Glenglassaugh Rare Casks

Batch #2 of the Glenglassaugh Rare Casks. 8 single cask vintages from 1972-1978

Glenglassaugh Distillery is a Highland malt whisky distillery situated at Sandend Bay near Portsoy on the Banffshire coast with views north over the Moray Firth and the North Sea and is one of just a very few truly coastal Highland malt whisky distilleries. Glenglassaugh Distillery was established by James Moir and opened in 1875 on a site between the remains of Glassaugh windmill constructed in 1762 and the Craig Corn Mills. In an ideal location with barley and soft Speyside water to hand and sea breezes to pervade the distillery’s warehouses. When Glassaugh Station opened on the Moray Coastal Railway in 1884 Glenglassaugh Distillery gained speedy access the whisky blenders down south. This distillery was substantially re-built in 1959 and re-opened in 1960 only to closed in 1986. Glenglassaugh Distillery was purchased by the Scaent Group and back in production in December 2008. Visitors are welcomed at Glenglassaugh Distillery and tours are available by appointment.

Japan

Suntory Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whiskey 750ml $62.99 View

Scotland

BenRiach 17 Year Old Solstice Single Malt Whisky 750ml $99.99 View

Ireland

Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey 2015 Release 750ml $139.99 View

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

GLENGLASSAGH RELEASES BATCH 2 OF ITS RARE CASK SERIES

GLENGLASSAUGH has today (December 8) released its second critically-acclaimed batch of single cask bottlings.

Once again hand-selected by Managing Director and Master Distiller Billy Walker, there are eight phenomenal malts in this new batch which range from 42 to 36 years. All casks were bottled in September this year.

The eight single cask treasures uncovered from dark corners of the Portsoy warehouses are classic Glenglassaugh – rich, elegant, sweet Highland malts that hit the palate with complex fruit bombs – from pears to raspberry jam, from yellow plum compote to orange peel, from wild red berries to banana loaf.

The oldest, cask # 2125, 42 years old, was distilled in October 1972 and finished in a Massandra Madeira Puncheon. Bottled at 47.3% vol, this rich burnt amber veteran is sublime. On the nose, luxurious rich honey infused with allspice floods over roasted apples while, on the palate, crisp toasted oak characters contrast with Madeira poached pears, sultana syrup and a delicate warm spice.

The youngest in the batch is a 36 years old distilled in October 1978 and finished in a Port Hogshead. This burnished copper gold beauty, cask # 1118/8, was bottled at 43.6% vol. On the nose, there is a delicious harmony of wild red berries and milk chocolate with a black pepper spice and vintage leather background. The palate brings beautifully elegant red fruit preserve dusted with sweet vanilla sugar and combines perfectly with warm oak, cinnamon spice and stem ginger syrup.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “The BenRiach Distillery Company took over Glenglassaugh distillery in 2013 and we released our first batch of rare casks in April last year. The response on this first batch release was fantastic, with connoisseurs worldwide delighted to get their hands on these aged, extraordinary malts. We are therefore delighted to issue Batch 2 today which comprises another eight magnificent expressions – smooth, warm, characterful and sublime Highland whisky at its finest.”

All eight are presented in a beautiful golden box.

The batch details are:

1972 cask # 2125 / 42 years old / Massandra Madeira Puncheon / 47.3% vol

1973 cask # 1865 / 42 years old / Massandra Aleatico Hogshead / 40.5% vol

1973 cask # 761 / 41 years old / Rum Barrel / 41.1% vol

1974 cask # 1282/1 / 41 years old / Rum Barrel / 40.8% vol

1975 cask # 2180 / 40 years old / Massandra Madeira Puncheon / 43.9% vol

1975 cask # 3171 / 40 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead / 40.2% vol

1976 cask # 3170 / 39 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead / 40.3% vol

1978 cask # 1118/8 / 36 years old / Port Hogshead / 43.6% vol

All eight are available soon at your local retailer.

Christmas Special – American Oak HH0047

Liquid Gold 95.5/100, Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible.

This is the last remaining stock of Cask HH0047. There were only 255 bottles from this cask and at 95.5/100 it is both the highest scoring American Oak yet in Jim’s Bible, and also the highest scoring Australian whisky in his 2015 Bible. 22 bottles remain.

Tasting notes according to Jim:

Nose 24/25: Hard to imagine a malt whisky being more malt whiskier…the nose celebrates outstanding distilling and classic maturation in a fine cask. The barley is multi-faceted and just about perfectly balanced between and the use of deft, still slightly gristy sugars. The oak chimes in with delicious butterscotch and even a hint of ginger.

Taste 24/25: Few distilleries do weight in delivery better than this one. The intensity of the barley deserves a medal alone, its balance with the gentle vanilla-led oak a bar.

Finish 23.5/25: Long, with a sligh smattering of cocoa yet the barley still feigns to have a degree of youth…even now.

Balance 24/25: Exemplary malt whisky, absolutely beautiful.

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Dalmore 15yo Special Offer

The Dalmore 15 year old is smooth, rich and well rounded; the epitome of The Dalmore house style.

This delicate and approachable vintage is initially matured for 12 years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks. The character of The Dalmore 15 is achieved by then splitting the whisky equally between three different sherry woods; Amoroso, Apostoles and Matusalem oloroso for a further three years. The spirit is finally married together in an upstanding sherry butt, allowing the flavours to infuse. Was £58 originally and then on offer at £52. Now available for £47 while stocks last.

BUY NOW £47

ARRAN 14 YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT

One of our most popular Single Malts is our 14 year-old which always goes down a treat during the tastings at our Visitor Centre and at whisky festivals all over the world. With its rich tropical fruity notes and layers of milk chocolate and spiced teacake, it’s the perfect dram for this time of year and will make a perfect present. Click HERE to read the tasting notes.

DECEMBER TASTINGS 

The Vaults End of Year in Whisky – The Vaults – Tue 15 Nov  More >

The Dining Room Hogmanay Dinner – 28 Queen St – Thu 31 Dec More >

Hogmanay Ceilidh at The Vaults – The Vaults – Thu 31 Dec  More >

Queen Street Hogmanay Party – 28 Queen St – Thu 31 Dec  More >

Tasting Room Ceilidh at The Vaults – The Vaults – Thu 31 Dec  More >

FREE MEMBER ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VAULTS

The Vaults Poker Night >  Mon 14 Dec

Free Live Music >  Mon 21 Dec

Islay Night >  Mon 28 Dec

Browse All Tastings >

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact:mailto:sales@smws.comor 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

A WEE TASTING WITH BIG ROSS in Perth – 3^rd December 2015

On a wet night we tracked doon to Exel shop once again for a tasting … Big Ross I know very well, lives in Perth but working at the Aberfeldy Distillery, some may know as Dewar’s. Guess who was first there? Aye well, needed to get out of the rain (my excuse), shook hands and chatted with big man, havnee seen him in ages, so caught up a wee bit, “who are you tonight?” he asked (it’s a facebook thing, didnee know to call me Paul or Sean), it’s nice to be nice eh? We got underway … first up was the Aultmore, this has been on the shelves around a year I think, it is light, fruity at 46%, non chilled no colour in ex Bourbon casks/barrels. No smokiness here, more floral than mineral, it’s a nice starter from this “Buckie Road” distillery near Keith, the aptly named Foggie Moss goes into quite a few blends, however this 12 year old was quite nice, but would need to move on to another after a few, as we did.

Deveron, in its new packaging, used to be Glen Deveron, now a really nice newly designed tube and frosted bottle, this 12 year old Highland hit just the right spot with me. We tried one bottle from the 2.5 million litre output tonight, a shame as I could have sat there all night with a few bottles. Previously a 10 and 15 year old, this is now 12yo with a spice/malt taste, out of a Bourbon/Sherry finish from the 5 stills, it is quite tight and can also be found in the Willie Lawson blend, it has a large market in France. I would like to try the 18yo (hint there big man). Then we got around to the Aberfeldy 12 year old, what is it tonight with the twelves? This has had several make over jobs, from the Perthshire distillery built for the blending market. It has a sweetness to it, like myself, and has matured from its 70 hour fermentation and arriving through wood and stainless steel to drop into a glass, realistically called the golden dram. Did you know? This was originally sold from the family (Dewar) shop on Perth High Street, now a Newlook shop – how times change. This delightful dram is the heart of all the Dewar blends and aye, it does contain a wee bit o caramel. Any of these first three would be good for a whisky beginner.

Ah, my (almost) favourite of the night, the delicious Royal Brackla 12 year old (again). Travelling doon from near Cawdor castle/Nairn (I am there this Christmas by the way) this is the oldest distillery in the group of 5. The kings own dram, this was the first to get the handle Royal (three only) – er, was it king Willie 4^th? Tis nae wonder all those German royals come to Scotland eh! This has more sherry than the others (put together is my thought), possibly Olorosso or PI, at only 40% this is a dram for me bhoys! I get toffee, fudge and Christmas cake, love it. There are also a 16 and 21 year old brothers to this dram, coming from the 3.5/4 million litres production, making this the largest output in the group? Cawdor Burn has been the constant water supply for Royal Brackla, with the Cursack Springs being used for mashing. There is a dribble of colouring, but as I like the taste so much, let’s forget that bit. The “Brackla” portion is, like the distillery itself, something of a mystery – I am sorry I don’t know what Brackla means, hmmm annoyed at meself. Finally we arrived at the Craigellachie 13 year old, what! 13 years old? Moving on … the biggest and boldest of the five said Ross, a nice Speysider fruity aye, but I was bowled over by the RB. It is only an Angus company who supply barley to this distillery next to the petrol station (garage in Scots), this distillery has worm tubs, the dram has a sneaky sliver of sulphur – try saying that at the end of a tasting – non chilled at 46% it does grow on you after a few.

The surprise dram, Ross brought in a bottle that can only be bought at the distillery, one of 600 I think, 16 years in a first fill sherry cask, this limited edition Ramble is 56% and will set you back £160 – is it worth it? Here’s my money Ross, a true sherry bomb. So excited was I that Keron (Exel shop lassie) opened up a bottle of Aberfeldy 21 year old, a much calmer version of the 12 yo, smoother, could taste the wood, a lovely end to the night, many thanks Keron and Ross for allowing me in! Favourite? The one I asked to buy – there was only around 2 inches left, same as Perth actually, that’s another story, but Ross kep a tight hold of it, am no goin to argue wi him!

WHAT’S NEW (Introduced in 2015)

• Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Extremely Limited Edition; $1,000) – The only single malt Scotch Whisky to be aged in rare Japanese mizunara oak casks. Only 2,000 bottles produced for the world. Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish is a skilled marriage of Scottish strength and passion with Japanese elegance and refinement.
• Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky ($65) – This new Suntory whisky encapsulates the harmony that exists between Japanese nature and people and is inspired by the riches and subtleties of Japan’s 24 seasons of the traditional Japanese lunar calendar. Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a meticulous blend of the finest select whiskies from the House of Suntory Whisky – at least 10 malt and grain whiskies, aged in five different types of casks, from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries.

JAPANESE WHISKY

HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT JAPANESE WHISKY

From Suntory’s mountain forest distillery, nestled deep in Mt. Kaikomagatake, Hakushu is the fresh and gently smoky single malt whisky with herbal notes that is the revelation of Japanese single malts. Straight from the untouched forests, mountains and pure waters of the Southern Japanese Alps, it is no wonder that Hakushu is a “green and fresh” whisky, praised by the most curious whisky connoisseurs and lovers of gastronomy. Its crisp and vibrant feel, unique in a single malt, enlivens and liberates your senses. Prices: $85 for Hakushu 12 Years Old to $250 for Hakushu 18 Years Old.

HIBIKI BLENDED JAPANESE WHISKY

Embodying the soul of Japanese craftsmanship, this harmonious blend resounds with calm complexity and “Wa”, oneness. “Kanzen”or complete, Hibiki is a harmonious blend of innumerous malt and grain whiskies which are meticulosly blended to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas. Seductive, blossoming and enigmatic, Hibiki celebrates an unrivaled art of blending, fine craftsmanship and a sense of luxury from the House of Suntory. Prices: $65 for Hibiki Japanese Harmony to $250 for Hibiki 21 Years Old.

YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT JAPANESE WHISKY

Yamazaki is Suntory’s flagship single malt, multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas. From Yamazaki was born the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt. Spiritual and deep, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world. Prices: $85 for Yamazaki 12 Years Old to $250 for Yamazaki 18 Years Old.

SCOTCH WHISKY

AUCHENTOSHAN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Scotland’s only whisky that triple distills every drop making for a spirit that is approachable (and unpeated) that works as well sipped neat/on the rocks (try Three Wood) as it is in cocktails (try American Oak, aged solely in first fill American oak barrels). Prices: $40 for American Oak to $450 for 1988 Wine Matured.

BOWMORE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Made in Islay’s first distillery (since 1779), Bowmore offers just the right amount of smoke (no mirrors) and sweetness to make this whisky a fan favorite. From Small Batch aged in 1^st and 2^nd fill ex-bourbon casks to the collectible Bowmore Black, Gold or White, Bowmore is one of the most well-known whiskies in the world and one of the most collectible. Prices: $40 for Small Batch to $650 for Port Matured.

GLEN GARIOCH SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Called the ‘rare find’, Glen Garioch is made in a tiny distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Never a whisky that will be mass-produced, it’s for those who know a bit about whisky and have come to find this little distillery on their journey. Prices: $45 for Founder’s Reserve to $150 for 1998 Wine Cask Matured.

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd

DISTILLER OF THE YEAR REBRANDS CORE RANGE

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is delighted to reveal their new rebranded core range of single malt whiskies. Available to purchase from March 2016, the multi award-winning range includes a variety of different ages and wood styles to suit all tastes including The Tomatin Legacy, 12 year, Cask Strength, 14 year, 18 year, 1988 vintage and 36 year.

The reveal follows the news that the company was named ‘Distiller of the Year’ at the Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards 2016, announced at the prestigious awards ceremony in Edinburgh on Friday 4th December. Nominated and voted for by industry members, the Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is understandably thrilled to receive the awards’ top honour: “We are extremely grateful to our industry peers, customers and suppliers who nominated us for this award” says Robert Anderson, CEO of The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd.

“These are incredibly exciting and important times for the Tomatin brand” says Jennifer Masson, Marketing Manager. “Over the past few years we have invested a lot of time in rediscovering our distillery, our people and our values. We now have a far stronger voice and sense of identity and our rebranded packaging is the final piece of this puzzle in place. Having experienced dramatic growth around the world over recent years, it is great to receive recognition of our efforts with awards such as the Distiller of the Year – we as a company are all looking forward to seeing where 2016 and beyond takes this fantastic brand.”

Following the development of a brand repositioning last year, ‘The softer side of the Highlands’, award-winning creative agency Pocket Rocket Creative was appointed to create a new look and feel for the Tomatin brand which is now being rolled out across all packaging. With the intention of cutting through the saturated single malt market and capturing the proposition of the softer side of the Highlands, the end result presents an identity that uses earthier colours and a softer tone than the current pack along with a refined version of the present logo to create a fresh, contemporary identity while retaining the quality and tradition of the brand.

Incorporating the Monadhliath Mountains, the hills surrounding the distillery, on the base of the new bespoke bottles and cartons across the core range captures the landscape that is intrinsic to the brand and the whisky. Ultimately, the new packaging now better reflects the product inside, the distillery in which it was made and the people it was made by.

Supporting the rebrand is The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd’s new campaign, ‘Tomatin Life’, which is a celebration of their people, their place and their whisky. Launched online in November 2015 and launching to the consumer at Edinburgh Waverley on the 16th December, Tomatin wishes to invite their customers to appreciate the tradition, passion and personality behind the bottle and learn more about the traditional lifestyle of distillery workers and whisky craftsmen in their quiet corner in the heart of the Highlands.

Notes:

 See www.tomatin.com or contact Jennifer@tomatin.com for more information

 For more information on the Tomatin Life campaign contact gaynor@genoablack.com

 The new core range packaging has been revealed in December 2015 and will be rolled out worldwide in March 2016.

 Designed by Pocket Rocket Creative Ltd, based in Stirling – Central Scotland – established in 2007 and operates with 5 staff, 3 of whom are Directors (Gary Dawson, Gary Doherty, Del Sneddon)

 Icons of Whisky Awards press release available to download here