LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES KICKS OFF  

PRO14 RUGBY’S COACH OF THE MONTH  

This month, The Spirit of PRO14 Rugby launches the inaugural Coach of the Month award presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies. The accolade celebrates the excellence achieved by the winner and their team’s successes over the previous month which mirror the spirit of Loch Lomond Whiskies.

Beginning in January 2021, Loch Lomond Whiskies would like fans to vote for their Coach of the Month. Nominees will be put forward by PRO14 Rugby’s podcast ‘Under the Sticks’, who will explore those coaches who have demonstrated the spirit to drive their teams to success, with key characteristics such as passion, innovation, inspiration and teamwork traits that are shared with Loch Lomond Whiskies premium whisky range.

Fans can vote on PRO14 Rugby’s channels with the winner announced at the end of the week. And in return the Coach of the Month presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will receive a bespoke 18 year old single malt from the multi-award winning Loch Lomond Whiskies range.

David Jordan, Tournament Director, PRO14 Rugby said: “Our tournament provides so many challenges where our coaches must blend tactical and technical nous, a savviness in the recruitment market and ensure they are bringing through the next generation of international talent to the PRO14 while also managing some of the biggest talents in the game.  

“As a result, we have some very innovative coaches in our tournament and in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies it’s terrific that we can highlight their successes on a monthly basis.”

The first Coach of the Month Award, presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will be announced on Friday 5^th February.

Earlier in 2021, multi-award winning Loch Lomond whiskies announced it will partner with PRO14 Rugby for the next three years. To learn more about the PRO14 Rugby partnership and to discover the Loch Lomond Whiskies range, go to: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com   

About Loch Lomond Group 

Loch Lomond Group is a multi-award winning leading international distiller of malt, blended and grain whisky with a rich heritage dating back to the foundation of its unique Littlemill Distillery (Scotland’s oldest distillery) in 1772. Its brands are present in over 120 countries around the world. Its key premium Scotch whisky brands include Loch Lomond – “The Spirit of the Open”, Glen Scotia, a Campbeltown malt whisky from the west coast, and Littlemill, the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland. It also produces High Commissioner and Loch Lomond blended Scotch whiskies, as well as Glen’s Vodka, Scotland’s number one vodka brand, and Ben Lomond, premium Scottish Gin.   

With production sites across Scotland, Loch Lomond Group is one of the few distillers in Scotland to have a fully integrated production and supply capability. It operates three distilleries – Two (malt & grain) at Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire which has on-site cooperage facilities and Glen Scotia distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. The group also owns and operates Scotland’s largest independent bottling plant in Catrine, Ayrshire.  

About Loch Lomond Whiskies 

Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814. The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain  

Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards  

Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition: 

• • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old  
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12-Year-Old  
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12-Year-Old  

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old   

In 2018 the company signed a five-year partnership with The R&A for Loch Lomond Whiskies to become “The Spirit of The Open”. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf. 

For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

Opening for Bidding at 9am EST Today:

Sotheby’s 48-Hour Flash Sale Presenting the First Opportunity to Acquire at Auction

A Bottle of Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5

*Two-Day Window to Acquire One of the Most Coveted Whisky Bottles in the World*

Estimate: $100,000-200,000

NEW YORK & LONDON, 8 February 2021 – Bidding opens at 9am EST today on ‘48 Hours Only | Black Bowmore x Aston Martin DB5 1964’, a flash sale offering the first opportunity to acquire at auction one of the most coveted whisky bottles in the world. Launched by Bowmore in 2020, of the 27 bottles produced, 25 were released, with the two remaining bottles destined for Bowmore Distillery’s archive. The bottle in Sotheby’s sale carries an estimate of $100,000-200,000, with bidding scheduled to close on Wednesday 10 February at 9:00am EST.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “This rare expression is a high-concept marriage of British craftsmanship. The status of Black Bowmore as one of the greatest whiskies ever produced is fundamentally down to its quality and complexity. There can be no more fitting a tribute to such a legend in the world of whisky than this special partnership with arbiters of sophistication, Aston Martin. Sotheby’s has set records for both Bowmore and Aston Martin in recent years and we are delighted to offer the first opportunity for collectors to buy this hybrid bottle at auction in our very first 48-hour only sale for spirits.”

Of all Aston Martin’s models, the DB5 reigns supreme as its most iconic, since its rise to stardom in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger. The imagery of the late, great Scottish actor Sean Connery manning the wheel of the DB5 on the silver screen made this model a must-have for every British car collector and it was even dubbed “The Most Famous Car In The World”.*

For nearly 30 years, since the release of its First Edition in 1993, Black Bowmore has been synonymous with collectability and an icon in the rare whisky market. However, its legacy can be traced back to 1964, not only the year Goldfinger was released, but also the year that Bowmore Distillery updated their distillery on Islay, swapping out the coal fired stills for steam heating. It was during this vintage that the Black Bowmore spirit was distilled, the whisky taking on its distinctive dark color, from which its name is derived, during the maturation process.

Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5 is presented in a handblown glass bottle incorporating the DB5 piston into its design, which itself comes in a presentation box created from string-grain calfskin, brass latches and nickel plated hinges.

The partnership between Bowmore Distillery and Aston Martin marks a watershed moment in cross-category collaboration, the two brands operating as captains of industry in their respective fields.

Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 on the small Hebridean island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. Over its 242 year existence it has established itself not only as the oldest, but also as the most valuable Islay whisky when the distillery’s 54 year old expression, distilled in 1957, sold for £363,000 at Sotheby’s London in 2019.

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 and its cars have been renowned for both their performance and their style ever since. The company received its Royal Warrant in 1982 and went on to set its own auction record at Sotheby’s when in 2017 a DB1/1 sold at RM Sotheby’s Californian auction for $22.5 million, making it the most valuable British car ever sold at auction.

Full sale details here.

Notes:

*The exact car used during the filming of Goldfinger went on to sell at RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey for $6,385,000 in 2019.

Sotheby’s spirits sales in 2020 totalled $18 million, which was 20% of the Company’s annual auction total of $92 million for wine and spirits, and a huge increase from five years ago when spirits represented less than 2% of Sotheby’s wine sales – further details here.

A Divine Malt from a Great, Unsung Highland Distillery
2006 Behind the Highlander (Craigellachie) 14 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)
“…the quality of the whisky and the distillery character shines through gorgeously.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

If you haven’t already experienced the superlative malts of Craigellachie, we strongly suggest you give this wonderfully complete “teaspooned” rendition a spin. This 14 Year Old perfectly captures everything we love about this Highland distillery, offering up a dram that is as engaging as it is drinkable. As the tasting notes will attest, it is a bit of a brute straight out of the gate, but with the addition of water, this magical malt absolutely sings, showcasing incredible range and depth. Don’t let its light color fool you, as this malt is potent and powerful, offering an array of flavors that cross from chocolate and cherries to savory spice tones. Priced just under $59.99 (hooray for the value teaspooning delivers!), this is one of the sharpest buys you’ll find in Highland malt. This combination of quality and outstanding value means this beauty won’t be around for long, so don’t miss out on this—one of the smartest buys from Craigellachie we’ve had the good fortune to encounter.

2006 Behind the Highlander (Craigellachie) 14 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

If you’ve ever been to the Highlander Inn, you’ll know all too well that it’s dangerously close to two of Scotland’s best distilleries. One has become so ubiquitous that its name does not even connote Scotch any longer, but simply luxury. The other is the rugged and rustic dark horse (formerly owned by White Horse!) Craigellachie. They’re putting out some of the very best malt anywhere in Scotland to little fanfare. The still house has been reconstructed in the modern era and looks similar to Glendronach’s, a stone and glass box, which isn’t so pretty from the outside, but gives the distiller plenty of air and space to work. It wasn’t until recently that owners Bacardi began marketing this excellent malt on its own, although the vast majority of this whisky still ends up in the Dewars blend. Built in 1891 on the cliffs across from Macallan, if you miss the turn off to Dufftown, you’ll miss Craigellachie, but the next road takes you right to the Highlander Inn. There you should stop and taste the local dram of choice. Or save a trip and try this awesome little cask. Aged for 14 years in a refill sherry butt, the malt has all the classic hallmarks of this awesome distillery. Dense and chewy, without being masked by the fresh sherry, the malt offers plenty of deep herbal character, powerful savory spice and complex cacao flavors. This malt was teaspooned with a small quantity of Dailuaine to declassify it. Be sure to add some water to soften this rugged whisky a bit.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2021

The excellent Craigellachie distillery is certainly coming up on many peoples’ favorites list. We’ve had good success with it in both sherry and hogsheads, but this is the first refill sherry butt we’ve bottled. At 14 years of age the sherry component isn’t very obvious at this point, but the quality of the whisky and the distillery character shines through gorgeously. The color – pale straw. This one is a total sleeper. It’s just barely there at first nosing, but as you allow it to sit and aerate it starts to build on some of the complex Craigellachie aromatics. Preserved citrus fruit, chalk, fresh tennis ball, camphor, menthol, baked apple. On the palate, the sweet roasted barley and zingy minerality are front and center. As soon as you add water though (a nice hefty splash until you get a bit of cloudiness), the gorgeous yellow fruit and herbal qualities really start to speak. It’s absolutely scrumptious on the palate now, with a lovely medium texture and silky long finish. This might disappoint the few who aren’t pre-programmed to add water, but once you do, you’ll see why this is a REAL Highlander. Dare I say with something that reminds me of that other great “C” Highlander—Clynelish. As some are apt to say these days, you can’t go wrong with those “C” distilleries—save for maybe Cardhu…

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 10, 2020

Even if you don’t spend the night, the Highlander Inn is a required stop if you find yourself in the vicinity of Craigellachie. Not only does it offer one of the best atmospheres in Scotland, it’s got an epic whisky collection. This dram would be right at home on their back bar, just as the distillery sits in their backyard. 14 years in a refill sherry butt hasn’t imparted a ton of color, but sure has let the meaty and herbal notes that make Craigellachie so famous shine. Combine that with the lighter floral and fruit notes that come out to play with a little water and you’ve got a big, flavorful whisky at a stunning price. The finish is long and robust, full of dark cherries and chocolate sprinkled with orange zest and sea salt. For the price and ease of drinkability it’s nearly a “session” whisky.

Join the English Whisky Members Club! 

Receive 6 x bottlings a year – one bottle delivered bi-monthly

Discounts on all future purchases

Unlimited St George’s tours free of charge and free guest passes.

Each members bottle is carefully selected to showcase the work of our distillers. Some bottles will be unique for our members and some will be tasters of launches to come.  

From £10.33 pcm

JOIN THE CLUB

Whether your Valentine’s plans involve a digital date, a cosy night in (2.0 version), or a day of self-care, our gifts selection has everything you need to spread the love. Here are our top picks of swoon-worthy spirits.

Love from, 
Loch Fyne

Say it with an engraving

Our bottle engraving service allows you to personalise selected bottles (including The Macallan, Oban, Loch Lomond and more) with a thoughtful, hand-engraved message. Your recipient is guaranteed to love the personal touch, and they can keep the bottle long after the liquid is gone!

Engrave a Bottle ›

What’s new on the shelf

Dry January is officially over – hoorah! 😁

To celebrate, we’ve got some brand new bottles to show off, including a Chinese New Year special bottling from Macallan, a one-off single barrel from Balvenie, and new drams from Benromach, Bunnahabhain, Aberlour and more!

Have a gander at our new releases and see what takes your fancy…

Shop New Releases ›

Heaven Hill Brands Introduces Environmental Sustainability Strategy for Next Decade

Largest Independent, Family-Owned and Operated Distilled Spirits Supplier Identifies Four Key Areas to Cultivate Sustainable, Thriving Communities

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Brands announced today the company’s first official environmental sustainability strategy that addresses pressing environmental challenges within the industry and local communities in four key areas: water, emissions, waste, and conservation. As a leader in the industry since 1935, Heaven Hill’s success has been built on a commitment to integrity in the communities where employees work and live. These specific efforts set the course for continued resiliency, both a hallmark of Heaven Hill’s 85-year history and a guiding concept for the future.

“Heaven Hill has always strived to be a good partner in our communities and to be a good steward of the natural resources used to create our products,” said Rachel Nally, Heaven Hill Brands Manager of Environment & Sustainability. “Cultivating sustainable and thriving communities is important for our employees, our partners, and our neighbors. We are passionate about this next era in our commitment to responsibly use natural resources, reduce energy use, safely dispose waste, and conserve the ecosystems that support our business.”

The following goals were developed with a focus on science-based research, international climate standards, and internal expertise, and have been deemed necessary to achieve by 2030:

1. Use water more efficiently by improving water use efficiency by 15%
2. Drive toward zero carbon emissions by reducing carbon emissions from operations by 30%
3. Reduce waste by eliminating 10% of waste generated by operations, reducing virgin plastic in bottles by 50%, and working towards zero waste visitor experiences
4. Conserve the ecosystems that support the business by sponsoring planting of 5,000 trees of substantial size in local communities, supporting sustainable white oak supply, and supporting sustainable agriculture

Significant investments in these efforts across production, new technology and training initiatives are currently underway. A legacy of good stewardship of natural resources to create Heaven Hill’s products set the runway for this future growth. Heaven Hill has implemented a variety of projects over recent years, including replacement of light fixtures with more energy efficient LED bulbs, implementation of recycling programs within operations, completion of multiple boiler efficiency projects to reduce energy needs, and tree plantings around Bernheim Distillery. Over the course of the next decade, both corporate and branded initiatives will continue to be announced to support these goals as the long-term vision takes shape. To learn more about Heaven Hill’s environmental sustainability efforts, visit here.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy and Burnett’s Vodkas; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY REPORTS STRONG VISITATION FOR 2020 DESPITE COVID-19 SETBACKS

More than 145,000 Guests Visited Oldest Continually Operating Distillery in 2020

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Jan. 26, 2021) – To say 2020 was a challenging year is an understatement, but making the most out of the unprecedented year is just what Buffalo Trace Distillery strived to do.

Despite a nearly four-month closure at the onset of the pandemic, and now limiting the number of guests it can welcome, Buffalo Trace is reporting strong visitation for 2020, all thanks to the many guests who felt comfortable visiting the Distillery during this time. The Distillery, which closed its doors to public visitation in early March, reopened July 1^st and welcomed 145,365 visitors throughout 2020 and actually grew visitation year-over-year in December.

Having welcomed nearly 300,000 guests in 2019, the Distillery shifted focus when the pandemic struck, utilizing the closure to drive forward with a massive expansion of its Visitor Center and enhance safety and sanitation protocols.

“As soon as the pandemic hit we got to work making modifications in order to be able to reopen safely and really create a comfortable environment for our guests,” Homeplace Development Director Meredith Moody said. “Our sincere thanks goes to the thousands of visitors, from across the country, who have felt confident in our safety protocols and chose to visit Buffalo Trace Distillery since we reopened.”

Upon reopening to the public in July, the Distillery began offering a safe haven bourbon experience for guests, and debuted its expanded Visitor Center, which triples the size of the previous space. The expanded Visitor Center conveniently allows for easier social distancing, and provides ample space and comfort for guests exploring the Gift Shop or tasting in the new expansive tasting rooms. With the reopening, Buffalo Trace kept its complimentary tours, but began limiting tour group sizes, accepting visitors by registration only, and implementing increased sanitation, mask-wearing and social distancing campus wide.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first year the Distillery has not set a new record for in-person visitation since 2010, but paired with its increased virtual tourism numbers, the Distillery is showing no signs of slowing down.

In May, Buffalo Trace began hosting live stream segments on social media each week, called Whiskey Wednesday. From May 13 through December, these episodes were viewed by more than 3.6 million people around the world. The Distillery is continuing its Whiskey Wednesday episodes in 2021, continuing to feature a variety of topics including more bourbon tastings, behind-the scenes tours, trivia, history and special guests.

“With the many challenges 2020 brought to all of us, we are thankful to have seen such robust visitation, and even year-over-year growth around the holidays,” Moody said. “We are encouraged by the visitation we have experienced since reopening and look forward to welcoming more visitors to the Distillery in 2021.”

The Distillery, which has remained operational as an essential business, also undertook hand sanitizer production at the onset of the pandemic, having now created about 1.1 million gallons on an industrial scale for some of the world’s largest organizations in healthcare, government, military, retail, distribution, airline, pharmacy, and banking industries. This is in addition to its never-ceasing bourbon production, and its ongoing $1.2 billion infrastructure improvement and distillery expansion to increase production for future bourbon demand.

Operating hours for Buffalo Trace Distillery are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Registrations for the Trace Tour, Old Taylor Tour, Bourbon Barrel Tour and Expansion Tour can be made at https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us.html. All tours are complimentary and include a socially distanced tasting. Curbside sales also continue. To place an order visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/shop.html.

A complete list of safety procedures, along with information about enacted sanitation measures and protective equipment in use can be found here.

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

Thank you to all customers who got in touch to register their interest in our contactless doorstep collection. We will be in touch will all customer to confirm a collection date over the coming days/week.

In February we will be offering a free contactless doorstep collection to customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000 and above. If you would like to be included in this please complete the form which can be found here. As this is a contactless doorstep collection, we will require your bottles to be boxed with your name and registered email address clearly marked on the front of the box. Additionally a submission sheet should be completed and packed with your bottles.

The dates currently scheduled are as follows:

North of Scotland

Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th February 2021

Edinburgh

Wednesday 10th February 2021

Fife

Wednesday 10th February 2021

Glasgow

Thursday 11th February 2021

England

Saturday 13th – Tuesday 16th February

We are also offering a delivery service to our local customers who normally collect in store, there is a small fee for this. The delivery charge is £12 (inc VAT) per delivery regardless of the number of bottles to be delivered. Please complete the form which can be found here to request this, we will then be in touch with your invoice.

Please complete the request form as soon as possible. This service is subject to availability and only available to our mainland UK customers.

Stay Safe

The SWA Collection Team

Collection/Delivery Request Form

Daftmill Charity Auction. – https://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com/…

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The Whisky Rant Podcast with Jeremy and Rob. – https://youtu.be/zaycdrLs8bE