THE JAMES SEDGWICK DISTILLERY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

The James Sedgwick’s Distillery in Wellington, the only commercial whisky distillery in Africa and home to the internationally award-winning range of Three Ships and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, will be opening to the public from 3 September on selected dates and times.

An incredible tourism boost for the town of Wellington and the Western Cape, the whisky distillery is destined in becoming a major attraction for South African and international consumers to experience first-hand how whisky is made.

The tastings and tours are limited to 10 people at a time to ensure a personal experience and offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 10am and again at 2pm. Visitors can explore the passion and craftsmanship of South African whiskies, come to understand the art of whisky-making, learn about the rich history of the distillery spanning 130 years and taste some of the world’s best whiskies.

On arrival, guests will enjoy a whisky-cocktail followed by an informative video. A knowledgeable guide will offer an on-foot tour to witness first-hand how the whiskies are crafted through the various stages from raw material to distillation to maturation. Back at the tasting room, the guide will present a tasting of three whiskies paired with five sample dishes allowing guests to explore in their own time how the flavours of certain dishes complements the aromas found within a particular whisky.

Situated in Wellington about an hour from Cape Town’s City Centre, the distillery offers sweeping views of the Hawekwa and Groenberg Mountains. Award-winning, The James Sedgwick Distillery was awarded as Best Brand Innovator in Whisky Magazines’ 2011 Icons of Whisky as well as in 2015 named Best International Whisky Distillery at the New York International Spirits Competition.

All tours and tastings are for over 18’s only with booking in advance essential at https://www.webtickets.co.za/events/tourism/whisky-experience/1464501779

No bookings can be made at the distillery or on arrival.  The cost is R350 per person for a welcome drink, tour of the distillery, and three whiskies paired with five food sample dishes to explore the various flavour combinations and match your favourite.

The range of South African whiskies will be available to purchase at the end of the tour and tasting. Limited release whiskies, only available at the Distillery, will from time to time be offered for purchase to continue the extraordinary experience you had at home or to share the moment with someone special in the form of a gift.

For more information contact The James Sedgwick Distillery by sending an email to  info@jamessedgwickdistillery.co.za, calling 072 415 3440 or visiting  http://www.bains.co.za/ and http://www.threeshipswhisky.co.za/

#HomeofSAWhisky

Europe’s biggest Harley-Davidson rally toasts drams created by Speyside Distillery in honour of its 20th anniversary year

It may be Scotland’s secret distillery – but its hidden location off the beaten track didn’t stop dozens of leather-clad bikers from discovering drams produced in their honour today (August 28).

Harley-Davidson enthusiasts who gathered in the Highlands for the annual Thunder in the Glens motorbike rally this weekend descended on Speyside Distillery to be presented with commemorative bottlings produced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the event.

The quiet countryside roads around the distillery – located in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountain range – echoed to the sounds of roaring engines as a group of riders staged a ride out from their base in Aviemore.

Speyside Distillery is the home of Beinn Dubh – an unusual ruby-black coloured whisky – which was launched at Thunder in the Glens last year. It won rave reviews from thousands of bikers at the event, which is the biggest Harley-Davidson rally in Europe.

Two limited edition releases have been created for the anniversary. The first is a rare 20 year-old single malt from the archives of Speyside Distillery and just 200 bottles have been produced. In addition, the distillery has produced a second 20th anniversary single malt with commemorative label which is available in greater quantities

One of the commemorative bottles of Beinn Dubh has been sent across the Atlantic to Milwaukee in the United States – the home of the Harley-Davidson and the patriarch of the world renowned company, Willie G. Davidson.

Speyside Distillery’s chief executive officer John Harvey McDonough says the firm is honoured to help Thunder in the Glens mark such a special occasion.

He adds, “Beinn Dubh is the local whisky of the Cairngorms, so it is incredibly fitting for us to produce a very special bottling for an event that has become integral to the local area. Following the launch of Beinn Dubh at last year’s rally, the whisky has gone on to achieve huge global success in markets around the world.

“The distillery has played host to many special visitors over the years, from former England footballer Michael Owen to VIP dignitaries from Taiwan, but I don’t think anything will be quite as memorable as the sound of those motorbikes roaring up the drive of our normally tranquil boutique distillery.

“The 20-year-old single malt Scotch whisky that has been used for this commemorative bottling is extremely rare. We have very limited stocks of vintage whisky, but we felt that only something very special should be used to mark this historic occasion.”

George McGuire is the rally co-ordinator for Thunder in the Glens and led the ride out to the distillery, which is located near the village of Kingussie.

“We feel a special affinity with Speyside Distillery, and being able to take so many of our visitors out here today has been a truly magical experience – one of the highlights of the entire weekend,” he says.

“As we were travelling further and further away from civilisation, I am sure some of them thought I was pulling their leg and the distillery didn’t actually exist. But that’s the real beauty of Speyside Distillery – it can only be found by those who want to seek it out.

“However, now that so many Harley owners around the world have become fans, I’m not sure how much longer it will remain a secret.

“Our visitors recognise what a rare chance they have to own what is essentially a piece of the distillery’s history. Opportunities to buy something like this do not come along every day, and some of our visitors have bought one bottle for drinking and one for keeping on the shelf to commemorate a fantastic weekend.”

Beinn Dubh is the name given to Ben Macdui, the highest peak in the Cairngorm mountain range, and translates from Gaelic as the black mountain. It refers to its dark, spooky and mysterious atmosphere which countless climbers are said to have encountered. The ruby black whisky is Speyside Distillery’s tribute to Ben Macdui and the area that it calls home.

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.

The 20-year-old single malt Beinn Dubh Thunder In The Glens 2016  is priced at £150 while the 20th Anniversary single malt is £56. A very limited number of bottles are still  available, but can be ordered directly from karenann@speysidedistillers.co.uk

For further information about Beinn Dubh, visit www.beinndubh.com or follow Beinn Dubh on Twitter @BeinnDubhWhisky

Ends

Picture caption: Beinn Dubh’s fallen angel Klaudia Zrobek joins bikers from Thunder In The Glens during a ride out to Speyside Distillery which launched commemorative bottlings for this year’s 20th anniversary rally.

As my colleague Jeff Jones and I sat on the plane to Scotland this past March, I said to him, “I’d like to find some alternatives to the standard heavy peat, heavy sherry formula that we seem to have fallen into. Rather than respond to the market, I’d like to start guiding it.” I don’t think I’m alone in my appreciation for nuance, subtlety, complexity and delicacy when it comes to classic Scotch whisky. While I’ve enjoyed the last decade of fashionable trends as they pertain to single malt, I don’t know anyone out there who cut their teeth on bold, brash whiskies like the heavily sherried, cask-strength Aberlour A’Bunadh or the incredibly peaty blast of pepper that is the Bruichladdich Octomore. Most of us started with old-fashioned Scotch like Glenlivet 12 or Glenmorangie 10, then worked our way forward from there.

Lately I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic for those early days of drinking, so I decided to make that a theme for this year’s trip: getting back to basics. That not only meant the basics of classic Scotch whisky enjoyment, but also a time when whiskies were interesting, dynamic and much more affordable. Of course, we’re not in control of pricing when it comes to supply. All we can do as a retailer is find creative ways to work backward once we know the costs. As someone who’s spent the better part of two years reeling from the housing costs of the Bay Area, I was even more determined to alleviate some of the frustration that has resulted from the rising price of fine Scotch whisky. How we were going to do it, I wasn’t sure, but come hell or high water I was going to find a way.

-David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

1991 John McCrae (Balvenie) 24 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Barrel Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($129.99)

While it’s become common practice over the years for independent bottlers to label their single malt whiskies by distillery, there are a handful of producers who do not want their brand name to be mentioned or utilized by a competitor when selling casks to a third party company for blending use. To prevent that from happening, some producers practice what’s called “teaspooning,” meaning they add a teaspoon of a second whisky into the cask, instantly changing the whisky from a “single” malt into a “blended” malt. Once the whisky is “blended,” the name of the distillery can no longer be used on the label because it’s technically no longer a single distillery bottling. However, when you taste this single barrel of John McCrae blended malt whisky (aka teaspooned Balvenie) we’re pretty sure you’re going to be as thrilled as we are. To get a single cask of Balvenie is almost unheard of, and getting one this good for this price is a rare treat indeed. The nose is candied ginger, round vanilla, and sweet malty grains, and the palate builds into more cereal grains, dried fruits, honey, resin, and a beautiful, classic, old fashioned Highland Scotch finish of sweet biscuity malted barley. It’s the whole package from front to back and it’s naturally proofed down to 47.6% ABV. We think this will be one of the most spectacular deals of the year for fans of both Balvenie and delicious, no frills malt whisky.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 18, 2016

This is an interesting and lovely whiskey. There is a nice balance between fruit and malt flavors. It is drier and slightly lighter than distillery bottlings of Balvenie but offers the same high quality.The John Mccrae is a very good whiskey and should please most single malt drinkers.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 16, 2016

This bottle is ridiculous on so many different levels (and I mean this in a good way). First and foremost, it is ridiculously good, it is 24 year old whiskey that is complex and full of fruit. There is a subtly smoke that completely enhances the whiskey and notes of spice on the finish. The second reason this is ridiculous is that it is essentially Balvenie that has had a “teaspoon” of another whiskey added so as to not be true 100% Balvenie whiskey. It is also less sweet and richer than other Balvenie I have tried. The final reason is that with all of this amazing goodness going on it is $130, that price is simply ridiculous.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 11, 2016

Teaspooned Balvenie for a HOT price. Don’t sleep on this guy because it really is the quintessential great bottle of Scotch. Everything is in perfect harmony, the fruits, the richness, the grains, and the texture. It’s a smooth, supple, oily, and remarkable cask we managed to find and I think once you taste it you’ll be thinking about how many more you can afford to squirrel away for later.

1991 Glen Keith 24 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

This single sherry butt cask of Glen Keith is another K&L “refill” selection, meaning we purposely looked for whisky that had been matured in sherry casks that had been used previously. The result of refill aging is that the whisky still takes on some of the richer, fruity, sherry-esque flavors, but much more mildly, helping to maintain the integrity of the inherent malt character. In looking for delicious Scotch whisky that tasted like old-fashioned Scotch whisky, we came upon this outstanding Glen Keith: a Speyside distillery that’s part of the Chivas portfolio. The whisky is classic Highland in style. The nose explodes with cereal grains, apricots and pear, vanilla, and the faintest hint of almond. The palate shows a bit of rich Oloroso character briefly before giving way to the more standard dried stone fruit flavors and supple, malty deliciousness. It’s the price, however, that really grabs your attention: 24 year old, cask strength, single barrel, Speyside single malt for $89.99??!! Sherry-aged, no less! Thank goodness it was a big barrel because we’re sure this is going to be quite popular.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016

This is almost the perfect Speyside malt in my opinion, a true Speysider in style, meaning elegant, herbal, floral, and ultra balanced. 24 years old (nearly 25) – Refill sherry, so right out of the gate we’re getting the wonderful juicy fruit on the nose. The palate is sweet floral honey and a wonderful rich mineral ton, with a slight fudginess on the finish. One tiny drop of water heightens the flavors gloriously and at this price is absolutely unacceptable to miss this one.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 18, 2016

This is a joyful and delicious single malt. In the nose there are rich and soft malty aromas. This leads to juicy and pretty flavors. The sherry aging is integrated and does not dominate but adds complexity.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 11, 2016

Our goal this year was to definitely shock the market and get people excited about old fashioned Scotch once again. I think this is about as exciting of a deal as we can offer: 24 year old cask strength, sherry-aged Highland single malt for less than a hundred bucks! Here we get nothing out of the ordinary, just rich grains, hints of sherry, sweet vanilla, and soft fruit. If you thought top shelf Scotch had been priced out of reach, we’re back to save the day.

1998 Royal Brackla 17 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

The Royal Brackla 17 year old completely caught us off guard on our recent trip to Scotland. We’d of course heard of the Bacardi-owned distillery, known for its role in blended whiskies, but we’d never tasted one quite like this. Joining us for the first time this year during the meeting was Hunter Laing’s master blender Tom Aitken who used to blend for Dewar’s back when Bacardi first bought the brand. Tasting samples with a veteran who understands the inner workings and the history behind some of these lesser-known distilleries is invaluable. Tom explained that former owner Diageo used the distillery as a sort of experimental lab during the nineties. They made all sorts of different styles back then apparently and the quality could be wildly variant. This particular cask was absolutely stunning. It was straw colored and light to the eye, but packed with so much flavor it was deceiving. There were definitely phenolic elements at play; very subtle hints of peat that worked as an undercurrent to all the sweet stone fruit and vanilla. The combination of grain and fruit was like a burst of classic malt goodness, but on the finish it turned savory with hints of sage brush and white pepper. All in all, this is an incredibly dynamic malt for the price and a great introduction to the distillery for newcomers. Bacardi has since turned Royal Brackla into its own single malt brand that should be on American shelves soon.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016

What little Brackla we see on the secondary market is typically overpriced and under performing. This creamy little cask is NEITHER of those, instead it’s ultra affordable with maximum drinkability. This is what I’d easily categorize as a summer whisky. Fresh and open, but not boring. Creamy fruit all the way but not just one note the whole way through. Tons of citrus and meaty fruit, great vanilla and malty grain. A real treat to cheat the heat!

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 23, 2016

In the embarrassment of riches coming from Scotland to us, there are always a few bottles that just absolutely stand out for me. On this incredible wave of whisky the 17-year-old Royal Brackla is one of those bottles. This distillery is owned by Bacardi and most of it goes into Dewars, so it is super rare to see any of it by itselfbut of course the geek factor of this only works if what is in the bottle is any good. It very much is good, in fact it is so good that one is almost forced to wonder why we are selling it at this price. The secret is that we can sell it as this price and so we choose to do that rather than be another place that overcharges due to high demand for whisky. On the nose there is almost a maple bar sweetness with notes of peat and orange peel. Elegant smoke balances the peat and salted notes and leads to a spice finish that is super smooth. This whisky is way to good to miss out on so I would recommend that you do not.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 19, 2016

I am really happy to see this product arrive. It is one of the single malts that stayed foremost in my mind from the buying trip I took to Scotland with David Driscoll. It is a bright , fresh and lively single malt that is maltly and complex with a subtle hint of smoke. Highly recommended.

Uberach “Assemblage” Alsace Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

The special single malt of Alsace is a recreation of an age of tradition of distilling beer in the region. Jean Metzger is the force behind this very special malt, which is without a doubt the finest whisky being produced in France today. Alsace whisky has recently been afforded an official AOC, but Metzger has been producing whisky in Uberach for more than a decade. The distillery has always been considered one of France’s finest, renowned for their exacting distillation of perfectly ripened local fruits, but, with the help of local Brasserie, Jean Metzger had a vision of transitioning into a new era. Now they distill only malted barley. Using organic pilsner malt, about 1/3 of which is very lightly peated, Metzger adds the purest water in France sourced from the legendary Vosges Nature Reserve. The beer is fermented using the brewer’s yeast from the organic brewery down the way to about 6% abv. It is then meticulously distilled twice in tiny traditional Alsatian copper pots before being filled into either Vin Jaune, Rivasalte, Rasteau, new French oak or Banyuls casks. Each of these unique barrels provides a completely different flavor after maturation. This small batch is a selection from some of the distillery’s older stocks (around 6 years old), of reused french oak barrel and a second use Banyuls cask, selected and bottled by hand exclusively for K&L Wine Merchants. Expect big powerful aromas of ripe pear, candied yellow plum, and malty grains. Only 160 bottles.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 19, 2016

In the spirit of finding exciting new whiskey from non established whiskey places we bring you an excellent single malt from Alsace. A fruity, rich nose on the whiskey leads to a medium body with some vanilla, golden baked apple notes and a touch of baking spice. Medium heat and a somewhat spicy finish can be calmed down with a little water. Now I have another reason to love alcohol coming from Alsace.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 10, 2016

I think that this whisky should be in every whisky lover’s collection. It is delicious, interesting and a little different. There are pretty delicate floral aromas that almost cherry eau-de-vie like. In the mouth it is complex and soft with malt and fruit like nuances.

Hedgehog Single Grain French Whisky (750ml) ($44.99)

Theater lovers from across France congregate each summer to enjoy the Hérisson’s cultural gifts. Here, in the department of Allier – the center of France and the historic realm of the Duke of Bourbon – another gift awaits those who seek it. It was the Honorable Mr. Balthazar who, in 1983, decided to create a product of the region that captured its essence. Allier is renowned for two products, grain and oak. Together these two special ingredients make something that hadn’t been produced in the region in modern times, whisky! The Duchy of Bourbon would indeed inspire another great whisky to be created, The Hedgehog. Mr. Balthazar begins with the finest organic corn grown within miles of the distillery. These are then milled with locally malted barley and mixed with a small amount of milled local rye. In the American style, the entire wort – with no filtration – is fermented slowly over 10-14 day fermentation. A double distillation in a copper pot and filling at 60% ABV into new barrels fashioned from the famous Tronçais oak. These barrels, used by the world’s great wine and cognac producers, are the most sought-after in the industry. After one year in these new casks, the whisky is transferred for a minimum of 3 years into ex-cognac barrels where it mellows and matures. The result is one of the most unique spirits available anywhere in the world and K&L is the exclusive US purveyor of this fine whisky. We received a tiny allocation.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2016

This Whiskey is interesting, flavorful and off the beaten path.It has a mixture of grain, malt and spice aromas.In the mouth it is soft and dry with the influence of the wood showing itself with some spice flavors. One could say that there are cognac, single malt and bourbon influences in this delicious drink.

Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) ($82.99)

The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to insure only the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, tap it so that it breaks)

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 25, 2016

This Michel Couvreur Malt Whiskey is a perfect marriage of smoke and sherry aged spirit. There is a nice amount of smoke aromas and flavors that are integrated well with the richness from the sherry barrels. On top of this it is complex and will surprise and delight.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 24, 2016

For those who missed out on the Compass Box “5th and Harrison” K&L Exclusive, for those who are starting to realize how good blended whiskey can be, or for those who simply love good Scotch here is a bottle for you. From Michel Couvreur comes a truly beautiful peated smoky whisky that is elegant, balanced, smooth, and just so good. A rich nose resplendent with notes of caramel, toffee and a hint of butterscotch lead to a full, rich Scotch. There is a lot of good baked fruit notes here with the peat accenting them and swaddled in smooth smokey notes. Despite the richness of this whiskey it is well balanced and never feels to full of itself and leads the palate to a lovely soft finish that fades slowly. Get a bottle of this now and buy another for a gift. This is completely worth it.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 14, 2014

The magnificence that is Michel Couvreur has always been clear, but it wasn’t until we stepped into the special cave, carved out of the rock, in Bouze-Les-Beaune that you can full appreciate the incredible endeavor in process at this fine producer. While this is by definition NOT scotch, because it is aged outside of the country, the old school practices utilized at here are unusual back in Scotland. The fact that these guys literally drive to Jerez to pick out fresh sherry casks (from Equipos Navazos no less) is totally unique in modern times. In fact, no producer of malt whisky is getting access to fresher barrels than these guys. Despite not being able to use the famous moniker, does not preclude this from being one of the most authentic and absolutely delicious malts on the market. Stupendous depth and complexity even at 86 proof, while the sherry is toned down from the standard version a subtle fino/amontillado quality exists in the back ground. This is pointed by a fabulous smokey sweetness, which hints at the source whisky. Maybe an island somewhere, maybe a drop of Islay, wildly high-quality Highland whisky with a French sensibility. A truly unique gem.

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)

Email: wine@klwines.com

K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061

  San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

A Whisky Maker’s Whisky

The Tasmanian Whisky Producers Association (TWPA) is set to release a highly anticipated limited bottling on Tuesday 30th August. The Tasmanian Collection is a collaboration of leading Tasmanian distilleries to create an exceptional and unprecedented whisky blended from the participating distilleries’ whiskies.

Going on sale in time for Fathers Day, the Tasmanian Collection has been created by blending new-make spirit from nine Tasmanian distilleries including Sullivans Cove, Lark, Overeem, Belgrove, McHenry, Redlands, Mackey, Iron House and Fanny’s Bay, with each distillery then maturing a twenty-litre cask on site.

The Tasmanian Collection is a snapshot in time of the skills of the Tasmanian whisky industry, which perfectly captures the unique terroir and subtleties gained from maturation in distinctly different surroundings. Here at Tasmania Distillery we are anticipating our Single Cask TD0776 will yield somewhere between twenty five and thirty bottles.

The initial release of fifteen bottles will be offered at 46%ABV,  non-chill filtered and available exclusively online – contact other participating distilleries for more information on their single cask releases.

BUY NOW

Macallan 1998 Speymalt

Malt of the Month

We’re struggling to keep this fantastic malt on our shelves, we’re expecting stock of this to run out very soon… And no wonder, what a dram and at a great price…

£58.97

www.ralfy.com has set a world land speed record in the 250cc class of motorcycle at the Bonneville salt flats and now it’s time to get back to reviews with Whisky Review 595 – Glenturret 27yo (Old Particular) @ 45.4%vol

More here and here

Beam Suntory Portfolio Awarded Top Accolades at the 2016 International Wine & Spirits Competition

Deerfield, IL (August 1, 2016) – Beam Suntory has been awarded multiple medals at the 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), a worldwide competition that sets the benchmark for quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. The most prestigious honors were awarded to Jim Beam Black® Bourbon and Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey, which received the Bourbon Trophy and Worldwide Whiskey Trophy in their respective categories. As the highest of accolades in the IWSC, trophies are presented to only one product per category each year.

“Our products are made with the utmost craftsmanship and care, so we are honored that their premium quality and exceptional taste have been recognized by such a prestigious blind tasting competition,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory. “We’re especially proud to see expressions from two of our most iconic brands, Jim Beam Black and Knob Creek Rye, lauded as the ‘best of the best’ in their categories this year. This is a wonderful tribute to Master Distiller Fred Noe and our immensely talented team at our distilleries in Kentucky, all of whom work hard to exceed consumers’ expectations every day.”

The judges noted that Jim Beam Black Bourbon is “a premium bourbon with a more flavorful character made to be sipped and savored.” At 86 proof, this bourbon is aged longer than original Jim Beam® Bourbon in the same white oak barrels, giving it a taste the judges described as a “full-bodied flavor with smooth caramel and warm oak notes.”

When tasting Knob Creek Rye Whiskey, judges noted “the sweetness of the wood aging and the fantastic balance of the spirit are nothing less than awesome” and described Knob Creek Rye as “a sipping spirit that requires contemplation and a smile in the mind.” Knob Creek Rye, with its unmistakable spiciness that stays true to the big, full flavor of Knob Creek, is the fastest growing rye whiskey today.

In addition to trophy wins for Jim Beam Black and Knob Creek Rye, Beam Suntory’s portfolio received 44 total medals, including multiple Gold and Gold Outstanding awards. The Gold award indicates the product is of superior quality, and the Gold Outstanding award recognizes that the product is of the highest quality. These Beam Suntory wins include:

•El Tesoro® Anejo Tequila – Gold Outstanding

•Jim Beam Black – Gold Outstanding

•Knob Creek Rye Whiskey – Gold Outstanding

•Auchentoshan® 18 Year Old – Gold

•Bowmore® 18 Year Old – Gold

•Bowmore® 25 Year Old – Gold

•El Tesoro® Reposado Tequila – Gold

•Knob Creek® Bourbon – Gold

•Laphroaig® Triple Wood – Gold

The IWSC, now in its 47th year, judges spirits with dedicated tasting premises, a permanent onsite cellar, and over 400 global experts who judge products for seven months of the year. To determine the winners, IWSC judges conduct a double-blind tasting for each entry, which is followed by a chemical analysis to test the liquid’s composition. Spirits that win top awards go through a second round of judging to compete for a trophy.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Society Quarterly – August 2016

Dear Society Members,

Make yourself comfortable, this is the longest newsletter I have ever sent you. In fact, this is a little more than the standard newsletters, although these will continue as normal. Here at Springbank HQ we have decided to alter the way in which we supply information to our Society Members. We have decided that I shall write you a quarterly email that you will receive approximately every 3 months. The rest of this email will give you an idea of the format these emails will take but first, please allow me to explain why we are doing this. There are a few reasons but the main 2 are as follows:

We are constantly thinking about how we communicate with the Society and how to improve the way we provide you with important information. We believe this is an improvement. We have also recently implemented a more structured announcement process throughout the Sales and Marketing department and these quarterly announcements are an significant part of that.

As part of the new announcement structure, as you may have noticed, we have changed the timing regarding when we tell you guys about bottle releases. A key element of this new system is to tell Society Members about upcoming releases that we plan to make available for purchase (at least in the UK) within the time between this quarterly and the next one in around 3 months. You will also continue to receive newsflashes shortly before each bottle is released which will include more details about each whisky than will be included in these quarterlies.

Also in this email, I have included some information on where members of our Sales team will be travelling to in the next 3 months and, if possible, where you can meet up with them.

And finally, if you make it all the way to the end, I have a few extra points that I believe are worth reading regarding the Society blog, Social media, the society discount and a recent mistake I made.

See you on the other side.

Upcoming Releases

The following bottles are scheduled for release between now and when the next quarterly is sent. I have included the month in which each of these bottles are currently scheduled to be released and as I mentioned in the introduction, each of these bottles will have their own announcement newsletter that you will receive shortly before they are released as usual. I do not plan for these quarterly newsletters to ever act as announcements in themselves.

August – Springbank 18yo (Extremely Limited) – £85.00

(You will be getting more information on this bottling very soon)

October – Springbank 25yo

Hazelburn 9yo Barolo Cask  

Late October/November – Springbank 15yo Jamaican Rum Cask (Society bottle)

Obviously, due to this email being written several months in advance, these details are subject to change, although I hope they do not deviate in a significant way.

Meet our Sales team

Throughout the next 3 months our sales team will be travelling all over the world and, depending on what kind of event they are attending, there could be a chance for you to meet them, share a dram and talk about all things Springbank, Glengyle and Campbeltown. The list below, although extensive, is not complete and the amount of detail I am able to give varies due to factors out with our control. If you would like more information on an event feel free to contact me nearer the time when hopefully the team member will be able to provide me with more details.

September

2nd-3rd: Ranald and Fraser will be attending Copernicker Whisky Herbst in Berlin, Germany

3rd: Grant is at Liverpool Whisky Lounge.

4th: David will be in Bar Butler in Hong Kong.

13th-16th: Fraser is going on a Springbank tasting tour of Belgium, visiting the following places;

13th – Halle

14th – Angleur

15th – Zandhoven

16th – Mechelen

15th: Ranald is hosting a tasting for Good Spirits Company in Glasgow.

October

1st: Melanie is over in France for the Strasbourg Whisky Festival.

1st-3rd: Ranald, Grant and Fraser will be in London for the Whisky Exchange event.

6th: Fraser will be attending a whisky show in Warsaw, Poland

10th-15th: Fraser is going on another tasting tour of Belgium, this time representing Kilkerran.

15th: Grant, along with Mitch from our Campbeltown shop, will be at the Wee Dram shop in Bakewell, England.

22nd: Grant, with the assistant manager of our Campbeltown shop, Cameron, will be at the Manchester Whisky Lounge.

28th-29th: Fraser is attending the whisky show taking place in the Corinthia Hotel in Budapest, Hungary

30th: Melanie is hosting a tasting in the Willow Park store in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

November

2nd: Melanie will remain in Calgary for Willow Park’s Whisky Festival.

5th: Grant is attending the Whisky Live event in Dublin, Ireland.

5th-6th: Ranald is off to Germany for the Villingen Whisky Fair.

5th-6th: Fraser and David will be attending Spirits in the Sky in Brussels, Belgium.

12th: Fraser will be heading back to his home city of Glasgow, Scotland for the Whisky Festival in Hampden park. He will be joined by Cadenhead’s Campbeltown shop manager Donald Brown.

12th: We have sent Grant down to the Birmingham Whisky Lounge show.

25th-26th: David is our ambassador to Sweden for the Orebro Beer and Whisky Festival.

26th: Ranald will be at Drambusters in Dumfires, Scotland

December

1st-4th: Fraser and Melanie are flying over to Switzerland for Whisky Schiff Zurich 2016

Further details about upcoming events and trips can be found on our website: www.springbankwhisky.com/events/

The Society Blog

I am continuing to write the society blog, which you can find here: www.springbankwhisky.com/society/ 

I would encourage you all to check the blog every now and then, sometimes it is the best way for me to get information out to you and it certainly is easier than a newsletter. Although I do try to keep it fairly busy, I remain reluctant to commit to a regular or fixed schedule regarding writing blogs, I feel this would not only limit me when I felt I had something worthwhile to write about outside of the agreed schedule but it would also result in me writing a blog post when I had nothing of note to say. Nevertheless, I don’t want you guys to miss anything, so make sure you check it every now and then.

If you have problems logging in to your account, or you don’t believe you have an account, please let me know as soon as you can.

Also, I am looking for suggestions for the blog. What would you guys like me to write about, what would you like to know about Springbank? Contact me with some ideas:

society@springbankwhisky.com

The Previous Newsletter

Some of you may have noticed the error that was in the newsletter I sent out regarding the most recent Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (it was concerning whether the Society discount was applicable). This cast into light some misunderstandings that I and others had when it came to how the discount was being implemented in our other shops, particularly the shops outside of the UK. To be clear, the Society discount is applicable in our Campbeltown shop for core range products from Springbank Distillers. It is possible you could get the discount for these products in other Cadenhead shops but, due to each shop out with Campbeltown being run as a franchise, this is entirely at their discretion.

Social Media

In recent times, we here at Springbank Towers have taken a more active role on social media and aim to continue this development in the future (especially when our notoriously poor internet service is finally improved) . Following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is a great and easy way to keep up to date with the happenings at #Springbank.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/officialspringbankwhisky/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Springbank1828 (@springbank1828)

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/springbankwhisky1828/

The End is Nigh

This has been an essay hasn’t it. Well, I hope it has been more interesting than the essays I used to write back in my university days. However, now you know what these quarterlies are going to be like, what format they have. The next one will be in approximately 3 months (you guys know how much I hate definitive schedules) and I am sure it will provide some interesting bedtime reading for you all again 😉

Remember, I am looking for suggestions for the blog and you will still be receiving the regular newsletters as before so you won’t have to wait too long for the next one.

Slainte

Nathan

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact Nathan at

society@springbankwhisky.com

Attention Scotch whisky drinkers! Our latest container of K&L exclusive single casks of whisky has recently landed and with it has come an amazing assortment of mature, mouthwatering, and delicious options for prices that are well below what we’re used to seeing in this segment of the market. Buying whisky directly as a retailer not only gives us control over our selection, it also allows us access to better pricing and deeper deals and on this year’s trip our whisky team managed to dig deep into the archives of Glasgow’s finest warehouses. The proof is evident in this first release of ultra-mature single casks. Not only were we able to secure another elusive barrel of 50 year old Scotch, a rare delight that sold out in a heartbeat last time around, our buyers managed to bolster that bounty with two twenty-plus year old gems from the Highlands and Islay. As if the prices weren’t shocking enough, the quality and complexity on display in each expression is perhaps even more exciting. Our staff was absolutely overcome with anticipation for the arrival of these whiskies and now we understand why.

In a category that’s been struggling to find value over the last few years, we’ve recommitted ourselves to that search at all price points. Our efforts are now here for your enjoyment.

1991 Glen Keith 24 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

This single sherry butt cask of Glen Keith is another K&L “refill” selection, meaning we purposely looked for whisky that had been matured in sherry casks that had been used previously. The result of refill aging is that the whisky still takes on some of the richer, fruity, sherry-esque flavors, but much more mildly, helping to maintain the integrity of the inherent malt character. In looking for delicious Scotch whisky that tasted like old-fashioned Scotch whisky, we came upon this outstanding Glen Keith: a Speyside distillery that’s part of the Chivas portfolio. The whisky is classic Highland in style. The nose explodes with cereal grains, apricots and pear, vanilla, and the faintest hint of almond. The palate shows a bit of rich Oloroso character briefly before giving way to the more standard dried stone fruit flavors and supple, malty deliciousness. It’s the price, however, that really grabs your attention: 24 year old, cask strength, single barrel, Speyside single malt for $89.99??!! Sherry-aged, no less! Thank goodness it was a big barrel because we’re sure this is going to be quite popular.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 18, 2016

This is a joyful and delicious single malt. In the nose there are rich and soft malty aromas. This leads to juicy and pretty flavors. The sherry aging is integrated and does not dominate but adds complexity.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 11, 2016

Despite the whiskey’s quite light in color appearance the refill sherry notes are very apparent as soon as you nose the glass; there’s cake spice, fudge and subtle rancio tones. On the palate the sherry wood is there too and the maturity of the spirit comes to the forefront. Nutty shaved oak, liquor soaked dates, some salty, marsh like complexities. This is serious whiskey and 24 year old under $90…what!?

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 11, 2016

Our goal this year was to definitely shock the market and get people excited about old fashioned Scotch once again. I think this is about as exciting of a deal as we can offer: 24 year old cask strength, sherry-aged Highland single malt for less than a hundred bucks! Here we get nothing out of the ordinary, just rich grains, hints of sherry, sweet vanilla, and soft fruit. If you thought top shelf Scotch had been priced out of reach, we’re back to save the day.

1990 Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Old Particular” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

In what will surely go down as one of the great single malt deals of the year, we bring you the K&L exclusive cask of Bunnahabhain 25 year old single malt Islay whisky: a malt that appears to be even more of a deal considering the new $900 price tag the distillery is asking for the official release. This particular iteration is like a tropical daydream on the nose, fresh peach and sugar cane float lazily across the surprisingly sweet palate. Aged in hogshead, however, there’s no sherry and little to no smoke in this expression. Its brilliance nonetheless is a testament to the inherent fruit of the whisky and the benefits of slow, steady maturation in fine cooperage. The finish is all sweet grains and malted barley with touches of salt and the sea. Islay fans will be thrilled. Bunnahabhain fans won’t want to miss it. And you get all of that goodness at cask strength for $149.99 thanks to our direct import pricing.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 23, 2016

I liked this whisky when I first tasted it, and having just revisited it, I am simply astounded by this bottle. This has so many things going on in its favor that it is almost hard to begin. On the nose there is a salted fruit note that combines hints of green apple with white peach and honey. Then into a smooth, elegant body with the complexity that only happens when whisky has been sitting in barrel for this long. Baking spice finish with sweet grain notes and some peat and smoke that just keep going. Basically this is delicious, then you look at the price, look away, and look again to make sure we are not fooling you. Yes, this amazing 25-year-old cask strength, single barrel whiskey is $150. Buy one, you are welcome.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 10, 2016

This is old unpeated Scotch at its very best, and at an incredible price given its age. If you like the salt air and haunting complexity of the best of Islay, but can do without the oppressive peat, this satisfying malt will thrill you.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 10, 2016

Pretty special whisky…bursting with bright fruit flavors, tropical, yellow stone fruit, lush and exuberant. The texture is where the age comes into play; perfect integration of oak and spirit, a roundness and softness without heaviness. My palate was already more than satisfied when suddenly this feisty little scotch came back again with the most delicious little hint of dark brown sugar on the back corners of the tongue a few seconds after swallowing. Lingering caramel apple / french toast notes resonate plenty long enough to get you to the next sip. This bottle really shows the pedigree of this distillery and why they can charge $1000 for their own 25 year old distillery bottling…fortunately our boys are savvy and can sniff out independently bottled bargains like this for WAY less coin.

Sal Rodriguez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 10, 2016

A bright, lifted, tropical note (think banana custard) right off the top invites you in for a sip. Although there’s said to be a little peat used in it, I don’t notice it enough to put off anyone who might dislike peat. A rather lovely, sip-able, 25 year old scotch that finishes with a hint of sea salt. You could find other 25 year old scotches priced much higher than this, so you can consider this a real value. We should see this move rather quickly so don’t wait!

1966 Invergordon 50 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Old Particular” Single Barrel Cask Strength Grain Whisky (750ml) ($279.99)

Last year we sold a fifty year old grain whisky for $300 and it sold out in less than twenty-four hours. This time around we’ve managed to shave twenty dollars of the price tag without reducing the quality or age one bit! The Invergordon 50 is alive and well after five decades with loads of toasted oak, butterscotch, marzipan, and honey flavors that ease over the palate with delicate and lithe profile. Long one of Scotland’s stalwarts for grain whisky production, casks of Invergordon are readily available, but few with this level of maturation and depth. Considering the price and the flavor profile, don’t expect this one to last long. Only 247 bottles available.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016

The Invergordon 50 year is more than just an AGE STATEMENT! This ultra complex Grain whisky shows tons of density and a completely opulent mouth feel. Despite it’s age it hasn’t gone under 100 proof and packs tons of intensity and fleshy fruit. Powerful nutty and sweet caramel notes paired with the a big sweet vanilla remind me of pecan pie with a scoop of ice cream. The dense honey and dried nuts continue on the palate and despite the intensity and 5 decades in oak, it never feels tired or bitter at all. A totally wild addition to our exquisite portfolio of very well price, ULTRA aged spirits.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016

When you see a bottle of 50 year old Scotch for sale and it isn’t $5000, the main question most people ask is: is it any good? I’m happy to report that no only is this 50 year old Invergordon delicious, I think it’s the best of the annual 50 year old editions we’ve been doing over the last few years. Last year’s cask was $300 and it was fantastic. This one, however, is more complex with the integration of the oak much less dominant. There’s still fruit and life inside this whisky. By no means is it past its prime. And it’s $20 less that last year’s release, as if you needed another reason to grab this!

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016

This is a great gift option for anyone turning 50 in 2016 as we rarely see whisky this age, especially for this price. The Invergordon is rich with plenty of spice from the oak and should please any whisky drinker with its complexity and depth.

Shaun Green | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 11, 2016

Single Barrel Cask Strength at 50 years of age and $279? Oh yes. Wonderfully spicy on the nose and great power – don’t wait, it’ll be gone soon!

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Springbank 18 Year Old – 2016 Release

The 2016 release of the ever popular and multi-award winning Springbank 18 year old. Created from 80% sherry & 20% bourbon casks, bottled in limited numbers at 46%.

£86.40

Springbank 12 Year Old – Cask Strength

Bottled at 56.3%, this is the latest cask strength offering from Springbank distillery – aged for 12 years and created from 70% ex-sherry casks and 30% ex-bourbon casks.

£49.80