The Gauldrons unveils first Limited Edition Release –

The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish

Leading distiller, blender and bottler, Douglas Laing & Co, today announce the first ever Limited Edition under their award-winning Campbeltown Malt Scotch Whisky brand: The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish.

Joining the core expression which launched in 2017, The Gauldrons Sherry Edition is strictly limited to no more than 2,125 bottles. A marriage of Single Cask Single Malts exclusively from Campbeltown, the Blended Malt enjoyed a finishing period in specially selected Spanish Sherry Casks. Such is the philosophy of the Douglas Laing family business, the small batch bottling is offered at a high alcohol strength of 46.2% and is without colouring or chill-filtration.

The Gauldrons, inspired by the eponymous dark sandy coves on Campbeltown’s west shores, literally means “bay of storms”. It was here King Robert the Bruce, having been defeated by his enemies, was inspired watching a spider building his web with great patience but great difficulty, to try, try and try again. The spider has become synonymous with the core The Gauldrons expression, featuring too on this new limited edition.

Packaged in a sleek black bottle, red colourways bring to life the Sherry cask maturation, hinting at the rich character of the Scotch Whisky inside. Gold foil detail and a mini booklet, placed around the bottle neck, complete the product’s premium packaging.

Commenting on the new release, Cara Laing, Marketing Director, said: “We’re thrilled to launch the first ever Limited Edition for The Gauldrons. The classic Gauldrons spirit is always a standout dram for us, earning rave reviews from the industry and delighting consumers at events the world over. Experimenting with these exceptional-quality Sherry casks has resulted in a classically Campbeltown dram with smoky sweetness balanced by rich spices, and we truly can’t wait to share it with whisky aficionados across the globe.”

The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Finish will be available from specialist spirits retailers and online from late April 2022. It is expected to retail at £60.00. 

Tasting notes    

A remarkably sweet nose with toffee apples, marshmallows, caramelised sugar and candyfloss.  The palate delivers crème brûlée, evolving to ginger, nutmeg and red apple with lingering smoked barley. A sharp finish with tangy orange sweets, stewed red fruits and black pepper covered strawberries

ABOUT THE GAULDRONS

Instagram: @thegauldronswhisky

Facebook: /dlthegauldrons 

Established in 2017 by Douglas Laing & Co, The Gauldrons represents the “ultimate distillation of Campbeltown” in a small batch marriage of Single Cask Single Malts exclusively from the Campbeltown region of Scotland. The Gauldrons, literally meaning ‘Bay of Storms’ presents a classically Campbeltown style of salty and maritime with a spicy finish. The Gauldrons is proudly offered at high strength and without colouring or chill-filtration – adhering to the Douglas Laing family’s ‘As Natural As It Gets’ ethos.

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”.

THE OXFORD ARTISAN DISTILLERY’S CRAFTY LITTLE LOTTERY

Oxford, 27^th April, 2022 – The Oxford Artisan Distillery’s latest whisky release, Crafty Little Rye, will be exclusively made available from the distillery’s on-site shop and through an online ballot from the 29^th April.

Batch #6 of Oxford Rye Whisky uses the house mash bill of 90% maslin (a mix of 70% rye and 20% wheat from populations grown together in the same field) and 10% heritage malted barley, the grain is flattened and the resulting course flakes are made up in to a thick porridge. Fermentation for this batch took place over six days in the distillery’s bespoke 5000L Hungarian Oak vats, using their own in-house fermenting culture.

The resulting new make was matured in Cask #42, a lightly charred new American Oak cask, for two years and one month, which gave the new make its classic house profile. The whisky was then transferred and finished in a Vintage Port cask, #271, for one year and two months. Having spent many years in production the Port cask brings the very best characteristics of Portugal’s Douro wine valley to the Thames valley, and the character of Oxford’s only Rye Whisky.

Master Distiller, Francisco Rosa, who is forever experimenting and tinkering in his lab, is driven by creating experiences. Rosa says: “Flavour is one of the best ways to take us into a story of time and place told with the help of our memories, and whisky is one of the best ways to do this.”

When evaluating Cask #271, Rosa felt this parcel of whisky was at its prime and should be bottled in its own right. Rosa comments: “The Port cask came from a top producer in the Douro valley, used in champagne for ten years before being used for Vintage Port for another 15 years, so this is a classic French barrique which was freshly emptied straight before coming to us in Oxford.” 

“Using virgin American Oak and an extremely good quality vintage Port cask, we have preserved both the structure and balance of our Oxford rye house character and the nuanced influence of Portugal’s famed fortified wine.”

Crafty Little Rye opens with a bright fruity aroma of berries and banana. Nutty and chocolate-y with leather and tobacco deep in its roots with a touch of spearmint and smoke. Then, cherry clafoutis with Ferrero Rocher. Finishing with refreshing peppermint and warming peppercorn, wrapped up in strawberry yogurt.

Priced at £25.00 and presented in a 20cl glass flask to improve the accessibility of The Oxford Artisan Distillery’s more premium expressions, Crafty Little Rye is bottled at 45.2% ABV. 100 bottles will be made available via an online ballot from 10am on 29^th April through the distillery’s website: www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com/craftylittlelottery . The remaining bottles will be on sale from the distillery’s on-site shop in Oxford.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery:

The distillery opened for business at its purpose-built site in Oxford on 27th July 2017.

It is Oxford’s first ever distillery and produces a range of spirits, including gin, absinthe, vodka and whisky, all with total provenance from grain to glass. The Oxford Artisan Distillery is rare amongst UK distilleries in producing its own spirit, rather than purchasing Grain Neutral Spirit (GNS) from other sources.

The distillery has a licence to produce spirits for the University of Oxford and has a notable partnership with the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden.

About Heritage Grain:

The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distillery to use genetically diverse populations of heritage grains – revived from historical sources by a leading archaeo-botanist and grown sustainably on over 350 acres, known as land races, both close to Oxford and on prestigious estates such as Highgrove and Sandringham. The distillery’s grain contributes to biodiversity and soil health in the English countryside. The grains are the result of John Lett’s lifelong research on heritage grains: John has spent a large part of his life sourcing and growing heritage grains together, as polycultures. John takes 30-100 varieties of grain, mixes them up, and grows them together in the same field, at the same time. These sustainable fields are similar to what you would have seen in medieval times – the grains are grown specifically for the distillery, making The Oxford Artisan Distillery the only distillery in the world with a license to use John’s grains, grown exclusively for flavour and not yield.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Striking New Packaging as it

Accelerates International Growth

 Independent multi award winning distiller, Loch Lomond Whiskies, has unveiled a spectacular new design for its packaging as part of further significant investment into the brand.

The refresh marks the next chapter for the whisky distiller which can trace its roots back to 1814 and has since grown to become one of the most diverse, adept and capable distilleries in Scotland.

The bold new packaging initiatives underlines the continuing ambition of the brand, and its parent The Loch Lomond Group, to further grow its already impressive sales and presence internationally.

Loch Lomond Whiskies sees the entire portfolio of whiskies, including its collection of three 12-year-old expressions, its limited edition “The Open” expressions, and its older age single-malts, all unveil a striking new look.

Both primary and secondary packaging have been re-designed using richer and deeper colour tones and bolder fonts to improve the products’ visibility and impact on shelf. A new contemporary bottle design which includes detailed embossing to improve tactility, has also been introduced helping to drive significant premiumisation and create clear differentiation from other whisky brands in the market.

In addition to the new visual designs, Loch Lomond Whiskies has undertaken work to update its pack copy to reinforce its brand storytelling, showcase its history, heritage and its strong connection to the stunning Loch Lomond area, and highlight its signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke.

The significant investment in the brand has been delivered across all of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ domestic, international and GTR ranges. The premium aged range also benefits from an elevated bottle style, with metalized labels and shoulder coins and mirrored on a crystal style with heel embossing.

Colin Matthews, CEO of The Loch Lomond Group said: “Since the founding of our business over 200 years ago, the generations of people behind our brands have been doing things differently with great success.

“We continue to have this incredible ambition and passion to not only produce fabulous award-winning whiskies but to always be imaginative and innovative in our approach to creating exceptional whisky, and striking and relevant packaging has always been part of this.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen very significant growth in our brand across the world, and as we look to continue to both excite existing consumers and engage new ones, both at home and abroad, it is important that our products stand out on from the rest and clearly communicate our heritage, history, quality, brand story and signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke.

“This major refresh and investment is an important step in our continued growth strategy which underpins our position as an exciting, accessible and high quality malt brand. It also supports our partners, and our sales and marketing teams, across the world as we continue to engage all consumers and build on our quality reputation and awareness across all markets”

As one of only four distillers in Scotland to have its own onsite cooperage, and using a combination of traditional swan-neck, and its straight-neck-stills, Loch Lomond Whiskies has a whisky-making capability like no other in the country.  The straight-neck stills, which are entirely unique to The Loch Lomond Distillery, give Master Blender Michael Henry greater control over the distillation process, allowing him to carefully create the flavour profiles, providing an overall portfolio of exceptional single-malt whiskies which are under scored by its signature style.

Loch Lomond Whiskies is the official Spirit of The Open, having agreed a prestigious five-year partnership with The R&A in 2018, which extends to this year’s 150 Year Celebration of The Open at St Andrews.

The transition to the new packaging will begin from 20 April, with the global roll out following in line with distribution schedules.

For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

Notes

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

Heaven Hill to build new American Whiskey distillery in Bardstown

Family-owned company marks a homecoming with a return to distilling in Bardstown

BARDSTOWN, Kentucky (April 27, 2022) – Nine decades since first operating a distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier is deepening its bourbon roots in its home community.Heaven Hill Distillery today announced plans for a new, $135 million distillery to open by 2024. The state-of-the-art distillery will augment Heaven Hill’s distilling capacity to meet increased global whiskey demand and marks the company’s return to distilling in Bardstown since a 1996 fire when Heaven Hill lost its onsite distillery, seven rickhouses, and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the fire, Heaven Hill’s distilling moved to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, while bottling, aging of whiskey and other functions continued in the Bardstown area where they remain today.

“The people of Bardstown have helped us create and build our brands over all these many years, so it’s a special homecoming to bring distilling back to this community,” said Max Shapira, President of Heaven Hill. “Our new distillery will honor our long-time Bardstown roots while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American Whiskey and build upon our meaningful partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Heaven Hill will build the new distillery on a vacant 61-acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245. Construction is slated to begin this spring and the distillery will be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 10 million proof gallons a year, or 150,000 barrels, and will have capacity to ramp up to producing 30 million proof gallons, or 450,000 barrels, over time. Heaven Hill will continue to age bourbon at existing locations and the Bernheim distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity.

“Bourbon making is an old art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbor,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller. “Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling with attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship will now be even more accessible as we grow our distilling heritage in Bardstown.”

Heaven Hill and Bardstown: ‘a shared and storied history’

The five Shapira brothers and a group of Bardstown-area investors founded “Old Heavenhill Springs” distillery in 1935 and filled its first barrel—labeled Bourbon Falls—on December 13 of that year. Since that time, Heaven Hill has added several acclaimed brands, earned numerous industry accolades including “Whiskey of the Year” and “Distillery of the Year,” and attracted millions of bourbon tourists to its visitor experiences, along its way to filling more than 9.5 million barrels in its history.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved incentives to support the Heaven Hill distillery project at its April meeting.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in 63 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

VCL Vintners Launches NFT Marketplace, Metacask, And Completes First Auction from The Vanishing Spirits Line in Under an Hour 

VCL Vintners, London’s leading whisky cask broker among millennial investors have launched their cask-based NFT collection, The Vanishing Spirits line with Ernie Button, on NFT marketplace Metacask allowing for investors to bid for spirits backed NFTs. Metacask becomes the first marketplace focusing on the issuance and trading of whisky casks as NFTs. With their first auction from the Vanishing Spirits Line going live on April 5, they are setting a benchmark for investment and a statement of intent across the industry.

By launching Metacask, it allows individuals to be able to buy whisky casks and works of art and use a digital artefact as a proof of ownership. Instead of a paper-based delivery order, you are now able to take part in auctions and sales of NFT casks and use the NFT itself as a proof of ownership – knowing that the physical cask is safely existing within a HMRC-regulated facility, under Scottish law. The goal of Metacask is to take away this need for private brokers to store proof of ownership on private databases, and to begin storing this information on somewhere far more decentralised and far more accountable, the blockchain.

There are no restrictions placed on who can participate in purchasing casks on Metacask due to the asset being considered a property, however there is a know-your-customer check, executed digitally,in place to ensure that individuals are eligible to purchase NFTs. This is paramount and unique to Metacask and will ensure the validity of purchaser, as they will be the owner of a tokenised physical asset held in bond.

The Vanishing Spirits line is a collection of eleven single malt whisky casks, which have all been paired with a unique NFT of the whisky distillate, which comes from the whisky cask itself. Metacask has already hit the ground running by selling the first cask in under an hour, via a Dutch auction. The token used was CSPR, selling for 99,580 CSPR tokens; the equivalent of $8,960.00 USD according to prices on 6 April 2022.

Metacask look to sustain momentum with the launch of their second cask at an auction appearing on April 7 at 12:00 CET. The 2020 refill standard Hogshead from Glen Elgin features alongside an NFT.

The first 10 casks released for auction are a mix of casks from the most important production areas in Scotland. The casks are all relatively new makes and each NFT will show information about the cask, including the unique reference number. Last tested values will also be available unless it is a new make. The eleventh cask is the most special cask from the Vanishing Spirts line; it is the only one which will be revealed when the token is minted in time for its auction.

Award-winning Phoenix-based photographer, Ernie Button, is instrumental to the gravitas of this project, with nearly 15 years’ experience in whisky distillate photography. The inspiration for this ethereal and otherworldly set of designs came to him one day when putting away his scotch whisky glass, he left it out overnight, and when he came back the next morning, he realised there were patterned fine lines on the bottom of the glass where the tiny dregs of whisky had dried. Given the right conditions, nearly all aged whisky will produce these lines, Ernie has since experimented with this and through playing with time, age, and humidity amongst other factors, he created ‘The Vanishing Spirits’ collection. A truly timeless and unique set of photographs to accompany a cask that now belongs to legacy itself.

Prior to the launch of Metacask, VCL had completed a world record auction of a sale of a cask whisky distilled at The Macallan Distillery in 1991. It was paired with a work of art by Trevor Jones and the final sale price of this was just over $2.3 million. This was the first sign that blending both original pieces of art with the whisky market could transcend expectation, and since this landmark auction, there have been multiple others including artwork from Ruben Frosali and now, photographer Ernie Button.

Commenting on the launch of The Vanishing Spirits line, CEO and co-founder, Stuart Thom, said “The whisky market has seen phenomenal growth over recent years, with no signs of a slowdown. The Vanishing Spirits line will give owners a contemporary, 21st century way to connect with their whisky and art. Our goal is to bring this asset class to as many people as possible and increase their awareness and understanding of it through new technology; blockchain technology is the future. NFTs have been transforming the art market over the years, particularly to younger buyers and this is an exciting opportunity to bring whisky to them.”

About VCL Vintners

Founded in 2010, VCL Vintners source and manage the finest investment-grade single malt whisky casks for their network of retail and institutional investors.

VCL Vintners provides investment opportunities ranging from new-fill barrels to some of the oldest and rarest casks available. With assets under management currently totalling around GBP 70 million, VCL Vintners is on track to corner a significant amount of the whisky market’s total reserves, targeting an additional managed amount of GBP 150 million within the next decade.

Whisky is now one of the globe’s best-performing asset classes, with both prices and demand continuing to grow at a double-digit rate. However, despite these ten-fold increases and interest from new investors, investment-grade whisky’s reputation for running on relationship-based acquisitions can make it somewhat difficult to enter. VCL Vintners’ expert advice assists clients at all stages of their investment journey, allowing investment in a range of whisky options, from sought-after individual bottles to entire casks.

https://app.metacask.com/home

https://vclvintners.london

TAMNAVULIN UNVEILS WHITE WINE CASK EDITION SINGLE MALT

New release follows success of red wine editions

Speyside’s Tamnavulin Distillery has launched its latest creation, Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition, following on from the success and popularity of the Red Wine Cask Editions.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition showcases the distinctive orchard fruit character of the Speyside distillery, which complements the flavours enhanced by the white wine finish. In line with Tamnavulin’s tradition of double matured whiskies, this expression began its life in American White Oak barrels, before undergoing its second maturation in Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks.

The resulting whisky is rich, fresh and fruity with a soft, dry finish.   It is defined on the nose by signature orchard green apple notes which combine with banana, ripe honeydew melon and white peach together with fresh citrus, jasmine and vanilla coconut cream.  Flavours of lemon, grapefruit and baked apple tart together with a hint of cinnamon spice, ginger and lime biscuits please the palate.

The influence of the white wine cask offers a bright and fruity accompaniment to the sweet, mellow and smooth character of Tamnavulin and taps into consumers’ love of white wine.  A finish rarely seen in the retail space, this whisky has an accessible fruity profile as well as offering drinkers greater choice and diversity of flavour without breaking the bank.

The Speyside single malt brand was brought back to life in 2016 to offer a compelling single malt proposition to price conscious consumers looking for a credible, quality alternative to blends and a solution to those looking to begin exploring the malt category. Since then, it has fast developed a reputation as a premium, trusted brand which is demanding consumer and trade attention alike.

This success is testament to the quality of Tamnavulin’s single malts and demand for such whiskies at a competitive price, which is fuelling repeat purchase and encouraging blended whisky shoppers to trade up.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition is now widely available in the UK with the US and select European markets following in the coming months, at an RSP of £32.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition, 70cl 

Tasting notes:

Matured in American oak barrels and Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks. A bright and fruity accompaniment to the sweet, mellow and smooth taste of Tamnavulin.

Colour:

Polished Amber 

Nose:

Signature orchard green apple notes with banana, ripe honeydew melon and white peach. Fresh citrus, with jasmine and vanilla coconut cream.

Palate:

Lemon, grapefruit and baked apple tart with a hint of cinnamon spice. Ginger and lime biscuits to finish.

Finish:

Soft, sweet and fruity

40% ABV

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

GLENALLACHIE UK SINGLE CASKS PLUS

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE BOTTLING REVEALED

New batch of UK Single Casks unveiled as the Scotch whisky distillery

gears up for the hotly anticipated Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022 

The GlenAllachie Distillery today launches a trio of expressions forming batch 6 of their UK-exclusive Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, alongside a distillery-exclusive bottling for this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which will run from 27^th of April to the 2^nd of May 2022.

The Aberlour-based distillery, headed up by industry veteran Billy Walker, took home Visitor Attraction of the Year 2022 at the Icons of Whisky Awards.

Renowned for releasing rare and ground-breaking expressions thanks to Walker’s unparalleled wood management prowess, each cask was selected from an inventory spanning over 50,000 casks maturing within 16 on-site warehouses.

The four new Single Cask Single Malts released include:

• The GlenAllachie 15-year-old Cask #3292 ex-Solera Oloroso Butt (Spirit of Speyside 2022)
• The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Cask #1036 Premier Cru Classé Barrique
• The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask #5368 Tawny Port Hogshead
• The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Cask #806890 Peated Bourbon Barrel

The GlenAllachie 15-year-old exclusively for the Spirit of Speyside Festival (59.4% ABV, UK RRSP £175) was aged in a fresh Bourbon barrel followed by a first-fill Oloroso puncheon before being re-racked into an antique Oloroso Sherry butt previously used as part of an intricate solera system for 55 long years.

Solera is a maturation process deployed by Bodegas involving fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a combination of ages, ensuring continuation of flavour profile through each vintage produced.

This incredibly lengthy cask history enabled the wood to impart deeply intense and complex layers of flavour upon the classic GlenAllachie DNA. This sumptuous Single Cask is only available at their distillery shop.

The Premier Cru Classé barrique (59.9% ABV, UK RRSP £100) is a cask which previously matured premium first growth Bordeaux red wine before hosting the GlenAllachie spirit for 11 years. The result is a single malt bursting with Turkish delight, cinnamon stewed apples and summer berries.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Port Hogshead (56.5% ABV, UK RRSP £95) delivers a vibrant, fruity flavour profile and ruby blush appearance following maturation in a cask sourced from Portugal which formerly held vintage Tawny Port.

The 9-year-old Single Cask (60.1% ABV, UK RRSP £90) was filled to an ex-Bourbon barrel which was used to age peated spirit distilled at The GlenAllachie Distillery. This very rare cask type has bestowed subtle notes of burnt sugar alongside root ginger and black pepper.

All GlenAllachie Single Casks are proudly presented at their natural colour, non chill filtered and at natural cask strength for maximum flavour and mouthfeel.

Commenting on the new products, Walker remarks:

“At GlenAllachie, we are deeply passionate about sourcing unique and innovative casks, particularly from premium, niche producers. Each of these casks selected reflect this; from the French fine wine barrique to the antique Sherry butt which dates back to the middle of the 20^th Century, each brings considerable character and charm to the table.

“We now look forward with great delight to welcoming whisky fans from across the world to our hidden gem for the Spirit of Speyside Festival, with these spectacular drams getting the limelight they deserve.”

Batch 6 of The GlenAllachie UK Single Casks will be available via specialist retailers across the country from the week commencing 2^nd May, whilst the distillery’s on-site shop will have stock of all four Single Casks from today.

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 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 15-year-old Cask #3292 ex-Solera Oloroso Butt (Spirit of Speyside Festival 2022) – 59.4% ABV

• Colour: Intensely Rich Mahogany.
• Nose: Bursting with fig syrup, muscovado sugar and heather honey, with waves of soft spice, dried dark fruits and orange zest.

• Taste: Lashings of honeyed apricots, sticky sultanas and coffee beans, with crystallised ginger, Black Forest gateau and pecan pie.

The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Cask #1036 Premier Cru Classé Barrique – 59.9% ABV

• Colour: Ruby Blush.
• Nose: Bursting with apple peel, cinnamon and heather honey, with rose petals, dark chocolate and Turkish delight.

• Taste: Waves of butterscotch, honeysuckle and mint, followed by bursts of strawberry, ginger and almonds.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask #5368 Tawny Port Hogshead – 56.5% ABV

• Colour: Deep Cherry Red.
• Nose: Waves of orchard fruit, honeycomb and strawberry coulis, with almonds, maple syrup ginger and pineapple.

• Taste: Layers of dried berries, cinnamon and heather honey, followed by notes of soft spice, pecans and rose petals.

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Cask #806890 Peated Bourbon Barrel – 60.1% ABV

• Colour: Golden Sunset.
• Nose: Layers of smoked pine nuts, ginger and cigar box, followed by heather honey, soft spice and burnt brown sugar.

• Taste: Lashings of butterscotch, ginger and toasted almonds, with delicate notes of caramelised sugar, dark chocolate and black pepper.

Award-winning distillery Glen Scotia unveils new limited-edition ‘Festival Release 2022’

Glen Scotia has unveiled its Festival Release 2022, to celebrate the return of the Campbeltown Malts Festival this year (24-26^th May).

The exquisite 8-year-old expression has been matured in heavily peated, first-fill bourbon barrels before a twelve-month finish in Pedro Ximénès hogsheads, a fortified dessert wine from southern Spain, giving it a perfect balance of gentle smoke, treacle and spice interwoven with Glen Scotia’s signature maritime notes.

The classic coastal influencer so well known in Glen Scotia drams comes through on the nose alongside notes of soft peat smoke, vanilla then fresh apples and pears. In the mouth, the liquid is smooth and silky with hints of runny treacle, spicy white pepper, sweet fruits and salted toffee – a wonderful balance of spice and the sherry cask influence. The finish picks up the mellow sea influence and light, floral honey.

Non-chill filtered, the heavily-peated and rich, amber-coloured liquid has been bottled at cask strength, 56.5% ABV. This limited edition will be available worldwide through specialist retailers, and to buy from the Glen Scotia UK online store from late April, priced at £55.

The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a pinnacle moment in the town’s calendar each year. It celebrates the exceptional whisky-production capabilities of the fifth whisky region and provides a platform for the three remaining distilleries in the town to showcase their artistry in dram-making to visitors from around the world.

Held online last year due to the restrictions of Covid-19, hundreds of whisky fans are expected to make the trip to Scotland’s west coast for a series of exclusive tours, tastings and celebrations including talks and experiments with whisky writers, Charles Maclean and Becky Paskin. Once known as the ‘Victorian whisky capital of the world’, Campbeltown’s whisky has been revived in recent years thanks to the efforts and superb quality of the spirit being produced by the last few distilleries.

Last year, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old was awarded ‘Best in Class’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition out of more than 3,800 entries, and in December it was crowned Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards.

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager and Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, said: “Our Festival Release 2022 is very special as it heralds the return of the much-loved Malts Festival and the opportunity for us to showcase our work in person once more to whisky fans from around the world. 

“The limited-edition release is an intriguing mix of characteristics, picking up our signature maritime style and the rich sticky sweetness from the Pedro Ximénès hogsheads. It is a liquid that has been crafted by our talented team and is a fantastic dram to enjoy while soaking up Campbeltown and all it has to offer.”

New for this year’s Malts Festival, Glen Scotia will also unveil an exhibition focusing on its distillery’s place in Campbeltown. Scottish artist in residence, Alice Angus, has been visiting the town since January  getting to know the people and community, the landscape and the inner workings of the distillery for her ‘Spirit Safe’ exhibition, a collection of artworks, which will be revealed on 25th May.

Like whisky production, Alice’s technique involves patience, time and experimentation. She uses pencil, watercolour and ink to draw from life, spending a long time observing her surroundings through sight,
sound, smell and touch, drawing similarities with the time and craftsmanship required in whisky production.

To find out more visit www.glenscotia.com

Tasting notes:

Nose: Signature Glen Scotia maritime scents with notes of gentle peat smoke, vanilla, fresh apples and pears.
Taste: Silky treacle, spicy white pepper, sweet fruits and salted toffee – a delightful balance of spice interwoven with the sherry cask influence.
Finish: Gentle coastal influencer and delicious lightly floral honey.

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. 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 unique Campbeltown maritime style the brand has become world-famous for. In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch 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. In addition to this, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards, an accolade it received just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show.’

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

‘The Pioneers Experience’ to take centre stage at The Macallan Estate this summer

The Macallan Estate has announced the return of its spectacular immersive theatre experience, as the first single malt Scotch whisky distillery to tell the story of its rich heritage through live performance.

The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience theatrical journey explores The Macallan’s 485-acre Estate, bringing to life notable characters from The Macallan’s illustrious history who have informed the Estate’s past and played a role in shaping its future.

Launching on Saturday 16 July and running until Sunday 7 August, and available to book now, this exclusive outdoor experience delves into The Macallan’s heritage and depicts the dedication to incomparable craftmanship and creativity, whisky-making process and pursuit of uncompromised excellence which The Macallan is renowned for.

The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience transports guests back in time to be met by some of the most notable characters from the distillery’s history, including Captain John Grant. A pioneer in The Macallan’s story, Captain Grant realised the potential of Easter Elchies Estate in 1700; the land that has been home to The Macallan Distillery since 1824.

These characters and their stories are shared through a promenade theatre experience on the banks of the River Spey, moving through time and transporting guests to rarely-seen locations throughout the Estate.

Theatre-goers can enjoy a picnic lunch with pioneers Roderick and Katherine Kemp, who took over The Macallan Distillery in 1892. Guests also have the opportunity to meet Janet Harbinson, who guided The Macallan through trial and tribulation in the early 1900s.

As part of the experience, guests will explore The Macallan Estate while savouring special drams of The Macallan single malt Scotch whisky along the way.

The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience is brought to life through the talents of professional actresses and actors.

Stuart Cassells, General Manager at The Macallan Estate, said:

“The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience is one of the most exciting events in our calendar, and we’re proud to announce its return for 2022. Last summer’s run was a huge success, with plenty of fun along the way, and we’re sure this year will be no exception.

“There is no finer way to delve into our fascinating heritage here at The Macallan, with the help of Debora Weston and a team of extraordinary actors from across Scotland.

“Debora is perhaps best known for her work in films including Patriot Games and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and we’re honoured that she has written our theatre play for The Macallan Pioneers Experience. It’s a privilege to see her vision come to life on the banks of the River Spey, right here at The Macallan Estate.”

As part of the exclusive, three-hour experience, guests will explore areas of The Macallan Distillery not usually open to the public, including Warehouse No 7, one of The Macallan’s oldest traditional dunnage warehouses.

Located amidst breath-taking natural landscapes in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan Estate is a world-leading hospitality destination.

Home to every bottle of The Macallan’s incomparable single malt whisky since 1824, the serene countryside estate offers much more than just a whisky experience, with fine-dining, private shopping and fishing all available on site.

The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience is priced at £70 per guest and is available to book for a limited period, taking place twice daily each Saturday and Sunday, running from Saturday 16 July until Sunday 7 August 2022 inclusive.  All experiences must be booked in advance with The Macallan Estate team.

To book an experience, please visit www.themacallan.com/en/the-macallan-estate-pioneers-experience.

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com or contact estate@themacallan.com.

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

Karen Somerville (left) and Helen Kerr (right) of Angels’ Share Glass meet film star Karen Gillan at the NYC Tartan Day Parade

SCOTS BUSINESS LEADERS JOIN NEW YORK TARTAN DAY PARADE

Proud Scots from a whisky-related glassmaking firm joined Hollywood star Karen Gillan at New York’s famous Tartan Day Parade.

Karen Somerville and Helen Kerr from Stirling-based Angels’ Share Glass sported the firm’s bespoke Whisky and Water Tartan as they marched along 6^th Avenue to cheers from New Yorkers.

The pair also met Marvel actress and fellow Scot Karen Gillan, the Parade’s Grand Marshal, and gifted her one of the company’s signature line of glass angels filled with whisky to remind her of home.

Inverness-born Karen began her career in television starring in Doctor Who and Rebus before making her Hollywood breakthrough and achieving global recognition for her roles in Jumanji and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Karen Somerville, Managing Director of Angels’ Share Glass, said: “Spending Tartan Week in New York was a dream come true and a lifelong ambition for me and taking part in the Parade was quite surreal.

“It was an amazing experience to walk through Manhattan along with more than 2,000 lovers of all things Scottish and get waves and cheers from New Yorkers as we showed off our tartan banner.

“Having the chance to meet Karen Gillan made the whole experience even more memorable and she was delighted to receive one of our whisky angels.

“She was lovely and said she was pleased to have something to remind her of home.”

Karen and Helen, the firm’s Customer Service Manager, travelled to New York as part of a trade mission aimed at forging new transatlantic links between Scottish and US businesses.

They spent Tartan Week liaising with US retailers, showcasing their products and enjoying the various festivities including a Ceilidh.

Angels’ Share Glass was among 14 Scottish companies selected to travel to New York on a trade mission run by Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Scottish Business Network and Visit Scotland.

FVCC President Lynn Blaikie said: “We were delighted that Forth Valley Chamber member Angels’ Share Glass were part of the trade mission.

“They took centre stage along with 13 other exciting and innovative Scottish businesses who flew the flag very high for Scotland! 

“The New York mission aimed to help Scottish businesses establish new trade links and meaningful partnerships in the US. This was certainly the case with the delegation who never stopped and had back-to-back meetings from the moment they touched down on American soil. 

“Karen and her team, along with the rest of the delegation, were all fantastic ambassadors for Scotland and took New York by storm with their enthusiasm and determination to maximise their time on the mission and make as many business connections as possible. 

“I am immensely proud of every business in the delegation and know we have done Scotland proud and will see many of their products on US shelves shortly.” 

During the trade mission, business owners from the companies, which included Ardgowan Distillery, Ochil Fudge Pantry and Quirky Chocolate, took part in meetings and networking sessions with US retailers.

Angels’ Share Glass also had the chance to showcase their creations, which include handmade whisky water droppers, in a display at a Scotland House pop-up and an exhibition at New York’s Glasgow Caledonian University campus. 

Mrs Somerville said: “The trade delegation was a fantastic opportunity for Scottish business owners to forge connections with American retailers and business leaders. 

“The mission was well organised by Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce and gave us the opportunity to extend awareness of our brand. 

“We also met people from several organisations, including the St Andrews Society and New York Distilling Company, who I hope we will be able to develop future business relationships with.”

Angels’ Share Glass specialises in crafting whisky-based gifts and launched in 2013 with the creation of handmade glass angels filled with the ‘Angels’ Share’ of whisky.

Last year, the family firm created its own tartan – Whisky and Water by Angels’ Share Glass – which reflects the glassmakers’ story and is used to complement its products.

For more information, visit www.angelsshareglass.com

Notes Angels’ Share Glass is a family-run business based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. The firm was co-founded by Karen Somerville and her father Tom Young MBE – a world-renowned Master Craftsman who has been glassblowing and making lamp-work glassware for 60 years. More information about the company can be found at www.angelsshareglass.com