THE SEASONS: AUTUMN

We are delighted to introduce the next three entries in our limited-edition series, The Seasons. The three single malt whiskies we have chosen to evoke autumn are earthy, rich and warming, perfect for brisk days and cool evenings.

Each one was drawn from a single cask and bottled without chill filtration or added to colour, to preserve a clear sense of distillery character. Autumn is in the air, and our new collection is the perfect way to savour the season.

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J.G. Thomson
51 Year Old
Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
1972 | 70cl | 46.5% ABV

Exclusive to HTFW, award-winning distillers J.G. Thomson & Co. have released just 155 bottles of their extraordinary 1972 vintage blended grain Scotch whisky. Only available here for a limited period, this unique blend is both covetable and collectable.Don’t miss this chance to own a rare timepiece from a legend of Leith’s rich whisky history.

Crafted from vintage distilled components from 1972 and left to mellow for more than half a century in ex-bourbon barrels, this exceptional blend has had the time to develop intense depth and character – making it a one-of-a-kind dram and an exquisite alternative to malt.Bottled at 46.5%, non-chill filtered and with no added colour, serve neat to appreciate the unique flavours and aromas that over 50 years of maturation have created.

Nose: Alluring aromas of deep, earthy cocoa, sweet, dried mango and stewed rhubarb.

Palate: Orange blossom, cherry chocolate and marzipan to delight the taste buds. One sip will leave you wondering where it’s been all your life.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 543: Trip to Speyside 2024 – part 1 of 4

In September 2024, Mark organized a trip to Speyside for 13 like-minded whisky aficionados. In a short 4-part series of Ramblings, you can find out where they went and what they experienced. In this first part, you’ll find them visiting or stopping by Tomatin, The Cairn, Balmenach, Tormore, Cardhu, Tamdhu, Knockando and Craigellachie.

https://youtu.be/YwRsbTMotHc

Tamnavulin, the world’s fastest-growing single malt, unveils Port Cask Edition

The Single Malt known for its signature Speyside flavour and double cask maturation announces a new addition to its range

Tamnavulin Distillery, celebrated for its quintessential Speyside character and distinctive double cask maturation, is adding a Port Cask Edition to its core range.

As with every expression from Tamnavulin, the whisky undergoes a meticulous ageing process in two distinct casks, to create a whisky that is irresistibly sweet, velvety smooth, and teeming with complex flavours.

The journey of this remarkable new whisky begins in the heart of Speyside, where Tamnavulin’s new make spirit develops vibrant notes of ripe orchard fruits. The first maturation in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels crafts a rich and layered foundation, imparting delicate flavours of sweet biscuit, creamy vanilla, and subtle hints of apple and pear.

The whisky is then masterfully finished in a second cask, which has already led a life nurturing a fine Tawny Port wine. These casks have been carefully selected from Portugal’s celebrated Douro Valley, imparting a rich sweetness to the whisky through the cask over time as the spirit matures. The result is an accessible yet opulent and sophisticated expression that embodies the craftsmanship of Tamnavulin.

Building on the success of its acclaimed Wine Cask Editions, Tamnavulin’s master whisky makers, led by Kirsty Hodge, sought to find a partner to complement and elevate the characteristics of the distillery, leading them to the home of Port. The result? A breathtaking whisky that delivers a sensationally balanced expression with intricate layers of rich fruit.

Visually arresting with its deep mahogany hue, this whisky captivates from the very first pour. The nose reveals ripe red berries, plums, and dark chocolate, delicately layered with notes of rose syrup, sweet biscuit, and spiced orange. On the palate, it unfolds into a rich medley of honeyed poached pears, berry compote, dried fruits, and creamy caramel, unveiling a nutty finish.

This versatile whisky shines when savoured neat as well as elevating classic cocktails, or pair with aged Gouda cheese for an indulgent treat.

Tamnavulin Port Cask (ABV 40%) is now available in Tesco and Sainsbury’s and will launching in Asda from 17^th October with an RSP of £35.

About Tamnavulin:

Tamnavulin, named after the Gaelic term for ‘Mill on the Hill,’ draws its identity from the 16th-century woollen mill that once graced its historic site. It stands as the embodiment of the quintessential Speyside malt. Established in 1966 in the tranquil village of Tamnavulin, Scotland, the distillery’s journey has been one of both tradition and revival. Though the distillery closed its doors in 1995, it was brought back to life and meticulously restored in 2007. Since then, Tamnavulin has been dedicated to crafting exceptional single malt whisky that captures the true essence of Speyside—sweet, smooth, and fruity.

Nestled in the heart of Speyside, a region renowned for housing over half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries, Tamnavulin benefits from an environment perfectly suited for whisky production. Speyside’s unique microclimate, with its temperate conditions, provides the ideal setting for whisky maturation, while the region’s plentiful water sources contribute to the whisky’s purity and character. Inspired by this extraordinary location, Tamnavulin expertly marries time-honoured distilling traditions with cutting-edge techniques to craft its signature double cask matured Speyside malt—offering a single malt experience with twice the flavour and depth.

Tamnavulin Port Cask Edition

ABV: 40%

Cask: American Oak Barrels and Tawny Port Casks

Available in the UK and Sweden in 70cl format from August

RSP: £35 / 329 kr.

Colour: Deep Mahogany

Nose: Ripe red berries, plums, dark chocolate, rose syrup, sweet biscuit and spiced orange.

Taste: Sumptuous notes of honeyed poached pears, berry compote, dried fruits and creamy caramel with a nutty finish

Hidden Barn Bourbon’s “23B” Whiskey Wins Best Small Batch Bourbon, Best of Class at Top Shelf Awards Gala

SPARTA, KY (Oct. 9, 2024) –Hidden Barn Bourbon’s Series 1, Batch 23B has won Best of Class in the Small Batch Bourbon Up to 5 Years category at the Top Shelf Awards Gala, held Oct. 4, 2024.  The Top Shelf Awards are run by The Tasting Alliance, under which prestigious awards such as the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are held.

Hidden Barn Bourbon Batch 23B was distilled at Neeley Family Distillery and blended by Jackie Zykan. Batch 23B is a blend of 20 barrels aged five years old using Neeley’s flagship mashbill of 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley.  The judges described 23B as “a perfectly balanced bourbon” and awarded it a score of 98 points at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, held earlier in 2024.  Finalists were voted on again to choose Best in Class, and Hidden Barn 23B took the top spot, beating out four other competitors.

Master Distiller Royce Neeley and Hidden Barn Partner Nate Winegar were on hand to receive the award.  “The small batch bourbon category is very crowded, especially in the 5 years and under age range.  To have our 23B win Best of Class over all the other entrants is such an honor and a testament to Jackie (Zykan’s) blending talent,” said Royce Neeley.

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.  Batch 23B was bottled at cask strength at 110.1 proof with only sediment filtration.

Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Series 1, 23B is $74.99. It is available at Neeley Family Distillery gift shop, online and at select retail stores in Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

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

About The Tasting Alliance

The Tasting Alliance Competitions are considered the most influential in the spirits industry and its award programs include the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and the Singapore World Spirits Competition.  Each entry is judged double blind by a panel of spirits experts.    The medals are a testament to the hard work of the spirits industry’s distillers and producers and are a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

NEW Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR

Today, we celebrate the launch of the 2024 edition of Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR!  This unfiltered, cask-strength American rye delivers a distinct and rich liquid, full of balanced rye spice flavor complimented by notes of vanilla, caramel, and charred oak complexity. It was distilled and barreled in the autumn season of 2012 and laid down in 4 distinct warehouses in Clermont Kentucky to ensure incredible consistency and gentle flavor mellowing over time.​

 TASTING NOTES

Non-Chill Filtered for a more robust flavor

Color – Golden Tawny

Aroma –  Bold, vanilla underpinned with hints of tobacco spice

Taste – Allspice, sweet vanilla and caramel, charred oak

Finish – Pleasant, Full bodied with lingering notes of rye

Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR is 107.4 proof with an SRP of $99.99 for a 750mL bottle.

THE MACALLAN HARMONY COLLECTION

VIBRANT OAK AND GUARDIAN OAK

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak and the travel exclusive, Guardian Oak. This release is a unique collaboration with Cirque du Soleil celebrating 200 years of The Macallan.

The Macallan Harmony Collection celebrates the possibilities of repurposing natural materials in our packaging and of creating beauty from our own resources.

For this release, we focus on our own area of expertise and mastery which is represented by oak. Oak runs through every facet of The Macallan and our exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, distinctive aromas and flavours of our whisky.

As a member of The Macallan Society, keep an eye on your inbox for an upcoming invitation to purchase this single malt.

DISCOVER THE COLLECTION

Cirque du Soleil’s world-renowned shows inspire change through creativity and art. In perfect harmony, The Macallan and Cirque du Soleil combine their crafts to present this enchanting Collection. This release reveres the marvels of nature and the infinite potential of the imagination.

VIBRANT OAK

The whisky, created by The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team, is matured in a combination of first fill sherry seasoned American oak casks and refill sherry casks. These have been carefully selected to deliver the classic American oak flavours of vanilla, citrus and sweet oak, naturally derived from the cask during maturation, with a medium, sweet finish that delicately lingers.

COLOUR Autumnal Leaf.
AROMA Intense vanilla bean accompanied by sweet sherbet and lime zest gives way to fragrant pears nestled in delicate vanilla sponge cake.
PALATE Creamy vanilla panna cotta, buttery shortbread, lightly toasted coconut with almond brittle, apple and sweet oak.
FINISH Medium, sweet with lingering vanilla.
ABV 44.2%

GUARDIAN OAK

Our travel exclusive, Guardian Oak is a reminder of the importance of both the connection with our natural environment and of preserving it. The whisky is matured in a combination of first fill sherry seasoned American oak casks and refill sherry casks. This release will be available from The Macallan Global Boutiques, in key airports and selected duty free locations around the world from January 2025. There will be limited availability worldwide.

DISCOVER

NEW PRODUCT RELEASE

DECADENT DRAMS – BLENDED MALT 23 YEAR OLD

A 2001 sherry butt of blended malt, aged for 23 years and bottled at its natural cask strength of 45.1%, after being finished for just over a year in the ex-Ardbeg butt that matured our Islay Sponge III bottling. The finish has had a remarkably gentle effect, and the result is a wonderfully rich, cohesive and rounded, old school sherried malt.

Perfect for winter glugging!

This is a single butt of 2001 blended malt, aged for 23 years and bottled at natural cask strength of 45.1%. We finished it for a year in an ex-Ardbeg refill butt to see what would happen, we’re pretty delighted with the result.

It’s dark, rich, fruity, earthy and tastes like a glass of petrichor and smoked prunes! Exactly the sort of molten comfort blanket you know that you require several bottles of now that winter is barrelling down upon you.

Unless you are reading this during summer of the following year and we still have stock, in which case, this is dark, rich, fruity, earthy and tastes like a glass of petrichor and smoked prunes! Exactly the sort of joyous, convivial everyday dram you need to share gaily with your chums all summer long!

ralfy review 1049 Extras – So, what happened at distilleries in the old days ?

BENROMACH DISTILLERY RELEASES UNPEATED SINGLE MALT AS ULTIMATE CONTRAST TO ITS CORE RANGE

 The latest single malt expression from Benromach Distillery challenges drinkers to compare an unpeated variant, released as part of its Contrasts range, to the whiskies in its core range which contain its signature flavour profile – with a subtle wisp of smoke.

Benromach Contrasts Unpeated has been handcrafted using the same traditional methods by the distillery’s skilled team of distillers. But its unpeated nature provides the ultimate contrast and begs the question: ‘which do you prefer?’

The new Contrasts release features unpeated spirit matured for nine years in a mix of bourbon and Sherry casks. It provides sweet and floral aromas on the nose, followed by a fruity palate with underlying liquorice, oak and herbal influences. A medium finish offers fresh menthol and a touch of pepper.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “With our Contrasts range, we aim to develop whiskies that showcase the handmade skills of our distillers – and this is no exception. But this particular unpeated release provides the very definition of a contrast – so we’d love to hear what whisky drinkers think.”

With an ABV strength of 46%, the whisky is currently available for purchase via independent whisky specialists at a recommended retail price of £60.

For more information on Benromach Distillery or Benromach Contrasts Unpeated, please visit: www.benromach.com

Tasting Notes: 

Benromach Contrasts Unpeated

• RRP: £60
• ABV: 46%
• Nose: Sweet with vanilla fudge, malted biscuit and spiced baked apple. Fresh lime, floral notes and ginger intertwine.
• Taste: Candied pineapple gives way to red apple, raspberry and raisin. Underlying sweet liquorice and oak lead to subtle herbal influences.
• Finish: Medium finish offering fresh menthol and a touch of pepper.

About Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life by owners Gordon & MacPhail in 1993.

At Benromach, the team keep things simple: a handful of distillers relying entirely on their expertise and senses to make the finest handmade whisky.

Their processes honour the knowledge and experience used to make Speyside whiskies decades ago, because at Benromach they believe making whisky by hand delivers genuine character.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distilleries, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, and the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door.