GlenAllachie Single Casks

Back in-stock… while stocks last! These richly sherried single malts from the resurgent Speyside distillery are hot stuff including the rare 18, 15 & 13 Year Old Oloroso & PX casks for the UK market only.

Buy – GlenAllachie Single Casks – UK Exclusives

Cheaper by the Dram have hit another historical ball out of the park. 1950’s White Horse, the heart malt being Lagavulin; assisted by a sprinkling of Maltmill! One of the rarest and definition of ‘unicorn’ whiskies that have ever existed! Cheers! (This video goes live 7AM UK time).

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY CONTINUES

RECORD-BREAKING VISITATION STREAK

Nearly 300,000 Guests Visited Historic Distillery in 2019 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Jan. 21, 2020) – Buffalo Trace Distillery experienced phenomenal tourism growth over the past decade, having increased visitation to the National Historic Landmark Distillery by 466 percent since 2010.

The Distillery ended 2019 having welcomed a record-breaking 293,996 visitors during the calendar year. This is a 35 percent increase in visitation over the previous year.

Over the course of 2019, Buffalo Trace reached significant milestones in its ongoing $1.2 billion investment to make more whiskey and accommodate the increased visitation.

This fall, repairs, restoration and painting kicked off behind the scenes at Buffalo Trace, specifically behind the back wall of the Visitor Center. Though having just completed an expansion of its Visitor Center in 2015, Buffalo Trace is again expanding in order to accommodate the continued tourism growth.

Much of the construction and expansion work will continue to take place out of the way and will have minimal impact on guests visiting the Distillery, as the Visitor Center will be expanding further back into the building it currently resides. Work will take place behind the back wall until the expansion work is complete. Then the existing Visitor Center will receive updates and work will be completed to make the building a cohesive space. The Distillery anticipates the Visitor Center expansion to wrap up later this year.

The expanded Visitor Center will be utilized to exhibit more Distillery archives, and as the expanded space will back up to the recently completed fermenter expansion, the Visitor Center will have backdoor access to the whiskey making process, allowing for new and updated tour routes. The expanded space will also supply another event location for hosting evening parties.

Just as tourism continues to grow, so is demand for more bourbons made by Buffalo Trace, which is why the Distillery made some major upgrades to expand its distilling capabilities in 2019, embracing the first large scale structural expansion on the campus since the end of Prohibition.

Right before Christmas, the Distillery started up its brand new, 22-foot cookers for the first time. A recap of this milestone can be viewed here, and downloaded here. Four of these massive cookers, which are responsible for pressure cooking the milled grains before they are cooled and fermented, were installed in 2019. The new cookers span three floors in height, and the Distillery had to remove the roof of its Mash House to lower them into the building.

This, and several other Distillery upgrades Buffalo Trace has been working on over the past year will allow the Distillery to greatly increase its whiskey production, as demand for its whiskies continues to grow.

Along with the cooker upgrade, the distillery installed four new fermenters this past summer, after having to raise the roof by nine feet. The fermenters are 92,000 gallons a piece – the same size as Buffalo Trace’s other fermenters. Additionally, a new cooling tower, which cools down the grains after they are cooked into mash, was added.

All this whiskey has to go somewhere to age, so the Distillery has been busy on that front too. Six new warehouses which each hold 58,800 barrels now stand on the farm adjacent to the Distillery, with two more under construction, and many more planned over the next several years. Latest new barrel warehouse progress can be viewed, and downloaded here.

“The growth we are seeing in all aspects of the Distillery is really exciting,” Meredith Moody, director of homeplace development said. “We are eager to show all of our distilling upgrades to new and returning guests on our updated Hard Hat Tour. It’s a whole new experience, whether you are a first time visitor or have toured many times.”

Buffalo Trace is currently offering a modified Hard Hat Tour, which takes guests through the recent fermenter expansion. The Distillery anticipates reincorporating the updated Mash House into the Hard Hat Tour route by early February once final construction elements are complete in that building. For more information about tours and to make reservations visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us/our-tours.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old

1978 vintage single cask for the Signatory 30th Anniversary Series. 484 numbered bottles. Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old 1978 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill sherry butt #2587 bottled June 2018 for the Signatory Vintage 30th Anniversary series. 484 bottles.

Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whisky which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old.

Shop £974.95

WE’RE BACK!

We’re delighted to announce that SMWS Canada will be back at the Comox Valley Whiskey Festival this year!  If you missed us at the Victoria Whisky Festival last weekend, here’s your chance to try the amazing line-up we wowed the crowed with, including a 21 year old black label bottling from distillery 29, and a never-to-be-released bottling from iconic Islay distillery 33. Come by our table and say hi!

Comox Valley Whiskey Festival

Saturday, Feb. 1st 

Crown Isle Resort, 399 Clubhouse Drive, Courtenay

Buy tickets here

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We’re continuing our mission to bring some colour to your January with the release of an eye-catching selection of 15 unique bottlings including our new experimental Blended Malt.

Featuring our striking new bottle design, brighten up your day with the huge range of flavour profiles on offer in this mid-month extravaganza. You’ll also find something special from our Single Cask Spirits range as well as our next exciting blended malt to keep you swinging into the new year.

Meet the latest addition to our small batch experimental blended malts series, Battle Axe. Celebrating our love of heavily peated whiskies from Islay, this creation from Spirits Manager Euan Campbell marries spirit matured in a selection of ex-bourbon hogsheads from the island. This special malt tells quite a story, just crack it open to get started.

Age: 8 years

Casks: ex-bourbon hogsheads

Region: Islay

Price: £47.00

VIEW NEW WHISKIES             VIEW ALL WHISKIES

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

BONHAMS PRESENTS WHISKY ONLINE AUCTION AIMED AT BUDDING COLLECTORS

Hong Kong – From 15 to 22 February 2020, Bonhams will present an online whisky sale dedicated to budding whisky enthusiasts. The 180 lots of Japanese and Scotch whiskies on offer, including those from the most sought-after distilleries including Yamazaki, Karuizawa and Bowmore, are attractively estimated from HK$3,000 (US$390) to just over HK$300,000 (US$38,600). Many of the estimates are lower than the current market price.

Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, comments: ‘Whisky collecting has become a lifestyle trend for not only the connoisseurs but also for the younger generation across the world. We have seen more new collectors coming in than ever: one in every five bidders in our worldwide whisky sales over the last two years was a new bidder. With this in mind, we have curated this online sale to offer not the high-ticket star bottles, but instead a wide range of editions from popular distilleries at friendly price points. We hope that first-time buyers can find in this sale an entrance to start their whisky collection.’

Highlights estimated under HK$20,000 (US$2,600) include:

• 余市 Yoichi-1984-#252986, estimate: HK$18,000–22,000
• Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Joker “Colour”, estimate: HK$15,000–20,000
• Lagavulin-1991-Feis Ile 2015, estimate: HK$6,000–8,000

Highlights estimated under HK$100,000 (US$13,000) include:

• Karuizawa-Yashiro-1971-37 year old-八代窯, estimate: HK$80,000–100,000
• 山崎 Yamazaki-Mizunara-1986-#6G5029, estimate: HK$65,000–85,000
• Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-The Game-1st Edition, estimate: HK$48,000–60,000

Highlights estimated under HK$400,000 (US$52,000) include:

• Karuizawa-1965-#8852, estimate: HK$380,000–480,000
• Karuizawa-1964-#3603, estimate: HK$250,000–300,000
• Black Bowmore-1964 (2nd Edition), estimate: HK$120,000–160,000

Bonhams marked its 10 years of market leadership in Asia’s whisky auction in 2019. In August, Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series in 54 bottles established a new record for a Japanese whisky collection for HK$7,192,000 (US$917,000), selling to an Asian female collector. Three months later, an exceedingly rare 30 year whisky sherry hogshead cask from the famed Macallan Distillery also achieved HK$4,464,000 (US$572,000), setting a new world auction record for a whisky cask.

Bonhams wine and whisky departments worldwide reported sales of GBP16 million (US$21.3 million/ HK$166,200,000) for 2019.

The forthcoming Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky sale will be held on 15 May in Hong Kong.

Whisky Online Auction15 February until 6pm (HKT) 22 February 2020Bidding page will go live on 15 February on www.bonhams.com Specialist: Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia.

NOTES 

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com

Wemyss Malts kick of their 15th anniversary year with ‘Black Gold’; a 30 year old single sherry cask Bowmore.

The third exclusive release for the Wemyss Malts Cask Club; Black Gold is an exceptional single cask single malt from Bowmore distillery. Black Gold is single sherry hogshead cask of 1989 Bowmore that has matured for 30 years and bottled at a cask strength of exactly 50.0%ABV. Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay and one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, tracing its distillation roots back to 1779. In keeping with its over 200 year heritage and tradition it is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries that still malts and kilns its own barley with local Islay peat.

The whisky has been noted for its deep, polished rosewood colour and a complex combination of flavours such as dried dark fruits, treacle toffee and earthy kiln smoke.

Director of Wemyss Malts; William Wemyss commented:

“Black Gold is a strikingly distinctive single cask, single malt whisky and a great release to start the 2020 celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the founding of Wemyss Malts. I hope Cask Club members will enjoy, savour and share among friends the remaining 174 bottles as I purchased the first one for myself and have already enjoyed a few drams of it.”

Black Gold follows on from the first and second releases (Smoky Nectar and Antique Armchair) of single cask Islay malts offered exclusively to the Wemyss Malts Cask Club members. The Cask club offers exclusive bottlings of the most exciting and interesting bottling’s and early access to new releases from Wemyss Malts.

Black Gold will be released exclusively to Wemyss Malts Cask Club members via www.wemyssmalts.com/cask-club at 12pm on Thursday the 23rd of January and is priced at £599 for the 700ml bottle and gift box. Membership to the Cask Club is free to join and can be signed up to from the same website.

Notes:

 Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is family run company operated by brother and sister William and Isabella Wemyss. The Wemyss family Castle has been home to the family since the 1300s and is featured in the company logo.
 Wemyss Malts craft blended malt whiskies such as The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney as well as Batch Strength versions and single cask whiskies.
 Wemyss blended malts have recently won double gold medals for The Hive and Spice King as well as ‘Best in Class’ for The Hive at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The latest release of The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney Batch Strength, Batch No.002 all received gold medal wins from the Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters.
 The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include Lord Elcho blended Scotch whisky and Darnley’s Gin, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.
 The family opened a single malt distillery at Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews in Fife and in July 2017 also added Darnley’s Gin distillery to the site. www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com
For further information please contact Steven Shand at steven@wemyssmalts.com or Karen Stewart at ks@wemyssmalts.com or on +44 (0)131-226-3445

MORTLACH

Private Collection
1969 Vintage · 50 Year Old

50.7% ABV · 70cl

£6,750

ADD TO BASKET

A sublime new Mortlach, released as part of Gordon and Macphail’s super premium Private Collection series.This series showcases some of the rarest and most prized whiskies from this legendary independent bottler.

Matured for over half a century in a first fill Sherry Butt, this is a rich and decadent malt that would take pride of place in any serious whisky collection.

One of only 365 bottles worldwide, of which only 24 have been made available here in the UK!