Welcome to this week’s episode of the show, in which I’ll be taking a close look at the style of spirit produced at Glenfarclas with the aid of a sample of their new make.
BACARDI-OWNED AULTMORE DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY WITH £15M EXPANSION PLAN
As the popularity of premium Scotch whiskies sees worldwide demand increase, Bacardi-owned Aultmore Distillery in Scotland has announced a £15m expansion plan, set to double its production capacity by spring 2024.
The expansion works include the addition of fermenters, pot-stills and infrastructure, and will also see a new heat-recovering system installed which will reduce the distillery’s energy usage and carbon footprint.
The announcement comes as the distillery marks 125 years since it first went into production in 1897. Founded by local businessman and philanthropist, Alexander Edward, Aultmore Distillery produces well-loved single malt whisky, AULTMORE®, an award-winning brand that is now sold around the world.
Aultmore Distillery has a long history and association with quality spirit, and the success of our single malt is a testament to those past and present who have played their part in crafting it. As we get started on our exciting expansion plans to increase production, it’s an honour for those of us here today to play an integral part in the future of this beautiful whisky.”
Ross Bremner, Distillery Manager, Aultmore Distillery
The Bacardi portfolio of single malt whiskies, which includes AULTMORE, ABERFELDY®, ROYAL BRACKLA®, THE DEVERON® and CRAIGELLACHIE® is particularly popular in Asia, where it has grown 30% over the last five years*.
The Scotch whisky distillery has been part of Bacardi for almost 25 years. A family-owned spirits company with more than 160 years of history, Bacardi operates five distilleries across Scotland – Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie, and Macduff – producing DEWAR’S® and WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whiskies, alongside its five Single Malts. The company nurtures and respects the heritage of each, to produce top quality drinks which are rooted in the traditions of the local areas.
We have an incredibly skilled and innovative team here in Scotland and we are so proud of the success of the whisky portfolio we produce. As more and more people around the world discover and fall in love with these drinks, we are investing in their growth for the long-term.”
Niall Mitchell, VP Supply Chain, Western Europe, Australia & New Zealand, Bacardi
*IWSR, CAGR growth
About Bacardi
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka. Founded over 160 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
December 2022 Auction // 22.12.22 – 09.01.23
December Auction CLOSES TODAY!
A warm welcome to our December Auction. Featuring nearly 10,000 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 vintages from pioneering independent bottlers, grandeur aplenty from established distilleries and unique and experimental drams from the hottest names in the whisky industry right now.
Ben Nevis 1926 63 Year Old
Extraordinary Highlights from Samaroli
Stunning 1952 Springbank – One of only 24 Bottles
Luc Timmermans’ Glenfarclas Collection
Read our latest interview, where we spoke with Luc about his collection and more.
The BEN Charity Auction
SKU #136760694 points Whisky Advocate
Notably balanced and elegant, the colorful palette of whiskies combines for tremendous depth of flavor. Soft, sweet butterscotch and orange peel meet poached pears and stone fruits. Earthiness appears as dried autumn leaves, coffee, old oak, and tobacco. Among the tangle of spices, tasters identified chili pepper, allspice, cloves, and universally adored its ginger note. Finally, wisps of smoke and sea salt. Overall, it feels generously malty, with the grain whisky lending broad sweetness and supple mouthfeel across the long finish. Beyond its delightful flavors, Nikka From the Barrel presents some paradoxes worthy of contemplation over a glass. It is classic, yet new to the U.S. It is typically Japanese, yet singularly magnificent. It is delightful sipped neat and also blossoms with water. Even the simple, squat bottle is in contrast to the profound complexity within. (Fortunately, the 500ml bottle offered in other markets received a supersizing for U.S. drinkers.) The great majority of new Japanese whiskies now arriving to our shores are so rare and so expensive that they seem intended only for elite whisky lovers. Nikka From the Barrel is a consummate Japanese blend for anyone to enjoy. *Number 1 in the 2018 Top 20* (JL, Winter 2018) 
K&L Notes
Being offered without an allocation limit for the first time! The wonderful Nikka From the Barrel has been one of the most sought-after offerings from this special distiller based outside of Sapporo. It’s previously not been available in the US due to the unusual bottle size, but thankfully the owners have designed a new 750ml version. This is a blend of many of the Nikka whiskies we know and love dumped and mingled for further marrying in a large vat at the distillery, hence “from the barrel.” It’s one of the few higher proof offerings available from any Japanese distiller and has a unique character. While the Hibiki Harmony might be the most popular blended Japanese whisky available in the US, From The Barrel is easily the most flavorful. This is nicely aged Yoichi, Miyagikyo, Coffey Grain and Imported Malt further aged post blending and bottled at 102.8 proof. No wonder people are going rabid for the stuff, it’s absolutely delicious!
Nikka “From The Barrel” Blended Whisky (750ml)
$74.99 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
Dalmore 2008 13 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice
A fruity dram with soft texture and a sweet taste overall, and a surprisingly spicy savoury finish
From the world-acclaimed Connoisseurs Choice range comes this Dalmore single malt whisky, independently bottled by Gordon & MacPhail exclusively for The Whisky Shop. Distilled in 2008, this expression has spent 13 years in a refill bourbon barrel before being bottled in May 2022 at 57.2% abv without chill filtration or added colouring. Highly limited, just 256 bottles have been produced.
“A mellow nosefeel, with light prickle. The initial impression is fruity – fresh apple, pear in syrup, fruit salad, a suggestion of raspberry jam – beneath this is a whisper of shortcrust pastry. A soft texture and a sweet taste overall, with a surprisingly spicy savoury finish. Little change with a splash of water, the finish now slightly tart.” – Whiskeria, Summer 2022
IT’S THE SOCIETY’S 40TH BIRTHDAY
AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE
JANUARY UNFILTERED
As the Society celebrates its 40th anniversary, Unfiltered editor Richard Goslan takes a trip back in time in the company of founder Pip Hills, to the remote farm where some unexpected events led to his whisky epiphany
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
KENTUCKY DISTILLERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that Chris Morris of Brown-Forman has been elected Chairman of the 142-year-old non-profit trade group that unites, promotes and protects the state’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.
Morris, who is Master Distiller and Vice President of Whiskey Innovation for Brown-Forman, will begin his term Jan. 1, 2023, and serve through December 2023. The KDA Board of Directors elected officers during its Annual Meeting in November.
This will be the third time that Morris has served as Chairman, with the first in 2010 and again in 2016.
Chris Morris
“It is an honor to again represent the industry as Chair of the venerable KDA as it continues to elevate America’s distinctive spirit to a level of appreciation enjoyed globally by the Cognac and Scotch Whisky industries,” Morris said.
A Louisville native, Morris has spent his entire 46-year career in the Kentucky Bourbon industry. He is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of the whiskies produced at the Woodford Reserve and Old Forester distilleries.
A 2016 inductee into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame and a 2017 inductee into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame®, Morris also is Governor of the KDA’s Order of the Writ® – Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon Society, and is a respected authority on Bourbon and Kentucky history.
The Board also named Jessica Pendergrass, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for Heaven Hill, as Vice Chair; Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Whiskey Maker and CEO of Rabbit Hole Distillery as Secretary; and Ryan Ashley, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Distillery Operations at Four Roses as Treasurer.
Other Board members for 2023 include:
· Bardstown Bourbon Co.: Ingrid Gentry, Chief Financial Officer
· Castle & Key Distillery: Will Arvin, Co-Founder
· Diageo North America: Antoine Smith, Vice President of Distillation and Maturation North America
· James B. Beam Distilling Co.: Kevin Smith, Vice President of Bourbon Affairs in Kentucky
· Louisville Distilling Co.: Gigi DaDan, General Manager
· Lux Row Distillers: Erika Lapish, Vice President of Human Resources
· Michter’s Distillery: Andrea Wilson, Chief Operating Officer & Master of Maturation
· White Dog Trading & Storage: Tyler Harris, President
· Wild Turkey: Marco Barassi, Government Relations and Sustainability Director, North America
· Wilderness Trail Distillery: Shane Baker, Co-Founder & CEO
· Willett Distillery: Britt Kulsveen, President
Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of the timeless craft.
Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism engine that sustains more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year, and pays over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.
A key export, distilling has the state’s highest job spin-off factor among top manufacturers; buys at least 17 million bushels of corn and other grains every year, mostly from Kentucky farm families; and is currently investing more than $5.2 billion in new stills, warehouses, bottling lines, tourism experiences and more.
Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 475% since the turn of the century.
Kentucky now boasts more than 11.4 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.6 million barrels in 2021 alone, the fourth consecutive year that production topped 2 million.
Attendance at the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries has skyrocketed more than 300% in the last 10 years. Total attendance in 2021 was more than 1.5 million visits, just below the pre-COVID record of 1.7 million visits in 2019.
Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.
KDA President Eric Gregory thanked the Board of Directors for its bold and visionary leadership that has guided the association on an unprecedented path of success. This year saw the largest expansion of KDA members in its history – now standing at 83 and counting.
Gregory, who is finishing his 15th year as KDA President, said he looks forward to working again with Morris as Chairman in 2023 as the KDA develops its next five-year strategic plan and seeks an end to the discriminatory barrel tax. Kentucky remains the only place in the world that taxes aging barrels of spirits.
“Strategic planning is a year-long process and challenges us to look ahead and clearly prioritize our goals and objectives,” Gregory said. “As he has proven time and time again, Chris is a focused leader who is dedicated to ensuring that the future of our industry is sustainable and secure.
“We are blessed to work with a passionate group of leaders who consistently prioritize the needs of the industry as a whole in strengthening Kentucky’s rightful place as the one, true and authentic home for America’s only native spirit.”
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. 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.
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
40TH BIRTHDAY STARTS WITH A BANG
Our first Outturn of the new year is now available online…get ready to rock the senses as we kick off our 40th birthday celebrations with a BANG. Enjoy endless epiphanies in our fearless pursuit of flavour, starting with this sweet little selection of new and outstanding bottlings.
Click on over to our website NOW to buy or for those that like to GO BOLD with flavour, keep on scrolling to discover our Maverick Malts recommendations.
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
Lochlea was a cattle farm when we originally acquired it in 2006. Extending some 222 acres. Barley had historically been grown on the farm land, largely as livestock feed, so in 2015 they embarked on an experiment, growing 50 acres of malting barley. Construction got underway in 2017, converting the former piggery, byre and midden in the heart of the farm steading into the distillery, and repurposing the cattle sheds into bonded warehouses. They secured their licences in 2018, and the distillery was commissioned in August 2018.
Since then, they have been growing their barley, and the distillery team have been skillfully and patiently making spirit. The land at Lochlea is important, and not just to the distinctive taste of their whisky.
David Ferguson will be coming down in Milroy’s of Soho to lt us taste the delicious editions below:
Lochlea Our Barley
Lochlea Sowing Edition
Lochlea Harvest Edition
Lochlea Fallow Edition
Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Ploughing Edition launches on 25th January)
You will have the opportunity to purchase a bottle in store with 10% discount only for this particular evening.
