JUNE OUTTURN: COOL FOR CATS

We’re making whisky cool this summer. We’ve created our own range of Society ice creams using whisky from our 12 flavour profiles. Members can scoop up our unique creations at each of our three Members’ Rooms or at our Queen Street Garden Party. Get scooping!
#IceDreamDrams

RARE RELEASE

June sees the release of our first-ever Islay festival bottling, 3.243 – ‘Dark, smouldering flamenco gypsy’. Each bottle comes with a cool flamenco label – grab your bottle before they dance off into the sunset.

Young & spritely

39.106 Deliciously sweet but feisty £44.00

Sweet, fruity & mellow

30.85 Citric and sweet duality £77.60

Spicy & sweet

4.205 A riddle wrapped in a mystery £58.20

121.78 Dinner time! £49.20

Spicy & dry

41.65 Sweet couscous with Argan oil £146.20

Old & dignified

7.117 Mouth-coating, viscous and weighty £101.60

Light & delicate

17.39 Relax, take it easy £54.70

Limited availability**

Juicy, oak & vanilla

64.61 The Angel and the Devil £47.10

48.56 Popcorn in a sauna £49.00

7.118 Long johns and velveteen smoking jackets* More >

Oily & coastal

27.109 Guns on the grouse moor £60.60

Peated

3.243 Dark, smouldering flamenco gypsy £80.00

Limited availability**

Heavily peated

29.161 A bodega is burning £53.00

53.220 Flirting with Florence Nightingale £66.80

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

**Limited availability: One bottle per member available by phone only from 9am, Friday 5 June (0131 555 2929 9am-4.45pm)

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

This year’s Kilchoman’s Loch Gorm Single Malt Whisky is finally available in the US.  Only a limited quantity of the exclusive bottling will be available and, if past releases are anything to go by, it will sell quickly.

Kilchoman’s Loch Gorm releases are traditionally matured in ex-Oloroso sherry butts and this latest edition is no exception. However, differently from previous years, sherry hogsheads were used to mature a portion of the whisk, rather than just sherry butts.

Anthony Wills, Founder and Managing Director of Kilchoman, said: “This year’s release is slightly older. Also, we decided to increase the ratio of single malt matured in smaller sherry hogsheads versus that matured in larger sherry butts. This increases the influence from the sherry casks and gives the whisky a striking intensity and richness. With that said, the whisky retains the balance and complexity Kilchoman releases are well-known for.”

Named after a famously peaty loch, from which Kilchoman draws water for the production of this and other releases, Loch Gorm is bottled at 46% ABV and is available in the US exclusively through ImpEx Beverages Inc, with a recommended retail price of $99.99.

Worthy of note, the Robb Report magazine just included Loch Gorm in a list with the most heavily peated Scotches in the world. See post here.

Tasting Notes: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2015 Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky

Colour: Deep and rich.

Nose:  Soft, spicy and rich with light smoke dark chocolate and citrus fruit.

Palate:  Soft fruits and peat smoke with a rich sweet finish.

Finish:  Long and sweet, lingering smoke, well balanced.

Notes

Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have now been joined by their three sons: George, James and Peter.   Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this. Kilchoman is now very much a family affair:   Since the first bottling was released in 2008, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt Whisky with these notable awards:

• Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC) when Anthony Wills was named Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
• Machir Bay was named Whisky of the Year at IWC 2013. Loch Gorm was also awarded Gold, Machir Bay received Silver and 100% Islay 2nd Ed was given bronze.
• Kilchoman 2007 Vintage received Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.
• In 2012 Machir Bay was awarded two prestigious IWSC Gold medals and a Silver medal, and was named in GQ’s Best 100 Things of 2012.
• Kilchoman won Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, only three years after the first bottling was released.

Visit us at www.impexbev.com    Like Kilchoman on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter

ImpEx Beverages Inc.
360 Swift Ave
Side B # 9
South San Francisco, CA 94080

Portwood Single Cask

70cl, 59% ABVOnly 231 bottles of the Port Wood-matured Single Cask will be produced. The whisky is bottled at cask strength of 59% and is presented in a handmade American Oak box. Each bottle is hand labelled, numbered and individually signed by our director, Sian Whitelock.

£295.00

Buy now

Customer Favourites

Shopping for the ideal gift? Look no further.

Whether you’re looking for a light, sweet whisky like Aberfeldy, something rich and fruity like The Balvenie or something smokier like The Bowmore, we’ve got a whisky to suit every taste. Our customer favourites range has been chosen by what our customers have told us they like best – so you’ll definitely find something you’ll enjoy.

From £34 Shop Now

Dalmore 15 year old  Engraved 

Dalmore 15 year old spends twelve years maturing in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, then a three year finish in three different sherry woods – Amoroso, Apostoles and Matusalem oloroso. A robust, yet elegant spirit. This Father’s Day, we’re giving you the chance to make your Dalmore extra special with a personalised engraved message on the back of the bottle.

£60 Buy Now

Hudson Baby Bourbon 

Hudson is the first whiskey to be produced in New York since the prohibition and is also the first bourbon ever produced in the state. This award-winning bourbon is perfect for any bourbon fan. It’s a perfect base for a classic Old Fashioned cocktail – just mix 25ml of sugar syrup together with a couple of dashes of bitters of your choice with a slice of orange, add a generous measure of Hudson Baby Bourbon, stir and serve.

£40 Buy Now

ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY

Special Anniversary Bourbon Release with Tours and Tastings

Little Rock, AR – (June 1, 2015) – In celebration of our fifth year anniversary, Rock Town Distillery will release a limited edition bourbon whiskey called, “Rock Town Fifth Anniversary Arkansas Straight Bourbon Whiskey.” This release, Rock Town’s oldest bourbon whiskey yet, will be available for purchase only at the distillery in downtown Little Rock, starting at 11am on Saturday, June 20th. To thank our friends and supporters we will be hosting special tours and tastings on June 20th as well.

The Fifth Anniversary Bourbon is distilled using the same process as Rock Town’s award winning Arkansas Bourbon but is aged for 4 years in 53 gallon barrels and is “bottled-in-bond” at 100 proof. This is a one time, limited edition bottling, and in order to secure a bottle we encourage you to call the distillery and pay a 50% deposit in advance. Phil Brandon, Founder and Head Distiller, said “It’s hard to believe it has been 5 years. We’re thankful to our friends and supporters for all they’ve done for us over the years.”

A paid deposit also ensures a seat in the exclusive sit down tasting on Saturday, June 20th (a $10 value) at 2pm and 4pm of four rare and exceptional Rock Town whiskeys paired with local cheese and meats:

• 5th Anniversary Bourbon Whiskey
• Single Barrel Hickory Smoked Whiskey – Cask Strength
• Single Barrel Rye Whiskey – Cask Strength
• Our now famous Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey – Cask Strength

Space is very limited for the tastings and the cost is $10 per person. Call the distillery at 501-907-5244 to make reservations.

Events to be held on Saturday June 20th to thank our friends and supporters:

• Free tours at 1:30, 3:00 and 4:30pm
• Free drawings held 3 times during the day for free Rock Town Anniversary merchandise
• Food trucks will be parked at the distillery from 11 – 6pm.

ABOUT ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY

Rock Town Distillery produces the award winning Arkansas Bourbon, Arkansas Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, Arkansas Rye Whiskey, Arkansas Lightning, Brandon’s Gin and Rock Town Vodka which are distributed to 15 states and the United Kingdom. Winner of the 2015. US Micro Whisky of the Year in the 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas’ first legal distillery since prohibition, is located in downtown Little Rock at 1216 E 6th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202. Thedistillery is open for tours 7 days a week. To find outmore please visit www.rocktowndistillery.com

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With notes of fruits, berries and a bit of barbecue smoke, the June Outturn sings the song of summer.  Enjoy the bottle notes below and visit http://www.smws.ca/ for the full tasting notes.

Cask No. 35.74  Sophisticated, heavenly & decadent

20 years old; 2nd fill dump hogshead; 58.4%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

The nose is sweetly fruity (sangria, peach schnapps, plum, limes) with scented candles, leather books and polished oak – old-fashioned ice-cream parlours later. The fabulous palate has pomegranate, lychee, orange oil, chocolate, coffee, toffee and gooey rum baba – heavenly and decadent.

Cask No. 48.46  Exploding flower

12 years old; 1st fill barrel; 57.4%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

The nose opens like a flower – vanilla, Danish pastries, toffee, fruits, rosewater and gorse – fresh and intriguing with water (green fruits, lemonade, menthol). The palate explodes with bitter-sweet orange, jelly beans, honey, gunpowder and spice – eventually becoming juicy, sweet and refreshing.

Cask No. 7.94  Silk sarong seduction

27 years old; refill hogshead; 55.6%; Old & dignified

Aromas of caramel and seduction, banana apricot jam in a leather purse left on a barstool by a perfumed woman. Palate offers Caribbean rum notes and candied oranges in a silk sarong. Finishes with nutty sweetness and fresh rain.

Cask No. 24.126  The artist’s lounge

23 years old; refill sherry hogshead; 56.1%; Old & dignified

A still life of dried fruits, and spiced plums. An artist’s palette of paint, linseed rags, leather books. Blackcurrant and dark chocolate held caramelized pork crackling in check. Smoked duck with a sticky orange and onion chutney completed the rich molten experience.

Cask No. 53.206  Ooh matron!

18 years old; refill hogshead; 56.6%; Peated

Freshly laundered Matron’s uniform and kissing lavender lips. First Aid boxes and carbolic soap. Downing an oyster before a coal hearth. Newly opened gauze and Arm and Hammer mouthwash. Temperatures suitably raised, the panel dreamt all the way home.

Cask No. R3.5  Marmite XO

11 years old; refill butt; 74.8%; Oily & coastal

Dish washing liquid to start turning quickly into salmon sushi and tuna sashimi followed by sweet potato tempura. With water, on the nose Chai tea, caraway seeds and Rollmops. To taste neat only for the brave, with water, sweet dumplings and blue cheese and onion chutney pizza.

http://www.smws.ca/

Our “Big Three” for Father’s Day

Make your dad’s day this Father’s Day and treat him to a gift from our “Big Three”. Choose from a personalised bottle of The Famous Grouse, A Warehouse Experience with a Bottle Your Own or send him back to school, whisky school that is, with a fantastic in-depth whisky masterclass with our Drammolier™.  Find out more about these fantastic gifts here

Wilde Thyme at Glenturret – Father’s Day Dining

Why not treat your dad this Father’s Day with a delicious day out at Glenturret Distillery followed by a delectable lunch at Wilde Thyme?  Tempt yourself by having a look at the Father’s Day menu

Whisky of the Month – June

Personalise a bottle of The Famous Grouse and receive a free tasting glass. Delivered straight to your door in a bespoke presentation box. Order your bottle today (for guaranteed delivery by Father’s Day please be sure to order by Friday 12th June)

The Famous Grouse Experience
The Glenturret Distillery
The Hosh
Crieff, PH7 4HA
United Kingdom

THE SUNTORY’S SHINING!

DELIGHTS FROM JAPAN

Its seems that every year there is a new ‘in demand’ whisky. Once it was Bowmore, then Highland Park, Ardbeg of course, not to mention the eternal quest to locate a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. Now it seems it is Suntory’s turn to take the mantle. Since the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2014 Edition won Jim Murray’s Whisky of the Year, the original Japanese whisky distillery has never been so popular. Of course, as great as this is for Suntory, there’s only so much stock available thanks to the difficulty of predicting whisky trends. As such availability has really dried up. We’ve been searching high and low to get our hands on some Suntory whisky and finally we’ve found some. Please note availability of the below is extremely limited. Naturally we are working on getting more so hopefully we’ll have some more good news soon!

In other news from the East, we will be stocking the acclaimed whiskies from Kavalan in Taiwan very soon. These will include the Kavalan Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Concertmaster, King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky, Kavalan Soloist Single Malt Sherry Whisky and the Kavalan Solist Single Malt Bourbon Whisky. Again these will be in short supply so we are taking reservations by reply to this email prior to their arrival.

Yamazaki 18 Year Old

The Yamazaki 18 Year Old has become the stuff of legend following years garnering awards left-right-and-centre. This Japanese single malt is deserved of the praise: a syrupy mouthfeel and an almost Cognac-like flavour profile create a whisky which lingers on the palate with a rancio forward finish. Very limited quantities available!

BUY NOW | £199.95

Hibiki 21 Year Old

It seems Suntory can’t produce a whisky without it winning a host of awards. The Hibiki 21 Year Old is no exception, taking a tidy haul in 2014. Expect dark cassis fruit flavours complemented by heaps of exotic spice and vanilla pod notes. Extremely limited quantities!

BUY NOW | £249.95

Milroy’s of Soho · 3 Greek Street · London, England W1D 4NX · United Kingdom

This week Joe Ellis reviews Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt.

https://youtu.be/fXQzDDCq-BU

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GOLD RUSH: THE GLENROTHES WINS FOUR AWARDS AT THE SCOTCH WHISKY MASTERS 2015

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits is delighted to announce The Glenrothes has been awarded a quartet of gold medals at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2015.

The honours include two Gold Medals for The Glenrothes Select Reserve and two Gold Medals for The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve. These honours were recognised in two different award categories: Single Malt Speyside Premium and No Age Statement.

Select Reserve is a vatting of casks distilled in different years. It is laden with ripe fruits, juicy citrus, creamy vanilla and hints of exotic spice. This Reserve is the expression that best epitomises, and sits at the very heart of The Glenrothes range in terms of taste and flavour.

The Vintage Reserve, the latest addition, marries together a good many carefully selected Vintages from the last three decades to create a mature yet vibrant expression. The combination of different Vintages aged in a variety of casks creates a balance of mature experience and vibrant youth. The oldest constituent brings mellow oak and dried fruits; the greatest proportion adds soft, mature, sweet vanilla; the more youthful add exuberance and lemon citrus, creating a sharp and uplifting taste. The Vintage Reserve launched initially in Taiwan in November 2014, and is currently available in the UK from www.bbr.com. The UK national release is set for July 2015.

Ronnie Cox, Brand Heritage Director of The Glenrothes, stated; “We are delighted to be awarded these accolades for The Glenrothes Select and Vintage Reserves.  The Reserves are the heart of The Glenrothes range and have been created to give character, maturity and balance that deliver the best possible flavours. The judges clearly recognise our efforts.”

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve 40% ABV

Appearance:  Brassy gold.

Bouquet:                 Unusually fragrant, soft in style, wafts of mature citrus and honeycomb accompanied with characteristic red fruits.

Palate:          Very soft silky/creamy mouth-feel. Red berry fruits swirl and dominate with    time over the nebulous nuttiness.

Finish:           Mid to long citrus and honeyed vanilla and the faint reminder of 1st fill sherry casks.

The Glenrothes Select Reserve 43% ABV

Appearance:  Pale golden.

Bouquet:       American oak, vanilla and coconut, hint of plums.

Palate:          Full malty flavour, medium sweet, vanilla and orange zest.

Finish:           Long and slightly spicy.

The Scotch Whisky Masters is a series of blind tasting competitions, drawing entries in from across the world and has fast become one of the most respected and high profile trade competitions in the industry, attracting vast amounts of entries from leading brands all over the world.

For more information about The Glenrothes, visit www.theglenrothes.com

Notes:

The Glenrothes was founded in 1879.

Only 3% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality.

Owned by Berry Bros. & Rudd Ltd, the wine and spirit merchants established in 1698, The Glenrothes is an award winning Speyside Single Malt Whisky of exceptional quality from the town of Rothes in Speyside -Scotland’s whisky heartland.

Established in 1879, the Glenrothes is a pioneer in Scotch Whisky. All our single malt is vintage malt. When we say vintage, we mean whisky distilled and put in cask in a single year. When judged to be at its peak of maturity, character and flavour, then we carefully marry selected vintages together as Reserves, or bottle them individually as Single Vintages.

At The Glenrothes, maturity matters more than age. A combination of many factors, including our unusually slow distillation process in tall copper pot stills, deliver our characteristic sweet, fruity and elegant spirit. Further flavours are derived from our extensive knowledge of maturation in oak casks. Each expression has its own unique personality, underpinned by the distinctive, hallmark characteristics of the distillery – ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and an exquisite spicy finish all encased in the creamiest of textures and with a complex and well-poised balance.

The Glenrothes is only selected for bottling when it has reached its zenith of maturity; each cask is carefully checked, nosed and tasted many times. An age statement does not reveal the maturity of the whisky and so the Glenrothes is bottled only when ready, meaning mature and at its peak of perfection. Malt whisky matures at its own pace as shown by the two casks selected.

Some of our recent awards and accolades for current bottlings: 

The Glenrothes, Vintage Reserve

• Gold, Scotch Whisky Masters 2015

• Double Gold, China Wine & Spirits Awards 2015

• Gold, The Asian Spirits Masters 2015

• “Officially Amazing” , Guinness World Record holder for largest Burns Supper, 2015The Glenrothes Select Reserve

• Gold, Scotch Whisky Masters 2015

• Gold, San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition 2012
• Scotch Whisky Master, The Spirits Business Masters 2008
• Best in Class, World Whiskies Awards 2008

The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve

• Double Gold, WSWA 2015
• Recommended, Whisky Magazine, Issue 123, February 2015
• Difford’s Guide, Exceptional 5 out of 5 stars 2014

The Glenrothes Alba Reserve

• Excellent, Highly Recommended (92/100), Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2014
• Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2010
• Silver, International Spirits Challenge 2010

The Glenrothes Select Reserve

• Gold, San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition 2012

• Gold, The Asian Spirits Masters 2015

The Glenrothes 1998 Vintage

• Silver medal, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2011
• 93/100, Excellent/Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011
• Silver, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010
• Silver, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010

The Glenrothes 1995 Vintage

• Gold, Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit, 2013
• Silver, International Wine & Spirits Challenge, 2013
• 92/100, Excellent/Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011

The Glenrothes 1988 Vintage

• Silver, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2012

The Glenrothes 1978 Vintage

• World’s Best Speyside Single Malt. World Whiskies Awards 2008