CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR WHISKY FANS AS THE GLENALLACHIE

ADDS A 21-YEAR-OLD TO ITS RANGE 

The multi-award-winning Speyside distillery unveils limited release cask strength single malt in the run-up to Christmas 

After a remarkable period of innovation and achievement, which saw a 50^th award win in just 3 years, The GlenAllachie Distillery is celebrating the festive season by adding a very small batch release expression to its range – Batch One of The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength single malt Scotch whisky.

With a very limited release of only 1,600 bottles available worldwide, 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 1 (RRP £199) has been issued on limited allocation and substantially oversubscribed by global distributors. The expression, which will be batch-released on an annual basis, is intended to cater to both whisky enthusiasts and the festive gifting market.

The first instalment of The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength single malt features five Pedro Ximénez (PX) puncheons and hogsheads from 1997 and 1998 which have been hand-picked and married together by Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, Billy Walker (Icons of Whisky Awards, 2020).

Specially selected from The GlenAllachie’s enviable stock of over 50,000 casks, the PX puncheons and hogsheads impart rich, sherried tones upon the distinctive butterscotch and chocolate flavours of the distillery’s archetypal spirit.

The resulting first batch of the 21-year-old Cask Strength has been bottled at 51.4% and is unchillfiltered for maximum flavour. The intense mahogany colour of the whisky is drawn from its contact with the PX casks, with no artificial colouring added.

Commenting on the new addition to The GlenAllachie range, Walker said:  “There are some whiskies which are simply a pleasure to create; our 15-year-old which we launched in 2019 was one, and this new 21-year-old is undoubtedly another. Sherry casks of this vintage are scarce, so I have been carefully monitoring each since we bought the distillery in anticipation of releasing a very special and beautifully aged expression at its peak. These casks have now achieved the perfect balance of sherried depth and complexity, which we have bottled at natural cask strength to showcase the full experience that these casks deliver.

“Whisky lovers can anticipate a single malt which reveals an indulgent combination of fruit cake and treacle, alongside stewed plums, dark chocolate shavings and sweet cinnamon pancakes”.

In 2020, The GlenAllachie has launched several acclaimed releases; from a second batch of limited edition Wood Finishes to its recent Virgin Oak Series, Batch 4 of its cask strength 10-year-old single malt, and a third instalment of single cask bottlings exclusively for UK specialist retail.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

GlenAllachie 21 year old – 51.4%

• Colour: Intense mahogany
• Nose: Waves of dark chocolate, heather honey, mocha and orange zest, with notes of grapefruit and cinnamon
• Taste: A rich mix of fruit cake, heather honey and treacle, fused with stewed plums, dark chocolate, orange peel, cinnamon and ginger.

TOMATIN DISTILLERY ROLLS BACK THE YEARS WITH NEW FILL CASK AUCTION 

Monday 9^th November 2020 – Tomatin Distillery has today announced an exclusive online auction of rare whiskies, including a new fill Tomatin cask, hosted and supported by The Grand Whisky Auction, in support of its long-time charity partner, Maggie’s Highlands.

Tomatin is expecting to add a £10,000 donation to Maggie’s 2020 fund raising efforts with proceeds from the auction to bolster the charity’s cancer support network in the Highlands and Islands.

To mark the occasion, Tomatin is offering a one-off opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to purchase a new fill ex-Bourbon Tomatin barrel, a service which is not currently offered by the Highland distillery. The lucky bidder will have the opportunity to experience filling their own cask on site at the distillery, and roll the barrel into the Tomatin warehouse, where it will remain until it is matured.

The auction will also offer an array of vintage products, including a 90cl 1967 cask bottled in 1997 to celebrate the distillery’s centenary and Tomatin’s oldest whisky to date, a 5cl 50-Year-Old, boasting aromas of fresh oak and sweet apples.

Budding connoisseurs will also be able to bid on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Tomatin Distillery, which, led by Master Distiller Graham Eunson, will allow unprecedented access to all areas of the distillery with a bespoke tasting and lunch included.

In total, 11 rare and limited-edition lots* will be on offer, with the aim to topple Tomatin’s total charitable donations to Maggie’s Highlands since 2018, over the £50,000 barrier.

Graham Eunson, Master Distiller at Tomatin, said: “It feels special to open up the Tomatin archives for such a great cause. This has been an extremely difficult time for the charity sector, and we hope to raise some much-needed funds to support Maggie’s in continuing the specialist support they provide. The auction will also offer the public, and investors, a remarkable opportunity to purchase some priceless products and experiences.”

Andrew Benjamin, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Highlands said: “We are excited to be adding this auction to the growing list of fundraising activities Tomatin has kindly organised on behalf of Maggie’s Highlands, since 2018. The money raised by this auction with enable us to continue providing vital support to cancer patients here in the Highlands.”

Tomatin Distillery’s previous fundraising activities for Maggie’s Highlands include an annual corporate golf day at Castle Stuart Golf Links and the Lockdown Whisky Festival – an award-winning virtual tasting held earlier this year, garnering over 10,000 live participants.

Whisky fans can begin bidding on the exclusive list of Tomatin products from 6^th – 16^th November, via the auction hosted by The Grand Whisky Auction here https://www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction.

Notes:

*The full list of bottles and experiences available via The Grand Whisky Auction are listed below;

New 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 2020/2

This is an unprecedented chance to be the owner of a new 1st Fill Bourbon Tomatin single malt cask that will be filled by hand and held in bond at The Tomatin Distillery.  This opportunity has never been granted before. The winner will be invited to the distillery to fill their cask at a mutually agreed time. Cask numbers are sequential and it will the next cask in line at the time.

1970 Cask #12267 

This is an incredibly rare single cask from 1970, a year we no longer have stock of. It was bottled in August 2007 at a cask strength of 51.2% ABV and was never released for general sale but was instead sold exclusively at our visitor centre or through our online store.

1981 Cask #001 

Another example of an incredibly rare vintage from Tomatin and one of the very few casks we have from that decade that have been fully matured in an Oloroso Sherry Butt. This remarkable cask was personally selected by Master Distiller, Graham Eunson, to be bottled in May 2014 yielding 405 bottles at a cask strength of 42.3% ABV.

36-Year-Old Batch #1

The Tomatin 36 Year Old has become a highly anticipated annual release and won the coveted “Best Scotch” award at the 2017 San Francisco Spirits Competition. Batch #1 was a marriage of just two casks, a Refill Hogshead and an Oloroso Sherry Butt, distilled in 1977. It was bottled in March 2015 and is limited to just 800 bottles.

1980 Single Cask

This Tomatin was matured in cask No. 994, an ex-bourbon barrel and is one of 172 bottles produced. It’s a smooth, full bodied malt, distilled on the 18/01/1980 and bottled on 07/08/2008.

30-year-old (2007) 

This 2007 edition was the first ever 30 year old bottling from the distillery which, like the 36 year old, has grown to become a hotly anticipated annual release. Unlike all succeeding editions, this first edition was limited to 1,500 bottles, finished in Oloroso Sherry Butts and bottled at a higher strength of 49.3%.

40-year-old 

Distilled in May 1967 and bottled in October 2007 this incredible 40 year old expression was fully matured in traditional hogsheads and limited to 1614 bottles.

90cl Centenary Decanter 

This whisky, distilled in 1967, was bottled in 1997 to mark the 100^th anniversary of the distillery. In total 1,000 bottles were produced of which the first 200 were bottled at 90cl and presented to staff and attendees of the centenary luncheon held on the third of September. This is one of the incredibly rare 200 90cl bottles.

5cl 50-year-old (bottled 2018)

A miniature bottle of Tomatin 50 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky. This was distilled in 1967, matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45.3% ABV. In late 2018 just 70 bottles of our oldest whisky to date were released, each accompanied by a 5cl miniature.

Full set of Five Virtues 70cl 

The Tomatin Five Virtues Series was a quintet of whiskies that celebrated the five elements that contribute towards whisky production; Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. With only 6,000 bottles of each expression produced, the collection featured artwork by Eva Ullrich and was launched in 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn3tZ6moz-o&feature=emb_logo

Behind the Scenes Tour of Tomatin Distillery

Led by Master Distiller Graham Eunson, will allow unprecedented access to all areas of the distillery with a bespoke tasting and lunch included.

Tomatin Distillery has been producing and blending malt Scotch whisky since 1897. Over the last 50 years, the distillery has borne witness to vast change. At its peak in the 1970s, Tomatin was the largest distillery in Scotland, operating 23 stills and producing 12 million litres of alcohol every year. Over the last decade, significant time has been invested in rediscovering the distillery, people and values, and in refining the business model to move away from the formerly lucrative bulk commodity market to now focus on Tomatin’s core range of single malts.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of soft and mellow whiskies, including a core range, a limited-edition range and a premium archive range (prices range from £35 – £10,000). In the last ten years, Tomatin has secured over 60 prestigious awards in a variety of categories, and in 2019 the distillery celebrated its most successful year ever at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition, securing seven Double Gold awards and four Gold awards.

WHISKY AUCTIONS PROVE POPULAR IN A PANDEMIC

Demand for cask whisky as an alternative investment is almost outstripping supply as people look for a safe haven to put their finances in an economic downturn.

According to Knight Frank’s Rare Whisky Index – which tracks auction results of rate Scottish single malts, whisky auctions have proved popular during the pandemic and sales are up more than 3% this year (2020).

Autionyourcask.com is the world’s only live, online auction dedicated to cask whisky and will be hosting its third auction on 25^th November and has already seen a record number of people register their interest to bid.

Owner of Cask Trade, the parent company of auctionyourcask.com, Simon Aron says: “It’s a challenge to keep up with the very high demand for casks of good whisky and we are constantly having to renew our stock. The country is struggling financially because of the pandemic and with the financial markets unstable people are looking at cask whisky as an alternative investment.”

The auction, hosted by Cask Trade via its online auction website auctionyourcask.com, will go live on 25^th November and run for 10 days until 5^th December 2020. Casks to go under the virtual hammer are priced between £2,500 and £45,000 and include 2015 Glen Ord casks, a 2015 Glenrothes and a 2009 Glentuachers.

Auctionyourcask.com allows private owners and investors to sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. Whether you are a first-time or seasoned buyer, a collector, an investor, or an independent bottler, there is something for you!

To sign up to bid in the live auction, register here: https://www.auctionyourcask.com/members/login

Auctionyourcask.com is inviting people to register their casks for auction by 5^th November 2020. Those looking to register their cask for sale should complete an online form to request a valuation. https://www.auctionyourcask.com/request-a-valuation

The auction, which will go live on 25^th November and run until 5^th December (ending 8pm GMT), will feature a wide selection of casks at different price points.

All casks will need to have had a recent re-gauge ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity, wherever possible, to try the whisky before they buy. Auction your cask validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee Cask Trade can offer bidders the actual hammer price. Their low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

TOP 5 REASONS TO INVEST IN CASKS:

1)         Whisky is a top performing luxury investment and far outstrips the more established alternative asset investments such as art, wine and cars. Estimated accumulative short-term returns of 40%, medium term of 80%, and long term 140%.

2)        Each cask is unique and only a limited number are available. No two casks will ever be the same.

3)        Time is on your side as whisky only matures in the cask. The more mature it gets, the more valuable it becomes.

4)        Complete transparency – Cask Trade own every cask it sells and hold all the essential paperwork. The location and health of the cask is verified before it makes it onto the stock list.

5)        Trusted marketplace – Buyers can take Cask Trade’s WOWGR number, go to the warehouse and confirm the cask exists. Bonded warehouses check-in each cask and perform a ‘dip’ test to measure the level of alcohol. Every year, the business is required to report to HMRC how many casks it has and the levels of alcohol. Casks cannot be faked or fabricated.

NOTES:

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.

• Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
• Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
• HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
• HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…

• Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
• Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
• Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
• Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
• Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
• Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
• Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade has started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

Whisky Price Growth

Knight Frank’s Rare Whisky Index: https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport/article/2020-04-16-how-valuable-is-whiskey-as-an-investable-asset-class

Results of the Knight Frank Wealth Report’s new unique luxury investment index revealed whisky was one of the most coveted objects of desire.

The report out in February 2020, says Rare Whisky has grown in value the most over the last 10 years at +564% and increased by +5% in the past 12 months; and states casks remained in huge demand. By comparison cars have seen an increase of 194%, art by 141% and wine by 120%.

https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport

Data collected by Rare Whisky 101 suggests the four-year growth from December 2014 in rare whisky has increased over 160%, compared to just 2.47% for the FTSE 100. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/indices

The same report by Rare Whisky 101 claimed via the BBC that they had performed a controlled test of 55 rare bottles, of which over a third were fakes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-4656670

Waterford Virtual Tasting
with Mark Reynier

Founded by Mark Reynier (legendary ex-owner of Milroy’s of Soho, Murray McDavid, Bruichladdich Distillery, turned Irish Whisky distiller) Waterford Distillery creates flavoursome barley-forward, terroir-driven whiskies.

Influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Distillery obsessively brings the same methodology and rigour to Single Malt Whisky. Their Single Farm Origins showcase barley flavours derived from individual Irish farms, terroir by terroir, each a single malt in its own right.

Milroy’s are delighted to have Waterford’s founder, Mark Reynier joining us to host the first Waterford tasting in the UK, and we are also really excited to include Ireland’s first certified Organic single malt, Gaia 1.1 which launched in the UK earlier this month.

£35.00 + shipping

Book Now

Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to ensure the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, use a wine opener to go through it)

1993 The Road to Elgin (Linkwood) 27 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 View

Teaspooning this exceptional whisky was a very nerve-wracking endeavor. While we inherently believe that the innocuous act of adding the tiniest possible quantity of another malt to a single barrel of Scotch does nothing to diminish the quality of a particular whisky, there is an intellectual argument to be made for keeping the sanctity and purity of a single cask intact. In the end, we’ve made the decision that in almost every case the more important factor for our customers is value over image. So while we had wanted desperately to be able to name this excellent distillery and could have likely sold every bottle for much more than the 25% premium that avoiding a tariffs would have afforded us, we believe that it is in the best interest of our customers to offer them the very best whiskies at the best possible prices regardless perception. That is indeed what this special cask represents. Even years ago, when whisky was plentiful and comparatively cheap, we would have been lucky to find a deal as sweet as this one. At this advanced aged, this famous old Speyside exhibits all the finesse and elegance you’d expect. A nose of creamy malt, Seville orange peel and honey candies. Sweet rich malt and stewed fruit on the palate with kisses of toasted vanilla, caramel tuiles and touches of warming wood spice on the finish. While some would’ve paid an extra $50 to show off the famous Linkwood name, we prefer mystery and affordability. We think most of our customers do too.

Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Old “Rare Release Batch #7” K&L Exclusive Exploratory Cask Series Nonchillfiltered Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $159.99 View

The return of the wonderful and mysterious Doc Swinson’s 15 Year is upon us. This newest batch is from the same unnamed source and continues to represent some of the best value available for old cask strength bourbon anywhere in the world. The Doc Swinson’s brand was started by a small (and very lucky) bottler in Washington state who’d made a name for themselves finishing Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee Whiskies in various wine casks. When they had an opportunity to secure some high quality mature Kentucky Straight Bourbon, they jumped at the chance and so did we. The source of this excellent bourbon is so concerned about its identity being revealed that the barrels are dumped in Kentucky before being transported to the bottler in anonymous totes. Usually we insist on having some idea of where the products we sell are produced, but one taste of this stuff and those standards get thrown out the window, it’s just too good to care to argue with. We will likely never know exactly where it was made, but as long as it keeps tasting this good, we won’t complain. The most special bourbons from Doc are under their “Rare Release” line. This is the 7th batch of this truly small batch line, but only the second batch of the unbelievably popular 15 year. This batch contains just 27 barrels and only 100 cases will be available in California exclusively at K&L. Bottled at a cask strength of 109.8 proof, it has all the complexity and depth you’d expect from a great old Kentucky Bourbon.

TyndrumWhisky.com

Brings you our GlenAllachie

Trilogy Part II

Part II of our GlenAllachie Trilogy has arrived, and yes, it’s everything we remembered it to be. A big sherrybomber (again)! To taste this trilogy of bottles, you’ll be treated to three very different releases, each with their own uniqueness, to have so many variances when they’ve been virtually sitting beside each other is quite incredible.

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We’re delighted to announce that the latest edition of Whisky Magazine, issue #171, publishes today!

Benriach’s Rachel Barrie graces our cover, as Dr Chris White delves into the history of the distillery. The feature examines Benriach’s less-than-auspicious beginnings in the late 1800s, and how it’s risen to become the brand we know today. Benriach’s storied past, combined with its rich stock of both spirit and cask types, means the distillery has not only resisted being pigeonholed by its whisky, but also offers a “world of flavour” for the team at the distillery to play with. But we’ll let you read what Rachel has to say about that part…

Let us know your thoughts on Twitter or Instagram @Whisky_Magazine, or on Facebook @WhiskyMagazine.

Christopher Coates
Editor
Whisky Magazine

Subscribe today!

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 348: Mortlach 16 Year Old – old versus new

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, puts the classic Mortlach 16 years old from the much acclaimed Fauna & Flora series against the more modern version, today’s 16 years old Distiller’s Dram. That’s going to be quite the party, we should think.

https://youtu.be/euodP4YVrrU

Samuel Gelston’s Launches Irish Whiskey Finished in Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir Casks

Samuel Gelston’s has announced the launch of its latest expression – a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, matured in actor Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir casks.

The new release is the result of collaboration between Gelston’s owner, Johnny Neill and Sam, who is based in New Zealand. It sees the cousins bringing together the two sides of the family, whilst also merging the brilliant flavours and aromas of the two hemispheres.

The liquid has been triple distilled and matured for 19 months in ex-bourbon casks, before spending a further 21 months maturing in Sam’s French oak casks, which had previously held his prestigious Central Otago Pinot Noir.

It is malty on the nose with hints of strawberry, nutmeg and tropical fruit. On the palate it is big, rich and sweet, with a hint of dryness, a note of blackcurrant and dash of spice – all with sweet, jammy notes on the finish.

Johnny Neill

Johnny Neill, owner of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisky, said; “The Neill family have been making quality spirits for generations. My Great, Great Grandfather Harry Neill set up the successful McCallum Neill & Co in Australia in 1851, and Percival, one of his younger brothers set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882 – Percival was Sam Neill’s Great Grandfather.

Sam Neill

“Sam and I have continued this legacy in our respective sides of the world – I’ve been focused on the creation of artisanal spirits using local ingredients, whereas he has dedicated nigh on 30 years winegrowing super premium pinot noir. For the first time in 150 years, we’re bringing together the expertise from both sides of the family  – the result being an incredibly exciting sweet, honeyed and very inviting Single Pot Still Whiskey”.

Samuel Gelston’s Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey finished in Pinot Casks (40% ABV, 70cl), is available via the Drop Store now.   

NOTES

More about Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisky

Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish whiskey was founded in 1830 by Samuel Gelston. It was a time when Irish whiskey was famous around the world.

Samuel, a wine and whiskey merchant from Belfast, made it his mission to source, blend and bottle the best Irish whiskey from across Ireland. At the time there were 88 licensed distilleries on the island, and Samuel selected the very highest quality liquids for each bottle.

In 1869, upon Samuel’s death, the business was bought by Harry J. Neill. Harry had previously left Ireland’s shores with his younger brother Percival in order to make their fortunes in the Australian Gold rush of 1851. Having set up and subsequently sold his successful provisions business in Melbourne & Geelong, Harry returned to Belfast and purchased Gelston’s. His brother travelled on to New Zealand to set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882.

Harry was the son of a Belfast merchant and French wine importer and was passionate about whiskey – indeed his grandfather and great grandfather had been whiskey distillers in Comber in the 1750s and 1760’s. He therefore continued their and Samuel Gelston’s legacy of sourcing, blending and bottling the very finest whiskeys, and developed the Gelston’s Irish whiskey brand around the world.

However, the Irish Whiskey landscape faced serious challenges as it entered the 20^th century, and the combined effects of World War I, the Irish War for Independence and finally Prohibition, resulted in the near collapse of the Irish Whiskey industry – which, in turn, led to the demise of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey.

The brand remained with the Neill family, and five generations on it has now been brought back to life by Harry’s great great grandson, Johnny Neill. Johnny and well-known master distiller Frank McHardy made it their mission to journey across Ireland again to source, bottle and blend the best liquids they could find and Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish Whiskey was reborn.

The current collection includes Samuel Gelston’s Single Malt, Single Pot Still, 5 Year Old Single Malt, 10 Year Old Single Malt, 15YO Single Malt, 26 Year Old Single Malt. Cousins, Johnny & Sam Neill, descendants of Harry and Percival have joined forces on the latest launch that marries Johnny’s Irish Whiskey with Sam’s Pinot Noir New Zealand Wine Casks.

This exciting brand is back doing what it did best.

More about H J Neill Ltd

HJ Neill Ltd are craft spirit purveyors responsible for Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey, The Pleasure Gardens Distilling Company, Mary-Le-Bone Gin, Yattendon Distillery and the Berkshire Botanical artisan spirit collection. 

Drinkaware is an independent UK-wide, alcohol education charity with the objective of positively changing public behaviour and the national drinking culture. It aims to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking. It achieves this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, advice and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol and its harms and by working collaboratively with partners (including the medical community, public health, third sector organisations, local authorities, police and the drinks industry).

Drinkaware has more than 100 funders, including UK alcohol producers, retailers in the on-trade and off-trade, and wholesalers.