Dewar’s 15 Year Old

Aromas of toasted nuts, Granny Smith apples, and baking spices

£46.00
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This 15-year-old dram from Dewar’s blends together whisky that has matured in both bourbon casks and sherry casks. The result is a wonderfully sweet and nutty expression. Expect aromas of toasted nuts, Granny Smith apples, and baking spices. The palate brings fresh vanilla, thick toffee, malt loaf, and walnut whip before leading into the sweet and satisfying finish.

Our Gathering Outturn has landed, bringing 20 new bottlings PLUS a pair, trio and case special sharing offer. We’ve created this NEW collection specially to bring our members together to share our love for all things Society and of course, exceptional single cask whisky.

These new bottlings are available online now and at our Members’ Rooms. Click over to our website to buy or get your whisky shoes on and join as at the bar later for a dram.

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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

ralfy review 942 Extras – What Independent bottlers do !

Highland Park adds new whisky to award-winning Cask Strength series 

— Cask Strength Release No.3 celebrates the harmonious balance of traditional whisky-making and modern flavour exploration — 

EMBARGOED: LONDON, UK – 01.09.2022: Orkney-based single malt distillery, Highland Park, has added a new whisky to its award-winning Cask Strength series, designed to challenge whisky drinking norms. The range strikes a harmonious balance between the traditional whisky-making craft, while encouraging flavour exploration to suit individual palates.

Launching as a permanent addition to the Highland Park range and created using the traditional ‘straight from the cask’ method, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 is whisky in its purest form. No water is added after maturation which delivers a robust and intense flavour with a greater depth of finish.

Cask Strength Release No.3 uses whisky made with a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt resulting in a smokier style compared to the other single malts in the series. It has been matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a small quantity of refill casks. The result is an extraordinary combination of contrasting yet perfectly balanced flavours of charred oak, tropical fruits, aniseed, heather honey, vanilla cream, aromatic violet, sponge cake and peat smoke.

Highland Park, Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion champions this style of whisky as an opportunity for flavour discovery. Gordon explains:

“With Cask Strength, you are at a great place to start exploring the taste that best suits your palate by adding water, ice or your preferred serve. It’s your whisky and should be enjoyed your way. 

“For me, a Cask Strength whisky really celebrates that balance between old and new and I look forward to seeing how consumers enjoy the new whisky.”

The Highland Park Cask Strength series, a prestige offering within the portfolio, has been created by bringing together dozens of single casks. The whisky is at full strength, straight from the cask, and has only been gently filtered before bottling.

The releases within the Cask Strength range share the same underlying character but with each batch featuring different flavours coming to the fore based on the cask make-up. The ABV will also vary from batch to batch.

Release No.1 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned American oak casks of different ages, delivering a harmonious contrast of flavours of toffee, heather, honey, and peat smoke. Release No. 2 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and a small quantity of ex-bourbon casks, producing tastes of pear and almond cake, toasted oak, liquorice, cracked black pepper, aromatic peat.

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 will become available globally from 1^st September across specialist whisky retailers, including The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, and The Whisky Shop, and from the Highland Park online shop, distillery, and Albert Street store in Orkney. The UK RRP is £65.

About Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3:

UK RRP: £65

ABV: 64.1%

Volume: Available in 70cl and 75cl depending on region

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Natural deep golden

Taste: Lightly charred oak, honey-glazed lemons, crushed aniseed, ripe mango, cloudy heather honey, whipped vanilla cream, aromatic violet, pink grapefruit zest, rich sponge cake, smouldering peat smoke. 

Key differences between the whiskies of the Cask Strength series: 

Cask Strength Release No.3:

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 has been matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a small quantity of refill casks using a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt for a smokier flavour profile. 

Cask Strength Release No.2:

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.2 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and a small quantity of ex-bourbon casks. Which delivered tastes of pear and almond cake, toasted oak, liquorice, cracked black pepper, aromatic peat. 

Cask Strength Release No.1:

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.1 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned American oak casks of different ages which delivered tastes of toffee, heather honey, nutmeg, citrus fruits and aromatic peat smoke.

Recent awards:

• Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Gold medal at the Scotch Whisky Masters
• Scored 95/100 as a finalist at the 2021 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

What is a cask strength whisky?

Most whiskies are diluted with water prior to bottling to reduce the alcohol-by-volume (ABV) strength, typically to 40% or 43%. Cask strength is a term used to describe a whisky that has not had water added when it is bottled after maturation in casks. Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.1 and Cask Strength Release No.2 has been created by bringing together dozens of single casks. The whisky is at full strength, straight from the cask and has only been gently filtered prior to bottling.

About Highland Park:

We’ve been crafting our award-winning whisky at the Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Now, 224 years later, we are one of the ten oldest working distilleries in Scotland. Age, experience and respect for tradition may define our whisky but it’s Orkney that differentiates it. Something magic happens here and we call it A Wild Harmony.

It’s not just the influence of the finest sherry seasoned oak casks on our whisky at it matures, it’s the salty sea winds that batter Orkney’s rugged coastlines, the intensely floral character of our treeless but heather-rich peat, and the fiercely independent Viking spirit that drives us. These are the elements that go, untamed, into our whisky-making to create a wild harmony of sweet-smoky flavours that is, uniquely, Highland Park. www.highlandparkwhisky.com

The Grand Whisky Auction ends September 6th!

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 2000+ lots to browse and bid on!

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

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GRAND VINTAGE 

8TH RELEASE – 1998 – 23 YEAR OLD

70cl | 43% ABV

Delicate and spicy with a wonderful amber glow, the Grand Vintage 8^th Release showcases some of the first Glenmorangie ever aged in new charred oak. Aged for 23 years, the Whisky is extraordinarily vibrant with rich fruits, smooth toffee and ginger – truly a testament to the elegant, experimental style of Glenmorangie.

£629.95

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Grand Vintage Malt 1998 is like embarking on a transatlantic journey from the world of classic bourbon, to the sherry bodegas in Jerez, both finessed with virgin new charred oak. Rich with vibrant fruits, smooth toffee, and ginger, this whisky’s eloquence is a symbol of our elegant, experimental style.

Delicate and spicy with a wonderful amber glow, this whisky showcases some of the first Glenmorangie ever aged in new charred oak. Dr Bill was particularly eager to explore the wonders new charred oak barrels might bring to Glenmorangie’s soft, fruity spirit. And so he earmarked a handful of carefully crafted casks, tailormade to enrich the Distillery’s single malt. By charring the virgin wood of these bespoke casks for the first time, Dr Bill hoped to create a striking style of single malt, intense in colour and spice. Dr Bill used most of these early casks to wood finish whisky, balancing their spice with Glenmorangie’s complex fruits. But with a true creator’s vision, he also filled a few with new-make spirit, dreaming of a spectacular single malt. He left those experimental new char casks to age in the cool, quiet of an earth-floored warehouse for more than two decades. As he waited, the spirit transformed into a deliciously buttery whisky, surging with vanilla, chocolate laced with orange, ginger and sweet chilli. In addition he layered those oaky notes with soft, fruity Glenmorangie aged in first-fill bourbon casks. Then brought sweet subtlety with a hint of whisky finished in oloroso sherry casks. Aged 23 years, his creation bursts with ripe fruits and rich orange chocolate, gently threaded with sugared almonds and spice. Extraordinarily vibrant, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 amplifies the Distillery’s signature elegance with a glorious spicy glow.

North British 1988 34YO

Distilled: 17/06/1988
Bottled: 17/07/2022
Cask No: 34451
Cask type: Hogshead
One of only 199 bottles available worldwide

£185.00

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Without even knowing at the time, North British was Finn Thomson’s first introduction to the world of Scotch whisky. Nestled between Murrayfield and Tynecastle Stadium, the malty smells from the distillery were synonymous with his trips to watch football and rugby matches. Even now, living in central Edinburgh, he still gets wafts of the sweet, biscuity wort being produced when the wind blows the right way.

It is a distillery of great significance to his family as his grandfather and great grandfather’s company, Peter Thomson Ltd, once had a stake in North British and it formed the grain base for their popular Golden Beneagles blend.

This particular cask has been filled into a fairly active American Oak hogshead. The creamy character of the spirit has been transformed into toffee and caramel sweetness. The American oak has worked its magic and those trademark vanilla notes are very present.

Maker’s Mark 46 K&L Exclusive “Maker’s Squared” 109 Proof Private Select Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View

David and Andrew carefully crafted the two latest Maker’s Mark Private Select casks overlooking the on site reservoir behind the distillery. They had two goals in mind – transporting drinkers to this special spot in Loretto, KY with one dram and showcasing the brand new stave profile. In the end the goals required 2 seperate casks. Maker’s Squared is the transportation cask – working closely with the Maker’s team staves were chosen to truly highlight the soft wheat and sweet American oak that is so critical to the world reknowned profile of Maker’s Mark. 3 Baked American Pure staves amp up the vanilla and toasted coconut. 2 Seared French Cuvee staves bring out a bit more spice and tannic bite, which interplays with the higher 109 proof beautifully. 3 Roasted French Mendiant (the new stave) highlight a sweet milk chocolate profile that is often overlooked, but always present in the classic Maker’s. And 2 Toasted French spice staves act as a binding agent to bring the otehr 3 profiles together with Maker’s hallmark balance. The end result is perhaps the best barrel we’ve ever put together under this incredible cask program. Entirely Maker’s Mark, yet something more powerful and robust without yeilding balance. It could be called nothing but Maker’s Squared.

Rare Character 6 Year Old “Our Lady of the Angels” Barrel #RIO-234 Cask Strength Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $79.99 View

Rare Character has quickly become one of the most exciting and inventive new bottlers on the market today. This stock of exceptional MGP distilled high-rye bourbon (75/21/4) aged for more than 6 years in the famous warehouse B is more proof that Rare Character is able to source and select some of the countries most special bourbons. If you’ve tried any of the bourbons aged in this special warehouse you’ll know that something unique is happening here. At 534′ feet long, warehouse B is the world’s longest whiskey aging warehouse and it’s hundreds of windows create and almost wind tunnel like effect. The result is extremely mature tasting bourbons even at the relatively youthful (albeit often ideal) age of 6 years old. Like all Rare Character bourbons, it’s adorned with a gorgeous unique label this time a photo taken by Christopber Blakely (Father of SoCal Spirits Guru Will Blakeley). His stunning image of the famous Robert Graham sculpture at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles is a striking homage to the wonderful city that we call home. A fitting vestment for this fabulous bourbon.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 459: Lindores Exclusive Casks: Bourbon vs Sherry

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries to single casks from the Lowlands. Lindores, like many other distilleries, also started releasing single casks. The first two – a bourbon cask and a sherry butt – are the ones that I would like to try. It’s not a veritable head-to-head, of course, for they are quite different.

https://youtu.be/gApkH2wS18s

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® | Class of 2022 Inductees

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® To Induct 

Six New Members In September 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® will induct six individuals into its elite ranks next month, including two distillery founders, influential lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, a groundbreaking industry veteran and the acclaimed grandson of a Bourbon baron.

The Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on the late Stephen Francis Thompson, founder and president of Kentucky Artisan Distillery, who unexpectedly died in 2021 after an accident. He was 79 years old.

“Since we lost the past two years to COVID-19, this is officially the 20th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, whiskey’s most spirited honor,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, which founded the Hall of Fame in 2001.

“Congratulations to this year’s esteemed class which celebrates the visionaries, artisans and partners that have made Kentucky Bourbon – and our beloved Commonwealth – the gold standard of American whiskey. And, on behalf of our industry, a heartfelt thank you.”

This year’s inductees are, in alphabetical order (full bios, as provided by each inductee, are attached via the below link:

·     Retiring Rep. D. Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, Majority Whip, Kentucky House of Representatives, two-time recipient of the KDA’s “100 Proof” award for public service and champion of several landmark pieces of legislation.

·     The late Stephen Francis Thompson, Founder and President, Kentucky Artisan Distillery (Lifetime Achievement Award), former president of Brown-Forman Distilleries and a pioneering resource for craft distilleries across the country.

·     Julian P. Van Winkle, III, President, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, heralded grandson of Bourbon legend Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, creator of the ultra-aged premium Pappy Van Winkle brand and the very first James Beard winner from Kentucky, as well as numerous other accolades.

·     Andrea Marie Wilson, distinguished industry veteran, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Master of Maturation at Michter’s Distillery, and in 2009, the first woman to chair the KDA Board of Directors.

·     Retiring U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, Co-Founder of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and Chair of the House Budget Committee who helped lead a permanent reduction on the federal excise tax on distillers among other key measures.

·     Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Whiskey Maker and CEO, Rabbit Hole Distillery, left Iran in 1979 during the revolution and founded Rabbit Hole in 2012. He blends the immigrant whiskey maker tradition with time-honored methods, diverse perspectives and modernist aesthetics.

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant and transformational impact on Bourbon’s stature, growth and awareness. It is the highest honor given by the signature industry.

The invitation-only ceremony will be held Sept. 13 at My Old Kentucky Home state park in Bardstown, Ky., one of the state’s most revered historic sites. It is held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which runs Sept. 16-18 in Bardstown.

Following the induction ceremony, there will be an exclusive reception sponsored by Independent Stave Company, a KDA “Champion” level industry member. ISC President & CEO Brad Boswell and his father, John, are both Hall of Fame members.

The two-year break due to the pandemic allowed the KDA to evaluate its Hall of Fame processes and protocols, Gregory said. The prestigious event is known for its intimate celebration of the industry’s most revered champions and attracts dignitaries from around the world.

This year, for the first time ever, a blue-ribbon committee of renowned Hall of Fame members reviewed and selected inductees. Candidates are nominated each year by the KDA and its member distilleries in three categories: Industry, Roll of Honor and Lifetime Achievement.

The selection committee includes all living recipients of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award: Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller of Wild Turkey; Bill Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Maker’s Mark; Max Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands and Even Kulsveen, Executive Director of Willett Distillery.

Also serving were Kevin Smith, Chairman of the KDA Board of Directors and Vice President of Kentucky Bourbon Affairs for Beam Suntory; Chris Morris, Governor of the Order of the Writ – Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon Society and Vice President and Master Distiller at Brown-Forman Corp.; and noted author Dixie Hibbs of Bardstown, who was appointed by the KDA President.

The KDA also commissioned glassblowing artist Brook Forrest White, Jr., of Flame Run in Louisville to craft unique and contemporary awards that incorporate Bourbon-inspired motifs such as amber colors, oak, copper and water.

A student of the late famed glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell at Centre College in Danville, Ky., White’s work has been recognized nationally, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at several distilleries in Kentucky.

Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism engine sustaining more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year, over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 435% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.

“We look forward to seeing all our living legends next month and celebrating the best of the best of our historic industry and toasting our success,” Gregory said. “Thanks to our partners at Independent Stave Company and our distinguished members.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact KDA President Eric Gregory at eric@kybourbon.com.

Bios, as provided by each inductee, are below in alphabetical order:

Rep. D. Chad McCoy~ Late Stephen Francis Thompson + Red ~ Julian P. Van Winkle, III~ Andrea Marie Wilson ~ U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth ~ Kaveh Zamanian

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the historic voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces 90 percent of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft and treasured economic engine. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME®, ORDER OF THE WRIT®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL® and THE PROOF IS HERE® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. 

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly