Laphroaig 10 Year Old “Sherry Oak” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Previously $90) $54.99 View

Laphroaig 10 is definitely in the running for Scotland’s most iconic bottling. After years of pining for a sherried version—it’s finally here. The 10 Year Old Sherry Oak is finished in Oloroso casks providing a honeyed sweetness that perfectly compliments the salty smoke of Scotland’s most richly flavored malt. While it’s our hope that this will eventually be a staple on the shelves, the initial release is extremely limited and will certainly sell out in minutes.

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

White Heather 15 Years Aged – The Unbottling With Special Guest James Bornn

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY RELEASES THIRD BATCH OF ANNUAL CASK STRENGTH BOURBON WHISKEY

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (December 2023) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Virginia’s oldest distillery, today announces the return of its award-winning Cask Strength Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Now in its third year, the annual cask strength offering showcases the excellence in craft distilling bourbon enthusiasts have come to expect from A. Smith Bowman Distillery.

A.Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon is the result of continuous year-long tastings to blend the best barrels available. Hand-selected by Distiller David Bock, this year’s release is 135.1 proof and aged a minimum of nine years.

“When tasting through our barrel inventory, the 9-year-old barrels had a wonderful complexity and sweetness that I wanted to incorporate in this blend,” said Bock. “We believe our Cask Strength Whiskey is about crafting the best possible cask strength whiskey we can provide from our stocks. I’m excited for fans to try this year’s release!”

Bottled uncut and non chill-filtered, this bourbon boasts aromas of candy apples and strong maple; the palate offers pronounced sweet raisins and vanilla flavors, followed by toasted toffy. The tasting experience starts with very soft notes that continue to build toward a strong crispy finish indicative of higher proof bourbon.

A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #3 will be available in select markets in the United States, as well as through an online lottery. The online lottery will begin on January 3, 2024 at noon EST and ends January 10, 2024 at noon EST. The lottery is open nationwide, but winners MUST be able to purchase bottles in-person at the A. Smith Bowman gift shop within three weeks of winning. Limit one entry per person. To enter, please submit a form here. Winners will be randomly selected January 12, 2024, and notified by email immediately following the selection. Bottles are packaged in 750 mL and available at a suggested retail price of $99.99 (local taxes and fees apply).  For more information, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location. 

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five years, including “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016 for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon and again in 2017 for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel at the World Whisky Awards. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

With the Christmas season all wrapped up, e have some suggestions below as to how you might spend any upcoming downtime exploring your passion for whisky.

GOT 30 MINUTES?

Designed to give you a feel for how the EWA learning platform works, our Free Resources offer the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon dram. From How to Pronounce Scotch Whisky Distillery Names to Where to Start with Scotch Whisky, The A-Z of Scotch Whisky and The Scotch Whisky Tasting Toolkit, there’s plenty to get stuck into. We even have an Ultimate Quiz for Scotch Whisky Lovers if you’re feeling particularly competitive with family and friends.

GOT AN HOUR?

Our standalone Modules (£25) are a great way to spend an hour or so online. Focus on Flavour details the various stages during the Scotch whisky production process where key flavours are created. Wake Up Your Whisky Nose offers an overview of how your sense of smell works, with practical tips to boost your aroma memory. Both modules encourage you to consider your favourite drams a little differently and offer a greater appreciation of what goes into the glass.

GOT A DAY?

While there’s no deadline or time restriction for completing a Certificate course, we think there’s around 8-10 hours of material in both the Certificate in Scotch Whisky and Certificate in Irish Whiskey (£120). These detailed modular courses cover the fascinating history and business of each category, before journeying through the entire production process from grain to glass. With expert contributors including Dr Gordon Steele and Vic Cameron (Scotch) and Matt Healy and Fionnán O’Connor (Irish), you can be sure that you’re learning from the very best in the industry.

GOT A FEW WEEKS?

Immerse yourself in the world of single malt whisky when you study our flagship Diploma course online. For 2024, we’re pleased to announce the return of three-week guided study sessions for the Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (£1,015). While the immediate start, self-study option remains available and open to all, we’ve added three courses throughout 2024 which instead run to a schedule (start dates: 12 April, 2 August and 1 November). With live tutorials, regular drop-in dram sessions and a Community section, you’ll be in good company with likeminded whisky lovers from across the globe.

Shop All Courses

The world of drinks never stands still, happily at The Whisky Exchange we’re uniquely placed to explore these new developments. Our buying director Dawn Davies MW has picked out her drinks to watch for the year ahead, and is going to be hosting a tasting early in 2024 to explore them in more depth. In her own words: it’s always exciting to discover and understand the latest hot trends in the drinks industry. This tasting will give you an insight into what’s out there right now.

Whisky Makes the World Go Round

It is no surprise that we are continuing to see strong support for the whisky category, what is interesting is that we are seeing some incredible drams coming from countries well beyond the traditional whisky-making heartlands. A particular highlight at Whisky Show were the whiskies from Thomson in New Zealand which bring a fresh approach and flavours to their whiskies.

BOOK NOW

We’re thrilled to announce that the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived! The all-new SMWS app is now available exclusively for our UK members in both the Google Play and Apple stores.

You might be wondering, what’s so special about this app?

WITHIN THE SMWS APP, YOU CAN:

• Browse and buy Society bottlings and gifts.
• Read and shop the Outturn – the joy of whisky exploration doesn’t stop at the bottle!
• Create wish lists – your personal compass to whisky wonders.
• Manage your account like a true whisky connoisseur.
• Enjoy secure access using the wonders of fingerprint or face ID – safety and convenience in one neat package!

Think of the app as having your very own compass to navigate the intricate tapestry of taste sensations. With just a few taps, you can effortlessly find your next favourite whisky. To get started, simply download the app and let the voyage begin:

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

Bowmore 22 Year Old “Aston Martin” Limited Edition 102 Proof Islay Single Malt Scotch (750ml) $399.99 View

This rare Scotch is a partnership between Bowmore master blender Ron Welch and Astin Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. Inspired by the Golden Ratio and perfect proportions that make the world’s best Scotch both balanced, harmonious and timeless, the duo partnered to create this sublime Islay Single Malt.

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

Whisky Of The Year For 2024 (From The Bothy)

WYOMING WHISKEY DEBUTS “MADE OF WYOMING” CAMPAIGN

77 Ventures Creative develops the first brand campaign for Edrington’s Wyoming Whiskey

KIRBY, Wyo.  [December 4, 2023] – Wyoming Whiskey captures the soul-stirring vistas of Wyoming, the state at the heart of the whiskey brand, in their most extensive campaign to date, “Made of Wyoming.” Reinforcing Wyoming Whiskey’s position as America’s premium craft bourbon, the campaign showcases Wyoming’s vast landscapes and rugged beauty, from the Bighorn Basin to the Teton Range, and highlights craftsmanship, western tradition, and the sense of adventure intrinsic to the craft distiller and its home state. 

“Made of Wyoming” was developed by Wyoming Whiskey’s longtime agency partner, 77 Ventures Creative, who collaborated with production company Boomshot on an array of mixed-media assets. Footage and imagery for the campaign come from 7 years of shooting across the state — captured at the Mead Ranch in Jackson, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks, and the Wyoming Whiskey Distillery in Kirby. 

Michael Haje, President and Creative Director of 77 Ventures Creative and Boomshot founder, says of the campaign, “It’s another great creative opportunity from Wyoming Whiskey. The chance to tell its authentic brand story, show the whiskey world where we’re from, and demonstrate the impact of our very different environment on our bourbon.”  

Jack Bauer, Senior Brand Manager for Wyoming Whiskey, says of the campaign, “It’s exciting to launch our first ever brand Campaign and communicate why Wyoming Whiskey stands alone. The whiskey is a reflection of the state. Its people, landscape, and weather create one of the most unique whiskeys in the world, and we are delighted to share its story through the “Made of Wyoming” campaign.”

About Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey is ‘Made of Wyoming’. At its distillery in Kirby, WY, we distill 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 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 Grand and National Parks series. To learn more, visit http://www.wyomingwhiskey.com . 

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 Americas is headquartered in New York, NY with regional offices in Mexico City, Miami and Orange County.

Edrington’s principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated £343 million to charitable causes since 1961. Our business is underpinned by the Edrington values of giving, respect, integrity and excellence. 

About 77 Ventures

To venture is to dare. 

77 Ventures is an independent, full-service creative company based in New York and Nashville with a mission to create powerful brand stories for partners who inspire us. 

Our approach is fearless, strategic, and dynamic, honed by years of working with the most legendary names in sports, lifestyle, and beyond.

Find out more about 77 Ventures here:

Witness Me 

Jenny Hollowell

+1 917 733 5832

jenny@witnessme.com 

Agency and Production Credits

Agency: 77 Ventures Creative 

Production Co: Boomshot
President: Michael Haje 

Managing Director: Meredith Weiss 

CD/Writer: Michael Haje

CCO: Galen Bernard 

Head of Design: Alan Leusink 

CD/ Writer: Brendan Gillen

Executive Producer: Kim Daniels 

Head of Production: Krysia Johnstone 

Director of Photography: Will Atherton 

Editor/Photographer: Connor Cassidy 

Colorist: Rob Bessette / Color Refinery 

Sound/Mix:  Rick Van Benschoten 

VO: Will Brood 

Product Photographer: Mark Loader 

Print Producer: Josette Lata 

Group Account Director: Laura Ericksen 

Assistant Account Executive / Social Media Coordinator: Eva Speaker