Archive for 2023

GOODBYE HEDONISM Farewell to the whisky that started it all – Scotch Whisky News

GOODBYE HEDONISM Farewell to the whisky that started it all

In 2000, at his kitchen table in West London, John Glaser started Compass Box. The first whisky he created was also the first ever Blended Grain Whisky released to the market. This established Compass Box as a brand that wasn’t afraid to do things differently.

He called this whisky Hedonism, inspired by pleasure and enjoying life to its fullest extent. It was a celebration of the ideal marriage between distilled spirit and high quality oak maturation. John felt that, at their best and aged in good quality American oak casks, grain whiskies were among the most delicious whiskies in the world.

The compellingly deep notes of vanilla and toffee, along with the wonderfully soft arrival have been Hedonism’s defining characteristics. The aromas hint of vanilla, caramel, a delicate fruitiness, accented by flashes of coconut in the finish. It’s a whisky that has appealed to both the ardent whisky enthusiast and newcomers alike.

Sadly, the old and rare stocks of grain whisky we use to make this delicious whisky  are becoming harder and harder to find. So, as of next year, Hedonism will become a Limited Annual Release.  For now, there are still some bottles of the Hedonism we know and love, available to shop now.

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Laphroaig 34 Year Old, The Ian Hunter Story Batch 5 – Tyndrum Whisky News

Laphroaig 34 Year Old, The Ian Hunter Story Batch 5

This 34-year-old ex-bourbon barrel matured single malt is the fifth and final release in their series of rare and collectable aged whiskies to celebrate the story of the legendary Ian Hunter.

Tasting notes:

Colour: Deep, rich copper.

Nose: Lightly peaty with notes of iodine and burnt wood. Floral green malt, sweet candyfloss and vanilla fudge, and subtle blueberry and raspberry accents.

Palate: Sweet and spicy, with hints of classic Laphroaig peat and cold barbecue ash. Salted caramel and butterscotch, roast chestnut, a hint of peach, dried flowers and white pepper.

Finish: Peaty and malty, with a lingering sweetness.

Maturation: Double matured in a combination of first fill ex-bourbon American Oak barrels and Pedro Ximénez European Oak Hogheads.

£1,199.00

£1,100.00

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Chinese New Year 2024 – The Whisky Shop News

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Chinese New Year 2024

For Blue Label Chinese New Year 2024, Johnnie Walker have collaborated with world-renowned contemporary artist James Jean to create this exquisite limited-edition whisky. As the year of the wood dragon, Jean has reimagined the creature in his design as interwoven and layered with botanical elements, the result is something very striking indeed.

£225.00

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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. Find out more

THREE Great Blended Scotch Whiskies for 2024 – Scotch Whisky News

Glenmorangie shines a dazzling new light on its infinitely delicious 18 Year Old – Scotch Whisky News

Glenmorangie shines a dazzling new light on its

infinitely delicious 18 Years Old 

— Endlessly complex Glenmorangie Infinita is reimagined with luxurious new look —

Glenmorangie today celebrates the infinite deliciousness of its award-winning 18-year-old whisky with a bold new look and evocative name. Shining a brilliant new light on its luxury flagship, the Highland single malt Scotch whisky showcases the limitless flavours of Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old. With elegant floral notes threaded through honey, dried-fruit depths and subtle spiciness, this single malt is regarded by its creator as his most complex and beautifully balanced whisky.

Led by renowned Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are endlessly imaginative on their mission to dream up delicious whiskies. And many years ago, intent on creating the quintessential Glenmorangie, Dr Bill first brought The Infinita to life. Fragrant and multi-layered, his favourite whisky has been delighting the experts ever since, winning dozens of top accolades.

The Infinita begins with Glenmorangie’s silky, fruity spirit, crafted using water from its mineral-rich water source, The Tarlogie Springs. It is distilled in Glenmorangie’s giraffe-high stills, whose height allows more space for taste and aroma. For the first 15 years, this whisky rests in hand-selected American oak bourbon casks. Then, a portion is transferred into Oloroso sherry casks for three more years. Once 18 years have passed, Dr Bill reunites them in a single malt so infinitely complex it brings a wondrous new flavour experience with every sip. You might scent honeyed notes rippling across pools of caramelised orange. Or taste gardens of jasmine and lemon blossom, touched by the breeze. Or a rhapsody of warm, figgy richness and orange marmalade depths, warmed with a gentle spiciness.

The whisky’s limitless deliciousness is stunningly reflected in vibrant new packaging to be rolled out around the world from November 2023. The bold blue hue of its gift box is threaded with luxurious linework, which curves into a beautiful infinity symbol. And on the whisky’s distinctively elegant bottle, the label glows with a rich copper tone – a tribute to Glenmorangie’s signature copper stills.

Dr Bill Lumsden said: “For me, Glenmorangie Infinita encapsulates every element of our house style in perfect harmony and is our most deliciously complex creation. A favourite with whisky lovers old and new, it seamlessly unites subtle sherry-cask hints and woody notes from its great age, with our Distillery’s signature soft and fruity character. The result is a beautifully balanced single malt so multi-layered, it’s as if you are drinking a different whisky every time.

“There are aromas of honey, vanilla, narcissus and jasmine, and tastes of figs, dates, nuts, gentle spices and more. Fans of Glenmorangie 18 Years Old can rest assured that our wondrous whisky is unchanged. I’m sure they’ll agree that, as its new name suggests, Glenmorangie Infinita is deliciousness without end.”

Glenmorangie The Infinita is now available in the UK at Glenmorangie.com and on Amazon, RRP: £130.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenmorangie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glenmorangie

For exclusive access to new limited edition expressions, events and news, join Glenmorangie’s World of Wonder: https://www.glenmorangie.com/members

TASTING NOTES

Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old is bottled at 43% ABV

Colour: Honeyed gold.

Nose: Tangy, caramelised citrus-fruit aromas combine with a complex floral fragrance – a blend of honeysuckle, narcissus and jasmine.

Taste: A soft, oily texture gives way to flavours of nuts and spices, with notes of dates, figs and a hint of wood smoke.

Finish: Long and infinitely enticing, as the sweetness of dried fruit and dryness of Oloroso sherry develop.

RRP: £130 

About Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old:

This celebrated whisky has its origins in the 18-year-old single malt Glenmorangie first created more than 30 years ago. That deeply sherried whisky was subtly transformed by Dr Bill Lumsden after he joined the Distillery in 1995. It has been adored by whisky lovers and industry experts ever since, being awarded with 23 global awards since 2011. In his quest to create the most complex and beautifully balanced Glenmorangie, Dr Bill ages the whisky in hand-selected American oak bourbon casks for 15 years. Then, a portion is transferred into Oloroso sherry casks for three more years. He reunites them after 18 years. Glenmorangie now celebrates and presents the whisky’s wondrous and endless tastes in a new light, renaming it The Infinita to reflect its infinite deliciousness. 

The packaging changes include a bold blue gift box, vibrantly coloured to catapult the whisky into Glenmorangie’s wondrous world. Its luxurious linework depicts an infinity symbol – a nod to the whisky’s name and limitless flavours. On the back, are the whisky’s tasting notes and the signature of its creator, Dr Bill Lumsden. When the box is opened, the inner is a tantalising orange – a delicious surprise in Glenmorangie’s signature colour.  The bottle has a subtly smaller label, allowing the single malt’s wondrous hue to speak for itself. Its copper closure reflects Glenmorangie’s towering copper stills, while a swirl to discover in the base of the bottle, is inspired by the Distillery’s water source, the Tarlogie Spring. In order to increase its sustainability, Glenmorangie has designed the gift box from one material for easier recycling. Meanwhile, the brand has reduced the weight of this whisky’s bottle by 12%, to further reduce its carbon emissions.

From 2011 to 2023, Glenmorangie’s 18 year old expression has won 23 industry awards, including:

  • IWSC Gold Best in Class, Gold Outstanding, and Gold (multiple times)
  • San Francisco Spirits Competition: Double Gold and Gold (multiple times)
  • World Whiskies Best Highland Single Malt (2015)
  • ISC Gold (multiple times)
  • IWC Gold (2017)
  • IWC Best Single Malt Scotch 18 Year Old (2021)

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s kind of delicious and wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to see themselves in Glenmorangie’s world.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout more than 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the magic of a walk in the woods (A Tale of the Forest) the joy of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake) a rich and intense coffee (Glenmorangie Signet) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he has taken his place in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkerssavour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelinesfor alcohol consumption.

Scotch Whisky Auctions “Our 150th auction is now live!” – Auction Whisky News

A very warm welcome everyone to our momentous and jam-packed 150th auction!  First things first, a huge thank you to all our valued customers over our past 149 monthly auctions, without your enduring support this landmark could never have been achieved.

With over nine thousand bottles in this month the auctions are still going strong, so without further ado here are some interesting bottles from this month’s selection you might want to add to your watchlist.

Glenfarclas 1991 Family Cask #210 for the 10th Anniversary of SWA

To mark our 150th auction we have decided to release a small amount of our own Glenfarclas 1991 Family Cask #210 for the 10th Anniversary of SWA.  These were hugely popular when first released almost 25 auctions ago, so if you missed out then now is your chance to snap one up.  Only 50 bottles are available and are priced at £420 (+ VAT where applicable).  A fine dram indeed and with Christmas on the horizon this would make a hearty stocking filler for any whisky lovers out there.

Highland Park 1958 17 Year Old 75cl

This is a distinguished older gentleman indeed, the Highland Park 1958 17 Year Old 75cl.  Sure to get the Orcadians bidding (and Highland Park fans more generally), this a superb specimen and still in remarkably good condition given it was released almost five decades ago.   Bottled by Ferraretto for the Italian market this a rare and special bottling from Scotland’s northernmost whisky distillery.

Bowmore 1971 18 Year Old Sestante 75cl

Continuing the theme of old whiskies from celebrated Scottish distilleries bottled for the Italian market this is the Bowmore 1971 18 Year Old Sestante 75cl.  Distilled over fifty years ago in 1971 this unusual bottling sits proudly among Sestante’s excellent array of releases over the years.  Created by Ernesto Mainardi in 1977 Sestante Imports developed a reputation for only releasing the finest bottles sourced from the best distilleries, and this beauty certainly fits that description.

Balvenie 1965 Over Proof Robert Watson 26 2/3 Fl Oz

As one of the most respected distilleries in Scotland, never mind Speyside, Balvenie have been producing whisky for over a century.  Despite this long and storied history they only released their first official single malt in 1971 so this Balvenie 1965 Over Proof Robert Watson 26 2/3 Fl Oz hails from a bygone era.  Bottled by Robert Watson Ltd of Aberdeen this dram is rare piece of Scotch whisky history being from the period of Balvenie’s production where their output went solely to the blending enterprises within the larger Grant’s operation.

J.A. Dougherty Sons 1916 13 Year Old Pure Rye Whiskey One Pint

There are few periods of history more compelling than the prohibition era in the United States, when the consumption of alcohol was outlawed from 1920 to 1933.  Unsurprisingly bottles from this period are incredibly rare making this J.A. Dougherty Sons 1916 13 Year Old Pure Rye Whiskey all the more special.  Given its incredible age this bottle of Philadelphia’s finest has survived remarkably well, with a decent fill level still apparent.  Prohibition-era bottlings always get us talking (and admiring) here at SWA, so if you want your own conversation starter and bona fide slice of American distilling history, this is your chance.

As the festive period fast approaches this is one of our busiest times of the year, so we urge anyone thinking of selling in the Christmas auction to get their bottles in as soon as possible.

For our UK and Europe customers this auction is your last chance to get a special bottle in time for Christmas, and as always we charge no sellers commission and only 10% buyer’s premium so now is the time to procure that perfect festive tipple.

We have a wide range of drams with something to suit everyone, so now is the time to get moving picking out your own personal favourites for your watchlist.  Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

Christmas Updates

BUNNAHABHAIN DISTILLERY 31 Year Old 1991 Old & Rare Platinum (2023) at The Whisky Barrel – Scotch Whisky News

BUNNAHABHAIN 31
1991 Vintage

Oloroso hogshead

£542.50

Old & Rare

Bunnahabhain 31 Year Old 1991 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single Oloroso sherry hogshead bottled September 2023 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum series. 85 numbered bottles.

This deep-amber coloured whisky has intense notes of sherry oak on the nose with nutmeg, leather, ginger and red fruits. On the palate the dried fruit and oak notes combine along with the spices and a wonderful orange tang, leading into a long sweet and spicy finish.

Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whisky which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old.

Back in Stock: Blanton’s Bourbon – The Whisky Exchange News

BACK IN STOCK:
BLANTON’S BOURBON

In time for the holidays, we’ve welcomed a limited amount of two of our bestselling bourbons from Blanton’s. Produced at Buffalo Trace distillery, each bottle of Blanton’s Original and the higher strength Blanton’s Gold is drawn from a single cask and offers a full-bodied palate of rye spice, vanilla and dried fruit. Replenish your whisky collection with this classic name or gift a bottle to an American whiskey drinker this Christmas.

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Mary Dowling High Rye & Double Oak Bottlings at K&L California ~ Kentucky Straight Bourbon News

Mary Dowling High Rye Tequila Barrel Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $79.99 View

Mary Dowling Double Oak 107 Proof Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $129.99 View

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

ralfy review 1005 Extras – The teaspoon and jam jar thing ! – Scotch Whisky News

ralfy review 1005 Extras – The teaspoon and jam jar thing !


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