These are the DIY bottlings available exclusively to visitors to the distillery.
A valinch, possibly from a Spanish term, is the name applied to a large, copper pipette used to take cask samples from whisky barrels.
Our view is if you have made the effort to get here to Islay then you deserve something just a little extra special.
Valinchs are by definition only ever at cask strength, from a single barrel, and selected by Jim for individuality. Each Valinch released has it’s own label and title, usually to commemorate a specific event.
VALINCH RELEASES:
I WAS THERE
1970 Cask No 5079, Cask Type: American Hogshead
48.2% , Release Qty: 250 Bottles, Released: 29/05/01
I WAS THERE
1970 Cask No 5081, Cask Type: American Hogshead
45.5% , Release Qty: 250 Bottles, Released: 29/05/01
I WAS THERE - BUT NOT ON THAT DAY
1970 Cask No 5085, Cask Type: American Hogshead
47.3% , Release Qty: 250 Bottles, Released: 30/05/01
THE FIRST EDITIONS
1986 Cask No 700, Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt
53.5% , Release Qty: 1200 Bottles, Released: August 2001
DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR
1972 Cask No 009, Cask Type: Bourbon Hogshead
48.8% , Release Qty: 250 Bottles, Released: January 2002
8.26
1983 Cask No 1330, Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt
58.8% , Release Qty: 826 Bottles, Released: May 2002
OCTOMORE BIRTH
1990 Cask No 988, Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead
60.2% , Release Qty: 500 Bottles, Released: November 2002
BABE
1988 Cask No 930, Cask Type: Sherry Butt
59.9% , Release Qty: 750 Bottles, Released: May 2003
THE HARVEY HALL
1984 Cask No 012, Cask Type: American Oak
53.3% , Release Qty: 575 Bottles, Released: May 2003
MALT OF THE YEAR
1988 Cask No 1132, Cask Type: American Oak
56.2% , Release Qty: 300 Bottles, Released: September 2003
40 NOT OUT
1989 Cask No 160, Cask Type: Refill Sherry
56.0% , Release Qty: 300 Bottles, Released: September 2003
FLORA MCBABE
1990 Cask No 3666, Cask Type: Refill Sherry Butt
55.2% , Release Qty: 700 Bottles, Released: December 2003
WEE GEORGE (LORD ROBERTSON OF PORT ELLEN)
1989 Cask No 1009, Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead
54.8% , Release Qty: 390 Bottles, Released: May 2004
GRANDPA JOHN
1990 Cask No 451, Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead
56.3% , Release Qty: 350 Bottles, Released: October 2004
RED TO BLACK
1990 Cask No 1031, Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
56.0% , Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: March 2005
THE QUEEN'S AWARD
1989 Cask No 944, Cask Type: Refill Sherry
55.7% , Release Qty: 344 Bottles, Released: May 2005
THE PURIST WHISKY IN SCOTLAND
1990 Cask No 710, Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Hogshead
55.5% , Release Qty: 350 Bottles, Released: May 2005
ISLAY FESTIVAL 2005 BLOODTUBS
1991 Ardbeg, Cask No: 643, 57.4%, Released: May 2005
1988 Laphroaig, Cask No: 9204, 54.9% , Released: May 2005
1993 Caol Ila, Cask No: 001, 55.1%, Released: May 2005
1993 Cooley , Cask No: 035, 58.5%, Released: May 2005
VIKING VISIT
1990 Cask No 716, Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Squat
54.9% , Release Qty: 348 Bottles, Released: August 2005
CROWN PRINCE OF TONGA
1989 Cask No 1880, Cask Type: American Oak/Rum Cask
57.0% , Release Qty: 330 Bottles, Released: September 2005
CHANGING THE GUARD
1989 Cask No 005, Cask Type: American Oak
53.1% , Release Qty: 420 Bottles, Released: November 2005
THE DRAMBUSTERS
1990 Cask No 473, Cask Type: American Oak
56.9% , Release Qty: 487 Bottles, Released: May 2006
THE MAYOR OF ISLAY
1988 Cask No 1184, Cask Type: Sherry
58.5% , Release Qty: 375 Bottles, Released: May 2006
COTES DU RHINNS
1989 Cask No 007, Cask Type: American Oak
53.0% , Release Qty: 430 Bottles, Released: May 2006
THE QUEEN'S 80TH BIRTHDAY
1988 Cask No 1192, Cask Type: Sherry
56.3% , Release Qty: 300 Bottles, Released: October 2006
GHOST SHIP
1990 Cask No 525, Cask Type: Bourbon Squat
54.5% , Release Qty: 350 Bottles, Released: March 2007
PORT CHARLOTTE - FIRST CUT
2001 Cask No 007, Cask Type: Bourbon
61.5% , Release Qty: 950 Bottles, Released: May 2007
WAREHOUSE 12 - VATICAN VALINCH
1991 Cask No 21, Cask Type: Bourbon/Pomerol
53.3% , Release Qty: 430 Bottles, Released: June 2007
WHISKY AUTHOR MICHAEL JACKSON - TRIBUTE VALINCH
1989 Cask No 003, Cask Type: Bourbon/Syrah
52.7% , Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: October 2007
SOME UTTER FAKE
1994 Cask No 040, Cask Type: Bourbon/Chenin Blanc
59.4% , Release Qty: 300 Bottles, Released: April 2008
X4 + 1 DELIVERANCE
2007 Cask No 069, Cask Type: Bourbon
65.4% , Release Qty: 800 Bottles, Released: May 2008
WHISKY DREAM DRAM
1993 Cask No 1574, Cask Type: Bourbon/Barbaresco
52.0% , Release Qty: 450 Bottles, Released: June 2008
BLANDOLA
1994 Cask No 022, Cask Type: Bourbon/d'Yquem
55.3% , Release Qty: 420 Bottles, Released: November 2008
DIASPORA
1993 Cask No 477, Cask Type: Bourbon/Mourvedre
52.6% , Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: April 2009
OIRTHIR GAIDHEAL
1993 Cask No 013, Cask Type: Refill Sherry
53.6% , Release Qty: 1000 Bottles, Released: May 2009
SOUND OF SNOUTS IN THE TROUGH
1994 Cask No 012, Cask Type: Bourbon/Grand Callejo
57.7% , Release Qty: 445 Bottles, Released: July 2009
LADDIEFLU / GENE GENIE
1990 Cask No 024, Cask Type: Bourbon/Jurancon
53.6% , Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: August 2009
TEMPLE OF DRAMS
1991 Cask No 038, Cask Type: Bourbon/Madeira
53.3% , Release Qty: 424 Bottles, Released: October 2009
THE ITALIAN JOB
1992 Cask No 012, Cask Type: Bourbon/Toscano
50.9% , Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: March 2010
ISLAY BARLEY 2004
2004 Cask No 1667, Cask Type: Fresh Sherry Butt
57.5%, Release Qty: 1060 Bottles, May 2010
TEAM BRUICHLADDICH
1992 Cask No 015, Cask Type: Bourbon/d'Yquem
52.4%, Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: July 2010
GUITAR MAN
1992 Cask No 012, Cask Type: Bourbon/Callejo
50.2%, Release Qty: 420 Bottles, Released: September 2010
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
1991 Cask No 021, Cask Type: Bourbon/Madeira
52.5%, Release Qty: 425 Bottles, Released: October 2010
AS THE CURRENT FLOWS
1998 Cask No 002, Cask Type: Bourbon/Calvados
56.1%, Release Qty: 650 Bottles, Released: April 2011
THE COMING OF AGE
2002 Cask No 001, Cask Type: Palo Cortado
58.7%, Release Qty: 400 Bottles, Released: July 2011
WEBSITE LAUNCH
1992 Cask No 011, Cask Type: Bourbon/Figuero
49.8%, Release Qty: 420 Bottles, Released: September 2011
PORT CHARLOTTE - PREDICTION
2002 Cask No 130, Cask Type: Bourbon/La Tour
63.5%, Release Qty: 450 Bottles, Released: December 2011
EL CLASSICO
1992 Cask No 516, Cask Type: Sherry
50.0%, Release Qty: 650 Bottles, Released: April 2012
