Scotch Whisky

The Whisky Magazine Annual

Get ready to dive into the 3rd edition of Scotch Whisky, packed with distillery focus features, blind-tasting reviews, and interviews with leading figures in the Scotch whisky world. In this year’s edition, look behind the scenes at Torabhaig Distillery and Glasgow Distillery, tour the Johnnie Walker Princes Street experience, and read about F1 champion Jenson Button’s Scotch whisky project. Created by the team behind Whisky Magazine, Scotch Whisky is a valuable addition to any whisky lover’s bookshelf.

BUY TODAY

Buy your copy today! Single issue price includes delivery direct to your door!

GORDON & MACPHAIL UNVEILS ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ 74-YEAR-OLD WHISKY FROM GLENLIVET DISTILLERY

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the latest addition to its prestigious Private Collection range – a single malt described by acclaimed whisky writer, Dave Broom, as ‘extraordinary’. 

Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery was laid down in a refill Sherry butt selected by Gordon & MacPhail on New Year’s Day 1949 and bottled on 6^th March 2023. Priced at £35,000 RSP and retaining a cask strength of 49.3%, only 192 bottles of the ultra-rare whisky are available for sale.

Its remarkable age means the whisky is among one of the oldest Glenlivet released by Gordon & MacPhail, having been aged in its warehouse for over seven decades. Adding an extra layer of rarity, the single malt is the company’s last ever 1949 cask from Glenlivet Distillery.

Layered with complex notes and full of vibrancy and character, the whisky displays sweet, stewed fruit aromas that combine with fragrant cinnamon, aged leather, clementine, and beeswax polish. On the palate, autumnal spices and fruitcake are balanced by cracked pepper, with undertones of garden mint, dark treacle, and charred oak.

Dave Broom, whisky writer, said: “To find a whisky of this age is absolutely extraordinary. What comes across immediately is the fruit – there’s richness and there’s depth. You have this wonderful interplay of distillery character, of oak and oxygen. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

“When you taste it, you taste time. You can taste all the vintages and everything that’s happened. The concentration of fruits, the layers and the complexity are off the scale. You’d think it’s an old whisky but it’s not just an old whisky. It’s an extraordinary whisky.”

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Patience, knowledge, skill, and a commitment to quality are all principles exemplified in this greatly aged single malt. Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery is extremely scarce – our very last cask of Glenlivet from 1949, making it a must for whisky enthusiasts looking to savour a remarkable greatly aged single malt exuding layers of character and decades of maturation expertise.”

Those looking to be among the first to taste this latest Private Collection release can purchase the whisky at Dubai International Airport. Launching in partnership with Le Clos on Friday 1^st September, the Dubai airport store will have an exclusivity period, before the whisky becomes available worldwide on the 19^th of September.

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: £35,000 ABV: 49.3% 

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sweet stewed fruit aromas combine with a fragrant cinnamon spice and aged leather. A hint of aniseed gives way to clementine and beeswax polish.

Palate: Autumnal spice and fruitcake flavours are balanced by cracked black pepper. Undertones of garden mint come to the fore alongside dark treacle and charred oak.

Finish: A spicy finish with lasting citrus fruit and mixed nuts.

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.

ELEMENTS OF ISLAY LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION

 BEACH BONFIRE GLOBALLY 

Elements of Islay, the award-winning independent whisky brand, is releasing its limited-edition whisky Beach Bonfire to global markets following an initial launch at Islay’s iconic whisky festival Fèis Ìle earlier this year.

The team wanted to create a whisky that captured the essence of the island’s rugged wilderness and transport the drinker to the heart of this untamed land with each sip. Head Blender Oliver Chilton took inspiration from a bonfire night where colours, smoke, flames, and sand all collided on a beach – truly representing the unique spirit and terroir of Islay.

The new release, bottled at 54.5% to be consistent with Elements of Islay’s core range, is matured in new oak, bourbon refill and sherry casks. The result is a powerful, herbaceous Islay malt with a rich, complex profile, laden with bonfire ember smoke and a sweet spice finish. Similarly to the rest of the range, Beach Bonfire is non-chill filtered and retains its natural colour.

“We’re thrilled to be releasing Beach Bonfire to markets across the world following its limited release at Fèis Ìle 2023,” said Elixir Distillers Head Blender, Oliver Chilton. “Beach Bonfire takes three distinct Islay spirits matured in a variety of different cask styles to bring a singular location and experience to life through flavour. The chance to condense and reimagine the incredible atmosphere of Islay’s coast by bonfire light into a glass of whisky is another step on our journey as blenders.”

The whisky is the first limited edition release from Elements of Islay since the re-launch of its core range in 2022.

Elements of Islay, Beach Bonfire, 70cl, 54.5% ABV, RRP £79.95, $115.00, €85.00 will be available in key markets across Europe in October 2023. It will be rolled out to Asia and the US from 2024.

Tasting Notes by Oliver Chilton, Head Blender

Nose: Oyster shells and bonfire smoke blend with rich baking spices and subtle notes of cherry and tarragon. Hints of mint and black pepper temper lemon oil and caramel cooking on a wood burning stove.

Palate: Bourbon-soaked Amarena Cherries, with baked vanilla pods, cinnamon and light ginger are surrounded by rich wood smoke. Touches of traditional, medicinal Islay peat play against a wonderful herbaceous character.

Finish: Warm and long, with more wood fire and soft brown sugar. A gingerbread spice starts to develop long after the last sip.

Balblair 2006 #73

Made with 100% rye malt, double copper pot distilled and finished in a delicious Moscatel wine cask, at 51.1% abv. This 16-year-old single Oloroso sherry cask has been bottled exclusively for us by Balblair. Distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2022, this has been left at a natural cask strength of 55% abv and limited to 564 bottles.

Notes from Charlie MacLean in Whiskeria Spring 2023: “Old amber in hue with good beading. A mild nose feel at natural strength, with top notes of clotted cream, on a faint base of strawberry jam (with a suggestion of scone? i.e. cream tea!); beneath all this is warm brown paper. The taste is a nice balance of light sweetness and faint saltiness, with a medium length, warming, finish.”

£179.00
SHOP NOW ❯

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 ❯

Bourbon

Volume 3

Bourbon is an annual publication celebrating one of the most beloved categories in American whiskey, brought to you by the creators of American Whiskey. The publication is devoted to the production, history and lifestyle that come hand-in-hand with this beloved American spirit. Included are in-depth interviews, alongside news, blind tastings and features that get beneath the surface of this great liquid and the people who make it. Bourbon focuses exclusively on America’s native spirit, providing readers with an array of dedicated content.

BUY TODAY

Editorial Highlights include more than 50 tastings from Kentucky and around the USA • Distillery tours • Food and Bourbon • Interviews and news from the world of Bourbon • Whiskey trails • The history of Bourbon • Where to buy your Bourbon whiskey • Bourbon whiskey heroes and heroines • Production of the spirit here to buy your Bourbon whiskey • Bourbon whiskey heroes and heroines Buy a single copy today!

Jack Daniel’s Introduces New Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey as Permanent Extension of its Bonded Series

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey is the first rye whiskey from the Jack Daniel Distillery with the Bottled-In-Bond designation

Lynchburg, Tennessee (September 6, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey as the newest member of its Bonded Series, a line of innovative expressions that honors the distillery’s heritage of whiskey-making excellence. Available now across the U.S., Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is a Tennessee Rye Whiskey bottled at 100 proof (50% alc. by vol.), and is the first rye whiskey from the Jack Daniel Distillery with the Bottled-in-Bond designation.

As stipulated by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bonded whiskey must be distilled by a single distiller during a single season, matured in a government bonded warehouse for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof.

“The Bottled-in-Bond designation on Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is another stamp of quality, assuring consumers that every drop of our whiskey is made right here in Lynchburg at the Jack Daniel Distillery with the highest standards possible,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “Bonded Rye features our uniquely crafted rye grain bill at 100 proof, delivering a unique and balanced profile that drinkers have come to expect and seek out from our rye releases.”

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye has a grain bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley and is charcoal mellowed before aging in new, handmade American white oak barrels. It opens with notes of dried fruit followed by lingering hints of toffee, imparting a bold, complex, and balanced taste with a rye spice finish.

With packaging inspired by the original design of the 1895 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey bottle, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye will be available in 700mL bottles across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $31.99. It will be available for pre-sale through ReserveBar starting September 6 including a limited edition Jack Daniel’s gift item while supplies last.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Series includes Jack Daniel’s Bonded, Triple Mash and now Bonded Rye. For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Just Landed: FETTERCAIRN 16YO 4th Release

Fettercairn 16 Year Old 4th Release 2023

A characterful whisky matured in first fill ex-Port Pipes and ex-Bourbon casks. The 2023 edition offers a finely balanced spirit that accentuates the beauty of the distillery’s unique tropical stye.

£82.00

Buy Here Now ❯

Fettercairn 16 Year Old 4th Release 2023 Description

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 ❯

Whisky Magazine issue #194
Be the first to get your hands on our latest issue!

The cover star for this issue is Bill Lark, founder of Lark Distillery in Tasmania, one of the distilleries that is going above and beyond in the experiences it is offering to guests. There’s nothing like a distillery visit, but when paired with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, these remarkable places can reach new levels of excitement and excellence.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY

BERRY BROS. & RUDD 2023 AUTUMN RELEASE
INCLUDES CHRISTMAS BOTTLING

Britain’s oldest spirits and wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd has released its third seasonal release of 2023.

The collection exhibits a well-varied range of spirit types, flavours and ages to appeal to an array of palates, including a Christmas edition bottling.

With unparalleled expertise in the vast world of spirits, the Berry Bros. & Rudd team of experts have selected eight bottlings for the Autumn Release, with a broad geographical span encompassing the northern Highlands of Scotland to the warm climes of the Indian Ocean.

The release largely centres on showcasing the most prolific distilling region in Scotland, Speyside, including an exquisite 1975 Exceptional Cask from Dufftown, offerings from Glenlossie and Balmenach and a duo of bottlings from Linkwood.

Joe Whittaker, Global Brand Ambassador for Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits, commented:

“This year’s Autumn Release celebrates the outstanding and wholly distinguishable talents of Speyside distillers. For instance, we have two bottlings from Linkwood Distillery which could not be more singular. 

One of which is a Christmas Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottling, Linkwood 2010, that has been finished in a Pedro Ximenez cask. Its flavours epitomise the festive season, making it the quintessential dram to be enjoyed and shared over Christmas.”

Completing the portfolio of Scottish whiskies is a Ledaig bottling hailing from the Isle of Mull, matured in Oloroso casks which balances peat-smoke and Sherry wood style wonderfully.

As part of its 325th anniversary year, Berry Bros. & Rudd continues its exploration into English whiskies, the Autumn Release features a cask from White Peak Distillery, offering a worthy introduction to the burgeoning English whisky scene.

The 2023 Autumn Release, featuring Linkwood 2013, Balmenach 2011, Glenlossie 2010, Linkwood 2010 Pedro Ximenez Finish, Wire Works 2018, Ledaig 2009 and Dufftown 1975, will be available from 7th September 2023 at bbrspirits.com.

TASTING NOTES

Linkwood 2013

This is an excellent example of Bourbon cask matured Speyside. Aromas of warm Victoria sponge, buttery coconut and fudge lure you into the glass. The palate follows the theme with spiced vanilla yoghurt, aniseed, and toasted oak before lighter stewed apple and pear come to the fore. Spice shows through on the finish alongside a lick of vanilla iced tea.

ABV: 46.0%

RRP: £75.00

Balmenach 2011 Cask #121

At first sniff, zesty and grassy notes rise out the glass followed by vibrant green fruits and orange. The palate is wonderfully citrusy, with tangy Granny Smith apples and a pleasing dollop of spirit sulphur. The finish brings grilled lime, barley sweets and a touch of hay. This is a thoroughly pleasing, distillate driven dram.

ABV: 54.4%

RRP £75.00

Glenlossie 2010 Cask #4884
This Glenlossie – matured in a first fill ex-Bourbon cask – sings from the glass, announcing itself with rich flavours of spiced crème brûlée, fresh apples, lime zest, vanilla pods and clove. It is a huge, muscular whisky. This theme continues on the palate, demanding your attention with waves of fresh shortbread, wood spice, fresh fruit and a touch of new leather. This style of wood-forward whisky works wonderfully at cask strength as the alcohol integrates beautifully with the rich character. Cinnamon and cloves linger on the finish, leaving one thoroughly impressed and ready for that second sip.

ABV: 50.5%

RRP: £75.00

Linkwood 2010 Christmas Edition Cask #301235 Pedro Ximenez Finish
Spice and apricot jelly aromas tease on the nose before vanilla and nutmeg develop with time. The palate is a pleasing balance of orange liqueurs, dark chocolate and marzipan all rolled in a layer of oak and cinnamon. More orange notes roll across the finish alongside apricots and clove. This is a hugely fulfilling dram, perfect after a long Christmas day to be enjoyed with friends and family.

ABV: 52.4%

RRP: £96.00

Wire Works 2018 Cask #128
Matured in a barrel which was left over smoke, after the charring process this whisky showcases the deliciously fruity distillate found at White Peak Distillery and pairs it with dense oak and complex smokes. Wood smoke and peat smoke delicately wisp around on both the nose and finish. Flavours of skin-on almonds, toasted spices and touches of nectarine make this a splendid Derbyshire dram.

ABV: 60.9%

RRP: £125.00

Ledaig 2009 Cask #700327 Oloroso Finish

Smoked bacon, grilled meats and bonfire ash draw you into this glass before it develops into peat bogs, hearths and soot. Everything deepens on the palate bringing more smoked meats, with Cullen skink and wood smoke. Lingering savoury smoke and cocoa endure on the palate. A dram to enjoy while mulling over why peat devotees always flock to Islay.

ABV: 53.5%

RRP: £130.00

Dufftown 1975 Cask #10430
Bottled at natural strength, this suave, old dram makes an entrance with beguiling aromas of buttered toast, rosewater and wildflower meadows. The palate gently builds with 45 years of character displaying fruit salad chews, sandalwood, argan oil and smoked pineapple. Warm cherries pop on the back palate. A long and contemplative finish brings subtle spice and orange zest.

ABV: 40.1%

RRP: £1,000.00

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Tracing its history back to 1698, when an enterprising woman called the Widow Bourne started an “Italian grocers” at No. 3 St James’s Street in London, selling tea, snuff, spices and the most fashionable drink of the day, coffee. In due course, the focus shifted to something a little bit stronger. As wine became important to the business, so too did spirits, and Berry Bros. & Rudd started bottling casks under its label in the early 19th century, making it Britain’s oldest independent spirits bottler.

From the creation of Cutty Sark whisky at the start of the 20th century, Berry Bros. & Rudd remains at the forefront of spirit innovation. Its team of experts search and develop unique spirits around the world. While much has changed over the years, Berry Bros. & Rudd are still owned and managed by members of the Berry and Rudd families, and continue to supply the British Royal Family, as it has done since the reign of King George III.

bbrspirits.com

Must-Have Limited Editions of Japan’s Most Iconic Whiskies

Suntory “100th Anniversary – Hakushu” 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)

Suntory “100th Anniversary – Yamazaki” 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)

We’ve just received an allocation of two coveted Japanese whisky collectibles. To mark its centenary as the most celebrated whisky producer in the Land of the Rising Sun, Suntory has released these special-edition bottlings of their iconic Hakushu and Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malts.

Of course, no avid Japanese whisky fanatic will want to miss a very special Suntory dinner hosted at République in Los Angeles on September 28th. Click here for full event and reservation details.

Suntory “100th Anniversary – Hakushu” 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)

K&L Notes: While the Hakushu distillery came a bit later than Yamazaki, the House of Suntory is celebrating its centennial with these limited-edition, special releases from their two single malt distilleries. Yamazaki and Hakushu both have 100th Anniversary offerings featuring an understated label and supremely delicious 12-year-old whiskies from their respective distilleries. The unique Japanese style utilizes a wide array of barrel types, peat levels, and still shapes and sizes to produce many different malts at each distillery. The blend of all of these makes for single malt of unmatched complexity and elegance and the limited supply makes for a fanatical following and highly coveted collectability with aficionados that is envied by nearly every other producer in the world.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 12, 2023

For my money, Hakushu is the most elegant peated single malt on the planet. It never loses the absolute perfect balance of sweet roasted malt and crisp apple that I find to be its true hallmark, and sumptuous peat that delivers earth, smoke, and savor all at once. An uplifting pine note keeps with the feeling of forest bathing that Hakushu 12 always brings. This bottle features the elegant and understated 100th Anniversary label to celebrate Suntory’s centennial. It seems that after 100 years, their prowess as a single malt producer only continues to grow. Bravo.

Suntory “100th Anniversary – Yamazaki” 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)

K&L Notes: The most famous of all Japanese whiskies turns 100 this year. The House of Suntory has been committed to producing the highest quality malt whiskey for a century, and their flagship 12-year-old is one of the world’s most sought-after and collectible single malts. It’s comprised of a blend of whiskies aged in a multitude of barrel types. From ex-sherry and ex-bourbon to refill hogsheads and first-fill mizunara with a minimum age of 12 years old, the recipe does indeed include some much older malts, which create a complexity and refinement well beyond its stated age. The result is one of the most seamless and distinctive malts on the market today. No whiskey in the world currently commands such respect and recognition as the special Yamazaki Distillery, and only a minuscule lot of limited-edition bottles were created of this special whiskey to commemorate the exceptional achievements in quality over the last century.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 13, 2023

Yamazaki has undeniably set the standard for Japanese whisky for the past century. While there is no shortage of contenders popping up today, it seems that Suntory and Yamazaki in particular are poised to be the standard bearer for the category for the next 100 years. Adorned in a special yet understated 100th Anniversary livery, this latest batch of the 12-year-old single malt pours a solid gold. The nose is a complex array of ripe stone fruits, warm cereals, freshly churned cream, vanilla, and tropical fruits and spices. The Mizunara oak is seamlessly integrated. Candied ginger, lemon grass, and sun-dried raisins are carved in relief against a background of sweet baking spices. On the palate, the fine balance makes it somewhat difficult to pull obvious notes at first. With a little more time in glass and several sips, the beautiful weight and texture unfold into toasted coconuts, grilled peaches drizzled in honey, lemon curd, and nutty granola. The finish reprises the complex wood profile provided from a mix of cask types and the lovely spices that brings linger on the palate for a long time. While this is surely a collectors item to most, it tastes fabulous, so if you can bring yourself to do it, open it up and drink it!

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA