Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 537: Oban 11 Year Old Diageo Special Releases 2023

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries an Oban. The Diageo Special Releases are something whisky afficionados look forward to every year. And in 2023 there were again quite a few lovely bottles out there, like the Talisker, the Clynelish, an outstanding Glenkinchie and a surprising Roseisle. The Lagavulin, however, for Mark, was the big disappointment with it’s finish on Tequila casks. Another weird one was the 11 years old release by Oban, dubbed ‘the Soul of Calypso’ as it was finished on casks that had previously held Caribbean pot still rum!

https://youtu.be/L1sfkt4HCdc

BALLANTINE’S AND BOILER ROOM LINK WITH SARZ AND FRIENDS TO KICK OFF TRUE MUSIC 10 CELEBRATIONS

The Afrobeats DJ and producer, and special guests, join Ballantine’s and Boiler Room to celebrate ten years of True Music in the first of a series of music experiences for fans across the globe.

To celebrate a decade of its True Music platform, Ballantine’s, the world’s second biggest-selling Scotch whisky, announces True Music 10 – a year-long programme of 10 in-person and broadcast music events. In partnership with long-standing partner Boiler Room, the celebrations will give music fans around the world direct access to some of the most exciting artists across 10 diverse music communities who are shaping global music culture today.

Boiler Room and Ballantine’s will kick off True Music 10 with an intimate pop-up at a secret location in Soho, London on 4^th April for 100 lucky fans – with details announced via social just 30 hours in advance. Serving up a line-up of pioneering music, the opening event will be headlined by Afrobeats DJ and producer, Sarz, alongside his chosen special guests. With a gift for crafting chart-topping hits, Sarz has left an indelible mark on the new-wave Afrobeats music scene, producing revered records for powerhouse artists on tracks including ‘One Dance’, ‘Find Your Way Back’, and ‘Monalisa’.

Sarz comments:

“I’m excited to finally link up with Boiler Room and Ballantine’s to launch the True Music 10th anniversary celebrations in London, a city which has been such an important place for the afrobeats scene to connect worldwide. The True Music series has been a great platform to launch amazing new sounds into the world in recent years and we’re hoping to add to the legendary run with a crazy show, in an intimate space, surrounded by my friends and family. Plus, I’ll be playing some exclusives from my upcoming album!” 

Following its kick off in the UK – the home of Ballantine’s and Boiler Room – the series of True Music 10 pop-ups will continue to Colombia and South Africa, rolling out in select cities, and showcasing some of the most forward-facing True Music artists from each country. Music fans around the world will also be able to tune in and catch the South Africa pop-up shows, broadcast from Durban and Pretoria for free via https://truemusic.boilerroom.tv/.

Boiler Room and Ballantine’s will also be returning to Johannesburg, South Africa, home to one of the partnership’s first ever shows, where they will be throwing their biggest party to date. Taking place on 11^th May, the multi-stage, multi-genre event will showcase some of the world’s most innovative artists including Louie Vega and Kenny Dope’s iconic garage duo; Masters At Work, DBN Gogo, and Toccororo as well as a number of True Music alumni including Coco Em and Scorpion Kings. Guests can sign up for the True Music 10 Johannesburg show now via https://truemusic.boilerroom.tv/, with further shows across the globe to be revealed throughout 2024.

Tom Elton, Head of Culture and Partnerships at Ballantine’s commented:

“The evolution of True Music over the past decade has been remarkable. For 10 strong years, the platform has been committed to representing, supporting, and promoting inclusive music culture by celebrating pioneering local artists and communities from around the world on a global stage. We believe in the power of staying true to yourself and doing things your own way, and over the years we are proud to have worked with some of the most exciting ‘Stay True’ artists, who are propelling music culture forward and making music for passion. Here’s to the next ten. “

Since 2014, Ballantine’s and Boiler Room, have brought together artists and communities from around the world, representing local music culture on a global stage and turning passions into professions. Over the past decade, the duo has hosted inclusive in-person and live-streamed music events from some of the world’s most vibrant music scenes championing, supporting, and representing over 800 pioneering headliners and emerging artists, from over 30 countries across six continents. As part of the celebrations, Ballantine’s will invite fans from around the world the opportunity to browse the True Music archive, where users will be able to stream previous True Music Studios and win tickets to events, exclusive merchandise and redeem Ballantine’s cocktails with partner venues. Access to the digital experience will be via QR codes found in stores, venues and across posters.

Ballantine’s will also continue its ongoing True Music Fund, contributing a further 10 grants over the next year, to support emerging local music-focused organisations and collectives who are driving modern music culture, with further details to be announced in late 2024.

Invites to the True Music 10 London pop-up event are extremely limited and will be available for only 30 hours ahead of the show. To be the first to hear when invites are available for any True Music 10 events, follow @boilerroomTV and @ballantines on socials and sign up HERE.

This article appears here well after the original publication date and as a matter of interest.

As we wave goodbye to a particularly dreich “summer” here in Glasgow let us offer you the heartiest of welcomes to our now live 159th auction!  The nights will grow longer from here on out and what better way to stave off the impending cold than with a bottle of something special.  We have a fantastic selection to choose from this month, here are but a few of the tremendous drams now available.

American Single Cask First Releases

For our first highlight we have two lots from the first two maiden releases from new US-based indie bottler, American Single Cask.  First up is the Blinking Owl 2018 5 Year Old, drawn from a Toasted New Oak Barrel this rather hefty 66.3% dram comes from the now silent distillery in Santa Ana, California.  Next up is the Copperworks Distilling Co. 2017 6 Year Old, another meaty offering at 62.45% ABV, this one comes from downtown Seattle.  Both of these beauties are bottle number 1 in the run and have recently been reviewed by the respected Serge Valentin of whiskyfun.com fame and received hugely impressive scores of 90 points and 89 points respectively.

Auchentoshan 1974 37 Year Old Single Cask #5613

Next up is a single cask from far closer to home, well for us at least, this is the Auchentoshan 1974 37 Year Old Single Cask #5613.  Auchentoshan is close to our hearts here at SWA given its proximity, and we have enjoyed their famed hospitality on many a distillery visit.  We have also enjoyed their single cask whiskies, and this amazing dram looks as good as any they have released.  Drawn from a single bourbon hogshead and aged for a staggering 37 years this is a bottle of rare quality.  This is bottle 110 of 110 so when they say “the last bottle really is the last”, they really mean it.

Karuizawa 34 Year Old Ruby Geisha Cask #3668

Next up is an incredibly rare release from a renowned silent Japanese distillery, this is the Karuizawa 34 Year Old Ruby Geisha Cask #3668.  The rarity of official expressions, and the now finite supply makes for an explosive combination in the world of rare whisky, with die-hard collectors clamouring to get hold of any releases, and we don’t expect this one to be any different.  Drawn from a single Sherry Butt after ageing for a long 34 years, this is one of only 247 bottles produced and is a must-have for any serious collector of Japanese whisky.

Banff 1964 15 Year Old Cadenhead’s 26 2/3 Fl Oz

And now onto an old bottle from a Scottish silent distillery, this is the Banff 1964 15 Year Old Cadenhead’s 26 2/3 Fl Oz.  With a history of explosions, fires and bombings, Banff distillery has one of the more unfortunate back stories of any distillery. Founded in 1824, the distillery was closed as part of the 1983 cull and was destroyed by yet another fire in 1991. Banff is now most notably seen as part of Diageo’s discontinued Rare Malts range.  This a bottling released by one of the heavyweights of Scottish indie bottlers, Cadenhead’s, and offers the chance to taste a whisky the likes of which will never be seen again.

Macallan 1928 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt 75cl

We end on a peerless bottle of unmatched quality, the Macallan 1928 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt 75cl.  Distilled way back in 1928 when George V was on the throne this dram spent an incredible five decades slumbering in oak before finally being bottled in 1983.  This particular bottle was for the French market and is one of only 500 produced and represents the pinnacle of rarity in Scotch whisky.  Very rarely seen at auction this one is highly sought after by Macallan collectors throughout the world.

Don’t fret if these gems are outside your price range because we also have a wide range of high-quality drams available across the price spectrum, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.  Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

SPRINGBANK 26YO  TRAVIS COLLABORATION BOTTLE

‘RAZE THE BAR’

THIS ARTICLE APPEARS HERE AS A MATTER OF RECORD AND INTEREST; IT IS LONG SOLD OUT.

Springbank Distillers has joined forces with the iconic multiple BRIT and Ivor Novello-winning Scottish rock band Travis to release a special collaborative bottling due out on 14th August 2024. Coinciding with the release of Travis’s new album, L.A. Times, this 26 year old bourbon matured Springbank was carefully selected in partnership with the band and proudly displays the L.A. Times album artwork.

The Springbank and Travis collaboration was initiated in conjunction with Kilkerran, as we sought to make 2024 a year of celebrations in Campbeltown to mark the 20th anniversary of Kilkerran, first produced in March 2004. At the forefront of these celebrations was to be a night of music in Campbeltown’s Victoria Hall, for which we had set our sights on Travis as the headline act.

With the help of CaskAde Drinks, a Glasgow-based collective known for its bottling collaborations with celebrated Scottish artists, the groundwork began to bring Travis to Campbeltown to mark this milestone for Kilkerran. Of great advantage in these negotiations was the band’s fondness of Springbank.

It is uncharacteristic of Springbank to offer single casks, but the opportunity to partner with the Scottish music giants was too good to pass up. A deal was struck for a single cask collaboration with Springbank and Travis, in exchange for the band performing at the Kilkerran 20th anniversary celebration in Campbeltown.

Saturday 13th July was a night to remember in Campbeltown with Travis headlining the celebrations, along with support from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and local band, Fling. Importers, retailers and supporters of Kilkerran were welcomed to Campbeltown from all over the world to enjoy the Scottish entertainment and commemorate the distillery’s milestone.

The Springbank Travis bottling will be available to buy on our website for £1,250 from 12 noon BST on Wednesday 14th August.

Springbank 26 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

Matured in a Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Single cask release of 234 bottles worldwide

Available in a 70cl bottle

53.5% ABV

£1,250 (SOLD OUT)

(UK Price including VAT)

NOSE
Soft peat smoke, honeycomb and tropical fruits on the nose, the introduction to this dram is characteristically bourbon matured Springbank.

PALATE
Light and creamy on the palate, there are notes of fruit syrup, tinned peaches and honeydew melon, along with touches of woodspice and the continuation of the peat smoke influence.

FINISH
There is a flint note in the finish and an ashy note reminiscent of campfire embers.

700 + Bottles of fine Macallan

August 2024 Auction // 30.08.24 – 09.09.24

Now Live: August Auction

A warm welcome to our August 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. We’re thrilled to bring you an exciting selection this month, from legendary Prohibition-era U.S. whiskey and bourbons to highly coveted bottles from Macallan collections, and so much more. Don’t miss your chance to explore these exceptional offerings!

Bowmore 1965 Precious Metals Oloroso Sherry Cask 52 Year Old

The Balvenie Tun 1401 – Bottles 1 to 9

Prohibition Medicinal U.S. Whiskey & Bourbon

Aberfeldy Single Casks

Browse the entire live auction

The Milroy’s Whisky Travel Index

It’s the comprehensive ranking of Scotland’s best whisky travel experiences. Plan your trip now!

Introducing the Milroy’s Whisky Travel Index: a first-of-its-kind tool for whisky lovers planning a trip to Scotland.

We’ve ranked over 50 whisky tourism experiences across the country to provide you with an unrivalled tool for travel planning.

Metrics include the cost of tours and tastings, the variety of experiences offered, price of tours, sustainability credentials, and the quality of the whisky they produce. Each attraction was scored across 15 areas, with over 80,000 visitor reviews analysed in the process. The result? A comprehensive score from 0 to 100 ranking the best whisky experiences that Scotland has to offer.

The best part? Even if you’re not travelling we’ve got top bottlings from the best attractions, all available at the click of a button. Start with our Diamond Award-winning top five: Ardbeg, Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Glenkinchie, Springbank and Bruichladdich!

Get exploring, whether it’s to plan your next trip or to savour a tasting from the comfort of your living room.

Explore the Milroy’s Whisky Travel Index!

We’re excited to showcase some of our favourite releases in this month’s top picks. Whether you’re on the lookout for that perfect last chance gift, or searching for a relaxed summer sipper, we’ve got you covered with a raft of whiskies.

LAST CHANCE AUGUST TOP 10 WHISKIES

SIGNATORY VINTAGE RELEASES & MORE

A flurry of new releases from one of the most impressive independent bottlers around; Signatory Vintage.  We have some exciting expressions from the immensely popular 100 Proof Exceptional & Colleciton ranges as well some classic small batches for you to savour.  Leading the pack though, is a 28 Year Old Clynelish classic; a must for every whisky enthusiasts collection.

In addition to these Independent bottles, we are proud to present exciting expressions from Edradour, Antiquary and Bowmore to name just a few.

EXPLORE NEW RELEASES >

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 ❯

ralfy review 1042 – Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 9 59.2%vol:

Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Launch Groundbreaking New Whisky – SirDavis

 The award-winning spirit offers a new, unexpected take on American whisky

AUGUST 20, 2024 – Moët Hennessy, a subsidiary of LVMH, has joined forces with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create SirDavis, a groundbreaking new whisky. The first-of-its-kind joint venture reflects a shared vision between Knowles-Carter and Moët Hennessy, two vanguards of culture and craft, around the future of American whisky.

This unique product was years in the making after Knowles-Carter, a Japanese whisky enthusiast, sought out Moët Hennessy to help craft a one-of-a-kind flavor profile that reflected her whisky ideal. Meanwhile, Moët Hennessy had been exploring ways to deepen its presence in the American whisky market, making the timing kismet for a partnership between the world-leading luxury group and Knowles-Carter.

“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” says SirDavis Founder Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. “When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy. In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whisky that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category. You can taste it better than I could ever tell you — welcome, SirDavis.”

SirDavis is named in honor of Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. He stashed whisky bottles in the empty knots of cedar trees for friends and kin to find and enjoy. For Knowles-Carter, it was this discovery that made the idea of creating a whisky brand feel predestined. Four generations later, the legacy comes to life – rather than hidden in the trees, bottles of SirDavis proudly grace the top shelves of fine purveyors of spirits around the world.

“SirDavis is not only a revelatory and exceptional American Whisky, which we are very proud of. It is also a testament of the unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, heritage and innovation shared by LVMH and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,” said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH.

Moët Hennessy tapped Dr. Bill Lumsden, one of the world’s most awarded and highly regarded Master Distillers for his work on Scotch whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, to lead on whisky creation.

Lumsden selected the brand’s bespoke mash bill — one of the rarest new offerings in the world of American whisky composed of 51% rye and 49% malted barley — to serve as the backbone of the liquid. Lumsden then combined traditional whisky-making techniques to impart an elegant mouthfeel and texture reminiscent of Japanese and Scotch whiskies, while retaining the robust and deep flavors typical of classic American rye.

“With SirDavis, we looked to challenge the category norms and offer something new in the space,” said Lumsden. “The distinctive grain selection and unusual secondary maturation in sherry casks helped us achieve a signature profile completely unique to SirDavis, one of bold sophistication.”

Moët Hennessy and Knowles-Carter’s shared commitment to excellence was key to the partnership and the product. To validate SirDavis’s quality, the liquid was anonymously submitted to numerous prestigious spirits competitions prior to launch. SirDavis won Best In Class for American Whiskey from the 2023 SIP

Awards, outperforming over 100 other entries in the category. Awarded to only one brand per category, this award is reserved for premium spirits receiving scores in the pinnacle of their respective categories and is SIP’s highest acclaim from consumer judges. Other notable scores include a Gold Medal (95 points) from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition and a 93-point rating from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

Knowles-Carter also lent her visionary artistic direction to the brand’s bottle design – a tall, eye-catching bottle with intentional design elements that make the vessel an unmistakable beacon of luxury.

The SirDavis bottle is striking and clean, with ribbed glass that beautifully catches light and highlights the liquid. It also features a black medallion with a regal bronzed horse, emblematic of strength and respect and symbolizing Knowles-Carter’s Texas roots.

In another nod to Knowles-Carter’s Southern heritage, the whisky is finished, blended and bottled in her home state of Texas. Unlike other acquired brands, SirDavis also makes history as Moët Hennessy’s first spirits brand developed entirely internally by Moët Hennessy in the United States. SirDavis is headquartered out of Houston, Texas.

SirDavis retails for £79 and is available for pre-order via SirDavis.com. Product will be available at retail across the U.K as well as in select airports (LAX/JFK/SFO) and stores across the U.S, Paris, and Tokyo in September 2024.

ABOUT SIRDAVIS AMERICAN WHISKY

A first-of-its-kind joint venture, SirDavis reflects a shared vision between Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter around the future of American whisky. With a distinctive taste profile that delights both seasoned whisky connoisseurs and new enthusiasts, SirDavis is on a mission to redefine the category and invite new consumers to feel welcome to participate in the world of luxury whisky.

Crafted with Moet Hennessy’s own five-time International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year Dr. Bill Lumsden, SirDavis offers a one-of-a-kind taste profile that redefines the taste of American whisky with inspiration from Japanese and Scottish styles. In an evolution from category norms, the SirDavis mash bill includes 51% rye and a noteworthy 49% barley. The spirit’s secondary maturation in sherry casks resulted in its silky, sophisticated profile with layers of dark red fruits and spices like clove and cinnamon. This duality of rounding out rye’s characteristically spicy notes with structured flavors of juicy red fruit offers an entirely new interpretation of this spirit, suitable for connoisseurs and newcomers alike. The award-winning liquid received Platinum and was named Best In Class by the 2023 SIP Awards, 95 points and Gold from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, and 93 points from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. SirDavis is finished, blended and bottled in Knowles-Carter’s home state of Texas.

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ABOUT MOËT HENNESSY

Moët Hennessy is the wine and spirits division of LVMH, which also owns renowned wine estates through “LVMH Vins d’Exceptions.” Moët Hennessy is a group of twenty-seven Maisons, internationally recognized for the richness of their terroirs, the quality of their products and the craftsmanship with which they are created. For many years, Moët Hennessy has been committed to its environmental and social program, Living Soils Living Together.

Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Bodega Numanthia, Chandon, Château d’Esclans, Château Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Cravan, Dom Pérignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Krug, Mercier, Minuty, Moët & Chandon, Newton, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcán de mi Tierra, Woodinville.