ralfy review 1086 – Orkney 14yo @ 57.1%vol: (Signatory Vintage)

The Perfect Fifth Releases Two Whiskies for the Summer, Including Rare 50-Year-Old Scotch and 15-Year-Old American Whiskey

North of Scotland Release Destined to be a Collector’s Item Due to Provenance

NEW YORK (July 9, 2025) – The Perfect Fifth, an American independent Scotch Whisky bottler known for its rare, ultra-premium single cask Scotch Whiskies, is adding two more gems to its collection with the release of a 50-Year-Old Scotch called North of Scotland and a 15 Year-Old Single Barrel American Whiskey under its Cannongate line.

North of Scotland
Scotch connoisseurs will be excited about these two releases, given the provenance of each.  The North of Scotland 50 Year-Old Scotch comes from its eponymous distillery, which was shuttered in 1980.  The North of Scotland Distillery was known for its innovation and produced what is widely considered one of the most flavorsome grain whiskies, due to its higher number of congeners in the spirit cut, as directed by its then-owners to retain its character with age.

North of Scotland is a single-grain Scotch Whisky from the lowland region, distilled in 1973.  The Perfect Fifth purchased a barrel from the original owner some years ago and bottled it in 2025.  The whisky is light, floral, and sweet, like tropical fruits. Today, any whiskies produced at North of Scotland are considered collector’s items, and The Perfect Fifth’s release is sure to be added to that list.

“The North of Scotland Distillery has a special place in Scotland’s whisky history. Even though it was only in place for 20 years, their whiskies were known to be flavorful and innovative for their time,” said Karl Schoen, founder and chief executive officer, The Perfect Fifth.  “When we ran across the opportunity to purchase a barrel from North of Scotland, we were eager to do so, due to its lineage and its elegant and refreshing palate.  It truly is a testament to the distillation craftsmanship that has allowed this barrel to stand the test of time after more than half a century of aging.”

With only 90 bottles available, The Perfect Fifth’s North of Scotland 50-Year-Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky will be highly sought after.  Like all whiskies produced under The Perfect Fifth’s premium line, this bottle comes in a custom, hand-made miniature barrel inscribed with The Perfect Fifth logo, which makes a show-stopping display piece on any bar. The suggested retail price of North of Scotland is $915, and ABV is 45.6%.

 Canongate 15-Year-Old Single Barrel American Whiskey   
The second release, Canongate 15-Year-Old Single Barrel American Whiskey, is part of the brand’s “Born and Bottled” series, which pays tribute to the spirited relationship between Kentucky and Scotland. This whiskey was distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, in 2009, spent three years aging in Kentucky, and was then sent to Scotland to age another 12 years before being bottled. The unique blend of Kentucky’s tempestuous weather, combined with Scotland’s more temperate climate, has resulted in a whiskey with multiple layers of vanilla and hints of cocoa and light spice.

The Canongate 15-Year-Old Single Barrel American Whiskey is a limited edition with only 236  bottles available in the United States.  The alcohol by volume (ABV) is 63.53. Suggested retail pricing is $185 per 750 mL.

“We’re excited to bring these two expressions out for the summer,” said Schoen, “The Canongate 15-Year-Old is a unique bottling due to the transatlantic journey the barrel took by first spending time in Kentucky, then in Scotland, and now back in the United States.  This bottling celebrates the symbiotic relationship between our two countries in regards to cask sharing.”

Both the North of Scotland and Canongate 15-Year-Old Whiskies are available at retail in New York, New Jersey, California, and online at www.theperfectfifth.com.

About The Perfect Fifth

The Perfect Fifth was created in 2019 by Karl Schoen, who was inspired by watching his family members toast milestones with Scotch Whisky as he grew up. As Karl began his own exploration into the world of Scotch Whisky, he enjoyed finding stellar single cask bottlings and sharing them with others.  This led to the formation of The Perfect Fifth, where Karl and his brother Ben source the best quality whisky from all over Scotland.  Together they travel throughout Scotland, sampling cask after cask until they find those worthy to be selected for The Perfect Fifth. Few casks make the cut, which is why The Perfect Fifth releases are limited editions.  Like the musical interval, The Perfect Fifth releases consist of multiple layers, each one broad and deep, which when combined, make a beautiful assembly meant to be shared with family and friends.

CASK NO. 4.396

Heather Ember

ABV49.5% | Age 25 years | DISTILLED DATE 09/06/1999 | CASK TYPE 1st fill ex-bodega oloroso butt | PROFILE Lightly Peated | REGION Highland

BUY NOW

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

Whiskyland Chapter Seventeen Glen Moray 31 years old

Whiskyland Chapter Seventeen is a bit of an experiment. A mixing together of Glen Moray single malt from three different cask types and vintages. Small amounts of whisky from one refill sherry and two refill bourbon hogsheads, were all married together in that most romantic of vessels, an IBC, to create a small-batch 31 year old Glen Moray that’s richly fruity, waxy and honeyed with abundant old school Speyside character. There are certainly parts of Whiskyland which are goverened by chaos, but this bottling comes from one of Whiskyland’s more serene places, where balance and harmony are very much the rule. We hope this wee Glen Moray demonstrates those same qualities…

£385.00 incVAT

(£320.83 exVAT)

The Good Dram Show – Episode 600 ‘Port Charlotte’

Welcome to this landmark episode of the show. As is the custom with most of the landmark episodes that I have done I have to go back to one of my favourite distilleries, that being Bruichladdich. The twist for this 600th episode of the show is that it features a selection of distillery and Independent bottlings of their Port Charlotte.

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 600 – Is There Anything Quite Like Port Charlotte…?!

Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Alchemist Port Charlotte 2001 (5 year old) 46%

scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC8 ‘Ar Duthchas’ 60.5%
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte2012 (9 year old) SC:01 56.2%
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 2013 (9 year old) PMC:01 54.5%
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 2013 (10 year old) SYC:01 54.4%

www.bruichladdich.com

Douglas Laing Old Particular Port Charlotte 2005 (10 year old) 48.4%

www.douglaslaing.com

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY REVIVES AN ORIGINAL

19^TH-CENTURY RECIPE WITH THE RELEASE OF COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR’S DISTILLER’S COUNCIL

Conceived by a team of long-time distillery veterans at a historic Distiller’s Council meeting in 1996 at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this rare release is the most faithful recreation to date of the 19th-century bourbons once crafted at the O.F.C. Distillery.

FRANKFORT, Ky (July 9, 2025) – Buffalo Trace Distillery proudly introduces Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council: a limited-edition, ultra-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon born from the very spirit of the pioneer who helped define American whiskey. Crafted using equipment and based on techniques originally invented by Taylor himself, this 100-proof bottling stands as the closest modern interpretation of the fine bourbons produced under his leadership at O.F.C Distillery (now Buffalo Trace) during the 19^th century.

The inspiration for this modern recreation traces back to 1996, when a group of bourbon visionaries and retired George T. Stagg Distillery craftsmen* convened at Buffalo Trace Distillery in their pursuit to create the world’s best whiskey, a mission that continues to guide production at the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery today. As they sampled more than 30 whiskeys across a range of ages, mash bills and proofs, one voice cut through the room with a thought: “Well, we don’t make whiskey the way we used to.” This led to the Distiller’s Council unpacking the way that whiskey was made when they first started their careers. That meeting, until now known by bourbon insiders as the “Distiller’s Council”, resulted in a re-discovery of E.H. Taylor’s pioneering techniques that had been lost to history.

In the spirit of Honor Tradition, Embrace Change, this led to the revival of Taylor’s sour mashing process – patent pending by Buffalo Trace – and, combined with the modern wisdom of Buffalo Trace’s expert distillation team, the creation of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council. Crafted using his trailblazing techniques, the production process remains nearly identical to that of the 1880s using both grains in his mashbill and his fermentation process. This expression celebrates a seminal moment in bourbon history and commemorates that meeting with a one-of-a-kind expression that tastes unlike anything else currently available on the market.

“Colonel Taylor’s unwavering commitment to quality and innovation has helped shape every decision at our Distillery since he set our standards in 1870,” said Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “His enduring legacy left a profound impact on everyone present on that fateful day in 1996. As many of them are no longer with us, we hope they are enjoying this angel’s share with the Colonel himself – watching proudly as we carry his vision forward.”

Widely recognized as the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. purchased the O.F.C. Distillery in 1869 and ushered in a new era of innovation. From state-of-the-art grain equipment to copper fermentation tanks and the first steam-heated barrel warehouses – still in use at Buffalo Trace today – Taylor’s vision revolutionized bourbon production. His advocacy also led to the landmark Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, cementing his legacy as a champion of quality and integrity. His visionary spirit continues to guide Buffalo Trace more than a century later.

“Colonel E.H. Taylor didn’t just shape a distillery – he helped shape the entire bourbon industry. That’s why he’s known as the Father of Modern Bourbon,” said Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “From championing the Bottled-in-Bond Act to modernizing production standards, many of his innovations have stood the test of time and are in use to this day. Always of Topmost Class, he set the bar for integrity, innovation and craftsmanship. In that spirit, we are proud to revive this faithful interpretation of his original recipe, crafted with the same standards of quality and spirit of innovation he so fiercely advocated.”

Bottled at 100-proof in a vintage-style, Grecian glass decanter modeled after one featured in an 1950s-era Old Taylor “Original Recipe” Bourbon advertisement – as seen in popular magazines such as TIME and Playboy – this special bottling will be available in limited-quantities nationwide at retail stores, restaurants and bars starting July 2025 at a suggested retail price of $1,499.99 (750ml) (local taxes and costs dependent).

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council is the 14^th release to join the acclaimed bourbon portfolio alongside expressions including Small Batch, Single Barrel, Rye, Barrel Proof Rye, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Four Grain and more. In Fall 2025, E.H. Taylor will join the annual, highly-anticipated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection as the Collection’s first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon.

For more information on the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Collection, please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/e-h-taylor-jr

*The bourbon luminaries who attended the original 1996 Distiller’s Council meeting include Elmer T. Lee, Orville Schupp, Jimmy Johnson, Gary Gayheart, Al Geiser, Harlen Wheatley, Mark Brown, Ronnie Eddins and Leonard Riddle, among others.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its William Larue Weller and Stagg were named Best of Show at the 2024 Denver International Spirits Competition and its Traveller Whiskey is the Most Awarded Super Premium Whiskey Release of 2024. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Glen Scotia Strath Exclusive Cask 2016

Pre-orders Now Open – Save 15%

Aged For 8 Years
Finished In 1st Fill Oloroso
Bottled At Cask Strength

Only At The Strath

This exciting release marks The Strath’s first-ever single cask exclusive from the highly sought-after Campbeltown region. We’re incredibly proud to partner directly with Glen Scotia to bring you this bespoke official bottling of some of their finest unpeated single malt, which gains extra complexity from spending time in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry. Bottled at full cask strength, with no added colour and no chill-filtration. Just the way our whisky folk like it.

Regularly $174.70
Pre-order for only $148.50

The Strath · Strathcona Hotel · Victoria, BC v8w2c2 · Canada

Our collection schedule for July 2025 has now been finalised.  There are a few changes to our regular schedule. The dates of our Scotland runs have changed slightly. Please click HERE to see the list of dates, locations and to register your interest in the collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12 noon on Monday 14th July 2025.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.

Unfortunately this service is not available in London or to those customer who live within 10 miles of a collection point. Although we do have four collection points in London.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc. VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Macallan A Night on Earth 4 – Jerez

Inspired by the home of Sherry wine, Jerez de la Frontera, The Macallan A Night on Earth in Jerez is a limited-edition release matured in exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks from Spain. Bottled at 43% ABV, the liquid is reminiscent of a new year’s evening in Jerez, with its shimmering gold tones like a fireworks and notes of honey-glazed almonds and vibrant spice.

£112.00
(£93.33 ex VAT)
SHOP NOW ❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯