Glen Scotia unveils limited-edition ‘Campbeltown Malts Festival 2023’ release with its first-ever on-pack virtual experience with whisky expert, Becky Paskin 

Multi-award-winning distillery, Glen Scotia has unveiled its 2023 Festival release – a limited-edition bottling to mark the Campbeltown Malts Festival (23-24^th May 2023), the yearly event hosted in the distillery’s hometown to celebrate the region’s rich history.

In keeping with its tradition of bold innovative styles and flavours for this annual global release, this year’s 11-Year-Old lightly peated single malt has been finished for 12 months in white port casks. It is brimming with bright spiced stone fruit flavours, fragrant prune and fig notes, and a sandalwood spice, all intertwined with a distinctly-Campbeltown soft smoke and sea salt.

In a first for Glen Scotia, the packaging of the latest release will be embossed with a bespoke QR code giving those unable to make the trip to the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital’ a chance to transport themselves into the heart of the distillery for a unique new digital experience, the Glen Scotia Whisky Experiment.

Led by award-winning spirits writer, TV presenter, and OurWhisky Founder, Becky Paskin, the virtual video experiment, shot in the dunnage warehouse and around the town, takes viewers on a sensory exploration, intentionally manipulating sight, colour, and sound, as Becky guides audiences to pour a dram and consider how its flavour is influenced by visuals and music in the experience.

She is joined by Glen Scotia master distiller and distillery manager, Iain McAlister, as the pair take a walk through the distinctive Campbeltown landscape. The region, which is characterised by its climate, nature, and location to the sea, is a deeply sensorial spot, defined by the elements, which also play an important role in its whisky-making.

The project follows Becky and Iain’s Whisky Experiment in-person at last year’s Malts Festival, as Glen Scotia continues to seek new ways to bring Campbeltown to audiences around the world.

Made by the experts behind Scotland’s ‘Distillery of the Year 2021’, this 2023 limited-edition release is another remarkable bottling that stays true to the classic Campbeltown character, while offering something intriguing and bold in its unique flavour profile. Available to purchase online and in specialist retailers around the world, the 70cl bottle (54.7% ABV) retails at £65.

Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia master distiller and distillery manager, said: “As our fanbase continues to grow around the world, we wanted to find a way to give those who might not be able to join us at the Malts Festival this year a rich experience of our home. The Whisky Experiment is just that, and provides a fascinating approach to whisky tasting, as Becky encourages us to reconsider what’s in our glass again and again, as the environment transforms in front of us. I love that it can be done time and time again with any Glen Scotia dram, wherever you are in the world.

“This year’s Festival Release is another superb, limited-edition that showcases the scope of what Glen Scotia can offer; the white port cask finish provides something interesting and different for us, while still maintaining that wonderful fruity, robust, and subtly saline Campbeltown signature profile.” 

Becky Paskin added: “We had such a brilliant time at last year’s Festival bringing to life the sights and sounds of Campbeltown through the medium of whisky, and we wanted to share this wonderful, sensorial experience with everyone.

“The idea behind the Glen Scotia Whisky Experiment is guided by the way our sense of taste is dictated by the environment we’re in; so, what we taste in our glass will be affected by our setting, and Campbeltown is a fantastic place to recreate.

“This is a chance to rip up the rule book on traditional whisky tasting notes, have an open mind, and find new possibilities, which is the most exciting part – drams can be completely re-imagined.”

The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a celebration of the region once known as the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’ due to its illustrious past and the role whisky-making has played in the town for over 200 years.  It celebrates the exceptional whisky-production capabilities of Scotland’s smallest whisky-making region through a series of events and tastings that explore Glen Scotia’s award-winning portfolio.

For further information on this year’s event, visit: www.glenscotia.com/pages/whisky-festival

Tasting notes:

• Nose: warming spiced stone fruit, stewed white peach and cloves with a fresh lemongrass and a slight mineral element
• Palette: Molasses, caramel sweetness with prune and fig notes, a waxed wood and sandalwood spice
• Finish: Fills the mouth with a long fragrant finish

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.

Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, the stillroom, and the dunnage warehouse. To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old Single Malt whisky was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won Best In Class in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2023 for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.

Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts

Instagram: @glenscotiamalts

Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

 Becky Paskin

Becky Paskin is an award-winning whisky journalist, presenter and consultant, and founder of OurWhisky and The OurWhisky Foundation. Formerly editor of leading online magazine Scotchwhisky.com and global trade title The Spirits Business, her whisky writing appears in a variety of publications from Club Oenologique and Waitrose to Whisky Magazine and the Daily Beast.

She is a regular drinks presenter for television and radio, including ITV’s Love Your Weekend, and regularly presents educational seminars at global drinks festivals including Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Imbibe and The Whisky Show in London, and Australia’s The Bloody Big Drinks Summit, among many others.

Becky is one of the world’s leading advocates for breaking down cultural misconceptions about whisky. In 2022 she launched OurWhisky, the UK’s first whisky subscription club to be founded by a woman. A bright, modern subscription club with an ethos to celebrate whisky’s rich diversity of liquid and people, OurWhisky is proud to stand apart from other prevailingly male-dominated clubs by attracting a majority female membership.

In 2020 she was named Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year, IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year and listed as About Time Magazine’s Top 10 Women to Watch in Drinks. Becky is currently listed as the 21st most influential person in the global drinks industry by Drinks International.

KILLOWEN DISTILLERY
WINS TWO AWARDS AT THE
SAN FRANCISCO SPIRIT AWARDS

We at Killowen have been somewhat sceptical of Spirit Awards in the past but having seen other spirits we regard highly winning awards we thought we would give it a go!

Having looked at the many, many Spirit Awards that are on offer globally we decided to jump right in with the longest running and largest of its kind – The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Founded in 2000 this Spirits Competition has become one of the most prestigious and influential awards in the world. So with a good dose of ‘Go Big or Go Home’ we entered our Pangur Irish Poitín and Signature Blend Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Rum & Raisin.

With the assistance of our USA Importer we got out bottles submitted, crossed our fingers, toes and anything else we could and waited. Then just at the end of last week we got the joyous news that not only did we win but we received two awards.

Up against a growing category of Irish Poitín producers and Single Malt Irish Whiskey producers we where over the moon to win – Double Gold for our Pangur Irish Poitín and Silver for our Rum & Raisin Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The timing on this also couldn’t be better, as this Thursday 4th May at 6pm we are having an official launch of Pangur Irish Poitin at Trademarket Belfast. So if your around why not join us to find out more about the native spirit of Ireland and try this award winning poitín for yourself – neat, in a long drink or even a cocktail whatever takes your fancy!

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Killowen Distillery Ltd
29 Kilfeaghan Road
Rostrevor
Newry, County Down BT34 3AW
United Kingdom

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHISKEY EXPLORATION WITH LATEST EXPRESSION IN OLD CHARTER OAK SERIES, SPANISH OAK

Latest product in evolving whiskey collection introduces oak long used to make the finest sherries to the world of premium bourbon

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (April 18, 2023) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its exploration into oak tree varietals with the latest release in its Old Charter Oak collection, Spanish Oak Bourbon. Harvested from the forests of northern Spain, the trees used in this year’s experiment were made into staves that were seasoned outdoors before becoming the barrels that aged this unique whiskey. Spanish Oak Bourbon joins the four previous releases in the Old Charter Oak series, including Chinkapin Oak, Mongolian Oak, French Oak, and Canadian Oak.

Aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this innovative whiskey sits in stark contrast to its counterparts aged in traditional American Oak barrels. While American Oak gives a softer, sweeter taste with notes of vanilla and caramel, European Oak, including the Spanish Oak varietal, is drier, spicier and has stronger wood input. Long used for aging the world’s finest sherries, Spanish Oak imbues tasting notes of deep oak and dense caramel, followed by rich vanilla and an abundance of dark stone fruit, finishing with notes of toasted nuts and baking spice.

“The whiskey extracts from the charred oak barrel exciting elements like eugenol, vanillin and whiskey lactone,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley. “American Oak has higher proportions of vanillin and whiskey lactone, resulting in bourbon with a softer, sweeter taste and notes of vanilla and caramel. Our Spanish Oak, on the other hand, has more eugenol, meaning drier, spicier notes and flavors like clove are imparted onto the liquid. We specifically wanted to test Spanish Oak as part of this collection because of its connection to sherry, which is known to be a nuttier, fruitier spirit. We were curious how those flavors would impact the taste of whiskey, and we are very pleased with the result.”

The Old Charter Oak collection honors and celebrates the role of oak in making great whiskey by exploring the various possible taste profiles of whiskey resulting from barrels created from trees grown in different countries, climates, and soil. The oak trees used each year vary by country of origin, species, or U.S. state with some barrels made from century-old trees that grew between 100 to 300 years.

“A common misconception about the distilling process is that bourbon must be aged in new American Oak barrels,” Wheatley continued. “Though most bourbons mature in American White Oak barrels, federal regulations do not specify what type of oak the barrel must be, only that it must be a new, charred oak container. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we are deeply committed to honoring the traditions of our category but also embracing change and pushing the limits of innovation to see where American whiskey can go in the future. Our Old Charter Oak collection is a superb example of trying new things and offering consumers and fans more ways to enjoy our award-winning portfolio of whiskeys.”

Packaging for Spanish Oak will remain consistent with the other releases, with an upscale look consisting of a glass bottle with a cork finish. Each bottle has an oak medallion on the front depicting the Charter Oak tree. Bottles are packaged in 750ml and available at a suggested retail pricing of $69.99. Spanish Oak will be available in select markets in the United States beginning Spring 2023. For more information, please visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

CHIVAS DROPS LIMITED EDITION CHIVAS 18, IN COLLABORATION WITH K-POP ICON LISA

Macaloney’s Island Distillery Scores ‘World’s Best’ Hat-Trick at World Whiskies Awards

Macaloney’s cements standing in elite group of global distilleries, claiming a third World’s Best gold medal in 2023’s World Whiskies Awards 

SAANICH, BC (April 20, 2023) – When Graeme Macaloney PhD, President and Whisky Maker at Macaloney’s Island Distillery, was invited to London, UK to attend the World Whiskies Awards in person, he thought he might go home with three awards. Instead, he brought home four, including World’s Best Pot Still award for one of their flagship whiskies, Kildara Signature Expression. This success demonstrates the reslience of Macaloney Distillers, who recently settled a lawsuit with the Scotch Whisky Association in April 2022.

In addition to the prestigious World’s Best award, Macaloney also brought home:

·     Best Canadian Single Malt, gold medal for its Siol Dugall Signature Expression

·     Best Canadian Single Cask Malt, gold medal for The Peat Project: Single Cask Portuguese Red wine Barrique with Washington Peat

·     Best Canadian Pot Still, gold medal for its Kildara Signature Expression

“Winning World’s Best Single Pot Still for our Kildara, along with three gold medals for Best Canadian Single Malt, Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt, and Best Canadian Pot Still was breathtaking” said Macaloney. “With our prior World’s Best New-Make & Young Spirit awards in 2019 and 2020 for our peated spirits, we are the first Canadian craft distillery in history to take an unprecedented three World Best gold medals in blind tastings at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in the UK!”

With their recent wins, Macaloney’s has now graduated to join a rare handful of global whisky brands such as Suntory, Red Breast, J.P Wiser, and Johnny Walker. Moreover, they are the only craft distillery in Canada to have won three or more World’s Best gold medals.

“None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the grassroots crowdfunding support we continue to receive from whisky enthusiasts across the country, the mentorship I received from the late, great Dr. Jim Swan, and the incredibly hard work of all of our staff,” commented Macaloney.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery’s medal haul of 4 gold medals joins two other Victoria and two other Canadian winners from the 2023 World Whiskies Awards, including:

·     Best Canadian Small Batch Single Malt – Devine Distillery’s Glen Saanich in Victoria, BC

·     Best Canadian New Make & Young Spirit – Anhoka’s Heavily Peated Single Malt in Parkland County, Alberta

·     Best Canadian Rye – Lot 40’s Dark Oak in Windsor, Ontario

·     Best Hotel Bar – Clive’s Classic Lounge in Victoria, BC

To learn more about Macaloney’s Island Distillery or purchase their award-winning whiskies, visit www.macaloneydistillers.com.

About Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery: Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery is a destination craft distillery & brewery funded by Canadian single malt whisky & beer enthusiasts from coast-to-coast via an on-going crowdfunding campaign. The Visitor Centre gift store is normally open 7 days per week for kilt-clad guided tours & tutored tastings.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery

761 Enterprise Crescent, Saanich, Greater Victoria, BC, V8Z 6P7

| 778-401-0410

macaloneydistillers.com

RYE RE-IMAGINED: INNOVATION EXCELLENCE OPENS NEW CHAPTER IN SCOTCH WHISKY HISTORY 

InchDairnie Distillery releases its first ever product, a Scottish rye whisky 

The ingenious, highly engineered InchDairnie Distillery located at the heart of the Kingdom of Fife has released its much anticipated first whisky.  Named RyeLaw, the distillery has used its sophisticated technology to extract maximum flavour from Scottish-grown rye and barley.  The elegantly designed bottles of this 2017 vintage are available from today, RRP £110 (70cl/46.3% ABV), at select retailers including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.

The result of years of meticulous planning by distillery founder Ian Palmer is set to delight discerning drinkers the world over as they savour this new, luxury whisky.  A single-minded approach to using innovative materials, methods and maturation practices has resulted in a spicy rye flavour that is unlike any other Scotch whisky.  These include:

• 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley ground extra finely for maximum flavour extraction
• Cereals mashed using a Meura mash filter, one of only two used in Scotland
• Fermented using a rye-specific yeast, which results in lower yields, but higher flavour
• Double distilled in pot stills – not continuous distillation – the first with rare, double condensers and the second a bespoke Lomond Hill still, designed by Ian Palmer alongside stillmaker, Frilli (it is the only precision distilled rye Scotch whisky made in this way)
• Matured in charred new oak casks, created from trees that can be traced back to forests in the Ozark Mountains, USA

Commenting on the release of Ryelaw, industry veteran of 45+ years and InchDairnie Distillery Managing Director Ian Palmer, said: “We’ve been preparing for this day for well over a decade, and it is only now that we feel the quality of RyeLaw meets our exacting standards that we are putting it into bottles.  And what a whisky it is…  While we are rooted in Scotch whisky tradition, we have explored what is possible when agriculture meets industry and innovative technologies combine with methodology, to create a superb rye whisky that is sure to excite palates.”

“The rye spiciness with vanilla, sweet biscuit cereal and dried fruit notes seem much more defined than rye whiskeys from America we’ve compared it to.  There’s a richer, more luxurious mouthfeel and great balance, which are certainly helped by the favourable maturation conditions we have in Fife compared to Kentucky.  The use of malted rye in the mash means we have a softer, more sippable style of rye whisky.  We look forward to hearing if our American cousins agree.”  Added Scott Sneddon, Distillery Manager.

Presented in an elegantly tall bottle, with a ripple effect on one side representing the Company’s “3Ms” philosophy – innovation in materials, methods, maturation – looks like drops of water landing simultaneously, each creating its own ripple effect.  The bottle’s neck is inspired by the special filter of the hammer mill.  With distillation of this inaugural RyeLaw release taking place in just a single week in the whole year, only 200 casks of the ‘year one vintage’ have been bottled and made available worldwide.  Subsequent vintages are already maturing in different types of cask to those from year one’s Ozark Mountains.  In a field of its own, RyeLaw is free from colourings and is non-chill filtered.

With its first distillation on Christmas Day in 2015, InchDairnie Distillery has been quietly building its stocks of whisky, producing different styles, driven by the seasons.  Knowledgeable whisky aficionados have been eagerly awaiting the first release of the distillery’s spirit since news of the engineer-driven, alternative approach being taken at the energy-efficient production facility started becoming public.

Official Tasting Notes:  

Colour: Golden

Aroma: Distinguished rye spiciness mingling with mellow oak above a soft layer of vanilla

Flavour: Cascading pepper from the rye caressingly wrapped in mouth-coating, oily viscosity and sweet biscuity, cereal and dried fruit notes

Twitter: @InchDairnieDist

Instagram: @inchdairniedistillery

Website: www.inchdairniedistillery.com

#RyeReImagined #RyeLaw #InchDairnieDistillery

Notes:

• Product available at Selfridges, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Luvian’s, Speciality Drinks, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Good Spirits Co, Fortnum & Masons amongst others.
• RyeLaw is produced by the InchDairnie Distillery Ltd, and the only product currently available from the Company
• The Company is led by Founder and Managing Director, Ian Palmer
• Distribution worldwide is conducted by MacDuff International Ltd and their network of affiliate partners in each market.

Bunnahabhain Distillery unveils trio of new expressions to mark Fèis Ìle 2023

• Bunnahabhain Distillery is celebrating Fèis Ìle with three new limited release expressions: Canasta Cask Matured, 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish and 17 Year Old Triple Cask Moine

• The distillery has also created a virtual reality experience, transporting whisky lovers to the Northernmost tip of Islay from the comfort of their own homes 

•    Bunnahabhain Day at Fèis Ìle will be celebrated across the world, through a series of online and in-person events at the distillery on 2nd June 2023

To mark Fèis Ìle 2023, Islay’s renowned whisky and music festival, Bunnahabhain Distillery has unveiled three new expressions: Canasta Cask Matured, 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish and 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine.

Fèis Ìle is one of the biggest events in the Single Malt Whisky lovers’ calendar, with thousands of people travelling to Islay to visit the nine distilleries that each get their own dedicated ‘day’ – Bunnahabhain’s being on Friday 2^nd June.

For the first time ever, Islay’s most remote distillery is also launching a fully immersive virtual reality experience for those who can’t make it in person. This virtual reality experience allows users to fully immerse themselves in the world of Bunnahabhain, explore the distillery in 360 degrees, and enjoy tastings with the distillery team, including Master Distiller Brendan McCarron, from the comfort of their own homes.

Two of the new expressions, the Canasta Cask Matured and the 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish, will be available globally with a special experimental peated expression, the 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine exclusively sold at the distillery and at bunnahabhain.com.

The Canasta Cask Matured is a distinctive expression, inspired by the success of the Bunnahabhain 1980 Canasta Cask Finish limited release. Canasta casks are rarely used in whisky making and were once home to a skilful blend of Palamino and Pedro Ximenez grapes before being used for whisky making. This spicy and sweet combination compliments the Bunnahabhain unpeated spirit exceptionally well, adding layers of complexity and richness. No added colour and non-chilled filtered, the expression has been created to enjoy as nature intended, with an ABV of 51.2%.

The 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish is a celebration of the influences experienced at Bunnahabhain’s unique coastal home at the Northern most part of Islay. Manzanilla is famed for its coastal, nutty and salty characteristics, which pair beautifully with Bunnahabhain’s unpeated sherried spirit resulting in a warming and welcoming dram, bottled at cask strength with an ABV of 52.3%.

The 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine expression is exclusively available at the distillery. This experimental expression was inspired by Julieann Fernandez, Bunnahabhain’s Master Blender, and her love for rum and raisin ice-cream. A contrast to Bunnahabhain’s house style, the 17-year-old has an ABV of 52.6% and is a marriage of three skilfully blended peated single malts that offers notes of the finest artisan rum and raisin ice-cream, with a wonderfully smoky finish.

Brendan McCarron, Master Distiller at Bunnahabhain, said: “We’re so excited to welcome whisky fans from across the globe to celebrate the world of Bunnahabhain at Fèis Ìle once again. We look forward to the festival every year as it is a great way to spend time with whisky lovers, bring them into our world and share some fantastic drams in such a beautiful setting.

“Our Canasta and Manzanilla expressions showcase the very best of our distillery home and our signature unpeated, sherried house style. Fèis Ìle also gives us a fantastic opportunity to experiment with the limited peated spirit we have, and our 17-year-old triple cask is a uniquely wonderful and smoky expression to add to the celebration. We’re very much looking forward to raising a dram with fellow whisky lovers later this year.”

To join the virtual Bunnahabhain experience, tasting kits and access to the virtual guide are available from www.bunnahabhain.com.

Notes 

About Bunnahabhain:

Established in 1881 and situated on Islay’s most northerly point, Bunnahabhain is the island’s most remote distillery, overlooking a notorious passage of ocean known by seafarers as the sound of Islay. It has long established links to the sea, previously only accessible by boat – with ships loaded up daily before transporting their important whisky cargo back to the mainland for sale.

The word ‘Bunnahabhain’ is Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’ referring to the Margadale River, its source of pure spring water which is distilled in the island’s tallest stills, creating the renowned malts. It’s the use of pure spring water that is piped to the distillery which gives it its unique light colouring setting it apart from other darker liquids on the Islay landscape. The distillery goes against the grain – quite literally – with a portfolio made up of broadly non-peated expressions, however, its peated Toiteach A Dhà expression recently won in the Scotch Islay: No Age Statement category at this year’s World Whiskies Awards. Bunnahabhain took home a further four titles in the 2020 awards ranging from silver to gold certificates – showcasing the calibre of its range

Tasting notes:

Bunnahabhain Canasta

Colour: Polished Mahogany

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.

Bunnahabhain 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Notes of freshly baked pastry with sweet almonds, rose petals, grapefruit and dried spices are balanced with a touch of mahogany and incense.

Palate: Coastal influence of seaweed and fresh sea air are met with raisins and dates and intertwined with creamy fudge, waxed red apple and a warm sweet spice reminiscent of star anise

Finish: Spicy and aromatic, with caramelised walnuts; the star anise fades to reveal lemon peel and pears with a lingering note of sea salt.

Bunnahabhain 17 Year Old Triple Cask Moine

Colour: Golden

Nose: Perfumed smoke with violet flowers, barbequed pineapple, salted raisins and fresh vanilla pod

Palate: Rippling notes of smoke with double cream, raisins, crispy burnt sugar, ripe bananas and a twist of tropical fruits.

Finish: Rich finish with notes of smoky panna cotta.

Raise a glass to Edinburgh’s history

– Celebrate Whisky Month this May at The Real Mary King’s Close – 

The Real Mary King’s Close is celebrating Whisky Month this May with specially curated ‘A Dram of History’ tours. The underground attraction is inviting you on an exclusive historical tour and whisky tasting experience underneath Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile.

The one-hour interactive history tour will be rounded off with a crafted whisky tasting led by local experts with over 15 years of industry knowledge, allowing you to sample the best Scotland has to offer. Guests will discover the secrets of Edinburgh’s illicit stills, learn about the origins of ‘usquebaugh’ (water of life) and why Mary King’s Close was at the centre of its thriving and bustling trade.

On ‘A Dram of History’, visitors will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of a former resident, journey back in time and explore the rooms, streets, and spaces which now lie underneath the vibrant Old Town of Edinburgh.

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Whisky is so ingrained within Scottish culture and is celebrated in Edinburgh and by whisky lovers all over the world. We are so excited to play a part in the festivities and delve into the history of our national drink whilst of course having a few drams – responsibly!

“Here at The Real Mary King’s Close we are passionate about storytelling and creating unique experiences which transport our guests into special moments in time. We love sharing tales about Edinburgh’s rich past and we can’t wait to welcome everyone on A Dram of History tour.”

Tours will be running throughout May, every Friday and Saturday at 5.15pm, 5.45pm and 6.15pm. Tickets are £39.50pp. Pre-booking is strongly recommended as places are limited. Over 18’s only.

For more information and bookings please visit HERE

About The Real Mary King’s Close

• Thistle award winner for Best Heritage Tourism Experience 2019
• Since opening in 2003, the visitor attraction has welcomed over 2.75 million guests.
• The site offers a range of bespoke themed events, group activities, educational visits, venue hire, and a retail area filled with authentic Scottish gifts and produce.
• The Real Mary King’s Close is proud to be a Silver Investors in People.
• Since opening, the attraction has donated over £60k to charities both at home and nationally.
• Lothian and Borders regional winner of two Scottish Thistle awards for Best Visitor Attraction and Best Heritage Tourism Experience in 2019.
• Winner of the first Service Excellence Award at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2019.

Lux Row Distillers’ Blood Oath Pact 9 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Arrives at Retail in April 

Latest offering from master distiller and master blender John Rempe features bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks

St. LOUIS (April 20, 2023) – Lux Row master distiller and master blender John Rempe renews his annual pact with bourbon drinkers with the release of Blood Oath Pact 9 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. A limited supply of 17,000 (3-pack) cases will arrive at retail this April at a suggested price of $129.99 per 750 ml bottle. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 9 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).

Blood Oath Pact 9 combines some of the finest extra-aged bourbons Rempe could find, including a 16-year ryed bourbon and a 12-year ryed bourbon, as well as a 7-year ryed bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from the Sherry Triangle region in southwest Spain. These casks impart unique woody and ripe-fruit aromas and flavors to make Blood Oath Pact 9 a memorable pour.

“Blood Oath Pact 9 contains three great bourbons, and the Oloroso Sherry cask finish has resulted in a deep, dark amber liquid with long legs,” said Rempe. “The Oloroso Sherry casks also bring out tasting notes of sweet sherry with hints of ripe fruit on the nose, as well as flavor notes highlighted by ripe fruits including figs, plums and raisins, with notes of molasses, chocolate and tobacco. This bourbon also provides a long-lasting finish characterized by fruit notes and complemented by hints of spicy oak. I’m proud to share Blood Oath Pact 9 with bourbon lovers.”

Each Blood Oath pact has featured a different colored label. This year, Blood Oath Pact 9 features a label that is deep crimson in color. And like its predecessors, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact 9 comes in a commemorative fire-branded wooden display box.

The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 9 will include a total allocation of 51,00 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy Pack release. The first Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018, and the second Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released in September 2021 in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month. The next Blood Oath Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9, will be offered in 2024.

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where the Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Green Hat Gin and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.

Glen Scotia launches pioneering new music project ‘The Sound of Glen Scotia’ for this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival

Award-winning whisky distillery, Glen Scotia, has unveiled details of its pioneering new music project, ‘The Sound of Glen Scotia’, which will be revealed at this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival (23^rd – 24^th May 2023).

The project is an artistic collaboration between whisky writer Neil Ridley, folk singer-songwriter Jenny Sturgeon and music producer Dean Honer, who have created a new two-track musical journey using elements from around Campbeltown and the distillery to capture the essence of Glen Scotia.

The tracks will be unveiled at this year’s Malts Festival through an immersive exhibition deep inside the distillery’s atmospheric warehouse. With the room in complete darkness, a new music video, made especially for the project, will be screened on the casks in the warehouse while guests plug into a headset to listen to the A-side track, ‘Copper Heart’, with a dram in hand.

Shetland-based Jenny Sturgeon wrote and recorded vocals which capture observations of her time spent with the distillery team and in the town, soaking up the surrounding environment.

The track audio has been built using sounds of the distillery, including the banging of casks as drumbeats, mills running, soundbites of the distillery team’s conversations during production, microphones in casks of whisky, and the sounds of birds in the courtyard in a nod to the climate and unique natural environment of Scotland’s smallest whisky-making region.

Led by music producer, Dean Honer, the project used specialised audio equipment to accurately mimic the proximity of sounds. A binaural microphone, which resembles a featureless human head, was used to mimic the exact proximity of sounds as they were heard during recording. Bespoke-made hydrophones were submerged into casks of liquid, recreating a ‘suspended-in-time’ sound of the outside world, as the Glen Scotia whisky gently matured within.

These distillery sounds, gathered over several days, were then mixed with traditional acoustic instruments and Jenny’s lyrics.

Neil Ridley, whisky writer and musician, was in charge of artistic direction. He said: “With an extraordinary array of distinct sounds, frequencies, hums, knocks and rattles, Glen Scotia is quite the playground for the sound recordist. Imagine writing and recording a brand-new song where the lyrics and the instrumentation were heavily influenced by the distillery. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, with the vision of bringing to life the visceral thrill of visiting a working distillery, even if you were thousands of miles away, and we finally got the opportunity thanks to Glen Scotia.”

Jenny Sturgeon said: “My lyrics were inspired by conversations and observations of the distillery team and local historians who live and breathe the area. Hearing directly from the team – their shared vision of the distillery and what it means to them personally – was hugely inspiring.”

Nick Bradley, Brand Manager at Glen Scotia said: “Every year ahead of the Festival, Glen Scotia invites an artist or artists to collaborate with the team in Campbeltown, to see the distillery and our home through their eyes and artistic medium. Our greatest hope is this can give whisky lovers all over the globe a flavour of our home.

“I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to partner with these incredibly talented musicians and watch this extraordinary project come to life. It is a testament to the power of music and its ability to capture the essence of a place and its people, and the fusion of music and whisky is a truly unique way to bring our distillery and whisky-making region to life.”

The collaboration follows Glen Scotia and industry writer Becky Paskin’s ‘Whisky Experiment’ at last year’s Malts Festival and artistic collaboration ‘Spirit Safe’ with Alice Angus, as Glen Scotia continues to bring to life the senses and elements that define Campbeltown and its whisky heritage.

Those unable to attend the Festival and looking to hear the second track will be able to purchase a limited-edition vinyl from the Glen Scotia website, which will be available from the end of May alongside the festival.

The B-side track on the album, ‘The Sound of Glen Scotia’, is a 17-minute fully immersive experience. Depicting the sound of barley being delivered and the ethereal high-pitched song of the copper stills, the track features rhythmic elements provided by the sound of casks being opened, filling out the bass frequencies. The track features an extraordinary array of distinct sounds and a broad spectrum of tones.

Launched in 2008, the Campbeltown Malts Festival is a celebration of the region known as the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’ due to its illustrious past and the role whisky-making has played in the town for centuries.

This year the programme will be bigger than ever before with a jam-packed series of events and an opportunity to learn more about the world’s finest drams. As well as the immersive Sound of Glen Scotia experience, guests will have the opportunity to hear directly from Neil Ridley, Dean Honer, and Jenny Sturgeon in three ticketed talks and demonstrations over the day, accompanied by a special dram.

Glen Scotia’s full programme of events and tickets are available via its website: www.glenscotia.com

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.

Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, the stillroom, and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s.To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old Single Malt whisky was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won Best In Class in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2023 for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.

 Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts
Instagram: @glenscotiamalts
Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

About the artists

Neil Ridley

Neil Ridley is an award-winning professional drinks writer, broadcaster, consultant, author, TV presenter and musician. With 15 years of drinks industry experience, he served as the editor-at-large for Whisky Magazine and Chairman of the World Whiskies Awards until 2016. He now contributes to The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, writes regularly for the internationally acclaimed Decanter magazine, and is a regular TV presenter on Channel 4 Sunday Brunch. He also continues to judge several high-profile global drinks competitions.

He is at the forefront of providing expertise and innovation in the alcoholic drinks world and in 2013 he was made a ‘Keeper Of The Quaich’, one of the highest accolades in the Scotch whisky industry. Neil has also been shortlisted four times for ‘Communicator Of The Year’ at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).

His first book, co-written with Joel Harrison Distilled: A Guide To The World’s Best Spirits, was awarded ‘Best Drinks Book’ in The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards in 2015. To date, it is the biggest-selling book globally on pan-spirits, now published in 14 different languages. His latest book, ‘60-second Cocktails’ is the no.1 bestseller in both the UK and the USA.

Jenny Sturgeon

Jenny Sturgeon is a Scottish singer and songwriter “who brings together the old and new with a rare skill” (R2 Magazine). Jenny’s music is rich with imagery and her songs are bound together by common threads of folklore, nature and people.

Jenny’s music has been played on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio 3, Radio 6 Music, Radio 2, and Radio Nan Gaidheal. She has been featured as artist of the week and performed live sessions for BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk programme and BBC Radio 3. Jenny has also been on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.

Her album ‘The Living Mountain’ was nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year Awards 2021, and in 2020 she won Best Acoustic at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. In 2018 she was nominated Composer of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards.

Dean Honer

Dean is a music producer and composer. Owner of the mixing and mastering studio, The Bowling Green, Dean is a connector between artistic worlds with much of his work appearing on TV shows, films, adverts and he has even performed on Top of the Pops.

He is the producer and founding member of many iconic electronic music bands including  All Seeing I, I Monster, The Moonlandingz and The Eccentronic Research Council, which saw huge success in the late 1990s.

He has also worked as a producer for bands such as The Human League, Add N to X and Roisin Murphy. A top 10 chart star with ‘All Seeing I’, he has worked with various artists from Jarvis Cocker to Tony Christie, remixed Moby, mastered countless tracks and albums and even appeared as a credited producer on Britney Spears debut album.