Living Souls, the independent Scottish whisky bottler that launched its first batch November 2024, has returned with a second collection that comprises a diverse range of flavour profiles, from youthful peat to aged grain, and a luxuriously mellow 40-year-old blend.
This sophomore outing confirms what the first batch hinted at. There’s no filler, no obligatory core range. Just four very different, thoughtfully bottled whiskies that will speak to collectors and everyday drinkers alike.
“This batch is where we really start to show the range of what Living Souls can offer,” says co-founder Calum Leslie, whose previous worked with PeatReekers and Spearhead. “Each whisky is bottled with intention.”
Co-founder Jamie Williamson adds: “There’s personality in every drop, and I think that’s what makes these releases so compelling.”
Bottled at 46.3% ABV, Ninety-Nine & One takes its name from the near-total proportion of heavily peated island malt that forms the backbone of the blend, with just a whisper of grain whisky in the mix to round thing up. The result? A bright, spirited dram said to be more than the sum of its parts. Bottled without chill filtration, it’s a whisky born of a fortuitous vatting accident at the distillery that proved too interesting to discard.
Living Souls Balblair 10-Year-Old, £55
This Highland single malt, distilled at Balblair and bottled at 46.0% ABV, offers one of the more unusual cask finishes in the batch, Limousin oak XO cognac octaves, a choice likely to bring a delicate French opulence to a spirit already known for its orchard fruit charm. Official tasting notes speak of creamy vanilla and warm spice. This could be a steal.
Living Souls Dumbarton 25-Year-Old, £82
Whiskies from the closed Dumbarton distillery, once a workhorse grain producer for Ballantine’s, are increasingly hard to come by. Living Souls’ 25-year-old edition presents a rare opportunity to explore the lighter, nostalgic style of this lost Lowlander. Long-term maturation in American oak, likely refill barrels and hogsheads, would seem a fair assumption. Expect creamy, almost confectionery-like, vanilla and desiccated coconut. This single grain whisky is bottled at 50.5% ABV.
The collection’s showpiece. This 40-year-old blend marries malts from Glenfarclas, Glen Garioch, and Fettercairn, with grain whisky drawn primarily from the now-defunct Cambus distillery (in a 40/60 split). Matured in ex-Islay sherry butts, a combination that guarantees both soft fruit and a whisper of smoke, it’s a rare blend with provenance and depth. Bottled at 45.1% ABV.
The collection is available through select independent retailers in the UK, including Master of Malt.
The evocatively titled Pineapple Bananza is the latest addition to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s experimental Heresy range; it’s a small-batch Irish single malt whiskey created in collaboration with Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. Batch 38: Pineapple Bananza stands out for both its origin and production style. Irish whiskey is an infrequent guest in the Society’s portfolio,…
El Supremo Rum, from Paraguay, has launched in the UK, bringing a distinctive national style – Caña Paraguaya – to British rum fans. Produced in partnership with CAPASA, Paraguay’s state‑owned sugarcane alcohol producer, the range draws on traditional production methods rooted in indigenous Guaraní culture. El Supremo is made using 100% sugarcane juice that’s reduced…
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig has introduced its first permanent core single malt. Crafted in small batches, Torabhaig Taigh is matured in a combination of first-fill and refill bourbon casks, with the addition of Madeira casks to round out the profile. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration and no added colour.…
The Luxe Review 
Living Souls, the independent Scottish whisky bottler that launched its first batch November 2024, has returned with a second collection that comprises a diverse range of flavour profiles, from youthful peat to aged grain, and a luxuriously mellow 40-year-old blend.
This sophomore outing confirms what the first batch hinted at. There’s no filler, no obligatory core range. Just four very different, thoughtfully bottled whiskies that will speak to collectors and everyday drinkers alike.
“This batch is where we really start to show the range of what Living Souls can offer,” says co-founder Calum Leslie, whose previous worked with PeatReekers and Spearhead. “Each whisky is bottled with intention.”
Co-founder Jamie Williamson adds: “There’s personality in every drop, and I think that’s what makes these releases so compelling.”
Here’s a closer look at the collection…
Living Souls Ninety-Nine & One, £58.50
Bottled at 46.3% ABV, Ninety-Nine & One takes its name from the near-total proportion of heavily peated island malt that forms the backbone of the blend, with just a whisper of grain whisky in the mix to round thing up. The result? A bright, spirited dram said to be more than the sum of its parts. Bottled without chill filtration, it’s a whisky born of a fortuitous vatting accident at the distillery that proved too interesting to discard.
Living Souls Balblair 10-Year-Old, £55
This Highland single malt, distilled at Balblair and bottled at 46.0% ABV, offers one of the more unusual cask finishes in the batch, Limousin oak XO cognac octaves, a choice likely to bring a delicate French opulence to a spirit already known for its orchard fruit charm. Official tasting notes speak of creamy vanilla and warm spice. This could be a steal.
Living Souls Dumbarton 25-Year-Old, £82
Whiskies from the closed Dumbarton distillery, once a workhorse grain producer for Ballantine’s, are increasingly hard to come by. Living Souls’ 25-year-old edition presents a rare opportunity to explore the lighter, nostalgic style of this lost Lowlander. Long-term maturation in American oak, likely refill barrels and hogsheads, would seem a fair assumption. Expect creamy, almost confectionery-like, vanilla and desiccated coconut. This single grain whisky is bottled at 50.5% ABV.
Living Souls 40-Year-Old blended scotch, £125
The collection’s showpiece. This 40-year-old blend marries malts from Glenfarclas, Glen Garioch, and Fettercairn, with grain whisky drawn primarily from the now-defunct Cambus distillery (in a 40/60 split). Matured in ex-Islay sherry butts, a combination that guarantees both soft fruit and a whisper of smoke, it’s a rare blend with provenance and depth. Bottled at 45.1% ABV.
The collection is available through select independent retailers in the UK, including Master of Malt.
Triple-distilled Pineapple Bananza Irish single malt joins SMWS Heresy range
The evocatively titled Pineapple Bananza is the latest addition to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s experimental Heresy range; it’s a small-batch Irish single malt whiskey created in collaboration with Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. Batch 38: Pineapple Bananza stands out for both its origin and production style. Irish whiskey is an infrequent guest in the Society’s portfolio,…
First Pour: El Supremo brings Paraguayan Caña style sugarcane honey rum to UK
El Supremo Rum, from Paraguay, has launched in the UK, bringing a distinctive national style – Caña Paraguaya – to British rum fans. Produced in partnership with CAPASA, Paraguay’s state‑owned sugarcane alcohol producer, the range draws on traditional production methods rooted in indigenous Guaraní culture. El Supremo is made using 100% sugarcane juice that’s reduced…
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig unveils Taigh as first core single malt, brings poetry to peat whisky
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig has introduced its first permanent core single malt. Crafted in small batches, Torabhaig Taigh is matured in a combination of first-fill and refill bourbon casks, with the addition of Madeira casks to round out the profile. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration and no added colour.…
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