Cask Masters Among Top-Scoring Whiskies in The Scotch Whisky Report 2025

It’s always exciting to read The Scotch Whisky Report, released annually by the IWSC - Club Oenologique, and Kristiane Westray, a deep dive into the current landscape of Scotch whisky, with thoughtful insight into industry trends, market challenges, and over 100 tasting notes of standout releases from distillers and independent bottlers across Scotland.

We’re genuinely delighted to see several Cask Masters whiskies feature so highly in this year’s reviews, scoring among some of the finest whiskies released this year. It’s a huge honour and a proud reflection of the care, curiosity, and passion our team puts into selecting every cask we bottle.

This year, our whiskies were reviewed by the highly respected spirits writer and judge, Kristiane Westray, whose expertise spans whisky, rum, and fortified wines. Known for her thoughtful palate and sharp storytelling, Kristiane regularly contributes to Club Oenologique and the IWSC, offering deep insight into craftsmanship, character, and individuality within the world of spirits.

Kristiane reviewed six of our Cask Masters whiskies, each one unique, distinctive, and reflective of the spirit of independent bottling that defines Brave New Spirits:

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‍31yo Glenrothes, Oloroso Sherry Hogshead maturation, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Score: 96 points
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“Aged Glenrothes are a joy to explore, as this 31-year-old release from Brave New Spirits’ Cask Masters series shows. Distilled back in 1992 and fully matured in a first-fill Oloroso hogshead, this lives and breathes quality. There’s an earthy, peppery coffee note on the nose that gets creamier on the palate. Well-integrated spice notes dance along throughout, along with walnuts and a smattering of dried fruits. Excellent from start to finish.”

15yo Ardbeg, Rivesaltes Cask Finish, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Score: 97 points
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“Independent bottlers can inject a dynamic vibrancy into Scotch whisky. They select, and sometimes mature, casks that often just don't fit the distillery's signature character. This Rivesaltes barrique-finished Ardbeg, from Brave New Spirits’ Cask Masters imprint, is one of the very best. That signature Ardbeg woodsmoke, so often wild and untameable, is domesticated by the cask but in a way that doesn’t strip out the charm. There’s a juiciness to the melon, papaya and mango that balances it all out. Caramel contributes a mouthwatering smoothness to the palate, with the smoke coming to the fore again on the finish. Delightful.”

13yo Caol Ila, Chateau Chizay Cask Finish, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Score: 96 points

‍“An Islay whisky finished in a Ukrainian wine barrique? It was a new one for me too. But without a doubt, this is a wildly effective pairing. A peppery, cola-cube sweet nose lifts a metallic funk on the nose, with burnt cookies contributing a sweetness. Apricot, pear, and melon build on a juicy palate, all well-integrated with that balanced smoke. Things get even more tropical on the finish, with lingering oak spices and a briny element. There’s a sense of fun that runs throughout. This was a joy to discover.”

11yo Glenglassaugh, Oloroso Sherry Maturation, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Score: 96 points
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“Coastal distillery Glenglassaugh can do no wrong. It's proprietary releases are much loved and its output has become the darling of independent bottlers for good reason. Here, for this Cask Masters release, the Brave New Spirits team has selected a single Oloroso hogshead and let the quality do the talking. A myriad of tropical fruits play out across the nose, with the signature coffee-toffee hybrid held in a silky, lustrous texture on the palate, along with peach, Danish pastries and a smattering of dry earth. Sumptuous.”

33yo Tormore, American Bourbon Barrel, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Score: 95 points
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“All eyes are on Tormore right now. They Speyside maker, widely considered to be one of the best-looking in the region, was sold to Elixir Distillers in 2022. Anticipation is running high for what might follow now the team has taken over the production. But until then, we have beautiful independent releases like this one from Cask Masters to keep us entertained. Drawn from a 33-year-old single barrel, there’s much to delight in here. Here, we've got the bite of fresh fruit, citric sharpness, red berries, and luxurious caramel. Beautifully structured and wonderfully well made, this is an exceptional bottling.”

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13yo North British, Sherry Butt Maturation, Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Score: 93 points
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“Young single grain whiskies can feel a little underwhelming but this 13-year-old North British selection from Brave New Spirits’ Cask Masters series manages to pack in a whole load of character. This is largely due to sherry-butt maturation(one of the reasons many grain whiskies take their time to develop because they're filled into quieter ex-borbon casks) but also the robust ABV. There are gorgeous croissant, Danish pastry, and cinnamon notes in a sunny, straightforward whisky. One for easy drinking in the summer months.”

Seeing our whiskies celebrated among such an impressive line-up of Scotland’s finest is deeply rewarding for all of us at Brave New Spirits. Every cask we release under the Cask Masters label represents our ongoing pursuit of discovery — highlighting individuality, provenance, and flavour above all.

You can explore the full Scotch Whisky Report 2025 here.

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