Loch Lomond 2001 The Whisky Shop Exclusive

An exclusive single cask specially selected and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop by Loch Lomond distillery. This Highland Single Malt was distilled in February 2001 and spent 16 years maturing in cask no. 16/329-2 before bottling in April 2017. Presented non chill-filtered at a cask strength of 56.5% abv, only 384 bottles have been produced.

Charles MacLean says: “Pale amber in colour; a slight nose prickle and dry aroma overall. The top note is fragrant – freshly laundered linen, shampoo – on a base of green apples and white grapes. A smooth texture and a sweet taste, with light acidity, a suggestion of brown bread and spice in the long, warming finish.“

£89 Buy Now

Only available while stocks last

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 161: Auchentoshan 21 Year Old 1973

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an older release from his favorite distillery in the Lowlands. Today’s 21 Year Old from Auchentoshan is one of his favorite expressions. Imagine his surprise when he was offered the early 1990s bottling blind and he did not recognize it. Distilled in 1973, this was one of the first 21 Year Old releases by Auchentoshan and it differs vastly from today’s offering. But in a good way!

https://youtu.be/K8c7HrwLDjA

Saturday May 11th, 4-6PM

Bourbon Tasting: Knob Creek, Bakers, and Basil Hayden

 Love bourbon? This tasting is for you! Distillery representatives and our own in-store whisky experts will present award-winning releases from Knob Creek, Bakers, and Basil Hayden from 4-6pm.

Click Here to View Pourlist & RSVP

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT JURA TASTIVAL 2017

Jura Single Malt Whisky’s Annual Island Whisky Festival Returns 

Tickets are now on sale for Jura Tastival 2017 – which returns for a one-day single malt spectacular on Thursday 1^st June, offering new ways to enjoy whisky, through a busy programme of one-of-a-kind taste experiences.

The event will run as part of the annual Feis Ile Festival, which attracts whisky fans from all over the world to distillery open days on Islay and neighbouring island, Jura, each year.

Tastival will see Jura’s only whisky distillery throw open its doors to put on a number of free and ticketed activities – from unique whisky tastings and tours, to live entertainment – including music from legendary Scots Trad band RURA – and a chance to join the Jura community at special meet and greets with the distillery team.

This year’s Tastival event is limited to one day only (it has spanned two days in previous years) – so whisky lovers are advised get in early to snap up tickets, which are set to be in high demand.

This year’s ticketed sessions include:

• The Jura Long Table – Dine with the Diurachs (the name for Jura’s community) at this ‘getting to know you’ session. A special one off lunch in the distillery’s Grainstore, guests will join the locals (including some distillery staff) to hear stories on island life as they enjoy Jura’s laid back take on street food, prepared with the freshest local produce, each dish designed to pair with a dram of Jura whisky.

• All Terrain Whisky Tasting – Discover the different sides of Jura and learn how the landscape inspires a whisky range as unique as the island itself. Venturing far beyond the realms of the distillery, the Jura bus will stop off at locations from serene beaches, to craggy mountain foots – with a whisky inspired by each location stashed for guests to find (if they listen to the clues) at every stop.

• Whisky 101 – Meet Whyte & Mackay Whisky Maker & Blender Gregg Glass in this unique session designed for both whisky newcomers and aficionados alike. Smashing perceptions on traditional whisky tastings, guests will be invited to take on a different ‘state of mind’ when it comes to single malt – sampling Jura in a number of non-fluid states, before an anonymous Q&A will give visitors the chance can ask anything they ever wanted to know about whisky…but were too afraid to ask! 

• The Single Malt Masterclass – An exclusive masterclass hosted by Jura Distillery Manager Graham Logan, honorary distillers will get on-the-job whisky making experience – from learning how to keep a careful watch over the spirit gauge, to testing the mash tun and wash backs, rolling a barrel through the warehouse and siphoning whisky straight from the cask.

• Jura Jetty – Ticketholders will arrive at Tastival in true island style, cruising from Islay’s Port Askaig directly to Jura’s Craighouse, delivered to the heart of the event by Captain Nicol. On their journey, guests will enjoy a special tasting of travel retail exclusive Jura Turas-Mara the way it was meant to be experienced – with the wind and sea spray in your face.

Music, live entertainment and the opportunity chance to sample Jura’s range will be available in the Dramming Bar in the distillery’s Cooperage, where guests will have the first opportunity to try, and purchase, Tastival 2017, Jura’s limited edition bottling created to mark the festival.

A £5 general entry fee will include a brochure, souvenir glass and two drams at the bar. A cash bar will be available thereafter, with a full drinks menu including drams, cocktails and an exclusive Drygate beer brewed to pair with Jura’s Tastival 2017 bottling.

The distillery will also run free tours of the still house throughout the day on a first come, first served basis.

The island event will kick off a schedule of localised Tastival events to take place in Europe throughout the summer, and which will be announced in the coming weeks

Ticketed sessions vary between £15 – £45, with entry to the heart of the action in the Cooperage costing just £5 (including goody bag and two drams).  Tickets on sale now, here: juratastival2017.eventbrite.co.uk/

Getting there from Islay: Jura will operate a free passenger ferry and coach shuttle service to and from the Port Feolin ferry station. For more information see www.jurawhisky.com.

#JuraTastival

www.jurawhisky.com 

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Instagram: jura_whisky 

NOTES                                                         

About Jura:

Jura is an island nestled off the West Coast of Scotland. With only one road, one pub, one distillery and 200 people, Jura is as beautiful as it is remote.

The distillery was established in 1810 and reborn in 1963 to revive the community.

Inspired by our history and our island home, we create single malt with a true passion for the craft of whisky making.

1792 TASTING EVENT WITH PAPPY VAN WINKLE RAFFLE

19TH JUNE 2017 6.30PM

One of Kentucky’s unsung heroes ‘1792′.

We will be sampling the rare Full Proof, Single Barrel, Port Finish and the Small Batch. The tasting will be hosted by the owner of Milroys – Simo, alongside his partner in crime for Bourbon Jolyon Dunn. After the event Milroys will be raffling off their allocation of the 1792 as well as their next batch of Pappy Van Winkle.

After chatting with our friend Preston Van Winkle, if you are one of the lucky winners on the night who bags one of the Pappy range, you will be politely asked to take the seal off the bottle.

Tickets for this magnificent event are extremely limited.

BUY TICKETS HERE

VIEW LIVE AUCTION

Get bidding, and good luck!
The Whisky.Auction Team

Saturday May 6th, 12-3PM

Japanese & Irish Whiskies

Curious about the wider world of whiskey? Come by May 6th for a tasting featuring Suntory Whisky of Japan and Kilbeggan Whisky of Ireland! Both new and award-winning releases will be tasted from both distilleries. Click the link below for detailed pour list.

Click Here to RSVP on Facebook

APRIL SHOWERS

If it’s pouring outside, try pouring something special inside with these end of April offerings. Singular and sought after, these three late hatchlings and their 10 per cent discount will both delight your palate and spare your purse. These offers are only available in a limited quantity and only online. Order now before the opportunity dries up.

SHOP ALL NEW BOTTLINGS

On smws.com now

SHOP

GOLD MEDAL AWARD FOR SMWS BOTTLING

Cask No. 35.177 wins gold medal award in San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 35.177: Caramelised fruit and nut medley is a 21-year-old bottling from the Society’s Old & Dignified flavour profile, matured in a first-fill toasted ex-bourbon hogshead and described by the Tasting Panel as having “boundless depth and incalculable complexity”.

Caramelised fruit and nut medley

£94.90

BUY

Ralfy talks soft ‘n complex with Ralfy Review 646 – Deanston 18yo @ 46.3%vol

HIGHLAND PARK RELEASES STUNNING AND CATEGORY BREAKING PACKAGING

TO REFLECT VIKING HERITAGE

‘The Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul’ 

Highland Park has always been proud to stand apart from other single malt Scotch whiskies in terms of flavour and taste. Today, we are delighted to announce the release of our new packaging which forms part of a complete re-imagining of the overall brand identity.

The brand’s Orkney Islands home has an incredibly rich history rooted all the way back to 800AD when the Islands were owned and ruled by the Viking kingdoms of Denmark and Norway. Although Orkney became part of Scotland in 1468, Orcadians still feel a strong connection with their Viking heritage as 1 in 3 of them has Scandinavian DNA. In fact, since the brand’s creation in 1798, Highland Park single malt has been made by the modern day descendants of Vikings and who still today are fiercely proud of their Scandinavian roots.

Jason R. Craig, Brand Director, commented: “For whisky fans, their first point of contact with any brand is the bottle and carton on a shop shelf or on a back bar. So, we had to create a new bottle and carton design which would explain our Viking bloodline and why we are ‘The Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul’.

“The inspiration for the design came from an ancient ‘Stavkirke’ (wooden church), a world Heritage site in the tiny Norwegian village of Ornes. The wooden church is heavily decorated with extensive and ornate wood carvings which we thought would look amazing on a glass bottle. The result is a beautiful, heavily embossed bottle featuring an illustration which depicts an ancient Viking legend of a lion locked in an enduring battle with the forces of evil in the form of serpent-like dragons.

“The new packaging includes a new, wider bottle, a metallic label design that complements the glass, embossed with a contemporary looking logo as well as a premium ‘Torq’ closure to keep the whisky safe. All of which, we believe, will add consumer interest and excitement around the brand,” Jason added.

The carton for each of the brand’s 12 and 18 Year Old whiskies also feature the ancient lion and dragon legend with embossed metallic detailing, ensuring enhanced premium cues, great visibility and stand-out on shelf. In addition, the statement ‘Made with Pride on Orkney’ features on the side of each carton as a tribute to the men and women of Orkney who produce the brand’s iconic and renowned single malt.

The whisky profile for Highland Park’s award winning 12 and 18 Year Old single malts remains unchanged. However, each variant has been given a sub-brand name to give a stronger individual identity to each whisky and as a tribute to those first Viking pioneers who settled on Orkney all those hundreds of years ago.

These sub brand names are inspired by the ‘Nine Noble Virtues’ which the Vikings’ community lived by:

• Highland Park 12 Year Old – Viking Honour – one of the Viking Nine Noble Virtues
• Highland Park 18 Year Old – Viking Pride – a virtue and to pay tribute to our multi-award winning whisky

The new packaging for Highland Park 12 Year Old will begin to appear on shelf in the UK from the end of April 2017 while Highland Park 18 Year Old will be out later in the year.

About Highland Park

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Its range of 12, Dark Origins, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts. Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently Highland Park ICE Edition was awarded 99 points and the Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge. While Highland Park 12, 15 and 18 Year Old were all awarded 96 points or above and the Tried and True Award at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge.