Since its launch last May, The Single Malt Shop has quickly earned a great reputation for being a global leader as an online whisky store. Shipping to dozens of countries worldwide from their base in Dublin, they are proud to announce that they can also now deliver to the United Kingdom with UPS. And as a special UK launch offer, delivery costs are free there until the end of May.  This means that whisky & whiskey lovers from England, Scotland and Wales  can now enjoy some of the rarities on The Single Malt Shop’s portfolio and indeed, some of their prized exclusive bottlings. The exclusives they’ve had thus far include a Redbreast 22 Year Old and a Midleton Very Rare 24 Year Old.

Their latest comes all the way from Vermont and only 198 bottles were produced.

In the first of a collection of five single cask bottlings from the WhistlePig Distillery in Vermont, comes Volume 1 in “The Library Series.”  Produced to celebrate the ultimate in aged Rye whiskey, each annual edition comes in a leather bound Encyclopedia so that with every Volume, the collector will be building their own library. Volume 1 was aged for 11 years in virgin American Oak and was named “Rutland Barrel” in honour of a local Vermont township. Every other Volume will also carry that feature.

The entire project was initially commenced under the late Dave Pickerell’s stewardship. Known worldwide as the Founding Father of the American Craft Distilling Movement, Dave inglwas master distiller and blender in WhistlePig before he sadly passed away in 2018. Together with his colleague Pete Lynch who has become his successor, he decided that they needed to set aside some of their precious rye stocks and allow them additional ageing and care. After a meticulous cask selection, they settled on virgin American Oak with the sole aim of capturing the very essence of rye whiskey. As one of the final projects for Dave to have worked on, The Library Series stands out as one of the last opportunities to embrace his remarkable legacy. And with the whiskey itself bottled at the cask strength of 56.9% ABV, this is rye that is not just supremely crafted, but captured in its purest form. It is available exclusively from The Single Malt Shop.

ABOUT WHISTLEPIG DISTILLERY

In 2007, a group of people decided to buy a farm in the idyllic surroundings of Shoreham, Vermont. Inspired by the wonderful nature all around them, they started conjuring up plans of making a hyper local Vermont whiskey. Their dream was to grow their own rye, harvest oak from local forests to make unique barrels, source water from the estate well and to distill and age it all on site. In 2015, it all became a reality when Dave Pickerell ran their first distillation in a copper still he specifically made and customized for them. His WhistlePig mantra was soon born, “Our grain. Our water. Our wood. We call it the Triple Terroir.”

Such a groundbreaking approach, indicates the sheer strength of character of what makes WhistlePig stand out. Whether they’re working with older outside stock or their newer farm distilled spirit, their dedication to creating the finest rye whiskeys in the world is totally unrivalled. The results speak for themselves. WhistlePig’s portfolio is the most awarded home of rye whiskeys in the world.

ABOUT THE SINGLE MALT SHOP

The Single Malt Shop is based in Dublin and owned and operated by The Single Malt Fund, the world’s first publicly listed Alternative Investment Fund for whisky. Listed on the Nordic Growth Market in Sweden, The Single Malt Fund is fully regulated, offering investors a safe way to invest in the Water of Life. We invest in rare and limited edition whiskies from all over the world and make these available for sale via The Single Malt Shop.

The idea for The Single Malt Fund came about on a trip with friends to Islay, on a cold and wet January weekend. Over a dram or two, our founders thought it would be a good idea for whisky enthusiasts around the world to be able to invest in their favourite precious liquid. At the same time, they wanted to allow investors and the general public alike to purchase any stocks that we source, on an on-going basis. So, The Single Malt Fund and The Single Malt Shop were born. As whisky fans ourselves, we are delighted to be a new player in the industry and look forward to playing a small role in promoting the liquid that we all love.

WHISTLEPIG VOLUME 1 OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA SERIES, AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE SINGLE MALT SHOP

Age: 11 Years, All Rye

Cask: Single Cask, virgin American Oak

ABV: 56.9%

Price: £401.50 from The Single Malt Shop. Price includes free shipping to UK until the end of May.

Tasting Notes:

– NOSE

Caramel sweetness alongside fresh mint, pomegranate molasses and lemon sherbet.

– PALATE

Candied nectarine, caraway seed, nutmeg with a pink peppercorn heat.

– FINISH

Lingering spice, toffee apple with a prickly pear back note.

Availability: Shipping worldwide. Click here to see a list of countries

Badachro Distillery releases limited edition new port cask single malt whisky expression

A Highland distillery has unveiled its latest limited edition single malt – a smooth, velvety whisky finished in ruby port casks.

Badachro Distillery has released a run of Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask, limited to just 1,200 hand-filled and numbered bottles.

The unpeated Highland single malt is the latest cask expression of the distillery’s popular Bad na h-Achlaise series. Aged in bourbon barrels and refill hogsheads for several years, it has been vatted and filled in handpicked ruby port casks and matured in the Badachro dunnage warehouse for a full year before bottling.

Managing director Gordon Quinn said: “Our new port cask expression reflects the tranquillity and peacefulness of our corner of the Scottish Highlands. We selected ruby port casks for their distinct dark chocolate and vibrant red fruit influence and, once all four finishing casks were married together, we knew we had created a unique single malt.

“Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask is a smooth, unpeated whisky that we believe is the perfect dram to begin a tasting session with. And, if you’re anything like us, continue with too!”

Tasting notes:

• Nose: sweet with jams, blackberries, vanilla, fresh sawn oak and currants
• Mouth feel: sprightly with powerful black cherry and glazed red cherries, a hint of bitter chocolate and pink jelly baby or strawberry sherbets
• Finish: lively with dried fig then a long lasting stewed mix of red fruits and berries

Bad na h-Achlaise Port Cask is available from www.badachrodistillery.com and selected stockists.

46% ABV, 70cl, £56.95 – limited to 1,200 bottles.

Badachro Distillery in the western Scottish Highlands is home to a range of uniquely handcrafted whiskies, gins and vodkas that have gained a reputation for bold, complex flavours that leave you coming back for more. The distillery is a true family venture – founded by Gordon and Vanessa Quinn who met at the Badachro Inn and married just 12 weeks later. After travelling the world together, the pair returned to Badachro to follow their dream of setting up a craft distillery.

Find out more about Badachro Distillery at www.badachrodistillery.com, or follow the distillery on Instagram (@badachrodistillery), Twitter (@badachrospirits) or Facebook (/badachrodistillery).

TWO NEW WHISKIES JOIN

GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERS’ PORTFOLIO

The distillers behind the World’s Best Single Malt 2021 add GlenAllachie 8-year-old

 and White Heather 15-year-old to growing core range offering

The GlenAllachie Distillers Company today reveals two new product innovations for its brands’ core ranges: The GlenAllachie 8-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky and White Heather 15-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky.

Both products are expertly created by industry stalwart Billy Walker, renowned for his exceptional wood management and blending skills, and who this year celebrates reaching his 50^th year in Scotch whisky.

The GlenAllachie 8-year-old (UK RRSP £42.50) marries together spirit aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry puncheons, along with virgin oak casks and red wine barriques, each specially selected by Walker.

The Speyside Single Malt offers up the brand’s classic heather honey character, leading to rich notes of stem ginger, mint chocolate and chewy raisins, achieving 92 points at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2022.

Looking to follow in the footsteps of highly successful younger releases, such as The GlenAllachie 10-year-old which was named World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2021, the 8-year-old will be an ongoing, accessibly priced offering within the brand’s core range.

White Heather 15-year-old (UK RRSP £59.99) is a premium Blended Scotch containing both peated and unpeated malts from Speyside, Islay and the Northern Highlands along with carefully selected grain whiskies.

The White Heather brand sees Walker return to his roots in the Scotch Whisky industry when he earned his stripes as a blender, developing world-leading products for the global market.

To create the new 15-year-old, the whisky underwent a complex dual maturation system, beginning its life in Sherry butts and American oak barrels, before being skilfully blended by Walker and re-racked into Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry puncheons as well as American virgin oak casks to spend an additional three years.

With a high malt content of 47 per cent, the amber toned liquid scooped Gold with 95 points at the IWSC 2022, being described as “outstanding” by the expert judging panel.

The new expression joins White Heather 21-year-old, first unveiled in March 2021, to form a core range for the premium Blended Scotch brand.

Both GlenAllachie 8-year-old and White Heather 15-year-old are proudly presented at their natural colour, non chill filtered and at a high strength of 46% ABV for maximum flavour.

Commenting on the new products, Walker reveals:

“From the outset, it has been my aim to release quality whiskies at fair and accessible price points. This can be a significant challenge when you also choose to deploy an extensive and costly wood management policy, however, I believe The GlenAllachie 8-year-old fits the bill without any compromises or corner-cutting.

“In terms of White Heather, this has been a real passion project for me. It takes me back to my first forays in the industry and allows me to select and blend whiskies from across Scotland in order to achieve the intended flavour profile. I hold a strong belief that interest in the Premium Blend category is growing, and we very much want to be at the forefront of it with White Heather.”

Both The GlenAllachie 8-year-old and White Heather 15-year-old are available on an ongoing basis through global specialist retailers, with UK RRSPs of £42.50 and £59.99 respectively.

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 8-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% ABV

• Colour: Sunset Bronze.
• Nose: Heather honey, butterscotch and cinnamon, followed by waves of ginger, toasted almonds and mocha.
• Taste: Lashings of treacle, dried sultanas and butterscotch, with cinnamon, peppermint and honeycomb.

White Heather 15-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky – 46% ABV

• Colour: Golden Bronze.
• Nose: Waves of heather honey and butterscotch, followed by orange peel, pineapple, mint and a hint of peat.
• Taste: Layers of treacle, heather honey and butterscotch, followed by orange peel, grapefruit and almonds, with mocha, ginger and a light whisp of peaty smoke on the finish.

Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Named Global Icon of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year

Widow Jane Bourbon named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards announced the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience as the Global Visitor Attraction of the Year. The award was announced in London on March 24 at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2022, celebrating the very best people and places in the industry. Widow Jane 10-Year-Old Bourbon also received World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon during the ceremony.

Previously announced as a 2022 American Icon of Whiskey Visitor Attraction of the Year, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience was voted amongst an esteemed panel of judges to best this year’s finalists. Unveiled on June 14, 2021 as the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, the expansion and renovation of Heaven Hill Distillery’s visitor center in Bardstown are the culmination of a multi-year $125 million investment in Kentucky’s signature industry and model for the future of tourism since 2018. The state-of-the-art experience received a $19 million upgrade to become an interactive, educational space offering signature exhibits unique to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience. First opened on Oct. 15, 2004 as the Bourbon Heritage Center under the guidance of the late Harry Shapira, Heaven Hill’s presence as one of the first visitor centers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail has played an instrumental role in establishing Kentucky as a top tourist destination.

“The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is a showcase example of the perseverance and commitment Heaven Hill has made to the future of this industry,” said Jeff Crowe, Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences, Heaven Hill Distillery and 2022 American Icon of Whiskey Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year. “Our team navigated the last several years with determination and grace to eventually welcome back visitors from across the world to experience the best of Kentucky Bourbon and spectacular Commonwealth. We are honored to be recognized as a leader in tourism.”

As noted by Christopher Coates, editor of Whiskey Magazine, “The global whisky industry has taken the challenges of the past few years in its stride, and the strength of the entries we’ve received to our Icons awards for 2022 reflects this perfectly.”

Widow Jane 10-Year-Old was also recognized as the World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon, previously receiving Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon at the American World Whiskies Awards. Heaven Hill Brands acquired Samson & Surrey on Feb. 1, 2022, including its portfolio of brands and facilities like Widow Jane. The acquisition of Samson & Surrey further extends Heaven Hill’s portfolio with six high-growth, super-premium brands in several of the industry’s fastest growing categories.

Several Heaven Hill brands were also recognized during the American World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky presentation. Notable awards include Jeff Crowe named as Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, Widow Jane 10-Year-Old winning Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon, Widow Jane Oak & Apple Wood Aged Rye winning Gold in the Rye category, and Henry McKenna winning Gold in the Bourbon category. More information, including silver and bronze medalists, can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.

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.

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

The fourth World Whisky Forum goes Virtual.

Since 2017, the World Whisky Forum has been about building bridges

in the world of whisky through the exchange of knowledge, networking and open-minded thinking.

The goal is to develop the trade, the product and to push progress – together.

The fourth World Whisky Forum will be held at Stauning Whisky on the 21st to 23rd June, and tickets are currently on sale. Attendees from across the industry will enjoy panel discussions, tours and dinners but also the opportunity to gather for three days with people who all share a passion for whisky.

For the first time, however, you can also choose to take part virtually and watch all the presentations from some of the industry’s most respected voices.

Virtual attendees will be able to watch the panel discussions live or access the recordings exclusively for a limited period. They will also be able to submit questions to the panellists up to a week after the Forum.

The overall theme of the World Whisky Forum 2022 is Sustainability, including topics such as ”The use of finite resources”, ”Building sustainable distilleries and the financial upside of sustainable production” and ”Communicating with the consumer”.

Read more about the World Whisky Forum and see the full line-up of panellists at www.worldwhiskyforum.org and buy your ticket now at www.worldwhiskyforum.org/tickets/.

We look forward to seeing you in June – either in person or virtually.

For more information, please contact Jan Groth at jan.groth@worldwhiskyforum.org

FETTERCAIRN UNVEILS THIRD RELEASE IN SMALL BATCH SERIES

New Warehouse 2 Batch No. 003 celebrates Fettercairn’s enlightened approach to whisky making.

Fettercairn Distillery has unveiled the third release in its hugely popular and sought-after Warehouse 2 Collection, an inspired small batch series created to celebrate the hidden gems within its 14 dunnage warehouses and to showcase its commitment to enlightened whisky making.

Limited to just 9,600 bottles, Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch No. 003 was distilled in 2015 and matured in a selection of handpicked ex-Bourbon barrels (57%), rum barrels (16%) and French red wine barriques (27%).  This unique combination of casks was carefully chosen from the treasure trove of aging stock in Warehouse 2, where high humidity combines with the relatively cool and temperate environment to make their mark on the maturing spirit.

The Warehouse Collection celebrates the talent, passion and commitment of the distillery team, coupled with the vision of Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker, in seeking unusual and interesting casks to craft these unconventional small batch releases.  Limited in number and availability, the Collection has already captured the imagination of both collectors and whisky drinkers with its striking look and clear purpose.

With discovery a driving force at Fettercairn, this wonderful collection of whiskies has been crafted to explore the treasure trove of aging stock in Warehouse 2. In line with the ethos of enlightened whisky making, a detailed breakdown of the cask make-up is proudly presented on each bottle and pack bringing complete transparency to every new release.

Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker, said: “With expectation high following the popularity of the first two releases in the Collection, we knew we needed to deliver something special with this third release, without compromising the approach we’ve been striving to adopt.  As such, when personally hand selecting casks for this edition, I wanted to push the boundaries further to create a beautifully balanced single malt which delivered both freshness and complexity in character. I believe Batch No. 003 is another true one off for Fettercairn.

“Warehouse 2 has so much to offer in terms of diversity and quality of the casks and it is always a challenging, yet enthralling task to select the ones to create each batch. The choice of French barriques combined with rum barrels for this release has brought a truly different dimension to this spirit and enabled us to keep showcasing our innovative and experimental approach.”

Fettercairn Warehouse 2, Batch No.003 will be available at an RSP of £60 in key global markets including the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France from April, extending to key Asia markets from May onwards.

Discover Fettercairn: Rare, Pure & Enlightened

Tasting notes

Nose: Warm honey, Alphonso mango, brioche, cocoa, subtle forest fruits and waves of rose water

Taste: Passion fruit, papaya, red berries and grape must harmonise with sugared almonds, patisserie spice and heather honey.

www.fettercairnwhisky.com

Facebook @fettercairnwhisky

Instagram @fettercairnwhisky

Twitter @FettercairnWh

About Fettercairn

Our founder, Sir Alexander Ramsay, was one of the Scottish landowners who campaigned for the licensing of Scotch Whisky distilling. In 1824 Fettercairn he established the Fettercairn Distillery, in the Northeast of Scotland; it was to become one of the first licensed single malt distilleries. Despite his campaigns for regulation, Ramsay recruited illicit whisky makers as his first stillmen, knowing only they had the knowledge and experience required to make great whisky. From our very beginnings, we’ve been doing things a little differently in the pursuit of great whisky.

In the mid-1950s, the whisky makers at Fettercairn experimented, seeking ways to create a purer expression of their spirit. They found that pouring water down the still cooled the copper, increasing condensation inside so only the lightest vapours could rise for collection. They fashioned a copper tube around the top of the still to continually douse it with crystal clear mountain water. This simple yet ingenious engineering feat not only creates a purer expression of our whisky, but beautiful oxidized patina of the copper with shades of teal, brushed cooper and white proudly marking our stills. To this day our copper cooling ring remains unique in Scotch whisky making.

Today Fettercairn Distillery continues this trend of ingenious thinking and is the home of enlightened whisky making, where experimental and considered, open minded innovation provides inspiration in the creation of the most exceptional and rare single malt whiskies.  Driven by the idea of entire craft, there is an inherent commitment to the land and the idea of nurturing and embracing every single part of the process, from forest to field to Fettercairn.

As part of this philosophy, we are always discovering and learning and feed our imagination and passion to create distinct whiskies with a surprising tropical character.

About Gregg Glass- Master Whisky Maker

Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker.

Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.

Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.

Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio. 

Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay

Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte & Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte & Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.

Glencairn Crystal Studio offers luxury spirits glassware solution  during industry shortage

A Glencairn premium glass bottle shown in four designs.

Premium and luxury spirits brand owners are currently facing a packaging challenge within the industry: the sourcing and availability of premium glass.

In response to the current situation, Scotland-based crystal glassware company Glencairn Crystal is reaching out to the drinks industry to offer support. Due to the company’s strong and consistent supply chain, it has large quantities of premium glass bottles available and is working hard to meet the ever-increasing needs of clients – both existing and new – who are searching for a solution to the growing problem.

This issue is proving particularly challenging for the premium malt whiskies category aged 18 years and over, as well as other spirits of significant age and value. Often priced around £100 and over, this sector requires vessels that are more exclusive than a standard mass-produced bottle, however still kept at an affordable price point offering decent economies of scale.

Why has this situation emerged?

With the trend in luxury spirits still very much on the rise – whisky and spirits companies continue to ‘premiumise’ many of their expressions in order to meet this demand and are keen to, not only create the finest liquid, but also beautiful, stand-out packaging to add value to and increase the desirability of their new product launches.

However, the global rebound in demand as Covid subsides in many areas, coupled with increased energy costs and world-wide transportation issues has pushed up price and extended lead times of premium glass bottles, leading to delays of up to 12 months, with new projects taking up to 18 months to bring to production.

With a need for solutions that address environmental concerns, the lack of suitable glass and on-going supply chain issues all frustrating the industry. It is this element that Glencairn is offering unrivalled support in terms of outstanding service that includes design, creation and supply of premium glass bottles and with such a superior supply chain, they can meet demand at short notice.

Filling the gap in the market:

Scott Davidson, New Product Development Director at Glencairn said: “We’ve been evolving our offerings for over 40 years to provide an unparalleled range of premium cosmetic glass bottles and lead-free crystal bottles and decanters. We have worked hard to take the learning from some of the most expensive decanters in the world and supply this on more affordable, and importantly, more readily available, premium glass bottles.”

“Our talented team of craftspeople can decorate cosmetic glass and bottles to the highest standards with bespoke designs developed by our inhouse design team. Our decoration facilities are at the cutting edge of the market, with industry leading production processes in engraving, decoration and precious metal and materials application.”

Glencairn Crystal’s premium cosmetic glass bottles come in all shapes and sizes and are fully recyclable (minimum order quantities far less than many other suppliers).

The company also supplies semi-automatically produced, hand finished crystal decanters, as opposed to hand blown, meaning that luxury spirits can be housed in high quality crystal glassware but without the huge leap in cost for crystal decanters made by hand, which are for only the rarest releases.

To hear more about what Glencairn Crystal  is offering existing, new and potential customers in this area of glassware, please contact: contact@glencairn.co.uk

Glencairn Crystal’s sustainability strategy and environmental positioning:

As a socially and environmentally responsible family business we are strongly influenced by our families’ children’s views on the environment, as they are the future of both our business and our planet.

We’ve undertaken an extensive expansion and remodelling of our factory and offices at our headquarters in East Kilbride, just outside Glasgow, as part of our strategy to increase our level of sustainability and to re-use and reduce rather than just recycle.

This marks an exciting moment for us as we strive to become 100% dependent on our own solar energy. The energy generated by our brand new solar storage system will be over and above the required amount for our company to run off and any excess electricity generated will be sent back to the grid and can be repurposed for other local usage.

We’ve also invested in various other key initiatives including electric car charging points so that all company cars are now either fully electric or hybrid. Day-to-day office functions such as recycling and packaging have been carefully considered, with the ambition to remove the use of all plastic packaging entirely over the next five years. We’ve also reduced gas usage across the business by 30% and this will to rise to 60% over the next 5 years – eventually leading to removal of gas energy altogether over the next ten years.

Samuel Gelston’s Launch New Cream Liqueur just in time for Easter

Irish whiskey brand, Samuel Gelston’s, has today (Tuesday 12th April) unveiled its latest expression – a decadent Irish Cream liqueur which will sit alongside its award-winning range of whiskies. An ideal Easter gift for chocolate lovers, the finest Irish whiskey, smooth rich cream and luscious chocolate have been expertly blended to create the indulgent new expression.

Bottled at 17% ABV, flavours of milk chocolate and vibrant vanilla are underpinned by smooth, rich Irish whiskey. With a delicate spiced finish, this versatile liqueur can be enjoyed chilled on its own, in coffee and hot chocolate, or as a delicious dessert ingredient.

Established in Belfast in the 1830s, and purchased by Harry Neill in 1869, the Samuel Gelston’s brand is synonymous with sourcing, bonding and blending some of the finest single malt and pot still whiskey from across Ireland. It has remained in the Neill family for five generations and is currently owned by Harry’s great, great grandson Johnny Neill who commented:

“The launch of our first liqueur is a historic moment for my family who have been making quality artisanal spirits for generations. Our latest offering is a real testament to the passion, skill and craftmanship of our team who have created what I believe is a perfect blend of Irish whiskey, chocolate and cream. We are confident that it will be a real hit with drinkers and marks what is set to be both a busy and exciting year for the business.”  

Samuel Gelston’s Irish Cream Liqueur is now available from selected Tesco stores across Northern Ireland and The Drop Store RRP £14. The wider range is also available in Booths, Waitrose and specialist whisky retailers, and also online via https://samuelgelstons.com/.

About Samuel Gelston’s

Gelston’s Irish Whiskey has won 35 prestigious industry accolades across its portfolio since 2018, including Double Golds at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Best in Class (Ireland) at the London Spirits Competition.

Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish whiskey was founded in 1830 by Samuel Gelston. It was a time when Irish whiskey was famous around the world.

Samuel, a wine and whiskey merchant from Belfast, made it his mission to source, blend and bottle the best Irish whiskey from across Ireland. At the time there were 88 licensed distilleries on the island, and Samuel selected the very highest quality liquids for each bottle.

In 1869, upon Samuel’s death, the business was bought by Harry J. Neill. Harry had previously left Ireland’s shores with his younger brother Percival in order to make their fortunes in the Australian Gold rush of 1851. Having set up and subsequently sold his successful provisions business in Melbourne & Geelong, Harry returned to Belfast and purchased Gelston’s. His brother travelled on to New Zealand to set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882.

Harry was the son of a Belfast merchant and French wine importer and was passionate about whiskey – indeed his grandfather and great grandfather had been whiskey distillers in Comber from the 1730s and 1760’s. He therefore continued their and Samuel Gelston’s legacy of sourcing, blending and bottling the very finest whiskeys, and developed the Gelston’s Irish whiskey brand around the world.

However, the Irish Whiskey landscape faced serious challenges as it entered the 20^th century, and the combined effects of World War I, the Irish War for Independence and finally Prohibition, resulted in the near collapse of the Irish Whiskey industry – which, in turn, led to the demise of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey.

The brand remained with the Neill family, and five generations on it has now been brought back to life by Harry’s great great grandson, Johnny Neill. Johnny and well-known master distiller Frank McHardy made it their mission to journey across Ireland again to source, bottle and blend the best liquids they could find and Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish Whiskey was reborn.

The current collection includes Samuel Gelston’s Single Malt, Single Pot Still, 5 Year Old Single Malt, 10 Year Old Single Malt, 15YO Single Malt, 26 Year Old Single Malt. Cousins, Johnny & Sam Neill, descendants of Harry and Percival have joined forces on the latest launch that marries Johnny’s Irish Whiskey with Sam’s Pinot Noir New Zealand Wine Casks.

This exciting brand is back doing what it did best.

EXTREMELY RARE BLACK BOWMORE ASTON MARTIN DB5-31 YEAR OLD EXCELS AT BONHAMS WHISKYSALE

View the catalogue: Bonhams : The Old, the Rare and the Only an extraordinary single owner collection of Whisky Part 1

Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5-31 year old-1964 sold for £115,900

London – An extremely rare bottle of Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5-31 year old-1964 sold for £115,900 at The Old, The Rare and The Only: an extraordinary single-owner collection of rare Whisky sale Part 1 at Bonhams in London on Wednesday 13 April. It had been estimated at £75,000-85,000. 

Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky specialist in London said: “Decanter 19 out of only 27, this legendary Bowmore vintage was first bottled in 1995. Renowned for its unparalleled taste, it was re-bottled in 2020 and presented in a decanter that incorporates a genuine Aston Martin DB5 piston.”

The bottle featured in one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of rare Whisky to appear on the market for many years. The private single-owner collection took more than 20 years to assemble and included some of the most desirable and rarest bottles ever to appear at auction. Part II of the sale will take place on Wednesday 8th June and will offer a further selection of some of the rarest and most desirable bottles of single malt Whiskies.

Other highlights of the 13 April sale included:

• The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages-1967. The third collaboration between the Speyside distillery and world-famous pop artist, Sir Peter Blake, was designed to celebrate The Macallan’s long history and Sir Peter’s prestigious career. Each bottle bears a label with artwork by Sir Peter, which is a replica of the label on the bottle held in The Macallan archives. Sold for £42,700 (estimate: £35,000-40,000).

• Ardbeg Double Barrel-1974. Two bottles from a limited edition of 250 pairs. Presented in an original bespoke leather-bound gun case made by Purdey & Sons, the pair come with eight engraved sterling silver drinking cups. Sold for £23,180 (estimate £20,000-25,000).

• The Balvenie-50 year old. A marriage of five fifty-year-old casks hand selected by Malt Master David Stewart, The Balvenie Distillery. Bottled on 23/04/2019, it comes in an original handcrafted wooden presentation case by Sam Chinnery. Sold for £19,250 (estimate: £18,000-20,000).

• Mortlach-75 year old-1939. The Generations range by Gordon & MacPhail, showcases some of the longest-matured Scotch whisky ever bottled.  This 75-year-old Mortlach was the third release in the series. Bottled in 2014 from a single First-Fill Sherry Butt, it was filled in November 1939, just two months into World War II. Sold for £18,300 (estimate: £15,000-18,000).

• Glenfarclas 60-year-old. Bottled 2014, it was one of 360 bottles. Sold for £15,860 (estimate: £14,000-16,000).

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewellery, watches, wine and whisky. 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

#Ardbeg #Islay #Shortie #Ardcore #ArdbegDay2022 #BlackMaltBarley

ARDBEG GEARS UP FOR A CELEBRATION AS THE DISTILLERY LAUNCHES ITS LATEST PUNK ROCK LIMITED EDITION: ARDCORE 

Never mind the barrels, it’s all about the black malt! Ardbeg invites its worldwide fandom to join them for their global Ardbeg Day 2022 celebrations.

Held annually on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle), Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all things Ardbeg. This year, the event falls on 4th June, with festivities set to take place at the Distillery, online, and at local events around the world. To celebrate the launch of their latest palate “punk-turing” Limited Edition, Ardcore, the Distillery is calling on their rabble-rousing mass of fans to rock up for the loudest event in the whisky calendar.

From Ardbeg, a Distillery with more ups and downs that a pogoing punk, comes Ardcore. Created with roasted black malt – an unconventional choice, and a first for Ardbeg – this spirit is all about what happens up front, centre-stage. Incinerated to hair-raising levels, the malt is what defines its distinctive profile. Described by Dr Bill Lumsden as tasting ‘like biting on a spiky ball’, this devilishly delicious dram is one for the ages.

Inspired by the devil-may-care attitude of Ardbeg’s fans, this dram is bottled for them. Ardcore also draws inspiration from Islay’s little-known punk past, celebrating the characters of ‘PUNK ELLEN’ – the alleged nickname for Islay’s main port, Port Ellen, in the 1970s.

Colin Gordon, Ardbeg’s Distillery Manager, said: “This year will be my first physical Ardbeg Day. We know not everybody can make it to Islay, so we’re delighted to be broadcasting all the day’s antics online too. Whether at the Distillery or at home, we hope lots of you rock up, punked out and ready to party come 4th June!”

Ardbeg’s Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “Ardcore is a dram that wears its heart on its sleeve – its black heart! Created with roasted black malt, burnt to hair-raising levels, this spirit is all about substance. Notes of charcoal and sweet smoke make for an in-your-face nose, while potent notes of aniseed and dark chocolate stamp this bottle out as one fit only for the most Ardcore of fans.” 

Ardcore will be available to buy from Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists, online retailers and from the Distillery Visitor Centre, RRP: £100 from 17^th May onwards. Ardbeg Day events will comply with local covid guidance, and numbers may be limited for the safety and enjoyment of all. For more news on Ardbeg Day 2022 and all things Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky fans can join the Ardbeg Committee at Ardbeg.com.

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Tasting notes

LIKE BITING ON A SPIKY BALL

Colour:             Pale, translucent gold

Aroma:            Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses, with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage.

Taste:              A jaw dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel leads to an explosion of rich, smoky flavours – cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their way to the fore, “punk-turing” taste buds.

Finish:              In an altogether sweeter finish, long, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, but delicious, aftertaste.

ABV:                Committee Release 50.1%
Main Release 46%

RRP: £100 

NOTES: 

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 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 niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.  

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 100,000 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 was twice, been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads 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 10 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.

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.