Thompson Bros. Whisky | Casa de Vinos

Independent whisky bottlings from Phil and Simon Thompson in Dornoch, including single malts, grain whiskies and blends. Officially imported by Casa de Vinos.

Thompson Bros. is the independent bottling business of Phil and Simon Thompson, based in Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands. Their range brings together single malts, grain whiskies and blends, with plenty to interest drinkers who enjoy looking beyond a distillery's usual releases.

Casa de Vinos is the official Australian importer of Thompson Bros. We had followed the brothers' bottlings for years before working together, and their enthusiasm for finding good whisky is something we share. Our relationship also includes collaborative cask selections bottled for Casa de Vinos.

Our exclusive Thompson Bros. bottlings

Our partnership with Thompson Bros. includes two Highland single malts bottled exclusively for Casa de Vinos: a 12-year-old Clynelish and a 27-year-old Glen Garioch. They offer two different expressions of the region, from fresh, waxy fruit to longer maturation.

Clynelish 12 Years Old 2013

Our Clynelish 12 Years Old 2013 brings together citrus, waxy honey and a mineral edge. Matured in re-charred hogshead No. 313377 and bottled at 52.3% ABV, it is a good choice for drinkers who enjoy Clynelish's distinctive texture alongside bright fruit and a little coastal salinity.

Glen Garioch 27 Years Old 1998

The Glen Garioch 27 Years Old 1998 offers a more mature Highland expression, with fruit and distillery character at its centre. Drawn from barrel No. 4679 and bottled at 52.5% ABV, it is an opportunity to taste Glen Garioch after nearly three decades of maturation.

From Dornoch Castle to whisky making

Phil and Simon built their reputation at the Dornoch Castle whisky bar before establishing Dornoch Distillery. Their interest in older styles of whisky helped shape their approach to making spirit, while independent bottling gave them another way to share the whiskies they enjoyed.

The two activities are distinct. A Thompson Bros. bottling may come from another Scottish distillery, selected and bottled by the brothers. Dornoch single malt is whisky made at their own distillery.

Characteristics of the Thompson Bros. Bottlings

There is no single Thompson Bros. flavour profile. A release might offer fresh fruit and malt, coastal smoke, mature grain whisky or the balance of a carefully assembled blend. The interest lies in the individual selection and how it expresses the spirit behind it.

Single malts sit alongside blended malts and blended Scotch, so it is worth keeping an open mind. An unfamiliar name or a younger age statement can be just as rewarding as a well-known distillery with decades in cask.

Choosing a bottle

Start with the flavours you enjoy, then compare the age, cask details and bottling strength. If you already know a distillery's own whisky, an independent release can show another side of its character.

Some releases name the source distillery; others are bottled under names such as Mystery Malt. Where the distillery is undisclosed, enjoy the whisky on the information provided rather than treating a guessed identity as fact.

If you would like a recommendation, tell us a few bottles you have enjoyed. We can help you choose something familiar or find a different direction to try.