North British 17 years for 30th Anniversary Bresser & Timmer

Nose

The nose opens rich and inviting with vanilla, toffee and soft caramel. Then dried figs, dates and raisins appear, supported by coconut, honey and a subtle touch of oak. With time in the glass, cinnamon, nutmeg and a warm note of freshly baked pie crust with a thin layer of honey come through. Rounded, sweet and wonderfully comforting, yet with enough depth to stay interesting.

Palate

Silky and creamy from the first sip. Butterscotch, caramel and vanilla form the base, followed by ripe banana, peach and a light chocolate note. The grain character brings a soft, almost dessert-like sweetness, while the sherry influence adds extra layers of dried fruit and spice. The strength is nicely integrated: full enough to be serious, smooth enough to remain highly seductive.

Finish

Long, warm and gently sweet with vanilla, honey and caramel lingering on. Then come soft spices, a touch of citrus and a light woody dryness that keeps the whisky neatly balanced. A beautiful finish for a single grain that offers much more than many might expect.

North British was founded in 1885 by well-known blenders Andrew Usher, William Sanderson and John Crabbie. Seeking greater independence from a dominant supplier, they joined forces to build their own grain distillery in Edinburgh. Production began in September 1887, after which North British operated as a cooperative for several whisky houses for around a century.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the distillery played an important role in the recognition of grain whisky. Opponents argued that only spirit made from malted barley in copper pot stills should be called whisky, but in 1908 the law confirmed that grain whisky was also entitled to the name. This helped establish an important foundation for the growth of blended Scotch whisky.

North British is one of Scotland’s largest grain distilleries. Its spirit is continuously distilled in patent stills and is mainly intended for blends. The use of maize is particularly distinctive, creating a sweeter, fuller and lightly buttery style. As a single grain, North British is mainly released by independent bottlers, often showing vanilla, caramel, coconut and refined oak.

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company is an independent Scottish bottler founded in 1992 by Brian Crook. After around twenty years in the whisky industry, including experience as an export director, he set out to create his own range of characterful malt whiskies. Based in Milngavie, near Glasgow, the company developed into a family business, with his son Andrew also becoming closely involved.

Its best-known independent bottling label is The Cooper’s Choice. This range presents single cask whiskies from a wide variety of Scottish distilleries, often with additional maturation in sherry, wine or other distinctive casks. The name pays tribute to the cooper, whose skill plays an essential role in the maturation of Scotch whisky.

The company also created its own whisky brands, including Finlaggan, The Ileach and Islay Storm, each showing a different side of peated Islay single malt. Glenalmond and SmokeStack represent its blended malts. The Vintage Malt Whisky Company therefore combines individual cask selections with recognisable house brands, placing flavour, maturation and accessibility at the centre of its approach.