Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 206: Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2007 Signatory for Jan Vissers

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a feisty Glenlivet. When Jan Vissers selects a cask, you can buy blind. As soon as Jan announced that he had bottled a first fill sherry hogshead of Glenlivet 2007 from the stables of Signatory – at a whopping 67.0% ABV no less – Mark immediately ordered two bottles. These will be enjoyed for a long time to come! Jan bottled this Glenlivet is his ‘Italian Car Series’ – with magnificent labels – in which he had previously released a Bowmore 10, Speyside 21 and Glen Scotia 10 Year Old. The colour of this Glenlivet made Mark eager indeed.

https://youtu.be/GsCGOvKG3QM

RARE DALMORE MAKES EXCEPTIONAL PRICE AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH
– £900 A DRAM –  

Dalmore 50 year-old 1926. Sold for £33,750

A rare bottle of Dalmore 50 year-old 1926 tripled its pre-sale estimate to sell for £33,750 at Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh today, Wednesday 6 June, making a dram worth more than £900.  The bottle had been estimated at £10,000-14,000.

Bonhams Whisky specialist Martin Green said, “The Dalmore 50 year-old 1926 is an exceptional whisky, and I am not surprised that the bidding was so intense and the price achieved so high. It was a very strong sale overall with bidders taking full advantage of the opportunity to add some very special bottles to their collections.”

Other highlights included:

• A bottle of the Macallan 1951 that sold for £17,500.  One of only 632 bottles, it had been estimated at £10,000-12,000
• A bottle of Glenfiddich-1952. Estimated at £10,000-12,000, it sold for £16,250.
• A bottle of the Macallan 1957. Bottled in 1982 in honour of the 25th Anniversary of Rinaldi Brothers Inc., it made £8,750 against an estimate of £3,000-4,000.
• Two bottles of the Macallan-Glenlivet 35 year-old 1938. Sold as a pair for £6,875 having been estimated at £3,400-4,000.

In total, the sale made £433,150 with 92% of lots being sold.

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

ABERLOUR A’BUNADH BATCH 52 WINS WHISKY OF THE YEAR AT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®

[LAS VEGAS, NV, June 8, 2018] Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour Distillery becomes Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the Whisky of the Year 2018 and will receive the coveted Golden Barrel Trophy.

The International Whisky Competition just released its results for this year’s most respected blind tasting judging event. The top recognition, Whisky of the Year, was awarded to Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 52 (60.5% ABV) which scored 97.4 points, the highest scoring whisky of the competition.

Official results: www.whiskycompetition.com/2018-results

The 9th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Las Vegas over three days, from May 15 to 17 and received over 160 different whiskies. A world-class tasting panel made of whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (8 minutes per whisky). The judges for 2018 are Sir Adam Carmer, Sebastien Gavillet, Francesco Lafranconi, John Paddon, Debbi Peek, Alex Renshaw, Max Solano, Ron Smith and Agi Toth.

Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Tasting Panel. This process and the fact that only three medals are awarded in any category make the International Whisky Competition the most followed whisky competition and one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world.

We warmly congratulate Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour, as well as his team, for creating such a complex, rich and perfectly balanced whisky.

Last year’s Whisky of the Year was Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive, which scored 97.3 points. Aberlour Distillery will receive the Golden Barrel Trophy for winning the Whisky of the Year during a ceremony to be held this summer in Aberlour, Scotland.

About the International Whisky Competition®

The International Whisky Competition is the most followed Whisky Competition on Social Media and brings whiskies from around the world to be blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel using the most comprehensive tasting method available. 15 criteria are required to produce the tasting notes as well as aroma and flavor profiles for the International Whisky Guide. Unlike other competitions, the judges are presented with one whisky at a time, to ensure each whisky gets the proper attention. It’s the only
competition in the spirits world to deliver unique medals designed to promote each of the winning whiskies. Only 3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze) are awarded per category.

The Whisky of the Year (highest score during the competition) gets rewarded with the Golden Barrel Trophy. For more information about the International Whisky Competition, please visit whiskycompetition.com or contact: USA – Sebastien Gavillet, Head of Judges / s.gavillet@whiskycompetition.com +1 702 234 3602 Canada – Sylvain Allard, Managing Director / s.allard@whiskycompetition.com +1 418 271 6678

TOP-RATED IRISH WHISKEY

Some of our favorite Irish Single Malt Whiskeys recently received top scores from Jonny McCormick in Whiskey Advocate and we’re passing the love on to you. Enjoy generous discounts on these products now through Father’s Day!

The Whistler Cask Strength Single Malt Irish Whiskey 7 yr.
$49.98 was $63.98

“This dials up the aromas so high it could freshen up a stadium.  After a riot of bright fruits, paradise slice, nutmeg, cinnamon, dates, and raisin, the palate becomes awash with apple and rose hip, though the strength makes it a wild ride, the tongue is conquered into submission.  Diluted, it shines with vanilla sponge cake, plum, malt, and spicy nutmeg.  Beautiful whiskey just needs to be pegged back a bit.” 89 points, JM

The Whistler The Blue Note Single Malt Irish Whiskey 7 yr.
$43.98 was $52.98

“Voluptuous, fruity nose of lemon meringue pie, Conference pear, and fudge, with floral notes balanced by aromatic spices. The flavors are focused around orange, pear, and lemon, infiltrated by caramel and hectored by some abiding spice notes of ginger, clove, and pepper. Late gains made by hone and nougat at the end. Lemon sherbet and aniseed frame the conclusion. Superb sourced single malt from Bann Distillery.” 91 points, JM

The Whistler Single Malt Irish Whiskey 10 yr.
$44.98 was $59.98

“The Cooney family opened the Boann Distillery in Ireland’s Boyne Valley in 2016. A little maturity and oloroso finishing fills this whiskey with a more sophisticated air, bringing red fruits, pecan cookies, orange, apple, pear, and some dry, peppery spices. The palate has good weight and a lovely balance; caramel sweetness, orange, crystallized pineapple, butterscotch, and pepper, with a hint of bitter lemon on the finish.” 90 points, JM

Precision distilled single malt whisky

Smouldering with smokiness, perfectly balanced with oaky sweetness, Ailsa Bay is sheer pride and precision in a bottle, making it the ideal gift for this Father’s Day. This Lowland single malt is one of our Customer Favourites, and it’s not hard to see why!

Next day UK delivery available
International shipping

Ailsa Bay

With exacting precision, Ailsa Bay takes distilled whisky craft and innovation to a whole new level, perfectly balancing smoke and sweet flavours through a new-age maturation process known as ‘micro maturation’ or ‘cask starting’.

In this unique process, perfected by experimental Master Blender Brian Kinsman, the single malt is first aged in small traditional bourbon casks (sourced from Tuthilltown Spirits in New York) for six to nine months, to rapidly and intensely mature. The liquid then spends several years in virgin, first-fill and refill American oak casks to develop its multi-layered flavours.

The nose has fresh wood smoke, with notes of smouldering damp heather and an extinguished bonfire. A wave of oaky sweetness and hot buttered toast follows, with an intriguing hint of caramelised apple. On the palate an immediate punch of peat is quickly balanced by a burst of vanilla oakiness. The flavour meanders between smoke, fruit, creamy toffee and back again. With every sip the complexity of the whisky deepens as layer upon layer of flavour is revealed.

£60 Buy Now

Ralfy goes to the bonny, bonny banks with Ralfy Review 730 – Loch Lomond 12yo malt @ 46%vol

The Whisky Barrel helps you pick the perfect dram for your Dad.

Give the gift of whisky this Father’s Day

We have a great selection of whiskies that would all make memorable Father’s Day gifts. Whether your Dad likes a peaty dram from Islay, something lighter from Speyside or a full bodied malt from the Scottish Highlands, look no further! And remember we can even take care of the gift wrapping…your Dad’s worth it!

With summer almost upon us, June Outturn uplifts the spirits with a sparkling selection of emerald gems.  Surprise and delight the senses with seven new brilliant bottlings.

CASK NO. 37.98  A TRIFLE CITRUSY

15 years old; refill hogshead; 56.5%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

Lemon cheesecake and boozy trifle joined vanilla custard and elderflower cordial with a finish of Turkish delight and muscovado sugar.

CASK NO. 5.59  CHILI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

16 years old; 1st fill charred red wine barrique; 58.2%; Spicy & sweet

This whisky, previously in a 2nd fill bourbon hogshead, had a peppery chilli heat neat, turning to cinnamon and apple hot cross buns with water.

CASK NO. 7.122  HOLY MOLEY!

25 years old; refill hogshead; 56.3%; Spicy & dry

A Manhattan cocktail alongside maple syrup and chocolate fondant pudding on the nose neat whilst sweet and spicy as well as thick and creamy on the palate. Diluted, aromas of chocolate marshmallows and blood orange and a remarkable experience to taste.

CASK NO. 107.13  ANDALUSIAN GAZPACHO

10 years old; refill Oloroso butt; 65%; Spicy & dry

SPEYSIDE FESTIVAL BOTTLING – SPECIAL LABEL!

ONE BOTTLE PER MEMBER

The engrossing scent of an Andalusian gazpacho followed by figs, almonds, dried fruits, olives and plenty of red wine made us all lick our lips to try it. Big, chewy and meaty!

CASK NO. 35.196  A MOROCCAN ‘SNAKE CAKE’

14 years old; refill Chardonnay barrique 58.2%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

Polished wood and a glass of well-aged Shiraz followed by orange olive oil cake. Diluted a little spicier and sweet nutty flavours developed.

CASK NO. 53.248  SLAPPED BY POSEIDON’S GLOVE

11 years old; refill hogshead; 56%; Lightly peated

ISLAY FESTIVAL BOTTLING – SPECIAL LABEL!

ONE BOTTLE PER MEMBER

Salty sea spray smacked the face like a slap from Poseidon’s glove. Smoke, thick tar and lobster nets permeated our senses and strong herbal notes stirred from the depths.

CASK NO. 3.308  A MARITIME MEANDER

13 years old; 2nd fill hogshead; 57.9%; Peated

ISLAY FESTIVAL BOTTLING – SPECIAL LABEL!

ONE BOTTLE PER MEMBER

A maritime meander by the seafood shack, beach bonfire burnt sticks and trawlers in the harbour led to lashings of smoke, ash and tar, burnt cork and salted liquorice – enough to satisfy the socks off any peat-freak.

SMWS Canada

The Tweeddale The Evolution: 

At 28 years-old, is the eldest Tweeddale to be released. It is fuller and more complex in character than previous expressions; with sherried and Speyside qualities, dark chocolate and black cherry on the nose, followed by wood spice and earthy notes on the palate. The Evolution of this magnificent whisky began when its creator Alasdair Day inherited his great grandfather Richard Day’s cellar book. Alasdair has explored the direction that he believes Richard Day would have taken, had he continued to blend whisky after the Second World War. £172 on Master of Malt

Drams of The Tweeddale The Evolution at Truefitt & Hill: 

Truefitt & Hill has been recognised as the finest traditional gentlemen’s barber in London for over two centuries. On Saturday 16th June, the barber shop will open its doors to offer the ultimate father and son experience. Sons can honour their fathers on this special day by treating them to a day of all things quintessentially British. Upon arrival guests will be offered a dram of Scottish whisky, The Tweeddale – The Evolution. Guests will be able to enjoy treatments including a haircut or Traditional Hot Towel Wet Shave, a goody bag of grooming products as well as discount at some of Mayfair’s finest gentleman’s outfitters.

Tickets are £175 and available on Eventbrite.

Membership to the An Roghainn Club: 

For those with with a very luxurious drinks cabinet, the Raasay Distillery, on the beautiful inner Hebridean island, is also offering the opportunity to join its exclusive An Roghainn Club. Members can invest in the emerging brand and have the chance to add limited release whisky to their personal libraries, as well as the opportunity to buy casks of the Isle of Raasay Distillery whisky. Membership to the An Roghainn Club is £250 and includes three full size bottles of limited release whisky.