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The Last Drop Evolves from Curation to Creation with the Debut of Its First Signature Blend: The Last Drop 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Rare release of 500 bottles worldwide created by iconic Master Blender Colin Scott

LOUISVILLE, KY (July 14, 2021) The Last Drop, curators of the world’s most remarkable spirits, is thrilled to introduce its inaugural Signature Blend, The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Created by Master Blender Colin J.P. Scott, the release marks the brand’s first foray into the creation – as well as curation – of extraordinary aged spirits. Limited to just 500 bottles worldwide, this distinct blend will be available in the U.S. at an SRP of $4,250 (750ml/47.8% ABV) as of mid-July 2021.

Since its inception, The Last Drop’s philosophy has been to source rare casks, evaluate the spirit and lay down only the finest casks that are both exceptional and suitable for long maturation. By delving into The Last Drop’s inventory to assess the treasures lying within the casks, and using his vast experience, Scott has created an unparalleled blend of malt and grain Scotch whiskies, all of which have aged for at least 50 years.

“For centuries, Scotland’s finest malt and grain distilleries have been distilling unique spirits and laying them in casks for the future,” says Colin Scott, master blender for The Last Drop. “Yet in my half-century career, this is only my second 50-year-old blend, as access to these exceptional liquids is rare. I’m immensely proud of the complexity of this whisky as well as its significance as my inaugural release as The Last Drop’s master blender and our first Signature Blend.”

Presenting smooth, rich flavors from all corners of Scotland, this sumptuous whisky’s journey to maturity began as new distillates of single malts and grains that were filled into casks more than 50 years ago. Over time, malt and grain whiskies have been selected and special blends created to be secured in bourbon and sherry oak casks for further maturation. Final selections were made from these aged casks of malts, grains and aged blends, which were blended together to create this remarkable 50-year-old blend. As expected for a whisky that has experienced such patient maturation, the resulting liquid is rich and luxurious, yet retains a balance and freshness that belies its age, with dried fruits and scented floral notes enhanced with sweet spices and creamy toffee.

The 22^nd release, The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky marks the brand’s evolution from rare spirit hunting into creation as the first debut from The Signature Blend Series. Future expressions will be created in partnership with “The Assembly,” The Last Drop’s newly formed coalition of experts drawn from across the spirits industry, each a renowned world-leader in their own category. These personal, limited-edition creations will sit alongside traditional curated releases to create a genuinely remarkable collection of Last Drop bottlings.

“Our goal has always been to find casks that have been forgotten or perhaps just contained too little liquid to be considered worthy of bottling,” says Rebecca Jago, managing director for The Last Drop. “These bottles are like museum pieces, but something you can taste, savor and enjoy. Now, with the help of our new master blender and Assembly members, we are progressing from curation to creation by using some of the barrels we have found to create very old – but also completely new – spirits.”

Joining Colin Scott in The Last Drop’s evolution are five additional founding members of The Assembly including Drew Mayville, master blender & director of quality, Sazerac Company, Richard Seale, master distiller & blender, Foursquare Rum, Louise McGuane, owner & bonder, JJ Corry Irish Whiskey, Michael D’Souza, master distiller & blender, Paul John Indian Whisky and Denis Lahouratate, cellar master, Domaine de Sazerac, Cognac.

The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky will be available in the United States at an SRP of $4,250 (including VAT) as of mid-July 2021 via lastdropdistillers.com and fine spirits retailers.

Tasting Notes: The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky, 47.8% Abv

COLOR: Liquid amber and gold; a rich, warm color speaking of whiskies matured in both bourbon and sherry casks.

NOSE: A light prickle that tempts exploration, featuring a hint of smokey peat from the islands tempered by floral notes alongside vanilla, toast and dried fruit.

TASTE: Rich, soft, smooth, full and fruity: on the palate an explosion of dried apricots, apples and prunes. A rich, creamy texture coats the mouth with sweet and spicy notes, the nuttiness of almonds and surprising hints of liquorice.

FINISH: Long, lingering aftertaste, with oaky notes.

The Bottle Presentation

Each 750ml bottle of The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky is individually numbered and bears Colin Scott’s physical signature. As with all Last Drop releases, each comes packaged in a signature red leather case with a 50ml miniature for private enjoyment, certificate of bottling and pocket-sized tasting book. 

About Colin J.P. Scott, Master Blender, The Last Drop

With a career spanning over 50 years in the whisky industry, Colin Scott joined The Last Drop in 2020 after a distinguished career as Master Blender for Chivas Brothers, where he created Chivas Regal 18 Year Old alongside the founders of The Last Drop, James Espey and Tom Jago. Growing up next to an Orkney distillery, Scott developed an early passion for whisky and followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also dedicated their lives to Scotch whisky. In addition to the Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, Scott’s career milestones include creating the Original Legend – Chivas Regal 25 Year Old and expanding the Royal Salute range with the 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny, Tribute to Honour, 62 Gun Salute, 100 Casks Selection and Diamond Tribute expressions.

About The Last Drop Distillers

The Last Drop Distillers was founded by two icons of the spirits industry, Tom Jago and James Espey with over 150 years of experience between them. Their aim was to curate the world’s most remarkable spirits by finding treasures across aged spirit categories and sharing them with those who seek the genuinely extraordinary.  This passion for exploration and discovery continued under the careful direction of Tom and James’ daughters: Rebecca Jago and Beanie Geraedts-Espey who joined The Last Drop in 2014 to help bring their fathers’ vision to a wider audience.  In 2016, The Last Drop was acquired by the Sazerac Company, one of America’s oldest private, family-owned, distillers. Rebecca continues to lead The Last Drop as Managing Director. Since the company was founded in 2008, The Last Drop Distillers has released just 22 limited bottlings across Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Bourbon and Rum, comprising fewer than 10,000 bottles to date. Striving for nothing less than the remarkable in the spirits they curate, the company’s unwavering commitment is to the quality of the liquid. For more information about The Last Drop visit https://www.lastdropdistillers.com  and @lastdropdistillers. For more information about Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com.

New Loch Fyne Whiskies Exclusive:
Arran 24 Year Old Single Cask #96/772

A spectacular single cask Arran that’s been bottled exclusively for us here at Loch Fyne Whiskies. From 1996 until 2021, this expression has enjoyed a 24-year slumber in a premium sherry cask, producing an outturn of just 241 bottles – each at 49.2% abv. Sherrybomb fanatics, this is one you don’t want to miss!

£230.00
Buy Now ›

INVERURIE WHISKY SHOP EXCLUSIVE

We are delighted to announce our next Single Cask Collaboration is now available to pre-order.

GLENCADAM 15 YEAR OLD

Glencadam is a distillery that few people know of, but everyone who does, loves it.

With the core range a huge seller for us at Inverurie Whisky Shop, when it came to looking for something special for our next limited edition whisky, we were pretty sure we new where we wanted to go.

The team at Glencadam sent some wonderful samples but the standout for our team was cask 494 – a First FIll Bourbon Cask that deliveres everything you could want in a bourbon whisky and then some.

Bottled at full cask strength after 15 years maturing at the warehouses of Glencadam, we were simply blown away with the flavour.

A nose loaded with pineapples, citrus fruits, raspberry milshake and coconut which resonates a beautiful sunny day.

On the palate the tropical theme continues with nougat and toffee, milk chocolate hazelnuts, vanilla and spicy white pepper.

The finish brings a lingering depth of liquorice and sweet toffee notes.

The bottle will be available to collect and shop from early August

PRE ORDER NOW

Lark Single Cask 2016 | Berry Bros & Rudd

This superb Tasmanian single malt release is a vatting of three 100 litres casks, exclusively married together for indie bottlers, Berry Bros & Rudd.

Distilled at the Lark distillery in 2016 and bottled in 2021 with only 373 being filled at 60.2% vol.

Shop now

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

The joy of single casks comes from the fact that they can defy your expectations. The flavour you experience from a Society bottling may not always be what you would anticipate from that region, age or even distillery.

One such cask has been unearthed from the depths of our warehouses, the latest addition to The Vaults Collection. Hailing from a distillery most famous for its sherried maturation, this aged beauty has spent its entire 30 years in a bourbon cask. The result is a fragrant and complex whisky from a flavour profile that may surprise you. Get ready for your next whisky epiphany.

SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE

Cask No. 24.143

Cask: Refill bourbon barrel

Age: 30 years

Distilled: 1989

ABV: 48.6%

DISCOVER MORE

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

https://youtu.be/kWiih_8kXZs

BRAND NEW IRISH WHISKEY

Clonakilty are a very exciting prospect, nestled in the wild carved coast of County Cork.

Utilising as many environmentally friendly procedures and being ran by an eighth generation family of the land, this distillery is creating fun and interesting Irish whiskies at a competitive price point with all of the stuff people want.

This, the Double Oak Finish, is a combination of initial ex-bourbon cask maturation with finishing in Virgin Oak and, get ready for it, shaved, toasted and recharred European oak Bordeaux casks. Bordeaux really is the trend of 2021.

A delicious whisky that is impressive at its young age. A huge congratulations to Clonakilty! The future is bright.

https://clonakiltydistillery.ie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube/
Instagram: @thisiswhiskywednesday
Twitter: @whiskytube

Bold new Scotch Whisky brand revealed by Loch Lomond Group

Independent distillery welcomes Spearhead to growing portfolio

Multi award winning drinks distiller, Loch Lomond Group, has revealed a new Single Grain Scotch Whisky: Spearhead.

The new expression showcases pioneering craftsmanship and whisky-making techniques which create a lighter spirit, aiming to encourage more drinkers to enter the world of whisky.

The whisky is bold and has a sweeter style, similar to a Bourbon, and is crafted at Loch Lomond’s distillery using a continuous Coffey style still, allowing for a lighter spirit to be created. The spirit is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in a combination of fire and infrared-toasted virgin American oak barrels.

The innovative infrared barrels allow for an exact level of toast that extracts natural properties in the barrel, releasing a range of flavours from the wood that are then caramelized to give a complex range of sweet notes. Using a combination of traditionally fire toasted and infrared toasted barrels, the result is ultra-smooth, with a depth and complexity to the flavour. Loch Lomond Distillery is currently the only distillery in Scotland to use infrared barrels to finish whisky.

This process is unique to Scotch Whisky making, making Spearhead a pioneer in the field, and creates a bold yet light and sweeter taste, perfect for new whisky drinkers or those who enjoy long serves.

For those looking to try a new, fun cocktail,  Spearhead’s take on a Clover Club, which replaces the traditionally-used gin base for Scotch, is a wonderfully sweet yet sour serve. Alternatively, whisky drinkers can enjoy a spritzer-style serve, swapping wine for Spearhead and serving with Pêche de Vigne and ginger ale, or try a Spear and Beer, serving 50mls with a can of craft beer.

Displayed in a striking Bourbon-style bottle, Spearhead offers notes of vanilla pod, blackberries and dark chocolate, making it a deliciously light neat dram, or an exciting base for longer drinks and cocktails.

Priced at £30 RRP with an ABV of 43% and available to purchase online, Spearhead is an ideal expression for those who enjoy American and Irish Whiskey and are keen to venture into the world of Scotch.

Calum Leslie, Head of Innovation at Loch Lomond Group, said: “We have been working very hard to create an innovative new Scotch Whisky and we are pleased to finally launch Spearhead to market.

“While this style of whisky is very popular in the Irish and American markets, there isn’t anything comparable in the Scotch sector. Spearhead is one of a kind, championing the single grain, and taking a non-traditional approach to whisky making that will resonate with people new to Scotch. It’s the perfect whisky for those who prefer the sweetness of a bourbon or enjoy a long-whisky based serve, with Spearhead taking a twist on some classic cocktails.

“Adopting our 200-year history of distilling, Spearhead has been created with the same level of care and expertise that goes into each and every one of Loch Lomond Group’s expressions, but it has its own unique journey. The end result is a bold, highly versatile liquid characterised by its sweet and light flavour.”

Spearhead will be available globally from summer 2021.

For more information, please visit www.spearheadwhisky.com

Tasting Notes

Nose – Violet floral notes, dark berries – blackcurrant and blackberry –  vanilla pods, caramel and dark chocolate

Palate – Velvety mouthfeel rolls over the tongue, red apple with lime citrus, vanilla fudge and light brown sugar

Finish – Long smooth and sweet with melted brown sugar

Additional serves 

Peach Head

Ingredients: Spearhead – 35ml

Pêche de Vigne – 15ml

Lemon juice – 10ml

Mint leaves – 10

Orange bitters – 2dsh

Method: Fill glass with ice, then add all ingredients, top with ginger ale and garnish with a wedge of peach

Rusty Spear

Ingredients: Spearhead – 50ml

Ginger Ale – 150ml

Method: Fill glass with ice, then add all ingredients and garnish with a wedge of lime

Spear Med

Ingredients: Spearhead – 45ml

Campari – 10ml

Lemon juice – 15ml

Simple syrup – 10ml

Mandarin juice – 20ml

Method: Add all ingredients into tin with ice, then shake and double strain into highball or tumbler over ice. Top with premium tonic and garnish with bay leaf or pineapple leaf.

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.

NEW OLD & RARE

Glen Grant 44 Year Old – 1976 | Cask 12403 | Private Collection

It’s just incredible the stock of old and rare whisky that Gordon & MacPhail have ageing within their magnificent warehouses and this well aged Glen Grant is another fine example.

Distilled in 1976 and matured in single cask #12403 for 44 years, only 40 bottles have been filled and released as part of the Private Collection series.

£1250.00

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1989Bunnahabhain 28 Year Old “Antique Lion’s The Butterflies” Refill Sherry Butt Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival, Elsewhere $400) $299.99 View