Four Seasons, Four Whiskies: Single Malts That Capture Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter

Friday, 11 September 2026 at 14:28

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A whisky for every season might sound a bit like marketing fluff, but it’s true: some whiskies shine in winter while others taste best when the weather’s warm. The Whisky Exchange has taken that idea quite literally. They’ve released a delicious series that carries you through the year: four bottles, each matched to a season.

For the limited The Seasons series, they selected single cask whiskies whose aromas and flavors evoke spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Think fresh greens and blossoms in spring, juicy fruit in summer, and then smoke, spice, and dark sherry tones as the temperature drops.

What are The Whisky Exchange’s special seasonal whiskies?

Spring – Glentauchers 2013 10 Year Old The Seasons: Spring – £72.95
Summer – Benriach 2008 15 Year Old The Seasons: Summer – £110
Autumn – Ledaig 2006 17 Year Old The Seasons: Autumn – £160
Winter – Blair Athol 2007 16 Year Old The Seasons: Winter – £84.95

Spring: Glentauchers 2013 10 Year Old The Seasons: Spring

We kick things off fresh with a 10-year-old Glentauchers from Speyside. This 2013 single cask matured in a barrel and was bottled at a robust 58.6%. Yet it’s not all about power, green leaves, tea, herbs, and crisp fruit deliver that unmistakable springtime vibe.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Vanilla, rice pudding, and apple pie, followed by yellow cherries, green leaves, and freshly cut grass.
Palate: Bright and herbal with celery leaf, chamomile, sencha tea, pear, green olive, and a near-mineral edge.
Finish: Lightly spiced with yellow stone fruit, unripe plum, and apricot.

Summer: Benriach 2008 15 Year Old The Seasons: Summer

For summer we land at Benriach, a distillery that knows its way around fruity Speyside malt. This 15-year-old single cask matured in a single hogshead and is bottled at 51.9%. Mango, vanilla, toffee, and juicy fruit make it obvious why this one belongs in the summer set.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Vanilla ice cream and wafers with baked apple and pear, orange, and a touch of honey.
Palate: Mango, caramel, toffee, and above all a rush of juicy fruit.
Finish: Medium length and lightly drying, with warmth, fruit, and a hint of spice.

Autumn: Ledaig 2006 17 Year Old The Seasons: Autumn

When the leaves start to fall, it’s time for smoke. This 17-year-old Ledaig comes from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and shows the distillery’s heavily peated side. Pumpkin pie, roasted pineapple, vanilla toffee, ginger, and sweet smoke make it a whisky that practically begs for a chilly evening.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Sweet smoke, vanilla, roasted pineapple, custard, and pumpkin pie.
Palate: Burnt toffee, apple, caramel, and ginger, with firm smoke in the background.
Finish: Long and powerful with smoke, ginger, dark fruit, and a salty edge.

Winter: Blair Athol 2007 16 Year Old The Seasons: Winter

For winter you want something darker and richer, and this Blair Athol fits the bill beautifully. The Highland single malt spent 16 years in a single oloroso sherry butt, picking up a generous load of dried fruit, chocolate, caramel, and spice. At 55.1% ABV it’s no timid winter sipper.: it’s the kind of dram you settle in with for a good long while.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Baked apple and pear with toffee, nutmeg, caramel, chocolate, and licorice.
Palate: Raisins and sultanas with chocolate, orchard fruit, blackcurrant jam, and some dark oak.
Finish: Dark fruit and spice, followed by polished oak and brown sugar.

From the first blades of spring grass to a deep, brooding dram on a cold winter’s night, these four whiskies span a wide spectrum. Glentauchers is green and fresh, Benriach leans into juicy fruit, Ledaig throws smoke on the autumn fire, and Blair Athol closes with plush sherry tones. You don’t have to wait for the right season to open them, of course, but sipping Ledaig at thirty degrees in full sun does hit a little differently.

The Whisky Exchange also has a special series based on the zodiac signs. Read more about it here.