BLACK BULL SPECIAL RESERVE #1

Only 978 bottles so grab yours by the horns whilst you can!

Black Bull Special Reserve No.1 is the latest addition to the Black Bull fold by the independant bottlers Duncan Taylor, carefully blended to celebrate the defining character of the award winning range.

The marriage of exceptional malt and grain whiskies retains the unique 50% malt of grain ratio of the 12 & 30 year old expressions and like its 40 year old stable mate is bottled at natural cask strength. Non chill filtered, with artificial colouring, this powerful blend balances an unprecedentedly high ratio of mature malt and grain whiskies with the brightness and vitality of teenage malts. Uncompromising prime and boldly refunded – Black Bull Special Reserve delivers full pedigree.

Black Bull Special Reserve No.1 is an extremely limited release. Only 978 bottles are available globally, making this one of the finest and most exclusive blended whiskies ever produced.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Pale Amber

Nose: Honeycomb, buttered brown bread, cashew nuts, some mossy, grassy notes and quite oily.

Taste: Olive bread, then heavier fruity notes, plums, raisins – maybe grapefruit and a brief encounter with soft smoke. With time more syrupy citrus notes emerge along with a little bitter chocolate orange.

Finish: Growing sweetness in the finish, a touch nutty.

Comment: An outstanding whisky!

£64.00

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks, ‘Tweeddale 12yo Blend’

Tweeddale Blend OB 12yo 46%alc.

50% single grain and 50% malt

Batch 2 12yo

‘In batch two the single grain whisky is 15 years old from a sherry butt. Seven of the eight single malts are from the same casks as batch 1 but a year older 12 years old to 21 years old. One of the malts in batch 2 is 14 years old from a different cask.’

Scotch as Scotch should be.

First twist on a shop favourite, a bit more age and a bit more sherry influence make this a very accomplished 12yo blend and highly recommended. Round, mellow and well flavoured – lovely!

Blends by definition don’t figure on the Flavour map but if they did it’s rich with a dash of delicate.

Price excluding VAT: £26.25
£31.50 Including VAT at 20%

https://www.lfw.co.uk/acatalog/Tweeddale.html#a4270

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Tomatin Celebrates Master Distillers 50th Year

Tomatin Distillery is delighted to announce the release of a special limited edition bottling to celebrate Douglas Campbell, the current Master Distiller, 50th year of service with the company. Native to Tomatin, Douglas Campbell had worked for the distillery since 1961 in a number of positions before taking on the role of Master Distiller in 2008. In his current role, he spends much of his time assessing the thousands of casks that lie maturing in the vast warehouses of Tomatin or travelling around the world promoting the distillery’s single malt.

In recognition of his 50 years service at Tomatin, Douglas has created a Single Malt using whiskies distilled in each of the 5 decades he has worked at the distillery. Starting with a 1967 cask and moving through each of the subsequent decades to the year 2005, Douglas has chosen whiskies that not only have very distinctive individual characteristics but are also versatile enough to marry together to create a single malt that is a genuine one off.

Called simply ‘Decades‘, this single malt is a marriage of maturity and youth. It is a coming together of sherry and bourbon influenced whiskies, of differing ages, to create a single malt that has great depth of flavour but also a youthful charm that helps to invigorate the taste buds.

Decades has been limited to a world wide release of 9000 bottles, is non chill filtered and bottled at 46%abv. It comes in a prestigious gift box which has been designed to look like the internal char of a bourbon cask. It is expected to retail in the UK at 69.95GBP and across Europe at 80.00 Euros.

Robert Anderson, Chief Executive at Tomatin commented “This is a fitting compliment on the life and participation of Douglas in the evolution of the Tomatin style. Douglas, an inspiration to me when I took up my post in 1988, had already contributed 27 years to our distillery – quite an accomplishment”.

Tomatin has also confirmed that they are enhancing their standard range by replacing the current 25 year old with a 30 year old Single Malt. Due to limited stocks the distillery plans to release 2000 bottles annually. This Single Malt has been crafted using both North American and European oak casks, it is non chill filtered, bottled at 46%abv and will retail for £125.00GBP in the UK market and 145.00 Euros across Europe.

Stephen Bremner Sales Director commented “this change has come about because of the phenomenal reception that our 30 year old release received back in 2007. By the time Tomatin reaches 30 years of age it has become very rich and full bodied and has a unique character that is dominated by a wealth of deep fruity aromas that you don’t pick up in the younger expressions”.

Tasting Notes

Decades

Aroma – A lovely sweet maltiness gives way to juicy, fruity aromas of fresh peach, apple and pear with gentle hints of dried apricots and raisins. Delicate flowery notes sit on top of rich pine and robust oak wood. The hint of a distant smouldering fire wafts about in the background.

Palate – The taste buds are tantalised by intense flavours of tropical fruit, rich Christmas cake, aniseed, cinnamon and creamy fudge. The rich malty sweetness returns with a nutty edge.

Finish – Mellow and memorable, like the man himself.

30 year old

Nose – Intense juicy aromas arouse the senses – Green Apples, Passion Fruit, Honey Dew Melon, Blackcurrant and Blueberries. Citrus notes come to the fore all the while a candy sweetness drifts along with hints of polished leather in the background.

Palate – Gooseberry, Ginger and Hazelnuts make way for spicy oak which hits the middle of the tongue. The oak is balanced beautifully by a honey sweetness that drifts to the back of the palate.

Finish – Long, clean and pleasurable.

Visit Tomatin Distillery at www.tomatin.com

Kilchoman

Inaugural/100% Islay

Produced from barley that has been grown, malted and distilled on Islay. The Inaugural 100% release has been aged on the island for over 3 years in a combination of fresh and refill bourbon barrels, then finally bottled at the distillery.

Pre-order only.

£79.00

Remember!  We don’t charge for postage to the UK mainland when you spend over £100! £16.00 to most of Europe. Great Prices to the USA.

Sláinte!

Mike & Peter
 
Are looking to sell? Get in touch, auction prices paid!

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Abbey Whisky

www.abbeywhisky.com

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive malts.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America July Sale 2011 Outturn Offerings

Garden in the Glen

Cask No. 9.59    
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)

The unexpected nose said ‘surprise!’ with the rich weighty sweetness of Sauternes fruits (honey, banana, peachy and sugar), brioche and marzipan. Millionaire shortbread brought a traditional bakery alongside custard doughnuts, cookie dough and runny honey. The neat palate revealed a subtle explosion; “malty gold dust” said the Leither. Sweet and sour, the taste was feisty with rhubarb and custard, candy floss, dried raspberries and Edinburgh rock – “all the fun of the fair”. Also Manzanilla sherry and schezuan. The reduced nose became fruitier and floral with elderflower and cherry blossom. The reduced palate was warm with hot chestnuts and German pan fried roasted almonds coated with sugar. Pistachio ice cream and cherry sauce lingered. This distillery is renowned for its beautiful Victorian garden.

Drinking tip: Outdoors in a blossoming garden

Colour: Blonde-gold    
Cask: Refill hogshead    
Age: 13 years    
Date distilled: April 1997
Alcohol: 58.2%

$110

Barley sugars rolled in ash

Cask No. 16.30    
Highlands, Eastern Highlands

The nose delivered dried fruits, treacle, dandelion and burdock, belly pork roasted with brown sugar and much later salt and hot stones; one panellist got a hint of soap. The unreduced palate had sweet tobacco, slightly burnt buttered toast and dark barley sugars rolled in ash; the after-taste was fairly spicy. The reduced nose had crème caramel, Hessian and dark honey. The reduced palate was very sweet but with a darker, drier, tannic edge – lavender, fruity jam, sherry, sweet onion chutney – eventually going back to an echo of the roast pork. The old distillery cat could easily match Mighty Mouse.

Drinking tip: After dinner with coffee

Colour: Deep honey gold   
Cask: Second-fill hogshead   
Age: 22 years    
Date distilled: November 1988
Alcohol: 51.6%

$145

Islay twinned with Algarve

Cask No. 23.67    
Islay, Loch Indaal

The nose whispered delicate perfumes (buttercups, snowdrops, spring flower meadows above sea cliffs); also coconut, cream soda and McVitie’s Gold Bars. Even in reduction we found this nose sexily seductive, with sweet tobacco, sherbet straws, vanilla and mimosa flowers nodding in the warm breeze – like a twinning of the Islay and Algarve landscapes! The unreduced palate had delicious sweet heat – Berwick Cockles and white chocolate with pink peppercorns – we also found heather flowers, bog myrtle, seaweed and white peach. With water it developed Parma ham and leather, salt, smoke, wood sap and Chablis. This distillery’s name means ‘the brae on the shore’ in Gaelic.

Drinking tip: Ideally on a hill, overlooking a beach at sunset

Colour: Platinum gold    
Cask: Refill barrel    
Age: 8 years    
Date distilled: July 2002
Alcohol: 62.5%

$85

Honeyed fruits

Cask No. 125.44    
Highlands, Northern Highlands

Orange blossom, ginger, almonds, and vanilla pods were the Panels first impressions but also notes of leather, coconuts, lily-of-the-valley, fresh herbs – thyme, rosemary and oregano, freshly baked shortbread and white balsamic vinegar. To taste the Panel found a wonderful mix of hot, syrupy lemons, oranges and peaches combined with black pepper, tobacco and nutmeg. The addition of water released the fruits – peaches, apricots, lychees, kiwis (a Del Monte fruit pot someone suggested) all covered in honey; to taste it was sweet, creamy, mouth coating with a lovely nutmeg, root ginger and cinnamon spice. This distillery’s water is drawn from the Tarlogie Springs.

Drinking tip: An anywhere anytime type of dram

Colour: Champagne gold   
Cask: First-fill barrel    
Age: 10 years    
Date distilled: February 2000
Alcohol: 55.9%

$95

You may join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com

June Outturn Previews: Sporty Pair 1.158 & 76.83
As we gear-up for these (supposedly) warmer months, we thought we’d release this rather ‘Sporty Pair’ from our July Outturn a little early…Buy 1.158 & 76.83 for only £89.90 and save £10

1.158 Cricketer’s Dram
Speyside Spey
£47.30 inc free p&p
A rich ‘whoosh’ on the nose with cocoa, black pepper, rose and cherries; vanilla, wood sap and coconut in milk chocolate

76.83 Cocktails after rugby
Speyside Spey
£52.60 inc free p&p
Lemon and sweet cucumber on the nose, reminded the Tour-guide of Hendrick’s gin cocktails, while someone else identified mud and leather, suggestive of a rugby club changing room

We’ve also found a few interesting bottles at the back of our cupboards, have a browse round our bottlings…

   Browse all bottlings  (68 single casks online)

Islay Lover?
We know you’re out there in droves, enjoy our latest selection of new Islay additions, special releases and offers – hand-picked for our loyal Islay fans and only available via mail order..

33.109 Delightful intensity of sherry and smoke
£60.40 inc. free p&p
Maple syrup, caramel and honey, pear and blackcurrant, ginger, sherry, heather, leather, mushroom compost and burnt toast

Islay Lover Pair: Buy 10.72 & 53.143 for only £89.00 (save £12.00)

10.72 A hawker market in Singapore
£45.70 inc. free p&p
Buttery egg custard, vanilla, syrup, doughnuts, light smoke, struck matches and dried flowers, plus pork char siu, duck and hoisin sauce

53.143 Sea breezes over the machair at night
£56.20 inc free p&p
The nose had ever-present smoke – peat fires, smoked ham and “sparks from a grinder”. It also had salty, medicinal elements

I’m a Society Islay Lover 

Society Tastings & Events (66 Society tastings online)

New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 2 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 3 July
New Members’ Tasting – London, Thu 14 July
Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 15 July
Wokingham Preview Tasting – Cantley House, Fri 22 July
Falkirk Wheel Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 28 July

More Society tastings

Whisky For A Year: Free Tasting Glasses

Get whiskyed away on a tide of ultimate single cask single malt Society bottlings..

Over the course of the year we’ll send you bottlings, hand-picked by The Tasting Panel, of the highest quality and intrigue.

Sign-up before Fri 15 July and we’ll include a pair of free tasting glasses with your first bottling (77.25 Notes of floral & tobacco)

 More

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 http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers. 

Kilchoman Inaugural 100% Islay Release

Kilchoman is pleased to launch this first bottling of ‘100% Islay’ . This whisky has been produced from barley grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery.

The Inaugural 100% release has been aged in a combination of fresh and refil bourbon barrels for over 3 years .

Colour : Light Golden

Nose: Soft peaty aromas and a blend of citrus,lemons and pear drops

Palate: An initial sweetness is followed by soft peat smoke and mixed fruits

Finish: Long and clean leaving hints of peat smoke and mixed fruits.

Kilchoman Distillery was founded in 2005 and is the first to be built in Islay for over 120 years. It is a farm distillery and a proportion of the barley used in production is grown and malted at the distillery.

Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland producing 90 to 100,000 litres of alcohol per year bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky, USA and fresh oloroso sherry butts direct from Spain.

£64.99 BUY NOW

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES THE INAUGURAL 100% ISLAY SINGLE MALT  

Kilchoman, Islay’s Farm Distillery, is proud to announce the release of its first single malt produced from barley, grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery.

It has been matured for 3 years in first fill bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky, USA and is lightly peated (10 to 20ppm of phenols) and bottled at 50% alcohol strength

Colour :         Light Golden

Nose:           Soft peaty aromas and a blend of citrus, lemon and pear drops

Palate:          An initial sweetness is followed by soft peat smoke and then the mixed fruits

Finish:           Long and clean with a lovely sweet aftertaste.

Kilchoman ‘100% Islay’ is available from twenty six specialist whisky retailers in the UK at a retail price of £69.00 per bottle and twenty nine markets worldwide. 11,300 bottles have been released worldwide.

There is also a special edition, available only at the distillery, of 1060 bottles at cask strength 61.3% ABV. Presented in a hand crafted American white oak presentation box, this edition at £149.00 is available only from the distillery.

For more information visit www.kilchomandistillery.com

Anthony Wills, Managing Director, commented:  “Being able to release a single malt produced from raw materials sourced locally was what the Kilchoman project was all about and I’m delighted to be able to share this exceptional young aged single malt with whisky enthusiasts around the world”.

It’s been an interesting month during which I’ve moved into a new house, got some new furniture, got a new wife and also got a few new casks…. (no particular importance should be attributed to my order of typing) Thanks to all for the good wishes to Jane and myself.

With demand strong for Cragganmore, I’ve taken delivery of another couple of 20 year old hogsheads. I’ve mentioned previously the delays and difficulties getting casks uplifted from some warehouses and occasional inaccuracies in the amounts gauged. I usually check the volume and strength within a day of arrival in our warehouse.

In the case of the recently delivered 12 year old Bowmore, some of the quantities were lower than they should have been but the quality is excellent.

I bottled one of the casks of 36 year old Inchgower and sold all of the bottles within a couple of days to trade customers. The demand spilled over for the second cask and any bottles remaining will be available on my online shop within the next week, price £50 per bottle at 53.4%. This is definitely a good value product and atthis price you can afford to buy two and keep one. Check out prices on other websites, you’ll find that a 36 yo Inchgower will usually sell at £90plus.

From the point of view of excellent value the pick of the bunch among the new arrivals has to be the hoggies of 14 year old Dalmore. These have matured beautifully and are ready for bottling immediately. Their exceptionally low price is unlikely to be repeated in the future.

Earlier in the year I attended Linkoping Whisky Festival in Sweden. I sold some casks, met some very nice people, was grateful to those enthusiasts among them who were particularly helpful to me and I got some useful experience. It was also apparent that I should have marketed not only casks but some of my bottlings. Even if I had only brought a few bottles for sampling, ensuing sales could have been posted out from Scotland. I am currently trying to decide which whisky festivals it might be worthwhile to visit during the next six months, so any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated!

Casks Currently Available:

Bottles Currently Available:

Distilled at Price (notincluding postage)

Caol Ila 27 yearold, 70cl, 53.1% £49

Cragganmore 20 yearold, 70cl, 54.2% £37

Glen Grant 17 yearold, 70cl, 55% £40

“Mystery Whisky”,20 year old, 70cl, 55.8% (label gives clues to distilleryname) £36

Inchgower 36 year old, 70cl, 53.4%COMING WITHIN THE NEXTWEEK £50

For trade prices please contact me.

If there is any cask you would particularly like to see available, please let me know and I’ll keep an eye open for it. Comments/suggestions can be made on the Guestbook of my website, especially if you have purchased a cask. Alternatively you can email me.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Martin Armstrong

www.whiskybroker.co.uk
info@whiskybroker.co.uk

Laphroaig OB Triple Wood 48%alc.

More pleasure and richness for a peaty fan.

Initially ex-Bourbon matured (traditional Laphroaig cask), transferred to a small quarter cask (see “Quarter Cask” also here) to make it sweeter and then to a European oak (“sherry”) cask, which adds richness.

The result is clean and peaty, freshness (as celery) and then richness (Demerara), vanilla (emulsion paint) and tannic (tea).

To taste there is a shot of Laphroaig’s signature note which I still struggle to describe; dry – sewery – carbolicy whateverie stuff. Then the round, sherry-richness comes with peat lingering over the sour receptors on the side of the tongue. Definitely Laphroaig and an interesting if subtle variant. A finish that fades soon then returns and won’t go away. Water emphasises the Laphroaig stuff.

Flavour map reference G9.
on the Smoky side of Rich & Smoky

Laphroaig Triple Wood
Price excluding VAT: £32.42
£38.90 Including VAT at 20%