We have a great selection of limited edition bottlings available at present. Some desirable collector’s items and one-offs as well as some fabulous drinkers.
Happy shopping, Slainte and have a good weekend. Ronnie, Fergus and Claire.
Great savings to be had on a wide range of top selling brands. Buy now while these prices are available.
Slainte, Ronnie, Fergus & Claire.
The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is just a couple of days away. We’ve been preoccupied over the past few weeks getting things ready, but with one day to go, I’ve had a moment’s respite to write about the special whiskies we’ll be releasing at the show.
Stu’s already mentioned the new Elements of Islay that we showcased at Whisky Live Paris last week, along with the new Port Askaig 15yo that will be appearing online soon, but we have more new whiskies at the show.
On the show bottlings stand, we can now reveal that along with the seven new Single Malts of Scotland bottlings, we’ll also have four ‘Retro Label’ whiskies, celebrating the show – while we haven’t done specific show bottlings for the past few years, these are as close as we get.
We’re focusing on an Islay theme this year, with an 18 year old Laphroaig, a 25 year old Bowmore and a 16 year old smoky Bunnahabhain joined by an 18 year old Clynelish. Yet again, our lead designer has done a fantastic job on the labels, with the Clynelish and Laphroaig rivalling last year’s Ledaig for my favourite that we’ve done in the range.
Along with those, I’ll also be pouring the latest in our Masterpieces series, as chosen by TWE Director Sukhinder Singh. This year it’s a Caol Ila 1996, bottled at a punchy 62.2%. I’ve not had a chance to try it yet (it’s going straight from the bottler to the show), but the boss’s comment was ‘boom’, which is encouraging.
Around the show we’ll have a few more TWE exclusives that will be appearing for the first time this weekend. Among them a range of Signatory Vintage bottlings that were selected during a trip to Edradour earlier this year, as well as the previously mentioned Karuizawas and Balblair 2000, and an Arran 1996 and a Glen Garioch 1973 that we are releasing in honour of our 15th anniversary – more about those on the blog soon…
The show’s dram list is now available (although still being tweaked as a few last-minute bottles are rumoured to be appearing) and there are some treats hidden in there. We might be working all weekend, but we’re looking forward to our breaks…
There are still a few tickets left for Sunday, so make sure you grab one asap.
McLean’s Artist Malts are delighted to be launching our annual edition with Multiplied Art Fair 2014, Christie’s London, 85 Old Brompton Road.
Now in our third year, we will showcase new works by acclaimed artists Ben Rivers and Cornelia Parker RA OBE.
The whisky that we have selected for this year, is a beautiful Speysider, distilled at Benrinnes distillery in 1992 and aged for more than 17 years. Once again we have put the spirit into a second maturation process. This takes place in a smaller cask that has been finished in sherry, making every drop unique to the edition.
At M>A>M we want to push the boundaries of what an artist edition can be, by asking artists to work in conjunction with a fine whisky we take printing to a new level. Here the whisky itself, is a print that has taken years to produce. Through a process of maturation, whisky is constantly changing and evolving. Over many years the spirit interacts with the wood, the cask breaths in the atmosphere around it and exhales the impurities within. This will ultimately effect the nose, colour and flavour of the spirit. Unlike a wine, once bottled the spirit is fixed, like a time capsule the spirit will remain unchanged, secured in its age forever.
Cornelia Parker has been intrigued by this process and how time in particular effects the spirit. In a continuation of Parker’s lunar series, this latest work Blue Luna you do not get to see the spirit. Instead you are presented with an empty vessel. For Parker’s whisky remains in the cask in the highlands of Scotland. Blue Luna will be bottled upon a blue moon on the 31st of July 2015, a rare event of two full moons in one month. The total age of the whisky is stipulated on the label by full moon cycles rather than years – the final colour, nose, taste and alcohol volume of Parker’s whisky will be unknown until this special date.
As well as the final whisky filling the empty decanter, the piece will be accompanied by a photograph taken of the blue moon on the 31st July 2015, how this photograph looks is also dependent on many unknown particulars, location of the artist, weather and equipment used. What we do know is that the accompanying photograph is as mystifying as the whisky itself.
Ben Rivers widely acclaimed for his 16mm and 8mm films will be making a 16mm film as well as an etching to accompany his whisky, this will be the world’s first ‘video art whisky’ and presented together in a beautiful bespoke cherry wood box. The film, exclusive to this project features Jake William’s from Rivers award winning film Two Years at Sea, Jake who lives as a hermit in the highlands of Scotland, sings a whisky song – perhaps to be played while drinking Ben Rivers whisky.
Ben Rivers’ name uncannily resembles the name of the distillery ‘Benrinnes’, in which his spirit was created 17 years ago. Appropriating the original label of Benrinnes, Rivers has incorporated a drawing of a faceless walker, the Benrinnes label has been defaced with River’s own name and the whisky is called ‘One for the Road’.
As with each year at Multiplied we offer a very special introductory offer to the first five customers.
£1000 plus VAT includes the whisky and accompanying works. This edition is sure to be popular so please contact us to pre order.
Multiplied Art Fair 2014
PUBLIC VIEWING Oct 17, 9am – 7pm
Oct 18, 11am – 7pm
Oct 19, 11am – 6pm
Oct 20, 9am – 5pm
Admission to Multiplied is free.
VISITING THE FAIR Situated in the heart of London, Multiplied is easily accessible from all the major galleries in Mayfair as well as Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park.
FAIR LOCATION Christie’s South Kensington
85 Old Brompton Road
London SW7 3LD
HOW TO GET HERE By tube: South Kensington
By bus: 74, 414, 14, 345, C1
Two new single sherry cask bottlings from GlenDronach distillery.
The Distillery Section completely revised with all the latest news.
The chapter on Distilleries Around the Globe now bigger than ever
New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Charles MacLean, Ian Buxton, Gavin D Smith, Dominic Roskrow, Neil Ridley, Jonny McCormick and Bernhard Schäfer
Completely new Japanese chapter by Nicholas Coldicott
More than 250 tasting notes, including Japanese malts and independent bottlings
Whisky Around the World – whisky profiles around the globe invite you to their country
Expanded section on Independent Bottlers
A listing of more than 150 of the world´s greatest whisky shops
The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you´ll find of the news and trends in the industry
All the latest info on bottlings, web sites, books as well as the latest statistics and figures
More than 500 colour photos
Published by MagDig Media Ltd.
Publication date; 1 October 2014
Number of pages; 300
ISBN 978-0-9576553-1-7
Recommended retail price in UK; £13.95
Contact; ingvar.ronde@magdig.com
www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com
Just to give you all a heads up; we’ve got three rather delicious UK exclusive single casks available at the moment: one from Benriach and two from Glendronach. The Benriach is a 1996 18 year old finished in PX sherry which gives a big, rich raisiny sweetness to the classic garden fruit style of 1990s Benriach. A terrific dram and perfect for anyone who enjoys either classic Speyside or lighter sherried drams. Or just great whisky in general.
The Glendronachs are a 1995 19 year old from a PX sherry puncheon (cask 3250) and a 1995 19 year old from an Oloroso sherry puncheon (cask 4887). Both represent the best of the early 1990s production style at Glendronach; fast becoming recognised as a letter day golden era for this distillery. Expect a beautiful earthy, tertiary richness and complexity from the Oloroso matured cask 4887, countered by more dark, unctuous fruitiness in the PX matured cask 3250. Trying both side by side makes for fascinating and sublime drinking.
All in all three fantastic new releases at great, highly drinkable prices. Don’t wait around if you want to get one of these.
The Whisky Online Team.
This week Joe Ellis reviews the Darkness Clynelish 16 Year Old Oloroso Finish Master of Malt Bottling.
Ian Buxton, writer of the 101 Whiskies series, is Interviewed at Malt
Ian Buxton, one of Britain’s most popular whisky writers and creator of the ‘101 Whiskies’ series, is interviewed at whisky website Malt.
He talks about his latest title, 101 Legendary Whiskies You’re Dying to Try But (Possibly) Never Will, as well as his other books, and muses on matters such as No Age Statement whiskies and the industry today.
To read the interview visit malt-review.com.
For more information email maltreview@gmail.com
(Link to interview: http://malt-review.com/2014/09/26/interview-with-whisky-writer-ian-buxton)
Just a small selection of some of the wonderful whisky that’s arrived on the shelves of Abbey Whisky this September… To view all our new arrivals click here…
GlenDronach 1996 / Single Cask #3607
UK Exclusive
Single cask #3607, a UK Exclusive released by The BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd. Distilled in 1996 and aged in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon for 18 years before being bottled in 2014 at 54.4% vol, 668 bottles filled.
£85.90 (£71.58 ex vat)
Click here to purchase GlenDronach Single Cask 3607
Macallan 1972 Speymalt / First Fill Sherry
A 1972 vintage Macallan, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Speymalt series. Matured in first fill sherry casks for over 40 years, bottled in 2014 at 43% vol.
The Speymalt from Macallan distillery range includes a series of exceptional single malts, each matured in the highest quality casks selected by Gordon & MacPhail.
£424.00 (£353.33 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Macallan 1972 Speymalt
Balcones 5th Anniversary Cask 2653 Rumble Finish
Released as part of Balcones fifth anniversary celebrations, single barrel #2653 has been finished in a cask that previously held Rumble Cask Reserve. 181 bottles filled at 57.5% vol.
£295.00 (£245.82 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Balcones Cask #2653
Mackmyra Midnattssol
Mackmyra Midnattssol has been created from a combination of American and Swedish oak, sherry and bourbon along with the final storage in casks that previously held Swedish wine made from birch sap. The result is a complex whiskey with a floral, tart and fruity flavour.
£54.25 (£45.21 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Mackmyra Midnattssol
Tomatin Cu Bocan / Sherry Cask
A limited edition Tomatin Cù Bòcan fully matured in sherry casks.
Cù Bòcan has stalked residents of the remote Highland village of Tomatin for centuries, his legend embellished by the hellhound’s increasingly fractious behaviour!
£48.95 (£40.79 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Tomatin Cu Bocan Sherry Cask
Ben Nevis 17 Year Old / Single Cask #81
A 17 year old Ben Nevis single malt Scotch whisky, bottled for the Celebration of the Cask range by Càrn Mòr. Single cask #81 was distilled in 1997 and aged in a sherry butt before being bottled in 2014 at 52.8% vol. An out-turn of 592 bottles.
£69.25 (£57.71 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Ben Nevis Cask 81
Glenfarclas 1973 / Single Cask #4795
Family Casks Summer 2014
Beautiful colour from this Glenfarclas single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled in 1973, single sherry hogshead #4795 was left to slumber until 2014 where it was bottled as part of The Family Casks Summer 2014 batch. Bottled at 48.2% vol, 195 bottles filled.
£582.00 (£485.00 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Glenfarclas 1973 Cask 4795
GlenDronach 1995 / 19 Year Old
Single Cask #3250 / UK Exclusive
One of two UK Exclusives released by GlenDronach towards the end of September 2014 (#4887 being the other). Single cask #3250, distilled in 1995 and aged for 19 years in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon. Bottled at 52.5% vol, with an out-turn of 554 bottles…
£89.90 (£74.92 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Glendronach Single Cask #3250
GlenDronach 1995 / 19 Year Old
Single Cask #4887 / UK Exclusive
Single cask #4887, distilled in 1995 and aged for 19 years in an Oloroso sherry puncheon. 542 bottles filled at 55.4% vol. One of two UK Exclusives released by GlenDronach towards the end of September 2014. The other being single cask #3250.
£89.90 (£74.92 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Glendronach Single Cask #4887
Glen Garioch – The Renaissance 1st Chapter
The first chapter in a four part story from Glen Garioch whisky distillery showing off the spirits character and how it ages with time. Distilled in 1997 (when the distillery re-opened), ‘The First Chapter’ has been matured for 15 years in bourbon and sherry casks and was bottled in 2014 at 51.9% vol. Each year there will be a further chapter of Glen Garioch Renaissance, which will be 16, 17 & 18 years old.
£73.90 (£61.58 ex vat)
Click here to purchase Glen Garioch The Renaissance 1st Chapter
