BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES

COLONEL E. H. TAYLOR, JR.  SEASONED WOOD BOURBON WHISKEY 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 29, 2016) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release bourbon whiskey aged in seasoned wood oak barrels.  This 100 proof, Bottled-In-Bond, small batch wheat recipe bourbon was aged well over a decade and is a special one-time-only release.

            The barrels in this release underwent a variety of special seasoning processes,   including barrels made from staves that were immersed in an enzyme rich bath with water heated to 100 degrees.  After spending time in this proprietary solution, these staves were then placed into kilns and dried until they reached an ideal humidity level for crafting into barrels.  Other staves were seasoned outdoors for six months, and still others were left outdoors for a full 12 months before being made into barrels and sent to Buffalo Trace Distillery to be filled and aged.  All barrel staves were seasoned, dried, and crafted at Independent Stave Company, who consulted on this project with the premiere expert on oak maturation, Dr. James Swan.

            The result of aging in these distinct barrels has delivered a wheat bourbon that is quite different from the other wheated bourbons made by Buffalo Trace. Descriptions include, “a delicate aroma of caramel and dried fruit, followed by a bright and pleasant first sip.  Oak tannins are balanced by a touch of butterscotch, almond, citrus notes, and hint of spicy clove. The body is soft and balanced with an aftertaste that lingers perfectly.”

This Seasoned Wood Bourbon is the eighth and latest release in the collection of  E. H. Taylor, Jr. whiskeys, rounding out the collection of Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon, Single Barrel Bourbon, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Barrel Proof Bourbon, Straight Rye Whiskey, Small Batch Bourbon and Cured Oak Bourbon. The Sour Mash, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon and Cured Oak were one time only releases and are no longer available.

The Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection was first released in early 2011 and several subsequent releases have followed.  Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling is very limited.   Also consistent with past releases, the Seasoned Wood Bourbon displays a vintage label and is offered inside a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago. These six bottle cases will again be shipped in an impressive wooden box first used for the Cured Oak release.  The boxes are modeled after the wooden crates used by Taylor to transport goods during the days before Prohibition.

            Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.  is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the distillery that is known today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

            This special bottling of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Seasoned Wood Bourbon Whiskey will be available starting in late March in limited supply.  The suggested retail price is $69.99 per 750ml bottle.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

It’s been more than three years since we were last able to purchase a single cask of whisky directly from Japan. Given the way the market’s heading, it may be another three years before we get the chance again. As our customer service staff will attest: not even Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon is as hot as Japanese whisky right now considering the amount of phone calls and email requests we receive daily from consumers. In the midst of all the madness, however, our buyers discovered a new product from a small producer called Fukano, a distillery that’s been making rice-based products since 1823. It seemed the historic producer was branching out into rice-based whiskies and K&L was their first choice for an American trial run. Due to a conflict of labeling laws, Fukano Japanese whisky isn’t even available in Japan! It’s an American exclusive for the moment and this single cask is only available directly from K&L. The flavors are somewhere in between Suntory’s Hibiki and Nikka’s Coffey Still expressions, so fans of the incredibly mellow and smooth-tasting flavors of Japanese whisky will be more than pleased. Only 446 total bottles were produced, so count yourself as lucky if you get one!

Fukano K&L Exclusive Single Cask #282 Japanese Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)

This exceptional distillery in the city of Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu has been distilling since 1823. They’re famous for a diverse offering of Shochus and high quality liqueurs, but a tiny portion of their production is devoted to malted rice distillation. In Japan, these old whiskies are not bottled as such, though they do meet the definition by American standards. Instead they use them to make their high-end liqueurs, which is sad for them, but GREAT for us. This rare spirit is aged much like bourbon in new charred oak casks. The result is something absolutely sublime and uniquely Japanese. While one might be expecting Shochu squared, we’re in fact in a totally different arena altogether. Nothing like you might have had from other producers bringing in similarly labeled product. Somewhere between scotch, bourbon and “other whisky”, both the complexity of aromatics and texture on the palate are surprising. This cask has a vibrant nose of nut brittle, spiced fruit, lemon rind, and almond butter. A very subtle oceany quality persists in the back ground. Supremely drinkable but not without a pop on the backend, this is a true bridge between Single Malt and Bourbon. We have no doubt that everyone is going to love drinking this, although its limited nature makes it a strong candidate for most regrettable failure to click of the year. It’s our first single cask Japanese whisky since the famous Karuizawas of 2013, don’t expect it to last much longer than those did.

Dulcinea Gonzalez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 27, 2016

Attn: Japanese whisky faithfuls and beyond! Here is a truly unique spirit that makes the perfect after dinner whiskey. With the aromas of candied corn reminiscent of a wheated bourbon or even a lighter Armagnac, this spirit is totally seamless with equal parts elegance and richness. The middle shows sweet flavorful notes of a creme brulee meets toffee. Totally smooth and delicious. Get’em while you can!

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 27, 2016

In the quest for more Japanese whiskey our buyer has found this exclusive Single Cask for us. The nose opens with soft vanilla and some dried fruit, reminiscent of a wheated bourbon. Soft creamy vanilla notes and a wonderfully smooth finish, this is a fun, unique whiskey to try. For those who were a fan of Nikka Coffee this is another more complex whiskey that should appeal to you.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 27, 2016

This whiskey is for those who are looking for a soft and easy to drink spirit. It has expressive and inviting sweet vanilla aromas. In the mouth it is soft and fruity with a kiss of sweetness. If you like the Nikka Coffrey whiskey I think that you will enjoy the Fukano.

K&L Wine Merchants http://www.klwines.com/ Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637) Email: wine@klwines.com San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Chapter 7, rum cask, is here again and as it is a personal favourite, we are always very excited about this release.

We are releasing 96 bottles of cask strength decanter bottles and 999
bottles of 46%.

These are truly unique and rare whiskies.

Nose: Sweet, soft & slightly spicy. A mixture of vanilla and rum and raisin ice cream, fresh and citrusy with a hint of tropical fruits. Slightly nutty with a hint of marzipan.
Palate: Very soft again with citrus notes. Slight peppery spice with a hint of raisins. Malty with a hint of fresh wood. Salty and dry on the finish. Slightly nutty.

46% £44.95 BUY NOW

CASK STRENGTH £69.99 BUY NOW

Here’s what’s new in Irish Whiskey at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Here’s a peak at the latest from the Emerald Isle.

&

Hello March! 

With March upon us – we have started to think about St. Patrick’s day. That leads us to thinking about Irish Whiskey and how the category is fast becoming more diverse with new distilleries and some well-known ones, putting out exciting products. We’ve selected five out-of-the-ordinary Irish Whiskies that we thought you should know about – whether you’re celebrating the holiday or just like a good dram.

Cheers! Jonathan & Eric

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop

270 Madison Avenue

New York,

NY 10016 212-685-2442

 jonathan@parkaveliquor.com

eric@parkaveliquor.com

www.parkaveliquor.com  

Jameson Caskmates: KelSo Pale Ale Edition $39/btl

The journey of Jameson Caskmates KelSo Pale Ale Edition started in 2014, when 6 emptied barrels from Jameson’s Midleton Distillery (#Amazing) were sent to KelSo Beer’s owner/Brewmaster Kelly Taylor who then filled those barrels with his ‘hopped-up’ IPA for 8 weeks. Taylor then added a handful of their signature Nelson hops from New Zealand along with a bottle of Jameson (“to keep the barrel from drying out”), and shipped them back to Midleton. There, Dave Quinn, Jameson’s master of whiskey science, refilled the barrels with Jameson whiskey and let it mature for six months. There, Dave Quinn, Jameson’s master of whiskey science, refilled the barrels with Jameson whiskey and let it mature for six months.   The Nelson hops essentially dry-hopped the Jameson inside the barrels, resulting in a whiskey that offers intense hops aromatics in the nose as well as a floral, citrus effervescence. Boom – Caskmates 2.0 

The Lord Lieutenant Kinahan’s $43/btl 

From Whisky Cast: Feb 2016

“The nose is rich, nutty, and fruity with red apples, ripe peaches, roasted almonds, a touch of allspice, and a hint of butterscotch in the background. The taste is oily and thick with notes of dark chocolate, chocolate mint, a touch of apple cobbler, lemon zest, vanilla, and a soft oakiness. The finish is malty, slightly tart with a hint of lemon and touches of vanilla and oak. Very nice.”

Jim Murray: December 2015

“They say that Jerry Thomas made Kinahan’s his whiskey of choice in 1862. A sniff today might reveal molten honey, flapjacks, dry grist, and a fresh apple Danish (apple, custard, and pastry). The palate has a nip of lozenge sweeties, more apples, peppermint, vanilla, and a slow slide into chocolate, lemon pith, and cocoa. The 25% malt content presses home the flavor. Palate-coating. It’s a blend of fine quality, and Kinahan’s revival adds to the resurgence of Dublin’s whiskey story.”

Green Spot: Leoville Barton Cask $110/btl 

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton has first been matured in a mix of ex-Oloroso Sherry, ex-Bourbon and new American oak barrels before being transferred into the ex-Bordeaux wine casks to age for between 12 and 24 months. It has a fragrant aroma that is dense, rich and oily. Notes of honey sweetness, forest greens and berries abound. The French oak brings in the pot still spiciness to the party with a gift of baking spices. The hefty bouquet translates to the palate. A balanced mix of toasted wood, honeyed cereal, berry fruit and baking spices coat the mouth. The finish winds down on a spicy and sweet note, leaving behind a lasting and warm afterglow.  

Midleton: Dair Ghaelach Grinsell’s Wood Virgin Irish Oak Collection $350/btl 

This is Midleton’s first virgin Irish oak (or ‘Dair Ghaelach’ in Gaelic) finished whiskey! The bottle consists of whiskey that matured between 15 and 22 years in select ex-bourbon casks then married together before being poured into the Irish oak hogsheads. The particular Oak used for Dair Ghaelach comes from sustainable trees felled in Grinsell’s Wood within the Ballaghtobin Estate. Its then transported to north west Spain to the Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage in Jerez where the staves dry for 15 months before being turned into hogsheads and receiving a medium char.

Tasting Note

Nose: Well aged bourbon matured pot still notes of vanilla, banana and pineapple work well with the Irish oak’s contribution of darker woodland spice, cinnamon, coffee and redcurrant.

Palate: Spicy oak, fresh straw, plenty of vanilla fudge, pineapple, a little cocoa sprinkled on caramelized apple. Rich allspice.

Finish: Very long and increasingly wood spice-driven.

Won Gold@

Liquid Gold Award – 2016

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

Won 3rd Place@

World Whisky of the Year – 2016

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

IrishAmerican ~  10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey $48/btl 

Independent and family owned, IrishAmerican (Yes no space between)Whiskey celebrates the best of both worlds through the marriage of small batch Irish Whiskey from County Cork which is then aged in seasoned American White Oak Bourbon barrels. The 10 year old is their flagship expression. This newcomer consists of 100% malted Irish barley, double distilled in copper pot stills and aged for 10 long years in American White Oak barrels. Delivers a deeper, richer & warmer Irish Whiskey experience.

Notes:

This amber whiskey has strong flavors of spiced summer fruits mingled with floral undertones.

Due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. When we say ‘Emerald Isle’ we mean Ireland – not the island off the coast of North Carolina – apologies for any confusion but at the same time…Really? We are not responsible for any typographical errors or the results of Super Tuesday. Please contact the store with any questions.

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop | 212-685-2442 | 212-689-6247 |  parkaveliquor.com

Redbreast 1999 – the first single cask

Selecting and bottling casks of whisky takes a lot longer than people think. This time last year – well, 11-and-a-bit months ago – Billy Leighton, master blender at Midleton distillery in Ireland, stopped by with some whiskey for us to try. Rather than keep it all to ourselves, we shared it with you: our loyal customers. Billy hosted a tasting and at the end everyone tried the whiskeys and voted for their favourites – you can read all about it in Stu’s blog post.

We chose two whiskeys, the first of which is now up on our website: a hugely fruity Midleton 1991. While that’s an impressive dram, it’s the second whiskey that’s caused a stir: the first single cask of Redbreast they’ve ever released – Redbreast 1999 Cask #30087, available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange.

Billy Leighton popped into our shop to tell us about the new Redbreast single sherry cask

While the new spirit that becomes Redbreast is the same that goes into their other releases, the character of the finished whiskey is typified by one very specific character: sherry-cask maturation.

Redbreast first appeared in 1903 as one of the many whiskey brands owned by W.A Gilbey, the London wine and spirits merchant who are best known these days as the creators of Gilbey’s gin. Back then, they were a huge concern, importing and exporting drinks from around the world, including buying and maturing their own whiskey. As a wine importer, they had easy access to Spanish sherry casks – the traditional transport casks that I talked about in my series on sherry casks – and used them heavily for their Irish whiskey, especially when making Redbreast.

Over the years, Redbreast’s recipe changed, depending on the spirit and casks Gilbey’s could get. This continued until the 1980s, when they stopped making the whiskey and Redbreast disappeared from the shelves. That didn’t last long, and in the early 1990s, Irish Distillers revived the name for a new sherry-cask-led whiskey inspired by the style of the original Redbreast from 80 years earlier.

Our new shop is really nice…

I asked Billy how he chose the pair of casks that we got to vote for:

‘First, I was looking for a cask that I would happily use for Redbreast 15 no questions asked – a safe whiskey. Then I looked for something would contrast with that. I didn’t want to go for a cask where you’d question if it’s a sherry cask or not, with the sherry more in the background, so I chose something with a bit more weight and an older style.’

When we voted there wasn’t much in it, but in traditional whisk(e)y fan fashion, heavy sherry won the day.

Irish Distillers keep a close eye on their casks, and Billy told us the life story, so far, of cask #30087: It was built in late 1996 at the Paez Lobato cooperage in Jerez, before being moved up the road to the Paez Morilla bodega. There it was filled with oloroso sherry and left for three years to season. In early 1999 it was emptied, shipped to Ireland and then filled on 2 April. It sat in warehouse #15, bay #14, until last year, when it was sampled, selected, bottled and has now, finally, hit our shelves. When you look at it that way, our year of waiting to get the whiskey doesn’t seem that long…

REDBREAST 1999 SINGLE SHERRY CASK #30087

Tasting notes by Billy L:

‘A lot of fruit. Succulent fruit. Deep, dark fleshy fruit: figs, prunes, dates, that kind of thing. Even going a little bit leathery – whenever I get this leathery smell, I get transported to Bishops shoe shop in Coleraine. To me, there’s a lot of the sherry-cask influence here, but if you push that to one side, you get spices and even a little bit of a herbal note: a little top note of garden mint, nutmeg and a prickle of a freshly ground black pepper.

‘Then comes the wood: liquorice. Whenever these casks are made new, toasted and left to cool, you find liquorice. There’s not so much of the vanilla that you might associate with a bourbon cask – it’s a bit drier in that respect. Add a splash of water and it’s very round, very smooth, very mellow, very approachable – it slips down a treat. And at the end, it’s quite spicy and there’s still that sherry effect. As it starts to fade, there’s a little bit of wine still there, there’s a toffee note, and then just at the very end it becomes a little bit grassy. Very nicely balanced.’

Tasting notes by Billy A:

Nose: Freshly snapped Crunchie bars, toffee bananas, glacé cherries, old matchboxes and ground almonds. Creamy almond notes continue, with spicy horchata and vanilla pods poking out from behind layers of sherry fruit – raisins, sultanas, dates and prunes.

Palate: Thick and weighty with bittersweet dried fruit and rich caramel and toffee. Fruit then bursts across the palate, with cherries – fresh, maraschino and cocktail – joined by baked apples and singed raisins. Liquorice and blackcurrant sweets sit at the back, with woody spice – clove and cinnamon – and a hint of mint chocolate.

Finish: Raisins, dried cherries and spiced malt load fade to liquorice, mint and a hint of bitter coal dust.

Comment: A full-on sherry-matured dram, with stacks of expected character. However, there’s still that classic Redbreast fruitiness peeking in around the edges that not even an active cask can hide.

The Redbreast 1999 single sherry cask is available now from our website and The Whisky Exchange Shop @ Covent Garden.

MARCH PREVIEWS: SLIGHTLY WICKED SWEET TREATS 

Warming cinnamon fragrance, buttery pastry melting in the mouth, fingers sticky with glaze; today’s preview bottlings are whispering sweet nothings to entice you to their sides. Whether you’re smitten with sherry (9.104) or seduced by Sauternes (5.49), give in to temptation and embrace your object of desire before they vanish in Friday’s general release…

Spicy & sweet

44.72 Slightly wicked sweet treats

The nose has slightly wicked sweet treats (iced ginger cake, cinnamon swirl), plus pot-pourri, leather tobacco pouches and nuts. The taste combines walnut cake, honey and toffee apple sweetness with suggestions of earthy, woody notes…

Age: 12 years
Cask: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Price: £46.70 

Old & dignified

9.104 Lychee martini

Mixed green salad, followed by wild boar stew and Comice pear on the nose neat, whilst on the palate smoky apple and honey glazed ham. Diluted; chargrilled balsamic vegetable skewers and in the finish…

Age: 27 years
Cask: Refill ex-sherry butt
Price: £129.90

Juicy, oak & vanilla

5.49 Lady of the night

Fruity Aromas were soon followed by the perfumed floral scent of orchids. Hot and almost over-the-top sweet perfumed flavours neat. Diluted, much more balanced; spicy and sweet and puff pastry with cinnamon sugar…

Age: 12 years
Cask: Second fill ex-Sauternes hogshead
Price: £46.70 

Please note: This is a limited release from March’s Outturn, full release on Friday 4 March.

Browse Current Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at here for membership information

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

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Exceptionally fine’[1] Lagavulin™ marks 200^th anniversary 

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

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 activities start with 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 the 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.

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach said: “This is a special year for a much loved Single Malt Scotch Whisky revered around the world as the definitive Islay whisky. There are a variety of plans across the year to bring people to Islay and bring Islay to as many people from around the globe as possible. We are thrilled to begin the celebrations for such an historic occasion with the launch of the first Lagavulin 8 Year Old for many years.”

Georgie Crawford, distillery manager at the Lagavulin distillery adds: “Although many things have stayed the same since Alfred Barnard first came to see us on Islay, visitors to the distillery will also notice some changes to mark this special year. We welcome you all to visit us and see for yourselves.”

Lagavulin has delighted generations of whisky drinkers and this Lagavulin 8 Year Old acknowledges the 200 year legacy of this distillery. Cramped and chaotic by nature, this sea front distillery can never be expanded and therefore demand often exceeds supply. In the words of Alfred Barnard, ’no prettier or more romantic spot could have been chosen for a distillery.’

The release of the limited edition Lagavulin 8 Year Old is the start of the Lagavulin 200 celebrations. This specially developed whisky will be released twice during the course of the year. 2016 will see more events throughout the year to observe this milestone birthday.

NOTES  

Tasting notes:

Nose: Immediately quite soft with clean, fresh notes, faint hints of milk chocolate and 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’s not hugely fruity but there’s 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’s 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.

The origins of Lagavulin

Local records suggest that Lagavulin was already a centre of whisky production in the early 18th century.

So there had almost certainly been many other illicit stills before John Johnston founded the first legal distillery at Lagavulin Bay in 1816. As with all Scottish distilleries, it passed through the hands of different owners, including the celebrated Sir Peter Mackie, whose company became White Horse Distillers, forever associated with Lagavulin. White Horse joined The Distillers Company Ltd. (eventually Diageo) in 1927. In 1989, Lagavulin, now normally bottled at 16 years rather than the original 12, became one of the six Classic Malts of Scotland™.

About Diageo:

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The LAGAVULIN word and associated logos are trade marks. © 2016

Visit malts.com for further information.

[1] Alfred Barnard noted in his book, The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom (1887)

THE SPICE OF LIFE: FLAVOURFUL NEW RELEASES

Give life all its flavour with this sizzling selection of newcomers and choose the style you love most, be it bold spice, floral sophistication, comforting sweetness or ‘Properly good smoke!’. Brand new today or returning by the bottle for the first time, these appealing drops are from extremely popular distilleries and very limited in number; you heard it here first so pick one up before everyone else notices!

NEW ONLINE

Spicy & sweet

33.143 Thank you and goodnight!

Age: 8 years

£120.00 BUY >

Sweet, fruity & mellow

RARE RETURNS

50.75 Comfort and emotional warmth

Age: 25 years

£143.80 BUY >

Spicy & dry

121.76 Close shave from a tipsy barber

Age: 9 years

£46.10 BUY >

Light & delicate

29.177 Mind-Wandering  

Age: 16 years

£72.50 BUY >

Lightly peated

The whole is greater than…

Age: 21 years

£82.10 BUY >

Browse Current Outturn >

Browse All Bottlings >

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

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at here for membership information

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

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

A marvel celebrating a bygone age: GlenDronach’s oldest-ever release in latest batch of single cask bottlings

In 1968, Harold Wilson was the British Prime Minister, the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was released and the Beatles were top of the charts with Hey Jude.

Also that year, GlenDronach cask number 5837 was filled with Highland spirit, laid down and left to mature in a quiet corner of the Aberdeenshire distillery.

Almost half a century later, it is today (17 February) the glittering centrepiece of GlenDronach’s latest batch of rare single cask bottlings…as it is their oldest-ever release with just 301 bottles filled from the cask.

“This marvel is an amazing, venerable and exceptionally rare whisky,” says Master Blender Billy Walker, “and it is sure to become one of our most sought-after bottlings.

“We only have a few casks of the legendary 1968 vintage left in our inventory and they are extraordinary survivors from a golden, bygone age of whisky production. Today we are thrilled and delighted to present this remarkable expression in Batch 13 to our customers worldwide.”

The 47 years old heavyweight is, in appearance, dark oak edged with rich crimson. On the nose, intense, full-bodied aromas of dark treacle, sour plums and rich prune syrup combine with fragrant herbal notes and faint cigar smoke. On the palate, an impactful sherried character is laden with dark prunes and molasses while a torrent of vibrant orange bitters and dark espresso holds hints of eucalyptus and pine needles.

Eight other spectacular malts are included in Batch 13. They all share GlenDronach’s robust and richly-sherried signature taste complemented by mouth-watering notes of treacle, plums, apricot, figs, damsons and currants…even with intriguing hints of red chilli, chocolate raisins and vintage leather!

As a contrast to the 47 years old, the youngest is a zingy 12 years old from cask number 5521, at 57.3% vol. On the nose, dark fruit cake infused with hints of stem ginger syrup, orange bitters and notes of toasted walnuts. On the palate, sumptuous depths of sweet dates and ripe figs hold a crisp oak and herbal balance complementing the rich sherry character.

All nine are presented in beautiful gift boxes.

Master Distiller Billy Walker added: “This is what aged sherry-matured whisky is all about – gorgeous colouring, luscious fruity aromas, rich sherry and dark chocolate flavours combining brilliantly to create sweet, gutsy and utterly memorable malts.”

The full cask details are as follows:

1968 cask # 5837 / 47 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead / 45.9% vol.

1991 cask # 2361 / 24 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 53.1% vol.

1992 cask # 76 / 23 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 52.0% vol.

1993 cask # 40 / 23 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 58.5% vol.

1994 cask # 3274 / 21 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.1% vol.

1995 cask # 3047 / 20 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 48.6% vol.

2002 cask # 4651 / 13 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 54.8% vol.

2003 cask # 930 / 12 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.4% vol.

2004 cask # 5521 / 12 years old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 57.3% vol.

All nine bottlings will be available soon at your local specialist retailer.

For more information, visit http://www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk/

While our initial intrigue centered around the use of the term “Irish Bourbon” – a term that cannot exist according to U.S. booze labeling laws – our staff was completely caught off guard by the quality behind that label. While these bottles have become instant collector’s items since the TTB finally woke up and realized their mistake (the label has since been terminated), we managed to snag the initial shipment to California before the bottles were sent back. A marriage of 10 year old Irish whiskey with American LDI-distilled Bourbon, we think the John L. Sullivan has created much more than a simple novelty. They’ve created an entirely new genre of whiskey – one we’re very interested in seeing more from. Check out the glowing reviews from our staff, but don’t sleep on this deal. The idea of “Irish Bourbon” won’t exist beyond this initial batch.

John L. Sullivan “Irish Bourbon” Whiskey (750ml) ($32.99)
IMPORTANT: Do not mistake this quirky little whiskey as a gimmicky or one-off collectable. While attempting to introduce something new to the market, the folks behind John L. Sullivan whiskey might have just struck gold. When you taste the Sullivan “Irish Bourbon” (a name that has already been banned by the U.S. Federal Government, so don’t expect to see this label for much longer), you’ll understand exactly what we mean. Imagine all the smooth, easy-drinking, and sweet-barley character of your favorite Jameson bottle, but add in the rich oak flavor of your favorite Bourbon on the finish. Whoever blended these two components together did so with an absolutely masterful touch. The creamy texture of 10 year old Irish goodness (aged in sherry, no less) melds harmoniously and seamlessly with the bold American whiskey character. Rather than losing their identities in the process, these two whiskies elevate one another and improve their finest aspects. In fact, this whiskey is so good you might find yourself adding a bit of Redbreast to your next glass of Buffalo Trace, or vice versa. Beware of buying this bottle, however: it won’t last the week once you open it. This whiskey is simply too delicious and too drinkable to sip slowly.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 19, 2016
I was confused by the name at first…”Irish Bourbon…?” But it’s exactly what is says on the tin (or bottle)…a marriage of Irish Whiskey and Bourbon. “But why?” I hear you say…why create such a mutt? Well because it combines the drinkability of Irish Whiskey with the richer textures and flavors of Bourbon! It’s built from up to ten year old base spirits so not only is it deliciously drinkable but at this price point it’s a steal as well. There’s nothing contrived about this bottling, it’s not trying too hard to be cool…it just wants to be drunk and enjoyed plain and simple…

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 19, 2016
This is just supremely drinkable whiskey, plain and simple. It’s everything you love about Irish whiskey with an extra kick. A no-brainer.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 19, 2016
Just like I have no desire to eat at the French Laundry every single night of the week, I have no desire to drink Macallan 30 or Pappy Van Winkle after work on a Wednesday. I like coming home to a beer and a shot at 7:30 PM most days and this bottle of Sullivan “Irish Bourbon” just became my new go-to. They pretty much did the impossible here. They improved what was already a classic style of whiskey. I may start combining all my Midleton Rare into my Wild Turkey editions from now on. I’m hooked.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 18, 2016
This unusual blend of Irish & Bourbon Whiskey surprised me with its round, easygoing, and completely delicious drink-ability. This isn’t just for the whiskey guy that has to try everything, this great tasting easy going drinking for anyone who loves brown water. The clean, refreshing, light Irish side of this bottle is the perfect match for the sweet oak and extroverted corn sweetness of its Bourbon side. Yum!
 
K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

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