KILKERRAN 8YO

CASK STRENGTH (BOURBON)

NOSE Notes of butterscotch and custard creams lead, with apple butter and white miso. Cream sponge and poached pear sweetness follows.

PALATE There is a creaminess on the palate in notes of shortbread crust and smooth caramel chocolate, with notes of gooseberries, white grapes, cigar box smoke and sandalwood developing.

FINISH Hints of green peppercorn and honeydew melon emerge in the finish, alongside an ashy note.

57.7% ABV

UK RRP £62 – £65

ARDBEG’S ICONIC TEN… NOW AT CASK STRENGTH

  < Islay Distillery honours loyal fanbase by releasing their most-wanted whisky >

Ardbeg’s loyal fanbase – the Committee – have been crying out for a cask-strength edition of the smoky icon Ardbeg Ten for more than 20 years. Today the Islay Distillery grants them their wish, by unveiling a momentous, cask-strength edition of its classic 10-year-old single malt. Matured in hand-selected casks, uniquely filled with spirit at an unusually high strength, this bottling brings an unrivalled intensity to Ardbeg’s classic, peaty taste with a naturally elevated ABV.

Crafted on the remote Scottish island of Islay for more than 200 years, Ardbeg is one of the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt whiskies. Its flagship Ten has long been revered by Committee members as the ultimate expression of the Distillery’s smoky style. And a cask-strength edition has topped their most-wanted list, since a highly limited (and even more highly coveted) release was shared in Japan in 2003.

In answer to the Committee’s plea, Ardbeg’s whisky creators, led by Dr Bill Lumsden, vowed to create a historic edition of this classic malt in its members’ honour. So, they hand-selected a few choice American oak bourbon casks, including some experimental barrels unusually filled with undiluted spirit. The result is an Ardbeg of incredible intensity. Bursting with rich aromas of tar and sea spray and smooth, sweet tastes, this rare edition of Ten is bottled at 61.7% ABV – the highest strength of any Committee Release to date.

Fittingly, this milestone whisky is the first Committee edition unveiled during the tenure of new Co-Chairs, Master Blender Gillian MacDonald and Distillery Manager Bryony McNiven. Gillian said: “This cask-strength Ardbeg Ten is a momentous celebration of our Distillery’s classic style. Created by Dr Bill and myself from casks filled with new-make spirit at a higher-than-usual strength, it has all the flavours Committee members know and love, infused with a new intensity. Those who are lucky enough to lay their hands on a bottle will find aromas of toffee, tar, with classic notes of fennel and sea spray, and sweet sooty tastes of peat moss, malt and smoked cinnamon – amplified in an unforgettable dram. Slàinte to our Committee!”

Bryony said: “Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength is arguably one of the most wanted Ardbegs ever. It’s fantastic to finally be sharing it with the Committee. What a dram – a perfect balance of wood smoke, citrus sweetness and salt.”

Released especially for members of the Ardbeg Committee, this cask-strength edition of Ardbeg Ten will be available online at Ardbeg.com from 24^th February 2026, RRP £75.

For those intrepid enough to venture to the Distillery, there will be a small number of bottles ready to buy in person. For more news on all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee at www.ardbeg.com/committee. Membership is free and all Ardbeg fans are welcome.

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Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength Tasting Notes:

ABV:     61.7%

Colour: Pale Gold

Aroma: Rich, earthy, smoky and spicy, with a marvellous combination of toffee, tar and creosote, coffee grounds and sea spray. Subtle hints of vanilla and lime manage to fight their way through the smoke, and a few drops of water release some classic Ardbeggian scents, like fennel and bonfire embers.

Taste: The texture is mouth filling and noticeably spicy, and the palate is surprised by an immediate and intense sweetness, reminiscent of smoked cinnamon and paprika. This is then followed by enormous waves of smoky notes – soot, tar, creosote, peat moss and woodsmoke to name a few, but the smokiness is always balanced by a gentle malty or biscuity flavour.

Finish: Mentholic and almost cooling, with hints of eucalyptus and antiseptic lozenges.

RRP: £75

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and Distillery Manager Bryony McNiven, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Sustainability

Ardbeg is dedicated to sustaining its island home and community. With a vision of enhancing Islay for future generations, Ardbeg has devoted itself to restoring parts of the island’s precious peatland – a vital habitat for wildlife and a key carbon store. Working with the landowner, Ardbeg has begun transforming Kintour peat moor near the Distillery, cut for use in Ardbeg’s maltings decades ago. Ardbeg has also committed to a landmark conservation partnership with RSPB Scotland, Suntory Global Spirits and Diageo to restore 1,000 hectares of peatland in The Oa nature reserve. Over time, these projects aim to return Islay’s peatland to its native state, increasing biodiversity, helping mitigate against the effects of climate change and safeguarding the island’s natural heritage.

Meanwhile, Ardbeg has established the £1million Ardbeg All Islay Fund, which supports enterprising projects and organisations on the island. This five-year fund gives contributions to local sports clubs, musical and cultural organisations, helping to make Islay a better place to work and live.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, all of us at Tamdhu would like to wish you a very Happy Lunar New Year. Today is a moment for families to gather, traditions to be honoured and ambitions to be set for the year ahead – and we’re delighted to share it with you.

The Horse is celebrated for strength, perseverance and forward momentum. They’re qualities that have guided Tamdhu since 1897 on the banks of the River Spey, and they sit at the heart of our Year of the Horse Limited Edition, crafted especially for this occasion – now available on Tamdhu.com, and through specialist retailers across the UK, Taiwan and China.

Eight Steeds.

 One Shared Spirit.

To bring the Horse’s character to life, we partnered with acclaimed visual artist Page Tsou. His bespoke illustration of the Eight Steeds graces the presentation box: dynamic yet composed, detailed yet understated – a visual echo of the whisky within.

On the nose, you’ll find warming spices and mature oak, opening into dried fruits and honey. The palate reveals profoundly rich oak, ginger biscuits and caramelised pear, before a long farewell of full‑bodied malt, sweet spice and orange zest.

Today, whether your celebrations are grand or quietly reflective, we hope there’s room for a well‑earned dram.

Slàinte mhath,

Sandy McIntyre

Distillery Manager

THE TAMDHU LUNAR NEW YEAR COLLECTION

LONGROW 100 PROOF BATCH 2

Batch 2 of the new Longrow 100 PROOF series is matured in a combination of Bourbon and Red Wine casks and bottled at 57.1% ABV. Our signature peaty Longrow spirit pairs beautifully with these bold cask flavours, creating a rich and intense expression.

NOSE Notes of redcurrants, Madagascan vanilla, tiger prawns, salami and peppercorns introduce this dram, with an ashy note present from the start.

PALATE The peat smoke builds on the palate, with notes of tobacco, cigar smoke, dark fruits and leather.

FINISH A spiciness comes to the forefront in notes of chilli peppers, along with cherry menthol and the continuation of the peat smoke.

57.1% ABV

UK RRP £60 – £64

Our first Creators Collection of the year is here. Fortified: Adventures in Australian wine casks is the ultimate flight in sweet wine casks from Down Under. Here’s more about the collection from our head of whisky creation, Euan Campbell…

“Fortified wine casks are ideally suited to the maturation of Scotch whisky, and at the Society we are great advocates of the sherry cask. In our Fortified collection, we go further afield to explore casks from halfway around the world with a selection of whiskies matured in Australian fortified wine casks. Join us to expand your cask horizons and experience something truly special.”

WATCH THE VIDEO

Tawny – one to try if you enjoy port cask-matured whiskies
Muscat – If you have tried whisky matured in moscatel casks before, this one’s for you
Fortified chardonnay casks – incredibly rare, quite frankly indescribably beautiful and rich, golden raisin whisky here

The full collection is now available online and in our Members’ Rooms.

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

This month, we’re encouraging you to try a blind tasting. Aside from offering a new way to fall in love with flavour, it’s one of the easiest ways to explore what you enjoy in a whisky. Take away the name and Tasting Note or the flavour profile and see what happens.

One thing that you don’t have to go into blind is the quality of what’s in your glass. There’s a reason our Tasting Panel get into the good stuff before you. While their job is the stuff of dreams for many a member, their work ensures that you never get a dull dram.

So throw on the blindfold and open your mind to what’s in your glass – what you find might surprise you…

READ ABOUT BLIND TASTINGS

MORE ABOUT THE TASTING PANEL

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

This Evans Family Reserve release is finished in casks used in the making of a port-style fortified wine here in British Columbia. While visiting The Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in 2024 we got to try the Coruja (which is Portuguese for Owl). We were immediately impressed with its quality and uniqueness, and knew right away that we wanted to finish a whisky in one of these barrels.

Tasting Notes: On the nose a wave of fruit breaks over you, deep, rich berries topped off with a hint of tropical notes. An undertow of clove brings a whisper of mulled wine. On the palate there are notes of orange and almond, with a butterscotch sweetness underpinned by baking spices. The finish is long, strawberries with black pepper, dark chocolate fudge with a hint of salt, sage and oregano.

Buy the Evans Family Reserve Coruja Cask Finish

This expression is also available at cask strength to members of the Shelter Point Whisky Club. Find out more about the Whisky Club here.

We are still bottling some of Q1 but we can reveal the following casks will feature in the first outrun of the year! We’ll finish bottling in February and we are super excited about a very flavoursome set of casks!

Ardmore 12yo Refill Ex-Oloroso finish
Auchroisk 11yo Ex-Manzanilla finish
Blair Athol 11yo Ex-Amontillado finish
Dalmunach 10yo Ex- Oloroso barrel
Mortlach 13yo Ex-Oloroso finish
Port Charlotte 20yo Refill Barrel
Tamnavulin 10yo Refill HHD

All bottled at cask strength, non chill filtered and by hand in Dalgety Bay

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It has been 13 years since Wolfburn was awakened from its long sleep. Rebuilt through the winter of 2012, the stills were finally switched on in January 2013 – and on Burns Night that year, the first spirit flowed once again. It was a cold day, a quiet moment, and the beginning of everything that followed. You can read more recollections from that day in our recent blog post. More than 500 mashes and distillations later, we remain firmly on-spirit – and very much in high spirits. None of this would be possible without your continued support, whether you have enjoyed our whiskies at home, shared them with friends, or made the journey north to visit us. If you have visited before, we look forward to welcoming you back again soon and for those of you yet to make the trip a warm welcome always awaits. Thank you for being part of the Wolfburn story – past, present and future.

The Wolfburn Team