Buchanan's Green Seal Blended Scotch: The Ultimate Bottle Guide

Since 1884, Buchanan's has been busy making a name for itself in the whisky world — and indeed, it has quite the name now. Buchanan's is neither haughty nor exclusive, qualities I really appreciated when I started tasting whisky. Humility is in the brand's DNA. Founder James Buchanan strove to make accessible whisky with wide appeal, creating bottles well-suited for sharing and being enjoyed in community. I'd say the company has held remarkably true to this philosophy. 

The fall of 2025 saw an exciting new release for whisky fans, especially those loyal to the Buchanan's brand: Buchanan's Green Seal Blended Scotch. Having reviewed the release of Buchanan's Pineapple back in 2024, a bottle I particularly loved, I jumped at the chance to try the latest addition to its portfolio. On the surface, it reads like a slightly more sophisticated, less playful offering in the company's lineup, and its taste definitely fulfilled those expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how approachable the bottle still managed to be — well in line with the company's philosophy of making whisky to be enjoyed by everyone. I caught up with Craig Wallace, master blender for Buchanan's Whisky, to get the full scoop on everything that went into creating the bottle, and how it's intended to be enjoyed. 

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

After chatting with our expert, it seems that my first impression of Buchanan's Green Seal was right on the mark. It functions as a step up from some of the brand's other whisky expressions, including the 18-year, without the hoity-toity personality that can often accompany top-shelf whisky. "We wanted to create a whisky that delivered luxury without feeling traditional or reserved. So much of the category leans into quiet, formal occasions, and we wanted to challenge that," says Craig Wallace, master blender for Buchanan's Whisky.

Thus, the bottle offers a great balance of "ritmo," which the brand tries to keep central to its concoctions, and luxury, the feeling you're enjoying a one-of-a-kind offering that deserves to be savored. It evokes the same euphoria of cracking open a bottle of top-shelf champagne to celebrate New Year's Eve, without the exorbitant price tag. This combination of celebratory and refined energy shines throughout the bottle's design. "Inspired by the brand's iconic seal, the emerald, green glass and gold accents reflect modern luxury while honoring Buchanan's heritage. The bottle embodies the warmth, vibrancy, and togetherness at the heart of Latino culture," Wallace says.

I have to give major kudos to Buchanan's for all of the above, but mainly for crafting a whisky that perfectly embodies and conveys everything it's supposed to. You could dive into tasting a bottle of Green Seal without knowing anything about the intention behind it, and its luxurious-yet-approachable design would come through loud and clear. It's rare that I experience that kind of clarity when tasting spirits, and it feels important to mention here. 

On the nose, Buchanan's Green Seal smells strongly of smooth vanilla, citrus, and even some honey, with hints of smoky depth coming in behind. That bodes well for the company, which lists the tasting notes as citrus fruit, milk chocolate, vanilla, warm wood spices, and dried fruit. The whisky is a rich, elegant golden hue, and sipping it is effortless. The sip starts out mellow and warm, with vanilla and citrus characterizing the front of the sip before milk chocolate makes itself known; then, its spiced characteristics bloom without overtaking the rest of the sip. It doesn't have a particularly long finish, but I didn't mind in the slightest — it still made a ton of impact throughout the sip. 

Perhaps the most important thing to know about Buchanan's Green Seal is that it was crafted with an experimental South African wine yeast and a Glen Elgin single malt that's entirely unique to this offering. Scotch distillers have been experimenting with yeast for the past several years, but it doesn't seem that wine yeast has been capitalized on much yet. I wouldn't be surprised if we start hearing more about it soon, especially given all the fruity characteristics it brings to this bottle. American Oak bourbon casks give a complex depth to the spirit. 

In addition, Craig Wallace wanted to point out that the bottle has a "more subdued peatiness" than many of its high-class peated counterparts — and that was very intentional, especially considering the company's desire to create an effortlessly approachable whisky. Wallace says, "When adding the smoke, I was very careful to balance it, delivering just a mellow background note of [barbecue] smoke ... I wanted to keep the balance of sweet lowland whisky and experimental Glen Elgin." The resulting whisky tastes pure and unadulterated, without being at all too overbearing, making it an ideal bottle for whisky newbies. 

From someone who tends to prefer whisky neat, I can attest that this bottle makes for the perfect neat nightcap — as you can tell by the fact that it's almost half empty, I've been enjoying it as such for quite some time now. That said, you certainly don't have to drink Buchanan's Green Seal neat; though I definitely recommend trying it unadulterated and at room temperature at least once. I'm currently indulging in a glass alongside some shortbread, which acts as a lovely, neutral palate cleanser between sips. 

Indeed, Craig Wallace agrees that there's no one "right" way to enjoy Green Seal, suggesting it works well both neat and on the rocks. For a more unique take on the spirit, Wallace suggests pairing it with some coconut water; in fact, this is the sole addition in one of the cocktails that Buchanan's crafted upon the bottle's release, called Seal the Coco. The recipe calls for 1½ ounces of Green Seal layered with 1 ounce of coconut water, preferably served in a champagne flute. The other Green Seal cocktail in question is the Green Guava, which adds guava syrup, lemon juice, and ice to the whisky. 

Every aspect of Buchanan's Green Seal's bottle was designed with intention, from its coloring down to its shape. Green and gold certainly give the whisky an elevated, luxurious air, but they also work as an homage to Latin culture, which is regularly at the center of Buchanan's craft. 

Craig Wallace emphasizes the melding of two cultures that the bottle represents, a melting pot of sorts that has been central to the brand's identity since its founding, when James Buchanan would make forays to Latin America when marketing his whisky. Buchanan's Pineapple may be the most obvious representation of the cultural crossover, as a tropical-fruit-flavored scotch, but Green Seal has its own role to fulfill in the lineup. "The rich emerald-green glass and gold accents aren't just design elements; they honor both Buchanan's iconic heritage and the warmth and richness of Latino culture. Every detail is a toast to modern luxury that feels lively, personal, and celebratory," Wallace says.

Intentionality played into every aspect of the whisky's making, including the final design of its bottle, which clues the drinker in to the communal intent behind the whisky. The round bottle is meant to represent a wax seal (also a nod to its name), with the company's logo embedded in the middle. The wonky, curved edges also evoke the spontaneity of pressing into a wax seal. 

Moreover, the rounded design somewhat evokes the image of a wartime canteen, which particularly inspired James Buchanan because of its communal implications — passing around a canteen to share seems to be an image that stuck with Buchanan for the long haul. And, yes, this bottle's circular shape is a nod to exactly that. Its intention to be passed around a lively friendship circle, sipped on, and shared in the context of community. Craig Wallace emphasized this point, saying, "Green Seal's bold, curvy silhouette is modeled after Buchanan's historic wax seal designed to reflect the way it is meant to be shared — with one's inner circle." 

Of course, a big release begs for big-name accompaniment. For Green Seal's debut, Buchanan's partnered with Latin superstar Rauw Alejandro to promote the spirit. This collab came fresh off the heels of a larger campaign that Alejandro did with the company in the summer of 2025, called the Asados Unidos campaign. Given the focus of the campaign — which centered around the joy of Latin summer cookouts — it's no surprise that a highlight of Green Seal was a culmination of sorts. 

Alejandro told Rolling Stone, "One of the most important things to me is being with mi gente. Coming together, being with friends and la familia, it's what is most important in life." It follows that joining with Buchanan's was probably a no-brainer from a values perspective, and I think Alejandro made the perfect match for the Green Seal name. Alejandro plays Green Seal bartender in a commercial made to promote the launch of the bottle, and in the short video, he unveils the bottle, which transforms an unremarkable night at an obviously upscale club into a veritable celebration. The campaign does an excellent job of communicating the role of Green Seal — elevated enough to drink in the most aristocratic company, and playful enough to turn demure gatherings into an outright party.