When someone wins Independent Bottler of the Year three times running, you listen to their whisky recommendations.
Gregor Hannah, Director of Lady of the Glen, has spent over a decade sourcing exceptional casks and building one of Scotland’s most respected independent bottling operations. Starting from scratch in 2012 with backing from the Prince’s Trust, he’s transformed his passion into a global brand that ships worldwide.
But expertise means nothing without taste. Hannah’s selections span everything from reliable everyday drams to once-in-a-lifetime bottles that redefine what whisky can be.
From a New Zealand distillery built on a gold mine to a Speyside gem that realigned his understanding of tropical notes, these are the whiskies that have shaped one of the industry’s most discerning palates. Whether you’re after your next casual sipper or hunting for that perfect special occasion bottle, Hannah’s picks offer something for every whisky lover’s journey.
The Perfect Social Sipper
Tomintoul 15 Year Old 2008 Tawny Port Cask Finish
When it comes to casual drinking with friends, Hannah reaches for Tomintoul without hesitation.
“Where possible when I visit a bar I like to get a Tomintoul of some sort or another,” he explains. It’s the distillery’s approach to finishes that wins him over. “I think their finishes do what they say on the bottle and I love that sweet, delicate Speyside style when it is not blown away by the finish but married well.”
The 15-year-old tawny port finish exemplifies this balance perfectly.
Under Robert Fleming’s guidance, Tomintoul has mastered the art of enhancement rather than domination – letting that gentle Speyside character shine through whilst adding layers of rich, fruity complexity from the port cask. Hannah’s confidence in the distillery runs deep. Lady of the Glen’s own Tomintoul Amontillado finish won Single Cask of the Year at the National Whisky Awards.
“It’s just a very adaptable spirit which works well in lots of varieties. I think a vertical tasting of Tomintoul would be a great tasting event!”
The Reliable Recommender
Some whiskies earn their reputation through flashy finishes or extreme age statements. Others simply deliver exactly what you need, every single time.
Hannah’s go-to recommendation falls firmly in the latter camp. The Oban Distillers Edition represents everything he values in a dependable dram – distillery character that hasn’t been overwhelmed by wood influence, married with just enough complexity to keep things interesting.
“I really enjoy the Diageo Distillers editions especially the Oban as a regular dram,” he explains.
The ex-Montilla finish sets it apart from the usual sherry cask crowd. While most distilleries reach for Pedro Ximénez or Oloroso, this less common fortified wine adds “richness with ginger and dried fruit character” without masking Oban’s coastal Highland personality.
“As a product I think its really solid and it gives you the desired balance of distillery character with a rich fruity cask finish.”
His only complaint? “I only wish that there was a cask strength version I could try.”
The Hidden Gem
Glenburgie 1995 Lady of the Glen #6721
Some whiskies change everything you thought you knew about flavour.
Hannah’s 27-year-old Glenburgie bottling from 2022 was one of those revelatory moments. “I had not had a lot of Glenburgie prior to this and it was Paul, our brand ambassador, that really built the excitement up for this prior to it arriving in the warehouse.”
The anticipation was worth it.
“Upon tasting we found that it had developed incredible tropical flavours that were so distinct that it practically realigned my understanding of tropical notes in whisky tasting notes,” Hannah recalls. “It was unforgettable.”
Glenburgie rarely gets the spotlight it deserves, often overshadowed by its more famous Speyside neighbours. But this single cask proved that given time and the right conditions, this underrated distillery can produce something truly exceptional.
It’s the kind of discovery that reminds you why independent bottlers matter – finding those forgotten gems that redefine what a distillery can achieve.
The Dream Bottle
Professional jealousy can be a powerful endorsement, and Hannah isn’t shy about admitting when another bottler gets it absolutely right. The annual Finlaggan Feis Ile from Vintage Malt Whisky Company is exactly the kind of release that keeps independent bottlers awake at night – exceptional liquid at fair pricing that sells out instantly.
“Naturally as a small business owner in a very competitive market I’m prone to fits of jealousy when it comes to other folks releases,” he admits with characteristic honesty. “A brand and liquid I really rate is Finlaggan from the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. Every year they do a Feis ile release for the Feis and I think its always top notch and good value for money too.”
But this particular bottle means more than business envy.
Hannah’s copy was purchased during Feis Ile with Maria, his girlfriend at the time, now wife. “It was great holiday that we both look back on fondly, this Whisky typified that time.” Sometimes the best whiskies aren’t just about what’s in the glass – they’re about capturing perfect moments you’ll treasure forever.
The Bold Finish
Lagavulin 2024 Jazz Festival Release 14 Year Old Cabernet Sauvignon 56.1%
Hannah’s relationship with Lagavulin runs deep.
“I love Lagavulin, typically I always have a bottle on my shelf ready to pour as a midweek dram,” he says. There’s just one frustration: “Its been a persistent frustration that I’ve not been able to bottle a Lagavulin cask but never say never…”
When it comes to finishes, he’s typically a purist. “I usually prefer Lagavulin without finishes and just quietly matured in a refill hogshead rather than a stout cask or wine cask.”
So this Jazz Festival release presented a challenge to his preferences.
“My initial thoughts were ‘I would have preferred this without the finish’ but then as I had a few more drams of this I grew to enjoy it a bit more.” The key was the robust spirit holding its own against the wine influence, developing “a distinct blackberry note” that worked beautifully when opened up with water.
“I was glad it was bottled at higher strength as it certainly got better with a little water as the dram opened up.”
Sometimes the best whiskies are the ones that change your mind.
The International Wild Card
Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you least expect them.
Hannah’s 2017 trip to New Zealand coincided with a Lions rugby tour – but it was a distillery visit that left the lasting impression. “This distillery was held in really high regard by the local population and with Whisky shops in New Zealand so I was really excited to visit the distillery which was allegedly built on a gold mine!”
The tour itself was slightly disappointing – no whisky to sample, just liqueurs.
But persistence paid off. “We actually went to a local bar after the distillery visit and we got to try some of the actual Whisky there. We managed to try a Sherry Butt of the stuff and I sadly can’t really remember much about it but it was still really early on in the Cardrona journey and mine.”
What sticks isn’t the tasting notes – it’s the moment of discovery. Finding exceptional whisky in unexpected places, from a distillery literally built on treasure, during what was meant to be a rugby trip.
“It was still really early on in the Cardrona journey and mine.”
Sometimes the best whiskies are the ones that remind you there’s always more to explore.
From everyday sippers to once-in-a-lifetime discoveries, Hannah’s selections prove that great whisky isn’t just about age statements or prestigious distilleries. It’s about finding that perfect balance between craft and character, whether it’s Tomintoul’s gentle finishes or a forgotten Glenburgie that redefines tropical notes entirely.
The mark of a true whisky expert isn’t just knowing what’s good – it’s understanding why it works and when to reach for it.
What’s your own whisky discovery story? The bottle that changed everything, or the dram that perfectly captured a moment? Sometimes the best recommendations come from fellow enthusiasts who’ve been exactly where you are now.
Read the full article at The World’s Best Whiskies According to Award-Winning Expert Gregor Hannah
