EXPLORE THE WORLD OF THE LAST OF US PART II WITH MOTH & WOLF: THE LATEST SCOTCH WHISKY FROM THE DIGITAL SPIRITS PROJECT

Fans can now get their hands on the limited-edition blended Scotch whisky as pre-orders open from Wednesday October 5^th 2022.

The Digital Spirits Project, created by the innovation arm of Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers, has partnered with Naughty Dog to launch Moth & Wolf, a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky inspired by the world of acclaimed PlayStation®4 video game The Last of Us Part II. 

For this partnership, The Digital Spirits Project has created an entirely new expression for a new generation of fans that taps into the global passion of gaming – a blended Scotch whisky matured in American oak barrels, inspired by the world of The Last of Us Part II, both in its taste and packaging. Following months of sampling, the final liquid pays tribute to the game’s iconic locations – Seattle, Washington and Jackson, Wyoming. Creamy vanilla notes represent the safe haven of Jackson, whilst hints of smoke and malt represent the hardened landscape of Seattle.

Moth & Wolf’s label and packaging is brimming with hidden references to The Last of Us that eagle-eyed fans will truly appreciate. The label features an exquisite radial design based on Joel’s watch, further complemented by the moth and wolf symbols which respectively nod to Ellie’s arm tattoo, and Abby’s Seattle-based faction, the Washington Liberation Front. Finally, the whisky’s vintage year of 2013 is a significant date in The Last of Us mythology, marking the beginning of the Cordyceps infection that ravaged the United States.

Moth & Wolf is the second launch by Chivas Brothers as part of its Digital Spirits Project, which seeks to open the Scotch whisky category up to a new generation of whisky drinkers. Through the Digital Spirits Project, Chivas Brothers collaborates with distilleries, content creators and artists in film, TV and gaming in order to create new spirit expressions that are unique and break category cues. Fans can come closer to their passions by getting their hands on authentic and immersive extensions of the collaborators’ digital and fantasy worlds.

Kevin Balmforth, Blending Manager at Chivas Brothers commented:

“As a massive fan of The Last of Us Part II, it was a huge thrill to be a part of this project and have two of my worlds collide – Scotch and gaming. With Moth & Wolf, I was heavily inspired by the game’s setting and atmosphere, and wanted to capture in a bottle the stark contrast between those safe, happier moments in Jackson and the gripping, intense scenes in Seattle. The result is a spectacular whisky that reflects the storyline’s complexity from the ground up, and I can’t wait for my fellow gamers and Scotch fans to get a taste.”

Neil Druckmann, Co-President of Naughty Dog shared:

“We’re excited to partner with Chivas Brothers in bringing a whisky inspired by The Last of Us Part II to life. The sheer dedication from the team to create a unique whisky that takes so much inspiration from the game is a heartfelt tribute to not only the studio but our community. We hope Moth & Wolf finds a special place on your shelf.”

Moth & Wolf is available for pre-order on Wednesday October 5^th 2022, 7am PDT/ 10am EDT at Reserve Bar (www.reservebar.com) with an MSRP of $75USD (70cl).

For more information on the Digital Spirits Project and Moth & Wolf, please visit https://www.digitalspirits.com/

This article is published as a mater of interest and is published well after it’s original release date

Three American Oak Whiskies:
TD0094, TD0195 & TD0444

American Oak single casks TD0094, TD0195 and TD0444 are ready.

First-fill, second-fill, and cask strength. With these three Sullivans Cove single casks we offer the full spectrum of American oak; from the gentle and restrained influence of second-fill to the ultra-generous wrappings of first-fill, and the powerful and rare cask strength.

TD0094 Second-Fill American Oak

Lemonade icy poles and lychee galore. A superb display of citrusy, fruity Sullivans Cove spirit, complimented by the gentle vanillic, oaky-coconut spice of American oak.

TD0094 was matured for 15 years in a second-fill 300L American oak cask, and yielded 405 bottles.

FULL CASK DETAILS AND TASTING NOTES

TD0195 American Oak ex-Bourbon

Dubbed “a kids party in a pine forest” by one distiller, this single cask boasts wave after wave of exceptionally well-integrated, fresh and confection-driven American oak. TD0195 was matured for 15 years in a first-fill 200L American oak ex-Bourbon cask yielding just 197 bottles.

FULL CASK DETAILS AND TASTING NOTES

TD0444 Cask Strength American Oak ex-Bourbon

With notes of creaming soda, incense-smoked pineapple chunks, hazelnut cream and fresh earth, there’s no misunderstanding why TD0444 was chosen to be the first Sullivans Cove Cask Strength bottling in 5 years.

At 9 years old this powerfully decadent second-fill ex-Bourbon cask yielded just 191 bottles at an astounding 66.9%

FULL CASK DETAILS AND TASTING NOTES

These whiskies will be released via ballot, opening for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on Monday 1 May. Further details, including links to the ballots, will be sent via email prior opening.
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A note on our ballot system.  Our policy is one entry per person, per household, per ballot. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter each ballot once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballots close.

BONHAMS ANNOUNCES DIEGO LANZA AS HEAD OF WHISKY, ASIA

Sotheby’s Unveils The Legacy Collection:

Among America’s Most Valuable Whisky Collections Ever to Appear at Auction

 Open For Bidding Ahead of Live Auction in New York on 11 May

A selection of Scotch, Japanese and American Whiskies“The Legacy Collection showcases what is undoubtedly one of the most complete Macallan Fine & Rare collections ever to come to auction as part of one of the most significant Single Owner sales offered on US soil. Discovering and working with collections like this is always a privilege and being able to offer yet another significant single owner collection at Sotheby’s never ceases to excite us.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North America and EMEA

NEW YORK, 27 APRIL 2023 – Showcasing one of the most exciting and comprehensive ensembles of The Macallan Fine & Rare ever to come to auction, The Legacy Collection will come under the hammer at Sotheby’s in New York on 11 May 2023. The 142-lot sale of Scotch, Japanese and American whisky is expected to fetch between $1.4 and $1.9 million.

Exclusively comprising bottles from a single collector accrued through painstaking dedication, the sale is headlined by one of the fullest verticals of The Macallan Fine & Rare ever to appear at auction, featuring the elusive 1957 vintage bottling. These lots are further supported by rare bottles from The Balvenie, The Dalmore, Midleton and rare whiskeys from the Van Winkle canon.

This Legacy collector spent many years building a truly staggering collection in both range and value, while consuming many bottles along the way, including The Macallan Fine & Rare and Lalique Six Pillars.

The Macallan Fine & Rare – The Record-Breaking Whisky

The Macallan is best known for being the most valuable whisky in the world, following the record-breaking sale at Sotheby’s in 2019 of The Macallan Fine & Rare 1926 for $1.9 million. The Fine & Rare series, originally introduced in 2002, has since been hailed as the pinnacle of Scotch whisky collecting, with vintages spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s.

The Legacy Collection contains 56 Fine & Rare vintage expressions, the oldest of which dates back as far as 1937 (lot 56, est. $26,000-$35,000) with the most recent being 1990 (lot 1, est. $9,000-$12,000). The oldest age statement on offer is The Macallan Fine & Rare 56 Year Old 1946 (lot 46, est. $24,000-30,000).

Eight of The Macallan Fine & Rare bottles in The Legacy collection are among the most limited in the series, with fewer than 100 bottles of each expression ever having been produced (see lots 7, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29 and 50). Most rare of all is The Macallan Fine & Rare 15 Year Old 1957 (lot 28, est. $150,000-200,000).

The Macallan Fine & Rare 15 Year Old 1957 – One of the rarest whiskies in the world

The Macallan Fine & Rare 15-Year-Old

The Macallan Fine & Rare 15 Year Old is the second rarest in the series after only the 1926, with only 15 bottles ever having been produced. While only 14 bottles of the 1926 bear the Fine & Rare label, there are, in fact, 40 bottles in total of the liquid (with further iterations bearing different designs by Peter Blake, Valerio Adami and Michael Dillon). The 1957 vintage was originally bottled in 1972 at 15 Years Old, presumably by Gordon & Macphail under the Macallan-Glenlivet moniker, before being re-bottled in 2002 by The Macallan as part of this series.

There are 15 “bottle equivalents” (i.e., a total volume of between 10 and 11 litres of the liquid in total), but it is known that not all of these were released onto the market and that only two were produced with this 75cl bottle size for the American market (with European versions being only 70cl), making this, without question, the rarest Fine & Rare expression.

Additional Scotch, Irish and American Rarities 

The rare bottles in The Legacy Collection do not stop at The Macallan Fine and Rare. Other highlights include The Balvenie 50 Year Old Batch 01 (lot 92, est. $15,000-$20,000) and Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition (lot 118, $15,000-$20,000), as well as 24 bottles of The Macallan 21 Year Old Fine Oak and eight bottles of The Dalmore 25 Year Old. From the US, there are 20 bottles from The Van Winkle stable including the 10, 12, 13, 15, 20 and 23 Year Old expressions.

 *Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

About Sotheby’s Wine

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 $158 million in 2022, a 20% 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.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

Our April Auction ENDS SOON!

Place your bids until Sunday 30th April 2023.

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!

Macallan – 40 Year Old (2005 Edition)

Suntory – The Owner’s Cask Bottlings

Dalmore – 45 Year Old (2018 Release)

Hanyu – Ichiro’s Malt Nine of Clubs (1991) Single Cask #401

Glenmorangie – 34 Year Old (1978) Pride (1 Litre)

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.com.

EXCLUSIVE PEATED SINGLE MALTS
HAND-PICKED BY THE EXPERTS

As part of our 50th anniversary special bottlings, we’ve released a selection of peated single malts from across Scotland and beyond, available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange. Peat has an incredible variety of flavours to discover, from the beach bonfires of Ardbeg and Islay, through the combination of sherry and peat, to exciting flavours in whiskies from from unexpected sources.

SHOP NOW

Kornog 2016 6 Year Old
Peated Refill Pedro Ximénez

£99.95

SHOP NOW

Millstone Peated 2017
5 Year Old Oloroso Sherry

£59.95

SHOP NOW  

Orkney 2006
16 Year Old Sherry Cask

£135

SHOP NOW

Islay 1991
30 Year Old

£475

SHOP NOW

Our range includes a 30-year-old from a mystery Islay distillery bottled by Signatory Vintage, with gentle sweet smoke, baked apples and chocolate limes on the palate, along with a 2016-vintage Kornog French single malt selected by our co-founder for its pronounced fruitiness and old-fashioned peat character reminiscent of peated Chichibu. Explore our full selection of smoky drams you won’t find anywhere else.

HIGHLAND PARK DISTILLERY
27 Year Old 1995 Connoisseurs Choice UK Exclusive (2022)
Cask #1488

1995 vintage single cask for the Connoisseurs Choice series. Just 222 bottles.

Buy Highland Park 27yo»

Highland Park 27 Year Old 1995 vintage Orcadian single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill American hogshead #1488 bottled December 20222 for the United Kingdom market by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 222 bottles. Citrus aromas give way to butterscotch and apple. Poached pear flavours complement tropical fruit and vanilla fudge. A medium bodied finish with lingering pineapple and soft smoke.

Highland Park Distillery is the most northerly malt whisky distillery in Scotland and thus the closest Scottish distillery to the Arctic Circle. Highland Park was established on the periphery of Kirkwall in the Mainland of Orkney in 1825-26 by Robert Borwick, a merchant and straw plaiter in Kirkwall, and John Robertson who owned the land previously known as Rosebank but by 1825 known as Highland Park. Whisky had been distilled illicitly in the vicinity of the Parks of Rosebank by Magnus Eunson least as far back as 1798. Highland Park 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and 21 Year Old are popular releases.

A smoothly complex dried fruits expression

A blend of fine single malts has been filled into hand-selected ex-Madeira wine casks to marry with the oak for a rich, warm finish. Each cask is imbued with character from years of holding Madeira wine under the intense sun of Portugal’s renowned wine-producing island.

Rich with the flavours dried fruits, soft vanilla and warm wood spice, these special barrels contribute beautiful characteristics to our blended malt Scotch.

Shop UK      Shop EU

Nose Aromas of sun-baked peaches, dried apricot and succulent nectarines

 Palate Orange oil, sumptuous rich vanilla and caramelised sugar

 Finish Complex spices, toasted saffron and crystalised ginger

 ABV 46%

 Chill filtration Non-chill filtered

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 487: Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a belter from Taiwain. Kavalan has won numerous awards with their Solist single cask releases. Whether it’s an ex-bourbon cask, sherry cask, vinho barrique or port cask, they all perform very well indeed. Mark got hold of one such release from 2021, bottled at a whopping 58.6% ABV, drawn from a sherry cask.

https://youtu.be/VM6okizMbWQ

Edrington Announces Majority Shareholding in Wyoming Whiskey

Edrington, the ultra-premium spirits producer has announced that it has become the majority shareholder in Wyoming Whiskey.

Building on the 35% stake that Edrington took in the brand in 2018, and the success of the partnership, the Glasgow-headquartered business has increased its shareholding to 80% in a deal with Wyoming Whiskey’s founding shareholders, led by Kate Mead, Brad Mead and David DeFazio.

Wyoming Whiskey was born and bred on the Mead family ranch in Kirby, WY. It will continue to be made in Kirby and this deepening of the relationship sees Edrington welcoming the 37 employees working in Wyoming into the wider Edrington business.

Since joining the Edrington portfolio in 2018, Wyoming Whiskey has been part of the company’s Partnership Brands business unit, which has collaborated with colleagues in the US to build its reputation as a unique ultra-premium+ American Whiskey. During that time, the brand has grown volume and value in the US faster than the ultra-premium American Whiskey category, making it an excellent fit for Edrington’s strategy and values.

Jane Graham, Director of Partnership Brands, said: “With a compelling brand story, natural ultra-premium credentials stemming from its origins, and its inherent scarcity, Wyoming Whiskey is a great fit for Edrington’s ultra-premium strategy. Our majority shareholding gives Edrington the opportunity to get closer than ever to every aspect of Wyoming Whiskey and increase investment behind the brand.”

Founding shareholder Brad Mead said: “Our partnership with Edrington over the past five years has been extraordinarily productive. Edrington’s track record of creating iconic ultra-premium whiskeys and building authentic brands makes the company the perfect partner going forward. We’re excited about the future of Wyoming Whiskey and our continued association with Edrington.”

Suzy Smith, MD of Estate Brands at Edrington said she was delighted to be welcoming Wyoming Whiskey into her portfolio, alongside Highland Park and The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

Suzy commented: “After five years of growth and success as part of our Partnership Brands team, we are excited at the potential of Wyoming Whiskey and believe it will contribute to Edrington’s strategic vision and become a prestige American Whiskey brand under our stewardship. Wyoming Whiskey is a unique American Whiskey thanks to its craft and quality, born and bred on the Mead family ranch in Kirby, Wyoming.

Edrington CEO Scott McCroskie said that taking a majority shareholding in Wyoming Whiskey was a logical step for both Edrington and the brand, commenting: “The ultra-premium American Whiskey category is going through a period of rapid growth. This is an exciting opportunity to apply Edrington’s skills in crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirit brands to continue Wyoming Whiskey’s premiumisation journey.”

ENDS

About Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey is ‘Made of Wyoming’. At its distillery in Kirby, WY, we distil the finest corn, wheat, barley, rye and water from the Big Horn Basin to craft a spirit that carries with it the character of the region, and also of the Mead family, who first came to the state as ranchers in 1890.  In the past decade, Wyoming Whiskey has earned recognition for its high-quality bourbon and rye whiskeys, including its Small Batch and Outryder expressions, as well as a range of sought-after limited editions, most notably the 10 Year Anniversary Edition and the National Parks series.

About Edrington

Edrington’s vision is to give more by crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirit brands. The Macallan is our central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing single malt category and Naked Malt in the blended malt category. Our portfolio is completed with Brugal premium rum from the Dominican Republic, The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, and Wyoming Whiskey and Noble Oak in the American Whiskey category. Edrington also has a strategic partnership with No.3 London Dry Gin.

Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs over 3,000 people in its wholly owned and joint venture companies, with over half employed outside the UK. We own our route to market in 16 countries and distribute our brands to more than 100 countries around the world through joint ventures and third-party agreements.

Edrington’s principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated £322 million to charitable causes in Scotland since 1961. Our business is underpinned by the Edrington values of giving, respect, integrity and excellence.