We’re excited to announce a creative evolution of two of our most treasured whiskies from our permanent collection. The flavours are untouched, but there are some eye-catching differences to the whiskies now known simply as Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend. Whether you remember them as the award-winning Great King Street family, or you’re hearing about them for the first time, here’s the inside story…

WHISKIES AND CITIES WITH BIG PERSONALITIES

There can be no individual whisky that represents the whole of Scotland – the birthplace of Scotch is far too multi-faceted for that. And we like to think about Compass Box whiskies the same way – endlessly nuanced, where no two are ever the same. This pair is inspired by two fantastic cities – Edinburgh and Glasgow – and by the golden age of blending described in a book we love, ‘Whisky’ by Aeneas MacDonald.

CREATIVITY INSIDE AND OUT

New labels go straight to the heart of these whiskies. Glasgow Blend is a full-bodied Scotch, a reflection of that city’s traditional preference for a richer, more flavourful style. It’s a real character, just like the city’s Duke of Wellington statue pictured on the label with a traffic cone for a hat.

Artist Blend is a whisky made to entertain. Its label showcases an artist in front of the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, signifying the creative potential of such a versatile blend and a nod to the artistic endeavour that the city is famous for.

PRIZED BY BARTENDERS,
PERFECT FOR YOUR DRINKS CABINET

Both blends work wonders in the hands of inventive bartenders – professional and aspiring – while also hitting the spot neat for even the most discerning malt whisky enthusiasts. And if you’re after advice from the pros, this month Rosey Mitchell and Manacháin Monaghan – winners of our global bartending competition The Circle – will be revealing exactly how they like to drink them.
Stay tuned…

Share & Enjoy!
The Compass Box Team

SIR PETER BLAKE x THE MACALLAN
The Anecdotes of Ages Collection:
Down to Work Limited Edition

The Macallan has once again collaborated with British pop art legend Sir Peter Blake on what will be their third time working together, with a relationship that spans across more than three decades. The full Anecdotes of Ages Collection includes 13 one-of-a-kind expressions of exceptional 1967 whisky, all of which adorn original work by the artist, with the 13th original bottle held in The Macallan archive.

This bottle, ‘Down to Work’, was chosen to be replicated and filled with that same 1967 whisky. It tells the story of George Harbinson who took over ownership of The Macallan in 1947. It was George who made the call to continue using sherry seasoned oak casks instead of cheaper and more readily available ex-bourbon casks, which had a lasting effect on the legacy and unique characteristic of The Macallan.

The outer oak box has been modelled on Sir Peter Blake’s own traditional art supply box, bringing together the world of art and whisky. On the side is a sliding drawer featuring Sir Peter’s signature laser etched into the wood. Within here is a leather bound book revealing the 13 unique stories behind the full Anecdotes of Ages Collection.

Aroma: Classic antique oak, dried fruit and fig combined with hints of pineapple and mango layered with a decadent chocolate strawberry note.
Palate: Warm chocolate with light nutmeg and ginger, oak with an unexpected strawberry and hazelnut burst.
Finish: Complex with a medium to long finish of chocolate, sweet oak and lightly spiced peach.

The Macallan:
Sir Peter Blake Anecdotes of Ages Collection

Down to Work Limited Edition

There are just 322 bottles worldwide and here at The Whisky Shop we have one of them available to buy. This is a true collector’s piece; particularly for a whisky and art lover! If you would like information on this incredible release when it becomes available to purchase then register your interest via the link below.

Register Your Interest

Sir Peter Blake is the great pioneer of British pop art, best known for his wrestlers and circus performers, brightly coloured collages, and iconic album covers for The Beatles and The Who. Over a career spanning six decades, Blake has assumed national treasure status, still to this day continuing to work from his London studio, crammed with an extraordinary array of curiosities and artwork collected throughout his career.

We wrote an article in the latest edition of Whiskeria on his dicussion with Lead Whisky Maker from The Macallan, Sarah Burgess, about the creative process behind this recent collaboration.

Read Whiskeria here

The New Kylver#8 Release from Wolfburn 🥃

The New limited edition Kylver#8
AVAILABLE to buy on
Thursday 15th April 

New Single Sherry Casks

Blair Athol First Editions

Blair Athol Vintages

A classic combination of distillery and sherry cask. Brimming with deep fruits and spices. Cask strength, single casks from Hunter Laing.

Blair Athol 23 Year Old 1997 55.3% – Buy Now

Blair Athol 25 Year Old 1995 61.8% – Buy Now

BLAIR ATHOL SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Blair Athol Distillery was established in 1798 in Pitlochry and with footprints in four centuries it is one of oldest working malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. Purchased by Arthur Bell & Sons in1933 it is the spiritual ‘home’ of Arthur Bell’s range of blended scotch whisky complete with distillery visitor centre and Blair Athol Distillery tours. Although a large proportion of Blair Athol’s malt whisky cascades into blends, Bell’s to be precise, independent bottlings of Blair Athol single malts feature in the popular Connoisseurs Choice and Signatory Vintage ranges.

Shop – Blair Athol Scotch Whisky

Scotland is blessed with many wonderful long-distance walks, but there’s only one that takes you within touching distance of so many distinguished distilleries. In April’s Unfiltered, SMWS ambassador Olaf Meier reminisces about when he dusted down his hiking boots in July 2019 to tackle the Speyside Way and enjoy some drams with friends along the journey. To help bring his story to life, we’ve selected some spectacular bottlings from the region for you to enjoy.

READ UNFILTERED 

ALL SPEYSIDE BOTTLINGS

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

Skene Scotch Whisky Releases two Single Cask Malts

Skene Scotch Whisky has released  two affordable single cask malt whiskies.   Both are in Skene’s “aged in a American oak” range. 

The first is a single cask Glenrothes 11 Year Old  fully matured in a hogshead.  Just 388 bottles were filled at an ABV of 48% with natural colour and no chill filtration.  The price is only £45.80 for a 70cl bottle. 

The second is a single cask Braeval 2014.  Only 327 bottles were filled at a punchy ABV of 50%, again with natural colour and no chill filtration.  The price is just £35 a 70cl bottle. 

These two new releases (together with earlier Skene bottlings) are now available from Skene Scotch Whisky’s online shop at https://www.skenewhisky.com/shop/   Also from selected retailers.

Notes about Skene Whisky – After a few years away from bottle sales, Skene Whisky plans to release bottles in a number of ranges through 2021.  “Skene Reserve” will be single cask premium bottlings of vintage malt whisky (eg Macallan 30yo).   “Skene Sherry Editions” will be sherry-matured single malts ( normally at 48% ABV) aimed squarely at drinkers.  “Skene American Oak “Editions” will normally be ex-bourbon single malt bottlings (again normally at 48% ABV).  “Skene Peated Malt Editions” will be peated single malt expressions (yet again normally at 48% ABV).

Introducing Laphroaig
10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish

Fans of those heavy peat drams will be excited upon the release of this one out of Islay. European sherry casks are married to create sweet, aromatic notes of Manuka honey, maple syrup and smoky bacon, alongside the classic seaweed and hint of salt spray that they are so well known for. The fruity finish creates a balance and complexity that compliment the classic character that we always expect of a Laphroaig whisky.

Nose: Sweet and peaty with medicinal notes, Manuka honey, with strong clove aroma but also grilled smoky bacon, a distinctive character of sweet leather, iodine and pine tar.

Palate: Sweet and aromatic, with rich furniture polish notes followed by treacle toffee, maple syrup, bitter dark chocolate combined with oak shavings, pine needle and cedar scented wood.

Finish: The finish is long sweet and spicy with chestnut honey and antiseptic aroma lingering.

Laphroaig
10 Year Old
Sherry Oak Finish

£65.00

Buy Now

From the storm-lashed Islay off the west coast of Scotland is Laphroaig – pronounced ‘La-froyg’, a Gaelic word meaning ‘beautiful hollow by the broad day’. Some may say it is one of the most distinguishable single malt whiskies in the world, in part due to the distinctive, somewhat mystical, peaty waters of the Kilbride Stream. It is definitely an acquired taste, and the powerful punch of rich smoke might not suit everyone, but it has given Laphroaig that reputation today, adored by so many.

Discover our range of…

The Macallan:
An Estate, A Community and A Distillery
The Sir Peter Blake collaboration is back!

Back in stock we have the highly sought after collaboration between the art and whisky worlds, celebrating both The Macallan’s rich legacy and Sir Peter Blake’s remarkable contribution to the art scene. Named An Estate, A Community and A Distillery, the bottle is displayed in a custom box inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s art, alongside a certificate outlining the history and heritage on which the art was based, and Blake’s artwork printed on a scroll.

The whisky is the colour of cinnamon, with notes of dried fruits, cracked black pepper, treacle, vanilla and a rich cacao finish. Sounds absolutely lovely!

With only six bottles available for sale at The Whisky Shop and to avoid the disappointment of an almost instant sell out like the last time, we have decided to run a ballot to register your interest to buy. The ballot closes on Wednesday 21st April and if selected you will be contacted and directed to a link to purchase this unique expression.

If you are looking to add something really special to your collection then don’t hesitate to enter the ballot below!

The Macallan:

An Estate, A Community and A Distillery

£750.00

Enter Ballot Here

We wrote an article in the latest edition of Whiskeria on a dicussion with Sir Peter Blake and Lead Whisky Maker from The Macallan, Sarah Burgess, about the creative process behind this recent collaboration.

Read Whiskeria here!

Our next release is almost here and it’s one we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. In the coming days, we’ll release three French Oak single cask whiskies; one of which is a variation we have never before released.

In addition to the first French Oak Tawny Single Cask to be released in 2021 (TD0286), we will be releasing two French Oak Second Fill Tawny Single Casks (TD0254A and TD0017). This is the first time we’ve ever released a whisky of this type.

TD0286 French Oak Second Fill Tawny Single Cask, bottled at 45.6% was aged for over 15 years and yielded only 428 bottles.

TD0017 French Oak Second Fill Tawny Single Cask, bottled at 47.5% was matured for just over 12 years and yielded only 425 bottles.

TD0254A French Oak Tawny Single Cask, bottled at 47.6% was also matured for just over 12 years and yielded only 280 bottles.

Further cask information and tasting notes can be found on our online store.

“The softer oak impression of a second fill whisky shows the true character of the distillery and the influence of the people that crafted the spirit. A second fill cask allows the heart of a distillery to be seen in full exposure.”

– Head Distiller, Heather Tillott

These whiskies will be released via ballot.

The ballot will open for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on Monday 12th of April, 2021. Further details will be sent via email prior to the ballot opening.

Please note, purchases will be strictly limited to one bottle per cask, per person. You’re welcome to enter all three ballots. Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballot closes. 

Further details will be released prior to the ballot opening on Monday 12th of March. In the meantime, please watch Matt Bailey from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in conversation with some of our team as they discuss our upcoming release.

Single Cask Loch Fyne Exclusives and more!

Back again to share the good news of fresh whiskies landing in the shop! Including some special single cask bottlings that I know quite a few of you folks will be interested in, and we are pretty chuffed about these ones. These are a couple of Gleann Mór expressions bottled exclusively for us at Loch Fyne Whiskies: a Jura 12 Year Old and a Talisker 9 Year Old.

I expect that these ones might fly out the door…so don’t hang around!

Talisker 9 Year Old

Gleann Mór Spirits
2011 Single Cask
Loch Fyne Exclusive

70cl / 46% ABV

£65.00

Jura 12 Year Old

Gleann Mór Spirits
2008 Single Cask
Loch Fyne Exclusive

70cl / 50% ABV

£59.95