THE MACALLAN UNVEILS THE FINE & RARE 1979 VINTAGE

New Release Joins Ranks of Unrivaled Collection of Single Malts  

(NEW YORK, September 11, 2019) Forty years in the making – The Macallan Fine & Rare 1979 is the prestigious new vintage to be welcomed into the brand’s Fine & Rare collection, which was created to portray the very best array of The Macallan.

The Macallan Fine & Rare collection presents some of the greatest vintage single malts produced, and now features the 1979, which was filled on February 19, 1979 and after slumbering for forty years, was captured in 2019 to become part of the liquid history of The Macallan.

“The release of the 1979 Fine & Rare vintage is an exceptional addition to the collection, which displays an inviting burnished antique oak color after being held in a single puncheon cask for forty years,” said Polly Logan, Whisky Maker at The Macallan. “On the nose rich dried fruits with gentle peat smoke, gives way to a hint of orange citrus, balanced with antique oak spice and warming ginger. The journey of discovery continues on the palate with oak spice followed with a richness of dried figs and dates, the gentle peat smoke in the background throughout. The expression finishes with the signature richness of The Macallan with warming oak spice and honey sweetness. By capturing this single malt at natural cask strength of 57.2 percent, it embodies the true spirit of The Macallan and compliments the outstanding array of the Fine & Rare collection.”

Reflecting on the era when this exceptional single malt was distilled, Jaume Ferras, Prestige Marketing Director at The Macallan, said, “This expression delivers an insight into the long-standing heritage of our brand. It is a reflection of the time in which it was distilled – an era of global progression, and an age where our award-winning single malt was also growing and developing. In 1979, The Macallan appointed a new Chairman in Peter Shiach, and his influence is still evident in the brand today, much like The Fine & Rare Collection itself, which demonstrates the unmistakable legacy of The Macallan.”

Over the years, the Fine & Rare range has underpinned The Macallan as the world’s most valuable and collectable single malt whisky, leading the secondary market around the world and setting world record prices. The Macallan Fine & Rare 1979 will be available in the U.S. market and select global markets for a suggested retail price of $14,500 per 750ml bottle. For purchasing inquires, please email: Inquiries.us@themacallan.com

Fine & Rare 1979 Tasting Notes

Color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00);”> Burnished antique oak. 

Aroma: Rich dried fruits with gentle peat smoke. A hint of orange citrus, balanced with antique oak spice and warming ginger.

Palate: Fresh with oak spice followed with richness of dried figs and dates, the gentle peat smoke in the background throughout.

Finish: Medium long, with warming oak spice and honey sweetness.

ABV: 57.2% (natural cask strength)

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

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds’ most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character. An obsession with excellence has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding, by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.

In May 2018, The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.  The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, takes its cues from ancient Scottish hills.  It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since 1824.  The new distillery marks an important milestone, recognising the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and marking an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the luxury single malt.”

www.themacallan.com

ISLE OF RAASAY DISTILLERY
WINS TOURISM DESTINATION OF THE YEAR

Isle of Raasay Distillery is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Tourism Destination Of The Year at last night’s inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards. Taking place in Edinburgh and welcoming over 400 guests, The Scottish Whisky Awards celebrate the best in the whisky industry, awarding on taste and business performance. Beating off competition from some of the country’s finest distilleries, Isle Of Raasay Distillery is proud to be recognised for its dedication to providing a welcoming and enlightening tourist experience to whisky connoisseurs and newcomers alike, all in one of the most unforgettable locations in Scotland.

Raasay Distillery is pioneering a new provenance for Scotch Whisky and, since opening the visitors centre in January 2018, has become a popular tourist destination for whisky pilgrims. Visitors to the Raasay Distillery can now experience first-hand the exciting journey from converting a disused Victorian building to handcrafting the first Isle of Raasay single malt.

Raasay Distillery is independently owned by co-founders Alasdair Day and Bill Dobbie. The pair worked with local architect Olli Blair (ABIR Architects) and Allen Associates to incorporate Borodale House, a
disused Victorian villa, within the design for a modern distillery, visitors centre and accommodation.

Alasdair Day comments:

“As Dave Broom noted when he opened the distillery back in 2017, through history the people of Raasay have shown they don’t just make do, they make better. The distillery team strives every day to challenge the limitations of producing premium distilled spirits in the Hebrides, and welcomes visitors to experience this with them and gain a true sense of Raasay’s past, present and thriving future as a whisky producing island.

We are confident this award will encourage more people to visit us at our Isle of Raasay Distillery!”

Distillery tours cater for all levels of whisky knowledge, from the curious to the connoisseur, and offer an insight into the innovative whisky making process. Raasay Distillery’s tour guides are local islanders who share their unrivalled knowledge of Raasay’s geography and community. The distillery offers tours seven days a week, throughout the year.

Raasay Distillery is also the only distillery in Scotland to provide luxury accommodation within the same building. Three of the bedrooms offer views of the Cuillin mountains on Skye, while the other rooms overlook the production yard and are designed for the ultimate whisky lover. Raasay Distilleryis also planning a calendar of events throughout the year, including Raasay Tunes which celebrates local musicians, and is an integral part of the annual ‘Whisky, Fire and Song’ community festival.

Bringing a significant number of new visitors to the island, the distillery is an ideal destination for whisky tourists and those looking for an unusual off-the-beaten track holiday. Isle Of Raasay Distillery last year further increased visitors to the region by connecting with three neighbouring distilleries tocreate the Hebridean Whisky Trail, a spectacular 115-mile route across the islands.

NOTES

RAASAY DISTILLERY:

Raasay Distillery began producing whisky in September 2017. It is owned by independent Scottish whisky company R&B Distillers. Co-founder Alasdair Day embodies this coupling: his great-grandfather, Allan MacDonald, hailed from the Hebrides, while his other great grandfather, Richard Day, was a master-blender inthe Scottish Borders during the early 19th Century.

In February 2016, the Highland Council granted permission for the construction of a distillery on Raasay. Subsequent grants were secured from the Food Processing Marketing and Co-Operation Grants Scheme, as well as the Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the development of a visitor centre, which is projected to bring 12,000 visitors to Raasay in its first year.

Raasay Single Malt will be ready to drink from 2020 and will encapsulate the rugged elegance of the island terroir. The high mineral content of the island’s water, which filters through the volcanic rock of Dun Caan, will be integral to the flavour of the whisky. A long fermentation time helps to retain the minerality, resulting in a fruity whisky that will become a characteristic of Raasay single malt.

The team hold the long-term ambition of using all-local ingredients – water, peat and barley – to create a spiritthat is a true reflection of this uncommon provenance. In June 2017, Raasay Distillery commenced a barley trial with farmers and crofters to assess the possibility of growing barley locally and concluded that Bere and IsKria (ancient and Icelandic varieties respectively) can be grown the island. Raasay Distillery intend to create a special release of 100% Raasay single malt.

Isle of Raasay Distillery will produce Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice – buy it for its 1999 price

Continuing our 20th anniversary celebrations, we’re selling a fabled bottle of whisky for its original 1999 price – a whisky selling for £7,500 in 2019 for just £99. There’s just one catch: we’ve only got one to sell at that price. Head to the bottom of this post to learn more about the ballot we’re running for the chance to buy the bottle, but read on to learn a bit more about the whisky itself – Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice.

In the beginning…

Just as The Whisky Exchange made its first tentative steps online twenty years ago, Ardbeg distillery was also beginning a new era.

Learn more about our 20th anniversary celebrations >

Stories of Ardbeg go back to the early 1800s, but its more recent history is more chequered than its illustrious past. Reopened by Glenmorangie in 1997, the distillery was still finding its feet in 1999, with a new team firing up the stills after 16 years of intermittent operation and occasional silence.

Whisky takes time, and with very little younger whisky available, the distillery team dug deep into the warehouses to find gems to share with whisky fans while they waited for their own spirit to mature. In 1999, the Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice was released, putting Ardbeg firmly back on the map.

Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice

Selected by distillery manager Stuart Thomson, cask #2391 was found hidden in warehouse #10 and was only available to visitors to the distillery. Distilled on 4 November 1976 and bottled by hand at 22 years old on 23 June 1999, every bottle was hand-numbered and signed by Stuart.

The whisky perfectly balanced the character of cask and spirit, with rich dried fruit, tobacco  and worn leather poised against tarry ropes, singed oranges and tropical fruit. An incredible marriage that wowed those lucky to get one of the 497 bottles yielded by the cask.

It currently sits with an average score of 93/100 from the Malt Maniacs and 94.77 on Whiskybase, the 55th highest ranked of the 128,000 whiskies in its database and one of six Ardbeg 1976s in the top 100 – a truly legendary combination of distillery and vintage.

Vintage 1976 – it’s all about the sherry

The Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice opened the door for the distillery’s rise to fame. More 1976 releases followed, with the Manager’s Choice’s sister casks picking up almost as much praise as the original – earlier years became known for bourbon-matured whisky from the distillery, but the 1976 vintage was all about the sherry.

Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh was fortunate enough to try the run of 1976’s head-to-head in a tasting: “They were all stunning, but in the end it came to just two – the Manager’s Choice and the Feis Ile 2002 special edition. Depending on the day, either could have come out on top, it was so close. On that day, the Manager’s Choice took it.”

The Whisky Exchange 20th anniversary ballot

Today, the distillery’s releases focus on the spirit produced since reopening, winning awards and fans around the world. Whiskies like the Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice are now rare and much sought-after – a time capsule of how the whisky world has changed over the past two decades.

Whisky Exchange co-founders Rajbir and Sukhinder Singh with the ballot bottle of Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice

Launched at just £99 per bottle, it has steadily risen in value over the years. With only 497 bottles to start with, the number left has slowly fallen as they have been opened and enjoyed. Now, the few remaining bottles change hands for many times the original price, and we are very pleased to have found one to sell in our 20th Anniversary ballot.

How does it work?

It’s simple: head over to the Ardbeg 1976 ballot page, click “Enter Ballot” and then checkout as usual – you won’t be charged unless you are the winner of the ballot.

The ballot closes on 22 September 2019, so don’t delay – get yourself entered.

Available on our website next week, new Malts of Scotland stock. 12 bottles of each, here’s a little teaser for you 🤗

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Bartels Whisky
The Old Glebe
Loughborough, LecLE12 8LB
United Kingdom

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength – 57.1%

The latest cask strength offering from Springbank distillery, always a popular release. This Campbeltown malt has been matured for 12 years in bourbon and sherry casks before being bottled at 57.1% vol.

Limited stock remains, restricted to one per person.

BUY NOW

GlenDronach
Exclusive Casks

GlenDronach 25 Year Old 1993

We’ve unearthed a few cases of the legendary 1993 vintage from GlenDronach Highland distillery. From a single sherry butt #658 yilding 557 bottles.

Shop – 25 Year Old GlenDronach 1993 – £350.00

SEPTEMBER AUCTION NOW LIVE!
(ends Sunday 29th September)

…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!

MACALLAN LALIQUE- 50 YEAR OLD LEADS BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

Macallan Lalique- 50 year old. Estimate: £67,000-93,000.

Two bottles of one of the world’s most sought-after whiskies, the Macallan Lalique- 50 year old lead Bonhams Fine Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 9 October. They are each estimated at £67,000-93,000.

The Macallan Lalique-50 year old is the first of The Lalique Six Pillars Collection of the distillery’s rarest single malts, released between 2006-2016. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd., Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, it is said to have the aroma of cumin, cardamom and maraschino, and a taste of dark prunes and plain chocolate.

Other highlights include:

·         Three bottles of Back Bowmore – 1964; one each of the first second and third editions. Estimate for each bottle:  £18,000-20,000. Black Bowmore 1964 first edition was bottled in 1993 in a production run of 2,000 bottles. The second edition followed in 1994 – when, again, production was limited to 2,000 bottles. The third, and final, bottling, in an edition of 1,812, took place in 1995.

·         Rolling Stones Suntory-50th Anniversary. Estimate: £25,000-35,000. The whisky is a blend of selected malts distilled in milestone years in the history of the Rolling Stones, including a malt from 1962 – the year the band was formed – that has been aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. The blend also contains whisky from 1971, when the famous ‘tongue and lips’ logo was launched; it’s said to be one of the most famous brand images in the world, and the original art work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Bonhams whisky specialist in Edinburgh Martin Green said, “In a strong sale the exceptional Macallan Lalique- 50 year old stands out. This is one of the world’s great whiskies. It doesn’t appear at auction very often, so I expect a lot of interest from collectors.”

Follow the link to the online sale catalogue: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25369/

Sale: Fine Whisky Location: 22 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2Date: Wednesday 9 October at 11 am

Rare whisky volumes explode but investment performance dips

Record amount spend on rare whisky during H1 but oversupply leads to softening of prices

The investment performance of rare Scotch has dipped during the first six months of the year, the first such recorded half year decline, according to new figures published today by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101.

The value of the broadest measurement of the market, the Apex 1000 index crystallised its first ever half year loss, dropping by 0.26%. This compares with an increase of 9.91% during the same period last year.

According to Rare Whisky 101’s 2019 Half Year Report, reasons for the decline include over supply of whisky during the early months of 2019, the continued proliferation of new-start whisky auction-houses, and a decline in the performance of the Macallan – the secondary market’s most dominant distillery by both volume and value.

While Scotch whisky has underperformed against other markets and traditional investments throughout the first half of 2019, including FTSE 100, Brent Crude, and Gold, it has still significantly outperformed those very same asset classes over the mid to long term, having increased 160% from December 2014.

Elsewhere in the latest report from RW101, Springbank has claimed top spot as the number one distillery in the investor rankings, closely followed by silent distilleries Brora and Glenugie. The Macallan’s late 2018 dip continued as it moved from 4th at the end of 2018 to 7th by the end of June 2019.

Volume and value still soaring

While the rare whisky market recorded a dip in investment performance, the number of bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK in H1 2019 increased by 43.90% to 71,544 (49,719 were sold in H1 2018).

The £ value of collectable bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK in H1 2019 rose by 58.39% to a record high of £25,873,963 (H1 2018 value was £16,335,635).

While the average per-bottle price is up in H1 2019 (£361.65) compared to H1 2018 (£328.56), it dropped 4.30% from December 2018’s record high of £377.91.

Whisky investment analyst and co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, Andy Simpson commented:

“On the back of ten subsequent years of growth in the investment performance of rare whisky, we have seen an oversupply of bottles, the continued proliferation of specialist whisky auction houses, and a record amount of money spent at auction all combine to produce the rare whisky investment market’s first ‘blip’ since we started reporting these results.

“However, collectors, investors and buyers would be well advised to note the dip. At this stage we do not believe it indicates the start of a longer-term downward trend. In fact, looking the last three months of H1 alone (April to June) the Apex 1000 index returned to slightly more significant growth of 1.29%, moving from 825.92 points to 836.55.

“While the broader market might be showing some signs of stress, there are plenty of pockets of growth for those who do their research and time their market entry/exit well: as with all investments. For example, in contrast to the Macallan’s secondary market woes, Springbank has turned in an incredible performance, claiming top spot in the investor rankings for the first time.

“We remain confident that the right bottles from the right distilleries will continue to offer a strong investment proposition. In fact our later than usual reporting of the half year figures has allowed us to see growth return to the market as the supply/demand equation has re-balanced. However, continued uncertainty over the UK’s post-Brexit future makes it very difficult to predict how the market will perform in the latter months of 2019.”

To download the 2019 Half Year Report visit http://www.rarewhisky101.com/intelligence

About Rare Whisky 101
Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at UK auctions over the past 12 years, the business now offers the world’s first, only and most comprehensive online single malt Scotch & Japanese whisky dataset covering some 500,000 price records and 48,000 different bottle types. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 20,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in almost 1000 aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Springbank, Mortlach, Talisker, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Highland Park.

We are delighted to announce that the new Springbank Rum Wood and Springbank 12yo Cask Strength are available in the UK from tomorrow – Saturday 14th September 2019.

Springbank Rum Wood

The brand new Springbank Rum Wood release is 15yo and has been bottled at 51.0% ABV. There are approximately 9000 bottles available worldwide.

Tasting Notes

Nose: This a sweet tropical dram with coconut, pineapple and banana aromas. The sweetness continues with toasted marshmallows and sticky toffee pudding but is balanced with a hint of peat.

Palate: The sweetness transfers onto the palate. There’s the velvety smooth richness of decadent desserts such as a tropical meringue pavlova, creme brûlée, toffee apple & pecan pie, along with citrus yuzu notes. There’s also an earthy quality from the Springbank dunnage warehouses.

Finish: The earthy quality now comes to the fore and finishes on a gentle dry note.

This bottling will be available in the UK from Saturday 14th September 2019 – please note that the release date in other markets and countries is likely to vary. For details of when the new Springbank 15yo Rum Wood 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: £65.00
• There will be no Society discount applicable on this bottling as it is not a core range product
• This is not a Society exclusive release

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength

The new Springbank 12yo CS has been bottled at 57.1% ABV and was matured in 65% Bourbon Casks + 35% Sherry casks

Tasting Notes

Nose: Initially you can smell the refreshing herbs of oregano and lavender. This is followed by the sweetness of marzipan, honeycomb and fizzy sweets. In a nutshell, there’s an aroma of freshly baked donuts and orange marmalade.

Palate: It’s a lovely, warm butterscotch sponge with chantilly cream, as well as treacle, orange rind and salted pretzels. Then the typical Springbank coastal note of sea salt.

Finish: Velvety and refined finish with salted milk chocolate and Maraschino cherries.

This bottling will be available in the UK from Saturday 14th September 2019 – please note that the release date in other markets and countries is likely to vary. For details of when the new Springbank 12yo Cask Strength 57.1% 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: £52.00
• The Society discount on this bottle will be 10%
• This is not a Society exclusive release

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

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