The Society's Reserve Cask Selection

This wonderful and unrepeatable whisky comes from a single Speyside distillery still in production. This vatting of 16 hogsheads, all tasted independently before the blend was hand-bottled (in a new right-weighted sustainable bottle) at natural colour , only adjusting the alcohol a little to present a more polished finished product. Aromas of candied orange and honey burst from the glass, accompanied by a hint of cocoa, sweet spice and toffee. The palate is warming and round, with more citrus and a touch of peppery spice. Adding a little water unlocks bright, floral, honeyed tones, with a finish that perfectly balances elegant fruit and richness from the sherry cask. A wonderfully complex and classically sherried Speyside dram.

From a single Speyside distillery still in production, this was vatted and bottled in 2021 from one hogshead and five butts, tasted independently before the blend to ensure that the finished bottle would be more than the sum of its parts. We bottled at natural colour, only adjusting the alcohol a little to present a more polished finished product. With a typical sherried sweet note to the nose, this beautiful Speyside has elegance and charm. Apricot, almonds, wheat and caramel notes develop quickly on the nose, all of which are enhanced further by the addition of a small drop of water. The elegant palate has an oily texture but light touch, with bitter orange, marzipan and peach richness developing.

Barrel number: 9345
• Barrel type: Hogshead
• Final Alc% at vatting: 45.5

Barrel number: 12513
• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc% at vatting: 56.4

Barrel number: 12514
• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc% at vatting: 52.1

Barrel number: 12515
• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc% at vatting: 55.3

Barrel number: 12516
• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc% at vatting: 54.3

Barrel number: 12517
• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc% at vatting: 49.0

This limited release represents the last two butts of a specific 1988 Highland malt, vatted in March 2021. Naturally rich in colour, it’s amazingly generous and complex on the nose despite its age, with immediate notes of almonds, cream sherry, citrus peel and vanilla pods. After tasting, we reduced the cask strength to 46% abv prior to bottling, but you may still enjoy adding a little water as the palate has such intense flavours of sweet oak, candied peel, raisin and walnut that last well on the long, rich finish. A rare and very special dram, fully mature and at the peak of perfection.

Barrel number: 637

• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 50.1%

Barrel number: 639

• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 50.0%

This 1991 Islay single malt was bottled in the spring in 2021 following 30 years in a single sherry cask. Bottled non-chill filtered, it shows a natural light-straw colour typical of Islay. It is fully peated with a powerful aroma of wet seaweed, salted cashew nuts and iodine, while on the palate, hay, clove, wet turf and coal flavours open up and last on the long and complex finish. Bottled at 46%, this dram may still benefit from the addition of a little water to taste.

Barrel number: 2253

• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 50.8

Our second Reserve Cask release was bottled in May 2021, unfined, non-chill filtered and with its natural colour, although brought down to 46% after tasting. These are the last four hogsheads and two butts of this sublime 1991 Speyside from a single distiller. The malt has an expressive nose of candied orange peel and dried apricots with subtle oak, clove spice and flaked sea salt on the finish. A rare and superlative dram.

Barrel number: 7239

• Barrel type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 58.4

Barrel number: 7240

• Barrel type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 57.8

Barrel number: 7241

• Barrel type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 60.4

Barrel number: 7242

• Barrel type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 59.6

Barrel number: 7236

• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 52.8

Barrel number: 7237

• Barrel type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 57.3

Fully mature single malt bottled non-chill-filtered and without colour adjustment. Its complex aromas span candied orange peel, hazelnuts and figs, while its rich full-bodied palate has a glorious sweetness, like honey on toasted brioche, with notes of fruitcake and nuts developing on the long finish. A drop of water will open this up to reveal more floral and citrus notes, showing both its elegance and deep-rooted concentration. 46%

Barrel number: 668

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 49.2

Barrel number: 669

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 49.6

Barrel number: 670

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 48.7

Barrel number: 671

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 50.1

Barrel number: 673

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 52.6

Barrel number: 674

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 53.8

Barrel number: 675

• Type: Hogshead
• Final Alc % at vatting: 54.5

Barrel number: 907

• Type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 58.8

Barrel number: 908

• Type: Butt
• Final Alc % at vatting: 50.0