ralfy review 988 – Hellyers Road Peated @46.2%vol:

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® Adds Four New Distilleries to Amber Adventure

Kentucky Distillers Continue to Build New Bourbon Experiences and Tourism Across the State

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® is embarking on its largest expansion in its history, welcoming four distilleries to the nation’s premier adventure showcasing micro-distilling craftsmanship, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association announced today.

The newest additions include two in Northern Kentucky, and two in Lexington:

Augusta Distillery | 207 Seminary Ave., Augusta, Ky. | augustakydistillery.com

Fresh Bourbon | 377 E Main St., Suite 100, Lexington, Ky. | freshbourbon.com

Pensive Distilling Co. | 720 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky. | pensivedistilling.com

RD1 Spirits | 1170 Manchester St., Suite 190, Lexington, Ky | rd1spirits.com

KDA President Eric Gregory said the new members swell the ranks of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® to an all-time high of 28 distilleries. The KDA created the statewide journey in 2012 as the nation’s first attraction to feature the burgeoning boutique distilling movement, and more than a decade later, its impact continues to grow, bringing all the benefits of the Bourbon economy with it.

Coupled with the 18 larger-scale distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, the KDA now boasts a record 46 immersive experiences for Bourbon and spirits lovers to enjoy when visiting the Bluegrass state. The KDA founded the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® in 1999.

“Our Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences continue to elevate and grow tourism at an astounding pace, educating visitors from around the world about our signature spirit and pouring millions of dollars of revenue into local communities and coffers,” Gregory said. “In the last 10 years, attendance has skyrocketed by a phenomenal 370%. The diversity of experiences available at these new stops is outstanding — from secret speakeasies to pairings of delicious Bourbon and bites all the way to full dining experiences. Bourbon has really proven itself over the last couple of decades and has enabled many communities to be a part of its growth. We’re thrilled to welcome these four new distilleries to our amber adventure and encourage visitors to discover the intriguing experiences that each of them has to offer.”

Augusta Distillery Founder and Board Vice Chairman Judd Weiss said, “Being included on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® puts Augusta Distillery in an even better position to share our charming town, distillery and award-winning Bourbon.”

Fresh Bourbon Distillery Founder Tia Edwards expressed excitement to being added as a destination on the Craft Tour. “We believe in bringing a unique approach to the Kentucky Bourbon experience by hosting guests in our elegant distillery and having them experience Bourbon luxury.”

Pensive Distilling Co. owner Scott Quigley said that joining the Craft Tour shines a spotlight on their establishment and helps grow tourism in Northern Kentucky. “The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® spreads our open invitation for all to come and enjoy Newport and the Pensive experience.”

RD1 Vice President of Marketing Chris Tetterton said, “It is an awesome privilege to be a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. This group of distilleries tells the story of America’s native spirit along with the proud history, tradition, and future of Kentucky’s leading role in Bourbon.”

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™ and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are trademarks/service marks owned by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

We interviewed the team behind Ardray

On a gorgeous June day in Edinburgh, we met with Ardray Brand Ambassador Stephanie Peck and Chief Blender Calum Fraser to ask them both some questions about this exciting new whisky creation. Watch the video interview now or listen to the first ‘The W Club Decanted’ podcast.

ARDRAY SPOTLIGHT →

Ardray Blended Scotch

Bottled at 48% abv, free from chill filtration, and at natural colour, the whisky is an exquisite balance from beginning to end. Expect notes of apple and clementine on the nose, with soft smoke emerging on the palate alongside a fruity sweetness and light spice.

£60.00

Buy Now

We chatted at the world-class ‘SCOTCH’ whisky bar at The Balmoral in Edinburgh’s city centre. With over 500 unique varieties of Scotch whisky within the bar’s hand-crafted, oak-panelled whisky cabinet, the room is truly a sight to behold for any whisky fan.

Read all about our day at The Whisky Shop Journal →

New Releases from Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte PMC:01 is a story of place. The sixth release in Bruichladdichs’ Cask Exploration series, the 2013 vintage has been profoundly influenced by the rich, fruit-laden oak of Pomerol wine casks – adding depth and complexity to this single malt. Balancing peat smoke with subtle floral and fruit notes, this PMC:01 2013 vintage has been conceived, distilled, matured and bottled only on Islay. Bordeaux is a region with a close-knit community and renowned for its exceptional red wines, it has a distinct sense of place which directly influences the flavour of its grapes. The wines proudly speak of their point of origin, harnessing the warm climate and famous blue clay, gravel and sand of the appellation to impart a fresh yet rich silkiness.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Classic Islay salty maritime notes entwined with rich peat smoke, red fruits, honey, leather, and a touch of clove.

Palate: A mixed melody of fruit, including pears, blackberries, stewed plums, vanilla, melon and ginger, with a touch of marzipan.

Finish: Smoke and salinity linger with cooked cherries.

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Port Charlotte SC:01 2012 combines the distillery’s two greatest obsessions. Port Charlotte SC:01 marries impeccable provenance with high-quality French oak. For the first time in their cask exploration series, this release contains 100% Islay grown barley. Malted to 40ppm by maltsters on the Scottish mainland, it is returned home to be distilled through tall narrow-necked stills for ultimate elegance and finesse, before taking three separate paths in its maturation journey. A combination of sherry butts and first and second fill American whiskey barrels were recasked at different points of maturation into some of the finest Sauternes wine casks from  Bordeaux. The result is a complex recipe which culminates in a classic example of peated single malt.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dried white grapes, fresh flowers, roasted peanuts, a hint of dusty oak and earthy, green notes.

Palate: Ginger spices, almonds, cassia, orange peel, brown sugar, sultana, and red chilli flake.

Finish: Vanilla and a touch of cigar box.

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Join us August 19th for a night of bourbon and bluegrass music! Enjoy bourbon tastings from local distilleries, a variety of food trucks, and live musical performances by The Tillers. All proceeds benefit The Cure Starts Now to fund pediatric brain cancer research.

Event Tickets:

VIP Bourbon Baron Attendee – $60

Includes admission to the event, four (4) bourbon tastings, and two (2) drink tickets for beer/wine/soda/water.

‘Hold the Bourbon’ Attendee – $45

Not a fan of bourbon but still want to join us? This option includes admission to the event and one (1) drink ticket for beer/wine/soda/water.

‘Designated Driver’ Attendee – $30

Includes admission to the event and one (1) drink ticket for soda or water

Buy Event Tickets

As part of the Bourbon Baron Ball, we’re sponsoring a Bourbon Baron Raffle!

Buy tickets for a chance to win a bottle of Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1995, a 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (5 bottles), and a Michter’s 3 bottle set.

$100 for 1 ticket or 5 tickets for $400

Buy Raffle Tickets & More Info

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AT THE VAULTS
FROM WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST

The renovation of our Members’ Room at the Vaults is now underway. We are still open and we expect to be complete by early September.

While the work is ongoing, our Live Music nights will take place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in the pop-up ground floor Members’ Room every Wednesday from 2nd August until early September – when they will move back to a Tuesday night.

Over the next few weeks, join us for drams, food from an adapted menu, or to pick up whiskies from the Bottle Shop from 5pm to 10pm, Wednesday to Friday and 12noon to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday. Our outdoor space in the Courtyard will be open, as will our pop-up Members’ Room on the historic ground floor of The Vaults.

Click here to book your visit to The Vaults over the summer.

We look forward to welcoming you to the refreshed Members’ Room upstairs from early September!

VISIT SMWS

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

Tamdhu 12YO

https://youtu.be/ELN-KI-ojHE

Welcome to a series on Tamdhu!

Part 1 is all about Tamdhu 12YO, and it’s approachable and available nature to whisky drinkers who are looking for a sherry alternative.

Matured solely in ex-sherry casks and bottled at 43% ABV – this bottle is striking to look at, easy to drink, if not a little lacking in big flavours.

Overall, it’s a whisky to certainly put your eyes on if you want something that you haven’t seen or tried before.

‘THRILL ENGINEER’ HELPS WHISKY CLUB SPICE THINGS UP WITH EXPERIMENTAL CHILLI-INFUSED SPIRIT

Professor Brendan Walker helps The Scotch Malt Whisky Society explore extraordinary new chilli-infused spirit that you can mix in cocktails, sip if you’re brave enough or even cook with!

Some like it hot: Thrill Engineer, Professor Brendan Walker, pic by Dave Parry. Bottle with chillies pic by Mike Wilkinson

This summer, a maverick whisky club is turning up the heat with the release of Exp.01, a limited-edition new chilli-infused drink resulting from an experiment that saw 100 fresh red Scotch Bonnet chillies matured in a cask of Scotch whisky for 17 years.

For the experiment, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) added around 100 sliced chillies to a cask of 10-year-old single malt – in doing so, stripping it of its title as a Scotch whisky. The curious concoction was then left to mature for a further 17 years before being bottled as the spicy spirit it is today.

At 55.6% abv and bottled in 10cl hot-sauce sized miniatures, Exp.01 packs a peppery punch with hints of ‘sweet paprika’. The Society is encouraging adventurous flavour explorers to continue the experiment at home, by adding the spicy spirit to summer cocktails, cooking with it like a hot sauce or marinade, or sipping it neat.

The SMWS created the experimental spirit as part of its 40^th-anniversary year celebrations, during which it is staging various events and releasing special editions, all inspired by the maverick attitude of its founder Pip Hills.

Professor Brendan Walker, the world’s only ‘Thrill Engineer’ – who focuses on examining and constructing emotional experiences – was called upon to investigate the Society’s unusual experiment and the tasting experience.

Walker, whose previous work has included designing theme park rides such as Th13teen at Alton Towers, said: “After around 17 years of infusion, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society asked me to investigate their experiment. What could be more exciting than being asked to explore two components of known high quality – a Scotch-in-the-making plus 100 fresh red Scotch Bonnet chillies?

“The methanol and aromatic higher alcohols found in whisky immediately trigger the release of dopamine. Chilli contains capsaicin and in small amounts, capsaicin has a pleasurable, warming, peppery effect. Capsaicin can also trigger the release of endorphins for endurance, and dopamine to reward surviving such an ordeal.

“This concoction of whisky and chilli has the most psychotropic thrilling potential. My initial tasting made me say ‘wow!’, and then smile – a genuine mini-euphoric moment for any connoisseur of thrill. There’s a whole roller coaster of experience being played out on a micro scale, over milliseconds, right there on your tongue

“It’s not just the resulting liquid of Exp.01 that I find amazing – with its smooth, sweet consistency and initial peppery chilli kick.  What’s most exciting for me is the Society’s spirit of experimentation. This captures my imagination. Try it in a cocktail, splash it into a creamy sauce for haggis, or pipette a single drop onto your tongue, then feel your mind and body explode with excitement.”

James Freeman, the Society’s Executive Chef, has also created special recipes that showcase the spirit’s culinary potential, including mussels with tomato, anchovies and Exp.01, a teriyaki salmon dish and an incredible chocolate and Exp.01 tart.  Meanwhile, SMWS ambassador Logan Shaw recommends mixing the spirit with tonic water, ice, lime and sea salt to create a fiery highball cocktail.

No stranger to the Society, Professor Brendan Walker collaborated with the SMWS in 2022 for their Memory Box campaign, in which tasting Society whisky evoked fond memories and happy moments. The campaign was unveiled to wide-eyed whisky fans at London and Glasgow whisky festivals, with Walker present to guide guests through their journey of nostalgia.

Helen Stewart, Head of Brand Marketing & Membership, said: “In our 40^th and most adventurous year yet, this kind of cask experiment is a great example of the fun we have with whisky. We did this simply for the thrill of it to discover what would happen – and we’re excited to share the results of the experiment with everyone and we’d encourage people to have fun with it whether using it in cocktails, cooking recipes or simply sipping it.

“Brendan’s expert knowledge of how people react to thrills and excitement was key to this experiment. His investigations have helped explore the tasting experience and explain what’s happening in the mouth when people taste it.”

Founded in Edinburgh in 1983 by maverick whisky-lover Pip Hills, the SMWS is now the world’s largest whisky club, with close to 40,000 adventurous and discerning members across the globe, all united by a passion for flavour and exquisitely crafted liquid.

Exp.01 is available while stocks last from 26^th July as part of a special new Society membership offer: https://smws.com/complimentary-exp01-offer/

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.

For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)

• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh.
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.

Our July 2023 Auction ENDS SOON!

Only 8.5% buyer’s commission.

Auction ends Wednesday 2^nd August from 2000 GMT.

 www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Click here to register as a user.

Looking to sell in our next auction? 0% Sellers commission & FREE* UK doorstep collections.

We offer FREE valuations to give you an idea of what your whisky may sell for at auction.

Contact us to arrange a valuation or collection.

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

“We love the annual release of our 11yr old. This wonderful unpeated single malt is a delight to drink and perfect for sharing with friends. Having won plenty of industry awards over the years, The 11 Year Old is definitely worthy of a spot in your drinks cabinet.”

Andrew Nelstrop, Chairman

Non chill filtered. Natural colouring.

TASTING NOTES