Christmas Gifting

Explore the Wemyss Malts gifting collection, filled with thoughtful presents for the whisky lover in your life.

From our signature single malts to limited-edition single casks and stocking-sized surprises, there’s something to suit every taste.

Please note – our last order date for UK Christmas delivery is the 19th December.

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JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLING CO. LAUNCHES “BEAM PRIVATE BARREL CLUB” – THE DISTILLERY’S FIRST CONSUMER SINGLE BARREL PROGRAM 

Marking over 229 years since Jacob Beam started selling whiskey in 1795, fans of the iconic James B. Beam Distilling Co. can now select their own private barrel at the Clermont, Kentucky distillery

Clermont, Kentucky (December 10, 2024) – The James B. Beam Distilling Co., home of the world’s number one bourbon, Jim Beam^®, is excited to announce the launch of the Beam Private Barrel Club, a community of whiskey fans and enthusiasts who, for the first time, can buy and personalize their own single barrel directly from the distillery, creating an entirely new way to experience the iconic distiller. Knob Creek® will be the featured, inaugural brand to launch the program of which members can select a barrel of its award-winning bourbon or rye to be bottled exclusively for their enjoyment.  During this one-of-a-kind selection experience, consumers will have the unique opportunity to head deep into the rackhouses at the Clermont campus in Kentucky where generations of Master Distillers have famously hand-selected the very best bourbon for more than two centuries. Members can become a Master Distiller for the day, exploring the unique nuances of single barrels shaped by their location within the rackhouse, environmental factors, and individual barrel characteristics that influence flavor over time. In these historic spaces, where nearly 19 million barrels of bourbon and rye have aged more than two centuries, guests now have the chance to carve out their own piece of American whiskey history.

“The Beam Private Barrel Club is something we’ve been working on for years– even decades now,” shares Freddie Noe, eighth generation master distiller. “As we celebrate the 230^th year of Jacob Beam selling his first barrel, we want to commemorate this milestone by further welcoming whiskey lovers into our family offering members the ability to own a barrel, exclusively their own. As the sign says, come as friends, leave as family, and the new Beam Private Barrel Club does just that.”

How the Beam Private Barrel Club Works:

• Individuals, whiskey clubs, families, or friends become official members of the Beam Private Barrel Club by requesting a booking via the Beam Private Barrel Club Booking Link.
• The Beam Private Barrel Club member will be contacted by a Legacy ambassador at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Clermont Campus. The Legacy Ambassador will confirm the Beam Private Barrel Club experience and be your point of contact for your barrel selection.
• On the day of the Beam Private Barrel Club Experience, a Legacy ambassador will guide guests through a behind the scenes tour of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Campus, including a stop in the Fred B. Noe Distillery where they will learn about 230 years of Beam Family production practices. This is a completely private, curated tour and not open to general consumers.
• Following a private tour, the group will be escorted to a rackhouse to test and taste a selection of single barrel bourbons or ryes, just as eight generations of Master Distillers have done.
• After the tasting, guests will select their favorite barrel which will be pulled aside and eventually bottled. Each barrel will be bottled into exclusive bottles with a personalized label that can feature up to 41 unique characters. Members will be provided bottling and collection dates by the Beam Legacy ambassador and will receive updates on the status of the custom barrel through the process.
• Once selected, guests can take part in a special lunch at The Kitchen Table, the notable on-campus restaurant, inspired by the original Beam family kitchen table.
• Following your visit, the Beam Legacy ambassador will date members on the progress of their barrel. Once the bottle is barreled, all bottles must be picked up and paid in full, from the James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Beam Private Barrel Club – Details and Added Benefits:

• Bottling will take 90 to 120 days from barrel selection and the Member must pick up their cases and purchase the entirety of the barrel from the American Outpost.
• The selection process can accommodate up to eight guests per group.
• Pricing will vary depending on bottled yield, as each barrel will be determined on a per-bottle basis. The cost per bottle starts at $59.99, and typical barrels yield 100-175 bottles.
• To reserve your barrel, a non-refundable $1,000 deposit is required at the time of booking. This deposit will be credited towards the final cost of your barrel.

Visit beamdistilling.com for more information about The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and the Beam Private Barrel Club. While the program and Distillery tours are limited to guests age 21+, guests of any age can visit the grounds and The Kitchen Table restaurant.

About The James B. Beam Distilling Co. 

Founded by America’s first family of bourbon, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. has crafted genuine American Whiskey since 1795. Its portfolio includes globally coveted and award-winning whiskey brands including Jim Beam®, Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, Booker’s®, Baker’s®, Little Book®, Legent®, Old Tub®, Old Overholt®, Old Crow®, and Old Grand-Dad®. Maintaining the whiskey traditions of eight generations of family distillers while advancing the category through innovation, the Beam family has defined what American Whiskey could be and should be for more than 225 years. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. crafts American Whiskey with genuine, quality ingredients that are distilled and aged without compromise at its family distilleries in Clermont, Kentucky.

About Suntory Global Spirits

As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

ABOUT BOOKER’S® “JIMMY’s BATCH”

The fourth release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2024 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, living legend for bourbon lovers everywhere, and one of my dad’s dearest peers, competitors, and most importantly friends. Jimmy was like a second father to me after dad passed away, and I’ve learned a hell of a lot from him over the years. There are many life lessons to thank him for, but here are a few that stand out to me.

Once at a bourbon festival, Jimmy came up to Dad and me and poured out three glasses of a whiskey he wanted us to taste. It was some real nice stuff, and when Dad asked what it was, Jimmy said it was something new he was working on, something special. I thought it was pretty cool to bring a new product to a competitor and ask what they think. It showed me the importance of trust and camaraderie, and just how much those old timers respected each other.

The other big thing Jimmy taught me was to treat everybody like I wanted to be treated. When we went to events at bars or liquor stores, he always stayed late to make sure everyone got their picture taken and their bottle signed. It’s easy to take for granted that we get to do what we do because of the people that stand in line for our whiskey, but Jimmy never did.

Just like Dad, there are few things Jimmy loves more than a damn good bottle of bourbon. So, cheers to him and the mentorship he’s given me through thick and thin all these years. I hope you get to share a glass with company as good and true as Jimmy.

— FRED NOE, BEAM FAMILY 7TH GENERATION MASTER DISTILLER

MASTER DISTILLER’S NOTES

The fourth and final batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2024 is a tribute to a cherished friend of the Noe family, Jimmy Russel. A close friend to my dad and a second father figure to me since my dad’s passing in 2004. The breakdown of this batch is as follows:

• 12% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 20% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
• 46% came from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 3
• 22% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Q

This batch was made up of 3 production dates stored in 4 different warehouses. It stands at 125.8 proof and the age is 7 years, 9 months, and 19 days. It boasts a rich amber color shaped by the charred white oak barrels it aged in until the barrels were dumped. I first tasted this batch at my kitchen table, and its aroma filled the whole room. That first sip is sweet and smooth, and the way the vanilla notes mixes with the brown spice notes is just right- inviting you in for another taste. The finish is very pleasant and relaxing in taste.

I am really proud to put this batch together for Jimmy, and I know my dad would have loved seeing a batch of his namesake bourbon dedicated to his great friend.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Booker’s “Jimmy’s Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle. 

PROOF 125.8

AGE 7 yrs., 8 months and 19 days

IN FIELD DATE 11/1/24

NOSE Aromas of vanilla, brown spices

TASTE Sweet and smooth, and unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon

FINISH Pleasant and relaxing

SIPPING SUGGESTIONS Sip neat or with water to open up the flavorsSCC#10080686011405 / UPC#080686011408

*Booker’s® Bourbon is quality screened to remove sizeable pieces of charred barrel wood Shippers for each Booker’s Batch are coded with the name and batch # for each release

WHISKY SPONGE ED.58B BEN NEVIS – 27 YEAR OLD

After a very long gap, Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is finally here. It’s rather fitting that this will be the very last Sponge bottling we’ll release. Forever. (Probably).

This is the second half of the same butt of Ben Nevis 1996 we bottled as Edition No. 58a, only this one has been finished in a 2nd fill sherry butt for just over two years. We bottled it with even slighter reduction this time, at 55%. It tastes like Optimus Prime after an intense workout while wearing a sheep wool cardigan in a cosmic potting shed.

Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is the long in development follow up to Edition No.58a. It’s the same whisky, a refill butt of 1996 Ben Nevis, only we finished the second half for just over two years in a 2nd fill sherry butt.

We then bottled it with a couple of degrees reduction at 55%. This is big, rich, oily, waxy and mechanical Ben Nevis, powerful, West Highland, distillate driven malt whisky, with a touch of sherry earthiness.

£295.00 incVAT

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It’s a big moment for Unfiltered which celebrates its 100th issue with some equally exciting news: PRINT IS COMING BACK in 2025. In the latest digital issue we explore our latest Heresy release, Spruce on the loose and head to the Isle of Harris for a Hebridean adventure. As ever, there’s a wealth of whisky storytelling to explore both in Unfiltered and in our monthly podcast.

READ UNFILTERED

WATCH THE PODCAST

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY UPDATE

We’re now getting closer to our Christmas delivery cut-off dates. Please remember that it’s a very busy time of year. While we love getting your whisky to you as speedily as we can, unexpected bad weather and busy couriers can result in delays to orders. We would encourage you to place your orders as soon as possible. Order by Wednesday, 18 December to avoid disappointment!

SHOP ALL WHISKY

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

In the embrace of the longest night, we find the promise of returning light.

As the shortest day of the year approaches, so does a moment of reflection and celebration. We are delighted to unveil the latest addition to our solstice series: Winter Solstice 2024. 

Inspired by the depths of Winter, this exclusive single cask release has been drawn from a Glengoyne 2008 European Oak Sherry Hogshead. With a bottling strength of 59.9% ABV and a yield of only 285 bottles, this special release is available exclusively to Glengoyne Family Members at sunset on:

 16^th December, 15:44

(Five days prior to Solstice – but in time to arrive before Christmas!)

The tasting notes include a harmony of winter flavours:

Nose – Luxurious vanilla, treacle sponge pudding, chewy toffee, dark chocolate, cinnamon dusting, freshly toasted oak, thyme, dried orange and cherries, stewed peach

Palate – A medley of bright berries and dried fruits, sweet tropical notes, chopped almonds, homemade Christmas cake well-fed with Oloroso sherry, pleasant tannicity, hint of clove and roast coffee

Finish – Long, Oloroso sherry, trail mix, mouthwatering oak, dark chocolate ganache

Tis the season for sharing the Spirit

Mark your new calendar – Spirit of Toronto returns to Roy Thomson Hall on Saturday May 3. And with the holidays upon us, we are once again releasing a limited number of Gift Certificates for next year’s show, and at 2024 pricing.

As always, masterclasses must be booked and paid for separately, but as a bonus we are now granting priority access to those of you with a Gift Certificate – once the schedule is published you may email us to reserve the session of your choice, on a space available basis. (And those opting to do so must pay the box office for their masterclass before tickets go on sale to the general public.)

Gift Certificates are sent out as a PDF, and include a unique barcode to be registered with us no later than April 18, 2025. Roy Thomson Hall’s box office will send the recipient their entry ticket once they go on sale next March.

But perhaps you’re looking to share a more tangible spirit with friends and family?

I’m happy to share my personal wish list below, based on the best of the daily drinkers that I’ve tried in 2024. And if you’re reading this, Santa, you know where to find my tree.

In the best of spirits,
Johanna Ngoh
Founder & Executive Producer

Spirit of Toronto | Whisky&More
Saturday May 3, 2025

House of Vintages Announces Release of Collector-Grade BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon, an Object of Prophecy

POULTNEY, VT, UNITED STATES, December 2, 2024  BHAKTA Spirits, the world’s preeminent House of Vintages, announced today the launch of the rarest, oldest, and most storied whiskey yet offered from its spirits library, BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon (SRP $1,000). Only 555 bottles will see release.

Crowned with a gilded “hood ornament” topper of BHAKTA Spirits Founder Raj Peter Bhakta astride an elephant, this lavish single vintage bourbon solidifies the brand’s ascent into the upper echelon of the status spirits segment.

Distilled in Tennessee, BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon’s maturation journey carried it across two continents, three distinct casks, and four unique climates — the Smoky Mountains, the Green Mountains, the sweeping plains of Indiana, and the chilly climes of Glasgow. While in Scotland, it aged in a former Rolls-Royce factory famed for having once produced the “Merlin” aircraft engines that powered Allied fighter planes to victory in WWII’s Battle of Britain.

BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon completed its final aging within the BHAKTA-GRISWOLD Spirits Library of the brand’s college campus headquarters, where it was finished in a notably spectacular barrel of BHAKTA 1975 Armagnac (SRP $379).

Nineteen-year-old bourbons are normally no good — like the ones many collectors currently chase. But ‘The Elijah Prophecy,’ elevated by its Armagnac pedigree, sets a new benchmark for collectability.”

— Raj Peter Bhakta

Bottled at cask strength of 107.4 proof and offered at 19 years and 3 months of age, this rare bourbon is an unusual distillation of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. It represents a major new discovery for collectors in search of specificity and decadence.

“Nineteen-year-old bourbons are normally no good — like the ones many collectors currently chase,” notes Founder Raj Peter Bhakta. “But none have ever tasted quite like this. Because of its astounding odyssey of aging and elevation, and in no small part due to its final education in Armagnac, BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon sets a new benchmark for collectability. May its prophecy bring you good fortune, as it has for me.”

As a result of its triple cask maturation, Armagnac pedigree, and astonishing age, this exquisite new entry into the category offers the sort of sensory experience rare among even the world’s most sought-after high-end bourbons. BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon shows an intricate flavor profile of blood orange, oak spice, leather, Moroccan chamomile, heirloom tobacco, and antebellum molasses. And where words of superlative should fall short, the extra inches of altitude endowed by its gleaming, elephantine adornment ensure its position as a literal cut above its competitors.

The historically accurate bottle topper depicts Raj Peter Bhakta’s “Crossing of the Rio Grande” (2006), a viral Congressional campaign stunt that buoyed his longshot bid for Pennsylvania’s 13th District into the national zeitgeist. Each BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon arrives lavishly packaged in a glass-windowed wooden box handcrafted by Andrew Bosela of Wild Roots Woodworking, in partnership with the College of St. Joseph the Worker’s woodshop of Steubenville, Ohio. Honoring BHAKTA’s spirit of both tradition and innovation, these bespoke bottle boxes inspired by Gothic and Art Deco architecture have been crafted from Osage, walnut, and padauk.

BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon also symbolizes an inflection point in the life and times of Bhakta the man. As his inaugural barrel acquisition following his departure from WhistlePig, the iconic American whiskey brand he founded in 2007, this scarce vintage has long remained a closely guarded personal treasure. So closely guarded, in fact, that the cask has been granted its final years of rest within Bhakta’s personal residence. Closer still, these 555 bottles of naught-five bourbon have earned a most intimate moniker — “The Elijah Prophecy” — an homage to Bhakta’s fifth child, who was born on the fifth day of the fifth month of this year. The prophecy has revealed that all who hold these bottles will be blessed with magnificent good fortune.

While just the brand’s fifth-ever whiskey vintage, BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon is the first to break four figures upon release. It is positioned as the highest-reaching whiskey expression yet offered from the BHAKTA House of Vintages — a triumph memorialized with its opulent hood ornament topper and extravagantly handcrafted bottle box. The new release joins a distinguished competitive set of Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Family Reserve, Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon 20 Years Old.

BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon will be available at select retailers and preferred restaurants. Private collectors will have the opportunity to acquire it through the BHAKTA Spirits Private Client Program. A highly limited number of its 555 bottles will be offered to loyal online customers through the brand’s website; ultimately, what scarce stock remains over the years to come will be available only on the secondary market.

To ensure fulfillment of “The Elijah Prophecy” — and to guarantee delivery of the magnificent blessings of good fortune offered by this landmark release — enthusiasts are advised to act quickly.

About BHAKTA 2005 Bourbon Whiskey (SRP $1,000)

—Aged 19 Years, 3 months
—1975 Armagnac Cask finish
—Cask strength 107.4 proof | 53.7% ABV
—84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
—Exceptionally limited release of 555 bottles

Tasting Notes

—Aspect: Ruby Red
—Nose: Toasted almond, Moroccan chamomile, and antebellum molasses
—Palate: Seville orange, baking spices, stewed pears, and layered oak spice
—Finish: Long, semi-dry, and evolving, showing charred oak, blood orange, well-aged leather, and heirloom tobacco

About BHAKTA Spirits

BHAKTA Spirits is the world’s preeminent House of Vintages. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Raj Peter Bhakta — also the founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and Hogsworth — BHAKTA offers a luxury craft spirits portfolio of limited-release single vintage whiskeys, brandies, rums, and more, anchored by its ancient and awe-inspiring Armagnac holdings dating back to 1868. An innovator in the experiential hospitality space, BHAKTA’s destinations include historic properties in France, Vermont, and Florida. BHAKTA Spirits is headquartered on its BHAKTA-GRISWOLD Campus in Poultney, VT, the former site of Green Mountain College.

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The Second Chapter in the Russell Family Cask Trilogy is Here  

 Cask #915 – 38 Year Old First Fill American Oak Sherry Butt

Nose: Dark and luxurious, rich toffee, blackberry tart with vanilla crème, raspberry dark chocolate, brandy snaps, marzipan, hints of floral honey and heavily roasted coffee bean.

Palate: Fine dark chocolate, fresh strawberries with cream, tiramisu, long aged sherry, subtle warmth of ginger.

Finish:  Long with notes of dark chocolate and toasted oak.

Alcohol: 56.8%

A Family Legacy

The Russell Family Cask is an extremely rare Glengoyne Single Cask personally selected by 3 generations of the Ian Macleod Family owners – Peter, Leonard and Tom Russell.

“We are first and foremost a family business, and growing up for me was full of family dinners and conversation flowing, quick wit and healthy debates and the Russell Cask Trilogy brings this to life. The 38 year old is a remarkable dram, and we had no doubt that we needed to bottle it. The series is a special part of our past but releasing it is raising a glass to our future”

– Tom Russell, 4th generation of the Russell Family

“…a superb expression of a French Oak refill cask, where light oak spice sets the stage without overwhelming the inherent character, showcasing a spirit that is unapologetically present. This is a whisky that invites contemplation and rewards patience. A true celebration of balance and evolution in the glass.”

Heather Tillott, Distillery Manager

Single cask TD0022 was distilled in July of 2005 and decanted in August of 2024, ageing in a single 300L French oak second-fill cask for 19 years. Bottled at 47.5% ABV, this cask yielded only 374 bottles.

Second-fill casks allow for long-term maturation without being overtaken by the influence of oak or pre-fill. The result is a whisky of perfect balance: our signature spirit character harmonises seamlessly with the soft oak profile, allowing the fruity esters from our copper alembic still, Myrtle, to shine through. In addition to the notes of dark jammy berries, aromatic spice and bright fruit, these whiskies exhibit a depth and refinement that can only come from age.

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