Top Ten Whiskies of 2025
A year in whisky
As 2025 draws to a close, we find ourselves looking back over our first full year in business as Scottish Rogue. It’s been an incredible year of Whisky Bar Walking Tours, Distillery Visits, Tasting Events, and, of course, the launch of DRAM JAM.
Throughout the last 12 months, we’ve been lucky enough to taste some excellent Scotch whiskies, and we thought it would be fun to compile a wee selection of some of our favourites.
We’d love to hear from you. What were your favourite drams of 2025? Tell us in the comments!
DEANSTON 8-YEAR-OLD BANYULS CASK FINISH
A distillery special release from one of our favourite local(ish) distilleries.
Deanston is a hidden gem distillery situated in Doune, near Stirling. This Banyuls Cask Finish was released in 2023, but it came into our possession at the end of ’24, and we soon became aware just how special it was.
Banyuls is a fortified wine, made from grapes grown in the Catalan Pyrenees, and it works fantastically well with Deanston’s waxy spirit.
We’ve had some great Deanston malts over the years, but this was something really special.
SMWS SMUGGLERS’ BACON (BUNNAHABHAIN)
This Small Batch Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling was released to celebrate the Islay Festival in 2024, but found its way into our keep in Bath St early this year.
Full-on, heavily peated and produced at Bunnahabhain distillery, it offered everything we want in an Islay malt.
The whisky had been matured in a combination of refill, 2nd fill bourbon and PX sherry hogsheads. The subtle influence of the sherry added a sweet counterpoint to the coastal peat.
A great dram we shared with many of our guests.
CADENHEAD’S ENIGMA LOWLAND 11 YEAR OLD
This Cadenhead’s bottle was included in our Independent Bottlers special at DRAM JAM back in August.
It was the surprise standout on a strong lineup of big-hitting drams from distilleries like Glasgow, Mortlach and Caol Ila.
Produced at an undisclosed Lowland distillery, the whisky was matured in refill oloroso casks and bottled at natural cask strength.
An unexpected highlight.
DRÁM MÓR HIGHLAND PARK 18 YEAR OLD
Dràm Mòr has been one of our favourite independent bottlers for a while now. The consistency in the quality of their output is staggeringly good.
It was great to have Kenny along to host the November edition of DRAM JAM, and this 18-year-old Highland Park was a real showstopper.
Highland Park was the dram that got me into whisky in the first place, so I’m always pleased to see it, especially when it’s as good as this.
PINTAIL LAPHROAIG 16 YEAR OLD
Pintail is a range of wine-finished whiskies from independent bottler, The Whisky Cellar.
This mature Laphroaig formed part of the lineup at our Islay-themed DRAM JAM back in May.
At 16 years, this release toned down some of the famous distillery’s feisty smoke and paired it with the rich, dried fruits of an oloroso cask finish. Absolutely lush.
THE MASK OF EL PEATÓN 15-YEAR-OLD (ARDMORE)
Part of the WhiskyHeroes series from Brave New Spirits, the Mask of El Peatón is a single cask distilled at an undisclosed (Ardmore) Highland distillery.
This peated whisky featured in the July edition of DRAM JAM. It’s 15 years old and finished in a first-fill Tequila barrel.
This excellent whisky has all the trademark smoky bacon notes you’d expect from an Ardmore, but adds a big dollop of tequila on top. Unique and really, really fun.
KILCHOMAN SANAIG CASK STRENGTH
Back in March, John and I visited the famous Whisky Isle to take part in the Islay Whisky Academy.
A lot of excellent drams were sampled that week, but among the highlights was this sherry-led belter from Kilchoman.
Sanaig is made by combining Bourbon-matured spirit with sherry-cask spirit, and when presented at full cask strength, it offers a rich, intensely smoky experience.
VELVET ODYSSEY (CLYDESIDE DISTILLERY)
We’re massive fans of the Clydeside Distillery and have loved everything they’ve put out so far this year.
Their Napier whisky has been a regular feature on our Whisky Bar Walking Tours, but Velvet Odyssey stood out as something a wee bit special.
Velvet Odyssey was released to celebrate 20 years of SWG3, and world-renowned visual artist Jim Lambie designed the label.
The whisky was matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel before being finished for five months in PX sherry.
TURNTABLE TRACK 07: BORN TO BE WILD
We can’t wait to have Turntable Spirits join us at the Old Toll Bar for this year’s final edition of DRAM JAM.
We were fortunate to attend the launch of their latest release, Track 07, back in early October.
“Born to be Wild” is a blended Scotch whisky that contains spirit from Port Dundas, Ardnamurchan, Lochlea, Nc’nean and Raasay distilleries.
A great dram that combines spirit from some of Scotland’s best new distilleries.
GLASGOW 1770 10 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION
There’s no way we could have compiled this list without including at least one 1770 release.
Many of Glasgow Distillery’s releases have focused on wood. Whether it be Madeira, Cognac or Syrah, there’s been a great selection of interesting casks.
For this limited edition ten-year-old, however, the distillery team took a stripped-back approach, showcasing the spirit in a traditional bourbon cask.
The result was a light, fruity whisky with subtle cask influence. A new take on Glasgow’s whisky and perhaps a glimpse at more to come.
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