The Whisky Exchange

25 Spirits for 25 Days

Discover a gloriously diverse mix of great whiskies, spirits and liqueurs from across the globe with our brand new advent calendar, designed to give you a tour through some familiar favourites as well as drinks you might never have tried. It features twenty four spirits and an extra special 25th bottle for Christmas Day.

£175

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Single Malts of Scotland

Drams from 25 Distilleries

Explore the full spectrum of single malt Scotch whisky with single-cask bottlings from twenty-five of Scotland’s finest distilleries, ranging in age from seven to 31 years. Among them are whiskies from Islay’s famous Laphroaig, celebrated highlander Clynelish and lost Speysider Imperial.

£250

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Kentucky Owl Batch #12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $349.99 View

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 469: Four Macallan in a Row

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tastes no less than four Macallan in a row: Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, Macallan A Night on Earth in Scotland, Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao and Macallan Estate. And guess what… Mark comes to the conclusion that the classic 12 on sherry remains the quintessential Macallan indeed!

https://youtu.be/7kmf0yOC7Kw

Heaven Hill names Matt Blevins Chief Marketing Officer

Blevins brings 20+ years of global industry experience and leadership

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 29, 2022) – Heaven Hill today announced the appointment of Matt Blevins as Chief Marketing Officer. Effective October 24, Blevins will assume the role previously held by now Co-President Kate Latts. A 20-year global spirits industry leader, Blevins’ demonstrated expertise in business growth, brand marketing, and team development will continue to elevate Heaven Hill’s strategic growth plan and diverse, award-winning portfolio of brands.

Blevins is a proven marketing leader in the industry, guiding global, historic brands to achieve distinct positioning, creative innovation, and long-term value growth. With almost 20 years on the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey portfolio, Blevins’ experience growing an inspiring portfolio of brands includes leading the brand as it became the most valuable global spirits trademark in 2021. With a people-first leadership style, Blevins delivers both demonstrated business results and thoughtful team development.

“Matt’s passion and dedication to his teams, as well as his brands, is evident throughout his successful career. He leads by example and grows teams who deliver consistent results,” said Kate Latts, Heaven Hill Co-President. “We are excited to continue to build our strong, innovative leadership team by adding Matt’s unique skill set to further our accelerated growth. I’m excited to work collaboratively with Matt to continue the enduring legacy of our brands.”

Before joining Brown-Forman in 2005, Blevins held business analyst roles across numerous retail and consumer package goods brands. After serving in senior roles across the Jack Daniel’s brand, Blevins most recently served as Vice President, Global Brand Director Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. He oversaw many aspects of global brand marketing from positioning, packaging, pricing, and promotion. By leading external agencies and a significant global community of marketers, Blevins created impact and influence across key areas to drive long-term success.

“I could not be more excited to join Heaven Hill at this important phase in the company’s growth journey. Heaven Hill’s portfolio of brands offers a wide range of consumer connections across beverage alcohol occasions with authentic stories, quality products, and family ownership that is invested in the long term,” said Blevins. “The Heaven Hill team is clearly passionate about their business and brands, and I look forward to partnering with them on all the exciting initiatives in the near and long term.”

Blevins resides in Louisville, Ky. with his wife Catherine and two children. He has a B.S. in Economics from Centre College where he was a Division III athlete on their basketball team and now serves on the President’s Alumni Council. Blevins also has a Masters of Applied Economics from University of Cincinnati. Blevins is passionate about many nonprofit causes in the community including Fund for the Arts, Urban League, and Kentucky Cancer Link.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the newly acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio.

October 2022 Auction  // 28 October – 7 November

Now Live: October 2022 Auction

A warm welcome to our October Auction. Featuring over 10,500 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 expressions from Islay icon Bowmore – including the 1964 Samaroli for Osteria Apostoli bottling offered for the first time at Whisky Auctioneer, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection highlights including a selection of inaugural releases, a diverse offering of Glenraclas with the very first SMWS bottling a particular highlight, and a single lot collection of The Macallan Folio series 1-6.

The Bowmore Vaults Series Final Edition – 1969 50 Year Old

A Trio of Iconic Samaroli Osteria Apostoli Bottlings

The Very First SMWS Release – Glenfarclas 1975 1.1

An Autumn Unveiling – Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Highlights

One of just 36 – Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask

Bid on over 10,500 bottles now.

NEW WHISKY RELEASES for Holiday Tables, Cocktails + Gifting

BOURBON

Hardin’s Creek, crafted at the James B. Beam Distilling Co is a new brand that charts the ongoing story of the Beam family legacy, one that is more than 227 years in the making, through these highly limited and rare releases. Hardin’s Creek is the next generation of boundary-pushing, premium American Whiskey inspired by the expertise of seven generations of Beam Master Distillers.

• Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $149.99), is a thoughtful blend of two ultra-aged expressions: one 16-year-old-traditional bourbon and one 15-year-old high-rye bourbon blended to achieve a depth of flavor unlike any other in Beam history. Freddie Noe distilled it using precious barrels laid down years ago by other hands, which he then intuitively hand-selected, blending together centuries of expertise with a vision for the future.

• Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $79.99), is an homage to Colonel James B. Beam aka Jim Beam, who got the Clermont distillery up and running in just 120 days post-prohibition. In honor of that legacy, Colonel James B. Beam was crafted taking a page out of his signature style. The limited-edition, two-year-old whiskey achieves a depth of flavor usually reserved for more mature bourbons by taking it off the still at a lower distillation proof, imparting more flavor from the fermentation process and letting the barrel’s characteristics shine through at a younger age.

JAPANESE WHISKY

For more than three generations, the master blenders at the House of Suntory, the Founding House of Japanese Whisky, have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship to produce the legendary Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki whiskies.

• Just launched in October, Hibiki Blossom Harmony Limited Edition (SRP: $160.00) blended whisky features whiskies finished in Sakura casks. Sakura Blossom season in early spring has always been an occasion for celebration in Japan, with many gathering around the beautiful flowering Sakura trees that inspire the Japanese to appreciate life as it blooms. Hibiki Blossom Harmony blends a rare selection of whiskies finished in Sakura wood casks with diverse matured malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries.

• Hibiki 30 Year Old (SRP: $5,000.00) was first released in 1997 as a rare, limited edition. It is the paragon of the Hibiki brand and the art of Japanese craftsmanship. For the first time, this exquisite bottle will be available in the U.S. as of October. Hibiki 30 features a select blend of Yamazaki® malt whiskies that are 30 years and older from Suntory’s treasured historic collection, with mild grain whiskies that have also matured at least 30 years. With a mere few thousand bottles produced each year, each is bottled by hand. This luxurious liquor has received accolades and awards from whisky connoisseurs around the world and it represents the pinnacle of whisky making at Suntory. 

• With the launch of the 2022 Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection, the House of Suntory unveils a fundamental piece of its unrivaled craftsmanship and introduces the foundational pillars of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky – Puncheon, Peated Malt, Spanish Oak and Mizunara. The collection honors Tsukuriwake, which means “artisanship through a diversity of making” and is embraced by the Founding House of Japanese Whisky.

• • The Puncheon is considered as the “heart” of what makes Yamazaki Single Malt, Yamazaki. The Yamazaki Puncheon Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected malts aged exclusively in puncheons crafted by Suntory artisans from hand selected American oak.

• • The Peated Malt is considered the “hidden accent” giving Yamazaki its complexity and lingering finish. The Yamazaki Peated Malt (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected heavily peated malted barley that is masterfully blended to create the quintessential Yamazaki Peated Malt that is gentle and refined.

• • The Spanish Oak is considered as the depth-enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential multi-layered full flavor with mature fruity notes. The Yamazaki Spanish Oak (SRP: $450.00) is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies matured in the highest quality oak casks originating from Northern Spain.

• • Mizunara is a species of oak native to Japan and is considered the signature enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential Japanese character and elegance. Whiskies which undergo a long maturation in Mizunara casks take on a distinctive Japanese spiciness and incense-like flavor of sandalwood and agarwood. The Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt Whisky (SRP: $620.00) is comprised of meticulously selected long-matured malt whiskies showcasing the rare, distinctive beauty of the hand crafted Mizunara casks.

SCOTCH

Made at the first distillery on Islay since 1779, Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is known as one of the most balanced Islay whiskies, which are often thought to be the smokiest Scotch whiskies in the world.

• Released earlier this year, Bowmore Masters’ Selection (SRP: $400.00) is a collaboration between Bowmore and Aston Martin, imagined and defined by two Masters, Bowmore Master Whisky Blender Ron Welsh and Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. This whisky marks the first time Bowmore has adopted the “Golden Ratio” principle – the mathematical ratio found in nature that creates aesthetically pleasing compositions – which sits at the heart of the design of every Aston Martin. Taking inspiration from an engineered approach, Masters’ Selection incorporates the divine proportion of 61.8% formed from a base of 21 year old Bowmore matured in first fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. The remaining parts are made up of exact ratios of each other, in line with the Golden Ratio theory, and include exceptionally aged Bowmore matured for over 35 years.

• Bowmore ARC-52 (SRP: $75,000.00), the most recent release in the storied partnership between Bowmore and Aston Martin, is sold in a cutting edge, strikingly futuristic and inspiring decanter – an appropriate homage to the oldest and rarest release to date from the two luxury brands. Just 100 decanters of Bowmore ARC-52 exist in the world, representing a highly exclusive, limited release and the height of achievement in collaborative bottle design. At its heart, ARC-52 is a celebration of how Bowmore and Aston Martin champion constant evolution and ingenuity to provoke, inspire and excite appreciators of true luxury. Available in select markets.

LOVE WHISKY? JOIN THE CLUB! LONDON IS GETTING A NEW WHISKY CLUB

Bill Shearer, brand ambassador for Bruichladdich

Whisky lovers are celebrating with the launch of southwest London’s first whisky club.

From Thursday night 10 November, whisky fans can meet monthly at The Greyhound pub on beautiful Kew Green to sample some top drops and trade tasting notes, and meet the makers.

The club kicks off with special guest, Bill Shearer, brand ambassador from the innovative Islay distillery, Bruichladdich.

Bill Shearer, brand ambassador for Bruichladdich

London whisky influencer Don Howarth (AKA The Whisky Don) says the club is a ‘fun way to explore the world of whisky’ with tasting treats planned from the big name brands and indie distilleries alongside new wave whiskies to watch from Scotland and beyond. ‘Plus a couple of distillers might bring a bottle of something really special to try only at the club, he said.

Mr Howarth said that whether you’re a dram dabbler or a collector, everyone who likes to drink the water of life is welcome, ‘No smoking jacket required!’ he said.

He set up the club following the huge number of requests he was getting for private events in people’s homes. ‘I’ve been absolutely blown away by the number of people I’ve met who said they loved drinking whisky and they wanted to learn more about it.’

‘But it’s not all about the casks and water. How much you enjoy your whisky can be all about who you’re sharing it with,’ Mr Howarth said.

He said the groups had got ‘too big for the living room’ so it was time to move the meetings to the pub ‘where we can continue to grow.’

‘There are already clubs in north and east London but it’s time for the dram fans from southwest London to share the whisky love,’ he said.  https://www.thewhiskydon.com/

Our October auction ENDS SOON!

Place your bids until Sunday 30^th October.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Bowmore – ‘Black Bowmore’ (1964) Aston Martin DB5

Ardbeg – Double Barrel (Single Cask #3160 + #3528)

Macallan – 31 Year Old (1989) Mizunara

Mortlach – 63 Year Old (1951)

Karuizawa – 50 Year Old (1965)

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.co.uk

Co-founders Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day first met in 2013 and formed R&B Distillers with the common goal of building Scotland’s leading artisanal distiller. Focusing on local production, provenance, quality and doing things differently.

By 2015, they had identified the Isle of Raasay as providing the ingredients for the perfect dram, and planning permission to begin work revitalizing the Isle of Raasay’s nineteenth century Borodale House into a state-of-the-art distillery, visitor center, and luxury accommodation was granted in 2016.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper, they set about designing a distillery to create exceptional whisky that develops elegance, complexity, and depth early on in the maturation process and a handcrafted Hebridean gin that encapsulates Raasay’s style, character and impressive geological variety.

On the 31st of October we will be taking you through a journey of Single Cask Sample from the Raasay Distillery and the line-up will be the below:

Unpeated Ex-Rye Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Unpeated Chinkapin Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Unpeated Ex-Bordeaux Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Ex-Rye Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Chinkapin Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength
Peated Ex-Bordeaux Single Cask Sample – Cask Strength

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Last chance to shop October Malts of The Month!

Specially curated by our team, showcasing autumnal flavours. Perfect for sipping slowly, cosied up by the fire.

Use code MOMOCT at the checkout to get £5/€5 off your order. Offer ends Monday 31st of October at midnight. Applies to online orders only.

Use the links below to access the shop relevant to you.

UK OCTOBER MALT OF THE MONTH: CHERRY BAKEWELL TART

This is the Cherry Bakewell Tart, which is a 22 year old Glen Keith single malt matured in sherry butt. Expect a malt with a tart like fruitiness, a mild peppery spice and soft vanilla notes. Sweet red berry with ripe cherry and raspberry cordial. Fluffy sponge cake and brioche. The palate is spicy with a mild pepperiness.

SHOP UK MALT OF THE MONTH

EU MALT OF THE MONTH: PATCHOULI & SANDALWOOD

This 31 year old Glenrothes matured in sherry butt has developed the complex and deep flavours of cherry, currants and ginger cake. Earthy and antique aromas develop over several minutes in the glass like a patchouli and sandalwood oil.

There are layers of complex flavours that shift, develop and evolve with every new taste. Orange oil, stewed red berry fruits, sweetened rye bread, caraway, heather and rich wood influences.

SHOP EU MALT OF THE MONTH