Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule.
Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but not the identity of the whisky they have actually purchased until the seal is broken. It’s part treasure hunt, part independent bottling project, and part introduction to distilleries that you may never have explored before.
To date, more than 25,000 bottles have been sold across the first five series. For Series 6, Thompson Brothers has expanded the scale significantly, releasing 9,960 bottles across 18 international markets.
Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but not the identity of the whisky they have actually purchased…
Could Your £65 Bottle Hide a 29-Year-Old Ben Nevis?
The complete Mystery Malt Series 6 manifest is available via a QR code on each bottle and details all 38 possible single malts, their ages, cask types and the likelihood of receiving each one.
The release spans whiskies aged from six to 29 years old, drawn from refill sherry butts, bourbon barrels, port barriques, oloroso hogsheads and dechar/rechar casks. One in every five bottles contains a whisky aged 18 years or older.
The line-up ranges from young malts by emerging distilleries to highly sought-after mature expressions. At the top of the tree sits a 29-year-old Ben Nevis, represented by just 15 bottles, making up a mere 0.15% of the release.
Other headline names include 28-year-old Glenrothes, 27-year-old Blair Athol and Auchentoshan, 22-year-old Highland Park and 21-year-old Clynelish. Buyers could also uncover mature Bowmore, Glen Garioch, Royal Brackla and Macduff bottlings. Alongside these established names are a host of newer producers, including Ardnamurchan, Harris, Nc’nean, Raasay, Lochlea, Dornoch and Lindores, offering a snapshot of Scotland’s evolving whisky landscape.
The unusual format also solves a long-standing challenge for independent bottlers. Because the distillery name remains hidden until the bottle is opened, producers can participate without directly competing against their own official releases.
That has allowed Thompson Brothers to assemble a diverse selection that blends household names with some of Scotland’s most exciting younger distilleries.
According to co-founder Simon Thompson, many of the most intriguing bottles in the batch come from these newer producers, using Mystery Malt as a way to introduce drinkers to their house style through an element of chance.
“The rare bottles grab the headlines but Mystery Malt is about more than that,” he says. “The most exciting thing is seeing someone discover a distillery they’ve never tried before and then become a fan for life.”
For whisky fans, the appeal lies as much in discovery as value. One bottle might reveal a six-year-old Lochlea or seven-year-old Nc’nean, while another could contain a mature Bowmore, Highland Park or even the elusive Ben Nevis.
The suspense is part of the fun. It’s perhaps the only whisky purchase where indecision is removed entirely and fate takes over.
Royal Salute is looking to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the eighth release in its Polo Collection, a 21 year old blended Scotch whisky finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The limited-quantity release is a bespoke blend of Scotch whiskies aged for at least 21 years, created by Royal Salute Master Blender Emeritus Sandy Hyslop.…
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
There are worse ways to spend a Sunday than eating unlimited pizza and pasta while someone dutifully tops up your Prosecco. In fact, forget the Sunday roast. If your idea of a superior weekend involves truffle pasta, wood-fired pizza and a bottomless Aperol Spritz in the middle of Soho, Bocconcino has cracked it. The name…
Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule.
Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but not the identity of the whisky they have actually purchased until the seal is broken. It’s part treasure hunt, part independent bottling project, and part introduction to distilleries that you may never have explored before.
To date, more than 25,000 bottles have been sold across the first five series. For Series 6, Thompson Brothers has expanded the scale significantly, releasing 9,960 bottles across 18 international markets.
Could Your £65 Bottle Hide a 29-Year-Old Ben Nevis?
The complete Mystery Malt Series 6 manifest is available via a QR code on each bottle and details all 38 possible single malts, their ages, cask types and the likelihood of receiving each one.
The release spans whiskies aged from six to 29 years old, drawn from refill sherry butts, bourbon barrels, port barriques, oloroso hogsheads and dechar/rechar casks. One in every five bottles contains a whisky aged 18 years or older.
The line-up ranges from young malts by emerging distilleries to highly sought-after mature expressions. At the top of the tree sits a 29-year-old Ben Nevis, represented by just 15 bottles, making up a mere 0.15% of the release.
Other headline names include 28-year-old Glenrothes, 27-year-old Blair Athol and Auchentoshan, 22-year-old Highland Park and 21-year-old Clynelish. Buyers could also uncover mature Bowmore, Glen Garioch, Royal Brackla and Macduff bottlings. Alongside these established names are a host of newer producers, including Ardnamurchan, Harris, Nc’nean, Raasay, Lochlea, Dornoch and Lindores, offering a snapshot of Scotland’s evolving whisky landscape.
The unusual format also solves a long-standing challenge for independent bottlers. Because the distillery name remains hidden until the bottle is opened, producers can participate without directly competing against their own official releases.
That has allowed Thompson Brothers to assemble a diverse selection that blends household names with some of Scotland’s most exciting younger distilleries.
According to co-founder Simon Thompson, many of the most intriguing bottles in the batch come from these newer producers, using Mystery Malt as a way to introduce drinkers to their house style through an element of chance.
“The rare bottles grab the headlines but Mystery Malt is about more than that,” he says. “The most exciting thing is seeing someone discover a distillery they’ve never tried before and then become a fan for life.”
For whisky fans, the appeal lies as much in discovery as value. One bottle might reveal a six-year-old Lochlea or seven-year-old Nc’nean, while another could contain a mature Bowmore, Highland Park or even the elusive Ben Nevis.
The suspense is part of the fun. It’s perhaps the only whisky purchase where indecision is removed entirely and fate takes over.
Mystery Malt Series 6 is available from Master of Malt, priced at £65. Happy hunting!
Royal Salute 21 Year Old Polo Edition adds Pedro Ximénez finish for a taste of the Middle East
Royal Salute is looking to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the eighth release in its Polo Collection, a 21 year old blended Scotch whisky finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The limited-quantity release is a bespoke blend of Scotch whiskies aged for at least 21 years, created by Royal Salute Master Blender Emeritus Sandy Hyslop.…
Ghost Dog Vs distillery: The story behind Cù Bòcan, Tomatin’s experimental Highland spirit
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Bocconcino review: Unlimited pizza, pasta, prosecco and spritzes? This might be London’s dreamiest Sunday brunch
There are worse ways to spend a Sunday than eating unlimited pizza and pasta while someone dutifully tops up your Prosecco. In fact, forget the Sunday roast. If your idea of a superior weekend involves truffle pasta, wood-fired pizza and a bottomless Aperol Spritz in the middle of Soho, Bocconcino has cracked it. The name…
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