Archive for 2024

UK Exclusive: Glenglassaugh Serpentine Collection – The Whisky Shop News

PRESENTING: GLENGLASSAGH
THE SERPENTINE COLLECTION!

After slumbering for 20 years, the Glenglassaugh Distillery discovered a collection of rare casks in their coastal warehouses, which were meticulously selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie to create The Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection.

A First for the UK, The Whisky Shop is delighted to present the full collection to our customers.  Stocks are extremely limited, so act now to secure your treasured expression.

Explore New Releases >

Glenglassaugh 48 Year Old The Serpentine #1863

Aged 48 years, and mellowed by the hands of time in Aleatico Red Wine Barrique casks, this 46.1% abv bottlings has a nose of enticing blueberry, peach and tamarind, a palate of meringue and gently salted pistachio cream, and a finishing touch of passionfruit and sea salt.

£7505.00
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Glenglassaugh 49 Year Old The Serpentine #5640
Aged 49 years, and mellowed by the hands of time in bourbon barrels casks, this 42.1% abv bottlings has a nose of white peach and coconut cream carried on a palate of sultry sun-drenched fruit, with finishing notes of guava and passion fruit.
£8330.00
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Glenglassaugh 50 Year Old The Serpentine #49
An older release, this 50-year-old expression came of age in a Pedro Ximenez quarter cask, and is bottled at 40.6% abv. Expect a nose of  seductive honeyed oak with lychee and neroli, with a palate of star fruit and papaya, leading to a finish of soft sandalwood, passion fruit and cherries kissed by the sea.
£9248.00
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Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old The Serpentine #1723
The oldest release to date, this 51-year-old expression came of age in an oloroso sherry puncheon cask, and is bottled at 44.2% abv. Expect a nose of sun-dried raisin, sandalwood, and sea salt, with a palate of raisin balsamic, blackberry jus and salted treacle infused, and a finish of orange and sloe syrup.
£10635.00
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Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more

Carn Mor – September Release – Scotch Whisky News

NEW CÁRN MÓR RELEASE

This month, we have 4 new exciting Càrn Mòr releases to share with you from a variety of ages, flavour profiles and regions.

First on the list is the Benriach 2016, an 8-year-old whisky matured in first-fill sherry casks. Showcasing a delightful harmony between distillery character and cask influence  with punchy fruit notes complemented by soft layers of marzipan and raisins.

Want something smokier? This Williamson release was distilled in 2015 for 9 years whilst spending its life maturing in a sherry hogshead. This dram offers that classic phenolic peat smoke, beautifully balanced with delicate sherry undertones.

Dalmunach 2015 is the perfect addition into your whisky cabinet for Winter time, spending most of its life in Oloroso sherry butts. You can expect notes of milk chocolate, rum-soaked raisins and a hint of spice on the palate.

And finally, Glen Elgin 2017, aged for 6 years in first-fill bourbon casks. For something a little lighter, this expression is bursting with  fresh notes of pear drops, green apples and soft vanilla on the finish.

SPEYSIDE
Benriach
Distilled: 2016
First Fill Sherry Butt
Notes: Beautifully rich with milk chocolate raisins and marzipan fruits
Available in the UK

SPEYSIDE
Dalmunach
Distilled: 2015
Oloroso Sherry Butts
Notes: Juicy mouthfeel with milk chocolate and rum soaked raisins on the palate
Available in the UK

SPEYSIDE
Glen Elgin
Distilled: 2017
First Fill Bourbon
Notes: Juicy pear drops and sweet green apples with lingering sweet vanilla on the finish
Available in the UK

ISLAY
Williamson
Distilled: 2015
Sherry Hogshead
Notes: Subltle spice and stone fruit with dried apricots and phenolic peat-smoke clinging to palate
Available in the UK

 

Macallan Classic Cut 2024 Release at Loch Fyne Whiskies – Scotch Whisky News

Macallan Classic Cut 2024 Release

The Macallan Classic Cut 2024 is matured in a combination of American oak and sherry-seasoned European oak casks and bottled at a cask strength of 52.4% abv. Vanilla notes are prominent at this strength, and it is recommended that you cut with water to bring out tropical fruit notes.

£129.00

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Our Hamish has had a sip and jotted down his thoughts.

Nose: rich vanilla, orchard fruits, marzipan, citrus and sweet oak

Palate: vanilla custard, milk chocolate, green apple, and oak spice

Finish: long, rich and sweet

 

12 months of unlimited next day delivery & more! Exclusive access to Ballots as you enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year – only £14.99! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society How well do you know your whisky? – Scotch Whisky News

Elevate your whisky knowledge with our Focus on Flavour education course, developed in partnership with The Edinburgh Whisky Academy – and before you ask, yes, there are drams included! Uncover what’s really happening inside your glass, as you learn about every step of the whisky creation process. Our course is designed for all levels – from seasoned whisky lovers to dabbling drammers.

Focus on Flavour pack with four 50ml drams

A one-hour fully accredited course developed in partnership with The Edinburgh Whisky Academy

Unlimited access to course materials with videos, articles and more

A certificate upon completion

TAKE ME TO THE PACK

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

SMWS LOGO 2017 NEW

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 540: Mars Maltage Cosmo Malt Selection vs Wine Cask Finish – Japanese Whisky News

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 540: Mars Maltage Cosmo Malt Selection vs Wine Cask Finish

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries not one, but two whiskies from the Land of the Rising Sun. Mars Maltage Cosmo is a release by the Japanese company Hombo Shuzo, most likely containing whisky from both their Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries, but is special as it’s what Mark would call a hybrid blended malt. After all, their Cosmo also contains a Scottish single malt from an undisclosed Speyside distillery. And there are two releases: the Malt Selection and the Wine Cask Finish. He puts those head-to-head!

https://youtu.be/PrbJXUUEIac

Glenmorangie serves up new limited edition inspired by the delights of the ice cream parlour – Scotch Whisky News

Glenmorangie serves up new limited edition inspired by the

delights of the ice cream parlour

 Highland Distillery shares A Tale of Ice Cream as fifth expression in imaginative series of single malts

Sweet, indulgent and wondrously creamy, Glenmorangie’s latest limited edition encapsulates the ice-cream parlour’s delights. Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream is the fifth release in the Highland Distillery’s award-winning A Tale Of… series, which showcases its whisky creators’ relentless imagination. Inspired by the irresistible flavours of an ice-cream parlour menu, they used high-vanillin casks for the first time to bring Glenmorangie’s sweetest, creamy vanilla notes to their tantalising best. Combining melting notes of peach melba, scoops of vanilla and lemon sorbet, topped with coconut flakes and toffee sauce, A Tale of Ice Cream is a delicious treat.

For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been endlessly imaginative in their quest to create evermore delicious single malts. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, they are constantly challenging themselves to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky.

Some time ago, Dr Bill began to imagine how he could capture the lavish flavours found in an ice-cream parlour in a single malt, bringing out even more sweet and creamy vanilla-like flavours in Glenmorangie’s spirit. And after a host of experiments, he and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald united single malt aged in bourbon casks with Glenmorangie’s first whisky finished in high-vanillin casks. These new oak casks had been especially toasted to bring out more vanilla qualities; rippling with notes of ripe peaches, vanilla and coconut, A Tale of Ice Cream takes Glenmorangie’s sweet, fruity flavours to a decadent peak. This whisky’s pastel-toned presentation box evokes the mouth-watering hues, swirls of sauce, textures and toppings found in the most luxurious ice-cream parlours.

Dr Bill said: “Ice cream is an irresistible indulgence and inspired by the flavours you might find on an ice-cream parlour menu, we imagined creating a whisky of melting decadence and lavish swirls of flavour. By ageing Glenmorangie in bourbon and high-vanillin casks we have deliciously magnified our whisky’s sweetest, creamiest side. With notes of peach melba, lemon sorbet, coconut flakes and rich vanilla, sipping Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream is like sinking your spoon into a carousel of flavour. We invite whisky lovers old and new to indulge their sweet tooth and enjoy this ultimate treat!”

Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream is now available to purchase online at glenmorangie.com, at the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain, and at select retailers for an RRP of £76.00. A limited number of A Tale of Ice Cream-themed lambswool sweaters, designed by Scottish knitwear designer Donna Wilson, will also be available to purchase at the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain.

The limited edition has also inspired a menu of tempting cocktails exploring its delectable flavours, which can be found at glenmorangie.com.

For exclusive access to new releases, news and events, join Glenmorangie’s World of Wonder at https://www.glenmorangie.com/members

TASTING NOTES

Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream is bottled at 46% ABV and non chill-filtered.

RRP: £76

Colour: Bronze

Aroma: A burst of manuka honey, with lemon-flavoured butter candy, baking raisin bread, candied orange peel, peaches, toffee and a hint of spice. With a splash of water, there is vanilla crème anglaise, a hint of coconut and a suggestion of almond marzipan.

Taste: The texture is thick, rich and creamy. It is followed by a huge burst of sweet and spicy flavours – brioche, almond marzipan, honeycomb, fudge, lemon sherbet and desiccated coconut. Spices warm the palate, with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove.

Finish: A long, lingering aftertaste combines hints of toffee apple, sweet popcorn and a note of aniseed.

About Glenmorangie: 

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 180 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s kind of delicious and wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to venture into its world.

About Glenmorangie’s whisky creators:

Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creation Team’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And they are constantly challenging themselves to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that their memories of a favourite place (A Tale of Tokyo), the beguiling flavours of freshly brewed coffee (Glenmorangie Signet) and more.

At the helm of the team is Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he has taken his place in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.

Working hand-in-hand with Dr Bill is Gillian Macdonald, Glenmorangie’s Master Blender. Gillian combines art and science in her role, with her main responsibilities including the daily sensory analysis of the new-make spirit, core range recipes and the co-ordination of the Company’s sensory panel. Gillian manages the New Product Development pipeline for Glenmorangie which involves nosing hundreds of casks a year for final recipe selection. 

About the making of Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream:

To evoke the flavours of an ice-cream menu in a whisky, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators married whisky aged in bourbon casks with a parcel of whisky finished in high-vanillin casks. These new oak casks were toasted differently, to create higher concentrations of vanillin (an aromatic compound which brings vanilla flavours to whisky). Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creation Team experimented with woods toasted in various different ways, before selecting the casks which would best accentuate Glenmorangie’s sweet, creamy style – and result in optimum deliciousness.  

About Glenmorangie’s A Tale Of… series:

This award-winning series of experimental limited editions showcases the relentless imagination of Glenmorangie’s talented whisky creators. Crafted to bring joy to whisky lovers old and new, its single malts have inspired playful collaborations with fellow creatives, as well as a host of delicious cocktails.

  • The series began with Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, released in 2020. Capturing the magic of a cake moment, this sweet, multi-layered whisky finished in Tokaji dessert wine casks, is lusciously reminiscent of cake. Renowned pastry chef Dominique Ansel created a series of cocktail and cake pairings, known as CakeTails, to accompany the whisky.
  • Second in the series, Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter encapsulates the magical feeling of sitting in front of the fireplace as snow blankets the world outside. Finished in Marsala wine casks, it swirls with a flurry of wintry aromas and flavours. The whisky’s knitted-style packaging inspired designer Donna Wilson to create knitted clothing and accessories.
  • Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is the series’ third whisky. Inspired by Dr Bill’s walks in the woods near his home, it is Glenmorangie’s first single malt crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. With flavours as lush and leafy as a forest, the whisky’s artwork featured a fantastical, technicolour forest illustration created by Thai illustrator Pomme Chan.
  • The series’ fourth whisky is Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo. Marrying Glenmorangie’s first whisky aged in sought-after Japanese Mizunara oak casks with bourbon and sherry casks, it is as full of delicious contradictions as Tokyo – a favourite city of Dr Bill. Inspired by the whisky, artist Yamaguchi Akira created a stunning cityscape of Tokyo, which is depicted on the whisky’s packaging. It won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

About Donna Wilson:

Donna Wilson, who also collaborated with Glenmorangie for A Tale of Winter, is a Scottish knitwear designer, who has been designing, manufacturing and distributing her luxurious lambswool cushions, knitwear and home accessories since 2003. Her designs are made with the finest fabrics in vibrant colours. Named Elle Decoration’s Designer of the Year in 2010, over the course of her career, Donna Wilson has collaborated with brands including Hermès, Merci, Penguin Random House and LeSportsac, leading cultural institutions including V&A, and The Whitney Museum of American Art, and has exhibited her work around the world.

www.donnawilson.com

William Grant & Sons announces plan to acquire The Famous Grouse – Scotch Whisky News

William Grant & Sons announces plan to acquire The Famous Grouse

23 September 2024: Today, William Grant & Sons has announced it has reached an agreement to purchase The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt brands from The 1887 Company.

 Founded in 1896 in Perthshire, Scotland, The Famous Grouse is a quality blended whisky and much-loved brand that would add to William Grant & Sons’ award-winning portfolio of renowned whiskies and spirits.

 A spokesperson for William Grant & Sons commented: “Having been around for over 125 years, The Famous Grouse has a rich history and would be a significant addition to our portfolio. The brand has potential for innovation and international growth in a number of markets, and we’re excited about what the future holds.”

 The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

Ben Nevis 25 Year Old, Westie Sponge No.5 – Tyndrum Whisky News

Westie Sponge Five is the final entry in this series and contains a 1998 25 year old single refill hogshead of Ben Nevis, bottled at natural cask strength. It also matured its entire life at the distillery for added ‘Westieness’.

They absolutely love this wee series and, truth be told, they could have gone on with it. But seeing as they did that Springbank 1999 in different glass as number Three, the only way to achieve visual symmetry with the series was to stop at Five. And they do appreciate visual symmetry!

But it’s a great way to stop and, after all, less is often more. Angus was determined to include a Ben Nevis in this series and it feels like a very fitting way to conclude it, with this most iconic of West Highland makes. It’s a beautiful and extremely pure example of Ben Nevis, very mineral, waxy and with lovely citrus and white fruit character. It’s old style, highland, distillate-driven malt whisky.

£284.00

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

Carsebridge (silent) Xtra Old Particular Single Cask #15619 Whisky 45 Year Old · 1976 Vintage at Hard To Find Whisky – Scotch Whisky News

Carsebridge
45 Year Old

70cl | 51.3% ABV

Distilled at the now silent Carsebridge in 1976, this Single Grain delivers a tongue prickling mouth-feel with rich vanilla fudge and a bourbon twist.

£447.95

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Distilled at the now silent Carsebridge in 1976, this Single Grain delivers a tongue prickling mouth-feel with rich vanilla fudge and a bourbon twist.

Nose: Sugary and gently oaked, running to spiced Americana cereal.

Palate: Barley sugar, tongue-prickling style, with vanilla fudge and corn.

Finish: Vanilla richness and golden syrup

Established in 1948, Douglas Laing is a proudly independent, family owned Scotch Whisky business in its third generation. Abiding to the philosophy of presenting Whisky as the distiller intended, Douglas Laing’s Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular Collections enable Whisky lovers around the world to come as close as they possibly can to sampling a dram straight from the cask.

Thanks for Maltstock 2024, onwards to 2025! – Whisky News

MALTSTOCK 2024

We’ve had a relaxed anniversary Maltstock!

Maltstock 2024 was a blast and the dust of our relaxed morning walk and little get-together has now long settled. So has the dust from the afterparty we had with our crew to celebrate 15years of Maltstock! A big ‘Thank you!’ to all our guests and sponsors for celebrating our 15th anniversary with us!

So many relaxed memories were made, new friend found and friendships renewed! And all of that within the relaxed atmosphere of Maltstock and while tasting great whiskies!

We are looking back at our 15th edition with gratitude and a big, big smile and we  hope to meet you again at Maltstock 2025, or sometime earlier at one of the many events we attend ourselves!

Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan and Teun & our super relaxed crew!

We threw a bit of a relaxed afterparty for our crew this year. 15 years of Maltstock would not have been possible without the wonderful people in the picture above! Thanks guys!

Extended Early bird offer

As a last gesture for our 15th anniversary we run our early bird offer for an extra couple of days this year! It’s on up and until the 31st of October 2024.

Use the couponcode ‘EB25’ to get €25 off on every ticket you purchase for Maltstock 2024.

Click here to go directly to our shop.

Hope to see you in 2025!


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