MARCH OUTTURN: SPRING ZING 

The release of this month’s Outturn means we can officially wave goodbye to those winter blues as we say ‘hello’ to spring. March Outturn brings a rainbow of fresh casks that zing with flavour, leaving us bursting with optimism and putting a bounce back in our step.

With so much choice, we know selecting your favourite Society whiskies can be a little overwhelming. Our Ambassador Phoebe Brookes lends a helping hand, previewing a selection of whiskies and making her recommendations. For a taster of this month’s Outturn, visit smws.com/blog

Spicy & sweet

50.76 Booze up in a bakery £137.50 

39.121 Pink Peppercorn £71.70

95.20 Glazed cocktail sausages £67.00 

36.95 The joy of jelly*  Exclusive to March offers  MORE >

44.72 Slightly wicked sweet treats £46.70

Spicy & dry

48.70 Divas Do Disco! £48.10

71.42 Sinbad preparing for a journey £59.90

Old & dignified

41.70 C’est Magnifique!  An amazing myriad of aromas to be explored is followed by sesame Teriyaki chicken and vegetable Tempura. Water transported us to a yacht off the South of France…  Cask: 2nd fill ex-Sauternes hogshead £332.00

9.104 Lychee martini £129.90

Light & delicate

1.199 The whole is greater than…  £82.10

Juicy, oak & vanilla

5.49 Lady of the night £67.30 

Lightly peated

42.18 Purple Relaxation £58.10

Heavily peated

53.233 Fireman’s gloves on a mermaid £92.20

Browse Current 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

Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1981 Signatory

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$229.98

Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1981 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask sherry hogshead #9463 bottled April 2015 by Signatory Vintage for the Cask Strength range. 156 numbered bottles. Glenlivet Distillery was established in 1824 and following expansion in 2010 is now equipped with fourteen stills making it one of the largest malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. Glenlivet Distillery is situated in Scotland’s Speyside whisky region near the River Livet and has a visitor centre which offers distillery tours with the opportunity to sample Glenlivet single malt whiskies. Glenlivet also participates in the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

OUR AUCTION ENDS TODAY!

Our latest auction at whisky.auction will end today (Tuesday 8 March) from 7.30pm GMT. There are some great bottles still sitting at good prices, so take a look at our selection and don’t miss your chance to place your bids before it is too late. We also have many miniatures – a great opportunity to try some rare whiskies at very good prices.

Get bidding, and good luck!

The Whisky Auction team.

Full steam ahead for new special edition whisky from Speyside Distillery celebrating the return of the iconic Flying Scotsman

Speyside Distillery has produced a brand new special edition whisky to mark the return of the iconic Flying Scotsman steam locomotive to the National Railway Museum following a major restoration.

The commemorative bottle of the distillery’s Beinn Dubh ruby black whisky has been produced under licence for the museum, which welcomes back its most famous – and best loved – exhibit today (Thursday, February 25) after a decade-long absence.

Speyside Distillery, which is based at the foot of the Cairngorm mountain range in the Scottish Highlands, was selected to produce the Flying Scotsman Beinn Dubh single malt Scotch whisky because of its track record working with other historic brands.

The small, boutique distillery also produces the luxurious Royal Choice single malt under its SPEY brand. The expression is sold through the Historic Royal Palaces – a portfolio that includes the Tower of London, Kew Palace and Kensington Palace.

Speyside Distillery CEO John Harvey McDonough says the distillery’s partnership with Flying Scotsman is the perfect match as both represent heritage, tradition and innovation.

He adds, “I don’t think there could be a better whisky to sum up everything that Flying Scotsman stands for. Just as the locomotive was a pioneer of its day and continues to set new records, Speyside Distillery is marrying traditional distilling techniques with innovative ideas.

“We are extremely grateful to have been selected by the Flying Scotsman to develop its own brand single malt Scotch whisky, and it will be a huge honour for us to see Beinn Dubh Flying Scotsman hit the shelves in a couple of weeks.

“We hope that rail enthusiasts and people who love this world-famous locomotive will celebrate its long-awaited return to the National Railway Museum by raising a toast of this very special whisky.”

Flying Scotsman – arguably the best known train in the world – shot to fame after becoming the first steam locomotive to break the 100mph barrier in 1934 during a run from London to Leeds.

The locomotive returns to the National Railway Museum in York today following a £4.2m restoration – and as a working exhibit sets a new record for the oldest mainline working locomotive on Britain’s railway tracks.

To celebrate its return, Flying Scotsman today makes an inaugural run on the East Coast Mainline between London Kings Cross and York, before returning home to the museum where a huge crowd of well-wishers is expected to gather.

Paul Kirkman, Director of the National Railway Museum, says, “We have all been looking forward to the day when Flying Scotsman steams home to York along the East Coast Mainline and now this historic moment has finally come to pass.

“This celebratory journey marks a new stage in this steam icon’s long and colourful history, and is a tribute to all the people who have worked so hard to make this happen, from those that have worked on the restoration itself to the public that donated to our appeal to bring this legend back to life.”

Beinn Dubh is an innovative release from Speyside Distillery. The distinctive ruby-black whisky was launched into the market last year, and is already proving a hit with whisky lovers across Europe and the Far East.

Beinn Dubh is another name often given to Ben Macdui – the highest peak in the Cairngorm mountain range. It translates from Gaelic language as the black mountain, and refers to its dark and mysterious atmosphere.

Beinn Dubh’s taste is deep and dark: rich fruits, currants and chocolate dominate at first, but these gradually give way to both bitterness and sweetness. Beinn Dubh Flying Scotsman is 40% ABV and has an RRP of £50.

It will be available to buy from the National Railway Museum retail outlets. Speyside Distillery will also be putting the commemorative bottle on general release, with distributors receiving a limited allocation of the stock.

Speyside Distillery near Kingussie has been in production since 1990 and is operated by Speyside Distillers Ltd. For further information about Beinn Dubh, visit http://www.beinndubh.com/.

Ends

Picture caption: The new Beinn Dubh Flying Scotsman has been produced by Speyside Distillery to commemorate the return of the historic locomotive to the National Railway Museum in York.

Lagavulin 200th anniversary – new 8 Year Old whisky

There aren’t many distilleries that have universal appeal. Some people adore rich, sherried whiskies; other people despise them. Some love lean, medicinal styles; others run a mile. But there is one whisky distillery that gets praise from all quarters: Lagavulin.

Lagavulin distillery, as viewed from Lagavulin Bay

Part of the big-hitting trio of distilleries on Islay’s southern coast, Lagavulin celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, and is about to launch a special limited-edition bottling: Lagavulin 8 Year Old. This new bottling honours the work of whisky writer Alfred Barnard, who visited Lagavulin in the 1880s: ‘No prettier or more romantic spot could have been chosen for a distillery,’ he said, describing an eight-year-old whisky he tried there as ‘exceptionally fine’.

We were lucky enough to try a sneak preview of the whisky before it goes on sale in a few weeks’ time – and it didn’t disappoint. Lagavulin’s distillery manager Georgie Crawford told us: ‘I grew up in a pub in Port Ellen, and I was always of the opinion that Lagavulin was the premium single malt. When I started out, I wanted to be able to drink Lagavulin, but I had this perception that it was too powerful and smoky, so I started with Rosebank, then went on to Mortlach and Dailuaine.

Georgie Crawford, Lagavulin’s distillery manager, with Jock

‘With this new 8 Year Old, we were trying to create something as a tribute to Alfred Barnard, and I think the team has absolutely knocked it out of the park. It doesn’t have the big bite of the 12 Year Old; it’s more refined. I find it challenging and serene at the same time. It’s incredibly smooth for an eight year old, but it has that robust character.’

So, how does it taste? This is what I thought:

LAGAVULIN 8 YEAR OLD, 48% ABV

Nose: Cracked black pepper and aromatic woodsmoke at first, then fresh notes of orange and lemon peel. Appealing aromas of bonfires, hot shells and a touch of smoked meat. A little water brings out aromas of peach and green apple.

Palate: More woodsmoke, plus crunchy oatmeal and honeyed fruit. Rich mouthfeel, with notes of tobacco, bonfire embers and a peppery, spicy note.

Finish: The soft peat and characterful woodsmoke lingers for a long time.

Comment: Classy and complex, this has less fruit than the regular 16 Year Old, but adds a delicious extra layer of smoke and bite.

This special bottling of Lagavulin 8 Year Old will be available to buy from The Whisky Exchange in a few weeks’ time, and we’ll be getting plenty of it, so do not worry. The price is not confirmed yet, but we expect it to be around £5 cheaper than the 16 Year Old.

EARLY MARCH TASTINGS

Glenturret, Macallan & Highland Park – The Vaults, Mon 7 Mar  More >

Scotland V. France Warm-Up – 28 Queen St, Sat 13 Mar  More >

Chocolate & Whisky Pairing – The Vaults, Fri 18 Mar  More >

Cheltenham Preview Tasting – Jury’s Inn, Fri 18 Mar  More >

Dundee Preview Tasting – Malmaison, Fri 18 Mar  More >

Inverness Preview Tasting – Kingsmills Hotel, Fri 18 Mar  More >

Leeds Preview Tasting – Malmaison, Fri 18 Mar  More >

Tunbridge Wells Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Fri 18 Mar  More >

FREE EVENTS AT THE VAULTS

Poker Night – Tue 8 Mar   More >

6 Nations on the Big Screen – Next match Sun 13 Mar   More >

Peat Lovers’ Night – Tue 15 Mar   More >

Browse All Events & Tastings >

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

Garnheath 41 Year Old 1974 Carn Mor

Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky

$564.34

Garnheath 41 Year Old 1974 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whiskey. Distilled at the Moffat distilling complex in Airdrie which closed in 1986. Matured in a single cask bourbon barrel ##313235 bottled June 2015 by Càrn Mòr for the Celebration Of The Cask series. 144 numbered bottles. Garnheath was a grain distillery founded in 1964, with distillation commencing in February 1965. The Garnheath Distillery was closed and demolished by Inver House Distillers Limited in July 1986.

Bid on our old and rare bottles! Macallan 1940 is leading the auction with Karuizawa 1981 and Laphroaig 40 Years Old following. The selection of bottles is strong across all categories. This month, we also have a fine selection of limited-edition bottlings from The English Whisky Co, as well as a good number of old blended whiskies and a tempting selection of miniatures.

SEE OUR CURRENT AUCTION

Get bidding, and good luck! The Whisky Auction team.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES

COLONEL E. H. TAYLOR, JR.  SEASONED WOOD BOURBON WHISKEY 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 29, 2016) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release bourbon whiskey aged in seasoned wood oak barrels.  This 100 proof, Bottled-In-Bond, small batch wheat recipe bourbon was aged well over a decade and is a special one-time-only release.

            The barrels in this release underwent a variety of special seasoning processes,   including barrels made from staves that were immersed in an enzyme rich bath with water heated to 100 degrees.  After spending time in this proprietary solution, these staves were then placed into kilns and dried until they reached an ideal humidity level for crafting into barrels.  Other staves were seasoned outdoors for six months, and still others were left outdoors for a full 12 months before being made into barrels and sent to Buffalo Trace Distillery to be filled and aged.  All barrel staves were seasoned, dried, and crafted at Independent Stave Company, who consulted on this project with the premiere expert on oak maturation, Dr. James Swan.

            The result of aging in these distinct barrels has delivered a wheat bourbon that is quite different from the other wheated bourbons made by Buffalo Trace. Descriptions include, “a delicate aroma of caramel and dried fruit, followed by a bright and pleasant first sip.  Oak tannins are balanced by a touch of butterscotch, almond, citrus notes, and hint of spicy clove. The body is soft and balanced with an aftertaste that lingers perfectly.”

This Seasoned Wood Bourbon is the eighth and latest release in the collection of  E. H. Taylor, Jr. whiskeys, rounding out the collection of Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon, Single Barrel Bourbon, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Barrel Proof Bourbon, Straight Rye Whiskey, Small Batch Bourbon and Cured Oak Bourbon. The Sour Mash, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon and Cured Oak were one time only releases and are no longer available.

The Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection was first released in early 2011 and several subsequent releases have followed.  Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling is very limited.   Also consistent with past releases, the Seasoned Wood Bourbon displays a vintage label and is offered inside a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago. These six bottle cases will again be shipped in an impressive wooden box first used for the Cured Oak release.  The boxes are modeled after the wooden crates used by Taylor to transport goods during the days before Prohibition.

            Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.  is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the distillery that is known today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

            This special bottling of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Seasoned Wood Bourbon Whiskey will be available starting in late March in limited supply.  The suggested retail price is $69.99 per 750ml bottle.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

The Sazerac Company Completes Purchase of Southern Comfort,

Makes Plans for the Future  

Louisville, Kentucky (March 1, 2016) – An iconic American brand and long-time staple of New Orleans is finally coming back to its roots with Sazerac’s acquisition of Southern Comfort brand.  The parallels between Southern Comfort and the New Orleans-based Sazerac Company run deep.  M. W. Heron, the creator of Southern Comfort, was born in 1850. The Sazerac Cocktail was created in New Orleans in 1850. As the Sazerac Company was expanding its roots in New Orleans in the 1870s, Heron was introducing his Cuffs & Buttons brand – the precursor to today’s Southern Comfort – in 1874 as a “smoother, more refined whiskey,” while tending bar in the Crescent City.

Now, the Sazerac Company is thrilled to bring the brand back to its deep Southern roots and plans to restore the New Orleans connection in its branding and on its packaging worldwide.

“When the brand came up for sale, we knew it would be a perfect addition to our portfolio,” said Kevin Richards, senior marketing director.  “Not only does the brand tie perfectly with our heritage, it’s a wonderful complement to many of our other New Orleans rooted brands.  We’re looking forward to positioning iconic Southern Comfort for its next 140 years.”

Sazerac will be developing its comprehensive global strategy for Southern Comfort in the coming months, including evaluating the current assortment of Southern Comfort product offerings and packaging before making determinations about any specific changes or new additions.  Today the brand sells in well over 100 countries and is one of the world’s top selling global spirits brands.

“We’re very excited about Southern Comfort’s rich history and the indelible role it has played in American society for over a century.  It’s one of the great American classics and will be exciting to nurture moving forward,” said Richards.

About the Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest American family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Lewiston, Maine; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Montreal Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit http://www.sazerac.com/.