Always quick on the draw, everyone's favourite Thompson Bros has something fun in store for fans - and it's not just the announcement of their new Struie Distillery - it's a new concept bottling straightforwardly named Mystery Malt.

So what's the concept? For £65 a pop (per bottle) you will receive a really stylishly decked opaque bottle of Scotch (all bottled at 48.5% ABV) - here's the catch, until you open the capsule covering the cork, you won't know what you've got. Is it a 7 Year Old Ardnamurchan or a 26 Year Old Ardmore? Or perhaps a 13 Year Old Orkney from a Cognac Cask or a 5 Year Old Dornoch?

With Series 1 spanning a total of 16 different possible single malt Scotch expressions, it's a chance for whisky fans to strike a well-aged single malt or discover an up and coming Scotch distillery - either way at £65 you're guaranteed a fair deal. Call it the luck of the draw!

Once the bottle is received, there is a hidden label beneath the capsule (and also on the glass under the capsule, just in case) that tells you what the distillery is and the age of the whisky inside.

Phil and Simon Thompson.

The Thompson Bros further explain the rationale behind the concept citing several inspirations for the Mystery Malt.

"The Mystery Malt is made possible by working directly with many other companies and distilleries.  We tried to design something that is a win for everyone; Other distilleries get to sell stock that is not cannibalistic to their own offerings, e.g.  It's not like going into a shop and choosing between an Ardnamurchan OB single cask or a Thompson Bros Ardnamurchan Single Cask as the name is hidden on the Mystery Malt. For other distilleries, it's a random introduction to a (possibly) new customer. [And] For customers, every possibility is at least fair value at £65, with a really good chance of getting something worth way more. Customers [also] (potentially) get to try something completely new to them. [Finally] For retailers it's the ideal product for indecisive customers or people who are looking for something a bit different."

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team