Wemyss Family Collection introduced to the Wemyss blended malt range

Family run, independent bottler Wemyss Malts is releasing a new range of blended Scotch malt whiskies that have been produced from the family’s private collection of maturing whisky casks. Rather than use whisky that has been purchased mature and ready to blend, Wemyss Malts has over the past decade sourced oak cask varieties to partner with single malt spirit selected from some of Scotland’s foremost distilleries.

Under the guidance of industry experts including Charlie Maclean, the Wemyss family have handpicked casks that show the perfect balance between wood and whisky to craft exceptional blended malt whiskies. Each yearly Wemyss Family Collection release will focus on one specific influence that impacts whisky, be it regional, malt style or cask effect.

The first two releases of the Wemyss Family Collection represent two opposite whisky styles; that of bourbon cask matured and sherry cask matured whisky. In keeping with other releases from Wemyss Malts, these new bottlings have been given flavour led names by the Wemyss tasting panel:

Vanilla Burst is the first release of the Wemyss Family Collection range and is a blend of only 2 Speyside single malts with a light and fruity character that were chosen to mature in 15 1^st-fill Ex-bourbon barrels. The 4800 bottles of Vanilla Burst perfectly demonstrate an intense 1st fill bourbon wood influence on a light and sweet Speyside malt Scotch whisky.

Treacle Chest, selected as the second release of the Wemyss Family Collection range is a blend of only 2 Highland single malts with a sweet, cereal character that were chosen to be matured in just 14 1^st-fill ex-sherry hogsheads. The resulting 6300 bottles of Treacle Chest are a perfect example of how rich and weighty 1st fill ex-sherry casks influence unpeated Highland Scotch malt whisky.

Both blended malts are bottled non chill-filtered, at natural colour and are 46% abv. They are presented in screen printed 70cl bottles with a striking charcoal and copper detailed gift carton.

William Wemyss, Founder and Managing Director at Wemyss Malts, commented: “It is with great anticipation and excitement that we release to the drinks enthusiast and whisky community the first two Wemyss Family Collection bottlings. We are very proud of the quality of these two blended malts and look forward to seeing how future yearly releases will compare.”

Isabella Wemyss, Director of Production at Wemyss Malts stated: “Great effort and time has been taken to ensure the Wemyss Family Collection will be remarkable blended malts, from the very first steps of selecting the spirit and sourcing exceptional casks from around the world, to selecting and blending the mature casks under the supervision of leading industry professionals.”

Wemyss Family Collection; Vanilla Burst and Treacle Chest will be available mid-August from selected retailers in the UK, EU and key Asian markets with suggested retail prices of £43 and £47.

Notes:

• Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is owned by the Wemyss family and their family seat in the brand logo is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.
• The Wemyss Family Collection joins 2 other blended malt ranges that include The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney bottled non chill-filtered at 46% and in small batch, batch strength as well as a blended Scotch range, Lord Elcho.
• Wemyss blended malts have won prestigious World Whisky Awards five times: The Hive 12yo in 2012, Spice King 12yo in 2013, Velvet Fig in 2015, Kiln Embers in 2016 and Peat Chimney Batch Strength in 2017.
• The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include Darnley’s Gin, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.
• The family has opened a single malt distillery at Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews in Fife and in July 2017 opened Darnley’s Gin distillery on site. www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

Experience Europe’s largest Whisky event Live in Paris

Whisky Live, Europe’s largest Whisky event, is back for its 14th edition in Paris – the event’s spiritual home – where whisky and spirits aficionados can revel in the world’s best selection of aged spirits and fine liquors.

Whisky Live Paris 2017, held on the 23rd – 25th of September, is a unique opportunity during which visitors can stroll through a space entirely dedicated to honouring 150 whiskies and spirits from over thirty countries, while experiencing exclusive tastings and inventive mixology creations.

This event, worthy of a trip to Paris, not only showcases the best from around the globe, but also serves as the stage for many world premieres, as-well-as an opportunity to meet distillers and unleash the inner connoisseur. The new free line-up of exclusive masterclasses on the 23rd and 24th – conducted by some of the world’s leading experts – will allow guests to expand their knowledge and appreciation for fine spirits.

Richard Paterson, Master Blender – Jura & Dalmore will kick off the classes on the Saturday, followed by a packed schedule with: Jan Beckers, Global Malt Ambassador – Douglas Laing, and Luca Gargano from Maison Velier. Sunday begins with John Glaser, Whiskey Maker – Compass Box & Dave Broom, followed by masterclasses with Tadashi Sakuma, Master Blender – Nikka, and Alexandre Gabriel from Maison Ferrand.

Due to its huge success in 2016, Cocktail Street* will once again be open to the general public from September 22nd – 25th 2017. The only event of its kind, it will be bigger and better than ever before this year with an entire pop-up street along the banks of the Seine exclusively dedicated to food & cocktails.

The most prestigious brands within the world of refreshments will present their creations, and drinks venues from abroad will be entirely recreated just a few feet below the Whisky Live main event. The Food Market will once again offer exclusive selections of foods and DJs will play throughout for a lively atmosphere!

The countdown is now on and tickets are selling fast. There are a number of options for those wishing to spend an unforgettable weekend sampling the world’s finest spirits and food in the splendour of Paris.

The Discovery Pass provides, among other things, unlimited access to the Tasting Hall stands, two free cocktails at the Cocktail Street, a 10% discount in the Whisky Live Paris pop-up store and other great goodies described more in detail by the ticket office.

VIP Passes are also available; these cost € 120 for a 1 day VIP Pass and € 195 for the weekend VIP Pass.

With this VIP access, spirits enthusiasts will be able to benefit from all the advantages of the discovery pass one hour before the official opening of the event, and will gain exclusive access to the VIP area to taste rare and exceptional spirits.

To book tickets, or to learn more about the event, visit www.whiskylive.fr, and make sure to follow @WhiskyLiveParis on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest updates.

Whisky Live Paris 2017 will open its doors to the public on the 23rd and 24th of September, and on the 25th September for the trade professionals, at La Cité de La Mode et du Design.

*Cocktail Street is an external event, which is open to the public, running parallel to Whisky Live.

As well as this, we have a limited number of Double Passes, which can be used as prizes for competitions and giveaways – please let us know if this is of interest.

For more information, pictures or cocktail recipes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

About Whisky Live Paris

The 2017 edition will open its doors at La Cite de La Mode et du Design for the public on the 23th and 24th September, and on the 25th September for professionals. The second edition of Cocktail Street will take place on the platforms in parallel with a free entrance: a unique concept where ephemeral bars and street food stalls coexist to offer an unusual experience to the public, in parallel of Whisky Live Paris.

From Shanghai to New York, via London and Johannesburg, Whisky Live is an international event that gets capitals’ pulses racing throughout the year. For more than 14 years now, Paris has hosted the annual Whisky Live event at the end of September, which has grown over the years to become Europe’s largest tasting event. With a rich programme of tastings (150 brands present), meetings and talks (Masterclasses), and entertainment with Cocktail Street (cocktail bars, food pairing), Whisky Live Paris is the annual event for whisky and fine spirits enthusiasts. In 2016, Whisky Live Paris welcomed over 9,000 visitors serving more than 17 000 cocktails throughout the event .

NOTE: There are opportunities for journalists to attend Whisky Live Paris, and for select interviews with masterclass presenters and some expert spokespeople from the industry. If you are interested in attending or wish to conduct an interview, please let us know and we will happily arrange this.

Stay In The Know With WhiskyFest

As the summertime is starting to wane, we excitedly turn our thoughts to fall and WhiskyFest San Francisco and New York. VIP tickets for both events are limited and general admission tickets are going fast, so don’t hesitate. You can buy yours here. Also, take advantage of our room block at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco or New York. Rates are only good for a limited time or until the block sells out. For all up to date WhiskyFest information, please visit WhiskyFest.com. You will find a comprehensive pour list, information on our exciting seminars, and speaker biographies, as well as much more.

The First Editions Authors’ Series

We’re writing the final chapter in the latest volume of The Authors’ Series with the last remaining bottles of these limited edition single cask releases.

Bottled by Hunter Laing & Co. of Glasgow, these unique expressions match fantastic single cask whiskies with legendary authors, pairing the character of the writer and their works with the character of the liquid. Each one is presented in a luxurious display case that wouldn’t look out of place in the grandest of libraries.

We’re down to the last few bottles of each, so now is your chance to experience the final chapter!

Next day UK delivery available We ship all over the world!

Springbank 1997  Alexandre Dumas

£550

Springbank 1996 Benjamin Disraeli

£600

Ben Nevis 1996 Leo Tolstoy

£270

Ardbeg 1993 Rudyard Kipling

£900

Allt A Bhainne 1993 Mark Twain

£274

Bruichladdich 1990 Jules Verne

£500

Littlemill 1988 Gustave Flaubert

£274

Port Ellen 1983 Alfred Tennyson

£2,800

Ralfy hits the jackpot with Ralfy Review 675 – Glen Scotia single malt 15yo @ 46%vol

The Art of Distilling:

Speyside Distillery launches luxury limited edition whiskies featuring stunning wildlife images 

A Scottish distillery with one of the most impressive heritages in the industry has released, for the first time, a limited edition, single malt whisky collection which will significantly enhance its global reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after exclusive brands.

Speyside Distillery, set in the foothills of the magnificent Cairngorm Mountains, has launched the luxurious PSTA/SPEY Speyside Wildlife Collection in support of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts (PSTA).

The rare whisky bottles in the new collection feature stunning portraits of the wildlife found in the vicinity of the distillery and complement the original art which features in the company’s new office, Gallery & Lounge, in Glasgow’s Art District.

The artwork has been created by Joanna McDonough, PSTA graduate and Speyside Distillery’s Artist in Residence.

The range also features, amongst others, an exquisite SPEY Byron Crystal Cabinet, decanter and eight crystal glasses which Speyside Distillery invited designated craftsmen to the Royal family, Titchmarsh & Goodwin, to create. It was designed by Joanna and John McDonough.

The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts is a charity founded by HRH the Prince of Wales in 2004 with which Speyside Distillery has a longstanding connection.

Officially launching the collection to selected guests last week Speyside Distillery CEO Mr McDonough said: “We are delighted to extend our support of the PSTA with the release of our limited edition Speyside Wildlife Collection.

“The new collection emphasises the strong connection we have with the school and the wonderful and beautiful, natural environment in which we create our single malt whisky.”

Artist in Residence at Speyside Distillery, Joanna McDonough said: “My inspiration for the artwork in the gallery, and which appears on each bottle, has drawn on the natural beauty and wildlife of Speyside.”

The distillery, operated by Speyside Distillers, has been committed to extending the ‘Art of Distilling’ into actual sponsorship of art charities through its support of the PSTA. Joanna will take up an artist in residency at Dumfries House, near Auchinleck, Ayrshire, later this year.

Speyside Distillery Managing Director Patricia Dillon said: “The launch of these rare whiskies featuring our Artist in Residence’s work and the opening of our new SPEY Gallery & Lounge is in support of the PSTA, Scotch whisky and Traditional Arts and we are delighted to be in the Glasgow Art District.”

Speyside Distillery near Kingussie has been in production since 1990 and is operated by Speyside Distillers Ltd. It is home to the SPEY from Speyside Distillery range of International award winning single malt Scotch whiskies.

Prices and more detail on the range are available on application.

Notes 

SPEY is one of the biggest selling brands in Taiwan, accounting for 70% of its total sales. It also sells in a further 34 markets around the world. The brand has recently won 5 medals at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Awards) for expressions in the SPEY portfolio including SPEY Tenne, Fumare, Trutina, 18yo and Chairman’s Choice.

Murray McDavid would like to invite you to their ‘Malt on the Mountain’ Day to celebrate our 2017 new release of 21 inspired whiskies. This special event looks set to be one of their most fun and interesting to date. 

Ben Rinnes Mountain towers majestically over the Benrinnes Distillery and the spirit that flows from its stills is equally as impressive. In the morning, you will tour Benrinnes Distillery which is not open to the public. However, the Murray McDavid team are excited to be able to offer you a rare opportunity to step inside its doors. Then, in the local village hall, there will be traditional Scottish entertainment whilst we serve tea, coffee and refreshments. 

At 12 noon, you’ll be invited to join members of the Murray McDavid Team and others, who will set off up Ben Rinnes Mountain; a three-hour trip to the top and back. If you seek a more leisurely day, there’ll be a buffet lunch, an afternoon whisky tasting and a demonstration of barrel making by our very own cooper, who will share the secrets of his craft. 

At 3pm, there’ll be a gentle walk to Braeside, a beautiful private location with stunning views of Ben Rinnes. Here, all guests will assemble for the grand opening of a barrel of Benrinnes single malt whisky which will be enjoyed direct from the cask – a possible first in the history of Speyside! 

In the evening (7.30pm), it’s party time! There’ll be dinner, a quiz with great prizes, music and entertainment including the famous Whisky Bard, Robin Laing. But, most importantly, it’ll be an evening for enjoying lots of fine whisky with friends. 

There is a very limited number of tickets available for this exclusive whisky event. If you would like to join the Murray McDavid family for the day and buy one of the 60 available tickets, please contact Dean.Jode@Murray-McDavid.com, as soon as possible. (We are selling tickets on a first come, first served basis). There will be minibuses running to and from the village hall to local towns and hotels, so you can truly relax and enjoy the day. 

For more Information, please follow the link HERE 

Nikka

From Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries comes a range of Single Malts and Blends that continue to astound us. Extremely limited stock of Taketsuru 17 has arrived…

This week, the Milroys Curated Whisky List has chosen to showcase the excellent products they make.

BUY NOW

Nikka from the Barrel: a fantastic blend married in a sherry barrel and bottled at 51.4% to enhance the wonderful richness of the spirit. £39.95

Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt: A delicate yet complex whisky, the Miyagikyo is emboldened with floral notes and a light sweetness £76.95

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt: Characterised by it’s peaty and salty flavour, this firm shop favourite demonstrates soft harmony of flavour followed by a wisp of peat reek. £76.95

Taketsuru Pure Malt: Named after the father of Japanese whisky, this whisky demonstrates the meticulous and methodical nature of Japanese whisky through the balance of flavours between both distilleries. One of our favourite blended malts in the shop! £59.95

Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 Year Old: See above, but all the spirit is a minimum of 17 Years Old. A truly outstanding whisky that is rarely available. Get it whilst you can! £225

We have also updated our tastings so please have a look and see if there is anything you would like to try!

 THE WHISKY EXCHANGE 
 QUIZ OF THE YEAR 2017 

MONDAY 21 AUGUST
7.30PM-9PM

Tickets on sale now

 THE WHISKY EXCHANGE QUIZ OF THE YEAR! 

It’s time to show off your whisky knowledge in our very first quiz.

Our team of experts have toiled to bring you an array of testing questions for the geeks, along with classic pub-quiz picture and music rounds and more. We’ll also be tasting six whiskies along the way.

There are only a couple of tables left, so don’t delay – book your spot now.

Six rounds, six whiskies:
Are you up to the challenge?

 MONDAY 21 AUGUST
7.30PM-9PM

 £25 PER TICKET   

Please arrive at the venue from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start

 BOOK »

VENUE

THE WHISKY EXCHANGE SHOP
@ COVENT GARDEN
2 BEDFORD STREET
LONDON WC2E 9HH

30 September – 1 October 2017, 11.30AM‑6.30PMOld Billingsgate, London

Buffalo Trace masterclass tickets on sale

THE ART OF WHISKEY

Few distilleries create such a varied range of whiskey as Buffalo Trace. Join master blender Drew Mayville for a masterclass guiding you through the history of this great distillery, tasting a host of great whiskeys including past releases from the yearly Antique Collection.

Tickets on sale Monday 14 August at 2pm LEARN MORE