The Antiquary reveals its selection of classic blended whiskies for Father’s Day 

Highland distiller Tomatin has recommended three classic expressions from The Antiquary, one of Scotland’s oldest whisky brands, as the ideal gifts for discerning dads this Father’s Day (Sunday 15 June).

Following in the footsteps of The Antiquary’s founders, J&W Hardie, who were known for being innovative for their time, The Antiquary focuses on flavours that appeal to modern drinkers while reflecting the history of the brand and its reputation for offering an unusually high malt content.

Each age-statement blend is presented in luxurious packaging, designed to appeal to dads seeking both style and substance this Father’s Day. The elegant bottles, inspired by antiques of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, accentuate The Antiquary’s vintage style with a modern edge, guaranteeing a gift which will take pride of place in any drinks cabinet.

 The Antiquary 15 Year Old

RRP £45.50 | ABV 40% | 70cl

A blend of fine whiskies married in red wine claret casks from the Bordeaux region of France, The Antiquary 15 Year Old offers mahogany, polished leather, pipe tobacco, candied orange, grilled peaches and cloves on the nose, with rhubarb, tamarind, raspberry coulis and vanilla on the palate, leading into a medium finish with warming fruit jam.

Available from www.tomatin.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

The Antiquary 21 Year Old

RRP £96.50 | ABV 40% | 70cl

Imparting its distinctive flavour from tawny port casks sourced from the Symington Family Estates in Portugal, The Antiquary 21 Year Old is a truly special age statement release to gift this Father’s Day.

This exceptional blend presents camphor, hessian, cut hay, burning heather, dark mocha, saffron and vanilla on the nose, with spiced plum, wild strawberries, dark chocolate, charred game and orange on the nose and finishing with sea salt and red fruits.

Available from www.tomatin.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

The Antiquary 30 Year Old

RRP £295 | ABV 40% | 70cl

The Antiquary 30 Year Old has been married for more than three years in sherry casks sourced from Jerez, creating hints of passionfruit, mango, grilled pineapple, maple syrup, hints of smoked bacon and aged timber on the nose. Tropical fruit, syrup and rich oak spice are present on the palate, with beeswax, heather honey and a waxy tropical fruitiness on the finish.

Available from www.tomatin.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

For more Father’s Day inspiration, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tasting notes

Antiquary 15 Year Old

Nose: Mahogany, polished leather, pipe tobacco, candied orange, grilled peaches and cloves.

Palate: Rhubarb, tamarind, raspberry coulis and vanilla.

Finish: Medium with warming fruit jam.

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.

Antiquary 30 Year Old 

Nose: Passionfruit, mango, grilled pineapple, maple syrup, hints of smoked bacon and aged timber.

Palate: Tropical fruit, syrup and rich oak spice.

Finish: Beeswax, heather honey and waxy tropical fruitiness.

The Antiquary is one of Scotland’s oldest whisky brands.

In 1857 John & William Hardie established themselves as wine merchants in a small office and warehouse in Edinburgh. Being small and independent, they were free to experiment. The Victorian boom in Scotch got them curious about blended whisky and so began their quest to create a blend a cut above the rest using their skills as wine merchants to identify the very best whiskies to include in their blended Scotch whisky.

In 1888, using fine and rare malts, they created a blend considered superior to all others. Inspired by a Sir Walter Scott gothic novel – a book redolent with family secrets, stories of hidden treasure and hopeless love – they named it The Antiquary.

Changing ownership throughout the years The Antiquary was eventually purchased by Tomatin in 1996.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo International.

It has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when whisky production was likely to be taking place illicitly in the area. Today, it produces some of the finest single malts and blends including Tomatin, The Talisman, Big T, and Cù Bòcan.

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.

A Bold Legacy

Watch the exclusive Whisky Magazine documentary exploring House of Hazelwood’s most ambitious project yet: One For The Next

This is a Partnered Promotion with House of Hazelwood

Whisky Magazine is proud to present a new short documentary film in partnership with House of Hazelwood: One For The Next. This exclusive 20-minute feature takes you deep inside Hazelwood House, the private Speyside home of the Gordon family, to uncover the origins of an extraordinary release and the start of an exceptionally ambitious maturation project.

At the heart of the story is a exceptionally rare 60-Year-Old Single Grain Scotch whisky from Girvan Distillery in Ayrshire, drawn from casks filled in 1964. Only 25 decanters of this whisky have been bottled. The rest will continue to mature — with the ambition to bottle future releases at 70, 80, 90 and 100 years old.

This film explores not just the craftsmanship behind this release, but the philosophy behind it: whisky not as an investment, but as a legacy — a gift to be shared across generations.

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For collectors, connoisseurs, and those who value the long view — this is one film, and one whisky, not to be missed.

Have you heard the dad joke about drams? No? Never mind, it’s quite a whisky one!

That terrible pun aside, if you’re looking for a gift for dad, our Father’s Day Flight tasting pack might be just the thing.  Each one of the three specially curated 50ml single malts in this tasting pack is a unique character – just like the big man himself.

BUY THE PACK 

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

Lochlea reveals first sherry and peat combination with Cask Strength #3

Curated by Jill Boyd, Lochlea’s new Master Blender

Award winning farm-to-cask Lochlea Distillery has unveiled Cask Strength Batch 3 – the latest release in its annual series of limited-edition cask strength bottlings – and a first in flavour profile for the independently owned distillery.

This year’s release marks a bold evolution in Lochlea’s Cask Strength series, combining rich Oloroso sherry with distinctive Islay peat – a pairing never before explored by the distillery. It also represents a significant milestone for Lochlea’s Master Blender Jill Boyd, who joined the distillery in late 2024 and has led the selection and blending of Cask Strength Batch 3 from start to finish.

Jill carefully selected whisky that has been matured in a combination of Oloroso Sherry Butts and Ex-Islay peated casks, creating a final spirit that balances richness and depth with a surprising twist of smoke. Cask Strength Batch 3 delivers a captivating nose of ripe red fruits and savoury BBQ smoke, followed by a rich palate of cherries and dark molasses lifted by warming ginger cake, toasted rye and charred wood smoke. The long, layered finish lingers with baking spice, salty smoke, and oaky tannins intertwining with delicate floral notes of red roses to create a bold new take on Lochlea’s signature style.

Each batch of Lochlea’s Cask Strength whiskies are carefully blended and bottled without any dilution, so every sip is just like trying samples from the warehouse itself. This latest release follows Cask Strength Batch 2 released last summer that had been matured in a combination of PX, Oloroso and STR casks showcasing a depth and complexity. The inaugural Cask Strength expression in 2023 was a combination of spirit matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels and Oloroso Sherry casks, working particularly well at high strength to amplify the fruit, nut and cereal flavours that form Lochlea’s house spirit style.

Jill commented: “I am especially proud of Cask Strength Batch 3 as it has been my first opportunity to curate one of our whiskies from concept to bottle, putting my own mark on our range. I wanted to push the boundaries of our house style with something bold and different.  As many whisky lovers will know, sherry and peat are both hugely popular flavour profiles, and we saw an opportunity to bring them together in a way that feels fresh and bold, yet rooted in our distillery’s DNA. It’s complex, it’s warming, and it’s got a smoky twist making it the perfect dram to enjoy with a BBQ in the sunshine!”

Availability & pricing:

Like all Lochlea’s whiskies, Cask Strength Batch 3 has no added colouring and is non-chill filtered. It has been bottled at  59.8%  and has an RRP of £67. It is available from Lochlea stockists from 29^th May 2025 onwards. For a full list of Lochlea stockists, visit: Lochlea Distillery stockists

Cask Strength Batch 3 – Tasting notes: 

Nose: Rich and juicy, with lots of ripe red fruits, and a hint of smoky bacon

Palate: Cherries, ripe berries, ginger cake, dark sugar, dark rye and BBQ smoke

Finish: Long and rich, with baking spice, salty smoke, red roses and oaky tannins woven through

Lochlea’s core range product: 

Lochlea is a farm-to-cask independent distillery growing all of its own barley on its farm. It also has a core whisky expression available all year round – Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley.

About Lochlea Distillery: www.lochleadistillery.com

Lochlea was originally a 222 acre livestock farm before being purchased by Neil and Jen McGeoch in 2006. After much consideration of the future of the farm and a successful trial to grow its own barley in 2015, the couple transformed the land and existing farm buildings into a fully-operational distillery in 2017 and started distilling the following year. The farming side has remained a unique part of Lochlea, with the move into barley production – paving the way for Lochlea to be one of the very few fully grain-to-cask distilleries in Scotland. It also has a rich Scottish heritage with strong links to Robbie Burns, with the bard having worked and lived on the farm a several years.

ABOUT THE WHISKY

This expression, matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks, recognising Mackintosh’s time in Europe, presents a beautiful, deeply coloured whisky with flavour characteristics that have been allowed to develop naturally over time.

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TASTING NOTES
EXPLORE COLOUR, NOSE, PALATE & FINISH

COLOUR Deep oak.
NOSE Rich dried fruits, raisins and fig, polished oak, cherry, orange, almonds and treacle.
PALATE Sweet oak, raisins, vanilla and ginger, apple and a wisp of leaf tea.
FINISH Long, sweet, rich and full.
ABV 50.4%

The Macallan Distillery Experience,  The Macallan Distillers Ltd,  Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie,  Moray,  AB38 9RX,  Scotland

2010 Tormore 14/15 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finished Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $74.99 View

The Speyside Distillery Tormore was one of the first new distilleries that were built in the 20th century. It’s more known for its unique and pretty architecture than for its Whiskies which predominantly are used for Blends. Tormore Distillery was granted the status “listed buildings” in 1986 although it was less than 30 years old then. The Gaelic name “Torra Mhoir” means “the big hill”.

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

GORDON & MACPHAIL UNVEILS FINAL RELEASE IN ‘MR GEORGE’ LEGACY SERIES

Gordon & MacPhail has revealed the fifth and final release in the Mr George Legacy Series – an ultra-rare 70-Year-Old whisky celebrating ‘The father of single malt Scotch whisky’, Mr George Urquhart, and his lifelong quest in pursuit of the perfect dram.

Only 130 bottles available worldwide, Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery honours the single malt whisky pioneer and marks Gordon & MacPhail’s 130^th anniversary. Due to ‘Mr George’s’ affection towards Glen Grant Distillery, this exclusive single malt follows the previous four in the series. The liquid was distilled on 24^th April 1954, having been left to mature in cask no. 1823, a first-fill sherry puncheon for 70 years.

Bottled in January 2025 at a cask strength of 50.5%, the whisky is bursting with fruity notes with vanilla fudge and coffee on the nose, and a smooth taste that includes red apple, walnut, dried orange peel, dark chocolate and toasted oak flavours. The release is priced at £8,000 and available to purchase worldwide. *

This edition’s packaging recognises ‘Mr George’s’ pursuit of perfection, and his life’s dedication to exploring different combinations of spirit, cask and time. Fondly known by those who knew him best as ‘Mr George’, second-generation member of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, played a pivotal role in the success and popularity of single malt Scotch whiskies.

In the late 1960s, Mr George launched the Connoisseurs Choice range. Since its creation, the range has featured over 2,000 releases from almost 100 distilleries. By harnessing relationships with Scotland’s distillers and sending Gordon & MacPhail’s casks to be filled with new-make spirit, ‘Mr George’ became a pioneer in the combination of spirit, cask and time, creating and bottling iconic single malt whiskies in the process.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “The fifth and final release from the Mr George Legacy Series is the perfect tribute to my grandfather’s lifetime of work, which still impacts our approach today. As we celebrate our 130^th anniversary, we not only honour the past but also inspire future generations to continue the innovation and craftsmanship championed by ‘Mr George’.

“As a fourth-generation, family-owned business, we want to commemorate our historic roots and while the Mr George Legacy Series may culminate with this release, my grandfather’s quest for perfection lives on within Gordon & MacPhail.”

Charlie MacLean, whisky writer and expert, added: “Mr George joined his father, John, in the family business in 1933. Over the next seventy years, he established close relations with distilleries throughout Scotland. He was arguably the world’s foremost expert in combining spirit, oak and time, and is justifiably described as ‘The Father of Malt Whisky’.

“This final release in the series is surprisingly vibrant for such an old whisky, but with the multi-layered complexity that can only be developed by long-maturation in the right cask. A whisky worthy of Mr George Urquhart, who will have selected the cask and who would have been proud of the result.”

The Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery is available to purchase from www.gordonandmacphail.com. #GordonandMacPhail

*Prices may vary in international markets.

Tasting notes for all five Mr George Legacy series releases are as follows:

First edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1953 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 59.4%

Colour: Darkest mahogany

Nose: Soft aromas of beeswax polish give way to stewed fruit and toasted hazelnuts. Subtle orange peel complements rich ginger notes.

Taste: Autumnal spice and ripe plum flavours combine with light blackcurrant undertones. Treacle comes to the fore alongside a light touch of fresh mint.

Finish: A full-bodied and long finish with lingering fruit, spice and a delicate hint of bonfire embers.

Second edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1957 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.1%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Rich fruitcake aromas intertwine with festive spices; cinnamon and ginger. Notes of Orange marmalade are accompanied by dark treacle and a hint of beeswax polish.

Taste: Morello cherries are followed by subtle dried tobacco and garden mint. Ripe red apple undertones combine with citrus peel and soft aniseed.

Finish: A spicy full-bodied finish with lasting flavours of forest fruit and charred oak.

Third edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1959 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.5%

Colour: Amber

Nose: Autumnal spice aromas intertwine with sweet-dried fruit and demerara sugar. Soft citrus zest comes to the fore alongside beeswax polish and walnut.

Taste: Stewed red fruit flavours lead to Seville orange with a hint of garden mint. Tart raspberry notes develop accompanied by cocoa powder and mature oak.

Finish: A full finish with lingering cinnamon and forest fruits.

Fourth edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.5%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and a hint of cocoa powder.

Taste: Smooth and full bodied. Seville orange peel and morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak notes comes to the fore with a touch of liquorice.

Finish: Long and balanced finish with a faint hint of smoke.

Fifth (and final) edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery 

ABV: 50.5%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Light leather aromas lead to stewed prune, spicy clove and hints of blueberry compote. Vanilla fudge and roast coffee notes develop alongside subtle cherry.

Taste: Smooth with red apple, walnut and dried orange peel flavours giving way to tobacco and caramelised banana. Dark chocolate and spices combine with toasted oak.

Finish: Medium finish with a hint of smoke and lingering fruit.

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

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 spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its casks.  It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

2014 Bowmore 10/11 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $99.99 View

This fabulous barrel of Bowmore was distilled on July 2nd of 2014 and filled into a 2nd fill bourbon barrel. The wonderful distillery on the banks of Lochindaal remains one of the most under appreciated properties in Scotland. While of course we know Bowmore has a track record of producing some of Scotland’s legendary expressions, for many years the distillery has done very little to continue the legacy of it’s previous offerings. Not to say the distillery isn’t producing excellent whisky, but the most exciting whiskies coming from this special distillery are always bottled by independents.

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

WHAT IS AUSTRALIAN WHISKY?

Australia’s long-standing brewing and winemaking industries, combined with a strong craft culture, laid the foundation for a whisky movement that’s now in full swing.

A new generation of producers has embraced a locally driven approach. Many use casks that once held Australian fortified wines, which can add savoury, fruity depth to whisky. Others work with rye from single farms, which offer earthy, spicy or nutty notes. In places like Melbourne, dramatic swings between hot and cold speed up the ageing process, often leading to bolder, more intense flavours in a shorter time.

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