‘Aye, the nights are fair drawing in.’

As shadows cast become longer and the nights fade into darkness ever more quickly, draw some warmth from a fine dram. After all, there’s always plenty to choose from. 

MORTLACH
Old & Rare (50cl)
£54.95

‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ Or rather, in our case – the drinking! It’s a brand new release, but it’s not like we didn’t know it was coming. Out with the tasty old and in with the tasty new.

GLENDRONACH 18
Tawny Port
£67.95

Upgraded by a further 3 years maturation, this 18 year old replaces the discontinued Glendroanch 15 Tawny Port. It is a permanent addition to the core range. Rich, fruity & warming.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!

KILCHOMAN
Port Cask
£67.95

First sampled at our annual Whisky Fringe event at the start of August and subsequently much in demand. Luscious stuff! Rich, potent, peaty Kilchoman entirely matured in ex-ruby port casks for 3 years.

GLEN GARIOCH
Renaissance
£76.95

The first in a series of four limited editions from Glen Garioch, being released over the next 3 years. Each chapter will have been distilled in 1997, when the distillery re-opened and switched to using unpeated malt.

GLENDRONACH
UK Exclusives
£89.95 & £104.95

Not one, but two new limited edition Glendronachs – 1995 Cask #3326 & 1993 Cask #39. One has been matured in a former PX cask and the other in a ex-Oloroso cask. Both of these fine drams are only being released to the UK market.

SUNTORY WHISKY TASTING – WEDNESDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2014

We have been very remiss as it’s several years since we last held a Japanese whisky tasting and so we are delighted that on Wednesday 15th October Zoran Peric, UK brand ambassador, has kindly agreed to come along and present some whiskies from the Suntory range.

Suntory have two distilleries – Yamazaki (founded in 1923) and Hakushu – from which they produce a range of single malts and blended whiskies, and whilst the basic method of whisky making is similar in Japan to Scotland the Suntory distilleries have some fascinating variations in production. For example, at the Yamazaki distillery they have 6 different types of pot still and use many types of barrels – including some made from Japanese Mizunara wood. These type of variations, along with a mild climate, result in a distinctive style of fragrant and elegant whisky – with the addition in the case of Hakushu of a subtle smokiness, as it is lightly peated.

The winning combination of Zoran’s flair for presenting and the delightful Japanese whiskies mean that these tastings have proved extremely popular in the past so there is sure to be strong demand for the tickets.

Tickets for the Suntory whisky tasting will be available to buy from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd September and no bookings will be taken before this time. Also, please be aware that the maximum number of people that we can seat together at one table is 6.

See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us.

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

UPCOMING EVENT

Name Suntory Japanese Whisky Tasting
Date Wednesday 15th October 2014

Time 7.00 for 7.30pm
Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren

Details Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared. Tickets are £15 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Arkwrights reserve the right to restrict the number of tickets per customer and as these tastings usually sell out within hours it is best to book as soon as the tickets are released. To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd September and place an order for the number you require.

Please note, we cannot accept provisional bookings and payment must be made when booking. Refunds for tickets are not available except in exceptional circumstances. N.B. We have negotiated special rates at the hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – click here for further details.

This week Joe Ellis reviews the SMWS 73.65 Tarts in a Tea House 24yo Aultmore 

http://youtu.be/skMtOxWWGJc 

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

I hope you are having a great summer. We have just finished our ‘silent season’ at the distillery when we stop production for 3 weeks to make all the necessary repairs and indeed have our holidays too! But we are all back now and hard at work producing your favourite whisky.

Laphroaig Live 2014 COMES TO STOCKHOLM!

Ever since we completed Laphroaig Live in New York last Autumn I have had many e mails from FOL’s asking me where and when this year’s live broadcast will be held. The answer is Stockholm at 8.00PM on the 24th September.

Why Stockholm? Well, whilst Laphroaig is the No1 peated single malt all over the world, in Sweden it’s so popular that it’s quite simply the No 1 selling Single Malt!

And of course it’s not just the smokey taste of Laphroaig that they love. There is a saying in Sweden “If you can eat it we can smoke it”. So taking them for their word, we will be broadcasting live from the famous Rökeriet restaurant which has its very own ‘smokery’ on the beautiful island of Fjäderholmarna. They are preparing for us a phenomenal smörgåsbord of smoked Elk, Reindeer, Baltic Salmon – all smoked over Laphroaig infused wood! To pair with this I will be bringing 4 fantastic and different Laphroaig’s which we will be tasting and discussing live.

Vote for a whisky

I have settled on three of the expressions we will taste on the night, but am unsure whether the fourth should be our award winning 18Year Old or the classic 10Year Old. So I thought I would put it to a vote! So please CLICK HERE and vote for which additional whisky you want to taste and discuss with me on the night.

We also have a fantastic panel to join me this time including the famous Swedish presenter and comedienne Nour El-Refai, whisky activist Peter Borg whose involvement has granted him an honourable chair of the board at the Swedish Whisky Association, as well as the founder of ‘I Love Whisky’ -blog Håkan Dahlberg.

On top of that I’m pleased that Vicky Stevens who many you already know from the distillery will be on hand to answer your questions too. With a line-up like that it’s bound to be a lively evening!

Your questions please

But as always, please send us your Laphroaig questions and we will do our best to answer them live on the night, those questions we don’t have time for we will post answers up on the website later. To send in your question just CLICK HERE to write me and Vicky, and do leave your name and plot number as I always send out Laphroaig Glasses to the best questions received. Click here to send in your questions.

Of course we will have our live audience of Swedish Friends of Laphroaig. But I very much hope you will join me too (you can also send in questions live on the night to me or indeed anyone on panel)! Last year over 40,000 friends from 50 different countries watched the New York programme.

I hope Sweden can beat this number this year!

Sláinte

John Campbell

Join the Friends of Laphroaig

GlenDronach 1995 / Single Cask #3326 UK Exclusive

One of two UK exclusives released towards the end of Summer 2014 from GlenDronach distillery. Single cask #3326 has been aged for 19 years in a Pedro Ximénez sherry puncheon before being bottled at cask strength, 55% vol with an out-turn of 661 bottles.

£89.90 (£74.92 ex vat)

Click here to purchase GlenDronach Single Cask 3326

GlenDronach 1993 / Single Cask #39 UK Exclusive

A UK exclusive from GlenDronach distillery and sure to be another very popular release. Single cask #39 was distilled in 1993 and aged in a Oloroso sherry butt for 21 years. Filled in 2014 at 58.8% vol with an out-turn of 567 bottles.

£109.95 (£91.63 ex vat)

Click here to purchase GlenDronach Single Cask 39

BenRiach 1995 / Single Cask #182044 UK Exclusive

Single cask #182044, a UK exclusive release from BenRiach distillery. Launched towards the end of Summer 2014, this single cask release is a classic Speyside Scotch whisky, matured in an ex-bourbon barrel. Only 208 bottles filled at 52.5% vol.

£84.90 (£70.75 ex vat)

Click here to purchase BenRiach Single Cask 182044

GlenDronach
2 New Single Casks

Two new single sherry cask bottlings from GlenDronach Highland distillery.

Glendronach 1995 $136.93

Glendronach 1993 $159.06

We are now live, folks. Enjoy.

The 41st Auction  (Ends September 7th)

Kind Regards from Glasgow 

The SWA Team

Introducing the latest single cask offerings from BenRiach and Glendronach. All exclusive to the UK and limited to only a few hundred bottles. As always these will sell very quickly!

Glendronach 1995 Single Cask Bottling 19 year old UK exclusive

Nose: Soft, well-rounded oak spices combine perfectly with rich plum juice and dates. Hints of citrus and cedar wood add a crisp contrast to the initial soft nose.
Palate: Lashings of dark fruit syrup and a dark chocolate depth are warmed by cracked black pepper and touches of orange bitters. The long finish explodes with traditional sherry characteristics.
One of only 661 bottles. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 55% volume. Drawn from a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon Cask number 3326.
£100 Click here to buy.

Glendronach 1993 single cask bottling 21 year old UK exclusive

Nose: A rich, meaty character filled with dark fruit-cake and roasted coffee beans, leading to a gentle balance of sugared dates, zested orange and hints of red chilli.
Palate: Fantastic depths of allspice, dark chocolate and espresso coffee combine with delicate, warm, toasted oak spices. A soft, floral fruitiness appears in the long, unique sherried finish.
Bottled at 58.80% volume One of only 567 bottles Cask number 39 Drawn from a Oloroso Sherry Butt.
£115 Click here to buy.

BenRiach 1995 single cask 18 year old UK exclusive

Nose: Classic crème caramel combines with ripe pear and apricot. Gentle waves of lime zest add a contrasting, crisp fresh edge.
Palate: Fruit salad syrup, vanilla pod and touches of toasted coconut combine to give the delicious, classic-Speyside character. Barley sugar and toasted oak give a sweet, warm and lingering finish.
One of only 208 bottles Drawn from a bourbon barrel Bottled at a natural cask strength of 52.50% Cask number 182044.
£93 Click here to buy.

FLAVOUR HUNTERS INVITED TO TRACK DOWN POP-UP GLORIOUS 12 WHISKY & GAME BAR IN LONDON 

12 single cask whiskies matched with 12 dishes of Scottish game tapas at Glorious 12 pop-up as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates game season. 

The British game season is off with a bang and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has teamed up with The Wild Game Co. to pair seasonal wild game with its rare single cask whiskies at the Glorious 12 pop-up at Studio 2, New Inn Yard in Shoreditch, London from 11-13 September. 

For 3 evenings only, flavour hunters are invited to feast on a menu of Scottish game tapas, which features 12 different types of wild game, including woodcock, hare, partridge and wild boar, expertly paired with the exceptionally varied flavours of 12 of the Society’s rare single cask whiskies. 

The Scottish tapas dishes on offer include:

Grouse, toasted brioche, roasted and pureed fig Roe deer striploin with frites, béarnaise and rowan jelly Partridge, butterbean and chorizo 

Glorious 12 will offer a ticketed hosting dining experience with two sittings each night at 6.45pm and 8.45pm. Ticket buyers will delve further into the world of flavours with expert talks each evening: 

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie 

The bar will also be open to walk-ins to sample some of the drams and tapas dishes on offer. 

The pop-up will be staged at Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, with the contemporary gallery space being transformed into a Scottish tapas and whisky bar, with elements of the Scottish countryside transporting guests away from city life. 

Helen Stewart, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s UK Brand Manager, said: “The single casks that we bottle give us a wide, ever-changing variety of flavours to play with. Experimenting  with these rare whiskies alongside the wild game sourced by The Wild Game Co. has resulted in some fascinating flavour pairings.” 

Andy Waugh, founder of The Wild Game Co., said: “When it comes to game, our aim is to take people on journey of discovery so they can explore these seasonal meats, which are so often overlooked yet so available on our doorsteps. There’s not a better time than now to eat game, as it’s just come into season and pairing wild game with different types of whisky offers a whole new flavour experience.” 

The Glorious 12 Whisky & Game Bar, Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3EY – Thursday 11th September – Saturday 13th September 

Tickets/more information:

www.smws.co.uk/glorious12 

£29 – ticket price includes hosted dining experience, 4 pairings of game and whisky and a guest talk. Only ticket buyers have access to the full menu of 12 whisky and game pairings. 

The bar is also open to walk-ins who can order a limited selection of Society drams and game tapas from the bar. 

Twitter:

@SMWSUK #Glorious12 

Guest events:

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night SMWS Brand Ambassador Annabel Meikle and Wild Game Co. founder Andy Waugh co-host media for supper and provide an insight into whisky and game pairings 

Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt The founder of wild adventure company, 7th Rise, Thom Hunt, will guide guests through foraging in the wild, showing how to find the best of the countryside’s hidden treasures 

Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Learn the basics of butchering game, including small birds and rabbits. Thom Hunt will detail the basics of skinning and butchering small game with a live demonstration, highlighting the best cuts and describing some of his favourite recipes 

Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie Game specialist Ru Emslie talks guests through how to smoke meat and fish at home. The talk includes how to make your own meat smoker as well as the best ways to create delicious wood-smoked game at home.

The Lonach 173rd gathering is over for another year, and what a fantastic day we here at Single Malts had!. Now is your chance to get your hands on one of our very own Lonach Bottles. These are very limited, only 300 were produced, most of which we sold on the day, so once they are gone, they are gone! A must for those of you who collect one every year.

Slainte, Ronnie Routledge.

Lonach 173rd Gathering 2014 Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40% | 70cl

Distilled at Glenallachie Distillery at the foot of Benrinnes, a light, fruity and floral, typical Speyside style. Non chill filtered and natural colour, reduced to 46% ABV.

Price: £23.33 ex VAT
£28.00 inc VAT