The Exceptional Profile

Scotch Whisky

The Exceptional series by Sutcliffe & Son, a subsidiary of US producer Craft Distillers, consists of three expressions: The Exceptional Blend, Grain and Malt, of which several editions have been released over the years. The editions are designed to vary from batch to batch, with no two the same owing to the variety of whiskies and casks used. Although each is bottled without an age statement, the constituent whiskies are listed on the back of each label.

The Exceptional is produced on a limited basis, never exceeding 3,000 bottles per batch. The brand is available globally, with its core markets being the US, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Canada.

  • Production type
    Blended grain
    Blended malt
    Blended Scotch

The Exceptional History

Don Sutcliffe, managing director of Craft Distillers, first discussed collaborating on a whisky project with Willie Philips – then-managing director of Macallan – in 1987. However it took until 2010 for the duo to start seriously working on turning their dream into reality.

The first release, which finally came in 2013, was The Exceptional Grain, followed by The Exceptional Malt in June 2015 and The Exceptional Blend in 2016.

Timeline

  • 2010 Don Sutcliffe and Willie Philips begin their collaboration to create The Exceptional series
  • 2013 The Exceptional Grain (1st edition) is launched in the US
  • 2015 The Exceptional Malt (1st edition) is launched in the US in June. In September the Exceptional Grain (2nd edition) is launched in the US
  • 2016 In June the Exceptional Malt (2nd edition), the Exceptional Grain (3rd edition) and the Exceptional Blend (1st edition) are released into the US, Canada, and the EU

Owners

Craft Distillers logo

Parent company

  • Craft Distillers

Current owner

  • Sutcliffe & Son 2013 - present

Contact

Address
Craft Distillers
108 West Clay Street
Ukiah
California
95482
United States
Phone
+1 (707) 468-7899
Visitor Opening Hours
Not open to the public

Map

See also

  • Macallan Macallan Macallan Distillery & brand

    Macallan

    Speyside powerhouse with a luxury focus.

  • Alexander Murray & Co Alexander Murray & Co Alexander Murray & Co Independent bottler

    Alexander Murray & Co

    Independent bottling company based in California that’s run by Scotsman Steve Lipp.

  • D&M Wine & Liquor Co. D&M Wine & Liquor Co. D&M Wine & Liquor Co. Independent bottler

    D&M Wine & Liquor Co.

    Family-owned American wine and spirits merchant based in San Francisco.

  • Trader Joe's Trader Joe's Trader Joe's Own-label

    Trader Joe's

    US chain of quirky grocery stores that specialises in own-branded goods.

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