Five IWSC gold medals for Highland Distillery

Glenmorangie has been honoured with five gold medals in a renowned industry competition. Glenmorangie Original, the hallmark expression of the Scottish Highland Distillery’s elegant floral spirit, achieved a prestigious gold award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) alongside four more of Glenmorangie’s innovative whiskies and a limited-edition expression from Ardbeg.

Glenmorangie Original, the backbone of the Distillery’s range, was praised by the competition judges as a “remarkably easy drinking whisky”. They complimented its “delicate nose of poached pear, vanilla and polished gold” and its “wonderfully relaxed palate”. Glenmorangie’s extra-matured range also shone at the awards, with Glenmorangie Lasanta’s finish of “pure Christmas cake and brandy butter” and Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban’s nose of “stewed plums and rich velvet” rewarded with gold medals. Glenmorangie 25 Years Old and Glenmorangie A Midwinter Night’s Dram also won gold at the IWSC.

Meanwhile, Ardbeg, the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt whisky, received a gold medal for Ardbeg Dark Cove – the Distillery’s 2016 limited edition. For the judges, the expression conjured up a succulent vision of “eating jam roly-poly on a field…in the late autumn heat, with a peat fire…in the background.”

Now in its 47th year, the IWSC receives entries from almost 90 countries worldwide and is renowned for rewarding excellence and recognising quality. Its distinguished judging panel includes master blenders, whisky writers and wine and spirits buyers from across the industry.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, said: “Glenmorangie has been distilled in the same uncompromising way since 1843 – and these gold medals are a testament to the Distillery’s pioneering spirit and long tradition of excellence. We are delighted that the floral elegance of Glenmorangie Original, the backbone of all our whiskies, has achieved recognition once more, alongside a further four of Glenmorangie’s exceptional expressions. We are, of course, equally proud of the accolade awarded to Ardbeg Dark Cove.”

Ewan Lacey, managing director of the IWSC said: “2016 has been a bumper year for the IWSC, where we saw a 17% increase in spirit entries, but fewer gold medals than previous years. This demonstrates what an amazing achievement has been made by The Glenmorangie Company, which has scooped five gold medals for Glenmorangie – and a total of six overall.”

AUGUST AUCTION NOW LIVE
…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

EASY REGISTRATION
Sate of the art online bidding platform

 BID NOW

 An excellent selection of whiskies; to drink, collect or invest

 HIGHEST BIDDER? GET IT FAST

 Immediate shipping worldwide

COMPETITIVE

The lowest whisky auctioneer commission found online

This week we have some great local drams from the distillery down the road. Springbank is Campbeltown’s oldest working distillery and, as the nearest distillery to our shop here on the shores of Loch Fyne, it’s our favourite. In 2004, Springbank owners J&A Mitchell re-opened the long silent Glengyle distillery and after 12 long years the first core expression has finally been released. The Kilkerran 12 Year Old is a lightly peated, double distilled Single Malt that is well worth the wait!

Kilkerran
12 Year Old

Springbank
12 Year Old
Cask Strength

Springbank
18 Year Old

After an exciting start to Whisky Season 2016, we’re back with a few more deals to tell you about. We’ve got a few new barrels of American whiskey that just arrived as well as a shocking end of summer deal that we hope will bring some serious value to your late August cocktails. Let’s not waste any time beating around the bush:

Colorado Whiskey K&L Exclusive

After years out of the market, Stranahan’s is back in a big way. In 2010, Stranahan’s began limiting sales severely to accommodate a distillery expansion and build stocks up from their initial popular release. Now, it’s started to reappear and to great acclaim. First the standard whiskey was released and then late last year their four year old Diamond Peak offering was released. We were excited to find out that they’d started a barrel program and when samples came through we drooled over the quality and complexity. Now, that cask is finally here and drinking better than ever.

Stranahan’s K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Single Malt Whiskey – $54.99 The exceptional Stranahan Colorado Whiskey is one of the original craft distillers. Founded in Denver CO in 2004 by Flying Dog Brewery owner George Stranahan and local firefighter Jess Garber after a fateful meeting at a barn fire, the small production single malt has become a favorite of locals and connoisseurs alike. The whisky is distilled from 100% malted barley and aged in new charred American oak. The dry high altitude climate, cold winters and warm summers create the perfect environment for slow aging malt whiskey. When we were offered a single cask of this special whiskey we jumped on the opportunity. The standard release is uses a base of 2 year with smaller portions of 3 and 5 year whiskey to round out the flavor, but this single barrel was aged a full four years before bottling. The result is something very close to their high-end Diamond Peak offering for a fraction of the price. A big nose of malted grain and sweet caramel cookies. Rich exotic dried fruit and oak spice explode out of the glass after a touch of aeration. On the palate this whiskey is medium bodied without any astringent notes whatsoever. Instead a rich round entry which exhibits dark coffee and sweet oak before transitioning to powerful baking spices on the finish. Altogether one of the best craft whisky we’ve ever seen at any price, but it easily out performs many of it’s competitors at much higher price points.

Speaking of Faultline…

When we ran out of our one-time-only edition of Faultline Blended Scotch a few months back it wasn’t long before I heard the sob stories and the tears. Apparently a number of customers were caught off guard. They thought this whole $25 dollar bottle of preciously-peated Faultline Scotch was going to be a permanent addition to our inventory, not a singular entity that would eventually fade away into the sunset. Unfortunately, I had no other option but to be the bearer of bad news-it was indeed gone forever. Until our importer emailed me last week and said he had found an additional few cases that he had apparently forgotten to deliver. This time I’m going to get out in front of the message: LAST CALL FOR FAULTLINE BLENDED SCOTCH! If this is your baby (like it was ours), then it’s time to load up…

Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky – $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.

A New Single Barrel from Jim Beam

While Beam may have hired Mila Kunis to do its commercials, the distillery won’t need to invest much in marketing if it can continue to offer single barrels like this one to key retail accounts. Our latest selection K&L cask selection from Beam’s gigantic warehouses is a bright, supple, and incredibly balanced Bourbon that brings serious value to the single barrel category. While we know most people prefer the more boutique labels of Booker’s and Basil Hayden, don’t sleep on this guy. It’s pretty freakin’ delicious:

Jim Beam K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #JB5456 Kentucky Bourbon – $34.99 There’s a lovely sweetness that envelopes the sense from the first sip and sways between sweet vanilla and earthy grains all the way across the palate to the finish. It’s not an anomaly by any means; it’s classic Jim Beam. But with the flurry of cinnamon and cloves on the finish and the pleasant presence of sweet charred oak still glowing minutes after you’ve swallowed, this is truly a keeper. A must try for those who have continually overlooked Beam’s namesake label in favor of the “craftier” Booker’s, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden’s.

Laphroaig Lore Arrives!

I’m happy to announce we’ve finally received our initial shipment of Laphroaig Lore-a whiskey we first talked about back in May. It’s been a while since Laphroaig released anything in the $100+ range. It’s been one of the most reliable and price conscientious malts over the past few years, releasing a continuous line of affordable and delicious special edition whiskies like the Cairdeas and limited 15 year old expressions. The Lore is a bit pricier and it uses older whiskies in the mix. It’s a blend of 7 and 21 year old Bourbon casks, 9 year old full-term quarter casks, along with a few sherry and European oak casks for extra flavor. It’s richer, darker, more savory, and far more dense than what’s currently available in the portfolio. And it’s on the shelf now!

Laphroaig “Lore” Islay Single Malt Whisky – $119.99 It stands out from the standard Laphroaig portfolio in a big way. It’s richer, darker, more savory, and far more dense. It tastes like you’re drinking a very old whisky while simultaneously taking a sip of something much younger. Unlike the bright, medicinal peat that explodes off the bat in the 10 year old, the Lore takes you much deeper into the peat bog with more earth, more weight, and more rancio from the sherry influence.

David Driscoll K&L Spirits Buyer

daviddriscoll@klwines.com

650.556.2736

http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com/

Miltonduff 21 Year Old 1994 Cask Strength

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$111.03

Miltonduff 21 Year Old 1994 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask 1st Fill Puncheon #15220 bottled June 2016 by Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength series. Miltonduff Distillery was established by Andrew Peary and Robert Bain in 1824 on the site of an old meal mill which once belonged to Pluscarden Abbey. In 1964 a pair of Lomond stills was installed and operated until 1981 at which time they were sliced and diced and partially incorporated into new pot stills. Whilst the whisky produced from the pot stills at Miltonduff is called Miltonduff the malt whisky produced by the Lomond stills is called Mosstowie. Miltonduff Distillery is a Speyside malt whisky distillery and a contributor to Ballantine’s blends of scotch.

The Macallan brings the triple cask matured Fine Oak Range to South Africa 

The Macallan presents two new expressions to the SA market, Fine Oak 12 and 18, and brings back a favourite; Fine Oak 15

The Macallan, one of the world’s greatest single malt whiskies, will be launching the triple cask matured Fine Oak Range in SA. A firm favourite: Fine Oak 15 will be re-introduced, and two new expressions will also be rolled out over the coming months, Fine Oak 12 and the 18.

The Fine Oak range is triple cask matured in a combination of European oak sherry casks, American oak sherry seasoned casks and American bourbon casks, delivering a more diverse yet subtle style of whisky, whilst maintaining The Macallan’s core DNA which is a focus on sherry seasoned oak casks, natural colour, and rich, fruity full bodied flavours and mouth feel.

To craft Fine Oak, we bring new oak from America across thousands of miles to Spain, where oak casks are crafted and sherry seasoned before traveling to our distillery on Speyside to mature for twelve years. These whiskies are then combined with those aged in the very best sherry seasoned European oak casks and American Bourbon casks. This approach reveals an unmatched investment in time and extraordinary commitment to mastery for which The Macallan has been known since 1824

Bob Dalgarno, Master Whisky Maker explains, “The Macallan Fine Oak requires a distinctive approach to whisky making.  Being created from a triple cask combination, both sherry and bourbon seasoned, we are working with a broader spectrum of character.  The resulting versatile single malt which offers up great flavour diversity.”

The Fine Oak range will sit alongside The Macallan 1824 Masters Series which is available in SA, including Rare Cask, Reflexion, No.6 and M, – which now offers The Macallan fan a wider choice of whiskies from the portfolio.

“The Macallan Fine Oak Range is an extraordinary range of whiskies which bare testament to the incredible wood story of The Macallan, reintroducing this range into the South African market at a time where malt whisky demand and interest is at its highest is an exciting transition for The Macallan brand. This represents our ambition to translate our ultimate luxury spirit positioning and obsession with craft and quality to produce a peerless spirit, in one of the world’s most exciting malt whisky markets” commented Mac Mabidilala, Africa Marketing Manager

Commenting at the launch of The Macallan Fine Oak range, whisky expert Jim Murray said: “The breadth and depth and sophistication of The Macallan Fine Oak range is simply jaw-droppingly good.” 

The Macallan Fine Oak Range is available from selected liquor stores and online retailers (RRP for 12 starts from R599, 15 – R999 and 18 from R2500 (Limited stock))

What makes the Fine Oak Range exceptional?

The American oak casks are crafted from timber sourced in the woodlands of Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri and are logged by third generation woodsmen, who are personally selected by The Macallan’s own Master of Wood. Some of these casks will mature bourbon in humid Kentucky warehouses for three years before the long journey to Scotland whilst others will be transported to Jerez, in Spain, to be filled with sherry.

The addition of American oak bourbon seasoned barrels imparts aromas and flavours slightly drier and more oaky than the American oak sherry casks, with more pronounced aromas and flavours of coconut, but still with the lighter colour and sweetness associated with American oak.

The European oak sherry casks begin life in the dense, sustainable forests of Northern Spain and each cask is handcrafted in the cooperages of Jerez where they are fired to ensure the spirit penetrates deep into the wood. These casks will then be seasoned with sherry for a minimum of two years before being transported to The Macallan Distillery in Speyside for filling with new make spirit. 

The Story of The Macallan 

The Six Pillars are the foundation stones for the fame and character of The Macallan. They encompass the strong sense of place at the heart of the distillery and the estate, together with their long experience of distilling and maturing a single malt whisky with a reputation for product excellence and distinctive character. These, in combination, contribute to the essential character of The Macallan.

• Spiritual Home; Easter Elchies House, built in 1700, lies at the heart of The Macallan estate in an area of great natural beauty and is farmed sensitively, in harmony with the environment. The estate covers 390 acres (158 hectares), of which some 90 acres are sown in the spring with our own exclusive barley variety (Minstrel) to make The Macallan. A single acre will produce nearly two and a half tons of barley, which will yield around 1,800 bottles of The Macallan.
• Curiously Small Stills; The Macallan’s curiously small spirit stills are the smallest on Speyside. Their unique size and shape give the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the ‘new make’ spirit and provide those rich, fruity, full-bodied flavours so characteristic of The Macallan. There are fourteen of these curiously small stills, crafted from copper, each holding an initial ‘charge’ of 3,900 litres.
• Finest Cut; The Macallan takes only 16% of the final distillation from the spirit stills to fill into their oak casks. This is the best of the best and one of the smallest in the industry.
• Exceptional Oak Casks; The Macallan spends more on sourcing, building, seasoning and caring for its casks than any other single malt whisky.
• Natural Colour; the rich range of colours in The Macallan whiskies is drawn only from the wood of their exceptional oak casks
• The Macallan itself; From humble beginnings in 1824, The Macallan has grown from a small local enterprise to global recognition, based on a constant and determined attention to quality – one of the world’s greatest whiskies. 

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars.  An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House at its heart, a Highland Manor built in 1700.

http://www.themacallan.com/

TOP MARK DRAMS: MEMBERS’ HIGHEST ACHIEVERS

Earn a gold star – and a delicious dram – for choosing an excellent whisky, with a little help from your fellow members. See our league table of August’s highest achieving bottlings for inspiration. Love to learn in a team? Lead a flavour-filled group project with one of August’s multi-bottle offers.

No. 1: Juicy, oak & vanilla

48.76 The freshness of citrus!
Age: 11 years
Cask: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Price: £48.20

No. 2: Young & spritely

85.38 Hazelnut Iced Coffee
Age: 11 years
Cask: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Price: £44.70

No. 3: Peated

29.186 Spicy smoky seaweed salad
Age: 16 years
Cask: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Price: £106.20

No. 4: Old & dignified

30.90 Lost in the dessert
Age: 24 years
Cask: Second fill ex-bourbon hogshead
Price: £98.40

No. 5: Spicy & sweet

55.39 No pussycat
Age: 18 years
Cask: Second fill ex-Sauternes hogshead
Price: £69.50

No. 6: Spicy & dry

50.78 Ready…Steady…Bake
Age: 25 years
Cask: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Price £137.50

No. 7: Young & spritely

77.44 Cheerful Childhood memories
Age: 15 years
Cask: Second fill ex-Sauternes hogshead
Price: £60.10

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

With the Japanese whisky boom in full stead, the UK market struggles to get a lot of stock. We have been very fortunate this month to receive the Taketsuru 17yr old and 21yr old. With the classic vanilla and light fruit notes of the Taketsuru these high age statements are more than interesting.

The Milroy Selection Springbank 30 year old.

Springbank is one of our favourite distilleries here at Milroy’s due to their complex flavours that are not commonly found in other whiskies. Rarely do we find a Springbank at this age either, so what we have here is something quite special. Think of green apple notes with stewed fruit followed by a gentle hint of peat reek on the finish.

‘Single malts of Scotland’ Tomintoul 30 year old.

The old independent bottling by the whisky exchange, ‘Single malts of Scotland’ is not something we see very often anymore, We have recently been lucky enough to get a bottle of a 30 year old Tomintoul bottle bottled in 2002. 1972 was an exceptional vintage for Tomintoul and at 30 years old it is at the peak age for sherried Tomintouls. With very few bottles left in existence not even we can find another one. If this is something that piques your interest give us a call or pop by to the shop.

Caol Ila 34 Year Old 1981 Carn Mor Celebration

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$379.30

Caol Ila 34 Year Old 1981 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask hogshead #5682 bottled July 2016 by Morrison & MacKay for the Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask series. 215 numbered bottles. Caol Ila Distillery on the Isle of Islay is famous for the stunning view from the still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, smugglers in dinghies, submarines and whales. Caol Ila Distillery was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whisky distillery on Islay and visitors are welcomed at the distillery visitor centre where distillery tours are available. Caol Ila Distillery is a participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

This week Joe Ellis reviews Glengoyne 21 Year Old Single Malt.

https://youtu.be/3SAbwU28Z6E

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube