We’ve been lucky to be in the perfect position to take advantage of the Scotland’s incredible bounties. To be able to turn around and sell these wonderful casks at well below market value is an absolute privilege and the result of years of hard work and tenacity. The value of any particular whisky is a function of its age and the desirability of the distillery that made it. To acquire stocks from grade A distilleries aged upwards of 30 years is not an easy task. There’s only ONE reason why blenders don’t let go of these old whiskies, they can actually turn them into serious profits. Chivas or Ballantine’s 30 Year sells for $600+ if you can find them. Diageo now sell a 37 year old Linkwood in Europe right now for £600+.

These are names that move the needle and create value for the distillers. So when our suppliers mention the availability of old whisky from renowned distilleries, we sharpen our pencils. Historically, we wouldn’t bat an eye to charge $300+ for 30+ year old Single Malt from a renowned distillery. Even recently we’ve had great success selling similarly aged Linkwood for nearly $200 a bottle. Of course price is not the only thing that matters. These are top notch casks of tremendous quality. While they’re certainly not inexpensive, they do represent some of the best values we’ve seen in years. To experience the majesty of old Scotch is a privilege, but the pursuit of happiness, is your right – so have at it.

1989 Linkwood 27 Year Old “John Milroy” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $250) ($149.99)

The Linkwood distillery is one of the crown jewel’s in the Diageo portfolio. The distillery was originally constructed in 1821 and licensed in 1825 making it one of Speysides oldest. Much like Clynelish, in the 1970s a second distillery was erected next door and the original distillery shuttered in 1985. Today the washbacks from both distilleries are still in use, but the stills at the “old” Linkwood are silent. It remains highly prized for blending because it offers a wonderful balance between rich fruit and bold malt. Here we have a stupendous single cask, this one well into its third decade of maturation. It’s extremely rare to see Linkwood at this age, Linkwood above 25 years old becomes an absolute rarity. That’s why we had no problem selling a similarly aged Linkwood from Signatory for $200 not long ago. The style here is ultra classic aromas of baked apples, fresh bartlett pear, earthy malt, and subtle vanilla. On the palate the richness is impressive, the natural result of incredible concentration over nearly three decades. While this is a relatively low abv cask strength it remains incredibly full and textured. On the palate, big fudge cocoa elements pop up around sweet vanillas, subtle antique wood notes and rich orchard fruits. The perfect balance between sweet fruit, malty richness and exotic savory qualities. This is one of those no brainer whiskies for people who really care about complexity over power. No more than the tiniest drop of water for this one.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 21, 2017

Here is some really old whisky from a great hard to find distillery for a wonderful price. The nose is all fudge, fruit, and sweet malt. Please don’t add more than the tiniest drop of water (if that) as it’s naturally down to near 90 proof. It must have been in a very humid part of the warehouse. Some air and we start to get baking bread, whiffs of marmalade and old exotic wood. The palate is ultra buttery in texture, luscious and fruit forward. A stupendously drinkable old malt that remains fresh and ultra balanced despite the intense age. A total treat to find such old wonderful whisky at this spectacular price.

Anthony Russo | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2017

This Linkwood has an awesome, and very unique, “old wood” aroma that instantly makes your head spin (in a GREAT way). Beautiful and muted citrus zest, dark molasses, and a faint musky undertone round this scotch out. With loads of complexities and a great mouthfeel, the easy-going alcohol content make this juice go down nice and smooth. Grassy notes on the palate truly give this Scotch a sense of place. Settle into the couch after dinner with a glass of this.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 18, 2017

I always look forward to getting a bottling from Linkwood because Linkwood usually offers both good aromatics and great flavors. This bottling from John Milroy has an expressive and pronounced nose of honey and beeswax. In the mouth it is juicy with light and pretty notes of honey and a delicious finish. I tasted this offering with no additional water.

1982 Miltonduff 34 Year Old “John Milroy” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $300) ($229.99)

The exceptional Miltonduff distillery, located in the tiny hamlet of the same name, is a rarity on the independent bottler scene due to its importance in the Ballentine’s blend. The blenders must have misplaced this cask because none of them need their Miltonduff this old! Legend says that Miltonduff is located in the old mill for the Pluscarden Abbey, which was erected near by in 1236. That means they’ve likely been making whisky at this site well before the legal production was authorized by the 1823 Excise Act. The distillery was registered in 1824 and eventually purchased by Hiram Walker in 1936 to eleviate pressure on stocks for their popular blended brand Ballantine’s. This stupendous single cask of ultra aged Speyside malt actually represents an incredible value for malt whisky this old. There’s a reason why companies are able to take whisky that’s been around for 3 decades, slap an age statement on it and charge $1000 a bottle. No other product achieves the nuance and complexity of good single malt, particularly one not obstructed by heavy oak or wine influence, after 30+ years in a cold damp Scottish warehouse. Here we have this incredible depth and vibrancy on the nose. Expect notes of quince jelly, fresh apricots, shiso leaf, navel oranges, exotic honey and flinty Riesling. We rarely see malt quite like this and almost never something so old and intellectual at this price. An absolute must have for lovers of the old school style of single malt.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 21, 2017

This old Miltonduff really got me going. It’s not some sherried old monster, but instead the most delicate and complex old style malt. I normally wouldn’t bother with water on something this old, but I found the tiniest possible addition of water served this whisky well. The nose is heady with lemony herbs, linseed oil, fresh Mirabel, and touches of mint. The palate has this dense tropical fruit, deep fudge chocolate, oatmeal with a touch of brown sugar on top. An absolutely lovely old malt in a very delicate restrained style. Totally magical and a must have if you can spare the coin.

Anthony Russo | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2017

Awesome complexities: soft stone fruit, dried tobacco wood, butterscotch, all leading to a lightly prickly, smooth finish. Make this your “Friday night and not sharing with anyone” special bottle.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 18, 2017

Like so many of the Milroy line this bottle of Miltonduff is all about beautiful complexity and elegance, the finesse of a master rather than the punch of youth. Slightly sweet floral notes with hints of mint and citrus give way to a layered mid palate of dried orchard fruit, a touch of vanilla and toffee with a long finish. This is the magic of old Miltonduff, this is beautifully matured Scotch.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 18, 2017

This older single malt is still alive with energy and flavor and is not over the hill. The nose offers notes of honey and caramel. In the mouth it is complex with caramel, malt and honey flavors. With the addition of a splash of water there is a creamy mouthfeel but one does not need water to enjoy this whiskey. This is one of the better old single malts that I have tasted.

Deanston 40 Year Old

45.6% vol. / 70cl

£1,000.00

Hailing from a Highland distillery housed in a former cotton mill, this 40 year old single malt is one of only 480 bottles produced. Consisting of spirit from refill casks and Oloroso sherry casks, Deanston 40 Year Old is presented non chill-filtered for an authentic taste and natural colour.

Nose: the distillery’s distinctive honey and tropical fruit notes with rich oak, sweet malt, vanilla fudge and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate: sweet heather honey fills the mouth along with pear and apples, before the sweet malt, vanilla fudge and rich oak of the nose develop further.

Finish: long with sweet honey and fruit lingering.

Direct-Import Exclusives – Classic Single Malts At Very Attractive Prices

“Both Benrinnes and Longmorn make classic Highland Scotch and these two specimen are as classic as they come.”

– David Driscoll, K&L Assistant Head Buyer

The most recent additions to our “Old Malt Cask” line-up are sure-fire winners on every level. Coming from Longmorn and Benrinnes these are classically styled Highland scotches that are so attractively priced that it’ll be next to impossible to pass them up. The Benrinnes 19 Year Old is a fruity, flashy, and friendly version that also offers a good dollop of richness and spiced complexity. We sold a similar bottling from Signatory for $100, so the sub-$70 price tag makes this malt all the more attractive. The Longmorn 20 Year Old for its part is a glorious rendering from this Highland stalwart. Noteable for its broad palette of flavors, it offers an array of vanilla, butterscotch, mellow oak, and subtle fruit notes. Other scotches of a similar age and profile will easily cost 30% more elsewhere, making this a stunning value. We continue to be thrilled to be able to offer these direct import exclusives as they are among the best finds in the world of spirits.

To learn more be sure to check out our recent Spirits Journal post.

1997 Benrinnes 19 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($69.99)

There are few things more pleasing to the K&L staff than a new single cask exclusive from Benrinnes distillery, a Johnnie Walker producer that has become the darling of the sales team over the last few years. While typically not sold individually as a single malt whisky, the Highland producer makes one of the fruitiest, friendliest, and easy-to-love profiles in all of Scotland, one that offers a straightforward creaminess and a somewhat decadent finish despite its standard hogshead barrel maturation. The nose is a heavy dollop of toffee and fudge, but the color is a golden straw. There’s no sherry influence to this single cask noticeable from the appearance, yet the flavors are rich and heady. The palate offers an initial burst of herbaceous spice, but that quickly oozes into sweet custard, chocolate with nuts, and candied tropical fruit finish with hints of macaroon cookies. The best part about this cask of Benrinnes, however, is its ridiculous price. Our last cask of Benrinnes 20 year from Signatory sold out quickly at $100, yet here we’re offering a near 20 year barrel of a similar quality for only $69.99. We can thank the drop in the Pound/Dollar ratio for the extra discount, and our spirits team for passing along that savings to you!

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 15, 2017

I’d say not only is Benrinnes my favorite Highland distillery in Scotland, I’d say it’s also one of the most consistently wonderful. Not only is the malt deliciously sweet, so are the people who work there. Because Benrinnes isn’t sold as a single malt brand, the distillery isn’t open to the public, but when we popped by a few years ago to visit they were so welcoming to us and gave us the full tour. The whisky is used almost entirely for Johnnie Walker, but we’ve been lucky to sneak a few casks over the years. The tall pot stills allow for a round and rich spirit that stands completely on its own, without the need for sherry maturation or peat. This is a supple, round, and dangerously drinkable whisky that we will buy every single time we get the chance. This new OMC expression drinks very much like our 20 year Signatory selection from Benrinnes, but for about 30% less the price.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 15, 2017

This is a single malt for someone looking for something that is pretty, subtle and easy. It has a nice soft and delicate nose with hints of malt and bees wax. In the mouth this theme continues with malt and honey flavors. This cask is on the light side with lots of nuance and beauty. I tasted this with not added water.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 13, 2017

I am always excited when I see a new bottling from Benrinnes, being introduced to them when I started at K&L opened my mind up to what truly elegant single malt could taste like. For those seeking the lighter more refined and subtle side of a bottle here is a truly delightful offering. Very light nose of vanilla and early orchard fruit lead to a long and lean mid-palate with vanilla, very light milk chocolate, some grassy notes and a touch of sweet custard. The finish was classic Benrinnes for me being long with some heat and spice that fade to a nutty aftertaste and just seem to go on forever.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 10, 2017

An easy and generous whisky. The nose is full of vanilla and toffee and offers a slight hint of dried hay. Cream and sweet pudding combine with cornbread and baked granola on the palate to offer a heady beer-esque flavor. The finish is long and slightly lingers with a slight nuttiness. An all-around pleasureful dram.

1996 Longmorn 20 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

Longmorn is one of the stalwarts of the Scottish Highlands, a distillery that produces one of the most consistent and classically-flavored single malts in the business. Within the industry itself, it’s a whisky heralded for its value and its ability to play well with others in a blend. There is only one widely-available officially branded version of Longmorn, which is why we often jump at the chance to snag a mature single cask when available. Known for its rich and creamy texture, flavors of honey and sweet malt, and a buttery, biscuity finish, few single malts showcase such an inherent consistency from barrel to barrel and batch to batch. This particular 20 year old single cask we selected in Scotland last year is a straight-down-the-middle expression of everything we love about Longmorn. The first sip offers sweet malted vanilla, supple oak flavors, and a butterscotch richness that coalesces into two decades worth of smooth, integrated, creamy single malt maturity. At 100 proof, the higher ABV lifts all that viscosity and adds a bit of spice on the back end that helps to balance some of the sweeter notes. This is a classic Highland whisky in the style of Glenmorangie 18, but with the grace and elegance of an Oban 18. The bigger difference here, however, is the fact that the Longmorn is two years older, higher in proof, 30% cheaper, and more intriguing than either of those two whiskies on the whole. You can thank our continued Brexit pricing for the deal!

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 15, 2017

Longmorn is such a dependable whisky that I would probably buy a cask untasted and unseen if pressed. Luckily, I don’t have to, but it’s rare that I taste an example that disappoints. This 20 year old is a carbon copy of some of the Signatory 20 year casks we did a few years back, but the Brexit pricing of the Pound nets us a serious discount here. This is honeyed, butterscotch-laden, creamy Highland malt at 100 proof that drinks beautifully both neat and on the rocks. As long as I can keep getting barrels like this for sub-$100 a bottle, expect the good times to continue rolling. This is a hot deal.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 13, 2017

This bottle is just straight up yum, I pretty much liked everything about it. The nose was an almost perfect sherry nose for me, starting with a slightly oxidized floral note that quickly developed into a rich creamy almond. Although the taste was definitely rich this was not an overly decadent whisky, rather it has plenty of caramel, and butterscotch with vanilla and almonds while maintaining an elegance and length. Soft and creamy with a little water added this has low heat and is oh so very tasty.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 12, 2017

I tasted this offering with and without water. With water the flavors are more subtle and nuanced, and without water fuller and more pronounced, as one would expect. Usually I enjoy cask-strength malts with water because it softens and opens them up. This bottle is an exception to the rule. There is a nose of sweet caramel, malt and a hint of vanilla. In the mouth is round with a malt and caramel flavors and a hint of spice.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 10, 2017

Sweet bourbon vanilla, a little salted caramel, a touch of brine like a fino sherry. This 20 year old is mellow and easy. It has a great creamy palate and a lovely bready note. It’s a bit like an older Oban, but without any trace of peat. This is a drinker’s whiskey. Pour it at the end of your workday when you don’t need to impress anyone but your own taste buds and marvel at the quality that can be had for a mere 80 bucks. As always, drink it however you like it, but I think the 100 proof mark is just perfect for something neat.

Highland Park Valkyrie

The first in the Viking Legends series from the Orkney distillery, this Island single malt dials up the Orkney peat to give a richer honeyed sweetness than the 12 year old. Matured in a combination of first-fill American sherry oak, bourbon and Spanish sherry oak casks as well as a selection of refill casks, the packaging has been created by Danish designer, Jim Lyngvild, who is of Viking lineage himself.

£55 Pre-Order Now

Orders will be dispatched week beginning 29th May

Springbank 9yo Sauternes (57.1%) is available now!

Please email: society@springbank.scot

The details you need to know are:

Springbank 9 years old
Cask type: Fresh Sauternes Hogsheads
Distilled: November 2007
Bottled: May 2017
Strength: 57.1%
Approximately 1100 bottles
Price: £45.00 per bottle.

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Tasting notes

Nose: Dunnage warehouse; bruised fruits, sun dried raisins and treacle toffee with icing sugar and port notes appearing as the nose develops.

Taste: Syrupy texture, with earthy and oaky notes, prunes, redcurrants and bramble jam.

Finish: Chewy, sweet and rich like sticky toffee pudding and christmas cake; hints of treacle, brown sugar and dark cherries.

If you would like to order a bottle (and possibly declare an interest in a 2nd bottle) just reply to this email and follow the instructions listed below.

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Purchasing and delivery/collection

Please read this section carefully as it will make the whole process go as smoothly as possible. In this section I shall explain the procedures regarding purchasing a Society bottle.

The bottle shall be available for £45.00 and initially it will be 1 per person however, once it becomes clear what the level of interest is, then it is possible you could get a second. 2 bottles per member will be the maximum, though. When you order a bottle, please state if you would be interested in a second bottle.

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We will only be taking orders by email – society@springbank.scot
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When you order a bottle, please tell us if any of the following things apply to you.

• If you would like a second bottle
• If you would like to collect it during the Campbeltown Malts Festival (very important)
• If you would like to collect it from one of our Cadenhead shops
• If you are based in Canada
• If you have any other delivery preferences (not covered by the points above) then it may be helpful, but not essential, if you would include them in your original email too.

Once you place your order you will receive an email back, letting you know that your order has been received and that a bottle has been reserved for you. As is usual with a Society release, this may take several days. Please do not be alarmed if you do not hear back immediately.

As I am sure you are all aware, this bottle is being released in close proximity to the Campbeltown Malts Festival (taking place next week). We could have waited until after the festival but that would have meant that people at the Festival could not collect their bottles so we have done our best to accommodate our guests.

As such, in the immediate aftermath of the release, we shall be prioritising orders for members who are attending the festival. These members can pay upon collection in the Campbeltown shop if they wish. After those orders have been arranged, then we shall begin to make contact with everyone else to arrange payment and delivery, where appropriate. This is where you will hear if you can receive a second bottle.

Due to the nature of this process, and the Malts Festival, it is likely that Monday 29th May will be the first day we can arrange for bottles to be shipped from Campbeltown to their destination.

If you plan to have your Society bottle(s) sent to the Edinburgh or London shops then there will be a slight change to the process when compared to previous releases. This time, deliveries to these shops will be handled in a similar way to when Society bottles are sent to the other Cadenhead shops. Instead of charging £2 per bottle and delivering them individually, we will not charge anything for delivery and they will be sent as part of the scheduled Cadenhead shipments. However, you will still pay through myself or Lauren before the order is shipped.

Again, as is standard practice with Society bottles, if you wish for your Society bottle(s) to be sent to a Cadenhead shop on mainland Europe (Odense, Berlin, Cologne, Salzburg) you will pay for them upon collection. We have processes in place to make sure these bottles arrive much faster than they have done for previous releases.

If you are based in Canada, please contact Andrew Ferguson at Kensington Wine Market about getting your Society bottle.

Excluding the USA (due to strict import laws), we are able to ship bottles worldwide so if you would like to know the shipping costs for 1-6 bottles to your country then please email me and I will send you over the details. Our prices include all taxes and costs on our side but does not cover any entry fees or taxes which may incur when the whisky reaches it’s destination country. We do not make any money from postage costs, we just charge what we have to to cover our costs.

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New Addition to the Team

As it was revealed in my newsletter last week, because the Society is now so big and this is the largest number of bottles we have ever done, it is now no longer practical for it all to be done by one person. As such, from now on my colleague Lauren Anderson will also be on hand to answer your emails and process your orders. Lauren has worked for the company for 4 years, first in the bottling hall and has now moved to join us in the office. She is also the expert when it comes to packaging and dispatching your Society bottles. Hopefully, this will mean the process moves a little faster. Please be prepared to organise payment and delivery through Lauren just as you have been doing with me in the past.
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Campbeltown Cadenhead Shop

The staff in the Cadenhead shop here in Campbeltown have asked me to pass on a message to you all. If you plan on collecting any bottles from the shop during the Malts Festival, please get in touch with the shop as soon as you possibly can and let them know. This goes for ANY bottles, whether they are Society bottles, Springbank Distillery releases, Kilkerran bottles or anything from the extensive Cadenhead range. You can contact them using the details below:

T: +44 (0)1586 551710
E: shop@cadenhead.scot
Please give them as much notice and information as possible. Thank you.
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Hopefully that all makes sense to everyone but if you do have a question just drop us an email and one of us will get back to you as soon as possible.

We will speak to you all soon and will see quite a few of you next week.
The madness starts here….

Slainte
Nathan and Lauren (Please contact the Society at Springbank Society society@springbankwhisky.com for your chance to join).

Springbank Society
Springbank Distillers

Exclusive 10th Anniversary Bottling #1

We are very excited by this! Today marks the first exclusive whiskey release of the year to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Whisky Barrel (see our recent blog to see what we are celebrating). First and foremost, here at The Whisky Barrel we specialise in Scotch Whisky. But we thought we’d turn that on its head and head to Ireland for our first exclusive 10th Anniversary bottling! So why not Scotch Whiskey? Well, we have more of that to come with more exclusive releases this year but we thought we would start by celebrating what has got us here. Variety. Most noteworthy, the wonderful independent bottling companies we work for are the epitome of variety in whisk(e)y. So without further ado, we introduce The Whisky Barrel 10th Anniversary exclusive bottling #1…

Irish Cooley, 13 Year Old, 2003, Exclusive Malts, Cask #200501

New and exclusive to The Whisky Barrel we introduce Irish Cooley, 13 year old, 2003 from the fine chaps at The Creative Whisky Co. These guys are one of the newest indie bottlers we have been working with and they have proven to be fine selectors and bottlers of whiskey.  This new release is no different. This cask was selected by them and matured in a bourbon barrel. In addition to this, and under our recommendation, it has finished for around 2 months in a singe sherry hogshead, cask #200501.  We went with a short slumber in the sherry hogshead so as not to overwhelm the initially bourbon cask matured whiskey. As a result there is a beautiful sweet note to the dram. Just 180 bottles are available of this Irish Cooley 13 year old 2003 whiskey and exclusive to buy only at The Whisky Barrel marking our 10th Anniversary.

Is It Any Good?

Of course it is. And it is a sherry fruit bomb!

Our tasting notes are as follows:

Colour– a lovely blood orange.

The nose has good amounts of vanilla and fresh apple. The first hints of spice from the sherry cask with touches of syrup. Tropical fruits emerge as well.

The palate is a grown up toffee apple. Crisp Green apple skin with a delicate sugary spiced brittle. The fruitiness makes an impression with pineapple, mango and banana.

Finally, the finish lingers with the tropical fruits and a sweet dry sherry conclusion. Overall, it is delicious whisky.

Just 180 bottles available to mark 10 years of The Whisky Barrel. So don’t miss the chance to grab a rare sherried exclusive Irish 13 year old, 2003 Whiskey. And there will be more celebratory exclusives to come soon…watch this space!

Available to buy online now exclusive at The Whisky Barrel – Irish Cooley, 13 Year Old, 2003, Exclusive Malts, Cask #200501

-New to store-
Douglas Laing  Old Particular

Douglas Laing’s “Old Particular” is a particularly unique series of individually hand-selected aged Single Cask Malts and Single Cask Single Grains from all over Scotland. Each is bottled exactly the way the distiller intended: Without colouring, or chill-filtration.

From the renowned Campbeltown distiller, this Springbank 18 year single malt old has been matured in a European sherry butt & is one of only 360 Bottles.  Digestives and candy floss are deceptive on the nose as the palate opens up to a plethora of fruits. Incredible.

Buy Springbank

490 bottles of this of this excellent heavily sherried Glenrothes.  Dark chocolate and summer berries are crept up on by a subtle ‘maltiness’.

Buy Glenrothes

Mortlach was supposedly the favourite distillery of the infamous Milroy Brothers and this bottle is no exception.  Classic Mortlach characteristics burst through here in this epic single cask.

Buy Mortlach

2017 Kilchoman Loch Gorm has Arrived!

LOCH GORM is the name given to our annually released sherry cask matured limited edition. The 2017 edition is the sixth installment of this limited release and has been matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts filled in 2009, the longest Loch Gorm maturation to date.

• Every bottle of Kilchoman is hand bottled on Islay at a minimum of 46% ABV allowing for the full-bodied character of the whisky to shine through
• We ship all our barrels whole directly to Islay. Our Bourbon Barrels are sourced exclusively from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky and our Sherry Casks from Miguel Martin in Jerez, Spain.
• Our stills are amongst the smallest in Scotland, increasing copper contact and creating unmatched balance and complexity.
• We never chill-filter or colour Kilchoman Single Malt, our whisky is a pure, unfiltered representation of traditional whisky distilling.

Nose: Orange and lemon notes, rich smoky peat and cooked fruit.

Palate: Rich chocolate, cinnamon and cloves combined with peat smoke.

Finish: Long and full bodied with a balance of sweet smoke.

“Loch Gorm is undoubtedly assertive however in the midst of it’s distinctive peat smoke and sherry character it retains a certain finesse and subtly”

Please feel free to reach out for more details on the bottling: office@impexbev.com

Oh, and since you’ve made it this far , here’s a little spoiler: The next ImpEx Cask Evolution is going to be 100% Islay finished in Sherry Casks, and it arrives at the same time as Loch Gorm!

www.impexbev.com
Our mailing address is:
ImpEx Beverages Inc.
360 Swift Ave
Side B # 9
South San Francisco, CA 94080

Glen Garioch 21 Year Old

We’re super proud to announce that another whisky from our Rare Casks series has won the prestigious ‘Recommended’ Award in this months Whisky Magazine (Issue 143).

With only 126 bottles filled from cask, stock’s very limited, so grab a bottle while you can…

Free UK shipping included.

Click here to buy

Springbank Society

Hope you are all well and that the weather where you are has been as nice as it has been in Campbeltown.

The moment we have all been waiting for is nearly upon us. The next Society bottle is nearly available… but not quite yet.

There are still a few days to go, however, I am pleased to be able to finally give you all some information about it. I know you have been waiting a while.

This newsletter is quite information heavy so please take your time to read it through, nothing here requires any of you to do anything immediately. I will give you all the information you need to purchase the new Society bottle throughout this email and most of it will be repeated when the bottle is officially released early next week.

Some members have requested that we send out a newsletter prior to the bottle being officially released to allow people to be “on the lookout” for the bottle rather than it suddenly being released with no warning at all. I agreed that this was a fairer way to release Society bottlings so this is why you are receiving an email today.

Springbank Society May 2017 Bottling

Springbank 9yo Sauternes

Springbank 9 years old

Cask type: Fresh Sauternes Hogsheads

Distilled: November 2007

Bottled: May 2017

Strength: 57.1%

Approximately 1100 bottles

Tasting notes: 

Nose: Dunnage warehouse; bruised fruits, sun dried raisins and treacle toffee with icing sugar and port notes appearing as the nose develops.

Taste: Syrupy texture, with earthy and oaky notes, prunes, redcurrants and bramble jam.

Finish: Chewy, sweet and rich like sticky toffee pudding and christmas cake; hints of treacle, brown sugar and dark cherries.

Let me be clear: the bottles are not available just yet and I will not be taking pre-orders.

Purchasing and delivery/collection

Please read this section carefully as it will make the whole process go as smoothly as possible.

In this section I shall explain some of the rules and procedures regarding purchasing a Society bottle. This will all be included again in the forthcoming email next week.

The bottle shall be available for £45.00 and initially it will be 1 per person however, once it becomes clear what the level of interest is, then it is possible you could get a second. 2 bottles per member will be the maximum, though. When you order a bottle next week, please state if you would be interested in a second bottle.

I will only be taking orders by email.  

I repeat, I will only be taking orders by email. 

When you first order a bottle, please tell me if any of the following things apply to you.

• If you would like a second bottle
• If you would like to collect it during the Campbeltown Malts Festival (very important)
• If you would like to collect it from one of our Cadenhead shops
• If you are based in Canada
• If you have any other delivery preferences (not covered by the points above) then it may be helpful, but not essential, if you would include them in your original email too.

Once you place your order you will receive an email back, letting you know that your order has been received and that a bottle has been reserved for you. As is usual with a Society release, this may take several days. Please do not be alarmed if you do not hear back immediately.

As I am sure you are all aware, this bottle is being released in close proximity to the Campbeltown Malts Festival. We could have waited until after the festival but that would have meant that people at the Festival could not collect their bottles so we have done our best to accommodate our guests.

As such, in the immediate aftermath of the release, we shall be prioritising orders for members who are attending the festival. These members can pay upon collection in the Campbeltown shop if they wish. After those orders have been arranged, then we shall begin to make contact with everyone else to arrange payment and delivery, where appropriate. This is where you will hear if you can receive a second bottle.

Due to the nature of this process, and the Malts Festival, it is likely that Monday 29th May will be the first day we can arrange for bottles to be shipped from Campbeltown to their destination.

Again, as is standard practice with Society bottles, if you wish for your Society bottle(s) to be sent to a Cadenhead shop on mainland Europe (Odense, Berlin, Cologne, Salzburg) you will pay for them upon collection. We have processes in place to make sure these bottles arrive much faster than they have done for previous releases.

If you plan to have your Society bottle(s) sent to the Edinburgh or London shops then there will be a slight change to the process when compared to previous releases. This time, deliveries to these shops will be handled in a similar way to when Society bottles are sent to the other Cadenhead shops. Instead of charging £2 per bottle and delivering them individually, we will not charge anything for delivery and they will be sent as part of the scheduled Cadenhead shipments.

New Addition to the Team

Because the Society is now so big and this is the largest number of bottles we have ever done, it is now no longer practical for it all to be done by one person. As such, from now on my colleague Lauren Anderson will also be on hand to answer your emails and process your orders. Lauren has worked for the company for 4 years, first in the bottling hall and has now moved to join us in the office. She is also the expert when it comes to packaging and dispatching your Society bottles. Hopefully, this will mean the process moves a little faster.

Campbeltown Cadenhead Shop

The staff in the Cadenhead shop here in Campbeltown have asked me to pass on a message to you all. If you plan on collecting any bottles from the shop during the Malts Festival, please get in touch with the shop as soon as you possibly can and let them know. This goes for ANY bottles, whether they are Society bottles, Springbank Distillery releases, Kilkerran bottles or anything from the extensive Cadenhead range. You can contact them using the details below:

T: +44 (0)1586 551710

E: shop@cadenhead.scot

Please give them as much notice and information as possible. Thank you.

WeChat

In addition to our existing social media platforms (you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) we are now pleased to say we are on WeChat.

Name: Springbank Distillers

WeChat ID: SpringbankWhisky

Find us there and add us to see our posts.

I think that’s everything – like I said above, you will be hearing from me in the early part of next week when the bottle is officially released…

and then the madness begins!

Slainte

Nathan and Lauren

Nathan Currie

for the Springbank Society. Please contact Nathan to join the Springbank Society.