The Good Dram Show – Episode 270 ‘Skene Whisky’ – This weeks episode of the show features a selection of bottlings from the Independent bottling company Skene Whisky.
New Signatory Glenlivets – decades apart
We like working with Signatory Vintage. They’re well-known for having frankly ridiculous warehouses, packed with some of the best whisky in Scotland, and we’re always happy when they let us have a look at what they have maturing.
Our latest selections from their treasure trove are a pair of whiskies that couldn’t be more different, but at the same time share a common source – they’re both from Glenlivet: Signatory Glenlivet 1981 36 Years Old and Signatory Glenlivet 2007 11 Years Old.
Despite there being 26 years between the whiskies, Glenlivet didn’t change much between the two days they were distilled – the same stills, the same washbacks, the same spirit. However, the whiskies are hugely different.
Distilled on 21 December 1981 and matured for 36 years, this whisky has a twist – it spent its last 76 months (six-and-a-bit years) in a sherry butt. So, a 30-year-old Glenlivet finished in a sherry cask, although calling more than six years a ‘finish’ is stretching things a bit. As you’d expect, it’s picked up some sherry character, but it is ultimately defined by its first 30 years, time where it slowly developed the elegance that well-aged Glenlivet is known for.
Nose: Mint chocolate with sultanas and raisins. Spiced brioche and cinnamon buns follow, with apple Danish pastries pushing through the middle. Old and elegant oak sits at the back: well-worn wax-polished tables. Hints of tropical fruit join the apples as it sits: pineapple and papaya.
Palate: Toffee apples kick things off: sharp Granny Smiths covered with crunchy barley-sugar-tinged toffee – followed by a burst of woody spice: cinnamon, cedar, nutmeg and freshly-sawn oak boards. Sweetness builds, with dried apple and pineapple complemented by a touch of simple syrup. That fades, revealing a core of wax-polished oak.
Finish: Soft spice and squishy liquorice. Singed raisins emerge with candied peel. Fruit cake notes linger.
Comment: Fruit scattered across an old oak table – just what you’re looking for from something like this. The sherry cask has worked its magic, adding rich fruit and spice without swamping 30 years of maturation.
At the other end of the spectrum, this 2007 Glenlivet has had a simple life – 11 years (and two days) spent resting in a first-fill sherry hogshead. The cask was smaller, the sherry influence stronger and the bottling strength is a punchy 66.2% ABV – a combination that’s a must for sherry heads. We released a sister cask last year and liked it so much we had to have another. This one is slightly more restrained, but that’s not saying much…
Nose: Thick, dark and smoky raisin jam leads the way, followed by prunes and sticky dates. They are tamed by a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Leathery notes develop underneath, balanced by glacé cherries and rich toffee.
Palate: Intense – hang on to something. Raisins and cherries start but are quickly covered in peppery spice and hot cinnamon. Liquorice and leather emerge from underneath, followed by baked apples and hints of menthol. Treacle toffee and brown sugar provide rich, dark and sweet support.
Finish: Cinnamon-dusted raisins become prunes and blackcurrants.
Comment: A bit of a monster that isn’t particularly tamed by water. Intensely flavoured and full of fruit, it’s one for the sherry heads.
You can find the complete range of Whisky Exchange Signatory Vintage exclusives on our website.
W. L. WELLER 12 YEAR, 45%
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Not so easy to find in the UK anymore, the Weller 12 Year Old is a wheated Bourbon bottled by Buffalo Trace.
The Whisky Barrel helps you pick the perfect dram for your Dad.
We have a great selection of whiskies that would all make memorable Father’s Day gifts. Whether your Dad likes a peaty dram from Islay, something lighter from Speyside or a full bodied malt from the Scottish Highlands, look no further! And remember we can even take care of the gift wrapping…your Dad’s worth it!
Shackleton Blended Malt
Engraved with free limited edition glass
Inspired by the story of explorer, Ernest Shackleton, this blended malt Scotch whisky from Master Blender, Richard Patterson, recreates the Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky that Shackleton took on his 1907 expedition to the South Pole.
With the last bottles discovered under the ice in 2007, Paterson sought to produce his own interpretation of the taste in this blend. Combining the best Highland malt whiskies and allowing them to marry over a long period, Paterson has created an enigmatic blended malt with a dash of body and a whisper of smoke.
With complex notes of vanilla, honey and orchard fruits, the whisky has real warmth and depth, much like Shackleton himself.
£45 Buy Now
Order today to get it in time for Father’s Day!
Any engraved order placed after today cannot be guaranteed for Father’s Day delivery.
There are only around a dozen Master Whisky Makers working in Scotland’s distilleries at any given time, which is a testament to the skill and experience needed to fulfil this vital role in the making of the finest single malt. Skills, passed down from one Master Whisky Maker to the next, that take up to a decade to acquire through long hours of dedication. At The Glenrothes Distillery, our Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion was privileged to learn his craft from one of the legends: John Ramsay.
John Ramsay retired in 2009 after an illustrious career at the distillery, which involved him ‘nosing’ up to 600 samples every day in the pursuit of some truly extraordinary whisky. Before leaving, he passed the mantle on to his apprentice Gordon Motion, who had worked as his assistant for over 10 years.
But that was not the only thing he left. Along with his priceless knowledge, John Ramsay also bequeathed some precious stock to Gordon’s care upon leaving the distillery— ‘unfinished’ casks that he had laid down and left behind to mature. It was Gordon Motion’s responsibility to decide when to bottle them and bring his own distinctive vision to the whisky they contained. One of those casks is a distillery exclusive from our Cellar Collection, which today represents a unique collaboration between two generations of Master Whisky Makers.
Cellar Collection Vintage 2004
This special edition of Vintage 2004 from our Cellar Collection was created by our Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion from casks originally filled by John Ramsay. It is an expression of The Glenrothes fruity spirit at a higher, yet complementary strength.
Bottled at natural colour and at 48.8% ABV from 100% first fill American Oak sherry seasoned casks. We’re making only 600 bottles available on our distillery shop as the perfect gift for Father’s Day.
Father’s Day means whisky books…
Father’s Day is nearly here, but forget the neckties, the crazy socks, the golf balls. This year break from tradition. Why? Because your dad really needs a new whisky book. Think of the years of enjoyment he’d get from the updated Canadian Whisky: The New Portable Expert.
This new and revised edition features a specially commissioned map showing every whisky distillery in Canada (nearly 50 of them!) It has more than 100 new tasting notes and a birdwatchers’ checklist so he can tick them off as he samples them.
Coverage of Canada’s traditional distilleries and the burgeoning microdistillery sector, new chapters on whisky flavours, where they come from and how to taste them, along with numerous updates throughout make this your dad’s definitive, up-to-date source for the straight goods on Canadian whisky.
And if he already has a copy? Well, breakfast in bed would be nice.
Available at most book stores in Canada, or on Amazon and other online booksellers in whatever country your dad lives. And if you happen to be in Ottawa on Saturday June 16, drop by Coles bookstore in Billings Bridge between 11:00 and 2:00, and I’ll personalize one for him.
Saskatchewan’s Single Malt Rye
Adam Sperling is proud of his Sperling Silver Distillery, and so he should be. His vodka, gin, moonshine and rum are being recognized in top international spirits competitions. And now the American Distilling Institute has named 100 Bushels the Best Single Malt Rye Whiskey of 2018.
With the exuberance of youth, the nose is farmy and waxy with hints of wet clay and dry grain. The palate is not overly complex, showing sweet honeycomb, barley sugar, hints of vanilla, waxiness and a range of sweetish spices and herbs. A medium spicy finish ends in a soft sweetness.
Canadian Rockies New 21 Year Old
Vancouver’s Fountana Group has updated it’s Canadian Rockies 21 just in time for Dad. Sourced from Highwood Distillers in Alberta, the whisky has been reformulated to include some very old whiskies to bolster the already scrumptious 21-year-old. Canadian Rockies is now bottled at 44% abv. Look closely and you’ll see the Rocky Mountains on the new custom bottle.
Banff Whisky Experience
This September 28 and 29, join me deep in the Rocky Mountains for the inaugural Banff Whisky Experience. This new whisky festival features 10 whisky tastings and 4 whisky culture master classes, so there are plenty of opportunities for curious drammers to learn more.
Remember, this is in Alberta where free enterprise in the whisky market ensures a broad selection of whiskies from right around the world.
I’ll be pouring rye whiskies unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before. Some are Canadian, some American and some come from countries you might never have expected to make such wonderful ryes. Rye is an audacious spirit and distillers are just beginning to understand the depth and breadth of flavour possibilities.
The complete Banff Festival and Master Class schedule will be available to all on July 1st, 2018. Grand Festival Experience ticket/pass holders get a sneak preview on June 15.
Space is limited, so book soon!
Early-bird tickets are now available. Grab yours and get first access to the June 15 Master schedule. Click “Buy A Ticket” or go to: www.showpass.com/bwe/
The 9.09% Rule Has Moved
Rumours that the infamous 9.09% regulation has been repealed are greatly exaggerated. What has happened is that some years ago, the regulation was removed from the Excise Act and lodged elsewhere. The idea was that the Excise Act should deal with financial matters so, other provisions were simply sent to new regulatory homes. This does make them a bit more difficult to find. Nothing has changed but a quick read of the Act might lead to that erroneous conclusion.
Old Montreal Distillery
Correction & update:
With the start of construction on its visitors’ centre, Sazerac’s Old Montreal Distillery is moving closer to opening its doors to the public.
Distilling veteran, Harlen Wheatley oversees production, while blender Drew Mayville is ultimately responsible for blending. However, both work remotely from Kentucky, leaving day-to-day operations to the distilling and blending team in Montreal.
Mayville particularly, has a strong affiliation with Montreal. An almost forty-year Canadian whisky veteran, he spent over 23 of those years with Seagram’s, including a stint in their esteemed blending lab in Ville LaSalle. Mayville was the last Master Blender for Seagram’s before the firm was sold.
There’s just over a week to go until Father’s Day and we have some fantastic whisky gifts to help you show your old dad just how much he means to you!
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