Introducing Caisteal Dúbh 15-Year-Old Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
- Aaron Kendeall
- May 14
- 4 min read
Award-Winning ‘Vatted’ Scotch—Launched with Pennsylvanians in Mind—Result of Transatlantic Partnership
PITTSBURGH, PA—Introducing Caisteal Dúbh (pronounced Kas-chuhl Doo) Scotch Whisky, Scots Gaelic for “Black Castle”—a reference to the majestic and mysterious ruins near the brand’s warehouse site and scattered across the Scottish Highlands. This 15-year-old Highland Malt Scotch Whisky is a limited-edition, single-cask release, launched just in time to celebrate its Double Gold Medal win at the American Distilling Institute’s 2025 International Spirits Competition, where it took home Best of Class for International Whisky, Best of Category in the Barrel-Finished Whiskey category and Best of Category in the Blended Malt Scotch Whisky category.
“This isn’t your typical blend,” said George Stewart, founder of London-based Stewart Whisky Co., which cultivated the blend. “It’s an homage to the old-school vatted style—100% malted barley, no grain filler—aged the way whisky should be, slow and steady in a low, dark and dusty traditional dunnage warehouse.”
Caisteal Dúbh is a meticulously vatted blend of four legendary Highland Single Malts—the Macallan, Highland Park, GlenTurret and Blair Athol—mingled and matured together in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt for 15 years. The result is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky rich in honeyed heather, elegant oak and sweet sherry notes, finishing with lingering wisps of peat from the GlenTurret component.
With only about 325 bottles available at 48.8% ABV, this single-cask release is designed for collectors and connoisseurs. It will launch in Pennsylvania on May 14, followed by direct-to-consumer national release in June with a recommended retail price of $80. Click here to shop now.
“This brand was envisioned as a love note to the whisky community,” said Aaron Kendeall, founder of Monongahela Imports, U.S. importer of the brand. “It was very important for us to offer this product to Pennsylvania’s whisky aficionado crowd first, because the PA market is often last to get in on small-batch national releases.”
From the Highlands to the Alleghenies
The collaboration was borne of an industry trip in 2022, when Stewart and Kendeall connected over their shared vision of bringing uncompromising Scotch whisky to the U.S.—starting in Pennsylvania, a market often overlooked by boutique brands.
“We tailored our approach with Pennsylvanians in mind,” Kendeall said. “Bar managers will appreciate the recognizable distillery names, while aficionados will covet the rare and hard-to-find nature of the component malts. For once, whisky aficionados in Pennsylvania will enjoy first crack at a rare gem with a complex flavor profile fit to be savored with friends."
What’s Next for Monongahela & Stewart
The duo isn’t stopping at Blended Malt. Stewart Whisky Co. and Monongahela Whiskey Co. are currently finalizing a single cask offering of Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky—aged 15 years on the Scottish coast. Learn more and stay tuned to announcements at MonongahelaWhiskey.com.
Up Next for Monongahela Whiskey Co.
Monongahela Whiskey Co. is excited to announce Native Barrel Four-Grain Bourbon Whiskey—a unique Blended, Single-Cask Bourbon, that is a blend of two component whiskeys.
The first was a bourbon mashed and distilled locally by Kendeall using heirloom Bloody Butcher corn, soft winter wheat and malted barley. It was matured in a 30-gallon, level-four, new American charred-oak barrel for over a year. The bourbon was a collaboration between local producers: mashed and fermented at Conny Creek Brewing and distilled and barreled at Lucky Sign Distillery for Monongahela Whiskey Co.
“This release has been more than a decade in the making," Kendeall said. "My journey in distilled spirits began in 2013, and continued with my becoming a distiller in 2019. In 2022, I self-funded and distilled what would become the foundation of Native Barrel."
The second component in the Native Barrel Four Grain Bourbon Single Cask Whiskey was a six-year-old bourbon made with corn, pumpernickel rye and malted barley and distilled at Middle West Distillery in Columbus, Ohio.
The two spirits were married—or 'vatted'—for several months before being bottled. The result is a deep and complex yet approachable bourbon whiskey that helps honor the history of the frontier folk who first distilled American whiskey in Western Pennsylvania.
Tasting Notes for Native Barrel Four-Grain:
Nose: pepper spice, tobacco, coffee, popcorn and almonds
Palate: rich chocolatey notes with cigar tobacco, almonds, vanilla spice and baking notes
Finish: dark chocolate, walnuts, leather
"This single barrel bourbon is more than just whiskey—it represents grit, patience and an unwavering belief in what Monongahela Whiskey from Western Pennsylvania whiskey can be," Kendeall said. "The word unique gets thrown around a lot in bourbon marketing, but in this case, it’s the truth. This is a one-of-a-kind expression. Once these roughly 175 bottles are gone, they’re gone forever. But the story is just beginning—we’ve got more native-borne whiskey expressions on the horizon, and we can’t wait for Western Pennsylvanians to fall in love with what’s coming next.”
To our knowledge, this is Western Pennsylvania's first Black-owned, Black-mashed, Black-fermented, Black-distilled whiskey product. And since Kendeall worked on every step of the process using locally-sourced heirloom grains, it is an authentic grain-to-glass product.
About Stewart Whisky Co.
Stewart Whisky Co. is a London-based whisky company specializing in carefully-selected single casks and expertly-blended Scotch whiskies. Founded by George Stewart, the company brings a modern approach to traditional Scottish whisky-making.
About Monongahela Whiskey Co.
Monongahela Whiskey Co., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to reviving the legacy of Monongahela-style whiskey and expanding the presence of high-quality, independent distilled spirits brands in the U.S. market. They are a consolidated distilled spirits importer, consultant, brokerage and marketing firm committed to high-quality wines, canned cocktails, distilled spirits and all-things-whiskey.
For media inquiries, interviews or additional information, please contact:Aaron J. Kendeall | Founder, Monongahela Whiskey Co. | akendeall@gmail.com | (412) 877-8100.
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