Many of Goldfinch's new products are limited to fewer than 200 bottles.

‍

Several names in single malt scotch whiskey are so familiar that you might think these distilleries have nothing new to offer. You would be wrong, however, as another independent bottler has launched offering whiskeys previously unavailable from well-known distilleries.

‍

In spite of its size, Goldfinch Whiskey Merchants offers an impressive collection of whiskeys, even though it's much smaller than Gordon & MacPhail. 

‍

This series will feature two series, The Kilnsman and Paloma. The Kilnsman is named after kilning, or drying out, the barley that will become whiskey. Sometimes peat is used to create a smoky whiskey, but most of the time it is not.

‍

‍

Caol Ila's 11-year-old single malt is finished in a sherry-octave cask, Ardmore's 13-year-old, Highland Park's 14-year-old and Bunnahabhain's 10-year-old are the four expressions in this series. A dark, minimalist design recalls designs from decades past for these whiskies.

‍

As opposed to the Paloma series, which honors sherry, the Paloma series is a tribute to whisky matured in sherry casks. The whiskeys are not finished in Oloroso or PX sherry casks, but in Palo Cortado casks, which is rare. A 14-year-old unpeated Linkwood, a 13-year-old unpeated Benrinnes, an 11-year-old peated Caol Ila and a 13-year-old Ardmore are also available. 

‍

On the label, there is a depiction of a painting called “La Paloma”, and these bottles are indeed fetching. Several of the distilleries from which these whiskies came were probably familiar to you, but this is a brand you haven't tried before. With fewer than 200 bottles available for most of them, the numbers are extremely limited, but the prices are surprisingly affordable. You can still try something new at the Goldfinch shop, even if you think you have tasted just about every whiskey on the market.