Springbank 21 Year Old Single Cask

Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

NEW EDINBURGH BAR OFFERS EVER-CHANGING SPECTRUM OF whisky FLAVOURS 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society unveils Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar at its 28 Queen Street venue following massive makeover

Whisky fans in Edinburgh and visiting single malt lovers from all over the world are in for a treat this August with the news that The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has launched Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar, as part of a major refurbishment of its 28 Queen Street venue.

Kaleidoscope, which opened its doors on 1^st August, will be Edinburgh’s ultimate whisky destination, welcoming everyone from novices to connoisseurs, and locals and international visitors, to explore its ever-changing spectrum of whisky flavours. More than 200 rare single malt whiskies and other spirits are available at the bar each month, with the selection changing regularly throughout the year.

The £300,000 project saw the whole venue, which was first opened in 2004, transformed with a striking new look combining classic features with contemporary design created by Surface ID, the Glasgow designers behind renowned venues such as Stravaigan, Left Bank and Grosvenor Café.

The Society uniquely releases a new selection of its rare single cask single malt whiskies every month, providing Kaleidoscope with a constantly changing menu of choices to explore. A limited range of extremely rare proprietary whiskies carefully selected for the SMWS by a special guest curator will also be available at the bar.

In addition to the whiskies, the bar offers classic whisky cocktails with a Society twist, beers partners Paolozzi Edinburgh Beer Factory and Alechemy, and a range of bar food including sharing platters, a grill section and pairings with whisky.

As part of the refurbishment project, Kaleidoscope takes pride of place on the ground floor of the Georgian townhouse venue at 28 Queen Street, visible and accessible from street level.

The Dining Room restaurant, previously on the ground floor, moves upstairs to the first floor. It has been expanded and features a bespoke Charles Heidsieck champagne table, a unique experience in Edinburgh, which offers diners a 5-course meal matched with Charles Heidsieck champagnes.

A large unique piece of artwork representing the Society’s single cask ethos adorns the main wall in the Dining Room – the 1.5m work which is made from whisky barrels and holds around 220 Society bottles, was designed by Scott Associates.

In addition to the new bar, the Society has also unveiled a number of other changes including a shop selling over 100 bottles of its whisky, and, on the top floor, two new private lounges exclusively for its members.

Jan Damen, Operations Director for the Society, said: “Transforming our venue with this top-to-toe makeover and opening our new Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar is a hugely exciting step in the history of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

“Kaleidoscope is open to all types of visitors, from local whisky fans to international visitors who are just starting out on their whisky journey. The Society is all about exploring the spectrum of flavours within the whisky category and we’ll have one of the biggest selections of rare single malt whisky in the country. More importantly, our selection will change constantly as we release new whiskies each month, providing guests with new flavours of whisky to discover each time they visit.”

The Society will host a free open house event on 5^th August – https://www.smws.com/qs-open-house 

More information: 

Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh

https://www.smws.com/qs-open-house

@SMWSUK

#SMWSkaleidoscope

Notes:  

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society  

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society releases new whiskies each month
•  The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year from a range of more than 132 distilleries. The very nature of the single cask means that each bottling offered by the Society is limited.
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members around the world with branches in 19 countries.
• Members can choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies with only the very best selected and approved by the Society’s respected Tasting Panel.
• Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations.
• Annual renewal after the first year is £61.50
• For more information, visit www.smws.com

Hello whisky fans! I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to Whisky Season 2016, that special time of year when we begin revealing our exclusive selections from Scotland to eager single malt fans in search of exciting new spirits. I have to say that while we’ve always done our utmost to find you the most interesting and delicious Scotch whiskies from abroad, we’ve never worked this hard to fix what we’ve felt is an inhibitor to growth within the genre: PRICING. As someone who has spent the last few years trying to find a Bay Area condo that fit my needs and desires, I am hypersensitive to what’s happened in the whisky market over the last few years. In terms of finding value and quality for one’s money, there’s quite a similar correlation. We’ve watched Macallan 25 spike from $450 to $1700 a bottle in less than a decade. We’ve seen quality drop in an effort to stretch supply. We’ve witnessed our favorite marks vanish due to lack of available inventory, the age statement numbers replaced with names. As a whisky drinker it’s likely that none of these developments are new to you. I’m sure you fully understand what’s happened since the brown spirits renaissance hit full swing.

Now that I’m moving into my upper-thirties, I’m finally of an age when I can start saying things like, “Remember when coke cost a nickel?” Well, actually it’s more like, “Remember when MTV actually played music videos?” In any case, I’ve been suffering from nostalgia for the past year, longing for the days when everything made sense to me. Traveling to Scotland this year with my colleague Jeff Jones, we talked ad nauseam about the olden times at K&L, back when you could get eighteen year old whiskies for less than a hundred bucks and we actually had special selections on the shelf year-round. In our search for new single barrels and our meetings with suppliers, I channeled all of those sappy, sentimental emotions into our dealings. While of course I wanted to find great whisky, what I really wanted to do was find a way to bring down the prices. While tasting an old school, no-frills sample of 18 year old Auchentoshan at Douglas Laing, I looked at Jeff and said: “Wow, this is good.” He agreed. “The problem,” I continued, “is that it will probably sell for over a hundred bucks.” But what if we could sell it for around seventy? That would really be something. But how could we do that?

Needless to say, we went to work, got creative, and made a little magic happen. While we’re about to kick of Whisky Season 2016, it’s really more like Whisky Season 2007 in that we’re hoping to channel the excitement and the memory of the previous decade, back when whisky stocks we’re ample and affordable. This first round is meant to grab your attention. It’s meant to straighten up your backs a bit; to make you say, “Huh? Really?” We’ll have subsequent rounds as the season rolls on and-believe me-the deals are going to be hot and heavy all the way to the end. But enough futzing around; let’s let the whisky speak for itself. Let’s remember what great whisky used to cost back when we were all just starting out in this passionate hobby.

Whisky Season – Round One

1997 Auchentoshan 18 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Old Particular” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – $69.99 Don’t be fooled by the low price! The fact that we can offer 18 year old, single barrel, cask strength Auchentoshan is a result of our hard work and not the result of sub-par whisky. Not only is this Lowland delight a strikingly delicious single malt whisky, it’s one of the most complex Auchentoshan specimen we’ve had the pleasure of tasting. The palate starts off with a kiss of sweet vanilla, followed by somewhat surprising notes of Earl Grey tea, savory spice, and a combination of citrus and stone fruit. At cask strength, those flavors are slightly muted by the 52.1% ABV, but a few drops of water help to placate that power. We typically sell the standard Auchentoshan 18 year old for $110 per bottle at the watered-down 43% ABV, so to see a release of this nature for $40 less per bottle is indeed shocking. Those looking for lighter, easy-to-drink summer malt can enjoy the sheer drinkability of the Auchentoshan without sacrificing depth, complexity, or intrigue. We’re not sure if we’re more excited to be selling the whisky or drinking it.

1996 Arran 19 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Old Particular” Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – $69.99 Last year we purchased a 15 year old single sherry butt from Arran that sold for $129.99. Now we’re offering a second cask with an additional four years of age for almost half the price! These are heady times for K&L customers, indeed! This recent arrival from our Old Particular line is lighter on the sherry influence as the cask itself had been used previously to mature whisky, but that only allows the inherent maltiness of the Arran to come through. What the sherry does is simply highlight the toasted grains and the subtle hint of maritime influence, almost like a light frosting on a cake. The weight of the whisky is supple on the palate and the richness comes through on the finish with waves of baking spice, bits of cocoa, and a mealy biscuit note. Arran has been one of our most popular producers over the last five years with more and more customers finding a happy medium in the island distillery’s mild-mannered profile. At no time, however, have we offered an Arran this good for a price this low. Take advantage of our direct-import offer while it lasts! As this is a single barrel, the quantities are finite and we rarely have enough for everyone.

1987 Glenturret 28 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Old Particular” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – $89.99 It’s rare to see a 25 year old whisky for less than $150 these days, and even when we do see the occasional bottle our first instinct is often to ask: what’s wrong with it? Understanding that natural reaction we had to ask ourselves: how will people respond when we offer them a 28 year old, single barrel, cask strength, Highland single malt for $89.99? We’re hoping you’ll be excited because we’re absolutely thrilled! Glenturret isn’t a household name among whisky drinkers, but for those in the know it’s part of the Edrington portfolio: the group that owns Macallan, Highland Park, and Glenrothes. Glenturret is also considered the oldest distillery in Scotland, having been founded in 1775, and today it’s the home of Famous Grouse: the world-renowned blended whisky in which it plays a large role. This 28 year old expression has reduced naturally down to a perfectly-drinkable 46.4% ABV and has the richness, oiliness, and concentration that only mature whisky can offer. It’s full of brandied fruit, resin, supple caramel, and creamy malted goodness. Despite its old age, the whisky is surprisingly lithe and light on its feet. By no means is this a heavy, full-bodied number, but rather a classic Highland whisky with plenty of barrel-aged complexity. For the price, it’s a no brainer. Stay tuned for round two!

We’ve got three new K&L exclusive casks of George Dickel 9 year old 51.5% Tennessee whiskey to talk about! Single cask selections from George Dickel have become some of the most coveted bottles among K&L’s American whiskey customers, mainly because the sweetness and the richness of the Tennessee whiskey seems to come through like a laser beam at the higher proof; taking what is normally a mellow, creamy, and drinkable sour mash whiskey and dialing the intensity up to full speed. We’re also not able to secure K&L single cask selections with the frequency that we’re able to choose barrels from other distilleries, making the Dickel releases that much rarer in the eyes of our customers. People tend to load up when we get them, securing reserves for later on down the road. Here’s the latest (also to note: Diageo does not put cask number indicators on the label, only on the case boxes that the bottles come in. Therefore we’ve added the bottle ID code in the description of each whiskey, which is lasered on to the glass just underneath the barcode on the back):

George Dickel K&L Exclusive 9 Year Old Single Barrel #04L28N54410 – $46.99 Barrel #04L28N54410 begins with hints of dark cocoa and rich wood flavor, but quickly brings in the baking spices and the charred oak goodness. The finish is a Bourbon-esque explosion of pencil shavings, baking spice, and sweet vanilla. A triumph of pure Tennessee whiskey heaven!

George Dickel K&L Exclusive 9 Year Old Single Barrel #05A04B1212 – $46.99 Barrel #05A04B1212 has the most sweet corn flavor on the entry, starting with that classic Dickel mellowness that quickly dials into bold spices, pepper, creme brulee, and charred oak. It continues to crescendo long on the finish with more sweet oak flavors coming through minutes after the last sip.

George Dickel K&L Exclusive 9 Year Old Single Barrel #04L30N55310 – $46.99 Barrel #04L30N55310 is all oak right off the bat and that oak turns into richer, stewier notes of candy corn and charred oak before finishing with a mix of savory and sweet spices. This is like a more friend Four Roses single cask for about $20 less per bottle. A hot deal! That’s it for now! You’re all up to speed. Stay tuned for more updates from Whisky Season 2016 just as soon as we’re ready for round two!

David Driscoll K&L Spirits Buyer

daviddriscoll@klwines.com

650.556.2736 http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com/

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

SPECIALLY SELECTED BY

EXCLUSIVELY FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

Distilled at BRAEVAL

TASTING NOTES:

Nose: Young, malty with sweet berries and apple; lemon candy; creamy, soft, white chocolate and almond paste.

Palate: Sweet with yellow apple and lemon candy; modern vanilla; yellow raisins follow with peppery.

Finish: Medium long, citrusy with sweet.

Comment: A young sweet Braeval with pleasant creaminess.

SKU: 193573

ALC/VOL: 50.0%

Photo: Long beach, Tofino, BC

www.fountanabeverage.com/

Murray McDavid Tasting

On Monday the 15th of August we have a treat. The brand ambassador from Murray McDavid, Dean Jode will be here to showcase some of his extremely rare single cask bottlings. At £15 a great bargain. Book your tickets online at shop.milroys.co.uk

Sherry Masterclass

On the 22nd of August were stepping away from whisky into the world of Sherry. We have the UK Gonzales Byass specialist coming in to teach us all about the  Spanish wine.

Glengyle Kilkerran 12 Year Old

Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Kilkerran 12 Year Old Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Glengyle distillery. The first core product has been released from Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery. Matured in 70% bourbon casks and 30% sherry casks.

Nose: oak notes are dominant, followed by toasted marshmallows and dried fruit pudding, as well as cherries, marzipan and a hint of peat.

Palate: initially fruity with citrus notes and orange peel, after this: vanilla, butterscotch, honeycomb and digestive biscuits can all be tasted and enjoyed.

Finish: velvet and smooth with lemon meringue, to conclude, there’s an oiliness and a saltiness that you’d expect from a Campbeltown dram.

Glengyle

William Mitchell established Glengyle Distillery in 1872 in Campbeltown at the foot of the Kintyre Peninsular. Closed in 1925, malt whisky stock sold and all the equipment removed. The buildings were purchased by Hedley Wright in 2000 who re-furbished and re-opened Glengyle Distillery in 2004. Now equipped with two small stills and operating for one or two months per year to produce Glengyle single malt whisky which is called Kilkeran.

Anders filling his bottle at Glengarioch distillery Scotland

Andos Epic Whisky Tour 2016

Day 1 – mostly traveling

As usual, when flying to Scotland I need to get up at an ungodly hour to get to the airport for the customary fondle session at the security checkpoint. I was positively surprised at Helsinki airport as the check-in and security control took less than 15 min, so I had time to relax a bit and have some breakfast at the always cheap airport café. Then it was liftoff and off to Schipol for what I was expecting to be a horrible panicking run thru the airport for the connecting flight. Once again I was positively surprised because although I had to switch terminals it took less than 15 min to get to the departure gate. 2 flights and in-flight snacks later I finally landed at Aberdeen airport. There Paul was waiting for me and off we went…with a dram in hand right away On the drive down to Dundee where I would be staying for two nights.  We stopped for a quick photoshoot at Dunnottar Castle and then also Broughty Castle. I learned to recognise castles from quite a far way away. The day ended with a proper pub crawl at Broughty Ferry, and then after about 22 hrs of travel it was time to sleep.

Day 2 – Kingsbarns and Eden Mill

The second day was to be an excursion out towards St Andrews, and to Eden Mill and Kingsbarns istilleries. First up a bit of sightseeing at St Andrews golf course and the beach, then onwards to Kingsbarns for a quick visit and some tasters. Next up was Eden Mill, and Liz´s daughter Shona had promised to show us around the brewery/distillery. It is a quaint small place where all the action happens in two big rooms, one where the wash backs etc. are and then the stillroom where the magic happens. The tour of the brewery/distillery ended with a mighty fine tasting including both beers and spirits which were excellent. The beers matured in used whisky casks were superb. As a nice bonus I got to taste some of their gins also. Thanks Shona for the tour!Eden Mill makes very good craft beer and their spirits show much promise. This is one to keep an eye on. After the visit it was back to Dundee and time to celebrate Pauls birthday with good food and drink in good company.

Day 3 – Strathearn, Edradour/Signatory and Speyside distillery

After another superb breakfast at The Fort, it was time to head out towards Strathearn. There was  a thought that I would get to see my own cask but that was on its own holiday trip down to Glasgow, so I did not see it. But I got a taster of a cask that is the same age and has the same spirit in it. I also got to taste their peated new make, and also spirit that had been matured in a chestnut barrel. Then Tony was so kind to also let me taste their “cider brandy”…which was very nice.Strathearn is really experimenting with interesting things, and all are tasting very good.

After Strathearn we headed for Pitlochry and Edradour distillery. No distillery tour, just some tasting and shopping in their visitors centre. Also had a quick chat with Andrew Symington when we were leaving Edradour. From Edradour the front of the car pointed finally towards Speyside. And I mean both the area called Speyside, and the distillery Speyside, or more familiar, Spey. I was in for a treat at the distillery as the person who was supposed to show us around was on vacation, so one of the actual distillery workers showed us around and telling us about the distillery from his point of view. Also, the distillery is very beautiful in general, with a small stream flowing past the distillery and with a working water wheel. Just beautiful. There was also a very nice tasting at the distillery, including some quite rare whiskies. Spey is not usually sold in Europe, with most of it exported to the far east. So I was very happy to have had the chance to visit this beautiful place. Then after a nice visit it was time to get over to Grantown-on-Spey where we would spend the evening. Paul and Liz had once again come up with new whiskies to taste as we had a private room reserved for dining and taking it easy in the evening. We were also treated to some bagpipe music by Spud the Piper.

Day 4 – Into Speyside

Finally the proper Speyside adventure was beginning. After yet another proper Scottish breakfast we set out into Speyside proper…and the first distillery we encountered on the way was Tormore. After a few photos we continued our journey up towards The Glenlivet, and took some photographs of Cragganmore and Ballindaloch on the way. At The Glenlivet I had the chance to taste the Guardians Chapter single cask, which was excellent. From The Glenlivet we had to follow a Chivas tanker truck, and I did not even have a hose and bucket with me. The next stop was Glenfarclas, where I had a quick tour of the still room, wash backs, mash tun and the warehouses. After the quick tour there was whisky to taste. I got the Glenfarclas £511.19s which was a very nice dram. But the other one, 1976 family cask blew the hair from my head. Never ever have I tasted a whisky that is so full of flavour, depth and incredible general awesomeness. Although, I am not inclined to pay £3500 for the bottle. But this was one of the highlights of the tour. Onwards and upwards, a quick photoshoot at Dailuaine, and then off to one of my all time favourite distilleries – Imperial. The old Imperial distillery buildings have been knocked down and on that spot is now built the new fully automated distillery – Dalmunach. But the old Imperial administrative buildings and some of the warehouses are still standing around the site. I also got to see the inside of Dalmunach, albeit only the atrium. The whole site is very beautiful, and it is a bit sad that they demolished the old Imperial distillery. Final stop was a quick drive to Cardhu where Liz wanted to feed the hairy coos that live by the distillery. We also did a quick drive by Speyside Cooperage, where the stacks of barrels are quite impressive.

Day 5 – Speyside adventure continues

The next day was mostly relaxed sightseeing and driving around Speyside. First up was a quick photoshoot of Craigellachie distillery and then passing by the thousands of casks resting at Speyside Cooperage. The sight never ceases to amaze. Then there was a short stop at an old graveyard where there were some very beautiful statues and tombstones. After that a quick photoshoot of Aberlour, and some tasting and shopping in the visitors centre. The next distillery was again a silent one, Parkmore. The site has been left undisturbed and the warehouses are in use. Very lovely place in Dufftown. After that there was a quick drive by all the distilleries in Dufftown. Then a quick visit to Balvenie Castle. Again, a very beautiful old ruin to visit. We then we had time to see the Rothes Castle, which is basically only one wall left that has not keeled over. Then quick peeks at Glen Spey and Glenrothes distilleries. At this stage Liz had to leave us to catch a train back home, and I continued with Paul up to Kinloss Abbey. As we got there we got our first proper rain shower, so instead we drove up to Findhorn where there is an eco village. When the rain stopped we went back to Kinloss to have a closer look at the ruins. Once again, a very beautiful place. After that we met up with Vic Cameron who has been involved in the whisky industry for a long time. We had a nice and interesting discussion about all things related to whisky. Thanks Vic for an interesting afternoon!! On the way back to Craigellachie we had time to look at Rose Isle which is a very big industrial distillery.

Day 6 – Balvenie day

This day had lots of good things to come. The primary visit was Balvenie with a three hour tour starting at 14:00. And before that there was Coleburn. On the way to Coleburn we had a quick stop at Glen Grant, and then to Coleburn. There we got a fabulous tour of their warehouse ending with some nice tasters. Then a quick detour via Glen Grant again, for some quick tasting, and then over to Glenfiddich for some lunch. Yes, only lunch. Had a quick browse thru the shop but did not buy anything. Before going over to Balvenie, we had some time to roll around the countryside and just enjoy the green fields of summery Speyside. Lovely scenery. We drove past Alt-a-Bhainne for a quick photo or two. Then it was time for the main event, a three hour tour at Balvenie with a tasting afterwards. Balvenie has always been a distillery with whiskies that I have enjoyed but never though much more about it. So I did not really have any expectations about the tour as such. I knew that it was supposed to be good as they take only 8 people per your and only two tours a day. So, off we went into the house of magic. First, Fergus took us to the malting floors, but as they were in their maintenance period so there were no malting ongoing. We also got to climb up into the kiln and the floors where they dry the malt. Felt a bit weird to walk on the grid floor where you could look down and see the floor far below. Then over to the mash tun room, where there are actually two mash tuns, one for Balvenie and one for Kininvie. The same with the wash backs, one room with wash backs for Balvenie and one room with wash backs for Kininvie. Only the still room only had the stills for Balvenie. The Kininvie stills are in a separate building where the wash is routed via pipes. After having gone thru the whole process we got a jeep ride over to the cooperage at the site. Balvenie repairs and maintains their casks at their own cooperage. We were able to see how the coopers work, and the speed for replacing a stave in a cask was incredible. The next stop on the tour was the warehouse where you can bottle your own whisky straight from a cask. So of course I had to fill up two small 20cl bottles, one a 13yr first fill sherry one, and the other a 14yr first fill bourbon. The final part of the tour was then the tasting. We got a superb set of whiskies to taste, the 12 yr double barrel, 12yr single bourbon barrel, 17yr double barrel, 14yr rum cask, 21yr port wood and as a final one a 34yr first fill sherry from the legendary warehouse 24. Incredible good whiskies. The tour at Balvenie was incredible and I really recommend going there if you have the chance. There was still some driving around, having a look at Glentauchers, Strathmill, Auchroisk,  and Glen Keith distilleries and then back to the Highlander Inn for the final night in Craigellachie.

Day 7 – Sightseeing

Time to say goodbye to Craigellachie and our host at the Highlander Inn, Mr Tatsuya Minagawa. If you ever need a place to enjoy a few good whiskies The Highlander Inn is the place to visit. The people are very friendly and the food is good, and the whiskies are even better. As we left Craigellachie we headed north towards Elgin again. On the agenda today was the Elgin Cathedral and what else could be seen around the city. As we had to stop for fuel I made a very nice discovery in the petrol station. They sell whisky! And somehow it feels wrong that they have Port Ellen and Brora for sale at a normal gas station, and many other nice bottles for decent prices. In the end I settled for a 1979 Glenlivet single cask bottled by Macillops Choice for 115 pounds. Could have been worse. It was then castle time again, as we headed up towards Lossiemouth and Duffus Castle. The castle had been built in 1150 and then rebuilt somewhere in the 1300s but it had been build on such a site that the ground had failed and one of the walls had slide down the hill a bit. So a nice place to visit, but was not build to stand the test of time. Lossiemouth was a very nice little seaside town as we drove thru it on our way back to Elgin. There we had some pictures of the Elgin Cathedral which is quite a sight. Impressive old cathedral ruins. It felt a bit sad as we then started driving slowly down towards Aberdeen and towards the end of the tour. Good thing that there were still some things on the road to see. Next was a quick shopping stop at GlenDronach. I just had to get the hand filled bottling at the visitor centre. After that we drove onwards towards Knockdhu distillery to see if we could have a quick look around.  We were treated to a nice tour and tasting at the distillery. Had never had an Ancnoc whisky in my life previously so this was a nice surprise. And their whisky is very good and well made. Positive surprise of the day. After this we had a slow drive down towards Aberdeen just enjoying the scenery. At the hotel we met up with Liz again as Paul and Liz would switch places for the final day of the tour.

Day 8 – the final day of the tour

So, slowly the tour had come towards the end and now was the final day. The first stop this final day was Glen Garioch distillery. This is also a relatively unknown distillery for me so I was very happy to get a private tour of the distillery. Lots of very interesting things on the tour and a very nice tasting afterwards again. Then I just had to bottle the hand filled first fill sherry cask that they had available. It was a marvellous whisky and overall the visit left me very happy. Then it was time for some general sightseeing and castle photographing. First up was Fyvie castle, and after that we went to Delgatie castle for a quick lunch. The castle was a quaint old castle where the interior was decorated like an old mansion. The dining area was in a part of the old castle kitchen. Had to buy a small plush sheep for my nephew from the gift shop too. Then a quick stop at Ellon Castle for some photos, and finally a stop at Castle Fraser for some tea and cake. There had been some small showers of rain during the day but now it just poured down. So the tour ended with proper scottish weather. So, after 8 incredible days in Scotland it was over. I had seen 42 distilleries during the tour, and many castles and other interested sights. A big thank you to Paul and Liz who made this unforgettable tour possible. It was grand! I got to meet incredible people and see incredible places, and got to spend time with two fantastic friends!

This was a journey I will never forget.

Written and enjoyed by Anders Malmsten, Finland.

Submitted by Paul Mclean http://www.whiskytours.scot/

” FROM DREAM TO DRAM “

KINGSBARNS DISTILLERY VISITOR CENTRE WELCOMES TWO NEW EXCLUSIVE WHISKIES 

Kingsbarns Distillery is delighted to announce that two new exclusive single cask bottlings from Wemyss Malts are now available in its Visitor Centre and online shop.

The Visitor Centre was opened on St Andrews Day 2014 by the Wemyss family owners and the founder, local man Douglas Clement.   Distilling started in January 2015, with the first cask filled in March that year.  Scotch whisky has to mature for at least 3 years before it can be bottled, so meanwhile the Kingsbarns Distillery shop is stocked with the range from the family owner’s other whisky interest,  the award-winning independent bottler, Wemyss Malts.

Wemyss Malts’ approach to their malt whisky range is to name the whiskies after each whisky’s natural flavour and aromas to allow whisky drinkers to better imagine each whisky’s taste.

The two new single casks single malts which have been bottled exclusively for the Kingsbarns Distillery shop are:

“East Neuk Dunes” – a name inspired by the local shoreline, even though the cask is from Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay. Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2016, aged 25 years.   Bottled at 46% abv and retailing at £139.95.  Only 267 bottles available.
“Lime Tea Infusion” – from Glenrothes Distillery in Speyside.  Distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2016, aged 19 years.  Bottled at 46% abv and retailing at £84.95. Only 337 bottles available.

William Wemyss, Managing Director at Kingsbarns Distillery and Wemyss Malts explains further: “Wemyss Malts has a tradition of finding exceptional single casks from Scotland’s single malt distilleries and we have chosen these two whiskies to be sold only at Kingsbarns Distillery.   The aptly named “East Neuk Dunes” reflects the whisky’s soft salty aroma, with only gentle smoke coming from this 25 year old single cask; while “Lime Tea Infusion” is a lively addition to the drams on our “Dream to Dram” distillery tour.”

The whiskies are available now at the Kingsbarns Distillery Visitor Centre as well as in the online shop  www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com/shop  

Notes: 

Kingsbarns Distillery was officially opened on St Andrews Day 2014 and  has been subsequently been awarded a  4 star visitor attraction award by Visit Scotland.
While the Kingsbarns spirit is maturing, Kingsbarns has also launched the Founders’ Club. Membership benefits include a Welcome Pack and the first ever bottling of Kingsbarns Single Malt expected in mid 2018.  A further 4 exclusive bottlings will follow.
The founder of the distillery is Douglas Clement.  Formerly a golf caddie, Douglas was inspired  to open a distillery near to the famous golf courses in the St Andrews and Kingsbarns area.
Distillery Manager, Peter Holroyd, is a graduate of Heriot Watt University Brewing and Distilling, and was formerly head brewer at a craft brewery near Glasgow.
The Wemyss family owners are from Scotland and their historic family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.
The  Wemyss family also own Wemyss Malts which is an independent bottler with a whisky range including the blended malt whiskies comprising: The Spice King, The Peat Chimney and The Hive; single malt single cask bottlings and the blended Scotch named Lord Elcho after one of the Wemyss family’s ancestors; all of which are avilable for tasting and sale at The Kingsbarns Distillery.
The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include boutique gin Darnley’s View together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.

www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com
Twitter: @KingsbarnsDist Facebook: Kingsbarns Distillery & Visitor Centre

We’re at the top of the class for taste this month. Toffee, baked apples, fudge, candy floss, pipe tobacco, salted caramel and honey on a stave all add up to an A+!

CASK No. 48.56  POPCORN IN A SAUNA

13 years old; 1st fill barrel; 56.3%; Juicy, oak & vanilla

Peachy perfume to start then a cinema foyer with popcorn and toffee with hazelnuts. Orange ice cream, lemon and sherbet on the palate. On reduction – Belgian waffles and chocolate milk, then hot pine wood and plenty of popcorn. A well balanced spicy and sweet finish.

CASK No. 50.68  ORANGE EXPOSITION

25 years old; refill barrel; 57.3%; Spicy & sweet

Orange oil, custard on baked apples and a touch of noble rot.  To taste, icing-covered biscuits, hazelnuts and honey.  Water brings spearmint chewing gum and pleasant solvent notes (acteone, airfix glue), apricot yogurt. Orange oil, orange muscat, emulsion paint and chocolate oranges.

CASK No. 73.71  A SCENE FROM MADEIRA

14 years old; refill butt; 55.5%; Spicy & sweet

The nose offers sweet treats (coconut macaroons, walnut fudge, honey cake, custard creams) on a wooden table, with flowers. The palate has mouth-flooding sweetness (apple strudel, cinnamon swirls, maple and pecan Danish) with a delayed spicy, ginger, chili kick.

CASK No. 71.41  CURIOUS AND INTRIGUING

17 years old; refill gorda; 57.2%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

An intriguing nose – spiced toffee apples, figs, fudge and old wood; dried flowers, rich sherry and treacle. The palate has menthol and eucalyptus, burnt toffee and beetroot crisps – pleasantly woody, acceptably earthy and sweet as candy floss.

CASK No. 66.72  PAGAN FEASTING ROUND THE FIRE

11 years old; refill barrel; 58.9%; Oily & coastal

Flaxen haired maidens with narcissi wreaths carrying dripping tallow candles. Kaffebröd (cardamom and fennel) with French salted butter. Sweet pipe tobacco and creosote. Grilled Portobello mushrooms with ham on toast. Corn cakes wrapped in an oily rag. Roasted chestnuts. Spellbinding.

CASK No. 29.178  BEE-SMOKER ON A PEBBLE BEACH

20 years old; refill barrel; 55%; Peated

Something of the sea on the nose – fresh oysters, boat-decks, dried seaweed, a pebble beach – also gooseberry, lemon, salted caramel and bubble-gum bonbons. The palate is deliciously smoky, salty and floral (lavender, sherbet straws, earthy spices, coal-dust, honey on a stave).

SMWS Canada

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

SPECIALLY SELECTED BY

EXCLUSIVELY FOR ALBERTA

Distilled at INCHGOWER

Tasting Notes by Andrew Ferguson of Kensington Wine Market

Nose: Butter and eggs whipped with brown sugar; dulce de leche, subtle leather, fresh sliced lemons, lightly perfumed French soap and dewy botanical gardens; soft, elegant and oaky; sea breeze on a warm day.

Palate: Big, rich, creamy, maritime and toasty with building spices, leather, dark sugars and earthy tones; still buttery and sugary, a little like raw cookie dough, leather and tobacco develop with tart lemon and sour orange; coffee bean, slightly burnt raisins, licorice and treacle; christmas cake and tobacco emerge with time.

Finish: long, warming and spicy; the treacle and licorice linger longest with some leather and tobacco.

Comment: Inchgower is typically a big, muscular malt, with Maritime hints owing to its coastal location; this one highlights those features with a touch of finesse

SKU: 781808

ALC/VOL: 50.0%

Photo: Moraine Lake, AB

www.fountanabeverage.com/