The second batch of Booker’s Bourbon – the ‘By The Pond Batch’

This batch is special to Fred, as it’s named after his father’s beloved backyard pond, a special place where he liked to spend sunny afternoons.

This batch is unique, as it was selected during a very wet spring with some record rainfall in Kentucky. The color of this batch reminded Fred of some of the beautiful horses you’d see competing in the Derby. The nose is very inviting with vanilla and oaky notes that spoke to him.

According to Fred Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller, “The first taste I put into my mouth was very nice and had a sweetness I enjoyed, so I took a second. The second taste was nice, and the finish complemented and completed the experience so well. I feel sure my dad would have enjoyed sipping the “By the Pond” batch sitting by his pond feeding his fish, waiting for them to grow so he could enjoy eating them with some great Booker’s Bourbon”.

“By the Pond Batch” is made up of barrels from seven production dates that were aged in eight different warehouses. This batch is aged to 7 years, 1 month, and 20 days. The proof of the batch is 126.5, the breakdown is as follows:

• 11% came from the third floor of warehouse J a nine-story warehouse
• 11% came from the fifth floor of warehouse 3 a seven-story warehouse
• 11% came from the fifth floor of warehouse 1 a seven-story warehouse
• 5% came from the seventh floor of warehouse H a nine-story warehouse
• 11% came from the fourth floor of warehouse K a seven-story warehouse
• 11% came from the fifth floor of warehouse L a seven-story warehouse
• 11% came from the fourth floor of warehouse 4 a seven-story warehouse
• 29% came from the sixth floor of warehouse G at Waterfill a seven-story warehouse

Proof: 126.5 | SRP: $99.99

“By The Pond” Background: We didn’t always have a pond in the backyard. But then Dad decided he wanted one to raise catfish and bluegill, so we’d always have fresh fish for supper. And that was that. Next thing I knew, Dad put me and some buddies to work: digging the pond, filling it up, making it homey enough for those fish. After a few days, the pond Dad had dreamed up was right behind our house.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At first, the pond leaked, so we put in a liner held down with big stones. Then, after realizing the city water was no good for fish, Dad rigged a system to bring in fresh rainwater. And finally, we had to figure out what to do about the fifty-foot maple tree looming above it. When its leaves fell, they covered the whole pond. Dad set up a net to catch them on the water’s surface, but all he ended up catching was the fish underneath, finding dozens of them tangled up in it each morning. Eventually he put a roof over the pond, and it became something more: a place to reflect. It was where he sat with Freddie as a boy for hours on end, and where he enjoyed plenty of those warm Kentucky days. I think it’s one of the places he felt most at peace. I hope you savor this batch in a place where you find your own bit of happiness, wherever that may be. So go off, and enjoy.

— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

NORTH HIGHLAND BLENDED MALT OVER 8 YEARS OLD

Thompson Bros North Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a carefully crafted blend from the North Highland region, featuring whiskies from Glen Ord and Clynelish distilleries.  With an ABV of 44.9% and aged over 8 years, this whisky offers a unique sensory experience.

This batch follows the principles of previous releases, with meticulous dilution over 47 days, reducing the ABV from 56.8% to 44.9% within the cask.  Additionally, 3% heavily peated whisky has been subtly incorporated, enhancing its complexity.

£36.99

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CASK NO. 72.125

Blossom Reverie

ABV49.1% | Age 29 years | DISTILLED DATE 08/02/1995 | CASK TYPE refill ex-bourbon hogshead | PROFILE Light & Delicate | REGION Speyside

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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

North British 1995 29 Year Old, Finn Thomson Cask #47390

£129.00

The story behind selecting this North British single cask release perfectly showcases the vital role independent bottlers have in bringing the best casks of whisky to the public.

In November 2024 Finn Thomson got a message from the master blender of a highly respected whisky company who had discovered a selection of North British casks that were ‘too good’ to be lost in the blend he was creating. These were heavily sherried casks that would have altered the consistency of their house blend which required an ex-bourbon cask profile.

After attending one of Finn Thomson’s tasting where he was singing the praises of North British Distillery, he invited Finn Thomson in to taste 8 cask samples of these sherried beauties. After nosing and sipping each one carefully, he selected 4 for adding to their family cask portfolio.

At 29 years old, this particular cask was the oldest of the bunch. A sherry butt, its slow maturation over the decades has created a whisky bursting with milk chocolate, caramel and dried fruits and is now at the sweet spot for bottling. Once destined to be in a blend, Finn Thomson is delighted to be able to release this cask as an example of how good well aged, sherried single grain whiskies can be.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

“Frankfort Rising” Available August 14, Goal of Raising $10K

FRANKFORT, KY (Aug 2025) – In early April of this year, the lower Ohio Valley experienced multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms, resulting in widespread flash flooding in Central Kentucky.  In Frankfort, Kentucky’s state capital, the Kentucky River crested at near-record levels, impacting nearly everyone in the community.  Fortunately, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery was spared any flood damage, but its owners and team members remain deeply affected nonetheless.

In an effort to help local Franklin County residents in the flood recovery process, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has created a limited-edition bourbon called “Frankfort Rising,” with $30 from the sale of each bottle going towards the Franklin County Community Fund to assist families affected by the April floods.

“Seeing the devastation of the floodwaters here in our new hometown was just heartbreaking, and we wanted to do something to help,” said Susanna Westerfield, director of consumer experience. “Through our partnership with the Franklin County Community Fund, we hope to raise at least $10,000 to help our local friends and neighbors recover from their horrific losses.”

Frankfort Rising Bourbon is a five-year-old, 112 proof bourbon finished with oak staves which will be released to the public at an event at the Distillery on Aug. 14. Like all J. Mattingly 1845 whiskies, this bourbon has undergone its trademarked double-staved process, adding additional charred oak staves to each barrel at just the right moment in its aging cycle to coax out extra flavor.  Tasting notes describe this bourbon as having a graham cracker note on the palate, joined by toasted oak and a gentle spice from the rye.  It has a medium to long finish with lingering baking spices, vanilla, and a nutty warmth, leaving a satisfying impression.

Frankfort Rising Bourbon will be available on-site at the Distillery in Frankfort starting at 4 p.m. on August. 14.  The public is invited to attend the event, which will run from 4-6 p.m. Complimentary snacks and tastings of Frankfort Rising will be available to those aged 21 years and over.  The suggested retail price of Frankfort Rising is $120 per 750 mL, with $30 from each sale donated to the Franklin County Community Fund.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

            In 2010, Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron continues the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky, serving as Vice President of Production.  J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery continues to innovate, with their proprietary double-staving process and custom bourbon blending experience unparalleled in the spirits industry, available on-site in Frankfort or online at https://jmattingly1845.com/build-a-bottle/

For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

Glen Grant – Aged 16 Years

£99.00

£180

This single cask Glenallachie 2007 was drawn from new oak and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. You will find aromas of pecan pie, demerara sugar and fallen leaves, give way to sawn oak, cinder toffee and cashew. The palate is rich and textured, with orange cake, masala chai and gingerbread leading into salted butter, dark chocolate and a warming touch of red chilli.

Tasting Notes ~ Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

Nose Cherry cake with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to start. Cla sweetness builds along with dessicated coconut, crystallised ginger, raisins, sultanas and baked apples. Creamy vanilla develops along with crème brûlée.

Palate Sharp apple sauce, baked apples with brown sugar and creamy custard. Spice then rolls in, with more brown sugar cut with the cinnamon, nutmeg and clove from the nose, as well as a touch of black pepper. Dark sweetness sits underneath: sticky ginger cake, spiced sponge cake batter, maraschino cherries and cassis.

Finish Spiced oatmeal and raisin cookies with Granny Smith apples and menthol zinginess.

Made in Speyside

Not every whisky has the body to stand up to new oak and retain a sense of distillery character. But the weight and pronounced fruitiness of modern Glenallachie means it harmonises perfectly with the warm, spicy flavours of fresh American oak. This is a big dram in every sense, not averse to a dash of water, and perfect for sipping with friends after a good meal.

Glenallachie

Celebrated master distiller Billy Walker acquired Glenallachie in 2017 and has since championed its powerful, fruity whisky as a first-rate single malt. His tenure has been marked by a serious investment in casks to create a bold house style that marries weighty spirit with top-quality oak. Glenallachie has since become a cult hit among whisky fans looking for intense Speyside malts with bags of character.

NORTH BRITISH 46 YEARS OLD

This single grain from North British Distillery in the Lowland region was distilled on the 15th December 1978 and aged for 46 years in second fill hogshead before bottling on the 16th July 2025. It was bottled by Woodrow’s of Edinburgh for their Warehouses Reserve collection, at natural cask strength of 53.1% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration. Limited to 107 bottles.

NOSE Vanilla butter cream, dried fruit and honey.
PALATE A creamy mouthfeel with milk chocolate, victoria sponge cake and panacotta. Sweet oranges and sultanas accompanied by an oaky musk.
FINISH White chocolate, figs and earl grey tea.

£260.00

A unique fusion of Scotch and New Zealand Malt Whiskies from Ardnamurchan and Cardrona Distilleries. The Cargill is a pioneering fusion of single cask whiskies from Scotland and New Zealand. Created in honour of William Cargill who led 350 migrants from Scotland to Otago in New Zealand in 1847.

£94.00

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom