Brora is one of the great ‘lost’ distilleries and its reputation has only grown since shuttering in 1983. Situated between Inverness and Wick on the Scottish Highlands’ east coast, this remote site created some of the most revered single malts of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Must Have Malts to Offer Full Glenfarclas Pagoda Reserve for First Time
The Glenfarclas Pagoda Reserve, one of the rarest and most luxurious Scotch whisky collections ever created, will be made available as a full set for the first time since its original release in 2016. Only ten full sets were released worldwide. Must Have Malts, the online retailer and wholesaler of rare and limited whiskies, is the only known seller to hold a complete, intact set of the Pagoda Reserve and will now offer all fourteen bottles to interested connoisseurs and collectors.
The Pagoda Reserve was borne from a collaboration between three legends in the whisky world: the family-owned Glenfarclas Distillery, The Whisky Corporation, and internationally renowned glassmakers Glencairn. The collection was released in two parts. The original Pagoda Reserve Trilogy consists of Gold, Silver, and Bronze editions. The Final Pagodas are themed around the precious stones of Ruby and Sapphire. Each edition saw an extremely limited release, with as little as ten bottles made available of the rarest whiskies. The Pagoda Reserve features some of the oldest Glenfarclas single malts ever bottled, with ages ranging from 43 to 63 years and casks laid down as far back as the 1950s.
Glenfarclas is one of the last truly independent whisky distilleries in Scotland. Located in the famed Speyside region, the distillery started production somewhere in the late 18th century. In 1865, it was bought by John Grant and his son George. Over 160 years later, Glenfarclas is still owned and managed by the Grant family.
The Pagoda Reserve project is helmed by sixth generation member George Grant and is made possible thanks to the family’s extensive stock of maturing whiskies, which stretches back over eight decades.
The Pagoda Reserve Series has been specially created for the Asian market in collaboration with The Whisky Corporation, located in Hong Kong and Singapore. Most of these bottles have never been in the market before and are now being made available through an investor from Singapore working together with Must Have Malts, who has decided to release them to the market. The series pays homage to the pagoda-shaped roof that can be found on distilleries all around Scotland—a popular symbol of Scotch whisky in the far east.
This quintessential feature, officially called the ‘Doig Ventilator’, was invented at the end of the 19th century by famous distillery architect Charles C. Doig (1855–1918), who drew inspiration for the design from Asian architecture. The kiln ventilator helps ventilate a distillery’s malthouse, where the barley is converted into malt. As most distilleries don’t operate their own maltings anymore, these days pagoda roofs are often purely decorative—but no less iconic.
The luxurious crystal decanters for the Glenfarclas Pagoda Reserve have been crafted by Glencairn Crystal, world-renowned for its distinctive tulip-shaped whisky glass. Scott Davidson, Product Development Director at Glencairn, describes it as “one of the most elaborate and complex projects that Glencairn has ever done.”
The decanters for the original Pagoda Reserve Trilogy were specially engraved with intricate graphics of Chinese Guardian Lions, and finished with precious metals of brass, silver, and gold. For the Final Pagodas, a staggering ten thousand rubies and ten thousand sapphires were used to embed the age statement. Additionally, each decanter is topped with a handcrafted pagoda-shaped stopper. “I honestly believe nothing will ever come close to what we have done here. It was off the charts,” says Scott Davidson.
MustHaveMalts.com was founded in 2014 by Alwin Kuiken, Pim Wijers, and Thomas Verbeek, who are still at the helm. The organization operates internationally as an online retailer and wholesaler specializing in rare and collectible whisky and bourbon.
Torabhaig Signature Reserve Tokaji Cask Finish ABV: 59.3% 70 cL
This special release was distilled on the 6th of February 2020 at the Torabhaig Distillery on the Isle of Skye. The Tokaji Cask Finish created a richly layered whisky with notes of dried fruit, apricot and treacle. It was bottled as a part of Signature Reserve Series, which consists of small batch bottlings, always drawn from a single cask. Bottled without chill-filtration or artificial colouring.
Torabhaig Distillery, opened in 2017 on the Isle of Skye, is a young but seriously characterful operation built inside a restored 19th-century farm steading overlooking the Sleat peninsula. It focuses on producing robustly peated single malt shaped by long fermentations, traditional copper stills, and Skye’s damp, maritime climate. The whisky leans into earthy smoke, coastal salinity, barley sweetness, and a clean, slightly herbal edge, often matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks to keep the flavours bright and structured. With its combination of old stone buildings, modern craft, and a clear dedication to smoky, island-driven whisky, Torabhaig has quickly carved out its own identity on Skye.
Inspired by Fresh Coconut is the sixth and final part of Macallan’s Harmony Collection. Made in collaboration with TimeSpirit, the Macallan estate’s dining experience that’s overseen by the renowned El Celler de Can Roca restaurant in Girona. Through careful cask selection, this expression evokes fresh coconut and zesty lime, with layers of vanilla, gentle sweetness, tropical fruit and nuanced spicing.
In our first Points of Distinction, we explored the role of first-fill European Oak in shaping the character of Tamdhu Cigar Malt.
Rich, structured and deeply complex, European Oak brings a distinctive intensity to sherry cask maturation. This time, I’d like to turn our attention to a different oak and, if I’m honest, my personal favourite. For the second chapter in our series, we explore the Distinction Series, a collection of limited releases dedicated entirely to the influence of American Oak Oloroso sherry casks.
As Distillery Manager, I’m often asked whether I have a favourite style of maturation. While every cask has its place, I’ve always had a particular fondness for American Oak. There is an elegance to it – a brightness of fruit, a natural sweetness and a remarkable ability to bring balance to a whisky. The Distinction Series is our opportunity to celebrate that character in full.
Every Tamdhu is matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks. Yet within that commitment, the oak species plays a remarkable role in shaping flavour. Where European Oak brings structure, spice and depth, American Oak reveals a brighter, softer character. Rich orchard fruits, gentle vanilla sweetness and elegant balance emerge over time, creating a different expression of sherry cask maturation. Neither is better than the other. Each brings its own perspective. The Distinction Series exists to celebrate that difference.
Just as Cigar Malt explored the power of European Oak, Distinction celebrates the remarkable influence of Quercus Alba – American Oak. Its journey begins in the forests of North America before travelling to Spain’s renowned sherry triangle, where the casks are crafted over the course of six years. The wood is left to air dry beneath the Mediterranean sun. Skilled coopers assemble and toast each cask before the all-important Oloroso sherry seasoning begins. Only then do the casks make the journey to Speyside. By the time they arrive at Tamdhu, years of dedication have already gone into their creation.
Across each release, one principle remains unchanged: a celebration of the influence and individuality of American Oak Oloroso sherry casks.
The inaugural release introduced the philosophy behind the series. A celebration of first-fill American Oak Oloroso sherry casks, it showcased the vibrant fruit character, natural sweetness, and elegance that Quercus Alba can bring to sherried whisky.
Building on that foundation, Distinction II revealed greater depth and complexity while remaining unmistakably shaped by American Oak. Rich fruit flavours and refined spice demonstrated how these exceptional casks continue to evolve over time.
A tribute to whisky dedication from beginning to end. From the forests of North America to the cooperages of Spain’s sherry triangle and finally the warehouses of Speyside, Distinction III celebrated every step in the remarkable journey of an American Oak sherry cask.
The latest chapter is perhaps the purest expression of the series’ purpose. American Oak delivers its trademark elegance through aromas of malt loaf drizzled with crème anglaise, lifted by a subtle note of lemon zest and fresh mint. On the palate, smooth oak gives way to morello cherries and dark chocolate, before waves of sherried oak give way to a lingering finish of honey-dipped figs.
This series is available through selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK, USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Asia and Australia. Please contact your preferred stockist for availability and further details.
In our first Points of Distinction, we explored the depth and structure of European Oak through the Cigar Malt series. This chapter celebrates a different side of sherry cask maturation. American Oak has long been a personal favourite of mine. Its ability to deliver fruit, sweetness and elegance while allowing the spirit to shine is something I’ve admired throughout my career. The Distinction Series is our tribute to that character, from the oak forests of North America to the final dram in the glass.
That is our next point of distinction.
Caperdonich Cask #7441 Caperdonich 50 Year Old 1972 Murray McDavid ULTRA
Caperdonich 50 Year Old 1972 is an extraordinary and vanishingly rare Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by Murray McDavid for the prestigious ULTRA series.Caperdonich 50 Year Old 1972 is an extraordinary and vanishingly rare Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by Murray McDavid for the prestigious ULTRA series. Distilled on 7th November 1972 and bottled on 18th July 2023, this remarkable whisky spent over half a century maturing in single cask #7441, yielding just 100 bottles. As one of the oldest surviving examples from the long-closed Caperdonich Distillery, it represents a truly historic piece of Scotch whisky heritage. Five decades of patient maturation have transformed the spirit into a masterpiece of complexity and elegance.
The whisky displays a stunning tropical fruit profile often associated with legendary long-aged Speyside malts, layered with honeyed cereals, vanilla, waxy richness, and beautifully integrated oak. Murray McDavid’s ULTRA series celebrates exceptional vintage whiskies shaped by time, and this release stands among the finest examples of mature Caperdonich ever bottled.
The Caperdonich 50 Year Old 1972 Murray McDavid ULTRA is a truly exceptional vintage Scotch whisky, combining rarity, history, and extraordinary flavour developed over five decades of maturation. Rich with tropical fruits, honeyed sweetness, waxy complexity, and elegant oak influence, it is a once-in-a-generation whisky for serious collectors and connoisseurs of the world’s finest mature single malts.
Nose Fresh peaches, apricot cream, vanilla pods, and sweet barley sugars with hints of pineapple, pine resin, and delicate oak.
Palate Intensely tropical and vibrant, revealing flavours of pineapple cubes, honeyed cereals, sweet ginger, buttery pastry, and exotic fruits.
Finish Exceptionally long and elegant, with lingering tropical fruit sweetness, waxy richness, soft spice, and mature oak complexity.
Caperdonich Distillery, established in 1897 beside the North of Scotland Railway in the northwestern corner of Rothes, fired up its two stills just a year later. Unfortunately, it opened during a downturn in whisky demand and closed in 1902, remaining mothballed until 1965 before permanently shutting down in 2002. Demolished in 2011, Caperdonich remains a lost Scottish Speyside malt whisky distillery, with most of its production historically destined for blended Scotch. However, a small volume of Caperdonich whisky still appears through independent bottlers, notably in the Old & Rare single cask releases by Hunter Laing, preserving this distillery’s memory for whisky enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
The Enduring Appeal of Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis may not have the name recognition of a Mortlach or Springbank, but it is more than worth your time. Nestling below Britain’s highest mountain, the whisky made here has a reputation for being an ‘old fashioned’ Scotch whisky, but this is far from an insult.
ENGLISH WHISKY HIGHBALL
How to Serve
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour over 50ml Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky, add a dash of peach bitters, top with soda water and garnish with a lemon twist.
Single malt from Glendronach Distillery from the Highland region of Scotland. Distilled on the 28th March 2006, and aged for 20 years in a refill bourbon barrel, it’s oily, waxy, with fruity notes of apple, orange and lemon and hints of coffee. Bottled on 13th April 2026 by Woodrow’s of Edinburgh, at natural cask strength, natural colour and no chill filtration. Limited to 205 bottles.
Tax included.
The third installment from Isle of Raasay Distillery’s Oak Species Maturation Series, which places the spotlight firmly on the botanical species of oak. This year’s expression highlights the distinctive character of Hungarian Quercus petraea, sourced from the Zemplén Mountains. Selected not as virgin oak like previous releases, but in the form of seasoned ex-Oloroso sherry barriques. Peated and unpeated spirit, made with 100% Scottish barley, are matured separatley in this distinctive cask type. Hungarian oak is renowned for its slow growth and exceptionally tight grain, allowing for a more controlled interaction between spirit and wood. This results in a whisky of remarkable depth and balance, where spice, sweetness and smoke are intricately layered.
Raasay Distillery, opened in 2017 on the Isle of Raasay off Scotland’s west coast, is a small, modern craft distillery known for producing lightly peated single malt shaped by the island’s rugged maritime climate. Its whisky is made from local mineral-rich water, long fermentation, and a mix of peated and unpeated spirit matured in a distinctive combination of casks such as rye, Chinkapin oak, and Bordeaux red wine, giving it layers of smoke, spice, and dark fruit. The distillery sits in a restored Victorian house with sweeping views across to Skye, and its visitor experience blends contemporary design with island heritage, making it one of Scotland’s most scenic and characterful new-wave whisky destinations.
