Elements of Islay – new bottlings on their way!

Ears always prick up at TWE HQ when we hear about new bottlings of the ever-popular Elements of Islay range. Bottled by our sister company Speciality Drinks Ltd, Elements is a celebration of all things Islay, offering an alternative to the standard line-up of distillery bottlings – and three additions to the range will be available very soon.

We aren’t allowed to reveal the identity of any of the whiskies (although you don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work them out), but each one is a brilliant expression of their distillery, and shows that Islay whiskies have far more to shout about than just their peating level.

With each Elements release, the new bottlings have to be approved by someone with great whisky knowledge and a love of Islay malts – this time, the bottles were signed and given the seal of approval by Malt Maniac Konstantin Grigoriadis.

Konstantin says: ‘I am very pleased to be able to put my name to these new Elements of Islay bottlings. My personal favourite is Bw4, as it reminds me of the older-style bottlings from that distillery. It’s great to see the quality evident in these whiskies, as with all Speciality Drinks bottlings.’

Here are the new whiskies:

Ar5, 57.8%, £94.95
Nose: A rasping hit of maple-cured bacon, then enticing notes of rich, honeyed fruit and menthol lozenges, freshened up with a little maritime kick.
Palate: Intense peat leads the way, closely followed by stewed fruit and sour cherries, clove-studded gammon, and aromatic spiciness. A big-hearted dram.
Finish: Very long lasting, with peppery spice combining with the peat.
Comment: Ar bottlings are the most popular in the Elements range, and this will be no exception: rich and decadent, with generous helpings of fruit, peat and spice.

Bw4, 51.6%, £69.95
Nose: Delicious, bracing salinity, followed by appealing nuttiness, sweet custard-tart notes, a hint of nutmeg and a whiff of smoke. Very fresh.
Palate: Gentle, warming peat builds in the glass, accompanied by notes of succulent red fruits, tobacco and autumn leaves.
Finish: Clean and measured, with the peat slowly dissipating.
Comment: Elegance in abundance, this is a delightful dram that benefits from time to contemplate its complexity.

Cl7, 58.5%, £69.95
Nose: Clean and fresh, but there’s something extra there – lemon sherbet sprinkled over hot buttered toast, with a dusting of pink peppercorns.
Palate: Sprightly peat kept in check with candied lemon peel and black-pepper aromatics. Lovely balance; this would be excellent with a plate of smoked salmon.
Finish: Beautiful contrast between the earthy peat and crisp lemon.
Comment: There have been more Cl Elements bottlings than from any other distillery, and on the latest evidence, it’s not hard to see why. Cl7 is classy stuff, with razor-sharp citrus cutting through the peat and smoke.

There’s no doubt that Ar5 is the obvious crowd-pleaser of the three, with the peat and sherried fruit cranked right up. But it shouldn’t push the other two into the background; Bw4 is elegant, subtle and quietly classy, while Cl7 has, in my view, the best balance of the three, offering a delightful freshness to offset its peatiness, and is – marginally – my favourite.

All three whiskies will be going on sale any day now – keep checking the TWE site for details…

Late September 2014 Outturn Offerings

Cask No. 29.148                                        $150 

A fantastic fusion of flavours 

Islay 

An evocative nose – sweet treats (liquorice allsorts, Blackpool rock, walnut whip, corn candies) competed with smoky, briny elements (sweet peat smoke, oysters, harbour, tarry ropes); panellists also found bicycle shops, new carpets, First Aid boxes, seared gammon and lavender soap. The palate – a fantastic fusion of flavours – medicinal, liquorice, perfumed smoke, hickory chips, rum and raisin fudge, muscovado and ash – an impressive sweet/smoky balance. The reduced nose had us enjoying tomato sauce crisps, chocolate limes and liquorice toffees by a swimming pool. The palate’s robust carbolic smoke was squeezed in hugs of barley and oak sweetness. Nearest distillery to Port Ellen. 

Drinking tip: To cheer you up and restore your balance and positivity 

Colour: Bullion bars

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 18 years

Date Distilled: April 1995

Alcohol: 60.7%

USA allocation: 169 bottles 

Cask No. 5.38                                             $125 

Lemon drizzle cake 

Lowland 

Tart apple pie, with grass clippings, lemon zest/lemon marmalade, key lime pie and a hint of sherbet. Surprisingly sweet in the mouth, with lime, lemon sherbet then strawberry jello and wine gums. Water reinforces this with boiled sweets and artificial red fruits; fresh bread or proving dough and cornflakes behind. Not as sweet now, but soft and fruity (tinned fruit cocktail); mouth-cooling, with a short finish. Fresh and easy to drink, with a trace of lemon-grass in the aftertaste. An excellent aperitif. 

Drinking tip: With Thai food 

Colour: Pale gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 13 years

Date Distilled: October 2000

Alcohol: 57.2%

USA allocation: 78 bottles 

Cask No. 26.97                                           $125 

Spritzy Citrus and Ikea Candles 

Highland, Northern 

The nose packed a punch of pink grapefruit, fizzy sherbet, and cranberry followed by delicate floral – citronella, lilac and elderflower. Tinned mango, wine gums and pistachio emerged, and hint of water butt on a warm day. The taste was tingling and tropical with fresh wood, zesty mandarin and Edinburgh rock. Water delivered a box of Ikea candles, Turkish Delight, lemon and ginger marmalade and roses after summer rain. The panel were reminded of eating a meaty fish baked in salt whilst sitting on a wet rock. A spritzy finish softened with marshmallow, cream soda and a handful of playdough.  

Drinking tip: Ideal for summer drinking on a park bench or rock 

Colour: Old brass

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 13 years

Date Distilled: April 2000

Alcohol: 51.4%

USA allocation: 81 bottles

Cask No. 72.41                                           $95 

Girlie holiday breakfast dram 

Speyside, Lossie 

Some described this as a feminine nose – pot-pourri, tanning lotion, cocoa- butter, orange-scented candles, honey-nut cornflakes, pancakes and bucks fizz – perhaps a girlie holiday breakfast dram? Nothing feminine about the palate though – this was a big hitter! – burnt toffee, black bun, treacle scones, caramelized nuts, Jamaica cake, muscovado and rendang sauce – spicy, fruity and darkly sweet. The reduced nose turned to cinder toffee, pencil boxes, Maya Gold chocolate and jelly babies – plus the girls had now been in for a swim. The palate – mmm – coffee creams, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate-coated raisins – delish! The distillery, ironically, has connections with monks. 

Drinking tip: To go with dessert, or instead of dessert; or to get into the holiday mood 

Colour: Amber

Cask: First-fill white wine hogshead

Age: 9 years

Date Distilled: September 2004

Alcohol: 59.8%

USA allocation: 90 bottles 

Cask No. 73.61                                           $185 

A work of Art 

Speyside, Deveron 

We are transported into a joiner’s workshop that specialises in restoring antique mahogany furniture. The aromas filling the air are all very subtle and elegant; oily, waxy and hot melted glue mixed in with a smoldering Cuban cigar and a freshly made sticky toffee pudding. The taste is initially sweet, chocolate coated cinder toffees, a hint of smoke as well as ‘woody’ flavours and a surprisingly dry, nutty finish like a VORS Amontillado Sherry. With water a bag of mixed nuts, figs, prune juice, hickory wood chips and mead wine. The taste is now dry with a lovely sweetness – a coffee and walnut cake accompanied by a glass of Oloroso Dulce Sherry. 

Drinking tip: Enjoying a rest from working in the garden 

Colour: Golden syrup still in the tin

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 24 years

Date Distilled: May 1989

Alcohol: 57.2%

USA allocation: 108 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at http://www.smwsa.com/

The Distillery Section completely revised with all the latest news.

The chapter on Distilleries Around the Globe now bigger than ever

New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Charles MacLean, Ian Buxton, Gavin D Smith, Dominic Roskrow, Neil Ridley, Jonny McCormick and Bernhard Schäfer

Completely new Japanese chapter by Nicholas Coldicott

More than 250 tasting notes, including Japanese malts and independent bottlings

Whisky Around the World – whisky profiles around the globe invite you to their country

Expanded section on Independent Bottlers

A listing of more than 150 of the world´s greatest whisky shops

The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you´ll find of the news and trends in the industry

All the latest info on bottlings, web sites, books as well as the latest statistics and figures

More than 500 colour photos

 Published by MagDig Media Ltd.
Publication date; 1 October 2014
Number of pages; 300
ISBN 978-0-9576553-1-7
Recommended retail price in UK; £13.95
Contact; ingvar.ronde@magdig.com
www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com

ISLE OF ARRAN UNLEASHES LEGEND OF MACHRIE MOOR WITH NEW EDITIONS 

If you are prepared to explore Machrie Moor, you will be delighted with what you discover. 

Though the legend talks of the warrior giant Fingal and his favourite dog, what will actually await you is a stunning expression of the Arran Malt – a delightful drink with a tale to tell. 

Award-winning Scotch whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers is launching the latest in its Machrie Moor peated whisky collection, which includes the first ever cask strength version of the limited edition Single Malt. 

The Machrie Moor Single Malt first appeared five years ago, inspired by the legend of a warrior giant who tethered his dog to a stone in a mystical peat bog called Machrie Moor which lies on the west coast of the Isle of Arran. 

This September the fifth edition of Machrie Moor – the only peated Arran malt – will be released worldwide, alongside a cask strength edition which has been bottled at 58.4%. Both single malts are limited edition and highly anticipated because of their unique flavour.

Master Distiller James MacTaggart carefully chose the very best Arran peated casks to create these two whiskies to savour. 

MacTaggart said: “When we first created Machrie Moor, we wanted to create a drink which kept the character and taste of Arran that our followers love but included a taste of something different with the peat flourish. 

“We were blown away with the reception our first edition of Machrie Moor received which has inspired us to produce the subsequent editions and now this fifth expression. 

“This year’s edition is particularly special as we are also introducing a cask strength version of the single malt, which we are really excited about and we are confident it will prove popular with whisky fans who want to try a cask strength dram with a difference.” 

Machrie Moor – The Peated Arran Malt – has hints of vanilla, fresh pineapple and citrus, with an extra punch of peat smokiness on the finish. 

The cask strength edition has distinct influence of peat and notes of fresh pineapple and a caramelised bourbon cask vanilla finish. 

Only 12,000 bottles of Machrie Moor Fifth Edition and just 6,000 bottles of the first edition cask strength Machrie Moor will be available when they go on sale on October 6th. 

Euan added: “We were inspired by the legend of warrior giant Fingal tethering his favourite dog Bran to a stone known as Fingal’s Cauldron Seat on Machrie Moor and these peated expressions of the Arran Single Malt perfectly captures the rugged beauty and lore of the landscape of this area of Arran. 

Our followers have come to know and love Machrie Moor over the last five years for its distinctive taste and we are hopeful that whisky lovers will respond just as well to the new cask strength edition which is really something special.” 

The releases will be available to all Arran key markets worldwide including UK, France, Germany, USA, Russia and Japan. 

Machrie Moor – The Peated Arran Malt (46% abv) has an RRP of £41.99 while Machrie Moor Cask Strength Single Malt (58.4%) has an RRP of £49.99. Both are available from www.arranwhisky.com and specialist whisky shops.  

Notes

The Arran Malt – Machrie Moor 5^th Edition is released in early October and will be available through Arran’s network of worldwide distributors. These can be found on www.arranwhisky.com/distributors RRP is £41.99 for 70cl. 

The Arran Malt – Machrie Moor Cask Strength is released in early October and will be available through Arran’s network of worldwide distributors, excluding the USA.  Distributors can be found at www.arranwhisky.com/distributors RRP is £59.99 for 70cl. 

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).

THE WHISKY EXCHANGE Single Cask 1343

The Whisky Exchange is celebrating its 15th year online, and what better way to mark the occasion than with the launch of Balblair Vintage 2000 1343 Single Cask – an exceptional whisky which is now exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange.

Click here to find out more

Just a small selection of some of the wonderful whisky that’s arrived on the shelves of Abbey Whisky this September… To view all our new arrivals click here…

GlenDronach 1996 / Single Cask #3607
UK Exclusive

Single cask #3607, a UK Exclusive released by The BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd. Distilled in 1996 and aged in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon for 18 years before being bottled in 2014 at 54.4% vol, 668 bottles filled.

£85.90 (£71.58 ex vat)

Click here to purchase GlenDronach Single Cask 3607

Macallan 1972 Speymalt / First Fill Sherry

A 1972 vintage Macallan, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Speymalt series. Matured in first fill sherry casks for over 40 years, bottled in 2014 at 43% vol.

The Speymalt from Macallan distillery range includes a series of exceptional single malts, each matured in the highest quality casks selected by Gordon & MacPhail.

£424.00 (£353.33 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Macallan 1972 Speymalt

Balcones 5th Anniversary Cask 2653 Rumble Finish

Released as part of Balcones fifth anniversary celebrations, single barrel #2653 has been finished in a cask that previously held Rumble Cask Reserve. 181 bottles filled at 57.5% vol.

£295.00 (£245.82 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Balcones Cask #2653

Mackmyra Midnattssol

Mackmyra Midnattssol has been created from a combination of American and Swedish oak, sherry and bourbon along with the final storage in casks that previously held Swedish wine made from birch sap. The result is a complex whiskey with a floral, tart and fruity flavour.

£54.25 (£45.21 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Mackmyra Midnattssol

Tomatin Cu Bocan / Sherry Cask

A limited edition Tomatin Cù Bòcan fully matured in sherry casks.

Cù Bòcan has stalked residents of the remote Highland village of Tomatin for centuries, his legend embellished by the hellhound’s increasingly fractious behaviour!

£48.95 (£40.79 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Tomatin Cu Bocan Sherry Cask

Ben Nevis 17 Year Old / Single Cask #81

A 17 year old Ben Nevis single malt Scotch whisky, bottled for the Celebration of the Cask range by Càrn Mòr. Single cask #81 was distilled in 1997 and aged in a sherry butt before being bottled in 2014 at 52.8% vol. An out-turn of 592 bottles.

£69.25 (£57.71 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Ben Nevis Cask 81

Glenfarclas 1973 / Single Cask #4795

Family Casks Summer 2014

Beautiful colour from this Glenfarclas single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled in 1973, single sherry hogshead #4795 was left to slumber until 2014 where it was bottled as part of The Family Casks Summer 2014 batch. Bottled at 48.2% vol, 195 bottles filled.

£582.00 (£485.00 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glenfarclas 1973 Cask 4795

GlenDronach 1995 / 19 Year Old

Single Cask #3250 / UK Exclusive

One of two UK Exclusives released by GlenDronach towards the end of September 2014 (#4887 being the other). Single cask #3250, distilled in 1995 and aged for 19 years in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon. Bottled at 52.5% vol, with an out-turn of 554 bottles…

£89.90 (£74.92 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glendronach Single Cask #3250

GlenDronach 1995 / 19 Year Old

Single Cask #4887 / UK Exclusive

Single cask #4887, distilled in 1995 and aged for 19 years in an Oloroso sherry puncheon. 542 bottles filled at 55.4% vol. One of two UK Exclusives released by GlenDronach towards the end of September 2014. The other being single cask #3250.

£89.90 (£74.92 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glendronach Single Cask #4887 

Glen Garioch – The Renaissance 1st Chapter

The first chapter in a four part story from Glen Garioch whisky distillery showing off the spirits character and how it ages with time. Distilled in 1997 (when the distillery re-opened), ‘The First Chapter’ has been matured for 15 years in bourbon and sherry casks and was bottled in 2014 at 51.9% vol. Each year there will be a further chapter of Glen Garioch Renaissance, which will be 16, 17 & 18 years old.

£73.90 (£61.58 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glen Garioch The Renaissance 1st Chapter

– THE –
TUN 1509
Batch No. 1

Malt Master David Stewart is one of the most respected experts when it comes to marrying whisky casks. Following on from his highly regarded Tun 1401, comes Tun 1509. Larger than its predecessor, Tun 1509 allows David to select a wider range of component casks; 42, in fact, resulting in a remarkably complex expression.

Of the 42 selected casks, 35 are traditional American oak barrels and seven are European oak sherry butts – all from the distillery’s precious aged stocks. Among these casks are some of the finest The Balvenie has to offer. And all have been allowed to marry together and sit for several months in Warehouse 24 before bottling.

The result is an expression that is deep and rich on the nose with floral notes and clear hints of sweet vanilla and orange peel. It is velvety smooth to taste with distinct tangy citrus, mellow cinnamon spice and blossom honey overtones. In short, this is a truly exceptional expression.

Each bottle comes with a series of graphics representing the flavour profile of each cask.

To learn more about this extraordinary expression, click the link below.

LEARN MORE

INTRODUCING THE ARDMORE LEGACY

The Ardmore distillery has just launched The Ardmore Legacy, a lightly peated Highland single malt to be distributed by Maxxium UK.

The Ardmore Legacy continues the distillery’s history of producing the only traditionally peated Highland single malt whisky and will replace Ardmore Traditional Cask as its core expression. 

A lightly peated, sweet dram, The Ardmore Legacy offers the ideal introduction to peated single malts.  Combining notes of creamy vanilla, smoky charcoal, sweet honey and savoury spices with a pleasant smoky taste, The Ardmore Legacy is a full-bodied and smooth dram with the typical Ardmore dry, spicy and long-lasting finish. 

The expression also brings a new premium look for the brand with its eagle icon firmly at the heart of the packaging design.  The bottle label and outer tube feature a splendid copper foil eagle in full flight, acknowledging their rare golden eagle neighbours and representing an adherence to tradition.  The eye-catching monochrome backdrop encompasses a map design conveying the distillery’s Speyside location and heritage.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director, Maxxium UK said: “This is an exciting new expression from The Ardmore offering an exceptional Highland single malt with broad appeal.  As the only traditionally peated Highland single malt, The Ardmore Legacy has real stand out.  It is ideal for whisky drinkers looking for something new and is also the perfect introduction for any whisky drinkers beginning their journey into peated malts.”

The eagle has long played a key role in the brand’s history with rare golden eagles often seen riding the thermals above the distillery.  The Ardmore supports these birds in partnership with the RSPB, most recently with the reintroduction of the white tailed eagle, a cousin of the golden eagle.

Distilled in Speyside, The Ardmore single malt has continued its traditional ways since the distillery was founded in 1898, combining traditional methods with the very best craftsmanship to produce award winning single malt whisky.

The Ardmore Legacy (RRP £29.99) will be available to purchase at Tesco and Morrisons as well as select specialist whisky retailers from the beginning of October.

The Ardmore Legacy

Colour: Light honey

Nose:    Heather Honey with hints of cinnamon and toffee bonbon. Very subtle hints of peat smoke

Palate:  Creamy vanilla spice gives way to more overt smoky charcoal notes, especially with the                 addition of water. Smoke doesn’t dominate and    is balanced by the sweet honey and spice            flavours

Finish:                 Full bodied, silky mouth feel with a (trademark Ardmore) dry, tangy and lingering aftertaste, coupled with delicious spice notes

 40% ABV.

Chill Filtered. 80% Peated malt 20% Unpeated malt 

Notes

• Founded in 1898 by Wm. Teacher & Sons, The Ardmore distillery continues to uphold traditional distilling methods and uses only the aromatic smoke from natural, Highland peat fires to dry its malted barley.
• The Ardmore distillery stands proudly on the fringes of the Highlands, draws its water from the nearby hills and sits beside a railway line that was once at the heart of the industrial revolution at Kennethmont, Speyside.
• Ardmore Traditional Cask has numerous awards and accolades including Double Gold at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold (Exceptional) at the 2009 International Review of Spirits (BTI) and Gold and Best in Class in the 2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
• The Ardmore has a long standing history with the golden eagle, which nest by the distillery, and supports the protection and conservation of eagles through its partnership with the RSPB.

About Maxxium UK Ltd

Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.

Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse and Teacher’s), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock), No 3 Gin.
For further information on our brands and how to enjoy them, log on to http://www.mixxit.co.uk/.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s,  Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.  The company generates annual worldwide sales of approximately $4.6 billion excluding excise taxes.

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 entrepreneurial culture.  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 www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

The Whisky Exchange

TWE London Shop Hours – Whisky Show changes

With The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show rapidly approaching, we have some work to do in our London shop to get ready. As such we will be changing our opening hours over the coming week to avoid any banging and crashing while our customers are perusing the shelves.

PLEASE NOTE: web orders are unaffected by these changes.

It won’t be quite as extreme as this…

Here’s the schedule:

Friday 26 September: Midday-9pm
Saturday 27 September: 10.30am-8pm
Sunday 28 September: CLOSED
Monday 29 September: Midday-7pm
Tuesday 30 September: Midday-7pm

We’ll back to normal as of Wednesday 1 October, but will be running slightly different hours over the show weekend:

Saturday 4 October: 10.30am-8.00pm
Sunday 5 October: Midday-8.00pm

Monday will be business as usual, although after a weekend of Whisky-Show-related exertion, running up and down ladders may not be as fast as normal.

Billy – The earliest TWE photograph of me, with our customer service queen Ali and Diageo’s Colin Dunn

Balblair 2000 – TWE exclusive first-fill sherry butt

Time has rolled on a bit. It seems like only yesterday that I was a balding computer programmer, sat at a table in The Whisky Exchange shop in Vinopolis, confronted by 10 excellent whiskies. It was the company’s 10th anniversary tasting, and I was a punter who liked whisky.

Move on five years to the present day. I’ve got even less hair and while I still sit in front of a screen all day, I now do so at TWE HQ and attempt to write words that make sense to people rather than computers. That extra five years also means that TWE has now hit another milestone – we are 15.

To celebrate our birthday, we’ll be releasing a few whiskies over the coming months, and the first is something special: a Balblair 2000 single cask, fully aged in a first-fill sherry butt.

It’s special because sherry casks are not really Balblair’s day-to-day business. They’re well known for their bourbon-cask-matured whiskies, and other than occasional indies it’s rare to see a fully sherry-matured dram – distillery manager John MacDonald specially selected this cask, as he reckoned it would be to TWE Director Sukhinder Singh’s taste. He was right, and it was a must-have as soon as we tasted it.

Balblair 2000 #1343
Natural colour, of course.

Balblair 2000. First Fill Sherry Butt #1343. 53%. £95

Nose: Rich and heavy ginger cake, studded with burnt raisins and maraschino cherries, and covered in bitter-sweet dark chocolate. Dry oloroso sherry, the kind they love in Spain, provides a heavy, vinous backbone, with cherry-jam-slathered black bread, rich earth, liquorice and dark sugars – demarara and molasses. Damp and charred notes develop, with flamed orange zest, charred oak and driftwood bonfires, doused by a rainstorm. Water brings out chocolate-fudge-brownie sweetness, sweet leather and brown toast. The fruit is subdued, but the raisins are less burnt and the cherries sweeter.

Palate: Intense treacle toffee, baked apple and bitter coffee. Cinnamon bark is joined by freshly sawn oak, driftwood and clove, leading to a drier palate than the sweet nose suggests. There is still sweetness, with plump raisins and touches of brown sugar joined by fruity dark chocolate and cinnamon sugar. Water adds more sweetness, but also sharpens the wood, bringing more oak, with sweet butter, nutmeg and bitter-but-balanced barrel char.

Finish: Lingering char notes, with liquorice pastilles, plump raisins, cinnamon sugar and bitter dark chocolate. Hints of Murray Mints develop as you consider your next sip.

Comment: The biggest and boldest sherry cask matured Balblair I’ve ever tasted. Rich and dark with controlled sweetness – a grown-up whisky. Drams like this make me lament the small amount of sherried Balblair available.

To go with the launch, we’re also running a prize draw:

Buy a bottle of the 2000 or any of the other core vintages from Balblair’s range and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a trip to the distillery, including a tutored tasting with distillery manager John MacDonald.

You can find full details over on our competition page, but the most important bit is that it closes at 11:59pm GMT on 14 November 2014. To whet your appetite, here’s my blog post from when I visited a few years back. They’ve finished building their visitor centre now, and it’s even more worth a trip.