We hate to be the ones to say it…

But there is now less than seventy days until ‘you know what’.

That’s right, the C-word, Christmas! This year don’t disappoint your significant other, friends or family with another set of poorly chosen socks & jocks, fitness memberships, gardening equipment or golf clubs that will just gather dust in the garage. Give the gift that keeps on giving, twenty-litres of their (or your) World’s Best single malt!

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST XMAS PRESENT EVER

Twice as nice: anCnoc Single Malt Scotch Whisky unveils the 35-year-old second release limited edition 

Premium Single Malt Scotch Whisky, anCnoc has announced the limited edition release of its most exclusive bottling to date; the balanced and full-bodied 35-year-old second release.

The liquid is being introduced with just 670 bottles available globally.

Laid to rest for over three decades in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, the casks have been carefully chosen by distillery manager Gordon Bruce and master blender Stuart Harvey.

Giving rise to a unique dram that still retains its youthful edge; the 35 year old has top notes of lemon curd, green apples and cut flowers followed by honey sweetness, creamy toffee, leather and spice. Warming wood smoke makes for a fragrant and rich aroma.

On the palate, it is oily and full-bodied with caramel honey and fresh vanilla complementing the subtle smokiness and warm spice.

Continuing anCnoc’s modern tradition proposition and reputation for bringing a contemporary edge to the craft of fine whisky production, the 35 year old is packaged in an ice-white tube with minimal monochrome branding save for an illustration of the Knock Hill, through which the crystal clear highland spring runs and forms the heart of every anCnoc whisky. 

anCnoc brand manager Stephanie Bridge commented: “The 35 year old second release is a special expression for anCnoc, having been matured for more than three decades in our traditional dunnage warehouses which still retain their earthen floors and add so much to the quality and character of this special liquid The second release has lain in ex-bourbon barrels, offering fans something slightly different to the original expression. Our limited edition is a testament to the 35 year old’s popularity with whisky lovers worldwide and we’re confident that this unique release will entice drinkers to add it to their collections.”

Like all other anCnoc Single Malts, the 35 year old is bottled in its purest form at 41% ABV, neither chill-filtered nor coloured and is priced at £500 RRP for 70cl. Available globally now.

Notes

About anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is part of the Inver House Distillers portfolio, and is produced at Knockdhu Distillery – established in 1894 and one of the smallest and most enchanting in the Scottish Highlands. It is renowned the world over by malt enthusiasts for bringing a contemporary twist to the traditions of fine malt whisky, producing a single malt that is accessible and versatile for all occasions. Cutter has been ranked in the Liquid Gold category of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 with a score of 96.5 adding to anCnoc’s portfolio of award-winning expressions. Whiskies in this category are deemed by Jim Murray as “superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live.” The anCnoc 18 year old was also awarded the title of Best Highland Single Malt in the 13-20 year old category at the World Whisky Awards 2016.

About International Beverage

International Beverage Holdings (http://www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (http://www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
• The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

Early October Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 5.48                                 $135

Stave New World

Lowland

The wood hit our noses as oak shavings, fresh-cut pine and furniture stores; then we detected eucalyptus, ginger and new leather shoes; but it was also sweet (Oreos, syrup, plum sauce on sponge) and floral. The palate’s deeper regions gave us liquorice root, black tea, cinnamon and dry oak, while its lighter face had figs, guava, raspberry jam and fruit cake. Water brought sauna wood and clove-studded ham to the nose; cough syrup, rich toffee and Chupa Chups to the palate. After 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this into a sherry butt for the remainder of its maturation.

Drinking tip: After dinner, with a cigar, at the snooker table.

Colour: Full, deep gold

Cask: Second-fill butt

Age: 14 years

Date distilled: October 2000

Alcohol: 59.6%

USA allocation: 114 bottles

Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits 

*Amanda’s Selection*

Cask No. 37.75                                       $155

Heady, aromatic and tongue-tickling

Speyside, Spey

Seventeen years in a refill barrel before finishing in Sauternes gave this a delightful nose – aromatic and heady – full of floral perfumes (sweet peas, freesias) and tropical fruits (Tooty Frooties, fruit pastilles, jam donut) with some varnished wood. The palate was lip-smacking and tongue-tickling – mainly sweet and fruity (pineapple cake, brown sugar on pink grapefruit, candied lemon, pick-n-mix) but with floral notes and playful, tingling woody spices at the end. The reduced nose found pavlova and sherbet lemons – comments included ‘warm and inviting’ and ‘my kind of whisky!’ The palate was sweetly succulent, with juicy melons and ‘dessert trolleys going by’.

Drinking tip: In a Jacuzzi, dreaming of tropical beaches.

Colour: Winter sunset

Cask: Second-fill Sauternes hogshead

Age: 18 years

Date distilled: August 1997

Alcohol: 55.1%

USA allocation: 108 bottles

Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow

Cask No. 2.94                                         $100

A mean green genie!

Speyside, Spey

Let Aladdin transport you to a land of green pear, agave, gooseberries sprinkled with icing sugar and crystalised angelica. The magic carpet of hessian scented with lavender and orange oil. Whoosh – the taste is sharp and sweet with hot chilli, fresh ginger and caramelised oranges sprinkled with plump yellow raisins. An box of exotic wood bursting with hazelnuts opens and with water, yields peaches and cream, vanilla slice and custard creams. Our genie emerges with a bowlful of crushed meringue, strawberry and melon spritzed with orange zest. The finish is short and dry…was it all a dream?

Drinking tip: Drink quickly – it will disappear in a puff of smoke!

Colour: Polished lamp

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: September 2006

Alcohol: 60.4%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

Cask No. 76.125                                     $270

Enticing sweetness and attractive wood

Speyside, Spey

The nose was complex, but settled and ‘comfortable with itself’ – enticing sweetness and attractive wood – toffees in an antique cabinet, syrup sponge, fudge, rice crispie cakes, sticky toffee pudding, charcoal and lino cuts. This delightful duality continued on the palate – mouth-flooding sweetness (maple pecan Danish, orange-flavoured dark chocolate) along-side perfumed wood, pepper, buttered toast and flower stems. With water, the nose suddenly discovered peach melba, custard apple and passion-fruit – all in a well-tended barn or ‘pristine stable’. The palate now gave us orange fondant, Chantilly cream and a spicy finish – cinnamon, clove, ginger and ‘spiced cake mix off a wooden spoon’.

Drinking tip: Best enjoyed in a country house or stately home, preferably while counting your money.

Colour: Gold reflected in a magpie’s eye

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 28 years

Date distilled: September 1987

Alcohol: 54.0%

USA allocation: 84 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

Cask No. 10.92                                       $100

Drifting away

Islay

Whilst beachcombing we came across tarry driftwood, plastic bags, devil’s toenails (fossilised oyster shells), kiwis (the fruit, not animals or people!) as well as a scallop shell midden. Always with us in the air was a barbeque peat smoke which we eventually found, joining the group having dinner. Apple-glazed ham, king prawn skewers with honey & garlic as well as a shellfish salad with lime dressing. With a drop of water, as the sun sunk into the sparkling sea, we all drifted away wave after wave, one starting to paint a boat sailing on the horizon whilst another wrote a poem.

Drinking tip: The title says it all

Colour: Manzanilla Sherry in the sun

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: December 2006

Alcohol: 61.4%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Peated

Cask No. 29.183                             $145

A cold cure

Islay

Full on Islay: road tar, carbolic, Coal Tar soap segues to sheep wool (oily, lanolin, sheep dip); mentholic – embrocation, Vik Vapour Rub – clears the head! Clean and fresh as an old-fashioned starchy matron. Indeed, the taste at full strength is of starched linen, after a sweet start, then the fumes from a peat-fuelled AGA stove. Water dries the aroma somewhat, with hessian, new coal sacks; traces of steam engine and Plasticine. Now the taste is dry throughout, with a smooth and oily texture (smoked bacon fat), some white pepper in the finish and a spent coal fire in the aftertaste.

Drinking tip: Snuggled in a blanket in a chilly room

Colour: Pale gold

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: July 1999

Alcohol: 57.9%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Flavour profile: Heavily peated

Please visit www.smwsa.com/ for more information and Early October 2016 Outturn to view the Outturn.

THE MACALLAN DOUBLE CASK 12 YEARS OLD

Two worlds unite to create distinctive new Macallan 

The Macallan’s unwavering commitment to exceptional wood management defines every aspect of its whisky creation and the launch of the new Double Cask 12 Years Old is further testament to this.

Created from the perfect balance of sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, Double Cask 12 Years Old brings a distinctive character to the fore, whilst presenting flavours familiar to both the Sherry Oak and Fine Oak ranges. The result is a new interpretation of the signature 12 Years Old Macallan; sweet, yet balanced and honeyed in character.

Exclusively sherry seasoned, The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old delivers a distinct American oak style, reflecting a perfect harmony of flavours and natural colour. The delicate flavour of American oak – vanilla, citrus and light oak – rises in prominence as the traditional Macallan character of rich fruit, sherry and wood spice affords a familiar back drop.

Commenting on Double Cask, Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, said: “This is a single malt which showcases a true balance of character which results in a fully rounded and distinctive flavour profile. By combining wood influences, we have been able to produce a new Macallan which sits perfectly between our existing Sherry Oak and Fine Oak ranges.”

The Macallan brings new oak from America across thousands of miles to Spain, where casks are crafted and sherry seasoned before traveling to our distillery on Speyside to mature for twelve years. These whiskies are then harmoniously united with those aged in exceptional sherry seasoned European oak casks.  This union reveals an unmatched investment in time and extraordinary commitment to mastery for which The Macallan has been known since 1824.

Chris Anderson, Luxury Marketing Controller for Maxxium UK, said: “The Macallan Double Cask provides us with the opportunity to offer the trade an additional variant and importantly, a new style of The Macallan at the 12 years old position and price. In turn this means we can offer the consumer a wider choice of products at this level, and encourage trial and exploration within The Macallan portfolio.”

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old is available from October 2016 in specialist whisky retailers for an RRP £55 and select on trade accounts across London. 

Notes  

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old (ABV 40%) tasting notes

Nose – Creamy butterscotch, toffee, candied orange and newly felled oak

Palate – Balanced, honey sweetness, citrus & caramel

Finish – Oak lingers, warm, sweet & drying 

About The Macallan: 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars.  An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland manor built in 1700, at its heart.

Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes: Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.

http://www.themacallan.com/

A special and limited release

In the spring of 2006, The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno, and his team were meticulously crafting the annual release of The Macallan 30 Years Old Sherry Oak. A total of 27 sherry-seasoned oak casks had been carefully selected from 9 different years of distillation and laid down to mature.

To begin the marrying stage – a significantly time-consuming element of the whisky-making approach adopted by The Macallan – most of the precious spirit from the 27 casks was combined and then filled into nine marrying casks at the customary marrying strength. But the instinct of the Master Whisky Maker led to a tenth cask being filled and laid back down. Already matured for three decades, the whisky in this refill butt was kept at its natural strength.

When it reached 35 years of age in 2011 it was assessed again, and a conscious decision was made to allow the whisky to continue to mature and develop character. Finally, at 40 years of age, the time had come. This additional decade of careful maturation through to 2016 has produced a superlative and distinct single malt to add to the collection of rich, mature expressions from The Macallan. The resulting whisky, which is only the second ever non-vintage release of a 40 years old expression, is definitively The Macallan.

An invitation for a chance to purchase

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Highly limited in quantity and prized for its unique quality and flavour, we are excited to announce that we are making a small quantity of these available exclusively through the Distillery Shop online.

To ensure you are in with a chance of owning this exceptionally rare release, enter your details now to register for the ballot. Registrations will close at 9:00am UK time on Monday 24th October 2016.

Please note that this whisky can only be delivered to addresses within the Channel Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

You will contacted in the coming weeks if you have been successful with details as to how you can purchase. By registering your details you are not making a purchase and there is no obligation to buy if you are successful in the ballot.

Recommended Retail Price £5000 (70cl). Final price will be subject to local taxes and duties.

It’s been a hectic week around the spirits department as we continue to speed up delivery of more single cask Scotch whiskey selections and work tirelessly to keep bottles on the shelf. We’ve got a fantastic new shipment of K&L exclusive barrels working its way through label approval at the moment, but in the meantime let’s talk about what’s new from some of the more established names.

Macallan Releases a New 12 Year Old “Double Cask”

Macallan “Double Cask” 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $54.99 I was completely caught off guard by this whisky, both because of the exquisite flavor and the reasonable price. When Macallan releases something new these days I usually expect it to be very expensive, and/or have some sort of color code or name designation rather than an age statement. In the case of the Double Cask, we’ve got a “12” front and center and a sub-$60 price point. Fans of Balvenie, Glendronach, Aberlour, and Glenmorangie’s Lasanta might want to check this guy out. It’s all cocoa, dark chocolate, and sweet spices on the nose, followed by a rich and mellow palate that eases over the palate without ever going sweet or too supple. It’s exactly what I expect Macallan to be and it’s everything that a true Macallan fan wants: elegance, balance, and restraint. In this case, the Double Cask had me doing double takes. This is quite a nice surprise from the luxury-oriented distiller.

Macallan’s latest release is a twelve year old “double cask” malt, meaning the whisky spent time in both American and European oak (or as we know it, ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks. In a sense, it’s Macallan’s version of the Balvenie Doublewood or the Glenmorangie Lasanta: a rich and cocoa-laden malt that encompasses the sweeter and more decadent flavors of the sherry while still maintaining the malt’s inherent flavors at the core. The result is quite splendid. Macallan fans will revel in the Double Cask’s richness, it’s intensity and weight, and the creamy goodness of its palate. The flavors are dark and supple with plenty of cakebread, dark chocolate, and toasted oak. Fans of fine Scotch whisky will appreciate the price and the age statement, especially given the current trend of young whisky being sold at higher costs.

Laphroaig’s 2016 Cairdeas Arrives

In what’s become one of my favorite yearly releases, Laphroaig’s latest Cairdeas edition has arrived and this one’s been finished in Madeira casks. It’s bottled at 51.6% and it spent the first part of its life in ex-Bourbon barrels before being blended then finished in Madeira. As you many know, the combination of sweet and peat is often irresistible. I haven’t tasted this one yet, but if you wait for me to open a bottle and review it, you’ll likely miss out! These will go fast. ONE BOTTLE LIMIT PER PERSON HERE! Laphroaig 2016 “Cairdeas” Madeira Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $79.99 One bottle allocation. If you miss out, however, there will likely be more in the subsequent weeks ahead so check back from time to time.

KILKERRAN 12 LAUNCHES IN THE U.S.

Kilkerran 12 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky $64.99 Last night we hosted Springbank’s first launch party for the newly released Kilkerran 12 year old single malt-the creation of the company’s second distillery, Glengyle. We had twenty-five lucky customers in attendance for snacks and Scotch, while Springbank’s manager Ranald Watson spoke about the journey of the project, one that originally began in the year 2000 when the SWA tried to strip Campbeltown of its regional designation. Springbank’s fiercely independent owner Hedley Wright decided to rebuild the extinct Glengyle in order to provide the Scotch Whisky Association with its minimum requirement of at least three distilleries for any given whisky region, and twelve years later we’ve got the first major full-term release: the Kilkerran 12 year.

As for what it tastes like, I purposely held off of tasting the new Kilkerran 12 year until last night because I wanted to be there with Ranald and the group to experience it for the first time together. I was not disappointed. The Kilkerran 12 tastes like an improved version of Oban 14: there’s just a bit more of a mouthfeel, a touch more sweetness, and a slightly peatier finish. It’s everything I’ve always liked about Oban, just more fine-tuned and focused. Ranald added: “It has a little bit of everything, doesn’t it?” Yes, it does. It’s got the fruit and vanilla of the Highlands, just enough roundness like to be a modern Speyside, the subtle brine of the islands, and a bit of peat like Islay. But it’s also light on its feet like a classic Lowlander. I think just about everyone there wanted to grab a bottle before the night was over because it’s definitely not just Springbank light; it’s an entirely different whisky with a different set of strengths. I bought my bottle this morning when I got to work. I’d recommend getting one to just about anyone who likes ANY kind of Scotch whisky because it truly delivers on all fronts.

SPRINGBANK

Then, as promised, I broke out two bottles of cask strength 19 year old Springbank from the distillery’s recent American single cask allocation: one aged in refill sherry, the other in a “recharred” sherry butt. Both whiskies were incredible, albeit in totally different ways. It was also my first time tasting either one. The recharred sherry is exactly what it sounds like. “Nineteen years ago we took ten sherry butts and had them sent to our cooperage to be blowtorched,” Ranald explained. I’d never heard of such a thing! Wouldn’t that caramelize the sherry? The result is a whisky that’s as black as black can be. It looks more like a dark Demerara rum than a single malt and it tastes like something in between El Dorado and Springbank, yet entirely natural. The refill sherry was simply perfect. If I were a whisky customer looking to spend $300 on a bottle, this is what I would spend it on. It delivers on all fronts. It has the rich fruit and oiliness of a classic Springbank whisky, but with balance, length, and finesse. My co-worker Andrew and I were spellbound.

We got a few more six packs of these casks this morning. If you’re looking for a high bottle of Scotch whisky for yourself or for a gift, it would be hard to do much better than one of these:

1997 Springbank 19 Year Old Single Rechar Sherry #603 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $259.99

Bottled at 55.6%, this whisky is the color of a dark rum, yet it comes from the charring and not from a heavy sherry component in the flavor. This is not a sherry bomb in any way despite its incredibly black hue. It’s more savory and herbaceous with some sweeter notes from the caramelization of the Oloroso sherry. It’s fascinating in every way and it’s a whisky I kept going back to over and over again after first tasting it. I’ve never had anything like it.

1996 Springbank 19 Year Old Single Refill Sherry #507 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $259.99 Perfect Springbank, in my opinion, and a true specimen that showcases everything I love about this distillery. It has 19 years of fruit, subtle sweetness, an oily character, and just a hint of smoke on the finish. Totally balanced and satisfying. If I were a whisky customer looking to spend $300 on a bottle, this is what I would spend it on. It delivers on all fronts.

We’ll have a lot more to talk about later in the week, so MAKE SURE you check in with the spirits blog as sometimes we sell out of things that way before we even have the chance to email them!

David Driscoll K&L Spirits Buyer daviddriscoll@klwines.com 650-556-2736 http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com

The Macallan Edition No.2

Showcasing The Macallan’s mastery of wood, this Speyside Single Malt is the result of a creative partnership between Bob Dalgarno of The Macallan and the Roca Brothers of El Celler de Can Roca restaurant in Catalonia. Combining casks from a number of cooperages and bodegas, this second annual limited release has a unique flavour profile while retaining the classic flavours and aromas of The Macallan.

£85 Buy Now

Orders will be delivered week beginning 17th October

Whistle Pig Rye TPS Private Barrel – The first TPS Private Barrel of Whistle Pig 10yr Rye was one of legendary quality. We then turned down the next two rounds of samples because, between the quality the first barrel, and a near $80 price point, the juice had better live up to all expectations. So take it as a sign of the utmost quality that we chose this, our second ever Whistle Pig 10yr Rye! It’s open to taste on our Spirits Library and is going quick!

Jefferson Groth TPS Private Barrel – What a spectacular barrel! It’s Jefferson’s the best expression of the most excellent bourbon finished in Groth Napa Cabernet Sauvignon barrels! The bourbon is smooth and has a great depth of complimentary characteristics of caramel and red berries, vanilla and chocolate, smooth bourbon and a kiss of wine tannin. It’s so good.

Bird Dog Devil DogCoco Cayenne Whisky – It’s everything you love about Bird Dog whiskey, but with a little cocoa and spice! Layers of baking spice, chocolate, and a nip of heat at the end will make this a great campfire companion this fall.

www.thepartysource.com

95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue,

KY 41073  (859) 291-4007

Stunning new 1985 Macallan from Carn Mor!

Macallan. 31 Years old. 1985 Vintage. Sherry Puncheon #1388. 52.8%.

I could simply and happily leave this blog piece with the above text alone; it says it all. A brand new September 2016 bottling scotch release from our chums at Morrison & MacKay is this utterly incredible Black Gold Celebration of the Cask; the pinnacle of Carn Mor bottlings. Macallan 31 year old, 1985, Sherry Puncheon #1388 bottled at cask strength 52.8%. But this 31 year old Macallan whiskey represents something even more significant for the lovely folks at M&M, as this is the oldest ever bottled scotch for their Black Gold range. And this is why Single malt Scotch Whisky is adored around the world.

Please click on this link 1985 Macallan to read more….

Lagavulin™ marks 200th anniversary with Limited Edition Eight-Year-Old Bottling 

Celebrated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery releases an Eight Year Old bottling in honour of original whisky scribe Alfred Barnard

TORONTO, Ontario, October 4, 2016 – 2016 is a year of celebration for Lagavulin, treasured around the world as one of the most special of all Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Famous for its majestic nose of Hebridean peat smoke, richly textured and complex flavours and its long, sweet and power-driven finish, it encapsulates the passion, heritage and skills that lie behind its crafting. The bi-centennial features the launch of a special limited edition bottling of Lagavulin 8 Year Old in honour of Britain’s most famous Victorian whisky writer, Alfred Barnard.

In the late 1880s, Alfred Barnard, the first ever whisky journalist and traveller, sampled an 8 Year Old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, describing it as “exceptionally fine” and “held in high repute.” He went on to declare Lagavulin to be “one of the most prominent” of the few Scotch distillers that can turn our spirit for use as Single [Malt] Whiskies.

“This is a special year for a much loved Single Malt Scotch Whisky revered around the world as the definitive Islay whisky,” said Alistair Kidd, Marketing Director for Whisky, Diageo Canada. “We are thrilled to celebrate such a historic occasion here in Canada with the launch of a limited edition Eight Year Old bottling.”

Lagavulin has delighted generations of whisky drinkers and this limited edition 8 Year Old bottling acknowledges the 200-year legacy of the distillery. Cramped and chaotic by nature, the sea front distillery cannot expand, and as a result, demand often exceeds supply. In the words of Alfred Barnard, “no prettier or more romantic spot could have been chosen for a distillery.”

Available in 750 mL bottles (48% ABV); this bicentenary limited edition whisky is a one-time only bottling that is magnificently full on in flavour and calls for special attention. Make time to enjoy it neat in a whisky nosing glass, or with just a drop of water.

For more information on Lagavulin, please visit www.malts.com/.

As consumers across the country join Lagavulin in celebrating 200 years of crafting extraordinary whisky, the brand reminds them to please drink responsibly.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across the spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource,www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The LAGAVULIN word and associated logos are trademarks. © 2016

FACT SHEET: 

Lagavulin Eight Year Old (Limited Edition) Product Description: To celebrate an incredible 200 years of making Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky, its timeless quality and the wonderful whiskies still being made today, we have gone back to our roots: finding inspiration from the distillery’s rich history.

In the late 1880s, Alfred Barnard, the first ever whisky journalist and traveller, sampled an Eight Year Old Lagavulin: describing it as “exceptionally fine.” He went on to declare Lagavulin as “one of the rare distilleries that could produce a single malt of quality” at that time. In honour of this, and to mark the 200th year since the formation of Lagavulin, we have decided to release an equally exceptional Eight Year Old bottling. It will provide a special experience as this is a one-time only bottling to celebrate the occasion.

Tasting Notes 

Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate, lemon and then developing fragrant tea-scented smoke alongside nose-drying, maritime aromas, with subtle cereal. A prickliness seen earlier now develops, while the trademark Lagavulin dryness emerges as fresh newsprint. Softly sooty. Softer, fuller and more rounded with water: it is not hugely fruity but there is just a trace of red berry preserve, perhaps, beneath the smokiness, which comes sharply into focus.

Body: Light, growing pleasantly oily.

Palate: A soothing light texture, with a magnificently full on Lagavulin taste that’s somehow even bigger than you expect; sweet, smoky and warming, with a growing, smoky pungency, then dry, with more smoke. Charred, with minty, dark chocolate. Beautifully balanced midpalate then salty, oven-charred baked potato skins and smoke. Water rounds things, the taste still mighty yet more succulent, sweeter, spicier and now tongue tingling, mint-fresh and warming.

Finish: Lovely, clean, very long and smoky. Smoothly, subtle minted smoke surrounds chocolate tannins, leaving a late drying note to emerge in time. It is warming, soft and still smoky with water, not as long or intense now, yet still leaving the palate dry as sweet smoke lingers on the breath.

Size:                                                   750 mL

Alcohol by Volume:                       48% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

For more information on Lagavulin, please visit www.malts.com.