SALTIRE RARE MALT DEBUT CIGAR MALT SERIES

Saltire Rare Malt, independent whisky bottlers based in Falkland, Fife – the birthplace of Scotch Whisky – has released bottles from their brand-new exclusive range of rare whiskies; the Cigar Malt Series – the first is a luxurious limited-edition 18-Year-Old from a ‘lost distillery’ in Speyside – the bottler’s oldest release to date.

Scotland’s newest independent whisky bottlers Saltire Rare Malt has released the first bottles from their brand-new limited-edition collection, the Cigar Malt Series. Distilled at the ‘lost distillery’* of Speyside Distillers, the 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the company’s oldest whisky release yet.

With only 336 bottles available, priced at £162 each – this is the first in a brand-new series from the Falkland whisky bottlers. Bottled at 48.8% ABV, the liquid has a deep-copper richness in colour, heavily influenced by 1st Fill Pedro Ximenez and Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola casks.

The Saltire Rare Malt Cigar Series whiskies are designed to be the perfect partner for the finest, premium cigars. The first in the collection is available to buy online at their website now: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/

Saltire Rare Malt works with world-renowned whisky experts Hans & Becky Offringa — known internationally as ‘The Whisky Couple’ — who personally curate the entirety of the Saltire Rare Malt Collection. ‘The Whisky Couple’ describe the first in the Cigar Malt Series from Speyside Distillers as having a “beautiful copper colour*” with notes of “unripe pineapple, spicy oak, and maple syrup on pancakes” followed by “a maraschino cherry infused with Angostura bitters, milk chocolate, and a hint of liquorice in the finish.”

‘The Whisky Couple’ bring over 50 years of unrivalled industry experience and are a trusted part of the Saltire family. With incomparable guidance and advice, if curators Hans & Becky disapprove of a sample, the cask will not be bottled.

Commenting on the release of the Cigar Malt Series, Saltire Rare Malt Founder & Director Keith Rennie said: “We are so proud to announce the first release from our brand-new Cigar Malt Series. It’s an idea we’ve been discussing for a while, and once we saw the reaction from our trusted whisky experts Hans & Becky, we knew we had created something very special. 

“Pairing the perfect whisky with the perfect cigar is one of life’s great pleasures, a ritual we know our loyal fans of Saltire Rare Malt will love. The visual beauty of the rich, copper colour combined with the complex, sweet & fruity mouthfeel of the liquid makes for an all-round joyous sensory experience. One of the most exciting parts of what we do at Saltire is witness the reaction to our brand-new whiskies – we’re confident our whisky fans will adore this release.” 

AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION

Saltire Rare Malt are bottlers of a unique range of limited-run single malt whiskies. The independent bottling company was born from a longstanding partnership between friends & Founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie. The pair have worked together for three decades, before moving into the whisky world to collect fine and rare single malts.

Since launching their first bottles in 2024, Saltire Rare Malt can now be found across the UK, as far as Japan, Latin America and the Netherlands as they welcome new stockists in Belgium and Uruguay. In 2025, the company has now assembled an unrivalled team of whisky veterans boasting over a century of combined industry experience.

The Saltire Rare Malt Collection is available to buy online on their website at: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/

NOTES 

– – *Saltire Rare Malt; Cigar Malt Series – Speyside Distillers Full Tasting notes; “Beautiful copper colour. At fi rst notes of resin, unripe pineapple and spicy oak appear, followed by maple syrup on pancakes, adding sweetness to a malty background. Then a funny sweet-bitter note, like a maraschino cherry infused with Angostura bitters, followed by milk chocolate, hazelnut, and a hint of liquorice in the fi nish. Quite an interesting dram.”

Price: £162
Bottled at: 48.8% ABV.
Distillation date: 20/12/2006
Region: Speyside
Release date: May 2025

Link to buy; https://www.saltireraremalt.com/collections/all

*’Lost Distillery’ – a distillery no longer in operation.

About Saltire Rare Malt Whisky Saltire Rare Malt are bottlers of a unique range of limited-run single malt whiskies. The independent bottling company was born from a longstanding partnership between friends & Founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie. The pair have worked together for three decades, before moving into the whisky world to collect fi ne and rare single malts. A shared passion for the ‘water of life’ led to the creation of Saltire Rare Malt – a global vehicle to share their outstanding collection of Single Malt Whiskies.

The founders felt that 2024 would be a good year to launch the very first bottlings of Saltire Rare Malt, 530 years after the birth of Scotch Whisky – in the beautiful, historic town of Falkland. Among Saltire Rare Malt’s meticulously curated collection are ‘well-known labels’, ‘rare gems’ and casks from ‘lost distilleries’ with Single Malt Scotch Whisky releases that are ‘never rushed or hurried — they’re bottled when the right time arrives’.

W: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/ I: https://www.instagram.com/saltireraremaltwhisky F: https://www.facebook.com/people/Saltire-Rare-Malt-Whisky/61554723364117/

About The Whisky Couple, Hans & Becky Offringa:

Hans Offringa is an international author and whisky expert who has worked in the industry for over 30 years. An inductee of the Whisky Hall of Fame, a Kentucky Colonel and a Keeper of the Quaich, Hans is a judge at the Scottish Whiskies Awards and the World Whisky Awards and serves as Director on the Advisory Board of The Council of Whiskey Masters.

Now, I’m not saying that things are running a bit behind schedule here, but two of the bottlings below were supposed to be 12yo…

Not to worry though, as the rest of the year is shaping up nicely. New distilleries, old favourites, some sherry, a bit of peat … there should be something for everyone from Chorlton Whisky in 2025!

For now though, let me introduce you to three new Highland drams that, despite the delay, feel just right for the season.

First up we have a 16-year-old Balblair. I still dreamily reminisce about a hand-fill from the distillery I had maybe a decade ago that was easily the fruitiest whisky I’ve ever tried, and I’m delighted to be able to bottle a cask from there.

So, on the nose I find honey, dessert wine, blackcurrant branches, lime, rose petals, fruit leathers and cordials, and maybe a bit of rosemary. It’s quite idiosyncratic, and really enticing.

The texture on the palate is really quite something – somehow dense and light at the same time. A wine friend described it as “supple and bouncy” which I can’t improve upon. (Thanks Athila!) I get cherry and cranberry juices, Gewürztraminer, oranges and limes, Bakewell Tart, and blackberry, cinnamon and brown sugar pie going in to a long finish.

Adding water brings out green apple sweets, citrus and a bit of a limestoney mineralic edge.

There’s very little wood influence here, so it’s mostly the spirit doing the talking. And what a spirit it is! Fruity, floral, complex and changeable.

This hogshead produced 271 bottles at 55.8% and they’re available for £95 each.

Next is a 13-year-old Glen Garioch. I’m surprised I’ve made it this long before bottling something from this grand old distillery. There will be more!

So, on the nose: cider lollies, pear, mango skins, lemongrass, shoe polish and wax. There’s a distinct minerality too, plus a handful of malted barley and hints of yellow flowers and violets.

The palate is fresh and zingy with quite a full waxy texture. I get lemons and limes, peaches*, honey and lemon cough sweets, limestone and salted butter. The finish is nicely clean and mineralic.

* – other tasters have suggested apricot, nectarine, greengage and yellow plum. It’s like a Spot The Stone Fruit competition round here…

Glen Garioch can be quite variable, but in this mode you can feel its kinship with other Highland distilleries like Pulteney or Clynelish. If you like that sort of mineralic and fruity profile you can’t go wrong.

This first-fill barrel produced 248 bottles at 50.2%, and they are available for £69.50 each.

Last up we have a 13-year-old Tullibardine. A distillery on the up! This one has been treated to an unusual maturation in a refill barrique that previously held peated spirit.

On the nose then: banana, more banana, toffee pennies, clotted cream, brioche, and little touches of tar and smoke. There’s a chestnutty earthiness, some allspice, orange and a touch of mint.

The palate is big, fruity and a bit funky, with almost a rum-ish vibe of banana, tarry liquorice, and a pile of oranges. It develops on spiced coffee cake, custard, and some very old-school Tulli rye and juniper.

This is great fun – rich, chunky and engagingly weird around the edges. The smoke from the cask doesn’t jump out at you, but provides a nice bit of background complexity. Maybe not for those phobic of the banana though…

This barrique produced only 213 bottles at 52.2% and they are available for £72.50 each.

And…

…that’s it for now. I hope you found something in the above to tickle your fancy, and there’s also a small restock of last year’s Jura and peated Knockdhu up on the site now if you missed those last time around.

I’m always available through the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David

Jack Daniel’s “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #24-06163 Cask Strength Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $64.99 View

Jack Daniel’s “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #24-24096 Cask Strength Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $64.99 View

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

Macallan “Time Space Mastery” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

$1,400.00

View

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

ralfy review 1075 – Edradour 10yo @43%vol: (2025)

Tomatin introduces Double Cask 13-year-old single malt travel retail exclusive 

Highland distiller Tomatin has bolstered its global travel retail range with the release of an exclusive double cask 13-year-old single malt whisky.

Available now from selected global travel retail outlets, Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old is matured in bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, creating a classically smooth single malt in the distillery’s flagship style.

Bottled at 43% ABV with an RRP of £54.95 (€64.90 EUR), Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old presents a nose of baked apples and pears with clove-spiced caramel sauce and tropical aromas delivering hints of coconut and guava. On the palate there are flavours of chocolatey granola with yoghurt-coated dried cranberries and sultana with a touch of cinnamon.

Available as a 1-litre exclusive for global travel retail, Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old will complement the distiller’s existing global travel retail range, which includes Tomatin 8 Year Old, a vanilla-sweet 1-litre whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks (RRP £42 GBP; €47.50 EUR); Tomatin 16 Year Old, a luxurious single malt crafted in Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques (£74.95 GBP; €89.90 EUR); Tomatin 21 Year Old, matured solely in exclusive first-fill ex-bourbon casks (£190 GBP; €224.90 EUR); and Tomatin 45 Year Old, aged in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled in its most natural form, yielding just 250 special bottles (€5,500 EUR).

The 13-year-old single malt will feature a refreshed outer packaging and label design. Its rich purple colour was carefully selected to increase standout and vibrancy on shelf, with gold detailing elegantly symbolising the tree rings found in oak – a nod to the distillery’s first-class wood policy and commitment to knowing the history of each cask that passes through its warehouses.

Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old will replace the distillery’s existing Tomatin 12 Year Old in global travel retail.

Tomatin 12 Year Old will remain for sale in all global domestic markets.

Tomatin 8 Year Old will also carry the refreshed outer packaging and label design, with a teal blue box and label adorned with the range’s signature gold detailing. The 8-year-old whisky’s nose has aromas of vanilla-sweetened baked apples and pears developing into deeper dark fruit flavours, gently balanced with ginger and cinnamon for a sweet and spicy finish, presented in a uniquely generous yet elegant 1-litre bottle. It will be available to buy in global travel retail outlets from summer 2025.

Tomatin Distillery has partnered with Rumesco Agencies, which represents premium, niche brands in European travel retail, since 2017.

Rumesco Agencies is founded by Rudy Leentjes, a travel retail professional for more than 40 years with a background in Seagram, Allied Domecq, Beam Suntory and Maxxium travel retail.

Graham Nicolson, global sales director at Tomatin, said:

“Our global travel retail range showcases the unrivalled variety and quality of casks we have to offer at Tomatin Distillery. The introduction of our 13-year-old single malt whisky is a natural evolution in our portfolio and a welcome addition to the range.

“Refreshing the outer packaging for our global travel retail whiskies is part of our brand progression in this area. It was important to us to consider the influence of oak in creating our single malt whiskies, with gold detailing on outer packs designed to honour the importance of wood quality in all that we do.”

With a proud heritage dating back to the 15th century, Tomatin has been a home for the whisky making team’s dedicated craftsmen and their families since the current distillery was established in 1897.

Tomatin 13 Year Old is available from April in major UK and international airports including Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Istanbul and other travel retail outlets worldwide, priced at £54.95 RRP for a 100cl bottle.

For more information, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tomatin 13 Year Old tasting notes

Nose: A sweet malty backbone plays host to baked apples and pears with clove spiced caramel sauce. A delicate floral note is balanced with a fatty buttery element which together become increasingly tropical, delivering hints of coconut and guava.

Palate: The malt becomes more prominent, giving flavours of chocolatey granola. Yoghurt coated dried cranberries and sultana with a touch of cinnamon.

Finish: Medium length with continued maltiness and developing citrus.

Tomatin Distillery is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

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.

In 2023, Tomatin’s success continued when the distillery’s ‘Legacy’ was awarded Gold at IWSC. That same year, Tomatin also took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

At the 2024 IWSC Awards, Tomatin Legacy was awarded the IWSC Trophy for no age statement single malt Scotch, demonstrating its exceptional quality as best in class.

This year, Tomatin has been awarded Gold designation for its Tomatin Sherry Collection Ximénez Edition and Silver for both its Sherry Collection Manzanilla Edition and Sherry Collection Palo Cortado Edition in the inaugural 2025 Whiskey Wash Awards.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Some things are worth the wait.

This year, Spirit of Toronto is pleased to be finally welcoming Bruichladdich — Islay’s great iconoclast, and the unapologetically experimental distillery that has redefined what a single malt Scotch whisky can be.

Known for transparency and integrity, Bruichladdich has become a cult favourite among serious whisky drinkers, with every bottle of natural colour, unchillfiltered, and traceable to its origins — from field to warehouse.

But it’s the broader philosophy that sets Bruichladdich apart: a relentless pursuit of provenance, starting with Islay-grown barley, slow distillation, and full maturation on the island itself. Add to this a refusal to compromise on flavour or clarity, and you have one of the most progressive, principled and — dare we say? — ‘terroir driven’ producers in Scotch whisky today.

We’ve long admired the distillery for its boldness, its clarity of purpose, and its range — from unpeated whisky to the world’s most heavily peated malts. Guests should be as excited as we are to finally see Bruichladdich featured at Spirit of Toronto.

Just One Night.

For its long-awaited Toronto debut, Bruichladdich is bringing a full showcase of its core range, beginning with the Classic Laddie and the Port Charlotte 10 Year Old — both bottled at a robust 50% abv and offering a vivid contrast between Bruichladdich’s elegant unpeated style and its bold, smoky facade.

Rounding out the lineup are two Signature Selections making their first public appearance in Toronto: the newly released Bruichladdich 18 Year Old — a luxurious, full-bodied dram, brimming with tropical fruit, butterscotch and a saline edge — and the powerhouse Octomore 15.1, clocking in at a hefty 108.2ppm and distilled from 100% Scottish barley.

Four distinctive whiskies, each one a statement of intent from this self-proclaimed ‘Progressive Hebridean Distiller’.

And all available for guests to sample at Spirit of Toronto, for just one night.

#JustOneNight

Buy Tickets

Our first all-VIP edition.

Fewer crowds. Less rushing. More whisky.

And a setting designed for the fullest appreciation of truly exceptional spirits.

Attendance is limited, so book soon.

Buy Tickets

Ardnahoe Bholsa Islay Single Malt Whisky 70cl · 50% ABV

A New Islay Classic
Three Generations In The Making

Ardnahoe Bholsa is a bold Islay whisky matured primarily in Oloroso sherry casks, offering a unique character with no artificial colouring and free from chill-filtration. Bottled at 50% ABV, this whisky embodies the spirit of the ‘Bholsa’ caves near the distillery, leaving a lasting impression.

£59.95

Rich notes of peat-smoked raisins, soaked in Oloroso, dominate the flavour profile. Expect a nose of red fruits, walnuts, orange zest, and peat smoke, with raisins, dates, and ripe plums on the palate. A long, peppery finish completes this exceptional dram.

Bowmore 18 Year Old 2025 Release

Introducing the Bowmore 18 Year Old 2024 Release – a cracking Islay single malt whisky with real character. This beautifully aged dram showcases Bowmore’s signature style, offering a bold yet smooth taste with a wee touch of sweetness and clarity. At 43% ABV, it’s matured in a mix of hand-selected American oak ex-Bourbon casks and European oak Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a complex, well-rounded flavour with plenty of layers. The 18 Year Old is a true nod to Bowmore’s craftsmanship, with every sip revealing its fine maturity and rich profile. It’s a whisky that demands attention and leaves a lasting impression.

SPRING 2025: Next-Level Craft

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