Expect two debuts today. It’s the first time we’re trying some bottlings from Gleann Mór Spirits. Based in Edinburgh, this independent bottler started in 2015 and developed a wide range of products. Their single cask releases are bottled in the Rare Find series. Truth be told, we already tried some bottlings for Whiskay that had been supplied by Gleann Mór.
The other first is for Annandale. I have a session coming up with four official releases from this distillery, but we start with this independent bottling.
We start with a special Bunnahabhain 1980: it was the category winner in the 2025 World Whiskies Awards (Single Malts 21 Years and over). It is a vatting of five casks that matured individually for over four decades. Interestingly the label states it was bottled in 2020 but it has only hit the market just now, probably because it married in stainless steel for a number of years?
Bunnahabhain 40 yo 1980 (45,2%, Gleann Mór ‘Rare Find’ 2020, refill sherry casks)
Nose: a truly beautiful, oily fruitiness. Candied pineapple, along with apricot jam, juicy mirabelles, tangerines and vanilla cake. There’s a gentle waxy side, as well as some subtle leathery touches. Then orange peels, very light oregano, subtle sea spray and hints of women’s powder. Pretty excellent.
Mouth: a bit soft, but showing more fruitiness. Stewed orchard fruits, like apricots, apples, papaya and pineapple. Honey and candied peels. Then it moves towards almonds, with cinnamon and light mocha. Subtle saltiness, liquorice and hints of mint leaves. Beautifully polished oak and whiffs of dried flower petals as well. Really great.
Finish: long enough, with more citrus peels, subtle cocoa, drops of coffee and mildly drying oak spice.
Definitely a rare find. Aromatic, great balance, a nice amount of fruitiness coupled to some maritime notes. A cracking Bunnahabhain and even the price is reasonable. Still available from The Whisky Exchange for instance.
Braeval 16 yo 2009 (62%, Gleann Mór ‘Rare Find’ 2025, first-fill bourbon finish #9504, 195 btl.)
Nose: firm oaky notes, of course, with mashed banana, sweet berries and some toasted coconut. Green apples. Hints of buttered popcorns, breakfast cereals and vanilla. Then some plain malty notes, pencil shavings and whiffs of peppermint.
Mouth: slightly raw and hot – a big combo of wood and alcohol. Then plenty of biscuits, pepper and a little ginger schnapps. Some citrusy notes. Caramelized walnuts and toffee.
Finish: long and peppery.
Rather straightforward whisky, with a big emphasis on woody influences. Closer to a virgin oak bottling at times. Not bad at all, but difficult after the wonderful Bunna. Still available from The Whisky Exchange or Royal Mile Whiskies among others. Score: 81/100
Ledaig 12 yo 2011 (56,5%, Gleann Mór ‘Rare Find’ 2024, refill hogshead #6991, 345 btl.)
Nose: mezcal or Scotch? Raw peat with kiln smoke and lemons, followed by wet rope and sheep wool. Light petrolic notes and creosote, hints of mineral salts and brine. Typically well made.
Mouth: oily and fairly thick, although there’s still a firm peaty side, some seawater en hints of anchovies. Then sweeter lemony notes, aniseed and a hint of horseradish. Barbecue smoke, a green olive and a faint meaty edge in the distance.
Finish: long and perfectly sharp, with coastal notes, peppery smoke and light herbal elements.
Like the Braeval, this is very straightforward. It’s more complex though and there’s no intrusive cask influence. Simply a good middle-aged and wintery dram. Score: 86/100
Annandale 6 yo 2019 (60,4%, Gleann Mór ‘Rare Find’ 2025, seasoned Oloroso barrique finish #14201, 334 btl.)
Nose: a mix of toffee apple and caramel with big hints of burnt rubber, dried tobacco leaves and some sooty peat. A little tar and camphor, motor oil, sage and dried oregano. Then a fresh wave of sea spray and citrus, with mild exotic wood in the distance.
Mouth: quite dark, on liquorice, dark bonfire smoke, bitter dark chocolate and coffee. Some sweet and sour cherries and some plankish wood, along with ginger, toffee and dark chocolate.
Finish: long, slightly leafy, with lingering caramel sweetness and warming oak spice.
Interesting recipe: matured in a sherry butt and then moved to an Oloroso seasoned barrique. Why would they season (French oak) barriques in Jerez? Overall a nice first encounter with Annandale, plenty of character here! Still seen at Master of Malt or The Whisky Exchange for instance. Score: 86/100