SPRINGBANK 13 YEARS
LOCAL BARLEY  54.1%

UK RRP £100 – £105

NOSE
On the nose, this whisky is packed full of fruitiness, ripened bananas, boiled sweets and cinnamon.

PALATE
Initially, the thick, chewy and oily texture of this whisky is evident. From there, we get a peppery and malty note, then strawberries, brandy schnapps and parma violets.

FINISH
Into the finish there’s subtle peat smoke hiding in the background, wine gums sweetness, toasted oats, dunnage earthiness and a slight drying taste.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 521: Braeckman Double Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a Belgian single malt from Belgian distiller Braeckman from Oudenaarde. It was not given an age statement for the understandable reason that this malt matured in first fill bourbon and oloroso sherry casks for 3 to 6 years.

https://youtu.be/RWHiWiqH6xE

Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Honors Brown-Forman Executive With Prestigious “Esprit de Corps” Award

Les Fugate, Vice President –

Director of State and Local Public Affairs for Brown-Forman Corp., 

Helped Lead the Industry’s Successful Efforts to Eliminate the Barrel Tax

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that Les Fugate of Brown-Forman Corp. is the recipient of an elite industry award honoring leaders who personify the legendary group’s spirit of camaraderie and integrity.

The esteemed Esprit de Corps Award can be bestowed by the Chair of the KDA’s Board of Directors to individuals who have, “by demonstrable and honorable action,” gone above and beyond the call of duty to advance the mission of the KDA and Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

“As Chairman of the KDA’s Governmental Affairs Advisory Group, Les devoted tremendous time, energy and leadership to the successful passage of House Bill 5, which phases out the annual discriminatory tax on aging barrels of Bourbon and spirits in Kentucky,” KDA President Eric Gregory said.

KDA Board Chairman Chris Morris conferred the award to Fugate at the KDA’s 2023 annual State Dinner in Louisville. Fugate received a commemorative plaque and engraved medal in recognition of his exceptional service.

“The KDA has been working for generations on a reasonable and responsible solution to the ever-growing barrel tax which had put our signature industry at a competitive disadvantage and remained a disincentive for distilleries to build or expand in the Commonwealth,” Morris said.

“By communicating and collaborating with our member distilleries and key stakeholders, Les and the industry’s team of advocates reached  a compromise that puts our state and homegrown Bourbon industry on a path to a more competitive and sustainable tax code.”

The bipartisan House Bill 5 compromise signed into law earlier this year phases out the barrel tax over 20 years while protecting funds for schools, fire departments and EMS districts, and gives local governments plenty of time to plan and diversify their tax base.

“Leaders like Les are why our industry is what it is today. He navigated an ever-changing legislative landscape while making sure all of our members, legacy and craft, were included in the process and the final outcome,” Gregory said.

Fugate, a native of Prestonsburg, Ky., and graduate of Centre College, said, “I’m humbled and filled with gratitude to be honored with the ‘Esprit de Corps’  award. So many legends within the industry worked together and paved the way to get us where we are today, and I am constantly inspired by their foresight, collegiality, and innovation to keep our industry thriving.

“The collaborative spirit that is woven throughout the history of Bourbon allowed us to come together and find a solution to lead our industry into an exciting future. This effort forever strengthens the relationship with the state that we love, our old Kentucky home.”

 Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the worldwide voice of 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.

Our February 2024 Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (GMT)  Friday 16th February until 3pm (GMT) Sunday 25th February.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Springbank – 32 Year Old (1966) Cask #486

Hibiki – 21 Year Old (Arita Decanter) 2009 Release (60cl)

Glen Moray – 1966

Macallan – 1950 (Gordon & Macphail) 75cl

Glendronach – Finest Highland Malt (1940/50s) (Charles Brown)

Macallan – 103.7 Proof (1970s) Campbell, Hope & King (Charles Brown)

Glenmorangie – 1975 Tain L’Hermitage

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

Cotswolds ‘The Patchett’ Single (Madeira) Cask

Introducing ‘The Patchett’. Aged in a first-fill Madeira cask, this whisky showcases distinctive notes of strawberry jam and sponge cake. It’s a limited-edition single malt, crafted from 100% Cotswolds-grown barley, matured solely in a first-fill ex-Madeira cask for a unique taste profile.

Named after Rob Patchett, our Global Ambassador and Cask Sales Manager, who has chosen this as his favourite cask. Distilled on April 24, 2016, and bottled at 60.2% ABV right here at the distillery, each bottle is presented in a luxury display carton.

Limited Bottles are available.

Available  to purchase from our shops on Monday 19th February. 

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From Rob, our Global Brand Ambassador and Cask Sales Manager

Named after Rob Patchett, our Global Ambassador and Cask Sales Manager. See why he picked this cask as his perfect choice.

“Our Madeira casks have long been a favourite of mine. When I first tasted them with The Hideout and The Connaught teams, their reactions left me with absolutely no doubt that we had something really quite special.

The nose has this sweet cherry fruit and an almond nuttiness, then the palate has an incredible creamy texture with sweet sponge cake flavours. It led me to Victoria Sponge Cake immediately and I haven’t been able to get away from that ever since!

Our distillery character is shown in a completely different light in these casks, the sweet bright fruit and creamy texture of our spirit is truly elevated to another level.”

Distilled in Washington A HISTORY By Becky Garrison Foreword by Mr. Charles Finkel

Washington has a tortured history with liquor. Efforts to ban or restrict it date back to1854, before the region even attained statehood, with blue laws remaining on the books well into the twentieth century. From Jimmie Durkin, an enterprising saloon owner, to Roy Olmstead, a former Seattle cop turned gentleman bootlegger, the business of liquor has inspired both trouble and innovation. Join author and journalist Becky Garrison as she traces the history of the barrel and the bottle from early settlement to the modern craft distilling boom in the Evergreen State.

Stories to Savor

ARCADIA PUBLISHING

FEBRUARY 2024 AUCTION ENDS TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 18th)!

Not long now! There is still time to bid on your favourite bottles. The Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix has possibly has one of the most interesting stories of our auction this month. After a prolonged period of heavy snow, three warehouses at Glenfiddich Distillery collapsed due to the weight of the snow laying on the roofs of the warehouses on the 7th of January 2010. Many of the Casks were lost due to this event but some remained intact and despite being exposed to the cold winter air, they were used to create this legendary Speyside release.

Or, how about something a bit different? The award-winning Macallan Amber Liqueur, flavoured with pecans and maple syrup. This was only available for a short time before being discontinued!

Next up, we have a lovely limited bottling from a highly revered closed Islay distillery. Released in 2010 as the 10th instalment of the hugely popular Annual Release series. Distilled in 1978 by the iconic Port Ellen distillery then bottled at 31 years old in 2010 at natural Cask strength.

How about this premium 30 year old blended Scotch whisky from blending giants Chivas. Using only the most exceptional malt and grain whiskies from the Chivas Brothers portfolio, all of which have been aged for a minimum of 30 years.

The Macallan Archival series is inspired by original, past adverts from the 1970’s – 1990’s. Each Folio release is presented with an illustrated hardback book that denotes the history of those adverts that were originally designed by David Holmes and advert copywriter Nick Salaman. The Folio series was first released in 2015, this extraordinarily popular and highly collectable series has been added to with new releases mostly annually ever since. Released in 2020, this is the fifth release of the Folio series.

These are only a few of the bottles in our February 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 18^th February from 8pm GMT.

Tomintoul Cigar Malt

Tomintoul Cigar Malt is an intricate combination of classic Tomintoul Single Malts and rare peated Tomintoul Single Malts. Each of these individual single malts has been either matured fully or finished in hand-selected Oloroso Sherry butts sourced from Andalucía, Spain. The rich and sweet sherry notes, creamy malt profile and gentle peat smoke, make this single malt the perfect accompaniment to the world’s finest cigars.

NOSE Bold and pronounced with aromas of dried fruits, sweet spices, pecan pie and subtle peat smoke.

PALATE Sweet and rich with layers of chocolate raisins, butter toffees and brambles mingled with black pepper and smoky wood spices.

FINISH Warming and long with notes of mocha, maple syrup and toasted oak lingering on the tongue.

£82.00

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Raasay 2018 5 Year Old

This is a marriage of a refill hogshead and a 1st fill bourbon barrel. Designed to balance richness and sweetness, with the clear voice of the distillate character. This is waxy, coastal, full of bright citrus fruits and a delicate thread of peat. Extremely evocative of what I think Skye and Western Island malt whisky should taste like and a wonderful wee dram in its own right that shows terrifically for the age.

Only £124.00 >

Ben Nevis 2013 10 Year Old

This is Whisky Sponge Edition 85 and it is a 10 year old Ben Nevis, distilled in 2013, aged primarily in a refill butt, and then finished in refill quarter casks for around six months and bottled at 52%. For this bottling, they wanted to round the whisky off with exposure to more air and to manage the reduction from cask strength in stages. They re-racked this refill butt evenly into four refill quarter casks. This exposed more of the spirit to air and enabled them to bring down the ABV slowly to 52%, which is where they felt the sweet spot was that maximised the Ben Nevis distillate character. The refill quarter casks also rounded everything out nicely while preserving the distillate character and without adding in yucky, vulgar woodiness!

This whisky tastes like cliffs and tidal waves. Please enjoy while wearing only a pair of hessian swimming trunks.

Only £94.00 >

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Napa Valley Red Wine Finish

£99.95

An exciting release from Highland single malt distillery Aberfeldy, this limited-run expression makes use of ex-Cabernet Sauvignon Napa wine casks for a decadent finishing. Aged initially in both re-fill and hogshead casks, the Californian influence shines with red berry aromas and a velvety texture. Mouth-wateringly complex. Aberfeldy 18 release. Finished in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa, it offers the jammiest of red fruits wrapped up in a decadent velvety texture. We love the depth and complexity, and reckon you will too.

Tasting note:

Nose: Jammy and sweet with cranberries, raspberries, blackberries and an oaky spices

Palate: The sweetness continues with the addition of hazelnuts, milk chocolate, nutmeg, coffee and a slight menthol hint.

Finish: More drying oak spices and a suggestion of honey.

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