MORTLACH TASTING
SOHO WHISKY BAR
13th June 2022 – 6:30PM

Mortlach distillery is a distiller of Scotch whisky in Dufftown, Moray, Scotland. Founded in 1823, the distillery is currently owned by Diageo. The whisky is a key component in several Johnnie Walker bottlings, while Diageo also markets four Mortlach single malts. Charlotte Barker will be taking us thorough the following line-up:

Mortlach 12 Year Old
Mortlach 16 Year Old
Mortlach 20 Year Old
Mortlach 15 Year Old Game of Thrones
Mortlach 13yo 2021 Special Release

Buy Now

Loch Lomond 22 Years Old Course Collection

1999 vintage limited release of 4,000 bottles to commemorate the 150th Open Golf Championship at St. Andrews. Double matured in Haut-Medoc Claret Barriques.

Maximum 1-bottle per each.

Buy – Loch Lomond 22 Years 1999 Open 150th

NOSE: Oak spice, clove and star anise, berry fruit of redcurrant, raspberry and honey.

TASTE: Apple, pear and black cherry with vanilla and dark chocolate.

FINISH: Warming ginger spice and wood smoke finish.

Loch Lomond Distillery is equipped with three different types of sills and was established just to the south of the Loch Lomond in 1964. There are two pot stills, six pot stills with rectifying columns in place of swan necks, a Coffey continuous still and additional continuous stills that produce grain whisky. Thus Loch Lomond Distillery produces malt and grain whisky. Inchmurrin malt whisky is produced using malt spirit distilled in the two pot stills fitted with rectifying columns in place of swan necks. The Loch Lomond single malts include a 12 Year Old and an 18 Year Old.

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at some releases from the WhistlePig distillery in Vermont, including a very special single cask release.

https://youtu.be/4ByaTb1WGQk

All aboard – Bimber Distillery announces The Spirit of the Underground Release No.3

Following being chosen as a finalist at the 2022 Brand and Lifestyle Awards (B&LLA), London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the launch of the third release of The Spirit of the Underground Collection, produced in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL).

Release No.3 showcases four new stations: Camden Town, Canary Wharf, Notting Hill Gate and Tower Hill – each featuring stunning iconography presenting unique pieces of London’s history, and adorned with striking labels and packaging design that observes the significance of each station’s location.

Each of the four releases in Release No.3 has undergone a secondary maturation in a different fortified wine cask – with three of the stations showcasing cask types that have not previously been released by the distillery. Each is bottled at natural cask strength and without chill filtration.

The Collection, which will total 44 individual releases, features a selection of iconic single malt whiskies that celebrate the heritage and diversity of the distillery’s home city. With stunning individual designs, each bottle presents a different Tube station on the London Underground network – the oldest underground passenger railway service in the world.

Release No.3 of The Spirit of the Underground Collection will be available directly from Bimber’s Spirit of the Underground website from Monday 16^th till Thursday 19^th May via a weighted ballot, and with an RRP of £125 per bottle.

Speaking of the launch of  the third release in the collection, Matt McKay Bimber’s Director of Marketing and Communications said: “We’re delighted to reveal the next four stations that will be joining The Spirit of the Underground Collection. For this release we’ve selected four outstanding casks which showcase our ever-broadening selection of flavour profiles. Each of these fortified wine casks has brought both a unique influence and a different perspective to our distinctive London spirit. And we’re particularly excited to be using Release 3 to unveil three entirely new casks styles that we have added into our growing cask inventory.

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at TfL added: “We are delighted to see Bimber Distillery further capture our unique brand with this latest release, which nods to both TfL’s and the capital’s rich heritage. Innovative collaborations such as this are a great example of how brands can work with us and let their customers have a little bit of London in their home.”

All the expressions in The Spirit of the Underground Collection were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a rich fruit-forward, layered spirit.

The Spirit of the Underground Collection – Release No.3

The Spirit of the Underground – Notting Hill Gate

Moscatel Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 285/21

Nose: Tinned pineapple and peach juices are sweetened further by brown sugars whilst macerated orange peels join homemade lemonade

Palate: Richly composed with clementine and nectarine strudel served with a side plate of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg dusted baked apple

Finish: Toasted oak and shaved chocolate join spent coffee grounds

342 bottles

70cl

59% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Camden Town

Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 288.23 

Nose: Chopped hazelnuts, rye bread and manuka honey join orange zest, lemon oils and nutmeg

Palate: Almond paste and hazelnuts sit with pepper and chilli-spiced waffles, whilst bright orchard and citrus fruits mingle with honey and chocolate syrup

Finish: Nutty with lingering piquant spice

351 bottles

70cl

58.5% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Canary Wharf

Marsala Cask Finish – Ref 298/9

Nose: Mandarin peels, cooking apples and toasted almonds sit atop of warmed honey and delicately spiced oak

Palate: Orange zest and candied lemon peels give way to effervescent spicing from ginger, nutmeg and clove whilst mentholated oak joins chocolate covered almond brittle

Finish: Lasting spice and char sit with enduring fruit sugars 

320 bottles

70cl

58.1% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Tower Hill

Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 302/13

Nose: Delicate dried slices of apricot and orange join richer sherry-led spices whilst white chocolate and caramel are livened by vanilla and white pepper

Palate: Bright apple and citrus fruits are further enriched by toffee, caramel, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg whilst gently charred oak sits with espresso beans

Finish: Coffee and walnut cake invigorated by tangy cask spices

348 bottles

70cl

58.7% ABV

About Bimber 

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

About Transport for London 

Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport. It runs the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network, including London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses and TfL Rail services, as well as managing London’s main roads. TfL does all it can to support the millions of journeys that are made every day and keep the city moving, working and growing. TfL reinvests all income generated through fares and commercial revenue to run and improve services and is committed to reducing costs. The licensing deal for this product was delivered through TSBA Group, TfL’s brand licensing partner.

BIG PEAT PRODUCES ONE OF ONE BOTTLE FOR UKRAINE 2022

Douglas Laing’s flagship Islay Malt Scotch Whisky brand, Big Peat, has produced an “extremely rare” one of one bottle for Ukraine 2022.

Containing a “unique” marriage of Islay Single Malts – 99% of the content being from the now-closed Port Ellen Distillery – those interested in winning this rare bottle are invited to donate £5 to Big Peat’s free raffle via Douglas Laing’s website (https://www.douglaslaing.com/products/donate-5-to-support-ukraine-enter-raffle-to-win-rare-big-peat-bottle). Donations opened on 26^th April 2022 and to date, have surpassed £3,000.00. Big Peat will continue to collect donations until 31^st May 2022, at which point Douglas Laing & Co will take the names of all donors and enter them into a free raffle – selecting a winner at random. All proceeds will be donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal, who provide essential food, water, shelter and medical assistance to support families fleeing conflict.

The bottle is presented in Ukrainian blue and yellow colourways, with premium print finishes and a yellow wax dip seal. Big Peat’s iconic, earthy-coloured artwork has been muted to grey in the background as a symbol of “respect” and “solidarity”. Beneath the cork capsule, the spirit inside is said to reveal notes of “warm sand, phenols and peated barley balanced by a caramel sweetness” and is offered at 48.1% alcohol strength, without colouring or chill-filtration – adhering the Douglas Laing family’s “as natural as it gets” ethos.

Commenting on Big Peat’s free raffle, Cara Laing, Marketing Director said:

“The Douglas Laing team have been watching the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine and wanted to do something to help. We tasked Fred Laing with creating a very special bottling (just one bottle) of Big Peat containing particularly rare and old Single Malts – 99% of which are from the legendary Port Ellen Distillery. We now hope Whisky enthusiasts are excited by both the exceptional spirit and the chance to help our friends in Ukraine.”

ABOUT BIG PEAT

Instagram: @bigpeatwhisky

Facebook: /bigpeat

Established in 2009 by Douglas Laing & Co, Big Peat has amassed a somewhat cult following throughout his tenure in the world of Whisky. The multi award-winning small batch Scotch is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts distilled only on Islay, including those distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen Distilleries, amongst others. Celebrated for “his” trademark smoky, sooty, ashy and sweet flavour profile, Big Peat is offered at high alcohol strength and always without colouring or chill-filtration. Since 2019, “his” core range encompasses a 12 Years Old offering for specialist retailer, and “he” proudly unveils a limited edition bottling for Christmas each year, too. 

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Macaloney Distillers resolves dispute with Scotch Whisky Association over whisky labelling and wins big at 2022 World Whiskies Awards, UK.

Macaloney Brewer & Distillers Ltd (MBD) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) have resolved their branding dispute after reaching agreement on the re-labelling of Macaloney’s single malt whiskies. MBD also recently also took another medal haul at the World Whiskies Awards including ‘Worlds Best’.

The SWA settlement agreement follows the lawsuit filed by the SWA in the B.C. Supreme Court on 5^th March 2021 where they expressed concern over the use of various branding terms ‘evocative of Scotland’. Dr. Graeme Macaloney, MBD’s President and Whiskymaker, a native Scot and proud Canadian, commented:

“We are delighted to announce that we have come to an agreement with the SWA. As a result, we will be rebranding our distillery and its associated tours and beer garden to ‘Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery’”.

“I am doubly pleased to announce that recently at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in London, UK, our whiskies took ‘Canadian Best Single Malt’ for our signature expression formerly known as Glenloy, ‘Canadian Best Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky’ for our ‘Killeigh’ whisky, and ‘Worlds Best New Make-Young Spirit’ for our seaweed-peated spirit”.

With its SWA agreement and World Whiskies Awards medal haul in hand, MDB is now seeking to recoup its legal costs, and is actively selling its world-award-winning, single malt whiskies, direct to consumers across Canada and USA via its Canadian (www.MacaloneyDistillers.com) and US (https://shop-us.mcaledonian.com/)  online shops, which deliver direct to households across N. America.

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, distillery tours (5 stars on TripAdvisor) and beer garden tastings (including chocolates and whisky) at Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery are now fully back in swing.

BALVENIE STORIES TASTING
SOHO WHISKY BAR
6th June 2022 – 6:30pm

The Balvenie Distillery is built on the stories that are told from one generation of craftsmen to the next; knowledge, experience and ideas. The Balvenie Stories Range is the embodiment of these stories and tales of character written in whisky.

Each whisky has its own taste, but each is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.

Storytelling is carried through every aspect of The Balvenie Stories – with each tale a bespoke artwork by British paint artist Andy Lovell. Each artwork represents the real-life stories of the people behind the whiskies, bringing meaning and emotion to the day-to-day passion and dedication to each whisky making craft a the distillery.

Alwynne Gwilt The Balvenie Brand Ambassador will be talking us through tonight’s selection of incredible single malts from the iconic Balvenie distillery.

Sweet Toast America Oak 12 Year Old
Week of Peat 14 Year Old
Week of Peat 17 Year Old
Red Rose 21 Year Old
Special Dram from the fantastic Balvenie Ambassador!

Buy Now

take time to switch off

THIS FATHER’S DAY

With a barrage of pings, ringing, and buzzing from our phones and an obsession with checking them, we are excited to give you a sneak peak at an exciting new launch that’s coming soon. As Scotland’s slowest distilled single malt, we have always had a unique relationship with time. “The Offline Edition” allows you to harness that same appreciation of time, allowing for unhurried and uninterrupted drams with your nearest and dearest.

DISCOVER OUR TIME-HONOURED TRADITIONS

CASK STRENGTH, BATCH 009

If you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying a dram of one of our other award-winning Cask Strength batches, you’re in for a treat with our latest Batch 009.

Matured in one-third first-fill Oloroso sherry, two-thirds refill casks and a handful of bourbon barrels. Bottled at 59.6%, Batch 009 delivers notes of rich sticky toffee pudding, fresh fruits, poached pears, plum, cinnamon spice and a definite hit of zesty apple. Priced at £74.99, Cask Strength, Batch 009 is available at glengoyne.com (currently only UK shipping), the Distillery Shop, and specialist retailers in globally select markets.

ralfy review 928 – Ben Nevis 10yo @46%vol: (2022)

GLEN SCOTIA TO HOST ITS FIRST GLOBAL WHISKY TASTING LIVE FROM THE CAMPBELTOWN MALTS FESTIVAL 

Glen Scotia is calling on whisky fans from around the world to get their tickets to its first live global whisky tasting, the Global Gathering, taking place on the 26^th and 27^th of May 2022.

Part of Glen Scotia’s programme of activities at this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival (24^th-27^th May), the virtual tastings are expected to welcome people from near and far as they come together to enjoy drams from the award-winning distiller.

Glen Scotia Distillery Manager and Master Distiller, Iain McAlister, will lead the gathering live from the Dunnage Warehouse in the heart of Glen Scotia’s distillery. The first will take place on Thursday, 26^th May at 5.30pm GMT and the second on Friday, 27^th May at 11am GMT.

Through a guided tasting, he will explore the profile of five Glen Scotia drams in the tasting pack, including the brand’s increasingly scarce 25-year-old expression which was recently named World’s Best Whisky.

As well as offering insights into the craftsmanship, profile and flavour of each dram, Iain will be taking questions from attendees in-person and those virtually around the world. Virtual attendees will have the opportunity to post questions, join polls and become fully immersed in the Festival experience.

Launched in 2008, the Campbeltown Malts Festival is a three-day celebration of the region known as the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’ due to its illustrious past and the role whisky-making has played in the town for centuries. The event will also mark an incredible twelve months of achievements for the Glen Scotia distillery after it was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards and later Scottish Distillery of the Year in December of last year. It is the first time a distillery has achieved both accolades, let alone in the same year.

Guests without the Malts Festival tasting pack are also being encouraged to sign up and use their home stock to enjoy the discussion and insight into the distillery that has achieved remarkable global success.

Glen Scotia’s Distillery Manager & Master Distiller, Iain McAlister, said, “The Campbeltown Malts Festival marks our favourite moment of the year. It is the time when we look forward to welcoming visitors to the distillery, but we know there are a great many friends and fans around the world that can’t be with us in person this year. I am excited to bring a piece of the Festival to our global guests and raise a dram with them from afar.”

Glen Scotia tasting pack, £40, is available to purchase at: www.glenscotia.com/pages/whisky-festival-2022-live. Each pack contains a dram of the core Glen Scotia range including the Glen Scotia 25-year-old, Double Cask, Victoriana, 15-year-old and 18-year-old.

Guests can register for the free virtual event at: www.glenscotia.com/pages/glen-scotia-global-gathering.

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