John Crabbie & Co Announces Launch of 1992 28 YO Speyside Single Malt

Pioneering Scotch whisky brand, John Crabbie & Co, is building upon its award winning Independent Bottling credentials and continuing its legacy of innovation with the launch of a new single cask, 28 YO Speyside Single Malt, of which just 260 bottles will be released.

One of the brand’s oldest expressions to date, this rare, 1992 Speyside Single Malt has been matured for 28 years in a single cask from an unnamed distillery in the Glenlivet Valley of Speyside. It boasts fresh fruit aromas on the nose, with hints of spicy oak, toffee apples and chocolate caramels on the palate, all rounded off with a lovely smooth, sweet creamy finish.

Bottled at 45.5% at Crabbie’s own facility in Edinburgh, it is presented in an elegant wooden presentation case, and in Crabbie’s new, bespoke bottles. These feature embossed detailing to showcase the distinctive Crabbie elephant and ‘Leith, Edinburgh’ wording in order to further emphasise the heritage and provenance of the brand.

John Kennedy, Commercial Controller for Scotland, John Crabbie & Co, comments, “John Crabbie was well renowned for sourcing whiskies from the very best distilleries in Scotland, and as we seek to continue his legacy – this 1992 Speyside Single Malt is certainly no exception. Given the quality of the liquid and the real rarity of an age release from this Speyside distillery, this is an incredibly exciting launch for the John Crabbie brand, and we’re confident that it’ll be well-received amongst whisky fans. Plus, with the price point, and the limited production, we don’t think it’ll be available for long”.

The RRP for Crabbie’s 1992 28 YO Speyside Single Malt is £350. It is available to order now.

NOTES: 

John Crabbie & Co is owned by the UK’s leading independent alcoholic drinks manufacturer, Halewood Artisanal Spirits. www.crabbiewhisky.com

Awards:

Crabbie Whisky 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018 – Double Gold

IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Competition) – Silver

International Spirits Challenge 2018 – Silver

Crabbie 12 Year Old Single Whisky

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 – Gold

IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2019 – Gold (95pts)

Crabbie Whisky 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 – Gold

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018 – Gold

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 – Double Gold

IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Competition) – Silver

International Spirits Challenge 2018 – Silver

IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2019 – Silver (91pts)

Crabbie’s Yardhead

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 – Gold

About Halewood Artisanal Spirits

For all the latest news and launches:

Instagram:  @halewood_artisanal_spirits

Twitter: @HalewoodIntern1

Facebook: @HalewoodArtisanalSpirits

LinkedIn: Halewood Artisanal Spirits

Halewood Artisanal Spirits is an award-winning UK-based craft distiller and the winner of the IWSC UK Gin Producer 2018 Award. Premium gin brands include Whitley Neill, J. J. Whitley, City of London Distillery, Marylebone Gin and Liverpool Gin.

Halewood has a strong portfolio of other high growth premium sprits, including Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum, Rum Sixty Six, The Pogues Irish Whiskey, Gelston’s Irish Whiskey and Crabbie Whisky.

In the 2020 IWSC Awards, Halewood’s artisanal spirits won 3 gold outstanding, 6 gold, 12 silver and 23 bronze medals. In the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition they were awarded four double golds, 9 golds, 15 silvers and 24 bronze Awards. The spirits also won 9 silver and 5 bronze Awards in the Global Spirits Masters and two gold, ten silver and six Bronze in the International Spirits Challenge, 2019.

Halewood Artisanal Spirits was also recently ranked as no. 45 out of 250 in the recent Sunday Times Fast Track Awards League Table, which recognises Britain’s leading mid-market companies with the biggest sales.

The business operates 11 artisanal distilleries across the UK, Russia, Australia and South Africa including:  The Liverpool Gin Distillery, Crabbie Distillery in Edinburgh, Aber Falls Distillery in North Wales, Bankhall Distillery in Blackpool, The City of London and Marylebone Distilleries in London, The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, Ironbark in Sydney, Halewood in South Africa and JJ Whitley in Russia. The company also operates the Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria.

Outside the UK, the business exports products to over 90 countries around the world and has significant operations in a number of international markets including North America, Canada, Russia, Australia and China. The business has a £400m+ turnover, and employs over 750 employees globally.

The business was founded by the late John Halewood in 1978 and it remains owned and controlled by the Halewood family.

For the first time in over two years, we’re excited to announce the release of our single malt whisky set. Containing our core range of French Oak, American Oak and Double Cask, this whisky set gives you the opportunity to enjoy our range of rare and unique Sullivans Cove single malt whiskies.

They will be available on our online store at 11am Hobart time, on Wednesday the 10th of February

The single malt whisky set contains three 200ml bottles;

Sullivans Cove French Oak Single Cask TD0286, aged for 12 years.
Sullivans Cove American Oak Single Cask TD0352, aged for 11 years.
Sullivans Cove Double Cask DC0108, aged for 11 years.

Each single malt whisky is a classic example of our range, and have been aged for a minimum of 11 years in full sized French and American oak casks, and as always, they are non-chill filtered. This is a great opportunity to try our award-winning styles alongside each other.

With all that has been going on in the world over the last year, the way we have enjoyed our whisky has changed. We’re pouring our drams in our homes, and raising our glasses with friends over computers screens and video calls. One thing has remained the same however: we’re still bringing you whiskies to fall in love with, no matter how you choose to share them.

Find your perfect partner in our February Outturn of 28 sparkling new casks, on sale on Friday, 12 February at 2pm (GMT). Or if you can’t wait until then, we’ll have a limited amount of five specially selected preview bottlings online this afternoon at 2pm for both our EU and UK members.

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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

Enjoy a bespoke Scottish whisky tour without even leaving the house

Whisky fan and collector Sandy Wilkie has put his newly developed, bespoke whisky tours around Scotland on hold while much of the world is under Covid restrictions and travel is difficult or banned. Launch was planned for March, but as the exclusive tours will take place in a Porsche Carrera, social distancing is impossible!

Instead, he’s taking the tour online with tasting sessions for whisky lovers around the globe. Yes, wherever you are you can get involved. Sandy will be sending out samples from his own large and very exciting collection, some which you may not have heard of before or had the chance to taste, making these sessions particularly exclusive.

But it’s more than just about tasting the whisky. Sandy ensures each session is interesting, educational and fun too, including a whisky quiz and information about the Scottish distilleries – the history, the owners, staff and the whisky they produce. Great for safe socialising with other whisky lovers too. Sandy, who is Scottish himself enjoys long-standing relationships with many of the distilleries, and his knowledge about them and his country is second to none – and he really enjoys sharing everything. Whisky truly is a passion of his.

“While I’m disappointed that my in-person tours are on hold for now, the online version is be the next best thing,’’ says Sandy. “Whisky can be enjoyed anywhere and I’m looking forward to sharing my own collection, which is not something I’ve done before. Wherever they are in the world, whisky lovers can dial in, sip, learn and have fun.”

Visit www.greenhillfusion.com for more information, prices and to book your tasting. You can also call Sandy on 07596 853425.

News on the new issue!

The latest edition of Whisky Magazine, issue #173, publishes today!

Our cover story looks at the family bonds that underpin the whisky industry, and how the craft of whisky-making is so often passed down through the generations. Whether you really do believe that there’s something special about family-owned business, or maybe you think it’s just outdated tradition, our contributor Mark Jennings is here to set things straight. From Cotswolds to Lambay, from old to new, different families tell their stories and their experiences of creating whisky.

Haven’t got issue #173 yet? Get your copy HERE

Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @Whisky_Magazine or Instagram @Whisky_Magazine, or on Facebook @WhiskyMagazine

Christopher Coates
Editor
Whisky Magazine

ralfy review 863 – Three Ships Single malt @46.3%vol

LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES KICKS OFF  

PRO14 RUGBY’S COACH OF THE MONTH  

This month, The Spirit of PRO14 Rugby launches the inaugural Coach of the Month award presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies. The accolade celebrates the excellence achieved by the winner and their team’s successes over the previous month which mirror the spirit of Loch Lomond Whiskies.

Beginning in January 2021, Loch Lomond Whiskies would like fans to vote for their Coach of the Month. Nominees will be put forward by PRO14 Rugby’s podcast ‘Under the Sticks’, who will explore those coaches who have demonstrated the spirit to drive their teams to success, with key characteristics such as passion, innovation, inspiration and teamwork traits that are shared with Loch Lomond Whiskies premium whisky range.

Fans can vote on PRO14 Rugby’s channels with the winner announced at the end of the week. And in return the Coach of the Month presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will receive a bespoke 18 year old single malt from the multi-award winning Loch Lomond Whiskies range.

David Jordan, Tournament Director, PRO14 Rugby said: “Our tournament provides so many challenges where our coaches must blend tactical and technical nous, a savviness in the recruitment market and ensure they are bringing through the next generation of international talent to the PRO14 while also managing some of the biggest talents in the game.  

“As a result, we have some very innovative coaches in our tournament and in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies it’s terrific that we can highlight their successes on a monthly basis.”

The first Coach of the Month Award, presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will be announced on Friday 5^th February.

Earlier in 2021, multi-award winning Loch Lomond whiskies announced it will partner with PRO14 Rugby for the next three years. To learn more about the PRO14 Rugby partnership and to discover the Loch Lomond Whiskies range, go to: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com   

About Loch Lomond Group 

Loch Lomond Group is a multi-award winning leading international distiller of malt, blended and grain whisky with a rich heritage dating back to the foundation of its unique Littlemill Distillery (Scotland’s oldest distillery) in 1772. Its brands are present in over 120 countries around the world. Its key premium Scotch whisky brands include Loch Lomond – “The Spirit of the Open”, Glen Scotia, a Campbeltown malt whisky from the west coast, and Littlemill, the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland. It also produces High Commissioner and Loch Lomond blended Scotch whiskies, as well as Glen’s Vodka, Scotland’s number one vodka brand, and Ben Lomond, premium Scottish Gin.   

With production sites across Scotland, Loch Lomond Group is one of the few distillers in Scotland to have a fully integrated production and supply capability. It operates three distilleries – Two (malt & grain) at Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire which has on-site cooperage facilities and Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. The group also owns and operates Scotland’s largest independent bottling plant in Catrine, Ayrshire.  

About Loch Lomond Whiskies 

Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814. The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain  

Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards  

Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition: 

• • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old  
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12-Year-Old  
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12-Year-Old  

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old   

In 2018 the company signed a five-year partnership with The R&A for Loch Lomond Whiskies to become “The Spirit of The Open”. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf. 

For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

Opening for Bidding at 9am EST Today:

Sotheby’s 48-Hour Flash Sale Presenting the First Opportunity to Acquire at Auction

A Bottle of Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5

*Two-Day Window to Acquire One of the Most Coveted Whisky Bottles in the World*

Estimate: $100,000-200,000

NEW YORK & LONDON, 8 February 2021 – Bidding opens at 9am EST today on ‘48 Hours Only | Black Bowmore x Aston Martin DB5 1964’, a flash sale offering the first opportunity to acquire at auction one of the most coveted whisky bottles in the world. Launched by Bowmore in 2020, of the 27 bottles produced, 25 were released, with the two remaining bottles destined for Bowmore Distillery’s archive. The bottle in Sotheby’s sale carries an estimate of $100,000-200,000, with bidding scheduled to close on Wednesday 10 February at 9:00am EST.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “This rare expression is a high-concept marriage of British craftsmanship. The status of Black Bowmore as one of the greatest whiskies ever produced is fundamentally down to its quality and complexity. There can be no more fitting a tribute to such a legend in the world of whisky than this special partnership with arbiters of sophistication, Aston Martin. Sotheby’s has set records for both Bowmore and Aston Martin in recent years and we are delighted to offer the first opportunity for collectors to buy this hybrid bottle at auction in our very first 48-hour only sale for spirits.”

Of all Aston Martin’s models, the DB5 reigns supreme as its most iconic, since its rise to stardom in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. The imagery of the late, great Scottish actor Sean Connery manning the wheel of the DB5 on the silver screen made this model a must-have for every British car collector and it was even dubbed “The Most Famous Car In The World”.*

For nearly 30 years, since the release of its First Edition in 1993, Black Bowmore has been synonymous with collectability and an icon in the rare whisky market. However, its legacy can be traced back to 1964, not only the year Goldfinger was released, but also the year that Bowmore Distillery updated their distillery on Islay, swapping out the coal fired stills for steam heating. It was during this vintage that the Black Bowmore spirit was distilled, the whisky taking on its distinctive dark color, from which its name is derived, during the maturation process.

Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5 is presented in a handblown glass bottle incorporating the DB5 piston into its design, which itself comes in a presentation box created from string-grain calfskin, brass latches and nickel plated hinges.

The partnership between Bowmore Distillery and Aston Martin marks a watershed moment in cross-category collaboration, the two brands operating as captains of industry in their respective fields.

Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 on the small Hebridean island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. Over its 242 year existence it has established itself not only as the oldest, but also as the most valuable Islay whisky when the distillery’s 54 year old expression, distilled in 1957, sold for £363,000 at Sotheby’s London in 2019.

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 and its cars have been renowned for both their performance and their style ever since. The company received its Royal Warrant in 1982 and went on to set its own auction record at Sotheby’s when in 2017 a DB1/1 sold at RM Sotheby’s Californian auction for $22.5 million, making it the most valuable British car ever sold at auction.

Full sale details here.

Notes:

*The exact car used during the filming of Goldfinger went on to sell at RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey for $6,385,000 in 2019.

Sotheby’s spirits sales in 2020 totalled $18 million, which was 20% of the Company’s annual auction total of $92 million for wine and spirits, and a huge increase from five years ago when spirits represented less than 2% of Sotheby’s wine sales – further details here.

A Divine Malt from a Great, Unsung Highland Distillery
2006 Behind the Highlander (Craigellachie) 14 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)
“…the quality of the whisky and the distillery character shines through gorgeously.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

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.

If you haven’t already experienced the superlative malts of Craigellachie, we strongly suggest you give this wonderfully complete “teaspooned” rendition a spin. This 14 Year Old perfectly captures everything we love about this Highland distillery, offering up a dram that is as engaging as it is drinkable. As the tasting notes will attest, it is a bit of a brute straight out of the gate, but with the addition of water, this magical malt absolutely sings, showcasing incredible range and depth. Don’t let its light color fool you, as this malt is potent and powerful, offering an array of flavors that cross from chocolate and cherries to savory spice tones. Priced just under $59.99 (hooray for the value teaspooning delivers!), this is one of the sharpest buys you’ll find in Highland malt. This combination of quality and outstanding value means this beauty won’t be around for long, so don’t miss out on this—one of the smartest buys from Craigellachie we’ve had the good fortune to encounter.

2006 Behind the Highlander (Craigellachie) 14 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

If you’ve ever been to the Highlander Inn, you’ll know all too well that it’s dangerously close to two of Scotland’s best distilleries. One has become so ubiquitous that its name does not even connote Scotch any longer, but simply luxury. The other is the rugged and rustic dark horse (formerly owned by White Horse!) Craigellachie. They’re putting out some of the very best malt anywhere in Scotland to little fanfare. The still house has been reconstructed in the modern era and looks similar to Glendronach’s, a stone and glass box, which isn’t so pretty from the outside, but gives the distiller plenty of air and space to work. It wasn’t until recently that owners Bacardi began marketing this excellent malt on its own, although the vast majority of this whisky still ends up in the Dewars blend. Built in 1891 on the cliffs across from Macallan, if you miss the turn off to Dufftown, you’ll miss Craigellachie, but the next road takes you right to the Highlander Inn. There you should stop and taste the local dram of choice. Or save a trip and try this awesome little cask. Aged for 14 years in a refill sherry butt, the malt has all the classic hallmarks of this awesome distillery. Dense and chewy, without being masked by the fresh sherry, the malt offers plenty of deep herbal character, powerful savory spice and complex cacao flavors. This malt was teaspooned with a small quantity of Dailuaine to declassify it. Be sure to add some water to soften this rugged whisky a bit.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2021

The excellent Craigellachie distillery is certainly coming up on many peoples’ favorites list. We’ve had good success with it in both sherry and hogsheads, but this is the first refill sherry butt we’ve bottled. At 14 years of age the sherry component isn’t very obvious at this point, but the quality of the whisky and the distillery character shines through gorgeously. The color – pale straw. This one is a total sleeper. It’s just barely there at first nosing, but as you allow it to sit and aerate it starts to build on some of the complex Craigellachie aromatics. Preserved citrus fruit, chalk, fresh tennis ball, camphor, menthol, baked apple. On the palate, the sweet roasted barley and zingy minerality are front and center. As soon as you add water though (a nice hefty splash until you get a bit of cloudiness), the gorgeous yellow fruit and herbal qualities really start to speak. It’s absolutely scrumptious on the palate now, with a lovely medium texture and silky long finish. This might disappoint the few who aren’t pre-programmed to add water, but once you do, you’ll see why this is a REAL Highlander. Dare I say with something that reminds me of that other great “C” Highlander—Clynelish. As some are apt to say these days, you can’t go wrong with those “C” distilleries—save for maybe Cardhu…

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 10, 2020

Even if you don’t spend the night, the Highlander Inn is a required stop if you find yourself in the vicinity of Craigellachie. Not only does it offer one of the best atmospheres in Scotland, it’s got an epic whisky collection. This dram would be right at home on their back bar, just as the distillery sits in their backyard. 14 years in a refill sherry butt hasn’t imparted a ton of color, but sure has let the meaty and herbal notes that make Craigellachie so famous shine. Combine that with the lighter floral and fruit notes that come out to play with a little water and you’ve got a big, flavorful whisky at a stunning price. The finish is long and robust, full of dark cherries and chocolate sprinkled with orange zest and sea salt. For the price and ease of drinkability it’s nearly a “session” whisky.

Join the English Whisky Members Club! 

Receive 6 x bottlings a year – one bottle delivered bi-monthly

Discounts on all future purchases

Unlimited St George’s tours free of charge and free guest passes.

Each members bottle is carefully selected to showcase the work of our distillers. Some bottles will be unique for our members and some will be tasters of launches to come.  

From £10.33 pcm

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