The Grand Whisky Auction is now LIVE!
There are 2500+ lots to browse and bid on this month with one of the highlights being this 50 Year Old Glenturret Lalique!
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
T.+44 (0)1463 210 427 – sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com
Win a special meal at The Gannet Glasgow
Buy any bottle from the Fettercairn range for the chance to win a trip to the highly-acclaimed Glasgow restaurant, The Gannet. Enjoy a five-course tasting menu, inspired by Fettercairn, accompanied with paired wines and three drams, as well as an overnight stay in the city & UK travel.
Giveaway: Fettercairn x The Gannet
Win A Special Meal at The Gannet Glasgow
Fettercairn and The Gannet share a passion for local sourcing and partnering with their local communities. At Fettercairn, the next 100 years are more important than the last with a commitment to the future through the founding of the 200 Club, meaning for generations to come, every golden ear of barley used in the making of Fettercairn will be harvested from fields within a 50-mile radius of the distillery, grown by local farmers. At The Gannet, a seasonally changing multi-course menu is inspired by a network of small artisan producers, foragers and farmers to create a distinctly modern Scottish fine dining experience.
Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months
For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year!
Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 493: Virginia Highland Malt Whisky Port Cask Finished
Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries something… special. Recently his American friend John came by again. And once again he had a bottle with him that Mark hadn’t seen before, let alone tasted. From Virginia, yes. The Virginia Distillery is located at the foot of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains. But when Mark read the label, he looked up, because it says very clearly: ‘A marriage of Scotch malt whisky and American whisky finished in port wine casks’. This is actually a blended malt because the American whisky is also 100% single malt. Mark calls it a hybrid. And you should know that the American in the mix matured for 5 years and that the whole thing was finished on port casks for another 12 months after marriage. The whisky has won the title of Best American Blended Malt 5 years and running at the World Whisky Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021! Mark does wonder how many entries there were for that category. But enough of that, pop that bottle!
ISLE OF RAASAY X SELFRIDGES EXCLUSIVE SINGLE CASK RELEASE
HEBRIDEAN ISLAND DISTILLER LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE NEW RELEASE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SELFRIDGES
This peated Isle of Raasay single cask expression was hand selected by the Isle of Raasay team exclusively for Selfridges London, Manchester and Birmingham stores, and Selfridges.com.
This whisky was initially matured in ex-rye casks, building layers of peppery spice and black pepper to the flavour profile. The spirit was then further matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry quarter cask, resulting in delicious hints of almond, nuts and sweet fruit.
As always, this release was distilled, matured and bottled entirely on the Isle of Raasay, encapsulating the spirit and character of the Hebridean island. Bottled at natural cask strength with an ABV of 56.3% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered. Only 166 bottles have been produced in total.
The Isle of Raasay x Selfridges exclusive single cask retails at £99.99 for a 70cl bottle. It can be purchased from Selfridges London, Manchester and Birmingham stores, and on Selfridges.com from 6th July 2023.
BACKGROUND
Co-founders Bill Dobbie and Alasdair Day first met in 2013 and formed R&B Distillers with the common goal of building Scotland’s leading artisanal distillery. Focusing on local production, provenance, quality and doing things differently. By 2015, they had identified the Isle of Raasay as providing the ingredients for the perfect spirit, and planning permission to begin work revitalising the Isle of Raasay’s nineteenth century Borodale House into a state-of-the-art distillery, visitor centre, and luxury accommodation was granted in 2016.
Starting with a blank sheet of paper, they set about designing a distillery to create exceptional whisky that develops elegance, complexity, and depth early on in the maturation process and a handcrafted Hebridean gin that encapsulates Raasay’s style, character and impressive geological variety.
Since its establishment, the Isle of Raasay Distillery has brought job opportunities to the island, worked closely with other local businesses and become embedded in the island’s tight-knit community.
Part of the distillery’s ethos is to produce, mature, bottle and market every drop of spirit directly from the island. This seeks to maximise the influence of the island on the spirit, and the distillery on the island. To quote the inimitable Whisky Writer Dave Broom at our distillery opening: ‘we are not just making alcohol, we are making spirit.’
The distillery now employs more than 25 people on the island and the average age of the Raasay workforce is approximately 30 years old. An early indicator of creating inter-generational values and making sure this special island of 161 people continues to thrive. We can’t wait for you to come and visit our wonderful island and enjoy our Hebridean spirits for yourself.
THE ICONIC BOWMORE 1964 TRILOGY GOES TO AUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND
Available at auction for the first time in New Zealand, the team at Whisky Galore Auctions are proud to present the Bowmore 1964 Trilogy for sale.
Comprised of three bottles, the Bowmore White, Gold, and Black, this Trilogy represents some of the rarest whiskies ever released by the Bowmore distillery.
Filled into a small handful of cask types on the 5th of November in 1964 at the Bowmore distillery on Islay, the start of this series was first released in 2007 with the Black, following the White and Gold in 2008. This Trilogy has remained one of the most sought-after and iconic releases from any distillery on Islay, and given the small number of each bottle produced, their availability has dwindled over the years.
The reputation that these 3 whiskies have is not exclusively due to their rarity; they are regarded as among some of the best whisky that Scotland has ever produced. This lot contains three 700ml bottles including their presentation boxes:
Bowmore ‘Black’ Sherry Cask 1964 / 42 years old 40.5% 700ml
Bottled from five ex-Oloroso sherry casks for 42 years, only 827 bottles were produced of the Bowmore Black.
Bowmore ‘White’ Bourbon Cask 1964 / 43 years old 42.8% 700ml
Bottled from six ex-bourbon that matured for 43 years, only 732 bottles were produced of the Bowmore White.
Bowmore ‘Gold’ Fine Oak Cask 1964 / 44 years old 42.4% 700ml
Bottled from a selection of three ex-bourbon casks and one ex-Oloroso sherry cask that matured for 44 years, only 701 bottles were produced of the Bowmore Gold
This rare opportunity to own the trilogy of these iconic releases begins with bidding opening from the 12th of July at https://whiskygaloreauctions.co.nz, with the sale ending on the 18th of July.
We welcome bidders and interested parties from around the world – you can register to bid at https://whiskygaloreauctions.co.nz, and enquiries for further information can be made at info@whiskygaloreauctions.co.nz or by phoning Whisky Galore on +64 3 3776824.
Overseas bidders are encouraged to please contact WGA to confirm shipping and insurance arrangements.
ABOUT WHISKY GALORE AUCTIONS
Founded by whisky industry veteran Michael Fraser Milne (MQ), Whisky Galore Auctions was established to offer a specialist whisky auction service for New Zealand, serving clients around the country and overseas. Based at the Whisky Galore store in Christchurch, they are the leading specialist importers, sellers and auctioneers for whisky in New Zealand.
Something new from The Balvenie…
We can’t say much about this release, or anything at all, but The Balvenie will be launching the latest release from their Stories Range this week. This expression is limited and sought-after, so we would like to register interest ahead of time in anticipation of a ballot to purchase the product. Sign up below and have a shop of the rest of their range too.
The Stories Collection allows The Balvenie to tell the stories of the people and places where the whisky is made, tales of character written in whisky. At the heart of their newest whisky sits a tale of craft, intuition and a generations-old cultural exchange that spans the European continent.
Register Your Interest in the new release here →
New Limited Releases from Finn Thomson
Caol Ila 11 Years Old
This cask bottling from Caol Ila Distillery was bottled at its prime after 11 years and 11 months of maturation in a single First-Fill Bourbon Barrel. Distilled on 18th of May 2011 and bottled on 10th of April 2023 without chill-filtration or artificial colouring.
£79.99
Mannochmore 13 Years Old
The humble bourbon cask aged whisky is often overlooked these days in favour of sherried and heavily peated malts. New, alternative casks took the industry by storm. This Mannochmore is a classic bourbon maturation since well-matured bourbon cask malts are still a joy to drink. Mannochmore has a very light style of whisky, which marries beautifully with delicate notes produced by bourbon casks.
£84.99
Benrinnes 11 Years Old
This 11-year-old Benrines single malt whisky offers a unique combination of savoury spirit and sweet finish. Matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask, this whisky is sure to provide a balanced and enjoyable flavour. Perfect for whisky connoisseurs looking for something special!
£79.99
Royal Brackla 10 Years Old
This single malt is a throwback to the original style of the distillery, taking us back to 1835 when Royal Brackla was the first to receive a Royal Warrant and was renowned for its peatiness. Unlike in olden times, when smokiness came from peated barley, here the peat comes from a full maturation in an ex-Islay cask.
£74.99
Discover the heritage of nine generations.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Batch A123” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
Elijah Craig creates a few barrel-proof spirits each year. According to Whiskey Wash, “Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon A123 is a fiery hot whiskey that will satisfy the quench of an experienced palate….the proof is in the proof! At 125.6 proof, this bourbon packs a punch and delivers a spicy, full-mouth-experience. Although the heat is intense, it drinks consistent with a high end bourbon and is well-worth it’s price.”*4.5/5 stars
John E. Fitzgerald “Larceny A123” Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
93 points Whisky Advocate
Larceny’s first barrel proof release of 2023 makes a big splash with a bold whiskey that stands among the best bottlings in the series. The nose is layered with sweet cinnamon, oranges, cloves, and a sweet nuttiness. This never hides its proof but is well integrated from its nose through the long finish. On the palate, the nuttiness is even more evident with pistachio ice cream, toasted walnuts, pecan pie, and butterscotch. (SE) 
(3/2023)
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
I’ve not been able to get ahold of Midleton Very Rare for a while. With new master distillers coming in, and demand for the product seeing unprecedented new heights, I’m rather thankful to a customer for loaning me this bottle to review.
A combination of rather well aged single grain and single pot still whiskies, even at just 40% ABV, Midleton Very Rare is a rather special and very tasty option when it comes to premium blended whiskies.
With a nose that is dense with the most tangy, exotic fruits that I’ve come across for a while. All backed up by a drier, richer palate of coffee, soft oak, Xmas spices, and white chocolate.
A whisky that I would take over Johnnie Walker Blue Label in a heartbeat, here we have the 2023 release.
