Scotch Whisky
The Whisky Magazine Annual

Get ready to dive into the 3rd edition of Scotch Whisky, packed with distillery focus features, blind-tasting reviews, and interviews with leading figures in the Scotch whisky world. In this year’s edition, look behind the scenes at Torabhaig Distillery and Glasgow Distillery, tour the Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience, and read about F1 champion Jenson Button’s Scotch whisky project. Created by the team behind Whisky Magazine, Scotch Whisky is a valuable addition to any whisky lover’s bookshelf.

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A Quarter Passed | Limited Release | 70cl

We are excited to reveal full details of a very special limited release, A Quarter Passed being launched, our Head of Production, Isabella Wemyss, has exclusively sourced this blend from single malts, all of which have matured in ex-Bourbon barrels where the spirit has gently married with the oak for 25 years.

Bottled at a generous cask strength of 53.6% ABV, this is a luxuriously sweet vanilla-rich dram with lingering spice. With an extremely limited release of only 1500 bottles available worldwide, A Quarter Passed is an expertly crafted blend designed to celebrate the luxury of time.

Nose: Vanilla, Coconut, Hibiscus, Lemon zest, Milk chocolate

Palate: Honeyed sweet nectarines, Toffee, Crème brûlée, Marshmallow

Finish: Warming cinnamon spice, Freshly grated ginger

ABV: 53.6%

Chill filtration: Non-chill filtered

£235.00

A Quarter Passed is an expression that honours patience and the passing of time in whisky making. It is a rare and exclusive limited edition blended Scotch malt whisky with an eloquently rich character. 

Head of production Isabella Wemyss has exclusively sourced this blend from single malts which have matured in ex-bourbon barrels where the spirit has gently married with the oak for 25 years.

That quarter-century has now passed, the years allowing exceptional flavours to develop. Bottled at a generous cask strength of 53.6% ABV,  this is a luxuriously sweet vanilla-rich dram, with hints of soft coconut, toffee and lingering spice. 

THE SINGLE CASK

The Single Cask is an independent bottling company founded in 2010 by Ben Curtis with its roots in London and Singapore. Focussing on single cask whisky at cask strength with no added colour and no chill filtering, The Single Cask have released a number of award winning whiskies recognised worldwide from the likes of Highland Park, Ardbeg, Ben Nevis, Caol Ila, Glenrothes and more.

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UNIQUE SPIRITS BOTTLED ONE CASK AT A TIME

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL
ELUSIVE UMAMI

Each cask that went into this blend was specially selected for its character, creating a marriage of casks that offer the perfect umami profile. Combining aromas of ripe apples, cashew nuts, sea salt and savoury oak with notes of white peaches, blood oranges, oak spice, smoked meat, salt and black pepper, there is a careful balance between sweet and savoury that embodies that umami character.

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Lochlea celebrates the autumn season on the farm

with ‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop) release

Award winning farm-to-cask Ayrshire distillery – Lochlea – is revealing the third expression in a new set of four seasonal limited edition whiskies – Fallow – that celebrates autumn on the farm.

‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop) reveals the richer, darker flavours found in Lochlea’s house whisky profile. Matured exclusively in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, the whisky is full of sweet and spiced notes – perfect to sip and savour as the dark, autumnal nights close in.

The whisky pays homage to a vitally important time of year on the farm, marking the months when the land finally has time to rest and be restored. It is also a key part of the sustainability programme at Lochea – both as part of the farm and the distillery.

After nearly five months of barley growth on the farm – followed by harvest in September – the team at Lochlea plant cover crops of mustard and radish to open up the soil through winter, whilst also creating a leafy canopy to help prevent soil erosion. This cover crop is then intensively grazed with sheep for 4 to 6 weeks, before it is consolidated back into the soil as added organic material.

In addition to this, straw bales – which are the by-product of growing barley – are provided to neighbouring farmers for them to use as bedding for their cattle. Some of this comes back as manure, which is then spread back onto the barley fields in the winter before ploughing – all adding to the natural and sustainable practices which are a key part of every-day life at Lochlea.

Lochlea owner and farmer Neil McGeoch said: “Fallow season within our farming calendar is a vital time of year for us to regenerate the land ready for our barley to grow well in the spring and summer. This release is so important to us, as it gives us a chance to tell the story of the farm and explain some of our sustainable practices.”

The split between the two different types of sherry cask used for ‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop) are 55% Pedro Ximénez casks and 45% Oloroso casks.

Production Director John Campbell said: “ In this ‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop) – the third in our new set of four seasonal limited editions – we have used a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry Butts. The introduction of the PX casks this year creates a very different flavour profile to our first release of ‘Fallow Edition’ (First Crop) last year, which saw us use only Oloroso casks.”

“This warming and unctuous whisky starts with aromas of rich manuka honey, moving to luscious golden syrup and ground coffee beans. Layers of sweetly spiced candied ginger follow on the palate, leading to the finish offering hints of freshly crushed almonds.

We’re proud of this bold, rich whisky and hope Lochlea lovers will enjoy exploring this other side to our house spirit!”

Lochlea’s seasonal releases are as follows:

• Fallow Edition: reflects the season of autumn on the farm when the fields are left fallow to rest after a busy harvest.
• Ploughing Edition: released in winter when the fields are ploughed in preparation for spring.
• Sowing Edition: inspired by spring when the seed is sown for the year’s barley crop.
• Harvest Edition: inspired by the annual harvest on the farm.

As with all of Lochlea’s whiskies, ‘Fallow Edition’ (Second Crop) is non-chill filtered – it has been bottled at 46% ABV – RRP: £51.50, available from Lochlea stockists from 26^th October onwards.

In addition to the seasonal limited edition releases, Lochlea has a core whisky expression available all year round – Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley.

NEW RELEASE FROM

THE WINE SERIES

10 Years Old Wine Series: Grattamacco Wine Finish

All the whiskies in the Glenallachie’s Wine Series are first aged in the best quality American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being re-racked into wine barriques carefully sourced by Billy Walker for over 2 years.  The second winery established in Tuscany’s renowned Bolgheri area, The Grattamacco Estate, produces wines with a signature style of elegance. Complementing our fruit-forward Speyside spirit, maturation in these barriques has created a palate rich with juicy blackcurrant and sweet tannins. Truly embodying the complexities of the red wine previously held in each cask, the resulting whisky offers up honeyed elegance with a well-balanced finish.

NOSE: Bursting with dark chocolate, butterscotch and heather honey, with notes of blackcurrant, caramelised brown sugar and cinnamon spice.

PALATE: Waves of ripe red berries, grapefruit and toasted honeycomb, followed by butterscotch, sugared fruit and black truffle.

£56.99

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11 Years Old Wine Series: Premier Cru Classé Finish

All the whiskies in the Glenallachie’s Wine Series are first aged in the best quality American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being re-racked into wine barriques carefully sourced by Billy Walker for over 2 years.  The Premier Cru French oak barriques were procured from one of just five Premier Cru Classé chateaux located in the world-renowned wine region of Bordeaux, France. Top of the official Bordeaux wine classification, these estates are considered to produce wines of the highest quality and flavour. Maturation in casks which previously held such full-bodied red wine has imbibed our honeyed spirit with deep notes of black cherry and smooth espresso. The resulting golden malt delivers a truly refined yet complex drinking experience.

NOSE: Waves of butterscotch, blackcurrant and heather honey, with hints of minerality, poached orchard fruits and orange zest.

PALATE: Layers of honeycomb, black fruits and dark chocolate, followed by coffee, truffle and cinnamon, with crème de cassis and ginger on the finish.

£60.99
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9 Years Old Wine Series: Douro Valley Wine Finish

All the whiskies in the Glenallachie’s Wine Series are first aged in the best quality American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being re-racked into wine barriques carefully sourced by Billy Walker for over 2 years.  Located in the heart of Portugal, the Douro Valley is one of the world’s oldest protected wine regions, established in 1756. With the country’s highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC), this historic region is a significant producer of robust, characterful red wines. The barriques selected have imparted richness of both colour and flavour to our Speyside malt, offering decadent layers of dried stone fruits and delicate hints of warming spice.

NOSE: Waves of plum jam, clementines and dried red berries, with notes of heather honey and vanilla spice.

PALATE: Bursting with dried apricots, heather honey and crystalised fruits, followed by hints of ripe black fruits, butterscotch and cinnamon spice.

£55.99
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DALMORE 2008 VINTAGE 

70cl | 45.8% ABV

Every November, The Dalmore Whisky makers visit the distillery’s historic sandstone warehouses to explore the ageing casks. In the chill shadows, the casks are meticulously assessed – only a handful are selected from any one year. Carefully crafted, finely balanced and bringing together the very finest casks from one year, each limited release Single Malt will then take its rightful place in The Vintage Collection.

Matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and enhanced by hand-selected Matusalem Sherry and PX Sherry casks.

TASTING NOTES:

NOSE: Milk chocolate, caramel, mandarin and cracked black pepper.

TASTE: Manuka honey, sweet cacao, poached apples, golden sultanas.

FINISH: Vanilla cream chocolate brioche, navelina orange, and light cinnamon warmth.

£159.95

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NEW WINE CASK WHISKIES

FROM THE GLENALLACHIE

Prominent Scotch whisky distillery rolls out three

new limited edition single malts matured in fine wine casks

Leading Scotch whisky producer The GlenAllachie today introduces a second tranche of single malt bottlings to join its acclaimed Wine Cask Series.

The trio of new bottlings include an 11-year-old Premier Cru Classé Cask Finish (UK RRSP £63), a 10-year-old Grattamacco Cask Finish (UK RRSP £58) and a 9-year-old Douro Valley Cask Finish (UK RRSP £57).

The rare oak casks were expertly sourced by The GlenAllachie’s Master Distiller and leading whisky maker of 50 years, Billy Walker, from three fine wine producers located in France, Italy and Portugal.

Each expression was initially matured in premium ex-Bourbon American oak barrels before being transferred to the various European red wine casks.

With 1,800 cases produced, the 11-year-old was aged in French oak that previously held a prestigious Premier Cru Classé wine, obtained from one of just five châteaux to hold this top Bordeaux wine classification. The subsequent whisky boasts “notes of blackcurrant cordial, warming mocha, truffle and gingersnap biscuits”.

Hailing from Italy, the certified organic Super Tuscan barriques from Grattamacco – the second winery established in the renowned Bolgheri region – have imparted “layers of pink grapefruit, wild honey, raspberry jelly and sweet spice” on the 2,600 cases of 10-year-old single malt created.

Douro Valley, one of the world’s oldest protected wine regions, holds some of Portugal’s most esteemed wine estates with the country’s highest classification: Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC). The rare barriques have delivered “hints of dried apricots, cinnamon sticks and vanilla custard,” with a total of 2,000 cases of whisky available.

The three expressions are proudly presented at a high strength of 48% ABV, are unchill filtered and have no added colouring.

Remarking on the launch, Walker shares:

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have worked with some of the best wine producers in Europe for these wonderful releases. I’m a devoted wine enthusiast, so, on a personal level, this series brings together two passions: fine wine and Scotch whisky.

“We’re proud to have achieved a vast spectrum of flavour characteristics across these three bottlings: the Premier Cru Classé offers up rich dark fruit attributes; the Grattamacco overflows with brown sugar and honeycomb notes; and the Douro Valley delivers an elegant stone fruit quality.”

Last month, The GlenAllachie announced its new peated single malt brand, Meikle Tòir, with a portfolio of four products, including the coveted Turbo 2023 Edition with just 2,500 bottles released worldwide.

With UK RRSPs starting at £57, The GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series Batch 2 will become increasingly available over the coming weeks from global specialist retailers.

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Premier Cru Classé Wine Cask Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Polished Bronze.
• Nose: Waves of butterscotch, blackcurrant and heather honey, with hints of minerality, poached orchard fruits and orange zest.

• Taste: Layers of honeycomb, black fruits and dark chocolate, followed by coffee, truffle and cinnamon, with crème de cassis and ginger on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Rose Gold.
• Nose: Bursting with dark chocolate, butterscotch and heather honey, with notes of blackcurrant, caramelised brown sugar and cinnamon spice.

• Taste: Waves of ripe red berries, grapefruit and toasted honeycomb, followed by butterscotch, sugared fruit and black truffle.

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Douro Valley Wine Cask Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Rich Redwood.
• Nose: Waves of plum jam, clementines and dried red berries, with notes of heather honey and vanilla spice.

• Taste: Bursting with dried apricots, heather honey and crystalised fruits, followed by hints of ripe black fruits, butterscotch and cinnamon spice.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts over a half-century’s tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2023 stands at an eye-watering £2.7m/$3.3m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focuses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4 million to around 800,000 LOA (Litres of Alcohol) and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester-rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour.

Our other brands are Meikle Tòir Peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

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Timorous Beastie Marks this Friday 13^th with new Thrilling “Meet the Beast” limited edition bottling

To mark the infamous Friday 13^th date, Douglas Laing today reveals the latest Timorous Beastie MEET THE BEAST limited edition.

This remarkable release comes with an ingenious ‘Illusion’ pack that adds a thrilling dimension to your tasting experience. Inside each pack is specially designed pair of glasses that will unveil the hidden secrets of this whisky as you prepare to confront the elusive beast.

Bottled at natural cask strength this “beastly” creation boasts a formidable 54.3% ABV and matured exclusively in bourbon casks, ensuring an intense and unadulterated tasting experience of a “burst of sweet vanilla and spiced citrus fruits with sweet meringue and fudge finish”. Alongside no colouring or chill-filtration, preserving the whisky’s true character.

Scott Morrison, Timorous Beastie Brand Manager, commented on the new release:

“We are truly thrilled to introduce ‘MEET THE BEAST’ 2023, our latest limited edition that pushes the boundaries of whisky experience. With its unique Illusion pack, natural cask strength, and exclusive bourbon cask maturation, this release embodies our commitment to innovation and quality. We invite whisky enthusiasts to join us on a journey where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the BEAST is unleashed. Cheers to a truly exceptional tasting adventure!”

Timorous Beastie “Meet the Beast” 2023 is expected to retail at £55.00/€64.00 online and in specialist retailers around the world.

Key Features include of this unique bottling include:

• Natural Cask Strength: This beastly creation boasts a formidable natural cask strength of 54.3%, ensuring an intense and unadulterated tasting experience.
• The unique packaging comes to life with the help of the included glasses, offering a captivating visual element to your whisky enjoyment.
• 100% Bourbon Cask Matured: The whisky has matured exclusively in bourbon casks, infusing it with distinctive flavours from the American oak.
• No Colouring or Chill-Filtration, preserving the whisky’s true character.

Tasting Notes:

“Expect a colossal burst of sweet vanilla, spiced citrus fruits and juicy barley on the nose. The palate opens with freshly baked gingerbread, lashings of runny honey and gentle spice. The finish is long and lingering, with an abundance of sweet meringue and caramel fudge.” 

ABOUT TIMOROUS BEASTIE

Twitter/X @DLaingWhisky

Instagram: @timorousbeastiewhisky

Facebook: /dltimorousbeastie

Established in 2014 by Douglas Laing & Co, Timorous Beastie represents “ultimate distillation of the Highlands” in a small batch marriage of Single Malts distilled at Glengoyne, Glen Garioch, Blair Athol and Strathearn Distilleries, amongst others. The multi award-winning Scotch is distributed in over 50 markets globally and has amassed a loyal following.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Why Whiskies Like This Glendronach Are To Thank For The Creation of Signatory Vintage 

Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh and the independent bottler, Signatory Vintage, have an interesting, shared history. 

This Glendronach 1970 18 Year Old Prestonfield House may be, in part, to thank for the creation of one of the most iconic independent bottlers in the Scotch whisky industry.

Prestonfield House Hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel in the heart of Edinburgh and has intrinsic links to Signatory Vintage through the founder of the independent bottling company, Andrew Symington. Symington worked at Prestonfield House as the Assistant Manager in the 1980s, when the hotel had a number of single malt whiskies bottled especially for the hotel and its exclusive clientele.

In the 1980s, single malt, single cask whiskies were not the done thing, and were relatively uncommon. As such, the Prestonfield House bottlings were something of an innovation, and allowed the hotel to offer something select for their guests. With the help of Andrew Symington, Prestonfield House bottled some incredible cask strength whiskies, and Symington found a new passion. Soon after, Signatory Vintage was established.

Since its inception in 1988, Signatory Vintage has bottled some very impressive whiskies including this stunning Rosebank 1960 32 Year OId and a 1967 30 Year Old Ardbeg matured in an Oloroso butt.

In 2023, Mark Littler Limited was contacted by a private client who was lucky enough to own one of the bottlings that started it all. This Glendronach 1970 18 Year Old was bottled for Prestonfield House in the same year that Signatory Vintage was born, elegantly tying together the history of the two companies. The whisky was bottled from casks 542-558 and is bottle number 2142 of a limited edition.

If you are a fan of Signatory Vintage, then this bottle truly is a piece of Scotch whisky history. Who knows, without bottlings such as this, would Signatory Vintage exist at all?

BUY NOW: Glendonach 1970 18 Year Old Prestonfield House 

About Mark Littler Limited

Mark Littler is an independent whisky broker, market analyst and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Each week he publishes new videos on his YouTube channel about topics such as cask investment fraud (and how to avoid it), the history of distilleries and bottles, debunking whisky investment myths and much more. For more information visit www.marklittler.com

If you are interested in the Glendronach 1970 18 Year Old Prestonfield House, or would like to chat to one of the team about our other services, please get in touch.

Email: whisky@marklittler.com

Telephone: 01260 218 718