GreatDrams has launched the ultimate whisky to celebrate with ’The Summer of Sport’.

Why ‘The Summer of Sport’?

Inspiration has been taken from the success of other GreatDrams flavour and occasion-led releases “which is seeing our customers buying for occasions as well as great quality and taste” says Kirsty Dillon, GreatDrams co-founder.

The Summer of Sport is released to mark exactly that. Not only do we have the usual summer treats such as the Open Championship and Wimbledon, we also get to enjoy football’s Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris. There’s also heaps more besides!

When Greg and Kirsty, founders of GreatDrams, were looking at their release schedule “It just makes perfect sense,” said Greg Dillon, “sport is a big part of our lives, as is whisky so we put the two together.”

Kirsty continues “When selecting the casks we knew it had to be vibrant yet smooth and have the ability to stand up when made into cocktails – because who doesn’t love a summer cocktail?”

‘The Summer of Sport’ release is a 10 Year Old sherry cask matured blend with aromas of sticky dates, raisins and undertones of sweet sherry. Delve a little deeper with that first sip, and there are more sweet sherry notes, complimented beautifully by crisp orchard fruits, sweet Madagascan vanilla, and a hint of oak. The finish is smooth, mature, and full of character.

Product info 

GreatDrams
Brook House
Park Lane, Poynton
Stockport, Cheshire SK12 1RG
United Kingdom

Ferovinum announces £35 million funding package for The Borders Distillery Company Limited

Ferovinum and The Borders Distillery Company Limited have agreed a £35 million funding package to support the distillery for the next three years. 

The new arrangement will enable The Borders Distillery – the first to operate in the Scottish Borders since 1837 and recent winner of the World Whiskies Awards Best Scotch New Make award – to grow its business and develop its core strengths in advance of the eventual release of its Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

As a first-of-its-kind funding platform dedicated to unlocking growth for wine and spirits enterprises, Ferovinum will also provide The Borders Distillery with specialist operations and supply chain tools to support trading in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Commenting on the deal, The Borders Distillery Managing Director John Fordyce said: ‘We are delighted to have found a partner in Ferovinum and its excellent team. We share the same ambitions to grow, enthusiasm for the Scotch Whisky industry and commitment to deploy technology to facilitate growth in multiple markets.’

The Ferovinum platform delivers a more agile and efficient funding solution by holding assets during production, storage, distribution and fulfilment, giving companies end-to-end capabilities, funding the full production and distribution cycles.

Access to the platform also enables clients to benefit from seamless integration with freight, storage and fulfilment providers along with payments, licensing and commercial infrastructure to enable optimised trading and streamlined access to key export markets.

Gregor Mathieson, Director of Spirits at Ferovinum added: ‘We are very proud to be supporting The Borders Distillery during their next phase of growth. It is six years since the stills started running at their extraordinary site in Hawick, and the dedication to making great whisky as well as being a force for good in the Borders community is palpable amongst the whole team. Ferovinum was created to provide ambitious, visionary drinks businesses like this with the backing and specialist support they need to achieve their goals, and we are very excited to be partnering with John and the team for the journey ahead.’ 

The Borders Distillery was advised by Scottish corporate finance advisory boutique Noble & Co.

www.ferovinum.com

 Linkedin.com/ferovinum

www.thebordersdistillery.com

The Borders Distillery, Hawick, TD9 7AQ, Scottish Borders

About Ferovinum

Ferovinum’s technology brings together capital and distribution in a single platform built for and dedicated to the wine and spirits sector; providing capital efficient inventory management alongside trading and distribution tools that radically simplify the supply chain for brands and resellers.

The Platform allows businesses to access flexible capital when they need it, reducing their liquidity risk and reliance on payment terms, as well as protecting profitability should supply chain disruptions occur. Ferovinum clients can also take advantage of supply chain and sales inventory management tools to access automation and reduce the operational burden of getting their products into the hands of consumers.

For banks and financial institutions, Ferovinum’s technology provides a risk-managed and cost-efficient way to deploy capital into this traditionally hard-to-bank sector, where high levels of fragmentation have led to a historic lack of access to working capital. It uses structures adopted by investment banks in commodity markets to deploy a broad range of capital from credit funds, banks and other institutions.

The company was founded in 2018 by two wine and spirits enthusiasts: Mitchel Fowler, an experienced investment banker and commodity supply chain expert; and Daniel Gibney, who has years of experience in corporate finance, debt restructuring and hospitality. With bases in London, Scotland, Ireland and the USA, Ferovinum has a growing team of specialists across finance, technology, wine and spirits and law.

About The Borders Distillery

The Borders Distillery Company was founded in 2013 by George Tait, John Fordyce, Tim Carton and Tony Roberts. After raising £9.6m in equity funding a new distillery was built in an abandoned building in the centre of Hawick with the first nip distilled on 6^th March 2018.

The Borders Distillery employs and trains local people and aims to have all of its distillers fully qualified. It co- founded with Simpson Malt The Borders Growers & Distillers Group bringing together the distillery and sixteen Borders farms to source malted barley, manage co-products and actively promote the rural economy.

Today the Company employs 18 people and has recently launched its Workshop Series of Scotch Whiskies including Borders Malt & Rye, the first Scotch Whisky made in the Borders since 1837.

ELEMENTS OF ISLAY BRINGS THE HEAT TO FÈIS ÌLE 2024

 WITH LIMITED FIRESIDE RELEASE

Elements of Islay, the award-winning independent bottler, is launching an exclusive blend for Fèis Ìle 2024. Fireside is a limited release blended malt from two characterful Islay distilleries, with 264 bottles of Fireside (Fèis Edition) exclusively available at Fèis Ìle (24^th May – 1^st June) and an ensuing global release.

For this whisky, Elixir Distillers’ Head Blender Oliver Chilton took inspiration from the unpredictable elements of the island, and the image of enjoying a smoky dram with friends by the fire during an Islay downpour.

This blended malt brings together whiskies from two distilleries on the island’s north coast, matured in heavily re-charred barrels, American oak Oloroso sherry hogsheads and European oak Oloroso sherry butts. It is a rich blend of smoky and sweet charred wood that harmonises with juicy red fruit and candied orange flavours. 

Oliver Chilton says of the release: “Fireside is a simple blend of two distilleries and three cask styles, with rich, warmth, unctuous feeling brought in by Caol Ila matured in Pedro Ximenez, married with Bunnahabhain matured in American Oak Oloroso sherry hogsheads, giving a base of wood smoke and sweet spice. Lastly, we used some Caol Ila matured in re-charred Spanish wine casks that delivered sweet berry fruit notes and a sense of fun – inevitable when staying up late next to the fireside on Islay.”   

Elements of Islay and Elixir Distillers are a partner of Friends of the Fèis, an initiative created to give back to the island, benefitting the festival and the local community. Giving back to the festival committee in this way is a prerequisite for releasing an official Fèis bottling. With the anticipated development of Portintruan Distillery, Elixir Distillers are cementing themselves as a core part of Islay’s community and culture.

The Elements of Islay range of blended malt whiskies is inspired by the nature of Islay; the stability of its earth, its flow of water, its passion of fire and lightness of air. The taste of the brand’s core expressions is shaped by these elements, as is this limited release.

Elements of Islay Fireside (70cl, 54.5% ABV, RRP £84.95) will be available at the Islay Whisky shop during Fèis Ìle and the global release will follow in early June.

Tasting Notes by Oliver Chilton, Head Blender

NOSE:  Warm milk chocolate and smoked cherries are balanced against notes of ground cardamom and cumin. The smell of embers from a wood burner rise and mingle with sweeter strawberry shisha tobacco with a hint of lemon zest.

PALATE:  Thick and heady with rich aromatic smoke and dense dark chocolate. A lighter, more playful fruit flavour of strawberry and blueberry sweets runs through the middle of the palate, offset by cherry and blackcurrant tea. Flamed orange peel zest and cherry liqueur come through with time in the glass.

FINISH: The tannins allow the red fruit flavours to linger while the smoke evolves leaving notes of cacao nibs and milky coffee.

About Elixir Distillers

Elixir Distillers is a creator, blender and bottler of fine spirits, seeking to combine aesthetically beautiful design with delicious, characterful spirits. Their expertise is primarily Scotch whisky, together with Irish, Japanese and American whiskies as well as rum and Tequila. Their core brands include Port Askaig, Elements of Islay, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot which they export to more than 20 international markets. Every member of the Elixir Distillers team is a spirits enthusiast with immense product knowledge, looking to produce the world’s next great drink.

https://elixirdistillers.com/

WATERFORD DISTILLERY LAUNCHES NEW FLAGSHIP BOTTLING: THE WATERFORD – CUVÉE KOFFI

Waterford Distillery has launched its oldest whisky to date: The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi

In The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi natural flavour, unearthed farm by farm, is layered together to create the distillery’s most complex single malt experience

24 distinct Irish Single Farm Origins come together to create this lodestar release, in which terroir-driven philosophy meets cuvée creativity

French artist Nathanaël Koffi has created a packaging design to complement the whisky’s complex and intricate flavours

Waterford Distillery, producer of the most naturally flavoursome single malts, has today launched its new flagship bottling: The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi.

Inspired by greatest Bordeaux châteaux and Champagne Grande Marques, The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi’s distinct and natural profile has been curated through layering together 24 individual Single Farm Origins of between six and seven years of age. Each Single Farm Origin was distilled separately, using 100% local Irish barley grown on individual terroirs across the south east of Ireland.

Free from artificial colouring, additives and chill-filtration – bottled at a robust 50% ABV – The Waterford is an assemblage created from four distinct cask types: 36% First Fill American Oak, 17% Virgin American Oak, 21% Premium French Oak and 26% Vin Doux Naturel. At 6 years of age, this release marks a new era for the terroir-driven producer.

The Waterford also includes the brand’s signature TÉIREOIR code, providing drinkers with an unprecedented transparent and traceable overview of each whisky’s journey from barley to bottle.
To complement the whisky’s complex flavours, rising star of the French art scene, Nathanaël Koffi, collaborated with the brand to create a striking label and packaging design. The vibrant, multi-dimensional colours and patterns reflect the complexity of each bottling: the  component terroirs, the diverse cask profile, and assemblage – in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Mark Reynier, CEO and Founder of Waterford Distillery, said: “Our years of natural flavour exploration with have led us to this momentous bottling. The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi is no ordinary whisky. It’s our lodestar. Made from Irish-grown barley that is harvested, malted and distilled separately, then layered together on after another, to achieve the most natural, complex, flavoursome single malt.

“Our whisky has the audacity and generosity to actually taste of barley – ours is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product. Our vision from the start has always been to challenge the whisky status-quo and show how whisky’s core ingredient – the barley – is responsible for its natural flavours, and Cuvée Koffi is further proof of that concept. “The Waterford now becomes the apogee of our portfolio and the benchmark for future cuvée concepts we will bring to market later this year.”

Tasting Notes by Ned Gahan, Head Distiller at Waterford Distillery:

Appearance: Amber gold and thick oils that slowly descend the glass.

Nose: Interesting combination of red apple on homemade brown bread, washed down with a cup of tea, delish! Three peel marmalade, white pepper tingle, mixed dry herbs, cola cubes and sherbet sweets, light lavender in fresh soil.

Taste: Spices gently dancing on my tongue, lemon and strawberry shortbread biscuits, black pepper, grapefruit, chilli chocolate, oyster crackers, barley sugar, summer fruit compote, liquorice all sorts sweets.

Finish: Long and dry gentle spiciness that lasts and leads to mouth-watering with dried fruits which all meanders on.

The Waterford Cuvée: Koffi is available to purchase now from Waterford Distillery online, Master of Malt and worldwide at key retailers as a permanent listing, priced at approx. €85.50, £73 and US$91.50 respectively.

About Waterford Whisky   

Waterford Whisky produces the most naturally flavoursome single malts.

It is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies.

It is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvée Concepts revel in the ultimate complexity, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information, visit www.waterfordwhisky.com.

Tomatin unveils 12 Year Old Sherry Cask – the newest addition to its core range

Award-winning Highland distillery, Tomatin, has announced a new addition to its core range, the 12 Year Old Sherry Cask.

Launching on the 20^th of May, the whisky has been fully matured in sherry casks for 12 years.

This release builds upon the classically smooth Tomatin 12 Year Old, honing in on pure sherry maturation. The result is a remarkable dram that epitomises the exceptional craftsmanship, tradition and quality of the Highland malt, bringing together decadent, rich flavours imparted from the sherry casks.

Opening with sweet aromas of caramelised apple and sweet pears, complemented by a medley of citrus zest from sultana, orange peel and apricot with subtle undertones of aged leather on the surface.

Deeper on the palate, it leads with indulgent notes of velvety chocolate fudge, golden manuka honey and the crunch of dried fruit and nuts. It has a lingering warm finish, with a hint of sweet cinnamon spice.

This latest release debuts a striking new design, encased in a vivid scarlet exterior embossed with opulent gold foil accents, paying homage to the intricate flavours imparted by the wood during the cask maturation process.

Scott Adamson, Blender & Global Brand Ambassador at Tomatin Distillery, said: “The global demand for well-matured sherried malts, particularly in markets like Asia, has inspired this latest addition to our core range. Tomatin has a unique ability to balance tradition with innovation, embracing our time-honoured techniques and contemporary practices to push the boundaries of flavour exploration. For over a century, Tomatin has featured sherry casks in our maturation process, and this new release stands as the next evolution of this tradition.

“Our 12 Year Old Sherry Cask captures the essence of our renowned 12 Year Old, enhancing its signature smoothness and focusing its aromatic profile to create a sherry cask whisky with a depth of flavour that is luxuriously indulgent”

This latest expression (40% ABV, RRP £52) brings Tomatin’s core range portfolio to six, offering a diverse range of expressions matured in different cask types, each bursting with distinctive flavours and unique characteristics.

The 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is available to purchase from the Tomatin website and select specialist retailers worldwide. For further information visit HERE

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: Caramelised apple, pear, sultana, orange peel, apricot and hints of aged leather
• Palate: chocolate fudge, manuka honey, dried fruit and nut
• Finish: cinnamon spice

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin’s success continued when the distillery’s ‘Legacy’ was awarded Gold at IWSC. That same year, Tomatin also took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International

Oran Blended Scotch Whisky Wins Double Gold at

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 Both Take Home Coveted Double Golds

NEW YORK (May 15, 2024) – Oran Blended Scotch Whisky, introduced by The Perfect Fifth in late 2023, has won double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 bottlings.

Whisky expert Jim Murray blended both Scotches for The Perfect Fifth, designing Oran to be an “old school” blend recognizable to whisky lovers of the heyday of blended whisky some 100 years ago.  Oran’s grain and malt components are created separately but ultimately combined as the perfect complement to one another.

Both releases are 50-50-50 blends, 50 percent single malt Scotch Whisky, 50 percent single grain Scotch Whisky, and 50 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Both blends are limited releases, containing only 465 bottles each.

A total of 11 different casks were used to make both blends. Some of the casks were split between both blends but with differing ratios. Blend No. 1 is composed exclusively of Ex-Bourbon casks while Blend No. 2 distinguishes itself with the addition of a sherried cask component.

“I could not be more pleased to have both of our Oran blends do so well in one of the most prestigious competitions in the spirits industry, said Karl Schoen, founder and chief executive officer, The Perfect Fifth.  “The fact that blended Scotch is a new spirits category for The Perfect Fifth, and to take home double golds for both blends with our first release is a testament to the skill and expertise of Jim Murray’s blending prowess.”

Oran Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 are available in limited quantities at retailers in New York, New Jersey and California. It is also available online at www.theperfectfifth.com.  Suggested retail pricing is $189 per 700 mL.

About The Perfect Fifth

The Perfect Fifth was created in 2019 by Karl Schoen, who was inspired by watching his family members toast milestones with Scotch Whisky as he grew up.  As Karl began his own exploration into the world of Scotch Whisky, he enjoyed finding stellar single cask bottlings and sharing them with others.  This led to the formation of The Perfect Fifth, where Karl and his brother Ben source the best quality whisky from all over Scotland.  Together they travel throughout Scotland, sampling cask after cask until they find those worthy to be selected for The Perfect Fifth. Few casks make the cut, which is why The Perfect Fifth releases are limited editions.  Like the musical interval, The Perfect Fifth releases consist of multiple layers, each one broad and deep, which when combined, make a beautiful assembly meant to be shared with family and friends.

About The San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and is the largest competition of its kind with nearly 5,000 entries.  Each entry is judged double blind by a panel of spirits experts.  A double gold medal is awarded when each judge on the panel gives a gold medal to the entry.  The SFWSC medal is a testament to the hard work of the spirits industry’s distillers and producers and is a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS

Names 9 new MASTERS OF SCOTCH, 2 new MASTERS OF BOURBON and 6 MASTERS OF WHISKEY

following the 2024 Annual Master Exams held on the Isle of Raasay

Isle of Raasay Distillery, West Highlands, Scotland April/May 2024

More than 40 members and candidates of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, a global body dedicated to whisk(e)y education, convened at the Isle of Raasay Distillery, near the Hebridean island of Skye, to conduct annual Master examinations and to name newly confirmed Masters in the Scotch and Bourbon specialties, as well as the first ever Masters of Whiskey named by the Council for their global whiskey knowledge.

The international judging panel consisted of Council board members, who are globally acclaimed whiskey authorities and accomplished industry veterans. Many have served on the Council’s board of advisors since its founding in 2019: Steve Beal, Dave Broom, Martin Duffy, Sébastien Gavillet, Monique Huston, Charles MacLean, Becky Offringa, Hans Offringa, exam chairs Martin Duffy, Tobias Gorn and Arthur Nägele, chairman of the board Bernhard Schäfer, as well as Masters of Scotch Dan Crowell, Adam Edmonsond, Nik Kosobucki, Siddharth Sawkar, Guy Sporbert, John Wabeck, Sam Wright, and Master of Bourbon Tom McCormick.

The examinations included intense blind tastings, in-depth oral theory exams, as well as essays on a wide range of topics. Candidates were reviewed on all aspects of their chosen specialization, covering history, production, all major distilleries, knowledge of the trade, tasting competence, regulations and standards of identity, and more.

Judges evaluated all candidates independently and elected new Masters based upon agreed standards developed and consistently upheld by the Council. To become a candidate in the Master program, individuals must first pass the first and second levels of the program through remote study. The study program is open to all individuals worldwide, and enrollment details are available at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

25 qualified individuals were enrolled in the 2024 Master program, and 17 of them passed the exams. THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS is pleased to announce the following exceptionally talented and dedicated professionals as new Masters:

JAMES BALL, MASTER OF SCOTCH

ALESSANDRO DI BERARDINO, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in Switzerland)

WILL BRESLAW, MASTER OF SCOTCH

BRUCE DENG, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in China)

MARK GRIFFITH, MASTER OF SCOTCH

MICHAEL HITCHCOCK, MASTER OF SCOTCH

TY KINTER, MASTER OF SCOTCH

AI KURODA, MASTER OF SCOTCH (first Master in Japan)

ANDY WESTLEY, MASTER OF SCOTCH

CARMEN HARTWICH, MASTER OF BOURBON (first Master in Australia)

KEVIN MALTA, MASTER OF BOURBON

As of April 19th, 2024, the above individuals are full members of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS for life, subject to the Council’s code of conduct.

The following six professionals, who had previously passed the Master of Scotch or Master of Bourbon exams, and who were already full members of the Council, became the first to ascend to the highest designation awarded by the Council, Master of Whisk(e)y:

DAN CROWELL, MASTER OF WHISKY

ADAM EDMONSOND, MASTER OF WHISKY

NIK KOSOBUCKI, MASTER OF WHISKY

TOM MCCORMICK, MASTER OF WHISKEY

SIDDHARTH SAWKAR, MASTER OF WHISKY

SAM WRIGHT, MASTER OF WHISKEY

(The Council allows program graduates to choose their preferred spelling of the word “whisk(e)y,” consistent with their specialization.)

Many candidates who did not pass the exams are expected to continue in their studies and will be supported and mentored by the Council toward success in later examinations.

Alasdair Day, Master Distiller of the Isle of Raasay Distillery, has also joined the Council as the newest member of its advisory board, after serving with distinction as a guest examiner and judge.

Additional Masters named by the Council in past years are:

CHASE HENRY, MASTER OF BOURBON

JAY JORDAN, MASTER OF BOURBON

MARK RUCKER, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN STRUMPFER, MASTER OF BOURBON

JUSTIN BOYER, MASTER OF SCOTCH

JERAD JUSTESEN, MASTER OF SCOTCH

THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS currently consists of more than 60 full members worldwide. Since its inception in 2019, the Council has developed and supported thousands of certification examinees, from more than 50 countries.

The next Master exams are scheduled for April 2025, to take place in the United States. Enrollment is open now.

The Council thanks and appreciates Glencairn Crystal, our global partner and exclusive tasting glass. The Council thanks and appreciates Isle of Raasay Distillery, our 2024 examination venue partner in Scotland.

All program and contact information can be found at www.WhiskeyMasters.org

The full list of board members is published at www.whiskeymasters.org/whiskey-masters

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Honors Veterans with

Mogadishu Mile Commemorative Bourbon

Kentucky Wounded Heroes Will Receive Donation from Bottle Sales; Bottle Launches with On-Site Event Memorial Day Weekend

FRANKFORT, KY (May 16, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, will honor military veterans Memorial Day weekend with a commemorative bourbon bottling in remembrance of Mogadishu Mile. The Battle of Mogadishu took place during Operation Restore Hope and was one of the bloodiest battles American Soldiers had seen since Vietnam.  Eighteen U.S. soldiers died during the battle, and two days later a 19^th soldier was killed in a mortar attack.

In remembrance of this sacrifice, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery is releasing its Mogadishu Mile Bourbon, a commemorative edition bottling comprised of 19 barrels blended together to create a limited edition available online and in-store on Memorial Day weekend.  Only 500 bottles are available for purchase.  A portion of the sale of each bottle will go towards Kentucky Wounded Heroes, a nonprofit organization serving Kentucky’s current or former members of the United States Armed Forces and first responders who have been injured during combat operations or line-of-duty service.  This is the fourth year J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has partnered with Kentucky Wounded Heroes on a Mogadishu Mile Bourbon bottle.

The bottles will go on sale on Saturday, May 25^th online and at a Memorial Day event at J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery in Frankfort, Ky. to recognize our country’s military who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  The event will include a food truck, local beer, cocktails for purchase and local vendors from veteran-owned businesses.  Limited edition commemorative glassware etched with the word “Veteran” and the American flag will be complimentary with the purchase of a cocktail.

The significance of the 19 war heroes who lost their lives as a result of the battle and the 19 barrels selected for this bottling is not lost on the blending team at J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery.  “Early on in the tasting phase of the barrels, it was noticed by a member of Kentucky Wounded Heroes that 19 barrels had been pulled for consideration to make this blend,” said Harry Richart, president and chief operating officer.  “Normally we would cull down the number of barrels used in a blend into a smaller number, but we felt it was meant to be that 19 barrels had been selected initially, so our blending team created this year’s blend using parts of all 19 barrels and we’re ecstatic with the result.”

The Mogadishu Mile Bourbon is a 6.5-year-aged bourbon bottled at 115 proof.  Its orange-amber color lends itself to a nose of sweet and gently smokey oak with chocolate, citrus and baking spices.  On the palate, one will find a soft, yet oily texture which has a nice slightly dry oak mid palate, leading to a smooth finish.  There are lots of citrus notes with mild baking spices and a lingering taste of chocolate and oak.  Pricing starts at $120 for a 750 mL bottle with $20 from each bottle sale going to Kentucky Wounded Warriors.

Details for the Memorial Day Event are as follows:

Who:               J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

What:              Memorial Day Event

When:             Saturday, May 25, 2024

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:            J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, located at 20 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY

Why:             To honor our military veterans.  Food truck, local beer, local vendors from veteran-owned businesses and cocktails for purchase.  Complimentary commemorative glassware honoring veterans with purchase of cocktail.   J. Mattingly’s Mogadishu Mile Bourbon will go on sale upon opening at $120 in-store for 750 mL.  Admission to the event is complimentary.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Together father and son offer their proprietary double staving process as well as a custom bourbon blending experience unparalleled in the spirits industry, available on-site in Frankfort or online at https://jmattingly1845.com/build-a-bottle/

For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

SINGLE CASK BOTTLER TURNS WHISKY FLAVOUR ON ITS HEAD

photo credit Mike Wilkinson

To celebrate the whisky month of May, Fife-based independent whisky bottler, The Single Cask, launches an innovative new method that solves one of scotch whisky’s biggest dilemmas – how to categorise whisky flavour.

Scottish Whisky bottler The Single Cask, takes on the challenge of demystifying whisky flavour as they relaunch their brand. By using five mood categories, whisky fans can quickly navigate to whichever whiskies they are in the mood for.

With every one of the 3000 casks in The Single Cask’s Glenrothes warehouse easily fitting within one of the five mood categories, the independent bottler has also announced a brand-new release of whiskies to celebrate the whisky month of May.

Using the categories: Cheerful, Playful, Bold, Curious and Easy-going, flavour fans can get a feel for the whisky’s character without feeling bewildered by the label information and tasting notes. The development displays the depth of The Single Cask’s commitment to being the ultimate champions of single cask whisky.

Among their first release of new whiskies, The Single Cask are offering limited edition bottlings from iconic Scottish distilleries such as Bunnahabhain, Glen Spey, and a special Feis Ile cask of Bruichladdich to celebrate the famed whisky festival on Islay at the end of May.

Scotch whisky has arguably the most wide-ranging and complex range of flavours of any drink. To classify whisky by flavour is a challenging task that results in many different categories. So many that new whisky fans can feel confused, overwhelmed, and mystified.

The Single Cask’s fresh perspective builds on the natural inclination to describe whisky in terms of its character and personality. Much like having a flavour compass, whisky lovers use five categories to direct to whichever whiskies they are in the mood for. It also helps whisky drinkers to understand that, for example, not all peated whiskies are bold and overpowering – some can be very mellow and easy-going.

Leveraging their decades of experience in the scotch whisky industry, Brand Marketing Manager, Helen Stewart, and Whisky Sensory Expert, Kami Newton, developed the five mood method to classify every whisky style, character, and personality in the simplest way.

With so many unique casks to manage and evaluate, The Single Cask has assembled an expert panel of sensory whisky assessors. Titled the Taste Masters, this sensory panel are tasked with ensuring only the most outstanding casks are selected for bottling. Alongside the selection process, they are also responsible for designating each whisky to the most appropriate mood category.

The first category of whiskies are the Cheerful types; well-mannered, joyful, effortless, and dependable crowd-pleasers that suit any occasion. Playful whiskies are the ones that bounce around your nose and mouth, full of life, vigour, enthusiasm and excitement.

The Bold category is for seekers of big, powerful, and strong whiskies – with assertive, rich and deep characters. The Curious whiskies are those unusual characters that break the rules of whisky flavour. They represent the surprising, uncommon, oddball whiskies that are the hidden treasure for die-hard fans.

The final category are those Easy-going, laid back, and mellow drams for when you’re in the mood to simply unwind and relax.

The Single Cask celebrates whisky in its purest form; with each single cask of whisky only yielding just a few hundred bottles that will never again be repeated. Their many years of assessing single casks of whisky brings invaluable knowledge about whisky flavour. This experience inspired their brand-new approach by shining a light on the beauty and brilliance of single cask whisky.

Helen Stewart, Brand Marketing Manager at The Single Cask, said: “We feel this brand-new way to explore our single cask whiskies will open whisky lover’s eyes to a new world of experiences. We want to be the brand who helps people to easily discover their perfect dram, and enjoy that ultimate, unique single cask whisky experience.”

“At The Single Cask, we believe the overall ‘charisma’ of a dram is more important than its individual flavours, and when we picture whiskies as personalities, they become easy to relate to. We can instantly identify with the mood of the whisky. That ability to move and connect people, to make us feel alive in ways unimaginable and open our minds to new experiences.”

Kami Newton, Whisky Sensory Expert, explains: “One of the biggest challenges with flavour is that it’s a different experience from one person to the next. For example, to some people coriander tastes like a delicious, fragrant herb. But others have a genetic variation that makes coriander taste like disgusting soap. Add to this flavours that are culturally specific and the challenge of pigeonholing whisky by flavour becomes clear. The five mood method takes a whole new approach that is less confusing and creates an emotional connection with whisky drinkers.”

The Single Cask pride themselves on bottling only the most outstanding, characterful, and distinctive single casks of whisky. The company values the distinct personality and cherishes the individuality of every single cask – celebrating whiskies that start conversations through their irresistible attraction: https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/

More to explore:

The Single Cask Whisky Moods – https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/pages/whisky-by-mood
First Feelings of Summer Collection – https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/collections/first-feelings-of-summer
2024 Official Feis Ile Bottling – https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/products/bruichladdich-12-year-old-cask-r11-281-46

The Single Cask
The Single Cask was founded in 2010 by Ben Curtis, built on the belief that the search for the ultimate dram never ends. Bottling unique spirits, hand-picked one cask at a time – The Single Cask bottles award-winning whiskies at natural cask strength, without any intervention such as chill filtration or artificial colours.

Powered by the incredible sense of togetherness whisky creates and a growing fascination with the one-of-a-kind personality of single cask bottlings, the passion soon led to the launch of their first bar in Singapore.

Now with a Glenrothes-based warehouse home to over 3000 casks, new retailers, on-trade partners and importers (such as the newly appointed High Spirits in the Netherlands) they are creating an ever-growing fan club family.

The Single Cask’s expertise is in the sourcing of casks and in the maturation – a bold pursuit to uncover whiskies that are both of exceptional quality and character. All their bottlings are tasting panel approved by The Single Cask Taste Masters – an exclusive panel of experts who seek out the thrill of the taste, helping it to become the best experience possible.

Website – https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/

Social media:

Facebook – @thesinglecaskuk

Twitter – @thesinglecask

Instagram – @thesinglecask

Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky Batch 010

This Glengoyne dram is bottled at 59.5%, the same strength as it emerges from the cask, meaning it’s the closest thing to opening the cask personally. Matured in a combination of American and European oak, it creates a rich, indulgent and fruity whisky that truly brings the signature Glengoyne style to life. Notes of crisp apple, juicy blackberries and the decadent flavour of vanilla custard slices, complete with a long lingering finish that’s rich with honey and cut with refreshing citrus. Batch No. 010 marks a decade in the history of the Cask Strength series of limited annual releases. As Scotland’s slowest distilled malt whisky, drinkers are encouraged to enjoy this dram unhurried.

Glengoyne Cask Strength (59.5%) is available to purchase from Glengoyne.com. RRP £88.00

Glengoyne 15 Year Old

This truly special whisky is the perfect balance of bourbon and sherry cask maturation – the result is a complex dram that’s recognisably Glengoyne, but from a different perspective. Spiced dried fruits, vanilla, freshly baked crumble, cinnamon and a hint of tropical fruit gives the dram a clean taste with  a gentle sweetness. As Scotland’s slowest distilled malt whisky, Glengoyne 15 YO is a sweet, fruity Single Malt that’s made to be enjoyed ‘unhurried’ with your nearest and dearest.

Glengoyne 15 Year Old (43% ABV) is available to purchase from Glengoyne.com. RRP £92.00.