RAASAY DISTILLERY LAUNCHES RAASAY WHILE WE WAIT 2018

In October 2018, Raasay Distillery will release Raasay While We Wait 2018 – the fourth expression to date of the brand’s independently bottled single malt – which was created as a representation of the flavours that drinkers can expect from future Raasay scotch whisky. The release of Raasay While We Wait 2018 begins the countdown to 2020 when the first ever Raasay single malt in Scotch whisky history will be released.

Unlike some new whisky distilleries, the adventurous team at Raasay Distillery decided to concentrate their attention on whisky. The result is an independently bottled single malt – Raasay While We Wait – which has been crafted as an accurate representation of Raasay Distillery’s future core style.

Designed as a peaty and fruity single malt, each iteration of Raasay While We Wait has been crafted through the vatting of two malts from a single Highland distillery – heavily peated at 45ppm and unpeated – matured in bourbon barrels and finished in Tuscan Montechiari wine casks.

The team at Raasay Distillery are keen to push the boundaries of the spirit, exploring the effect that different finishing times and casks have on the flavour profile of the spirit.

Compared to previous releases, the 2018 Release uses a higher proportion of second-fill than first-fill Tuscan Montechiari wine casks, resulting in a finer balance between the influence of French oak and smoke.

With a welcomed smokiness on first nosing, mixed with red berries, lemon, lime and grassy notes. With more time in the glass this evolves into notes of pear, tangerine and melon. On the palate there is dry peatiness, mixed in with fruity red wine notes and orange zest, while the finish is oaky and buttery.

This easy to drink whisky adeptly balances peatiness with smoothness, making it the perfect introduction for newcomers to peated single malt, and acts as an unusual addition to a flight of red wine finished whiskies. Raasay While We Wait 2018 has been crafted to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, and served in premium cocktails.

NOTES:

Raasay While We Wait 2018 is priced at £53 and available to purchase on raasaydistillery.com and Master of Malt Raasay Distillery is now working with the award-winning U.K. specialist wholesaler, Gordon & MacPhail. With over 120 years of experience, Gordon & MacPhail offers the largest and most complete range of mainstream and eclectic single malt, single grain, blended whiskies from Scotland and the world over. Focusing on the highest quality whisky and premium spirits, Gordon & MacPhail will be now be Raasay Distillery’s sole U.K. distributor.

ISLE OF RAASAY DISTILLERY: The Isle of Raasay Distillery broke ground in June 2016 and opened in September 2017, becoming the first “legal” distillery on this remote Hebridean island. Co-founded by Scottish entrepreneurs Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day, Raasay Distillery is designed to produce Scotland’s modern island malt, and catapult Raasay into the global market as Scotland’s newest whisky producing island. Raasay Distillery is proud to be one of the few 100% Scottish-owned Scotch whisky businesses in Scotland. On the site of the Victorian-era Borodale House, formerly the Isle of Raasay Hotel, is a state-of-the-art modern distillery, offering year-round tours and luxury accommodation, with, arguably, the best view of any distillery in Scotland. The distillery has since received Five-Star Visitor Attraction rating and Four-Star Accommodation rating from VisitScotland for the visitor centre and accommodation respectively. Isle of Raasay Single Malt will be lightly peated and fruity, utilising the best of the island’s natural elements and reflecting Raasay’s rugged natural beauty. Raasay Distillery uses water from an ancient Celtic well located behind Borodale House at every stage of production, from mashing to fermentation, cask reduction and reduction to bottling strength, ensuring that natural flavours from the high mineral content are retained in the final whisky.

Working with local crofters, Raasay Distillery has successfully grown and harvested barley in a nearby field, the first time that barley has been grown on Raasay in over 40 years. In August 2018, the team successfully produced spirit from the 2017 batch of Raasay barley crop, which will mature into the first ever single malt produced from Raasay-grown barley in 2021. Unlike some new whisky distilleries, the adventurous team at Raasay Distillery decided to concentrate its attention on whisky. The result is an independently bottled single malt – Raasay While We Wait – which has been crafted as an accurate preview of Raasay Distillery’s future core style. Designed as a peaty and fruity single malt, each iteration of Raasay While We Wait has been crafted through the vatting of two malts from a single Highland distillery – heavily peated at 45ppm and unpeated – matured in bourbon barrels and finished in Tuscan Montechiari wine casks.

Raasay Distillery, Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Kyle IV40 8PB
raasaydistillery.com
Instagram/ Facebook: @raasaydistillery, Twittter: @RaasayWhisky

Award Winners!

Our very own Loch Fyne Exclusives have been certified ‘brilliant’ (scoring more than 90) in the latest edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible! While the most important thing to us is our customers’ enjoyment, it’s always nice to have the drams get the recognition they deserve!

Next day UK delivery available
We ship worldwide!

Kilchoman
2006 Single Cask
Loch Fyne Exclusive

SCORE: 93.5

n23.5 a spattering of citrus over peaty embers; t23.5 seriously sweet: the smoke takes a back seat to the sharp, salivating almost lemon sherbet eye-watering buzz on the palate; a big dose of vanilla at the mid-point; f23 the phenols begin to reconfigure, though not before some mocha has turned up; some hickory accompanies the spice; b23.5 high grade malt taking a slightly different course from this distillery’s usual style.

£130 Buy Now
Last bottles remaining!

The Loch Fyne
Bunnahabhain
12 Year Old

SCORE: 92

n23.5 nutty and dry, this is old-fashioned oloroso at its best. The molasses peep through in their roastiest form, for we are now heading into serious Melton Hunting Cake country. And few whiskies can lay claim to that today…; t23.5 magnificent. The delivery is well weighted without becoming remotely stodgy, the fruit growing in intensity without shutting down all the other flavour avenues. Spices enter the fray with a spring in their step and gather intensity without undue haste; f22 a sulphur candle has been waved around briefly in the butt, but much shorter in time than normal. So the resulting buzz is secondary to the fruit; b23 a way above average sherry butt, not something normally associated with Bunna. For a 12-y-o, the delivery and follow-through could hardly be any better. Superb!

£80 Buy Now

Glen Scotia
2005 Single Cask
Loch Fyne Exclusive

SCORE: 91.5

n22.5 a dense smokiness and spice prickle. The odd (in both senses of the word) touch of anthracite and kiwi fruit: not an everyday combination; t23 palate gripping in old-fashioned and delicious GS style as the phenols tear into the taste buds. Thin bodied but fattened by Manuka honey joining the smoke; f23 major complexity now as the peat backs off enough to allow the oak to come through clearly now with chalky vanilla building steadily; b23 a peaty whisky for sure, but so much else happening, too. What entertainment!

£85 Buy Now
Last bottles remaining!

Kilchoman
100% Islay Cask Release
Loch Fyne Exclusive

SCORE: 91

n23.5 vanilla dominant: the peat is relatively shy; t23 smokier on delivery, but the crisp Demerara sugars virtually crackle on the palate; f22 a light smoky farewell; the oak is not performing as you might hope; b22.5 such is the high class of Kilchoman, even an exceptionally good malt on the whisky stage is not quite up to the distillery’s normal performance. Not a bad place to be…

£125 Buy Now

Tasting: Colin Dunn of Diageo 
Monday 15th October at 6.30 pm

Mr Colin Dunn (Diageo) presents –

Whisky Giants…6 stories about 6 people in the whisky industry that have influenced his whisky thinking.

Expect the, unexpected.

£25

Buy Tickets

GlenAllachie Cask Strength Batch 2

The second special batch of cask strength whisky from GlenAllachie distillery – a 10 year old expression, created from whisky matured in 1st Fill Bourbon and Virgin Oak casks as well as PX & Oloroso Sherry Puncheons.

Batch 1 was extremely popular, expect the same for batch 2, a limited release bottled in 2018 at 54.8% vol.

BUY NOW

BROWSE ALL WHISKIES            LATEST OUTTURN

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

<

THE MIDLETON VERY RARE LEGACY CONTINUES WITH 2018 EDITION

Irish Distillers, makers of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has unveiled the 2018 vintage of Midleton Very Rare. The 35^th edition in the renowned and highly collectable range, first unveiled in 1984, is a masterfully blended Irish whiskey, crafted at the Midleton Distillery, Co Cork, by Master Distiller Brian Nation.

Midleton Very Rare 2018 is the result of the careful blending of exceptional, rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys. Each cask has been matured exclusively in lightly-charred ex-Bourbon American oak barrels for between 12 and 28 years, imparting a vanilla sweetness which is in keeping with the rich tradition laid down by the series over the past four decades.

The 2018 edition offers a subtle floral note alongside a hint of fresh herbs and citrus from the Irish grain whiskey contribution, which is complemented by the spicier Irish single pot still whiskey characteristics of cinnamon, clove and black pepper. The vanilla sweetness contrasts with the charred oak to deliver a finishing touch of orchard fruit, green banana and a hint of barley sugar.

Bottled at 40% ABV, Midleton Very Rare 2018 is available globally from this month at the RRP of €180 in markets including Ireland, the UK, and the US.

Brian Nation, Master Distiller at Midleton Distillery, commented: “It is a great honour to have my signature on the front of each bottle of Midleton Very Rare, and this acts as the ultimate guarantee of quality from the Midleton Distillery. We set aside very small amounts of particularly fine single pot still and single grain distillates each year so that the Midleton Very Rare legacy can continue. This practice has been going on for over 40 years and today we are the proud custodians of the exceptional distillates with a duty of care to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the pinnacle of Irish whiskey as we do today.”

Images can be downloaded here – https://we.tl/t-CIlckHvQTT

Tasting notes by Master Blender, Billy Leighton: 

Nose

Vanilla sweetness with a light floral perfume. Some citrus zest combines with fresh herbs and sweet spices complimented by a touch of black pepper and charred oak.

Taste  

Mouth-coating sweetness of vanilla, cinnamon and clove, enriched with a hint of green apple and unripe banana. Peppery pot still spices, along with charred American oak, add complexity.

Finish   

Soft sweet spices fade leisurely leaving the final say to the charred oak and barley grains. 

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 28 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.3m cases in 2018. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 80 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin. 

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 9, 010 million in 2016/17. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier- Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,500 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

www.pernod-ricard.com

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2018

BUY WHISKY

The Diageo Special Release season is one of the most highly anticipated periods in the whisky industry. It comprises of unique releases from some of Diageo’s most revered distilleries.

Here is a snapshot of our favourites.

Talisker 8 Year Old

This young and spritely edition of Talisker hails from the 2018 Diageo Special Releases. This is a must have for any whisky collector.

Nose: Sea spray intermingles with stewed pear initially. This develops into smoked pancetta.

Mouth: Great mouthfeel with an initial hit of cracked black pepper and bonfire smoke.

Finish: The smoke subsides revealing more delicate stewed fruits, this time heading towards mango. At the end there are some menthol notes and a whisp of creme anglaise.

Buy Talisker 8 Year Old

Lagavulin 12 Year Old

A staple of the special releases, the Lagavulin 12 is bottled at cask strength – a whopping 57.8%.

Nose: Strong peaty notes are in abundance, with an omnipresence of smoked meats.

Palate: Thick mouthfeel with spiced guanciale and creamy nutty flavours.

Finish: Fresh apples, peat reek, waxed lemons and coal.

Buy Lagavulin 12

Caol Ila 15 Unpeated

The eagerly anticipated release of the unpeated Caol Ila is a sumptuous 15 Year Old. The Stitchell’s reserve allows the minerality of the distillery.

Nose: Peach stone, acetone, flint and some hints of red fruits develop.

Mouth: Extremely creamy with a mineral kick. Fresh peaches, honey and greek yoghurt.

Finish: Crushed unsalted cashews with strong minerality and a delicate note of dolly mixture.

Buy Caol Ila 15 Unpeated

The Good Dram Show  – Episode 286 ‘Glenmorangie & Glenfiddich‘

This week’s episode of the show asks the question, have we become too elitist and snobby for Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie?

https://youtu.be/ptBkKQzbTj0