Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership Packs 

A Matter of Taste

The latest evolution of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership pack marks the 5th iteration of the pack’s design and development in partnership with IPL Packaging over its several years of affiliation with the world’s leading whisky club.

“We’re understandably proud to have, once again, designed and developed a structural packaging solution for the SMWS Tasting Pack, creating a robust MDF box containing rigid board drawers, to which we applied the client’s branding,” comments LB Odendaal, Head of Design at IPL.

“As with previous configurations of the pack, we looked to combine innovation, functional minimalism and design to help heighten the user experience,” says Odendaal. “Designing a complete unveiling process that begins with mapping out the layers of engagement; including first contact, reveal, product extraction and post extraction, resulting in a memorable and tactile interface which enhances the final product and delivers a memorable user experience.”

The outer pack is wrapped in soft-touch paper and features gold foil and spot-varnished brand details to provide a luxurious, contrasting look. A PU leather carry-handle at top of the pack allows for ease of transport.

The box inner features suede lining on the main body, flocked EVA product fitments and silk ribbon pull-tabs.

In the first drawer sits a paper-wrapped product card with detailed brand information and a membership booklet that conceals three 10cl whisky taster bottles located in flocked EVA fitments

The second drawer of the pack contains flocked EVA fitments designed to hold two tasting glasses and a water jug.

 “IPL Packaging has a unique perspective and a proven process for generating fresh design concepts in luxury packaging. The innovation behind these concepts is often based on longstanding relationships developed over many years of being trusted creative and manufacturing partners to our clients and developing a deeper understanding of their brands,” says Odendaal.

IPL PACKAGING A MATTER OF TASTE

World Whisky Day (16^th May 2020) is just around the corner, and the question of which whisky to celebrate with remains a question on everybody’s lips. There are few things more perfect than a fine whisky; patiently matured and rich with flavour, taking the drinker on an unforgettable taste journey. Bringing together the finest ingredients and flavours, here is a selection of stand-out whiskies perfect to raise a Dram with for World Whisky Day, including classics from The Macallan, Maker’s Mark, The House of Suntory, and more.

Bowmore 15 Year Old 

Bowmore is Islay’s oldest distillery, and home to the world’s oldest whisky maturation warehouse, the No. 1 Vaults. Matured first in bourbon barrels then Oloroso casks, there’s no finer example of a sherry cask finish than Bowmore 15 Year Old. The final three years spent in Oloroso sherry casks give Bowmore 15 Year Old the rich, deep colour and robust warming finish.

RRP: £60

Available to purchase from The Whisky Exchange and Amazon

The Macallan Estate 

The Macallan Estate, created by Whisky Maker Sarah Burgess, is a tribute to The Macallan’s heritage and home. It is an extremely special new single malt containing rare spirit from a proportion of the barley grown at Easter Elchies estate, which is distilled just once a year over the course of a single week. The liquid delivers a subtle hint of citrus which balances the traditional sherried richness, resulting in a complex single malt with an extraordinarily long finish.

RRP: £195

Stockists: The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange

The Macallan

Highland Park 16 Year Old Twisted Tattoo 

In collaboration with Danish tattoo artist and modern-day Viking Soul, Colin Dale, Highland Park 16 Year Old Twisted Tattoo’s bold design celebrates the tattoo as a mark of both standing apart and being part of a tribe – just like Highland Park. The expression’s exquisite tasting notes include the likes of sweet vanilla, sun-ripened peaches, and full-bodied red wine, finished with a light peat smoke.

RRP: £80

Stockists: Master of Malt and The Whisky Shop

Laphroaig Lore 

By maturing the liquid in small batches in five unique casks, Laphroaig has created a liquid that is rich, complex, varied and above all, storied. Laphroaig Lore uses different aged liquids ranging from 7 to 21 years, which allows the richest possible flavour. As the name suggests, this offering from Laphroaig is inspired by the knowledge and traditions passed down from generation to generation of its distillery managers, blenders and craftsmen.

RRP: £80

Stockists: Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange

Maker’s 46

The first bourbon in Maker’s Mark’s wood-finishing series, Maker’s 46 was created by Bill Samuels, J., to amplify the flavours he loves most in Maker’s Mark. The innovative wood-stave-finishing process starts with fully matured Maker’s Mark at cask strength, after which 10 seared virgin French oak staves are inserted into the barrel. The liquid is then finished for nine weeks in a limewood cellar, resulting in a bolder and more complex flavour, but without the bitterness typical of longer-aged whiskies.

RRP: £40

Stockists: Amazon and Master of Malt

Toki 

Meaning ‘time’ in Japanese, Toki brings together old and new – the House of Suntory’s proud heritage and its innovative spirit. A blended Japanese whisky that is both ground-breaking and timeless, the finish is subtly sweet and spicy with a hint of vanilla oak, white pepper and ginger.

RRP: £35

Stockists: Tesco and Master of Malt

Peat Fans Take Notice—A 20-Year, Age-Stated Stunner for a Song
1997 Ledaig 20 Year Old “Munros” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

NOTE: In accordance with local directives, our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have low cost and 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.

The latest stellar find from our K&L Exclusive Cask program is one that no aficionado of peat should pass on. Ledaig is a hidden gem for that classic peated malt profile, and over the years we’ve made plenty of Ardbeg and Laphroaig devotees very happy by turning them on to this largely unsung label distilled at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. We scored three numbered barrels of the very rare 1997 Ledaig 20 Year Old, bottled under the Glasgow Whisky Company’s Munros brand, from one of our trusty suppliers at an unbelievable price, which makes this one of the can’t-miss whisky offers of the year (so far). While an abundance of smoky, charred overtones and cask-strength weight define this Islay malt, there’s also a remarkably broad-ranging complexity capped by the signature Ledaig hallmark of a briny, salty piquancy that lends a singular stylistic flair to what is otherwise a tried-and-true smoke bomb. This 20-year peat monster offers all the stunning character one could expect from a whisky with this much age, but it won’t set you back nearly as much as comparable bottlings from the larger production brands. Fans and collectors of heavily peated Scotch whisky owe it to themselves to get their hands on this once-in-a-blue-moon expression, because when it’s gone it’s unlikely we’ll see it again, and certainly not for less than triple digits..

1997 Ledaig 20 Year Old “Munros” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($99.99)

The Munros are Scotland’s tallest peaks, all over 3000 feet, named for Sir Hugh Munro, who first compiled a list of Scotland’s 282 tallest individual mountain peaks. Becoming somewhat of an obsession for the UK’s mountaineering crowd, the Munros in Scottish culture represent the spirit of adventure and comradery that mountain climbing embodies. This tiny brand of high-quality single malts is bottled by the Glasgow Whiskey Company. Their US importer sadly passed away a few years ago and the stocks languished in a warehouse on the East Coast until one of our trusted suppliers came across them. This excellent cask strength offering is a vatting of three sequentially numbered American oak ex-bourbon hogheads filled at the Tobermory distillery on May Day 1997. Ledaig is the heavily peated spirit that comes out of the wonderful distillery on the Isle of Mull. The idiosyncratic style has won fans across the malt drinking world, but the relative rarity of this small production malt has pushed up prices recently. We are very lucky to have found these barrels at pre-tariff 2016 prices and bought every single bottle we could find.

Will Blakely | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 20, 2020

Fans of proper peat rejoice! All the rich, mossy earth and iodine and charcoal briquette you know and love are here in an impossibly well-priced package. While the malt is definitely the star of the show, boasting a golden char that brings sultana and citrus peel up from the peaty depths, that smoke is no joke. Dark chocolate full of chunky sea salt, seaweed and green leaves, barbecue pork and charred bananas all make an appearance, along with a cameo from something burning in the distance. It is difficult to find words to capture the fullness of flavor, but I have come to recognize Ledaig for its signature umami character. Few whiskies come close to that complete, slightly salty but entirely satisying feeling. And after recently closing temporarily to upgrade the equipment, the distillery will probably see a price increase for its coveted malt. Pick this one up while you can.

Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 05, 2020

Deliciously sweet smoky peat flavors are rounded out with notes of incense and dried fruit. This rich and detailed version is a must for fans of Ardbeg’s more elite bottlings.

Upcoming Tastings

Elements of Islay Online Tasting

Wednesday 20th May 2020 at 7.30pm

For one night only, the inimitable duo of Oliver Chilton and Katy Kennedy will lead you across the incredible selection of Islay whisky bottled by Elixir Distillers. Guiding you through some of the history of the island, as well as the science behind the unique flavour profile that binds these highly regarded distilleries, the evening will not be one to miss.

The tasting will comprise of:

Br7 –  sherry hogsheads, distilled in 2001
Ma2 – first fill bourbon barrels, distilled in 2004
Lp8 – ex-Madeira casks, distilled in 1998
Bw7 –  sherry butts, distilled in 2001

Book Tasting

Douglas Laing Online Tasting

Wednesday 27th May 2020 at 7.30pm

Join us for and our good friends at Douglas Laing for an unforgettable online tasting experience, exploring their selection from many categories of Scotch whisky. From grain to blended and single malt, the various styles of whisky produced in Scotland will be on show.

Rock Island 21 Year Old (Limited release)
Glenrothes 15 Old Particular
Braeval 18 Old Particular
Inchgower 21 Old Particular
Cameronbridge 35  XOP

Book Tasting

Dalwhinnie
Distiller’s Edition
2004 Vintage · 15 Year Old · 70cl · 43% ABV

£66.95

ADD TO BASKET

Diageo’s Distiller’s Editions have developed a strong reputation for excellence since their initial release. This 15 year old expression from Dalwhinnie is no exception, a light crisp and easy single malt with strong notes of nut, fruit and sweetness.

The current 2004 vintage of the Distiller’s Edition Dalwhinnie has been given an extra maturation period in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks, imparting extra spice, fruit, and sweetness to this delicate highland single malt.

GLENCAIRN CRYSTAL STUDIO NEWS

What strange times we find ourselves living in with most of us at staying at home in lockdown due to COVID-19.

For some time we’ve been thinking of sending a newsletter to all of you who we consider to be our Glencairn extended family (customers, clients, suppliers – you know who you are!) and now has never seemed like a better time to keep you informed of what we are doing.

So here we are with a quick news update on us – but most of all, we’d like to say, from everyone at Glencairn, that we’re all in this together – stay safe and stay well.

The World’s Favourite Whisky Glass turns 20

The world’s favourite whisky glass, our much loved Glencairn Glass, is 20 years old this year and never have we been more proud of it. We now make more than 3 million a year and they grace over a 140 countries around the world. We’ll be marking the occasion with some special podcasts featuring Glencairn Crystal’s Founder, Raymond Davidson, who will reveal the story behind why he created the Glencairn Glass as well as interviews with some of the Master Blenders who helped in its early development.

Listen to Episode 1 Now

More To Come

Later in the year we’ll also be launching some exciting new additions to the Glencairn Glass family and announcing a unique fundraising initiative with proceeds going to our chosen charity partners. Watch this space for more news.

Supporting The NHS

We’ve all seen what an incredible job the NHS staff are doing during this very difficult time. So to help out we’ve been busy using our 3D printers to produce the plastic headbands needed to hold protective face visors in place for the staff at our local Hairmyres Intensive Care unit in East Kilbride.

Be Home With Glencairn
Win a Glencairn Presentation Set

As part of our “Be There” campaign, we’d like you to share a photo of your favourite dram in a Glencairn Glass. As we have all been advised by the government to #stayathome, we are looking for photos of where, in your house, you relax and enjoy a dram.

Every week we’ll pick our favourites and at the end of the month we’ll put them to our followers to decide who wins.

How to Enter?

Simply head over to our instagram and use #GlencairnMoments & #BeathomewithGlencairn in your post.

Click here to see last months winner

New look at Glencairn Crystal Studio

In order to keep up with our ever-growing business, we’ve been busy doubling the size of our premises here in East Kilbride. There’s still much to do, some of which has been put on hold due to the current situation, however we do now have some big, shiny, new offices and our MD Paul not only shares an office with Debbie Harry, but he’s got himself an impressive red sparkly door!

Glencairn in the news with Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve

We’ve been in the drinks and packaging news recently with the release of the stunning limited-edition Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve. Safely contained within a Glencairn Crystal decanter, embellished with rubies, it’s been a huge project for us as it’s the first time we’ve used precious stones to decorate our bespoke glassware. Click here for the full story.

Scottish International Crime Writing Awards Sponsorship

We’re delighted to announce we’re sponsoring the 2020 McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year, with our Glencairn Glass.

Although the Bloody Scotland festival has been cancelled this year due to the virus both prestigious literary prizes will still be awarded on the 18^th September. Best of luck to all the authors who’ve entered and if you’re a crime fiction fan look out for some online news about Bloody Scotland coming soon. Click here for more details

Our valued employees are at the heart of everything we do and we’d like to say a huge thank you to the following special people for their loyal service.

DEREK ROBERTSON

30 Years at Glencairn Crystal
Retail Sales

Derek started his career in the crystal industry at Edinburgh Crystal as a glass cutter and is our token Jambo, supporting the mighty Heart of Midlothian FC.

TERESA CASSIDY

20 Years at Glencairn Crystal
Hand Polisher

They say an army marches on its stomach and in addition to everything else our “Mother” Teresa has been making breakfast for most of our workforce for over a decade.

Both her daughters and grand-daughter have worked summer jobs with us too.

DONALD WALLACE

30 Years at Glencairn Crystal
Engraving Department

Donald is Irvine’s no.1 drummer although it’s been many years since he played the Barrowlands!

ALLAN MCPHEE

10 Years at Glencairn Crystal
Print Department
Team Leader

For years we thought Alfie was Allan’s life partner but when he mentioned taking him for a walk we realised Alfie was his dog!

contact@glencairn.co.uk
+44 (0) 1355 279 717

Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Awarded

Double Gold Medal at 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Distillery Spirits Receive Seven Medals in Total

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (April 28, 2020) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon received the prestigious Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Additionally, two spirits from the Distillery were awarded Gold medals, and four were awarded Silver medals.

Double Gold

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon

Silver

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon
• Isaac Bowman Port Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon
• Abraham Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon

Spirits entered into the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are judged over four days of highly controlled blind tastings by a panel of more than 40 judges made up of respected, experienced industry experts. Complete results for the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/results/.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

The Whisky Shop Dufftown
Virtual Relaxed Whisky Quiz

At the beginning of May The Whisky Shop Dufftown intended to bring a host of whisky events to Speyside.  One of them was a relaxed whisky quiz hosted by our good friends at Maltstock with the most relaxed quiz master known to whisky, Teun van Wel.  Maltstock quizzes are legendary and it would be a loss to the world as we know it if it did not go ahead.  Teun suggested we could go ahead as planned, albeit virtually, so that is what we are going to do.  Just two weeks later, and via Facebook live, we will bring direct to you (almost) the same relaxed fun quiz on Sunday 17 May.

The event will be streamed on The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s Facebook page from 4pm CET / 3pm BST.  Answer forms will be sent to contestants electronically to be completed and returned.  Teun will be your on-line host with the questions.  The questions may be fiendish, testing, whacky, revealing or fun but always relaxed.

How do you take part?  We will be running three leagues during the quiz.  The first one is for mere mortals, the amateur league.  The second one is for teams of mere mortals.  If you are entering as a team then it is down to you how you organize your team communications.  The third and final league is not for immortals but for whisky professionals.  Not all of these are immortal.  These are people that are or have been employed in the whisky industry and is just for fun.  This is to make things fair for all taking part.

When you complete the quiz, you will receive a £5 voucher to use on The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s on-line store to put towards a whisky purchase.  You will be able to win prizes along the way during the quiz as well and, of course, the big prize for the top scoring contestant or team in each amateur league.  When taking part, we strongly recommend ensuring you have a good supply of drams to hand to make sure the brain cells are appropriately lubricated.

To enter the individual amateur league click here to buy a ticket and for the team amateur league click here.  Tickets are £10 per entry.  One ticket per team but it is down to you on how to share the voucher and any prizes you win amongst your team.

The professional league is for “fun” only.  No prizes.  They do not need the incentive to be competitive.  Drop me an email if you want to take part in the professional league (mike@whiskyshopdufftown.com).

So contestants are you ready? Tickets on sale until 16 May.

Don’t miss our new video series filled with Japanese Whisky, comedy, music and more whisky.

Watch the latest episode now.

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

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo,

Caldera Distilling and its Macallan Connection

When Caldera Distilling’s Jarret Stuart told us his great-great-grandfather had introduced the Macallan Scotch whisky to Canada, we had to know more. We soon learned that in 1824, Macallan’s owner, William Reid bought a license and the secret farm distillery went legal.

When Reid died in 1847, James Shearer Priest and James Davidson took over. Then, in 1868 Jarret’s distant ancestor, James Stuart acquired the lease for Macallan and rebuilt the distillery.

A decade later, in 1878, James Stuart and Company, built the Glen Rothes distillery from scratch. Stuart left Glen Rothes the following year, and in 1892 he sold Macallan, but not before sending Jarret’s ancestor to Canada, to sell Macallan whisky.

Jarret Stuart’s noble whisky heritage reveals itself in two distinctive Caldera whiskies he distils in River John, Nova Scotia.

Caldera Hurricane 5

Hurricane 5 is distilled in a tiny alembic still, using local organic grains. The whisky tastes sweet and fruity, with butterscotch, charred wood, something herbal, and brisk peppery spices until hints of vanilla devolve into citrus pith. It finishes with rye spices and clean woody tones.

Caldera Champlain

This traditional Canadian whisky includes some Cognac in the blend to honour the birthplace of mariner and explorer, Samuel de Champlain. Rich flavours of saltwater toffee and sweet fruits with briny hints of the seaside evolve into a rich and creamy palate with red wine tones, grape skins, pipe tobacco, growing pepperiness and tingling rye spices.