Premium indie bottler Whisky 1901 has expanded its portfolio with The Ledger Series, an intriguing new collection of single-cask Scotch whiskies that showcase the character, provenance and individuality of some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries.
Founded as a cask investment business, Whisky 1901 is widening its orbit with a range of carefully selected age-statement releases, each chosen to reflect its distillery’s house style and maturation journey.
The Ledger launch comprises six bottlings, ranging from 11 to 21 years old, from Miltonduff, Dailuaine, Tamnavulin, Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Invergordon.
The series follows the company’s ultra-premium Collection range, which includes the award-winning 35-year-old Glenburgie (£1,325) and a 25-year-old Jura (£500).
“When it came to creating the Ledger Series, from the 40 odd samples before me, there were three things I was looking for,” explains Matt Chambers, Master of Whisky at Whisky 1901. “Does the whisky reflect that distillery’s character and regional style? Does it show off the cask maturation to the best of its ability? And does it hit the sweet spot? These six really shone through.”
The Luxe Review attended the London launch of the range, at SushiSamba, one of the first accounts to take on the bottles, and sampled each expression. We discover a line-up that offers a fascinating snapshot of Scotland’s whisky landscape.
There’s definitely something here for everyone. Read on to discover our favourite…
The Ledger launch includes whiskies from Miltonduff, Dailuaine, Tamnavulin, Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Invergordon…
Whisky 1901 Ledger Series tasting notes
The Ledger Series takes its name from traditional whisky record-keeping. Each bottling is intended to document a particular cask’s journey. All carry age statements, and are bottled at natural cask strength.
First in the glass is the Tamnavulin Aged 13 Years, so we’re in classic Speyside (Whtye & Mackay) territory. Distilled in 2013 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s bottled at a punchy 58.2% ABV and limited to 186 bottles. Sweet toffee notes lead on the nose, while vanilla custard, pepper and spice emerge across the palate. A splash of water reveals green apple and pear notes, bringing additional freshness. Bright gold in colour, it’s a delicious buy at £155.
We follow with the single grain Invergordon 21 Year Old. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s bottled at 56.3% ABV, with 297 samples available, priced at £145. The liquid presents a delicate nose before opening into tropical fruit flavours on the palate. A creamy mouthfeel lends it a lush richness, while its pale appearance reflects gentle maturation.
The Dailuaine Aged 12 Years is one of the more intriguing offerings in the range. It’s a known Diageo workhorse malt used heavily in blends, including Johnnie Walker (where it’s valued for its body and weight), and this ex-bourbon cask release showcases this muscular nature. Bottled at 50.1% ABV and limited to 117 bottles, it offers aromas of vanilla and raisins before developing a dab of liquorice on the palate. It sells for £125.
Next up we have the Miltonduff Aged 18 Years. This Speyside distillery is a celebrated supplier to Ballantine’s and Chivas Regal, but it’s rare to find a single malt from this distillery, in the wild, at this age – especially from a sherry cask. Its deep copper-gold colour indicative of the richness within. It arrives at 52.1% ABV, and is limited to just 180 bottles. It opens with the sweetness you’d expect of its sherry-aging, but there’s a tannic grip that adds structure and depth. Priced at £160.
Arguably the stand-out bottling in the collection is the Glen Garioch Aged 11 Years. Distilled in 2014 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it arrives at 57.1% ABV, with only 137 bottles available. Dark chocolate dominates the nose, while the palate offers malt, raisins and cocoa notes. It’s a robust, comforting dram, reminiscent of malted drinks and chocolate-covered fruit. Deep gold in colour, it’s listed at £125.
Following the tasting we tried this dram in an espresso martini, and it was quite the digestif…
Finally, for peat enthusiasts, the Ardmore Aged 12 Years is also not to be missed. Distilled in 2013 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s a brawny 58.1% ABV. The smoke is distinctly Highland in style, sweet and fragrant rather than medicinal. Floral notes sit alongside the peat, creating a whisky of balance and finesse. Pale lemon in colour and limited to 235 bottles, it sells for a whiffy £150.
The Whisky 1901 Ledger Series is available now through the official Whisky 1901 site. Prices range from £125. Quantities are limited.
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…
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
Premium indie bottler Whisky 1901 has expanded its portfolio with The Ledger Series, an intriguing new collection of single-cask Scotch whiskies that showcase the character, provenance and individuality of some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries.
Founded as a cask investment business, Whisky 1901 is widening its orbit with a range of carefully selected age-statement releases, each chosen to reflect its distillery’s house style and maturation journey.
The Ledger launch comprises six bottlings, ranging from 11 to 21 years old, from Miltonduff, Dailuaine, Tamnavulin, Ardmore, Glen Garioch and Invergordon.
The series follows the company’s ultra-premium Collection range, which includes the award-winning 35-year-old Glenburgie (£1,325) and a 25-year-old Jura (£500).
“When it came to creating the Ledger Series, from the 40 odd samples before me, there were three things I was looking for,” explains Matt Chambers, Master of Whisky at Whisky 1901. “Does the whisky reflect that distillery’s character and regional style? Does it show off the cask maturation to the best of its ability? And does it hit the sweet spot? These six really shone through.”
The Luxe Review attended the London launch of the range, at SushiSamba, one of the first accounts to take on the bottles, and sampled each expression. We discover a line-up that offers a fascinating snapshot of Scotland’s whisky landscape.
There’s definitely something here for everyone. Read on to discover our favourite…
Whisky 1901 Ledger Series tasting notes
The Ledger Series takes its name from traditional whisky record-keeping. Each bottling is intended to document a particular cask’s journey. All carry age statements, and are bottled at natural cask strength.
First in the glass is the Tamnavulin Aged 13 Years, so we’re in classic Speyside (Whtye & Mackay) territory. Distilled in 2013 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s bottled at a punchy 58.2% ABV and limited to 186 bottles. Sweet toffee notes lead on the nose, while vanilla custard, pepper and spice emerge across the palate. A splash of water reveals green apple and pear notes, bringing additional freshness. Bright gold in colour, it’s a delicious buy at £155.
We follow with the single grain Invergordon 21 Year Old. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s bottled at 56.3% ABV, with 297 samples available, priced at £145. The liquid presents a delicate nose before opening into tropical fruit flavours on the palate. A creamy mouthfeel lends it a lush richness, while its pale appearance reflects gentle maturation.
The Dailuaine Aged 12 Years is one of the more intriguing offerings in the range. It’s a known Diageo workhorse malt used heavily in blends, including Johnnie Walker (where it’s valued for its body and weight), and this ex-bourbon cask release showcases this muscular nature. Bottled at 50.1% ABV and limited to 117 bottles, it offers aromas of vanilla and raisins before developing a dab of liquorice on the palate. It sells for £125.
Next up we have the Miltonduff Aged 18 Years. This Speyside distillery is a celebrated supplier to Ballantine’s and Chivas Regal, but it’s rare to find a single malt from this distillery, in the wild, at this age – especially from a sherry cask. Its deep copper-gold colour indicative of the richness within. It arrives at 52.1% ABV, and is limited to just 180 bottles. It opens with the sweetness you’d expect of its sherry-aging, but there’s a tannic grip that adds structure and depth. Priced at £160.
Arguably the stand-out bottling in the collection is the Glen Garioch Aged 11 Years. Distilled in 2014 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it arrives at 57.1% ABV, with only 137 bottles available. Dark chocolate dominates the nose, while the palate offers malt, raisins and cocoa notes. It’s a robust, comforting dram, reminiscent of malted drinks and chocolate-covered fruit. Deep gold in colour, it’s listed at £125.
Following the tasting we tried this dram in an espresso martini, and it was quite the digestif…
Finally, for peat enthusiasts, the Ardmore Aged 12 Years is also not to be missed. Distilled in 2013 and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s a brawny 58.1% ABV. The smoke is distinctly Highland in style, sweet and fragrant rather than medicinal. Floral notes sit alongside the peat, creating a whisky of balance and finesse. Pale lemon in colour and limited to 235 bottles, it sells for a whiffy £150.
The Whisky 1901 Ledger Series is available now through the official Whisky 1901 site. Prices range from £125. Quantities are limited.
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…
Pusser’s Rum revives its original 1979 blend with limited edition Founder’s Reserve
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Cù Bòcan Creation #9 is a 17 Year Old Highland whisky with a sweet and salty cinematic twist
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
Share this: