It has been common practice in the whisky industry for more than a century for distilleries to sell barrels of whisky to blenders and independent bottlers as a means of making additional income. In fact, some distilleries exist solely to serve independent bottlers, and do not market any brands themselves.

What does an independent bottler do?

Independent whisky bottlers are bottlers that buy whiskies from distilleries and bottle them themselves. ... They bottle at cask strength, avoid chill-filtration and artificial colouring, and – in the main – only release single malts. Independent whisky bottlers are whisky experts, for sure. But they're also craftsmen.

What is an independent bottler whisky?

Independent whisky bottlers buy casks of whisky from distilleries and bottle them under their own label. While they don't distill the whisky, they do manage the flavour of the whisky by depending how long to mature it for, and sometimes using cask finishes to add additional layers of flavour.

What does OB mean in whiskey?

Oak is used for virtually all casks that serve as whisky containers. The abbreviation OB means 'official bottling' - released by the owners. Oban is one of just a handful of distilleries in the Western Highlands. Whisky lovers became aware of 'Old Bottle Effect' (OBE) relatively recently.

What is indie whisky?

What are independent bottlers? While distillers make all the whisky, they're not responsible for every bottle on the shelf. ... From casks that the distilleries can't release to those that they won't, the indies offer an alternative take on whisky, giving us the chance to try a huge range of different drams.

What is an Independent Bottler?

What is distillery bottling?

When malt whisky has completed its maturation in a bonded warehouse, it is ready for the final stage in the process, bottling. ... A number of smaller distilleries also do their own bottling. When whisky is laid down to mature at the end of the distillation process it usually contains between 65% and 75% alcohol.

What does vintage mean in whisky?

The 'vintage' reference is to the year the spirit was distilled, and so if you have the year it was bottled you can basically work out how old the whisky is.

What does OB mean in Scotch?

Pretty much the same picture applies to the whisky industry! “Official bottling” or “OB” refers to a whisky produced at a specific distillery and released under this distillery name/brand (Lagavulin 16, Glenmorangie Companta, Laphroaig 10, Balvenie 12, Macallan Amber, Old Pulteney 17… see what I mean?).

What is Carn Mor whisky?

Càrn Mòr is our range of rare and utterly unique independent bottlings. As each release is strictly limited in batches. Once it's gone, it's gone! Càrn Mòr releases whisky as it should be by bottling outstanding whisky in the way that many of the distilleries cannot due to restrictions.

Is the Aultbea Hotel open?

The Autlbea Hotel has been closed since mid-April 2019. According to a former employee it was done so at the behest of owner Michael David Chalom. Several bookings have not been fulfilled since then despite the hotel having allegedly received pre-payments.

What is an IB Scotch?

In the rarefied world of Scotch whisky, one subcategory often gets overlooked: independently bottled whiskies, or IBs. These whiskies are produced by Scottish distilleries, but rather than being released under the distillery's own name, they're sold to third-party bottlers.

Is 12 year old whiskey really 12 years old?

The age of a whisky signifies the number of years it has spent in a barrel. For example, single malt Scotch whiskies like The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old have been matured for at least 12 years in ex-Bourbon barrels.

Is 18 year old whiskey really 18 years old?

Put simply, a bottle of whisky may contain whiskies matured in a number of different casks for different periods of time. If the label says that the whisky is 18 Years Old (or Eighteen Years Old) then, although it may contain older whiskies, you can be certain that none of components are any younger than 18 years.

How much is a 50 year old bottle of whiskey worth?

Only an infinitesimal number of special barrels have gone the distance of 50 years, and their rarity and longevity always command top dollar. Current offerings of 50 year old scotch, like Dalmore, can cost as much as $60,000 a bottle, making others, like Benromach, look like a veritable bargain at $14,500.

Does whiskey expire?

Unopened whiskey doesn't go bad. ... Most whiskey scientists believe that an opened bottle of whiskey lasts about 1 to 2 years—if it's half full. Whiskey expires about 6 months if it's a quarter or less full. That's because the less whiskey in the bottle, the more oxygen.

What is whiskey called before its aged?

When it's not matured in barrels, the spirit is called unaged whiskey or “moonshine.”

What's the oldest whiskey you can buy?

• Carsebridge Xtra Old Particular. Year: 1965. ...
• Karuizawa. Year: 1964. ...
• The Sovereign. Year: 1964. ...
• Dalmore 64 Trinitas. Year: 1946. ...
• Mortlach 70 Year Old Speyside. Year: 1938. ...
• Hannisville Rye Whisky. Year: 1863. ...
• Old Vatted Glenlivet. Year: 1862. ...
• Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky. Year: 1851-1858.

What is Seagram Imperial Blue?

Imperial Blue, abbreviated to IB and also known as Seagram's Imperial Blue, is a brand of Indian whisky, owned by Pernod Ricard, and launched in 1997. It is a blend of Indian grain spirits with imported Scotch malts.

Is Imperial Blue scotch?

A perfect blend of Indian grain spirits and imported scotch malts, Imperial Blue is known for its exquisite smoothness, and is the leading whisky brand of Pernod Ricard India.

What is there in Gairloch?

• Loch Maree. 234. ...
• Gairloch Museum. 297. ...
• Gruinard Bay. Bodies of Water. ...
• Russian Arctic Convoy Museum. Military Museums • History Museums. ...
• Shieldaig Falconry. Nature & Wildlife Areas.
• Solas Gallery. Points of Interest & Landmarks.
• Victoria Falls. ...
• The GALE Centre - Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum.

Where is Loch Ewe Scotland?

Loch Ewe (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Iùbh) is a sea loch in the region of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.

Where is Wester Ross Scotland?

'Wester Ross' or West Ross-Shire covers the western part of the Scottish highlands and includes the Kyle of Lochalsh, the famous Applecross peninsula, and the spectacular coast all the way up to Ullapool from the Isle of Skye.

Who owns Carn Mor?

Carn Mor is proudly owned by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers.