Celebratory Malt of the Month

Douglas Laing’s Provenance Macduff Single Cask 10 Year Old

A stunning little whisky from the Highland distillery of Macduff.

Selected as our Malt of the Month for February, this beautiful dram has been drawn from a single refill hogshead, yielding just 368 bottles and cut to 46% for your pleasure.

You will find wonderful notes of barley, brown sugar, fresh strawberries, thick vanilla cream and shortbread.

£39.99

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DECADES OF TERROIR DEBATE SETTLED: WEATHER AND SOIL CRUCIAL TO MAKING GREAT WHISKY

• New peer-reviewed research proves that concept of terroir is not unique to wine and cognac
• Influence of soil, microclimate and topography on barley growth shown to have impact on flavour of whisky
• Debate about terroir has polarised the whisky industry for decades

17 February: A new academic study has provided conclusive proof of terroir’s influence on whisky, settling an industry-dividing debate for both whisky drinkers and producers alike.

The concept of terroir – the French principle that factors such as soil, microclimate, and topography together can influence flavour characteristics – has long been accepted in other drinks categories such as wine and cognac, but has polarised whisky experts for years.

However, a peer-reviewed paper published today in leading scientific journal Foods, spearheaded by Waterford Distillery, proves that terroir can also be found in barley, and significantly, the single malt whisky spirit distilled from it.

The first paper from The Whisky Terroir Project examined two barley varieties grown on two farms with separate environments in 2017 and 2018: Athy, County Kildare and Bunclody, County Wexford in South Eastern Ireland.

Each sample of barley was micro-malted and micro-distilled in laboratory conditions to produce 32 different whisky distillate samples. These were then tested by world-leading whisky lab analysts and using the very latest analytical methods of Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–olfactometry (GC/MS-O), as well as highly trained sensory experts.

Key findings include:

• More than 42 different flavour compounds, half of which were directly influenced by the barley’s terroir.
• The sheltered inland Athy site had predominantly higher pH levels with increased amounts of Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Molybdenum (Mo) in its limestone based soil. It had consistent, higher temperatures and lower rainfall. Whisky new make spirit made from this barley was characterised by toasted almond notes, and a malty, biscuity, oily finish.
• The more exposed Bunclody site had lower pH levels with increased amounts of Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) in its soil, which is based on a shale or slate bedrock. The farmland is closer to the coast and was typically subject to more volatile weather. Whisky new make spirit made from this barley was lighter and floral, with a flavour of fresh fruitiness.

The findings of the study are significant for the whisky industry as the presence of terroir within the spirit distilled from barley creates the possibility of producing regionally specific whiskies in the same vein as wines, potentially an Appellation Controlée system of provenance.

Dr Dustin Herb, Lead Researcher and Post-doctoral research at Oregon State University, said: “This interdisciplinary study investigated the basis of terroir by examining the genetic, physiological, and metabolic mechanisms of barley contributing to whisky flavour. Using standardised malting and distillation protocols, we preserved distinct flavours associated with the testing environments and observed year-to-year variations, indicating that terroir is a significant contributor to whisky flavour.”

Mark Reynier, Founder and CEO of Waterford, said: “Barley is what makes single malt whisky the most flavoursome spirit in the world. This study proves that barley’s flavours are influenced by where it is grown, meaning – like wine and cognac – whisky’s taste is terroir-driven.”

“Critics claimed any terroir effect would be destroyed by the whisky-making process, saying there is no scientific evidence to prove that terroir even exists. Well, there is now.”

Waterford, a global whisky brand based in Ireland, uses a terroir-driven approach for all its single malt whiskies, with barley from each of its 40 Irish farms harvested, stored, malted and distilled separately each year. It has produced whisky from almost 100 different terroirs as Single Farm Origin distillations since it was founded.

Waterford’s Whisky Terroir Project was undertaken by a truly international team of academics from the USA, Scotland, Greece, Belgium and Ireland, including: Prof. Kieran Kilcawley and Maria Kyraleou of Teagasc Food Research Centre, part of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Enterprise Ireland; Minch Malt; and featured cooperation from Scotland’s leading whisky laboratory.

Professor Kieran Kilcawley, Principal Research Officer at Teagasc, said: “We utilised gas chromatography olfactometry which enabled us to discern the most important volatile aroma compounds that impacted sensory perception of the new make spirit. This research not only highlights the importance of terrior, but also enhances our knowledge of key aroma compounds in whisky.”

This first step of the project explores the terroir impact via a laboratory malted and distilled spirit for complete production uniformity. The next stage – which will be published in 2022 – further explores the same role of terroir in whisky, this time using analysis based on Waterford Distillery’s own commercial spirit and matured whisky.

NOTES 

* The impact factor of an academic journal is a scientometric index calculated by Clarivate that reflects the yearly average number of citations that articles published in the last two years in a given journal received. Food has an impact factor of 4.092 – anything above 4 is considered elite in the food and beverage sector.

By law, barley distilled spirit must be aged for three years to be bottled as whisky.

ABOUT WATERFORD DISTILLERY

Influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Distillery obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology & rigour to single malt whisky.

Using 100% Irish barley, widely considered to be the world’s finest, its Single Farm Origin series is an uber-provenance range of limited edition natural whiskies that explore Irish terroir one farm, once place, at a time. They are expressions of precision and rarity, showcasing barley flavours derived from individual Irish farms and harvests. The distillery’s ultimate aim is that these component single malts come together create the world’s most unique, complex and profound whisky.

For more information, visit https://waterfordwhisky.com/

OLD CHARTER OAK NAMED THE AMERICAN

BRAND INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR BY WHISKY MAGAZINE 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 10, 2021) –The Icons of Whisky America Awards by Whisky Magazine named Old Charter Oak the 2021 Brand Innovator of the Year in a virtual awards ceremony last week.

“In our continual journey to innovate and explore ways to produce better whiskey, this is a huge honor for us,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “Our Old Charter Oak series explores a wide variety of important factors, and each release tells us more about the role oak plays in making great whiskey. Oak is an essential part of bourbon making, so it’s important that we examine all the variables we can.”

The Old Charter Oak collection explores, honors, and celebrates the role of oak in making great whiskey by exploring the different taste profiles of barrels obtained from trees grown in different countries, climates and soil. The oak trees used for this brand vary by country of origin, or species, or U.S. state. Some barrels are even made from century old trees that grew for 100, 200 and 300 years.

Four expressions of Old Charter Oak have been released to date, including Chinkapin Oak, Mongolian Oak, French Oak, and Canadian Oak. Subsequent releases are planned a few times each year, indefinitely. Each release in the series is limited. Suggested retail pricing for each Old Charter Oak expression is $69.99.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first year the Icons of Whisky awards have been announced online and broadcast around the world rather than presented in person.

The Icons of Whisky Awards America 2021 will now compete with counterparts from all over the world. For more about the Icons of Whisky visit www.iconsofwhisky.com. More information about the Old Charter Oak series can be found at www.oldcharteroak.com.

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 1775 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 for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world for 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

Be the first to try this rare offering 

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INTRODUCING

The English – Triple Distilled, Peated Single Cask

One of the joys of owning warehouses full of maturing whisky is finding the odd cask that has behaved differently to the norm. These single casks are best bottled individually to show off the work of the distillers and casks. This fabulous peated triple distilled is a very rare offering at the distillery and we think this single cask a fantastic example of this.

Thank you for subscribing to us, and for your continued support, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to be one of the first to receive a bottle of The English – Triple Distilled, Peated Single Cask.

Only 204 bottles released.

£79.00 70cl 49.8% ABV

Don’t forget that we are offering FREE delivery on all orders over £75 for Mainland UK Delivery.

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Tasting Notes: A lovely, rich creamy palate. Smoke comes across in big waves. Spicy, dry finish with the light floral notes appearing at the end.

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Receive a FREE English Whisky hip flask with its own presentation gift box (worth RRP £9.99) when you spend over £75 online. (Your hip flask will automatically be added to your basket as you checkout. Offer only applies to spend over £75 before postage and packaging.  Promotion ends 19th February 2021. Offer excludes all distillery tours)

OFFER ENDS 19TH FEB 2021

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SAVE 22%
NOW £135

Longmorn distillery has long been a favourite of conoisseurs and discerning drinkers and is well-loved for its sherried single malts – the distillery’s audience has always been a dedicated cult following rather than a mainstream one. This 15-year-old single malt whisky is a prime example of the distillery’s style – full-bodied and fruity with a foundation of soft spice and subtle, floral heather – and is bottled at 45% ABV. While stocks last, this flavourful and respected classic Highland single malt – now discontinued and increasingly difficult to find – is available to buy now for just £135, saving you more than 20%.

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Port Askaig Launches Seasonal Tributes to the Flavors of Islay

Port Askaig whiskies provide an elegant escape into the world of peaty Islay whisky.

Elixir Distillers has launched two Port Askaig 12-Year-Old Limited Editions created to embody the unique spirit of Islay and its people.

“Having worked with Elixir for many years and knowing the process of cask selection we have been blessed to have several very special casks that have come out in limited releases over the years. Many of these have achieved high praise from very well-respected reviewers around the world. Recently we had the privilege of having two exceptional 12-year-old expressions, one fully matured in Bourbon and the other a culmination of amazing Bourbon and Sherry casks. These two Port Askaig 12-year-old expressions are fantastic for special occasions and a true testament not only to the ability of Oliver Chilton to select amazing casks but his fine nose and taste to be able to pick these hidden gems from hundreds of casks he goes through when making selections for Port Askaig 8-year-old and 110 Proof”

~ Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages

Port Askaig 12-Year-Old Bourbon Cask

Nose: The smokiness of peated malt fresh from the kiln, melding with a background of zesty lemon oil and sea breeze. A maritime minerality drifts in.

Palate: Lemon sherbet and key lime pie accented by the sweetness of stone fruits. This blends with sooty smoke from a large hearth and boasts a toffee-led sweetness underneath.

Finish: Rich, barbecued Persian black lemon and dried mint leaves linger with fresh turf. A touch of smoked paprika has the last word.

This Edition, contains distillate from 2006 and 2007 from the north-east coast of Islay and has been matured for over 12 years in ex-Bourbon Hogsheads to create a new release that showcases the very best of Islay with a perfect balance of sweetness and smoke.  Non chill-filtered and bottled at 45.8%, which head blender Oliver Chilton feels is the ideal drinking strength, 5,000 bottles have been produced for the world, with 720 bottles available in the US.

Port Askaig 12-Year-Old Marriage of Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Nose: The smokiness of peated malt fresh from the kiln, melding with a background of zesty lemon oil and sea breeze. A maritime minerality drifts in.

Palate: Lemon sherbet and key lime pie accented by the sweetness of stone fruits. This blends with sooty smoke from a large hearth and boasts a toffee-led sweetness underneath.

Finish: Rich, barbecued Persian black lemon and dried mint leaves linger with fresh turf. A touch of smoked paprika has the last word.

This Edition is a marriage of whiskies from nine refill American Oak Hogsheads, five Oloroso Sherry Butts, and three Solera Sherry Butts, combined to create a flavorful Single Malt with a medley of smoky, fruity, and coastal notes.  As with the Bourbon Edition, this Edition is non chill-filtered and bottled at 45.8% to fully showcase its distinct Islay character. 9,000 bottles of the limited-edition release have been produced, with 360 bottles available in the US.

ImpEx Beverages Inc.

360 Swift Ave

Side B # 9

South San Francisco, CA 94080

www.ImpExBev.com

Isle of Raasay Inaugural Release Ballot

70cl / 52% abv
£99.00
(Restricted to 1 per customer)

The Inaugural Release from the Isle of Raasay distillery is the very first legal single malt whisky to be produced on an island rooted in centuries of illicit distilling. This 2020 release is matured in first fill Tennessee whiskey casks before being finished in first fill Bordeaux red wine barrels and bottled at a strength of 52% abv. This limited edition is presented in a beautifully crafted bottle that reflects the natural environment of the Hebridean island of Raasay.

ENTER THE BALLOT

To get your hands on this first release from a new and exciting distillery, just click on the link below and enter your email address. When the ballot closes on 22nd February we’ll let you know whether or not you have been successful and the lucky few will have one week to complete their purchase.

Best of luck!

Enter now ›

Our most recent brace of exclusive single malt whiskies is an exciting one: two very different drams from a single distillery which we – and, it seems, you – have come to fall further and further in love with in recent years.

Edradour is one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries. Owned and operated by legendary independent bottling company Signatory Vintage, the chronically underappreciated distillery has gone from a hidden gem to a cult favourite.

One of a growing number of distilleries to produce both unpeated and peated whiskies, Edradour and Ballechin show off those two sides of the distillery’s spirit, respectively. Both are delicious drams, displaying impressive depth of flavour, having been matured in active sherry casks.

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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 369: Glengoyne 13 Year Old 2005 Hart Brothers

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, got an open bottle of this sherry matured Glengoyne from his buddy Manny. There is still more than a quarter of the contents in there. Perhaps he did not like it much? This single cask was bottled by the Hart Brothers exclusively for the lovers of malt in Switzerland.

https://youtu.be/nf1S4kWcq9o

Virginia Distillery Company’s VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky recognized at World Whiskies Awards for Fifth Year  

Lovingston, Va. – Virginia Distillery Company recently won ‘Best American Blended Malt’ in the Blended Malt Category for its VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky for the fifth consecutive year at the World Whiskies Awards, an awards program that highlights whisky from around the world. The distillery’s American Single Malt, Courage & Conviction, won silver for ‘Best American Single Malt’, for the Dr. Jim Swan batch of Courage & Conviction.

 “These continued wins are a result of our team’s dedication, teamwork and passion for ultra-premium whisky,” Virginia Distillery Company CEO Gareth H. Moore said. “I’m very proud of the Virginia Distillery Company team and to see our VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky continue to be a favorite in the Blended Malt category and to earn recognition for Courage & Conviction in the American Single Malt category.”

The distillery’s VHW series marries American Single Malt made onsite at the distillery with aged Scotch Malt whisky. The VHW Port Cask Finished Whisky serves as the flagship offering of this series, earning ‘Best American Blended Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and again in 2021. Another core finish from the series include VHW Cider Cask Finished Whisky, which ranked in the Whisky Advocate 2019 Top 20. This award-winning series will continue to be sold alongside Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky offerings.

Aged a minimum of three years, Courage & Conviction is distilled on-site using 100% North American malted barley and mountain spring-fed water. The Dr. Jim Swan batch is matured in old world sherry casks, traditional bourbon barrels and re-coopered cuvée wine casks which adds intensity and complexity to the spirit. This batch of Courage & Conviction features notes of caramel and butterscotch and evolves on the palate with hints of bright red fruit, raspberry, cocoa, barrel spice and vanilla. Additional nuances of the Dr. Jim Swan batch include aromas of honeyed apricots, blood orange, milk chocolate, vanilla custard and red berries that mingle with butterscotch and toasted pecans. The finish builds into cinnamon and mouthwatering orange zest.   

The inaugural batch of Courage & Conviction, dedicated to Dr. George G. Moore, released in spring of 2020. Additional releases in the Courage & Conviction line will feature solo bottlings of each cask type, slated for Spring 2021. For more information about the distillate and cask data for Courage & Conviction, as well as bottling and process information for consumers, visit batch.info.

The awards are a part of the World Drinks Awards program which launched in 2007 with the World Whiskies Awards and World Beer Awards. Judges for the awards included a panel composed of leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers, bartenders/mixologists and hoteliers. Each entry is tasted blind, and in addition to nose, palate and finish the judges look for balance, character, complexity, quality and functionality when judging.

For more information about Virginia Distillery Company or American Single Malt whisky, visit the distillery’s website and complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.

About Virginia Distillery Company  

Staffed by a local Virginia team mentored by Scottish consultants with decades of experience, Virginia Distillery Company is the largest dedicated American Single Malt whisky distillery in the U.S. The distillery has a current annual production volume of 80,000 4.5L cases and growing. At full capacity, the distillery can produce over 8,000 casks yielding 350,000 4.5L cases annually. The distillery produces Courage & Conviction American Single Malt on-site using malted barley from North America and water from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, the distillery offers the award-winning VHW series, made with 100% malted barley. Showcasing both Old and New World whisky-making, the award-winning line marries whisky made on-site in Virginia with whisky from Scotland.