The Sazerac Company acquires The Last Drop Distillers

Sept 6, 2016: The world’s most exclusive spirits brand, The Last Drop Distillers Limited, is today announcing its acquisition by Sazerac – one of the world’s top selling global spirits brands, and one of New Orleans’ oldest family-owned, privately-held companies.

The investment that will be injected into the craft spirits brand through the acquisition will accelerate its ambitious growth plans whilst also allowing the existing Last Drop Distillers team to continue to run the business autonomously, with the small, personal operation remaining intact.

The Sazerac Company portfolio includes a range of global spirits brands: this acquisition will allow the company to extend its portfolio into the super-premium, craft market as well as expand its European footprint.

The Last Drop Distillers is a family-run company dedicated to discovering and bottling some of the most exclusive spirits in the world. Spirits pioneers James Espey and Tom Jago founded the company in 2008 after long and successful careers in the industry. Between them they created some of the world’s best-loved spirits brands, including Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, The Classic Malts, and, with Malibu and Baileys Irish Cream, two of the most original and successful new drinks categories in the world. Today, the company is run by their two daughters, Beanie Espey and Rebecca Jago.

The Last Drop Distillers story is now at an important stage. Having established its brand and business model, the company is looking towards accelerated growth as global demand for luxury goods continues to rise. This was recently acknowledged by the appointment of the former CEO of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, Mike Keiller, as a Board Director.

Mark Brown, president and CEO of The Sazerac Company said: “We are very excited to be partnering with such industry legends as Tom and James.  Equally, we are looking forward to working alongside their daughters Rebecca and Beanie as well as the rest of The Last Drop Distillers team in bringing some of the rarest spirits available to the global consumer market.  As a family owned company we fully appreciate the value of a small, engaged and passionate team in a venture such as The Last Drop Distillers and look forward to continuing the excellent progress the business has made since its inception.”

James Espey, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Last Drop Distillers said: “This acquisition marks the next stage of The Last Drop Distillers story that will see us take the brand into the next phase, while retaining and building on our core values of exclusivity, craft and excellence. The existing team of passionate and experienced spirits pioneers will continue to steer the direction of the brand, while the investment allows us to grow our international footprint and broaden our opportunities to search for the rarest spirits in the world.”

NOTES  

About The Last Drop Distillers Limited

The Last Drop Distillers Limited specializes in discovering and hand-bottling the finest, rarest and most exclusive spirits from remote cellars and warehouses across Scotland, and the rest of the world. The team’s quest is rigorous and painstaking, choosing only liquids that are old and rare, but fresh and delicious, a juxtaposition that makes The Last Drop collection truly unique.

The Last Drop collection currently includes:

• Release VI The Last Drop 50 Year Old Double Matured Whisky
• Release V The Last Drop 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt
• Release IV The Last Drop 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
• Release III The Last Drop 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
• Release II The Last Drop 1950 Cognac
• Release I The Last Drop 1960 Blended Scotch Whisky.

Behind This Wall Autumn Menu Launch

Behind This Wall, the subterranean neighbourhood cocktail bar  on Hackney’s Mare Street,  has created a new cocktail and oyster offering that brings  together the world’s most Autumnal flavours in one highly conceptual  menu. Launching on 22nd September, Behind This Wall’s new menu  will fuse  the rich flavours of a classic New England fall with the spiced warmth of an Indian Summer.

Alex Harris is the co-founder, head bartender  and chef at  Behind This Wall  and  creator  of  the new seasonal concept. He has created the ultimate autumnal menu inspired by a fantasy place; a tropical island, influenced by the flavours of Indian trade roots and  the iconic  tastes o f New England.  This inspired  new  menu draws from the heat of the Indian summer with heady spices such as garam masala extract, cardamom tonic and naga chilli molasses, which complement and contrast the rich russets of
New England – absinthe-flamed maple bourbon cherries and cold apple cedar smoke.

The  new  menu blurs the  margins between food and drink; with many of the cocktails reading like a gastronomic experience. In structure, it is reminiscent of classic  hotel cocktail lists,  where drinks are grouped  by  time  of  day.  Behind  This  Wall’s  menu  is  thoughtfully  divided  into  aperitifs,  digestifs, highballs and pousse-cafes which seek to gently guide the drinker through the evening.

Example from the menu include:

  Hail  Mary:  Blended  Scotch,  clam  chowder  oyster,  garam  masala  extract,  Chesapeake seasoning, tomato, beetroot & celery juice, pickle juice, lemon sea foam and timut pepper £8

  Vieux Over Manhattan – 100 proof rye, sweet vermouth, pisco, herbal liqueur and cold apple cedar smoke £9

Complementing the cocktails,  Alex’s thoughtfully honed bar snack menu is inspired by  a melange of culinary influences ranging from Heston Blumenthal to Hawaiian chef, Roy Choi, and his mother , also a chef. Alex takes bar snacks seriously and believes they should be of equal calibre to the drinks menu and a vital part of the whole experience. He is an advocate of the pure flavours of raw eating and the autumn menu features inventive,  elaborate  and perfectly formed morsels  such as  pumpkin oyster
with  black  rice,  switchel  glaze,  lime  pickled  onions,  lemon  sea  foam,  Chesapeake  seasoning  withtoasted pumpkin seeds.
Alex Harris’s career in the food and drink industry started traditionally,  working with a catalogue of esteemed restaurants and bars  –  Met Bar, The Ritz, Soho House Group. This was unconventionally followed  by  an  interlude  as  a  music  technology  teacher  alongside  continued  mixed  bar  and promotional work at sorely missed club-land institutions: T-Bar and Plastic People.  Food, drink and music work hand in hand for Alex and after a successful pop up at events hub, Oval Space, Behind This
Wall found a permanent home for cleverly crafted evenings of music, poke and cocktails in March 2016.

In Hackney, basement bars are ubiquitous, but Behind This Wall contravenes the stereotype. With a white  tiled  bar  and  pale  plywood  seating,  the  aesthetic  is  Scandi-Japanese  –  bright,  tactile  and minimalist. Designed by friend and collaborator Elliot Barnes of Separate Blues, and part built by Alex himself, the venue is a blank canvas on which Alex has unleashed his culinary creativity.

Continuing the celebrations, Jack Daniel’s marks 150 years of whiskey making at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, with a special 100 Proof bottling. A whiskey that is 150 years in the making, the wait is finally over for your chance to purchase this limited edition anniversary bottling.

Free delivery on orders over £75 Next day delivery available on UK orders

Jack Daniel’s 150th Anniversary 100 Proof Edition

Showcasing the method of whiskey making pioneered by Mr Jack himself and still used to this day at the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, this 150th Anniversary bottle is distilled from the finest ingredients, filtered through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal and matured in virgin barrels.

Matured high on Coy Hill in the Angel’s Roost, this celebratory bottling is presented at 100 proof (50% abv), ensuring the richness of the flavour is maintained. Sweet butterscotch and toffee notes preceed a luxuriously full and smooth finish with warm toasted oak flavours lingering.

Due to the limited nature of this bottling, orders will be treated on a first come, first served basis.

£160 Buy Now

Free Jack Daniel’s Glass

1-2 October 2016
11.30am-6.30pm
Old Billingsgate,
London

Tickets now on sale!

BUY NOW »

Masterclass tickets on sale this week:

Glenfarclas Masterpieces

On the Saturday of the show, join George Grant for the amazing opportunity to taste whiskies aged for more than half a century from the distillery’s rarely seen library collection.

Tickets go on sale at 3pm BST on Tuesday 13 September.

MORE DETAILS

Glenfiddich Innovations

Also on the Saturday of the show, we have a masterclass with Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich master blender, who will lead us through some of the distillery’s most innovative expressions. Tickets go on sale at 3pm BST on Thursday 15 September.

More details »

Swinging it back round to Scotch this week, Lagavulin 8 Year Old. A young but very impressive single malt.

https://youtu.be/L2a025DiVKM 

THE MACALLAN CELEBRATES COMMITMENT TO WOOD

Limited edition gifting series launched

The Macallan single malt whisky has unveiled a new premium gifting series, inspired by the brand’s commitment to exceptional oak casks, featuring a range of whiskies in the current portfolio. This celebration of wood highlights the oak casks which deliver 100% natural colour and account for up to 80% of the character of The Macallan.

The Macallan’s commitment to wood is unrivalled in the industry. From each acorn and individual tree, through to the selection of the sherry bodega that seasons the cask to their specifications, this obsession ensures The Macallan produces exceptional whiskies with rich colour and flavour delivered from the casks.

This new series, which features three distinct designs, is to be released sequentially over the next three years, beginning with Oak Forests.

The limited edition Oak Forests value added gift packs include The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Carton, The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Tin, The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Glass Pack and The Macallan Amber Glass & Water Jug Pack.

Available for a limited time only, this gifting series makes for the ideal gift or a collectable for any Macallan whisky enthusiast and has real standout appeal. The use of stunning photography showcased on these limited edition packs will appeal to those who love The Macallan and those looking for that special gift.

The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Carton

This single footprint carton box has a striking image which explores the journey of wood throughout the pack. The photography features on the limited edition label to help drive collectability and shelf-standout. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Carton will be available from Sainsbury’s and Asda from September 2016.

The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Tin

A single footprint limited edition presentation pack made of tin with striking imagery reflecting an exploration of the journey of wood theme throughout the pack. The outer packaging will be collectable with the option of use by the consumer after purchase. The photography on the limited edition label will help drive collectability. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Tin will be available from Waitrose and Tesco from September 2016.

The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Glass Pack

This double footprint limited edition rigid box has striking imagery which explores the journey of wood throughout the pack. The pack contains two etched whisky glasses inspired by the oak used to craft The Macallan’s exceptional casks. Distinctive glasses will be released annually to drive collectability. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Glass Pack will be available from specialist and luxury whisky retailers from November 2016.

The Macallan Amber Glass & Water Jug Pack

This double footprint limited edition rigid box has striking imagery which explores the journey of wood throughout the pack. The glassware is bespoke to this limited edition, with wood etching featured on both The Macallan glass and water jug. Distinctive glasses will be released annually to encourage consumers to collect the series. The Macallan Amber Glass & Water Jug Pack will be available from specialist and luxury whisky retailers from November 2016.

The Macallan Gold value added gifting packs are available for an RRP of £38. The Macallan Amber value added gift pack is available for an RRP of £48.95.

Notes

The Macallan

About The Macallan:

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds 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, a Highland manor built in 1700, at its heart.

Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes :Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.

www.themacallan.com

Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

On the back of our recent Balvenie release (a secret blend we had to call “John McCrae” for legal reasons), we still have one more secret to share with you from our latest Hepburn’s Choice selections. This “William Hepburn” edition is another teaspooned cask, which means once again (as with the Balvenie) we’re dealing with a blended malt whisky due to that additional teaspoon of malt whisky added by the distillery; a blend comprised of 99.9999% Macallan and .0001% something else.

We were really overwhelmed by this whisky when we tasted it in Glasgow this past March, and having tasted it again recently we’re still impressed. It’s a simple, no frills, ten year old hogshead cask that is as basic as basic gets, but in that simplicity is complete balance and grace. While Macallan is traditionally aged in Oloroso sherry butts, this version comes a refill hogshead cask, so there’s nothing but a touch of oak to round out the inherent malt flavor. Without the bright lights, the make-up, the pomp, and the heavy Oloroso sherry maturation, Macallan is a pretty damn good whisky. The proof? It’s right here. This whisky is all sweet grains, lush fruit, and soft vanilla. It’s also a really good price. Cask strength, single barrel Macallan for less than fifty bucks? We would have backed up the truck if we could have bought more. Unfortunately, one barrel was all they had.

2006 William Hepburn (Macallan) 10 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” Single Barrel Cask Strength Blended Malt Whisky (750ml) ($49.99)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 08, 2016

Wow, this whisky caught me a bit off guard. The fruitiness and the weight are much richer than the color gives off and the texture of the malt is concentrated and hearty. I never would have thought this was Macallan, yet it was interesting to see just how good their spirit is before it goes into sherry cask. A really fun little whisky to dig into.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 08, 2016

This whisky shows you exactly how good Macallan whisky really is because it’s a snapshot of what the legendary Highland whisky tastes like without the sherry influence. There’s no Oloroso character whatsoever: no toffee, or caramel, or nuttiness whatsoever. What remains however is pure texture. A creamy, rich, and inherently supple malt that is brilliant completely on its own, natural and with no make up. It’s brimming with sweet stone fruit and soft cereal grains, bolstered by just the right amount of vanilla from the oak cask. Macallan fans will go crazy for this. People who thought they didn’t like Macallan will take a second look. You really understand what makes that whisky so special when you taste this.

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

SEPTEMBER UPDATE: MEMBERS’ TOP SENSORY JOURNEYS

Where have your fellow-members been transported to with September’s drams? Top of the list are tropical flavours to enjoy in a hammock, smoky Islay beach barbecues and warming Spanish sherry. Some are sold out by the bottle but still available as part of the Sunset Trio and Mind-Wandering Case – order now to get one of the last bottles safely stowed away!

No. 1: Spicy & sweet

48.78 The perfect hammock dram
Still available in the Mind-Wandering Case!
BUY CASE >

No. 2: Oily & coastal

3.286 Islay village peat-smoke haze
Still available in the Mind-Wandering Case!
BUY CASE >

No. 3: Deep, rich & dried fruits

36.108 Warms you from the inside out
Still available in the Sunset Trio!
BUY TRIO >

No. 4: Juicy, oak & vanilla

54.39 ‘Get a kick out of it’
£48.20
BUY >

No. 5: Sweet, fruity & mellow

50.79 Tickly, zesty and exotic
Still available in the Mind-Wandering Case!
BUY CASE >

No. 6: Lightly peated

3.284 Salt and smoke
£74.80
BUY >

No. 7: Deep, rich & dried fruits

30.93 Tonka bean crème Brûlée
£77.30
BUY >

No. 8: Spicy & sweet

39.131 Caribbean habanero hot sauce
£49.10
BUY >

No. 9: Young & spritely

41.77 Spring in your step
£49.10
BUY >

No. 10: Lightly peated

66.89 Sea breezes over Lilliput
£63.90
BUY >

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

Saturday September 17th

12- 4 PM 

Single Malt Saturday with anCnoc and Old Pulteney

Single Malt Saturday returns to the Whisky Shop with a free tasting of AnCnoc and Old Pulteney whiskies. We’ll be sampling some rare drams as well as new and best selling releases from both distilleries. This is a great opportunity to learn more about classic Highland scotch, with distillery representatives and whisky experts  present to answer all your whisky questions.

RSVP on Facebook

Pour List:

Old Pulteney Navigator

A rich, full-bodied whisky that suggests the ocean that inspired it. This multiple award-winning whisky has been lauded for its complex aroma and taste since its release, balancing sweet, crisp, and spice to produce a richly flavored dram.

anCnoc 22 Year Old

A well aged 22 year old edition of whisky aged in both American bourbon casks and Spanish oak Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks and bottled at 46% with no colouring or chill filtration. This mixture of casks produces a delicious honey-sweet but unmistakably smokey dram with a long, luxurious spicy finish.

Old Pulteney 12 Year Old

Matured wholly in air-dried, hand-selected ex-bourbon casks, the ‘unashamedly excellent’ Old Pulteney 12-years-old is the definitive expression in the Old Pulteney family. Traditionally crafted using techniques that other distillers have long abandoned, this winner of numerous gold medals at the most prestigious international competitions is a high water-mark of quality spirits. A dry, medium bodied whisky with a smoothness redolent of honey and cream and a sweet, faintly salty, and long lasting finish.

AnCnoc Blas

Blas, Gaelic for ‘taste’, has been created in partnership with Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant.  The unique bottle and tube design embodies everything anCnoc represents; its Highland home, rich heritage and the spirit of A Modern Tradition.  This Limited Edition expression has matured in Spanish and American oak, and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

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Love whisky and want to try more?

Here’s what’s happening this fall:

Friday September 23rd 2-4PM:

Free Laphroaig Tasting with

Distillery Manager John Campbell

The Whisky Shop, 360 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94108