A Singular Rye Whiskey from a Superstar Craft Distiller
Barrell Craft Spirits “Seagrass” Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey
(750ml) ($79.99)
Ranked #2 in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2021

The latest entry from our friends at the inimitable Barrell Craft Spirits is the incredible Seagrass, a stupendous rye beauty with an aging regimen that takes a mad kind of genius to pull off. The team at Barrell starts with top-quality American and Canadian rye whiskeys, then subjects them to successive finishing stints in some of the most expressive used barrels you can think of. The result is truly a multi-faceted, singular profile that’s unlike anything else in their portfolio. Each barrel shows its influence in concert with the others, with the spicy character of the rye taking on a kaleidoscope of luxurious tropical brandy notes, high-toned floral rhum agricole features, and a scintillating tinge of brine and nutty oxidative accents from the madeira cask. As if this wasn’t compelling enough, we also have a miniscule allocation of the incredible 16 Year Old Gray Label Seagrass, a highly limited, age-stated rye (this rendition made from 100% Canadian stocks) that underwent the same finishing process as the regular bottling. We never know what Barrell is going to come up with next, but we’re certain that whiskey aficionados who think they’ve seen and tasted it all are in for a real awakening with these two stunners.

K&L Notes: Seagrass is more proof that Barrell’s blending team is at the top of their game. Not only are they able to consistently create exciting new products with a diversity of flavors, but they’re able to imbue their blends with creative energy, all while making sure to keep the most important thing in mind: it must be delicious. This release is the perfect example of that, a product that’s able to transport us to a completely different place in the glass. Using the complex barrel finishes that Barrell has developed and their highest quality rye stocks, they’ve built this incredible expression. The deep tropical notes from the apricot brandy are tempered by a bevy of spicy and herbaceous rye. Soft, subtle grassy notes and pure floral character are added by the rhum cask, along with a top note of earth and salty ocean air from the madeira casks. The bevy of accolades that it’s received in the past year confirm it as easily one of the most exciting and delicious releases available right now.

Barrell Craft Spirits “Seagrass” Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)

• 2021 #2 Whiskey of the Year—Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys
• 2021 BEST OF THE BEST—The Robb Report
• DOUBLE GOLD—2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• PLATINUM MEDAL—2021 L.A. Spirits Awards
• GOLD MEDAL—2021 Ascot Awards
• GOLD MEDAL—2021 John Barleycorn Awards
• 92 POINTS—2021 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Barrell Craft Spirits 16 Year Old “Gray Label – Seagrass” Release #1 Martinique Rum, Apricot Brandy & Madeira Finished Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($239.99)

K&L Notes: The 16 Year Old Gray Label Seagrass takes the original bottling and ramps up the singular character several notches. This highly allocated, extremely limited rendition was composed from 100% Canadian rye stocks and underwent a similar aging process. Two batches of rye were aged separately in the apricot brandy and rhum casks, and a final blend was compiled and aged in Malmsey Madeira casks. Every step of the process was undertaken with painstaking precision and meticulous care, and the result is a stunningly unique whiskey that offers something for every spirits aficionado under the sun. Bottled at full proof of 130.82, it’s a powerhouse of complexity that showcases each of its components with startling clarity and authenticity. This is a not-to-be-missed connoisseur’s gem of the highest order and will be a standout addition unlike any other to any collection of the finest craft spirits.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

In celebration of International Polar Bear Day on Sunday 27 February, we’re encouraging members to expand their flavour horizons by comparing contrasting characters.

If you love our Sweet, Fruity and Mellow flavour try our Lightly Peated profile as a polar opposite, where you will discover notes of garden bonfires, incense and vintage cars as well as smoked salmon, sea breeze and a dentist’s waiting room.

Or if you are feeling brave, go Peated where you can expect herbal notes and medicinal and maritime marvel!

BUY LIGHTLY PEATED WHISKIES

BUY SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW WHISKIES

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

Lady of the Glen New Releases

The Independent Bottler is perhaps the most diverse and interesting way of discovering more about whisky. Always evolving and always unique, these limited edition whiskies, often comprised of just a single cask, are specially selected due to their outstanding flavour. We are delighted that Lady of the Glen are a regular feature on our shelves, and cannot wait to see your thoughts on the latest release.

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show. This week I’ll be taking a look at some new releases from Hannah Whisky Merchants in their Lady of the Glen range.

https://youtu.be/Lo4Zru2tfU8

Talnua Distillery Releases Exclusive Anniversary Edition Whiskey

Talnua Distillery continues their tradition of releasing a unique version of Olde Saint’s Keep on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their anniversary and the holiday. The name “Olde Saint’s Keep” pays homage to the legend of Gaelic monks who kept the most special aqua vitae made at the monastery to share with their most esteemed guests.

Talnua Distillery’s 2022 Olde Saint’s Keep release is an American single pot still whiskey, triple distilled from a mash of 50% unmalted barley and 50% malted barley.  The whiskey was first aged in former bourbon and port casks, then the two were married and finished for 10 months in rare Pineau des Charantes Casks from Southwest France.

Tasting notes overview: A lively blend of candied oranges, mixed berry cobbler, and creamy marzipan on the nose compliment the stone fruit and dried cherry palate, made richer and more complex with accents of pecan and leather. The unique French barrel used to complete the aging process gives undertones of white pepper and malted milk balls with the toasted oak finish.

Talnua is releasing Olde Saint’s Keep at 100 proof on March 18th. Fewer than 1,000 bottles are available, so make sure to get your hands on one! Proof it’s special stuff? Our 2021 release just won Best American Pot Still Whiskey in the World Whiskies Awards!

About Talnua Distillery

Talnua Distillery is an artisanal small-batch distillery that proudly hand crafts each of our spirits. Established in 2017, we embarked on a mission to define a new chapter in history with the introduction of our American Single Pot Still Whiskey.

True to Gaelic-style distilling, and unique to the new world, our spirits are produced using a mashbill of un-malted and malted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills. Located on the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the altitude, changing seasons, crystal clear mountain spring water, and local barley all lend a uniquely American terroir to our products.

Talnua’s founders, Meagan and Patrick Miller, fell in love with Single Pot Still Irish whiskey on their honeymoon in Ireland more than a decade ago. With family history rooted in Irish ancestry, the couple returned to Ireland every year and knew that single pot still whiskey would forever be a part of their story.  Before starting Talnua, Single Pot Still Whiskey was not available in the US, so they created the first Single Pot Still distillery outside of Ireland.

Talnua is born of the Irish-Gaelic words ‘Talamh’, meaning ‘Land’, and ‘Nua’, meaning ‘New.’ It speaks to our passion for bringing an old-world style of distilling to the new land. Our sigil shows the Big Horn Ram, native to the Flatirons of Colorado’s Front Range. It is looking back on a triskele moon, which represents the Irish-Gaelic old world – home to the distilling traditions we honor. For more information about Talnua Distillery, visit www.talnua.com

For the die-hard Bourbon drinkers or those looking to dip their toes into the world of America’s classic spirit, we have a range you certainly can’t miss – Four Roses American Whiskey.

Part of the fascination surrounding this historic Kentucky distiller is the one-of-a-kind process used to make its ever-popular range of bourbons. Four Roses combines five yeast strains with two separate mashbills (grain recipes using non-GMO corn) to produce ten distinct Bourbon recipes.

In each recipe, the different yeast strains used create unique flavour characteristics, from rich fruit to soft spice, while the mashbills contain different amounts of rye – up to 35% of the recipe, much higher than for most other bourbons – adding the grain’s signature spiciness.

The different combinations are blended to make up the various expressions, with only one recipe hand selected for Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon, all ten combined for the original Four Roses Bourbon, four used in both Small Batch and six in Small Batch Select. These smooth, award-winning Bourbons are making waves around the world and are delicious poured neat or in the finest of cocktails.

SHOP FOUR ROSES

Join us at Arniston House?

With places available throughout the year on our prestigious in-person diploma courses, you can pursue your passion and indulge your interest in whisky, while accumulating professional skills with piles of potential to set you up for success.

Whether your goal is to change careers, upskill or to simply get more enjoyment from your favourite drams, the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky and the Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky provide access to expert practitioners across modular self-study and high quality in-person teaching.

VIEW DATES

New Learning Platform

We’re pleased to announce the successful launch of our new and improved online learning platform. All candidates can now enjoy unlimited access to all online course material, so you can revisit anything you’ve studied as you wish beyond 180 days. We’re also working to make more downloadable PDF summaries available for the Certificate and Diploma courses, so you can take your learning offline.

VIEW COURSES

From Diploma to Director of Dál Riata Distillery

We’re delighted to see EWA alumni Ronnie Grant as one of three directors behind exciting plans submitted to local authority chiefs for the new Dál Riata Distillery in Campbeltown. Ronnie achieved our Diploma in Single Malt Whisky in March 2020, shortly before national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were introduced. He said: “After doing the whisky course, it really did give me the confidence to do something in the whisky industry.” 

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Edinburgh Whisky Academy
15 Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan
FK9 4ET
United Kingdom

South Star Spirits

https://youtu.be/mMiD28yDCE0

This week, John Drinks was kind enough to have me help in dissecting the differences between the new Ben Nevis 10YO and the older and much more illusive bottling.

Needless to say that the contrast of the two is a chasm in comparison to a few small discrepancies of house style. It’s a real shame that those older Nevis bottles weren’t regularly available as they would’ve really cemented their place as one of the most unusual spirits in all of Scotland.

Cheers!