The best whiskey releases for the week of May 2nd were an eclectic bunch from near and far, but as far as commonality goes, each whiskey had one heck of a story behind it.
This week’s selection includes offerings from Compass Box, New Riff, Frey Ranch, Oban and Ledaig. If you’re a fan of scotches or malt whiskeys in general, you’ll definitely want to keep reading!
Scot-Free by Compass Box Whisky
Whisky Magazine reported that Compass Box launched Scot-Free on April 24. The renegade whisky brand created this vatted English malt whisky to support the English Whisky Guild’s appeal for a whisky geographical indication (GI.) According to Compass Box’s Instagram, the brand shared that a few English distilleries are being prohibited from using the term “Single Malt.”
Compass Box walks the walk when it comes to supporting the underdogs and honoring the spirit of rebellion. This whiskey’s creation demonstrates the brand’s solidarity with English whisky makers, because “great whisky doesn’t need permission.”
The brand shared Scot-Free showcases some of the rising star English distilleries, Copper Rivet Distillery, Cotswolds Distillery, East London Liquor Co, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, the English Distillery and White Peak Distillery, according to the outlet.
Just 61 bottles are available to whisky fans in the U.K. via a lottery system, and best of all, the bottles are free. Scot-Free has an ABV of 48.7%, and interested parties can sign up here.
Frey Ranch Harvester Series 10th Anniversary Edition by Frey Ranch
The Reno Gazette-Journal shared the news on April 25th that Frey Ranch unveiled its limited-edition whiskey from its Harvester Series, celebrating the distillery’s 10th Anniversary.
The American whiskey features a mashbill composed of each of the five grains grown at Frey Ranch Farm in Nevada. The brand used winter wheat, winter rye, oat, barley and yellow dent corn in the mashbill.
Frey Ranch tapped the talents of the brilliant Nancy Fraley, according to Food & Wine, for the release. Fraley worked alongside founders Colby and Ashley Frey and Master Distiller Russell Wedlake. According to the outlet, the group tasted through over 100 barrels.
The outlet shared that approximately 500 bottles of this 121.14-proof whiskey are available in total, and each bottle sells for approximately $250. The packaging mimics a grain silo, honoring the base ingredient for this grain-to-glass distillery.
Frey Ranch shares this dessert-driven pour is full of marshmallow and custard interlaced with milk chocolate-covered pine nuts.
Ledaig Hebredian Moon by Ledaig
Tobermory announced the release of Ledaig’s Hebridean Moon on April 22, and the Scotch whisky brand’s parent company shared that this significant release was the first whisky that was distilled from Tobermory’s new stills, which were installed in 2014.
Ledaig’s Hebridean Moon will hit the shelves at specialized retailers on May 12. Each 700 ml bottle of peated single malt clocks in at 58.8% ABV and has a suggested retail price of $113, according to The Spirits Business.
Tobermory Distillery shares that Ledaig’s Hebridean Moon begins with a smoky nose balanced with vanilla, double cream and fruit. The luscious palate brings freshly-baked lemon drizzle cake to mind, coupled with toasted oak. The warm finish lingers with cinnamon.
New Riff 2025 Single Malt Whiskey by New Riff Distilling
On April 28, Fred Minnick reported the release of New Riff Distilling’s most recent Single Malt for 2025, which hosts a suggested retail price of $69.99. The brand shared that this year’s release features some of New Riff’s oldest whiskeys, including age statements up to a decade.
The 2025 Single Malt consists of a blend of three mashbills and the liquid hosts an age range of 7 to 10 years. The three whiskeys were finished in six different casks, ranging from wine to sherry. The team at New Riff recasked the final blend in used oak, which the brand claims added complexity.
New Riff’s Single Malt for 2025 is non-chill-filtered and clocks in at 115.2 proof.
Oban 15 Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish by Oban
On April 25, Oban announced the release of Oban 15 Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish. This whisky spent nine years aging in a mixture of European Oak Butts and American Oak Hogshead Barrels. It subsequently spent over four years finishing in a mixture of sherry casks, including Oloroso and Palo Cortado.
The Highland Scotch hosts a price of $150 for a 750-ml bottle, and the sherry adds a fruitiness to the scotch whisky brand’s distinctive maritime identity.
Oban claims the 15-year-old Scotch is full of burnt sugar, cinder toffee and almond flavors, with a bit of a spicy kick from the oak on the finish.
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