First Lochan Sholum , now Wardhead … soon they will only be allowed to put ‘whisky’ on the label. Many well-known distilleries don’t allow independent bottlers to use their name on the label: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Highland Park, Glenfarclas, Lagavulin…

More often than not though, we are pretty certain where the liquid comes from: Wardhead points to  teaspooned Glenfiddich , with a little Balvenie added. The opposite formula is called Burnside. In both cases technically a blended malt. Distilled in 1997 and bottled by Liquid Treasures .

Wardhead 21 yo 1997 (55,5%, Liquid Treasures ‘Entomology’ 2018, bourbon hogshead)

Nose:...