Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 293: Auchroisk 15 Year Old 2000 Old Malt Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a little known whisky: Auchroisk. It is a pretty young distillery, only founded in 1974. It is a workhorse for the blenders and hardly sees the light of day as a single malt. This is a single cask, released a few years ago, in the famous Old Malt Cask series by Hunter Laing. It’s a bit young for the Old Malt Cask series, no? Anyway. Let’s taste!

https://youtu.be/1vs_gEvYQF0

Black Butte Whiskey by Crater Lake Spirits and Deschutes Brewery Wins Best in Show at 2019 Sunset Magazine International Spirits Competition

Silver medals awarded for Crater Lake Reserve Dry Gin and Rock and Rye Whiskey

BEND, Ore. – Crater Lake Spirits, one of America’s pioneering craft distilleries, and Deschutes Brewery, America’s 10th largest craft brewery, have been awarded Best in Show for the 2019 release of their collaborative Black Butte Whiskey in the inaugural Sunset Magazine International Spirits Competition. The esteemed judging panel represented large volume buyers, influential media, successful distillers and other professionals from the spirits industry.

Black Butte Whiskey is a 94 proof American malt whiskey distilled from Deschutes’ popular Black Butte Porter beer. Aged three years in #4 char American oak barrels, the resulting whiskey retains the malty, chocolatey notes of Black Butte Porter and woody, earthy flavors from the oak. Bottles of the limited-edition 2019 batch are currently available while supplies last at the Crater Lake Spirits Tasting Room in downtown Bend, Oregon as well as retailers in select markets. Drinks by the glass are also available at the Deschutes Brewery pubs in Bend, Oregon, and Portland, Oregon, and the Portland International Airport pub. More information on availability can be found at www.craterlakespirits.com.

“We are thrilled by this win and to earn Best in Show against such a deep field of brands is really an honor,” said Alan Dietrich, Crater Lake Spirits CEO. “It means even more to be here with our partners at Deschutes Brewery. Both of our teams have worked tirelessly to redefine the traditional American whiskey category.”

“We’re honored to receive this recognition that speaks volumes to the uniqueness and complexity of this whiskey,” said Deschutes Brewery founder, Gary Fish. “The idea for this collaboration was born decades ago through conversations over beers and the result has generated incredible excitement from both craft beer lovers and spirits fans.”

In addition to the Best in Show accolade, Black Butte Whiskey was named Best American Craft Luxury Whiskey. Crater Lake Spirits also received silver medals for its Reserve Dry Gin and Rock & Rye Whiskey. Crater Lake Reserve Gin is 90 proof, new American style dry gin distilled using hand-picked central Oregon juniper berries, coriander, Seville orange peel, glazed orange peel and grapefruit. It is also gluten-free and kosher. Crater Lake Rock & Rye is a modern interpretation of a pre-prohibition classic crafted with rye whiskey, dark cherry, blood orange, and house-made bitters.

About Crater Lake Spirits

Founded in 1996, Crater Lake Spirits is one of the nation’s original craft distilleries and is one of the most awarded craft distilleries in the country. Flagship brands are traditional American style gins, vodkas and whiskies all produced at their distillery in Bend, Oregon. To learn more visit www.craterlakespirits.com.

About Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery, family and employee owned since 1988, is one of the quintessential beers of the Pacific Northwest. Founded on the guiding principles of true craftsmanship, ultimate quality, and extraordinary consumer experience, Deschutes Brewery is recognized for defining beers such as Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA and the non-stop release of pioneering small batch experimental and barrel-aged beers. Deschutes can be found at its brewpubs in Bend and Portland, Oregon, Tasting Rooms in Bend, and Roanoke, Virginia and at accounts in 31 states across the country. Visit Deschutes Brewery’s beer finder at https://www.deschutesbrewery.com/beer-finder/ to find a Deschutes beer near you. www.deschutesbrewery.com

SAMPLE EDINBURGH’S BIGGEST BOBBY BURNS COCKTAIL MENU WITH THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are providing an endless selection of the classic cocktail available at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) are celebrating Burns Night by offering the capital’s largest Bobby Burns cocktail menu, using rare single malt whiskies from their 12 flavour profiles.

The iconic cocktail can be varied to perfectly suit any taste as it uses scotch whisky as its main ingredient, along with vermouth and a splash of liqueur, often Benedictine.

The Society’s catalogue of unique single cask single malt whiskies, which are all categorised by flavour, allow for the ultimate customisation of the drink. Whisky lovers can experiment with twelve twists on their tipple with flavour profiles ranging from Old & Dignified to Young & Spritely.

A lighter whisky makes for a refreshing drink with citrus notes, whereas a more matured malt will allow for a much sweeter Bobby Burns variation.

The sumptuous cocktail’s true origins remain unclear, with the first known recipes for it appearing in the 1930 ‘The Savoy Cocktail Book’ and initial popularity in New York, however it is now drunk to toast the famous bard’s birthday annually.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will be running their ultimate Bobby Burns menu at their venue at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh, from 22^nd Jan to 2^nd Feb.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in 1983 through a spirit of friendship – a small group of people who used the discovery of single cask whisky as a reason to get together and enjoy each other’s company. The SMWS now has more than 26,000 members across the world.

https://www.smws.com/

f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/

t: https://twitter.com/SMWSUK

yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos

#SMWS 

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

Fisherman’s Retreat Edition 6

Bruichladdich – Rivesaltes cask

12 year old
Distilled 23rd May 2007
Bottled September 2019
Bottles 249
ABV 50.4%
500ml
Price £90

“At 50.4% the addition of a little spring water allows the spirit to reveal some beautiful aromas. Initially, you are welcomed by the fruitiness of pomegranate & plump ripe grapes with floral hints of honeysuckle & gorse in bloom, followed by an updraft of heather and moorland flowers with coastal drift of Atlantic breezes”. Jim McEwan.

WEMYSS MALTS KICK OF THEIR 15^TH 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.

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 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 172 bottles as I purchased the first one for myself and have already enjoyed a few drams of it.”

-WILLIAM WEMYSS, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF 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.

Cask Club members will require there login password: Join the Cask Club for the password!

The Whisky Exchange Great Portland Street
Wednesday 12 February
7:00pm-8:30pm
£40
Limited spaces. Tickets on sale now. 

Book now

In Taiwan’s north-eastern Yilan county, both location and climate are integral to a distillery which has won some of the most prestigious whisky awards on earth. Kavalan makes its whiskies with water that flows down directly from the Xueshan, the second-highest peak in Taiwan, and uses un-peated malted barley from Scotland. The resulting spirit is then aged in an atmosphere which is helped along by the warm winds blowing in off the Pacific Ocean.

Prized by both fans and critics worldwide for its aromatic and floral character, Kavalan uses a variety of casks to mature its distillate, including those previously used to hold sherry, bourbon, wine, port and brandy.

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to taste these marvellous whiskies, and to celebrate our most-recent Kavalan single cask, which is aged in an ex-rum cask and exclusive to The Whisky Exchange.

The Line-Up
Kavalan Podium
Kavalan King Car
Kavalan Sherry Oak
Kavalan Solist Port Cask
Kavalan Solist Amontillado Cask
Kavalan Rum Cask TWE Exclusive

ABOUT THE HOST

Nathan is an award winning bartender-turned-whisky ambassador, and has spent the last 13 years working in the hospitality industry including renowned cocktail bars Callooh Callay and Swift. Nathan works on the whisk(e)y portfolio for Speciality Brands training bartenders, creating cocktails and waxing lyrical about the whisky category across the country.

The Whisky Exchange Great Portland Street
Wednesday 12 February
7:00pm-8:30pm
£40
Limited spaces. Tickets on sale now.

Book now

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases

Latest Edition of Stagg Jr.

Release is 13th Since Series Started in 2013

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Jan. 16, 2020) Kicking off the new year with a bang, Buffalo Trace Distillery has released the latest iteration in its Stagg Jr. franchise, with a proof of 128.4.  The 13^th release since the series started, this latest offering follows suit for all previous Stagg Jr. releases in that it is uncut, unfiltered, eight years old, and with a taste profile similar to its elder statesman, George T. Stagg.

Tasting notes describe this barrel proof whiskey as having a nose with loads of dark cherries, followed by honey.  On the palate, there are flavors of cream caramel mocha followed by cherries, giving it a full-bodied mouthfeel.  The finish is described as a long finish of toasted oak, dark chocolate, and cinnamon.

Introduced in 2013, Stagg Jr. quickly became a favorite of whiskey reviewers, winning five double gold medals, 12 gold medals, and various other accolades, such as “tried and true,” and “great value,” from competitions such as San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Spirits Competition, World Whiskies Awards, and others.

The Stagg line is named after George T. Stagg is one of the legendary craftsmen of Buffalo Trace Distillery, who was responsible for building the most dominant American distillery of the 19^th century on the banks of the Kentucky River, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Stagg Jr. is released twice a year. The 128.4 batch is being released to retailers now.  The next release, number 14, will be late spring/early summer.

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.

OLD & RARE FRENCH OAK 18yo
Single Tawny Cask #HH0600

Our oldest ever release of Old & Rare French Oak Tawny Single Cask Single Malt Tasmanian Whisky is now ready for release exclusively to our mailing list members.

Cask number HH0600 was distilled on Valentines Day 2001 and decanted on the 24th of June last year for a maturation of 18 years and four months. This is one of only two remaining French Oak Tawny casks from the “HH” era, the rest having been released years ago. Bottled at 50.1% abv, this cask produced only 356 bottles, of which only 252 are being made available for online sale.

“This incredibly special whisky makes for a fantastic tasting journey from all perspectives, with an Odyssean length of palate to boot. But the real stand-out characteristic is the depth and complexity of that length. Far from being a one trick pony, this whisky is as powerful as a stallion, yet with all the grace of a ballet dancer.”
– Heather Tillott, Head Distiller

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Gingerbread, grapefruit zest, cinnamon and honey. The oak is powerful but balanced, with an air of antique furniture along with cherry cola and black liquorice.

PALATE: Baked orchard fruits and menthol sit on a base of earthier tones like tobacco, leather, almond and white pepper. Herbal, spicy, floral and nutty all at once, with a beeswax texture that makes you salivate from the first sip.

FINISH: That texture carries notes of treacle, oolong tea and plum pudding for the long haul along with gentle waves of vanilla, candied orange dark chocolate and almonds to ease this mighty oak vessel on its long journey home.

Please Note: Purchase of this release is strictly limited to one bottle per person.

We have also made an update to our shipping system and rates: All domestic parcels will now be shipped via Australia Post Express, and charges will be based on actual shipping costs plus a small handling fee. This change has been made to improve shipping times and to decrease the incidents of lost and damaged packages. If you have any questions about this change, please don’t hesitate to email us!

Click the link below to purchase.

PURCHASE NOW

Saturday, January 25th, 3PM-5PM:

 Scotch Tasting: Laphroaig 

Joins us for a celebration of all things great and peaty at this expert presented in-store tasting, featuring legendary Islay distillery Laphroaig! From 3-5PM, we’ll have new and rare single malt scotches from Laphroaig for all to try, with whisky experts and distillery ambassadors present for all your scotch questions.

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

For a limited time only, get 10% off.

It’s 2020, it’s Rabbie Burn’s Birthday and we’re feeling generous, so we’re offering 10% off Smokehead Original and Smokehead High Voltage in our online store. It won’t be forever though, offer ends 31st January.

(As always – see website for full terms.)

SHOP NOW