Rebecca Creek Distillery Adds to its Repertoire with a New Version of Texas in a Glass

Texas Single Malt Whiskey hits shelves ~ Oldest single malt distilled, aged and bottled in Texas

SAN ANTONIO  Rebecca Creek Distillery, the connoisseurs of craft spirits Rebecca Creek Whiskey and Enchanted Rock Vodka, released the Rebecca Creek Texas Single Malt Whiskey.  The single malt whiskey has been aged in American Oak for four years and the end result is Texas’ only whiskey aged in 53-gallon casks in the Texas Hill Country.

“Rebecca Creek Single Malt Whiskey brings a new taste to our craft spirits,” said Steve Ison, co-owner of Rebecca Creek Distillery. “The Single Malt Whiskey is made with 100 percent American Malted Barley, and we’re proud to introduce this new Texas whiskey across the nation.”

The Rebecca Creek Single Malt Whiskey samples were sent to Industry Consultant and Master Distiller, Eric Watson, who then assembled a panel to develop the taste profile attributes. The whiskey was sampled neat with ice.

The new single malt comes with the following unique characteristics:

• Aroma: Light caramel, light vanilla, well integrated oak, cocoa in background, smooth
• Mouth feel: Medium, light oak tannin
• Flavor: Starts with caramel and cocoa yields to mature oak notes with a finish of medium complexity
• Overall: The panel liked the whiskey and found its profile to be unique

Rebecca Creek Whiskey recently received a 93 point rating in The Ultimate Spirits Challenge produced by the #1 whiskey writer in the world, Paul Pacult. This prestigious rating put Rebecca Creek Whiskey in the Top 3 American Whiskeys in terms of taste and quality. Rebecca Creek Whiskey also earned a “Drop Dead Delicious” rating in the Manhattan Cocktail event with The Ultimate Spirits Challenge noting Rebecca Creek Whiskey as an “excellent and highly recommended” choice for an American Whiskey that won’t break the bank.

Rebecca Creek products are currently available in eight states – Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nebraska, with California being added to the mix in November.

The new Rebecca Creek Texas Single Malt Whiskey hit the shelves this week, with  the suggested retail price at approximately $70. The single malt is also available for purchase at the Rebecca Creek Distillery Tasting Room (26605 Bulverde Rd, San Antonio, 78260). For more information about all of the Rebecca Creek Distillery spirits or to schedule a tour, visit rebeccacreekdistillery.com.

About Rebecca Creek Distillery

Based in San Antonio, Texas, the Rebecca Creek Distillery was founded in October of 2009 by Steve Ison and Mike Cameron. Their combined vision and passion for high quality spirits led to building the distillery using a blend of old and new technology to produce some of the highest quality distilled spirits available in the ultra premium category. Since its founding, the Rebecca Creek Distillery has become one of the largest artisan spirits producers in the region with our vodkas and whiskey available in multiple states across the country. Rebecca Creek products are currently available in eight states – Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nebraska, with California being added to the mix in November. To learn more, visit www.rebeccacreekdistillery.com.

We pride ourselves on the incredible growth and selection we’ve been able to achieve with our single malt program over the last ten years. But as much as we love searching through Scotland, hunting down the rare and interesting whiskies of the world, nothing gives us as much excitement as finding a great deal–especially when those deals provide as much bang for your buck as the two we’re featuring today.

Old Malt Cask is an independent whisky label known for supreme quality in its selections and we tracked down two outstanding expressions with prices so good you’re doing to do a double-take. Craigellachie is a Highland distillery of great esteem that is just beginning to make waves in the U.S. with a few official distillery releases. We’ve found some extremely-tasty sherry-aged selections from the Pernod-owned producer over the past few years, but nothing on the level of this Old Malt Cask edition. Simply put: it tastes like Macallan 18 at less than half the price, and at 100 proof! Not only is it a great deal when compared to Macallan, but also when compared to other editions of the same whisky. We’ve noticed a few stores in the area selling Craigellachie 19 from Old Malt Cask for $150 a bottle, yet we’re offering it for $60 less. As if that weren’t enough, we tacked on an incredible 16 year old of peaty, smoky, classically-styled Laphroaig with the same great savings. Other editions of Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 16 sell for as much as $200, yet we’re offering it for $119.99. The math is pretty simple. The whisky is pretty great.

1995 Craigellachie 19 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” Single Sherry Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $150) ($89.99)

It’s a wonderful thing when you can find a substitute for your favorite brand at half the price. In the case of this new Craigellachie 19 year old sherry cask we just discovered, we think it tastes exactly like Macallan 18 year–a whisky that is now up to $230 a bottle when you can even find it. All that soft and integrated oloroso sherry flavor permeates the palate, while the delicate and malty flavors of the Highland whisky work in conjunction to balance out the richness. Even at 100 proof, this is a delicate whisky. It has a little more punch than your standard bottle of Macallan 18, but a few drops of water can temper that storm quite easily. As if the Macallan comparison weren’t enough, we’ve found other stores in the area and across the nation selling the Craigellachie 19 from Old Malt Cask for $150, yet we managed to work out a deal to get the price down under $100. Even the distillery version of the Craigellachie 23 sells for $240 a pop, yet this whisky someone how costs less than three figures? We hope that’s enough of a savings to get you excited because we’re pretty excited ourselves! Pour yourself a glass of this superb sherry-aged Craigellachie, enjoy that elegant marriage of toffee and caramel, and know that you got one of the best whisky deals of the year–hands down.

Kyle Kurani | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 16, 2015

This single cask of Craigellachie is a throwback in every sense of the world. It is a perfect example of old school Highland whisky, not from a 200% first fill sherry barrel, not peated to more PPM of smoke then the inside of your smoker, just absolutely delicious Scotch, and more importantly at a price for a 19 year old that hasn’t been seen for years on a single malt shelf. This starts off with sweet gingerbread and dried apricots, pure and elegant, followed by hints of richer poached pears. The palate is filly with butterscotch and round rolly viscosity, dense and opulent. Finishing through with toffee and caramel-topped brownie. One of the best deals we have seen in a very long time here at K&L.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 16, 2015

I think Kyle summed it up best: classic Highland whisky, no frills, for an unbeatable price. This is right there with the Glenlivet 19 we just released, but this one really tastes more like Macallan or some of the more graceful single malt whiskies of Scotland. When you look at what other stores in the area are selling Craigellachie 19 for, the deal becomes clear. You could almost buy two of this for the price of their one.

1998 Laphroaig 16 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $199) ($119.99)

As if our stunning Craigellachie 19 year old edition of Old Malt Cask wasn’t enough, we also managed to track down a delicious 16 year old edition of Laphroaig, bottled at 100 proof, for an incredbile price. We noticed retailers on the East Coast selling 16 year old Laphroaig versions of Old Malt cask for up to $200 a bottle, and even the standard Laphroaig 18 year from the distillery goes for $120 or more. This concentrated, single barrel expression of Laphroaig brings all the peat smoke, saline sea water, and iodine notes you expect from your Islay whisky, but it adds a layer of vanilla from the cask maturation that balances the punch and the intensity of the island style. Even fans of Lagavulin and Bunnahabhain (those who like more richness and texture in addition to their smoke) will have a tough time finding a bottle better than this for the price. The finish is like a caramel candy covered in Islay peat, the perfect way to end a meal this holiday season.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 16, 2015

The levels of richness and smokiness here in this Laphroaig 16 are equal. It’s both chock-full of classic Islay flavor and simultaneously quite supple and round on the palate. I can’t decide if I think it’s sweet or spicy. That’s a sure sign of perfect balance if there ever was one. And the price….

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

Ardbeg
19 Year Old 1995 Dun Bheagan

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Ardbeg 19 Year Old 1995 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey. Matured in bourbon barrels #804 & #807 bottled 2015 Ian MacLeod for the Dun Bheagan range. 593 bottles.

Ardbeg Distillery was established in Ardbeg on the Kildalton Peninsular on the Isle of Islay in 1815 by John McDougal. Ardbeg Distillery draws soft peaty water from Loch Uigeadail and Loch Airigh nam Beist up amongst the hills behind the distillery. Ardbeg Distillery is a participant in the world famous Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Visitors are welcome at the distillery visitor center which offers Ardbeg Distillery tours and serves delicious Scottish fare in the Ardbeg Café.

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES THREE EXTRAORDINARY NEW EXPRESSIONS 

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach has today (10 November 2015) launched three stunning new expressions in time for Christmas and New Year celebrations. 

They comprise the Aberdeenshire distillery’s first-ever peated release, a new 19 years old Madeira finish single malt and its latest Cask Strength bottling.

The most unusual expression of the trio is the new GlenDronach Peated which is just astonishing. In contrast to the traditional, non-peated character of The GlenDronach, this particular whisky has, unusually, been distilled using peated malted barley. Vivid harvest gold in colour and bottled at 46%, it was first matured in bourbon casks followed by a second period of maturation in the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

The result is a superb “first” for GlenDronach – a sensational and beautifully balanced smoky/fruity dram bursting with character and flavour. The delicate peat influence provides a smouldering charred wood character filled with freshly ground barley and hints of vanilla toffee, while elsewhere on the nose a delightful aroma of ripe gooseberries dusted with cinnamon sugar combines with a contrasting crisp citrus twist.

On the palate, vibrant oak spices and floral heather honey develop to rosehips and barley sugars, all warmed by a touch of white pepper. Subtle peat notes complement the palate by giving a delicate depth and dryness of glowing campfire embers.

The finish is memorable; a unique marriage of crisp fruit and barley-laden Highland characteristics is surrounded by gentle peat smoke, intriguingly reminiscent of heather burning in the distant glens. Master Distiller Billy Walker said simply: “It is absolutely phenomenal.”

From the gentle aroma of smoke to a dram bursting with ripe summer fruits and warm spices. Bottled at 46%, non chill fi­ltered and with natural colour, the GlenDronach 19 Years Old Madeira Cask Finish was initially matured in European oak casks and thereafter finished its maturation in a very small batch of superior Madeira hogsheads, giving the final whisky its own range of astonishing flavours and aromas.

In this new expression you immediately appreciate the transformative effect of the Madeira wood on the golden Highland spirit. The crisp sweetness of the hogsheads seeps gently into the rich whisky to add subtle fruity and spicy overtones – notably cinnamon, apple, citrus and pepper.

On the nose, crisp apple and pear sweeten to apricot syrup and ripe gooseberry. Cinnamon-dusted tarte Tatin and notes of green apple skin balance with the clean, crisp warmth of stem ginger and candied peel on the palate.

The top-quality trio is completed with the release of GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 5. The whisky has been matured in a combination of the best Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks, giving the appearance of rich amber edged with gold.

Bottled at cask strength, 55.3%, non chill filtered and at natural colour, on the nose there is a perfect combination of sweet golden sultanas, rich ­fig syrup, ground almonds, orange bitters and a gentle dusting of black pepper.

On the palate, Demerara sugar-glazed dark fruits lighten to apricot syrup infused with stem ginger and vanilla. The combination of elegant sherry influences and robust Highland style creates a perfect example of the traditional GlenDronach character.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are thrilled today to release three exceptional Highland malts which display completely different characteristics.

“There is the unique smoky sweetness of the new Peated expression, the richly fragrant Madeira finish and the signature robust sherry character of the Cask Strength batch five. Everyone here at GlenDronach is amazed by these three magnificent expressions…and we know our customers worldwide will be too.”

All three are now available at your local retailer.

WEMYSS MALTS

10TH ANNIVERSAY TASTING

Date: 10th December 2015

Time: 7pm – 9.30pm

Venue: Anomalous Space, 38 Pentonville Rd,

London, N1 9HF

Ticket: £27

Join award-winning independent bottler, Wemyss Malts, as they celebrate 10 years in the whisky industry. Founder William Wemyss has delved into their archives to select a range of drams that take you from when Wemyss Malts first began, to the present day.

This special 10th anniversary tasting will begin with canapes and welcome drinks. Greg Dillon of Great Drams will then host the main part of the event where William will share his story from the first bottle, to the opening of the family’s own distillery. Along the way you will taste delicious whiskies some of which, will be the last bottles left in the world.

Due to the rare whiskies on offer, we suspect many of you will be very eager to join us for this tasting so please visit Eventbrite to secure your ticket.

Glendalough Distillery launches global brand film

Please view the new Glendalough brand film that showcases the history and origins of Irish Whiskey and our brand.  The film charts the history of distillation, which began in Irish monasteries in the 6^th century. Irish monks were the world’s first distillers, monks like St. Kevin – the man featured on every Glendalough bottle. The film tells the epic story of St. Kevin and the Glendalough monastic settlement he came to build.     Shot over three days in the Wicklow Mountains, the film was directed by Stephen Walsh and produced by Al Butler, post production was done in The Mill, London and it is voiced by singer songwriter Jerry Fish. You’ll see it on our site, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook over the coming days and weeks.

Sláinte,

The Glendalough Team

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage Highland single malt Scotch whiskey. Matured in 2nd Fill Ex Bourbon Oak Barrels which previously held heavily peated malt whisky. This unique style of maturation has lent a gentle smokiness to this full bodied and robust vintage.

Nose: Tangy green apples wrapped up in a veil of wood smoke. Honey and Vanilla cut through the middle with a lemony top note and a faint floral accent.

Palate: Spicy and Peaty initially with light and sweet notes following soon after bringing to mind custard laced with runny toffee  developing into a touch of coconut, warm leather and bitter orange marmalade.

‘Hunter Laing & Co, The Sovereign, Caledonian Distillery 41 year old‘

Another fantastic rare lost whisky has landed with us here at TheWhiskyBarrel.com from our chums at Hunter Laing & Co. This latest treat is the appearance of a 41 year 1974 old single grain whisky from the Caledonian Distillery…..(please click here to read the remainder of the article)…

Benromach takes top prize in Hong Kong competition 

Benromach, creators of the classic Speyside Single Malt scotch whisky, have won one of Asia’s most prized accolades.

Benromach 100° Proof won the award for Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 15 Years and Under at this year’s Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.

The award was announced last week at a gala dinner to begin the 2015 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, one of the premier events in the Asian drinks industry.

Benromach’s flagship 10 Years Old also picked up a gold award in the competition, bringing its tally of gold awards this year so far to four.  The classic Speyside whisky, hand-crafted by just three distillers, secured “Big Gold” and the accolade of Spirit of the Year at the 2015 International Spirits Awards in Germany, a gold medal in the Scotch Whisky Masters competition run by the Spirits Business Magazine, and a gold medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition earlier this year.

Benromach 100° Proof is bottled at 57% vol with the classic Benromach style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies of the pre-1960s.  It is an intense and richly complex whisky with sherry kicks, stewed fruit, beeswax polish, vanilla pods and delicate smoke.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “Benromach continues to grow around the world and we’re delighted to be recognised by our industry peers. Our focus is on making our whisky the time honoured way and Benromach100° Proof very much reflects the way things used to be done, when the proof system was used to describe whiskies bottled at a higher strength.”

The Benromach Distillery Company Ltd produces a range of award winning expressions including Benromach 10 Years Old, Benromach Organic and Benromach Peat Smoke.

Sales of Benromach have grown rapidly and the whisky is now exported to more than 30 countries around the world.

Notes  

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when leading whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five year period before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies pre-1960s.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous malt whisky trail.

Benromach 100° Proof

Benromach 100° Proof is a 10 Years Old single malt whisky with a distinctive golden amber colour. Sherry aromas lead, followed by stewed apple, pear and vanilla, with toasted malt aromas complementing an underlying menthol edge. Notes of cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry lead on the tongue, with hints of orange peel and milk chocolate, combined with a delicate smoky finish.

Benromach 10 Years Old

Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least 10 years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

What is proof measurement?

The old measure of spirit strength – the proof – followed a tradition established when sceptical sailors, who wanted to ensure their rum rations had not been watered down, mixed spirit with gunpowder. If the mixture ignited, then its strength was “proved” and in Great Britain this was described as 100 degrees proof (100°), a value still used as the British definition, although the gunpowder test had been replaced by a gravity test. 100 degrees proof (100°) in the UK is equivalent to 57% alc/vol.

Jim Murray Awards 2016 “World Whisky of the Year” to Canada’s Crown Royal

One of the world’s most remote distilleries has been awarded World Whisky of the Year for the very first time.

The Gimli Distillery, which sits on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in central Canada, is the home to the Crown Royal brand. Which in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016, published today, has been given the coveted title of World Whisky of the Year with its special Northern Harvest Rye edition.

It is the first time a Canadian Whisky has won the top prize in the Whisky Bible in this, its thirteenth annual edition. Last year the whisky world was shaken when the award went to a Japanese single malt.

Whisky authority Jim Murray, who tasted over 1,000 new whiskies before making his announcement said: “Last year people were shocked when I gave Yamazaki the award – until they tasted it. Then they saw it was not the affront to Scotch they first thought and something truly extraordinary.

“This year, doubtless there will be many more eyebrows raised because rarely is Canada mentioned when it come to the world’s top whiskies. But, again, I have no doubt people finding the bottling I tasted will be blown away with this whisky’s uncompromising and unique beauty. It certainly puts the rye into Canadian rye.”

Although Canadian whisky is commonly known as rye, this new brand is one of only a handful which is actually made from near 100% rye grain. Most others are distilled from corn or wheat with rye and other flavourings added.

Said Mr Murray: “To be honest, I had been considering actually demoting Canadian whisky from having its own chapter in the Bible The quality of Canadian has been disappointing me for some time with too many non-whisky products, like fruit juice or wine, being added to give a softer flavour.

“Then Crown Royal Northern Harvest pops up out of nowhere and changes the game. I think other distillers out there have to have a close look at this and see if they can at least have a go at reaching where this new bar has been set. Otherwise the name of Canadian whisky will continue to decline against the high standards being set in other countries.”

In his Whisky Bible 2016 he gives Northern Harvest Rye a record-qualifying 97.5 out of 100 points and comments: “Rye, that most eloquent of grains, not just turning up to charm and enthral but to also take us through a routine which reaches new heights of beauty and complexity. To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice.”

The Gimli Distillery in Manitoba was first visited by Mr Murray in the mid-1990s when he described it in his Complete Book of Whisky as being located “where the Prairies are at their Prairiest”. The warehouses each year sit under a foot of snow and the usual -18 temperature in January can sometimes plummet to -40. It is, quite literally, many hundreds of miles from its nearest fellow distillery.

Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye made it a astonishing one-two for rye whisky, as it narrowly eclipsed Pikesville 100 proof Straight Rye from the Heaven Hill Distillery Kentucky for top spot. Third came another traditional whiskey, a pure pot still from Ireland – Midleton Dair Ghaelach. It is the first time an Irish whiskey has made one of the top three spots.

With Buffalo Trace’s William Larue Weller bourbon coming in fourth and Yamazaki Mizunara from Japan fifth, it is the second year running Scotland has missed out in a top five placing in the Whisky Bible.

NEWSDESK NOTES:

*   Other award winners: Scotch of the Year – Glenfarclas Family Cask 1957; European Whisky (Multiple casks) – English Whisky Co. Chapter 16; European Whisky (Single cask) – Kornog Taouarc’h Chwec’hved 14

*   Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is available from Monday in all good book shops and online at whiskybible.com, priced £12.99.

*   The 2016 edition contains detailed taste notes for around 4,600 whiskies – including more than 1,000 new labels – all marked for nose, taste, finish and balance.       *

*   Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible has sold more than half a million copies in English language.