Founded in 1824, Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then, it has established itself as one of the most famous single malt producers in the world. As the distillery celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2024, it continues to uphold the same principals as its founders by creating exceptional whiskies.

From those early days, one of the things that distinguished this pioneer of single malt was its sourcing of excellent casks – originally from the sherry producers of Jerez in Spain and later from the United States.

 SHOP ALL MACALLAN 

MEET KIRSTEEN CAMPBELL

Hailing from Thurso in the Highlands, in 2019 Kirsteen Campbell became the first woman in Macallan’s 200 year history to take on the position of master whisky maker. Starting her career in 2001, at a laboratory responsible for determining the quality of new make spirits, Campbell discovered her love of Scotch whisky. This passion and her keen nose led her to Macallan, where she leads the distilling team and continues to drive innovation.

Castle & Key Restoration Rye “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #3583 Barrel Proof Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey (750ml) $64.99 View

Jack Daniel’s “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #24-00240 Cask Strength Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $74.99 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

BALLANTINE’S AND RZA TURN UP THE HEAT WITH FLYING GOOSE SRIRACHA SAUCE

For the final drop in their partnership, Ballantine’s Scotch whisky and RZA spice things up with a mouth-tingling hot sauce, created with Flying Goose.

Wu-Tang Clan frontman, RZA, and Ballantine’s, the world’s second-largest Scotch whisky, have joined forces to launch a tongue-tingling, Ballantine’s-inspired hot sauce, made in collaboration with Flying Goose, the home of the original sriracha chilli sauce.

The partnership between the pair, which has so far seen the launch of a bespoke Crosley record player and speaker, and a fashion collaboration with Japanese streetwear brand NEIGHBORHOOD, is all about celebrating doing things your own way and going against the grain. RZA is now bringing the Scotch whisky and cult hot sauce, Flying Goose, together to create an unexpected condiment inspired by his passion for Asian food and culture, showing there’s really no wrong way to fuse your favourite flavours.

To create the hot sauce, Flying Goose took inspiration from Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel – a blended Scotch whisky aged for a minimum of seven years – resulting in a unique alcohol-free condiment reminiscent of the unmistakable taste of the Scotch, whilst keeping the heat of the brand’s iconic sriracha. The final product is a taste sensation of soft red apples, intermingled with ripe pear and creamy caramel, combined to create a bold flavoured sriracha sauce that will tantalise your taste buds.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef who regularly cooks up a storm in the kitchen or looking for ways to upgrade your takeaway, the limited edition vegan hot sauce is the perfect spicy sidekick to transform any dish. Mix it with a creamy tofu ramen like RZA’s secret speciality, use it as a dip for your favourite corn fritters or to spice up your fried chicken.

When asked about the partnership, RZA said:

“I’m vegan and I like to get extra creative with how I make and cook food, experimenting with bold flavours, textures and ingredients. I’m bringing Ballantine’s and Flying Goose together to break the mould of what incredible flavour should taste like, to bring something truly original, surprising and unexpected to the world. This condiment is a one-of-a-kind fusion, and I can’t wait for everyone to try it on different recipes at home.”

Paul-André Vacheron, Ballantine’s Marketing Director at Chivas Brothers adds:

“The final drop in our series with RZA is – quite literally – our hottest yet, blending the unexpected to create something truly against the norm. Much like the process of making whisky, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the blend and balance of flavours in this new Ballantine’s-inspired hot sauce hit all the right notes. We look forward to seeing people get creative with their sriracha – because there’s no wrong way to experiment with individual taste.”

Jittiporn Jantarach, CEO of Flying Goose, says:

“As a fan of Scotch whisky, I was delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ballantine’s and RZA to blend our unique skills and create a limited-edition sriracha hot sauce that is unlike any other. Try it in your favourite recipes to discover distinct tasting notes of soft red apples, ripe pears and creamy caramel – all with a Scotch-inspired kick.”

To get your hands on the limited-edition RZA Presents: Ballantine’s x Flying Goose Sriracha Sauce, with an RRP of £4.99, visit Sous Chef, Amazon.co.uk and www.Ballantines.com/RZA.

Ballantine’s has also partnered with Uber Eats to offer London-based fans a chance to snap up a bottle of the limited-edition spicy hot sauce. From 14th November, and for a limited time only, customers purchasing from five ramen restaurants** across London will receive a free bottle of the spicy condiment to celebrate its release.

For more information on Ballantine’s partnership with RZA, and to be the first to hear about exclusive content and future drops, visit www.Ballantines.com/RZA or follow @Ballantines on Instagram.

This article appears here well after the original publication date and as a matter of interest.

SCOTTISH ISLAND WHISKIES
ISLE OF ARRAN

A forerunner of the whisky revival of the 21st century, Arran distillery came online in 1995. Rather than pursuing a coastal profile like many of its fellow islanders, the small site at Lochranza produces grassy, honeyed single malts that performs well in a variety of cask types.

In 2019 it was joined by Lagg distillery, a sister site on the south of the island intended to produce a totally different style of whisky. Earthy and smoky with a wild aspect achieved through long fermentation, Lagg’s single malts are quickly establishing the distillery as a rising star in the Scottish islands.

  SHOP NOW 

Speyburn 18 Year Old Description

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

2005 Ledaig 17 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600201 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($160.00)

K&L Notes: Ledaig Single Malt is a cherished gem from the Hebridean Isles and comes from one of the oldest distilleries in all of Scotland. Produced on again/off again since its founding in 1798 and licensed since 1823, the Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull is known primarily for its two single malt marks. Tobermory, an unpeated dram and Ledaig, with its heavily peated characteristics. Both are widely regarded as malts of outstanding quality. Both malts owe their rich character to the unusual stills that lie at the heart of the distillery—bulbous stills and curvy lyne arms offer a huge amount of reflux. Ledaig’s heavily peated malt offers a rich array of flavors from smoky to fruity to meaty and with just a whiff of green grass. Pair the malt quality with the excellent wood management and exceptional pricing from the legendary Gordon & MacPhail and we have the first entrant for Best Cask of 2024! A very active refill sherry hogshead, Cask No. 18600201 comes in at 17 years old and 54.3% ABV. Yield 310 bottles. Bottled without chill-filtration and no added color.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

Liquid amber in color and boasting a nose equally full of fruit, charcuterie meats, and candied smoke. This is a Ledaig like we haven’t seen in ages. Active, clean sherry without a trace of sulfur really lets the fullness of the malt shine. First the fruit: crisp apple, dried orange peel, apricots, hoshigaki, and fruit leather—it smells ripe and sweet. The meatiness is intertwined with the fruit and the smoke, an array of cured and smoked meats. Applewood smoked ham hock comes to mind almost immediately. Candied and smoked nuts make the transition into more pronounced peat smoke, which really shines once you get the whisky on your palate. The wood and malt are so evenly matched it is difficult at times to tease apart which component is contributing which flavors. The palate is thick, a blanket of fresh peat and cold ash, saddle leather, and abundant ripe fruit. A blush of cool mint and dewy grass add lift and freshness. It goes on for days, and yet you can’t help but go back for more. Salted nuts slowly candied in honey and a kiss of sea spray top it all off. Proof positive that G&M still hold some of the finest whisky stocks in Scotland.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 02, 2024

The peated malt from the gorgeous Tobermory distillery is known as Ledaig. It’s not just the same whisky with peated barley, but utilizes specific fermentation and distillation times to create one of Scotland’s most intensely flavored spirits. It’s for that reason and maybe some issues with cask management over the years that Ledaig has a bit of a love/hate relationship for some peat lovers. But when you get a great one, it’s absolutely undeniable. This is one of those barrels. Full term in high-quality (and active) refill sherry with some of Mull’s finest. Stupendous! Let’s taste it. The color is a splendid chestnut! On first nosing it’s big, meaty, sooty smoke. With a bit of air—this one needs air—we move distinctly into the old leather, kippers, sweet orange zest, marmite, apricot jam on pumpernickel, and burnt raisins. On the palate, it’s perfectly salty, savory, and sweet. Almost no sulfur but so much leathery smoke, it’s unbelievable. The long finish offers deep, billowing, ashy smoke along with powerful baking spices and nutty oloroso notes. This is truly a special whisky and highly undervalued thanks to our amazing relationship with Gordon & Macphail. Only rivaled as an exclusive Ledaig by the much more controversial and divisive Chieftain’s 21-Year, this one is so much easier to love. An easy slam-dunk for any peat lover and an absolute must-have for Ledaig people.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Bushmills 1991 31 Year Old

Exclusive to The Whisky Shop in the UK, this ultra-rare Bushmills 31 Year Old whiskey has been initially matured in Oloroso and bourbon casks, before being finished in rare first and second-fill Madeira casks for 18 years. Launching in celebration of St Patricks Day, this unique release is only available in select markets, with just 12 bottles available in the country.

£2,200.00

ORDER NOW ❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

Ailsa Bay 1.2 Gift Set

Distilled at Girvan, overlooking Ailsa Craig, Ailsa Bay is the only Scotch whisky to undergo a micro-maturation whereby the spirit is first filled to small ex-bourbon casks for an intense rapid maturation, before being transferred to virgin, first-fill and refill American oak casks for several years.

The nose has wood smoke and heather with sweet vanilla oak and candied orange peel. The palate is a perfect balance of peat and vanilla sweetness, with fruit and toffee emerging. The finish has sweet oak balanced with drying peat.

This gift pack includes a beautiful geomtrically shaped glass.

£72.00
SHOP NOW ❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

Akio Morita, founder of Sony, used to say that people can’t tell you what they want, because they don’t know what’s possible.

What I’m trying to do with Compass Box is show the world what’s possible with Scotch whisky.

From the original Compass Box business plan, 2000

Dear friends of Compass Box,

After an incredible 23-year journey, it’s time for me to bid farewell to Compass Box. This decision wasn’t easy, but I believe it’s the right moment to hand over the reins to the next generation of Compass Box whiskymakers.

In 2000, I set sail on a mission to share the joys of whisky with more people in the world. From the day I walked into Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh to introduce the very first batch of Hedonism, it’s been a remarkable voyage.

Meeting so many of you has been a privilege and a joy. From Singapore to San Francisco to St Andrews, I’ve shared drams with whisky lovers around the world, forging lasting connections along the way.

In 2011, at the University of St Andrews, I met James Saxon at a Whisky Society tasting. Little did I know then that eight years later I would be hiring James to join us at Compass Box. His journey has been remarkable, starting from his early days commuting to our London Blending Room from Glasgow, followed by our first collaboration on Rogues’ Banquet, to his work today, delivering exceptional whiskies such as the most recent Flaming Heart and the Extinct Blends Quartet. His creativity and sensibility for whiskymaking in the Compass Box way have become bedrock for us.

It’s no surprise then, that I now pass the whiskymaking torch to James, with the confident belief that he will continue to show the world what’s possible with Scotch whisky.

As I embark on a new chapter, my love for Compass Box remains unwavering. I’ll continue to champion the brand as a devoted advocate, confident in its continued success and evolution.

Here’s to an extraordinary 23 years, challenging the status quo to share the joys of Scotch whisky with the world.

Above all, share and enjoy!

John

Compass Box Whisky, 3 Water Lane, Richmond London, TW9 1TJ

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Marrying is a process that we can use before bottling the final expression of whisky. It’s really when you take different whiskies and mix them together. It’s like blending. So, you take casks and mix them together and then either put them back into other casks or put them into big vats for a period when we say they marry.”

🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post