Our August Outturn is live and with it 25 plus new casks – each one a unique whisky with a story rooted in oak.

If you cast your mind back to the most basic parts of whisky-making you’ll know that Scotch whisky can only be matured in oak casks. Ergo, no oak, no whisky. But if you’ve ever looked at the cask types in our Outturn, you’ll notice there are quite a few to choose from.

This month we’ll be breaking down some of those cask types to show the importance and the diversity that oak brings to the world of whisky. It’s time to get into the wood stuff.

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

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

There are many ways to shape a whisky. At Tamdhu, we’ve chosen one, and we see it through without compromise. Every drop we make is matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks. For Cigar Malt, we take that commitment further still.

This is a whisky drawn entirely from first-fill European oak. Nothing else. It forms the first chapter in our Points of Distinction, a closer look at the decisions that shape the character of Tamdhu.

THE CIGAR MALT SERIES

European oak brings a certain authority to maturation. It’s richer, more structured, and unapologetically full in character. From these casks come notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate, and warming spice, layers that build slowly, and stay with you long after the first sip. First fill casks, in particular, offer the oak at its most articulate. They haven’t yet softened. They speak clearly, and they speak with intent. For Cigar Malt, that clarity matters.

Whisky and cigars have long shared the same moment – unhurried, and quietly indulgent.

The Cigar Malt series was created in recognition of that tradition. Not to stand apart from it, but to play its part with precision.

Such a pairing calls for a whisky with presence. One that neither fades nor overwhelms, but holds its place with quiet confidence.

By drawing entirely from first-fill European oak, we achieve that balance – depth without excess, structure without sharpness. A dram that complements the moment, and the company it keeps.

Across each edition, the principle remains unchanged: first-fill European oak, selected with care. What evolves is the way that character is expressed.

Cigar Malt I – A bold beginning. Rich with dark fruits and layered spice, it set the foundation for the series- demonstrating the depth and structure European oak can bring when left uncompromised. Now sold out, it remains a defining first step.

Cigar Malt II – Greater composure emerges. The influence of the oak becomes more measured, with notes of dried fig, orange peel, and soft spice carried on a more rounded, balanced palate.

Cigar Malt III – Complexity deepens. A darker register comes to the fore, think treacle, polished oak, and warming spice, yet with a precision that brings clarity to each layer.

Cigar Malt IV – The most assured expression to date. Here, richness and refinement find their stride together. Notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and gentle spice unfold with control and poise, offering a whisky that is both structured and elegantly composed.

There is a temptation, at times, to do more. We prefer to go deeper. By focusing entirely on first-fill European oak, Cigar Malt reveals just how much character can be drawn from a single, well-chosen path. That’s our first point of distinction. And it’s one we’re proud to stand by.

Old Particular

Paradise in Smoke Collection

Ardnamurchan AD/Madeira Cask Release 2025 52% 70cl

£67.96

Celebrated Scotch distillery Ardnamurchan returns with its first single malt of 2025! And it’s just as delicious and sought-after as its previous bottlings. This expression was distilled in 2018 and initially aged in ex-bourbon casks. It was reracked into Madeira just over two years ago, with a total maturation period of just under seven years. Interestingly, the batch is made from roughly 60:40 unpeated to peated spirit, so there’s real complexity in with the sweetness. The 2025 version is the distillery’s second Madeira release, following the success of autumn 2022’s outing. There are around 19,000 bottles in the batch, so while it’s not as scarce as some Ardnamurchans, we still expect it to fly.

Official tasting notes:

Nose: Cocoa powder, stewed plums, sugared almonds, bread and butter pudding, nutmeg, sandalwood, bracken, fruit scone, red currants.

Palate: Cinnamon sweets, cedar bark, salted trail mix with chocolate chips, rosemary stalks, toffee apple, pine needles, strawberries with black pepper.

Finish: Medium weight, dusty, long and slightly drying finish.

Tomatin 2013 13 Year Old, The Green Welly Stop Exclusive Cask #47411

Bottled exclusively for The Green Welly Stop, this Tomatin single malt was distilled on 12th April 2013 and matured for 13 years in a single first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead. Drawn from cask #47411 and bottled on 15th June 2026, this limited release is presented at natural colour and without chill filtration, allowing the full character of the cask to shine.

£79.99

Outturn: 293 |Year Bottled: 2026 | Age: 13 | Distillery/Company Tomatin |Bottler: Tomatin | Region Highland |Volume 56% |Bottle Size 70cl |Vintage: 2013

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Mannochmore 16 Year Old Chorlton 54.7% 70cl

£105.00

A gorgeously aged, sherry cask expression from Speyside distillery Mannochmore. Drawn from a first-fill Oloroso butt, this traditional expression offers an array of dried fruit, cola, liquorice and syrup notes, with even a touch of leather starting to develop. Just 424 bottles have been released.

Maker’s Mark Launches Airport-Exclusive Artist Series

In time for summer travel, artist Alexandra Pacula brings iconic cityscapes to life in a limited-edition series exclusively for global travel retail

LORETTO, Ky., July 15, 2026 – Maker’s Mark, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced a global travel retail exclusive series featuring custom, city-inspired labels designed by acclaimed artist Alexandra Pacula. Available for a limited time in select airports, the bespoke Maker’s Mark bottles are inspired by destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney and Melbourne,[GM1.1] inviting travelers to discover and collect each release throughout their journeys.

“At Maker’s Mark, we’ve always believed that character comes from doing things differently, and this Artist Series – City Edition brings that idea to life by capturing the distinct spirit and creative energy of iconic cities around the world,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark. “Today’s travelers are looking for experiences that feel personal and memorable, and we’re proud that each beautifully designed bottle is something they can enjoy long after their trip ends.”

Drawing on her signature style of painting inspired by long-exposure photography techniques, Pacula captures each city’s movement, light and rhythm through layered, expressive compositions. Her process mirrors the craftsmanship behind every bottle of Maker’s Mark, with hand-painted details nodding to the brand’s iconic red wax seal.

Pacula said: “Maker’s Mark has a very intentional approach to craft, and I wanted to mirror that in this body of work. I spent time in each city, immersed in its rhythm and atmosphere, and translated those impressions into expressive visuals that bring each label — and each place — to life.”

“Travel retail continues to be a key channel for premium spirits, as consumers increasingly seek exclusive and experience-led purchases during their journey,” commented Ashish Sagar, Interim General Manager, Global Travel Retail at Suntory Global Spirits. “With the brand’s distinctive craftsmanship, the Maker’s Mark Artist Series creates a collectible proposition that truly stands out in airport retail.”

The Maker’s Mark Artist Series – City Edition will be available beginning in Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Singapore (SIN) and Seoul (ICN) airports in July, followed by London (LHR, LGW, STN) and Paris (CDG) in August. The series will continue to roll out in Dubai (DXB), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), and in the United States in New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) in September.
For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.

ABOUT MAKER’S MARK

Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family’s 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon—a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand and every decision guided by the brand’s higher purpose.

Staying true to its founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky. Named World’s Best Wheat Whisky and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business.

Maker’s Mark is proud to be both B Corp and Regenified Certified – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.

Alexandra Pacula (b. 1979, Poland) is a cityscape and landscape artist, focusing on realism through oil painting. She received her BFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, completing her MFA in painting and drawing at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Pacula is fascinated by light and its transformations. About her painting she says, “My work investigates a world of visual intoxication; it captures moments of enchantment, which are associated with urban nightlife… I recreate the feeling of dizziness and confusion by letting the paint blur and allowing shapes to dissolve. I suggest motion in order to slow down the scene and capture the fleeting moments, which tend to be forgotten.”
Represented by Gallery Henoch in New York, Alexandra Pacula’s work is in several public and corporate collections, including Harvard Law School, PACE University, and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation in Tokyo. She has frequently exhibited in solo and group exhibitions.

Deanston Organic 20 Year Old American Oak 49.7% 70cl

£170.00

Big news in the quest for making more sustainable whisky: Deanston Organic 20 Year Old American Oak is here! Deanston was the world’s first certified organic single malt, and this expression is one of the oldest in the world. It’s made using 100% organic Scottish barley, distilled immediately after the distillery’s silent season to make sure there’s zero contamination with other grains. It’s then been matured in organic re-charred American oak casks which let the distillery’s citrus, waxy character shine through. Just 2,826 bottles have been released, without chill-filtration and no added colouring. A fantastic perspective on how whisky can be both delicious and less environmentally damaging.

Tasting note from Deanston:

Nose: Sweet notes of vanilla and caramel are intertwined with cedar, wood spice and hints of ripe fruits.

Palate: Rich, yet dry on the palate. Honey spice, stone fruits, toasted oak and a gentle note of freshly cut grass.

Finish: Lingering finish of desiccated coconut and a touch of cocoa.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD EXPLORES THE PAST AND FUTURE OF SCOTCH WHISKY IN 2026 ODYSSEY COLLECTION

Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, has unveiled its 2026 Odyssey collection – The Auld and the Bold – a celebration of the dialogue between Scotland’s great whisky traditions and a new generation of distillers redefining the category around the world.

Comprising 20 single-cask whiskies, rums and a cognac, The Auld and the Bold continues Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Odyssey series, first launched in 2024,  an ongoing collection of themed annual releases which brings together single cask spirits connected by a mutual influence to form an “Odyssey”.

The Auld and the Bold explores how whisky traditions have travelled beyond Scotland, inspiring producers across the globe while continuing to shape some of the country’s most revered distilleries.

Felix Dear, Spirits Curator at Berry Bros. & Rudd, said:

“For this year’s Odyssey collection, we wanted to explore the relationship between heritage and innovation. Scotch whisky remains the benchmark that has inspired generations of distillers, but some of the most exciting spirits being made today are emerging from places far beyond Scotland.

“The Auld and the Bold brings these worlds together, showcasing both the timeless qualities that define great whisky and the fresh perspectives that continue to push the category forward. Whether the spirit comes from Speyside, Tasmania, Yorkshire or New Zealand, what unites these bottlings is a commitment to character, craftsmanship and a strong sense of place.”

The Scottish whiskies in this release showcase the remarkable breadth of Scotch. From the waxy, time-honoured elegance of Glenlossie 1975 to the fruit-laden character of Glencadam and Blair Athol, finished in an unusual Viognier cask, the collection highlights the diversity of styles found across Scotland. Rich sherry influence shines through Longmorn, Glen Garioch and Tamdhu, while Caol Ila, Williamson and Ruadh Mhor offer distinct expressions of peat and smoke. Together, these casks showcase the patience, provenance and generational expertise that remain at the heart of great Scotch whisky.

Beyond Scotland, the collection shines a light on a new generation of whisky makers inspired by Scotch tradition yet shaped by their own landscapes and climates. Australia’s Lark delivers remarkable depth through Tawny cask maturation, India’s Paul John marries Scottish peat with tropical ageing, while New Zealand’s Thomson brings distinctive Manuka-smoked character to the fore. England’s Spirit of Yorkshire demonstrates the evolution of English single malt, offering a vibrant, fruit-driven style rooted in place and craftsmanship.

Denmark’s Thy and Finland’s Teerenpeli similarly draw on traditional Scotch whisky-making techniques while expressing them through local barley, climate and maturation. Together, these whiskies capture a global whisky renaissance: rooted in Scottish tradition, yet shaped by distinctive terroirs, innovative production and a confident sense of place.

Three Caribbean rums join the collection, highlighting the category’s extraordinary diversity. From Foursquare’s refined tropical character and Diamond’s vibrant fruit profile to the legendary intensity of Caroni, the selection showcases some of the world’s most sought-after rum styles. Completing the release is a 35-year-old early-landed Cognac from Frapin, distilled in France, matured in the UK, and bottled at natural cask-strength.

The Auld and the Bold includes 20 bottlings from 20 distilleries and will be available from July 16^th 2026. All bottlings will be available to purchase from the Berry Bros. & Rudd spirits shop at No. 1 St James’s Street, London.

For more information on Berry Bros. & Rudd and the Odyssey: The Auld and the Bold collection, visit www.bbr.com.

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