The Exceptional Grain

Two men, three casks, and a thirty-year dream come true.

You have to be a bit cheeky to name your Whisky “The Exceptional.” Not just “Exceptional Whisky” or “Exceptionally Good Whisky”… but “THE Exceptional.” Well spirits industry veteran Don Sutcliffe founded Sutcliffe & Son to fulfill his thirty years of producing his own line of Scotch. He partnered with Willie Phillips — managing director of The Macallan for 23 years — to create The Exceptional brand. Based in America, they use their exceptional connections to acquire exceptional barrels of spirits and finish them in exceptional Sherry casks to make their Exceptional Whiskies. And they all are… exceptional, that is.

The Carsebridge Distillery closed in 1983 and was completely demolished by 1992. How Don and Willie got their hands on a cask of 30-year-old Carsebridge grain Whisky we’ll never know. But they did, and this signature grain spirit forms the flavorful center-point to The Exceptional Grain. Blended with a cask from the North British Distillery, one from Strathclyde, and another one from Loch Lomond, these lovely spirits are married and finished in first-fill Sherry casks without a hint of artificial coloring. Being decidedly “small batch,” there will only be ~1500 bottles of The Exceptional Grain in this latest batch.