North British 2011/2026 - 15 y.o. - ??? Cask #5953564 - The Octave - 50th Anniversary Kirsch Import

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 55.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A finish in a small Oloroso octave cask shapes this Single Grain from North British. Part of Duncan Taylor's The Octave range, it was selected especially for the 50th anniversary of Kirsch Import. This cask format provides a greater internal wood surface area relative to the volume of liquid than larger casks. The additional maturation can therefore strengthen the cask's influence in a shorter time.

The whisky was distilled on 31 March 2011 and bottled on 15 September 2026 at 15 years old. Cask 5953564 yielded 88 bottles, each containing 0.7 litres at 55.3% alcohol. The whisky is non-chill filtered and contains no added colouring.

Alongside its sweet grain character, the whisky reveals dark fruit and creamy caramel notes. Orange peel, walnut and bitter oak provide contrasting accents. The dry Oloroso influence remains evident through the nutty, spicy finish.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Warm vanilla and caramel notes sit alongside fruity orange peel on the nose. Wood adds a subtle undertone.
• Palate: On the palate, the sweetness of pale grain and ripe figs combines with bitter walnut. Pronounced oak gives the body structure.
• Finish: The Oloroso influence remains dry on the finish, while nutty nuances linger. Oak provides a spicy closing note.

Distillery/Bottler:

North British was founded in Edinburgh in 1885 by Andrew Usher, William Sanderson and John Crabbie. All three owned whisky brands and wanted to secure their supply of grain spirit together. The distillery began operating in September 1887 and was run as a cooperative for the following hundred years. North British continues to supply grain whisky as a base for Blended Scotch.

Independent bottler Duncan Taylor is responsible for selecting and bottling this edition. For The Octave, mature whiskies are transferred from their original casks into small octave casks for a further period of maturation in Huntly. Regular sampling determines when the whisky is ready to be bottled. The whisky from each octave cask is bottled separately. This approach combines the selection of the initial whisky with carefully monitored secondary maturation.

Facts: