ISLE OF RAASAY JOINS ISLAND DISTILLERIES TO LAUNCH ‘HEBRIDEAN WHISKY TRAIL’

The island landscapes of Skye, Raasay and Harris are the backdrop to Scotland’s newest whisky adventure, the Hebridean Whisky Trail. The new trail has been designed with intrepid whisky wanderers in mind, connecting four neighbouring distilleries – Isle of Raasay Distillery, Torabhaig Distillery, Talisker Distillery and the Isle of Harris Distillery – through one spectacular 115-mile route.

The Isle of Raasay Distillery opened to visitors in January 2018; as well as pioneering a new provenance for Scotch Whisky, the distillery has become a welcome new tourist destination for this small Hebridean island. Having already won plaudits for its unique style of whisky making, unrivalled views and dedication to the local community, The Isle of Raasay Distillery is the perfect addition to a trail that celebrates the distinctive whiskies, landscapes and island heritage of this beautiful area of Scotland.

Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, will launch the trail on 15th August at an official opening ceremony taking place at Raasay Distillery. Alasdair Day, co-founder of Raasay Distillery is delighted to be involved in the new Hebridean Whisky Trail, he comments:

“The Hebridean Whisky Trail offers an opportunity for visitors to experience the rich culture, provenance and landscape of three of the Scotland’s Hebridean Islands; Harris, Raasay and Skye while visiting four very different Scotch Whisky distilleries”

Set amidst some of Scotland’s most scenic sea and mountain locations, each distillery has its own distinctive character and atmosphere. From the oldest, Talisker, founded in 1830, to the youngest, Isle of Raasay which began production in 2017, all four have unique stories and approaches to the
craft of making whisky.

The new trail can be enjoyed by road or by sea with three Calmac ferry crossings linking thedestinations, as well as yacht berthing facilities near to each distillery. By sea, the Trail can be charted clockwise or anti-clockwise around Skye; intrepid sea-farers can set sail from any of the four distilleries from points north, south, east or west. Road travellers can begin their journey either by crossing over the Skye Bridge at Kyle, or start at the Trail’s northernmost point on Harris, or its southernmost point, at Torabhaig on Skye’s Sleat peninsula. Raasay is only a short 25-minute ferry journey Sconser on Skye and the distillery is located a short stroll from the ferry terminal.

Raasay Distillery’s guided tours cater for all levels of whisky knowledge, from the curious to the connoisseur. Tour guides are local islanders who share their unrivalled knowledge of Raasay’s geography, community and whisky mythology. Visitors can pause their Hebridean odyssey on Raasay by booking to stay in the luxurious distillery accommodation. Visitors can enjoy a few drams in the lounge and then wake up to the magnificent panorama of the Cuillin mountains on Skye.

The journey continues, and its impressive route will tick off many iconic Hebridean sights, from the vertiginous peaks on Skye to the white sandy beaches of Harris. The Hebridean Whisky Trail will offer whisky pilgrims and touring visitors another reason to explore the majestic Hebridean islands.

NOTES

The Hebridean Whisky Trail’s total length is 115.2 miles.
Distances between each distillery
Armadale – Torabhaig 4.2miles
Torabhaig – Talisker 36.1 Miles
Talisker – Raasay 14.5 mil es
Raasay – Harris 60.4 miles
Quotes from other distilleries involved:

Anne O’Lone, Torabhaig Visitor Centre Manager at Torabhaig Distillery: “By collaborating, Torabhaig acts as an ambassador not only for each distillery on the Hebridean Whisky trail but for the whole of the Hebrides.”

Shona Macleod, Guest Services Manager at Isle of Harris Distillery: ‘In just its second year, The Isle of Harris distillery welcomed over 80,000 guests in 2017 and we are pleased to be contributing to the growth in tourism in the Outer Hebrides. The Hebridean Whisky Trail will provide an impetus for whisky lovers to go that extra mile and visit the first legal whisky distillery on the Isle of Harris’

Diane Farrell, Talisker Distillery Manager: “We are lucky to live and work in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and to make one of the most iconic products in the world, Scotch whisky.

“We are delighted to work with our fellow distillers to welcome visitors to the Hebrides and to offer them the very best in Scottish hospitality.”

Karen Betts, CEO of Scotch Whisky Association: “The opening of the Hebridean Whisky trail is a fabulous achievement for the four distilleries – Talisker, Torabhaig, Raasay and Harris – and for the distillery workers and islanders who’ve made it happen. I’m delighted they have asked me to help them open it.”

“The trail is a wonderful addition to Hebridean tourism. Newcomers to Scotch Whisky and aficionados alike can enjoy visiting these uniquely island distilleries, each offering something quite different in terms of heritage, location and, of course, Scotch. What the distilleries on the trail have been unable to agree on is whose is the best whisky and whose distillery has the most spectacular view – that is now for each visitor to decide.”

“Whisky tourism is, of course, increasingly important to Scotland’s economy and rural communities. In 2017, there were 1.9 million visits to Scotch Whisky distilleries in our iconic whisky regions from all over the world, spending £61 million in the rural economy. “
“I’m sure visitors to our new Hebridean whisky trail will find the combination of beautiful landscapes, a friendly welcome and outstanding whisky a uniquely memorable experience.”

www.hebrideanwhisky.com
www.Calmac.com
www.scotch-whisky.org.uk
Contact information:
Talisker Distillery: Susan.MacLean@diageo.com
Torabhaig Distillery: anne@torabhaig.com
Isle of Harris Distillery: shona.macleod@harrisdistillery.com
Scotch Whisky Association: pressoffice@swa.org

Raasay Distillery, Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Kyle IV40 8PB
raasaydistillery.com
T: 01478 470178
Opening times: 10am – 5pm
Instagram/ Facebook: @raasaydistillery, Twittter: @RaasayWhisky

Springbank Society Quarterly Newsletter – Autumn 2018

To the members of the Springbank Society,

Good news! We have survived the heatwave, the residents of Campbeltown will be talking about the summer of 2018 for generations to come. In fact, many of you experienced the wonderful weather when you visited us in May for the Campbeltown Malts Festival. Speaking of which, we have a quick recap of the event later in this note.

Now that the sun has disappeared back behind the clouds we have stopped sunbathing and returned to work – so it seemed like the perfect time to send out a Quarterly Newsletter to Society members to let you all know what we have been up to over the last few months (and to tell you about what is to come in the very near future).

Included in this email, in addition to the aforementioned Festival recap, we have a section introducing the new distillery shop (recent visitors will have seen it in action) and brief details about upcoming distillery releases – more details will be released soon enough.

Also, we have an extensive list of upcoming tastings and events that our Sales Team are involved in, so check that out if you are interested in sharing a dram or two (or three or four…) with any of the team. We also have a social media recap, detailing where you can find us online and a couple of internet highlights from recent times.

Hope you enjoy it!

Campbeltown Malts Festival 2018 

This is the first Society Quarterly Newsletter since the Campbeltown Malts Festival so we wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who joined us for the celebration. We were absolutely delighted with how the week went and we hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as we did.

We started with the Society tasting, where those in attendance chose the next Society bottle – Springbank 15yo Fresh Port. They also wrote the tasting notes, although… it turns out that allowing 100 people to write tasting notes results in a strange combination of tastes.

 Release date to be announced soon.

 Thank you to everyone who joined us in the Malt Barns for the distillery dinner which was, once again, the fruits of the labour of Donald Brown. There were also 3 other whisky dinners taking place at the same time throughout Campbeltown with many Springbank and Kilkerran fans embracing the dinner and drink offered at Food For Thought, the Ardshiel Hotel and The Craigard House Hotel.

The Springbank Open Day on Thursday 24th May was the usual mixture of whisky and organised chaos. The sun baked the town in heat so the distillery was crowded with both visitors and locals. We put on a large number of tastings throughout the day, hosted by our dedicated Sales and Distillery Teams. We hope every single visitor enjoyed these tastings, whether you attended the first tasting of the day, Getting to Know Longrow and Hazelburn, the final Springbank Warehouse tasting in the evening or anything in between.

On the Friday we had a day dedicated to Kilkerran (and Wm Cadenhead’s). Once again we had a range of tastings including the Kilkerran Masterclass and the Kilkerran Cocktail Tasting which were both well attended. Going forward we aim to make the Kilkerran Open Day as celebrated as its Springbank counterpart and your participation and enjoyment on the final day of the festival shows us that you all want the same thing.

It would be remiss of us not to mention, as we are sure you all noticed, the hard work carried out by all distillery, bottling hall and office staff throughout the festival. Their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty is what really made the festival the success it was.

The dates for next year’s festival are – Tuesday 21st – Friday 24th May 2019

Slainte

New Distillery Shop

We have opened a new shop based at Springbank Distillery.

Those who attended the Campbeltown Malts Festival were among the first to experience the new Springbank Distillery shop recently opened on site to enhance the visiting experience.

This shop stocks the Springbank core range as well as distillery merchandise, gifts, souvenirs and Cadenhead products too.

The shop also serves as the hub for distillery tours as it is the starting and finishing point for tours as well as the place to contact should you have any enquiries regarding visits, tours or tastings.

If you are thinking of booking a tour, please use the details below:

E: tours@springbank.scot

T: +44 (0)1586 555468

W: http://springbank.scot/tours/

Upcoming Releases

We are pleased to say that there will soon be two new distillery releases available. These special, limited releases are:

• Longrow 14yo 57.8% Sherrywood

• Springbank 12yo 56.2%

You will all receive a Newsflash email to announce the launch date very soon so you will all have a chance to get your hands on a bottle or two. Also included in this Newsflash will be a request for you all not to post any product details on social media as this counteracts the effect of members getting to know about launches in advance.

Events: Where can you find our Sales Team over the next 3 months?

Over the next 3 months our dedicated and hard working Sales Team will be travelling the globe spreading the word of Springbank and share a few drams with you all. Below is a list of dates, places and events detailing what our sales team will be up to in the near future.

August:

10th-12th: Grant Macpherson and Ronan Currie will be representing Springbank (and Kilkerran) at the Edinburgh Whisky Fringe. Join our boys in Scotland’s capital.

11th-25th: Sales Manager David Allen will be on USA Sales Tour. Consisting primarily of trade visits, he will be making visits to LA, San Francisco, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

18th: Grant Macpherson will represent Springbank and Kilkerran at the Falkirk Whisky Social on 18th August 2018. Grant will be on hand to serve you drams from our wide range of whiskies – see you there!

September:

1st: Grant is in Oban for an in-store pouring at The Oban Whisky and Fine Wines Shop – everyone is welcome to join him and have a few drams on the first day of September.

7th-8th: Ronan Currie will be getting back on the road again because he will be representing us at Whisky Herbst Berlin. Join Ronan at the show on 7th and 8th September and he may possibly (definitely) share some Springbank, Longrow, Hazelburn and Kilkerran with you. Visit them on Facebook.

10th-14th: David Allen will be in Belgium for a Sales Tour. Visits to Belgium are always busy and action packed whenever we head over there and we are sure this time will be no different. No doubt David will be happy to share a dram with any Springbank fan he meets on his travels.

15th: Grant Macpherson will be serving drams at the Scotch Whisky Festival in Kirkcaldy.

22nd: Grant Macpherson nevers seems to spend a weekend at home – we’ve sent him away again, this time he’s spending the weekend in the wonderful city of Liverpool. Make sure you catch Grant at the Liverpool Whisky Festival – we promise he will be happy to serve you all quality drams. Visit the Whisky Lounge on Facebook.

 22nd-24th: David Allen will be in Italy for the hotly anticipated Whisky Revolution Festival. He will be serving drams out to guests and he will also be hosting a tasting while he is in town. Check out the Whisky Revolution Facebook Page.

24th-28th: Ronan Currie will be going on a tasting tour in Finland. Details TBC.

29th: Ranald Watson, Grant Macpherson and Donald Brown are down in London for the Whisky Exchange Whisky Show. It’s one of our favourite events of the year and we cannot wait to see you there.

October:

1st:  Two members of the Springbank Sales Team will be in Paris for Salon Dugas. Please note: this is a trade show and is not open to the public. However, no doubt we will see a few Society members during the day.

1st-5th: David Allen embarks on a sales tour of Taiwan for Springbank and Kilkerran. One of David’s favourite places to visit, he can’t wait to meet fans of our whisky in Taiwan.

8th-10th: Ranald Watson is attending the International Bar and Beverage Trade show at Bar Convent in Berlin. Please visit the website here for full details.

8th-14th: Ronan Currie will be touring Japan for a week on behalf of both Springbank and Kilkerran. The tour will consist of a number of trade visits but, although there will be no official public events included on this trip, we are sure Ronan will end up sharing a few drams with some Springbank (and Kilkerran) fans along the way.

20th: Grant Macpherson is back on the road as he heads to Bakewell for Wee Dram Fest 2018 in Bakewell Town Hall. Join Grant in Derbyshire for this regular event on the Springbank calendar.

29th – 3rd November: Ranald Watson is travelling to Alberta, Canada for Willow Park, Whisky in the Warehouse. Join Ranald in Calgary – visit the Willow Park website here.

Events taking place further in the future will be included in the next Quarterly Newsletter and, please remember, the Events Section of the Springbank Website is updated whenever we have new information to share with you all.

Springbank Website – Events Page

Social Media

You can follow Springbank on Social Media:

Facebook – Official Springbank Whisky

Twitter – @Springbank1828

Instagram – springbank1828

You can also follow our Sister Distillery, Mitchell’s Glengyle, on Facebook too:

Facebook (Mitchell’s Glengyle): Kilkerran Single Malt

Information and announcements regarding Kilkerran will also be made through the Springbank channels so you never miss a thing.

If you visit the Springbank Website now you can find a staff interview with Catherine McDougall. This is the most recent edition of our staff interview series Catherine talks about the history of the bottling hall, her time working at Springbank and how things have changed over the years.

Staff Interview: Catherine Mcdougall

And lastly, filmmaker Jeff Bradford visited Springbank recently and made a short film about his time here – click here to go to Youtube and watch the video.

Thanks for reading the Springbank Society Quarterly Newsletter of Autumn 2018.

As usual, if you have any questions or queries you can contact us via email at the usual address – society@springbank.scot

But don’t worry, you’ll be hearing from us again very soon!

Slainte

Springbank Society

Please contact the Society at society@springbank.scot to join.

The Springbank Team

Springbank Distillers

Ardbeg Single Casks

Double trouble! Two new single cask Ardbegs from Ian MacLeod bottled 2018.

Ardbeg 12 Year Old 2005 Dun Bheagan – £137.08

Ardbeg 12 Year Old 2005 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask hogshead #700161 bottled 2018 by Ian MacLeod for the Dun Bheagan series. 356 bottles.

Ardbeg 13 Year Old 2005 Chieftan’s – £156.58

Ardbeg 13 Year Old 2005 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask hogshead #700192 bottled April 2018 by Ian MacLeod for the Chieftan’s series. 327 bottles.

Ardbeg Distillery was established in Ardbeg on the Kildalton Peninsular on the Isle of Islay in 1815 by John McDougal. Ardbeg Distillery draws soft peaty water from Loch Uigeadail and Loch Airigh nam Beist up amongst the hills behind the distillery to produce it world renowned range including Ardbeg Uigeadail and Ardbeg 10 Year Old. Ardbeg Distillery is a participant in the world famous Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Visitors are welcome at the distillery visitor center which offers Ardbeg Distillery tours and serves delicious Scottish fare in the Ardbeg Old Kiln Café.

We  have our Inaugural Whisky Cask Auction – the first sale to focus solely on casks in the world.  Casks will include whisky from : Macallan; Ben Nevis; Bunnahabhain; Tomatin; Craigellachie; Highland Park; Fettercairn and Bowmore – with other casks to be confirmed.

 www.mulberrybankauctions.com

Mulberry Bank Auctions: 15 Kelvin Avenue, Hillington Park, Glasgow, G52 4LT.  Registered in Scotland

The Good Dram Show – Episode 277 ‘Jura’ – This week’s episode of the show features the newly re-vamped Jura ‘Signature’ range.

https://youtu.be/alNLrTNXsnE

THE MACALLAN SHOWCASES STUNNING NEW SPEYSIDE DESTINATION THROUGH

MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: MAGNUM EDITION

CRAFTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHERS AT MAGNUM PHOTOS

New York, August 10, 2018 – The Macallan has revealed its latest Masters of Photography edition whisky in collaboration with Magnum Photos, the world’s most famous photographic cooperative. Marking its seventh limited edition release, The Macallan Masters of Photography: Magnum Edition celebrates the construction and opening of the new Macallan distillery and visitor experience through never-before-seen imagery and a liquid inspired by the photographers that brought the project to life. This limited edition release spectacularly illustrates The Macallan as it embarks on a new era.

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Magnum Edition builds on previous releases in terms of both the art and whisky components. The whisky is crafted from a vatting of eight casks all differing in character, to reflect the photography style of each of the Magnum photographers and to represent Magnum itself. In addition to the liquid, each pack comes with an awe-inspiring collection of images, taken by six world renowned photographers, as they capture different aspects of the new Macallan distillery and visitor experience.

While prior collaborations include partnerships with notable photographers such as Steven Klein, Mario Testino and Annie Leibovitz, for the first time in the Masters of Photography series, The Macallan partnered with multiple artists. Acclaimed photographers – Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Mark Power, Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Alec Soth – worked to capture the images that will tell the story of the new Macallan distillery and the people behind it, taking it from genesis to completion.

As for the liquid, Macallan Whisky Maker, Sarah Burgess, has crafted a single malt from a combination of eight casks, all differing in character to reflect the photography style of each of the Magnum photographers and to represent Magnum itself.

• A spicy gingered cask reflects McCurry’s bold and brave style.
• A cask of age where oak influence prevails over individual characteristics symbolises Parr’s oblique view of the world.
• A classic cask with an intense black cherry note complements Pellegrin’s forceful black and white pictures.
• Two casks reflect Power’s photography which captures the familiar, but from an often obscure point of view.
• An ex-European red wine cask imparting a rich mahogany red colour represents Pinkhassov’s contrasting and brightly coloured work.
• A first fill American barrel with its delicate citrus notes captures Soth’s heritage and spirit of adventure.
• The final cask is an intensely sweet yet classic Macallan with edge and depth, bringing the whole creation together and representing the imagination and brilliance of Magnum.

Ken Grier, Creative Director for The Macallan, said: “Magnum individuals are the ultimate masters of their medium, offering incredible diversity and distinction within their ranks and capturing all aspects of human life around the world with an unparalleled sense of vision, imagination and genius. They are the greatest collective of documentary photographers in the world and their partnership with The Macallan reflects our shared values of craftsmanship and commitment to excellence.”

Tim Paton, Global Head of Commercial Assignments for Magnum Photos, notes: “This project has been a wonderful assignment for both the photographers and the Agency. To be given this amount of creative freedom on a commercial project is very rare. The photographers were literally shown the building site and told to shoot whatever they liked.”

This magnificent and world class collectible set of images comes together as a limited edition objet d’art presented in a stunning archive style gift box. It is complete with a limited release whisky encased within the new heavyweight Macallan bottle and engraved with The Macallan and Magnum Photos logos as well as the names of the six Magnum photographers, a selection of six 11×14 inch signed prints (one from each photographer) and an exclusive book of photography. This coveted item shows history in the making against the backdrop of The Macallan’s ongoing commitment to mastery.

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Magnum Edition will be available globally from August 2018, priced at USD $3,500 and limited to 2,000 editions worldwide. For purchasing inquiries, please email: Inquiries.us@themacallan.com

For further information visit: https://www.themacallan.com/en-us/

Whisky Makers Notes:

ABV: 43.7%.

Colour: Deep amber with rose gold hues

Nose: Light hints of peat layered into warm spiced ginger with mellow oak notes. Gently coming behind these notes, are an almost tangerine citrus and caramelised apple

Palate: Candied dried fruits and a butterscotch sweetness with a tickling of spice that moves into a honeyed nut note

Finish: Medium to long finish ending in sweet earthy peat notes

ABOUT THE MACALLAN

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan is one of the world’s’ most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An unrivalled obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its’ founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by the 390 acre Macallan estate, with Easter Elchies House at its center, a Highland Manor built in 1700.

For more information visit www.us.themacallan.com. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

JACK DANIEL’S BOTTLED-IN-BOND NOW AVAILABLE

New 100-Proof Tennessee Whiskey Launches Worldwide as a Global Travel Retail Exclusive 

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (Aug. 1, 2018) – The Jack Daniel Distillery is honoring its commitment to quality with the release of a new 100-proof Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond is a global travel retail exclusive, now available at select airports worldwide.

A permanent line extension in the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands, Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond will be available in major airports and other international points of departure and arrival around the world, making it a perfect gift for yourself or others.

“Whiskey-making in the 1800’s too often produced a hodge-podge of sub-par, counterfeit and even dangerous spirits. Whiskey drinkers at times weren’t sure of what exactly they were drinking or being served,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. “To bring a high level of safety and consistency to American whiskies, the United States Congress passed the Bottled in Bond Act which certified the quality of whiskey carrying that designation. It had to be aged at least four years and bottled at 100 proof at one distillery during a single season. The Bottled in Bond Act was passed in 1897. Mr. Jack began putting his Tennessee Whiskey in the now-familiar square bottle two years earlier in 1895. This new offering replicates those rules that were set more than 120 years ago.”

Every drop of Jack Daniel’s is made in Lynchburg, Tennessee, charcoal mellowed and then matured in new American oak barrels crafted by its own coopers. At 100 proof, Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond is a bold Tennessee whiskey with rich flavors complemented by classic Jack Daniel’s smoothness.

“One of Jack Daniel’s most famous sayings was, ‘Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can,’ and the distillery in Lynchburg has been making the iconic Tennessee whiskey that way every day for over 150 years. In many ways, the introduction of Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond is a step back into the early days of the distillery when Jack Daniel was pioneering the craft of making Tennessee Whiskey,” said Marshall Farrer, senior vice president and managing director of Brown-Forman Global Travel Retail. “We think so much of this whiskey that we are making it a permanent member of the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands – a cautious step we take only with the most special of new products.”

The rich, bold, 100-proof Tennessee Whiskey has an aroma of caramel with mild hints of banana and balanced caramel, vanilla and toasted oak flavors with a full-bodied mouth feel leaving a creamy, warm finish. Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond hits shelves this summer in select duty-free outlets in a 1-liter bottle size and will be offered at a suggested retail price of $37.99.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.

Best sipped with the same care that Jack put into making it.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. ©2018 Jack Daniel’s. Tennessee Whiskey 50% Alcohol by Volume (100 Proof). Distilled & Bottled by Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JackDaniels.com

A New Must-Have Single Malt from a Resurgent Highland Distillery

2005 Tullibardine “The Murray” Single Malt Scotch ($74.99)
“A screaming deal for beautiful cask strength whisky.” – Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

“The Murray” is the newest addition to Tullibardine’s impressive portfolio. A cask-strength single malt that was aged for twelve years in first-fill Bourbon barrels, it is a classic Highland malt that will make collectors swoon. Since its resurrection in 2003 (the distillery was mothballed back in 1994), Tullibardine has been on an upward trajectory, culminating in this outlandishly good single malt. Clocking in at a whopping 56.3% proof, there’s no shortage of richness and power, making this one of the most thrilling Highland malts on our shelves.

Perfectly balanced with aromas and flavors of dried apricot, tangerines, caramel, shortbread, oats, and Christmas spice, it’s hard to believe a whiskey this complex can be had for under $75. This twelve-year-old is unpeated, so its maltiness and floral tones really shine through. If this is a sign of what’s to come from Tullibardine, sign us up for the long haul, as this is about as perfect a whiskey you’ll find under the $100 mark. A special release bottling with limited distribution in California, there isn’t a ton of “The Murray” to go around. This, coupled with its excellent price, means it won’t be around for long. Don’t miss out on what is one of the finest Tullibardines we’ve had since their impressive run in the 1960s and ’70s.

2005 Tullibardine “The Murray” Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($74.99)

A classic Tullibardine whisky, “The Murray” is named for Sir William Murray, Scotland’s second Marquess of Tullibardine. Murray was part of the Jacobite army and fought in the battle of Sherrifmuir on the hills above the distillery. The Murray is the first cask strength whisky made by the distillery this century! 12 years old and bottled at full cask strength this first-fill bourbon dram is a dream. It’s full of intense tropical aromas, sweet vanilla, malt cookies, and has an incredibly lengthy finish thanks to the 56.3% proof. A limited release of 14,000 bottles. Distilled in 2005, bottled in 2017.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 31, 2018

A screaming deal for beautiful cask strength whisky. The Tulli Murray is bottled from a select few first fill bourbon barrels after 12 long years. It’s really Tullibardine taking a stand in the modern whisky market and the care they took in crafting it shows. The richness of the first fill barrels stands up perfectly against the full 56.3% proof. It’s loaded with peaches, apricots, vanilla, cinnamon, and shortbread. The finish lasts for minutes and the high alcohol almost hides in the background. For a serious whisky drinker, this bottle becomes a perfect go to. It hits all of the hallmarks of your special collection: rare, exceptional flavor, cask strength! The only difference is it comes in at 75 bucks!

Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 31, 2018

At a full cask strength of 56% abv, this beauty manages to be aromatically compelling as well as exquisitely balanced – even before a drop of water is added. Aromas of dried apples, apricots and vanilla pastry cream lead to intense, delicious flavors, featuring plenty of ripe stone fruits that really grip the palate. Without a doubt, this is as original and tasty a highland single malt as I have had in quite a long while. Really good.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 31, 2018

The Murray from Tullibardine is one concentrated, delicious malt! If you like whisky with high class sweetness, beautifully balanced barrel spice and a finish that goes on forever, this is a great choice. I love an unpeated malt that still has complexity, and this has captivating layers of flavor.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 03, 2018

This is one to set back and enjoy. It is soft and round and medium bodied with juicy malt flavors and no smoke. There is a long finish to complete the package.

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA