The nights have drawn in and there’s a chill in the air – Christmas is coming, and this year we are unwrapping an extra special present, with the release of our third bottle from The Vaults Collection.

Drawn from our treasure trove of single cask whiskies, The Vaults Collection encompasses the finest and rarest casks, and this latest bottling is no exception. 29.234 Smoked and salted toffee apples, a 27-year-old single malt from Islay, has been maturing in a refill oloroso butt since 1989. Now, after the angels have taken their substantial share, the time has finally come to release 368 bottles of this perfectly balanced combination of peat, smoke and sherry.

With such depth and harmony incredibly hard to find and even more difficult to achieve, 29.234 Smoked and salted toffee apples is an outstanding piece of whisky history. Whisky expert and author Hans Offringa describes it as “…a love letter in liquid form, its gentle smokiness leaving me staring dreamily into the dying embers of a beach bonfire”.

Less than 200 bottles of this iconic bottling are ON SALE NOW in the UK and EU, and will be available to ship from Wednesday 6 December.  You’ll need to be quick, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever – and its likes won’t be seen again. Treat a very special someone to the ultimate whisky present – or maybe just yourself. It’s almost Christmas after all.

DISCOVER MORE

Complete your Collection

If you are feeling indulgent this festive season, why not also secure one of the last remaining bottles of 24.129 Meeting an old master to add to your set of The Vaults Collection? This aged beauty from a much sought-after distillery has proven popular with members, so this is your last chance to buy it while you can. Let the whisky transport you back to a bygone age to experience the distillery’s traditional style of maturation. You can also try 24.129 Meeting an old master in our Edinburgh and London Members’ Rooms. Go on, make it the perfect gift to yourself – you’ve been good this year!

MORE INFO

We’re pleased to announce that our Member Services team are now available from 8am right through until 6pm, Monday – Friday. Call +44 (0)131 555 2929 or email sales@smws.com for help to purchase memberships, order that must-have bottle or find the perfect gift.

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

Why we are in love with whisky …

Before we go on, dinnae get me wrong, we are no Jakies (A scottish word for an alcoholic/drunk. Can usually be found living in a cardboard box wearing a worn out leather jacket and an unshaven mush.. ‘Those jakies downstairs won’t shut the flip up, one of them was lying unconscious at the gate this morning with an empty bottle of Buckie.’), no – we love the golden brew for many reasons; its taste, its looks, how each is different (take note vodka), its various monetary values, its industry people and lastly – maybe most importantly, the whisky lovers we meet on our tours!

Liz and I meet so many people in the course of a year, some once a year on tour, others many times a year at distilleries, fab people such as Andrew at Edradour, Emma and Iain at Glen Moray, aye and the lovely Linzi where we get all our cars from – without a dram we would never have met most of these people. We love the whole process, the enquiry, the emails/phone calls, the tour design, the booking of said tours (more people we meet over and over are hotel people), and even better, people pay us to drive around our beautiful country enjoying ourselves! Does life get better?

Er aye it does, because when people (clients, guests, friends) pay us to drive them, included are many drams we just have to join in with! It is glorious research and development for our business, it’s a hard life but someone has to do it. Every tour is different, the weather changes, the light changes, obviously the seasons change, people in the car/coaches change, the only thing that remains are the distilleries, but again – we do not visit the same ones every tour. What I am trying to say is that I love what I do and if anyone oot there wishes to do my life – it is yours for £1,000,000. You can have the lifestyle, the websites, the contacts and my blessing. But you know what? Give me that £1 million and I will still be following the tours around, it’s now firmly rooted in our blood.

So much so that in the funny season (mid winter), Liz and myself take off for a few days and do our own tour (research and development). Every year we have a fabulous staff outing (Liz and myself, sorry to our other drivers oot there), this year we are away again to Auld Reekie for a few days, nice Georgian apartment booked, superb food, great laughs and fab times, all seasoned with a dram or two. Two whisky lovers let loose in the Capital to explore and have fun.

So what of this year? It was busy, really busy. With 90% of business dedicated to whisky tourism, are we tired? Aye, but we can sit doon and look at new whisky bottles looking back at us, waiting for the grand opening. We are looking forward to Edinburgh so we are, it’s a fitting reward. Before that we will be away to a whisky trip with a difference, fireworks, food, friends and drams on a boat doon in deepest Ayrshire. Liz and myself on a research trip of course, trying to find the kingsize hotel afterward in Irvine will be a new mystery. Next year – 2018. With around 6 months of tour dates already booked up, it looks like another year of total whisky pleasures once again! Would you like to join us? Get your bookings in as soon as, already Paul, Liz, Andy, Ron, Mark and Derek have diaries filling up. Grand tours, whisky festivals, schools, tastings and whisky experiences – see you sooon for some more water of life fun in the Scottish sun.

Blethered here by Paul. www.mcleanscotland.com  www.whiskytours.scot

Hi folks, that’s us live with the 80th auction. Last chance to get a bit of Christmas shopping!

A NIGHT OUT WITH DAVID BECKHAM…IN REVERSE  

New film launches the HAIG CLUB Scotch Whisky #LeaveAsYouArrived campaign  

LONDON, NOVEMBER 14 2017: Today Diageo releases Leave as You Arrived, a new film from HAIG CLUB as part the brand’s commitment to responsible drinking. The film, featuring global icon and HAIG CLUB business partner David Beckham, marks the next progressive step in Diageo’s determination to bring responsible drinking to the forefront of consumer thinking in innovative and authentic ways.

Like HAIG CLUB, the 60-second film is designed to be different: directed by Grammy Award winning Swedish director, Jonas Akerlund the film plays out in reverse – the end of the film is in fact the beginning and shows David Beckham and his friends as immaculately put together leaving the bar as when they arrived.

Ronan Beirne, Global Brand Director said:  “Responsible drinking is an integral part of the HAIG CLUB philosophy and we have a shared belief with our business partner, David Beckham, about quality over quantity and the importance of drinking in moderation. #LeaveAsYouArrived was designed to showcase the benefits of drinking in moderation on a night out. HAIG CLUB believes that looking as good leaving the bar as when you arrived, is the epitome of style.”

David Beckham said: “There are many reasons why I wanted to partner with Diageo on HAIG CLUB, and one of them is their commitment to responsible drinking. Jonas did a very nice job bringing our idea to life with this new film.”

Carolyn Panzer, Global Alcohol in Society Director, Diageo, said: “Being stylish and in control go hand-in-hand. This campaign shows just how aspirational drinking in moderation has become, and is all about encouraging adults who choose to drink, to do so responsibly. Encouraging moderation is not in conflict with our goals as an alcohol producer: in fact, it lines up very clearly with our values and aims as a business. We want to lead people towards drinking better, not more, and this campaign is a powerful example of how our brands are helping us to do that.”

#LeaveAsYouArrived is part of HAIG CLUB’s ongoing commitment to responsible drinking and will continue to roll out globally across social media with additional exclusive content designed to celebrate drinking in moderation. This will include content from cities across the world showcasing real people in #LeaveAsYouArrived moments.

View the film

Notes:  

ABOUT HAIG CLUB:

HAIG CLUB is the Single Grain Scotch Whisky from Diageo produced in partnership with global icon David Beckham and entrepreneur Simon Fuller. Built on nearly 400 years of distilling heritage, this is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky realised in a radical new way. As part of his partnership with HAIG CLUB, David Beckham supports the HAIG CLUB philosophy of drinking with style and the shared belief in quality over quantity. More information about HAIG CLUB may be found at http://www.haigclub.com/ or facebook.com/HaigClub.

About Diageo:

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.co.uk.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

November Auction Live

Our November Auction is here and it has crept up on us fast! Following the success of our October Auction we had a hard act to follow and yet again we have an auction full of some absolutely incredible items.

Glen Grant Collection Gordon and MacPhail  6 x 70cl

Here we have 6 back to back vintages from 1950 through 1955 presented in an elegant wooden display case.

Dalmore 1926 50 Year Old Decanter

A spectacular Dalmore distilled all the way back in 1926 and matured for 50 years before being bottled at cask strength. Presented in a purple velvet box.

Highland Park 1902 – Berry Bros & Rudd

This is a Highland Park that was distilled at the very start of the 20th century and bottled by Berry Brothers in the 1950s. Label makes reference to The Late King George VI.

Longrow 1973 Samaroli

Heavily peated spirit was first produced at Springbank during the early 1970s and became known as Longrow. 1973 was the first year this was released making this bottle a great piece of Longrow’s history.

Macallan 1959 Fine and Rare

Another fantastic example of old Macallan, The Macallan Fine and Rare Series of whiskies was designed to represent the very best vintages / whisky that Macallan had to offer, dating back as far as 1926.

Rare Malts Collection x 10

A 10 bottle set of the popular ‘Rare Malts’ range which consisted of a historic range of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

Bournemouth bar, Smokin’ Aces, awarded the Imbibe Whisky List of the Year 2017 

Smokin’ Aces Cocktail Bar & Whiskey Lounge in Bournemouth has beaten some of the best bars from across the UK to be crowned Imbibe Whisky List of The Year 2017 in association with Maxxium.

The menu, including a list of Old Fashioned’s and a breakdown of blends and malts, won for their comprehensive yet carefully edited menu of whisk(e)y’s that’s organised geographically, helping the consumer.

Industry expert, author and judge for the competition, Michael Butt, commented: ‘I don’t know how this could be any better.’

‘It’s pushing forward the relevance to their market and that’s really good’ added fellow judge Joel Harrison. ‘What appeals to me is that it would get people into the category rather than just keep them there, and for whisky I think that’s really important.’

The on-trade competition featured an extraordinary line-up of contenders, and other winners were from bars in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, and London.

Judges for the competition included Michael Butt, Monica Berg, Jared Brown, Anistatia Miller, Neil Ridley, Joel Harrison, Michelle Brachet, Peter Dorelli, Alessando Palazzi and Lyndon Higginson, as well as the award-winning Imbibe editorial team.

The Imbibe Drinks List of the Year 2017 competition opened for entries last year and serves to reward the very best drinks lists from bars across the UK. 

 Notes

For further information visit www.imbibe.com or smokin-aces.co.uk

Imbibe launched Drinks List of the Year in March 2016 as a competition that aims to find and reward the best cocktail and spirits lists in bars across the UK. Judges notes on all winners are available on request.

Launched in March 2007, Imbibe magazine has rapidly become the UK’s leading magazine for on-trade drinks professionals working in premium UK establishments. Imbibe is an ABC-audited magazine, with more than 15,650 drinks buyers and servers in the UK receiving the magazine. Copies are available upon request.

JOIN US for BURNS NIGHT IN 2018

Bookings being taken now…

BURNS NIGHT

Thursday 25th JANUARY 2018 

It only comes round once a year and we have two stunning venues with different Burns Night celebrations to choose from – join us for a fun and traditional Burns Night Supper to celebrate our national poet Robert Burns whose message of friendship and Auld Lang Syne lives on. Join us at WHISKI Bar or WHISKI ROOMS on Thursday 25th January 2018 for a memorable Burns Night Supper to celebrate our national poet Robert Burns whose message of friendship and Auld Lang Syne lives on. Bookings being taken now.

WHISKI’s Burns Night Supper

Call us on 0131-556-3095 to book WHISKI on the  Royal Mile for our Burns Supper with live Scottish band.

Date: Thursday 25th January 2018 Time: 7:30PM £30 pp

View WHISKI’s Burns Supper here

WHISKI Rooms Burns Night Supper

Call us on 0131 225 7224 to book WHISKI Rooms overlooking the Mound for one of our Burns Night extravaganza celebrations.

Date: Thursday 25th January 2018 Time: 7:30PM £35 pp

View WHISKI Rooms Burns Supper here

Hope to see you in WHISKI or WHISKI Rooms for a great Scottish celebration. Best Regards from all at         WHISKI Bar       and     WHISKI Rooms

www.whiskibar.com    |    www.whiskirooms.com

WHISKI Rocks, let the party begin …

Whisky comes to life at Whisky comes Christmas. It’s the perfect drink to celebrate with, to share with loved ones, and as the year draws to a close, it’s a drink to reminisce with. If you’re looking for that perfect present for the whisky lover in you life, let our gift guide help.

Cask No. 27.111 A coal bucket of marshmallows Age: 22 Years Price: £285

Cask No. 68.10 Delicious, delightful, decadent! Age: 7 Years Price: £48

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 visits Campbeltown with Ralfy Review 699 – Glen Scotia 18yo @ 46%vol:

The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive 10^th Anniversary Whiskies!  

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign and Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign 10th Anniversary bottlings. 

These are the sixth and seventh additions to The Whisky Barrel’s range of exclusive bottlings commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the retailer established in 2007 and which is now renowned as one of the world’s leading whisky and spirits merchants.

The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign

The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign was distilled at the now lost Dumbarton Distillery in the Lowland region of Scotland and bottled by Hunter Laing & Company Ltd exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Aged for 30 years in cask refill #HL14247 yielding 160 bottles at natural cask strength.

Dumbarton Distillery was a single grain distillery built in Dumbartonshire in the 1930s, at which time it was the largest in Scotland. Dumbarton closed in 2002 and has since been demolished, making The Whisky Barrel’s exclusive Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign a very special addition to any collection.

The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign

The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign was distilled at the now lost Carsebridge Distillery in Alloa and bottled by Hunter Laing & Company Ltd exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Aged for 44 years in refill hogshead cask #HL14189 yielding 150 bottles at natural cask strength.

Carsebridge distillery dates to 1798, making malt whisky at first before moving to grain whisky production in 1850. The distillery was destroyed by fire in 1902 but underwent a major re-development and was doing well again by 1927. By 1980 Carsebridge was the largest grain distillery in Scotland but it closed in 1983 and was the demolished in 1992. All that is left of the distillery are very few casks in warehouses across Scotland which makes the Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign a rare and special find for cognisors and collectors alike.

Both notable bottlings are available exclusively from The Whisky Barrel, shipping to customers Worldwide including the United States of America, Canada and Japan. 

https://www.thewhiskybarrel.co.uk/dumbarton-30-year-old-1987-sovereign-10th-anniversary-14247.html

https://www.thewhiskybarrel.co.uk/carsebridge-44-year-old-1973-sovereign-10th-anniversary.html

Tasting notes for The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign: 

Colour: A soft pale gold colour.

Nose: A gentle nose of vanilla and toffee.

Taste: The palate is fruity and sweet with notes of citrus coming through.

Finish: A lovely clean finish with just a hint of smokiness. 

Price: £93.92 GBP / $103 USD (+ P&P)

Tasting notes for The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign: 

Colour: A vivid golden whisky.

Nose: A complex nose with pleasing notes of cocoa and sweet berries.

Taste: The palate is smooth with traces of caramel and those sweet berries coming through.

Finish: The finish is long and satisfying. 

Price: £177.65 GBP / $192 USD (+ P&P) 

The Whisky Barrel

E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com

Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com/

T: +44 (0)845 2248 156

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