Glen Scotia 11 Year Old Limited Edition

Glen Scotia Sherry Cask Strength

2020 Limited Edition double matured in PX and Oloroso sherry casks from the Campbelltown distillery.  Glen Scotia 11 Year Old Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky. Double matured in first fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry hogsheads. Cast strength limited release for 2020. Spiced rum, juicy plum, toffee and citrus peel. Rich velvety mouthfeel, sweet vanilla and salted butter. Raisins and sultanas with warming spice of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. Long, nutty, dry finish.

GLEN SCOTIA SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Glen Scotia Distillery was established in 1832 in Campbeltown at the foot of the Kintyre Peninsular on the west coast of Scotland. Situated on the south side of Campbeltown’s High Street beside the lost Lochrin and Dalintober Distilleries where their rear walls were lapped by the tides of Campbeltown Loch. Glen Scotia Distillery is now one of only three whisky distilleries in Campbeltown where a further thirty have come and gone. Both peated and un-peated malt whisky are produced for its expanding range of single malt whiskies such as Glen Scotia Double Cask and the Glen Scotia 15 Year Old.

Shop – Glen Scotia 11 Year Old 2020 Release

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 344: Macallan 18 Year Old Triple Cask Matured

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, ventures to Macallan. In their Triple Cask Matured series, this is a very nice one with 18 years of maturation on three types of casks: American and European sherry seasoned casks and American bourbon casks. Just like the 15 years old, this one is cut to 43%. It was bottled in 2018.

https://youtu.be/uywScSGf3cE

GORDON & MACPHAIL REVEALS SECOND 125^th ANNIVERSARY WHISKY 

— 35YO Glenury Royal is second of four ‘last cask’ single malts —

Gordon & MacPhail has launched the second of four commemorative whiskies to celebrate its 125^th anniversary.

With spirit hailing from a closed distillery in Stonehaven in the eastern Highlands, the 35-year-old Gordon & MacPhail 1984 from Glenury Royal is ultra-rare and comes from the last cask of the make maturing in the Gordon & MacPhail’s famous warehouse.

It joins a 1972 Coleburn whisky launched in September. The remaining two whiskies in the anniversary series are set to be revealed in November and December – each as rare and unique as the last.

No spirit has been distilled at Glenury since 1985, when it closed its doors for the final time and was demolished after a long history stretching back 160 years. Founded in 1825 by Captain James Barclay, the suffix ‘Royal’ was added due to the owner’s friendship with King William IV.

Its extreme scarcity in the market has since attracted whisky fans from across the world and it is a prized addition to any whisky connoisseur’s collection.

Gordon & MacPhail 1984 from Glenury Royal [RSP £1500*]

Just 397 bottles are available worldwide of this elegant and oily 35-year-old whisky, which was laid down on Thursday 7 June 1984 and has been fully matured in cask number 2335, a first-fill Sherry Butt.

Bottled at 49.1% ABV, the liquid itself is a rich amber in colour, with aromas of stewed fruit, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and toasted oak. On the palate, the whisky provides sweet orange peel, cherry, burnt sugar and dried fig giving way to a medium and fruity finish with notes of aniseed and sherry.

Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, said: “Since 1895 Gordon & MacPhail has released single malts from over 100 distilleries, many of which are lesser-known or closed.  The anniversary series is a true homage to this endeavour.”

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

#GordonandMacPhail

Tasting notes

Gordon & MacPhail 1984 from Glenury Royal Distillery

Matured in cask 2335, a first-fill Sherry Butt, and bottled at 49.1% ABV. Outturn of 397 bottles. 

• COLOUR: Amber
• AROMA: STEWED FRUIT aromas and soft notes of POLISH give way to COCOA POWDER. CINNAMON spice comes to the fore alongside tart PLUM SKIN, TREACLE and subtle traces of TOASTED OAK.
• TASTE: Sweet and drying with fresh CHERRY and ORANGE PEEL flavours. BURNT SUGAR and notes of DRIED FIG develop accompanied by BLACKCURRANT and fresh COFFEE grounds.
• FINISH: Medium and fruity with lingering ANISEED and SHERRY influences on the finish. 

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality.

Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its own bespoke casks.

It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

• ‘Discovery’–This flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies
• ‘Distillery Labels’–A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries
• ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ –The heart of our portfolio. Always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
• ‘Private Collection’–Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family
• ‘Generations’–A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces

FIRST EVER CERTIFIED ORGANIC IRISH WHISKY

Waterford Distillery, the barley-forward, terroir-driven Irish distiller, has released Ireland’s very first organic whisky in the modern age.

ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 was distilled in 2016 from organic Irish barley grown by a small, dedicated band of organic farmers. The single malt whisky is certified by the Organic Trust.

John Mallick, Paddy Tobin, Alan Jackson, Pat and Denis Booth, Jason Stanley and Trevor Harris rose to the challenge laid down by Waterford Distillery to produce the first Irish-grown organic malting barley.

It forms part of Waterford’s ARCADIAN SERIES, which celebrates radical growers and alternative philosophies, including heritage grains and unusual growing methods.

Waterford’s ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 is matured in a spectrum of fresh, super-premium oak: 42% first-fill US oak, 17% virgin US oak, 23% premium French oak and 18% Vin Doux Naturel – sweet fortified wine casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV without colouring, chill-filtration or any additives whatsoever – totally natural.

QUOTES

Waterford Distillery Founder and CEO Mark Reynier says: “It beggars belief that much of the industry treats with indifference the primary source of single malt whisky’s extraordinary flavour: barley. We have placed barley – where and how it is grown – at the heart of what we do, curious about where the real whisky flavour may be found.

“A natural progression of this philosophy is to see what not only single farm origins can accomplish but what organically grown barley can do when it is given the right platform. Compliance for organic status is not straight forward by any means – there’ s a shed load of hoops to jump through, deep cleaning regimens, audits and assessments to undergo. So, is it worth it?  We certainly think so, what we lose in yield and hair pulling we gain in purity and definition of flavour.

“We’re not playing at it; we lay down 400 to 600 casks of organic spirit a year, we buy all the Irish grown organic malting barley that can get our hands on. Waterford Organic will be a main player in our ongoing portfolio for the discerning whisky drinker.”

AVAILABILITY AND PRICE

ORGANIC: GAIA 1.1 is priced at approximately €80-86/£80 / US $110 and will be available from specialist retailers in over 20 markets from October 12th worldwide.

18,000 bottles will be released throughout Europe and Asia, with a further 6,000 bottles in the USA.

The Macallan Unveils Sixth and Final Release in The Edition Series: The Macallan Edition No.6 

A Celebration of the Legendary River Spey

(New York, September 21, 2020) The Macallan has unveiled Edition No.6, a new limited edition single malt whisky celebrating the natural wonders of The Macallan Estate, and the vibrant life force that sustains it – the River Spey. Marking the sixth and final release in The Macallan Edition Series, Edition No.6 brings together The Macallan’s Ghillie, Robert Mitchell, who is the guardian of The Macallan’s stretch of the River Spey; Hardy, the world’s most renowned fly fishing brand; and The Atlantic Salmon Trust, which has over 50 years’ experience in salmon conservation.

The Macallan Estate lies on the banks of the River Spey, one of Scotland’s most legendary rivers renowned across the world as a home to the mighty Atlantic salmon. A day on the river, with its pure water, stunning wild landscape and calmness is a once in a lifetime experience, and The Macallan Whisky Maker, Steven Bremner took his inspiration for Edition No.6 by choosing five cask styles that embody unique stories related to the river and its unparalleled natural landscape.

Crafted from a combination of American and European oak sherry seasoned casks, Edition No.6 captures the River Spey’s energy; the warm, welcoming personality of The Macallan’s Ghillie; the classic craftsmanship of Hardy; the extraordinary life of the Atlantic salmon on the beat; and the mastery of whisky making on The Macallan Estate, which has taken place since 1824. The result is a multifaceted whisky delivering aromas of fresh fruits, nutmeg and toffee merged with oak and flavors of ripe plum, vibrant sweet oranges and cinnamon, developing into spicy fresh fruits and creamy chocolate and toasted oats at the finish.

“From its early days of whisky making almost 200 years ago, The Macallan has been strongly inspired by and intrinsically connected to nature. Edition No.6 is inspired by the natural world surrounding our Distillery, in particular the vibrant and energetic River Spey”, said Steven Bremner, The Macallan Whisky Maker.  This complex single malt provides the perfect conclusion to the Edition Series as there is so much to discover in this whisky. The natural color of antique brass derived from The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks indicates the richness of flavor that awaits and there is a structure and depth that is uncovered more and more over time.”

To protect the magical sense of the Spey that lies at the heart of Edition No.6, The Macallan has launched a new charitable partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust to help conserve the at-risk fish, whose numbers have declined so rapidly in recent years. The Atlantic Salmon Trust is protecting wild salmon and sea trout wherever they roam, especially in places like the River Spey, by tracking their migration across thousands of km from their dominion to the open oceans.

As a guardian of one of the last sanctuaries of Scottish salmon, The Macallan is supporting The Trust’s vital conservation work on the River Spey and beyond. The Macallan is a proud custodian of its stretch of the River Spey and advocates for sustainability of the wildlife in and around it and so all fishing at The Macallan is, and always will be, catch and release.

“There has been a relentless and long-term decline in wild Atlantic salmon returning to rivers from right across the Atlantic. This sends a clear message that all is not well with the health of our rivers and oceans and collectively, we need to do all that we can to protect and nurture this iconic species for  future generations”, said Mark Bilsby, CEO at The Atlantic Salmon Trust. The Macallan is committed to safeguarding the wild salmon swimming through its Estate along the River Spey and with their support, we will be able to strengthen and expand vital projects that aim to bring more salmon back to our waters and give Atlantic salmon the future they deserve.”

The Edition Series explores the unique and defining elements which make The Macallan one of the world’s most revered single malts. First released in 2015, The Macallan Edition No. 1 is the debut expression in the Edition Series celebrating The Macallan’s unparalleled oak cask management from wood sourcing to finished, seasoned, cask. Edition No. 2 unites four masters in one spirit with a creative collaboration between our Master Whisky Maker and the three Roca brothers – co-founders of world-renowned restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca. To create the third unique expression in the series, Edition No. 3 brings to life the flavor experience of The Macallan through aroma, calling on Master Perfumer Roja Doves. The fourth release, Edition No.4, embodies the craftsmanship and pioneering design of the new Macallan Distillery and demonstrates the mastery of whisky making since 1824. The Macallan Edition No. 5 celebrates The Macallan’s extensive natural color spectrum in partnership with masters at the Pantone Color Institute™ to create a unique shade of purple that features on the packaging. Each release reveals the detail and skill of the whisky making process while sharing the story of The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks and mastery behind the perfect cask selection since 1824.

The Macallan Edition No.6 has an SRP of $150 and will be available globally starting September 2020. For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Maker’s Notes: 

ABV: 48.6%

Color: Antique brass

Aroma: Rich fresh fruits, nutmeg, ginger, chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and oak

Palate: Plum and sweet orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, balanced oak, toffee, and oats

Finish: Long fresh fruit with spices turning to creamy chocolate and toasted oats

About The Macallan 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character. An obsession with excellence has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding, by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.  The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, takes its cues from ancient Scottish hills.  It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since 1824.  The new distillery marks an important milestone, recognising the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and marking an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the luxury single malt.

About Atlantic Salmon Trust

Founded in 1967, the Atlantic Salmon Trust was established against a backdrop of growing concerns over the significant decline in numbers of wild Atlantic salmon. The Trust is recognised to be one of the first conservation charities to be working on behalf of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

The Atlantic Salmon Trust continues to do all it can for the welfare of these iconic species and to see their naturally generated stocks reach sustainable levels of abundance.

In 2019, the AST launched (what was at the time) Europe’s largest acoustic tracking programme. The Moray Firth Tracking Project will run for three years and will provide valuable insights for identifying who, or what is responsible for the decline in wild Atlantic salmon. This information will allow the Trust to take action and make the required changes to ensure that future generations don’t miss out on this flagship fish.

www.atlanticsalmontrust.org

For further information about the Atlantic Salmon Trust, please contact Communications Coordinator, Lindsay Wrapson: lindsay@atlanticsalmontrust.org / 07425 410 218

Attention All Whisky Enthusiasts!

Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to announce that “25 Days of Dram Fine Whisky” is returning for the 7^th straight year. We are now taking orders for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar, and this year we have an amazing Early Bird Offer. Pay in full for a Calendar by midnight October 15, and you will Save $50 on this year’s edition!

Normally we would have made this announcement in August, but Covid-19 and the port strike in Montreal have made it a challenge to confirm our product list and pricing, until now. In past year’s we have taken a $150 deposit for each Calendar ordered. This year rather than charge a deposit, we are offering two options to Pre-Order a KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar.

You can either Pre-Order and Pay Later (a week before it is ready for pickup you will be billed the full price $385+gst), or a very special Early Bird Pre-Pay Option ($335+gst). If you select the Early Bird Pre Pay Option you will Save $50 on the full retail price and will be charged $335+gst per Calendar now. Note there are no further discounts or promotions on the Early Bird price.

Our Kensington Wine Market 2020 Whisky Calendar makes a great gift and is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. The 2020 Edition consists of 25 premium all-new, never before featured whiskies. There are 24 50ml bottles and a special 100ml Scotch Malt Whisky Society single cask for Christmas Day.  The KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar also includes a custom logo Glencairn Single Malt Glass and a Discount Card (good for 10% off  regular-priced whisky at KWM for all of 2021).

You or your recipient can follow along every day December 1-25 (or at your own pace), as we introduce you to each whisky on our blog and through our social media channels. We are really excited about this year’s edition, and we hope you are too.

We can’t host a Whisky Calendar Launch Party in-store this year, but we will host a gathering online, on Tuesday December 1. Details will follow later in the Fall.

We encourage you to order online, but you can also purchase the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar in-store, or by phone at 403-283-8000 /888-283-9004. We anticipate we will have the Calendars ready for pickup by the start of November.

We are not taking deposits for the KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar this year, instead we have two options for ordering:

1. Early Bird Pre-Pay Pricing – $335+gst – SAVE $50 until midnight October 15 by pre-paying in full for the KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar – No further discounts or promotions, but the early bird price in previous years used to only be a $35 savings!
2. Pre-Order & Pay Later – $385+gst – Secure a Calendar(s) and you won’t be charged anything until 1 week before it is ready for pickup.

Sincerely your friends at Kensington Wine Market!

1257 Kensington Road NW Calgary Alberta T2N3P8

403.283-8000 Toll Free. 888.283.9004

www.kensingtonwinemarket.com

info@whisky.auction

+44 (0)20 8838 9381

whisky.auction

An Incredible Mature Expression from a Treasured Distillery
Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2020 Release” Batch #2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

NOTE: 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.

Among the first batches produced after Ardbeg rebuilt their distillery back in 1997, this limited-edition 19-year-old is a piece of history from one of the most popular distilleries in Islay. The second release of “Traigh Bahn,” it follows in the footsteps of the instant bestseller from last year, but has a character all its own. In fact, one of the things that the team at Ardbeg tried to do was to make sure each release is its own distinct impression, allowing dedicated collectors to experience a unique iteration of this annual bottling. A mix of oloroso sherry casks and bourbon barrels, it has the richness and complexity that one would expect from nearly two decades of aging, and the signature style that could come from nowhere else but Ardbeg. This is our one and only allocation for the year and, as with all other top bottlings from this cult-caliber distillery, it will be gone before you know it.

Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2020 Release” Batch #2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

Ardbeg has a storied, 200-year history and today is one of the most celebrated Islay Scotch producers. Although they were almost extinct in the 1980s, they went through almost a decade-long rebuilding and reopened their flagship distillery in 1997, quickly becoming a must-have Scotch collectible of the highest order. Their flagship 10-year has previously won Whiskey of the Year, while their limited-edition “committee” bottlings have seen similar success and are some of the most coveted in today’s market. This one-time, limited-edition release is the second under the “Traign Bhan” label, a 19-year-old Scotch that comes from some of their oldest stocks from the current-day distillery. It is bottled at 46.2% alcohol, the youngest spirit was distilled in the fall of 2000, and it was aged in a mix of sherry and bourbon casks.

ralfy review 846 Extras – To what extent does a warehouse influence whisky ?

MADE FROM SCOTLAND:  MODERN STONE AGE BREAKS INTO DRINKS INDUSTRY 

Blairhoyle based craftsman Keith Burnett has gone from cutting through giant 25 tonne rocks to hand-finishing tiny 20-millimetre cubes, in a bid to break into Scotland’s thriving drinks industry.

His range of Modern Stone Age whisky stones – designed to cool drinks without affecting their taste – are not only made in Scotland, but from its very landscape, as Keith explains:

“As well as being famous for its distilleries, Scotland is also home to some of the oldest rock formations on the planet. We saw a gap in the market for an ‘all Scottish’ product fit for our national drink. While many whisky stone products on the market are made from American soapstone, our drink stones come from the very mountains that produce some of the world’s finest whiskies. We only use local whinstone and greenschist– some of the hardest and densest stones on earth. The stones work to cool a glass of complex single malt whisky or beautiful botanical gin without diluting its distinctive taste.”

A modern-day version of the stone age man, Keith has even fashioned his own tools to perfect the manufacturing process. Keith said: “For thousands of years man has relied on stone products and they’re just as useful today. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with machinery and spent 3-4 years creating the perfect machine to cut and shape our whisky stones, which I then finish off by hand before sending them out to customers all over the world. Unlike cutting large pieces of stone there is a lot more precision involved. Just 1 millimetre out and the stone will look lopsided. I also discovered, after lots of research and experimenting with different sizes, that 20mm cubes were best for temperature retention.”

Keith’s family have lived in Blairhoyle, near Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire, since 1842, just along the road from one of Scotland’s largest natural stone suppliers Tradstocks – where he sources all his materials.

Keith said: “I initially started out in farming but quickly realised that the type of farming I grew up with and had loved was not sustainable in more modern times. So, I moved on to construction and demolition where I marvelled at the buildings that we were dismantling for stone salvage. They were perfectly built by extremely practical and clever people without the assistance of lasers, CAD programs, global positioning systems or machinery. This sparked my interest in stone and building I have worked with stone all my life, from building and repairing drystone dykes when I was young to building new houses with stone today.”

Keith now plans to collaborate with Scottish whisky brands to create a bespoke range of stones matched to the rocks where the drinks are distilled.

For further information see www.modernstoneage.co.uk