New independent bottler Living Souls launched their first releases late last year in the UK. Now they’ve reached the European mainland as well, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. Today, we’ll be taking a look at all six Living Souls releases to date.
The trio of Calum Leslie, Jamie Williamson and John Torrance are behind Living Souls. Together they’ve amassed a few decades of experience with companies such as the Loch Lomond Group, Douglas Laing, Diageo and Tullibardine distillery. Judging by their whiskies so far, the Living Souls’ approach is slightly different than most independent bottlers.
The six releases from Living Souls are all kind of unconventional. They sometimes come with a bit of a story and certainly aren’t always the typical single cask and cask strength releases. I’ll share more tidbits about each release below.
Balblair 10 Years (46%, Living Souls, Batch #1, 2025)
Probably the most traditional of all Living Souls’ releases so far, this is a single malt finished in ex-Limousine Oak XO Octaves (former Cognac casks).
Nose: Opens up on hints of orange marmelade and some lemon rind as well. Some furniture polish and resin too, and there is something I would describe as vegetal. There’s a hint of fresh ginger too, as well as sultanas, nutmeg and sandalwood.
Taste: Slightly creamy, some allspice and cigar boxes. Also a touch of warm apple sauce, butterscotch and charred oak, before warming spices take over somewhat. Then a hint of star anise and meringues. The oak is slightly louder on the palate.
Finish: Short to medium. Gentle orchard fruits and soft spices.
Blended Scotch Whisky 15 Years ‘Solera System’ (46%, Living Souls, Batch #1, 2024)
The first release of Living Souls’ blended Scotch from a solera system, which appears to be in its infancy still. The whisky is supposedly a blend of 50% malt (Glenrothes from sherry casks) and 50% grain (North British from bourbon and sherry casks). That composition will likely change with future batches.
Nose: An immediate hit of varnish, there’s no mistaking this for malt whisky. Gentle summer fruits initially, a hint of green grapes and strawberries, but then slightly darker notes also. Just a sliver of tobacco, maybe some mushrooms.
Taste: There’s something slightly burnished alongside a hint of triple sec and leather. Some dark caramel notes too, as well as coffee grounds and roasted almonds. Finally a tinge of dried fruits.
Finish: Medium length. The nutty notes linger, but there’s also a hint of strawberries again.
Blended Scotch Whisky 40 Years (41.2%, Living Souls, Batch #1, 2024)
This 40-year-old blended Scotch has been maturing in a refill sherry but (ex-Islay) since 1998. The malt content is 40%, and German shops mention the inclusion of whisky from Glenfarclas, Glen Garioch, Fettercairn and Blair Athol. The overall recipe also contains 25% grain whisky from Cambus – a closed distillery. It is bottled at cask strength.
Nose: Remarkable stuff. Not entirely unlike 1980s Bowmore. There’s an exotic fruitiness, such as pineapple and nectarines, combined with all kinds of menthol and spearmint notes. Just a touch of elderflower, lavender and very elegant, coastal smoke. Soft minerals too.
Taste: Again, more menthol, eucalyptus and spearmint, as well as a soft salinity. A hint of lemon sherbet and some olive brine, but also slightly medicinal. Some ashes and herbal teas.
Finish: Medium length. Ashy, coastal smoke and faint orchard fruits.
Ledaig / Tobermory 18 Years (41%, Living Souls, Batch #1, 2024)
A single malt made from two different spirit styles distilled at Tobermory. One unpeated, the other heavily peated (Ledaig). Matured in refill sherry butts and hogsheads. Bottled at cask strength.
Nose: Hints of damp driftwood, bonfire smoke and nori sheets, as well as slivers of sauerkraut and some ripe apple. There’s a gentle undercurrent of liquorice, a hint of beeswax and heather.
Taste: Maybe not watery, but the mouthfeel is thinner than I’d like. The ashy notes take centre stage initially, which generally aren’t in my favourite flavour spectrum. A touch of caramel-glazed apple, as well as a pleasant earthiness and a faint briny note.
Finish: Medium length. Slightly dry and more ashes. Then a touch of pear skin.
Islay Blended Malt 19 Years ‘Kildalton’ (42%, Living Souls, Batch #1, 2024)
A teaspooned whisky, so a single malt for all intents and purposes, but officially a blended malt. Rumoured to be an Ardbeg matured in a combination of refill bourbon and sherry casks. Bottled at cask strength.
Nose: Rather fresh and inviting. There’s a hint of rubber, but also a gentle coastal influence, decaying forest floor and elegant peat. Also some touches of sea shells, graphite and wet wool. A real graceful experience.
Taste: Excellent. Slightly oily mouthfeel. Some gentle notes of green pepper, but also crisp lemons and a maritime brininess. Just a sliver of tar, sweet smoke and honey-glazed bacon. Then finally a soft fennel influence that really hits the spot.
Finish: On the shorter side of medium, if that makes sense. Maybe a sprinkle of iodine even, some quinine and tobacco smoke.
Blended Scotch Whisky ‘Ninety-Nine & One’ (46.3%, Living Souls, 2025)
This should’ve been an 18-year-old Ledaig, except for an unfortunate mistake. A small amount of very young grain whisky was added to the vatting tank, officially making this a 3-year-old blended Scotch.
Nose: Rather thick sherry notes combined with heavily peated spirit. That’s generally a good thing, and this is no exception. A touch of vegetal peat and some slight fermented sauerkraut notes, but also smoked paprika powder, prosciutto and a honey-glazed ham. Yeah, that’s really all you need to know.
Taste: Lovely syrupy texture with a good amount of tar. Some ointments, a hint of cough syrup and even some herbal liqueur, but the glazed ham also makes an encore, accompanied by charred meat, umami and dry earthy peat.
Finish: Medium to long. Hints of tar, smoked paprika and other delicious umami and tobacco notes.
Samples provided by Hogshead Imports
Could you include a price guide please.
Good concise blog straight to it without scrolling through paragraphs of incidental stuff.
I might mention the odd price here and there, but don’t expect a price guide anytime soon. Prices are always changing anyway. If you’re interested in a whisky you should be able to find a price with a quick Google search.