GLENALLACHIE ROLLS OUT

THIRD BATCH OF 21-YEAR-OLD

The celebrated Speyside distillery introduces Batch Three of

its revered aged cask strength single malt

After a year of 50^th anniversary celebrations for its veteran Master Distiller, Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery today launches a third iteration of one of its oldest core range expressions: The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 3 Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Batch 3 (UK RRSP £275), a very limited global release of 2,400 bottles, follows in the footsteps of highly sought-after previous instalments of the annual expression.

The new ultra-premium small-batch Scotch whisky marries single malt matured in three vintage Pedro Ximénez Sherry puncheons.

Each cask was personally selected and expertly blended by industry leader, Walker, who over the course of his 50-year-long career has earnt recognition for demonstrating exceptional wood management capabilities and peerless sensory instinctiveness.

Chosen from the Speyside-based distillery’s enviable inventory of over 50,000 casks held on-site, the Spanish Sherry casks have imparted bold and complex flavour attributes, joining the distinctive heather honey character of The GlenAllachie’s house style.

The antique walnut-hued liquid is said to deliver refined qualities of “black grapes, fresh espresso, brandy butter and stem ginger, leading to indulgent dark chocolate fondant”.

Encased in a luxurious suedette-lined pine green box with gold foil detailing, the whisky was bottled at its natural cask strength of 51.5% ABV, with no added colour and without undergoing chill filtration.

Commenting on this latest launch, Walker said:

“Whisky is a waiting game, and after years of careful planning, I never tire of the anticipation; it’s pure excitement. Each and every cask at the distillery is regularly monitored to ensure we bottle the very best whisky available for each expression. This is what led me to pick these three richly seasoned Sherry puncheons to create this new batch of our 21-year-old. The outcome is a multifaceted drinking experience that exudes sheer elegance. A whisky that I will sip and savour at the end of this milestone year.”

The launch coincides with the release of the next batch of The GlenAllachie’s multi-award-winning 10-year-old Cask Strength offering: Batch 8 (UK RRSP £65). Presented at a punchy 57.2% ABV, the spirit boasts “intense waves of cinnamon spice, comforting mocha, honeycomb and candied walnuts”.

Both The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 3 (UK RRSP £275) and 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 8 (UK RRSP £65) will become increasingly available over the coming weeks from specialist retailers worldwide.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4million to around 800,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 3 – 51.5% ABV

• Colour: Intense Walnut.
• Nose: Waves of black grapes, raisins and dark chocolate orange, with hints of coffee, stewed fruits and treacle syrup.

• Taste: Lashings of heather honey, cocoa dusted truffles and sultanas, followed by bursts of espresso coffee, mixed currants and brandy butter, with gingersnaps on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 8 – 57.2% ABV

• Colour: Intensely Rich Mahogany.
• Nose: Bursting with mocha, nutmeg and walnut oil, with notes of heather honey, sweet raisins and dried red berries.

• Taste: Lashings of cinnamon spice, molasses and honeycomb, followed by ginger, espresso and dark chocolate, with hints of nutmeg and fennel on the finish.

Bruichladdich “Black Art – Edition 10.1” 29 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $649.99 View

Bruichladdich’s Black Art Series was created by Jim McEwan to highlight the blender’s hand in the craftsmanship of whisky. For a distillery that is perhaps the most transparent in Scotland with regards to recipes and blending, Black Art stands alone in the portfolio, shrouded in mystery. Today, the Black Art Series is stewarded by Bruichladdich Head Distiller Adam Hannett and only he knows what alchemy went into producing this 29 year old elixir. The few things we do know: It’s 29 years old. It’s Hannett’s sixth release, 10th in the series. It’s unpeated Islay single malt, matured entirely on Islay. It is bottled at cask strength – 45.1% ABV and non-chillfiltered and coloring free. Oh – and every release so far as tasted incredible – 10.1 of course, is no different.

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

Some relaxed news

We can hardly believe it’s already been six weeks since Maltstock! We’re still enjoying all the feedback since it was very positive indeed. It was great to see so many relaxed happy people. Your appreciation was also shown by the record number of early bird tickets sold. Amazing!

If you have ideas on how we can further improve, please do send us your feedback.

On our Facebook page you can find some very relaxed photos taken by Rolf, The Whisky-Photographer. And we would love to see yours as well, so please post them!

A big thank you to all our speakers and sponsors for making this edition possible and successful. What a fantastic masterclasses and “Drink with sessions” we enjoyed. And the Saturday evening story telling was (un)believable!

Maltstock 2023

Next year we will be back at our regular venue in Overasselt! Although we were very happy that we found a suitable venue this year, nothing beats the relaxed atmosphere of “het Buitencentrum”. The Ukrainian refugees will be relocated the coming months. Hopefully to more suitable accommodation. So business as usual again next year!

As mentioned we have sold a record number of early Bird tickets. But fear not, we still have tickets available. So you can still come and join the relaxed fun. Simply get your ticket here: https://www.maltstock.com/shop

Festivals

Twp weeks ago we were at the always so relaxed WhiskyBase festival. What amazing show these guys put up. It really is such a relaxed festival. Do check their website for next years tickets, because you should not miss it (we recommend the Sunday, even more relaxed)! Big thank you as well to Jürgen and Steven for their very relaxed assistance.

The next festival where you’ll find us is The Hague, 18-20 November. Always great to see so many old and new relaxed friends there. Stop by at our stand for a relaxed dram. The team will be there, together with some of our volunteers and you can even chat to some of our Maltstock visitors! Very happy to have Silvia and Dominique present to tell you about Maltstock from a visitor perspective. And a few people from our team are also still hosting the whisky trails.

Hope you have a wonderfully relaxed weekend!

Bob, Klaas, Stan and Teun

High N’ Wicked 19 Year Old “Saints And Scholars” Barrel #4335 Single Malt Irish Whiskey (750ml)

This is an exclusive pre-sale opportunity for one of the most coveted Irish Whiskey releases we will see this year. This barrel is one of five barrels being released by High N’ Wicked this year and is available before it hits wider distribution exclusively from K&L. These barrels aren’t just any old Irish single malt barrels though – they come from Noel Sweeney’s personal collection. Noel Sweeney is the veteran Master Blender and Distillery from Cooley Distillery for over 30 years and one of the most awarded distillers in the world. Throughout his tenure, as many distillers do, he socked away a retirement fund of sorts, the very best casks made under his watch. Today, in conjunction with the High N’ Wicked brand founded by former Brown Forman execs W.L. Lyons Brown, and Kevin E. Sachs, Noel Sweeney is releasing these barrels under their Saints and Scholars label. Undoubtedly the barrels from Noel’s collection will go down as some of the finest casks of single malt ever produced.

$499.99

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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

TOP 10 WHISKIES
FOR NOVEMBER

Whether you’re hoping to find your next dram or keeping an eye out for giftworthy bottles, our favourite whiskies this month are a great place to start. Discover sophisticated Speysiders from the likes of Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, an ever-popular sherry monster from Glendronach, and an Amoroso sherry cask-matured Talisker for fans of smoky, maritime malts balanced by rich and fruity sweetness.

TOP 10 WHISKIES 

With only around SIX weeks to Christmas we’re starting to feel our festive spirits rising. You’ll start to notice that more and more over the coming weeks. Winter really is when our whisky comes alive and we try and make it a magical time for our members with exceptional bottlings, offers and get-togethers.

THIS WEEK we’ve added some new additions to our Christmas Collection, festive flavours at an extra-special price. We’re also welcoming back our Happy Hamper, our portable kit with all the accessories you need to host your own festive frolics. And of course, time is ticking to grab this year’s 2023 Advent Calendar, discover more over on our website OR keep on scrolling for details.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

DON’T MISS THE 2022 ADVENT CALENDAR

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 Good Dram Show – Episode 488 ‘Peated Malt Whisky’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. As the nights draw in and the days grow shorter ones thoughts turn to a bit of peat! So, I’m going to review some peat!

THE OXFORD ARTISAN DISTILLERY RELEASE SINGLE CASK RYE WHISKY

8th November, 2022, Oxford UK, The Oxford Artisan Distillery have launched their latest batch of Oxford Rye Whisky, which will be exclusively made available through specialist retailer, Master of Malt and Master of Malt Trade.

Oxford Rye Whisky, The Tawny Pipe, is finished in a single 30-year-old Tawny Port Pipe. The oldest whisky to be bottled by the distillery so far, it is fragrant and velvety with a combination of sweet and savoury notes, showing a deep interaction between the distillery’s sustainably-farmed heritage grains and the exceptional single port cask.

All previous batches of Oxford Rye Whisky were produced from heritage grain harvested in 2017, the year the distillery first went in to production. This latest batch represents the last grain harvest of that year, grown on a single farm, in Sandy Lane, Oxford.

With a mash bill consisting, 90% Maslin and 10% Malted Barley (Maslin being a mixed crop of Rye and Wheat – giving a ratio of 70: 20: 10 Rye, Wheat and Barley), and fermentation undertaken in oak vats before being double distilled, the liquid spent one and half years in New American Oak, before being transferred to a single Tawny Port Pipe (cask #114) for two years and nine months. The former port cask had previously spent 30 years in the port industry.

Master Distiller, Francisco Rosa comments: “Through a long standing relationship with Portuguese coopers and winemakers, I was very lucky to be able to obtain a cask of this age and quality. Tawny Pipes are the oldest casks being used in Port, so the wine has had decades to soak deep into the wood and leave its character; they are full of big oxidised sweet Port flavours.”

With limited space, the distillery are not able to mature all of their casks at one time on site, however, this batch of whisky has been fully matured in the stillhouse, exposed to the variations in Oxford’s climate.

Rosa comments: “We only have around 40 casks on site all the time as we are one of the tiniest whisky distilleries. The casks are literally stacked by the stills, fermenters and mash tun, they are exposed to the day-to-day life of the distillery and its environment. The door is always open during working hours, so the ‘place factor’ is enhanced.”

The velvety character of the Tawny port perfectly complements the nuttiness of the rye, uplifting the classic sweet and savoury notes with rich pudding flavours of crème brulée, raspberries, treacle and prunes.

Oxford Rye Whisky is a celebration of farmers letting nature work its magic in a healthy field, regenerating the land, and supporting biodiversity with every harvest.

Oxford Rye Whisky, The Tawny Pipe is bottled at 56% ABV and priced at RRP of £95.00. From 8th November, 2022, 587 bottles will be made exclusively available through Master of Malt and Master of Malt Trade.

www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com

Tasting Notes for Oxford Rye Whisky, The Tawny Pipe (Batch #009),

Aroma: Fruity character from refreshing grapefruit, raspberry and prunes, sweet notes of banana split, cereal, muscovado sugar and vanilla with a hint of fennel, hazelnut and cinnamon.

Palate: Creamy texture like a creme brûlée with raisins, prunes and some spices.

Finish: Black and pink peppercorns play with mint and mango chutney.

Overall: With a deep interaction between fruits and grains, this a fragrant and treacle-y whisky with sweet and savoury vibes from our distillery.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery:

The distillery opened for business at its purpose-built site in Oxford on 27th July 2017.

It is Oxford’s first ever distillery and produces whisky with total provenance from grain to glass. The Oxford Artisan Distillery is rare amongst UK distilleries in producing its own spirit, rather than purchasing Grain Neutral Spirit (GNS) from other sources, using biodiverse populations of ‘heritage’ grains grown through a new approach to grain farming known as Restorative Continuous Grain Cropping (R-CGC). 

About Heritage Grain:

The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distillery to use genetically diverse populations of heritage grains – revived from historical sources by a leading archaeo-botanist and grown sustainably on over 350 acres, known as land races, both close to Oxford and on prestigious estates such as Highgrove and Sandringham. The distillery’s grain contributes to biodiversity and soil health in the English countryside. The grains are the result of John Lett’s lifelong research on heritage grains: John has spent a large part of his life sourcing and growing heritage grains together, as polycultures. John takes 30-100 varieties of grain, mixes them up, and grows them together in the same field, at the same time. These sustainable fields are similar to what you would have seen in medieval times – the grains are grown specifically for the distillery, making The Oxford Artisan Distillery the only distillery in the world with a license to use John’s grains, grown exclusively for flavour and not yield.

Macallan Ballot coming soon!

This seasonal limited edition from The Macallan pays tribute to the world-famous Scottish celebration of Hogmanay – or New Year’s Eve to those from farther afield! This release is a collaboration with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose artwork has featured in the visually striking cinema of Wes Anderson.

If you fancy a chance at getting a bottle then sign up below for all the upcoming info you’ll need to enter our ballot!

Sign up for Ballot Information →

Looking for a unique Christmas gift? You can’t get these whiskies anywhere else

Our exclusives range contains some very special whiskies, selected by us exclusively for our customers. They are usually single casks, but are definitely always limited. Spot a distillery that a loved one enjoys below, and experience the uniqueness of that one-off dram which you won’t find anywhere else!

View TWS Exclusives →
Discover Christmas at The Whisky Shop →