Whisky Forum - Your favorite Independent Bottlers of Single Malt Scotch

Quaich1

Which 3 of these independent bottlers of single malt scotch do you generally enjoy most, are the most consistent and find that they tend to pick the best casks? Any other independent bottlers you would recommend?

Not listed here in any particular order:

Adelphi

Berry Bros. and Rudd

Compass Box

Cadenhead

Douglas Laing

Gordon & MacPhail

Ian MacLeod

Murray McDavid

Signatory

Wemyss Malts

Hunter Laing (Old Malt Cask)

Connoisseurs Choice

James MacArthur

Hart Brothers
***********************************************************

From past experience I would say: Gordon & MacPhail, Hunter Laing (Old Malt Cask) and Berry Bros. & Rudd.

_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

Mark · Master Of Malts Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 1665

For me it would be Adelphi, Cadenhead not had that much of their stuff but it has always been very good and Gordon & MacPhail

The Whisky Exchange have a couple of whisky ranges under their own label and they have turned out a few crackers under their Elements of Islay label and some under their Single Malts of Scotland

James T · Master Of Malts Joined: 05 Feb 2011 Posts: 2978

G & M and Signatory would be the 2 indies i would have had most over the years, probably due to the size of their selection. In the past few years i have stuck to mainly distillery bottlings but have had a few from Aldelphi which were very good.

Diademo · Master Of Malts Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 1255

I believe that older independent bottlers, with good connections in the industry and tradition working with distilleries through different, sometimes hard times are in position to offer better casks and wider selection. The most consistent and reliable IMO are:
- Cadenhead's
- Gordon & MacPhail
- Laing brothers (Douglas and Hunter)

Big Mac · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 2:07 am Post subject:

Over the years i have bought mostly from Gordon & MacPhail, mainly Macallan

opelfruit · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:48 am Post subject:

Berry's for me, always great stuff from them.

Master of Malt own bottling are always very good too. Their single casks right through to their boutique'y company bottlings.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

Kray · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:52 am Post subject:

Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing and at one time SMWS

Bookie · Master Of Malts Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 945

Gordon & MacPhail due to the size of their range

Whisky Dog · Master Of Malts Joined: 09 Apr 2014 Posts: 711

G&M, Douglas Laing but not so much lately and Signatory

Brummie · Master Of Malts Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 661

I have probably bought more from G & M over the years. Have had some very good whiskies from Adelphi and Signatory

sorren · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:42 pm Post subject:

I would have to say I have bought and enjoy mostly Douglas and hunter Laing bottles, and mostly the old malt cask and old and rare bottles, the old and rare series has thrown up some fine " probably speysides finest " lately, and omc bottled some good rosebanks a wee while ago.. Not to mention some good auchentoshans.. secondly would be signatory bottles, thirdly would probably be berry bros, although I've not had many but they have been good, I would say I've had some nice bottles from the creative whisky company, and a d Rattray ... Very Happy

Lennox · Master Of Malts Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 457

The indie i have most enjoyed over the years is Gordon & MacPhail, in recent years i have been impressed with what Adelphi has bottled. Over the past 15 years Douglas Laing but i havent bothered with Hunter Laing since DL split as the few times i have have come across the Hunter Laing company at tastings i found them to be unpleasant, unhelpful and the exact opposite to the Douglas Laing folks.

eelbrook · Master Of Malts Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 648

Malts of Scotland.

Their Ailsa Bay is stunning.

drPete · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:25 pm Post subject:

To echo others, G and M and Cadenheads - the later especially as they have not massively upped their prices by putting things in stupid posh boxes and bringing out the marketing bull like some other indies.
_________________
Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

sorren · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:27 pm Post subject:

😳 I like those stupid posh boxes.... 😜