Whisky Focus - Rare Find Partners With Bodegas Barbadillo

Independent bottler, Rare Find, is marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of its Autumn 2025 collection. The release not only presents four single malts, but also unveils the first results of a landmark collaboration with Bodegas Barbadillo.

Founded in 2015, Rare Find has built its reputation on the philosophy of creating whiskies that are "intentionally rare by design" through careful cask maturation. A decade later, the Autumn 2025 release represents a milestone in that journey: a union with one of Spain’s most historic sherry houses.

With nearly 200 years of winemaking heritage and guardianship of some of Jerez’s oldest soleras, Bodegas Barbadillo is a cornerstone of Andalusia’s viticultural legacy. From its base in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the sherry producer worked with Rare Find to design a bespoke cask seasoning programme, producing oloroso casks layered with depth and oxidative richness. The Autumn 2025 whiskies are the first opportunity for drinkers to experience this meeting of Scotland’s single malts and Andalusia’s centuries-old craftsmanship.

To establish the partnership, Rare Find’s team travelled to Barbadillo’s historic bodegas, collaborating with expert oenologists to select Spanish, American, and European oak casks. These casks underwent a 24-month Oloroso seasoning process, ensuring every stave absorbed the full character of the sherry. Once brought back to Scotland, they added rich dried-fruit, nut, and spice notes to the whiskies, while preserving the malts’ natural character.

The Autumn 2025 collection features four single-cask, single-malt releases finished in oloroso sherry, three of which directly showcase the Barbadillo partnership:

• Longmorn 16 Year Old
  Finished for 10 months in a first fill Oloroso seasoned Spanish oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo. Bottled at 55.6% ABV, 203 bottles, RRP £110.00
   
• Tamdhu 16 Year Old
  Finished for 10 months in a first fill Oloroso seasoned American oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo. Bottled at 51.7% ABV, 216 bottles, RRP £120.00
   
• Secret Speyside 16 Year Old
  Finished for 10 months in a first fill Oloroso seasoned European oak hogshead from Bodegas Barbadillo. Bottled at 58.2%ABV, 184 bottles, RRP £95.00
   
• Benriach 9 Year Old
  Finished for 16 months in a barrique. Bottled at 55.1% ABV, 301 bottles. RRP £75.00
   

Each whisky has been bottled at natural cask strength, with no colouring or chill filtration, ensuring complete authenticity from bodega to bottle.

A Rare Find spokesperson said: "This collection marks one of the most important chapters in our history. Our partnership with Barbadillo has allowed us to work with some of the most extraordinary sherry casks in the world. By bringing together Scotland’s finest single malts and Andalusia’s centuries-old winemaking traditions, we’ve created whiskies that truly embody the Rare Find ethos – exceptional, authentic, and intentionally rare."

The Rare Find Autumn 2025 releases will be available from 13th October 2025 and you will find them available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops

Whisky Focus