Wyoming Whiskey raises over $120K for national park foundation

JACK DANIEL’S NAMED MOST PATRIOTIC SPIRIT BRAND IN AMERICA

Tennessee Whiskey Brand Returns to the Annual List in the 13^th Overall Spot, Sole Representative for Spirits Industry

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (July 1, 2021) – Jack Daniel’s has been ranked among the 2021 Most Patriotic Brands in America, rising one spot since last year to #13 and representing the only spirits brand on the list. Brand Keys’ annual survey of iconic American brands identifies those which consumers believe best embody the value of “patriotism.”

“Founded more than 150 years ago in Lynchburg, Tennessee, we couldn’t be prouder to be an American company and one that has tremendous respect for our country and its people. Every drop of our Tennessee Whiskey is crafted with pride here in the U.S., and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Matt Blevins, Jack Daniel’s Vice President and Global Brand Director. “We’re honored to have a place on this year’s list alongside some of the most influential brands in the country.”

Jack Daniel’s shares the 13^th spot with American fashion brand Ralph Lauren—in between Apple and Twitter, which are ranked #12, and Harley Davidson and USAA, which are ranked #14.  The list was determined through a survey by Brand Keys, Inc. to a national sample of 5,804 consumers, 16 to 65 years of age, balanced for gender and political affiliation and drawn from the nine U.S. Census Regions. Consumers assessed 1,172 brands in 131 B2C and B2B categories as to their resonance for the single value – “patriotism.” Brands were identified and ranked based on how they have best met the challenge that patriotism plays in today’s marketplace.

For more information, visit: brandkeys.com/americas-most-patriotic-brands/.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

Golden Dram: USA Independence Day Special!

With 4th of July celebrations this weekend we wanted to showcase the fantastic whiskeys we stock from across the pond. We are kicking things off with the chance to win Sazerac 18 Year Old (worth over £1000!) in our latest giveaway upon purchase of Sazerac Rye…

Enter Golden Dram now →

Win Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old
Golden Dram Giveaway

If you purchase a bottle of Sazerac Rye, on sale at £36.70, between now and Wednesday 7th July you will be entered into our Golden Dram giveaway draw and could also be sent a bottle of Sazerac 18 Year Old from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2020 worth over £1000.

Sazerac 18 Year Old is an incredibly balanced and mature whiskey, and the oldest rye on the market, with rich notes of cinnamon, vanilla, molasses, oak, leather and lingering black pepper balanced with fresh mint and eucalyptus. For those of you into your American drams you’ll know a whiskey of this age is pretty rare and exceptional.

Good luck and happy 4th of July to all of our American friends for this weekend!

Sazerac Rye … £36.70 … Buy Now →

The one and only New Orleans original, Sazerac Rye whiskey symbolises the tradition and history of the vibrant and colourful New Orleans. This rye is named after the famous art deco Sazerac Bar – the home of America’s first cocktail…The Sazerac!

With the 4th of July weekend upon us we thought it would be the perfect time to highlight some of the truly awesome whiskeys that we stock from across the pond and feature them in our weekly price drop! Any excuse to get you a bargain, eh? Remember that all orders over £75 are shipped for free.

Browse USA bottles below or view full price drop selection here…

USA SHIPPING UPDATE – GOOD NEWS!

We are delighted to announce that we are now shipping to…
ALL – US States!
FDA Taxes & Duties paid – you won’t have to pay anything else.
See out shipping page for more details

Happy 4th of July to our friends in the United States of America!

 Kensington Wine Market’s Whisk(e)y Newsletter

Happy Belated Canada Day!

It’s about this time of year that when we all let ourselves feel a little more patriotic. At KWM we stand a little taller and wave our pride a little higher, and of course increase the spotlight on Canadian-made Wines, Whiskies, Beers, and other spirits.

We have been reminded over the last few weeks that our nation’s history has its share of blemishes. There is much still to be learned, and work done redressing past wrongs, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still be proud to live in a country willing to confront these challenges and learn from its mistakes.

Now through the end of the weekend (midnight July 4), all Canadian Wines and most Canadian Whiskies are on sale. There are some very good deals to be had, on products we can all feel proud of!

Browse the sale page showing everything on sale!

Or… download a PDF with all the deals by clicking on this text! I’ve included the Canadian wines on Sale through July 4 and the current Whisky Bin End Deals.

Turning our eyes to the new and noteworthy, our 2nd Teeling Cask, a 15-year-old single malt finished in an ex-Armagnac cask, has at long last arrived… We have only been talking about this beauty since February, but as I’ve said before, shipping is not exactly predictable at present!

But it’s here, and it is another tropical fruit bomb, this time with a kick of spice!

We have also just added a new tasting to the schedule:

Stumbling Blindly into Some Exciting New Whiskies, on July 29. We wanted to add one more tasting to the July schedule before we take our August break from tastings. It boils down to two things. Firstly, we’ve had a lot of requests for a blind tasting. And secondly, I saw some things I want to try, and I didn’t want to push them off until the Fall… they might not be here that long.

We are also expecting a new release from our friends at Yukon Brewing & Distilling next week: the Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 26. And at long last, we’ve had a top-up from Tamdhu & Glengoyne Distilleries.

Everything in this newsletter can be ordered/purchased online, so please try to do that if you can. If you email me rather than order online, you might miss out on something. It may not often seem like it, but I do have a life outside of work (refer to above photo)… your order might come in while I’m on my mountain bike or out SUPing!

As always, in the event of a price discrepancy, the point of sale at KWM will be taken as correct. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or comments. But be patient, even if I am at the shop, I may be head down, working on our new website, which will be launching next month.

Sincerely,

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

IN THIS EDITION

1. Introducing: The Teeling 15 Year KWM Armagnac Cask

2. New Tasting: Stumbly Blindly into Some Exciting New Whiskies

3. New From Two Brewers: Single Malt Release #26 – Classic

4. The Glengoynes & Tamdhus Are Back!

INTRODUCING:

THE TEELING 15 YEAR KWM ARMAGNAC CASK

Our second exclusive single cask from Teeling is a 15-year-old, finished in an Armagnac cask (#16570), and it has just arrived! We’re huge fans of Teeling, and feel they are one of the most compelling whiskey makers in Ireland. The juice from this beauty won’t have been distilled at Jack and Stephen Teeling’s distillery in Dublin’s Liberties, but rather at their father John’s old Cooley Distillery. Cooley was sold to Beam Suntory in 2011, but as part of the sale, the Teelings walked away with a good chunk of the maturing inventory… including the juice in this bottle!

Teeling 15 Year KWM Armagnac Cask 16570 – 58.4% – Finished in an Armagnac Cask – My Tasting Note: “Nose: thick, decadent and fruity with a backbone of oak spices; doughy with dried apricots, honeydew melon, and bright citrus; marzipan and buttery toasted oak make way for cinnamon, fennel, and clove. Palate: Bright, fruity, and decadent with a firm but yielding backbone of spice; licorice root and cinnamon sticks; still doughy, almond paste croissants and chocolate-orange marzipan; very fruity, green mangoes, dried apricot and melons galore; some jammy strawberry and quince paste; warming, coating and rich. Finish: long and coating with decadent buttery oak tones, exotic fruits, and crisp spices. Comment: this is another fine example of why we love Teeling Whiskey; the Armagnac cask finish has kicked up the spice when compared with our last cask, but the fruits… oh the fruits… they are still there, and in abundance!” – $150

NEW TASTING

Stumbling Blindly Into Some Exciting New Whiskies

·     Date: Thursday, July 29

·     Time: 8 PM

·     Cost: $40

·     Pick-Up Date: Available Now

Andrew couldn’t help himself… he saw a few new arrivals and, wanting to taste them himself, threw together a wee lineup. Also, and this is an important point, he wanted the tasting to be blind. Our range is, as usual, 7 whiskies deep, all of them single malts, stretching up to 27 years of age! They range in style from light and floral, to big and spicy, to almost over-the-top peated. We’d really like to tell you what the whiskies are – as we know it would whet your appetite even more! – but then it wouldn’t be a blind tasting, would it? 8 PM Thursday, July 29. 7x50ml samples

*SAMPLES READY FOR PICK UP NOW!

NEW FROM TWO BREWERS:

RELEASE #26 CLASSIC

Is it a coincidence that we are hosting a Two Brewers tasting with owner Bob Baxter tonight? Absolutely, yes!

Release #26, a classic expression, was made from a blend of malts, three different mashes, and was aged in first and second fill ex-Bourbon as well as ex-Brandy casks. 71% of the whisky was matured 6 years and the balance 7 years, before blending and bottling.

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 26 – 46% – ex-Bourbon & Brandy Casks – Producer Tasting Note: “Bright meadow tones are braced with fresh cedar, oak, and hints of treacle. An elegant malt profile swells from entry, pinches of oak and spices dusting the edges are whisked in, shrouding the palate in a gently satisfying linger of sweet malted milk.” – $105

THE GLENGOYNES & TAMDHUS ARE BACK

We have just received a load of whiskies from Tamdhu and Glengoyne, so you know what that means… Sherry! And the Glengoynes, they come in new kit, because, you know… the old ones were tired and needed refreshing! 🙄

I actually kind of really miss the old 25 & 30 labels… a lot!

1. Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch 008 – 59.2% – 29% First-Fill Sherry casks. 16% First Fill Bourbon Barrels​. 55% Hand-selected quality Oak Refill casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Enticingly malty with apple pie, peach, vanilla, nutmeg, and white chocolate​. Palate: Thick rounded mouthfeel, buttery toffee popcorn, banana, soft oak, and fruit.​ Finish: Long with summer fruits, digestive biscuit, and kiwi.” – $98

2. Glengoyne 12 Year – 43% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Coconut oil, honey, lemon zest, dried oak. Palate: Toffee apples, cinnamon spice, ginger, orange, shortbread. Finish: A hint of sherry and soft oak. Very well balanced. ” – $75

3. Glengoyne 18 Year – 43% – 35% 1st Fill European Oak Sherry. 15% 1st Fill American Oak Sherry, 50% Hand-selected quality Oak Refill casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Awash with red apple and ripe melon. Heavenly and well rounded, it drifts into hot porridge topped with brown sugar. Palate: Full-bodied, round and rich. At first macerated fruits, marzipan and walnuts; then warm spices, dry cocoa, and lingering Seville marmalade. Finish: Long, warm and dry.” – $150

4. Glengoyne 21 Year – 43% – 100% Sherry Casks. Predominantly 1st Fill European Oak Sherry Casks. – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Red apples, spicy strudel, toffee, sherry and dried fruits. Christmas cake in a glass. Palate: Lots of Sherry, honey, oak with a developing aromatic sensation. Ends with a heavenly cinnamon nip. Finish: Long, sherry, spicy, warm and dry.” – $235

5. Glengoyne 25 Year – 48% – 100% Sherry Oak Matured – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Red Fruits, old leather and brown sugar. Palate: Soft oak, cinnamon, stewed fruits and a Seville marmalade tang. Finish: Very long, with spicy liquorice, slowly drying.” – $520 – Taking Orders for September

6. Glengoyne 30 Year – 46.8% – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Black Cherry, Sherry Trifle, Marmalade, Tea Rose, Rum & Raisin Chocolate. Palate: Burst of sweetness changing quickly to Plum compote, Cinnamon, Cloves and Tangy Marmalade. Finish: Soft Oak dryness and Cinnamon. – $1100 – Taking Orders for September

7. Tamdhu Batch Strength 005 – 59.8% – Oloroso Sherry Matured – Producer Tasting Note: “Nose: Subtle waft of warm vanilla, followed by cinnamon spice and roasted brazil nuts. Palate: A luxurious, thick mouthfeel, sharp summer berries cutting through rich double cream. Finish: Long and lingering, delivering warming spices and the crisp sweetness of clementine zest.” – $105

8. Tamdhu 12 Year – 43% – Matured in Sherry Casks – Nose: Rich and enticing, iced cinnamon rolls, orange boiled sweets, fresh sweet oak with raisins and the faint hint of mint. Palate: Silky texture that coats the mouth with banana, berry jam, malt biscuit and classic sherry oak depth. Finish: Pleasantly long and balanced with ground spice, dried fruit and soft Scottish tablet – finally unveiling the merest wisp of peat smoke.” – $84

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Store Hours

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Mon – Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thu – Fri: 10am – 9pm

Sat: 10am – 8pm

*All Prices Quoted here are subject to change and do not include GST. In the case of pricing discrepancies, the price at our point of sale will be taken as correct.*Kensington Wine Market Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved

ONE OF THE UK’S BIGGEST CASK TRADERS OPENS IN ASIA

Increased demand from the East sees London-based Cask Trade Ltd open in Hong Kong

The trusted stockist showcasing the largest inventory of cask whisky on the market announces the opening of an office in Hong Kong this week servicing the whole of Asia.

For the first time, bottlers, investors and avid whisky enthusiasts in Asia will be able to buy casks at UK prices, significantly lower than anyone has been used to, and with the same seamless service afforded to hundreds of investors and bottlers for Cask Trade UK.

Director of Cask Trade HK, Sir Colin Hampden-White, says: “For many years I have had the pleasure of helping customers from all over Asia who appreciate cask strength whisky to taste and purchase,” says Hampden-White who is a Keeper of the Quaich, who adds: “I’m very excited Cask Trade is opening an office in Hong Kong where I can personally host tastings and be a part of our customer’s journey in selecting and buying cask whisky.”

Masters of whisky appreciation

Managing Director of Cask Trade, Simon Aron, says the opportunity for growth in Asia is unprecedented. Cask Trade has seen a 25% increase of their existing business in Asia already and expect to see further increase of a minimum of 25% in sales for the entire business by having a physical presence in the region.

“By opening in Hong Kong, we are addressing a demand from existing and potential customers throughout Asia offering direct access to casks for whatever purpose, at competitive UK prices with complete transparency and a seamless service,” says Aron, who adds: “Our company is all about an authentic marketplace for buying and selling casks of whisky. We have multiple exit strategies, including our online auction for casks – auctionyourcask.com. We want to supply all bottlers, investors and of course, whisky lovers! I think the Asian market will be both surprised and delighted with our competitive prices.”

John Wong

The new office based in the Admiralty District of Hong Kong will be headed up by John Wong.

A self-confessed whisky geek, Wong says, whilst the whisky scene is relatively new in the region, the level of expertise, passion and enthusiasm is remarkable.

“Drinkers from Greater China and Asia-Pacific are always seeking a diverse range of taste and flavour profiles in whisky. They look for rarity and investment opportunities with stories behind the liquid. With me on the ground in Hong Kong, I can immerse myself into the whisky community because there is nothing better than meeting face to face with a dram in your hand,” says Wong, who explains the demand isn’t just coming from Hong Kong. “The East Asian market is unique and our highly skilled and educated customers like to discuss whisky and learn from each other. It’s so much more than just buying and selling; we are embarking on a journey together.” 

Whisky investment done properly

Cask Trade has one of the largest and varied stock lists anywhere in the world. The team sample, taste, health check every cask and only sell stock that they own. It holds its own insurances and licenses and is not affiliated to any third party. Cask Trade HK enjoys all of the relevant licences direct with UK. This includes all of the UK HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) licences required to trade, store and bottle whisky (WOWGR, AWRS and Duty Representative).

Mirroring what Cask Trade has achieved in the UK, the new business in Hong Kong is looking to build a reputation as the go-to cask company in Asia.

Whisky on the rise in Asia

According to the Euromonitor report, by 2022 the value of whisky sales in China is expected to reach around £2.2 billion, 38.6% more than in 2018 and the volume of whisky sales is to reach 23.65 billion litres.

Direct exports increased from around £1.4 million in 2000 to around £89 million in 2019, reaching an annual growth rate of over 24% (CAGR 2000-2019). Around 25 bottles of Scotch whisky are exported to China every minute.

ABOUT CASK TRADE: 

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.

• Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
• Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
• HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
• HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…

• Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
• Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
• Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
• Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
• Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
• Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
• Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade has started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

NEW DISTILLERY TOURS FOR SUMMER 2021

We are very excited to announce that we have released two new types of distillery tour to commence from July 2021.

WHISKY BLENDING MASTERCLASS:

Learn all about blending whisky and be guided into blending your own bottle.  The Masterclass starts with a tour of our magnificent distilling floor and a visit to warehouse no.1.  After this, you will be taken to a private tasting room with one of our team to blend your own single malt English Whisky.  Once you have created your perfect blend, you will hand bottle it, write your own label and get to take your bottle home with you.

2 hours / £100 per person

15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR:

To celebrate our 15th year of making English Whisky, be one of the first to try our whisky laid down in 2006.  Discover how our wonderful single malt whiskies are made and how St George’s Distillery became the first registered whisky distillery in England in over 100 years.

1.25 hours / £30 per person

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Tour Vouchers 

If you are unsure of dates now, or need to purchase a tour as gift for someone else, buying a tour voucher is the perfect solution. Valid for 12 months from purchase.

BUY A TOUR VOUCHER

AN EVENING OF BEER, WHISKY & DISCOVERY 

Last Sunday we had a fantastic time with our latest Adventure in Deliciousness. And if you missed our exploration of whisky and beer with the head brewer of Big Smoke Brew Co., you can watch it back whenever you fancy. Thanks to Nick Blake for bringing the beers and the insights, and as always, thanks to all who joined and asked great questions.

DELVE INTO BEER & WHISKY’S
FASCINATING INTERPLAY OF FLAVOUR

Nick chatted to Compass Box founder John Glaser and whiskymaker James Saxon about their mutual fascination with evolving traditions as they paired three of our malt whiskies with a Big Smoke pilsner, imperial stout and double IPA. Watch the recording to find out how far they think smoke and beer should mix, whether there’s such a thing as too much hops for a pairing, and Nick’s surprising answer to the question of the most important ingredient in beer brewing.

WHAT TO TRY NEXT?

Pick up a brown ale or bitter and see how it lengthens the gingerbread finish of The Spice Tree, or how combining The Story of the Spaniard and a sour tastes like lemon tart as the whisky’s sweetness soothes the citrusy grip of the beer. For The Peat Monster, try a West Coast-style IPA that can punch its weight with the heavy peat. And of course, head over to Big Smoke Brew Co. to discover more.

That’s all for now, but stay tuned for something special we’re cooking up for summer…

Share & Enjoy!
The Compass Box Team