Phil will return next week!

Scapa Unveils New Signature Range And A Fresh New Look

Introducing Scapa’s first-ever collection of aged Orkney Island single malts. 

Scapa, the Orcadian single malt, has unveiled its new signature range: its first-ever collection of aged single malts, whilst showcasing its fresh new look and style. Distilled and matured on the remote Scottish archipelago, the trio offers a unique take on the flavour profile typical of other island malts.

Crafted by Scapa Head Distiller, Mick Swanney, on the most northern Scottish island known for whisky production, the signature range debuts new 10, 16 and 21 year old single malts into the permanent Scapa range for the very first time; while the design is inspired by the calm pace of life within the sanctuary of the Scapa Flow, where the remote distillery is nestled.

Scapa’s distinctive flavour profile comes from the use of a longer fermentation period and unpeated malted barley, setting it apart from other single malts. Matured in first-fill American oak casks, each of the single malts brings its own unique flavour experience, centred around the tropical and fruity notes that remain true to Scapa’s hallmark style:

• Scapa 10 Year Old is a sophisticated Scotch that brings bursts of fresh pineapple before a subtly spiced finish.
• Scapa 16 Year Old, sitting at the heart of the collection, offers ripe mangoes on the nose and a symphony of sweet, spiced and fruity notes on the palate.
• Scapa 21 Year Old, a cask strength single malt, brings an impressive depth of tropical fruit flavours, with hints of aromatic oak and spices, and a sweet, syrupy finish.

Each expression in the collection is housed in a stunning new bottle with a distinctive shape and a beautiful gift box that is reminiscent of the natural beauty of the Scapa Distillery’s coastal surroundings. Paying homage to the old Nordic dialect word for ‘boat’, Scapa’s namesake sits proudly on each bottle, while the delicate colour palette is reflective of the hues of the area’s wild waters and unique landscape, darkening in shade as the range increases in age.

Mick Swanney, Scapa Head Distiller, said:

“Scapa has been telling its own tale of life on Orkney for 139 years, since its inception in 1885, and the launch of our first collection of aged single malts marks a significant new chapter in our history. The new collection is a celebration of provenance, backed by more than a century of whisky making, which together capture the irresistibly tranquil essence of Scapa.”

Scapa 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old and 21 Year Old whiskies are now available in global markets including Norway and France. The collection will become available globally from mid-November 2024 via The Whisky Exchange with an RRP of €60, €120 and €300 respectively. The trio will also be available for tasting at the Scapa Noust, the distillery’s statement tasting room with undisturbed views across the tapestried Scapa Flow. In addition to discovering the flavours of the new collection, guests are also offered a guided distillery tour.

For more information, visit scapawhisky.com

J.Mattingly 1845 Distillery Honors Veterans with Commemorative Bourbon Release Benefitting Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals

Total of $100,000 Donated this year to Various Nonprofits   

FRANKFORT, KY (Nov. 7, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, is releasing its fifth edition Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon just in time for Veteran’s Day.

Combat Infantry Badges are awarded to U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel or below who were engaged in active ground combat. J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has donated a portion of the sales of every CIB bottle to a military-related nonprofit. The recipient of the fifth edition release is  Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals Warrier Foundation, whose mission is to honor veterans, wounded warriors and the families of fallen heroes.

The Foundation has earmarked the proceeds to support the Kentucky Mogadishu Mile event initiative to allow active duty soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division and Special Forces Units to participate in the event held in 2025. Each of the four units lost servicepeople during the battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

The donations from this release, combined with other charitable donations to nonprofits such as Camp Brown Bear, Kentucky Wounded Heroes, Three Rangers Foundation, Forgotten Coast K9, and others, brings J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s charitable donations to $100,000 for 2024.

“The Mattingly family has several family members who are current or former military service personnel, as well as some of our team members we work with every day at the Distillery,” said Harry Richart, president of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery. “It’s really important for us to give back to our community and we’re honored we have such great fans of our products which allows us to give back a portion of our sales from some of our special releases to very worthy causes.”

This batch of CIB bourbon was aged for five years and like all J. Mattingly 1845 bourbons, has undergone the double-staving™ process which gives the bourbon more surface exposure to charred barrel staves to impart more flavor and color. Tasting notes for this bourbon describe a nose with pie crust, dried apples, cinnamon, and roasted malt, followed by vanilla, baking spice, and red fruits of prunes and currants on the taste. Caramel, stone fruit and a soft, but long finish can be expected.

The CIB Bourbon is a limited edition and will likely sell out quickly, based on past releases. Suggested retail pricing for the CIB Bourbon is $155 and it is bottled at 127 proof.  It is available on-site at the Distillery and also online, with shipping to 46 U.S. states.  J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s operating hours are Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon – 6 p.m.  The Distillery is located at 20 Reilly Road in Frankfort, Ky.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

2005 Secret Orkney (Highland Park) 19 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive #DRU 17/A63 #28 First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

700ml ~ $179.99

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

We have partnered with bars and restaurants across the UK to celebrate The Macallan 200 Years Young. Each venue will have a limited availability of TIME : SPACE Mastery to savour by the dram, or in cocktails that highlight the time travel of mixology through classic serves created with a modern twist. Locate your nearest hospitality venue and join us in celebrating this special 200th year.

VIEW LOCATIONS

+TIME : SPACE COLLECTION

Whisky making is like time travel: what we bottle today was created many years in the past, and the spirit we lay down in casks now is destined for many years in the future. Through time travelling, we learn from the past and look to the future.

Two limited expressions, two journeys through time.

DISCOVER THE COLLECTION

There are some things every festive table should have, so this Christmas, make sure to give the gift of time. Whether it’s festive whiskies, exquisite whisky gifts or distillery experience gift vouchers, save a place for Glengoyne at your table this year.

EXPLORE FULL CHRISTMAS GIFTING GUIDE

ralfy review 1052 Extras. – The ‘forensics’ in buying whisky

‘Sky’s the limit: the rise of global travel retail’ by Mathieu Jeannin

Shopping at the airport is a unique experience. Travellers usually have time on their hands before boarding. They’re more likely to be in the mood to browse, to treat themselves or splash out on a gift. Alternatively, they could be one of the savvy millions who wait to stock up on the brands they love with a tax-free discount.

According to recently released figures from the IWSC (August 2024), Global Travel Retail (GTR) footfall is back to its pre-pandemic level and its value to the alcohol sector is now higher than in 2019. Despite volumes being more sluggish due to careful consumer spending, they expect the channel to outperform all other alcohol markets in the run up to 2028, with value growth of +7% predicted.

This explains why, for spirits brands, GTR has become such a priority. In our latest ‘In Conversation With…’  article, International Beverage’s Paris-born Senior Sales Manager for Global Travel Retail, Mathieu Jeannin, shares his secrets for success in this booming channel.

I’ve spent my whole career in the drinks industry, working in sales for Bordeaux wines and French Cognacs amongst others, in both Europe and Asia. I joined International Beverage just after the pandemic to support markets in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan before heading to London for a role in the European GTR team – a job I relish given how much I love travel and how long I’ve spent in airports over the years!

This is a very special – and specialised – channel. Particularly so for Scotch whisky, which is a premium category with a huge international consumer base. I came into the role knowing that airports can be a powerful shop window to the world, with an opportunity to sample and immerse consumers in your brand. But to succeed and ensure your brands shine – and sell – in the channel, there are some important strategic insights and trends to be aware of.

It’s all about premium

Travellers want something different and exclusive in the airport, compared to the products they see on shelf during their weekly shop. They want more elevated expressions and to dip into the higher end of your portfolio. We bring a future-oriented strategy to GTR, led by new products, limited editions and premium or super-premium ranges. We have invested in transforming our GTR ranges to meet consumer needs – from Old Pulteney’s ‘Traveller’s Exclusives’ to the dedicated GTR range we’ll be introducing for our Speyside single malt, Speyburn, in 2025.

Build the volume opportunity

If GTR was a country, it would be the world’s most valuable one when it comes to Scotch whisky. That’s a powerful statistic, and a reminder of the huge potential for commercial wins in the channel. Single malt volume sales were up by +24% in 2023 (IWSR August 2024) and are forecast to sustain this growth. The channel presents brands with a captive market selling exclusive products, so price sensitivity is less of an issue. It’s also an enduring channel. People’s love of travel and airport shopping is going nowhere. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite in domestic markets, GTR is an increasingly important volume driver for many global spirits brands.

Tracking the new consumer

We make no assumptions about the GTR shopper. As an insights-driven business, we can see consumer behaviour and trends evolving – such as the emergence of younger shoppers in the GTR mix, who are making the most of budget travel but still want to spend on premium goods at the airport.  And they’re digital savvy, looking online before they travel to pre-plan purchases. A blended digital and in-airport approach to marketing and activations is crucial – as is keeping track of future trends and tastes of consumers in this space!

Right product, right place

There are huge regional variations to factor into any successful GTR strategy. Europe is a mature market, and the big hubs such as London, Paris and Amsterdam are growing more slowly than their counterparts in Asia (GTR sales in APAC were +46% in value during 2023, IWSC August 2024).  This is where the big opportunities lie in terms of volume and long-term growth – with Chinese tax-free super-hub Hainan attracting an incredible 90 million consumers each year. We continue to invest in both regions, but always with one simple rule at the core: right product, right place. I’s a granular, long-term strategy for success, driven by the profile and needs of each airport – whether that’s Balblair leading our activations in Hong Kong or Caorunn taking centre stage in its home market in Scotland.

Experience is everything

2024 has marked some of our company’s biggest marketing investments to date in the GTR channel. We now have full time brand ambassadors at several major travel hubs to deliver all important ‘liquid on lips’. Combined with a memorable brand experience – such as our stunning Old Pulteney tasting bars which have been transporting people to the brand’s Highland home at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow – we’ve delivered impressive results.

Partnership working

After airlines, duty free shopping is the biggest revenue driver for airports over any other – including hotels and restaurants. Airports want brands to invest and succeed, and they are ready and willing to support ambitious ideas and activations. As with so many aspects of our industry, strong long-term partnerships are the key to success.

Iron Gate (CANADA) Fine Whisky Auction Ends November 11, 2024.

As the holiday season approaches, the most anticipated Fine Spirits Auction in Canada is here, offering a curated selection of rare bottles that are perfect for collectors and those looking for a truly exceptional gift. Iron Gate presents yet another beautiful catalogue with 444 lots of fine spirits. Single malt scotches, rare bourbons, fine cognacs, world whiskies and premium rums are on offer in Canada’s only national spirits auction curated for you.

Catalogue HERE

Auction runs from November 4-11, 2024. Only in Canada.  Shipping available coast to coast.