Scotland – Pre-Arrival

Kilchoman K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($115.99)
Getting to taste fresh Kilchoman, right of the still, was one of the highlights of the trip this year for David and me. Something magical is going on inside this tiny farm distillery. Their formula is so delicious, even as a white dog, that it hardly needs much aging at all. However, we were very curious to see what five years in a first-fill sherry cask would do to soften up some of the spice. Sitting in the warehouse with manager John MacLellan, we tapped into one of the fresh butts and poured ourselves a sample. This malt is loaded with fresh earth, chewy oils, petrol and peat smoke, mossy, dried grass, and a maritime sea air note that really hangs on the finish. It’s a beast of a whisky, showcasing everything we love about both Kilchoman and sherry-aged Islay whisky. Of all the Kilchoman whiskies we’ve tasted, this one by far had the most maturity and was precocious beyond its years. It was only a matter of seconds before David and I looked at each other, nodded, and added another distillery-direct cask to the list. Years from now, when Kilchoman is one of the most sought-after malts in the world, no longer bottling private casks, we’ll look back and say, “We used to buy them right out the warehouse.” These are heady days for Islay fans. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Larceny Kentucky Bourbon 750ml – 9 available ($22.99)

BACK IN STOCK…

Bourbon and Rye

Old Potrero Single Malt 18th Century Style Whiskey 750ml – 8 available ($69.99)

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

Fall Outturn Postcard Offerings 

A big, eye-watering slap 

Cask No. 23.72

Islay, Loch Indaal 

The nose forced shotgun shells and fireworks on us – but also gave barley sugars, custard and chocolate-coated foamy bananas; peppermint tea, liquorice, smoked ham and old bonfires. The palate’s big, eye-watering; sherry slap took our breath away – sweet red liquorice, cinder toffee, crème brûlée, treacle, cooked apples, ash and peat. The reduced nose suggested barbecued lamb chops dripping on embers, singed mint leaf and burnt lemon skin. Water definitely improved the palate – now sweeter (toasted coconut, vanilla, golden syrup, raisins, cherries) – also woody spices, crispy sage, and grilled lobster. The distillery is on the road from Port Charlotte to Bridgend. 

Drinking tip: Let some water open it up and don’t rush it 

Colour: Golden mother hen

Cask: Refill sherry butt

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: July 2002
Alcohol: 66.4% 

$90 

Old-fashioned tea chests and maple candy 

Cask No. 125.48 

Highlands, Northern Highlands 

The nose, initially offering orange liqueur, balsa wood and old-fashioned tea chests, took some time to open; a drop of water helped us to discover the depth and complexity – caramel, Mars bar, fruit tea with honey, a mixed bag of dried fruits and nuts and Dorset Cereals muesli with maple syrup. The palate, at natural strength, had good heat in it, plus flavours of leather, wood, tea leaves and coconut, with cinder toffee, burnt sugar and honeycomb crunch. The reduced palate developed malt and candy sweetness, with pleasant warm spices in the finish. ‘Perfected’ by the sixteen men of Tain. 

Drinking tip: Pretty versatile really, but not one to be rushed 

Colour: Vintage marmalade

Cask: Dechar/rechar hogshead

Age: 12 years

Date distilled: November 1998

Alcohol: 52.1% 

$110 

Black tea in a greenhouse 

Cask No. 2.81 

Highlands, Speyside (Livet) 

Rich and heady aromas of butterscotch, molasses and rum soaked raisins together with crème brulee, orange oil, geraniums and a greenhouse on a warm day. Toffee sweetness was balanced by balsamic and a trace of struck matches. The taste was hot, there was liquorice, black tea tannins, toffee and black pepper. Water improved it offering smooth buttery toffee, tobacco and balsamic. The palate was still tannic (like chewing sticks) with brown sauce bitterness but also sweet with vanilla, butterscotch and caramel. This Speyside distillery is close to the famous pack horse bridge. 

Drinking tip: A pudding dram 

Colour: Mahogany

Cask: First-fill sherry butt

Age: 15 years

Date distilled: April 1996

Alcohol: 59.9% 

$120 

A bag of assorted boiled sweets 

Cask No. G1.8 

Grain 

Lots of fruit on the early nose (pear flan, rhubarb, lemon curd, apricot) growing richer in the glass – soon we found marzipan, fudge, toffee, Bakewell tart, butterscotch, vanilla and straw. The palate was just as fruity but also sweet and nippy (some found it fiery) – like a bag of assorted boiled sweets. In reduction, the nose split between citric components and banana toffee – also some dustiness, like rubbing butter into flour. The palate opened and became cleaner and fresher, but evaporation from the tongue left rich joys of tobacco, liquorice and dark chocolate Bounty bars. From Edinburgh’s only grain distillery.

Drinking tip: A summertime dram – or maybe while making cakes 

Colour: Pale apricot gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 21 years

Date distilled: December 1990

Alcohol: 62.9% 

$145

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.

THE BIG SMOKE 46 £33.00 BUY NOW

THE BIG SMOKE 60 £43.00 BUY NOW

Release of WhiskyCompanion 2.10 for Android Mobile Devices

WhiskyCompanion has announced the release of WhiskyCompanion version 2.10 for Android mobile devices.

WhiskyCompanion for Android is a complete whisky and whiskey guide for the curious amateur as well as for the experienced collector. The best-selling whisky app has more than 18.000 users around the world with a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating on Android Market (Google Play).

The App comes with detailed information and pictures of more than 2.600 whiskies (bourbon, rye, malts, single malt, cask strength, blended, etc.) from 285 distilleries in 21 countries.

The pre-loaded data for whiskies and distilleries can easily be changed, or the user can create new whiskies and distilleries supported by own camera pictures or pictures uploaded to the phone.

You can share your distillery and whisky information with other users of WhiskyCompanion. Users can create accounts on WhiskyCompanion’s network server for free, and then upload their own distilleries and whiskies. After approval of uploaded material, can uploaded distilleries and whiskies be searched and downloaded by other users.

The updated version comes with tasting tips, a visual flavor map and a free internet cloud backup service to secure all your personal data stored in the app.

Distilleries and distributors may use the sharing functionality to upload new whiskies and make the information instantly available to the WhiskyCompanion community.

Whiskies might be found through countries, regions or distilleries. The app also has full text search functionality for whiskies making it very easy to find your favorite whisky in the massive list.

Notes from distillery visits can be added to each distillery, and detailed comments and tasting notes (classifications) may be added to the whiskies. All distilleries visited and whiskies tasted and rated will then be available in the “My Whiskies” section, which gives a complete overview over all personal activities.

Most of the distilleries have map-location for integration with Google Map. When clicking on a distillery location, Map will launch, and this can easily be switched to Street-View. It is then possible to virtually walk around the distillery.

You can create your own tasting event with picture and key information. Then you can link whiskies to the event and add your tasting notes to those whiskies.

The user interface of WhiskyCompanion is currently localized to Finnish, Dutch, English, German, Norwegian and Swedish. More languages will follow.

The app is available for only US$ 3.49, € 2.49 or GBP 1.99 on Android Market.

For more information please search Google Play for “whisky” or “WhiskyCompanion”, or visit www.whiskycompanion.com

From the magic people at Bowmore….

“This month Bowmore will announce a particularly extraordinary and precious bottling. There are but a few distilleries that have had the honour of nurturing something so rare and we are extremely excited to shortly unveil it to our friends around the world… until then, we leave you with a taster of something magical.”

http://youtu.be/NL-SZbfT53g

On the Bowmore website here:

http://www.bowmore.com/news/something-magical/

And available to download:

The WMV version (for MS Windows):

http://www.mbdlibrary.com/ftp/SomethingSpecial/SomethingSpecial-Teaser1.wmv

The MOV version (for Mac)

http://www.mbdlibrary.com/ftp/SomethingSpecial/SomethingSpecial-Teaser1.mov

Compass Box Flaming Heart
4th Edition

The fourth edition of the award winning Flaming Heart from The Compass Box Whisky Company. Created from single malt whiskies from distilleries located in the Northern Highlands, Islay, Speyside and Islands. Primarily from the south shore of Islay and the village of Brora (Highlands).

Bottled at 48.9% vol, the malt blended in this Scotch whisky comes from a combination of refill American oak (ex-Bourbon), new French oak (heavily toasted) and sherry casks.

Only £78.00

(£65.00 ex vat)

Click here to buy Compass Box Flaming Heart 4th Edition

Abbey Whisky

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com
www.abbeywhisky.com
0800 051 7737

Whiskey in Emerging Markets to 2016: Market Guide

440 Pages – PDF Format – £1030

This report provides detailed analysis into the Whisk(e)y markets in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. For each country the report examines market growth dynamics and details market consumption, consumption by major brands, consumption by channel (off- and on-premise), consumption by price segment and consumption by alcoholic strength.

Furthermore the report details for American, Canadian, Scotch & Irish Whisk(e)y by country overall consumption, consumption by price segment and by alcoholic strength. Actual data is included from 2006-2011 with forecast data provided for 2012-2016.

View table of contents here

Order online

Whisk(e)y market guides are also available for the following regions (click on the region for more information):

Emerging Markets, Europe, Middle East, North America & Latin America

Individual country reports are also available. Please contact us if you have any questions or specific requirements.

Kind Regards,

Drink Sector

Bruichladdich Octomore 5.1

2012 annual release of the World’s most heavily peated Scotch Whiskey!

Matured in American oak casks

Limited release bottled at 59.5% ABV

Buy – $119.78

All prices are quoted in USD and are subject to currency fluctuation – prices may vary.

The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask is now in stock. This limited release won’t last long. This Web exclusive is only £41.99

Nose: Rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combines with fresh fruit notes
Taste: Rounded with vanilla & sweet oak notes, with a fruity character that develops with time
Finish: Soft and lingering

The latest addition to the award-winning collection: The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask. One of a number of exciting launches that David Stewart is making available in the UK to coincide with the 50th anniversary of him joining the distillery.

The result is an exceptional single malt that exemplifies the signature smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, while adding unique notes of toffee and fruit that come from its innovative cask finish.

The Whisky Shop Tel 0141 440 0600 info@whiskyshop.com http://www.whiskyshop.com/

Click here to buy