The Russell Family Cask – exquisite and extremely rare 

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Russell Family Single Cask. Matured in a hand-selected refill sherry butt for thirty-six long, character-building years.

Personally selected by three generations of the Russell family, Peter, Leonard and Tom Russell, who after sampling cask 1549 were unanimous in their decision. This is the first time the Russell’s have chosen to bottle a single cask to celebrate working together in the business.

This exquisite and extremely rare 36 Year Old single cask embodies the Russell family legacy, who continue to honour and respect Glengoyne’s unhurried approach to whisky making and world-class wood policy.

Watch Russell Family Cask Story

A single cask at its peak

At 36 years, this classic Glengoyne single malt is at its peak, taking time to develop colour and deep oak richness without overpowering Glengoyne’s glorious, sweet, fruity spirit. This silky rich and creamy, balanced malt gives way to tropical fruits, dried banana chips and chocolate cherry with a long, rich finish of sherry and spices.

Bottles of the Russell Family Cask will be available from our online and distillery shop and specialist retailers in the UK, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Taiwan, and China.

SMOKEHEAD TWISTS TRADITION WITH NEW LIMITED-EDITION STOUT CASK EXPRESSION 

STILL PACKS A PEATY PUNCH: SMOKEHEAD UNLEASHES BOLD & UNEXPECTED FLAVOUR COMBINATION WITH RELEASE OF TWISTED STOUT 

Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, one of the fastest growing single malts in the UK and globally, is once again twisting tradition with their latest release, Twisted Stout. The brand-new limited-edition expression has been part finished in stout casks, priced at RRP £49.99 and with an ABV of 43%, it is only available to purchase exclusively from www.smokehead.com

Still packing that unmistakably Smokehead peaty punch, Twisted Stout brings a smoother, sweeter, and silkier experience with this delicious and different whisky.

Intertwined with the intense smack-in-the-tastebuds smoke you’d expect from Smokehead, the creamy, malty stout flavour adds unfamiliar notes of rich chocolate and treacle toffee, vanilla ice cream, roasted nuts, and toasted biscuits.

Wrapped up in a striking new pack design, the ever-courageous brand’s new and innovative release is available to buy now only from www.smokehead.com

Commenting on the launch Iain Weir, Smokehead Brand Director said “Our unique  and disruptive Smokehead thinking has led to some convention challenging, trail blazing, rule breaking whiskies over the years that don’t follow the usual traditions and rituals.

“We’ve clearly struck a chord with those who do things their way, live life on their own bold terms, and pick a whisky that’s as disinterested in the status quo as they are. Twisted Stout is as far away from a standard single malt as the combination of tastes, aromas and flavours inside the bottle.

“So, while all our releases come with an original twist, our latest might just be our most twisted yet. Which is just how we like things.”

SMOKEHEAD TWISTED STOUT TASTING NOTES:

THE FIRST IMPRESSION

The usual island intensity of Smokehead comes cloaked in sweet aromas of chocolate and treacle toffee. Maritime air meets a decent pint on the shore. Unexpected. Unusual. And unsettling for the senses.

THE FULL-ON FLAVOUR

You’re past the point of no return now. Hot and soothing at the same time. Salty smoke weaves its way around dry roasted nuts, toasted marshmallow, vanilla ice-cream and… is that someone putting a pot of fresh coffee on?

THE FINALE

New flavours unlocked. Old favourites reunited, wood smoke and spices. Malty, toasted biscuits. Zingy citrus. Dark and delicious. A fitting sign-off from the twisted lovechild of whisky and beer.

Smokehead also grabbed the headlines recently with the launch of the first-ever pre-mixed single malt in a ready to drink can serve. Kick-starting the brand-new ready to drink range with two eye-popping serves: ‘Smokehead mixed with Cola’ and ‘Smokehead mixed with Ginger and Lime’, both available to buy online via Amazon, Smokehead.com and other UK selected retailers.

The Smokehead core range (see below) is also available globally via online and instore. 

CORE SMOKEHEAD EXPRESSIONS:

SMOKEHEAD

Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the original expression, an intensely rich yet subtly sweet dram. With immense smoke and notes of sea salt and spice, this is a vigorous whisky that stands out from the crowd.

HIGH VOLTAGE

If Smokehead is an assault on your senses, then High Voltage is an all-out attack. The breath-taking intensity of the peat and smoke is a red light for the faint of heart.

RUM REBEL

The rich, smoky, salty Islay whisky rebel is finished in spicy, sweet Caribbean rum casks creating culture colliding carnage and a melding of mouth-watering tastes.

SHERRY BOMB

Smokehead Sherry Bomb is a peaty Islay single malt that has well and truly earned its name. Blasted by rich, sweet and spicy Spanish sherry casks, it had emerged as a fiery, explosive, heavy hitting dram that has even turned our skull red.

About Smokehead:

• Smokehead is an Islay Single Malt Whisky and has been given a bold new look by Ian Macleod Distillers.
• Smokehead has been labelled the wild one of Single Malt Whisky.
• Award-winning premium Scotch whisky that has an attitude-led positioning and smoky sweet taste. 

About Ian Macleod Distillers:

• Established in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading independent, family-owned distillers, blenders and bottlers.
• Ian Macleod Distillers is the world’s 10th largest Scotch Whisky company, producing and selling over 15 million bottles of spirits every year.
• Ian Macleod Distillers has built up an enviable portfolio of premium quality spirits and is proud brand proprietor of Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank and Smokehead Scotch whiskies and Edinburgh Gin to name but a few.

ULTRA-RARE CASK OF MACALLAN TO BE SOLD THROUGH AUCTIONYOURCASK.COM

An ultra-rare Macallan 1989 has been listed for sale by Auction Your Cask – the world’s only live, online auction dedicated to cask whisky.

The uber-premium cask is the headline Lot for the auction, hosted by Cask Trade, which will start on 18^th October 2021 at 12pm BST and run for 10 days.

In August this year, a Macallan 1991 cask sold at Bonhams in Hong Kong for a world-record price. The Fine and Rare Whisky sale was held on 20th August and the Macallan 1991 cask sold at HK$4,464,000.

Managing Director of Cask Trade Simon Aron says: “This is an exceptional auction and we are proud to have some extraordinary casks including the Macallan 1989 alongside a rare Springbank. We are really excited to see how they sell.”

Distilled by Macallan in December 1989, the 32-year-old cask has an alcohol content of 46.7% ABV. The cask can yield around 128 bottles and is expected to sell for an estimated price of £175,000- £225,000.

Other highlights of the upcoming auction include a favoured Springbank cask. The 1995 Springbank is 26 years old and the bidding is hotly anticipated.

More casks for the auction include a 12-year 2009 GlenAllachie Sherry Hogshead, 2016 Tullibardine Red Wine Barrique, 2012 Ben Nevis, 2014 Glenrothes and 2009 Macduff Hogshead.

To sign up to bid in the live auction, register here: https://www.auctionyourcask.com/members/login

Auctionyourcask.com is inviting people to register their casks for auction by 15^th October. Those looking to register their cask for sale should complete an online form to request a valuation. https://www.auctionyourcask.com/request-a-valuation

All casks will need to have had a recent re-gauge ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity, wherever possible, to try the whisky before they buy. Auction your cask validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee Cask Trade can offer bidders the actual hammer price. Their low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

ABOUT CASK TRADE:

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.

• Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
• Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
• HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
• HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…

• Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
• Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
• Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
• Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
• Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
• Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade started the UK’s first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

Caol Ila 1980 40 Year Old Kinship

Caol Ila 1980
40 Year Old The Kinship

An exceptional example of an old Islay spirit – bottled by Hunter Laing to commemorate the virtual Fèis Ìle 2021, limited to just 183 bottles

£1,500.00
buy now

Caol Ila 1980 40 Year Old Kinship Description

Legends untold

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES

The annual Diageo Special releases have arrived with a new look inspired by myth and legend. The line-up of eight cask strength single malts features a fruity Cognac-cask-finished Glendullan, a rich and creamy 13-year-old Mortlach and the always excellent Lagavulin 12 Year Old. Read our blog for tasting notes and information on the full range.

SHOP NOW

1998 Inchgower 22 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

A Diageo blending workhorse, Inchgower is a principal component (along with Blair Athol) of the Bell’s blend which we sadly don’t see here in the United States. Due to a cloudy wort and a slightly unusual middle cut that runs from 70% all the way down to 55% in the spirits run, Inchgower tends towards the fuller spicier side of things and away from the high-toned fruits found early in the spirits run. Couple that with 22 years in a refill sherry butt and we’ve got a decadent spicy whisky on our hands with the mellowness of long aging. A wonderful combination and a screaming deal at just over a hundred bucks.

$109.99 View

Teaninich 1975

Last few bottles of this extraordinary malt now ready.

Teaninich 1975 Aged 45 Years

Single Cask Bottling

Bourbon Hogshead

Cask Strength – 49.5%vol

Natural Colour

Highland Region

‘Pure elegance in a glass, wood polish, fudge, candied lemon peels, grapefruit, bourbon hogshead but gives the vibes of old sherry, oxidised to perfection, finish keeps on giving, not really much to say!’ @andrea.dionori IG

Bartels are really excited to announce to release of this extremely rare, low run bottling.  This will be the oldest whisky we have bottled to date.  The cask was found to have a very low fill so we thought it would be a great opportunity for a low run bottling.  As you can imagine 45 years spent in an ex bourbon cask has given this malt a beautiful deep, dark golden colour.  Distilled 27/11/1975 and bottled by ourselves 6/5/2021.  Straight out the cask and into the bottle, nothing added, nothing taken away.   Whiskies like this don’t come around very often, especially independently bottled ones so get yours while you can!  Four and a half decades this whisky has spent in its hogshead and you can really experience all the complexity that comes with that type of ageing in the palate of this whisky.

We are also pleased to bring back the return of our hand made engraved wooden boxes with this bottling.  (Please note the wood type for the boxes may differ slightly from the photos.)

Nose: Delicate aromas of fresh fruits followed by deeper notes of barley, salted caramel and chocolate.

Palate: A complex but extremely well balanced profile with all the maturity of nearly half a centuries worth of ageing.  Some time in the glass will further bring out the sweeter caramel/bourbon notes

Finish: Long and soft.

Bartels Whisky
4 The Old Glebe
Loughborough, Lec LE12 8LB
United Kingdom

FOUR A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY BOURBONS RECEIVE MEDALS AT 2021 WHISKIES OF THE WORLD COMPETITION 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Oct. 5, 2021) – A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength continued its winning streak at this year’s Whiskies of the World Competition (WoW) bringing home a Gold Outstanding medal, an award requiring unanimous agreement among judges and given to the highest-scoring products. The honor comes after the bourbon received a Master medal at the 2021 American Whiskey Masters and a Gold medal at the 2021 North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition.

Each barrel of A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength is hand-selected by Master Distiller Brian Prewitt and aged a minimum of 10 years. The initial release of this uncut, non chill-filtered bourbon came in at 141.1 proof and there are plans to release more each year.

Three other A. Smith Bowman Distillery bourbons were also recognized by judges, a group including spirits evaluators, brand ambassadors, whisky retailers, bartenders and mixologists. The other winners were:

Gold Medal

An excellent product that is among the best, remarkable

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver Outstanding Medal

A very good product with complexity that is better than most

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver Medal

A very good and recommended product that shows complexity.

• Isaac Bowman Port Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Full results from the 2021 WoW Competition can be found at https://whiskiesoftheworld.com/2021-award-winners/.

 About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which was named America’s Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon at the 2020 American World Whiskies Awards. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com

FOUR A. SMITH BOWMAN BOURBONS AWARDED AT NORTH AMERICAN BOURBON & WHISKEY COMPETITION

Two Bourbons Win Gold Medals and Two Awarded Bronze 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Sept. 21, 2021) – Four A. Smith Bowman bourbons received medals at the 2021 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition (NABWC). John J. Bowman Single Barrel and A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength each received Gold medals, and Bowman Brothers Small Batch and Isaac Bowman Port Finish received Bronze medals.

“We feel honored to be the recipient of these four awards,” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt said. “We take pride in producing top quality spirits, so to be recognized in this way is very humbling for us.”

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 A. Smith Bowman brands, visit https://asmithbowman.com/spirits/.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

Stolt Tank Containers opens new depot in Scotland

Stolt Tank Containers (STC) has expanded its global network with the opening of Tank Wash Scotland Ltd, a new ISO tank depot in Grangemouth, Scotland. Grangemouth is Scotland’s largest port, handling nine million tonnes of cargo and over 225,000 shipping containers and is an ideal place for the depot to support customers given its convenient connections to the local rail freight network and close proximity to Scotland’s main road arteries.

The depot provides state-of-the-art cleaning, heating, storage and repair facilities for road-tankers, third-party tank container owners and STC’s own tanks. It features one segregated drive-through food bay, six fixed food bays, two drive-through chemical bays for road tankers and iso tanks, three test bays, three hot work repair bays, 12 steam-heating bays and parking for 30 trucks. A wastewater treatment plant offers a sustainable solution for handling waste, limiting water use and reducing transport-related CO2 emissions.

Michael Kramer, President, Stolt Tank Containers said: “I am delighted to announce that our latest depot is now up and running. Our long-standing relationships with customers, coupled with the expertise of our highly experienced local team will deliver value and quality to local markets. This is another step in our journey to optimise logistics by investing in facilities close to our customers and the digitalisation of our processes.”

STC believes that its investment in modern, efficient facilities at Grangemouth significantly improves the standard of tank cleaning across Scotland. In addition to aligning with STC’s sustainability strategy the investment also supports the Scottish Whisky Association’s ambitions for a circular economy and transitioning to net zero by 2040. The site is a member of the National Road Tanker Cleaners Association (NRTCA) and the European Federation of Tank Cleaning Organisations (EFTCO). Its high standards are recognised by SQAS certifications for tank cleaning and food handling.

When fully operational the Grangemouth site has the capacity to house 240 tanks and will serve the needs of customers in the local petrochemical industry and food and drink sector, which is by far Scotland’s largest export market.

About Stolt Tank Containers

Stolt Tank Containers (STC) is a leading provider of door-to-door transportation services for bulk-liquid chemicals and food-grade products. With a fleet of 43,000 tank containers, STC is the only operator with its own worldwide network of 22 owned and joint venture depots. This specialised network gives STC direct control over the handling, cleaning, and maintenance of its fleet, ensuring unrivalled quality, reliability, and safety performance.

Stolt Tank Containers Stolt Tankers is a division of Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNL), a long-term investor and manager of businesses focused on opportunities in logistics, distribution, and aquaculture. The Stolt-Nielsen portfolio consists of its three global bulk liquid and chemicals logistics businesses – Stolt Tankers, Stolthaven Terminals and Stolt Tank Containers – Stolt Sea Farm and investments in LNG. Stolt-Nielsen Limited is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Oslo Børs: SNI).