Loch Fyne Range

Here in our workshop on the shores of Loch Fyne we do just one thing, and we do it very well. That’s to know what people like in a whisky. You’ve told us everything we need to know and we’ve heard you, because, like whisky, the skill of listening improves with age.

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 235: Strathearn 2014 Private Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries young whisky from an equally young distillery. Strathearn is a new Highland distillery – probably ‘Scotland’s smallest’ as they claim – that started production in 2013. While the spirit matures to become whisky, only a handful of single casks are currently being put out for the members of their so-called Private Cask Club. This cask – ex-sherry cask #075 containing whisky from non-peated spirit – was released for the Dutch Whisky Society and was also the festival bottling of the Dutch Whisky Festival in September 2017. Only 64 bottles were released at cask strength.

https://youtu.be/2P4NhJSO0V4

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS LIMITED EDITION 52 YEARS OLD EXPRESSION

Introducing the Latest Classic Aged Statement from Scotland’s Leading Single Malt

(NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2019) The Macallan has unveiled a new and remarkably rare, limited edition single malt whisky. With only 250 individually numbered bottles available worldwide; The Macallan 52 years old 2018 is never to be repeated.

This latest addition to The Macallan collection has been slowly matured for fifty-two years in one exceptional, hand crafted first fill European oak sherry seasoned cask from Spain. Defined by an unwavering pledge to create peerless single malts, this whisky reflects the unrivaled commitment to the mastery of wood and spirit for which The Macallan has been renowned since its inception.

The quality of the spirit is a testament to The Macallan and their exceptional oak casks, which are sourced, crafted, toasted and seasoned under the watchful eyes of The Macallan Master of wood. These casks provide the greatest contribution to the character, natural color, distinctive aromas and full flavors of this single malt.

The result is a complex whisky, which presents flavors of rich fruit and dark chocolate fondant, followed by hints of peat smoke combined with cinnamon and ginger from the wood spices. The Macallan 52 years old is an elegant and unique whisky, embodying the distinct quality The Macallan is renowned for.

Sarah Burgess, The Macallan whisky maker, said: “After being left to mature for fifty-two long years in one exceptional, hand crafted European oak sherry seasoned cask, this wonderfully rare single malt is full of rich spicy flavors and has a beautiful ruby mahogany natural color. Bottled at an ABV of 48% where all the flavors became perfectly balanced, The Macallan 52 years old is an outstanding addition to our expanding range of unique, classic-aged whiskies and is a testament to the harmony created through the mastery of wood and spirit. With only 250 individually numbered bottles available worldwide, this is a highly limited and expertly crafted release which will be desired by the world’s whisky lovers and luxury connoisseurs.”

Presented in a luxurious solid oak box, The Macallan 52 years old packaging features an etched face inlaid with a matte gold badged age statement, reflecting the intricate designs for The Macallan 25 years old and The Macallan 50 years old.

The Macallan 52 years old 2018 release will be limited to 42 bottles in the US market this year, with a suggested retail price of approximately $53,500 USD per 750ml bottle. For purchasing inquires, please email: Inquiries.us@themacallan.com.

Tasting Notes:

Color: Ruby mahogany

Nose: Rich cherry and dark chocolate layered with antique oak. Wisps of floral orange blossom combining with delicate layers of peat smoke.

Palate: Rich fruit overlays dark chocolate fondant, wisps of peat smoke meet cinnamon and ginger from the wood spices.

Finish: Long finish with notes of sweet oak, cherry and blackcurrant mellowing out to a floral and lightly peated finish.

ABV: 48%

For further information visit www.themacallan.com/en-us

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed.

Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s finest single malt whiskies.  The story of The Macallan is built on the Six Pillars, each influencing the whisky in its own distinct way.  From the spiritual home of Easter Elchies House; curiously small stills giving richness to the pure spirit; finest cut or the best of the best of the distillation, to exceptional oak casks which account for up to 80% of the final flavor in the whisky; natural color and finally peerless spirit, The Macallan itself.

Wood sits at the heart of The Macallan. The vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, together with true mastery, set it apart from the rest. For more information on The Macallan, visit www.themacallan.com/en-us. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

WIN A VIP Trip To The Beautiful Isle Of Raasay Distillery

Isle of Raasay Distillery, the home of R&B Distillers, is perhaps the only distillery in Scotland that provides luxury accommodation within the same building as a working distillery. Designed by local architect Olli Blair and renowned Scottish designer Anne Hunter, the distillery offers six exclusive en-suite bedrooms well-appointed with luxury amenities and comfort with either double or queen size beds, and arguably the best view from any distillery in Scotland.

You could WIN a VIP trip there including including accommodation, breakfast, a distillery tour and whisky tasting.

Buy a bottle of The Tweeddale The Evolution to be in with a chance of winning this wonderful prize.

The Tweeddale The Evolution

The Evolution is the oldest expression from The Tweeddale to date. Inspired by Richard Day’s cellar book, The Evolution is a blend of classic Speyside single malts and a Lowland single grain. All the components of The Evolution have been aged for at least 28 years to create a complex expression that embodies the vision and craftsmanship of the venerable Borders blender.

Nose: Juicy black fruits, with cherries and plums, and just a touch of icing sugar.

Palate: Big and full with Christmas cake, blackcurrant and pear notes, with a sweet fruity quality reminiscent of mulled wine.

Finish: A definite American oak influence with a hint of creamy milk chocolate.

52% ABV

70cl

£175 – BUY NOW to be in with a chance of winning

Isle of Raasay Distillery, the home of R&B Distillers

Located between the ferry terminal and Inverarish, the main village on Raasay, the distillery is well placed for exploring the island’s breath-taking natural beauty and historic sites, including the iconic Dun Caan mountain, Brochel Castle and the enigmatic Calum’s Road.

Order a bottle of The Tweeddale The Evolution now for your chance to win:

• 1x overnight stay for up to 2 people at the Isle of Raasay Distillery in one of the luxury bedrooms
• breakfast served in the Gathering Room during your stay
• 1x distillery tour and whisky tasting for up to 2 people during your stay

Full details can be found here

Saturday, February 2nd, 2:30-5:30PM:

Paul John Indian Whisky

Take a sip of the soul of India! The Great Indian single malt whisky John Paul will be featured at this tasting, presented by whisky expert Koray Kaan Ozdemir. Distilled in the valley of Goa, India, John Paul whiskey is traditionally made in copper-pot sills without artificial colors, flavours, or chill-filtration.  Their whiskies have received multiple international awards, receiving Gold from both World Whisky and Wizards of Whisky Awards.

More Details & RSVP

North British 51 Year Old

1959 vintage single cask of the Edinburgh distillery bottled by Signatory Vintage. 289 bottles.

Shop £1,467.28

North British 51 Year Old 1959 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Matured in a refill sherry butt #67876 and bottled January 2011 by Signatory Vintage for the Cask Strength Rare Reserve Collection. 289 bottles.

NORTH BRITISH SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY

North British Distillery was established on farmland to the west of Edinburgh in 1885 by Andrew Usher, John M. Crabbie and William Sanderson. Since then the city has expanded ever outwards and now the distillery resides in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh. North British opened in 1887 to guarantee supplies of grain whisky for its owner’s cordials and scotch whisky blending businesses. It is equipped with four Coffey stills to produce grain spirit at 94.5% alcohol and multi-million litres of spirit annually. Whilst most of its whisky matures in racked warehouses in the central Lowlands, a small number of casks spend at least eight years at the distillery in dunnage Warehouse No.1. Official releases are very few but excellent independent ones are available from Hart Brothers and Hunter Laing.

This week’s episode of the show is the very first to review the new whisky from the Kaikyo distillery – Hatosaki, along with some Japanese whisky from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, and Dekanta.

https://youtu.be/LnNoDQshbas

Kingsbarns Distillery’s Single Malt Takes Flight

New dram celebrates Wemyss family’s Fife whisky dream

 A long held dream to distil fine single malt whisky in the East Neuk of Fife becomes a reality today (24^th January) for the founders of Kingsbarns Distillery, as they toast the launch of their first flagship expression: Kingsbarns ‘Dream to Dram’.

Named to mark the Wemyss Family’s vision to bring malt whisky distilling to their Fife home, the new release is a truly local dram, having been slowly crafted with barley harvested exclusively from the golden fields of East Fife.

The result is a beautifully light, clean yet complex Lowland style malt whisky which perfectly captures the essence of this quiet and enchanting corner of Scotland.

Dream to Dram is packaged in gentle shades of blue, gold and brown to symbolise the natural elements of the East Neuk, with a pigeon motif representing the historic ‘doocot’ (Scots for dovecot) that sits at the heart of the distillery – a restored farm steading dating back to the 1800s.

Today, owners William and Isabella Wemyss are gathering friends, neighbours and whisky lovers from around the world at the Distillery to celebrate and share a first taste of Dream to Dram as it is shipped global markets.

The Dream

The Wemyss family has lived and worked in Fife for generations and has a longstanding passion for whisky dating back to the 19^th Century, continuing to this day with their successful Wemyss Malts range. Their long held dream however was to make fine single malt whisky in Fife. When approached by former professional Kingsbarns Golf Links caddy Douglas Clement in 2010 with the idea of converting the semi derelict B-listed farm steading at Kingsbarns into a new distillery for the ‘home of golf’, their dream began to take shape. After a three year restoration project which carefully retained the building’s ancient features and charm, the distillery was officially opened on St Andrew’s Day 2014, with the first whisky laid down in March 2015. 

The Dram

The East Neuk enjoys high levels of sunshine, good soil and not too much rain, which creates the perfect growing conditions for barley. Every drop of Dream to Dram is made from barley harvested in these sun-soaked fields. The addition of pure, rich mineral water drawn from an aquifer 100 metres below the Distillery adds to the local character and light, fruity flavour profile of the whisky.

A long, slow production process in copper pot stills is at the heart of distillation: a 3 – 5 day fermentation period, wash stills that run for 8 hours and a slow running spirit still with high cut points. That will never change and the stills will never run any faster.

Maturation is primarily in high calibre first fill bourbon casks (90%), sourced exclusively from Heaven Hill in Kentucky by Isabella Wemyss, with the remainder maturing in shaved, toasted and re-charred wine casks. All Kingsbarns casks are matured in warehouses not far from the distillery in Fife.

The Taste

The natural elements on Kingsbarns Distillery’s doorstep, combined with superior wood choice and long, slow fermentation give Dream to Dram its remarkably complex and distinctive Lowland character: light, intensely fruity, floral and balanced, with colour and richness coming from the wood. On the nose there is banana, pineapple syrup and summer berries, with a slight herbal note. There is soft toffee, custard pastry and redcurrants on the palate, with a finish of ginger syrup.

Speaking on behalf of the Wemyss family as they celebrate the launch of Dream to Dram today, William Wemyss said: ‘This is an immensely proud day for Kingsbarns Distillery and everyone who has been involved in turning our dream of making whisky in Fife into a reality. Dream to Dram is a wonderful single malt that I think perfectly captures the Lowland style and the character of our East Neuk home in Fife. So much hard work, skill and dedication has gone into crafting our whisky over the past three years so my thanks and congratulations go to everyone at Kingsbarns. We’ll be raising a glass of Dream to Dram tonight to toast what I’m sure will be a most exciting future for our new whisky as we share it with drinkers around the world.’ 

Dream to Dram is the first generally available single malt whisky from Kingsbarns Distillery. It follows a limited release of the exclusive ‘Founders Reserve’ for members of the Kingsbarns Distillery Founders Club in December 2018.

Dream to Dram is bottled in 70cl at 46%, RRP £44.95. It is available from the Kingsbarns Distillery online shop and at specialist and independent outlets across the UK. 

www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

Twitter @KingsbarnsDist / Instagram @kingsbarnsdist

Kingsbarns Distillery

Kingsbarns Distillery began life as a semi-derelict farm steading – built around 1800 by Thomas Erskine, the ninth Earl of Kellie, as part of East Newhall Farm to service the adjoining Cambo Estate. Its centrepiece is a doocot, made with over 600 neatly formed terracotta nesting boxes which, at the time, would have housed pigeons to supply the laird’s kitchen with meat and eggs.

A three year restoration project involving specialist architects, engineers, designers and whisky specialists restored this historic building into the beautiful distillery and visitor centre that is now in place today – including the immaculately restored doocot in pride of place.

The distillery has 4 washbacks and 2 stills (wash still 7.5k litres, spirit still 4.5k litres) which have been designed to fit snugly into the low distillery space, using long lyne arms for maximum copper contact. The distillery has a capacity of 34 barrels per week and can produce 200k litres of alcohol per year.

The Kingsbarns team is aiming to make the distillery as green as possible and sustainability is at the heart of production. Waste water goes through reed beds and is returned clean into the local burn; local farmers use waste as fertilizer, and spent grain is used as cattle feed on neighbouring farms. Nothing is wasted and everything goes back into the local environment to the benefit of local businesses.

Distiller Peter Holroyd has been at the helm of distillation since the very beginning, sharing his passion for whisky and turning the Kingsbarns dream into a reality with the Wemyss family. A native of Glasgow, Peter graduated from the Heriot Watt Brewing and Distilling Course in Edinburgh, working in a number of small breweries before joining the Kingsbarns Team in his first whisky role.

The Kingsbarns Distillery Founders’ Club was launched on the first anniversary of the Distillery on 30^th November 2015 and is still open for membership.  Members enjoy a welcome pack with a small bottle of Kingsbarns New Make Spirit, a glass and membership badge, plus five exclusive bottles of cask strength single malt whisky, including the distillery’s inaugural Founders’ Reserve expression.

The Wemyss Family drinks portfolio 

Wemyss Malts: Edinburgh based independent bottler, Wemyss Malts is owned by the Wemyss family. Their family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.  Wemyss Malts is primarily known for its award-winning range of blended malt Scotch Whisky which uses names inspired by the natural flavours and aromas of the whiskies: The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney. www.wemyssmalts.com. 

Springbank Society

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength 54.8% (Available from Friday 1st February 2019)

Welcome to the first Society Newsletter of 2019!

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of the new Springbank 12yo Cask Strength.

The latest edition of the Springbank 12yo Cask Strength departs from the typical maturation recipe and has been matured in 50% Bourbon and 50% Sherry casks.  The ABV is 54.8%.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Old fir trees – pine needles. Just like when you’re cleaning up all the pine needles from your Christmas tree. Werther’s original sweets, digestive biscuits, heather and honey.

Palate: Rich & Malty; milk chocolate, honey, creme brulee and caramel shortcake. Then sandal wood shavings with typical Springbank coastal notes of sea salt and brine.

Finish: Fruit notes with lemon zest, orange and hints of ginger.

This bottling will be available from Friday 1st February – please note that the release date in various markets and countries is likely to vary. For details on when the Springbank 12yo Cask Strength 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 £49.50
• The 10% Society discount can be applied to this bottling.
• This is not a Society exclusive release.

Coming Soon…

As if the announcement of the new Springbank 12yo CS is not enough excitement for one Society email we are also delighted to confirm our next two distillery releases.

In February we will also be releasing the next Springbank 25yo and the latest edition in the Longrow Red series, the 11yo Pinot Noir cask matured bottling.

We will be announcing full details of both of these bottlings in the next Society Quarterly Newsletter, which will be sent out to you soon.

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

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