The Loch Fyne Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

This limited edition expression from Bunnahabhain distillery has been hand-picked for our range of single cask releases. Distilled on Islay in September 2005 and matured in sherry cask #1312 for 12 years before bottling in October 2017 at a preferred strength of 46% abv. Only 950 bottles have been produced, each one free from chill-filtration and artificial colouring.

£80 Buy Now

The Loch Fyne Glenrothes 12 Year Old

Hand-selected for our range of single cask releases, this Speyside single malt was distilled at Glenrothes in January 2005. Matured in a single sherry cask (#2012) for 12 years before bottling in September 2017, only 1035 bottles have been produced at a preferred strength of 46% abv, free from chill-filtration and artificial colouring.

£75 Buy Now

Do Scotch Whisky Regions Still Matter? Pat Dunlop of thewhiskymafia.com weighs in on the fiery debate. No matter which side of the fence you fall on, you’ll find something to enjoy in this fantastic blog post. Maps, stock photos of Michael Jackson, wit, wisdom and more await within if you click here.

R&B Distillers launches two new editions of The Tweeddale

Award-winning craft whisky maker R&B Distillers has released two premium new whiskies: The Tweeddale The Evolution and The Tweeddale A Silent Character. The latest addition to theTweeddale collection, these characterful whiskies have each drawn inspiration from the brand’s fascinating heritage.

Co-founder of R&B Distillers, Alasdair Day, is the great-grandson of Richard Day, a master-blender in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders during the 19th Century. Alasdair inherited his great-grandfather’s whisky ‘recipes’ which had been painstakingly recorded in a cellar book – the back of an accounts ledger. Alasdair has been recreating the original Tweeddale Blends since 2009.

R&B Distillers studied Alasdair’s Great Grandfather’s recipes to create The Tweeddale A Silent Character. They discovered that Single Grain from Cambus Distillery was the whisky most consistently used in blending during the early 1900s and had been favoured by Richard Day. The name A Silent Character alludes to the fact that the Cambus distillery is now silent, having ceased whisky production in 1993 and that is a key character is many of the historic Tweeddale bottlings. This 27-year-old Single Grain Scotch Whisky is a vatting of two ex-bourbon casks: it is sweet and oaky, with honeyed notes on the nose, hints of pear, and a mineral structure on the palate. It is a limited edition bottling with fewer than 600 bottles available worldwide.

The Tweeddale The Evolution is 28 years old and the eldest Tweeddale to be released. It is fuller in character than previous impressions, with sherried and Speyside qualities. This latest edition boasts a richer and fuller character, with dark chocolate and black cherry on the nose followed by wood spice and earthy notes on the palate. This rich whisky is a luxurious addition to a sophisticated drinks cabinet. Having analysed the cellar book R&B Distillers have carefully predicted the direction that they believe Richard Day was heading in with his blends had he continued to produce after WWII. The Evolution is their homage to this.

R&B stands for Raasay and Borders, two uncommon terroirs brought together through one unique whisky company. Co-founder Alasdair Day embodies this coupling. His great grandfather, Richard Day was a master-blender in the Borders, while his other great grandfather, Allan MacDonald, hailed from the Hebrides. It is this split history that prompted R&B to build a distillery on the remote Isle of Raasay in the Inner Hebrides and the plans for a subsequent distillery in the Borders region.

R&B Distillers whiskies:

Award-winning craft whisky maker R&B Distillers has released two premium new whiskies: The Tweeddale: Evolution and The Tweeddale: Silent Character. These limited edition blended malts are the latest addition to the Tweeddale collection and have been inspired by the brand’s fascinating whisky heritage. Co-founder of R&B Distillers, Alasdair Day, is the great-grandson of Richard Day, a master-blender in the Coldstream in the Scottish Borders during the 19th Century. Alasdair inherited his great-grandfather’s whisky ‘recipes’ which had been painstakingly recorded in a cellar book. Alasdair has been recreating the original Tweeddale Blends since 2009.

The Tweeddale A Silent Character – £175

R&B Distillers studied co-founder Alasdair Day’s Great Grandfather’s recipes to create The Tweeddale A Silent Character. They discovered that Single Grain from Cambus Distillery was the whisky most consistently used in blending during the early 1900s and had been favoured by Richard Day. The name A Silent Character alludes to the fact that the Cambus distillery is now silent, having ceased whisky production in 1993 and that is a key character is many of the historic Tweeddale bottlings. This 27-year-old Single Grain Scotch Whisky is a vatting of two ex-bourbon casks: it is sweet and oaky, with honeyed notes on the nose, hints of pear, and a mineral structure on the palate. It is a limited edition bottling with fewer than 600 bottles available worldwide.

The Tweeddale The Evolution – £175

The Tweeddale The Evolution is 28 years old and the eldest Tweeddale to be released. It is fuller in character than previous impressions, with sherried and Speyside qualities. This latest edition boasts a richer and fuller character, with dark chocolate and black cherry on the nose followed by wood spice and earthy notes on the palate. This rich whisky is a luxurious addition to a sophisticated drinks cabinet. Having analysed the cellar book R&B Distillers have carefully predicted the direction that they believe Richard Day was heading in with his blends had he continued to produce after WWII. The Evolution is their homage to this.

35.196: A Moroccan ‘snake cake’

Every home should have a special whisky on stand-by in the run up to Christmas.  Released online today, 35.196: A Moroccan ‘snake cake’ is the perfect bottling to break open with friends and family – or simply as a special treat for yourself. This 14-year-old dram comes from our Deep Rich & Dried Fruits flavour profile, drawn from an ex-chardonnay refill barrique.  The palate bursts with festive flavours, with spiced plum jam, dark chocolate-covered stem ginger and an orange olive oil cake with candied walnuts.

As such an approachable dram, 35.196: A Moroccan ‘snake cake’ is guaranteed to please your guests if you’re entertaining, and is the ideal whisky to pair with your Christmas dinner.

Cask No. 35.196 A Moroccan ‘snake cake’ Age: 14 years Price: £54.20

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

Sullivans Cove Limited Edition Double Cask “DC095”

In conjunction with our new website we’re excited to release our first special edition Double Cask single malt whisky (DC095) which has been crafted exclusively for you, our mailing list members. Made with a combination of individually selected French oak ex-tawny and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and normally bottled at 40% ABV, DC095 is bottled at 49.6% ABV and unfiltered so you can experience Sullivans Cove in its raw form.  Being unfiltered this special edition Double Cask may have very small particles in the whisky, otherwise known as flock. These are completely natural, perfectly safe and represent an amazing array of flavours and textures that contribute to the whisky’s character and mouthfeel.  There are only 957 bottles of this special edition Double Cask. As mailing list members, you have exclusive access to purchase this whisky prior to general release. “We’ve wanted to do this for a really long time. The higher alcohol percentage holds the body of the spirit perfectly and packs a flavour punch.” Patrick Maguire, Head Distiller.

Please click on the link below to purchase ($170 per bottle)

PUCHASE NOW

Check out our new website and Patrick Maguire talking about flock

https://sullivanscove.com/

https://sullivanscove.com/journal/flocking-and-filtration/

*DC095 limit one bottle per customer

The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Gift Pack

This is the modern interpretation of the Macallan style for which the distillery is so well known – refined, rich, and rounded with plenty of sherry cask influence. Very definitely a dram to be enjoyed with friends. This limited edition gift pack comes with two glasses etched with the Macallan logo featuring the manor house at the heart of the Macallan Estate.

£74.95

The nights have drawn in and there’s a chill in the air – Christmas is coming, and this year we are unwrapping an extra special present, with the release of our third bottle from The Vaults Collection.

Drawn from our treasure trove of single cask whiskies, The Vaults Collection encompasses the finest and rarest casks, and this latest bottling is no exception. 29.234 Smoked and salted toffee apples, a 27-year-old single malt from Islay, has been maturing in a refill oloroso butt since 1989. Now, after the angels have taken their substantial share, the time has finally come to release 368 bottles of this perfectly balanced combination of peat, smoke and sherry.

With such depth and harmony incredibly hard to find and even more difficult to achieve, 29.234 Smoked and salted toffee apples is an outstanding piece of whisky history. Whisky expert and author Hans Offringa describes it as “…a love letter in liquid form, its gentle smokiness leaving me staring dreamily into the dying embers of a beach bonfire”.

Less than 200 bottles of this iconic bottling are ON SALE NOW in the UK and EU, and will be available to ship from Wednesday 6 December.  You’ll need to be quick, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever – and its likes won’t be seen again. Treat a very special someone to the ultimate whisky present – or maybe just yourself. It’s almost Christmas after all.

DISCOVER MORE

Complete your Collection

If you are feeling indulgent this festive season, why not also secure one of the last remaining bottles of 24.129 Meeting an old master to add to your set of The Vaults Collection? This aged beauty from a much sought-after distillery has proven popular with members, so this is your last chance to buy it while you can. Let the whisky transport you back to a bygone age to experience the distillery’s traditional style of maturation. You can also try 24.129 Meeting an old master in our Edinburgh and London Members’ Rooms. Go on, make it the perfect gift to yourself – you’ve been good this year!

MORE INFO

We’re pleased to announce that our Member Services team are now available from 8am right through until 6pm, Monday – Friday. Call +44 (0)131 555 2929 or email sales@smws.com for help to purchase memberships, order that must-have bottle or find the perfect gift.

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

The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive 10^th Anniversary Whiskies!  

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign and Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign 10th Anniversary bottlings. 

These are the sixth and seventh additions to The Whisky Barrel’s range of exclusive bottlings commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the retailer established in 2007 and which is now renowned as one of the world’s leading whisky and spirits merchants.

The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign

The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign was distilled at the now lost Dumbarton Distillery in the Lowland region of Scotland and bottled by Hunter Laing & Company Ltd exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Aged for 30 years in cask refill #HL14247 yielding 160 bottles at natural cask strength.

Dumbarton Distillery was a single grain distillery built in Dumbartonshire in the 1930s, at which time it was the largest in Scotland. Dumbarton closed in 2002 and has since been demolished, making The Whisky Barrel’s exclusive Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign a very special addition to any collection.

The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign

The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign was distilled at the now lost Carsebridge Distillery in Alloa and bottled by Hunter Laing & Company Ltd exclusively for The Whisky Barrel. Aged for 44 years in refill hogshead cask #HL14189 yielding 150 bottles at natural cask strength.

Carsebridge distillery dates to 1798, making malt whisky at first before moving to grain whisky production in 1850. The distillery was destroyed by fire in 1902 but underwent a major re-development and was doing well again by 1927. By 1980 Carsebridge was the largest grain distillery in Scotland but it closed in 1983 and was the demolished in 1992. All that is left of the distillery are very few casks in warehouses across Scotland which makes the Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign a rare and special find for cognisors and collectors alike.

Both notable bottlings are available exclusively from The Whisky Barrel, shipping to customers Worldwide including the United States of America, Canada and Japan. 

https://www.thewhiskybarrel.co.uk/dumbarton-30-year-old-1987-sovereign-10th-anniversary-14247.html

https://www.thewhiskybarrel.co.uk/carsebridge-44-year-old-1973-sovereign-10th-anniversary.html

Tasting notes for The Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 Sovereign: 

Colour: A soft pale gold colour.

Nose: A gentle nose of vanilla and toffee.

Taste: The palate is fruity and sweet with notes of citrus coming through.

Finish: A lovely clean finish with just a hint of smokiness. 

Price: £93.92 GBP / $103 USD (+ P&P)

Tasting notes for The Carsebridge 44 Year Old 1973 Sovereign: 

Colour: A vivid golden whisky.

Nose: A complex nose with pleasing notes of cocoa and sweet berries.

Taste: The palate is smooth with traces of caramel and those sweet berries coming through.

Finish: The finish is long and satisfying. 

Price: £177.65 GBP / $192 USD (+ P&P) 

The Whisky Barrel

E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com

Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com/

T: +44 (0)845 2248 156

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Well hello, where have you been all this time? Christmas is the perfect time to catch up with old friends, so we’ve just released two new casks from distilleries we haven’t seen in a while. Full of juicy fruits and mouth-watering sweet flavours both these whiskies are delicious, delightful and decadent. Limited bottles are available, order now to avoid disappointment.

Cask No. 65.5  Old-school Speyside Age: 21 Years Price: £175

Cask No. 68.10 Delicious, delightful, decadent! Age: 7 Years Price: £48

To Join:

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

DISCOVER A NEW TRILOGY OF LUXURY WHISKIES CRAFTED AT THE HOME OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST SCOTCH MATURATION WAREHOUSE

Introducing the Vintner’s trilogy from bowmore islay single malt scotch whisky,

a unique collection of luxury whiskies matured in wine casks

Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Whisky has announced the launch of the Bowmore® Vintner’s Trilogy. Launching from September, the trilogy will feature a collection of exceptional single malt whiskies; Bowmore® 18 Year Old Double Matured Manzanilla, Bowmore® 26 Year Old Wine Matured and a final 27 Year Old bottling to be released in 2018. The trilogy has been created in the Hidden Depths of Bowmore®’s No.1 Vaults, the world’s oldest scotch maturation house, imbuing the signature Bowmore® flavour with attributes of the finest ex-wine, sherry and port casks.  

DISCOVER HIDDEN GEMS

Nestled on the edge of the island of Islay, with the tumultuous waves of the Atlantic crashing against the walls of the maturation warehouse, expertly chosen casks transform single malt whisky into Bowmore®’s liquid gold. Within the maturation warehouse lays hidden casks waiting to be discovered as a result of generations of distilling expertise and the unique sea-buffeted atmosphere within the No. 1 Vaults. Bowmore®’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, established in 1779, is the birthplace of coveted whiskies including the latest premium collection that is the Vintner’s Trilogy. Explore the depths of the legendary vaults and discover the hidden casks, matured for 18 years or more, to create the Vintner’s Trilogy. Matured in manzanilla sherry, wine, bourbon and Islay malt barrels, these whiskies boast extra layers of flavour unique to this collection.

BOWMORE 18 YEAR OLD DOUBLE MATURED MANZANILLA

The first of the Vintner’s Trilogy, Bowmore® 18 Year Old is matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and ex-manzanilla sherry barrels, taking on a rich antique gold colour. On the nose, notes of treacle, salted caramel, ripe blackcurrants, soft stone fruits, vanilla fudge and spiced Seville oranges sit alongside subtle hints of menthol and chamomile. These aromas develop into bitter oranges and a burst of peat smoke on the palate to create this refined whisky. Bowmore®’s 18 Year Old Double Matured Manzanilla will be available from specialist whisky retailers at RRP $127| €110 | £105.

BOWMORE 26 YEAR OLD WINE MATURED

The second in the trilogy, Bowmore® 26 Year Old Wine Matured spends time in ex-bourbon barrels and wine barriques, developing a burnt amber colour. Redcurrant jam, camphor oil and cherry pie intermingle with earthy smoke on the nose, developing into spiced oak, tropical fruits such as papaya and mango and a honeyed sweetness with the addition of water. A full-bodied whisky, on the palate the flavours develop into oak spiced smoke and rich dark chocolate with a long finish and a hint of salt typical of Bowmore®. Bowmore®’s 26 Year Old Wine Matured will be available from specialist whisky retailers at RRP $540 | €420 | £400.

BOWMORE 27 YEAR OLD

The final whisky in the trilogy set to be released in 2018, Bowmore® 27 Year Old will complete the collection. 

David Turner, Bowmore® distillery manager, comments: “The Vintner’s Trilogy is a collection of three liquid gold whiskies which have been meticulously matured over time in our No.1 Vaults. The unique, sea-buffeted atmosphere inside the oldest scotch maturation warehouse in the world has created three perfectly balanced whiskies full of flavour, with each whisky offering an individual taste journey through their time maturing in manzanilla sherry, wine, bourbon and Islay malt casks.”

 www.bowmore.com

Facebook.com/BOWMORE

Twitter.com/BOWMORE

Instagram.com/BOWMORE

Notes:

The Vintner’s Trilogy collection and its name has been inspired by Bowmore®’s use of ex-wine and sherry barrels to create their perfectly balanced whiskies. The trilogy celebrates the distillery’s legendary Scotch maturation warehouse, the No. 1 Vaults, the oldest in the world. 

ABOUT BOWMORE®

Founded in 1779, Bowmore® is the oldest distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky.  The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands.  Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore® is no exception; the malt is carefully smoked in a peat-fired kiln, using skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore®’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of its Single Malts. Today, it prides itself as one of the rare distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery.  Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones – the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore® Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.  It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

ISC 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

ISC 2017 | Silver for 18 Year Old (Domestic)

ISC 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 15 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 10 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 18 Year old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

Bowmore supports www.drinkaware.co.uk

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamsuntory.com/ and www.drinksmart.com.