We Choose To Go
To The Moon

TWB Apollo Whisky Collection

With the recent release of our two Apollo whiskies, Glencadam ‘Call That A Grand Prix, 11yo Apollo 16 and Deanston ‘ Magnificent Desolation’ 11yo Apollo 11, we are delighted to have now completed this ‘black label’ series.

Featuring images from each of the manned Apollo missions and an accompanying quote from members of the crew, the series began back in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Featuring a range of interesting and exciting whiskies, with Apollo 11 featuring four times and a double release for Apollo 10, each of the manned missions from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17 have been celebrated.

Check out the full series below. Some have sold out completely, some we’ve released a small number more and some down to the last bottles.

For what has become a collectable and sought after series and in the words of President John F. Kennedy ahead of the Apollo missions, “We choose to go to the moon”. And we did.

Shop – TWB Apollo Whisky

Partner Promotion

This article was created  by Whisky Magazine in partnership with Bunnahabhain.

The Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle Canasta Cask Matured

Bunnahabhain celebrates its sherry-cask heritage with a new Fèis Ìle limited release

Fèis Ìle may be over for 2023, but there’s still time to taste the limited-edition Bunnahabhain bottlings specially chosen to mark the occasion.

Following the course of its core-range Stiùireadair and 12 Years Old expressions, Bunnahabhain’s latest limited edition, released to celebrate Fèis Ìle, Islay’s festival of music and malt whisky, offers a taste of a historic sherry-cask maturation style.

The famously unpeated Islay distillery is well known for its use of a high proportion of sherry casks for maturing its new spirit, but the Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle Canasta Cask Matured is particularly special because it has been aged in sherry casks that once held Canasta Cream, famously produced by the family-owned bodega Williams & Humbert in Jerez.

Unlike the dry oloroso most commonly used to season casks destined for use by the Scotch whisky industry, Canasta Cream is a sweet sherry made from a blend of musts from both Palomino and Pedro Ximénez grapes and resembles the type of sherry commonly shipped in cask to Britain throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle Canasta Cask Matured and Canasta Cream.

Until the practice ended in the 1980s, these sherry shipping casks were often bought by Scotch whisky makers and used to mature their malts. And so, unlike today, it was once common for whiskies to be matured in casks that previously held sweet sherries like Canasta Cream.

Thus, Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle Canasta Cask Matured is a novel whisky not just on account of it being an unpeated Islay single malt, but because it’s been aged in casks that would’ve seemed very familiar to its founders in 1881. Of course, like all Bunnahabhain whiskies, it’s also been bottled non-chill filtered and with only its natural, cask-derived colour.

We think there can be no better opportunity to experience the differences between these two maturation styles first-hand than by tasting the 12 Years Old and Canasta Cask Matured side by side. Thankfully, though the Festival is over, the Canasta Cask Matured remains available to buy online from good retailers and at Bunnahabhain.com – for a limited time only.

Bunnahabhain

Fèis Ìle Canasta Cask Matured
Distell International

ABV: 51.2%
Style: Single malt
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Price per 70cl bottle: £95
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: Good retailers and online at Bunnahabhain.com

Nose: Classic sherried nose; sweet and caramelised fruits, honey roasted nuts, waves of cinnamon and clove with a hint of rancio.

Palate: Maple syrup leads with creamy vanilla, dried figs, poached pears and a sprinkle of cocoa. A gentle twist of orange appears in the background.

Finish: Long and sweet with notes of brown sugar, red apples and vanilla custard.

BUY ONLINE

Whisky or Whiskey?

There is more than meets the eye, or rather the ‘e’, when it comes to distinguishing these two words. Most will say ‘without is scotch’ and ‘with is Irish’, and they wouldn’t be wrong. What, though, is the history behind this difference and why has geography spread this word to different signpost regions?

The latest blog entry has all your answers!

Discover what the ‘e’ is going on!

Nectar Grove 70cl

£55.00

Buy Now UK

Bohemian Blossom 70cl

£50.00

Buy Now UK

A delicious combination to enjoy with any father figure in your life this Sunday. Two drinks, enjoyed side by side. Each improving the other. We like to carry on the tradition of this Scottish take on the boilermaker with a measure of Artist Blend and a delicious glass of craft beer. Share, and Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS 

35ml/1oz of Artist Blend

Half Pint (284ml/8oz) of chilled beer

METHOD

Fill a chilled pint glass with cold beer, we recommend a hoppy, resinous IPA. Alongside, pour Artist Blend into a small glass and enjoy!

SHOP HERE

Give Dad the gift he deserves this Father’s Day

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re still struggling to find the perfect gift for your dad, we’ve got you covered! Our ultimate tasting bundle is the ideal present for any whisky-loving father out there.

This exclusive bundle includes a FREE Whisky Tasting Journal and a Tasting Poster showcasing the top picks from our editors over the past five years. But that’s not all! You’ll also receive a Print & Digital subscription to Whisky Magazine, providing your dad with endless hours of reading pleasure.

All of this can be yours for only $5! So why not treat your dad to the ultimate whisky experience this Father’s Day? Order now and make his day extra special!

*Please note that while we strive to ensure timely delivery, gifts may arrive after Sunday 18 June, depending on your location. However, we encourage you not to let this deter you from ordering our amazing Father’s Day gifts at an affordable price!*

SUBSCRIBE NOW

So, what really is Scotch Whisky?

There are five different ‘genres’ of Scotch whisky from single malt to single grain to blended variations. All are categorically different and protected under the Scottish Whisky Regulations to preserve quality and standard.

Wemyss Malts has curated some of the most special scotch whisky from all over the country for you to enjoy. Want to know more about what we have to offer? Head to the blog by the button below!

More about Scotch Whisky

An example of a single malt scotch whisky we have to offer is this delightful 14 year old Miltonduff. Called The Kitchen Table for its banquet of flavour and all rounded character, you can expect sweet vanilla, marzipan and warming spice.

“My Kitchen Table bore the brunt of childhood baking: an indulgence of weekend pastries interwoven with messiness and chaos, but a fresh, warm Victoria Sponge with an icing sugar blanket would magically appear at the end. This dram is that homely, sweet, indulgent feeling.”

Kirsty Mackinnon, Our Brand Manager

The Kitchen Table UK

Whereas at the other end of the scale, from single malt scotch to blended scotch, our perfectly crafted Lord Elcho. At a more than reasonable price given its high malt content (40% minimum) this expression should certainly not be one to pass you by!

Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume and crafted from a carefully chosen selection of the finest malt and grain whiskies, Lord Elcho is truly a noble whisky with a noble heritage.

Lord Elcho UK

Lord Elcho EU

SPEYSIDE CLASSICS:
GLENLIVET SINGLE MALT

George Smith began distilling above the River Livet in the 1820s in a picturesque spot that looks north towards Ben Rinnes and Cardhu. Hidden far from civilisation, the Livet valley was the ideal place to build an illicit distillery as it meant that Smith could distil slowly, with little chance of interruption by the excise man. As a result, he was able to create a soft, fruity style of whisky that quickly earned widespread renown. So much so that in 1822, on a state visit to Scotland, King George IV asked to try a dram of the infamous Glenlivet whisky.

Famous for becoming the first officially-licensed distillery in Scotland, Glenlivet continues to create innovative and inspiring single malts today that continue George Smith’s pioneering vision. Equally at home in a tasting glass or a cocktail shaker, The Glenlivet retains all the charm and elegance that put it on the map two centuries ago.

  SHOP GLENLIVET 

Father’s Day is fast approaching, and it is the perfect occasion to celebrate the father figure in your life with a gift as unique as him. Whether you are treating yourself to a bottle or gifting it to someone special in your life, elevate your gifting with a bottle of The Macallan. Just like fathers, no two expressions of The Macallan are the same, each boasts a one-of-a-kind flavour profile that is both timeless and contemporary, capturing the essence of fathers everywhere.

The Macallan Double Cask Tasting Experience

This Father’s Day indulge in The Macallan Double Cask Tasting Experience set. Composed of three 50ml miniatures of Double Cask 12, 15, and 18 Years Old and accompanied by an exclusive online tasting session led by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell.

The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd, 

Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie, Moray, AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

THE VAULTS REFURBISHMENT

Thanks so much to all who took the time to answer our survey back in February about The Vaults in Leith – we really appreciate your input and your passion for our spiritual home!

We heard how much you value the ever-changing range of whiskies, the expert staff and how iconic our original Members’ Room is to you.

We agree that there are some parts that need a refresh and have incorporated your feedback into our designs. We are planning to carry out this work in July and August 2023. It is possible the work will finish sooner than this, and we will keep you updated over the summer.

While The Vaults will remain open during the period, due to the scale of the work to the Members’ Room, we look forward to welcoming you to other spaces at The Vaults over July and August.

You will still be able to enjoy our outdoor space in the Courtyard, which will be adapted to host you while the upstairs space is being developed and will be open 5pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Sunday. We will have a Bottle Shop available, we will still be serving food and we will also be delighted to host you in a pop-up temporary Members’ space on the ground floor.

One of the biggest changes you’ll see is that we’re going to move the bar to the south-west wall, in between the windows, and introduce more seating around it. Not only will you have more of a chance to sit and chat to our Society staff, moving the bar will let you see much more of the amazing range of bottlings we offer. We are delighted to give you a sneak peek here:

Our team at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh also look forward to welcoming you while The Vaults work is underway and you can book a visit here.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video