On 4th July 2019, neighbourhood bar The Gallery will be celebrating US Independence Day with a big whisky-fuelled party taking over the West Hampstead bar from 6pm.

American expats, missing out the annual celebrations at home, and Londoners looking to soak up some Americana will revel in lively 4th July festivities – without having to travel across the pond!

A local favourite in leafy West Hampstead, The Gallery has become renowned for its collection of over 101 whiskies from distilleries across the globe, including an extensive bourbon selection. During the 4th July party, guests will be able to enjoy a guided tasting of some of these American whiskies and the bar will be showcasing two brewery collaborations – one American and one English. The menu for the night will also include a selection of special boilermakers as well as refreshing Mint Juleps (£8.50).

Party-goers will also be able enjoy a mouth-watering menu of American goodness, such as BBQ ribs, fried chicken and other tasty American treats including vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.

From 8pm, the basement bar will come alive with all-American music from The Thumping Tommys who will bring folk energy and foot-stomping bluegrass to  The Gallery to keep revellers dancing late into the night.
Entry to the venue will be free but a £10 ticket will entitle ticket-holders to 1 Mint Julep, 1/3 pint of a special collaboration brew and a free American whiskey tasting session. Tickets can be purchased at the bar at any time, limited to availability.

On sale now
BUNNAHABHAIN MASTERCLASS

Join senior blender Dr Kirstie McCallum for a tasting covering not only the latest wave of brand-new bottlings from the Islay favourite, but also something deep from the archives – the Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old.

THE NEW WAVE OF BUNNAHABHAIN
with Dr Kirstie McCallum
Sunday 29 September, 1pm-1.45pm
£60

Bunnahabhain, one of Islay’s most celebrated distilleries, is undergoing a major refurbishment. In celebration, senior blender Dr Kirstie McCallum will be giving us the inside track on the distillery through current bottlings and two brand-new, as-yet-unreleased limited editions.

THE LINE-UP
Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
Bunnahabhain 2007 Port Finish Limited Release
Bunnahabhain 2007 Brandy Finish Limited Release
Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old

BOOK NOW

Please note: you must also have a Sunday ticket to Whisky Show to attend this class.

SHOW DETAILS
28-29 SEPTEMBER 2019
11.30AM – 6.30PM

Old Billingsgate
1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London EC3R 6DX

BOOK NOW

Saturday, June 22nd 1-5PM: 

Scotch Tasting: 

BenRiach, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh 

Presented by whisky expert Rory Glasgow, this in-store tasting features new and rare drams by BenRiach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh distillery. Scotch connoisseurs and newcomers to the the world of traditional scotch are sure to enjoy this tasting.

Click Here to RSVP

New Zealand’s Largest Whisky Festival is Back!

DramFest will return on the 7th & 8th of March 2020 at the Christchurch Town Hall

The Whisky Galore team are delighted to announce that they will be hosting their 7th biennial whisky festival, DramFest, in 2020. This is New Zealand’s largest whisky tasting and education festival and an iconic event in the drinks industry calendar.

*Held over the 7th and 8th of March 2020 at the newly refurbished Christchurch Town Hall – 2 full days of whisky education and tasting.

*There will be a predicted attendance of over 2,000 whisky enthusiasts from all over New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Europe

*DramFest 2020 will see the New Zealand whisky industry represented in its highest capacity ever

*In excess of 300 different whisky and rum expressions will be available to sample from distilleries, producers and independent bottlers from Scotland, Japan, Ireland, American, New Zealand and around the world

*Over 20 visiting Whisky and Rum experts to attend, many of whom will host exclusive tasting sessions over the course of the weekend

*National Whisky Cocktail Competition – bringing the best of NZ’s bartending community together to compete for a trip to the Glenfarclas Distillery in Scotland

*DramFest Whisky & Rum Trail –  a collaboration with local Christchurch businesses to be involved in the festival and to encourage attendees to explore the city center.

Our visiting experts are coming from all corners of the whisky world, including authors, distillers, producers and independent bottlers. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to interact with those directly involved in the creation, promotion and selection of some of the finest whiskies in the world.

For more information or if you have any questions or queries regarding DramFest, please do not hesitate to contact us. dramfest.co.nz, info@dramfest.co.nz, +64(0)33776824

On sale now

DALMORE MASTERCLASS ON SALE

A must for all sherry-heads – our latest masterclass is now on sale. Join Dalmore master blender Richard Paterson and Gonzalez Byass head winemaker Antonio Flores for an hour of whisky and sherry heaven.

Dalmore and Sherry: a Cask Made in Heaven

with Dalmore master blender Richard Paterson and Gonzalez Byass head winemaker Antonio Flores
Sunday 29 September, 3pm-4pm

£70

Join master blender Richard Paterson and Gonzales Byass head winemaker Antonio Flores on a journey of the cask. Discover what makes a sherry casks so special by tasting Dalmore whiskies alongside the sherries that once filled the casks in which they were matured.

The Line-up

Dalmore 1994
Gonzalez Byass Anada 1994 Palo Cortado
Dalmore 1997
Gonzalez Byass Apostoles Palo Cortado 30yo
Dalmore 1991
Gonzalez Byass Noe Pedro Ximénez 20yo
Dalmore 40yo
Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Oloroso 30yo

Book now

Please note: you must also have a Sunday ticket to Whisky Show to attend this class.

Show Details
28-29 SEPTEMBER 2019
11.30AM – 6.30PMOld Billingsgate
1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London EC3R 6DX

Book now

Saturday, June 22nd 1-5PM: 

Scotch Tasting: 

BenRiach, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh 

Presented by whisky expert Rory Glasgow, this in-store tasting features new and rare drams by BenRiach, Glendronach, and Glenglassaugh distillery. Scotch connoisseurs and newcomers to the the world of traditional scotch are sure to enjoy this tasting.

Click Here to RSVP

Friday, June 21st 5-7PM:

Local Spirits: 

Glyph Molecular Whiskey

The first whiskey made from the molecule up, Glyph is a groundbreaking addition to the whiskey world.

To make Glyph, distillery Endless West selects exact molecules from sources like fruit, citrus, yeasts, and sugars to build their spirit, eschewing traditional aging and distilling methods to create a delicious whiskey in record time. The results are then hand-bottled in the historic Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco, just a few miles away from The Whisky Shop.

 Click Here to RSVP

Perfect for Father’s Day, this collection of single malt whiskies has been hand-chosen by us to bear a selection of specially-created labels designed by The Whisky Exchange creative team. Personalise them with a range of beautiful illustrations and either get your own message printed on the label, or choose from a selection of messages we’ve written for you.

We’re particularly proud of these whiskies: far from being a gimmick, they allow you to create a truly personal bottle without compromising on the quality of the whisky inside. Each is a one-off release limited to just a few hundred bottles from a single cask, chosen by our team for its exemplary flavour. We hope you enjoy them.

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World’s most expensive whisky tasting at Upper House in November

The exclusive tasting seminar event will take place on 1-3 November at Upper House hotel in Gothenburg, Sweden. It will cover the complete “full deck” series of unopened Ichiro’s Malt Card collection from the Hanyu distillery in Japan. The event is hosted by Swedish whisky enthusiast Pye Palm, and the tasting will be led by Japanese whisky expert, Stefan Van Eycken. With only 48 seats available, the cost of a single ticket is approaching $21,000. 

The entire card series is rare, and the last time a complete collection of the Ichiro’s Malt Card Series came onto the market it was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $455,000 in September 2017.

“The estimated value of the full deck series today would be around $775,000. I could sell it, of course, but I think sharing the experience with other whisky enthusiasts is much more fun,” says Palm, who has collected his series during several trips to Japan over the last 30 years.

Just like a full deck of playing cards, the collection features 52 single cask editions that each represent a card in a poker deck, plus two additional jokers. The bottles are signed by Ichiro Akuto, the distillery founder’s grandson, who saved 400 casks when the distillery shut down in 2000 and started the bottling of his playing card collection.

“The Ichiro’s Malt Card Series is one of the most iconic series in the world of whisky. This is only the second time a complete tasting of the series will be held, and the first time ever that all the bottles are opened specifically for one event,” says Belgian author and Japanese whisky expert Stefan Van Eycken, who is leading the tasting seminar in November.

The event will be held at the five-star Upper House hotel. It includes a dinner at the Michelin awarded Upper House Dining, a rooftop restaurant on the 25^th floor overlooking the city of Gothenburg.

The whisky seminar will be divided into four tastings, so called flights. Each will include 13 to 14 bottles with a 1 cl tasting of each. Each bottle has its own original card label and its own unique flavour.

“Hanyu has a very particular character. Referring to Ichiro himself, it’s unlike any other whisky you’ve tasted before. Prepare some shiny, fresh and ripe fruits, colourful root vegetables, both brown and white sugar, and some exotic spices. Then mix all this with sweet and sour fruit juice in a glass. That’s the best way I can describe it,” says Van Eycken.

As an additional treat, a limited edition special malt will be released to commemorate the occasion.

All guests participating in the tasting seminar in Gothenburg will become honorable members of the Monochrome Joker Club. The club is founded by Pye Palm as an extension of the whisky tasting seminar, and is exclusive to the select few worldwide who have tasted all 54 casks of Ichiro’s Malt Card Series.

“I thought it would be fun to create a space for like-minded, passionate enthusiasts with a true dedication for the flavours of whisky. The idea is to invite members to a number of worldwide tastings of different Hanyu whiskies,” says Palm.

About The Ichiro Malt Card Collection

Ichiro’s Malt Card Series originates from the Hanyu Distillery, is one of the smallest and most renowned distilleries in Japan, which ended their production in 2000. The founder’s grandson, Ichiro Akuto saved 400 casks when the distillery shut down and the best ones, between 1985 to 2000 were used for the bottling of his playing-card collection.

For more information about the Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Seminar, visit the website http://mono-joker.club/