Expand your flavour horizons with this stunning new cask selection, guaranteed to put you in a party spirit this festive season. We’re heading into the week with a range of 15 new bottlings from across our most popular flavour profiles. Whether you find yourself ‘sprawling on the lawn’, ‘sheltering in a bothy’ or ‘just beneath the snowline’ this week – there is a dram especially for you.

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WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER

We’re celebrating Christmas in style this year, paying homage to the spirit of the 1920s – dressing dapper, dancing the night away and enjoying a whisky cocktail (or two!). We’ve got a packed calendar of events in our Members’ Rooms, so head to the website and find out what is happening near you.

TAKE ME TO EVENTS

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 Treasure Trove of Fully Mature Scotch Rarities:
Singular Collectibles from Macallan, Ardbeg, Aberlour, & More
Plus, a thrilling selection of sublimely aged spirits from around the world…

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve combed our nearly unrivaled selection of the world’s rarest, highly allocated Scotch whiskies to bring you a collector’s dream list that’s sure to impress even the most seasoned aficionados. From age statements to barrel regimens to regional styles, the diversity on offer here is simply astounding, and they’re all in stock and ready to ship. While the usual suspects like Macallan, Aberlour, and Springbank all give tour de force renditions, several under-the-radar gems are more than worthy of your attention.

Not to be missed is the 1992 Glentauchers 28 Year Old Speyside Single Barrel from the incomparable Hart Bros. This outstanding dram arrived as a miniscule 90-bottle allocation, and it’s sure to disappear in short order. A 1989 Tomatin 25 Year Old Single Sherry Butt from Hunter Laing is a world-class example of what a long rest in Sherry oak can do for a top-flight Highland malt, while the 1997 Ben Nevis 24 Year Old “Chapter 7: A Whisky Anthology – Monologue #16” puts on a stunning display of ex-bourbon hogshead ageing at cask strength—no shrinking violet, this one.

Finally, we have an absolutely rocking Islay standout from everyone’s favorite peat monster. The Whisky Advocate 95-point Ardbeg 19 Year “Traigh Bhan – 2021 Release” Batch #3 Islay Single Malt is the latest edition of a stellar new age-stated entry in the distillery’s line-up, the first such in over 20 years, and the results couldn’t be more astounding. Whether you’re shopping for a hard-to-please whisky fan or that hard-to-please whisky fan is you, this entire range is a must-have treasure trove of singular, one-of-a-kind rarities that belong in any world-class collection.

Lost Lantern Announces First Annual Winter Whiskey Wednesday Drop with a Trio of New Limited Edition Single Casks

Light Up the Holidays with McCarthy’s, Smooth Ambler, and Starlight Whiskies 

NOVEMBER 19, 2021—On Wednesday, December 1^st, Lost Lantern – the independent bottler of American whiskey that launched in late 2020—will celebrate the upcoming holidays with its first Winter Whiskey Wednesday drop, a release that will take place on the first Wednesday of December every year. On this new tradition, Lost Lantern Co-Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski said, “While we don’t normally reveal release dates far in advance, fans can expect a Lost Lantern winter drop timed to the holiday season the first Wednesday of December every year. This release, beginning with our Winter 2021 collection, will include some of our most exciting whiskies of the year, selected with celebration, cold weather, and gift giving in mind.”

The Winter 2021 collection will feature three limited-edition single casks, available exclusively via Seelbachs.com as of December 1^st and on LostLanternWhiskey.com at a later date. All are bottled at cask strength, are non-chill-filtered, and have natural color.

• 2021 Single Cask #6, McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated Single Malt (248 btls): SRP, $140
• 2021 Single Cask #7 Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey (195 btls): SRP, $80
• 2021 Single Cask #8 Starlight Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey (211 btls): SRP, $70

Blake Riber, founder of Seelbach’s is excited to launch the new collection. “We’re thrilled to have the exclusive Lost Lantern Winter Collection on Seelbach’s! Most of their fall release sold out before we even had a chance to announce it. Lost Lantern is pushing the boundaries for independent bottlers in American Whiskey. This is exactly what we want to showcase on Seelbach’s.”

All three of these distilleries and states are new additions to Lost Lantern’s single cask lineup. “Clear Creek has been making McCarthy’s for over 20 years and has a well-deserved cult following,” said Nora and Adam. “Smooth Ambler is best known for sourcing and blending but has also been distilling their own whiskey for years, so we’re excited to present their own West Virginia-distilled wheated bourbon. Finally, Starlight showcases Southern Indiana’s terroir, climate, and agriculture and is quickly becoming one of the darlings of bourbon drinkers.”

Lost Lantern released 10 single casks in its first year (all sold out) and debuted five more on their one-year anniversary in October (one of which is sold out). All were hand-picked from some of America’s most exciting distilleries: Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Cedar Ridge (IA), New York Distilling Company (NY), Ironroot Republic (TX), Whiskey Del Bac (AZ), Balcones (TX), Watershed (OH), Boulder Spirits (CO), Spirit Works (CA), and St. George Spirits (CA). Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. These highly limited, one-of-a-kind single casks consist of unique and deeply expressive whiskies produced by some of the finest distilleries in the United States.

Lost Lantern’s flagship blend, American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 (SRP $120) also remains available. Created with some of the most exciting names in American single malt (Balcones in TX, Copperworks in WA, Santa Fe Spirits in NM, Triple Eight in MA, Westward in OR, and Virginia Distillery Co. in VA), American Vatted Malt represents the spirit of collaboration and community in the American distilling world.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN’S WINTER 2021 SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

Lost Lantern single casks show that the best whiskey reflects where it’s made, how it’s made, and who made it, and demonstrate that compelling whiskey comes from all across the United States.

2021 Single Cask #6: McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated Single Malt

(248 btls | 111.2 Proof): SRP, $140

McCarthy’s is arguably the first American single malt, and this single cask, aged for six years, is one of the oldest McCarthy’s whiskies ever released. Made from U.K. barley malted with Islay peat, it was fermented, distilled, and aged in Oregon. Single Cask #6 was aged in a 228-liter 3rd-fill Oregon oak cask with a medium toast and medium char. This whiskey’s deep smokiness, savory notes of smoked meats and leather, and balance of oak and French vanilla will enthrall lovers of peated single malt.

2021 Single Cask #7: Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(195 btls | 124.2 Proof): SRP, $80

Smooth Ambler has long been on the vanguard of sourcing and blending whiskey with transparency and integrity. They’ve also been distilling and aging their own whiskey all along as they forge a new whiskey tradition in West Virginia. This is Lost Lantern’s first wheated bourbon selection, distilled on Smooth Ambler’s own column still in West Virginia. It was aged in a 53-gallon barrel for 5 years. The nose has notes of dried ginger, clove, and rosehips, while the palate bursts with dark chocolate, candied walnut, and robust oak flavors. 

2021 Single Cask #8: Starlight Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey

(211 btls | 113.2 Proof): SRP, $70

Starlight Distillery is part of Huber’s Orchard & Winery, an Indiana institution since 1843. While Starlight is just across the Ohio River from Kentucky and about 20 miles from Louisville, the climate, conditions, and culture are quite distinct from their counterparts to the south. This straight rye whiskey was aged for 4 years in a 53-gallon barrel. Made with 85% locally grown rye and 15% malted barley, it has a robust rye spice, with notes of cardamom, molasses, burnt caramel, and lemon zest. This is Indiana whiskey at its finest.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an independent bottler of American whiskey. Inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland, the company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the country and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. Currently, the Lost Lantern portfolio consists of American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, a blend of American single malt whiskey made in collaboration with six distilleries from across the U.S., and eighteen single casks. Lost Lantern debuts new hand-selected whiskies throughout the year and announces one-off limited releases from time-to-time. Subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter to learn about new offerings as they become available. Lost Lantern Whiskey is available for purchase at LostLanternWhiskey.com, at Seelbachs.com, and at select retailers in California, Kentucky, and Alberta.

Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on the following channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostlanternwhiskey

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lostlanternwhiskey

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LostLanternDram

Online whisky marketplace platform Caskshare is set to launch ‘The Collective’, a new exclusive cask movement. 

Since its launch earlier this year, Caskshare has been bringing an array of specialist cask sellers to the market, revolutionising the way that consumers engage with distilleries and cask owners to experience single cask whiskies, a bottle at a time. Buyers can choose from a wide range of casks, from more traditional ex-Bourbon to innovative casks such as Barossa Valley ex-red wine and Tokaji Aszú casks, all of which are uniquely imparted with distinctive flavours and aromas.

The brand is now set to launch The Collective, which gives whisky lovers the opportunity  to access new cask releases, Collective-only exclusive distillery releases, as well as plenty of other perks and benefits throughout the year. Members of The Collective (priced at £125 per year) will receive tasting packs full of samples of the finest maturing spirit stock every 6 months, allowing the unique chance of experiencing whisky as it is developing, getting inside the processes involved in making whisky and helping them make their selections for their own personal collection. Cask samples will range from mature casks nearing their bottling date to young casks starting on their maturation journey, delivered directly to their door.

As a unique feature of The Collective, Caskshare is also launching their BarrelBank, allowing members to save funds and choose the whisky they want when they want. All funds used from the Caskshare BarrelBank attract a 5% interest which can be used in conjunction with additional exclusive discounts on selected caskshares and the luxury ready bottled shop.

www.caskshare.com/the-collective

The latest Warehouse 1 release from Glen Moray

The final release in the Warehouse 1’s inaugural year of bottlings – here we have a spirit distilled in 2008, matured in ex-bourbon casks with a finish in Manzanilla sherry barrels and left at cask strength of 54.6% abv. The popular series has shown Glen Moray’s skill in experimenting with less common casks to create exciting and unique expressions. Limited to only 1,240 bottles – don’t miss out!

Buy here now →

Glen Moray 2008 Warehouse 1 Manzanilla Finish Description

The Causeway Collection: 2000 Port Cask

20 Year Old | 70cl | 54.1% ABV | Cask Strength

The 2000 Port Cask is a limited edition, cask strength Irish Single Malt. This expression has spent its entire life in rare first-fill ruby port casks. After maturing for 20 years, the malt is imbued with bold and luscious red fruit flavours. The fortified port wine cask has added waves of sweet, caramelised toffee notes, balanced by a hint of sweet chilli.

UK Exclusive Release With Only 2,322 Bottles Available

£259.95

Calumet Farm 15 Year Old “Single Rack Black” Small Batch Unchillfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $119.99 View

The new Calumet Farm 15 Year is an unusual release from this upstart, Kentucky-based brand. Both the highest proof and highest age for the brand to date, this is great old Kentucky bourbon bottled without chillfiltration. The “Single Rack” is a reference to the source of the batch being from a single rack in the brickhouse, meaning all barrels were aged in the same center part of the warehouse, which lends to longer aging as compared to the top floors. Calumet Farm is the most famous horse farm in Kentucky (having bred and trained two Triple Crown winners and eight Derby winners), and their pedigree has allowed them access that few others have. Distilled and aged in Bardstown entirely in 2006, only 19 barrels were used in the production of this batch. At the time, only one distillery was operating in the area, so we can assume this is good Barton juice. The mash bill is 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley.

Sample Image

Resilient 16 Year Old “Barrel #122” Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $129.99 View

Resilient 16 Year Old “Barrel #203” Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $129.99 View

Obtainium 27 Year Old Canadian Whiskey (750ml) $199.99 View

This is a classic Canadian blend of mostly light whisky, with 3% traditional rye and 2% traditional corn. The three whiskies were distilled at what is now known as the Black Velvet Distillery (formerly the Palliser Distillery) in Southern Alberta before being blended and aged in oak barrels for 27 years before being cut from 156 proof to a slightly more managable 141. Rich and complex, the light whiskies don’t have the bodied or complexity of a straight bourbon or rye until they start to get serious age. This is the oldest we’ve ever seen. It’s somewhere akin to a single grain whisky being aged in active refill bourbon barrels for many many years. It’s a wild expression unlike any other on the market today, but this is one experiment that’s worth the risk.

2011Port Charlotte “PAC:01” Pauillac Wine Cask Finished Cask Strength Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

(750ml) $124.99 View

 Look for a tawny hue and a distinctly coconut-driven aroma. Add water to tame the alcohol intensity and the reward is orange and dark chocolate flavors, with hints of chipotle, charred oak and saline. The finish is long, complex and delicious. It was aged eight years and finished in red wine casks from Bordeaux. 

92 points Whisky Advocate

 This year’s edition of the Port Charlotte Cask Exploration Series was aged in French oak red wine casks from Bordeaux’s Pauillac region. Sweet peat on the nose, honey, sugared banana slices, vanilla flan, barley sugar, green apple, and fresh-cut grass. The palate offers charcoal, bonfire, and pepper spice, with water taming the peat and drawing out candied lemon, orange, apricot, sweet tea, and cinnamon spice. A fiery but serenely refined peat profile. (DF, Fall 2021) 

K&L Notes

Bruichladdich has been putting out some exceptional Port Charlotte releases in their Cask Exploration Series. These have featuered the world’s finest red wine casks so far, and this release is no different. Port Charlotte PAC:01 might be the best release yet. The casks aren’t hard to identify, but for legal reasons we cannot name the wineries these come from. Suffice it to say, each one so far has been from first growth Bordeaux producers, so you’ve got 3 guesses for this release (and it may be a combination of multiple wineries). The real point is when you put great peated whisky into red wine casks of the highest quality, the results taste delicious. Port Charlotte’s signature sweet BBQ smoke and robust fruit mesh perfectly with the rich red wine influences. The 2011 distilled whisky first aged a minimum of 6 years in American Oak before being transferred into the Pauillac casks and has been bottled at a cask strength of 56.1%ABV without chill filtration.

GLENFIDDICH, THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED SINGLE MALT, LAUNCHES IN ONTARIO

GLENFIDDICH GRAND CRU 23 YEAR OLD, JUST IN TIME FOR CELEBRATING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

As the foremost leader in whisky-making innovation, Glenfiddich continues to challenge conventions with the arrival of Glenfiddich Grand Cru, a 23-year-old expression, exquisitely finished in rare French cuvée casks.

The World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky Glenfiddich toasts the true taste of luxury with the launch of Glenfiddich Grand Cru in Canada, an exclusive expression that has been matured for 23 years and elegantly finished in rare French cuvée oak casks.

Daring and unexpected, Grand Cru encapsulates the very spirit of luxury and craftsmanship of Glenfiddich while surpassing the very notion of Single Malt Whisky. Created for the whisky non-conformists, the liquid sets out to redefine moments of celebration through a new and extraordinary drinking experience uniquely crafted to toast…Available at the LCBO

Vintage Bottlers Have Released Their Debut Bottle, A Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Vintage Bottlers are thrilled to be releasing the first edition of their new ‘Secret Series’ collection.

Vintage Bottlers, a London Based independent bottler, have now released their debut bottle. A 30 year old Highland single malt sherry cask, with only 325 bottles originally stocked. The distillery, although very reputable, has been kept a secret and many have been guessing where the single malt comes from. The trail of clues left on Vintage Bottlers instagram (@vintage_bottlers) has led some people to guessing correctly!

The bottle is the first edition of their ‘Secret Series’, an upcoming rare cask series collection, ‘The Regions’. This collection will explore a sensory journey through Scotland’s 6 whisky producing regions. Although not an official region, they have included the Islands as believed some of the whisky produced there adds a profile not experienced elsewhere. The second edition is available to pre-order on the Vintage Bottlers website now.

Tasting Notes –

Colour: New cut hay

Nose: Dark chocolate and mountain coffee beans against a background of antiseptic iodine

Palate: Dark forest fruits flambe, burnt caramel

Finish: Menthol with hints of liquorice

It is very unusual for a Highland whisky, and certainly betrays its coastal origin. There is a deep warmth on the palate which had me thinking this may just burn as it goes down, but no, it is as smooth as silk, and what I describe as menthol, gives an impression of coolness.

By Gordon Coxhill, Whisky Enthusiast & Journalist

Buy now: https://vintagebottlersltd.com/product/the-secret-series-1/

Vintage Bottlers, founded in 2020, is an independent bottler, searching for the very best whisky Scotland has produced, past and present. They bottle exceptional spirit from world famous distilleries as single cask expressions and blend their own favourite styles. Vintage Bottlers is part of the Vintage Group, a group formed of four different whisky based companies including a whisky cask trader, a whisky members club and a whisky auction house.