Glen Garioch 25 Year Old – Douglas Laing Platinum XOP

A rare example of Glen Garioch released as part of the 70th anniversary of Douglas Laing. The platinum collection represents some of the finest stocks of Single Malt in their vast warehouses.

Nose: A true sherry bomb . . . ripe stone fruits, raspberry conserve and spicy complexity.

Palate: Thick mouthfeel full of chocolate, coffee, and dried.

Finish: Sweet and oaky, with mature cedar spice.

£299.95

Buy Glen Garioch 25

https://youtu.be/dLQ-gVq2KB4

Eighteen years old! It’s coming in a quite a price tag but is it worth it? In a way yes, in a way, no – Yes in the sense of flavour! This is a big, bold and powerful style from OP – nothing like what I’ve tried before from them. Savory and sweet with contrasting notes of chocolate, salt, lemon, peanut butter and toffee. Putting it next to the 15 is like comparing a a Tesla to a Lamborghini, both brilliant but go about things in very different ways – I scored it quite high but it is putting itself in a very competitive area of pricing, i hope it’s sales reflect its true quality. Cheers

Opera in tune with distilling to be performed at Glen Scotia 

Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown is set to host one of the first performances of an exciting new opera set in a distillery and featuring music by Scot indie stars Admiral Fallow.

Navigate The Blood, which is written by Sian Evans, is about a couple whose son has disappeared in mysterious circumstances, with the action taking place in a small family distillery.

The new production combines singing, music, theatre and storytelling, and has been created to reflect the lives of the distillery community in Scotland. By being relevant to those based in Scotland’s distilling regions, it also aims to encourage new audiences to experience opera.

Distilling is an industry that employs, directly and indirectly, 41,000 people in Scotland and attracted two million tourists to various Scottish distilleries last year.

The contemporary opera features music by top Scottish indie-folk band, Admiral Fallow, who joined forces with composer Gareth Williams to push the collaborative boundaries and form this exciting new partnership. Working with Gareth, Sian and classical opera singers, they have embraced an intense writing process, resulting in a compelling first new work of modern opera by the talented and versatile musicians

The production will tour Scotland’s traditional distilling regions, from the Highlands, to the Lowlands, via Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown, where Glen Scotia will host the sole performance. Glen Scotia is one of only three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown, formerly known as the Victorian capital of Scotch.

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “Navigate The Blood has been created to showcase Scotland’s distilling industry and we can’t wait for it to be performed here at Glen Scotia. Campbeltown, one of Scotland’s five official malt-producing regions, has a rich distilling heritage, with over 30 distilleries based in the town during its Victorian heyday when it was known as the Scotch capital of the world. We are extremely proud of our role as the sole host for Campbeltown.”

James Robert Carson, the founder and artistic director of New Opera in Scotland Events (NOISE), which is producing Navigate The Blood, said: “Scotland has a deep and historic involvement with the art of distilling. By performing Navigate the Blood in each of the five distinct distilling regions, NOISE has designed an opera that reflects and celebrates the success and continued innovation of this remarkable industry. The band Admiral Fallow and composer Gareth Williams have created a truly magical and original score, with a story set in a distillery.

“NOISE is delighted to be able to tour this new production to audiences who live and work in some of the country’s most important and unique working communities, such as Glen Scotia in Campbeltown.”

Navigate The Blood is to be performed at Glen Scotia Distillery on November 9. Tickets are available from www.seeticket.com.

Follow Glen Scotia on social media using the Twitter handle @GlenScotiaMalts or by visiting www.facebook.com/GlenScotiaWhisky/ 

Notes:

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• The Glen Scotia 18 Year Old Single Malt and Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Single Malt were each awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition 2018
• Glen Scotia was named Best Campbeltown Distillery of the Year at the 2017 Berlin International Spirits Competition
• Glen Scotia Victoriana won best Campbeltown Single Malt at World Whisky Awards 2017.
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was named Scottish Field Whisky of the Year 2016
• Glen Scotia 15 Year Old won Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition 2016 

www.glenscotia.com

@glenscotiamalts

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019 – The Winners

It’s that time again: Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019 is landing imminently and Jim’s picks of the world’s top whiskies are in.

After a few years of controversial choices, with Scotch whisky bouncing in and out of the top three, and Japanese and Canadian whisky making headlines around the world, we’re back to safer ground with the most traditional set of results since 2014.

To grab all the results you can grab your own copy of the bible from our website, but in the meantime…

The winner of Jim Murray’s award for 2019 World Whisky of the Year is:

William Larue Weller 128.2 Proof – Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2017

An old favourite and one of Jim’s top three whiskies in every year but one since 2012. Unfortunately, as is always the case with the whiskies in the yearly Buffalo Trace Antique collection (BTAC), it’s sold out. You can sign up for an email alert in case we do find some more on the William Larue Weller 2017 page.

Second finest whisky in the world: Glen Grant 18 Years Old

A third appearance in the top three for the Glen Grant: second in the Whisky Bible 2017, third in 2018 and now second in the 2019 edition. Not bad for a whisky that hadn’t been officially released when it received its first award. It’s a delicate and complex dram and a worthy entry in the line-up. As of writing we have a few bottles left, but it’s sure to be sold out shortly – you can find out over on our Glen Grant 18 year old page.

Third finest whisky in the world: Thomas H Handy Sazerac 127.2 Proof – Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2017

Another BTAC entry, the Thomas H Handy has long been the geek’s choice in the yearly collection, and it has popped up in Jim’s top list a few times. Again it’s sold out, but you can sign up to get an email if we find more on the Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2017 page.

While full-sized bottles of both the Weller and Handy are sold out, we’ve just had a few more sample packs of the whole of the 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection arrive – you can find them on our website here.

Jim Murray’s Single Cask of the Year: Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel Bourbon

A potentially contentious winner: a bourbon that’s not regularly available in the USA. Blanton’s Gold almost all goes overseas, and a lot of it ends up being sent back to American whiskey lovers. It’s, as the award name suggests, a single-barrel bourbon, with every bottle produced from a single cask, without any mixing with others. Unfortunately, this does mean that it’s unlikely that you’ll get to try the same one as Jim, as we get a mix of different bottlings in every order and can’t guarantee which you’ll get. However, if you do get a bottle of barrel #40 dumped on 3 June 2017 and matured in warehouse H, rick 79 then you’re in luck – that’s the winner.

It’s in stock as I type, but it probably won’t last long – don’t worry, we get it in regularly. You can grab a bottle from our Blanton’s Gold Edition page.

The full list of winners

The Whisky Bible is more than just the top awards, with Jim’s year-long tasteathon throwing out more great drams. Here’s the full list:

2019 World Whisky of the Year
William Larue Weller 128.2 Proof

Second Finest Whisky in the World
Glen Grant Aged 18 Years

Third Finest Whisky in the World
Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye 127.2 Proof

Single Cask of the Year
Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel

SCOTCH

Scotch Whisky of the Year
Glen Grant Aged 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)
The Last Drop Glenrothes 1969 Cask 16207

Scotch Blend of the Year
Ballantine’s 17 Year Old

Scotch Grain of the Year
Berry Bros & Rudd Cambus 26 Years Old

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year
Collectivum XXVIII

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement
Laphroaig Lore

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)
Laphroaig 10 Year Old

10 Years & Under (Single Cask)
Berry Bros & Rudd Ardmore 9 Year Old

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 17th Release Special Releases 2017

11-15 Years (Single Cask)
Cadenhead’s Rum Cask Mortlach 14 Year Old

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 18 Year Old

16-21 Years (Single Cask)
Bowmore 19 Year Old The Feis Ile Collection

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)
Talisker 25 Year Old Bot.2017

22-27 Years (Single Cask)
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Glen Grant Cask 9.128 24 Year Old

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)
Convalmore 32 Year Old

28-34 Years (Single Cask)
Gleann Mor Port Ellen Aged 33 Year Old

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)
Benromach 39 Year Old 1977 Vintage

35-40 Years (Single Cask)
Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1979

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)
Tomatin Warehouse 6 Collection 1972

41 Years & Over (Single Cask)
The Last Drop Glenrothes 1969 Cask 16207

BLENDED SCOTCH

No Age Statement (Standard)
Ballantine’s Finest

5-12 Years
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

13-18 Years
Ballantine’s 17 Year Old

19 – 25 Years
Royal Salute 21 Year Old

26 – 50 Years
Royal Salute 32 Year Old Union of the Crowns

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Year Cask Strength

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Year Cask Strength

Irish Single Malt of the Year
Bushmills Distillery Reserve 12 Year Old

Irish Blend of the Year
Bushmills Black Bush

Irish Single Cask of the Year
The Irishman 17 Year Old

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year
William Larue Weller 128.2 Proof

Rye of the Year
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 127.2 Proof

US Micro Whisky of the Year
Garrison Brothers Balmorhea

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)
Balcones Peated Texas Single Malt

BOURBON

No Age Statement (Single Barrel)
Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)
William Larue Weller 128.2 Proof

Up To 10 Years
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old

11 – 15 Years
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year Old

16 – 20 Years
Abraham Bowman Sweet XVI Bourbon

11 Years & Over
Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 24 Year Old

RYE

No Age Statement
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 127.2 Proof

Up to 10 Years
Knob Creek Cask Strength

11 Years & Over
Sazerac 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year
Canadian Club Chronicles: Issue No. 1 Water of Windsor 41 Year Old

JAPANESE WHISKY

Japanese Whisky of the Year
The Hakushu Paul Rusch

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)
Nestville Master Blender 8 Years Old Whisky (Slovakia)

European Whisky of the Year (Single)
The Norfolk Farmers Single Grain Whisky (England)

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year
Amrut Greedy Angels 8 Year Old (India)

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year
Belgrove Peated Rye (Australia)

Braes of Glenlivet 23 Year Old – Maltbarn

From the scarcely seen Braes of Glenlivet distillery comes the new release from Maltbarn, our favourite German bottler.

Nose: Candied fruit notes, with delicate sweetness, caramelised pears and honey.

Palate: Sweet and fruity with orchard fruits and tropipcal fruits in sweet harmony.

Finish: Oaky vanilla notes with cream and white chocolate.

£134.95

Buy Braes of Glenlivet

 

 

Friday, October 19th, 5-7PM:

Heaven Hill 

. Established in 1935, Heaven Hill has worked to perfect the craft of distilling, aging and selecting award-winning whiskeys for decades. Elijah Craig, Larceny, Parker’s, and many more beloved American spirits are just a few of their successes. To-date, Heaven Hill is the only American distiller that produces every style of whiskey, and have claimed 12 Whiskey of the Year awards (and 12 more Double Gold Medal awards) for their extensive spirit lineup.

More Details & RSVP

GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival

The return of a legend. New 2018 bottling following a three year absence. Aged in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. On the nose incredible concentration of aromas. Treacle toffee and chocolate orange. A very dynamic and full bodied dram for its age. Chewy with coffee chocolate and treacle scones. Glendronach Malt Whisky Distillery was established north east of Huntley in the Highland whiskey region by James Allardice in 1826. The malting floors at Glendronach Distillery closed in 1996 and it was the last distillery in Scotland to heat its stills directly with flames from a coal-fired furnace, until it had to comply with new regulations in 2005. Glendronach Distillery is resplendent with a traditional cask iron mash tun, wooden washbacks, four stills. Famous for its well-aged and top quality sherried single malt, for example Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament, and single cask releases. The distillery is now owned by Brown Forman of America.

Buy – GlenDronach 15 Year Old – £59.95

THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY CELEBRATES PARTNER BARS WITH EXCLUSIVE WHISKY

SMWS to offer a taste of Cask No. 64.97: A sunny day in late summer by the dramat its network of partner bars 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is celebrating its partner bar network this October by offering every one of them and their whisky lovers an exclusive Society whisky to be sold by the dram.

The SMWS has 100 partner bars across 21 countries (http://bit.ly/2C5WjDL) and every one will have a measure of Cask No. 64.97: A sunny day in late summer available to all customers from 11 October 2018.

SMWS partner bars provide a home-from-home for Society members and whisky lovers alike, and have been exclusively selected for their whisky selection, bar staff expertise as well as the warmth of their welcome.

This exclusive hand-picked whisky has been chosen to support and promote the SMWS partner bar network. It cannot be found anywhere else and will not be sold by the bottle. There are only 222 bottles in total.

SMWS members will be invited to a members-only preview at partner bars before it is available to the public by the dram on 11 October 2018.

Cask No. 64.97: A sunny day in late summer

The Society’s expert Tasting Panel found the nose immediately attractive – dark polished wood, dried flowers and a late summer impression of meadows and orchard fruits (pear, peach, russet apple).

The palate had juicy fruits (pear-drops, strawberry, stewed rhubarb), chocolate and marzipan confectionery, with the finish nodding in a pink peppercorn and tobacco direction.

Celebration of partner bars

Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at the SMWS, said: “Our partner bars provide a place of interaction for like-minded whisky enthusiasts, a sense of community, as well as making whisky fun and approachable. This year is the perfect time to release this bottling as we celebrate the 35^th anniversary of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.”

Full tasting notes

Flavour profile: Juicy Oak & Vanilla

Age: 9 years old

Date Distilled: 05 March 2008

Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Region: Speyside

Outturn: 1 of 222 bottles

ABV: 60.7%

The Tasting Panel found the nose immediately attractive – dark polished wood, dried flowers and a late summer impression of meadows and orchard fruits (pear, peach, russet apple). The palate had juicy fruits (pear-drops, strawberry, stewed rhubarb), chocolate and marzipan confectionery, with the finish nodding in a pink peppercorn and tobacco direction. The reduced nose seemed even brighter – a sunny day with freshly-laundered linen on the washing line, blackcurrant, Key lime pie and lemon posset. The reduced palate was simply sweet, juicy and lip-smacking, with rainbow drops, lime marmalade, orange Creamola Foam* and subtle hints of liquorice and tobacco – very easy-drinking for its age. (*fruity soft drink manufactured in Scotland from the 1950s to the ’90s. Sold in tins of soluble crystals which you had to mix with water).

For more information on membership:

UK
http://bit.ly/2OTIw6k
Twitter: @SMWSUK

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club that bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society only ever bottles single casks – each cask is unique, making every Society bottling a limited edition
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 135 distilleries in its history
• The Society releases a new batch of around 30 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar and Shop in Edinburgh has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see http://bit.ly/2OTIw6k
• For more information about the Society, visit http://bit.ly/2OTIw6k

Watch the unveiling video and discover the first exclusive release from dekantā Oriental.

Single Cask Whisky At Its Finest

This remarkable release was bottled from a cask destined for Kavalan’s Solist Vinho Barrique range and hand selected at the Kavalan distillery by dekantā Director Makiyo Masa and Asian spirits specialist George Koutsakis, alongside Kavalan master blender Ian Chang. Distilled in 2013, ‘One’ Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask was selected for its exceptional quality which showcases the best of Asian whisky production. It is bottled at cask strength (57.1%) allowing you to experience a whisky that offers bold flavors that are free from dilution.

Beautiful, Complex Whisky

Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and recharred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the whisky and wood overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness. The casks are carefully shaved inside then gently toasted. This converts wine residues into a complex mixture of fruit flavours including sweet prune and berries. After toasting, the casks are charred for a short period of time to release flavours, such as dark chocolate and caramelised sugars. The result is a more complex whisky than is possible with casks alone.

Pushing The Boundaries

Kavalan has an on-site cask reconditioning facility that has pioneered a practice called STR. The abbreviation represents their proprietary process of Shaving, Toasting and Re-charring casks that were previously used in the American wine or whisky industry. STR frees organic compounds from the cask to interact with the whisky, resulting in interesting flavors that push the boundaries of what traditional distillers thought possible.

MacNair’s Lum Reek

A new series of blended malts, created by GlenAllachie master distiller, Billy Walker…

MacNair’s Lum Reek

£39.98

MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Year Old

£119.60

MacNair’s Lum Reek 12 Year Old

£47.60