Loch Lomond Whiskies mark The 149^th Open with two limited editions

Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Official Spirit of The Open, has unveiled two new special limited edition single malts to mark The 149^th Open at Royal St George’s, which will take place this July.

The Loch Lomond “Open Course Collection Royal St George’s 2021” and “The Open Special Edition 2021” have been specially crafted by master blender Michael Henry, to celebrate Loch Lomond Whiskies’ first visit to England as the Official Spirit of The Open.

The Loch Lomond Open Course Collection 2021 has been created using specially commissioned English Virgin Oak casks, to celebrate Loch Lomond Whiskies’ first visit to Royal St George’s famous links.

Bottled in a traditional non-chill filtered manner, the 20-year-old expression has been created in partnership with Open Champion, Darren Clarke, Loch Lomond Whiskies ambassador, and bears his signature on the carton. The expression joins a collection of expressions created by Loch Lomond Whiskies to mark previous Open Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Bottled at an ABV of 50.2% and priced at £160, the Loch Lomond Open Course Collection has a rich mouth feel and showcases complex flavours including spiced apple, elderflower and caramel, before a long, dry finish of lime citrus, cumin and ginger.

The Open Special Edition 2021, created in partnership with European Tour Legend and Loch Lomond Whiskies’ ambassador Colin Montgomerie, uses a combination of spirits from both Loch Lomond Whiskies’ unique straight neck and traditional pot stills, delivering a delicious and fruity single malt of exceptional quality.

As with all Loch Lomond Single Malts, the underlying fruity character of the distillery shines with a gentle hint of smoke on the finish. The spirit has been matured in three types of American oak casks, managed by our onsite cooperage. Michael Henry then marries the casks together before a final finish in Virgin American oak.

Bottled at 46% and non-chill filtered to keep things as nature intended, The Loch Lomond Open Special Edition 2021 has an RRP of £40 and is a perfect dram for any golf or whisky lover.

Loch Lomond Whiskies’ became The Official Spirit of The Open in 2018. The 149^th Open was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The championship will be played at Royal St George’s this July, with The 150^th Open at St Andrews taking place in 2022.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said: “Like all golf enthusiasts across the world, we were disappointed to learn of the postponement of The Open last year, but we are very much looking forward to the championship returning in the summer.

“We are very proud of our partnership with The Open, which has allowed us to showcase the very best of the Loch Lomond Whiskies range among golf and sport fans across the world. Both our Special Edition and Open Course Collection expressions are very special limited editions and are emblematic of the true diversity and distilling expertise we have at our Loch Lomond Distillery, and mark Loch Lomond Whiskies’ first trip to Royal St George’s as the Official Spirit of The Open perfectly.”

Michael Henry, Master Distiller added: “It has been a real pleasure crafting these limited editions to mark this year’s Open Championship. We’re thrilled that The Open will be returning this year, and both The Open Special Edition and the Course Collection expressions are a fantastic tribute to the 2021 Championship, each expression showcasing Loch Lomond Whiskies’ character wonderfully.”

Loch Lomond Whiskies, based in Alexandria near Loch Lomond, agreed a five-year partnership with The R&A, organisers of The Open, in February 2018.  Known as “The One”, The Open has the widest international reach of the major championships with qualifying events taking place across five continents.

Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “Loch Lomond Whiskies’ special edition products have already proven to be a big hit with fans of The Open, bringing together two of Scotland’s greatest exports beautifully: golf and whisky.

“Following an unprecedented year, we are very much looking forward to Royal St George’s this summer. Both golf and whisky fans alike will be able to enjoy a taste of The Open and raise a dram to our championship returning.”

The Loch Lomond Open Special Edition 2021 and The Loch Lomond Whiskies Course Collection are now available to purchase from www.lochlomondwhiskies.com and selected retailers.

Tasting Notes

Loch Lomond Open Course Collection 2021 Royal St George’s

Nose: Spiced apple, elderflower and vanilla

Taste: Opens with a caramel sweetness, green apple and honeydew melon, before mellowing into toasted oak and spiced cloves

Finish: Lingering with lime, cumin and ginger.

Loch Lomond Open Special Edition

Nose: Caramel and toffee, poached pear, red apple with fresh vanilla.

Taste: Chewy toffee with green apple, apricot jam and lemon citrus.

Finish: Toasted oak, a gentle smokiness then warming oak spice of cinnamon and clove.

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
  • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 10 Year Old
• Loch Lomond Whiskies signed a five-year partnership with The R&A to become The Spirit of The Open in February 2019. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150^th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf.
• For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at lochlomondwhiskies.com.

The latest edition of Whisky Magazine, issue #174, publishes today! We’ve got a brilliant assortment of features, interviews and tastings for you to get stuck into – but this issue’s slightly more special than usual. That’s right, the winners of the 2021 global Whisky Magazine Awards have now been revealed, comprising the Icons of Whisky, the World Whiskies Awards, and our latest Hall of Fame inductee!

For the first time ever, all our winners were announced in a virtual ceremony online. Simply head to our Facebook page or Youtube channel where you can rewatch our livestream.

Christopher Coates
Editor
Whisky Magazine

Signatory Vintage

Blair Athol 12 Year Old

2008 vintage sherry butt finish 54.4%. Blair Athol + Signatory + Sherry Cask. Match made in heaven. Finished in a fresh sherry butt #1 for 23 months the result is a classic spicy, rich and deep Blair Athol whisky. One to enjoy. Blair Athol 12 Year Old 2008 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single fresh sherry butt finish #1 bottled February 2021 by Signatory Vintage for the Cask Strength Collection. 662 numbered bottles. MAXIMUM 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER.

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 12 Year Old

Wemyss Single Casks

Wemyss Malts source casks from distilleries across Scotland for their Single Cask range. Each cask chosen for bottling is representative of the best characteristics of that region and the name given to each Whisky reflects the unique aromas and flavours found within the bottle.

Single Cask Whisky is unique in that it is a snapshot of the distillery on one day of production and the type of cask it has been matured in. Depending on age and cask type, there are between 150 – 700 bottles per Single Cask, making each expression unique and highly covetable, as once they are gone, they are gone…

Wemyss Single Casks

Indulge in Pure Opulence

Glenfiddich has launched it’s latest Grand release

Glenfiddich Grand Couronne

Grand Couronne is the epitome of true opulence, uncorked at only the most majestic and meaningful gatherings Its very name, meaning crown in French, is the promised the pleasure to come.

After 26 years at the Glenfiddich Distillery, it is refined and elegant.

An extended finish in rare

French Cognac Casks

adds extra lavish layers of sweet toasted oak and velvety aromas of cafe creme, brown sugar and soft spice.

£450.00

Introducing Glenfiddich Grande Couronne

Glenfiddich Grande Couronne 26 Year Old is elegance personified in whisky.

Deriving its name from the French for ‘crown’, this whisky should be the crowning glory of any evening, toasted during the most special of occasions. For 26 years at the Glenfiddich Distillery it has refined in flavour in American and European oak barrels, with a long finish in rare French Cognac casks to add warm spice, brown sugar sweetness and complexity.

On the nose there is a vibrant yet buttery aroma, reminiscent of the scents from a French patisserie. On the palate, enjoy notes of velvety smooth café crème with brown sugar and spice. It ends with long lasting flavours of sweet, toasted oak thanks to its extended finish in French Cognac casks.

Bottled at 43.8% ABV, the packaging is opulent and inside the gold emblazoned rotating box is an interior of Fresco artwork. This will look the part on any whisky shelf.

Discover Glenfiddich Grande Couronne ›

Master distiller renews bourbon pact with fans by creating Blood Oath Pact 7 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Latest addition to the Blood Oath series features bourbon finished in Sauternes casks 

LOUIS (March 16, 2021) – Lux Row Distillers is launching Blood Oath Pact 7 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Finished in Sauternes casks, Pact 7 is the latest in a series of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey blends created by Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe. Available at retail starting mid-April, Blood Oath Pact 7 has a limited allocation of just over 17,000 cases at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per bottle.

In a blend only known to Rempe, Blood Oath Pact 7 features a combination of three Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys: a 14-year ryed bourbon, an 8-year ryed bourbon and an 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Sauternes casks. Sauternes is a sweet white wine from the small town of Sauternes in the Bordeaux region of France.

“Finishing in a Sauternes cask brings additional tasting notes and flavor to the bourbon,” said Rempe. “In the case of Pact 7, expect a nose of caramel, oak and spice with flavor notes of apricots, honey and peaches. The balance of sweetness and spice is what sets this bourbon apart.”

The Blood Oath concept was created in 2014 by Rempe, who had an idea to make an exceptional blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey using three unique bourbons. He named the series Blood Oath, because he vows to be the only one who knows where these whiskeys have come from. He also promises to make the best bourbon for the bourbon connoisseur with each Pact.

“Creating an extraordinary and unique blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys is at the heart of the Blood Oath series,” said Rempe. “Pact 7 continues this tradition, and the result is a secret I can’t wait to share with bourbon lovers.”

The Blood Oath Pact 7 label is similar to its series predecessors, but with the color selection evoking rich French blue hues. Launching this spring, Blood Oath Pact 7 has a total allocation of 51,00 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy Pack release. The first Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018. The second Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, will be released later this year.

Blood Oath Pact 7 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey arrives this April

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Lux Row Distillers brings the family’s legacy to the heart of Bourbon Country in Bardstown, Kentucky and is now the home of Luxco’s bourbon portfolio, including Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County. Luxco has also built a distillery in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico – Destiladora González Luxco – where the company’s 100 percent agave tequilas, El Mayor and Exotico, are produced. Luxco’s innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit www.luxco.com.

LAUNCH: 2021 EDITION SPRINGBANK 25-YEAR-OLD

The latest edition of 25-Year-Old will be released on Friday 26th March (TODAY) for sale in the UK at select Springbank retailers. Its release throughout Europe and the rest of the world will follow.

SPRINGBANK 25-YEAR-OLD

This release has 70% sherry, 15% bourbon and 15% rum influence. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is limited to 1400 bottles, worldwide.

Nose

Initially rhubarb, tropical fruits, golden syrup and warm shortbread. Then coconut shavings, barbecued meats and sugar cane.

Palate

Almonds, pecan pie and butterscotch.  Peat begins to build, alongside notes of cigar box and old library books.

Very typical of a mature Springbank; salty, earthy and briny. 

Finish

Refined with a hint of peat smoke. Dunnage warehouse; earthy, bung cloth. Fruit notes develop with hints of molasses and sweet prosciutto ham. 

Available at select Springbank local retailers. 

RRP £370.00 – £390.00 

SOCIETY DISCOUNT: £10 OFF IN SELECT CADENHEAD’S STORES (at the store’s discretion).

Slainte,

The Springbank Team

To join the Springbank Society contact them at society@springbank.scot 

BLADNOCH DISTILLERY LAUNCHES VINAYA RELEASE AROUND THE WORLD
Marking the biggest global release from Bladnoch since the distillery was revived in 2015 by David Prior

BLADNOCH, SCOTLAND (MARCH 22, 2021) – 204 year old Lowland distillery, Bladnoch, has today announced the global release of the Bladnoch Vinaya Single Malt Scotch Whisky. ‘Vinaya’, a Sanskrit word meaning respect and gratitude, pays homage to the original founders of the distillery who paved the way, as Bladnoch looks forward to a prosperous new era of production and innovation.

The expression also boasts a unique pair of cask types, ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry, a combination never before released by the historic distillery. Notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate make the release a stunning representation of Lowland style Single Malt. As with all Bladnoch releases, Vinaya is non-chill filtered and natural colour with water sourced from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the historic distillery.

Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage remarked on the launch of the character led release, “As the name suggests, Vinaya was inspired by teachings throughout the distillery’s heritage. From our original founders to our new era, we wanted to showcase the Lowland style of Bladnoch Distillery. By using 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels, we’re able to highlight the floral notes from the distillery character along with refreshing, citrus sweetness. The 1st fill ex-Sherry casks then add a subtle rich body to the whisky and mouthfeel to the experience, finishing with notes of chocolate. These individual aspects combine to showcase the classic
aspects of our distillery.”

On the global release, “As we embark on the 204th year of Bladnoch Distillery, the launch of Vinaya feels particularly significant. It is important for us to show gratitude to the previous custodians of this historic brand and estate as we move forward into our most ambitious year yet. Vinaya is a stunning expression of Bladnoch’s style and we’re excited to share it with the world.” shares David Prior who acquired the distillery in 2015.

Link for Purchase: www.bladnoch.com

Technical Details

Cask type: 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel and 1st fill ex-Sherry cask matured

Strength: 46.7%

Colour: Summer barley field

Tasting Notes: Floral, Apples, Sweet

Nose: Sweet floral grass with boiled sweets

Palate: Fresh green apples and chocolate with a hint of pepper

Finish: Light and refreshing

Non-chill filtered, natural colour

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest working Scotch Whisky Distillery in the Lowlands. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, it is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’ Hand crafted using only the finest local ingredients such as the pristine water from the River Bladnoch that flows alongside the distillery to create a rich, flavourful whisky that is best savoured. Bladnoch Single Malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through. This legacy brand has been revived by Master Distiller Dr. Nick Savage, formerly at The Macallan, and owner David Prior, a whisky connoisseur who is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch Whisky distillery. Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in the iconic distillery.

Aberlour Sherry Cask

Exclusive Apollo 15

Exploration at its Greatest

Aberlour 12 Year Old 2008

Apollo 15 was the first of the Apollo “J” Missions focussing on greater lunar surface mobility. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV#1) was key to this. Prior to test driving the Rover, Commander David Scott proclaimed, “Man must explore. And this is exploration at its greatest“. The ninth bottling for the TWB Apollo series was distilled at Aberlour distillery and matured in a first fill oloroso sherry hogshead. Just 262 bottles from the cask.

Shop – Aberlour 12 Year Old – £125 / €121 / $144 / c$180*

USA SHIPPING UPDATE – GOOD NEWS!

We are delighted to announce that we are now shipping to…
ALL – US States!
FDA Taxes & Duties paid – you won’t have to pay anything else.
See out shipping page for more details.