A Pair of Titanic K&L Exclusive New Cask Releases
Thrilling discoveries From LAWS and Balcones that will take your collection to new heights

Our spirits buyers are on a never-ending marathon of tasting and sampling, all done to bring you the absolute best and most unique offerings on the market. So, when they single out certain new arrivals for special attention, you know there’s a good reason (many good reasons, actually). The two impeccable whiskies on offer today stand out in our inventory for their highly distinctive, cask-strength profiles as well as their unconventional, single-grain mashbills. Colorado’s LAWS Whisky House has given us a number of thrilling new discoveries recently, and at the top of the list is the San Luis Valley Rye, which David Othenin-Girard calls “one of the very best craft ryes we’ve tried so far.” Meanwhile, we all know that everything is bigger in Texas, so it’s no surprise that the Lone Star state’s pioneering distillery has brought us one of our biggest, boldest barrels ever. Balcones’ Texas Single Malt Cask Strength Barrel is a massive entry that, according to Andrew Whiteley, is “unlike any Balcones I’ve ever tasted…superlative in every way.” By going in on either or both of these selections, you are adding an unparalleled and singular craft whisky to your collection that’s unlike any other on the market.

LAWS Whisky House is quickly becoming one of the country’s most prominent new craft distillers. Not only have they been able to create an exciting array of excellent whiskies, but they’ve done so following an uncommon motto in our industry: “There are no shortcuts.” We respect that kind of commitment to quality, and the proof is in the pudding. While their entire line of whiskies offers something special, it is the San Luis Valley Rye that offers the most distinctive and distinguished experience. The powerful flavors of the high-protein heirloom varietal paired with the dry maturation regimen that their Denver warehouses offer creates a unique and truly delicious flavor profile unparalleled by any other craft or legacy distiller. So, when we were offered this OLDER cask strength version of one of our favorite craft ryes, we absolutely had to have it. This awesome barrel was distilled on December 28th, 2015 and bottled just under 5.5 years old on April 30th, 2021. Bottled at cask strength of 58.9% ABV without chill filtration.

LAWS Whisky House “Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #508 San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($74.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 29, 2021

This delicious single barrel of San Luis Valley Rye is one of the very best craft ryes we’ve tried so far. There’s a huge influx of craft distillers offering rye of various quality and character, but LAWS has found a formula that’s as delicious as it is unique. Using the heirloom varietal of rye grown by farmers in south-central Colorado, their Straight Rye is derived from an equal blend of malted and unmalted rye. This semi-wild varietal now being cultivated exclusively to produce this particular whisky offers character unlike the industrial ryes grown in Canada and Germany for the rest of the industry. Expect a stupendous, complex mixture of rich salted caramel, mints, and licorice bark on the nose. On the palate, a vibrant mixture of sweet earthy oak, bold cacao, tangy green herbs, and burnt Seville orange peel. It’s truly incredible what these guys have managed to achieve in such a short time, and we couldn’t be prouder to be partnered with them.

Balcones K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #16584 Texas Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

Clocking in at a monstrous 130.8 proof, this K&L Exclusive barrel from Balcones is also among their oldest bottlings. Aged for 4 long Texas years in new European oak, it packs an extraordinary amount of flavor. The huge and rapid temperature swings common to Waco, TX have penetrated that new oak in a way that feels a lot like Kentucky bourbon, but it is the 100% Scottish Golden Promise single malt barley distilled on Balcones’ Scottish Forsyth stills that make this barrel a truly unique specimen.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 29, 2021

There was no doubt in my mind when selecting this barrel. It was unlike any Balcones I’d ever tastedjust as good as the best releases I’ve had, but superlative in every way. It’s over the top in flavor and proof. Coming in at just over 65% ABV, it’s massive. The aroma practically carries across the room when you pour a glass. It’s bursting with figs, peaches, vanilla, caramel, raisins, almonds/marzipan, walnuts, and brown sugar. Each nosing finds something new. Particularly interesting is the wild herbal sauvage thing going on as it opens that complements the robust fruit, just as it would in a perfectly balanced bottle from the Rhône. The palate is equally huge. Tame it with water and it’s exceptionally easy to enjoy. The peaches move from fresh slices to peach rings, candied and sweet. The herbal piece moves into heirloom celery, the kind you can only grow in your own garden, not the watery stringy stalks you find in the grocery store. The spice of the new European oak stands tall in the lengthy and unrelenting finish. I’ve always liked what Balcones has done, but I’ve found a completely new appreciation for them in this singular cask.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 29, 2021

This is a big and powerful whiskey. The nose is very pronounced with sweet top notes and caramel aromas. In the mouth, it is full-bodied and juicy, with wonderfully sweet spice flavors that do not hide behind other aspects of this whiskey. A little water opens it up, but both the nose and mouth are still big and concentrated, still with seductive spice notes. Direct and delicious, this is is not a shy wallflower.

Andrew Tobin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 29, 2021

For those of you who remember our last bottling of Balcones, you’ll be just as excited as I am! Our friends in Texas have delivered another powerhouse bottle to us, and don’t let the four-year age statement fool you—that much time in Texas heat gave this whisky about as much barrel influence as you could want! The first thing that jumps out to me is the honey-glazed peanut note, baking spice, and fresh leather. The nose is huge, and every whiff brings in a whole new world. The palate is this wild umami flavor mixed with dark caramel, popcorn, peach ring, cranberry, and gobs of baking spices! They’ve done it again, to absolutely no one’s surprise. This should be on every whiskey fan’s radar!

ACCESS THE EXTRAORDINARY

Each cask in the Wind & Wave collection has been selected on its extraordinary merit and unique Islay character. These profound small batch releases represent the ultimate experience that Islay Whisky has to offer.

Too often such rare whiskies become objects of unobtainable luxury, pricing out the true Whisky lover at the expense of super premium packaging that seeks to exist beyond its role as protector of a glass bottle.

The Character of Islay Whisky Company strives to always bring the drinker back to the dram in their hand.

Laphroaig – Wind & Wave Single Cask #11680

2005 Vintage | 15 Year Old | 57.8% ABV | 70cl

This pungent Islay Single Malt Whisky offers aromas of smoke soaked honeycomb, vanilla sponge, and tarry rope. Oily, full bodied and intense on the palate. Flavours of sweet fruits and savoury nuts are engulfed by a cloud of peat smoke.

£264.95

Bunnahabhain – Wind & Wave Single Cask #11822

2001 Vintage | 19 Year Old | 56.5% ABV | 70cl

A rich, sweet, and fruity single malt that is packed with aromas and flavours of fruitcake, sweet toffee, Demerara sugar, and dark chocolate, all coated in a dusting of sweet spices. The finish is long, sweet and indulgent.

£264.95

Bunnahabhain – Wind & Wave Single Cask #10898

2008 Vintage | 10 Year Old | 50.1% ABV | 70cl

This superb Bunnahabhain offers a wonderful combination of sweet and savoury aromas and flavours. The nose is bold and malty with notes of porridge oats, trail mix, and spiced pumpkin pie. The palate is fabulously outdoorsy, and Autumnal with sweet, nutty flavours and salty pretzel.

£99.95

Bowmore – Wind & Wave Single Cask #11717

2002 Vintage | 18 Year Old | 52.8% ABV | 70cl

This cask strength bottling of Bowmore is gently smoky with aromas of ripe fruit and sweet custard. The palate has touches of sweetness, complimented by citrus freshness, blackcurrant, forest pine, and sea salt. The smoke builds on the finish.

£264.95

We wanted you to be among the first to know that we are preparing to re-start live events! Hurrah!

After what feels like an eternity in purgatory, we are so looking forward to getting out again and seeing many of you!

The first of our large events is our hugely popular Liverpool Whisky Festival, to be held once again at the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypts, on Saturday 18th September.

Read on…

We cannot express how excited we are. We really can’t, and we hope that you will join us!

Obviously we are all wary, and all a bit socially disconnected by now, but, come on, we can do it!

Those of you who bought tickets for the original 2020 event will automatically have their tickets carried over to this event, for the same session. We only have a limited amount of tickets we can sell, due to fact so many bought tickets in 2019 for the 2020 event.

So, we WILL have lots of exhibitors, equally desperate to see you, as you are to see them. There WILL be lots of new whiskies to try during the 4 hour sessions. There WILL be lots of friends, old and new, to finally share drams with.

But there WILL also be precautions in place.

Everyone attending will need to have a vaccine ‘passport’ or proof of a lateral flow test done on the day of the event.

This is not only to ensure your safety, but also that of our exhibitors and team, plus it is a requirement of the venue itself, in order to protect their staff too.

Mask-wearing will not be mandatory, but you may well see exhibitors and team members wearing them. If you feel more comfortable wearing one, please do.

There will be plenty of hand sanitiser available to everyone throughout the venue, and we would encourage you to use it.

The capacity of the event has been reduced to roughly half. A maximum of 300 people per session has been put into place.

Hopefully all of this, plus a slightly different venue exit (through the back entrance), will help to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

Obviously we have to caveat that, in the event of the current government rules surrounding the pandemic changing, we may have to alter or cancel the event. However, we are hopeful that this won’t happen this time!

So, on to the tickets themselves. Due to the venue capacity being halved and devastating impact of the pandemic on our business, we cannot afford to run any ‘early-bird’ promotions, and we hope you understand this. However, we have kept the price to the previous full price of £50 per ticket, which we hope you’ll agree is still very reasonable for what you get;

– Entry to one session of the event
– A Glencairn Whisky Tasting Glass
– Access to dozens of whiskies from all over the world, with nothing more to pay
– Chat with whisky industry folk about their product at their stands

There will be TWO sessions;

12pm – 4pm
5pm – 9pm

You can choose which session you’d like to attend.

Once again we are directing to you straight to Eventbrite for tickets, due to our current website not behaving, and our new one not being quite ready.

BUY NOW – Liverpool Festival 2021 Tickets

If you already have a ticket carried over and need to change sessions or can’t make it for any reason, please email info@thewhiskylounge.com with as much detail as possible.

We are planning on further live event announcements, so please do watch this space and our Facebook Page.

Please bear in mind that there is currently one person working one day a week in the business, so it WILL take a little while (two weeks plus) to get back to you.

If you’re free at all tomorrow, Saturday 31st July, Eddie will be hosting a very special all-day event at the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery, for….Yorkshire Day!

Featuring lots of special guests, virtual tours and sessions, it should be fun. You can find out more about it, and how to tune in on Spirit of Yorkshire’s website and Facebook Page.

Hope to see some of you online!

That’s it for now!

Thanks for listening and for your ongoing patience and understanding.

Have a great weekend!

Best Wishes,
Eddie
The Whisky Lounge

Cambus 30 Year Old

1988 vintage bottled exclusively for TWB in 2018. Last bottles of the superb single cask from the lost distillery, Cambus. Cambus 30 Year Old 1988 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Rare example of the lost Scottish distillery. Single cask refill hogshead #14857 distilled September 1988 bottled September 2018 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Sovereign series. Selected and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. 313 numbered bottles.

Cask strength light golden whisky has notes of peach, apricot, and plums on the nose. The palate is sweet with forest fruits, dark chocolate, and coconut. The finish is long with a lingering hint of cinnamon.

John Moubry commissioned Cambus Distillery in 1806 at Cambus near Alloa to produce malt and grain whisky. He was amongst a group of contemporary distillers ‘paid’ to close their works for a number of years by the Stein and Haig distilling family in order to enable the later to maintain their monopoly in the exportation of Scottish spirits into the London gin market. Cambus Distillery is a lost Lowlands grain whisky distillery having closed in 1993 although its whisky remains available and the site is occupied by a Diageo cask filling works. Hunter Laing Sovereign Cambus grain whiskies are extremely popular.

Shop Now – £150 / €146* / $174* / c$217*

ralfy review 888 – Millstone Dutch Malt Whisky @ 46%vol: 2018

Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whisky introduces the Designed by Aston Martin collection

BRUICHLADDICH RELEASE NEW VINTAGE OF SINGLE MALT DISTILLED FROM ORKNEY-GROWN ANCIENT LANDRACE,BERE BARLEY

Barley exploration has always been a mission at Bruichladdich. Since their resurrection in 2001, the distillery has pioneered the concept of “terroir” in single malt whisky. Bringing ideals of connection from the world of wine, they have focussed on re-connecting the liquid in the glass back to the ingredients; to the soil it was grown in, the climate it was exposed to, the varietal, and how it was raised by the all-important growers who gave it life.

Bere barley is one of the most fascinating grains still cultivated in the modern-day. The antecedents of this ancient, six-row barley reach back to the dawn of Scottish agriculture, around 4,500 years ago. It would have been a staple part of the Scottish diet for thousands of years and was often used by prior generations to make beer, bannocks and bread. Having never reached peak popularity with distillers due to its low yield, the grain never made it to the recommended growing list for farmers and so, sowing the seed fell out of fashion. This ancient landrace would have been all but lost if it were not for the resurrection work done by the Barony Mill in Orkney, with the helping hand of the Orkney College (University of the Highlands and Island Agronomy Institute).

Bruichladdich have been working in partnership with Orkney College since 2005. Among their multitude of ongoing barley projects, distilling Bere first set out to champion flavour over efficiency and homogeneity. Like the historical journey of Bere itself, the project would evolve over time. The early years saw farmer, agronomist and distiller work together to raise Bere on Bruichladdich’s home of Islay. It would move to Orkney in later years where it would thrive under the watchful eye of Peter Martin and John Wishart.

In recent years, Bere has played a part in trialling new grains on Bruichladdich’s 30 acres of croft land, which is dedicated to research and development. The trial plots contained a hybrid of Bere and modern varieties, reasoning that a cross would select beneficial characteristics of both varieties. While the first trials became victim to a mismanagement of weeds, future trials could help unlock favourable flavours and yields, which are important for distillers and farmers respectively.

Experiments aside, a successful crop of Bere was harvested on Orkney in 2010 by Magnus Spence, Sydney Gauld,and John & Peter at Orkney College. The labour of their hardship was distilled at Bruichladdich in 2011 and is released today at ten years old.

Available at specialist retailers and online at Bruichladdich.com, Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2011 will replace the 2010 edition currently in the distillery’s unpeated Barley Exploration series. As with the Islay Barley and Organic Barley within the range, this Bere Barley is bottled unchillfiltered and colouring free at 50% ABV.

“Wherever our barley projects take us in future, we’re thrilled to have a back catalogue of flavourful and esoteric spirits in our warehouses. There is something unique about Bere barley spirit and this 2011 vintage is no exception. It has a tremendous depth of flavour that really magnifies the DNA of Bruichladdich spirit and shows such complexity. It is another remarkable vintage and exploration of provenance and terroir that shows not all barley is equal.”-Adam Hannett, Head Distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery.

On Bruichladdich Distillery

Bruichladdich Distillery is situated on the southwestern tip of the Hebridean island of Islay.

Bruichladdich Distillery crafts four different spirits: •Bruichladdich, unpeated Islay single malt Scotch whisky •Port Charlotte, heavily peated Islay single malt Scotch whisky (40PPM) •Octomore, the world’s most heavily peated Scotch whisky series (80+PPM) •The Botanist Gin, the first Islay dry gin The distillery was first established in 1881 by the Harvey brothers. It survived through periods of closure including world wars and economic uncertainly, only to be closed for 7 years in 1994. The closure left all but two redundant.

The distillery was reopened by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and Jim McEwan in 2001. The team have breathed new life into the community by keeping as much of their operations on Islay as possible. They installed a bottling hall in 2003, first grew Islay barley in 2004 (now 45% of annual production in 2020) and have since added additional warehousing to ensure all single malts are conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on the island. They are one of only two distilleries on the island (9 total) to make those claims.

The independently owned Bruichladdich was purchased by luxury spirits company Remy Cointreau in 2012. They continue to invest in the values of the business, in being Islay-based, and in the local community.

In 2020, Bruichladdich became one of the only distilleries in the world to be B Corp certified. They are the first gin and whisky distillery in Europe, and one of three globally, to be recognised for balancing profit and purpose.

On Bere Barley

Bere Barley takes its place within a catalogue of barley-forward spirits distilled at Bruichladdich. Exploration into Islaygrown and organically grown barley can be tasted alongside this new Orkney-grown Bere vintage in the Barley Exploration series. Spirits not yet released include English-grown biodynamic barley, Islay’s first rye crop, and the distillery’s Regional Trials experiment, which features the same varietal grown in the north, south and east of the Scottish Mainland.

From challenging growing conditions to an inconsistent weighted grain that plays havoc with a 19thcentury mill, Bere Barley throws up many obstacles. In 2012, Bruichladdich’s 100-year-old open top mash tun was almost irreparably damaged while mashing Bere. From the mashman’s log: “The grist set in the tun like concrete, leading to compression round the rakes in the machine and causing them to buckle and sheer when activated.” Bruichladdich adapted the mash bills to make the process easier, choosing the quality of the spirit produced over the challenges that must be overcome to produce it.

AUGUST OUTTURN ALERT

Whisky and food are a tried and tested combination, but how ambitious are you with your pairings? This month, we’re encouraging you to step out of your culinary comfort zone and try some alternative food and whisky pairings.

Whatever pairing you attempt, you’ll find a suitable whisky in August’s mammoth Outturn of 34 new casks, featuring single malt, gin and rum bottlings. To start prepping your pairings, head to the website now to read the full Outturn ahead of its release this Friday, 6 August at 9am (UK time).

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

READ OUTTURN

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

BUNNAHABHAIN DISTILLERY

30 Year Old 1987 Chestnut And Apple Chutney Wemyss

Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old 1987 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky ‘Chestnut and Apple Chutney’. Single cask sherry butt bottled 2018 by Wemyss Malts. 628 bottles.

Bunnahabhain 30 Years

1987 vintage. Chestnut And Apple Chutney Wemyss from a single sherry butt bottled 2018.

Shop Bunnahabhain 30 Years »

£475.42

Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whisky which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old.

The Whisky Exchange 

Virtual Tasting – August 2021

We’ve had a bit of time off our virtual tastings recently – with bars reopening we want to encourage folks to (safely) get back out there. However, in August we’ve got a tasting that we could only ever do virtually – a gathering of rye whisk(e)y people from Kentucky to Melbourne.

August’s Line-up

25 August 2021, 7-8.30pm – Rye so Serious? with Billy Abbott (me, UK), Troels Knudsen (Stauning, Denmark),  John Schutt (Michter’s, USA), Dave Mitton (Lot 40, Canada), Andrew Fitzgerald (The Gospel, Australia), Paul Hletko (FEW, USA) and Christian Perez (Arbikie, Scotland): When I was asked to come up with a rye line-up for a tasting, I submitted my dream list to the events team, not expecting everyone to come back and say yes. Rye whisk(e)y has become huge over the past decade, spreading from the USA (where it has a longer history than bourbon) to the rest of the world. Despite being a relatively young spirit outside of the USA, there’s already a huge amount of variation in styles and flavour, and in this session we’ll taste our way around the world with people from the distilleries on hand to answer our questions. A tasting that I’m really looking forward to, both as host and as someone tasting along with everyone else.

The tasting will be up on Facebook live for anyone to watch, but if you want to taste along, make sure you grab a tasting pack:

Buy the tasting pack >

Coming up soon

We’ve not got any more virtual tastings in the diary at the moment, but that’s because we’ve got shows galore over the coming months.

Next we have Whisky Show. Last year’s virtual show was so good, that we’ve decided to run both a physical and online show in parallel. The in-person show is from 1-3 October 2021, with the virtual side running through those three days and on until Friday 9 October. We’ve recently released a few more in-person tickets (we’re following government guidance on numbers of people, and we’re releasing tickets as that changes), so if you’d missed out before, you’ve got a second change to grab a ticket.

We’ve got plans for next year, so keep an eye on the site – there’s much more to come…