Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 476: Johnnie Walker Ghost & Rare – Port Dundas

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, finally tries the new Johnnie Blue! He confesses, when he first saw the announcement and realized that a closed grain distillery was going to play the leading role, he frowned for a moment. But after he tasted it at a whisky festival, he knew immediately that it had become a work of art again. This time it’s a creation of the new Master Blender, Emma Walker, who followed in the footsteps of legendary Jim Beveridge in October 2021. And in addition to Port Dundas (about 2km north of Glasgow and closed since 2009), Emma Walker also used Cambus (also a closed grain distillery, since 1993) and Cameronbridge, supplemented with malt whiskies from the warehouses of Glenkinchie, Auchroisk, Dailuaine, Clynelish and (the recently reopened) Brora. It is a composition of 7 whiskies and again bottled at 43.8%.

https://youtu.be/_6KwW1cpR7o

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY FILLS 8 MILLIONTH BARREL OF BOURBON SINCE PROHIBITION

Distillery’s increased production results in milestone just 4 years after filling 7^th Millionth Barrel

L to R Osiris Johnson, Freddie Johnson and Mark Brown roll 8 mil barrel as Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley looks on

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Dec. 15, 2022) – Buffalo Trace Distillery made history today by filling its eighth millionth barrel of bourbon since Prohibition.  Unlike previous milestones which took an average of 12 years to achieve, the eighth millionth barrel comes just four years after the seventh millionth barrel (filled in 2018), due to the $1.2 billion expansion efforts at the Distillery over the last several years. On hand to mark the occasion was Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer and Buffalo Trace Distillery officials, including third generation team member Freddie Johnson whose family has been involved in every millionth barrel since 1942.

“Over the past few years, we’ve doubled our fermenters, added more grain cookers and more barrel warehouses, all in an effort to make more bourbon,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller.  “We’ve filled a record number of barrels every year, as evidenced by how fast we moved from the seventh millionth barrel to the eighth millionth barrel.  Now that we have our new still house starting up, we’ll be able to double the output of our whiskey production, so we’re going to be reaching 9 million barrels before you know it!”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear added, “I am thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone with Buffalo Trace Distillery. This company has more than 200 years of history in our state, providing quality jobs for Kentuckians and producing our world-famous bourbon.  Thank you to the leaders at Buffalo Trace for their continued commitment to the commonwealth and our people. Here’s to 200 more years of success in our state.”

Governor Andy Beshear speaking at Buffalo Trace’s 8 mil barrel ceremony

As Governor Beshear spoke today at a ceremony at Buffalo Trace Distillery, the attendees looked on as third generation Buffalo Trace team member Freddie Johnson carried on his father’s legacy by rolling the eighth millionth barrel into Warehouse V, the world’s smallest bonded barrel warehouse. Joining Freddie on the ceremonial barrel roll was his teenage grandson, marking four generations from the Johnson family to have a hand in the milestone barrels filled at Buffalo Trace.  Johnson’s late father Jimmy Johnson, a former warehouse supervisor, played a key role in each millionth barrel produced at Buffalo Trace since Prohibition.

“Reflecting back on the history of this Distillery, the progress we’ve made over the past few decades is astounding, but even more impressive is the dedication and longevity of so many of our team members. We have many second and third generation team members here, and several members of our workforce who have been here 20, 30, some even closing in on 40 years with us!” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, Buffalo Trace Distillery.  “It’s this commitment to their craft that not only sets us apart but positions us perfectly for future growth as we continue our focus on producing more award-winning bourbon for future generations to enjoy.”

Buffalo Trace’s seventh millionth barrel of bourbon, barreled in April of 2018, has been removed from Warehouse V and put away to continue aging in one of Buffalo Trace’s larger warehouses.  After a few more years, it will be ready to bottle and will be offered to various nonprofit organizations for fundraising efforts. Information about how to apply for a bottle will be announced at that time.

Buffalo Trace will have a special interactive activity for its fans which will begin running in January. More details will be announced on @buffalotracedistillery.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2^nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.   Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

December 2022 Auction  // 22.12.22 – 09.01.23

Now Live: December Auction

A warm welcome to our December Auction. Featuring nearly 10,000 rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles. We have legendary vintages from pioneering independent bottlers, grandeur aplenty from established distilleries and unique and experimental drams from the hottest names in the whisky industry right now.

Ben Nevis 1926 63 Year Old

Extraordinary Highlights from Samaroli

Stunning 1952 Springbank – One of only 24 Bottles

Luc Timmermans’ Glenfarclas Collection

Read our latest interview, where we spoke with Luc about his collection and more.

The BEN Charity Auction

TOP OLD & RARE

This year we’ve continued our quest to bring you the best old and rare bottles out there. To reflect, we’ve handpicked a crop of noteworthy whiskies we’re proud to offer from some of Scotland’s landmark distilleries.

These hard-to-find drams include an old bottling of the iconic Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, the first 25-year-old to join Highland Park’s core range in the 1990s, a 1971-vintage single malt from lost distillery Brora, and one of the key early single cask bottlings that kickstarted Ardbeg’s stratospheric rise.

DISCOVER NOW

Kaiyo 8 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Cask #6933 Cask Strength Japanese Mizunara Oak Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
$99.99

View

Oh Kaiyo! This is one of the most unique and controversial brands on the market today. They’ve managed to secure filling contracts with three major Japanese distillers, but are prohibited from disclosing the sources of two of the distillates. The third contract has no such stipulation. After speaking with their Master Blender Jeff Karlovitch regarding their desire to be as transparent as legally possible, we decided to give their new barrel program a try and thank god we did. This whisky took an unbelievably complex journey to reach our shelves. It was double distilled in 2014 at the Helios Distillery in Okinawa from 100% malted barley on their unique copper pot stills and filled into 450 liter first fill char 4 mizunara oak cask for aging at Kaiyo’s japanese facility near Tokyo for 3.2 years. It was then transfered to a used mizunara cask Toast 1 Char Level 2 for 3-4 months transport from Japan to the Kaiyo aging facilities in Liverpool England. Kaiyo uses the Liverpool warehouse because the city boasts some of most humid and mild aging conditions in the world. On arrival, they filled a second new mizunara oak barrel this time char 3 for another 4.5 years. Finally, they half filled 200L toast 1 char 2 barrel #6933 for an additional 6 month oxidative finish. This crazy ritual results in a fabulously complex expression. Japanese whisky in all but name, few can boast a cask strength single barrel single malt from Japan at this age or price. Only 87 bottles available!

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

AUCTION RECORD SET FOR PAPPY VAN WINKLE

AT SOTHEBY’S IN NEW YORK

Bottle of 23 Year Old Family Reserve Sells for $52,500,

More than 17x Low Estimate

NEW YORK, 13 December 2022 – This weekend at Sotheby’s in New York, a new auction record was set for Pappy Van Winkle when a bottle of 23 Year Old Family Reserve sold for $52,500 – more than seventeen times the pre-sale estimate (est. $3,000-4,000). Two collectors battled against each other to win the coveted bottle of their dreams, pushing the final sale price ever higher. Released in 2008, the whiskey was presented for sale with its original black velvet bag.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North America and EMEA, said: “It was exciting to be on the rostrum conducting the sale for this record-breaking bottle, which went far beyond anyone’s expectations. The auction marked a remarkable end to a year that has seen prices soar for American whiskey at Sotheby’s.”

All 14 of the individual bottles of Pappy Van Winkle on offer sold for sums in excess of their high estimates, achieving a combined total of $396,250 (est. $31,000-44,000). Individual records were also set for the Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old ($9,375) and 20 Year Old ($27,500).

The lots formed part of Whisky & Whiskey | Seasonal Spirits and The Yamazaki 55, which brought a total of $1,786,625, surpassing pre-sale expectations (est. $885,050 – 1,302,050). This year has seen sales of whisky at Sotheby’s in New York double, from $5.4 million in 2021 to $11.9 million in 2022.

Few names are more significant in the world of American whiskey than that of Julian ‘Pappy’ Van Winkle. Synonymous with enthusiasts, whiskeys bottled under the Van Winkle brand have gone on to become amongst the most highly rated and sought-after, gathering an almost cult-like following. Many of those were distilled at the old Stitzel-Weller Distillery, opened on Derby Day in 1935, which went on to create some of the finest and most sought-after bourbons ever produced before its closure in the early 1990s, with production moving to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.

The Old Rip Van Winkle brand was originally created before Prohibition, but it was not until 1972 that it was reintroduced following the repeal. The brand encompasses many of the most highly rated, collectible bourbon and rye whiskeys ever bottled.

About Sotheby’s Wine

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits hit a record $132 million in 2021, a 44% increase on 2020. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most valuable bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most valuable bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

SATURN V ROCKET

It’s Back.
On the Lauch Pad.

SATURN V Rocket 50th Anniversary Edition

On the launch pad. They sold once before. This specially commission Launch Pad is made from ex-Scotch whisky casks! To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Saturn V rocket, we have selected a very special 2010 vintage single first fill bourbon barrel from Caol Ila distillery on Islay which ticks all the cosmic boxes!

Buy – Saturn V 50th Anniversary with Launch Pad

“Cask-strength Remus is a treat … this superb bourbon is the result of impeccably honed technical capabilities from one of the largest and oldest distilleries in the country.”
— K&L Spirits Buyer Andrew Whiteley on the Remus Cask #222

George Remus “K&L Exclusive” Barrel #222 Single Barrel Barrel Proof Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($59.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: October 05, 2022

Cask-strength Remus is a treat, but it can vary enormously from barrel to barrel, in part because it doesn’t have a consistent mashbill for the single-barrel program. This unusual cask features 51% corn and 49% rye—10% of which is malted. Made at MGP (now known as Ross & Squibb when selling their own distillate under the Remus and Rossville Union brands), this superb bourbon is the result of impeccably honed technical capabilities from one of the largest and oldest distilleries in the country. Arguably, no distillery has done more for the bourbon boom of the last two decades than MGP. Let’s taste. Liquid amber in color. The nose is a combination of sweet butterscotch and freshly cracked pepper. Sweetgrass, with its signature vanilla and herbal scented leaves, is prominent. A dusting of cocoa powder and baked apples is also present in the bright and lively aroma. The palate has tremendous kick to it. At 57.1% ABV, it’s not really a surprise, but damn is it spicy at first. It reminds me a little bit of some extra spicy Russell’s rye barrels. As you continue to taste, that spice first moves from herbal tones into more savory sawdust and then finally into the sweeter barrel components—vanilla, more butterscotch, caramel, and the like. The finish is medium length when it comes to flavor, but the texture of the whisky sticks around for a long time, leaving your mouth primed for whatever comes next. With the addition of a splash or two of water, the spice profile really takes a back seat, and much more fruit comes out. A little red fruit, mixed in with a lot more sweet, baked apples and brioche, comes forward on the nose. The softened palate feels gentle and welcoming compared to the up-front intensity at full proof. It’s an enticing pour for cocktail applications, because it sweetens up so much with just a little dilution but doesn’t entirely lose that beautiful rye backbone. The creative bartender will find that this can pop in many different ways based on how you use it.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA