Flora and Fauna Glenlossie 10 Year Old

There is something quietly poetic about Flora & Fauna. Launched in 1991 to give voice to distilleries whose single malts were otherwise lost to the world of blended Scotch, the collection found its name through the late whisky writer Michael Jackson, who was charmed by the delicate illustrations of local wildlife and plants on each label. Diageo never made the name official, but it hardly mattered — it captured something true about these bottles. With only 11 remaining in commercial circulation, Flora & Fauna has become as rare as it is beloved.

Founded in 1876 by John Duff in the village of Thomshill, just south of Elgin in Speyside, Glenlossie is distinguished by its use of purifiers on the spirit stills — a rare device that increases copper contact, giving the distillery its characteristically light and delicate spirit. After passing through several owners, it was acquired by Distillers Company Ltd in 1919, becoming a key component of Haig's blended Scotch. The 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna bottling is one of very few official releases, offering a fresh and floral dram with notes of citrus, honey and a dry, peppery finish.