This is an estimated arrival timeline. Timing can shift due to carrier schedules, port congestion, customs, or warehouse receiving.
The release
This is a collaboration between North Star Spirits and Ralfy Mitchell, one of the whisky world's most respected independent voices. Ralfy personally selected and blended five casks at the Bothy to create this 11-year-old blended malt Scotch whisky, bottled at 54.1% ABV in February 2026. The outturn is 1,320 bottles, released as part of North Star's Cask Series 027 to celebrate the bottler's 10th anniversary.
Every bottle sold benefits Macmillan Cancer Support through Ralfy's "Al's Pal's" initiative. The blend draws from five distinct casks spanning four Scottish regions and nearly two decades of distilling, with the oldest component an 18-year-old Auchroisk from 2007 and the youngest a 2015 Caol Ila. The result is a whisky that brings together Islay peat, Campbeltown character, Highland depth, and Speyside richness in a single glass. Un-chillfiltered and natural colour throughout.
- Blended by Ralfy Mitchell, who has spent nearly two decades refusing industry freebies to maintain his independence as whisky's most trusted reviewer.
- All proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the UK's leading cancer care charities.
- Celebrates 10 years of North Star Spirits, a three-time Scottish Whisky Awards Independent Bottler of the Year.
- Five casks from four Scottish regions: Islay (Caol Ila), Campbeltown (Secret), Highlands (Teaninich), and Speyside (Auchroisk, Secret Speyside).
- Bottled at cask strength (54.1%), un-chillfiltered, and natural colour.
The blend
Ralfy selected five casks from North Star's warehouses and blended them at the Bothy, his home base on the Isle of Man. Each cask was chosen for how it contributes to the whole, building layers of flavor from peat to fruit to spice. The full composition:
The blend is dominated by sherry-influenced casks (Teaninich, Auchroisk, Secret Speyside), anchored by Campbeltown character and lifted by Islay peat from the Caol Ila component.
Who is Ralfy?
Ralfy Mitchell is a Glasgow native, former undertaker, and the creator of "ralfydotcom," one of the longest-running and most respected independent whisky review channels on YouTube. Operating from his Bothy on the Isle of Man, Ralfy has spent nearly two decades producing honest, unsponsored reviews of whisky and other spirits. He has famously refused every freebie offered by the drinks industry to maintain his status as a truly independent voice.
His community of "malt-mates" spans the globe, connected through his YouTube channel (The Whisky Bothy), Patreon, and Discord. Ralfy is also the author of "Search For A Whisky Bothy," a self-published autobiography tracing his journey from early whisky encounters to becoming one of the most influential figures in online spirits media. His philosophy is simple: quality over marketing, honesty over hype, and a good dram shared is always better than one sold.
All proceeds from this bottling go to Macmillan Cancer Support through Ralfy's "Al's Pal's" initiative. Macmillan provides physical, emotional, and financial support to people living with cancer across the UK. By purchasing this bottle, you are directly contributing to cancer care and support services.
About North Star Spirits
North Star Spirits is a Glasgow-based independent whisky bottler founded in 2016 by Iain Croucher. In less than a decade, North Star has built a reputation as one of Scotland's most respected independent bottlers, winning Independent Bottler of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards three times in four years. The company is a family-run operation focused on hand-selecting exceptional casks and bottling them at cask strength, without chill filtration or added color.
North Star's portfolio includes single cask releases, the acclaimed Vega and Spica blended malt series, and collaborative bottlings like this Ralfy partnership. The company is also behind the forthcoming Dal Riata Distillery in Campbeltown, a multi-million pound investment that will add a new chapter to one of Scotland's most storied whisky towns. This Cask Series 027 release marks 10 years of North Star and represents the kind of project the company was built for: great whisky, great people, great cause.
Tasting notes
Tasting notes by Ralfy Mitchell
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Nose
Sweeter, spicy phenolic and wood-rich. Raisin-oak, soft vanillas, syrupy gingers, soft plum and a little light French mustard. Adding water sweetens the nose and lifts cask influence.
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Palate
Caol Ila peat, ginger, oakwood, soft liquorice, with hints of absinthe. Adding water brings out saltiness, some tar and chimney-peat, with mint, floral and savoury green sage.
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Tasting notes are a guide, your experience may vary with glassware, time, and water.
Specifications
Blend composition and specifications provided by North Star Spirits. Distilled, matured, and bottled in Scotland.
