World’s largest private whisky collection set to sell for £8m

The world’s largest ever private whisky collection, comprising 3,900 bottles, is poised to sell for a projected £8 million when it goes under the hammer in Perth next February. Further cementing Scotch whisky’s status as one of the most valuable investments on the market.

The collection was compiled by US businessman, Richard Gooding, whose family founded the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Denver. This was eventually sold to PepsiCo in 1988 for a considerable sum.

An ardent Scotch connoisseur, Richard amassed his collection over the course of 20 years, before passing away in 2014 aged 67. He travelled from his native Colorado to distilleries across Scotland, with the aim of capturing bottles representing every distillery. Some of the showpieces in the collection include two bottles of highly coveted, The Macallan 1926 60-year old, as well as a Springbank 1919 50-year-old.

The news of the collection’s value comes after Knight Frank recently included whisky in its annual Luxury Investment Index, along with classic cars, wine, diamonds, coins and stamps. In 2018, whisky ranked second in the index, only behind art in terms of sales. This was helped by a new world record price set for a bottle of rare single malt scotch whisky. The Michael Dillon hand-painted bottle of the Macallan 1926 was sold by Christies for $1.5 million USD.

Whisky accounts for 70% of Scottish food and drink exports, and 21% of all UK food and drink exports. In 2018, the export value of Scotch whisky grew by 7.8%, to a record £4.70 billion and the number of 70cl bottles exported reached record levels, growing to the equivalent of 1.28 billion.

Commenting on the announcement, Jay Bradley, founder of cask whisky investment company, Whisky & Wealth Club, said: “This excellent collection features some of the most prized bottles for investors and connoisseurs alike. Its potential sale price highlights the incredible value of Scotch whisky as an investment.

“Scotch’s value is continually rising, with no signs of letting up. Distilleries are increasingly opening their doors to raise capital to support their operations by offering individuals the chance to invest in casks of new-make whisky, which are then aged.  Investing in casks, over bottles of rare whisky, can provide investors with an easier way into this lucrative industry.”

Whiskey & Wealth Club works with distilleries, offering investors the opportunity to purchase casks of new-make spirit. The company is planning to incorporate sale by auction in 2020.

The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky

Part 2 now LIVE on Amazon Prime!

Part 2 of the Amazon Prime travelogue series with a drinks twist, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, is now streaming live on Amazon prime with new episodes.

The series follows TV Presenters and professional drinks writing trio, Helena Nicklin, Aidy Smith and Colin Hampden-White on a new adventure through Scotland. Starting on the isle of Jura and heading west through Campbeltown, ‘the whiskiest place in the world’, the trio take in Glasgow and the university’s ground-breaking whisky tongue before taking a road trip through stunning locations, trying their hands at various physical challenges and of course, tasting drams at distilleries.

“Episodes 5, 6 and 7 have quite a different feel,” says Smith. “There’s more adventure, more travel and tourism and we even start to taste spirits – shock horror – other than whisky!”

The team visit new brand partners: The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt, Glen Scotia, Loch Lomond Whisky, Glen Moray and taste curious tipples from Firkin Gin and Master of Malt.

You can watch all episodes now on Amazon Prime here. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, please contact us for a private Vimeo link to the new episodes.

Episode 5

Colin, Aidy and Helena head back up to Scotland to replenish their whisky stocks and discover more that the country has to offer. From enjoying the peace (and whisky) of Jura, where George Orwell wrote his last masterpiece, to visiting Campbeltown and discovering its rich whisky history, The Three Drinkers are back with a – freezing cold – splash! Brands featured: Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Scotia.

Episode 6

Lord Aidy finally gets to visit ‘his’ castle and he has a surprise for the others. Colin and Helena discover the real reason people enjoy salmon fishing and Glasgow University pits their artificial tongue against our human experts. Brands featured: Loch Lomond, Master of Malt Drinks by the Dram, Glen Moray, Dunkeld Salmon, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel.

Episode 7

In this episode, Helena busts some myths about the real Macbeth and Cawdor Castle, Colin gets jealous when Aidy tastes a very rare dram and after chasing whisky waterfalls and a spot of ghost hunting, the trio get competitive to win some very special bottles. Brands featured: The Dalmore, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt, House of Mulben, Firkin Gin, Edinburgh Ice Company, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.

Photo stills from the show can be downloaded here.

To celebrate the end of the series, the trio also sourced their own limited edition whisky inspired by all the locations in the show. Cask Selection No. 1 is a 17 year old blended malt available exclusively through Master of Malt for £39.95.

Press & Interviews

The Three Drinkers are available for interviews to discuss the show, the latest drinks trends or even to explore the bizarre drinks they’ve tried from around the world live on radio, TV or online/magazine format. Please see an example written interview on The Independent.

Brand Collaborations

For brands looking to collaborate with The Three Drinkers, they frequently host consumer masterclasses and influencer events alongside a host of digital activations. Please contact marketing@thethreedrinkers.com for more information.

You can follow The Three Drinkers progress via their website and social media channels:

Instagram: @TheThreeDrinkers   |   Twitter: @The3Drinkers   |   thethreedrinkers.com

The Three Drinkers are a trio of expert drinks writers and presenters of ‘The Three Drinkers’ TV series on Amazon Prime. Through The Three Drinkers Productions, they offer a 360 degree approach to drinks content through the creation of short films, written features, social campaigns and strategic consumer events plus documentary series and branded content TV shows for streaming services. Authentic, credible and engaging, The Three Drinkers get liquid on lips and build new audiences for your brand through their informative, lifestyle approach to drinks.

SOCIETY MAKES IT THREE-IN-A-ROW WITH INDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has claimed a third consecutive top award in Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.

The award, which recognises the consistently outstanding quality of their whiskies, is an unprecedented three-in-a-row for the title and a remarkable seventh time they’ve picked up the accolade in the past 10 years.

The Society also won the regional awards for Independent Bottler of the Year for Lowlands, Islay, Speyside and American whiskies. Their partner bars also picked up several accolades, with Campbeltown’s Ardshiel Hotel winning Hotel Bar of the Year and Dornoch Castle being named Highly-commended, while the Glasgow partner bar the Bon Accord won Bar of the Year.

The Society, which is the world’s leading whisky club, specialises in single cask whisky and takes a unique approach to their bottlings by celebrating the flavours across whisky through 12 flavour profiles.

Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “What a fantastic achievement for the Society, which we’re delighted to share with all of our members.

“Winning the overall title of Independent Bottler of the Year for the third time in a row is a huge endorsement for our ever-more creative approach to the whiskies we are able to offer our members, whether they are single cask bottlings, whiskies that we’ve additionally matured, or our experimental range of blended malt bottlings.

“We’re currently offering a wider range of whiskies than ever before, and this accolade demonstrates that we’re serving our membership well – and giving more and more whisky lovers good reason to join our ‘All Together Unique’ Society.

“Prospective members can look forward to even more amazing offerings in 2020, so it’s the perfect time to sign up and share our love for amazing whisky and good company.”

This Society’s latest award as Independent Bottler of the Year for 2019 comes on the back of a hugely impressive year of accolades, with a ‘best in show’ win in the recent Luxury Masters award as well as the Scotch Whisky Masters, along with top awards in the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the International Spirits Challenge, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

See below for the full list of SMWS winning bottles:

CAMPBELTOWN

12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 93.119: Charcoal in a honeypot

12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 93.111: Sea through the smoke

12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 93.108: Earthy and masculine

ISLAY

Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year

12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 33.138: A thigh-slapping dram

12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 10.162: Big wave sofa

12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 10.181: Feast of St Columba

13 to 20 Years: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 29.260: A visceral elemental experience

21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 29.258: Remembrance of fruits past

21 Years & Over: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 53.308: Let the Tempest tout an’ blaw!

HIGHLANDS

12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 96.31: Poised and balanced

12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 123.31: Death by florist

21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 77.51: Flower shower

21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 66.145: Flambe away

ISLANDS (NON-ISLAY)

13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 4.249: The mermaid’s marmalade

LOWLAND

Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year

12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 136.2: Paradise in a paradis

13 to 20 Years: Gold gold medal

Cask No. 5.71: Elbow patches and saucy librarians

21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 50.109: Mangroves and marshmallows

21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner

Cask No 97.22: Emerald-masked triple thrill

SPEYSIDE

Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year

12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 35.247: In a tabanco in Jerez

13 to 20 Years: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 46.84: Velvety complexity

13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 37.128: Big bold and boisterous

21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 1.212: Beeswax on barrels

21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 9.169: Enthralling and enchanting

IRISH

13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 51.11: Irish danger juice

13 to 20 Years: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 51.13: Fifty shades of lemon

GRAIN

21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner

Cask No. G1.18: Pyjamas for the soul

21 Years & Over: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. G7.15: Mind-altering hugs

NON-SCOTCH

No Age Statement: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 139.2: A tropical affair

No Age Statement: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 139.1: Chomping on a herbal cigar

12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner

Cask No. 140.1: Cornography

AMERICAN

Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year

12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner

Cask No. 140.2: Shotgun whirligig

12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner

Cask No. 140.3: Nik nak woody

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

https://www.smws.com/

f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/

t: https://twitter.com/SMWSUK

yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos

#SMWS 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk
• 

IRISH DISTILLERS HONOURED AS WORLD WHISKEY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

Irish Distillers, producer of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has taken home the World Whiskey Producer of the Year trophy at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, following a prestigious ceremony in London.

Irish Distillers scooped the respected accolade after scoring the highest number of medals across its portfolio of Irish whiskeys throughout the 2019 awards season, beating distillers from Japan, Ireland and the USA. The result follows an outstanding year of recognition for Midleton Distillery which saw it claim 24 award wins, including the Worldwide Whiskey Trophy for Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still, which continues to be the most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey in the world.

The influential spirits competition also awarded Jameson Cooper’s Croze and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy with an impressive 98 points out of 100, meaning Irish Distillers won the most Gold Outstanding honours within the Irish whiskey category. In addition, the Powers Three Swallows release, Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old, Redbreast 15 Year Old and Red Spot 15 Year Old Single Pot Still were also awarded gold medals.

The international benchmark for quality, the IWSC was the first competition of its kind, set up to seek out, reward and promote the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Now in its 50th year, the IWSC’s relentless pursuit of excellence underpins every aspect of the competition today. The IWSC is set apart by the formidable reputation of its judging process with panels made up of carefully selected industry experts including Master Distillers, Masters of Wine, wine and spirit buyers and sommeliers, WSET qualified educators and respected wine and spirit journalists.

Tommy Keane, Production Director at Irish Distillers, comments “We are honoured to be recognised as World Whiskey Producer of the Year by one of the most respected awards bodies, and to see such outstanding results across the portfolio. This trophy is a tribute to the incredibly hard working passionate and skilled craftsmen and women at Midleton – 2019 has truly been a landmark year for Irish Distillers.”

About the International Wine and Spirits Competition

Now in its 50th year, the IWSC is one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world with producers entering the awards, confident that they will be judged by the premier experts in any given region and style. With dedicated tasting premises around the world, the awards are widely recognised as one of the most reliable indicators of excellence in spirits globally.

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 fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.7m cases in 2019. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 70 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

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 €250m to double our production at Midleton Distillery and bottling capacity at Fox and Geese in Dublin 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 €9,182 million in FY19. 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: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

Wyoming Whiskey Releases Outryder 7-Year-Old Straight American Whiskey

Kirby, WY (Dec. 4, 2019) – Wyoming Whiskey is releasing a 7-year-old expression of its signature Outryder Straight American Whiskey January 2020. 

Outryder, the only Bottled in Bond whiskey from Wyoming, was first released in October 2016, representing Wyoming Whiskey’s first use of rye, along with corn and malted barley. It quickly became a favorite amongst whiskey connoisseurs across the country and has a history unlike any other product in the Wyoming Whiskey portfolio.  The story of how the product first came to be gives it notoriety that can’t be created in a marketing meeting.

Those who have been following the brand for the past decade may recall that Bourbon Hall of Famer and former Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Steve Nally was hired to run all production in Kirby when the company was created. He was instrumental in developing the Small Batch mash bill and selected yeasts that yielded specific taste profiles. It was Steve’s expertise in wheated bourbon making that caused the brand’s production to commence on July 4, 2009.

Following the early trend in rye whiskeys circa 2010, Co-Founder David DeFazio put a pointed request in with Nally that he develop a rye. Nally expressed reluctance to follow orders, telling DeFazio that “No, I don’t want to make rye” and clearly communicated his distaste for the spirit.  Over a few months, the founders strongly encouraged the Bourbon Hall of Famer to reconsider his position and Nally ultimately surrendered to the request —albeit defiantly.  Two different whiskies were laid down in November and December of 2011 at the behest of DeFazio and his partner Brad Mead. Nally made nearly 100 barrels of “rye” and 200 barrels of bourbon made with rye.

A couple of years after these whiskies were made, Nally left Wyoming Whiskey to return home to spend more time with his family and pursue other projects. Fast forward to 2016 when it was time to bottle the nearly 5 year-old-barrels of bourbon and “rye”.  Wyoming Whiskey’s Distiller, Sam Mead, called DeFazio to explain that the whiskey Nally produced was only 48% rye, which disqualified it from the rye whiskey category.  The team was stunned and dumbfounded. How could it be?

DeFazio paid a phone call to Nally and said “I want you to know that the “rye” you made is spectacular … but why did you only use 48% rye in the mash bill?” Nally responded with an implied smirk, “Because I told you I didn’t want to make rye.” To hear a snippet of the story from David DeFazio himself, check out this video on The Spirit Guide Society’s recent Instagram post.

With a phenomenal high-rye whiskey that did not meet the legal 51% requirement to be called a rye, Wyoming Whiskey was left with no choice but to develop a straight, and distinct, American whiskey from Nally’s two whiskies.  The first whiskey contains 48% winter rye, 40% corn, and 12% malted barley and the second reflects a traditional bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 20% winter rye, and 12% malted barley.

Wyoming Whiskey master blender, Nancy Fraley, fine-tuned the Outryder expression through barrel selection and its specific blending process. Fraley gave Outryder excellent marks, going so far as to say that it is her favorite Wyoming Whiskey product. Fraley’s tasting notes for the 2020 release of Outryder is as follows:

COLOR: bronze to copper

NOSE: The 2020 release of Outryder is now 7 years, 10 months of age and has gained more matured, complex aromas in the arid climate of Kirby, WY.  This season’s Outryder features savory, sweet, and spicy notes of dried tobacco leaves, Jamaican allspice cake batter with golden raisins, almond butter, old cedar chest, and walnut baklava drizzled with dark honey and orange blossom water.

PALATE: The initial entry is of candied ginger, followed by mid-palate waves of sweet black tea with bruised mint leaves, grilled hazelnuts, Mexican dark hot chocolate, and cream cheese on a toasted cinnamon bagel.

MOUTHFEEL: Light to medium viscosity, with peppery mint and roundness on the palate.

FINISH: Long and luscious, with winter peppermint fading to brown butter and orange marmalade.

Consistent with Bottled in Bond requirements Outryder is bottled at 100 proof.

A total of 577 4.5L cases of Outryder will be available for purchase throughout the U.S. at the suggested price of $75.00 beginning in January.

“Steve Nally remains a great friend of the brand and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome of his defiance,” said DeFazio. “The result is an exceptional Straight American Whiskey that we couldn’t have mastered better if we had planned it.  At nearly eight years of age, its character is remarkable.”

The remaining stock of Outryder—available in limited annual supply— will be released in 8, 9 and 10-year-old expressions over the next three years until the last batch of barrels are harvested in 2022.

Wyoming Whiskey is holding fast to its western heritage, producing whiskey the right way, not the easy way: from the ground up. Using water sourced from a mile-deep limestone aquifer and all Wyoming-sourced, non-GMO ingredients, Wyoming Whiskey respects the maxims of great bourbon, yet also reflects the feel and taste of the place it was made. Since day one, every drop of Wyoming Whiskey has been made in Kirby.

Sign up to become a Whiskey Baron to receive the latest news and special offers from Wyoming Whiskey. For daily updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Wyoming Whiskey—The Whiskey of the West

Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has had a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. That goal has evolved to include all whiskies. The company and their products are a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey.  They use the finest corn, winter wheat, winter rye, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources.  Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming. To learn more, visit http://www.wyomingwhiskey.com.

THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY WELCOME AMAZON PRIME FOR SPECIAL TASTING

The world’s leading whisky club, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), will feature in the new series of Amazon Prime’s travelogue show with a drinks twist, The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky.

In an upcoming episode, presenters and professional drinks writing trio Helena Nicklin, Aidy Smith and Colin Hampden-White are treated to some rare single malt whiskies from the SMWS as they continue their adventures through Scotland exploring the famous spirit.

Helen Stewart, Head of Marketing and Membership at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, invited The Three Drinkers to explore all things SMWS and taste some special drams from across their extensive collection, including the 32-year-old Cask No. 37.97: Old and delightful, yet firm.

As well as the SMWS, The Three Drinkers team also explored the biggest existing collection of whiskies in the world from the closed St Magdalene distillery and visited The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt, Glen Scotia, Loch Lomond Whisky and Glen Moray.

The trio begin the new series, airing on Friday 6^th December, on the Isle of Jura and head west through Campbeltown, once-upon-a-time ‘the whiskiest place in the world’, before taking in Glasgow, trying their hands at various physical challenges and tasting drams at distilleries along the way.

“Episodes 5, 6 and 7 have quite a different feel,” says Smith. “There’s more adventure, more travel and tourism and we even start to taste spirits – shock horror – other than whisky!”

You can watch all episodes now on Amazon Prime here.

To celebrate the series, the trio also sourced their own limited-edition whisky inspired by all the locations in the show. Cask Selection No. 1 is a 17-year-old blended malt available exclusively through Master of Malt for £39.95.

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

https://www.smws.com/

f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/

t: https://twitter.com/SMWSUK

yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos

#SMWS 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk 

The Three Drinkers are a trio of expert drinks writers and presenters of ‘The Three Drinkers’ TV series on Amazon Prime. Through The Three Drinkers Productions, they offer a 360 degree approach to drinks content through the creation of short films, written features, social campaigns and strategic consumer events plus documentary series and branded content TV shows for streaming services. 

You can follow The Three Drinkers progress via their website and social media channels:

Instagram: @TheThreeDrinkers   |   Twitter: @The3Drinkers   |   thethreedrinkers.com

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery Releases Sawatch American Malt Whiskey
New Release of 4-year-old American Malt Whiskey.

SALIDA, Colo. –– December 3, 2019–– Wood’s High Mountain Distillery has released batch two of its newest whiskey expression: Sawatch American Malt Whiskey. This is Wood’s second batch of its 4-year-old malt whiskey made from a mash bill of 2-row malt barley, cherrywood smoked malt, chocolate malt, malt rye and malt wheat grains, aged in #3 charred new American oak casks and bottled at 98% ABV.

Sawatch Whiskey is named for the mountain range towering over Salida, Colorado with fifteen 14,000-foot peaks that provide the water used to make our spirits. “This is a big whiskey with depth and complexity inspired by the mountains we live and play in everyday” said PT Wood, co-owner and distiller. Tasting notes are rye spice, dark chocolate, oak, malt, toffee, oak, vanilla, subtle smoke, tobacco, hard candy and just the right amount of heat for a 98-proof whiskey. A big bold, spicy, example of American Malt Whiskey.

Fife’s Kingsbarns Distillery Toasts Five Year Milestone

Second Founders’ release celebrates success of Lowland dram

Kingsbarns Distillery, producer of the recently launched ‘Dream to Dram’ single malt, is toasting its fifth anniversary this week and the global success of its whisky to date.

Opened in 2014 after the three year renovation of a derelict farm steading in the East Neuk of Fife, owners the Wemyss Family will gather their dedicated distillery team, along with friends, family and fans to celebrate the realisation of their dream to produce fine single malt in their home county.
On the 29^th and 30^th of November the distillery will host a series of events for members of their Founders’ Club and showcase their new expression – Founders’ Reserve 2019. The second bottling in their series of five Founders’ Club releases, the whisky is matured in shaved, toasted and re-charred red wine barriques from Portugal.

Bottled at cask strength (61.1% ABV), on the palate notes of spiced marmalade and sultanas soaked in cider brandy lead to a long herbal finish. Just 3,000 bottles will be made available to Founders Club members (Kingsbarns Founders Club membership can be purchased online).

Whilst this landmark date is a time for reflection, the team at Kingsbarns is very much focused on the future and building on the success of their portfolio and their visitor centre in recent years.

Since its official opening on St Andrews day in 2015, Kingsbarns Visitor Centre has seen a 72% increase in visitor numbers, from 8.7k in 2005 to 15k in 2018. It has also retained a much coveted five star Visit Scotland rating and is on track to see a significant increase in visitors once again in 2019.

The distillery team has been dedicated to creating whiskies of the highest calibre with a distinctive Lowland style, and as a result, Kingsbarns’ flagship single malt ‘Dream to Dram’, which was launched earlier this year,  is now sold in 121 UK outlets and exported globally to 20 countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Wemyss family as they celebrate the anniversary, William Wemyss said:

‘We have been thrilled by the positive reception to our inaugural release in both the whisky industry and amongst whisky drinkers around the world. Some exciting and different casks continue to mature in our warehouse, none more so than this new Founder’s Club expression. Thanks to the passion and dedication of our staff and the great quality and character or our whiskies, we have much to celebrate when we gather at Kingsbarns – toasting everything we have achieved in the past five years and the exciting future that lies ahead for our distillery.’

The Wemyss family has lived and worked in Fife for generations and harboured a long held dream to make fine single malt whisky in the region. When approached by former professional Kingsbarns Golf Links caddy Douglas Clement in 2010 with the idea of converting the semi derelict B-listed farm steading at Kingsbarns into a new distillery for the ‘home of golf’, their dream began to take shape. After a three year restoration project which carefully retained the building’s ancient features and charm, the distillery was officially opened in 2014, with the first whisky laid down in March 2015.

www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

Twitter @KingsbarnsDist / Instagram @kingsbarnsdist

Kingsbarns Distillery

Kingsbarns Distillery began life as a semi-derelict farm steading – built around 1800 by Thomas Erskine, the ninth Earl of Kellie, as part of East Newhall Farm to service the adjoining Cambo Estate.

Its centrepiece is a doocot, made with over 600 neatly formed terracotta nesting boxes which, at the time, would have housed pigeons to supply the laird’s kitchen with meat and eggs.

A three year restoration project involving specialist architects, engineers, designers and whisky specialists restored this historic building into the beautiful distillery and visitor centre that is now in place today – including the immaculately restored doocot in pride of place.

The distillery has 4 washbacks and 2 stills (wash still 7.5k litres, spirit still 4.5k litres) which have been designed to fit snugly into the low distillery space, using long lyne arms for maximum copper contact. The distillery has a capacity of 34 barrels per week and can produce 200k litres of alcohol per year.

The Kingsbarns team is aiming to make the distillery as green as possible and sustainability is at the heart of production. Waste water goes through reed beds and is returned clean into the local burn; local farmers use waste as fertilizer, and spent grain is used as cattle feed on neighbouring farms. Nothing is wasted and everything goes back into the local environment to the benefit of local businesses.

Distiller Peter Holroyd has been at the helm of distillation since the very beginning, sharing his passion for whisky and turning the Kingsbarns dream into a reality with the Wemyss family. A native of Glasgow, Peter graduated from the Heriot Watt Brewing and Distilling Course in Edinburgh, working in a number of small breweries before joining the Kingsbarns Team in his first whisky role.

The Kingsbarns Distillery Founders’ Club was launched on the first anniversary of the Distillery on 30^th November 2015 and is still open for membership.  Members enjoy a welcome pack with a small bottle of Kingsbarns New Make Spirit, a glass and membership badge, plus five exclusive bottles of cask strength single malt whisky, including the distillery’s inaugural Founders’ Reserve expression.

The Wemyss Family drinks portfolio

Wemyss Malts: Edinburgh based independent bottler, Wemyss Malts is owned by the Wemyss family. Their family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.  Wemyss Malts is primarily known for its award-winning range of blended malt Scotch Whisky which uses names inspired by the natural flavours and aromas of the whiskies: The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney. www.wemyssmalts.com.

EDEN MILL COLLABORATE WITH FIFE ARTIST FOR LATEST ST ANDREW’S DAY WHISKY RELEASE

Eden Mill, the award-winning Scottish distillers have today unveiled its 2019 Release Single Malt whisky, all in time for St Andrew’s Day.

Retailing at £79, the limited release of 3,000 bottles sees Eden Mill collaborate with Fife-based artist Hilke MacIntyre to create the art piece, titled ‘St Andrews’ for the presentation box.

Hilke MacIntyre, originally from Germany, has lived in Fife since 1995 and is known as a specialist in linocutting: a traditional and highly skilled craft, derived from woodcutting.

The artwork is inspired by pivotal moments in Eden Mill’s story and features famous landmarks of the St Andrews and Guardbridge coastline – a place Eden Mill is proud to call its home.

The 2019 Release Single Malt is the third single malt whisky by Eden Mill in two years, since the unveiling of the First Bottling in 2017, and will see just 1,500 bottles available in the UK.

Scott Ferguson, Eden Mill’s Head Distiller, said: “This limited release is one of the most exciting whisky offerings from Eden Mill in our five years of distilling.”

He continued: “Working with sherry flavours from the oloroso and the sweet sugary flavour from the pedro ximenez casks is something that has been present throughout our previous hip flask releases and we want to exhibit our ability to work with these flavours in our 2019 Single Malt release.”

Eden Mill’s 2019 Release delivers a balance of sweet, spice and light notes of toasted fruits and remains sweet and fruity, with hints of cocoa and caramelised biscuits beneath, with a malty-sweet towards the finish.

The 2019 Release Single Malt has incorporated a selection of Oloroso hogheads, pedro ximenez hogsheads, American bourbon barrels with a cask of chocolate malt spirits and crystal malt spirit to craft their latest liquid.

Eden Mill’s 2019 Release Single Malt Whisky (70cl, 46.5% ABV) is available to order via www.edenmill.com/2019

ABOUT EDEN MILL

Eden Mill were Scotland’s first single site brewery and distillery, making it their mission to revive the lost art of distilling and brewing gin, beer and whisky in St Andrews, Scotland. Based on the historic original site of the Seggie Distillery, run by the Haig family until 1860, Eden Mill are the first to make spirits in the region in 150 years. As well as gin the spirit the innovative brand are known for, Eden Mill have carved a formidable reputation with their award winning super-premium craft beers and are now bringing whisky distilling back to the region. In 2018, Eden Mill released the first Single Malt whisky to be distilled in St Andrews in over 150 years. The First Bottling was sold at auction and broke the world record for a first release at £7,100. Eden Mill was named Gin of the Year at Annual Scottish Gin Awards 2018. The brewery and distillery won the most awards, five in total, including London Dry Gin of the Year and Exporter of the Year.

Virginia Distillery Company Releases its Second Journey Cask with Britannia Whisky ~ produced by The English Whisky Co. in Norfolk, England

LOVINGSTON, Va. (Dec. 2, 2019) – Virginia Distillery Company recently released the second offering of its Journey Cask Collection, an eight year-aged, cask-strength whisky from England called Britannia. Britannia was produced by The English Whisky Co. in Norfolk, England.

The Journey Cask Collection is a whisky series that celebrates Virginia Distillery Company’s founder, the late Dr. George Moore, and focuses on mentor distilleries where the person, distillery, or region were inspirational to Moore during the development of Virginia Distillery Company.

The series showcases exclusive single malt whiskies from around the world and the traditional name of each region where the whisky originated from is used to identify the release.

“We’re thrilled to release the next series from our Journey Cask Collection,” said Gareth H. Moore, Virginia Distillery Company’s CEO. “The English Whisky Co. was born from a shared family passion, similar to our story here at Virginia Distillery Company.”

Bottled at cask strength, Britannia presents aromas of smoky maple, soft vanilla and orange zest as well as hints of milk chocolate, citrus, cinnamon and clove on the palate and a smooth and soft finish.

This limited release comes in a special collector’s box and decorated bottle. The whisky retails for $124.99 per bottle and is available for purchase at the distillery’s Visitors Center as well as online with shipping starting Dec. 10. 243 bottles were produced.

The inaugural Journey Cask release, an 11 year-aged cask strength Irish Single malt called Hibernia, was released in December 2018.

The Journey Cask Collection’s Britannia joins several other available offerings from Virginia Distillery Company, including a sneak peek limited release of the distillery’s ultra-premium American Single Malt called Prelude: Courage & Conviction as well as its Virginia-Highland Whisky series, which marries American Single Malt made onsite with whisky from Scotland.

The flagship offering of Courage & Conviction, made from 100% malted barley and aged in former Bourbon, Sherry and Cuvée wine casks, will be released in the spring of 2020. The name is a nod to a phrase founder Dr. George G. Moore was often heard saying: “Have the courage of your convictions”.

For more information, visit the distillery’s website at www.vadistillery.com.

About Virginia Distillery Company:

Virginia Distillery Company is currently crafting its ultra-premium American Single Malt whisky line, Courage & Conviction, at the distillery located in Lovingston, Virginia. These whiskies yield a complex taste, due to the influence of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and maturation in former Bourbon, Sherry and Cuvée wine casks. The casks have been resting since November 2015 and the Flagship offering will be released in the Spring of 2020. A sneak peek pre-release product called “Prelude: Courage & Conviction” was release on October 1, 2019.