Archive for January, 2022

Scotch Whisky Auctions “127th live and in full swing!” – Whisky Auction News

 

The warmest of welcomes to our big New Year’s Auction folks. It’s been another crazy year for most and what better way to toast to the future than with some merry malts. This month we have plenty of fireworks in store for you to start the New Year off with a bang!

First in our line-up of interesting spirits we have two pints of Kentucky history. Produced in an era when alcohol was illegal for social consumption in the USA these ancient gems had to be marketed for “medicinal use only”. The I.W. Harper 1917 16 Year Old and the Old Ramshead 1916, are Prohibition-Era American bourbons whose age is matched only by their rarity. Bootleggers of the time would exploit these fine spirits to sell for profit in the black market, so get your tommy gun out and fight for the chance to purchase your own little piece of history.

>Our next bottle is certainly a curiousity, and what better way to mark the passing of time than with a really (and I mean really) old whisky. The liquid inside this Berry Bros Old Scotch Whisky was purportedly 140 years old in the year 2000, meaning it was distilled circa 1860. To put that into perspective a little, Abraham Lincoln was elected that year as American President, Karl Marx had just published Das Kapital and Queen Victoria was a mere 23 years into her long 63 year reign. So if a taste of the nineteenth century is what you’re after this is definitely the one for you.

Next up we have another firecracker in the Old Heaven Hill 21 Year Old. Heaven Hill was founded in 1935 and has a long history of producing the finest Kentucky spirits, eventually working their way up to being one of America’s largest alcohol producers. This edition was made exclusively for the Japanese market and rarely shows up these days. As dark as it is old, and rich in flavour as well as history, don’t let this beauty pass you by.

At this time of the year we think of how things have changed from times gone by and our final highlight encompasses 8 decades of quality Scottish distilling with a collection from arguably one of Speyside’s finest distilleries. The Macallan Decades Sir Peter Blake Collection is perhaps one the rarest, and certainly one of the quirkiest, releases from this heavyweight distillery. Telling the story of 8 decades of art and culture in one beautiful package, it was designed by the legendary Sir Peter Blake and crafted to the highest of standards. This release is truly a piece of art in its own right.

From everyone here at SWA, we would like to thank you and wish you the Merriest of Christmases and Happiest of New Years. Have a toast to the future on us and as always ….

Don’t lose your bottle!

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Have you visited our distillery yet? – Cotswolds Distillery News

Our award-winning Tour & Tastings are a memorable experience for both gin lovers and whisky connoisseurs, which is why we’re giving you the chance to enjoy two tour tickets for the price of one throughout January and February.* Come and join us at our distillery here in the Cotswolds where you can discover how we lovingly craft our spirits up close and sample our full range in our cosy tasting room.

BOOK HERE*

Terms and Conditions: two for one offer is only valid on Monday – Thursday tours which take place between Tuesday 4th January and Thursday 24th February. Discount code TOURS20 must be applied during the booking process in order to receive this offer.

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

Compass Box “Artist Blend” Blended Scotch Whisky at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News

Compass Box “Artist Blend” Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml)

 $34.99 View

Outer quote mark Part of the Great King Street series, this is a sweetie of a blended Scotch. The first featherlight sips open with vanilla custard, orchard fruit and coconut cream, rounding into enticing red fruit on the finish. A splash of water unlocks more red fruit, along with tinges of butterscotch, oak and spice. *Best Buy* (KN) Inner quote mark (12/2020)

91 points Whisky Advocate

Outer quote mark Nostalgic aromas of wafers, white chocolate, hints of spice, and vanilla ice cream make this a mouthwatering choice. Sweet and creamy, there are rich flavors of vanilla panna cotta, candied fruit, pear, apricot, and white chocolate, adding caramel, custard creams, and sliced banana toward the end. Inspired by great blenders from many generations ago, this is astonishingly good for pleasurable drinking and mixing. (JM, Fall 2020) Inner quote mark

K&L Notes

(Formerly Compass Box Great King Street “Artist’s” Blended Scotch Whisky – just a new package and a less cumbersome name) The illustrious John Glaser does it again with this exceptional little blend. This guy is single-handedly making blended whisky cool again, and owning a bottle of the Great King Street definitely makes you the coolest guy on the block.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 420: Auchentoshan 18 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.78 – Scotch Whisky News

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 420: Auchentoshan 18 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.78

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tastes SMWS 5.78. At the whisky festival in Ghent, his good friend Chris Lauriers stood behind the table of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. He beckoned Mark closer and said, ‘I have something for you’. Mark saw the number 5.78 on the label and knew immediately that I had to taste it. After all, number 5 means Auchentoshan. It’s already the 78th single cask bottled by the SMWS of Mark’s favorite Lowlander. In this case an 18 years old from 2003 matured on a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel bottled at no less than 54.9%. Wow!

https://youtu.be/G3u_5G0FKbA

Gordon & MacPhail donates £80,000 to Scottish charity, Trees for Life – Scotch Whisky News

Gordon & MacPhail donates £80,000 to Scottish charity, Trees for Life

Ewen Mackintosh and Steve Micklewright

Tuesday 23rd November: Family-owned premium spirits company, Gordon & MacPhail, is donating £80,000 to Trees for Life, a charity with a mission to restore the Caledonian Forest, following the sale of Decanter #1 of the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky at auction. 

The Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery launched in September 2021, with the business making the decision to partner with Sotheby’s to raise funds for Trees for Life.

In October 2021, a landmark lot went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, which included decanter #1, a tasting experience, the framed cask end and a one-of-one lithograph featuring the original concept drawings devised by creative partner, Sir David Adjaye. After costs, auction proceeds of £80,000 have been donated to Trees for Life to help fund their tree nursey at Dundreggan near Glenmoriston in Inverness-shire.

The fifth release in Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations series, the 80-Years-Old release from Glenlivet Distillery is presented in a stunningly intricate decanter and oak pavilion designed by internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye, aligned to a creative theme of ‘Artistry in Oak’.

Trees for Life, a conservation charity based in Findhorn, has planted nearly two million trees since its inception in 1993. It has a mission to revitalise the wild forest in the Scottish Highlands, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. To kick off the partnership earlier this year, six colleagues from Gordon & MacPhail visited the Trees for Life nursery and planted a number of oak trees.

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director, Gordon & MacPhail, said: “We chose to partner with Trees for Life because we believe our organisations are closely aligned. We’re both focused on creating future legacies. Much like a golden anniversary is symbolised with gold, an 80th is traditionally commemorated by oak, so the theme and partnership was a natural fit. Our whiskies are often decades, if not generations, in the making and Trees for Life are also planning for the long term so we are very proud to support their mission.” 

Steve Micklewright, CEO, Trees for Life, commented:

“The partnership and generous contribution will have a significant, positive impact on our nursery at Dundreggan. Funding will help us to grow more than 80,000 rare, native trees from seed each year, restoring and enhancing Scotland’s natural environment for all.”

For more information about Gordon & MacPhail visit www.gordonandmacphail.com. Further information on Trees for Life is available at www.treesforlife.org.uk.

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail, a fourth-generation family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Renowned as a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the business also owns Scotch whisky distillery, Benromach, on the outskirts of Forres, and The Cairn Distillery near Grantown-on-Spey.

Scottish Gin brand, Red Door was added to the portfolio in 2018 and Gordon & MacPhail is the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits.  A high-quality retail outlet in Elgin, continues to serve locals and visitors alike, since 1895 when the business was established. www.gordonandmacphail.com.

 

About Trees for Life

Founded in 1993, Trees for Life is an award-winning charity with a vision of a revitalised wild forest in the Scottish Highlands, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. “It is our passionate belief that rewilding can help us achieve this vision,” says chief executive, Steve Makeweight. “It enriches the landscapes, wildlife and people who call these places home. Rewilding is about working with nature, natural processes and seeing human activity as part of an intricate system in which everything is connected.” The Gordon & MacPhail partnership with Trees for Life is a commitment to both the wild Caledonian Forest and to future generations. www.treesforlife.org.uk.

Happy New Year from Mark Littler

Happy New Year from Chris Goodrum of the Good Dram Show

Whisky.Auction Ends Soon! – Whisky Auction News

TIME TO
GET BIDDING!

Start bidding now on the greatest whiskies and rarest spirits.
Massive mini and memorabilia auction ends on Tuesday 4 January.
Best of luck with your bids!
Watch Our Live Auction 

Whisky Of The Year For 2022 (From The Bothy)

Whisky Of The Year For 2022 (From The Bothy)

Happy New Year from Whisky Intelligence!


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