, and delicate spice. To taste, red berries, crème brûlée, orange zest, and hints of dark toffee, with finishing notes of toffee, mandarin, lightly roasted coffee, and soft exotic spices.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition – Aged 34 Years is 40.5% ABV. The extra decade has brought subtle floral notes, with hints of forest fruits, vanilla, and Seville orange. On the palate, rich dark berries, stone fruits, and vanilla, with a finish of warm honey, white chocolate, and a touch of liquorice. A subtle, gentle wood spice is notable throughout, in the aroma, taste and finish.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition – Aged 43 Years is 40.3% ABV. The oldest whisky in the set, it offers aromas of dried fruit, orange marmalade, manuka honey, and antique leather. To taste, forest berries, dark chocolate, with hints of honeyed mango, and warming spice. To finish, dark fruit, cocoa with a hint of espresso, and aged wood spice.

Each expression is presented at natural colour and is non-chill filtered.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition Whiskies

These three exquisite and exceptionally rare whiskies are presented together in a stunning hand-made presentation case, with just 150 ever to be made, available globally from 1^st October 2025, priced at £36,100 / $44,450.

Evoking the spirit of travel, inspired by the long voyages the casks make from their native wineries and bodegas, the whiskies in each edition of the Cask Curation Series are presented in a bespoke carry case, which doubles as a display case.

Hand-crafted by Italian luggage makers, AB Florence, this year’s edition is available in a bold lapis blue. Inspired by the famous winemaking region from where our casks originate, the colour brings to life the amazing blue hue of the grapes on the vine as they grow and ripen, and also pays homage to both the French and Rhône-Alpes flags.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition Whiskies in Display Case

This third chapter of the Cask Curation Series has been eagerly anticipated, following the success of the two previous releases.

The Sherry Edition launched the series in 2023, marking the over 100 year relationship between The Dalmore and González Byass. The famed Sherry producer exclusively provide The Dalmore with their Matusalem Sherry, which is used in a range of whiskies across both their Rare and Prestige Collection, and their core, Principal Collection, including The Dalmore 21 Year Old.

In 2024, the second in the series, The Port Edition, showcased collaboration with another long-term partner, Graham’s, from who The Dalmore exclusively source a range of casks from the renowned winemaker. Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port is used in both the Port Wood Reserve and King Alexander III expressions from the Principal Collection. For the most recent release of The Dalmore 30 Year Old, Graham’s exclusively provided 30 Year Old Tawny Port Casks and Single Harvest Port from 1982, to create this exquisite expression.

With The Dalmore’s renowned fascination for experimenting with red wine, and a particular fondness for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, collaborator Château Mont-Redon was the perfect partner for this third edition showcase.

Château Mont-Redon has a visionary story and attitude, that has many parallels with that of The Dalmore.  Founded in 1923, thirteen years before the official creation of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation, Henri Plantin acquired the isolated Mont-Redon property, recognising the potential of the terroir.

Characterized by its diverse soil composition which includes fine sands (safres), limestone, and the famous rolled pebbles (galet roulés) on the majestic plateau, this landscape enables the creation of complex wines, that truly represent the essence of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Plantin’s efforts laid the groundwork for future generations who continued to expand the estate over time, which now encompasses a 100-hectare continuous estate, making Château Mont-Redon the largest single property in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation.

Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller, The Dalmore commented: “We are truly passionate about the art of cask curation, and the flavours that can be created with The Dalmore’s unique spirit, when using casks from the finest wineries and bodegas. Red wine casks have played an integral role in shaping The Dalmore’s success, so it felt fitting to release some very rare expressions, as part of the Cask Curation Series.”

“The layers of flavour from the complex grape blends held inside these Châteauneuf-du-Pape casks from Château Mont-Redon have been instrumental in the development of these three unique Single Malts, which have such richness and complexity.”

“This has been a wonderful journey of discovery, to see how different aged and rare whiskies, can be subtly enhanced by this red wine. The three Single Malt Whiskies within this edition of Cask Curation Series, are in my opinion, the pinnacle of red wine cask curation.”

The Dalmore has been successfully using wine casks in maturation, to unveil and enhance different flavours from their exquisite whiskies, for many years. Two wine matured whiskies feature in The Dalmore’s core, Principal Collection, The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve and King Alexander III.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is the perfect accompaniment to the finest cigars and enjoys maturation in Cabernet Sauvignon barriques, and Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks, exclusively available to The Dalmore from partner of the first Cask Curation Series, González Byass.

The Dalmore King Alexander III is a masterpiece of the whisky maker’s art and a spectacular showcase of The Dalmore’s philosophy on multi-cask maturation. First launched almost twenty years ago, this one-of-a-kind Single Malt uses a unique assemblage of six, carefully curated cask finishes. Small batch Bourbon, Madeira, and Marsala feature alongside exclusive sherry from González Byass, exclusive Port from Graham’s, and Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques. This whisky was an innovation that demonstrated The Dalmore’s art of cask curation, and still stands strong today.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Edition will be available globally from 1^st October 2025, priced at £36,100 / $44,450. Just 150 sets of these exquisite and exceptionally rare Single Malt Whiskies will be created.

About The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Edition

Pricing of £36,100 / $44,450 is per set. All whiskies are natural colour and non-chill filtered.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Edition – Aged 24 Years – 40.7% ABV

Aroma:                  Rich honey, sweet citrus, hints of orchard fruits, and delicate spice

Taste:                     Red berries, crème brûlée, orange zest, and hints of dark toffee

Finish:                   Toffee, mandarin, lightly roasted coffee, and soft exotic spices

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Edition – Aged 34 Years – 40.5% ABV

Aroma:                  Subtle floral notes with hints of forest fruits, vanilla, Seville orange, and wood spice

Taste:                     Rich dark berries, stone fruits, vanilla, and gentle wood spice

Finish:                   Warm honey, white chocolate, wood spice, and a touch of liquorice

The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Edition – Aged 43 Years – 40.3% ABV

Aroma:                  Dried fruit, orange marmalade, manuka honey, and antique leather

Taste:                     Forest berries, dark chocolate, with hints of honeyed mango, and warming spice

Finish:                   Dark fruit, cocoa with a hint of espresso, and aged wood spice

About The Dalmore

Founded in 1839 on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands, The Dalmore has been making masterpieces of whisky for over 180 years.

The 12-point silver stag which proudly adorns each bottle was bestowed upon the first chieftain of Clan Mackenzie in 1263 by King Alexander III of Scotland. The stag became the whisky’s emblem when descendants of the clan took over the distillery in 1878.

The Dalmore distillery’s collection of idiosyncratic stills creates a New Make spirit of unique character and depth – robust and fruity, particularly well-suited to longer and more complex maturation. This allows The Dalmore’s renowned whisky makers to develop spirit over longer periods, continuing a tradition of visionary whisky-making as they fully express their art using rare casks from some of the world’s finest wineries and bodegas.

RARE CASK, 2025 RELEASE

We are pleased to announce that The Macallan Rare Cask, 2025 Release is available from our Online Boutique, with limited availability.

This multi-faceted single malt is crafted from a selection of our rarest sherry seasoned oak casks, chosen for their distinctive sweet raisin note, decadent depth of flavour and velvety mouth-feel. These hand-selected casks are a rare and special discovery, unearthed by the Whisky Mastery Team in their quest to seek out the extraordinary.

With its entirely natural ruby mahogany hue, velvety texture and complex character, this release offers a rare sensorial experience to savour, share and gift.

VIEW THE WHISKY

ABOUT THE WHISKY

The Macallan Rare Cask showcases the perfection that can be delivered when a single note shines. The intense sweet raisin note that can be found within Rare Cask is hard to find in the whisky stocks at The Macallan. Layered with notes of sweet raisin, vanilla, dark chocolate and citrus, and enveloped in a rich, velvety mouthfeel, this exceptional single malt delivers an indulgent, sensorial experience from nose to finish.

TASTING NOTES

EXPLORE NATURAL COLOUR, NOSE, PALATE & FINISH

NATURAL COLOUR Ruby Mahogany.
NOSE Soft notes of vanilla with rich raisin, followed by a sweet fusion of fresh apple, lemon and orange.
PALATE An intense sweet raisin dominates before giving way to vanilla and dark chocolate, with layers of light citrus zest.
FINISH Long, rich and velvety.
ABV 43%

PRESENTATION

The deep red presentation box echoes the natural colour of the whisky and features a distinctive front-opening design, showcasing the elegant decanter within.

RARE CASK, 2025 RELEASE AVAILABILITY

The Macallan Rare Cask, 2025 Release is now available to purchase, with limited availability. This expression is now available from The Macallan Estate, The Macallan Online Boutique, and is available from premium specialist retailers and exclusive non-specialist retailers around the world.