{"title":"Alex's Picks","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelecting a whisky can be an overwhelming task. As more and more products reach our shelves and as our individual palates develop and search for more, you may find yourself struggling to know what you should try next.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt Neat we pride ourselves on our ability to curate a selection of drinks, but if you can’t always make it in store, or perhaps don’t have the time to listen to us waffle on for hours, then beginning your journey of tasting independent bottlings is as good advice as any. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePut simply, independent bottlers are middlemen that select interesting and fine casks of whisky to bottle and market. The distilleries often bottled by the Independents are typically lesser known as single malts, but have huge production facilities that supply some of the biggest names in the whisky industry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis month we’ve been lucky enough to receive a few special bottlings from ‘Infrequent Flyers’ and ‘North Star’, alongside some new core range releases from ‘Adelphi’ and ‘Cadenhead’. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more in-depth descriptions of these bottlers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo taste, I sat down, put on some Nina Simone, and the below followed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"inchgower-infrequent-flyers-200717yo-700ml","title":"Inchgower 'Infrequent Flyers' 2007\/17yo 700mL","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInchgower Infrequent Flyers Single Cask #1799 is a 17-year-old Speyside single malt, bottled at 54.2% ABV and matured in a Marsala wine cask. Distilled in 2007 and released in 2025, this limited edition whisky (only 298 bottles) boasts a golden straw hue and a vibrant nose of strawberry Chewits, cranberry sauce, and toasted walnuts. The palate is rich and creamy, blending red wine notes and cranberries with butterscotch and cereal for a distinctively sweet and indulgent profile. Muscovado sugar and peanut brittle add depth, while a hint of cloves lingers on the finish, making this a truly characterful dram.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInfrequent Flyers is the passion project of Alistair Walker, son of the legendary Billy Walker, and one of the most consistently exciting indie bottlers in Scotland today. The label specialises in single casks and small parcels that showcase distillery character in its purest form. No chill‑filtration, no colouring, and always bottled at natural cask strength. Each release leans into individuality rather than house style: quirky finishes, unusual cask types, and distilleries you rarely see outside official bottlings. \u003cbr\u003eThe result is a catalogue of whiskies that feel like postcards from the hidden corners of Scotland’s still rooms. Honest, characterful, and often delightfully left‑field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e700mL | 54.2%ABV\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Infrequent Flyers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53948430647509,"sku":"12087","price":225.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/3447\/6757\/files\/Infrequent-Flyers-Inchgower-2007-17yo.png?v=1779928713"},{"product_id":"glenallachie-glenlivet-cadenhead-10yo-700ml","title":"Glenallachie-Glenlivet 'Cadenhead' 10yo 700mL","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-info__block product-info__block--sm rte product-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePredominantly bottled with a heavier cask influences, this GlenAllachie is wonderfully atypical, selected by Cadenhead from American oak ex-bourbon barrels. A nutty and fragrant opening of sandalwood and walnut moves to creme brulee and gorse flower. The palate is sweet and fruity, with kiwifruit and white grapes, finishing on cinnamon spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded in 1842, Cadenhead’s is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler and the godfather of the “no‑nonsense, no‑makeup” whisky movement. Their philosophy is gloriously simple: bottle whisky exactly as it is: natural colour, no chill‑filtration, cask strength whenever possible. And let the distillate speak for itself. \u003cbr\u003eThey specialise in single casks and small batches that highlight distillery character over cask trickery, often revealing sides of well‑known distilleries you never see in official releases. \u003cbr\u003eCadenhead’s is beloved by whisky geeks for its honesty, eccentricity, and the occasional curveball cask that reminds you why indie bottlers matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e700mL | 46%ABV\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cadenhead","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53949737369813,"sku":"12096","price":139.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/3447\/6757\/files\/Cadenheads-Glenallachie-10yo.png?v=1779956895"},{"product_id":"bunnahbhain-staoisha-north-star-11yo-700ml","title":"Bunnahbhain Staoisha 'North Star' 11yo 700mL","description":"\u003cp\u003eStaoisha is the name given to the heavily peated spirit produced at Bunnahabhain, and this North Star release offers a focused look at that smoky, coastal style. Matured for 11 years in a single refill hogshead, it shows a more restrained, spirit‑led expression of Islay peat. The nose opens with smoky, burnt hot chocolate and a savoury edge, followed by salted pecan pie and gentle wafts of earthy peat. The palate continues with a balance of smoke and sweetness, leading into a finish that reveals warm tropical notes alongside lingering malt and soft coastal smoke. A distinctive, character‑driven single cask that highlights the raw, elemental side of Bunnahabhain’s peated distillate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorth Star Spirits is a Glasgow indie bottler founded in 2016 by Iain Croucher, built on a simple but uncompromising philosophy: find exceptional casks, bottle them with honesty, and celebrate the wild diversity of Scotch whisky. They specialise in single casks and small parcels; often cask strength, always natural colour and un‑chillfiltered. Curated to spark conversation and showcase the quirks of individual distilleries. Their releases range from youthful firecrackers to mature sherry bombs, each chosen for character rather than conformity. Think of North Star as the treasure‑hunters of the whisky world: always rummaging in warehouses for the next hidden gem. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e700mL | 55.7%ABV\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"North Star","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54057051783381,"sku":"12094","price":220.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/3447\/6757\/files\/North-Start-Bunnahbhain-Staoisha-11yo-700mL700mL.png?v=1781655539"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/3447\/6757\/collections\/Alex_s_Musings_image.png?v=1782346577","url":"https:\/\/neatdrinks.co.nz\/collections\/alexs-picks.oembed","provider":"Neat","version":"1.0","type":"link"}