[Tasting] Independent Bottlers

Background:

    It's common for distilleries to sell barrels of whisky to blenders and independent bottlers (IBs) as another source of income. Some distilleries exist only to serve IBs, and do not market any brands themselves.

Gordon & MacPhail (1895) the oldest independent bottler, originally as a grocery store in the heart of Speyside. They buy malt whisky in casks and market it on their own as Gordon & MacPhail with Speyside distilleries like Macallan and Mortlach. Not until 1988 a new IB entered the market, Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky. Lots of IBs have entered market but quality became inconsistent and big corporations realized the risk with dubious bottles bearing their name. Diageo no longer sells casks to IBs and have began to enter the business of "high-value" bottling with Special Releases and Distiller Editions. 

There are newer IBs like Blackadder, Thompson Brothers, and Or Sileis. In the long run, the existing contracts with large distilleries will dry out. IBs will have to shift to smaller and less well known distillers or start to establish their own distillery by acquiring existing ones.

Tasting: 

I have gathered a few interesting indenpendent bottlers to taste. Thompson Brothers (Dornoch Distillery), Or Sileis (PICT Internationl), and Hunter Laing. Those are accompanied with a  smoky release  of Talisker and the 12 Years old Kilkerran from Glengyle.

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Use a Glencairn or (tulip shaped glass) let it breathe, try it as is, then add droplets of water to enhance the flavour and aroma.

	Name	Region	ABV
	Thompson Brothers Sutherland (Clynelish) 9 Year Old 2010	Highland	51.3%

American Oak

• Nose: Pure wax, touches of fat,grapefruit skin, acidic. 
• Palate: Pear, citrus
  
• Finish: Long lemon

	Name	Region	ABV
	Thompson Brothers Ben Nevis 7 Year Old 2012	Highland	48%

Refill Hogshead

• Nose: Oily, cooking, animal, mineral coastal edge bath salts, lemon in bring, in toolboxes
• Palate: Mashed fruits, sweet porridge, raw ingredients
• Finish: Long lingering mash fruits, green banana, lemon, waxy

	Name	Region	ABV
	Or Sileis (OrSe) Speyside (Tamdhu) Single Malt Scotch	Speyside	62.2%

Refill American Oak

• Nose: 清爽乾淨的雪莉桶風味，上層清爽的表現，猶如加了冰塊的烏梅汁，同時也帶有著竹林與青草氣息。
• Palate: 入口葡萄梅果清甜轉果酸，中段有奶油與肉桂的調性
• Finish: 後往豆蔲辛香調移動。層次頗豐，尾韻持久

	Name	Region	ABV
	Hunter Laing's Scarabus Islay Single Malt Scotch	Islay	46%

Undisclosed Islay Distillery

• Nose: Classic notes of maritime peat smoke, sea spray and sea salt, with a subtle hint of vanilla and oak spice.
• Palate: Oak char, old leather, stewed orchard fruit and vanilla sweetness returning among the smoky peat.
• Finish: Lingering bonfire smoke, salted caramel and fresh berries.

	Name	Region	ABV
	Talisker Dark Storm Single Malt	Island	45.8%

Heavily Charred Oak Casks

• Nose: A salty, smoky edge combines with a hints of aromatic spices and oak, developing into stewed apples.
• Palate: Exceeding smooth and sweet with an intense vibrant combination of fresh fruits, blackcurrants, and liquorice, slowly disappearing into tempest of rich spice. 
• Finish: Warm, lingering and powerfully smoky.
  

 

	Name	Region	ABV
	Kilkerran Single Malt 12 Year Old	Campbeltown	46%

70% Bourbon 30% Sherry

• Nose: Oak notes are dominant, followed by toasted marshmallows and dried fruit pudding, as well as cherries, marzipan and a hint of peat.
• Palate: Initially fruity with citrus notes and orange peel, after this: vanilla, butterscotch, honeycomb and digestive biscuits can all be tasted and enjoyed.
  
• Finish: Velvet and smooth with lemon meringue, to conclude, there’s an oiliness and a saltiness that you’d expect from a Campbeltown dram.