The Islay Festival is come and gone but to mark the occasion we’re spotlighting a limited-edition bottling from one of the region’s biggest names: Ardbeg Heavy Vapours. Enjoy this bold and untamed whisky, a powerful new interpretation of the distillery’s signature balance of fruit and smoke. Expect notes of peppermint, cardamom, dark chocolate and eucalyptus, brought together by untameable smokiness.
AJ BOND DISTILLERY UNVEILS ITS FLAGSHIP TENNESSEE WHISKEY, SAZERAC’S FIRST IN THE CATEGORY
Crafted by Master Distillers Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, the inaugural release celebrates a decades-long bond and a shared commitment to innovation and Tennessee heritage
LA VERGNE, TN (June 1, 2026) – AJ Bond Distillery is proud to announce the debut of its flagship brand, AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey, marking Sazerac’s first entry into the Tennessee Whiskey category. Crafted by Master Distillers Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, the inaugural release reflects a shared vision to evolve Tennessee whiskey higher through a balance of tradition and innovation.
Named for the bond between its creators, AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey embodies a partnership that shaped both its origin and its process. In 2016, the two set out to create a new standard, drawing on decades of expertise to develop the Distillery’s flagship expression. Crafted from a singular mashbill and produced through a distinctive dual-distillation process featuring both pot and column stills, each distillate is charcoal mellowed, aged independently and thoughtfully bonded together to deliver a balanced, elevated Tennessee Whiskey.
“We wanted to raise expectations for what Tennessee Whiskey can be,” said Allisa Henley. “Every decision behind this whiskey was driven by a commitment to quality and a belief that innovation and tradition can work hand in hand. By combining pot and column still distillation and bonding those components after aging, we have created a whiskey that sets a new standard for the category.”
AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey is crafted in full accordance with the standards that define the category, underscoring a commitment to quality and authenticity at every stage. Charcoal mellowed using sugar maple charcoal created by the AJ Bond Distillery team, the process honors a tradition passed down to Allisa and John through generations of Tennessee whiskey makers. Its Tennessee provenance is further reinforced through locally-sourced ingredients, including corn from Batey Farms, a two-century-old family-owned farm in Murfreesboro, and barrels made from Tennessee oak.
Bottled at 95 proof, AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey delivers rich, layered flavors. On the nose, it opens with sweet notes of wedding cake and caramel corn, complemented by butterscotch and a subtle redwood undertone. The palate is complex, unfolding with baked apple and charred fruit, followed by marzipan, powdered cinnamon and brandied cherry, with hints of cream soda and baking chocolate. The finish is long and evolving, marked by a savory peppercorn and lingering notes of chestnut honey.
“AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey is deeply personal,” said Henley. “John and I built this together over years of shared experience, and this whiskey carries forward his legacy. It’s a reflection of the respect we have for the process, the people who taught us, and the bond we will forever share.”
Honoring its roots, AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey will first be released in Tennessee in June 2026 via Sazerac’s distributor network at a suggested retail price of $39.99 (750ml; local taxes and fees will vary), with broader U.S. distribution to select states to follow in late 2026. This release signals the beginning of the AJ Bond Distillery portfolio, which will introduce additional whiskeys in the years to come.
For more information, please visit sazerac.com/our-distilleries.
About AJ Bond Distillery
AJ Bond Distillery, located in La Vergne, Tennessee, is dedicated to crafting Tennessee Whiskey that bonds tradition and innovation. Named for the bond between Master Distillers Allisa Henley and the late John Lunn, the Distillery reflects decades of shared experience and a commitment to quality at every step. Its flagship product, AJ Bond Tennessee Whiskey, is crafted using a distinctive dual-distillation process featuring both pot and column stills. The Distillery celebrates its Tennessee roots by sourcing key ingredients from within the state, including corn from Batey Farms, a two-century-old family-owned farm in Murfreesboro, and barrels made from Tennessee oak grown in the state. For more information about AJ Bond Distillery, please visit sazerac.com/our-distilleries.
“Smoky, peat smoke.
Depths, hidden depths.
Mouthwatering
Never-ending.”
Interested? Knew it. Get your bottle, and let us know your interpretation of this cracker of a release.
Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯
A Japanese Single Grain Worth Waiting 35 Years For
Sekk Sato Shiki 35 Year Old Single Grain Japanese Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $600) ($350.00)
“Produced from grain to glass entirely in Japan, this is more than a luxury whisky…”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
From the visionary Sato family comes a masterpiece more than three decades in the making. The Sekk Sato Shiki 35 Year Old represents the pinnacle of Japanese whisky craft, distilled entirely from Koshihikari rice and aged in a rare trio of American white oak, Spanish oak, and Limousin cognac barrels. This exceptional single grain expression embodies the spirit of Japanese innovation, bridging centuries of tradition with the refined precision of the modern Sato Still.
Produced from grain to glass entirely in Japan, this is more than a luxury whisky, it is a living relic of craftsmanship and cultural devotion. Offered at less than half its original MSRP, this one-time release represents a rare opportunity to experience a 35-year Japanese single grain of remarkable pedigree. Kanpai.
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for fulfillment on this particular item.
Sekk Sato Shiki 35 Year Old Single Grain Japanese Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $600) ($350.00)
Few categories have been more muddled over the last decade than Japanese whisky, which makes the arrival of Sato Shiki feel especially compelling. This 35 Year Old Single Grain is presented as a fully grain-to-glass Japanese whisky, with grain sourced from local Japanese farms, water drawn from the Hourigawa River in Miyazaki Prefecture, and every step from fermentation to distillation and maturation taking place at the historic Sato Distillery, founded in 1905.
The real intrigue here is the distillery’s proprietary Sato Still, a unique beehive-shaped design developed by the fourth-generation master distiller to adapt centuries-old Japanese distillation traditions into a modern whisky context. After an extraordinary 35 years in a combination of American white oak, Spanish sherry oak, and Limousin Cognac oak, the whisky lands in a beautifully polished, layered style. Expect roasted malt, gentle vanilla, mature oak, dark chocolate, raisins, dried fruit, and toffee, all carried by the soft, round texture that only extended aging and careful cask management can provide.
At 40% ABV, this is not about brute force, but elegance, rarity, and poise. A fascinating luxury bottling for collectors and Japanese whisky devotees looking beyond the usual names.
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
SPECIAL EDITION
CASK ISLAY 10 YEAR OLDSHERRY MATURED | CASK STRENGTH
Introducing the new A. D. Rattray Cask Islay 10 Year Old – Special Edition.
Building on the success of our acclaimed 2019 Cask Islay Sherry Edition, this new release elevates the experience with a 10-year age statement and a richer, more pronounced sherry influence. This exceptional expression takes everything you love about our Classic Cask Islay and turns up the depth, richness and intensity. Matured in a combination of 1st fill Oloroso sherry butts and 1st fill Oloroso sherry barriques, it delivers a powerful marriage of bold smoky Islay character and sweet sherry influence. Enjoy flavours of: Coastal smoke, Orange, Raisin Praline. Bottled at cask strength of 57.3%, non-chill filtered and natural colour.
TASTING NOTES
Colour: Deep Amber
Nose: Blood orange, blackberry and rich coastal smoke.
Palate: Dark cherry, tangy marmalade and caramelised nut praline.
Finish: Long and warming, with spiced bramble jam over gentle ash.
We all have it – that one Tasting Note that’s just a bit out there, but also perfectly encapsulates your experience of the whisky: “New cotton clothes and holding a glass of white wine, we perused a flower shop’s wares,” or “Fat peat smoke, anchovy paste, medicinal tinctures, iodine, malt vinegar and freshly dried laundry by the sea.”
Intrigued? These Tasting Notes are from our June Outturn, which is live NOW.
We’re continuing with the roll out of the Society’s new flavour profiles. The original twelve flavour profiles have evolved into eight mouthwatering categories – each with a new name, colour and character. This is a refinement and a refocus on flavour based on our historical archive of Tasting Notes and member feedback. Discover more here.
More of the new profiles will be introduced over time as we slowly retire the old profiles.
HARMONIOUSLY BALANCED
AGE: 14 years
CASK: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
TROPICAL PARADISE BEACH BAR VIBES
AGE: 14 years
CASK: 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead
DELIGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT
AGE: 11 years
CASK: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
TAKING TAFFY TO SICILY
AGE: 9 years
CASK: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
DECADENT DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
AGE: 17 years
CASK: 1st fill hogshead heavy char #4
RUFTY TUFTY
AGE: 11 years
CASK: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca
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BROWSE APRIL 2026 OUTTURN HERE
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca
After years in the making, we are proud to introduce NECTERE – the latest addition to the Lindores Abbey core range, and the first bottle to feature our updated design.
NECTERE is our fully Sherry-matured single malt: rooted in place, shaped by history, and brought to life by the people who make it. The name comes from the Latin conectere – to link, to bind, to connect. It unites the pioneering craft of the monks who first distilled at Lindores Abbey in 1494 with the living tradition of Sherry production in Jerez. And yes, it delivers what the name promises: pure nectar.
THE CASKS
Nectere is matured exclusively across four classic Sherry styles – Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, Amontillado and Palo Cortado. Each contributes its own layer of character: dark fruit, warm spice, nuttiness and depth that only the finest Sherry wood can give. Using all four together in a single expression is uncommon in the industry. Finding the balance between them is the craft.
THE LIQUID
Mahogany in colour. The nose opens with sweet treacle, red apples, vanilla custard cream and cinnamon. On the palate, mellow molasses, chocolate raisins, nutty macaroons, toffee and warming spices unfold with a velvety, beautifully balanced complexity. The finish is long and creamy, with nutmeg and cinnamon lingering at the back of the palate.
PRE-ORDER TODAY!
Nectere launches in the UK on Thursday 25th June. You can pre-order your bottle today, and it will be shipped to you on launch day!
We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.
With thanks,
The Lindores Abbey Distillery Team
WOVEN ACCELERATES INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION FOLLOWING AWARD-WINNING START TO 2026
Independent blender doubles down on its commitment to flavour as refreshed core range expands into four new markets
Edinburgh-based whisky maker Woven has secured four new international distribution partnerships across France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand, marking a significant step in the brand’s global expansion.
The announcement marks a major breakthrough in Woven’s international growth strategy, underpinned by rising global demand for flavour-driven, accessible whisky. Each market has been selected based on clear indicators of this demand, alongside a shift toward flavour and value, and an openness to new whisky propositions.
The announcement is bolstered by recent recognition at the World Whiskies Awards, where WXC – a collaborative spirit drink created with London’s Assembly Coffee – was named World’s Best Flavoured Whisky 2026, providing further validation of Woven’s focus on flavour-led innovation as it enters new territories.
Nick Ravenhall, Managing Director of Woven, said: “We’re new into these markets, but the drinker we’re built for is already there. They get it instantly, and right now they’re hugely under served by the category. That’s the opportunity.
“The whisky industry has traditionally been led by heritage and prestige. That still matters in the right context, but it’s no longer enough on its own. We’re not seeing people walk away from whisky, we’re seeing them get more selective. Propositions that stack up on flavour and value are finding their audience. Those that don’t are sitting on shelves. Right now, the whiskies delivering on flavour and value – often blends – are the ones winning that race.”
Recent figures from the Scotch Whisky Association reflect that shift. While single malt exports fell 6% to £1.6bn in 2025, blends remained stable – a sign that value and drinkability are holding firm as priorities change.
Woven’s approach is deliberately less traditional, treating whisky as a creative category rather than a fixed set of rules. Its core range spans four categories of blended Scotch, world blends, blended malt and flavoured whisky, allowing the brand to compete across multiple segments as it expands internationally. The portfolio is designed to let drinkers move freely across styles, without gatekeeping or the fear of doing it wrong.
Pete Allison, Co-Founder and Whisky Maker, said: “At one of our recent events, someone told me they loved our premium whisky Superblend, but couldn’t have it as their go-to because of the price. From that conversation, we spent three months sourcing components from around the world to meet that drinker exactly where they are. Whisky is great at selling just-out-of-reach aspirations, but we wanted to meet people right now. That was the moment our new house pour, Woven Whisky, was born.”
France and Italy represent large, established markets where Woven is now scaling beyond early specialist listings. Spain is one of the few European markets in growth, with export values up 6% in 2025, while New Zealand offers a highly engaged consumer base open to challenging traditional whisky norms.
L’Explorateur du Goût will handle France, where Woven has spent two years building awareness through La Maison du Whisky, before expanding into the premium on-trade and independent retail. Compagnia dei Caraibi will represent the brand in Italy, Wkyregal in Spain and Highland Fern in New Zealand respectively.
Woven’s full range is now available across France, Italy, Spain, and New Zealand. For more information please visit www.wovenwhisky.com.
ABOUT WOVEN
Woven are independent whisky makers based in Leith — the town where blending was built. Rather than build a distillery, they treat the world’s 2,000 distilleries as a palette, sourcing from makers who share their obsession with flavour. What makes Woven different is what happens between sourcing and blending — they intervene, cultivate, and raise flavour in the cask before a drop goes into the blend. The result is an evolving collection of whiskies that couldn’t exist anywhere else.
Greetings from a cold and miserable Chorlton! Flaming June? Flaming Nora more like. (What a terrible intro!). Maybe we’ll find more sense and a bit of sunshine in a few new bottlings though:
Right, here I go wandering around the underbelly of the Industrial Revolution for the occasion of this 10-year-old Clynelish! This is the first (named) Chorlton Clynelish, and not the last. Happy days.
On the nose this starts off beautifully fresh, coastal and very gently waxy, with funky fruits popping through.I get beach sand, pineapple cubes, tangerine peel, orange Chewits, condensed milk and some herby olive oil. In the background there’s this little thread of menthol and something phenolic. Lovely stuff.
On the palate: waxy citrus, sea water, rose petals, mango – very Clynelish. I also find light herbal touches, and again a slightly phenolic and peppery feeling – almost like someone teaspooned the cask with a bit of Talisker. (They didn’t.) The development is on more citrus, caramel, soot, salt and touches of stone fruit in the finish. It takes a bit of water beautifully.
It’s genuinely heartening that Clynelish’s current production is so good. This is top-notch stuff, with great texture and character, and both the fruity and coastal aspects of the spirit in full flow.
(Rumours that the chap on the label is a cousin of Hector McDram cannot be substantiated at this point.)
This first-fill bourbon hogshead produced 317 bottles at 59.0%, and they are available for £65 each.
Next up we have a 27-year-old Glen Garioch. I wouldn’t like to speculate about the tussle on the label here, but it seemed appropriate for a big old boisterous dram!
So, on the nose: baled hay, shredded wheat, milk chocolate, gloopy olive oil, hazelnuts, dried up honey, lemon jelly – really quite complex! There are little bits of something sooty and oily in the background, and some awesome flashes of tropical fruit if you give it a few minutes in the glass.
On the palate: powerful, waxy and slightly tarry, with lemon drops, cough mix, eucalyptus, peach crumble and resin. The development is on dark chocolate buttons, rosemary and green fruits, before a gently mineralic finish. With some water added – lemons and oranges, earth and soft honey.
I don’t know if this makes any sense, but this feels to me like an old peated whisky, just stripped of the smoke. All the tertiary stuff is there. In any case, it’s fascinating, complicated in a Old Highlandsy sort of way, and just great fun to drink.
This second-fill barrel produced 167 bottles at 58.2%, and they are available for £165 each.
Lastly we have a 15-year-old Aultmore, bottled just days shy of 16yo due to a leaky cask. Aultmore tends to be sherried, but it can work a treat in bourbon, viz:
So it’s bright and fruity on the nose – honeydew melon, lime & honey, dandelions, vanilla slice, pine bark and branches, and peach tea. Nice! With a bit of water – soft and custardy, with a few sultanas popping up.
The palate is malty and sweet, with maple syrup and shortbread cut through with lemongrass, lime leaves and spearmint. It develops on muffins and brioche, still balanced by lime, with lovely little touches of red fruits in the aftertaste (dried cranberry muffins perhaps).
This is just super-tasty. I love the leafy citrus balancing out the sweetness. Happily we got some of it into bottles before it all ended up on the floor!
This refill barrel produced only 160 bottles at 58.1%, and they are available for £75 each.
Admin
There’s been a big spike in shipping prices lately (mostly fuel surcharges due to the situation in Iran) so I have had to increase rates slightly. Apologies. I’ve absorbed as much of the increase as I can, and I hope to reduce charges again when/if normality resumes.
If you ever want me to hold onto bottles to combine with future orders to save on delivery, then just let me know. Such things can be arranged.
And…
…that’s it for now. I hope you find a bottle from this trio has tickled your fancy, and I remain available via all the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.
Cheers!
David
We all have it – that one Tasting Note that’s just a bit out there, but also perfectly encapsulates your experience of the whisky: “A splash of white vermouth and strawberry bonbons bobbing in chai tea,” “Thick tannins marched in carrying liquorice torpedoes and old saddles,” or even: “Sooty, grassy and enticingly dank on the nose, this came across like a great barbecue accompaniment.” Intrigued? All of these Tasting Notes are from our June Outturn, which is live NOW.
On that less traditional note, this month we’re encouraging you to try your whisky in a cocktail. Add some soda water and ice to your whisky for a highball, batch something up for a barbecue, or head to our Members’ Rooms for the team’s own take on summer cocktails. It’s just one more way to experience the good stuff and the power of flavour.
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
