Independently minded

Now in its third year, the Independent Bottlers’ challenge has fast established itself as one of the key events in the whisky year.The challenge was created to show case the best this sector has to offer. The Independents are widely acknowledged as offering the whisky lover something different from their favourite distillery.Due to the nature of independent bottlings they tend to come in very small batches often from a single cask, therefore offering something very special to the whisky connessiour.Despite increasing pressure to find top quality casks, a lot of the propriatory whisky companies are no longer putting casks up for sale, the awards this year have had a phenomenal turn out.Each company was allowed to enter one whisky for each category, and it was then assessed by three members of the judging panel.The whiskies were tasted blind, the bottles were only marked with a category number and ABV, by our dedicated panel of judges, who sampled the 167 whiskies spanning the six main production areas and marked out of 10.In each category a gold, silver and bronze medal has been awarded for the top scoring whiskies.In each section a point system was applied to the medal winners and the highest scoring was awarded the section trophy.This year we have decided to honour the independent bottler who scores the most points across all the categories with an Icon of Whisky, see Icon results on page 8.A broad spread of companies won medals, and there were five different trophy winners in the six categories, reflecting the diversity and quality offered by these companies.Journalists
Dominic Roskrow
Richard Jones
John Rose Retailers
Darren Leitch – The Whisky Shop
Fraser Gilchrist – Robert Graham & Co
Chris Goodrum – Gauntleys of Nottingham Others
Hervey Magnoll – The Fisherman’s Retreat,Ramsbottom,England
John Clotworthy–Drumchork Lodge, Aultbea,
Scotland
Tony Bagnall – The Norfolk Whisky Club,EnglandISLANDS (NON ISLAY)INDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Scotch Malt Whisky Society12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
DunBheagan 8 years old Island
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd
Silver
Arran 10 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Bronze
NC2 Isle of Arran
Duncan Taylor and Co13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Highland Park 1990
Speciality Drinks Ltd
Silver
Old Malt Cask Scapa 16 Years Old
Douglas Laing and Co
Bronze
NC2 Highland Park
Duncan Taylor and Co19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Private Cellar Highland Park 1985
Speyside Distillers
Silver
Highland Park 20 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Bronze
Highland Park 1984 Cask 1731
Duncan Taylor & CoISLAYINDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Berry Bros.& Rudd12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
Caol Ila 10 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Silver
Bowmore 1996
Berry Bros. & Rudd
Bronze
Caol Ila 96-07 Limited Edition
Wilson and Morgan13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Private Cellar Bruichladdich 1990
Speyside Distillers
Silver
Caol Ila 1991
Berry Bros.& Rudd
Bronze
Bowmore Queen of the Moorlands
The Wine Shop19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Caol Ila 1984
William Cadenhead Ltd
Silver
Caol Ila 1975 Cask Strength
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co
Bronze
Private Collection Caol Ila 1969
Gordon & MacPhailLOWLANDSINDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Duncan Taylor & Company12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
DunBheagan 8 Years Old Lowland
Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd
Silver
Battlehill Auchentoshan 6 Years Old
Duncan Taylor and Co
Bronze
Provenance Auchentoshan 10 Years Old
Douglas Laing and Co13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Rosebank 15 Years Old
Duncan Taylor and Co
Silver
Rosebank 1991
Speciality Drinks Ltd
Bronze
Rosebank 1990 Cask Strength
Gordon & MacPhail
Bronze
Private Cellar Bladnoch 1993
Speyside Distillers19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Inverleven 1978 Cask 1873
Duncan Taylor and Co
Silver
Glenkinchie 19 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Bronze
Ladyburn1975 (Rare Ayrshire)
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky CoMAINLANDINDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Speyside Distillers12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
NC2 Port Springbank 10 Years Old
Duncan Taylor and Co
Silver
Royal Lochnagar 1996
Dewar Rattray Ltd
Bronze
North British Grain 1994
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Scott’s Selection Glen Scotia 1992
Speyside Distillers
Silver
Springbank 1993
Speciality Drinks Ltd
Bronze
Glen Scotia 1992
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co

19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Scott’s Selection North of Scotland 1964
Speyside Distillers
Silver
Private Cellar North of Scotland 1970
Speyside Distillers
Bronze
Invergordon 1965 Cask 15517
Duncan Taylor and CoSPEYSIDEINDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Scotch Malt Whisky Society

12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
Glen Keith 12 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Silver
Benrinnes Sauterne 10 Years Old
Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd
Bronze
Glen Grant 1995
Dewar Rattray Ltd13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Glenrothes-Glenlivet 1990
William Cadenhead’s
Silver
Scott’s Selection Aberlour 1990
Speyside Distillers
Bronze
Old Malt Cask Longmorn
Douglas Laing & Co19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Glenfarclas 36 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Silver
Caperdonich 1968 Cask 2917
Duncan Taylor & Co
Bronze
Strathisla 25 Years Old
Gordon & MacPhailHIGHLANDINDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.12 YEARS AND UNDER
Gold
Provenance Clynelish 10 Years Old
Douglas Laing and Co
Silver
Aberfeldy 1997
Berry Bros.& Rudd
Silver
Glenmorangie 11 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society13-18 YEARS OLD
Gold
Dalmore 1990 Cask Strength
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co
Silver
Tomatin 1989
William Cadenhead Ltd
Bronze
Clynelish 92-07 Sherry Finish
Wilson and Morgan19 YEARS PLUS
Gold
Scott’s Selection Lochside 1964
Speyside Distillers
Silver
Clynelish 1973 Cask Strength
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co
Silver
Old Malt Cask Clynelish
Douglas Laing and Co