The Best Independent Bottler?

@bwmccoy: During last year the Springbank Society posted all the serial numbers with bottle descriptions i.e. Springbank Cask Strength Oloroso #100 of 348 etc. Accurate descriptions, cask nos. in lots of instances, labels, bottle color etc. There were very many vintage bottlings. Nothing on the CCTV tape is spooky!

At the time I wondered how I would feel - I still do!

@bwmccoy: Grab anything you can get your hands on; this may give you some idea of the esteem Samaroli is regarded with among Scottish distillers.

lvfnb.com/042013issue/…

Such a difficult question! But I've never had a Samaroli that wasn't excellent. I find SMWSs always interesting, but I tire of their overly-descriptive tasting notes, and they can be hit and miss. When you find a hit though, it's amazing. I also like Cadenhead's, their store in Campbeltown is spectacular and, though I've had a couple that didn't work, they are also always innovative (who else has bottled a single cask CANADIAN whisky??) I don't know if I would call Compass Box an independent bottler, as they don't bottle single malts (but i'm splitting hairs). If I had to pick a #1 overall, probably Samaroli, but the variety and innovation of Cadenhead's greatly intrigues me.

@A'bunadhman - thanks for sharing the link to the article. Good read. It echoes others that I found. Can't believe I haven't heard of him before now.

Here is the article that a fried shared with me. (Sorry, I can't provide a link since it was in an e-mail);

As one of the world’s preeminent and master bottler’s of fine whiskey (and rum), Silvano Samaroli goes far beyond cult status – his output is synonymous with the pinnacle of what whiskey can be and he never turns his back on a challenge.

Considered by the Scotts to be at a level reserved for only a handful of their own countrymen, Samaroli has been selecting individual casks from all over Scotland (for ageing and bottling in his own facility) since the late 1960’s. A taste of Samaroli malt, regardless of year, blend or Highland/Lowland/Islay, etc is graced with a signature of aromatic and flavor that is difficult to describe. The grace and pinpoint elegance that each somehow achieves is not the norm in the world of whiskey. Silvano will tell you it’s the perfume in the mouth, the incredible aromatics and unending length that he strives for, but (for me), it’s the unbridled will to gain elegance and harmony with age (not coarse wood notes) that sets Samaroli apart.

As a contrarian to the accepted belief that sprits cease to age when placed in the bottle, Samaroli is adamant that there is a proper time and place for each cask to be bottled and that means allowing each to grow and continue down a road toward its peak in glass.

Every example is so complex, so unique (even magical, but I would rather not hyperbolize as it would be disrespectful) that I will refrain from long descriptions. Know that each dram will be well-received by your palate, regardless of the bottle you may acquire. There is such presence and artistry to all of his bottles that they really are in a class of their own.

Now in his 70’s, Silvano Samaroli is still as vibrant as his oldest bottles - let this be a lesson that age is not simply a matter of course, but an opportunity to gain in the eye of the taster and of the beholder.

@bwmccoy: Thanks! That says it all.

Slainte.

Top 10 - Independent Bottling Companies at Whisky For Everyone

A. D. Rattray

Douglas Laing and Co.

Duncan Taylor

Gordon and MacPhail

Hunter Laing & Co

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Signatory Vintage

Wemyss Malts

William Cadenhead & Co.

and Retailers

whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.ca/2013/09/…

@bwmccoy: You may find this interesting.

www.samaroli.it/eng/

Cheers.

@paddockjudge - Thanks for the link to the article. Good info and a couple of IB's that I haven't heard of before.

@A'bunadhman - Thanks to you as well for the link. In looking at the selections for the US Market, there were several that looked very interesting, but that 31 year Caol Ila would probably be my first choice! :-)

I've enjoyed some releases so far from Signatory, Adelphi, and Black Adder.

What's fun about Black Adder is that they release nothing but cask strength whiskies. Not just non-chill filtered and E150 free, these guys actually have cask sediment sitting around at the bottom of the bottles. I've tried a couple bottles from them. Lots of kick, and a good one for the purists...

@hunggar A huge fan of Blackadder here. It's actually hard for me to tell which independent bottlers are bad or not, normally I never buy from a Independent bottler without consulting a few sources first for tasting notes and scores on that particular bottle before. So I rarely buy a "bad bottle". Anyhow anyone else noticing that the Independent bottlers/blenders seem to be moving to the production side of the industry themselves? Adelphi=> Ardnamurchan Distillery Duncan Taylor => Huntly Distillery AD Rattray => River Clyde Distillery Wemyss => Kingsbarn Distillery Pràban na Linne => Torabhaig Distillery Tweeddale => Distillery

I had great bottlings from the SMWS, Cadenhead, Signatory, Gordon & MacPhail and Douglas Laing.

@bwmccoy I have had great luck with ADR Cask Collection - a 22Glencadam, a 22Auch, a 17Mortlach - geez - over the top - went out and bought all the rest of the 22Glencadams in the world...:-)

They are all good to me - it's what they bottle that matters more. LOL.

Having said that I do like bottlings from Signatory, Cadenheads, Duncan Taylor and MacKillop's Choice as they are generally reasonably priced and more accessible where I am at (Australia). Also they usually are cask strength, single cask, not chill filtered and uncoloured. The bottlings from SMWS are usually good but pricey and is more of a lifestyle thing. Others like Adelphi and Gordon MacPhail appear quite expensive for what is offered although I have no doubt they are usually of high quality. Not too keen on Hart Brothers or Connoisseur's Choice bottlings though, have had one or two subpar examples of Littlemill (just weird and artificial tasting) and Bowmore (sulphured beyond redemption) from them before in the past.

Some of the European bottlers like van Wees and the Daily Dram seem to put out some good stuff at reasonable prices. Then there is the newish Rest & Be Thankful that seem to bottle some impressive and unique examples of Octomore and Port Charlotte, they must have stocked up when Jim McEwan was at his "experimental phase" releasing nearly a dozen new Bruichladdichs every quarter.

I've bought and enjoyed several Gordon @MacPhail cask strength whiskies, the ones in the brown metal tin. Also I find Cadenhead , Signatory Vintage and the Laing's put out very good whisky as well. Wemyss tend to water down their expressions to 46% and the price point is a bit high.

Update

I had recently purchased several Signatory Non-Chill Filtered Collection. Frankly, they were all quite modest. Admittedly I did not pay much for these 17 - 20 yo bottles - average around $50US - and, frankly, that was all they were worth. As a result, I won't be buying any more of this collection - not very interesting.

In contrast, I have a Signatory Cask Collection - cask strength - that was closer to $100US - and that was really quite good. I am intrigued to try more of these.

I have heard here or elsewhere that the bottlers have lower, mid, higher end lines... That is my experience with Signatory. I sent them an email some time ago requesting confirmation but have not heard back.

So far AD Rattray never let me down and offered what I still hold as my alltime favourite bottle. Bowmore 21 Oloroso single cask

@sengjc It's fairly old news although hasn't been mentioned here - the SMWS are no longer owned by LVMH, so any qualms about calling them "independent" can be dismissed.

Their bottles are expensive in the sense that some cost large amounts of money, but in terms of what you're getting it's very important to remember that they only bottle single cask whisky at natural cask strength. Not all bottlers do this.

@GregLogan Signatory have their Cask Strength Collection (in the schwanky decanter bottles), their Un Chill Fitered collection which is 46%abv in the silvery tubes, and their Vintage Collection in the brassy tubes bottled at 43%abv. They also have some other stuff like a grain range and various region-centric bottlings (5 year old Islay, etc).

@jasonbstanding

And are you of the opinion that the Non-Chill Filtered is the sort of modest range? Perhaps the 46% is even more modest still? Whereas the Cask Collection is heads and shoulders above in quality as well as ABV. I recently opened a Balmenach 25 from the Cask Collection - quite pungent. In contrast 6 bottles of Non "Chill Filtered and I don't care whether I drink them a gain or not particularly.

@jasonbstanding The 46% is no longer relevant, bought a Signatory Vintage last week from the Unchill filtered collection, but bottled at cask strength and priced in the same range as the cask strength collection.

I'd say The Nectar of the daily drams (Belgian) or Cadenhead (Scots)

@Jules I have had good luck with AD Rattray Cask Collection - less so with others in general. I have been curious re Cadenhead - any comparison you might offer between ADR and Cadenhead? Does Cadenhead have a higher end line as well as a lower end line. It seems that Signatory Non Chill Filter line is sort of their lower end line...and somewhat disappointing except for really good pricing.

@GregLogan

Well Greg, I'd say that ADR are as far as I now always single casks, and always cask strength. Family owned and tend to go for lesser known casks. But I don't have a whole lot of experience with them. Having said that I have tasted a small amount of very interesting stuff - they do occasionally pop up with interesting things like Macallan, Bannff and Braes of Glenlivet (also called Braeval) single casks. Not sure many other indie's can boast similar, let alone of the quality ADR come up with.

Cadenhead are the oldest Scottish indie bottler of all – they don’t do ‘flash’ and even stick with the old fashioned ‘-Glenlivet’ monicker that accompanies all their releases from distilleries situated in the valley of the river Livet. Same current owners as Springbank, which to me is a good thing – whiskey from the heart & with craftsmanship. They too often seem to get casks that are somehow beyond the reach (Glenkeith, Littlemill even) of many other indie bottlers, and I often find their small batch releases to be stunning - the way they 'tinker' with various casks to smooth out any off notes produces a few real gems. Their single casks are also generally excellent across the board.

Both bottle un-chillfiltered & uncoloured - I’d say you cannot really go wrong with either, though I’d give the value for money edge to Cadenhead… I got their 25yr old ‘Glentauchers-Glenlivet’ (another beautifully obscure distillery of which only they seem to have access to the good stuff) small batch 2015 release for 150€ (170$) - it is smooth & complex as a Scotch double that value, in my humble opinion.

@Jules Thanks Jules I have a bottle of the Signatory Cask Collection (vs the non-Chill Filtered collection which was quite disappointing after 8 bottles...) which is quite stunning.

Black adder! I can't say that they're the best, I haven't tried all if them, but I really like the raw cask concept. As un-adultered as possible

@Alexsweden I quite liked Blackadder, untill the owner added me on FB. He's a real conspiracy nut, which made it quite hard for me to keep buying his bottles. But apart from that personal issue, I think he still has a great nose for good and interesting casks. My n°1 whisky of all time was a Blackadder.

@Pandemonium I was not all that cracked up on my first bottle of Black Adder - ok - but not great.

@Pandemonium Yeah, I just did a quick breeze through his FB page....yeesh!

@jasonbstanding

Very true about the SMWS. They are also hard to beat in terms of range of whisky bottled and their Japanese whisky bottlings have been excellent.