Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 448: Caol Ila 2010 Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a very sherried Caol Ila. A few weeks ago his whisky buddy Rainer sent Mark a message about this bottle. And whether he would be allowed to come by to have it tasted and whether Mark would like to make a Rambling about it? Yes & yes. And so here we are.

https://youtu.be/W4xls2iT4VQ

Elixir Distillers to buy Tormore Distillery from Pernod Ricard

Independent whisky specialist, Elixir Distillers, has today signed an agreement to buy the Tormore distillery and brand from Pernod Ricard.

The acquisition is the latest move from co-founders and owners Rajbir and Sukhinder Singh to develop Elixir Distillers into a world-leading brand owner, distiller and independent bottler.

Sukhinder Singh explained: “Tormore is one of the most visually stunning distilleries in Speyside. It produces a beautiful spirit and fits in perfectly with the Elixir Distillers flavour-first philosophy to bottle only the very highest quality whiskies. We are hoping to build on the work that’s been done by Pernod Ricard to bring to life the magic of Tormore and show consumers around the world just what a hidden gem it is. We are humbled to be the new custodians of Tormore; we couldn’t have asked for a better distillery to welcome to the Elixir family alongside our new Islay distillery, Portintruan.”

Tormore distillery was built in 1960, designed by renowned architect and President of the Royal Academy, Sir Albert Richardson, whose style combined neoclassicism with modernism. Historically known as ‘the pearl of Speyside’, the beauty and uniqueness of its architectural design were recognised in 1986 when the distillery was granted listed building status. It is one of the first distilleries you encounter when you travel north to Speyside and is located close to Cragganmore, Ballindalloch and Glenfarclas distilleries.

Tormore distillery has been owned by Pernod Ricard since 2005. It is among one of the larger distilleries in Scotland with a capacity of just under 5 million litres of alcohol per year, providing the potential for long term growth. The deal with Elixir Distillers includes inventory of aged stock.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, stated: “Active portfolio management is an integral part of our long-term strategy. The sale of the Tormore brand and distillery follows the recent announcement of our investment behind the Aberlour and Miltonduff facilities, which will increase our Scotch production capacities by 14 million litres of alcohol per annum. We are delighted to be handing Tormore over to Sukhinder and Rajbir, two friends and truly creative entrepreneurs and look forward to finding new ways to collaborate in the future.”

Sukhinder and Rajbir foresee a bright future for Tormore: “We’re committed to creating a new era for Tormore. Our goal is to establish the reputation of Tormore on the global stage to match the special quality of the whisky. We want Tormore to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the biggest names in single malt whisky and we plan to release a brand range that Scotland will be proud of. We want to make this a real destination for all visitors to Speyside; we will be refurbishing the distillery and we also plan to build a visitor centre.”

About Elixir Distillers

Founded by Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, Elixir Distillers is a creator, blender and bottler of fine spirits, combining delicious, characterful liquid with beautiful design. Their expertise is Scotch whisky and rum but they also work with Japanese whisky, tequila and other spirits. Their core brands include Port Askaig, Elements of Islay, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot which they export to more than 30 international markets around the world. They are building a new distillery on Islay, Portintruan, which is due to open in 2024, which will perfectly complement Speyside’s Tormore distillery in their portfolio.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits. The Group, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolio in the industry with over 240 premium brands distributed across more than 160 markets. Pernod Ricard’s portfolio includes Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term and sustainable growth for all its stakeholders, remaining true to its founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and strong sense of ethics.

Lux Row Distillers Introduces Ezra Brooks 99, Rebel 100 in 1.75L Bottles

Brands expand offerings to meet increasing consumer demand for premium and super-premium bourbons

St. LOUIS (June 8, 2022) – Lux Row Distillers – the Bardstown, Kentucky, home of the Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Daviess County, David Nicholson and Blood Oath bourbon brands – has added two SKUs to its repertoire of offerings at retail. Beginning in June, the distillery’s Ezra Brooks 99 and Rebel 100 brands will be available in 1.75L bottles at a minimum suggested retail price of $44.99 and $35.99, respectively.

Introduced in early 2021, Ezra Brooks 99 is a pure, oak-barrel-aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey elevated to 99 proof. Charcoal filtered for a smooth, mellow finish, Ezra Brooks 99 features the same spicy, ryed-bourbon-mash-bill taste as the original Ezra Brooks, but with an enhanced flavor profile delivered by the higher proof. Introduced in 2019, Rebel 100 is a smooth wheated bourbon that offers the same round body and full flavor of the original Rebel Bourbon but takes it a step further by dialing up the proof to 100.

The level of sales success enjoyed by both Ezra Brooks 99 and Rebel 100 is a key factor in the decision made at Lux Row Distillers to expand these brand offerings by including both variants in 1.75L bottles.

“Since their respective launches in 2019 and 2021, Rebel 100 and Ezra Brooks 99 have been very popular with our customers,” said Eric Winter, whiskey brand manager for Lux Row Distillers. “Our decision to include both brands in 1.75L bottles is a reflection of their continued popularity, as well as our ongoing effort to give our customers what they are looking for.” 

According to research provided by Mintel (source: Lightspeed/Mintel – US Dark Spirits Report, Nov. 2020), consumers are seeking spirits they consider “premium,” as defined by a combination of superior taste, heritage, price and awards won, among other factors. This research is supported by recent Nielsen market data (source: Nielsen 52 wks 9L cases, week ending 1-1-2022), which indicates consumer movement away from value brands and toward more premium offerings.   

“Over the years Luxco has innovated within the whiskey category to keep up with the demands of the changing consumer by introducing more unique premium offerings,” said Luxco VP of Marketing Fletcher Buchman. “Over the past five to seven years, the demand for – and growth of – the premium and super-premium bourbon categories continue to grow, and we are prepared to grow along with it.”

About Luxco 

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from five distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where the George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced; and the Washington, D.C.-based Green Hat Distillery, producer of the Green Hat family of gins. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com

Transforming colour into flavour

The joy of whiskymaking often comes from unexpected combinations. For our latest Limited Edition, we’ve taken this idea further than ever before, with a creation that blends the senses.

The Circle, No. 2 is a whisky made through Synaesthesia: the phenomenon of experiencing multiple senses at once. It can involve hearing shapes, tasting days of the week, or smelling colours and is as varied in its forms and intensities as the people who experience it.

The beauty of collaboration

This Limited Edition is the second release to come from The Circle, our global bartender competition.

We were inspired by the creativity of 2019 winner Mannie Monaghan (owner of Below Stairs bar, Leeds, UK) whose idea was guided by his rare synaesthetic experience of the world. As a synaesthete himself, Mannie was able to bring the full force of his taste buds and personal colour palette to the Compass Box Blending Rooms, fostering a unique creative process for our whiskymaking team.

A flavourful spectrum of colour

To create The Circle, No. 2, and its flavour of Living Coral, our whiskymaker James scoured the shelves of our whisky library, sourcing different parcels based on the colours Mannie sensed in each sip and translating this into a recipe that would express the positivity and vibrancy of this Pantone colour.

More than half of the recipe is tropical, pineapple-accented whisky from the Glen Elgin Distillery, while whiskies aged in Sherry casks lend warmth, energy, and a clinging texture. Dashes of a peated whisky, and a little malt whisky further matured in STR (shaved, toasted and recharred) wine casks, bring contrast and depth.

Watch James and Mannie deconstruct the components of this whisky even further, and dive into how each one informs the whisky’s ‘palette’.

An ideal serve for the summer, The Circle, No. 2 was created as an outdoor whisky to be enjoyed with friends, lounging on a lazy afternoon as the sun sets. It is available now from our web shop and select specialist spirits retailers and in the US from July. Please get in touch if you would like help locating your nearest stockist.

Share & Enjoy!
The Compass Box Team

SHOP NOW

ARDNAMURCHAN

AD/04.22:02

This single malt whisky, distilled at Ardnamurchan Distillery is the newest part of their core range. It was created by combining peated and unpeated Ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Bottled without chill-filtration or artificial colouring.

NOSE: Toasted marshmallows on a pebbled Fascadale beach, minerals, orange oil and popcorn.

PALATE: Salted popcorn, smores, pebble beach, mineralic, sea salt, briney, lime cordial, charred marshmallows, bitter orange, dark chocolate, smoky old fashioned cocktail.

£45.00

Shop now

https://youtu.be/AN6n2emwXro

This is a bottle I’ve been chasing since receiving a sample from a viewer, always very kind this community!

The smell of this thing is so alluring that it made me think that it could be a top 5 whisky ever. The development from smell to taste is so hefty and oak driven, spicy and sumptuous with caramel, tobacco and menthol. A finish that is a little bit of damp squib compared to the rest of the whisky, but either way, at £60 a bottle it doesn’t break the bank, and it’s a smaller/lesser known brand of cask strength bourbon. It is certainly worth checking out if you’re a fan of bottles like Elijah Craig, Stagg and Kentucky Owl.

Cheers

Topping out ceremony takes place at The Cairn

Andy Kitchin (Visitor Experience Manager), Alasdair Manson (Distiller), Paul McWhirter (stone mason), Mhairi Winters (Distillery Manager), Chaz Horne (3rd year apprentice), Hugh MacKay (1st year apprentice).

The traditional “topping out” ceremony, which marks the completion of external construction has taken place at The Cairn Distillery at Grantown-on-Spey

Hugh MacKay, 1^st year apprentice from AB Masonry, and Mhairi Winters, Distillery Manager, did the honours of placing a bottle of whisky in a cavity in the stonework.

The Cairn is a second distillery for renowned whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail, the family firm based in Moray. Appropriately, it was a bottle of Benromach which was used for the ceremony, acknowledging the company’s first distillery at Forres.

In a tradition thought to have been brought here by the Vikings, the topping out ceremony used to mark the installation of the final beam in a building. But it has developed over the years to mark completion of the external construction work and now, in Scotland at least, it’s traditional to include the use of Scotch whisky.

The ceremony usually involves the youngest on the site and in this case Hugh MacKay 1^st year apprentice was given the task. He commented: “It’s been great to be involved in a project of this size in my first year and I have really enjoyed being part of the team constructing such a unique building. I can’t wait to see what the whisky is like in many years’ time.”

Distillery Manager Mhairi Winter said: “it’s wonderful to take part in this traditional ceremony which dates back so many centuries. And it marks another milestone as we move towards completion, ready to open later in the year.”

Planning permission for the distillery was granted in 2019 and work started on site once COVID restrictions on construction were lifted in July 2020.

Opening to the public later this year, The Cairn Distillery overlooks the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  It will offer a selection of immersive visitor experiences, whisky tastings and carefully selected gifts.  Visitors will also be able to eat @ The Gathering and experience the finest produce sourced from throughout Scotland. It has been designed to sit within this world class setting with features including a “green” sedum roof which was recently installed.

Gordon & MacPhail has built strong relationships with its local communities in Forres and Elgin and is determined to maintain that tradition in Grantown on Spey. The distillery will become a major tourist destination on the outskirts of the town and act as a gateway to Speyside.

Notes 

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distilleries, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door and the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits, along with a high-quality retail outlet.

The company owns Benromach Distillery located in Forres in Moray.  Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is handcrafted using traditional methods by a small team of distillers using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. The multi award-winning portfolio of single malts is enjoyed by whisky drinkers worldwide.

The company launched Red Door in the summer of 2018. Created at Benromach Distillery, this award winning, small batch Scottish gin now forms a strategic part of the company’s product portfolio.

Work commenced in July 2020 on The Cairn, the company’s second distillery, overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  The new site will add further distillation capacity and brand ownership to the company’s asset base and is a key part of the plans to continue building a long-term sustainable business.  A high-quality visitor experience offering tours and tastings will also attract visitors from around the world.

Since the founding of the business in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to Scotch whisky distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new-make spirit, before being left to mature for many years either at the distillery or in their bonded warehouses in Elgin.  The Gordon & MacPhail portfolio offers some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to discerning whisky drinkers globally.

The company’s wholesale business serves customers throughout the United Kingdom selling Benromach Single Malt, Red Door gin and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies into the on and off trade. The business also exclusively represents a number of ‘distributor’ brands and stocks premium whiskies and spirits.

The retail shop in Elgin remains the ‘spiritual home’ of the business, 127 years after it was first established in 1895.  The shop is home to a large selection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and is a destination for many whisky aficionados from around the world.

The Maltstock venue

As you might know, this year we have a different venue. After 13 years in the forest near Nijmegen, we now head to the beautiful Dutch country side near Lievelde. Next year we expect to be back at our regular venue, when the Ukranian refugees have hopefully returned home safe.

Bob, Klaas, Stan & Teun

New venue

Last week we visited this year’s venue for a second time. And we’re still very happy! It’s a very relaxed and suitable accommodation. We have great indoor and outdoor space. We have even more beds available, and we have a campground on site as well, for those of you who prefer camping.

There’s a very relaxed outdoor area where we can all gather, share drams and meet old and new friends. We’ll have masterclasses and “drinks with…” session as usual. Wullie from the Hielander in Alkmaar will provide us with a relaxed Scottish breakfast again.

There’s food, drinks, a detox walk, a raffle and of course there will be a midnight café as well!

So new venue, new dates, same relaxedness!

Please check our website for more info on the venue: https://www.maltstock.com/venue-beusink

Program

In the next few weeks we’ll be telling you more about the Maltstock program. Follow us on Facebook to stay updated. Some very relaxed people have already confirmed their presence. So as always we’ll have plenty of very relaxed masterclasses and “Drinks with… “ sessions for you to choose from. And of course these are included in your ticket. How very relaxed!

New dates

The venue we found had only one weekend still available in September. This means that this years Maltstock will be held from 23 to 25 September.

Tickets

Quite a few tickets have already been sold, but it’s not too late for you to join the relaxed fun. You can get your ticket here: www.maltstock.com/shop

Looking forward to meeting you all!

A MAGICAL WHISKY WAVE

We’ve just released a magical wave of new whisky, four enchanting characters including the mesmerising Vaults Collection bottling Cask No. 24.163: A wizard’s spell. Prepare your taste buds for a magic carpet trip with luscious layers of flavours to taste and explore. We hope you enjoy the ride

BROWSE THE NEW WHISKY

VAULTS COLLECTION:
A WIZARD’S SPELL

Incredibly gentle but still with a ‘tannic grip’, this whisky is malt mastery. With alluring rich aromas, frankincense, fragrant herbs, resins and the perfect marriage of dark chocolate, Grand Marnier, candied orange rind and truffle on the taste, we were completely spellbound.

A WIZARD’S SPELL

Cask No. 24.163

Age: 31 years

Cask: First Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butt

ABV.: 50.8%

GIVE INTO THE MAGIC

AMAZING SMWS TASTING EVENTS

Don’t miss out on the early summer tastings, gatherings and events

SEE ALL EVENTS ONLINE

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

BAD NA H-ACHLAISE 

Madeira Cask Finish

A Highland Single Malt Whisky, this gem is a combination of Bourbon barrels, finished in very carefully and individually selected Maderia Casks.

NOSE: Figs, large flame raisins, orange peel, and very ripe fruits, the light peating evokes fond memories of wild camping.

PALATE: Full and sweet, hazelnuts, spices, golden syrup, lots of light peaty sweetness.

FINISH: Spiced candies and nuts, long-lasting barbequed tropical fruits.

 £55.00

Shop now