Still & Story The Kraken Review

A heavily peated 8-year-old Staoisha from Bunnahabhain, matured in a second-fill Oloroso cask, bottled at 55% ABV and accompanied by an original fantasy story and audiobook.

If you’ve been reading DRAM1 for a while, you’ve probably noticed a recurring theme throughout many of my reviews. I rarely remember a whisky purely because of the tasting notes. Instead, I remember the people I shared it with, the distillery where I first tasted it or the moment in life it became attached to. Years later, I might not remember every flavour descriptor I wrote down, but I almost always remember where I was, who I was with and why that particular dram mattered. Somewhere along the way, I realised those stories had become just as important to me as the whisky itself, and that simple realisation eventually grew into an idea called Still & Story.

Listen to the review here:

Before I tell you more about that idea, I think it’s important to be completely transparent. This isn’t an independent review in the way you’re used to reading on DRAM1. Still & Story is a new independent bottling company that I founded together with one of my closest whisky friends, Peter Linting. Together we selected this cask, developed the concept behind the brand and brought our very first release to life.

Because of that, it wouldn’t feel right to award this whisky a DRAM1 score. I’ve spent years asking brands to trust my independence as a reviewer, and I don’t think that should suddenly change because I’m now on the other side of the table. Instead, I’d much rather tell you why we started Still & Story, introduce you to our inaugural release and leave the final judgement to everyone who opens a bottle themselves.

The idea for Still & Story wasn’t born during a business meeting or after spotting a gap in the market. It grew organically over countless drams shared between friends, discussing the bottles that had stayed with us long after they were empty. Time and again, we realised we weren’t talking about tasting notes or scores. We were talking about evenings around the table, unforgettable distillery visits, unexpected discoveries and the people we met along the way. The whisky had become inseparable from the memories surrounding it.

That’s when the question started to form. What if the story wasn’t something that happened after opening the bottle? What if it became part of the experience from the very first pour? We loved the idea of selecting whiskies that deserved to be discovered, but we also wanted to give people a reason to slow down. To put their phone away, pour a dram, settle into a comfortable chair and disappear into another world for half an hour. That philosophy became the foundation of Still & Story.

Every release is therefore accompanied by an original piece of fiction, professionally written to complement the atmosphere of the whisky. Not to tell you what you should taste, because flavour will always be personal, but to create an experience that lingers long after the glass is empty. For our inaugural release, that story is The Kraken, a dark maritime tale of greed, ancient legends and a sea monster with an unexpected appreciation for exceptional whisky. I’d genuinely encourage you to experience the story before opening the bottle. You can read it—or listen to the accompanying audiobook—via https://stillandstory.nl/bunnahabhain-staoisha-the-kraken/. If you’d like to know where bottles are available, you’ll find an up-to-date list of retailers here: https://stillandstory.nl/find-your-stillstory-store/.

Choosing the very first cask was a decision Peter and I didn’t take lightly. We knew there would only ever be one inaugural release, so whatever we selected had to define what Still & Story would stand for.. Peter and I knew we wanted something with real character rather than an easy crowd-pleaser, and with the much appreciated help from Joris Dam we found this heavily peated 8-year-old Staoisha from Bunnahabhain Distillery. Matured in a second-fill Oloroso sherry cask and bottled at a natural cask strength of 55% ABV, without chill filtration or added colouring, it perfectly captured the atmosphere we wanted our first release to evoke.

The cask adds depth and complexity without overwhelming the spirit, allowing the rugged coastal peat smoke to remain front and centre while layers of dried fruit, spice and oak gradually unfold. The more time we spent with this whisky, the more naturally the accompanying story seemed to write itself. It didn’t feel like we were creating a character for the bottle; it felt as though the bottle had introduced us to one.

So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s finally pour a dram and find out whether The Kraken lives up to the story that inspired it.

Tasting Notes: Still & Story The Kraken

Stats

Distillery: Bunnahabhain Distillery (Staoisha)
Bottler: Still & Story
Age: 8 Years Old
Cask Type: Second Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask
ABV: 55%
Flavour profile: Smoke & Storm
Natural Colour: Yes
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes

Nose

The first impression is unmistakably coastal. A generous wave of earthy peat smoke rises from the glass alongside sea spray, damp kelp and a distinctly maritime freshness that immediately reminds me why I enjoy Staoisha so much. It feels rugged rather than medicinal, with the smoke setting the scene without overwhelming everything else.

Give it a little time and the Oloroso influence gradually begins to emerge. Dried figs and raisins appear first, followed by walnut oil, burnt orange peel and worn leather. Dark chocolate adds another layer of richness, while cracked black pepper and toasted oak bring structure to the nose. Every now and then I pick up something that reminds me of smouldering rope after a beach bonfire, adding another subtle nod to the whisky’s coastal character. It’s a nose that continues to evolve in the glass and rewards patience without demanding it.

Palate

The palate follows the nose remarkably closely. A rich, oily texture immediately coats the mouth before earthy peat smoke takes control. Despite the healthy 55% ABV, the alcohol feels well integrated and never distracts from the whisky itself. Instead, it provides enough weight to carry the flavours comfortably across the palate.

The second-fill Oloroso cask adds depth rather than sweetness. Stewed dark fruits, raisins and treacle build steadily alongside bitter dark chocolate, toasted walnuts and charred oak, while sea salt continues to weave its way through almost every sip. Black pepper and clove bring warmth without becoming overly spicy, and flashes of burnt orange peel keep everything feeling surprisingly fresh. It never loses sight of its Islay roots, yet there’s enough sherry influence to keep the whisky layered and engaging from beginning to end.

Adding a few drops of water softens the smoke slightly and allows more of the dried fruit to come forward, but I kept returning to it neat. That’s where I felt the balance between spirit and cask was at its most convincing.

Finish

The finish is exactly what I’d hoped for when Peter and I selected this cask. The peat smoke refuses to disappear quickly, lingering alongside glowing embers, sea salt and gentle medicinal notes that leave no doubt about the whisky’s origins. As the smoke slowly begins to fade, dried fruits, toasted oak, dark chocolate and warming spices remain behind, ensuring the finish never feels one-dimensional.

It’s a finish that encourages reflection more than another immediate sip. The flavours fade gradually, revealing different layers as they go, and somehow manage to echo the atmosphere of The Kraken itself. Long after the glass is empty, there’s still a sense that the story—and the whisky—have one final secret left to share.

Food Pairing

A whisky like this deserves food with just as much character. Smoked brisket, slow-cooked lamb shoulder or chargrilled ribeye all have enough richness to stand up to the peat smoke, while mature cheddar or a well-aged Gouda beautifully complements the whisky’s salty, savoury side. If you prefer seafood, smoked mackerel or grilled scallops work surprisingly well, allowing the maritime character of the Staoisha spirit to shine.

For dessert, I’d keep things simple. A piece of high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa echoes the bitter chocolate notes in the whisky without becoming overly sweet. Personally, though, I’d skip the food altogether, dim the lights, put my phone away and experience this one alongside The Kraken. That’s exactly how Peter and I always imagined people would discover our first release.

Who Is This Whisky For?

Still & Story The Kraken isn’t a whisky for someone taking their very first steps into heavily peated Scotch. The combination of robust Islay smoke, maritime character and sherry influence demands a little attention and rewards those willing to spend some time with the glass.

If you’re already a fan of Staoisha, peated Bunnahabhain or independently bottled Islay whisky, there’s plenty here to enjoy. The second-fill Oloroso cask complements rather than competes with the spirit, making this feel like a whisky that stays true to its origins instead of trying to impress with excessive cask influence.

I also think this bottle will appeal to collectors who enjoy whiskies with a story behind them. Not because stories somehow make whisky taste better, but because they have a habit of making the moment more memorable. That’s the philosophy Peter and I built Still & Story around from the very beginning.

Verdict

As someone directly involved in selecting and bottling this whisky, I’m not going to pretend I can offer a completely impartial verdict. What I can tell you is why Peter and I chose this particular cask to become the very first Still & Story release.

We wanted a whisky with a clear identity. One that didn’t rely on an active sherry cask to grab attention, but instead celebrated the distillery character while allowing the wood to add another layer of complexity. We wanted a bottle that encouraged people to slow down, spend time with their glass and perhaps discover something different with every sip. Above all, we wanted a whisky that deserved a story.

Looking back at the finished bottle, I genuinely believe we’ve stayed true to that vision.

Of course, what really matters now is what you think. Once a bottle leaves our hands, it no longer belongs to us. It becomes part of someone else’s collection, someone else’s tasting evening or perhaps someone else’s celebration. That’s exactly as it should be.

Final Thoughts

When I launched DRAM1 almost four years ago, I simply wanted a place to share my enthusiasm for whisky. I couldn’t have imagined that journey would eventually lead to co-founding an independent bottling company with one of my closest friends. Along the way I’ve met incredible people, visited distilleries I once only dreamed of seeing and shared drams that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Still & Story feels like a natural continuation of that journey rather than a departure from it.

Whether The Kraken becomes the first chapter in a long series of releases is something only time will tell. For now, I’m simply proud to finally share it with all of you. If you decide to pick up a bottle, I hope you’ll take the time to read—or listen to—the accompanying story before pouring your first dram. I sincerely hope the combination leaves you with exactly what inspired Still & Story in the first place: a memorable whisky, a memorable story and, hopefully, a memory you’ll still be talking about years from now.

Disclosure

Still & Story is an independent bottling company co-founded by myself and Peter Linting. Because I was directly involved in selecting and bottling this whisky, I have deliberately chosen not to award it a DRAM1 score. This article is intended to introduce Still & Story, explain the philosophy behind the project and share my personal experience with our inaugural release in the interest of full transparency.