The Bunnahabhain distillery lies on the peaceful, sheltered north-eastern coast of Islay. Built in 1881 its name comes from the Gaelic, Bunnahabhain (Bu-na-ha-venn), meaning ‘mouth of the river’, a reference to the Margadale, the river from whose clear spring waters the whisky is distilled.
The time has finally arrived, Springbank has arrived on the channel, and it was courtesy of a friend of the channel, Gabriel! Thank you very much, indeed, Gabriel.
Solely matured in 100% ex-bourbon casks for its life, this batch of Springbank 18 really had my attention, alas, I wasn’t able to source one from anywhere. God bless friends in whisky places.
Springbank 18YO has always been the one that nobody paid too much attention to. Sights were always on the 15YO, 12 Cask Strength, 10YO, and whatever else was released. The 18YO always seemed to be the batchiest release, varying the most in character. This one is loaded with some of the freshest and zestiest smells that I’ve ever come across on a Springbank release.
Creamy white chocolate and some caramel nut notes fill out a lot of blank space between that first hit of classic, ashy Springbank smoke.
I enjoyed drinking this and would savour it at RRP, but folks, don’t overpay for this. It’s good, quite good, but it isn’t worth the nearly £200 secondary price.
East Asia Whisky Company releases stunning Macallan Mizunara Single Malts crafted in partnership with Glencairn Crystal
Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition
Award-winning independent bottler, East Asia Whisky Company, is releasing a number of exclusive, very limited-edition Macallan single malt scotch whiskies this autumn, all encased in exquisite decanters hand-crafted by Glencairn Crystal, the internationally renowned Scottish glassware company.
Three rare whiskies will be released from early October onwards: Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition – as the third in a previously released set of stunning single malts, as well as Macallan Origins – a unique set of two whiskies that have been curated alongside Ephemerus Concepts, available to purchase as a duo.
Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition:
This edition is inspired by the Japanese term ‘Komorebi’ meaning ‘sunlight filtering through trees’. Distilled in 1990 at the Macallan Distillery and aged for 31 years in an ex-Bourbon cask, this single malt was then placed in a Japanese oak cask made of Mizunara, the oak grown for over 200 years in the pristine forests of Hokkaido. With only 100 bottles available, this is the third and final release in a highly sought after series comprising the 1989 Macallan Mizunara No. 2 (released in 2022 with Ephemerus Concepts) and 1988 Macallan Mizunara Edition No. 1 (released in 2019) both of which completely sold out.
To pay homage to this extraordinary liquid, East Asia Whisky Company worked closely in collaboration with the talented team of designers and craftspeople at Glencairn Crystal to design and create an exquisite, handcrafted decanter to bring the Japanese Komorebi concept to life. The complexity of the infilled engraving on each decanter took many hours to complete.
An intricate engraved silver oak blossom branch design wraps around the bottle with an elegant paint stroke running down the back on which appears translucent raised Kanji* reading ‘Macallan Mizunara Komorebi’. This delicate oak blossom design is also featured on the previous two decanters in the series, and with each release the branch grows and flourishes to reach around the bottle a little further each time.
The Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition will be launched via Bonhams Finest Whisky & Spirits online sale from 23rd September until 3rd October.
If any whisky lovers miss the opportunity to purchase at auction, this special bottling will also be available through select retailers from mid-October onwards. Price will be available upon application.
Macallan 33-Year-Old Origins:
In October, Ephemerus Concepts in conjunction with East Asia Whisky Company will also release a very special limited edition pair of 33-Year-Old Highland Single Malts distilled at The Macallan Distillery, paying homage to the history of the Macallan distillery and the barley used, as well as the journey the whisky went through in two casks of different origins. This duo is the unique outcome of single cask whiskies that began their journey with a single sherry cask, half of which underwent a separate finish in curated Hokkaido Mizunara for nearly two years.
This project marks the inauguration of a “study in oak” that allows the connoisseur to experience both the original liquid as it was intended to be enjoyed next to the Mizunara aged “twin” for the very first time in whisky history.
The two whiskies are presented in beautiful matching lead-free crystal decanters of the highest quality handcrafted by Glencairn Crystal. The lettering on the front of each bottle is hand engraved in gold while the beautifully engraved designs build the bridge between the Scottish origins and the Asian influence on this extraordinary liquid.
The original Sherry Cask expression bears an ornate Pictish* crescent with arrow engraving – a design that has been part of Scottish heritage since the ninth century, symbolising strength and valour as a representation of warrior culture, however it is also rumoured to have acted as a harvest calendar to grow grain. The Mizunara Cask expression bears a matching and equally ornate engraving of a broken Japanese fan with cherry blossoms growing out of it to symbolise transformation as a nod to the whisky undergoing a transformation as it ages in the Mizunara Oak. The fan also represents a warrior function as historically military leaders used fans to signal commands on the battlefield.
Macallan 33-Year-Old Origins will be launched as a set in a single leather-bound box by Bill Amberg Studio at Bonhams in late October.
Christian Leusder, East Asia Whisky Company Director, said: “The whisky spent years perfecting in these very rare casks. With such precious spirits it is vital that they are housed in decanters worthy of them. This is why our collaboration with Glencairn Crystal is so important – we have the same core values in terms of the simplicity of design, attention to detail, and the pursuit of perfection.”
Scott Davidson, Glencairn Crystal’s New Product Development Director said: “It has been a privilege to be a part of the journey of these incredible whiskies. The design and creation of these striking decanters has challenged our design team and craftspeople to push beyond their creative limits and the end products are beautiful pieces of art – something to be very proud of”.
East Asia Whisky Company is renowned for its rare and exceptional spirits and collaborating with some of the world’s most decorated distilleries and brands. This year will also see the release of The Spirit of Shangri-La – a collaboration with the world-renowned luxury hotel group and bottling of another fine and rare Macallan single malt, encased in a hand crafted and decorated Glencairn Crystal decanter. This will be available this autumn via the Singapore Shangri-La hotel bars.
For more information about Glencairn Crystal please visit: www.glencairn.co.uk and for further details about East Asia Whisky Company please visit www.eastasiawhisky.com
*Kanji are the logographic Chinese characters adapted from the Chinese script used in the writing of Japanese.
*The Picts were the descendants of native peoples of Scotland
About Glencairn Crystal:
Award-winning Glencairn Crystal has been at the cutting edge of high-quality decanter and glassware design, innovation, and creativity for four decades. Regarded internationally as one of the finest crystal decanter and glassware manufacturers, the family-run Scottish company has handcrafted prestigious decanters often for the rarest and most luxurious spirits ever released.
Glencairn Crystal also produce the Glencairn Glass for whisky. Officially launched in 2001, it is now the world’s favourite whisky glass with millions of glasses being sold each year across the world. www.glencairn.co.uk
About East Asia Whisky Company:
EAWC is an award-winning boutique Independent Bottler of fine Scotch and Japanese Whisky as well as Caribbean Rum. Founded in 2016, the company specialises in developing luxury spirits to the highest standards, providing tailored solutions, concepts and execution around cask aging, bottling, and packaging. www.eastasiawhisky.com
About Ephemerus Concepts:
Ephemerus Concepts is an independent bottler focusing on the creation of bespoke, one-of-a-kind experiences captured in crystal and oak. Founded out of Singapore in 2018, Ephemerus strives to push the boundaries of traditional whisky heritage without straying too far from the path of what is considered puristic. www.ephemerus-concepts.com
About Bill Amberg Studio:
Bill Amberg Studio has existed for over 30 years, and today stands as an industry leader in bespoke leather products, interiors and furniture. www.billamberg.com
Bimber Distillery unveils anticipated second release of Shoulders of Giants
Bimber today announced the upcoming second release of Shoulders of Giants, the distillery’s acclaimed new series that pays tribute to some of the world’s greatest thinkers, innovators, and visionaries. Each bottle within the ongoing series features a celebrated ‘giant’ whose endeavours have shaped the world that we live in, and which showcases Bimber’s continued dedication to exceptional whisky craftsmanship.
The second release features eight meticulously crafted single malt whiskies, each produced using Bimber’s traditional methods. From the distillery’s single farm barley and dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings, to seven day open-topped fermentation and directly fired copper pot stills – every stage of Bimber’s production process has been designed to produce a rich, fruit-forward whisky that is celebrated for its depth and complexity.
Each expression in the Shoulders of Giants series is bottled at natural cask strength and features attention-grabbing artwork and biographical details that celebrate the accomplishments of historical figures who have dared to dream and defied status quos.
The second release has been selected to showcase Bimber’s flavour profile – from the distillery’s signature ex-bourbon cask maturation to Spanish oloroso sherry and PX casks – each new giant showcases the distillery’s sought-after full-bodied, fruit-forward character.
Bimber continues to set the standard for quality and craftsmanship, whilst also seeing increasing demand for its single malt whiskies from across the whisky world. As such, the new expressions from the series will be available across four different markets:
UK Exclusives
Darwin – The Naturalist
Cask #376 | American oak ex-bourbon | 58.3% ABV | 259 bottles
Winston – The Statesman
Cask #473 | Spanish oloroso sherry | 58.5% ABV | 302 bottles
Victoria – The Monarch
Cask #450 | Pedro Ximénez sherry | 57.9% ABV | 298 bottles
Germany Exclusives
Albert – The Physicist
Cask #304/8 | Tawny Port Finish | 58.3% ABV | 252 bottles
Ludwig – The Composer
Cask #402 | American oak ex-bourbon | 58.7% ABV | 242 bottles
Marlene – The Actress
Cask #442 | Spanish oloroso sherry | 58.1% ABV | 285 bottles
Belgium Exclusive
Sax – The Inventor
Cask #437 | Pedro Ximénez sherry | 58.3% ABV | 302 bottles
Poland Exclusive
Witkiewicz – The Artist
Cask #460 | Spanish oloroso sherry | 58.7% ABV | 285 bottles
The UK Exclusives will be released on Wednesday 2nd October 2024 via the Bimber website and with an RRP of £94.00. The Germany Exclusives will be available via Kirsch Import, the Belgium Exclusive from Top Malts and the Poland Exclusive from Tudor House.
“We’re thrilled to bring another series of Shoulders of Giants releases to life,” said Matt McKay, spokesperson for Bimber Distillery. “These whiskies celebrate the heroes of history whilst pushing the boundaries of our craft, and we can’t wait to share their stories. Following the incredible success of the first Shoulders of Giants release, we’re especially excited to now celebrate national heroes from Germany and Belgium in this new release, ensuring that whisky enthusiasts from these regions can also join in our journey of flavour exploration and tribute.”
About Bimber
Founded in 2015, Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. Our traditionally-focussed approach to whisky creation combines the finest ingredients with heritage production methods that are rarely seen today and an absolute commitment to quality. Our detailed approach has seen us recognised as a leading light in whisky production and garnered multiple industry awards. Producing a wide array of fruit-forward, textural single malts we deliver the ultimate craft whisky experience to a rapidly growing global community of Bimber whisky lovers.
Whisky Auctioneer September Auction
A warm welcome to our September auction. Featuring over 8,000 rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles.
This month, we are thrilled to partner with Lochranza Distillery and CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) to present ‘Ewan’s Cut’—150 hand-selected bottles from a 1998 cask gifted to actor Ewan McGregor by the distillery and exclusive to Whisky Auctioneer. The first 24 bottles are especially unique, as they have been personally signed by the actor himself. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to CHAS, supporting their invaluable work.
Alongside this special release, we’re excited to showcase some standout whiskies, including an incredible selection of SMWS first releases, the revered Ichirio Hanyu Cards series, Cadenhead’s Single Casks plus many more…Don’t miss your chance to explore these exceptional offerings!
Macallan 65 Year Old Lalique Six Pillars Collection
Exclusive to Whisky Auctioneer : Ewan’s Cut
Incredible SMWS Karuizawa First Release Bottles
TYNDRUM EXCLUSIVE
A BELTER OF A TYNDRUM EXCLUSIVE, AND 100% NOT TO BE MISSED.
£92.50
A brand new single cask release from Ardnamurchan Distillery, bottled exclusively for us here at Tyndrum Whisky. This release is a contrast to our first single cask from them, being a peated release matured in an oloroso hogshead. This release is beautifully sweet on the palate with a whisp of smoke coming through late on the finish.
Cask Type: Hogshead
WOOD/FILL: Spanish Oak, Ex Oloroso
Spirit Type: Peated
Vintage: 2018
Cask No: 1287
More information available from the QR code on the bottle.
TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom
The Grand Whisky Auction ENDS TONIGHT AT 9PM!!
Auction closes Tuesday the 1st of October 2024 at 9PM !
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
T.+44 (0)1463 210 427 – sales@TGWA.com
On October 26th, WhiskyFest Hollywood, FL is the place to be! You will experience world-class whiskies, a few tequilas, gin, and cocktails, paired with delicious buffets. We recommend that you sit back, relax, and enjoy one (or more!) of the four Master Classes presented by:
Abi Clephane, Global Ambassador, Bruichladdich
Jodie Fileatreau, Artisanal Distiller, Heaven Hill Distillery
Ryan Lang, Founder, Head Distiller & CEO, Middle West Spirits
DeNiro Fisher, Diplomat, Maker’s Mark
Our whisky list is updated frequently, and we’ll be adding more details about the Master Classes, so be sure to check our website often for the most up to date information.
Still need tickets? Don’t delay – buy yours today!
Speyburn To Unveil New Travel Retail Range at TFWA Cannes
We’re delighted to announce an expansion to our travel retail portfolio with the launch of an exclusive trio of Speyburn single malt Scotch whiskies. The new collection will feature interesting cask maturations and be unveiled at the forthcoming TFWA Exhibition in Cannes (29th September – 3rd October) on the International Beverage stand Marine Village 2-4.
The three non-aged expressions, Speyburn Kentucky Bourbon Cask, Speyburn Bordeaux Red Wine Cask and Speyburn Jerez Sherry Cask will be exclusively available in select markets in Spring 2025.
Bottled at 40% ABV, the one litre bottlings will replace Speyburn’s existing travel retail line-up and be exclusively available to the channel.
|
Kentucky Bourbon Cask 40 % ABV RRP £35 |
Matured in first fill bourbon casks from Kentucky (including high rye specialist casks) |
A mellow single malt with flavours of vanilla, fresh citrus and honey |
|
Bordeaux Red Wine Cask 40 % ABV RRP £40 |
Matured in a mix of red wine casks (both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) from Bordeaux |
A fruity single malt with flavours of red berries, dark chocolate and sweet spices |
|
Jerez Sherry Cask 40 % ABV RRP £49 |
Matured in bourbon casks. Finished in a mix of sherry casks (Oloroso, Manzanilla and Fino) |
A nutty single malt with flavours of hazelnuts, raisins and smooth spices |
Presented in vibrant new packaging, each whisky pays homage to its cask origins with a series of striking illustrations. Oak trees, a rick house (where bourbon is matured) and horses will reflect Kentucky; a chateaux, grapes and ornate lamp posts for Bordeaux and Spanish tiles, flamenco guitar and fans for Jerez. Speyburn Distillery’s distinctive pagoda-shaped roof will feature on the packaging of the three single malts. Visible flavour cues will also make it easier for travellers to understand the whisky’s flavour notes and determine which single malt is right for them.
Jack Cook-Broussine, Senior Brand Manager for Speyburn, said
‘The launch of this new collection underlines our ongoing commitment to investing in the global travel retail channel and we are confident that the travel retail trio will prove popular with both newcomers and seasoned whisky enthusiasts alike.
‘To create this collection, we sourced the finest casks from around the world to bring some unique new flavours to our award-winning single malt and we are looking forward to unveiling it to the global travel retail community in Cannes.’
For over 125 years Speyburn Distillery has been crafting whisky in the heart of the Speyside region in Scotland on the banks of the Granty Burn. It is the only distillery to use the burn’s crystal-clear water to produce a deliciously smooth single malt.
Whisky Magazine Special Selection
Glengoyne 16 Year Old
Exclusively selected by Whisky Magazine to celebrate its 25th anniversary, distilled in the slowest stills in Scotland, this spirit has matured in an exquisite refill European Oak Oloroso Sherry hogshead and epitomises the Glengoyne way.
To continue the celebrations of its 25th anniversary, we have revealed a new bottling in the Special Selection. The Whisky Magazine Special Selection Glengoyne 16 Years Old is a single cask bottling exclusively selected by Whisky Magazine.
Distilled in 2007 by Glengoyne in what are known as the slowest stills in Scotland, the single malt whisky spent its 16-year maturation resting in a refill European oak oloroso sherry hogshead.
The whisky has been bottled at cask strength of 53.9% ABV, and showcases a rich and balanced flavour profile.
Just 255 bottles of the Whisky Magazine Special Selection Glengoyne 16 Years Old have been released, making this a highly limited bottling.
Official Tasting Notes
Nose – Juicy fruit cake, like a bara brith (tea loaf). Ginger syrup, redcurrants, black tea with manuka honey, pear and almond tart. Madeleines and vanilla cream. A hint of roast beef and herbal sage. With water, baking spices, a touch of white pepper, and dulche de leche.
Palate – Medium bodied. Sweet initially: steamed ginger sponge with toffee sauce, and sea-salt caramel dark chocolate. Then come raisins, dates, cinnamon stick, and flaked almonds, with a hint of tamarind and soft leather. Malt loaf with set floral honey. Rich, yet pleasantly drying. Water dials up the toffee and sherried fruit notes and calms that dry edge.
Finish – Medium-long, led by nutmeg and clove spice, with apple and raspberry cordial and shortbread with hard toffee.
Country And Region
This bottle of Glengoyne 2007 16 Year Old Whisky Magazine Special Selection is an official bottling which was produced in the Highland region of Scotland.
