Delicious Lesser Known Whiskies From Scotland

The anCnoc Rutter is part of a newer collection of peaty expressions being distilled by Knockdhu in the Highlands of Scotland. This particular expression is peated at a level of 11 PPM (parts per million) which is the least peaty of the anCnoc "Peaty" range of four whiskies (tushkar, rutter, flaughter, and cutter). The name "Rutter" comes from the type of spade you see on the label which is used in separating peat blocks. All of the whiskies from this range are named after spades that are used to work with peat.

Glencadam has a very long history, dating back to 1825, but single malts have been released under this name only since 2005. The spirit produced at this Highland distillery previously was only sold to premium blends. The water sourced nearby is soft and helps bring out the smooth character of the brand. This whisky has been extra matured in an ex-sherry Oloroso cask for more than one year. As for all whiskies from the core range of Glencadam, this one is 46% and non-chill-filtered.

Pronounced [a-nock], AnCnoc 16 is a Highland malt aged exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels. It is un chill filtered and bottled at 46% abv. It is distilled at the Knockdhu Distillery, but sold under the AnCnoc name to avoid confusion with neighboring Knockando Distillery.

This Highland single malt has no age statement, but is a blend of different vintages dating back to 2003. The youngest whisky used is 5 years old. This is aged in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 92 proof.

Girvan is a single grain distillery owned by William Grant & Sons. The distillery, built in 1963, has been producing whisky ever since for their blended whiskies, but this is the first time the distillery has put out a distillery bottling. The No. 4 Apps (named after the distillery term for "apparatus") is distilled using vacuum distillation, something they have done since 1992. This is a wheat and barley mash and is aged (for an unstated time) in first fill and refill American oak.

Built in 1832, Glen Scotia is one of the few remaining distilleries in the Campbeltown region of Scotland. Its tiny operation is run by only 3 employees, and they tend to stick to the basics. This malt is their signature release.

Stronachie was a distillery located in the Highlands from 1890- c.1930. During this time, the company that is now A.D. Rattray represented the brand. They have recently sourced a bottle of Stronachie dated 1904 and after tasting many malt whisky samples, decided that this whisky distilled at the Benrinnes distillery replicates the original the best. This is a vatting of several different casks, some older than 12 years to replicate the 1904 bottle.

BenRiach has gotten into the habit of naming their peaty whiskies with Latin names. "Fumosus" means "smoky" and though, there really isn't a Latin word for "rum", "Arumaticus" sounds like it would work. Aged initially in American oak barrels, the whisky is then finished in Jamaican rum barrels.

From the folks that bring us brands such as Smokehead, Isle of Skye, and Glengoyne comes this blended malt bottling. The Six Isles is a composite of single malt whiskies from the six isles of Scotland: Arran, Islay, Jura, Mull, Orkney, and Skye. It is all natural color and non chill filtered.

Teaninich was founded in 1817 by Hugh Monro. Like many distilleries it changed hands a few times and was briefly mothballed. Today, it is owned by Diageo and one of the largest distilleries in Scotland. It primarily makes whisky for blends like Johnnie Walker. Teaninich is unusual because it is the only Scottish distillery to use a mash filter instead of a mash tun to turn its grist into wort. The Flora & Fauna bottling is the only official core release from this distillery.