21 years

The Antiquary was born in 1888 when brothers John and William Hardie, Edinburgh wine merchants, created their signature blended Scotch. They named it after Sir Walter Scott's 1816 gothic novel *The Antiquary* — a literary anchor that spoke to their ambitions for a refined Victorian blend. Since 1996, Tomatin Distillery has owned the brand, relaunching it in 2024 with contemporary packaging and renewed focus.

The 21 Year Old is a notably malt-rich blend, primarily Speyside and Highland whiskies, finished in French, Portuguese, and Spanish oak. The defining feature is a generous three-year marriage in tawny Port casks from the Symington estates — a secondary maturation that adds complexity and depth.

On the nose, burnt sugar and dark honey mingle with cooked fruit and walnut. The palate is full and syrupy-sweet, with malty grain and vanilla, while the finish turns dry and lingering, marked by heather honey and a gentle peat undertone that never overwhelms.