Headframe’s John McKee co-recipient of the 2022 Artisan Spirit Distiller of the Year

April 2022 – In 10 years and almost 900 miles apart, John Mckee of Butte, MT and Johnny Jeffery of Reno, NV have become close friends. Close enough that you could actually ask one about the other and hear their entire life story verbatim.

McKee recalls how when he was first getting into the industry, Jeffery was the one to show him the tools of the trade. In fact, the first barrel of whiskey that ever entered Headframe doors was one made by both McKee and Jeffery. That first barrel was the start of the award-winning Kelley Single Malt Whiskey and the brand was heavily influenced by John and Johnny’s first collaboration.

“I found Johnny at Michigan State University when he was there as a graduate student,” says McKee. “They had this artisan distilling program and I went to him and he was one  of the first people who taught me how to mash and ferment properly so I could make whiskey. I’ve known him since before (Headframe) was open.”

In the year previous to April 2022, McKee and the team at Headframe made 1,000 barrels of whiskey from Montana grain and plan to make 4,000 barrels in the coming 12 months.  “If not for that first meeting with Johnny, who knows if we could have accomplished all we have at Headframe,” Mckee notes.

Now, they are both being recognized by the Artisan Spirits Magazine as the co-recipients of this year’s Artisan Spirit Distillers of the Year.

“I don’t care what kind of mountain man or hermit you are, somebody made your axe blade. You can’t do it alone, and as soon as you think you can, you’re doomed to fail. You need collaboration,” said McKee.

This becomes apparent in every work the two have created together – from the Good Guys Distillers group formed to share accurate information for the industry to the creation of Good Deeds Whiskey, where profits from each bottle sold are donated 100% to charities. If you’d like to recognize John & Johnny in some way, please consider helping us sell out Release #1 of Good Deeds Malt Whiskey, which can still be purchased at Sellbachs.

McKee tells us that there are already similar future collaborations in the works, the next being Release #2 of Good Deeds Whiskey. “In 10 years, Johnny and I have done nothing but collaborate. It’s just sort of our ethos – it’s how we work.”

2006 Highland Park 13 Year Old “Cask Of The Forest” Cask #1994 First Fill European Oak Sherry Butt Single Cask,

Cask Strength Isle of Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $230)

$199.99

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BUILLET and ROE & CO TASTING 
SOHO WHISKY BAR
30th May 2022 – 6:30pm

A super educative tasting with Diageo is about to happen!

Have you ever compared Irish whisky with American one? If not this is the best time for you to understand the differences between the two fantastic styles. Kristen Jarin will be running an informative tasting for a great comparison as both styles American & Irish whisky benefit from oak maturation in Bourbon cask.

 Bulleit Bourbon
Bulleit Rye
Bulleit 10 year Old
Roe & Co
Roe & Co curators Series No 1

Buy Now

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I’ll be reviewing the finalists in the World Whisky Awards 2022 best rye whisky. I’ll be giving you an insight into how my brain works when I’m judging. You have been warned!

https://youtu.be/sSuxx03al6A

SMWS ANNOUNCE SMALL BATCH FESTIVAL BOTTLINGS PAIRED WITH WORLD’S FIRST LITERAL MEMORY BOXES

Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire

JOIN THE FLAVOUR HUNTERS THIS MAY: The world’s most entertaining whisky club have matched small batch festival bottlings with literal memory boxes created in collaboration with a memory psychologist, chef and ‘thrill engineer’ to capture key moments in life that impact the way we experience flavour

To celebrate the SMWS Flavour Hunters festival throughout the whisky month of May, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have created a sensory experience like no other. Based on the science of memory recall and creation, SMWS have designed the world’s first literal memory boxes, each paired with a special Society festival bottling.

Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire

SMWS Festival Bottlings:

Cask No. 36 Speyside Batch 2022, 57.6% ABV, £55: A REWARD FOR PATIENCE
Cask No. 53 Islay Batch 2022, 58.4%, £65: THROW THE CORK AWAY!
Cask No. 3 Islay Batch 2022, 57.0%, £130: FRUITY TIME TRAVEL
Cask No. 93 Campbeltown Batch 2022, 59.7%, £58: CHANGES FASTER THAN A CHAMELEON
Cask No. 19 Highland Batch 2022, 55.6%, £90: HAZLENUT BUBBLEGUM
Cask No. 5 Lowland Batch 2022, 55.8%, £90: LIME AND THYME

Partnering with professional psychologist Dr Ansgar Endress, Scottish chef Bruce Clyne-Watson and rollercoaster designer & ‘thrill engineer’ Brendan Walker, the boxes will be available exclusively at The National Whisky Festival Glasgow 2022 on Saturday 7^th May & 2022 London Whisky Weekender on Saturday 14^th May, and in SMWS Members’ Rooms across the UK.

Utilising tasting notes from the six small batch festival bottlings specially released by the SMWS throughout May, the six distinct boxes use touch, taste, smell, sight and sound to transport people back to happy moments or places in their life, such as ‘Nan’s House of Tea’ which includes Haggis spiced lamb breast with caramelised red wine pineapple, malt loaf and toasted oats.

Renowned Scottish chef Bruce Clyne-Watson expertly crafted the memory-evoking canapes to feature alongside each box: ‘Camping Out’ embraces those warm Autumn nights huddling around the fire with rabbit liver rillette dressed in a marmalade chutney, candied walnut, and nasturtium leaves.

Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Wire

Paired with a peaty whisky, ‘Watching the Harbour Boats’ is matched with smoky langoustine sprayed with sea water and a smoke gun, served on pebbles alongside a deep-fried Mars Bar with Irn bru & tobacco essence, conjuring fond memories of the seashore.

The SMWS sensory experiences engage with the episodic memory, the part of the memory that takes in a whole experience and commits it to long-term memory, creating a pathway to a positive time. Experiencing these alongside the whiskies also gives our brains the power and tools to create new, happy memories over a dram.

Adding his thoughts on the partnership, Bruce Clyne-Watson said: “It’s a real joy to be working with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society on such an unconventional and exciting project. The Society itself is an endless discovery of flavour, making it so much fun to create these canapes, which match perfectly with the SMWS bottlings.

“Memory really does affect the way we experience flavour. Sampling the produce for this campaign genuinely evoked memories of my childhood, like going to my Nan’s house for tea as a wee lad; reminiscing over those warming, joyous memories. I can’t wait to see this campaign come to life in May and witness each guest’s whisky eureka moment.”

Commenting on the campaign, Helen Stewart, SMWS Head of Membership, said: “At the Society we believe flavour is more than what’s in your glass. May is whisky month and is the perfect time to show the world what the Society is all about.

“This May we want people to join the Society in our hunt for flavour. Whisky lovers can become part of the world’s most entertaining whisky club and get involved in the Flavour Hunters festival wherever they are, through our website, Members’ Rooms and at the fabulous whisky festivals taking place across the UK.”

Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society membership is about more than just whisky, come along to one of our UK Members’ Rooms to begin a discovery of flavour with the Society now: https://smws.com/

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

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#SMWS

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 30,000 members and branches around the world.
• The SMWS bottles rare single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from 150 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages that can be tailored. Please see: https://cutt.ly/aQGwfkH
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://cutt.ly/HQF6PTv
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

UK MEMBERS’ ROOMS

SMWS EDINBURGH

28 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JX

The Vaults, 87 Giles St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ

SMWS GLASGOW

40 Bath St, Glasgow G2 1HG

SMWS LONDON

19 Greville St, London EC1N 8SQ

WORLD’S LARGEST BOTTLE OF SCOTCH WHISKY TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT LYON & TURNBULL 

Record-breaking the intrepid stands at almost 6ft tall and contains 311 litres of 32-year-old The Macallan single malt whisky 

Range of charities will benefit from the sale of bottling inspired by passion for exploration

The world’s largest bottle of Scotch whisky, The Intrepid, standing at 5ft 11 inches tall and filled with a record-breaking 311 litres of 32-year-old The Macallan, will be auctioned by leading international auction house Lyon & Turnbull, which is headquartered in Edinburgh, on 25 May.

The auction, which will be live online at 12 noon (GMT) on 25 May at Lyon & Turnbull, is set to attract interest from bidders across the globe. It is hoped the bottle may break the world record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold which is $1.9m. For any amount the sale achieves above £1.3m, 25 per cent will be donated to the Marie Curie charity.

The Intrepid was officially certified by Guinness World Records when it was bottled last year. The bottle, which contains 32-year-old whisky from world-renowned The Macallan Distillery, contains the equivalent of 444 standard bottles.

Daniel Monk and the team behind The Intrepid, a partnership between Fah Mai and Rosewin Holdings, were inspired by a passion for adventure, exploration and a desire to help raise money for several charities.

They named The Intrepid to celebrate the drive and record-breaking achievements of 11 of the world’s most pioneering explorers who are featured on the bottle. These include such luminaries as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dr. Geoff Wilson, Karen Darke MBE, Olly Hicks, Sarah Outen MBE, Dwayne Fields FRGS, Levison Wood FRGS, Felicity Aston MBE and past Scottish Adventurers of the Year Jamie Ramsay and Will Copestake.

The project is supporting the explorers chosen environmental, physical and mental well-being charities. These include Marie Curie, selected by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), chosen by Jamie Ramsay.

Colin Fraser of Lyon & Turnbull, who will lead the auction, said: “I’m sure there will be significant global interest in the auction of The Intrepid, a unique collection spearheaded by the record-breaking bottling standing at an incredible 5ft 11 inches tall.

Bidders will have the chance to buy a piece of Scotch whisky history. They will become the owners of an exclusive 32-year old single-malt Scotch from what is widely regarded as one of the world’s best distilleries, The Macallan.”

Founder of The Intrepid Project, Daniel Monk, said: “The Intrepid could only have been made possible by the explorers and their commitment. They showed unquestionable personal drive and through the auction we will support a wide ranging group of charities with significance to the explorers. This will become part of The Intrepid’ s legacy and leave a lasting impact.”

After maturing in two sister casks in Macallan’s Speyside warehouse for 32 years, the exclusive liquid was bottled last year by Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, one of the leading independent whisky bottling companies.

To commemorate this momentous event, a small number of exclusive bottle sets were also produced. These comprise a collection of 12 bottles, each filled with the remaining 32-year old The Macallan whisky from the same casks used to fill the record-breaking bottle. Each set includes a replica of the main bottle design along with individual versions dedicated to each of the explorers associated with the project.

The entire Intrepid Collection, led by the 311-litre bottle, will be auctioned at Lyon & Turnbull and is set to generate international interest.

Charles MacLean MBE, renowned whisky expert and Master of the Quaich, said: “The Intrepid is an elegant whisky, with subtle complexity. Its pale hue implies second or third fill casks, which has prevented the flavour being dominated by wood extractives. Intriguing and easy to enjoy straight – with (many!) friends – on any occasion.”

For more information please visit: www.lyonandturnbull.com/the-intrepid-whisky

TASTING NOTES

Full tasting notes of this incredible whisky available on request.

AUCTION

THE INTREPID World Record Whisky
25th May 2022 at 12noon
Live Online
www.lyonandturnbull.com/the-intrepid-whisky

ABOUT LYON & TURNBULL

Operating since 1826, Lyon & Turnbull are one of the UK’s premier fine art and luxury auctioneers. The company’s galleries in London and Glasgow complement the historic Georgian headquarters and main saleroom in Edinburgh. Hosting nearly 45 specialist auctions per year across the UK there is always something to see at Lyon & Turnbull: from jewellery and watches to fine furniture; traditional British and European art to Modern & Contemporary stars; European decorative arts and design to fine Asian art from China and Japan. www.lyonandturnbull.com

ABOUT CHARLES MACLEAN MBE – MASTER OF THE QUAICH

Charles MacLean has been described by The Times as Scotland’s leading whisky expert . He has been researching and writing about whisky for nearly forty years, and has published 15 books on the subject, including Malt Whisky, which won a Glenfiddich Award, and Whisky: A Liquid History, which won ‘Wine & Spirits Book of the Year’ in the James Beard Awards 2005 and ‘Best Drinks Book’ in the International Food Media Awards 2005. He was founding editor of Whisky Magazine (1997), contributes regularly to many publications and has written historical and promotional materials for all the leading Scotch whisky companies.

He is a member of the Judging Panel (Spirits) of the International Wines & Spirits Competition, was runner-up as ‘Communicator of the Year’ in the 2003 IWSC Awards and won ‘Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Scotch Whisky’ in the 2012 Awards. He was elected a Keeper of the Quaich in 1992, elevated to Master of the Quaich in 2009.

Auction Ending Soon!!

Auction closing from 2000 GMT Friday 6^th May.

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Take advantage of only 8.5% Buyers commission.

International shipping.

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

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.

Auction ending 6^th 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

GET READY: MAY FLAVOUR HUNTERS FESTIVAL

Join us at our Flavour Hunters Festival this May. You’ll find plenty of unique tastings at our Members’ Rooms, local venues or Partner Bars. There’s even a virtual tasting event so you can join from home. Or if you’re looking for the sip of a lifetime, come join us on Islay!

Take part in the thrill of the taste too, we’re taking a different approach to our festival bottlings this year with our range of ‘Rare Releases’, a series of six small batch single malts that we’ll be able to share across our global membership.

Discover more about our Flavour Hunters Festival this May over on our website.

JOIN THE FLAVOUR HUNT

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

THOMPSON BROS TASTING 
SOHO WHISKY BAR
23rd May 2022 – 6:30PM

Thompson Bros at Dornoch Distillery was founded following a successful initial crowdfunding round in 2016 which saw 250 whisky lovers from all over the world eagerly put their hands in their pockets to secure hotly anticipated casks of new make spirit from Dornoch Distillery. During 2017 the team lay down casks of the future single malt whisky that is currently resting and maturing at the distillery.

The Thompson Brother’s released an Organic Highland Gin as part of their portfolio that is ever growing with new releases of incredible single malts. With this tasting the Brothers Phil and Simon will guide you through the tasting of some very rare and exceptional single malts.

Expect a special announcement for the lucky people attending this tasting event. 

Islay Single Malt 31 Year Old / 1989 / Thompson X Auld A / 52.3% / 70cl 
Islay Single Malt 30 Year Old / 1990 / Thompson X Auld A / 49.4% / 70cl
Islay Single Malt 29 Year Old / 1991 / Thompson X Auld A / 49.2% / 70cl
Clarendon 37 Year Old / 1984 / Thompson Bros / Thompson X Auld A / 62% / 70cl

Buy Now

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 440: Oban 18 Year Old

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a US exclusive release. A few months ago Mark made an appointment with his American friends John and Mary-Angela. After all, they came to Belgium and that was the perfect opportunity for them to bring some bottles, such as the Kentucky Owl bourbon, the Lagavulin Offerman Edition on Guinness casks and this Oban 18 Year Old, which is bottled exclusively for the States. Apart from a pleasant afternoon in which a lot was tasted, followed by a great burger dinner in Ghent, it was also the opportunity for Mark to finally put this 18-year-old Oban to the test.

https://youtu.be/E5WksY2-19s