MALTSTOCK 2019

Relaxed spring is in the air

Global warming is kicking in. In February it was 20ºC over here! So spring has already started. Somehow that is very relaxed. And what a relaxed month it has been!

We have started organizing the 2019 edition and that means we can give you a couple of names of relaxed people who will be with us this edition. (See below)

And the whisky festival season is in full swing so we can be found at several different venues, spreading our relaxed flyers and meeting you guys while sharing a couple of drams. Ain’t life wonderful and rel… ah well, you know what 😉

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

Hielander Festival Alkmaar

On the 8th and 9th of last month we were at the festival organized by no one less than our breakfast crew: The Hielander Scottish restaurant. It was a great edition and it was very relaxed to meet old and new friends.

Billy Abbott returns

It always makes us so relaxed when we know Billy Abbott will join us again. So it’s with great pleasure we can now announce he indeed will be at Maltstock 2019! And he will be extra in an extraordinary festive mood. It’s the 20th anniversary of the Whisky Exchange this year. So bring your party hats everyone!

Upcoming events

Maltstock wil be present at:

• Whisky Festival Noord Nederland – www.wfnn.nl – March 29-31
• Whisky in Leiden – www.whiskyinleiden.nl – April 13
• Spirit of Speyside Festival – www.spiritofspeyside.com – May 1-6

Colours of whisky festival

We do like colours! So we’re very excited to hear about a new festival being launched in Speyside this October. Another very good reason to travel to Speyside (and if you need a relaxed travel agent….) The Colours of whisky festival is hosted by the excellent team of The whisky Shop Dufftown. So we have high expectations. Read more on this new festival here

THE WHISKYBASE GATHERING

9TH AND 20TH OF OCTOBER
2019

Highland Park 30 Year Old

This 30 year old expression is the second oldest in Highland Park’s range, and was released in 2013. A complex and award winning malt, that tops the bucket list of many whisky enthusiasts!

Was £650.00

SAVE 18%

Now £529.95

We are thrilled to announce this specially-selected single cask from one of our favourite distilleries bottled exclusively for Nickolls & Perks. Distilled in February 2007 and carefully matured at GlenDronach in single Pedro Ximénez Puncheon cask #7675 for 11 years, the result is simply something we had to share with our customers. Bottled in 2018 at a natural cask strength of 60.1% ABV, only 683 bottles were produced.

70cl, 60.1%
£75

BUY NOW

TASTING NOTES
BY CRAIG MILLS (NICKOLLS & PERKS)

NOSE:
Opens with rich ginger cake, chocolate bitters, Seville orange marmalade and cinnamon rolls along with stewed black fruits. Plenty of inviting Sherry wood character (think aromatic nut brittle and sherry soaked tiramisu sponge), hints of treacle tart and fragrant tobacco in the mix too.

PALATE:
A big delivery of chocolate fudge cake, aromatic sweet Sherry wood, toasted hazelnuts, plum pudding and lots of spice mid palate (clove & nutmeg). A burst of orange rind follows and chewy treacle toffee on a warming yet remarkably elegant body for its abv.

FINISH:
Stem ginger, more chocolate (Snicker bars?) and dark honeycomb. Treacle nut brittle, lasting aromatic spices and finishing firm and dry with late caramelised walnut and banana bread.

COMMENTS: 
Your only problem is deciding if you prefer this with or without water. Either way we are not just saying this because it has our name on it but this is a classic GlenDronach, well balanced and complex and dangerously moreish!

SON OF A PEAT IS BACK BUT HE WON’T HANG AROUND FOR LONG, CATCH HIM WHILE YOU CAN

NEW YORK, NY March 4 2019 – Flaviar today announces the long-awaited return of Son of a Peat, with the release of Son of a Peat Batch 02, an unapologetically peated blended malt Scotch.

Son of a Peat was designed to provide a lip-smacking, smoking gun delight to whisky lovers at an approachable price. It certainly did just that. Son of a Peat Batch 01 received critical acclaim from the industry and consumers alike and sold out in record time.

Son of a Peat Batch 02 is now ready for release and is more than a worthy heir to Son of a Peat’s legacy. It shares the same DNA just with a touch more maturity and sherry richness to make the dram ever more complex yet just as smooth.

Each batch is unique and in short supply, but this is a dram to be enjoyed. Son of a Peat craves company and so members will be able to buy up to three bottles each, subject to availability; one to open, one to gift and one to save for later.

All 2,000 bottles will be available via a lottery system, exclusively to Flaviar members, so everyone gets the same chance to get their hands on this complex, commanding whisky bottled at the peak of its powers. Expect another dark, intense yet strangely warm and welcoming dram from the
ever-mysterious Son of a Peat.

Son of a Peat Batch 02 packs a powerful punch, weighing in at 47.2% ABV. It has been treated with the utmost of respect with each drop being hand blended, bottled, sealed and labelled to protect this most peaty of private labels. Son of a Peat is not to be messed with and so it is brought to you with no added color and non-chill filtered.

Grisa Soba, co-founder of Flaviar, comments: “Years of analyzing data and customer reviews on our platform has helped us understand what a perfect peated malt is for our members, and also what someone new to peated whisky, would enjoy as their first experience of a peated Scotch. With Son of a Peat we’ve been able to satisfy both camps, those that have already fallen for peat and those just starting to explore the peated Scotch world.

“We took our time in creating Batch 02 as it is important to follow up with a dram just as commanding and complex as Batch 01 and which pays serious homage to the peat. As part of our mission to democratize the spirits world – given demand is expected to be high, we’re selling via a lottery system, so every member gets the same chance at scoring a bottle or three at a decent price.”

Register on flaviar.com by 11th March to be in with a chance of bagging a bottle of  Son of a Peat Batch 02. Lucky whisky lovers will be notified by 12th March about whether or not, they get to add this delicious dram to their dream home bar.

Son of a Peat Batch 02 tasting note:

On the palate, there are the usual suspects, peat and smoke with notions of seaweed that take you back tothe Scottish shores. Quickly now, the sweetness of sherry and honeysuckle step forward and clear the smoke, but just for a bit, until the journey continues towards more earthy, oaky and woody flavor nuances. The finish is buttery and long-lasting.

Son of a Peat Batch 02 key facts:

ABV: 47.2%
Volume: 750 ml
Price: $65.00
Style: Blended malt whisky
Country: Scotland
Regions: Islay, Islands, Speyside and Highlands
No of single malts in blend: 9
Age: Up to 20 years old
Cask type: Aged in hogshead, sherry butt casks and used bourbon casks
Style: Blended malt whisky, Non-chill filtered, natural color
Special treatment: Hand blended, bottled, sealed and labeled
No of bottles: 2,000
Status: Son of a Peat Batch 02, launches March 4 2019

Website: sonofapeat.com

ABOUT FLAVIAR

About Flaviar – A members-only community for adventurous spirits enthusiasts. Flaviar is a direct-to-consumer spirits club dedicated to the discovery and enjoyment of fine spirits.

Born out of a frustration with how inaccessible the spirits industry is, Flaviar provides members with unparalleled access and encouragement to explore the world of fine spirits.

Flaviar’s tasting boxes and live experiences showcase everything from small craft producers, sought after names and true hidden gems. Members can access rare spirits from The Vault as well as exclusive bottlings and special private labels at members only prices. Combining straight-talking insider info with personalized recommendations and easy to understand flavor guides, Flaviar helps members cut through a sea of spirits and create an enviable home bar filled with interesting new favorites.

Membership to Flaviar is available for an annual fee of $210. To learn more about Flaviar and to become a member, visit www.Flaviar.com.

Tasting is Believing.

MUSK PERFUME AND RUM PUNCH

CASK NO. 72.61

CASK:  1st fill barrel

AGE:  10 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & dry

FUNKY FLOWERS AND TROPICAL FRUITS

CASK NO. 51.8

CASK:  1st fill barrel

AGE:  16 years

TRIPLE DISTILLED BLOODY MARY

CASK NO:  5.63

CASK:  1st fill Oloroso hogshead

AGE:  17 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

COMPLEX AND LIVELY

CASK NO:  50.62

CASK:  Refill barrel

AGE:  24 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet & spicy

SLIPPER SIPPER

CASK NO:  30.101

CASK:  1st fill sherry butt

AGE:  10 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

SALTED MALTED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

CASK NO:  42.35

CASK:  Refill barrel

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Oily & coastal

WEIRD BUT WONDERFUL

CASK NO:  66.119

CASK:  Refill hogshead

AGE:  11 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Lightly peated

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

Coming Soon – Springbank 21yo 

We are delighted to confirm the upcoming release of the new Springbank 21yo 46%. This release will be available in Europe from Friday 15th March 2019. The latest edition of our 21yo was matured in 45% Port casks and 55% Rum casks and bottled at 46%. There are approximately 3600 bottles available worldwide.

Tasting Notes 

Nose: A delightful fruitiness bursts through; watermelon, strawberry laces, brambles and blueberries followed by crushed vanilla pods and glazed cherries.

Taste: Chocolate covered oranges and Caramel shortcake! Deliciously full bodied, with tropical fruit squash, gingerbread and dried mango.

Finish: A captivating Campbeltown Malt; sea salt, oily and fruity. Lemon sherbet, whipped cream, apple peel and salted pretzels complete this beautiful dram!

This bottling will be available in Europe from Friday 15th March 2019 – please note that the release date in various markets and countries is likely to vary. For details on when the Springbank 21yo is available near you please consult your preferred Springbank retailer or visit the “Where to Buy” section of our website to find a Springbank stockist.

• The Campbeltown Cadenhead shop will be selling this bottle for £186.00
• There will be a £10.00 discount for society members that can be applied to this bottle
• This is not a Society exclusive release.

Society Bottle

And before we go, we would like to offer a gentle reminder that the new Society Bottle, the Longrow 11yo Refill Re-charred Sherry bottling, will be available to purchase online from 12 noon (GMT) on Monday 11th March 2019.

We will send you all an email with the relevant link once the page goes live.

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at Springbank Society society@springbank.scot

A Terrific Single Barrel with a Big Age Statement to Boot!
1987 Invergordon 31 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($99.99)
“A real treat for lovers of old complex whisky of any kind.”
—David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

It’s not often you find a 31-year-old Scotch for under $100, but that’s precisely the beauty of our direct-import spirits program. We track down unique barrels you won’t find anywhere else and offer them at unbeatable prices. This 31-year-old bottling from Invergordon comes to us through the “Sovereign” label and is about as good a single grain as we’ve ever encountered. While the vast majority of Invergordon is destined for blends, occasionally a cask like this one makes its way to the independent bottlers. At 52% a.b.v., it has some power, but like the best single grains, it’s also graceful, subtle, and nuanced. Flavors of caramel, spice cake, coffee, and freshly baked cookies are intertwined with elements of sprightly citrus notes—all to great effect. Everything is so wonderfully balanced and smooth, it’s hard to put the glass down. Based on the quality of the spirit and its very attractive price, this 31 year old is sure to make a lucky few very happy. As with all of our single cask bottlings, there are precious few bottles to go around, and once they are gone, they are gone for good. The moral of the story: you’ll need to act quickly to add this charming dram to your collection.

1987 Invergordon 31 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($99.99)

It’s not every day you can buy a 30+-year-old whisky for $100! As grain ages it takes on incredible mellow richness. They’re known for being good values, but the market has been pushed up thanks to big age statements in recent years. While we love these old grains, we don’t think you should be paying $200 to $300 for them even with these big age statements. Instead, we’ve secured some of the best single grains at the very best prices. Invergordon is a grain distillery situated north of Inverness on the Cormarty Firth. The absolutely massive distillery produces upwards of 40 million liters of pure alcohol per year thanks to their massive column still. Their production of grain whisky is exclusively destined for the blends, but a few odd casks made it out of the blender’s repertoire and into our glasses. Like so many things in whisky, with time comes greatness and these Invergordons are proof that grain has many facets. Only 293 bottles of this beauty exist. It’s bottled at full cask strength without dilution or adulteration of any kind.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 07, 2019

I often talk about how single grain shouldn’t be seen as some type of single malt light or an offshoot of bourbon, but should really be treated as a standalone category judged on its own merits. That’s why we thought it was so important to offer a diverse selection of well-aged grain at reasonable prices. We’ve managed to amass a collection of nearly every active grain distillery (save for Girvan) along with several ghost distilleries all in the $100 to $200 range and absolutely delicious. Anybody who can wrap their brains and palates around the subtle complexities of grain whisky should consider amassing as many of these awesome examples as they can afford, not only for the exquisite learning experience, but simply because we’re not sure when we’ll have this kind of broad access again. Invergordon tends to have a little more herbal and citrus quality than some of its more southerly cousins and this one is no different. Caramel corn, light roast coffee beans, fresh mint, woodsy herbs, and orchard fruit. A bold wild honey cuts through the linear entry and leaves you with a sweet sugar cookie finish. A bit idiosyncratic and proof that all single grain is not just one note, but has potential to offer a range of interesting and unusual flavors. This one might appeal nicely to Highland malt drinkers for its added richness and herbal undertones. A real treat for lovers of old complex whisky of any kind, though.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 15, 2019

While most of the old grain whiskies we bottle are first described as smooth, round, and gentle, this particular cask also has tremendous power. It’s 52% ABV and full of bass tones as well as brown sugar, cask spices, and a noticeable tannin structure. It’s of course amazingly smooth and round after 31 long years in barrel, but the earthy note that undergirds this whisky makes for a grain of unusual complexity as well. With the addition of a little water, the wood spices take a back seat and let the fruit ride shotgun. Winter fruits like apple and orange stand prominently against the backdrop of sweet baking spice. A special single grain for sure.

I’M BAAAAAAACK! Six weeks away but now let’s get on with the whisky! Game of Thrones, the most expensive TV show ever made and now has it’s own range of whiskies. Lagavulin, a favourite of the channel and this version is my favourite release of the entire series that it’s part of. Loaded with tropical fruity flavours all backed up with smoked meats and breezes of campfire smoke and coastal shorelines. A true delight if there ever was one and a limited release for not a lot of money. If you can still get one, would recommend picking it up before the investors take it all!

https://youtu.be/44XSrbHqkHI

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday ~ Facebook.com/whiskytube ~ Twitter.com/whiskytube  ~ Youtube.com/whiskywednesday

VERY RARE PETER BLAKE LABEL MACALLAN 1926 SELLS FOR £615,000 AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

The Sir Peter Blake Macallan-60 year old-1926. Sold for £615,063 (estimate: £500,000-700,000)

A bottle of the very rare Macallan-60 year old-1926, with a label designed by the British Pop Artist Sir Peter Blake was sold for £615,063 at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh today (6 March). It had been estimated at £500,000-700,000. In total the sale made more than £900,000.

Bonhams whisky specialist in Edinburgh, Martin Green said: “Only 12 bottles of the Macallan-60 year old-1926 were issued with the label designed by Sir Peter Blake who is known throughout the world for co-creating the cover for the Beatles 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is very exciting to have sold one of these incredibly rare bottles here in Scotland for such a very high price.”

Other highlights of the sale included:

• Dalmore-50 year old-1926. Sold for £27,563 (estimate: £15,000-20,000).
• Springbank-1952. Sold for £18,813 (estimate: £15,000-18,000).
• Dalmore-50 year old-1926. Sold for £17,563 (estimate: £15,000-20,000). 

The Whisky Sale Location: 22 Queen Street Edinburgh Date: Wednesday 6 March at 11.00 Specialist: Martin Green

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.

Secret Spirits Press Release – 6^th Edition Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar Indiegogo Campaign

For 5 years Secret Spirits has taken over 10,000 whisky loving pilgrims on Scotch Whisky Adventures through their independently bottled Scotch Whisky Advent Calendars.

This year they are combining the tradition and heritage of Scotch Whisky with the modern era of E-Commerce and online crowdfunding.

On the 1^st March Secret Spirits began their campaign to raise money for the production of their 6^th edition. For 43 days whisky lovers will have their chance to join the Secret Spirits whisky adventure train and secure their calendar.

The 6^th edition will not be hitting traditional bricks and mortar retailers for the first time as Secret Spirits looks to engage consumers and let them have a say in the whiskies being sourced this year.

Weekly videos, whisky tastings and an array of whisky perks will keep consumers enthralled for the entire duration of the Campaign.

THE CAMPAIGN 

If you love whisky and love journeys, then don’t miss out on Secret Spirits 6^th edition. They promise mystery, discovery and delight in every box of whisky adventure.

www.secretspirits.com