Living Souls Q3 Full Range Review

THE REVIEW

Some absolutely incredible releases in this selection of bottlings from the folks at Living Souls. In order we have the 40YO Blend with an Islay Quarter Cask finish, Lagmore 10YO Single Estate Blended Malt, Glenrothes 17YO Oloroso Single Malt, Torabhaig 7YO First Fill Bourbon, and finally, the Williamson 13YO Islay Blended Malt.

A truly incredible selection of whiskies that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a delicate and old summary of what Scottish whisky is all about, a extremely well sherried single malt, or something that is young, smoky and very complex, there is something here to cater to everyone’s taste, and in a way that still offers remarkable quality for the whisky drinker.

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Glen Scotia unveils third release in Icons of Campbeltown series inspired by Scottish folktales of the Wulver

Glen Scotia has revealed the third expression in its Icons of Campbeltown collection, a five-part annual series which pays tribute to the Victorian whisky capital of the world’s rich history steeped in Scottish folklore.

A limited edition unpeated Tawny Port Cask Finish 12-year-old single malt whisky, Icons of Campbeltown Release No.3 depicts the Wulver, taking inspiration from another of the saints and beasts carved into Campbeltown’s medieval market cross, a poignant meeting place for storytelling in the heart of the town.

The 14th-century cross is richly adorned with intricate stone carvings, crafted by anonymous hands for hundreds of years. Figures of saints, mythical creatures, warriors and enemies are etched into its surface, each believed to reflect different eras from Campbeltown’s long history. The details echo the enduring spirit of the community in Scotland’s fifth and smallest whisky producing region.

Symbols of a wolf among the mythical markings spark the imagination and invoke old folktales of the Scottish Wulver. Said to be a formidable creature with a gentle soul, tales of the Wulver tell of a wolf’s head with a man’s body and a thick coat of brown hair but are not typical stories of witchcraft and terror. Instead, depictions of the Wulver mirror the generosity of spirit in Campbeltown’s DNA which has run through Glen Scotia for almost two centuries.

Legends have it that the Wulver dwelled in a cave dug into the side of a wooded hill, a place where no one dared to tread. Despite his daunting appearance, the tales recount the Wulver’s quiet days spent fishing in solitude, and his generosity and charitable nature for sharing his catch with his poor neighbours, leaving fish on their windowsills in the dead of night. This spirit is rooted in the heart of Campbeltown’s distilling community, known for its resilience and generous nature without the expectation of reward.

Glen Scotia pays homage to the Wulver’s enduring spirit, and the historical markings of this mythical creature etched on the town’s market cross in Icons of Campbeltown Release No.3.

The limited-edition, unpeated 12-year-old single malt whisky has been expertly crafted by master blender, Ashley Smith with a Tawny Port Cask Finish.

Following careful maturation in hand-selected bourbon barrels, the whisky was transferred to ex-Tawny Port casks to finish for nine months, a process which has resulted in bursting flavours of red fruits, forest berries and dark chocolate. The finish is long and enduring, much like the legend of the Wulver itself, with the unmistakable maritime character of Glen Scotia.

To bring the Wulver to life, Glen Scotia has continued to partner with celebrated artist, John Holtzman for the Icons of Campbeltown series, whose portfolio includes work for Disney, Marvel and Macmillian.

Ashley Smith, Master Blender for Glen Scotia said: “The ancient market cross that inspired the Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown series gives us an exciting starting point to experiment with the single malts to match the mythical icons. For the third release in the series, I wanted to create a unique 12-year-old expression using the finest Tawny Port casks to finish the whisky, which have imparted rich fruity flavours paired with the subtle maritime notes that are a well-loved distinction of Glen Scotia.”

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager and Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, added: “Our distilling community knows a thing or two about supporting each other in times of need, just like the Wulver did, as the tales are told. That same bold Campbeltown spirit is still very much alive in the town today and it is this character and quiet generosity which Glen Scotia is honouring in this latest instalment in our Icons of Campbeltown series.”

Icons of Campbeltown Release No.3 was bottled at 51.7% ABV and retails for £80. The expression is now available from Glen Scotia’s website, at the distillery’s visitor centre in Campbeltown, and exclusively at Fortnum & Mason. It follows in the footsteps of the first two releases in the Icons of Campbeltown series which were inspired by the Mermaid and the Dragon featured on the market cross.

For more information on Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown Release No.3 visit: www.glenscotia.com

Tasting notes

Nose: Juicy forest fruits, candied nuts and crisp red apple, all wrapped in indulgent caramel sweetness.

Palate: Layers of dried fig and orange peel unfold alongside smooth praline, offering both richness and balance.

Finish: Dark cocoa and dried fruits linger beautifully, complemented by gentle vanilla and warming oak spice.

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in the town.

Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the stillroom and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s. To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old single malt was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won ‘Best In Class’ in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
• Later that same year, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old won a coveted Platinum award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, which is awarded to the very few entries that receive a Double Gold medal for three consecutive years at the prestigious global event.
• In 2024, Glen Scotia received a number of prestigious awards across its range of single malt whiskies, including Platinum titles at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024 for both Glen Scotia Victoriana and Glen Scotia 25 Year Old.

The Grand Whisky Auction ENDS TONIGHT!

The auction closes TONIGHT (Tuesday, 28th October 2025) from 9:00pm (BST)

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Introducing: The Wetlands Single Cask

The Wetlands Single Cask is drawn from a select refill sherry butt, a nod to reuse and our sustainability ethos. Bottled at a bold 61.1% ABV, this 2009 cask delivers a rich, fruity, and elegant dram.

Nose: Citrus, kiwi, ripe fig, milk chocolate, whipped vanilla cream, garden mint, oat biscuits, candied walnut.

Palate: Nicely aged and charmingly Glengoyne, tangerine, peach, toffee, cola, almond thins, subtle spice, malt, sweet oak.

Finish: Freshly balanced soft citrus, dried fruits, gently drying oak, cream sherry.

With only 500 bottles available, priced at £190, this collector’s item features a bespoke illustration by artist Elin Manon, capturing the spirit of our distillery and the wetlands we proudly support. Proceeds from this release will help fund vital conservation work through our partnership with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.

Available  at Glengoyne Distillery, online, and select WWT sites.

Slàinte mhath,

Team Glengoyne

Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1999 Murray McDavid Mission Gold

£243.50

Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1999 is a rare Lowland single malt Scotch whisky bottled by Murray McDavid for the Mission Gold series. Distilled in 1999 and matured in a single ex-bourbon hogshead, this elegant triple-distilled Lowland malt was bottled exclusively for the United Kingdom market. With only 90 bottles released, it is an exceptionally scarce expression—and one that has been crowned a Gold Winner in the Scottish Field magazine’s 2025 Readers’ Challenge.

Why We Think You’ll Love It

• Distilled in 1999 and matured for 24 years in single ex-bourbon hogshead

• Bottled by Murray McDavid for the prestigious Mission Gold series

• Crowned Gold Winner in Scottish Field magazine’s 2025 Readers’ Challenge

• Exclusive release for the UK market

• Extremely limited edition with only 90 bottles produced

The Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1999 Murray McDavid Mission Gold is an award-winning Lowland single malt of great rarity and finesse. With ex-bourbon cask maturity, triple-distilled smoothness, and just 90 bottles available, it is both a collector’s prize and a connoisseur’s dram.

George Dickel 18 Year Old Limited Edition Straight Bourbon Whisky (750ml) $499.99 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

GORDON & MACPHAIL OFFERS TASTE OF THE FUTURE WITH RANGE OF BLENDED MALTS

October 2025 – The Cairn Distillery owned by Gordon & MacPhail is inviting adventurous whisky drinkers to ‘taste the future today’, with its range of blended malts providing the flavours predicted to feature in the distillery’s single malt releases in years to come. One of the expressions – the CRN57° 70-year-old – is the world’s oldest blended malt Scotch whisky.

No date has yet been set for the release of The Cairn’s first single malts, but the CRN57° portfolio of blended malt Scotch whiskies has been crafted by the distillery’s whisky maker, Stuart Urquhart, using stock from Gordon & MacPhail’s unrivalled inventory. The distillery’s location has inspired the name, being 57 degrees north of the equator in the iconic Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands.

The CRN57° core range allows drinkers to explore flavours 12, 18, 25, 30 and 40 years into the future, with the premium expressions extending this journey to 57 and even 70 years ahead. There is also a non-age statement release: CRN57° Vision – created to align with the vision for the single malts of the future. The clear and simple tasting notes range from ‘tangy chocolate orange and banana’ to ‘toffee and strawberries and cream’. The younger blends have sweet, fruity and nutty notes, while citrus, spice and mint are more prominent in the premium expressions.

The Cairn’s future single malts are predicted to infuse the smooth flavours typical of a traditional Speyside whisky. Maturing in first-fill casks, the whiskies will be of the highest quality to be enjoyed neat or in easy-to-make cocktails.

Stuart Urquhart, Whisky Maker and Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Our CRN57° blended malts reflect our heritage and location, but also provides a glimpse into the future of The Cairn’s single malt whiskies. Whisky drinkers have a unique opportunity to transport their taste buds decades in the future, enjoying the notes of our 70-year-old single malt which won’t be released until 2092!

“For millennia, cairns – stacked piles of stones – have inspired people to explore and discover new paths, and that’s the direction we’ve followed for CRN57°. We want to unlock taste through exploration with a modern, simple twist. You don’t need to be a whisky connoisseur to enjoy our whiskies, just a sense of curiosity and a desire to try something new.”

The CRN57° range starts at £39.99 and is now available on www.thecairndistillery.com.

Tasting notes for the CRN57° series releases are as follows:

 CRN57° VISION

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Vanilla and blueberry pie.  Apple, gooseberries and fresh lime.  Summer berries, cocoa powder and oak.

Palate: Apple and zesty citrus. Raspberries, figs, aniseed and brazil nuts.
Finish: Vibrant citrus and spicy pepper.

CRN57° 12 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Red apples, cinnamon and cloves. Orange marmalade and roasted walnuts.

Palate: Raspberry, apple and a touch of pepper. Sweet and spicy, along with tangy chocolate orange.
Finish: Fruity with a spicy oak finish.

CRN57° 18 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Crisp apples, blueberries and candied citrus peel. Raisins and toasted almonds topped with brown sugar.

Palate: Banana, milk chocolate and hazelnut. Strawberries and cream, and a touch of spice
Finish: Fresh lime, mint and a hint of pepper.

CRN57° 25 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Rum and raisin with brown sugar. Ripe fig and maple syrup and a hint of liquorice.

Palate: Raspberry and pistachio nut with apple and tangy orange peel.
Finish: Milk chocolate and oak.

CRN57° 30 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Rich fruitcake with candied peel and cinnamon. Toffee and Medjool dates.

Palate: Spice and pepper with sultanas, forest fruits, oak and floral notes.
Finish: Full and sweet with liquorice and spice.

CRN57° 40 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Rich Sherry with cinnamon and nutmeg, beeswax polish, dried fruits and orange peel.

Palate: Smooth and sweet.  Dried tobacco, citrus and charred oak.  Stewed apple, walnut and spicy pepper.
Finish: Nutty, with mature oak and roasted coffee beans.

CRN57° 57 YEARS OLD

ABV: 43.1%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Zesty orange and rich fruitcake with baked apple and oak.

Palate: Crushed black pepper, dark fruit and butterscotch. Roasted coffee bean and dried tobacco.
Finish: Vibrant citrus and lingering spice.

CRN57° 70 YEARS OLD

ABV: 45%

Vol: 70cl

Nose: Cinnamon apple, clove spice and chocolate orange blossom.

Palate: Kumquat, aniseed and tobacco. Blackcurrant and black pepper.
Finish: Seville orange peel and mint.

 About The Cairn

Nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, The Cairn Distillery is a modern home for the ancient craft of whisky-making ideal for adventure seekers and whisky lovers to be inspired by the very best Scotland has to offer.

The Cairn comes from a long line of pioneers and legacy builders – the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail and revived Benromach Distillery in 1998. The Cairn sets out to build a legacy of Scottish excellence and exceptional whisky that inspires future generations surrounded by inspiring views, passionate people and extraordinary tastes and flavours, shaped by the untamed wilderness.

The Very Rare Killowen News Update

It’s been a roller coaster of a year and somehow, it’s already late-October. In a time when the headlines often focus on the negatives, we’d like to take a moment to share some good news and heartfelt thanks with you, our community of supporters.

Here’s a look at what the team at Killowen has been up to recently…

Whiskey Shows: London & Dresden

While our schedule meant we had to miss a few shows this year, we were thrilled to attend two fantastic events last week. Brendan held the fort at The Whiskey Show London, while Patrick connected with enthusiasts at Whisky Genuss in Dresden.

Brendan was amazed by the enthusiasm for quality Irish spirits at our first ever whiskey show in England, while Patrick was delighted to see the ongoing love for poitín in Germany – a market that’s always had a special place for our small-batch releases.

And in case we haven’t sung about it enough – our Pangur Poitín won 98 points and an “Outstanding” rating at the IWSC

Killowen Gloria Now Available in Ontario

We’re proud to announce that the LCBO in Ontario, Canada has officially listed Killowen Gloria, just in time for Christmas. Available across Toronto and throughout the province, it’s a major milestone for us – proving that independent distilleries can work successfully even in monopoly markets.

Halloween in the Mournes – A Spirited Supper

In between honeymoons, Shenda has led the charge on our Halloween event, “The Distiller’s Night – A Spirited Supper in the Mournes”, which is part of the NI Spirits Trail and Food NI’s ‘Embrace a Giant Taste of October’

The event sold out quickly – a big thank you to all who booked early. We can’t wait to welcome you.

Cocktail Menu Updates & Window Displays

We’re honoured to have The Merchant Belfast feature us again on their renowned cocktail menu. Our favourite ‘Ginger’ cocktail is now joined by a delicious new serve: ‘Coffee’.

We’ve also secured Killowen window displays in two legendary Off-Licences:

• Wineways, County Monaghan
• The Wine Centre, Kilkenny

To our friends in Louth to Leitrim – contact Monaghan Bottlers to get Killowen into your local pub. Also, a huge happy 60th birthday to The Wine Centre, now officially bus-pass eligible!

Sooty Stills & Stealth Operations

After a solid nine months of distilling, it was time for a deep clean. One of the joys of reintroducing flame-fed distillation is, of course, the soot.
Brendan and Patrick went full stealth (with face camo, naturally) and carried out the clean-up mission with precision. Both stills are now gleaming and back in action.

Thank You

We’re truly grateful to be part of a growing community that values tradition, craft, and character. Whether you’re sipping poitín in Dresden, raising a glass in Belfast, or sharing Killowen with friends in Toronto – thank you for being part of our journey.

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

To say that the Four Roses Barrel Program is second to none in the industry is no exaggeration. Other programs may borrow elements of the Four Roses experience, but nobody executes it like the four flowers. That success is due in large part to the talented team led by the indomitable Mandy Brown, who learned the finer points of Kentucky bourbon barrel hospitality from the late Al Young. The process is not conducted in a dank warehouse or impersonal boardroom but in a purpose-built space designed for the experience. Mandy rolls out ten barrels, their ages and recipes concealed, and thieves the whiskey directly for tasting. After sampling all ten, selections are made before the big reveal, a system that ensures quality rises above hype. While many buyers gravitate toward older or higher proof barrels for marketing value, K&L always makes its picks blind. During this year’s spring selection, we were honored with the rare opportunity to choose four casks, all from the high rye OB recipe but across different yeast strains and warehouses. This barrel, distilled with the elusive Q yeast strain, spent 11 years in Warehouse H West, rick 56, row 2. Its remarkable depth and complexity set it apart as one of the most compelling modern bourbons we have ever offered.

Four Roses 10 Year Old “Private Select – OBSF” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #BS-89-4 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 View

Four Roses 11 Year Old “Private Select – OBSQ” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #HW-56-2 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $109.99 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