On whiskymag.com, Mark Jennings investigates what the revival of silent Scotch whisky distilleries tells us about memory, myth, and the modern whisky industry………………
Grasmere Distillery Launches The Pioneers Club
Grasmere Distillery is delighted to announce the launch of The Pioneers Club, inviting whisky enthusiasts to secure a rare opportunity: ownership of the first three releases of the distillery’s inaugural English single malt whisky.
Limited to just 1,000 bottles per year, Pioneers Club members will receive a uniquely numbered, gift-boxed bottle each Christmas, with the first in 2027, the second in 2028 and the final bottle in 2029. Every annual release will be drawn from one of only six casks being released that year. Over a third of the memberships have already gone, so interested parties should act quickly to secure their spot.
Each whisky expression produced by Grasmere Distillery showcases its dedication to flavour. By exploring varied mash bills, fermentation styles and barley varieties, and then marrying the spirit through a distinctive Solera maturation system using charred oak casks, the distillery team has achieved remarkable depth and consistency across its whiskies.
Membership of The Pioneers Club costs £335. Alongside their three-year allocation of limited-release single malt, members will also receive a complimentary bottle of the distillery’s award-winning, single-origin Rioja cask rum, set for public release in 2026 (RRP £45). Additional benefits include a lifetime 10% discount at the Grasmere Tap Room, a free distillery tour for the member plus three guests, priority access to future limited-edition whiskies, and a range of exclusive member privileges.
Over the past three years, co-founders Paul and Beth Abbott have transformed two modest barns on the shores of Grasmere into one of the UK’s smallest and most characterful distilleries. Following an intensive development process that began in 2021, the pair launched Grasmere Gin and Grasmere Vodka in 2022, reinvesting revenues from their white spirits to expand production and begin distilling their first single malt whisky.
From day one, their aim has been clear: to craft whisky defined by flavour, not scale. The team distils from full-flavoured beer rather than neutral spirit, allowing them to experiment freely with diverse grains, yeast strains, and cask seasonings rarely explored by larger producers.
Casks are sourced from Speyside Cooperage and include classics such as ex-bourbon, brandy, and red wine, alongside a series of innovative casks seasoned in-house with Grasmere Rum and cider. Oak is a balance of French, American, Scottish, and English oak.
Paul Abbott, co-founder and head distiller, commented: “We have been amazed by the positive response: hundreds of people backing us and cheering us on, joining our Pioneers Club in just the first two weeks. It is incredible. We are a tiny startup distillery without big resources, so we rely totally on the whisky-lovers out there to help us bring our single malt to the market. The Pioneers Club represents the very beginning of our whisky journey. We wanted to offer something unique to those brave few who have supported us from the start. Every bottle reflects our commitment to flavour, craftsmanship and curiosity. We’re excited to share these first releases with people who value small-batch whisky.”
For more information about joining the Pioneers Club, please visit: https://www.grasmeredistillery.com
Invergordon 50 Year Old – The Green Welly Stop 60th Anniversary
The whisky is full of soft peaches and cream, with a delicate touch of oak from the five decades in cask. The label features a hand-drawn image of the original building that Betty and Les Gosden opened in 1965, celebrating where it all began.
The Green Welly Stop has been welcoming travellers to Tyndrum for 60 years. Still family-run, now proudly in the hands of the third generation. To mark the remarkable milestone, Finn Thomson wanted to help create something truly special: a whisky that honours our heritage, hospitality, and enduring place in Scotland’s whisky story.
As a fellow family business, Finn Thomson felt a close connection to The Green Welly. We were one of his very first customers when he began in the industry.
This single cask of Invergordon, distilled in 1974 and bottled at 50 Years Old, felt like the perfect tribute. Just 60 bottles exist, one for every year we’ve been part of the Highland landscape.
The whisky is full of soft peaches and cream, with a delicate touch of oak from the five decades in cask. The label features a hand-drawn image of the original building that Betty and Les Gosden opened in 1965, celebrating where it all began.
Please note: There is a print error on the label. Above the bottle number, it reads Batch 2, this should say Bottle No.
TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom
K&L Exclusive: Rare Collector Pack of Russell’s
Russell’s Reserve Camp Nelson Love 5-Bottle Pack ($550.00)
Russell’s Reserve has quietly become one of the most collected names in modern bourbon, and the Camp Nelson warehouses are a big reason why. This limited 5-pack brings together the full spectrum of Camp Nelson examples, including the 2025 Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson E, one of our sought-after K&L Camp Nelson FAME picks, and three from the core lineup. The math here is hard to ignore: the 2025 Camp Nelson E alone is selling elsewhere for more than the price of this entire 5-pack.
This collection includes one bottle each of:
*Note this limited 5 pack will be available within 7 days of ordering
K&L Notes: The magical Camp Nelson warehouses, which are relatively new to the Wild Turkey family, have become the darling of bourbon loving world over the last decade. This special facility was originally as part of the Kentucky River Distillery which thrived in Jessamine county before prohibition. It was eventually purchased by the Canada Dry Ginger ale company. In the 1970s the distillery there burnt down, but the old rickhouses survived and would become part of the Seagram’s industrial complex. When Seagram’s went bust in the early 2000s, Pernod Ricard stepped into to take the facility and expand its warehouse for a now expanding Wild Turkey. Over the next 2 and half decades those warehouses would go on to produce some of the most legendary modern bourbons and now Wild Turkey highlights the best and oldest stock in those warehouses with its highly coveted “Single Rickhouse” releases.
This pack of Wild Turkey includes the 2025 release of Camp Nelson E along, a bottle of the well regarded K&L Camp Nelson FAME picks. In addition, you’ll receive a bottle each of the core Russell’s 10 year bourbon, Russell’s 6 year rye and the well regarded Single Barrel. Get the whole range for $50 less than list price, a stellar deal for this hotly sought-after selections of exceptional Kentucky whiskies.
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
Old & Rare Platinum
Glen Garioch
36 Years
Why We Think You’ll Love It
Distilled in 1988 and matured 36 years in a single refill hogshead
Bottled by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum series
Limited edition — just 173 individually numbered bottles
Captures Glen Garioch’s robust Highland style with aged elegance
A collector’s dram showcasing three decades of maturation mastery
The Glen Garioch 36 Year Old 1988 Old & Rare Platinum is a true piece of Highland whisky history — rich, refined, and deeply expressive. With over 36 years of maturation, it offers extraordinary complexity, balance, and depth, making it an essential release for collectors and connoisseurs of rare single malts.
Since 2017, our annual The Macallan Classic Cut release has celebrated our ongoing quest to seek out the extraordinary. Each edition has been bottled at our Whisky Mastery Team’s preferred strength to reveal a unique character and flavour. These whiskies are anything but classic. A myriad of flavours are unveiled with the addition of water, revealing new depths of character in the whisky. The ninth release, The Macallan Classic Cut – 2025 Edition, is the final in this series.
SCOTLAND’S RISING WHISKY START-UP MARKS LANDMARK YEAR WITH SECOND RELEASE
Edinburgh, Scotland – November 2025; Following a landmark year in which the business is on track to achieve a turnover of £2.5 million, Tailored Spirits Co., Scotland’s fastest-growing independent whisky start-up, continues to push the boundaries of Scotch whisky with the launch of the latest releases in its acclaimed The Experimental Series – a collection of bold, small-batch whiskies that celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and curiosity.
Based in Leith, Edinburgh, Tailored Spirits Co. has quickly built a reputation for redefining how whisky enthusiasts experience single cask bottlings. The company specialises in Scotch whisky and premium spirits, working with private clients and businesses worldwide to source, mature, design, and bottle luxury whiskies and other spirits.
The Experimental Series invites drinkers to explore the diverse flavours of Scotland’s most characterful distilleries through limited-edition micro-releases, each with its own distinct story and finish. The latest line-up introduces Experiment 4 (Aultmore 15 Year Old), Experiment 5 (Echo – Benriach 13 Year Old), Experiment 6 (Fort – Dailuaine 13 Year Old), and the Special Experiment 1 Black Label (Anam – Springbank 23 Year Old).
Each release exemplifies Tailored Spirits Co.’s ethos – respecting tradition while embracing innovation – offering whisky lovers a chance to experience the unexpected in every glass: https://www.tailoredspirits.co.uk/
“This new collection marks an exciting step forward in our mission to celebrate experimentation in single cask whisky,” said Adam Harding, Co-Founder and Director of Tailored Spirits Co. “It follows a year beyond our expectations – one that’s seen us grow faster than we could have imagined.
“Each whisky in The Experimental Series tells its own story of maturation, finishing, and flavour exploration, and we’re proud to continue showcasing the depth and diversity of single cask Scotch whisky. The design is as much a part of the experience as the whisky itself. It’s about evoking curiosity – that sense of discovery and experimentation that sits at the heart of our brand.”
Inspired by vintage ski resort tickets and scientific lab bottles, the Experimental Series design has become a collector’s signature. Each bottle features a detachable ‘lab ticket’ marked with a unique code, allowing enthusiasts to track every experiment. Collectors who secure six tickets will gain exclusive access to special limited releases – including the new Black Label (Anam) bottling from Springbank.
Founded in 2024 by Edinburgh-based industry professionals Tom Costello (Brand & Creative), Carl Johnstone (Commercial & Operations), and Adam Harding (Spirits, Sales & Strategy), Tailored Spirits Co. has quickly become one of Scotland’s most exciting new whisky ventures.
With a mission to bridge the gap between large-scale production and the personal world of single cask ownership, the company creates tailored, exceptional spirits for discerning collectors and curious drinkers alike – guided by its mantra, “From the warehouse to your house.”
Explore The Experimental Series now at: https://www.tailoredspirits.co.uk/
About Tailored Spirits Co.
Experts in spirits, specialising in whisky supply, creating exceptional brands and bottlings. Tailored Spirits Co. is an Edinburgh-based, global-serving company who guide clients through the complexities of spirits bottling projects and ensure their dreams are achieved.
W: https://www.tailoredspirits.co.uk/
I: @tailoredspiritsco
F: @tailoredspiritsco
L: @tailoredspiritsco
*The Experimental Series #2 – Full Info & Tasting Notes
THE EXPERIMENTAL SERIES – NEW RELEASES
Experiment 4 – Aultmore 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
151 bottles | RRP £84.50
Finished in a European oak Montilla cask, this beautifully balanced whisky delivers rich fruit tones and jammy sweetness.
Colour: Vintage Copper
Nose: Baked Apple Strudel, Heather Honey, Treacle Tart
Palate: Luscious Dark Plum, Caramel Apple, Ripe Fig Jam, Butterscotch
Finish: Vanilla Fudge, Sweet Cinnamon, Chewy Sultanas, Coffee Cake
Experiment 5 – Echo (Benriach 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)
81 bottles | RRP £82.50
Initially matured in bourbon casks and re-racked into a 1st Fill PX sherry octave for bold colour and complexity.
Colour: Dark Ruby
Nose: Brandy Soaked Cake, Toasted Oak, Malt Loaf, Marzipan
Palate: Dark Chilli Chocolate, Forest Fruit Preserve, Garibaldi Biscuit, Charred Oak
Finish: Long, Sweet Oaky Spices with a Hint of Salted Butter
Experiment 6 – Fort (Dailuaine 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)
109 bottles | RRP £79.50
A robust, layered whisky matured in refill American oak and finished in a lively Port cask for added depth.
Colour: Polished Mahogany
Nose: Green Pear, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Walnut Cake, Sandalwood
Palate: Raspberries & Blackberries, Basil, Elderflower Syrup, Sticky Glazed Ribs
Finish: Soft, Fudgey Sweetness with Gentle Sherry Spice
Special Experiment 1 – Black Label (Anam) – Springbank 23 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
33 bottles | RRP £495.00
An exclusive collector’s release available only to those who have collected six bottles from the series.
Colour: Dark Desert Sunset
Nose: Spiced Jam, Ginger Snap, Ocean Harbour, Plums, Engine Smoke
Palate: Toasted Spices, Browned Butter, Caramelised Pears, Ripe Apricot, Sea Salt, Smoked Brisket
Finish: Dry, Nutty, Lingering with Sea Salt, Brazil Nuts and a Whisper of Smoke
An early winter’s snow takes us on a walk amidst the pines with Spruce on the loose where dark chocolate was found in an old pipe tobacco box lined with crystallised spruce sap. Thick cut marmalade and nutmeg-infused orange peel lead nicely into a clearing where a lightly peated adventure awaits. Wandering Alchemy is the respite from the walk with deep and enticing notes of soft, heathery peat smoke and a decadently rich and mouthcoating, yet warming and gentle palate to see the festive season through.
SPRUCE ON THE LOOSE
Age: 17 years
Cask: First Fill Barrel & Second Fill Barrels
Sticks of calligraphy ink joined slices of dried papaya in maple syrup as autumn leaves fell upon school textbooks. Dark chocolate was found incarcerated in an old pipe tobacco box lined with crystallised spruce sap. The nose had us in a boreal forest, but the palate transported us to summer fields and fruit orchards: green apple slices mingled with dried ginger, toasted cereals and a spoonful of thick-cut marmalade in an orchardist’s tobacco pouch. Water introduced nectarines and peaches, cedarwood mothballs and honey to the nose, while the palate transformed to a minted bay leaf bouquet garni, woven with nutmeg-infused orange peel, sweet chilli fruit leather and fondant.
Looking for the perfect hauf ‘n’ hauf beer pairing with your dram of Spruce on the loose? Jack Low from Wasted Degrees suggests their Amber Rye, a malty offering with complementary notes of marmalade. It’s also officially the number three amber beer in the UK, according to The Society Of Independent Brewers and Associates. Pick up your Amber Rye here and be sure to tell us what you think about the pairing!
WANDERING ALCHEMY
Age: 10 years
Cask: Bourbon, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez & HTMC Hogsheads
What witchcraft and molten japery is this? At least, that’s what our raised eyebrows and throaty musings queried. Surely this dram was much older and much more ‘old style’ that it had a right to be? We detected deep and enticing notes of soft, heathery peat smoke. Then encroaching medicinal charms, pine wood, camphor, cooling bonfire embers and tendrils of seaweed! Water dialled up the charm vibes to ‘Roger Moore’: elegant wood smoke, fragrant phenolics, old herbal and tar liqueurs and a kiss of cask-aged mead. The palate was decadently rich and mouthcoating, yet warming and gentle. Its rich herbal character mingled with more medicines, dried mint, mineral oils and fatty sheep wool oils. Reduction brought us wood spices, resinous hardwood extracts, smoked black olives, pure tar, hessian and a lovely medley of aniseed, salted liquorice and soy sauce – what despicable chemist brewed this sorcery!?
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
GLENGOYNE CASK STRENGTH BATCH 10
Crafted at the foot of Dumgoyne Hill, Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch 10 showcases the distillery’s richly sherried Highland style, bottled at natural colour and full, unfiltered strength. Powerful yet beautifully balanced, it captures Glengoyne’s hallmark depth and complexity. Available now with special savings, and each order includes a mystery 3cl sample, an extra dram to explore or share with friends.
There is something truly special about giving a gift that feels thoughtful, beautifully crafted and full of warmth at Christmas time. The new Wolfburn Gift Pack features our much-loved Partridge in a Pear Tree limited edition single malt. This whisky continues to earn glowing five-star reviews, and it sits at the heart of a beautifully presented gift that is perfect for anyone who enjoys a festive dram.
Inside, you will find a full-size 70cl bottle of our 12-year-old Partridge in a Pear Tree single malt, along with two Wolfburn-branded Glencairn glasses. The Glencairn design is a classic shape that helps capture the whisky’s aroma, while the wide bowl allows the colour to shine. The set is presented in a striking box that is ready to be placed straight under the Christmas tree.
Whether you are looking for a gift for someone special or treating yourself to something to enjoy over the festive season, this pack brings together everything needed for a memorable Christmas moment. It is available now for £85.99.
The Wolfburn Team
