Two brand new limited edition bottlings from anCnoc are now available to order via The Whisky Shop only while stocks last! Don’t forget we have free postage on all orders over £60 delivered within the UK.

anCnoc flaughter

Colour: ancnoc flaughter is pale gold in appearance

The nose: Initially smoky and ashy underneath that fresh vanilla notes ooze softness and creaminess while a sharper hint of sticky toffee offers a balancing sweetness.

Taste: A warming and smooth experience peaty and intense but remarkably rounded it flickers with hints of fragrant pipe tobacco orchard Fruits brown sugar sweetness and a slight medicinal overtone. An intensely flavoursome smoky and smooth finish.

One of only 1500 bottles £57.00

Click here to buy

anCnoc rutter

Colour: The ancnoc Rutter is sparkling gold in appearance.

Nose: Very smoky it quickly unveils the unmistakable ancnoc character with delicate spices juicy pineapples pear drops and gentle vanilla. Rich and warming.

Taste: Full bodied and bursting with peaty richness. Soft undertones of honey creamy vanilla toffee and leather are punctuated by the freshness of green apples.

One of only 1500 bottles £57.00

Click here to buy

Teeling Whiskeys Honoured as World’s Best

 Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey – World’s Best Grain Whiskey

• Teeling 21YO Single Malt Silver Reserve Irish Whiskey – World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey 

Friday, 21st March – Two of the Teeling Whiskey Company brands were honoured with the accolade of the “World’s Best” at the 2014 World Whiskies Awards held in London, on Thursday, 20^th March. 

The Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey was awarded the title of “World’s Best Grain Whiskey” and the Teeling 21YO Single Malt Silver Reserve was awarded the title of “World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey”. 

First held in 2007, the World Whiskies Awards run by Whiskey Magazine, search for the very best whiskies in the world. This year’s competition saw more than 300 whiskies put through their paces with three rounds of rigorous tastings, to win the coveted title of the “World’s Best”. 

Established in 2012, the Teeling Whiskey Company has also received Gold Medals and honours at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, International Spirits Challenge and the Irish Whiskey Masters. 

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “We are very proud of the whiskeys we have launched over the last two years and we are humbled to receive such recognition at one of the biggest whiskey awards in the whiskey world.  These accolades give us confidence to continue to launch innovative expressions of Irish whiskey driving choice within the Irish whiskey category.”

Caperdonich 40 year old Platinum Limited Edition

Highland countryside and woodland aromas with lots of oak, sun scorched heather, grassy and with peanut kernels. Lemon curd and marzipan add a patisserie like bouquet.

Flavours of bruised peach and apple show it’s mature side with a good balance between oak and surprisingly fresh cereals for being so old. Wisps of heather and spiced pineapple leads onto a soft finish with some earthy and tobacco notes trailing off with some toasty oak and some candied lemon.

Sadly this distillery was demolished in 2010 and since then stocks have been running very thin on the ground. It is a rare treat to get an expression this old. Limited to only 147 bottles. Tasting notes by Darren Leitch.

Simply Click Here to buy only £580

The Victoria Highland Games “Whisky Tasting School” May 17th & 18th, 2014 Victoria, British Columbia

The Whisky Tasting School 

The Victoria Highland Games Association is once again pleased to present “The Whisky Tasting School” on both May 17 and 18, 2014 at the 151st Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival at Topaz Park.  On each day there will be three sessions (noon, 1:45 pm and 3:30 pm) featuring different single malt whiskies presented by ambassadors representing a variety of Scotch single malt distilleries.  Guests will sit down and enjoy a Scottish educational and cultural experience on the Victoria “Whisky Trail”.  This year’s lineup promises to be the best “The Whisky Tasting School” of all!

The registration fee is $35 and includes a one-day field entry (value $15).  Whisky School guests are also able to buy an engraved Victoria Highland Games Glencairn whisky nosing glass for $15 (one per guest per class). Guests must be aged 19 years or older to attend!

Each session offered is limited to 44 guests.   In previous years all sessions have sold out prior to the Games so don’t be late in registering!  Registration will be available soon here

Details on the 6 sessions are as follows:

1)     Saturday May 17^th 12-1:00 PM The Scotch Malt Whisky Society #1 “Speyside” with Colin Southcombe 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the largest private whisky club in the world and it is thriving in British Columbia, come see what the excitement is about!  Society whiskies are by their very nature unique, extremely limited and quite deliciously varied. Colin Southcombe will be leading this class which is focused on Speyside single malts.  

2)     Saturday May 17^th 1:45-2:45 PM – Glenfarclas Distillery #1 with Gavin Cameron 

Glenfarclas Distillery is renowned for producing Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky in the traditional Speyside style, with a heavy Sherry influence. They produce a wide range of expressions from the 8 Years Old to much older expressions. (The Glenfarclas Saturday and Sunday classes are identical in format). 

3)    Saturday May 17^th 3:30-4:30 PM The Macallan 1824 Single Malts with Dan Volway 

Rise to the occasion with The Macallan is known worldwide for innovation – a defining characteristic that sets this distillery apart. Innovation is the driving force behind the distillery’s latest creation, The Macallan 1824 Series. A sophisticated collection of four unique expressions – Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby – that will redefine the way Scotch whisky is evaluated. The Macallan 1824 Series 100% Sherry Casks, 100% Natural Colour, 100% Macallan 

4)    Sunday May 18^th 12-1:00 PM The Scotch Malt Whisky Society # 2 “Peat” with Colin Southcombe 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the largest private whisky club in the world and it is thriving in British Columbia, come see what the excitement is about!  Society whiskies are by their very nature unique, extremely limited and quite deliciously varied. Colin Southcombe will be leading this class which is focused on peated smokey single malts.  

5)    Sunday May 18^th 1:45-2:45 PM Glenfarclas Distillery #1 with Gavin Cameron

Glenfarclas Distillery is renowned for producing Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky in the traditional Speyside style, with a heavy Sherry influence. They produce a wide range of expressions from the 8 Years Old to much older expressions. (The Glenfarclas Saturday and Sunday classes are identical in format).

6)    Sunday May 19^th 3:30-4:30 PM The Malts of the Famous Grouse wit Dan Volway 

Please join Dan Volway as he leads you through the single malts that are used to craft the world Famous Blended Scotch whisky, the Famous Grouse. This tasting should prove to be both delicious and informative.

NOTE: Condition of Entry to The Whisky Tasting  School is that guests DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE.

www.ralfy.com discovers a bad-tempered brute of a malt in need of some water ing glass-time to settle down – Whisky Review 441 – Benriach 1998 PX Triple Distilled malt whisky

• Springbank 17yo 12/90  02/08 Refill Port Hogshead – 570 bottles – 51.5%
• Springbank 14yo 06/92  03/07 Bourbon Hogshead – 265 bottles – 55.3%
• Hazelburn 8yo 07/98  07/06 Refill Sherry Butt – 600 bottles – 58.7%
• Springbank 9yo 07/97  03/07 Fresh Rum Butt – 700 bottles – 60.2%
• Longrow 8yo 02/97  07/05 Refill Sherry Butt – 630 bottles – 59.9%

For more information you can contact Mark direct using the details provided on the Jolly Toper Tastings website:  http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/contact-us/

On one final note I’m delighted to tell you that last week, Sir Frank McHardy was inducted into The Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. It is a very well deserved award for Sir Frank who has now been in the industry for over 51 years. We continue to feel extremely privileged that he spent over half of these years working at Springbank. Although he retired as Director of Production at Springbank/Glengyle in July 2013, he continues to conduct specialist tours of Springbank as well as offering his knowledge to our Whisky School students each year. Congratulations again Frank – it’s great to see him being recognised in this way!

Slainte,

Mairi

INTRODUCING GLENGLASSAUGH TORFA, A NEW RICHLY PEATED HIGHLAND EXPRESSION

GLENGLASSAUGH has launched a new richly peated Highland single malt that will now be part of its core range along with Revival and Evolution.

Glenglassaugh Torfa, with its smoky, peaty, phenolic nature, is a unique expression and quite different to the usual type of whisky produced in the Highlands.

“At Glenglassaugh, in addition to the traditional production, we also produce a very limited quantity of whisky using richly peated malted barley as the cereal varietal. The malted barley has been dried in the traditional way, over peat-infused kilns, giving the whisky its unique smoky flavour,” says Sales Director Alistair Walker.

Torfa has a brooding, edgy character whose personality is to be found at the darker end of the spectrum. Its name takes its inspiration from the Old Norse language with which the Scots dialect spoken in North East Scotland has an affinity and translates to “turf” or “peat”.

The historic distillery was acquired by The BenRiach Distillery Company last year. It dates back to 1875 and re-opened in 2008 after being mothballed for more than 20 years. The first whiskies from this refurbished distillery are now available to single malt Scotch whisky lovers everywhere.

Non-chill filtered, with natural colour and at 50% vol, Torfa was specially selected by Glenglassaugh’s Master Distiller Billy Walker. His tasting notes show the distinct characteristics of this truly phenomenal malt.

COLOUR: Gleaming yellow gold.

NOSE: Vivid, sweet, sooty campfire smoke and sea air infuse zest of lime, apricot jam and ripe soft fruits, all gently warmed by hints of stem ginger and cracked black pepper.

PALATE: An eloquent, sweet coastal peat smoke engulfs candied peel over melon, pineapple and roasted red apples. Oat biscuits, hints of heather honey and a gentle cigar box spice all combine to give a terrific balance to the expressive smoky character.

FINISH: A heady, yet elegant harmony of distinct coastal peat and striking spiced fruit flavours.

Torfa is a new single malt from Glenglassaugh to be treasured and savoured in quiet moments. If you would like to receive more information, please contact us on info@glenglassaugh.com

New Arrivals including the latest batch of Wemyss single casks, Old Particular and new bottles from Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old.

New! Macduff
Lead on Macduff! 2002 $68.07

New! Caol Ila
Fisherman’s Jacket 1982 $174.41

Glenmorangie
Companta Private Edition $123.63

Glenfarclas
46 Year Old 1967 $466.94

New! Highland Park
18 Year Old 1995 $125.78

New! Macallan
25 Year Old 1988 $551.23

Browse the full range of new releases including Port Ellen,
St. Magdalene, Bowmore and Yamazaki at The Whisky Barrel

The 2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held on March 10-14, 2014

We are pleased to share these products results!

95 Finalist Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky Scotland 43% $65.00
89 Very Good, Strong Recommendation Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky Scotland 43% $65.00

Whisky Intelligence has added a new category called ‘Vignettes – Moments in Whisky’ which will feature whisky moments as experienced by the readership. If you have a whisky moment please feel free to submit your moment and we’ll do our best to publish it. Go on; you know you want to be famous…