OLDEST MACALLAN RED COLLECTION WHISKY AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE

Macallan-78 year old estimated at £65,000-70,000

 View the catalogue: https://www.bonhams.com/live_auctions/27532/

The Macallan-78-year old. Estimate: £65,000-70,000

Edinburgh – A bottle of one of the oldest known Macallan Scotch Whisky ever produced – The Macallan-78 year old – leads Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Thursday 10 March. The pinnacle of Macallan’s Red Collection, the bottle is numbered 133 out of a limited edition and comes in its original oak and Bridge of Weir leather-lined presentation case. It is estimated at £65,000-70,000.

Bonhams Head of Whisky Martin Green commented: “This is an astonishing whisky. One of the oldest single malt whiskies ever bottled by any distillery, it had been maturing in sherry casks since the early 1940s until it was bottled in 2020. It represents the peak of Macallan’s Red Collection and is proof perfect of the saying that good things come to those who wait.”

Other highlights of the sale include:

The Bowmore Trilogy consisting of a bottle each of Black Bowmore-42 year old -1964, bottled in 2007; White Bowmore -42 year old -1964 bottled in 2008 and Gold Bowmore-44 year old-1964 bottled in 2009. Estimate: £45,000-55,000. 

The Macallan Exceptional Single Cask-1950. Bottled in 2018 at 67 years of age and released in a limited edition of 336 bottles. Estimate: £32,000-38,000.

Karuizawa Ruby Geisha-38 year old. Distilled by Karuizawa Distillery for Elixir Distillers, the bottle comes in its original wooden presentation case and is numbered 139 of a limited edition of 223. Estimate: £24,000-26,000. 

Dalmore-45 year old. Bottled in a Baccarat crystal decanter at Dalmore Distillery, Alness and released in 2018, the bottle retains its original presentation case and stopper and is accompanied by a booklet and outer leather carrying case. Estimate: £7,000-8,000.

Sale: Whisky saleLocation: 22 Queen Street, EdinburghDate: Thursday 10 March at 11 am

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

E.H. TAYLOR, JR BOURBON PARTNERS WITH

MUSICIAN CHRIS STAPLETON TO CELEBRATE 125^th Anniversary of BOTTLED IN BOND DAY 

 Two Packages Up for Bid; all Proceeds to Benefit Stapleton’s Charity Outlaw State of Kind

 FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (March 3, 2022) – In honor of the 125^th passing of the Bottled in Bond Act today, Buffalo Trace Distillery raises a glass to salute E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a commemorative single barrel release hand selected by Grammy Award Winner Chris Stapleton.

            The Bottled in Bond Act, which was passed on March 3,1897, guaranteed the integrity of the whiskey to the American consumer, and among other things, guarantees only water can be added to the whiskey.

            The joining of two stalwarts of Kentucky, E. H. Taylor, Jr. and Chris Stapleton, resulted in the E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled in Bond commemorative Chris Stapleton Single Barrel Bourbon, which is being donated to Stapleton’s charitable fund, Outlaw State of Kind.   Each bottle will be autographed by Chris Stapleton and will be used to raise funds for a variety of charities across the country.

            This is the second year for the partnership between E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bourbon and Chris Stapleton’s charitable fund.  Two prize packs are available for bidding now through March 17, 2022 on charitybuzz:

• One bottle of E. H. Taylor Single Barrel with commemorative sticker noting Bottled in Bond Day and partnership with Chris Stapleton; four tickets to Stapleton’s April 23, 2022 concert in Lexington, Ky; a VIP tour and tasting for four at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky; and E. H. Taylor, Jr. branded merchandise.  Live auction link here.
• One bottle of E. H. Taylor Single Barrel with commemorative sticker noting Bottled in Bond Day and partnership with Chris Stapleton; plus two tickets to winner’s choice to any Stapleton concert in 2022, and E. H. Taylor, Jr. branded merchandise.   Live auction link here.

            The remaining bottles will be used by Stapleton’s charitable fund Outlaw State of Kind throughout the year to raise funds for various causes.  Updates on fundraisers will be posted to Outlaw State of Kind.

            “The first glass of E.H. Taylor, Jr. I ever had was in the studio. Vance Powell, engineer of both music and good times, brought a bottle to the session for inspiration. That week we recorded an entire album, and that album was ‘Traveller.’ We’ve made it a point to keep a bottle around ever since. We’re proud to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day with this special Single Barrel bottling. All proceeds raised by these bottles will benefit Outlaw State of Kind, our charitable fund that is dedicated to giving back to the people and communities that continue to play a vital role in our journey,” said Chris Stapleton.

“We’ve very excited to be able to partner once again with Chris Stapleton and Outlaw State of Kind,” said Sara Saunders, vice president, American whiskey.  “We were lucky enough to partner with Chris last year, and we are very pleased his charitable fund was able to raise so much money over the past year for so many different causes.  We’re excited to kick off this second year of partnership on the 125^th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day, and with two great prizes going live today, we hope fans of both his music and our bourbon can help out even more needy causes.”

The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery and put in the barrel on June 3, 2009.  Bottled in mid February, this bourbon is over 12 years of age, and like the act its namesake fought so hard to pass, is Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.

            Like the other E. H. Taylor, Jr. releases, this Single Barrel is packaged with elements of Taylor’s original bottlings from the turn of the 20^th century, a vintage label bearing his signature and a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago.  The canister gives a nod to this unique bottling with a commemorative sticker noting the 125^th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day and the partnership with Chris Stapleton.

            The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled in Bond commemorative Chris Stapleton Single Barrel bottling will be available through the charitable organization Outlaw State of Kind.  To find out more about Outlaw State of Kind, click here.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is celebrating Bottled in Bond Day in various other happenings as well, including expanded offerings of its Old Taylor Tour and activations in various markets across the United States.

1. H. Taylor, Jr. was instrumental in getting the Bottled in Bond Act passed.  Prior to its passing, disreputable sellers would put items like tobacco juice, turpentine, iodine or other unsavory and potentially poisonous additives to a barrel of whiskey to fill it back up, and/or to give the liquid color.  Back in those days, whiskey was usually delivered by the barrel to a local saloon, general store or pharmacy where customers could fill up their own jug directly from the barrel, or retailers could bottle it up for resale on the spot. The Bottled in Bond Act was the first consumer protection law passed, pre-dating the Pure Food and Drug Act by nine years To learn more about E. H. Taylor, Jr., click here.

About Outlaw State of Kind

Outlaw State of Kind is Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s charitable fund that supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart.  The Outlaw State of Kind Fund was founded in 2016 and is administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2^nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.   Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Caskshare X Isle of Raasay 30 Litre Project

Leading industry platform Caskshare is on a mission to democratise access to maturing single cask spirits. In collaboration with Isle of Raasay Distillery, the online whisky platform has offered a selection of 30L casks for reservation by the bottle. An ideal opportunity for whisky fans to get their hands on, the innovative product is not often seen in mainstream distillery production.

As such these casks represent the first output taking Caskshare customers through the whole journey from new filled casks through to maturation and bottling. The first of these casks are bottling now and shipping to the Caskshare customers who reserved early on in the cask’s life.

Exactly three years ago Isle of Raasay Distillery began filling custom built ex-Speyside Scotch whisky oak casks. This was the brainchild of co-founder Alasdair Day, who is a firm believer in bringing innovation and novel approaches to the whisky sector.

The 30 Litre Project deals with casks that have a much higher spirit-to-wood surface contact ratio means a much faster maturation process, cutting through the needs for longer maturation and making the craft producer able to release a well-developed spirit in a shorter time frame. Distilleries in hotter climates have already opened up the market to shorter (3-year) maturations, but the colder Scottish climates have traditionally not been favourable to this style of whisky in the larger cask sizes.

Alasdair worked with Speyside Cooperage to make bespoke small casks specially designed for this style of whisky. Each cask is completely unique and are made from the wood previously used to mature Speyside whisky in larger quantities. Alasdair Day, Isle of Raasay Distillery states: “It’s a well-known fact that the size of a cask has a direct impact on the maturation of the spirit within it. When my Great Grandfather created his blended scotch whisky, the age of the single malt was a major component in the quality of the blend. Now on Raasay we have the option to fill smaller specially coopered ex Speyside oak casks that impart their specific flavour in different ways and in much shorter timescales. Single malt evolves with much more flavour development yet to come.”

David Nicol, Founder of Caskshare commented: “The idea of using bespoke built casks is a great example of the innovation coming from Alasdair Day and the whole team at the Isle of Raasay Distillery. Scotch is an ever-evolving product and when we heard about these casks we were committed to bringing a selection of them to Caskshare.com for whisky fans to reserve by the bottle. We decided to bottle one at 46% for a wider audience, and the other at cask strength for a comparison at smaller quantities.”

An additional range of 30L casks are set to launch on Caskshare imminently, initially available exclusively to The Caskshare Collective, Caskshare’s membership program offering permanent discounts, early access to a selection of newly launched casks and bi-annual tasting packs of maturing or recently bottles exclusive single cask whisky.

www.caskshare.com
@caskshare

Sample bottles of Isle of Raasay Cask 19/117, bottled at 46% abv are available on request. Cask 19/118 will be bottled early March.

Award-winning whisky writers to host online tasting supporting Ukrainian refugees

Award-winning whisky writer Felipe Schrieberg and Whisky Exchange Drinks Ambassador Billy Abbott will be co-hosting a charity online whisky tasting supporting Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland from the violence in their country. 

Taking place March 28^th at 7 pm, packs containing six delicious whiskies will be sent to guests’ homes by whisky subscription service The Dram Team, and can then join Schrieberg and Abbott on Facebook and Youtube. All profits from the tasting will be donated to Polish Humanitarian Action, a relief organisation working with displaced Ukrainian refugees.

The tasting pack includes drams of:

• Compass Box Spice Tree
• Glenturret 12 Year Old
• Jura Seven Wood
• Lakes Distillery The ONE Sherry Limited Edition
• Glen Scotia Victoriana
• Royal Brackla 18 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish

Though the tasting itself is free to watch and accessible for anyone even if they don’t have a whisky pack, optional ‘viewing only’ tickets are also available to purchase, with all proceeds going to PAH as well.

Both Schrieberg and Abbott are extremely experienced tasting hosts – the former has welcomed over 3,500 people across more than 250 online tastings since April 2020 while the latter has fronted tastings at many whisky festivals both physical and virtual. For their work, they have both won the prestigious Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year – Rest of World award by Whisky Magazine (Schrieberg won this year’s prize, and Abbott received it in 2021).

Schrieberg, who is currently based in the Polish city of Gdansk, was inspired by the compassion shown by his adopted country when he decided to put together the tasting:

“Over half of the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine are arriving here in Poland” he said.

“The response from Poles all over the country has been truly moving, and everyone coming here from Ukraine needs all the help they can get. We’re very excited to be able to share some very tasty whiskies to support an excellent organisation doing amazing work here.”

The tasting will be hosted on Schrieberg’s Facebook and Youtube pages for his online whisky tastings – The Virtual Whisky Masterclass.

Tickets are available to purchase on Designmynight.com

Event Information 

Event: Online Charity Whisky Tasting Supporting Ukrainian Refugees

Price: £45 (excluding booking fee)

           £15 for optional ‘viewing only’ ticket

Ticket link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8a57bz

About Felipe 

Felipe is a whisky writer, musician, author, spirits competition judge, and tastings host.

As a whisky writer, Felipe has been widely published across industry magazines and websites. He is a senior contributor for Forbes.com writing about spirits, and is regularly featured in Whisky Magazine, The Whiskey Wash, Unfiltered, and many other platforms. His book, London Cocktails, is published by Cider Mill Press and is distributed worldwide by Simon and Schuster.

For his work, he was named the 2022 Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year (Rest of World), and the 2021 Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year.

He is also the co-founder and one half of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a duo combining live music, tasting events, and multimedia.

www.felipeschrieberg.com

About Billy

Billy is a writer and trainer specialising in drinks. Starting as a blogger in 2009 and working full time in the drinks industry since 2011, he’s been writing, presenting and training people about drinks around the world.

While he is the drinks ambassador at The Whisky Exchange during the day, he also regularly runs tastings and training sessions, and also works as a drinks consultant and spirit competitions judge. He recently published his first book, The Philosophy of Whisky, through The British Library.

www.billyabbott.co.uk

About The Dram Team

The Dram Team are a whisky box subscription service, offering tasting packs of curated whiskies for subscribers and as gifts. The tasting packs are delivered right to your door, containing 6 different whiskies, deluxe tasting note cards, and a guided tour of the flight.

www.thedramteam.co.uk

Talnua Distillery Releases Exclusive Anniversary Edition Whiskey

Talnua Distillery continues their tradition of releasing a unique version of Olde Saint’s Keep on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their anniversary and the holiday. The name “Olde Saint’s Keep” pays homage to the legend of Gaelic monks who kept the most special aqua vitae made at the monastery to share with their most esteemed guests.

Talnua Distillery’s 2022 Olde Saint’s Keep release is an American single pot still whiskey, triple distilled from a mash of 50% unmalted barley and 50% malted barley.  The whiskey was first aged in former bourbon and port casks, then the two were married and finished for 10 months in rare Pineau des Charantes Casks from Southwest France.

Tasting notes overview: A lively blend of candied oranges, mixed berry cobbler, and creamy marzipan on the nose compliment the stone fruit and dried cherry palate, made richer and more complex with accents of pecan and leather. The unique French barrel used to complete the aging process gives undertones of white pepper and malted milk balls with the toasted oak finish.

Talnua is releasing Olde Saint’s Keep at 100 proof on March 18th. Fewer than 1,000 bottles are available, so make sure to get your hands on one! Proof it’s special stuff? Our 2021 release just won Best American Pot Still Whiskey in the World Whiskies Awards!

About Talnua Distillery

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

True to Gaelic-style distilling, and unique to the new world, our spirits are produced using a mashbill of un-malted and malted barley, 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.

Talnua’s founders, Meagan and Patrick Miller, fell in love with Single Pot Still Irish whiskey on their honeymoon in Ireland more than a decade ago. 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.  Before starting Talnua, Single Pot Still Whiskey was not available in the US, so they created the first Single Pot Still distillery outside of Ireland.

Talnua is born of the Irish-Gaelic words ‘Talamh’, meaning ‘Land’, and ‘Nua’, meaning ‘New.’ It speaks to our passion for bringing an old-world style of distilling to the new land. Our sigil shows the Big Horn Ram, native to the Flatirons of Colorado’s Front Range. It is looking back on a triskele moon, which represents the Irish-Gaelic old world – home to the distilling traditions we honor. For more information about Talnua Distillery, visit www.talnua.com

INTRODUCING MIDLETON VERY RARE 2022 – THE PINNACLE OF IRISH WHISKEY

Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman unveils his second Midleton Very Rare vintage – and the 39^th in the series – on ‘Annual Vintage Day’ 

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has unveiled the eagerly awaited second Midleton Very Rare annual vintage to be released by Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman.

For the 39^th edition in the renowned and highly collectable range, O’Gorman and the team of highly skilled whiskey makers at Midleton distillery, Co. Cork, once again enjoyed the pick of the finest whiskeys in the distiller’s inventory.

The Midleton Very Rare legacy began over four decades ago when the then masters, ever keen to create exemplary expressions, began setting aside small amounts of exceptionally performing whiskey for a new luxury offering in the world of Irish whiskey. Today, Midleton Very Rare is globally renowned as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey.

Drawing heavily from Midleton’s much-coveted ‘A2’ traditional stone warehouse dating back to the 1860s, O’Gorman and his team selected a blend of single pot still and single grain whiskeys from the inventory to create a whiskey worthy to carry the name of Midleton Very Rare for the latest annual vintage.

Featuring whiskeys aged between 12 and 33 years matured in lightly charred first fill and refill ex-bourbon American oak barrels, O’Gorman continued to draw on his wealth of experience of both distillation and maturation to maintain a significant contribution from the excellent single grain whiskeys in Midleton’s inventory, while once again allowing the pot still component to express itself within a delicately blended vintage.

“As with any Midleton Very Rare Vintage, we start the search for our perfect components many months in advance, in a bid to create the luxurious, balanced aroma and taste profile for which this annual release is renowned,” explains O’Gorman. “Drawing predominantly from our historic A2 warehouse, we have selected a blend of whiskeys that work together beautifully – from superb grain whiskeys dating back to 1989 with beautiful floral and rosewater notes, to some truly wonderful pot still whiskeys from 2009 that offer a delightful fruit element with citrus.”

Beginning the search for the perfect blend from Midleton’s inventory in summer 2021, O’Gorman and the Midleton team sampled whiskeys from hundreds of casks that have been set aside over many years for potential inclusion in a prestigious Midleton Very Rare annual vintage.

Focusing on a small collection of casks considered to be at their optimal moment for selection, O’Gorman then worked with three prototypes that all offered an experience worthy of the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, only settling on his ultimate selection after taking all three home for a weekend of final tasting and consideration.

“We were delighted to create three incredibly strong liquids for consideration, all worthy of becoming a Midleton Very Rare annual vintage,” adds O’Gorman. “In the end, I kept returning to the vintage we are launching today, a stunning whiskey bursting with notes of fruit and citrus, a palate of caramelised red apples, orange zest with luscious, sweet, decadent waves of crème brûlée, and culminating in a rich and lasting finish.”

In keeping with the traditions of the Midleton masters, part of the job for O’Gorman and his team was to check the progress of those whiskeys already set aside for potential future inclusion, as well as to lay down the finest new distillate.

Blender Deirdre O’Carroll explains: “Our annual Midleton Very Rare vintage is not only a unique opportunity to re-nose some of the very finest whiskeys in our inventory, but also to consider which distillates and casks we should place into warehouse A2 for our forward planning. This is an extremely enjoyable experience knowing that some of these casks that we’ve put aside may be selected as part of a vintage many years from now.”

Bottled from a single vatting during January 2022 at 40% ABV, Midleton Very Rare 2022 will be available over the coming months in the USA, Canada, Global Travel Retail, Europe, Australia, and Asia at the RRP of €200.

#MidletonVeryRare2022

IG: @MidletonVeryRare

Shop online: https://www.midletonveryrare.com/en-EN/midleton-very-rare-vintage-release

 Tasting Notes 

Aroma
Fruit-led introduction with fresh citrus notes of mandarin and candied apple, while dustings of white pepper with grated nutmeg deliver subtle levels of spice that complement the rich and velvety tones of hazelnut chocolate and toffee. Carefully balanced, the charred oak works in tandem with the elegant grain character, elevating the delicate and nuanced fresh floral tones with the addition of sweet vanilla and warming toasted wood aromas.

Taste
Caramelised red apples and orange zest with luscious, sweet, and decadent waves of crème brûlée that seamlessly intertwine with the pot still spices and cereal undertones, creating an intriguing and wonderful medley of fruits and spices.

Finish
Rich and lasting finish in which the grain and pot still spices are the first to softly fade, allowing the oak – after years of carefully maturing the spirit – to have the final say.

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth up to 2019 and hitting sales of 8.6m cases in 2021. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

About Pernod Ricard 

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €8,824 million in FY21. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s three-year strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “We bring good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker

COMPASS BOX ANNOUNCES A LIMITED EDITION LIKE NO OTHER –

EXPERIMENTAL GRAIN WHISKY

A Curiously Delicious Grain Whisky With a Surprisingly Smoky Accent Blurs Scotch Whisky Boundaries

 February 2022 – Compass Box Scotch whiskymakers announce a new limited edition, Experimental Grain Whisky (RRP £100, ABV 46%), containing a parcel of whisky made from 100% peated malted barley that blurs Scotch whisky boundaries.

Compass Box is synonymous with creating compelling, yet surprising whiskies and the central theme for Experimental Grain Whisky is contrast. This is a unique release that will transport whisky lovers to new territories. Experimental Grain Whisky will be available in the UK online from 14th February online with only  6,142 bottles released worldwide.

This parcel sourced from Loch Lomond Distillery, which makes up one third of the recipe, might be 100% malt, but because it is produced in a column still rather than a pot still, Scotch whisky conventions require it to be classified as grain whisky.  In addition, Experimental Grain Whisky contains conventionally made grain whiskies aged in re-charred barrels and hogsheads, contributing rich crème brûlée notes that bring depth to the Loch Lomond whisky’s unique herbal and spicy smoke aromas. The intense toffee, apple and vanilla notes one might expect from a Compass Box grain whisky are woven together with  mossy, creamy peatiness, making for an unexpected and delicious blend of contrasts.

In keeping with Compass Box’s dedication to presenting design that is as interesting as its whiskies, Experimental Grain Whisky’s label artwork draws on technical distillation textbooks, and the subversive doodlings of Picasso. With heavy copy on the front rather than the back, it is designed to capture the imaginations of whisky enthusiasts by reinventing the unique labels the producer is known for. The back label sticky notes convey the work-in-progress nature of bringing whiskies to life.

James Saxon, lead whiskymaker says, “Experimental Grain Whisky tastes like no limited edition we have made before, and we even flipped the front and back labels – creating a unique mid-century modern design for the bottle as well. We set out to create the alter ego to Hedonism, our signature whisky and the world’s first ‘Vatted Grain.’ The whisky we sourced from the Loch Lomond Distillery has been made from a mashbill of 100% peated malted barley; this component, in what is officially a grain whisky, feels like a spy travelling under a false passport. We love this tension that so often exists between the rules and a modern willingness to do things differently, in pursuit of flavor”.

For more information about Compass Box, visit www.compassboxwhisky.com or check them out on Instagram or Facebook.

ABOUT COMPASS BOX

Compass Box are Scotch whiskymakers. The word ‘whiskymaker’ is their word – it does not appear in a dictionary. For 20 years they have been relentlessly focused on reinventing Scotch whisky, with every new blend designed to help make the world of whisky a more interesting place. They have not done it on their own and have collaborated with some of the world’s most visionary bartenders and designers to really push the boundaries of what is possible. Compass Box have won more awards for innovation than any other producer in Scotland because they are always experimenting. Always looking for sparks of creativity that will deliver something totally compelling, yet completely surprising. Whiskies that just must be experienced. This vision motivates them as whiskymakers. Their blends are consistently rated equal to or better than the great single malts of Scotland by the most respected voices in the industry.

American ex-pat John Glaser is the founder and head whiskymaker of Compass Box and six-time Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year and 2020 Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee.  He began his career on a path to become a winemaker, before re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as a Marketing Director for Johnnie Walker in London. With a desire to do things differently, John started Compass Box from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000 in order to bring the joys of Scotch whisky to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most compelling whisky companies, re-imagining the standards for quality and style in the industry. In 2020, John was inducted into the Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame. Two decades later, Compass Box now has two blending rooms in London, a team of 20 working internationally and stocks of maturing whiskies in Scotland. In 2020, Compass Box celebrated its 20th anniversary. With a forward-looking approach and unrelenting focus on creativity and integrity, John and his team continue to take forward his mission to make the world of Scotch whisky a more interesting place.

O’EVERYONE IN GREEN WITH HEARTS OF GOLD: TULLAMORE D.E.W. LAUNCHES YEAR 2 OF O’EVERYONE,

A SPIRITED BENEVOLENCE CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF THE CANADIAN CENTRE FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Tullamore D.E.W., one of the world’s top Irish whiskey brands, launches the second year of O’Everyone in Canada, a spirited benevolence campaign that donates 100% of dollars raised to the powerful education-led diversity initiatives of the CCDI.

Tullamore D.E.W., one of the world’s most recognized Irish whiskies, is proud to announce the return of O’Everyone, a year-long, spirited benevolence campaign that invites Canadians to unlock the power of their O’Lastnames in support of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI).

From January 1^st to December 31^st, 2022, Canadians coast to coast can participate again, in supporting the O’Everyone benevolence campaign by purchasing a Tullamore D.E.W. personalized “O’Everyone” t-shirt and bottle label bundle at www.OEveryone.ca for $20 CAD inclusive. Sales are tracked via the…v

ia the live-ticker on the website and 100% of proceeds from merchandise sales go directly to the CCDI to support DE&I initiatives across Canada.

“Bringing Canadians together to raise awareness and dollars for the powerful and much needed diversity focused work of the CCDI is the heart of Tullamore D.E.W.’s O’Everyone Inclusivity campaign,” comments Beth-Anne Perry, Country Marketing Director, William Grant & Sons.  “That is why we are proud to announce again in 2022, we will be making another kickoff donation of $20,000 to celebrate the second year of O’Everyone. After raising over $45,000 in 2021, we look forward to raising even more funds and awareness for the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion with Canadians of legal drinking age from coast to coast.”

Founded in 2012, The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) is a registered national charity organization.  Their mission is to help create inclusive spaces that are free of prejudice and discrimination, and to generate awareness, dialogue and action that helps recognize diversity as an asset and not an obstacle.

“CCDI is proud to renew the partnership with Tullamore D.E.W.’s O’Everyone and are grateful for the continued support of our objectives driven by inclusion, diversity, solidarity and celebration,” comments Anne-Marie Pham, Executive Director, CCDI.  “We look forward to continuing the spirit of benevolence for a second year.”

“From influencers to media, from spoken word artists to musicians and consumers, Tullamore D.E.W.’s O’Everyone brought together Canadians for the purpose of supporting the powerful work of the CCDI,” comments Daniel “Gravy” Thomas, Global Advocacy and Ambassador Community Manager, William Grant & Sons & O’Everyone Community Champion.

“As the O’Everyone O’Community Champion, I got a first-hand look at the passion and stories that Tullamore D.E.W’s O’Everyone helped bring to the forefront, it was a truly inspiring experience and I look forward to growing O’Everyone in 2022.”

The O’Everyone customized O’Lastname T-shirt and bottle label bundle costs $20.00 and is available for purchase in Canada at www.OEveryone.ca until December 31, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.  Tullamore D.E.W. will continue to cover all costs associated with production and shipping, ensuring that 100% of all dollars raised continue to support the CCDI.

Tullamore D.E.W.’s O’Everyone will run until December 31, 2022.  Additional information about O’Everyone can be found by visiting www.OEveryone.ca.

For additional information about the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), please visit www.ccdi.ca

For press images and information about O’Everyone and Tullamore D.E.W. in Canada, please visit https://tullamoredew.alchemystsinc.com/

For additional information about Tullamore D.E.W. globally, please visit www.tullamoredew.com

THE CRAFT IRISH WHISKEY CO. WINS THE CATEGORY FOR

BEST IRISH SINGLE MALT AT THE WORLD WHISKIES AWARDS

(London/Dublin – 21 February 2022) The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has won Best Single Malt whiskey in Ireland under the no age statement category from The World Whiskies Awards with its inaugural release The Devil’s Keep. This is the first time The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has entered the prestigious World Whiskies Awards after narrowly missing the deadline last year in order to allow The Devil’s Keep an extra week in virgin Hungarian oak. This year the company entered three of its four releases, and not only topped the category with The Devil’s Keep but it dominated it too, receiving a Silver for its latest release The Taoscán, and a Bronze for its third release, The Brollach.

The Devil’s Keep will now go forward to fly the flag for Ireland at the finals of The World Whiskies Awards on 24th March where it will be up against gold standard single malts from over 17 countries worldwide.

It’s a phenomenal achievement for the young Irish company which was founded just four years ago in 2018. The Devil’s Keep saw off competition in the category from Teeling Whiskey Single Malt, Method and Madness Single Malt, The Whistler P.X. I Love You and Writers’ Tears Red Head.

This is the eighth award for The Devil’s Keep, a rare triple distilled, single malt whiskey and one of the finest whiskies that Ireland has ever created. The launch of The Devil’s Keep in November 2020 saw just 333 bottles released. It was the most expensive inaugural first release in history, and sold at auction for USD $60,000 (almost £46,000 and €51,000 Euros), and the oldest triple distilled Irish whiskey in existence, only to be topped by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s second release in February 2021 of the 30-year-old The Emerald Isle Collection.

Amongst its other accolades is a Gold award from the world-renowned International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2021 and a Gold from the Global Luxury Spirit Masters 2021. The Devil’s Keep also scooped the highest scoring Gold award in the ‘Packaging Design Category’ of the A’ Design Award, Bronze at the Pentawards 2021 and an iLuxury award. It follows a further two awards from 2020; winner of the Luxury Drinks Secondary Pack award at the 2020 Luxury Packaging Awards and Highly Commended under the category of Luxury Drinks Primary Pack at the 2020 Luxury Packaging Awards.

A second release of The Devil’s Keep is due in the coming months.

Commenting on the award, Jay Bradley, founder and CEO of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the impact The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is having on the whiskey industry and of how our whiskeys are speaking for themselves on the world stage. We spared no expense with The Devil’s Keep, from the liquid to the design to the accompaniments. At The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., we believe age is just one tiny factor of what makes a whiskey great which is why we make no age statements and why we entered this specific category. We missed last year’s awards deadline for that very reason; I felt the whiskey needed another week in virgin Hungarian oak and I was tasting it daily. I didn’t compromise and I only released when I knew it was absolutely perfect. It’s all the sweeter to be recognised this year by the highly regarded World Whiskies Awards and we look forward very much to representing Ireland on the 24^th March for the world title!” 

Judges making up the World Whiskies Awards panel include international leading journalists, specialist drinks retailers and industry experts. Each whiskey goes through a rigorous three-round judging process at The World Whiskies Awards.

For the first round, each whisky is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winners. For the second round, the Style winners are tasted against each other to identify the ‘Best’ whisky in each category and for the final round the ‘Best’ whisky in each category are then tasted against each other one last time to select the World’s Best whisky. Judges at this stage include those in Round 1 and 2 as well as a panel of leading distillers and experts from the whisky industry.

The World Whiskies Awards will take place on Thursday 24th March.

Video: https://vimeo.com/520874271

About The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey, elevating its potential as a luxury product and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world.

Formed in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. was born from a desire to return Irish whiskey to the heights it once enjoyed. To achieve such a goal has taken a complete reimagining of the craft; honouring centuries of tradition but questioning convention and adding scientific understanding to reinvent the maturation of the whiskey. No expense is spared, no corners are cut.

To elevate Irish whiskey’s potential, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has looked to the past, revisiting the art of whiskey-making perfected by the country’s master distillers. While the rise of mass production and blends has pushed this art to one side, the company is invested in restoring it by adding scientific knowledge and a willingness to push boundaries. Underfilling the barrels allows maturation to start at once. Adding water before maturation, or before finishing, allows the water and whiskey to marry over time and avoids the need to dilute the single malt before bottling. The whiskeys are bottled at cask strength to preserve the complex flavour profiles and rich viscosity. Using ultra-premium finishing barrels to mature the single malt delivers rich, rounded notes, while a deep understanding of barrel craft ensures the barrels are moved, rotated and the whiskey disgorged into new ones to create a bespoke journey. The whiskeys are accompanied by skilfully designed and scientifically-perfected accessories that deliver a whiskey experience worthy of the liquid.

In 2021, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. became the most awarded new company of the year amassing a total of seventeen awards across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whiskey releases.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for The Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

For more information visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com 

The Devil’s Keep – Tasting Notes 

Colour:

1.4 Tawny

Characterised by its distinctive tawny, amber colour 

Nose:

The Devil’s Keep opens with a nose of the rich aromas of a traditional Christmas cake and Vermont maple syrup, followed by powerful notes of ripe banana, sherry-soaked raisins and hints of 70% dark chocolate adding depth. 

Palate:

The sweetness of golden honey combines with Amarone and accents of dark cherries to add a velvet softness balanced beautifully by a dusting of rich dark chocolate to round off the palate. Rich and warming yet fresh and well-balanced, with supple sweetness and a rich texture. 

Finish:

Beautifully constructed, long and viscous with remanence of maple syrup and chocolate which opens up the liquid to a fine balance of smooth and rich flavours. Rich and oily on the palate, but not overwhelmingly so, and underpinned with a slightly dry finish, providing an indulgent and inimitable taste that will remain on the taste buds.

Croydon Whisky Festival

The Venue on Middle Street, 3-7 Middle St, Croydon CR0 1RE

On Saturday 2^nd April Whisky is coming to Croydon!

For the very first time there is going to be a Croydon Whisky Festival, featuring progressive and craft whisky brands from across the UK, Europe, USA and beyond. Featuring 24 whisky brands and other spirits, alongside beer from Sydenham’s Ignition Brewery and hot & cold refreshments from Croydon’s own Mr. Tinto this is an event not to miss.

Tickets are £35 (early bird discounts until the end of Feb) and attendees receive:

• complimentary tasting glass
• bottle of Sekforde botanical mixer
• samples of all the whiskies and spirits on the stands

Starting at midday on the 2^nd April and finishing at 5, we’re giving people 5 hours of whisky enjoyment to meet the brands, hear their stories and – most importantly – try their products.

With an on-site shop attendees can walk away with a bottle (or 2) of their favourite whisky from the day, ensuring the memory of this fantastic event lingers with every future sip.

Croydon deserves it’s own whisky festival – we have big plans to expand in 2023 and beyond, but for now, come down to The Venue of Middle Street (formerly Beano’s record store) and soak up amazing whiskies and spirits in great company.

Ticket Link: HERE

Brands attending:

– Armorik (France)

– Artful Dodger (Independent bottler)

– Balcones (USA)

– Bladnoch (Scotland)

– Bruichladdich (Scotland)

– Bruges Whisky (Belgium)

– Copper Rivet (England)

– Cotswolds (England)

– Doghouse Distillery (England)

– East London Liquor Co. (England)

– Eire Whiskey (Ireland)

– Glencadam (Scotland)

– Hyde Irish Whiskey (Ireland)

– Kyro (Finalnd)

– Mackmyra (Sweden)

– Milk & Honey (Israel)

– Nc’Nean (Scotland)

– Penderyn (Wales)

– Spirit of Birmingham (England)

– The Oxford Artisan Distillery (England)

– Tomintoul (Scotland)

– Uncle Nearest (USA)

– Westland (USA)