J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Opens in Frankfort, Ky

Mattingly Family Carries on Bourbon Tradition started Two Centuries Ago, Innovating with Double Stave Process and Custom Blending Experience

FRANKFORT, KY (Nov. 1^st, 2023) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, opened its distillery today in Frankfort, Ky.  The new distillery features 23,000 square feet, which includes a gift shop, tasting bar, a small pot still, and a premier custom bourbon blending experience.  The distillery will offer tours, tastings and the custom bourbon blending experience every day but Sundays.

            Previously located in Georgetown, Ky., the new location at 20 Reilly Road in Frankfort, Ky. is part of a $6 million investment which will also add up to 50 new jobs.  That investment is projected to grow as the distillery starts distilling on site, and eventually adds a second column still and barrel warehouses on property purchased in Shelby County, Ky.  The addition of the column still carries on the 19^th century Mattingly innovation of the coffee column still which greatly enhances continuous production of bourbon.

            A grand opening took place today with Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Ray Perry speaking, joined by Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson; President of J. Mattingly 1845 Harry Richart IV; and Cameron Mattingly, vice president of production.

            One could say Jeff Mattingly has bourbon in his blood.  His ancestor John Graves Mattingly started his first distillery in 1845.  Although the distillery was Registered Distillery #2, it is widely reported his distillery may have been the first registered distillery in Kentucky.  The Mattingly name is so ingrained with distilling there have been at least nine distilleries in Kentucky in which a Mattingly had a hand in developing.  The family also has connections to some of the most prolific bourbon barons in the industry, including George Garvin Brown of Brown Forman, the Willett family, and the Samuels family, with Margie Mattingly Samuels creating the iconic Maker’s Mark packaging, label, bottle shape and famous red wax.

            Today, current owner Jeff Mattingly, alongside his son Cameron, carry on the Mattingly family mantle and continue to innovate, much like their ancestors did.  Each batch of their flagship J. Mattingly 1845 Bourbon is a custom, one-of-a-kind blend, using a proprietary double stave process to add texture, richness and depth before it is expertly blended by the J. Mattingly 1845 production team.

            Visitors to the new location in Frankfort will have the opportunity to participate in a state-of-the-art custom blending experience, which allows them to blend their own bottle from a combination of hand-selected barrels of Kentucky bourbon, wheated bourbon or rye whiskey, then choose their bottle, customize their label, and choose their wax color, offering a premiere hands-on experience not found at any other distillery.

            “We’re excited to be in Frankfort and we appreciate the warm welcome we’ve received from the community,” said Jeff Mattingly, founder and owner of J. Mattingly 1845.  “Our slogan is ‘One Hell of a Pick,’ which came about when I was blending a batch with some bourbon experts from around the United States and it was so good we proclaimed it ‘One Hell of a Pick.’  That batch and that slogan will always have special meaning to me since it was one of the first bourbons sold and marketed in over 100 years under the Mattingly family name.  Now, we’re starting another new chapter with our move to Frankfort, and we look forward to helping our guests blend their own ‘One Hell of a Pick!’”

            The J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery will be open for tours, tastings, and the J. Mattingly custom bourbon blending experience Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Closed on Sundays.  Reservations are not required but are encouraged, especially for the custom blending experience.  Reservations can be made online at www.JMattingly1845.com.

 About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

A WHISKI Christmas

Indulge in a magical Christmas at Whiski!

This year, we present not one, but two enchanting venues for you to choose from – Whiski Bar in the middle of the Royal MIle and Whiski Rooms on the Mound, both in the heart of historic Edinburgh. Our passionate chefs have spared no effort in curating an extraordinary Christmas menu, sourcing the finest ingredients from Scotland’s abundant larder to ensure a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Explore our mouthwatering menus below and let your taste buds guide you to your perfect Christmas celebration.

Whiski Rooms

Celebrate the festive season in style with Whiski Rooms Christmas menu. Great for groups and parties with stunning view over the Mound to Princes Street – we look forward to welcoming you.

See Whiski Rooms Xmas menu

Whiski Bar & Restaurant

Celebrate the festivities with us in the Royal Mile at Whiski Bar. We can cater for groups and will ensure your party goes with a bang. With live music every night, we have it all going on to make your celebration a fabulous one.

See Whiski Bar’s Xmas Menu

SHOP FOR GIFTS ONLINE

Struggling for a great gift? Browse our online web shop for a fantastic range of over 500 whiskies, gift hampers and Scottish gifts, all can be delivered or pop in and see us in our dedicated shop adjoining the Whiski Rooms .

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GIFT VOUCHERS

Our gift vouchers make great gifts, so versatile and can be use din all three of our Whiski Venues so take your pick from Whiski Bar with its live music every night to the romantic Whiski Rooms or indulge in a delicious whisky tasting in our shop or just buy a bottle of something tasty with your gift voucher – we ‘ve got it covered.

Buy Gift Vouchers & Experiences here

GLENGOYNE CASK STRENGTH

BATCH #10 

RRP £88 – Abbey Whisky Only £76.90!

Batch 10 of the popular cask strength offering from Glengoyne distillery, crafted from Highland malt matured in a combination of sherry casks, refill casks and a small selection of bourbon barrels. Batch 10 has been bottled at cask strength, 59.5% vol. ‘A perfect balance of baked pears, ‘an enticing aromas of fresh, crisp apple and juicy blackberries, the decadent flavour of vanilla custard slices, and a long, lingering finish’.

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Whether you’re planning a lively soirée with friends or enjoying a quiet night under the stars, we’ve got the perfect companion to your Bonfire Night, with our cheekily named Cask No. 59.74: For Fawkes’ Sake.

Imagine raising a glass with loved ones, the crackling bonfire casting mesmerising shadows on your smiling faces, as you share stories and laughter that light up the night. This whisky is more than a libation; it’s the catalyst for creating unforgettable memories.

Scroll on to discover more!

Cask No. 59.74                           FOR FAWKE’S SAKE

It’s Bonfire Night and we found a delicate hint of smoke alongside an apple orchard as we placed the windfalls from a late harvest on wet grass in a wicker basket. We found warm spice on the palate, sweet and tart like a gooseberry coconut cake … but wait, there it was again, that wisp of teasing smoke

LET THE SPARKS FLY

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

ralfy review 1000 Extras – Three bits of advice.

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SOTHEBY’S TO OFFER THE WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE WHISKY

Bottle of The Macallan Adami 1926 to come under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London on 18 November with an estimate of £750,000 – 1.2 million

This autumn, Sotheby’s will offer at auction a bottle containing the world’s most valuable whisky. The Macallan 1926 has always been recognised as the most sought-after Scotch whisky, as illustrated by the sum of £1.5m ($1.9m) achieved by Sotheby’s in 2019, for the Fine & Rare version, which set a new auction record for any bottle of wine or spirit.

After being aged in sherry casks for six decades, just 40 bottles of The Macallan 1926 were bottled in 1986, representing the oldest Macallan vintage ever produced. The 40 bottles were reportedly not made available for purchase; instead, some were offered to The Macallan’s top clients. The appearance of any of these bottles at auction over the years has resulted in extraordinary results – across 2018 and 2019, the auction record was broken three times by three of the different variations (Sir Peter Blake, Michael Dillon, Fine & Rare).

Marking the first time one of the 40 bottles has come to auction at Sotheby’s since the current record was set, a bottle of The Macallan Adami 1926 will come under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London on 18 November 2023, with an estimate of £750,000-1,200,000. Advance bidding will open on 1 November.

Distinguishing this offering even further is the fact that this is the first bottle to have undergone reconditioning by The Macallan Distillery ahead of being presented at auction. This process involved replacing both the capsule and the cork, applying new glue to the corners of the bottle labels and taking a 1ml liquid sample to test against another 1926 bottle at the Edrington offices in Glasgow. The Macallan 1926 Adami bottle to be offered by Sotheby’s is now the foundation for all other 1926 bottles that may undergo testing in the future. In order to recondition the capsule, a sample swatch of the old capsule was used as a material match by a producer in Austria to recreate an identical replacement matching the original.Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Global Head of Spirits, said: “The Macallan 1926 is the one whisky that every auctioneer wants to sell and every collector wants to own. I am extremely excited to bring a bottle to a Sotheby’s auction for the first time since we set the record for this vintage four years ago. Working alongside our friends at The Macallan Distillery to recondition and perform clinical analysis on this bottle and liquid has elevated it to an unparalleled status. Now, as the bedrock for all Macallan 1926 authenticity and with its condition approved by master distiller Kirsten Campbell, this must surely be the most desirable bottle of whisky ever to come to the market.”

Of the 40 bottles drawn in 1986, a maximum of 14 were decorated with the iconic Fine and Rare labels, one of which was the record-breaking bottle sold by Sotheby’s in 2019. Two bottles were released with no labels at all. Of these two, one was hand painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon, a creation that saw Macallan’s own Easter Elchies House immortalised onto the bottle. When sold in 2018, it became the first bottle of whisky to surpass £1 million.

Of the remaining bottles, in 1986 twelve were labelled by Pop Artist Sir Peter Blake, whose work saw the most notable events from this year in the roaring 20s depicted in black and white sketches and photography. In 1993, a further 12 bottles had their labels designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami.

The rarity factor is amplified in the knowledge that one of the Adami-labelled bottles is thought to have been destroyed during a Japanese earthquake in 1911, while the remaining unlabelled bottle is unaccounted for. It is also believed that at least one of the 40 bottles has been opened and consumed, verified by images taken in Japan.

In 2022, The Macallan produced a short film focusing on the heritage of the brand back to the Janet Harbinson era of the 1920s. Fondly known as Nettie, Harbinson was central to The Macallan’s early success and the creation of The Macallan 1926, after taking charge of the distillery when her husband died in 1918. Perhaps without intending to, though always with an eye to developing the future of the brand, she created the most valuable whisky in the world. Watch the short film here.

The Italian artist Valerio Adami (born in 1935) was recommended to The Macallan by their Italian agent, Armando Giovinetti. He has become renowned for his graphic style of painting, using blocks of flat colour bordered with pronounced black lines. Limiting his palette to black and white for the label design, Adami produced a design that has since become iconic in the world of whisky.

1980s

In 1987 a Guinness record was set for “The World’s Most Expensive Spirit”, when a bottle was sold in New York for £5,000.

1990s

Two bottles were sold at auction: in 1991 a Sir Peter Blake labelled bottle in Glasgow for £6,375; in 1996 a Valerio Adami labelled bottle in London for £12,000. 

2000s

Two unlabelled bottles were sold by McTear’s in Glasgow, in 2001 for £15,000; in 2002 for £20,150. In 2007 a Fine & Rare labelled bottle at Christie’s in New York for $54,000 (£45,293).

2018

In 2018, six bottles were sold, including the hand-painted bottle by Michael Dillon, which was the first bottle of whisky ever to surpass £1 million (Sir Peter Blake bottle: £615,062 / $766,762; Sir Peter Blake bottle: £816,983 / $1,108,485; Valerio Adami bottle: £886,112 / $1,1054,664; Valerio Adami bottle: £848,750 / $1,058,087; Sir Peter Blake bottle: £638,159 / $843,200; Michael Dillon bottle: £1,200,000 / $1,495,970).

2019

In 2019, two bottles were sold, including a bottle with the iconic Fine and Rare label at Sotheby’s in London for £1,452,000 / US$1,873,951 – setting an auction record for any bottle of wine or spirits.

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

THE MACALLAN ACQUIRES COOPERAGE PARTNER VASYMA AND INVESTS IN COOPERS OAK

Deepens investment in Jerez to secure supply of the finest oak casks

The Macallan and Vasyma are pleased to announce that the world’s most valuable single malt Scotch Whisky has completed the acquisition of the Vasyma cooperage business based in Jerez, Spain.

Vasyma has supplied oak casks to The Macallan and Edrington for more than 30 years. These Vasyma crafted casks are seasoned with the finest quality Sherry in Jerez before they are transported to The Macallan Estate in Speyside, Scotland, to be filled with The Macallan spirit and start the long maturation process.

In addition to the acquisition of Vasyma, The Macallan has entered into a joint venture partnership with Ohio-based Coopers Oak LLC, Vasyma’s principal supplier of high quality American oak staves for cask manufacturing, a development which further secures the supply of oak for the brand. Coopers Oak is led by Rick and Eric Farmer.

Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director, The Macallan, described the acquisition as an investment that enriches the strong relationship between The Macallan and Jerez.

Mr Boyadjian said: “Vasyma has been a valued supplier of the highest quality oak casks to The Macallan for more than three decades. We hand select Sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez for the richness and complexity they bring to our exceptional Scotch Whisky. Bringing Vasyma into our ownership is a logical step and further demonstration of our pursuit of incomparable craftsmanship and whisky mastery.

“Our investment in Vasyma also builds on our ever-deepening relationship with the Jerez community and with our much-valued suppliers in the Sherry industry, which plays such an important role in the quality of The Macallan.”

Vasyma, led by Managing Director Ventura Nuñez, was founded in 1987, building a reputation as one of the leading cooperages in Jerez specialising in crafting casks for the Scotch Whisky, Sherry, and Brandy sectors.

The expertise and craftsmanship of the Vasyma team will be retained through the ongoing leadership of Snr Nuñez and his existing management team.

Snr Nuñez said he and his partners are delighted to complete the sale of the business to The Macallan. He said: “The Macallan is famous around the world for its quality and Vasyma is looking forward to a bright future as part of a business that has such a deep connection with the people and craftsmen of Jerez.

“We have worked with The Macallan for more than 30 years and are excited to become colleagues and work together to support the continued success of this incredible Scotch Whisky.”

Scott McCroskie, CEO of Edrington, said: “Vasyma’s high quality casks, made from oak expertly sourced by Coopers Oak, have played an important role in the history and success of The Macallan. We look forward to working closer than ever with these fine craftsmen in Jerez and Ohio as we continue to focus on the quality and resilience of The Macallan’s cask supply chain.”

October 2023 Auction // 27.10.23 – 06.11.23

Now Live: October 2023 Auction

Now Live: October Auction

A warm welcome to our October auction. Featuring almost 9,000 rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles.

From a beautiful collection of old and rare Talisker, to a great selection of 1980s and 90s Van Winkles including Lot H and Lot B, and an array of beautiful 1960s Islay G&M Celtic Label releases, there is something for all.

Aurora Spirit – Bivrost ‘Alfheim’: Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to once again partner with Aurora Spirit to auction the penultimate eighth release in their collectible Bivrost series, celebrating the the nine worlds of Norse mythology. Bottles #1-20 of Alfheim are available now in our live auction, read more about the Bivrost series here.

Islay G&M Celtic Label Collection

Iconic Van Winkle

1960s Single Malt Scotch

Mortlach 1939 Gordon and MacPhail 75 Year Old Generations

Auora Spirit Bvirost Alfheim – Bottles No.1-20

Take part in the world’s most historic whisky auction.

Blair Castle c.1833 // November 24 – December 4

There is less than a month to go until Whisky Auctioneer hosts a historic auction of what is believed to be the oldest Scotch whisky in existence. Read our latest article as we explore Perthshire’s Connection to Whisky throughout history to present day.

Interested in selling in our next auction? Fill out our Seller Form today.

Coming soon

A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED
CHRISTMAS WHISKY

The countdown is on for our Christmas Whisky 2023! Aged in oak for 15 years, the whisky is a delightful blend of dried fruit and spice, capturing the true flavours of Christmas. Keep your eyes peeled as it makes its much-anticipated journey from Scotland to The Whisky Exchange.

VIEW COUNTDOWN

Caol Ila 2007 Wilson & Morgan Milroy’s Exclusive

£85.95

Introducing our latest exclusive bottling: 15-year-old Caol Ila bottled just for us by Wilson & Morgan! This is a vibrant, fresh expression, alive with orchard fruit and smoky bacon notes. Matured in a refill hogshead with an extended finishing period in a first-fill ex-bourbon hogshead, it’s a classic Caol Ila with a zesty twist. Both remarkable value and brimming with flavour, it’s a must-taste for Islay whisky lovers. Pick up your bottle in store or online – or enjoy it by the dram at our Greek Street bar.

Tasting note:

Nose: Dorset ice cream, apricot compote, baked hay and hessian 

Palate: Gentle smoke, coal embers, lemon meringue pie

Finish: Long and lingering with Smokey bacon and fig pudding

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