Invergordon 48 Year Old 1974 The Whisky Trail

Bottled by Elixir Distillers, the Invergordon 48 Year Old 1974 is a truly extraordinary single grain Scotch whisky from one of Scotland’s finest grain distilleries. Aged for nearly five decades in single cask #7844000054, this ultra-aged whisky offers an exceptional depth of flavour and elegance that only comes with time. Part of The Whisky Trail collection, this rare release is a testament to the richness and complexity that long maturation can achieve in single grain whisky.

£336.58

North British 33 Years Old

This 33 year old single grain whisky from the North British Distillery in the Lowland region embodies decades of careful aging and expertise. Its refined, smooth profile offers delicate flavors that highlight the unique character of this distinguished distillery. A perfect choice for those seeking a mellow and well-rounded whisky experience.

Bottled by Thompson Bros. at 40.1% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration.

NOSE Demerara sugar and rich custart up front, backed by a playful sweetness reminiscent of fruit jellies. There’s a subtle rubbery note intertwined with a sawdust-line mustiness. Hints of stone fruit emerge with time, adding a ripe, juicy dimension.

PALATE A coating layer of honeycomb wax leads the way, followed by stewed plums and a touch of floral plum jam. The wood-driven character carries throught from the nose, adding drip and compexity. The texture is satisfyingly oily, allowing the flavours to linger.

FINISH Honey on toast fades dently into zesty citrus pith, providing a slightly bitter counterpoint to the earlier sweetness. The woody notes remain but soften considerably, leaving a warm, balanced impression that encourafes another sip.

£65.00

DRAM5 UNVEILS A DISRUPTIVE, DESIGN-LED BLIND BOX WHISKY TASTING EXPERIENCE FOR THE MODERN DRINKER

London, September 2025: DRAM5 is a design-led whisky discovery box, launching to market in September 2025, which reimagines the way that whisky is experienced and appreciated. Created for both the curious and the connoisseur, DRAM5 invites whisky lovers into a bold new world of flavour exploration. Its mystery boxes contain five surprise single-cask, barrel strength Scotch whiskies, inviting the drinker to explore Single Malt Scotch whisky without preconception, offering an innovative tasting experience.

By stripping back branding bias, DRAM5 challenges traditional whisky tasting and redefines it as something immersive, interactive, and unapologetically modern. The contemporary concept champions a tech-savvy, digitally sophisticated approach to flavour, with a design sensibility that provides an elevated boutique experience, a fresh take on traditional whisky labels.

Sourced from both celebrated and boutique distilleries across Scotland, the whiskies in each DRAM5 box are drawn from individually selected casks, each chosen for its character, provenance, and uniqueness. The first release is strictly limited to 6,000 boxes, every single cask whisky featured in the collection is exclusive to DRAM5 and cannot be purchased elsewhere.

Each of the DRAM5 blind boxes will include a surprise combination of premium, rare and ultra rare expressions. 60% (3,600 boxes) will only include premium drams from distilleries in Scotland such as Benriach, Blair Athol, Craigellachie, Glenrothes, Glenturret and Laphroaig amongst others. 35% (2,100 boxes) will also include a rare single cask whisky within the selection from distilleries such as Ben Nevis and Glen Grant, with whiskies aged for 27 years or longer.

For those fortunate enough to receive one of the 5% (300 boxes) including ultra rare drams within the selection received, they could find whiskies such as an Ardbeg 34yo, a Littlemill 36yo or a Macallan 34yo. This potential mix of ultra rare, rare and premium whiskies in every DRAM5 blind box will ensure that each delivers a unique, exciting and unpredictable tasting experience.

The concept centres around a disruptive approach to blind tasting for a new generation of drinkers; from unexpected flavour combinations to rare regional expressions, each dram is approached without expectation, encouraging exploration of flavour and aroma on its own terms. The DRAM5 mystery boxes reimagine whisky discovery; rather than acquiring a single bottle with a fixed identity, customers engage with five different drams. For some, that may mean encountering a distillery previously unknown to them. For others, it may be an unexpected favourite that challenges their usual preferences, either way, step into a curated world of flavour, exploration and storytelling.

To accompany the release, DRAM5 has introduced a digital collectors programme for the tech-forward modern collectors. The beautifully crafted “Capture the Moment, Collect the Story” is a dynamic collector’s programme, accessible via the DRAM5 app, where users will be able to access information on the tasting profile of each specific liquid and the distillery it originates from. Users will also be able to upload a photo of each bottle they have unlocked and build their own digital archive, record tasting notes, track where and when they enjoyed it, and even note the friends who shared the moment. Over time, the vault becomes more than a list but a curated personal flavour vault powered by tech and fuelled by discovery.

DRAM5’s visual identity and packaging has already garnered reputable design accolades, including recognition from the Muse Design Awards and a Gold Award the iF Design Award 2025. The packaging stands as a bold expression of contemporary design, fusing modern minimalism with tactile luxury. It brings a refreshing playfulness to the traditional world of Scotch whisky, seamlessly blending meticulous craftsmanship with a reverence for the centuries-old art of whisky distilling. Every detail of the boxes, from the sleek exterior to the carefully curated interior, reflects a celebration of both innovation and heritage. Each box is a bold statement piece finding itself equally as at home on a drinks cabinet as it is a gift to impress even the most discerning drinkers. DRAM5 is designed to spark conversation at a dinner party, at a tasting night or simply to savour each dram at home. However used, DRAM5 transforms tasting into a moment of delight, surprise, and genuine connection.

This release marks a new approach to Scotch whisky appreciation where rarity, exploration, and sensory discovery come together in a format designed to challenge and delight both experienced collectors and curious newcomers alike.

The perfect Christmas gift, dinner party tablescape accessory or centre piece on your drinks trolley, DRAM5 is now available through the brand’s official website https://dram5.com/ and select premium retail stockists. RRP: £95.00

ULTRA RARE

5% / 300 DRAM5 blind boxes will include at least one of these ultra rare liquids. Single Cask Single Malt Scotch whiskies as follows:

Ardbeg 34 years old | Littlemill 36 years old | Macallan 34 years old

RARE

35% / 2,100 DRAM5 blind boxes will include at least one of these rare liquids. Single Cask Single Malt Scotch whiskies as follows:

Ardmore 27 years old | Auchroisk 30 years old | Ben Nevis 28 years old | Glen Grant 32 years old | Glen Keith 30 years old | Old Rhosdhu 32 years old

PREMIUM

60% / 3,600 DRAM5 blind boxes will include premium liquids.

Single Cask Single Malt Scotch whiskies as follows:

Aultmore 15 years old | Balmenach 18 years old | Benriach 14 years old | Blair Athol 11 years old | Craigellachie 14 years old | Dailuaine 13 years old | Glen Elgin 13 years old | Glen Garioch 13 years old | Glen Moray 16 years old | Glenrothes 10 years old

Glenturret 14 years old | Jura 16 years old | Laphroaig 14 years old | Linkwood 15 years old | Mannochmore 13 years old | Miltonduff 15 years old

In celebration of Douglas Laing’s 75th Anniversary, this Private Stock Blended Grain 18 Years Old was bottled directly from the Douglas Laing Family’s Private Whisky Collection. Offered proudly at natural cask strength, it is presented exactly as the Distiller intended: without added colour or chill-filtration, and at a natural cask strength of 52.9%. Each bottle is hand signed by Fred Laing.

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Distillery: Favourite Open Grain Distilleries | Number of bottles: 72 |Casks: Sherry Bourbon and Virgin Oak

In celebration of Douglas Laing’s 75th Anniversary, this Private Stock Blended Grain 18 Years Old was bottled directly from the Douglas Laing Family’s Private Whisky Collection. Offered proudly at natural cask strength, it is presented exactly as the Distiller intended: without added colour or chill-filtration, and at a natural cask strength of 52.9%. Each bottle is hand signed by Fred Laing.

Arran 13 Years Old Private Cask Shop Exclusive

Introducing specially selected and bottled exclusively for Aberdeen Whisky Shop – Arran 13 Years Old Private Cask. Distilled on the 3rd of April 2012 and aged in a single ex-Sherry cask before bottling on the 27th May 2025. Bottled at cask strength of 56.6% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration.

Limited to 292 bottles.

£95.00

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Signatory 30th Anniversary

Bunnahabhain 50 Year Old

Distilled in 1968 and bottled in January 2019, this remarkable single malt was released to mark the 30th Anniversary of Signatory Vintage, having matured for 50 years in a single refill sherry butt. This Bunnahabhain 50 Year Old 1968 is an extraordinary Islay single malt Scotch whisky, released to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Signatory Vintage. Distilled in 1968 and bottled in January 2019, this majestic dram matured for half a century in a single refill sherry butt #12397, yielding just 323 individually numbered bottles.

A 50-year-old single malt from Bunnahabhain, one of Islay’s most revered distilleries. Bottled from a single refill sherry cask, allowing the spirit to shine with mature complexity. Released in celebration of Signatory Vintage’s 30th Anniversary—a landmark in independent bottling. Just 323 bottles filled, making this a museum-worthy masterpiece. A whisky of exceptional age and elegance, this 1968 Bunnahabhain is a once-in-a-generation dram—stately, soulful, and supremely collectible.

Order The Hearach Decade Edition

The Hearach Decade Edition single malt whisky is now available to buy in our UK online store or at the distillery shop in Tarbert. Made with Harris hand-cut peat, just 2,357 bottles have been created and each is priced at £75.00 including free delivery.
The Hearach Decade Edition is more than a whisky. It’s a celebration of ten years’ work, a toast to the people who brought it to life, and a promise of what lies ahead.

ORDER THE DECADE EDITION

ralfy review 1095 Extras – Gaining ‘knowledge’ of whisky-hunting.

Jura adds two more years!

 Single Malt Scotch Whisky establishes Jura 12 Year Old as its entry level whisky, replacing Jura 10 Year Old; and reveals new look that makes buying whisky more accessible

As part of its mission to make whisky drinking more accessible and enjoyable to a wider audience, Jura, the Single Malt Scotch Whisky made on the Isle of Jura by a Scottish island community, has announced that Jura 12 Year Old will become the new entry level whisky to the brand’s aged range, replacing Jura 10 Year Old.

With two additional years of maturation, Jura 12 Year Old is bursting with delicious flavours of peach, citrus and walnut and perfectly encapsulates Jura’s fruity and balanced house style.

The move comes in response to consumer taste tests which showed that substantially more people, including younger and more frequent drinkers love the flavours of Jura 12 Year Old even more than Jura 10.

At the same time Jura has also revealed a new, easy-to-understand pack for its range of single malts, featuring a ‘first of its kind’ taste scale designed to help people easily identify ‘at a glance’ the three key flavours in each of its whiskies.

Research by the brand showed:

• around two thirds of people looking to pick up a bottle of whisky leave empty-handed because choosing a whisky is too confusing.
• one of the most important things people want is to have confidence and reassurance about how the whisky will taste.
• the overuse of technical terms on pack such as maturation and cask journey, does not always explain how they relate to taste, which is at the heart of a consumer purchase.

Jura’s new on pack taste scale aims to reduce this confusion by making it easy to identify ‘at a glance’ the three most prominent fruity and balanced flavours in each bottle of Jura. The scale rates each of the three flavours on strength from zero to six.  For example: Jura 12 Year Old has flavours of Peach rated at 4, Citrus at 3, and Walnut at 3.

Technical information about the whisky has been kept to a minimum on pack, using language that everyone can understand, and leading with flavour. However for those interested in further details on cask journey and maturation, an on pack QR code will take people to the Jura website for more information.

Claire Blackadder, Head of Brand for Jura, explained: “Making whisky that people love and can enjoy is at the heart of what we do. Consumers tell us they love Jura 12 even more than Jura 10, and we are thrilled that our teams have worked hard to make that happen and we can now bring Jura 12 to more people in more places. Those additional two years in cask enhance Jura 12’s depth and character, making it more appealing to new customers and gifters alike. 

“The new look pack has been designed to help make the process of choosing a whisky easier and more accessible for customers. People tell us that buying a whisky can be baffling, and with the overuse of technical terms customers often leave a store empty handed. Not everyone is a whisky expert, and the most important thing people want to know is what the whisky will taste like. With our new pack redesign and taste scale, customers will easily be able to decide whether Jura would suit the occasion, and have the confidence that they are buying a whisky packed with Jura’s signature fruity and balanced flavours that appeal to many.” 

Each bottle of Jura will also now display a larger age statement, alongside an enhanced bottle silhouette, to make it easy for those who love Jura to identify their favourite whisky. The makeover also heroes Scotland and the Scottish island community who produce Jura whisky from the brand’s beachside distillery.

The brand is also introducing a new travel retail-exclusive range called the Islanders Series. Comprising four expressions: White Oak Cask, 13 Year Old, 16 Year Old and 19 Year Old, the new travel retail range is inspired by the values of Jura’s islanders and features the same design principles as the core domestic range.

Jura 12 Year Old will replace the 10 Year Old on shelves in the UK in October 2025, before being rolled out around the world. The new look Jura pack will be hitting shelves in the UK in September before rolling out globally. The travel-retail exclusive Islanders Series is expected on-shelf in select outlets from October.

Isle of Jura Distillery:

• Nestled a few miles off Scotland’s west coast, the Isle of Jura is home to a vibrant community of around 200 people. Since 1810, Jura’s beachside distillery has been creating a truly unique island malt. The fruity and balanced flavours of the whisky captures the spirit of Jura, making it perfect for bringing people together.
• Jura 12 Year Old, just like a visit to our island home, this whisky is as unique and rewarding as it is enjoyable. Crafted in our exceptionally tall stills, this Scottish island whisky is a testament to our fruity and balanced house style. Taste Scale: Peach (4) Citrus (3) Walnut (3).
• Find out more at jurawhisky.com
• Since 1844, Whyte & Mackay Ltd’s roots have been firmly planted in Scotland. Our diverse collection of award-winning whiskies includes The Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn, Tamnavulin, and innovative modern spirits, The Woodsman, and Shackleton Whisky, reflecting an unwavering dedication to crafting brands that stand out.

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Our September Outturn sets the tone for adventures together. Let’s celebrate the power of shared experiences and the fact that all Society journeys have one thing in common: they start with a single dram.  September Outturn is now live.

SWEET STRAWBERRY SYRUP WITH A LEMON TANG

CASK NO. 8.46

CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  8 years

EXOTIC OPULENCE

CASK NO. 55.75

CASK:  1st fill HTMC hogshead

AGE:  16 years

ON THE SIDE OF EQUILIBRIUM

CASK NO. 100.45

CASK:  1st fill shiraz hogshead

AGE:  12 years

SO, THIS IS SOLSTICE…

CASK NO. 113.74

CASK:  1st fill oloroso hogshead

AGE:  12 years

SMOOCH A KIPPER

CASK NO. 11.60

CASK:  2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  9 years

BIG, BOLD AND OH-SO SMOKY!

CASK NO. 53.475

CASK:  Refill HTMC hogshead

AGE:  13 years

BROWSE SEPTEMBER OUTTURN HERE

VIEW ALL BOTTLES

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
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