The Macallan Quest Collection celebrates our enduring desire to journey further in the pursuit of excellence. Created exclusively for Global Travel Retail, it reflects our quest to discover the best casks, flavours and aromas – with our journey taking us across continents, cultures and terrains.

Artist Mads Berg brings the Quest Collection to life with exquisite illustrations, interweaving iconic locations integral to our story. Shop the collection at our airport boutiques and travel retail outlets, subject to availability at the time of visit.

EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd,  Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie, Moray,

AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

Hart Brothers (Laphroaig) “PEATED” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $39.99 View

This little find comes from an undisclosed distillery on the Isle of Islay. While the bottler is prohibited from confirming source, the whisky world seems to be pretty confident that this single malt came from the special distillery on the south side of the island. This distillery, which boasts its own malt floors, seven stills and one of the most flavorful spirits in the business is widely considered the King of Islay. The wild ocean character and deep peaty richness is the key here. Add an unbeatable price, 50% ABV, and we’ve got your newly minted “GO TO” sub $40 peater. Very, very few can touch this excellent malt at such an outrageous price.

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

This amazing blend is the Ardnamurchan’s take on and old-fashion, high-malt content blended malt. The name is a reference to their long-established partnership with Charles Maclean as well as a nod to a local landmark which shares his name – Maclean’s Nose.

Bottled at the ABV of 46%, non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.

NOSE

Burnt citrus peel, sea salt and bonfire. Nectarine syrup, lime marmalade, hay bales, coal bunker and oily shed.

PALATE

Puffed rice, homemade rice pudding and white chocolate. Bright citrus lime pickle. Chantilly cream and Viennetta ice cream. Ferrero Rocher. Hessian. Burning heather and smoked praline.

£29.50

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ABV: 46% | COUNTRY: Scotland | WHISKY TYPE: Blended Malt | BOTTLING COMPANY: Adelphi Selection | COLLECTION: Maclean’s Nose | OUTRUN: 24,000 Bottles |

You’ll find plenty of unique tastings at our Members’ Rooms, local venues or Partner Bars. There’s even a virtual tasting event so you can join from home – with festival mini packs available online now. Discover more about our Flavour Hunters Festival this May over on our website, we’ve just released our Islay Festival programme too.

VIRTUAL TASTING PACK

ISLAY FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

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

ARACHNOPHOBE CATCHES THE BUG FOR TASTING WHISKY WITH
EDIBLE INSECTS

Lifelong hater of creepy-crawlies overcomes fear at an unusual tasting event in Edinburgh which saw whiskies paired with crickets, mealworms, locusts and a surprise scorpion!

Arachophobe Scott Begbie pictured with a cricket and a dram at The Vaults, the home of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Leith, Edinburgh. Pic by Mike Wilkinson.

A lifelong arachnophobe with a fear of creepy-crawlies discovered a taste for edible insects at an unusual whisky tasting in Edinburgh which saw the flavours of crickets, mealworms, locusts and scorpions matched with different types of Scotch.

Scott Begbie from Aberdeen was one of three adventurous whisky fans taking part in a special event called ‘A Pairing With Legs’, which was hosted at The Vaults in Leith, the home of  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a global whisky club with an unconventional approach to whisky tastings.

The unusual flavour pairing event took place as part of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 40th anniversary year celebrations. Previously, the Society has paired whiskies with unusual items such as ice cream and also staged a tasting on top of a Munro.

After the event, Begbie, who was given the tasting experience as a present for his 60th birthday, said: “I’ve always had a phobia of spiders and creepy crawlies generally, so I was initially pretty nervous. Seeing the insects and picking them up was quite tricky at first, but I ended up enjoying it.

“My favourite flavour pairing was the smoked crickets with a blended malt featuring smoky whiskies from Islay and Orkney. That pairing of smoky, salty flavours worked really well.

“The mealworms were crunchy and tasted like Bombay Mix with less spices. The locusts were challenging but they reminded me of Twiglets. The scorpion surprised me – it was really good, a bit like a salty Pretzel.”

The flavour pairings 

At the event, the first flavour pairing saw mealworms matched with Disco Diva, a 12-year-old whisky from Speyside described as tasting like “an all-singing-and-dancing karaoke of icing sugar-coated biscuits, dried coconut and hot cross buns”.

The second pairing featured locusts paired with Raspberry Fields Forever, a whisky described as having a palate of “creamy custard with juicy raspberry sorbet on apple crumble”.

Finally the smoked crickets were paired with Smokus Fruticosus, a sweet, rich & intensely smoky blended malt featuring whiskies from the islands of Islay & Orkney.

The scorpion was a surprise bonus with the participants trying it at the end of the tasting with a whisky of their choice.

A second ‘A Pairing With Legs’ event is taking place in May with the Society working with Dr Vladimir Blagoderov, the principal curator of invertebrates at the National Museum of Scotland, to explore different types of edible insects.

40^th anniversary adventures 

This year, the Society is celebrating its 40^th-anniversary and is approaching 40,000 members around the world. To mark this milestone in its journey, a series of special releases, events, collaborations and happenings, all inspired by founder Pip Hills’ unorthodox outlook, will continue throughout the year.

Helen Stewart, Head of Brand Marketing & Membership, said: “Whisky and insects? Precisely. This type of tasting personifies what the Society is all about. Our 40^th anniversary year is going to be our most adventurous yet.

“‘A Pairing With Legs’ is just one of many unconventional tastings taking place this year as we continue bringing adventurous whisky fans together to explore the flavours of whisky and enjoy interesting sensory experiences.”

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk 

 About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)

• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.

Platinum Old & Rare Laphroaig 32 Year Old Coronation Release

Laphroaig is King Charles III’s favourite dram, and what better way to commemorate this than an incredible 32-year-old dram.

£1,099.00
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The bees are buzzing, the birds are chirping and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom as summer fast approaches! What better way to enjoy the sunsets than with a warm, friendly dram. Our extensive 143rd auction is now live with a far-reaching array of golden nectar to put a spring in your step. Teeming with well over 8000 bottles there’s a tipple for everyone!

Macallan 1948 51 Year Old Select Reserve

Coming in hot from the Speyside Heavyweight we have the Macallan 1948 51 Year Old Select Reserve.  Distilled on the exact birth date of King Charles lll who will be crowned on May 6th 2023. Released in 1999, Macallan filled each bottle on a different day of the year. Of the 366 bottles produced, not one carries the same bottling date as any other. A truly one of a kind bottling!

Shirakawa 1958

Swirling across the globe to the vibrant mountains of Fukushima we have the oldest single vintage Japanese whisky ever bottled … The Shirakawa 1958.

This mysterious malt was tracked down by Tomatin Distillery manager Stephen Bremmer after scouring the globe on a quest to find the last remnants of The Shirakawa Spirit. Being over 60 years old and the only extant example of Shirakawa on the planet, this release is regarded as the world’s rarest Japanese Whisky and a once in a lifetime chance to own, a truly unique piece of Japanese distilling history.

Bowmore 39 Year Old Four Guardian Collection

Whistling from the Fukushima valleys to the fertile fields of Scotlands Whisky Isle we have a sun-sational release from the Islay giants Bowmore.

A masterful take on Chinese mythology from the “Four Guardians” series, each depicting a different symbolic creature. Fruity, rich and topically released with only 888 bottles in existence, don’t miss out on this peaty delight.

Bunnahabhain 1981 41 Year Old Single Cask – Moe Nakamura Edition.

Across the island to Port Askaig connecting Japan and Islay we introduce the Bunnahabhain 1981 41 Year Old Single Cask – Moe Nakamura Edition.

Moe Nakamura’s works are among the most coveted in the world of modern and contemporary Asian art. Her sculptures depict youthful faces in a costume or mask that emerge from trees, evoking magic and sacred spirits while embodying innocence and serenity.

Fully matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a whopping 41 years and one of only 498 bottles in existence. Don’t miss your chance to grab one for yourself!

These cheerful crackers are a mere fraction of the heavenly helping we have on offer in this colossal auction, so please dive in and find your dream drams. Many thanks , best of luck and as always …

Don’t lose your bottle!

16-Year-Old Bardstown Stunner
Calumet Farm 16 Year Old “Single Rack Black” Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($129.99)
“Tasting this is such a pleasure. It’s lively and full-bodied with a perfect amount of kick, but very easy going.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

After a few consecutive sell-outs, we’ve just received our final re-stock of an ultimate collectible bourbon value. This is the oldest aged release from the Calumet Farm brand so far, and it offers up everything bourbon fans love in old Kentucky whiskey at a price that makes it nicely accessible.

Calumet Farm 16 Year Old “Single Rack Black” Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($129.99)

K&L Notes: Calumet Farm has an incredible history and pedigree in the world of horse racing, and now too in the Bourbon world. Their 14- and 15-year expressions have become instant classics and are wonderful examples of well-aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. No funny business with finishes or any effort to re-write the Bourbon landscape—just classic, well-crafted Bourbon blended in small batches to perfection. The 16-year is their oldest release to date and the highest proof to boot. At 106, it’s a perfect sipper, robust enough to carry the intensity and mellow enough for a perfect neat pour. Blended from 19 barrels to honor one of Calumet’s (and horse racing’s) greatest horses—Citation. Barreled in March of 2006. Distilled and aged in Bardstown, KY. Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley. Non-chill-filtered.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: August 16, 2022

Calumet has managed to source some of the most compelling, well-aged Kentucky Bourbon at very fair prices. Their previous release, the 15-year, was extremely well received by drinkers and critics alike. The 16 is even better. The oldest and highest-proof release from Calumet to date, it’s so easy to drink at 106 proof. The nose is quite woody but with bright red Bing cherry fruit notes riding high as well. Whiffs of sweet grass and dried hay make you feel like you’re walking across the Calumet Farm itself. A bit of burnt orange peel gives both citrus notes and a very gentle smokiness, almost sultry in nature. Chocolate nibs, roast nuts, and the balanced sweet and sour notes of fermented molasses round out the nose. Tasting it is a pleasure. It’s lively and full-bodied with a perfect amount of kick, but very easy going. The 53% ABV carries a ton of flavor, but never overpowers. It’s just the right level of sweet and savory for my taste buds. Lots of mellow sweet corn, like you’re taking a bite of plump raw kernels right off the cob, a green kick of rye spice, and a background of sweet Madagascar vanilla lacing the two together. Luscious American oak tannins give it structure and depth. With time it opens up to more cola notes, nutty and sweet, and shows more of that red cherry on the palate. The finish is zippy thanks to the ABV and imprints more vanilla and cinnamon on your mind until you take another sip and start over again. All around a wonderful pour in a handsome yet no-frills bottle. A perfect treat for a bourbon lover, whether it is you or a friend you’re gifting it to.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: August 17, 2022

Ok, ok! Here we go with the new narrative in Kentucky—if you know where to look you can get good old bourbon without dispensing a mortgage payment. Some people might point to the old days when 15-year-old whiskey was $60, but there hasn’t been a period in the last decade where we could readily get 15+-year-old whiskey from anyone in Kentucky at less than $150. And to be honest, I think this price point is super for the quality you’re getting here. We must assume this product was distilled at Old Barton as it was the only working plant in 2006 in the area. Aging occurred entirely in Bardstown as well. This is a great, old distillery that has many people clamoring for their higher-end marks, so unless you’re one of the unlucky few who specifically doesn’t like the Barton profile, there’s a good chance that you’re going to dig this. Non-chill-filtered and high proof, like all the single-rack series, and only 19 barrels in the batch. Let’s taste it. The color is a gorgeous russet. The nose starts immediately with exotic dark woods, fresh charred oak, sweet dried plum, subtle floral and dark tea aromas. With some air, there’s a strong vanilla note, caramel candies, red cherry, and French roast. On the palate, it’s medium bodied and rather dry with a lovely dusty note. Darker and woody with a strong oaky flavor down the middle. This is definitely on the drier side of Barton and very woody. It loves air, and I’d reckon the middle of the bottle will be exceptional. Right now, I like to give this 30 minutes of nosing before I dive in deep. A fun old bourbon whiskey at a totally reasonable price.

Neal Fischer | K&L Beer Buyer | Review Date: August 16, 2022

Dang, that’s good! Coming on the heels of the 14 and 15, there’s now a 16-year-old Calumet Farm added to the lineup and it stands up alongside the others as the new torch-bearer. I really enjoy the interplay between the big fruit in the profile and the ebbing-and-flowing spices. Up front on the nose I get luscious cherry syrup that’s matched by wood varnish and cardamom. Next there’s a wave of dried peaches, balsa wood, slight menthol, then a deep caramel followed by medicinal herbs. The palate offers darker flavors; first salted caramel and mocha, but then the richness is matched by bold spice, bright cherry, and red apple. This bourbon has a very round and supple mouthfeel, and then it finishes in a drying and spicy finish with the menthol peeking back through. I was impressed with the 14- and 15-year-old Calumets because it seemed like every time I came back for a nose and a sip there was some other flavor component to find—this new 16-year-old edition offers that same level of complexity with something more for me to enjoy each time I go back to it.

Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 16, 2022

I was pleasantly surprised by how fruit-forward this bourbon was—after 16 years in oak it still came off a bit spritely, with ripe and caramel apples alongside stewed pears, orange oil, and then touches of burnt sugar toward the end. The palate was savory and spicy in the best of ways, with a vanilla custard and pie spice competition happening in the back palate, while somewhere in the finish there’s this whisper of herby licorice that kept me searching in my glass. I always like it when a beverage evokes curiosity. The finish manages to be dry and oaky without being overly tannic, just urging you onto the next welcome sip. A couple drops of water in what was left in my glass made the floral notes pop on the nose and left the palate a touch sweeter. Definitely highly recommended and a beautiful sipper however you choose. I didn’t think it needed water or a rock in it, but I wouldn’t have objected either.

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

HUNTRESS 2023

WOODLAND CANDY

70cl | 48.5% ABV 

​Introducing the eagerly anticipated second release from Nc’nean’s spring series of whiskies, Huntress. This series is all about the ethos of discovery. About innovation and Nc’Nean’s ongoing pursuit of delicious flavours in whisky making.

This 2023 release, Woodland Candy, is bold and creamy – flavours of buttery toffee, forest fruits and a touch of herbal spice. Flavours which will transport you to the ancient mossy woodlands of the wild west coast.

It’s the first time Nc’Nean have launched a whisky which features a special four yeast recipe. The introduction of red and white wine yeasts add a riot of flavour and aroma, reminiscent of their home on the wild and magical west coast of Scotland.

NOSE: ​​Buttered tea cakes, candied tropical fruit, drizzles of toffee, and dried berries.

TASTE: ​Silky honey and vinous fruits mingle, with hints of fennel and vanilla nestling alongside creamy malt and rich oak char.

FINISH: A touch of clove and green pepper join for the finish, with poached plums and buttery fudge in support.£88.95

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VCL Vintners unveils Highland 30-Year Single Malt from Ledaig as its limited-run Coronation whisky

London, 05 May 2023: VCL Vintners today announces its much-anticipated bottling line to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. The Highland single malt Scotch whisky was filled on March 5, 1993. With a limited run for purchase, this bottling line will be available on VCL Vintners’ website from 02 May 2023.

The bottling line is made up of 249 bottles, distilled at the Ledaig distillery and bottled by VCL Vintners. The spirit was aged for 30 years. The bottling line will commemorate the first coronation in almost 70 years and embodies the life and passions His Majesty has enjoyed in his many decades of public service.

A special bottling to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III single malt scotch whisky:

ABV: 42.3%

AYS: 05/03/1993

Cask number: 252

Hailing from Ledaig distillery, this particular whisky represents the Royal Family’s steadfast commitment to serving the nation, highlighted through the pageantry and sophistication of the Coronation.

It contains depth in abundance and stays true to its roots of being a single malt from the much- loved Hebridean town of Tobermory. With a mellow nose feel and a dry prickle, the whisky accentuates an immediate hit of maritime nostalgia. Your mind is filled with memories of long summer days at sea, surrounded by family and loved ones. Your soul fills with the delicate notes of salt crystals, warm sand and the full-bodied crescendo of edible seaweed.

Beneath this, you’ll find lighter, fruitier notes, as if cascading through a pergola in the summer heat, promenading past white grapes and apples in the British countryside. A balanced and complex finish awaits. A concoction of both sweet and salty notes with a trace of white pepper followed by a lingering aftertaste of green apple for the palate. The fading of fruit leaves the connoisseur wanting more.

The Ledaig distillery, founded by John Sinclair, is based in the town of Tobermory, on the Hebridean island of Mull, where it has been operating since 1798. The distillery is still active under its current owners, Distell and has a capacity of 1 million litres. Now more widely known as its namesake ‘Tobermory’, the distillery’s water source is the stunning Gearr Abhainn, meaning ‘short river’ in Gaelic, giving Ledaig its unique complexity across the generations.

Throughout its history, Tobermory has undergone several closures since it became licensed in 1823, most notably in 1930 due to the drop in demand because of the prohibition in the USA. The distillery re-opened in 1972 but closed for three years as it needed more storage space to keep up with the newfound demand. Since re-opening in 1975, the distillery predominantly distils black label scotch. Bespoke batches of peated whisky have also been bottled here, produced under the name Ledaig, aptly translating to ‘safe haven.’

The bottles will retail at £495 (including VAT) on VCL Vintners’ website, available from 02 May 2023.

Discussing the limited-run bottling launch, Director and co-founder of VCL Vintners, Stuart Thom, said: “His Majesty’s Coronation is a once-in-a-lifetime moment that we wanted to celebrate. King Charles III is a great lover of Scotland and Hebridean whisky, and we believe this bottling line is an ode to his character as a public figure. We wanted to offer something that serves as a valuable memento for this great occasion, crafted by the soil and water of the land he protects. Whisky represents togetherness, craftsmanship and unity like no other spirit, and we want to commemorate that and put meaning at the heart of its creation.”