Burns Night Food and Whisky

One of the ‘problems’ of the whisky world is the frequency of celebrations that require a dram to be raised. Since the end of summer we’ve had holidays and festivals every couple of weeks. This culminates in the craziness of … Continue reading >>

As Scotland celebrates the life and works of Rabbie Burns this week, we’ve released two brand new – never seen before in the UK – bottlings to toast the bard! Plus, we’ve used our poetic license to bring you some inspired pairings to explore…

New UK Releases

Sweet, fruity & mellow

59.44 Mountain days and fun on the beach
30th Anniversary Label!
BUY £137.20

Spicy & sweet

71.39 Sweetness gently tickled by oak
BUY £108.80

Poetic License Pairings

“A Man’s a Man for A’ That” Pair

Rich or poor, islander or mainlander, malt or grain: Rabbie thinks it’s not your origins that determine your worth: compare these very different drams and decide for yourself…

4.181 A muscle man from Orkney
&
G4.6 Ray Mear’s digestif

BUY £117.30

“A Red, Red Rose” Pair

We dedicate a love poem to three beloved – metaphorical – women evoked by the floral aromas in these beauties…

35.90 A blonde in an Afghan coat
&
125.68 A tale of two ladies

BUY £126.90

“All the World’s a Stage” Pair

Make the world a smaller place and explore it a sip at a time with these two island drams: they’re poles apart…

R5.2 To life, love and loot
&
53.200 A day at the beach

 BUY£118.80

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 http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Caskstrength – 3D Whisky – 56.4%

London-based Caskstrength Creative, run by drinks writers Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley have released the forth instalment in their bi-annual ‘Alphabet’ series of special whisky bottlings. The duo have now reached the letter D and the new bottling, entitled ‘3D’ … Continue reading →

Our January auction is now live and will run until February 3rd!

http://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/

We welcome any lots from any sellers who wish to take advantage of our 0% commission offer which expires on the 31st January, bottles need to be with us before 5th of February. 

We still offer competitive seller rates at 5%, from the 1st of February.

Registration is free until the 4th of February!

World wide safe and secure shipping is available!

Happy Bidding

Glenmorangie Launches Latest Stage in Whisky Industry World First  

— Renowned photographer will create iconic launch photography inspired by images submitted by Glenmorangie fans worldwide — 

In a whisky industry world first, single malt enthusiasts will get the chance to help design the iconic launch photography for Glenmorangie’s unique crowd managed whisky. 

Starting today (Tuesday 21 January), members of the public can upload photographs to three online moodboards accessed at www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters each with a different theme: Chosen by Many; From Spain to Scotland; Pioneering Innovation. 

These three themes relate to the innovative crowd-managed nature of the Cask Masters programme and also to the whisky itself, Taghta, which has been extra matured in Manzanilla sherry butts. 

World-renowned photographer Kevin Mackintosh will then create three stunning public-inspired images which will be put to an online vote. The result will be used in promotional shots for the new whisky and form the centrepiece of the worldwide marketing campaign. 

The public can submit images until 2 February. The photographer then has until 19 February to produce three “beauty shots” which will be put to an online vote, ending on 9 March. 

Photography is the penultimate stage in Glenmorangie’s world first Cask Masters whisky creation programme which aims to get members of the public involved in helping to shape all elements of a new single malt whisky. 

Cask Masters is the brainchild of Glenmorangie’s Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling & Whisky Creation, who is accompanied on each step of the five step process by an expert in each field. 

Dr Bill Lumsden commented: “This really is a ground-breaking initiative with whisky aficionados having a genuine say in each step of crafting this exclusive Glenmorangie single malt”. 

“The public response has been outstanding and we are really grateful for all the excellent ideas which have gone into inspiring this programme. I’m not surprised though, it’s not everyday you get the chance to create your own whisky.” 

Kevin Mackintosh said: “I’m really looking forward to what the Glenmorangie fans across the globe come up with. I usually travel the world seeking inspiration for my photographic compositions but in this case the world is coming to me.” 

Cask Masters was launched on 1 March 2013 and will run for 18 months with the new Limited Edition Glenmorangie whisky ready for release in the autumn of 2014. 

The whisky was selected when three casks of whisky were put to a public vote earlier this year. The name Taghta, Scots Gaelic for ‘Chosen’, was selected after thousands of suggestions were whittled down to a shortlist of three names, translated by Gaelic expert Dr Aonghas MacCoinnich and put to an online vote. 

Whisky fans worldwide then uploaded pictures and design ideas to a special online gallery and three new bottle designs were produced by branding expert Jon Davies. The winner, selected by the public, was “Two Stories” – inspired by imagery from both the provenance of the casks in Southern Spain, and also from the area surrounding the Glenmorangie Distillery, such as the historic Cadboll Stone. 

This is the fourth and penultimate stage in the programme, with the final stage being the selection of the worldwide launch venue. 

For more information visit: www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well made whiskies’. 

About Kevin Mackintosh:

Kevin Mackintosh was born in Africa, but left 15 years ago for the United Kingdom, (where he lives, dividing his time between New York, London and Paris).

While his work expresses a personal ‘universe’ that combines an interest in European cinema, theatre and art, there is something about the largesse of his native country’s landscape and its many cultures which has left indelible marks.

It is there, equally, in the broody sense of nostalgia for a glorious – real or imagined – mythology so evident in his many collaborations with The Bolshoi, Royal Opera and Royal Ballet Companies…shooting film and stills. The work was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London for its permanent collection.

He has also completed a series on the New York Philharmonic and a collaboration with ‘Christies’ in its first Worldwide Advertising Campaign. Kevin’s work has been exhibited across the world, both in solo and group exhibitions and published in many photographic journals, and books.

http://www.kevinmackintoshphotography.com/ 

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption. 

For more details: www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters or Twitter: #caskmasters @theglenmorangie

GKS Experimental Batches – Last chance to vote!

Thanks to all of you who have tasted our two Experimental Batches of Great King Street – the snappily named 00-V4 (lightly sherried) and TR-06 (Smoky) – and let us know which you prefer. We shall be closing the GKS Experimental survey page  on Monday 27^th January so there is still time to pick up a bottle of each and give us your feedback.

We’ll reveal all the results in early February! And remember, we’ll use your views to help us decide the style of the second permanent Great King Street which we hope to release worldwide in autumn 2014

TOP PICKS

• Lot 40 2012 Release Canadian Rye Whiskey 750ml ($59.99)
  Voted Canadian Whiskey of the Year by the Whisky Advocate, Lot 40 is considered by many to be the quintessential Canadian rye whiskey, garnering heaps of praise and a cult-like following. Distilled by Hiram Walker, now run by Pernod Ricard, it was briefly discontinued in the early 2000s, which set off a Pappy-esque manhunt by consumers who knew of its excellence (not in CA, however, where we were deprived of its presence). Now that it’s been relaunched by Pernod, we’re lucky enough to start getting a healthy supply in the U.S. It’s clear after tasting it why the Lot 40 has the reputation it has. The flavors of rye are unbelievably pure, while the palate remains soft and creamy underneath. It moves from rye bread into a peppery note so intense that it almost transcends into sweet citrus before finishing rich and floral. It’s the most exciting rye we’ve seen hit the shelves in more than year. We think it’s going to be a HUGE hit. Esteeme d Canadian Whisky writer Davin de Kergommeaux calls it “a contemporary masterpiece, seven generations in the making. This is one powerfully flavorful whisky that boldly mingles the galvanizing piquancy of distilled rye grain with the soaring floral fragrance of malted rye, and a fruitiness that comes with age” We call it the best rye whiskey we’ve tasted since stalwarts like Sazerac 18 and older Willett bottles became dreams rather than reality. This is can’t-miss stuff. This is the kind of whiskey where you buy three bottles rather than one.

NEW ARRIVALS

Canada – Rye

• JP Wiser’s Blended Canadian Rye Whiskey 750ml – 12 available ($22.99)
• Pike Creek Port Finished Canadian Rye Whiskey 750ml ($32.99)
  Like the Lot 40, Pike Creek is made at the Hiram Walker disitllery in Canada, which is now run by Pernod Ricard. It’s rye whiskey finished in port barrels (we think around seven years of age), which adds a sweeter red fruited note to the classic peppery flavors of the whiskey. Colby (the PR subsidiary) has been legendary in Canada for decades. We’re now only getting a taste of what our northern neighbors have long known: Canadian rye whiskey is pretty dang delicious.

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Glendronach Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99)
  Finally here! The long awaited full-proof edition of Glendronach’s special marriage has arrived. A combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks without age statement has been bottled at 55.2% alcohol for those sherry fans in search of more power in their whisky. The nose offers such a savory and spicy sherry character that it almost smells like rye whiskey, but it slowly cascades into a chocolate note. The palate offers the classic dried fruits and toasted almond character. A splash of water brings out the raisins and a hint of orange zest. A fabulously complex malt that is shocking less sweet than the standard 12 year. Completely in balance and absolutely not a sherry bomb or a new version of A’Bunadh. This whisky has its own unique profile entirely.

United States – Single Malt Scotch

• Charbay III Whiskey 750 – 5 available ($399.99)
  The magnificent Charbay Whiskey is back for round three. This legendary distillate is without a doubt one of the best American Whiskeys ever produced. It’s designated Hop-Flavored Whiskey because it was distilled with hoppy beer and for some reason hops are added after distillation as well. No one knows why, but all I can say is it’s the work of a mad genius. Anyone who dismisses this product because of this funny classification will loose my sympathy along with one of the best drinking experiences available. Totally unlike anything else on the market, the legend started with a tanker full of pilsner from the closed Sonoma Mountain Brewery, a beautiful alembic still, and a skilled distiller. 6 years in new, charred Missouri Oak and 8 further years in stainless steel and supernatural concoction was born. I mean this stuff was magnificent at 2 years old and to experience the progression of this whiskey throughout the years is mind blowing. A truly speci al and uniquely Californian whisky.

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

www.ralfy.com returns to an old familiar blended scotch with Whisky Review 424 – Teachers Highland Cream blended Scotch re-reviewed

The Macallan six litre decanter of ‘M’ produced by LALIQUE achieves a New World Record price at US$628,000 / GBP£381,620 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong  

Saturday 18^th January, Hong Kong: Today saw the sale of a stunning rare 6 litre “Imperiale” version of the highly sought after Macallan M – the world’s most sophisticated single malt whisky, contained within a beautifully designed and meticulously crafted crystal decanter, for US$628,000 / GBP£381,620 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. 

M represents a masterpiece created from the collaboration between three masters of their crafts; Fabien Baron, Founder and Creative Director of Baron & Baron, Silvio Denz, President and CEO of LALIQUE and Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker at The Macallan. 

To celebrate the conception of M and its global launch in Hong Kong, four 6-litre Imperiale decanters were specially crafted by LALIQUE for The Macallan. These are the largest decanters ever made by LALIQUE.  Each decanter required the work of 17 craftsmen, including two with the prestigious title, “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, with each taking over 50 hours to complete. 

Of the four, two will be archived by The Macallan and one has been committed to a private collector in Asia.  The fourth, Constantine (named, as are the other three, after Roman emperors), uniquely features the engraved autographs of the three principal creators – LALIQUE/Silvio Denz, Fabien Baron and Bob Dalgarno.  This highly collectable creation was made available as part of the Finest and Rarest Wines and The Macallan auction by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on Saturday, 18 January 2014. 

David Cox of The Macallan commented : We are absolutely delighted at the generosity of the successful bidder of the “M” 6L decanter Constantine in securing such a wonderful contribution to a number of Hong Kong charities and at the same time setting a new world record for The Macallan. It is testimony to the craft, quality and passion underpinning the creation of this great decanter.  It is a very proud moment for us”. 

The Macallan is one of the world’s most sought after and collectable whiskies, sitting at the top of the auction index for whiskies and holding the current Guinness World Record™ for the most expensive whisky ever sold at auction, in 2010 in New York, The Macallan 64 years old in LALIQUE Cire Perdue at US$460,000 / GBP£288,000. 

Silvio Denz of LALIQUE said, “This new world record at US$628,000 / GBP£381,620 highlights the uniqueness of the decanter and the remarkable quality of The Macallan single malt.  Its creation is a tremendous achievement due to the unprecedented size, weight and completely new shape.  After the Guinness World Record achieved by The Macallan in LALIQUE Cire Perdue in 2010 at Sotheby’s New York, this exceptional figure underscores the interest and value of such extraordinary decanters”. 

Robert Sleigh of Sotheby’s Hong Kong, “The Macallan M decanter 6 litre Imperiale brought global interest from bidders  who were attracted by the combination of the unique opportunity and exceptional quality bringing a new world record for single malt whisky as well as benefiting Hong Kong charities. 

All net sale proceeds will be donated to a host of local charities in Hong Kong.  

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. 

About LALIQUE

LALIQUE is internationally recognized as the undisputed Master of crystal.  Representing the ultimate in artisanal skills, utmost precision and fundamental values, LALIQUE stands for luxury, excellence and creativity.  René Lalique, renowned as the inventor of modern jewelry, became Master in the art of glassmaking in 1907. Lalique earned his title, Sculpteur de Lumière, from the richly sculptural craftsmanship and dramatic contrasts between clear and frosted finishes that define his work.  Today, the LALIQUE company offers crystal collections across five categories:  decorative items, interior design, jewellery, perfumes, art. For more information, please visit http://www.lalique.com/.

Strathisla 1965 Rare Vintage / Gordon & MacPhail

Liquid Gold Award, 94.5 Points – Jim Murray’s 2014 Whisky Bible

Much of Strathisla’s production is used for blending, in brands such as Chivas Regal. When released as a single malt it’s usually exceptional and this rare bottling is no exception. Distilled in 1965 and aged in a first fill sherry butt, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail under their Rare Vintage series.

£305.00 (£254.17 ex vat)

Click here to buy Strathisla 1965 Gordon & MacPhail