ralfy review 906 – Glenlivet 12yo @48%vol: (Illicit Still)

Double celebration as Glen Scotia named as Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year 

For a second time this year, Campbeltown-based Glen Scotia has been recognised for its whisky-making abilities after scooping yet another prestigious award.

The distiller has been named the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade it receives just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) for its Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old expression.

The SFWSC received over 3,800 entries from around the world across 31 separate categories, with Glen Scotia 25 Year Old being awarded the overall winner of the competition, which makes Glen Scotia 25 Year Old The Best Whisky in The World in 2021.

It is the first time that one distillery has won both awards in the same year, demonstrating the increasing stature and visibility of the Campbeltown whisky producer.

Glen Scotia hails from Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. Once known as the

“Victorian Whisky Capital of the World,” in its heyday, the small coastal town was home to over 30 distilleries. Today, Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving distilleries but through a programme of continued investment and local effort, Glen Scotia is growing its presence in the UK and international markets, allowing the potential of Campbeltown to once again be realised.

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and distillery manager at Glen Scotia, said: “For a long time Campbeltown was the forgotten whisky region, however, in recent years there has been a real resurgence in interest in the type of whisky we produce here.

“From the Victorian era until the present day, whisky has always been at the heart of this community. The techniques and craftsmanship that make our whisky so unique have been passed through generations, and I am thankful that we have managed to revive the whisky-making heritage of Campbeltown long after many of its distilleries fell away.

“Our distillery is small, but this allows us to focus on quality, and it is so humbling to once again be recognised for our craft.

“To win Best Whisky in the World for our Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old and to now achieve the status of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year is beyond anything we imagined 2021 would bring. It has been a good year for Campbeltown whisky but we’re not stopping here. We are witnessing the town’s renaissance and it is truly wonderful.”

For more information, please visit www.glenscotia.com

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was named ‘Best In Class’ and ‘Best In Show’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021, with Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old collecting a Double Gold Medal, Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old a Gold Medal and Glen Scotia ‘Harbour Single Malt’ a Silver Medal.
• Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old was awarded a Gold at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was awarded a Silver at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021 and Gold Medal at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2019.
• Glen Scotia 18 Year Old won Best Campbeltown Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2018.
• Images and interviews with key staff from Glen Scotia are available upon request.
• glenscotia.com
• Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts
• Instagram: @glenscotiamalts
• Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

Let the Society and our whisky be at the heart of your celebration this Christmas with show-stopping drams and great gifts that are sure to impress.

EMINENTLY EFFERVESCENT

CASK NO. 28.51

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & sweet

A PLEASURE FROM START TO FINISH

CASK NO. 9.199

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  17 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

NAVY STRENGTH SHERRY

CASK NO. 2.128

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-Oloroso butt

AGE:  13 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

MEANDERING A MAZE OF SOUKS

CASK NO. 24.151

INITIAL CASKS:  Ex-Oloroso butts

FINAL CASK:  1st fill ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

RAIDERS OF THE FLOSSED ARK

CASK NO. 53.320

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

A SLICE OF PEAT HEAVEN

CASK NO. 10.213

CASK TYPE:  2nd fill ex-Oloroso butt

AGE:  7 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Heavily peated

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

The Loch Fyne Blended Scotch Whisky

We crafted what we consider to be the best blend around, using the knowledge we’ve gained from speaking to our customers for over 24 years. We like to call it ‘the malt drinker’s blend’. We also have the option to personalise this as a gift for a loved one, and you’ll get a free glass with every purchase as well!

£24.00
Buy Now

Glengoyne 20 Year Old
The Loch Fyne Fynest

One of our own single casks! And we are all agreed upon one thing, this is a truly first-rate Glengoyne. Matured for over 20 years in an ex-sherry cask, this is a rare opportunity to taste the history of Glengoyne. A very limited release of only 55 bottles

£350.00
Buy Now

The Loch Fyne
Chocolate & Orange Liqueur

Some would say that Scotch liqueurs are old hat. We would say that that they just need to be brought up to date, and The Loch Fyne Chocolate & Orange Liqueur certainly does just that – not too sweet and with a vibrant burst of choc orange!

£29.00
Buy Now

Bunnahabhain 19 Year Old
The Loch Fyne Fynest

We like to think that we know a brilliant Bunna when we see one. Distilled in 2001 and bottled in 2021, this was filled to a sherry wood cask, and we bottled at a cask strength of 55.5% abv, limited to only 597 bottles. With the popularity of Bunnahabhain’s latest cask strength release of their core 12-year-old, here’s something even more special and unique. Have a free Glencairn with each bottle too!

£150.00
Buy Now

This time of year can feel fairly frantic, as we hurtle towards the festive season at a hundred miles an hour. Tucked away beside a leafy gorge in Speyside, things are a little different…

Life here remains unhurried. Uncomplicated, unchanged.

Nothing in our whisky making process can ever be rushed, because when crafting The Glenrothes, patience is paramount.

Take, for example, our unusually slow distillation in our unusually tall stills. It’s not the easiest way to make whisky, it’s certainly not the quickest.

However this process helps produce a uniquely delicate fruity spirit, the base of our house style. So that’s the way we do it, and the way we always will.

Slowing down and switching off can feel almost impossible at this time of year. We invite you to take just a few minutes to dive into our hidden corner of Speyside and let our unhurried craft provide you with a moment of respite.

Click the play button above to watch.

#SpiritOfRothes

Ledaig 12 Year Old 2008

Double matured in Hermitage wine casks. This is a smokey single emalt distilled at Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull and selected by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. Ledaig 12 Year Old 2008 vintage peated Island single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Tobermory. Double matured in Hermitage wine casks. Bottled 2020 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series.

Buy – Ledaig 12 Years – £70.69 / €69* / $77* / c$99*

Tobermory Distillery was established by John Sinclair in 1798 and is situated in the harbour town of Tobemory on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. Equipped with four stills fitted with unusually twisted lyne arms to create a light and fruity Tobermory malt spirit. The distillery produces an unpeated single malt whisky called Tobermory and a peated single malt whisky called Ledaig. In addition to the core range which includes the Lediag 18 Year Old some excellent young aged Ledaig is available from independent bottlers including Signatory.

https://youtu.be/TsnUM31ZH4c

I’ve been guilty of ignoring a lot of world whiskies, not intentionally! It’s just that there’s so much to get through, and you want to make sure that you’re reviewing things that apply to yourself and your viewers.  But not reviewing whiskies from Paul John was a bad idea from me; this stuff is delicious! The Edited is a peated, natural colour, non chill filtered offering from the Goa based distillery. Established in 1992 and still going strong, Paul John is something that I’ll be paying much more attention to in the future! Full of tropical fruit and a smoke that is almost like scented chocolate, this is an impressive whisky for £40.

INAUGURAL CHARITY SCOTCH WHISKY AUCTION
– ORGANISED BY THE DISTILLER’S CHARITY IN COLLABORATION WITH SOTHEBY’S –
TOTALS £3.1 MILLION / $4.1 MILLION, TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE LOW ESTIMATE

Edinburgh, 3 December 2021 – Over 40 exceptional whiskies and experiences found new owners from all over the world on December 3rd, when the first in a series of auctions under the banner The Distillers One of One took place at Barnbougle Castle near Edinburgh, organised by The Distiller’s Charity, the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers, in collaboration with Sotheby’s.

The auction was staged in the Banqueting Hall, during a lively lunch where the bidders regularly erupted into applause as records tumbled, new benchmarks were set, and funds were raised for the charitable causes. Collectors in the room, on the telephones and online competed for the 42 lots on offer, and by the time the sale drew to a close, the auction had reached a total of £3.1 million / $4.1 million, two and a half times the pre-sale low estimate. Participants from around the world were out in force with registrants from 24 countries.

Over £2 million will be divided between four charity partners of The Youth Action Fund, which has been created by The Distillers’ Charity to transform the life chances of 16 to 25-year-old people in Scotland, empowering them to create positive change in their lives and communities.

Jonathan Driver, Master of The Worshipful Company of Distillers, said: “We are truly overwhelmed by the amount that has been raised and are so grateful to all of the sponsors, brands and bidders who got involved, donated spectacular lots and showed us incredible support, for making this happen. To know that over £2.5 million will now be distributed to help young people across Scotland through our charity partners is really special. The success of our first auction is so exciting and we are thrilled that we can continue to support more people for at least the next six years, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Sotheby’s. This whole event wouldn’t have been possible had companies of all sizes from across the Scotch Whisky industry not come together in this amazing collective endeavour. It showcases just how extraordinary the people who work in the world of Scotch Whisky are and we are privileged to have been the catalyst for this landmark sale. We want to extend a huge thanks to everyone involved.”

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “Our global wine and spirits team were delighted to partner with The Worshipful Company of Distillers and their philanthropic arm, The Distillers’ Charity, to create a new series of charity auctions that showcase the best of the Scotch Whisky industry and provide important funds to benefit disadvantaged young people in Scotland. The phenomenal outcome of this auction follows the significant success of the recent Hospices de Beaune wine sale and we look forward to our first auction with the Napa Valley Vintners early in the year. We are committed to working together with these charitable organisations to unite collectors with special opportunities to acquire rare bottles, while benefiting the communities of each region.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “Working with The Worshipful Company of Distillers to present the biggest charity auction project in the history of Scotch Whisky has been one of the most rewarding projects of my career. This was a truly unique collection of whiskies, for which we can thank the creativity and generosity of the distilleries who willingly came on board. Equally generous were the collectors who participated, driving the overall total beyond expectations. Record prices were achieved for Bowmore, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Ladyburn, and Talisker, and more besides.”

Leading the sale was the spectacular four bottle set of Glenfiddich from the 1950s (1955, 1957, 1958 and 1959). An extended 30-minute bidding battle broke out as eight collectors competed against each other, driving the final sale price to £1,037,500 / $1,380,760 (est. £220,000-350,000). Provided by William Grant & Sons, this ultra-rare collector’s piece established a new auction record for Glenfiddich.

The second most valuable lot of the sale was the Talisker 1978 Cask of Distinction, which was competed for by several collectors in the room, online and on the telephones, selling to a private collector for a record price of £625,000 / $831,780 (est. £350,000-500,000). This 43 Year Old cask of still-maturing Talisker single malt Scotch whisky was offered with a cask-end that has been turned into an original work of art by acclaimed Scottish painter Callum Innes.

A new auction record was achieved when the Bowmore Onyx 51 Year Old 1970 – presented in a striking, hand-blown, 1.4l black glass vessel taking its inspiration from the terroir of its island home – surpassed its estimate, selling for £400,000 / $532,340 (est. £100,000-180,000).

A further auction record was achieved for ‘lost’ distillery, Ladyburn, when a bottle of 54-year-old whisky distilled in 1966, uniquely labelled with a highly sought-after, hand-signed photograph by David Bailey of John Lennon, made £81,250 / $108,132 (est. £15,000-30,000).

Other significant purchases on the day, from those looking to secure themselves a piece of liquid history, included The Glen Garioch Twin Casks in Cradle 1990 and 2021, which realised £112,500 / $149,720 (est. £100,000-150,000), and The Balvenie 56 Year Old 1964, which exceeded its estimate of £50,000-80,000 to sell for £175,000 / $232,900.

Several once-in-a-lifetime whisky experiences were included in the auction, including the Gordon & MacPhail One of One Selection Experience from the 1940s or 1950s – an unforgettable, immersive visit to Speyside with the opportunity for the lucky recipient to work alongside the team to create their very own whisky – which sold for £87,500 / $116,450 (est. £80,000-160,000).

As well as the incredible support that the auction received through lot donations, the Distillers One of One auction was delighted to have the involvement of five sponsors that made the event possible. Blyth & Blyth, engineering design consultants, Simpson’s Malt, makers of high quality malt, Glencairn Crystal Studio, inventors of the industry’s favourite glass, The Glencairn Glass, J.C. Ribeiro, makers of high-quality cork stoppers and McLaren Packaging, designers and manufacturers of premium packaging.

Notes

The hammer price total of the Auction will benefit The Distillers’ Charity with ninety percent going to its newly created Youth Action Fund which will be used to change the life chances of disadvantaged young people in Scotland. The remaining ten percent will be used by The Distillers’ Charity for its general charitable purposes.

For this year’s auction, the Youth Action Fund will work together with the following four charities on specific initiatives in Scotland:
• Aberdeen Foyer, a charitable organisation supporting people towards independent living, learning and work;
• ENABLE Scotland, which delivers a range of support services across Scotland, including the ENABLE Works service which provides employment and skills support, assisting people with disabilities or other challenges into employment;
• Street League, which uses the power of sport to support young people living in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities into work;
• The Alcohol Education Trust (AET), which will work across the UK to keep young people safe around alcohol

About Sotheby’s Wine

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits totaled an outstanding $92 million in 2020, with over 15,000 lots sold across 41 sales – a nearly 50% increase in the number of auctions held in 2019. Over $60 million of wine and spirits were sold to online bidders in 2020 versus $28 million in 2019, with 85% of all lots offered finding online buyers. Demonstrating continued strength in Asia, Sotheby’s led the market in the region for the third consecutive year, with over 70% of the total bid amount in all Wine and Spirits sales attributed to collectors in Asia.

Sotheby’s Wine’s has had the privilege of auctioning numerous record-breaking wines and spirits in recent years, with 2020 alone witnessing new world auction records for any bottle of Japanese whisky, any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery, as well as any bottle of Cognac. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

Stream live auctions and place bids in real time, discover the value of a work of art, browse sale catalogues, view original content and more at sothebys.com, and by downloading Sotheby’s app for iOS and Android.

THE OXFORD ARTISAN DISTILLERY LAUNCHES RED RED RYE

Oxford, 30^th November 2021 – The Oxford Artisan Distillery has unveiled its fifth batch of Oxford Rye Whisky, Red Red Rye, in time for the festive season.

This latest offering from the distillery, is a triple-matured rye whisky with a rich, wine influence. The reddest of ryes, it is the result of a love affair between heritage grains, virgin American oak casks, and three legendary sweet wine casks; a Pedro Ximenez butt and two Vintage Port barriques. A celebration of grains and grapes, this bottling is an exploration of the Oxford Rye Whisky’s house character, with a decadent fortified wine profile, perfect for the time of year.

As with all the products they produce, responsible farming is the first stage in the distillery’s whisky making process; taking time, regenerating the land and supporting biodiversity with every bottle. The grain used for this batch was made up of multiple ancient heritage rye strains, wheat strains and even a few oats and a few thistles grown together in healthy, diverse fields.

Working with Head of Grain & Sustainable Development, John Letts, all of the grains are grown regeneratively and sustainably, using absolutely no pesticides or chemical fertilisers – contributing to an abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds across the distillery’s farms.

Red Red Rye’s initial maturation was for one year in casks #12 and #13, both virgin American oak which gave the new make its classic house profile. For the second maturation, both casks were blended into cask #72, a Pedro Ximenez butt, for two years to give it the depth of aged sweet wine. For the final maturation cask #72 was split into two Vintage Port barriques, casks #268 & #269, for a year to brighten the liquid. The result is a highly luxurious whisky, full of the deep raisin character of sweet oxidised wine with tannic fruitiness, sweetness and body.

Master Distiller Francisco Rosa comments: “Some may say a Pedro Ximenez cask followed by a second maturation in Vintage Port is extravagant, or perhaps even excessive, but we argue it’s the perfect level of festive indulgence.”

Adding: “Using extremely good quality old wine and new wine casks we have preserved the balance and structure between our house character and the wine influence. It’s a rye whisky with a viticultural personality; think violets and berry jam alongside toffee apples in a pine forest. I’d recommend sipping it by the fire, or after dinner paired with cheese – it also makes an excellent Manhattan.”

Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #5, 46.4% ABV, consists of only 610 bottles, priced at £150 and is available to purchase from 25^th November directly from the distillery’s website or from specialist retailers including: Master of Malt, Hedonism, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop.

www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com

NOTES 

The Oxford Artisan Distillery:

The distillery opened for business at its purpose-built site in Oxford on 27th July 2017.

It is Oxford’s first ever distillery and produces a range of spirits, including gin, absinthe, vodka and whisky, all with total provenance from grain to glass. The Oxford Artisan Distillery is rare amongst UK distilleries in producing its own organic spirit, rather than purchasing Grain Neutral Spirit (GNS) from other sources.

The distillery has a licence to produce spirits for the University of Oxford and has a notable partnership with the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden.

About Organic Heritage Grain:

Certified Organic in April 2020, The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distiller to use genetically diverse populations of ancient heritage organic grains – revived from historical sources by a leading archaeo-botanist and grown sustainably on over 350 acres, known as land races, both close to Oxford and on prestigious estates such as Highgrove and Sandringham. The distillery’s grain contributes to biodiversity and soil health in the English countryside. The grains are the result of John Lett’s lifelong research on ancient grains: John has spent a large part of his life sourcing and growing ancient grains together, as polycultures. John takes 30-100 varieties of grain, mixes them up, and grows them together in the same field, at the same time. These sustainable fields are similar to what you would have seen in medieval times – the grains are grown specifically for the distillery, making The Oxford Artisan Distillery the only distillery in the world with a license to use John’s grains, grown exclusively for flavour and not yield.

Shelter Point’s newest release

“Ripple Rock Batch 2”

Ripple Rock Batch #2
An Explosion Of Flavour

 Embrace an explosion of flavour with Batch 2 of Shelter Point’s virgin oak influenced whisky. Campbell River’s epic 1958 Ripple Rock explosion provides the inspiration for our most charged and flavourful limited release single malt whisky. With a combination of 3 ex-Bourbon casks and 3 alligator charred virgin oak casks, Shelter Point Ripple Rock detonates with intense flavors of chocolate, spices and vanilla! This release is 46.5% ABV.

This much anticipated whisky is a limited run and is guaranteed to sell out extremely quickly, so be sure to order yours online before it’s too late! *Please note that due to a shortage of staff and irregular hours due to our ongoing public closure, that curbside pickup orders cannot be fulfilled until Tuesday December 7th at the earliest. You may also experience some longer than usual delays in shipping times for this release, as demand will be high*

Ripple Rock 2 is available in a 750ml ($85) and 375ml ($45) and can only be purchased online at https://shelterpoint.ca/single-malt-whisky/

For all the latest news and information visit our website at https://shelterpoint.ca/