Whiski Rooms
Reopening Thursday 17th December

We are delighted to be reopening Whiski Rooms on Thursday 17th December for the festive season. We were shocked that Edinburgh didnt get moved to Tier 2 last week but we have decided to open to enjoy the Christmas vibes regardless of what tier we are in. So on Thursday we hope to welcome you back, with or without alcohol, to get into the Christmas spirit and look forward to 2021.

Its been a long haul but we are so looking forward to welcoming you back to Whiski Rooms – great vibes, stunning views over Edinburgh in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and the best Scottish produce always guaranteed.

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WHISKI GIFT VOUCHERS

Valid for use in Whiski Rooms on the Mound, Whiski Bar & Restaurant on the Royal Mile and in our adjoining Whiski Shop with over 500 whiskies, gift hampers and Scottish gifts.

Browse our web store now

Featuring an Exclusive 32-Year-Old Scotch Masterpiece from Tormore

For time-sensitive bottles this December, please get your orders in early. Thanks and happy holidays! We appreciate your business. NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

Every once in a while we luck into a mature Scotch rarity that never lasts long when it hits our shelves. Our recent container just landed, and it is easy to see why Tormore’s 32 Year Old stands out as one of the highlights. Coming from a classic distillery, bottled at an impressive 55.4% ABV, and aged in a sherry butt, it hits all the notes that we look for in a top-shelf dram. But at over three decades old, it is a true luxury that’s almost unrivaled in the world of spirits for this kind of pricing. With only a handful of bottles available under our “Old & Rare” label, this is destined to sell out in a flash. Make sure to grab a bottle before they’re gone, as this Tormore 32 Year Old is truly one of a kind.

1988 Tormore 32 Year “Old & Rare” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($399.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 02, 2020

The unmissable, grand Tormore distillery overlooks the river Spey. The palatial building quietly churns out an impressive spirit that we’ve admittedly see very little of in the US. Much of the distillate finds its way into blends, but on its own it is a very pretty yet assertive malt. This 32 year old single malt is ancient by any whisky standard but has a lively thread that runs throughout. Aged in a sherry butt and retaining an impressive 55.4% ABV, there is no mistaking the malt characteristic here. It drives from the first nosing of toasted granola all the way through a rich finish of candied nut and brown sugar sprinkled oats. Playing nicely with the grain flavors is a candied melon and raisin sweetness. For the discerning collector, there is nothing better than an unusual item at a great price that merits a great deal of attention. If you’re looking for a whisky for yourself, or someone who has everything, this is the high-class gift of the season.

Due to Covid, Whisky Wednesday filming is postponed…

Isle of Arran Distillers celebrate growth alongside continued sales of new Lagg Distillery casks

The Isle of Arran Distillers is nearing the end of their newest distillery’s cask sales programme, with increasing demand in casks of Lagg Single Malt meaning there is only a small selection remaining to purchase.

Since opening their second site on the Isle of Arran last year, Lagg Distillery, the distillers have been offering whisky fans the opportunity to be part of their uniquely exciting whisky story by purchasing the first casks of the single malt whisky produced there.

The programme has driven exceptional growth in the independently owned distillers, with total sales across the company increasing by 62%, in part due to the fact that over 600 casks of Lagg Single Malt have been sold from the allocation of 700. Alongside this, the island distillers have also seen online mail order sales of whisky double during this turbulent year.

Owning a cask of Lagg whisky, which will mature into Lagg Single Malt and eventually be available to bottle, means the owner will become part of the exclusive Lagg Cask Society.

This comes with some unique additional benefits, including a golf pass which entitles the owner to play all of Arran’s courses and the gift of a bottle of whisky from Cask Number One when it is bottled at 10 years-old, which is being specially held aside for cask owners.

The opening of Lagg Distillery, the company’s second site on the island, last year was a significant milestone in the island’s unique whisky story. Its distinctive shape is now a fixture on the island’s Southern coastline, bringing distillation back to its traditional heartland in that area of the Isle of Arran.

The spirit produced there, and available to purchase in casks, is expected to mature into the rich, earthy, smoky, Lagg Single Malt which will be very different in character to what the distillers currently produce at their original distillery in Lochranza.

Director of Operations & Production for Lagg Distillery, James MacTaggart said: “Since we opened Lagg Distillery in 2019, we’ve been delighted to see how many whisky fans have already supported our journey by buying a cask and becoming part of our unique Lagg Cask Society.

“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get involved with a distillery right at the very start of its story and to share in a brand-new island adventure with our pioneering whisky company.

“Purchasing a cask goes much deeper than just the financial benefits and represents an emotional investment, buying into the passionate people on the Isle of Arran that make our whisky and forming a lasting connection – it’s hard to put a price tag on that.”

When purchasing any cask of whisky, it is not a finished product but instead a work in progress that will mature over the coming years with plenty of patience required. The very nature of Scotch whisky means that it takes a long-term view, with spirit having to mature for at least three years and often aging much longer than that.

For further information on how to purchase the last remaining casks to be filled at the Lagg Distillery and becoming a member of the Lagg Cask Society, visit www.laggwhisky.com

Notes: 

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for:

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards (2017)

Best Visitor Experience – Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (2018)

Product Awards include:

Arran 10 year-old: Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 12 Years & Under, World Whiskies Awards (2019) San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018). Category Winner and Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch Under 12 Years’ Islands Non-Islay at the World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge 91 points (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge Cocktail Commendation for the Rob Roy (2018). Double Gold Medal China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards (2014)

Arran 18 year-old: Gold Medal & Category Winner ‘Best Single Malt 13 – 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards (2020)  Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 13 – 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards (2019) International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch 13-20 Years – Islands (Non- Islay) World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018) Scottish Field Whisky Challenge – Gold Award for Best Whisky £50-100 (2018)

Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy’: Best Scotch Island Single Malt, World Whiskies Awards (2020 & 2019) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ for The Bothy Batch 3 World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

Arran Barrel Reserve:  Silver Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ World Whiskies Awards (2020)

Karuizawa Distillers and Komoro Distillery – a new chapter in Nagano whisky making

Karuizawa is a hefty name in Japanese whisky. A town with an eponymous distillery whose  whiskies now change hands for many thousands of pounds a bottle. A distillery which is not only closed but has also been demolished, removing any hope of it reopening despite its booming popularity. However, there will soon be whisky in Karuizawa again – get ready for Karuizawa Distillers and Komoro Distillery.

A New Karuizawa

Karuizawa Distillers is a new project bringing together long-time Karuizawa residents Koji and Yoshie Shimaoka with Ian Chang, the distiller and blender best known for his work at Kavalan, Taiwan’s biggest whisky distillery. When Ian left Kavalan last year there were lots of rumours about what he would do next – the answer is building and opening Komoro Distillery.

Komoro Distillery

Komoro is a town just to the west of Karuizawa, and, like its neighrbour, also sits in the shadow of Mount Asama, the most active volcano on Japan’s main island of Honshu. While Karuizawa is a resort town, with skiing in winter, and hiking and golf in the summer, Komoro is much quieter, a getaway for those looking to play in the outdoors without the crowds. The distillery site is on the northern edge of Komoro and ticks a lots of boxes: it’s easy to get to and has a nearby natural water source. At 910 metres above sea level, the distillery will also be the highest in Japan – it has a claim to fame already, and it’s not even been built yet.

The distillery is designed to look modern but also blend in with its surroundings

The distillery has been designed by Akira Sogo, an architect known for projects that work with and integrate with their environment. This is appropriate for Komoro Distillery, which has a focus not only on making great whisky, but also being green – Karuizawa Distillers’ overall aim is “to make the best Japanese single malt whisky, in the most environmentally friendly way possible, whilst honouring and protecting the legacy of the Karuizawa name.”

Learn more about the closed Karuizawa distillery >

The plans are in and work starts on construction early in 2021. Ian and the team expect to run their first spirit in early 2022.

But there’s more…

The distillery is only the first part of the project. Along with a visitor centre, the team are also building a whisky academy, headed up by long-time friend of The Whisky Exchange, Eddie Ludlow of The Whisky Lounge. Koji Shimaoka had read Eddie’s book Whisky Tasting: A Course and quickly grabbed him for the project.

The team: Founder Koji Shimaoka, distiller Ian Chang, global product manager Kellie Tu, chief educator Eddie Ludlow and brand consultant Amanda Ludlow.

Komoro Distillery itself is also just phase one. The Shimaokas aren’t stopping with just Komoro, and already have plans to build more distilleries over the next decade. Japanese whisky continues to grow.

The Japanese whisky boom

Japan is going through a whisky boom. Fans from around the world are snapping up whiskies from the country, and even the inclusion of kanji on a label can cause prices to spike. With supply outstripping demand and Japan’s whisky legislation allowing spirit produced elsewhere in the world to be called Japanese, times are difficult for whisky from the country. But things are already starting to look up.

Learn more in our Focus on Japanese Whisky >

Komoro Distillery and Karuizawa Distillers are the latest new faces on the Japanese whisky scene, joining the 20+ distilleries that are already operating in the country, from the tiny to the massive. It’s very difficult to start a distillery in Japan, a country famed for its complex bureaucracy, but times are very much changing and we expect this new wave of distillers to continue. With new regulations in the works, the landscape will alter over the coming years and the future is looking increasingly bright for Japanese whisky.

With Ian Chang at the helm, we hope Komoro will continue to honour the legacy of the Karuizawa region, and look forward to trying his whisky when it is finally ready. It certainly is exciting times.

Golden Dram Volume 5:
WIN a bottle of The Dalmore Quintessence!

Golden Dram is back! And this time a bottle of The Dalmore Quintessence (worth £1,000!) could be yours.

We’ve hidden a bottle of The Dalmore Quintessence in one of our The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select boxes. To enter, simply buy a bottle of The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select online – an incredible sherry bomb exclusive to The Whisky Shop in the UK. With a one in 300 chance to win, you might just be the lucky one to find the golden dram in your order…

As a celebration of his five decades in the industry, The Dalmore Quintessence showcases Master Distiller Richard Paterson’s artistry in maturation – it is the only single malt in the world with a unique five-variety red wine finish. Rich amber cherry wood in colour and one of only 200 bottles available in the UK, The Dalmore Quintessence is bursting with notes of tropical fruits, ginger, raisins, marmalade and honeycomb.

Win or lose, you’ll be adding a delicious new dram to your whisky shelf. So, what are you waiting for? Enter now while stocks last.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old
Sherry Cask Select
£69.00

Buy to Enter ›

TyndrumWhisky.com’s

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Massive favourite of ours, the OLD PULTENEY 12.
A cracking dram for the budget,

ONLY £23.99

Old Pulteney 12 – Order Now >

Once the stock is gone, it’s gone!

We’ll keep all our deals of Christmas open until the stock is finished, even if you miss the previous day. Matured wholly in air-dried, hand-selected ex-bourbon casks, the ‘unashamedly excellent’ Old Pulteney 12-years-old is the definitive expression in the Old Pulteney family. Traditionally crafted using techniques that other distillers have long abandoned, this winner of numerous gold medals at the most prestigious international competitions is a high water-mark of quality spirits.

Appearance: Deep amber, red golden (with a slight pink hue) sparkling with a copper glow.

Aroma: Medium to high intensity with a briny hint of sea air.

Taste: Dry, medium bodied and smooth, redolent of honey and cream, faintly salty with a slight spicy note and a sweet long-lasting finish.

Welcome to the second episode of the show devoted to North Star Spirits. In this episode I’ll be looking at their Series 012 releases.

https://youtu.be/zRs1lNiXJtY

Speaker launches whisky to celebrate Palace of Westminster’s 150^th

The Speaker of the House of Commons is celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the Palace of Westminster with the launch of a limited-edition single malt whisky.

It was a century and a half since rebuilding work was completed on the iconic building, following a devastating fire in 1834.

To celebrate this milestone, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the 158^th Speaker of the House of Commons, has selected ‘Point of Order’ – a 23-year-old scotch – with the help of Chief Whips from the four main political parties.

Artfully matured in a traditional European oak Sherry cask by Murray McDavid, the single malt was created at the Glentauchers Distillery, which has been producing whisky in the Highlands since the late 1800s.

A beautifully balanced whisky with aromas of vanilla fudge and fruit cake, ‘Point of Order’ boasts sweet spices on the palate and a finish of chocolate and nuts.

Sir Lindsay said the special edition whisky would make ‘a very special gift for someone who loves the Palace of Westminster’.

‘To commemorate our 150^th anniversary, there are only 150 bottles available of this limited-edition single malt, which whisky-lovers can bring out on special occasions or keep as an investment for the future,’ he said.

‘I am very proud to be celebrating this moment in time with the launch of this magnificent whisky.’

Named ‘Point of Order’ after the appeals that are made to the Speaker for clarification or a ruling on a matter of procedure in the House of Commons, this unique single malt retails at £200 and is available for sale from the House of Commons shop online and other gift shops on the estate.

Notes

• See the whisky in the House of Commons shop online here.

• The new and exclusive whisky will also be available online alongside other products including: Speaker Hoyle’s Select whisky, House of Commons Churchill’s Port and House of Commons Dry London Gin
• Point of Order was bottled at 46% ABV. A 70cl bottle retails at £200
• Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, was elected Speaker of the House of Commons on 4 November 2019, following the departure of John Bercow
• Aceo, which owns Murray McDavid, was founded 20 years’ ago by Edward Odim and his best friend at university. The company hosts whisky tastings on a 1950s’ boat, ‘The Murray McDavid’ on the Clyde in Glasgow, and during the annual Speyside Whisky Festival has taken whisky lovers to the top of local mountains to enjoy a dram.

The Grand Whisky Christmas Auction Closes Tonight!

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3100+ lots to bid on including special bottlings & casks…

Auction closes tonight – Monday 14th December at 9pm.

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

+44 (0)1463 210 427

sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com