We've chosen to highlight ten spectacular bottles that will have you guests asking, what is that?

Blanton's Gold Edition

Created for exceptional smoothness, Blanton's Gold Edition is a coveted single barrel bourbon. The grenade-shaped bottle, complete with elaborate golden leaf script written directly onto the glass, makes this one stand out. The signature horse and jockey stoppers of Blanton's are a reference to the kinship between bourbon and horse-racing - the twin pillars of Kentucky. On this expression, the pair are painted gold - signifying the expressions 'liquid gold' quality, as well as looking mighty impressive on your shelf.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

This much-loved blended Japanese whisky is balanced, woody and sweet, with a hint of rare Mizunara oak on the finish. The name Hibiki means 'resonance', as it speaks to the soul and emotions of the most discerning whisky lover, resonating from nature and all the subtleties found from the twenty-four seasons of the old Japanese lunar calendar. Indeed, the twenty-four seasons are recollected by Hibiki’s bottle shape, which has twenty-four facets. Our Autumn 2023 Whiskeria cover star, Katie Puckrik, compared it to a huge luxury perfume bottle!

The Sexton

In Irish folklore, The Sexton is the guardian of the graveyard, serving as the final person you see before you move on to the afterlife and to whom you tell your life story. The Sexton single malt whiskey invites you to live a life with a story worth telling. The innovative bottle is opaque and black in colour, to reflect the whiskey's ghostly branding, with dark copper script inspired by gravestones. It's hexagonal shape is a reference to the stones of the Giant's Causeway, in Northern Ireland - the birthplace of the whiskey. Regardless of it's meanings, it definitely looks very imposing on a home bar cart.

Double Eagle Very Rare

Released only once a year by Buffalo Trace Distillery, this extremely limited bourbon is aged for an impressive 20 years - and comes in an equally impressive bottle. To signify the double maturation time of a normal Eagle Rare expression, the decanter comes adorned with two crystal eagles, one within the liquid and one proudly atop the stopper. This rare American whiskey is very hard to come by, so will only be available via ballot at The Whisky Shop when available.

The Dalmore 18 Year Old

Every bottle of The Dalmore commands attention with Clan Mackenzie's emblem emblazoned onto the front of each expression. The imposing stag has a lengthy history: in 1263, Colin of Kintail, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, saved King Alexander III from a charging stag. As a reward for saving the King’s life, the Clan were granted permission by the Scottish King to use the 12-pointed Royal stag emblem on their coat of arms. In 1867, when descendants of the Clan became owners of The Dalmore distillery, the Royal Stag became the icon of the brand. Older bottlings display the stag in vibrant gold colouring, to signify the quality of the richer liquid.

Isle of Raasay

A very new whisky from the first legal Isle of Raasay distillery in Scotch history, this expression emulates the older style of smoky Hebridean single malts - with a bottle inspired by the surrounding landscape. The decanter-like glass bottle captures the rugged natural beauty of the island - with Raasay’s fossils and rocks moulded into the glass, holding it is like holding a piece of Raasay in your hands no matter where you are in the world. We're eagerly awaiting their next release!

Maker's 46

The extra-special Maker's Mark 46's bottle was modelled after 19th century cognac decanters, with the iconic red wax seal top thought up by founder Bill Samuels wife, Margie, as a way to make their new bourbon stand out on the shelf. Margie was inspired by the “maker’s marks” that pewter whitesmiths put on their best work, and added her mark with a star for Star Hill Farm, the Bardstown farm where the family was raised. Margie’s “S” is for Samuels, and the Roman numeral IV symbolizes Bill’s status as a fourth-generation distiller. She definitely had a knack for product design, as the red wax top has been their signature for decades.

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie

The striking bottle thought of as revolutionising modern Scotch bottle design, Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie did away with old-fashioned script labels and dark colours to introduce this stand-out electric matte aqua-coloured bottle. An unpeated expression intended to showcase their floral and elegant house style, this unique bottle contains 60% recycled glass and is 32% lighter than previously- highlighting the distillery's commitment to sustainable luxury.

RyeLaw

From the innovative InchDairnie Distillery, RyeLaw has a distinctive rye spice flavour unlike any other Scotch whisky. This spectacular bottle features three ripples on the side to illustrate the distillery’s 3Ms philosophy - pushing the boundaries of flavour through the materials, method and maturation. The label was deliberately placed on the side, for the drinker to see through the liquid in the bottle without any back label ruining the view.

Waterford The Cuvee

Waterford The Cuvee is a stunning example of modern design. The Irish distillery makes their whiskey from 100% Irish-grown barley from individual farms, showcasing the unique characteristics of each terroir. The bottle is a striking cobalt blue to reflect the area of Waterford's historic production of blue crystal, with the ridges inspired by the furrows in a ploughed barley field and, also, the layers of complexity within the liquid. A sturdy pink glass stopper, and neon design label completes this fresh and modern-looking whiskey. If you're lucky enough to have a back light on your home bar, that's when this bottle really shines.