The Loch Fyne
The Living Cask Batch 12
Using some Batch 11 as the base this latest Batch 12 is comprised of whiskies from Linkwood, Mortlach and Ben Nevis. The Linkwood and Mortlach elements have been finished in Muscatel wine casks to add scrumptious sweet complexity.
ralfy review 947 – Edradour 12yo single cask 100 @57.4%vol:
ABERFELDY® ANNOUNCES TWO NEW EDITIONS TO ITS RED WINE CASK COLLECTION
27th September, 2022 – John Dewar & Sons announces the latest limited expressions to come from ABERFELDY’s Red Wine Cask Collection.
For this year’s annual release ABERFELDY is releasing two expressions; ABERFELDY 15 Years Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley, and ABERFELDY 18 Years Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri, available in selected markets.
The ABERFELDY Limited Edition series is crafted by Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod. Being highly accomplished in the sensory analyses of whisky, this collection was born through Stephanie’s inherent passion for maturation and flavour development. Inspired by her adoration of fine wine, Stephanie began the exploration of how flavours from red wine casks interact with and elevate Aberfeldy’s aged malt. Painstakingly nosing each cask to monitor maturation and flavour development within the Aberfeldy inventory, the use of Stephanie’s sensory skills ensures that every whisky has been expertly finished, is flavoursome, balanced, and brimming with distillery character.
The first Single Malt in the collection was launched in 2019. Finished in Pomerol wine casks, the inaugural expression started Aberfeldy’s journey into French red wine; and the four subsequent bottlings further explored the famous reds of the esteemed Bordeaux and Rhone wine appellations. Evolving to include red wines from further afield, the newest bottlings to be released widen the collection’s offering to encompass cask finishes from both an Old World wine and a New World wine.
Stephanie has chosen to finish a 15-year-old Aberfeldy with a Californian red from the famed Napa Valley, alongside an 18-year-old finished with a Tuscan red from Bolgheri, the birthplace of the first Super Tuscan wine.
ABERFELDY 15 Years Old Limited Edition is first matured in a combination of refill casks, and then finished in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Barriques, sourced from the world-famous Napa Valley, California’s best known wine-producing region.
ABERFELDY 18 Years Old Limited Edition is first matured in a combination of refill casks, and then finished in ex-Tuscan Red Wine Barriques, sourced from Bolgheri in Italy. This Italian wine producing region of Tuscany is best known for Chianti, but Bolgheri, a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation, boasts being the birthplace of the first Super Tuscan wine, made with a Cabernet Sauvignon base.
Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod comments: “Aberfeldy with a Napa red wine finish delights with fragrant notes of raspberry jam, parma violets, then cinnamon and freshly ground coffee beans, all alongside the signature honeyed profile. It’s a rare, complex dram to savour.”
Adding: “The 18-year-old edition is showing exactly the kind of depth and interest I’m aiming for when finishing in Tuscan red wine casks of this quality. On the palate there’s more fruit and almond, and also delightful hints of sliced green pepper and lime which mingles with Aberfeldy’s citrus and honey notes. Beautiful soft oak rounds out this complex and deeply satisfying dram. It’d be ideal with dessert.”
Stephanie and Global Brand Ambassador, Matthew Cordiner will host a Facebook live event on 6th October at 7pm, in which they will introduce the two newest editions to the Red Wine Cask Collection in an online tasting, via the Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DewarsAberfeldyDistillery
ABERFELDY 15 Years Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley is bottled at 43% ABV and has a RRP of: £55, €59, $79.99 USD. The expression will be available in limited runs, initially from the distillery’s online shop, www.shop.dewars.com from 27th September, and then will roll out in the following main markets: UK, France, Germany and USA.
ABERFELDY 18 Years Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri is bottled at 43% ABV and has a RRP of: £95 / €99 / $120 USD. The expression will also be available in limited runs, initially from the distillery’s online shop, www.shop.dewars.com from 27th September, and then will roll out in the following main markets: UK, India, Taiwan, China, USA, France and Germany.
About ABERFELDY Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABERFELDY distillery was founded in 1898 by the dynamic Dewar brothers, John Alexander and Tommy. They built on a site just a stone’s throw from the birthplace of their father, the pioneering blender John Dewar.
Alongside the distillery, and known to contain deposits of alluvial gold, flows the Pitilie Burn; the perfect water source for the Golden Dram. While inside, time-honoured techniques like long fermentation, which conjures rare honeyed notes, safeguard the whisky’s flavour profile, renowned for its rich, sweet, smooth taste.
The brand’s core portfolio is comprised of ABERFELDY 12 Years Old, ABERFELDY 16 Years and ABERFELDY 21 Years Old.
The single malt brand of ABERFELDY is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.
ABERFELDY’S Red Wine Cask Collection
Aberfeldy’s French Red Wine Cask Collection launched in 2019 with the first release of Aberfeldy 15 Year Old, finished in Pomerol casks from Bordeaux, the second release in 2020 was an 18 Year Old expression finished in Pauillac casks, also from Bordeaux. For the third bottling introduced in 2021, Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod chose a robust yet elegant wine from Côte Rôtie. The newest bottlings in the series expand the collection’s offering with Aberfeldy 15 Year Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley and Aberfeldy 18 Year Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri.
ENJOY ABERFELDY RESPONSIBLY ©2022 ABERFELDY IS A TRADEMARK
ImpEx Beverages Announces the release of Edition Two of their Independent Bottling line – The ImpEx Collection
October 1, 2022 – Sam Filmus and Chris Uhde of ImpEx Beverages announced today the release of The ImpEx Collection Edition Two. Following the success of Edition One, Edition Two features Scotch Whisky, World Whisky the brand fondly refers to as ‘Our Gems’.
When asked about Edition Two, Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages, said, “We were so pleased with the feedback we received from Edition One and we knew we had to keep that momentum going. This year we have some new exciting and very special World Whisky expressions, we continue to find beautiful Scotches to share. We look forward to bringing a new selection from Japan in Edition Three. Our passion for what we do and the love we have for this industry shines through with each new expression we bring and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do”
The ImpEx Collection is inclusive and inviting, welcoming people to branch out beyond what they’re familiar with and try something new. These bottles are meant to be shared, whether for special occasions or simply among friends. Production size is always small, because spirits this special are always rare. Once they’re consumed, they live on only in memory.
SCOTCH WHISKY:
The ImpEx Collection 13 yo 2008 Ardmore Cask #5943 (Refill Bourbon Barrel)
The ImpEx Collection 6 yo 2016 Ardnamurchan Cask #86P (1st Fill Oloroso Spanish Oak)
The ImpEx Collection 23 yo 1998 Auchentoshan Cask #100984 (Refill Bourbon Barrel)
The ImpEx Collection 10 yo 2011 Auchroisk Cask #806214 (Hogshead)
The ImpEx Collection 11 yo 2010 Tormore Cask #800985 (Refill Bourbon Barrel)
WORLD WHISKY:
The ImpEx Collection 3 yo 2018 M&H Cask #2018-1069 (Muscat Wine Cask)
The ImpEx Collection 5 yo 2017 Penderyn Cask #138/2017 (Blandy’s ex-Malvasia Madeira Cask)
About The ImpEx Collection
The ImpEx Collection is a labor of love derived from the heart of Sam Filmus, President and Managing Director of ImpEx Beverages. He, along with his business partner Chris Uhde, has spent a great amount of time and passion selecting the casks that go into each bottle of The ImpEx Collection that you find on the shelf.
After over 40 years of combined industry experience, you can tell that each cask is unique and special, offering the best that different categories have to offer.
Whether you find yourself looking for a dram of rare and unique whisky you can be sure that each bottle of The ImpEx Collection will take your passion for a spirit to new heights.
The high expectations for quality and taste that Sam and Chris possess can be found in each sip of delicious juice. While we unveil the offerings from The ImpEx Collection, we hope you will find the taste and style that suits you best.
About ImpEx Beverages
In 2008, a new chapter began for Sam Filmus, after years in the business captaining JVS Imports. With ImpEx Beverages, his vision was to import premium and rare Spirits from around the world, with a special emphasis on the best of what Scotland has to offer.
In 2018, Chris Uhde joined Sam as his business partner in ImpEx Beverages and together they have expanded the portfolio and vision for ImpEx. Now, ImpEx boasts an impressive portfolio, including some of the most notable small to medium sized distilleries and independent bottlers.
ImpEx Beverages imports Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Mezcal from Scotland, Wales, Japan, Israel, Mexico, England, the Caribbean, and India with future anticipated additions from unexpected destinations. We also feature a fine line of Liqueurs and Cordials produced in the US.
Here we go again everyone, our 136th auction is now live with over 7000 special bottles to choose from. To save you some time we’ve highlighted a few fantastic bottles to whet your appetite.
Karuizawa 1967 Vintage Cask #6426 The Whisky Exchange 10 Years Online
Very, very rarely does this fabled bottling come to the market. Bottled for The Whisky Exchange to celebrate 10 years online, only 200 bottles were produced. The recipient of rave reviews from WhiskyFun and Whiskynotes, this sold out in a little over 24 hours back in 2009. Hard to imagine a similar release lasting for more than 24 seconds these days, so best get your best bid in early.
Springbank 1979 13 Year Old Single Cask for Sam’s Wine Warehouse 75cl
Next up is an unusual Springbank 1979 13 Year Old Single Cask for Sam’s Wines Wine Warehouse in Chicago. There’s nothing quite like a Springbank single cask for depth of flavour, and again this is not a bottle that comes up for auction often, if at all, so if this is one you’ve got your eye on then we expect you’ll have a fight on your hands to get hold of it this month.
Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Five of Clubs
Part of the legendary Malt Card series, this is the Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Five of Clubs. Dismantled in 2004, Hanyu’s legacy lives on thanks to Ichiro Akuto who purchased the remaining 400 casks and began releasing it in the Ichiro’s Malt card series. This marketing masterstroke featured a different playing card on the label, encouraging collectors to complete the full deck. This bottle is also signed by the great Ichiro Akuto himself.
Mortlach 30 Year Old Midnight Malt
Described by Diageo as “the pinnacle of the Mortlach portfolio” this rare Mortlach 30 Year Old Midnight Malt is a result of a bold and daring three cask finish. After aging for three decades the whisky was finished in a combination of Calvados, Bordeaux wine and Guatemalan rum casks giving it a distinct flavour profile while still retaining the signature meaty and savoury notes Mortlach fans have come to expect. One of only 350 bottles released this is a remarkable example of one of Speyside’s most highly rated malts.
As well as these high-end beauties we also have thousands more bottles to choose from, so rest assured there is something for everyone in the auction. Happy bidding everyone and best of luck in the auction!
Mossburn Aultmore 2009 12 Year Old TWS Exclusive
70cl 63.7% abv
We are excited to introduce a collection of four independent single cask releases from Mossburn which are exclusive to our customers at The Whisky Shop! This Aultmore expression was distilled in 2009 and matured for 12 years in a Cognac hogshead, limited to 342 bottles and at a cask strength of 63.7% abv. This dram is free from chill filtration and is left at natural colour.
Discover fragrant aromas of mango, citrus and vanilla leading to flavours of peaches, raisins and liquorice, finishing off with Manuka honey and juniper berries.
Glenturret 7 Year Old, 2022 Release
The beautiful, rugged surroundings of their distillery have inspired smoke-filled aromas and flavours found in The Glenturret 7 Years Old Peat Smoked. American oak sherry seasoned casks build the confectionery sweetness from the new make spirit whilst delicate refill casks deliver the abundant smoky notes. Akin to the comforting shelter from a warm highland bothy on the fresh Loch Turret hills, the whisky’s peated character heightens and amplifies from the outside in.
TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom
Big lover of Benromach and all the things they do. But I do have a bee in my bonnet about everyone’s obsession with ‘quality’ whiskies being atleast 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. It’s as if all whisky MUST have these boxes ticked in order to be judged and reviewed upon by the whisky overlords of YouTube and beyond. But not all whiskies that tick those boxes are objectively good, and that’s a fact.
This is an excellent whisky, as is the whole Benromach range. Being owned by Gordon and Macphail, it’s doubtful that the family begind G&M are sat in a boardroom, plotting and scheming about how annoyed people will be that there standard range isn’t 46% ABV.
On taste alone, Benromach 15YO is an outstanding product, from an excellent distillery and it provides something different from your typical and sometimes, very boring, Speysode whisky portfolio.
Benromach 15. It isn’t 46%…but is fucking wonderful.
THE LAST DROP DISTILLERS INTRODUCES
RELEASE NO. 28: DREW MAYVILLE’S SIGNATURE BLEND OF KENTUCKY STRAIGHT WHISKEYS
This unparalleled innovation reflects a lifetime of mastery from Sazerac’s Master Blender
LOUISVILLE, KY (September 22, 2022): The Last Drop Distillers of London continues its quest for curating and creating the world’s rarest and most remarkable spirits with the release of its second Signature Blend: Release No 28: The Last Drop Signature Blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys. Created by Sazerac Master Blender Drew Mayville, a founding member of The Last Drop Assembly’s panel of spirits industry experts, this bespoke spirit comprises a blend of vintage straight bourbon and rye whiskeys. Impossible to replicate, 1,458 bottles will be released worldwide and available in the U.S. as of October 2022 at a suggested retail price of $3,999 (750ml/121.4 proof).
Since becoming Sazerac’s Master Blender in 2004, Drew has cultivated a dream of creating an ultra-rare whiskey for the most discerning of connoisseurs. To achieve this, he began preserving extremely small quantities of his favorite whiskeys at Buffalo Trace Distillery to fulfil this vision. He was confident that using his lifetime of expertise, knowledge and his masterful palate, combined with the incredible liquids available to him, he could make a unique and unparalleled blend.
To bring his vision for The Last Drop to life Drew blended vintage whiskeys that he had been saving since he joined the Buffalo Trace Distillery team. He tasted more than 40 different vintage bourbon and rye whiskeys, creating multiple combinations of these spirits before arriving at the final masterpiece that bears his signature. Bottled at 121.4 proof, Drew left this high-proof blend uncut and unfiltered to maximize its flavor and complexity. The resulting liquid is a celebration of the art of blending, allowing the individual components to shine while creating a majestic whole that is truly remarkable and impossible to replicate. Drew uses the analogy of an orchestra to explain his intention:
“As a master blender, I wholeheartedly believe that one can take individual components that are already exceptional to create an extraordinarily-beautiful end product,” says Drew. “As with music, a clarinet can be beautiful in its own right. However, when you combine it with other instruments in an orchestra you create a symphony – a masterpiece. This blend fully epitomizes this notion, and it’s been a dream come true to create this truly one-of-a-kind spirit for my friends at The Last Drop.”
Drew’s Blend follows The Last Drop Distillers first Signature Blend: a 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky created by Master Blender Colin J.P. Scott. Released in July 2021, this was the brand’s first foray into the creation, as well as curation, of extraordinary spirits by the talented members of The Last Drop Assembly.
“It has been a wonderfully exciting experience to work with my friend, colleague and inspiration, Drew Mayville, to create this phenomenal blend,” says Rebecca Jago, managing director, The Last Drop Distillers. “The creation of The Assembly in 2020 was one of The Last Drop’s proudest achievements: to see the visions of such stellar icons of the industry come to life in a Last Drop bottle is, for me, a dream come true.”
DREW MAYVILLE’S TASTING NOTES:
COLOR: A rich, golden amber hue speaks of the wood, the age and the maturation these whiskeys have been through. The high proof can be seen in the long legs which linger on the glass.
NOSE: This reminds me of walking into one of Buffalo Trace’s most famous warehouses, built all those years ago: the atmosphere, the history and the provenance – it packs an evocative punch. Deep, dark fruit, figs, and dates on the nose, some raisins, and an aromatic spiciness, with citrus zest. There is some spiciness from the straight rye, and a creamy, vanilla from the bourbons, yielding a complex and layered flavor.
PALATE: To begin with, there are dark fruits, candy and orange peel upfront. From there, we begin a journey through a veritable spice merchant’s storeroom, and into a saddle room full of worn leather and wax. The ages of the whiskeys in this blend, and the magnificent impact of the American oak are here in perfect balance with the individual elements of the blend. A crescendo of rich and raw spiciness transitions across your palate: that balance is pure magic.
CONCLUSIONS: The spiciness is challenging the dark fruit, the chocolate notes, and the sweet vanilla. This is the balance and sophistication that arises only rarely when the tangy spice of the rye and the creamy chocolate of the bourbon whiskeys – combined with the sublime influence of the oak – all collide in perfect harmony.
Each bottle of The Last Drop Signature Blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys is individually numbered and bears Drew’s physical signature. As with all recent Last Drop bottlings, it is artfully-contained in a bespoke bottle that suspends mid-air in an oak frame, held within in a signature green leather case alongside a 50ml miniature for private enjoyment, certificate of bottling and pocket-sized tasting book.
About Drew Mayville, Sazerac Master Blender
Drew Mayville has more 40 years of experience with some of the largest companies in the beverage alcohol industry. Drew joined Sazerac (at its Buffalo Trace Distillery location) in 2004 as the Master Blender and Director of Quality. The vast breadth of his experience comes from almost 23 years of experience with Seagram’s, where Drew was the last Master Blender to serve under the Seagram dynasty.
At Sazerac, Drew has worked hands on with all the award-winning products produced at Buffalo Trace in addition to the other highly acclaimed spirit categories of the company. Drew is active in overseeing a number of award-winning products produced at various locations for Sazerac, and promoting and educating the public on some of the world’s finest spirits. His passion is not only to make the finest quality products but also to delight and excite the consumer with his work.
About The Last Drop Assembly
Drew Mayville is one of the six founding members of The Assembly, formed by The Last Drop in 2020. The Assembly is a carefully selected panel of experts drawn from across the spirits industry, each a renowned world-leader in their own category. The inspiration for The Assembly arose from The Last Drop’s passion for sharing: not just the delights of exceptional spirits, but also the knowledge, ideas, expertise and creativity that sit at the heart of the industry. This cross-category forum, unique in the world of spirits, encourages the exchange of knowledge and experience from different industry fields, bringing fresh ideas and new thinking to help inspire and drive The Last Drop’s pursuit of the extraordinary.
The Assembly members also include: Colin Scott, Master Blender for The Last Drop, Richard Seale, Master Distiller & Blender, Foursquare Rum, Louise McGuane, Owner & Bonder, JJ Corry Irish Whiskey, Michael D’Souza, Master Distiller & Blender, Paul John Whisky and Denis Lahouratate, Cellar Master, Domaine de Sazerac, Cognac.
About The Last Drop Distillers
The Last Drop Distillers was founded in 2008 by two icons of the spirits industry, Tom Jago and James Espey with over 80 years of experience between them. Their aim was to curate the world’s most remarkable spirits by finding treasures across aged spirit categories and sharing them with those who seek the genuinely extraordinary. In 2016, The Last Drop was acquired by the Sazerac Company, one of America’s oldest private, family-owned, distillers. Rebecca continues to lead The Last Drop as Managing Director. To date, The Last Drop Distillers has released just 28 limited bottlings across Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Bourbon and Rum and Japanese Whisky, comprising fewer than 12,000 bottles. Seeking nothing less than exceptional in the spirits they curate, the company’s unwavering commitment is to the quality of the liquid and the pleasure of sharing the treasures they uncover. For more information about The Last Drop visit https://www.lastdropdistillers.com and @lastdropdistillers. For more information about Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com.
Lastdropdistillers.com | @lastdropdistillers
With the start of Autumn comes the much-anticipated annual collection – the Diageo Special Releases 2022: Elusive Expressions. This fantasy series showcases whiskies from lesser-known Diageo distilleries alongside new expressions from fan favourites.
The line-up includes a sherried 12-year-old Clynelish with extra layers of rich and sweet dark fruit, a 10-year-old Oban finished in palo cortado sherry casks, and a 26-year-old Cameron Bridge grain whisky that shows the distillery’s soft, sweet and toffee-forward character.
