SECOND BATCH OF 30-YEAR-OLD

GLENALLACHIE HITS THE MARKET

Batch 2 of The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Single Malt is

world-leading Master Distiller, Billy Walker’s latest creation 

Hot on the heels of announcing whisky veteran Billy Walker’s 50^th Anniversary in the Scotch Whisky industry, The GlenAllachie today launches the second instalment of its oldest and most prestigious core offering: The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The annual batch-release by the leading distiller debuted last year to great acclaim, with the small quantity of bottles issued being met with substantial demand.

Batch 2 (UK RRSP £600) is a limited release of just 2,000 bottles globally, each encased in a premium black rigid box with impactful gold foil detailing.

The second instalment marries antique whiskies from eight casks handpicked by Walker from stocks spanning more than 50,000 maturing across 16 on-site warehouses at GlenAllachie.

To create this sophisticated whisky, Walker meticulously selected 1990 and 1991 vintages matured in six former Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry hogsheads and puncheons, along with two 1990 American virgin oak barrels which were toasted and charred to a medium level.

The result of Walker’s exceptional blending and wood management prowess is an outstanding whisky that epitomises rich Sherry-matured elegance, with flavour profile revealing layers of Seville orange, coffee beans, desiccated coconut and Medjool dates.

The remarkably opulent Speyside Single Malt is bottled at its cask strength of 50.8% ABV, non chill filtered and without added colour.

Reflecting on the exclusive release, Walker comments:

“When we first unveiled our 30-year-old Cask Strength annual release last year, we were completely overwhelmed and humbled by the immensely positive response from whisky fans around the world. This fuelled me with great enthusiasm to get underway with the next batch, endeavouring to raise the bar even higher with this instalment.

“We’re delighted to present the second batch of our eldest core release, delivering a bold and complex organoleptic profile truly representative of our house style and where we are taking The GlenAllachie Distillery.”

The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 is available from specialist retailers globally, with a UK RRSP of £600.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 – 50.8% ABV

Colour: Rich Mahogany.

Nose: Bursting with heather honey, sultanas and mocha, followed by waves of cinnamon, coconut shavings and dried fruits.

Taste: Lashings of dark chocolate, figs and orange zest, with hints of treacle, raisins and cinnamon, with nutmeg on the finish.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Limited Edition Whisky to Celebrate

The Open’s 150^th Championship

Award-winning, independent distiller Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited edition single malt whiskies in celebration of The Open.

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022, and Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022, have been created to mark the 150^th year of golf’s prestigious The Open Championship, of which Loch Lomond Whiskies is the official spirit partner.

The 150^th Open will be played on the historic links of The Old Course, St Andrews, this July.

Each single malt expression has been carefully crafted using Loch Lomond Whiskies’ remarkable straight-neck stills, which are entirely unique to the distillery.

These innovative stills allow Master Blender, Michael Hendry, to explore the flavour profiles in an imaginative way.

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022 has been crafted in partnership with legendary golfer Colin Montgomerie, who worked closely with Master Blender Michael Hendry to create a whisky worthy of The Open’s historic anniversary.

Perfectly capturing the distillery’s signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke, this unique single malt is bursting with flavour, carrying notes of strawberry, peach and lime citrus, a creamy fudge sweetness, a lingering oak spice, and soft smoke finish.

The Open Special Edition 2022 has been aged in American Oak casks before being hand-selected for additional finishing in Bordeaux Red Wine Barriques, creating an additional layer of complexity.

Montgomerie’s signature appears on each bottle, adding an extra special touch to this wonderful edition.

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022 is a rich and elegant single malt whisky which pays homage to all the golf courses where The Open has taken place, from the first ever championship in Prestwick in 1860 to St Andrews where the 2022 event will be held.

The limited-edition single malt is a rare expression which captures the distillery’s spirit of exploration and unique whisky-making style.

First distilled 22 years ago, The Open Course Edition 2022 delivers notes of stewed apple, pear and black cherry with vanilla and dark chocolate, a warming ginger spice and wood smoke finish. It is aged in American Oak casks before being finished in the finest Haut-Médoc Claret Barriques for 36 months.

The Open Course Edition 2022 is presented in a striking blue case and boasts an elevated bottle design, making it the perfect gift which will stand out on any whisky cabinet.

Andrew Jack, Head of Whisky Marketing at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“The Open is a such a prestigious event, bringing together some of the world’s best golfers. At Loch Lomond Whiskies we are very proud to show our support as the official spirit partner of this momentous anniversary.

“The ties between golf and whisky in Scotland date back generations. Our two new, limited edition single malts are highly valuable additions to our whisky portfolio, demonstrating the breadth of distillation techniques Loch Lomond Whiskies is capable of. We’re confident both expressions will appeal to a variety of tastes, budgets and interests, particularly in the lead up to Father’s Day in June.” 

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022 (ABV 46%, RRP £45) is available from www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/loch-lomond-open-special-edition-2022

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022 (ABV 48.2%, RRP £225) is available from www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/loch-lomond-open-course-collection-2022

For further information, please visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.

• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.

• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day.

• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020.

A selection of other recent medals include:

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Perfectly Balanced – Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2021

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin – Best Highland Scotch 12 Year Old & Under, World Whisky Awards 2021; Gold International Sprits Challenge 2021; Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2020.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan – Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2020; Gold International Sprits Challenge 2020

Loch Lomond 30 Year Old – Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2021

TAMNAVULIN ANNOUNCES NEW DISTILLERY MANAGER

Leon Webb joins Tamnavulin following distillery’s success at

Spirit of Speyside Festival

The award-wining Speyside distillery Tamnavulin has appointed experienced whisky maker Leon Webb as its new Distillery Manager. His arrival further bolsters the distilling team at the world’s fastest growing Single Malt[1], which recently won gold at The Spirit of Speyside Awards for Tamnavulin Spanish Grenache Cask.

Leon joined the team in early May, returning to his native Scotland following a period of five years in Canada, working as Master Distiller and Blender for the well-respected Shelter Point Distillery on Vancouver Island, B.C.

Leon, second right.

Originally from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, Leon graduated with an MSc in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, before embarking on his distilling career in both Scotland and Canada, producing a number of award-winning liquids.

He joins Tamnavulin’s Distiller Sam Douglas and Blender Kirsty Hodge, who has been working closely with the distillery in recent years, as part of the wider Whyte & Mackay Distilling Team, which is headed up by Master Whisky Maker and Blender Gregg Glass.

Shane Healey, Distillery Director at Whyte & Mackay, said: “Leon will be a fantastic addition to Tamnavulin and our Distilling Team. I am confident he will build on all the great work already done at the distillery and make a great contribution to the extraordinary growth of the Tamnavulin brand around the world. Leon joins Tamnavulin at an exciting time, fresh after the Spirit of Speyside Festival.”

The single malt brand was brought back to life in 2016 as a quintessential signature Speyside malt whisky. The fruit-forward liquids produced are all double-matured and enhanced through wine cask finishes, released at an affordable price point.

Numerous award wins later – coupled with a rapid growth in demand from consumer and trade alike  have quickly established Tamnavulin as a leading example of quality Speyside whisky – testament to a distillery and whisky making team that will be further bolstered by Leon’s experience.

Tamnavulin recently announced the addition of a White Wine Cask Edition to its core range, building on the popularity of the brand’s Red Wine Cask Editions.

About Tamnavulin

On the Southern edge of Speyside, in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, lies Tamnavulin Distillery. Built in 1966, the Distillery takes its name from the Gaelic for ‘mill on the hill’, the distillery was named after the historic woollen mill which still sits next to the distillery. After closing in 1995, the distillery underwent a major refurbishment before it was re-opened in 2007. The first whisky from the newly opened distillery was launched in 2016, much to the anticipation of whisky fans.

Tucked away on the edge of the River Livet, set on the bank of the Allt’ a Choire, Tamnavulin draws water from underground springs in the Easterton hills formed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. This water is naturally filtered through ancient limestone rock before reaching the distillery, resulting in some of the purest spring water to be found in Scotland.

The small group of skilled, time-served craftsmen began creating Tamnavulin’s signature Speyside malt whisky over fifty years ago using the finest ingredients combined with age-old distilling expertise and sophisticated techniques.

Since its launch in 2016, Tamnavulin has driven a successful path which has seen it become the fastest growing single malt globally in 2020 (IWSR ‘000’s 8.4L cases) and the no.4 brand by volume in the UK (Nielsen Scantrack/Kantar date to 9^th of October 2021).

www.tamnavulinwhisky.com

[1] *IWSR 2019-20, largest growing Single Malt

New recruits join International Beverage as business builds team for growth

May 12, 2022—Acclaimed spirits producer International Beverage has today announced two key appointments to its Scottish team, as the business gears up to deliver ambitious global growth plans across its award-winning portfolio.

Following the retirement of long-standing Speyburn Distillery Manager Bobby Anderson in April, former William Grant Distilleries Process Leader Euan Henderson has been confirmed as his successor. Having started his career at Edradour Distillery and Allied Distillers, Euan went on to work for Chivas Brothers at Aberlour, Tormore, Glenallachie, The Glenlivet and others in a variety of operational roles, before moving to William Grant to work at their Balvenie, Kininvie and Glenfiddich Distilleries.

“It’s an enormous honour to be taking the reins at Speyburn, after the long and distinguished service of Bobby Anderson,” commented Euan.” As well as being one of Scotland’s most picturesque distilleries, it produces a whisky of incredible character and quality, which has been justly rewarded around the world over the years. These are big shoes to fill, but I’ll be honouring Bobby’s legacy of craftsmanship and sustainability, working with the wonderful distillery team to hatch some exciting plans as we celebrate our 125^th anniversary in 2022.”

The business was also bolstered earlier this year with the arrival of Sean Priestley as Group Distilleries Manager. His remit is to oversee operations at the company’s five distilleries, which produce Old Pulteney, Speyburn, Balblair and anCnoc single malt whiskies, Hankey Bannister blended whisky and Caorunn Gin.

With a background in pharmaceuticals and 10 years’ experience at Diageo under his belt working in distilling and the malts team at Clynelish, Lagavulin and Caol Ila Distilleries, Sean is focusing on growth, people and sustainability in his new role.

“In my first few months with International Beverage I’ve been so impressed with the quality of their spirits, and also how ahead they are in terms of sustainability – a field in which they’re well on their way to being leaders in the sector. It’s very exciting to be part of business that doesn’t just talk, and isn’t afraid to innovate and take proper action to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, particularly at a time when consumers are looking for products made with the minimum impact on the environment,” said Sean. “International Beverage also understands the value of people, and in doing things with passion and authenticity to make great products and brands. It’s a real privilege to be working with their team of talented and committed distillery managers to achieve some exciting plans together.”

International Beverage is also boosting its flourishing graduate and apprentice program with an additional four roles currently being filled across its distilleries and at its Airdrie headquarters.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE HOLDINGS

International Beverage Holdings Ltd is one of the drinks industry’s most dynamic global businesses.  Established in 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thaibev, the company operates as its international business arm, specialising in the development of premium local spirits for the global market. Its success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets within a worldwide business network. Based in Hong Kong with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, the USA and UK, the company is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands in over 85 markets. These brands are built on character, craftsmanship and quality, led by a range of award-winning Scotch whiskies and an array of vibrant beers and spirits. These include:

• Single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn
• Blended Scotch Hankey Bannister
• Caorunn, Scotland’s leading super premium gin
• Mekhong, ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Chang Beer, Thailand’s iconic beer brand

Inver House Distillers is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Beverage Holdings Ltd, producing its Scotch whiskies and gin at five distilleries around Scotland: Pulteney, Speyburn, Knockdhu, Balblair and Balmenach. Inver House is also highly active in the warehousing and blending of Scotch whisky, with warehousing for 500,000 barrels and state of the art blending and laboratory facilities at its headquarters in Airdrie. The business has won many prestigious accolades over the years, including the Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year Award for Scotland (2017).

www.interbevgroup.com

GREATDRAMS SCOOPS THE TWO TOP MEDALS IN WORLD WHISKY AND NAMED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2022 

Capping an incredible awards season, independent bottlers, GreatDrams has picked up their second Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as a 98/100 Gold Outstanding from the IWSC and two Gold Medals at the London Spirits Competition… on top of this, GreatDrams was named Business of the Year (under £1m turnover) in the Manchester Evening News Business Awards, the biggest regional business awards in the UK.

Achieving a Double Gold at San Fran is rare, and is only ‘awarded to the entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel; these are among the finest products in the world’.

Husband and wife team, Greg and Kirsty Dillon founded GreatDrams five years ago with the aim to make great whisky more approachable & available. Their range specialises in single cask limited editions, rare casks which are finished or ancient whiskies to add to the unique character of the spirit and high quality blends. Receiving Double Gold and a Gold Outstanding in one awards season signals that the duo are cementing themselves as experts in finding incredible tasting rare casks of whisky.

At a black tie event held in Central Manchester at the beginning of April, Greg & Kirsty were brought on stage to receive their Business of the Year (under £1m turnover) award, given out for showing ‘incredible resilience’ through the covid pandemic as well as opening up new revenue streams and business opportunities around the world whilst everything was going on during the midst of the lockdowns, especially the virtual tasting business they built that helped grow revenue 80%.

Greg Dillon says: “We never expect to win awards, we enter them in the quest for validation for what we are doing and to use as a barometer for the quality and flavour of the releases we are bottling. To win the two highest medals you can in world whisky and to be named Business of the Year has been a whirlwind – we truly are humbled and blown away by three separate whisky awards panels giving us gold medals this year as well as the MEN Business Awards. This gives us the impetus to kick on and produce even more awesome whiskies for our awesome customers”.

Kirsty Dillon adds “It has been a dream awards season for GreatDrams. We work tirelessly to make rare whisky more available to people and the combination of taste and business awards cements our position in achieving this. As a family business based in the North West of England we are very proud of our achievements to date and will do our best to grow further, striving to produce high quality releases for our customers to enjoy and to build a business that can provide for our family for generations to come.”

GreatDrams releases available at https://greatdrams.com/whisky-shop/ and select retailers.

OUR CURRENT RANGE

Islay Multi-Award Winning Single Cask Single Malt
One of the best Islay whiskies in the world? I mean… It is not for me to say… those shiny gold awards are pretty compelling tho eh? Awarded Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition and rated 98/100 by the IWSC, who awarded it the Gold Outstanding Medal… their highest medal award. A peated whisky from the mystical island of Islay, matured in First Fill Bourbon Barrel and laden with beautifully balanced, classic Islay peated whisky notes as well as lovely soothing vanilla and citrus fruit notes along with cinnamon and warming spice notes too.

Available here: https://greatdrams.com/product/islay-single-cask-single-malt-scotch-whisky/

Girvan Single 14 Year Old Grain Scotch Whisky Single Cask Series
Described by the Great Taste Awards judging panel, who awarded this product a 2-star Great Taste award, which means judges dubbed it above and beyond delicious as having “remarkable smoothness for its ABV. Rather extraordinary and hugely sippable. A surprising whisky, well deserving of its two stars”.

Back by popular demand, an ex-bourbon single cask single grain limited edition from the Girvan Distillery in the Lowlands of Scotland. This one garnered so much attention from its ‘boozy butter’ description, and it the one whisky we have produced where people actually repeat that line back to us at events years later that we just had to hunt down another cask from the same batch; distilled on the same day, same distillery, filled into the same style of cask… but matured for three years longer than the original. The result? You guessed it… its like drinking boozy butter, with hints of fruit and is impossibly smooth on the palate.

Available here: https://greatdrams.com/product/girvan-single-14-year-old-grain-scotch-whisky-single-cask-series/

English Whisky Co. 7 Year Old PX Sherry Cask Single Malt
Our first ‘new world’ whisky, this cask has been matured for its entire maturation at the English Whisky Co. in Norfolk, England. Initially in an American oak ex-Bourbon barrel for four years, this whisky was then filled into a first fill Pedro Ximénez cask for its finish, or second maturation

Available here: https://greatdrams.com/product/english-whisky-co-7-year-old-px/

North British 29 Year Old Single Cask Single Grain Whisky

Yeah, virtually no one else has heard of this distillery either, but it is a belter, and has already won a 92/100 IWSC Silver Medal… we describe the North British 29 Year Old Single Cask Single Grain Whisky as like drinking silk.

Available here: https://greatdrams.com/product/north-british-29-year-old-single-cask-single-grain-whisky/

Lost Lantern Summer 2022 Single Cask Collection

Showcases the Breadth and Depth of American Whiskey

WEYBRIDGE, Vt., May 17, 2022—Lost Lantern, an independent bottler of American whiskey that launched less than 18 months ago, is pleased to announce their Summer 2022 collection, featuring seven limited edition single casks from six celebrated craft distilleries: McCarthy’s in Oregon, Frey Ranch in Nevada, Starlight in Indiana, Dad’s Hat in Pennsylvania, St. George in California, and Balcones in Texas.

Beginning June 8, in time for Father’s Day deliveries, the Summer 2022 single cask collection will be available for sale on LostLanternWhiskey.com, Seelbachs.com, and at select retailers in California and Alberta, Canada. All offerings are released with full transparency, bottled at cask strength, are non-chill-filtered and have natural color.

• 2022 Single Cask #5: McCarthy’s 3 Year Old Oregon Peated Single Malt Whiskey(240 btls): SRP, $90
• 2022 Single Cask #6: Frey Ranch Distillery Nevada Three Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey(196 btls): SRP, $100
• 2022 Single Cask #7: Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey(208 btls): SRP, $80
• 2022 Single Cask #8: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey(188 btls): SRP, $90
• 2022 Single Cask #9: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye WhiskeyFinished in a Vermouth Cask (119 btls): SRP, $110
• 2022 Single Cask #10: St. George Spirits California Single Malt Whiskey(215 btls): SRP, $160
• 2022 Single Cask #11: Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Aged in a Tequila Barrel(126 btls): SRP, $120

In addition to the above new single casks, Lost Lantern will be releasing a limited amount of distillery partner exploration bundles. The collections will include multiple releases from a single distillery to help whiskey lovers explore each distillery’s range. Bundles range from $140 – $320.

“The Lost Lantern Summer 2022 Collection emphasizes comparison, showing the full range of the distilleries we work with and what we as an independent bottler add to that conversation,” explained Lost Lantern Co-Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski. “All seven casks in the new collection are meant to be points of comparison: sometimes to each other, sometimes to previous Lost Lantern releases, sometimes to the distillery’s own releases.”

Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. Since their debut in October 2020, Lost Lantern has released 29 one-of-a-kind single casks from 16 of the finest distilleries in the United States: Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Cedar Ridge (IA), New York Distilling Company (NY), Ironroot Republic (TX), Whiskey Del Bac (AZ), Balcones (TX) Watershed (OH), Boulder Spirits (CO), Spirit Works (CA), St. George Spirits (CA), McCarthy’s (OR), Smooth Ambler (WV), Starlight (IN), Westward (OR), Frey Ranch Distillery (NV), and Dad’s Hat (PA).

ABOUT LOST LANTERN’S SUMMER 2022 SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

Lost Lantern’s single casks show that the best whiskey reflects where it’s made, how it’s made, and who made it, and demonstrate that compelling whiskey comes from across the United States.

2022 Single Cask #5: McCarthy’s 3 Year Old Oregon Peated Single Malt Whiskey

(1240 btls | 114.1 Proof): SRP, $90

McCarthy’s is arguably the first American single malt. This fresh, approachable, heavily peated single malt is made from U.K. barley malted with Islay peat and was fermented, distilled, and aged in Oregon. It was aged for 3 years and 11 months in a second-fill 228-liter Oregon oak cask and has notes of leather, oak, iodine, and maple syrup-drizzled vanilla ice cream.

• Comparison Cask: 2021 Single Cask #6: McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated Single Malt

2022 Single Cask #6: Frey Ranch Distillery Nevada Three Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

(196 btls | 118.2 Proof): SRP, $100

Colby and Ashley Frey have transformed Frey Ranch, a fifth-generation family farm in the watershed of the Sierra Nevada, into one of the most exciting distilleries in the country. Frey Ranch grows all the grain for all of its whiskies, making it one of the only true estate distilleries in the U.S. This 5-year-old straight bourbon is one of the first three-grain whiskies ever to come from Frey Ranch. It has notes of chocolate, clove, spearmint, and balanced oak and is more spice- and fruit-driven than their traditional four-grain style.

• Comparison Cask: 2022 Single Cask #3: Frey Ranch Distillery Nevada Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2022 Single Cask #7: Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(208 btls | 116 Proof): SRP, $80

Located just across the Ohio River from Kentucky and only about 20 miles from Louisville, Starlight Distillery is part of Huber’s Orchard & Winery, an Indiana institution since 1843. This straight bourbon whiskey was aged for 4 years in a 53-gallon barrel and has flavors of lemon zest, cinnamon strudel, nutmeg, and creamy vanilla.

• Comparison Cask: 2021 Single Cask #8: Starlight Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey

2022 Single Cask #8: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey

(188 btls | 127 Proof): SRP, $90

Pennsylvania has a long and historic distilling tradition dating back to the colonial era, but by the 1990s, Pennsylvania rye whiskey had disappeared completely. Mountain Laurel Spirits, better known by its flagship brand Dad’s Hat, has brought this tradition back to life. This straight rye whiskey, Lost Lantern’s first from Dad’s Hat and first from Pennsylvania, was aged in a 53-gallon barrel for 5 years. It is fresh and grassy, with spearmint on the nose and candied orange, chocolate, and clove on the palate.

• Comparison Cask: 2022 Single Cask #9: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in a Vermouth Cask

2022 Single Cask #9: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in a Vermouth Cask

(119 btls | 119.9 Proof): SRP, $110

This release was made by finishing 4-year-old Dad’s Hat straight rye whiskey for 5 months in an ex-vermouth cask, which amplifies and builds upon the sweeter elements of the underlying rye whiskey. It has apricot and spearmint on the nose, and a rich palate that balances big baking spice, citrusy sweetness, and fresh green grass. A unique and deeply flavorful twist that shows how the right finish can naturally complement a whiskey.

• Comparison Cask: 2022 Single Cask #8: Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey

2022 Single Cask #10: St. George Spirits California Single Malt Whiskey

(215 btls | 106.7 Proof): SRP, $160

Founded in 1982 and located in Alameda, California, St. George is the country’s first craft distillery and is renowned for its commitment to experimentation, innovation, quality and precision, fresh and flavorful local ingredients. When they released their first single malt whiskey in 2000, they were blazing a new trail. More than twenty years later, they still do. Distilled on a pot still and aged for 3 years and 10 months in a new oak cask, this whiskey is a beautiful intermingling of soft, floral flavors with gentle oak, clove, and nutmeg notes.

• Comparison Cask: 2021 Single Cask #5: St. George Spirits California Single Malt Whiskey

2022 Single Cask #11: Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Aged in a Tequila Barrel

(126 btls | 129 Proof): SRP, $120

Balcones is a pioneer, not just in Texas Whiskey but across the board. Their experiments with mashbills, barrel finishes, barrel sizes, and new techniques have helped break new ground in American whiskey. Cask #11 is no exception. It spent 5 years in a used tequila cask that previously held Balcones Rumble, a spirit distilled from honey, sugar, and figs. This style-bending whiskey, born and raised in the Texas heat, marries clean and elegant single malt with unusual flavors rarely seen in whiskey. It has butterscotch, graham crackers, and chili chocolate on the nose. The light, spicy palate has honey, lemon pepper, and even hints of lime. Perfect for summer.

• Comparison Cask: 2020 Single Cask #8: Balcones Distilling Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an independent bottler of American whiskey. Inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland, the company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the country and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. Currently, the Lost Lantern portfolio consists of American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, a blend of American single malt whiskey made in collaboration with six distilleries from across the U.S., and twenty-nine single casks (14 of which are available now). Lost Lantern debuts new hand-selected whiskies throughout the year and announces one-off limited releases from time-to-time. Subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter to learn about new offerings as they become available. Lost Lantern Whiskey is available for purchase at LostLanternWhiskey.com, at Seelbachs.com, and at select retailers in California and Alberta.

Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on the following channels:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostlanternwhiskey
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lostlanternwhiskey
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LostLanternDram

BIG PEAT WELCOMES UNPREDICTABLE ISLAY WEATHER

WITH BEACH BBQ LIMITED EDITION FOR FÈIS ÌLE 2022

Award-winning Islay Malt, Big Peat, today reveals his special bottling for Fèis Ìle 2022: Big Peat Beach BBQ Edition.

Offered at a natural cask strength of 54.2%, the new release is strictly limited to 3,000 bottles globally. Fans of the “cult” Islay Malt can expect tasting notes of “smoky, maple-cured bacon”, “charred oak” and “chewy salted toffee”.

The limited edition Scotch Whisky is packaged in a premium gift tube, with the brand’s “signature” yellow colourways complemented by deep navy. Big Peat himself is shown at the helm of the barbeque, grilling smoky meats to pair with his Islay Malt, amidst a tempestuous Hebridean rainstorm. Gloss varnish brings to life the raindrops on the packaging in a tactile, eye-catching finish.

In support of the launch, the team behind the iconic Islay Malt brand have partnered with the artisan pizza restaurant in Islay’s capital of Bowmore – the aptly-named “Peatzeria”. Together, they’ll host two exclusive, now sold-out tasting sessions during Fèis Ìle, where ticket holders will get the chance to sample different Big Peat expressions and even an extremely old and rare Port Ellen Malt, paired with fresh local delicacies.

Available exclusively via DouglasLaing.com, Islay Malt enthusiasts are also presented the chance to purchase one of just 70 Big Peat tasting packs, culminating in an interactive online tasting on 20^th June.

Commenting on the special edition bottling, Cara Laing, Marketing Director, said:

“An authentic Scottish summer doesn’t always bring blue skies and golden rays, but come rain or shine, our feisty Ileach fisherman is ready to embrace a smoke-filled beach barbecue in celebration of Fèis Ìle! Hand-selected for their charred meat, salty sea-air flavour profile, this remarkable limited edition is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts, only from Islay. Big Peat looks forward to headlining the Islay Festival with a series of tasting events, both in person and online, bringing the true taste of Islay to whisky enthusiasts the world over. After all, he is Seriously Committed to SMOKE!”

Big Peat’s Beach BBQ Fèis Ìle 2022 Limited Edition will be available from specialist Whisky retailers in the UK, Europe and Asia, plus online retailers, from May 2022. It carries a suggested retail price of £55.00 / €65.00.

ABOUT BIG PEAT

Instagram: @bigpeatwhisky

Facebook: /bigpeat

Established in 2009 by Douglas Laing & Co, Big Peat has amassed a somewhat cult following throughout his tenure in the world of Whisky. The multi award-winning small batch Scotch is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts distilled only on Islay, including those distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen Distilleries, amongst others. Celebrated for “his” trademark smoky, sooty, ashy and sweet flavour profile, Big Peat is offered at high alcohol strength and always without colouring or chill-filtration. Since 2019, “his” core range encompasses a 12 Years Old offering for specialist retailer, and “he” proudly unveils a limited edition bottling for Christmas each year, too.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

All aboard – Bimber Distillery announces The Spirit of the Underground Release No.3

Following being chosen as a finalist at the 2022 Brand and Lifestyle Awards (B&LLA), London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the launch of the third release of The Spirit of the Underground Collection, produced in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL).

Release No.3 showcases four new stations: Camden Town, Canary Wharf, Notting Hill Gate and Tower Hill – each featuring stunning iconography presenting unique pieces of London’s history, and adorned with striking labels and packaging design that observes the significance of each station’s location.

Each of the four releases in Release No.3 has undergone a secondary maturation in a different fortified wine cask – with three of the stations showcasing cask types that have not previously been released by the distillery. Each is bottled at natural cask strength and without chill filtration.

The Collection, which will total 44 individual releases, features a selection of iconic single malt whiskies that celebrate the heritage and diversity of the distillery’s home city. With stunning individual designs, each bottle presents a different Tube station on the London Underground network – the oldest underground passenger railway service in the world.

Release No.3 of The Spirit of the Underground Collection will be available directly from Bimber’s Spirit of the Underground website from Monday 16^th till Thursday 19^th May via a weighted ballot, and with an RRP of £125 per bottle.

Speaking of the launch of  the third release in the collection, Matt McKay Bimber’s Director of Marketing and Communications said: “We’re delighted to reveal the next four stations that will be joining The Spirit of the Underground Collection. For this release we’ve selected four outstanding casks which showcase our ever-broadening selection of flavour profiles. Each of these fortified wine casks has brought both a unique influence and a different perspective to our distinctive London spirit. And we’re particularly excited to be using Release 3 to unveil three entirely new casks styles that we have added into our growing cask inventory.

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at TfL added: “We are delighted to see Bimber Distillery further capture our unique brand with this latest release, which nods to both TfL’s and the capital’s rich heritage. Innovative collaborations such as this are a great example of how brands can work with us and let their customers have a little bit of London in their home.”

All the expressions in The Spirit of the Underground Collection were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a rich fruit-forward, layered spirit.

The Spirit of the Underground Collection – Release No.3

The Spirit of the Underground – Notting Hill Gate

Moscatel Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 285/21

Nose: Tinned pineapple and peach juices are sweetened further by brown sugars whilst macerated orange peels join homemade lemonade

Palate: Richly composed with clementine and nectarine strudel served with a side plate of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg dusted baked apple

Finish: Toasted oak and shaved chocolate join spent coffee grounds

342 bottles

70cl

59% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Camden Town

Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 288.23 

Nose: Chopped hazelnuts, rye bread and manuka honey join orange zest, lemon oils and nutmeg

Palate: Almond paste and hazelnuts sit with pepper and chilli-spiced waffles, whilst bright orchard and citrus fruits mingle with honey and chocolate syrup

Finish: Nutty with lingering piquant spice

351 bottles

70cl

58.5% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Canary Wharf

Marsala Cask Finish – Ref 298/9

Nose: Mandarin peels, cooking apples and toasted almonds sit atop of warmed honey and delicately spiced oak

Palate: Orange zest and candied lemon peels give way to effervescent spicing from ginger, nutmeg and clove whilst mentholated oak joins chocolate covered almond brittle

Finish: Lasting spice and char sit with enduring fruit sugars 

320 bottles

70cl

58.1% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Tower Hill

Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish – Ref 302/13

Nose: Delicate dried slices of apricot and orange join richer sherry-led spices whilst white chocolate and caramel are livened by vanilla and white pepper

Palate: Bright apple and citrus fruits are further enriched by toffee, caramel, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg whilst gently charred oak sits with espresso beans

Finish: Coffee and walnut cake invigorated by tangy cask spices

348 bottles

70cl

58.7% ABV

About Bimber 

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

About Transport for London 

Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport. It runs the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network, including London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses and TfL Rail services, as well as managing London’s main roads. TfL does all it can to support the millions of journeys that are made every day and keep the city moving, working and growing. TfL reinvests all income generated through fares and commercial revenue to run and improve services and is committed to reducing costs. The licensing deal for this product was delivered through TSBA Group, TfL’s brand licensing partner.

BIG PEAT PRODUCES ONE OF ONE BOTTLE FOR UKRAINE 2022

Douglas Laing’s flagship Islay Malt Scotch Whisky brand, Big Peat, has produced an “extremely rare” one of one bottle for Ukraine 2022.

Containing a “unique” marriage of Islay Single Malts – 99% of the content being from the now-closed Port Ellen Distillery – those interested in winning this rare bottle are invited to donate £5 to Big Peat’s free raffle via Douglas Laing’s website (https://www.douglaslaing.com/products/donate-5-to-support-ukraine-enter-raffle-to-win-rare-big-peat-bottle). Donations opened on 26^th April 2022 and to date, have surpassed £3,000.00. Big Peat will continue to collect donations until 31^st May 2022, at which point Douglas Laing & Co will take the names of all donors and enter them into a free raffle – selecting a winner at random. All proceeds will be donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal, who provide essential food, water, shelter and medical assistance to support families fleeing conflict.

The bottle is presented in Ukrainian blue and yellow colourways, with premium print finishes and a yellow wax dip seal. Big Peat’s iconic, earthy-coloured artwork has been muted to grey in the background as a symbol of “respect” and “solidarity”. Beneath the cork capsule, the spirit inside is said to reveal notes of “warm sand, phenols and peated barley balanced by a caramel sweetness” and is offered at 48.1% alcohol strength, without colouring or chill-filtration – adhering the Douglas Laing family’s “as natural as it gets” ethos.

Commenting on Big Peat’s free raffle, Cara Laing, Marketing Director said:

“The Douglas Laing team have been watching the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine and wanted to do something to help. We tasked Fred Laing with creating a very special bottling (just one bottle) of Big Peat containing particularly rare and old Single Malts – 99% of which are from the legendary Port Ellen Distillery. We now hope Whisky enthusiasts are excited by both the exceptional spirit and the chance to help our friends in Ukraine.”

ABOUT BIG PEAT

Instagram: @bigpeatwhisky

Facebook: /bigpeat

Established in 2009 by Douglas Laing & Co, Big Peat has amassed a somewhat cult following throughout his tenure in the world of Whisky. The multi award-winning small batch Scotch is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts distilled only on Islay, including those distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen Distilleries, amongst others. Celebrated for “his” trademark smoky, sooty, ashy and sweet flavour profile, Big Peat is offered at high alcohol strength and always without colouring or chill-filtration. Since 2019, “his” core range encompasses a 12 Years Old offering for specialist retailer, and “he” proudly unveils a limited edition bottling for Christmas each year, too. 

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Macaloney Distillers resolves dispute with Scotch Whisky Association over whisky labelling and wins big at 2022 World Whiskies Awards, UK.

Macaloney Brewer & Distillers Ltd (MBD) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) have resolved their branding dispute after reaching agreement on the re-labelling of Macaloney’s single malt whiskies. MBD also recently also took another medal haul at the World Whiskies Awards including ‘Worlds Best’.

The SWA settlement agreement follows the lawsuit filed by the SWA in the B.C. Supreme Court on 5^th March 2021 where they expressed concern over the use of various branding terms ‘evocative of Scotland’. Dr. Graeme Macaloney, MBD’s President and Whiskymaker, a native Scot and proud Canadian, commented:

“We are delighted to announce that we have come to an agreement with the SWA. As a result, we will be rebranding our distillery and its associated tours and beer garden to ‘Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery’”.

“I am doubly pleased to announce that recently at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in London, UK, our whiskies took ‘Canadian Best Single Malt’ for our signature expression formerly known as Glenloy, ‘Canadian Best Triple Distilled Potstill Whisky’ for our ‘Killeigh’ whisky, and ‘Worlds Best New Make-Young Spirit’ for our seaweed-peated spirit”.

With its SWA agreement and World Whiskies Awards medal haul in hand, MDB is now seeking to recoup its legal costs, and is actively selling its world-award-winning, single malt whiskies, direct to consumers across Canada and USA via its Canadian (www.MacaloneyDistillers.com) and US (https://shop-us.mcaledonian.com/)  online shops, which deliver direct to households across N. America.

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, distillery tours (5 stars on TripAdvisor) and beer garden tastings (including chocolates and whisky) at Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery are now fully back in swing.