It’s whisk(e)y season, folks! We’re less than three days away from Thanksgiving and I know a number of you finicky drinkers out there are getting your selections together for the big holiday feast. I’ve got four new ones for you today that might be of interest. The first two are fresh from Scotland’s Speyside region, while the second pair are single barrel exclusives from none other than Dickel. First off, a new single cask of 22 year old Miltonduff; a gristy malt that packs quite the punch.

Miltonduff 22 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $89.99 – If you’re tired of the same sweet vanilla and soft stonefruit profile of your typical Highland malt, I invite you to check out this 22 year old single barrel release from Miltonduff: a Speyside distillery that sees most of its malt go into the Chivas Blended portfolio. At 57.6% ABV cask strength and with a malty, gristy note, this is a robust and heavy whisky that very much tastes like malted barley smells, but with added notes of dark chocolate and cacao that carries over from the malting process. Intermixed with the malt and mocha notes are hints of toasted nuts and new oak with a classic Scotch whisky finish that is again accentuated from the huge proof. Mixed nuts and roasted cocoa flavors are the calling card of Miltonduff and this 22 year old cask offers both of those profiles with a bold and assertive character. It’s definitely not your typical gentle, graceful Highland malt. This is big time stuff.

Then there’s the new Macallan “Classic Cut” 2017 Limited Edition, a 58.4% ABV distillery release that drinks much like Macallan’s version of the Aberlour A’Bunadh: big sherry, big proof. This is dark and unctuous on the finish. Sherry heads will be pleased.

Macallan Classic Cut “2017 Limited Edition” Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky $79.99 – This limited edition Macallan harkens back to an older and much lauded regular release, The Macallan Cask Strength. Adopting the royal crimson colored label -a color made famous by its predecessor – a warning of the impending intensity of this exceptional Highland Single malt whisky. The Macallan Classic Cut is aged exclusively in sherry seasoned oak from Jerez and bottled without the addition of any water prior to bottling. This preserves the extraordinary character of this most exalted of Highland malts. The higher proof adds texture and depth, highlighting the quality sherry and bold malt flavors produced at the Macallan. Like all Macallan single malt, the Classic Cut is bottled without the use of color additives.

You have to understand, when someone offers you nine year old single barrels of 100+ proof Bourbon that you can sell for around forty bucks, you say YES! You say yes as many times as they’ll let you. You take as much of it as they’ll sell you and you ask for seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths.

Sure, Dickel is Tennessee whiskey, not officially Bourbon, but there are plenty of people out there buying it independently and selling it as Bourbon (Belle Meade, Barrell, etc.) because technically it is Bourbon. Just don’t tell that to anyone in Tennessee.

Back to my original point: these single barrels of Dickel are older, richer, tastier, and sweeter than any whiskies available in any other distillery-direct single barrel program right now. Yet, somehow, they’re around $20 less expensive per bottle than similarly-aged casks from Four Roses or the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.

I dare you to do a comparison, side by side, of our latest Four Roses barrel with one of these two new arrivals from Dickel. I did it blind for fun this past week and I had a rough time figuring out which was which.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L7233K1008″ Tennessee Whiskey $44.99 – Barrel #1008 is like a big bag of toasted caramel corn with power and intensity from the bold proof. Those who love the sweetness of classic Tennessee whiskey with the punch of cask strength Bourbon will be elated with a finish of sweet vanilla and hearty baking spices.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L7234K1004″ Tennessee Whiskey $44.99 – Barrel #1004 has strong aromas of herbaceous, peppery spices on the nose with heavy pencil shavings and toasted oak. It’s decidedly less sweet than all of the other Dickel barrels we’ve featured in 2017 with a robust richness that finishes like a fine bottle of Four Roses. Basically, if you’re looking for a 9 year old bottle of cask strength OBSV for $20 less than what it normally would go for, this is a fine substitute for serious bourbon fans. For serious Bourbon fans.

That covers it for this week. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving. We’ll be back with another Whisk(e)y News after the holiday, until then be sure to check out The Spirits Journal for updates on other exciting spirits hitting our shelves.

– David Driscoll

NOVEMBER AUCTION ENDS SOON

(ends Sunday 26^th November)

…place your bids at http://www.whiskyhammer.co.uk/

With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!

Bowmore 26 Year Old French Oak Barrique

The second release in the Vintner’s Trilogy from Bowmore, this Islay single malt is double matured, first in bourbon barrels for 13 years followed by another 13 years in wine barriques. Non chill-filtered and presented at a cask strength of 48.7% abv, this limited edition has tropical fruit and oak spiced smoke with dark chocolate and a hint of salt.

£420 Buy Now

https://youtu.be/Phd8bzzFxqs

Perfect is an overly used word. It’s used to describe films, albums, people and isn’t always used in the correct way, however, THIS WHISKY IS PERFECT!!! PERFECT! I’ve never ever used that word to describe a liquid ever before. Cask strength, bourbon cask Lagavulin – too good to say no, i’m buying this bottle and it is without doubt one of the greatest purchases that I will ever make in my whisky drinking life to date. That’s that, by one, open it, enjoy it and thank me in the comments! Cheers!

Lagavulin 8 Year Old joins the Lagavulin family

Launched as part of the Lagavulin 200th anniversary celebrations last year – 8 Year Old will now join the Lagavulin family permanently

Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky is treasured around the world as one of the most special of all Single Malts. As part of Lagavulin’s 200^th  anniversary celebrations last year, a Lagavulin 8 Year Old was launched as a special edition. Following the incredibly positive response, an 8 Year Old bottling will now join the Lagavulin family permanently.

Inspired by the distillery’s rich heritage, the bottle pays tribute to Britain’s most famous Victorian whisky writer, Alfred Barnard. In the late 1880s, Barnard, one of the first ever whisky journalists and travellers, sampled an 8 Year Old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, describing it as “exceptionally fine” and “held in high repute.”

Lagavulin Distillery

“The 8 Year Old is a signature Lagavulin style bottling with a liveliness that balances out the Islay smokiness. We hope that Lagavulin fans will enjoy this bottling, just as Alfred Barnard did centuries ago”

Georgie Crawford

Distillery Manager at Lagavulin

“Our aim for the 200th Anniversary was to bring Islay to life for as many people as possible, and by re-releasing this bottling as a permanent offering in our portfolio, we’ll be able to continue sharing Lagavulin’s heritage across the globe for many years to come”

Richard Walker

Diageo’s Global Head of Malts

Barton 1792 Distillery Announces New Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon  

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Nov. 14, 2017) – Barton 1792 Distillery unveils the most recent limited-edition whiskey in its line of 1792 bourbons, 1792 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This Bottled-in-Bond expression remains true to its heritage and is a testament to the Bottled in Bond act, established in 1897, which revolutionized the quality of American whiskey and gave whiskey drinkers confidence is high quality whiskey made by a legitimate distiller.

This well-aged bourbon came from barrels which were each filled during the same distilling season at Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Bottled-in-Bond was then bottled at precisely 100 proof and packs a bold taste followed by a lingering finish.

Tasting notes for this bourbon describe 1792’s unmistakable spice being met with “notes of charred oak and fresh mint. Subtle caramel apple tones are delicately balance with the lingering essence of coffee and black pepper.”

This is the seventh limited edition release of 1792 Bourbon expressions. The Bottle-in-Bond joins previous releases such as High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Single Barrel and Full Proof Bourbons. The 1792 Bottled-in-Bond will be available at retail starting in December. One batch of this Bottle-in-Bond Bourbon will be released each year, in the fall. Suggested retail pricing is $35.99 for a 750ml bottle.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com

It’s all systems go at Wolfburn distillery, with new expressions being bottled as fast as we can manage – and half the staff away on road trips at whisky shows and exhibitions all around the globe (Paris, Tokyo, Johannesburg and Zurich to name just four)! But we can’t complain – Wolfburn has had more visitors than ever in 2017, and the distillery has just been graded a three-star tourist attraction. We’ve made lots of new friends and we’re having a ton of fun making whisky. What’s not to like?

In this edition of the Laydown:

• Looking ahead: Kylver#3 is just around the corner…

• Morven is Launched! Wolfburn’s third permanent expression is finally here – a beautiful, lightly peated dram.

• Photo comp: Win a Wolfburn “three pack” (Northland, Aurora and Morven). Send us a pic of you or your friends/family enjoying a drop of the wolf somewhere fun or unusual.

Sláinte

The Wolfburn Team

PS: If you’re in the Thurso area, we’re holding an open day on Saturday 9th Dec, 10am-3pm – and we’ll be unveiling our Christmas special edition bottle. Hope to see you there.

Greetings Everyone,

Just in time for the holidays, The Party Source is proud to announce that we are now offering local delivery in Northern Kentucky! Two-hour local deliveries can be made the same day or scheduled up to 90 days in advance. All of the products listed on our website are eligible for local delivery or in-store pickup to help make your holiday party planning more convenient. We look forward to bringing the same outstanding customer service we offer in-store directly to your front door. Keep an eye out for our new van around town, and be sure to read all the details below.

Cheers!

-The Party Source
100% Employee-Owned
thepartysource.com

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 186: Ledaig 9 Year Old 2007 for MMM

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, announces the fourth and final release for 2017 in the MMM’s series of single casks. It is a young and dirty peated whisky from the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull. Mark and Manny selected a Ledaig 2007 as the conclusion of their bespoke Galaxy Series. It is bourbon cask matured and bottled at 52.3% ABV. The release is limited to only 50 bottles.

https://youtu.be/XVeDIeHRVjw

TREAT THE WHISKY LOVER IN YOUR LIFE TO A SELECTION OF AWARD-WINNING WHISKIES THIS CHRISTMAS WITH THE PEATED MALTS OF DISTINCTION® GIFT PACK

INCLUDING THE ARDMORE, CONNEMARA, BOWMORE & LAPHROAIG 

Spoil your loved ones this festive season with four award-winning whiskies in this exclusive Peated Malts of Distinction® gift pack. Explore Scotland and Ireland’s most celebrated whiskies with The Ardmore®, Connemara®, Bowmore® and Laphroaig®. 

This unparalleled collection will take you on a journey through smoky whisky, offering a varied flavour palate from silky, sweet The Ardmore Legacy and honeyed Connemara, to spicy Bowmore No.1 and the full-bodied smoke of Laphroaig Select. There is plenty for peated whisky lovers and newcomers alike to enjoy. 

TREASURED TRADITION

Each expression within the Peated Malts of Distinction gift pack is crafted with generations-old techniques passed down to produce peated whiskies for any palate and pocket.

Growing just millimetres per year, each peat bog cultivated in the creation of the Peated Malts of Distinction whiskies has a unique terroir, giving the whiskies their own distinctive character. Once cut, the peat is air-dried before being burnt in the distilleries’ smokehouse kiln beneath the malt to add a gentle or intense smoky flavour to the whiskies.

With an offering spanning the finest examples of peated malts from award-winning distilleries including Laphroaig, the world’s No. 1 Islay malt, to Connemara – Ireland’s only peated malt, Peated Malts of Distinction offers a range of unparalleled diversity and quality. 

PAIRING FOR PERSONALITY

Peated Malts of Distinction encourages you to explore its range to discover your ideal peated whisky. The journey begins in the snowy climbs of the Scottish highlands with The Ardmore Legacy – a lightly peated expression that showcases hints of creamy vanilla, balanced with sweet honey and spice.

For Irish whiskey fans, Connemara is a must-have. Often described as “Islay meets Ireland”, it retains the smooth and sweet taste of Irish whiskey with the smoky taste associated with Islay Malt whiskies.

Introducing you to Islay is Bowmore No. 1. From Islay’s first distillery and the home of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouse, the legendary No.1 Vaults, Bowmore is one of the most collectable single malts in the world. Meticulous maturation in the No.1 Vaults leads to a perfectly balanced peated whisky with smooth and mellow vanilla sweetness, cinnamon spice, zesty citrus and a hint of coconut culminating in a long lasting peat taste.

Heavily-peated Laphroaig has been dividing opinions since 1815. Malt masters with the confidence to seek out richer whisky experiences will relish Laphroaig Select; sparkling gold in colour, this is a full-bodied and complex whisky reminiscent of burning peat embers with hints of coconut and banana.

Treat your loved one this Christmas and help them find their favourite peated malt whisky with this exclusive gift box. The whiskies are presented in a premium wrapped closing box featuring photography of each distillery alongside 4x5cl miniatures. The gift pack is available from specialist retailers for RRP £20.

Notes: 

The Ardmore®

For Highland whisky drinkers keen to experience something more unusual, this lightly peated whisky is an interesting addition to any collection, bringing together generations-old traditions of peated malt craft with a uniquely contemporary whisky brand, taste buds will soar to new heights with The Ardmore.

www.ardmorewhisky.com

Awards:

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Traditional Peated

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Legacy

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Triple Wood

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Legacy

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Triple Wood

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Bronze for The Ardmore Traditional Peated 

Connemara®

The only remaining example of a peated Irish malt in the world, Connemara is smooth and sweet with complex peat flavours make for a robust whiskey that’s unlike any other from the Emerald Isle.

www.kilbeggandistillingcompany.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Silver for Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Bowmore®

Crafted at the home of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouse, the legendary No.1 Vaults, Bowmore is one of the most collectable single malts in the world. Perfectly balanced, smooth and mellow with a long lasting peat taste, Bowmore is a mid-to-highly peated whisky.

www.bowmore.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

ISC 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

ISC 2017 | Silver for 18 Year Old (Domestic)

ISC 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 15 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 10 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 18 Year old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt 

Laphroaig®

An alchemic blend of casks, Laphroaig is the iconic malt from Islay – the undisputed capital of peated malts and features a nose reminiscent of burning peat embers in a crofter’s fireplace with hints of coconut and banana that gives way to a deep, complex and smoky flavour with a gentle sweetness.

www.laphroaig.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Triple Wood

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Select

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Quarter Cask

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Lore

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig PX

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Double gold for Laphraoig Lore

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for Laphraoig 10 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for Select

IWSC 2017 | Gold for Laphroaig Quarter Cask

IWSC 2017 | Gold for Laphroaig The 1815 Legacy Edition

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig 10 Year Old

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Four Oak

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Lore

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Select

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Triple Wood

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.