Win a bottle of Kilchoman 

AW Exclusive – Single Cask Whisky!

We recently launched our very own cask of Kilchoman! The response and feedback by customers, whisky writers and blogs worldwide has been incredible! Obviously we agree wholeheartedly with everything that has been said, it’s a fantastic dram…

Anyway… We thought it was only fair to share the love so we’ve decided to give away a bottle of this stunning Islay whisky to one lucky winner!

It couldn’t be easier to enter… all you have to do is head across to Facebook and ‘like’ the Abbey Whisky page – ‘Like and share’ the competition post and answer the following question…

Which distillery on Islay has the following slogan on the front of their whisky bottles? –

“Islay’s Farm Distillery”

Competition closes 23.59 (GMT) on Tuesday 21st October 2014. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and revealed on Wednesday 22nd October 2014.

After reading just a few of the wonderful reviews below and you just can’t hold off any longer – don’t fear! – head across to our online whisky shop and pick yourself up a bottle or two… Be quick though, only 270 bottles were filled from single cask 285/09…

A little bit about Kilchoman Distillery and also our exclusive single cask release… (Kilchoman cask 285/09)

Established in 2005, Kilchoman distillery holds true to tradition, it’s one of only a handful of distilleries to still practice floor maltings; they even grow their own barley! We’ve always greatly admired Islay’s farm distillery and what it stands for, so to team up and release this wonderful dram makes us incredibly proud indeed!

Kilchoman Cask #285/09 has been matured for over four and a half years in a fresh bourbon barrel before being transferred to a Pedro Ximénez cask for a further four months maturation. The PX finish on this release works a treat, softening things down a little but still allowing the dram to hold the traditional taste & characteristics you would expect from a Kilchoman whisky of this age. A perfect combination.

Bottled at cask strength, 58.3% vol with 270 bottles filled…

For full T&C’s head across to our whisky blog here

Good luck – Sláinte

Introducing The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair

The Glenlivet has collaborated with designer Gareth Neal to create The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair, an outstanding piece of contemporary craft. Gareth Neal is an award-winning designer and furniture maker who creates remarkable pieces using natural materials. His style is rooted in exploring and redefining traditions which makes him our perfect choice to craft The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair.

The Dram Chair is designed to highlight the artisanal methods used to produce Nàdurra. Taking his influences from the 19th century processes, Gareth has crafted the chair entirely by hand using premium oak, copper and leather which echo the natural materials found in our distillery and Nàdurra casks.

The much anticipated full reveal of The Dram Chair takes place on 22nd October. In the meantime, enjoy our introductory film for a privileged peek at this exceptional collaboration inspired by the most natural expression.

Watch Gareth introduce The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair

Discover more about Gareth Neal

BEAM SUNTORY NAMES DAVID WILSON MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL TRAVEL RETAIL

Madrid, Spain, October 9, 2014 – Beam Suntory Inc., one of the world’s leading spirits companies, has appointed David Wilson as Managing Director of Global Travel Retail. Wilson took up his new position Oct. 1, reporting to Albert Baladi, president of Beam Suntory’s Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region.

The announcement follows a strategic review of the global travel retail market segment by Beam Suntory leadership, which has resulted in a sharpened focus on developing and growing this dynamic and strategically important channel.

“Beam Suntory is now the No. 3 spirits company in the world, with an advantaged portfolio in key categories and an unmatched global premium whiskeys portfolio,” Baladi said. “We are committed to investing and growing our brands in the strategic travel retail channel. David brings proven leadership skills and expertise in premium brand building on a global stage, which will add real value to developing our vision.”

Wilson has held a number of senior marketing and commercial roles within the spirits industry during his career, most recently as Sales and Marketing Director of Morrison Bowmore Distillers (MBD), now part of the Beam Suntory family. David served in that position for the last five years, leading the strategic repositioning and strong growth of MBD’s single malt portfolio.

“I am delighted to be joining the Beam Suntory team at this time, to lead the next chapter for our GTR business,” Wilson added. “I have spent a significant part of my career building and growing premium brands and I very much look forward to working with our retail partners to develop our mutual businesses.”

BEAM SUNTORY PRESENTS PEATED MALTS OF DISTINCTION THE FULL SCALE OF PEAT

Beam Suntory is pleased to announce a newly named collection of high-quality whiskies from its award-winning distilleries across Scotland and Ireland. Peated Malts of Distinction features four peated malts including new expression The Ardmore Legacy as the entry point to the range, accompanied by Ireland’s Connemara Original, Islay’s Laphroaig Select and Bowmore Small Batch. 

The new portfolio capitalises on the company’s leading position in the category and will allow both the trade and consumers to explore an extensive variety of peat flavours and taste profiles. The portfolio launches at a buoyant time for the peated malts category which is experiencing 8%* growth rate in the EMEA region (CAGR 2011-2013).

Peated malts currently represent 17%* of total malt volume sales in EMEA, with Sweden (29%), Germany (25%) and The Netherlands (21%) accounting for over three quarters of peated malt sales in the region. 

The Ardmore Legacy is a new expression, aimed at challenging mainstream single malt brands, offering a lightly peated liquid that is sweet and uplifting. The launch coincides with a new identity and positioning for the brand. Appealing to whisky drinkers’ experimental nature, this malt offers an enticing new flavour made from unreleased unpeated Ardmore balanced with the traditional peated malt, which is markedly different from gentle Highland peat whiskies. The bottle boasts a new label and pack design that reflects the spirit of The Ardmore with a symbolic eagle and contour map of Kennethmont, the whisky’s home. The creative design was inspired by the instinctively fearless native golden eagle, soaring the highest heights and protecting the land. 

Lee Walker, EMEA Regional Brand Manager for Premium Malts, Beam Suntory, comments: “The peated malt category is a dynamic segment demonstrating strong growth. Beam Suntory has ambitious plans to utilise its expertise and product range to further innovate and expand the category. We’re in a unique position where we can offer drinkers a variety of taste experiences from gentle to rich peat, and we hope that this unique story will appeal to both novice and whisky enthusiasts the world over.”

Peated Malts of Distinction are available across the on and off-trade in global markets and will be supported by global marketing communication activities from October and continue for the run up to Christmas 2014. 

The Ardmore Legacy is available in the UK at RRP £29.99.

GIFT THE PERFECT DRAM THIS FESTIVE SEASON 

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Whether your loved one is a whisky connoisseur or a newcomer, we have a portfolio of single malts to suit every taste.

Highland Park Dark Origins

Highland Park’s new core expression, Dark Origins, is the ideal gift for those long winter nights. Dark Origins offers a naturally dark, rich flavour with sherried spice, a chocolate twist and the signature sweet smoke that fans of the Orcadian elixir have come to know and love. Highland Park Dark Origins is available in select whisky retailers including Harrods (RRP £65). www.highlandpark.co.uk 

Laphroaig Select

Fans of Laphroaig’s trademark ‘peat reek’ will love the latest addition to the portfolio, Laphroaig Select. The new expression offers a deep, smoky taste yet surprises the palate with a gentle sweetness. Laphroaig Select is available in retailers including Morrisons, www.thewhiskyexchange.com and www.masterofmalt.com (RRP £34.99). www.laphroaig.com

The Macallan Gold

The first expression in The 1824 Series, The Macallan Gold, is the perfect gift for your loved one this Christmas. Showcasing the single malt’s natural colour, The Macallan Gold has notes of vanilla followed by dark chocolate, with lingering floral and light oak notes. The Macallan Gold is available in multiple retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons (RRP £37.63). www.themacallan.com

 Highland Park 12 Year Old

Highland Park 12 Year Old is the ideal dram for fans of flavour and the perfect accompaniment for your Christmas pudding this festive season. This single malt boasts a honey sweetness, followed by fruity notes with a hint of gentle smoke. Highland Park 12 Year Old is available at multiple retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op (RRP £34.04). www.highlandpark.co.uk 

The Ardmore Legacy

The latest release from The Ardmore distillery, The Ardmore Legacy is the perfect introduction to peated single malt whisky. With notes of creamy vanilla, followed by smoky charcoal and savoury spices, it is the perfect winter warming dram. The Ardmore Legacy is available in retailers including Tesco and Morrisons (RRP £29.99). www.ardmorewhisky.com

Raise The Macallan in Edmonton – A FREE Tasting with Ambassador Dan Volway October 30, 2014

Back in Stock…

 Knockando 12 Year Old 40% ABV | 70cl

Save £5.00 (RRP £39.75)

 Knockando 12 Year old single malt Scottish whisky comes from one of our neighbours here in Speyside. Described as light, sweet and fruity the Knockando 12 year old is still a serious single malt whiskey with a great heritage. As well as its great taste qualities it is also very well priced making the Knockando 12 year old a Scotch that`s kind on the palate and the purse. A very popular whisky with our customers.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Delicate and sweet with fresh almonds.
Palate: Light sweet and fruity cereals and gentle spice.
Finish: Clean and satisfying.

£28.96 ex VAT £34.75 inc VAT

This week Joe Ellis reviews Tincup Colorado Whiskey and then makes an Old Fashioned cocktail! 

http://youtu.be/a68rnQl8GOA 

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Feisty Spirits Releases American Roots Whiskey

Millet whiskey is the newest addition to the Feisty Nectars series

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Oct. 7, 2014 – Feisty Spirits, Fort Collins first distillery, today released American Roots, the newest addition to their Feisty Nectars series. This whiskey gets its name and flavor from a root tea that is infused into a whiskey made from millet.

“All of our flavored whiskeys in the Feisty Nectars series start with a smooth, mellow whiskey and are than infused with delicious flavors from natural ingredients,” said Jamison Gulden, co-founder of Feisty Spirits. “American Roots is flavored with root tea and has essences of root beer and chai with a hint of anise.”

American Roots is made from locally sourced millet grown at Golden Prairie in Nunn, Colo. Millet whiskeys have a strong nutmeg and allspice aroma, with wild flower notes. At first sip, this whiskey will be smooth and transition into a more saffront-like at the end. The hint of anise at the end of American Roots is a result of the millet. It is then aged for a short period of time in oak barrels.

American Roots is available today in the Feisty Spirits tasting room at 1708 E. Lincoln Ave Unit 1 Fort Collins, CO 80524. It is available in 750ml bottles for $43.

“The hint of anise, similar to that of liquorice and fennel combined with the chai make American Roots the ideal fall whiskey. Pour yourself a neat glass and curl up next to the fire,” said Gulden.

About Feisty Spirits
Feisty Spirits is Fort Collins’ first craft distillery and the original Still Rebels™. Their whiskey is created by artisans with a passion for hand-crafted small-batch distilling. They use natural and organic ingredients, and source locally whenever possible, to create inspired spirits worth drinking. At Feisty Spirits they enjoy showcasing the complexities of alternative grains and different flavor profiles, going outside the boundaries of tradition to create fresh, unique tasting whiskeys. For more information visit http://www.feistyspirits.com/.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY WINS FIVE TOP AWARDS

AT 2014 NEW YORK WORLD WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Received Double Gold and Named Best in Show 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 7, 2014) – Buffalo Trace Distillery received top marks at the 2014 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, coming away with three double gold designations, a gold medal, and a best in show.

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey received double gold and was named Best in Show Spirit Sweepstakes Winner for “Best Bourbon. Best Whiskey & Best Brown Goods.”

Also receiving double gold awards were Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Sazerac Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey received Gold.

“These results are fantastic,” Harlen Wheatley, master distiller, said. “We are very pleased to have fared so well among so many other excellent spirits.”

The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition is one of the largest competitions for the retail beverage industry and has attracted top professional judges from broad spectrum of expertise. The competition is judged each year in New York City.

Complete results of the 2014 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition are available at www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.