TyndrumWhisky.com

Brings you a Bunnahabhain Staoisha

Exclusive

The first of three, yes 3, exclusive Octave releases for TyndrumWhisky, a Bunnahabhain Staoisha coming from a 70L Octave by the wizards of the Octave – Duncan Taylor. Flavoursome salted caramel and warm spice accompany this lovely winter whisky!

This Bunnahabhain release has been bottled exclusively for TyndrumWhisky and is the first of three octave releases coming over the next 8 weeks. Staoisha is the name that many indie bottlers give to Peated Bunnahabhain.

1 of only 94 bottles available
Distilled back in 2014, and bottled 2020.
Finished for 3 months in a Sherry Octave cask (confirmed – 70L cask), which has invigorated the spirit even more!
Cask No: #3830003

Tasting notes:

Before Octave: Butterscotch, green apples, cigar ash, nutty, hint of salt.

After Octave: Earthy, charcoal smoke, dark chocolate, salt caramel. warm spice.

Distilled at Bunnahabhain Distillery, bottled by Duncan Taylor for TyndrumWhisky.com

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2nd release – Dalmunach
3rd release – Ben Nevis

UNTOLD RICHES AGED 28 YEARS
& VELVET FIG AGED 25 YEARS

DISCOVER THE PERFECT PAIR WITH UNTOLD RICHES AND VELVET FIG.

VELVET FIG IS A BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY THAT COMPRISES OF 5 EX-SHERRY HOGSHEAD CASKS OF 1994 VINTAGE SPEYSIDE AND HIGHLAND SINGLE MALTS AND 15 EX-SHERRY HOGSHEAD CASKS OF 1988 VINTAGE UNPEATED BUNNAHABHAIN SINGLE MALT.

70CL | 42.3% ABV | AGED 25 YEARS

BUY VELVET FIG & UNTOLD RICHES

INTRODUCING
UNTOLD RICHES
AGED 28 YEARS

OUR ADORATION OF THIS LAUDED ISLAY DISTILLERY LED US TO CRAFT THIS LIMITED EDITION BUNNHABHAIN SINGLE MALT FROM CASKS THAT HAVE BEEN UNHURRIEDLY MATURING FOR OVER 28 YEARS. 31 HOGHEAD AND SHERRY BUTT CASKS FROM SEVERAL PARCELS OF DECADES-OLD, UNPEATED BUNNHABHAIN WERE MARRIED INTO A SINGLE MALT WITH A DEPTH OF UNTOLD RICHES.

70CL | £149.95

BUY UNTOLD RICHES

NOSE: LEATHER, DUSTY BOOKS AND ANTIQUE WOOD. DARK FRUITS AND MARASCHINO CHERRIES FOLLOW.

TASTE: DEMERARA-COATED WALNUTS AND PECANS WITH PLUMS, DATES AND BANANA BREAD.

FINISH: SAFFRON, CLOVE AND NUTMEG.

Created in 1968 by Whisky visionary, ‘Mr George’ Urquhart, the Connoisseurs Choice range has featured more than 2,000 bottlings from almost 100 Scottish distilleries. Each Connoisseurs Choice Whisky’s story is told through its label: cask type, bottling date, strength, vintage and tasting note.

Always non‐chill‐filtered, these rare single cask and small batch expressions have been created by Gordon & MacPhail’s unique expertise in matching spirit to oak casks, handed down through four generations of the same family.

VIEW CONNOISSEURS CHOICE

Single casks only at TWB…

Exclusive Whiskies

Explore our range of single casks whiskies selected by independent bottlers including our very own casks.

Including Strathclyde 50 Year Old, Girvan 40 Year Old and the Apollo Moon series commemorating the lunar landings fifty years ago.

Shop Exclusive Whiskies

30+ Year Old Single Cask Whiskies

Four new vintage malts selected by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. These won’t hang around for long!

Linkwood 30 Year Old

Glen Grant 30 Year Old

Longmore 33 Year Old

Strathisla 33 Year Old

Plus a smokey Ledaig 12 Year Old matured in Hermitage wine casks.

Shop New Arrivals

ARDBEG’S NEW BOTTLING – ARRRRRRRDBEG! – CELEBRATES MICKEY HEADS’ 13 YEARS AT THE DISTILLERY’S HELM 

-Limited Edition wishes a bon voyage to the former captain of the Ardbeg ship-

To commemorate the retirement of Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, Ardbeg has announced the launch of Arrrrrrrdbeg! – an exciting Limited Edition bottling which celebrates his time at the helm.

Captain of the Ardbeg ship since 2007, Mickey retired in late 2020, after 13 whisky-packed and eventful years. During his time at the Distillery, he oversaw the distillation of dozens of fine Ardbeg expressions, took part in Ardbeg celebrations from Islay to Illinois, took home the title of IWC ‘Distillery of the Year’ three times in a row, and was named Distillery Manager of the Year 2014.

Exclusively available to the Ardbeg Committee from 1^st February 2021, Arrrrrrrdbeg! is the Distillery’s first whisky wholly matured in ex-rye casks. It has a spicy mouthfeel igniting a blunderbuss of fruity flavours, while the long finish lingers with gentle smoke listing on the palate. The bottle’s striking illustrated label depicts Mickey as a salty seadog and is the creation of Butcher Billy, a renowned Brazilian artist and graphic designer.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg, said:

“Working with Mickey has been an absolute joy. He’s somebody with a genuine passion for Ardbeg and we hope that this bottling will take pride of place in his collection. He’s presided over many momentous Ardbegs over the years, but this ‘end of an era’ edition is a special one. The spirit inside is pretty special too: Arrrrrrrdbeg! is the Distillery’s first ever ex-rye cask whisky. With notes of smoked banana and pear, sweet toffee and that distinctive Ardbeg smoke, it’s the perfectly peaty parting gift.”

Mickey Heads, Distillery Manager, said:

“It was an absolute pleasure to spend the last 13 years heading the crew at the greatest Distillery on earth. I had the best team of people anyone could wish for and I’m proud that we’ve been responsible for producing so many wonderful Ardbegs along the way. As for this bottling, well I’m honoured that a place that has already given me so much would celebrate my retirement in such a thoughtful way. And to have my image on a bottle, that’s a dream come true!

“Who knows what retirement holds for me, but I know I’ll be spending a lot of time out fishing. And, as ongoing Chairman of the Ardbeg Committee, I’m sure I’ll be dropping by the Distillery often.”

As part of the Arrrrrrrdbeg! launch, Mickey has recorded a farewell tasting film and Q&A, which fans can watch from the comfort of their own homes. And to help them get into the swashbuckling spirit, Ardbeg have also put together a downloadable kit full of pirate props, available from ardbeg.com.

While he is stepping down as Distillery Manager, Mickey will not be disappearing from the world of Ardbeg altogether. To the delight of fans, he will be continuing in his role as Chairman of the Ardbeg Committee.

Arrrrrrrdbeg will be available through Ardbeg.com and Ardbeg embassies from February 2021, RRP: £145.

www.ardbeg.com

Follow us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ardbeg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ardbeg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ardbeg 

NOTES: 

Tasting Notes 

Colour: Straw

Nose: On the nose, aromas of smoked banana and pear drift into hints of rye bread, sweet vanilla toffee and the gentlest breeze of aniseed. With a splash of water, citrusy lemon and lime course through the senses, while refreshing notes of sherbet and sweet pastry come to the fore.

Taste: A spicy mouthfeel hoists up and ignites a blunderbuss of fruity flavours, such as melon and kiwi. An armada of aniseed appears, tailed by notes of smoked toffee and a distant hint of sourdough biscuits.

Finish: Finally, the long finish lingers, leaving seaspray, brazil nuts and faint smoke listing on the palate.

ABV: 51.8%

Cask type: Wholly matured in ex-rye casks. A first for Ardbeg.

Non age statement.

RRP: £145 

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.  During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg was twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the third time in four years. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

EXCEPTIONAL CASKS #6011

Glenburgie – Vintage 1975 – 45 Year Old Whisky

44.1% ABV | 70cl

This wise old Speysider initially gives musty aromas of old leather, dusty attics and cigar boxes, however a little time in the glass, and perhaps a little warmth from one’s hands reveals a deeper fruity side. The palate is truly mouthcoating, with an old-style tropical fruit and waxy character building to an immensely complex and balanced experience. The long finish shows all the personality this spirit has built up over a near half century of maturation. Immense, unique and mindbogglingly good.

£1,099.95

ADD TO BASKET

Stirling Distillery Releases Sons of Scotland Single Cask Whiskies

The Stirling Distillery will be releasing two new single cask whiskies under their Sons of Scotland label, making it the first whisky ever released from the Stirling Castle rock.

Having produced gin right next to the historic castle since mid-2019, Stirling Distillery co- founders Cameron and June McCann are now turning their hand to whisky. Drawing on Cameron’s past career working in the whisky industry and running whisky shops in Stirling, they are now launching two single cask whiskies, named after Stirlingshire distilleries which were in operation in the 18th and early 19th century – Cashly and Arngibbon.

“We’re pleased and proud to be releasing whisky from The Castle Rock. What makes us especially excited about our Sons of Scotland range is the chance to start a new chapter in Stirling’s whisky history while celebrating Stirlingshire’s rich whiskymaking heritage.” says Cameron.

The Sons of Scotland range features four whiskies drawn from different regions of Scotland; the Highlands, Speyside, the Lowlands, and the Islands. The Cashly is sourced from a Highlands distillery, while the Arngibbon comes from Speyside. Both whiskies have been matured in ex-bourbon hogsheads for 8 years.

The whiskies also herald the Stirling Distillery’s whiskymaking plans for the future – to produce its own new-make spirit onsite this year and release its first single malt in 2024. This will mark the first time that Scotch whisky is produced at Abbey Craig.

Once production begins, the distillery will also make 40 and 60 litre casks available for purchase for the general public, allowing Stirling Distillery friends and fans to become part of Stirlingshire whisky history. June is eager to get started on the distillery’s new whisky project:

“As an independent business, we consider ourselves to be the luckiest people in the world to be able to do what we’re doing in one of the world’s most famous historic locations. The chance to share some delicious whisky with the local community, fans, and friends, as well as to contribute to Stirlingshire’s whisky heritage is a dream come true.”

The Cashly and Arngibbon whiskies are available on the Stirling Distillery website for £50 a bottle.

https://stirlinggin.co.uk/shop/

Tasting notes – Cashly

Nose Eucalyptus & green apple apples with a slight gooseberry tang

Palate Butter toast, stewed apples with a gentle spice pepper

Finish Short and sweet with hints of sherbet

Tasting notes – Arngibbon

Nose Custard creams, peaches, vanilla and a hint of heather moor

Palate Malty notes alongside oak and soft butter tablet

Finish Creamy and warming, with gentle oak and vanilla tones

An Award-Winning Bottler Delivers a Tantalizing Trio

“Barrell has commanded the conversation for a long time when it comes to independent bottlings in American Whiskey. They have delivered what customers want with every single bottling – high proof quality whiskey – and they haven’t been afraid to innovate and push the envelope on unique finishes either.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

Barrell Craft Spirits’ founder Joe Beatrice has created America’s preeminent independent bottler of spirits. Working only in small batches or single barrels, Barrell has assembled the finest portfolio of casks available in the United States. They have won a bevy of major awards ranging from 2018’s Best American Whiskey according to Forbes’ Fred Minnick to Best Small Batch Bourbon at the 2019 San Francisco Spirits Competition, as well as a host of double gold awards. Their dedication and commitment to selecting the very best casks have placed them among the forefront in the industry. We are fortunate to have secured three incredible bottlings from this benchmark label. All three show not only Barrell’s commitment to quality but also a willingness to push boundaries. The resulting bourbons are every bit as engaging as they are delicious. From the beautifully blended Armida to the powerhouse rye exclusives, these are the very pinnacle of American whiskey.

Barrell Craft Spirits “Armida” Bottling Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($79.99)

Barrell strikes again. The first release of Armida is just 3,504 bottles and is a blend of 3 straight Tennessee bourbon whiskies finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian amaro casks. Their blending prowess is on full display as they perfectly mesh this wide array of flavors into a cohesive and delicious bourbon.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

Barrell has commanded the conversation for a long time when it comes to independent bottlings in American Whiskey. They have delivered what customers want with every single bottling—high proof quality whiskey—and they haven’t been afraid to innovate and push the envelope on unique finishes either. The key difference in Barrell’s finished choices over so many other producers’ is that they won’t release it if it doesn’t taste good. It’s not an interesting finish for the sake of finishing—it ‘s to make a great whiskey even better. The Armida is a limited release of just over 3000 bottles of three lots of Tennessee bourbon finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks. Each of these brings out a special characteristic of the Tennessee whiskey. And the real magic is in the miracle that none of the complex flavors clash, but rather work harmoniously to be greater than the sum of their parts. The nose is ripe pears, apples, and a basket of mixed stone fruits all dusted in a complex melange of baking spices. The amaro cask really complements the brandy cask in a big way on the nose. A palate that is distinctly buttered popcorn gives a pretty big clue to the source of at least part if not all of the whiskey itself. This flavor mixed with the funkier notes of Jamaican rum are a combination par excellence and should inspire some excellent Tiki drink in the hands of a capable bartender. A deep cocoa note is also quite assertive on the palate, presumably from the whiskey itself but highlighted by the amaro. As you transition into the finish of this whiskey, it’s easy to get lost. Your mind will wander from place to place and cask to cask as you try to pick the whole thing apart. The real beauty is in the realization that everything is so well integrated a determined drinker must work very hard to pick anything apart. It’s a blast to drink. At once outright delicious and a heady exercise for the geekier whiskey consumer to engage with.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

This splendid new blend is another indication that Barrell aims to be seen not only as the best bespoke bottler in craft spirits, but also the finest blender. The art of blending is anything but simple. When blending whisky 2+2 never equals 4. At home it’s fun to goof around with mixing different whiskies, but creating a blend whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts is neither art nor science-it’s magic! What our friends in Louisville have done with this excellent whiskey is create something that remains at its core bourbon (distilled in Tennessee, but not so distinctive as to be unmistakably Dickel), but brings a new and refreshing twist to the category. A complex mix of multiple barrel finishes-pear brandy, rum and amaro casks-creates truly new territory in terms of flavor without distancing itself so much from the category as to be unappealing to the purists. The color is deep copper. The nose bursts with redolent pears, maple syrup, stone fruit preserves, fresh herbs, and sarsaparilla. The palate bounces between undeniable pear flavors and the big herbs and spice of the amaro. It’s difficult to see exactly what the rum is doing here, but perhaps it’s adding some dried fruit and sweetness. Despite the complex mixture it avoids going bitter and stays remarkably refreshing. No detectable chalky vitamin flavors in my sensitive estimation, which will be good news for anyone leery of the Dickel thing. Altogether a lovely example of what’s possible with these small scale blending projects and a welcome addition to the Barrell pantheon.

Barrell Craft Spirits 7 Year Old Single Barrel K&L Exclusive #M221 Indiana (MGP) Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

One of my favorite things about being able to buy single barrels is in showcasing how different the “same whiskey” can be. Single Barrel M221 has the same specs, a similar proof—112.18 in this case—and pedigree as M225, yet they taste completely different. M221 is a spice bomb. It’s cinnamon and pepper and cloves and blackened pumpernickel. There is a faint overture made towards the stone fruit of M225, but it is brief and fleeting. A slight diesel note gives this cask a mean (but delicious) edge. It will kick your ass and not bother learning your name. It is not for the faint of heart.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

Another great single barrel of Indiana rye here. I respect Barrell’s policy of pricing all single casks similarly regardless of age. While this might seem a smidge high on paper, there’s very little out there of this caliber and almost none that’s single barrel and cask strength. The color is auburn. A bit restrained on first pour but time in the glass benefits it greatly. This has some interesting nearly tropical fruit aromas coupled with roasted nuts and dark roasted arabica bean. A dusty note that’s not unusual for mid-aged MGP permeates elegantly throughout. The entry drops all the fruit in favor of candied peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, cacao nibs. It’s all very nicely packaged with a long dry, but not overly spicy finish. This one goes down real easy, but doesn’t let you forget that it’s 112 proof. A warming menthol builds on the palate as you continue with the glass. Just delicious stuff. I’m hoping these barrels are the start of the second coming of rye. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Barrell Craft Spirits 7 Year Old Single Barrel K&L Exclusive #M225 Indiana (MGP) Rye Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 13, 2021

For as wildly popular as true single barrels of whiskey are, it’s remarkable that more brands won’t bottle them. Fortunately there is Barrell. This 7 year MGP rye is a choice barrel selected first by Barrell and then once again by K&L. In the bottling we want as little done as possible and Barrell is happy to oblige. Dump it out, run it through more of a strainer than a filter to get the chunks of wood out, and stick it in a bottle. Nothing more. Barrel M225 hits the glass at a hefty yet approachable 113.7 proof and is a splendid combination of earthy spice and bright fruit. My expectation is to be dominated by spice—and it’s not lacking by any stretch—but it’s also just so much more balanced than most ryes on the market. It’s a masterclass in the wide array of flavors the rye grain has to offer all in one single barrel.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2021

The wonderful distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN has become ubiquitous across the craft bottling scene, providing juice for countless brands throughout the country to bottle under their own label. They made their name on the modern whiskey scene selling gorgeous old rye whiskey through brands like Old Scout and High West, both of which have since exhausted their stocks as well as being sold to larger alcohol conglomerates. Slowly over the last couple of years, we’ve seen stocks rebuild and bottlers find ways to put quality juice in the bottle. Barrell has had a good line on stocks and they’ve been patient with these to bottle them when they’ve finally turned the corner maturity-wise. Barrell has a policy of bottling all single casks at the same price, which might make some old timers say this one is a bit overpriced. There is very little rye whisky of this quality on the market at any price point, however, and there’s not a single cask strength single barrel in this age range under $100 from any producers in KY, TN or Indiana that comes close. The color is auburn. The nose is earthy herbal rye, fresh and dried mint, orange peel, exotic old growth wood, and cinnamon. Really starting to show that age here. The powerful nose translates perfectly to the palate. Beautiful balance between the bold green rye flavors and sweet citrus liqueur to balance. Hints of black pepper, dill, licorice, black currants and a brambly leafiness. Not the dill bombs of yesteryear, but perfect older rye that scratches that rye itch unlike few other on the market today.