MEET THE MAKER EVENT

We have a special meet the maker event in London on July 6th 3-6PM when you lucky people can come in and try a dram or two of Paul John. It’s an open house event in the main area of the store so come along anytime between 3PM & 6PM. I can tell you this is a real eyeopener of a tasting that will open minds and hearts to some amazing drams and even better you get to meet the man behind the dram.

HAPPY DAYS – AFTER THE MADNESS

Is it all over? Have they stopped all the talking shouting and spin over the referendum?! If the answer is yes then I think we all need a dram to take the edge off the most damaging period in our history for some decades now!

This is the start of a big summer with new single malts and single grains coming from Cadenhead’s Small Batch range.

Our main focus for this season’s first major release is all about smooth rich single malts with some truly amazing single grains that will blow you away for the smoothness and complexity they deliver across the palate.

So with-out further delay lets get to the big news and a bit of a distillery focus for a few of the new range. I think I am tempted to start off with a rather impressive 11 year old.

Dailuaine 11 year old 46% Vol Sherry Cask June 2016.

Dailuaine 11 year old 46% Vol Sherry Cask June 2016. This distillery has been a firm favourite with our London Store, This great value dram will prove why it’s one of our top malts.

Dailuaine distillery established in 1852 by William Mackenzie after William passed 1865 his widow leased the distillery to a banker from Aberlour Mr James Fleming. In 1879 Williams son joins forces with Mr Fleming to form Mackenzie & Company with Mr Fleming. After a huge rebuilding of the distillery takes place in 1884 Dailuaine became one of the largest and highly productive distilleries in the Highland’s (Speyside) region. This distillery was also the first to install the now famous Pagoda roof shape in 1889.

The distillery has operated constantly since it was established apart from a fire in 1917, damage was extensive leading to a 3 year closure until it reopened in 1920. Its capacity is over 3.3 million litres. This 11 year old sherry cask is a stunning dram so full of rich flavours it’s going to be hard to put it down. I would caution self restraint as this is an incredibly limited vintage small batch release.

Now lets look at Glendullan (Speyside)

I am a huge fan of this distillery, our new 19 year old is going to be a fast mover so sit back and enjoy if you manage to grab a bottle.

The distillery established in 1897 had the honour of being the favourite dram of Edward VII. Normally when this 24 June 2016 happens distilleries would normally add the word ROYAL to the brand name Glendullan obviously avoided this path of rebranding.

If you come across the distillery while in the Dufftown area you might be forgiven for thinking it’s a more recent distillery with it’s 1960s look after it was rebuilt back then it seems the idea of keeping its original look was not an option! While the distillery looks somewhat blockish and some say austere the malt it produces is outstanding.

This new 19 year old small batch is delivering across the palate, rich rounded and in my book anyway superb. For more detail notes we have made in London see the web shop.

ABERLOUR 25 1990 This is a rich dram that’s going to be a huge hit in London for sure.

AUCHENTOSHAN 17 1999 A delightful smooth dram with the most elegant taste profile you would ever want from a lowland dram.

BLAIR ATHOL 23 1997 Step back in time to better days with this dram that’s delivering across the palate, another top malt in London no doubt about it.

CREATIONS 23 1992 BATCH 2 Summer in a bottle that goes on and on with rich smooth complexity.

CALEDONIAN 28 1987 RARE SINGLE CASK GRAIN If you like the rare and unusual then this is for you. Its a summer time dream with popcorn and vanilla, creamy chocolate notes, all the aromas of a school tuck shop full of sweets. AMAZING dram that i am more than happy to recommend.

DAILUAINE 11 2004 46% Sherry bomb that explodes with richness from the nose to the finish very limited availability

GLENDULLAN 19 1996 A sit back and relax dram thats rich and mouth coating. Some drams just have to be in a collection.

GLEN GRANT 23 1992 Old style Glen Grant that’s going into my top malts of the month. You guys don’t have to buy this because I will given the chance! It’s delivering old style richness and fruit notes with hints of spice and apple.

GLEN SPEY 14 2001 46% A vanilla and cream dram that will be perfect for those who want a rare dram at a good price for a more thoughtful gift idea. The palate is rich smooth and long well worth having on a warm summer Sunday after dinner.

NORTH BRITISH 31 1985 A single grain that seems to think its a malt! Delicious rich and elegant with creamy marshmallows to tropical fruits across the whole palate. This dram proves age does matter when we seek a more elegant dram.

SPEYSIDE 24 1991 Another great dram from one of my personal favourite distilleries thats constantly delivering on taste and quality. This dram is a bigger one than the last Authentic collection with fruity notes on the nose along with salted butter, the palate has apples and caramel liquor notes with the finish toffee and cherry.

So that’s it for this week as we settle down with this collection expect news of more vintages to arrive soon. If you are use to the web shop check the news section over the next few weeks as we release some truly limited editions onto the site, I could send endless newsletters to clog up in-boxes but that will bore you all as much as an MP prattling on about what they have not planned following the referendum!

Some of the lines will be as few as 6 bottles so be quick if you see it arrive on the web shop they are all one time only drams.

I will send a new newsletter for the new ranges from Springbank and the new Authentic collection due out soon and of course the big one of the season Kilkerran 12 year old with a special event planned across the company.

So finally what has changed since June 23rd? At the moment very little apart from the arrangements we had set in place to ship internationally sadly we will now have to start all over again as i am sure you will understand any contracts set in place and prices need to enable us to continue beyond the removal of the UK from the E.U

For our E.U customers and friends you can still buy more than 1 bottle per order no limits are in place if this changes in the future we will let you know.

All bottles purchased and on hold in our holding room are not effected and we have no intention of removing those now rare bottles from your collections we will honour all our customers purchases.

It’s been a very difficult time since the shock result last week, we understand concerns from our customers who have contacted us over the last few days but please be assured we have planned as far ahead as we possibly can and as of now NOTHING has changed in anyway.

So until the next newsletter Keep your head high and carry on!

Stephen W