Whisky production begins at Lagg Distillery

The latest major milestone in the building of the Isle of Arran Distillers’ new Lagg Distillery has been reached, with distillation now underway.

The first middle cut of spirit was recorded on Tuesday 19^th March at 14.35. Following this, the commissioning phase has now been completed and Cask Number One was filled on Wednesday 10^th April.

Cask Number One, a Sherry Butt exclusively reserved for members of the Lagg Cask Society, has been filled with a heavily-peated (50ppm) spirit, at a filling strength of 63.5%.

This spirit is expected to mature into the rich, earthy, smoky, Lagg Single Malt which will be very different in character to what the distillers currently produce at their original distillery in Lochranza.

Master Distiller, James MacTaggart, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be taking the very first steps in producing what will eventually be a magnificent Lagg whisky and something truly unique to anything we’ve produced previously.”

Whisky lovers can be part of the exciting story of the Lagg Distillery, by purchasing one of the first casks to be filled at the distillery, and becoming members of the Lagg Cask Society. For more information, visit www.laggwhisky.com

Over half of the casks reserved for this offering have now been sold, and with distillation underway, it is expected that each of the 700 casks for the society will soon be filled.

In terms of site construction, the distillery & visitor centre is now entering its final stages and is on track to open in early summer of this year. Work to the outer structure is now complete, and inside many of the elements of internal design are starting to come together.

It is expected that once open, the Lagg Distillery and Visitor Centre will increase total visitor numbers at both sites to over 200,000 by 2020. 

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for:

Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007) Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards (2017)

Best Visitor Experience – Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (2018)

Product Awards include:

Arran 10 year-old: Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 12 Years & Under, World Whiskies Awards (2019) San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018). Category Winner and Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch Under 12 Years’ Islands Non-Islay at the World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge 91 points (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge Cocktail Commendation for the Rob Roy (2018). Double Gold Medal China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards (2014)

Arran 18 year-old: Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 13 – 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards (2019) International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch 13-20 Years – Islands (Non- Islay) World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018) Scottish Field Whisky Challenge – Gold Award for Best Whisky £50-100 (2018)

Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy’: Best Scotch Island Single Malt, World Whiskies Awards (2019) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ for The Bothy Batch 3 World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

Arran Lochranza Reserve: International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018), International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

First things first, we owe you all an apology over the last newsletter and the issues about buying online. This was due to teething problems that were out of our control. Thank you for baring with us though the transitional stage from the old site to the new one. It was a confusing time all-round especially for you the customers.

A few things we should have told you about are the account log in re-sets needed to upgrade the security of the accounts. Apologies for not informing you all, but we only found out as the new site went live.

It’s the start of the spring /summer season so its back to the easy drinking styles that work so well this time of the year.

We also have a few interesting cask styles for you to discover such as Glenrothes 24yo Sherry cask and the rather amazing Fettercairn 10yo (2008) 56.6%: Red Wine – NZ Pinot Noir Cask.

Benrinnes 11yo (2007) 58.5%: Brl Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Honeycomb, almonds, lime zest, pineapple and chewy toffee.

Taste: Golden syrup, lemon icing and melted butter with marshmallows and coconut flakes.

Finish: Thick and creamy with lingering butterscotch and mashed bananas.

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Bladnoch 30yo (1989) 40.8%: Sherry HHD since June 15 Single Malt Whisky from the Lowlands

NOSE: Vanilla fudge, shoe polish and touch of heather honey.

PALATE: Peat smoke present, toffee pop corn, golden raisins & prunes

FINISH: Dry sherry notes, soot and warm milk chocolate

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Dailuaine-Glenlivet 10yo (2008) 60.6%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Hard toffee sweets, rye bread with soft paprika and fresh cut grass.

Taste: Stem ginger, caramel, vanilla custard and sauvignon blanc.

Finish: Light and spicy with white pepper, lemon and tarragon.

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Deanston 10yo (2008) 56.6%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from the Highlands 

Nose: soft hints of cinnamon sticks, salted carmel, dehydrated strawberries.

Taste: honeycomb, cashew nuts, nougat cookies.

Finish: homemade tablet, apple strudal, lemon meringue.

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Dufftown-Glenlivet 11yo (2007) 54.5%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Green tea, hints of tobacco and leather. Becomes creamier with strawberries, blueberries and marzipan.

Taste: Lemon meringue pie, with toffee sauce and icing sugar. Sweetness balanced with gooseberries and citrus hoppy notes.

Finish: Some toffee, faint green tea and lots of creamy, vanilla and clotted cream.

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Fettercairn 10yo (2008) 56.6%: Red Wine – NZ Pinot Noir Cask since October ’17 Single Malt Whisky from the Highlands

Nose: Strawberry ice cream, cranberry sauce, salted beef.

Taste: Quite meaty, bramble jelly, rasperry puree.

Finish: Slight liquorice notes, cloves, cola cubes.

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Glenrothes-Glenlivet 24yo (1994) 47.0%: Fresh Sherry since June ’15 Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Cherried sweets, toffee, feint wood spice.

Taste: Spiced orange notes, rich Christmas cake, dried sultanas

Finish: plumbs, raisins, blood oranges come through in the end.

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Glentauchers-Glenlivet 10yo (2009) 59.9%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Creme brulee, roasted almonds, milk chocolate flakes with lemon thyme and satsuma peel.

Taste: Big mouth coasting whisky! Vanilla ice cream, marzipan, white choclate and a little fresh lemon.

Finish: Slightly drying coffee beans before panakes and maple syrup brig forth a sweet balance.

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Royal Brackla 10yo (2008) 56.3%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Highlands

Nose: crystalised ginger, butter icing, caramel tweel.

Taste: Summery! vanilla pods, orange sherbert.

Finish: caramel continues, bananna chips, feint hint of anisseed comes through.

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Strathclyde 29yo (1989) 55.7%: Brl Single Grain Whisky from the World Whiskies range.

Nose: Oily, engine oil and toffee shortbread. coconut butter, green olives and honey.

Taste: Rich, portugese tarts with hints of strawberries, raspberry yoghurt, with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish: Initial short creamy notes replaced by lingering golden syrup, apricots and brown sugar.

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Teaninich 10yo (2008) 57.2%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Highlands

Nose: Banana leaves, whole mangoes, brandy butter and faint figs.

Taste: Thick, lychee, icing sugar, spearmint and fennel. Hints of calvdos and dark chocolate.

Finish: Refreshing with popping candy, watermelon and peaches in syrup.

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Tormore 30yo (1988) 43.2%: HHD Single Malt Whisky from Speyside

Nose: Green apple skins, brown sugar and a hint of rhubarb. Lemongrass and faint spice.

Taste: Hints of chocolate, dried fruits and slightly grassy with tart fruits, peaches and pistachios.

Finish: Melted white chocolate, apricots and lemon sorbet.

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So thats it for now from the team in London. It’s been an eventful few weeks with the new releases coming in thick and fast with a lot more to come over the coming months. For those who wish to get more advanced warning of upcoming releases from Cadenhead’s Authentic & Small Batch ranges you can join the Cadenhead’s club directly by clicking here. Lifetime membership costs £50. Or the Springbank Society for all things Campbeltown visit the website springbank.scot Lifetime membership for the society is also set at £50

We will b in touch again soon.

Cadenhead’s London

Saturday, May 4th 2-5PM: 

Old Malt Cask

RSVP and save the date! This expert presented tasting of Old Malt Cask features legendary distilleries and rare expressions not to be missed. Old Malt Cask is unashamedly for connoisseurs of the finest expressions of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. As one of the most established brands in the single cask market, Old Malt Cask has bottled some of the most noteworthy scotches available today, with Laphroaig, Bruichladdich, and Glen Keith being just a few.

Click Here to RSVP

Single Cask 1988 Vintage Glenrothes

A refill American hogshead #19/004 bottled January 2019  at 58.5% for Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseur’s Choice label. Lovely notes of vanilla, ginger, lime, spice, red apples, wood and plenty fruits.

Shop – Glenrothes 1988 – £495.95

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 249: Auchentoshan 29 Year Old 1988 PX Finish

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries another limited release of his favorite Lowlander. In January he visited Taiwan (business trip with Catawiki). At the airport of Taichung – ready to come back home – he suddenly saw a bottle in the duty free range that was smiling at him. He had not seen it before. For the Toshan Man, this is always a special moment, as you can understand. Despite the price tag of 400 EUR (hey, it is 29 years old, mind you!) he could not leave it on the shelf, obviously. And what a belter of a whisky it turned out to be!

https://youtu.be/uFqZ3N9BsJs

Benromach adds Cask Strength Vintage 2008 to its Classic Range 

New Benromach limited batch release to be available across multiple international markets 

Family owned Benromach Distillery has announced a new addition to its Classic Range, Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1, a rich and full-bodied, limited-batch single malt whisky.

The batch release which will be sold across multiple international markets, was matured in First-Fill Sherry and Bourbon casks. Just 5,500 bottles will be available to purchase worldwide from 24^th April 2019*.

Laid down in 2008 before being bottled in 2019, Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 is a 10-year- old whisky. The golden amber dram has notes of cracked black pepper, fruits and milk chocolate, with a delicate smoky edge on the palate. The whisky has a long, deep finish with subtle smokiness and bonfire embers.

Bottled at cask strength (57.9% ABV), Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will replace Benromach 100° Proof in the Classic Range. The new expression will provide single malt Scotch whisky fans with subtle variations on the flavour profile of Benromach 100° Proof with small strength and natural colour variations reflecting different batches.

Keith Cruickshank, Benromach Distillery Manager, said: “By offering the opportunity to own and enjoy batch releases, we are able to further showcase the expertise of our distilling team while determining the right time to bottle each batch to take full advantage of the remarkable single malt whiskies we produce. We believe this expression will allow Benromach drinkers to understand more about the provenance of the whisky they are drinking.

“Every whisky we release has been carefully handcrafted by our close-knit team of distillers. While retaining the overall flavours that Benromach consumers have enjoyed in Benromach 100° Proof, the new Cask Strength Vintage release will differ subtly in both strength and flavour profile, reflecting the specific casks chosen from the vintage year.”

Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 is presented in an elegant bottle with shapes and textures inspired by the Speyside distillery. The copper cut medallion on the packaging signifies the moment in time when the distillers cut to the sweet heart of the spirit run. Each bottle will detail the vintage year, batch number and age.

Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will be available in selected markets worldwide with a recommended retail price (RRP) of €69.95 (£59.95). Prices in local markets may vary depending on local taxes and duty.*

Benromach is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to use traditional methods, without any automated machinery. The small team of distillers employ all their senses when crafting the classic Speyside single malt Scotch whiskies, managing the process by sight, sound and touch to create the unique, handcrafted and authentic Benromach taste.

For more information on Benromach single malt Scotch whisky, and to explore the Classic Range, please visit: www.benromach.com.

*Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will be available worldwide with the exception of China and the US. These countries will receive Cask Strength Vintage market exclusives later this year.

Notes

Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 Tasting notes

Colour

Golden amber

Nose

Stewed apple, pear and vanilla pod aromas.

Palate

Cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry, hints of orange peel and milk chocolate combined with a delicate smoky edge.

A touch of water reveals a sweet and salty effect, with ripe banana and blackcurrant flavours before giving way to a creamy milk chocolate edge and lingering subtle smokiness.

Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery and purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A five-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com.

Wemyss Malts strikes gold at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019!

THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION (SFWSC), founded in 2000, is one of the oldest competitions of its kind with medals from the competition being recognized globally as an indicator of the highest calibre of quality.

Judging of spirits that are entered into the SFWSC is done so blindly to ensure impartiality and the competition is held in high global regard due to the esteemed and seasoned spirits experts on the panel.

With the former in mind it is with great honour and pride that Wemyss Malts can announce that The Hive has achieved the massive honour of winning Best in Class against all other Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies that were judged.

Further credit was bestowed on The Hive and Spice King, two of our Core Range malt whiskies as they both won Double Gold Medals in this year’s Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky category.

Wemyss Malts ranges of blended malt whiskies have now achieved over 80 medals and awards.

THE HIVE is a honey-sweet and fruity malt whisky that is made from a carefully sourced and blended selection of Lowland, Highland and Speyside whisky. This quality malt whisky now boasts several medals and awards since its release including 93/100 points awarded by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and a gold medal for The Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters.

SPICE KING; a complex whisky made from multiple malts from across Scotland with a peppery and maritime flavour has also won many awards since its release including 93/100 points awarded by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and a Gold Medal with Concours Mondial Bruxelles.

April 2019 Auction

is now LIVE!
Take a look at some of the incredible lots on offer this month

Bowmore 1966 Single Cask 50 Year Old

A striking 50 year old bottling from Islay’s oldest distillery, Bowmore. Distilled all the way back in 1966, this is a classic vintage that also produced what is revered by many as the greatest whisky ever bottled, the Samaroli Bouquet.

Spectacular Springbank

This month features an incredible selection of limited release bottles from Springbank, the only Scottish distillery to malt, distil, mature and bottle on the same site. Features include the 1969 Signatory Vintage plus a range of other exceptional vintage expressions.

Glen Grant 1948 Gordon and MacPhail 70 Year Old Private Collection #3

The third release in the Private Collection is this Glen Grant expression – the oldest ever bottled. Distilled at the Speyside distillery in 1948, before being matured in a single, first fill sherry cask for a staggering 70 years.

Glen Albyn 10 Year Old 1960s

An incredibly rare distillery bottling from Inverness malt distillery, Glen Albyn, who sadly closed down in 1983 and was demolished three years later. This bottling was released in the 1960s, when the distillery was known for its best examples.

The Manager’s Dram Series

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were available exclusively to employees of United Distillers (now Diageo). These whiskies were specially selected through blind nosing by distillery managers within Diageo and bottled at natural cask strength.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Collection

That Boutique-y Whisky Company is an independent bottler of stunning expressions from globally acclaimed brands and distilleries. Each bottle is artistically designed with a fun and informative graphic novel-style label. Our auction features bottlings from The Macallan, Port Ellen, Springbank and many more.

If you would like us to provide a free expert valuation for your bottle(s) please send an email to info@whiskyauctioneer.com  Our link includes all the details we will require from you.

INVERURIE WHISKY SHOP NEWS

Only a few bottles left of these Limited Editions

Tomintoul Single Cask 2004

This limited edition single cask has been bottled at Cask Strength to retain the whiskies unique and natural characteristics and subtlety taste. This 2004-vintage Tomintoul has been aged exclusively in a single oloroso sherry butt for 13 years, before being bottled in September 2018, one of 858 bottles. Nose Butterscotch sweetness, nutty with hints of praline chocolate . Taste Sherry to the fore with nutty, vanilla and glaze fruit, with a lingering sherry finish.

TAKE A LOOK

Glencadam Single Cask 1998

This Limited Edition Single Cask whisky has been bottled at Cadk Strength to retain the whisky’s unique and natural characteristics and subtlety taste. This 19 year old was distilled in 1998 and matured in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt, the Bottled at 54.2%ABV on September 2018. Numbered bottles of 643. Nose Notable Sherry wood influence with raisiny and Sherry balance. Taste. Peppery spice backed by sweet raisiny Sherry with a lingering mix of sewer and pepper finish.

TAKE A LOOK

Hi folks, that’s us live with the 97th auction! Happy bidding!

Happy Bidding!