Islay

We are in the beautiful Island of Islay home to heavily peated and maritime styles of whisky. This tiny island boasts ten distilleries each with its own unique smokey character, offering a chance to try the varying styles of peated whisky.   From new kid on the block Ardnahoe to old favourites like Bowmore, Laphroaig  and Lagavulin, there is something to enjoy for all!

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ralfy review 1098 – Little Brown Dog Ardmore 11yo @57.1%vol:

ARDBEG EXPERIMENTS WITH AMONTILLADO CASKS
FOR THE SECOND VINTAGE IN ITS MILLENNIUM SERIES

 < Nutty and smoky 24-year-old whisky is throwback collection’s rarest yet >

Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky today shares the second ultra-rare release in its millennium vintage series: the delicately nutty and smoky Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old. Created at a pivotal moment in Ardbeg’s story, this highly limited bottling comprises some of the first Ardbeg ever finished in Amontillado sherry casks.

The year 2000 will go down in Islay history for many reasons. It was, of course, the era of the elusive millennium bug, which sparked fears of computerised chaos across the island and the world at large. But it also marked a new beginning at Ardbeg. Since being saved from extinction in 1997, the Distillery had been renovated and meticulously restored. And in 2000, it finally returned to full production. Created that year, each of the whiskies in Ardbeg’s Vintage_Y2K series is a smoky anomaly. They mark the malt’s revival by uniting unique spirit from the Distillery’s historic 51-year-old still (revered for its long service before being retired in 2001) with whisky-making techniques new to Ardbeg.

To celebrate that throwback spirit in the series’ second release, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation was inspired to experiment with his favourite sherry casks. And so, Dr Bill Lumsden MBE finished a parcel of that millennium stock in hand-selected Amontillado casks – a first for Ardbeg.  Combined with classic, bourbon-aged Ardbeg, the sherry casks bring to life an exceptionally delicate whisky, filled with notes of creamy toffee, almonds and tobacco. A year older and even more limited than the series’ first Vintage_Y2K release, the 24 Years Old bottling promises to be highly sought-after by collectors of Ardbeg. The whisky’s custom ABV of 47.8% has been especially selected to enhance its smoky flavours.

Dr Bill said: “The ultra-rare whiskies of our Vintage_Y2K series are hugely precious, since they mark the start of a new generation of Ardbeg. Older and even rarer than its predecessor, the 24 Years Old is a real treat for Ardbeg super-fans.

“Distilled in Ardbeg’s historic still, its spirit is some of the last created before it was retired. And while Amontillado sherry is an all-time favourite of mine, we have not used them before to finish an Ardbeg. Combined with classic Ardbeg, their wood creates a sublimely delicate whisky. Sherried notes of toffee and nuts meet bonfire embers and coal tar soap, with an edge of menthol. A fitting celebration of Ardbeg’s rebirth.”

The Ardbeg history books recorded another significant development at the Distillery in the millennium. As a few dedicated fans hatched a plan to ensure the Distillery’s doors never closed again, the Ardbeg Committee was born. A quarter-century later, that loyal fanbase is an Ardbeggian institution, spanning more than 140 countries and 200,000 strong. The Committee is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old was recognised with a Double Gold award at the International Spirits Challenge 2024.

RRP: £680 

www.ardbeg.com

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Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 24 Years Old Tasting Notes:

ABV: 47.8%

Colour: Bright Amber

Aroma: Pungent, deep, aromatic and spicy, with beautiful notes of creamy toffee, flowering blackcurrants, creosote, coal tar soap, antique leather and almonds. With a splash of water, hints of charcoal, graphite and damp moss emerge, along with a distinct sooty note. 

Taste:   Astonishingly powerful and spicy on the palate, with a burst of deep intense, smoky flavours. Coal tar mingles with woodsmoke, while antiseptic lozenges meet bonfire embers. The Amontillado sherry casks are present, albeit in the background, with subtle notes of toffee, leather, cinnamon and clove.

Finish:   Long and lingering, with hints of menthol, eucalyptus, linseed oil and charcoal.

RRP: £680

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Single Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and Visitor Centre Planner Bryony McNiven, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2025, Ardbeg 17 Years Old was awarded Best Scotch Islay Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards, and the Distillery was also recognised with the Category Winner awards for Ardbeg 25 Years Old and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Ardbeg Ten Years OId and Ardbeg 25 Years Old both won Double Gold awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025, and Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 23 Years Old won Double Gold at the International Spirits Competition. 

Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K series

This series of highly limited smoky anomalies from 2000, celebrates a momentous year for Ardbeg. When the Glenmorangie Company purchased Ardbeg in 1997, it inherited a Distillery ravaged by neglect. It took three years of renovations before full production was able to resume. By then, Ardbeg was under the expert eye of Dr Bill Lumsden, who made a number of changes, including a new cut point and more rigorous cask selection. Created that year, the whiskies of Ardbeg’s Vintage_Y2K series mark Ardbeg’s revival by uniting some of the final spirit from the Distillery’s historic still, with the very best of Dr Bill’s modern whisky-making techniques.

• Released in 2024, Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 23 Years Old was the series’ inaugural whisky. Crafted from some of Ardbeg’s very first spirit of the millennium, this single malt was aged in the finest bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks around, for notes of lemon balsam, linseed oil, soot and coffee.

Ardbeg’s historic still

While there were many changes during the Distillery’s renovation prior to 2000, the still in which the Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K whiskies were crafted was the same vessel which had served the Distillery for decades. However, the spirit of the Y2K series was some of the last to flow from that still, which was finally retired in 2001 after 51 years of operation. Now it stands proud in the Distillery’s courtyard, a landmark for the thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage to Ardbeg each year. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Harvest Series: Wychwood Harvest

We are delighted to announce the release of our fourth Harvest Series expression – Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky (50% ABV).

This limited release of 1,500 bottles is crafted from a rare parcel of port and select bourbon casks laid down nearly ten years ago. It is our most accomplished tribute to port cask maturation to date and offers a bold and expressive single malt whisky.

Named after the ancient Wychwood Forest, near Witney in Oxfordshire, this latest release delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant, and dark fruit compote. These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.

With its rich profile and striking presentation, Wychwood Harvest is a whisky to be savoured and collected.

This whisky is now available to buy on our website and in our three retail shops for £100 per bottle in Stourton, Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water. Don’t miss out, buy yours while stocks last!

The liquid offers deep crimson hues from being aged in the Port casks and delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant and dark fruit compote.

These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.

Head of Production – Alice Pearson

We release a new Harvest Series expression once a year, which celebrates the Cotswolds scenery through the art of painting by a local artist paired with our whisky is carefully selected by our Head of Production, Alice Pearson. This year’s release was inspired by a piece of art created by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates, which beautifully showcased the farming landscapes of the Cotswolds beneath a dramatic, cloudy sky.

At 25 years of age, our Head of Production, Alice Pearson, is one of the youngest female distillers in the UK. She personally selected the Port casks, which made this whisky such a distinctive expression, with its deep red colour and depth of flavour.

“I am really excited to introduce this latest Harvest expression both to UK and international consumers. We wanted to create a whisky that celebrates the traditions of the farming community which is bold and expressive.” – Alice Pearson

Listen to a snippet of Alice’s Harvest journey in her own words below. Keep your eyes peeled for the full video going live Friday 3rd October.

The Artist – Andrea Bates

The design for the presentation tube for this release was produced by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates, shown on the shelves in this image. Taking inspiration from the Cotswolds landscape and a nod to the farmland that produces the harvest, it depicts a stunning farming landscape set amongst a cloudy sky.

COMPASS BOX BRULEE ROYALE

The beloved, trailblazing blending house Compass Box has unveiled its latest release, Brulee Royale. This blended malt perfectly evokes the classic dessert, thanks to a stunning combination of single malts from Clynelish, Benrinnes, Speyburn and Ardbeg.

Silky vanilla custard and rich toffee notes define this limited edition blended malt from Compass Box. Combining single malts from Clynelish, Benrinnes, Speyburn and Ardbeg, it balances creamy sweetness with subtle smoky depth. Matured in ex-bourbon and custom American oak barrels, the whisky offers a layered flavour reminiscent of a caramelised dessert, with gentle spice and a hint of smoke.

 SHOP NOW 

Old Particular Secret Islay 9 Years Old

At Douglas Laing we are Fanatical About Flavour. Each of these Single Cask Single Malt and Grain bottlings are a celebration of taste above all else – chosen for their exceptional character, depth and individuality. We have purposefully kept the distillery ‘Secret’, setting aside expectations, inviting you to explore each dram with an open mind. Allow the Whisky to speak for itself through aroma, palate and finish… release your inner connoisseur!

£79.17

Our Old Particular Single Casks are a particularly sought-after range of individually-selected Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch Whiskies from all over Scotland. Each is bottled exactly the way the Distiller intended: without colouring or chill-filtration, and at high alcohol strength. This combination allows the cask to retain the naturally present oils, fats and enzymes in the spirit that enhance the quality of the nose, the mouthfeel and flavour profile of the Whisky.

The Good Dram Show – Episode 609 ‘Retribution Distilling’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of bottlings including new make spirit from Retribution Distilling in Somerset.

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum

Episode 609 – Now That’s Intriguing New Make..!

Filmed in The Study ~ Nottingham

Featuring
Retribution Distilling Standard New Make 63%
Retribution Distilling Alternate New Make 65%
Retribution Distilling Peated New Make 65%
Retribution Distilling English Single Malt Batch PR002 53.3%
Retribution Distilling English Single Malt Batch PR003 53%
Retribution Distilling Work In Progress Tawny Port Cask 60%
www.retributiondistilling.co.uk

For the first time, Glenmorangie’s distillers give visitors behind-the-scenes tours

 — Meet the makers who star alongside Harrison Ford in Glenmorangie’s Once Upon a Time in Scotland film series —

Dougie Murray

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are inviting visitors to go behind the scenes with them at their award-winning Distillery, for the very first time. For a limited time, some of the most seasoned Distillers of Tain are running Meet the Makers tours, offering their unique insights into the creation of Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Since several of them star alongside Harrison Ford in Glenmorangie’s Once Upon a Time in Scotland series, filmed at the Distillery near Tain, visitors may want to take their selfie sticks with them…

For more than 180 years, the Distillers of Tain have been dedicated to Glenmorangie’s imaginative style of whisky making. With skills honed over generations, this small and close-knit team keep watch over their unusually tall stills, whose height allow for more taste and aroma. Then they age their elegant spirit in the world’s finest casks, to create Glenmorangie: one of the world’s most highly awarded Highland single malts. Revered for their skills around the globe, the Distillers play an important part in Glenmorangie’s witty and disruptive Once Upon a Time in Scotland series. Over 12 episodes, their expertise, character, warmth of personality – and their whisky – soon win over Ford, who plays himself.

Welcoming visitors for the Meet the Makers tours are Alan Duff Senior, his son Alan Duff Junior, Dougie Murray and Gordy Mackay. With almost a century of experience at Glenmorangie between them, these distillers are perfectly placed to explain the intricacies of their craft to visitors, taking the time to answer in-depth questions in the Still House and the Mash House – and share a few stories about their time at Glenmorangie. They may even reveal what it was like to star alongside Hollywood’s finest.

Gordy Mackay

Throughout the 12 episodes of Once Upon a Time in Scotland, ‘the Alans’ have enchanted global viewers with their cameos. The pair’s subtle Highland wit and obvious rapport with Ford, shine through in several memorable scenes. Meanwhile, Gordy is seen sharing a joke with Ford as the pair meet for the first time; Harrison mishears Gordy when he tells him he’s a Mash man in the distillery – to which Harrison responds: “There’s a mosh pit?!”.

In addition to the new Meet the Makers tour, the distillery will also be offering a daily Old & Rare Warehouse Tasting, where whisky fans can sample four rare Glenmorangies in one of the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses.

Glenmorangie’s Director of Hospitality and Corporate Affairs, Ellie Goss, said: “We are so excited to offer our unique Meet the Makers tours to visitors for the first time ever. This is a rare opportunity for whisky lovers, as well as locals who may have enjoyed our classic tour before, to learn about the inner workings of Glenmorangie from the real people who make it. With decades of expertise, our Distillers of Tain know everything there is to know about our exceptional single malt – and I have no doubt that they will give every visitor the same warm Highland welcome as they gave to Harrison Ford.”

To book a Meet the Makers Tour or an Old & Rare Warehouse tasting, visit www.glenmorangie.com/pages/distillery-tours

To see Glenmorangie’s team star alongside Ford in Once Upon A Time In Scotland, visit glenmorangie.com

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Instagram: @Glenmorangie 

For exclusive access to new releases, news and events, join Glenmorangie’s community at https://www.glenmorangie.com/members

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for 180 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this team are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

In 2025, Glenmorangie unveiled a new brand campaign, Once Upon a Time in Scotland, fronted by Harrison Ford. Taking the form of 12 episodes, the series explores Glenmorangie’s authentic truths, from its stunning Highland surroundings to the real people who create its complex and elegant whiskies.

About the Meet the Makers Tour:

After being welcomed by a tour guide, visitors will be taken to the Mash House and the Still House to learn about Glenmorangie’s craft from the makers themselves. The behind-the-scenes tour ends with a visit to a traditional warehouse, where Glenmorangie is aged. Each tour includes a three-dram tasting of Glenmorangie’s classic whiskies. For those who want to dive even deeper into Glenmorangie’s flavours, the Distillery also offers an Old & Rare whisky tasting in a warehouse, including four drams, daily.

About the Distillers of Tain:

For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie has been perfected by its craftsmen, the Distillers of Tain. Passed down through the generations, their skills owe as much to instinct and feel as they do to meticulous, uncompromising precision. Throughout Glenmorangie’s heritage, the Distillers, who now number 20, are known and revered by whisky lovers around the world. In the past, they have been depicted on limited-edition packaging – and even inspired a studio album by guitarist Allan Holdsworth – which was named after them.

Alan Duff Snr, who has spent 30 years at Glenmorangie and Gordy Mackay (18 years) work together in the Mash House, where they oversee the mashing and fermentation stages of the whisky-making process. Dougie Murray, who has spent 31 years at the Distillery, works alongside Alan Duff Jnr in the Still House, where they oversee the distillation process, creating Glenmorangie’s complex and elegant spirit that’s ripe for maturation in oak casks. While he has spent only nine years on the team, Glenmorangie has long been a part of Alan Jnr’s life – he remembers coming to Distillery as a child, to drop his father’s lunch off for him.

About the Distillers in Glenmorangie’s brand campaign:

Notable clips from Once Upon a Time in Scotland starring these men, include the following:

• In The Campaign (episode 2), Ford arrives at the Distillery. After mistaking “Alan from the Warehouse” (Alan Jnr) for “Alan from marketing”, he gets a lesson from Alan on how to pronounce Glenmorangie correctly;

• In The Distillery (episode 5), Ford meets the whole production team. “Ahhhh… he’s your fault,” he says to Alan Snr, who stands next to his son. Then Ford jokingly instructs Alan Jnr: “Look after me car.” It is a rare Eagle Speedster Jaguar E-type;
• In the same episode, Gordon Mackay is introduced to Harrison, and explains he is a mashman. Humorously misunderstanding, Ford asks: “There’s a mosh pit? Ooooh!”
• In Teamwork (episode 10), Alan Snr introduces Ford to a particularly special whisky. Impressed by the Distillery’s heritage and the craft, Ford raises his glass to toast “the good people of Glenmorangy”. With comic timing, Alan Jnr corrects him once again: “It’s Glenmorangie.”