New fill whiskies stars, a new limited-edition range from VCL Vintners

Release No.1 features just 109 bottles from Royal Brackla and Benriach Distilleries

As we reunite with old friends and family in person this festive season, such special occasions warrant a memorable, limited-edition spirit to mark the event. Thanks to its relationships with some of the most exciting distilleries in production today, VCL Vintners, a premier City-based whisky cask broker, is launching its very own independent bottling line this winter, giving whisky lovers just that experience.

With a limited run of bottles available for purchase from 30 November 2021 on the VCL Vintners’ website, this inaugural release is made up of a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Royal Brackla Distillery and a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Benriach Distillery. Both spirits were aged for 9 years and finished in octaves: the Highland Single Malt in a port cask and the Speyside Single Malt in a sherry one.

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Royal Brackla 2012) ABV 54.80% AYS 11 June 2021 Cask number 435 (Octave)

Royal Brackla is a distillery steeped in history; boasting a home that is said to have inspired William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and producing the first Scotch whisky to receive a royal warrant. Over its 200-year history, Royal Brackla’s whisky has been often affectionately nicknamed “The King’s Own Whisky.” Releases of Royal Brackla have been limited over the years. One of those, a 35-year-old 200th-anniversary edition was sold for $15,000 in 2014. This release with VCL Vintners is therefore an exciting new opportunity for whisky lovers to discover and taste whisky from a historic distillery.

On the nose, the ruby-coloured Highland Single Malt delivers a fruity aroma of blackberry and cherries, with hints of candy floss, vanilla, and polished mahogany. The palate presents rich dark chocolate with berries and dates, with a hint of sultanas.

The whisky finishes with a lingering taste of sugared almonds and dark chocolate, followed by hints of red grapes: a truly exquisite whisky to experience.

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Benriach 2012) ABV 50.08% AYS 06 February 2021 Cask number 215 (Octave)

Benriach is a distillery known for doing things differently; it is one of just two distilleries in Speyside to still practice traditional floor malting on-site. It is also one of the few distilleries in Speyside that makes both peated and unpeated single malt. As a result, the whisky has a distinctly smoky and sweet note.

On the nose, the golden-coloured Speyside Single Malt delivers a fruity aroma of banana and grape, with hints of apple, citrus, and raisins. The palate presents you initially with caramelised banana, followed by the wintery aromatic flavours of cloves and spice.

The whisky finishes with black pepper with orange zest and hints of charred vanilla. As the cold winter takes hold over the next few months, this rich whisky will warm you from the inside, while conjuring up cosy wintery moments of being indoors by a fire.

Both bottles will retail at £65 (including VAT) on VCL Vintners’ website, available from 30 November 2021.

Discussing the launch, Stuart Thom, Director of VCL Vintners, said: “Whether it’s a bottle for yourself or a present for your friends and family, this is going to be the perfect gift this Christmas. Our goal is to bring whisky to as many new people as possible and we are thrilled to bring these whiskies to market, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy top-of-the-range whisky from the comfort of their own homes. It was a pleasure to work with the wonderful liquid produced by people at Royal Brackla and Benriach distilleries, as we know how much time, effort, and care goes into producing these spirits. We are very excited for what is in store for 2022.”

In January 2021, VCL Vintners reported that more than half of their cask sales were to buyers in the 18–44-year-old age demographic.

About VCL Vintners

Founded in 2010, VCL Vintners sources and manages fine single malt Scotch whisky casks;  the highest performing alternative asset of the 21st century according to the 2020 Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, which found that the ROI on whisky investments has grown by 586% in the last decade[1].

VCL Vintner’s assets range from young, new-fill barrels to some of the rarest and oldest casks on the market today. To date, the company has traded and exchanged on tens of millions of pounds of whisky, wine, port, champagne and cognac. VCL Vintners currently holds £70m of whisky under management, and is on track to corner 2% of the whisky industry’s total reserves, with a target of managing £300m in the next 15 years.

Approximately 3 billion litres of raw spirit are housed in Scottish HMRC bonded warehouses with an estimated value of £15 billion. VCL Vintners holds a prestigious HMRC issued WOWGR license, which is issued upon rigorous assessments, and interviews, and is subject to annual review and renewal, which allows the company to access this raw spirit for trade and exchange.

VCL Vintners is part of ‘The London International Vintners Exchange’, an invitation only organisation with only 400 companies globally in its membership. The company’s brokers are all accredited by the Wine Spirit and Education Trust in London.

Conecuh Brands Announces New Innovations For

 Clyde May’s Whiskey Collection

 Brand Support Includes TV Schedule with Vice Media

GARDEN CITY, NY, November 15- – Conecuh Brands, LLC is launching four new innovations.  Between now and December, the brand is releasing its most extensive line up of innovations to date.

The four new innovations include:

• Clyde May’s Single Barrel Straight Bourbon 5-Year-Old (102 Proof; $49.99)
• Clyde May’s Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 6-Year-Old (110 Proof; SRP: $59.99)
• Clyde May’s 13 Year Cask Strength Alabama Style Whiskey (120 proof; SRP: $ 139.99)
• Clyde May’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon 15-Year-Old (112 Proof; SRP: $199.99)

“We’re pleased that we can meet the demand from our loyal fans and consumers with these outstanding offerings,” says Roy Danis, President and CEO Conecuh Brands, LLC.   “Those who have been tasting the special cask offering each year are likely to experience the subtle nuances of our cask strength program. Our Cask program started 6 years ago with our 8-year-old and each year we have released a portion of this whiskey.   It is fascinating to see the whiskey evolve over this period of time.  I believe our current 13year old Cask Alabama Style Whiskey could be the best ever,” he added.

The new releases are already award winners in the most recognized spirit competitions.   The San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded the Clyde May’s Special Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey a Double Gold Medal and the Ultimate Spirits Competition scored this expression a 93.

The Clyde May’s Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 110 Proof is a select reserve of the producer’s special stock that is non-chill filtered and aged 6 years in American oak barrels.   The Clyde May’s Cask Strength Alabama Style Whiskey 120 Proof is an exclusive limited-edition release of only a few thousand bottles every consecutive year.  This liquid is aged 13 years and part of the Cask Whiskey Continuity Program.  Another new limited-edition in time for holiday gifting is the Clyde May’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon 15-year-old.

Being the rarest bottling yet, this expression embodies Clyde May’s grit and pays tribute to Kentucky’s fine bourbon tradition.

Conecuh Brands is continuing to build awareness for the Clyde May’s label by working with Vice TV on a broadcast campaign during the 4^th quarter. In addition to being the official state spirit of Alabama, the brand is also the Official Whiskey of the Talladega Superspeedway.

About Clyde May’s Whiskey:

Clyde May’s Whiskey has been distilled since 1946 and legal since 2001.  More than 75 years of authenticity, dedication and perseverance is behind the brand.  It’s the first official state spirit in the country and the official state spirit of Alabama.

The Clyde May’s portfolio includes Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey, Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon, Clyde May’s Straight Rye, Clyde May’s Special Reserve Straight Bourbon and Clyde May’s Cask Strength Whiskey and Bourbon.

About Conecuh Brands LLC.

Founded in 2014, Conecuh Brands is a fully integrated, marketing and sales company. Led by Roy Danis, President and CEO, the company is focused on developing, marketing and maximizing the sales potential of quality super-premium spirits brands.  Brands created and marketed by Conecuh Brands are delivered in world-class packaging at outstanding value. In addition to Clyde May’s Whiskey, the company also owns the award winning Próspero Tequila Portfolio in partnership with global superstar Rita Ora and McConnell’s Irish Whisky.  For more information visit www.conecuhbrands.com.

12 YEAR OLD CASK STRENGTH – 2021 EDITION
70cl | 55.1% ABV

Matured on the remote, north-eastern coastline of Islay, and produced using pure spring water from the Margadale Spring, this 12 Year Old Cask Strength is an undiluted celebration of the distillery’s hugely popular Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old expression.

Colour: Deep russet gold.
Nose: Dark berries, citrus and toasted oak which gradually transitions to sweet vanilla and a hint of cinnamon spice.
Palate: Creamy chocolate, sherry-soaked fruit and a balanced nuttiness give way to cloves, nutmeg and a subtle sea salt spray.
Finish: A lingering sweet finish with cherries and a touch of wood spice.

LIMITED TO 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER

£74.95

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Black Friday Deals!

With free UK delivery on orders over £75, join in with all the Black Friday fun and grab yourself a wee bargain!

Shop our full Black Friday Sale →

Glenfiddich Project XX

The result of bringing together twenty whisky experts from around the globe, each one choosing a cask from the Glenfiddich warehouse for Malt Master, Brian Kinsman to marry together in a small batch vatting in the way only he can!

£50.00 £39.94
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A new batch of heavily sherried drams have arrived from Edradour distillery, which includes the latest SFTC and UCF casks along with a beautiful Ibisco decanter, cask strength release. The latest Ardnamurchan and Tamdhu Quercus Alba Distinction are both on route – pre-order now available for both of these exciting new drams.  As ever if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

Slàinte

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Edradour 12 Year Old – 2009 | Cask 166 | Cask Strength Ibisco Decanter A beautiful, heavily sherried single malt Edradour, housed in the stunning Ibisco decanter. Distilled in 2009 and left to matured for 12 years in cask #166 then bottled in 2021 at cask strength, 56.7% vol. Shop now

Edradour 10 Year Old – 2011 | Cask 351 | Signatory Un-Chillfiltered Collection A 2011 vintage Edradour bottled by independent bottler, Signatory. Distilled 7th September and matured for 10 years in single cask cask 351, then bottled 11th October 2021. Filled from cask to bottle at 46% vol and released as part of the The Un-Chillfiltered Collection. Shop now

Edradour 10 Year Old – 2011 | Sherry Butt 238 | Straight from the Cask This heavily sherried Highland dram was distilled 24th June 2011 at the Edradour distillery and matured for 10 years in sherry butt #238. A delightful single cask release, bottled ‘Straight from the Cask’ 22nd July 2021 at 56.9% vol. Shop now

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength is here…

And even more exciting news is that if you purchase a bottle today you could be in with a chance to win an incredible prize (there are 50 runners-up too!). See all the prize details and how to enter below. The iconic Islay dram that so many of us adore, but at a limited edition cask strength experience. Get yours today!

Available now →

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Collection of Limited-Edition Chocolates in Time for Christmas

Loch Lomond Whiskies has collaborated with an artisan chocolatier to release an assortment of limited-edition whisky-paired chocolates.

The beautifully presented luxury truffles were handcrafted by Cocoa Ooze to pair perfectly with three 12 Year Old expressions by Loch Lomond Whiskies, each showcasing the flavour profiles of the distillery’s signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke.

The collaboration, set for release today (Thursday 11 November) in time for Christmas, is designed to accentuate the flavours and enhance the tasting experience of Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Perfectly Balanced, plus Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin and Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan, both part of the Loch Lomond Islands Collection. Each whisky has been paired with bespoke chocolate truffles, designed to complement the hero flavours in each expression.

LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD PAIRED WITH MILK CHOCOLATE AND APRICOT

Whisky and chocolate lovers will find a real balance to these flavours, with the milk chocolate offering a soft and luxurious, velvety texture. Selected for its simplicity, the apricot also allows the fruit flavour of the whisky to really shine through. This perfectly balanced whisky has delicious notes of peach and pear layered with vanilla sweetness and a gentle hint of smoke on the finish.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old paired with Milk Chocolate Apricot

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40

 LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD INCHMURRIN PAIRED WITH MILK CHOCOLATE, ORANGE AND CINNAMON

For this pairing, the orange flavours within the milk chocolate showcase the supercharged sweet elements of Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin. Cinnamon was also added to add complexity and compliment the delicious notes of peach, apricot, toffee and vanilla which this unique expression is famous for.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin paired with Milk Chocolate, Orange and Cinnamon 

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40 

LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD INCHMOAN PAIRED WITH DARK CHOCOLATE AND SEA SALT

To accentuate the complex, warming spice elements of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ smokey expression, Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan, a rich dark chocolate base was selected as the canvas with a hint sea salt. This extraordinary combination of flavours creates a bittersweet taste, where the intricate ingredients marry together to offer an exciting tasting experience.

Inchmoan showcases the soft smoke and warming spice elements of the distillery’s signature style with delicious notes of wood and peat smoke, roasted coffee, green apple with clove and aniseed spice on the finish.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan paired with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40

As part of the chocolate-pairing journey, Loch Lomond Whiskies’ Master of the Quaich, Bill White, worked closely with Jamie Hutcheon, owner and master chocolatier at Cocoa Ooze, who founded his business in 2008 at the age of 17.

Documented in a short film, Bill and Jamie explore how flavours can work to complement and enhance one another, discuss optimum whisky and chocolate pairings, and delve into the synergies between chocolate production and whisky distilling.

The release of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ dedicated chocolates marks the first in a series of collaborations designed to tell the story of flavour selection, with additional releases anticipated in spring 2022.

Bill White (L) and Jamie Hutchinson (R)

Bill White, Master of the Quaich at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“While very different products, chocolate and whisky follow similar journeys. Both require high levels of craftsmanship, creativity and patience to reach perfection.

“There is a complexity to both processes, and even the slightest change can have a huge impact on the final flavour profiles.

“These age expressions are a great example of how we use different distilling techniques to showcase a spectrum of flavours here at Loch Lomond Whiskies. For this reason, it was crucial to take the time to find the right chocolate pairings which really enhance these flavours.

“Jamie’s commitment to his craft is inspiring to see, and working with him has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I hope our limited-edition chocolates will take whisky enthusiasts on an exciting new journey to explore new flavours and better understand the complexities behind our craft.”

Jamie Hutcheon, Founder at Cocoa Ooze, said:

“Cacao beans to make chocolate can take up to seven years to grow. Much like whisky distilling, time and patience are essential in creating the finished product.

“Balancing flavours is an intricate job, but the final product is beautifully simple. This collaboration with Loch Lomond Whiskies brings together the arts of distillation and tempering to create a unique and special product.

“Our base chocolate has notes of natural vanilla, nutty and earthy tones, which really balances the fruit, sweet honey and soft smoke of Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 Year Old expressions.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Bill and the Loch Lomond Whiskies team, and a real testament to what can be achieved with creativity and imagination.”

The Loch Lomond Whiskies Islands Collection captures the distiller’s ingenuity in whisky making and the master blender’s craft in emphasizing specific flavours. Each of the three expressions are distilled in a combination of traditional swan neck stills and unique straight-neck pot stills, which allow for greater control over the flavours.

To purchase Loch Lomond Whiskies flavour matched chocolates, please visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/pages/cocoa-ooze-chocolates

Pricing details for each set can be found below:

• Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40
• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40

A series of short films about the collaboration is available to view:

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN8ZNlIqbnY&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH8S6PiHcKU&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak&index=2

Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0bpQW39y2o&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak&index=3

For more information about Loch Lomond Whiskies, please visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/

For more information about Cocoa Ooze, please visit: www.cocoa-ooze.co.uk/

After a tough time last year, party season is well and truly back and we plan on celebrating in style – no prohibition here! To get you in a festive mood, we’ve selected 14 new casks to spark your imagination and make you glad that prohibition is a thing of the past! You’ll find much sought-after distilleries, a Heavily Peated flavour profile gem and a brand-new small batch blended malt expression – the difficult part will be choosing which one to try first!

ALL BOTTLES ONLINE NOW

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

Tormore 32 Years

1998 vintage single cask for the Old & Rare Platinum series.

Shop Tormore 32yo »

Tormore 32 Year Old 1988 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill sherry butt bottled April 2021 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare series. 203 bottles. This beautiful dark golden coloured whisky has a well-rounded, sweet nose of vanilla, rich fruits, and prunes, with a hint of caramel. On the palate it is smooth and mellow with vanilla tablet, butterscotch, raisins, and sultanas, leaving a long, lingering finish with a hint of fruit.

Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.

K&L Exclusive: The Most Exciting Single Cask We’ll See All Year
Amrut 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt #3890 Unpeated Indian Barley Indian Single Malt Whisky

“This gorgeous ex-Oloroso butt is easily the best Indian malt I’ve ever had and one of the most delicious malts of any kind I’ve had in at least the last year.”

 David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

We’re used to seeing some incredibly singular spirits come through our doors via our Exclusive Cask program, but we’re certain we’ve never seen anything like this otherworldly 6 Year Old Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt Single Malt from India’s iconic Amrut distillery. Our spirits team has been waiting with baited breath for years to bring you a single-cask bottling from this inimitable producer, and today’s the day. Amrut runs their production much like an old-school Scotch distillery, with hands-on craftsmanship taking precedence over modern automation. The results are some of the most unique and authentic whiskies in the world, made all the more so by the intense, sub-tropical climate in which they age. Our own David Othenin-Girard was completely blown away by this indescribably beguiling cask when he called it “simply one of my favorite whiskies in the shop right now and maybe ever. A true gem.” With the kind of depth, density, and complexity we normally find in whiskies with over two decades of age behind them, this Amrut 6 Year Old cask presents an unparalleled expression that simply must be experienced to be believed. Collectors should beat a hasty path to get their hands on a bottle or three, because there is literally nothing else like it in the world of fine spirits.

Amrut 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt #3890 Unpeated Indian Barley Indian Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

K&L Notes: The award winning Amrut Distillery has been producing spirits in Bangalore since the 1940s, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the Amrut Single Malt was properly launched. The main plant where Amrut is made was built in 1987 and eschews the use of automation and computerization in favor of hands-on work. Production is very similar to Scottish single malt, save for the extreme climatic differences. The increased heat and humidity mean extremely fast maturation and high angel’s share. For all that we love about the wonderful Amrut malts, our one complaint has been the lack of availability of single-cask expressions. Until now!!! This is the first-ever single-cask offering from the exceptional Indian distiller and solidifies its place among the great malt purveyors by highlighting the true potential of raw, unblended single casks aged in the Bangalore heat. While this whisky carries a 6-year age statement, it drinks easily as if it had spent 20-25 years in barrel in Scotland. Unprecedented depth and richness, plus an altogether classic level of balance that is very rare for tropically aged malts. Many may skip over this extremely special and rare offering due to their preconceived notions of the potential for these Indian malts to deliver the goods, and they’d be doing themselves a grave disservice. We don’t believe there will be a more delicious sherried single cask available this year from any producer in ANY country.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2021

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been asking for single barrels from Amrut. It must have been at least a decade of begging and pleading with the importer to try to get it done. Ultimately, it was well worth the wait because the two casks that they ended up bottling are simply legendary. This gorgeous ex-Oloroso butt is easily the best Indian malt I’ve ever had and one of the most delicious malts of any kind I’ve had in at least the last year. There’s not much more I can say other than it’s time for anyone on the fence to come on down and get on board. Let’s taste! Color is a fabulous auburn. The nose starts out with powerful, old-school sherry character but doesn’t forget the malt behind the wine. Christmas cake, roasted chestnuts, new full-grain leather, dried plums, mango, gingerbread, and molasses cookies, an earthy chocolate maltiness to keep it tied up nicely. It’s not as aggressive as the port pipe or the Solist sherry and would much more readily be mistaken for an old-school Highland distillery than a modern tropical whisky. On the palate, it’s absolutely thick as oil and any perceived heat from the 120 proof is covered by the sweet, nutty sherry. More leather and now burnt orange peel, the old-schoolness of it is really the main attraction. Unctuous and long on the finish with a building exotic spice, some subtle black tea flavors, but far from feeling tannic or bitter at all. With a splash of water, both the tropical fruit and the spice are heightened, leaving some of the nutty savoriness behind on the nose, but not so much on the palate. Still ultra-rich and velvety, it has this wonderful duality of being both balanced and quite powerfully flavored. Simply one of my favorite whiskies in the shop right now and maybe ever. A true gem.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2021

Golden apples and raisins start things off on the nose. This beautiful, sherried Indian single malt packs a wallop of honey-roasted barley up front as well. The mid-palate is rich and supple, providing copious notes of maple syrup, baklava, and treacle. Roasted almonds and candied granola abound. The finish is big (the whisky is 60% ABV) but not overly hot. It lingers with a gentle sweetness and definitely encourages another sip. It’s a hell of a whisky from Amrut. If you haven’t taken note of this excellent single malt producer, now is the time. This is the bottle.