https://youtu.be/p9IqUoBc_9g

Port…do you like it as a cask finish?

I typically haven’t. Odd exceptions have been from Glen Scotia and Talisker, but everything has left me feeling like it doesn’t really work. It exaggerates alcohol and always leaves a slightly burnt taste in my mouth. But not anymore!

This port cask finish from Clonakilty has changed my opinion, or atleast opened it up to the world of port. Drenched in peaches, cherries and red grapes – it has managed to work in tandem with the spirit and develop into a welcomg style, combining the best of Ireland and Portugal into one!

The finale in our Clonakilty series!

Sotheby’s and The Distillers’ Charity Announce Partnership to Host Three Auctions of Ultra-Rare and Unique Scotch Whisky and Experiences

SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY UNITES TO SUPPORT

DISADVANTAGED YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND

Sotheby’s and The Distillers’ Charity

Announce Partnership to Host Three Auctions of

Ultra-Rare and Unique Scotch Whisky and Experiences

First ‘One of One’ Auction to Take Place at Barnbougle Castle near Edinburgh

LONDON, 28 July 2021 – The Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s today announce a six-year partnership to host three biennial auctions of ultra-rare and unique Scotch whiskies and experiences under the name “The Distillers One of One”. The first Distillers’ One of One auction – comprising one-off, never-to-be-repeated lots specially created and donated by leading Scotch Whisky distilleries – will take place at Barnbougle Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh on Friday 3 December 2021. There will be over 40 lots, which will showcase the excellence in craftsmanship, innovation and value of Scotch Whisky, ranging in estimates upwards to £250,000.

The Distillers’ Charity is the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers. Proceeds from the One of One auction will benefit a fund, which has been created by The Distillers’ Charity focusing on supporting disadvantaged young people in Scotland, transforming their life chances and empowering them to create positive change in their lives and communities. Working with charity partners, including The Prince’s Foundation which offers education and training programmes, the Youth Action Fund will provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, discover their values and be work-ready.

The Prince’s Foundation’s President, HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay, has sent The Distillers’ Charity a warm message of support saying how pleased he was that the combined forces of the Scotch Whisky industry were standing alongside each other to benefit countless young people and provide them with the tools they require to become vital members of their communities. 

Jonathan Driver, Master of The Worshipful Company of Distillers, said: “Our ties with the Scotch Whisky Industry have been invaluable in creating this landmark sale, and the generosity shown has been overwhelming. Across the spectrum of the industry from independents to family-owned and global companies, we have come together in a collective endeavour to support the youth of today in Scotland through practical training and education. We are also delighted to have Sotheby’s on board to help with our philanthropic mission which will have far-reaching benefits for decades to come.”

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine and Spirits, commented: “Working closely with The Distillers’ Charity and The Worshipful Company of Distillers, we will harness our knowledge and expertise in hosting auctions to create a regular series of sales that will not only shine a light on the Scotch Whisky industry but also raise valuable funds to support disadvantaged young people in Scotland.”

Further information about the contents of The Distillers One of One will be distributed by Sotheby’s and The Distillers’ Charity in the autumn.

The History of the Springbank Distillery – New Video

In the first of an ongoing series, whisky broker and consultant Mark Littler has released an in-depth history of the Springbank distillery on his You Tube channel.

The 17 minute video features an account of the Campbeltown distillery, tracing its origins in the early 19th century, through the hardship of the early 20th century, the problems caused by the whisky loch in the 1980s and the rise to prominence in the last 30 years.

Future histories planned for similar videos include the Macallan distillery and the Brora/Clynelish distilleries.

You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu3xucufdus&t=63s

From Islay, With Love

A Scotch whisky paradise

Boasting a high concentrations of distilleries, Islay produces some of the most sought after and widely loved Scotch whiskies. From the heavily peated to stunning sherry casks, we have in big catalogue of old, rare and ‘everyday’ whiskies from this wee gem of an island.

Browse Islay Whisky at TWB

Little Brown Dog Indian Rye 2017 Single Cask *1 Bottle per Person*

LI’L BROWN DAWG

Indiana Rye Whiskey 2017

Bottling Notes:

Little Brown Dog’s latest release of a single cask bottling of Indiana Rye 2017.

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Colour | Cask Strength | Single Cask

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Pain d’épice (french cake) modelling clay, and sawn wood.

Palate: yams, lantern fruit, maroon glacé

Finish: Clove oil, pink grapefruit

58.7% ABV

50cl

£45.00

**LIMITED TO 1 PER PERSON**

New from Little Brown Dog

The whisky coming out of LBD are quite something, and if you tasted the Brandy/Cognac release they had a little while ago, this one is sure to whet your appetite, a Linkwood finished in a Brandy Cask. This latest single cask release from Little Brown Dog is from Linkwood Distillery. Linkwood 2008 Single Cask has been finished for 6 months in the Petit Chien Brun French Brandy Cask that was released earlier this year. Non chill filtered, cask strength and natural colour..

Linkwood 2008

Linkwood, finished in a Brandy Cask, and bottled at 54.5% abv.

A nose of Soor plooms and gooseberries

£55.00

Cask Strength 54.5%.

Colour – Castrol R
Nose: melon, soor plooms, gooseberry fool
Palate: bonne maman rhubarb jam, antique shop, pruneaux
Finish: stem ginger syrup, grape nerds and black pepper

From Little Brown Dog

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

1993 Clynelish 22 Year Silver Seal “Whisky is Class…ical – Elisir D’Amore” Single Cask #7562 Highland Single Malt Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival, Elsewhere 600) $400.00 View

This exceptional barrel of Clynelish was selected by the unparalleled palate of Signor Massimo Righi for his wild “Whisky is Class…iscal” series of single cask single malts. Each is named for a classical piece of music and this one for composer Gaetano Donizetti which premiered in Milan on May 12th, 1832. Bottled in 2016 at cask strength without chill filteration only 259 bottles were produced. Only 36 have been secured for the US market and they’re already trading in Europe at a significant mark up from our price.

1984 Longmorn 30 Year “Silver Seal – Wild Life Collection” Single Sherry Butt #3212 Speyside Single Malt Whisky (700m (Pre-Arrival) $599.99 View

An ultra rare long aged expression from the well regarded Longmorn Distillery bottled under the attractive Silver Seal “Whisky is Nature: Wild Life Collection” is adorned with the powerful and majestic Leopard to match the grace and depth of this fantastic single sherry butt distilled over 30 years ago. Distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2015 at cask strength, it’s clearly true that Massimo Righi’s Silver Seal line has access to product almost no one else can match. Finding a Longmorn aged this long is next to impossible and even more unusual to find a cask strength single barrel expression. Only 12 bottles are available for the entire US and they’re sold exclusively at K&L Wine Merchants.

In late December of 2020, the TTB quietly passed a regulation that allowed 700ml bottles to be imported into the US. While this might not seem like big news, it is actually a windfall for spirits lovers as it unlocks a stash of previously untapped bottlings to our shores. We could not be more excited, as it quickly adds another dimension to our unparalleled spirits program. Above you’ll find some of our first discoveries in this format, and they are all incredibly rare and rewarding mature Scotch collectibles that also present remarkable value compared to other standards from the distilleries. If these are any indication of what’s to come, those extra 50ml will not be missed.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

AnCnoc 35 Year Old

2016 limited release of just 670 bottles. Matured in ex-bourbon barrels, this is a highly desirable malt whisky from the Highland distillery. AnCnoc 35 Year Old 2nd Release Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery at Knockdhu distillery. Matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels bottled 2016. Limited release of just 670 bottles. Giving rise to a unique dram that still retains its youthful edge; the 35-year-old has top notes of lemon curd, green apples and cut flowers followed by honey sweetness, creamy toffee, leather and spice. Warming wood smoke makes for a fragrant and rich aroma. On the palate, it is oily and full-bodied with caramel honey and fresh vanilla complementing the subtle smokiness and warm spice.

AnCnoc Malt Whisky is produced at Knockdhu Distillery at Knock in the Highland whisky region. It was established by the Distillers Company Ltd. in 1893 to produce whisky for Haig’s blends of Scotch. Knockdhu has two stills with worm tubs and traditional dunnage warehouses where it matures both peated and unpeated AnCnoc whisky. Vintage releases include 1975 and 2000 whilst age releases include the 12 year old and 22 year old.

Shop – AnCnoc 35 Year Old

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 397: Cragganmore 2007 Distillers Edition

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, publishes his first Cragganmore rambling! There isn’t all that much of single malt from Cragganmore on the market. The core range exists of the classic 14 years old and this yearly repeated Distillers Edition. But apart from some special releases we are done here. That has everything to do with the fact that most of this malt goes into some of the world’s best sold blends, Johnnie Walker Green Label mostly. What is not widely known, is that Cragganmore actually uses mildly peated barely! This Distillers Edition, distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2019, got its second maturation on port casks.

https://youtu.be/dUl33cqOMI4

Dunphail Distillery receives planning approval 

The team behind London’s Bimber Distillery have today confirmed that plans to open a new Scottish whisky distillery and visitor centre in Dunphail, south of Forres have been approved by Moray Council. The planned 200,000 LA capacity site will be constructed through the conversion of an existing farm steading.

“We’re delighted that our planning application has been approved” said spokesperson Matt McKay. “We’re incredibly excited to be moving forward with our new distillery. We’ve worked very closely with Moray Council to ensure that Dunphail not only harmonises with the landscape, but that it also supports the wider community and the conservation of the local environment and its ecosystems. We are looking forward to turning our vision for Dunphail into a reality and crafting truly exceptional world-class single malt whiskies.”

The ‘craft’ Scotch whisky distillery will combine tradition and modernity in both its appearance as well as its production processes. It will feature a floor malting facility and traditional kiln which will be utilised to process locally sourced barley. The fermentation times will be long, and distillation will be through direct-fired stills.

The breaking of ground expected to take place in early 2022 with distillation due to commence later that year. The company is now in the process of raising the investment requried to fund the capital expenditure costs to construct the new distillery and to fund the initial operational costs whilst casks mature.

Additional details about the planned construction process, distillery specifications, and opportunities to play a part in Dunphail’s journey through memberships and cask purchases will announced over  the coming months.