NEW ARRIVALS: MALTBARN

MORE INDIE BOTTLED SCOTCH FROM GERMANY!

You can probably remember our excitement when we received our first shipment of Malbarn single cask Scotch whisky back in May. Needless to say they have been very popular! Naturally we have been eagerly awaiting the next release of casks and we haven’t had to wait long – in a bid to lift our spirits following the end of the sunny spell, they arrived.

This release has some real gems including the ever popular Clynelish, a full-on Miltonduff and even the return of our favourite from the previous batch, the Dailuaine 1996.

Have a browse of the selection, and if you’re in the neighbourhood, pop by our whisky bar where they will all be open to purchase by the dram! Happy hunting.

Miltonduff 1989, 25 Years Old, Maltbarn, 51.2%

This is a full-on Miltondufff with a funky aroma that is reminiscent of frying bacon in a private library! The palate is malty, almost Marmite like, developing into notes of prunes macerated in golden rum. The finish lingers with a charred oak profile and a hint of Bovril. Weird but delicious!
156 bottles from an ex-Bourbon cask.

£122.50

Clynelish 1997, 17 Years Old, Maltbarn, 48.6%

We all know it is physically impossible for a Clynelish to be anything other than excellent, and this 17 year old from Maltbarn is no exception to the rule. Classic waxy fruit notes dominate the nose, leading to a creamy palate of sherbet lemon and cloudy apple juice. The finish is long and succulent with a hint of coastal salinity.
152 bottles from an ex-Bourbon cask.

£99.95

Linkwood 1998, 16 Year Old, Maltbarn, 49.3%

A classic Linkwood with notes of star anise, lime flavoured boiled sweets, greengages and treacle, leading into a waxiness with the addition of water. The palate is silky with well integrated oak and a flavour profile of ripe apples. Those boiled sweet notes return on the finish with undertones of freshly cut hay.
205 bottles from an ex-Bourbon cask.

£90.50

Glen Spey 1988, 26 Year Old, 43.6%

This Glen Spey has powerful liquorish notes on the nose chased by fennel, a yew tree glade, all butter fudge and assertive juniper. The palate is smooth with the sweet return of that fudge, with a hint of sea salt and a little more liquorish. The finish is full of cracked black pepper, barley sweets and a slight herbacious quality. Superb balance!
101 bottles from an ex-Bourbon cask.

£126.95

Dailuaine 1996, 18 Years Old, Mlatbarn, 48.7%

This is one of those estery malts on the nose: kiwi, pear drops and granny smith apples. Spearmint and white pepper on the palate with a soupcon of sweetness. The long finish is minty with poached pears stealing through.
159 bottles produced from a single ex-Bourbon barrel.

£94.95

Looking back on Tastival 2015

Tastival has come to an end for 2015, but we’re looking back with fondness at another laughter (and dram) filled festival on our island home.

From impressive chocolate ganache mountains or ‘Jura paps’ served up by Dram & Smoke, to whisky and beer pairings with Drygate Brewing Co., our partners once again helped us bring taste to life in new and inspiring ways, which we hope you enjoyed. We certainly did!

Anyone who shared their Jura tasting notes with our live artist Guy Mckinley in the Cooperage has contributed to a beautiful and permanent fixture in our distillery, with the resulting mural now hanging proudly in the Tun Room for visitors to enjoy.

Almost 2,000 of you passed through our Dramming bar, and whether you joined us on our special Masters Distillery Tour, sampled a unique dram on our Rare Cask Selection, set sail for Whisky on the Waves, joined a food pairing session or simply soaked up the atmosphere (in person or from afar, via social media) we thank you for helping make another year so enjoyable.

See you next year!

Willie Cochrane and everybody at the Jura Distillery.

#JuraTastival

www.ralfy.com gets all egalitarian with Whisky Review 545 – Jameson Gold Reserve Whiskey

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Peach Street Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml – 12 available ($59.99)

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

INTRODUCING SCAPA SKIREN, A SINGLE MALT FORGED BY THE ELEMENTS OF ORKNEY

September 2015 marks the launch of Scapa Skiren, an artisanal single malt forged by the elements of Orkney; a remote island of natural contrasts.

Crafted by five dedicated artisans at the manually operated Scapa distillery, Scapa Skiren’s smooth taste embodies the unexpected contrasts of the Orkney Islands, setting it apart from traditional Island Malts. A unique barrel-shaped Lomond wash still – the only remaining working Lomond in the Scotch whisky industry – is used for distillation, resulting in a richer and fruiter honeyed spirit. Exclusive maturation in First Fill American Oak casks gives Scapa Skiren a smooth creamy sweetness with a hint of tropical, citrus fruit and coastal heather, uncommon for an Island Single Malt but distinctly Scapa at its core.

Scapa Skiren gets its name from the Old Norse for glittering bright skies and lights up the senses with its delicate scented floral flavours as well as fresh pear, sweet and fruity pineapple notes on the nose. The smooth and sweet taste of ripe honeydew melon slices as well as bursts of fruity pear contrast with the tantalising taste of sweet sherbet on the palate. The end result is a long refreshing sweetness, reminiscent of the summer Orcadian skies after which it is named.

Scapa recently opened its distillery to the public, for the first time since its launch in 1885, on the beautiful, wild and untameable Orkney mainland. It is situated on the shore of the Scapa Flow, a natural harbour and one of Britain’s most historic stretches of water.

Scapa Master Distiller, Brian MacAulay says “It has been a real pleasure to bring the dynamic and unexpected contrasts of Orkney to life in Scapa Skiren. It is a product of our island; forged by the elements and the expertise of our dedicated team who use traditional methods and skills honed over several generations to create our distinctive Island malt with its unique smooth honeyed taste.”

Scapa Skiren, priced at $60 USD RRP, will be released in September 2015, in selected retailers in the UK and France and rolled out in Global Travel Retail from October 2015.

Notes:

Scapa Skiren (40% ABV) tasting notes

Character: Honeyed and tropical

Nose: Delicate scented floral flavours with a hint of fresh pear. Sweet and fruity pineapple notes with an unexpected citrus tang

Taste: Smooth and sweet, ripe honeydew melon slices with bursts of fruity pear contrasting with the tantalizing taste of a sweet lemon sherbet

Finish: Long, refreshing, shimmering sweetness

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the world’s No.1 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.

http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralized organization with 6 ‘Brand Companies’ and 80 ‘Market Companies’ established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

Cornelia Parker – Blue Luna, 2015

Single malt Scotch whisky, includes a series of 6 lithographs and a photographic print. £1000 plus VAT (strictly limited to first 5 customers)

We thought you may like to know that we currently have a half price offer on our forthcoming edition by Cornelia Parker.

For this McLean’s Artist Malts commission, Parker has been intrigued by whiskies maturation process, how time and more specifically the moon cycle can effect the spirit. In a continuation of Parker’s lunar series, this latest work “Blue Luna” is very much a time orientated piece. Currently you do not get to see the spirit but an empty vessel. For Parker’s whisky remains in the cask in the highlands of Scotland. Blue Luna will be bottled upon a blue moon on the 31st of July 2015, a rare event of two full moons in a single month. The total age of the whisky is stipulated on the label by full moon cycles rather than years – the final colour, nose, taste and alcohol volume of Parker’s whisky will be unknown until this special date. As well as this fine whisky filling the empty vessel, the piece will be accompanied by a photograph by Parker taken during the Blue Moon on the 31st July 2015. How this photograph looks is also dependent on many unknown particulars; location of the artist, weather, and equipment will be significant to the outcome. What we do know is that the accompanying photograph is as mystifying as the whisky itself.

As with all of our editions a printed element is produced by one of the world’s most respected print houses, Poligrafa Obra Grafica. Cornelia Parker’s bottle will be accompanied by six lithographs listing each and every full moon that has influenced the spirit whilst in the cask since August 1997. Upon payment you will receive the signed series of 6 lithographs. The entire completed artwork  including the whisky is due for delivery in September. This offer is set at £1000 plus VAT and is limited to the first 5 customers. Once sold out the edition will return to £2000 plus VAT. Please contact us on email for any further information.

A new single cask release from Arran distillery. This special Island single malt scotch whisky was distilled on the 19th July 1999 and aged for 15 years in single bourbon cask #88. 204 bottles filled in 2015, 56.9% vol.

£66.90

This week Joe Ellis reviews Ardbeg Alligator.

https://youtu.be/wyyflYJMb-s

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

Heaven Hill Brands Launches Super-Premium Pikesville Rye

6-Year-Old, 110-Proof Spirit Salutes Traditional American Straight Rye Whiskey

Bardstown, Ky., July 8, 2015—Heaven Hill Brands, now in its third generation of family ownership and celebrating 80 years of crafting whiskey and curating all-American spirits brands, today announces the launch of a super-premium spirit, Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey. At 6 years old and 110 proof, this new expression of Pikesville Rye is produced at Heaven Hill’s historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville and aged in its premier rickhouses in Bardstown, Ky. With a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 750ml bottle, it will roll out in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles in Summer 2015, with allocated national distribution to follow in the Fall.

During previews, Pikesville Rye earned spirits industry acclaim, including a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 95 Points at F. Paul Pacult’s Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Distilled from at least 51 percent rye, with corn and malted barley as the “small” grains, Pikeville Rye has an appealing pale copper color, reflecting its extra aging. Its aroma evokes earthy cocoa notes with oaky smoke underneath. On the palate, Pikesville Rye is dry and spicy, with hints of honeyed rye and cloves. Soft vanilla and baking spices round out the finish.

“Heaven Hill has a tradition of keeping storied brands alive,” says Max L. Shapira, President, Heaven Hill Brands, and second-generation family member. “We purchased the Pikesville brand as the Maryland Rye industry was disappearing and have distilled it for decades for the local market. As consumers have fallen in love with Straight Bourbon Whiskey, they have naturally expanded their passion to Rye. We wanted to update this authentic artifact of Americana for contemporary palates and offer this super-premium expression nationally.”

This marks the first major new product launch since Denny Potter was named Heaven Hill Brand’s Co-Master Distiller. Potter carefully selected each extra-aged barrel and determined the spirit’s ideal proof level.

“Pikesville Rye is the text book example of the traditional three-grain American Straight Rye Whiskey that laid the foundation for Rye’s current renaissance,” says Potter. “To set it apart from other Ryes, I selected barrels at a minimum of 6 years old from high storage and bottled it at a proof that allows the most character from the barrel to come through without overpowering the spicy grain notes. It will appeal to American Whiskey connoisseurs seeking a robust and flavorful sip and to today’s bartending community, as it mixes well in classic cocktails.”

With its Maryland roots dating back to 1895, Pikesville Rye returned after Prohibition, surviving ownership changes and the decline of the Maryland Rye whiskey industry. With Maryland production coming to a close in the 1980s, Pikesville Rye was kept alive by Heaven Hill Brands, which has produced the spirit in Kentucky ever since. It is a prominent brand in Maryland and is served throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. The traditional 80-proof, 3-year-old Pikesville Rye will remain in production and will continue to be distributed in Maryland.

About Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey: Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey is a 6-year-old, 110-proof super-premium spirit that salutes a historic Maryland mark dating back to 1895. It is distilled by Heaven Hill Brands at the company’s historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville and aged in its premier rickhouses in Bardstown, Ky. Co-Master Distiller Denny Potter carefully selected each extra-aged barrel and determined the spirit’s ideal proof level. With its mashbill of at least 51 percent rye, with corn and malted barley as the “small” grains, Pikesville Rye embraces the tradition of American Straight Rye Whiskey that set the stage for Rye’s current renaissance. For more information, please visit www.pikesvillerye.com.

About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, Ky.-based Heaven Hill Brands is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey. For more information, please visit www.heavenhill.com.

Tomatin 36 Year Old Batch 1

Batch 1 of this 36 year old Highland whisky has been created using a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. 800 bottles have been produced, each bottle is individually numbered and comes with it’s own certificate…

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