We know it’s early, but for the organised amongst you, Christmas has quietly arrived at Wolfburn. Our Twelve Days of Christmas Collection is now available, beginning with Partridge in a Pear Tree and Two Turtle Doves: two exceptional 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, available in 70cl and 35cl bottles.

Matured in bourbon and sherry casks, each offers a beautifully balanced taste of floral sweetness, soft spice, and gentle Highland warmth, the perfect start to the season’s celebrations.

Back by popular demand, our Luxury Christmas Crackers also make a welcome return, now available in both timeless black and festive red. Each cracker holds a different 5cl miniature of Wolfburn Single Malt, bringing a touch of elegance and Highland charm to your Christmas table.

Our Christmas shop is now open, with more festive treats arriving soon, so pour yourself a dram, have a browse, and get ahead of the rush.

SHOP NOW

New [M]acallan Exclusive | 16 Year Old single cask for TWB 🧡🍊

Discover our exclusive new Secret Speyside 16-Year-Old, distilled at Macallan and matured in a single ex-bourbon hogshead before being bottled by Signatory Vintage in October 2025 at 61.8% ABV exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Expect layers of orchard fruits, creamy vanilla, toasted coconut, and gentle oak spice — a beautifully refined expression where Macallan’s signature elegance shines through. Just 267 bottles available — a true collector’s treasure. Bottled at 61.8% reveal classic orchard fruits, gentle oak spice, apple tart and honeycomb. Distilled at the “secret” Macallan distillery—an insider’s treat without the marquee price tag. Perfect for collectors and Speyside aficionados seeking a rare single-cask Macallan.

£95.95 / $134 / c$150 / €92,95

Tomatin continues grocery success with 10-year-old single malt whisky

 Highland distiller Tomatin has released an exceptional new bourbon matured 10-year-old single malt whisky created specifically for the grocery and convenience channels.

Available in Waitrose and on Amazon from 9 November 2025, Tomatin 10 Year Old has been carefully curated to offer a taste of luxury at an affordable and accessible price point. The release, bottled at 40% ABV and retailing at £42, further establishes Tomatin in the UK grocery channel and introduces a new aged single malt from the distillery to the sector.

The new expression follows the success of Tomatin Double Cask which was launched in Tesco and on Amazon earlier this year, and is being rolled out in export markets over the next 12 months. The supermarket range’s refreshed outer packaging is designed to enhance shelf stand out in both grocery and convenience environments. 

Scott Adamson, blender and global brand ambassador at Tomatin, said: “Our new 10-year-old single malt isn’t a traditional whisky, and this is all down to our cask choice. It’s impossible to hide a bad whisky in a bourbon barrel, and the art of maturation in these very special casks is something we’ve perfected over the years to create a quality, honest whisky.

“Having spent much of the past decade experimenting with different cask types and appreciating the range of flavours which can be crafted through maturation, Tomatin 10 Year Old is exquisite in its simplicity. As a distillery, we do bourbon very well, and we’re proud to release this exceptional whisky.”

Gordon Hynd, UK sales director at Tomatin, said: “Tomatin is going from strength to strength in the grocery and convenience sectors as we further establish the brand in these channels. Tomatin 10 Year Old is a welcome age-statement addition to our supermarket range which, as with Tomatin Double Cask, has been developed with customer requirements front of mind – creating a whisky synonymous with accessible luxury.

“This single malt has been designed to expand on our existing range and increase distribution to our UK retail partners, in addition to the existing channels already represented by the rest of our distillery’s core products.”

While most Tomatin whiskies have been matured in sherry, port or wine casks, Tomatin 10 Year Old is exclusively matured for a decade in bourbon casks, creating a single malt with a sweet, fruity, buttery profile designed to appeal to the curious consumer.

Tomatin 10 Year Old delivers aromas of lemon sherbet sweets and crunchy green apples followed by buttery croissants, white chocolate and macadamia nuts. On the palate, lemon meringue pie, honey and a touch of toffee are complemented by apricot and peach before a clean and fresh finish.

Presented in a premium 70cl bottle, Tomatin 10 Year Old is encased in refreshed outer packaging featuring ochre detailing which elegantly symbolises the tree rings found in oak – a nod to the distillery’s first-class wood policy and enduring commitment to knowing the history of each cask that passes through its warehouses.

With a proud heritage dating back to the 15th century, Tomatin has been a home for the whisky making team’s dedicated craftsmen and their families since the distillery was established in 1897.

For more information on Tomatin 10 Year Old, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tomatin 10 Year Old tasting notes

Nose: Aromas of lemon sherbet sweets and crunchy green apples followed by buttery

croissants, white chocolate and macadamia nuts.

Palate: Lemon meringue pie, honey and a touch of toffee are complemented by apricot and peach.

Finish: Clean and fresh.

Notes 

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

This year, Tomatin has been awarded Gold designation for its Tomatin Sherry Collection Ximénez Edition and Silver for both its Sherry Collection Manzanilla Edition and Sherry Collection Palo Cortado Edition in the inaugural 2025 Whiskey Wash Awards.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

This month we’re speeding into the busiest time of year where the call to squeeze in a catch-up with friends echoes through the dark evenings. It’s the time of year when Society whisky invites you in. Come join us! November Outturn is now live.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND ENJOY

CASK NO. 59.90

AGE:  17 years

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead

SKOOSHY STROOPWAFEL

SMALL BATCH SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT

AGE:  11 years

DETAILS

CASKS:  Refill ex-bourbon hogsheads & 1st fill PX butts

MEAT ME AT MIDNIGHT

CASK NO. 115.32

AGE:  9 years

CASK:  2nd fill oloroso hogshead

A DARK AND DECADENT POTION

CASK NO. 18.51

AGE:  15 years

CASK:  1st fill oloroso hogshead

FIRE WITHOUT SMOKE

CASK NO. 10.277

AGE:  11 years

CASK:  1st fill PX hogshead

BARBECUE IBERICO PRESA

CASK NO. 3.355

AGE:  20 years

CASK:  2nd fill oloroso hogshead

BROWSE NOVEMBER OUTTURN HERE

VIEW ALL BOTTLINGS

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

I’ve recently concluded that I am to independent whisky bottling what Inspector Clouseau is to crime scene investigation. Here I am with two bottlings that were supposed to be part of this year’s Christmas releases, and they’re here *before* what were supposed to be this year’s Autumn releases.

This feels very much like the single malt equivalent of the interrogation scene from The Pink Panther Strikes Again. You’ll get your bottles eventually, but a grand piano may be destroyed in the process.

Anyway, the good news is that I have two crackers for you here, and there’ll be some more of the good stuff along in just a few weeks. Not now, Cato.

First up we have a 22-year-old Bruichladdich. This must be from one of the very lightly peated (5ppm, I believe) batches made in the first few years after the distillery reopened in 2001.

The nose is super-clean and fresh, with green melon, candied peel, a thin slice of banana, and a slate-y sort of minerality. I also get baled hay and touches of coal tar in the background.

As usual with Bruichladdich this swims well, and with water I get green grapes, croissant, caramel and a really fantastic sort of herbal smokiness with bay and basil.

On the palate it’s fat, oily and citrussy. A big wave of mandarin at first, with a little spritz of passionfruit juice, then touches of almost liquorice-y tar before a really maritime development. Big briney oysters with lemon in fact! The finish is long and a bit waxy, with lots of sea water, citrus and something elusively phenolic.

After trying this I’m starting to wish Bruichladdich continued in this style. You don’t really feel the peat, but the coastal side of the distillate is really amplified, and that works beautifully with all the fabulous citrus. It’s a really gorgeous and elegant dram, and quintessentially Islay.

This first-fill barrel produced only 181 bottles at 56.7%, and they are available for £165 each. Only one per person please, due to the low outturn.

Next up, keeping things coastal, is a 15-year-old Ledaig. Always a delight to return to this distillate!

The nose on this one starts off a bit richer than you might expect, with smoked cocoa and pecans, and some savoury notes of soy and the paper wrapping from a fish supper (oily, salty, a drop of malt vinegar). As it breathes more lemon and tar emerge, along with some old fishing nets, and a faint whiff of iodine. Fun!

On the palate – an almost opulent peat smoke: fat, peppery and almost creamy. Sweet lemon syrup, brine, tar, green olives and herbal pastilles. Everything you need, really.

With water – crystalline, with perfect lemons, touches of peach and almond, seawater and smoke. Clean as a whistle, clear as a bell.

This bourbon barrel produced only 221 bottles at 54.5%, and they are available for £75 each.

Coming Next

As I mentioned in my earlier ramblings, the belated Autumn releases will be here towards the end of the month – a fully-oloroso-matured 14yo Auchroisk for £69.50, a lush 15yo Linkwood for £77.50 and a Highland 21yo (secretly a rare acquisition of heavily-peated Jura!) for £125.

If you think you might like to grab any of those alongside a Laddie or Ledaig I’d be happy to consolidate shipping. Just choose the Collection option for your first order to avoid paying twice for delivery, and please drop me an email to confirm your intentions.

And…

…that’s it for now! I hope you enjoy these two, and I’ll be back with you before too long. As usual please do feel free to get in touch via any of the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David

Bowmore 12-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask

Matured in hand-selected Oloroso Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks, with an Oloroso Sherry seasoned cask finish. A rhapsody of flavors bestow a distinctively harmonious character. Sweet spice and nuttiness come to the fore, while smouldering smokiness blends harmoniously with notes of fruit and woodiness that Sherry casks bring. Rich and indulgent, this 12-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask boasts a maturity and complex sophistication that belies its years.

40% ABV | SRP: ~$90.00

(Photo Credit: Suntory Global Spirits)

Distillery Corner: Glen Moray

To mark our anniversary bottling, we’re starting a new series of Distillery Corner celebrating Speyside’s great distilleries. And where better to begin than Glen Moray? For Vic, this one’s personal. Born just half a mile away, he’s watched Glen Moray evolve from a local landmark to a distillery known for its range of creative cask finishes; from red wine to rum and this bright Chardonnay Cask Finish.

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

Savour the moments that matter this season with Tomatin

Highland distiller Tomatin has unveiled its ultimate festive whisky guide for 2025, a curated collection of drams designed to capture the spirit of the season – from cosy Christmas Eve firesides to joyful Hogmanay toasts.

The festive period is built on moments to remember, sharing time with loved ones, honouring family traditions and creating memories that last long after the decorations are packed away. Guided by its ‘To What Matters’ ethos, Tomatin celebrates these occasions with whiskies that embody warmth, generosity and togetherness.

Crafted with care in the Scottish Highlands, each expression reflects Tomatin’s heritage, award-winning quality and enduring sense of community, making it the perfect companion to celebrate the season. From the rich and indulgent Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask single malt to the luxurious Antiquary 21 Year Old blended Scotch, there is an exquisite whisky for every stage, whether it’s a dram left out for Santa, a thoughtful gift under the tree or a toast to ring in the New Year.

The night before Christmas – Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask
RRP £52.50 | ABV 40% | 70cl

The anticipation of Christmas Eve deserves a dram that feels timeless. Fully matured in sherry oak casks, Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is rich and nostalgic, with notes of caramelised apple, orange peel and warm spice that echo the aromas of festive baking. Perfect for a quiet fireside moment or left out for Santa, it’s a whisky that captures the magic of the night before Christmas.

Unwrapping the day – Tomatin 14 Year Old Tawny Port
RRP £78 | ABV 46% | 70cl

Christmas Day is about giving, sharing and celebrating together. Matured in bourbon and port casks, Tomatin 14 Year Old Tawny Port combines velvety flavours of red berries, honey and soft oak – indulgent yet welcoming. Whether poured as the first toast of the day or enjoyed after a festive meal, it’s a gift that lingers in the memory.

Fireside indulgence – Tomatin 18 Year Old Oloroso Sherry
RRP £126 | ABV 46% | 70cl

After the laughter and bustle of Christmas Day, the days that follow call for a slower pace. Tomatin 18 Year Old Oloroso Sherry is a whisky made for fireside indulgence – rich, complex and award-winning. Matured in traditional oak and Oloroso sherry butt casks, it offers layers of tropical fruit, marmalade and cocoa. Best enjoyed with time to spare and good company close by, it’s the whisky that makes the quieter moments of the season feel just as special.

A twist on tradition – Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old
RRP £97.50 | ABV 50% | 70cl

As the days between Christmas and New Year bring reunions and late-night conversations, Cù Bòcan adds a spark of curiosity. Distilled only in winter, this smoky and experimental lightly peated 15-year-old single malt layers sweet spice, citrus and toasted oak for a whisky that feels playful, modern and full of character. It’s the dram for friends who like to break with tradition while still celebrating it.

A final toast – The Antiquary 21 Year Old
RRP £96.50 | ABV 40% | 70cl

Hogmanay is Scotland’s most treasured celebration and The Antiquary 21 Year Old is the whisky to raise when the bells strike midnight. Elegant and refined, this historic blend marries Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland grains, offering smooth layers of fruit, honey and gentle spice. It’s an expression to carry tradition into the year ahead, and the perfect way to close the season.

For further information about Tomatin whiskies and to buy, visit https://tomatin.com

Tasting Notes

Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask
 Nose: Caramelised apple, pear, sultana, orange peel, apricot and hints of aged leather.
 Palate: Chocolate fudge, manuka honey, dried fruit and nut.
 Finish: Cinnamon spice.

Tomatin 14 Year Old Tawny Port
 Nose: Top notes of fresh peach, mandarin, watermelon, and apple with deeper forest fruits like cherry and blackberry. There’s a touch of milk chocolate and a pop of honeycomb. Notes of clove and cardamom grow in intensity before another wave of fruit.  
 Palate: The freshness on the nose has been preserved into a raspberry and strawberry jam, apricot compote, glace cherry, and crystallised ginger. Caramelised figs, prunes and nutty tones are indicative of the rich tawny port that once occupied these casks.  
 Finish: A silky texture coats the mouth with jammy fruits and Byzantium spice.

Tomatin 18 Year Old Oloroso Sherry
 Nose: VORS Oloroso Sherry; dried apricot, plum, nougat and distinctive nutty tones. Sweet notes of vanilla fudge and cinnamon baked pears are balanced with a faint suggestion of cigar box and leather-bound books.
 Palate: A wonderful marriage of Oloroso Sherry and well-aged Tomatin provides bursts of tropical fruit and mellow savoury notes. Incredibly complex with marmalade, cooked apple, butterscotch and granola, cocoa powder and salted caramel all coming through.
 Finish: Full bodied and rich with continued nutty undertones and uplifting orange zest lingering on the palate.

Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old
 Nose: Sun-dried fruit, marmalade, flamed orange peel, autumn bonfire and warm spice.
 Palate: Plum, cinder toffee, coffee, smoked meat and earthy tannins.
 Finish: Long with dried fruit, tobacco smoke, dark chocolate and Christmas cake.

The Antiquary 21 Year Old
 Nose: Camphor, hessian, cut hay, burning heather, dark mocha, saffron and vanilla.
 Palate: Spiced plum, wild strawberries, dark chocolate, charred game and orange.
 Finish: Sea salt and red fruits.   

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

This year, Tomatin has been awarded Gold designation for its Tomatin Sherry Collection Ximénez Edition and Silver for both its Sherry Collection Manzanilla Edition and Sherry Collection Palo Cortado Edition in the inaugural 2025 Whiskey Wash Awards.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Laphroaig Elements 3.0 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Launched this summer, the third release in its pioneering Elements Series, Elements 3.0 explores the unexpected flavor impact of an extraordinary event at Laphroaig distillery. Following a kiln fire that burned longer and at significantly higher temperatures than usual, the resulting spirit led to a rich and distinctive whisky, with notes of chocolate and burnt caramel.

55.3% ABV | SRP: $165.00

Laphroaig 2025 Càirdeas: Lore Cask Strength

Launched this July, this expression marries five favorite distinct casks, each with its own story to tell, the result is a non-chill filtered whisky with an intense flavor profile. It’s a journey from zesty, salty high notes to the warmth of spices, wood and pepper of Islay peat. Lore Cask Strength offers a true taste of Laphroaig with added depth and impact, putting an exciting twist on one of Laphroaig’s classic and well-loved whiskies.

59.6% ABV | SRP: $110.00

(Photo Credit: Suntory Global Spirits)

Brave New Spirits

Islay/Speyside Blended Malt 19 Years Old

This blended malt was created by vatting malts from Islay and Speyside regions of Scotland. It was distilled on the 9th June 2006 and aged for 19 years in second fill Sherry butt before bottling on the 27th August 2025. Bottled by Brave New Spirits for their Cask Masters collection, at cask strength of 54.4% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration. Limited to 592 bottles. 54.4%

£99.00