WHY YOU SHOULD BUY SPIRITS FROM INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS Industry veteran Sam Filmus, creator of the ImpEx Collection, tells us why. Compiled by Chloe Gellar / Images courtesy of ImpEx Collection
We asked Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages, to share what he sees as the evolution of the independent bottler movement and why luxury consumers should start adding independent bottles to their whisky collection. Filmus has his Whisky Certification from the University of the Highlands and Islands Moray College and is a designated Keeper of the Quaich, an exclusive and international society of individuals recognized for their commitment to the Scotch whisky industry.
cases) as single casks and (in most cases) at a higher ABV under their own label. We are fortunate enough to feature quite a few IBs in our portfolio at ImpEx Beverages—the importation company I run with ImpEx Beverages Vice President, Chris Uhde—such as Single Cask Nation, Single Malts of Scotland, Port Askaig, Adelphi, and now The ImpEx Collection. Chris and I launched the Collection in July after taking three years to hand-select and bottle what we believe to be some of the best spirits in the world.
SL: Let's start with the basics - what is a single cask whisky? Filmus: A single cask whisky is one in which all the bottles have matured together. So, they stay in the same cask or can be transferred into another for finishing. Some distilleries will use these to create vattings of multiple single casks or to become part of their official bottlings/distillery releases.
SL: How do they compare to Original Distillery Bottlings? Filmus: Since both are produced at the same distilleries, in many cases, they would both carry the signature style and profile of these distilleries. I think the main difference is that while the distillery is working towards being consistent with their original bottlings, there is a bit more flexibility in terms of single cask offerings, such as their wood treatment and desired outcome. The opportunity to find some really unique and special offerings that could have been lost in a vat is really the desired outcome when it comes to single cask expressions as this is a chance to see the casks shine in their true and natural form.
SL: What is a distillery release? Filmus: This is (in most cases) a vatting of a large number of casks that distilleries are aiming to be part of their core offerings. Some examples could include Lagavulin 16 yr, Oban 14 yr, Laphroaig 10 yr, or Glenlivet 12 yr – among many others. Small batches can also apply to this, and there are single casks and limited release offerings that come out from time to time as well. SL: What are Independent Bottlers? Filmus: Independent bottlers (IBs) are companies that source casks from various distilleries or via brokers and bottle them (in most 42 slmag.net
SL: Why don't more consumers know about or purchase from IBs? Filmus: 90% of what is produced these days in Scotland are blends. From the remaining 10%, you find the more well-known single malt contributors, and then from there, you find some major IBs who have been establishing their names for decades, if not centuries (like Cadenhead's and Gordon & MacPhail).
