Whisky from Highland Park
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Highland Park 10y Incl. Box
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Highland Park 10y Incl. Box
Only 2 left in stock!
Highland Park 10y is a Scottish single malt from Orkney, bottled at 40%. The essentials are straightforward but meaningful: a ten-year-old Highland Park with a clearly stated island origin and a maturation background that includes sherry and bourbon casks.
Rather than presenting itself as a heavy or highly forceful whisky, the available profile points to a more restrained direction, with light floral, fruity and spicy elements. The cask information gives it context without turning the whisky into a technical exercise.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a clear and approachable way to discover Highland Park in a 10-year-old expression: Scottish single malt, Orkney character, and a flavour profile that stays on the subtle side.
The (…)Highland Park 14y Loyalty Of The Wolf 1l Incl. Box
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Highland Park 14y Loyalty Of The Wolf 1l Incl. Box
Temporarily sold out
Highland Park 14y Loyalty Of The Wolf is a Scotch single malt from Orkney, bottled at 42.3% and presented here in a generous one-litre format. With 14 years of age, it sits in an appealing middle ground for Highland Park: mature enough to feel developed, without being framed as a heavy or forceful whisky.
The cask background brings together sherry and bourbon influence. Rather than pointing to a strongly wood-led style, the available profile suggests a gentler composition, with light fruit, spice, floral notes and a restrained touch of peat. That makes the whisky feel more about measured detail than one dominant flavour direction.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Highland Park for customers who appreciate the Orkney origin and want a slightly more (…)Highland Park 15y Viking Heart
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Highland Park 15y Viking Heart
In stock
Highland Park 15y Viking Heart is a 15-year-old Scottish single malt from Orkney. In the range at Drankenshop Broekmans, it stands out as a whisky where island origin, sherry seasoned oak and a clearly fruity-spiced profile come together in a composed way.
The sherry seasoned oak gives the whisky direction, while the wood itself remains more of a supporting element than a dominant force. Bottled at 44%, it has enough presence to carry its fruit and spice without losing its more subtle details.
Those details matter here: a light salty edge and gentle peat sit behind the main fruit and spice character. It makes Viking Heart a Highland Park with a distinctly Orkney feel, layered but not overstated.
The flavour impression centres on fruit and (…)Highland Park 18y Incl. Box
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Highland Park 18y Incl. Box
In stock
Highland Park 18y is a Scotch single malt from Orkney, shaped by eighteen years of maturation and a sherry cask influence. The profile is led by fruit, with gentle wood and spice playing a supporting role rather than taking over the whisky.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of older single malt we like to introduce through its sense of maturity rather than through spectacle. The 18-year age statement, the sherry-matured character and the classic 43% strength all point towards a whisky where time and restraint matter.
What makes Highland Park 18y stand out in this context is the combination of Orkney origin, long ageing and a fruit-driven sherry style. It is a whisky for someone who wants a mature single malt with structure, but without the emphasis (…)Highland Park 18y Macb (Elixir Distillers - Macbeth Series)
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Highland Park 18y Macb (Elixir Distillers - Macbeth Series)
On request only
Highland Park 18y Macb belongs to Elixir Distillers' Macbeth Collection, a series of Scottish whiskies built around characters from Shakespeare's tragedy. This release is linked to Young Siward, a youthful figure full of promise, old enough to go to war but still carrying the energy of someone at the beginning of life. That idea gives this 18-year-old Highland Park a particularly engaging angle.
Matured in refill hogsheads, it does not lean on the more typical sherry-led side of Highland Park. The story here is more about clarity and lift: Orkney heather smoke, honeyed notes and a freshness that ties in beautifully with the summer-like character described for the bottling. The 50.8% strength adds substance without making the whisky feel purely about power.
At (…)Highland Park 18y Sky Of Orkney Incl. Box
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Highland Park 18y Sky Of Orkney Incl. Box
Only 3 left in stock!
Highland Park 18y Sky Of Orkney places its origin at the heart of the bottle. This is an 18-year-old Scottish single malt from Orkney, and the name itself keeps that island connection firmly in view.
There is a quiet seriousness to an age statement of 18 years. It tells you that this is not a young or casual release, but a whisky shaped by time and presented at 46% alcohol, giving it a clear presence without needing a long list of technical details.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Highland Park for customers who appreciate a mature single malt with a strong sense of place. Sky Of Orkney is best approached as a considered bottle: Scottish, Orcadian, and built around the depth that comes with age.
No specific tasting notes were (…)Highland Park 1992 24y Dd (The Nectar Of The Daily Drams)
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Highland Park 1992 24y Dd (The Nectar Of The Daily Drams)
Very last one in stock!
Highland Park 1992 24y DD is a Scottish single malt from Orkney, bottled by The Nectar as part of The Nectar of the Daily Drams series. Distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2016, it spent 24 years maturing before being released as an independent bottling.
Its appeal lies in the specificity of the release. This is a single cask whisky from a hogshead, bottled at cask strength at 50%. Rather than a broad house-style expression, it presents one particular cask and one particular stage of maturation.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, bottlings like this are valued for precisely that sense of individuality. The combination of mature age, single cask origin, collectors item status and last available bottles gives this release a noticeably limited character.
The (…)Highland Park 1995 (Jack Wieber's - The Scottish Malt's Steamship Line)
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Highland Park 1995 (Jack Wieber's - The Scottish Malt's Steamship Line)
On request only
Highland Park 1995 is a Scottish single malt from Orkney with a very focused story behind it. Rather than being a broad official release, it was independently bottled by Jack Wieber's for The Scottish Malt's Steamship Line series. That immediately gives it a more individual identity: one cask, one bottling, one limited snapshot of maturation.
Distilled in 1995 and bottled on 25 November 2014, it spent 19 years in a hogshead before being released at cask strength, 54.2% ABV. With only 156 bottles produced, and now down to the last bottles, it sits in the Drankenshop Broekmans range as a particularly small-scale Highland Park for those who enjoy whisky with a clear sense of origin and bottling context.
What makes it interesting is the combination of Orkney (…)Highland Park 2000 (Signatory - Cask Collection) Tube Incl.
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Highland Park 2000 (Signatory - Cask Collection) Tube Incl.
On request only
Highland Park 2000 from Signatory is the kind of bottling where the appeal lies in its precision. This Orkney single malt was distilled on 24 August 2000 and bottled on 19 January 2016 at 15 years of age, released as part of Signatory's Cask Collection. It comes from a single cask and was bottled at cask strength, with an alcoholic strength of 56.1%.
The cask was a Bourbon Barrel, giving this release a clear sense of individuality rather than the broader profile of a larger batch. Only 194 bottles were produced, and with the last bottles now available, it has become an increasingly scarce Highland Park selection. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a bottle for those who appreciate independent single cask releases with a very specific identity.
Its (…)Highland Park 2003 18y Viking Soul Incl. Box
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Highland Park 2003 18y Viking Soul Incl. Box
Only 2 left in stock!
Highland Park 2003 18y Viking Soul is a Scottish single malt from Orkney with a very defined sense of origin and cask identity. It was drawn from a single sherry butt, matured for 18 years and bottled at a powerful 60% ABV. Rather than presenting a broad house style, this release captures one specific cask in its own right.
Only 565 bottles were produced, and with the last bottles now noted, its limited nature is part of the appeal. As a collectors item, it has a place at Drankenshop Broekmans among whiskies chosen for their individuality, scarcity and clear connection to a single maturation vessel.
The flavour profile places fruit at the centre, supported by lighter touches of wood, spice, floral notes, saltiness and gentle peat. That gives the whisky an (…)Highland Park 2008 10y Sc
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Highland Park 2008 10y Sc
In stock
Highland Park 2008 10y SC is a very focused Orkney single malt: one distillation year, one sherry hogshead and a limited outturn of 335 bottles. It was distilled on 17 November 2008 and bottled on 22 August 2019 after 10 years of maturation.
The appeal here lies in its single cask nature and cask strength presentation. At 59.8%, it carries real intensity, with the sherry hogshead supporting a character built around wood, spice and fruit. Peat is present, but only as a lighter element rather than the dominant feature.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Highland Park we value for its specificity: not a broad house-style statement, but a snapshot from one individual cask. With only the last bottles remaining, it has the feel of a sharply defined and (…)Highland Park 2008 12y Nectar
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Highland Park 2008 12y Nectar
In stock
Highland Park 2008 12y Nectar is a more focused reading of this Orkney single malt, drawn from one individual cask rather than built from a broader vatting. Distilled in 2008 and bottled in August 2021, it carries the 12-year age statement shown on the release.
The whisky comes from a sherry hogshead and was bottled at cask strength, at a substantial 66.2% alcohol. That gives the cask a very direct voice. With only 294 bottles produced, this is a tightly limited release that captures one specific maturation rather than a repeated house-style expression.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we place this Highland Park among the bottlings that are worth taking time over, especially for drinkers interested in single cask whisky with real presence. The supplied profile (…)Highland Park 2009 12y Spirits In The Sky Incl. Box
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Highland Park 2009 12y Spirits In The Sky Incl. Box
In stock
Highland Park 2009 12y Spirits In The Sky is a very specific snapshot of Orkney single malt. Distilled on 16 November 2009 and bottled in 2022, it comes from a refill hogshead selected for the Spirits in the Sky Single Cask Series.
At 65.2% ABV, this was bottled at cask strength, keeping the whisky close to the way it came from the cask. The refill hogshead seems central to its style: enough wood, spice and fruit to give structure, while still leaving room for the individual character of the whisky to come through.
For Drankenshop Broekmans, the interest here lies in the combination of precision and scarcity. One cask, twelve years of maturation, a release of fewer than three hundred bottles and now only limited stock remaining. It is not a broad house-style (…)Highland Park 21y Incl. Box
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Highland Park 21y Incl. Box
In stock
Highland Park 21y is a Scottish single malt from Orkney where age and cask influence shape the conversation. With 21 years behind it, it sits firmly in mature whisky territory, while the use of sherry and bourbon casks adds breadth rather than pushing the whisky into one narrow style.
The appeal here is in the way the elements are measured. Oak is clearly part of the profile, supported by gentler notes of fruit, spice and a light touch of peat. It gives the whisky a developed, composed character without making smoke the dominant theme.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see Highland Park 21y as a bottle for drinkers who enjoy older Scottish single malts where maturation, island origin and restrained peat are all part of the experience. Bottled at 46%, it has enough (…)Highland Park 25y
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Highland Park 25y
Last one in stock!
Highland Park 25y is a 25-year-old single malt whisky from Orkney in Scotland. Its age immediately sets the mood: this is a mature Scotch where time and oak are central to the experience.
The oak cask maturation matches the flavour direction shown in the profile, with wood, spice and fruit all clearly present. Rather than leaning on one single element, it gives the impression of a whisky shaped by long maturation and a measured, grown-up style.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Highland Park we would introduce with a bit of calm attention. The combination of Orkney origin, 25 years of ageing and 45.7% alcohol makes it a serious single malt for those who appreciate depth and maturity in Scotch whisky.
The available flavour profile (…)Highland Park 30y Incl. Box
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Highland Park 30y Incl. Box
Last one in stock!
Highland Park 30y is a Scotch single malt from Orkney where age is central to the story. Thirty years of maturation gives this whisky a different kind of presence from younger releases: more composed, more mature, and shaped by time rather than by force.
With only 1,626 bottles released, this is not an everyday Highland Park. It represents a clearly defined and limited chapter within the brand. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as the kind of bottle that speaks to drinkers looking for older single malt with provenance, maturity and a measured sense of rarity.
The available flavour profile points towards wood, spice and fruit as the main elements, supported by gentler floral, salty and lightly peated accents. That combination gives the whisky an Orkney (…)Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 3 Incl. Box
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Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 3 Incl. Box
Last one in stock!
Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 3 is a Scotch single malt from Orkney with a deliberately powerful presentation. Bottled at 64.1% ABV, it keeps close to its cask strength form, giving the whisky a more direct and concentrated feel than a gentler, heavily reduced release.
Sherry maturation shapes the background of this batch, with spice standing out as the main thread. Fruit sits in a lighter supporting role, alongside a modest touch of wood and peat. With no age statement on the label, the focus is less on years and more on the character of the batch itself.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Highland Park for drinkers who enjoy intensity and cask strength presentation, while still wanting a whisky where peat and oak remain part of the composition (…)Highland Park Cast Strength Batch 4 Incl. Box
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Highland Park Cast Strength Batch 4 Incl. Box
In stock
Highland Park Cast Strength Batch 4 is a Scotch single malt from Orkney with a deliberately powerful presentation. Bottled at 64.3%, it keeps the cask strength character at the centre rather than smoothing everything down.
With no age statement, the focus falls on the identity of this particular batch. The profile is led by wood, with lighter accents of spice, fruit, floral notes, salinity and peat. It is a more direct way to approach Highland Park, shaped by strength and by the layered but restrained flavour dimensions behind it.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, releases like this sit in that more contemplative corner of the whisky shelf: bottles that invite a slower tasting and a little patience in the glass.
The flavour profile is mainly driven by (…)Highland Park Dragon Legends Incl. Box
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Highland Park Dragon Legends Incl. Box
In stock
Highland Park Dragon Legends is a single malt from Orkney with a name that immediately gives it a sense of atmosphere. As a no age statement whisky, it is less about a number on the label and more about a particular style: a Scottish island malt where peat is clearly part of the experience, supported by lighter fruity and spicy notes.
The use of sherry and bourbon casks gives this Highland Park a layered foundation without taking the focus away from its smoky side. The peat stands out, yet the whisky is not built on smoke alone. Fruit and spice sit in a supporting role, adding shape to the overall profile.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, Dragon Legends fits naturally among Highland Park releases for drinkers who want an Orkney single malt with a distinct peated (…)Highland Park Fire 15y
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Highland Park Fire 15y
On request only
Highland Park Fire 15y is a Scottish single malt from Orkney with a very distinct identity within the Highland Park range. The name gives it immediate presence, yet the real point of interest is the combination of 15 years of maturation and a port matured cask style.
With 28,000 bottles released, this is a defined edition rather than an everyday bottling, and the available stock is now down to the last bottles. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see it as one of those Highland Park releases that carries extra interest because it is both limited in scope and identified in the product data as a collector's item.
The flavour profile points towards a restrained mix of fruit, spice, wood and gentle peat, each present without one element taking over completely. That (…)Highland Park Gallia Belgica
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Highland Park Gallia Belgica
On request only
Highland Park Gallia Belgica is a Scottish single malt from Orkney, distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2020 at 12 years of age. As a single cask release bottled at cask strength, 63.5%, it presents Highland Park through the lens of one individual cask rather than a wider house-style expression.
Within the selection at Drankenshop Broekmans, this bottle stands out because its appeal lies in precision and scarcity: 621 bottles were released, and these are now the last bottles. It has the feel of a defined, limited chapter for those who enjoy whisky with a clear sense of origin and bottling identity.
The flavour profile places wood, spice and fruit at the centre, supported by lighter salty and peated notes. That gives Gallia Belgica a firm, concentrated presence (…)Highland Park Ice 17y
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Highland Park Ice 17y
On request only
Highland Park Ice 17y is a Scottish single malt from Orkney with a more distinctive place in the Highland Park range. The 17-year age statement, bourbon cask maturation and 53.9% alcohol strength give it a serious presence without needing a long list of embellishments.
Its limited nature is part of the attraction. A total of 30,000 bottles were released, and the whisky is marked as a collector's item. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as the kind of bottle that speaks to drinkers looking for a specific Highland Park release with age, origin and scarcity all playing a role.
The stated flavour profile points to a layered rather than overpowering style. Light wood, spice, fruit and peat are all present, with no single element described as dominant. That (…)Highland Park Ragnvald
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Highland Park Ragnvald
On request only
Highland Park Ragnvald is a Scottish single malt from Orkney with a clear emphasis on spice. Bottled at 44.6%, it has enough strength to carry that character confidently, while staying composed rather than forceful.
The oak cask maturation sits in the background as support, rather than turning the whisky into a wood-driven dram. Lighter fruit notes, a modest oak presence and a gentle touch of peat frame the spiced core. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see Ragnvald as a Highland Park for those who enjoy an Orkney single malt where spice leads the conversation and smoke remains restrained.
The flavour impression is led by clear spice. Fruit, oak and light peat play supporting roles, giving the whisky a layered feel without making it heavy.
The wood (…)Highland Park Saxo 2003 15y Single Cask
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Highland Park Saxo 2003 15y Single Cask
On request only
Highland Park Saxo 2003 15y Single Cask is a Scottish single malt from Orkney built around a very focused idea: one cask, fifteen years of maturation and a limited outturn of 605 bottles. Distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2018, it captures a specific cask rather than the broader style of a larger release.
The sherry maturation and cask strength bottling give this Highland Park a firm presence. At 59.8% ABV, it speaks with real concentration, with the profile centred on fruit and spice, supported by a lighter touch of wood and a gentle peated note.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, releases like this are valued for their precision and limited nature. The collector's item appeal is grounded in the details: a single cask Highland Park, matured for 15 years, bottled at (…)
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about whisky
What is whisky?
Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains (such as barley, corn, rye or wheat) and then aged in wooden casks, usually oak. The result is a complex drink with aromas that can range from fruity and floral to smoky, spicy or woody.
Generally speaking, a drink must meet the following basic requirements to be called whisky:
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Made from grains
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Fermented with yeast
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Distilled to a maximum of ±94.8% alcohol (so that flavour is retained)
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Matured in wooden casks
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Bottled with a minimum of 40% alcohol
Which whisky is tasty?
Which whisky is good? Which whisky is good? The answer to these questions is so specific and so personal that we cannot possibly answer them for everyone. In our range of whisky you will find more than 3,000 bottlings, each with their own taste and profile, to objectively identify a universal "good whisky" is impossible.
You can look for the whisky you like in different ways. Either you start from whisky with a fairly flat and neutral flavour profile and expand and explore from there, but other enthusiasts prefer to start at the extremes to quickly discover what they absolutely do not like. We would not recommend that second approach, as whisky with a distinct character is often an "aqcuired taste", something you gradually work towards and often learn to develop an appreciation for as you build your palate.
Are you looking for a whisky for someone else and have no idea what they drink and what they like? If so, limit yourself to whisky with a light and balanced flavour profile. With most of our whisky, you will find a flavour profile where the whisky is rated from 0 to 3 on six basic pillars: peaty, spicy, salty, woody, floral and fruity. If you blindly buy a whisky for someone else, limit yourself to whisky where none of the six pillars slip through. If you do know what kind of whisky the lucky person drinks, then with a bit of luck, you can also find that whisky in our range and from there you can look for other whiskies that have a similar flavour profile.
Is whisky Scotch or Irish?
Both Scotland and Ireland claim the origins of whisky, and both countries have a rich history of distilling it. The earliest written mention of whisky comes from Ireland, from the 12th century. But Scotland has brought the art of whisky making to perfection and today is famous worldwide for its whiskies. Ultimately, whisky is both Scottish and Irish, each with its own unique traditions and flavours.
What is Scotch whisky?
In addition to the basic rules to speak of whisky, there are a number of additional conditions for Scotch whisky.
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Must be wholly produced and matured in Scotland
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Aged for at least 3 years in oak casks
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Only water and caramel colour (E150a) may be added
Which Scottish regions are famous for their whisky?
Scotland is divided into a number of regions, each of which makes its own signature whisky. Exactly how many there are depends on how accurately you want to describe them.
On the Scottish mainland, we talk about
- Highland (Ben Nevis, Ardnamurchan, Edradour, ...)
- Lowland (Johnny Cree, Lochlea, Auchentoshan, ...)
- Campbeltown (Springbank, Kilkerran, Longrow, ...)
- Speyside (Benriach, Tomintoul, Glenglassaugh, ...)
As the first island, Islay is always mentioned separately. From Islay come mainly peated whiskies such as Bowmore, Port Ellen, Bruichladdich and Ardbeg.
You will also find a number of islands around Scotland, called the "Islands". Within that group, another distinction is often made between
- Isle of Arran
- Isle of Harris
- Jura
- Mull (Ledaig, Tobermory, ...)
- Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa, ...)
- Skye (Talisker, ...)
What is Irish whiskey?
To speak of Irish whiskey, the drink must meet a number of additional conditions.
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Produced and matured in Ireland
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Aged for at least 3 years in wooden casks
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Often triple-distilled, but this is not compulsory
What is American whiskey?
American whiskey is also again subject to a number of specific rules, in addition to the basic guidelines to speak of whiskey.
For bourbon whiskey:
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At least 51% corn in the grain mix
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Matured in new charred oak barrels
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Distilled to a maximum of 80% alcohol
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In the barrel a maximum of 62.5% alcohol
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No additives allowed (except water)
For rye whiskey, at least 51% rye must be used.
Tennessee whiskey follows the same guidelines as bourbon, but must be filtered through charcoal.
What is the difference between "whisky" and "whiskey"
The difference in terminology is related to the country of origin. In principle, "whiskey" is always referred to, except when spirits from the United States or Ireland are involved. In those countries, the term "whiskey" is consistently used.
What is the difference between single malt, blended and grain whisky?
Single malt whisky comes from a single distillery and is made exclusively from malted barley. These whiskies often have a distinct and characterful flavour profile. Blended whisky is a mix of different whiskies (both malt and grain) and tends to be softer and more approachable. Grain whisky is made from other grains such as corn or wheat and is often used in blends, but also exists as a separate bottling with a lighter style.
What is a "no age statement" whisky?
If a whisky is marked "NAS" or "No Age Statement", it means that no age is stated on the bottle.
When an age is mentioned on the bottle, it must, according to the rules, always be the youngest whisky in the blend and not the age that is most represented percentage-wise in the blend. A producer will therefore deliberately choose not to state an age on his bottle in two cases: when an old whisky is blended with a small proportion of younger whisky, or when young whisky is blended with a proportion of older whisky. In the first case, he does not want to put a young age on his bottle if his blend contains mainly older whisky, and in the second case, marketing-wise it is more interesting to go out with that particle of older whisky.
What is a "single cask" whisky?
A single cask means that the whisky in the bottle comes from only one cask and was not blended with another whisky from another cask. Because the content comes from a single cask, the number of bottles depends on the size of the cask and the evaporation of the product (the so-called Angel's Share), the number of bottles is limited (and often numbered) and no new bottles of this specific reference come onto the market. A single cask is thus always unique in flavour and profile, and never quite comparable to similar bottles that do not come from the same cask.
What is a whisky at "cask strength" ?
A cask strength whisky is not diluted with water before bottling, but goes straight from the cask into the bottle and therefore retains the alcohol percentage during/after cask maturation. One of the advantages of cask strength whisky is that as a drinker you can decide how strong you like your whisky by diluting or not diluting it with a little water yourself according to your preference, rather than the producer having already done this for you. Cask Strength whisky has a higher alcohol content and this can sometimes suppress the subtlety of the whisky.
What does the term non-chill filtered mean?
The term non-chill filtered, or well-known variations of it such as "unchilled filtered" or "not cold filtered", indicates that the spirit was not cold filtered before bottling. During cold filtration ("chill filtration"), the whisky is cooled to around freezing point and then filtered. This process removes certain substances from the spirit such as fatty acids, proteins and esters.
Whisky that does not undergo that specific filtering process has a number of specific properties: they often have more character, the mouthfeel is fuller and oilier and more flavour compounds are retained. Because they have more body, they often feel creamier on the palate and the aromas are more intense. The disadvantage of skipping cold filtering is that the whisky can be cloudier.
Most whisky on the market is chill filtered because it produces a clear and consistent spirit in the bottle and in the glass, even with the addition of ice or water. That consistency leads to better presentation and less chance of consumer complaints. Unchill filtered whisky is especially popular with aficionados and purists for the same reason, because they know and understand why their whisky is the way it is. For this reason, "chill filtered" is usually not explicitly stated, but "unchill filtered" is.
What is a peated whisky?
The term "peat", often also described as "smoky", "smoked" or "peated" is part of the flavour profile that is very typical and recognisable in whisky.
Peated whisky evokes scents of a seaside campfire, a smoky charcoal grill, and sometimes even medicinal, salty notes reminiscent of the Scottish coast. These whiskies have a depth and character that either enchant or terrify aficionados.
Peat is an organic material made up of compressed plant remains, formed over centuries in boggy areas. In Scotland, where peated whisky originated, peat has traditionally been used as a fuel. This later became an integral part of the whisky-making process and resulted in the unique smoky flavour these whiskies are known for.
The distinctive flavour of peated whisky is created in the malt phase of whisky production. Barley is first soaked in water and then spread out to germinate. During this process, the barley begins to develop sugars that are later needed for fermentation. Once the barley starts germinating, drying is interrupted by a fire of burning peat. The smoke soaks into the barley and impregnates it with phenols - the chemical compounds responsible for the smoky flavour.
Which whisky suits my taste (sweet, smoky, fruity...)?
Whisky can be roughly categorised by flavour profiles. Do you like sweet? Then go for whiskies with notes of vanilla, caramel or honey (often matured in bourbon casks). Prefer fruity? Choose Speyside or Irish whiskies with fresh apple and citrus aromas. If you are a fan of powerful, smoky flavours, then Islay whiskies are a good choice. Those who like spicy or woody notes may look more towards whiskies with sherry barrel maturation.
Which whisky is good for beginners?
For beginners, accessible, smooth whiskies without too much smoke or complexity are ideal. Think fruity and slightly sweet styles, such as many Irish whiskies or soft Scottish Speyside whiskies. These often have notes of apple, honey and vanilla and are easy to drink. Avoid strongly smoky (peated) whiskies at first, as that flavour is too intense for some. From there, you can gradually discover which styles suit you best.
Which whisky makes a good gift?
A good gift whisky is usually a safe, accessible choice that will appeal to many people. For example, choose a well-known single malt with a smooth and balanced profile, or a nice bottle in a gift box.
Do you know the recipient's tastes? Then you can choose more specifically: a smoky whisky for lovers of powerful flavours, or a fruity and mellow variant for beginners. In doubt? Then you will always be right with a classic, non-smoky whisky.
What does the designation PPM mean in a whisky?
The abbreviation PPM is used to describe the intensity of the peat flavour in a peated whisky. The abbreviation PPM stands for Phenol Parts Per Million, and the higher the number the more intense the peat flavour is. A whisky with 10 PPM has a subtle smoky character while a whisky with 50 PPM or higher can be a real smoke bomb.
How strong is whisky?
When people talk about the "strength" of liquor, they usually mean its alcohol content (ABV).
Whisky is a regulated product, meaning that a number of conditions must be met before the final product can be called "whisky". One of the rules is the minimum alcohol content: in the EU (including Scotch and Irish whiskey), the US and Canada, whisky must contain a minimum of 40% alcohol by volume to be called whisky.
Many standard bottlings are around 40-43%, some quality or "non-chill filtered" releases choose 46% ABV. In the US, bourbon and rye are also common at 45-50% ABV (e.g. Bottled-in-Bond at 50%). In Japan, 40-43% is common. "Cask strength" or "barrel proof" whiskies are bottled undiluted and are therefore higher in strength: usually between about 50% and 65%. Regional exceptions exist, such as India where many whiskies are bottled around 42.8% ABV,
For average commercial whiskies, 40-46% is the normal range, and you will find most whiskies within that range.
What does the designation "proof" mean in whisky?
You may also have seen "proof" written on bottles, for example "100 proof". It is an alternative way of indicating the strength of whisky and is only used in the US today. The formula is thankfully simple; the "proof" value is actually double the alcohol content (ABV). In other words, a bottle of "100 proof" corresponds to 50% alcohol.
What is meant by "small batch"?
"Small batch" is a term indicating that the whisky was produced in relatively small quantities per batch (production run). Instead of huge volumes being mixed continuously, the distiller selected only a limited number of casks or ingredients to bring together. The idea behind it is to have more control over quality, flavour and consistency, for example by blending a few carefully chosen casks to achieve a specific flavour profile.
Small Batch often suggests craftsmanship and attention to detail, but it is not a strictly regulated term. So there is no set definition of exactly how much "small" is, and it can vary greatly from producer to producer.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive whisky?
The price difference is often in factors such as ageing time, casks used, production method and rarity. More expensive whiskies have usually matured for longer or come from special casks, providing more complexity and depth. However, this does not mean that a more expensive whisky is always "tastier". Taste remains personal, and there are also affordable whiskies of excellent quality that perfectly suit your preference.
What does the age on a whisky bottle mean?
The age on a whisky bottle indicates the minimum time the whisky has been aged in cask. In blends, this means that the youngest whisky in the blend is that age.
During that maturation, the whisky develops its flavour, colour and aromas. The longer the ageing, the more influence the cask has on the final result.
Which whisky is suitable as an investment?
If you are looking for a bottle as an investment, the references we refer to as "Collector" are often a good choice. However, it is no guarantee of success, some bottles rise in values, others do not and in a few cases a sudden hype drives the price up suddenly. For this reason, always keep Jan Broekmans' own advice in mind: don't buy whisky as an investment that you would never want to drink yourself. If the price doesn't go up, at least you'll still have the pleasure of drinking them yourself.
Is older whisky always better?
Not necessary. Older whisky can be more complex and softer, but sometimes loses fresh or fruity characteristics. Quality depends on many factors, such as the cask and the conditions in which the whisky matures.
Ultimately, "better" is a matter of taste. Some younger whiskies can be surprisingly lively and full of character, perfectly matching what you are looking for.
Does whisky mature further in the bottle?
No, whisky matures only in cask. Once the whisky is bottled, the maturation process stops completely.
In principle, the flavour remains stable, although an opened bottle can change slightly after a long time due to contact with oxygen. This is why it is best to store whisky tightly sealed and out of direct sunlight.
Is whisky going bad?
Whisky is a strong drink with a high alcohol content, which means it has a virtually unlimited shelf life. If you have a bottle of whisky that is properly sealed, you can keep it for years, even decades, without its taste or quality deteriorating. However, the flavour can change if the whisky is exposed to light, air or temperature fluctuations. If there is too much air in the bottle relative to liquid then "oxidation" can also occur, directly affecting its flavour and intensity.
So an open bottle of whisky will often lose some of its aromas over time, but it will not "go bad".
Make sure you store your bottle in a cool, dark place and seal it well after each use, and that the bottle is always at least a quarter full (the less air there is in the bottle, the less oxidation can occur). Leftovers are best poured into smaller sample bottles that can be sealed well from the outside air (apothecary bottles are ideal, glass decanters are not), or you can artificially fill the original bottle with, say, marbles to reduce the volume of air in the bottle.
What is an independent bottler?
Independent bottlers are entrepreneurs who buy whisky from existing distilleries and then bottle or blend it themselves. They are not involved in the actual production process, but they take care of the further development of the whisky. This means they select the casks themselves and decide how long the whisky matures, in order to create a unique final product.
Some whiskies are sold exclusively to independent bottlers and are not used for the original distillery's range. Examples of such bottlers include Signatory, Douglas Laing, and Cadenhead's.
There are also 'secret bottlings', where the bottler does not reveal which distillery the casks come from.
Independent bottlings are usually single casks. They are often not coloured, are usually non-chill filtered and very limited in availability, which only makes the product more unique. This constitutes a delightful change from regular whiskies, you could say.
In which glass do you pour whisky?
The classic glass in which whisky is very often poured is called a tumbler. This is a low, straight and wide glass. Some people prefer to drink their whisky from these glasses because of the tradition and the feel it gives. This glass has a wide, cylindrical shape and a thick bottom, making it perfect to use when mixing whisky with other drinks like cola or water, for example, or when you want to add ice to your whisky. It is most often used with bourbon and blended whisky.
However, connoisseurs prefer to opt for a tulip-shaped glass, as it bundles the aromas better in the nose. Snifters and copita glasses, for example, have such a shape, but are still more commonly associated with cognac and sherry. The general consensus therefore seems to be that the Glencairn glass is still usually the best choice to maximise the better whisky. The advantage of all three is that you can hold the glass in such a way that your body heat will not warm up the spirit in your glass.
Do you drink whisky with ice?
The most loaded question is whether you should drink whisky at room temperature or "on the rocks". We take no position on right or wrong and advise everyone to enjoy it in the way that suits them best. If you like a particular whisky better on ice rather than at room temperature, who are we to deprive you of that pleasure?
That said, there are some differences: a room-temperature whisky evaporates more easily, making the nose more intense as with a chilled whisky. In turn, using ice dilutes the whisky, so the flavour and intensity can diminish once that ice starts to melt in your glass. Whisky stones can be a good alternative if you don't like a whisky at room temperature but at the same time don't want your spirit to be diluted by the melting ice in your glass either.
Should you add water to whisky?
Adding water to whisky is not a must, but it can help release aromas better. Especially with whiskies with a higher alcohol content, a few drops of water can make the flavour more accessible.
Most important is personal preference: drink whisky the way you like it best, pure, with water or possibly with ice.
What is a "dram"?
A "dram" usually refers to one serving of whisky. The quantity of a dram is around 3cl, some serve 2.5cl and others go up to 3.5cl. From a 5cl sample or mini-bottle, you basically get just 2 drams, enough to discover a spirit for two.
Handy to remember if you ever want to organise a tasting yourself: from a standard 70cl bottle with a standard filling level you get:
- 35 drams of 2cl (tip: the bottle pilot on our webshop doses exactly 2cl)
- 28 drams of 2.5cl
- 23 drams of 3cl
- 20 drams of 3.5cl
However, do not count too strictly when organising a tasting, and always keep a few drams in reserve in case there is a spillage when pouring or the bottle does not contain exactly 70cl spirit (with older bottlings, the filling level can decrease slightly over time due to natural processes). And don't forget to include the host of your tasting, of course!
What does "angel's share" mean?
The term "angel's share" refers to the part of a whisky (or other matured spirit) that slowly evaporates in the barrel during the maturation process. As the spirit is aged in wooden barrels for years, a small amount of alcohol and water escapes through the pores of the wood each time. This loss can amount to about 2% per year, depending on factors such as climate, storage location and barrel type. The name is meant poetically: it is said that this part is "for the angels".
Although technically a loss for the distiller, the angel's share plays a crucial role in the development of flavour and aroma. The evaporation concentrates the residual flavours, and the contact with the wood provides complexity such as vanilla, spice and fruity notes. In warmer climates (such as rum), the angel's share tends to be greater, resulting in faster maturation than, for example, in cooler whisky regions such as Scotland.
How do I get started on Scotch whisky?
Many people assume that a more expensive bottle of Scotch whisky is automatically better. It sounds logical: the higher the price, the better the quality. But in reality, the difference between a bottle of a few tens and one of thousands of euros is rarely purely in the taste. What you pay has much more to do with age, scarcity, marketing and reputation than with what you actually taste in your glass.
To understand this properly, it helps to look at Scotch in different "levels". Each level tells you something about what you are drinking and, more importantly, what you are paying for, but not every epicurean goes through all these levels.
You can read all about it in our blog post Why an expensive Scotch doesn't necessarily taste better - the different levels of Scotch.
How do I get started on Irish whiskey?
At one time, Irish whiskey dominated the world. In the late 19th century, more than 70% of all whiskey came from Ireland. But wars, trade conflicts and prohibition in the US caused a dramatic decline. By 1980, barely two distilleries remained. Today, that picture has been completely reversed. Ireland once again has dozens of distilleries and the range of offerings ranges from simple entry-level bottles to rare collector's items costing thousands of euros.
But as always, more expensive does not automatically mean better. What do you actually get for your money? And from what point do you mainly pay for prestige? You can read more about it in our blog post Irish whiskey explained: from pub classics to million-dollar bottles.
How do I get started with Japanese whisky?
In 1918, a young Japanese student Masataka Taketsuru left for Scotland with one clear goal: to learn how to make whisky. He studied in Glasgow, apprenticed at several distilleries and obsessively noted down every detail of the process. Those notes would later form the basis of the Japanese whisky industry.
Today, Japanese whisky is a phenomenon. Bottles go under the hammer for tens of thousands of euros, distilleries can barely keep up with demand and the number of producers has exploded. But at the same time, that also makes it confusing: where do you start if you just want to drink it?
You'll discover all about it in our blog post Japanese whisky explained: from entry-level to untraceable.
Where can I buy whisky?
Basic whisky and no-name whisky can be found in any shop or supermarket, but you undoubtedly want something more. Then you're in the right place at Drankenshop Broekmans, because our range of almost 3,000 whiskies covers all brands, all distilleries, all bottlers, all flavour profiles and all price ranges.
