Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Remy Cointreau

Owned by Invergordon Distillers from 1968 until 1993, when it joined the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, Bruichladdich closed in 1995. At the time it produced an unpeated malt primarily used for blends. Whilst well-known for its bourbon casks released in 10, 15 and 21 year old versions, it was above all the sherry-cask versions selected and bottled for the Italian market that made a lasting impression. It was for Moon Import that Penny Black 1968 and Bruichladdich 1965 (52%) - celebrating the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer - were bottled in ceramic jugs.Bought in December 2000 by Mark Reynier and reopened in May 2001, the distillery has since released endless limited editions and exclusive bottlings, including a superb 40 year old, several 1970 and 1972 vintages, and the Legacy range, primarily featuring bottlings from the late 1960s.

Bruichladdich New Spirit is a new make spirit released in 2008, quadruple distilled in pot stills. After leaving the still at 92%, it was bottled at 50%. The idea to create this new-make came to Jim McEwan after reading a text from 1695 written by Martin Martin, a Hebridean traveller who talked of a whisky distilled four times known as “usquebaugh-baul”, meaning “perilous whisky”. Locals claimed one sip of the spirit granted eternal life, with a second leaving you blind and a third killing you on the spot. A limited edition of 6,000 bottles.