New Release:
The Oldest Official Talisker Ever!

The second release in the Bodega Series from Talisker has just arrived and it is the oldest expression released commercially to date from the Skye distillery. Distilled in 1978, this limited edition has been aged in refill American oak barrels before being finished in Manzanilla sherry casks from Delgado Zuleta, one of Jerez’s oldest sherry producers, in homage to the type of whisky that would have been produced at the distillery in the early 20th century. Limited to just 2,000 individually numbered bottles, you can pre-order yours today at The Whisky Shop.

Talisker41 Year Old
The Bodega Series No.2

£2,900Pre-Order Now

Glenkeir Whiskies Limited
Suite 2 (Rear) Melisa House
3 Brand Place, Brand Street
Glasgow, G51 1DR
United Kingdom

We’ve got some good news for those of you who couldn’t make it to our festival last weekend! Our very special Summer Festival Single Malt Whisky is now available to buy online and in-store. This release has a very limited availability, so head to our website now to avoid missing out.

This single malt is our first Port Cask release, and has notes of rich red fruits, creamy vanilla & dark chocolate.

Lovingly crafted

We began making this unique release the same way as our flagship single malt. High and narrow spirit cuts, following on from a long fermentation using two yeast varieties, are responsible for the high ester count in our new-make spirit, resulting in a creamy and fruity flavour.

For this release, we filled Ruby Port casks and premium first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels with our new-make spirit. The port casks were left to mature for 4 years, whilst the ex-Bourbon barrels were matured for 2.5 years before being finished in a Cream Sherry Quarter Cask. We then blended together 90% Ruby Port cask with the remaining 10% of the Cream Sherry finished ex-Bourbon barrel.

This special release has been bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill filtered and without any additional colouring.

700ml | 50% ABV | £84.95

Don’t forget – there’s free mainland GB delivery on orders over £75!

BUY NOW

INTRODUCING
LAPHROAIG CASK STRENGTH BATCH 011

“Emphatic, full bodied and utterly unforgettable”

Each year, and only once a year, Laphroaig produce a batch of cask strength 10 year old single malt. A rarity and real treat for fans of peat.

LAPHROAIG 10 YEAR OLD CASK STRENGTH BATCH 011
70cl

The eleventh batch from this distillery’s popular cask strength version of their staple, the Laphroaig 10 Year Old. Batch 011 is everything you want from Laphroaig in a bottle… Read more

£73.95

BUY NOW

TASTING NOTES

NOSE:
A sweet maritime welcome with layers of pungent peat smoke, lots of vanilla alongside cooked pear.

PALATE:
More vanilla and peat intertwined with lemon zest and oak spice.

FINISH: 
Sweet and buttery with a trail of classic Laphroaig peat. Delicious.

50YO Dallas Dhu

A stunning looking whisky from a closed Distillery, Dallas Dhu. One of only 176 bottles available worldwide. Distilled Tuesday 10th June 1969. Bottled Wednesday 12th June 2019. Cask Number: 1656
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead. Colour: Mahogany
Aroma: Aromas of rich fruitcake laden with plump raisins, sultanas, and orange peel. An elegant sweetness of candied ginger, almond marzipan, and treacle toffee. Wisps of wood smoke and tobacco linger upon a back drop of subtle oak.
Taste: Toffee apples with fruit and nut dark chocolate flavours accompany mouth-warming cracked peppercorns. Spice sits in the background while wood tanins begin to take hold.
Finish: Lingering and warming; roasted coffee beans evolve into a subtle herbal edge. Full of character with a crisp clean edge.

Take a peek now

Is Edinburgh the new whisky capital?

Edinburgh is thinking of itself as a whisky destination with four new distillery projects and the multi-million-pound Johnnie Walker experience. Scotch whisky tourism is at an all-time high in 2019. Figures from back in 2017 show there were almost 2 million visits to distilleries – tourists from all over the world, who spent almost £61 million between them. Whisky producers across Scotland have at last – for many of them – realised the value of the tourist pound and have invested – and continue to invest – in incorporating visitor facilities at their distilleries. Of the 800,000 tourists visiting Moray (Speyside) each year, three out of five visit a distillery for a tour, cup of tea, bite to eat or shop. The density of distilleries in the region – there are 51 operational sites – along with outdoor pursuits, visitor attractions and breath-taking scenery, make Speyside a popular destination with international whisky enthusiasts, as well as those as yet unfamiliar with the drink. But what about Edinburgh – the second-most visited city in the UK, attracting over two million overseas visitors each year – the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile has been the city’s only real whisky visitor attraction. Glenkinchie is the closest malt distillery, a 15 mile confusing drive from the Royal Mile is no an easy visit for tourists. Thirty odd years after the Scotch Whisky Experience opened there are now four new distillery projects underway, a major revamp for Glenkinchie in the works plus the construction of a multi-storey Johnnie Walker whisky experience.

Can Edinburgh become the centre of Scotch whisky tourism? NO (Paul). Edinburgh as our capital attracts tourists aye, but in the main not the dedicated whisky geek. Susan Morrison, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Experience, welcomed around 400,000 visitors in 2017. No bad you think, but let’s see what Edinburgh Castle and the National Museum of Scotland – the top tourist attractions outside of London – both suck in over two million visits annually. Diageo’s multi-million-pound, seven-storey Johnnie Walker whisky experience was given the all systems go by city planners within the former House of Fraser store on Princes Street, right in the city centre, the attraction will feature a ‘multi-sensory’ experience guiding visitors through the art and science of whisky making as well as the 200-year history of the blended Scotch brand. A rooftop bar – which is yet to receive approval – will offer views of Edinburgh Castle and across the city skyline, while a ground-level shop will provide tastings and whiskies from the Johnnie Walker and Diageo range. The attraction forms part of a £150m investment by Diageo in improving its whisky visitor experiences. Cristina Diezhandino, Diageo global Scotch whisky director, says the group expects the Johnnie Walker Experience to attract the same level of interest as its Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, which welcomes 1.71m visitors each year. Aiming at opening in 2020, the brand will create a welcome for whisky fans around the world… meantime, the revival of John Crabbie, one synonymous with Edinburgh’s 19th century blending heritage, is well underway. Brand owner Halewood International began distilling single malt spirit at Chain Pier, a small site at Granton Harbour in December 2018, although plans are to relocate its core single malt production to a larger premises in Leith. The new £7m distillery, named Bonnington, is currently being built on Graham Street, near to John Crabbie’s original premises at Yardheads. This will be followed by Holyrood Distillery. Situated in the renovated Engine Shed on St Leonard’s Lane, a 15-minute walk from the Royal Mile, Holyrood distillery has been built with the visitor experience at its heart. With an interactive distillery tour, bespoke cask ownership scheme, and expects 45,000 visitors in its first year, building up to 200,000 by year five. The unique vertical Port of Leith distillery on the Firth of Forth is expected to commence imminently, the £5m scheme will be the first Scottish whisky distillery to be built vertically, with the production process laid out from top to bottom. The rooftop bar and restaurant with views across the Firth will no doubt attract a less experienced crowd.

All this is grand aye, but the real whisky geeks like myself will still flock to Speyside and Islay, not to mention Skye, with three to visit now  and superb scenery. Just think of the west coast; fabulous scenery, distilleries all along the coast and islands. Perthshire with many diverse distilleries including my favourite Edradour, will continue to draw the whisky crowds. So, will Auld Reekie be number one whisky location anytime soon?  NO.

A personal blether from Paul McLean whiskytours.scot

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY BOURBONS WIN GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS AT THE 2019 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

            BARDSTOWN, Ky (Aug. 15, 2019) – Barton 1792 Distillery’s Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey won a Gold Medal at the recently held International Spirits Challenge in London.

            Three other Barton 1792 bourbons won Silver Medals:

• Kentucky Tavern
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof
• Very Old Barton 90 Proof

The Tasting Awards were held over 10 days of intense blind tastings by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals.  Samples were delivered to the judging area in flights of numbered tasting glasses to ensure the accuracy of the blind tasting.  Each judge assessed the products according to age, region and variety, which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman.

This year, the International Spirits Challenge received more than 1,600 entries from nearly 70 countries around the globe.

Results from the 2019 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/internationalspiritschallenge2019/en/page/2019-results.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2018 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

Glen Marnoch – 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (£39.99, 70cl)

£300K BOOST FOR LOCAL DISTILLERIES AS PART OF ALDI’S NEW SPIRITS OF SCOTLAND FESTIVAL 

Aldi has revealed the line-up for its first ever Spirits of Scotland Festival showcasing a hand-picked selection of the finest spirits from some of the country’s most renowned local distilleries.

Launching on Thursday 22^nd August, the festival will take place in all 87 Aldi stores in Scotland in a deal worth over £312,000 to the distilleries involved.

Fiona Walsh, Co-founder and Director of Redcastle Spirits, commented: “Redcastle Spirits has had a phenomenal year so far and being invited to join the Spirits of Scotland festival has been a real highlight for us. We view Aldi as being at the forefront in supporting smaller Scottish producers and really championing all that is fantastic about the Scottish food and drink scene at the moment. The additional revenue this order will bring has allowed us to make some further upgrades to our bottling facility, which will increase our capacity and drive efficiencies. It also brings us a step closer to being in a position to increase our workforce.”

In celebration of the supermarket’s 25^th anniversary in Scotland, Aldi has also included a limited-edition 25 Year Old Glen Marnoch Single Malt as part of the in-store festival. Distilled in Speyside using traditional skills that have been passed down generations of craftsmen, the liquid has aged undisturbed for over 25 years before being selected by a Malt Master for bottling. With notes of vanilla, toffee and leather, only 900 bottles of the luxurious Single Malt are available priced at just £39.99 (70cl).

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland said: “Scotland is justifiably renowned the world over for its superb distilleries and over the years, their offerings have become more and more diverse and adventurous. As a result, Scotland is now home to a large number of dedicated distillers producing an exciting choice of flavourful and distinctive spirits and liqueurs.

“For our very first Spirits of Scotland festival, we’re pleased to bring together an enticing selection of gins, vodkas, whisky, rums and liqueurs, so our customers can taste the very best of what Scotland has to offer. To mark Aldi’s 25^th anniversary in Scotland, we are thrilled to include the limited edition 25 Year Old Glen Marnoch Single Malt as part of the line-up. Whisky is what Scotland is known for, and the rich and luxurious Glen Marnoch gives our customers the chance to try a high-quality single malt without breaking the bank.

“At Aldi, we’re proud to be at the forefront of supporting independent Scottish producers and we will continue to champion all elements of our country’s exceptional spirits industry.”

The in-store festival will run while stocks last.

Hogwash – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (£14.99, 70cl)

Notes 

Spirits of Scotland Festival 2019 line up: 

• Brewdog Distilling Co.- LoneWolf Gin (£19.99, 70cl)
• Eden Mill Botanical Project – Passionfruit and Coconut Gin (£19.99, 50cl) (Aldi exclusive)
• Redcastle Spirits – Raspberry and Pomegranate Gin Liqueur (£14.99, 50cl)
• Blackford Craft Distillery – Vesperis Heather Honey Vodka (£24.99, 70cl)
• El:Gin Coirce – Small Batch Scottish Vodka (£24.99, 70cl)
• Black Velvet by Aelder – Dark Fruit Liqueur (£14.99, 50cl)
• Glasgow Distillery Co – Banditti Club Glasgow Spiced Rum (£19.99, 50cl)
• Dark Matter – Spiced Rhubarb Rum Liqueur (£12.99, 50cl)
• Dark Matter – Spiced Rum (£19.99, 50cl)
• Glen Marnoch – 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (£39.99, 70cl)
• Hogwash – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (£14.99, 70cl)

About Aldi Scotland 

2019 marks the 25^th anniversary of Aldi opening its first store in Scotland and 10 years since the creation of its dedicated Scottish Buying department. Since 1994, Aldi has opened 87 stores across Scotland and stocks some of the finest and best value locally-sourced food and drink.

In May 2019, Aldi was crowned Scottish Sourcing Business of the Year at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, demonstrating the supermarket’s commitment to its Scottish suppliers and to offering the finest quality, locally sourced produce at everyday low prices.

The four most recent NFUS ‘shelf watch’ surveys revealed Aldi stocks 100% Scotch Lamb PGI, 96% Scotch Beef PGI, 86% Scotch Beef PGI burgers and 100% Specially Selected Pork in its everyday ranges, more than any other supermarket in Scotland. This means customers are guaranteed to find the highest quality, locally sourced meat at Aldi stores in Scotland.

Established in 2009, the Scottish Buying Department has enabled Aldi to tap into Scotland’s vibrant agricultural and manufacturing base and build strong and long-standing relationships. Proud to work with over 90 local suppliers and stock more than 400 Scottish products, Aldi stores in Scotland boast a range that is at least 30% Scottish. The Buying team has grown from four to 25 members of staff, all of whom are committed to increasing the number of Scottish products available in stores to over 450 by the end of 2020 and bring the best of Scotland’s larder to its customers. As part of this, Aldi is investing over £22 million in new chill facilities for its Scottish Buying Department, including constructing a 4,000sq m freezer and a 13,000sq m chiller to help support the growth of its Scottish product range.

This year Aldi is opening seven new stores across Scotland, creating an additional 200 jobs by the end of 2019.

Aldi was announced as Scotland’s fastest growing retailer in 2018. In the 52 weeks to 30^th December 2018, sales in Scotland grew by 16.4% (Kantar Worldpanel data).

www.aldi.co.uk/scotland

www.facebook.com/aldiscotland

About Aldi UK

Aldi is Britain’s fifth largest supermarket with over 830 stores and 32,000 employees.

The company has more than doubled its market share since 2010. In the 12 weeks to 11^th August 2019, Aldi grew sales by 6.2% and achieved an 8.1% share of the UK grocery market (Kantar Worldpanel data). By 2025, Aldi will operate over 1,200 stores.

Aldi is attracting hundreds of thousands of new customers every year with its range of exclusive brands, passing low operating costs on to customers in the form of low prices.

The supermarket believes in making every day amazing and that’s why every single day Aldi delivers on the best possible value for millions of families throughout the UK and Ireland across everything from award-winning fresh produce to world class gin.

Aldi won’t be beaten on price; consistently racks up award after award for quality; treats its suppliers with fairness and respect and recognises the responsibility of supporting valued institutions such as Team GB to demonstrate the importance of health and wellness. That’s Aldi. That’s everyday amazing. The reason they do this? Because Aldi believes that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy, affordable food…it’s a right, not a privilege.

 The company’s current achievements and initiatives include:

• Aldi is the UK’s lowest priced supermarket. The Grocer’s weekly price comparison of 33 supermarket products found that a weekly shop at Aldi was 10.8% cheaper than its nearest competitor (The Grocer – 14^th June)
• Aldi has a five-year partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust – its fundraising target of £5m will go towards helping the trust to reach out to every young person with cancer in the UK.
• Aldi’s rates of pay are significantly higher than the Government’s National Living Wage and also above the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended national rates. Store Assistants receive a minimum hourly rate of £9.10 nationally and £10.55 in London.
• Aldi is the official supermarket partner of Team GB and ensures every member of the team has access to fresh healthy Aldi food via monthly shopping vouchers, and that 1.2 million 5-14 year olds will learn about the benefits of cooking fresh, healthy food via its Get Set to Eat Fresh education initiative. Aldi has been a partner since 2015 and has extended its commitment to the 2024 Olympic games in Paris.
• In June 2019, for the sixth consecutive year, Aldi was ranked the best-performing supermarket for compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, underlining its commitment to maintaining fair, predictable and sustainable prices within its supply chain.

Full details of Aldi’s awards and achievements are detailed at www.aldi.co.uk/awards

With the UK heatwave set to return this Bank Holiday weekend, it may just be the last chance to toast the sunny weather with a refreshing cocktail.

What better way to start your weekend than with an ice cold summer serve? Whether you’re hosting a BBQ in the garden or having friends over for evening drinks, these fruity recipes are ideal for enjoying in the hot weather.

Naked Grouse Apple Sour

A fruity yet sour serve with a crisp taste, the Naked Grouse Apple Sour is a twist on a whisky cocktail classic. 

Ingredients:

25ml Naked Grouse

100ml chilled cloudy apple juice 

Method:

Fill the glass with ice. Pour in the ingredients in the order listed. Top with chilled cloudy apple juice. Garnish with a slice of apple

Naked Grouse is available to buy from Waitrose

Maker’s Mark Star Hill Spritz 

Best enjoyed with friends, the Maker’s Mark Star Hill Spritz is a summer favourite. The combination of sweet passion fruit syrup and bitter Aperol makes it an irresistible serve for the warm weather.

Ingredients:

35ml Maker’s Mark

15ml Aperol

15ml Passion fruit syrup

15ml Lemon juice

Lengthened with soda / Prosecco 

Method:

Pour all measured ingredients into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake hard for 5 seconds. Strain into glass. Fill with ice. Lengthen with your fizz of choice.

Maker’s Mark is available to buy from Tesco

Highland Park Orcadian Cooler

The Orcadian Cooler is an elegant and vibrant twist on the Sandy Collins that pairs the floral sweetness of elderflower with the delicate floral honey notes of Highland Park 12.

Ingredients:

50ml Highland Park 12

20ml lemon juice

20ml elderflower cordial

Top with chilled soda water 

Method:

Fill the glass with ice. Pour the ingredients in the order listed. Top with chilled soda. Gently stir and garnish with an orange wheel.

Highland Park 12 is available to buy from Sainsbury’s

Macallan Sherry Copa

The Macallan Sherry Copa is sure to transport the drinker to Southern Spain with every sip.

Ingredients:

40ml The Macallan Double Cask 12YO

15ml Oloroso sherry

Pinch of smoked salt

5ml maple syrup 

Method:

Fill the glass with ice. Pour in the ingredients in the order listed. Gently stir. Garnish with an orange twist.

The Macallan Double Cask 12YO is available to buy from Waitrose