Whiskybase.com celebrates 1 Million whisky ratings

The leading whisky platform and community site hits 1 million whisky ratings. 

Netherlands: Sunday the 8th of April, Whiskybase.com, the leading whisky platform and community site, celebrates reaching 1 million whisky ratings. Whiskybase, which started as a website to keep track of whisky bottle information, has grown into the leading platform for information about whisky releases and ratings.

Menno Bijmolt, the founder of Whiskybase, on this milestone: “When starting the website, it was primarily just to keep track of whiskies I tasted and share this with other whisky drinkers. I couldn’t have imagined that so many people would be using the website and that we would gather 1 million ratings. Recently, we hit 100.000 unique bottles in Whiskybase and now we have 1 million ratings, it still feels unreal.”

There are some new exciting developments coming up that will make Whiskybase accessible for people who prefer to read in their own language. As people increasingly rely on these tasting notes for their whisky purchases, it goes without saying we will continue to focus on the quality of the information given by our members.

In the near future Whiskybase will offer automatically translated tasting notes using Artificial Inteligence technology and a guide that will help new whisky enthusiasts to leave proper ratings and tasting notes.

About Whiskybase: Whiskybase is a Dutch-based company consisting of an online and an a in Rotterdam; an event company that hosts a wide range of activities, including the yearly Whiskybase Gathering in Rotterdam; Archives, our independent bottler brand; and whiskybase.com, the leading whisky information website.

Leighton Buzzard Railway Father’s Day Whisky Festival – last orders for pre-sales 

The Leighton Buzzard Railway celebrating another first with the hosting of a whisky and spirits festival on Father’s Day, Sunday 17 June between 1100 and 1600. Entry is free with a train ticket, and hourly trains will leave Page’s Park to the festival from 1030 to 1430, returning from 1225 to 1625.

Around 50 whiskies and 20 mixed spirits from around the world will be available, including rare releases such as legendary single-cask releases from historic bottler Berry Bros. & Rudd, holder of two royal warrants, and rare spirits from the 1980s. Organic soft drinks from Karma Cola, pre-bottled cocktails and a hot-food stand will also be present on the day.

The festival will be run by an experienced team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic industry staff, who will be on hand to help answer questions. In addition, hourly masterclasses will be hosted in our museum. All prices include tasting at least three whiskies and a festival tumbler to keep. Tickets for the tastings with glasses will only be available until 20 May and you can also add a gift box for an extra £3. The masterclasses are:

• Breakfast (lighter and sweeter) whiskies, 11.15-11.45, £12
• 1970s and 1980s Scotch, 12.15-12.45, £25
• Long-lost whiskies of the world, 13.15-13.45, £15
• One distillery (Glen Moray), three styles, 14.15-14.45, £12
• Peated whiskies, 15.15-15.45, £12

In addition, pre-orders for festival tumblers will be available online until 20 May priced at only £7.50 unboxed or £10.50 with a gift box. On the day, a limited number of unboxed tumblers will be available for £10, with no gift box option.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is always keen to support the local community, and the team from Stanbridge-produced Willow Tree Gin will be on hand to sample their gin. When asked to take part, owner Mary Vincent said: ‘It sounds like a great day out. We would love to be involved.’

For those visiting Page’s Park, footplate rides will be available subject to availability on Chaloner, a fortnight before the 1877-built steam loco celebrates the 50th anniversary of hauling passenger trains at the railway.

Festival organizer Rocky Lancer said: ‘We’re always looking for new and exciting events to offer to our customers, and working in the spirits industry, a whisky festival was a natural choice for Father’s Day. Following the discovery of a local gin producer, we added spirits and soft drinks to the line-up to appeal to the whole family – there are lots of mothers who like whisky, too, and plenty of father’s who don’t.’

Further details, including online booking are at http://www.buzzrail.co.uk/static/whiskyfestival.html

Notes 

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is an accredited museum with a history linked with the sand quarrying industry around the town. In addition to equipment from that era, the Railway has built up a significant collection of Great War vintage narrow gauge equipment.  The National Railway Museum previously placed its ‘protected’ type Simplex No. 3098 (MR1377/1918) on loan to the railway, and LBR is the base for the Greensand Railway Museum Trust’s Baldwin 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is based at Page’s Park, Leighton Buzzard, and the line runs to Stonehenge Works adjacent to the sand quarries which the original industrial railway was built to serve.  For further information visit www.buzzrail.co.uk.

Saturday, April 14, 3-5PM

Single Malt Tasting: 

Laphroaig, Auchentoshan, Suntory, and More!

Come by our store for a tasting of award-winning whiskies from Beam Suntory! We’ll be pouring new and rare releases by Glen Garioch, Laphroaig, Auchentoshan, and Suntory, presented by whisky experts.

Pourlist:

Glen Garioch 12YO

Auchentoshan – “The Bartender’s Malt” – Limited Edition #1

Laphroaig Cairdeas – 2017 Edition

Suntory Toki

Click Here to RSVP

Kilchoman 100% Islay Cask Release Loch Fyne Exclusive

Distilled at Kilchoman, Islay’s farm distillery, on 6th March 2008 and matured in a fresh bourbon cask from Buffalo Trace for 10 years, this single cask expression was bottled exclusively for Loch Fyne Whiskies on 19th March 2018. One of Kilchoman’s unique ‘100% Islay‘ releases, this single malt Scotch has been produced with barley grown, malted, distilled and bottled on Islay. Only 239 bottles have been filled from cask 84/2008, each one presented free from chill filtration and artificial colouring at a strength of 53.2% abv.

Bold peat notes come to the fore and are met with a complex balance of vanilla sweetness. Notes of icing sugar, custard sweets and light fruit flavours add further depth, with the finish introducing a gentle spiciness to the palate.

£125 Buy Now
Only available while stocks last

Top contenders for The 7th Scottish Independent Retail Awards 2018 are announced

Following the great success of the annual awards, we are delighted to announce The 7th Scottish Independent Retail Awards 2018, aiming to celebrate the hard work of the independent retail business in Scotland. Thousands of nominations were received from the public and the full list of finalists has now been compiled.

The black tie event will be held at The Crowne Plaza Glasgow on the 17th April 2018.

Carnegie Whisky Cellars, Dornoch is one of the finalists in the Off License of the Year category. Carnegie Whisky Cellars will find out if they have managed to win the competition and collect the trophy at the elegant ceremony being held in April.

The aim of The 7th Scottish Independent Retail Awards 2018 is to highlight the value of Independent Retailers to the communities and country they operate within; showcasing the diversity within the industry, recognising and rewarding the entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen which lies behind thriving independent retailers.

The Scottish Independent Retail Awards are all about local businesses for their local community. The awards look to give a platform to the local communities from which to voice their admiration and loyalty to their independent retailer of choice.

The glamorous event promises to be the biggest and most unforgettable night in this year’s events calendar. Numerous prestigious accolades will be awarded to the most deserving professionals and businesses, including Bespoke Retailer of the Year, Hair & Beauty Salon of the Year, Eatery of the Year and many more.

Nicole McEwan, Campaign Manager for Creative Oceanic, said: “We are delighted to see so many people getting involved in The 7th Scottish Independent Retail Awards. We have had a fantastic response from the public and we are looking forward to welcoming and acknowledging the most dedicated and successful individuals and establishments in a celebration of their tireless work. We would like to wish all the finalists the best of luck.”

Notes

• For further information on The 7th Scottish Independent Retail Awards please follow the link on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheScottishIndependentRetailAwards/

• If you share on Facebook, please tag our page and use the #scottish #independentretailawards

• For more information regarding the event contact Creative Oceanic on 0844 879 3256 or email events2@creativeoceanic.com

• Creative Oceanic, website www.creativeoceanic.com. For more information regarding the event or media related information please contact Creative Oceanic UK 08448793256, Republic Of Ireland 019020004 or email media@creativeoceanic.com

• Creative Oceanic are organisers of all aspects of the Awards from the event management through to the public and media relations aspects. We organise over 60 awards a year in Glasgow, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, London, Belfast, Dublin
and Canada.

In celebration of Tartan Day, April Outturn brings a colourful parade of flavour with 7 spectacular single casks, all marching to a different beat.

CASK NO. 41.99  A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

10 years old; refill barrel; 58.1%; Light & delicate

Walking through an apple orchard with coloured candy floss. Water released a cool mountain spring flowing over mossy rocks and iced mocha.

CASK NO. 96.12  SWEET LEMONS AND SOUR GRAPES

9 years old; refill barrel; 58.8%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

A fascinating mix of Middle Eastern fruits was followed by quince jelly. Water released sugar cane juice and fresh sweet peppermint creams.

CASK NO. 39.146  SANGRIA IN AN ARTIST’S STUDIO

8 years old; refill barrel; 61.8%; Spicy & sweet

The nose has aromatic herbs, scented leather, honey and tropical fruit. The palate combines perfumed sweetness, acidic fruit and warm spice.

CASK NO. 73.87  DARE YOU ENTER?

14 years old; 1st fill PX butt; 59.5%; Spicy & sweet

A gently fragrant introduction shrouds a hidden door of dark and spicy indulgence. Previously matured in an ex-oloroso sherry butt.

CASK NO. 35.185  FRIGHTFULLY DELIGHTFUL

22 years old; 1st fill toasted oak hogshead; 57.5%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

Frightfully delightful – the nose has polished wood, spun sugar, coffee with Danishes, raisins, dates, orange peel and floral confectionery. The palate is textured, warming and flavoursome, with maple syrup on French toast, crème brûlée, rum and raisin and sinfully sweet cinnamon.

CASK NO. 66.100  RELAX IN A RECLINER

12 years old; refill barrel; 55.5%; Lightly peated

The sweet scent of a Thai starter platter with smoky spicy prawn crackers and a chili dip combined with menthol and lavender essential oil created a very chilled-out atmosphere. Water added a Smoky Grove cocktail and loose ginger tea with lemongrass.

CASK NO. 29.226  SEASIDE SURPRISE

18 years old; refill oloroso butt; 56.8%; Peated

Smoked fish with seaweed and driftwood concealed behind a sweet disguise of spiced apple crumble, dessert wine and Battenberg cake.

SMWS Canada

A Dangerously Delicious Bourbon of from a Historic Distillery
Maker’s Mark “K&L Exclusive” Private Select ($69.99)

One of the most successful programs in our Spirits Department is the Private Select project done in partnership with Maker’s Mark. Through this innovative program our spirits buyers are given the opportunity to blend their own unique K&L bottling based on the addition of different wood stave types to the barrel of Maker’s 46. The barrel is then aged in a specially designed warehouse carved into the side of a hill that allows the perfect ageing conditions. The results carry the trademark characteristics of Maker’s Mark, yet possess their own distinctive stamp.

Our buyer, David Othenin-Girard, hit this most recent edition right on the mark (or should we say, the Maker’s Mark?). Rich, layered, infinitely complex, it is pretty much Bourbon nirvana. Be sure to read David’s note below, as he delves into the painstaking process involved in crafting this truly singular bottling. It is clear no stone was left unturned and this Bourbon is all the better for it. Coming from only one barrel, there is a limited amount of the Bourbon to go around, so time is of the essence in securing this treasure. Whether you are a longtime fan of Maker’s, or simply love a classically styled bottle of Bourbon with a special twist, the Private Select belongs on your shortlist.

Maker’s Mark “K&L Exclusive” Private Select Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($69.99)

Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Private Select is BACK! We’ve been incredibly successful with the exciting program from our friends in Loretto. Usually bourbon “innovation” is a category I like to avoid, but Maker’s Mark is pushing the limits of tradition with this unique program. Adding specially toasted staves to cask strength Maker’s barrels? Why adulterate such a perfect thing? The reasoning from Loretto was that the consistency between casks due to Maker’s Mark’s special warehouse management negated much of the excitement of a standard single barrel program. The solution was to incorporate the successful Maker’s 46 system into the barrel selection process. 5 stave types, 12 slots, and 90 days in the cool dugout warehouse built specifically for this program. The key, of course, is to add something special to the already exceptional juice without taking anything away. Given all the possible permutations, it was easy to eliminate the staves that had a more overt influence on the spirit. This left the “Baked American” and “Seared French Cuvee” split evenly, which offered interesting additional aromas (baking spice, vanilla bean, a toasty smoke) without masking completely the special Maker’s profile. We tossed in a couple 46 staves to give a bit something extra. It’s all a bit dicey since you’re blending samples rather than tasting a finish product, but when the whiskey arrived everything was there in perfect harmony. Allow some air to open it up; once it does it absolutely sings!

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 03, 2018

While selecting single barrels is good fun it’s also bit nerve racking. You open a cask and stick your nose in the glass and often have to make a decision relatively quickly on the quality of the juice. After 10 years though I’m pretty confident in my palate, but there’s still a feeling that each barrel is a bit of a referendum on my taste. But of course, I don’t make the whiskey that we sell, I just buy it! That’s what makes these Maker’s Mark Private Selects so interesting. This is the first time, outside of blending in Scotland, that I’ve truly had a hand at whiskey creation. I took my time with it. The whole operation is kind of outrageous. Maker’s Mark has built a custom warehouse into the side of the hill behind the distillery. They had planned to build out the warehouse inside the hill underground, but an esoteric Kentucky law prohibits the aging of bourbon underground. So instead this massive warehouse is built against the hill, the coolest – in temperature and style – I’ve ever seen. Right in the center of this heavily traffic tourist attraction is a private tasting area enclosed in glass. There they’ve got samples of the five stave types aged and ready to be sampled along with expressions of EVERY barrel bottled to date. You sit down in this extremely well-appointed room at the Maker’s Distillery in Loretto and watch as tourists gawk behind thick glass walls. It’s all a bit over the top, these random people examining you as you blend the various flavors. That of course didn’t detract from the exciting task at hand. The key to building a great whiskey in this program is to influence and enhance without masking the inherent deliciousness of the Maker’s itself. I tried every possibility, equal parts of each expression? Nope, felt muddled and unbalanced. Tiny bits of each with a high level of American. Definitely not, even the tiniest addition of the Mocha stave and you start to get a bitter note that is very UN-maker’s in my opinion. In an effort to be innovative and not rehash recipes we’d already bottled, I started to toy with different proportions of the three staves that I felt actually enhanced the whiskey drinking experience, those being the “Baked American Pure #2”, The “Seared French Cuvee” and the classic “Maker’s 46.” Each offered a subtle, but distinct addition to the potpourri of delicious sweet flavors that make Maker’s one of the world’s best bourbons. I ultimately settled on something that I felt was going to retain the balance and sweetness of Maker’s, but enhance the barrel and add additional complexity. I waited nearly 6 months to find out how my experiment developed. On first nosing, I was astonished by how prominent the woodsy staves showed. I honestly thought I’d missed the mark completely. But I set my glass down and returned in 15 minutes to a totally different whiskey. The nose is constantly morphing beast, bold and full of spice, but tempered with gorgeous sweet tea, peach, and fresh vanilla. I knew this whiskey would be rich, but it’s absolutely thick on the palate. Creamy and sweet up front with a big bold spice on the back. The finish is all vanilla bean, roasted coffee beans, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and dark wood. This CERTAINLY is not how I imagined this whiskey to be, but it IS absolutely delicious. Warming rich and overtly pleasurable with tons of nuance and depth. The scariest thing is how good the glass smells when you’ve finished your pour – that always means I end up pouring another. Dangerous…

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 05, 2018

I had a customer today ask me if we had any great bourbon in stock that he had not tasted yet which got me to thinking about the bourbon, or American whiskey, market as a whole. To be sure there is a ton a good bourbon in the world now, but it is also sometimes difficult to get a great bourbon. Which is why I have liked the Private Select that Maker’s started last year. More than just another single barrel program the Private Select allows those who decided to partake a chance to really play with the flavor through the selection of the staves. In addition, the cask strength allows these barrels to really shine. The selection we have here is all about the exotic spice and beautiful rich chocolate. That being said the classic vanilla and baking spice are still present along with more exotic spice notes and everything is cranked up to be completely unabashed.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 04, 2018

This cask is Maker’s all the way, but with an extra spicy and chocolate driven twist and full proof to boot. The rich creamy vanilla and shortbread cake are full throttle. The mocha, coffee, and spicy cinnamon and cloves sing out on the finish. David OG has done a hell of a job blending this masterpiece together. If you’ve been a fan of the other Private Select editions in the past, this will offer you a brand new experience while feeling like you’re visiting an old friend.

Anthony Russo | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 02, 2018

If the Wathen’s single barrel smells like a Butterfinger, this one smells like a Milky Way. At 55.05%, its no baby, but its certainly has loads of creamy caramel flavor. Even more pronounced on the palate, this Maker’s barrel really stands out with a touch a water, which brings out the woody phenols.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year Old

£1,595

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year Old

£2,195

Isle of Jura, a distillery that in my eyes was always a, ‘jack of all trades’ – Had such a large market share but never really had a house style of sorts. Some peated, some un-peated, NAS, Age Statement…what do you want guys?

Well, know we have that house style – five bottles in a range, all slightly peated with some interesting and much more captivating potential for a market that has firm foundations in Jura as a brand. This offering is the Seven Wood – one type of American Oak and size types of French Oak, five of which I can’t pronounce, so i won’t. Its a pleasant surprise from a distillery that has avoided my attention for quite a long time. Cheers.

https://youtu.be/lppE79QZtCU