Introducing GLENDRONACH 1992 26 YEAR OLD THE WHISKY SHOP EXCLUSIVE

Glendronach 1992 26 Year Old
The Whisky Shop Exclusive

This single cask from GlenDronach has been selected and bottled exclusively for customers of The Whisky Shop. Distilled in 1992 and matured for 26 years in a single sherry cask, it has been bottled at a strength of 50% abv and is limited to just 469 bottles.

The Whisky Shop Exclusive

Highly Limited Release – Available Whilst Stocks Last

£239.00 – Buy Now

Available for immediate dispatch

Springbank Website: Tours

We are delighted to announce our new Tour Schedule running from today, 1st April 2019, until 2nd November 2019.

As part of the new timetable, we have made some upgrades;

• More Tours Available
• You can now do individual tours of Glengyle, home of Kilkerran Single Malt
• The Barley to Bottle Tour
• As Society members, you get free tours of Springbank and Glengyle until April 2020.

For full details of all the tour options we have available: click here

See you in Campbeltown!

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

Get ready for an intriguing sensory adventure; challenge your taste buds as we celebrate the extraordinary with this exceptional selection of new single casks.

EXPLORE MATURATION WITH EUAN

This Outturn, we’re delving into the world of wood and exploring the wide range of cask types that the Society uses to mature its whisky. I’ve highlighted three bottlings in particular which are well worth comparing and contrasting for the additional maturation we’ve given them.

See if you can pick out what flavours are gifted by each different wood type.

Cheers!

Euan Campbell – SMWS Spirits Manager

READ OUTTURN                     OUTTURN WHISKIES

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 244: Talisker 8 Year Old Diageo Special Release 2018

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries yet another Talisker. In the Special Releases 2018 by Diageo, there was a brand new Talisker at cask strength with an age statement to boot: 8 years old. This young malt, matured on first fill bourbon casks, sold out pretty quickly despite the hefty price of 85 EUR (hefty for an 8 years old malt, anyway). But as it turns out… it is a belter of a Talisker!

https://youtu.be/kyUpxHo4Nro

Henry McKenna Single Barrel Awarded ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ at 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Heaven Hill Distillery takes home numerous medals across the historic American Whiskey portfolio

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery’s Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon was announced as the “Best in Show Whiskey” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, only the second time a Bourbon has won the top prize amongst all whiskeys from around the world, including Scotch. The only other Bourbon to win was the 2008 Parker’s Heritage Collection 27-Year-Old, a testament to Heaven Hill Distillery’s dedication to the craft of producing quality American Whiskey since 1935.

Consistency, a hallmark of Heaven Hill Distillery, is on full display for the award-winning Henry McKenna Single Barrel. The Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year-old Bourbon also received Best Single Barrel Bourbon and Best Bourbon, the exact award designations the brand received just last year in the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Given the barrel to barrel nuances that come with the single barrel designation, maintaining the incredible taste profile year in and year out demonstrates the expertise of Heaven Hill’s master tasting team.

According to editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine, Wall Street Journal best-selling author and San Francisco Spirits Captain Fred Minnick, Henry McKenna scored higher than the best Single Malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, and Single Malt Whiskey, products that range in retail price from $70 – $150 per bottle. Henry McKenna is an unbeatable value as a world’s best whiskey, one Minnick describes as “delicate, complex and an extraordinary Bourbon whiskey.” For insight on the controlled blind tastings used in the judging process, Minnick chronicled Henry McKenna’s path to Best in Show Whiskey on Forbes here.

“Quality and consistency are two values that have persisted across Heaven Hill since our company began distilling American Whiskey in 1935,” said Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira. “Henry McKenna, and our entire American Whiskey portfolio, is a shining example of the tradition instilled by our late Master Distiller Parker Beam and carried forth by our unrivaled team at Heaven Hill Distillery. While we certainly enjoy the recognition of our passion, it is the commitment of our people who bring these products to life that gives us the most satisfaction.”

From every day Bourbons, to special releases, to Kentucky-only products, the art of selecting the right barrels from more than 1.5 million in inventory requires tremendous experience and awareness of warehouse locations and the resulting impact on flavor. Across the portfolio, Heaven Hill also took home several other medals from the premiere tasting competition:

• Double Gold, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon
• Double Gold, Old Fitzgerald 9-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
• Double Gold, Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
• Double Gold, Larceny Barrel Proof Small Batch Bourbon
• Double Gold, William Heavenhill 6^th Edition 16-Year-Old Bourbon
• Double Gold, Evan Williams Master Blend Bourbon
• Gold, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
• Gold, Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2011 Bourbon
• Gold, Rittenhouse 4-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
• Gold, Evan Williams 12-Year-Old Bourbon
• Gold, Heaven Hill Select Stock 18-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition judging more than 3,000 spirits this year. All spirits were tasted over four days through a controlled blind tasting by expert panelists. No information on brand, producer, or price point is given out prior to tastings to ensure each is judged fairly and without bias. For more information on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, check out the website at https://sfspiritscomp.com/, as well as the August 2019 issue of the Tasting Panel Magazine.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.5 million barrels aging in 57 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, and previously held the titles of 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

R&B Distillers is delighted to announce that three of its whisky expressions have won coveted awards at the World Whiskies Awards 2019. 

The Raasay While We Wait 2018 Release has been awarded a gold medal at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 – the highest medalling to date for While We Wait. This no age statement single malt whisky is a smoky and fruity independent bottling that demonstrates R&B Distillers whisky making skills and offers a taste of what’s to come in 2020 while we wait for Raasay’s first single malt whisky to mature in the island warehouse.

Heritage brand The Tweeddale also scooped up two silver awards for its no age statement The Tweeddale Grain of Truth and The Tweeddale Evolution (28 year old). Ten years after Alasdair Day – great-grandson of master blender Richard Day – recreated The Tweeddale in 2009, he is delighted to receive recognition from the World Whiskies Awards for both the oldest and the youngest Tweeddale whiskies to date.

R&B Distillers Co-founder Alasdair Day commented:

“We are delighted to receive this recognition from the prestigious World Whiskies Awards. As we move towards the release of the first ever Isle of Raasay Single Malt in 2020, these awards highlight the hard work and dedication of the team at R&B Distillers.”

The worldwide competition celebrates the very best whiskies from around the globe and promotes the world’s finest whiskies to consumers and trade. The awards are judged by a panel of international judges based on taste and design. This year’s winners were selected at a final tasting lead by over 40 international industry experts at the Caledonian Club in February and the winners will be announced at the Whisky Magazine dinner in London on 28th March.

RAASAY DISTILLERY

Distell Scotch portfolio scoops industry accolades

at 2019 World Whiskies Awards

International spirits, wine and cider producer, Distell, has scooped a series of awards across its portfolio, receiving international recognition for both its single malts and blended Scotch in the first round, at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards. The 10 accolades included three category winners, three gold medals, two silver and two bronze.

Islay’s most remote distillery, Bunnahabhain won two overall category awards for Best Scotch Islay Single Malt (13-20 years) with its Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, as well as the 21 year and over category with its 25 Year Old expression – a second year winning this award for each. The distillery also scooped a gold medal for its peated expression, Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dha.

Further achievements across the single malts included a category award win for Ledaig 10 Year Old in the Scotch Islands (Non Islay) 12 years and under, while Deanston was recognised with a gold medal for its 12 Year Old expression in the Scotch Highland 12 years and under category.

Amongst Distell’s Scotch brands, Scottish Leader was acknowledged in three categories with a gold medal for its 12 Year Old in the blended (12 years and under) section. And Black Bottle received a silver medal for its no-age statement blended Scotch whisky.

Derek Scott, Brand Director for Malt Whisky at Distell was delighted with the recognition achieved across the portfolio; “The results speak for themselves and reinforce the passion and commitment from across the distilleries and blending teams to deliver world class products. Not only does this showcase the talent of the team, it demonstrates the innovation and continued commitment to develop international award winning products for consumers to enjoy.” 

The 2^nd round of the World Whiskies Awards will be held London on 28 March. Over 1000 brands entered this year and the whiskies were blind-tasted by 40 experts from across the globe. 

Notes 

World Whiskies Awards 2019

About Distell

• Distell is Africa’s leading producer of wines, spirits, ciders, scotch whisky and ready-to-drinks (RTDs) with a portfolio of close on 100 brands.
• Within the portfolio, Distell owns four single malts and a number of scotch brands produced across three distillery sites.
• The three distilleries include: Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay; Deanston in Doune, Perthshire and Tobermory based on the Isle of Mull.
• With a global network of offices and distribution partners, the company employs nearly 5000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of R14.2 billion. (£1.09 billion)
• In Scotland, the company’s operations are based in East Kilbride where it has a bottling hall, with blending and warehousing facilities at Airdrie, both near Glasgow.
• Distell is the 2015 “Distiller of the Year” award winner at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
• Bunnahabhain Distillery was named the 2016 Tasting Panel Magazine Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

For more visit: www.distell.co.za

ENGLISH WHISKY WINNING WAY OUT WEST

Cotswolds Distillery whiskies win gold at 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and American Distilling Awards

The Cotswolds Distillery range of whiskies have triumphed at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and American Distilling Institute Awards (ADI).

The distillery’s Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, the newest release, was awarded a double gold medal at the SFWSC and silver at the ADI, and the distillery’s flagship Single Malt Whisky also took home a silver in the same categories at both award ceremonies.

Dan Szor, Founder and CEO of the Cotswolds Distillery said: “Winning a double gold medal for our Founder’s Choice and a silver medal for our Single Malt Whisky is fantastic. It proves we are achieving what we set out to do when we established the Cotswolds Distillery, and that was to distil exquisite, world-beating whisky.

Released in December 2018, Founder’s Choice is aged in shaved, toasted and re-charred American Oak red wine barriques. The uniquely active casks provide the whisky with a rich and intense maturation with notes of toffee, oak and red fruits, giving a beautiful and deep colour.

The Cotswolds Distillery has become a leader in English whisky production since the inaugural launch of their Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky in 2017. The award wins at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and American Distilling Awards mark the distillery’s latest international achievements, while helping to establish the company as a leader in the growing English whisky category.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has been running for nearly two decades and is one of the world’s most respected spirits competitions due in part to their esteemed judging panel, including seasoned experts, while the ADI is the oldest and largest trade association dedicated to craft distilling in the world.

The range of whiskies produced by the Cotswolds Distillery are the first-ever distilled in the Cotswolds and use 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley.

Founder’s Choice is bottled at cask strength (60.9% ABV) non-chill filtered and with no added colouring. The whisky is available in specialist retailers and the Cotswolds Distillery website with an RRP of £64.95.

Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt Whisky has been aged in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and reconditioned red wine casks, resulting in a rich, fruity and sippable whisky. It isnon-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV and is available from Waitrose and online with an RRP of £44.95 for 70cl. To date, the Single Malt has won a total of 17 awards since 2017.

Notes 

The Cotswolds Distillery

Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the distillery has become a premier local attraction, offering tours and tastings daily, and now receives 30,000 visitors a year.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It recently won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and took 2 stars (one of only two whiskies to do so) in the 2018 Great Taste Awards. The distillery’s cask strength whisky release, Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, was recently awarded the title of Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.

In Jim Murray’s 2019 Whisky Bible, the Cotswolds Distillery received 5 ‘Liquid Gold’ awards. Three of their whiskies scored 95 points, with all of the distillery’s samples scoring over 88 out of 100.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available nationally and in 31 countries across the world. Key UK retailers include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.

The Cotswolds Distillery launched a cask strength whisky in late 2018, Founder’s Choice, which has already been awarded the ‘English Single Malt’ category winner at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.

For more information, please visit www.cotswoldsdistillery.com.

Benromach’s Visitor Attraction Manager is voted best in the world 

Susan Colville wins at Icons of Whisky 2019 Global Finale

Benromach Distillery is celebrating success at the prestigious Global Whisky Icons Awards with Susan Colville winning the coveted title of Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year.

Announced in a ceremony in London’s Honourable Artillery Company last night (28^th March 2019), the awards, which are organised by Whisky Magazine, pay tribute to the expertise that is poured into every bottle of whisky made around the world. Only those working in the industry can nominate an individual or brand, with the final winners chosen by a panel of expert judges.

Susan Colville, Brand Home Manager, was recognised for the outstanding contribution she makes to the many thousands that visit Benromach Distillery each year. After winning the title of Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year in the Icons of Whisky Scotland finals in December 2018, Susan went forward to the global finals, competing against attraction managers from regional finals held around the world.

Susan Colville said: “I’m incredibly proud to have received this award following an incredible few years of development for Benromach.  Our visitor numbers have grown significantly year on year and, following our successful 20^th Anniversary celebrations during 2018, we are looking forward to continuing to share Benromach’s fascinating story with visitors from around the world.

‘’Benromach is one of the few distilleries left in Scotland where every whisky is crafted by hand with our distillers using all their senses to guide the process. This gives every visitor to the distillery an incredibly warm, up-close and personal tour.  This award recognises our whole team’s endeavours to showcase our distillery and our national drink on a global stage.’’

Keith Cruickshank, Benromach’s Distillery Manager, said: “Susan thoroughly deserves this award and it is particularly special as it is chosen by those working in the industry alongside a panel of whisky experts.   We are looking forward to another busy summer season at the visitor centre and are proud to have Susan’s expertise and industry knowledge at the helm.”

In 2018, Susan was made a Keeper of the Quaich, joining the international and select society which recognises those who have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch whisky industry.

Notes to Editors

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.

Sullivans Cove French Oak
World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

We’ve done it again!

We are thrilled to share the news that we’ve won the award for World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards for the second year running!

This year, a 10-year-old cask of our French Oak, TD0217, was crowned the World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt, announced at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 dinner in London last night. This follows our award for World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt last year, and our award for World’s Best Single Malt in 2014, making Sullivans Cove the only distillery in the world to EVER win World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt twice and bringing our total for World’s Best awards to three overall.

This cask was bottled and sold last year both in 700ml bottles, and in 200ml bottles that were included in our whisky trio packs, so if you have one, you’re now the owner of this year’s World’s Best!

As always, this achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated team here in Tasmania, and your support, so

Thank you!