Drinks with…Maltstock!

Saturday evening 12 September we have our online “Drinks with…Maltstock”.  All the tubes have now been filled with some very relaxed whiskies and will be send out in the next few days.

Join us!

But even if you haven’t got a tasting pack, you are still more than welcome to join us! We’ll be live on our Facebook page and our Youtube channel starting 8pm CET.

We are really looking forward to virtual meeting you all. And if you would like to join us live on air please do! If you have a question or a good story, don’t be shy. Or if you would just like to say hello, we would love to see you. Let us know and we’ll send you a link so we can connect.

Click here for our YouTube channel

Click here for our Facebook page

Drink Maltstock!

Many of you have already bought the very relaxed blended malt that Passion for Whisky will be bottling for Maltstock. Thank you, because not only are you getting a relaxed dram, you’re also supporting us, making sure we can continue Maltstock.

ORDER HERE

Get your bottle while you can!

It’s a beautiful 18-year-old blended malt. All details and tasting notes can be found on the Passion for whisky website. Please remember it is a single cask, so obviously limited availability. But please note that we won’t be keeping stock. Everything ordered before this Saturday will be bottled for Maltstock. And probably only a few extra. So if you don’t want to miss out, and you don’t because that is not relaxed, order your bottle(s) now.

Belgium

Delivery to Belgium is also possible, even though it seems like it’s not when ordering. But please contact the very relaxed owners of Passion for Whisky and they will make it happen.

And it’s available for a very relaxed price: € 99,95.

Blended malt
18 years old
Bottled by: Boogieman Import for Maltstock
Distilled: 08-2001
Bottled: 03-2020
Cask type: Butt
ABV: 46,2%
70 cl

It has been tried and approved by the knowledgeable and passionate Stefan and Michel. Who by the way own a very relaxed whisky shop that you should definitely check out:

www.passionforwhisky.com

Their tasting notes:

Nose: Malt, raisins, some coffeebeans, milk chocolate, but also some dry roasted nuts. Typical sherry notes ans some Belgium chocolate praline with hazelnut

Taste: First impression is some bitter sweet caramel. Not too sweet, but in great balance. The nutty chocolate ‘Nutella’ gives this dram its strength. But there is much more to discover in this glas. Honey, dark fruits, toasted bread, Masala Chai Tea.

Finish: Long with more toasted bread and tea leaves and a hint of cocoa

ORDER HERE

We hope to see many of you Saturday 12 September for the “Drinks with… Maltstock”. And please share and enjoy The Relaxed Dram. I know we will!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan, Teun

Relax! We’ll be back in 2021!

Dates for next year are

10-12 September 2021

Ticket sales will start in September 2020.

We hope to see you all next year. That would be very relaxed!

A cocktail meant for the winner’s circle.

Celebrate the Derby at home with a cocktail meant for the winner’s circle. Serve it up for your guests or for yourself. Grab everything you need right from The Party Source, including the 2020 commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle of Woodford Reserve.

The Woodford Reserve Spire:

1 ½ oz Woodford Reserve

2 oz Lemonade

1 oz Cranberry Juice

Buy your commemorative bottle here!

A distinct, regional classic. A whisky that melds a few different styles, culminating in what is highly considered to be the best distillery in Scotland…people aren’t wrong about that, but we all know that there are a lot of contenders. Springbank 10YO – A fruity smokescreen of a liquid, shrouded in the joy and mystery of a family owned, limited release, small allocation facility. a true joy.

https://youtu.be/vkLDTY6v_Fg

Douglas Laing Unveils Two New Additions to their Regional Malt Range

Douglas Laing & Co, the leading independent Scotch Whisky company, today announces the launch of Big Peat 12 Years Old and Epicurean 12 Years Old, a duo of exciting new permanent bottlings within the “Remarkable Regional Malts” series.

Big Peat 12 Years Old Islay Malt is a unique marriage of Single Cask Single Malts, proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration, and at 46% alcohol strength. Specifically targeting the specialist retail sector, this new offering is packaged in a premium black and gold gift tube. Tasting notes include “charred oak, chimney soot and rock salt, complemented by brown sugar and bonfire ashes”. This is the first ever permanent age statement release under the Big Peat brand which continues to enjoy significant growth and a cult following globally.

From Islay to the Lowlands, Epicurean 12 Years Old is a vibrant and versatile marriage of Single Cask Single Malts distilled in Scotland’s Lowland region. With eye-catching silver and green packaging, the spirit is said to “burst with citrus zest, ripe peaches and a touch of spice”, the tasting notes for Epicurean’s new permanent fixture also feature “coconut flakes and cut grass”. In-line with the Douglas Laing philosophy, it too is offered without colouring or chill-filtration, at a high alcohol strength of 46%.

Commenting on the new releases, Chris Leggat, Douglas Laing & Co.’s Managing Director said: “Since joining Douglas Laing in 2013, it’s been an exciting journey watching Big Peat “grow up” and helping to establish the Epicurean brand which launched as recently as 2016 but is growing very nicely for us. The two are polar opposites in terms of taste profile but these permanent bottlings, designed expressly for specialist retail, are an exciting development for the business. They join Timorous Beastie 10 Years Old, Scallywag 10 Years Old and Rock Island 10 Years Old in our dynamic series of Whiskies which offers a fun yet credible, quality line-up for the specialist retail category”.

Big Peat 12 Years Old and Epicurean 12 Years Old are available to buy from specialist spirits retailers globally with an RRP of £55.00 and £50.00 respectively.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

 www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Pre-order: Diageo Special Releases 2020

The wait is over! Diageo’s 2020 Special Releases line-up has been revealed and is now ready to pre-order online with The Whisky Shop.

This year’s releases were inspired by the theme ‘Rare by Nature’ – a throwback to 2019 – and selected by master blender Dr Craig Wilson. The range comprises eight unique and beautifully packaged cask-strength single malt Scotch whiskies sourced from distilleries scattered around Scotland. And as always, it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite!

Whisky fans out there may already know that Diageo’s annual Special Releases don’t hang about for long – act fast to avoid disappointment.

Discover Diageo’s 2020 Special Releases & pre-order now ›

Singleton 17 Year Old
£110.00

This unusual first-ever exclusively refill cask release of The Singleton Dufftown has been matured for seventeen years in refill American oak hogsheads, to showcase the fresh, spring-like nature of this slowly crafted single malt.

Talisker 8 Year Old
£90.00

This adventurous release of Talisker is the first ever to be finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks. Expect a great deal of the expected maritime distillery character and a delightful twist of sweetness from the Caribbean rum influence.

Mortlach 21 Year Old
£575.00

This Mortlach was matured for rich distillery character in small batches then carefully finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso-seasoned casks to build yet more levels of aroma and taste. A classic example of ‘The Beast of Dufftown’!

Lagavulin 12 Year Old
£125.00

This Lagavulin has been matured in traditional refill American oak casks selected to give a perfect expression of distillery character. Soaring in taste and intensity, the flavour is powerful and assertive yet subtly sweet.

Cardhu 11 Year Old
£85.00

Clean, elegant and perfectly poised, this Cardhu was made in small batches and matured in refill casks, as well as new and ex-bourbon American oak, drawing out tones of floral sweetness and spicy intensity in a playful exchange between wood and whisky.

Cragganmore 20 Year Old
£130.00

A Cragganmore of this age has never been released from the distillery, making this elusive malt a much anticipated expression. This small batch was patiently matured over 20 years in a mix that included new fresh-charred American oak casks. What a treat!

Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old
£550.00

This ultra-rare single vintage Dalwhinnie has an astonishing bright intensity for its age and comes uniquely from refill American oak hogsheads, all of which were casked in 1989. Three decades of maturity have bought a fine elegance to the vibrant distillery character, allowing its moorland aromas to peak. 

Pittyvaich 30 Year Old
£400.00

This elusive 1989 Pittyvaich from the last remaining stocks is the first ever to be finished in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. This finely crafted finishing has brought an exotic, rich vanilla sweetness to the light, creamy, fruity aromas and flavours of a less well known Speyside gem, until now familiar only to a knowledgeable few.

Pre-order now ›

TWO 1792 BOURBONS NAMED FINALISTS FOR CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY AT 2020 ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Aug. 25, 2020) – Five 1792 bourbons from the Barton 1792 Distillery were recognized at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, including two which were named finalists for the highest honor. The two Chairman’s Trophy Finalists were 1792 Aged 12 Years and 1792 Bottled-in-Bond. Additionally, three whiskies were designated a “Great Value,” and two received the “Tried & True” award.

Awarded the high honor of “Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation” was:

• 1792 Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Finalist for Chairman’s Trophy
  • Named a “Great Value”

“Excellent, Highly Recommended” honors went to:

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Named a “Great Value”
  • “Tried & True” Award
• 1792 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Finalist for Chairman’s Trophy
  • Named a “Great Value”
• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • “Tried & True” Award

Awarded “Very Good, Strong Recommendation” were:

• 1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This competition, in its 10th year, is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale.

Complete results for the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC-Results/2020-spirits-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, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

What’s New?…

The wind is playing havoc here at TWL Lockdown HQ – feels like whisky weather is on its way…

Lots to talk to you about this week, with news of our next tasting pack and tasting, our long-awaited TWL Virtual Festival, plus information on our ‘real’ festivals.

So without further ado…

The Single Malts of Scotland
PACK & TASTING
Very excited about this one…

As you know, we are very keen on Indie bottlers, as they often present whiskies from distilleries you rarely see bottled and/or bottle at unfashionable age statements, when they deem them to be ready.

The Single Malts of Scotland (or SMOS as we affectionately call them) are the product of our friends at Elixir Distillers/Speciality Drinks. You can therefore be assured that the whiskies bottled are done so by geeks like us, who care more about the liquid than the packaging.

For the tasting itself, on Friday 4th September, we are delighted to announce we have none other than Elixir Brand Ambassador and good friend, Julie Hamilton presenting these whiskies for us. If you haven’t been at a tasting with Julie, you are in for a real treat, as she is one of the most engaging and ‘real’ people in the industry.

Not able to make the ‘live’ tasting? No problem, you can watch it anytime after it has taken place on our Facebook page…

The list of bottlings on tasting;

Clynelish 8 years old

Glen Elgin 12 years old

Benrinnes 13 years old

Linkwood 12 years old

Orkney 12 years old

Caol Ila 10 years old

Nice line-up right?

Once again, we will be giving £5 for each pack sold to The Drinks Trust, to help those in the drinks and hospitality industries in need during this time. There are only 90 of these packs, and places on the Zoom tasting, available. So hit ‘BUY’ below to secure your pack and place! Just to note that these packs do take a little while to get together, so please be patient. You will receive it before the tasting, but do not expect it within days of ordering it. Thanks!

Buy SMOS Tasting Pack Now

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL NEWS
GAME ON!

Introducing a brand NEW way to get your fix of Whisky Lounge, Whisky-Love – while staying safe and as socially-distanced as you like – The game-changing TWL Festival in a Box!

This live event in October will be a first for us – and you – as we engage with makers and ambassadors from all over the world, in new engaging ways, which we are unashamedly super-excited about.
This will not be just another online presentation, with tasting sessions, an interactive quiz and a special Desert Island Drams appearance from Eddie himself…

The festival will be broadcast on Facebook Live, so regardless of whether you have purchased a TWL Festival in Box you will be able to take part. And if you cannot make it on the day, you will be able to watch it back at your leisure.

And what about the whisky itself?

Well, we have thought of that too! Starting next week, we will be offering our exclusive ‘Festival in a Box’ packs. These boxes will have different themes, such as Scotch whiskies, English whiskies and World whiskies. Each one of these will contain whiskies and goodies relating to its relevant festival session.

If you have tickets for one of our 2020 festivals, you will be able to put the value of these tickets towards any of the packs. Bear in mind you may have to pay a little excess, but just think what you will save in un-needed Taxi or Uber costs!

(REAL) FESTIVAL UPDATE

So far we have had to postpone Bristol, London, Edinburgh and Liverpool festivals. Heartbreaking quite honestly, and it probably won’t stop there.

However, we have to remain positive and look forward to these later in the year, or in 2021, when we can hopefully put them on – safely of course.

So to reiterate, if you have a ticket for any of our 2020 festivals, and fancy taking part in the Festival in a Box, or one of our Virtual Tastings instead, you can!

Just send us an email to info@thewhiskylounge.com and tell us that’s what you’d like to do. There may be a small additional amount to pay (for the postage of the pack/s) but it won’t be much. You may also wish to hang on until the various ‘Festival in a Box’ packs are online next week.

Equally, if you are happy for us to simply move your booking to the corresponding session and event in 2021, you need do nothing. We will do this automatically if we hear nothing from you to say otherwise.

And finally…

But let’s make the most of it!

Don’t forget to catch up on the latest whisky news from Connas HERE and we look forward to seeing you – on-line – soon!

In the meantime – Stay Safe. Stay in. Have a dram.

Sláinte and best wishes,
Eddie, and the whole Whisky Lounge Team

2020 FESTIVALS

Current/Old Dates ~ New Dates
Bristol   18th April  TBC
London 15th-17th May  4th-6th September
Edinburgh 6th June  27th-29th Nov

Liverpool 19th September
Manchester 23rd-24th October
York 31st October
Nottingham 14th November

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September 5th, 5:30PM: 

Virtual Israeli Whiskey Tasting: 

Milk and Honey Distillery w/Joshua Hatton

Milk & Honey Distillery is Israel’s first whisky distillery. They are dedicated to only genuine artisan manufacturing and committed to maintaining the highest standards following Scottish tradition. Although a young whisky, the hot and humid climate of Tel Aviv ensures a fast maturation giving the whisky a complexity of a much older whisky.

This tasting will be presented by whisky expert & “Keeper of the Quaich” Joshua Hatton.

Tasting Pourlist:

(click to purchase)

Milk and Honey Classic

Milk & Honey, Elements Sherry

Milk & Honey, Whisky In Bloom, Lightly Peated

We will also talk a little about M&H Elements Israeli Red Wine, a unique whiskey not yet available for purchase.

Click Here to RSVP 

10% Off all M&H whiskies

with coupon code ‘VIRTUAL‘ at checkout