‘Vellichor’ is a new word and refers to the aromatic atmosphere within second-hand bookshops. For this project, we have combined complex and impressively mature whiskies from renowned distilleries, as well as parcels of blends that have been aged for many years in ex-Sherry butts, to encapsulate this unique fragrance.

Every cask is different because of its maturation location and type of wood and cask. That’s part of what makes selecting whisky for Firkin so great. Each whisky is recasked into a Firkin custom double oak that was seasoned with a soulmate wine.

Then we play the waiting game.

Casks develop at different speeds. There might be a practical reason for this, but making whisky is an art, not a science. The whisky is ready when it’s ready, and that’s about it 

It takes time and patience to produce a Firkin awesome single malt. But it’s worth it.

The Firkin approach is to create unique double oak barrels that use two types of oak and mature the whisky in a soulmate wine cask.

The first type of cask is American oak from first-fill Bourbon. The second is new Limousin oak with a custom char. Master coopers combine the two types of oak into one barrel. The result is a cask with a unique oak profile.

But the Firkin Approach doesn’t stop at the wood.

Firkin matches the single malt with a fortified wine that accentuates and polishes the original whisky. It gives the whisky a depth of flavour, unlike any other whisky on the market. 

Mike Collings, Firkin's founder, created Johnnie Walker Blue & Green Labels, The Classic Malts, Rare Malts, Distillers Edition, Flora & Fauna series, Cardhu and Royal Lochnagar.

Mike tests each cask every six months. Something other bottlers don’t do or can’t do. Tasting every six months isn’t hard yards, no one is going to feel sorry for poor Mike having to taste all that terrific whisky. But it is how he ensures Firkin has its a unique depth of flavour.

Firkin is a hand-crafted and premium whisky. But all that really matters is that it tastes great. And this is a Firkin awesome single malt scotch whisky.

THE BALVENIE FORTY

AGED 40 YEARS

Using some of the rarest casks that have been carefully matured in Traditional American and European Oak in The Balvenie warehouses, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE creates to craft a bold marriage of extraordinary character.
 
Rich and refined; intense honeyed oak and rich fruit create a complex layer of sweetness and spice; then warm notes of  ginger and citrus are revealed.

Bottled at cask strength.

Spicy and peaty, the Black Axe is made with a portion of Islay malt whisky. Every batch of Gladstone Axe Black Axe is made from 100% malted barley and aged in oak barrels. The Black Axe is made from a selection of malt whiskies from 14 different Highland and Islay malt Distilleries. What separates the Black Axe from American Oak is a higher percentage of Islay whisky which is smokier and spicier in its nature. The marriage of these different whiskies makes for a delicious flavor profile that can be enjoyed by scotch lovers both new and old.

Bonfire night: aromas of oozing toasted marshmallows, roasted pineapple, and baked apples studded with cloves, with the tang of cordite lingering in the background.

Craigellachie sits firmly in the heart of Speyside, flat bang in the middle of scotch territory. It obstinately stands alone on a rock overlooking the confluence of the rivers Fiddich and Spey. But rid your mind of that typical ‘Speyside’ flavor, for Craigellachie rebels against this. It consciously makes no concessions to modern-day house rules. Craigellachie is an unapologetic and unique whisky, robust and muscular with a hint of pineapple. The distillery was built in 1891 when the great Alfred Barnard described our whisky as 'a style seldom met', and we've been old-fashioned - in style and flavor - ever since.

120 years of Glen Moray whisky

Started in 1897, it has been more than 120 years since we first began crafting Glen Moray in the heart of Speyside. Our rich heritage continues to inspire our single malt Scotch whisky today. Read on to discover our story.

Our 15 Year Old marries two very different cask types in one outstanding dram. With half spending it’s life in American oak embodying Glen Moray's classic style, the other half maturing in oloroso sherry casks resplendent with rich spice, we bring their contrasting styles together to craft intensely complex layers. With tastes of dried fruits, dark chocolate and spice, amplified by age, this Scotch whisky is a perfect treat for single malt lovers eager to discover more.

TASTING NOTES

About the Brand

Inspired by a passion for tradition, born as a tribute to a queen, crafted with a desire for perfection. The story of Royal Salute is unlike any other whisky.

In 1953, the young Princess Elizabeth ascended the throne. The occasion called for a tribute fit for a queen and so an exquisite blend was created using whisky from Strathisla, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands. It was given the name Royal Salute – after the famous 21-gun-salute – and so began the story of a remarkable whisky. 

To this day, Royal Salute has marked each significant event in the lives of the British Monarchy and is unique in having only ever used whiskies aged at least 21 years in its blends. It is this unique commitment to quality and tradition that has given rise to the informal motto, “We Begin Where Others End”.

Behind this drive for perfection lies the true secret to the success of Royal Salute – its legendary storehouses across Scotland.

Over the decades, Royal Salute master blenders have collected and stored whiskies of immense distinction. Behind locked doors, these liquids lie in wooden casks, aging, maturing, patiently waiting for the moment they are ready to make magic. 

Royal Salute Chinese New Year Limited Edition 21 years Old Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky

The Chinese New Year Special Edition, featuring our iconic 21 Year Old Signature Blend, was designed to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

The illustration features traditional Chinese symbols including the dragon and lucky knotwork to bring you and your family health and prosperity in the coming year.

Aromas of sweet pears and citrus fruits are balanced with notes of autumn flowers. Aromas of sweet vanilla and oak are enhanced with notes of sherry and smoke.

The taste brings rich spices and hazelnut, with sweet orange marmalade flavours infused with fresh pears.

ABOUT THE BRAND

From The Hebrides, CLOAKED in MIST Comes a MYSTIFYING whisky CAISTEAL CHAMUIS (“Castle Camus,” for non-Gaelic speakers.) A whisky that, mysteriously, is HEAVILY PEATED, yet HEAVILY SMOOTH. An enigma in itself.

HEAVILY PEATED
In a traditional Hebridean style, Caisteal Chamuis is a blended whisky that offers complex layers of smokiness.

HEAVILY SMOOTH

Though heavily peated, Caisteal Chamuis is mellowed by means of double barrelled aging, making it inexplicably smooth.

HEAVILY MYSTERIOUS 

While ghosts of bloody battles are said to float through the MIST, Fear not!  Step inside the safety of the castle. And if you have trepidations about smoky, peated whiskies  Your fears will be put to rest by the enigmatic smoothness of Caisteal Chamuis A whisky, HEAVILY PEATED, yet HEAVILY SMOOTH  The biggest mystery of all.

CAISTEAL CHAMUIS

•Double Barrelled - First-Fill Bourbon Finish

•First aged in refill and first-fill American oak Hogsheads

•Two stage re-aging with part of the blend in Virgin American Oak. Have Char 250 litre barrels, with Fresh Oloroso Sherry

European Oak Heads, and the rest into refill Hogsheads

•Final ageing finish in smaller 200 litre fresh Bourbon Barrels

Discovery
The perfect introduction to our portfolio, the Discovery range provides single malt whiskies from some of Scotland’s most admired distilleries.

Each expression sits within the bold flavor profiles of either 'Sherry', 'Smoky', or 'Bourbon'. 

Ideal choice for the whisky-lover who enjoys exploration through flavor and character.

A successful example of a 'modern' sherryed single malt whisky, this 10-year-old Macduff from Gordon & MacPhail. Aroma and taste are uncomplicated, with clearly recognizable sherry tones.

 OUR PHILOSOPHY

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has been trusted with new-make spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. Developing these long-standing relationships are as important to us today as it was a century ago.

Each distillery produces a unique spirit, created using three simple ingredients: malted barley, water and yeast. The spirit’s characteristics are determined by many factors such as the dimensions and design of the copper stills, and of course the oak cask that nurtures the spirit during maturation.

We carefully select wood that will complement and nurture the spirit. Our Sherry casks are made in Jerez, Spain, to exacting specifications and seasoned before being shipped to Scotland. Meanwhile, our local partners, Speyside Cooperage, help us source the highest quality ex-bourbon casks from North America.

It is this cask curation that allows us to consistently deliver our range of perfectly balanced whiskies, which will only carry the Gordon & MacPhail name when four generations of experience deems them ready.

Rare Marriages: For this range, Kelsey McKechnie has made a small selection of our rarest casks, each of exceptional quality and unique individual flavour to bring together in a tun marriage.

The Balvenie Twenty Five Layers Of Depth And Complexity: Extraordinary depth; the perfect balance to create the most elegantly fruity whisky expression.

Twenty Five Rare Marriage: In a flawless whisky marriage, Honorary Ambassador and Former Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE brings together individual casks that have matured in traditional American and European Oak to craft an incredibly intricate and balanced expression; exemplifying the art and skill of Single Malt tun marriages.

The result: A whisky of exceptional character, Twenty-Five hints at our most sought-after Balvenie flavours – bold vanilla oak, crystallised ginger and sweet runny honey.

The Art Of The Glenrothes

Celebrate both the art and science of whisky making with a series of captivating art works created by The Glenrothes and Spanish Data Artist, Xavi Tribó. Music by Steven Crichton. Tribó was given access to all technical data from our distillery analysis to create a unique algorithm generating color and movement. The artist also mapped the entire Glenrothes Distillery in Speyside using a 3D laser scanner which allowed a frame of the distillery to be created to showcase the art within.   Gordon Motion, who has been the Master Whisky Maker at the Speyside distillery since 2009 said: “There’s something magical about the meeting of whisky with a cask, particularly a sherry seasoned cask – it’s difficult to define in words. Being unable to find the words, sparked the idea of expressing the relationship in a new way – through the visualization of data.”

The Glenrothes 36 Years Old is a rare single malt Scotch whisky enriched by generations of knowledge. Yielding only 168 bottles, the whisky celebrates both heritage and progress – a hidden gem coveted by those who care to seek.

In an artistic collaboration with The New Yorker artist Maddie Dai, the 36 Years Old packaging is adorned with original art inspired by the two worlds of Rothes and New York City, containing hidden gems for those who know.

DEWAR’S HERITAGE

FOUNDED IN 1846 BY JOHN DEWAR. JOHN DEWAR & SONS LTD HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL WINE AND SPIRITS MERCHANT SHOP IN PERTH, SCOTLAND, TO BECOME A GLOBALLY RENOWNED AND CELEBRATED BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY. ENJOYED AROUND THE WORLD.

FOUNDERS

Our story started with a shop in Perth and founder John Dewar. Together with sons John Alexander Dewar and Tommy Dewar, these three men changed the course of whisky history, and created some mighty fine products along the way. Our Celtic truth knot, a sign of strength and longevity, is constructed from the three D’s representing our founders – John, Tommy and John Alexander Dewar.

Our unique Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks. Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, this blend delivers subtle notes of cinnamon and ripe vine fruits with a silky smooth finish.

Innovation comes in many forms, and in 2019 our Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, released a new range of Blended Scotch Whiskies with a Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness. This may sound like an indulgence but the series has been picking up gold medal awards the world over since being released.

We believe that in order to do things right and get the best results you should put in double the effort. So we asked ourselves how we could put in double the effort to our range that was already Double Aged for Extra Smoothness…and it was obvious..double it!

Our Double Double Series has been aged, blended together, aged again, then finished in sherry casks for the Ultimate Smoothness.

Four Stage Aging Process for Ultimate smoothness 

Innovation comes in many forms, and in 2019 our Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, released a new range of Blended Scotch Whiskies with a Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness. This may sound like an indulgence but the series has been picking up gold medal awards the world over since being released.

We believe that in order to do things right and get the best results you should put in double the effort. So we asked ourselves how we could put in double the effort to our range that was already Double Aged for Extra Smoothness…and it was obvious..double it!

Our Double Double Series has been aged, blended together, aged again, then finished in sherry casks for the Ultimate Smoothness.

The first single malt in The Dalmore Principal Collection to be finessed in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. The new 14 Year Old joins The Dalmore Principal Collection, exclusively in the USA. Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass led the development of the latest release from The Dalmore, the first expression to be finished in hand-selected, rare Pedro Ximénez casks from the House of Gonzalez Byass. The sun-drenched, intense sweetness of the Pedro Ximénez sherry wine adds delicious new layers of flavour and perfectly complements The Dalmore’s house style and rich notes of citrus, liquorice and caramel. With notes of figs, Medjool dates and maple syrup, The Dalmore 14 Year is ideal to cherish and enjoy with others.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm honey dates, Seville orange zest, rich raisins and allspice

Palate: Figs, dates, toasted hazelnuts, roasted coffee and maple syrup

Finish: Rich dark fruits, liquorice, marmalade and depths of cocoa

The Balvenie French Oak is a vibrant single malt finished in casks previously held wine from the French Charentes vineyards.

Pineau des Charentes is a fortified wine made from unfermented grape juice, to which a Cognac eau-de-vie is added and then matured. Pineau us also found as a home-made product in the neighbouring Deau-Sevres and Vendee departements.

The Balvenie USA brand ambassador Lorne Cousin suggested Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE explore these casks after a trip to the region with his family where he fondly remembers sipping an aperitif.

This is the first of The Balvenie finishes to explore French Oak. Pineau is akin to cognac in terms of production and flavour, allowing us to capitalise on the rise of this flavour profile and its premium credentials.

Tasting Notes

NOSE: Beautifully balanced light floral notes from lotus and geranium flowers dance between hints of fresh meadow grass and pealed apple skin.

TASTE: An energising zing from tangy lemon rind and grapefruit meet the delicate subtle sweetness of glazed fruits and spice from root ginger.

FINISH: Refreshingly concise.

DESCRIPTION

Glenfiddich Special Edition Sherry Cask Finish single malt Scotch whisky matured for 12 years in American and European Oak Sherry casks before finishing in Amontillado casks adding lively notes of dried fruits and a delicately spicy finish. The Amontillado Sherry Casks are from the Spanish Sherry region of Jerez and are the rarest of Sherry Casks. Every year, Amontillado casks make up less than 5% of all our imported sherry casks, illustrating their rarity and desirability. Best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water, or with club soda to expand the flavor. Skillfully crafted. Enjoy responsibly.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Distinctively fresh and fruity with a hint of pear, delicate dried fruits and subtle spice.

Taste: Beautifully sweet, fruity notes enveloped by rich oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of baked apple.

Finish: Smooth and mellow with a lingering spiciness.

In the early 1970s, Benriach broke convention in Speyside by returning to distilling batches of whisky in the old, 19th century style, using malted barley smoked with Highland peat. This wood rich Highland peat imparts distinctly sweet and smoky notes into Benriach peated whiskies. Benriach The Smoky Ten has been crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least ten years in a combination of bourbon barrels, Jamaican rum casks and toasted virgin oak. The whisky is then expertly married together to create sublimely smooth layers of sunripe fruit, aromatic smoke and toasted oak spice, lingering into the perfectly balanced sweet and smoky finish.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Bright gold

NOSE: Ripe orchard fruit syrup, smoked honey glaze and oak spice

TASTE: Smoked applewood, honey maple and spiced pear finishing with lingering fruit and smoked oak

SMOKE LEVEL: Rich

RACHEL BARRIE MASTER BLENDER

"Three cask maturation in bourbon, Jamaican rum and toasted virgin oak casks bring out intense smoked applewood flavour with honeyed sugar maple, all woven together with rich layers of smoke."

To make Benriach Twelve, Benriach spirit is three cask matured for at least twelve years in sherry casks, bourbon barrels and port casks. The whisky from each cask is then expertly married together to create a smooth, sherry-rich single malt, layered with baked fruit, maple honey and cocoa, perfectly balanced with a lingering sultana and spiced mocha finish.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Golden bronze

NOSE: Rich maple honey, cocoa and baked forest fruit

TASTE: Maraschino cherry, baked orange and hazelnut, with a lingering sultana and spiced mocha finish

SMOKE LEVEL: Nil

RACHEL BARRIE MASTER BLENDER

"Sherry rich maturation brings incredible depth to this expression and layers of dark berry fruits. It encaptures the flavours of Benriach in the autumn."

At The Balvenie we stay true to our Five Rare Crafts, making whisky the way we always have. Our craftsmen have an intimate understanding of their materials and a desire to make the very best whisky possible. Our process is a combination of expertise, skill and ambition which gives The Balvenie its unique character. It’s the heart and the passion that goes into each bottle. The dedication. The commitment. The obsession. This is what elevates the expert to the extraordinary. It takes skill to make something great. It requires heart to make something extraordinary.

With over 50 years of experience, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE possesses an unequalled knowledge of The Balvenie. For The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch No.2, David hand-selects an assemblage of vintage casks from the distillery’s precious aged whisky stocks and fills them to Tun 1509, housed in Warehouse 24. Three months later emerges this exceptionally complex and rare single malt Scotch whisky. This is a rare interpretation of the marrying process, with each batch limited by the 8000L capacity of the tun itself, allowing these fine casks to come together to create a singular expression; a Balvenie greater than the sum of its constituent parts.

One batch is bottled each year and The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 1 was launched in 2014.

At The Balvenie we stay true to our Five Rare Crafts, making whisky the way we always have. Our craftsmen have an intimate understanding of their materials and a desire to make the very best whisky possible. Our process is a combination of expertise, skill and ambition which gives The Balvenie its unique character. It’s the heart and the passion that goes into each bottle. The dedication. The commitment. The obsession. This is what elevates the expert to the extraordinary. It takes skill to make something great. It requires heart to make something extraordinary.

For the 2017 release, The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 4, David C Stewart MBE carefully selected 23 casks – 13 traditional American oak barrels and 10 European oak sherry butts – from the distillery’s precious aged stocks.

All were transferred to Tun 1509, which sits in Warehouse 24, for several months before bottling. Tun is a rare interpretation of the marrying process and allows our most mature casks of various vintages to come together to create a unique expression of The Balvenie that is greater than the sum of its constituent parts.