Discover the Art of Cask Finishing
This summer, take your tastebuds on a cask-driven adventure. From tequila-kissed coastal Malts to smoky Islay drams aged in rum and red wine casks — and a rich Port-finished Speysider to top it all off — our line-up is a flavour-packed celebration of limited editions, bold finishes, and Whisky without limits.
This August, we have outstanding offers on some of the Islands’ most captivating single malts. Discover the smoky maritime punch of Talisker 18 Year Old, or experience the vibrant character of Talisker The Wild Blue. For something truly special, savour the rich complexity of Ledaig 2006, a whisky that perfectly captures the spirit of the Islands.
These exceptional whiskies won’t be available at these prices for long. Whether you’re adding to your collection or finding a new favourite, now is the time to raise a glass to the Islands.
UNCOVER THE VALUE OF OLD AND RARE WHISKIES
This curated selection of Old & Rare whiskies offers a chance to sample single malt history without breaking the bank. Bottlings like these show us how the style and character of our favourite distilleries has changed over time as materials and techniques have shifted with the passing years.
The lineup will appeal to anyone wishing to expand their whisky collection, as well as finding thoughtful gifts and memorable drams for marking special occasions.
PHOTO CREDIT The Really Good Whisky Company
Convalmore
The Convalmore-Glenlivet Distillery Company was formed on 24.6.1893 with full production commencing on 19th February 1894. It was the fourth distillery to be built in Dufftown, Speyside. The buildings are to an extent still intact and were built close to the railway station which would have been a great benefit for reducing cartage fees. Dufftown architect Donald Mackay designed the distillery. Thanks to the use of gradient gravitation meant only one pump was required within the whole building. Originally power was mainly via a steam engine although, as was quite typical, the wash still rummager was powered by a small water wheel fed by the overflow from the worm tank. Process water came from the Conval Hills as did the distillery name whilst cooling water was from the river Fiddich. Initial shares in the business were mainly taken up by Glasgow brokers and merchants. Peter Dawson, a local from Glenrinnnes, was the managing director. He was formerly a grain and seed merchant in Dufftown learning distilling at Tullymet distillery in Perthshire. Peter Dawson Ltd were established in 1882 and were incorporated into DCL in 1925. Dawson built Towiemore distillery between Dufftown and Keith in 1896. This was a short lived venture, closing in 1930. In 1923 Dawson took over Balmenach in association with James Watson & Co. Ltd. of Dundee as well as MacDonald, Greenlees & Williams. Peter Dawson was also a director in SMD, he is buried at St Ninian’s, Enzie near Buckie.
In 1904 Convalmore Distillery Company went in to voluntary liquidation as a result of the down turn in the industry. March 1905 saw W. P. Lowrie & Co., a Glasgow based warehousing, blending and bottling firm that supplied merchants without such facilities, purchase the company for £6,000. Lowrie also owned Lochruan distillery in Campbeltown where experiments into continuous distillation with malted barley were carried out in 1910. Lochruan closed in 1925.
Lowrie was formerly manager at Port Ellen distillery and had in 1869 set himself up as a whisky broker. There are disputed claims that he was the first to blend malt and grain. It is also said his company was the first to bottle under bond.
After financial difficulties experienced in 1906 by the company Lowrie’s best customer, James Buchanan who got all his stock from Lowrie, bought the business. Lowrie was ready to retired being 75 years old and “invited Buchanan to succeed him as the chairman” of Lowrie’s. The offer meant Buchanan avoided potential supply issues. They had already acquired Bankier distillery in 1903.
A fire devastated Convalmore distillery on 29.10.1909. It seems due to the intensity of the flames and the position of equipment the hoses were unable to be connected to their water sources. As a result locals assisted the fire fight with buckets of water. Between £5,000 and £8,000 of damage was done but the distillery was back operating the following year. Luckily the business was Insured against this eventuality. It is thought the fire may have started due to an electrical fault. Malt barns, the malt mill, mash-house, kiln and tun room were all lost. The stillroom was however saved and the warehousing was also spared the flames. “At its height the flames rose to between 30 and 40 feet. Snow also began to fall, providing a never to be forgotten spectacle.”. It was the worst distillery fire in the area up to that point. Rebuilding of the distillery started promptly after the devastation.
During the post-fire rebuild the single pair of stills were joined by a column still, similarly to the trial at Lochruan, but the experiment was abandoned in 1916 after 6 years due to the resulting poor quality of spirit. It seems the scheme was to make malt rather than grain whisky.
After Buchanan’s became a part of DCL in 1925 Convalmore was transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD) in 1930. William Smith, a Campbeltown man was transferred from managing Lochindaal distillery on Islay to taking charge at Convalmore in 1931.
Like many distilleries no production was seen during the Second World War. From Brian Spiller’s profile of Convalmore: “The distillery accommodated a signals detachment of the 51st (Highland) Division from 1940 to 1942 and then gunners of the 52nd (Lowland) Division until 1944.” The use of offices and malting floors at distilleries by the military during hostilities was not uncommon.
The distillery was connected to the electric grid in the late 1940s although electric light had for some decades been powered via a dynamo driven by a steam engine.
Photo credit https://www.lost-distilleries.ch/
In 1964 the number of stills were doubled to 4, the number of wash backs were also increased at this point from 4 to 6. A new boiler joined the earlier one during these improvements. Another development was that the direct firing of the stills was replaced by steam coil heating around this time. Cooling was via worms in a cast iron tank, unlike many other sites shell and tube condensers never replaced this traditional method. All the stills were onion shaped and roughly held the same capacity. Output did not exceed 1mlpa.
As was common at the time the boilers were converted to oil firing in 1970.
A dark grains plant was built in 1972 but closed in 1983. The plant also handled waste from Craigellachie, Glendullan and Mortlach. There were 32 staff employed when both dark grains and distillery were working.
In 1975 the warehousing was expanded whilst a new stainless steel mash tun was added to the newly built mash house replacing the cast iron original. 6 worker’s houses were located at the distillery.
Production ended in 1985 with output being reduced in the lead up to the closure.
The dormant facility was sold to William Grant, owner of neighbouring Glenfiddich and Balvenie Distilleries, in the early 1990s for use as a maturation and storage facility there being space for 17,000 casks. The dark grains plant was dismantled in 1995. Convalmore’s last manager was a J. Marshall.
Diageo own the rights to the brand.
Among official bottlings there has been a 24yo Rare Malt from 1978 released in 2003. Also a 28yo was bottled in 2005 then a 36yo from 1977 came out in 2013.
Mark Davidson, aka The Jolly Toper Profile
Whisky Situation takes over former CASC Bar in Aberdeen City Center.
After the whisky bar had been in operation as CASC for 10 Years, the bar closed down citing covid & endless construction works in Aberdeen as the nails in the coffin.
Whisky Situation, a newer retailer in the industry, has taken over the bar adding 200 more whiskies to the shelves & removing 12 of the craft beer taps to make way for straight from cask whisky as it ages in the barrels.
Regular events are now run at the bar aiding in the regeneration of Aberdeen City centre.
The CASC store on King Street has also been taken over by the company.
The bar boasts single cask Japanese whiskies & other rare releases as well as cigars, Cuban & New World for smoking on site up on the terrace.
The bar is situated 2 minutes from the train station on 7 Stirling Street.
Whisky Situation Aberdeen is the largest whisky & cigar bar in Aberdeen. Over 600 different whiskies to sample including Chichibu, Yamazaki, Rare Bourbon, Islay varieties, Glenfarclas Family Casks & hard to obtain whisky that are not often opened. We believe whisky is for drinking and will always keep the range exciting, different, ever changing & low priced.
Our Dram price for Yamazaki 18 Year Old starts with a 4! Not a 6 or 7. You will always spend less money with Whisky Situation compared to any other establishment worldwide.
Our selection of cigars include Cohiba, Hoyo De Monterey, H Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, AJ Fernandez, Alec Bradley, Black Market, Montecristo, Punch De Punch, Partagas, Olivia and much more!
Whisky Situation was born to be the most competitive whisky retailer with the largest selection of hard to obtain, rare, single cask, obscure and newly released whisky. As drinkers, we understand exactly what others love, and with a huge passion and thirst (no pun) for new varieties, we also operate out of Aberdeen with the largest whisky bar & shop with the largest selection.
Established in 2023, we already carry more than 2500 different whiskies including Single Malts, Blended Malts, Blended Whisky, Rye, Bourbon, Liqueurs & anything else we can expand to. We work directly with distilleries and independent bottlers to showcase their ranges of products including our own exclusives.
We also operate in Europe with partner bars, establishments, restaurants with our venues expanding to other territories and countries.
Our YouTube Channel contains filming at whisky festivals, events, tastings, product reviews & documentaries. As time passes we will expand our content to cover much more of worldwide events including USA, Japan, Europe and many others that we attend. Guest appearances from musicians, comedians & industry experts are a regular with us.
Whatever your preference or flavour profile, we have something for you in all price ranges and ages catering from 3 Year Old Japanese Chichibu & Mars releases to 50 Year Old + bottles from long established distilleries.
Join Courage Club today to access allocated, member-only whiskies before they’re gone!
Join Courage Club by August 31st to receive the September club shipment. Every quarterly shipment features a Courage Club member-only exclusive whisky…and more!
Member Benefits:
Additional event invitations and discounts
Bunnahabhain lies on the north-eastern tip of Islay and means ‘mouth of the river’. Distillery building commenced in 1881 and the following year full production began. Bunnahabhain is quite distinct from the other Islay single malts – firstly, it is created using unpeated malted barley in a time-honoured distillation process and secondly, this isolated coastal sanctuary takes advantage of the pure spring water that flows freely underground away from the peaty moorlands.
This 25 year old expression adds sweet and spicy notes to the “fruit and nut” signature style of Bunnahabhain.
Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯
Kentucky Distillers’ Association Statement on Return to Zero Tariffs on Bourbon in Canada
We applaud Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to restore reciprocal zero-to-zero tariffs for Kentucky Bourbon and many other remaining goods covered under the USMCA. We hope this action will jump start negotiations on a permanent trade deal, benefiting both American businesses and Canadian consumers seeking to enjoy America’s only native spirit.
We look forward to the day when Canadians can toast the return of Kentucky Bourbon to their provinces and territories, and we thank the leaders of Alberta and Saskatchewan for their earlier decisions to return Kentucky Bourbon and other American alcoholic beverages to their shelves.
— Eric Gregory, Kentucky Distillers’ Association President
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™.
About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™ and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are trademarks/service marks owned by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Don’t let anyone tell you that whisky is just for sipping neat by the fireplace. To prove that the noble dram can be refreshing on a summer’s day, we’ve assembled a selection of light, floral and fruit-forward singe malts and blends that really shine in the warmer weather (while warm weather is still here!).
For a crisp and zesty Japanese whisky, try Suntory Toki. This blend of malt and grain whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries is great neat or in a classic Whisky Highball. Prefer something from Scotland? Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment amplifies the white fruit notes in this classic Speyside through finishing in Somerset apple liqueur casks. And to end a sunny day, we’d recommend a best kept secret of the whisky world, Glencadam 10 Year Old with its elegant blend of fresh orchard fruits and floral vanilla.
When you pick up a bottle of Scotch whisky, you’re holding a hugely complex spirit made from simple ingredients – cereals, water, yeast, and oak. With over 250 distilleries across Scotland’s six main whisky regions – Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbeltown, Islay, and the Islands – there’s a Scotch whisky for nearly every taste. From fruity and floral to smoky and peaty, the styles are shaped by how the whisky is made as much as where it’s made.
If you’re keen to learn more and discover which style suits you best, our Scotch whisky guide will get you started.
