The whisky awards gods have definitely been smiling on us recently. At the prestigious 2014 World Whiskies Awards organised by Whisky Magazine we won ‘Scotch Blended Malt of the Year’ and ‘Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year’. And then, two more awards came our way at the 2014 Drammie Awards, voted for by whisky lovers around the world.

The Peat Monster showed it’s as popular as ever as it swept up ‘Scotch Blended Malt of the Year‘. If anything though, our ‘Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year’ award is more pleasing as innovation is so much at the heart of what we do. This was the fifth time in total that we’ve won it, which might even be some sort of record.

However, we believe there is no more important accolade than one which comes from the people who love and drink whisky. The Drammie Awards do exactly that. Whisky fans voted Compass Box ‘Most Exciting/Innovative Whisk(e)y Producer/Bottler’ while Delilah’s was chosen as ‘Most Innovative New Whisky’

Father’s Day Whiskies

Forget golf balls or a tie this Father’s Day. Choose some delicious Compass Box whisky. Whether your Dad is a Peat Monster , a rebellious Spice Tree or a decadent Hedonism type we have the perfect whisky for him. Or if you’re not sure what he likes, a bottle of Great King Street Artist’s Blend  or the rich, elegant Oak Cross simply cannot fail. What’s more, you’ll be sure to have something good to drink the next time you see him. Simply pick up a bottle from your local retailer or via our UK Online shop. Happy Father’s Day!

FIRST EVER FULLY WINE-CASK MATURED GLEN GARIOCH LAUNCHED 

Glen Garioch adds some French ‘finesse’ to its limited-edition malt 

The first ever Glen Garioch to be fully-matured in French Bordeaux wine casks has been released. 

This limited edition vintage comprising just 450 cases globally, was distilled 15 years ago in the finest ‘tonneaux de vin rouge’ from Saint-Julien in Bordeaux. 

Relinquishing the more traditional sherry and bourbon casks, the full maturation in red wine casks has added a touch of elegance to the rich, fruity, spicy Highland character that is Glen Garioch’s house style. 

The unusual maturation process reveals the malt’s rich and multi-layered character, full of fruit, sweetness and spice. 

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore, said, “Distilled entirely on 23rd June 1998, this Glen Garioch was fully matured for over 15 years in the finest Bordeaux barriques. 

“Over this time, the robust and hearty spirit teased sweetness, oak spices and multi-layered ripe fruits from the French oak allowing Glen Garioch’s house style to flourish.  Imagine a blueberry and chocolate muffin filled with ginger spice! Firm in structure, with a full, rounded body and complex spiced-fruit taste, Glen Garioch 1998 Wine Matured has married the sweetness of Bordeaux with the wholesome maltiness of the Garioch spirit – the Auld Alliance at its very best.” 

Handcrafted at the distillery in the heart of Oldmeldrum in rural Aberdeenshire, the non-chill filtered Wine Cask Matured Glen Garioch 1998 will hit shelves in June 2014, retailing at around £100 with an ABV of 48%. 

Tasting notes: 

Burnished copper in colour, the Wine Cask Matured Glen Garioch reveals brambles, wild blueberries and plums on the nose, bursting from the glass with hints of chocolate, demerara sugar. In structure and complexity, layers of chocolate malt, autumn fruits and ginger marmalade meld on the tongue, leading to a sweet honey and spicy finish. 

NOTES – 

The Glen Garioch Wine Cask Matured 1998 retails for around £100 at all good whisky and specialist liquor stores from June 2014. There are only 5,400 bottles available globally.  

Product images and samples are available on request Glen Garioch, pronounced “Glen Geery” was founded in 1797 and is one of the oldest remaining distilleries in Scotland The distillery lies on rising ground in the picturesque town of Oldmeldrum, just 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen Glen Garioch was relaunched in October 2010 with a core range of two single malt whiskies – Glen Garioch 1797 Founder’s Reserve, non chill-filtered  and bottled at 48% ABV and Glen Garioch 12 Year Old, non chill-filtered and bottled at 48% ABV after maturing in bourbon and sherry casks. 

Glen Garioch is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited which also produce Bowmore and Auchentoshan. 

Visit http://www.glengarioch.com/ for more information.

Arran 17yr Limited Release Available in USA!

We are very proud to introduce the Arran 17-year-old, the second in the trilogy of limited edition Single Malts leading up to the first ever official 18-year-old. This Limited Edition release of The Arran Malt at 17 year-old has been produced from un-peated malted barley and matured in the finest ex-Sherry casks. The whisky has not been artificially colored and has not been chill filtered at bottling thus retaining the full range of aromas and flavors which typify this unique Island Single Malt. Only 9,000 bottles of The Arran Malt 17-Year-Old have been released worldwide. A simply stunning whisky!

Bottled at 46% ABV

Tasting Notes
Color: Antique Gold with copper highlights
Aroma: Warm spices, candied citrus peel and tinned mandarins with classic Arran orchard fruits.
Palate: Sweet spice and cigar tobacco. Water adds depth and reveals dark chocolate and orange oil.

Imported by: ImpEx Beverages Inc.
www.impexbev.com

Diageo Announces Intention to Invest an Estimated $115 Million to Build Distillery in Shelby County, Kentucky

The second limited edition of Kilchoman Loch Gorm Single Malt Whisky is now available

This is the second edition of Kilchoman Loch Gorm Single Malt. The first, which was released in April last year, was awarded the prestigious 2013 IWSC Gold (2013 edition).  Each release is differentiated by the distillation and bottling dates on the front of the bottle and carton.

Fully matured from filling to bottling at 46% ABV in fresh Oloroso sherry butts, Loch Gorm adds a new dimension to Kilchoman’s portfolio, bringing a depth of character and colour to the Islay Single Malt. The Loch Gorm range is the only all sherry cask-matured expression from Kilchoman.

This range is named after the famously peaty loch in front of the distillery; Kilchoman draws the water for Loch Gorm from the burn that runs into the loch. 

Anthony Wills, Managing Director of Kilchoman, said: “’Our sherry cask matured releases have proved very popular and this is the third and most mature to date so we anticipate this latest offering to be very well received.  Loch Gorm shows wonderful balance between the peat smoke and spicy rich flavours, typical of sherry cask maturation, producing a unique flavour which characterises Kilchoman whiskies.”

Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to be built on Islay for 125 years. A working farm distillery, it is one of only a handful of distilleries still practising floor malting. Kilchoman also grows a portion of its barley at the distillery, and completes all parts of the production process, from barley to bottling on the island. 

Tasting Notes: Kilchoman Loch Gorm Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 

Nose:  mixed preserved fruit, particularly lemon and rich peat smoke

Palate:  dry cereal flavour develops into honey and biscuit with lingering peat

Finish:  rich, sweet and smoky

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE OFFICIALLY RE-OPEN
SCOTLAND’S OLDEST DISTILLERY

Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s oldest and most visited whisky distillery and home to The Famous Grouse Experience, welcomed The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today (Thursday 29 May).

The Earl and Countess of Strathearn, as they are known in Scotland, officially opened the new-look five star visitor attraction which recently announced the completion of a £250,000 investment in its key visitor areas and café.

They enjoyed a private tour of the distillery, complete with a nosing and tasting of The Famous Grouse range, before becoming the first people to “Bottle your own” Glenturret whisky.  

Following this, the Royal couple attended the Civic Reception hosted by the Provost of Perth and Kinross, Liz Grant. In attendance were local people from the Perthshire area, invited as recognition for their work in the community.

A local pie created especially for the Royal visit was part of the menu and served to the guests. The Strathearn Pie, produced by Perthshire based company Wilde Thyme, was made with slow cooked local beef and onions sautéed in Glenturret whisky. 

Stuart Cassells, General Manager, The Famous Grouse Experience, commented:

“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome The Earl and Countess of Strathearn to The Famous Grouse Experience. With such strong links to this area through their Scottish titles, we couldn’t think of anyone more perfectly placed to open our new-look visitor areas. All the staff here at the Experience won’t be forgetting this day anytime soon!” 

Nestled at the foothills of the Highlands near the scenic town of Crieff, Glenturret Distillery is the spiritual home of The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch whisky.

Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience welcomes an average of 120,000 visitors every year.

Like all visitors, the Royal couple were shown how a single malt is made in the traditional way by Stillman, Ian Renwick. They were also shown how some of the Glenturret single malt is then blended along with other grain and malt whiskies to create The Famous Grouse, which has been Scotland’s favourite whisky for over 30 years, and is one of the world’s top 5 Scotch whiskies.

The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky holds a Royal Warrant, which was first appointed in January 1984.

NOTES

About The Famous Grouse (www.thefamousgrouse.com)

• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in Scotland and no. 4 standard blended whisky worldwide (IWSR data 2012).
• The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in Scotland since 1980.
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries.
• Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand.
• The brand became so popular that on August 12^th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse.

• The Famous Grouse is owned by Edrington, the leading independent supplier of premium spirits which also includes The Macallan, Highland Park, Cutty Sark, Snow Leopard vodka and Brugal Rum.

About The Famous Grouse Experience

• The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery – Glenturret. Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is the most visited distillery in Scotland (receiving an average of 100,000 visitors a year).

• The distillery offers the opportunity to learn about how a single malt is made in the traditional way, as well as learning about where some of the Glenturret single malt ends up – in the blending of The Famous Grouse.

• Opening Hours 9am – 6pm.  First Tour 9.30am & Last Tour 4.30pm. Tours from £9.95. Children under 12 go free. For more information please visit via this link

Our barrels have a new home!

After a week of toil, all of our barrels are safely home in the new distillery building, and we didn’t spill a single drop. All that remains now is to stack them all neatly.

We should have the move completed by the end of the month and look forward to showing all of you around our new home. Luckily it is just next door to our existing building, so you don’t even need to learn a new address.

Best of all, we are working on some very exciting new products, so watch this space…

GLENGLASSAUGH RELEASES TWO NEW EXPRESSIONS IN ITS “MASSANDRA CONNECTION” RANGE 

AWARD-WINNING Glenglassaugh has added two stunning whiskies to its renewed “Massandra Connection” series. 

They are a 35 Years Old Madeira Wood finish and a 41 Years Old Sherry Wood finish, and are available worldwide as of today (29 May). 

Both are non chill filtered, at natural colour and finished in the finest Massandra casks. 

These casks had previously been used to mature the very finest wines from Massandra, the oldest winery in the Crimea and a favourite of Tsar Alexander III. 

Built between 1894 and 1897 near Yalta, the Massandra winery benefits from a subtropical climate and the protective shield of mountain chains which provide perfect conditions for the production of high-quality fortified and dessert wines. 

Some of our whisky has enjoyed a period of additional maturation, or finishing, in the various different casks from Massandra, with these wine casks dramatically evolving the flavour and style of the maturing whisky.

The results are simply spectacular, as the tasting notes show.

Glenglassaugh Massandra Connection 35 Years Old Madeira Wood Finish (41.7% vol):

Colour: Antique dark oak.

Nose: Rounded creamy notes of cantaloupe melon open to beautiful depths of gentle sweet oak. Waves of a subtle sea air coastal note balance the rich ripe fruit character.

Palate: A fantastic contrast of luscious ripe melon and sharp sour plums softens to boiled sweets and dried apricots with the smallest hint of ripped mint in the background. A gentle dry oak note sweetens to a dusting of iced sugar on the palate.

Finish: Layer upon layer of subtle fruit characters come together with delicate aged oak to give a delicious range of flavours in the unique Glenglassaugh style. 

Glenglassaugh Massandra Connection 41 Years Old Sherry Wood Finish (44.5% vol):

Colour: Warm harvest gold.

Nose: Dried pineapple, bananas and golden sultanas warmed by hints of stem ginger and white pepper spice. Candied peel notes soften to a unique sweet oak character.

Palate: A fresh crisp lime zest flows over green apples and pears. Hints of tantalising ripe tropical fruits emerge in the mid palate and combine with delicate cigar box spices and a gentle oiliness, bringing great depth to the long exclusive vintage.

Finish: A fantastically vibrant expression for a malt of this vintage, giving a diverse combination of classic fruit and spiced flavours.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “In 2010 Glenglassaugh brought over the first casks from the Crimea to create the unique new “Massandra Connection” series with five distinctive Sherry, Muscat, Madeira, Port and Aleatico finishes.

“It was the first time that the Massandra winery had allowed its casks to be exported and also the first time that Crimean fine wine casks had been used by a Scottish distillery for finishing.

“These remarkable new expressions launched today show how the subtle effect of the wonderful Massandra casks on our coastal Highland malt has resulted in two quite exceptional whiskies.”

Isle of Arran set to rock with distillery’s Malt and Music Festival 

The team at Isle of Arran Distillers is gearing up to host the island’s fifth Malt and Music Festival this summer. 

Taking place over the last weekend in June, Scotland in Miniature will come alive to the sound of bands from Arran and the mainland, all enjoyed with a dram of the distillery’s finest single malt.

The schedule of events is broad and ranges from an exclusive White Stag Dinner on Friday 27^th to the Texas Scramble – a tournament at the Lochranza Golf Course – on Sunday 29^th, though the main event takes places on Saturday 28^th June. 

Doors at the distillery site open at 11am and the £5 entry fee includes a spey dram glass, a drink token and the opportunity for a guided tour of the distillery. 

Throughout the day, the team will be hosting a range of expert masterclasses including sessions ideal for whisky novices such as the ‘Whisky is Fun Masterclass’.  More avid whisky fans can enjoy workshops such as ‘A Foray into Finishes’ which looks at the influences different wood types have on the spirit. 

For the evening festivities, the team will be hosting an evening to remember in The Grand Marquee in the Distillery grounds including ceilidh dancing and music*. 

Euan Mitchell, Managing Director of the Distillery, said: “We really look forward to our Malt and Music Festival each summer as the event is a celebration of everything we love about Arran and whisky.

“As well as being a great party, the festival gives people the opportunity to really get to know the team behind Arran Distillers, which is something that not many distilleries offer.

“For nearly two decades we’ve been producing unique malt whiskies for discerning drinkers around the world. We are delighted to again welcome people to enjoy the stunning location that is our home, some great music and the Arran Malt.” 

The fun continues on the Sunday with the Survivors’ Lunch and Masterclass where Euan will host a traditional meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, accompanied by a selection of drams chosen by the man himself. 

The unique and collectable Arran Malt and Music Festival Bottling 2014, which has become a key souvenir of the weekend for many, will be on sale on the Saturday only from the Visitor Centre priced at around £130. 

Tickets are available at http://www.arranevents.com/. 

*Tickets for the evening event cost £10 

Tickets to the Festival and Masterclasses can be purchased from http://www.arranevents.com/ 

About Isle of Arran Distillers:  

For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/ 

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.) 

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

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Arran Premium Sherry Single Cask 1997 2014 Release

Cask number: 217
Bottled date: 02/05/2014
Distillation date: 02/17/1997
53.2% alc. by vol.
562 bottles total.

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