Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Big Peat Islay Vatted Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($55.99)

• Scapa 16 year old “The Orcadian” Isle of Orkney Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Balcones Baby Blue Texas Corn Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($44.99)

• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Rye 750ml ($74.99)

• Rock Hill Farms Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750ml (ships as 3L) – 2 available ($44.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5 has just arrived back into stock. We have a very limited amount of bottles left so if you would like one you will have to be quick.

The 1401 series from Balvenie is one of the most talked about in whisky – with batches selling out almost immediately on release. The good news is that we have just got hold of the delicious Batch 5 release.

A profusion of fragrant fruit on the nose before sweet vanilla emerges alongside honey and spices. The taste is a velvety smooth balance between sweetness and oak tannin, underpinned by a sherried character full of dried fruits and a cinnamon and ginger spiciness. The finish is rich, sweet and spicy.

Free postage on all orders over £60 at The Whisky Shop which are delivered to mainland UK.

Simply Click To Buy – Only £325

Laphroaig 15 Year Old 1997 $158.65

New! Caol Ila 33 Year Old 1980 $367.83

New! Macallan 15 Year Old 1997$186.61

Glenfarclas 46 Year Old 1966 $439.83

New! Port Dundas 35 Year Old 1978 $259.13

North British 50 Year Old 1962 $537.47

MARCH UPDATE: STAY ON YOUR TOES

Six drams are KO in the first round: only 8 belters remain to fight for your attention. Whichever flavours you’re a fan of, better keep on your toes – these bottlings are going quick!

No.1: Spicy & sweet

44.60 Growing on you

A 14 year old whisky from a refill ex-sherry butt
Only 39 remaining!

BUY £48.10

No.2: Lightly peated

3.217 A delicatessen shopping basket

A 16 year old whisky from a refill ex-sherry butt
Only 16 remaining!

BUY £60.00

No.3: Deep, rich & dried fruits

30.80 A wicker basket full of dark pleasures

A 23 year old whisky from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Only 16 remaining!

BUY £48.10

No.4: Heavily peated

53.196 Waiting on the ambulance

A 22 year old whisky from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Only 86 remaining!

BUY £60.00

No. 5: Oily & coastal

93.57 Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of this!

A 21 year old whisky from a refill ex-sherry butt
Only 86 remaining!

BUY £84.90

Browse all bottlings

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Campari acquires Forty Creek Distillery Ltd.,

Distillery creates world’s largest handcrafted barrel oak headphones to launch ‘Bushmills Live™ 2014’

Indie rock stars ‘The 1975’ first act to be confirmed for festival of handcrafted whiskey and music at the Old Bushmills Distillery 

Bushmills Village: 11^th March, 2014; The music-loving whiskey makers at the Old Bushmills Distillery have handmade the world’s largest barrel oak headphones to launch this year’s ‘Bushmills Live 2014’ indie music festival. 

‘Bushmills Live 2014’ is a festival of handcrafted whiskey and music that will take place at the Old Bushmills Distillery, on Ireland’s stunning north coast, on June 11-12, 2014. 

This year the festival, previously headlined by the likes of Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg and Of Monsters and Men, will see 700 whiskey and music fans invited to the brand’s home to witness emerging and iconic artists sharing the stage for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings, where the art of making whiskey has been perfected over centuries. 

Made by two local artisans using almost a dozen giant whiskey barrels, the headphones stand at over 10ft high and will form an interactive centrepiece with music from Bushmills Live artists past and present played through the unique, handcrafted headphones. Friends will be able to sit between the ear pieces and share a truly unique combination of handcrafted whiskey and music. 

It follows on from a successful tie up with Hollywood A-Lister Elijah Wood, who along with his friend and DJ partner Zach Cowie, designed a line of Grado Labs headphones made from Bushmills Irish Whiskey wood in December. 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan said: “We’re looking forward to throwing open the doors of the distillery and welcoming friends, old and new, to come and enjoy the handcrafted whiskey and music on offer at ‘Bushmills Live 2014’. 

Breakthrough British band ‘The 1975’, who have had a meteoric rise in the last 12 months, are set to take time out of their massive world tour to headline the festival on June 12. 

The four friends from Manchester, who have supported the likes of The Rolling Stones and MUSE in the past, are embarking on a world tour that will see them play huge gigs in Australia, Japan and America, as well as a more intimate set at the Old Bushmills Distillery. 

Matthew Healy, lead singer of ‘The 1975’, said: “We’ve never played a show in a distillery before so it’s a first for us. We’ve gigged all over the place but to play a festival like this, in a setting as unique as this, will be pretty special.” 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan added: “It really is a highpoint of our year. Great music and excellent whiskey, enjoyed in moderation among friends, complement each other beautifully. We’ll be announcing the full line-up soon and I can promise you some spectacular surprises as well as some good friends returning.” 

The ‘money-can’t-buy’ tickets will not go on general release. Instead, music and whiskey fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills. Entries to the draw will open on Monday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at 16:08 GMT. 

Notes 

Bushmills Live is an annual music festival which hosts both iconic and emerging artists for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations. 

Competition:

The Facebook competition is open to people in:

Portugal, Germany, Russia, USA, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland.

From each country, one winner will win a pair of tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’.

Keep up with Bushmills at: Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

Photo captions

World’s largest barrel oak headphones handcrafted to launch Bushmills Live 2014

The world’s largest barrel oak headphones handcrafted by two local artisans to celebrate the launch of ‘Bushmills Live 2014.’ Made using almost a dozen giant whiskey barrels, the headphones stand at over 10ft high and will form an interactive centrepiece with music from Bushmills Live artists past and present. Festival-goers will be able to sit between the ear pieces to share a truly unique combination of handcrafted whiskey and music. Whiskey and music fans can win the chance to attend the festival, headlined by The 1975 and held on 11^th and 12^th June, by entering a draw at www.facebook.com/bushmills. Entries open on Monday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at 16:08 GMT. 

Bushmills Live 2014 – headphones outside the Old Bushmills Distillery with artists

The world’s largest barrel oak headphones handcrafted by two local artisans, Matt Minford and Gareth Martin, pictured, to celebrate the launch of ‘Bushmills Live 2014.’ Made using almost a dozen giant whiskey barrels, the headphones stand at over 10ft high and will form an interactive centrepiece with music from Bushmills Live artists past and present. Festival-goers will be able to sit between the ear pieces to share a truly unique combination of handcrafted whiskey and music. Whiskey and music fans can win the chance to attend the festival, headlined by The 1975 and held on 11^th and 12^th June, by entering a draw at www.facebook.com/bushmills. Entries open on Monday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at 16:08 GMT. 

Bushmills Live launches headphones inside the Old Bushmills Distillery

To celebrate the launch of ‘Bushmills Live 2014’, two local artisans, Matt Minford and Gareth Martin, (pictured with Bushmills Master Distiller, Colum Egan) have handcrafted the world’s largest barrel oak headphones. Made using almost a dozen giant whiskey barrels, the headphones stand at over 10ft high and will form an interactive centrepiece with music from Bushmills Live artists past and present. Festival-goers will be able to sit between the ear pieces to share a truly unique combination of handcrafted whiskey and music. Whiskey and music fans can win the chance to attend the festival, headlined by The 1975 and held on 11^th and 12^th June, by entering a draw at www.facebook.com/bushmills. Entries open on Monday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at 16:08 GMT. 

The 1975 – Bushmills Live 2014 headliners

Breakthrough British band The 1975 are set to headline ‘Bushmills Live’ festival at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s north coast on June 12, 2014. Whiskey and music fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw at www.facebook.com/bushmills. Entries open on Monday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at 16:08 GMT.  

About ‘The 1975’

The 1975 are an English alternative rock/indie band based in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass).

Their self-titled debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and debuted at No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart. 

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey


Bushmills Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery’s portfolio includes seven award-winning variants: Bushmills, Bushmills Black Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, our anniversary edition, Bushmills 1608 and Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink. 

About Diageo


Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands, visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.

Hi folks. We’re on the move to bigger and better premises. From March 12 we will all be together at THE PENTAGON CENTRE, 36 WASHINGTON STREET, GLASGOW G3 8AZ. Telephone 0141 243 2585 for Reception, Booking In and Collection. For Packing, Delivery, Photography and Valuations. please use 0141 204 4714. There is ample metered parking outside the building. There is controlled entry, but just punch 003 into the keypad and we’ll buzz you in. Please also let your courier companies know our new address. There will be a presence at 1134 Argyle for a few weeks, but please use WASHINGTON STREET from now on. 

Kind regards from Glasgow 

Alex, Bill. Chris, Des, George, Graeme, Ian, Jackie, Jess. Linda,
Pete, Stuart and Tam 

Here is a map of how to get from our old premises to our new HQ

New! Director’s Cut Single Cask Scotch

1992 vintage single sherry cask expression of the favourite Islay single malt from Douglas Laing & Co.

Laphroaig 21 Year Old $273.42

TOP PICKS

• Kilchoman K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel #172 Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($109.99)
  If there is one battle we’re not willing to fight in the spirits world, it’s the idea that “craft” whisky is better whisky. We don’t think using quarter casks to mature whisky faster makes for better whisky. We don’t think using organic grains or designer barrels make for better whisky either. What makes whisky better? Time. If you’re not willing to let your whisky come around naturally, then you’re not going to convince guys like David and me to support your stuff. Kilchoman, in my mind, is the one “craft” distillery that does it right. Their whisky is still young, but it’s already light years beyond what we’re seeing from standard Islay releases these days. There are reasons for this. They operate their still at a slow drip -that takes TIME. They only use standard size Bourbon and Sherry casks, which take TIME to mature. And, they hired John MacLellan, the former distiller for Bunnahabhain who has decades of experience from putting in TIME! And they keep getting better. This Bourbon cask #172 is so delicate in mouthfeel, yet bursting with white pepper, smoke, and fresh peat that it almost seems unreal. At 60% it tastes like 45% because it’s in complete harmony with a small dose of butterscotch on the finish and then a lingering floral note. At only five years of age it’s more flavorful, satisfying, and exciting than anything I’ve tasted from any Islay distillery over the past year. While others still look to the future, I think Kilchoman’s time is now. (David Driscoll)

• Kilchoman K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel #74 Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($109.99)
  If there is one battle we’re not willing to fight in the spirits world, it’s the idea that “craft” whisky is better whisky. We don’t think using quarter casks to mature whisky faster makes for better whisky. We don’t think using organic grains or designer barrels make for better whisky either. What makes whisky better? Time. If you’re not willing to let your whisky come around naturally, then you’re not going to convince guys like David and me to support your stuff. Kilchoman, in my mind, is the one “craft” distillery that does it right. Their whisky is still young, but it’s already light years beyond what we’re seeing from standard Islay releases these days. There are reasons for this. They operate their still at a slow drip -that takes TIME. They only use standard size Bourbon and Sherry casks, which take TIME to mature. And, they hired John MacLellan, the former distiller for Bunnahabhain who has decades of experience from putting in TIME! And they keep getting better. This Bourbon cask #74 is zippy, lively, peppery, and bright with cinnamon red hots and bursts of sweet wood. It’s like a mezcal made on Islay, but with more vanilla and sweetness. What’s more amazing is the sheer drinkability at 59%. It’s never hot, overpowering, or out of whack. At only five years of age it’s more flavorful, satisfying, and exciting than anything I’ve tasted from any Islay distillery over the past year. While others still look to the future, I think Kilchoman’s time is now. (David Driscoll)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Eagle Rare’s 2014 Rare Life Award Proudly Goes to Angie Goodwin of Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin
Goodwin’s Charity to be awarded with $40,000 Donation due to her courage,
leadership and devotion to Fight against Childhood Cancer

Calhoun, KY (March 4, 2014) — Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has named Angie Goodwin of Calhoun, KY as the winner of the Grand Prize 2014 Rare Life Award. Eagle Rare will donate $40,000 to Goodwin’s charity, Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin Childhood Cancer Foundation, and host an awards ceremony in Henderson on March 7, 2014. Angie and her late son Lane, started the foundation to support childhood cancer research through funding and advocacy and to assist families battling childhood cancer by providing education, financial assistance and a volunteer network.

The Rare Life Award is an annual recognition program created to honor individuals who exhibit courage, leadership, survival, devotion, character and heroism. Candidates are nominated by friends, family and colleagues. For the 2014 awards 191 individuals were nominated and over 921,000 votes were cast. Their stories and photos are posted online at www.eaglerarelife.com, where visitors vote on these inspirational stories.

A Kentucky native, Lane Goodwin was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) at age ten and passed away on Oct. 17, 2012, at age thirteen. ARMS is a type of cancer most often seen with older children and teens. Despite Lane’s life and death battle he never forgot to think about other kids battling cancer. His characteristic “thumbs up” was his way of saying, “I got this.” Lane’s cause gained national attention through a “Thumbs Up” social media campaign that went viral with names like Johnny Depp, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kevin Durant and Tim Tebow tweeting photos of themselves giving a thumbs up in support of Lane.

During Lane’s final weeks his mom asked him why he thought all of this was happening. Lane replied without hesitation, “Mom, this is what we always prayed for. This will bring awareness and a cure.” Lane proceeded to tell his mom what he wanted her to do, and thus was born the Thumbs Up For Lane Goodwin Childhood Cancer Foundation. Lane was present when Kentucky Secretary ofState Alison Lundergan Grimes visited their home to present them with the Foundation incorporation papers in October 2012.

The foundation focuses on two areas, research into the cause of childhood cancers and research for new, less toxic treatments. In the 16 months since its inception, the foundation has raised $140,000 and helped hundreds of families with emergency assistance, hotel costs, transportation, and second opinions. This donation from Eagle Rare will be the foundation’s largest single donation to date. 2014 Grand Prize recipient Angie Goodwin said, “Getting this honor is a wonderful validation of the efforts of so many, including Lane, who want to see progress toward a cure and a reduction of the stress and suffering whole families experience. This donation also comes on the anniversary of Lane’s diagnosis March 4, 2010.

Eagle Rare spokesman Kris Comstock said, “Angie Goodwin truly leads a rare life. Two thumbs up from us. We congratulate and thank her, along our other winners and nominees, for sharing their rare lives with us. Hopefully this award provides them with greater visibility for their invaluable work.”

Eagle Rare will also donate $4,000 to the charities of choice of the six runners up, each one embodying a distinct characteristic of a Rare Life: Courage, Leadership, Heroism, Character, Devotion and Survival. Eagle Rare’s prize donations for 2014 total $64,000.

The six 2014 runners-up are:

• Becky Ortyl of St. Louis, MO: Courage Award for Mighty Oakes Heart Foundation
• Mika Moulton of Palm Springs, CA: Survival Award for Christopher’s Clubhouse
• Marge Gibson of Antigo, WI: Leadership Award for Raptor Education Group
• Barbara Capone of Philadelphia, PA: Devotion Award for Michael’s Army
• Marc Dibernardo of Poughkeepsie, NY: Heroism Award for Active Heroes
• Karen Shirk of Xenia, OH: Character Award for 4 Paws for Ability

For more information on the Rare Life Award or Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit www.eaglerarelife.com.

About Eagle Rare Bourbon

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is part of the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery, a family-owned company based in Frankfort, (Franklin County), Kentucky. The Distillery is a National Historic Landmark with a rich distilling tradition dating back to 1786 and including such legends as E. H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Eagle Rare Bourbon is a 10-year-old single barrel bourbon that has won multiple awards, including five double gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To learn more about Eagle Rare visit www.eaglerarelife.com