There are few things many whisky connoisseurs love more than a good Single Cask whisky. We have a fantastic selection here at The Whisky Shop.

Take a look at our top picks.

Unique | Different | Interesting

MACALLAN EXCEPTIONAL SINGLE CASK 8167/02
Available now

Relaunched in 2017, the Macallan Exceptional Single Cask series is responsible for some truly spectacular single cask expressions from the 1990s which are often reported to be some of the greatest expressions the distillery has ever released.

This single cask, #8167/02, was distilled on 9th September 2002 and matured in a European oak sherry puncheon for 15 years before being bottled on 2nd May 2018. Selected for the series by Macallan Whisky Maker Sarah Burgess, this expression is limited to just 627 bottles at a cask strength of 60.1% abv.

£2,999 – Buy Now

Learn more here

GLEN SCOTIA 2006 BOURBON CASK THE WHISKY SHOP EXCLUSIVE

Distilled in December 2006 and matured in a single first-fill ex-bourbon barrel for eleven years, this Campbeltown single malt was bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop in April 2018. Just 212 bottles have been filled, each one presented at a cask strength of 55.6% abv.

The nose has juicy fruit notes with a trace of vanilla and a subtle maritime influence. The palate is smooth, with sweet notes from the bourbon cask adding to the classic salty Campbeltown character. The finish brings a gentle spice with oak notes lingering.

£85 – Buy Now

Learn more here

TAMDHU 30 YEAR OLD PLATINUM OLD & RARE
Now in stock

Distilled at Speyside’s Tamdhu distillery in July 1987, this single cask bottling from Hunter Laing & Co.’s Platinum Old & Rare Selection has been matured in a single sherry butt for three decades. Bottled in July 2017 free from chill-filtration and without articial colouring, only 533 bottles have been produced at a natural cask strength of 53.9% abv.

The nose has orange marmalade and candied sweetness with a touch of apricot. The palate brings dried fruits with subtle spices and rich smooth toffee alongside massive sherry notes. The finish has more complex fruits and a developing sweet note atop a hint of honey.

£250 – Buy Now

Learn more here

THE LOCH FYNE SPRINGBANK 28 YEAR OLD

This single cask from Loch Fyne Whiskies in Inveraray was distilled at Campbeltown’s Springbank distillery in 1989 and matured for almost three decades before bottling in 2018 produced just 211 bottles. Presented at a natural cask strength of 40.07% abv, this limited edition was awarded the accolade of Liquid Gold in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019.

Described as “a big, soft, archetypal Springbank that delivers an encyclopaedia of aromas and flavours, from honeyed sweetness to spiced ripe fruit with a long, warming and delicate finish.”

£350 – Buy Now

Learn more here

Round One winners for the 2019 World Whiskies Awards were announced in London on Thursday night, and we’re happy to share that we won two categories and two gold medals!

The category wins mean we’re in the running again for World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt when the final results are announced in late March.

Here are the results:

WINNER: Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt 13-20 years – French Oak Single Cask HH0520

WINNER: Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt 12 years & Under – French Oak Single Cask TD0217

GOLD: Australian Single Cask Single Malt 12 years & Under – Special Cask TD0119

GOLD: Australian Single Cask Single Malt 13-20 years – American Oak Single Cask HH0337

If you were lucky to pick up a bottle of one of these whiskies when they were released, congratulations!

As always, it’s you, our loyal supporters, that allow us to make the world’s best single malt whiskies, so from all of us at Sullivans Cove – Thank you!

EDENCROFT FINE WINES 

Glenfiddich / 21 Year Old Reserva Rum Cask Finish.

After maturing their whisky for 21 years, the Glenfiddich Malt Master adds even warmer and richer flavours by uniquely finishing this single malt in first fill bourbon barrels that once contained rum from the Caribbean.

The rum-soaked cask infuses the aged whisky with a spicy warmth and indulgent vanilla and toffee sweetness, the character of the Caribbean shining through. This gives our whisky a sumptuous sweet intensity that is both rich and creamy yet still retains the unmistakable character of Glenfiddich.

Free Unique cask stave key fob with each bottle. Present your stave at the distillery and they will reward you with an exclusive members-only tour, followed by a special tasting session.

www.edencroft.co.uk

Edencroft Wines & Spirits
8-10 Hospital Street – Nantwich – Cheshire – CW5 5RJ.
01270 629975

Highland Park 2002 Single Cask – Loch Fyne Whiskies Exclusive

We’re down to our very last botles of Highland Park 2002 Single Cask – Loch Fyne Whiskies Exclusive!

Awarded Liquid Gold in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019 with a score of 96 points!

This release from Highland Park’s Single Cask Series is exclusive to Loch Fyne Whiskies. Distilled on Orkney in 2002 and matured in a single refill butt (number 3374) for 15 years before being chosen for bottling for our customers in 2018. Only 458 bottles have been filled, each one at a natural cask strength of 58.4% abv.

Described by Jim Murray as “breathtaking to the point of whisky life changing”!

Final bottles remaining – Get yours whilst stocks last.

MACALLAN RARE CASK BATCH NO.3
Available for pre-order

The third edition in the series of batched releases of The Macallan Rare Cask, this Speyside single malt is crafted from some of the rarest stocks in The Macallan Estate. Each limited batch is created with just 50 sherry seasoned European oak butts. Showcasing the depth and complexity of The Macallan, less than 1% of the stock maturing in The Macallan Estate is deemed worthy to be used in the creation of Rare Cask Batch No.3. This release is presented at 43% abv in a sculpted, heavy glass decanter.

£295 – Pre-order here

Pre-orders being dispatched W/C 11th

Learn more here

OCTOMORE 10 YEAR OLD DIALOGOS
Available for pre-order

This third limited edition 10-year-old from the Octomore range was distilled at Bruichladdich in 2008 using 100% Scottish grown Optic barley. Matured in a selection of bourbon, cognac, port and virgin oak casks, it has been bottled at 56.8% abv and is super-heavily peated at 167ppm. Only 12,000 bottles have been filled as part of the Dialogos series from the Islay distillery.

On the nose there is a rich chocolate and tobacco note, followed by vanilla custard and blueberries. The palate is warming and spicy with tobacco, old leather, icing sugar and a wonderfully earthy peat smoke with an oakyand coconut finish to balance the peat with a touch of vanilla re-emerging.

£160 – Pre-order here

Pre-orders being dispatched 11th February

Learn more here

Glenmorangie Allta
Now in stock

The 10th relese in Glenmorangie’s award-winning Private Edition series, Allta is the distillery’s first single malt to be created with yeast discovered growing wild on Glenmorangie’s own barley. Taking its name from the Gaelic for wild, Allta (pronounced ‘al-ta’) demonstrates the impact yeast has on the flavour of whisky and is bottled at a strength of 51.2% abv, free from chill-filtration.

£79.00 – Order Now

Learn more here

Glendronach 1993 25 year old single cask
Very limited stock remaining

This Highland single malt was distilled in February 1993 at GlenDronach and matured for a quarter of a century in a single Pedro Ximenez puncheon. Chosen exclusively for The Whisky Shop’s customers and bottled in May 2018, only 631 bottles have been produced, each one at a strength of 51% abv.

Described by Charles MacLean as a ‘superlative example of sherry cask maturation’, this impressive dram is an excellent example of The GlenDronach’s ‘big sherry’ style, bringing notes of Christmas cake, dried fruits and dark chocolate.

£210 – Order Now

Learn more here

January Newsletter 2019

Welcome back to our first newsletter of the year. It’s been a cold, cold month but we’re still working hard to make sure we get our goods out to you all!

What a week for our Single Malt Whisky 

Our Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky has been the star of the show this month, receiving some fantastic feedback from some of the biggest food and drink gurus out there.

We woke up on Saturday morning only to spot our whisky on ITV James Martin’s Saturday Morning show, where celebrated wine critic Oz Clarke and James Martin himself shared their thoughts – definitely worth a watch!

Elsewhere, The Evening Standard recommended our flagship whisky as the perfect alternative to a classic Scotch for Burns Night, and Phillip Schofield also had some good words to say in Waitrose Weekend.

With distilleries becoming increasingly popular south of the Scottish border, it’s brilliant to see us flying the flag for English whisky!

Not forgetting our cask strength…

Just as we were about to send out our newsletter, we received some fantastic news – our Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky has been named as Whisky of the Month over on Whiskyexperts.

Fortunately for the ‘translate page’ option, the review makes a great read. Our newest whisky has been described as having ‘great body’ and a ‘beautiful, harmonious balance’ of flavours – we couldn’t ask for more!

If you’d like to learn a little more about our Founder’s Choice, head over to our website.

Click here to learn more

A quick update on our visitor centre 

If you’ve stopped by the distillery recently, you’ll have noticed that our new visitor centre is very nearly finished.

The windows have been fitted, 65% of the Cotswold stone floor has been put in place, and the timber on the exterior is up.

The stairs are due to go up within the next couple of weeks, along with the interior timber cladding.

We’re hoping to unveil the new building in April – it won’t be long until we’re all settled in our new home!

A very warm welcome to the team

We’ve welcomed a few friendly faces over the past month or two as our brilliant team continues to grow.

In the office, Lucy has joined us as our new Sales Coordinator, keeping our accounts and sales team in order!

We’ve also had a couple of new additions to the production side of the distillery – Peter has joined our bottling team and Romy has helped lighten the load as our new Warehouse Operative.

Love is in the air

Chocolates and flowers are lovely, but why not surprise your loved one with one of our Outstanding Natural Spirits this Valentine’s Day?

If your other half prefers to sip on a good dram of whisky instead, our Founder’s Choice Whisky is perfect for that extra special someone.

We have lots to offer, so head to our online store for more ideas.

Click here to browse

Out and about next month

It’s a quiet time of year for events, with this cold weather making everyone want to curl up in front of the fire instead of heading off outside, but Edward will be out championing the Cotswolds cause at a couple of exciting international events in February.

First up, Ed will be attending the Uisge consumer fair in Helsinki, before jetting off to Mumbai for The Vault Biennale – a new premium spirits festival to arrive in the Indian city which will be showcasing some of the best luxury beverages in the world.

As always, keep an eye out on our social media for any upcoming events.

Cotswolds Distillery ~ Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road ~ Stourton ~ Shipston-on-Stour, CV36 5HG ~ United Kingdom

Our Top K&L Exclusive Casks of the Year

We’ve presented more than a few impressive Scotch casks over the course of 2019. Now, as whisky season draws to a close, we thought it the perfect opportunity to re-visit some of our biggest hits. By working directly with a vast network of producers and suppliers, our spirits team has built the top program in the United States. Not only are we selecting many of the finest casks on the market, but we are offering them at ridiculously low prices. This combination of quality, value, and exclusivity has been a sure-fire winner at every turn. From the fabulous Clynelish 23 Year Old from Signatory to the striking and classic Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old from Old Particular, this is Scotch at its very best. The bottlings are not only ideal last-minute gifts for the Scotch lover in your life but they are also excellent finds that will reward collectors for many years to come. You’ll find something for everyone in this exciting lineup.

Tamdhu 19 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

2001 Ben Nevis 18 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

1997 Blair Athol 21 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $109.99 View

1995 Allt-a-Bhain 23 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $119.99 View

1997 Ledaig 21 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $149.99 View

1998 Orkney (Highland Park) 20 Year Old “Thompson Bros.” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $149.99 View

2005 Laphroaig 13 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $159.99 View

1997 Benriach 21 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Rum Barrel Finish Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $169.99 View

1995 Clynelish 23 Year Old “Signatory Vintage Black Label” K&L Exclusive Single 2nd Fill Sherry Butt #11239 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $249.99 View

1988 Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $349.99 View

1995 Caperdonich 24 Year Old “Chieftain’s” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $399.99 View

Springbank 22 Year Old “Sovereign Wax Top” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $399.99 View

Loch Fyne Range

Here in our workshop on the shores of Loch Fyne we do just one thing, and we do it very well. That’s to know what people like in a whisky. You’ve told us everything we need to know and we’ve heard you, because, like whisky, the skill of listening improves with age.

Buy Now

WIN A VIP Trip To The Beautiful Isle Of Raasay Distillery

Isle of Raasay Distillery, the home of R&B Distillers, is perhaps the only distillery in Scotland that provides luxury accommodation within the same building as a working distillery. Designed by local architect Olli Blair and renowned Scottish designer Anne Hunter, the distillery offers six exclusive en-suite bedrooms well-appointed with luxury amenities and comfort with either double or queen size beds, and arguably the best view from any distillery in Scotland.

You could WIN a VIP trip there including including accommodation, breakfast, a distillery tour and whisky tasting.

Buy a bottle of The Tweeddale The Evolution to be in with a chance of winning this wonderful prize.

The Tweeddale The Evolution

The Evolution is the oldest expression from The Tweeddale to date. Inspired by Richard Day’s cellar book, The Evolution is a blend of classic Speyside single malts and a Lowland single grain. All the components of The Evolution have been aged for at least 28 years to create a complex expression that embodies the vision and craftsmanship of the venerable Borders blender.

Nose: Juicy black fruits, with cherries and plums, and just a touch of icing sugar.

Palate: Big and full with Christmas cake, blackcurrant and pear notes, with a sweet fruity quality reminiscent of mulled wine.

Finish: A definite American oak influence with a hint of creamy milk chocolate.

52% ABV

70cl

£175 – BUY NOW to be in with a chance of winning

Isle of Raasay Distillery, the home of R&B Distillers

Located between the ferry terminal and Inverarish, the main village on Raasay, the distillery is well placed for exploring the island’s breath-taking natural beauty and historic sites, including the iconic Dun Caan mountain, Brochel Castle and the enigmatic Calum’s Road.

Order a bottle of The Tweeddale The Evolution now for your chance to win:

• 1x overnight stay for up to 2 people at the Isle of Raasay Distillery in one of the luxury bedrooms
• breakfast served in the Gathering Room during your stay
• 1x distillery tour and whisky tasting for up to 2 people during your stay

Full details can be found here

Old & Rare Whisky – Where do I start?

Since its very beginnings, The Whisky Exchange has had a focus that sets us apart from other whisky shops: we love old and rare whisky. Co-founder Sukhinder started as a collector of old bottles and that grew into The Whisky Exchange – we’ll be celebrating our 20th year online later in 2019, and he’s been collecting even longer.

Why old and rare?

Whisky is far from static. Over the centuries of production, the spirit has changed hugely. From uisge-beatha, an unaged spirit infused with herbs – a proto-gin – it has gradually become the oak-matured whisky that we know and love today.

While we haven’t had a huge jump comparable to the ‘what happens if I put this in a cask?’ moment in recent times, whisky these days is not the same as that produced even as recently as the 1980s. Since the early 1980s, for example, regulations on sherry production have changed the way that sherry casks for whisky have been made; meaning that a sherry-matured whisky from that period might taste significantly different to one produced more recently. Step back further, to whisky distilled in the 1960s, and you can easily find large changes, especially in the types of casks used: bourbon casks revolutionised whisky making when they started appearing in the 1950s, imbuing whisky with new flavours which we now so often take for granted.

Learn more about sherry casks >

Some people like older whisky bottlings for collecting, but for us it’s all about taste. Seeing how the flavours created by the distillers, warehousemen and blenders have changed over the years. Old whiskies aren’t necessarily better, but they are different, and that difference is what we enjoy looking for.

First steps

One of the most common questions we’re asked is, ‘where do I start?’

With so many whiskies available, launching into the world of old and rare bottles can be daunting. But worry not – here are a few easy ways to start your journey.

Old Blends

One problem when first setting out to try older bottlings – especially single malts – is that they can be expensive. If you’re looking for a more reasonably priced place to start and develop your palate, then old blends are great.

The way that whisky has been blended has changed a lot over the years. Ratios of grain whisky to malt have shifted, with older blends often having much higher malt content than we find these days. 50% malt/grain recipes weren’t uncommon, compared to the 20% and lower malt whisky content that we usually find today.

The components of the blends were also quite different to today. Not only were the single malts not the same, with different yeasts, fermentation times and distillation techniques used, but the grain whisky has also changed. Changing tastes and new technology has led to a lighter style of whisky, both of grain whisky and modern blended whiskies.

Stepping back to the 1980s is enough to find whisky of a different style. If you find whiskies from the 1970s and earlier, with components often distilled in the 1960s and further back, things change even more. With just a few bottles you can start to unpick the recent history of whisky.

Buy old & rare blended whisky at The Whisky Exchange >

Whisky Clubs

Our next tip is sharing whisky. While that’s at the heart of all whisky for us, when it comes to old and rare whisky, especially more expensive bottles, it’s worth bringing together a like-minded group to share the costs and, more importantly, the experience. A whisky drunk with friends is almost always better than a whisky drunk alone.

Sharing the tasting experience is even more fun with old and rare whiskies than with modern bottlings. Comparing and contrasting your experience with others is better when the whiskies are unfamiliar, as old and rare drams almost certainly will be, at least to start with.

Outside of informal groups of friends, there are whisky clubs in most major cities around the world – a quick “whisky club” search should turn up at least one entry. And if not, why not start your own?

Bars and whisky shows

The single most useful thing for old and rare whisky fans is a place where they can try them without having to buy a full bottle. While many bars offer the chance to try recently bottled whiskies, there are far fewer that specialise in old and rare releases.

There are also a few whisky shows around the world that cater to an audience who want try interesting old whiskies, from Limburg’s Whisky Fair and the Whiskybase Gathering in Europe to an increasing number of shows in the far east. However, as you’d expect, we’d recommend heading to Glasgow at the end of February for our own event – The Whisky Show: Old & Rare.

In the end, the idea behind them all is the same: gather a selection of the top whisky shops and bars out there, as well as the world’s best-known collectors, hook them up with some whisky fans who want to buy their whisky to try by the dram, and let nature take its course.

Whisky Shows are almost always significantly cheaper than buying the same whiskies by the glass in a bar, with many also offering smaller sample sizes than you find in bars – a 1cl pour is standard at The Whisky Show: Old & Rare. You don’t need much of a whisky to be able to tease apart its character, and with 1cl pours you always have the chance to go back for more if you love a whisky. And one thing’s certain when you drinking old and rare whisky – you’ll find something you’ll love.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – Old & Rare Whisky – Where do I start?