Explore the top 20 best selling bottles of the past year.

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo,

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 421: Auchentoshan 13 Year Old 2007 North Star Spirits

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries another Toshan! Well, well, well… brand new Independent Bottler of the Year North Star Spirits (yes, for the second year in a row, congratulations, Iain!) bottled an Auchentoshan for the first time last summer. How about at that? And it has become a young lad of barely 13 years old, that was allowed to keep his beauty sleep on an oloroso hogshead. In July 2021, this resulted in 330 bottles at 55% ABV. Fan of both Auchentoshan and North Star Spirits, Mark of course could not pass up on this one.

https://youtu.be/4ubK9h3O_w8

Pernod Ricard unveils THE CHUAN Malt Whisky Distillery in Emeishan

A new ever popular Malt Messenger Bulletin will be published tomorrow!

BROWSE VOUCHERS

Cotswolds Distillery
Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road
Stourton
Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5EX
United Kingdom

NORTH BRITISH DISTILLERY

30 Year Old 1991 The Golden Cask Exclusive #CG001

Cask #CG001

1991 vintage bourbon barrel #CG001. Only 115 bottles for The Golden Cask exclusively for TWB.

Shop North British 30yo »

North British 30 Year Old 1991 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Single Bourbon barrel #CG001 distilled May 1991 and bottled September 2021 by House of Macduff for the Golden Cask series. 115 numbered bottles exclusive to The Whisky Barrel.

North British Distillery was established on farmland to the west of Edinburgh in 1885 by Andrew Usher, John M. Crabbie and William Sanderson. Since then the city has expanded ever outwards and now the distillery resides in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh. North British opened in 1887 to guarantee supplies of grain whisky for its owner’s cordials and scotch whisky blending businesses. It is equipped with four Coffey stills to produce grain spirit at 94.5% alcohol and multi-million litres of spirit annually. Whilst most of its whisky matures in racked warehouses in the central Lowlands, a small number of casks spend at least eight years at the distillery in dunnage Warehouse No.1. Official releases are very few but excellent independent ones are available from Hart Brothers and Hunter Laing.

A Highly Coveted New Release from a Rising Star Distillery
Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #6” Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($135.00)
“We ALWAYS have people coming back asking for more, but usually we only get a handful of cases. Now, we can actually spend some time talking about this outstanding whiskey …”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

For a few years now, we’ve enjoyed tremendous success with the line-up of highly unique, expertly crafted whiskeys from Bardstown Bourbon Company. Eponymously named for the town at the epicenter of the Kentucky bourbon tradition, this distiller maintains a healthy respect for its roots while also pushing the innovative envelope in its blending practices and collaborative ventures. This latest release, the sixth in their much-coveted Discovery Series, shows the blending team in its finest form. A marriage of three exceptional whiskeys from Kentucky (probably Barton), Tennessee (Dickel from Cascade Hollow), and Indiana (MGP), this rendition is once again a flat-out stunning piece of work. Each of the components announces itself in turn, giving us a wonderful tour through three American whiskey traditions with three different age profiles. Spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard declares, “I’m certain anyone who cracks a bottle will be coming back for more,” which incidentally speaks to the best feature of today’s offer—there’s no allocation this time around. With past releases, demand always far outstripped supply, so we were forced to parcel out what we received. Not now. We’ve secured a sizeable stash in the warehouse, so fans and aficionados of this one-of-a-kind bottling can go big and load up to their hearts’ content.

Bardstown Bourbon Company “Discovery Series #6” Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($135.00)

K&L Notes: The exceptional Discovery Series from Bardstown Bourbon Company has consistently brought us some of the highest quality releases each year. This fabulous, new, gleaming distillery isn’t shying away from the details when it releases these sourced products, and they spend an inordinate amount of time and energy making sure these small batches deliver an incredible drink from the first nosing to the final sip. This batch is a meticulous marriage of whiskeys from three states. The primary component, at 68% of the blend, is an 11-year-old Kentucky bourbon with a classic 75% corn, 13% rye mashbill. This is presumed to be distilled at Barton Distillery just miles from Bardstown’s facility, but the producer has never confirmed that fact. The rest of the blend is made up of equal parts Tennessee 17-year-old at 8% rye and an Indiana 7-Year-old at 21% rye. The sources of these are pretty obvious considering no other distillery in either state sells to other parties, so we assume Cascade Hollow and MGP for these components, respectively. Despite the very distinctive profiles of each distillery, none dominate in the blend, and the resulting bourbon is a perfect balance of the rich, dusty, old Tennessee bourbon, the deep, fruit-forward Kentucky, and the zesty, youthful Indiana. Very few products at this price point, or any other, offer such a high-quality drinking experience, and with no allocation, you’re free to load up the bunker.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: December 21, 2021

For those who haven’t had Bardstown’s Discovery Series, it is really the product that’s setting them apart from many other young distilleries. Of course, they didn’t distill it, but they’ve managed to acquire some exceptional stocks, and they’ve got a great group of blenders who are putting together these lovely whiskeys. We ALWAYS have people coming back after finally opening their bottles asking for more, but usually we only get a handful of cases. Now, we can actually spend some time talking about this outstanding whiskey, and I’m certain anyone who cracks a bottle will be coming back for more. Let’s have a taste. The nose is a pungent medley of toasted pecan, butterscotch, wild honey, dried citrus peel, dark charred wood, dried stone fruit, and the most subtle mineral character—not at all vitamin-y, which is a flavor I’m very sensitive to. It feels very old on the nose, but on the palate it shows a more medium age. Medium-bodied and full of vanilla, white pepper, charred oak, baking spices, and candied citrus. The finish is rather long, and the tiniest earthy twinge reminds us it has some very old Dickel in there, while the spicy fruit takes top billing as it lingers on the palate. A truly fun drink and an exciting example of the power of blending.

JANUARY NEW BOTTLE RELEASES

This First Friday brings our first new bottle release of the year, with 10 new whiskies that are sure to keep those January blues at bay.

Ahead of the release on Friday, 7 January (9am) – click over to our website to browse the bottlings, read Euan’s recommendations and find your favourite flavours for Burns Night.

NEW OUTTURN

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

Check out all of the new expressions from our friends at Elixir Distillers, Single Cask Nation & Adelphi Selections.

*All releases have arrived to our warehouses and have begun making their way to establishments across the USA.

New from Single Malts Of Scotland by Elixir Distillers

Director’s Special – 31 Year Old Imperial

Only 154 bottles were produced from a single barrel of Imperial Single Malt Scotch whisky, which was aged for more than 31 years.

Bottled at 44.1% alc.

Director’s Special – 22 Year Old Laphroaig

Only 421 bottles were produced from a single ex-Sherry Butt of Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch whisky, which was aged for more than 22 years.

Bottled at 52.6% alc

24 Year Old Ben Nevis – Cask #1730

This Single Malt was distilled at Ben Nevis distillery in 1996 and aged for more than 24 years in a single Hogshead, yielding a total of 177 bottles. Full of creamy, fruity and zesty flavors, this Ben Nevis presents an array of taste experiences in just one sip.

Bottled at 48.8% alc.

25 Year Old Bowmore – Cask #1367

This Single Malt was distilled at Bowmore distillery in 1996 and aged for more than 25 years in a single Hogshead, yielding a total of 162 bottles. This Bowmore treats you to abundant sweet smoke, saline intensity, and a pleasant freshness.

Bottled at 54.3% alc.

We can’t keep our eyes off of these new releases from Adelphi Selections

Springbank 21 Year Old

Now isn’t this a beauty! Definitely a delicious representation of the classic Campbeltown distillery.

Year of distillation: 1999
Type of cask: Refill Rum Cask
Cask number: 308
Alcohol strength: 53.4% ABV
Number of bottles: 181 bottles

Ben Nevis 5 Year Old

Year of distillation: 2015
Region: Highland
Type of cask: First Fill Oloroso Sherry
Puncheon
Cask number: 10712
Alcohol strength: 59.5% alc.
Number of bottles: 645 bottles

Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Year of distillation: 2008
Region: Islay
Type of cask: First Fill Oloroso Sherry
Hogshead
Cask number: 309451
Alcohol strength: 53% alc.
Number of bottles: 645 bottles

Mortlach 18 year Old

This one from Dufftown has ‘yes please!’ written all over it!

Year of distillation: 2003
Region: Speyside
Type of cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel
Cask number: 800265
Alcohol strength: 57.4% alc.
Number of bottles: 225 bottles

Welcome the remaining expressions
from Single Cask Nation’s #USA Retail Release No.8!

9 Year Old Dailuaine

2nd fill bourbon, 198 bottles
On the label: Benrinnes’ house style is incredibly approachable and resonates with such a sunny disposition. An everyday drinker that the late, great Michael Jackson (the whisky writer!) described as, “restorative,” and couldn’t we all use a little bit of that!

Cask # 312978 – 55.6% ABV

10 Year Old Benrinnes

1st fill bourbon, 320 bottles
On the label: You love Dailuaine as much as us, right? Right!? Malty, nutty, rich, spicy, oaky…it’s like one of our Flavometers™ came to life. If they ever make a peated Dailuaine we might die and go to whisky heaven!

Cask # 309608 – 55.6% ABV

10 Year Old Epris

1st fill Bourbon, 260 bottles
On the label: A rum for sipping next to a roaring fire. The fruit notes are warm and inviting while salted licorice and pipe tobacco frame the full experience. Maybe get those chestnuts roasting…

Cask #113 – 52.6% ABV

12 Year Old Linkwood

Refill Bourbon, finished 1 year in Ruby Port, 337 bottles

On the label: Such fun! The Linkwood spirit takes to the port finishing like the proverbial duck to water. Bright, warm malt cereal from the spirit marries perfectly with red fruits and even a little tartness from the port cask. Don’t miss the dark chocolate! Share with friends and turn heads.

Cask #33904 – 54.4% ABV

15 Year Old Inchfad

15 years Refill bourbon, finished 8 months in Grand Cru Bordeaux

On the label: [We might be (a little) biased but this is what independently bottled single casks are all about!] While wood smoke, granola, green olives in brine, toasted coconut, and ripe red berries might seem like awkward bedfellows they absolutely work here. What a wee cracker!

Cask #417 – 56.6% ABV

14 Year Old Girvan

Refill Bourbon, finished 4 years in 1st fill bourbon, 150 bottles

On the label: A very fun example from the Girvan grain distillery that delivers a zingy and effervescent experience that teases the tongue with tart citrus, spicy ginger, and a sugary sweetness.

Cask #525 – 56.1% ABV

We hope you all hand a great Christmas and wish you all the best in 2022

Below you will find our first UK Collection schedule of 2022. Please note the week we collect is now a week later with the exception of the North West of England. Please pay attention to the deadline dates as we are now on a tight schedule to get the North West routes planned.

To register your interest in a collection please complete the form which can be found here.

Please note home collections are available to those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000 and above in towns and cities where we do not offer a collection point.

Please get in touch if your area is not listed below but you would like a home collection. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here. Please note dead lines apply for collection requests.It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift. In addition the attached submission form and label should be completed.A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label