We're back with the Scotch Malt Whisky Societies June 2025 outturn review. This month features 23 new whiskies, including a return of distillery 52, plenty of peat, and a very reasonably priced 29yo release.
All the bottles from the outturn were available at the preview, but more will be released mid-month. Check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get updates on the mid-month bottles and heads up on our other reviews.
The scores below are based on our initial impressions. For full disclosure, we won't spend as much time with a dram as we usually do for a full review, but we hope you'll find the scores useful.
- 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.
Onto the bottles...
1.294 - Glenfarclas Distillery
Name: Textbook
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.7%
Age: 13
Price: £92.00
The nose opens with classic sherry notes, cola cubes, treacle, redcurrants, chocolate chips, red cola, and caramel. There’s also a faint hint of vinegar in the background. The alcohol is well integrated. On the palate, there’s a big burst of Big Red spice up front, accompanied by a little much dark chocolate bitterness that develops into caramel, honeycomb, and chocolate orange. The mouthfeel is good, with cinnamon and the earlier sweetness lingering on the finish. While it’s a little too spicy and bitter in places, it remains enjoyable overall.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: Independent bottlings of Glenfarclas are usually on the pricier side, and this one is no exception.
4.394 - Highland Park Distillery
Name: Pâtisseries and Perfumeries
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.8%
Age: 15
Price: £92.00
Initially on the nose, we’re getting warm butter, fresh cream buns, and white icing sugar. There’s also warm custard, toffee, Caramac, honeycomb, and a touch of heather. There’s little to no alcohol spice. On the palate, there’s a bit too much cracked black pepper spice up front, followed by some warehouse funk, candy floss, lemon butter, and orange zest, before the spice returns on the finish. The mouthfeel is good, but overall it’s a bit one-dimensional. It doesn’t really stand out in the sea of Highland Parks, and it leans too spicy for our tastes.
Score: 6/10
Value: A few pounds cheaper would have been nice, but we won't complain.
5.141 - Auchentoshan Distillery
Name: Tropical Paradise
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Lowland
Cask Type: Refill ex-rum barrel
ABV: 60.2%
Age: 11
Price: £60.00
The nose reminds us of a confectionery shop, with notes of coconut mushrooms, candied pineapple, mango, and passion fruit. There’s also a touch of banana Angel Delight, crème brûlée, and white chocolate mice. Alcohol spice is minimal and very well integrated. On the palate, the ABV is well hidden, the sugary sweetness masks much of the alcohol and spice. It mirrors the nose, bringing in a little more spice along with crème brûlée, banana Angel Delight, candy canes, orange bitters, and Milky Bar chocolate, before a crack of black pepper spice appears. The mouthfeel is solid, with a medium finish where the spice gradually takes over at the end. It’s aa good option for a summer dram. Perhaps a touch one dimensional, but still enjoyable.
Score: 7/10
Value: Cheaper than the last Auchentoshan 11 year old release. It’s good to see the price moving in the right direction.
10.290 - Bunnahabhain Distillery
Name: Journeying, Convening, Tumbling
Flavour Profile: Heavily Peated
Region: Islay
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-PX hogshead
ABV: 53.2%
Age: 11
Price: £85.00
The nose takes a minute to open up, but when it does, it reveals chocolate covered peanuts, thyme, hessian cloth, basil, and raisins, all intersecting with a nice hit of peat and a touch of alcohol spice. On the palate, the mouthfeel is a little lacking, and both the sweetness and peat feel underpowered. Dominant flavours include Caramac, brown sugar, apple pie, and a faint layer of peat. Unfortunately, the short finish doesn’t do much to lift the experience. We were expecting more from this.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: The price is in line with other Society 10s of this age, but could be more competitively priced against other bottlers.
11.61 - Tomatin Distillery
Name: Will Spark a Conversation
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-PX butt
ABV: 60.1%
Age: 9
Price: £62.50
On the nose, we’re getting hand-cooked crisps, Cornish pasties, brown sauce, and cashew nuts. It’s quite savoury overall, reminiscent of artificial cheddar cheese flavouring, like you’d find on Ritz crackers. There’s also a note of pistachio cream. We’re left wondering what’s happened to the cask, as we’re not picking up much, if any, PX influence. Something feels a bit off, it leans savoury with very little sweetness. Letting it sit brings out a touch more sweetness, but not enough to shift the profile. That said, the alcohol integration is good. On the palate, there’s more sweetness than on the nose, though it gives more of a Fino sherry impression than PX. The savoury notes from the nose carry through and mix with the sweetness. The mouthfeel is good, but the finish is short. The sweetness that is present does linger slightly, accompanied by a bit too much spice. Someone might enjoy this style, but it’s not for us.
Score: 5.5/10
Value: A good price for the distillery and the cask type.
12.90 - BenRiach Distillery
Name: In an Apothecary’s Drawers
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill #4+ char hogshead
ABV: 55.9%
Age: 16
Price: £95.00
The nose is initially quite tight, but it opens up to reveal caramel, coffee Revels, candied orange, roasted cashew nuts, pistachio, burnt wood, and roasted almonds. Like many of today’s drams, the alcohol is well integrated. On the palate, the mouthfeel is good, and there’s a slightly gritty texture. Flavours of gingerbread, wood staves, raspberries, heaps of bitter coffee, and bitter dark chocolate appear and carry through on a medium length finish. We’re enjoying the bitter forward profile, though it will be a bit divisive.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: A touch pricey, but the distillery usually is.
19.107 - Glen Garioch Distillery
Name: Tropical Fudge
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 53.3%
Age: 22
Price: £155.00
The nose opens with whipped cream, condensed milk, caramel, vanilla pod, and icing sugar. There’s also a slight tang reminiscent of vinegar crisps, along with a touch of something chemical we’re struggling to identify and more alcohol spice than we’d hope for at this strength. On the palate, the mouthfeel is good, but we were expecting more sweetness. That same chemical note from the nose carries through here as well. The palate mirrors the nose with additions of barley sugars and coconut ice. While the mouthfeel and finish are solid, that off note is hard to ignore, and it puts us off.
Score: 6/10
Value: The price is in line with other releases of distillery 19, but we'd still like to see these prices come down.
36.224 - Benrinnes Distillery
Name: Cashew-Coconut Chocolate Tartlets
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Dry
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 59.5%
Age: 13
Price: £69.00
The nose opens with orange soda, strawberries and cream, milk chocolate, and a peppery spice. The alcohol is quite noticeable. There’s also quite a floral, perfumed quality to it, with musk, a touch of dry earth, pear drops, and more of that black pepper coming through. While the nose has a fair bit of spice, the palate takes it further. There’s a big initial hit, followed by notes of Orange Bols, vanilla buttercream, and milk chocolate. Theres some bitterness from orange rind, gingerbread, lemon juice, and grapefruit. The sweetness is quickly overtaken by returning spice, which carries through into the good length finish. Solid mouthfeel, but overall, too much spice for our liking.
Score: 6/10
Value: Not a bad price for the distillery and age.
41.182 - Dailuaine Distillery
Name: Sweet Harvest Festival
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-PX hogshead
ABV: 53.1%
Age: 12
Price: £69.00
On the nose, there’s caramel sauce, Dairy Milk chocolate, a hint of Irn-Bru and a syrupy quality, all with good alcohol integration. of. As it opens up, notes of blackcurrant jam, treacle, and strawberry sauce begin to emerge, almost giving the impression of a tawny port. The palate also shows good alcohol integration. Similar to the nose there’s a tawny port like vibe to the palate. There’s also a clove influence, reminiscent of mulled wine, along with pine cones, caramel, light ginger, and prunes. The mouthfeel is good, and the medium finish carries plenty of sweetness. It’s simple but effective, and for us, the best sherry cask of the outturn.
Score: 7.5/10
Value: Not a bad price considering the distillery and cask type.
44.194 - Craigellachie Distillery
Name: Smell for Leather
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill US oak ex-PX hogshead
ABV: 61.2%
Age: 17
Price: £125.00
Ah, 44 our old enemy. The nose is mercifully tight at first. With patience, some sherry notes begin to peek through sour cherry, vanilla, fudge, dry wood, caramel, and brown sugar. We’re not hating the nose, though that may be down to it not having fully opened up. The palate mirrors the nose in its tightness, but there are some pleasant sherry notes, think gammon and crème brûlée, before a sharp bitter note sets in. The finish is short and overly bitter, which unfortunately derails what had been a promising start. The mouthfeel is good, but the bitterness on the finish makes it hard to fully enjoy.
Score: 6/10
Value: Feels a little expensive to us.
52.49 - Old Pulteney Distillery
Name: Audacious and Adventurous
Flavour Profile: Oily & Coastal
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 56.0%
Age: 11
Price: £68.50
On the nose, there’s plenty of upfront bourbon sweetness, mixed with sea spray, honey, and a touch of seaweed. Honestly, it just feels like we’re on a beach. The palate has a decent mouthfeel and carries a nice level of sweetness. Flavours of Edinburgh rock, fruit salad sweets, apple, chalk, and simple syrup come through clearly. The alcohol is well integrated, and the finish is medium in length, with a pleasant sweet hit right at the end. It’s enjoyable, but it’s missing that extra something to really elevate it.
Score: 7/10
Value: Not a bad price for a cask strength bottle of Old Pulteney at 11 years old.
53.494 - Caol Ila Distillery
Name: Sea Monster for Hire
Flavour Profile: Heavily Peated
Region: Islay
Cask Type: Refill #4+ char hogshead
ABV: 58.8%
Age: 11
Price: £80.00
The nose opens with buttery croissants, cashew nuts, burnt newspaper, and a sugar glaze. Notes of lemon juice, peanuts, tar, and iodine soon follow. Basically, it’s unmistakably Caol Ila. The alcohol is well integrated and doesn’t overpower the aromas. On the palate, there’s a solid mouthfeel. Peanuts and lemon sweetness mingle with soft leather, tobacco, and a satisfying hit of ashy peat. As it sits in the glass, a savoury edge begins to emerge. The aforementioned notes linger on the palate, supported by just the right amount of spice. Old dependable delivers again.
Score: 7.5/10
Value: In line with what most other IBs are charging for Caol Ila.
55.99 - Royal Brackla Distillery
Name: All-Round Sweet and Sensual
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-PX STR barrique
ABV: 58.3%
Age: 11
Price: £65.00
On the nose, there are notes of chocolate covered ginger and almond biscuits. The PX influence is quite light, with additional hints of charred wood, burnt toffee, and fudge fingers. The alcohol is well integrated, but overall the nose feels a bit one dimensional. The palate closely follows the nose, offering more chocolate and ginger, along with flavours of burnt homemade cinnamon biscuits and a touch of basil. However, it leans too heavily on the spice, which lingers on a good-length finish, longer than any of the other sweetness. The mouthfeel is solid, but as we’ve found before, Brackla tends to be a little too spicy and dry for our tastes.
Score: 6/10
Value: Not a bad price for an 11-year-old PX cask finish from the distillery.
58.60 - Strathisla Distillery
Name: Full-Bore Franzbrötchen
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 53.8%
Age: 14
Price: £80.00
The nose is quite closed off initially, but with time it reveals lemon bonbons, granulated sugar, chopped apples, pine cones, and pencil shavings. A touch of pepper spice hints at the higher ABV. On the palate, the mouthfeel is a little thin, and there’s a noticeable spiciness. Simple syrup appears early, followed by a pleasant array of classic bourbon cask notes. Flavours of flat lemonade, tangerines, vanilla ice cream, and lime come through. The finish is medium in length, with a reasonable amount of sweetness lingering.
Score: 6/10
Value: Not a bad price for a 14-year-old independent bottling of Strathisla.
59.92 - Teaninich Distillery
Name: To Top It Off
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Dry
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 57.7%
Age: 13
Price: £69.00
The nose is initially quite tight but begins to open with notes of cucumber, icing sugar, aniseed, candy floss, custard cream biscuits, nutmeg, and a hint of pepper spice. On the palate, the mouthfeel is good but not particularly memorable. The alcohol is well integrated, but the sweetness feels a bit muted and one dimensional at first. With patience, more character begins to emerge, Play-Doh, sugar cubes, honey, and peaches make an appearance. The finish is medium in length, with a lingering sweetness. Overall, it doesn’t have the oomph of flavour to push it past a 6.
Score: 6/10
Value: Not a bad price for the age and cask type.
71.113 - Glenburgie Distillery
Name: Desert Island Sponge Cake
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: Re-charred hogshead
ABV: 48.0%
Age: 29
Price: £199.00
Initially, the nose is a little tight. Given some time to open up, it reveals notes of dry wood, iced ginger cake, and a subtle hint of thyme. There are also aromas of white sugar cubes, mangoes, Chantilly cream, sour raspberry, and almond powder. It’s a nice nose, though it doesn’t quite smell like a 29yo whisky. The palate starts quite sweet, with a pleasant woody influence. The mouthfeel is a little thin, though understandable at 48%. With some patience, notes of coffee, mangoes, orange juice, walnuts, and whole milk begin to emerge. Pepper spice and that initial sweetness linger into the finish. It doesn’t quite taste its age, but it’s pleasant overall, just missing that extra something to truly wow us.
Score: 7/10
Value: Good to see some older whisky at much more wallet friendly prices.
85.104 - Glen Elgin Distillery
Name: Elegance in a Vintage Car Showroom
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.1%
Age: 15
Price: £85.00
On the nose, there’s gingerbread, honey, prunes, vanilla cupcake, lemon citrus, a touch of warehouse funk, and a hint of strawberry jam. The alcohol is well integrated, but the nose isn’t particularly sherry forward for those looking for that. On the palate, chocolate, ginger, and strawberries sit atop a very light, flat cola note. It has a solid mouthfeel and plenty of sweetness on the finish, though there’s a little too much cinnamon spice. Like the nose, the palate doesn’t come across as obviously sherry. It’s a touch simple, with muted flavours overall, but what is here is nice.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: A few pounds less would have been nice.
95.92 - Auchroisk Distillery
Name: Nectarous Enticements
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.0%
Age: 13
Price: £69.00
The nose is quite tight at first but opens up to reveal notes of Limoncello, burnt toast, candy floss, ginger, and a a too generous amount of pepper. The spice is particularly prominent and reminiscent of the kind you’d find in salt and pepper chicken. This would sit firmly in the spicy and dry flavour profile for us. On the palate, the pepper spice is too dominant up front, making it a little hard to access the other flavours at first. However, if you push through, many of the same notes from the nose begin to emerge. With time, more citrus comes through, along with apple juice and burnt brown sugar. The mouthfeel is okay, but the finish is overly spicy. It’s also one dimensional.
Score: 5.5/10
Value: Not a bad price it’s just a shame about the whisky.
95.100 - Auchroisk Distillery
Name: Spice Surprise
Flavour Profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill oloroso & new oak HTMC hogshead
ABV: 57.2%
Age: 16
Price: £92.50
On the nose, there are notes of candy necklaces, sugar rice paper, orange peel, cinnamon, and hazelnuts. We’re not getting a huge amount from the sherry influence here, but as a plus it doesn’t nose its ABV. There’s also a slight syrupy quality to the aroma. The palate brings lime cordial, dark chocolate, orange cough medicine, brown sugar, and ginger. There’s a slight oiliness to the mouthfeel, which is pleasant, but the medium length finish carries a touch too much spice. Overall, it comes across as a bit one dimensional, but we could be convinced to have another dram.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: If you’re interested in this months 95s it’s definitely worth paying the extra for this one.
121.119 - Arran Distillery
Name: I Then Produced My Rapier
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.3%
Age: 9
Price: £59.00
The nose is slightly tight at first, but with patience reveals notes of bandages, tar, vanilla essence, mango juice, papaya, moss, and a touch of pepper spice from the alcohol. On the palate, the mouthfeel is pleasant, with more peat than the nose initially suggests. Upfront, there’s a hit of dirty earthy peat, followed by lemon juice, mangoes, tar, and simple syrup. These flavours carry through to a medium length finish, although there’s just a touch too much spice at the end. It’s a solid peated Arran, but we’ve had better.
Score: 7/10
Value: Good price for peated distillate from the distillery.
149.14 - Ardnamurchan Distillery
Name: Cheeky!
Flavour Profile: Young & Spritely
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.2%
Age: 9
Price: £79.00
The nose is initially quite citrus forward. Behind that are aromas of vanilla bean, icing sugar, freshly laundered sheets, and strawberry laces. Those non citrus notes are a little muted, but the nose is still pleasant. On the palate, the citrus carries through strongly at first, followed by notes of chopped apple, fudge fingers, and simple syrup. A sweet chilli spice appears on the mid palate, lingering into the medium length finish. The mouthfeel is good. A touch spicy, but well balanced.
Score: 7/10
Value: Cheaper than most other single casks from Ardnamurchan.
G15.39 - Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu)
Name: The Dentist's Waiting Room
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Highland
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 65.1%
Age: 10
Price: £55.00
On the nose, there are aromas of buttered crumpets, candy floss, coconut mushrooms, toffee fudge, and honeycomb ice cream. There’s a touch of BBQ peat, though less than we were expecting, and a little pepper that hints at the ABV. The palate feels a bit restrained. The mouthfeel is good, though not amazing. Flavours of coconut, sugar cane, Del Monte tinned fruit, and Chinese five spice come through, all layered with a gentle peat influence. Both the sweetness and peat linger nicely on a long finish. Better than the sum of its parts.
Score: 7/10
Value: Always good to see cheap options for peated whisky.
Batch 32 - Fife Peaty Potion
Name: Fife Peaty Potion
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Lowland
Cask Type: 1st fill bourbon barrels and oloroso & pedro ximenez butts.
ABV: 50.0%
Age: 7
Price: £45.00
On the nose, there are notes of Irn-Bru, brine, ginger, BBQ flavoured crisps, cigar ash, seaweed, and a hint of antiseptic. There’s no alcohol bite, and the integration between the cask types has worked well. The palate has a slightly thin mouthfeel, likely due to a combination of the ABV and what we tasted previously. Flavours of cola, ginger, fudge, raisins, and peat come through clearly. There’s minimal alcohol spice, and the finish is good, with both sweetness and peat lingering nicely. It’s a touch simple overall, but a solid dram nonetheless.
Score: 6.5/10
Value: A good price for those looking to bring a bit of peat into their lives.
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