A Rarity Beyond Compare: Aberlour Unveils 50 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

11th November – Aberlour, the meticulously crafted Speyside single malt whisky, proudly unveils its first 50 Year Old whisky. This ultra-rare release, limited to just 20 bottles worldwide serves as a powerful testament to Aberlour’s unwavering commitment to unparalleled craftsmanship that has been honed over generations.  

The landmark, limited edition, 50 Year Old stands as a distinguished testament to five decades of patient maturation and the meticulous cask selection perfected by generations of Aberlour’s makers. It marks a pivotal moment in time, shaped by the careful guardianship of Aberlour’s Master Distiller, Graeme Cruickshank, and his team. 

The whisky itself presents a remarkable depth and complexity, inviting connoisseurs on a sensory journey. On the nose, it reveals a medley of soft fruits: ripe apricot, red apple and pear, accented by the fragrant sweetness of cantaloupe melon. These notes unfurl over a backdrop of toasted hazelnut, light meringue and marshmallow dipped in milk chocolate, with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon bringing gentle warmth and a deeper whisper of toasted oak. The palate evolves into a symphony of sweet and tangy orange marmalade, intertwined with rich creamy vanilla fudge, followed by flavour notes of vanilla custard tart, their sweetness offset by the vibrancy of stem ginger soaked in syrup. It culminates in a finish that is both long and sweet, with a delicate hint of spice that lingers. 

Beyond the whisky, the commitment to exceptional craftsmanship extends to the presentation. Each decanter of the Aberlour 50 Year Old is housed within a stunning bespoke oak cabinet handmade by designer John Galvin, known for his award-winning contemporary work. Galvin draws inspiration from the very casks that nurtured this precious whisky for half a century. Meticulously constructed from twelve oak staves, each distinctive piece is a testament to time-honoured cooperage techniques, with its exterior carved to reflect the ridges and textures of natural bark, telling the story of the wood’s transformation.  

Adding to its heritage and collectability, each presentation case includes a unique milled granite plinth. This is hewn directly from the stone of the distillery’s historic, decommissioned warehouse, offering whisky collectors and appreciators an opportunity to own a piece of Aberlour history. 

Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour’s Master Distiller, says: “The Aberlour 50 Year Old is more than just a whisky; it’s a living legacy, a culmination of time, nature, and the unwavering dedication of our craftspeople. Each drop tells a story of five decades of careful nurturing, reflecting the unique character of our Speyside home and the deep expertise passed down through the distillery’s history. This is truly an expression for those who seek the exceptional and the storied.”  

The Aberlour 50 Year Old will be released on 11 November 2025 and will be available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange for £31,00. 

For more information about Aberlour and its distinguished portfolio, please visit www.aberlour.com or follow @aberlour on social media. 

Booker’s Batch #4 – Phantom Pipes Batch!

There’s a story behind every batch of Booker’s® Bourbon and the last batch of 2025, Batch #4, the Phantom Pipes Batch, is no exception.

This one begins not with a barrel, but with a mystery: a maze of pipes discovered in the rafters of the Boston distillery that led…nowhere. Turns out, those “phantom pipes” were remnants of Booker Noe’s restless tinkering – an engineer’s playground born of determination, creativity, and a dash of good old-fashioned stubborn genius.

As Fred Noe recalls, “Dad was always connecting one thing to another, chasing the next great idea with whatever he had on hand.” Those pipes became a symbol of Booker’s way, not always the easy way, but the right way to make great bourbon.

That spirit of invention lives on in this batch. It’s bottled uncut and unfiltered at 126.4 proof after more than seven years in the rackhouses. It’s big, bold, and unmistakably Booker’s with rich vanilla on the nose, a full-bodied spice on the palate, and a long, lingering finish that reminds you why patience (and a little persistence) always pays off.

MSRP: $99.99 | Age: 7 years, 6 months, 15 days | Proof: 126.4

Booker’s “Phantom Pipes Batch” is made up of barrels from five different production dates. The youngest barrels in the batch are aged 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days at a proof of 126.4.

The breakdown is as follows:

• 22% came from the fourth floor of 7-story warehouse 3
• 11% came from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse 1
• 30% came from the sixth floor of 7-story warehouse G (Waterfill)
• 9% came from the third floor of 7-story warehouse O
• 28% came from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse 4

Johnnie Walker X Robert Wun
2026 Lunar New Year

Limited Edition Blue Label

70cl · 40% ABV

Lunar New Year 2026 celebrates the Year of the Horse, marking an exciting new collaboration between Johnnie Walker and renowned haute couturier Robert Wun. This year’s limited edition designs bring to life a bold, fashion-led interpretation of the Zodiac animal, symbolising progress, vitality, and a relentless drive to push boundaries. The Horse is a symbol of strength and forward momentum — perfectly echoing the spirit of Johnnie Walker.

£229.95

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Single Grain Whisky

Aged for 4 years in hand picked oak barrels,
our NEW Single Grain Canadian Whisky is here!

*While quantities last. Available online & in our Tasting Room

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Our latest ‘Heresy’ small batch blended malt has landed. Batch 34: Smouldering Mojo is the first Society release of a peated Islay whisky matured in casks previously used for smoky, fruity mezcal. This mesmerising marriage of Mexican and Scottish flavours delivers salty, rugged, coastal elements and delightfully earthy and herbal tones. If sticky-sweet, smoky and tarry notes are your thing, then this whisky is for you. Want to know more about Mezcal? Our whisky quality manager, Julien Willems, has all the details in his latest feature, which you can read on our new Unfiltered website.

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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

Craigellachie Distillery, located in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside region, is known for producing a bold and distinctive single malt whisky that stands apart from the region’s typically lighter style. Often described as a robust single malt, Craigellachie whiskies feature notes of tropical fruit, toasted malt, and a hint of sulphury depth, creating a complex and satisfying profile.

13 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

Was £54.95

Now £49.95

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17 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

Was £119.95

Now £99.95

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19 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

£199.95

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23 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

£299.95

ADD TO BASKET

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Our Final Whisky Releases Of 2025 Are Here

(Think of us as clever little elves)

Let us brighten up your dark nights, warm the cold evenings and excite your tastebuds. It’s our last whisky release of the year and it’s been worth waiting for. Islay, Speyside, somewhere in the Highlands, France, and the Gulf Stream are our inspirations. Each one was chosen because it offers something unique, something you will find hard to get elsewhere. Oh, and we’ve also got something new you might not have been expecting.

Bruichladdich

As independent bottlers occasionally we get the opportunity to purchase something special. Really special. This falls into that category. We’ve been sitting on it for a wee while now and it’s everything we dreamed it would be. In fact the only disappointment is there are only 140 bottles of it available. It’s a 22 year old from a single bourbon cask, filled on the 25 May 2003. We bottled it last month. We used a 20 micron filter instead of the usual finer ones so you can get the full cask experience. This isn’t one to miss.

Longmorn

Smooth is an overused word in whisky and one we normally try and avoid, but that’s not going to stop us using it to describe this rather wonderful 11 year old Longmorn 2014. We can’t think of a better adjective that helps conjure the taste of this smooth Speyside. We don’t get too much Longmorn and that’s a shame because we rather like it. It’s like Pierce Brosnan and Steve McQueen had a lovechild, it’s that smooth.

Ssshhh…

Can you keep a secret? We’re terrible at it, which is why we leave Easter Eggs (ask a teenager) on the label and description. Legally we’re not allowed to tell you which exciting distillery near Brora this 2011 cask strength comes from. But we can’t stop you guessing.

Mid Atlantic Twang

Do you know someone who went to live in America and developed a stupid accent after about half an hour there? Is there anything more annoying than a half British/half American accent? Well OK, there probably is, but for the purposes of this let’s agree it’s quite grating and we require compensated for having to put up with it. Well, for the first time, we might have something that’s half from here and half from there and is actually rather good. Some clever people in Invergordon decided to distil an authentic American bourbon in Scotland. The result is excellent, however as it wasn’t distilled in America it’s not a bourbon. Likewise, although it was expertly created in Scotland it’s not a whisky, pitched enzymes during fermentation are verboten. So it’s not a whisky and it’s not a bourbon, but it is really good. We’ve called it a High Rye Scottish Spirit and there are only 299 bottles of it available.

Liberte, Egalite, Brandy

Amongst an abundance of exceptional whisky a man in a beret is valiantly raising a tri-color, with an obedient poodle by his side. It would be a crime to overlook a 31 year old vintage French brandy and yet many people do. We are so fortunate to be able to bring this to you. This is the best of French distilling, more impressive than 100 men in lycra cycling round France while taking performance enhancing drugs. No performance enhancement was required for this, it’s cask strength and natural coloured.

…Now For something Completely Different

A big part of what we love about what we do is finding those hidden gems, the spirits that don’t conform, that have aged differently, trodden their own path. Yet we’ve always recognised that arguably the greatest challenge every blender faces is consistency. Creating a spirit that is not only great but consistently great, every barrel matching the one before. A wee while ago we decided we wanted to put our skills to the fore too. So we’re proud to introduce you to our first ever core expression – The Little Brown Dog Aberdeenshire 12 Year Old Single Malt.

As sometimes happens in life not everything went to plan. While we’re delighted with the whisky, it’s exactly what we were aiming for and we’re really excited to hear what you think of it, the labels weren’t going to arrive in time for us to launch this year.

Soooooo…. we’ve made some temporary labels and bottles until the real ones are ready. The whisky is excellent, the label, well, maybe it’ll be a collector’s item one day. Maybe.

As a gesture of goodwill if you purchase a bottle we’ll give you a £5 off another bottle with the correct label on it when we get them next year. We’re really getting the hang of this capitalism lark.

Introducing Highgrove Evergreen – A Tribute to the English Countryside

Highgrove and Cotswolds Distillery proudly present Highgrove Evergreen English Whisky – a beautifully crafted single malt inspired by nature, heritage and the enduring craftsmanship of English whisky making.

Distilled from Plumage Archer barley grown on the Highgrove Estate and matured in a rare combination of Bourbon and STR red wine casks, this whisky delivers a rich and elegant profile. Expect layers of orchard fruit, honeyed malt and warm spice, lifted by a gentle red berry sweetness from the red wine cask influence.

Every element of Evergreen tells a story of provenance and purpose, capturing the spirit of the English countryside from barley field to bottle. Presented in a stunning gift box, each bottle features A View from the Wildflower Meadow – an illustration painted by King Charles III in 1995.

Priced at £100 and bottled at 46% ABV, Highgrove Evergreen will join the Cotswolds Distillery’s permanent portfolio, marking an ongoing collaboration rooted in sustainability and respect for the natural world.

Please note, orders for Highgrove Evergreen can now be pre-ordered via our website and will be dispatched after 4th December 2025.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honeyed malt and orchard fruits.

Palate: Red berries, toasted oak and soft spice.

Finish: Rich, balanced and naturally coloured; non-chill filtered

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Ballantine’s Unveils Chapter Three Of Its Exclusive 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: ‘The Moment’

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky continues to celebrate its legacy of skilled makers, unveiling the anticipated third chapter of the revered Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: Chapter Three ‘The Moment’.

‘The Moment’ is an all-new expression within the Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection; a series of five unique 40 Year Old blends that pay tribute to the valued skills and knowledge passed down through generations of Ballantine’s Master Blenders.

This latest chapter, The Moment stands as a testament to the art of precision and timing in whisky craftmanship. It beautifully demonstrates the story of how former Master Blender, Jack Goudy taught current and well renowned Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop the importance of being able to decipher, from the hundreds of casks and samples being nosed, which were ready to be selected for blending.

This exceptionally rare, hand-crafted whisky showcases the rich character of Miltonduff distillery, a cornerstone single malt in the Ballantine’s blend. Offering a rich, sweet and creamy finish, balanced by subtle, warming spice, The Moment encapsulates Ballantine’s distinctive signature style.

Commenting on the release of Chapter Three, Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, said: “Crafting a whisky of this age is an exercise in patience, but The Moment speaks to something even more profound. The precise instance when a whisky reaches its absolute peak. It’s about recognising that perfect harmony amidst thousands of casks, a skill Jack Goudy taught me, and one that defines the very soul of Ballantine’s. This release is a tribute to that critical discernment, celebrating the Miltonduff character that shines through, and the enduring legacy of those who came before us.”

Complementing the outstanding liquid, each individually serialised bottle is elegantly displayed in a hand-finished wood veneer cabinet. Sustainable oak surfaces, veiled in finely-woven fabric, are enhanced by burnished and engraved metal hardware. Further elevating the presentation, each Chapter features an intricately folded paper panel by noted Scottish artist Kyla McCallum. Its elongated, grounded design sits behind the bottle, symbolising the moment the whisky reaches its peak.

The artist’s meticulous design for The Moment vividly recalls the scene inside Ballantine’s warehouses, where rows of maturing casks stretch into the distance. From hundreds of casks, only the blender’s expertise determines the exact readiness of each for blending and bottling.

Master Blender Sandy Hyslop personally blends each 40 Year Old liquid at cask strength. This ensures a distinct and unique profile for every release within the Masterclass Collection, underscoring the brand’s commitment to individuality and quality.

Just 108 bottles of Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: Chapter Three ‘The Moment’ will be released globally, presented in individually numbered bottles. Available for purchase from November 2025 at specialist retailers at an RSP $13,000 USD. Follow @ballantines or visit ballantines.com to discover more.

Royal Elizabeth Bond confirms Summerhall Distillery and Proof 8 as operating partners for major new Central Belt whisky maturation facility

Royal Elizabeth Bond, a major new bonded Scotch whisky warehousing development on the outskirts of Edinburgh, has today announced the appointment of two partners to bring gold-standard cask and inventory management to the heart of operations.

The 50-acre former World War II naval storage depot in Dalmeny (known as Royal Elizabeth Yard) secured HMRC Warehouse Keepers approval earlier this month and will now begin welcoming clients to the facility, which will feature a mix of newly constructed and refurbished historic warehouses.

As operations commence, the business has appointed Edinburgh’s Summerhall Distillery as its facilities management partner.

KIRKLISTON, UK – 2025: Summerhall Distillery are the first official tenant at The Royal Elizabth Yard, with cask storage and a bottling line operating within one of the existing warehouse buildings. Pictured Marcus Pickering (L) , Co-founder of Summerhall Distillery, with Jonathan Sutton  (R) of Lewis Sutton Property Consultants who manage the yard. (Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY)

Summerhall Distillery is one of the pioneers of Scotland’s new wave of spirits producers, bringing years of experience and expertise to the role. With existing tenancy at two renovated warehouses on the site – one for cask storage, the other for bottling – they will now deploy a 4-strong team to manage cask handling and maturation and offer additional services to customers via their Edinburgh Bottlers business.

In addition, Proof 8 has been appointed to provide full transparency and traceability across REB’s inventory and warehouse operations via a purpose-built, blockchain-backed platform for the spirits industry. Their technology ensures full HMRC compliance, secure cask ownership through Digital Deeds, and real-time access to all production and maturation data for every cask stored across the entire REB estate.  This eliminates the guesswork and risk that continue to affect warehouses relying on paper records or legacy systems at a time when cask fraud and regulatory demands with Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations reform are a growing concern.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jonathan Sutton of Royal Elizabeth Bond said: ‘We are delighted this strategically located facility is now onboarding spirit. Royal Elizabeth Bond now begins its transformation into the industry’s largest independently owned cask maturation facility. In turn, and aligned with the needs of the Scotch whisky industry more generally, REB has outstanding storage capacity specifically tailored to meet the inherent long-term industry demands of Scotland’s most famous export.  

In Summerhall Distillery and Proof 8 we have two diligent and hands-on technical partners to exceed customers’ expectations in the management of their maturing spirit. Collectively we will be working to ensure Royal Elizabeth Bond becomes a trusted, long-term storage partner for Scotland’s distillers, independent blenders and bottlers and brokers. 

Ideally located just 7 miles west of Edinburgh, the historic Royal Elizabeth Yard site was built in 1946 as a Ministry of Defence storage facility, primarily of food and other supplies (including rum) for the vital Rosyth Dockyard site across the Firth of Forth.

It was bought in 2018 and the owners soon saw its potential for whisky warehousing, due to its proximity to major transport routes and many of the industry’s bottlers and blenders.

After bringing together a team of whisky, property and logistics leaders, the Royal Elizabeth Bond project was launched to bring investment, innovation, sustainability, value for money and high-quality cask management to the Scotch whisky sector, as it fights to grow and build competitive advantage globally. Their ethos, to safeguard Scotland’s spirit so their partners can craft its future, underpins everything they do. 

Marcus Pickering, Co-Founder of Summerhall Distillery commented: ‘This historic naval site has played an important role in our business for several years, and we’re incredibly proud to be taking on this new partnership with Royal Elizabeth Bond. The development represents a significant investment in Scotland’s whisky infrastructure, and our experienced team will be on site every day, managing each cask with the same care and precision we give our own. Together, we’re helping to build a world-class maturation facility that sets a new benchmark for quality and service in the Scotch whisky industry.’

Stuart Maxwell, Chief Operating Officer at Proof 8 added: ‘By choosing Proof 8, Royal Elizabeth Bond is making a clear statement that their warehouses are built for the future, and will lead the industry in transparency, efficiency and operational excellence. The level of traceability Proof 8 brings is proving transformative. It reduces admin, strengthens compliance and gives both warehouse keepers and cask owners total confidence in what’s held in their facility. Royal Elizabeth Bond is aligning with where the industry is headed, towards smarter, more secure systems that prioritise traceability and efficiency.

About Summerhall Distillery

Co-founded by Matthew Gammell and Marcus Pickering, Summerhall Distillery occupies the site of what was once the small animal hospital of The Old Royal Dick Vet School. Founded back in 2013, Summerhall Distillery became Edinburgh’s first exclusive Gin distillery in 150 years and is home to brands Pickering’s Gin and The Broody Hen Scotch Whisky. Since 2013, Summerhall Distillery has expanded into a multi-spirit production facility with the ability to produce vodka, gin, rum, as well as blended and single malt whiskies. Distilling, bottling, and labelling every bottle that leaves the distillery by hand. 

About Proof 8

Proof 8 provides digital distillery and warehouse management solutions that connect the entire supply chain. Built specifically for the spirits industry, Proof 8 transforms operations with the most comprehensive modern operating system for production, maturation and bottling. With key features like Recipe Builder and Smart Scheduling, the Proof 8 platform gives distilleries complete visibility and control over production and inventory, ensuring compliance, data accuracy and confidence throughout every stage of a spirit’s journey.

https://www.royalelizabethbond.com/