Sometimes you save the best for last! That was certainly our experience when we caught up with Andrew Sinat from Duncan Taylor to explore their Octave range at the 2025 London Whisky Show.

Here’s what we had the privilege to try from Duncan Taylor…

• Strathclyde Grain 38 year (18 June 1990 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 6444049 46.3%  (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 003 ~ GBP 275
• Craiggellachie 17 year (9 June 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Madeira Wine Cask 7547103 54% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 62 of 63
• Ben Nevis 13 year (17 Feb 2012 / 25 Aug 2025) Moscatel Cask 3645837 52.5% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 79 of 80 ~ GBP 82
• Highland Park 21 year (21 June 2004 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 5044289 55.3% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 001
• Macallan 32 year (15 June 1993 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 7237679 49.7% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 001
• Invergordon Grain 37 year (Feb 1988 / Sep 2025) Cask No 528|35 48.4% (Duncan Taylor) Bottle 001

Strathclyde Grain 38 year (18 June 1990 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 6444049 46.3%  (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 003

• Nose – Sweet peas, white fruits, sherry influence clear, curiously heavy
• Palate – Spice and fruit, full-flavoured, warm
• Finish – Lasts

What fun to quickly sample a mature grain like this! The Oloroso Octave cask certainly added a nice element.

Craiggellachie 17 year (9 June 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Madeira Wine Cask 7547103 54% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 62 of 63

• Nose – Sour fruits mash, something a bit earthy, yet also sweet, spiced orange tea, Christmas pudding
• Palate – Round, full, and bold – think malt, mocha, and chewy fruits
• Finish – Red berries

The Madeira Wine cask added an intense berry twist – fun and full flavoured.

Ben Nevis 13 year (17 Feb 2012 / 25 Aug 2025) Moscatel Cask 3645837 52.5% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 79 of 80

• Nose – Prunes, toffee, sweet
• Palate – Softer and sweeter than we anticipated
• Finish – Medium

This was a curiously “un-Ben Nevis” kinda Ben Nevis. I tend to find Ben Nevis a bit “funky” with a dense mineral, umami quality, and saline. Here? None of that!

Highland Park 21 year (21 June 2004 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 5044289 55.3% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 001

• Nose – Loads going on here – rich, dark fruits, nutty, yet also with a lighter heather and leather twist
• Palate – Complex, the Oloroso element wraps you in a warm embrace, rewarding, with peat at the end
• Finish – Long and strong

There was a sense of being both young and old simultaneously.

Macallan 32 year (15 June 1993 / 25 Aug 2025) Oloroso Cask 7237679 49.7% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) Bottle 001

• Nose – Prunes
• Palate – Full-blown sherry
• Finish – Long and strong

One doesn’t often get a chance to try an older Macallan. To then have it made even more intense with the smaller Octave cask, quite something.

Invergordon Grain 37 year (Feb 1988 / Sep 2025) Cask No 528|35 48.4% (Duncan Taylor) Bottle 001

• Nose – Wow! Slow down and pay attention
• Palate – Smooth, sweet, velvety, gorgeous
• Finish – Lingers

An aged grain can be an unexpected surprise. Normally relegated to augmenting single malts to produce a balanced blend, some grains can hold their own.

We did indeed leave the best for last and were super lucky to try such a brilliant range – courtesy of Duncan Taylor! A fitting way to close our 2025 Whisky Show experience in London.

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