Smokehead

Undisclosed bottlings are whiskies bottled independently without using the distillery’s name on the label. This can occur when an independent bottler releases a cask of whisky from a distillery that has expressly stipulated as a condition of sale that its name be withheld when those casks are bottled. Macallan, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Glenfarclas and Highland Park are among the most famous, if not necessarily the most frequently-encountered, of the distillers who regularly go unnamed.

Other common reasons for a distillery’s single malt whisky not being named on the label include independent companies simply choosing the flexibility of not naming the source distilleries for their proprietary brands in case they wish to use multiple source distilleries or to change their source distillery at a later date. Bottlings from Undisclosed distilleries are always cheaper than their official distillery counterparts and are generally excellent value in the secondary market.

Founded in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers are rather low profile despite being the 10th-largest Scotch whisky company in the world.  The company is one of the largest suppliers of own-brand whiskies to bulk markets, with a diverse range of proprietary and independent bottling brands including Smokehead, Chieftain’s Choice and Isle of Skye.  The company also produces a variety of gins, vodkas and rums including Edinburgh Gin.

Ian Macleod acquired the Glengoyne distillery and the Langs whisky brands in 2003, changing the company name to Ian Macleod Distillers. Tamdhu distillery was purchased in 2011 and relaunched in 2013, while in October 2017 it was announced that Ian Macleod Distillers had acquired and were rebuilding the lost Lowland distillery Rosebank - a stunning coup that gladdened the hearts of whisky fans the world over. After an extensive refurbishment, production at Rosebank recommenced in summer 2023.