Compass Box Deluxe 3 Year Old

Compass Box Deluxe, a blended malt scotch whisky created from 1% three year old and 90% unstated aged malt from a distillery near Brora, along with a peaty 1st fill sherry cask matured whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye. A wonderful creation once again from the chaps at Compass Box. Scotch whisky regulations only permit producers to state the youngest whisky used within an expression, Compass Box have been campaigning for transparency. They believe that Scotch whisky producers should have more freedom and to be able to disclose the age of every component used in their whiskies.

Read more…

Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength Wins Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017

“Take a bow: absolutely superb bourbon! A micro distillery bourbon worth making a macro search for.”

KIRBY, WY (Nov. 2, 2016)— Wyoming Whiskey’s first-ever Barrel Strength Bourbon scored a “Superstar” rating of 95 out of 100 and received a Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017. Murray describes whiskies of this caliber as one of the “Superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live.”

According to Murray, Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength “ticks plenty of boxes here for even the most hard line bourbon lover.” He described the tasting experience as “a stunning volley of molasses and, presumably, rye as there is a real crisp, juicy quality to this delivery. Sets all your taste buds on edge and they are not given a chance to stand down, as the liquorice mounts up in extraordinary degrees.”

The Barrel Strength Bourbon label was created when two special barrels were discovered by Distiller Sam Mead and industry consultant and master blender Nancy Fraley in the fall of 2015. Barrels #442 and #443 had been subjected to extreme heat in their infancy and, as a result, leaked significantly over the years. A total of 22 gallons remained in these two barrels, collectively, and only 96 bottles were made available in select markets. These bottles sold out before they could even hit the shelves and Jim Murray received a fleeting sample of what he would ultimately characterize as “Liquid Gold”.

“Two of our barrels leaked significantly during their time in the warehouse. We believe this accelerated the oxidation process and turned them into excellent barrels of bourbon,” said Wyoming Whiskey Distiller, Sam Mead. “We are honored that Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, one of the most trusted sources in the industry, identified how special this bourbon is.”

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon received a score of 87, which places it in the category Murray describes as “very good to excellent whiskies definitely worth buying.” Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel was awarded an 87.5 and falls in the same category.

Jim Murray’s Liquid Gold award is the third major accolade for Barrel Strength since its release. WhiskyCast’s Mark Gillespie gave it a 97 out of 100 in Episode 533 last fall. Lew Bryson also listed it among “Whisky Advocate’s Top 10 Whiskies for Spring 2016”. Wyoming Whiskey fans can look forward to another Barrel Strength release in late winter 2017 as long as Distiller Sam Mead approves of it.

Wyoming Whiskey continues to evolve its well-rounded whiskey offerings. This fall, they released Outryder Straight American Whiskey. Outryder is Bottled in Bond and represents Wyoming Whiskey’s first use of rye, along with corn and malted barley, to craft a straight whiskey from two distinct mash bills. These two whiskies were laid down in November of 2011 at the behest of co-founder David DeFazio. The first mash bill contains 48% winter rye, 40% corn, and 12% malted barley and the second reflects a traditional bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 20% winter rye, and 12% malted barley. All grains used in Wyoming Whiskey products are non-GMO and grown in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming.

Sign up to become a Whiskey Baron to receive the latest news and special offers from Wyoming Whiskey. For daily updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Wyoming Whiskey

Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. The company and product is a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey. They use the finest corn, wheat, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources. Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming. To learn more, visithttp://www.wyomingwhiskey.com.

1792 SINGLE BARREL NAMED BEST SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

WITHOUT AN AGE STATEMENT 

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Nov. 3, 2016) – World renowned whiskey writer Jim Murray has honored 1792 Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey with a top award in his 2017 “Whisky Bible.” 1792 Single Barrel was named No Age Statement, Single Barrel Bourbon of the Year.

            “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible” contains tasting notes from more than 5,000 whiskies, and this year’s Bible marks 25 years since Murray became the world’s first full-time whisky writer.

            These honors will be published in the 2017 Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible which can be purchased at the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop, select bookstores, or online at www.whiskybible.com.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com/.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT – A GIFT OF SINGLE MALT WHISKY 

Why not treat your loved one to the ultimate Christmas spirit with a premium single malt whisky? We have a selection of award-winning single malts to suit every budget and palate that are guaranteed to impress this festive season…

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old

New to The Macallan portfolio, The Macallan Double Cask will be available to purchase as a Christmas gift for the first time this year. Exclusively sherry seasoned, The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old delivers a distinct American oak style, reflecting a perfect harmony of flavours and natural colour. The delicate flavour of American oak – vanilla, citrus and light oak – rises in prominence as the traditional Macallan character of rich fruit, sherry and wood spice affords a familiar back drop. This is a flavour combination which is guaranteed until the very last drop. The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old is available in specialist whisky retailers including The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt (RRP £53). 

The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin

The Macallan brings together stunning photography with exceptional single malt whisky to create a truly extraordinary gift. Inspired by The Macallan’s commitment to exceptional oak casks, this new limited edition tin features The Macallan Gold and brings to life the natural beauty and quality of the oak used to make The Macallan’s exceptional casks through the medium of beautiful photography. This limited edition gift tin is a decorative and eye-catching keepsake for whisky enthusiasts and collectors. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin is available in Tesco and Waitrose (RRP £38). www.themacallan.com/

Highland Park 12 Year Old

Highland Park 12 Year Old is the ideal gift for fans of flavour and the perfect accompaniment for your Christmas pudding. This single malt is at the heart of Highland Park’s core range and is a rich and well-balanced whisky boasting a honey sweetness, followed by fruity notes with a hint of gentle smoke. Highland Park 12 Year Old is available at multiple retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op (RRP £35). www.highlandpark.co.uk/

Highland Park 18 Year Old

For the whisky aficionado, Highland Park 18 Year Old is an ideal gift this Christmas. Named “Best Spirit in the World” by US spirits writer F. Paul Pacult, this single malt is a masterclass of balance, complexity and refinement. Displaying characteristic toffee sweetness with a full smoky finish it is a whisky that reveals more layers with every glass you enjoy. Highland Park 18 Year Old is available in all good whisky specialists including www.masterofmalt.com and www.thewhiskyexhange.com/ (RRP £99). www.highlandpark.co.uk/

The Macallan Rare Cask

Aged exclusively in sherry oak casks, The Macallan Rare Cask sees soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin pique the nose, giving way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. A single malt produced through meticulous dedication to wood – with some of the casks used to age the whisky from sherry bodegas no longer in existence – it is the perfect gift for those who are fans of craftsmanship and quality.

The Macallan Rare Cask is available in select whisky retailers including The Whisky Shop and Harrods (RRP £200). www.themacallan.com/

Notes 

Please enjoy our brands responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk

About Maxxium UK Limited

Maxxium UK Limited is part of the sales and distribution alliance between Beam Suntory and Edrington and we are proud to represent third-party drinks brands.

For further information on our award-winning range of premium brands and how to enjoy them, please log on to www.maxxium.com/ or www.mixxit.co.uk/

SweetHaus whisky cupcakes for the first 100 visitors!  Thrill of the Grill food truck all day & music by Gina Sobel 1:30-4:30pm.  Our birthday wish is that you will help us support the Nelson County Pantry.  Make a donation while you’re here and receive a special gift!

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Saturday, November 5th Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase

Sunday, November 6th Pig & Whiskey Dinner at Rapture in Charlottesville, VA

Thursday, November 10th Capital Food Fight in Washington, DC Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival in Washington, DC

Saturday, November 12th 1st Birthday Party Celebration at our Visitors Center EmporiYUM Food Market in Washington, DC UVA Football Tailgate at Alumni Hall in Charlottesville, VA Live Arts Gala Afterglow in Charlottesville, VA

Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th Fire, Flour & Fork in Richmond, VA

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY 

Planning a holiday party?  Our Whisky Loft & Visitors Center are available for private events!  E-mail whiskyexperience@vadistillery.com for details

Caol Ila 2003 Private Collection

New 2016 expression matured in Sassicaia wine casks selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. The result is a single malt with a curious mix of summer fruits, bonfire notes and milk chocolate. Nose: Cured bacon aromas lead to blueberry, strawberry, and apricot notes. A defined peat smoke edge is present. Palate: Smooth and tangy; tangerine, raspberry, and ripe banana flavours are complemented by milk chocolate. Bonfire embers linger on the finish. Caol Ila Distillery is famous for the stunning view from its still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, submarines and whales. Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whiskey distillery on Islay it produces peated and some un-peated malt whisky with the distillery range including Caol Ila 12 year old and the Distiller’s Edition. Caol Ila participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

£49.68

SHOP NOW > 

Join us for a christmas shopping evening at st George’s distillery Thursday 10^th November 2016. 5:30pm – 8:00pm Come and enjoy a glass of mulled wine while you browse the shop offering unique gift ideas. We are also offering FREE 15 minute mini guided tours of the distillery, and entrance is FREE!

Looking for unique gifts? Engraved decanters and more

Get a unique gift for a wedding, anniversary or special event. From only £39.99, we can produce a personalised label with your whisky of choice. Alternatively we can produce an engraved bottle with the text, logo or image of your choice from only £54.99.

TIME TO GET BIDDING

The bitter truth is that the Bitter Truth 24 Year Old Rye Whiskey is extremely elusive. We were determined to find a bottle before it is lost to the pages of adoring blog posts and this month, we’ve struck gold – this exceptional single-barrel rye whisky from Willett distillery was distilled in 1984 before being bottled at barrel-proof in 2008 by drink maestros Bitter Truth. If this is a tad young for your tastes, take a look at Harry E Wilken 1917 Special Reserve which was distilled during WWI and bottled during the Prohibition era as a, um, medicine.

The Hanyu Card Series? We’ve got it in Spades, as well as a few aces up our sleeve. From the blockbuster 1985 Ace of Spades to the mischievous Joker, shuffle through and take your pick from the Eight of Hearts, Five of Diamonds and more from this closed Japanese distillery – we hope you get a good deal.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY INSTALLS NEW GRAIN DRYER, REPLACING EXISTING 1950s DRYER

Distillery recycles roughly 750,000 lbs of distilled dried grains each week 

            FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Nov. 1, 2016) This summer Buffalo Trace Distillery replaced one of its grain dryers that dated back to the 1950s. However, removing the dryer and inserting the new one was no small feat. In order to install the new, 63,853 pound dryer, the Louisville Dryer Company had to hoist the massive dryer over the Kentucky River and into the Distillery’s Dryhouse, using a large crane.

            Now in place among four other dryers in use at Buffalo Trace Distillery, the new dryer, though the same size as the one it replaced, is capable of handling 30 percent more work. The Distillery uses these grain dryers to dry the spent grains that were used in the whiskey-making process, then sees that all of its distilled dried grains are recycled and put to use in other ways, specifically by shipping them off to local farmers for feeding livestock and making a variety of food products, like biscuit and pancake mix.

            The Distillery keeps its dryers busy six days a week to keep up with its bourbon production, and sends off roughly 750,000 pounds of distilled dried grains each week to farmers who then reuse that dried grain. Buffalo Trace even sells some of the products made with its recycled grain in its Gift Shop.

            “Everything has a purpose around here,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “Nothing goes to waste. Once our grains serve our intents in our whiskey making process we’re happy to be able to support our local farmers and give that spent grain another purpose.”

            The new dryer installation took place during Buffalo Trace’s annual summer shut down, which typically lasts from about mid-June through the beginning of August. The Distillery uses that time to deep clean all facets of the distilling process and make necessary repairs in order to keep things running efficiently and to get the most use out of its equipment. It’s safe to say that each dryer at Buffalo Trace sees its fair use, as it still has two dryers in place that date back to the 1940s. These old faithful machines will likely be replaced in the coming years as well.

            A time lapse video of the dryer removal and installation, produced by the Louisville Dryer Company can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/BM-86nMnAho

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Forgive me, it has been a long time since our last conversation.

How is everyone? Hope this email finds you all well.

We have been very busy here at Springbank Towers but I am delighted to finally announce the new Society bottles! That’s right, 2 Society bottles:

We have a Longrow 14yo Fresh Sherry cask and a Springbank 15yo Jamaican Rum cask and the details are below. However, before we get to that I must ask you to read on because I have a bit of explaining to do and there is important information that you need to know.

Please read this entire message before replying.

Firstly, how come there are 2 bottles this time?

The reason is not that mysterious or extreme, in fact it is quite simple. As most of you will know the Springbank 15yo was chosen by the members who attended the Society tasting during the Campbeltown Malts Festival. However, we later came to the conclusion that this cask would not give us enough bottles and far too many members would be left disappointed and without a Society bottle.

So we changed our plan. The Longrow 14yo came second in the voting that day so it seemed the obvious choice to release as the main Society bottle.

Autumn 2016 Society Bottle – Longrow 14yo Fresh Sherry 53.2%

NOSE: Rich walnut, pecan, notes of stewed fruits with woodiness and scent of worn leather TASTE: Stewed fruits remain, rhubarb, dunnage warehouse flavour and woody FINISH: Meaty and chewy, dry with menthol as the smokiness builds up.

Society members can buy a maximum of 2 bottles of the Longrow 14yo and the bottles cost £65.00 each. There is a total of 600 bottles.

To purchase your bottle(s) please contact me using the details below:

email: society@springbankwhisky.com 

telephone: +44 (0)1586 552009

So what is happening with the Springbank 15yo?

A very good question!

We always planned to release this whisky to the Society; we just had to work out how to do it fairly given the limited availability. We decided to do a lottery, thus giving everyone an equal chance of getting a bottle.

If you would like to be entered into the lottery then please send me an email telling me you would like to be included. If you are ordering a Longrow 14yo, then you can include in that email that you would also like to be included in the draw (you do not have to order a Longrow 14yo to enter the lottery, you can do these things separately).

The deadline for entry into this lottery is 12 noon (British time) on Monday 14th November 2016. Shortly after this I shall conduct a random draw allocating each of the bottles of Springbank 15yo.

Important: the only members I can guarantee a bottle of Springbank 15yo to are the people who attended the Society tasting at which this bottling was chosen. If you are one of these members can you please contact me within the 2 week deadline and confirm to me if you would like a bottle.

Bonus Bottle – Springbank 15yo Jamaican Rum Cask 51.2%

NOSE: Citrus notes, zesty with fresh orange peel, key lime pie and and milk chocolate TASTE: Ripe bananas and demerara sugar, watermelon and grapefruit FINISH: Sweetness continues with grenadine syrup, sweet potato, root ginger with brine and the saltiness of a Springbank dram

The Springbank 15yo will also cost £65.00, just like the Longrow 14yo, and I shall contact everyone who is allocated one after the draw to arrange payment. There is a total of 228 bottles.

Delivery

As we have welcomed a lot of new members to the Society over the past few months, here is some information on how the Society bottles work when it comes to delivery:

There are a couple of different options for delivery. You can either have the bottle sent to your home address or have it sent to one of our Cadenhead Shops for collection.

Excluding the USA (due to strict import laws), we are able to ship bottles worldwide so if you would like to know the shipping costs for 1-6 bottles to your country then please email me and I will send you over the details. Our prices include all taxes and costs on our side but does not cover any entry fees or taxes which may incur when the whisky reaches it’s destination country. We do not make any money from postage costs, we just charge what we have to to cover our costs.

As mentioned above, we can also ship your Society bottles to the following Cadenhead Shops for collection:

• Edinburgh (UK) for £2 per bottle
• London (UK) for £2 per bottle
• Cologne (Germany) for free
• Berlin (Germany) for free
• Salzburg (Austria) for free
• Odense (Denmark) for free

If you would like your bottle delivered to any of the Cadenhead shops mentioned then PLEASE state this when ordering your bottle.

If you order your bottle to be delivered to any of our European stores then you will pay for the bottle when you collect it from the stated shop. The European shops usually get orders every 2-3 months so if you would like it sent there then please let me know and I can arrange it with the next shipment. Please allow a bit of time for the delivery and as soon as I have a shipping date then I will let you know. Can I kindly ask that you wait until you have heard from me before phoning the shops to ask if they have arrived.

In addition to the two options above and for any of our members living in Canada, one of our stockists in Calgary, Kensington Wine Market, are able to import Society bottles so if you would like to have your bottle sent to them for collection then please let me know this and we can get it arranged.

Please note:

For practical reasons relating to the bottling schedule, we had to bottle the Longrow 14yo shortly before it officially became 15yo. I mention this incase anyone has concerns about the label but please let me assure you that the label on the front of the Longrow 14yo is correct, although at first it may look as if we can’t count 😉

And lastly, please be aware that I shall probably experience a high volume of emails and calls over the next few weeks (definitely during this week) and as such I ask that you please give me a couple of days to reply to any queries or questions. I will reply to you as soon as I am able.

To summarise, the Longrow 14yo is available for purchase right now. Allocation of the Springbank 15yo will be decided by a random draw; you have until 12 noon on Monday 14th November to put your name forward for that. Both bottles cost £65.00.

I hope that all makes sense to everyone but if you do have a question just drop me an email and I shall get back to you as soon as possible.

Lets not leave it so long this time…

Slainte

Nathan

Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact Nathan at society@springbankwhisky.com