Finally, our Daftmill Ballot is now live!

Enter the Ballot Here

DAFTMILL
Cask 38 & Cask 46

Each bottle is £165.00

Daftmill is a farm Distillery, it only runs in the farm’s quiet periods, mid-summer and winter, often producting as little as 100 casks per year. Cask 38 is a First Fill Ex Bourbon Barrel, distilled 27.07.2009 (224 bottles), Cask 46 is a First Fill Oloroso Butt, distilled 05.08.2009 (700 bottles)

Good afternoon!

I hope you are well and looking forward to a well-deserved Xmas break.

Just a quick mail from us this week!

First of all, apologies to Bristol, London and Edinburgh ticket-holders, and those waiting to buy tickets for these events. I have been trying to get these up online, but have struggled with getting venue capacities. I promise to get these up next week, come rain or shine!

Next, thank you to those who have bought our Festive Festival in a Box so far. These are being prepared for dispatch by our new fulfilment partner and should start going out next week, in plenty of time for Xmas.

We still have boxes left to buy and if you were hesitating because you wanted to know which whiskies were in the pack, then read on…

This is what you get!

• 23 Amazing 25ml whisky and spirit samples, from all over the world
• 1 Glencairn Whisky Tasting glass – the best glass for tasting whisky
• 1 Pre-mixed 100ml Old-Fashioned – perfect for de-stressing, post Xmas dinner!
• 1 packet of popcorn and Hawkhead whisky-smoked seasoning – perfect with said Old-Fashioned!

Every recipient gets access to over 12 hours of new video content, with exclusive interviews and tastings with the very producers of the whiskies included in the pack!

So, here is the list of what is in the pack.

• Angel’s Nectar Islay Single Malt Rioja Cask
• Armorik Classic (French)
• Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc Finish
• Berry Brother’s Sherry Cask Matured Blended Malt
• Bimber Apogee XII (World blend)
• Black Tot Caribbean Rum
• Big Peat Xmas 2021 Edition
• Filey Bay IPA Finish (English)
• Highland Nectar Whisky Liqueur
• Highland Park 15yo
• Hinch Peated Single Malt (Irish)
• Hine Rare Cognac
• Jura 7 Wood
• J G Thomson ‘Smoky’
• Kingsbarns Balcomie
• Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength Batch 14
• Milk & Honey Classic (Israel)
• Nikka Taketsuru
• Penderyn Sherrywood
• Single Malts of Scotland Blair Athol 11yo
• Spey Fumare Cask Strength Batch 2
• Tenjaku Japanese Blended Whisky
• Waterford The Cuvee (Irish)
• Flint&Feather Old Fashioned

To say thank you to our loyal readers we have a 25% discount code exclusively for you! 

The code you need is: FFIAB25

Simply click on the button below to buy and enter the above code on checkout. There are only 300 of these boxes available, so it is a proper limited edition! If you want to pass this email and code onto any deserving friends or family, please do!

BUY NOW – Festive Festival in a Box 2021

SHOCK! Eddie goes for a Walk(er)

I went to visit the Johnnie Walker Experience in Edinburgh last weekend, which was very interesting. If you have 5 minutes to spare, I wrote and honest review of it on our blog, which you can read HERE.

GATESHEAD WHISKY NEWS

As always, you can read Connors’ Gateshead Whisky News HERE – to keep you abreast of the latest bits and bobs from the world of whisky.

That’s it!

Have a great week and we hope to hear from you or see you soon!

Slainte,
Eddie

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas or looking to treat yourself to something special this festive season? Enjoy up to 20% off our range of Outstanding Natural Spirits online and in-store until midnight Monday 20th December.*

SHOP NOW

Terms and Conditions: offer valid until 23:59 GMT on Monday 20th December. 10% off one bottle, 15% off two bottles, 20% off three bottles or more. Based on delivery to one address. Exclusions apply. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discount codes. Subject to availability. Offer available online and in-store.

Friday, December 17th, 3-6PM:

Australian Whiskey: Starward

Starward whiskey brings together Australian malted barley and Australian red wine barrels to create a distinctly Australian spirit. Housed in a large industrial space in Melbourne, this urban distillery is as bold and unconventional as the spirit it produces and the city it calls home. Starward’s distinctive whiskies are exclusively matured in Australian wine barrels in the variable Melbourne climate – which experiences “four seasons in one day” – to create a dynamic form of elemental maturation..

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

A Night on Earth in Scotland:

The Macallan Estate unveils an extraordinary festive experience

The Macallan Estate has unveiled a unique festive experience inspired by, and carefully curated to honour, its latest whisky expression, A Night on Earth in Scotland.

For one night only, on Friday 10 December, guests are invited to journey to The Macallan Estate after hours for an intimate evening of fine dining and an extraordinary whisky tasting.

Decorated for the festive season, including a magnificent Christmas tree stretching towards the distillery’s iconic roof, A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience provides a unique opportunity to experience The Macallan in all its seasonal splendour. With limited spaces available, it is a highly exclusive and intimate experience.

On arrival at The Macallan Estate, guests will be welcomed with an exclusive cocktail to be enjoyed in front of The Macallan Whisky Wall – a showcase of some of the brand’s most iconic single malts.

This warm welcome is followed by a bespoke seven-course tasting menu of the finest seasonal produce designed by Head Chef, Pawel Sowa, with a tasteful selection of wines and whiskies carefully selected by The Macallan Estate sommelier to complement the evening meal.

After dinner, guests will retreat to The Macallan Bar, home to the world’s largest selection of Macallan whiskies available to sample. The Macallan Bar overlooks Easter Elchies House – the spiritual home of The Macallan which has appeared on every bottle of The Macallan for almost 200 years.

Here, a tutored tasting of The Macallan’s latest expression, A Night on Earth in Scotland, which reveals the story of Scotland’s world-famous Hogmanay festivities and captures the universal joy of celebrating the change of year, will be enjoyed.

Stuart Cassells, General Manager at The Macallan Estate, said:

“Christmas is a special time of year where we can gather with family and friends, reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the future with optimism and anticipation.

“We can’t wait to welcome guests to The Macallan Estate for a truly special festive experience. A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience is an opportunity to celebrate with friends and family here at The Macallan, savouring the true meaning of Christmas – quality time, spent together.”

The first in a new limited edition gifting series, A Night on Earth in Scotland is a collaboration with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose artwork has featured in films by leading director, Wes Anderson.

Presented as part of innovative multi-layered packaging that provides an exceptional unboxing experience, Erica Dorn’s playful abstract illustrations are inspired by the historic fire rituals dominant in New Year celebrations around the world.

They also reveal some distinctive Hogmanay customs, including the tradition of first footing: when it is good luck for a dark-haired visitor to be the first person to enter your home after midnight, bearing symbolic gifts – whisky coal and shortbread – that aim to bring comfort and happiness in the year ahead.

With a soft, velvety mouthfeel, it excellently showcases The Macallan’s commitment to craftsmanship and uncompromised excellence.

Tickets for A Night on Earth, The Macallan Estate Experience are available to book now, priced at £350 per person. Please note that the experience is limited to a maximum of five guests per booking, and that this experience is only suitable for guests aged 18 and over.

For further details, and to book, please visit: https://www.themacallan.com/en/the-macallan-estate-festive-experience

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com

About The Macallan 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

Saturday, December 11th, 10AM-4PM:

Sherried Whiskies with Sam Filmus

Master of all things Scotch and guiding light of JVS Imports, our friend Sam Filmus returns to The Whisky Shop with a selection of world-class single malt! Sam Filmus’ previous tastings have included some of the rarest and oldest drams ever tasted at The Whisky Shop, and this time, we have a full pourlist of sherry-casked expressions to taste.

Whether you’re looking for a unique new scotch experience or simply thirsty for a taste of whisky, this tasting is sure to delight and surprise

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

Double celebration as Glen Scotia named as Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year 

For a second time this year, Campbeltown-based Glen Scotia has been recognised for its whisky-making abilities after scooping yet another prestigious award.

The distiller has been named the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade it receives just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) for its Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old expression.

The SFWSC received over 3,800 entries from around the world across 31 separate categories, with Glen Scotia 25 Year Old being awarded the overall winner of the competition, which makes Glen Scotia 25 Year Old The Best Whisky in The World in 2021.

It is the first time that one distillery has won both awards in the same year, demonstrating the increasing stature and visibility of the Campbeltown whisky producer.

Glen Scotia hails from Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. Once known as the

“Victorian Whisky Capital of the World,” in its heyday, the small coastal town was home to over 30 distilleries. Today, Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving distilleries but through a programme of continued investment and local effort, Glen Scotia is growing its presence in the UK and international markets, allowing the potential of Campbeltown to once again be realised.

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and distillery manager at Glen Scotia, said: “For a long time Campbeltown was the forgotten whisky region, however, in recent years there has been a real resurgence in interest in the type of whisky we produce here.

“From the Victorian era until the present day, whisky has always been at the heart of this community. The techniques and craftsmanship that make our whisky so unique have been passed through generations, and I am thankful that we have managed to revive the whisky-making heritage of Campbeltown long after many of its distilleries fell away.

“Our distillery is small, but this allows us to focus on quality, and it is so humbling to once again be recognised for our craft.

“To win Best Whisky in the World for our Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old and to now achieve the status of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year is beyond anything we imagined 2021 would bring. It has been a good year for Campbeltown whisky but we’re not stopping here. We are witnessing the town’s renaissance and it is truly wonderful.”

For more information, please visit www.glenscotia.com

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was named ‘Best In Class’ and ‘Best In Show’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021, with Glen Scotia 10-Year-Old collecting a Double Gold Medal, Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old a Gold Medal and Glen Scotia ‘Harbour Single Malt’ a Silver Medal.
• Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old was awarded a Gold at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was awarded a Silver at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021 and Gold Medal at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2019.
• Glen Scotia 18 Year Old won Best Campbeltown Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2018.
• Images and interviews with key staff from Glen Scotia are available upon request.
• glenscotia.com
• Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts
• Instagram: @glenscotiamalts
• Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

Winners Announced in 3rd Annual
Scottish Whisky Awards

The winners in the national awards programme for Scotch whisky have been announced following a St Andrews day dinner and celebration held in Glasgow last night.

The 3rd annual Scottish Whisky Awards revealed the winners from its comprehensive competition that included the blind tasting of 200 Scotch whiskies and the assessment of 58 distilleries and whisky producers.

The ultimate award of the night, Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Bruce Stephenson Insurance Brokers, was presented to Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown.  Part of the Loch Lomond Group, the distillery won praise for its commitment to the community, excellent product development and high-quality standards achieved in a challenging year.  They also collected a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal in two taste categories…

Read More

View Winners

Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Named Gold Medalist at 2021 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition

 1792 Distillery Products Claim 10 Total Medals

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Nov 4, 2021) The 2021 installment of the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) recognized 10 whiskeys produced at Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Its Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon earned a Gold medal in addition to the six Silver medals and three Bronze medals earned by other Barton 1792 brands. The complete list of Barton 1792 brands recognized this year are as follows:

Gold medals went to

• Thomas S. Moore Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Silver medals went to

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Early Times Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Bronze medals went to

• 1792 Aged 12 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Early Times Kentucky Whiskey

The NYWSC is committed to three principles: legacy, integrity and experience. Predicated on these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities. Results from the 2021 NYWSC can be viewed at https://www.nywscomp.com/results.

For more information on the award-winning portfolio of brands produced at 1792 Distillery, visit https://www.1792distillery.com.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020.  To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Receives Double Gold Medal, Named Best of Class Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years

 The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition Judges Award Medals to Seven Brands Produced at A. Smith Bowman Distillery 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Nov. 10, 2021) The 2021 installment of the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) recognized seven spirits in the diverse portfolio of brands crafted at the Virginia-based A. Smith Bowman Distillery. In addition to Double Gold medal winner John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon being named Best of Class, the Distillery also claimed three Silver and three Bronze medals. The complete list of A. Smith Bowman brands honored this year are as follows:

Double Gold medals went to

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Best of Class: Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years

Silver medals went to

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze medals went to

• Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The NYWSC is committed to three principles: legacy, integrity and experience. Predicated on these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities. Results from the 2021 NYWSC can be viewed at https://www.nywscomp.com/results.

For more information about A. Smith Bowman brands, visit https://asmithbowman.com/spirits.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.