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Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'top seven' whiskies for July 2025 including limited edition drams
The best Scottish drams of the month have been named. Scotland's top whiskies for July have been named. Bottles from distilleries such as Glenmorangie and Laphroaig are featured on the roundup. When it comes to purchasing whisky, it can be difficult to know where to start. Unless you are a seasoned expert, it is easy to overspend if you are not sure what the right whisky is for you. Retailer Master of Malt has shared its list of the top 10 whiskies of July 2025. The Daily Record has rounded up all of the Scottish whiskies featured on the list. Read on for the top seven Scottish whiskies for July 2025, according to the experts. The full list of the top whiskies around the world this month can be found on the Master of Malt website. 1. Kinglassie Raw This limited-edition peated single malt is among the first releases from the InchDairnie distillery in Fife. Matured in bourbon barrels for eight years, it features scents of heather and caramelised banana and tasting notes of black pepper, smoked bacon, and salted toffee. The Kinglassie Raw Whisky is available to buy for £78.95 from Master of Malt. Elsewhere, it can be purchased for the same price from The Whisky Exchange. 2. Old Perth Manzanilla Limited Edition The Old Perth Manzanilla Limited Edition is another limited-edition, this one being a blended malt whisky matured in manzanilla sherry casks. There are notes of buttery almond croissants on the nose, while tasting notes include amaretti biscuits and candied almonds. At the moment, the whisky can be bought from Master of Malt for a price of £58.95. It is also stocked by The Whisky Exchange, for £58.95 as well. 3. Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo This is the fourth release as part of Glenmorangie's 'Tale of' series, and is unique for being partially aged in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Among the notes are sandalwood, incense, dried cherries on the nose and citrus, marzipan, and fennel on the palate. Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo is currently in stock at Master of Malt for £66. Buyers can also find the whisky for sale on The Whisky Exchange for £73.95. 4. Secret Wigtownshire 6 Year Old 2018 - Elevenses The Secret Wigtownshire 6 Year Old 2018 - Elevenses comes from Edinburgh-based cask broker and independent bottler Keeble Cask Company. Distilled in 2018 and matured for six years, nose notes include pancakes and lemon peel and tasting notes include lemon sherbet and fruit sorbet. The Secret Wigtownshire 6 Year Old 2018 - Elevenses can usually be purchased from Master of Malt for £49.95, though it is currently out of stock. Elsewhere, it can be picked up from Royal Mile Whiskies for a price of £48.95. 5. Laphroaig Elements 3.0 The newest release in Laphroaig's Elements series, this one-of-a-kind whisky was distilled under fire before being fully matured in American oak bourbon casks. Unsurprisingly, it features an intense smoky and peaty character—as well as notes of cocoa beans and tangy fruit. At the moment, Master of Malt is selling Laphroaig Elements 3.0 at a price of £169.95. The whisky can also be purchased from The Whisky Shop for £170. 6. Dailuaine 16 Year Old 2008 Single Cask (Master of Malt) This whisky comes from the Dailuaine Distillery in Charlestown-of-Aberlour, and was bottled for the exclusive Master of Malt collection. There are notes of apple pastries, shortbread, and vanilla on the nose, giving way to a palate of banoffee, candied mango, and overripe fruit. The Dailuaine 16 Year Old 2008 Single Cask is available to purchase for £69.95 from Master of Malt. 7. Glencadam 10 Year Old Finally, the Glencadam 10 Year Old is a multi-award-winning whisky aged exclusively in American oak bourbon barrels. Neither coloured nor chill-filtered, its notes include wood and vanilla on the nose and tart fruits and cut hay on the palate. Those interested in a bottle of Glencadam 10 Year Old can find it for a price of £39.90 on Master of Malt. Elsewhere, Glencadam 10 Year Old is sold by The Whisky Exchange for £44.75.
Scotsman
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Inside independent Scottish single malt bottling and interesting drams from the whisky industry's approach
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Blending whisky has been going on for centuries in Scotland - and with it the trading of casks. This has resulted in the creation of many independent bottler businesses in and outwith Scotland. Often seen as disruptive to stand-alone distilleries or big name brands, these firms are creative and often agile businesses that are making some seriously interesting drams . It's all about knowing your customer, price point and quality of liquid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dawn Davies, buying director at The Whisky Exchange, explained what to look out for as a customer, saying: 'There are a lot of independent bottlers out there who do not understand the liquid and are putting out some really bad quality and many who are just bottling the same brands time and time again and have not done research into pricing or what the category needs. 'There are, however, really good ones that do have great liquid at a fair price. When it comes to independent bottlings, the customer really has to do their due diligence to make sure that they can trust what they are buying. But by investing this time they can uncover some excellent bottlings.' Dawn Davies of The Whisky Exchange said: "My absolute favourite to date are our Whisky Show Bottlings from 2024 which featured some of our fabulous staff on the label! We bottled these as part of our #WeAreWhisky campaign to hero the people that make whisky so special." | The Whisky Exchange One of these is Fife-based Lady of the Glen, which does four outruns a year. Within each outrun, the firm has about six casks. Balance and customer taste is in mind with every release. Director Gregor Hannah said: 'Within the outrun we try to follow five principles - one, it's not from a distillery we have bottled in the last 12 months. Two, we have a peated release. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Three, we have a strong finish or Port or Sherry finish whisky. Four, we have something older, so over 20 years old and five, something that is relatively low priced. Ultimately, we want a good, well balanced spirit within each of the releases. This means we have something for everyone within each outrun.' For Sam Simmons, head of whisky of That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC), it's all about creating whisky that you want to share. He said: 'It's always about finding the next 'holy s**t you have to try this' drinking experience, whether it's a 42-year-old unnamed Tomatin or a three-year-old rye from Australia. Good, bad, or mind-blowingly great, if a whisky makes you want to enthusiastically share what's in your glass with a like-minded whisky lover, that's a Boutique-y.' Independent bottlers buy casks of whisky directly from distilleries and are then free to do what they wish with the casks and liquid, such as re-racking, cask finishing or just leaving the liquid in cask for longer. The whisky will then be bottled and sold under the bottler's own brand, often with no mention of the distillery. This can give the freedom and opportunity for a wider variety of products and expressions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dawn Davies, Buying Director, The Whisky Exchange | The Whisky Exchange Mr Hannah said of the excitement about being able to bottle something from a famous distillery: '[It's] being able to illustrate how the distillate character has changed or is different from the official bottling version or taking a risk with a single cask and re-racking it into something the distillery couldn't risk doing with a large release of thousands of bottles. We can try it with a single cask because, why not? 'However, I would say distillate character being expressed in different circumstances is always interesting because it's like listening to David Bowie in different eras. It's the same, but then it's not.' Mr Simmons added: 'Beyond taste, the package and labels of indie bottlers are often pop art in themselves and are able to tell stories in ways many distillery bottlings simply cannot. When TBWC began 13 years ago, there were few doing this, but today there are many excellent examples of this benefit of indies.' As with anything whisky, there are some common misconceptions - one of which is that independent bottlers are not as good as a big single malt brand. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Graeme Mackeddie, master blender at Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, said: 'People often think that independently bottled spirits are somehow inferior to their 'official' counterparts. The truth is often the opposite, with independent bottlings of whiskies being presented naturally, free of artificial colouring, and without chill filtration. Very often these whiskies will be presented at slightly higher strengths or perhaps at natural cask strength.' Mr Simmons added: 'There is a misconception that independent bottling is not part of the long standing eco-system of whisky production in Scotland and are instead somewhat malignant, parasitic and harmful. I have long believed that indie bottlers are big whisky's greatest advocates and assets.' The past five to ten years have seen the opening of some new and exciting Scotch whisky distilleries, which means potential casks of liquid from these winging their way to independent bottlers. So which are they most excited to work with? Ms Davies said: 'There are a lot from non-traditional countries that are exciting at the moment. We're also finding gems like Clynelish back on the market. In fact, we worked with Signatory Vintage to release a 17-year-old Clynelish earlier this year, which sold out almost immediately when we launched it online.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Graeme Mackeddie, Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers | Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers Mr Hannah added: 'I genuinely get excited when we receive stock from any distillery. Even the young stuff, where you can taste the raw character, but you can chat with colleagues around the cask about what could make this better, is it just time or will it benefit from a re-rack in a particular style of cask? Those are exciting days.' Mr Simmons said: 'Holyrood, Dornoch, Ardnamurchan and the incredible Inchdairnie are high on my list and we're big fans.' Lady of the Glen Craigellachie bottling | Lady of the Glen
Daily Record
19-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Seven of Scotland's top whiskies you can buy for less than £50
Buying a bottle of whisky doesn't need to break the bank. A list of Scotland's"top whiskies" that can be purchased for less than £50 has been shared. The roundup includes whiskies from distilleries such as Benromach and Tobermory. When it comes to buying whisky, prices can vary wildly. While it is possible to purchase a bottle for a low price, rarer and more unique malts can easily fetch hundreds—if not thousands—of pounds. Retailer Whisky-Online Shop has shared a list of its picks for the "top 10 whiskies under £50". The Daily Record has rounded up seven of these, including more information about each one and where they can be purchased. Whisky-Online Shop website. 1. Tobermory 12 Year Old The Tobermory 12 Year Old, which was matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, features a strong fruity and spicy character. It includes aromas of vanilla, oranges, and flowers, and tasting notes of apples, tropical fruits, toffee, and honey. The whisky is available to buy for £41.95 from The Whisky Exchange. It can also be purchased from Master of Malt for £44.99. 2. Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish This whisky was made with heavily peated barley and was matured in ex-bourbon casks, before being finished in specially-selected Spanish Rioja casks. It includes notes of smoke, spice, grape, and sweet berries, as well as a lingering saltiness. Customers can order the Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish from The Whisky Exchange for £38.25. The whisky can also be picked up from Royal Mile Whiskies for £37.96. 3. Ledaig 10 Year Old Meanwhile, the Ledaig 10 Year Old is another peaty whisky from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. The whisky features aromas of soft peat and gentle smoke, as well as tasting notes of spice and black pepper. The Whisky Exchange is currently selling the Ledaig 10 Year Old for £40.75. Elsewhere, it can be purchased from Master of Malt for £40.75. 4. Benromach 10 Year Old The Benromach 10 Year Old was made with a mix of 80 per cent ex-bourbon casks and 20 per cent ex-sherry casks, and was aged for nine years before being finished for a further year in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. It offers a toffee and spice sherried character, including notes of peat, citrus, and apple. At the moment, Royal Mile Whiskies stocks the Benromach 10 Year Old for £40.95. Shoppers can also order it for £41.95 from The Whisky Exchange. 5. Caol Ila 13 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Range This whisky comes from Islay, and features the island's typical notes of sweet fruit and dark peat smoke. Particular flavours include apricot, banana, pineapple, and vanilla. The Caol Ila 13 Year Old is currently being sold by The Whisky Exchange for £48.95. It can also be purchased for the same price from Master of Malt, though the whisky is currently out of stock. 6. Orkney (HP) 2010-2025 | 14 Year Old Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Edition 38 The Orkney (HP) 2010-2025 | 14 Year Old Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Edition 38 was aged in a mixture of Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon hogsheads. It features aromas of dark berries and sea salt, as well as tasting notes of sherried fruit, honeyed malt, and peat. Currently, Royal Mile Whiskies is selling the product for £48.95. The Whisky Exchange is also selling the Orkney (HP) 2010-2025 | 14 Year Old Signatory Vintage 100 Proof Edition 38 at a price of £48.75. 7. Tomatin 12 Year Old Finally, the Tomatin 12 Year Old was finished for between six and nine months in Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled. Nose notes include butter, cooked apple, and raisin, while among the tasting notes are vanilla, mint, and ginger. Shoppers can order the whisky from Master of Malt for £35.90. Elsewhere, it is in stock at The Whisky Exchange for £40.95.
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Father's Day whisky deal with stylish glasses and a single malt that 'tastes way more expensive than it is'
This fancy bundle could be the perfect gift for whisky-loving dads Getting into whisky can be an expensive hobby. Once you taste the difference between a bog standard supermarket bottle and a top shelf single malt, nothing but the best compares. Shoppers who have whisky-loving dads might be tempted to get him a fancy bottle for Father's Day, only to be dismayed at the prices of a top-tier single malt. Thanks to this deal at The Whisky Exchange, however, dads can unwrap a bottle of Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey along with two decorative drinking glasses for £34.75 - a price that apparently hides just how good this triple-distilled whiskey is. Described as a well-balanced single malt Irish whiskey, Sexton is made with 100% Irish malted barley. It's triple distilled before being aged in ex-oloroso sherry casks, giving it a rich, fruity character with notes of honeycomb. The 70cl bottle - which packs a punch at 40% ABV, comes with two pretty branded whiskey glasses - perfect for sharing a dram with dad on Father's Day. If Dad prefers a Scotch over an Irish whiskey, Master of Malt currently has the Invergordon 19 Year Old 2005—The Cooper's Choice for £74.95 for a 70cl bottle. The single-grain whiskey was distilled in 2005 and spent the next 19 years maturing, first in American oak and finishing in an amontillado sherry cask. Just 348 bottles were released for The Cooper's Choice collection, making this a special choice indeed. Alternatively, dads can try a selection of the finest Irish whiskeys with the Drinks by the Dram 12 Dram Irish Whiskey Collection, now £55.99 at Debenhams. Hidden behind the 12 windows of this little box sits a different 30ml wax-sealed dram of whiskey from some of Ireland's best producers, making this the perfect tasting box for whiskey-lovers. However, the Sexton single malt has plenty of rave reviews. One shopper said: "This liquid amber has stolen the show for me." Another said: "Pleasantly surprised. I rather enjoy Peat Whiskey however this one has been really enjoyable. Excellent over ice or a splash of water. Extremely smooth. A lovely, sweet honey taste on the end." A third added: "This is probably one of my top 5 favourite single malt whiskeys I've tried so far... Just recently started trying Irish whiskey... and it has quickly become my favourite of all. And Sexton is definitely one if the best I've tried. Especially for the price... You would expect it to cost much more, considering the depth of flavour. It ranks with the best I've tasted." With whiskey being such a personal choice, some shoppers weren't as impressed. "Very acetone forward in smell and taste. But it is very smooth on the throat. Got this as a gift from a friend who says it's great but really didn't suit my palate at all," one buyer said. "Very pleasant; smooth (as you would expect from triple distillation) but a bit short on finish," said another. That said, for a great price on a fancy bottle of single malt Irish whiskey and two pretty glasses, the Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey could be the ideal gift for Father's Day.
Daily Record
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Whisky experts release Father's Day malt with less than 500 bottles available
A limited-edition dram has been launched in honour of the annual holiday. A whisky retailer has launched a whisky created exclusively for Father's Day. Less than 500 bottles of the limited-edition release are available. June 15 marks Father's Day in Scotland and across the world. The annual holiday is dedicated to celebrating fathers and fatherhood. To help celebrate, Master of Malt has launched a "thoughtful" limited-edition whisky created exclusively for Father's Day. The product carries a Father's Day label, intended to be given as a gift for the holiday. The release, named Father of Malt, is described as "a rich and peaty" 16-year-old single malt. It comes from the Caol Ila distillery on the isle of Islay, which is often referred to as Scotland's 'whisky island'. The Father of Malt was distilled in December 2008, before spending 16 years maturing in an oloroso sherry wood. Priced at £79.95, only 491 bottles of the whisky are available from Master of Malt. On the nose, the Father of Malt features notes of salted peanuts, baked apple, vanilla, toffee, shortbread, porridge, and smoked tea. Meanwhile, tasting notes include peat smoke, dried red fruits, peppercorn, hibiscus, cracked pepper, and Kola Cubes. Master of Malt states: "Our very own 2025 Father's Day Reserve, and it's a belter of a single malt from Caol Ila. Distilled in December 2008, the whisky spent 16 years maturing in an oloroso sherry hogshead before we earmarked it for this special Father of Malt edition, cracking open the cask to release a total of 491 bottles. "That's 491 very happy Dads. If it gets to them before everyone else, that is. "It's one supremely gluggable dram." Meanwhile, Master of Malt has released a Father's Day Bourbon. Also carrying a Father's Day label, it has been described a "soft five-year-old high-wheat blend". The Father's Day Bourbon is a small-batch release, and is priced at £39.95. It is a custom blend from a number of top American distillers, with no component being less than five years old. Among the nose notes of the bourbon are maple syrup, pancakes, butter popcorn, and chewy toffee. Meanwhile, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate are some of the tasting notes. Both of the whiskies were developed by Sam Simmons from Master of Malt. Simmons, who is known as 'Dr Whisky' according to Master of Malt, has previously served as a global brand ambassador for "some of the industry's biggest names". Meanwhile, the Daily Record recently shared a roundup of some of the best whiskies to buy for Father's Day. Among the malts included were the Dad's Dram Blended Malt and the Glenmorangie X, which can be purchased from The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop for £39.95 and £35 respectively. Master of Malt is among the UK's leading online spirits retailers, featuring a curated selection of whiskies, craft spirits, and exclusive bottlings. The company aims to make spirits accessible for both seasoned connoisseurs and newcomers.
