The Macallan

Sherry Oak – 2020 Edition

18 Year Old · 70cl · 43% ABV

£294.95

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The 2020 release of The Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak has arrived! This hotly anticipated annual release is widely considered to be one of the world’s finest whiskies – the gold standard and definitive expression of sherried excellence!

This luxuriously decadent single malt whisky was matured exclusively in Oloroso Sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez. Once filled, they remained undisturbed for 18 long years, resulting in a whisky of great depth, richness, and complexity, with characteristic flavours of raisin, mature oak, and warming ginger spice.

We will be in Edinburgh on Monday 8th June offering our complimentary collection service. We would love to see you. (Socially distanced of course!)

1.00-1.30pm
Craigleith Sainsbury’s Car-Park, EH4 2EB

If you would like to attend please

click here to complete the attendance form.

Additionally, please fill out a submission sheet which can be found below. This must be handed in to the collections team.

On arrival please follow guidance from the team to ensure social distancing at all times. If you are feeling unwell at all please do not come along.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 315: Glen Elgin 21 Year Old 1998 Mobsters on Mopeds

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, enjoys a candy-like Glen Elgin: ‘Ah, there they are again with a new release, the boys and girls of BYOB-C (say ‘biopsy’), with the sixth release in their funny, but very taste series ‘Mobsters on Mopeds’. After the Blair Athol 2000, Cambus 1991, Ardmore 1998, Ledaig 2007 and Old Rhosdu 1993, for this spring they turned their attention on a fruity Speysider: Glen Elgin 1998. This one matured on a butt.’

https://youtu.be/vTxNLqSuggk

Benromach unveils new look

— New look Benromach launched, same character and taste remains —

Benromach has launched a bold new look inspired by the Speyside distillery’s history and traditional approach to making their multi-award-winning single malt whisky.

Made by hand for genuine character, Benromach is a traditional Speyside distillery owned by a family intent on producing single malt the right way. Its small team of distillers rely entirely on their expertise and senses to make the finest handmade whisky, matured exclusively in first-fill casks, with a subtle smoky character and authentic Benromach taste.

The new look comes off the back of numerous recent awards for Benromach Single Malt Whiskies.  In May, Benromach 15 Years Old received a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – an accolade only given to a liquid if the judging panel unanimously awards it a Gold rating and considers it to be among the finest products in the world.  Benromach 10 Years Old was awarded Gold at the same competition.

Commenting on its new look, Andrew Hannah, Head of Brand at Benromach, said: “We took inspiration for our new look from the hand-painted sign that used to adorn the roof over the kiln, along with the distinctive red doors around the distillery and the iconic red-brick chimney.

“The design aims to convey the genuine handcrafted care that goes into Benromach and to serve as a promise that every drop is made in Forres using just four ingredients: barley, water, yeast and the expertise of our distillers.

“Although the design for Benromach has changed, the character, taste and quality of our award-winning single malts remains the same.”

The new look Benromach 10 Years Old, 15 Years Old and 2009 Cask Strength Vintage are exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange in the United Kingdom for the next three months. The specialist on-line drinks retailer named Benromach 15 Years Old as its ‘Whisky of the Year 2020’ in a blind tasting last year.  The whiskies will also be available in specialist retailers in France and Germany from the beginning of June, before being rolled out to markets around the world over the next few months.

For more information about Benromach and its new look, visit www.benromach.com To find out more about The Whisky Exchange and the expressions available, visit www.thewhiskyexchange.com

Notes 

RRP:

• Benromach 10 will be available from £39.99 // EUR €49.99
• Benromach 15 will be available from £59.99 // EUR €69.99
• Benromach Cask Strength 2009 will be available from £54.99 // EUR €64.99

About Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery and purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A five-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com

About The Whisky Exchange

Founded in 1999, The Whisky Exchange is the leading global retailer of whiskies and fine spirits, with an award-winning online shop and two stores in Covent Garden and Great Portland. A third store is due to open soon in London Bridge.

As a family company, The Whisky Exchange believes in excellent products at competitive prices and exceptional service. The company’s philosophy is simple – never rest on your laurels. The team, led by founders and brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh and buyer Dawn Davies MW, is constantly trying to find new products with genuine heritage and quality in all drinks categories, while continuing to innovate and ensure its website and shop are the best in the business. Above all, the company is built on its amazing range and its people. It is responsible for the loyal and ever-expanding fan base from around the world.

The Whisky Exchange in numbers: 4,000 whiskies including 3,000 single malt Scotch whiskies; 500 Cognacs and Armagnacs; 500 rums; 450 gins; 200 bourbons; 150 Tequilas; one retailer. 

London Shops:

2 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9HH/ Tel: 020 7100 0088

90-92 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7NT/ Tel: 020 7100 9888

Online: thewhiskyexchange.com/ Tel: 020 8838 9388

10th Street Distillery’s STR Cask aged Single Malt Wins Double Gold Ahead of New Launch

Find this unpeated whisky at California retailers and Select Online stores — 

San Jose, CA (May 18, 2020) — STR Single Malt, from San Jose’s 10^th Street Distillery, was recently awarded a Double Gold from the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The influential award, announced in March at one of the last major spirits industry events before California’s shelter-in-place order took effect, follows 10^th Street’s Double Gold at the 2019 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition for its Peated Single Malt American Whisky.

Following this esteemed recognition, the first launch (2,000 bottles) of STR Single Malt (ABV 46 %, MSRP $65) is now available at retailers across California, including Total Wine and More; Palo Alto Fine Wine and Spirits; The Whisky Shop  and San Francisco Wine Trading Company in San Francisco; Vintage Wine Merchants and Don’s Liquors in San Jose; and Mission Wine and Spirits in Pasadena. Please visit retailer web sites for current COVID-19 hours and service options. In addition, several retailers, including Vintage Wine Merchants and The Whisky Shop will ship to certain approved states.

STR Single Malt unpeated whisky is an all-American creation, matured in ex-bourbon casks that have been shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) to impart some of the flavors of freshly-charred wood, without being overwhelmed by oak notes from direct immersion in virgin American Oak barrels.  This strikes a balance between the oak influence from new casks prevalent in American whiskies and used barrels common in traditional Scotch techniques.  10^th Street uses their own process to condition the barrels used in STR Single Malt, and uses domestic two-row malted barley, double distills in all-copper pot stills and, finally, bottles without chill-filtering, to preserve complexity. STR Single Malt is one of only a few American single malts to use STR barrels.

“For our first unpeated product, we wanted to create a distinctive single malt whisky that strikes a balance between the influence of the freshly charred American oak, and classic malt notes. Using specially prepared STR barrels allowed us to bring in the caramel, almost candy-like notes from the wood and pair them with the malt coming from our copper pot double-distilling process.  The result is a delicate, yet flavorful whisky that is truly unique” says Virag Saksena, CEO, 10^th Street Distillery. 

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Lightly spicy with overtones of sweet caramel and butterscotch
Color: Light golden
Palate: Complex cherry-like sweetness with notes of vanilla bean, nutmeg, and clove
Finish: Smooth and round, filled with decadent flavors of candied fruits
ABV: 46%
MSRP: $65

Try STR Single Malt unpeated American whiskey neat, with a splash of water, over ice, or in cocktails such as the “Miracle on 10^th Street,” crafted by Stephen Shelton at Lexington House, Los Gatos:

MIRACLE ON 10TH STREET | FIVE-SPICE BROWN BUTTER WASH | TIKI BITTERS

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz of Butter-Washed 10th Street STR Single Malt
• 4 dashes of Tiki Bitters (any type will do, based on your preference)

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, stir well and strain over into an old-fashioned glass with a nice clear ice cube from Clear Ice Co. of San Jose. No garnish. Sip and enjoy this pure, creamy, and balanced whisky old fashioned.

About 10^th Street Distillery:

San Jose’s first craft distillery, 10^th Street Distillery was founded by two engineers with just one objective – creating world-class whiskies. A grain-to-glass distillery, it reinterprets time-honored traditions using modern techniques and engineering ingenuity to create its award-winning products. Their first product is a Peated Single Malt Whisky, a new American classic that respects tradition, but is not afraid to forge a new path.

Don’t Miss This Classic Scotch Whisky Trio at Unbelievable Pricing
Classic Malts “Coastal Collection”
Talisker 10, Clynelish 14, Caol Ila 12
Single Malt 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.

Just because we buy in bulk to secure the best pricing available, that doesn’t mean our customers have to do the same. For our Scotch whisky fans, we’re thrilled to offer this outstanding bundle of three 200ml bottles of Scotland’s most iconic coastal distilleries at half off its original retail price. Yes, we bought the mother lode, but that was only so we could pass the savings on to our devoted clientele. 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 today they also become one of the best deals in our inventory. For less than $40, this trio of Talisker 10-year, Clynelish 14-year, and Caol Isla 12-year brings you all the classic peaty, smoky, briny character of these three iconic lowland brands at a price per volume that actually bests that of the standard 750ml formats. It’s truly unheard-of, indeed. This 3-pack makes a perfect unconventional entry in any tasting session with friends, but it’s equally ideal for keeping a well-stocked home bar for occasional use without breaking the bank. Maybe you’re even extremely proactive with your holiday shopping and like to get it done early (very, very early). In that case, check off all the whisky fans on your list and move on with your summer. The multi-faceted appeal of this 3-pack is unmatched, and at this price you can afford to think outside the box. That’s what these sets are for in the first place.

Classic Malts “Coastal Collection” (Talisker 10, Clynelish 14, Caol Ila 12) Single Malt 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 famous “coastal” malts on offer—the pointed peatiness of Caol Ila, the briny smoke of Talisker and the waxy fruitiness of Clynelish, 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 Talisker 10, Clynelish 14, Caol Ila 12)

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of Irish Blended Whiskies.

https://youtu.be/DGsp9NOVd4k

‘Distilled’, Sotheby’s First Spirits Online Sale of 2020 in London, Totals £1.5 Million / $1.8 Million

– New Auction Record for Any Bottle of Whisky Produced by the Dalmore Distillery – 

– Almost Half of the Buyers were New to Sotheby’s and 42% of Bidders were Under 40 Years Old – 

LONDON, 29 MAY 2020: Distilled | Iconic Samaroli, Dalmore 62, an online sale showcasing some of the most collectable bottles across all major spirits categories, closed yesterday, raising a total of £1,495,459 / $1,822,665 (est. £1.1-1.6 million). 

A new world record for any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery sold at auction was duplicated in rapid succession with the two lots that closed the sale. Two bottles of The Dalmore 62 Year Old – one of the oldest whiskies to have been released from the distillery, with only 12 bottles made available – sold for £266,200 / $324,445 each, to separate Asian private collectors. Bottles #2, “The Mackenzie” and Bottle #5, “The Cromarty”, exceeded their low estimated price of £75,000 per bottle by three-and-a-half times.

Jonny Fowle continued: “Rare and collectible whisky is exemplified by the Dalmore 62 Year Old, and we are delighted to have set a new record for the most valuable Dalmore ever sold at auction. Having not one, but two of these bottles in a single sale made history and the outstanding result achieved on both bottles shows that the market for whisky collecting is very much alive.”

A bottle of The Macallan 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt proved tempting to bidders, selling for £84,700 / $103,232 (est. £70,000-100,000). While it bears an age statement of 50 years, this whisky was distilled in 1928 and bottled in 1983, meaning it is actually 54 or 55 years old. A low abv of 38.6%, below the minimum requirement for modern day whisky of 40%, makes it a truly unusual gem.

An important Italian collection of Samaroli brought a combined total of £314,519 / $383,336, led by two bottles of Bowmore Bouquet 1966 which sold for £42,350 / $51,616 each. Widely regarded as some of the greatest whiskies ever produced, Silvano Samaroli’s bottles are now extremely scarce, with the most valued bottles, such as the Bowmore Bouquet, rarely seen more than once a year at auction.

Statistics on Bidders & Buyers: Participants hailed from 25 countries, with an average of four bids per lot. Almost one half of the buyers were new to Sotheby’s, and 42% of bidders in the sale were under 40 years old. Sotheby’s online sales so far this year have broken the $100 million barrier, with 77 sales in 2020 bringing a total of $129 million, and a third of bidders and buyers new to Sotheby’s. A further forty online auctions are planned for June.

Father’s Day is fast approaching and we have a wonderful array of lovely whiskies and gifts to suit the important occasion. So for all those wonderful isolating dads that need a pressie from you – check out these. We can of course post them for you if isolation prevents you seeing your father in the coming days.

PERSONALISE YOUR BOTTLE

Your opportunity to personalise your own bottle with your own choice of whisky and type of personalisation in just 3 easy steps.

1. Select your choice of whisky from The English Original or Smoky.

2. Choose from a personalised label to a beautifully engraved bottle

3. Upload your personal message. 

FROM £52.50

PERSONALISE YOUR OWN BOTTLE

To all you wonderful customers of ours – I do so hope you are coping with these extraordinary times we find ourselves living in. When the government allows us to we will re-open in stages with the shop opening first along with our 10 acres of riverside walks and then we will look at how to run tours with distancing. We look forward to welcoming you back to St Georges.

In the meantime – take care.

Andrew Nelstrop

Managing Director

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