Archive for April, 2022

GLENALLACHIE UK SINGLE CASKS PLUS SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE BOTTLING REVEALED – Scotch Whisky News

GLENALLACHIE UK SINGLE CASKS PLUS

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE BOTTLING REVEALED

New batch of UK Single Casks unveiled as the Scotch whisky distillery

gears up for the hotly anticipated Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022 

The GlenAllachie Distillery today launches a trio of expressions forming batch 6 of their UK-exclusive Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, alongside a distillery-exclusive bottling for this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which will run from 27th of April to the 2nd of May 2022.

The Aberlour-based distillery, headed up by industry veteran Billy Walker, took home Visitor Attraction of the Year 2022 at the Icons of Whisky Awards.

Renowned for releasing rare and ground-breaking expressions thanks to Walker’s unparalleled wood management prowess, each cask was selected from an inventory spanning over 50,000 casks maturing within 16 on-site warehouses.

The four new Single Cask Single Malts released include:

  • The GlenAllachie 15-year-old Cask #3292 ex-Solera Oloroso Butt (Spirit of Speyside 2022)
  • The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Cask #1036 Premier Cru Classé Barrique
  • The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask #5368 Tawny Port Hogshead
  • The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Cask #806890 Peated Bourbon Barrel

The GlenAllachie 15-year-old exclusively for the Spirit of Speyside Festival (59.4% ABV, UK RRSP £175) was aged in a fresh Bourbon barrel followed by a first-fill Oloroso puncheon before being re-racked into an antique Oloroso Sherry butt previously used as part of an intricate solera system for 55 long years.

Solera is a maturation process deployed by Bodegas involving fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a combination of ages, ensuring continuation of flavour profile through each vintage produced.

This incredibly lengthy cask history enabled the wood to impart deeply intense and complex layers of flavour upon the classic GlenAllachie DNA. This sumptuous Single Cask is only available at their distillery shop.

The Premier Cru Classé barrique (59.9% ABV, UK RRSP £100) is a cask which previously matured premium first growth Bordeaux red wine before hosting the GlenAllachie spirit for 11 years. The result is a single malt bursting with Turkish delight, cinnamon stewed apples and summer berries.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Port Hogshead (56.5% ABV, UK RRSP £95) delivers a vibrant, fruity flavour profile and ruby blush appearance following maturation in a cask sourced from Portugal which formerly held vintage Tawny Port.

The 9-year-old Single Cask (60.1% ABV, UK RRSP £90) was filled to an ex-Bourbon barrel which was used to age peated spirit distilled at The GlenAllachie Distillery. This very rare cask type has bestowed subtle notes of burnt sugar alongside root ginger and black pepper.

All GlenAllachie Single Casks are proudly presented at their natural colour, non chill filtered and at natural cask strength for maximum flavour and mouthfeel.

Commenting on the new products, Walker remarks:

“At GlenAllachie, we are deeply passionate about sourcing unique and innovative casks, particularly from premium, niche producers. Each of these casks selected reflect this; from the French fine wine barrique to the antique Sherry butt which dates back to the middle of the 20th Century, each brings considerable character and charm to the table.

“We now look forward with great delight to welcoming whisky fans from across the world to our hidden gem for the Spirit of Speyside Festival, with these spectacular drams getting the limelight they deserve.”

Batch 6 of The GlenAllachie UK Single Casks will be available via specialist retailers across the country from the week commencing 2nd May, whilst the distillery’s on-site shop will have stock of all four Single Casks from today.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 15-year-old Cask #3292 ex-Solera Oloroso Butt (Spirit of Speyside Festival 2022) – 59.4% ABV

  • Colour: Intensely Rich Mahogany.
  • Nose: Bursting with fig syrup, muscovado sugar and heather honey, with waves of soft spice, dried dark fruits and orange zest.
  • Taste: Lashings of honeyed apricots, sticky sultanas and coffee beans, with crystallised ginger, Black Forest gateau and pecan pie.

The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Cask #1036 Premier Cru Classé Barrique – 59.9% ABV

  • Colour: Ruby Blush.
  • Nose: Bursting with apple peel, cinnamon and heather honey, with rose petals, dark chocolate and Turkish delight.
  • Taste: Waves of butterscotch, honeysuckle and mint, followed by bursts of strawberry, ginger and almonds.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask #5368 Tawny Port Hogshead – 56.5% ABV

  • Colour: Deep Cherry Red.
  • Nose: Waves of orchard fruit, honeycomb and strawberry coulis, with almonds, maple syrup ginger and pineapple.
  • Taste: Layers of dried berries, cinnamon and heather honey, followed by notes of soft spice, pecans and rose petals.

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Cask #806890 Peated Bourbon Barrel – 60.1% ABV

  • Colour: Golden Sunset.
  • Nose: Layers of smoked pine nuts, ginger and cigar box, followed by heather honey, soft spice and burnt brown sugar.
  • Taste: Lashings of butterscotch, ginger and toasted almonds, with delicate notes of caramelised sugar, dark chocolate and black pepper.

Whisky Auctioneer April 2022 Auction Now Live! – Auction Whisky News

 April Auction Now Live!

Our April Auction has arrived! Featuring over 10,000 lots of rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought after bottles.

This month’s auction features legendary expressions from independent bottlers Samaroli and Wm. Cadenhead, the first offering of the iconic Brora Triptych Collection by Whisky Auctioneer, and a spotlight charity auction organised by the Whisky & Rum Investors Community in aid of the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Browse some of our curated highlights below and add to your collection now.

Brora Triptych Collection

Collectible Cadenhead’s

Legendary Expressions from Samaroli

Glenlivet 1964 Winchester Collection 50 Year Old

Dornoch 2017 Single Bourbon Cask 4 Year Old #16 – Charity Lots

Spotlight Charity Auction // WhiskyInvestors Ukraine Appeal

Whisky Charity Auction in Aid of Ukraine

Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to have partnered with the Whisky and Rum Investors Community to hold a spotlight charity auction. The online group hosted an appeal for donations to raise funds for those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine and received bottles from individuals and companies across the industry.

Highlights include a Glenfarclas 1997 Family Cask, Springbank Duty Paid Sample, inaugural distillery releases and collectible expressions from The Macallan.

Featured Casks: April 2022 Auction

Our April Auction features six incredible casks of whisky from five distilleries spanning the Speyside, Campbeltown and Highland regions. This is an exceptional opportunity to own your own cask of single malt whisky.

A notable highlight this month is the 1997 Hazelburn Fresh Rum Cask, filled with Hazelburn single malt spirit distilled at the Springbank distillery all the way back in 1997. The spirit was filled into a Fresh Rum Cask where it remains maturing to this day!

Compass Box: Everything you need to know about Experimental Grain Whisky – Scotch Whisky News

Just as the name implies, Experimental Grain Whisky is a limited edition that defies classification. Featuring a smoky grain whisky that’s only a pot still away from being a single malt – it’s a thrillingly transgressive first of its kind.

Experimental Grain Whisky is Hedonism’s wild child alter ego. The most expressive component of this blend is a wonderfully weird parcel from the Loch Lomond Distillery. To support it, we have drawn on rich, mature and vanilla-laced parcels from the North British and Cameronbridge distilleries, as well as a portion of Hedonism itself (further aged in cask).

This special Loch Lomond parcel was the result of feeding a wash of peated malted barley into a Coffey still made entirely from copper. The outcome was a delightful paradox – a smoky grain whisky made from 100% malted barley. Despite it being 100% malt, because it is made in a column rather than a pot still, it must be called grain whisky.

For those who thought grain whisky was by default light and creamy, think again. The flavours in this limited edition are deliciously at odds. Lush notes of toffee apple and vanilla land as gently as you’d expect from a grain whisky, before giving way to a curious peatiness that builds unlike anything we’ve tasted before.

Experimental Grain Whisky is available to purchase now from our website along with select specialist spirits retailers worldwide. Get in touch with us here if you need any help locating your nearest stockist!

Compass Box Whisky Co.
Chiswick Studios
9 Power Road
London, EnglandW4 5PY
United Kingdom

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish at The Aberdeen Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish 

The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish. A marriage of Single Cask Single Malts exclusively from Campbeltown, our Blended Malt has enjoyed a finishing period in specially selected Spanish Sherry Casks, resulting in a classically Campbeltown dram with smoky sweetness balanced by rich spices.  Only 2125 bottles produced.

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Scotch Malt Whisky Society “NEW VAULTS COLLECTION BOTTLING” – Scotch Whisky News

HAPPINESS & JOY:
NEW VAULTS COLLECTION BOTTLING

The Society hasn’t bottled many casks from Distillery 94 but this one brings indulgence, sophistication and happiness, with leather chairs, Turkish delight, chocolate toffees and fruits on a mahogany table. This bottling is sheer JOY!

 

MANSION HOUSE LUXURY

Cask No. 94.14

OLD & DIGNIFIED

Cask: First Fill bourbon Hogshead

Age: 32 years

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

SMWS LOGO 2017 NEW

Whisky Wednesday Reviews Lochindaal Cask Strength Single Barrel – Scotch Whisky News

https://youtu.be/wfOgpZ7byPw

Lochindaal.

A name that some of us may not know. A former distillery, lost to the intensity of the many whisky downfalls over the decades. A name that is now the property of Bruichladdich and something that I can’t wait to try more and more of.

As part of a private bottling, this particular whisky offers points of frustration and utter joy. The taste and the smells are incredible, literally some of the best I’ve ever had in my life, upto this point. It, in a way, has redefined what a peated whisky can be for me and that in itself is something very special.

But it is very limited, it’s probably sold out by this point, but it is soooooo good that I can only shout about it and bring a little more attention to this style of Bruichladdich. Lochindaal, along with a style of Laddie called Rhinns, seem to only be available for private cask purchase styles. Would it be good to see more of it in regular bottles? Yeah! Would flippers ruin it? Absolutely.

Award-winning distillery Glen Scotia unveils new limited-edition ‘Festival Release 2022’ – Scotch Whisky News

 

Award-winning distillery Glen Scotia unveils new limited-edition ‘Festival Release 2022’

Glen Scotia has unveiled its Festival Release 2022, to celebrate the return of the Campbeltown Malts Festival this year (24-26th May).

The exquisite 8-year-old expression has been matured in heavily peated, first-fill bourbon barrels before a twelve-month finish in Pedro Ximénès hogsheads, a fortified dessert wine from southern Spain, giving it a perfect balance of gentle smoke, treacle and spice interwoven with Glen Scotia’s signature maritime notes.

The classic coastal influencer so well known in Glen Scotia drams comes through on the nose alongside notes of soft peat smoke, vanilla then fresh apples and pears. In the mouth, the liquid is smooth and silky with hints of runny treacle, spicy white pepper, sweet fruits and salted toffee – a wonderful balance of spice and the sherry cask influence. The finish picks up the mellow sea influence and light, floral honey.

Non-chill filtered, the heavily-peated and rich, amber-coloured liquid has been bottled at cask strength, 56.5% ABV. This limited edition will be available worldwide through specialist retailers, and to buy from the Glen Scotia UK online store from late April, priced at £55.

The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a pinnacle moment in the town’s calendar each year. It celebrates the exceptional whisky-production capabilities of the fifth whisky region and provides a platform for the three remaining distilleries in the town to showcase their artistry in dram-making to visitors from around the world.

Held online last year due to the restrictions of Covid-19, hundreds of whisky fans are expected to make the trip to Scotland’s west coast for a series of exclusive tours, tastings and celebrations including talks and experiments with whisky writers, Charles Maclean and Becky Paskin. Once known as the ‘Victorian whisky capital of the world’, Campbeltown’s whisky has been revived in recent years thanks to the efforts and superb quality of the spirit being produced by the last few distilleries.

Last year, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old was awarded ‘Best in Class’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition out of more than 3,800 entries, and in December it was crowned Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards.

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager and Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, said: “Our Festival Release 2022 is very special as it heralds the return of the much-loved Malts Festival and the opportunity for us to showcase our work in person once more to whisky fans from around the world. 

“The limited-edition release is an intriguing mix of characteristics, picking up our signature maritime style and the rich sticky sweetness from the Pedro Ximénès hogsheads. It is a liquid that has been crafted by our talented team and is a fantastic dram to enjoy while soaking up Campbeltown and all it has to offer.”

New for this year’s Malts Festival, Glen Scotia will also unveil an exhibition focusing on its distillery’s place in Campbeltown. Scottish artist in residence, Alice Angus, has been visiting the town since January  getting to know the people and community, the landscape and the inner workings of the distillery for her ‘Spirit Safe’ exhibition, a collection of artworks, which will be revealed on 25th May.

Like whisky production, Alice’s technique involves patience, time and experimentation. She uses pencil, watercolour and ink to draw from life, spending a long time observing her surroundings through sight,
sound, smell and touch, drawing similarities with the time and craftsmanship required in whisky production.

To find out more visit www.glenscotia.com

Tasting notes:

Nose: Signature Glen Scotia maritime scents with notes of gentle peat smoke, vanilla, fresh apples and pears.
Taste: Silky treacle, spicy white pepper, sweet fruits and salted toffee – a delightful balance of spice interwoven with the sherry cask influence.
Finish: Gentle coastal influencer and delicious lightly floral honey.

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown. The distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, the stillroom, and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s.To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the unique Campbeltown maritime style the brand has become world-famous for. In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. In addition to this, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade it received just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show.’

Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts
Instagram: @glenscotiamalts
Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

Highland Whisky Auctions April 2022 Auction – Auction Whisky News

Highland Whisky Auctions, a rapidly growing bespoke online whisky auction with some of the lowest rates on the market.

Founded in 2021 by Ryan and Cherie, their passion and pride for whisky with growing up in the heart of Speyside as well as working in the industry has driven them to start this new journey and provide fellow whisky enthusiasts an extremely user-friendly auction platform.

 

Whether you are a beginner, drinker or already a collector of whisky, we provide something for everyone with a huge variety of bottles every month.

 

0% Sellers & only 8.5% Buyers commission.

 

Next auction starts 29th April, ending 6th May.

 

International shipping.

 

Click here to register as a user, (only £4+VAT).

We offer FREE valuations to give you an idea of what your whisky may sell for at auction.

We also offer FREE* bottle collections across the UK.

 

Contact us to arrange a valuation or collection.

 

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

1991 North British Single Grain Malt from Old Particular – Scotch Whisky News

A Spectacular, Hidden-Gem Collector’s Item in Aged Whisky

1991 North British 30 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky

(750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($149.99)
“It’s hard to argue with 30 years of patient aging for $150.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Grain whisky doesn’t carry the same caché among Scotch enthusiasts that single malt does, but in the right hands, it can present something altogether unique at a price that would make anyone grin. The most recent specimen from North British is a master class in superbly aged grain. Distilled in 1991, it’s a showcase of the indisputably great results you can find when you know where to look. As spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley explains, “the fact is when you give column-distilled whisky decades to mature in quality, first-fill casks and a Scottish aging environment, you get epic drinking of a whole different breed.” Intensely fruit-driven and easy-going, this cask is a transparently lovely dram that’s ready to impress from the very first sip. Our team was immediately taken by the profoundly luxurious profile—as David Othenin-Girard declared, “when we tasted this North British, we knew we’d have it regardless of the price.” As it so happens, the price is perhaps the most compelling feature of this under-the-radar gem. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another single-cask spirit with 30 years of age on it for a mere $150, and we suggest collectors and connoisseurs take full advantage while they can.

1991 North British 30 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($149.99)

K&L Notes:Once a bastion of ridiculous value, the single grain market has seemingly jumped the shark over the past couple of vintages. Supplies are tight and prices are high, but occasionally we come across casks that still far outpace their price point in terms of quality. This 30-year-old North British is exactly that. One of the more complex grains we’ve had in some time, it was aged for three decades in a fresh bourbon barrel, which likely accounts for the exceptional quality. The North British distillery was established in 1885 not far from Edinburgh Castle. Now controlled as a joint venture between Diageo and Edrington, it can produce upwards of 65 million liters of pure alcohol per year from mostly corn. The exceptional size of this distillery does not preclude it from making high-quality grain, and while most of the production is used in Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker, we occasionally get access to products of high-quality at reasonable prices. The key, it would seem, to producing high-quality grain is using high-quality wood and allowing long maturation. This is exactly what we’ve got here. A gorgeous, creamy, and very approachable old grain for a very solid price.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: October 13, 2021

Fall in love with grain whisky all over again. The category is lost on so many drinkers because it’s not considered in its own right. It’s so often compared to single malt or to bourbon, but the fact is when you give column-distilled whisky decades to mature in quality, first-fill casks and a Scottish aging environment, you get epic drinking of a whole different breed. And often at a great price to boot (if you’re picky). What we have here is both bright and decadent. It’s got gobs and gobs of fruit ranging from tropical papaya, coconut, kiwi to fresh citrus zest and Meyer lemon flesh. A rich palate weight tickles the taste buds with a very subtle oak spice, just a whisper of cracked pepper and rye grass but loads of vanilla and cream. It’s hard to argue with 30 years of patient aging for $150.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 10, 2021

While the days of $250 dollar 50 year old grains seems to be long passed, there’s still some chances to find excellent values in this still underappreciated category. We’ve avoided most grains recently not only because the prices are high but because we’re damned picky. They need to offer something more than just value and while I don’t like to look at them as Single Malt light, there’s no reason to spend $100 on a relatively neutral 18 year old grain when there’s plenty of delicious 12-18 year old malt for the same price. But when we tasted this North British, we knew we’d have it regardless of the price. Ultimately this turned out to be a relatively good value considering the market place, but once you taste it, we think you’ll be back for more. The color is pale gold. The nose is a lovely mixture of lemon curds, bright zesty white flowers, tense green fruits (kiwi, greengage, lime), subtle aromas of sandalwood and jute. On the palate, an absolute bucket of yellow and green fruits, with some bits of vanilla extract. No need to add water here. It’s lovely just the way it is.

Glen Elgin 11 Years Old Killer Queen at The Aberdeen Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

Glen Elgin
11 Years Old Killer Queen
Killer Queen- elegance and grace in a glass.

This is a beautifully balanced single malt whisky from Glen Elgin, aged for 11 years and finished in a Madeira Octave Casks. Glen Elgin spirit is renowned for its floral nature. Pairing the delicate spirit with this cask maturation is killer.

NOSE: Ripe freshly peeled oranges, touch of tart and lemon with faint aromas of delicate white wine, stone fruit and white blossom.

PALATE: Soft and dainty sweetness arrives first which gradually unfolds itself. Watered honey and blossom emerge accompanied by fresh lychees and a fresh and elegant white wine fades to an orange oil warmth.

FINISH: The orange fragrant warmth fades mingling with the rest of the Summer fruit basket for a long, smooth and utterly silken finish.

£95.00

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