LINDORES ABBEY DISTILLERY SIGNS EXCLUSIVE CASK SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH TORO ALBALÁ

The first of the Pedro Ximenez casks from Toro Albalá being filled by Martin Johnson, father of co-founder Helen McKenzie Smith, who is the same age as the 1937 cask credit: F.D Young Photography

The first of the Pedro Ximenez casks from Toro Albalá being filled by Martin Johnson, father of co-founder Helen McKenzie Smith, who is the same age as the 1937 cask credit: F.D Young Photography

Lindores Abbey Distillery announced today that it has secured an exclusive cask supply contract with Bodegas Toro Albalá in Montilla Moriles. Under the agreement, Lindores Abbey Distillery will have exclusive access to a wide range of ex-Bodega Butts for maturing and finishing their single malt.

The legendary Bodegas, perhaps most famous for its 1946 Don Convento which scored 100 points in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate guide, is seen as a perfect partner by Lindores Abbey Distillery founder, Drew McKenzie Smith.

“Toro Albalá and Lindores Abbey Distillery are the perfect match. Both are family-run companies that place an emphasis on producing the very finest product. We have been looking to form long-term agreements with the finest wine producers, and this is the first of these. You cannot do better than 100 Parker points, and we are sure that these casks, which are exclusively from PX, will be the perfect partner for our award-winning new make spirit.”

A team from Lindores will be visiting the Bodega in Montilla in October (travel restrictions permitting) to personally select and collect the further of the casks, some of which have lain in the Bodega for more than 70 years.

“We cannot wait to get some casks back over here and filled. Ex-Bodega Butts containing wines like the Don PX are so difficult to find nowadays, so we are thrilled,” Drew said.

Export Director for Toro Albalá Antonio Sorgato is equally enthusiastic. “To reach an agreement with Lindores is great. It’s a perfect arrangement for us. Being associated with Lindores Abbey Distillery and the abbey where whisky production in Scotland was first recorded is something special. We know the quality of our wines and really look forward to seeing how the casks will work in Scotland.”

The first single malt from Lindores Abbey Distillery, the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, will not be offered for public sale – the run of 1,494 bottles will be exclusively available through membership of the 1494 Society. The historic bottling will be launched in March 2021.

Notes

The first release from Lindores Abbey Distillery, the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, will be exclusively available through membership to the 1494 Society. Lifetime membership costs £500 and includes a numbered bottle of our first ever whisky release, priority access to all future numbered bottlings, lifetime free access to the distillery, a donation to the preservation of the Abbey ruins, a tree planted in your name in our Abbey orchards, and an exclusive invitation to the annual Bear Burning party.

Joining the 1494 Society means becoming part of the Lindores Abbey family and accompanying us on our journey to revive the spiritual home of Scotch whisky and celebrate Lindores’ primordial role in whisky history.

Only 1,494 Memberships to the 1494 Society are, and will ever be, available – once they are all spoken for, there will be no way to procure a bottle of the first release directly from Lindores Abbey Distillery. Only a fraction of membership places remain, and we expect these to be sold out by the time we release our first whisky in March.

https://lindoresabbeydistillery.com/memberships/

Go For Gold: Southern Comfort Black Recognized As Gold Medalist at 2021 American World Whiskies Awards

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (Mar. 18, 2021) – The Sazerac Company’s Southern Comfort Black was recently awarded a Gold Medal at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards, presented by Whisky Magazine. A complement to Southern Comfort Original, Southern Comfort Black was originally introduced by Sazerac in 2019 to offer fans a more robust, whiskey-forward profile.

Southern Comfort Black competed in the Flavored Whiskey taste category and won judges over with its subtle spice and fruity accents, standing out amongst other top-quality entries.

Whiskies in each category were subject to blind tastings in a three-round judging process to select, reward and promote the world’s best whiskies to consumers and trade worldwide.  The winners from the American World Whiskies Awards 2021 will now compete with counterparts from all over the world, with global winners set to be announced later in March.

For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com. Plus, stay up to date on the latest from Southern Comfort by visiting www.southerncomfort.com or following Southern Comfort on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/

Water of Life – The Movie

2nd – 4th April with The Inverurie Whisky Shop featuring

Charlie Maclean, Ben Chambers and Greg Swartz

We are hugely excited to introduce our collaboration with the makers of the whisky film Water of Life to present a fantastic bespoke event for customers of the Inverurie Whisky Shop.

Not only will you gain exclusive access to the film for three days, you will also receive a tasting pack (featuring some extraordinary drams tied in to the movie’s timeline) to enjoy during the 88 minute feature length film.

The film features Jim McEwan, Dr Rachel Barrie, David Stewart, Charlie Maclean, Billy Walker and a host of other well known and legendary whisky icons.

If that wasn’t enough, you will also gain access to our Question and Answer session on Saturday, 3rd April at 7pm, featuring whisky legend Charles Maclean, and Ben Chambers from the GlenAllachie Speyside Distillery.

The movie will be available through a link that will be sent out to you and you will be able to view at your leisure between 2nd – 4th April, in preparation for the Question and Answer event.

You can taste your pack during the movie, or spread it out over the three days, or wait until the live session with our great guests – it really is up to you!

SIGN UP TODAY

ITS BACK…

The English – 11 Yr

11 yr old is back; after the success of the 2020 initial release, it is with great delight that we can finally release the 2021 bottling.

The official tasting notes talk of baked apples and hints of almonds but they don’t convey the sublime rich oiliness of this whisky – we are incredibly proud to once again launch this showcase of our distillers fine work.

The 2021 bottling is limited to just 3600 bottles. The joy of whisky is the history that passes by whilst we wait for it to mature; The year we distilled this whisky Prince William get engaged, Cameron become prime minister, Downton Abbey hit our screens, the Iceland volcano caused travel havoc…time has little meaning in the creation of a single malt whisky.

Only 3600 bottles released.

£59.95 70cl 46% ABV

BUY NOW

Don’t forget that we are offering FREE delivery on all orders over £75 for Mainland UK Delivery.

Capture a little piece of history 

Tasting Notes: A complex nose with citrus, baked apples and hints of almonds give way to a taste that is fruity with some lovely oak overtones; all ending with a rich, oily and slightly dry finish.

The English – 11 Year Old
£59.95

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The 2021 global Whisky Magazine Awards

Where we’ll be presenting our Icons of Whisky, World Whiskies Awards winners, and our newest Hall of Fame inductee in a virtual awards ceremony. You can watch our presentation from the comfort of your own home – just head to our Facebook page or YouTube channel at 16:00 GMT on Thursday 25th March.

We’ll be celebrating the people, places, and drams that make the whisky world so wonderful, and the 2021 awards are particularly special given the challenges we have seen over the last year; above all, these successes demonstrate the tenacity and creativity that runs throughout the industry.

Don’t forget to set your alarms! And remember, you can join in with the action on social media using the hashtag #WhiskyMagAwards

Watch the awards HERE

ralfy review 868 Extras – Advice on your 1st Indi-malt purchase

PERNOD RICARD’S SCOTCH DIVISION MAKES GAINS IN DOMESTIC MARKET SALES AND CALLS FOR PRIORITISATION OF SCOTCH IN TRADE TALKS

Friday, 12 February: Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, released its 2021 Half Year (July – December 2020) results at a press conference this morning.

The results tell a story of a measured return to the business’ pre-pandemic momentum despite the challenges of the global COVID-19 crisis and ongoing UK trade negotiations. Although total organic sales were down -10% compared with the same period last year, this was a 17 percentage point increase from H2 FY20 when Covid-19 restrictions first hit, pointing to increased confidence and optimism for recovery in H2 FY21. A +2% growth in worldwide domestic business sales, returning to growth despite continued On Trade restrictions, indicates the resilience of Chivas Brothers’ brand portfolio in market.

Sales were particularly strong in Eastern Europe, which grew +10%, driven by Russia and Poland. Double digit growth was also recorded in China, Taiwan and South Korea where lockdown restrictions have been eased. North America sales were up +2% owing to the continued market-leading performance of The Glenlivet in the US with strong Sell-out (+25%/+15%).1

Further evidence of a gain in momentum was shown in the domestic market performance of Chivas Brothers’ Strategic International Brands (The Glenlivet, Ballantine’s, Chivas and Royal Salute). The Glenlivet continued a streak of growth, up +2% overall, with innovations such as The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve helping to maintain its leadership in the single malt category in the US. Strong growth in Asia was fueled by its Original By Tradition campaign, combined with the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Ballantine’s innovations such as Ballantine’s 7 Bourbon Finish and its global Stay True: There’s No Wrong Way marketing campaign supported growth in domestic markets, with double digit gains in Poland, Russia, India, Turkey and Brazil. The total brand’s sales drop of -12% was primarily driven by exposure of the Ballantine’s prestige range to global travel retail.

Despite a challenging environment in travel retail, Chivas Regal, with sales down -16%, not only returned to growth in China following the loosening of lockdown restrictions, but also recorded double digit growth in the US and UK thanks in part to the brand’s category-challenging Chivas Extra 13 Year Old range.

Although historically reliant on the travel retail market, a strategic shift saw Royal Salute (total sales -28%) post double digit growth in domestic markets, owing to an expansion of its core 21 Year Old range, innovations such as the Royal Salute Polo Collection and the Create Your Own Kingdom marketing campaign.

Prioritising Scotch

At the press conference, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO Jean-Christophe Coutures outlined the importance of the removal of tariffs on single malt Scotch exports to the US and a cut in spirits duty in the next Budget as critical to the continued recovery of the Scotch whisky industry. Mr Coutures praised the UK’s ambitious international trade agenda and called on the UK government to prioritise the interests of Scotch in future free trade agreement negotiations. Attention was drawn to securing improved market access in India where Scotch whisky faces import tariffs of 150% which makes it difficult for Scotch producers to grow and thrive.

Mr Coutures said: “These results reinforce our confidence in the resilience of Scotch. I’m encouraged by how quickly we are rebounding in markets where lockdown restrictions have lifted. Travel retail will continue to be a challenge this year, but our domestic market performance – even in countries with on-trade restrictions – demonstrates the strength of our brands and the versatility of Scotch as a multi-occasion drink.

“We must build on this momentum by clearing the path for Scotch to fully rebound and recover, and that means bringing about a swift end to US tariffs, prioritising Scotch in post-Brexit trade negotiations and a cut in spirits duty in the next Budget.”

Chivas Brothers used the press conference to update on the progress it has made on the journey towards Net Zero emissions. It announced the trialling of biofuel at Braeval distillery which follows the ongoing trial of heat electrification at Glentauchers. If successfully rolled out, the technology has the potential to reduce total distillation emissions by approximately 50%.

Progress made in circular packaging was also revealed at the press conference. 95% of Chivas Brothers packaging is now recyclable, 98% is plastic-free, and a new packaging testing lab is being built to prioritise technological advances and ensure Chivas Brothers meets its 2025 target of 100% recyclable, reusable, compostable or bio-based packaging.

Maker’s Mark® and Swift Bars Launch Limited-Edition Cocktail Kit 

London, March 2020: Maker’s Mark®, the premium handcrafted American whisky, has collaborated with Swift Bars to launch a limited-edition home cocktail kit.

Created by Maker’s Mark® UK Brand Diplomat, Nicole Sykes, and the team of female bartenders at Swift, the cocktail kit includes two 220ml cocktails: The Green Brand and The Ambassadors Reception. The cocktail kit also features the iconic hand dipped Maker’s Mark® wax seal, a nod to the handcraftsmanship first employed by founder Bill Samuels Senior and his wife, Margie Samuels.

A twist on a Southern style iced tea cocktail, The Green Branch combines Maker’s Mark®, Moscato, pineapple, ginger, and lemongrass tea to create the perfect spring serve. With notes of peach, orange blossom and ginger the refreshing cocktail is best enjoyed in a tall, chilled glass over lots of ice and lemon.

Made using Maker’s Mark®, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Cream Sherry and Chocolate Bitters, The Ambassadors Reception is a rich creamy serve, best enjoyed in a short glass over ice alongside your favourite sweet treats.

As Bourbon continues to be one of the fastest growing and most dynamic drinks categories in UK, the cocktail kit demonstrates the exponential demand for American whisky across the UK. With more shoppers buying bourbon in the off-trade, this has resulted in growth of 27% in value and 21% in volume over the last 52 weeks. Maker’s Mark® even outperforms these category numbers as it sees value sales increase by 47% to just shy of £5m.

Inspired by Margie’s invaluable contributions to Maker’s Mark® and, in turn, the entire bourbon industry, the one-off cocktail kit is available for delivery across the UK and can be purchased online via Speak Easy at Home for £20. 15% of all sales will be donated to The Girls Network, a charity dedicated to inspiring and empowering girls from disadvantaged communities by connecting them with professional female role models.

Nicole Sykes, Maker’s Mark® UK Brand Diplomat commented: “The craft credentials of Maker’s Mark® have been at the very heart of the brand’s success since it was co-founded in 1958 by Bill Samuels Sr. and his wife Margie Samuels. We say that Margie Samuels is the reason most folks buy their first bottle of Maker’s Mark® and Bill Samuels is the reason they buy their second. The shape of the bottle, hand cut label, signature hand dipped red wax topper and even the name itself are all thanks to the pioneering spirit of Margie. We are therefore very excited to collaborate with Swift Bar’s co-founder Mia and their team of female bartenders from two of the most prestigious bars in London, to continue on this journey with the launch a limited-edition home cocktail kit throughout March and to raise some money for a great charity.”

For more information on the collaboration please visit: https://www.speakeasyathome.co.uk/swift

NOTES

ABV:

• The Green Brand – 12.2%
• The Ambassadors Reception – 23.8%

About Maker’s Mark® 

In 1954, in Loretto, Kentucky, Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream of creating a handmade and delicious bourbon. He decided to make his whisky in small-batches, using soft red winter wheat, with a proprietary barrel char to enhance the softness and sweetness. Bill Samuels, Sr., transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handmade spirit, and today Maker’s Mark® continues to make its bourbon exactly the same way. In recent years, Maker’s Mark® has introduced thoughtful, super-premium innovations to its portfolio including Maker’s 46® and Maker’s Mark® Private Select™, the brand’s custom barrel program.

In 1980, the Maker’s Mark® distillery became the first distillery in America to be designated a National Historic Landmark and has also been decreed as the “world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery” by Guinness World Records. It remains one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more

information, please visit www.makersmark.com.

About Margie Samuels

Bill Samuels, Sr., created the Maker’s Mark® recipe, but his wife (Margie Samuels) gave the whisky its name. Margie wasn’t a professional designer, but she alone created the distinctive font seen on the Maker’s Mark® label, which has won several awards in the advertising and graphics design industry. She also came up with the idea of hand-dipping the bottles after heating up wax in her deep fryer, resulting in one of the most iconic bottle designs in the liquor industry. It’s the red dripping wax that adorns every Maker’s Mark® bottle, and it’s still done entirely by hand today.

Based on her invaluable contributions to Maker’s Mark® and, in turn, the entire bourbon industry, Margie Samuels became the fifth woman ever inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in September of 2014. For more information on Margie, please visit here: https://www.makersmark.com/history/family/margie-samuels

About Edrington-Beam Suntory Distribution UK

Edrington-Beam Suntory Distribution UK is one of the UK’s biggest sprits sales, marketing, and distribution companies. It is a joint-venture company jointly owned by Edrington and Beam Suntory.

Edrington-Beam Suntory UK represents leading spirit brands in categories including:

• Blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Naked Grouse and Teacher’s)
• Malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan and Bowmore)
• Japanese whiskies (Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu, Toki and Chita)
• Bourbon (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark®, and Knob Creek)
• Imported whiskies (Canadian Club and Kilbeggan Irish whiskey)
• Gin (Roku and Larios)

It also handles UK sales and distribution for Courvoisier cognac, Brugal 1888 rum and a portfolio of liqueurs and specialities (including Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano and After Shock)

Mortlach Exclusive Auction – Whisky Auctioneer

About the auction

• This is the World’s first Exclusive Mortlach Auction – ‘Mortlach: Through the Ages’
• The auction goes live today, Thursday 18 March, and will end on Monday evening. exclusive online sale hosted by market leaders, Whisky Auctioneer.
• 70 bottles of the distillery’s treasured expressions will become available – presenting what will likely be the first opportunity for many whisky lovers to explore some of the distillery’s elusive vintages for themselves, and for collectors as an alternative investment.
• One of the headline bottles in the auction is #1 (of just 94 bottles) of the Mortlach 47 Year Old – an extremely rare vintage release in 2019 and signed by Master Blender, Dr. Craig Wilson. It is the oldest single malt expression ever to be released directly from the distillery. It is also the first expression in a new series from the Speyside distillery named ‘The Singing Stills’.
• Collectors will also have the chance to bid on a spectacular collection of independent Mortlach bottlings, most notably from Gordon & MacPhail. Vintages up for grabs date as far back as 1936 from iconic labels such as Connoisseurs Choice, Private Collection and Book of Kells. Other independent bottlers featured include Douglas Laing, Signatory Vintage and Cadenhead’s.
• The auction is primarily composed of bottles from Pat’s Whisk(e)y Collection – the largest private whisky collection to ever come to auction. Pat’s Collection is being auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer over the course of several months due to its sheer size.
• Pat’s 9,000 bottle collection features complete collections of iconic collector’s series such as The Rare Malts Selection and Manager’s Choice.
• Within the current Mortlach Exclusive Auction, bidders can find a complete set of expressions from the Rare Malts Selection alongside cult bottlings such as the sought-after Flora and Fauna 16, 19 Year Old Manager’s Dram and Manager’s Choice.

About Mortlach Distillery

• Founded in 1823 and was the first distillery in the burgh of Dufftown, which now produces more whisky than any other Scottish town.
• Mortlach was the first of Dufftown’s ‘Seven Stills’ to be licensed and rose to pre-eminence under George Cowie & Son.
• It remained a largely unknown single malt brand outside of its devoted whisky circles until recent years, when Mortlach launched a new core range of single malts.
• Mortlach has a long standing eccentric distillation practice which has remained unchanged for two centuries, and is unlike anywhere else in Scotland. Distilled 2.81 times in a combination of six copper stills varying in shape and size, Mortlach’s resulting meaty spirit is considered a bit of a wild card in terms of a Speyside whisky – a region most often associated with a floral and fruity spirit character.
• This unusual production was perfected by Dr. Alexander Cowie in 1896. Vapours from distillation are cooled in traditional worm tub condensers, now unusual in the industry, before the spirit runs through a tangle of copper pipes positioned at exact angles.
• It’s said to take a stillman 6 months to perfect this practice and is part of what makes Mortlach an extremely distinctive and curious single malt.

Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer said: “This is the first time that a collection of Mortlach has been offered in a dedicated online auction, and it’s incredible to be able to offer our international customer base so many of the distillery’s expressions that have long been under the radar. For decades, much of Mortlach’s robust spirit was quickly snapped up by whisky blenders and connoisseurs ‘in the know’, so we know that whisky fans will be excited to see this treasure trove of bottles become available.

“Among the bottles up for grabs is the #1 of the rare Mortlach 47 Year Old – the oldest expression to be released by the distillery to date. The collection also includes complete series’ such as the Rare Malts Selection, and bottles from iconic independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail including vintages dating as far back as 1936.

“Our Mortlach: Through the Ages auction marks a significant opportunity for both passionate whisky lovers looking to try this iconic single malt for themselves, and for collectors that have been eagerly waiting for the chance to get their hands on these bottles to add to their collection.”

To register to take part in Whisky Auctioneer’s Exclusive Mortlach Auction, visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com

Shelter Point’s Newest Release

Single Cask #6

This will be our sixth ever official single cask bottling and second 100% Rye that is exclusively available at the distillery and online. This rare bottling consists of only 150 hand numbered bottles. The whisky is made from 100% rye and picks up influences of bourbon from the American oak cask and malt whisky from the aromas in our warehouse. Sweet, spicy and complex, this whisky is a unique and fascinating addition to your Shelter Point collection. We expect this go fast and due to the limited quantity. To secure your bottle please go to our website – Shelterpoint.ca

Cheers,
Jacob Wiebe

Shelter Point Website