The Grand Tour

Viking 1 & 2
Mars Explorer Program

We return to our tour of the solar system and beyond with the third and fourth releases of our The Grand Tour series of single cask whiskies.

The two Viking space probes launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in 1975 setting off to explore, photograph and communicate from the Red Planet’s surface. Successfully touching down in July and September 1976 where they remained operating until their batteries shut down in 1982.

Girvan is a Lowland grain whisky distillery situated on the Ayrshire West coast of Scotland. Matured in a 1st fill Palo Cortado sherry cask. Distilled 1990 and bottled at 53.6%. 162 numbered bottles.

North British was established on farmland to the west of Edinburgh in 1885. Matured in a 1st fill Palo Cortado sherry cask. Distilled 1990 and bottled at 47.6%. 159 numbered bottles.

Compare and contract two old grain whiskies matured in cosmic sherry wood.

Buy – Girvan Viking 1 – £150 / €147* / $165* / c$213*

Buy – North British Viking 2 – £150 / €147* / $165* / c$213*

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

With access to award-winning whisky, a colourful network of Members’ Rooms and partner bars and a wealth of online whisky education and content, membership to the Society is the gift that keeps on giving all year round. Head to the website and purchase a Society membership for the whisky lover in your life. It’s the perfect last-minute gift.

BUY GIFT MEMBERSHIP

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY RELEASES LIMITED ABRAHAM BOWMAN 15-YEAR-OLD RUM FINISHED BOURBON 

FREDERICKSBURG, KY (Dec. 15, 2021) — A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the latest release in its Abraham Bowman series of experimental whiskey, the Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon.

The bourbon in this release aged for nine years in American White Oak before finishing in rum casks for an additional six years. This release may just be the oldest rum cask finished bourbon ever produced.

This 15-year-old bourbon has an intense reddish-brown hue. Master Distiller Brian Prewitt describes it as bright and lively, noting the aroma begins with notes of well-aged bourbon. “The aroma of vanilla, caramel, and candied nuts give way to leather and coconut. Finally fading to the notes brought in from the long rum finish, aromas of molasses, brown sugar, and candied fruit. Sweet flavors of toffee and toasted sugar with vanilla. This bourbon has a viscous mouthfeel and pleasant aftertaste that lingers on the palate. The immense complexity of the spirit continues to offer new and enticing aromas and flavors with each subsequent taste.

“Our Abraham Bowman series allows us the flexibility to experiment and discover unique new expressions, permitting us to gain new insights along the way,” said Prewitt. “The age on this rum-finished release is unparalleled and resulted in one of our favorite finishes to date.”

The Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon is part of a series of limited-edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new release is offered a few times a year.

Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon will be available through the A. Smith Bowman Distillery gift shop on a first come, first served basis on Saturday, December 18. This release will also be available through the Virginia ABC Board lottery. Quantities are very limited. The total age of this bourbon is 15 years and is bottled at 100 proof. These 750 ml bottles have a suggested retail price of $69.99.

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

We’ve just restocked Blanton’s Gold along with a new single barrel release. These don’t tend to hang around for long, so grab a bottle while you can. Still time for UK delivery before Christmas, remember we also offer free UK shipping on orders over £95. As ever if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

Slàinte

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Strathisla 13 Year Old

2008 Connoisseur’s Choice

Delectable tasting notes for this single first fill sherry cask #17603108 from Gordon & MacPhail botted at 57.9% exclusive to the UK. Nose: Sherry aromas, ginger and clove spice. Strawberry and raspberry lead to rich honey. Stewed red berries complement Autumnal spice. Orange oil develops alongside aniseed finish with fruit and spice. A perfect gift for the whisky lover as well.

Buy – Strathisla 13 Years – £94.68 / €93* / $105* / c$135*

🎄 Last Minute Gifts and Stocking Fillers 🎁

Select gift-wrapping and delivery to the recipient’s door!

Free chocolates with any 70cl Blue Label bottle!

If you’ve ever experienced a whisky and chocolate tasting at a Scottish distillery, you’ve probably came across The Highland Chocolatier. Iain Burnett is a master in his field and his award-winning range of decadent chocolates pair perfectly with a dram. For a limited time only we will be including a free box (worth £49.99) with any 70cl Blue Label bottle – a luxurious and utterly delicious gift!

View the selection →

Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Icons 2.0

This limited edition whisky arrives with a flourish of elegance. This snazzy expression is a blend of some of the finest malt and grain whiskies in Johnnie Walker’s collection with all bottles individually numbered.

£160.00
BUY NOW

Each selection box of chocolates will contain a specially selected variety of flavours which pair perfectly with a dram of Johnnie Walker Blue Label:

Lemongrass & hint of Lime Velvet Praline
Orange & hint of Clove Velvet Truffle
Orange Crunch Praline
Dark Velvet Truffle

The Fisherman’s Retreat has received two first place awards at the recent World Whisky Awards for its Editions 6.1 & 8 Scottish single malt whiskies.

CATEGORY WINNER –

SINGLE CASK 13 -20 Year old ISLAY

Edition 6.1 – Bruichladdich 14 Years Old was distilled on 23/05/2007 maturing in a Rivesaltes cask for 12.5 years before finishing in a Yalumba fortified wine cask from the Barossa valley for a further 18 months eventually being bottled on the 24/5/2021

CATEGORY WINNER –

SINGLE CASK 12 Years & Under ISLANDS (non Islay)

Edition 8 – Arran 7 Years old was distilled on the 27/08/2013 maturing in a Yalumba Viognier cask from the Barossa valley South Australia and was bottled on 09/02/2021

Hervey Magnall commented saying that he was delighted, and wished to thank the whole Fisherman’s Retreat team for all their dedication and hard work as well as thanking his good friends at Yalumba  vineyard.

Both releases are available via The Fisherman’s Retreat website

https://www.fishermansretreat.com/shop/

ORDER BEFORE TUESDAY 21 DECEMBER 10PM
FOR GUARANTEED CHRISTMAS DELIVERY

Take it back to the Roaring Twenties when these two new whiskies would have been the talk of the town. Both are sure to impress the senses and your guests – order now for your festivities.

ALSO, don’t miss out on our latest small batch blended malt Tabanco Time. With all the flavours you would expect from PX and Oloroso sherry casks – hazelnut chocolate, walnut juicy black cherries, dried fruits and candied orange peel – this is the perfect Christmas dram.

SHOP ALL WHISKIES

TEETH MARKS IN A FRUIT TREE

Cask No. 9.232

Age: 13 years

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

ABV: 57.8%

Tobacco and cloves emerged on the palate with oily marzipan, orange bitters and pink grapefruit while the peppermint fresh finish had our Tasting Panel chewing on the coffee table.

FILM STAR HANGS OUT AT SMOKERS’ CORNER

Cask No. 4.297

Age: 20 years

Cask: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

ABV: 54.8%

TABANCO TIME

Experimental Blended Malt Batch #13

Age: 11 years

Casks: Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts, Hogsheads and Quarter Casks

ABV: 50.0%

Unctuous with the taste of cinnamon, dried fruits, candied orange peel and a rich sweet finish. With water, hazelnut chocolate, walnuts, juicy black cherries and chocolate chip acorn truffles.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

ARTEMIS 1
Bunnahabhain 30 Years
TWB Exclusive

ARTEMIS 1st Launch Edition

Artemis 1 is set to be the first launch of the Orion spacecraft. A test flight orbiting the Moon before returning to Earth is scheduled to launch in 2022, to be followed by a crewed lunar landing expected in 2025; the first since Apollo 17 in 1972.

To commemorate the launch of the Artemis Moon Program we have selected a very special 1990 vintage single cask hogshead from Bunnahabhain distillery on Islay which ticks all the cosmic boxes!

The label depicts the blueprints of the Orion spacecraft, the next era of human exploration. 285 number bottles, but you don’t have to be an astronaut to buy one!

Buy – Artemis 1 – £220 / €215* / $244* / c$312*

Blended Scotch Whisky 2007 Aged 14 Years

£28.00

Single Cask Bottling

45.0%vol

Natural Colour

70cl

A single cask of blended scotch whisky bottled at 14 years old.

From ‘The Famous House’

Tasting notes by Jason IG – whisky_rover