This is the third and last installment of the Zodiac series which was started in February 2026 by The Whisky Exchange.
We’ll be trying a Macduff, a Campbeltown blended malt and two pitch-dark sherry bombs from an undisclosed Speyside distillery and Bunnahabhain. The series now contains 12 bottlings, mostly middle-aged whisky from a wide selection of distilleries. You can buy the entire series, or any combination.
Macduff 11 yo 2014 (50,1%, The Whisky Exchange ‘The Zodiac’ 2025, re-charred barrel #52, 230 btl.)
Nose: lots of green apples, with lemon tart, orange and subtle peach. A light maltiness. Then bright honey and vanilla as well. Light cinnamon. It’s a fresh, slightly green profile with mostly familiar, middle-of-the-road aromas. No complaints though.
Mouth: still a sweet and fruity onset, with plenty of apples and peaches now, albariño style. Also a hint of cream soda, with vanilla and marshmallow notes. Then ripe pears and a touch of marzipan. Milk chocolate and some oak spice towards the end.
Finish: medium, with more creamy notes, green nuts and a firm hint of oak shavings and spice.
A bright nose and a particularly creamy, rounded palate. It’s a clean and fruity spirit and a good match to the re-charred barrel. Available from The Whisky Exchange.
Campbeltown Blended Malt 10 yo 2015 (57,4%, The Whisky Exchange ‘The Zodiac’ 2025, refill hogshead #58, 331 btl.)
Nose: rather mild for Campbeltown. There’s a chalky note, some wet stones and hay but otherwise it’s hard to identify the funkiness. Lots of stewed apples with a hint of honey and whiffs of lime zest. Then a little dried earth appears along with brioche.
Mouth: a nice oiliness, followed by more sweetness of peaches, tart apples and hints of caramel. Underneath also a hint of dry smoke, mint and liquorice. Then pickled lemons and a little white pepper. Toasted elements.
Finish: medium to long, with some grapefruit, saline notes, oak and biscuity sweetness.
On the rounder side of the Campbeltown spectrum, although there is a nice coastal character on the palate. Perhaps not for die-hards but a comfortable selection for a series like this. Available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 85/100
A Speyside Distillery 15 yo 2009 (53,9%, The Whisky Exchange ‘The Zodiac’ 2025, refill sherry butt #2, 665 btl.)
Nose: almost like an actual PX wine. Full of prunes and dates, crystallized honey and dark berry jams. A metallic edge as well. Then some baking spice and candied orange peels, along with tobacco leaves. Also walnuts, fresh chestnuts and a hint of nutmeg.
Mouth: very intense, with European oak delivering a wide spectrum. Dark molasses and roasted nuts, leading up to rich dates and plum jam, all the way to maraschino cherries, redcurrants, leather and spice. Then more tobacco leaves and hints of dark chocolate.
Finish: very long, with sweet herbal notes, a drop of vermouth and chocolate sweetness.
One of the richest (M) bottlings I’ve had lately, coming close to an old Brandy de Jerez matured in Pedro Ximénez casks. Certainly an after-dinner dram. It would be very hard to pack more flavour without crossing the line. Available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 88/100
Bunnahabhain 4 yo 2020 (60,4%, The Whisky Exchange ‘The Zodiac’ 2025, first-fill Oloroso butt, 684 btl.)
Nose: another sherry bomb, this time a little more of toffee, milk chocolate and (salted) caramel notes. Also blackberry jam. Then there’s a mild hint of bouillon, a hint of espresso and an earthy undertone, reminding me of an old casks in a bodega.
Mouth: again dark fruits like blackberries and prunes, along with dark Candi sugar, mixed with more savoury hints of nutmeg, black tea and tobacco leaves. Then dark chocolate, cinnamon and black peppercorns. Hints of coffee beans too, along with a subtle balsamic touch.
Finish: long, dark and quite savoury. Coffee, cocoa and dark oak spice.
We’ve had such young Staoishas but this Bunnahbahain is actually unpeated. Very cask-driven, deeply influenced by the Oloroso, but already nicely balanced. These last two are interesting options for sherry bomb aficionados and they’re well priced too. Available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 88/100