In this month’s Unfiltered, we delve into a range of whisky journeys and celebrations, including the 25th anniversary of our London Members’ Room, with insights from loyal members and the team, a Society member’s literary tribute to whisky entrepreneur Joe Hobbs, our new partnership in Mexico City’s bar scene and the growing whisky culture in South Africa with Marc Pendlebury of our Johannesburg branch.

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Have a look at all of the amazing Society events happening throughout July!

ALL EVENTS

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

Following our announcement of our new blend, the ultimate whisky to celebrate with, ’The Summer of Sport’… the whisky was featured on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh as one of the best spirits for cocktails at home this summer.

Inspiration has been taken from the success of other GreatDrams flavour and occasion-led releases “which is seeing our customers buying for occasions as well as great quality and taste” says Kirsty Dillon, GreatDrams co-founder.

The Summer of Sport is released to mark exactly that. Not only do we have the usual summer treats such as the Open Championship and Wimbledon, we also get to enjoy football’s Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris. There’s also heaps more besides!

When Greg and Kirsty, founders of GreatDrams, were looking at their release schedule “It just makes perfect sense,” said Greg Dillon, “sport is a big part of our lives, as is whisky so we put the two together.”

Kirsty continues “When selecting the casks we knew it had to be vibrant yet smooth and have the ability to stand up when made into cocktails – because who doesn’t love a summer cocktail?”

‘The Summer of Sport’ release is a 10 Year Old sherry cask matured blend with aromas of sticky dates, raisins and undertones of sweet sherry. Delve a little deeper with that first sip, and there are more sweet sherry notes, complemented beautifully by crisp orchard fruits, sweet Madagascan vanilla, and a hint of oak. The finish is smooth, mature, and full of character.

This remarkable sherry cask matured blend has been aged for 10 years in Oloroso sherry casks. The sherry influences are present on the nose from the get-go. Immediately you get aromas of sticky dates and raisins, with undertones of sweet sherry. Delve a little deeper with that first sip, and there are more sweet sherry notes, complimented beautifully by crisp orchard fruits, sweet Madagascan vanilla, and a hint of oak. The finish is smooth, mature, and full of character.

MORE HERE

GreatDrams
Brook House
Park Lane, Poynton
Stockport, Cheshire SK12 1RG
United Kingdom

June 2024 Auction ENDS – 08.07.2024

ENDS TONIGHT: June 2024 Auction

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

We have legendary vintages from pioneering independent bottlers, grandeur aplenty from established distilleries and unique and experimental drams from the hottest names in the whisky industry right now.

Bid Now

Macallan 1940 The Reach 81 Year Old

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1969 / Carlton Import, US

Thosop ‘Hand-Written Labels’

Legendary U.S. Bourbon- Hoffman Rare Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon 1988 & Old Commonwealth 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2002 / Stitzel-Weller

Chichibu, Hanyu and Karuizawa Premium Collection 3 x 70cl / SAFE Bubbles and Malt

The success of our historic single malt is in the safe hands of local men and women. Meet Scott Macleod, a valued member of our Warehouse and Cask Management team. Before embarking on his journey with us, Scott worked at the nearby Stornoway Airport but when he spotted a new job opportunity at the distillery his career really took off.

In October 2022, Scott began learning the art and science of oak, barrels, and cask-making while expanding his expertise in wood through visits to the esteemed Speyside Cooperage. When asked about his favourite aspect of the distillery, Scott told us…

“We are a young distillery practicing an old craft. Everyone is a good laugh and will never see you stuck.”

Thanks for all your hard work in our Ardhasaig warehouses Scott, we’ll keep the spirit flowing if you keep those casks rolling!

MEET THE HEARACH TEAM

Edradour 12 Years Old Cask Strength Batch 3

This is an amazing bottling from Edradour Distillery – a little gem of a distillery, producing at a small scale. The Cask Strength batch 3 was distilled in 2011 and 2012, and matured in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry Butts for 12 Years before being bottled in 2024. Bottled at natural cask strength of 58.6%, with natural colour and without chill-filtration.

£90.00

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ralfy review 1034 Extras – The true value of Independent bottlers.

WEAR THE GARMENT: BALLANTINE’S AND HIP HOP LEGEND RZA DROP CAPSULE COLLECTION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD

Ballantine’s and RZA have come together once again to create a limited-edition capsule collection, designed in partnership with Japanese streetwear brand, NEIGHBORHOOD

RZA Presents: Ballantine’s x NEIGHBORHOOD collection will be available to purchase from 26^th October 2023 at HighSnobiety Shop and END. clothing.

Ballantine’s, the world’s second largest Scotch whisky, presents the next phase in its partnership with Wu-Tang Clan frontman, RZA, dropping a limited edition capsule collection with streetwear brand, NEIGHBORHOOD.

The ongoing collaboration between Ballantine’s and RZA sees the pair celebrating self-expression through a series of drops that define what it means to ‘stay true’ to yourself. The first drop in the partnership brought together their shared love of music through a collaboration with Crosley Radio, and the latest drop with NEIGHBORHOOD puts fashion at the heart of self-expression.

The collaboration coincides with 50 years of hip hop, a cultural movement that has long shaped streetwear and fashion culture. Multi-hyphenate RZA, the de facto leader of one of hip hop’s defining groups, Wu-Tang Clan, has worked with Ballantine’s and the iconic Japanese streetwear brand NEIGHBORHOOD, to design the bespoke fashion and accessories collection, which is available from October 26th globally on HighSnobiety Shop and END. clothing.

The hero piece is a classic black ‘zip work jacket’, emblazoned with the mantras, ‘Stay True’ and ‘Craft With Pride’, above the outline of a Ballantine’s Chevron. In true NEIGHBORHOOD style, the jacket is crafted using TC twill for a boxy fit; and embroidered onto the left cuff of the jacket is RZA’s distinctive three-letter signature.

Within the collection are two stylish matching black twill accessories, adorned with the collaborative logos and RZA’s signature – a baseball cap and an eco-friendly tote bag. And for whisky fans, the collection also includes a bespoke Tsukamoto ceramic whisky decanter with an intricately designed skull motif and a Tsukamoto black clay drinks tumbler with an inner blue glaze.

When asked about the partnership, RZA said:

“Fashion is one of the greatest ways to show self-expression; we use clothes to express everything, from our style to other interests such as sports and music, and even our communities and neighbourhoods. The whole collection came out great, but having Ballantine’s ‘Stay True’ motto on the jacket is my favourite detail – it encapsulates our shared belief of doing things your own way.”

Mathieu Deslandes, Ballantine’s Global Marketing Director at Chivas Brothers adds:

“Ballantine’s and RZA have a shared DNA – one of legacy, history, excellence, and good taste – and a belief in staying true to who you are. This next step in our collaboration with the hip hop legend and NEIGHBORHOOD encourages people to express themselves in their own unique way, which is what Ballantine’s Stay True ethos is all about. RZA is known for subverting expectations which reflects the spirit of our founder George Ballantine, who was breaking conventional codes of whisky since the 1820s. We can’t wait for this capsule collection to drop to fans around the world.“

Haruchika Mitsui from NEIGHBORHOOD said:

“RZA has a unique style; while it has evolved over time, it remains unmistakably true to his essence – timeless and multi-faceted. Likewise, the items in this collection are physical expressions of different art forms – namely fashion and pottery – through multiple cultures: a Japanese streetwear brand partnered with New York hip-hop culture and the legacy of an iconic Scotch whisky.”

To get your hands on the limited-edition collaboration and to be the first to hear about exclusive content and future drops, visit Ballantines.com/RZA or follow @Ballantines on Instagram.

This article appears here well after the original publication date and as a matter of interest.

Hidden Barn Releases Seven-Year-Old Bourbon Finished in French Oak

Gold Medal Winner and Oldest Release to Date will be Available Starting July 7 

SPARTA, KY (June 27, 2024) –Hidden Barn, a bourbon brand launched in 2022, is releasing a seven-year-old double-barreled bourbon on 7/7 (July 7th).  The brand has been acquired by Royce Neeley from the Neeley Family Distillery, and continues to be created in partnership with Master Blender Jackie Zykan. This acquisition elevates the brand from its inception as an NDP (non-distiller producer) into having a brick-and-mortar home. The first release for Hidden Barn under the Neeley family of brands is a seven-year-old expression, aged five years in 24-month open-air seasoned barrels, and then barreled in new charred French oak barrels for an additional two years.

“We’re excited to continue partnering with Jackie on Hidden Barn, and to release what is ironically, her seventh blend of Hidden Barn Bourbon. Jackie has access to all my inventory for her blending,” said Royce Neeley, Master Distiller and owner of Neeley Family Distillery.  “Basically, I’ve given her the keys to the warehouse, and we can expect to see more one-of-a-kind releases in the future now that she’s got thousands of barrels to play with.”

The Hidden Barn Seven-Year-Old Bourbon has already snagged a gold medal with a score of 91 at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  The release is a blend of five barrels distilled at Neeley Family Distillery with a mash bill of 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley.  Like all Neeley Family Distillery distillates, this bourbon was double pot distilled after fermenting with wild-crafted Appalachian yeast, a practice of the Neeley Family dating back generations. The unique process also includes utilizing sweet mash as well as open cypress fermentation tanks to achieve products with rustic depth and dimension.

Through Jackie’s meticulous blending process, which starts with sampling from the multiple barrels available to her at the Neeley Distillery in Northern Kentucky, blends are constructed to represent harmony amid what seems unlimited diversity in profiles. For this particular blend, Jackie utilized just five barrels to achieve the final profile.  “It’s actually more difficult to create a blend with fewer barrels than one might think,” Zykan noted.  “People think starting with a smaller base is easier, since there are less flavor components in play, but it’s actually harder.  With big batches, it’s easier to achieve consistency and camouflage outlying components.  But with a smaller batch, such as this with only five barrels, everything has to be intentionally incorporated because any disconnect will show up immediately.”  This speaks to Jackie’s approach to blending, (and life), which is a focus on balance, structure and celebrating unique nuances.

With that in mind, Jackie notes the Hidden Barn Seven-Year-Old Bourbon has a gorgeous bouquet of overripe blackberry and red currant, coupled with crème brulee and a hint of spearmint.  Rich and full bodied on the palate, with a semi-dry rounded finish, coupled with toasted allspice, banana bread, and black pepper.  This whiskey was not chill filtered before bottling, and is bottled at cask strength, 109.4 proof.  Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Seven-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is $79.99. It will be released on July 7th at Neeley Family Distillery and will also be available online and at retail in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado and New Mexico.

About Hidden Barn Bourbon

Hidden Barn’s name harkens back to the local communities who painted their barns black in solidarity with distillers during Prohibition.  This sense of community is continued today through the passion for quality whiskey and camaraderie shared by its three partners, Jackie Zykan, Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar.  Together, the three friends bring their own strengths – a superior palate, distilling prowess, and a powerhouse connector to form Hidden Barn Bourbon.  Previous Hidden Barn Series have earned Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023 and 2024 and Best Small Batch, 1st Place at the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.  Hidden Barn Bourbon is owned by Neeley Family Distillery.   The brand is available online and in select states. For more information visit hiddenbarnwhiskey.com

Signatory Vintage Auchentoshan

24 Year Old Aged in a first-fill sherry butt and distilled in 1999, this is a rich and luxurious single cask expression from the Glasgow distillery. Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1999 Signatory Symington’s Choice 1st Fill Sherry Butt is an exquisite expression that exemplifies the craftsmanship and elegance of Lowland single malt whisky. Matured in a 1st fill sherry butt for 24 years, this exceptional release from Signatory Vintage offers a rich and complex tasting experience, perfect for connoisseurs and collectors seeking a truly memorable dram. Bottled April 2024. 689 numbered bottles.

£331.63

TWB Tasting Notes:

Nose: Elegantly complex with rich aromas of dark chocolate, figs, and dates, intertwined with notes of rich toffee, roasted nuts, and a hint of coffee. Subtle undertones of orange zest, cinnamon, and polished oak add depth and sophistication.

Palate: Luxurious and full-bodied, presenting a harmonious blend of sherry-induced sweetness and rich malt. Flavors of dried fruits, including sultanas and prunes, are complemented by luscious caramel, treacle, and a hint of molasses. Spicy nuances of nutmeg, clove, and a touch of black pepper enhance the complexity, while the oak influence provides a refined structure and creamy mouthfeel.

Finish: Long and warming, with a lingering sweetness and spice. The finish showcases notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit compote, and a gentle, lingering oakiness, leaving a satisfying and elegant aftertaste.

Auchentoshan Distillery was built by John Bulloch around 1800 and originally licensed in 1823 as Duntocher Distillery but renamed Auchentoshan Distillery during the 1830s. Auchentoshan is situated just north of Dalmuir, close by the northern bank of the River Clyde. Then it was in the countryside and now hugging the north western fringe of Glasgow yet not far from Loch Lomond. Auchentoshan is now one of the few distilleries in Scotland to produce malt whisky using a full triple distillation process. Expressions released by Wemyss, Hunter Laing and Cadenheads prove very popular.

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Husk is one of the components of the barleycorn. It’s the outer protective shell that protects the whole corn. And it’s vital that we protect that husk because that’s what we need in mashing to make the filter bed in our mashtun.”

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