While there is lots to look forward to this year, there’s one piece of news that the whole team is more than a little excited about, whisky time!

With our brand new, custom designed equipment arriving in the early spring, we’re all counting down the days until we can unwrap those shiny new stills, watch them slot into place at Nunton, and fire them up with our very first batches of North Uist Distillery whisky!

Distilled from our very own heritage bere barley, grown right here on the machair in partnership with our trusted keepers of the grain, as soon as the whisky starts flowing we will be getting those year one casks filled and stored with the promises of future drams.

Operation
Whisky.

While there is lots to look forward to this year, there’s one piece of news that the whole team is more than a little excited about, whisky time!

With our brand new, custom designed equipment arriving in the early spring, we’re all counting down the days until we can unwrap those shiny new stills, watch them slot into place at Nunton, and fire them up with our very first batches of North Uist Distillery whisky!

Distilled from our very own heritage bere barley, grown right here on the machair in partnership with our trusted keepers of the grain, as soon as the whisky starts flowing we will be getting those year one casks filled and stored with the promises of future drams.

Cask
Countdown (II).

If you weren’t lucky enough to get your hands on a Year One cask (and selling out in a record breaking two minutes, it is no surprise that many missed out!) we have great news, our Year Two cask offer will be going live in the coming weeks and this time there will be 100 casks up for grabs for those with the fastest fingers on the button.

While we’ll be sharing general whisky news here in the island dispatch, cask offer details including countdowns will go out directly to our whisky mailing list, separately from the island dispatch. If you would like to receive more information about cask offers and be in with a chance of buying one, please reply to this email and ask to be added to the whisky mailing list if you’re not already on it. If you’re not sure if you’re on it then feel free to drop us a note to check.

www.northuistdistillery.com

Psst! We know you’re going to love every sip of our latest issue of Unfiltered magazine. But here’s the real deal: the fun doesn’t end when you finish that last drop. We’ve got an abundance of extra content waiting for you – like the cherry on top after savouring a dram.

From juicy behind-the-scenes stories to exclusive sherry deep dives, you’re missing out on some seriously great bits if you’re not checking out the latest at SMWS. It’s like leaving the party early – the real magic happens when you stick around!

Here’s the lowdown on what you can’t miss:

Throughout 2024, we’re spotlighting our unique approach to sherry-cask maturation. Check out Julien Willems’ feature on our history in this area and a Q&A with Euan Campbell during a visit to the Sherry Triangle in Spain.

We’re also exploring the origins of flavour in the whisky-making process. Gavin D Smith kicks off the series by focusing on malted barley.

READ NOW

Our pals at the Outturn podcast, Unfiltered editor Richard Goslan, and Calum Lawson from the Society’s Spirits Team, are kicking off the year with an overview of what to expect from the monthly Outturn release of new bottlings, including some sherry-matured beauties. Tune in to discover how to make the most of your Society membership and snag the perfect bottling!

Pop in those earbuds and join the conversation

TUNE IN

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

Ross & Squibb Remus “K&L Exclusive – LISV Barrel #531″ Warehouse H, Floor 6, Single Barrel Barrel Proof Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

While any Bourbon drinker worth their salt is aware of Four Roses recipe coding system designating mashbills and yeast type, most aren’t aware of where that system actually came from. It was brought to Four Roses from Ross & Squibb (formerly Seagrams/MGP). The link between the two companies goes back to 1943 when Seagram’s, owner of the Indiana facility for many years, purchased Four Roses and shifted that brands focus to the Japanese market. The bond between the two companies strengthened even further when Jim Rutledge came over to run Four Roses after decades at Seagrams. LISV recipe from MGP denotes distillery, mashbill, distillation method, and yeast strain used just like the other famous Lawrencburg distillery. Here we have an unusual 51% corn, 39% rye, 10% malted rye mashbill (Mashbill I) and the V yeast strain (while they won’t confirm it, this is very likely the same V strain 4R uses, again thanks to the Seagrams connection). It’s bottled at 56.6% ABV without chill filtration. The L and S will always indicate ‘L’awenceburg, Indiana for the distillery and ‘S’ distillation method signifying traditional beer still to doubler distillation for the Remus barrel picks).

$59.99 View

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

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, 57.85%

Maker’s Mark have been asked for years from baying customers – ‘Where’s the older stocks?’ The distillery always replied with ‘our liquid just doesn’t work at older ages.’ For years, we’ve all enjoyed Maker’s for what it is, as well as the innovation that they’ve championed over the last decade. But here we have it, the oldest Maker’s Mark ever released to the public!

A combination of 87% 12YO stock and 13% 11YO stock, this is a cask strength, powerful, elegantly put together set of casks that just won’t quit.

I love this liquid, a proud owner of it. But one thing Maker’s really advertised with this was ‘no bitterness’, personally I do taste bitterness, but it’s welcomed and rather complementary to the super buttery, and sometimes very floral aroma that this Kentucky legend has.

It’s a pleasure to have this in my collection, letting people try it, seeing how it develops over time, and the occasional cocktail with it. Congratulations, Maker’s Mark – this thing is a stunner.

Lochlea marks 5^th Anniversary with

statement whisky from across half a decade

Multi-award-winning Ayrshire distillery, Lochlea, is celebrating its 5^th Anniversary this year, marking the milestone birthday with a limited edition first age-statement whisky release. 

Lochlea 5 Year Old is a vatting of five different casks from the distillery – each one showing a different side to the house spirit, hand-selected by Production Director John Campbell and the team.

This exclusive single malt whisky is incredibly special to the Lochlea team – it is their first ever age statement release since the distillery was founded half a decade ago on Lochlea Farm – where Robert Burns lived and worked, inspiring his thinking and development as a poet.

Two of the five casks used are from the very first filling in August 2018, making this the oldest Lochlea whisky that has ever been bottled and released!

The final spirit of this limited 5 Year Old release is made up from two first fill ex-Bourbon casks, one first fill Oloroso sherry cask, one double matured Oloroso Sherry cask and a double matured Pedro Ximenez Sherry cask, giving it a delicious rich flavour and texture.

John Campbell said: “To mark our 5th Anniversary milestone, we wanted to create a whisky that shows off the best of Lochlea spirit that has been matured in different styles of casks over the last half a decade. We have carefully chosen these five casks that have matured our single malt to perfection, then vatted them together to create a unique bottling of Lochlea that we won’t replicate ever again – it’s an incredibly special dram to mark our first special milestone birthday. And as always with our whiskies, it’s made entirely from barley grown on our farm here at Lochlea.”

“In celebration of this special milestone, we felt it was fitting to release it on Burns Night as a nod to Robert Burns who once worked the land that we rely on for our own barley and, ultimately, our final spirit.”

Lochlea is one of the very few full grain-to-cask distilleries in Scotland, growing all its own barley, distilling its spirit, and maturing all stocks on site at the distillery (and farm) in the stunning region of Ayrshire. Not only does this keep production quality consistent, but it also helps to ensure the distillery is naturally as sustainable as possible.

In addition to this special anniversary release, Lochlea has a range of limited-edition seasonal whiskies that are released each year to mark the seasons on the farm, as well as a Cask Strength series. The distillery also released a signature expression in 2022 – award-winning ‘Our Barley’, that is available in over 20 markets globally, throughout the year.

Limited edition Lochlea 5 Year Old is available from 25^th January onwards, from Lochlea stockists* while stocks last, RRP: £89.99.

Lochlea 5 Year Old

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Baked pineapple, brown sugar, hazelnuts, sourdough bread

Palate: Lemon zest, candied pear crumble, orange peel

Finish: Caramel with hints of black pepper, rose petals and leather

About Lochlea Distillery:

Lochlea was originally a 222-acre livestock farm before being purchased by Neil and Jen McGeoch in 2006. After much consideration of the future of the farm and a successful trial to grow its own barley in 2015, the couple transformed the land and existing farm buildings into a fully operational distillery in 2017 and started distilling the following year. The farming side has remained a unique part of Lochlea, with the move into barley production – paving the way for Lochlea to be one of the very few fully grain-to-glass distilleries in Scotland. It also has a rich Scottish heritage with strong links to Robbie Burns, with the bard having worked and lived on the farm a several years.

*For a full list of Lochlea stockists, visit: Lochlea Distillery stockists

Lochlea Distillery has recently won the following awards:

– Icons of Whisky Scotland 2024: Single Estate and Brand Innovator

– Icons of Whisky 2023: Single Estate Distillery of the Year

– San Francisco Spirits Competition 2023: Our Barley – GOLD

– Scottish Field Summer Whisky Challenge 2023: Distilleries under 10 Years Old – GOLD

SECOND-FILL
________________________________________

Our best kept secret until now, Second-Fill casks reveal Sullivans Cove’s spirit in its purest form. The Second-Fill range presents a softer, less oak-forward profile with a complexity that is unique to Second-Fill casks.

DISTILLED POTENTIAL

Sullivans Cove Second-Fill – ‘A whisky where you can properly taste the barley, the barley sugars, the copper, the time and then the cask.’

MATT BAILEY | BRANCH DIRECTOR
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

Angel’s Envy “K&L Exclusive” Cask #231050 Private Select Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml) $89.99

View

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

The Good Dram Show – Episode 540 ‘Eden Mill & Dartmoor Whisky’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at the Eden Mill and Dartmoor distilleries. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 540 – Bulbous Ball & Paper Mills…! Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Dartmoor Whisky Ex-Bourbon 46%

Dartmoor Whisky Ex-Bordeaux Cask 46%

Dartmoor Whisky Ex-Oloroso Cask 46%

Dartmoor Whisky Distillery

Eden Mill Bourbon Cask Single Malt 46%

Eden Mill Sherry Cask Single Malt 46%

Eden Mill 2003 ‘Art of St Andrews’ Single Malt 46.5%

Eden Mill Whisky

Half of the month has been and gone but the distillery team would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!

2023 was one for the Harris history books including launching our first single malt whisky, The Hearach, to an unbelievable response. But, after the peace and quiet of an island Christmas we’re now back to work with lots more great things to come over the next 12 months.

First and foremost, we want to bring you even closer to the work we do and help you feel part of our success as we set out with Two Spirits, One Purpose. We have more batches of The Hearach to share, including new expressions and editions as we begin to explore the influence of island elements on the spirit we make.

Our love of sound and ceremony will come to the fore too, with beautiful objects and aural ideas to help you enjoy our dram and connect with Harris more deeply with every pour. We’ll be spending more time with The Kelp Man, celebrating our maritime nature and enjoying the spirit of The Harris Cèilidh.

And, our storytelling will remain as rich as ever through more wonderful words, photos, film, and sound…all created by our team right here in Harris. Please note, our distillery doors remain closed to the public until Spring while all this is going on, but rest assured a warm welcome will await you once more.

Wishing you all a great start to your own endeavours as the new year gets underway!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

Our historic ‘First Release’ of eight batches of The Hearach single malt are sold out online but you can still find some bottles on the shelves of great spirit retailers across the world. Spring this year will bring more of our island spirt into the world as batch 9 onwards begin to arrive. As always, each batch will have subtle, natural variation and we’ll share the technical details of that particular bottling through our batch numbering system alongside an island story and local tasting notes.

We’ll also be exploring different expressions of our whisky and other special bottling as the months go on. More on all this soon, meantime be sure to open and enjoy the bottles you have, Isle of Harris whisky is made for drinking…