This week Joe Ellis reviews The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Single Malt.

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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s once members-only venue at 28 Queen Street in capital to permanently open to public 

Once accessible to members only, the spectacular treasure trove of whiskies at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s venue at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh will now be permanently open to everyone.

The elegant Georgian townhouse in the capital’s New Town is home to the UK’s largest collection of single cask whiskies and will now be a must-visit destination for local whisky fans, and visiting spirits enthusiasts from all over the world.

The Society is an award-winning whisky bottler and international membership club which each month releases more than 20 single cask whiskies. Since it was founded in 1983 in Edinburgh, it has bottled whisky from more than 130 different distilleries in Scotland and around the world, in addition to other spirits such as rum and Bourbon.

Opening 28 Queen Street to all: 

The 28 Queen Street venue has previously been open to non-members on a temporary trial basis – these trials proved so successful that it will now be permanently open for everyone to discover the largest collection of single malt whisky in the UK. Non members will now be able to use the bar and sample exclusive drams – though only members can buy bottles of Society whisky.

The Society’s other venue in Edinburgh, The Vaults in Leith, will continue to operate as a members-only venue – as will its venue in London at 19 Greville Street in Farringdon.

28 Queen Street, which first opened in May 2004, is a an elegant Georgian townhouse spread across 4 floors – it comprises of:

• A whisky bar on the first floor with an unrivalled selection of malts
• The Dining Room restaurant on the ground floor
• Event and meeting spaces on the second and third floors

Paul Miles, Managing Director of The Society, said: “Members have already discovered the joys of the Society and opening 28 Queen Street permanently for everyone is a great opportunity for others to enjoy the unrivalled array of whisky we have on offer.”

“These are very exciting times for the whisky industry and the Society. With exceptional new whiskies and other spirits released monthly, there has never been a better time to visit 28 Queen Street or join the Society.”

Opening plans – 12 Tub Cinema Club:

The Society is celebrating opening its 28 Queen Street venue to all by staging the 12 Tub Cinema Club, a series of intimate film screenings served with a range of 12 specially created whisky ice creams, called ‘Ice Dream Drams’.

Each of the classic films showing at the 12 Tub Cinema Club from Friday 19^th June to Saturday 11 July will have a whisky link, such as The Angels’ Share and Whisky Galore. Guests can take their pick from the Society’s menu of ‘Ice Dream Drams’, 12 flavours of whisky ice cream created in collaboration with renowned Edinburgh ice cream makers, S Luca.

The ice creams reflect the Society’s flavour-based approach to whisky. The Society categorises its whiskies by flavour, rather than by conventional whisky regions, using 12 unique whisky flavour profiles such as Oily & Coastal; Spicy & Sweet; and Young & Spritely. The ice creams include:

• Maple Bacon Crunch – sweet syrup and smoky bacon flavours combined with Peated whisky
• Banana-Dram-A – banana and marshmallow ice cream made with a Sweet, Fruity and Mellow whisky

http://www.smws.co.uk/ 

The 12 Tub Cinema Club will run from Friday 19 July – Sat 11 July at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JX

http://www.smws.co.uk/12tubcinemaclub   

Tickets £5 includes film plus 1 serving of whisky ice cream and whisky

Photo Credit Phil Wilkinson

JUNE UPDATE: JOIN US FOR A SOLSTICE SUNDOWNER

The sunshine is finally here and we’re making the most of it! Teaming up with the Whisky Lounge for the third year, we’ve moved our Edinburgh Whisky Festival from spring to summer and indoors to outdoors so you can sample when the city is at its glorious best. Explore great whisky and our cool new adventure in whisky ice cream (#IceDreamDrams) in the idyllic setting of Queen Street Gardens on the longest day of the year. OK, technically the second longest – but as the sun starts to set, with heavenly whisky and rocking blues – who’s counting the seconds? Scroll down for tickets to the evening live music session and the last few drops of the June Outturn…

ICE DREAM DRAMS

Spicy & sweet

Cask No. 121.78  Dinner time!  £49.20
Devilishly good when your matching ice cream has a naughty chilli, chocolate kick

Spicy & dry

Cask No. 41.65 Sweet couscous with Argan oil £146.20
Pair with Jamaican ginger cake ice cream and enjoy a gingery bite

Heavily peated

Cask No. 53.220 Flirting with Florence Nightingale £66.80
Lavender and parma violet ice cream will lift this great big lip-smacker

Old & dignified

Cask No. 7.117  Mouth-coating, viscous and weighty £101.60

Complement the sophisticated layers of flavour with white chocolate ice cream

Juicy, oak & vanilla

Cask No. 64.61  The Angel and the Devil £47.10
Tease the tongue and serve with coconut snowball ice cream

Sweet, fruity & mellow

Cask No. 30.85 Citric and sweet duality £77.60

Take things slow and easy with banana & marshmallow ice cream to match

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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

www.festiwalwhisky.pl

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
For all the hours your father has given you,  give him something back.

Springbank 21 Year Old Lombard Jewels of Scotland Bottling Single Malt Scotch

Springbank 21 Year Old Lombard Jewels of Scotland Bottling Single Malt Scotch. The whisky shows a polished golden color, with apples, bananas, tropical fruit, pie crust, sandalwood and a touch of brine on the nose. The palate really opens up the tropical fruit – mangos – a rich oily texture, and a little bit more smoke than you typically get from Springbank, not at all a bad thing. It finishes up with more smoke, brazil nuts, and tropical fruits. A truly lovely and mouth coating whisky. D&M Tasting Notes

This is a cask that we choose from the independent bottler, Lombard Jewels of Scotland. It was distilled July 8,1991 and bottled for us June 20 2013. Bottled at cask strength 49.7% ABV from a Bourbon Hogshead yielding only 263 bottles.

Aged in a bourbon hogshead, allowing the distillery character to shine through. Fresh, lively and inviting (especially for its age), with a complex array of tropical and summer fruit, peppered with brine, vanilla, and a hint of baker’s chocolate. An oily texture adds weight. Dry, deliciously appetizing finish. An excellent aperitif whisky, but enjoyable anytime.

(D & M Wines and Liquors exclusive.)

91 Points Whisky Advocate, (Vol 22,#4) Reviewed by:John Hansell $314.99

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #112

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries a Ledaig. Did you know that the Tobermory Distillery was named the Ledaig Distillery until 1979? Nowadays both malts are bottled at 46,3%, thus making chill filtration redundant, but I tried an older bottling with no age statement at 42%. Very quaffable, but far from complex.

http://youtu.be/RMV5_JP0O40

INAUGURAL 1792 SWEET WHEAT BOURBON WHISKEY UNVEILED 

More limited edition bourbons expected from Barton 1792 Distillery  

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (June 10, 2015) – Barton 1792 Distillery will soon debut the first ever new 1792 whiskey expression, entitled 1792 Sweet Wheat.  Distilled back in 2007, the recipe features wheat as the secondary grain, rather than traditional rye. “Using wheat instead of rye gives the taste profile a softer and more delicate flavor,” said Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance. “The soft flavor is balanced by rich oak tannins extracted by the bourbon while aging in the charred oak barrels.”

            Distilled, aged, and bottled at Barton 1792 Distillery, this wheated bourbon delivers a markedly distinct flavor profile.  Made with a recipe of corn, wheat, and malted barley and a yeast strain specific to Barton 1792 Distillery, this new expression was aged for eight years in the warehouses in Bardstown. Hints of caramel, vanilla, and ripe fruit mingle with notes of deep oak tannins and tobacco. The elegant taste is followed by a clean, pleasing finish and unmistakable character.

            1792 Sweet Wheat was bottled at 91.2 proof. Bottles are expected to hit stores this summer at the suggested retail price of $32.99.  Furthermore, the Distillery plans to release more new expressions of 1792 over the next few years. “We have some remarkable whiskies aging in Bardstown,” said marketing director Kris Comstock. “We’re excited to unveil them over the next several years.”

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands of Kentucky, with facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent Best of Category winner at the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit http://www.1792bourbon.com/.

This month J. & G. Grant introduce the new £511.19s.0d Family Reserve to celebrate the 150th anniversary of family ownership of the Glenfarclas distillery. On the 8th of June 1865, John Grant, 1st generation of the Grant family, bought the distillery for £511.19s.0d. His grandsons, John and George, later formed the company J. & G. Grant and to this day it remains an independent business and firmly in the hands of the family’s 5th & 6th generation.

The £511.19s.0d Family Reserve, a non-chill filtered bottling at 43%, is a vatting of predominantly first fill sherry butts which proudly embodies the distillery’s sherry profile, bringing together all the character of this great spirit across the generations. Sweet and rich sherry, like a toffee syrup over a freshly toasted French baguette, the nose promises fresh fruit smothered in heather honey, ending almost like a sweet port. Then a dry yet sweet taste, a lovely balance of fruit, light nuttiness and milk chocolate develop, followed by a very palatable long and easy finish. A copy of the original bill of sale is included with each bottle along with a note from George Grant explaining the significance of the £511.19s.0d Family Reserve to the Grant family tradition.

Putting this family achievement into perspective, the time and dedication taken by the Grant’s to create a consistently high quality whisky for well over a century should not be underestimated. Within an industry where economic booms and recessions are omnipresent, the art of balancing and anticipating the worldwide demand for whisky is no easy feat. Yet the Grants pushed on through the changing landscape of the whisky industry, as more and more distilleries were bought over by international conglomerates, as drinks portfolios expanded and aged single malt took to the fore. Over the years they have witnessed an entire transformation of distillery ownership across Scotland, resisting company proposals for the purchase of their very own distillery and choosing instead to be governed by no one other than themselves.

To mark this historic occasion today at the distillery, John and George Grant filled 10 sherry butts and 10 sherry hogshead casks to lay down for the future generations. “The beauty of independence is that we have total control over the quality and character of our whisky, and with this control we can personally choose what we want the brand to represent”, says George Grant, 6th generation of the family. Today with only a handful of independent distillers left, J. & G. Grant have stood the test of time and with the release of this special edition £511.19s.0d Family Reserve, what better way to raise a glass to their history and Glenfarclas single malt whisky.

Glenfarclas
Email: info@glenfarclas.co.uk
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glenfarclas/
Tel: +44 (0) 1807 500257
Fax: +44 (0) 1807 500234
Address: Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire AB37 9BD, UK

1995 Craigellachie 18 Year Old Hepburn’s Choice K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)

It wouldn’t be a whisky season without some big rich sherried malt to round out the selection. Craigellachie is becoming a serious force now that the owners have finally decided it should be marketed as a single malt. This exceptional distillery was almost exclusively reserved for the blends until very recently, but the heightened profile means that procuring more in the future might become more difficult. That’s why we knew we had to jump on this spectacular sherried ‘llachie. This has everything you want in a sherried malt and nothing that you don’t. It starts with a slight flintiness (don’t worry it’s not sulfur, just a spark on the front), this quickly blows off to reveal a magnificent bouquet of dried cherries, fudgy cacao nibs, roasted coffee beans, and freshly polished sandalwood. The dark aromas translate well to the palate, but never go bitter and the malty spirit adds lift and sweetness. Here is a truly balanced sherried malt like none other on the shelf right now. Sure we all sometimes love a big hammer of sherry right in your sensory organs, but sometimes you want the sweet velvety caress of that special wine from Jerez. Balanced, yet not lacking depth or power in anyway.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 06, 2015

For fans of sherry-aged single malts the Craigellachie 18 is an absolute bargain. It is mouth-filling, with rich and round flavors. In my tasting notes I wrote “Wow.” For fans of Macallan 18 who want to branch out and try a similar yet different whisky.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 25, 2015

This massive cask is definitely one of my favorites from this year. Craigellachie is a wonderful and under-appreciated distillery that’s only now getting recognition as a true Scottish Blue Chip. Its OB 17-year offering has recently won Speyside whisky of the year and this 18-year-old first-fill sherry version is another example of why the distillery is so well regarded by those in the know. Here we have some really classic sherry aromas, some fudge, wisps of gun smoke, dark dried plummy fruit. The palate dries up nicely (this is definitely Oloroso, not PX), but still brings out some Christmas cake and other dense fruity/spicy aromas. A real winner and an absolute steal considering where other malts in first-fill sherry are fetching these days.

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

For those who enjoyed the sherry casks we once were able to secure from Glendronach, this is our current replacement–and it’s far less expensive. Lovely richness, cakebread and spice, good weight on the palate. It’s a solid 18 year old sherry-aged whisky for an outstanding price.

NEW ARRIVALS

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 750ml (ships as a 1.5L) – 12 available ($24.99)

• Jefferson’s Groth Cabernet Matured Small Batch Bourbon 750ml – 12 available ($79.99)

BACK IN STOCK

Japan – Single Malt Scotch

• Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Peated Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $70) – 1 available ($59.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1 Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Previously $200) – 3 available ($149.99)

• Laphroaig “Triple Wood” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($69.99)

• Longrow 11 Year Old “Red” Port Matured Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 10 available ($99.99)

• Springbank 21 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($449.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Angel’s Envy 100 Proof Rye Whiskey 750ml (one bottle limit) ($67.99)

• Bowman Bros Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon 750ml (Elsewhere $40) – 11 available ($29.99)

• Johnny Drum Private Stock 101 proof Bourbon 750ml – 11 available ($39.99)

• Noah’s Mill Bourbon 750ml – 9 available ($54.99)

• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($39.99)

• Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Colorado Whiskey 750ml (1 bottle limit) – 10 available ($74.99)

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