WATERFORD WHISKY LAUNCHES BIODYNAMIC: LUNA – THE WORLD’S FIRST BIODYNAMIC WHISKY

Waterford Whisky is pleased to announce BIODYNAMIC: LUNA – the world’s first whisky made from biodynamic barley.

As part of its pioneering quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours, Waterford Distillery has introduced the radical biodynamic farming philosophy, as lauded by many of the world’s legendary winemakers, to the conservative whisky industry.

The bottling is the latest whisky in the distillery’s Arcadian Series, which showcases the flavours produced by forgotten ways of farming and rare barley varieties.

BIODYNAMIC BARLEY

For the Demeter-certified BIODYNAMIC: LUNA three Irish growers – Trevor Harris, John McDonnell and Alan Mooney – stepped up to the challenge of applying unusual agricultural practices to growing barley. They run their farms according to esoteric principles derived from a 1924 series of lectures by the Austrian polymath Rudolf Steiner.

Steiner created a codified agricultural system for post-WW1 farmers, who were worried about the industrialisation of agriculture, the degradation of the land and the loss of millennia of farming know-how – bios meaning life, and dynamos energy.

Having been adopted by many of the world’s greatest wine producers seeking the ultimate of pure and intense flavours, biodynamics today stands at the cutting edge of regenerative agriculture. Some say it is an advanced form of “über-organic” farming, in which each farm is its own self-sustaining organism where elements including soil, crops, animals, people and the ‘spirit of place’ are all interconnected. For Waterford, it is the ultimate expression of their terroir discoveries.

The approach includes an array of seemingly controversial practices such as burying manure-packed cow horns to ‘ferment’ underground; the creation of simple plant treatments and natural compost fertilisers to stimulate microbial activity; all following the natural rhythms of the lunar calendar. The purpose is to produce vibrant, chemical-free living soil.

As barley makes malt whisky the most complex spirit in the world – the very source of its flavour – biodynamics will contribute to an even purer and more intense expression. Indeed, to create the ultimate natural whisky.

Mark Reynier, Waterford Distillery CEO, explains: “During the 1980s in the vineyards of Burgundy and Alsace, following decades of agro-chemical excess and the race for yield over quality, I witnessed the renaissance of terroir and modern winemaking. Out of this, biodynamics blossomed – a new philosophy that at first seemed outlandish, but after tasting the results increasingly proved its worth.

“Biodynamics is, after all, merely a self-contained farming system, but one that consists of the culmination of 16,000 years of agricultural optimisation – trial and error, life and death – before the vicissitudes of industrialisation and intensification dumbed down individuality.

“During my career I’ve had the fortune to taste the world’s greatest wines, it’s no surprise to see the ever-increasing adoption of biodynamics in the search for intensity and purity of flavour. If for the grape, why not the grain?”

THE ARCADIAN SERIES

BIODYNAMIC: LUNA is matured in a combination of 35% first-fill US oak; 17% virgin US oak; 26% Premium French oak; and 22% Vin Doux Naturel oak.

Tasting notes: apricot jam, lemon drizzle cake, milk chocolate with almonds, earthiness, bread pudding, brown sugar, tea, with intense spices, dark chocolate, a vibrant maltiness and extreme flavour persistence.

21,000 bottles of Biodynamic: Luna are available worldwide, with a RSP of approximately €85-95/$125/£89.95 (varying by location).

In addition to Luna, a new bottling of ORGANIC: GAIA has been released, drawing from the 2016 harvest. This has been matured in a combination of 39% first-fill US oak; 17% virgin US oak; 19% Premium French oak; and 25% Vin Doux Naturel oak.

Tasting notes: Orange peel, fresh soil, bread crust, brown sugar, milk chocolate, fresh fruit salad, fig roll biscuits, lavender, white pepper, grapefruit, liquorice, and cherries, with a dry, spicy finish.

30,000 bottles are available worldwide, with a RSP of approximately €75-86/$115/£77 (varying by location).

ABOUT WATERFORD WHISKY

Waterford Whisky is on a quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, we obsessively bring the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, we search for natural flavours via three paths: our Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; our Arcadian Series expresses the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst our Cuvées revel in the ultimate sophistication, where the whole is greater than the sum.

For more information, visit waterfordwhisky.com.

• Waterford Distillery is certified by Demeter, and follows a rigorous auditing regimen each year. Biodynamic: Luna is also certified by Demeter.
• The distillery has produced around 500 barrels of spirit made from local biodynamic barley, and annually incorporates biodynamics as part of its ongoing ambition to create the most flavoursome and natural expressions of whisky imaginable.
• A recent study by Professor Magali Delmas at UCLA analysed tasting scores given to more than 128,000 French wines from 1995 to 2015, discovering that biodynamic wines scored 11.8% higher compared to conventional or sustainable wines.
• Many of the world’s greatest winemakers follow biodynamic principles. Burgundian legends of Romanée Conti, Leroy, Leflaive, Trapet and Sauzet. Alsacians Zind Humbrecht, Faller, Ostertag, Kreydenweiss, Deiss, and Zusselin; And increasingly the mighty Bordeaux chateaux such as Latour, Lafite, Yquem, Climens, Pontet Canet, Angelus and Palmer .
• Waterford Whisky is the first producer to bring biodynamic spirit to the market, following Mark Reynier’s tentative trials of English-grown biodynamic barley whilst at Bruichladdich Distillery, Scotland.

Pioneering yet another Indian Single Malt revolution – Amrut Distilleries launches the ‘Single Malts of India’ bouquet with Neidhal

Bangalore, India

Amrut Distilleries, the pioneers of the Indian Single Malt revolution and makers of iconic brands such as the Fusion, Spectrum, Naarangi and Amalgam have embarked on a new venture to further cement their repute as the pioneers of Indian Single Malt Whiskies. While Amrut is revered the world over for their obsessive dedication to the art of the craft, the distillery has yet again pushed the boundaries of how Indian Single Malts can be enjoyed.

Amrut has now conceived and launched a new umbrella brand – ‘Single Malts of India’ to showcase some of the hidden gem malts of India. The first chapter of this release, titled the Neidhal will be a limited release of 12,000 bottles across the world, with 1200 bottles being allocated for India.Ancient Tamil texts, dating back to the Sangam period (300 BC – 300 AD), classify mother earth into five regions called Tinais, each being associated with its own distinct literary style, grammar, mood, subtle as well as overt form of romance, culture and even cuisine. “Neidhal”, according to this classification comprises all Oceans and neighboring regions or in short Coastal Plains and the way of living one associates with them.

Neidhal is a single malt eponymously sourced from a Neidhal or coastal region and exhibits traits that uniquely spring from the locale – notes of tropical fruits, vanilla punctuated by soft phenols and above all sea salt on the nose. On the palate, it is fruit cocktail and mesmerising phenols with a touch of iodine. The middle ground is an essay in chewability and a finish that is phenolic with a touch of sweet vanilla.

Quote from Ashok Chokalingam, Head Distiller – Amrut Distilleries “What we have done this time, is dug deep and discovered an uncut gem. We have then procured the gem, carried it to Amrut, caressed it with our touch and polished it with our expertise. What you discover bottled, is truly an amazing whisky showcasing it’s real potential. Watch out, we as an organisation are now sailing into unchartered waters of independent bottling”

About Amrut:

Founded in 1948 by the late Shri. Radhakrishna Jagdale, the history of Amrut Distilleries is as old as independent India itself. The journey started under the name and style of ‘Amrut Laboratories’. In the early years, Amrut was a leading manufacturer and supplier of Rums, Brandy and Whisky for domestic consumption.

Amrut Single Malts were a consequential product of our organisation’s founding principles: Uncompromising Innovation, Unflinching R&D and the Undeterred Courage to always offer exceptional products to our customers. The initial chapters of this journey started when Rakshit was completing his dissertation in the UK; and as part of this project he conducted a market survey to check the acceptance of Amrut Indian Single Malt. The response was very encouraging to say the least – everyone who tried the malt were impressed that fortified our confidence leading to the launch of the brand.

Amrut Indian Single Malt launched in 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK the heart of Scottish whiskies, creating history as the first Indian Single Malt to ever be launched outside India. The journey was extremely tough and challenging as India’s image producing quality whisky was very bad. We also had to undergo many struggles as our Indian identity did not always lead to favourable conditions in the developed world. However, we were absolutely confident about the quality we had to offer and we continued to strive and pursue endlessly our goal of bringing the Indian Single Malt to the world.

It’s been a busy old month here at Scotch Whisky Auctions, but we got there in the end, and (as usual) we’ve got a pretty tasty selection for you to peruse. I’m sure many of you are keen to get stuck in and browse the auction, but for those looking for inspiration we’ve put together a small preview of some of the expressions that have caught our eye this month.

Macallan may bask in most of the Speyside-y limelight these days (and don’t worry, we’ve got no shortage of Macallan), but our first pick for this month is this 1973, 42 Year Old single cask from Glenfiddich. Not only are single cask expressions from this ubiquitous Speysider extremely thin on the ground, but they’re also delicious. Benromach too has received plenty of praise for its recent output, and this month features a rather nice trio of 1970s distilled single casks (#2230, #1268 & #1269) that we reckon would make for a fairly monumental tasting session if you were so inclined.

For the Peat Monsters amongst you, there’s no shortage of goodies from Islay, including a bevy of older Lagavulin White Horse bottlings, some elderly Laphroaigs, and Ardbegs up to our eyeballs. The one that has tickled our fancy this month, however, represents the lighter side of Islay. This Bunnahabhain 1967 35 Year Old has long been one we’d love to spend some quality time with. Either on a windswept, west coast beach, or by roaring log fire, we’re not fussy.

Independent bottlers are also well represented this month, with a decent smattering of much sought after SMWS first releases, as well as this gorgeous Highland Park 1957 23 Year Old from Cadenhead’s.

If, like us, you’re always on the lookout for “the next big thing”, there’s plenty to choose from. The last few auctions have been in danger of being dominated by offerings from Torabhaig, Ardnamurchan and Aber Falls, but this month a lucky few of you might manage to get your hands on the inaugural expression from Irish newcomers Connacht, not to mention some exciting releases from Japanese upstarts Kanosuke and Shizuoka, who are already attracting the sort of hammer prices normally reserved for Yamazaki and Chichibu.

We could go on, but it would be a shame to deprive you all of the joy of stumbling across these gems for yourselves. So, we hope you enjoy this month’s auction. And remember… Don’t lose your bottle!

View Auction

K&L Standard-Bearers: Go-To Staples to Stock Up On

At the heart of it, we want to elevate your spirits experience at every level. While many focus on the unparalleled collectibles that are increasingly tough to find, sometimes the most rewarding purchase can be that everyday bourbon that far over-delivers for a modest price. This is exactly what you’ll find in the K&L favorites below, whether it be our pound-for-pound best value Scotch in Faultline and a Couvreur’s unforgettable “Peaty Overaged.”

Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) $24.99 View

For years, we’d dreamed of creating an inexpensive, delicious, value-driven, yet simultaneously interesting expression of blended Scotch whisky that we could feature under our Faultline label. There were many times when we thought we were close, but either the quality of the whisky or the cost of the barrels proved prohibitive. We didn’t want to make a $25 bottle of whisky just for the sake of it. If we were going to do it, then we were going to it right. Finally, after working on and off with the Laings for a year-long blending process, we hammered out a profile we were happy with. Big smoke, Ardbeg-like peat flavors, and a kiss of sweet grain was our goal and we definitely achieved it in this bottle. Unlike most big brand blends, there are no coloring agents in the Faultline Scotch, just a pale straw-colored liquid that bursts with character and, due to the heavy malt content, finishes with richness and weight. We wanted to make sure that, upon launch, there would be absolutely nothing on the market that could match the quality of flavor, price, beauty of design, and bang for the buck. Now after proving that we could do it, we’ve recreated our original blend. Just like the first batch for $25 you get one helluva bottle of Scotch. Smokier than Johnnie Black, more complex than Chivas, and less expensive than either. Plus, at an assertive 100 proof you can try it in a cocktail, pour it over ice, add in soda water and not worry about it. This is the real deal.

St. George “Baller” Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $70) $49.99 View

Whisky Advocate

 Hugely floral and perfumed on the nose, with rose petals, violet candies, and dried orange peel. This is the Gewürztraminer of American single malts—sweet lychee, laced with sachet aromas that explode as if opening Grandma’s dresser drawer. The palate is more tropical; dried pineapple, canned peach syrup, and spice. This could be polarizing, but it’s utterly captivating and worth a try. (JL, Fall 2017) 

K&L Notes

St. George’s new single malt release is described by Master Distiller Lance Winters as a California take on Japanese Malt. Initially aged in used bourbon and French oak barrels for 3-4 years, then finished in St. George Ume plum liqueur barrels. The result is an absolutely unique twist on the American single malt, namely that is was designed specifically to be drunk in highballs—Tokyo style. Of course it is ultra-limited, so grab it while you can.

Doc Swinson’s “Alter Ego” Triple Cask Sherry & Cognac Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

The Doc Swinson Alter Ego is the result of many years of experimentation with cask finishing at the Doc Swinson facility in Washington state. They’ve found the winning recipe with this exceptional product. Using a blend of two straight bourbons distilled at MGPI in Indiana, Doc’s has crafted this deftly balanced bourbon to revival any of the new bourbon brands on the market today. The two bourbons (one a high 21% rye and the other a very high 36% rye masbill) are each aged 5-6 years in new charred American oak before being blended and finished in three specially selected casks types. Using two distinct types of Sherry Butts (PX & Oloroso) and fresh Cognac Puncheons the bourbons are rested for an additional 3 months before being blended and married for another month in Cognac foeders. The Sherry Butts come from Montilla-Moriles Spain where their Sherry Solera Pyramids date back to the 1920’s, on a dry oxidized style Oloroso, the other a rich tangy sweet Pedro Ximinez style. Bottled at an invigorating 94.4 proof this lovely whisky is one of the most drinkable on the shelf today.

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.

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).

Teaninich 1975

Available now to purchase

Click here for more details and to Buy

Teaninich 1975 Aged 45 Years

Single Cask Bottling

Bourbon Hogshead

Cask Strength – 49.5%vol

Natural Colour

Highland Region

70cl

(Please note the wood type for the boxes may differ slightly from the photos.  Also there may be a slight delay on some wooden boxes towards the end of the run, but we can send these on as soon as they are ready.)

Well hello autumn! We’re embracing the changing of the season with six heart-warming preview drams from our October Outturn. Each of these whiskies transports the senses and evokes fond memories, from enjoying a stroll through meadows of hay bales, to sitting in a leather armchair with a cigar, to licking a flamenco dancer’s shoe – we hope you have fun exploring these new whiskies.

We will release the October Outturn Friday, 1 October at 9am.

VIEW NEW WHISKIES

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

COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR, JR. STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY RECEIVES FIRST PLACE BEST OF SHOW AT NORTH AMERICAN BOURBON & WHISKEY COMPETITION

20 Whiskies from Buffalo Trace Distillery Honored

FRANKFORT, KY (Sept. 9, 2020) – Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr Straight Rye Whiskey received the highest honor at the 2021 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition (NABWC), named the Best of Show First Place recipient. Nineteen other Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskies were awarded medals, including 12 Gold medals, four Silver medals and three Bronze medals.

Gold medals went to

• Eagle Rare 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W. L. Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W. L. Weller 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W. L. Weller C.Y.P.B. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W. L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W. L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver medals went to

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze medals went to

• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (131.1 Proof)
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Benchmark Top Floor Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The NABWC, which was founded in 2014, promotes excellence in bourbon, whiskey, and moonshine through a double-blind competition and is based on a 100-point scale. The spirits are judged by styles and price categories.

For more information about the 2021 NABWC, visit http://whiskeycomp.com/. For more information about Buffalo Trace brands, visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.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

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY WHISKEYS WIN 10 GOLD MEDALS AT 2021 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

            FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 26, 2021) – Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits took home 16 medals, including 10 Gold medals for top-performing whiskeys, at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge (ISC). Judges also awarded six Silver medals to the Distillery’s spirits following this year’s blind tastings, which took place in the United Kingdom.

Gold Medals:

• Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon
• Stagg Jr. Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon
• Col E. H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey
• W. L. Weller Antique 107 Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Full Proof Bourbon
• W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon

Silver Medals:

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Single Barrel Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Special Reserve Bourbon
• W. L. Weller CYPB Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream

Panels of experienced judges score products’ aroma, appearance, taste and finish before they are awarded an ISC medal. This is done over 12 days of intense blind tastings.

Full results from the 2021 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/live/en/page/isc-2021-winners.

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

STAGG JR. NAMED TASTE MASTER AT 2021 AMERICAN WHISKEY MASTERS

Six Master Medals Awarded to Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskies 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 19, 2021) – Stagg Jr. (131.1 proof) took home the top honor at this year’s American Whiskey Masters when it was named the American Whiskey Taste Master, a distinction given to the highest rated product in the entire competition. The Taste Master is selected from products awarded a Master medal, a list that included six Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskies.

“We are honored to accept such an outstanding award for one of our bourbons,” said Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “The Stagg Jr. is one that can stand up in a crowd and we are grateful for this recognition.”

Only two batches of Stagg Jr. are produced each year. The award winning 131.1 proof expression is the 15^th release of this uncut and unfiltered bourbon, named after George T. Stagg. Tasting notes describe it as having rich, sweet, chocolate and brown sugar flavors that mingle in perfect balance with the bold rye spiciness. The boundless finish lingers with hints of cherries, cloves and smokiness.

In addition to the six Master medals, Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskeys brought home 15 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal.

Master medals:

• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Taste Master)
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey
• Benchmark Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Gold medals:

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Antique Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Old Charter Oak French Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark #8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Top Floor Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver medals:

• Sazerac Rye Whiskey

Entries into the American Whiskey Masters were up over 85% from last year. Whiskies were judged by category in a blind tasting that took place at the Ibis Hotel in London Bridge in July. For more information on the American Whiskey Masters and a full list of results, visit The American Whiskey Masters 2021 results (thespiritsbusiness.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

Rare whisky makes a strong recovery and set for record year 

The rare whisky market for 2021 is set to break all previous records, following a strong first six months of the year, according to new figures published today by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101.

The first half of 2021 has seen nearly 85,000 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky traded on the secondary market with a value of more than £36 million. Based on the current rate of growth, Rare Whisky 101 expects the full year for 2021 to reach 172,500 of bottles traded, an increase of 19.88% on 2019’s record (143,895 bottles) with a value of £75 million, an increase of 29.97% on 2019’s record (£57,707,707).

Rare whisky vs COVID-19

As with other physical asset classes, trading in the rare whisky market was subdued by a succession of lockdowns during 2020. The overall number of recorded bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK in 2020 decreased slightly by 3.37% to 139,044 (2019 = 143,895), while the recorded value decreased by 7.47% to £53,395,201 (2019 = £57,707,707).

However, the market experienced a classic V shaped recovery following the easing of the first lockdown in the UK. November and December 2020 were record breaking months from a volume perspective with both months seeing more than 16,000 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK for the first time (previous record April 2019 = 15,830). Figures for May 2021 once again raised the bar with 16,858 sold.

The average per-bottle price declined by 2.55% from £401.04 in 2019 to £390.81 in 2020 and has quickly re-bounded to £426.58 at the 30^th June 2021 – a new record.

Broad investment values remain strong as Apex 1000 rises

After two years of relatively flat growth, Rare Whisky 101’s broadest measurement of the market, the Apex1000 Index, closed the half-year 2021 up 9.06% with a full-year estimate of 17.5% growth in investment values.

Springbank retained its #1 position from an investor’s perspective. However, The Macallan slipped 17 places to number 28.

Rare whisky vs alternative assets

Over an 18 month extended period, the Apex1000 Index fractionally edged ahead of gold by 0.03%, regaining its number one spot in Rare Whisky 101’s alternative asset rankings. Over an extended six and a half years, since the 31^st of December 2014, Scotch whisky’s leading performance is comfortably cemented, having achieved 225% growth compared to 50% growth for gold.

Whisky investment analyst and co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, Andy Simpson commented: 

“After an inevitable dip in volume supply following the double impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, the secondary market for rare whisky is, once again, set to smash all records. In our view, the pandemic has shown us that physical assets, such as whisky, have become ever more popular. When combined with a growing global consumer thirst for single malt which shows no signs of slowing, we see no reason why prices will not continue to rise for the right bottles.

“However, as is always the case, there are some watch-outs for collectors and investors. There are still some high value re-fills and fakes creeping into the market, so constant vigilance is required. We’re also seeing stress in the high value (>£5,000) segment of the market and have seen bottles selling recently for around 50% of their 2018/2019 high points.”

“For investors, we’ve seen plenty of movement up and down the rankings. The Macallan is an interesting case in point. The brand has further extended market share over the past year, but investment values have slipped. In part, we believe that the sheer volume of non age-stated releases may have confused the market, potentially leading collectors and investors to seek out other brands. However, it’s worth noting that the recent Macallan Red collection is a great example of where the brand works very well, leveraging the value of its aged stocks.”

“The data also provides some useful insights for collectors, as well as brand owners. From a price perspective, popularity is increasing in the more affordable sub-£1,000 segment. Yet this price-point isn’t particularly well served by brand owners who have been focused on releasing the ‘most expensive’ or ‘oldest’ to attract high net worth buyers. We sense a genuine uplift in the number of collectors who are prepared to pay premium prices but not £20,000+ for a 50 year old.”

For more information or to download the full report visit: https://www.rarewhisky101.com/intelligence

About Rare Whisky 101

Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at UK auctions over the past 14 years, the business now offers the world’s first, only and most comprehensive online single malt Scotch & Japanese whisky dataset covering some 830,000 price records and over 66,000 different bottle types. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 10,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in almost 1000 aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Dalmore, Bowmore, Springbank, Mortlach, Talisker, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Highland Park.