The archive

Samhain Pronounced "SOW - IN" The origins of Samhain are rooted in ancient. The series tells a tale steeped in local legend, with evocative labels designed by Edinburgh-based artist and designer Steven Shand, who has over 13 years of experience in the Scottish whisky industry. Shand's intricate artwork and storytelling complement the atmospheric whiskies, capturing a haunting essence of Scotland's past.

●      ‘The Each Uisge of the River Spey’

Almost every large body of water in Scotland has tales of water horses, demons or spirits, and the River Spey is no different.

The Each Uisge is said to be far more malevolent than the Kelpie.

Witnesses describe a horse-like creature with a scaly body and long, thin neck that vanishes as they approach. Legend claims The Each Uisge is a shape-shifter that can appear as a human or a black horse.

It can control the weather and create disorienting mirages, luring victims into the water to drown them.

These stories have been passed down as cautionary tales for those who venture too close to the water's edge.

Samhain Pronounced "SOW - IN" The origins of Samhain are rooted in ancient. Each whisky in the Samhain Series tells a tale steeped in local legend, with evocative labels designed by Edinburgh-based artist and designer Steven Shand, who has over 13 years of experience in the Scottish whisky industry. Shand's intricate artwork and storytelling complement the atmospheric whiskies, capturing a haunting essence of Scotland's past.

●      ‘The Witch of Beinne A’Ghlo’

Legend has it that in the mountains overlooking Blair Atholl Castle, an infamous witch hid amongst the corries and hills. Using their powers, they would shape-shift to take the form of an eagle, a deer or even a raven and terrify local people driving their cattle into mires, riding their horses till they collapsed with exhaustion - and it's claimed it even destroyed a bridge!

"She heard him on her mount of stone: Where on snakes alive she was feeding alone." - Local poem, by unkown author.

The Scottish witchcraft panic of 1597 was a year that saw large-scale witch hunting around Scotland in a time of political and religious instability, with famine blamed on innocents accused of witchcraft.

Samhain Pronounced "SOW - IN" The origins of Samhain are rooted in ancient. Each whisky in the Samhain Series tells a tale steeped in local legend, with evocative labels designed by Edinburgh-based artist and designer Steven Shand, who has over 13 years of experience in the Scottish whisky industry. Shand's intricate artwork and storytelling complement the atmospheric whiskies, capturing a haunting essence of Scotland's past.

●      ‘The Ritual of Oak & Mistletoe’

Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote in the 1st Century AD:

"Druids - that is what they call their magicians - hold nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and a tree on which it is growing, provided it is a hard-timbered oak. Mistletoe is rare and when found it is gathered with great ceremony, and particularly on the sixth day of the moon. They prepare a ritual sacrifice and banquet beneath a tree and bring up two white bulls, whose horns are bound. A priest arrayed in white vestments climbs the tree and, with a golden sickle, cuts down the mistletoe, which is caught in a white cloak. Then finally they kill the victims, praying to a god to render his gift propitious to those on whom he has bestowed it. They believe that mistletoe given in drink is an antidote to all poisons."

DISTILLED on 31st October 2007 and BOTTLED on 2nd July 2024.

A triple distilled spirit produced to be light and delicate. Matured in a refill hogshead and finished in a first fill ex-Ruby Port cask for 17 months impressing notes of red fruit sweetness.

This rarely seen single malt by independent bottlers is unusual in that every drop from the distillery is triple distilled producing a light and sweet make that reaches its peak when it becomes a teenager. A longer 17 month finish this time around in an ex-ruby port cask has brought a wonderful red fruitiness to the picture.

Tasting revealed - Turkish delight, red liquorice and honeycomb chocolate.

DISTILLED on 27th November 1991 and BOTTLED on 23rd August 2024.

Closed in 1993, this increasingly rare single grain spirit once highly prized by blenders was matured in an ex-Oloroso butt for 32 years.

Although it is not uncommon to see well aged single grain whisky bottled by independent bottlers, this particular bottling is very special on 2 fronts. Firstly the Cambus distillery closed in 1993 meaning that every cask bottled can never be repeated and secondly, full oloroso maturation is very rare for grain whisky as most is filled into very tired well used oak.

Tasting revealed - Coconut square, star anise and crème brûlée crust.

DISTILLED on 25th April 2013 and BOTTLED on 3rd July 2024.

A peaty distillate matured in a refill hogshead and finished in a Rivesaltes cask from Giraud in Segonzac for over 2 years giving notes of orange natural sweetness, tangerine and fruit jam.

Another example of this fantastic classic make from Islay and how versatile it can be. Over 2 years in this sweet wine cask from south east France has added a whole new dimension of flavour and complexity which pairs wonderfully when combined with this smoky distillate.

Tasting revealed - peppered mackerel, pecan pastry and dried apricot.

DISTILLED on 2nd April 2012 and BOTTLED on 24th July 2024.

The coastal location of this distillery adds a freshness to its waxy and nutty distillate. Matured in a HHD before being finished for over 3 years in a first fill Hidalgo cooperage ex-Oloroso cask.

This coastal Speysider known for its important role in many of Diageo’s blended whiskies has spent more than 3 years in one of our now famous oloroso casks sourced from Hidalgo cooperage in Spain has offered the spirit a softer side of ex-sherry with more of a toffee and caramel character rather than the expected Christmas cake and dried fruit notes..

Tasting revealed - New leather, sandalwood and apricot marmalade.

DISTILLED on 12th April 2011 and BOTTLED on 9th July 2024.

Located just outside Elgin, the distillate is recognised as sweet and fruity with toffee notes. Matured in a butt and finished in a first fill ex-Pedro Ximenez HHD for 17 months giving notes of dried fruit and spice.

The sister cask of the very popular Longmorn we bottled last year, this sophisticated Speyside whisky lends itself well to active cask maturation and that’s exactly what we have here. Matured for most of its life in a 2nd fill oloroso butt we then transferred it to a fresh ex-PX hogshead for 17 months adding sweetness and enhance the sherry character already present..

Tasting revealed - Fruit Cake, cinnamon and walnut.

DISTILLED on 4th March 2014 and BOTTLED on 24th July 2024.

A sweet and fruity distillate with distinct spicy and floral notes. Matured in a HHD before being finished in a Veneta Botti ex-Amarone wine cask for over 5 years.

Another hidden distillery where 99.9% of its output goes into Diagieo’s blends, this gem of a spirit lends itself well to a great cask. In this case, we selected an ex-Amarone wine case from Veneta Botti cooperage in San Vendemiano, Italy. The whisky then spent more than half its life in this cask fusing together the sweetness of the spirit with a raisiny dryness associated with the wine.

Tasting revealed - Toasted almonds, butterscotch sweets and rolling tobacco.