THE FIRST OF THE LAST GREAT MALTS

AULTMORE 12 Year Old £43.95

 CRAIGELLACHIE  13 Year Old £42.95

 CRAIGELLACHIE 17 Year Old £81.95

ABERFELDY  21 year old £114.95

 CRAIGELLACHIE 23 year old £264.95

 AULTMORE 25 year old £294.95

It’s been a six year labour of love for Stephen Marshall, Bacardi Global Whisky Marketing Manager, developing these new whiskies. Having recently sampled some of them a staff tasting session we can whole heartedly say that his efforts have not been in vain. They are great drams and we highly recommend them.

In the past Bacardi have under-utilised the product from their whisky distilleries, preferring to focus primarily on maintaining the world wide success of their Dewars and Lawsons blended Scotch whiskies. Now, however, you will be able to enjoy some fine single malts from not only Aberfeldy, but also Craigellachie, Aulltmore and in due course The Deveron (Macduff) and Royal Brackla. This is great news for whisky lovers and, contrary to current trends, all these new and beautifully packaged malts will carry an age statement. We can’t help but admire the refreshingly old fashioned approach of letting the whiskies speak for themselves at a variety of different age statements. It’s also quite wonderful to have the chance to try brand new single malts from distilleries that have a history of being highly rated by blenders, but are relatively unknown to single malt drinkers.

RIPE FOR THE PICKING: PAST EXCLUSIVES RELEASED FOR SALE

Here’s your chance to harvest a juicy, elusive exclusive – previously only seen as part of a parcel, now available by the bottle. There are only a few of these rare berries left on the bush so gather them into your basket before they’re picked off…

Spicy & sweet

35.127 Pineapple Upside-Down Cake £51.80

The last spoonful in a tin of Madras curry powder, tea leaves and toasted coconut on the nose neat, whilst the flavour is of a ginger spiced fruit cocktail. Water releases aromas of a freshly brewed coffee and warm apple strudel. 16yo, First fill ex-bourbon barrel

Spicy & dry

G10.6 The Spice Temple – Grain Whisky £66.60

Rich rum soaked fruits and toffee sauce. Pop corn, crumble topping then balsa wood. Exotic chilli heat with orange oil, Tiger Balm and licorice. Roasted pork with star anise and curry powder. Eucalyptus, dried rose petals and polished brass. 25yo, Refill ex-bourbon barrel

9.88 A heart-starter £99.00

Dry and unusually smoky: Brazil nuts, over steeped jasmine tea, mushrooms, high strength cocoa powder, treacle toffee. Some liquorice, salted caramel, fig pigs, dark chocolate, coffee and burnt toast (with jam) on the palate. Very different from the familiar light-weight proprietary bottlings. 25yo, Refill ex-sherry butt

Young & spritely

2.91 Buck’s Fizz and Gewurtztraminer £58.20

The nose eventually finds honey and fruit (peach, pear, apple, kiwi) – Juicy Fruit gum and Gewürztraminer with water. The palate is bright and tongue-coating, with waxy green leaf, pear, fizzy chews, bubble-gum and Key lime pie – nutmeg and clove to finish. 12yo, Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Browse New Outturn >
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 here for membership information 

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Single Malts Direct is currently undergoing a transitional period with a new management team in place. In order to grow and improve we are looking for feedback on the current website. 

Over the coming months we will be developing the product offering and are really interested to find out what you want to see on the site. We will be looking to overhaul the website and so looking for anything that may help the consumer experience. 

Those who provide us with feedback will be entered into a free prize draw to win a bottle of whisky from the Whiskies of Scotland range. 

Thanks in advance, 

 The Single Malts Team  

Take this survey

THE SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE COMPLETES MULTI-MILLION POUND REFURBISHMENT WITH HIGH END NEW EVENTS SUITES 

The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh’s five-star whisky venue, has unveiled a major renovation of its top floor events suite.

The newly refurbished Castlehill and Blender’s rooms have been completely transformed, each with their own whisky inspired identity, alongside top of the range audio visual equipment.

The renovation is the culmination of a six year, £7 million programme which has seen the attraction position itself as the flag bearer for whisky tourism in Scotland.

Carried out in conjunction with Edinburgh design agency Bright 3D, the renovation has given each room in the suite a distinct identity, whilst preserving the best of the building’s Victorian heritage and introducing dramatic new features.

The larger Castlehill Room – which can cater for events of up to 80, including gala dinners or conferences – now plays host to new whisky focused artworks, with artist blacksmith Elspeth Bennie creating a series of copper and brass installations which illustrate the whisky production process.

The room’s vaulted ceiling now features two bespoke light installations, comprised of over  100 whisky barrel staves and hand blown glass ‘droplets’, which create an impressive ambient light show.  A new multimedia screen hung over the room’s fireplace – which can masquerade as a mirror – also enhances the space’s branding potential.

The Blender’s Room, which hosts the popular Scotch Whisky Training School and is ideal for smaller events such as corporate dinners or private tastings, has been inspired by a whisky blender’s sample room.  Stripped back Victorian stonework uncovered during the renovation adds traditional character to the exterior wall.  The room also features up-lit whisky samples and hand crafted oak cabinets, displaying blended whiskies, to inspire participants in the venue’s ‘Blend Your Own Whisky’ sessions.

The four spaces can be utilised in any combination, with catering provided by the in-house team behind the award-winning Amber Restaurant.

Susan Morrison, director and general manager of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said: “Over the past few years, our events and hospitality business has shown excellent growth and is gaining an enviable reputation. As the culmination of our refurbishment programme, we have now brought the same high quality craftsmanship and uniqueness to our private events spaces.   The finished product brings together some of the best of Scotland’s artists and designers, with experts in field of event multimedia, creating the perfect ‘blend’.”

Alongside the two renovated rooms, The Scotch Whisky Experience also offers corporate and group experiences in the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky and in the less formal Amber Restaurant.

For more details, log-on to http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/ or call 0131 220 0441.

Cask No. 30.86                       $175        

Tutti Frutti, sweet and juicy

Speyside, Spey

From the first nose the panel found this oozing with ripe peach, mango and pineapple set against more earthy notes of a garden shed lined with freshly cut rush matting. The panel found intensely sweet cherries in syrup and fresh raspberries in Bakewell tart, followed by Peach Melba with vanilla ice cream. The texture was slightly effervescent with a pithy bite but this softened with water. It opened the door of a greenhouse with freshly cut lilies. An abundance of sweetness burst forth with spiced pineapple chunks and an explosion of tutti frutti cup cakes. ‘Mouthwateringly delicious!’

Drinking tip: A tea party dram

Colour: Titanic bullion

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 21 years

Date distilled: June 1993

Alcohol: 50.3%

USA allocation: 128 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla

Cask No. 72.43                       $105  

Bunsen burner and burnt capacitors

Speyside, Lossie

There was smoke in the air; slightly burnt buttered toast or ginger biscuits, smoked apple pie and smoked mackerel risotto but also burnt capacitors, a fuel spill and a distant struck match – could this possibly be a lethal combination! Let’s try it; the struck match was for a Bunsen burner to scorch a crème caramel, some runny egg yolk still in a bowl nearby, but also to start the barbeque with some firelighters. Water defused the situation; toffee popcorn, chocolate dipped cherries, Reese’s peanut butter cups and in the taste slightly burnt sweet fruit quiche and potato wedges with a roasted garlic dip.

Drinking tip: For those heated moments

Colour: Toffee apple

Cask: First-fill white wine hogshead

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: September 2004

Alcohol: 59.8%

USA allocation: 95 bottles

Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits

Cask No. 1.185                       $240   

Russian, Jamaican, Turkish, Thai

Speyside, Spey

Opulent and elegant, the nose wove a textured fabric of sweetness (tablet, butterscotch, caramel, manuka honey, dark chocolate, peanut brittle) shot through by threads of garden exotics, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, After Eights and soft leather. The palate combined effervescent citric tingles with treacle toffee and old oak – Cossack-dancing Russian caramels smoked cigars while Jamaican gingerbread men limbo-danced on polished floors. The reduced nose evoked Botanic Gardens, posh Kensington cabinet makers, mint and lemon Turkish Delight and Thai spice. The palate – sweetly sophisticated with citric élan – strawberry, blackcurrant and lemon Fruit Polos, ginger snaps and tobacco – a Marypark marvel worth savouring.

Drinking tip: A captivating after-dinner dram (preferably on a large yacht).

Colour: Aztec gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 30 years

Date distilled: May 1984

Alcohol: 54.4%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Old & dignified

Cask No. 44.63                               $140

Zesty, zingy and alive

Speyside, Spey

The nose was attractively light, citric and biscuity (vanilla, iced gems, crème Anglaise, cherry cola, stewed apricots); some panellists detected deeper notes of sawdust, pepper and earthy elements. With water it seemed even fresher, softer and sweeter – almost floral now (rainbow drops, Dolly mixtures, lemon Edinburgh rock, honeycomb, pear orchards and grass). The palate core contained a pleasant sweetness, but with a zesty side – lemon Creamola Foam, strawberry compote, sherbet, sweet pear and sweet chilli sauce. Green grass and laundry suggested freshness and the mouth-feel was youthful, zingy and lively; acceptable chilli heat and some citric bitterness dried out the finish.

Drinking tip: A picnic aperitif dram

Colour: Pale straw

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 15 years

Date distilled: August 1999

Alcohol: 55.4%

USA allocation: 138 bottles

Flavour profile: Light & delicate

Cask No. 29.158                     $135

The Smoking Gun

Islay

Initially a rich, soft, sweet peat smoke followed by aromas of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, crème caramel and caramelized brown sugar. Also noted was Prosciutto dry cured ham and that of a well-used leather saddle. The taste was that of hickory smoked almonds and cashew nuts and a tussle between honey sweetness and peat smoke like preparing a ‘Smoked Old Fashioned’ using a smoking gun. With water we all moved to the fish market by the sea; tarry ropes, fish boxes and salted codfish on the nose and flavours of peat smoked salmon and haddock – probably not infused by a smoking gun.

Drinking tip: Chilling out with friends

Colour: Chestnut

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 14 years

Date distilled: April 2000

Alcohol: 61.7%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Peated

www.smwsa.com

BACK IN STOCK

Taiwan – Single Malt

• Kavalan Fino Cask Taiwanese Cask Single Barrel Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($379.99)

Japan – Single Malt

• Nikka Coffey Still Japanese Grain Whisky 750ml ($62.99) Grain whisky is one of the least understood components of the whisky world. When you sip a blended Scotch like Johnnie Walker or Suntory’s Hibiki, you’re drinking a blend of two types of whisky — both single malt and grain — hence the term “blend” (many people assume the “blend” refers to the blend of various distilleries). While we’ve gone out of our way here at K&L to help our customers understand 100% malted barley single malt whisky, we’ve never really talked very much about grain whisky — mostly because there’s very little of it available! Grain whisky is made from corn, wheat, and unmalted barley on a continuous still — much like vodka is produced. The Coffey Still is a type of continuous still that can pump out grain whisky without having to alternate batches. Because of the efficiency and cheaper production cost, grain whisky has taken on a bit of a bad rap. This reputation is entirely undeserved, however, especially when delicious grain whisky like the new Nikka Coffey Still is available. This is classic grain whisky — round vanilla, hints of caramel, and an herbaceous, spicy note that brings some pop on the finish. NOTE: while grain whisky can be enjoyed on its own, I find it’s flavors are much more impressive on the rocks and when splashed with a bit of soda. The Nikka Coffey Still is perhaps the best grain whisky we’ve yet seen available on the American market. We need more whiskies like this! ASAP!

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Alexander Murray 30 Year Old “Monumental Blend” Scotch Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($129.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Rock Hill Farms Kentucky Straight Bourbon 750ml (ships as 3L – 1 bottle limit) ($44.99)

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

WHISKY FRINGE 7th, 8th & 9th August.

Tickets for our very popular annual WHISKY FRINGE event will be going on sale NEXT WEEK – Wednesday 27th May at midday. Click on the banner for full details.

This week Joe Ellis reviews Timorous Beastie Blended Malt by Douglas Laing.

https://youtu.be/s42VTayRiP4

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

CULT MALT PREPARES TO TOAST 200 YEARS OF ISLAY WHISKY ON ARDBEG DAY WITH NEW LIMITED EDITION PERPETUUM 

– LOYAL ARDBEG FANS PREPARE TO TAKE OVER THE VINYL FACTORY, SOHO FOR ARDBEG DAY 2015 

It has been 200 years since Ardbeg single malt whisky was first distilled on the Scottish island of Islay and 15 years since the legacy of this cult whisky was safeguarded by the foundation of the Ardbeg Committee.

The future of the distillery was guaranteed in 2000 when it formed one of the most passionate and devoted whisky fan clubs in the world with the creation of the Ardbeg Committee – to ensure “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today the Committee has 100,000 members in over 130 countries and Ardbeg Day has become a global annual event.

To mark these memorable events, at this year’s Ardbeg Day on 30th May 2015 with a ‘Past, Present and Future’ theme, committee members will have the opportunity to buy tickets (£199 per person)  to attend the celebratory London event held at The Vinyl Factory, commemorating the distillery’s bicentenary and be amongst the first to taste Perpetuum, the new limited edition.

Ardbeg Perpetuum is inspired by the many styles, ideas and quirks of fate which have influenced Ardbeg over time; it combines different styles, flavours, dreams and trials. Connoisseurs will taste a never-ending, rich and enticing combination of classic Ardbeggian notes and incredibly creamy flavours.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said: “Ardbeg’s character has endured for 200 years and we hope it will continue for centuries to come. The 2015 Ardbeg Day anniversary bottling, Ardbeg Perpetuum, celebrates this milestone year with a recipe that includes some very old and young Ardbeg, silky Ardbeg from bourbon barrels and some spicy Ardbeg from sherry casks.  The resulting expression combines classic notes of dark chocolate and treacle with sea-spray, peat smoke, vanilla and a hint of sherry casks, to create an unforgettable single malt with an aftertaste that is never-ending.”

Ardbeg Perpetuum, launched for this bicentenary, will be available to purchase from 30th May 2015 at Ardbeg Embassies* for a two week exclusive period. From June 13^th, Perpetuum will be available at Ardbeg Embassies, Whisky specialists and department stores with a RSP of £84.99.

Ardbeg Perpetuum is non-chill filtered and is bottled at 47.4% ABV.

More details about Ardbeg Day and to purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://www.ardbeg.com/, where fans can also sign up to join the Ardbeg Committee. 

Notes to Editors: 

Tasting Notes:

Ardbeg Perpetuum is a deep amber-coloured single malt, containing the unmistakable Ardbeggian aroma of tar, soot and pine resin, with dark chocolate, treacle and sea-spray.  Its intense taste juxtaposes peat smoke and spice with creamy vanilla and milk chocolate notes, followed by a never-ending aftertaste of linseed oil, a hint of sherry cask, creosote and tar.

Ardbeg Day:

Every year, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music takes place in May or June on Ardbeg’s island home.  On the festival’s final Saturday, Ardbeg Day, the Distillery traditionally throws open its doors to welcome fans from all over the world.  In 2012 Ardbeg Day became a global event, enabling the whisky’s passionate international following to take part in a worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg.  This year, Ardbeg Day celebrates the single malt’s 200th anniversary by looking forward to the next 200 years.  Fans of the whisky will be invited into a retro-futuristic version of Islay in 2215, where hover boards and robotic dogs are the norm at the Ardbeg Distillery.

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are over 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in more than 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottling’s and expressions, and are offered exclusive Committee bottling’s.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee is free to join at www.ardbeg.com

Ardbeg Embassies*

You’re never far from an Ardbeg Embassy – the distillery’s homes from home. With the warmest of welcomes and the widest selection of Ardbeg, you can experience a little piece of Islay closer to home.

     The Vintage House, 42 Old Compton Street, London W1D4LR                       http://www.sohowhisky.com/

     Royal Mile Whiskies, 379 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PW                           http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/

     Cambridge Wine Merchants, 32 Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UJ                http://www.cambridgewine.com/

     The Wee Dram, 5 Portland Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1HA http://www.weedram.co.uk/

     Luvians Bottle Shop, 93 Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife KY15 4LG                http://www.luvians.com/

     The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU                    http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/

     Gordon & MacPhail, 58-60 South Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1JY                    http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/

     Whiski Rooms Bistro, 4,6 & 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP             http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/ 

Awards:

Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and was awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2013.  At the 2014 awards, Michael Heads of Ardbeg was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

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

Our next whisky tasting will be on Wednesday 24th June and this time round you will have the opportunity to sample six excellent and diverse Japanese whiskies from the Nikka range, presented by Phil Nickson of Speciality Brands.

Set up by Masataka Taketsuru, the founding father of Japanese whisky, Nikka own both the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries and these provide two different styles of whisky that are bottled not only as single malts but also in combination as vatted malts and in blends.  Miyagikyo distillery was designed to produce light, elegant, fruity and floral whiskies whereas Yoichi (which continues to operates traditional coal fired stills) produces a distinct rich, smoky, spicy and oily whisky.  We will taste both of these on the night along with two pure malts (i.e. vatted) which, because they contain varying proportions of the two single malts, have very different characteristics.  There will also be the fruity, zesty Coffey Grain to sample and the rich and robust Nikka from the Barrel blend.

The rapidly growing popularity of Japanese whiskies means that tickets for this event will go very quickly so make sure you don’t delay in booking yours!  If you do miss out on getting tickets then please contact us to register your interest as there is a possibility that we may be able to run a second night of this tasting.

Please note Tickets for the Nikka whisky tasting will be available to buy from 12 noon on Thursday 21st May and no bookings will be taken before this time.  The maximum number of people per booking 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 Nikka Whisky Tasting
Date Wednesday 24th June 2015
Time 7.00 for 7.30pm
Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren SN6 7SD

Details Admission to the tasting is by ticket only.  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.  The whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared!

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.  They are restricted to a maximum of 6 per booking and as these tastings usually sell out very quickly it is best to book as soon as the tickets are released.  To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com from 12 noon on Thursday 21st May and place an order for the number you require. Please note that tickets can not be reserved without payment and are non-refundable.

N.B. We have negotiated special rates at Stanton House Hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – just quote ‘Arkwrights- whisky tasting’ when booking by ‘phone or email.