Darkness Whisky is back, bringing with it 10 (ten!) new limited edition Scotch whiskies and a tasting set containing the entire collection.
The independent bottler has built its reputation on giving whiskies an additional maturation in specially coopered 64-litre sherry octave casks. This latest batch spans youthful peated malts, mature single grain, weighty Speyside spirit, and a gloriously smoky 25-year-old Ledaig.
There are finishes in oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, moscatel, and amontillado sherry casks, with whiskies from Dalmunach, Dailuaine, Balmenach, Mannochmore, Loch Lomond, North British, and more. There is even a family-owned Speyside distillery whose name Darkness absolutely, definitely, categorically cannot tell us. Although the name Farkness may provide a small clue…
What makes Darkness whisky different?
Every bottling in the Darkness range spends at least three months finishing in a sherry octave. At around 64 litres, these casks are considerably smaller than the butts and hogsheads typically used to mature Scotch whisky. This creates a much greater surface-area-to-volume ratio, allowing more of the whisky to come into contact with the oak.
That sounds a bit science-y, because it is. In practical terms, it means extra oomph, faster flavour development, and lots of flavour. The small casks do not simply bury the original spirit, though. At their best, these finishes amplify what is already there.
“I think Loch Lomond is producing some of the most flavoursome malts in Scotland and this Inchfad, its meaty, peaty make, is not to be missed. While the young south-shore Islay is also a mouthful of deliciousness, I am delighted to include our first Dalmunach and a cheekily named Farkness Secret Speysider”, says Sam Simmons of Darkness.
Darkness 2026 Tasting Set
The easiest way to explore the new collection is the Darkness 2026 Tasting Set, which brings together all ten limited edition releases in one box. It is ideal for sharing with friends, hosting a tasting, or conducting some very serious solo research.
Ledaig 25 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
The oldest single malt in the collection comes from Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull. This heavily peated Ledaig matured for 25 years, including a finish in oloroso sherry octaves. Limited to just 108 bottles.
Nose: Oh my goodness, yes. Deep, heavy, muddy, peat, fruity and sweet, licorice, tar and nutty
Palate: Robust but balanced sweetness and gentle peat smoke. Chewy caramels, robust malt, nutty maple syrup, and elegant waves of charred wood. Dark chocolate and gentle spices join in time.
Finish: Coffee and malty dark beer notes. Smoky, sweet, creamy, with notes of nutty, tannic, sherried oak. Outstanding cask.
Dailuaine 9 Year Old Amontillado Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Dailuaine’s naturally weighty, meaty spirit makes it an excellent candidate for a punchy sherry finish. Here, nine-year-old single malt has been finished in amontillado octaves, adding savoury, nutty complexity. There are 340 bottles available.
Nose: Dynamic and spicy, with hints of dark soy and hazelnuts.
Palate: Salted caramel, fresh yeast, dark chocolate and plums.
Finish: Nutty, sweet and spicy. Umami effect demands another sip.
North British 17 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
North British grain whisky tends to bring plenty of clean vanilla and creamy sweetness, making it a useful canvas for sherry maturation. It got 17 years of ageing and a finish in oloroso octaves, and is a release of 120 bottles.
Nose: Classy, clean, with wafts of nuts and spice.
Palate: Textured and silky, with walnuts and cinnamon before soft vanilla pods appear.
Finish: Short, clean, and appetising. Gentle wafts of mint and maple.
North British 28 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
A considerably older example of North British single grain, matured for 28 years and finished in oloroso sherry octaves. A release of 115 bottles.
Nose: Honey nut granola, baked apple pastries, cinema buttered popcorn.
Palate: Aromatic honey, orchard fruit crumble with brown sugar and cinnamon. Layer of vanilla wafer beneath.
Finish: Nuts and spice, butterscotch and oak. An elegant sipper.
Secret Speyside (Farkness) 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
The official identity of this family-owned Speyside distillery remains undisclosed. The Farkness nickname, however, is displaying all the subtlety of someone pointing directly at the distillery on a map. The whisky spent 12 years maturing before finishing in oloroso sherry octaves. Just 109 bottles were produced.
Nose: Wonderfully intense, cream sherry, touch of mint, overripe fruit, VERY rich, complex and inviting.
Palate: Powerful and full, 3D, widescreen. With walnuts and dates and orange peel.
Finish: More citrus, more nuts, more mature richness, more GlenFarkness please…
Balmenach 16 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Balmenach is one of those distilleries that rarely gets much time in the spotlight, despite producing a robust and characterful Speyside malt. This 16-year-old release was finished in moscatel casks, and is limited to 124 bottles.
Nose: Big and malty, spicy, sweet and full of summer berry jam and red liquorice.
Palate: Buttery shortbread, fudge, ginger snap biscuits and full mouthfeel.
Finish: Develops further into warehouse dampness full of oak and time, creamy and chocolatey on the tail.
Inchfad 6 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Inchfad is one of the heavily peated styles produced at Loch Lomond distillery, and it is not a shy whisky. The spirit’s muscular peat has been paired with sweet moscatel octave casks, there are 119 bottles.
Nose: Sweet, deep, luscious with fermented fruit, rancio and dunnage warehouse character.
Palate: Powerful but not aggressive at all. Ripe melon fruits, lifting grapefruit sweetness, heavy peat and soot.
Finish: Fermented grapes, toasty oak and ripe fruit bowl with smoke throughout. Old-school AF.
Islay 4 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Youthful Islay whisky can be thrilling when handled properly, and this four-year-old single malt has lost none of its raw, smoky energy. After a finish in oloroso sherry octaves, a total of 238 bottles were filled with this boisterous spirit.
Nose: Custard, cinnamon, medicinal peat, fennel, ginger and sweet smoke.
Palate: Rich with oily cashews, raisins and cloves. Turns peachy and fresh as well. South shore bonfire smoke.
Finish: Gives much older impressions, smoky sweetness and depth of character.
Dalmunach 10 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Dalmunach opened in 2015 on the site of the former Imperial distillery, making this one of the first opportunities to explore its single malt through an independent bottling. This 10-year-old expression was finished in oloroso octaves, and is limited to only 98 bottles.
Nose: Raspberries, blackberries, cinnamon and oak.
Palate: Juicy, fruity, nutty, then notes of coffee and dark chocolate emerge.
Finish: Chocolate mousse and gentle oakiness on the finish.
Mannochmore 11 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish (Darkness) 50cl Whisky
Mannochmore’s weighty, old-school malt character meets the dense sweetness of Pedro Ximénez sherry in this 11-year-old release. The strength is integrated remarkably well, allowing the distillery character to shine beneath the PX richness. A release of 348 bottles.
Nose: Warehouse-y, old-school profile. Then brighter, fresher, with cherries and cream.
Palate: The ABV goes largely unnoticed, with soft, gentle notes of brown sugar, prunes and treacly sweetness.
Finish: An underrated distillery absolutely shining in PX with red fruits, orange rind, and gingerbread.
