Strathearn Distillery Inaugural Whisky Auction 

We are delighted to offer for auction the inaugural release of 100 bottles from Strathearn Distillery!

The first of a new generation of small distilleries and ‘probably Scotland’s smallest’, Strathearn produces single cask, single malt whisky using traditional methods.

The auction will run from 09.00 BST on 23rd August through to 1st December. The end date coincides with the 3rd anniversary of the distillery and the point at which the spirit can legally be called Scotch whisky.

Still a work in progress, the spirit will continue to be matured in a single octave sized cask throughout the run of the auction, with the individually numbered bottles being filled after the auction end date.

The finished product will be available for dispatch from 12th December and if you are the lucky highest bidder on bottle 001, you will have your whisky hand delivered by the distillery!

For more information, contact Whisky Auctioneer on –

01738 245576 / info@whiskyauctioneer.com

or Strathearn Distillery on –

01738 840100 / info@strathearndistillery.com

Happy bidding and good luck!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
CIGAR AND WHISKY PAIRING
WITH GLENFARCLAS AND JAMES J FOX

Cigars and whisky are a time-honoured tradition. At The Whisky Show this year, cigar experts James J Fox will be teaching us how to pair the flavours of both. There will be three classes each day, each matching a different cigar with a great-tasting whisky from Glenfarclas. The cigars will vary from light to heavy in character for each class, and a cigar expert will be on hand to lead us through the pairings.

CIGAR AND WHISKY PAIRING SATURDAY TICKETS

CIGAR AND WHISKY PAIRING SUNDAY TICKETS

The Whisky Show Tickets Now On Sale!

1-2 October 201611.30am-6.30pm

Old Billingsgate, LondonTickets now on sale!

BOOK YOUR TICKET »

If you suffer from triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) then you may not be able to enjoy this message. But try one of the brand new bottlings from Batch 13 of the BenRiach Single Cask series and you’re guaranteed to be cured!*

With single cask expressions ranging from 16 to 40 years old, a variety of finishes from Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheons to Tokaj hogsheads, and so few bottles available worldwide, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

*Not a guarantee. Hamish cannot be held responsible for screaming triskaidekaphobics

GLENDRONACH RE-RELEASES 14 YO VIRGIN OAK WOOD FINISH

AWARD-WINNING GLENDRONACH is delighted to launch today (18 August 2016) its new special edition 14 year old Virgin Oak Wood Finish.

It’s a re-release of the critically-acclaimed 14YO Virgin Oak first issued in July 2010.

Bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and with natural colour, this delicious single malt was matured initially in European Oak casks and thereafter finished its maturation in a small batch of the finest Virgin Oak casks, giving the whisky its own unique flavours and aromas.

The result is a nutty, sweet and fruity dram bursting with banana, melon and coconut.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “Six years ago we broke new ground by releasing four new GlenDronach Wood Finishes, the ­first to be released by the distillery in its 180-year history.

“They were warmly received worldwide so today we’re re-releasing the 14YO Virgin Oak Wood Finish and I’m confident it will win even more fans.

Colour

Light gold. Freshly harvest straw.

Nose

Toasted oak elements which are so intense that smoky attributes emerge. Sweet and lush tropical fruits rise with prominence. Banana and cacao, with roasted coconut.

Palate

Spiced ginger and cinnamon cake with a beautiful smoky twist. Creamed desiccated coconut and fresh buttered toast with a handful of hazelnuts on the side.

Conclusion

A glorious nut feast with superb depth.

Keep an eye on the GlenDronach website http://www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk/ and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on new releases, tasting notes and exclusive product photography

As true whisky-lovers know, whisky is not just a comforting, curative, toddy for a cold Autumn day. The classic Whisky Sour makes the perfect antidote to hot summer days; a simple drink to whip up it can be easily to make at home and is a vessel for invention. As our American friends enjoy National Whisky Sours day on 25th August we have put together some of the best whisky sours from those in the know.

Award-winning new whisky brand, R&B Distillers has put its stamp on this classic. Their recipe showcases R&B’s single grain whisky, muddled with fresh pineapple and topped with grapefruit bitters to give this simple tipple a zingy twist.

The Gallery in West Hampstead has whittled their 101 strong whisky menu down to create Sweet & Sour cocktail menu. The sour spectrum ranges from the Smokey with Laphroig & Monkey Shoulder to the spicy cardamom-infused Rittenhouse Rye sour.

New opening TRADE UNION in Wapping keeps things simple and elegant. Their classic whisky sour is made with Jim Beam Double Oak and topped in traditional style with a cherry and a lemon slice.

R&B Distillers 

Borders Sour

Ingredients:

50ml Borders highland single grain Scotch whisky

30ml fresh lemon juice

2 chunks of fresh pineapple

20ml Gomme syrup

A couple of splashes of grapefruit bitters

Ice cubes

Lemon peel garnish

Method:

1. Add pineapple chunks to a cocktail shaker with Gomme syrup and use a muddling stick to dissolve into a puree.
2. Add lemon juice, grapefruit bitters, whisky and ice and stir to desired dilution.
3. Strain into a glass over ice.
4. Garnish with lemon peel and serve.

TRADE UNION

Ingredients:

50ml Jim Beam Double Oak

25ml lemon juice

15ml Gomme

2 dash angastorra

Method:

Add gomme and lemon juice to boston. Add Jim Beam Double Oak and 2 dashes of angastora bitters and egg white. Shake over ice. Pour over cubed ice and garnish with a cherry and lemon slice

Dornoch Whisky Festival 28-30 October 2016

Following on the success of the inaugural event in 2015, the local distilleries of Glenmorangie, Balblair, The Dalmore, Glen Ord, Clynelish and Old Pulteney have again teamed up with Dornoch venues to provide an exciting menu of whisky based activities for an autumn weekend break.

We are pleased to be joined by Charles Maclean a well known whisky writer and taster, who starred in the film ‘The Angel’s Share’, based in the local Balblair Distillery. A unique opening event is planned on Friday 28^th with Charlie leading a welcome tasting prior to the viewing ‘The Angel’s Share’ in Balblair! He will also be hosting a dinner at Links House and taking a master class in the new Carnegie Whisky Cellars, based in the former Courthouse.

The Dalmore Masked Dinner will be held at the Royal Golf Hotel and the Glenmorangie Gala Dinner at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which celebrates 400 years of golf in 2016. The award winning Whisky Bar in the Castle will host an ‘Old and Rare Balblair Tasting’.

On Saturday 29^th there will be a grand tasting at the Dornoch Castle Hotel followed by Ceilidh and Barbeque, and throughout the weekend master classes and distillery tours will be run, including to Teaninich Distillery, usually closed to the public! There is also an archaeological guided tour of the site of the 300 year old Muchraich Distillery on the Black Isle.

A golf competition on Royal Dornoch, currently rated the 5^th best course in the world by Golf Digest, rounds off the weekend festivities. Do come and join us for a dram! 

On-line ticket sales are now available at www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com/  

Keep up to date by liking the Dornoch Whisky Festival Facebook page

For Whisky Festival accommodation please see www.visitdornoch.com/

For more information please contact lucy@visitdornoch.com

Scotland

Springbank 21 year old Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $449.99 View

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

We continue to offer a fantastic range of Single Cask Whiskies to our members with New Lists going on sale every First Friday of the month. Join us for this regular event which gives you the opportunity to try as many of the new outturn as you wish in small samples (and buy bottlings!). At this Members Tasting a supper is not included, but a limited menu will be available to order from on the evening. Thu 25 August, 7-9.30pm

BUY >

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

BENRIACH LAUNCHES TWO EXTRAORDINARY WOOD FINISHES

WHISKY connoisseurs will be spoilt for choice today (18 August 2016) as BenRiach releases two superb whiskies; a new 17YO Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish and a fantastic 21YO Tawny Port Wood Finish.

The first BenRiach jewel is a new 17YO Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish. Sticky, sweet, spicy and tasting of dark chocolate and coffee beans, it has been matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels and replaces the renowned 15YO expression. This creamy, fruity whisky, at 46% abv, has been finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks sourced from the bodegas of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

BenRiach has long championed the use of Pedro Ximenez casks in which to finish its award-winning whisky. Maturation in these flavourful casks gives the whisky extra sherry sweetness and richness, darkens the spirit and adds notes of syrupy dried fruits, raisins and molasses on the palate.

Colour

Gleaming polished mahogany.

Nose

Creamy spices, chocolate and sugar-coated almonds flow over sweet sultanas and dark fruit cake.

Taste

Dark chocolate and freshly ground coffee beans merge with sweet dates and fresh figs. Delightful, peppery vintage oak and warm cigar box spices add to the long, contrasting finish.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “The 15YO took silver at the 2014 International Wine and Spirits Competition and I believe our new 17YO is destined to do even better.

“It’s a fantastic combination of oak, fruit, spice and sherry, with the sensational Pedro Ximenez influence lending this BenRiach a luscious dark chocolate flavour. It’s a liquid fruit bomb that’s full of sweetness.”

Next up is a superb 21YO Tawny Port Wood Finish. Tasting of fresh cranberries, orange peel and boiled candy, it is bottled at 46% vol and replaces the 15YO Tawny Port finish.

This remarkable 21YO was first matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels and then finished in a small batch of top-quality Tawny Port casks sourced from the Douro region in the north of Portugal.

During this second period of maturation, the slow interaction of the whisky with the Port cask results in sublime flavours and aromas – in particular, a distinctive and rich red fruit taste.

Colour

Rich amber with a copper glow.

Nose

A perfect balance of fresh cranberries and warm white pepper develops to a combination of tart raspberries and boiled candy.

Taste

Delicious toasted oak spices and hints of orange peel develop to a lively contrast of wild red berry compote and sour cherries, followed by a rich stewed barley character.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We launched our critically-acclaimed range of wood finishes ten years ago and since then the response worldwide has been consistently excellent.

“At BenRiach we’ve carefully selected whisky that has been gently maturing in bourbon casks so that drinkers experience the full impact of the Tawny Port cask after it has been finished.

“It’s a phenomenal Speyside Single Malt with a tawny, fruity heart. A slight earthiness from the port is balanced with contrasting rich fruit characters and warm oak spices.

BENRIACH RELEASES BATCH 13 OF ITS “SENSATIONAL” SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS

BenRiach Distillery has today (August 19, 2016) released Batch 13 of its renowned single cask bottlings. 

It comprises twelve superb casks that were bottled in June and all are available as of today. The twelve go from 40 to 16 years old, demonstrating a hugely eclectic range of expressions for which multi award-winning BenRiach is renowned worldwide.

The variety sets BenRiach’s single cask series apart, including whiskies in the classic Speyside style, peated expressions and wood finishes, such as Tawny Port, Burgundy, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Claret, Madeira and Tokaj.

Individually hand-numbered, non chill filtered, bottled at natural colour and presented in a gift tube, each single cask is truly unique.

All twelve casks have been hand-selected by Master Distiller, Billy Walker, who described them as “truly sensational” and added:

“Our much-anticipated batches allow us to identify very special casks in our inventory and every single cask bottling is an exclusive limited release. I have selected these twelve casks because they are outstanding and full of personality.”

Amongst them are some real highlights but the standout is the oldest from 1975. Cask 7028, at 53% vol, is a gleaming rich amber peated Sherry Butt. On the nose, it bursts with tropical fruits and ripe banana with the most distant hint of campfire embers while the taste is of plum skins, dark raisins and hints of yellow pear which hold a robust peat reek. Rich vintage leather and old oaky characters add a classic aged depth.

The cask details are as follows:

1975 cask # 7028 / 40 years old / Sherry Butt / Peated / 53% vol. 

1976 cask # 5462 / 39 years old / Port Hogshead / Peated Tawny Port Finish / 53.8% vol.

1977 cask # 3111 / 38 years old / Port Hogshead / Tawny Port Finish / 43.1%vol. 

1978 cask # 3114 / 37 years old / Port Hogshead / Tawny Port Finish / 48.8% vol.

1986 cask # 3183 / 30 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead / Peated Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 55.6% vol.

1986 cask # 7569 / 29 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / Peated Oloroso Sherry Finish / 51% vol.

1991 cask # 6896 / 24 years old / Burgundy Barrel / Burgundy Finish / 50.6% vol.

1993 cask # 7937 / 22 years old / Claret Hogshead / Claret Finish / 54.3% vol.

1994 cask # 4004 / 22 years old / Tokaj Hogshead / Peated Tokaj Finish / 55.1% vol. 

1995 cask # 5959 / 20 years old / Madeira Hogshead / Madeira Finish / 53.9% vol. 

1998 cask # 6401 / 18 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / Triple Distilled Pedro Ximenez Sherry Finish / 57.3% vol. 

1999 cask # 5043 / 16 years old / Oloroso Sherry Puncheon / Oloroso Sherry Finish / 56.4% vol. 

All twelve will soon be available at retailers worldwide.