Hidden Barn Releases Latest in Series One Bourbon, “Slow Fade”

Slow Fade marks 10th Release in Series Created by Jackie Zykan

SPARTA, KY (Dec. 12, 2024) –Hidden Barn Bourbon is releasing its latest offering in its Series One expression, titled Slow Fade, named for its sweet, slow fade on the finish.  Slow Fade is the tenth release under the Series One line, the bourbon brand started by Master Blender Jackie Zykan in 2022 in partnership with Neeley Family Distillery.

Slow Fade is a blend of five-to-six-year-old barrels distilled by Royce Neeley and blended by Jackie Zykan. The mashbill consists of Neeley’s flagship of 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley.  Like all Neeley Family Distillery distillates, this bourbon was double pot distilled after fermenting with wild-crafted Appalachian yeast, a practice the Neeley Family has used for generations.  The unique process also includes utilizing sweet mash as well as open cypress fermentation tanks to achieve products with rustic depth and dimension.

Tasting notes from Zykan describe this release as “Very well balanced, with brown butter, black cherry, and a bit of orange zest on the nose.  Dark cacao and hazelnut lead the palate and the mouthfeel is perfectly viscous.  The sweetness slow fades on the finish, rounding out with balanced warmth and clean longevity.”

Slow Fade was bottled at 106.5 proof with only sediment filtration. Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Series One Slow Fade Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is $79.99. It is available at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Ky, online, and at retailers in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

About Hidden Barn Bourbon

Hidden Barn’s name harkens back to the local communities who painted their barns black in solidarity with distillers during Prohibition.  This sense of community is continued today through the passion for quality whiskey and camaraderie shared by its three partners, Jackie Zykan, Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar.  Together, the three friends bring their own strengths – a superior palate, distilling prowess, and a powerhouse connector to form Hidden Barn Bourbon.  Previous Hidden Barn Series releases have earned Best of Class in the Small Batch Bourbon Up to 5 years by The Tasting Alliance, Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023 and 2024, and Best Small Batch, 1st Place at the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.  Hidden Barn Bourbon is owned by Neeley Family Distillery.   The brand is available online and in select states. For more information visit hiddenbarnwhiskey.com

The ReCollection Series #3   

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: To create Single Malt Scotch Whiskies of exceptional quality in their own casks. The Recollection Series revives the spirit and character of now closed or long time silent Scottish Distilleries. Series #3 features six single cask whiskies from Rosebank, Glenlochy, Port Ellen, North Port, Imperial and Convalmore Distilleries, each bottled at cask strength.

Working with Emmy award-winning illustrator, Bruno Mangyoku, these distilleries have been brought back to life through artworks which celebrate their former glory. These vanishingly rare whiskies provide a unique opportunity to enjoy forgotten masterpieces

Rosebank Distillery 1991
32 Year Old
£2100.00

The history of Rosebank Distillery has been directly linked with the Forth & Clyde canal which sits in its shadow. The waterway linked Scotland’s west and east coasts, and therefore its two main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A distillery called Rosebank was operating as early as 1817. From 1840, under the ownership of the Rankine family, Rosebank prospered. The canal, however, became neglected and the distillery eventually closed its doors in 1993. It was reopened under new ownership to great fanfare in 2024.

This release, a lost work of art, is one of the oldest and rarest Rosebank single malts ever released.

Convalmore 1984 39 Year Old
£2300.00

Opened as the fourth of Dufftown’s famed seven stills in the heart of Speyside in 1894, Convalmore’s waxy, fruity spirit has very rarely been seen as a single malt whisky. Dedicated almost entirely to blended whiskies, production was interrupted in 1909 by a fire.

The distillery expanded in 1964 but was mothballed in 1985. The original buildings are still on the site but the production equipment has been removed. This 39 year old single malt, matured in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask, is a forgotten masterpiece; a lost work of art that revives the spirit of a bygone era

Glenlochy 1979 44 Year Old
£4000.00

Founded in 1898, on the banks of the River Nevis shortly after the completion of the West Highland Railway, Glenlochy was well positioned to transport its whisky to Glasgow. The bulk of spirit from its stills was destined for blends so any release featuring the distillery name is extremely rare.

Glenlochy was eventually closed in 1983 and sold for redevelopment as a hotel in 1991. All of the original buildings have since been demolished apart from the kiln building, but within this single malt,its spirit endures

North Port Distillery
1981 44 Year Old

£3850.00

Single malts featuring the distillery’s original name, Brechin Distillery, are vanishingly rare. Founded in 1820 near Scotland’s east coast by three brothers, David, John and Alexander Guthrie,the distillery stood half a mile from the River Esk.

It remained in family ownership for over a century, renamed North Port Distillery, before new owners closed its doors in 1928. It reopened after the Second World War only to fall silent again in 1983, with the site demolished in 1994.

Whisky writer, Michael Jackson, described its spirit as ‘dry and fruity’ and this whisky, matured in a Gordon & MacPhail cask, is a forgotten masterpiece that revives the spirit of a bygone age.

Douglas Laing’s Gift Guide

Something For Everyone…

Timorous Beastie

18 Years Old

You can expect a richer, sweeter profile of vanilla, juicy barley and dark chocolate… culminating in a decadent finish of macerated dark fruits and spiced orange.

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Big Peat

Hameldaeme Edition

Anticipate Islay peat smoke combined with spiced fruit, toffee, and honey, fused with waves of almond and vanilla.

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The Epicurean

Calvados Edition

Sweet, juicy pears dominate the palate, complemented by smooth, creamy toffee.

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Ballantine’s Unveils Chapter Two Of Its Masterclass Collection: A New 40 Year Old Blend Joins The Prestigious Series Celebrating The Legacy Of Its Iconic Master Blenders

Multi-award-winning Scotch whisky, Ballantine’s, continues to celebrate its legacy of skilled makers, unveiling the anticipated second chapter of the revered Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: Chapter Two ‘The Waiting’.

‘The Waiting’ is an all-new expression within the Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection; a precious series of five unique 40 Year Old blends that pay tribute to the valued skills and knowledge passed through the privileged lineage of just five Ballantine’s Master Blenders. ‘The Waiting’ captures the essential element of patience in blending high-aged Scotch whiskies, and the reward it can bring in allowing nature’s work to reach its flavourful peak over decades of maturation.

Drawing on the lessons taught to him as an ambitious young apprentice from his then Master Jack Goudy, Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop hand-selected and brought together whiskies from casks laid down by Jack Goudy himself more than four decades ago to craft this exceptional new blend. As has become synonymous with Ballantine’s distinctive house style, the influence of American Oak casks delivers a powerful experience of flavour depth and intensity. The result is an opulent and complex whisky, with smooth sweet tones and a hint of gentle smoke. ‘The Waiting’ is bottled at cask strength, at ABV 45.4%, preserving the authentic touch of both men’s hands.

Commenting on the release of Chapter Two in the Ballantine’s Masterclass Collection, Sandy Hyslop, said:

“Time brings distinction to a whisky, but it also brings huge responsibility. You need a combination of patience, passion and dedication to meticulously monitor and nose hundreds of samples a day to pinpoint the exact moment that a flavour profile has reached its maximum potential. It has to be exactly right because there’s no turning back the clock! Jack Goudy taught me how to play the long game, and I’m repeating these lessons to my own team to preserve the stature and legacy of Ballantine’s for many years to come.”

Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: Chapter Two ‘The Waiting’ is presented in individually numbered bottles, with a design reflecting the exceptional rarity of this 40 Year Old blend, decorated by hand. The stunning bottle is housed inside an elegant presentation box, dressed in a delicate 3D paper art piece, created exclusively for the Masterclass Collection and unique to each chapter by celebrated Scottish artist, Kyla McCallum.

A limited release of just 108 bottles of Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection: Chapter Two ‘The Waiting’ will be made available for purchase globally from December 2024 at specialist retailers for RSP $12,000 USD. Chapters Three and Four will be released in 2025 and 2026 respectively, leading up to the fifth and closing chapter of the collection being released in 2027 to mark the iconic Scotch’s 200^th anniversary.

2005 Secret Orkney (Highland Park) 19 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive #DRU 17/A63 #28 First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Orkney Single Malt 

(700ml) $179.99 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The English Trio Gift Set

Our Trio Gift Set is a great introduction to The English whiskies. The set now includes three of our most popular whiskies, including ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ in travel-friendly 5cl bottles. The perfect gift for the whisky lover in your life!

The gift set includes:

The English Original Whisky 5cl: our ‘at home anywhere’ whisky – a remarkably easygoing, unpeated single malt

The English Smokey Whisky 5cl: our peated single malt with layers of savoury smoke, balanced with just the right amount of peppery heat and sweetness

The English Sherry Cask Whisky 5cl: Take one sip and you’ll understand why The English Sherry Cask won the distinction of ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at The World Whiskies Awards 2024.  Full bodies, elegant and layered with a rich refined sweetness.

£25.00

I have to admit that – writing this after a good drenching on the most grotty Manchester day imaginable – the festive spirit has yet to grace Chorlton Whisky Towers with its presence. These new whiskies are full of the stuff though!

I generally try to select a good range of styles for each outturn (something for everyone, one hopes!), and this is about as diverse a trio as you can get. The prices have worked out really well on these too.

On y va!

First up we have a 17-year old Speyside. This is undisclosed single malt from Gl*nf*rcl*s matured in an oloroso hogshead – super-dark sherry perfect for the coming season!

On the nose we’re in a very oloroso place – with chocolate ganache, walnut cake, old metal toolboxes, chestnuts roasting over coal, tobacco and orange. I get some rum, fir branches and a drop of Worcestershire sauce too.

The palate is huge, with Dundee cake, ristretto, black cherry, treacle toffee and chocolate orange. The development is on toasted raisins, parsley oil, maple syrup and bitter orange.

Also worth mentioning that this takes dilution really well – it gets surprisingly clean and fruity, with apple pie, orange oil, toffee pennies and touches of menthol and hazelnuts popping up.

This oloroso hogshead produced 321 bottles at 55.8% and they are available for £75 each. Bargain!

Next up we have an 8-year-old Peallach, fully matured in a rioja barrique. This is basically Ledaig under a different name.

I know I’m on record as rarely approving of wine casks, but I like this one a lot. It’s nicely integrated (no dodgy last-minute finishing here), the cask’s not been too active, and Ledaig’s a robust spirit that can stand up for itself. It’s a really entertaining contrast with the very classical and elegant 18yo Ledaig from the last outturn too. Think of this one as the boisterous younger sibling!

So, on the nose: ashes and smouldering tarmac, very buttery pain aux raisins, bandages, salt and vinegar crisps, seawater and orange peel. In the background I get a curious mix of toasted black peppercorns, menthol, liquorice and cloves.

The palate is big, oily and really smoky. Charred lemons, dried Williams pears, morello cherries, black cardomom and black treacle. The finish is fantastically salty and ashy – one of those that you can still taste half an hour later.

Like the Speyside this also takes water really well – becoming softer and cleaner, with citrus, smoke and brine. Pure elemental Ledaig in other words.

This rioja barrique produced 293 bottles at 58.2%, and they are available for £65 each.

And last, but certainly not least, we have a 17-year-old Ben Nevis. Hector McDram rides again!

I’ve done a few different Nevises now, and they’ve all been completely different. This one’s certainly the most elegant and fruity of the bunch. The low-ish cask strength makes it an easy dram, but it’s also full of nuance and interest.

One the nose: this smells like Ben Nevis, which I know is a bit circular! Butter candy, ripe fruits (apple, peach, banana), lemon sherbets, fior di latte ice cream, shoe polish and soot. This really develops as it breathes, with mead, verbena, and elusive savoury touches emerging.

The palate is fab – fruity, funky, oily and mineralic. Oranges, plums, chalk, honeycomb, beeswax, and little bits of spearmint and chartreuse. The development is on green lemons, liquorice and salt – it feels super-precise and surprisingly coastal.

This bourbon barrel produced 285 bottles at 48.8%, and they are available for £95 each.

And…

…that’s it for now.

As the end of 2024 creeps nearer I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for your continuing interest and support. It means a lot, really.

I’ll see you back here for the first outturn of 2025, but please do feel free to get in touch via any of the usual channels if I can be of assistance in the meantime.

Cheers!

David

If you’re a beer lover, you won’t want to miss the Society’s latest small-batch creation, Spruce on the loose – available now. This 17-year-old blended malt is the result of a collaboration with Perthshire-based brewer Wasted Degrees and its experiment with a stout flavoured with locally sourced spruce tips.

“There is a lot in common between Wasted Degrees and the Society,” says Jack Low from Wasted Degrees. “We mainly release different, limited batches of our ales, very much like the Society would release a single cask whisky or a ‘Heresy’ small-batch release.”

This new offering features whisky matured in barrels used to create a spruce tip-flavoured stout. Expect notes of dark chocolate and old pipe tobacco box lined with crystallised spruce sap and nutmeg-infused orange peel. Pair it with Wasted Degrees Amber Ale and you’ve got the perfect hauf ‘n’ hauf whisky and beer combo.

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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

WHISKYLAND CHAPTER EIGHT TOMATIN – 30 YEAR OLD

Whiskyland Chapter Eight is a single refill hogshead of 1994 Tomatin, aged for 30 years and bottled at natural cask strength. Please be warned that this whisky is extremely fruity, juicy and exquisite. As such, please refrain from wearing the new All-Automatic Opinion Digitiser 3000 while tasting it. The intensity of the opinions it will induce could potentially be sufficient to crash the internet a destabilise Whiskyland. You will just have to sit quietly and drink this whisky by yourself or in the physical company of other people, like it was done in ye olden times.

£485.00 inc VAT

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GLEN GARIOCH 11 YEARS OLD 

Palo Cortado Finish

Aberdeen Whisky Shop Exclusive