We were transported to a Spanish bakery to celebrate the fruity decadence of Spanish Splendour with the scent of chocolate truffles, rum-soaked raisins, butterscotch sauce and prunes stewed in port wine. Somewhere between Spain and Scotland came a blended malt with notes of chewy highland toffee, oatmeal porridge with dried fruit compote and apple crumble met by churros and a glass of oak-aged rioja. This was Scarlett Marzipan.

SPANISH SPLENDOUR

Age: 10 years

Cask: First Fill American & Spanish Oak Oloroso and Refill Bourbon Hogsheads

Spanish Splendour is the latest addition to the Society’s non-standard ‘Heresy’ series of small-batch bottlings, and even for this collection, it is a bit of an unusual expression as it is a single malt rather than a blended malt. Hailing from the Scottish Highlands, Spanish Splendour will provide you with just the right amount of fruity decadence to celebrate the arrival of autumn.

This small batch single malt displays a wonderfully fruity highland distillate through the lens of oloroso sherry casks, in both Spanish & American oak. The Tasting Panel were taken to a Spanish bakery, where they enjoyed a wealth of luxurious sweet treats. An abundantly, almost extravagantly, rich aroma filled the room with the scent of chocolate truffles, rum-soaked raisins, butterscotch sauce and prunes stewed in port wine. The taste was just as luxuriant, with flavours of a Seville orange cake prepared with raw forest honey, which is a little less sweet and has a slightly salty note. With a drop of water we cracked the crunchy, caramelised crust of an authentic crema catalana to release the characteristic citrus and cinnamon aromas. On the palate, we cut slices of a cake from Brittany, a Far Breton – a flan-style egg and milk custard with prunes which reminded one of us of a similar dessert served in the Spanish Cantabria region, quesada pasiega.

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SCARLETT MARZIPAN

Age: 10 years

Cask: First & Refill American Oak
& Spanish Oloroso
Butts

The blended malt is the rather tasty result of a combination of Speyside and Highland whiskies. Fully matured in sherry seasoned butts, a balance is struck between the use of refill and first-fill wood, and a fusion of Spanish and American oak influence.

On the neat nose we described it as a Scottish-Spanish alliance. Chewy highland toffee, oatmeal porridge with dried fruit compote and apple crumble were met by churros and a glass of oak-aged rioja. The initial taste certainly had those expected tannins but was almost immediately brimming with flavours of red fruits and toasted vanilla. Following reduction, the aroma of terracotta pots, sautéed wild mushrooms and salted almonds, plus farmhouse cider and red-wine pear frangipane tart, made this an utterly entertaining experience. The taste was like traditional Welsh cakes, a cross between a cookie, a scone and a pancake.

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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

THIS WINTER’S RELEASES

It’s official: the latest releases are here! Delicious new bottlings in our Soho Selection and Vintage Reserve collections are available now, just in time for the festive season.

Brand new for your delectation:

🥃 Avon 9 Year Old Soho Selection, £39.95
🥃 Ben Nevis 15 Year Old Soho Selection, £72.95
🥃 Linkwood 11 Year Old Soho Selection, £44.95
🥃 Speyside 14 Year Old Soho Selection, £72.50
🥃 Teaninich 13 Year Old Soho Selection, £49.95
🥃 Vat #3 Blended 30 Year Old Soho Selection, £94.95
🥃 Kildalton 22 Year Old Vintage Reserve, £284.99

Each bottling is highly limited, so secure yours now!

OUR NEW BOTTLES

Whisky Of The Year: White Peak Wire Works Bourbon Barrel

This English whisky was matured in bourbon barrels, delivering notes of peaches, candied ginger, and vanilla. Its refined depth and creamy finish make it a fitting champion.

DISCOVER

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 585: Fuji Gotemba Single Blended Japanese Whisky

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tastes a Japanese single blended whisky. Fuji-Gotemba is a mastodon of a distillery – about 520,000m² – with a capacity of about 12 million LPA. In the glass is their so-called Single Blended, which means we find both single malt and grain whisky from the same distillery combined here. Mark’s American friend John brought this bottle from his most recent trip to the land of the rising sun. https://youtu.be/JU0chVVzEiQ

SAZERAC RYE WHISKEY FULL PROOF JOINS THE BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY PORTFOLIO

Born from the Distillery’s newly completed $1.2 billion expansion, this release elevates Sazerac Rye’s signature spice and pepper profile to deliver a sipping whiskey of remarkable intensity

FRANKFORT, KY – Buffalo Trace Distillery is proud to introduce Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof as a permanent addition to its growing Sazerac Rye portfolio. Bottled at 125 proof, this bold new release emerges from the Distillery’s recent expansion and amplifies the brand’s signature spicy, peppery, and dry profile to create a sipping whiskey with remarkable intensity.

Born out of the spirit of New Orleans, Sazerac Rye Whiskey captures the character of the city: bold, timeless, and unapologetically original. The brand has evolved from a bartender’s best-kept secret into a connoisseur’s staple, with the original 90 proof and the recently launched 100 proof expressions celebrated for their distinctive spice and dry complexity. The addition of Full Proof offers a full-bodied expression crafted for sipping and savoring, highlighting the versatility of Sazerac Rye while reflecting Buffalo Trace Distillery’s commitment to delivering exceptional whiskey experiences for enthusiasts at every stage of their rye journey.

“Rye whiskey is the perfect next step for whiskey drinkers looking for more flavor. Sazerac Rye’s unique, balanced, Kentucky-style recipe makes it the brand whiskey drinkers have trusted for years,” says Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “Sazerac Rye Full Proof amplifies the brand’s floral notes of vanilla and clove, along with fruity hints of orange, with just a touch of pepper, proving that rye whiskeys aren’t just great in cocktails—they shine on their own.”

A result of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s $1.2 billion expansion, Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof continues the Distillery’s legacy of innovation and craftsmanship. The addition of new still houses and enhanced distilling capacity enables great production of its core bourbon and rye whiskeys, while also exploring bolder proofs and distinctive flavor profiles that push tradition forward.

“We’re excited to bring another full proof option to fans after they’ve expressed their love for our W.L. Weller and Benchmark full proof offerings,” remarks Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “Our expansion is ten years in the making, and it’s rewarding to see how it’s already allowing us to create more of these whiskeys while maintaining the quality our fans expect.”

Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof opens with bold aromas of rye spice, fresh dill, and smoky oak, immediately signaling its intensity and depth. On the palate, it delivers a surprisingly smooth sweetness up front, followed by floral and herbal notes, supported by rich oak and classic rye grain character throughout. The finish is lightly peppery with a late rye spice that gently lingers, presenting warmth and complexity without being overwhelming.

Sazerac Whiskey Rye Full Proof will be available in select markets beginning November 2025 at select retailers, bars, and restaurants for a suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750ML bottle (taxes and fees vary by market) via Sazerac’s United States distributor networks.

Additionally, Buffalo Trace Distillery will celebrate the new release with a limited-time premium tasting experience from Friday, November 14, through Sunday, November 16, featuring the complete Sazerac Rye Whiskey portfolio: Sazerac Rye 90, 100, and Full Proof, as well as Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. A $10 ticket to the “Sazerac Rye Vertical Tasting” includes samples of all four expressions, a commemorative Sazerac Rye glass, and a small bite pairing. Tickets are available for purchase at buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us.html on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery  

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American, family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskeys. Its William Larue Weller and Stagg were named Best of Show at the 2024 Denver International Spirits Competition and its Traveller Whiskey is the Most Awarded Super Premium Whiskey Release of 2024. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media.

Scallywag

Speyside Blended Malt Scotch

Matured Predominantly in Spanish Sherry Casks

£33.33

ABV: 46% | Vol: 70cl

Scallywag is a Small Batch bottling created using only the finest Speyside Malts including – amongst others – Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes. Bottled at 46% alcohol strength and non-chill-filtered, this Small Batch bottling has a distinct rich, dark colour – extracted purely from the fine Spanish Sherry Butts used during maturation. Detect layer on layer of sweet stewed fruits and dark chocolate fused with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Inspired by a long line of Douglas Laing family Fox Terriers, Scallywag Malt Scotch Whisky is a marriage of aged Speyside Single Malts matured predominantly in Spanish Sherry casks. Anticipate an explosion of rich, dark fruits, chocolate and spice interwoven with late vanilla. Award-winning Scallywag is bottled and released in genuinely small, precious batches.

Christmas Gifts for Under £100!

Get planning for Christmas with some amazing early gifts for under £100 from The Whisky Shop!

Our experts have selected some of the finest drams that you can enjoy for Under £100 covering all tastes this Christmas!

Be sure to Share the Spirit this Christmas!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR UNDER £100❯

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 ❯

LATEST STORIES

On whiskymag.com, Mark Jennings investigates what the revival of silent Scotch whisky distilleries tells us about memory, myth, and the modern whisky industry………………

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ralfy review 1108 – St Bridget’s Kirk 29yo Blended Scotch @ 44.1%vol:

Grasmere Distillery Launches The Pioneers Club

Grasmere Distillery is delighted to announce the launch of The Pioneers Club, inviting whisky enthusiasts to secure a rare opportunity: ownership of the first three releases of the distillery’s inaugural English single malt whisky.

Limited to just 1,000 bottles per year, Pioneers Club members will receive a uniquely numbered, gift-boxed bottle each Christmas, with the first in 2027, the second in 2028 and the final bottle in 2029. Every annual release will be drawn from one of only six casks being released that year. Over a third of the memberships have already gone, so interested parties should act quickly to secure their spot.

Each whisky expression produced by Grasmere Distillery showcases its dedication to flavour. By exploring varied mash bills, fermentation styles and barley varieties, and then marrying the spirit through a distinctive Solera maturation system using charred oak casks, the distillery team has achieved remarkable depth and consistency across its whiskies.

Membership of The Pioneers Club costs £335. Alongside their three-year allocation of limited-release single malt, members will also receive a complimentary bottle of the distillery’s award-winning, single-origin Rioja cask rum, set for public release in 2026 (RRP £45). Additional benefits include a lifetime 10% discount at the Grasmere Tap Room, a free distillery tour for the member plus three guests, priority access to future limited-edition whiskies, and a range of exclusive member privileges.

Over the past three years, co-founders Paul and Beth Abbott have transformed two modest barns on the shores of Grasmere into one of the UK’s smallest and most characterful distilleries. Following an intensive development process that began in 2021, the pair launched Grasmere Gin and Grasmere Vodka in 2022, reinvesting revenues from their white spirits to expand production and begin distilling their first single malt whisky.

From day one, their aim has been clear: to craft whisky defined by flavour, not scale. The team distils from full-flavoured beer rather than neutral spirit, allowing them to experiment freely with diverse grains, yeast strains, and cask seasonings rarely explored by larger producers.

Casks are sourced from Speyside Cooperage and include classics such as ex-bourbon, brandy, and red wine, alongside a series of innovative casks seasoned in-house with Grasmere Rum and cider. Oak is a balance of French, American, Scottish, and English oak.

Paul Abbott, co-founder and head distiller, commented: “We have been amazed by the positive response: hundreds of people backing us and cheering us on, joining our Pioneers Club in just the first two weeks. It is incredible. We are a tiny startup distillery without big resources, so we rely totally on the whisky-lovers out there to help us bring our single malt to the market. The Pioneers Club represents the very beginning of our whisky journey. We wanted to offer something unique to those brave few who have supported us from the start. Every bottle reflects our commitment to flavour, craftsmanship and curiosity. We’re excited to share these first releases with people who value small-batch whisky.”

For more information about joining the Pioneers Club, please visit: https://www.grasmeredistillery.com