ralfy review 916 – Glenmorangie 13yo Cognac Cask @46%vol:

Caskshare X Isle of Raasay 30 Litre Project

Leading industry platform Caskshare is on a mission to democratise access to maturing single cask spirits. In collaboration with Isle of Raasay Distillery, the online whisky platform has offered a selection of 30L casks for reservation by the bottle. An ideal opportunity for whisky fans to get their hands on, the innovative product is not often seen in mainstream distillery production.

As such these casks represent the first output taking Caskshare customers through the whole journey from new filled casks through to maturation and bottling. The first of these casks are bottling now and shipping to the Caskshare customers who reserved early on in the cask’s life.

Exactly three years ago Isle of Raasay Distillery began filling custom built ex-Speyside Scotch whisky oak casks. This was the brainchild of co-founder Alasdair Day, who is a firm believer in bringing innovation and novel approaches to the whisky sector.

The 30 Litre Project deals with casks that have a much higher spirit-to-wood surface contact ratio means a much faster maturation process, cutting through the needs for longer maturation and making the craft producer able to release a well-developed spirit in a shorter time frame. Distilleries in hotter climates have already opened up the market to shorter (3-year) maturations, but the colder Scottish climates have traditionally not been favourable to this style of whisky in the larger cask sizes.

Alasdair worked with Speyside Cooperage to make bespoke small casks specially designed for this style of whisky. Each cask is completely unique and are made from the wood previously used to mature Speyside whisky in larger quantities. Alasdair Day, Isle of Raasay Distillery states: “It’s a well-known fact that the size of a cask has a direct impact on the maturation of the spirit within it. When my Great Grandfather created his blended scotch whisky, the age of the single malt was a major component in the quality of the blend. Now on Raasay we have the option to fill smaller specially coopered ex Speyside oak casks that impart their specific flavour in different ways and in much shorter timescales. Single malt evolves with much more flavour development yet to come.”

David Nicol, Founder of Caskshare commented: “The idea of using bespoke built casks is a great example of the innovation coming from Alasdair Day and the whole team at the Isle of Raasay Distillery. Scotch is an ever-evolving product and when we heard about these casks we were committed to bringing a selection of them to Caskshare.com for whisky fans to reserve by the bottle. We decided to bottle one at 46% for a wider audience, and the other at cask strength for a comparison at smaller quantities.”

An additional range of 30L casks are set to launch on Caskshare imminently, initially available exclusively to The Caskshare Collective, Caskshare’s membership program offering permanent discounts, early access to a selection of newly launched casks and bi-annual tasting packs of maturing or recently bottles exclusive single cask whisky.

www.caskshare.com
@caskshare

Sample bottles of Isle of Raasay Cask 19/117, bottled at 46% abv are available on request. Cask 19/118 will be bottled early March.

Award-winning whisky writers to host online tasting supporting Ukrainian refugees

Award-winning whisky writer Felipe Schrieberg and Whisky Exchange Drinks Ambassador Billy Abbott will be co-hosting a charity online whisky tasting supporting Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland from the violence in their country. 

Taking place March 28^th at 7 pm, packs containing six delicious whiskies will be sent to guests’ homes by whisky subscription service The Dram Team, and can then join Schrieberg and Abbott on Facebook and Youtube. All profits from the tasting will be donated to Polish Humanitarian Action, a relief organisation working with displaced Ukrainian refugees.

The tasting pack includes drams of:

• Compass Box Spice Tree
• Glenturret 12 Year Old
• Jura Seven Wood
• Lakes Distillery The ONE Sherry Limited Edition
• Glen Scotia Victoriana
• Royal Brackla 18 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish

Though the tasting itself is free to watch and accessible for anyone even if they don’t have a whisky pack, optional ‘viewing only’ tickets are also available to purchase, with all proceeds going to PAH as well.

Both Schrieberg and Abbott are extremely experienced tasting hosts – the former has welcomed over 3,500 people across more than 250 online tastings since April 2020 while the latter has fronted tastings at many whisky festivals both physical and virtual. For their work, they have both won the prestigious Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year – Rest of World award by Whisky Magazine (Schrieberg won this year’s prize, and Abbott received it in 2021).

Schrieberg, who is currently based in the Polish city of Gdansk, was inspired by the compassion shown by his adopted country when he decided to put together the tasting:

“Over half of the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine are arriving here in Poland” he said.

“The response from Poles all over the country has been truly moving, and everyone coming here from Ukraine needs all the help they can get. We’re very excited to be able to share some very tasty whiskies to support an excellent organisation doing amazing work here.”

The tasting will be hosted on Schrieberg’s Facebook and Youtube pages for his online whisky tastings – The Virtual Whisky Masterclass.

Tickets are available to purchase on Designmynight.com

Event Information 

Event: Online Charity Whisky Tasting Supporting Ukrainian Refugees

Price: £45 (excluding booking fee)

           £15 for optional ‘viewing only’ ticket

Ticket link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8a57bz

About Felipe 

Felipe is a whisky writer, musician, author, spirits competition judge, and tastings host.

As a whisky writer, Felipe has been widely published across industry magazines and websites. He is a senior contributor for Forbes.com writing about spirits, and is regularly featured in Whisky Magazine, The Whiskey Wash, Unfiltered, and many other platforms. His book, London Cocktails, is published by Cider Mill Press and is distributed worldwide by Simon and Schuster.

For his work, he was named the 2022 Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year (Rest of World), and the 2021 Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year.

He is also the co-founder and one half of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a duo combining live music, tasting events, and multimedia.

www.felipeschrieberg.com

About Billy

Billy is a writer and trainer specialising in drinks. Starting as a blogger in 2009 and working full time in the drinks industry since 2011, he’s been writing, presenting and training people about drinks around the world.

While he is the drinks ambassador at The Whisky Exchange during the day, he also regularly runs tastings and training sessions, and also works as a drinks consultant and spirit competitions judge. He recently published his first book, The Philosophy of Whisky, through The British Library.

www.billyabbott.co.uk

About The Dram Team

The Dram Team are a whisky box subscription service, offering tasting packs of curated whiskies for subscribers and as gifts. The tasting packs are delivered right to your door, containing 6 different whiskies, deluxe tasting note cards, and a guided tour of the flight.

www.thedramteam.co.uk

A Singular Rye Whiskey from a Superstar Craft Distiller
Barrell Craft Spirits “Seagrass” Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey
(750ml) ($79.99)
Ranked #2 in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2021

The latest entry from our friends at the inimitable Barrell Craft Spirits is the incredible Seagrass, a stupendous rye beauty with an aging regimen that takes a mad kind of genius to pull off. The team at Barrell starts with top-quality American and Canadian rye whiskeys, then subjects them to successive finishing stints in some of the most expressive used barrels you can think of. The result is truly a multi-faceted, singular profile that’s unlike anything else in their portfolio. Each barrel shows its influence in concert with the others, with the spicy character of the rye taking on a kaleidoscope of luxurious tropical brandy notes, high-toned floral rhum agricole features, and a scintillating tinge of brine and nutty oxidative accents from the madeira cask. As if this wasn’t compelling enough, we also have a miniscule allocation of the incredible 16 Year Old Gray Label Seagrass, a highly limited, age-stated rye (this rendition made from 100% Canadian stocks) that underwent the same finishing process as the regular bottling. We never know what Barrell is going to come up with next, but we’re certain that whiskey aficionados who think they’ve seen and tasted it all are in for a real awakening with these two stunners.

K&L Notes: Seagrass is more proof that Barrell’s blending team is at the top of their game. Not only are they able to consistently create exciting new products with a diversity of flavors, but they’re able to imbue their blends with creative energy, all while making sure to keep the most important thing in mind: it must be delicious. This release is the perfect example of that, a product that’s able to transport us to a completely different place in the glass. Using the complex barrel finishes that Barrell has developed and their highest quality rye stocks, they’ve built this incredible expression. The deep tropical notes from the apricot brandy are tempered by a bevy of spicy and herbaceous rye. Soft, subtle grassy notes and pure floral character are added by the rhum cask, along with a top note of earth and salty ocean air from the madeira casks. The bevy of accolades that it’s received in the past year confirm it as easily one of the most exciting and delicious releases available right now.

Barrell Craft Spirits “Seagrass” Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)

• 2021 #2 Whiskey of the Year—Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys
• 2021 BEST OF THE BEST—The Robb Report
• DOUBLE GOLD—2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• PLATINUM MEDAL—2021 L.A. Spirits Awards
• GOLD MEDAL—2021 Ascot Awards
• GOLD MEDAL—2021 John Barleycorn Awards
• 92 POINTS—2021 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Barrell Craft Spirits 16 Year Old “Gray Label – Seagrass” Release #1 Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($239.99)

K&L Notes: The 16 Year Old Gray Label Seagrass takes the original bottling and ramps up the singular character several notches. This highly allocated, extremely limited rendition was composed from 100% Canadian rye stocks and underwent a similar aging process. Two batches of rye were aged separately in the apricot brandy and rhum casks, and a final blend was compiled and aged in Malmsey Madeira casks. Every step of the process was undertaken with painstaking precision and meticulous care, and the result is a stunningly unique whiskey that offers something for every spirits aficionado under the sun. Bottled at full proof of 130.82, it’s a powerhouse of complexity that showcases each of its components with startling clarity and authenticity. This is a not-to-be-missed connoisseur’s gem of the highest order and will be a standout addition unlike any other to any collection of the finest craft spirits.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

In celebration of International Polar Bear Day on Sunday 27 February, we’re encouraging members to expand their flavour horizons by comparing contrasting characters.

If you love our Sweet, Fruity and Mellow flavour try our Lightly Peated profile as a polar opposite, where you will discover notes of garden bonfires, incense and vintage cars as well as smoked salmon, sea breeze and a dentist’s waiting room.

Or if you are feeling brave, go Peated where you can expect herbal notes and medicinal and maritime marvel!

BUY LIGHTLY PEATED WHISKIES

BUY SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW 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

Lady of the Glen New Releases

The Independent Bottler is perhaps the most diverse and interesting way of discovering more about whisky. Always evolving and always unique, these limited edition whiskies, often comprised of just a single cask, are specially selected due to their outstanding flavour. We are delighted that Lady of the Glen are a regular feature on our shelves, and cannot wait to see your thoughts on the latest release.

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show. This week I’ll be taking a look at some new releases from Hannah Whisky Merchants in their Lady of the Glen range.

https://youtu.be/Lo4Zru2tfU8

Talnua Distillery Releases Exclusive Anniversary Edition Whiskey

Talnua Distillery continues their tradition of releasing a unique version of Olde Saint’s Keep on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their anniversary and the holiday. The name “Olde Saint’s Keep” pays homage to the legend of Gaelic monks who kept the most special aqua vitae made at the monastery to share with their most esteemed guests.

Talnua Distillery’s 2022 Olde Saint’s Keep release is an American single pot still whiskey, triple distilled from a mash of 50% unmalted barley and 50% malted barley.  The whiskey was first aged in former bourbon and port casks, then the two were married and finished for 10 months in rare Pineau des Charantes Casks from Southwest France.

Tasting notes overview: A lively blend of candied oranges, mixed berry cobbler, and creamy marzipan on the nose compliment the stone fruit and dried cherry palate, made richer and more complex with accents of pecan and leather. The unique French barrel used to complete the aging process gives undertones of white pepper and malted milk balls with the toasted oak finish.

Talnua is releasing Olde Saint’s Keep at 100 proof on March 18th. Fewer than 1,000 bottles are available, so make sure to get your hands on one! Proof it’s special stuff? Our 2021 release just won Best American Pot Still Whiskey in the World Whiskies Awards!

About Talnua Distillery

Talnua Distillery is an artisanal small-batch distillery that proudly hand crafts each of our spirits. Established in 2017, we embarked on a mission to define a new chapter in history with the introduction of our American Single Pot Still Whiskey.

True to Gaelic-style distilling, and unique to the new world, our spirits are produced using a mashbill of un-malted and malted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills. Located on the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the altitude, changing seasons, crystal clear mountain spring water, and local barley all lend a uniquely American terroir to our products.

Talnua’s founders, Meagan and Patrick Miller, fell in love with Single Pot Still Irish whiskey on their honeymoon in Ireland more than a decade ago. With family history rooted in Irish ancestry, the couple returned to Ireland every year and knew that single pot still whiskey would forever be a part of their story.  Before starting Talnua, Single Pot Still Whiskey was not available in the US, so they created the first Single Pot Still distillery outside of Ireland.

Talnua is born of the Irish-Gaelic words ‘Talamh’, meaning ‘Land’, and ‘Nua’, meaning ‘New.’ It speaks to our passion for bringing an old-world style of distilling to the new land. Our sigil shows the Big Horn Ram, native to the Flatirons of Colorado’s Front Range. It is looking back on a triskele moon, which represents the Irish-Gaelic old world – home to the distilling traditions we honor. For more information about Talnua Distillery, visit www.talnua.com

For the die-hard Bourbon drinkers or those looking to dip their toes into the world of America’s classic spirit, we have a range you certainly can’t miss – Four Roses American Whiskey.

Part of the fascination surrounding this historic Kentucky distiller is the one-of-a-kind process used to make its ever-popular range of bourbons. Four Roses combines five yeast strains with two separate mashbills (grain recipes using non-GMO corn) to produce ten distinct Bourbon recipes.

In each recipe, the different yeast strains used create unique flavour characteristics, from rich fruit to soft spice, while the mashbills contain different amounts of rye – up to 35% of the recipe, much higher than for most other bourbons – adding the grain’s signature spiciness.

The different combinations are blended to make up the various expressions, with only one recipe hand selected for Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon, all ten combined for the original Four Roses Bourbon, four used in both Small Batch and six in Small Batch Select. These smooth, award-winning Bourbons are making waves around the world and are delicious poured neat or in the finest of cocktails.

SHOP FOUR ROSES