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Glenmorangie captures the joy of cake in a whisky – Scotch Whisky News

Glenmorangie captures the joy of cake in a whisky

— CakeTails by pastry chef Dominique Ansel bring its indulgent taste alive in cake form —

Glenmorangie today celebrates the joy of a cake moment in a sweet and indulgent single malt Scotch whisky. Inspired by favourite memories of baking, birthdays and more, Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake celebrates all that is good about cake. And so delicious is this limited-edition whisky’s flavours of honey, white chocolate and fruit, that award-winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel has dreamt up a cake and cocktail pairing – a “CakeTail” – in its honour.

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake began when Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, found himself musing over how some of his most joyful memories involved cake – from baking with his granny, to the pineapple upside down cake his daughter made him for his birthday. Dreaming of encapsulating cake’s magic in a single malt whisky, he experimented by finishing Glenmorangie in Tokaji dessert wine casks. Skilfully layering their sweet, honeyed notes with Glenmorangie’s smooth, fruity character, Dr Bill created Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake.

Of course, this single malt tastes particularly delicious alongside real cake, which is why Glenmorangie has paired up with Dominique Ansel. Like Dr Bill, the pastry chef hailed as “the Willy Wonka of New York”, has a passion for exploring new tastes (take for example his world-famous Cronut® – a donut-croissant hybrid). Imagining how he could bring cake and whisky together, he created a unique twist on a pineapple boat cake inspired by Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. Paired with a pineapple Old Fashioned cocktail by expert mixologist Jeremy Le Blanche, it makes a deliciously indulgent CakeTail. What is more, Dominique and Jeremy have also invented CakeTail pairings to celebrate three of Glenmorangie’s most-loved whiskies: The Original, The Lasanta and The Quinta Ruban.

Glenmorangie’s CakeTail pairings will be available to a lucky few from his bakery in New York. But to make sure everyone can indulge, Dominique and Jeremy will also share versions that are easy to recreate at home, in a series of short films released on Glenmorangie’s social channels.

Dr Bill said: “Like so many of us, some of my favourite memories come from cake, whether it be helping my granny in her kitchen, or the pineapple birthday cake my daughter surprised me with one year. By finishing whisky in Tokaji wine casks, I’ve captured the joy of those indulgent cake moments in Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. The liquid is a rich copper, but the taste is pure technicolour, luscious, sweet and complex with multi-layered bursts of honey, white chocolate and fruits with a hint of mint. As you might expect, it tastes incredible when enjoyed with actual cake, so it’s fantastic to see Dominique bring it to life in his CakeTails.”

Dominique said: “When I first tried Glenmorangie, it opened my senses to this amazing world of colour, texture, taste, and aroma  ̶  it’s a new adventure each time. I never guessed I could enjoy whisky this much, but there is a friendliness to the way Glenmorangie tastes. Baking and whisky making are different worlds but they have a lot in common. If you stir Dr Bill’s passion for single malt with my love for cake, you get the best of both our worlds!”

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake is available from 22nd September 2020 – 18th October exclusively at Selfridges, then other specialist retailers from 18th October onwards, RRP: £75. 

Visit Glenmorangie on Instagram to see Dominique Ansel’s creations come to life.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGlenmorangie 

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

NOTES: 

Tasting Notes:

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake is bottled at 46% ABV

Colour: Rich copper

Nose: Complex, rich and multi-layered, with a burst of passion fruit, peach, pear, mango. More savoury notes like baking bread, gentle sappy oak and a curious, flinty minerality emerge. This is then followed by classic Glenmorangie notes like honeycomb, vanilla and almond, with a hint of milk chocolate. With a splash of water, more zesty notes emerge, like apricot, elderflower, flowering currents, honey pollen and peach syrup.

Taste: The mouthfeel is surprisingly luscious and tart at the same time, leading into a burst of sweet, candy-like flavours – honey, white chocolate, apricot, almond, vanilla and pear. This is balanced by a hint of tangy orange and menthol, both classic Glenmorangie flavours.

Finish: The lingering aftertaste again reminds you of a delicious combination of honeycomb, chocolate almond and pecan nuts. 

RRP: £75 

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s Highland whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. Known as the Distillers of Tain, they’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. In Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, they produce a delicate and fruity spirit, ripe for experimentation. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout his 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the magic of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake), a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a long balmy day in Madeira (Glenmorangie Bacalta), a beautiful barley field near the Distillery (Glenmorangie Allta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he is a new entry in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice. 

About the creation of Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake:

Tokaji wines are highly prized dessert wines from the Hungarian region of Tokaj, created using noble-rot grapes. Noble rot fungus ((Botrytis cinerea)) grows in moist conditions, making grapes shrivel up and concentrating their sugars, to create unique flavours. Many years ago, Dr Bill Lumsden, who is fascinated by wine, became intrigued by the cult status of Tokaji wines, with their sweet and distinctively honeyed notes. Sourcing a few casks, he began experimenting, and discovered the extraordinarily mellow tastes they could bring to Glenmorangie. Inspired by those early experiments, he revisited Royal Tokaji casks for Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. He began with the fruity, fragrant spirit distilled in Glenmorangie’s towering copper stills, the tallest in Scotland. With necks the same height as a giraffe, they take Glenmorangie’s whisky on a longer excursion, for a more delicate spirit with more space for taste and aroma. He first aged this spirit in bourbon casks, for Glenmorangie’s signature citrus complexity. Then he transferred the whisky into Tokaji casks to create this limited edition’s wonderful balance of sweet, fruity flavours.

About Dominique Ansel:

Hailed as the “Willy Wonka of New York”, Dominque Ansel is a ground-breaking pastry chef, who consistently delights cake fans with his innovations. As chef and owner of eponymous bakeries in New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, Dominique has been responsible for creating some of the most fêted pastries in the world, including the croissant-doughnut hybrid known as the Cronut® (named one of TIME Magazine’s “25 Best inventions of 2013”) and many more. A winner of a James Beard award (the James Beard Foundation honours America’s food culture), he was named the World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2017 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards. Food & Wine magazine has called him a “Culinary Van Gogh” while the New York Post dubbed him “Willy Wonka”. He was also named among Business Insider’s Most Innovative People Under 40, one of Crain’s New York Business magazine’s 40 Under 40, and was awarded the prestigious l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole, France’s second highest honour.

About Jeremy Le Blanche:

With an inventive career in mixology behind him, Jeremy Le Blanche hails from one of the world’s best bars in the UK—German Gymnasium—and is now bringing his world-class libations to New York’s Thyme Bar. Jeremy is passionate about creating cocktails which appeal to all the senses – and making a masterpiece out of each drink.

About CakeTails:

CakeTails are cocktail and cake pairings inspired by and featuring Glenmorangie’s single malt, to be enjoyed by whisky lovers old and new. Collaborating with Jeremy, Dominique has masterminded four CakeTails, celebrating Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake and three more of Glenmorangie’s exceptional single malts: Glenmorangie Original, Glenmorangie Lasanta and Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. The four pairings are detailed below.

CakeTail Serves & Recipes:

Inspired by Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake:

Eat: Dominique’s take on a pineapple boat cake celebrates the whisky’s delightfully sweet, fruity tastes in mini sandwich-style cakes made from slices of almond sponge soaked in a whisky syrup and layered with fresh pineapple and a brown sugar ganache.

Drink: The Cake Old Fashioned (at home version)

Ingredients:

  • 50 ml Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake
  • 7.5 ml coconut water
  • 7.5 ml pineapple syrup
  • 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Method: Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass over block/ cubed ice.

Garnish with a twist of orange zest and a walnut. 

Inspired by Glenmorangie Original:

Eat: Poached pears float in a syrup made with Glenmorangie Original and vanilla, complemented by lemon thyme and orange notes, in a creation hinting at the light, fruity tastes of Glenmorangie’s signature single malt whisky.

Drink: The Pear Fizz (at home version)

Ingredients:

  • 45 ml Glenmorangie Original
  • 25 ml pear juice
  • 10 ml lemon juice
  • 15 ml vanilla syrup
  • 1 dash orange bitters
  • Top with a splash of Champagne

Method: Shake first five ingredients with ice and fine-strain into chilled coupe.
Add a splash (25ml max.) of Champagne. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.Inspired by Glenmorangie Lasanta:

Eat: The richness of the whisky is accentuated in Dominique’s take on the affogato, with homemade chestnut ice-cream and smoked cinnamon cream showcasing The Lasanta’s spiced and nutty notes.

Drink: The Frosted Flip (at home version)

Ingredients:

  • 45 ml Glenmorangie Lasanta
  • 15 ml caramel syrup
  • 25 ml double cream
  • 2 dashes Fee Bros. Aztec chocolate bitters
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 1 whole egg

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and fine-strain into a chilled glass over cubed ice.

Garnish with cinnamon dust and chocolate shavings.

Inspired by Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban:

Eat: The whisky’s deep chocolate notes shine through in a decadent dark chocolate-dipped brownie, which matches its velvety taste with a liquid praline centre infused with orange blossom and The Quinta Ruban.

Drink: Choco-Vino (at home version)

Ingredients:

  • 40 ml Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
  • 15 ml port wine
  • 10 ml Campari
  • 5 ml dark creme de cacao

Method: Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass over block/ cubed ice.

Garnish with a twist of orange zest. 

Responsible Drinking:

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

Perfect Fifth — Scotland’s Most Coveted Collectible Single Malts – Scotch Whisky News

The Inimitable Single Malts of Perfect Fifth
Rare Exclusives: Glen Scotia 27, Cambus 42, Springbank 25, Highland Park 31

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.

The single malt Scotch market continues to set stunning records at auctions across the globe. The supply of whisky is finite, and each bottle opened of any rare legend makes the next bottle that much more valuable. But a single malt’s value isn’t driven by its package or its provenance, but by the quality of the spirit in the bottle. Because of this, access to the means and modes of production are highly guarded. The Scots don’t just let anyone waltz in and start buying their best whisky. In fact, even after years of working in Scotland, we’ve only been able to scratch the surface of the complex brokers and blenders market that exists among Scotland’s 130+ distillers.

That’s what makes what the team at The Perfect Fifth have done so unique. This brand, the product of one young man’s vision to bottle a world-class array of single cask single malt, is proof positive that there remain astounding treasures hidden in Scotland’s cold damp cellars. It’s unclear if this small US-based bottler has personal ties to the industry or simply through persistence and good fortune was able to secure these unbelievable stocks, but there’s no question that The Perfect Fifth has managed to wrangle some of Scotland’s finest treasures.

Even a decade ago, we’d have had to call in all our good will to obtain such a series of rare casks. And while their prices are on par with similarly aged stocks bottled by the distillery themselves, the fact that they are sold as single barrels producing only a handful of bottles makes them significantly rarer than most distillery releases. This offer gives you something even more valuable than investment-grade whisky — it gives you legendary drinking-grade whisky. If a distillery bottling of Highland Park 30 Year is a new Ferrari, then these casks are the Koenigsegg or Pagani of single malts. They’ll never be a household name, but once you “get it,” you’ll never go back. It’s not an easy thing to find these days.

Vintage Item Name Retail Link
1992 Glen Scotia 27 Year Old “The Perfect Fifth” First Fill Bourbon No. 05917 Cask Strength Single Malt Island Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $850.00 View
1976 Cambus 42 Year Old “The Perfect Fifth” Refill Bourbon Barrel No. 05916 Cask Strength Single Malt Island Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $1,250.00 View
1993 Springbank 25 Year Old “The Perfect Fifth” First Fill Sherry Butt No. 315 Cask Strength Single Malt Island Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $1,500.00 View
1987 Highland Park 31 Year Old “The Perfect Fifth” First Fill Sherry Butt No. 1531 Cask Strength Single Malt Island Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) $3,000.00 View

These products are expected to arrive for shipment or pickup by October 2020. Ships as a 1.5L due to bottle size/shape.

Brand New Tobermory 23 Year Old at Tyndrum Whisky – Scotch Whisky News

TyndrumWhisky.com

Presents the return of an old friend:

Tobermory 23

The liquid within this release is from the extremely popular 2008 release of Tobermory 15YO. In 2014, the spirit was transferred into Gonzales Byass casks, and bottled this year for this stunning release. Having tasted this last night, we can confirm it is lovely Tobermory, salted toffee, fudge, caramelised walnuts with a subtle salty undercurrent, all in all a fantastic release.

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Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare: Port Ellen at Loch Fyne Whiskies – Scotch Whisky News

Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Ghost & Rare: Port Ellen
Was: £275.00
Now: £199.00

Buy now ›

K&L California “A Rare, Single Cask Exclusive at an Unbeatable Price” – Scotch Whisky News

A Excellent Speyside Malt at an Unbelievable Price
1995 Tormore 22 Year Old “Munros” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)
“A fun, unique whisky that should not be overlooked.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal 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.

We’ve been thrilled with the gems coming from Glasgow Whisky Company. Not only does this firm have a knack for picking out extra-special drams, but they offer them at highly competitive prices. The 1995 Tormore 22 Year Old “Munros” highlighted here is a perfect example of this team’s undeniable prowess. In a nutshell, this is Speyside malt at its very best. Pure and focused, it is adorned with a heavenly array of dried fruits, roasted cereal, wildflower honey, and cream. These elements are wonderfully framed by the unmistakable, but never overpowering, woodsy influence of the American oak hogsheads. No water or color has been added, meaning you are getting an unadulterated spirit that wonderfully captures the very essence of Speyside. We rarely see Tormore here in the States, making this an excellent opportunity to experience one of Scotland’s best hidden gems. You’ll find this 22 Year Old elsewhere priced north of $200, but because we are bringing it in exclusively to the California market, we are able to offer it for a fraction of that price. Its user-friendly approach means it is the perfect Scotch for almost any occasion. Based on its razor-sharp price and limited availability, we expect our allocation to be gone in a flash, so don’t waste any time in securing your bottles of this noteworthy dram.

1995 Tormore 22 Year Old “Munros” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)

The lovely small batch bottlings in the “Munros” line up are selected by the small Glasgow Whisky Company and represent some of the best values in single malt Scotch today. This small outfit has become an increasingly important player in the sale and bottling of small scale lots of high-quality Scotch. The Munros line is a reference to Scotland’s 282 mountains over 3000 feet. Explorers across the UK had long considered climbing each peak a rite of passage and likewise the great malts represent the heights of achievement in the eyes of whisky lovers across the world. This exceptional expression of the famous Speyside distillery, Glen Grant, was distilled entirely on July 26th, 1995. Filled into refill American oak ex-bourbon barrels, it’s been allowed more than 22 years to mature in the cool climate of northern Scotland. Bottled on the 30th of October, 2017 without chill filtration, there is addition of water or color whatsoever. The resulting whisky is one of the most honest and quintessential expressions of the classic Speyside style available. A cornucopia of dried fruit, sweet cereal, orchard fruit and creamy texture makes this the perfect whisky for any occasion. Thanks to incredible work securing these stocks at unbelievable prices, we’re able to offer the Munros line-up significantly below market value. While this is an exclusive in California for K&L, you might see the same bottle in other markets fetching upwards of $200.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 31, 2020

The odd and delicious spirit coming off the stills at Tormore is not something we see very often stateside. It is one of the most beautiful new distilleries in Scotland, having been built in only 1960, and the gorgeous tall white walls are contrasted by the stunning varnished green of its copper roofs. And like the odd dichotomy of the distillery itself, this whisky is another idiosyncratic and understated example of what is produced there. This whisky was aged for 22 years in American oak hogsheads. Let’s see how it tastes. The color is old gold. The nose is packed full of deep red fruit, with a curious orange peel component. Surrounding that is a roasted cereal quality that touches ever so slightly on nutty aromas. Tiny hints of wood glue are actually weirdly inviting. On the palate, the lower-than-typical proof is not at all to its detriment in terms of texture—instead we have a round rich body and which adds some wild honey and subtle floral flavors to the bouquet on the nose. The finish is medium long and satisfying with some almond extract and vanilla bean showing up. A fun, unique whisky that should not be overlooked because of its low proof or unusual provenance.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society “HOW BAZAAR!” – Scotch Whisky News

This week we’ve transformed our Members’ Rooms into bustling Sensory Bazaars where our members can share an intriguing evening of delicious food and exclusive whisky.

But as always, we want to share this experience with as many members as possible, so we’re bringing you some extra special whiskies to create your own sensory experience at home.

There’s something for every palate in this spectacular selection, including some rarely seen distilleries but beware – these special gems won’t be about for long so don’t delay.

VIEW ALL NEW WHIKSIES          VIEW ALL WHISKIES

*Please be aware, our queue system will be in place for the sale of these bottles. Members on the bottle pages or the Latest Outturn page of the website will be randomly placed in a queue five minutes before the sale starts at 1.55pm.

We’re continuing to test this new queue system as we explore alternative measures that help prevent our website crashing during busy times. The move comes from our recent member survey, if you’d like to offer feedback on the queue system and basket timer please email us here feedback@smws.com.

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

SMWS LOGO 2017 NEW

A toast to the island: Tobermory Distillery releases special 23-Year-Old – Scotch Whisky News

A toast to the island: Tobermory Distillery releases special 23-Year-Old

The Artisan Distillery is celebrating the ‘return of an old friend’ – as its popular 15-year-old returns eight years later to the core range

Tobermory 23-Year-Old has rested in Oloroso casks to create an exquisite sherried malt

To celebrate its launch the distillery has collaborated with Mull Silver and Goldsmith on a unique Sterling Silver and Gold quaich to be auctioned for charity  

Tobermory Distillery is today announcing the release of Tobermory 23 Year Old Oroloso Cask Finish (46.3% ABV, RSP £320) – a beautiful deep-gold sherried single malt that will join the distillery’s core malt range.

Originally the revered 15-year-old liquid, Tobermory 23 Year Old has spent more time resting in the finest Oloroso casks at the distillery to create an even more exquisite and full-flavoured whisky.

The deep rose-gold sherried single malt has unique notes of vanilla, ripe oranges, toasted barley and fruitcake on the nose. With an obvious sherry influence on the palate, salted toffee, candied citrus and floral honey are also evident, all tied together with a caramelized walnuts and subtle salty finish.

To commemorate its time on the Isle of Mull, the distillery has collaborated with another of the island’s long-standing stalwarts, Mull Silver and Goldsmith, on a one-of-a-kind sterling silver and gold quaich which will be auctioned alongside the new bottle in the coming months. Silver is a traditional 23rd anniversary gift, and the gold coating signifies the deep liquid-gold of the exquisite 23 year old malt.

The quaich celebrates the creative and expressive nature of the Tobermory distillery and its island home. Funds raised from the auction will go to The BEN – a Scottish hospitality charity that is seeing more demand for ever for their services as a result of Covid-19.

Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender at Tobermory Distillery, said: “Our team at the distillery have been working hard for many years on the return of this old friend, and we’re incredibly proud to be introducing whisky drinkers around the world this exciting addition to the core range.

“Absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder and the extra years have been spent well, as our whisky has continued to mature into the new sherried expression.

“The Island of Mull is a remarkable melting pot of artistry and creativity. This one-off silver quaich is a visualisation of the expert craftmanship and care that goes into the exceptional spirit we are releasing. By bringing together two makers on the island, we’re celebrating this passion for creativity on the world stage.

“One of the finest expressions we’ve ever made, it’s an honour to introduce Tobermory 23 to markets in Europe, Asia and the UK.

Phil Campbell, founder of Isle of Mull Silver and Goldsmiths said: “It was a joy to work on such a beautiful piece of silver, crafting it into a unique piece of art to mark the launch of Tobermory 23.

“Precision, creativity and attention to detail have defined our offering for the last four decades so it was a pleasure collaborate with this artisan distillery from our island home.“

Tobermory Distillery is the only whisky distillery on the Hebridean Isle of Mull, and sits at the centre of the vibrant island community that is rich with artistry, creativity and nature. The Tobermory 23 Year Old will join the Tobermory 12 Year Old, Ledaig 10 Year Old and Ledaig 18 Year Old in the distillery’s core range of malts.

For more information, you can visit the distillery website at www.tobermorydistillery.com.

Notes:

About Tobermory Distillery

Established in 1798, Tobermory is the Isle of Mull’s only whisky distillery and one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland. It sits at the centre of the vibrant island community from which it takes its name. Under the Tobermory distillery name, the artisan Hebridean Distiller produces Tobermory Whisky and Ledaig Single Malts. Today, it is a thriving, expressive and unique distillery, true to its idyllic location on the Hebridean island of Mull.

www.tobermorydistillery.com

SKENE WHISKY RELEASES BLACK TARTAN 88 31yo – Scotch Whisky News

Skene Whisky has just released Black Tartan 88,  a premium blended malt whisky.   Way back in 1988, three Highland malt whiskies (rumoured to be Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes) were ‘married at birth’ and filled into a single hogshead where they matured for 31 long years.  Then, earlier this year, the cask’s remaining contents were filled into just 337 Ibisco-style 70cl decanters at an ABV of 48% with natural colour, no chill-filtration and an RRP of only £248.

On the nose, Black Tartan 88 is very smooth, with sweet vanilla and tropical fruit.  The taste is of spiced butterscotch with balanced oak.  The finish is again vanilla, warming, long and to the rear of the palate.

In his Whisky Bible 2021, world-renowned whisky critic Jim Murray scored Black Tartan 88 at 94/100 (ie in his “superstar whiskies” banding).  Jim commented “This is an old dram which retains a marvellous zest for life but piles on the malt in spades”.

This expression (together with the Skene’s everyday Black Tartan blend) is now available from Skene Whisky’s online shop HERE

Bottle Name Black Tartan 88. Bottler Black Tartan Whisky Ltd. Bottler’s Website www.skenewhisky.com . Category Single Cask Blended Malt. Cask Number 16. Cask Type Hogshead. Size 70cl. Strength 48.0%. Number of Bottles 337.  Distilled / Vintage 1988. Bottled 2020. Age 31 year old. Release September 2020.  Unchillfiltered & Natural Colour. Region Highlands. Retail Price £248.

Where available  SKENEWHISKY

Nose Very smooth, sweet vanilla with tropical fruit
Taste Spiced butterscotch with balanced oak
Finish Vanilla, warming, long and to rear of palate
Comments Three Highland malts blended at birth – Macallan, Highland Park & Glenrothes

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

New Waterford at Tyndrum Whisky – Irish Whisky News

TyndrumWhisky.com

Brings you

Waterford

Sheestown 1.1
Ballymorgan 1.1
Ballykilcavan 1.2
Bannow Island 1.2

Waterford – a voyage as ambitious as it’s pioneering. The destination is to create not just the most compelling Irish whisky, but the world’s most profound single malt. Waterford is definitely a work in progress, but to taste this progress from the start is amazing.

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A Pair of Cask Strength Exclusives from Wathen’s at K&L California – American Whiskey News

 

Hand-Selected Exclusives from the Inimitable Charles Medley

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.

If you’ve enjoyed our past offerings from Wathen’s then you must give these two new exclusive barrels a spin. Charles Medley—the man behind the Wathen’s label—is one of the most respected names in Kentucky bourbon. His long-standing relationships in the business allow him access to some of the best barrels in all of Kentucky, only he won’t tell you where they are from. It matters little who is making the juice, as what’s in the bottle is proof enough of its excellent pedigree. We’ve been asking for barrels at cask strength and, at long last, Medley has obliged. This pair is a bourbon lover’s dream come true. Done in a full, rich, and potent style, they count among the better barrel proof bottlings we’ve encountered this year. That we are offering them for only $80 per bottle is almost unheard of nowadays. Cask strength exclusives are never around for long and that certainly holds true for ones this affordably priced. We are proud to be the sole representatives of these remarkable casks.

Wathen’s Barrel Proof “Barrel #89 NorCal Barrel” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ) ($79.99)

Wathen’s is one of those interesting brands filled with mystery yet offering awesome products. Charles Medley has decades of experience distilling in Kentucky. He was for many years the Master Distiller at a plant in Owensboro and when that plant was closed, Charles was able to acquire some of the stocks and the old facility he ran. He never got the old plant up and running, but had success selling those casks with his son Sam under various labels. His good standing in the bourbon community has afforded Charles the ability to contract still time at an unnamed plant elsewhere in Kentucky and he distills to his own specifications a small run (presumably several hundred casks), each year. Those are marketed under the Medley and Wathen’s names, but it’s always been their single barrels that most interest us. After many years, Sam has finally agreed to bottle some of his excellent whiskey at full cask strength for us. While we don’t have an age, it’s safe to assume this is upwards of 8-10 years old. If we sold cask strength 10-year-old from any of Kentucky’s major distilleries for $80, it would be sold out in a day. So few of Kentucky’s producers are willing to bottle at cask strength that these barrels are a coup by any measure. Yet since we have little information about the source, these excellent barrels are often overlooked. We have two available now, and they’re both exceptional by any measure. Rich and full of sweet dried fruit and spice, few barrels available beat these excellent bourbons.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 15, 2020

The delicious Wathen’s single barrels are the ultimate under-the-radar bourbon brand. It’s literally a two man team, father and son, Charles and Sam Medley. Charles has decades of experience distilling and thanks to his connections gets to take over an unnamed distillery for a tiny run of barrels for his brands every year. Sam sells us the bourbon his dad distills. They have extremely limited stocks, but a couple of years ago they finally agreed to bottle these up at cask strength for us. The tiny brand is one of the few truly hidden distillery brands that is actually responsible for the creation of their juice and if this bottle were in the distillery label it would have likely sold out months ago for twice the price. But here we are. We get two barrels of the cask strength a year, one for each the north and south, and they’re distinct in flavor profile. The NorCal barrel opens with dark black fruit and that lovely forest floor savoriness that bourbon can sometimes have. A twinge of pepper and sweet maple syrup complete the picture. On the palate this one is more focused on the caramel and bold cinnamon than the fruity aromatics on the palate. A tiny hint of dried grass and old wood round off the finish. A totally delectable little bourbon that, considering the hyper-intense interest in this bourbon market, should be at the top of many people’s to-try list. The simple fact that many haven’t heard of the brand is the only reason it’s still in stock.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 15, 2020

The exceptional Wathen’s brand suffers from not having a team of marketing and sales people pushing it all over the place. But those who know understand that they’re offering some of the best stuff out there. It’s not sourced bourbon or contract distilled, but distilled by the owner Charles Wathen Medley at an undisclosed facility. They finally agreed to offer some single barrel selections at cask strength three years ago and if they’d put the age on these bottles they would have certainly sold out months ago. We can guess it’s between 8 and 10 years old from one of KY’s big distillers to Charles’ specifications. If you tried the Medley cask strength and loved it, this is the same stuff more or less for $20 less. Let’s taste: the nose starts with syrupy corn oil, vanilla bean, black tea, cinnamon and dried stone fruits. This is WAY less grassy than last years’, which were total grass bombs and much more in line with the traditional Wathen’s profile, which is to say sweet and spicy. On the palate: great balance, with the deep sweet oak coming through over the background baking spices. Lots of fuel in the tank here, richly textured and a long soft finish. There aren’t many sleeper bourbon brands left, but this here is easily one of the coolest KY bourbons that’s not on most bourbon nerds’ radar. But what counts here is just how damned good it tastes, inviting and familiar yet unique in character.


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