Scotch Single Malt A-Z

Batch 458 from Wolfburn was created from a 50/50 combination of two cask types: whisky matured in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks married with lightly peated whisky that matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. A rich, sticky tone of treacle and coffee join dry spices on the aroma, carrying over to a more nutty and clove-spiced flavour to taste. An integrated peat smoke sits behind treacle, lingering on the finish. Just 5,100 bottles are available world-wide.

Wolfburn's limited-edition Christmas 2022 release sees lightly peated spirit matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and second-fill quarter casks, matured for over seven years. A fresh, dry sea-air note starts the aroma, with heather blossom and a hint of peat smoke. On the palate, expect flashes of sultana, honey and treacle - with an appropriate note of Christmas cake icing (marzipan). The soft sweetness remains, drifting away with honey and warm caramel again. A suitably festive dram available while stocks last.

To celebrate DramFest 2023, the team at Whisky Galore has partnered with the fine folk at Wolfburn distillery to bring you this special bottling. Matured in an ex-bourbon quarter-cask, it carries flavours of soft fruit, with malt biscuit and chewy hazelnut tones smothered in caramel. Autumn fruits and nutty spices flow through the finish. Bottled at cask strength and limited to just 168 bottles.

Langskip, a norse word for Longship, is the latest release from Scotland's far-north distillery, Wolfburn. This is the first high-strength whisky from the distillery, offering fruity and aromatic notes of dried apple, raisins and dates and rich fruit cake. The palate has maple syrup, dark chocolate and fruit and nut mix. A fading vanilla-sweet finish comes through in the finish. A welcome new addition to the popular Wolfburn range.

The Wolfburn distillery is one of the more remote distilleries in Scotland, situated a great distance from southern Spain, where these Manzanilla sherry casks were sourced from. The dry, nutty and salty flavour of this wood marries with Wolfburn's sea-side style, joining honey and pear flavours. To taste, a shifting tide of sweet barley gives way to a lingering, mellow dryness from the oak.

Morven is the new peated expression from the Wolfburn distillery, made from barley that has been traditionally infused with the smoke of burning peat. The smoke is soft to start, combined with aromas of fresh sea air and a fruity, floral tone that comes from Wolfburn's slow fermentation and distillation. The lightness on the nose gives way to a more full-bodied flavour on the palate, carrying a tang of smoke and spices, with a vanilla sweetness that becomes spiced and very gently peppery in the finish.

The Wolfburn distillery is one of Scotland's newest distilleries, founded in 2013 in Thurso, making it the most northerly distillery in Scotland. Wolfburn is a traditional coastal Highland style, made with unpeated malt and aged in quarter casks that formerly held peaty whisky. Softly fruity and sweet to start, with buttery, fruity (pears, ripe banana), nutty flavours that drift towards a very subtle and lingering peat smoke finish. This is a truly accomplished whisky for such a new distillery, and a taste of great things to come.

Created in support of the 1921 Poppy Pledge, a total of 1921 bottles have been produced paying a fitting tribute to Scotland’s veterans.
This unique whisky has been matured in a combination of second-fill ex-Islay quarter casks and first-fill Oloroso sherry hogsheads. On the nose we get Bourbon sweetness mixed with soft oaky tones, followed by aromas of autumn fruits and brown sugar.
Floral tones lead the way on the palate, with warm vanilla and light spices. Sumptuous and decadent, like a mouthful of Christmas cake. Finally, hints of heather honey and butterscotch melt gently away. Sweet and smooth to the very end.

A classic Speyside dram, Aberlour 12 is a vatting of ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks. It carries notes of dried fruit (juicy raisins and sultanas) and vanilla toffee, leading into a slightly spicy and lingering finish. A very worthwhile replacement to the 10 years old.

This 14 year old release from Aberlour Distillery has been maturing in American oak casks and Sherry oak casks. There are initial notes of sweet vanilla and honey are found on the nose which develops into ripe cherries and creamy milk chocolate. The palate has notes of creamy caramel which complements deep notes of blackberry and blackcurrant jam with gentle ginger notes. The finish is long and sweet.

Aberlour a'bunadh is a natural cask strength single malt whisky. Taken directly from specially selected sherry casks it is bottled as simply as possible without the use of modern filtering methods or the addition of water. This is a dark, strong mega-sherried Aberlour a'bunadh, matured exclusively in Spanish casks that formerly were home to Oloroso sherry. This is one of the best-value cask strength whiskies available.

Ardbeg's latest addition to their lineup has finally arrived, the appropriately named 'Wee Beastie'. Selected from both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this is Ardbeg at it's best - punchy, intense and smoky. The flavour carries an immediate kick of peppery, tarry and ashy peat smoke, along with smoked and salty meats. The surge of smoke gives way to a full mouthfeel and taste of chocolate, with hints of pine resin and herbal/medicinal notes that becomes sea-side salty dry and again the sweet, savoury & smoky contrast.

After initially maturing in traditional oak casks over a number of years, this expression of Arran has been finished in a selection of Amarone wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Italian red wine. The finish introduces bigger and richer flavours to Arran, with dark chocolate, cherry and Turkish delights are evident as are stewed fruits and toffee. Arran's light and delicate distillery character remains present, James MacTaggart has cleverly allowed for the wood influence to compliment, rather than dominate.

The Arran Barrel Reserve is a new expression from this West-coast Scottish distillery, carefully selected from a small number of barrels that show its classic style - wonderfully fruity, honeyed and with a lush vanilla scent and flavour.

Arran Port Cask Finish provides a rich and complex expression bursting with flavours of dried fruits, hazelnuts and oranges. Carefully selected Port casks give a sweet finish to compliment Arran's traditional light and fruity style.

After initially maturing in traditional oak casks for approximately 8 years, The Arran Single Malt in this bottling was finished in a selection of Sauternes wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Bordeaux sweet white wine. There are notes of honeysuckle, melon and marzipan on the nose, which continues to develop on the palate with rich honey and vanilla flavours.

This special release from Arran has been hand selected by Distillery Manager Stewart Bowman. The spirit has been maturing in a combination of in ex-Sherry Hogsheads, ex-Sherry Butts and ex-Bourbon barrels. The nose has notes of toffee apples, vanilla and orange blossom, with flavours of light liquorice, menthol and a syrupy quality of floral honey and candy store sweeties.

A real hidden gem from Arran?s Lochranza distillery, the ?Bodega? Sherry Cask has been matured exclusively in first fill ex-Sherry Hogsheads hailing from Jerez, Spain. Bottled at the cask?s natural strength at 55.8%, the ?Bodega? is incredibly well layered with intense aromas of crystalised ginger, sun ripened figs and stewed cherries, reminiscent of Christmas mince pies. The figs make a return on the palate, alongside lashings of dark chocolate, sweet baking spices and hints of mandarin.

A superb example of all that is good about Arran. A vanilla sweetness gives way to kiwi, banana and melon, with a hint of cocoa powder. A very mellow dram with a delicate nose but a weighty and oily palate, sweetness softened by gentle woody tones.

This release from Arran distillery is limited to 12,000 bottles. It has been maturing in both first and second fill sherry Hogsheads and first fill Bourbon Barrels. It has notes of green apples, oak, gentle spices and marmalade on the nose. The palate is zesty with orange notes, creamy vanilla and fruits. The finish is soft, with chocolate notes.

As part of the new range of Benriach, Rachel Barrie has reimagined the peated expressions under the name 'smoky'. The 12 years old is matured in a combination of Ex-Bourbon, Ex-Sherry, and Ex-Marsala casks. A balance of wood and smoke, the 'smoky twelve' is full of seared citrus peel, smoky honey and fruit notes.

This whisky from Benriach Distillery has been matured for 12 years in sherry casks, bourbon barrels and port casks. This is a whisky with notes of baked fruits, maple honey and cocoa. It has lingering notes of sultana and spiced mocha finish. 

This new expression of the 10 years old is matured in a combination of Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, and American virgin oak. This dram has a balance of classic fresh orchard fruit, honey, and toasted oak, with a tiny hint of smoke. BenRiach distillery rose to fame under the legendary Billy Walker (who now operates GlenAllachie distillery) when Billy sold BenRiach management passed to veteran blender Rachel Barrie.

Produced at the oldst distillery on Islay, their 15 year old combines the use of classic American-oak casks and a final maturation of 2 years in Oloroso sherry casks. A classic example of the rich, dark and tropical fruit flavours of the distillery, with a soft, mellow peatyness throughout.