New Little Brown Dog Whisky Releases – Speyside & Islay Single Casks | Banchory & Ballater Whisky Shop

Little Brown Dog New Releases – 3 Speysiders & an Islay

We’re delighted to welcome the latest batch of releases from our friends at Little Brown Dog Spirits. This release features three Speyside whiskies and one Islay, each bottled from carefully selected single casks and presented with the usual creativity and storytelling the LBD team are known for.

As ever, a few of the distilleries remain purportedly secret, though the labels contain plenty of clues for whisky fans who enjoy a small puzzle while sipping their dram.

These bottles are available from our whisky shops in Banchory and Ballater, as well as online, while stocks last.

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Speyside (Not Secret) 2009 – Aged 16 Years

First up is a 16-year-old Speyside single malt, which we are told comes from a distillery in Kingussie, just down the road from the Highland Wildlife Park. The whisky has been matured in an American oak refill sherry hogshead, where the exact type of sherry isn’t specified, but the long maturation ensures the cask influence remains gentle and well integrated.

Little Brown Dog describe this as a “bright sipping, sweet Speysider with a fascinating nose.”

The label depicts the hide of a snow leopard, which Chris and Andrew say is their favourite animal, narrowly beating wildcats and polar bears. We’re also reassured that the image comes from a real photograph rather than AI.

Cask Details

• Bottles: 317

• Filled: 25/06/2009

• Bottled: 13/02/2026

Colour: Cedar Wood

Nose: Pomegranate, paprika, fresh box of Crayola
Palate: Red currant, artichoke, Sancerre
Finish: Lakrids and fizz wizz popping candy

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Super Secret Speyside 2008 – Aged 17 Years

Next comes the third iteration of Little Brown Dog’s Secret Speyside series. The first release was the Unnamed Speyside, followed by the Very Secret Speyside, and now the intriguingly titled Super Secret Speyside.

The distillery hint suggests it comes from a place that adds “Glen” to Rothes and isn’t from Fife. If that doesn’t give the game away, the label also features a what3words location referencing the still itself.

This whisky was drawn from a first-fill bourbon barrel purchased by Chris and Andrew around seven years ago—one of the earliest casks owned by the business. It was already 10 years old when acquired, eventually being bottled at 17 years of age.

The label pays tribute to Ronnie “Red Socks” Cox, a legendary figure at the distillery in question and someone who inspired the Little Brown Dog team early in their whisky journey.

Cask Details

• Bottles: 222

• Filled: 03/12/2008

• Bottled: 16/02/2026

Colour: Brass Spirit Safe

Nose: Toasted brioche, blossom honey, mango sorbet
Palate: Pink grapefruit, cress, plum chutney
Finish: White chocolate and lemon balm

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Braeval 2010 – Aged 16 Years

Altitude might not dramatically affect whisky production, but the title of Scotland’s highest distillery is still hotly debated.

While many assume Dalwhinnie holds the crown thanks to its high visitor centre, the lesser-known Braeval Distillery, located roughly forty miles northwest on the far side of Ben Macdui, actually sits slightly higher at around 355 metres above sea level.

This whisky was matured in a barrique crafted by Andrew himself, seasoned with white port, before being bottled at 16 years old.

The label features cloud imagery, a fitting nod to the distillery’s lofty location in the Cairngorms.

Cask Details

• Bottles: 332

• Filled: 02/02/2010

• Bottled: 11/02/2026

Colour: Jurassic Park Amber

Nose: Honeydew melon, clear gummy bears, fresh hay
Palate: Green apple skins, tarte au poire, quince jelly
Finish: White Burgundy and the good milk chocolate you don’t share

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Caol Ila 2012 – Aged 13 Years

Finally, something for the peat lovers.

This is the second Caol Ila bottled by Little Brown Dog, and the team note that the distillate from the Islay distillery works beautifully with many types of cask. Their personal preference, however, is to bottle it relatively young, when the peat character is bright, maritime and expressive.

Bottled just shy of 14 years old, they describe it as:

“Wonderfully oxidised, superb balance, thoroughly elegant Islay loveliness — just what we want from a peaty maritime dram.”

The label continues the maritime theme from the previous Caol Ila release. While the earlier bottle featured a lobster painting, this time the artwork is a hand-coloured etching from 1876 by J. F. Schreiber, showing kelp, a crab and a rather cheeky prawn.

Cask Details

• Bottles: 332

• Filled: 10/04/2012

• Bottled: 12/02/2026

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Candles, malt barn, driftwood bonfire
Palate: Roasted almonds, sea urchin uni, filthy martini
Finish: Gorse, bright, salty peat

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Available at The Strong Water Co.

These latest Little Brown Dog releases are available now from The Strong Water Co., both online and in-store at our whisky shops in Banchory and Ballater on Royal Deeside.

As with most independent bottlings, quantities are limited, so if one of these casks catches your eye, it may be worth grabbing a bottle before they disappear.