Hazelburn Sauternes 55.5% 8 Year Old

New February 2011 bottling of the triple distilled Springbank.

Matured for 5 Years in refill bourbon casks and a further 3 years in Sauternes casks.

Limited release of 9,180 bottles.

£49.99 (£41.66 ex VAT)

Description

2011 limited release wood expression of triple distilled Springbank Hazelburn. Matured for 5 Years in refill bourbon casks and a further 3 years in Sauternes casks.

Distilled June 2002 and bottled February 2011.

Distillery: Springbank (Hazelburn)

Springbank is the oldest independent family owned distillery in Scotland and produces three types of whisky – Hazelburn malt is dried over hot air, no peat; triple distilled. Hazelburn Single Malt is a non-peated whisky and has been produced since 1997.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Warm and embracing: homemade Seville orange marmalade on a buttered, toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel. Orange liqueur, burnt demerara sugar, treacle, honey, figs and dates emerge from the sidelines as the aromas develop. Palate: Buttery, creamy and rich with orange fondantcream and ginger bread biscuits. Hints of honey and chiliglazed brazil nuts, sweet and warm.

http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/cat-12-subcat-26-product-1041

The new Icon of Arran!
 
Please meet Ruaraidh (pronounced Roo-ree) the West Highland Terrier belonging to our Distillery Manager James MacTaggart. Ruaraidh is independent of character with a mischievous glint in his eye and is much admired by visitors to our Distillery in Lochranza. This limited edition bottling was drawn from 22 ex-Sherry Hogsheads distilled in 1998 and specially selected by James MacTaggart under the careful supervision of Ruaraidh. After 12 years of maturation this expression of Arran is rich & warming with a delightful complexity.

Click on the link below to see the pdf information sheet:
 
http://www.arranwhisky.com/App/uploads/Icons%20of%20Arran%203%20The%20Westie.pdf 

·         Limited Edition of 6,000 bottles worldwide

·         22 Ex-Olorosso Sherry Hogsheads

·         Stunning Packaging

·         Ideal for both the collector and connoisseur
 
·         Bottled at 46% abv

·         Non- Chill Filtered

·         No Added Colouring

Tasting Notes

Nose:    A fresh aroma with notes of toasted oak, treacle-toffee & orange zest.

Palate: Full-bodied and buttery with an initial rush of vanilla essence and Demerara sugar. The sweet character subsides leaving cocoa powder and cardamom seeds.

Visit Isle of Arran Distillery at www.arranwhisky.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Glenmorangie Finealta’

Glenmorangie Finealta OB 46%alc.

In short, this is limited release Glenmorangie made with lightly peated barley, however the fluff and verbiage explaining this is looks as if it was dreamt up by Tommy Sheridan – utter nonsense.

Never mind, it’s a very good dram in the quite-rich-Glenmorangie style; malty and oily, evidence of vigorous youth but nothing hooded.

An aroma of warehouse oakiness with vanilla and eventually the smoke that you have been conditioned to look for and would probably miss without the suggestion. The age is the first query when tasted, quickly dismissed by a rich cherry-ruby-porty notes, could be a finish – but it isn’t. A quiet orange swallow and a smoke harr (the immediate exhale into the embouchure), a long low-key finish with smoke in it. Water confirms the Glenmorangie style, adds a rose perfume and more smoke.

Despite the smoke and richness it remains in the middle of the Flavour Map Ref: F6 Complex

Glenmorangie Finealta Private Edition
Barcode: 5010494903584

Price excluding VAT: £50.75
£60.90 Including VAT at 20%

https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2011/03/11/glenmorangie-finealta/

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

HEAVEN HILL LAUNCHES TRYBOX SERIES OF NEW MAKE AMERICAN WHISKEYS

Renowned distiller introduces New Make Bourbon and Rye, other American Whiskey varieties to follow

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the first two releases of the Trybox Series of New Make Whiskeys.  The new Trybox Series, named after the copper and glass “tasting station” where new make whiskey flows off the still, offers up several styles of Heaven Hill’s world famous American Whiskeys. Each is taken straight off the still, before aging in a charred oak barrel—the same way legendary father and son Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam taste-test them.

The first two releases in the series, available at retail starting in May, will be New Make, which if barrel aged would become a Straight Bourbon such as Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage; and Rye New Make, which if aged would become Rittenhouse Straight Rye.  Future plans call for the release of other varieties of American Straight Whiskey as new make, as Heaven Hill Distilleries is the only American Whiskey producer that distills Bourbon, Rye, Corn and Wheat Whiskeys.

The Trybox Series is available in a 750ml bottle size, packaged three to a case, and is bottled at the full traditional barrel entry proof of 125, or 62.5% alcohol/volume.  The suggested national average retail price will be $24.99, and it will launch in most markets across the country.  The Trybox Series is offered in an upscale package, contemporary yet with elements that are based on traditional distillery sample bottles.  The labels detail the “Main” and “Secondary” grains used in that particular whiskey, and subtle color changes differentiate each whiskey style.  All the bottlings will utilize a rich, metallic copper cap, hearkening back to the copper stills so important for American Whiskey distillation.

New make whiskey, traditionally referred to by distillers as “White Dog”, is American whiskey in its most raw and elemental form.  It is a very different sensory experience than barrel aged whiskey, offering up grainier and sharper aromas and flavor notes.  Cutting edge mixologists today are discovering new uses for new make whiskey as a unique and appealing cocktail base.

The New Make uses the same grain recipe, or mashbill, as nearly all of Heaven Hill’s award winning Bourbons, including Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. By law, Bourbon must contain a minimum of 51% corn in the mashbill, traditionally combined with malted barley and either rye or wheat.  Heaven Hill’s Bourbon formula, however, and most of the other larger distilleries, has always contained a much higher percentage of corn than the legal minimum.  Heaven Hill also uses one of the highest percentages of malted barley in the industry, despite the fact that it is the costliest grain in the process, because it not only aids in fermentation conversion but it also adds a distinctive earthy sweetness to the distillate.  The Rye New Make utilizes the traditional Heaven Hill rye mashbill , the same that is used to produce world-renowned Rittenhouse Rye.  The Rye New Make adds an element of spicy, sharp fruitiness to the taste.

“We believe our reputation and the breadth of our American Whiskey offerings will make the Trybox Series an important addition to the national whiskey scene,” commented Susan Wahl, Brand Manager for the whiskey portfolio at Heaven Hill. “The ability to offer not only a classic new make Bourbon formula, but also a Rye, Wheat and Corn Whiskey new make will make this a significant extension of the current available whiskey offerings, and highly desirable to enterprising mixologists and whiskey connoisseurs.”    

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif. 

Hazelburn 8 Year Old Sauternes (55.5%)
 
2011 limited release wood expression of triple distilled Springbank Hazelburn. Matured for 5 Years in refill bourbon casks and a further 3 years in Sauternes casks.

Distillers Tasting Notes:

Nose: Warm and embracing: homemade Seville orange marmalade on a buttered, toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel. Orange liqueur, burnt demerara sugar, treacle, honey, figs and dates emerge from the sidelines as the aromas develop.

Palate: Buttery, creamy and rich with orange fondantcream and ginger bread biscuits. Hints of honey and chiliglazed brazil nuts, sweet and warm.

£54.99 (£45.83 ex VAT)

In-stock and ready to ship at www.thewhiskybarrel.com

March 2011

Dear Customer

This month we have three (3) new bottlings under the PROVENANCE label.

Their Tasting Notes are:

PRV 0687 Laphroaig 10 Year Old
Opens on the nose with a smoked ham quality and runs to a sweet, ashy, even vanilla’d style. Initially the palate is sweet & fruity then quickly develops to oily smoke and salty liquorice. The finish is long with a burnt sugar, ashes and dark chocolate style. (J)

PRV 0688 Ben Nevis 11 Year Old
Honeyed – perfumed – and attractively barley sweet on the nose … move onto a big round palate with more (runny) honey – dark sugar tones and Malt. The finish is then warmingly spiced – still remarkably sweet – with that same round malty quality apparent. (F)

PRV 0691 Macallan 12 Year Old
Citric fresh, honeyed, sweet and malty on the nose – it runs to a palate which is immediately vanilla toffee in style – buttery – with a sweet barley flavour. The finish is long – slightly drier now – still spiced and appealing.
(F)

We hope you may like and appreciate these recent additions to the PRV range .

With all best wishes, I remain

Yours faithfully

Fred Laing

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

NEW ARRAN WHISKY SET TO BECOME MAN’S BEST FRIEND

Award-winning* Scotch whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers, has launched a limited edition of 6,000 bottles; The Westie. The bottling will be released in the UK and worldwide at the beginning of April.

This single malt Scotch whisky was drawn from 22 ex-Sherry Hogsheads specially selected by Master Distiller James MacTaggart from the 1998 distillation.

The result is a golden-coloured, full-bodied malt which has, over the 12 years of maturation, developed rich and warming notes of toasted oak, treacle toffee and orange zest with hints of vanilla, cocoa powder and cardamom seeds that leaves a malty and smooth finish with voluptuous spice.

The Westie is the third edition of the Icons of Arran Series.  The inspiration for the new ‘Icon’ was James MacTaggart’s West Highland Terrier, Ruaraidh (pronounced Roo-Ree) – a fully fledged member of the distillery and a favourite amongst visitors.

The first Icons edition, ‘The Peacock’, was named after the distillery’s very own live-in peacock and the second, ‘The Rowan Tree’, was named after the several species of the flamboyant tree that are unique to the Isle of Arran.

Euan Mitchell, Managing Director at Arran Whisky comments: “We are very proud of the newest addition to the Icons of Arran Series.

“Ruaraidh is an integral part of the distillery so a whisky dedicated to him has been long overdue. The last two had a great reception and we expect the same out of The Westie in the UK and worldwide.”

The limited edition dram comes in its own pack featuring a picture of Ruaraidh on-pack and in the bottle’s label to provide stand-out.

The Arran Westie, RRP £39.99, is available from The Arran Malt Shop (www.arranwhisky.com) and specialist shops across the UK and worldwide.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers – 

I’m confident you’d agree our Whisky Wednesday emails have a track record of bringing you exciting whiskies from innovative distillieries. 

This week we do it again: Bruichladdich The Organic.

A new addition to the Bruichladdich portfolio, The Organic is a follow on from the 2003 edition. With only a couple of current production single malts certified as “organic”, this whisky is made with organic Scottish barley which is certified by the UK’s Biodynamic Agriculture Association. It is a lightly peated Bruichladdich, matured in American oak casks which contained bourbon.  

And you don’t have to own a pair of Birkenstocks to enjoy it.

A bottle of Bruichladdich The Organic is $56.95, and good luck trying to find it elsewhere.  I’m thrilled to say ForScotchLovers is one of the first retailers in the United States to offer this exquisite whisky.  Buy yours now, and be the first amongst your drinking buddies to own a bottle. 

I also want to remind you that ForScotchLovers will have a booth at this years Whiskies of the World Expo on March 26th in San Francisco.  This is a terrific show, and I’m thrilled we’ll be a part of it.  And because we are participating in the show, I’m able to offer you a great discount on tickets (see below).

I hope you will take advantage of both of these offers. And if you do attend the Whiskies of the World Expo, ya better stop by our booth and say hello.

I hope to see you all there,    

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

BRUICHLADDICH THE ORGANIC ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY

A REVOLUTIONARY OLD IDEA

In Victorian times when Bruichladdich distillery was built, all Scottish barley was organically grown, and the relationship of farmer with his soil and the seasons, and distiller with farmer were intimate and enduring. These natural rhythms and ties were lost as industrialised farming cut the ancient synergy of man, soil, crop, life. An age of super-efficient blandness was born; The cost – a loss of soul, identity and definition.

With this whisky, in partnership with our organic farmers, Sir William Roberts of Mains of Tullibardine, William Rose at Mid Coul and Neil Scobie at Coulmore, we are reconnecting, rediscovering that soul. Once again land and dram united.

Supreme quality barley combined with a slow trickle-distillation to do it justice, and some new oak has resulted in the creamiest spirit we’ve ever seen. This is how it used to be in a more innocent age before the commercial pressures of computerised distilling and industrial conformity.

TASTING NOTES – JIM MCEWAN/ BRUICHLADDICH MASTER DISTILLER: 

Colour: Late Summer Barley 

Body: The texture is sensational, the spirit gliding over the palate like warm syrup. The taste buds love the purity and the sensational clarity of flavours being presented. It’s an elegant, composed and stylish young spirit that showcases the absolute finesse of organically grown barely.

Nose/Palate: It opens on a light almond note with a twist of candied lemon that is delightfully piquant. Then it is the magical aromatics of toasted barley, floral and fruit notes with a hint of lemon honey intermingling beautifully. The toffee sweetness imparted from the American Oak casks providing a stage on which they can perform, as the spirit opens with time little drifts of succulent papaya, melon and kiwi can be detected by the over excited taste buds.

For a young spirit it offers a fantastic array of aromatics and flavours all beautifully held in a cradle of sweet mellow oak. This is due entirely to our trickle distillation style whereby we run our middle cut really slowly which creates this amazing flavour profile, it’s so pure, fresh and zesty that you imagine you are standing on one of our west coast beaches. There is a real sweetness on the front palate, barley sugar, honey almonds, green jelly beans, pear drops all splashed with fresh lemons and balanced by the crispness of the malted barley.

Finish: It’s an incredibly fresh spirit giving an unforgettable palate experience that leaves the taste buds tingling.

 PROGRESSIVE HEBRIDEAN DISTILLERS PRODUCT NOTES

– THE ONLY ORGANIC ISLAY SINGLE MALT

– 100% ORGANIC CERTIFIED BY THE BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION.

– 100%SCOTTISH-GROWN ORGANIC BARLEY.

– SINGLE VARIETY BARLEY: CHALICE.

– THE FIRST MAIN STREAM ISLAY ORGANIC BOTTLING.

– BRUICHLADDICH’S “CREAMIEST SPIRIT EVER”.

– MULTI VINTAGE BASED ON 2003 HARVEST.

– 7 SCOTTISH TERROIRS FOR ULTIMATE COMPLEXITY, PROVENANCE &TRACEABILITY.

– TIN DESIGN FEATURING BRIGHDE, GAELIC GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND HARVEST.

– MATURED IN AMERICAN OAK CASKS-NEW AND USED (BOURBON).

– TRICKLE-DISTILLED,MATURED AND BOTTLED ON ISLAY AT 46% ABV.

– NONCHILL-FILTERED, COLORING-FREE, BOTTLED WITH ISLAY SPRING WATER.

February’s visit to Linköping’s Whiskyexpo in Sweden was excellent. Jane and I met a lot of really friendly people and everybody present seemed to have a great time.

This month’s purchases continued my aim of building up a varied stock of whisky at a wide range of stages of maturation. I’ll be collecting three hogsheads of 27 year old Caol Ila next Friday afternoon, with three hogsheads of 17 year old Glen Grant the following week. About two weeks ago I collected three hogsheads of Cragganmore from 1989 and 1991.

Preparations are well under way for my first bottlings, which are likely to be a 27year old Caol Ila, a 20 year old Cragganmore, a 20 year old North British Grain and a 17 year old Glen Grant. The labels are currently being designed and should be finished by the end of this week. I’m keen to release a few bottlings at once, as this should reduce postage costs for anybody interested in more than one bottle.

I will endeavour to give a discount to any person who has already purchased a cask and has an interest in any of the casks below, or who contacts me upon recommendation of someone who has already purchased a cask (some of the casks may not be able to be discounted as they are so cheap already!). Tell your friends of the good value to be found here!

CASKS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

The price per bottle has been worked out using a spreadsheet, posted on my website, with the link below. The .pdf version cannot be edited but the .xlsx (Microsoft Excel) version can be edited by entering the price, litres of alcohol and strength which you wish to bottle at, in order to calculate a total price per bottle if the Excise Duty is paid in various different countries. The exchange rate can also be edited as it changes but should be correct as of the 8th March.

PDF version:

http://www.whiskybroker.co.uk/fileuploads/bottlecostsvariouscountries/bottlecosts.pdf

Excel version:

http://www.whiskybroker.co.uk/fileuploads/bottlecostsvariouscountries/bottlecosts.xlsx

This may appear slightly complicated at first, but if you have any difficulty understanding it, send me an email and I’ll be happy to explain.

Please write a comment on the guestbook of my website, especially if you have purchased a cask. Finally, if you have any website related suggestions, don’t hesitate to send me an email.

Martin Armstrong

www.whiskybroker.co.uk

info@whiskybroker.co.uk

Glenlivet 70 Year Old 1940

The World’s Oldest Bottled Single Malt Whisky

The world’s oldest whisky ever released – a Glenlivet aged for an absolutely extraordinary 70 years. This is a truly record-breaking single malt.

£13,000 -70cl Decanter

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenlivet-70-year-old-1940-whisky/

There is also a 20cl version available for £3200.
 
£3200 -20cl Decanter
 
 http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenlivet-70-year-old-1940-20cl-whisky/