WHISKY OF THE YEAR WITH THE WHISKY EXCHANGE TEAM

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER
FROM 7.30-9PM
£35 + BOOKING FEE
Tickets on sale at 2pm
on Tuesday 25 October
BUY TICKETS »

To avoid the inevitable arguments here at TWE HQ, we are again calling on our customers to take on the annual task of tasting great drams and declaring one of them our Whisky of The Year!

We have narrowed down the list to eight whiskies – a few old favourites and some great new drams. All the contenders are single malt Scotch whiskies under £60, bottled at standard strengths.After a welcome drink, we will try all eight whiskies blind, with a surprise ninth to keep you going while the scores are being counted – the winner will be announced at the end of the night.

The tasting will take place on
Monday 7 November from 7.30pm

£35 per ticket

Tickets on sale at 2pm on Tuesday 25 October

BOOK NOW

VENUE

BROWNS COVENT GARDEN
THE JUDGE’S COURT
82-84 ST MARTIN’S LANE
LONDON WC2N 4AG

+44 (0)20 7100 0088
coventgarden@thewhiskyexchange.com

PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE VENUE FROM 7.15PM FOR A 7.30PM START

The Olde Mouldy lends you a helping hand in making up your mind about attending the Lagavulin Masterclass coming up on Wednesday, November 2 at 6pm because we are very thoughtful

It’s been four weeks now since we announced our Lagavulin masterclass, which means hopefully you’ve been paid twice since then and we expect you’ve been scrimping and saving in order to budget $355 for this event. Well we’re delighted to tell you that there are still tickets left! Since then, we have also announced that we’ll be celebrating our first anniversary immediately following the tasting, so you can stick around, have some food, and taste a couple more very special whiskies if you like.

Sometimes it’s hard to know, though, how special or delicious a whisky is going to be, when someone just throws ages and vintages at you, so we’ve assembled some tasting notes of the rarities for you to peruse if you’re the sort to find that helpful. Warning: You might consider donning a bib first to collect the forthcoming drool. Our favorite reviewer is a very experienced and strangely funny man from Alsace named Serge Valentin who pens the unequaled blog Whisky Fun. While it would be more polite to hyperlink you directly to each review, we’ve instead collected and slightly abridged them because his reviews are published in great large tasting sessions, most of which would be irrelevant for your purposes, and he’s been known to waffle rather.

Some of you might be interested to know that Monsieur Valentin is really quite a conservative scorer, though you wouldn’t know it to see the scores he’s given these – we assure you that is only because we truly have assembled quite an enviable lineup. Every other whisky he’s ever tasted has scored a 72.

Spaces can be reserved by emailing yesplease@oldemouldy.com.

Joe Howell

Federal Wine & Spirits

Email: info@federalwine.com

Phone: (617) 367-8605

Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Following on the heels of our instant-sellout 50 Year Invergordon comes another amazing selection in with an inimitable character and stunning age statement. Those who like their whisky old and rich will definitely be interested in the 1973 Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign.” Those who like it rare will love the fact this ancient cask only produced 72 bottles in total. Those who like their whisky dark will revel in the dark mahogany of its hue. Those who only drink whisky from “closed” distilleries can rest easy: Carsebridge was closed in 1983 and demolished in 1992. This 42 year old grain whisky is old, rare, dark, rich, and from a long lost producer. The only thing it isn’t is overpriced! Once again, we used our direct buying power to keep the price reasonable. You’ll find this whisky picks up right where the now-sold out Garnheath left off. The only problem is that we only have 72 bottles.

1973 Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whiskey (750ml) ($249.99)

Much like our other 42 year grain whisky cask from Garnheath distillery, this 42 year old grain also comes from a long lost producer. Carsebridge was one of the many industry casualties of 1983 and was permanently closed after the whisky business suffered serious economic setbacks. The grain facility was originally founded at the end of the 1700s, making it one of the oldest in Scotland until it was completely demolished in 1992, after staying dormant for almost a decade. This 1973 single cask of Carsebridge, bottled for us by Sovereign, is another rich and full-bodied whisky that brings serious bang for the buck. While malt whisky prices for 30+ year old expressions continue to reach four figures, the misunderstood grain whisky market continues to stay low and reasonable. Candied citrus, toasted oak, sweet vanilla, and a richness that can only come from over forty years in wood dance over the palate in waves of Scotch whisky deliciousness. Due to the ancient age, however, this barrel evaporated down quite heavily. Less than 80 total bottles were retrieved and sent to over to us, making this selection a true rarity. Bottled at 53.3%

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 20, 2016

As long as Scotland is willing to sell us 40+ year old grain whiskies for the price of 20 year old single malts, I’m going to keep buying those casks. Grain whisky is one of the most misunderstood categories in the industry and it’s exactly that lack of understanding that keeps costs low. Just like Nikka’s Coffey Grain or the new Haig Club from David Beckham, grain whisky is distilled like Bourbon on a column still from unmalted barley, wheat, corn, or rye, to a more neutral character before being aged in oak like single malt. It’s what’s eventually blended with single malt to create “blended whisky” (the blend being two different types of whisky) like Johnnie Walker. While we’re used to seeing single malt as its own commodity, we rarely see grain whisky make a solo performance. When you taste this Carsebridge, however, you’re going to be wondering why not? It’s rich, decadent, and utterly satisfying. It’s also more than forty years old, at full proof, and satisfying in a way that few 20 year old whiskies can ever be. I think you’ll be pretty happy no matter what kind of whisky you like, ultimately!

Also For Purchase – Limited Availability on our Best Mature Whiskies:

1973Carsebridge 42 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Whiskey (750ml)$249.99 View

1992Longmorn 24 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$159.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Fresh Port #731 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Rum Barrel #761 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 19 Year Old Single Refill Sherry #507 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$259.99 View

1996Springbank 18 Year Old Hunter Laing’s “Old & Rare” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)$299.99 View

1988Highland Park 28 Year Old “Cadenhead” Small Batch Cask Strength Single Malt Sotch Whisky (750ml)$309.99 View

Springbank 21 Year “Single Cask” Oloroso Sherry Butt Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)$449.99 View

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

The Amazon Echo has been launched in the UK and US and now users can test their knowledge of Scotch Whisky courtesy of Andre de Almeida at the ‘Inside the Cask’ blog (http://www.insidethecask.com/).

The Scotch Whisky Quiz is completely free to use for Amazon Echo users. Each time someone access it there is a random set of 10 questions asked with multiple choice answers. Examples of questions asked include:

* Which three ingredients is Scotch whisky made from?

* During Scotch whisky production, at which stage of the process is alcohol made?

Andre created the quiz is to spread the knowledge of Scotch whisky on a new technology platform and to increase the number of visitors to his personal website ‘Inside the Cask’ about drinks, travel and retail.

As someone who has had to train complete beginners on the basics of Scotch whisky (after many years working in the Drinks industry across Maxxium, The Edrington Group, William Grant & Sons and now the Loch Lomond Group) Andre decided to take the initiative to create a Scotch Whisky Quiz for beginners and those interested to learn more in an interactive way through a quiz, via the Amazon Echo.

He had to teach himself during his spare time at weekends on how to create and have an Amazon Echo ‘skill’ (what Amazon calls a voice app) certified and approved by Amazon.

GlenDronach Batch 14

GlenDronach Batch 14 now available at Abbey Whisky. 12 new single casks ranging from 1985 to 2004. Interest for all casks has been incredible, we’re expecting stock sell very quick, so if you’re looking for a set, don’t delay…

Strictly one per person.

GD Batch 14

Clicking the link above will take you through to our New Arrivals section. If you don’t see a particular cask via here or our GlenDronach page, it looks like it has sold out. The site is live, once stock has depleted the item is removed, so that the site is not cluttered with out of stock items… 

GLEN GRANT’S NEW AGED RANGE HAULS IN AWARDS

Glen Grant 18 Year Old wins multiple accolades by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017, including top honour, Scotch Whisky of the Year

Glen Grant 10 Year Old wins Best Single Malt Scotch (10 Years and Younger) for the fifth year in a row

Glen Grant 12 Year Old wins Gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition

UNITED KINGDOM, TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2016 – Glen Grant’s new range of aged single malt Scotch whiskies continues to turn heads as it takes home some of the whisky industry’s most prestigious awards. Launched only a few months ago, each expression has now been awarded with a major industry accolade.

Glen Grant 18 Year Old, the rarest variant in the range, was just named “Scotch Whisky of the Year” by influential whisky writer Jim Murray in the 2017 edition of his famous Whisky Bible. It finished a very close second to overall “Whisky of the Year” and is the first Scotch to make Jim’s top three since 2014. The Speyside malt blew away Jim as he tested 1,241 new samples for the latest edition of his influential guidebook. He says: “It’s the best new offering from the motherland in a few years; a sensational return to form.”

Glen Grant 18 Year Old also won “Single Malt of the Year” and “Best Single Malt 16-21 Years.” Other expressions in the range to take home top honors in the latest Whisky Bible include Glen Grant’s most awarded expression, the 10 Year Old, which for the fifth consecutive year won the coveted Single Malt of the Year 10 Years and Under (Multiple Casks) category.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is the world’s biggest-selling and most influential annual whisky guide. Industry renowned, the compact guide contains roughly 4,500 detailed, professionally analysed and easy to understand tasting notes on the world’s leading and lesser-known whiskies. Each whisky is tasted by Murray himself and graded with an overall score out of 100.

Not to be outdone by the 10 and 18 Year Old variants, Glen Grant 12 Year Old recently won a Gold Medal at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition. The competition is one of the most respected tasting competitions in the world and recognizes and awards only the very best products in wine and spirits industry.

Founded in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant in Rothes, in Speyside, Scotland, Glen Grant boasts a remarkable, double distillation process, which sets its award-winning Single Malts apart from the competition. Created using tall, slender stills and distinctive purifiers, introduced over a century ago by the ingenious James ‘The Major’ Grant and still used to this day, it captures only the finest vapors, producing the refined and seductively smooth taste for which Glen Grant is renowned.

Dennis Malcolm, Glen Grant’s Master Distiller, commented: “We are humbled by all of the incredible awards our new whiskies are receiving. To be named “Scotch Whisky of the Year” is the stuff dreams of whisky makers like myself are made of. There’s a lot of love, passion, and perhaps a wee bit of magic that goes into creating our unique golden liquid, and we’re so proud to see that the consistent quality of these beautiful products is being recognized the world over by such respected industry leaders.”

Glen Grant 10 Year Old: RRP £34 70cl (40%ABV) www.thewhiskyexchange.com/

Glen Grant 12 Year Old: RRP £37.40 70cl (43%ABV) www.thewhiskyexchange.com/

Glen Grant 18 Year Old: RRP £110 70cl (43%ABV) www.thewhiskyexchange.com/ (available from November)

Further information also at:

www.glengrant.com/

www.camparigroup.com/

About Glen Grant

Glen Grant’s story began in 1840, in Rothes, Speyside – Scotland’s premier region for whisky production; by brothers John and James Grant. Still produced in Rothes today, Glen grant holds a range of prestigious industry awards, and is world renowned for its consistent quality across its aged variants.

The elegant and seductively smooth taste for which Glen Grant is famous, is the result of the innovative tall slender stills and revolutionary purifiers that James ‘The Major’ Grant, son of founder James Grant, was one of the first to introduce over a century ago. Still used to this day, this lasting legacy continues to distinguish the brand.

Today, Dennis Malcolm, the multi-award winning Glen Grant Master Distiller, directs and presides over the amber liquid. Born in the grounds of Glen Grant in 1946, he has worked for Glen Grant for over five decades, with an uncommon passion and unrivalled knowledge of the industry. Dennis’ unmatched Scotch whisky experience ensures that every expression in the Glen Grant range makes the absolute best of the complex alchemy of spirit, wood and time

The complete Glen Grant range includes the refined The Major’s Reserve, 5 Year Old, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Non Chill-Filtered, 18 Year Old and a selection of limited edition bottles; each with their own distinct flavour and aroma that perfectly captures the spirit of Glen Grant’s heartland.

Glen Grant became part of the Gruppo Campari portfolio in 2006. The ABV of each Glen Grant single malt Scotch whisky differs between each expression and consumers are encouraged to always drink responsibly.

About Gruppo Campari

Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., together with its affiliates (‘Gruppo Campari’), is a major player in the global beverage sector, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. The Group’s portfolio, with over 50 brands, spans spirits, the core business, wines and soft drinks. Internationally-renowned brands include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey and Grand Marnier. Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari owns 18plants and 4 wineries worldwide and has its own distribution network in 19 countries. The Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com   Please enjoy our brands responsibly

Lawrence Graham of Whisky Intelligence and the Victoria Whisky Festival has received a highly commended award in the annual Icons of Whisky Rest of World in the Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador of the year category.

HIMSELF

In 2016 he was nominated in the category of “Rest of the World” World Whisky Ambassador of the Year in the Icons of Whisky and was subsequently shortlisted along with Candice Baker – Edrington Portfolio (South Africa), Ashok Chokalingam – Amrut Distilleries (India), Ian Chang – Kavalan Distillery (Taiwan), John Quinn – Tullamore D.E.W. (Ireland), Sayumi Oyama – Nikka Whisky Distilling (Japan) and Matt Jones – Beam Suntory (Canada) .

In 2014 he was made a Keeper of the Quaich in recognition for his passion for Scotch Whisky at as ceremony at Blair Castle. He is also a member of the Malt Maniacs and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2016 – 200 Years of Lagavulin

Diageo’s Dr Nick Morgan has spoken about Lagavulin many times this year, with the distillery celebrating its 200th anniversary. But what really came through at The Whisky Show’s 200 Years of Lagavulin masterclass was how much he is in love with the place. He took us through five Lagavulin bottlings, as well as an extremely old and rare White Horse, of which Lagavulin is a key component.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach

Dr Nick Morgan – In His Own Words

‘Lagavulin is one of the most special places in the world. There is something magical about it’

‘The reason we have Lagavulin today is because of Peter Mackie. He was obsessed about the quality of single malt whisky because he was obsessed with the quality of blended whisky. He set up a laboratory at Hazelburn in Campbeltown and introduced the screwcap closure in 1925’

‘It’s Lagavulin’s bicentenary this year, but we don’t actually know how old Lagavulin is!’

‘My first experience of Islay was Kilnave Chapel, the Kildalton Cross, Kilchoman Bay and Finlaggan. I don’t like Lord of the Rings, but it’s like stepping into Lord of the Rings land’

‘I went to Islay and used peat on our fire. This is not what people do on Islay, as I realised when it took six months to get the smell out of the kids’ clothes…’

‘When I look at it from the sea, Lagavulin is just a crazy jumble of buildings’

‘Lagavulin 16 Year Old is one of the most special whiskies in the world. It’s just perfect. It has richness, sweetness, burnt Christmas cake, and an overwhelming phenolic smokiness’

‘Some Lagavulins have a quote from William Black on the label in which he describes it as “just as fine as new milk” – that took about three months to get past the lawyers…’

‘We’re launching a 1991 (25yo) Lagavulin later in the year. All proceeds will go to the legacy fund on Islay. We’ve taken a lot out of the island over the years, so it’s only right that we put something back’

We Tasted

Lagavulin 16 Year Old Beautifully balanced between honeyed fruit and smoke, with oily notes of smoked fish – a classic Islay single malt.

Lagavulin 8 Year Old/200th Anniversary Launched earlier in the year to mark the 200th anniversary, this is all about evocative woodsmoke, tobacco and peppery spice.

White Horse 1938 I’m a big White Horse fan, and had never tried one as old as this before. The closure was in perfect nick, and once opened, the whisky delivered aromatic notes of peach, vanilla and tropical fruit with a touch of smoke. Absolutely beautiful.

Lagavulin 25 Year Old/200th Anniversary Rich and sherried, this was a sublime combination of tobacco, peat smoke, orange peel and cured meat.

Lagavulin 12yo (1980s) Surprisingly sweet, with rich toffee and chocolate orange. There’s some smoke there to balance the rich fruit and sweeter notes. Very classy indeed.

Lagavulin 1991 25 Year Old (charity bottling) For me, the spiciest whisky of the tasting, this balanced citrus and tropical fruit with robust notes of cinnamon and incense.

Thanks to Dr Nick for a fascinating insight into what is one of the best-loved Scotch whisky distilleries around. Lagavulin wins plaudits from all sides of the industry, and its 16 Year Old bottling is, for my money, one of the best bang-for-your-buck whiskies out there.

The Macphunn 16 Year Old

The Story Behind The Dram:

Years and years ago, the story goes, Archibald Macphunn of Drip – a local rogue – was hanged ’till deid’ for sheep-stealing. On the way back across the water with the corpse, his wife, who was nursing an infant bairn, noticed her husband’s body twitch. Putting the baby aside, she raised the man up, and plied him with mother’s milk laced with a wee dram of whisky she had on board. The colour began to return to his cheeks, and Macphunn of Drip revived. Since, by law, he could not be hanged twice for the same crime, Macphunn lived on to a ripe old age.

Sir Fitzroy Maclean handpicked a whisky good enough to commemorate ‘Half-hung Archie’ (as he was known locally) and his son Sir Charles continues the tradition to this day. A 16 year old Speyside Single Malt at cask strength, The Macphunn trumpets taste and excellence in a manner that would surely wake the dead. Sir Charles takes his dram with a little burn water, he says, “to loosen the noose and set the spirit free.”

A single cask expression from Ardmore distillery in the far southeast of Speyside, this cult classic whisky has been matured for 16 years in a sherry cask before being bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.8% abv.

£110 Buy Now

Only available while stocks last

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