Parkmore Distillery Dufftown

Blog; the Scottish distillery Pagoda

How? Why? When? Have you ever wondered why many Scottish distilleries have a pagoda? Well, wonder no more. How many of you have taken photographs of pagodas? I have, I do like the two copper ones at Dalwhinnie. Now then, these pagodas are not just for show, to look pretty, no – they actually serve a purpose. They are designed to improve the flow of smoke out of the distillery from the fires, traditionally used to dry the malt (barley), a key to any whiskey.

It was Charles Doig who first designed one – by the way, a friend of mine Tim, fae Moscow, and myself stayed at his house a while back , er, he was not there, sadly passed away some time back. I digress, In 1882 he was located in Elgin as an assistant land surveyor, then a partner in the same company, changing his direction a wee bit into architecture. ‘Twas Dailuanine distillery who commissioned his company (and Doig) to carry out alterations around their maltings. He designed/carried out alterations to the existing ventilator into what is now the world famous distillery icon – the pagoda. Many options were submitted before the final selection -, this then became a standard in the industry boom period of the 19^th century, it was later known as the Doig Ventilator. He was born on a farm in the county of Angus in 1855, the son of a Kirriemuir agricultural labourer and went to Elgin in 1882 as assistant to H M S Mackay, land surveyor, and became a partner in the business, specialising in distillery work, his practice in that field extending to Ireland. When he was 25, Doig married Margaret Isabella Dick, he had three sons. Doig’s design activities stretched far beyond Speyside, to embrace Highland Park on Orkney, Talisker on Skye and Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Laphroaig on Islay. In total, he is credited with professional involvement in no fewer than 56 distilleries.

Interesting read I hear you say, well, would you like to take a superb Scottish whisky or an Irish whiskey tour and include many of his distillery pagodas? Of course you would, many have done this with us before now and all away home “happy as Larry”. Allow us to design a bespoke whiskey tour for you – working with you to include favourites, new to you distilleries and some hidden gems, why we can even take you to a distillery where you will be inside the pagoda! Ask Liz for details; liz@mcleanscotland.com

Balblair Distillery – Photo Credit Ian Horne

Luxurious & Exclusive

This week we have an impressive selection of luxury whiskies as well as some bottles that are exclusive to The Whisky Shop. From a 60 year old Glenfarclas to a 40 year old from the lost Ladyburn distillery, these are some very collectable whiskies. Which will you choose?

Free delivery on orders over £75 Worldwide delivery available

LUXURY WHISKY

Glenfarclas 60 Year Old

£14,500 Buy Now

The Last Drop 50 Year Old

£3,000 Buy Now

Brora 37 Year Old

£1,300 Buy Now

Japan

White Oak Akashi Single Malt Whisky (750ml)  $89.99 View

White Oak Distillery Akashi Grain Whisky (750ml) $39.99 View
Scotland

2008 Kilchoman Vintage Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Hello there…

Well, this is unusual, isn’t it?

Not only is this a “mini” newsflash but the bottle I’m writing to tell you about is not even a Springbank product!

As many of you will know, our sister distillery Mitchell’s Glengyle is releasing it’s first core product, the Kilkerran 12yo Single Malt Scotch Whisky. I have included some product information below and a lovely picture of the bottle. I think you will agree that it looks stunning.

From tomorrow (Friday 5th) this lovely whisky will be available from our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop and elsewhere in the UK a week later (Friday 12th). Unfortunately, due to the fact we anticipate a high level of interest, our shop will not be able to facilitate reservations or pre-orders for this bottling and as such I ask that you be prepared to pay for your bottle upon ordering it. Release dates for other countries and markets will vary. Please contact you nearest stockist or retailer to find out when the Kilkerran 12yo is available near you.

The Kilkerran 12yo will be available for £35.00 in our Campbeltown shop.

You can contact our Campbeltown Cadenhead shop by calling +44 (0)1586 551710

or send us an email: shop@wmcadenhead.com

Important: This will not be available to order through me, nor can I pre-order or reserve you a bottle as this is not a Society bottle. Furthermore the Society discount is not applicable when purchasing this product as it is not a Springbank product.

Kilkerran 12yo has been matured in a marriage of bourbon (70%) and sherry (30%) casks and is bottled at 46% ABV. Like the Work In Progress series – and all releases from Glengyle’s sister distillery Springbank – the whisky has not been chill-filtered and no caramel colouring has been added. The whisky is double distilled in the traditional Scottish style and is produced from lightly-peated malt at around 12-15ppm.

Please visit the Kilkerran website for all the information you need: http://www.kilkerransinglemalt.com/

Find us on Social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KilkerranSingleMalt/

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/Springbank1828

Instagram –  Search Springbank Whisky (@springbankwhisky1828)

And finally, I probably should mention that tonight the majority of the staff, including myself, are attending a ceilidh to celebrate the launch of the Kilkerran 12yo and as such I am not convinced many of us will be in a fit state to work on Friday morning… 😉

In all seriousness though, most of the office staff are taking Friday afternoon off so don’t be too alarmed if you have to wait until Monday to secure your bottle.

You will hear from me soon, I am planning on sending you all a regular Society Newsflash(!!!) in around a week or so.

Speak soon.

Slainte,

Nathan

The Springbank Society

United States – Kentucky

Blade & Bow Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $45.99 View

I.W. Harper Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)  $29.99 View

Sazerac 90-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) (3 bottle limit) $29.99 View

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Mulberry Bank Auction

Summer arrived with a bang, and then seemed to deflate somewhat…but that is Scottish weather for you!

We are now safely ensconced in our new premises in sunny (yet windy) Hillington and are ready to get sales going again, so here is the first Whisky & Wine sale from the new premises.

As with our previous auctions, we have both the traditional 1 day affair and the timed online auction, so don’t forget to bid on both.  The traditional auction will take place on 9^th August from 10am, and viewing is by appointment on Friday 5^th & Monday 8^th August.

For the second auction in a row we have a cask of Whisky available for sale in this auction, details are included in the accompanying document to this catalogue.  It is a cask of Da Mhile Organic Springbank 1992, Cask no. 241, a sister to the cask sold in Hong Kong last year for £50000 and the last one maturing in Scotland.  (Lot 100)

Other great whiskies to watch out for are the Macallan 18 year old 1967 bottling in pristine condition (Lot 5); the Kilkerran First cask collection of malts – all matured in different casks, from Madeira to Bourbon to Rum (Lot 108).  There is also the lovely Signatory bottlings of Littlemill and Dunglas distilled in 1967 (Lot 24).  There are also a number of Flora & Fauna bottlings in the wooden cases so watch out for them.

www.mulberrybankauctions.com

Welcome to new and improved Whisk(e)y News, fresh with a new banner, a better server, and a more professional look! Since we’re now reaching a bigger audience than ever before, we figured it was time to up our game. We’ve already had an eventful month with the arrival (and quick departure) of the Compass Box “5th & Harrison,” as well as the new Michel Couvreur whiskies, but July isn’t over yet and we’ve got a few more surprises before we launch into August and the arrival of our Scottish single casks.

Lagavulin Celebrates its 200th Anniversary!

We know you’ve been reading about the limited release of Lagavulin 8 year for months now, but California always seems to get its allocations last when it comes to major market releases. We’re happy to report we’ve finally got our allocation, albeit not much! Sink your teeth into this lovely Islay expression: Lagavulin 8 Year Old Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky $59.99 The 200th anniversary bottling of Lagavulin is finally here! A limited edition eight year old single malt whisky that packs all the peat, smoke, salt, and classic Islay flavor of the beloved distillery into a younger, brighter, more assertive expression. Sure to sell fast and sure to be one of the more popular whiskies we sell this year! The special edition celebrates a visit to the distillery be Alfred Banard (author of the classic “The Whisky Distilleries of Scotland”), where he recollected tasting a delicious eight year expression. There’s a lot to love with this whisky-the fruitiness on the palate, the malty mouthfeel, and the price! It’s nice to see a coveted whisky release for well under a hundred bucks.

The Return of the Orphan Barrel!

Diageo’s Orphan Barrel program is back, to the delight of many of us who like to drink old Bourbon. We’ve pleasantly surprised by the drinkability of these bottlings and the reasonable prices considering the market right now. There are plenty of 10-15 year old Bourbons selling for far more than this. Enjoy it while it lasts (which won’t be long). Orphan Barrel “Rhetoric” 22 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey $119.99 Maxim called the Rhetoric 22-Year-Old a “top-shelf triumph,” saying, “The mash bill for Rhetoric Whiskey is 86% corn, 8% barley and 6% rye. Beginning with hints of toasted grains, cherries and oak wood, Rhetoric 22-Year-Old tastes of toasted oak and dark chocolate with ripe banana and baking spices of clove and anise, while the finish is long and woody ending with dark chocolate notes. In other words, you’ll want to sip this one slowly….” (JPS, 05/2016)

Another K&L Exclusive Barrel of Russell’s Reserve…

Our time spent with Jimmy and Eddy Russell in Kentucky a while back continues to have been well spent. We just got in another one of our single cask Wild Turkey selections and it’s a breath of fresh air-a Bourbon full of spice and life! Russell’s Reserve K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #175 Kentucky Bourbon $59.99 Everything we love about Wild Turkey Bourbon is alive and well in this 2016 release of K&L exclusive single barrel Bourbon. The sweet baking spices and bright vanilla tones on the nose carry over to the palate that pops at 55% and lifts the richness beyond just the standard toasted oak profile. There’s a flurry of cinnamon, creme brulee, and vanilla bean on the initial sip and that harmony carries through to the finish. It’s always easy to tell a bottle of Russell’s Reserve from the other Bourbons we feature for that reason. There’s a freshness to them, a certain joyfulness, and it’s alive and well in this whiskey: K&L Exclusive single barrel #175. 55% ABV

Loch Lomond Revamp

Let’s talk about Loch Lomond distillery for a minute, one of the weirdest and most mysterious distilleries in all of Scotland. David and I have driven by the facility a number of times. We’ve even pulled over and tried to peek through the gates. Loch Lomond is like the creepy haunted house on the hill on your way to Springbank. They don’t allow visitors and much of what they sell goes into weird blends. As a group, the company also owns Glen Scotia and Littlemill, although the latter is no longer in existence, and lately has decided to invest a bit more money into their operation. I have to be honest here: anyone not utilizing mature stocks of single malt whisky right now has to be crazy. Imagine my surprise when I saw that Loch Lomond was back in the states, with all new packaging, and a new line of whiskies.

Changes at Loch Lomond first started in 2014 when a new management group bought into the company and began the restructuring. Since then, they’ve released a single grain, a blended reserve, and a new single malt expression, while also revamping the Glen Scotia offerings. Loch Lomond is also a bit of an anomaly in Scotland because it’s an entirely self-sufficient distillery. They have two traditional copper pot stills, along with an additional six that have rectifying columns like what you see at distilleries like St. George. Then they have a Coffey still where they make grain whisky (like the Nikka Coffey still releases) , then they also have Lomond stills on which they make the single malt Inchmurrin. They’re like the DDL of Scotland, utilizing a number of different production methods to make a variety of different whiskies with which they can blend. Personally, I’ve always been interested in the distillery, but the quality was never there for me until recently. After having tasted through the new expressions, I was practically jumping at the chance to bring them in; namely, because they offer something we don’t see too often these days in the Scotch whisky world: VALUE!

Loch Lomond Lomond Reserve Blended Whisky $16.99 – A soft and gentle blended Scotch whisky made entirely in house with creamy barley notes and classic vanilla. This isn’t some nameless blend in a bottle, it’s a whisky made entirely at one distillery for a hot, hot price!

Loch Lomond Single Grain Whisky $27.99 – Imagine all the sweet character of the Nikka Coffey Still for less than half the price! This is loaded with caramel and candy corn, round on the palate, and soft on the finish. It’s nothing to revel in; it’s for enjoyable drinking, plain and simple.

Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Whisky $32.99 – Rich and round on the palate with classic malted barley and sweet vanilla tones. Think of this as an upgrade to Glenlivet 12. Technically a Highland, but located just outside Glasgow north of Dumbarton. Rather than continuing to build new micro-distilleries that sell more young whisky for boutique prices, it’s nice to see an older operation get refurbished and use that size and scale to bring some value back to the market. I’m very happy with what’s happened so far to Loch Lomond and I hope to see more good stuff from them down the line.

That’s it for today everyone! Until next time,

David Driscoll

K&L Spirits Buyer daviddriscoll@klwines.com

650.556.2736 http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com/

Blair Athol 27 Year Old 1988 Signatory

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This week Joe Ellis reviews Glengoyne 16 Year Old Distillery Cask Single Malt.

https://youtu.be/uciFc5PBwpg

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky wins Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016 with 12YO

Single Malt Scotch whisky brand anCnoc is proud to announce the 12 year old from its core collection has won Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016.

anCnoc’s 12 year old is renowned the world over as a must-have in any whisky drinkers’ collection. Soft and aromatic on the nose it has hints of anCnoc’s signature flavour notes of honey and lemon, resulting in a long smooth finish. The gentle amber colouring comes from its maturation in American oak ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso casks, which deliver a fantastic flavour profile with a surprise at each twist and turn.

Stephanie Allison, Brand Manager for anCnoc says “We’re thrilled to announce that our 12 year old has been recognised within the industry as a Gold winner at the IWSC Awards. Creating the finest whisky possible is at the heart of everything we do at anCnoc, so winning such a prestigious award within a global competition is a great way to share our achievements and reward our dedicated distillery teams for all their hard work.”

Now in its 47^th year, the International Wine & Spirit Competition aims to award excellence to wines and spirits across the world and sets the international benchmark for quality. This year, the competition received entries from over 90 countries which were judged by over 400 global experts judging products for 7 months of the year.

For further information, please visit http://www.ancnoc.com/