BIG PEAT UNVEILS 8 YEARS OLD “A846 EDITION” FOR FEIS ILE 2020

Big Peat, cult Islay Malt Scotch Whisky brand from family-owned Douglas Laing & Co, today unveils “his” special bottling for Summer 2020: Big Peat 8 Years Old, “A846” Limited Edition.

Aged 8 Years and bottled at 46% alcohol strength, Big Peat’s latest bottling honours the A846; Islay’s legendary road that takes thousands of Whisky lovers from one glorious Distillery to the next, year after year.

Packaged in a premium gift box with a striking label depicting Big Peat himself on his Hebridean island home, just 500 cases of this commemorative bottling are available globally. In line with the Remarkable Regional Malts’ ethos, the new release is proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration.

Commenting on Big Peat’s latest innovation, Chris Leggat (CEO) said: “A journey along the A846 is a rite of passage for Islay Whisky lovers, and a road that carries countless memorable moments for many. Whilst Feis Ile – Islay’s annual festival – exists in an entirely different “virtual” form this year, we (and Big Peat) wanted to mark the occasion the best way we know how – with a particularly innovative limited edition, featuring a cracking story and spectacular spirit within”.

Cara Laing, Director of Whisky in the family business, added: “Each year, we proudly donate to the Feis Ile charity, an organisation that works tirelessly to showcase Islay to the world. At a time when many of us are dreaming of one day making the journey back to the Queen of the Hebrides once more, a sip of Big Peat’s A846 Edition seeks to bring his much-loved island home to you, via its unmistakably “Islay” notes of chewed leather, streaky bacon, punchy peat smoke and rock salt.”

Continuing Feis Ile celebrations, the independent Whisky specialist is currently hosting a competition on Big Peat’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/bigpeat) whereby fans of the brand can enter for a chance to win 1 of 40 tasting packs, and join the Douglas Laing team for a virtual tasting in June 2020.

Big Peat 8 Years Old A846 Edition will be available from specialist spirits retailers globally from 8^th June 2020 and is expected to retail at £45.

BIG PEAT 8 YEARS OLD A846 EDITION TASTING NOTES

Nose: Opens with puffs of peat, smoked ham and a fresh seaside-saltiness

Palate: A Big Peat hit closely followed by chewed leather, streaky bacon and rock salt

Finish: Satisfyingly long with notes of Madeira cake and more of that earlier smoked ham

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO:

 www.douglaslaing.com

Instagram: @remarkable_malts

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bigpeat

 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 (from the Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and XOP, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

HOW WE DRINK 

GREAT KING STREET ARTIST’S BLEND

Here’s our prediction:
The Iceless Highball will spark a renaissance for one of our favourite ways to drink whisky.

It’s counter-intuitive, but then again, some of the most delightful ideas are. You can only truly understand the appeal of the Iceless Highball by trying it, but here’s the method behind the (apparent) madness.

At Compass Box we’ve been singing the praises of the Whisky Highball since launching Great King Street Artist’s Blend in 2011. Beautiful simplicity. And making one without ice just takes it to another level.

As Dylan James Ho wrote in an article
about Rock Fish, the Tokyo bar world-famous for this serve: “The harmony of these ingredients, at the perfect temperature, is a revelation.”

IT’S ALMOST
A BEER IN REVERSE

No ice means no dilution, so you get refreshment with full flavour consistency right down to the last sip. And don’t worry about it not staying cold enough. Preparing both the whisky and the glass in the freezer means it will stay cooler than a half-pint of beer.

There’s another reason to make the comparison too – in a sense an Iceless Highball is a reconstructed beer. Whisky is essentially a beer made from malted barley that’s been distilled. Adding back water
and carbonation reverses that process.

The components list is far from complex,
but the process, ingredient choice and measurements are critical. Check our social media and you’ll see a great recipe for our take on the classic
Rock Fish Iceless Highball.

Share & Enjoy!

Round Two of the Ultimate Whisky Deal in Miniature
Classic Malts “Strong Collection”
Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10, Cragganmore 12
Single Malt Gift Pack 3-Pack x 200ml
(Previously $80) ($39.99)

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.

Fresh off the heels of our previous offer on the Diageo Classic Malts “Coastal” trio, we’re at it again. This time around we’ve got the “Strong” trio, three undeniable powerhouses of Scotch whisky in the same 3-pack, 200ml format as the “Coastal Malts.” As we mentioned in the previous offer, the Diageo Classic Malts 3-packs have always been a fun novelty for aficionados and a charming alternative format for spirits novices introducing themselves to Scotch, but thanks to some aggressive negotiating from our spirits buyers, they’re now the best bargains in our inventory. For less than $40, this trio of Talisker 10-year, Lagavulin 16-year, and Cragganmore 12-year is a showcase of three distinct styles with one thing in common—unabashed power and bravado. These are big whiskies. At a price per volume that actually bests that of the standard 750ml formats, the “Strong” 3-pack has so many appealing facets that it’s hard to think of a reason not to jump at this deal. In fact, it’s quite simple—if you love Scotch, you should take advantage of this deal.

Classic Malts “Strong Collection” (Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old & Cragganmore 12 Year Old) Single Malt Gift Pack 3-Pack x 200ml (Previously $80) ($39.99)

The classic malts gift packs are always such a fun way to try some of Scotland’s most renowned distilleries, but we often don’t stock them due to the premium the small sizes usually command on price terms. But we’ve been lucky enough to secure a huge quantity of these packs at 50% off their standard retail price, which coupled with the massive price increases on these same malts in the standard size, has made these gift packs one of the absolute best deals we’ve seen out of Scotland in years. Here you get three of Diageo’s flagship strong malts on offer. The deep smoldering intensity of Lagavulin 16, the briny ocean smoke of Talisker and the rich malty character of Cragganmore, available for a limited time at significantly lower cost by volume than the standard size bottles. There is absolutely no better way to buy any of the Classic Malts than in this excellent gift pack. (Contains 1 x 200ml each of Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10, Cragganmore 12).

We hope everybody enjoyed participating in our 108^th auction.

In an endeavour to maintain social distancing, our office is operating on an appointment only basis for collections and drop offs. These appointments can be made using the form on our website HERE. During this period our reception area will be closed to the public and all drop offs / collections will be conducted from our loading bay area (large roller shutters immediately to the right of the reception area).

In order for this system to function properly, all orders that are being collected must be paid for in advance (online or over the phone) as we are unable to take payment in person. When booking your appointment please specify all the orders you intend to collect so we can have them ready when you arrive.  We would also ask that you adhere as closely as possible to your allotted appointment time to avoid overlapping with other customers, and if you arrive early please wait in your vehicle.

Upon arrival, please make yourself known at the reception window, or by ringing the doorbell.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Whether you’re together or apart, make Father’s Day extra special this year by sending your Dad a Message in a Bottle. Add a personalised video message to any of our selected Talisker, The Singleton and Lagavulin single malts, completely free of charge. Upon receiving his dram, your Dad will be able to scan a QR code that will reveal your video message – a gift he will truly cherish! Plus, enjoy free UK shipping on all Message in a Bottle products.

ORDER NOW

Deliveries

Our team are working hard to dispatch all orders quickly and securely, however due to increased demand and local restrictions, delivery may take longer than usual. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

FETTERCAIRN DISTILLERY UNVEILS NEW 16 YEARS OLD

New addition to the Single Malt Whisky celebrates unconventional maturation journey

Fettercairn Distillery has today unveiled a new addition to its core range of single malt whiskies, Fettercairn 16 Years Old.   This is the first of a number of new products set to be released this year, as the distillery looks to build on the positive response garnered by previous releases from this truly distinctive Single Malt Whisky.

Fettercairn 16 Years Old, which fills the space between the 12 and 28 Years Old in the core range, showcases a specific maturation journey, designed to hero the distillery’s tropical style achieved from the distinctive copper cooling ring distillation process.

This release has been distilled with chocolate malted barley and matured in first fill American ex-bourbon casks, before being finessed in select sherry and port casks for two further years.  The heavily kilned chocolate malted barley, rising to a temperature of 210 degrees over two hours, creates a rich flavour and a dark roasted colour.

Bottled at 46.4%, Fettercairn 16 Years Old is sunset gold in colour, with rich harvest highlights.  On the nose, this single malt brings together vanilla and ginger with sun-kissed raisins and on the palate, it is the combination of succulent peach, ginger and caramel which gives way to banana, with chocolate and demerara sugar on the finish.

Kirsteen Beeston, Head of International Malts at Whyte and Mackay, said, “Since we launched the new-look Fettercairn 2 years ago, we’ve talked and listened to those across the full spectrum of the whisky community to understand what they think of our whiskies.  These new releases are testament to the importance of this feedback.  Beginning with this wonderful 16 Years Old, we share how we shape our approach to whisky making and the stories that define Fettercairn.  We are confident that we are bringing single malts to market that will truly excite whisky drinkers and allow us to celebrate Fettercairn for the incredible single malt that it is.”

This 16 Years Old will be the first of a series of whiskies celebrating this age.  Once this first release is sold out, the distillery will explore which spirit best tells the story of Fettercairn, its unique distillation process and an inspiring maturation journey for the next release.

As announced in late 2019, there are two additions to the Global Travel Retail offer – the 16 Years Old (1L) and 23 Years Old (70cl), which will sit alongside the GTR exclusive 12 Years Old Pedro Ximénez.  The core domestic range will be bolstered with the addition of Fettercairn 22 Years Old, to further bridge the gap between the 12 and 28 expressions.

At the older and rarer end of the spectrum, a new Fettercairn 46 Years Old which was distilled in May 1973, continues the celebration of the distillery’s maturing stocks and showcases a whisky finished in Tawny Port Pipes.

Fettercairn 16 Years Old is available exclusively in the UK from The Whisky Shop www.whiskyshop.com throughout June, thereafter via specialist retailers, at an RSP of £69.   The GTR edition will be in 1L formats with an RSP of £80.

Release dates and prices for the additional releases will be confirmed in due course.

www.fettercairnwhisky.com

Facebook @fettercairnwhisky

Instagram @fettercairnwhisky

Twitter @FettercairnWh

About Fettercairn

Located in the picturesque village of Fettercairn at the foothills of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains, this hidden gem is found among some of the finest and most fertile farming land in the North East of Scotland. With the purest of mountain water as an ingredient, it is almost no surprise that when the distillery was established by Sir Alexander Ramsay in 1824, the enterprising pioneer chose this location.

In the mid-1950s, the whisky-makers at Fettercairn experimented, seeking ways to create a purer expression of their spirit. They found that pouring water down the still cooled the copper, increasing condensation inside so only the lightest vapours could rise for collection. With this knowledge they fashioned a unique copper cooling ring around the neck of the stills drenching them with crystal clear mountain water – an ingenious and practical solution to creating their exceptional whisky, a technique which remains unique in Scotch whisky-making to this day.

Fine Whisky & Spirits – Online

BIDDING CLOSES

Tuesday, June 23rd @ 7 p.m.

(staggered soft close)

REGISTER EARLY

Online Auction FAQs | Step-by-Step Guide to Registration

Showroom Viewings

Showroom viewings will be by scheduled appointment only, Noon to 4 p.m., June 17th through 22nd. Details on bidding methods can be found on our website.

What’s New?…

Greetings from Whisky Lounge Lock-Down HQ!

Just in time for Father’s Day, and just after of our sold-out ‘Highland Fling’ virtual tasting, which took place on Friday night, we bring you news of our next exciting online endeavour! A sumptuous tasting of Independent bottlers whiskies awaits you…

We are also working – behind the scenes – on the return of our physical events. But lets not get ahead of ourselves, and we certainly will not be doing anything to put everything we have all worked so hard to do at risk.

Our next, exclusive virtual tasting is quite simply an assembly of 6 of the finest independent bottlers currently operating. These include historic bottlers as well as ‘new kids on the block’ and we are confident this is a world first to have all of these people in the one zoom – a real treat for any whisky lover! As well as throughly good craic with the characters involved…

The list of bottlers (and presenters) is as follows;

Berry Brothers & Rudd                    Douglas McIvor
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society     Dr. Andrew Forrester
The Single Malts of Scotland           Oliver Chilton
That Boutique-y Whisky Co.            Sam Simmons
Single Cask Nation                          Joshua Hatton
Dram Fool                                        Bruce Farquhar

Each one has a fascinating story, and the incredible line-up of presenters, and whiskies in the tasting pack, means this will be (another) one not to be missed. 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 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 Super Indie Tasting Pack Now

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS

Our Guide to Whisky Packs make an ideal Father’s Day present, and you will also be doing some good, as we donate £5 to The Drinks Trust for each pack sold.

Buy Now

We have our personalise-able 20cl Dram 101 – a 12 year old Speyside Blended Malt – perfect for a sweet and complex evening in! Or you can order a 70cl if the need is bigger.

Buy Now

For something a little bit special, we have a very limited number of our TWL Mackmyra Single Cask bottling left. This delicious Swedish single malt whisky has been matured in Oloroso casks and is unpeated. As a result it is rich and mellow with spicy and floral notes.

Buy Now

Since our last mail we have also introduced a new feature called ‘Desert Island Drams’ where Eddie interviews whisky luminaries and gets them to choose favourite whiskies and tunes. These are live every Wednesday at 9pm on Facebook Live. Well worth taking a look!

We have Lora Hemy, the Distillery Manager at Diageo’s ‘Roe & Coe’ Distillery in Dublin on this Wednesday. In previous weeks we have had Sam Simmons, Colin Dunn and Dominic Roskrow – if you missed any of these you can catch up on our Facebook page.

Go to The Whisky Lounge Facebook Page

Order updates

After a monumental effort in the office last week, we are just about up to date as of Friday 5th May. If you haven’t got your order (putting to one side Super Indie packs), you should receive it on Monday or Tuesday.

Once again we appreciate your patience!

Competition time!

To celebrate our latest tasting pack, the competition this time is to send us a photo of you with your favourite Indie bottling.

Send it to info@thewhiskylounge.com and please put ‘Super Indie Comp’ in the subject. We will post our favourites on Facebook before the tasting on Friday 20th June and our presenters and Zoom participants will vote the winner who will receive one 70cl bottle from the indie tasting. A fantastic prize indeed!

Get involved and good luck!

That’s it!

Don’t forget to catch up on the latest whisky news from Connas HERE.

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          18th July                
London      15th-17th May     4th-6th September
Edinburgh     6th June  27th-29th

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

                               Nottingham   14th November                                  

NEW INDIE MALTS LAND FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET

SelectScotchWhisky.com.au have recently had their latest shipment arrive on Aussie shores, including Malts from Douglas Laing and Co, and Morrison and Mackay.

Highlights include a 12 Year Old Ledaig in the Douglas Laing Old Paricular range matured in ex-PX Sherry wood, and a 21 Year Old Benrinnes in the Morrison and Mackay, Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask range.

Available new arrivals can be found here

Father’s Day 2020 is just around the corner so now is the time to find the perfect gift for Dad. Great Dads deserve great drams, and Hard To Find Whisky are here to help! Browse from a selection of our favourite gifts below, or visit our website to discover our extraordinary range of whisky.

BROWSE OUR FULL RANGE HERE