One Tremendous Uncommon Scotch Whisky From Every Whisky Area

Throughout the whisky areas of Scotland (5 if you don’t depend the Islands, six in case you do) there’s a big range of distilleries, types, and uncommon whiskies produced. The Whiskey Wash Store has an expansive vary of uncommon scotch whiskies from every area. So, as we speak I believed I’d put collectively a collection of among the most intriguing scotch whiskies from every whisky area of Scotland. 

The 5 whisky-making areas of Scotland are the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown. Some scotch whisky followers don’t depend the Islands as a definite area, as a substitute together with them with the Highlands and Lowlands. On this article, I might be defining the Islands as its personal area. Let’s get began. 

CAMPBELTOWN: Glen Scotia 1973 

BUY NOW: $708 (£535) 

Glen Scotia is likely one of the three working distilleries in Campbeltown. As soon as often known as ‘The Whisky Capital of the World’, with over 20 lively distilleries in 1885 when visited by Alfred Barnard, Campbeltown noticed a marked decline. Right this moment, solely Glen Scotia, Springbank, and Glengyle stay. 

Campbeltown whiskies are famend for his or her mixture of heavy oak with salty sea air. The profiles are in contrast to the rest present in Scotland. In Serge Valentin’s (WhiskyFun) exploration of Glen Scotia whiskies, the prevailing notes have been “fruity, recent, salty, grainy, grassy, pears, vanilla, smoky.” 

Glen Scotia was established previous to The Pattinson Crash, which is held liable for the closure of many Campbeltown distilleries. Right this moment, the distillery is an award-winning producer with a core vary together with a 15 Yr Previous, and 18 Yr Previous, a 21 Yr Previous, and a 25 Yr Previous. 

This Glen Scotia whisky was distilled in 1973 and bottled in 1999, the identical 12 months that Glen Scotia reopened below Loch Lomond Distillers following two durations of closure within the Nineteen Eighties and 90s. The whisky demonstrates resilience on the a part of Glen Scotia; the distillery may have simply been completely closed throughout the Nineteen Eighties as a result of The Whisky Loch. Fortunately, Glen Scotia survived, and is a continued presence in Scotland’s smallest whisky area. 

There have been two variations of this bottling launch: one bottled in 1996 and one bottled in 1999. Mixed, they’ve solely appeared at public sale 59 instances. 

Offered in a putting inexperienced glass bottle with a powerful fill degree, this bottle is offered by way of The Whisky Wash Store for $708 (£525). 

HIGHLANDS: Clynelish 12 Yr Previous Ainslie & Heilbron, c.1965 

BUY NOW: $1,890 (£1,403) 

Clynelish has an enchanting historical past. The distillery as we all know it as we speak opened in 1967. Nonetheless, Clynelish was a distillery in its personal proper for a few years earlier than that. Clynelish was initially in 1819 by the primary Duke of Sutherland and ran (pretty) easily till it was mothballed in 1931. 

Nearly 30 years later, the distillery reopened. Once more, issues ran easily till 1967. Now could be the place it will get complicated. In 1967, proprietor DCL constructed a second distillery proper subsequent to the primary one, additionally referred to as Clynelish. Then, in 1968, the unique distillery was mothballed. Nonetheless, in 1969, the unique plant then reopened as Brora. The brand new plant continued as Clynelish. 

In response to our analysis, this Clynelish 12 Yr Previous was bottled by Ainslie & Heilbron round 1965. Which means that the whisky inside hails from the unique Clynelish Distillery, now named Brora. Serge Valentin has had the chance to pattern Clynelish whisky from the previous distillery. He describes the profile as “orange, recent, bitter, wax, peated, fruits, caramel, oil resinous, maritime.” 

Because of the origins, these bottles have all the time been extremely wanted by whisky collectors and people considering scotch whisky historical past. The whisky chronicles the connection between sister distilleries, Clynelish and Brora, now each lively as soon as once more. 

This historic bottle is offered on The Whiskey Store for $1,890 (£1,403). 

ISLANDS: Tasliker 30 Yr Previous, Bottled 2011 

BUY NOW: $1,185 (£878) 

Positioned on the distant and delightful Isle of Skye, Talisker Distillery was the primary on the island and has maybe develop into synonymous with the placement. The distillery was based in 1830 by the MacAskill brothers and had a historical past as turbulent as its environment are rugged, marred with possession adjustments. It was additionally the sufferer of a hearth in 1960, which pressured a two-year closure. 

Fortunately, Talisker recovered and opened a customer heart in 1988. Ten years later, the distillation tools was additionally upgraded. Right this moment, Talisker Distillery is owned by Diageo. Its distinctive ‘Made By The Sea’ single malt and the fantastic thing about the island attracts over 180,000 guests per 12 months, in accordance with Diageo. It is a 211% enhance in customer numbers since 2019. 

Talisker’s profile is, in accordance with Serge Valentin, filled with “peat, pepper, lemons, apples, liquorice, maritime, oysters, austere, salt.” 

The Talisker 30 Yr Previous was first launched in 2006, an impressively aged single malt from the model on the time. That is the 2011 launch, bottled at 45.8% ABV and with the basic screen-printed map of Skye seen on the bottle. 

This bottle has solely bought at public sale 83 instances since its first look in 2008. You should buy the bottle right here for $1,184. 

ISLAY: Caol Ila 1974 20 Yr Previous Hart Brothers 

BUY NOW: $735 (£545) 

Caol Ila is positioned on Islay, the house of peated whisky. The distillery was constructed subsequent to Port Askaig in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Its title means ‘the Sound of Islay’, named for the physique of water that it overlooks. 

One thing of a hidden gem (regardless of its port aspect location) for a lot of its early existence, Caol Ila acquired a full makeover in 1972, when the previous distillery was demolished and a brand new, six-still plant was constructed. Caol Ila subsequently turned the biggest producer on Islay. Right this moment, Caol Ila has a distilling capability of 6.4 million liters of alcohol every year. 

In response to Serge Valentin, Caol Ila whisky is filled with “peat, recent, apple, smoke, liquorice, tea, lemon grassy, pepper, salt.” 

This Caol Ila whisky was distilled in 1974 and bottled 20 years later by Hart Brothers. One of many first issues I observed in regards to the whisky was its very gentle shade, which is fascinating after greater than twenty years within the cask. This offers technique to a variety of speculations in regards to the cask kind: was it a much less lively cask? First, second, or third-fill? 

What we do know is that this was among the first whisky to be distilled following Caol Ila’s main improve within the early Seventies. 

I additionally love the understated label on this bottle. Fully unassuming, but with unimaginable whisky inside. 

One other unimaginable rarity, this bottle has appeared at public sale simply 30 instances since its first look in 2011. 

This Caol Ila 1974 20 Yr Previous Hart Brothers is offered on The Whiskey Wash Store for $735. 

LOWLANDS: Rosebank 8 Yr Previous, Bottled Nineteen Eighties 

BUY NOW: $1,299 (£964)  

Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk, was revived in 2023, 30 years after the closure that devastated lowland whisky followers. Nicknamed ‘The King of the Lowlands’, Rosebank’s mild spirit was long-lamented by these with a style for it. Serge Valentin’s distillery profile for Rosebank mentions “lemon, tea, apples, grapefruit, grainy, grassy, cide, honey.”

Through the lengthy interval of closure, Rosebank followers have been sustained on a number of impartial bottlings, and a few uncommon very official bottlings like this Rosebank 8 Yr Previous, bottled within the Nineteen Eighties. 

Bottled below license by The Distillers Company Ltd, this Rosebank 8 Yr Previous represents one of many only a few whiskies bottled by the distillery throughout its lifetime. This one, particularly, is in incredible situation with a powerful fill degree given its age. 

Bought simply 104 instances at public sale, this Rosebank whisky is very wanted. A chunk of Rosebank historical past that will look incredible in a whisky cupboard subsequent to one of many trendy releases, such because the Rosebank 32 Year Old Legacy. 

The Rosebank 8 Yr Previous is at present listed on The Whiskey Wash Store for $1,299 (£964). 

Rosebank Distillery has an enchanting historical past, full with stolen stills, missed alternatives, and a horde of loyal followers. Discover out extra in regards to the historical past of Rosebank right here. 

SPEYSIDE: Glenfarclas 25 Yr Previous Biohazard Cask Energy 

BUY NOW: $1,477 (£1,096)

This one is a bit of left-field, however (I feel) completely sensible. We now have all heard of whisky manufacturers collaborating with luxurious carmakers (assume Bowmore x Aston Martin), glassmakers (The Glenturret x Lalique), and artists (The Macallan x Sir Peter Blake). However, a collaboration with a online game is way extra distinctive. 

In 2021, Glenfarclas introduced a collaboration with the survival horror recreation, Resident Evil, or Biohazard, in celebration of the sport’s twenty fifth anniversary. The Glenfarclas whisky was bottled at 25 years previous, and a cask power of 51.6% ABV. 

This collaboration was one thing of a shock to many, particularly within the period of the aforementioned ‘luxurious’ collaborations. Nonetheless, Glenfarclas x Biohazard catered to followers at a singular intersection between gaming and whisky. 

There was virtually no promotion surrounding the Glenfarclas Biohazard launch, which means that it has flown below the radar considerably. Along with this, Glenfarclas confirmed that solely 630 of those bottles have been produced, accessible completely in Japan. 

That’s the reason we’re tremendous excited to have one listed on The Whiskey Wash Store for $1,477 (£1,096). 

Glenfarclas Distillery is a Speyside establishment and has been below the possession of the Grant household for 5 generations, and 160 years. The distillery is thought for producing ‘sherry bombs’, whisky that’s richly sherried because of Glenfarclas’ maturation program. 

Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun makes use of the next phrases to summarise Glenfarclas’ profile: “sherry, caramel, honey, chocolate, toasted espresso, apples, oranges, apricots.”

Exploring The Whisky Areas of Scotland 

In case you are simply beginning out of your scotch whisky journey, and you’re not sure as to which area will fit your palate the perfect, our very personal Davis Gonnella has you lined. Together with his distinctive method to tasting whiskies from all areas of Scotland, Davis may also help you determine which profile is your favourite, and maybe which area you need to subsequent pay a go to to. 

Learn extra right here.