Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Wait, what? The terms “Independent’ and ‘Core Range’ do not usually sit together in whisky. Independent bottlers do their own thing - small batch or single casks. Official bottlings are from distilleries and large producers - they’re the ones who make ‘core ranges’, right? But of course for years now those lines have become very blurred.
But it’s with the release of a new ‘core range’ from an independent bottler that the concept has taken on a slightly different tone: a new single malt, from a known and loved distillery, a couple of thousand bottles of which feature all the specs we need at a very fair price. A new ‘core range’, we’re told.
This is different.
Yes, I know Gordon & MacPhail have had their Distillery Label series for decades and you may argue that various indy projects over the years have more than a whiff of an anchor product, or ‘shelf staple’ about them. But I think this territory we move towards today is different. I think it marks a change in how ‘big-whisky’ is finding its way to market. And I think it’s good news for us; the flavour chasers.
The inspiration for this session is Little Brown Dog’s brand new “Aberdeenshire Single Malt 12yo’. A simple but modern presentation of a fully natural product with all the minimum specs we like for a mere £50. The fact it’s Glen Garioch makes it even more curious. Because we already have an official one of those.
Nothing stays the same, that’s for sure. But I think these changes we see today are good for whisky and good for those who like to sip and share it. Let’s see.
All we need now is for the delivery of others doing a similar thing to arrive in time. 😬
Wait, what? The terms “Independent’ and ‘Core Range’ do not usually sit together in whisky. Independent bottlers do their own thing - small batch or single casks. Official bottlings are from distilleries and large producers - they’re the ones who make ‘core ranges’, right? But of course for years now those lines have become very blurred.
But it’s with the release of a new ‘core range’ from an independent bottler that the concept has taken on a slightly different tone: a new single malt, from a known and loved distillery, a couple of thousand bottles of which feature all the specs we need at a very fair price. A new ‘core range’, we’re told.
This is different.
Yes, I know Gordon & MacPhail have had their Distillery Label series for decades and you may argue that various indy projects over the years have more than a whiff of an anchor product, or ‘shelf staple’ about them. But I think this territory we move towards today is different. I think it marks a change in how ‘big-whisky’ is finding its way to market. And I think it’s good news for us; the flavour chasers.
The inspiration for this session is Little Brown Dog’s brand new “Aberdeenshire Single Malt 12yo’. A simple but modern presentation of a fully natural product with all the minimum specs we like for a mere £50. The fact it’s Glen Garioch makes it even more curious. Because we already have an official one of those.
Nothing stays the same, that’s for sure. But I think these changes we see today are good for whisky and good for those who like to sip and share it. Let’s see.
All we need now is for the delivery of others doing a similar thing to arrive in time. 😬
