Isle of Mull

LEDAIG 1996 VINTAGE, 46.3%
£91.95 Web Exclusive Price

Buy Ledaig 1996 Vintage

A Peated Version of One of Japan’s Most Exciting Whiskies

Kaiyo “The Peated” Mizunara Oak Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)

Kaiyo Mizunara Oak aged whiskies shook up the Japanese whiskey market last October when they were first released. Now, they’re back at it with a much anticipated peated release. After their initial release sold out, it became almost impossible to get a hold of a bottle for months. The same will certainly be true of this gorgeous peated bottling. Kaiyo “The Peated” goes through the same aging process in the coveted Mizunara oak from Ariake cooperage and spends its last 3-4 months finishing at sea. These critical months at sea are key to extracting every ounce of flavor out of the world’s most expensive whiskey casks.

The rocking of the ship, in combination with the huge temperature and humidity swings of the ocean voyage, really allows the whiskey to penetrate the oak and bring out the flavors of Mizunara oak casks – casks that command a whopping $6,500-$7,500 price tag per barrel! The hallmark Mizunara notes of sandalwood, incense, coconut, and tropical fruits are abundant and perfectly complemented by the peat that wafts through from the nose all the way to the finish. Bottles of Mizunara aged whiskies from Bowmore or Macallan will cost you well into the thousands, but Kaiyo has delivered this all for just over a hundred bucks.

Kaiyo “The Peated” Mizunara Oak Japanese Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)

Kaiyo is a negotiant bottler started by a drinks group led by former Asahi employee Mr. Watanabe. He was able to purchase “teaspooned” malt whisky barrels from an unnamed Japanese whisky supplier via his connections in the industry (“teaspooning” is when a distiller adds a teaspoon of another whisky into the barrel before selling it, thus preventing the purchaser from claiming it as a single malt from that distillery). The whiskies are purchased as teaspooned new make (unaged distillates) and then put into Japanese Mizunara oak barrels from Ariake, considered one of the best manufacturers in the world (each new Mizunara barrel costs between $6500 – $7500). For those unfamiliar with the legend of Japanese Mizunara oak, it’s become heralded in the whisky world both for the exotic flavors of incense, sandalwood, and coconut it passes along to the spirit as well as its expense. Difficult to cooper and notoriously inefficient as a vessel, editions of Yamazaki and Bowmore aged in Mizunara wood have sold at four figure prices, making the Kaiyo whiskies seem like a steal in comparison. You get an exotic note of tea and faint orange peel on the nose of the standard Kaiyo edition, but the soft and rather delicate palate brings more of the vanilla and oak character. The spices come out on the finish with lots of pepper and oolong. It’s very Japanese in its restraint, graceful from front to back without any serious peaks or valleys. And of course, this bottling is beautifully peated!

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 14, 2018

This instantly skyrocketed to my favorite of the 3 Kaiyo bottlings. The peat is just big enough to amp up everything else about the whisky but not overpower it. The first thing you notice is the incredible fruitiness of the spirit. Green apples stand out in a big way. The peat comes in a little bit later and takes the edge off of the sweet fruit. Salted caramel, sea spray, and other salty notes also hit it big on the nose. Perhaps this comes from the long ocean voyage the whiskey makes before bottling. The rocking of the ship and the intense humidity, pressure, and temperature changes from this trip allow for maximum contact and interaction between the juice and the world famous Mizunara Oak. The palate comes through with more cereal notes and lets the malt shine. The fruit dives into a more complex tropical set of flavors. Tons of coconut, pineapple, and sweet florals come out to play. The finish is quite long and presents really clean with just a graceful wafting smoke. All around a spectacular dram.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 17, 2018

Yippy-Kaiyo!This new peated expression from Kaiyo maintains the distillery’s search for balanced whiskies and graceful maturation techniques. The delicate wood grain of the Mizunara casks used for aging lends both flavor and finesse to this tasty whisky. At 92 proof with no chill filtration and the peat, this is a full-flavored dram, but no individual component overwhelms. The peat is definitely present, but it stays soft on the nose with subtle elements of chili spice with a particular restrained oak note along with floral scents. That oak comes up first on the palate but is quickly followed by the peat, maintaining the balance present in the nose. There’s a lovely vanilla cream and honey sweetness that fades into a very dry finish of that gentle lingering peat.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 13, 2018

I tasted this product with and without water. I suggest a splash of water because it really opens it up and helps show what an tasty and interesting treat this is. There are nice smoke notes in the nose. In the mouth it is soft and, like most Japanese malts, on the light side. It is the unique and complex spice flavors that set this single malt apart from the crowd. Delicious and seductive.

Glenfarclas 21 Year Old
+ free Ian Buxton book

There are so many whiskies out there that it can be difficult to know where to begin – from Speyside to Islay, Ireland to Japan, and beyond! Well, worry no longer with this handy guide from acclaimed whisky writer Ian Buxton. Start your journey with one of our favourites, number 48 in the book, and Buxton will take you through the other 100 whiskies from the four corners of the globe.

£78 Buy Now

The Macallan 18 Year Old Triple Cask

The Macallan 18 Year Old is one of the most exciting expressions in whisky right now. This 2018 Triple Cask variant offers a balance of European and American oak casks to create a flavour profile which includes notes of fresh fruits, cinnamon and chocolate orange.

As with all Macallan whisky of this age you will have to be quick. Stock is highly limited, and orders will be dealt with on a first come first served basis.

£220 Click here to buy

THE KING O’ MALTS

We’ve just released six preview casks from July Outturn that bring sophistication and granduer. Explore a breadth of full-bodied flavour and teasing textures, from rich and viscous to ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ creaminess. Only a limited number of bottles are available ahead of the full Outturn release on Friday, 6 July at 9am,
order now before they’re gone.

July also sees us celebrating our 35th anniversary with ‘The King o’ Malts’, whisky guru and chair of our Tasting Panel, Charlie MacLean. Charlie has hand-selected an exclusive collection of casks that will be released on First Friday – be quick to buy preview bottling 2.108, there are only 30 available.

VIEW WHISKY

2.108 The King o’ Malts

“A complex aroma, at once fruity, faintly vinous and nose-drying. Water enhances the sweeter elements in the aroma. The texture is oily, the taste sweet throughout, with some gingery spice in the fragrant finish”

Age: 10 years
Price: £67.50

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

21-BOTTLE SALUTE AS WHISKY LEGEND HANDPICKS MALTS FOR THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY’S 35th ANNIVERSARY 

Charlie MacLean chooses special selection of whiskies as part of milestone year for whisky club 

Whisky legend Charlie MacLean has personally selected a batch of 21 new single cask bottlings for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as part of its 35th anniversary celebrations.

The whiskies, which range in age from 8 to 29 years old and feature tasting notes written by MacLean, will go on sale exclusively to the Society’s members around the world from July. As with all Society bottlings, each one is a limited edition having been bottled from single casks of whisky.

Eight of the bottles will be available to members in the UK, including a 16-year-old from the Old & Dignified flavour category called ‘Red carpet welcome’, which is described as “full-bodied and oily; sweeter and more complex than expected, with dark toffee, pecan nuts and a trace of sea salt in the long, spicy finish”.

Special offers for non-members

While the whiskies are only available to SMWS members, the Society is launching two special membership offers for whisky fans keen to buy any of MacLean’s handpicked selections.

Non-members can buy tickets, which include a membership to the Society, to special whisky tastings in Edinburgh and London hosted by MacLean for only £125 here: https://goo.gl/Mu8n9G

The Edinburgh event on Tuesday 3 July features a tasting, food and screening of ‘The Angels’ Share’, the Ken Loach whisky film in which MacLean made a cameo appearance, at the Dominion Cinema.

The London event on Wednesday 4 July includes a tasting in the atmospheric crypt of St Etheldreda’s Church in Ely Place in London.

From Thursday 21 July non-members will also be able to buy a bottle of ‘All sweetness and light wood’, an 11-year-old from the Juicy, Oak & Vanilla profile, plus membership, for £99.

Longtime Society supporter

MacLean has been a longtime supporter of the Society; he joined the whisky club at its outset in the early 1980s, and became a chair of its renowned Tasting Panel in 1992. In 2016, he curated a selection of 30 rare discontinued whiskies from auction and his own collection for the Society’s Kaleidoscope bar in Edinburgh.

The process of nosing, sampling and selecting his favourite whiskies with The Tasting Panel took place over the course of a day at The Vaults, the Society’s private members’ rooms in Leith.

MacLean said: “It was a most enjoyable day and a fitting way to help the Society celebrate its remarkable 35th anniversary.

“In keeping with the way the Society has always sought to unearth whisky casks that are hidden gems, I was looking for samples of distinction. We came across many samples that were okay, but not yet ready for bottling. We were hunting for whiskies that were unusually good examples of the distillery character.”

Euan Campbell, the Society’s Spirits Manager, who worked with MacLean on the selection process, added: “It was a pleasure and honour to work with Charlie on his cask selections and to assess the whiskies alongside someone with his depth of knowledge.

“Ever since the Society was set up in 1983, we’ve always looked to do things differently and seek out the most amazing whiskies for our members. Having a whisky legend like Charlie choose these whiskies is a perfect example of what makes being a member of the Society such a special experience.”

For full details of the whiskies selected by Charlie MacLean, the tasting events and the special offers to non-members, visit https://goo.gl/Mu8n9G

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club that bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society only ever bottles single casks – each cask is unique, making every Society bottling a limited edition
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 135 distilleries in its history
• The Society releases a new batch of around 30 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar and Shop has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership’s packages which can be tailored. Please see smws.com/society-membership
• For more information about the Society, visit smws.com

Our Inaugural Release of the Award Winning Whiskies from Woodinville

“Remarkably, the most incredible achievement of Brett and Orlin isn’t necessarily the whiskey itself. It’s the fact that they’ve done all of this and managed to sell both the rye and bourbon for under 40 bucks! It’s the creation of real value that makes them champions in my book.”
– Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

Available for the first time outside of Washington State, we are thrilled beyond words to offer Woodinville’s whiskies. The buzz around these heavenly whiskies reached a feverish pitch after they earned Whiskey of the Year and Rye of the Year titles from The American Distilling Institute. Founded back in 2010, Woodinville’s mission was a simple one: to craft authentic grain to glass whiskies. Partnering with a third generation farmers for their grains and employing the prodigious talents of Maker Mark’s David Pickerell, founders Brett and Orlin hit upon the perfect recipe for success. No corners are cut at Woodinville and it shines through in their truly transcendent bottlings.

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($36.99)

Woodinville is a Washington State Whiskey Company established in 2010. They heard the message loud and clear about what people wanted in craft whiskey: no short cuts. They do everything grain to glass. They work with a farmer in eastern Washington for all of their rye and corn. They age everything in full sized 53 gallon barrels. And most importantly…they waited. Patiently biding their time, they opted to only release whiskey in Washington State so they slowly build their stocks and bring a truly quality product to market in the 5-6 year old range. Right when bourbon and rye start to show the remarkably complexity and flavor that makes them so popular. A truly handcrafted spirit, this high rye bourbon (72% corn, 22% rye, 6 % barley) has aromas of creme brulee and a plethora of spices. Rich caramel nougat, cocoa and sweet vanilla all play together on the palate to lead into a sweet and lingering finish.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 07, 2018

I love high rye whiskey. It represents the perfect balance for me. Wonderfully sweet corn provides the bulk of this bourbon, as is required, but the high rye and 90 proof bottling dials up the spicy content. It elevates the cocoa and mocha notes and blends them into the caramel and vanilla of the barrel. This 5+ year old bourbon is finally available outside of Washington State for the first time. Fortunately, despite its exclusive nature, it’s still super reasonably priced. And excellent bourbon at great prices means it’s perfect for cocktails…in fact, I have another Old Fashioned to make…

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 13, 2018

A welcome addition to the world of spirits. A great price for a high quality Bourbon. It is soft and round with a kiss of spice and a wonderful, juicy, long finish. The flavors are balanced out, working well together.

Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 13, 2018

The Woodinville label proudly states “real craft whisky” and I would encourage you to buy a bottle and taste the bourbon inside it; you will likely agree that it is indeed real, and craft, and delicious! I’m not sure whether it is the fact that they grow their own grain, include an important portion of rye in the mash bill, or simply that they just know what they’re doing with distillation and ageing, but this has to be one of the most exciting new Bourbons I have tried in a while. The nose suggests vanilla pastry cream and roasted peanut shells, leading to a Bourbon that is sufficiently sweet, but also well framed by spicy barrel notes. Highly recommended.

Stephanie Vidales | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2018

The coolest thing about this distillery is that they are truly grain to glass. They grow all their own grains, do everything by hand and are meticulous in their craft which really shows in this whiskey. Full of flavor, Woodinvilles Straight Bourbon shows creme brulee, caramel, vanilla, spice and a nice sweet finish. Dont miss out on this distillery’s debut to California.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 09, 2018

From the first smell in the glass you know this Bourbon is going to be something special. The rich, caramel, spice nose gives off pure, sweet aromas and the surrounding area is filled with lush notes of unadulterated whiskey. Though this one is on the plusher side, it results from softening and developing in barrel rather than through additions or intervention of any kind. This is Bourbon as it should be made, through patience and care, not through manipulation. It’s exciting to see people recognize this style as worth investing in. I’m glad this made it’s way to California and hope to see it on the shelves for years to come.

Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Whiskey (750ml ) ($39.99)

Woodinville is a Washington State Whiskey Company established in 2010. They heard the message loud and clear about what people wanted in craft whiskey: no short cuts. They do everything grain to glass. They work with a farmer in eastern Washington for all of their rye and corn. They age everything in full sized 53 gallon barrels. And most importantly…they waited. Patiently biding their time, they opted to only release whiskey in Washington State so they slowly build their stocks and bring a truly quality product to market in the 5-6 year old range. Right when bourbon and rye start to show the remarkably complexity and flavor that makes them so popular. This rye is among the elite few made of 100% rye grain. A notoriously difficult grain to work with for mashing, 100% rye typically turns into a cement like glue and is known to break distilleries machinery. The results are worth the effort. This rye is loaded with cinnamon, clove and fruit leather notes. The fruit is really the most surprising part. It’s beguiling. The palate has the requisite spice and herbal tones you’d expect from rye and the finish lasts for days.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 10, 2018

You can’t help but be struck by the nose on this Rye. It is ethereal. I was taken aback by the wonderful fruitiness to it. The baking spices make an obvious appearance and meld with the fruity tones perfectly. The palate is full of honey, bits of pepper, a touch of fresh cut grass, and cinnamon sugar. The most impressive achievement here though is certainly in the finish. It is outstandingly clean and long. While this rye is perfect to sip on its own, it is a dream in a Manhattan or Vieux Carre.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 13, 2018

This Rye has a certain restrained richness and is on the dry side for a Rye.There are spice notes and it is complex and delicious.It is a classic and a high quality product.The finish is juicy and long. A splash of water softens and opens it up. The Woodinville Rye should make most Rye drinkers very happy.

Stephanie Vidales | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 12, 2018

Rye fans should definitely check out this Washington handcrafted whiskey. You immediately know its rye from the nose by its rye bread and spice aromas. On the palate theres cinnamon, cedar, spearmint, subtly fruity notes and oak character throughout. The overall body is rich and full and is a perfect candidate for your rye cocktails.

Stefanie Juelsgaard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 09, 2018

I can’t say that my experience with 100% Rye Whiskeys is all that extensive, mostly because it’s so finicky to make, people don’t usually bother. I was struck by how light the nose was and how fresh the taste. I was expecting bitterness and punch, but what I got was floral and modern. The palate was smooth and a little woodsy and herbal. If this is the style of 100% rye we should come to expect, I plan on drinking them much more frequently. I’m very excited to see something so unique on the shelves and will definitely be adding this to my bar for something original.

New & Limited

This week has seen a flurry of activity in The Whisky Shop warehouse! We’ve had limited editions arrive from the four corners of the Scotch whisky world, including our exclusive single cask Glen Scotia available for immediate dispatch, the oldest ever official Talisker, the latest cask strength GlenDronach and the final release in Jura’s ‘One’ triliogy, all available to pre-order now.

International shipping available

Glen Scotia 2006 Bourbon Cask Exclusive

Distilled in December 2006 and matured in a single first-fill ex-bourbon barrel for eleven years, this Campbeltown single malt was bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop in April 2018. Just 212 bottles have been filled, each one presented at a cask strength of 55.6% abv.

The nose has juicy fruit notes with a trace of vanilla and a subtle maritime influence. The palate is smooth, with sweet notes from the bourbon cask adding to the classic salty Campbeltown character. The finish brings a gentle spice with oak notes lingering.

£85 Buy Now
Only available while stocks last!

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the legendary Chicago punk rock whisky bar, Delilah’s, we have once again created a limited edition Scotch whisky in collaboration with owner and whisky enthusiast, Mike Miller.

The recipe for our second homage to Delilah’s was built around a small parcel of the original Compass Box Delilah’s blend released in 2013 – a luscious, American oak-aged whisky that we aged in cask for a further five years – with the addition of malt whisky aged in Spanish Sherry casks, also made of American oak.

The final blend is a characterful whisky with notes of vanilla and spice, and rich Sherry wine character reminiscent of dried fruits and baking spices.  You can drink it any way you’d like, but we’d recommend it as a shot with a great beer, the way whisky is often enjoyed at Delilah’s.

FIND OUT MORE

I’m sad to share with you the news that ‘Asyla’, the second whisky I created when I started the company, originally released in 2001, is going out of stock for the foreseeable future.  Over the past few years, demand exceeded what we expected for this delicate whisky, and as a result we have run out of the appropriate age range of the key single malts for the recipe.  We’ve experimented with other malt whiskies, but nothing has given us the specific character we’re looking for.

So, we have decided to stop making Asyla rather than compromise its integrity.  We have stocks of these single malts aging in our inventory, and we’ll let you know if and when we’re able to bring back Asyla, perhaps as a limited edition in the future.  If you have a bottle or come across one, please do savour it in good company.

~John Hall, Whiskymaker

Great King Street Highball

Try the classic Scotch & Soda, or Scotch Highball, for a refreshing way to enjoy Scotch whisky this summer.

First, fill a chilled highball glass that has been stored in the freezer with as much ice as you can.

Add 50ml / 1 ¾ oz Great King Street Artist’s Blend and 100ml / 3 ½ oz good quality, freshly opened, refrigerated soda water.  Stir, briefly, so not to let too much carbonation escape. Add one lemon zest twisted over the glass to release its oils and then dropped into the glass, or one small sprig of mint ‘bruised’ to release the aroma.

Compass Box Whisky Co.
Chiswick Studios
9 Power Road
London, Middlesex W4 5PY
United Kingdom

TOKYO — 11 June 2018 – The world’s foremost online retailer of rare Japanese whisky, dekantā, have revealed the Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series as the company’s first private label bottling of Japanese whisky, to mark their third anniversary.

This first private label, single cask whisky from dekantā, home to the world’s largest online inventory of Japanese whisky, spotlights a little known Japanese whisky producer, while paying homage to the origins of Japanese whisky making in Scotland. The Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series (US$650; 58.4% ABV) was finished in a cask freshly emptied of Scotch Whisky from the currently ‘silent’ Port Ellen distillery. This is a highly limited release; only 300 bottles will be available. dekantā delivered the highly anticipated release as part of an exclusive event at Mayfair restaurant and bar Sexy Fish, which boasts Europe’s largest on-trade collection of Japanese whisky.

The Eigashima 2011 Kikou will be the first in the Ki Series of independently bottled Japanese whiskies from dekantā, so called because each whisky in the series will explore an aspect of life imbued with the Japanese concept of Ki – one of the most meaningful words in the Japanese language. The Kikou bottling is named after the Japanese word for ‘climate’, celebrating one of the most vital parts of Japanese whisky making. Drawing on the Ukiyo-e style of Japanese art, the label depicts a chrysanthemum, a flower local to Akashi City park which hosts the Eigashima distillery, and which also relies on the local climate to thrive.

“We have come a long way in three years and are delighted to present such a unique independent bottling of Japanese whisky to the dekantā family worldwide,” said dekantā director Makiyo Masa. “Closed in 1983, Port Ellen is now an eminent name in Scotch whisky, the Karuizawa of the Scotch whisky world. Our first private cask bottling marries the characteristics of two internationally renowned distillers.” Tasting notes indicate the Scottish seaside influence of the Port Ellen cask: A floral burst on the nose is followed by coastal notes, seaweed, beach bonfire, lemon sherbet and citrus; Lemon sherbet on the palate turns ashy, with a touch of earthiness, embers, flame roasted coffee beans, and the finish delivers burnt toffee, dry, sweet peat and dry roasted peanuts.

Eigashima 2011 (Kikou – Ki Series) will be available for worldwide delivery from dekanta.com starting on June 15th.

Notes:

About dekantā

dekantā offers customers access to the world’s largest online selection of authentic Japanese Spirits and has delivered to 127 countries across every continent in the world. A family owned and run business, dekantā’s founders have been selling collectibles since 1985 and specialize in rare, collectible, and new release single malt Japanese whisky. dekantā offers worldwide delivery on an extensive range of Japanese single malt whisky, Japanese grain whisky and Japanese blended whisky, in addition to Scotch whisky released for the Japanese market only.

About Eigashima Distillery

Fewer than 100 yards from the Harima-nada sea, Eigashima Shuzo is the closest whisky distillery to the coast in Japan, and this is reflected in the savoury, saline pure character of the distillery’s produce. A family owned distillery that has been producing traditional Japanese alcoholic beverages for over three centuries, Eigashima Shuzo was the first Japanese whisky to be granted a license to produce whisky in 1919. Eigashima is still Japan’s smallest whisky producer, with a team of just five people and very limited production.
dekanta.com

Follow dekantā on Twitter: @dekantawhisky 

Like dekantā on Facebook: facebook.com/dekantawhisky/

dekantā Press Room: https://dekanta.com/press/

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo,