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

This year is Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink and the month of May celebrates all things whisky. The Spirit of Speyside Festival has just finished, while at the end of the month we have the Islay Festival to look forward to. However the most important whisky extravaganza to consider (in our humble opinion!) is the forthcoming WHISKY FRINGE 2015 in August. Tickets for our very popular annual event will be going on sale on Wednesday 27th May at midday. Click on the banner for full details.

ARDBEG DAY 2015

In the first instance, the new forthcoming Ardbeg Perpetuum will only be available to purchase directly in person from our Edinburgh shop (and Official Ardbeg Embassy) on the Royal Mile, Saturday 30th May. (No pre-ordering, reservations, telephone orders or internet orders will be accepted) Click on the banner for further information.

We are pleased to announce that Royal Mile Whiskies will once again be the Official Whisky Retailer for The Whisky Lounge’s Edinburgh event on June 20th. See you there!

FOR ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL: 0131 524 9380 or email: contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

OUR SHOPS OPENING HOURS:

Royal Mile Whiskies 379
The Royal Mile EDINBURGH
EH1 1PW
Tel: 0131 225 3383
10 ~ 8pm Mon to Sun

Royal Mile Whiskies
3 Bloomsbury St
LONDON WC1B 3QE
Tel: 0207 436 4763
Mon to Sat 10 ~ 6pm (Thurs 10 ~ 8pm) Sun 12 ~ 5pm

WHISKY TASTINGS ARE BACK!

After time in the events wilderness our tastings return.

First an apology. Since we’ve been away we have inundated with requests for a calendar of our tasting events, and thanks to rather busy bars on both floors we haven’t been able to find the time. So apologies on our behalf! However! We have been working on a solution and we now have a number of tastings booked in for the next couple of months, with plenty more in the pipeline.

Each night you will be sampling a selection of whiskies (and/or spirits) as the host talks you through the story of the liquid resting in your glass.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis by reply to this email. All events begin at 6.30pm and conclude by 8.30pm, and are hosted at Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek St, W1D 4NX.

Slainte!

 UPCOMING TASTINGS

GLENLIVET AMBASSADOR EVENING – MONDAY 18th MAY 2015

Join us for an evening with Phil Huckle, brand ambassador for Speyside distiller Glenlivet. We will be wrapping our heads around this most illustrious of Scotch single malts as we sample our way through their range of unpeated malts, including a special single cask edition! The ticket price is redeemable against a bottle of Glenlivet on the evening. £15

NIKKA JAPANESE WHISKY EVENING – MONDAY 8th JUNE 2015

There’s been quite a stir about Japanese whisky over the last few years, in no doubt quickened by the awards they are garnering. Nikka is perhaps one of the most iconic brands, representing both the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries, plus a plethora of other whiskies such as the idiosyncratic and much loved, Nikka From The Barrel. This evening we will be taking a journey through their range of Far Eastern malts!. The ticket price is redeemable against a bottle of Nikka whisky on the evening. £15

THE MILROY’S EXCLUSIVE RANGE – MONDAY 15th JUNE 2015
This evening, our buyer and general manager, Lee Tomlinson will be taking you through the many bottlings we have exclusive to us here at Milroy’s – from Maltbarn through to Samaroli. Lee will talk you through each bottling, its story and why he wanted us to have exclusivity of it. Needless to say some very special bits and pieces are going to be opened for this event, no doubt a few staff members will be sitting in on this one! £35

BOOTLEGGERS AND BOURBON – MONDAY 29th JUNE 2015

We’ve resurrected our popular American whiskey evening. Since we’ve reopened we’ve been bowled over by the growth in popularity of Bourbon and rye whiskey, and now, more than ever, is a tasting dedicated to Scotch’s transatlantic cousins more appropriate. Our resident American whiskey enthusiast Angus will be taking us through his favourite whiskeys and the honourable and illicit tales that surround them, from the Civil War to Mad Men! £35

To Reserve email Milroy’s of Soho angus@milroys.co.uk

NEW ARRIVALS

Ireland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• West Cork Original Classic Blend Irish Whiskey 750ml ($26.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Macallan Reflexion V5 Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $3000) – 1 available ($1,299.99)

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

TWO OF A KIND – THE GLENROTHES STRIKES GOLD  

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits is delighted to announce The Glenrothes Select Reserve and The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve have both been awarded a Gold Medal at the Asian Spirits Masters 2015.

Produced to the same exacting quality standards as the Vintages, Select Reserve is a vatting of casks distilled in different years. It has been crafted to typify all that is The Glenrothes in its prime. Renowned as the ‘House Style’, laden with ripe fruits, juicy citrus, creamy vanilla and hints of complex spice, the Select Reserve is the essence, the very heart of The Glenrothes range in terms of taste and flavour.

The Vintage Reserve is the latest Reserve and epitomises the Vintage philosophy. It marries together a good many carefully selected Vintages from the last three decades, producing a Reserve of exceptional quality and flavour. A single malt that reflects the maturity of the whisky, rather than the age. 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, commented; “Unlike other malts that bottle by age, we choose whiskies that represent the best of a particular year and marry them together when they are ready. Therefore it is flattering to win as it demonstrates that our efforts are not in vain, both The Vintage Reserve and The Select Reserve are stunning whiskies”

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 Spirits Masters is a series of blind tasting competitions, drawing entries in from across the world. The Asian Spirits Masters recognises the finest spirits available for sale in the Asian market.

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

• Double Gold, China Wine & Spirits Awards 2015
• Gold, The Asian Spirits Masters 2015
• “Officially Amazing” , Guinness World Record holder for largest Burns Supper, 2015
• The Glenrothes Select Reserve
• 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

Spring has sprung

The grass has riz

This is where

The whisky is!

Pull up a patio chair and enjoy the May Outturn!

Brief bottle notes are below; please visit http://www.smws.ca/ for full tasting notes:

Cask No. 76.118  We ♥ Whisky!

27 years old; refill hogshead; 49.5%

Buttery toast with marmalade and raspberry jam. Mint toffee and lemon sherbet, creamy rhubarb and custard. Waxy apple and earthy orchards laden with pine needles. It became extremely juicy with roasted sweet potato sprinkled and macadamia nut concluding the journey.

Cask No. 121.76  Close shave from a tipsy barber

12 years old; refill barrel; 57.9%

The nose evoked a barbershop (leather, after-shave, band-aids, blades) – then beeswax, dried flowers and gin; caramel and marzipan later. The palate was herbal (absinthe, Chartreuse) with chocolate fudge cake, liquorice allsorts (from an engineer’s pocket) and some citric fizz.

Cask No. 55.23 Chow mein on a workbench

20 years old; refill hogshead; 55.1%

The nose has cut grass, pineapple and citrus – but also toasted oak, pistachio, nutmeg, burnt eucalyptus, engineers’ workbenches and chow mein. The intense palate has anise, liquorice allsorts, oily nuts and pepper – sweet and savoury with salty seaside and medicinal suggestions.

Cask No. 123.9  The big, fat tipsy wedding

16 years old; 1st fill sherry butt; 56.6%

A feast of sweet mashed potato with butter, rye bread with beef dripping, figs and balsamic. Treacle tart, sticky toffee pudding with Turkish espresso. Pork crackling, beef soppet (cooked juices), and cola cubes. Violet fresh towels with walnuts and Jaffa cakes.

Cask No. 4.199 Boy scouts and bikers

14 years old; 1st fill barrel; 56.2%

Prosciutto backed by rose and rosemary, white wine and cigarettes, with ‘garden party’ base notes. At reduced strength it returns to type: maritime, leather jackets, barbequed aubergine with more rosemary.

Cask No. 66.57  Asian delight

9 years old; refill barrel; 59.1%

Malaysian chicken satay infused with a punchy spicy marinade and served with a coconut peanut dipping sauce followed by a tongue burning Phall curry. Water adds a smoky sweetness and the taste is that of glazed gammon steaks with pineapple.

Cask No. 29.142  Rock pooling and beach barbecue

18 years old; refill barrel; 58.6%

Rock pooling on a sunny afternoon with lamb chops being cooked nearby. The taste is of oak smoked mackerel, cold smoked salmon and honey glazed ham. With water sweet cured herring and gravlax and the flavour is beer battered calamari and roasted marshmallows – hungry yet?

http://www.smws.ca/

Whisky School

BACK IN STOCK

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Previously $200) – 6 available ($149.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Angel’s Envy 86 Proof Bourbon 750ml ($43.99)

• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon 750ml – 11 available ($39.99)

• Sazerac 90-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml (3 bottle limit) ($29.99)

• Tuthilltown Hudson Four Grain Bourbon 375ml ($49.99)

• Tuthilltown Hudson Maple Cask Rye (375ml) – 10 available ($49.99)

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

Ledaig releases 1972 vintage malt to the market

Burn Stewart Distillers has released a rare, one off malt to key international markets – Ledaig 42YO, a robust, smoky malt whisky with a rich and distinct history.

Named Dùsgadh, meaning ‘awakening’ in Scot’s Gaelic, reflecting the long, dormant period of maturation, this is the rarest and oldest Ledaig ever released and the next 40YO Ledaig single malt won’t be available until 2036.

The story of handcrafted Ledaig 42YO begins on the Isle of Mull at the Tobermory Distillery, the only distillery on the mystic island and amongst the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland. The malt’s old world charm reflects the brand’s spirit to do things the traditional way, by hand.

In a rare feat of master blending, this Single Malt Scotch Whisky has retained all of its deep, peaty intensity, which is almost unheard of for an expression of this age. Throughout its four decade history, the Scottish landscapes and climates to which Ledaig 42YO has been exposed, have strengthened the malt’s distinctly rich and smoky flavour.

The heavy intensity of Ledaig 42YO makes it an ideal digestif, or accompaniment to a fine cigar. This depth also means that it is best enjoyed neat and without water or ice, which would only dilute the profusion of flavour.

Like all of the malts in the Burn Stewart portfolio, Ledaig 42YO is un-chilfiltered, ensuring that more of the whisky’s natural aroma, flavour and texture remain in the bottle, deepening the taste.

The luxurious packaging which houses Ledaig 42YO has been inspired by the copper from the retired stills, which released the first spirit in 1972 and has finally reached the end of its distilling life. The aged copper has been used as part of the Ledaig 42YO packaging to celebrate this milestone and honour its rich heritage.

As an appreciation of our customer’s commitment to Ledaig, each box of Ledaig 42YO contains a handcrafted copper card, which entitles the buyer to inherit a bottle of Ledaig 10YO from the last distillate from the now retired stills, which will be available in 2025.

Master Distiller at Burn Stewart Distillers, Ian MacMillan said: “I’ve been distilling for almost 40 years and the smoky aroma retained in Ledaig 42YO is the highest I have ever come across in a 40YO island whisky. It’s the intricate and unusual process that has allowed this liquid to keep its strong, peaty characteristic. Under close supervision and moving homes, this liquid has been allowed to develop into a truly unique malt.

“The precious copper that released the first spirit in 1972 has reached the end of its distilling life and has produced exceptional vintage malt, which I am looking forward to sharing with an exclusive group of whisky lovers across the globe.”

Burn Stewart Distillers will release only 500 bottles across select international territories including the UK, North America and Asia. The RRP for Ledaig 42YO, 70cl and 75cl bottles is £3,500 and this includes the 10YO bottle buyers will receive in 2025.

For further information please visit www.lediag42.com

Notes

Ledaig 42 Year Old Tasting Notes:

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Rich and complex, intense phenolic sherry aromas. Sooty smokiness, fragrant wood, toffee apple, briny with some sweet biscuit maltiness. 

Palate: Quite dry evolving to a rich smoky oloroso sherry character. Massive complex layers of dark chocolate, coffee and cherry liqueurs. Extremely smooth, well balanced with spicy ginger and black peppercorn overtones. 

Finish: Dry, smooth and spicy, satisfying and very long with a salty smoky tail. 

About Burn Stewart Distillers

Burn Stewart Distillers is part of the Distell Group Limited, Africa’s leading producer and marketer of spirits, fine wines, ciders and ready to drinks. The company’s Head Office is based in East Kilbride, Scotland, and its principal trading activities are the distillation, blending, bottling and marketing of Scotch Whisky brands in the UK and internationally.

The company owns and operates three malt distilleries: Bunnahabhain (Islay), Tobermory (Mull) and Deanston (Doune, near Stirling).  It has a blending and maturation facility in Airdrie and a bottling hall and dry and finished goods storage site in East Kilbride.  The company also operates a sales and marketing branch in Taiwan.

Burn Stewart produces and markets a well-balanced range of Scotch Whisky brands. Its core blends include Scottish Leader and Black Bottle, with the single malts portfolio consisting of Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig.

With a dedicated staff of approximately 240 located in various sites throughout the world, BSD employees have an average service of nine years, with 37% of staff having worked with the company for more than 10 years and 11% for over 20 years.

This loyalty and experience is reflected in the quality of our award-winning brands.

Just Whisky is now LIVE with our 18th auction. It’s a real privilege to handle some of the bottles in this month’s auction. We have an incredible selection of sought after bottling’s from many fabulous distilleries.

This month we attended the Whisky Lounge fair at the Aberdeen Conference Centre where we had the chance to meet some of our customers and twisted their arms to try a few drams on us. By far the most popular Whisky on offer was the Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique – judging by the reaction, it is a Whisky perhaps deserving of it’s recent award from the World Whiskies Award 2015 – The World’s Best Single Malt Whisky. It’s some claim to fame – and no doubt will make this a popular bottle to bid on.

As well as award winning whiskies from Asia, of course we have a huge array of bottles from right here in Scotland. We’ve highlighted a few interesting lots below, but for the whole selection be sure to visit the website.

The auction comes to a close on Sunday 10th May at 8PM.

As always, we are accepting entries into our next auctions. Now is a great time to get your bottles in early to ensure their place in the June auction. Sell with us by filling in our short form available here.

MACALLAN PRIVATE EYE

The ultra-collectable Private Eye bottle of Macallan. Limited to only 5000 bottles, of which only a few hundred were ever produced with the gold rather than the black seal. Bottled in 1996 for the 35th anniversary of the famous satrical magazine Private Eye.

This special edition is also unique in that it features a superb screenprinted label by the legendary gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman.

MAGDALENE 32 YEARS OLD 1982 – CADENHEAD’S

From William Cadenhead, Scotland’s oldest independent bottler a lovely 32 year old single malt from silent distillery St. Magdalene (Linlithgow). Distilled in 1982 and bottled in January 2015, from a single cask with an out turn of only 282 bottles.

• 58.1%vol
• 70cl

PAPPY VAN WINKLE SET X 5

An incredible selection of Pappy Van Winkle bottles including:

10 Year Old Rip Van Winkle

• 53.5% Vol (107° proof)
• 750ml12 Year Old Van Winkle Special Reserve – Lot “B”

• 45.2% Vol (90.4° Proof)
• 750ml15 Year Old  Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve

• 53.5% Vol (107° proof)
• 750ml20 Years Old Family Reserve – Comes with original red velvet bag with gold stich writing

• 45.2% Vol (90.4° proof)
• 750ml

23 Years Old Family Reserve – Comes in original black velvet bag with gold sitch writing

•  47.8% Vol (95.6° proof)
• 750ml
• Bottle No: F-2382

LAGAVULIN 12 YEARS OLD – SPECIALLY SELECTED

This very rare 80’s bottling of 12 year old Lagavulin by White Horse Distillers Ltd, with the iconic horse embossed on the bottle. The Islay malt is extremely well preserved considering its age, and is very scarce.

Scored a fantastic 94 points with Whisky Fun, Comes in box. Very hard to find in such nice condition.

• 43% vol
• 75cl

BEN WYVIS 31 YEARS OLD 1968 – SIGNATORY VINTAGE

A very rare bottling by Signatory Vintage, this is 1 of only 151 bottles drawn from cask No.687 on the 25th of February 2000. This 31 year old Single malt was distilled on the 5th June 1968 at Ben Wyvis distillery, Invergordon, Ross & Cromarty. The distillery operated from 1965 to 1977 when it fell silent and was dismantled. Not to be confused with the Ben Wyvis distillery at Dingwall (also known as Ferintosh), which operated until 1926. We beleive these to be some of the few remaining casks in existence.

Presented in original wooden box, complete with certificate of authenticity, glass stopper and tasting sample miniature.

• 50.6% vol
• 70cl
• Bottle No: 124 of 151
• Cask No: 687

HANYU VINTAGE 1985 – ICHIRO’S MALT ACE OF SPADES

This Single malt whisky is from the Hanyu distillery, that was located in a town bearing its name on the banks of the Tone river. The distillery was surrounded by barley and paddy fields. Hanyu was making malt whisky in the traditional Scottish way, but unfortunately stopped distilling in 2000.

The pot-stills and other whisky equipment were completely dismantled in 2004 because of a change of ownership. Fortunately the stock and facilities were saved by Ichiro, the grandson of the founders of the Hanyu distillery. His new distillery is now situated on the hill of Chichibu, where he was born. He started making whisky again in February 2008.

This is the mighty Ace of Spades from the highly collectible Cards series. Distilled in 1985 and matured for 21 years, f1st in Hogshead and then 2nd in Spanish Oak Sherry butt. Bottled in 2006 by Sasanokawa.

Imported by Number One Drinks Co. Ltd.

• 55% (55.7%) vol
• 700ml
• Bottle No: 107 of only 300
• Cask No: 9308

Bidding ends 8PM Sunday, and you can bid on all of the bottles at:http://www.just-whisky.co.uk/

Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml ($24.99)

For three long years, David Othenin-Girard and I have been trying to create an inexpensive, delicious, value-driven, yet simultaneously interesting expression of blended Scotch whisky that we could feature under our Faultline label. There were many times when we thought we were close, but either the quality of the whisky or the cost of the barrels proved prohibitive. We didn’t want to make a $25 bottle of whisky just for the sake of it. If we were going to do it, then we were going to it right. Finally, after working on and off with the Laings for a year-long blending process, we hammered out a profile we were happy with. Big smoke, Ardbeg-like peat flavors, and a kiss of sweet grain was our goal and we definitely achieved it in this bottle. Unlike most big brand blends, there are no coloring agents or sweeteners in the Faultline Scotch, just a pale straw colored liquid that bursts with character and, due to the heavy malt content, finishes with richness and weight. We wanted to make sure that, upon launch, there would be absolutely nothing on the market that could match the quality of flavor, price, beauty of design, and bang for the buck. After three long years, we think we’ve done it. For $25 you get one helluva bottle of Scotch. Smokier than Johnnie Black, more complex than Chivas, and less expensive than both of them. Plus, it’s an assertive 100 proof. Try it in a cocktail, pour it over ice, add in soda water. It’s the real deal. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 04, 2015

Perhaps our greatest triumph to date because making good whisky cheap (or should that read “cheap whisky good”) is DANG hard work. I don’t know if there is a product that we sell that I’ve spent more time or energy on getting right. We literally went through hundreds of samples of blended whisky from multiple suppliers. I worked meticulously with the artist to create the perfect label to exemplify this special blend. Ultimately, what we chose to blend wasn’t necessarily the most powerful or intense option, but instead the goddamned most drinkable thing we could find at any price. We insisted it not be colored and bottled at 100 proof because while it was tasty at 80 proof, a whole lot of this stuff was going to go into long drinks and over rocks. Nothing else on the market stands up so well in a drink -long, short, classic whatever! The added proof does wonders to improve the flavor not to mention add texture. The inclusion of the beautiful bevy of Islay, Island, and Highland single malt give it depth, but the lack of caramel coloring might be the real reason this worked so well. The color will undoubtedly scare some old school whisky drinkers–it’s really really light in color. We’ve been conditioned by the industry to think, darker is better. Producers believe (and not without reason) that consumers will taste with their eyes first and therefore the negative flavor effects of the chemical coloring are vastly outweighed by the psychological effects of the dark color – it should be noted that some believe the addition of caramel color might enhance flavor of blended whisky, I am not one of those people. It is indeed true that consumers prefer darker colored whisky even if it’s the exact same stuff. Conditioning is a powerful thing. If the light color is a problem for you, please close your eyes (figuratively) because we are indeed incredibly influenced by our visual perceptions and this whisky deserves a fair shake. Needless to say, I was personally very happy with the final product before it shipped, but we knew the true test would always be when the real whisky geeks got hold of it. You know the guys who NEVER hold their tongue, no matter how obviously important or irritating something might be to you. Love those guys. While some diehards thought it was “pretty darn good for the price,” as expected, other whisky heads just about fell out of their chairs when they tasted it. “How much of this stuff do you have? I’m gonna bunker at least 2 cases…no 3 cases. Do you have enough?” Music to my ears. For now, yes we have enough, for now…

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 03, 2015

This whisky will eventually speak for itself. The reviews are in, the news has hit the internet, and the buzz is ablaze. You cannot beat the Faultline Blended Whisky for the money. The question now is: how much of it can you drink?

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 20, 2015

I usually only like blended Scotch that costs more than the single malts I drink, so this was a revelation. I don’t know if it is the hint of high quality peat, the extra concentration and kick from the higher proof, or the lovely sweet malty character of this blend that make it so satisfying. My father has often said that he “likes to drink expensive booze like it was cheap”- if you do too, this is a great scotch for you. It is not expensive- it just tastes like it is! For me it is the best value in Scotch in the store.