Wolfburn Whisky: Five Years Old January 25th!

Wolfburn Distillery is today celebrating its fifth anniversary – its first cask was filled on
25^th January 2013.  Since that date the distillery has been in near constant production, and in the ensuring five years it has laid down almost 1.5 million bulk litres of spirit.

‘It continues to be an amazing adventure,’ says Shane Fraser, distillery manager. ‘For the first three years or so we only produced spirit and laid down casks. Then two years ago we installed our bottling plant and began selling whisky for the first time. The reaction has been unbelievable – our whisky is now distributed in 27 countries all around the world, it’s won multiple gold medal awards, and sales are miles higher than we anticipated. The five years since filling the first cask have simply flown past.’

Wolfburn’s Highland whisky has garnered an immediate reputation for excellence.  The distillery’s Northland expression is the only newly released single malt whisky to have won gold medals in four consecutive international competitions, and the successive Aurora and Morven expressions have attracted equally glowing reviews. Simultaneously, Wolfburn’s limited release whiskies have become the target of collectors globally, with a bottle of the inaugural release recently selling at auction in the US for over $1000.

‘At the end of the day, it’s lovely to be making a product that so many people enjoy,’ states Shane. ‘Not much in life is as good as a dram of fine single malt whisky, and I’m very, very proud of the whisky that Wolfburn is producing – it really is world class.’

Photograph:

Shane Fraser, Wolfburn distillery manager, and Iain Kerr, deputy manager, with Wolfburn’s first ever cask – laid down five years ago today.

ABOUT WOLFBURN: 

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821.  In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year.  Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870.  The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in 2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland.  Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky.  Wolfburn’s single malt scotch whiskies are now available in 27 countries globally.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com

www.facebook.com/wolfburn

WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF RARE CORTI WHISKY UP FOR AUCTION

The world’s largest known selection of rare and collectable Corti Brothers whiskies will go under the hammer in an online auction currently being held by Perth based Whisky Auctioneer (www.whiskyauctioneer.com).

The selection of 26 bottles, 21 of which are unique, has been built up by a UK based whisky enthusiast. The bottles, which are being sold individually, are expected to sell for an estimated total of £50,000.

The Corti collection of whiskies, which are known as the ‘Duthie for Corti’ as they were bottled by Aberdeen based R.W. Duthie Co, were all selected and imported to the United States by The Corti Brothers for bottling, throughout the 1980s.

Often an overlooked name within the whisky industry, the Corti Brothers have played a significant role in the history of independently bottled Scotch whisky. The food and wine specialists took advantage of a downturn in the industry in the 1980s and secured a range of casks from some of the industry’s most iconic distilleries, including Clynelish, Jura and Macallan.

The collection of bottles for auction is the most comprehensive set of Corti Brothers bottlings ever assembled in one sale. Amongst the lots on offer are a bottle of Highland Park 1963, which is the only bottled example of Highland Park from this vintage.

Also available is a Jura 1966, Springbank 1958, Bowmore 1964 and arguably the most sought after of all, a very rare 1965 Clynelish (one of only a handful of whiskies to score 98 on www.whiskyfun.com). This particular vintage occupies a special place in the history of Scotch whisky, having been distilled at the old distillery, renamed first to Clynelish B when the new one was built, and then later to Brora – an iconic name within the secondary market.

The average price of each individual bottle is anticipated to be in the region of £2000.00

Sean McGlone, Directior at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “These bottlings represent an important turning point in the recent history of Scotch whisky and are one of the most highly prized series in terms of quality and variety. No one has ever sold such a large collection of Duthie for Corti bottles, so this is a one-off.  We are already seeing a great deal of interest in the collection from some of our regular customers across the world and we anticipate demand for the bottles to be high.”

The sale is a coup for Perthshire firm Whisky Auctioneer which specialises in auctioning fine, old, rare and collectable whisky. The auctioneer recently sold a rare 30 year old bottle of second edition Black Bowmore single malt whisky for a world record £11,900.

The auction is live and will close on Monday 5 February.

For more information on the auction or to register to participate please visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com

About Whisky Auctioneer

Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky, whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable. Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, Whisky Auctioneer aims to be the most comprehensive website available for the buying and selling of whisky.

MASTERCLASSES ON SALE NOW
16-17 MARCH 2018
– Stourbridge Town Hall –

This Spring we’re welcomed by Dalmore’s Scott Grierson and all-round Diageo legend Colinn Dunn for two exceptional masterclasses.

BOOK NOW

TALISKER FORAYS INTO THE SKYE
WITH COLINN DUNN

Saddle up for a coastal journey through the Isle of Skye with legend Colinn Dunn and a fine flight of single malt whiskies from the much-loved Talisker Distillery.

Tasting lineup

Talisker 10 Year Old

Talisker Port Ruighe

Talisker 57° North

Talisker 18 Year Old

Talisker 25 Year Old

Talisker 35 Year Old

DALMORE SENSATIONAL DELIGHTS

WITH SCOTT GRIERSON

Experience the show in full with all the benefits our Devotee package offers and secure a spot in this once-in-a-lifetime masterclass. We’ll be sampling from the following lineup worth over a whopping £5,000:

Dalmore 25 Year Old

Dalmore 20 Year Old 1996 Vintage

Dalmore Quintessence

Dalmore Constellation Series Cask

Dalmore Star Sample

These masterclasses are included with Premium and Devotee ticket packages

FIND OUT MORE

New Release from Glenmorangie

The latest limited edition release in the Private Edition series from Glenmorangie has arrived and is now available to pre-order at The Whisky Shop, only while stocks last!

International Shipping

Glenmorangie Spìos

Taking its name from the Gaelic for ‘spice’, Glenmorangie Spìos (that’s ‘spee-oss’) is the ninth release in the Private Edition series from the Highland distillery and is the first single malt to be completely matured in American ex-rye whiskey casks. Spìos is free from chill-filtration and bottled at a strength of 46% abv.

Fresh and herbal on the nose, with notes of cherry, mint toffee and cloves before freshly cut green grass. The palate brings a burst of rye spice, earning Spìos its Gaelic name, before clove, toffee, cinnamon and nutmeg emerge with sweet vanilla. The finish is rich and sweet with toffee, Brazil nuts and a citrus tang lingering.

£79 Pre-Order Now
Orders will be dispatched w/c 5th February

CYCLIST MARK BEAUMONT TO OPEN FIFE WHISKY FESTIVAL

Scottish cycling legend Mark Beaumont is gearing up for his latest challenge – as guest of honour at the first Fife Whisky Festival.

The endurance cyclist will open the showcase event on Saturday March 10 at the Corn Exchange in Cupar.

Mark, who holds the record for cycling around the world, is delighted to have the chance to sample a dram or two at the festival.

He said: “As an athlete I drink modestly but have always enjoyed a dram on the right occasion ever since I lived around the corner from The Ben Nevis – a famous whisky and folk music bar in Glasgow.”

Mark will open the event – which he describes as an important boost to the local economy – at 1pm before mingling with festival-goers and enjoying the entertainment.

He said: “Having partly grown up in Fife, I am proud of all the Kingdom has to offer and look forward to coming back and enjoying the Fife Whisky Festival.

“I’m aware of all the fantastic developments with distilling in the area and, for those who are new to Fife, this festival and events like it are so important in putting Fife firms on the map for travel and business.”

The inaugural festival was launched by businesswomen Justine Hazlehurst, founder of Kask Whisky, and Karen Somerville, managing director of Angels’ Share Glass.

They joined forces to organise the festival in a bid to bring whisky back to the Kingdom of Fife.

Karen said: “After years of attending whisky festivals around the world, Justine and I were delighted to have the chance to bring an exciting new event to Scotland.

“Our plans have proved popular with whisky lovers across the country and further afield who’ve been snapping up tickets.

“And today we’re honoured to announce that Mark Beaumont has taken up our invitation to open the first Fife Whisky Festival and enjoy a few drams.”

Justine added: “It’s a real coup to have Scotland’s greatest cyclist coming to join us in sampling some of the best whiskies available in the country and we’re looking forward to a fantastic day.”

The inaugural Fife Whisky Festival, sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, will showcase the renaissance of whisky-making in Fife and bring together whisky lovers and producers from across the region and much further afield.

Graeme Dempster, of Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Fife’s first Whisky Festival.

“We work with many distilleries across Scotland and it’s great to see them supporting the Festival. 

“Our specialist team will be on hand to discuss any insurance requirements and to sample a few drams with our Corporate Ambassador, Mark Beaumont!”

More than 25 distilleries and independent bottlers will attend the event ensuring a huge range of whiskies for visitors to try.

Exhibitors include Fife’s well-known Kingsbarns Distillery, Lindores Abbey Distillery, Edenmill together with Glen Moray, Isle of Arran Whisky and Springbank Distillery.

Meanwhile, drinks specialists Luvians, who have bottleshops in Cupar and St Andrews, will be on hand as the on-site retailer and the programme for the day is sponsored by legal firm MacRoberts LLP.

Fife-based musical duo The Coaltown Daisies, famous for producing `The Whisky Song’ which became the theme for last year’s World Whisky Day, are also attending to entertain festival-goers as they enjoy their tasting sessions.

There are two sessions for the Fife Whisky Festival – with the first starting at 1pm on Saturday March 10 and the second beginning at 5pm.

For more details and to buy tickets, go to www.fifewhiskyfestival.com

Notes:

Fife Whisky Festival was launched last year by Justine Hazlehurst and Karen Somerville. For more details, go to www.fifewhiskyfestival.com

Mark Beaumont is a record-breaking endurance cyclist and author. Last year, he set a new record by cycling around the world covering a 18,000-mile route in 79 days. For more details, visit www.markbeaumontonline.com

 Angels’ Share Glass is a family-run business based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. The firm is co-directed by Karen Somerville and her father Tom Young – a world-renowned Master Craftsman who has been glassblowing and making lamp-work glassware for nearly 60 years. More information about the company can be found at www.angelsshareglass.com

: Justine Hazlehurst, of Kask Whisky, is a well-known whisky blogger and media influencer. She organises regular themed whisky tastings in Edinburgh and Fife as well as tailor-made tours to a number of distilleries. For more details about Kask Whisky, go to www.kaskwhisky.com

Ballot Open for Rare Karuizawa 35 Year Japanese Whisky

TOKYO — 31 January 2018 – A ballot for dekantā’s Karuizawa The Cities of Japan 35 Year Old Sherry Cask collection, showcasing bottle designs inspired by Japan’s most iconic cities with rare Japanese whisky of the silent distillery, closes Wednesday 7 February at midnight (GMT).

Authentic Japanese spirits retailer dekantā have just announced the opening of their ballot to buy one of the world’s rarest whiskies, a 35 year old single sherry cask whisky, of which only 150 bottles are available, from the closed Karuizawa distillery. Each of the Karuizawa 35 Year Old Cities of Japan Sherry Cask ($12,500, 70cl, 59.4%) bottles carries one of six limited edition designs, embodying the character of Japan’s most exciting and iconic cities, Tokyo, Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, Yokohama and Kobe. Since the Karuizawa distillery ceased production in 2000, demand for Japanese whisky, and the limited Karuizawa stock, has increased dramatically, pushing up prices as a result.

“Karuizawa is synonymous with quality, luxury, and rarity. We’re overjoyed to offer our clients a piece of this legendary silent distillery, and to unveil the beautiful bottle designs honouring six great cities of Japan,” said Makiyo Masa, Founder and Director of dekantā. Through the collection’s six bespoke bottle designs, dekantā aims to take Japanese whisky lovers on a sensual tour of modern Japan; from the never-sleeping Tokyo, through the snowy land of Sapporo in Hokkaido, along Osaka’s edgy streets and Kobe’s stylish fashion-forward districts, on to tranquil Yokohama and vibrant Nagoya.

Winners of the ballot will be offered the opportunity to purchase a bottle of the Karuizawa 35 Year Old Cities of Japan Sherry Cask. Each entry can be for one selection, or multiple selections, from the limited edition designs. The ballot will close at 11.59 GMT on Wednesday 7 February 2018, when ballot winners will be contacted with details on how to complete their purchase. Any winners who do not exercise their opportunity to purchase their allocated bottle within three days will have their winning ballets redrawn, and new winners will be contacted.

To enter the ballot for the Karuizawa 35 Year Old Cities of Japan Sherry Cask, visit dekanta.com/ballot35 to express interest in one or more of the limited design editions, before 11.59 GMT on Wednesday 7 February 2018.

Tasting Notes

This exceptional Karuizawa has spent over three and a half decades maturing in a first fill sherry cask. Over this time, the spirit has been imbued with the flavor and character of the cask to develop a rich, dark and complex nose: opening with notes of liquorice, roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate; cinnamon, ginger and clove make an appearance after the initial intensity has waned. The sherry cask delivers a sweet and creamy palate, peppered with spice, now joined by dark chocolate, umami and succulent forest fruits. Prunes, dates and plums intensify near the finish. The finish is long and satisfying, a reminder of the significant time spent in the cask, bringing cocoa, extra spice and a touch of mango.

Notes:

About dekantā

dekantā offers customers access to the world’s largest online selection of authentic Japanese Spirits and has delivered to 127 countries across every continent in the world. A family owned and run business, dekantā’s founders have been selling collectibles since 1985 and specialize in rare, collectible, and new release single malt Japanese whisky. dekantā offers worldwide delivery on an extensive range of Japanese single malt whisky, Japanese grain whisky and Japanese blended whisky, in addition to Scottish whisky released for the Japanese market only.

Consumers who would like to learn more about Japanese whisky should visit the dekantā website, which boasts the most extensive repository of information dedicated to Japanese whisky, including distillery history and tasting notes for each bottle. Bilingual concierge service is available 24 hours a day, providing expert recommendations in both English and Japanese.

About Karuizawa Distillery

The Karuizawa Distillery was established in 1955 in the foothills of an active volcano Mount Asama. The location was notable for being the highest distillery in Japan at 850m above sea level. Despite being the smallest whisky producer in Japan, Karuizawa had a global reputation for producing first-class malt whiskies. The distillery imported Golden Promise barley from Scotland and aged the majority of its stock in sherry casks. Karuizawa stopped producing whisky in 2000 and has since been known as a ‘silent’ distillery. As global interest in Japanese whisky has grown in recent years, demand for stock from the closed Karuizawa distillery has increased dramatically, along with the price of the remaining bottles.

dekanta.com
Follow dekantā on Twitter: @dekantawhisky
Like dekantā on Facebook: facebook.com/dekantawhisky/

ALERT: VIEW FEBRUARY OUTTURN ONLINE NOW

February Outturn brings 20 rare and romantic drams that are sure to go straight to your heart.

Don’t miss out on your favourite bottlings, click over to our website now and read the full listing ahead of the release on Friday, 2 February at 9am.

VIEW WHISKY        READ OUTTURN

WHISKY MAKING COMPETITION: WIN A COURSE AT BALLINDALLOCH DISTILLERY

Ballindalloch Art of Whisky Making competition

The Society is delighted to offer the prize for one lucky member and their guest to take part in Ballindalloch Distillery’s Art of Whisky Making course in Speyside.

The lucky winner and guest will also have two rooms provided at the nearby Craigellachie Hotel, home to SMWS partner bar The Quaich, for the nights of Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 April.

Fancy getting a hands-on introduction to distilling?

SEE HOW TO ENTER

strong>The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Glenmorangie Spìos

The 9th release in the Private Edition series from Glenmorangie distillery, Spìos (pronounced ‘spee-oss’) takes its name from the Gaelic for ‘spice’, reflecting the character of this single malt wholly matured in American ex-rye casks – the first such release from the distillery. Bottled at a strength of 46% abv, free from chill-filtration.

£79 Pre-Order Now
Only while stocks last!
Orders will be dispatched week beginning 5th February

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 195: Compass Box Double Single

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries the Compass Box Double Single. Compass Box is not a distillery, not a bottler, but a blender. And even that is a bit of a misnomer, as Mark considers them to be blending artists. After all, their blends are somewhat atypical, sometimes even provocative, but almost always very interesting. Take this Double Single, for example. It is created with 1 single malt (72% Glen Elgin of 24 years old) and 1 single grain (28% of Girvan said to be even older). Hence the name. Let’s see if ‘enfant terrible’ of the whisky industry John Glaser can surprise us once again.

https://youtu.be/JwjHAhCYZVo