Turn up the heat and serve summer… the Society way. We’ve got 21 new casks on offer, all full of bold flavours and tropical vibes. Our July Outturn is jam-packed with serve suggestions and inspiration from our branches around the globe, helping you to handle the heat in the warmer months.

NEW OUTTURN        ALL BOTTLINGS

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

J.J. Corry: The Kelly

A Bonder’s Blend from Milroys and The Vault

The Kelly is a handcrafted blend created by the team at Milroys & The Vault Soho, from some of the finest stocks of Irish Malt and Grain Whiskey curated at J.J. Corry.

Following a visit to J.J. Corry’s hometown of Kilrush, it was clear that his wife, Elizabeth Kelly, had a significant role in the tradition of Whiskey Bonding, and their daughter, Bridie Corry, continued to operate the shop for many years.

This blend is dedicated to the work they did.

Flavour Profile: Bursting with tropical and stone fruits, think ripe peaches and nectarines with a hint of waxed lemon.

Bottled at Milroy’s Golden Strength, 50%, with a touch of water, more complex and aromatic notes are revealed, with some gorse flowers and grassiness.

J.J. Corry: The Kelly, 50% ABV
£74.95 + shipping

Stocks are limited.
1 per customer.

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70cl / 43.2% abv

This is the first release in the Elements series from the Bunnahabhain distillery on Islay. Distilled in 1978 and matured for 39 years, this expression has been finished for 6 months in a Spanish sherry octave, personally selected by Master Blender Kirsty McCallum. Bottled by hand at the distillery, this extremely limited edition is presented in a beautifully crafted crystal decanter with a wave wave design embedded in the glass. Only 26 decanters have been produced.

A Rare Single Cask from an Under-the-Radar Distillery

Our Old Pulteney 13 Year Old Single Cask is true gem that should not be ignored by any serious lover of Highland malts. This is the first time ever we have brought in a single cask from this highly regarded distillery, and there’s simply no other way to put it—this Scotch rocks the house! What makes this dram so incredible is not flash and sizzle, but instead its staid, measured, and foursquare approach. That quality here really shines through with notes of vibrant citrus fruit, buttercream, baking spice, cocoa, and mint. Its oily texture and maritime aesthetic are what really bring the package together. Being raised in a first fill, ex-bourbon barrel has done wonders to this impeccably crafted distillate. Hands down, this is one of the most exciting casks we’ve delivered in 2019. Combine the amazing quality of this 13-year-old Scotch with its very tempting direct-import price and you have an incredible deal of the highest order. Quantities are limited.

2004 Old Pulteney 13 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Single Cask No. 231 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Whisky 750ml (ships as 1.5L) ($109.99)

This exceptional cask from the gorgeous little distillery in Wick is the first we’ve ever had directly from Old Pulteney. Distilled in late 2004 and filled into an ex-bourbon barrel, the whisky was bottled at the end of last year without any dilution or filtration. Old Pulteney, despite winning numerous accolades, remains one of Scotland’s great unsung heros in the Highlands. Built in 1826, it was not easily accessible until much later. Barley would have been shipped in on fishing vessels and whisky shipped out. While Wick was once known for their herring, its claim to fame now is this wonderful malt from what was once the most northerly distillery on mainland Scotland. The Pulteney Distillery has an extremely unusual lyne arm that slopes sharply down into the condenser. The spirit is full bodied and packed with flavor and nearly 14 years in the cold, damp warehouse near the distillery has given this whisky tons of oceany character. The nose is an intense combo of rich toffee, vanilla, purple stone fruits and aged wood. The palate tingles with salty maltiness, Seville orange peel, bold orchard fruit and salted dark cocoa. Creamy and textured, it builds toward a long spice-driven finish.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 23, 2019

Old Pulteney is one of those under-the-radar distilleries that the geeks hate to talk about. No one was happy when Jim Murray named their now discontinued 21-year-old Whisky of the Year and rightfully so as it’s since become nearly impossible to acquire at the original price. Despite the awards and good will from the cognoscenti, Pulteney has remained a background player in the single malt world. Current owners ThaiBev, however, are looking to establish the Old Pulteney distillery in the very north of Scotland in its rightful place as one of the Highlands’ most well regarded malts. Part of that process is changing from the off-year expressions to the more familiar age offerings (12, 18, 25), but also by launching a seemingly secret single barrel program. Only a handful of shops have jumped on the opportunity to own a cask-strength single barrel from the odd little distillery in Wick. We’ve been lucky enough to be one of them. As with many Pulteney, the nose is pure salt, malt, herbal tea and cardamom. The palate is deep with roasted cocoa, fudge, and touches of anise, fennel and vanilla. But of course, with water this thing erupts. Now on the nose the ripest Bartlett pears – smashed, lemon peel, Mirabelle, dried apricot, salted butter on toast. The anise moving much more toward mint and fennel flavors and a long creamy texture is pointed with cotton candy, lemon oils and the tiniest hints of diesel smoke. Staunchly pleasing due to its exceptional purity and straight forwardness. The interplay between the malt, fruit and salt is quintessential Pulteney in my book. It might not be the most nuanced whisky we sell this year, but it may be the one you finish first. Too GOOD to put down!

70cl / 43% abv

This limited edition bottling from the world famous Johnnie Walker was never available to the public. The fifth release in The Directors Blend series, this expression was produced as a personal gift for esteemed friends of Johnnie Walker. This bottle was produced in 2012 and was the penultimate release in the series.

Littlemill 26 Year Old

1988 vintage single sherry cask exclusive to TWB. Just 150 numbered bottles. Littlemill 26 Year Old 1988 vintage Lowland single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill sherry hogshead distilled November 1988 and bottled March 2015 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Selected and bottled Exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Just 150 numbered bottles from this lost distillery.

Nose: A light gold whisky with a nose of vanilla custard powder giving way to apples, pears and slightly leafy notes of butterscotch coming through late. Taste: On the palate it has a creamy mouthfeel with butter shortbread at the start, followed by apple skins and a cinnamon note. Finish: The finish is long, dry and slightly fruity, with a hint of oak.

Littlemill Distillery was established in 1772 to the west of Bowling by the north shore of the River Clyde and on the main road into Glasgow. Subsequent modifications during the 1930s resulted in a number of novel features including double ventilation towers which sat over a single drying kiln and pot stills with rectifiers rather than the traditional swan necks. The combination of pot and column stills in Littlemill Distillery was designed to produce malt whiskey which was expected to mature quickly. When production ceased in 1992 Littlemill Distillery was the oldest working malt whiskey distillery in Scotland. Closed in 194 and demolished in 2006 and now Littlemill is a lost Scottish distillery although the shell of the manager’s house remains.

Shop £599.95

Wemyss Malts add two new Highland malt whiskies to their Family Collection range

Family run whisky makers Wemyss Malts have released two additional bottlings into its Family Collection range of blended Scotch malt whiskies and have named them ‘Blooming Gorse’ and ‘Flaming Feast’ after the flavours found in each whisky.

Both malt whiskies have been crafted from the family’s private collection of maturing whisky casks which were sourced by Isabella Wemyss and filled under her supervision. Years later, the mature whisky casks were selected by famed whisky writer Charlie Maclean and the Wemyss Malts team only when the spirit and casks had reached absolute balance and harmony, ready for crafting into exceptional blended malt whiskies.

‘Blooming Gorse’ is the third release of the Wemyss Family Collection range. It is a combination of two Highland single malts matured in a total of fifteen 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels and 1^st fill ex-bourbon hogsheads. Blooming Gorse is a malty and floral Highland Scotch whisky with the fresh notes of coconut, gorse flowers and vanilla. 6900 bottles have been produced.

‘Flaming Feast’ created as the fourth release of the Wemyss Family Collection range, is a combination of fifteen casks from two smoky single malt distilleries from the east Highlands and west coast, Inner Hebrides. Contrasting sweet and maritime smokes, as well as maturation in either 1st fill bourbon barrels or spicy de-charred and re-charred American oak casks lead to a mouth-watering and complex whisky. The 6000 bottle release of Flaming Feast is noted for a complex mix of sweet and savoury smoke, heather-honey and wood spice.

Each Wemyss Family Collection release focuses on a specific influence that impacts Scotch malt whisky, be it regional, spirit style or cask effect. For these two releases The Wemyss Malts blenders decided to focus on the Highland region for these twin releases, as whisky blender and Wemyss Malts brand manager Steven Shand explains:

 “The brief we set for these blended malts was to really illustrate the diversity of Highland malt whisky and show that there really is no one Highland regional style. Casks selected for the Family Collection are always very well balanced with active oak therefore the recipes were purposely kept simple. We selected casks from only a few single malt varieties for each blend to find complementing flavours that establish depth and complexity once combined and left to marry.”

Both blended malts are bottled non chill-filtered, in their natural colour and are 46% abv. They are presented in screen printed 70cl bottles with a striking charcoal and copper detailed gift carton.

Wemyss Family Collection; Blooming Gorse and Flaming Feast will be available initially  to Wemyss Malts Cask Club members and then in June from selected retailers in the UK, EU and Asian markets with suggested retail prices of £46 and £48 respectively.

Notes:

• Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is family run company operated by brother and sister William and Isabella Wemyss. The Wemyss family Castle has been home to the family since the 1300s and is featured in the company logo.
• Blooming Gorse and Flaming Feast join the Wemyss Family Collection range with previous releases being Vanilla Burst and Treacle Chest in 2017. Wemyss Malts craft blended malt whiskies such as The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney as well as Batch Strength versions and single cask whiskies.
• Wemyss blended malts have recently won double gold medals for The Hive and Spice King as well as ‘Best in Class’ for The Hive at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The latest release of The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney Batch Strength, Batch No.002 all received gold medal wins from the Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters.
• The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include Lord Elcho blended Scotch whisky and Darnley’s Gin, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.

The family opened a single malt distillery at Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews in Fife and in July 2017 also added Darnley’s Gin distillery to the site. www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

GlenAllachie Wood Finishes

GlenAllachie PX Wood

Colour: Rich Mahogany.

Nose: A storm of raisings, sultanas, dark chocolate, bananas and orange peel.

Taste: Brimming with fruit cake, dark chocolate, toffee, bananas, orange peel and sweet spices.

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GlenAllachie Port Wood

Colour: Red Ruby.

Nose: Waves of heather honey and sweet spice, laced with rose hip and dark chocolate.

Taste: A flood of heather honey, butterscotch and treacle, with damson, rose hip and dark chocolate.

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GlenAllachie Koval Rye

Colour: Rich Gold.

Nose: Full on rich spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, with waves of honey and butterscotch.

Taste: Intense sweet spices enriched with honey, butterscotch, cooking apples and cloves.

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Two Great Distilleries Prove Their Mastery with an Inspired Bourbon
Legent Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey ($44.99)

“Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together— incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.” —Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

One of the most exciting projects in the whiskey world of late has been Beam Suntory looking to bring together their expertise from East and West in a single project. Legent, a Bourbon that blends the unique traditions of these two distillers, is every bit as good as one might imagine. This divine dram begins with a four year Bourbon crafted by none other than Beam’s Master Distiller, Fred Noe. A small portion of the final blend is aged in a combination of sherry and red wine casks, adding impressive range and complexity. Building on this excellent foundation, Suntory’s fifth-generation Chief Blender, Shunji Fukuyo, then adds reserves from Beam’s vast collection of older Kentucky Straight Bourbons. The result is a bottling that is as ethereal as it is delicious. Simply put, it is an all-American Bourbon with the elegance and refinement of Japanese whisky—a truly magical combination. As the staff notes below will attest, this one-of-a-kind whiskey far outperforms its modest price and constitutes one of the better buys we’ve encountered in 2019. We were fortunate to receive a solid allocation, but once word gets out just how good it is, it is destined to sell out in a flash.

Legent Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($44.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019

Generally “innovative” in the bourbon industry is a shield word for an experiment gone wrong. Not so in this case! Beam Suntory, one of the world’s most important drinks companies, is in a unique position through ownership of two of the most important brands in two of the hottest categories in the spirits world – bourbon and Japanese whisky. A quick coating of your glass with Legent and you’ll fill the room (or cubicle in my case) with robust cinnamon, sweet dried fruits, caramel, candied popcorn, vanilla, and a smooth sense of calm. The 47% ABV is just perfection for sipping neat. The judicious use of sherry and red wine casks on only a fraction of the whisky adds complexity without overpowering the inherent bourbon-ness of the spirit. Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together – incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 18, 2019

Generally “innovative” in the bourbon industry is a shield word for an experiment gone wrong. Not so in this case! Beam Suntory, one of the world’s most important drinks companies, is in a unique position through ownership of two of the most important brands in two of the hottest categories in the spirits world – bourbon and Japanese whisky. A quick coating of your glass with Legent and you’ll fill the room (or cubicle in my case) with robust cinnamon, sweet dried fruits, caramel, candied popcorn, vanilla, and a smooth sense of calm. The 47% ABV is just perfection for sipping neat. The judicious use of sherry and red wine casks on only a fraction of the whisky adds complexity without overpowering the inherent bourbon-ness of the spirit. Just as you’d expect from Beam and Suntory bringing their great whisky heads together – incredible Kentucky bourbon in the elegant and sophisticated Japanese profile. A home-run hit with a cool concept and perfect execution.

Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 26, 2019

The power of suggestion can be extremely influential, so when I heard about this new Beam Suntory project, of course I had predetermined thoughts on what it might taste like. A bourbon blended by a Japanese blender, like a beautiful Venn Diagram combining the flavors of bourbon with the preferences of a Japanese palate. It’s two worlds I thought would never cross, but they did. And it works. On the nose, you get the big, expressive aspects of bourbon with red cherries, candy corn, and dried plums, but then there’s a sherry and marzipan note that kicks in and is reminiscent of an older scotch. The palate has a silky smooth texture with wood tannins drying out at the end. Notes of dried orchard fruits mingle with cocoa powder and orange blossom honey. There’s a soft elegance throughout the dram that captures (in my mind) what people want and look for in a good Japanese whisky. As a huge fan of both Japanese and American whiskies, I can say this one absolutely did not disappoint.

Barton 1792 Distillery Introduces

12 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon 

Limited Edition Bourbon will be Available Next (July) Month  

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (June 27, 2019) – Barton 1792 Distillery unveils the latest in its line of limited edition releases, 1792 Aged Twelve Years. Using the same rye recipe as its flagship 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, the Aged Twelve Years expression is 96.6 proof.

            Master Distiller Danny Kahn describes the newest offering as, “Super-complex up front aromas. The first thing that hits the palate is a subtle but rich sweetness.  It is full, slightly creamy, with a hint of pleasant spice that settles on the tongue. At the end, there is a touch of oaky smokiness that rounds out the aromas. The subtle smokiness of the oak married to the slightly spicy rye flavors and the complex aromas are a nod to what one should expect from a well-matured bourbon. Each time I take it in, I find more and more beautiful interactions!”

The 1792 Aged Twelve Years joins other previous limited edition expressions from 1792 Distillery such as High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Single Barrel, Port Finish, Full Proof and Bottled in Bond Bourbons. The 1792 Aged Twelve Years will be available at retail in July.   One batch of the Aged Twelve Years Bourbon will be released each summer. Suggested retail pricing is $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 27 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2018 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.