(BUNNA-hah-ven) Built in 1881, Bunnahabhain is situated on the north east coast of Islay, overlooking the Sound of Islay near Caol Ila. Bunnahabhain’s initial aim was to produce Whisky for blending only. While it was used across the industry, it performed a central role in three famous blends: Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Black Bottle. Following a short period of closure in the early 1980s, Bunnahabhain re-emerged as a Single Malt.

Bunnahabhain is known for producing a distinctive style of Islay single malt that is notably lighter and less peated than most others from the region. Bunnahabhain whiskies often feature maritime influences, rich sherry cask aging, and a smooth, complex character.

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Extraordinary Exclusives

Our exclusive whisky range contains some very special whiskies, specially selected by The Whisky Shop team and bottled by the distillery exclusively for our customers. Usually single casks, always limited.

EXPLORE EXCLUSIVES ❯

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 ❯

The Whisky World Cup 2025 Results ~ Drinking Out Loud Review

Eight unconventional whisky-making nations went head to head in the first-ever World Cup of Whisky at The Strath. Adam runs down the results and shares his own opinions in this crazy, crazy tournament.

Suntory Global Spirits showcases authentic Japanese Whisky at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C.

As global interest in Japanese Whisky continues to rise, we take pride in pioneering efforts to enhance transparency regarding what defines authentic Japanese Whisky and safeguarding the category’s reputation worldwide. Since establishing Japan’s first malt whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923, our relentless pursuit of quality and perfection have led to our Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki whiskies bringing global attention and prestige to Japanese Whisky.

The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers’ Association (JSLMA) established a formal definition for Japanese Whisky in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the industry’s commitment to authenticity. We support their dedication to strengthen regulations by advocating for these “Standards for Labeling Japanese Whisky” to be legally binding and plan to roll out their new Japanese Whisky logo on our House of Suntory products early next year.

This initiative aims to clarify labeling standards concerning the manufacturing process and quality of Japanese Whisky. To qualify as authentic, the whiskies must use Japanese water, be aged in Japan in wooden casks for a minimum of three years, and bottling must take place in Japan. Learn more on the standards here.

On May 10, we had the opportunity to showcase our incredible House of Suntory Japanese Whisky at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C. We hosted two engaging tasting sessions featuring Toki Japanese Whisky, Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Yamazaki 12 Year Old. House of Suntory Global Advocacy Manager James Bowker led the tastings and shared compelling stories about Suntory’s rich history as the founding house of Japanese Whisky.

Our President of The House of Suntory Masaki ‘Mory’ Morimoto then spoke with Angela Mackay, Managing Director Asia Pacific and Global Publisher of FT Live, to discuss how the company is driving business growth in key markets and leveraging our dedication to sustainable production practices like water conservation to meet our ambition to become the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company. He also spoke about Suntory’s family legacy as a distinct marker of our heritage and monozukuri craftsmanship, with the recent appointment of Nobuhiro Torii — the great-grandson of Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii — as President of Suntory Holdings.

Looking ahead, we believe that through collaboration with the JSLMA and our commitment to delivering the highest quality products, the legacy of Japanese Whisky will not only endure but flourish on the global stage.

THIS ARTICLE APPEARS WELL AFTER THE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION DATE AND IS PUBLISHED HERE AS A MATTER OF INTEREST.

HIGHLAND PARK MASTER WHISKY MAKER – GORDON MOTION – RETIRES AFTER 27 YEARS

MARC WATSON APPOINTED NEW MASTER WHISKY MAKER

After 27 years of spearheading the innovation of Highland Park’s award-winning whisky portfolio, Gordon Motion retires as Master Whisky Maker

To celebrate his long-standing legacy, Highland Park is releasing Sherry Skies – a limited edition 19-year-old single malt whisky that seamlessly blends his exceptional whisky-making expertise with his love of Highland Park’s characteristic sherried flavours

Stepping into the position as the latest creative innovator to continue Highland Park’s 227-year legacy is Marc Watson, former Distillery Manager of the year 

London UK – Edrington has announced that after 27 years of spearheading the innovation of Highland Park, Gordon Motion retires as Master Whisky Maker. Marc Watson will be taking over the role for the award-winning Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery, founded in Kirkwall, Orkney in 1798.

Gordon Motion commented: “I want to thank Highland Park for being my home for close to three decades. As I reflect on those, there have been some truly special moments. From selecting 10 exceptional casks from 1968 to create landmark releases like our 56-year-old, through to playing a pivotal role in the growth of our single malt portfolio, together with introducing our first Cask Strength and Global Travel Retail releases to the world.

“It’s been a great privilege and even better fun to have been a custodian of this truly great single malt whisky.

“I couldn’t ask for a better successor than Marc Watson to take Highland Park into the future. His attention to detail, deep knowledge and love of whisky and distilling, together with his creative flair, makes him the ideal person to become Highland Park’s next Master Whisky Maker.”

Marc Watson, the newly appointed Master Whisky Maker, graduated from Heriot-Watt with a Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling, and brings with him over 11 years of industry experience, including most recently holding the role as Master Blender for The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt since 2023. Prior to this, Marc was also recognised with the prestigious Icons of Whisky Distillery Manager of the Year award.

A passionate explorer of flavour, he has been working alongside Gordon for the past 6 months to immerse himself in Highland Park’s exceptional aged whisky stocks and its distinctively unique flavour profile.

Marc Watson commented: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Highland Park and its different by nature approach to whisky and to life and have a huge admiration for my predecessors who have created the legacy that makes it such a special single malt Scotch Whisky. I am incredibly excited to build on the award-winning quality that Gordon has nurtured throughout his tenure, whilst also being able to bring my own creativity.”

Sherry Skies: The Farewell Whisky From Gordon Motion
In a farewell to Gordon Motion, Highland Park is releasing a limited-edition whisky to honour his legacy.

Sherry Skies is a 19-Year-Old whisky that celebrates Highland Park’s distinctive character and the combination of science and instinct that Gordon has put into every bottle of Highland Park Single Malt Whisky across his tenure.

The whisky’s depth of sherried sweetness reflects Highland Park’s obsession with fine-tuning every detail of the casks that contribute to the flavour of its award-winning whisky. Created from six sherry seasoned casks – crafted and seasoned for Highland Park in Jerez – and three bourbon casks, Sherry Skies’ deep sherry influence brings notes of intense jammy dried fruit and sweet tannic spices, perfectly balanced with the subtle hint of aromatic smoke of Orkney heathered peat.

Gordon Motion continues: “I’ve sampled 100,000s of casks during my 27-year career, and the nine selected for Sherry Skies deliver a unique depth of flavour – singing with the sherry sweetness that I have loved exploring and perfecting, balanced with the subtle hint of aromatic smoke of our Orkney heathered peat.  I hope this farewell dram will give people as much joy savouring it, as I had creating it.”

Limited bottles of Highland Park Sherry Skies are available to purchase at the Highland Park Distillery and Albert Street store and via the brand website. For further information visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com

About Highland Park Sherry Skies:

• RRP: £265
• Only 1,200 bottles available
• ABV – 48.8%

Gordon Motion’s Sherry Skies Tasting Notes:

Notes – Fruity and Spicy

• Toasted oak
• Poached pear
• Clove
• Orange peel
• Subtle smoke

The Flavour

Intensely fruity but wonderfully smooth. Toasted oak and fragrant vanilla on the nose, leading to sweet, caramelised fruit, spice and citrus peel on the palate. The finish is where the spicy notes of anise, cinnamon come to the fore, alongside a lingering hint of heathered peat smoke.

About Highland Park: 

Highland Park has been distilled on the same site at Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Orkney has always been a world apart. Sitting in the North Sea, at roughly the same latitude as the southern tip of Greenland, it’s a place defined not just by its natural beauty, but also the creative, resourceful spirit of the people who live there.

At Highland Park, everything stems from this unique environment and community. In the more than 200 years since the distillery was founded, far from the mainland, and the mainstream, Highland Park continues to craft single malt whisky, according to its own rules.

Its distinctive smoky-sweet flavour comes from the unique island nature of Orkney, with long days of sunlight and wind so strong, that few trees grow. Instead, heather lines the landscape, which gives Highland Park its distinctive Orkney heathered peat.

For more information, please visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com  

About Edrington UK

Edrington UK is part of the global Edrington family and is responsible for the UK sales, marketing and distribution of ultra-premium and leading brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes and Brugal rum.

AUGUST 2025 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

We are delighted to offer some old, rare and limited bottlings in this month’s auction, including this iconic Macallan bottle, released in 2018 to mark the opening of the new Macallan distillery. Genesis also celebrates the design processes used to construct the state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly building. A highly prized and important bottling in the history of the Macallan Distillery, limited to a mere 2,500 bottles!

Released in 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of Cutty Sark, this extraordinary blend has been aged for a minimum of 23 years and then (unusually) bottled at Cask strength. Presented in a beautiful Art Deco style bottle and striking canvas bag, which sports a nautical theme. Bottle number 926 of only 1,435 bottles produced.

The Macallan 30 Years Old was first introduced in the late 1990’s. In 2018, the 30 year old (along with all of the Macallan ranges) was rebranded in conjunction with the opening of the new distillery, which saw the 30 year old Sherry Oak become an annual release. This is the 2022 edition.

We have a selection of Wolfburn on offer in this month’s auction, including Kylver Fehu. Released in 2016, this is the first instalment of what has become an annual release from the Highland distillery. Kylver takes Its name from an ancient burial stone found in Gotland, Sweden. Thurso was once a Viking settlement, the Kylver stone is said to display one of the earliest examples of the Viking runic alphabet. Fehu, the name of this first expression from the highly popular Kylver series, means ‘Wealth’ in the ancient Nordic language. Matured in ex-Bourbon Barrels, aged for a minimum of 3 years then bottled as the first expression in the series. One of only 1,200 bottles produced.

These are only a few of the old, limited and collectable bottles featured in our August auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 17^th August from 8pm BST.

Meet Glengoyne Mizunara Oak

A Limited Edition Single Malt, Matured in Rare Mizunara Casks

Glengoyne Mizunara Oak is a single malt matured in rare wood native to Hokkaidō, the northernmost prefecture in Japan.

First-fill sherry and refill casks laid the foundation. Then, for six long years, Mizunara Oak did its quiet work – infusing the spirit with whispers of sandalwood, soft vanilla, and spring blossom.

This is a whisky that waits. That listens. That learns from the grain.

Matured in the Highlands, shaped by Japanese oak, and bottled at 53.4% ABV, this 16 Year Old release is the third in our Oak Masters’ Series, a celebration of the world’s finest oaks. With just 3,195 bottles available worldwide.

Already awarded Double Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2025, Glengoyne Mizunara Oak will be available from 13th August through our website, select retailers, and the distillery shop.

Scotland meets Japan,

Oak from Hokkaidō whispers,

Time becomes flavour.

Single cask bottling from Adelphi of a 44 Year Old Invergordon Grain Whisky Distilled in 1972.

£360.00

Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Distilled: 1972  Bottled: 2018

Limited: 82 Bottles

42.2% ABV

Breakfast by Hielander

Our famous real Full Scottish Breakfast by the Hielander Scotch restaurant from Alkmaar will be served in the Breakfast room from:

• Saturday: 08:30 – 10:30
• Sunday: 08:30 – 10:30

Don’t feel like a Scottish breakfast? No worries, we also have ‘continental’ breakfast available and of course you can enjoy coffee, tea, milk or orange juice and toast as well during these opening hours.

TICKETS

Highland Queen Majesty 14 Drinking Out Loud Review

Adam leads us through a whisky bargain that suddenly appeared at The Strath. The Highland Queen 14 is a sherry cask delight from Tullibardine distillery in the Highlands. Discover more and hear Adam’s thoughts on this unexpected dram.