Aultmore 11 Year Old Provenance 46% | 70cl

Tasting Notes.

Toffee’d. grassy and citric in a clean lemon-y way on the nose. Anticipate palatewise a real vanilla toffee “hit” with a peppery freshness and softening late oiliness. The finish is distinctly smoked – subtly spiced – with a sprinkle of caster sugar.

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing.

Price: £33.33 ex VAT
£40.00 inc VAT

Braeval 12 Year Old Provenance 46% | 70cl

Tasting Notes.

The nose opens attractively spiced with a bees wax quality and develops to flamebee’d ornage zest – crepe suzette style. The palate is warming, still spicy with more orange qualities – now infused in warm caramel. The long finish remains zesty before running drier to lemon pith.

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing.

Price: £36.67 ex VAT
£44.00 inc VAT

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing. 

BUY TICKETS

Price: £15.00
Date: Thursday 11th September
Time: 7:00PM
Location: N&P Cellars

Enjoy whisky cocktails with the man who regularly consults on cocktail styling for the BAFTAS and Film Premieres, Wayne Collins! The Cocktail mastermind. Just £15.00 per ticket!

A rare opportunity to taste newly released Dark Origins from the Highland Park distillery and other special aged whiskies from their Orkney cellars, whilst learning how to mix Highland Park malts to achieve diverse flavour experiences, and perfectly balanced cocktails.

Scottish Field Distillery Visitor Experience of the Year 2014

The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery, Crieff are absolutely delighted to have been nominated for this fantastic award but they need your help to win. You can vote for them until 3rd October here

Mortlach Rare Old

After months of speculation and waiting (and hoarding of the Mortlach Flora and Fauna) the new whiskies from Mortlach are finally here. Well, the first one is – Mortlach Rare Old.

The new range: Rare Old, Special Strength (exclusive to travel retail), 18yo and 25yo

It’s the entry-level bottling for the new range, which will be completed by 18 and 25 year old whiskies as well as a travel retail exclusive, and is very much a statement of intent. While most people’s only real exposure to Mortlach has been through the Flora and Fauna bottling, there’s a lot more to the distillery’s character than heavily sherried whisky.

Mortlach uses a complex distillation process, where some of the spirit is distilled twice, some three times, and some maybe even four by some explanations, averaging out to ’2.81 times’, as stated on the front of the new bottles. It’s similar to what they do at Springbank and Benrinnes, but even more involved and difficult to explain, with a third spirit still, called the Wee Witchie thanks to its pointy-hatted shape, adding a new level of complexity to an-already-difficult-to-understand process. Whatever the method, they end up with three styles of spirit – medium bodied; light and delicate; meaty and sulphury – which are mixed together before they fill their casks.

The Rare Old takes the big sherry feel of the Flora and Fauna and tempers it with some lighter whisky to show more of the variation that we’ve seen in independent bottlings of Mortlach. It uses a combination of first-fill American and European oak casks, as well as some refill and rejuvenated casks, to give a glimpse at the spirit itself, as well as the cask character.

Mortlach Rare Old, 43.4%, £56.95

Nose: Hazelnuts, spicy cinnamon, raisins, candied orange and floral touches up front. There’s quite a lot of sweetness, with some dry, leafy notes balancing barley sugar and vanilla fudge.
Palate: Thick and oily, with dark chocolate, real maraschino cherries, dark wood, plump raisins, freshly sawn oak, spicy cinnamon (almost to Hot Tamale levels), liquorice and biscuits – garibaldi biscuits with cherry jam?
Finish: Spicy cinnamon hangs around, with raisins, more cherry, toasted oak and a bit of barrel char.
Comment: Lighter than the old Flora and Fauna, but still packed with flavour: sweeter and fudgier than before, but with a good slug of sherry-cask-matured whisky in the mix.

The Mortlach Rare Old is available from The Whisky Exchange now, and the 18 and 25 year olds will be appearing later in the year.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – Mortlach Rare Old

JAPANESE WHISKY A SELLOUT AT BONHAMS

HONG KONG AUCTION

A bottle of Yamazaki-50 year old fetches HK$257,250

Bonhams Hong Kong continues to take the lead in the sale of rare single malt whiskies in the city with a successful auction of Japanese and Rare Whisky on 15 August.  The 200 lots of Japanese whisky on offer were snapped up with great gusto, resulting in a sellout with every single lot sold. The whisky sale, which also included 64 lots of Scottish single malts, totaled HK$6,564,898, with an overall 97% of the lots sold.

Spirited bidding among the whisky aficionados in the packed saleroom and online drove the prices of their favourite malts above their presale estimates, proving that the demand for rare single malt whiskies and in particular Japanese ones remain at an all time high.  As expected, the highly collectible Yamazaki-50 year old, one of the rarest and oldest Japanese single malt whiskies of all time and the true connoisseur’s dream, fetched HK$257,250, 70% above the presale low estimate of HK$150,000.

Other prized Japanese whisky scored equally well, with Hanyu Ichiro’s Playing Card series from the silent distillery also achieving prices above presale estimates. A set of ‘Royal Flush’ featuring Ace of Clubs, Two of Clubs, Three of Clubs, Four of Clubs and Five of Clubs sold for HK$159,250.  While the set of ‘Six Full House’ consisting of Six of Hearts, Six of Diamonds, Six of Spades, Five of Hearts and Five of Diamonds achieved HK$100,450.

Collectables from Karuizawa, another renowned Japanese silent distillery, attracted their equal share of bidders.  Leading the pack were the Karuizawa命之水 black and white series which sold for HK$116,375 and the extremely rare Karuizawa-1965-21 year old in a crystal decanter which fetched HK$104,125.

The most coveted Scottish single malt remains the Macallan.  The top lot of the sale went to a bottle of Macallan 55 Year Old limited edition in a Lalique crystal decanter which achieved HK$294,000 after intense bidding.

Also hotly contested were the extremely rare Macallan 1948 – 51 year old and the Macallan 1951 which sold for HK$153,125 and HK$147,000 respectively.

Not one to rest on its laurels, the Bonhams Hong Kong wine department is actively seeking consignments for the next Fine and Rare Wines, Cognac and Single Malt Whisky Auction to be held on 18 November. Consignments will close on 30 September. More liquid treasures will go to block at the next sale to quench the thirst among collectors for the finest wines, spirits and the ‘water of life’. 

Notes

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is the world’s third largest international auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 27 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to http://www.bonhams.com/.

The Springbank 21 year old single cask ‘Renegade’ is now available to order at The Whisky Shop. Only available while stocks last.

This spectacular Sprinbank has been specially selected and bottled by Mark Reynier, the former owner of Bruichladdich Distillery

Springbank fans will know that a 21 year old Springbank of any form is rare enough at the moment, but this incredibly unique bottling goes a step further and offers an opportunity to taste the influence of different maturation environments.

This single cask of Springbank was matured for 13 years at Springbank and then moved to the warehouses at Bruichladdich for the remaining 8 years of maturation. With Bruichladdich being much more exposed to prevailing Atlantic winds and foreshore influences than at Springbank’s warehouses in Campbeltown, some additional “maritime” influences have been imparted to this already exceptional whisky. Matured in Sherry Hogshead number 118.

One of only 219 bottles available. Bottled at 46% volume. Springbank whisky is widely classed as one of the most collectable single malts in the world and this limited edition offers collectors an exciting opportunity to add to their collection.

£250 Click here to buy

New in stock…

Ardbeg 1991 23 Year Old Directors Cut 53.1% | 70cl

Tasting Notes.

Nose: Opens sweet and vanilla’d – developing to liquorice – soft chewy tar & peated malt.

Palate: Still sweet – builds to rock pools & a warming smoked quality & chimney soot.

Finish: Long & lingering – still sooty & beach bonfire ashes & sweet cigar smoke.

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing.

Price: £408.33 ex VAT
£490.00 inc VAT

Glen Ord 1992 21 Year Old Directors Cut 52.1% | 70cl

Tasting Notes.
Nose: Interestingly herbal – spiced – sugar sweet & barley’d.

Palate: Juicy – still herbal & spiced – now with coconut & chocolate.

Finish: Long & intriguing – replicates the palate & muscovado sugar?.

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing.

Price: £95.83 ex VAT
£115.00 inc VAT

Littlemill 1988 25 Year Old Directors Cut 56.2% | 70cl

Tasting Notes.
Nose: Full of character. Opens with sweet barley, ripe bananas, burnt sugar & caramelized apples.

Palate: Lively with chewy vanilla & stewed rhubarb & freshly baked croissants with warm butter.

Finish: Lingering with hints of coconut cream, buttered toast & sweet, ripe summer fruits.

Tasting notes by Douglas Laing.

Price: £137.50 ex VAT
£165.00 inc VAT

• 1988 Balmenach 25 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($149.99)
  One point we’ve stressed over and over again to our single malt customers is the need to be open-minded when it comes to finding value. So many enthusiasts lament the end of any affordable value at the higher end of the market, when in reality it’s still there — it’s just hiding under an unassuming name. In this case, that name is Balmenach: a Speyside distillery known more for the Deerstalker label than for its own eponymous selections. We all oohed and ahhed in unison while tasting this whisky from cask at the Signatory warehouse. The aromas were full of ripe stonefruit and salty caramel and it smelled as if a rich palate might be soon to follow. Indeed. The flavors were actually quite woody, but never over done, as the oak melded with the fruit and became almost toffee-ish on the finish. There’s something special about that Signatory warehouse in Pitlochry; the way in which unpeated, light, and fruity whiskies have a way of transforming in to a seamless nectar. We’ve seen it with our previous Ladyburn and Glenlochy casks, and we’re witnessing it again with this hogshead of Balmenach. It’s not quite as evolved as those other two, but man is it tasty. This is fun, fruity, rich, mature, and pleasantly supple single malt whisky. It’s a 25 year old single cask of Speyside goodness for a very fair price. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 1997 Dailuaine 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($79.99)
  Dailuaine is a lovely little whisky. I don’t love it any less now that I’ve been chased off the distillery grounds. In fact the whole complex is very unusual. When we were there this year it seemed as though an endless amount of construction was at a standstill. This is also where Diageo has their “D00ark0m Grains” processing facility, which turns the spent barley into pellets for animal feed. The dark industrial dreeriness of this distillery, hidden in a hollow not far from the hill of Rinnes, totally flies in the face of the wonderfully fresh and vibrant malt that they produce. We were actually considering bottling this at 46% because we really liked how it took water, but when we saw how reasonable the cask strength price was we decided to give you the option at home. This has a very classically Dailuaine nose of fresh malt, white pepper, and green apples. It’s very off the oak and on the malt. On the palate, the pomace nature continues, with a rich oily maltiness that gives it length. Slight hints of brown sugar, almond, and vanilla pop up with water. That big malty side is tamed perfectly with the addition of water and brings out more subtle aromas on the palate. Now we have some exotic barks, subtle herbal notes, and some baked apple qualities. All in all this is a really fun whisky at an absolutely unbeatable price. (David Othenin-Girard, Spirits Buyer)

• Cedar Ridge K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Iowa Bourbon 750ml ($59.99)
  Amid all the controversy in the craft whiskey market these days (e.g. sourced whiskey, label laws, ridiculous prices, and all too often poor quality) a choice few distillers have sat quietly back and focused on producing excellent quality product and trying to sell it for a relatively reasonable price. Cedar Ridge is heading for that select group. Founded in 2005 by Jeff & Laurie Quint, they distill all their products in an 80 gallon European pot still. Their bourbon was released in 2010, the FIRST Iowa Bourbon (wow) to be released since prohibition and they’ve been aging stocks for over 7 years now. The mashbill is 75% corn, 10% rye and 15% malted barley and Cedar Ridge fills 53 gallon new charred Missouri Oak barrels. This is, for me, is one of the few bourbons wholly produced by one of the new wave of craft distillers to rival the quality of the industry leaders in Kentucky. It is one of the first craft distilleries to offer us bourbon over 4 years old in single full size barrels at full strength. The nose is all sticky caramel and spice. Hints of cinnamon covered apples, dried underbrush, and sweet oak. Textural nuance at the full 57.9%, showing a medium to full body that turns up the spices and sweet grain notes on the tongue whiles balancing with a mild drying oak and a great rich cocoa finish. There is no question that the little distillery in Swisher, Iowa is one to watch.

• Cut Spike Nebraska Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)
  At first we couldn’t believe our mouths. We knew that Cut Spike single malt had just taken Double Gold honors at the 2014 San Francisco Spirits competition (the highest possible honor), so obviously other people thought it was good, too. But after tasting so many mediocre American attempts at single malt whisky, we had become accustomed to the idea that the Scottish style of distillation would never be recreated here at home. There would be spin-offs, and experimental gasps at greatness, but that supple, malty profile would simply be something we needed to import from abroad. Then the folks at Cut Spike sent us a sample of their two year old Nebraskan single malt whisky made from 100% malted barley on a pot still crafted in Rothes, Scotland. Fermented at the brewery next door to Cut Spike in La Vista, the malt was matured for two years in new American oak with varying levels of char. The result is an incredible hybrid: soft, barley and vanilla-laden whisk y that tastes somewhat like your standard Scottish single malt, but has its own unique character simultaneously. It’s the kind of whisky that you taste once and enjoy, but then the next day suddenly crave intensely. It impresses you instantly, yet doesn’t really reveal its full character until weeks later. The new oak blurs seamlessly into the malty mouthfeel, adding a richness on the finish normally not tasted in standard Scottish selections. Cut Spike is a major accomplishment for American distillation, pure and simple.

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

Come and see us at the Lonach Highland Gathering on Saturday the 23rd August…. 

…..for a wee dram and buy your exclusive bottle of Lonach 2014 Single Malt.

We are hosting the “Whiskies Of Scotland” whisky marquee where you can taste free samples from distilleries such as Benriach, Benromach, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Tomintoul & Glencadam. Also exhibiting their portfollio of whiskies are Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, Black Bull Blended Whisky & independant bottlers Dougas Laing.

And of course our own exclusive single malts label “Whiskies Of Scotland”.  

Slainte, Ronnie Routledge.

BENRIACH RELEASES BATCH 11 OF ITS SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS 

BenRiach has today, 14 August, released the latest batch, its eleventh, of single cask bottlings. 

It comprises fourteen superb casks that were bottled in July and all are available as of today, ideal for leisurely summer tasting. 

Ranging from 37 to 9 years old, the much-anticipated release demonstrates a hugely eclectic range of expressions for which Elgin’s award-winning BenRiach is renowned, with astonishing variety across the fourteen casks. These include whiskies in the traditional, classic Speyside style, peated expressions and wood finishes such as Dark Rum, Tawny Port, Madeira, Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximenez Sherry and a Marsala wood finish. 

All fourteen casks have been hand-selected by BenRiach’s Managing Director and Master Distiller Billy Walker who described them as “absolutely special” and added: 

“Wood Management is one of the most important factors in ensuring excellence of quality during maturation. The most important factor is to use top-quality casks – Bourbon barrels, Hogsheads and ex-Wine Seasoned casks – and there is a role in the maturation process for all of these casks. Getting the wood right can be expensive but it’s one of the things I’m most proud of since we took over BenRiach.” 

And what an amazing range there is in Batch Eleven. 

The oldest, 1976 #529, at 44.2% vol, is Sherry Cask Matured and finished in a Bourbon barrel. Fresh crisp oak and cereal combine with sweet plum syrup, developing to an elegant, soft tropical fruit and toasted coconut finish. 

Meanwhile the youngest, 2005 # 3781, at 58.7% vol, a Virgin American Oak Hogshead, offers floods of sweet peat reek in rich caramelised apple and pear, softening gently to dried apricot and desiccated coconut. 

And a third which suggests it will be much sought-after is the 1998 cask # 5171, at 57.9% vol, a triple-distilled Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish in which vibrant oak spice, orange bitters and dark chocolate give exceptional depth, with stewed barley and orchard fruits softly rolling though the long, ever-changing palate. 

Other expressions in the range boast the taste of “Demerara and boiled sweets”, “luxurious chocolate and roasted coffee beans”, “rich Tarte Tatin” and even “fairground candy apple”. 

The cask details are as follows:

1976 cask # 529 /  37 years old / Bourbon Barrel / Sherry Cask Matured, Bourbon Finish / 44.2% vol. 

1976 cask # 5463 /  37 years old / Bourbon Barrel / Peated, Sherry Cask Matured, Bourbon Finish / 51.9% vol.

1977 cask # 7114 / 37 years old / Hogshead / 48.3%vol. 

1977 cask # 1891 / 37 years old / Dark Rum Barrel / Dark Rum Finish / 43.2% vol.

1978 cask # 5469 / 36 years old / Bourbon Barrel / Sherry Cask Matured, Bourbon Finish / 41.7% vol. 

1984 cask # 488 / 29 years old / Hogshead / Peated / 51.1% vol. 

1984 cask # 4051 / 29 years old / Tawny Port Hogshead / Peated, Tawny Port Finish / 50.3% vol. 

1994 cask # 1703 / 20 years old / Tawny Port Hogshead / Tawny Port Finish / 55.6% vol. 

1994 cask # 5626 / 20 years old / Madeira Hogshead / Peated, Madeira Finish / 53.2% vol. 

1996 cask # 7176 / 18 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 52.4% vol. 

1997 cask # 4435 / 16 years old / Marsala Hogshead / Marsala finish / 56.1% vol. 

1998 cask # 5171 / 16 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximenez Sherry finish / 57.9% vol. 

2000 cask # 38131 / 14 years old / Bourbon Barrel / 59.3% vol. 

2005 cask # 3781 / 9 years old / Virgin American Oak Hogshead / Peated, Virgin American Oak finish / 58.7% vol. 

Keep an eye on our website, www.benriachdistillery.co.uk, and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on these new releases, tasting notes and exclusive product photography.