June Whiskies of the Month
For the month of June, we are celebrating Pride Month by selecting whiskies to represent the colours of the Pride Flag. The flag was originally designed by artists including Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, and James McNamara in 1978 and has inspired many variations throughout the years. The iconic six-stripe flag was first introduced in 1979 and showcases six colours each representing the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Each of these colours also symbolise specific values of the natural world and the community: life, healing, sunlight, nature, serenity and spirit. Join us in celebrating 2025 Pride Month by raising a glass of one of our rainbow whiskies!
LOWLAND: Clydeside 2023 Limited Edition
Representing red, the first colour of the flag and symbolising life, the Clydeside 2023 Limited Edition comes in with a bang at 60.6% ABV. This is the first in their annual limited-edition releases, fully matured in ex-Bourbon casks and exploding with flavours of orange marmalade, vanilla, and spice. This bottling exemplifies a powerful expression of the typically lighter lowland style produced by Clydeside.
Clydeside Distillery was founded in 2017 by Tim Morrison, the fourth generation of the Morrison family involved in whisky. The distillery sits in the old Pumphouse building next to the River Clyde and was responsible for powering the hydraulic gates to the entrance of the Queen’s Dock. Originally built by his own great-grandfather in 1877, Morrison has transformed the old Pumphouse into a modern and innovative distillery producing the finest lowland single malts.
HIGHLAND: Glenmorangie The Original 12 Years Old
The bright and vibrant orange of the Glenmorangie Original is perfect for the second colour on the flag, representing healing. Recently reimagined, The Original has been matured for twelve years in ex-Bourbon casks, and coupled with the distillery’s iconic tall stills, reflects a delicate spirit full of vanilla, tangerine and honey.
Glenmorangie frequently tops the list of the best-selling single malts in Scotland and its popularity is seen all around the world. It was established in 1843 and boasts the tallest stills in Scotland (the same height as an adult male giraffe!) producing a light and refined spirit, perfect for a hot summer’s day. Glenmorangie is committed to using only the finest oak for their casks and even own sections of forest in the Ozark Mountains of Kentucky.
SPEYSIDE: Craigellachie 13 Years Old
On to sunny yellow with Craigellachie 13! This single malt was matured in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks giving it a sweet and rich taste. Craigellachie is one of the few remaining distilleries still using a worm tub condenser, which gives a depth and meatiness to the spirit itself. Using lightly peated barley, this expression boasts a whisper of smoke coupled with a smooth and nutty spirit, reminiscent of toasting marshmallows by a bonfire.
Craigellachie was established in 1891 by a group of blenders and merchants led by Peter Mackie of White Horse. One of the prominent leaders in the industry at the time, Mackie was an unusual character described as being “one third genius, one third megalomaniac and one third eccentric”. The distillery releases its age statement whiskies in prime numbers, reflecting the uniqueness and individuality of its founder.
ISLAY: Kilchoman Batch Strength
Representing nature with the green stripe on the pride flag is Kilchoman Batch Strength, bottled at 57% ABV and packing a punch of intense peat smoke, spiced fruits, and zesty citrus. This expression was matured using re-charred red wine casks, ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks for an indulgent and explosive dram.
Established in 2005, Kilchoman was the newest distillery built on Islay in over 124 years. The distillery aims to harken back to a time when distillation was a sideline to farming. Kilchoman is one of the only farm distilleries in Scotland and has the ability to do everything on site (from growing their own barley to bottling the final product), producing the end result of a truly unique Islay single malt.
BLEND: The Guard Bridge
The cerulean swirls on The Guard Bridge bottle are the perfect match for the blue stripe on the pride flag symbolising serenity. The Guard Bridge is a blended malt Scotch whisky released by Eden Mill Distillery overlooking St Andrews. Blending different single malts from both Highland and Lowland distilleries, including Eden Mill’s own spirit, this blend seeks to harmonise the North with the South.
The blend was named after the famous Guard Bridge which was built to connect St Andrews with the trading port of Guardbridge. Originally built in the 15th century, the Guard Bridge still stands today, near to where the distillery sits. Blending the robust nature of the Highland single malts with the lighter Lowland style creates a luxurious and delicate spirit, perfect for cocktails or drinking neat.
LUXURY - Glencadam 17 Year Old PX Sherry Quarter Cask Finish
For the final stripe on the flag, we have chosen the Glencadam 17 PX Sherry Quarter Cask Finish. The last colour, violet, represents spirit and perfectly matches the dark purple colour of the dram matured for seventeen years and finished in Pedro Ximenez Quarter Casks. This limited release of only just over 4,000 bottles, embodies the utmost luxury with flavours of dark chocolate, stewed fruit and gingerbread.
Glencadam distillery was established in 1825 and still uses many of the same traditional and hand-crafted measures to create their signature smooth and light-bodied spirit. They recently installed a working water wheel, paying homage to how the distillery would have been powered two centuries ago in the small town of Brechin.