CASK STRENGTH – 2012

BATCH #1 – 10 YEAR OLD

70cl | 60.2% ABV

Benromach is a traditional Speyside distillery that makes Single Malt Whisky with a subtle smoky character. Benromach Cask Strength 10 Year Old is matured exclusively in first fill Sherry casks. This full bodied Single Malt packs a big punch of rich and spicy sherry aromas and flavours, with notes of vanilla, orange zest, black pepper, with a soft, smoky finish.

£59.95

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https://youtu.be/4QA8jElAR78

Words like ‘integrity’ and ‘pure’ are being thrown around alot these days when it comes to single malts, less so when it comes to blended whiskies. Compass Box have done alot in this landscape, but Black Bull have been nailing this down for years, without fancy marketing and very good, eye-catching labels.

A blended whisky of 50% malt, 50% grain, 50% ABV, and buckets of sherry to bring through a very rich, balanced and overall excellent product in the whisky world. A brand that also has an insane amount of history that accompanies the ‘integrity’ check list that comes with it. I bought this for less than £40 a bottle, outside of Glenallachie, who does this? Nobody.

This is something that you all have to seek out and assess for yourselves. A truly excellent example of great whisky – blend, single malt or other. Excellent.

CHIVAS BROTHERS DOUBLES DOWN ON THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE SCOTCH AS GLOBAL GROWTH CONTINUES WITH FY SALES +25%

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, has today announced its FY22 (July 2021 – June 2022) full-year performance and confirmed its focus on sustainability, following the Pernod Ricard FY22 Full-Year Sales and Results.

The results reflect the significant increase in global demand for Scotch, its resilience as a category, and substantiate Chivas Brothers’ strategy for growth. With net sales up +25% derived from both mature markets (+16%) and emerging markets (+34%), Chivas Brothers is continuing to invest in portfolio innovation and the sustainable future of Scotch with a particular focus on technological advancements in production.

All four strategic international brands registered a record high growth in FY22, with Chivas, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet growing over 20% in domestic markets. In travel retail, Chivas and The Glenlivet recorded triple digit growth, demonstrating a steady recovery of the travel retail industry as restrictions lift.

Sales were particularly robust in emerging markets – Brazil (+56%), India (+43%) and Poland (+12%) with strong momentum in historically mature markets – Spain (+41%), South Korea (+35%) and Japan (+13%).

Performance across strategic brands

Chivas’ era of transformation, which includes a redesign of its iconic Chivas 12-year-old and a campaign to open up the Scotch category to a new, broader, contemporary audience, continues to expand the brand beyond traditional Scotch whisky audiences. The brand recorded global growth of +29% and a noteworthy result of +42% in emerging markets.

Ballantine’s reached historic heights with +27%, broad-based performance of Finest, acceleration of key innovations such as Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel (triple digit growth) and strong growth of the Prestige range across Asian markets.

Royal Salute recorded a performance of +38% with sustained performance in Taiwan, Korea and Travel retail and continued globalization of the brand with stellar growth in Brazil and India. Ongoing collaboration alongside iconic talents within the art & fashion landscape, such as Royal Salute Richard Quinn Edition & House of Quinn, contributed to this performance.

The Glenlivet momentum continues in mature markets, such as USA (+7%), Canada (+11%), and UK (+11%) combined with a growing consumer base in Asia (China +83%, Taiwan +17%, India +34%), through evolving product offerings such as The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve and the new The Glenlivet 21YO and The Glenlivet 25YO cask finishes.

Doubling down on sustainable Scotch

Chivas Brothers’ strong results will help accelerate the company’s investment in ‘sustainable Scotch’ particularly in the area of carbon neutral distillation where the company has set an industry-leading target of carbon neutrality by 2026.

Following last year’s groundbreaking pilot study at its Glentauchers distillery which resulted in energy reductions of 90% on a single pot still, the company announced today plans to roll out Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR1) fan technology at Strathclyde, its largest distillery, with the potential to save almost 9,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and to install MVR technology at Allt A’Bhainne distillery in 2023. Additionally, two further MVRs are being installed at Glentauchers, making it the company’s lowest energy distillery, with MVR installations to be completed there by October 2022.

This builds on Chivas Brothers’ further MVR installations as part of an £88 million expansion at two of the company’s strategic malt distilleries, Aberlour and Miltonduff. This investment is going into upgrading sustainable distillation technologies along with significant production capacity enlargements which will grow Chivas Brothers’ total production by 14 million litres of alcohol per annum.

The company also shared progress on its commitment to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, compostable packaging by 2025, in line with Pernod Ricard’s Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap ‘Good Times from a Good Place’. Whilst 690 tonnes of secondary packaging was removed last year, Chivas Brothers announced today plans to work closely with suppliers to remove a further 2,000 tonnes of cardboard in the next fiscal year, equivalent of 780 tonnes of CO2 emissions, beginning with the phase out of Chivas 12 cartons from autumn 2022.

Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, Jean-Etienne Gourgues, commented:

“These positive results demonstrate that our strategy for growth, with investment across innovation and sustainability, is on track. We are well set up to continue this trajectory in FY23 to shape the future of Scotch by opening up the category to new audiences across the globe.”

Invergordon 1991 30 Year Old, XOP Black TyndrumWhisky Exclusive

A stunning bottling of Invergordon, bottled exclusively for TyndrumWhisky.com. Coming in the XOP Black range by Douglas Laing.

A huge thanks to Douglas Laing for making this happen, one of the first, if not THE first retailer to get the XOP BLACK . . . Our logo makes it taste even better!

This Invergordon is a Vintage 1991, and aged for 30 years before being bottled in April 2022.

£195.00

Official Tasting Notes:
Nose: Polished oak floors give way to a sweet -shop style with a wonderful medley of raspberries and milk chocolate.
Palate: Pear drops / candied apples develop to a warming spiciness (baking spice and brown sugar) alongside vanilla cream.
Finish: Lingers with a tangy character – orange rind and lemon drops – balanced by creamy cereal and allspice.

One of only 134 bottles available.
A Bottling from one single Refill Hogshead.
Cask No: 15559
Natural colour and non chill filtered.

Distilled at Invergordon Distillery, and bottled at Natural Cask Strength by Douglas Laing.

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Glendronach 15 Year Old “Revival” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

95 points Wine Enthusiast

 The nose on this copper-hued single malt shows caramel and a hint of smoke. The expansive, rounded flavors seem to gain intensity with every sip—dark toffee, espresso, cocoa and oak meld with peat smoke, leading into a warming, cinnamon-accented finish. *Top 100 Spirits of 2019* (KN)  (12/2019)

92 points Whisky Advocate

 GlenDronach 15 year old Revival went on hiatus three years ago due to a shortage. In 2018 it re-emerged with a new recipe, tweaked by master distiller Rachel Barrie. As before, a mixture of Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks has taken care of the aging process, and the result is one of the very best sherried single malts of its age on the market. The distillery’s characteristic spice, fruit, and chocolate notes are here in abundance, merging seamlessly and with satisfying complexity to create a great after-dinner dram. *No. 8 Top 20 of 2018* (GS, Winter 2018) 

K&L Notes

The 15 year is finally back! After ceasing production in 2015, the Revival has returned. Aged in PX and Olorosso casks, the malt is classic, rich, and unctuous. It’s full of honeyed tones, chocolate, and dried fruits. I was nervous for the return, but it’s every bit as good as the last bottles in 2015, possibly even better. *Nonchillfiltered does not appear on the label*

Westward K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #277 Cask Strength Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $100) 

Westward has long been producing some of the finest American single malts available due to a few very intentional choices and Scottish-like climate. We’ve selected one of their oldest available casks and it’s a classic. Westward only uses Pacific Northwest grown barley and it’s all malted just 10 miles from the distillery at Great Western Maltings. This two-row barley is malted to spec—high color pale malt—which would be something akin to a medium or medium + coffee roast. This brings out an array of beautiful toasted flavors ranging from filberts, almonds, and coffee to chocolate nibs and cereals. Perhaps the biggest flavor differentiator is in the yeast choice. The vast majority of distillers use an highly efficient distiller’s yeast, not so here. Westward employs the Chico Strain ale yeast—the very same yeast that accounts for Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale’s famous flavor. Combine that with a low and slow 5-day ferment and the tropical fruit esters in the whiskey are off the charts. Sweet mash leads to a little extra variation from barrel to barrel making the selection that much more special. Our barrel was aged in brand new #2 char 100% American oak for over 5 years in Clackamas, OR. The predominantly cool and wet climate with a short hot summer isn’t all that different from Scotland allowing for that ester development combined with barrel extraction that makes great single malt so special. Distilled 4-21-16. Bottled 6-10-21.

50.6% ABV | 1ST FILL SHERRY HOGSHEAD | AGED 30 YEARS

SHOP JAM ON TOAST

BLAIR ATHOL DISTILLERY

Situated at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire.

The rich, deep, malt-loaf character to their new make is perfect for maturation in ex-Sherry hogsheads.

This spicy single cask is from the Highland distillery of Blair Athol. Distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2021, this single malt is a majestic 30 years old.  237 bottles

TASTING NOTES

Sweet rich fruit flavours with a slight savoury edge evoke an array of rich fruits. ​Complex wood spices give a peppery and spicy depth.

THE GATHERING: TASTINGS
AND GET-TOGETHERS

There’s still time to get involved and join the party, get your Gathering tickets now. Don’t miss these events happening as part of our celebrations.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON
GATHERING VIRTUAL TASTING

The Gathering is all about coming together with other Society members, so for those of you who can’t join us at an in-person event, we invite you to join us in sharing a dram online at 8pm Friday, 30th September.

Society host Mads Schmoll will be joined by Society ambassadors from across Europe to guide us through these five special drams, bottled exclusively for The Gathering 2022, and selected by you, our members. Expect an entertaining evening of knowledge, chat and whisky as we share memories and stories about the Society.

DISCOVER MORE

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

The Highest Value Whisky Collection Ever Offered in a Single Auction in the US:

Sotheby’s to Offer The Timeless Whisky Collection

 Featuring 30 Bottles Exceeding 50 Years of Age and Over 50 Magnums,

Led by The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection (est. $400,000-580,000)

NEW YORK, 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 – Amid the surge in demand for collectible whisky, Sotheby’s will offer The Timeless Whisky Collection – the highest value whisky collection ever to be presented in a standalone auction in the US. Comprising 497 lots, and with a pre-sale estimate of $1.6 to 2.1 million, the collection will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York on 23 September, with advance bidding open from Friday, 9 September.

Built over years by a dedicated collector in California, The Timeless Whisky Collection boasts thirty bottles that exceed 50 Years of age and a staggering fifty-three magnums, led by The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection (est. $400,000-580,000), which comes with a bespoke display platform and an exclusive experience offered directly from Lalique. Together with The Macallan, the collection is also represented by Bowmore, Highland Park, Glen Grant, Tamdhu, Glenfarclas, Fettercairn, Glen Mhor, Glenglassaugh, Loch Lomond, Linkwood and The Glenlivet.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North America and EMEA, said: “The Timeless Whisky Collection showcases everything that collectors look for in whisky, from high value, highly aged bottles, to limited outturn and large format independent bottlings. When we first started working on this collection, we were stunned by its scale and value, so we knew we would have to do something special in bringing it to auction. This is why we chose to commission the exquisite burr oak display platform for The Macallan Six Pillars Collection and worked directly with Lalique to offer an experience. The appearance of a collection of this magnitude sets yet another benchmark in the whisky auction market.”

The collector himself welcomed Sotheby’s Whisky team to his house in Los Angeles to perform an inspection. While wishing to remain anonymous, he said: “Whisky has been a passion of mine for many years. While I collect many things, cars, watches and art included, whisky has always been something that has held my attention. I will be sad to part with this collection, but it felt like the time was right for it to find a new home. I have still held back some of my favorite bottles to enjoy over the next few years.” 

A recent wave of highly aged whiskies at auction have commanded exceptional prices, as age in the world of whisky collecting has become synonymous with rarity, due to the fact that not many barrels in bonded warehouses in Scotland make it to the age of 50 due to the rate of alcohol evaporation.

Jonny Fowle explains: “Behind age statement is the vintage of a whisky, and, unlike rare wines, vintage is not always declared in whisky as it would require every element of the whisky that goes into the bottle to be from the same year of distillation. The Scotch Whisky industry’s tendency to vat whiskies from different barrels together to achieve their final assemblage means that often whiskies are built using casks from multiple vintages. This collection showcases a huge number of whiskies that proudly bear a single vintage statement.” 

The sale of The Timeless Whisky Collection follows Sotheby’s offering of The Three Continents Collection of Scotch, Japanese and American whiskies. Presented across five separate auctions due to its scale, The Three Continents Collection became the second most valuable single owner collection of whisky ever sold by Sotheby’s – second only to The Ultimate Whisky Collection, which still stands as the most valuable whisky collection of all time at auction.*

The Macallan Six Pillars Collection with Bespoke Display Platform and Experience

Est. $400,000-580,000

The result of a unique collaboration between The Macallan distillery and renowned French crystal maker Lalique, The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection was released over a decade, between 2005 and 2016. An exclusive series of limited-edition decanters, each release represents the marriage and mastery of spirit distilling and artistic crystal craftsmanship. The collection celebrates the foundation stones upon which the distinctive character of The Macallan and the distillery’s creation of its rich spirit are built, including Exceptional Oak Casks and Curiously Small Stills. Every decanter encases some of the rarest and oldest Macallan single malt whiskies in the world, ranging between fifty and sixty-five years old.

For this auction and to celebrate the significance of The Timeless Whisky Collection, Sotheby’s commissioned a bespoke display platform made of Burr Elm by Anselm Fraser Design. The wood itself is from a Scottish Elm tree which fell at the beginning of the 1980s and had been used as the bar top in a private residence in Scotland for the last two decades, before being reclaimed and re-designed for this collection. The lot is also supported by Lalique, with an offer of a unique experience to the winning bidder and their guest to stay at Villa Rene Lalique in Alsace and dine at their two Michelin Star restaurant.

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Macallan 72 Year Old in Lalique, Genesis Decanter 42.0 abv NV (1 BT75), est. $70,000-90,000

Bowmore Black The Last Cask 50 Year Old 41.0 abv 1964 (1 BT70), est. $38,000-55,000

Bowmore 50 Year Old 40.7abv 1961 (1 BT70), est. $32,000-50,000

The Macallan Millennium Decanter 50 Year Old 43.0 abv 1949 (1 BT75), est. $30,000-40,000

The Macallan Fine & Rare 31 Year Old 43.0 abv 1938 (1 BT75), est. $26,000-35,000

Glenlivet Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 49.1 abv 1943 (1 BT70), est. $26,000-35,000

Ardbeg Double Barrel 1974 (2 BT75), est. $22,000-30,000

The Macallan 40 Year Old 2017 Release 44.0 abv NV (1 BT75), est. $20,000-30,000

Highland Park 50 Year Old 44.8 abv NV (1 BT70), est. $19,000-26,000

Bowmore Gold Fine Oak Cask 44 Year Old 42.4 abv 1964 (1 BT75), est. $14,000-19,000

Glenfarclas 60 Year Old 40.9 abv 1959 (1 BT70), est. $12,000-17,000

Linkwood Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 60 Year Old 49.4 abv 1956 (1 BT70), est. $11,000-14,000

Tamdhu 50 Year Old 55.6 abv 1963 (2 BT70), est. $11,000-14,000

Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl 40.0 abv NV (1 BT75), est. $11,000-16,000

The Balvenie 43 Year Old 46.6 abv 1973 (1 BT75), $10,000-15,000

Glen Grant 50 Year Old 54.4 abv 1963 (1 BT70), est. $10,000-12,000

Gordon & MacPhail Speyside Collection 1948-1972 NV (6 BT70), est. $10,000-14,000

Longmorn Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 40.8 abv 1961 (1 BT70), est. $10,000-15,000

Longmorn Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 45.0 abv 1961 (1 BT70), est. $10,000-15,000

Loch Lomond 50 Year Old 46.2 abv 1967 (1 BT70), est. $10,000-12,000

Bowmore Black Second Release 50.0 abv 1964 (1 BT70), est. $8,000-12,000

Notes 

For The Timeless Whisky Collection, Sotheby’s worked closely with consultant Mark Littler to bring these whiskies to auction.

Sotheby’s has offered four significant single owner collections of whisky which have been sourced in America, the most notable of which was The Ultimate Whisky Collection, which went on to set the record for the most valuable collection of all time when sold in London in 2019.

The Ultimate Whisky Collection Parts I and II (October 2019 and October 2020) brought a combined total of £8.7 million ($11.2 million) – the most valuable whisky collection ever sold at auction. 

The Three Continents Collection was sold over five auctions at Sotheby’s, beginning in December 2021. Comprising 1,455 lots (2,516 bottles), the collection was 97% sold by lot, with the $4.8 million total doubling the low estimate.