The batch is made up of 5 production dates stored in 4 different aging warehouses. The age is 7 years, 7 Months, 8 days, and is 124.5 proof. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is as follows:

• 17% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
• 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
• 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 45% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

The color of this Booker’s batch is a rich golden amber from over 7 years of aging in the new white oak barrels. The nose has a nice, pleasant aroma of sweet brown sugars and vanilla. The taste is balanced with a pleasant heat.

Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Booker’s

GLENALLACHIE

THE WOOD COLLECTION

Just in from Billy Walker and his team at GlenAllachie Distillery is this fine new trio of bottlings. Dubbed the ‘Sherry Series’, each expression has spent an initial period in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels before being transferred to the expertly selected Sherry casks. Six single malts will be released over two instalments this year, showcasing the unique contributions of each style.

The first three drams have been finished in, Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks and have all been bottled at a generous 48% vol, without any additional colouring or chill-filtration.

Available now for immediate dispatch in limited numbers.

As ever, if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

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GORDON & MACPHAIL REVEALS FOURTH EDITION IN ‘MR GEORGE LEGACY’ SERIES

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the fourth edition in its annual series celebrating the legacy of George Urquhart – the man described by whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt whisky’.

The Mr George Legacy 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery was laid down by ‘Mr George’, as he was known to those who knew him best and has been left to mature for 65 years in cask no.3818, a first-fill Sherry butt made to his exact specifications. Bottled in November 2023 at a cask strength of 56.5% – remarkable considering its age – the release is priced at £7,000. Just 376 bottles are available for sale worldwide.

This edition’s packaging and support campaign is themed around having the courage of one’s convictions, symbolised by ‘The Lone Oak’. Mr George’s approach – to age whisky for as long as it needed – was seen by some as eccentric during his lifetime. The theme celebrates this philosophy of occasionally going against the grain but always standing firm to one’s principles in pursuit of perfection.

More than six decades of maturation has delivered a smooth, full-bodied whisky with sweet and warm spices on the nose. Packed with Seville orange peel, dark morello cherry and coffee bean flavours, the long and balanced finish fades with a hint of smoke.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “My grandfather had a particular affinity with Glen Grant Distillery. Local to our home in Elgin, Mr George had a strong relationship with the owners and distillers through the decades and he enjoyed experimenting with different casks to complement the distillery’s lighter spirit style.

“Back in the 1950s, the spirit would have been slightly smoky due to floor maltings and a small level of peat being used, which is a style rarely seen in today’s modern Speyside whiskies, giving this whisky a charred oakiness, balanced by long-term maturation in a Sherry cask made of European oak.”

Charlie MacLean, whisky writer and expert, added: “This is an exceptionally fine old whisky, hugely complex, but still remarkably vivacious. Another worthy tribute to Mr George Urquhart, the man who put malt whisky on the map.”

‘Mr George’ Urquhart, second generation of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, was a true pioneer of whisky. In 1968 he created the iconic Connoisseurs Choice range featuring single malts at a time when most were used for blending, with his inquisitive nature and patience providing time for each whisky to mature to its full potential. His spirit lives on in this release and his legacy has provided knowledge that continues to provide a guiding light for future generations.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has bottled spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries, developing unique experience of how to mature single malts for many decades in their own casks.

For more information, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

#GordonandMacPhail

RSP: £7,000 ABV: 56.5%

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and hint of cocoa powder.

Palate: Smooth and full bodied, Seville orange peel and dark morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak and a touch of liquorice is present.

Finish: Long and balanced with a faint hint of smoke.

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its casks.  It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

GlenDronach – Single Cask #6753 (UK Exclusive) 1993 30 year old Whisky

£998.95

An exceptional single cask whisky from Glendronach’s Cask Bottling series. Cask #6753 is the final release to feature the distinctive Cask Bottling packaging design.

Cask Bottling expressions are bottled from a single cask, drawn from the rich collection of barrels, butts and hogsheads quietly maturing in the warehouses at Glendronach Distillery. These carefully selected whiskies are highly sought after by whisky drinkers, enthusiasts and collectors.

This rare limited edition single malt was drawn from a PX sherry butt that yielded just 595 bottles. Bottled at 30 years of age, at natural cask strength, without chill-filtration.

A richly sherried single malt, packed with sweet raisin, fig and plum fruit flavours, complemented by crushed nuts, dark chocolate, and bold oak spice.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sherry soaked bramble, orange and sultana with chocolate praline, Demerara sugar and Morello cherry fruitcake.

Palate: Rich and luxurious with masses of dark stewed fruit, and chocolate gateaux with savoury notes of leather, tobacco and oak.

Finish: Long and satisfying with lingering fruit and molasses giving way to complex wood spice and fine tannins.

“India’s young affluent consumers have a new-found pride in their Indian provenance alongside contributing towards a better, sustainable world. I could not be prouder of Godawan.”

Hina Nagarajan Managing Director and CEO, Diageo India

When you think of an artisan luxury Single Malt, Rajasthan might not be the first place that springs to mind.

And yet the hottest state in India has produced Godawan, a true gem in the Diageo Single Malt portfolio and a flag bearer for Betterment Brands. Consumers are thirsty for products that drive positive change for the environment, society and local communities. And in India, this is especially true for whisky.

India is the largest whisky market by volume in the world. It is a country that has a deep-rooted whisky culture with a long and rich history of appreciation for whisky, that embraces both domestically produced and imported whiskies. In fact, India is one of the few countries in the world where whisky is nearly twice the size of beer.

When Diageo India expressed a desire several years ago to launch a new luxury product in India – one that appealed to the growing number of younger, affluent consumers in India; consumers who possessed what Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer, Diageo India, calls “Indian Pride”, it was no surprise that the preference was for a locally produced whisky brand.

“It needed to showcase the very best of what Diageo brings to the table and the very best of what India brings to the table. So it was decided that we would produce a luxury Indian Single Malt,” says Vikram.

Given Diageo owned seven distilleries across India, there was a big decision to make: where to produce this Single Malt? And in making this decision the Diageo saw an opportunity to deliver something entirely new and desirable for local and international markets: to create Godawan, a Single Malt not just about Indian Pride but also about sustainability, local community and ingenuity.

“Choosing the Alwar distillery in Rajasthan might have surprised some. When you think of a traditional distillery you think of Scotland, beautiful lakes and countryside,” says Vikram. “But in drinks production terms Rajasthan is an anomaly. It is extremely hot, dry with no obvious water sources. But when we decided upon producing it at Alwar it made us ask a question of ourselves – how do we create beauty and rarity from this environment?”

And the answer was to focus entirely on creating a whisky with sustainability in mind – to answer every challenge by pushing the dial and ensuring the process was as sustainable as possible.

And in doing so the Godawan team focused on four main areas: Sourcing and Ingredients; Water Usage; Low Carbon Footprint and Local Conservation.

Sourcing and ingredients

Godawan is made using specific barley that needs less water to thrive. The barley used is grown and sourced in six farms local to the distillery – and this in turn allows the barley (and the whisky) to be completely traceable.

Water usage

Godawan uses an efficient slow trickle distillation process. While this increases the distillation time, it decreases the water usage. Since the team started production of Godawan they have made improvements to reduce water usage. As a result, in March 2023, Alwar was awarded the Alliance for Water Stewardship Certification (the first distillery in Asia to attain this standard).

Acceleration to Low Carbon footprint

Alwar has transitioned from coal to biofuel use for the thermal energy requirement in the distillation process. As part of Diageo’s Spirit of Progress 2030, the distillery has committed to moving to 60% renewable electricity by 2026 and 100% by 2030.

Nature Conservation

Godawan has made a long-term commitment to the conservation of The Great Indian Bustard bird, which appears on the front label of every bottle.

The Great Indian Bustard is on the UN Red List of Endangered species, and with less than 150 birds left in the extreme terrain of Rajasthan. Diageo in partnership with local NGO community groups have worked on various conservation measures. These include safe habitat development through grassland, provision of water, protection from predators and poachers.

Importantly Diageo is committed to this project long-term, with donations from each sale as well as proceeds from auctions of the Godawan 100 Limited Edition series going towards conservation efforts.

www.godawansinglemalt.com

As we approach the release of our fourth and final blend from The Extinct Blends Quartet, join us as we cast our minds back and reflect on the journey so far.

The Extinct Blends Quartet has taken us on a voyage of flavours across the tides of time. At Compass Box, we see blends as the creative union of ideas, questions, and relationships – of stories, old and new.

And it’s exactly these stories of old and new that we’ve brought together in The Extinct Blends Quartet, re-visiting the vanished characters and flavours from four of our Whiskymakers’ favourite blended Scotches of yesteryear. Each reimagined using some of our rarest whisky stocks.

ULTRAMARINE

We journeyed beyond choppy tides and crashing waves to taste the enchanting and ethereal flavours of Ultramarine. With this oaky, smoky whisky we navigate back to a deluxe blended Scotch of the late 80s. This peaty whisky with its palate of raisins and roasted pecans conjures images of bracing walks along a rugged coastline.

DELOS

From there, we found retreat in our reimagined island sanctuary of Delos. A study of one of our very own lost whiskies, Delos is the richer and rounder reimagining of Asyla – an extinct blend of grain and malt. Delight in the comfort of the sweet succulence that first greets you followed by soft waves of citrus, pineapple and orange notes combined with decadent vanilla cream.

METROPOLIS

With feet on dry land, we found ourselves bolstered by the hustle and the bustle of the city, the industrious throng represented by Metropolis. Here to remind us that the soul and history of blended whisky can be found in the city, Metropolis tells a tales of old and new. With a truly unique depth and richness, expect nutty, spicy and caramel notes from this blend.

Stay tuned for the full story behind the final release in our intrepid Quartet coming next week. Through thunderous clouds, prepare to embark to the final destination on this flavour odyssey. Shop The Extinct Blends Quartet below.

Macbeth Series – Limited Edition Scotch Whisky – Illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake

A collection of forty-two different whiskies from the length and breadth of Scotland, selected and bottled by Livingstone in partnership with Elixir Distillers. Each whisky represents a character from the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, with illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake and character notes by Dave Broom.

Lady Macduff is one of twelve noble malts in The Thanes series.

Linkwood is an all-time favourite distillery and it was a thrill to find a 31 year old expression of this Speyside Single Malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 1991, that worked so perfectly for Lady Macduff – although I would probably have had to rewrite Macbeth if there wasn’t a place for this amazing whisky.

Hard Truth Distilling Co. & Mellencamp Whiskey Co.

Release Farmer’s Reserve

Farmer’s Reserve Launch Party Set for Saturday, April 6 at Hard Truth Distilling Co.

Nashville, IN (March 25, 2024) – Hard Truth Distilling Co., an award-winning craft distillery located in Brown County, Indiana announced the introduction of Farmer’s Reserve — the second in a series of four collectible whiskeys in collaboration with Mellencamp Whiskey Company.

Farmer’s Reserve will be officially introduced on Saturday, April 6 at the Hard Truth distillery campus, starting with a bottle signing by the makers at 10 a.m. that day — part of a full weekend of live music and events leading up to a party celebrating the Monday, April 8 total solar eclipse.

Like Harvest Rye before it, and each of the four collector’s series whiskeys from Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey, Farmer’s Reserve features a unique whiskey expression created by Hard Truth’s Master Distiller Bryan Smith with Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, the co-founders of Mellencamp Whiskey Co.

Each bottle’s label in the series features original artwork by John Mellencamp. Farmer’s Reserve showcases a 1991 painting called American Boy And Girl. The two figures in the oil-on-canvas are a nod to the composition of Farmer’s Reserve, which brings two very different whiskeys together in one bottle.

According to Smith, the new Mellencamp Whiskey Co. expression is a perfect marriage of Hard Truth’s Chocolate Malt Rye and Sweet Mash Bourbon, which has then been rested on toasted Amburana, a Brazilian wood that has seen recent popularity in finished whiskeys.

“Farmer’s Reserve builds beautifully on our mission to produce great whiskeys in collaboration with Hard Truth and the local farmers that will produce the highest quality regional flavor profiles,” said Hud Mellencamp.

Farmer’s Reserve will be available at the Hard Truth distillery campus starting Saturday, April 6, and out in the greater market over the weeks following. It is 106 proof (53% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $69.99.

As for Harvest Rye, the first collaboration whiskey from Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey, it’s all been shipped out, though a limited quantity of bottles are still available for stores to reorder through distributors. Collison said once it’s gone, it’s gone for good, although he admitted keeping a few in his collection that will be “sipped slowly.”

“The success of Harvest Rye has us energized for our second release and the amazing whiskey that’s coming next,” said Collison. “Farmer’s Reserve is an exceptional new whiskey, and fans of the first release will love this one.”

About Mellencamp Whiskey Co.

Mellencamp Whiskey Co. has partnered with Hard Truth Distilling Co. to release a limited series of collectible sweet mash whiskeys in support and celebration of America’s heartland farmers. This collaboration is founded on the deep friendship between the founders of Mellencamp Whiskey Company, Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, and Hard Truth Distilling Co. Master Distiller, Bryan Smith.

Hud’s connection to farming communities runs deep as he is the son of one of the founders of Farm Aid, a charity that assists farmers across America. In alignment with this is Hard Truth’s Grounded in Truth initiative, which supports local farmers in collaboration with partner organizations like Farm Aid, its current giving partner. This commitment to supporting local farmers and sourcing top-notch ingredients perfectly aligns with their values.

Together, the two companies are producing whiskeys that are crafted with the finest locally sourced ingredients, a testament to their shared values and dedication to their beloved home state. They look forward to sharing this unique collaboration with whiskey enthusiasts worldwide. 

About Hard Truth Distilling Co.

Hard Truth Distilling Co. is an industry leader in the production of sweet mash whiskey. Headquartered in Nashville, Indiana, they produce more than 20 premium craft spirits, including the critically acclaimed Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey and top-selling Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, and Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum Cream.

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is a culmination of years of careful planning and precise crafting. The result is a complex, pleasant, high-quality rye that has garnered numerous honors including Hard Truth’s first batch of Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey which was named in the top 50 of Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2021, and since then has taken home a gold medal in USA Spirits awards, double platinum medal in the Ascots, and scored a 93 by Whiskey Advocate. Most recently, a barrel-finished expression of Sweet Mash Rye was named the #34 best American Whiskey from over 900 whiskeys tasted in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 of 2023.

Hard Truth is currently celebrating a milestone with the release of its first bourbons all produced grain-to-glass. According to Hard Truth co-founder and Master Distiller Bryan Smith, this moment marks a new chapter in the Hard Truth story. The new bourbons include Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, and Four Grain Bourbon. The Sweet Mash Bourbon was released at 90-proof, and both Wheated Bourbon and Four Grain Bourbon are 100-proof and bottled-in-bond.

Hard Truth’s spirits are distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington, D.C., and the Bahamas.

Gleann Mòr Rare Find has produced this 34 year old Blended whisky from casks selected by Greg Urquhart. Blended at birth and rested in a Sherry Butt for its full maturation.

Cask Type: Sherry Butt #114

Distilled: 1989 Bottled: 2023

Non-chill Filtered | Natural Colour | Cask Strength

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Light smoke, caramel chews and custard

Palate: Toasted marshmallow, salted caramel and milk chocolate covered peanuts

Finish: Soft notes of cigar ash, milky coffee and pepper.

54.9%

£285.00

Imperial 26 Year Old – 1995 | Single Malts of Scotland – Marriage of Casks

This very rare expression has been created from single malt distilled in 1995 at the Imperial distillery and matured in American oak refill barrels for 26 years. Only 198 bottles have been produced of this well aged Imperial, from the sadly now lost distillery. Imperial distillery closed its doors in 1998 and was demolished in 2013. Bottled by Elixir Distillers as part of the excellent Single Malt of Scotland series.

£828.00

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NOSE

A freshly opened bag of lemon bon bons, with all the vanilla and citrus dust spilling out. A richness akin to juicy, honeydew melon, plays against notes of meadow flowers on a warm day.

PALATE

At first it is beautifully delicate with an interplay of light custard, strawberries, and mint. With time in the glass, ginger spice balances the sweet vanilla while a dusty milk chocolate note creates depth.

FINISH

The warm summers day feel continues into the finish with dried grass and haystacks with a touch of blossom honey.