14 Year Old Dufftown: A Treat Down Memory Lane

“The early dawn chorus breaks the morning silence as the timeless smell of buttery toast wafts through the air. With nostalgia filled nostrils giving way to indulgent helpings of sticky raisins and mouth-watering fruit, this dram takes you yearningly down memory lane.”

This single malt is a dreamy journey through whisky – the creamy mouthfeel with layers of butterscotch triggers a lost memory you perhaps thought you’d lost. Needless to say, this release is not one to miss.

A Treat Down Memory Lane EU

ralfy review 983 – Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dha @46.3%vol: (Peated)

HIGHLAND PARK ANNOUNCES NEW

CASK STRENGTH RELEASE NO.4 SCOTCH WHISKY

June 2023: Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its new Cask Strength Release No.4 ahead of the distillery’s 225th Anniversary in September. Cask Strength Release No.4 is Highland Park in its purest form. Neither diluted nor chill-filtered, Cask Strength Release No.4 delivers a robust and intense flavour and will be available globally from May in limited at £80 RRP with an ABV of 64.3%, and available from end of June in the UK market from The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Amathus, and Master of Malt.

The launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 sees Highland Park use a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-port casks to the series for the first time, adding aromas of toasted coconut and Turkish Delight. the whisky is a naturally deep, rose gold colour, driven entirely by Highland Park’s casks, without additives. Cask Strength Release No.4 is matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads and a small quantity of refill casks – all hand selected by Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker.

Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker, comments: “For me, a cask strength whisky really celebrates an individual’s whisky journey, best enjoyed with your own personal level of water and ice added. The peat from our home in Orkney gives the whisky a completely different character with aromatic heather smoke and unexpected contrasts in sweet and smoky flavours.”

Highland Park produces each Cask Strength whisky in batches, annually, which allows the Master Whisky Maker the freedom to experiment with interesting and exciting styles of casks. This year, expect aromas of crushed lemons and cedarwood, along with peat smoke. On the palate, zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge, expertly balanced with toasted oak and heather-rich peat. A long finish gives way to sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice.

To celebrate the launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 in the brand’s 225th anniversary year, Highland Park has partnered with UK-based woodworker, Jamie Gaunt, to design a commemorative art piece, shaped from the oak cask staves used to mature the whisky. Inspired by both the flavours of Cask Strength Release No.4 and history of Highland Park, Gaunt’s sculpture will be on display in Orkney from summer 2023.

Jamie Gaunt, comments: “The crafts of whisky production and woodworking draw many parallels. Just as I transform a piece of wood, wood has the same impact on whisky. Cask Strength Release No.4 is no different; each of the casks used in the whisky contribute to the complex flavours and aromas. To commemorate the launch, I have transformed the staves from the casks to create a unique design inspired by Highland Park in its purest form.”

To find out more about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com

About the 2023 release of Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.4

RRP: £80

ABV: 64.3%

Appearance: Deep, rose gold colour

Tasting notes: Cask Strength Release No. 4 opens with enticing aromas of toasted coconut, driven by the ex-bourbon casks, along with crushed lemons and cedarwood; there’s a delightful hint of Turkish Delight in the aromatic peat smoke too, thanks to the influence of the ex-port casks. Intriguing flavours of zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge on the palate, expertly balanced by earthier suggestions of toasted oak and heather-rich peat, while the long finish reveals exotic sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice running through the final breath of floral peat smoke.

About Highland Park:

Whisky has been distilled at Highland Park in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Founder Magnus Eunson, was a direct descendant of Vikings who settled in Orkney over 1,000 years ago. A butcher and church officer by day and a bootlegger and smuggler by night, he set up an illegal whisky-making operation at a little bothy (a stone hut) at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall. It is still the site of the distillery today and although we say Highland Park was founded in 1798, that’s actually the year the authorities finally caught up with Magnus.

Few trees survive the gale-force winds on Orkney. This makes the island peat woodless and rich in heather. This then helps create the trademark Highland Park flavour profile of aromatic smoky peat and sweet heather honey.

www.highlandparkwhisky.com

Killowen Distillery Exclusive Bottling

Cask KDC#202 – Peated Tawny Port Finish

ABV: 56.05%

Upon disgorging this cask we discovered its beautiful and rich, red colour and the first emotions where both awe and dred. We believed the cask had over powered our beloved, rare, peated ‘old school mash bill’ whiskey. The last of which to be released from us for some time. Afterwards, upon tasting it, we realised we hit the jackpot. For us it’s the whiskey of they year and for those lucky enough to taste it at Whiskey Live, all held the same view.

This whiskey has all the qualities of an old school Killowen mash bill, as expected from the unique approaches of the distillery: wild fermentations, flame fed stills & extra long distillations in very underfilled, pure copper pot stills. Not to mention the hand mixed mash ton and meticulous cask management. Speaking of casks this is a combination of two smaller ex-bourbons which have spent the last 6 months of their lives in a fresh, rich and wet tawny port hogshead, even after a good water rinse the cask has influenced the colour massively, but no matter how strong the cask, the Killowen DNA always shines through and in this case, creates the perfect balanced flavour of summer fruits, peat smoke & pot still spice.

NOSE: 
Peat (turf) smoke, strawberries & cream, Rhubarb tart all amidst summer floral notes.

PALLET: 
Peat smoke explodes amidst a custard & fruit background. A rich maltiness shines through along with masses of pot-still spice, all within a sticky texture.

FINISH: 
A long lasting spice lingers towards a very jammy end, there is no chance you are settling for one glass.

Please enjoy your bottles, share them in good company, either in person or in the online community where we have many Killowen friends singing from the same hymn sheet.

Release Date: Thursday 29th June 2023 – 4.50pm (GMT) on www.killowendistillery.com

Price: £120

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The Killowen Distillery Team

15 Year Old Auchroisk: Springtime Dew

“Footprints carved into damp grass, early spring blooms of wildflowers and a refreshing breeze, the first bees of the year humming around you. Imagine all that as a smell, then a taste, then a dram of single malt scotch whisky.”

This whisky offer an uplifting abundance of green grass, wildflower blossom and honey. The sweetness is tempered nicely by the age of the dram as all the flavours come together to form a soft, syrupy and smooth single malt.

Springtime Dew UK

https://youtu.be/Ue2DR2Mo1xc

GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 12.

I’ve tried many of these bottles over the years but have rarely committed to the purchase. No reason in particular, I was probably too occupied with a Bourbon, probably.

A combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks and bottled at 58.2% ABV, this is a classic example of Glendronach. It is laced with amaretto, tiramisu, coffee, treacle, and big waves of caramelised vanilla. It is a thick, rich and rather wonderful example of what Glendronach can be. With added water it becomes especially…different.

LOST LANTERN DECLARES 2023 THE SUMMER OF BOURBON

WEYBRIDGE, VT (June 14, 2023)—The bourbon world has evolved dramatically in the 21st century. Once in steep decline, bourbon has been reborn and is more popular than it has been in half a century. That has led to the proliferation of bourbon producers across the country, making America’s signature spirit in places where it was never made before. Great bourbon now comes from across the United States, from Nevada’s arid deserts to Texas’ sprawling plains, from the snowbelt of Ohio, to the rugged mountains of Colorado, and, of course, from its historic heartland of Kentucky.

Capturing this dynamic moment in the bourbon landscape, Lost Lantern, the award-winning independent bottler of American Whiskey founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, decided to shine a light on the depth and breadth of bourbon. “As an independent bottler, we routinely work with all styles of American whiskey, including bourbon. However, we have never devoted such a large release entirely to one single style of whiskey,” commented Polonski. “But as America’s iconic spirit, bourbon demands it. The bourbon world has transformed, and we want to showcase the incredible quality and ingenuity coming from all over the country.” 

Welcome to the Summer of Bourbon. 

Lost Lantern’s Summer of Bourbon includes eight whiskies ranging across all three of its product lines: the Blend Series (blends of whiskies from multiple distilleries), the Single Distillery Series (blends of multiple casks from a single distillery that showcase a unique side of that distillery) and the Single Cask Series (whiskies from a single barrel from a single distillery).

Beginning July 26th, the full Summer of Bourbon Collection will be available for sale online at LostLanternWhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com. Select releases will be available in California, New York, Kentucky, and Alberta, Canada.

BLEND SERIES

• Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon (582 Bottles | 136.8 Proof) SRP: $110

SINGLE DISTILLERY SERIES

• Lost Lantern Soaring Spice Frey Ranch Distillery Nevada Straight Bourbon Whiskey (900 Btls | 127.6 Proof) SRP: $100

SINGLE CASK SERIES

• Lost Lantern Frey Ranch Distillery Nevada Straight Bourbon Single Cask (217 Btls | 137.2 Proof) SRP: $110
• Lost Lantern Boulder Spirits Colorado Straight Bourbon Single Cask (151 Btls | 142.6 Proof) SRP: $120
• Lost Lantern Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Bourbon Single Cask (167 Btls | 137.3 Proof) SRP: $120
• Lost Lantern Still Austin Texas Straight Bourbon Single Cask (167 Btls | 103.8 Proof) SRP: $80
• Lost Lantern Tom’s Foolery Ohio Straight Bourbon Single Cask (171 Btls | 113.8 Proof) SRP: $120
• Lost Lantern New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Cask (214 Btls | 114.2 Proof) SRP: $90

All the Summer of Bourbon releases are non-chill-filtered, bottled at natural cask strength, and transparently labeled with the source distillery or distilleries on the label.

The Summer of Bourbon includes the first new entry in Lost Lantern’s Blend Series since 2020, when the independent bottler introduced American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1. Far-Flung Bourbon is a blend of straight bourbons from four distilleries in four states that have never been blended before: Frey Ranch in Nevada, Boulder Spirits in Colorado, Watershed Distillery in Ohio, and Still Austin Whiskey Co. in Texas. The release also includes the first bourbon in Lost Lantern’s Single Distillery Series: Soaring Spice, from Frey Ranch Distillery in Nevada. And finally, it includes six different single casks from six distilleries in five states. Three of these distilleries are returning favorites: Frey Ranch in Nevada, Boulder Spirits in Colorado, and Ironroot Republic in Texas. Three are first-time Lost Lantern partners: Still Austin in Texas, Tom’s Foolery in Ohio, and New Riff in Kentucky.

“The Summer of Bourbon shows that great bourbon can take many different forms,” Ganley-Roper said. “It can be made in many different ways in climates and aging conditions that are utterly different from each other, having a huge impact on flavor. This incredible diversity of styles and flavors is part of what makes the bourbon world so exciting.” Each distillery in the Summer of Bourbon collection was carefully chosen to showcase this depth and breadth. Together, they paint a portrait of the true range and quality of bourbon.

…Let the Summer of Bourbon begin!

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey. In 2023, they were named Independent Bottler of the Year at the global Icons of Whisky Awards in London. The company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the U.S. and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency.

For more information about Lost Lantern, to learn about upcoming, available and retired whiskies, or to subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter, please visit LostLanternWhiskey.com.

Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on the following channels:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostlanternwhiskey 
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lostlanternwhiskey 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LostLanternDram 

Our June Auction ENDS SOON!

Only 8.5% buyer’s commission.

Auction ends Wednesday 28^th June from 2000 GMT.

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We offer FREE valuations to give you an idea of what your whisky may sell for at auction.

Contact us to arrange a valuation or collection.

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GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY

GlenAllachie is one of only a few independently owned and managed distilleries in Scotland. Located in the heart of Speyside, the distillery has Billy Walker at the helm who has over 50 years experience within the whisky industry!

With a long fermentation of 160 hours and over 50,000 casks quietly slumbering at the distillery itself, Billy has complete control over the whole process, allowing the team to produce an excellent single malt Scotch whisky.

With a passion and drive for excellency, Billy Walker and his team are certainly creating their own signature style in this new era at GlenAllachie.

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