GLEN GARIOCH 11 YEARS OLD 

Palo Cortado Finish

Aberdeen Whisky Shop Exclusive

Christmas Gifting

Explore the Wemyss Malts gifting collection, filled with thoughtful presents for the whisky lover in your life.

From our signature single malts to limited-edition single casks and stocking-sized surprises, there’s something to suit every taste.

Please note – our last order date for UK Christmas delivery is the 19th December.

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Ralfy Review – THREE Great Special Malts in 2024.

JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLING CO. LAUNCHES “BEAM PRIVATE BARREL CLUB” – THE DISTILLERY’S FIRST CONSUMER SINGLE BARREL PROGRAM 

Marking over 229 years since Jacob Beam started selling whiskey in 1795, fans of the iconic James B. Beam Distilling Co. can now select their own private barrel at the Clermont, Kentucky distillery

Clermont, Kentucky (December 10, 2024) – The James B. Beam Distilling Co., home of the world’s number one bourbon, Jim Beam^®, is excited to announce the launch of the Beam Private Barrel Club, a community of whiskey fans and enthusiasts who, for the first time, can buy and personalize their own single barrel directly from the distillery, creating an entirely new way to experience the iconic distiller. Knob Creek® will be the featured, inaugural brand to launch the program of which members can select a barrel of its award-winning bourbon or rye to be bottled exclusively for their enjoyment.  During this one-of-a-kind selection experience, consumers will have the unique opportunity to head deep into the rackhouses at the Clermont campus in Kentucky where generations of Master Distillers have famously hand-selected the very best bourbon for more than two centuries. Members can become a Master Distiller for the day, exploring the unique nuances of single barrels shaped by their location within the rackhouse, environmental factors, and individual barrel characteristics that influence flavor over time. In these historic spaces, where nearly 19 million barrels of bourbon and rye have aged more than two centuries, guests now have the chance to carve out their own piece of American whiskey history.

“The Beam Private Barrel Club is something we’ve been working on for years– even decades now,” shares Freddie Noe, eighth generation master distiller. “As we celebrate the 230^th year of Jacob Beam selling his first barrel, we want to commemorate this milestone by further welcoming whiskey lovers into our family offering members the ability to own a barrel, exclusively their own. As the sign says, come as friends, leave as family, and the new Beam Private Barrel Club does just that.”

How the Beam Private Barrel Club Works:

• Individuals, whiskey clubs, families, or friends become official members of the Beam Private Barrel Club by requesting a booking via the Beam Private Barrel Club Booking Link.
• The Beam Private Barrel Club member will be contacted by a Legacy ambassador at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Clermont Campus. The Legacy Ambassador will confirm the Beam Private Barrel Club experience and be your point of contact for your barrel selection.
• On the day of the Beam Private Barrel Club Experience, a Legacy ambassador will guide guests through a behind the scenes tour of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Campus, including a stop in the Fred B. Noe Distillery where they will learn about 230 years of Beam Family production practices. This is a completely private, curated tour and not open to general consumers.
• Following a private tour, the group will be escorted to a rackhouse to test and taste a selection of single barrel bourbons or ryes, just as eight generations of Master Distillers have done.
• After the tasting, guests will select their favorite barrel which will be pulled aside and eventually bottled. Each barrel will be bottled into exclusive bottles with a personalized label that can feature up to 41 unique characters. Members will be provided bottling and collection dates by the Beam Legacy ambassador and will receive updates on the status of the custom barrel through the process.
• Once selected, guests can take part in a special lunch at The Kitchen Table, the notable on-campus restaurant, inspired by the original Beam family kitchen table.
• Following your visit, the Beam Legacy ambassador will date members on the progress of their barrel. Once the bottle is barreled, all bottles must be picked up and paid in full, from the James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Beam Private Barrel Club – Details and Added Benefits:

• Bottling will take 90 to 120 days from barrel selection and the Member must pick up their cases and purchase the entirety of the barrel from the American Outpost.
• The selection process can accommodate up to eight guests per group.
• Pricing will vary depending on bottled yield, as each barrel will be determined on a per-bottle basis. The cost per bottle starts at $59.99, and typical barrels yield 100-175 bottles.
• To reserve your barrel, a non-refundable $1,000 deposit is required at the time of booking. This deposit will be credited towards the final cost of your barrel.

Visit beamdistilling.com for more information about The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and the Beam Private Barrel Club. While the program and Distillery tours are limited to guests age 21+, guests of any age can visit the grounds and The Kitchen Table restaurant.

About The James B. Beam Distilling Co. 

Founded by America’s first family of bourbon, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. has crafted genuine American Whiskey since 1795. Its portfolio includes globally coveted and award-winning whiskey brands including Jim Beam®, Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, Booker’s®, Baker’s®, Little Book®, Legent®, Old Tub®, Old Overholt®, Old Crow®, and Old Grand-Dad®. Maintaining the whiskey traditions of eight generations of family distillers while advancing the category through innovation, the Beam family has defined what American Whiskey could be and should be for more than 225 years. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. crafts American Whiskey with genuine, quality ingredients that are distilled and aged without compromise at its family distilleries in Clermont, Kentucky.

About Suntory Global Spirits

As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

ABOUT BOOKER’S® “JIMMY’s BATCH”

The fourth release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2024 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, living legend for bourbon lovers everywhere, and one of my dad’s dearest peers, competitors, and most importantly friends. Jimmy was like a second father to me after dad passed away, and I’ve learned a hell of a lot from him over the years. There are many life lessons to thank him for, but here are a few that stand out to me.

Once at a bourbon festival, Jimmy came up to Dad and me and poured out three glasses of a whiskey he wanted us to taste. It was some real nice stuff, and when Dad asked what it was, Jimmy said it was something new he was working on, something special. I thought it was pretty cool to bring a new product to a competitor and ask what they think. It showed me the importance of trust and camaraderie, and just how much those old timers respected each other.

The other big thing Jimmy taught me was to treat everybody like I wanted to be treated. When we went to events at bars or liquor stores, he always stayed late to make sure everyone got their picture taken and their bottle signed. It’s easy to take for granted that we get to do what we do because of the people that stand in line for our whiskey, but Jimmy never did.

Just like Dad, there are few things Jimmy loves more than a damn good bottle of bourbon. So, cheers to him and the mentorship he’s given me through thick and thin all these years. I hope you get to share a glass with company as good and true as Jimmy.

— FRED NOE, BEAM FAMILY 7TH GENERATION MASTER DISTILLER

MASTER DISTILLER’S NOTES

The fourth and final batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2024 is a tribute to a cherished friend of the Noe family, Jimmy Russel. A close friend to my dad and a second father figure to me since my dad’s passing in 2004. The breakdown of this batch is as follows:

• 12% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 20% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
• 46% came from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 3
• 22% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Q

This batch was made up of 3 production dates stored in 4 different warehouses. It stands at 125.8 proof and the age is 7 years, 9 months, and 19 days. It boasts a rich amber color shaped by the charred white oak barrels it aged in until the barrels were dumped. I first tasted this batch at my kitchen table, and its aroma filled the whole room. That first sip is sweet and smooth, and the way the vanilla notes mixes with the brown spice notes is just right- inviting you in for another taste. The finish is very pleasant and relaxing in taste.

I am really proud to put this batch together for Jimmy, and I know my dad would have loved seeing a batch of his namesake bourbon dedicated to his great friend.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Booker’s “Jimmy’s Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle. 

PROOF 125.8

AGE 7 yrs., 8 months and 19 days

IN FIELD DATE 11/1/24

NOSE Aromas of vanilla, brown spices

TASTE Sweet and smooth, and unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon

FINISH Pleasant and relaxing

SIPPING SUGGESTIONS Sip neat or with water to open up the flavorsSCC#10080686011405 / UPC#080686011408

*Booker’s® Bourbon is quality screened to remove sizeable pieces of charred barrel wood Shippers for each Booker’s Batch are coded with the name and batch # for each release

2024 has been My Year of the Book, so a sincere and humble THANK YOU to all the whisky makers, promoters, whisky clubs and pubs, festivals, event sponsors and others who have helped make it a success. Canadian Whisky Third Edition is now in bookstores and at online booksellers, or order below for Christmas delivery.

Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert, Third Edition is now in stores and at all online booksellers.

But what makes it a new edition?

There are no real rules, but my publisher wanted at least 35% all-new material. When I told him there were way more changes and new information than that, he responded “Go wild,” and I did.

The publisher went wild too, illustrating this new edition with glorious full colour photos, many of them rarely seen historic images. And it’s a hard cover book too this time, so pleasing to hold and ideal for gift-giving.

Nearly two dozen significant historical distilleries are profiled for the first time ever. Some of these were huge enterprises, as large as Seagram’s or Gooderham and Worts, but until now, lost to time.

I updated or re-wrote every chapter, some of them extensively, and included several new ones including one about a little-known Canadian whisky family dynasty, now in its fifth generation.

All of Canada’s major distilleries have new, updated profiles, in some cases entirely changed to reflect new research, new sources, new practices, and new owners doing new things in new ways.

The smaller distilleries, Canada’s craft producers, get a lot more attention this time, reflecting the growth and maturity of a new distilling movement, driven by authenticity. It’s a movement that is giving consumers and major producers good reason to take notice.

Over 120 tasting notes, each illustrated with a colour photo of the bottle tell another story of Canadian whisky, this one through historical drams and the latest releases.

And the publisher created new maps locating legacy, historical and craft distilleries, to give readers an overview at a glance of the geography of distilling in Canada.

All in all, it’s a brand new book, and that’s not just me speaking, but the opinion of whisky geeks from coast to coast who have collected and read the earlier editions. It’s new, it’s now, and it would be most welcome under any whisky lover’s Christmas tree.

CHAPTERS INDIGO

AMAZON

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WHISKY SPONGE ED.58B BEN NEVIS – 27 YEAR OLD

After a very long gap, Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is finally here. It’s rather fitting that this will be the very last Sponge bottling we’ll release. Forever. (Probably).

This is the second half of the same butt of Ben Nevis 1996 we bottled as Edition No. 58a, only this one has been finished in a 2nd fill sherry butt for just over two years. We bottled it with even slighter reduction this time, at 55%. It tastes like Optimus Prime after an intense workout while wearing a sheep wool cardigan in a cosmic potting shed.

Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is the long in development follow up to Edition No.58a. It’s the same whisky, a refill butt of 1996 Ben Nevis, only we finished the second half for just over two years in a 2nd fill sherry butt.

We then bottled it with a couple of degrees reduction at 55%. This is big, rich, oily, waxy and mechanical Ben Nevis, powerful, West Highland, distillate driven malt whisky, with a touch of sherry earthiness.

£295.00 incVAT

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We’re very pleased to present the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival. The Victoria Whisky Festival will run through Thursday the 16^th, Friday the 17^th, Saturday the 18^th and Sunday the 19^th of January 2025 at the 5-star Hotel Grand Pacific located on Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. To order tickets please contact Frank Hudson at info@victoriawhiskyfestival.com

It’s a big moment for Unfiltered which celebrates its 100th issue with some equally exciting news: PRINT IS COMING BACK in 2025. In the latest digital issue we explore our latest Heresy release, Spruce on the loose and head to the Isle of Harris for a Hebridean adventure. As ever, there’s a wealth of whisky storytelling to explore both in Unfiltered and in our monthly podcast.

READ UNFILTERED

WATCH THE PODCAST

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY UPDATE

We’re now getting closer to our Christmas delivery cut-off dates. Please remember that it’s a very busy time of year. While we love getting your whisky to you as speedily as we can, unexpected bad weather and busy couriers can result in delays to orders. We would encourage you to place your orders as soon as possible. Order by Wednesday, 18 December to avoid disappointment!

SHOP ALL WHISKY

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

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