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Michel Couvreur “Peaty Overaged” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml)

$79.99 View

The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the ’60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of Pinot Noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself, selecting his own sherry butts to ensure the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, use a wine opener to go through it).

ralfy review 881 – Ben Nevis 10yo @ 46%vol: (Signatory)

SPIRIT OF YORKSHIRE DISTILLERY RELEASES FILEY BAY PEATED FINISH

The light and subtly smoky whisky comes after the success of the ambitious distillery’s ‘finished’ releases last year

Filey Bay, Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky, made by the ambitious Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, is releasing a brand new expression – Filey Bay Peated Finish. After the success of its ‘finished’ releases in 2020, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery decided to go one step further and finish its light and fruity house style whisky in peated casks to deliver a subtle note of peat smoke. Balanced and delicate, Filey Bay Peated Finish is soft and sweet with a gentle twist of smoke making this release perfect for any whisky fan whatever their preference.

This exciting new cask type not only adds dimension to the distinctive, creamy and light whisky, but also brings together the forward thinking distillery’s ethos of respecting tradition with a progressive approach. Filey Bay Peated Finish uses a combination of two of the distillery’s distillate styles from a small selection of stunning bourbon casks laid down in the spring and summer of 2017, which undergoes a secondary maturation in peated casks. Light, sweet and coastal, expect flavours of soft vanilla, caramel, subtle peat smoke and bright citrus.

Co-founded by Tom Mellor and David Thompson, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery began making whisky in 2016. The distillery is located a stone’s throw from co-founder Tom Mellor’s working arable farm in Hunmanby on the Yorkshire coast, which has been in Mellor’s family since World War II.

“After the success of our ‘finished’ releases last year, we’re really excited to announce our next step, Filey Bay Peated Finish. This bottling is a much anticipated first, as we give our light and fruity signature whisky a subtle sweet smokiness by finishing in peated casks.” said Spirit of Yorkshire Director and Co-Founder, David Thompson.

The distillery’s Whisky Director, Joe Clark added: “Opinions can sometimes be divided on peated whisky, and this release strikes very much at the middle ground for those who love peated whisky and those who are not so sure. Our Peated Finish is all about balance – it’s the perfect dram for any whisky fan.”

The distillery’s traditional yet progressive approach results in a distinctive whisky which is creamy, light and fruity with flavours of citrus, honey, caramel and vanilla, whilst it gets its complex and refined character from maturation in a range of ex-bourbon and sherry barrels. Named after the pristine beach in North Yorkshire visible from the distillery, the gannets that gather on nearby Bempton Cliffs have become an emblem of the brand and appear on its vibrant label.

Alongside Filey Bay Peated Finish, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery’s initial ‘finished’ range includes the Filey Bay STR Finish, aged partly in former red wine barriques; the Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, aged in Spanish Moscatel wine barrels; and various other limited-run releases using a range of maturation techniques. Filey Bay Flagship is the distillery’s first widely available bottling, following the limited-run First Release and Second Release.

Filey Bay Peated Finish will be available to purchase from June from the distillery’s website here, RRP £60.

Notes 

Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery Hunmanby Industrial Estate, The Distillery, Unit 1, Hunmanby, Filey, YO14 0PH. www.spiritofyorkshire.com @SpiritOfYorkshire

About Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery

Spirit of Yorkshire distillery was set up in 2016 by Tom Mellor and David Thompson in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, UK. A sister operation to the Wold Top Brewery, it is located close to the owners’ arable farm, which specialises in growing malting barley, and uses progressive, sustainable farming practices and unique distillation methods in its range of single malt whiskies.

The distillery’s operations are underpinned by a long-standing passion for sustainable agriculture and careful environmental stewardship: all of the barley used in its production is grown on the farm, making it one of the only genuinely field to bottle distilleries in the UK, while chalk aquifers directly underneath the farm provide a consistent water supply that’s ideal for whisky distilling.

Both Mellor and Thompson have worked in farming and agriculture in the local area for decades. Passionate about low-impact farming techniques being used wherever possible, issues like soil health and biodiversity are also front-of-mind when it comes to the farm’s operations. The distillery will continue its regular tours for locals and visitors looking to find out more about the distilling process from 21st June, while the resident Pot Still Café will continue to offer speciality coffee alongside breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menus made from produce sourced from local artisans

After many long months, we are thrilled to be preparing to welcome visitors back to Glenfarclas.

The doors to our Visitor Centre and shop will open at 10am on Monday the 5^th of July and we can’t wait to show people around our beautiful distillery once again.

We have done a lot of work to ensure the safety of visitors and of our distillery team which remains our number one priority.

The Centre will be open from Monday to Saturday. Tours will be running four times a day – 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30 (10:30, 12:00, 13:15 and 14:30 on Saturdays).

We have had to make some changes to the tour route to ensure that social distancing can be maintained, but you will still get to see the stillhouse, the warehouse and enjoy a dram or two in the famous Ships Room. While these changes are in place, the tour and tasting will be free of charge.

At present, only the Classic Tour is available, but we hope to start offering more in-depth tour and tasting experiences as Covid restrictions ease later in the year.

Spaces on tours are limited, so pre-booking is essential to avoid missing out. Email our Visitor Centre to secure your place.

The Visitor Centre shop is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 4pm on Saturday.  No booking is needed if you wish to drop in.

Our Visitor Centre Manager, Matthew, getting ready to fly the Glenfarclas flag once again.

We have made some changes to the layout of the Visitor Centre and Shop, please follow all signs.

All social distancing rules will be observed.  If you (or anyone you have been in contact with) have reason to believe you have Covid 19, please postpone your visit for the time being.  We ask that visitors wear face coverings while inside buildings, unless exempt.  A member of staff will advise where this is not required.

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Blended Japanese Whisky (750ml) $74.99 View 

91 points Wine Enthusiast

 The newest blended whisky offering from Hibiki is burnished gold in the glass and has a bold aroma that mixes vanilla, fresh pear and a hint of smoke. The smokiness comes forward at the first sip, wrapping around a core of oak and vanilla custard and finishing long, with a mouthwatering bitter chocolate note. *Best of 2016* (KN)  (3/2016)

90 points Whisky Advocate

 Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)  (12/2015)

Wine & Spirits

 You can’t be a Japanese whisky enthusiast without having noticed that there’s a shortage of the stuff. What once was readily available is now hard to find. What once was affordable now costs various bodily limbs. It is due to more than a fad. The best Japanese whisky is remarkable stuff, and none are better than the top single malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hakushu and the blended whisky Hibiki. Hibiki comes in 12-, 17- and 21-year-old expressions, but even the youngest of these is now allocated. Harmony, the newest release, carries no age statement, indicating that it contains younger whiskies than other bottlings. Nevertheless, this is a welcome concession, with Suntory’s classic sense of balance, nuance and delicacy. *Best of 2015* (JM)  (11/2015)

K&L Notes

*96 points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 of 2020* The newest incarnation of Suntory’s hugely popular Hibiki series, this time without an age statement attached. The same soft, mellow, vanilla-laden flavor is still here, however. It’s a true harmony of pure Hibiki flavor.

GlenDronach

Friday, June 18th, 4-6PM

Saturday, June 19th, 12-4PM

Join us this Friday, June 18th from 4-6PM and Saturday, June 19th from 12-4PM for our GlenDronach scotch tastings, presented by whisky expert and ambassador Rory Glasgow. We’ll have a variety of award-winning whiskies to try, with Rory and our whisky experts present for all your whisky questions.

Established in 1826, Highland distillery GlenDronach was one of the very first licensed distilleries in Scotland. The award-winning GlenDronach range marries the best of Highland and Spanish skill and heritage to offer whiskies of elegant, complex character and tremendous depth of taste. Masters of Sherry Maturation, GlenDronach scotches are recognized for their deep color and rich flavor profiles, ranging from sweet fruity Pedro Ximenez sourced single malts, to the dry and nutty Olorosso expressions.

RSVPs are appreciated! Click below to RSVP through facebook.

Friday, June 18th, 4-6PM

Saturday, June 19th, 12-4PM

Current Store Hours at The Whisky Shop:

Open 10AM – 6PM, every day

We respect and enforce California’s Covid Lockdown guidelines, including reduced capacity, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

FATHER’S DAY EXCLUSIVE

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+ receive the Editor’s Choice Tastings poster
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This Father’s Day treat yourself or someone special to a Whisky Magazine subscription and enjoy the next 3 issues for £3. Plus, you’ll receive this definitive Whisky Tastings poster –with 5 years of the very best tastings, all absolutely FREE.

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Whisky Wednesday Reviews Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

Gordon & MacPhail introduces The World’s Oldest Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Generations 80YO From Glenlivet Distillery presented in partnership with Sir David Adjaye OBE

ELGIN, SCOTLAND, 15 June 2021: Whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail is set to release the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky this September – an 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery – in partnership with Sir David Adjaye OBE.

Download Video HERE

On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner in the north of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask to be enjoyed by future generations.

To celebrate John and George Urquhart’s vision, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE, to create a unique decanter and oak case to house the world’s most precious whisky to date. Described as ‘an architect with an artist’s sensibilities and vision’, Adjaye was a natural choice as a creative partner; a man who shares the company’s values of artistry, legacy, and craftsmanship.

“When collaborating, I am looking for like-minded partners in terms of their craft, beliefs and traditions. I loved Gordon & MacPhail’s rigour and obsession with their products and their craft – a romantic commitment that enables one to do exceptional things. Our partnership felt so organic,” expresses Adjaye.

Referred to by renowned whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt’, George Urquhart passionately believed that each whisky should be left to mature until the cask and spirit had combined to create the desired quality, and it was ready to be shared. The time for Cask 340 was to be 80 years – longer than any other Scotch whisky in history.

On 5th February 2020, leaning on the unique skill and experience acquired over more than 125 years, the decision was taken to finally bottle the cask’s precious out-turn, yielding a total of 250 decanters.

“That this whisky – the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled – remains so full of vibrant flavour with a strength of 44.9% ABV, is testimony to knowledge handed down over successive generations of my family,” explains Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

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 its own casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

“Maturing a single malt Scotch over eight decades is an art,” adds Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, “similar in many ways to architecture where you are creating something that needs to stand the test of time. Neither can be rushed. Both Sir David and Gordon & MacPhail share a commitment to invest in the future. We both see the significance of creating something exceptional; leaving a legacy for future generations.”

In the same way that a 50th anniversary is commemorated by gold, 80 years is traditionally symbolised by oak – a pleasing reflection of this whisky, cradled in oak for eight decades. Sir David Adjaye’s stunning decanter and case will be revealed in September 2021, with decanter number #1 auctioned by Sotheby’s in early October 2021. To continue the legacy theme, auction proceeds, minus costs, will be donated to award-winning Scottish charity Trees for Life whose mission is to rewild the Caledonian Forest. 

“It’s fitting that this release will provide a relevant, valuable and long-lasting legacy with direct benefits for many,” comments Ewen Mackintosh.

The Generations range from Gordon & MacPhail has previously presented some of the longest matured single malt Scotch whisky ever to be bottled. Its reputation will be further enhanced this September when the Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80YO from Glenlivet Distillery will finally be unveiled.

Register interest via: GORDONANDMACPHAIL.COM

@GORDONANDMACPHAIL