Reviews

When whisky romantics rave about the mist-shrouded Highlands and wax lyrical about centuries-old traditions, the Schlitzer distillery smiles mildly. Spirits have been distilled here since 1585 – although back then, no one had the crazy idea of producing whisky in Hesse of all places. That would take a few more centuries. Since 1983, the traditional distillery has been trying its hand at the Scottish supreme discipline, and the result is... well, the Schlitzer Single Malt Classic.

There are whiskies that tell stories – and then there are those that merge worlds. The Nc'nean Aon Calvados 2017/2025 belongs to the second category. Originating from the young, ambitious distillery in the Scottish Highlands, this seven-years single malt presents itself as a fascinating experiment: matured in former Calvados casks, it combines the rugged beauty of the Highlands with the fruity sophistication of Normandy.

While the whisky world looks spellbound to Scotland and Kentucky, something special is brewing in the far north of Canada. Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky from Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. is not just another rye – it is a statement.

In keeping with German Unity Day, this whisky combines brandy casks from East and West Germany – a symbolic fusion of two traditions. The oak casks used make it even more fascinating: Palatinate oak, representing Helmut Kohl, meets Russian oak, representing Mikhail Gorbachev. Two statesmen whose work made German reunification possible, united in a whisky.

The High West Distillery is located in Utah - a state that is usually better known for Mormons and skiing than for whiskey. But hey, sometimes the best surprises come from the most unexpected places! The distillery is located in the Wasatch-Uinta Mountains and is the first legal distillery in Utah since 1870. The Double Rye with its 46% vol. is, as the name suggests, double: two different rye whiskeys are married here. It's like pairing two different herb gardens together and hoping they get along well.

Imagine sitting on the terrace on a warm summer evening, the sun low in the sky and amber-coloured gold sparkling in your glass. The Fettercairn 2006/2024 from Malts of Scotland is just the whisky to turn such moments into unforgettable experiences. This independent bottling from the Scottish Highlands is not only a delight for the senses, but also a real value-for-money wonder.

When German distilling expertise meets Portuguese heritage, something extraordinary is created. With its Signature Edition Sixteen, the St. Kilian Distillery in Rüdenau has created a statement that transcends boundaries – both geographically and in terms of taste. This edition is dedicated entirely to Portugal's rich heritage and combines distillates that have been matured in selected tawny port, ruby port, Madeira and Moscatel de Setúbal casks.

1990. This was the year Germany won the World Cup and in a warehouse on Islay, Laphroaig filled a cask that would wait patiently for 34 years to enchant us today. What do you do with a whisky that is older than many of its connoisseurs? You let Signatory Vintage, one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers, who have teamed up with Wu Dram Clan to get this liquid historical document into the bottle.

Brave New Spirits, the Glasgow-based independent bottler, has selected a cask that lives up to its name: "Called to Submission". And indeed, with an alcohol content of 50.3% and a colour spectrum reminiscent of deep ruby red, this whisky commands respect. The colour alone is a promise – this is no harmless grain sweetness, but an aromatic demonstration of power.

When this Longmorn was put into the cask in 1975, the Vietnam War also came to an end. Longmorn itself is one of those distilleries that prefers to work in the background – most of its single malts traditionally end up in blends. This makes it all the more exciting when such a mature specimen finds its way into the bottle.

There are whiskies that you greet politely. And then there are those that walk through the door and immediately dominate the room – not through volume, but through pure, undeniable presence. The Strathisla 24 Years Old 1992/2016, bottled by Malts of Scotland at a powerful 56.2% ABV, definitely belongs to the second category. The Strathisla distillery in Keith, Speyside, may be known to many primarily as the heart of Chivas Regal, but independent bottlings like this reveal what the distillery is really capable of when given time – a lot of time. This malt was allowed to mature, philosophise, meditate and build complexity in its cask for 24 years. The result? A whisky that can be described as a "sturdy dog" – and that is definitely a compliment.

Oat whiskey? Yes, you read that correctly. GORFH from Merdingen is venturing into unconventional territory and proving that German distillers no longer have to stand in the shadow of Scottish or American producers. With 7 years of maturation and an impressive 48% alcohol content, this limited release presents a fascinating alternative to classic barley distillates.

After 11 years of maturation in Scottish warehouses, this Royal Brackla is presented at 46% ABV – a strength that promises to unfold its royal flavours while remaining drinkable for us mere mortals.

Imagine standing on a windswept North Sea beach, a campfire blazing behind you, salt spray misting your face. The Westfalian TW34 captures this very scene in liquid form – and it comes from the heart of Germany.

The Glen Ord 2011/2021 10 Years Old from van Wees represents a fascinating connection between the traditional Glen Ord distillery in the Scottish Highlands and the Dutch independent bottler van Wees. Glen Ord, located in Muir of Ord since 1838, is one of Scotland's most technically advanced distilleries, producing over 11 million litres of pure alcohol annually. The distillery, known for its precise distillation technique and the use of six stainless steel washbacks, supplies the raw material for this 10-years single malt.

The Gammelstilla distillery, surrounded by mirror-smooth lakes and dense forests, epitomises the essence of Scandinavian whisky philosophy. Here, where the silence is almost tangible, this exceptional single malt matures in carefully selected casks. The Single Cask No. 2 with its 7 years of maturation and powerful 53.50% vol. is the result of a special journey: Ex-bourbon casks initially gave it its basic structure before the Madeira finish added the finishing touches.

Berry Bros & Rudd – a name synonymous with fine spirits since 1698. The traditional London-based company has long since made a name for itself as one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers. Their latest coup: a sherry cask matured blended malt with no age statement, bottled at 44.2% ABV, which promises to blur the boundaries between whisky and sherry dessert.

There are whiskies that captivate you from the very first sniff – and then there are those that reveal their true greatness only gradually. The Longmorn 11 Years 2014/2025 from renowned independent bottler James Eadie definitely belongs to the latter category. Read on to find out what makes this 11-years single malt so special and why it could easily be mistaken for a much older whisky.

Who would have thought that such a treasure was hidden behind the unassuming name Royal Brackla? The distillery from the Scottish Highlands often leads a shadowy existence alongside the big names, but Thompson Bros impressively proves with this 10-years bottling why Royal Brackla deserves the title "The King's Own Whisky".

In the world of whisky, there are always surprises that come from unexpected corners. The Westfalian Cask 86, a 10-years German single malt whisky, is one of these exotic spirits. With a proud age of ten years, matured in a sherry cask (at least 2nd fill) and bottled at a cask strength of 56.50 %, we have found one of these.

The Westfalian Cask 256 is a single rye whisky (100% rye) that matured in a first-fill ruby port cask from 2019 to 2023. With 59.1% alcohol by volume, it is a powerful drop that was bottled without chill-filtration and without colouring.

Well, do you know Tormore? If not, you're in good company – this Speyside distillery tends to lead a rather shadowy existence in the whisky universe. Founded in 1958, Tormore now belongs to Chivas Brothers and mainly produces for blends. But every now and then, a few casks make it onto the market as single malts.

The Highlands are renowned for their distinctive single malts, and for over a century, the Ardmore distillery has been synonymous with powerful, smoky whiskies with unmistakable character. When a renowned independent bottler such as Signatory Vintage brings its expertise to bear, the result is often a true treasure. This 12-years Ardmore from 2012, bottled at a proud 60.70% ABV after maturing in bourbon barrels, promises an exciting journey through history, combining Highland tradition with American influence. Can this dram live up to the high expectations and reconcile the distillery's characteristic 'dirty' profile with the mild elegance of a bourbon barrel?

The Lowlands are known for their smooth, elegant whiskies, but the Mystic Lowlands 2011/2024 from Malts of Scotland proves that this region can also produce intense and complex character.