Caperdonich 18 Years Peated (New Review August 2026)

“The Old Fashioned Way”

Whisky Review # 1101

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside - Closed Distillery

Brand: Caperdonich Peated - Small Batch Release - Secret Speyside Collection

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 18 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48%
Maturation: American Oak Barrels - Bottled: 2019-2022

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 160-225 (August 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 I understand it can't be cheap but stil...
Buying Advice: 😀 Certainly worth a try, especially when you like Ardbeg

History:

On August 30, 2022 I reviewed the peated Caperdonich 18 Years for the first time based on a small sample that I received from my friend Mauricio. Below you will find my thoughts at that time:

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Colour:

Golden Amber (Artificially coloured)

Nose:

Quite Light and Introvert on the Nose. It feels Younger than its age. The casks were not very active if you ask me. Still, the Peat & Smoke weave a pleasant web around Fruity, Floral and Mineral notes. The Nose is mostly Sweet with a few Tart and Salty notes for balance. The Alcohol is there but does not really interfere with the Nosing procedures. Be sure to give it some time in the glass before Nosing.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Cold Bonfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Farm Yard, Straw, Smoked Ham and Shell Fish sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Ripe Banana, Seville-Orange, Grapefruit, Charred Oak, Nuts, Tropical Fruit Cocktail, Tomatoes, Mint and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Tar, Ashes, Iodine, Band-Aids, Milk Chocolate, Wet Rocks, Blueberry Muffins, Pear, Leather, Cinnamon and Pepper.

Palate:

A little on the Thin side despite the adequate ABV. I have to blame the casks here. It's still sufficiently pleasant though with a mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour & Salty notes. Caperdonich was never known for its peated Whiskies but based on this expression I would say that that is a pity. Could be delicious when matured in first class casks.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Campfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Ashes, Tar, Smoked Ham & Scallops on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Milk Chocolate, Black Tea, Seville-Orange, Banana, Grapefruit, Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.

Supportive Flavour Accents:
   
Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Soot, Rubber, Iodine, Orchard Fruit like Pear, Mandarin, Blueberries, Resin, Toasted Almonds, Wet Rocks, Cinnamon, Mint and Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour and Salty notes as well. A little on the Thin side. Quite Dry in the end. The Ashes remain in your mouth for quite a while but in a pleasant way. It reminds me a little of Ardbeg. I find Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Cold Smoke, Earthy Peat, Ashes, Soot, Smoked Ham and Scallops on the BBQ glazed with Honey and sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Resin, Rubber, Black Tea, Seville-Orange, Nougat, Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Mint, Licorice, Aniseed and strong Espresso.

Drinking Advice:

Given the size of the sample, I only tasted this Caperdonich neat.

Rating: 86.5 - Stars on a 1-10 scale: 8 (********)

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

 

Conclusion:

Caperdonich was located in Rothes, Speyside and was originally known as Glen Grant # 2. It was built in 1898 by J. & J. Grant the founders of Glen Grant. It closed in 1902 and only opened again in 1965 when it was bought by Glenlivet & renamed Caperdonich. It was sold to Seagram in 1977 and then to Pernot Ricard in 2001. One year later it closed again before finally being demolished in 2010. It was widely used in the Chivas Regal Blends.

I only tasted two unpeated Caperdonich Malts before today and they were okay but not much more than that. I was pleasantly surprised therefore by today's peated version. The Peat and Smoke seem to combine well with the Caperdonich Spirit and remind me a bit of Ardbeg. It has its flaws though, mostly caused by the uninspired casks that leave this Single Malt a bit Thin and Youngish. But the potential is there and it's sad that we will probably never have the opportunity again to taste a fully matured peated Caperdonich that spent its life in quality casks. And that's a peaty pity!

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As I now bought a full-sized sample of this Caperdonich I decided to review it for a second time. As always on such occasions I am curious to know if my opinion is different after 4 years or that it basically stayed the same. In my final conclusion below you can find my latest thoughts on this peated Single Malt.

 

Final Conclusion:

On the nose I'm not gonna change anything. The Grapefruit note is much clearer than 4 years ago but in general the notes stand. It's such a pity that they did not use very good casks for this 18 Year old Caperdonich.

I still like the palate despite it being a litle too Thin. The Peat and Smoke enhance the Caperdonich spirit in a pleasant way. I get a bit more Alcohol in the Finish but the creamy Ashes still remain with you for a long time.

Drinking Advice:

Given the size of the sample, I only tasted this Caperdonich neat 4 years ago. But this time I added some Water. I won't do that again though. Lots of Malt Water on the Nose and Licorice and Menthol in the Finish. Better sip it neat!

The peated Caperdonich 18 is not a perfect Whisky but perhaps that's exactly the reason I like it. It's really different from the average current Mainstream Malts. I only wished they had used better casks to mature the spirit but other than that I can recommend this Single Malt especially if you like Ardbeg. I therefore maintain the rating given back in 2022.

New Rating:

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5 - Overall: 8

    

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                      August 5, 2026

BenRiach Smoke Season Double Cask

Whisky Review # 1100 (There Is Smoke Without Fire)

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: BenRiach Smoke Season

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Double Cask Matured - 45 PPM

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 52.8%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Fire Toasted Virgin Oak
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 55-65(July 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline Okay

Buying Advice: 👎 I like non-peated BenRiach but I prefer young Peated Islay

Colour:

Golden Amber with shades of Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It takes a while for this BenRiach to open up. My first impressions are Dirty Smoke and Virgin Oak followed by Farm Yard and Burnt notes. It's quite clearly a Young Single Malt and the high ABV is noticeable. On the whole, the Nose is a bit on the shy side and not very remarkable. Virgin Oak is noticeable throughout the Tasting process.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Burnt Toast, slightly Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earth, Red Berries, Citrus Peel, Farmyard, Smoked Meat and Shellfish, Canned Fruit Cocktail on Syrup, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Burnt Straw, Ashes, Iodine, Dried Herbs, Green Apple, Milk, Metal, Plastic, Wet Rocks and Sand, Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, Tobacco, Tea, Cinnamon, Cloves, Licorice, Roasted Coffee and some sort of Perfume I can't put my fingers on.

Palate:

Young & Bitter-Sweet. A few Salty and Sour notes for balance. The Alcohol is quite strong and stings a bit. Still, I like it better than the Nose although I miss balance.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Burnt Straw, Citrus Peel, Green Apple, Grilled Pork Chops and Pineapple, Cooked Fruit, Tobacco, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Wax, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Tar, Grapefruit Juice, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Milk Chocolate, Toasted Nuts, Wet Sand, Plastic, Metal, Dried Apricot, Cloves, Espresso and Banana Ice Cream.

Finish:

Medium Long, Bitter-Sweet and on the Thin side. The Bitterness increases towards the rather Dry end. The Youth of this Spirit is clearly noticeable and there's a clear Alcohol kick I don't really enjoy. I find Malted Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Wax, Vanilla, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Charred Oak, Ashes, Hospital, Toasted Nuts, Sour Citrus Fruit (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit), Apple Vinegar, Tobacco, Varnish, Plastic, Wet Sand, Metal, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Tar and some grilled Bananas towards the end.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water transforms this Single Malt in Weak & Alcoholic Barley Water. Better sip it neat!

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay

Conclusion:

BenRiach distillery was founded in the year 1897 by John Duff & Co and is located in Longmorn, Elgin (Morayshire). It changed hands a couple of times in its history but in April 2016 it was bought by Brown Forman. BenRiach will produce more or less 2.2 million litres in 2026. The core range includes a/o the Original 10, the Smoky 10, the 12, the Smoky 12, the 16, 21, 25, 30, 40 and 50 Years. I have not yet been able to visit this Distillery. We passed by in 2014 but it was closed for maintenance at the time. BenRiach Spirit is also used in Blends like Chivas Regal, 100 Pipers and Queen Anne.

I usually quite like BenRiach but this Smoke Season does not work for me. It's Young, Thin, Alcoholic & Un-balanced. The Smoke is Dirty and there are a number of light off-notes like Plastic and Metal. If you like Young Peated Malt better go to Islay. There is Smoke to be found but I dearly miss real Fire and Passion in this BenRiach. And that's a peaty! 😂

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                          July 29, 2026

Sakurao Sherry Cask

“残念” (Isn't It A Pity)

Whisky Review # 1099

Country: Japan 🇯🇵

Region: Sakurao (Hatsukaichi - Hiroshima)

Brand: Sakurao Sherry Cask - Stillman's Selection Series

Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Sherry Hogsheads
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: US$ 115 (July 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 👎 Too Young, Too Edgy and Too Bland

Colour:

Golden Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young and a bit Thin. I get an immediate Varnish Aroma, something I often find in Whisky that (partly) matured in New Oak. That does not seem to be the case here however. The Sherry influence is limited and it looks like a large part of indifferent Refill casks was used to mature this Single Malt. The Alcohol is noticeable as well. The Nose is a mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Salty and Perfume-like notes. There's a bit of Peat Smoke in the background as well. All in all I'm not impressed!

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley Sugar, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Sour Dark Cherries & Berries, Dried Fruit (Apples & Sultanas), Grass, Cacao Powder, Orange Liqueur, Tangerine, Damp Dunnage Warehouse, Tobacco, Varnish, Old Nuts, Burnt Toast & Margarine, Pepper, Mint, Cloves and Cinnamon.

    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Raspberry Jam, Perfumed Soap, Smoke from a distant fire, Dirty Earth, Wet Sand, Caffe Latte, Soy Sauce, Bitter-Lemon, Fresh Herbs, Cigar Box, Metal, Plastic, Fake Leather, Stale Coffee, Soot and Chemicals.

Palate:

The best part of this Sakurao in my opinion. A mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour & slightly Smoky notes. The Alcohol remains present. The Sherry Cask influence is limited but the Peat and Smoke are more present here which I like.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Orange, Dark Berries and Cherries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apples and Plums, Dark Chocolate, Citrus Peels, Damp Oak, Dirty Earth and Smoke, Pepper, Cinnamon and Cloves.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Buttered Cake, Resin, Soot, Hospital, Plastic, Varnish and Metal, Smoked Meat, Tobacco, Aniseed, Mint and Ginger.

Finish:

Medium Long & mostly Bitter-Sweet. Quite Tannic and very Dry towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Burnt Sugar, Vanilla, Honey, Dirty Peat and Smoke, Damp Oak, Dark Berries, Citrus Peels, Sultanas, Dark Chocolate, Soy Sauce, Nougat, Herbs, Tobacco, Cigar Ashes, Soot, Metal, PVC Pipes, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger and Cloves. A hint of Smoked Meat.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Sakurao. Add only a few drops at a time if you prefer it with Water.

Rating: 6 (******)

Nose: 5.5 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 5.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: 

Borderline Okay

Conclusion:

The Sakurao distillery was founded in 2018. It is owned by Chugoku Jozo a liquor company established in 1918 that also produces Sake, Mirin, Shochu and various liqueurs. They started making bottom shelf Whisky in 1938 but that changed in the year 2018 when their own Distillery started producing Single Malt. The brand name Togouchi is used for imported Whisky. The distillery produces both unpeated and peated Whisky.

The location of Sakurao is known for the large temperature difference between the Summer and the Winter with warm winds blowing from the sea and cold winds from the mountains. As a result the Whisky matures quite rapidly.

It's quite clear from the above that I'm thoroughly disappointed with the Sakurao Sherry Cask. First of all I would expect more Sherry influence given the name of this Single Malt. But the casks used were not very active I'm afraid. Secondly this is a Young Whisky with a very high ABV and this combination does not work out in this case. It's too Edgy and Nervous for my taste. The Peat Smoke is slightly dirty but could work well in a fully matured Sakurao. All in all this Sherry Cask does not do the job for me and I advise you to try a sample first before buying a bottle. I do like the presentation though. Very nice bottle and packaging.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       July 16, 2026

Dalmore 16 Luminary No. 2 2024 Edition

"Dalmore Or Less”

Whisky Review # 1098

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Dalmore Luminary No. 2 2024 Edition

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age:16 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48.6%
Maturation: White Oak Bourbon casks with a finish in Graham's Tawny Port Pipes and 30 Year old Apostoles Sherry casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 240-330 (July 2026)

Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too Expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 👎 Better stick with the regular 12 and 15 Years

Colour:

Copper with shades of Orange and Brown(Natural Colour)

Nose:

Rather shy on the Nose. Give it time in the glass. There is a bit of Sulfur there but it stays within limits. There's (Dried) Fruit but I also find some Metallic and Burnt notes. The Peat Smoke is a mere hint in the background. The influence of the Port casks is limited which works well here. The Nose is okay but a bit on the Light side despite the adequate ABV.
 
Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley Sugars, Vanilla, Bahlsen Butter Biscuits, Burnt Toast, Dried Fruit like Apricots and Figs, Dusty Earth, Black Berries & Cherries, Dusty Charred Oak, Wet Newspaper, Seville-Orange, Milk Chocolate, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cloves & Menthol.     
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Honey, Grass, Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup, Dusty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Smoked Ham sprinkled with Lemon-Herbs, Car Scrapyard, Polished Leather Upholstery, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger. 

Palate:

The delivery is a bit weak, something I would not expect at almost 49%. The Sulfur is somewhat stronger now. The Palate follows the Nose with a random mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt & Musty notes. The Port Finish is also more noticeable at this point. It's really a bit of a mixed bag if you ask me and I would like to see more balance.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Burnt Toast, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs & Dates, Black Berries/Cherries, Red Wine, Seville-Orange, Dusty Earth, Charred Oak, Milk Chocolate, Burnt Matches, Old Metal, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Caramel, Honey, Apricot-filled Puff Pastry, Smoked Ham with Lemon, Wet Paper, Stale Nuts, Herbal Tea, Tangerine, Cinnamon, Ginger, Menthol, Rubber, Espresso & Soot.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Tannic. A mix of Sweet, Bitter and slightly Sour notes. Quite Dry in the end. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Honey, Vanilla, Black Cherries & Berries, Red Wine, Seville-Orange, Lemon, Herbal Tea, Dusty Charred Oak, Stale Nuts, Cacao Powder, Light Smoke, Dirty Earth, Burnt Matches, Dried Fruit, Pepper and Nutmeg, Cloves and Mint. A bit of Licorice, Soot, Metal and Espresso after a while.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not really improve this Dalmore although the mouthfeel is a bit better this way. Try it out both ways.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience:

Okay. At this Price Level I expected way more.

Conclusion:

Dalmore distillery is located close to Alness and was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay Ltd, part of Emperador Inc. During the last 15 years, Master Blender Richard Patterson did a lot to reposition Dalmore as a worldwide Single Malt. The distillery currently produces around 5.4 million litres The core range consists of the 12, 12 Sherry Cask, 15, 18, 21, 25, King Alexander III, Cigar Malt Reserve and Port Wood Reserve.

I'm not the biggest fan of Dalmore although I really admire their presentation and Bottles. And the basics are good this time. Natural Colour, No Chill-Filtration and a very decent ABV. But somehow it doesn't click with me. It's Dirty but not in a good Springbank or Ledaig way. I get a lot of Burnt, Metallic and Musty notes and the end result is a rather unbalanced Single Malt. That would perhaps be okay at say US$ 75 but not at this price level. So if you like the Dalmore style leave this one alone and stay with the core range.

Cheers! Jan. 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                          July 8, 2026

Benrinnes 15 Flora & Fauna

“Blend It”

Whisky Review # 1097

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Benrinnes Flora & Fauna

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Most likely a mix of mostly Refill Ex-Sherry casks & Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 50-70 (July 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay/Good

Buying Advice: 😐 Better try out a Sample before buying a full bottle

Colour:

Dark Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Young despite its 15 Years. The Refill Sherry casks are quite noticeable and there's a bit of Sulfur around. Nothing serious though. A mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty, Yeasty and Burnt notes. Quite Buttery as well. The Spirit clearly got some balls making it good for Blending. But it misses Finesse and Balance, something I would expect of a 15 Year Old Single Malt.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Honey, Yeast, Dirty Earth, Apple Vinegar, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Sultanas, Citrus (Orange and Mandarin), Ripe Banana, Dusty Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Aniseed and Menthol.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Nutella, Farmyard, Cocoa Powder, Grapefruit, Cooked Vegetables, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Wet Sand, Rubber, Polish, Raw Meat, Sour Berry, Herbal Tea, Cinnamon, Licorice and a Floral note. A hint of Ashes perhaps.

Palate:

Quite Salty and Meaty. I also find Sweet, Sour and Bitter notes. It's not really bad and certainly different from your average mainstream stuff but in this case that alone is not sufficient for me to really enjoy it a lot.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums and Raisins,  Apple Vinegar, slightly Sour and Bitter Citrus like Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lemon & Orange, Cocoa Powder, Raw Meat, Leather, Herbal Tea, Dusty Charred Oak, Walnuts, Pepper, Aniseed, Ginger and Menthol/Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Sour Berries, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Espresso, Dirty Earth and Wet Sand, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Licorice and a Musty note.

Finish:

Medium-Long but a bit on the Thin side. This should have been bottled at 46% at least. It's also a little Dirty and Bitter notes develop towards the very Dry end. I find Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Honey, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Apple, Sultana and Plums, slightly Sour and Bitter Citrus like Grapefruit & Seville Orange, Herbal Tea, Hazelnuts and Walnuts, Cocoa Powder, Dirty Earth, Raw Meat, Tobacco, Espresso, Dusty Charred Oak, Leather, Pepper, Aniseed, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice, Menthol/Mint, Ashes and something Musty.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not really improve this Benrinnes.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat:

Okay

Conclusion:

Benrinnes was founded in 1826 by Peter MacKenzie. It was completely rebuilt in 1956 and is currently owned by Diageo. The annual capacity is 3.5 million litres. Almost all of the production is destined for the JW Blends. The Flora & Fauna 15 that I'm reviewing today is currently the only official distillery bottling.

I'm always looking forward to try a 15 Year old Scottish Single Malt as I often find that this is the perfect maturation time before the wood influence becomes a bit too powerful. I'm not overly impressed by this Benrinnes though. I'm not too sure about the quality of the casks and it might be that the middle cut was stretched a bit. In any case the end result is a different but not very balanced and a bit Dirty Single Malt. It is not very expensive but nevertheless I'm glad I bought a sample rather than a full bottle. I advise you to do the same!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                           July 2, 2026

Macaloney's Siol Dugall

                                                “Time”

Whisky Review # 1096

Country: Canada 🇨🇦

Region: Vancouver Island

Brand: Macaloney's Siol Dugall - Medium Peated (27 PPM) - Signature Selection

Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks (65%), Ex-Portuguese Red Wine casks (10%) and American Virgin Oak (25%)

Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 65-75 (June 2026)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Acceptable

Buying Advice: 😑 Better go for the Peated Mac Na Braiche

Colour:

Golden with shades of Red and Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young but not unpleasant. A bit understated. The Peat and Smoke are there but remain in the background. The Nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty & Burnt notes. It's quite Dry actually and there's a light sharpness of the Alcohol. But it's not bad considering its Youth.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Grass, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Salted Pork on the BBQ, light Coastal Peat, Distant Campfire Smoke, Ash and Soot, Charred Banana, Lemon, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger.     
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Syrup, Butterscotch, Cranberry Juice, Sour Apple Cider, Puff Pastry filled with Sweet Walnut puree, Burnt Pine Needles, Fruitcake, Pepper, Cloves, Tea and new Cigar boxes.

Palate:

It's Young, a bit Thin and a little Sharp but it's still my favorite part of this Single Malt. In my opinion it just needs more cask time to become really good. But time is money as you know and that's a burden for all starting distilleries. The palate is following the Nose with a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt and Salty notes. Quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, light Coastal Peat & Distant Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Bacon, Roasted Nuts, Lemon Tea, Charred Oak, Red Berries, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.

 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Orange, Burnt Straw, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Fruitcake, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Banana, Cinnamon, Cloves, Virgin Oak and a light Metallic note.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes as well. The Bitterness increases towards the very Dry end. I find Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted slightly Burnt Caramel, Charred Oak, Light Peat and Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Burnt Straw, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon, Salted Bacon, Dusty and Charred Oak, Roasted Nuts, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves and Cinnamon.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Siol Dugall.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience:

Okay/Good

Conclusion:

This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.

Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The New Make Spirit won many global awards.

Siol means Seed and Dugall is a Scottish clan. The name serves to underline the link between Scotland and Macaloney's. And you can certainly smell & taste these links. Therefore it's fair to say that the future might bring even more praise for this Canadian Island distillery. In my opinion the Spirit only needs more time in the casks to bring out the full potential of this Spirit. Because despite all modern maturation methods nothing beats time and a good cask to produce an excellent Single Malt. Let's hope Macaloney's will walk this path one day!

Cheers, Jan 🥃                                                                            June 25, 2026