Continue your journey through this flavour odyssey and take flight. Revealing the latest and last in our Extinct Blends Quartet: Celestial.

This whisky is inspired by a revered blend from the mid 20^th Century with an extravagant flavour profile. The inspiration whisky has an equine theme and was founded by the original ‘Whisky Barons’, with strong historical connections to distilleries on Islay and Speyside.

The artwork tells the story of an epic flight through billowing clouds. You’re taken on a journey through glittering constellations, towards the home of the celestial body of Pegasus from Greek Mythology.

The gleaming brightness of this whisky is provided by malt whiskies from the Glen Elgin and Pulteney distilleries. Its complex columns of smoky peatiness are balanced with a complexity and depth of flavour from the mature and rare whiskies within the blend.

On tasting Celestial, you are met with heavyweight peat smoke, that starts on beach bonfire and builds to coastal smokehouse. Behind that is a gingery richness, vanilla and grilled apples. The palate is dry and oak-forward, with meaty smokiness flowing into cooked tropical fruits.

Celestial truly is our most expansive and extravagant whisky of the Quartet and is available to shop now.

GLEN GRANT
65 YEAR OLD

MR GEORGE LEGACY

1958 | 70cl | 56.5% ABV

Distilled at the Glen Grant Distillery, this extraordinary Single Malt was laid down by Mr. George Urquhart in 1958. The Whisky was left to mature for 65 years in a single first fill sherry butt, and selected by Mr. George’s grandson, Stuart Urquhart to celebrate his life and legacy.

More than six decades of maturation has delivered a smooth, full-bodied Whisky with sweet and warm spices on the nose. Packed with Seville orange peel, dark morello cherry and coffee bean flavours, the long and balanced finish fades with a hint of smoke.

Only 376 bottles were filled on the 1st of November 2023, bottled at a robust cask strength of 56.5% ABV.

£6,999.95

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NOSE
Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and a hint of cocoa powder.

PALATE
Smooth and full bodied, seville orange peel and morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak notes come to the fore with a touch of liquorice.

FINISH
Long and balanced with a faint hint of smoke.

Signatory Vintage Orkney
15 Year Old

2010 vintage distilled at highland Park distillery matured in Oloroso and Bourbon casks. Edition #15 of the 100-proof series. Discover the rugged charm of the Orkney Isles with the Mystery Malt Secret Orkney 14 Year Old 2010, presented by Signatory Vintage. This enigmatic single malt whisky, drawn from an undisclosed Orkney distillery, offers a profound blend of maritime influences and traditional craftsmanship, matured in a combination of sherry and bourbon casks under the 100-Proof Edition series.

£50.76

TWB Tasting Notes:-

Nose: Delve into a complex aroma of sea spray and peat smoke, intertwined with sweet sherry notes of dried fruits and a subtle hint of vanilla from the bourbon casks.

Palate: The palate is rich and textured, featuring a symphony of flavors including dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and a touch of saltiness reminiscent of the Orkney sea air, all balanced with sweet undertones of caramel and citrus.

Finish: The finish is expansive and lasting, with echoes of smoke and a peppery spice that gives way to a pleasing dryness and hints of oak.

MYSTERY MALT SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Mystery single malt that don’t want to reveal their true identity. Rummage around and with a bit of investigation you are sure to find a rare unspecified bottling from independent bottler.

ralfy review 1024 Extras – To compare and contrast malts.

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Releases Commemorative Military Bottles to Kick Off New Sunday Hours and Expanded Tasting Experience

Combat Infantry Badge Bottles Support Forgotten Coast K9 

FRANKFORT, KY (April 18, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, is releasing its highly anticipated Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon this Sunday, April 21st, as it kicks off new Sunday visitation hours.  Also making its debut is an additional tasting experience which includes tastings straight from the barrel.

The CIB Bourbon is the latest bourbon release in J. Mattingly 1845’s CIB series.  Combat Infantry Badges are awarded to Army enlisted infantry or special forces officers in the grade of Colonel or below who were engaged in active ground combat.  Each year J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery donates a portion of the sales of the CIB bottles to a military-related nonprofit.  This year’s recipient is Forgotten Coast K9, a nonprofit organization that helps provide service dogs to veterans and first responders with the mission to stop suicide in those communities by getting them the service dogs they need.

The 2024 CIB bourbon was aged for six and a half years and bottled at 116 proof.  It has a smokey, brown sugar and banana nose with hints of sweet tobacco and baking spices.  On the palate, expect banana, oak and brown sugar forward, with leathery oak on the mid palate and a finish of sweet tobacco and baking spices.

J.Mattingly 1845 Distillery has not released a CIB bourbon since 2021, and historically the bottles have sold out quickly.  The first initial 50 bottles of the 2024 release were released during its National Pet Day Festival on April 13 and were met with eager anticipation.  The remaining 450 bottles will be available upon opening on Sunday, April 21st at noon.  Suggested retail pricing for a 750 mL of CIB is $155, with $30 of each bottle sale going to Forgotten Coast K9.

In addition to new Sunday hours, guests can now enjoy a new tasting experience allowing them to taste whiskey straight from the barrel.  Now, guests have three different tasting opportunities when visiting J. Mattingly 1845:

• Heritage Tasting Experience – taste up to six different whiskies from J. Mattingly 1845, including the 90-proof and 100-proof bourbons that started it all, and the latest proprietary blends.  But if you like something, you better grab a bottle of it, as the proprietary blends are made in very small batches and are custom creations by the in-house blending experts, never to be repeated.  The cost of the Heritage Tasting Experience is $20 and it lasts about 20 minutes
• Single Barrel Tasting Experience  – This is the newest addition to the J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery guest adventure and it allows visitors to taste straight from seven of barrels.  Each barrel selected for the tasting has been carefully vetted by the expert blenders at J. Mattingly 1845, and has undergone the proprietary double-staving process, which adds charred staves to aging bourbon barrels twice during the blending process to create unmatched flavors.  The cost of the Barrel Tasting Experience is $55 and it lasts a half hour.
• VIP Custom Bourbon Blending Experience – A bourbon connoisseur’s dream – allowing you to become a master blender for a day, choosing your own blend, bottle shape, custom label and even the wax color on the top.  Starting with four pre-selected barrels, you will mix and blend the flavors under the expert guidance of the J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery team, then choose the other elements in the packaging and leave that day with your unique creation. No two bottles will ever be the same.  The VIP Custom Blending Experience is $175 and takes approximately one hour.  Additional bottles of your custom blend may be purchased for $120.  Reservations are recommended for this experience.

“Throughout the year we have special releases that benefit many worthy nonprofit organizations,” said Jeff Mattingly, chief executive officer and founder, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery.  “The CIB release is always one of my favorites, as it honors Army veterans who saw combat on the ground, definitely heroes in my book.  And to partner with Forgotten Coast K9 to help provide service dogs to military veterans and first responders just makes the release even more special .”

The CIB Bourbon will be available on-site at the Distillery and also online, with shipping to 45 U.S. states.  J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s operating hours are Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon – 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome for the tasting experiences, but reservations are suggested for the VIP Custom Bourbon Blending Experience.  The Distillery is located at 20 Reilly Road in Frankfort, Ky.

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.

Our April auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (BST) Friday 19th April until 3pm (BST) Sunday 28^th April 2024.

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!

Karuizawa – 31 Year Old (Murasaki Geisha)

Macallan – 1952 (Campbell, Hope & King) Rinadli Import (75cl)

Brora – 35 Year Old (2013 Release)

Chichibu – 2013 (Single Cask #2601) Fifty Two Seats Of Happiness

Port Ellen – 22 Year Old (1979) 1st Release

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.

HATOZAKI WHISKY ANNOUNCES NEWEST ADDITION TO

LIMITED “OMAKASE” SERIES:

HATOZAKI OMAKASE RYE THIRD EDITION MIZUNARA CASK FINISH 

Exclusive to the US market, the latest innovation is finished in Japanese Mizunara casks hand-selected by Master Distiller Kimio Yonezawa

New York, NY –  (April 12, 2024) – Hatozaki Whisky is pleased to announce the third and latest addition to its “Omakase” Series – Hatozaki Omakase Rye Third Edition Mizunara Cask Finish. Now available in the US for a suggested retail price of $95 (750ml), the new limited-edition expression showcases the profound aging and finishing techniques of Kimio Yonezawa, 4^th generation Master Distiller & Blender.

Produced at the Kaikyō Distillery on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, the Hatozaki Omakase collection was born of Yonezawa-san’s vision to create elegant and genuine whiskies that reflect the character of his family distillery’s unique terroir and maritime influences. Honoring the age-old Japanese concept of “Omakase,” known as “chef’s choice” in Japanese dining, the “Omakase” collection mirrors the idea of trusting the maker’s intuition – allowing for delightful experimentation of flavors and new exploration.

“I am honored to introduce the newest blend in our Omakase Collection to the US market,” says Yonezawa-san. “I was excited to experiment with the flavors of rye, a popular category with American whisky drinkers, and see how they would respond to native Japanese oak influence. We are thrilled with the final blend and confident it will be a surprising and rewarding choice for the seeker of exciting new whiskies to try.”

In that spirit, Kimio Yonezawa presents an innovative new blend consisting of rye whisky, that is aged in new charred oak and then finished in Japanese Mizunara casks, the rare Japanese white oak sourced from the Hokkaido and Tohoku forests. This expression will be limited to less than 3,000 bottles, each numbered and sold exclusively in the US market.

Hatozaki Omakase Rye Third Edition Mizunara Cask Finish is a testament to the seasoned artistry of the Yonezawa family aging tradition, crafted in small batches of no more than 10 casks. The blend, consisting of at least 51% rye, is aged in new charred oak and then finished in traditional Mizunara casks. This dual maturation allows the Mizunara to impart its distinctive character, resulting in notes of sandalwood, coconut, and Japanese incense – a refined encounter with Japanese elegance.

The new product joins Hatozaki’s core range including: Hatozaki Finest Whisky ($45.99 ,750ml. bottle, 40% ABV) a blend of premium malt whiskies aged for up to 12 years in imported bourbon casks, imported sherry casks and native Sakura casks, the Japanese cherry wood; and Hatozaki Small Batch Whisky ($65.99, 750ml., 46% ABV), a vatting of 100% malt whiskies aged in imported bourbon casks, imported sherry casks, and native Mizunara oak barrels, yielding a rich profile of sweet cereals and malty dried fruit, with a light touch of smoke and honey on the finish.

HATOZAKI OMAKASE RYE THIRD EDITION MIZUNARA CASK FINISH, 42% ABV:

Color: Amber

Nose: Immediate rye cereal notes lead, accompanied by fresh oak spice and a hint of menthol. Develops with honeycomb, sawn wood, and tropical fruit. Concludes with yeasty bread and oak.

Mouth: Soft entry with a tickle of fire, mint, and black pepper. Transforms into a robust oaky flavor, soft spice, and a rounded finish. Lingering hints of coconut, orange peel, and cloves.

Style: Harmonious, full-bodied palate with nuanced layers of flavor. 

ABOUT HATOZAKI WHISKY

Produced at the Kaikyō Distillery on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea in Japan, Hatozaki is named for the Hatozaki Lighthouse sitting on the bay of coastline near the distillery, built in 1657 – a beacon of welcoming to all who visit and taste Hatozaki. The maritime climate and seaside terroir are ideal conditions for fine whisky maturing. Fourth-generation Master Distiller & Blender Kimio Yonezawa brings blending heritage from a long line of shochu distillers since 1917, and in 2017 he began producing Hatozaki whisky to honor the centennial of his family’s distillery and to carry on the tradition of Japanese distilling to a dynamic, evolving category he is most passionate about. The Hatozaki portfolio includes two permanent expressions, Hatozaki Finest Whisky and Hatozaki Small Batch Whisky, and a line of Limited Edition expressions, including the Hatozaki  “Omakase” whiskies – hand-selected by Yonezawa-san to create unique cask finishes that have included Mizunara, Sakura and other Japanese oak influence. Hatozaki presents a portfolio of whiskies that are elegant, smooth, and easy to enjoy. Hatozaki appeals to everyone in a delightfully welcoming way with a selection of balanced, mellow, and delicate whisky. 

ABOUT THE KAIKYŌ DISTILLERY

The Yonezawa family’s experimentation with distilling goes back more than a century and has been a part of their story ever since. Kimio Yonezawa is the fourth generation of this legacy, having taken a keen interest in whisky and embarking on a journey of discovery. He channeled his passion for fine spirits into establishing the Kaikyō distillery and did it all with a single goal in mind: to be instrumental in honoring the past and contributing to the future of Japanese whisky-making. In addition to whisky, the Kaikyō Distillery produces 135°East Japanese Gin and Akashi-Tai Sakes. 

ABOUT MARUSSIA BEVERAGES USA

Marussia Beverages USA is a national importer of premium spirits, sake, and wines including brands such as Hatozaki Whiskies, Mozart Chocolate Liqueurs, Torabhaig Scotch Whiskies, Bärenjäger Honey Liqueurs, 135° East Japanese Gin, and Akashi Tai Sakes. Marussia Beverages USA is part of the global group Marussia Beverages, with 14 distribution companies and 16 production sites throughout the world, achieving a turnover of 294 million euros in 2022. In respect for the deep roots of tradition paired with a taste for innovation, Marussia Beverages mission is to create and distribute quality brands that elevate expectations and provide authentic consumer experiences.

APRIL 2024 AUCTION ENDS TOMORROW EVENING!

Not long now! There is still time to bid on your favourite bottles, including three vintage bottlings from Balblair Distillery, distilled in 1979, 1988 and 1989 respectively.

Or, how about bottle #1 of this 1975 First Cask 24 Years Old Royal Brackla, drawn from a single cask.

Next up, we have a rare bottling from Port Ellen, distilled in 1982 at Cask Strength in 2007 for Banff gift shop ‘Parker’s. Bottle number 189 of only 220 bottles produced.

How about this wonderful expression of Banff, a closed coastal distillery. Distilled in 1978 then bottled 18 years later at Natural Cask Strength by Signatory, for their Silent Stills label.

There are two cracking bottles of old school Oban Manager’s Drams in our live April auction, including the 16 Years Old 200^th Anniversary bottling.

Now for something completely different! We don’t usually sell memorabilia but we couldn’t resist these two fantastic vintage stencils from Mortlach and Pittyvaich distilleries; we wanted to give you the opportunity to own an important piece of whisky history.

These are only a few of the bottles in our April auction, to view more cracking drams visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends TOMORROW! (Sunday 21st April) from 8pm GMT.

WATERFORD DISTILLERY APPOINTS CRAFTWORK AS NEW UK DISTRIBUTOR

4th April 2024: Waterford Distillery, producer of the world’s most naturally flavoursome single malt whiskies, has appointed Craftwork as its new UK distributor. Craftwork will now expedite product roll-out for the full Waterford Whisky range.

Under the new distribution partnership, announced today, Waterford Whisky will benefit from expanded UK distribution operations. The award-winning products will reach even more UK consumers who value transparency, provenance and natural flavours.

As specialists in distributing premium beverage brands, the appointment of Craftwork marks a vital time of development for Waterford  – highlighting a commitment to the UK market as consumer demand for premium offerings remain high. In total, rum accounts for 14% of all spirit sales in the UK, and whisky owning a 13% share*.

With an established global reputation and recent expansion into the US market, European sales for both Waterford Whisky are growing at pace. With a wide variety of whisky bottlings to choose from, the line-up will include signature bottlings and a brand-new core range of original natural whiskies and rums, over the next two years.

Waterford Whisky were launched in 2014 and 2018 respectively by CEO and Founder, Mark Reynier, who boasts more than four decades of industry experience. Both brands combine world-leading terroir technology with locally-grown ingredients, to distil the world’s most flavoursome single malt whisky expressions.

James Cowan, Sales Director at Waterford Whisky says:

“Craftwork is established as an influential and leading distributer across the beverage segment within the UK market, and I am delighted to assign Waterford Whisky  to their existing product offering.

“We are excited at the prospect of building upon our existing distribution and look forward to a successful partnership, furthering both brands’ presence in the UK as a key territory to support growth.”

Mark Dawkins, Founder and Managing Director of Craftwork, added:

“At Craftwork, we are committed to working with the best producers, brand owners and products for our prestige portfolio. Couple that with our vision to grow our whisky and rum portfolio, and it doesn’t get any better than every credential of Waterford Distillery .

“We are delighted to be the new UK importer distributor and cannot wait to work with the team, on these brands, with our customers.”

*Data from CGA by Nielsen IQ

About Waterford Whisky  

Waterford Whisky produces the most naturally flavoursome single malts.

It is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies.

It is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvée Concepts revel in the ultimate complexity, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information, visit www.waterfordwhisky.com.

About Craftwork 

Craftwork, founded in 2018, has established itself very quickly as a full-service UK importer distributor, building an enviable portfolio of premium spirits.

A balance of heritage & tradition, coupled with modernity & innovation, from brand partners such Grupo Osborne from Spain, Scapegrace from New Zealand, Cockspur Rum from Barbados, Rebel Bourbon & Rye from Kentucky, Axia Extra-Dry Mastiha from Greece, and Biggar & Leith (Shanky’s Whip from Ireland, Butterfly Cannon Tequila, Stambecco Liqueurs and Hotel Starlino Aperitivo from Italy), make up their core premium & prestige portfolio.

This has enabled Craftwork to build a broad customer base across all trading channels, supplying Multiple Grocers, on trade wholesale & retail, and e-commerce extensively.

Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes Bargo 459 as Newest Craft Member

Knox County To Benefit From Hometown Family’s 

Pursuit of Bourbon Excellence 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Bargo 459 in Knox County is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Bargo 459 is led by Matthew Bargo II, his wife, Susie, and their son, Matthew Bargo III.

Perched on Kentucky Highway 3041 overlooking the new Cumberland Run harness racing track, Bargo 459 is a small craft distillery where only a limited number of barrels are finished at a time. Its address is 133 Wes David Road in Corbin, Ky.

Their whiskey is all pot-distilled straight Bourbon that has been proofed with spring water from the Cumberland Gap and finished in either sherry or port casks. “We are focused on quality, not quantity,” said founder Matthew Bargo II.

Before developing his distillery and his whiskey, the elder Bargo said he researched thousands of articles, visited numerous Kentucky distilleries and interviewed older individuals who had been involved in creating moonshine during Prohibition.

“Making Bourbon is hard work,” he said. “Making good Bourbon is really hard work. Our goal is to consistently produce exceptional Bourbon that is a symphony of aroma and color with a rich lingering taste.

“In that spirited journey, we stand honored to join this esteemed association and harness its wealth of knowledge while contributing our own innovative approach. Our alignment with the KDA signifies our commitment to upholding the highest standards in Bourbon production.”

The distillery plans to release speciality small batch and single barrel runs with a diversity of cask finishes and limited-edition releases. It also is preparing to open a tasting room to welcome visitors to experience the Bargo 459 portfolio.

Learn more at https://bargo459.com/.

“Making Bourbon is hard work. Making good Bourbon is really hard work.”

— Matthew Bargo II, Founder, Bargo459

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “Kentucky’s Bourbon legacy is full of storied history and rich traditions that have been passed down and shared across the industry, and we applaud Matt and his family for their passion and dedication to our timeless craft.

“The KDA and our 100 distillery members and partners are excited to welcome Bargo 459 to our growing family of the Commonwealth’s finest distillers and the entire Knox County community that will benefit from their investment, their great whiskey and their tourism experiences.”

Bargo 459 joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year. Visit the KDA and its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

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.

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