MAY 2024 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

As always, we have an interesting little auction for you this month, packed with an eclectic range of old, rare and limited bottlings, including this sought after 30 Years Old Dalmore. Released in 2015, this well-aged expression from the Highland distillery is highly regarded among whisky experts. Matured using a combination of Matusalem Oloroso and Amoroso Oloroso Sherry Butts formerly used by Gonzalez Byass. This is bottle number 286 of only 888 bottles produced.

Another limited bottling is this Glen Moray, distilled in 1975. Signed by distillery manager Ed Dodson, this is bottle number 82 of only 676 bottles produced.

Or, how about this incredible example of the highly revered, closed Islay distillery Port Ellen. Released in 2002 as the 2nd instalment of the hugely popular Annual Release series. Distilled in 1978 and then bottled at 24 years old in 2002 at Natural Cask Strength.

How about something from the iconic Highland distillery Brora. Distilled in 1982 and bottled by Douglas Laing in 2006 for their prestigious Old Malt Cask range. One of only 348 bottles produced!

These are only a few of the bottles in our May 2024 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 19^th May from 8pm BST.

JURA DISTILLERY

30 Year Old 1994 Infrequent Flyers (2024)

Cask #806889

Jura 30 Year Old 1994 Infrequent Flyers #806889 Virgin Oak Barrel is an exceptional single malt Scotch whisky, meticulously aged for three decades on the remote Isle of Jura, a place renowned for its distinctive whiskies. As part of the Infrequent Flyers collection curated by Alistair Walker Whisky Company in 2024, this remarkable expression showcases the expertise and heritage of Jura’s whisky-making, coupled with the unique influence of virgin oak maturation. Bottled February 2024, 221 bottles.

Nose: Toasted oak, vanilla, cereal notes and lashings of buttery shortbread.

Taste: Intense coconut, almonds, marzipan and honeycomb. Mouth coating. Sweet viscosity and a definite spiciness. Brandy snaps and peanut brittle, drizzled with honey.

£331.63

The first Isle of Jura Distillery was built at Craighouse on the Isle of Jura off the west coast of Scotland in 1810 but closed in 1901 and was subsequently demolished. The present Isle of Jura Distillery, was designed by William Delmé Evans and opened in 1963, is equipped with four stills and produces mainly un-peated whisky with a little peated produced once each year. The Jura participates in Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Jura Superstition, Jura Prophecy and Jura 21 Year Old are included in the official distillery releases.

Black Friday 2023 Lowland 15 Year Old

Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Whisky Exchange

70cl / 54.2%

Our yearly tradition is back, and this Black Friday celebration hails from the Lowland distillery, Glenkinchie. It was aged in 60% ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels and 40% refill oloroso sherry butts, imparting aromas of orchard fruit, lemon thyme and chamomile tea on the nose, followed by notes of tinned peaches and apple blossom throughout the palate.

£84.95

SPRING 2024: CASK FINISHING

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There might not be an official Highland whisky festival in May – but we’re celebrating the region in our own Society way, and you’re invited! The May Flavour Hunter festivities continue as we get ready to dive into a world of Highland magic as we’ve lined up three Highland rare release small-batch bottlings that’ll blow your socks off.

ALL EVENTS

ALL FESTIVAL BOTTLINGS

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

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “The lyne arm is part of the still – also called the lye pipe – and it’s what connects the top of the still to the condenser unit. The slope of the lye pipe is really important with regards to reflux in the final spirit.”

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

Cù Bòcan releases limited-edition Creation #6 single malt whisky

Award-winning Highland whisky Cù Bòcan, the experimental spirit distilled at the Tomatin distillery every winter, has unveiled a new limited-edition single malt, Creation #6.

Launched in 2013 and inspired by the lightly-peated spirit historically produced at Tomatin more than a century ago, Cù Bòcan uses unique cask maturations to create a collection of vibrant flavours.

Creation #6 (46% ABV, non-chill filtered, RRP £60) is made with lightly peated Scottish barley and is a fusion of liquid matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for nine years and characterful Jamaican Rum casks for ten years.

The result is an intriguingly smoky spirit boasting a surprisingly lively character. A tantalizing burst of the Caribbean captivates the senses, carrying notes of toasted Jamaica ginger cake, bonfire toffee, and banana and walnut loaf, followed by rum-soaked pineapple and raisins and all rounded off with a subtle hint of Daim crunchy almond caramel.

On the palate, it has a deliciously dark depth of flavour which begins with amaretto cherries and salted caramel-coated liquorice, before a burst of spiced plum jam and a kick of Fisherman’s Friend lozenges. A velvety satin-like texture envelopes the palate before a lingering treacle finish.

This latest release is presented in Cù Bòcan’s impressive bespoke bottle. Ascending contours engraved into the glass emulate the signature wisp of smoke in the whisky’s character, while horizontal lines nod to the staves of casks which are so central to the production.

The external packaging comes in striking orange and mint green with a textured finish to mimic the peat, which captures the whisky’s smoky character.

Scott Adamson, Blender and Global Brand Ambassador, said: at Tomatin Distillery, said: “Cù Bòcan is renowned for exploring innovative maturations, creating whiskies full of flavour guaranteed to bring intrigue and surprise. Continuing this tradition, Creation #6 is a bold experiment where Europe and the Caribbean meet to create a whisky that is rich, sweet, and lively. Infused with the signature subtle smoke and vibrant rum and raisin, it promises an unforgettable sensory journey.”

Cù Bòcan Creation #6 is available online and in specialist shops worldwide.

https://www.cu-bocan.com/stockists

https://www.cu-bocan.com/shop

Cù Bòcan is a Highland Single Malt distilled, matured, and produced at the Tomatin Distillery (near Inverness), famous for its portfolio of brands including Tomatin Highland Single Malt, The Antiquary, The Talisman, and Big T.

In 2005, the decision was made to produce a peated single malt and for the last week of production that year a batch of Optic Barley peated to 15ppm was used to produce about 60,000 litres of lightly peated spirit which was filled into a variety of different cask types.

Then, on September 3rd, 2013, this lightly peated whisky produced at Tomatin was released as Cù Bòcan – A single malt at 15ppm matured in a combination of Bourbon, Sherry, and Virgin Oak casks. Since then, the Cù Bòcan brand has grown with a number of vintage releases as part of the brand limited edition collection.

Cù Bòcan rebranded in August 2019. It is an experimental Highland Single Malt that explores innovative maturation to create whiskies full of intrigue and surprise. It is made with lightly peated Scottish barley, distilled every winter in limited batches and matured in a variety of interesting casks to unlock unusual flavours.

The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo International, https://www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Website: www.cu-bocan.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cubocan

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cubocanwhisky

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cubocanwhisky

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFfCCt2Wkep2Z_pr3PnpVHw

We are live!

Looking to expand your whisky collection? Head to our May 2024 auction to see what your missing!  Bid now!

Auction closes from 8pm (GMT) Tuesday 14th May

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

Glenfarclas – 50 Years Old
Bicentenary of John Grant’s Births 

To celebrate the bicentenary of John Grant’s birth, 1805 to 2005, we have this very special whisky: The Glenfarclas 50 Year Old – Bicentenary of John Grant’s Birth. This single malt Scotch spent five decades maturing in sherry casks, creating a truly remarkable flavour profile. Only 110 bottles were ever produced, making this a collector’s dream.

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It’s almost that time again – Fèis Ìle is just a few weeks away and we have an exclusive festival release with only 580 bottles available, almost ready to leave our warehouses and head to selected retailers. Distilled in 2009, this release has been 15 years in the making. Who better to tell you about the process of creating this special bottling than our Operations Director Graeme Mackeddie. Take a look below to read this ode to Mac-Talla Fèis Ìle 2024 Limited Edition.

In 2019 during routine sampling of casks in our warehousing at Aberargie, we identified a small parcel of 2009 bourbon barrels of Islay single malt that showed potential to be something quite special. At the time, the whisky was ten years old, resting in refill bourbon barrels – its particularly fruity notes, and soft peat belied its age. A notable whisky, which piqued our interest at the time.

Some weeks passed, and the opportunity to acquire a parcel of Caribbean rum casks through family business ties presented itself.  As a self-confessed lover of rum, and in particular maturation and finishing of Scotch Whisky in rum casks – it didn’t take long to formulate a plan. That plan? To introduce Islay single malt of notably fruit-forward character, to some fresh, vibrant rum casks – with the ambition to put a specific emphasis on those fruit notes, and nurture the whisky into something quite special.

On the 6th of September 2019, a rotation of twelve fresh rum casks were filled with the 2009 Islay spirit, and laid down in rack 57A, one of the highest and warmest spots in Warehouse No.1.

Over the months and years I visited the casks regularly, eager to see how they were developing. Our patience was duly rewarded – and in time the whisky came on as we’d hoped. The fruitiness of the bold Caribbean rum started to shine through. At the same time, lingering, chewy vanilla notes developed along with some subtle spice – these notes complimented the tropical fruit notes beautifully.

Unlike many casks in use in the rum industry and then in subsequent use within the whisky industry, this particular parcel of rum casks started life in the rum industry as virgin American oak barrels, and saw only one use before setting sail to us. The results are rum casks that are both active in terms of the influence its previous contents has, but also the influence of its wood. The active American oak generates flavours and aromas of vanilla, coconut, brown sugar along with some subtle cinnamon and cloves. The cask’s former contents of rum combined with the fruit forward Islay whisky offer a generous cacophony of tropical fruit notes, with pineapple and papaya particularly prevalent.

When I was set the challenge of finding something special to bottle for Fèis Ìle 2024, I knew exactly what I’d like to bottle. From the twelve casks, I’ve hand-selected two casks to bring together, that showcase the tropical fruit character of these 2009 rum casks perfectly.

COMING SOON…

Available from selected retailers and at our Mac-Talla Fèis Ìle events and Islay Whisky Shop from the 16th May. Make sure you keep up to date by following us on social media.

TORMORE DISTILLERY

For Mankind 31 Year Old 1992

Cask #TWB1036

Tormore 31 Year Old 1992 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, 1969. Single cask first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead bottled February 2024. 263 numbered bottles exclusive to The Whisky Barrel. “For Mankind” is a salute to the courage and ingenuity of humanity, inspiring whisky enthusiasts to embark on their own journey of discovery.

Cosmic ginger and sandalwood leading to a crater of spearmint and solar flares with sweet sherry and a space time odyssey of juicy raisins. A long oily finish explores a galaxy of dark chocolate with an explosive chilli spice big bang!

£250.00

Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.