Kavalan Amontillado Cask Matured
Released as part of the Kavalan Solist range from King Car distillery is this Amontillado sherry cask matured single malt whisky from Taiwan. Bottled in 2016, 521 bottles were filled from cask at 55.6%.
Macallan “Double Cask” 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($54.99)
Macallan’s latest release is a 12-year-old “double cask” malt, meaning the whisky spent time in both American and European oak (or as we know it, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. In a sense, it’s Macallan’s version of the Balvenie Doublewood or the Glenmorangie Lasanta: a rich and cocoa-laden malt that encompasses the sweeter and more decadent flavors of the sherry while still maintaining the malt’s inherent flavors at the core. The result is quite splendid. Macallan fans will revel in the Double Cask’s richness, its intensity and weight, and the creamy goodness of its palate. The flavors are dark and supple with plenty of cakebread, dark chocolate, and toasted oak. Fans of fine Scotch whisky will appreciate the price and the age statement, especially given the current trend of young whisky being sold at higher costs.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 148: Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2006 for MMM
Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, together with his buddy Imanuel, founded MMM in May 2016. MMM – short for Mark & Manny’s Malts – launched their fourth and final bottling in the Animal Series. It was dubbed The Elephant because this Caol Ila truly is a mighty animal with its cask strength of 59,8% ABV. Mark and Imanuel are quite happy with the discovery (and acquisition!) of this cask. You should have seen their faces when they first tried it. Without a word they looked at each other and immediately had a big smile on their faces. ‘Sold!’ they shouted in unison, followed by a huge guffaw and a high five.
IRISH DISTILLERS LEADS THE WAY IN IRISH WHISKEY FOR JIM MURRAY
– 2017 instalment of the coveted Whisky Bible awards Irish Distillers with the Best Irish Whiskey, Best Single Pot Still and Best Blended Irish Whiskey for fifth year in a row –
Irish Distillers is celebrating after Jim Murray recognised Redbreast 21 Year Old and Jameson Irish Whiskey as Best Irish Whiskey and Best Blended Irish Whiskey respectively in his 2017 Whisky Bible – the fifth year in a row the company has scooped the top awards.
Redbreast 21 Year Old, praised by Murray as “amongst the world’s truly great whiskies and near blue print for the perfect pot still Irish Whiskey”, scored 96/100 points to top the Best Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey category. The expression went on to become Best Irish Whiskey – the fourth time in five years that Redbreast has won both gongs. The accolade rounds off a stellar year for award wins for Redbreast 21 Year Old, including; Chairman’s Trophy at Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Best in Show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold medals at the Beverage Tasting Institute and The Irish Whiskey Masters.
With a score of 95/100 points, Jameson Irish Whiskey cemented its status as a legendary Irish Whiskey with its fourth win in the last five years in the Irish Blended Whiskey category. Well known around the world for its smooth taste and Irish character, the original Jameson was hailed by Murray as a ‘classic’ that remains in ‘stunning, truly wondrous form’.
[Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard], commented: “We are thrilled with the ongoing recognition of Jameson Irish Whiskey and Redbreast 21 Year Old from Jim Murray – the accolades punctuate another fantastic year of success for the brands as the Irish Whiskey renaissance continues around the world. I would like to extend a special thank-you to our team of Irish Whiskey experts at the Midleton Distillery, in County Cork, who craft whiskeys of the finest quality that continue to be deemed the best in their class. It’s an honour to be recognised in the 2017 edition Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – and we look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence in the future”
Now in its 14th year, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible contains tasting notes for around 5,000 whiskies from all over the world. The most complete and up-to-date whisky anthology also includes some of the most authoritative and well respected whisky awards in the industry.
Notes to Editors
About Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 26 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 5m cases in 2015. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 50 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.
Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Powers & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. In 2015, we completed a €220m investment which doubled our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.
We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.
More information at www.irishdistillers.ie/.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
The Whisky Report Autumn 2016
Visit www.whisky-report.com and download your copy of The Whisky Report
Enjoy the Power of The Whisky Report
ONE THOUSAND WHISKIES. That’s how many drams we will have in our first year. All’s blind, of course. For us it’s all about taste, no fancy label shall mislead our honest opinion of every single whisky. Whisky & Bourbon Magazine is fiercely independent, we never second-guess a given score. Good stuff deserves attention despite its origins, either it comes from one of the big guys or an independent bottler you’ve never heard of.
We will never sample everything, no one can, the global whisky scene is changing too fast. But we will be there when it happens. We’re not print, our strength is that the Report is a digital publication. When a new whisky launches and enters the shops you can read about it on Whisky-Report.com. In short, our reviews are based on whisky sold right now. And the samples come directly from the distilleries.
You’ll get a digital PDF report four times a year. In between we do special minority reports (whenever we got material that needs quick attention). As an open-handed service to our subscribers we will collect all material once a year and do a lavish “bible”, a printed yearbook looking back to all that’s passed.
Accuracy is vital to us. We take our research into every whisky serious. Info on cask and age variation comes directly from the source. We even check market availability and recommended price for you. Along with our reviews you should have all the necessary info to make a sound buying-decision. Apart from the news section in each issue we look at various themes and often focus on a select distillery. And when it’s relevant, we look back and compare fresh editions with predecessors to demonstrate development/evolution in character.
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Johnnie Walker Blue Label Winter Edition
Arriving just in time for Christmas, only 600 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Winter Edition have been made available to purchase in the UK. Presented in a beautiful two-tone blue bottle with golden snowflake accents, this limited edition is the ideal gift for any whisky lover.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the pinnacle of Blended Scotch Whisky making from Johnnie Walker. Only 1 out 10,000 casks is deemed to be of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste, and these casks are drawn from the largest reserves of whisky in the world. Blue Label is a big flavoured whisky that reflects the Walker belief that neither whisky age alone, nor whisky from a single location, is enough to achieve the creation of a masterpiece.
Layers of big flavour, deep richness and smoke, layers of honey and fruit and an incredibly smooth finish deliver this truly rare character.
Angel’s and Demons Cinnamon Whiskey – Forget the big brands, this is the new kid on the block. It’s sugar sweet and cinnamon spicy and goes down so smooth. Keep a bottle in the freezer and enjoy it with all your angelic and demonic friends this weekend.
Backbone Bourbon – Skeletons beware, this will tickle your ribs and warm your spine! It’s a great young bourbon that will warm you on a cool Halloween night. Cheers, -The Party Source Liquor Department.
95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, KY 41073
(859) 291-4007
WILD TURKEY RELEASES AMERICA’S FAVOURITE BARREL PROOF BOURBON IN THE UK
‘Bourbon Buddha’ hit arrives in time for Fall and Thanksgiving celebrations
Drinkers who like their spirits with big bold flavours have a new way to wet their whistle with Wild Turkey® Rare Breed® landing in the UK for the first time. Bottling at barrel proof (uncut with water) gives an extra edge to the rich and silky bourbon whiskies that have aged for six, eight and 12 years in oak barrels at the distillery’s home in Lawrenceberg, Kentucky.
Already the number one barrel proof bourbon in the USA, Rare Breed has been carefully crafted, without compromise, by Jimmy Russell, the legendary 82 year old Master Distiller of Wild Turkey (in his home town, Jimmy is known as the ‘Bourbon Buddha’). The result is an exceptionally rich full-bodied bourbon with sweet notes, spicy characteristics and a long, dried fruit finish. Attaining an easy-drinking bourbon at such a high alcohol strength (56.4% ABV) is no easy feat.
Commenting on the product, Jimmy’s son, and fellow Master Distiller, Eddie Russell said: “We’ve always liked to age our bourbons for longer than many other distillers and when it’s tried like this without water, you can really see why this makes sense. The Wild Turkey peppery, spicy characteristics burst out, but they’re sweetly rounded from the years of maturation in brand new oak barrels. Hell, it’s so smooth Jimmy keeps his in the freezer so he can serve it chilled without ice diluting it.”
To make a batch of Rare Breed, only the finest bourbons are selected from the warehouses. The six year old whiskies gives the drink a lively kick, the eight year olds offers a smooth heart and the 12 year olds deliver a rich depth.
The release of Rare Breed in the UK comes at a time when bartenders and consumers are tuning into the qualities of bourbon, both in cocktails like the old fashioned and neat, often as a boilermaker partner. Judges at the world’s top competitions also recognise Rare Breed’s excellence – it collected a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Spirits Competition earlier this year.
Available from Amazon, The Whisky Exchange and specialist retailers with a RRP of £47.95 for a 700ml bottle, Wild Turkey Rare Breed is on shelf from now. The stocky glass bottle comes with a cork stopper and both the bottle and outer pack carry awesomely detailed turkey illustrations.
Tasting notes:
Colour: Bright amber
Nose: Dense aromas of roasted whole nots, peppercorns, banana custard pie and burnt sugar with a round silky medium-full body
Taste: Tongue-warming polished wood, lemongrass, slate and white pepper finish (with water added, rounds out to a long, lingering finish with dried fruits)
Wild Turkey on Facebook: /wildturkey Wild Turkey on Twitter: @WildTurkeyUK
ABOUT WILD TURKEY
The Distillery for Wild Turkey Bourbon is located in Kentucky, situated on a deep limestone shelf on the Kentucky River. The shelf acts as a natural filter and provides the distillery with crystal clear water, vital to making such a high quality product. The whiskey is fermented for 72 hours. Wild Turkey features the legendary father and son Master Distilling team of Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who have 90 years of combined experience making bourbon.
The famous Wild Turkey brand name first came about back in 1940 when distillery executive Thomas McCarthey took a few warehouse samples on a Wild Turkey hunting trip with a group of friends. The following year, his friends asked him for “some of that Wild Turkey whiskey” and the brand was born.
Wild Turkey is distilled and put into new oak barrels at a much lower ABV than most bourbon. This results in a much richer flavor, as less is cooked out during the production process. Ageing in the highest quality new American oak barrels with the heaviest char available (the Number 4 “alligator” char), imparts a smooth flavor and deep amber color to the whiskey. Wild Turkey is one of only a few bourbons to use this expensive, deep char.
The barrels are filled at the distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. www.wildturkey.com
ABOUT Campari UK:
Gruppo Campari’s UK subsidiary, headquartered in London. A multicultural and dynamic team composed of 40 Camparistas from 10 different nationalities. Established on March 1st 2015, it took over from J. Wray & Nephew UK, a well-established brand builder and distributor of premium Jamaican rums. At the heart of Campari UK there are two main portfolio offerings: the Italian portfolio with heritage brands such as Campari and Aperol and the white & dark spirits portfolio, led by the Jamaican rum brands Appleton Estate Rum and Wray & Nephew Overproof, as well as Wild Turkey Kentucky Bourbon. The company spans an unrivalled premium spirits and specialty offer in its quality, innovation and style and is also the exclusive UK distributor for Bulldog Gin. www.campariuk.com
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, Cinzano, SKYY Vodka and Wild Turkey. Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari owns 16 plants and 2 wineries worldwide and has its own distribution network in 19 countries. The Group employs around 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: www.camparigroup.com . Please enjoy our brands responsibly.
Late October 2016 Outturn Offerings
Special Bundle – A Tale of Two Glens
Cask No. 64.65 $135
Bitter-sweet as lost love
Speyside, Lossie
The nose had unstinted salivating sweetness (toffee, marshmallows, nougat, maple syrup on ice-cream, Crunchie bars, sugary espresso dregs) plus a mesmerising melange of exotic fruits, some pine and old-fashioned perfumes. The palate was really juicy and lively – slightly bitter but attractive fruits dancing jigs on our willing tongues (kumquat, preserved lemon, Caribbean punch, sherbet lemons) – we also got balsamic glaze, cinnamon stick, vanilla and juicy oak. The reduced nose seemed fruitier, fresher and mouth-watering, with pineapple, apricot, melon, tutti frutti and lemon tart. The reduced palate was as bitter-sweet as Tennyson’s lost love – lemon drizzle cake, bitter lemon and pickled ginger.
Drinking tip: It’s quite lively – something to put you in the mood for dancing, funfairs or sky-diving.
Colour: Aladdin’s lamp
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 14 years
Date distilled: April 2001
Alcohol: 60.3%
USA allocation: 90 bottles
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow
*AMANDA’S SELECTION*
Cask No. 29.178 $170
Bee-smoker on a pebble beach
Islay
We detected something of the sea on the nose – fresh oysters, a pebble beach, boat-decks and rush matting in a fisherman’s cottage. Beyond that we got gooseberry and lemon, salted caramel and bubble-gum bonbons – maybe also some bacon crisps. The palate was deliciously smoky, salty and floral – violets, lavender and sherbet straws, with dry earthy spices and an almost coal-dust minerality. The reduced nose evoked swimming pools in exotic parks or gardens, scented candles, dried seaweed and burnt paper in a bee-smoker. The palate had become a sweet, smoky, floral delight, with burnt flower bouquets and honey on charred staves.
Drinking tip: With oysters or when celebrating.
Colour: Old rolled gold
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 20 years
Date distilled: April 1995
Alcohol: 55.0%
USA allocation: 84 bottles
Flavour profile: Peated
Cask No. 7.133 $125
A bag of boiled sweets
Speyside, Lossie
Very prickly to start, then develops into zingy boiled sweets – acid drops, lemon sherbets; fresh overall, but with an oaky base, especially apparent on the tongue. Water introduces canvas and plastic (new trainers), warm leatherette (the interior of a new Jaguar), the sweet freshness now sour green apples and travel sweets dusted with icing sugar. The taste is sweet, then immediately sour; spritely, with mulled wine spices and a warming finish. This would drink well straight from the freezer in a chilled martini glass.
Drinking tip: A bracing aperitif
Colour: Moonlight
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 12 years
Date distilled: September 2003
Alcohol: 57.9%
USA allocation: 90 bottles
Flavour profile: Young & spritely
Cask No. G4.10 $240
Coffee toffee
Grain
We imagined sitting in an old church with polished pews, natural wax candles wearing a freshly starched white shirt and opening up a new cedar wood trinket filled with caramel flavoured marshmallows and honey roasted mixed nuts. Rich, creamy, silky-smooth mouthfeel like runny honey or maple syrup with fragrant wood spice and the slight tart finish of a fresh stick of rhubarb. Water turned it into a mocha java coffee with plenty of whipped cream and cinnamon and chocolate shavings sprinkled on top. To accompany the coffee we had candy and peanut brittle, creamy vanilla fudge, as well as chocolate covered toffee.
Drinking tip: With a cup of joe
Colour: Deep honey
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 34 years
Date distilled: February 1982
Alcohol: 52.8%
USA allocation: 60 bottles
Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet
Cask No. 46.30 $135
Flowers and chocolates for Churchill
Speyside, Lossie
The nose beckoned us into a garden centre, with green, leafy, floral and earthy elements, including the shop selling cane furniture and Yankee candles; in time we were transported to Churchill’s cabinet room (leather, wood and cigars). The palate was a bitter-sweet experience – vanilla, chocolate and sugared strawberry sweetness against more bitter aspects of wood, lime, ash and floral perfumes. With water, the nose presented rose and lime chocolate creams in paper cups in a wooden box. The palate turned considerably sweeter – burnt toffee, cookies and ice-cream – still some gooseberry, rhubarb and lime – but now wrapped in tasty, floral sweetness.
Drinking tip: To accompany afternoon tea in a garden
Colour: Chardonnay
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 14 years
Date distilled: September 2000
Alcohol: 58.6%
USA allocation: 138 bottles
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla
Cask No. 93.69 $135
Props for a Hammer film
Campbeltown
The nose starts with dried dates and figs, polished wood, leather and hand-made Iranian carpets (a Middle Eastern market?) – Eventually finding other fruits (apricots, stewed plums, baked apple) and sweet coconut (like Peshawari naan) – definitely Eastern, exotic and alluring. The palate combines deep sweetness (malt extract, syrup of figs, muscovado) with lots of wood, spice cupboard warmth (turmeric, garam masala), tree-bark and eucalyptus. The reduced nose finds black rococo tulips, liquorice, leather and Fernet Branca (props for a Hammer film perhaps). The palate has manuka honey, black tea, All-bran and Demerara crunch – now sweeter and lip-smackingly more-ish – a serendipitous discovery.
Drinking tip: After dinner with espresso.
Colour: Amber
Cask: Second-fill Oloroso butt
Age: 14 years
Date distilled: April 2002
Alcohol: 59.5%
USA allocation: 114 bottles
Flavour profile: Oily & coastal
Cask No. 44.65 $210
Subtle Complexity
Speyside, Spey
The nose neat was very soft, gentle and enticing compared to an Impressionist painting creating patches of light with soft pinks and purples. Aromas mentioned were sweet and salty crunch nut bars with honeycomb, a bowl of porridge with golden syrup and chocolate rice crispy cakes. A soft gentle heat to taste reminded us of roast pork in sweet tangy apple sauce. Water added more sweetness, tropical fruit salad with big pineapple chunks and cream, as well as Stroopwafel over a Latte. There was the exciting fizziness and juiciness of a Vin Gris with flavours of pear, mango and strawberry – subtle but complex.
Drinking tip: Whilst admiring the painting ‘Dance at le Moulin de la Galette’
Colour: Ash Blonde
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 24 years
Date distilled: August 1990
Alcohol: 52.4%
USA allocation: 60 bottles
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow
Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com
