In the following few pleasant lines, we will touch upon the topic of whiskies produced by independent companies. The word independence is associated with rebelliousness, uncompromising spirit, and novelty, which will be part of our story.

Did you know that distilleries do not own all the casks in their warehouses, and some of them have been sold to companies that bottle differently from them?

Have you come across whiskies of a familiar brand, but with an unfamiliar name on the label next to it? You start to worry with heavy thoughts about whether it's fake and whether someone is using the famous brand to rocket into the whisky universe. Your doubts are unfounded because there are companies that buy distillate from various distilleries and bottle it with their own label and bottle shape. On the label, they put the name of their company, as well as the name of the distillery (not always), and usually much more detailed information about the content, such as the number of bottles produced, the type of cask, precise dates and years of maturation start and bottling, and other small but important details.

Usually, the portfolio of independent companies includes a selection from numerous distilleries, pre-selected by them or from which they have purchased spirit that matures in their own warehouses and under the control of their experts. This often results in unique selections different from the standard offerings of the brands and often with higher prices. It is worth mentioning that some of these selections are valued by collectors and investors, and their prices are developing significantly upwards. Of course, the name of the distillery, years of maturation, and which company bottled it all matter.

This is a business with over 100 years of history, started by enterprising alcohol merchants who expanded the portfolio of offered brands and generated higher profits. Initially, not all distilleries agreed to part with their good casks and provided cheap and young spirit, but over time they even began to select specific casks specifically for their partners – the independent bottlers.

In recent years, incredibly bold and innovative solutions can be seen, ranging from blending different distilleries (Big Peat) to unique labels and bottle shapes (Hidden Spirits, That Boutique-y Whisky Company).

The opportunity to have your own whisky brand, selected from a favorite distillery with your preferred flavor profile, your own label, or to do something crazy and unconventional, is more possible and accessible than ever.

All of this contributes to the development of a rich palette of flavors, aromas, new stories, the growth of whisky communities, new fans, and makes cask brokers increasingly sought after and important in the industry.

Currently, there are hundreds of such companies, and their number is constantly growing. Here are some of the most famous and popular names in the business.

• Adelphi
• Berry Bros & Rudd
• Cadenhead’s
• Douglas Laing
• Gordon & Macphail
• Hart Brothers
• Hidden Spirits
• Hunter Laing
• Moon Import
• Samaroli
• Scotch Malt Whisky Society
• Signatory
• That Boutique-y Whisky Company

Our short story is not to pit distilleries against independent companies, but to spark curiosity to try new and unknown labels, without being prejudiced by an unfamiliar or strange name on the label.

On the website www.vida.bg, as well as in the whisky bar Caldo www.caldo.bg, you have the opportunity to encounter a small part of these companies and brands.