Summertime Specials from That Boutique-y Whisky Company are here!
The bottler has packed the factor 50, filled the cool box, and emerged blinking into the sunshine with seven new limited editions.
Here to take us through them, as always, is Dave Worthington, AKA Boutique-y Dave. You’ll see him again a couple more times this week on this humble blog of ours, actually…
Anyway, to the Summertime Specials!
Summertime Specials from That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Summertime and the whisky is flowin’
Ice is clinkin’ as the sun passes by
Oh, the amber nectar is sweet, and the finish is glowin’
So take a slow sip and let the clouds fly.
Apologies to Ella Fitzgerald, but I was feeling melodic and rather excited to announce SEVEN new limited editions!
Introduction
Once again, these follow the regional theme of our core and previous Bigger and Boutique-ier releases. Summertime Specials includes six whiskies from Scotland, two of them at natural cask strength (NCS) and one non-Scotch bottling. All are presented in 70cl bottles at 80 UK Proof (45.8% ABV) unless otherwise stated. As always, the labels feature reimagined designs by our long-time collaborator, Glasgow-based artist Emily Chappell.
Single malts from Islay, Speyside, and The Highlands, a single grain from one of the largest grain distilleries in Scotland, and a blended whisky with an impressive age statement
Our latest collection features a range of limited edition releases, spanning from a 12-year-old to a venerable 35-year-old. Production outturns for these special bottlings are extremely limited, ranging from just 98 to 438 bottles. In keeping with the tradition of our core range, the regional colour palettes are maintained. For these reimagined labels, we once again commissioned Emily to take a character or image from the original Boutique-y label art and make it the central focus. We’ve picked our favourite; what’s yours?
Here they are!
THE SUMMERTIME SPECIALS
aka LE Core Selection IV
From Islay, a 17-year-old Bowmore
700ml 45.8% ABV RRP £89.95
As Islay’s most venerable distillery, Bowmore was founded in 1779, although it wasn’t officially licensed for whisky production until 1816. The distillery remains a rarity among Scottish malt distilleries in maintaining traditional floor maltings, which provide approximately 35% to 40% of their yearly needs. The distillery utilises peat sourced from the local Laggan Moss to achieve a malt specification of 25 ppm. When combined with mainland malt, this produces a medium-peated spirit, resulting in a final product with a peat level of roughly 10 ppm. This smouldering 17-year-old has been matured in the finest hand-picked (wink wink) refill bourbon barrel.
Just 343 bottles are available worldwide.
Nose: A bright Islay introduction featuring vibrant lemony peat and citrusy smoke, creating a fresh, zesty profile evocative of its island origin.
Palate: The peat’s intensity softens into nuanced dark chocolate, balanced by fresh oak spice.
Finish: The experience concludes with a long, maritime finish of sea-breeze salinity, perfectly tempered by a lingering, succulent sweetness of ripe fruit.
From Speyside, a 12-year-old Inchgower
700ml 45.8% ABV RRP £59.95
Most Inchgower is used for blends like Bell’s and Johnnie Walker, making it a rare find as a single malt outside of the Flora and Fauna series or independent bottlings like ours. Historically, it provided the ‘nutty-spicy’ backbone for Bell’s distilleries. Based near the fishing port of Buckie, Inchgower is a coastal Speyside malt known for a unique, saline-like spiciness in its new make. This distinctive character is achieved through a high-temperature second mashing water to reduce nuttiness, a brief fermentation, and steep lyne arms that capture heavier elements. This beautiful, briny 12-Year-Old has been matured in the finest hand-picked refill hogshead and finished in PX octaves.
Just 336 bottles are available worldwide.
Nose: Rich aromas of ripe plums immediately draw you in, offering an inviting, fruity introduction.
Palate: A gentle transition reveals comforting notes of buttery buns, beautifully complemented by a subtle, warming presence of black pepper.
Finish: The long and satisfying finish leaves a pleasant, lingering sweetness of honeycomb and dark raisins on the tongue
From the Highlands, a 12-year-old Clynelish
700ml 45.8% ABV RRP £59.95
Clynelish produces a ‘waxy’ new make spirit: Think snuffed candles or waxed jackets, a rare character in today’s malts. The distillery lies near the village of Brora, and its name comes from the Gaelic ‘slope of the garden’. The major part of Clynelish production is used for blends, mainly Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Clear worts and long ferments start the process, while distillation involves maximising the copper conversation. Unusually, but not uniquely, Clynelish’s spirit stills are larger than its wash stills. This ceraceous 12-year-old has been matured in the finest hand-picked rejuvenated (decharr/recharr) hogshead.
Just 350 bottles are available globally.
Nose: A bright, inviting opening where aromas of vibrant orange and tropical fruits fill the glass, creating a fresh and evocative profile.
Palate: Flavour develops as the liquid coats the tongue, revealing soft mango and creamy vanilla ice cream sweetness.
Finish: The finish features a distinctive waxy depth—a distillery hallmark—and lingering marmalade preserves
A 35-Year-Old Single Grain from the Girvan Distillery
700ml 45.8% ABV RRP £89.95
Girvan is one of Scotland’s two largest grain distilleries, competing annually with Cameronbridge for production output. Constructed by William Grant & Sons in response to a potential grain whisky supply cut from DCL, the distillery was built with remarkable speed. Under the direction of Charles Grant Gordon, the project progressed from the first bulldozer on April 14, 1963, to the first brick in August, and finally to the inaugural distillation on Christmas Day of that same year—just eight months later. This significant milestone occurred exactly 76 years after Glenfiddich, the family’s first distillery, commenced operations. This remarkable 35-year-old single grain hails from 1990 and has spent its entire life in a refill barrel.
We’re expecting just 202 bottles.
Nose: An aromatic opening of rich, zesty orange syrup paired with the sweet scent of fresh buttermilk pancakes and honey.
Palate: On the palate, syrupy sweetness evolves into a luxurious wave of melted dark chocolate, creating a velvety mouthfeel. Hints of thick golden syrup and burnt sugar provide a decadent, dessert-like richness.
Finish: The exceptionally long finish preserves this core sweetness while revealing significant waxy depth. It concludes with a satisfying complexity, leaving lingering notes of citrus oils and roasted cocoa nibs.
From Planet Earth, a 21-Year-Old World Whisky Blend
700ml 45.8% ABV RRP £74.95
This limited-release World Whisky Blend is a masterful marriage of long-aged whiskies from four titans of the industry: Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Japan. The youngest component in this complex blend is 21 Years Old, while the age of the oldest remains a closely guarded secret. Sherry cask finishing harmonises this expression, utilising oloroso or Pedro Ximénez seasoning for six months to two years to draw out deep fruit or syrupy sweetness. The resulting profile is rich and fruity with an antique cigar box note, indicative of extensive maturation.
Just 440 bottles are expected for this rare release.
Nose: An alluring introduction to Planet Earth, where damp earth and fresh petrichor meet blooming flora. This evocative opening hints at underlying good intentions, manifesting as soft florals and a clean mineral quality.
Palate: The palate offers a velvety mouthfeel of rich spices and Kyoto-inspired sweetness—sandalwood, ginger, and matcha—before developing into buttery Parisian patisserie layers of puff pastry and crème pâtissière.
Finish: A dry, structured conclusion of oak tannins and chalky smoke that resolves into a nostalgic, balanced trail of malted biscuits and vanilla.
Master of Malt Exclusive Tasting Set
150ml 45.8% ABV RRP £32.95
For the first time with our Limited Edition releases, we’ve teamed up with Drinks By The Dram to create a Master of Malt exclusive tasting set featuring all five releases. This tasting set includes five 30ml wax-sealed samples of each of our Summertime Specials, all bottled at 45.8% ABV
But wait! There’s more!
If you don’t ask, you don’t get! So, by popular demand, we’ve included TWO cask strength editions:
From Speyside, a 12-year-old Inchgower NCS
700ml 55.2% ABV RRP £74.95
A beautifully briny 12-Year-Old, selected from a small parcel of reracked PX octaves as a standout example of distillery and cask balance at natural cask strength.
We’re expecting just 98 bottles.
Nose: This multifaceted opening blends briny pickles, roasted coffee, and bitter cocoa. As it breathes, the savoury start is balanced by ripe melons and decadent vanilla fudge, rounding out the profile.
Palate: Palate coffee notes intensify, resembling robust instant granules paired with sea salt and sweet sticky dates.
Finish: Apple-scented shisha tobacco wafts through the finish for a satisfying, palatable dram.
From the Highlands, a 12-year-old Clynelish NCS
700ml 54% ABV RRP £74.95
Another ceraceous 12-year-old selected from a parcel of decharred/recharred hogsheads for its standout character and drinkability at natural cask strength.
We’re expecting just 314 bottles.
Nose: Nostalgic banana foam sweets and fresh banana combine with vanilla wafer and tangy yoghurt. Tropical fruit notes round out this bright, smoothie-like character.
Palate: The palate transitions to a soft saltiness and the distillery’s signature waxy lip balm character. Notes of vanilla wafers and milk biscuits are enriched by creamy vanilla ice cream, zesty orange, and coconut, alongside a refreshing maritime sea spray.
Finish: The complex finish lingers with waxy berry lip balm and a tropical, creamy sweetness.
Wrap up
- Chill-Filtered? Never!
- Caramel E150? Of course not!!!
All of these releases are in 700ml/70cl bottles, bottled at 45.8% ABV (natural cask Ssrength), non-chill-filtered, and naturally coloured.
Off-trade/on-trade enquiries should be directed to our UK distributor; Off-trade/on-trade enquiries should be directed to our distributors, Maverick Drinks./Master of Malt Trade.
Cheers!
Boutique-y Dave x
