We have some news about our next issue!

Whisky Magazine issue #185

We’re excited to announce that our latest issue is out now, so make sure you don’t miss out!

Waterford founder Mark Reynier is this issue’s cover star, as he discusses his lifelong mission to champion barley, and the role that land plays in creating flavour. Reynier has become somewhat of a religious figurehead in the whisky world thanks to his vast and exceptional experience, and this issue provides a fascinating insight into his brilliant character. Along with a tremendous feature on the Irish distillery, this issue also includes two Waterford whiskies in the tastings section.

We hope you enjoy this issue!

Christopher Coates

Editor, Whisky Magazine

THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER

After years of working with the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, we’re thrilled to share that today, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register to formally recognize and define the American Single Malt Whisky category after a 60-day comment period.

The rule would ensure that any spirit labeled American Single Malt must be made from 100% malted barley, mashed, distilled and matured in one distillery, produced entirely in the U.S., distilled to a proof not exceeding 160, matured in oak casks not exceeding 700 liters and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. All of our Courage & Conviction American Single Malt whiskies already meet these requirements but having this formal recognition will define and protect the category as it continues to grow.

Read Full Release

This is a historic moment for us, and we can’t thank you enough for your continued support. The future of American Single Malt at Virginia Distillery Company will be an exciting one, so stay connected with us for future updates!

Cheers,

Virginia Distillery Company 🥃

While the weather here in Uist has had a bit of a wintery feel over the last month, the plants and wildlife of the islands seem to know to keep doing their summery thing all the same. Blustery walks along the beach are extra special when the machair flowers are in bloom, their sweet honey scent attracting rare species of bees and more common appreciative humans alike.

If you’re in the Outer Hebrides (or near to one of the very lucky bits of the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland that are also home to machair, one of the world’s rarest habitats) we highly recommend a visit over the next couple of weeks to catch the joy of the wildflowers at their peak.

And if you’re not, then you might like to hop over to our blog and spend a little time learning more about this unique and fascinating habitat, and enjoy some of the photos that the team have snapped as we crawl carefully through the beautiful low-lying landscape on hands and knees

Summer in Uist, machair flowers

Bere(ly) Here.
Whisky There.

Speaking of the machair, all of you whisky fans out there will be pleased to hear that our bere barley is coming along nicely. After careful sorting and sowing, it’s very exciting to see it growing and developing into beautiful heads of grain. Watching it nodding in the wind, we can’t help but picture a field of tiny drams swaying side to side, waiting to be raised as the Nunton bell rings.

In further exciting news helping us along our whisky journey – we have placed our order for Nunton’s whisky making equipment and are counting the days (it will be a fair few) until it arrives and meets our first crop of bere, it will be a match made in heaven.

Staff Choice 003 – Mark

Mark runs the day to day operations of our whisky website. He has been with us a few years now and many of you will have spoken to him once or twice using the Chat facility or through emails. He likes a broad range of whisky, with a particular fondness for peated whiskies and for this weeks staff pick he has selected Ledaig 10 year old. A lovely sweet and smoky whisky.

Check out Mark’s pick here >

New in

OLD & RARE WHISKIES

Last week, 300+ old and rare whiskies arrived offering a myriad of historic limited releases and independent bottlings from legendary distilleries such as Highland Park, Ardbeg, and Springbank, as well as closed distilleries like Rosebank and Port Ellen. Head on over and have a look!

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Hailing from the village of Scadabay on the east coast of Harris, Domhnall Macleod wasn’t always interested in the making of ‘uisge beatha’ and in fact spent most of his working life as a builder.

Starting as one of our original Tarbert Ten in 2015, with the help of expert training and many long days he quickly learnt to master the art of producing the spirit that flows from our stills.

Domhnall tells us of his homeland…

“Home is where we’re from. It has that ancestral connection, there’s no place quite like it.”

One of the ultimate aims of the distillery has been to provide secure employment and to continue island traditions, something which Domhnall is proud to be a part of…

LEARN ABOUT OUR WHISKY

Fettercairn 12 Year Old
+ free glass with purchase!

Fettercairn is one of the most exciting emerging single malt brands of the moment, with an experimental style and striking bottle. Pure water and unique stills help contribute to an extremely fruity and tropical style of whisky. While stocks last, pick up a free branded neat glass with every purchase.

Discover Fettercairn →

Fettercairn 12 Year Old
+ free glass with purchase!

This expression from Fettercairn in the Highlands is aged for its full maturation term in ex-bourbon oak casks and bottled at 40% abv. The characteristic distillery tropical-style spirit shines through alongside notes of nectarines, coffee, cloves and fresh ginger.

£44.50
BUY NOW

Beam Suntory Russia Statement

We asked. You voted!

We recently invited you to have your say on a future limited edition – offering a choice of three potential peated whiskies to go into 225-litre Marsala barriques for an experimental finishing.

And the results are in…

The winner, as voted for by you, is malt whisky from the Laphroaig Distillery.

We’d like to say thank you to everyone that took part. We’re excited to share that the casks were filled earlier this month (July 2022). Now, it’s over to our Whiskymakers to judge when the whisky has reached its next peaty peak. We’ll keep you posted with an update before the end of the year so stay tuned!

About the winning whisky…

Distilled at the Laphroaig Distillery in 2005, and originally filled into recharred hogsheads, this potent single malt offers seaweedy and herbal flavours, with a bitter smokiness. We have already deployed other casks from this parcel in No Name, No. 3 and Flaming Heart 2022 (more on that release coming soon!). We see its savoury peatiness nestling into the ripe red fruit notes of the Marsala casks very nicely for a delicious balancing of contrasts. As for the finished result? We are just as excited to find out as you are…

If you want to know more about our whiskies, please get in touch: hello@compassboxwhisky.com

Thanks for participating!
The Compass Box Team

Compass Box Whisky Co.
Chiswick Studios
9 Power Road
London, England W4 5PY
United Kingdom

Queen’s Honours List 2022

The Wolfcraig team wants to wish our Master Blender and friend, Richard Paterson,
a huge congratulations on receiving an OBE for his services to the Scotch Whisky industry.

Nicknamed, “The Nose”, as a result of his unrivaled talent for assessing whisky, it is no surprise that he has championed the title of Master Blender at Whyte & Mackay for over half a century.

On the day of the medal ceremony at Holyrood, he remarked that he hoped his Father, who was also a Master Blender, was looking down on him and is proud of what he has achieved.

This recognition and honour is beyond deserved to one of the greatest ambassadors of the Scotch Whisky industry today.

Slainte mhath, Richard Paterson OBE (now that has a nice ring to it!)