https://youtu.be/C_CxiWHWKGo

Someone at Fettercairn is listening, I like that.

The second release in their Warehouse series has seen them bring some rye casks into the mix. Previously, I’ve never had great experience with rye cask influence Scottish whisky. I always used to wonder why nobody did it, and then a few notably bad examples got released and it put me off. Always happy to be proven wrong, and here it is!

The spirit forward nature of this, with Fettercairns trade mark exotic fruit character has really produced something interesting. Legitimately interesting, not just ‘general whisky blurb interesting’.

Vanilla cream, pineapple, mango, carroway spice and green apples are all here and are happily dancing along with the natural presentation of this whisky. Fettercairn, I like what you’re doing. Please keep at it!

Diageo unveils 2021 Scotch Whisky Special Releases Collection “Legends Untold”

Impeccably crafted, the highly anticipated Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection features eight treasured whiskies and this year, the first-ever augmented reality experience, revealing untold stories of the distilleries in a unique and enchanting way.

The 2021 collection, drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson, portrays the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables, and the mythical creatures come to life revealing their true characters. Drawn from renowned distilleries, the collection nods to the hidden gems that can be found in each corner of the Scottish terrain amongst the lochs and rugged highlands.

The annual, carefully selected line-up highlights the diversity of our most treasured whisky reserves maturing in Scotland. Each whisky will be visually brought to life with heavily detailed illustrations and design work from renowned digital illustrator Ken Taylor. His striking signature style and interpretation of the mythical creatures takes cues from his portfolio of pop culture artwork.

Activated through an on-pack QR code, a multi-sensory experience begins with a narration of the cask-strength Single Malts’ tale. Enthusiasts are then guided through a mixed reality tasting experience, designed to captivate their senses and bring a taste of Scotland to their homes.

SOCIETY LAUNCHES WHISKY TALK PODCAST SERIES WITH DJ VIC GALLOWAY

Famous faces of Scottish culture and arts including crime writer Ian Rankin to feature on The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s new podcast series

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has partnered with Vic Galloway for a special podcast series dedicated to great music and stunning whisky.

Since collaborating with the Society in May 2021 to match music with the 12 SMWS flavour profiles, BBC Scotland DJ and writer Vic Galloway is taking his passion for Society whisky to the next level, with his Whisky Talk: Malts & Music podcast series.

Across the series, Vic will sit down in the Tasting Room at The Vaults, the Society’s spiritual home in Leith, for a whisky-fuelled chat with well-known whisky fans from Scottish cultural life.

Along with a tasting pack of five Society single cask malt whiskies, each of Vic’s guests will explore their creative loves, their passion for whisky and most importantly, how each of the five Society drams has inspired a favourite piece of music.

Whisky Talk: Malts & Music kicks off on Thursday, 7 October with crime writer Ian Rankin, who pairs his Society drams with tunes from John Martyn, James Yorkston, Karine Polwart, The Skids and The Blue Nile.

The podcast series will continue with Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub, writer Val McDermid, Justin Currie from Del Amitri and Stina Tweeddale of Honeyblood.

BBC Scotland DJ, writer and whisky enthusiast, Vic Galloway said: “Good whisky and good music go hand in hand. I had such a great time pairing 12 music genres with the 12 Scotch Malt Whisky Society flavour profiles earlier this year, and that gave us the idea for Whisky Talk: Malts & Music.

“Asking a whisky-loving creative person to match five malts with five pieces of music and chat to our guests about the experience was a huge amount of fun. As the whisky flows, we go off on unexpected tangents about creative work, opinions and life in general. I hope the Whisky Talk: Malts & Music interviews give listeners and viewers a new insight into these creative minds and some of the finest whisky on the planet. Join us for a good chinwag and spectacular drams!”

Whisky Talk: Malt & Music with Vic Galloway launches on Thursday, 7 October on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Google Podcasts and Stitcher, or simply search for ‘Whisky Talk podcast’.

You can watch the videos of the conversations on the SMWS YouTube channel at: https://cutt.ly/4ERQC4R.

For more information about The Scotch Malt Whisky Society click here.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

f: https://cutt.ly/8ERQ0SF

i: https://cutt.ly/AERQ3mu

t: https://cutt.ly/lERQ4WH

Yt: https://cutt.ly/4ERQC4R

#SMWS

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

•   The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 27,000 members and branches around the world.
•   The SMWS bottles rare single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
•   The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
•   The Society has bottled whisky from more than 140 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
•   The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single malt whiskies every month
•   The Society offers a variety of membership packages that can be tailored. Please see: https://cutt.ly/VERWwBs
•   For more information about the Society, visit: https://cutt.ly/zERQK7W
•   Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

– New Make Spirits – Holyrood Distillery –

Before single malt develops, a clear, flavorful liquid called new make is produced. More and more distilleries are choosing to share their aromatic and complex new make spirits with an intrigued public. Post pandemic consumers are becoming increasingly adventurous in their drink choices, playing with new flavours and focusing on drinks with more provenance and the addition of a new spirit to this category is being welcomed by whisky drinkers and beyond. At the forefront of this trend, Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery has just launched its Brewer’s Series of new make spirits.

Established in 2019, Holyrood is Edinburgh’s first single malt distillery in almost a century. Built with a vision to create a new kind of whisky distillery, one that would reflect the dynamic and diverse, modern city of Edinburgh. The distillery’s new make spirits range, titled the Brewer’s Series is inspired by Edinburgh’s illustrious heritage as the historic brewing capital of Scotland. Each new make spirit draws upon a different element of the brewing process, from yeast selections to specialty malt ratios. Holyrood are proud to be creating a historically inspired, yet innovative range of liquids, that reflect their working style and ethos, which for whisky fans will prelude the brands inaugural single malt release.

Nick Ravenhall, Managing Director, commented: ‘We have been floored by the response. We initially thought we might sell 500 bottles to die hard whisky geeks and so far we have sold ten times that. We have orders from the Far East, Australasia, Europe, and across the major whisky retailers in the UK. At the request of some of our export partners we put together a release of Aged New Make which showed the development work we’ve been doing on heritage barley varieties such as Maris Otter and Plumage Archer and the work we are doing on yeasts such as US05 the American IPA yeast that helped launch the current IPA trend. That aged new make series sold out in five days.’

The Brewer’s Series comprises four distinct liquids, all of which echo different flavours from beer and distilling processes and methods. ‘Brewers X Distillers Yeast‘ focuses on the yeast selection, fermenting Distiller’s Malt for 111.5 hours, with a combination of M-strain distiller’s yeast and US05 brewers yeast. The ‘Crystal Malt’ spirit replaces 10% of the distiller’s malt, which in beer creates a clean, nutty, caramel flavour. While the ‘Chocolate Malt’ edition is a spirit rich with chocolate, dark fruit and roasted coffee flavors.

A culmination of the team’s explorative attitude and a symbol of their innovative style of whisky making, the final liquid from the range ‘Made By Edinburgh New Make Spirit’ draws on all other three new-make bottlings, combining crystal and chocolate malts alongside their distiller’s malt in the mashbill recipe, adding Edinburgh Ale yeast.

The New Make Brewer’s Series is available to purchase at Royal Mile Whiskies and is priced at £34.95. Please do let me know if you need any further information, or if you’d like to speak to Nick Ravenhall for any further comments.

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LEDAIG 1999
PEDRO XIMENEZ CASK

Distilled in 1999 and matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for 22 years, this limited release from Tobermory Distillery boasts great depth of flavour. Aromas of gentle smoke and red grapes are met with notes of dried fruits and chocolate. Similar flavours are met on the palate alongside sweet coffee, candied fruits and almonds, giving way to a smoky and spiced finish. Bottled at cask strength of 55.6% ABV.

£250

TAKE OUR TASTY TRINITY TOUR

Tuck-in to a taste explosion as we explore the tasty trinity of beer and curry alongside our mouth-watering selection of new whiskies and a variety of flavour profiles.

VIEW NEW OUTTURN

DISCOVER THE 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

INTRODUCING THE MACALLAN A NIGHT ON EARTH IN SCOTLAND –

CAPTURING THE JOY OF CELEBRATING NEW YEAR

The Macallan has unveiled A Night On Earth In Scotland single malt whisky, which reveals the story of Scotland’s world-famous Hogmanay festivities and captures the universal joy of celebrating the change of year.

The first in a new limited edition gifting series, A Night On Earth In Scotland is a collaboration with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose artwork has featured in leading director Wes Anderson’s films. She has also previously created designs for some of the world’s leading luxury brands.

Presented as part of innovative multi-layered packaging that provides an exceptional unboxing experience, Erica Dorn’s playful abstract illustrations are inspired by the historic fire rituals dominant in New Year celebrations around the world.

They also reveal some of the distinctive customs of Scotland’s Hogmanay, including the tradition of first footing when it is good luck for a dark-haired visitor to be the first person to enter your home after midnight, bearing symbolic gifts – whisky, coal and Scottish shortbread – that aim to bring comfort and happiness in the year ahead.

Other design elements focus on the flavours found within the remarkable whisky crafted by The Macallan Lead Whisky Maker, Sarah Burgess, who drew on fond family memories of Hogmanay to create a rich, evocative single malt.

Sarah Burgess said: “Crafting A Night On Earth In Scotland has been an extremely personal experience for me, which took me back to growing up in our family home in Speyside, just across the river from The Macallan Estate.

“The whisky’s vanilla sweetness references the rich Scottish shortbread traditionally gifted and eaten at Hogmanay, while notes of dried orange and spice recall the flavours and aromas that filled our house through the festive season.

“Encapsulating the hopes and dreams of Hogmanay celebrations past, present and future, it also conveys the unwavering human desire to spend special times with loved ones.”

Erica Dorn said: “Fire plays a significant role in New Year celebrations around the world. Around its warmth we gather our families, friends, and loved ones to share past memories and future hopes. Through its purifying qualities we release the past to clear the way for the future. In its dancing light we find solace from cold winter nights, as we have done since the dawn of time. Though the fire rituals may differ from culture to culture, fire is universal in its ability to unite us and bring us ‘home’.

“The colours for this presentation box were selected with a particular journey in mind: first, red for merriment, vitality, good fortune and joy; blue to remind us of a winter evening in Scotland, in all its peace and stillness; and finally, amber – in tribute to the sweet aroma of soft butter and freshly baked shortbread, which were an inspiration for Sarah Burgess in the creation of this whisky.”

This very special single malt was created from a selection of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned American and European oak casks, along with American ex-bourbon barrels to deliver its rich, sweet shortbread-like character. With a soft, velvety mouth-feel, it showcases the skill of the whisky maker, and The Macallan’s commitment to craftsmanship and uncompromised excellence.

A Night On Earth In Scotland has an RRSP £75 and is available in The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and other luxury & specialist retailers.

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com.

Whisky Maker’s Notes:

ABV: 40%

Aroma: Vanilla, butter rich, baked apple, baking biscuits, plum and almond

Taste: Soft velvety sweetness reminiscent of shortbread with that rich mouth coating, vanilla sweetness, with lightly toasted marshmallow, dried oranges, fig and cinnamon

Finish: Medium finish with sweet butterscotch and freshly baked biscuits

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

Foundry Distilling Co. and Confluence Brewing Co. Team Up To Make Des Moines Malt Whiskey

West Des Moines, IA (September 24, 2021) – When the inventive West Des Moines distiller, Foundry Distilling Co., and renowned Des Moines brewery, Confluence Brewing Co., join together to make a one-of-a-kind spirit, the result is the exceptional Des Moines Malt Whiskey. Set to be released on October 30th, 2021, this Brewer-Distiller Alliance spirit is bound to delight whiskey enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and collectors alike.

“Des Moines Whiskey started and ended right here in central Iowa with a whiskey which captivates the senses,” Scott Bush, owner of Foundry Distilling Company. “Whiskey and beer lovers won’t want to miss out on this creation.”

This identifiably unique whiskey is made from the wort of Confluence’s signature beer, Des Moines IPA. Foundry Distilling Co. turned the wort into whiskey by fermenting, distilling, and barrel-aging the product at their world-class distillery in Historic Valley Junction. The distillery is producing only a few hundred cases for Des Moines Malt Whiskey’s inaugural run.

“This has been a great partnership that’s captured the essence of our beer in whiskey form,” said John Martin, President, Co-Founder of Confluence Brewing Co. “I think that Confluence fans, beer lovers, and whiskey enthusiasts are really going to enjoy this special creation!”

Des Moines Whiskey has a unique aroma that consists of mellow tangerine, sweet bread, light-red fruits, and green earth. When tasting this whiskey, drinkers will experience light and mellow notes of orange citrus and sweet bread. The overall finish will leave a lingering sweetness that delivers an incredible experience to the tastebuds. Those looking to secure a bottle of this one-of-a-kind whiskey before the launch date can do so by ordering online at FoundryDistillingCompany.Square.Site or FoundryDistillingCompany.com/Des-Moines-IPA.

The general public is encouraged to attend a release party with Foundry Distilling Co. and Confluence on Saturday, October 30th. This event will be hosted by Foundry Distilling Co. at their distillery in Historic Valley Junction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Release party event tickets can be purchased by going to Foundry Distilling’s Eventbrite page at bit.ly/DSMwhiskey.

Attendees will be able to sample Des Moines Whiskey and purchase Des Moines IPA while having the chance to meet both teams that made this malt whiskey possible. The first 100 guests at the event will receive a free branded rocks glass. The event will also feature Foundry cocktails, music, local food, and a caricature artist doing free drawings of you or your group.

This local Iowa collaboration is made possible by Foundry Distilling Co.’s Brewer-Distiller Alliance initiative, which aims to work with outstanding breweries across the nation to produce remarkable, distinctive whiskeys from their beer recipes. The breweries produce the wort using their beer recipes, and Foundry then ferments, distills, and barrel-ages the spirit to create whiskey. Foundry Distilling Company and its partners have generated a diverse collection of exclusive limited-edition whiskeys.

For more information about the Des Moines Whiskey or the Brewer-Distiller Alliance, visit BrewerDistillerAlliance.com.

About Foundry Distilling Company

Foundry Distilling Co. strives to be one of the most innovative distilleries in the world by providing unique products, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like the company’s Private Barrel Club, and collaborating with an alliance of nationally recognized breweries, known as the Brewer-Distiller Alliance. Their flagship product, The Real Stuff, is made from a mash of grain and cane and aged in charred-oak kegs, and is an attempt to recreate the actual process used to make the legendary “Off-the-Farm” spirit of rural Iowa farmers. To learn more, please visit FoundryDistillingCompany.com.

About Confluence Brewing Company

After years of hobby brewing and an increasingly ardent interest in brewing as a profession, John Martin and fellow home-brewer and co-founder Ken Broadhead launched Confluence Brewing in 2012. John left his construction management day job to pursue Confluence and his passion for beer making full time. The brewery is itself a confluence of John and Ken’s love for Iowa and craft beer. The result is a microbrewery that shares Iowa’s attributes of honesty, humility, hard work, and a sense of humor. Confluence also has Iowa’s knack for being a delightful surprise to those who actually experience it. To learn more, please
visit ConfluenceBrewing.com.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY COMPLETES WAREHOUSE EXPANSION

            BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY (Sept. 23, 2021) – Barton 1792 Distillery just wrapped up its $25 million warehouse expansion, an investment which increases barrel storage capacity by 25 percent.

For this expansion the Distillery constructed three new warehouses, the first built onsite at the historic distillery since 1963. Warehouse 33 was the first new warehouse to be built. It was completed in February and is now nearly filled with new barrels of whiskey. Warehouse 34 was built this summer and is already about 70 percent filled with barrels, and Warehouse 35 was just completed. The first new barrels of whiskey will be rolled into Warehouse 35 in the coming weeks.

These warehouses are made of traditional wood floors and wood storage ricks with metal siding. Warehouse 33 holds 33,500 barrels, and Warehouse 34 and 35 hold 58,800 barrels each. For reference, the existing warehouses on the Distillery’s property hold 19,600 barrels each. These three warehouses were built on the hillside behind the Distillery.

Throughout the expansion, Barton 1792 Distillery continued to offer complimentary tours and tastings for visitors to explore decades of bourbon making history and sample award-winning products, but with appropriate safety measures in accordance with CDC guidelines and government recommendations.

Barton 1792 Distillery is open for tours 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Registration for the Barton Tradition Tour can be made at www.1792Distillery.com. All tours and tastings remain complimentary.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020.  To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.