CSP Independent Bottlers & Third-Party Releases 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Signatory Vintage, one of Scotland's prominent independent bottlers, is also the owner of which working distillery?
- Edradour (Correct answer)
- Glenfarclas
- Tomatin
- Benromach
Correct answer: Edradour
Signatory Vintage acquired Edradour Distillery in Pitlochry in 2002, making it unusual among independent bottlers for also owning and operating its own distillery.
Question 2: Berry Bros & Rudd is a historic wine and spirits merchant based in London that also acts as an independent bottler. What is their Scotch whisky brand called?
- Blue Hanger (Correct answer)
- The Whisky Exchange
- Old Particular
- Wemyss Malts
Correct answer: Blue Hanger
Berry Bros & Rudd release their independent bottling Scotch expressions under the 'Blue Hanger' name, a tribute to Lord William Hanger, a historic customer of their St. James's Street shop.
Question 3: What key information must legally appear on a Scotch whisky label, including those of independent bottlers, under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009?
- The name of the cooperage that made the cask
- The name of the master blender
- The age of the youngest whisky in the bottle if an age statement is given (Correct answer)
- The exact GPS coordinates of the distillery
Correct answer: The age of the youngest whisky in the bottle if an age statement is given
Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, if an age statement appears on a label, it must reflect the age of the youngest component whisky in the bottle, ensuring transparency for consumers.
Question 4: An independent bottler's release labeled 'NAS' means which of the following?
- Non-Aged Spirit
- No Age Statement (Correct answer)
- Natural Alcohol Strength
- Northern Aged Scotch
Correct answer: No Age Statement
NAS stands for 'No Age Statement,' indicating the bottler has chosen not to declare the age of the whisky, which is legally permissible under Scotch Whisky Regulations.
Question 5: Which independent bottling company, founded by brothers Fred and Stewart Laing, split from Douglas Laing in 2013 to create its own firm called Hunter Laing?
- Fred and Andrew Laing
- Stewart and Cambell Laing
- Andrew and Scott Laing
- Fred and Stewart Laing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Fred and Stewart Laing
Fred and Stewart Laing founded Hunter Laing & Co. in 2013 after the family business Douglas Laing was restructured, with Fred taking Hunter Laing and his brother Scott continuing at Douglas Laing.
Question 6: What is a 'private bottling' in the context of Scotch whisky independent bottlers?
- A release bottled privately with no label
- A bespoke release commissioned by a private individual, retailer, or company from an independent bottler (Correct answer)
- Whisky bottled by the distillery without independent involvement
- A whisky aged in a private home cellar
Correct answer: A bespoke release commissioned by a private individual, retailer, or company from an independent bottler
A private bottling is a custom release commissioned by a private client — such as an individual, bar, retailer, or corporation — from an independent bottler, typically from a single cask chosen by the client.
Question 7: Adelphi Distillery, revived as an independent bottler before later building its own distillery, takes its name from which former distillery in which city?
- An Adelphi distillery in Edinburgh
- An Adelphi distillery in Glasgow (Correct answer)
- An Adelphi distillery in Aberdeen
- An Adelphi distillery in Inverness
Correct answer: An Adelphi distillery in Glasgow
Adelphi takes its name from a historic Victorian distillery located in the Adelphi area of Glasgow, which ceased operations in 1902; the brand was revived in 1993 as an independent bottler.
CSP Independent Bottlers & Third-Party Releases 2
Signatory Vintage, one of Scotland's prominent independent bottlers, is also the owner of which working distillery?