BENROMACH LAUNCHES SECOND ANNUAL RELEASE OF

 40 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT FOLLOWING ‘BEST IN SHOW’ HONOUR 

Benromach Distillery in Speyside has announced it will be launching its second annual release of Benromach 40 Year Old on Tuesday 19 July, with just over 1,000 bottles of this rare, single malt available to whisky enthusiasts globally.

The launch follows a prestigious award win for Benromach 40 Year Old at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022, where it won ‘Best in Show’.

Bottled at a cask strength of 57.6% and natural colour, Benromach 40 Year Old, 2022 release, spent over four decades maturing in sherry casks. The result is an exquisite single malt and the distillery’s oldest annual release.

With hints of roasted hazelnuts, baked apple, dark chocolate and mature oak, this newly released Benromach 40 Year Old builds on the rich ginger and stewed fruit aromas displayed in its first annual batch release.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “This rare whisky truly is something special and reflects the nuance and character of the casks it has been matured in. Fragrant cinnamon and ginger spices complement flavours of Seville oranges, sweet Morello cherries, stewed berries and a hint of roasted hazelnut.  This is combined with baked apple, liquorice, subtle black pepper and rich dark chocolate notes, before finishing with forest fruits and mature oak.”

The single malt is displayed in a striking black stained solid oak wooden box with copper- coloured detailing and printed metal plaques. The dark amber single malt is presented in the bespoke Benromach bottle which features a heavily embossed and gold foiled label to complete the quality feel.

Benromach 40 Year Old 2022 is priced at £2,000. Prices in international markets may vary due to local taxes and import duties.

For more information, please visit: www.benromach.com/aged-40-years_2022

Tasting Notes: 

Benromach 40 Year Old 2022 is natural in colour, non-chill filtered and is bottled at cask strength – 57.6% ABV.

• • Colour: Dark Amber
  • Aromas: Fragrant cinnamon and ginger spices with Seville orange. Stewed red berries develop with a hint of roasted hazelnut.
  • Palate: Sweet Morello cherry flavours combine with baked apple and liquorice Rich dark chocolate notes leading to fruitcake and subtle black pepper.
  • Finish: Full with forest fruits and mature oak.
  • Maturation: Sherry Casks
  • RRP: £2,000

About Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A five-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com

Landmark moment for The Cairn as first spirit produced

It was a landmark moment at the new distillery at Grantown-on-Spey as the first spirit flowed from the stills.

The Distillery and Executive Teams were joined by members of the Urquhart family, the owners of Gordon & MacPhail, for the first spirit run following completion of the commissioning phase of the distilling equipment.

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail said: “This was a very special moment – a moment to mark the efforts of all the people involved in the project over the last few years and a moment to signify the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Gordon & MacPhail as the company celebrates over 127 years of trading.”

“Later in the year, when the visitor experience is finished and the landscaping completed, we intend to invite all colleagues from Gordon & MacPhail, and the many other people who have helped us to this point to experience The Cairn Distillery for themselves ahead of opening to the public”, Ewen added.

Commenting on the new-make spirit, Mhairi Winters, Distillery Manager at The Cairn said: “Over the last weeks we have been conducting test distillations, tweaking the process to create the desired character.  The result is a complex, medium to full bodied new-make spirit, with a sweet, malty base and vibrant, fresh fruit top notes.

The spirit was then transported off site for the first filling of the casks. And the iconic Cask No 1 was signed by Mhairi Winters, The Cairn Distillery Manager, Operations Director Stuart Urquhart and Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail’s first distillery.

But it will be a long wait for those who want to sample The Cairn for themselves as the first bottles will not be available to purchase until the mid-2030s.

Sitting on the banks of the River Spey at Craggan, just outside Grantown, The Cairn is a second distillery for renowned whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail, the Moray based family firm.

Planning permission for the distillery was granted in 2019 and work started on site once COVID restrictions on construction were lifted in July 2020.

Opening to the public later this year, The Cairn Distillery has a spectacular view, looking across the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  It will offer a selection of immersive visitor experiences, whisky tastings, and carefully selected gifts.  Visitors will also be able to eat @ The Gathering and experience the finest produce sourced from across Scotland. It has been designed to sit within this world class setting with features including the recently installed “green” sedum roof.

Gordon & MacPhail has built strong relationships with its local communities in Forres and Elgin and is determined to continue that approach in Grantown on Spey. The distillery will become a major tourist destination on the outskirts of the town and act as a gateway to Speyside.

Notes

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distilleries, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door and the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits, along with a high-quality retail outlet.

The company owns Benromach Distillery located in Forres in Moray.  Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is handcrafted using traditional methods by a small team of distillers using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. The multi award-winning portfolio of single malts is enjoyed by whisky drinkers worldwide.

The company launched Red Door in the summer of 2018. Created at Benromach Distillery, this award winning, small batch Scottish gin now forms a strategic part of the company’s product portfolio.

Work commenced in July 2020 on The Cairn, the company’s second distillery, overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  The new site will add further distillation capacity and brand ownership to the company’s asset base and is a key part of the plans to continue building a long-term sustainable business.  A high-quality visitor experience offering tours and tastings will also attract visitors from around the world.

Since the founding of the business in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to Scotch whisky distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new-make spirit, before being left to mature for many years either at the distillery or in their bonded warehouses in Elgin.  The Gordon & MacPhail portfolio offers some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to discerning whisky drinkers globally.

The company’s wholesale business serves customers throughout the United Kingdom selling Benromach Single Malt, Red Door gin and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies into the on and off trade. The business also exclusively represents a number of ‘distributor’ brands and stocks premium whiskies and spirits.

The retail shop in Elgin remains the ‘spiritual home’ of the business, 127 years after it was first established in 1895.  The shop is home to a large selection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and is a destination for many whisky aficionados from around the world.

THE OXFORD ARTISAN DISTILLERY CELEBRATES SUMMER WITH EASY RYDER

 The Oxford Artisan Distillery announces its seventh batch of rye whisky.

Easy Ryder is a marriage of nine specially selected casks chosen by Master Distiller, Francisco Rosa, to achieve a smooth yet intricate ride through The Oxford Artisan Distillery’s distinct heritage grains and distilling practices.

As with all of the Oxford’s Rye releases, the distillery produced this whisky using heritage grains grown by the distillery’s regenerative and organic farming partners. These grains require no pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, supporting sustainability and biodiversity in their fields. Easy Ryder is a celebration of farmers letting nature work its magic in a healthy field, restoring the land and supporting biodiversity with every harvest.

Each cask selected for this expression has been through a different journey, from the starting point at the cooperage, to its size, the filling strength, its age and the warehouse in which it rested. After three to four years of maturation the new make flavours have diverged in to nine different spirits all with something in common. This blend of ryes showcases all these harmonies coming together, elevating the complexity and nuances of each cask.

From the American oak of varying toasts, chars and origins, to the Moscatel Roxo cask, together with the grain and distillery character as the backbone, the oak complexity merges with the sweet and fresh flavours from the Portuguese Moscatel fortified wine cask from Setúbal. (N.B Full list of cask information is given below.) The result is a whisky which is creamy with notes of pastry, chocolate, refreshing spice and a pronounced savoury character.

Francisco Rosa comments: “Our flavour keeps evolving and slowly showing heritage grains’ true character as we continue our journey through time and flavour, rooted in our Oxfordshire surroundings.” 

“When our grains evolve under fermentation with our in-house cultures, a lovely butter dimension comes to life which is then influenced by distillation and maturation, it deviates from custard or pastry to white chocolate, or bog butter as an earthy (field-like) expression of the grain. In this release, there is a pronounced savoury character as a result of the sandy soils from Oxford combined with the sandy soils by the sea in Setúbal.”

Bottled at 50% ABV, Easy Ryder is priced at £55 for 70cl and is the distillery’s largest run so far, with 2,782 bottles now available through the distillery’s website and specialist whisky retailers.

www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com

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.

Easy Ryder Cask Information:

American Oak (AO)

Grade 1 Char (G1C)

Heaven Hill Brands Elevates Third Generation of Family Leadership; CMO Kate Latts and COO Allan Latts Named Co-Presidents

Longstanding President Max Shapira to Serve as Executive Chairman

BARDSTOWN, KY, JUNE 27, 2022 — Heaven Hill, America’s largest independent, family-owned and led distilled spirits supplier, celebrates the succession of its third generation of family leadership with the appointment of Kate Latts and Allan Latts as co-Presidents, effective September 1. Current President Max L. Shapira will be assuming the new role of Executive Chairman.

Since joining the company in 2001, Kate and Allan have been transformational leaders driving Heaven Hill’s accelerated growth. In their new roles as co-presidents, they will continue to pursue Heaven Hill’s strategic growth plans and corporate vision working collaboratively on all key decisions.  Max will transition day to day operational oversight of the business to Kate and Allan.

“Over the past twenty years, I have been proud to watch Kate and Allan grow and develop into roles of leadership and increased responsibility,” said Max L. Shapira. “They have added immeasurably to the company’s successes and built a foundation for future generations. They bring the passion for this business that has been a hallmark of our company for 85 plus years. I am highly confident the best is yet to come.”

Max joined the family enterprise in 1970 after a stint on Wall Street. He had the opportunity to work alongside his father Ed Shapira, ultimately succeeding him in leadership of the company in 1986. Under Max’s leadership, Heaven Hill developed into a global company with an award-winning portfolio of brands across a broad range of product categories and is now one of the industry’s largest and most successful companies. In his new role of Executive Chairman, he will provide partnership and counsel on the strategic direction of the business as well as actively leverage his extensive relationships and industry experience in support of the company’s long-term growth goals.

Kate Latts, Max’s daughter, and her husband, Allan Latts, joined Heaven Hill in 2001. After completing their undergraduate and MBA degrees at Duke University, Kate and Allan then joined Procter & Gamble with careers in marketing and finance, respectively. Today, Kate leads the company’s marketing and brand management functions as Chief Marketing Officer.  Allan serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing operations, the company’s corporate functions, strategy and the newly acquired Samson & Surrey division.

“Allan and I are proud to assume the leadership of Heaven Hill with full knowledge of our generational responsibility. My dad, grandfather and his brothers built a company with an enduring legacy of family and independence that is increasingly unique in distilled spirits,” said Kate Latts. “With the support of our incredible team, we are as committed as ever to preserving those qualities and ensuring our success for generations to come.”

Heaven Hill will immediately begin its search to identify a new Chief Marketing Officer, while the Chief Operating Officer position will not be backfilled.

About Heaven Hill Brands

Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the newly-acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

Scallywag Whisky Unveils 5^th Annual Chocolate Bottling

Douglas Laing today, in celebration of World Chocolate Day, unveil a new line extension within the Scallywag range: The Chocolate Edition, 100% Sherry Cask Matured Limited Edition Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky. This special release marks the 5^th annual chocolate bottling from the Scallywag brand.

The original Scallywag, a Small Batch bottling within Douglas Laing’s “Remarkable Regional Malts” range, launched in 2013. Created using only the finest Speyside Single Cask Single Malts, including – amongst others – Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes. The spirit is distinctive with its natural, burnt-sienna colour and delivers warmth and depth in abundance; with rich dark chocolate, sweet stewed fruits and spiced vanilla flavour notes. The new Chocolate Edition has been created to place a spotlight on Scallywag’s trademark cocoa-rich quality. The “dessert-like” recipe marries together a selection of Douglas Laing’s most chocolatey flavoured, 100% Sherry Matured Speyside Single Malts.

Premium metalised paper was selected for the label and gift tube, delivering luxurious impact via a swirled melted chocolate design with a shimmering finish. Packaging details are called out in gloss varnish and complemented by a gold foil effect.

Commenting on the new release, Chris Leggat, CEO said:

“It’s been great to watch the momentum and demand for Scallywag’s Chocolate bottling ramp up year after year, from our initial 300 bottle release back in 2018, to our now 3,600 bottle fifth annual release. As a company we strive for continual improvement and Scotch Whisky perfection – and I have to say this year’s Scallywag Chocolate expression, with its striking fully bespoke packaging and incredibly indulgent liquid quality – comes pretty close to our ambitious objective. We have great fun selecting the most cocoa-rich Single Cask Single Malts that Speyside has to offer and refining the recipe thereafter, demonstrating why blending is an extremely skilled art form in its own right.”

The new release is strictly limited to just 600 cases / 3,600 bottles globally. Scallywag The Chocolate Edition is bottled at 48% alcohol strength and is expected to retail at £57.50 / €67.50 in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific. In line with the Douglas Laing family philosophy to offer Scotch Whisky “as natural as it gets”, this latest release is proudly offered without colouring or chill filtration.

About Scallywag

Facebook: /scallywagwhisky
Instagram: @scallywagwhisky

A marriage of Single Cask Single Malts, only from the Speyside region of Scotland, Scallywag is matured predominantly in Sherry casks, affording the spirit a rich, dark colour and a deliciously fruity, chocolatey flavour profile. The multi-award winning Scotch Whisky belongs to Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts – “the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions” – also encompassing The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (from the Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

About Douglas Laing:

www.douglaslaing.com
Facebook: @douglaslaingwhisky
Instagram: @dlaingwhisky

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distiller, 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 Islands (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Skene Scotch Whisky goes “vintage” with the release of half-a-dozen 30+ year old Single Malts 

Skene Scotch Whisky Releases six vintage Single Cask Malts 

Skene Scotch Whisky has released half-a-dozen “vintage” single malt bottlings, in smart new decanter bottles.

The first four new expressions (together with earlier Skene bottlings) are now available from Skene Scotch Whisky’s online shop at https://www.skenewhisky.com/shop/  They are:

Glenallachie 32yo distilled in 1989, matured in a hogshead, and bottled at 43.2% ABV.  £580;

Tomatin 32yo distilled in 1989, matured in a hogshead, and bottled at 44.9% ABV.  £498; 

Strathmill 32yo distilled in 1990, matured in a Sherry Butt, and bottled at 54% ABV.   £482; and

Fettercairn 31yo distilled in 1990, matured in American Oak and bottled at 42% ABV.   £495; 

Two additional new expressions have already been bottled, will be released very shortly, and will also be available from the online shop.   They are:

Macallan 30yo distilled in 1991, matured in a hogshead, and bottled at 48% ABV.  Price to be advised.

Bunnahabhain 32yo distilled in 1989, matured in a hogshead, and bottled at 40.8% ABV.  Price to be advised. 

Skene Scotch Whisky believes in total transparency.  So, if you’ve any queries about any of the bottlings, please don’t hesitate to contact andrew@skenewhisky.com

About Skene Scotch Whisky – After a few years away from bottle sales, Skene Scotch Whisky returned to it in 2021 with a raft of younger single cask bottlings.  However, finding this a very crowded market, Skene has decided to major in “vintage” releases in 2022.

Tasting sets for WSET students launched by The Spirit Study

TheSpiritStudy.com has launched a new tasting set designed for use by students undertaking their Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 Award in Spirits.

The sets were created with input from leading WSET educators, and feature 10 spirit samples carefully chosen to match the key learning points from the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits course. WSET is the leading provider of spirits qualifications.

The Spirit Study is a new brand created by The Dram Team – a leading whisky tasting subscription and miniature bottling specialist, which produces samples sets on behalf of many prominent whisky brands.

Chris Borrow, Dram Team founder and creator of The Spirit Study explains: “We produced these tasting sets so that WSET students – especially those opting for virtual learning – could conveniently experience the broad range of spirits covered in their course. Every sample in the set is matched directly to the relevant WSET requirements, so students know they are tasting a great example from each spirit category”.

“We’re very excited to launch a new brand with an educational focus, and hope this saves students the cost and effort of hunting down appropriate full-size bottles themselves.”

Liam Scandrett, Senior Business Development Manager – Spirits at WSET said: “Tasting is a key tenet of WSET courses, whether in the classroom or online, and I’m delighted that we now have a UK-based supplier of a tasting set designed for the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits course. It will assist students and course providers in accessing appropriate spirits samples quickly and affordably.”

Initially, tasting sets will be available via www.thespiritstudy.com to UK students only, but The Spirit Study hope to expand availability beyond the UK in future, as well as exploring the possibility of a larger tasting set for students undertaking the Level 2 Award in Spirits with WSET.

The Spirit Study: www.thespiritstudy.com

WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits: www.wsetglobal.com/wset-school-london/wset-courses/wset-level-1-award-in-spirits

Pricing

The WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits ten sample set retails at £55 including standard UK delivery (48 hr courier service).

WhistlePig reveals the latest ‘piglet’ in its Rye Whiskey family:

PiggyBack 100% Rye

Award-winning rye whiskey distillery from Vermont – WhistlePig – is unveiling its latest spirit to the UK this 4^th July: PiggyBack 100% Rye – its youngest and most playful whiskey in its rye family.

Aged for 6 years and bottled at 48.28% with an RRP of £45, PiggyBack 100% Rye offers the perfect flavour profile for cocktail curation and mixology.

The whiskey is several years in the making and a culmination of the distillery’s late Master Distiller, Dave Pickerell’s passion for Rye, showcasing its youthful, vibrant mixability and playful profile. 

PiggyBack 100% Rye was created by Pickerell to ensure that the very best aged rye whiskey could be used in both classic cocktails and contemporary serves. He chose the name PiggyBack to express the love and respect he had for the bartending community. The Pig on the bottle is not wearing a traditional Top hat, but a Stetson. The hat was Dave’s trademark, and he rarely was seen without it. The bottle has been adapted from the distinctive WhistlePig shape to give a more tactile and pour-friendly design, for ease of handling by bartenders and whiskey-lovers who want to try their hand at cocktail curation at home.

Jeff Kozak, CEO of WhistlePig said: “On behalf of Dave Pickerell, and all of us here at WhistlePig, we are proud to share the latest expression in our unparalleled offering of aged rye whiskies to the UK, one of Dave’s final creations. PiggyBack 100% Rye is a gift from our late legendary distiller to his friends across the country and around the world, and of course, the bartenders who helped forge the WhistlePig brand from the very beginning.”

The UK launch takes place on American Independence Day, Monday 4^th July – a key date in the WhistlePig calendar for the brand to celebrate its heritage – and off the back of WhistlePig’s inaugural national cocktail competition that has been staged across the UK over the past three months, with the final taking place in London on the same day as the launch.

PiggyBack 100% Rye is being driven into the on trade as a priority, with the main aim to win over the hearts and bars of some of the UKs leading mixologists in year one, followed by specialist retailers and independents within year two of launch.

Dan Priseman, UK & European Steward of the Brand said: “We are excited to reveal PiggyBack 100% Rye to the UK, particularly across the on trade where we’re building advocacy and support for the brand across some of the UK’s most influential and exciting bars. Our first ever cocktail competition culminates at the launch event allowing us to put the liquid in front of 12 of the most creative bartenders in the UK, whilst immersing them in the world of WhistlePig and our approach to mixology.”

PiggyBack 100% Rye will be available from mid-July via selected specialist retailers (RRP: £45) and in leading on trade accounts across the UK. For trade enquiries, please contact Moët Hennessy UK on tel: 020 7808 4400. 

WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye Tasting Notes: 

On the nose: fresh cinnamon and black peppercorn mingle, with a hint of tangerine and grapefruit zest.

On the palate: powerfully spicy, with cocoa, cardamom and cured leather flavours enhancing the grain forward character of this classic rye.

The finish: wonderfully lengthy, with baking spices, oak, and vanilla lingering, and hints of citrus throughout.  

About WhistlePig:

Founded in 2008, WhistlePig is the premier aged rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavour of rye. WhistlePig is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle rye whiskeys in the world.

Talnua Distillery Releases First-ever Bottled-in-Bond American Single Pot Still Whiskey

Arvada, Colorado, July 7, 2022 – Talnua Distillery released the world’s first Bottled-in-Bond American Single Pot Still Whiskey on Independence Day weekend, 2022. The release was a single barrel presented exclusively at the Irish Whiskey Fans of America meetup which was hosted at the distillery.

The release marks a hallmark moment in the revival of Single Pot Still Whiskey. The important bond between Ireland and America that has lasted for centuries inspired this release and the collaboration with Barry Chandler who is the creator of Irish Whiskey Fans of America and the Stories and Sips whiskey club.

As a friend of Talnua, Barry was asked to help select the Single Barrel that would be the first representation of Bottled-in-Bond Single Pot Still Whiskey in America.

The whiskey from a select few casks crossed the Atlantic to the ancestral home of Single Pot Still Whiskey where one was hand picked for its unique qualities.

This release is a milestone in American whiskey and was immortalized on the weekend of our nation’s Independence Day in accordance with the Federal Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

The whiskey features a mashbill of un-malted and malted barley, which was triple distilled following old world customs, and aged 4 years in charred virgin American white oak casks. The release was bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) in sophisticated gold foil labels, paired with certificates of authentication, and enclosed in attractive birch tubes secured with red ribbon.

Supply of the single barrel was limited to less than 250 bottles, a handful of bottles remain at the distillery post-event and are available for pickup only at the distillery. No online sales or shipping available.

About Talnua Distillery

Talnua Distillery is an artisan small batch distillery that proudly hand crafts each of our spirits. Established in 2017, we embarked on a mission to define a new chapter of whiskey history with the introduction of our American Single Pot Still Whiskey.

True to gaelic-style distilling practices, and unique to the new world, our spirits are produced using a mashbill of un-malted and malted barley and triple distilled in copper pot stills. Located on the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the altitude, changing seasons, crystal clear mountain spring water, and local barley all lend a uniquely American terroir to our products.

We are honored to carry on the traditions of our Irish ancestry and are proud to be leading the way as America’s First Single Pot Still Distillery.

It all began with husband and wife team Patrick and Meagan Miller. In a Galway pub on their honeymoon, they sat watching the 2011 Ireland vs. USA Rugby World Cup Match. An eager bartender was thrilled to share with them the first single pot still whiskey to be released in decades. He regaled them with the history of this nearly extinct style of whiskey and with the passion that one day, single pot still would regain its rightful place on the world stage. The love affair was instant, and the couples’ passion was forever ingrained in the story of single pot still whiskey.

With family history rooted in Irish ancestry, the couple returned to Ireland every year and knew that single pot still whiskey would forever be a part of their story.  Knowing that single pot still whiskey was not yet available in the US they set out to create the first Single Pot Still distillery outside of Ireland. They wanted to bring this style of whiskey to America and imbue it with the nation’s terroir while honoring Gaelic distilling traditions, the immigrant soul, and the pioneering spirit of the American people.

Our whiskeys and gins are produced using Single Pot Still distillation methods with a mashbill of 50% un-malted / 50% malted barley and triple distilled in copper pot stills. We age in the finest oak casks to mature every drop.  For more information on Talnua Distillery, please visit www.talnua.com, www.facebook.com/TalnuaDistillery, or www.instagram.com/talnuadistillery

THE EXTRAORDINARY SALE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY WHISKY

Ardbeg enthusiast buys one-of-a-kind 1975 Islay single malt for £16million

A one-of-a-kind 1975 cask of Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky, which survived the Distillery’s two brushes with closure, has sold to a private collector in Asia for £16million. The oldest ever released by Ardbeg, ‘Cask No. 3’ is incomparably precious, since little single malt was created at the Distillery in the 1970s and it was closed through much of the 80s and 90s.  Described as a “remarkable piece of liquid history” by world-renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean MBE, Cask No. 3 will be bottled over the course of five years for its owner, giving her an unparalleled vertical collection of aged Ardbegs, which cannot be replicated for at least a decade. To celebrate the half-century of patience and generations of Distillery workers behind this “vanishingly rare” whisky, Ardbeg will donate £1million to causes on Islay.

Far surpassing any previous auction records for a cask of single malt, Cask No. 3’s private sale is an extraordinary milestone in Ardbeg’s 200-year history. While the Distillery is famed for creating the world’s smokiest drams – and is among the most highly awarded of the smoky malts – its journey has often been turbulent. In the 1970s, the majority of its whisky was sold for blending. And since just a few casks each year were set aside for single malt bottling, stock from that decade has always been exceptionally hard to come by. Then through most of the 1980s, the Distillery was closed as its future hung in the balance. While Ardbeg re-opened for a time, it shut again in 1996 – some thought for ever. Saved from extinction the following year, the Distillery has since gone from strength to strength. Today it has a near-cult global following, has won countless awards and is enjoyed in the world’s most prestigious bars. But Ardbeg’s darkest days remain fresh in the memories of its fans even now.

CEO Thomas Moradpour said: “This sale is a source of pride for everyone in the Ardbeg community who has made our journey possible. Just 25 years ago, Ardbeg was on the brink of extinction, but today it is one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world. That is a reflection of generations of hard work: from those in the stillhouse who craft our smoky spirit, to the warehouse staff who care for our casks over decades, to teams around the world who build the reputation of our whiskies with fans, bartenders and collectors.

“While such a rare whisky is out of reach for all but one of our fans, we put the same passion and care into every bottle of Ardbeg as went into this exclusive single malt in 1975 – from flagship Ardbeg Ten Years Old, to limited-edition releases. Today, our new stillhouse is working at full capacity to make more Ardbeg available than ever, and whisky creator Dr Bill Lumsden is busy imagining many more surprising smoky releases for Ardbeg fans. Because when a business like Ardbeg gets rewarded for 50 years of patience, it gives us the confidence to keep investing in the future of our distillery, and in our island community. The journey continues!”

Created in a bygone era when the Distillery still malted its barley onsite, the smoky, balanced spirit of cask No. 3 was distilled on Tuesday, 25^th November 1975, and laid down to age in two separate casks – a bourbon and an Oloroso sherry. Those casks were patiently matured by generations of Ardbeg’s skilled warehouse workers over 38 years. Then Ardbeg’s acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, decided to marry the two casks, creating an even more extraordinary single malt. On 31^st March 2014, he transferred their whisky into a single refill Oloroso butt, selected to give only the subtlest of wood influence. There it has remained ever since. Today, more than 46 years after its story began, this single malt is a smorgasbord of sherried, smoky aromas and rich, elegant tastes.

Over the next five years, Ardbeg will continue to mature Cask No. 3 in a secure location on Islay for its owner Every year, she will receive 88 bottles from the cask. By 2026, this Ardbeg enthusiast will possess a unique vertical series of rare Ardbegs from 1975, aged 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 years old.

Dr. Bill

Dr Bill Lumsden, who will oversee the cask’s ongoing maturation, said: “Cask No. 3 is an extraordinary taste of Ardbeg’s past. Its aromas are nutty, herbal and smoky, while its tastes of tar, espresso coffee and spearmint have an astonishing finesse for a whisky of such age. So little stock survives from this era, that this cask really is one of a kind. And its complex flavours are testament to the extraordinary skill of the Ardbeg team who have cared for it over the decades. I look forward to exploring how it continues to evolve over the next five years.”

Industry experts hailed the sale as a demonstration of Ardbeg’s appeal, and the investment value of single malt Scotch. Author and world-renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean MBE said: “This truly unique whisky is a remarkable piece of liquid history – an evocative taste of what Ardbeg was like when it malted its own barley. Many old whiskies can go flat with age. But Cask No. 3 is a really lovely whisky, hugely complex, still having vitality after nearly half a century.”

On Ardbeg’s draw for collectors, he added: “The factors which make a particular whisky investable are threefold: rarity, flavour and variety. And collectors do love Scotch, because of the provenance and history. Furthermore, there is a keen interest in smoky Islay whiskies. And Ardbeg is particularly rare – there just aren’t many bottlings of this age out there. While £16million seems a breathtaking price for a cask of whisky, £36,000 per bottle is not unexpected for whiskies of that age and rarity.”

Becky Paskin, whisky expert and founder of OurWhisky, explained that the strength of Ardbeg’s following and the continuing maturation of Cask No. 3, further increased its desirability. She said: “Cask No. 3 is undoubtedly alluring, and not just because of its own rarity. It hails from a Distillery that has a reputation for creating beautiful liquid, commands a cult status worldwide, and has a firm place in whisky enthusiasts’ hearts. Of the many distilleries in Scotland which have a legacy, a history and a charm about them, Ardbeg is certainly one of those which could command such a high price for a vanishingly rare cask like this. What’s most fascinating is that the owner hasn’t simply purchased an Ardbeg cask, she has invested in a vertical series of bottlings from one single cask, which will develop and mature over the next five years. This is a rare opportunity to witness a cask’s development over time.”

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About Ardbeg Cask No. 3, 1975

Tasting notes

Colour: Deep Bronze

Aroma: Brazil nuts in toffee fill the nose, followed by linseed oil, a suggestion of flowering blackcurrants, sweet, aromatic peat smoke and a hint of tobacco. A splash of water brings forth even more complexity, with delicate lime and fennel.

Taste: Complex, rich and surprisingly elegant. A spearmint top note emerges with hints of lapsang souchong tea, some biscuit notes and gentle tar. Espresso coffee simmers alongside salted caramel toffee.

Finish: A sumptuous union of tar, smoky notes and oak.

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and its doors closed in 1981 for several years. Although they re-opened later that decade, Ardbeg shut down again in 1996. It was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a cult malt with a passionate following.

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 150,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Jackie Thomson, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky. Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, the previous Distillery Manager was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition.

Ardbeg’s barley

Ardbeg malted its barley onsite until 1981. Today its malt is produced by specialist maltsters in the Islay village of Port Ellen, where the barley is peated to Ardbeg’s exact specifications.

Auction records

The record set for a cask of whisky sold at auction in April 2022 has been widely reported at just over £1m. Meanwhile, in 2019, a bottle of single malt whisky was reported to have sold for £1.5million at auction.

Ardbeg’s Collectability

Rare Whisky 101 produces in-depth reports of the rare whisky market. In a recent report, its Collectors Ranking table shows Ardbeg as the second-most collectable whisky, equally weighting volume and value data for whisky sold in the UK at auction. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/intelligence

The Glenmorangie Company

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.