BARREL BEAST  ·  EST. 2020  ·  SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Barrel Beast presents: RAISIN SUN

The fourth exclusive release of the Unleashed Octave Series.

An Inchgower 1st Fill PX Octave — 8 years matured, bottled at its peak.

[Hannover, 2026]

The whisky world is in for another extraordinary experience: Barrel Beast proudly announces the release of its fourth bottling — RAISIN SUN. This strictly limited edition consists of just 99 bottles and continues the acclaimed Unleashed Octave Series at the highest level.

RAISIN SUN originates from the Speyside distillery Inchgower, distilled in 2016. After eight years of careful maturation in a First Fill PX Octave cask, it is bottled at cask strength with 55.3% ABV — natural colour and non-chill filtered, as has always been the standard at Barrel Beast.

The PX Octave Cask

Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks are renowned for their exceptional sweetness and intensity. Using a First Fill Octave — a small cask of just around 50 litres — maximises wood contact and flavour development in a unique way. For RAISIN SUN, this means: maximum complexity, deep fruit and a velvety texture in every sip.

Technical Details:

Distillery: Inchgower | Distilled: 2016 | Age: 8 Years | Cask Strength: 55.3% ABV | Cask Type: 1st Fill PX Octave | Volume: 500 ml | Limited to: 99 bottles only | Bottling: Natural colour, non-chill filtered | Cask Ref.: 300748A

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Fresh Nana mint melds with rich, spicy raisin aromas. A delicate floral elegance meets warm, toasty wheat — a complex and inviting bouquet that instantly sparks curiosity.

PALATE Rustic bread meets bright citrus zest and smooth cocoa notes. Luscious cherry leads the palate with a slightly medicinal edge — a harmonious interplay of depth and vibrancy.

FINISH Medium-long to long, with sweet plum compote and dark rye bread. A hint of spicy ginger and buttery caramel rounds off the finish and invites the next sip.

Availability & Price

All 99 bottles of 500 ml at 55.3% ABV will be available exclusively via www.barrelbeast.com on Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 14:00 (CEST). Due to the strict limitation, we recommend signing up for the newsletter on the website to be notified first.

RRP: €115.00

About Barrel Beast

Barrel Beast was founded in 2020 and has since established itself as one of the most exciting independent bottlers in the German-speaking world. With an uncompromising focus on quality, authenticity and exceptional design, Barrel Beast consistently sets itself apart from the mainstream. All bottlings are released natural colour, non-chill filtered and at cask strength.

The Unleashed Octave Series exclusively features whiskies that have completed their full maturation in small 1st Fill Sherry Octave casks. RAISIN SUN is the fourth release in this series — following Dark Malt (Caol Ila, 2022) and Raw Sienna (Inchgower, 2023).

The fifth and final edition of the Unleashed Octave Series, titled Dubh Mòr, will be released in late 2026.

To mark Scotland’s spectacular qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a long 28-year wait, we’re celebrating the only way we know how – with exceptional whisky.

A belter for America is a 35cl half bottle from Distillery 28. At 10 years of age, it offers rich dried fruit notes, a spicy Spanish oak influence and aromas of dark chocolate and coffee grounds. It’s a one-off you’ll want to keep or crack open with your mates when the whistle blows. It’s also a perfectly sized travel companion if you’re making the journey to support the team in June.

Let’s raise a glass together to the boys.
C’mon Scotland!

FIND OUT MORE

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

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 McLaren Formula 1 Team 2026 Edition Tennessee Whiskey

£27.95

The 2026 Limited Edition Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey x McLaren Mastercard Formula 1® Team is the fourth bottle in the partnership series. A legacy on the track, a legacy in the bottle.

For decades, both Jack Daniel’s and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1® Team have proudly preserved a perfect blend of heritage, innovation, and high performance. 2026 celebrates the year of McLaren’s 1000th Formula 1® Grand Prix race and the 160th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery, two milestones that mark an enduring legacy and a shared vision that unites them in the pursuit of possibility.

This year’s release features a striking new design inspired by the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s® 1,000th Grand Prix campaign.

Distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee, the whiskey is mellowed drop by drop through 10 feet of charcoal before maturing in new, American white oak barrels handcrafted to the highest standards.

Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Milroy’s Exclusive 57.1% 70cl

Milroys Exclusive Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Traditional 100 Proof 57.1% We’ve got something super special here – our very own Glenfarclas bottling! And if you like a dram that tastes older than its age statement this might be for you.

This dram has a complexity and depth found in older whiskies (not that we are saying it has but…)

Nose: Fantastic rich smooth fruity notes on the nose as soon as you open the bottle. Rich aromatic vanilla and peaches, some sweet soft toffee and a dash of ripe strawberry.

Palate: The nose was a treat the palate is just as delicious even before you take the fist sip! The taste is very forward on the palate, a soft creamy texture coats the mouth, some sweet dates and truffles with a subtle sweet spice.

Finish: A soft chocolate sponge with hints of red apple give a lingering smooth and very elegant finish.

One of those drams that keeps you coming back for more.

£79.96

CHICHIBU DISTILLERY AND SELFRIDGES PARTNER

 FOR NEW SINGLE CASK WHISKY BOTTLING

Cult Japanese whisky producer Chichibu Distillery releases an exclusive limited-edition Single Malt Japanese Whisky with department store Selfridges. Following an inaugural collaboration in 2019, only 195 bottles were produced of this single malt, making it highly collectible. The new whisky will be available at Selfridges’ London, Manchester and Birmingham stores and on Selfridges.com from Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Drawn from a 2018 vintage Chichibu single cask, the whisky was matured for seven years in a first-fill bourbon barrel, capturing both depth and vibrancy. Bottled in 2025 at cask strength (59.5% ABV), the whisky is non-chilled filtered and with no added colouring, allowing the spirit’s true character to shine.

The bottling offers a refined and complex flavour profile. Notes of candied citrus lead on the nose, complemented by roasted orchard fruits, honeysuckle, and a gentle hint of sweet cinnamon. On the palate, the whisky is rich and full-bodied, revealing layers of ripe peach and brown sugar, before finishing with a warming, lingering vanilla sweetness.

This limited-edition showcases the distillery’s renowned craftsmanship and commitment to exceptional whisky-making, values which are aligned with Selfridges, one of the world’s most iconic retailers.

Akin to the 2019 release, the label design is a defining feature. Created to echo the theatrical window displays of Selfridges, it draws inspiration from the store’s famous displays, which have long been treated as art-like installations central to its identity.

The Chichibu Distillery, was founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2004 and began distilling in 2008. The Akuto family has a long history of alcohol production in Japan. The brand is known for its intimate approach to production, boasting a meticulous production process and highly sought-after releases that have earned the brand cult status amongst whisky fans.

Chichibu Distillery Single Malt Whisky x Selfridges (59.5% ABV) will launch 20 May 2026 in Selfridges London, Manchester and Birmingham stores and on Selfridges.com – RRP £265

About Selfridges

Selfridges was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge, changing the world of retail forever when the first store opened on Oxford Street in 1909. Now, the brand also has stores in Birmingham, Manchester Exchange Square and Manchester Trafford. Selfridges is the only store to have been named Best Department Store in the World four times.

A landmark destination and social centre where everyone is welcome, Selfridges is powered by imagination and filled with creative spirit. From the in-house cinema, restaurants, bars and skate bowl, to an ever-evolving roster of collaborators and cultural partnerships, Selfridges is a creative playground in which to discover new ideas and live brighter.

Selfridges is home to exclusive collaborations and launches from the world’s most coveted brands, bringing customers the biggest names in luxury alongside emerging industry disruptors. The retailer is dedicated to reimagining the way we shop and crafting extraordinary customer experiences at every turn, such as The Corner Shop in the Oxford Street store, which plays host to a rotating line-up of imaginative retail concepts from the likes of LOEWE, Fenty, Celine, Prada, Telfar and Martine Rose.

Selfridges is committed to imagining and creating a more sustainable future for its customers.  Built on a legacy of retail activism, including banning fur in 2005 and removing all plastic-based cosmetic glitter from its stores in 2021, RESELFRIDGES brings together Selfridges’ ecosystem of circular products, services and activities, with permanent RESELFRIDGES destinations across all four stores and Selfridges.com. The business continues to transition to more sustainable materials and explore new business models as well as challenging teams, communities and customers to put people and planet first in all decisions. This is underpinned by a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

The Zodiac Series
Where Stars and Spirit Align

Inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac, we’ve scoured Scotland in search of casks with the perfect combination of flavours to evoke the character and feel of these ancient archetypes. It’s a striking series, one perfect for adding to your collection, or a birthday gift you won’t find anywhere else.

Our second batch of bottlings – the Summer Solstice Collection – showcases the star signs of Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra. Each dram embodies the essence of its zodiac, its character as distinctive and singular as the sign it represents. With The Zodiac Series, there’s a whisky for everyone. Discover yours.

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$449.99

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

Say hello to all five of Scotland’s whisky regions with Our latest ‘Heresy’ release Batch 39: The five regions. If this 11-year-old blended malt Scotch whisky sounds familiar, that’s because it is. In 2025, we released Batch 31: Wandering alchemy, a blended malt composed of casks from all five whisky regions.

It was an extra-large batch and for good reason as whisky quality manager Julien Willems explains: “One portion of the resulting whisky was bottled as Batch 31, but we put the other half back into some of the original casks and left it to marry and relax for one more year. Now we’ve put them together again, to produce Batch 39: The five regions.”

Matured in a selection of bourbon, oloroso, PX, and HTMC (heavy toast, medium char) hogsheads, the Panel called the nose “mouthwatering”. Give it a try and tell us what you think!

READ MORE

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

Celebrating 20 Years in Scotch Whisky

A Milestone Worth Celebrating.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape the journey of Douglas Laing & Co., my family business that has remained fiercely independent and committed to Whisky integrity since 1948. It’s been a path defined by passion, patience, and an unwavering belief in doing things the right way.

To mark this moment, I wanted to share a Whisky that feels especially meaningful to me, one from a true family favourite distillery. Old Particular. A Family Favourite Distillery. Velvety fruitcake, treacle toffee and dark chocolate, spiced with nuts, cinnamon and clove.

LEARN MORE

Tamdhu 18 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

$219.99

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