The Pinnacle of American Single Malt
Balcones Unleashed:
Cask Strength Single Malt Icons, Exclusive to K&L
“Balcones has long stood among the finest craft distillers in the U.S….”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

Balcones has redefined what American single malt can be. These two K&L-exclusive barrels—one finished in Madeira, the other aged full-term in Oloroso—are among the most compelling cask strength malts we’ve ever offered. Towering in structure, wildly expressive, and utterly singular, they showcase the kind of power and complexity that puts Balcones in a class of its own. If you think you know American whisky, these will rewrite the script.

Balcones “Madeira Barrel” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #17122 Texas Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer

Balcones has long stood among the finest craft distillers in the U.S., but in recent years, we’ve seen a clear shift in their focus toward single malt. From my perspective, that’s a wise move—because it’s increasingly evident that the most exciting whisky potential in this part of the world doesn’t come from corn-based spirits. Very little of the truly great whiskey emerging from Texas is bourbon, and frankly, few producers anywhere can match the intensity and complexity that Balcones delivers in their cask-strength single barrels.

While the comparison may seem surprising given their wildly different styles, these cask-strength single malts are starting to resemble the American equivalent of Kavalan—an ace in the hole that makes neighboring single malts feel tame by comparison. These whiskies aren’t for fans of delicate Highland malt—at least not straight out of the bottle. Instead, they’re for those who crave raw power and presence in the glass.

This barrel is no exception, though it does show a level of maturity and polish that the Oloroso barrel lacks. Let’s dive in. A gorgeous auburn hue (1.5). This one loves air. The nose explodes with molasses cookies, fig jam, shoe polish, aged leather, grape syrup, plum sauce, candied strawberries, and a deep woodsy undertone. I’ll admit I’m eating my words a bit here—there’s a strong resemblance to very old sherried malts, with tropical fruit, savory leather, and a coconut-like maturity, especially after the whisky has had an hour or more to open up. Blind, you’d never guess the age. For Waco, this is quite old.

The palate expands the experience with exotic spice—garam masala, turmeric, clove—layered over dense dried fruits. The finish continues this interplay of sweet and savory, with oak tannins perfectly woven into the whole. Some may be drawn more to the Oloroso barrel, but honestly, this is such a unique cask that you’d do well to try them side by side. I couldn’t choose between them—and I doubt you’ll be able to either.

K&L Notes: This exceptional barrel from the famous Waco distiller is truly one of a kind. Distilled on November 27th, 2017 from 100% Golden Promise barley on Balcones’ beautiful custom-built pot stills. It was filled into 59-gallon new charred American oak the very next day and matured there for over five years until May 25th of 2023 when the liquid was transferred over to a Madeira cask. (We are not allowed to disclose where the cask was sourced from.) With a total finished time of 14 months in the Madeira cask, it was disgorged on August 3rd, 2024, and bottled at its cask-strength proof of 130.5 for a total maturation of 6 years 8 months, or 80 months. This massively complex and unique offering is one of the most powerful and complex American single malts we’ve ever tasted. Nothing on the market today compares to the massive whiskies coming out of these Waco warehouses.

Balcones “Oloroso Sherry Hogshead” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #12720 Texas Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer

This absolute monster of a barrel may be the most intense and complex American Single Malt we’ve ever bottled. The wonderful Balcones Distillery is capable of a great deal, but where they truly shine is in this style of powerfully extractive, deeply complex, cask-strength whisky. For me, this is perhaps the closest the States has come to producing a Kavalan-style malt—albeit shaped by very different aging conditions.

Let’s give it a go. It pours thick—you can see it flow slowly. The color is dark as night, like brown sherry. The nose is deep and commanding, with massive aromas of cooked stone fruit, dark nutty chocolate, roasted espresso, and aged wood. It’s dense, chewy, and layered.

On the palate, it’s rich and mouth-coating. There’s immense power here—nearly tannic in structure—but it never veers off course. Waves of dark fruit, nougat, rancio, teak, clove, and hard strawberry candies all roll across the tongue. An absolutely exhilarating—and jaw-dropping—experience.

K&L Notes: This exceptional barrel of Single Malt from the famed distillery in Waco, Texas was distilled from 100% Golden Promise barley on March 3rd, 2020. Initial Entry Proof was 124.9 and filled into a recently dumped Oloroso sherry cask, the source of which is embargoed. Wholly aged for over 4 years in this ultra high quality active sherry hogshead in the hot and dry Waco weather and dumped on August, 3rd, 2024. It was bottled without chillfiltration, coloring or additions whatsoever at a full cask strength of 67.5% or 135 proof. Few whiskies on the market today will match this outrageous barrel for power and complexity. An absolute bruiser, which will serious trump any other American whisky (or internationally distilled single malt) by miles. Expect dense and rich sweet nutty fruit with a thick texture and rich juicy finish.

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

North British 1995 29 Year Old, Finn Thomson Cask #47390

£129.00

The story behind selecting this North British single cask release perfectly showcases the vital role independent bottlers have in bringing the best casks of whisky to the public.

In November 2024 Finn Thomson got a message from the master blender of a highly respected whisky company who had discovered a selection of North British casks that were ‘too good’ to be lost in the blend he was creating. These were heavily sherried casks that would have altered the consistency of their house blend which required an ex-bourbon cask profile.

After attending one of Finn Thomson’s tasting where he was singing the praises of North British Distillery, he invited Finn Thomson in to taste 8 cask samples of these sherried beauties. After nosing and sipping each one carefully, he selected 4 for adding to their family cask portfolio.

At 29 years old, this particular cask was the oldest of the bunch. A sherry butt, its slow maturation over the decades has created a whisky bursting with milk chocolate, caramel and dried fruits and is now at the sweet spot for bottling. Once destined to be in a blend, Finn Thomson is delighted to be able to release this cask as an example of how good well aged, sherried single grain whiskies can be.

GORDON & MACPHAIL INTRODUCES
THE WORLD’S OLDEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

GORDON & MACPHAIL 85 YEARS OLD FROM GLENLIVET DISTILLERY
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JEANNE GANG

ELGIN, SCOTLAND, 22 July 2025: Whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail is set to release the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky this October – an 85-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery – in partnership with American architect and designer, Jeanne Gang.

On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner of the north-east of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a Gordon & MacPhail American oak cask to be enjoyed after his lifetime by future generations.

George Urquhart, or ‘Mr George’ as he was fondly known by those who knew him best, knew he would never taste it. Only when the whisky was deemed ready would it be shared. Leaning on the family’s unique skills and experience, the time for Cask 336 came to be 85 years – longer than any other single malt Scotch whisky in history.

On 5th February 2025, the decision was taken to finally empty the cask. A total of 125 decanters of the 85 years old whisky were bottled in line with Gordon & MacPhail’s family expertise to produce liquid of the highest quality.

“This whisky is truly exceptional due to its remarkable history and unique maturation process. The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky with a strength of 43.7% ABV that is not only extraordinary in its taste but also a living piece of history,” explains Stephen Rankin Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

For 130 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched its own casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. It is this unique experience of cask curation that allows Gordon & MacPhail to consistently deliver a range of quality whiskies, nurtured from cask to bottle, found nowhere else in the world.

Timing is everything. Gordon & MacPhail will only release a whisky when over a century of experience determines it is appropriate to do so. Leaving each cask to mature, undeterred by commercial necessity, is a long-held, unnegotiable mantra, a fitting way to honour the integrity of each release. As a result, Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies are often the oldest expression ever to be released from a particular distillery.

To celebrate John and George Urquhart’s vision, one embraced by generations of the family that owns the business, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne
Gang, to create a unique decanter to house the world’s most precious whisky to date. The product design – themed around ‘Artistry in Oak’ – will be revealed later this year. Known for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture’s conventional boundaries, Gang was a natural choice as a creative partner, sharing the company’s commitment to leave a legacy for future generations.

For 130 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched its own casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. It is this unique experience of cask curation that allows Gordon & MacPhail to consistently deliver a range of quality whiskies, nurtured from cask to bottle, found nowhere else in the world.

Timing is everything. Gordon & MacPhail will only release a whisky when over a century of experience determines it is appropriate to do so. Leaving each cask to mature, undeterred by commercial necessity, is a long-held, unnegotiable mantra, a fitting way to honour the integrity of each release. As a result, Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies are often the oldest expression ever to be released from a particular distillery.

To celebrate John and George Urquhart’s vision, one embraced by generations of the family that owns the business, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne
Gang, to create a unique decanter to house the world’s most precious whisky to date. The product design – themed around ‘Artistry in Oak’ – will be revealed later this year. Known for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture’s conventional boundaries, Gang was a natural choice as a creative partner, sharing the company’s commitment to leave a legacy for future generations.

“I was excited to learn about everything involved in whisky’s creation. Each careful step lends something to a whisky’s unique flavor. Then, there are years of protecting the casks so they can age. In architecture, these elements of materiality and time also play a critical role in the design process. Both are about creating something enduring, so this is what I found inspiring about this opportunity to design a decanter for Gordon & MacPhail’s 85-year-old single malt whisky” expresses Gang.

Jeanne Gang’s stunning decanter will be revealed in October 2025, with decanter #1 auctioned by Christie’s New York in November 2025. To continue the legacy theme, auction proceeds (minus costs) will be donated to the oldest national non-profit conservation organisation in the United States, American Forests, a leader in forest restoration.

“Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations, via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees,” comments Stephen Rankin.

Those who would like to learn more about the whisky ahead of its release are encouraged to register their interest at the brand’s official website at gordonandmacphail.com.

The world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky: Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery to be released in October 2025 created through George Urquhart’s vision and celebrated via collaboration with Jeanne Gang.

Register interest via: GORDONANDMACPHAIL.COM

About Gordon & MacPhail

For more than 130 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched its own bespoke casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. Managing a portfolio of casks is a complex level of expertise which Gordon & MacPhail has honed to fully understand cask maturation matched to different styles of spirit. It is this cask curation that allows Gordon & MacPhail to consistently deliver a range of perfectly matured whiskies. Their expert maturation management creates unique, complex but perfectly balanced single malts found nowhere else. At the very heart of business lies the sample room – an exceptional liquid library spanning more than a century of Scotch whiskies featuring a wide range of age profiles and character. But these exceptional snapshots in time are not heirlooms there to impress, they exist to help inform and shape future decision-making and provide an invaluable guide for generations to come.

GORDONANDMACPHAIL.COM

About Gordon & MacPhail’s Unique Relationship With Over 100 Scottish Distilleries

Uniquely, Gordon & MacPhail is the only whisky company to have matched its casks to spirit from over 100 distilleries from all over Scotland. We then nurture it, often for many decades, then lean on experience handed down through four generations to know when to bottle it. Over its 130 history, Gordon & MacPhail built a strong bond of trust and mutual respect with these distilleries to allow the company to fill casks. These relationships were founded on the commitment that Gordon & MacPhail’s releases would complement not compete against those from the proprietary distillery, providing drinkers with interesting nuances in flavour. No other company has the depth and breadth of whisky in terms of variety of source distillery of the original spirit and age up to 80 years.

About Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang is the founding partner of Studio Gang, an international architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris. Known for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture’s conventional boundaries, she creates striking places that strengthen connections between people, their communities, and nature. Her diverse, award-winning portfolio across the Americas and Europe includes the Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History, which the New York Times called “a poetic, joyful, theatrical work of public architecture”; a new United States Embassy in Brazil; and an expansion of the Clinton Presidential Center. Intertwined with built work, Jeanne and the Studio develop research, publications, and exhibitions that push design’s ability to create public awareness and give rise to change—a practice Jeanne calls “actionable idealism.” A MacArthur Fellow and a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Jeanne has been named one of TIME Magazine’s most influential people in the world.

STUDIOGANG.COM

About Christie’s

Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with a physical presence in 46 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. Renowned and trusted for our expert live and online-only auctions, as well as bespoke Private Sales, Christie’s unparalleled network of specialists offers our clients a full portfolio of global services, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education.

Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $500 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 7 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction, launched the first fully on-chain auction platform dedicated to exceptional NFT art and manages an investment fund to support innovative start-ups in the art
market. Christie’s is also committed to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide. To learn more, browse, bid, discover and join us for the best of art and luxury at christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps.

CHRISTIES.COM

About American Forests

American Forests is the first national nonprofit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry, innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building.

AMERICANFORESTS.ORG

THE PERFECT SUMMER DRAM

TOBERMORY 2007 – AGED 17 YEARS

We are proud to offer a rare and quietly complex expression from the Isle of Mull: a 2007 Tobermory, drawn from a single bourbon cask after 17 years of maturation. Bottled at its natural cask strength of 44.6%, this is a whisky that wears its age with elegance, showing off it’s light, smooth and malty character with a touch of nuttiness.

Absolutely ideal for the summer weather!

With only 42 70cl bottles produced from the cask , this is as limited as they come — non-chill filtered, natural colour, and as honest as the day it left the cask.

Nose: Light orchard fruits like apples & pears, honeyed barley.
Palate: Sweet but full bodied and balanced with a nutty maltiness.
Finish: Medium in length with lingering vanilla and more barley.

ONLY 42 70cl BOTTLES AVAILABLE 
£70.00

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The Epicurean

Three Wood Edition

The Epicurean has always been the life of the party – versatile, charming, and full of surprises.

Now, he’s showing off his most daring side yet with the new Three Wood Finish. This limited-edition Lowland Malt is matured in a trio of casks: Virgin Oak for bold spice, Bourbon for smooth vanilla and honey, and Sherry for a rich, fruity depth.

The result? A lively, layered Whisky bursting with bright citrus, silky vanilla cream, and a gentle oak warmth.

Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. We don’t judge.

Abv: 54.1% | Vol: 70cl | Cask: Virgin Bourbon and Sherry Casks | Spec: No Colour Added | Spec: No Chill-Filtration

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Meet The Epicurean – our 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky character who was ever the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink. A master of versatility, this fresh, zesty, grassy marriage of the finest Lowland malts is perfect for cocktail hour or simply for sipping. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

KIMCHANGSOO

Kim Chang-soo fell for whisky in the early 2010s, visiting Scottish distilleries to learn the craft. After training at Chichibu in Japan, he founded a distillery in Gimpo in 2021. This is a well-focused peated malt, with notes of barbequed meats, heather and chocolate. This profile is achieved through aging in oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, Bordeaux wine and quarter casks.

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International Beverage unveils Old Pulteney Polaris for 2025 Distillers One of One auction

 Masterpiece of Caithness craftsmanship features 47-year-old whisky, Old Pulteney’s oldest ever release 

International Beverage has today (Thursday 17^th July) unveiled Old Pulteney Polaris, its most extraordinary bottling of Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky to date, created exclusively for the 2025 Distillers One of One charity auction.

This one-of-a-kind masterpiece of artisanal skill and artistry features a rare 47-year-old expression of the Maritime Malt, which is the Wick distillery’s oldest ever release.

Valued between £26,000 and £40,000, it is encased in a stunning sculpture of Caithness slate and silver, which are both naturally found in the Distillery’s windswept coastal home in the far north of Scotland, with an additional enhancement of a secret copper disc at the base of the structure which has been carefully reclaimed from Pulteney Distillery’s stills.

Polaris takes its name from the North Star, symbolising a bold, bright future for Old Pulteney as International Beverage plans a global celebration of the Distillery’s milestone 200^th anniversary in 2026 – and the beginning of an exciting programme of new releases.

For guests at this year’s Distillers One of One charity auction, Polaris offers the chance to own a unique and never-to-be-repeated piece of Old Pulteney’s history when they gather for the prestigious biennial auction, which takes place at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh on 10^th October.

Polaris follows on from Old Pulteney’s previous contribution to the 2023 auction – Bow Wave – which raised nearly £70,000 for the event’s main beneficiary: the Youth Action Fund, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in Scotland.

The whisky

Distilled and aged at Old Pulteney’s windswept home in Wick on the far north Scottish coast, this whisky captures an authentic maritime character that is unparalleled. Old Pulteney Polaris has been carefully matured for four decades in American oak casks with a final seven years spent resting in a single first-fill Spanish oak butt.

Selected for its elegantly complex and perfectly balanced character, this exceptional whisky boasts complex aromas of sea spray that the Maritime Malt is renowned for. On the palate, delicate vanilla and sweet cinnamon pastry come to the fore with a smooth, fine-textured taste featuring Scottish tablet and dark chocolate, ending with a finish of clotted cream. A 1.5 litre bottle with an ABV of 43.6%, the Lot will include a 100ml tasting sample.

The bottle

Honouring the industrial craftsmanship behind each drop of Old Pulteney, the Polaris bottle has been expertly designed and crafted in partnership with local artisans including Tain-based glass merchant Glasstorm to symbolize and celebrate the whisky’s coastal Scottish home. A deep blue glass bottle, represents the crashing waves of the Caithness coast, with intricate inciso cuts creating a rippled effect around the glassware. Caithness slate encases the bottle, symbolising the enduring cliffs found on this part of Scotland’s northerly coastline, and the bottle’s smooth front allows the luxurious mahogany hues of the whisky to shine through. Threads of Caithness silver run along the bottom of the dramatic slate structure to mimic the motion of waves and are beautifully intertwined with cords of copper.

Renowned whisky expert, Dave Broom, praises its remarkable taste: ‘This deep amber whisky opens with a captivating nose of luxurious stone fruits, citrus zest, and a complex evolution toward oxidative notes like medlar and cob nut, lifted by the sensation of a cool seashore breeze. The palate is thick and waxy, mingling soft, late-harvest fruit with cedar-spiced tannins and a hint of salinity, evoking a windswept clifftop. A splash of water reveals greater mineral depth and incense-like spice, while the finish sees the return of fruit after the saltiness fades – mature and balanced.’ 

Award-winning whisky writer, Jonny McCormick, further compliments the whisky’s incredible flavour profile: ‘Old Pulteney Polaris glows rich amber with burnished gold highlights. The first wave of aromas opens with a bold coastal nose of sea spray, molasses cake, nutmeg, and deep oak, before revealing layers of vanilla, espresso foam, and hints of baked apple and peppermint. On the palate, it’s silky and vibrant, with Scottish tablet, citrus peel, and a rolling wave of grilled pineapple, cherry cake, and toasted spice, all carried by a mineral backbone. The finish is indulgent and lingering, merging dark chocolate and coffee with soft oak, clotted cream, and a final lift of white chocolate and nutmeg.’

Fiona Kennie, Marketing Director at International Beverage, said: ‘We are exceptionally proud to be sharing Old Pulteney Polaris with the word today, a project that has been a real labour of love for our team and the skilled designers and local makers in Caithness who have turned our vision into such a magnificent reality. Charity and making a difference in our community is at the heart of our business, so we are very excited to follow the progress of Polaris at this year’s Distillers One of One auction, where we hope our contribution will raise as much money as possible for such an important cause. And for whisky lovers, this is an absolute treasure and a fitting release to mark the countdown to Pulteney Distillery’s 200^th milestone next year, when we will have more exciting new releases with rarity, craftsmanship and Old Pulteney’s authentic maritime character to share.’ 

To register interest in this auction, visit the Distillers’ One of One website.

www.interbevgroup.com

www.oldpulteney.com

About International Beverage

About International Beverage International Beverage is the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Limited Company. The premium spirits company’s portfolio is led by a range of high-quality brands including Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky, Hankey Bannister blended Scotch whisky, Caorunn Gin, PRAKAAN single malt whisky and Phraya Rum from Thailand, Larsen Cognac, and Cardrona spirits and liqueurs.

A certified Great Place to Work, International Beverage’s success is shaped by its 700-strong team based across the business network of nine global sites spanning the UK, France, New Zealand and Greater China, following the company’s recent acquisition of Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB). For more information please visit www.interbevgroup.com

About The Distillers One of One® Auction

One of One® and Distillers One of One® are registered trademarks of The Distillers’ Charity

The Distillers One of One Auction is a biennial series of ultra-rare whisky auctions. The Auctions have raised a total of £4.3 million for charitable purposes since 2021 and uniquely, 100% of the fundraising goes to grant making, with 90% of that amount going to the Youth Action Fund and 10% going to The Distillers’ Charity for its general charitable purposes.

With a total of eighty-one unique lots created across the past two auctions, 37 of which broke world sales records for the distilleries in question, the Distillers One of One has earned its reputation as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for collectors. Each lot is imbued with the spirit of craftsmanship and exclusivity, representing the pinnacle of Scotch whisky. No two bottles are the same, and no lot will ever be recreated – a powerful draw for the most discerning collectors.

The Distillers One of One® is a trading name of The Distillers’ Ventures Limited, a company registered in England & Wales under company number 13264121 and registered office at 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT

Tasting Notes

 Dave Broom

Dave Broom is a freelance writer specialising in spirits since 1995 and was a contributing editor to Whisky Magazine – one of the world’s leading whisky publications – until 201X. An award-winning writer, Dave is the author of a number of books including ‘The World Atlas of Whisky’, now in its third edition. Having built an international following, he is now actively involved in whisky education.

Colour: Deep amber.

Nose: Deep, oily/waxy and even slightly resinous. Immediately, there’s great concentration of luscious fruits: baked peach, apricot, red apple cut with a zesty mix of orange oil and fresh ginger. Layered and chewy (some toffee). The aromas continue to deepen and become more strange and oxidative: bletted medlar, cob nut, old-style cobbler’s workshop, but then given lift by a gorse/whin freshness and the sensation of a cool seashore breeze. Driven by distillate and time, not wood. A gorgeous, old style.

Palate: Thick, waxy texture. Palate-clinging, all fats, sealing wax, late harvest soft fruits with that touch of decay to them. This is immediately contrasted with a jag of the citrus seen on the nose. The fruits become compressed as the oils build, there’s a touch of rabbit glue, while the wood adds silky tannins and its own aromatic, cedary qualities. Things remain soft and flowing before some light salinity tingles on the sides of the tongue. A clifftop walk in a stiff breeze. Lovely balance.

While water is probably best kept on the side to refresh the palate, a drop or two increases the oxidised elements, adding in light sandalwood incense. Now it is more open, more mineralic, a thrilling mix of acidity, toasted wood and savouriness. Mature, wise with a wildness to it.

Finish: The saltiness fades and the fruits return.

Jonny McCormick

Jonny McCormick has been writing about whisky for 20 years and is Contributing Editor for Whisky Advocate magazine (M. Shanken Communications Inc.), the largest spirits title in the United States. He judges the Whisky Advocate Top 20 in New York each year and has reviewed more than 2,000 whiskies as a member of their tasting panel. He was made a Keeper of the Quaich in 2013, and co-wrote Whisky Opus (DK, 2024) with Gavin D. Smith.

 ‘Rich amber with burnished gold highlights. The first wave of aromas breaks from the glass to invigorate the senses with sea spray, molasses cake, nutmeg, leather, oak char, and cacao. Like plunging your nose deep inside the cask, notes of ozone, vanilla pod, resinous oak, Brazil nut, and espresso foam emerge, backed with hints of baked apple, barmbrack, and peppermint. It’s a perfect fusion of the elements, bringing together the heart of the ocean with a heart of oak. With hallmarks of great maturity, such surefooted and memorable olfactory pleasures cannot be rushed.

‘This dram dances on the tongue, silky smooth and fine-textured, a melange of Scottish tablet, soft oak, and vibrant, tangy citrus peel, teasing the taste buds with little bursts of fruit that ebb and flow amid a rolling tide of ocean-lashed oak. Roasted citrus notes evolve, anchored by a firm minerality that enriches the flavour, plotting a course between grilled pineapple, cherry and almond cake, and a hint of gingersnap, before gliding into a deep pool of dark chocolate, coffee, supple oak, and chopped nuts, and sinking into a satisfying finish of clotted cream, white chocolate, and nutmeg.’

Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition 2025 Glen Ord 8 years old

This year’s Summer edition of Equinox & Solstice is a rich and delicious 8 year old Ord, bottled as always at this series’ trademark dramming strength of 48.5%. We made this by marrying together two refill hogsheads of 2017 Glen Ord. The result is a surprisingly rich, sweet and honeyed dram, with a good waxy highland backbone and juicy fruity character. Perfect for summer sipping or powering up your highballs!

$109.98 $99.98

Isle of Harris is an exciting addition to our Party Sourced portfolio. From the Hebridean Islands, Isle of Harris is the first distillery and founded for community. The spirits are generous with quality and expressive flavors. Exceptionally crafted and a must for any bar enthusiast.

Medium peated, to evoke the gentle whiff of village fires, it combines spirit drawn from both bourbon and sherry barrels in careful balance. Complex and full of Isle of Harris character. The first legal whisky from the Isle of Harris. The Hearach single malt whisky was made using soft Outer Hebridean waters from the Abhainn Cnoc a ’Charrain, which runs over the oldest rocks on earth, and 100% Scottish Concerto barley that was lightly peated. This Scotch also benefits from a long fermentation that runs for up to five days, as well as maturation for at least five years in three cask types, Fino butts, first-fill bourbon, and oloroso sherry casks. The island’s unique climate will also play a big role in the profile of The Hearach, which is bottled without chill-filtration or any additional coloring.

INTRODUCING NEW KI ONE

We were delighted to introduce Korea’s first single malt to the UK in August 2024 and now we have three new exciting releases in stock. Each has its own distinct personality. Tiger is sweet and fruit-forward, aged in sherry and wine casks, Unicorn leans smoky and earthy thanks to peated malt, and Eagle showcases that distillery character through its use of bourbon and new-oak.

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