Clynelish 1995 (Signatory – Decanter Collection)

Auction, if you’re very lucky. Meh. For the details… Clynelish is one of Scotland’s semi-hidden gems. It has been something of a cult whisky, with single malt connoisseurs fawning over the interesting waxy character (supposedly the result of a build-up in the intermediate feints receiver) found in some expressions. The distillery was founded by the …

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Glentauchers 1996 (Signatory)

Extremely limited Connoisseurs and completionists only! For the details… Speyside has Scotland’s highest concentration of distilleries, accounting for somewhere between one third and one quarter of the country’s operational facilities. Not all of them can be superstars, and Glentauchers is one of many Speysiders to barely make a dent in the popular imagination. Part of …

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Balmenach 2004 – Gordon & Macphail (Connoisseur’s Choice)

Highly limited Worth trying, if you come across it. For the details… Balmenach is unusual amongst modern malt distilleries in that it has had no official bottling in years, and is quite scarce even among independents. The whisky is well-known among aficionados as being a Speysider of the “older” style, producing a heavier spirit than …

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Tamnavulin 1993 21 years old (Hunter Laing – Old Malt Cask)

One-off, so probably no longer out there For completionists and connoisseurs For the details… Several years back, I was on a mission to try at least one whisky from every active distillery in Scotland. I never quite made it, even then (Abhainn Dearg and Daftmill eluded me), and now, with Scotland’s biggest whisky boom since …

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Caol Ila 13 year old – Gordon & MacPhail (Discovery)

Fairly wide availability Recommended! For the details… Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The distillery is located in the town of Port Askaig, which gives its name to a single malt brand that is frequently sourced from Caol Ila. The plant faces across the Sound of Islay (the “caol ila” in Gaelic) …

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