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May brings a celebration of Islay single malts coinciding with the isle’s festival of music and malt – plus a curve ball or two…

Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dhà: The first peated Bunnahabhain (their whiskies are usually unpeated) we’ve featured in Pour & Sip. Toiteach a Dhà (pronounced ‘Toch-ach ah-ghaa’) is Gaelic for "Smoky Two", being the follow up to one of their previous smoky releases named simply Toiteach. Matured in bourbon and sherry casks, this second version has a higher proportion of sherry casks.

Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength 2024 Edition: Kilchoman's 20th anniversary is this year! Peated to a hearty 50 PPM (phenol parts per million), yet distilled to preserve some lighter floral and citrus notes, this one of their richer offerings. A much anticipated limited edition cask strength version of Sanaig, their predominantly sherry matured style (either finished or fully matured in American oak oloroso sherry hogsheads from Bodegas José y Miguel Martín).

Bowmore 12 Year Old Sherry Oak: Not the classic Bowmore 12 Year Old here, but rather a brand new 12yo whisky from their brand new Sherry Oak Collection! This particular release is aged in oloroso sherry and bourbon casks, with an additional oloroso cask finish. Bowmore distillery was founded way back in 1779, making it one of the very oldest distilleries in Scotland and the oldest on Islay, with a peat level of 25-30 PPM.

SRV5 8 Year Old Blended Malt (Thompson Bros.): Really very affordable whisky lovingly put together by whisky geeks (off of the brilliant Dornoch Castle Hotel and the celebrated Dornoch distillery), for whisky geeks. 'Station Road Vat 5' is the 1k litre European oak ‘solera’ vat (never emptied to less than a third) where this non-chill filtered, natural colour blended malt (North Highland, Islay & Speyside single malts) slowly integrated over many months.

Godawan Series 02 - Fruit and Spice: An Indian whisky that takes its name from the endangered Great Indian Bustard (contributing to their preservation). It's matured in bourbon barrels and finished in cherry wood casks. In Scotland, only oak casks are allowed, but in other countries woods such as cherry offer opportunities for innovation. The north Indian climate plays a big role too, with temperatures often reaching 50°C!

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The Thompson brothers (Phil and Simon) put family-owned Dornoch Castle Hotel on the map as one of the greatest whisky hotels in Scotland, championing ‘old style’ whiskies made with heritage barley, brewer’s yeast and long fermentations, and going on to set up the tiny Dornoch Distillery in 2016 (with plans for a much larger site now afoot). They’ve also become award-winning independent bottlers for releases such as this.

Really very, very affordable whisky lovingly put together by whisky geeks, for whisky geeks. SRV5 aka 'Station Road Vat 5' is the name of the 1,000 litre European oak vessel where this non-chill filtered, natural colour blended malt (North Highland, Islay and Speyside single malts) rested and slowly integrated over many months. This ‘solera’ vat is never emptied to less than a third, so each batch includes whisky from the previous releases.

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Bunnahabhain is usually (proudly, as a point of difference to their neighbours) not peated, but things weren’t always that way. Founded in 1881, the distillery produced the kind of heavily peated whisky Islay is famous for right up until the 1960s when they decided to leave the peat behind.

Starting in the 1990s however (and increasing in the last decade or so), the distillery has got back in touch with its peaty roots on the side! Toiteach a Dhà (pronounced ‘Toch-ach ah-ghaa’) is Gaelic for "Smoky Two", being the follow up to one of their previous smoky releases named simply Toiteach. Matured in bourbon and sherry casks, this second version has a higher proportion of sherry casks. It’s also the first peated Bunnahabhain we’ve featured in Pour & Sip.

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No, not the classic Bowmore 12 Year Old here, but rather a brand new 12-year-old whisky from their Sherry Oak Collection which only hit the shelves in the last few weeks! Described as a new “boutique range” that will sit alongside the core range, it celebrates European oak sherry casks. This particular release is aged in oloroso sherry and bourbon casks, with an additional oloroso cask finish.

Like Kilchoman, Bowmore have their own floor maltings (a very rare feature today), providing around 25% of their needs. The peat level of all the malt they use is lower than at Kilchoman, however, at 25-30 PPM. Bowmore distillery was founded way back in 1779, making it one of the very oldest distilleries in Scotland and the oldest on Islay.

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This Islay distillery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! One of the earliest of the wave of new distilleries this century, when it was founded in 2005 it was the first new distillery on Islay in over 120 years. They grow their own barley (321.22 tonnes of Diablo and Laurette varieties in 2024) and run their own traditional floor maltings, providing about 30% of their needs prior to the latest expansion plans to add a third pair of stills and additional washbacks. All the malt they use is peated to a hearty 50 PPM (phenol parts per million), but distilled to preserve some lighter floral and citrus notes.

This richer offering is the much anticipated limited edition cask strength version of Sanaig, the name given to their predominantly sherry matured style (either finished or fully matured in American oak oloroso sherry hogsheads from Bodegas José y Miguel Martín).

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One of Godawan’s limited releases was rated as the top single malt at the 2024 London Spirits Competition, and since then two of their single malts have hit the UK: ‘01 Rich and Round’ (PX finish), and this more unusual ‘02 Fruit and Spice’ matured in bourbon barrels but then finished in cherry wood casks. In Scotland (and America), only oak casks are allowed, but in other countries woods such as cherry offer opportunities for innovation.The north Indian climate plays a big role too, with temperatures often reaching 50°C. This whisky has an average age of 5 years, but those are very intense years!

‘Godawan’ is the popular name for the Great Indian Bustard, a once common bird that’s now critically endangered with numbers as low as 150 in the wild. They’re therefore a rare and special sight, and the brand proudly contributes to their preservation.

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We're revisiting some old faves this month (with more sherry in two cases), plus a household name from America whose premium releases you may have overlooked…

High Coast Silent Mills Collection - #2 Sandö: High Coast produces both unpeated and peated spirit. The Silent Mills editions all build on the same peated, bourbon cask matured base as Timmer from their Origin range but introduce other cask types into the mix. For the second release, Sandö, that means 22% of the final whisky has been aged in oloroso sherry casks for added dried fruit tang and roundness. The peat level is around 45 PPM.

Ardnamurchan AD/ Sherry Cask Release: Ardnamurchan also makes both peated (30-35PPM) and unpeated spirit. Both are used in this release, just as they are in the excellent core AD/ release. The difference? The Sherry Cask Release is 100% sherry cask matured. Full maturation in a mix of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez butts. As Chris in our curation team noted recently, “Ardnamurchan is slowly taking over my everyday drinkers shelf at home!”

Glasgow 1770 - The Original: In 2015 whisky distilling returned to the city of Glasgow for the first time in a century. Like others in this set, Glasgow Distillery produce both peated and unpeated spirit. The Original is unpeated. Their fresh and fruity flagship whisky is matured in first-fill bourbon casks, then finished in fresh American oak casks that have had no prior contents. It’s non-chill filtered and natural colour.

Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured: A classic Speyside name, Aberlour is known to work well with sherry casks, with maturation here taking place in both bourbon and sherry casks as the name implies. Compared to the 14-year-old, this 12-year-old offers a crisper, more citrussy take from the popular distillery. A little more of the new make’s green apple is on show (alongside trademark leafy blackcurrant character).

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select: Jack Daniel’s is world famous. You know most people enjoy ‘JD’ with cola. But let’s be clear: within the slightly more premium offerings is good stuff. Their single barrels are excellent, as are their bottled-in-bond releases. The difference between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey? The Lincoln County Process. Tennessee whiskeys are filtered through maple charcoal prior to ageing for smoothness.

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Jack Daniel’s is world famous. You know the branding. You know most people enjoy ‘JD’ with cola. But let’s be clear: the Jack Daniel Distillery makes some very good whiskey if you explore their slightly more premium offerings. Their single barrels are excellent, as are their bottled-in-bond releases (including some interesting ryes too…).

Jack Daniel's has a rich history dating back to the 19th century, and full control of their barrels, distillation and maturation. All the individual barrels chosen for Single Barrel Select releases come from the top floor of their rickhouses, where temperatures are hottest and the most concentrated flavours are created (as well as the most evaporation!). The difference between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey? The Lincoln County Process. Tennessee whiskeys are filtered through maple charcoal prior to ageing for smoothness.

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A classic Speyside name, founded back in 1879, although distilling on the site dates back to at least the 1820s. Aberlour is known to work well with sherry casks (especially evident in their 100% sherry, cask strength ‘A'Bunadh’ releases), with maturation here taking place in both bourbon and sherry casks as the name implies. These days, the entire range also comes in their gorgeous apothecary-style wide-mouthed bottles, which is a nice touch.

 Those who remember Aberlour 14 Year Old Double Cask Matured in their Pour & Sip sets will find the 12-year-old offers a slightly crisper, more citrussy take from this popular distillery. A little more of the new make’s green apple is perhaps on show (alongside trademark leafy blackcurrant character).

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In 2015 whisky distilling returned to the city of Glasgow for the first time in a century, and the Glasgow Distillery Co. acknowledged the past by naming their single malt after the year one of Glasgow’s original distilleries (Dundashill) was founded. Yep, in 1770. Like others in this set, Glasgow Distillery (how many times can I say Glasgow here?) produce both peated and unpeated spirit. (Some triple-distilled too.)

Having featured one of their peated whiskies a couple of years ago, we’re now looking at the unpeated side of their double-distilled production: The Original. Their fresh and fruity flagship whisky is matured in first-fill bourbon casks, then finished in fresh American oak casks that have had no prior contents. It’s non-chill filtered and natural colour. It’s also available in a highly-rated Cask Strength edition, which is well worth seeking out too.

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Founded by independent bottler Adelphi in 2014, Ardnamurchan makes both peated (30-35PPM) and unpeated spirit (about 50:50 in terms of production). Both are used in this release, just as they were for the excellent core AD/ release we featured in August 2023. The difference? The Sherry Cask Release is 100% sherry cask matured. Full maturation in a mix of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez butts. It’s a difference that’s immediately clear in the gorgeous natural colour!

Situated in a remote part of the west coast, Ardnamurchan’s power and heat all come from local renewables, and they’re producing some fantastic whiskies. As Chris in our curation team noted recently, “Ardnamurchan is slowly taking over my everyday drinkers shelf at home!”

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Originally called Box Destilleri, High Coast (Höga Kasten in Swedish, the region they call home) produces both unpeated and peated spirit with a clear wort (inspired by Japanese whiskymaking), and similar stills to Kilchoman (Islay is another key influence).

The Silent Mills editions all build on the same peated, bourbon cask matured base as Timmer from their Origin range – which we featured in Jan 2023 – but introduce other cask types into the mix. For the second release, Sandö, that means 22% of the final whisky has been aged in oloroso sherry casks instead of bourbon for added dried fruit tang and roundness. The peat level is around 45 PPM.

Large temperature fluctuations in their warehouses (a 60°C swing between a cold winter and warm summer day!), meanwhile, encourage greater interaction between wood and spirit.

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Three different styles of Irish whiskey this month, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Plus two single malts from longstanding Scotch distilleries both still drawing inspiration from their storied pasts.

Ballechin 13 Year Old Batch 1 - Cask Strength Edition: All tiny distilleries celebrating more traditional methods owe a debt to Edradour. ‘Scotland's Little Gem’ is a surviving farm-scale distillery dating back to 1837, purchased by top independent bottler Signatory in 2002. In 2006 the first peated malt from Edradour was release under the Ballechin name. This excellent cask strength edition was aged in oloroso and bourbon casks.

Glen Garioch 12 Year Old: Founded in 1797, Glen Garioch (pronounced ‘Glen Geery’) is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. The stills have the country's steepest descending lyne arms, reducing reflux for a hearty, robust Highland malt. Fruitiness comes from clear wort and increased fermentation times in more recent years. This bourbon and sherry cask matured 12yo from their core range is nonetheless bottled at a generous 48% and non-chill filtered.

Saints & Sinners & Rebels & Rogues 18 Year Old: &Whisky is all about no nonsense, tasty, peerless value whisk(e)y. This Irish blend is no exception. It’s made with well-aged malt and grain whiskeys from across the whole isle of Ireland (we can’t say any more…), and is described as “dancing whiskey” by Dave Worthington! Its age almost belies its quaffable every day drinker credentials. Delicious, fruity, and creamy, classically Irish.

Glendalough Pot Still Irish Oak Finish: Glendalough (pronounced ‘Glen da-Loch’) are craft distillers who also release whiskeys sourced elsewhere (like this one). Pot still Irish whiskey is a quintessentially Irish style (in this case made with a 1:2 ratio of malted and unmalted Irish barley). Here it's unusually finished in fresh Irish oak casks from trees in the Wicklow mountains selected under a Continuous Cover Forest Management System.

Temris 5 Year Old P.X. Sherry Cask Finish: A new Irish single malt whiskey here, completing three different styles of Irish whiskey in this box. ‘Temris’ is an ancient (Proto-Celtic) word meaning ‘sanctuary’ or ‘sacred place’, which they liken to their goal of creating a “haven of flavour”. It’s natural colour and non-chill filtered, initially aged in bourbon casks then finished in casks that previously held rich, sticky Pedro Ximénez sherry.

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A new Irish single malt whiskey here, completing three different styles of Irish whiskey in this box. ‘Temris’ is an ancient (Proto-Celtic) word meaning ‘sanctuary’ or ‘sacred place’, which they liken to their goal of creating a “haven of flavour”. It’s natural colour and non-chill filtered, and has been released by InnoBev, whose shareholders somewhat incredibly include Swizz Beatz, the American rapper and record producer who’s married to Alicia Keys! Apparently he took one of those DNA tests and it told him he was 30% Irish.

Founder and head of innovation Stephen Dillon sees the parallels between music and liquid production, blending the elements just right, and “creating experiences”. Initially aged in bourbon casks, this whiskey was finished in casks that previously held rich, sticky Pedro Ximénez sherry.

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Glendalough (pronounced ‘Glen da-Loch’) distillery took shape in 2013. One of the earliest players in Ireland’s craft distilling movement, they initially focused on poitín and gin before starting to distill their own whiskey in 2015. By then they’d already started releasing whiskeys sourced elsewhere, but which they’d been able to put their own spin on through maturation and blending.

That’s what we have here with pot still Irish whiskey a quintessentially Irish style (in this case made with a 1:2 ratio of malted and unmalted Irish barley to Glendalough’s specifications), initially matured in bourbon casks before being finished in fresh Irish oak casks from trees in the Wicklow mountains selected under a Continuous Cover Forest Management System. One of the first (for a century or so), and still the most accessible Irish oak matured release.

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&Whisky is known for their ‘Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire’ peated single malts, and many other similarly named releases. They’re all about no nonsense, tasty, peerless value whisky. (Or in this case ‘whiskey’, as it’s usually spelt in Ireland – many Irish producers added the extra ‘e’ to differentiate themselves from Scotch as far back as the 19th century.) This Irish blend is certainly no exception.

It’s made with well-aged malt and grain whiskeys from across the whole isle of Ireland (we can’t say any more…), and is described as “dancing whiskey” by Dave Worthington! Its age almost belies its quaffable every day drinker credentials. Or as Sam Simmons says, “it’s blended to be toasted in celebration rather than deep glencairn consideration”. Delicious, fruity, and creamy, it’s of a style that’s classically Irish. Much like its name.

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Founded in 1797, Glen Garioch (pronounced ‘Glen Geery’ – one to impress your friends with) is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, located between Speyside and the east coast. The stills have the steepest descending lyne arms in Scotland, reducing reflux for a hearty, robust Highland malt. Fruitiness comes from clear wort and increased fermentation times in more recent years, with an interest in producing an older style of spirit eventually culminating in reopening their own malting floor and reintroducing a direct-fired wash still (while also reducing overall carbon footprint) during a 2021 renovation. Both are extremely rare features these days.

This bourbon and sherry cask matured 12-year-old is part of their core range, but is nonetheless bottled at a generous 48% and non-chill filtered. We’re told it’s “the perfect accompaniment to Parmigiano-Reggiano”.

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We’ve featured many whiskies from tiny distilleries that celebrate more traditional methods, but they all owe a debt to Edradour. ‘Scotland's Little Gem’ was known as the smallest Scotch distillery until 2008 (smaller ones have opened since, plus Edradour expanded in 2018), using open top mash tuns, tiny stills and traditional wormtub condensers. A surviving farm-scale distillery dating back to 1837 – though they track their history back to 1825 when a farmer involved began legal distilling – its existence through to today is a marvellous quirk of history.

In 2002 it was purchased by top independent bottler Signatory, allowing it greater opportunity to shine, and leading to greater use of sherry (and wine) casks, many more releases, and in 2006 the first peated release under the Ballechin name. This excellent cask strength edition was aged in oloroso and bourbon casks.