We are delighted to announce that the newest batch release of the widely popular Exclusive Malts has arrived in US soil. Individually and carefully selected by David Stirk, founder of the Creative Whisky Co, these 8 new bottlings show some of the best single cask whisky to come out from Scotland. 

Ben Nevis ‘96 17 yr Highland (Ex-Sherry Matured) 102.4 proof

Ben Nevis Distillery, situated at the foot of, and named after, the highest mountain in Scotland, is a rather unique Highland Scotch Whisky. Brimming with thick malt and dense fruit flavours, it has long been sought after by blenders as their backbone for a high-class Scotch Whisky. This refill ex-Sherry butt has been maturing next to the distillery, untouched since 1996 and is a classy example of what this distillery can offer.

Glen Garioch ’95 19 yr Highland (Ex-Rum Finished) 112.6 proof

The closest distillery to the ancient city of Aberdeen is Glen Garioch distillery (pronounced ‘Gearie’). This small Highland malt whisky was often overlooked in the past couple of decades as more attention was given to its sister distilleries in Glasgow and on Islay. This meant there were few offerings from this exceptional distillery. Thankfully this is changing as more and more attention are given to malts. This cask had previously held Rum from Guyana which has imparted a sweet and fruity character to the spirit.

Deanston ’97 17 yr Highland 104.60 proof

Deanston Distillery, situated near Perth, was originally a cotton mill in the latter part of the 18th Century. It only recently began life as a distillery, being converted in 1966. Most of its whisky is intended for blending but occasionally casks find their way, untouched, into the bottle as a single malt whisky. This refill hogshead has sat, slowly maturing, for 17 years, retaining the full malty, earthy character that is the essence of Deanston whisky.

Bruichladdich ’04 11 yr Islay 111.20 proof

The most Westerly distillery in Scotland is Bruichladdich Distillery. Famed for making a quality spirit, without the peat smoke of its neighbours, it was long favoured by the Ileach (the people of Islay). This cask was made not long after the distillery returned to former glories and the whisky in this cask does its reincarnation credit. Full of rich, sweet malt and heavy fruit with perhaps just a hint of the sea-air where it matured for 11 years.

Girvan ’88 27 yr Lowland 106.8 proof

The Girvan Distillery was completed in 1963 and was built by the William Grant & Sons Company to satisfy their demand for grain whisky for their many blends. At the time of completion it was the largest distillery in Europe and also makes a very well known gin. This ‘Coffey Still’ distillate was laid down in 1988 and has been bottled as naturally as possible to retain all of the soft American oak flavours.

Cambus ’88 26 yr Lowland 96.2 proof

Cambus Distillery was one of the largest in the world when founded in 1813 in Clackmannanshire. It closed in 1993 when its owners decided that their requirement for grain whisky could be satisfied by other distilleries in their portfolio. Sadly, it joins the list of numerous grain distilleries closed for good. This cask was filled in 1988 and has slowly maturing for 26 years but shows off the delicate and complex nature of the spirit.

Glen Keith ’96 19 yr Speyside 100.2 proof

Situated in the small town of Keith and a few hundred yards from Strathisla Distillery, Glen Keith closed around the late 90s and re-opened in 2013 to make whisky entirely for the export blend market. This meant that the only single malt available was the rare single cask bottling like this one. This refill hogshead shows the fruity-sweet style so favoured by blenders.

Allt-A-Bhainne ’93 22 yr Speyside 101.40 proof

Allt-a-Bhainne, which means ‘Milk Burn’ in Gaelic, Distillery is nestled in the hills behind Dufftown. The distillery was built in the post Second World War boom for Scotch Whisky and was built entirely to contribute to the large blends of the parent company, Seagram’s. Even today, its malt whisky is almost never bottled un-blended as a single malt. It is up to the rare single cask offerings to show what this distillery can do. This refill hogshead is full of candy floss and sweet fruits.

Please feel free to reach out for more detail on the Batch #9: office@impexbev.com

www.impexbev.com

ImpEx Beverages Inc.

360 Swift Ave

Side B # 9

South San Francisco, CA 94080

CRAFT COLLABORATION JAMESON ‘CASKMATES’ GOES GLOBAL

Watch the Jameson Caskmates film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbUErfAMu0 

Jameson has announced the global release of Jameson Caskmates, following a successful limited run in Ireland last year. Created by the Midleton Distillery in collaboration with micro-brewer, Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork, Jameson Caskmates offers a new taste experience that will satisfy the appetite of whiskey enthusiasts, Jameson drinkers and craft beer fans.

The Jameson Caskmates story began back in 2013, when Jameson Master Distiller, Brian Nation and Master of Whiskey Science, Dave Quinn, first met Franciscan Well Founder and Head Brewer, Shane Long, in a Cork bar. The Jameson Masters agreed to loan some Jameson casks to the brewery to discover their influence on Irish stout and when the stout-seasoned barrels were returned to the Midleton Distillery, Dave Quinn re-filled them with Jameson Irish whiskey. Over time, the maturation resulted in a new taste sensation: Jameson Caskmates.

The product of curiosity, collaboration and innovation, Jameson Caskmates retains the triple-distilled smoothness of Jameson Original, while adopting additional notes of coffee, cocoa, butterscotch and gentle hints of hops.

The release is set to tap into the existing consumer appetite for craft beer and whiskey, as it fuses the two categories and showcases exceptional versatility; the result can be served neat, on the rocks, as a beer pairing and in beer cocktails. The tag line behind the creative, ‘Triple distilled, once stouted’, reinforces the union of whiskey and beer while injecting the wit and personality of the Jameson brand to further enhance its appeal to millennial consumers.

Dave Quinn, Master of Whiskey Science at the Midleton Distillery, says: “When the stout-seasoned Jameson barrels arrived back at Midleton from Franciscan Well, curiosity got the better of us and we experimented by maturing our Jameson Irish whiskey in the casks. We found that after around six months, the perfect balance of flavor was achieved and we couldn’t be happier with the results; Jameson Caskmates retains all the smoothness of triple-distilled Jameson with added cocoa, coffee and butterscotch notes from the stout barrels. We are thrilled that the rest of the world is getting the chance to enjoy this Irish gem!”

Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation Director at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, added: “Jameson and stout are no strangers behind the bar, but for the first time ever they have come together to create our latest innovation, Jameson Caskmates. The story goes right to our heart in Cork, where our Midleton Distillery and the Franciscan Well Brewery are located, and represents what we are most passionate about: Irish craftsmanship, collaboration and innovation. With Jameson Caskmates, we hope to surprise and delight existing Jameson drinkers by providing them with an authentic, new whiskey experience, as well as to recruit craft beer fans globally to the Irish whiskey category.”

Bottled at 40% ABV, Jameson Caskmates is available from September 2015 in eight markets including the USA, South Africa and Ireland, at the RRP of €38.99, $29.99 or local equivalent, supported by global ATL and BTL campaigns, POS and merchandising support tools. 

Notes 

Jameson Caskmates Tasting Notes, by Master Distiller Brian Nation

Nose: The initial aroma of freshly mown hay is complemented by a crisp orchard fruit character, green apples and pears along with a twist of lime zest. Mild pot still spices appear, deepening from green tea to hazelnut and milk chocolate. The lingering hop influence combines effortlessly with toasted oak and barley grains to form a solid base.

Taste: As expected, there is the initial sweet mouth coating typical of the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey inclusion. Then the effect of the beer cask finish becomes apparent with the subtle touch of hops and cocoa beans. Some marzipan and charred oak add to the complexity.

Finish: Long and sweet with milk chocolate and butterscotch.

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the company decided to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork. Irish Distillers was bought by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 and today, Jameson is the No.1 Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 4 million 9L cases worldwide and contributing more than any other Irish whiskey brand to the phenomenal global growth of the category. Irish Distillers is committed to driving continued, sustainable growth of the Irish whiskey category.

Irish Distillers’ portfolio of whiskeys is comprised of Jameson, the world’s no.1 Irish whiskey; Irish favourite Paddy; Powers, the robust super premium whiskey for discerning drinkers; and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise the Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection – the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton which includes the Spot range (Green Spot, Yellow Spot) and Redbreast, Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey brand – and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare.

www.irishdistillers.ie 

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,558 million in 2014/15. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 80 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength
Second Edition

The second release of Arran’s Machrie Moor at Cask Strength. This second edition, bottled in 2015 has a peating level of 20PPM. The first edition proved to be very popular, with very few bottles staying within the UK. Edition 2 also features a new, redesigned paper label.

£49.98

Arran Machrie Moor – Sixth Edition

The sixth edition of the peated malt from Arran Distillery, Machrie Moor. And like the fifth edition, the peating level of this Island whisky is 20PPM (The fourth edition was 14PPM).

Bottled at 46% vol, Machrie Moor is named after a peat bog located on the west coast of the Isle of Arran where bronze age stone circles and standing stones are strewn across the terrain…

£39.98

Abbey Whisky Ltd

Registered Office

Dollar, FK14 7AS

United Kingdom

Taking the Arran Waters

First Release in History-Inspired Smugglers’ Series from the Isle of Arran Distillery

As the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery approaches its 21^st year, it is celebrating the renowned whisky-making heritage of its island home with the first release in its Smugglers’ Series.

The Smugglers Series honours the tradition of the illicit whisky trade that operated from Arran and up the Clyde to Glasgow. Each new release will be ‘smuggled’ in unique packaging reminiscent of the hiding places used in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Smugglers’ Series Vol. 1 ‘The Illicit Stills’ features hidden packaging that mimics a beautiful hardbound book, complete with a cut-out compartment that conceals the bottle.

The whisky itself pays homage to the distillery’s forebears with an Arran dram of a robust body and heavier peat influence, redolent of the whisky produced on the island in days gone by. Perfectly balanced by the sweetness of older Bourbon barrels and the rich and fruity influence of Port Pipes, the historic malt is a fresh, full bodied and complex dram evocative of this distillery’s independent character.

Euan Mitchell, managing direct of Isle of Arran Distillery said: “We’re justifiably proud of the whisky-making heritage of the island. Visitors have long been fascinated in the illicit industry that ran between Arran and Glasgow in centuries past.

“With the distillery turning 21, it felt like the perfect time to commemorate that exciting time in Scotch whisky’s heritage with a series that pays homage to its ancestors whilst looking forward to the distillery’s future.”

Non-chill filtered and with no artificial colouring, this special edition has a rusty colour of iron barrel chime rings. A subtle nose of peat hints at a robust character. A palate of juicy plums gives way to white grapes and a blast of spicy ginger.

Each dram finishes with a lasting flavour of dried apricots fading into salty, maritime notes – evoking the dying embers of smugglers’ signal fires on windswept beaches.

An Arran dram of true unbridled character, reminiscent of the trade which gave rise to the illustrious reputation of ‘the Arran water’. Bottled at 56.4.% ABV, ‘The Illicit Stills’ is a Limited Edition with only 8,700 bottles released worldwide.

UK RSP £84.99

Notes:

For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

GlenDronach Single Casks – Batch 12

For Batch 12, we see 9 casks in total, vintages ranging from 1972 to 2004. As with previous Batches of single cask GlenDronach, the emphasis is firmly on sherry cask maturation.

Making a stellar comeback, we see the inclusion of a 1972 vintage; the 1^st ’72 that’s been part of a Batch release since Batch 9, back in 2013.

The youngest within the range is an 11 year old from 2004, aged in a single PX sherry puncheon. As far as we’re aware, this is the first time we’ve seen a release from this vintage included within any batch of single casks…

We now have all 9 casks available for pre-order.

Click here to order…

Abbey Whisky Ltd

Registered Office

Dollar, FK14 7AS

United Kingdom

Park Avenue Liquor Shop’s newest exclusive:

High West Double Rye ~ Finished 9 months in a 36th Vote – Aged Manhattan Barrels

Park Ave, goes High West.

An exclusive bottling from the folks at High West has been a goal of ours for some time. Basically ever since we first tasted their original ‘Bourye’ bottling many years ago. We are not ashamed to say that we put our tireless reps Eliza and Troy – as well as Proprietor Dave Perkins through the ringer trying to find something we were excited to put our name on.

This barrel was love at first sniff.

And it only got better from there.

We landed on a unique barrel of High West ‘Double Rye’ that has been finished, nuanced, super-charged and awesome-fied (that’s a real thing, look it up) by an additional 9 months in a cask used to age their barreled Manhattan cocktail. Affectionately known as “36th Vote”.

9 months later – we’re the proud parents of 233 bottles of delicious exclusive Rye.

Below you will find photos and official notes from Dave Perkins himself.

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

“My first thought is it’s like a juicy slice of Big RedTM gum. Sweetness from the vermouth is definitely present along with green elements like fresh Rosemary and forest-pine. Overall there’s rounded spicy cherry theme that makes it yummy/sweet.”
High West Proprietor; Dave Perkins 9-24-15

High West’s Eliza Czander, “Rep/Whi-Ski Bunny” & Dave Perkins, Proprietor showing off our exclusive bottling.

 High West Double Rye Whiskey Manhattan Barrel Finish ~ Park Avenue Limited Release $55

This exclusive bottling is limited to 233 bottles so get it while its 105.2 Proof! We are not responsible for any typographical errors or this Sunday’s ‘Blood Moon’ event. Please contact the store with any questions.

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

BOWMORE MIZUNARA CASK FINISH BRINGS TOGETHER TWO OF THE WORLd’S MOST FAMOUS WHISKY ISLANDS 

CREATING AN INDUSTRY FIRST, BOWMORE launches a SINGLE MALT WHISKY

FINISHED IN THE HIGHLY REVERED JAPANESE MIZUNARA CASKS

Only 2,000 bottles of Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish available globally from

Harrods, Selfridges, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop

ABV 53.9% | 700ml | RRP from £650 

THE WORLD’S TWO MOST FAMOUS WHISKY ISLANDS COLLABORATE

Islay Single Malt Whisky is proud to announce the launch of Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish, the first-ever Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky to be finished in precious, hand-crafted Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Set for global release on 1 September 2015, the limited edition Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish brings together two of the world’s most renowned whisky islands – Islay, Scotland and Japan – to create a refined, elegant and complex Single Malt unlike any other before it. 

With only 2,000 bottles produced, Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish is a skilled marriage of Scottish strength and passion with Japanese elegance and refinement. Although cultures and languages differ, craftsmanship is revered and understood in both Islay and Japan. As the first Islay Single Malt distillery and a pioneer of innovation, Bowmore is proud to combine the best of the east and west as the first distillery to mature Scotch whisky in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.

EAST MEETS WEST

Bowmore’s renowned Malts have been distilled on the Scottish island of Islay since 1779, making it the first of Islay’s eight distilleries and one of Scotland’s oldest. Produced in exactly the same way for over 200 years and matured in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, Bowmore is widely acknowledged to be among the finest, most beautifully balanced Single Malts in the world.

On the other side of the globe, Japan has also become renowned for its superior quality of Single Malts and excellent craftsmanship. In the north of the country, Japan’s revered Mizunara oak is left to grow for up to 300 years before being handcrafted into casks using time-honoured techniques known only to a select few. Notoriously difficult to work with but prized for its flavours, casks made from Mizunara are among the rarest, treasured and most sought after in the world.

To create Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish, a selection of the very finest Mizunara oak casks handcrafted in Japan embarked on the 6,000 mile journey across two oceans to Islay before being laid to rest in Bowmore’s No.1 vaults. This limited-edition release represents one of the first occassions in which Japanese distillers have spared their precious Mizunara casks for a whisky outside of Japan. Bowmore was chosen due to its long and proven history of innovation and craftsmanship reflecting the same skills and values that have been passed down from generation to generation to create the Mizunara oak casks. 

TASTING NOTES

The legendary Mizunara casks became home to Bowmore’s celebrated Single Malt, taming its tempestuous mix of peat smoke, spice, vanilla and citrus fruit. The enchanting result combines a spicy, mellow taste of sweet vanilla, cedar wood, exotic mango and honey rose blossom along with Bowmore’s signature peatiness to create a refined, elegant complexity of floral spice and fragrant smoke, carried on a fresh ocean breeze.

http://www.bowmore.com/

Notes:

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Twitter.com/BOWMORE

Instagram.com/BOWMORE

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 that 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.

About Islay

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides”. Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, and despite having a population of not much more than 3,500, it is home to no fewer than eight working distilleries.

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, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, 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 Deerfield, 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.

Port Askaig – new batches and very old drams

We always look forward to new releases from Speciality Drinks Ltd. As a sister company of The Whisky Exchange, we hear whispers of what’s coming next and get an occasional taste, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting this latest launch – four new releases in the Port Askaig range of single malts.

Port Askaig. The petrol pump is out of shot behind the trees on the left…

Rather than a distillery, Port Askaig is one of the two main ports on Islay, and if you’ve visited the island by ferry, there’s a 50/50 chance that you’ve been there. It’s not a heaving metropolis, with a small ferry terminal, a pub, a shop and a single petrol pump. As one of the entry points to the island, it’s a perfect name for an Islay whisky. Especially as the other port is Port Ellen, a name which has already been taken…

They don’t reveal which distilleries the whiskies are from, although theories have been wafting around the internet since the range first appeared in 2009. However, at the launch tasting at TWE London Bridge this week, Speciality Drinks King of Casks Oliver Chilton dropped a minor bombshell – including the latest releases, there are now whiskies from three different distilleries in the range.

Let the speculation commence.

PORT ASKAIG aged 16 YEARS

First up is a replacement for Port Askaig 15 Years Old. Many of the whiskies in the PA line-up are bottled in small batches, and the 15 is one of them. Now that it’s running low (stock up now, 15yo fans), they’ve put together another batch of whisky distilled around the same time. It’s still a mixture of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks, but now a year older.

Oliver’s Tasting Notes:

Honeyed and autumnal tones combine with Islay smoke and charcoal dust. Sherry casks bring in richer fruity notes but still allow the clean, crisp spirit to shine through.

This is a big, bold and peaty dram, delivering the classic balance of flavours Port Askaig has become known for.

PORT ASKAIG 100° PROOF

Next we have something different: an ongoing bottling. Getting a guaranteed supply of smoky Islay whisky is hard. With the popularity of peat going through the roof, everyone’s after smoky whisky and there’s not enough to go around. Fortunately, the Speciality Drinks team have done the impossible, and will be able to continue to produce the new 100° Proof for the foreseeable future.

Bottled at a punchy 57.1% ABV (100° proof in the old system of measurement) it’s something that you don’t see often – high-strength, smoky whisky from Islay at less than £50. We approve.

Oliver’s Tasting Notes:

Sweet fruit, peat smoke and a wonderful minerality.

Fresh and vibrant, delivering peat reek and citrus on the palate which stay with you into the finish.

PORT ASKAIG aged 30 YEARS

The third of the new releases is another replacement, although keeping the same age statement – a new 30-year-old Port Askaig. This new batch was vatted from only three casks, selected to have some oomph, despite having been maturing for 30 years. Ollie and the team have chosen well, with more smoke than you often find in Islay whisky of this age, but with the elegance and refinement that you would hope for.

Oliver’s Tasting Notes:

Matured for more than 30 years in American oak casks, much of the heavy smoke and medicinal notes has been softened and complemented with honeysuckle and autumn fruit.

Freshly baked banana bread and sticky liquorice sweets create a moreish dram to be savoured late in the evening.

PORT ASKAIG AGED 45 YEARS

The final new release is something very special – Port Askaig 45 Years Old. You rarely see Islay whisky this old, and the Speciality Drinks team were very pleased to find the casks, hidden away for a special occasion. It started out as five sherry butts, which had lost a lot of spirit to the angels over the years. These were reracked into just three of the casks, and then married for a year before bottling. The result was worth the wait.

Oliver’s Tasting Notes:

Even before you taste this, your senses are filled with full, thick, ripe fruit and heavy, sweet, sticky nectar. A touch of menthol gives a clue to long ageing of this whisky.

Rich Navel oranges and fleshy mango sit on a thick and warming palate, with flavours reminiscent of green tea, mint leaves and tropical fruit. The flavours are incredibly well balanced with elegance and poise.

The finish is clean and long with carefully balanced minerality.

You can find all of these as well as the rest of the Port Askaig range over on the Whisky Exchange website. Speciality Drinks will also be presenting all of the whiskies, including the four newbies, at The Whisky Show in a couple of weeks – if you’re coming along, pop by and say hello to Oliver. Make sure to tell him your theories about which distilleries the whiskies are from, he loves that…

OCTOBER PREVIEWS: AL FRESCO DINING

Not what you might expect on the first (astronomical) day of autumn but our pre-emptive peek at October’s Outturn reveals a wealth of foody flavours – and it’s all served outdoors! Whether you love seafood on the beach or cake in the garden, grab a generous helping tonight because these treats won’t be on the table for long.

Sweet, fruity & mellow

46.34Honey in a sunny garden

A delicately perfumed nose, with potpourri, honeysuckle, pear, pineapple, vanilla and gorgeous heather honey; coconut, leather and tobacco later. The palate is lively but creamy and sweet, with rich honey spread on salty buttered crumpets…

22 years old
Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
£74.00 

Oily & coastal

53.226 Teddy Boys at the beach

Rock (pool) and roll! An old boat alight with a splash of diesel. Pisco sours and pork rolls with gherkin pickle. Sparks of pickled ginger and salted lemon fly. Roll-ups waft with an oily slick. Olive oil cake with lemon icing…

15 years old
Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
£56.80

Peated

29.169 Beach bonfires, creels and boats
The nose evokes bonfires on stony beaches, creels, boatyards, teriyaki mackerel and mechanic’s overalls; Lapsang Souchong and cigarillos later. The complex, sophisticated palate has dried fruits, Parma violets & a feast of seafood…

20 years old
Refill ex-bourbon barrel
£84.50

Expect your next email on Friday 2 October

Browse New Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

*We release a small number of bottles as a preview – it’s one of the perks of being an email subscriber! But don’t worry if you don’t get one tonight; the majority of bottles are released on First Friday.

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

NEW

KILKERRAN Bourbon Cask and Sherry Cask – These are both back, and new. How is that? They’re still the Kilkerran WIP (Work in Progress) Bourbon and Sherry casks respectively, but these are the 7th iteration. From the folks who originally founded Springbank in Campbeltown, Scotland, these are delightful drams.

A.D. RATTRAY Cask Collection Ben Nevis 17yr TPS Private Barrel – This is a limited edition TPS Private Bottling! Ben Nevis is an excellent scotch distiller and near and dear to our hearts and palates here at TPS. This is something special for any Scotch enthusiast.

CADENHEAD’S Tamnavulin-Glenlivet 22yr – Tamnavulin, comparatively, is a younger Scotch distillery that began in 1966. Nearly all of the whisky produced is used for blending, with very little being released as a single malt. Furthermore, its doors were closed in 1995 and didn’t reopen until 2007. This selection was distilled in 1992, and bottled in 2014. Only 234 bottles were filled!

Producer Feature; Four Roses

Four Roses is fresh on our minds after a trip this past Tuesday to Cox Creek to pick out a few new TPS Private Barrel selections. Four Roses is somewhat of a house favorite here at The Party Source. While on the trip we were told that a number of stories exist as to the origin of the name, Four Roses. The story behind the name that was told to us on this last trip goes like this: Founder Paul Jones Jr. was quite keen on a certain young lady he had met. After proposing a number of times to said young lady, and subsequent rejections, he sent a letter to her regarding an upcoming town ball. He said that if she accepted this, his final proposal for marriage, she was to show up to the ball with red roses. When she came to the ball, she had a bouquet of four red roses. Thus he named his business to honor his great love. This version even differs from the story on the website; but never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

With a history dating back to the late 1800’s, there’s more story than we can share here. However, if you’re interested in more Four Roses history click here http://fourrosesbourbon.com/history/. For now, we have quite a few selections from Four Roses to share.

>>>Click HERE to Shop FOUR ROSES

Private Barrel Update

We are flush with excellent selections and more are being bottled, palletized, and shipped as you read this. If you love our private barrels, bookmark this link and check back regularly. Some of these go quite quickly!

>>>Click HERE to Shop TPS PRIVATE BARREL SELECTIONS