Girvan distillery is located on the Clyde, in the coastal Lowlands. William Grant & Sons decided to build Girvan after a dispute with Distillers Company Limited. They decided to run a TV ad for Standfast Whisky from Grant's, DCL was against this, so WGS decided to build the Girvan distillery. They did it in just 9 months. Original Coffey stills were used until 1995. Nowadays Girvan uses 6 column stills for its production. The distillery mainly produces grain Whisky for brands as well as Hendrick's Gin. It was also a site for Ladyburn Whisky at one point.

Aroma and Taste

Nose: Maple syrup, honeycomb and soft cedar spiciness.

Palate: Orange peels, confectioner's sugar, honey and toasted cereals.

Finish: Long and full of dried fruits, the vanilla and oak standing out amongst it all.

Glenlossie’s stills were fitted with purifier pipes which carry any heavier alcohols which have refluxed out in the lyne arm back into the body of the still to be redistilled. It is the use of these purifiers which adds a certain oily textural quality to the spirit, while a long fermentation also helps to promote a grassiness in the new make. Glenlossie remains a major contributor to its parent company’s blends, and other than Diageo’s Flora & Fauna series.

Aroma and Taste

Nose: Sugared almond, spicy oak, melon and milk chocolate.

Palate: Hazelnut praline, polished oak and berry jam, along with hints of vanilla fudge.

Finish: Orange curd, dried apple and a pinch of nutmeg.

Allt-a Bhainne is a silent hero for Chivas Brothers serving as one of the lead malt whiskies in its Chivas Regal Blends. This particular cask has been Chapter 7™'s baby since 2016. They've been watching over the maturation carefully and decided to give this fruity whisky a twist by finishing it in one of our Caol Ila first fill bourbon casks and the result is exquisite.

Aroma and Taste

Nose: Fruit basket, flower bouquet, manuka honey, candied orange, a touch of smoke.

Palate: Butterscotch, canned peach, honey, gingerbread, cinnamon spice.

Finish: Sweet, long, mandarine dipped in sweet spices.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh walnuts, sugarcane, and coconut. Loose leaf tobacco. Prickly pears and a hint of banana. 

Palate: Lemon curd and angelica. Fresh oak, cinnamon, and candy sugar.

Finish: Vanilla, tobacco, lemon curd and raisins. 

About this Chapter 7 Whisky

Cambus, a Lowland distillery, played a key role in the establishment of grain whisky. It began distilling malt in 1806 until owner John Mubray installed two patent stills in 1836. During the 19th century, Cambus expanded to become one of the founding companies of DCL. Its ad in The Daily Mail was critical in swaying public opinion about grain whisky. This led to DCL winning their case against malt distilleries in 1908.

Chapter 7 Whisky has finished a single bourbon hogshead in three octave casks. The octaves had previously held Glen Elgin and Linkwood. This is a well aged, well finished, example of Cambus single grain whisky.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Almonds, quince jelly, custard, gooseberries and pancakes.

Palate: Marzipan and bitter almonds. Gooseberries, lemon, and croissants.

Finish: Heather honey, limoncello, lemon drops and butter.

Ed's tasting notes

Colour: Natural colour, deep gold or bronze. Coats the sides of the glass thickly with a lingering tide line.

Nose: Stewed fruit crumble. Apples with forest fruits cooked in spiced syrup, topped with buttery crumble. The crumble has browned and become toasted around the edges. Thick vanilla custard. Backed by malt and oak.

Palate: Thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Bright red fruit and berries with spices and candied orange. Dry oak with a little vanilla. Apples and pears join the red fruit, the longer you hold the whisky on your tongue. At 54% the alcohol is well integrated, adding just a little warmth, and plenty of body.

Finish: Medium, tingling spices are left once the berries and apples disappear.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fruit salad with oranges. Honey, custard, barley water and nougat. Café late with brioche.

Palate: Orange juice, natural vanilla, raisins and maize bread.

Finish: Caramelised pear tart. Ginger, cinnamon and bay leaves.

About this Chapter 7 Whisky

Blair Athol is one of Diageo's workhorse distilleries. Much of its malt whisky ends up in Bell's blended scotch. It's a beautiful distillery built in 1798 in Pitlochry. Majority of Blair Athol casks destined for blending are ex-bourbon barrels. It has a nutty character resulting from cloudy worts and short fermentation. Allowing controlled levels of solids coming across in the wash still adds a deep, rich meat loaf character.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fruit syrup, honey and brown muscovado sugar. Apple, canned pears, peaches, apricots, and kiwis.

Palate: Barley syrup and preserved fruits. Muesli and cereal. Citrons, lemon zest, and chalk.

Finish: Vanilla, coffee liqueurs and creams.

Blair Athol is one of Diageo's workhorse distilleries. Much of its malt whisky ends up in Bell's blended scotch. It's a beautiful distillery built in 1798 in Pitlochry. It has a nutty character resulting from cloudy worts and short fermentation. Allowing controlled levels of solids coming across in the wash still adds a deep, rich meat loaf character.

The majority of Blair Athol casks destined for blending are ex-bourbon barrels. So, this release from Chapter 7 is a rare exception: a wine cask aged Blair Athol. The cask is likely a 2nd or 3rd fill, resulting in a complex dram rather than a dominant one.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh citrus and green apples. Vanilla and barley syrup. Papaya and sponge cake.

Palate: Vanilla, apples and lemons. Honeysuckle honey and rhubarb.

Finish: Limoncello, sandalwood and vanilla.

About Chapter 7 Whisky

Built in 1929, Glen Grant's owners John and James had a great impact on the development of the Rothes area. The brothers brought in the railway line from Lossiemouth to Elgin. They personally paid for an extension of the route to Rothes. Glen Grant was one of the first whisky brands. You could find Glen Grant in Africa, Australia, and the US in the late 19 century. Glen Grant stills produce a light spirit mainly due to their square boil bulbs. These increase copper surface significantly. Well-aged Glen Grant, such as this release by Chapter 7 Whisky, are known to be complex drams with many layers.