Whisky Archive

Another 'Top Class' malt, with a high reputation in the trade, but uncommon since it is in big demand, particularly from the White Horse and Walker blends. The distillery itself was the last to be built in the 19th century. This magnificent example of the make has been drawn from an American oak cask, and is amber in colour. BRONZE MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2005

The make from Glentauchers is not common – the last time it was bottled by its proprietor was in 2000 – and four independent bottlings from the same year as this one (1990) are fondly remembered. This cask is a U.S. hogshead, and the whisky’s colour is deep gold.

This cask was filled only two years after the distillery was opened in 'the highest town in Scotland'. This is the second cask from 1967 we have been lucky enough to secure, and it has yielded a mere 196 bottles. The colour is deep amber, although it comes from an American cask. BRONZE MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2006

Invergordon Distillery overlooks the Cromarty Firth in the north-east of Scotland. It was opened in 1959, and is one of only six operating grain whisky distilleries in Scotland. The cask is an American hoggy, and it has imbued the whisky with a gorgeous burnished copper hue. AENEAS COFFEY AWARD, MALT MANIACS 2005

Rosebank was always considered by connoisseurs to be the best of the Lowland malts; in spite of this great reputation the distillery was closed in 1993. This is a superb example of the make. Deep gold in colour (it is drawn from a refill American oak hogshead).

An old favourite (and also of Professor Saintsbury, author of the seminal ‘Notes to a Cellar Book’ (1926)). Clynelish Distillery is situated on the north-east coast of Scotland, in the village of Brora. Its make is unique, and this is an excellent example. It is drawn from an American oak refill cask and is mid-gold in colour.

We have been asked not to name this single malt, but as soon as you smell and taste it you will think ‘Kildalton’: it is big and smoky, but manages to remain well-balanced and ‘polite’. It comes from a hogshead, and has a good amber colour, with a weathered copper tint and green lights.

Next to the three ‘Kildalton’ malts, traditional Caol Ila is the smokiest of the Islay’s (they do produce an unpeated ‘Highland’ version, hence ‘traditional’), and this cask does not disappoint. The colour is pale gold (from a refill hogshead), and the first nose is of disinfectant and acetate SILVER MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2005

Inchgower Distillery is a long way from Speyside, although it adopts the appellation, perhaps on the justifiable ground of the style of the malt. This is bottled from an ex-sherry butt and has a gorgeous rose-wood colour and a heavy bead. SILVER MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2005.

A rich orange-gold colour, you could easily believe that this was from a sherry cask. However, the nose tells a different story.