Bowmore 10 yo Mystery Malt Series NO.6

 

 

 

46,3°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros.

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Don’t worry, I’m not going to comment on the 38 different bottlings in the 6th batch of Mystery Malt, a range launched in 2025 by the Thompson brothers. But I’ve still got one or two left to try, including this one, a 10-year-old Bowmore matured in Bourbon casks. Nothing out of the ordinary, then – though I did manage not to recognise it! Yes, as these are Mystery Malts, I tasted it blind. You have a 3.43 per cent chance of coming across this one if you pick up a black bottle labelled ‘Mystery Malt’, as there are 342 of them out of a total of 9,960. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is mellow, briny, fruity and airy, sea spray and kelp, mirabelle plum tart, Reine-Claude plum compote, chalk and gypsum, campfire, crème brûlée, brown sugar, smoky fudge, and a touch of soot in the corners. On the palate, it isn’t quite balanced, but it remains solid, with fairly gentle peat, salted butter caramel, vanilla, a hint of lemon zest and a sprinkling of seafood. A fairly long finish, shortbread biscuits, tobacco, cola, ground ginger, nutmeg, chives, fresh herbs. 

 

In Short, 

Once you know, it seems obvious that it’s a Bowmore, but when we didn’t know, we were a long way from guessing. And that’s the whole fun of this little game. It’s a Bowmore that could be described as a classic, but rather good for its age, quite rich and fruitier than usual. The price is fair for what it is, it’s more than just a good time. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Gaerea featuring Jo Quail - Shallow

The Observatory 20 yo Signature Series

 

 

 

40°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Highlands

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By John Dewar & Sons Ltd. 

Limited Edition 

Single Grain

Bottled in 2018

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

What makes this whisky special is that it is a 20-year-old Single Grain available at a very low price. It comes from the John Dewar & Sons Ltd group, which owns several distilleries, including Macduff in the Highlands. And several websites cite this distillery as the source of this whisky. The thing is, however, that Macduff does not produce grain whisky. Is it possible that they might produce it on an occasional, or even exceptional, basis? That is highly unlikely, if not impossible, as the production processes are completely different. I believe this whisky was matured at Macduff, but it was not distilled there. So where does it come from? There are few grain distilleries in Scotland, and only two in the Highlands. Two websites claim this whisky comes from the Highlands, but I’m not entirely sure they’re telling the truth, as they may be assuming the whisky comes from Macduff, which is situated in the Highlands. Why all this mystery?  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It’s smooth and creamy, with subtle, velvety notes of cereal, rich vanilla, a few hints of lemon zest, mirabelle plums, coconut, melt-in-the-mouth toffee, dried wheat, white chocolate. A lovely balance, with a spring-like freshness. Bananas. On the palate, it remains just as smooth, even understated, pears and apples, and other orchard fruits, a few mandarins, and virtually no spices. Butter-toasted bread, marshmallow, woody notes. The finish isn’t all that short, and is barely remarkable, smoky bark, cola nuts, a touch of pepper, and a very slight bitterness to round it off. 

 

In Short, 

Overall, I found it to be flawless, apart from, of course, a light mouthfeel given such a low alcohol content. It’s really well made, balanced, smooth and easy to drink. My only criticism would be that it lacks character, but that’s precisely what some people like, something that goes down easily, that doesn’t stand out. In any case, the price is very low, it costs nothing to give it a go. My guess is that it’s an Invergordon, a grain distillery in the Highlands with a particularly creamy and sweet profile, just like this one.  

Score : 83+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Rimski & Handkerchief - Cross Eyed & Cray

Caol Ila 12 yo Mystery Malt Series NO.6

 

 

 

46,3°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Dechar/Rechar Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

This is my third foray into the Mystery Malts launched by the Thompson brothers. The first batch dates from 2025, and it seems to have gone down well, as they’re already on Batch 6. This is the only bottle whose contents I’ve managed to guess, it must be said that it’s a well-known and easily identifiable distillery. There’s a 3.52 per cent chance of coming across this one if you pick up a bottle from this batch, that’s 351 bottles out of a total of 9,960. The casks used are Dechar/Rechar, a process generally applied to Bourbon casks, though there’s no indication of this here. This involves removing the layer of charcoal from a cask that has normally been exhausted after several uses, and producing a new layer by re-charring it. This differs from the STR process, where a larger section is removed: 4 to 5 cm.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose typical of the distillery, deep and charred peat, an overturned ashtray, intense mineral and coastal notes, sea spray, kelp, dried seaweed, and coarse Guérande salt. A few fruits in the background, but they’re fleeting, peaches, pears and mirabelle plums. On the palate, it’s more citrus and vanilla, perhaps a touch of honey, a good layer of peat of course, lovely spices, very pleasant, but not particularly original. A long finish, delightfully medicinal, full of iodine and ash, charred meat. A few crushed plums right at the very end. 

 

In Short, 

A classic Caol Ila, with just the right amount of smoke, which will delight fans of this style, whilst being detested by those who don’t like peat. Everything it takes to make an honest man happy. It’s smokier than a Caol Ila Original Bottling, less fruity, but with far more character. I’d recommend it to enthusiasts, even if it is a tad pricey for what it is. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Coyote Crunch - Writings on the Wall

Nc'nean 7 yo Mystery Malt Series NO.6

 

 

 

46,3°

Distillery : Nc'nean - Highlands 

Rejuvenated STR ex-Wine Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt  

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

There ought to be a competition for distilleries with the most unpronounceable names, and this one, founded in 2017 by Annabel Thomas, would certainly be in with a good chance. The Thompson brothers picked up a cask or two and included it in the 6th Batch of their Mystery Malt range, those black bottles whose origin you only discover once you’ve opened them. Of the 9,960 bottles in this 6th batch, 361 come from Nc’nean, and curiously enough, the maturation is exactly the same as for the Lindores Abbey I mentioned yesterday. Will the result be similar?

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It’s very mellow, bread cake with raisins, rum baba, cheesecake. Honey and lemon, very light acidity, robust oak, mineral and even coastal notes. A pinch of fine salt, vanilla extract, Frécinette bananas. On the palate, it is well-balanced, with the fruit blending with the smoothness of a sweet wine, mirabelle plums, kumquats, grapefruit. Spices with real character, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon. A fairly long finish, lemon biscuits, floral aromas, toasted oak. White chocolate, cooked rice, stuffed cabbage. Melt-in-the-mouth caramel. 

 

In Short, 

It is indeed quite similar in character to the Lindores Abbey from the same batch, but the quality of the distillate lends it a certain robustness and some very pleasant mineral notes. On the other hand, it is less rich. It’s hard to say which of the two I preferred, both are interesting and well worth a closer look. The price is a bit high for a 7-year-old, though, but with a bit of luck, you might snap up a 29-year-old Ben Nevis for the same price. 

Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Sophia Bacino - Cherry Trees

Lindores Abbey 6 yo Mystery Malt Series NO.6

 

 

 

46,3°

Distillery : Lindores Abbey - Lowlands

Rejuvenated STR ex-Wine Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt  

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

How about we play a game? And what better way to do that than by exploring the 6th Batch of the Mystery Malt range launched by the Thompson Bros. This batch comprises exactly 9,960 bottles, amongst which you’ll find 38 different whiskies. The youngest is 6 years old, the oldest 29. When you pick up a bottle, you don’t know which whisky you’ll get. They all look the same, and it’s simply a sticker on the cap that will reveal the truth. But to find out, you have to open the bottle. I took a chance and, lucky as I am, I ended up with the youngest one! So it’s a 6-year-old Lindores Abbey that has been matured in Rejuvenated Shaved, Toasted and Recharred (STR) Wine Hogsheads. This accounts for 3.71 per cent of the batch, or 370 bottles.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is both dense and mellow, slightly fresh, with delicately tart fruit, not-too-ripe mirabelles, Reine-Claude plums, citrus fruits, kumquat, yuzu, lime. Mandarins, pistachios and young, untreated wood. On the palate, orchard fruits, small red apples, egg flan, mashed bananas, apricots, honey, followed by some cereal, cut hay. Subtle yet distinctive spices, nutmeg, white pepper. A fairly long, well-structured finish, fresh figs, lemon zest, a pinch of salt. Wood shavings, floral fragrances. 

 

In Short, 

It’s interesting and original. The cask imparts a variety of fruit and citrus notes, along with a slight acidity, the influence of the wood is noticeable despite the whisky’s youth. The distillate’s sweet, floral character remains intact. Although young, this is a whisky with real personality. The Mystery Malts are all sold at the same price. For some, it’s an incredible bargain; in this case, we’d say the 6-year-old is a bit on the pricey side. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Bird of the Muses - Misplaced Alien

Bunnahabhain 12 yo Pride of Islay

 

 

 

46,1°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay 

Madeira Wine Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At 12 years old, Bunnahabhain’s whisky is already showing maturity, you can trust them on that. This particular expression has even been matured for over five years in Madeira wine barriques. In fact, you need to limit the finishing time with these naturally sweet wines, as it could ruin the whisky if left for too long. I suppose the initial maturation took place in Bourbon casks, but I’ve had no indication about that. Nor are there any details on the number of bottles produced. The Thompson brothers prefer to keep this one a mystery. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very waxy, fruity and almost syrupy nose, cherry jam, orange marmalade, a generous hint of citrus and cinnamon, dried apricots, gingerbread with angelica. Lovely minerality in the background, iodine and a pinch of salt. On the palate, mandarin, honey and buttered toast, apple crumble with crushed hazelnuts, leather and lovely spices, cloves, saffron and curry. Sandalwood. A very long finish, blond tobacco, walnut oil, dried bananas, beach pebbles, chocolate and coffee.

 

In Short, 

I was worried that the Madeira inlfuence might be too overpowering, but I was wrong, it’s perfectly balanced. The coastal character of the distillate still comes through, and the fruit isn’t too sweet. This makes for another thoroughly enjoyable bottling at a bargain price. Well done, Thompson brothers, but how on earth do you do it?

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Jesse Will - Spirals

Blended Scotch Whisky The Final Release 9 yo

 

 

 

45°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Speyside

Ex-Sherry Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Blended Scotch Whisky

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Sometimes there are fundamental errors. Here, we have a distillery that’s kept secret, but which we’re told is highly sought-after and renowned for its sherry cask maturations. It’s said to be from Speyside… Macallan? Glenfarclas? Mortlach? And, by mistake, it is said to have been blended with a small quantity of grain whisky from another distillery. That’s either a disaster or rather intriguing. 6,000 bottles are expected. The Speyside malt whisky is said to be 15 years old, and the grain whisky is 9 years old, hence the official age. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry seems to me to be well brought out, it’s balanced and well-crafted, dried fruit, raisins, dates, walnuts, blood oranges, stuffed figs, polished wood, apple compote, runny caramel, dark chocolate, blueberry, redcurrant tart. On the palate, it’s more honeyed, unctuous, sweet almond, wild strawberry, melt-in-the-mouth toffee, candied cherries, warming spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove. The finish is quite long, with an ounce of power, blond tobacco, dried apricots, charred wood resin, hazelnut cream, peppermint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

It’s not bad at all, a lovely sherry cask whisky just the way we like it, not too overpowering, but warm, full of dried fruit, smooth caramel and lovely spices. A lovely Christmas whisky at a reasonable price, it's well worth buying. Personally, I think it's a Macallan, and if that's the case, it's a bargain at this price, especially as there can't be much grain whisky in it, I didn't detect any at all. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Susanne Sundfør - White Fox

Sutherland From The World Famous Clynelish Distillery 8 yo Batch 002

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands

Refill Hogsheads 

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 8 ppm 

 

 

 

The Thompson brothers must have a great relationship with Cynelish, because they bottle quite a lot of it. Sometimes as a blend, like this Sutherland 5-year-old that I tasted a few years ago, or here, as a rather young single malt. The alcohol content is spot on, and the maturation in refill hogsheads really allows the spirit to shine. Just like Batch 001, Batch 002 apparently comprises 2,187 bottles.   

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Slices of lime and beeswax, candle wax, a briny freshness and salty sea spray, almond paste, salted butter caramel, malty sweetness, cookie dough. Mirabelle plums, bananas, white peaches, a pinch of cinnamon. On the palate, pineapple, grapefruit, heather honey, freshly squeezed oranges. Mineral notes follow, liquid vanilla, it is both oily and waxy. Spices and a few green olives. A very long, perfect, fruity finish, barely woody, milk chocolate, ginger, more citrus, slightly herbaceous at the end.  

 

In Short, 

Honestly, it’s brilliant. It really is the sort of little Clynelish you dream of to liven up an evening. It’s young, sure, but it’s got character, a strong personality and a real presence. And it’s very affordable. Right, I’ve got to have it. 

Score : 88+ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Madlen Keys - I Remember