Cadenhead’s Dufftown-Glenlivet 16yo 2009 Authentic Collection July 2026 & Cadenhead’s Longrow 11yo 2015 Authentic Collection July 2026

Cadenhead’s Dufftown-Glenlivet 16yo 2009 Authentic Collection July 2026

Region: Speyside

ABV: 50.2%

Price: £85.00

Distilled at Dufftown in 2009 and bottled by Cadenhead’s in July 2026 after 16 years of maturation, this single-cask release was matured in a bourbon hogshead. The outturn was 258 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with apple cider vinegar, creamy vanilla, a little lime zest, toffee popcorn and a little coconut as air gets into the glass. It's a mixture of sweet and sour, fresh granny smith apples, custard and a handful of green grapes. The alcohol is well integrated, there's a bit of spice but it's well balanced. We're also getting some shortbread biscuitiness as we go back to the dram. 

Palate

The palate opens with a zesty lime note, coconut milk, fresh green apples, moving into more of a tropical, mango-led mid palate, and finishing with some creamy vanilla, coconut macaroons and hard caramel candies. It's one of those palates that take you on a journey. There's some more fresh green grapes that appear on the second sip, alongside some milk cooking chocolate and light brown sugar too. The mouthfeel is a bit of a letdown, it's missing a lot of the oily, viscous texture that we're looking for - it's more on the watery side, but there's still a lot of flavour that carries through. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose is maltier, biscuitier, even some cooked oats and wholemeal bread. There's still the green apple in the background, along with barley sugars and mild honey notes.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate still maintains the apple and lime, but it feels fizzier, more effervescent. Still lots of fruit, and the mango begins to come through on the latter palate. More on the sour side than the sweet now, with more maltier notes on the finish.

Conclusion

A really solid mid teens bourbon Speysider. The nose is pleasant but the palate is where the dram shines - lots of complexity here with a nice balance of spirit and cask. The mouthfeel is the biggest letdown, it's just too thin for us. Still a good 7/10.

Score: 7/10

Value

Not a bad price for some 16yo cask strength malt.

Cadenhead’s Longrow 11yo 2015 Authentic Collection July 2026

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 55.9%

Price: £75.00

Distilled in 2015 and bottled by Cadenhead’s in July 2026 after 11 years of maturation, this single-cask release was transferred into a fresh rye barrel in 2025 for its final period of maturation. The outturn was 264 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with wholewheat crackers, salt water, antiseptic cream, slightly rusted iron, and lightly smoked mackerel. The peat is quite intense, very punchy, but the alcohol feels balanced enough that you can get deep into the glass without issue. There's a good amount of sweetness in the background, foam banana sweeties and a drizzle of caramel sauce. There's a definite coastal charm, it's a mix of sweet, medicinal, salty and smokey.

Palate

The palate opens with hazelnut pralines, acidic lemon, almond liqueur, smoked cheese and milky coffee. There's more of a nutty spice here, more cinnamon sticks and clove. The mouthfeel is good, there's an enjoyable viscosity, and the smoke comes through more towards the finish, a sweeter smoke this time with a hint of ginger spice. The coastal quality is still present, more of a salt water from fresh mussels and maybe even a little oyster juice. There's a sweet basil and thyme note that lingers through the finish.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more of a metallic, industrial aroma, with creme brulee sweetness and some saline solution. The water seems to have dampened the dram, it feels a little less interesting now. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains a real lemony profile, salt water, more crustaceans, and lots of almond marzipan. The smoke is much softer now, relegated to the background, and there's a strong lingering sponge cake sweetness into the finish. 

Conclusion

Really solid Longrow. We don't have too much experience with rye casks, but it hasn't over-spiced it, and we did get some warmer oak spices that might've come from the finish. Good balance, integration and bags of flavour.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Sold out on release, and if you want a bottle expect to pay more on the secondary market.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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