Forest Whisky 24 Year Old Speyside 1996

A limited-edition, single-cask bottling of well-aged 1996 vintage Speyside single malt from an undisclosed distillery, selected by Forest Whisky.

Historical Context

Forest Whisky is an independent bottler with a focus on sourcing and releasing small-batch, single-cask whiskies. The philosophy of the brand centres on sustainability and a reverence for the natural origins of the spirit. They commit to planting trees for every bottle sold, directly linking their business to environmental conservation.

The 24 Year Old Speyside 1996 release is a notable example of their commitment to aged stock. Whiskies from the 1990s are highly prized for their quality and represent an era before the major boom in demand depleted older stocks. A 24-year maturation period in a single cask provides deep flavour extraction and maturity. The liquid was drawn from a single American Oak Cask and bottled around 2020.

The fact that the distillery remains undisclosed is a common industry practice, often because the brand owners (Diageo, Pernod Ricard, etc.) do not permit their name to be used by independent bottlers, especially for older stock. The 'Speyside 1996' vintage and 24-year age statement, combined with the quality reputation of the bottler, act as the primary selling points. The outturn of only 248 bottles from a single cask is extremely small, making this a rare and highly sought-after release among collectors of vintage independent bottlings.

Technical Specification & Variant Map

This liquid is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Speyside region, confirming its fruity, malty, and often elegant style.

• Vintage and Age: Distilled in 1996 and aged for a full 24 years, this lengthy maturation is the primary technical appeal, ensuring deep integration of spirit and wood flavour.
• Cask Type: Matured in a single American Oak Cask. For an independent bottling of this age, this is highly likely to be a refill or a second-fill ex-Bourbon barrel, which allows the distillery's delicate spirit character to survive 24 years of maturation while gathering complex tertiary notes.
• Presentation: The bottling details of 248 bottles and the NCF/Natural Colour claims are standard for premium independent bottlers, guaranteeing the whisky is presented in its most natural, full-flavoured form. The actual ABV is Not stated by the producer but for a single cask of this age, it is typically presented at cask strength, which would be within the range of 45% to 55% ABV.

2.1 Documented variants

As a single-cask bottling, the 1996 24 Year Old is a singular expression. Variants exist only in the form of other vintages or cask types released by Forest Whisky.

• Forest Whisky 24 Year Old Speyside 1996 (Undisclosed ABV): The single cask under review.
• Forest Whisky 22 Year Old Highland Single Malt: A similar single cask, but from a different region and age.
• Forest Whisky Blended Malt: Lower-aged, higher-volume releases by the bottler.

2.2 Packaging & authenticity checklist

The bottle's value relies on the integrity of the bottling information.

• Labelling: The label must clearly state the Age (24 Year Old), Vintage (1996), and the Outturn (248 bottles). The lack of a distillery name is standard but must be noted.
• Closure: Standard cork and capsule.
• Fill Level: An old whisky of 24 years from a single cask is prone to natural evaporation. A High Shoulder (HS) fill level or better is expected. Any fill below Mid Shoulder (MS) is a major detractor.
• Common Pitfalls: As the distillery is undisclosed, authentication relies entirely on the bottler's reputation. Buyers must verify the outturn number to ensure they are getting the correct release.

2.3 Regulatory/terminology notes

• Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Confirms the liquid's basic origin and composition.
• Undisclosed Distillery: This term, used by independent bottlers, is common and is not a red flag. The quality is a function of the age, cask type, and the bottler’s selection expertise.
• Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF) and Natural Colour: Mandatory for high-end independent bottlings, confirming the natural presentation of a well-aged whisky.

Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)

The profile is expected to be deeply mature, balancing the initial Speyside fruitiness with decades of American oak influence.

Nose: Richly mature and complex. Dominant notes of dried orchard fruits (apple, pear), honey, and intense vanilla and toffee from the American oak. Subtle tertiary notes of old leather, light spice (cinnamon), and soft, worn oak are present.

Palate: Oily and smooth texture. The taste starts with sweet dried fruit and honeyed malt, evolving into warm spice, rich vanilla, and gentle woody tannins. A hint of dark chocolate or coffee can emerge, showing the deep interaction with the cask.

Finish: Long, warm, and drying. The finish is persistent, carrying the mature oak and fading notes of honey and spice. The overall impression is one of great balance and age.

With water: Not stated by the producer. If bottled at true cask strength (e.g., above 50% ABV), a few drops of water may help to release more of the delicate fruit and floral esters that have survived the long maturation period.

Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)

The market is driven by the rarity of the 1996 vintage and the high age statement, commanding a premium price commensurate with the small outturn.

Original RRP (GBP): £119.00 (Verifiable original retail price).

Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): £195.00 - £250.00 (Based on comparable secondary market listings for 24-year-old independent bottlings).

Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): £100.00 - £150.00 (Typical hammer price for single cask, undisclosed malts of this age and outturn).

Pricing stratification: Price is heavily stratified by the condition of the bottle and the age statement. The low outturn ensures high value.

FX note: No conversion used.

Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is sporadic; the 248-bottle outturn means it is rarely available in general retail. Sourcing is limited to secondary markets and specialist auctions. Demand is high among collectors of old, vintage Speyside single malts.

Distillery/Bottler Snapshot

Forest Whisky is a contemporary independent bottler dedicated to sourcing high-quality single casks, often of impressive age, and bottling them with transparency (NCF, Natural Colour). They are known for their environmental focus, with a commitment to planting trees. For this 1996 Speyside expression, their role was the careful selection and bottling of a single, well-performing American oak cask, ensuring the mature, complex character of the old vintage was preserved for the final limited release.

Sourcing

Buyers should target bottles with a verifiable low bottle number and excellent fill level. The 1996 vintage is a key draw.

Red flags to avoid include any fill level below the high shoulder, as the value is heavily linked to the liquid's integrity after 24 years in the cask.

Fill level should be high (High Shoulder or above).

Margin expectations are moderate to high, as the scarcity and high age ensure its value increases steadily on the secondary market. Velocity is moderate but reliable among collectors.