The legacy of Laphroaig continues with Barry MacAffer

Dear Friends,

It is my proudest career moment to date to be writing to you today from my native Islay as Laphroaig’s new Distillery Manager.

As a long-serving Friend of Laphroaig and as an Ileach who grew up next door to the distillery grounds, this new opportunity is one that I am so honoured to have.

I joined the team at Laphroaig in 2011 as an agency worker covering work in the warehouses and on the malt floors. The fantastic team welcomed me, and I knew instantly this would be my future. I then started full time on the malt floors. The already experienced team took me under their wing and labelled me ‘the malt boy’ during my apprenticeship – a name that quickly stuck.

After five years working through the mashing and stilling departments, I found myself in the Assistant Manager’s chair. There I was lucky enough to work closely with my predecessor John Campbell for the past five years, seeing first-hand what it takes to craft this iconic whisky.

With John in mind, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his support and Friendship, but also the 25 years he gave to this wonderful whisky of ours. We all wish him every success with his new chapter.

As far as the next chapter of the distillery is concerned, I am well aware of the task ahead of me.

I recognise the responsibility I have to continue building upon the Laphroaig legacy and to match the near peerless dedication of John, Ian and Bessie. And my other incredible predecessors.

I’m looking forward to your continued partnership and support; the warmth I’ve had from the Friends of Laphroaig during my decade working for this distillery has been incredible. You have my unswerving commitment that I’ll continue to craft our renowned, peated, single malt and its ongoing story for you and our team here with dedication and honesty.

The community we have is truly exciting, and I look forward to sharing many drams with you as we celebrate and nurture the future of Laphroaig.

Sláinte.

Barry MacAffer

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Glenfarclas
30 Years 1990

Specially selected for the Family Casks Summer 2021 releases a 30 Year Old sherry butt from the famous Speyside distillery. 615 bottles. Expect blackberries, spices, expresso coffee, and chocolate notes.

Buy – Glenfarclas 30 Years 1990 Family Cask >>

Glenfarclas Distillery was established in Speyside in 1836 by Robert Hay and following his death it was bought by John Grant in 1865 and has remained in the ownership of the Grant family ever since. The interior of the visitor centre is stunning, the walls are lined with the original oak panels salvaged from a lounge on the liner SS Empress of Australia when she was scrapped 1952. Ace sherry casks underpin the ethos of Glenfarclas single malt whisky, exemplified in the Family Cask range, and way back in 1968 released its first cask strength single malt. The range includes Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, Glenfarclas 105 and Glenfarclas 21 Year Old alongside the Family Casks series.

ralfy review 916 Extras – Macaloney Versus S.W.A.

E.H. TAYLOR, JR BOURBON PARTNERS WITH

MUSICIAN CHRIS STAPLETON TO CELEBRATE 125^th Anniversary of BOTTLED IN BOND DAY 

 Two Packages Up for Bid; all Proceeds to Benefit Stapleton’s Charity Outlaw State of Kind

 FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (March 3, 2022) – In honor of the 125^th passing of the Bottled in Bond Act today, Buffalo Trace Distillery raises a glass to salute E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a commemorative single barrel release hand selected by Grammy Award Winner Chris Stapleton.

            The Bottled in Bond Act, which was passed on March 3,1897, guaranteed the integrity of the whiskey to the American consumer, and among other things, guarantees only water can be added to the whiskey.

            The joining of two stalwarts of Kentucky, E. H. Taylor, Jr. and Chris Stapleton, resulted in the E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled in Bond commemorative Chris Stapleton Single Barrel Bourbon, which is being donated to Stapleton’s charitable fund, Outlaw State of Kind.   Each bottle will be autographed by Chris Stapleton and will be used to raise funds for a variety of charities across the country.

            This is the second year for the partnership between E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bourbon and Chris Stapleton’s charitable fund.  Two prize packs are available for bidding now through March 17, 2022 on charitybuzz:

• One bottle of E. H. Taylor Single Barrel with commemorative sticker noting Bottled in Bond Day and partnership with Chris Stapleton; four tickets to Stapleton’s April 23, 2022 concert in Lexington, Ky; a VIP tour and tasting for four at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky; and E. H. Taylor, Jr. branded merchandise.  Live auction link here.
• One bottle of E. H. Taylor Single Barrel with commemorative sticker noting Bottled in Bond Day and partnership with Chris Stapleton; plus two tickets to winner’s choice to any Stapleton concert in 2022, and E. H. Taylor, Jr. branded merchandise.   Live auction link here.

            The remaining bottles will be used by Stapleton’s charitable fund Outlaw State of Kind throughout the year to raise funds for various causes.  Updates on fundraisers will be posted to Outlaw State of Kind.

            “The first glass of E.H. Taylor, Jr. I ever had was in the studio. Vance Powell, engineer of both music and good times, brought a bottle to the session for inspiration. That week we recorded an entire album, and that album was ‘Traveller.’ We’ve made it a point to keep a bottle around ever since. We’re proud to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day with this special Single Barrel bottling. All proceeds raised by these bottles will benefit Outlaw State of Kind, our charitable fund that is dedicated to giving back to the people and communities that continue to play a vital role in our journey,” said Chris Stapleton.

“We’ve very excited to be able to partner once again with Chris Stapleton and Outlaw State of Kind,” said Sara Saunders, vice president, American whiskey.  “We were lucky enough to partner with Chris last year, and we are very pleased his charitable fund was able to raise so much money over the past year for so many different causes.  We’re excited to kick off this second year of partnership on the 125^th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day, and with two great prizes going live today, we hope fans of both his music and our bourbon can help out even more needy causes.”

The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery and put in the barrel on June 3, 2009.  Bottled in mid February, this bourbon is over 12 years of age, and like the act its namesake fought so hard to pass, is Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.

            Like the other E. H. Taylor, Jr. releases, this Single Barrel is packaged with elements of Taylor’s original bottlings from the turn of the 20^th century, a vintage label bearing his signature and a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago.  The canister gives a nod to this unique bottling with a commemorative sticker noting the 125^th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day and the partnership with Chris Stapleton.

            The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled in Bond commemorative Chris Stapleton Single Barrel bottling will be available through the charitable organization Outlaw State of Kind.  To find out more about Outlaw State of Kind, click here.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is celebrating Bottled in Bond Day in various other happenings as well, including expanded offerings of its Old Taylor Tour and activations in various markets across the United States.

1. H. Taylor, Jr. was instrumental in getting the Bottled in Bond Act passed.  Prior to its passing, disreputable sellers would put items like tobacco juice, turpentine, iodine or other unsavory and potentially poisonous additives to a barrel of whiskey to fill it back up, and/or to give the liquid color.  Back in those days, whiskey was usually delivered by the barrel to a local saloon, general store or pharmacy where customers could fill up their own jug directly from the barrel, or retailers could bottle it up for resale on the spot. The Bottled in Bond Act was the first consumer protection law passed, pre-dating the Pure Food and Drug Act by nine years To learn more about E. H. Taylor, Jr., click here.

About Outlaw State of Kind

Outlaw State of Kind is Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s charitable fund that supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart.  The Outlaw State of Kind Fund was founded in 2016 and is administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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 George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2^nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.   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

GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY

10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 7 (2022)

The first 2022 release of cask strength ten year old GlenAllachie. Matured in PX and Oloroso sherry Puncheons, Virgin Oak & Rioja casks specially selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker.  These cask strength batches are increasingly sought after therefore these are limited to one bottle per person.

£75.00

NOSE: Waves of heather honey, dried fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg, followed by orange peel, mocha and treacle.
TASTE: Lashings of dark chocolate, figs and heather honey, with raisins, cinnamon, plums and hints of orange zest.

Buy – GlenAllachie 10 Years CS Batch 7

Glenallachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 7 Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in PX and Oloroso sherry Puncheons, Virgin Oak & Rioja casks specially selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker. Bottled 2022. MAXIMUM 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER.

Glenallachie Distillery is a Speyside distillery sitting on the eastern edge of Ben Rinnes mountain where it is rather exposed to the elements and is often to be see sitting within the snowline. A modern building and its architect William Delmé-Evans created a distillery which is rather pleasing on the eye. Glenallachie was commissioned in 1967 with two stills which increased to four in 1989 in order to meet blenders ever increasing demand for Glenallachie malt whisky. Whilst official releases are few independent releases are more numerous with those from Signatory Vintage and Cadenheads proving popular.

Arran 10 Year Old

An absolute modern classic, and one we believe is a whisky shelf staple! This is a dram that is loved by complete beginners or seasoned whisky connoisseurs. Beautifully sweet with an apple and citrus character, surrounded by rich vanilla, warm cinnamon and perfectly balanced oak. So… just grab a bottle!

WAS £46.00
NOW £38.94
Buy Now

HAMISH SAYS

MARCH OUTTURN ALERT

We’re preparing for the fresh optimism of spring with 18 new uplifting spirits for the season. And if you’re looking for whisky recommendations, our spirits manager Euan Campbell makes some sipping suggestions for the lighter days ahead. Keep scrolling to discover some of his recommendations or click over to our website to read over the new Outturn. March Outturn is available from 9am on Friday, 4 March. 

VIEW NEW OUTTURN

VIEW ALL EUAN’S SUGGESTIONS

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

 Michel Couvreur – Blossoming Auld Sherried Whisky 45%

Rare and Intricate

Michel Couvreur had a very personal and truly revolutionary vision of what whisky should be: more than terroir, more than the distiller’s touch; the maturing in oak casks truly helped the grain spirit become whisky.

From 1978 on from the French region of Burgundy, he decided to make it his life’s work and dedicate his research to a process he once compared to cross-fertilization.

He chose exceptional casks from the bodegas with whom he had strong relationships. Many will not sell casks to anyone else.

The result is extraordinary whisky; indeed auld school. Give it some time in the glass for it to show impressive depth and is intricacy at levels that you do not get the opportunity to see very often these days.

Put it in a glass in front of someone who will appreciate it. The response will probably be

Wow, what is this ?”

“Can you get me a bottle?”

Though this is not inexpensive, it feels so much better when you look at it as $12 an ounce.

Michel Couvreur – Blossoming Auld Sherry 45%

A Special Whisky

Only bottles available

First come, First served

$299.99

Click to Order

Bunnahabhain 30 Years

1990 vintage single cask bottled 2021 and exclusive to TWB. Maximum 1 bottle per person.

Shop Bunnahabhain 30 Years »

Buy Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old 1990 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask hogshead #TWB1025 bottled 2021. The first flight of the Artmeis Moon program, which if successful, pioneers the return of astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Launching from the Kennedy Space Center the Orion spacecraft will journey around the Moon before returning to planet Earth.

Commemorating the launch expected in 2022, The Whisky Barrel has selected a cask of Islay single malt Scotch whisky – The First Launch Edition. 285 numbered bottles.

Nose: Cosmic barley fields, galactic stem ginger, clusters of lavender honey, pulsar of lemon zest and brown bread nebula.
Taste: Orbital barley sugars, ginger eclipse, lemon juice pulsars, hot chilli rocket fuel, honey starburst, solar salt and pepper.
Finish: Milk chocolate supernova, pink grapefruit dwarf and a cereal flyby.

Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whisky which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old.