Hello and good Wednesday to you all! This week we’re looking at, Compass Box Enlightenment, it’s one beautiful and rounded expression of whisky with a nose to die for. A vatting of single malts from; Clynelish, Balblair, Mortlach and Glentauchers, it brings together all of the flavours you could ever want, with a lack of smoke but in this case it isn’t such a bad thing, all the fresh fruit you could ever want. I love this whisky and hopefully, I can win some of you round into liking it as well. Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/kxXwsilOLb0

AGE OF DISCOVERY COCKTAIL NOW AVAILABLE AT THE BEAUFORT BAR

The highly anticipated Age of Discovery, a specially created, barrel aged cocktail, is now available as an exclusive serve or by the bottle at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar. Having travelled the globe on board Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2, the cocktail has now returned to The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, where it was mixed, sealed and bonded for its world voyage many months ago.

With only 700 serves available, guests can order Age of Discovery at the Beaufort Bar as an exclusive explorative serve – inspired by the incredible, vast journey the cocktail has taken. The drink, priced at £90, is served in a custom–made glass with a magnified base, atop a map board which shows the journey and temperatures the barrel went thought during its 41, 000 nautical mile journey around the world.

Also available to take home in a bottle, the Age of Discovery blend has become the latest limited edition bottle (priced at £350) in The Savoy Collection – one of the world’s most prestigious and unique collections of one-of-a–kind spirits and liquids. Launched in 2013, The Savoy Collection was created with the support of esteemed drinks experts Speciality Drinks to celebrate the rare and the beautiful from the world of drinks; Age of Discovery makes a wonderful addition to this incredible collection.

The Age of Discovery cocktail itself matured in a hand chosen, 300 litre Jack Daniel’s barrel on board Queen Mary 2 during her 41, 000 nautical mile, four-month world voyage from January – May 2016. Formulated by the team at the world-famous Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, named Best International Hotel Bar 2015, the Jack Daniel’s cocktail[1] is inspired and influenced by the tastes and aromas of the continents Queen Mary 2 visited; from Europe to Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania.

Painstaking attention to detail and refinement has gone into the choice of ingredients to reflect both Cunard’s 176-year ocean-going heritage and the decades of history and patronage associated with The Savoy’s famous cocktail bars. Its home for the voyage, a Jack Daniel’s first fill American oak barrel, was carefully chosen by The Savoy, whose team travelled to the Jack Daniel distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee and personally chose the barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel to be used in Age of Discovery.

During her four-month circumnavigation, Queen Mary 2 visited 39 ports of call in 27 countries, during which time the barrel was secured in open deck space to expose it to the varied elements and climates that have influenced the fascinating final result. Prevailing temperatures, humidity and sunlight – as well as more inclement conditions – have combined to produce this truly unique barrel-aged cocktail.

Anna Sebastian from the Beaufort Bar says: “The Jack Daniel’s and Bacardi represent the discovery of the Americas, while the Dubonnet is there as a symbol of Cunard’s royal associations. The spice-infused Madeira, used to sweeten the cocktail, is synonymous with the famous spice trail and oceanic expeditions.”

Nidal Ramini, Head of Advocacy at Jack Daniel’s added: “We have a great partnership with The Savoy and they’ve been hand-selecting their own Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel for five years. It’s great to take this partnership to another level and be involved with Age of Discovery. As the only whiskey maker in the world to craft every one of our own barrels, the idea of a barrel aged cocktail, containing the very whiskey that Daniel chose when we went to Tennessee together, travelling the world, was music to our ears.”

Angus Struthers, Cunard Director, says: “Cunard and The Savoy are world-renowned brands famed for their luxury and levels of service as well as the experience each is able to offers its guests. We are delighted to have worked in partnership with The Savoy to create the finest and most unique cocktail in the world on board the finest ocean liner ever built, as she circumnavigated the world.”

Age of Discovery is a truly unique collaboration from three of the world’s most highly acclaimed brands: Cunard, The Savoy and Jack Daniel’s. Renowned for their traditions of service and excellence, these three brands have come together to create a world-class, world-travelled and globally one-of-a-kind cocktail. The cocktail will be exclusively available to purchase at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, and on board Queen Mary 2.

http://www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/promotions/age-of-discovery/

CELEBRATE: BURNS NIGHT AT THE SOCIETY

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

Ralfy celebrates a New Year with Ralfy Review 617 – Ardbeg 10yo re-reviewed 2017

Today we’re thrilled to be able to share our limited allocation rare, one of a kind, & antique whiskies. See the entire list below, but first a bit about our new Bruichladdich acquisitions…

We’ve had a long and storied relationship with the wonderful Bruichladdich Distillery. They’ve gone through some serious changes in the last couple of years, but what counts for us, what has always counted most, is that the whisky is delicious. Bruichladdich has always produced exceptional single malt whisky, but none better than those made in the last 15 years by our friends Jim McEwan, Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin. Now Jim & Mark are gone, but the magnanimous Simon Coughlin remains at the helm to make sure the ship stays steady. And steady ahead they go, releasing a second batch of age stated 10 year old whisky that are even better than initial releases from a few years ago. These whiskies are a testament to the hard work that went into rebuilding that old distillery outside of Port Charlotte on the beautiful banks of Loch Indaal. Truly they are a tribute to that legacy and a triumph for all who may be lucky enough to taste them.

Bruichladdich 10 Year Old “The Laddie Ten- Second Limited Edition ” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

K&L Notes: Many of us at K&L feel that Bruichladdich’s post-2001 whiskies are some of the best distillates in the world. The quality of the spirit coming off their pot stills is simply jaw-dropping and we were excited to finally see what it can do after a decade in the barrel. After an ultra-successful initial 10 year old release, the age statements were judiciously removed in favor of focusing on flavor and perserving stock. Now we’re can finally sell and age stated Laddie Ten again. This time they’ve drawn exclusively from first fill bourbon, sherry, and French wine casks. The malt is ultra smooth, creamy palate with citrus notes, stone fruits, and the trademark saltiness that reminds us this is Islay whisky through and through.The 10-year is one of the most anticipated whiskies of all time and for about $60, it’s one of the best single malt deals in craft single malt. For those lamenting the rising cost of good whisky, make sure you take home the Laddie 10 and savor each drop. This is true handcrafted whisky.

Port Charlotte 10 Year Old “Second Limited Edition” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($64.99)

The 10-year-old benchmark for Bruichladdich’s peated whisky project, named for the famous distillery in the town of the same name, is back! Here we have the massive intensity of Port Charlotte framed in a very natural context. Tarry and phenolic, turning toward citrus and salt on the palate. The oily texture is lifted by a tartness that offsets the smoke nicely. A very exciting whisky for any malt lover. To be perfectly clear–I have never tasted such focus or purity in a single malt whisky. I can safely say that no whisky has ever tasted as much to me like the source from whence it came. The 10-year-old Port Charlotte literally tastes like a piece of malted barley that has just come out of the kiln. This whisky tastes like distilleries smell. It’s so bracingly clear that it’s almost like getting new glasses or contact lenses–every flavor just comes into an insane level of focus right from the first sip. Whether or not you like that flavor is up to you, but I got chills. A huge accomplishment. The Second Limited Edition was aged full-term in first fill bourbon, sherry, tempranillo and French wine cask and peated to 40ppm.

Octomore 10 Year Old “Second Limited Edition” Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($229.99)

This is the second 10 year old release of Bruichladdich’s well regarded super smoky malt. The small batch whisky is peated to an astounding 167pm and was distilled entirely in December 2005. This special spirit was rested for 10 years in Fresh Bourbon barrels and Gernache Blanc casks at their ancient stone warehouse in Port Charlotte before being bottled at 57.3% aclohol. The result is something completely other wordly and totally unique. Extremely limited.

MAKE IT A BURNS NIGHT TO REMEMBER WITH BALBLAIR SINGLE MALT WHISKY 

Dust off your tartan and toast the spirit of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, with a dram of award-winning Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

In honour of the occasion, Balblair has selected three of its perfectly timed Vintages, which compliment every stage of the traditional Burns night supper. Specially selected by Distillery Manager, John MacDonald, each of the Vintages are released at the peak of perfection.

Start the evening with a dram of Balblair Vintage 2005. Light, fruity and refreshing, this classic Vintage embodies Balblair’s house style. Full of character, the Vintage has citrus aromas of apple and honey, followed by the intense taste of sweet toffee and vanilla, rounded off by a deliciously spicy, long finish.

Why not pair your haggis, neeps and tatties with a glass of Balblair Vintage 1999. On the palate, it is full bodied, sweet and spicy in character, with hints of honey, vanilla and leather. It has signature Balblair aromas of honey and green apples, as well as hints of spice, citrus, fruits and vanilla make it the ideal Vintage to sip while absorbing the party.

And, if you’re looking to impress your friends, why not finish off with a dram of Balblair Vintage 1990. Boasting a spicy yet sweet aroma, the whisky is punctuated with notes of raisins, toffee and honey. On the palate, the Vintage it is full bodied; sweet and spicy in character with hints of zesty fruits. With a luxurious smooth finish, this expression is the perfect after dinner treat.

Notes

• Balblair Vintage 2005 1st Release (£43) is maturated in American oak-ex bourbon barrels, creating aromas of citrus orchards as well as smooth vanilla and toffee that leave a deliciously spicy, long finish. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1999 2nd Release (£65) is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts, the honey and green apple notes are complimented by a hint of spice, citrus fruits and vanilla culminating in a smooth, long lasting finish. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1990 2nd Release (£85) is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, but with the addition of Spanish oak ex-sherry butts. Offering a medley of spicy and sweet aromas, punctuated with notes of raisins, toffee and honey. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1990 was recently awarded with the IWSC trophy for Best Single Malt Scotch over 15 years
• Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch has been recognised by internationally renowned spirits competition, International Wine and Spirit Competition, receiving eight accolades across its Domestic and Travel Retail portfolio.
• International Beverage, producer of some of the global drinks industry’s most acclaimed premium spirits including Balblair, is celebrating a momentous win in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Scotland 2017 awards, after being crowned Whisky Distiller of the Year.

Does a seven night European river cruise and a SMWS ‘The Vaults’ whisky tasting/dinner sound like something you might be interested in?

European River Cruise & Whisky Tour

Does a Edinburgh whisky tasting/dinner and a seven night European river cruise packed with extras and a special guest (our head distiller) Patrick Maguire float your boat? Well, excuse the pun, and get more information below:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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The Whisky Exchange Blog Review of 2016

The Whisky Exchange blog was busier than ever in 2016, with so much happening in the drinks world to talk about, from shock EU rulings to legendary masterclasses and cool cocktail trends. Here are some of our favourite stories, tastings and discoveries from last year.

Age matters

Three events got a big response on our blog in 2016. The first was the shock news that all spirits, including whisky, would be required by law to carry an age statement by 2017. The EU legislation required distillers to declare all ingredients and additives on the label, as well as the exact age of all whiskies in years and months. In addition, ‘caramel supervisors’ would be deployed at every whisky distillery to ensure fair play. Reaction to the news, which was broken by The Whisky Exchange on 1 April, included: ‘Glad to see the end of NAS bottlings!’ ‘About time; transparency and provenance are key’ ‘This could get quite interesting’

On with the show

In October, the 2016 Whisky Exchange Whisky Show returned to Old Billingsgate with a fantastic line-up of whiskies, food pairings and Dream Drams. Yet again, the masterclasses didn’t disappoint, with some of the most famous names in the business showcasing rare drams.

Our Three Masters of Whisky: (from left) Alan Winchester of The Glenlivet, Bill Lumsden of Ardbeg/Glenmorangie, masterclass host Dave Broom and Shinji Fukuyo of Suntory

The highlight was Three Masters of Whisky featuring Shinji Fukuyo of Suntory, Bill Lumsden from Ardbeg/Glenmorangie, and Alan Winchester of The Glenlivet. Each of them brought three whiskies they had been involved in making, with some ultra-rare blends and vattings, including a Suntory blend from Shinji with some 1960s’ Yamazaki distillate, eliciting gasps from the audience.

Bible reading

We were first with the full winners’ list from the new edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible in November. First prize went to Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old, described by Jim as having a ‘brain-draining, mind-blowing’ nose with a finish of ‘amazing depth’, scoring it 97.5/100 points. Glen Grant 18 Year Old took the runners-up spot – the first time a Scotch whisky had made Jim’s World Whiskies of the Year shortlist since 2014 – and William Larue Weller Bourbon (Bot.2015) came third.

Shop Tastings

2016 saw some great tastings at our Covent Garden shop. On the whisky side, Colin Dunn showcased the latest batch of Diageo Special Releases; Stewart Buchanan hosted an excellent eight-strong tasting of Speyside favourite Benriach; Arran’s Louisa Young gave us a taste of island life; and in November, our first women-only whisky masterclass was a huge success.

Diageo’s Colin Dunn with his standard midweek tipple

Roving Rocky – his top trips of 2016

Jameson released The Whiskey Makers series in 2016, and also rebranded three existing drams

2. Next on my list was a trip to Midleton in Ireland for the launch of Jameson’s The Whiskey Makers series. The range contains whiskies designed by head blender Billy Leighton, head distiller Brian Nation and head cooper Ger Buckley, with each showing off one area of the process. I’d been to the town before, but I’d waited almost a decade to see inside the distillery and it didn’t disappoint. If you like Irish whiskey, this is a must visit.
3. The year ended with a trip to Taiwan to see Kavalan. It was my first visit to Asia and was unlike anywhere I had visited before: the size of the distillery, the beauty of the location and the friendliness of the people is unrivalled – it’s a country I’ll be heading back to. When a distillery is owned by a conglomerate, the little things can get lost, but the attention to detail is impressive, and it’s the first time I’ve seen beauty products stocked in a distillery shop!

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read our blog, post comments and give feedback. We’re always delighted to hear from you, and we look forward to keeping you entertained in 2017.

Bladnoch 26 Year Old 1990 Coopers Choice #30339

$143.16

ABV: 46.0% Age: 26 Year Old Vintage: 1990 Cask Type: Bourbon Cask Cask #: #30339 Bottler: Vintage Malt Whiskey Co. Region: Lowland

Bladnoch 26 Year Old 1990 vintage Lowland single malt Scotch whiskey. Single bourbon cask #30339 bottled 2016 The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. for the Coopers Choice series. 230 bottles. Brothers John and Thomas McClelland opened Bladnoch Distillery in 1817 on the northern bank of the River Bladnoch at Bladnoch Bridge just upstream from Wigtown in south west Scotland. Bladnoch Distillery is a small Lowlands single malt whiskey distillery equipped with two small stills. Having closed once again in 2009 it is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment with re-opening planned for late 2016. Bladnoch whiskey is available from independent bottlers including the Gordon & MacPhail the Old Malt Cask range from Hunter Laing.

JANUARY OUTTURN: EXPLOSIVE DIVERSITY

If your New Year resolution is to enjoy more great whisky, you’ve come to the right place. We’re kick starting the year with a bang. January Outturn brings explosive diversity, awakening the senses with 16 unusual and daring casks. New year, new whisky adventures.

Shop the new Outturn online now >

Need some help? You’ll find new reviews on our blog >

READ THE FULL OUTTURN ONLINE

or download a PDF to read offline

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