Rare Cask Releases

Since 1875, Glenglassaugh distillery has sat quietly on the edge of the picturesque Sandend Bay, breathing in the North Sea air which flows through its warehouses and invigorates its sweet Highland spirit with notes of the sea. Silent for a period of more than 20 years, the distillery was re-awakened in 2008 and its stills brought back to life. Unearthed from the coastal warehouses, a rare collection of vintage casks were discovered from before the distillery fell quiet.

These forgotten whiskies can now be experienced as part of our Glenglassaugh rare cask series. Glenglassaugh rare casks are a discovery to be made, each cask telling its own story. All casks are bottled without chill filtration, for natural character, with the pure colour drawn entirely from the wood of the cask.

Our leading brand, which is the key focus of our company, is our internationally-acclaimed Raw Cask whisky. These are whiskies from the old school, as they would have been drawn from a cask behind a bar in Scotland back in the 1800s. This was before whisky was chill filtered or heavily filtered – a process which removes a lot of the naturally-occurring oils and esters from the whisky, which is where the flavours are held. To prove that we do not filter our Raw Cask whiskies, you will discover some of the cask sediment in every bottle – this is our assurance of its completely natural and ‘raw’ state. It is the King of Single Casks!

Discover award-winning flavour, texture, depth and complexity.

Live the journey through our expansive collection; rare and innovative expressions of Scotch Whisky, showcasing multiple styles, vintages and character.

EXCEPTIONAL SINGLE CASK

Imagine yourself stepping into the secluded world of The Macallan Whisky Makers right at the heart of The Macallan Estate. Laid out on the legendary whisky making bench is a stunning array of Macallan whiskies sampled straight from the cask. This is where the story of The Macallan Exceptional Single Cask begins...

THE WHISKY MAKERS' BENCH

An amazingly diverse selection of samples crosses The Macallan whisky making bench every day. Standing at the bench, the Whisky Makers patiently lay the foundations of the entire Macallan range by meticulously nosing and assessing each and every sample. It is here, in the hidden depths of the estate that extraordinary aromas and flavours first fully reveal themselves.

CASK TYPE: European Oak Sherry Hogshead

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Summery berry tart, raspberry, blackcurrant and almond.

TASTE: Toffee, cinnamon, vanilla.

FINISH: Long lasting berry fruits and oak.

A rich, peaty malt that makes a real monster of a gift

This set, containing a full-sized bottle of The Peat Monster, combined with two laser-etched glasses, is the perfect way to introduce one of our most loved creations. It’s a multiple award-winner, with the carefully crafted blend producing a style of peaty-smoky Scotch malt whisky no single distillery can create.

The ideal way to introduce a friend to the pleasures of smoky whisky

Available in a special limited-edition pack while stocks last, this set is currently the only way to pick up tulip-shaped glassware decorated with the emblematic Peat Monster icon. Brimming with peat smoke character and accented by delicate notes of citrus fruit and creamy vanilla, The Peat Monster is balanced and full on the palate with a sweet impression and a long finish.

In 2019, we started dressing The Peat Monster in a new label. The design stems from our 10th anniversary limited release, and when we evolved the recipe, we couldn’t resist reprising this design from Marc Burckhardt to accompany it. All batches of The Peat Monster released since 2019 now feature this specially-commissioned artwork.

Still very much the whisky for those who love big, rich, smoky-peaty malts, our latest version of THE PEAT MONSTER is older and more elegant than before.

Inspired by feedback from smoky whisky lovers, our new Painting Label of THE PEAT MONSTER incorporates single malts with a more aromatic and graceful style of smokiness. We have sought to retain the peaty intensity for which THE PEAT MONSTER has long been celebrated, whilst creating a depth and elegance not seen before.

New batches of THE PEAT MONSTER boast a spectrum of powerful coastal flavours, combining the smokiness of a driftwood fire with more medicinal peat notes. Orchard fruits and rich cask-derived creaminess balance the multi-layered smoke. It is a new peaty landscape, as the Painting Label shows.

The evolution is a subtle one. We hope you will hunt down both labels and enjoy teasing out the contrasts.

FLAVOUR PROFILE
Peaty and smoky, with a creamy and fruity character on the palate

Technical details

Bottled at 46% , Not chill filtered , Natural colour , Lead whiskymaker: John Glaser

Tasting Notes

Nose: Almonds, quince jelly, custard, gooseberries and pancakes.

Palate: Marzipan and bitter almonds. Gooseberries, lemon, and croissants.

Finish: Heather honey, limoncello, lemon drops and butter.

Ed's tasting notes

Colour: Natural colour, deep gold or bronze. Coats the sides of the glass thickly with a lingering tide line.

Nose: Stewed fruit crumble. Apples with forest fruits cooked in spiced syrup, topped with buttery crumble. The crumble has browned and become toasted around the edges. Thick vanilla custard. Backed by malt and oak.

Palate: Thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Bright red fruit and berries with spices and candied orange. Dry oak with a little vanilla. Apples and pears join the red fruit, the longer you hold the whisky on your tongue. At 54% the alcohol is well integrated, adding just a little warmth, and plenty of body.

Finish: Medium, tingling spices are left once the berries and apples disappear.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fruit syrup, honey and brown muscovado sugar. Apple, canned pears, peaches, apricots, and kiwis.

Palate: Barley syrup and preserved fruits. Muesli and cereal. Citrons, lemon zest, and chalk.

Finish: Vanilla, coffee liqueurs and creams.

Blair Athol is one of Diageo's workhorse distilleries. Much of its malt whisky ends up in Bell's blended scotch. It's a beautiful distillery built in 1798 in Pitlochry. It has a nutty character resulting from cloudy worts and short fermentation. Allowing controlled levels of solids coming across in the wash still adds a deep, rich meat loaf character.

The majority of Blair Athol casks destined for blending are ex-bourbon barrels. So, this release from Chapter 7 is a rare exception: a wine cask aged Blair Athol. The cask is likely a 2nd or 3rd fill, resulting in a complex dram rather than a dominant one.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh citrus and green apples. Vanilla and barley syrup. Papaya and sponge cake.

Palate: Vanilla, apples and lemons. Honeysuckle honey and rhubarb.

Finish: Limoncello, sandalwood and vanilla.

About Chapter 7 Whisky

Built in 1929, Glen Grant's owners John and James had a great impact on the development of the Rothes area. The brothers brought in the railway line from Lossiemouth to Elgin. They personally paid for an extension of the route to Rothes. Glen Grant was one of the first whisky brands. You could find Glen Grant in Africa, Australia, and the US in the late 19 century. Glen Grant stills produce a light spirit mainly due to their square boil bulbs. These increase copper surface significantly. Well-aged Glen Grant, such as this release by Chapter 7 Whisky, are known to be complex drams with many layers.

A classic for nearly 100 years, Buchanan’s 12-year old whisky is one of the world’s most iconic and awarded luxury Scotch whisky brands. It has a soft and fruity flavor, with orange and chocolate notes that allow it to be served on the rocks or with soda, garnished with a strip of orange peel. Originally called Buchanan’s Finest Liqueur, James Buchanan personally consulted and approved the blend, which has a soft and fresh profile that separates it from other more dense whisky profiles.

FLAVOR
It has orange and chocolate notes, perfect to be served on the rocks or with soda, garnished with a strip of orange peel.

The tradition of our Peatside continues, once again capturing the power and vibrancy displayed within youthful peated whisky. This vatting combines two fledgling single malts, one heavily peated, the other creamy and sweet. Together they unite to create a blend with an intense natural peaty smokiness. By further maturing these Scotch whiskies in fresh Pedro Ximènez Sherry and bourbon casks, our Whisky Creations Team achieve a brilliant balance between peat, malt and oak. Our latest Peatside is a perfect example of the Art of Maturation that we are dedicated to at Murray McDavid.

A grain whisky that’s only a pot still away from being a single malt

A grain whisky made only from malt? That’s also smoky? Paradoxical spirits are something of a calling card for the whiskymakers at Loch Lomond Distillery who operate their site with seriously open minds. We managed to source some of their peated, Coffey-distilled whisky to create a blended grain with a difference.

Experimental Grain Whisky is in many ways the alter ego to Hedonism, our signature expression. The smoke notes that the Loch Lomond parcel bestows are unlike anything we have used before: herbal, moss-like, clinging.

Bottled at 46% ABV
Not chill-filtered
Natural colour
Lead Whiskymaker: James Saxon

The majority of Experimental Grain Whisky is comprised of grains from the Cameronbridge and North British distilleries. They bring notes of fudge, vanilla and set honey. On top of this the younger whisky from Loch Lomond layers impressions of pine forests and patchouli oil.

Experimentation abounds throughout Scotland. For those who thought grain whisky was by default light and creamy, think again.

From a Distillery with more ups and downs that a pogoing punk comes Ardcore. Created with roasted black malt, roasted to the extreme, this spirit is all about what happens up front – centre stage. The malt is what defines its distinctive profile. Described as tasting like ‘biting on a spiky ball’, Ardcore is a dram that wears its heart on its sleeve… its black heart!

Notes of charcoal and sweet smoke make for an in-your-face nose, while potent notes of aniseed and dark chocolate stamp this bottle out as one fit only for the most Ardcore of fans.

Non chill-filtered at 50.1% ABV.

Our unique Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks.

Dewar’s Double Double 32-Year-Old is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, this brings rich, ripe treacle notes with a hint of smokiness and the silky smooth finish.

Two ingredients, limitless adventure

In this exclusive gift set, discover three delicious ways in which we combine malt whiskies and grain whiskies. Scotland’s two styles of whisky allow for endless experimentation. Blended malts are long established; blended Scotch emerged in the 19th century, while blended grain started with us in 2000. This one-of-a-kind sampler collection celebrates the compelling possibilities of malt whisky and grain whisky by introducing Orchard House alongside two of our established whiskies, Glasgow Blend and Hedonism.

Three families of blends

Orchard House combines exclusively single malt whiskies, making it a blended malt Scotch whisky, whilst Hedonism draws only on mature single grain whiskies and is that seldom-seen creature, a blended grain Scotch whisky. Then Glasgow Blend completes the picture by bringing together both single grain and single malt whiskies in one bottle as a blended Scotch whisky.

With this pack, you can experience the contrasting styles of whisky Scotland creates. Share & Enjoy!

The oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been “Made By the Sea” since 1830. In fact, few single malts tell the story of their origin better. Its smell and taste instantly connect the drinker with the rugged coastal environment. Every sip is a taste of the Isle of Skye itself – a powerhouse; challenging but adored, once discovered rarely left. Like a warm welcome from a wild sea.

The Talisker 30 is elegant and complex, with the classic Talisker hallmarks of pepper and smoke in a softer and subtler way.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Full gold.

Nose: Vanilla, spice and a grapey, red wine note with faint smoke behind. Adding water softens things and adds a spicy maritime note.

Body: Medium.

Palate: Lively yet mature delight, like the favorite uncle you don’t see very often. Immediately sweet, rich, peppery and hot, with just the right amount of balancing bitterness and salt with no rough edges. An underlying woody smokiness brings everything together.

Finish: Quite long and warming, gently drying, with a hint of smoke in the moreish maritime aftertaste.