ralfy review 1003 – Blue Spot Pot-Still Whiskey @ 58.9%vol:

EXCEPTIONAL SINGLE CASK WHISKIES STAR IN BONHAMS WHISKY SALE

Left to right: Glen Scotia 2000-23-year-old-Cask-22/61-3. Estimate: £63,000-85,000 (HK$ 600,000-800,000).  Loch Lomond 2012-11-year-old-Cask #21/946-9. Estimate: £21,000-32,000 (HK$200,000-300,000)

Hong Kong – Two exceptional casks of distinctive single-malt whisky from renowned Scottish distilleries, Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond, will star in Bonhams Fine & RARE Whisky Sale at Hong Kong Admiralty on 17 November 2023.

Diego Lanza, Head of Whisky, Asia and Head of Sale for Whisky auctions in the UK and Europe comments, “Owning a cask from a distinguished distillery is every whisky connoisseur’s dream. While private and individual cask ownership is still relatively new, it is fast gaining momentum in the whisky world and beyond. It is a fantastic opportunity to own casks offered directly from the producers, providing impeccable provenance and outstanding storage and exclusive bottling customisation. This is a rare opportunity to acquire some exceptional Campbeltown and Highland Single Malts, owning your personal distillery bottlings.”

The 23-year-old single cask of Glen Scotia, distilled in 2000 and aging in a 1^st Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask, at the Glen Scotia distillery, Campbeltown, Scotland, famed for its whisky-making, is offered with an estimate of £63,000-85,000 (HK$600,000-800,000). The purchase includes bottling and packaging costs, allowing you to brand and personalise your own whisky, together with distillery warehousing storage up to twenty years and an exclusive distillery experience, tour and tasting among many other benefits.

The 11-year-old cask of Loch Lomond single malt whisky distilled in 2012 and aging in a 1^st Fill Sauternes Cask, at the Loch Lomond Distillery on the Lomond Estate with an estimate of £21,000-32,000 (HK$200,000-300,000) is also offered with bottling and personalised packaging, together with storage up to fifteen years.  Since 1814, the Loch Lomond Distillery has been crafting the finest Single Malt Whiskies where craft and style are intrinsically linked. Collecting by casks offers a high degree of customisation in the bottling of the whisky, which is very rare, as well as the unique experience of collaborating directly with two very prestigious distilleries.

Left to right: Examples of customised bottling and packaging from the Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond distilleries.

Other whisky highlights in the sale include:

• The Macallan-52-year-old. 2018 Release. An exceptionally rare and limited release. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers, it is 116 of 250 bottles only. Estimate £42,000-53,000 (HK$400,000-500,000).

• The Macallan-78-year-old-The Red Collection. A peerless single malt whisky matured over 78 years. Bottled in 2020. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Estimate £68,000-90,000 (HK$650,000 – 850,000).

• Karuizawa-1969-50-year-old Cask, # 538. One of 347 bottles. This small Japanese distillery, which no longer exists, was known for producing whisky of the finest quality, noted for its floral scent and maturity. Estimate £32,000-42,000 (HK£300,000-400,000).

Highly prized whiskies will also be offered in the Bonhams Fine Whisky sales in both Paris and Edinburgh.

Highlights from the Whisky sale in Edinburgh running from 27 November-5 December (online) include some exceptional Macallan whiskies to include:

• The Macallan Lalique 50-year-old, distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers in Easter Elchies, Craigellachie and presented in its original case. Released in 2005, it is one of only 470 individually numbered decanters worldwide and the first decanter in the Lalique Six Pillars Collection. Estimate £75,000-90,000.

• The Macallan Anniversary Malt-25-year-old-1974. Bottled in 1999 and distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. Estimate: £2,500-3,500. 

• Sherriff’s Bowmore.  Distilled and bottled by Sherriff’s Bowmore Distillery Ltd, Islay. Estimate: £800-1,000

Highlights from the Whisky sale in Paris running from 8-18 December (online) includes some of the most collectable and highly respected malts in the world from the Bowmore Distillery, famed for its iconic spirits produced during the 1960s.

• Black Bowmore-42-year-old-1964. Estimate of €14,000-18,000

• White Bowmore-43-year-old-1964. Estimate of €13,000-16,000

• Gold Bowmore-44-year-old-1964. Estimate of €12,000-15,000

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, collectors’ cars and a luxury division, which includes jewellery, designer fashion, watches, wine, and whisky. In 2021 and 2022, Bonhams made a number of important acquisitions which form the wider Bonhams network. These include: Bukowskis, Bruun Rasmussen, Bonhams Skinner and Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr.

There are 14 salerooms around the globe: UK: New Bond Street, London; Knightsbridge, London; Edinburgh. US: New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Marlborough. Hong Kong: Admiralty. France: Avenue Hoche, Paris; Rue de la Paix, Paris. Belgium: Brussels; Denmark: Copenhagen. Sweden: Stockholm and Australia: Sydney.

With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60+ specialist areas.

In 2022, Bonhams held a number of important auctions and offered landmark single-owner collections, including the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Sir Terence Conran: The Contents of Barton Court, Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included Style and Substance: The Collection of George and Charlotte Shultz and The Claude de Marteau Collection.

Top lots for 2022 included a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (Sold for US$4,185,000), a pair of blue and white octagonal candlesticks (Sold for HK$30,453,00/ US$3,911,913), La femme en rouge au fond bleu by Chaïm Soutine (Sold for £1,842,300/ US$2,236,940), and a rare emerald and diamond Cartier bracelet (Sold for US$3,240,375).

More information and highlights can be found HERE

For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

The Bonhams Network

Bukowskis

Established in 1870, Bukowskis is the leading auction house in the Nordic region, offering fine art and collectables from their salerooms in Stockholm and Helsinki, as well as online. During the spring 2023 fine art season, Bukowskis sold 7 of the 10 most valuable artworks in Sweden and 32 lots above one million SEK –– while their innovative digital presence attracts over one million web users every month and 200,000 app users overall. Bukowskis offer more than 70,000 lots each year across Art, Works of Art, Design, Jewelry, Watches, Asian Works of Art, Carpets, Glass & Ceramics, and Silver.

Bruun Rasmussen

From its Copenhagen saleroom and online, Bruun Rasmussen sells more than 75,000 lots each year across categories from furniture, paintings and modern design to silver, wine and collector’s items such as books, arms and armour, stamps and coins.

Bonhams Skinner

Renowned New England auction house Bonhams Skinner holds some 80 auctions a year in 20 collecting categories – including Americana, fine art, collectables and wine, and ranging from fine violins to contemporary paintings – at its salerooms in Boston and Marlborough, Massachusetts, as well as on its highly effective digital platform for online sales.

Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr

Established in 1973, Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is famous throughout the auction world for its high-profile single-owner sales. With salerooms in Paris and Brussels, it holds auctions in more than a dozen categories, including fine art, haute couture, Asian art, collectable cars, jewellery, watches and more.

NOVEMBER AUCTION HALF WAY POINT!

As we approach the halfway point in this month’s auction, let’s take a look at some of the cracking Clynelish bottles we have this month, including this outstanding bottles of early 1980’s Ainslie & Heilbron.

We love the Rare Malts range and this Clynelish 23 Years Old, distilled in 1972, would make a fantastic addition to any collection.

We also have this wonderful Clynelish expression bottled by the Hart Brothers. Distilled in 1995, then Drawn from a single Cask #12782 in 2007 and bottled at Cask Strength.

This 14 Years Old Clynelish Flora and Fauna features the white cap, as well as having the wooden display box, surely adding even more to its appeal.

Finally, we have this strong offering from Clynelish which was exclusive for distillery visitors, bottled at a hefty Cask Strength of 57.3%.

These are only a few of the bottles in our NOVEMBER 2023 Auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 19th November from 8pm BST.

The second bottling of the fantastic blended scotch ‘Tarot’ series is a spellbinding 12 year old sherry matured conjuror – it has now been pulled oot the hat. ‘The Magician’ is 75% grain – 25% malt at 45.5% abv. From the magician himself at North Star Spirits – Iain Croucher.

The Good Dram Show – Episode 533 ‘Arran & Lagg Distilleries’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show, which features some new releases from both the Arran and Lagg distilleries. Episode 533 – It Happens, You Know…!

Featuring

Arran Signature Series 1 ‘Remnant Renegade’ 46%

Arran 17 year old 46%

Arran Machrie Moor 10 year old 46%

Lagg Distillery ‘Kilmory’ 46%

Lagg Distillery ‘Corriecravie’ 55%

Lagg Distillery Exclusive ‘Hand Fill’ 2019 (3 year old) 61.7%

MORRISON SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERS LAUNCH OLD PERTH PALO CORTADO 

It’s the first Old Perth ever to be matured in this type of sherry cask 

November 2023, Aberargie,Scotland – Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, creators of Old Perth Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, have announced the release of Old Perth Palo Cortado. Considered to be the rarest variety of Sherry, Palo Cortado is created when the protective ‘flor’ yeast does not form on sherry intended to become Amontillado. Palo Cortado is a wine of great complexity which combines the delicate bouquet of an Amontillado with the body and palate of an Oloroso.

The brand carefully selected a range of exceptional hogshead casks that had the ideal structure and complexity, then through various sampling and blending sessions the result is a delicate, balanced expression of Old Perth with the influence of Palo Cortado.

Niel Hendriksz, Commercial Director, Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers said, 

 ‘Our series of Old Perth Limited Edition releases aim to explore the relationship between sherry casks and Scotch Whisky. With our previous limited edition highlighting the powerful influence of sweet, syrupy PX sherry, we wanted to contrast this with something completely different: an elegant, dry sherry with pronounced nuttinessthat beautifully showcases the delicate interplay between the richness of Scotch whisky and the unique characteristics of Palo Cortado sherry casks.

Unlike the Old Perth PX Edition where the brand wanted immense cask influence to display the power and complexity of the PX; with Palo Cortado it’s all about delicacy and finesse. Through carefully managing the time and influence of the cask they were able to ensure just the right amount of interaction to create a perfect balance.

TASTING NOTES 

Old Perth Palo Cortado 

55.8% ABV

RRP: £58

Colour: Burnt Orange

Nose: Fragrant honey suckle, vanilla cream and spiced biscuits

Palate: Honeycomb, candied nuts and ripe orchard fruits

Finish: Lingering fruity sweetness with delicate spice and nuts in the background

Old Perth Palo Cortado will be available to purchase for £58 from the 3rd November, for stockist information please CLICK HERE

ABOUT OLD PERTH  

Old Perth was a lost blend that was originally created by Peter Thomson, who began his career in the grocery, wine and spirits business in Perth in 1908, but soon established his own whisky blends. One of these was Old Perth, which quickly proved popular amongst Scottish publicans.

In the 1960s, those in the know held Old Perth whisky in high esteem because its high malt content (and inclusion of one of the world’s most prestigious sherried single malt whiskies). It was regarded as one of the best blends in existence.

Nearly half a century later, one of Scotland’s oldest whisky families, the Morrisons (formerly of Morrison Bowmore Distillers), purchased Old Perth and have brought the legacy back to life for all to enjoy. Old Perth is a range of Blended Malt Scotch Whisky which has restored tradition by blending in Perth and exclusively using sherry matured malt from a selection of Scotland’s finest distilleries, located in the Glenlivet region of Speyside.

To find out more about Old Perth visit www.oldperthwhisky.co.uk  

ABOUT MORRISON SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERS   

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers is solely owned and operated by one of Scotland’s oldest and most prominent whisky families, Jamie and Brian Morrison. There has been over five generations of the Morrison family involved in the whisky business including grocers, brokers, blenders, bottlers and distillers, making them one of Scotland’s oldest whisky families.

Their heritage gives them access to a wide variety of unique and exceptional casks from pedigree distilleries across Scotland. Their family’s values are run through everything they do and they proudly showcase these underneath each of their bottles reiterating their commitment to Patience, Intuition and Integrity.

In every whisky they release, they are committed to continue to impart the knowledge that has been passed down from generations of family whisky makers.

To find out more about Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers visit www.morrisondistillers.com 

The slow, but rewarding, process of aging whisky

Way back in the summer of 2011 the first distillations were carried out at Shelter Point. 12 years ago. Fortunately the temptation to sell some of the barrels has been resisted and they remain in our warehouse, aging peacefully as the stacks of barrels grew around them.

12 years is a significant anniversary though and is felt appropriate that 2 of those barrels should be carefully selected and released as Shelter Points first ever 12 Year Old.

We are very proud to have reached this milestone and we are even more proud of how this release tastes. The time in the barrel has created a dram with a rich flavour, sublime mouthfeel and an ever so satisfying finish.

This is an extremely limited release and we are delighted to be able to make this available this fall. Once again the first stage of the release will be through the BC Liquor Stores spirit release on November 18th. More information on the release can be found here – https://www.bcliquorstores.com/promotion/2023-premium-spirit-release

There will be an instore tasting to accompany this release on November 18^th at the Westwood Centre store, 10am – 12pm.

The stores that will be gaining inventory of the 12YO can be found in the above link to the BCL spirits release, contact them directly to find out more.

The second stage of the release will be a staggered release through our own distillery store. As there are only limited numbers we will be releasing 3 cases to our store a month, on the first Wednesday of each month. They will be sold on a first come first serve basis, 1 bottle limit and in store only, not online. The first release date will be December 6^th.

Evans Family Reserve 

Another product that has can be found on the shelf of the BC Liquor stores is our Evans Family Reserve Caribbean Rum Cask Finish. This is the follow up to our Wine Cask Finish which was extremely popular and the Rum Cask Finish is proving to be equally so.

Finished in casks from the Caribbean, Martinique and Barbados specifically, the Rum Cask Finish has taken on the rich molasses based Rum notes from the Barbados casks and the floral notes from the Rhum Agricole from Martinique to create a wonderfully complex dram. We have been fortunate to have been pouring this at the distillery for a few months now and the response has been incredible. There is something in this for all single malt lovers, whether they are rum fans or not.

Tasting Notes:
Honeyed with hints of pear and banana on the nose. The palate is sweet vanilla, caramelised sugar with apples and subtle oak tannins. Exceptionally smooth and well rounded the finish is full of butterscotch, toffee and ginger spice.

The Evans Family Reserve can be found in BC Liquor Signature stores or in our online store.

Shop Now for the Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

Upcoming Events

We had a blast at Art of the Cocktail and the San Francisco Whisky Fest, sharing our spirits and meeting friends old and new.  Upcoming for us this month is Cornucopia in Whistler BC. If you are attending Cornucopia this year then keep an eye out for Shelter Point. We will be pouring at the Taste of the World on Friday 17^th and Poured on Saturday 18^th as well providing a masterclass on our whiskies at a seminar at 4:15 on Saturday 18^th. Details can be found here:  https://www.whistlercornucopia.com/

Gift Ideas and Deals

Keep an eye on our social media channels and for further emails from us as we will be releasing details of gift ideas and deals for the holidays.