Tomatin unveils 12 Year Old Sherry Cask – the newest addition to its core range

Award-winning Highland distillery, Tomatin, has announced a new addition to its core range, the 12 Year Old Sherry Cask.

Launching on the 20^th of May, the whisky has been fully matured in sherry casks for 12 years.

This release builds upon the classically smooth Tomatin 12 Year Old, honing in on pure sherry maturation. The result is a remarkable dram that epitomises the exceptional craftsmanship, tradition and quality of the Highland malt, bringing together decadent, rich flavours imparted from the sherry casks.

Opening with sweet aromas of caramelised apple and sweet pears, complemented by a medley of citrus zest from sultana, orange peel and apricot with subtle undertones of aged leather on the surface.

Deeper on the palate, it leads with indulgent notes of velvety chocolate fudge, golden manuka honey and the crunch of dried fruit and nuts. It has a lingering warm finish, with a hint of sweet cinnamon spice.

This latest release debuts a striking new design, encased in a vivid scarlet exterior embossed with opulent gold foil accents, paying homage to the intricate flavours imparted by the wood during the cask maturation process.

Scott Adamson, Blender & Global Brand Ambassador at Tomatin Distillery, said: “The global demand for well-matured sherried malts, particularly in markets like Asia, has inspired this latest addition to our core range. Tomatin has a unique ability to balance tradition with innovation, embracing our time-honoured techniques and contemporary practices to push the boundaries of flavour exploration. For over a century, Tomatin has featured sherry casks in our maturation process, and this new release stands as the next evolution of this tradition.

“Our 12 Year Old Sherry Cask captures the essence of our renowned 12 Year Old, enhancing its signature smoothness and focusing its aromatic profile to create a sherry cask whisky with a depth of flavour that is luxuriously indulgent”

This latest expression (40% ABV, RRP £52) brings Tomatin’s core range portfolio to six, offering a diverse range of expressions matured in different cask types, each bursting with distinctive flavours and unique characteristics.

The 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is available to purchase from the Tomatin website and select specialist retailers worldwide. For further information visit HERE

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: Caramelised apple, pear, sultana, orange peel, apricot and hints of aged leather
• Palate: chocolate fudge, manuka honey, dried fruit and nut
• Finish: cinnamon spice

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin’s success continued when the distillery’s ‘Legacy’ was awarded Gold at IWSC. That same year, Tomatin also took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International

Oran Blended Scotch Whisky Wins Double Gold at

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 Both Take Home Coveted Double Golds

NEW YORK (May 15, 2024) – Oran Blended Scotch Whisky, introduced by The Perfect Fifth in late 2023, has won double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 bottlings.

Whisky expert Jim Murray blended both Scotches for The Perfect Fifth, designing Oran to be an “old school” blend recognizable to whisky lovers of the heyday of blended whisky some 100 years ago.  Oran’s grain and malt components are created separately but ultimately combined as the perfect complement to one another.

Both releases are 50-50-50 blends, 50 percent single malt Scotch Whisky, 50 percent single grain Scotch Whisky, and 50 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Both blends are limited releases, containing only 465 bottles each.

A total of 11 different casks were used to make both blends. Some of the casks were split between both blends but with differing ratios. Blend No. 1 is composed exclusively of Ex-Bourbon casks while Blend No. 2 distinguishes itself with the addition of a sherried cask component.

“I could not be more pleased to have both of our Oran blends do so well in one of the most prestigious competitions in the spirits industry, said Karl Schoen, founder and chief executive officer, The Perfect Fifth.  “The fact that blended Scotch is a new spirits category for The Perfect Fifth, and to take home double golds for both blends with our first release is a testament to the skill and expertise of Jim Murray’s blending prowess.”

Oran Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 are available in limited quantities at retailers in New York, New Jersey and California. It is also available online at www.theperfectfifth.com.  Suggested retail pricing is $189 per 700 mL.

About The Perfect Fifth

The Perfect Fifth was created in 2019 by Karl Schoen, who was inspired by watching his family members toast milestones with Scotch Whisky as he grew up.  As Karl began his own exploration into the world of Scotch Whisky, he enjoyed finding stellar single cask bottlings and sharing them with others.  This led to the formation of The Perfect Fifth, where Karl and his brother Ben source the best quality whisky from all over Scotland.  Together they travel throughout Scotland, sampling cask after cask until they find those worthy to be selected for The Perfect Fifth. Few casks make the cut, which is why The Perfect Fifth releases are limited editions.  Like the musical interval, The Perfect Fifth releases consist of multiple layers, each one broad and deep, which when combined, make a beautiful assembly meant to be shared with family and friends.

About The San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and is the largest competition of its kind with nearly 5,000 entries.  Each entry is judged double blind by a panel of spirits experts.  A double gold medal is awarded when each judge on the panel gives a gold medal to the entry.  The SFWSC medal is a testament to the hard work of the spirits industry’s distillers and producers and is a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Edition

The Sauternes Cask Matured limited edition has spent its full maturation in ex-sauternes wine casks, then bottled at 50%abv. Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder, selected a combination of fresh and refill sauternes barriques from 2017 and 2018, creating the perfect balance of buttery sweetness, barbecued pineapple, candied ginger and floral peat smoke.

£86.90

PRE-ORDER NOW

Tasting notes:

Nose: Creamy, buttery notes with ripe fruits, hint of salty sea air and subtle peat smoke.

Palate: Butterscotch and floral notes combine with tropical and candied fruits with integrated peat smoke flowing throughout.

Finish: Sweetness continues onto the finish, balanced with clean lingering smoke and rich texture.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

MAC-TALLA RUM CASK FÈIS ÌLE 2024

The wait is over! Our 2024 Fèis Ìle release will be appearing on shelves as of tooday. Matured in rum casks, this whisky is bursting with notes of chargrilled pineapple, papaya and bonfire embers. Bottled at 53.7% and limited to 580 bottles, this whisky won’t be around for long so set your alarms and get ready to grab one! Tropical and juicy, this coastal whisky is a true reflection of Islay’s festival vibes on the island this month and we can’t wait to join you with a variety of fun and mouth-watering events. Click here to see our events on Islay this year!

Introducing the arrival of  MAC-TALLA FLORA

Introducing a fresh addition into our core range – Mac-Talla Flora blossoms from Islay’s untamed landscape, combining the essence of wildflower meadows with the island’s coastal air. A testament to Islay’s botanical richness.With a combination of sherry (70% Oloroso and PX) and bourbon (30%) this whisky showcases a unique harmony between the richness from the sherry and floral nature of the bourbon. This whisky blossoms with delicate layers of heather, intertwined with soft peat smoke and nutty undertones. Bottled at 48.2%, allowing space for every note to develop on the palate.

Mac-Talla Flora will be available on shelves from as early as 6th June 2024 at a retail price of £54.

Keep your eyes peeled for more info on where you can get a bottle!

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Kincardine House
Aberargie
Aberargie, Perthshire and Kinross PH29LX
United Kingdom

Jos A. Magnus & Co. “Cigar & Flagship” Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2 Pack

(2x750ml) SKU #1747405

You could buy a bottle of Magnus Cigar Blend on the open market for an average of $360 or you could snag a bottle of Jos. A. Magnus Cigar Blend and a bottle of their Flagship bourbon and save yourself $10 over the regular retail prices in this sweet little two pack.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ralfy review 1028 – AnCnoc 12yo @40%vol: (2024)

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS

Names 9 new MASTERS OF SCOTCH, 2 new MASTERS OF BOURBON and 6 MASTERS OF WHISKEY

following the 2024 Annual Master Exams held on the Isle of Raasay

Isle of Raasay Distillery, West Highlands, Scotland April/May 2024

More than 40 members and candidates of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, a global body dedicated to whisk(e)y education, convened at the Isle of Raasay Distillery, near the Hebridean island of Skye, to conduct annual Master examinations and to name newly confirmed Masters in the Scotch and Bourbon specialties, as well as the first ever Masters of Whiskey named by the Council for their global whiskey knowledge.

The international judging panel consisted of Council board members, who are globally acclaimed whiskey authorities and accomplished industry veterans. Many have served on the Council’s board of advisors since its founding in 2019: Steve Beal, Dave Broom, Martin Duffy, Sébastien Gavillet, Monique Huston, Charles MacLean, Becky Offringa, Hans Offringa, exam chairs Martin Duffy, Tobias Gorn and Arthur Nägele, chairman of the board Bernhard Schäfer, as well as Masters of Scotch Dan Crowell, Adam Edmonsond, Nik Kosobucki, Siddharth Sawkar, Guy Sporbert, John Wabeck, Sam Wright, and Master of Bourbon Tom McCormick.

The examinations included intense blind tastings, in-depth oral theory exams, as well as essays on a wide range of topics. Candidates were reviewed on all aspects of their chosen specialization, covering history, production, all major distilleries, knowledge of the trade, tasting competence, regulations and standards of identity, and more.

Judges evaluated all candidates independently and elected new Masters based upon agreed standards developed and consistently upheld by the Council. To become a candidate in the Master program, individuals must first pass the first and second levels of the program through remote study. The study program is open to all individuals worldwide, and enrollment details are available at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

25 qualified individuals were enrolled in the 2024 Master program, and 17 of them passed the exams. THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS is pleased to announce the following exceptionally talented and dedicated professionals as new Masters:

JAMES BALL, MASTER OF SCOTCH

ALESSANDRO DI BERARDINO, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in Switzerland)

WILL BRESLAW, MASTER OF SCOTCH

BRUCE DENG, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in China)

MARK GRIFFITH, MASTER OF SCOTCH

MICHAEL HITCHCOCK, MASTER OF SCOTCH

TY KINTER, MASTER OF SCOTCH

AI KURODA, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in Japan)

ANDY WESTLEY, MASTER OF SCOTCH

CARMEN HARTWICH, MASTER OF BOURBON (first Master in Australia)

KEVIN MALTA, MASTER OF BOURBON

As of April 19th, 2024, the above individuals are full members of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS for life, subject to the Council’s code of conduct.

The following six professionals, who had previously passed the Master of Scotch or Master of Bourbon exams, and who were already full members of the Council, became the first to ascend to the highest designation awarded by the Council, Master of Whisk(e)y:

DAN CROWELL, MASTER OF WHISKY

ADAM EDMONSOND, MASTER OF WHISKY

NIK KOSOBUCKI, MASTER OF WHISKY

TOM MCCORMICK, MASTER OF WHISKEY

SIDDHARTH SAWKAR, MASTER OF WHISKY

SAM WRIGHT, MASTER OF WHISKEY

(The Council allows program graduates to choose their preferred spelling of the word “whisk(e)y,” consistent with their specialization.)

Many candidates who did not pass the exams are expected to continue in their studies and will be supported and mentored by the Council toward success in later examinations.

Alasdair Day, Master Distiller of the Isle of Raasay Distillery, has also joined the Council as the newest member of its advisory board, after serving with distinction as a guest examiner and judge.

Additional Masters named by the Council in past years are:

CHASE HENRY, MASTER OF BOURBON

JAY JORDAN, MASTER OF BOURBON

MARK RUCKER, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN STRUMPFER, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN BOYER, MASTER OF SCOTCH

JERAD JUSTESEN, MASTER OF SCOTCH

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS currently consists of more than 60 full members worldwide. Since its inception in 2019, the Council has developed and supported thousands of certification examinees, from more than 50 countries.

The next Master exams are scheduled for April 2025, to take place in the United States. Enrollment is open now.

The Council thanks and appreciates Glencairn Crystal, our global partner and exclusive tasting glass. The Council thanks and appreciates Isle of Raasay Distillery, our 2024 examination venue partner in Scotland.

All program and contact information can be found at www.WhiskeyMasters.org

The full list of board members is published at www.whiskeymasters.org/whiskey-masters

Little Book’s first release of 2024 – Little Book Chapter 8, “Path Not Taken.”

Path Not Taken explores the future of American Rye by blending a unique range of ryes together – showing you that rye still has plenty of stories left to tell. This blend consists of seven liquids ranging from 4 years old, to 18 years old, with an ABV of 59.1% and an SRP of $149.99.

“Path Not Taken” is about reimagining the variety that rye grain has to offer and pushing the limits of what it can be. Freddie looked across America’s oldest whiskey frontier from a new vantage point and created a complex, redefined, and differentiated profile by blending ryes of different age, char, and mashbill.

This is Freddie’s first concerted effort to blend an expression based on the influence and unique flavors of rye whiskey and the nuances of the rye grain primarily in the American Straight Rye styles selected, as well as its mashbill influence within high-rye bourbon.

Liquid Notes

18yrs Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (High Rye)

11yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

7yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Malt Whiskey

5yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (KY Family-Style, Char 4)

5yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (PA Family-Style, Char 1)

5yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (PA Family-Style, Char 4)

4yrs Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Elderly Elvis Tilting #2 (Glenlivet) 25 Year Old “Dramfool” Bourbon Barrel Aged Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $249.99 View

Jim McEwan.  Colour: August Barley Aromas – Opens on a foundation aroma of malted barley, crisp and sweet. Moving into a harmonious Heather in bloom freshness with hints of candied almonds. Next its a gentle drift of charred oak & bourbon which takes you back in time to its original occupant which adds a spicy sweetness that works beautifully with the oak. Palate – At 25 Years old maturing in a bourbon barrel cask the flavours are outstanding. The sweet spiciness from the bourbon cask works beautifully with the vanilla & the spice plus the caramel flavour from the toasted oak then add the skills of the Distilling team, time and the malted barley produced by the farmers and that’s what makes this such a beautiful spirit.

K&L Notes. The 69th release from Dramfool, “Elderly Elvis Tilting,” comes from one of the most renowned Speyside distilleries. Distilled on October 6th, 1998 and matured for an impressive 25 years in bourbon barrel #4406979, it was bottled at 55.4% ABV cask strength on October 10th, 2023. Rarely do we see this kind of well aged blue chip cask bottled for a reasonable price anymore. While many famous distilleries are pushing 300-400 dollars for the 18 year releases, you can still find incredible value on the independent market. Dramfool has made an exceptional name for themselves through the quality of the casks they select to bottle. This 25 year from Glenlivet Distillery (a careful anagram of Elderly Elvis Tilting so as to not officially divulge the ‘secret’ distillery) is a massive coup for the team at Dramfool to be able to offer at this price.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

This extremely rare single malt from Laphroaig Distillery on the isle of Islay was aged for 30 years in sherry casks before bottling at 43 % ABV.  The bottle comes in the original wooden box.

£1,350⁰⁰