Meet The Maker: Phil Cleaver Sits Down With Mark Littler 

Professor Phil Cleaver gives insight into the creation of the Macallan Eight Decades of Sir Peter Blake in an exclusive interview with whisky broker and market analyst, Mark Littler. 

The Macallan Eight Decades of Sir Peter Blake is a piece of art as much as it is a whisky release. Containing one miniature for each decade of Sir Peter Blake’s life at the time of release, the miniature Macallans have vintages ranging from the 1930s until the 2000s. Some of the miniatures contain whisky from The Macallan Fine & Rare Selection.

This legendary artwork is highly sought after by both whisky collectors and art connoisseurs alike due to its association with Sir Peter Blake, a commanding figure in the British pop art scene who worked on iconic pieces such as the cover for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. 

However, it may surprise you that the idea was not initially conceived to celebrate Sir Blake’s 80th birthday, but that his birthday coincided with the production of the set. And so, Peter Blake, David Holmes, Phil Cleaver, and a whole host of expert typographers, woodworkers, and Macallan whisky makers worked as a team to create one of the most impressive whisky bottlings ever made: a whisky release that is also a Peter Blake original artwork.

This is just one of the interesting revelations about the creation of this piece of art that you can expect from Mark Littler’s new YouTube series.

Whisky broker and whisky market analyst, Mark Littler, sits down with Phil Cleaver, an award-winning designer who played an integral role in creating the Macallan Eight Decades of Sir Peter Blake.

Episode 1 of Meet The Maker is now live on YouTube.

About Mark Littler Limited

Mark Littler is an independent whisky broker, market analyst and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Each week he publishes new videos on his YouTube channel about topics such as cask investment fraud (and how to avoid it), the history of distilleries and bottles, debunking whisky investment myths and much more. For more information visit www.marklittler.com

If you are interested in the Macallan Eight Decades of Sir Peter Blake or would like to chat with one of the team about our services, please get in touch.

Email: whisky@marklittler.com

Telephone: 01260 218 718

Last chance to get your hands on the many rare listings in this month’s auction! 
Get your bid in before it’s too late!

Auction closes tonight from 8pm (GMT) Tuesday 28th February

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

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A Stunning Cask from an American Craft Distilling Pioneer
Clear Creek McCarthy’s 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Cask Strength Single Barrel #367 Peated Single Malt Oregon Whiskey (750ml) ($109.99)
“This is an absolutely exceptional cask that captures the essence of McCarthy’s and turns everything up to the maximum without being overwhelming.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

One of the longest-running staples on our spirits shelves, the McCarthy’s Oregon whiskeys set the stage decades ago for the American craft distilling boom, but this is one of the first true cask-strength barrels we’ve taken in from this beloved brand. Crafted from heavily peated Scottish malt, it’s a shockingly complex and pure expression that pays tribute to Islay and to Steve McCarthy, the late visionary who started it all.

Clear Creek McCarthy’s 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Cask Strength Single Barrel #367 Peated Single Malt Oregon Whiskey (750ml) ($109.99)

K&L Notes: This wonderful barrel of whisky was distilled on January 4th, 2016 at the original Clear Creek facility in Portland before being filled into refill Oregon oak at a filling proof of 55% ABV. Like all McCarthy’s Whisky, it was double distilled on small copper pots from heavily peated Scottish barley, fermented naturally, and bottled without the use of additives or chill-filtration. The barrel would have been transferred shortly after filling to the new Hood River distillery, where it aged for more than six years in the unique Cascadian climate. Harvested on August 29th, 2022, it rested in tank for an additional two months before bottling on October 10th, 2022. Hand-selected by K&L’s Spirits Buyers, this is one of the few true cask-strength single barrels ever to make it to our shelves and easily one of the most special. McCarthy’s does an incredible job to produce whisky of great complexity and maturity at a young age, and this is pushing the limits of the oldest we’ve ever come across. Showing powerful smoke and a zesty, cleansing oceanic character balanced by a sweet malty core, no Islay drinker will be able resist this special cask-strength single barrel from one of the America’s original craft distillers. A true gem by any measure!

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: February 22, 2023

This wonderful cask strength single barrel from the excellent Clear Creek distillery in Hood River, Oregon represents the legacy of one of the most important and skilled craft distillers in the U.S. Sadly, the legend himself Steve McCarthy passed away on January 2nd. His bold and innovative distillery would set the stage for a craft distilling revolution, and his exceptional single-malt whiskey has been sold at K&L since its release decades ago. His big idea was to take peat-smoked malted barley from the great malters in Scotland and distill this excellent barley on his tiny pot stills. Then he’d age it in Oregon oak. One of the founders of the American Single Malt category, we’ve always loved Steve and when he stepped away from the business, we knew he’d chosen an excellent steward to continue his legacy. Hood River Distillers has kept the brand going providing much needed capital and expanding their selection to include a 6-year-old offering. Now we’re finally able to select cask-strength, single-barrel 6-year-olds, and they’re just as amazing as you’d expect. This cask is one of the very last to be distilled in the original Clear Creek facility in Portland before the brand (and all the barrels) were moved to the new, larger facility in Hood River. While it was aged in fourth-fill barrels, the Garryana is still incredibly prominent yet exceptionally well-integrated.

Let’s taste it! The color is an attractive, deep gold. The nose is a perfect explosion of dense peat smoke, complex ocean character, dense herbal oak, and malty sweetness. With air, the complexity continues to expand into hints of salted fish, Sharpie marker, tanned hide, camphor, lanolin, citrus oil, and Velcro. On the palate, it’s exceptionally sweet with powerful lemon oils, licorice bark, sweet smoke, bunches of fresh green herbs, and an almost Ardbeg-like white smoke. With a drop of water, it adds a sweet, honeyed character, greengage, gooseberry, roasted espresso bean, still some Sharpie, and clean background smoke. On the palate, by contrast, more peat than before, a zingy ocean minerality, and some wildly exotic spices round out the long, satisfying finish. This is an absolutely exceptional cask that captures the essence of McCarthy’s and turns everything up to the maximum without being overwhelming. A fitting sendoff to the great man that captured our hearts and palates for decades. This one is for you, Steve. We love you brother.

A SCOTCH WHISKY COLLECTION INSPIRED BY SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH

We are honoured to present the first nine bottlings in an ongoing series inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. This landmark release is the brainchild of design studio Livingstone, in collaboration with whisky makers Elixir Distillers and writer Dave Broom.

Act One features a single cask 56-year-old Glen Grant, a 31-year-old grain whisky from lost distillery Cambus, intensely smoky Islay and island whiskies, and more collectable Speyside and Highland single malts from the likes of Linkwood, Blair Athol, and Glen Garioch.

Each limited-edition whisky in the collection has been selected to evoke one of the Scottish play’s immortal characters. The full cast have been brought to life with specially commissioned artwork from one of our greatest living illustrators, Sir Quentin Blake.

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THREE SWEET & MELLOW SURPRISES

Surprise and delight the sense with this captivating trio of whiskies from our Sweet, Fruity & Mellow selection.  Expect a whirlwind of fruity adventures – marshmallow strawberries, lemon cheesecake, orange marmalade and apple chutney to rhubarb rock, stem ginger flaked almonds and coconut macaroons. These three colourful bottlings are bursting with vibrancy and vitality. This mystery trio includes Cask no. 73.133 A romp in a flower meadow and two Sweet, Fruity & Mellow bottles.

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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

The Macallan Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition Achieves $250,000 at Sotheby’s Auction

Proceeds from the auction to benefit ChaShaMa, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City

On February 10th in Sotheby’s first whisky & whiskey online sale of the year in New York, a specialty lot comprising of an exclusive, limited edition version of The Macallan’s recent release of Distil Your World New York achieved $250,000.

This auction offered collectors the only, rare opportunity to acquire one of two bottles created of Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition, as the second bottle will be kept in The Macallan archive.

The extraordinary multi-component lot included the Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition bottle housed in a striking blue presentation box featuring an engraved aerial map of New York, a booklet about the bottle and Distil Your World New York series that is signed by the talent featured in the Distil Your World New York documentary that aired with the release of the original bottle, and a dining experience at El Celler de Can Roca for the lucky collector and three guests.

Proceeds of this sale will benefit ChaShaMa, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City that nurtures artists by transforming unused real estate into affordable work and presentation spaces. Support from The Macallan will benefit small businesses, underserved NYC communities, and the arts in NYC.

Geoff Kirk, Channel Director Secondary Market at The Macallan remarked “We are delighted to continue our long association of partnering with Sotheby’s to present very special releases that raise funds for charitable organizations around the world. The Macallan has a longstanding history celebrating artistry and supporting the arts and we are proud that the funds from this very special release, which pays homage to one of the world’s most iconic cities, will benefit New York City artists through the ChaShaMa charity.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North American and EMEA, said: “Today’s auction marked an exciting start to the year with an exceptional result that nearly tripled the pre-sale estimate for the limited edition release. We are proud to have seen a depth of bidding around the world to benefit New York City artists through the ChaShaMa charity.”

An exceptionally rare and special whisky, this Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition has been created to take consumers on a sensorial journey through one of the world’s most iconic cities. It is a single cask whisky from a European Oak Sherry Puncheon from 2002 that delivers a quintessential New York flavor note of chocolate covered peanuts, along with a new taste of sweet candy and a hint of cherry blossom. A rare chocolate flavor which has been uncovered from a single cask, each sip takes taste buds and imagination on a journey of discovery, bringing the unique character of the city to life.

Please visit Sothebys.com for the full post-sale results

About The Macallan 

Founded in 1824 on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland, The Macallan is renowned globally for its incomparable craftsmanship, creativity and innovation with each bottle of single malt whisky revealing its unique mastery of wood and spirit.

Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of The Macallan, and as part of its commitment to establishing a positive legacy it revealed its award-winning new Distillery in 2018. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills and is located on The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate. To this day, the single greatest influence on The Macallan’s sought after portfolio of single malts is its sherry seasoned oak casks from which its whiskies derive their distinctive flavours, aromas and natural colour.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits achieved a record total of $150 million in 2022, a 14% increase from 2021. Sotheby’s currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most valuable bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most valuable bottle of spirits ever sold at auction, in addition to the highest ever total for a charity wine auction.

About ChaShaMa

Chashama is a nonprofit organization that transforms unused real estate into spaces for artists, small businesses, and community-centric art classes. Since 1995, Chashama has provided 30,000 artists with space to create, rehearse, and present their work. By transforming unused space, Chashama creates a more equitable, vibrant future for local artists, the neighborhood, and the property owners. Learn more at www.chashama.org.

Jack Daniel’s Launches Season 5 of Around the Barrel Podcast 

Official podcast of Jack Daniel’s enters fifth season with behind-the-scenes conversations with whiskey makers in Lynchburg and friends from the world of whiskey

Lynchburg, Tennessee (February 21, 2023) – Jack Daniel’s today announced the launch of Season 5 of “Around the Barrel,” a podcast featuring in-depth conversations between host Lucas Hendrickson and special guests from the world of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.

Around the Barrel was first introduced in 2018 to give listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the lives and stories of the people who make the world’s best selling whiskey. Season 5 includes episodes with Master Distiller Chris Fletcher, Assistant Distiller Lexie Phillips and husband Josh Phillips, Jack Daniel Historian Nelson Eddy, whiskey YouTuber Matt Porter of ADHD Whiskey and more.

“Jack Daniel’s is a brand with over 155 years of history and no shortage of stories to tell. With Around the Barrel, we can dive deeper into our storytelling in a format that allows listeners to tune in when and where they want,” said Jamie Butler, Vice President, Global Brand Director for Jack Daniel’s. “The podcast has become one of our best ways to share details on new products, what’s coming down the road and what’s going on at the Jack Daniel Distillery. In short, we bring Lynchburg to our friends all around the world, and we can’t thank them enough for listening in, engaging with us and being part of our special podcast family.”

Season 5 of Around the Barrel with Jack Daniel’s, along with the show’s entire catalog, is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcast, and other on-demand audio platforms. For more information and to listen, visit jackdaniels.com/en-us/podcast.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

New and Exclusive Sherry Cask from Balblair!

This 16-year-old single Amontillado sherry cask has been bottled exclusively for us by Balblair. Distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2022, this has been left at a natural cask strength of 55% abv and limited to just 564 bottles. Have a read of Charlie MacLean’s notes below, as well as the rest of our latest drops.

View all New Releases →

TWS Exclusive Balblair Single Cask

Balblair 2006 #73 TWS Exclusive

Notes from Charlie MacLean in our upcoming Whiskeria Spring 2023: “Old amber in hue — Amontillado sherry — with good beading. A mild nose feel at natural strength, with top notes of clotted cream, on a faint base of strawberry jam (with a suggestion of scone? i.e. cream tea!); beneath all this is warm brown paper. The taste is a nice balance of light sweetness and faint saltiness, with a medium length, warming, finish.”

£179.00
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We’ve ignited our maverick spirit this week with the launch of our first 40th Anniversary bottle – ORDER NOW before they disappear forever. Keeping the spark alive, we’re introducing members to some of our favourite flavours that they otherwise may have over-looked. Meet our must-have Maverick Mystery Malt parcels and prepare your tastebuds for a sensory adventure.

Why all the mystery? Because life is short and our whisky is good, we like to have a little fun. There’s nothing quite like a surprise and delight for the senses. We’ve hand-picked a selection of bottlings that are sure to amaze. And rest assured, they have passed the picky noses of The Tasting Panel.

Keep on scrolling to discover more OR click over to our website to browse our latest Outturn bottling list.

READ  NEW OUTTURN

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

2023 marks our 15th anniversary (Happy Birthday to us!). So what better way to start our celebrations than with an exclusive collaboration with one of our favourite indie bottlers, Berry Bros & Rudd.

This big hitting Caol Ila reminds us of a similar Islay dram we bottled back in our early years and what a punchy combo it is… Distilled in 2010 and initially matured in a first fill bourbon hogshead, it then spent some time in a hogshead cask that previously held the finest of Moscatel sherry. On first sampling, we knew it was just the cask for us but brace yourselves, this is a big dram and will command your attention, it’s full of wonderful flavour.

126 bottles only, filled at natural cask strength, 50.8% vol.

Limited to 1 per customer.

Slàinte

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