The John Walker has been a special part of the Johnnie Walker portfolio for over a decade. The special marrying cask for this exclusive whisky has now been retired, but not before yielding one final and exceptional whisky.

The final batch of The John Walker has been named The Last Cask, and is limited to just 330 bottles, presented in a stunning handmade Baccarat crystal decanter designed by Philip Lawson Johnston, Hand Engraver of Glass to Her Majesty the Queen.

BROWSE OUR FULL JOHNNIE WALKER RANGE HERE

Johnnie Walker
The John Walker – The Last Cask
70cl · 40% ABV
£2,450.00
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Inspired by the founder, The John Walker is an elegant, triple matured Scotch crafted using rare whiskies from nine ancient distilleries that existed during the lifetime of founder John Walker (1805-1857). This elegant and refined whisky expertly brings together rare expressions from the now silent “ghost” distilleries of Glen Albyn, Port Dundas and Cambus, along with six of Scotland’s most historic distilleries – Cameronbridge, Cardhu, Mortlach, Clynelish, Dailuaine and Talisker.

We’re delighted to announce that this week we will be opening our doors to the public once again!

On Thursday 2nd July, we’ll be reopening our shop at the distillery in Stourton as well as our shop in Bourton-on-the-Water, and on Friday 3rd July our shop in Broadway will reopen. Head to our website to find the revised opening hours by clicking the button below.

Please note: our café and toilets are closed until further notice and Tour & Tastings are cancelled until the 3rd August.

VIEW OPENING HOURS

We want to assure you that we’re working hard to keep our staff and our visitors safe, and COVID-19 measures in line with government guidelines will be in place at all sites. If you’d like to visit us at one of our shops, here are a few things to bear in mind:

HELP KEEP OTHERS SAFE

Please do not visit us if you have COVID-19 symptoms. These include: a high temperature, new continuous cough and loss of or change to sense of smell or taste. All our shop staff will be wearing masks.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

We’ve added signage to help keep customers stay socially distanced. Please ensure you keep 2 metres apart from others at all times.

LIMITED NUMBER OF SHOPPERS

We’ll be limiting the number of people in our shops to ensure people remain socially distanced.

NO CASH

We will only be accepting card payments and will no longer be accepting cash as a payment method for the time being.

CLEANING AND SAFETY MEASURES

We’ll be carrying out extra cleaning to keep our shops as clean as possible for you and hand sanitiser is available for you to use. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Kind regards,

The Cotswolds Distillery.

Discover the famous whisky from one of Japan’s most renowned distilleries.

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Loch Lomond Whiskies pay tribute to 149^th Open

Independent distiller adds special edition to range

Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Official Spirit of The Open, has unveiled a new special edition single malt to mark the Championship that was due to take place in July this year.

The Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020 was created to celebrate The 149^th Open at Royal St George’s in Kent, which has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the first time since WWII that the Championship will not be played.

The special edition, crafted by master blender Michael Henry, showcases Loch Lomond’s unique straight neck pot still, and is created from a Chardonnay wine yeast, a fermentation process that’s rarely used in whisky distilling as it requires greater time to achieve the final liquid. Full of lively flavour, hints of grapefruit and vanilla syrup are balanced with cinnamon and lime juice.

Priced at £50 RRP with an ABV of 46%, 3,000 limited-edition bottles will be released globally in early July, giving both whisky and golf fans the opportunity to experience The Open in spirit from their homes.

Loch Lomond Whiskies’ became The Official Spirit of The Open in 2018, and although the Championship will not be played as planned in 2020, Loch Lomond’s Open Special Edition pays tribute to golf’s original championship. The 149^th Open will now be played at Royal St George’s in July 2021, with The 150^th Open at St Andrews moving to 2022.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said: “Of course we, like thousands of golf enthusiasts around the globe, were disappointed to learn of the cancellation of The Open this year, but given the current circumstances, it’s absolutely the right decision.

“Our Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020 is a very special limited edition, showcasing Loch Lomond’s style beautifully, and will allow thousands of golf and whisky fans around the world to raise a dram during these difficult, unprecedented times.

“We are very proud of our partnership with The Open, allowing us to raise awareness of the Loch Lomond Whiskies range among golf lovers all over the world. We are very much looking forward to visiting Royal St George’s for the first time as the Spirit of The Open next year.”

Michael Henry, Master Distiller added: “It has been a real pleasure crafting this limited edition to mark The 149^th Open. We are one of very few distilleries

currently using wine yeasts in the fermentation process, which brings a unique and vibrant flavour to the finished liquid. As a distillery we are perfectly placed to be able to develop these rare expressions, which is ideally suited to our preference for longer fermentation times, combined with the control we have over the final character using our straight-necked stills.”

Loch Lomond Whiskies, based in Alexandria near Loch Lomond, agreed a five-year partnership with The R&A, organisers of The Open, in February 2018.  Known as “The One”, The Open is the most international of the major championships with qualifying events across five continents.

Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “Loch Lomond Whiskies’ special edition products have already proven to be a hit with fans of The Open, bringing together two of Scotland’s greatest exports beautifully: golf and whisky.

“Although we will have to wait until next year to visit Royal St George’s, fans will still be able to enjoy a taste of The Open from home until we all meet again at the famous Kent links in 2021.”

The Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020 will launch for sale in early July. For more information, please visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

Tasting Notes:

Nose – Grapefruit, apple and vanilla syrup

Taste – Lively almost effervescent mouthfeel. Honey sweet, green fruits – apple, pear and kiwi, gentle cinnamon spiciness

Finish – Long finish with powdery sherbet and lime juice 

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
  • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 10 Year Old
• Loch Lomond Whiskies signed a five-year partnership with The R&A to become The Spirit of The Open in February 2019. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150^th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf.

• For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

Among the Finest Whiskies Money Can Buy
2006 Highland Park 12 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Cask #5036 First Fill European Oak Sherry Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($159.99)
“This will easily be one of the best whiskies of the year at any price point.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: In accordance with local directives, 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.

While $160 might seem a lot for a 12-year-old single malt, the cask highlighted here is no ordinary bottling. First, it comes from Highland Park, one of the most celebrated distilleries in all of Scotland. Second, it is aged in a first fill European cask that was shipped directly from Jerez, and casks of this quality come at premium based on their exceptional quality and scarcity. Third, it clocks in at a staggering 132 proof, making it a spirit of unparalleled potency. Add all this up and you have one of the most thrilling opportunities we’ve seen this year. As the tasting notes below will attest, this is a multi-dimensional affair that delivers all the best Highland Park has to offer. The fact is, a whisky of this pedigree could cost three times the price and still be considered an outstanding buy. Because we have a strong relationship with Highland Park, we have access to some of their very finest casks, and this is undoubtedly among the best we’ve encountered. Simply put, this is a single malt no serious whisky collector should be without. It’s not often magical expressions like this one come along, making this a rare opportunity to own one of the best 12-years money can buy.

2006 Highland Park 12 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Cask #5036 First Fill European Oak Sherry Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($159.99)

After last year’s successful campaign of single casks from Highland Park, this exceptional distillery is back at it again. Last year, after years of being denied of the privilege, we finally secured a cask of the venerated Orkney producer’s finest. That was a single second fill hogshead and it was, by all accounts, a monster. How could we possibly top that glorious offer? Well, since we sold out in a matter of weeks, we figured we probably never would. But Highland Park pulled out all the stops and searched deep in their warehouses for something that could possibly match the unctuous character of that amazing bottle. We’re very lucky to have a great relationship with the owners of the distillery, so we had first crack at this year’s offerings. This first fill European oak sherry hogshead is a stunner. On paper it looks similar to the previous cask, but you’ll note the distinction in the source of the wood. European oak is much rarer than American oak when it comes to sherry and it’s reserved typically for only the highest quality wines. American oak is abundant and cheap and more forgiving, offering stronger vanilla notes and softer tannins. The bold richness of the European oak requires decades on the bodega’s soleras to soften and because they’re so expensive and prized by the producers, less of it gets discarded for use in Scotland. Put the finest spirit into the finest wood and you’ve got a recipe for something magical. That’s exactly what we’ve got here. Don’t forget to add a splash of water.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 23, 2020

A veritable powder keg. This whisky is as beastly now that it’s bottled as the day we first sampled it. It’s wound up tight just waiting to burst forth. The European oak is simply stunning. The depth of the sweet baking spices is rivaled by the bright fresh cracked pepper and balanced out perfectly by Highland Park’s signature heather peat smoke. The nose is bold and dry at first – raisined fruit and citrus peel fight against a beautiful oxidized nuttiness. The rich orange marmalade comes out with a touch of water as do the sweeter more candied sherry notes. The finish is a long dissertation on chocolate and nuts and how well they go together. When you take something as great as Highland Park and select out only the finest barrels of the highest quality and bottle them at full proof – it’s pure magic. Truly a bottle to hang your collector’s hat on.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 22, 2020

Some bystanders might glance at the price of this cask and balk, but anyone who’s more concerned with getting the best possible quality than pinching pennies will take a second look. Not many blue chip distillers are willing to bottle single cask for us and Highland Park isn’t throwing us their leftovers with this program. This is top-tier single malt with pedigree. In addition to that, this product is the exact same price as last year’s cask and comes from even more prized stocks than last year’s. It’s first fill, meaning it was dumped in Jerez after years of maturing sherry and immediately filled with this spirit on arrival in Scotland. It’s European oak, a rarity that costs both the bodega and the distiller a significant premium over the much more common American oak hogshead. And finally, it’s a whopping 132 proof, bordering on hazmat. The resulting whisky is beyond what I would normally describe as a bomb. It’s more like an ICBM. Let’s have a taste. The color is mahogany. The nose is unusually restrained considering the color and proof. It’s almost asleep at first pour. Subtle hints of chocolate powder, dried fruit, cinnamon and clove. But, one tiny sip and you realize the immensity of this whisky is completely masked. It’s thick. Coating the mouth and offering endlessly deep layers of oloroso, hints of salty, clean smoke, dried apricots, hot candies, caramelized pecans. Complete devastation. Just a few splashes of water and the nose opens to meet the palate. Unusually, I think there’s a careful balance to reach on that front, with the power and depth of the whisky and the great complexity meeting somewhere between 110-120 proof. Add slowly and let it find itself. Once it’s there, expect that on the nose chocolate powder will to turn to molten fudge. Candied mango, sultanas, the finest old teak, far away pipe smoke, and hints of the ocean smashing onto rock. On the palate, now we have all the spices, Manuka honey, a perfect wafting background smoke. A steep, strong whisky that requires a good deal of time to fully appreciate, but once you reach the top, you’ll find few better views. This will easily be one of the best whiskies of the year at any price point.

Thursday, July 2nd, 7PM:

Spot Irish Whiskies

Established in Dublin in the early 1990s, the Spot whiskies are some of the most sought-after Irish whiskies in the world. You’ll get in-depth knowledge of Irish pot still whiskey and a behind-the-scenes look at the Spot whiskey distillery at this live virtual tasting, presented by whiskey expert Dominic Venegas.

Click Here to RSVP

Tasting Pourlist:

(click to purchase)

Green Spot

Green Spot Finished in Zinfandel Casks

Yellow Spot 12 Year Old

Red Spot 15 Year Old

Get 10% off all Spot whiskies

with coupon code ‘VIRTUAL’ at Checkout

 Click here to purchase Spot whiskies

Edradour 10 Year Old

We LOVE these Edradour UCF single cask. And here is the latest cask release number #117. Distilled 7th May 2010 and bottled 22nd May 2020. One to re-stock the whisky shelf. Edradour 10 Year Old 2010 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single sherry cask #117 May bottled April 2020 by Signatory Vintage for th Un-Chillfiltered series.

 £57.34 / $58.94* / €63.02*

EDRADOUR SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Edradour Distillery was formed in 1825 by a group of eight local farmers. Situated at Milton of Edradour near Pitlochry and still just a farm sized distillery equipped with a Morton refrigerator to cool the worts and two wee stills with their spirit cooled in a single worm tub. Whilst ranked amongst the small working distilleries in Scotland its owners Signatory Vintage have plans to increase its size and output. Official distillery releases include the Edradour 10 Year Old, Barolo Cask and Sherry Cask Ibisco decanters.

Shop delicious drams at incredible prices over at our Whisky Sale.

These deals are around for a limited time only (and while stocks last) so grab your favourite before it’s gone.

Shop the sale ›

Welcome to an episode of the show which has been in the pipeline for some considerable time, but now I’ve done it! I’ll be taking a look at three new Lowland distilleries, those being Eden Mill, Kingsbarns and the Galsgow Distillery.

https://youtu.be/OP1ptziC2Ng

The Spirit of Arran – ‘Project North & South’.

Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd has laid the groundwork to create a unique Blended Malt by filling casks with new spirit from both their Lagg and Lochranza distilleries on the Isle of Arran.

The independent Scotch whisky company owns and operates two distilleries on the Isle of Arran; Lochranza Distillery in the north and Lagg Distillery in the south. In March this year both distilleries underwent a period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK has seen the temporary closure of many businesses a lot of which have still not re-opened at the time of this release.

When the distilleries began production again on 11^th May after this short period of closure, the first runs of new spirit from each distillery were vatted together.  This precious mix, combining both heavily-peated and un-peated spirit, was filled into Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Hogsheads and Sherry Butts at their Lochranza Distillery. These unusual casks will now slumber on the island until the time is right for bottling as a future Blended Malt.

This is a particularly interesting project to mark this unique moment in time.  As an island whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers is in the rare position of owning a lowland and a highland distillery both based on one island off the west coast of Scotland.  The DNA of the two distilleries is inextricably linked through their island connection and the flavour profile of the future Blended Malt Whisky is bound to create something very special with which to remember this period in history.

Director of Operations & Production for Lagg and Lochranza Distilleries, James MacTaggart said: “This is a first for Isle of Arran.  We are aware of blended malts where the whisky from one distillery is married with that of another, or blended whiskies created by mixing grain with malt whisky, however this is the first time that we know of malt whisky from two sister distilleries being blended at the spirit stage. As the owners of two wonderful distilleries on the Isle of Arran, we felt it was right to join the two sides of our island together and produce a whisky that would always be a marker for this unique period in time.”

Isle of Arran Sales Manager, Andy Bell said “I am proud to have played a part in creating this truly unique blend, and will follow with interest as these casks mature. The experimentation at the heart of this process speaks to the truly independent nature of our company.”

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)