If you wish to buy a tasting set for our online tastings,

please purchase ASAP so we can deliver them to you in time.

In-Store pickup is available

November 28th @ 5:30PM PST

Springbank

A true whisky world legend, Campbeltown distillery Springbank boasts a legacy of amazing single malts dating back to 1828. We’ll talk whisky history, current day distilling practices, and explore three Springbank whiskies together, followed by an audience Q&A with our whisky expert presenter. Join us on zoom and bring your home whisky collections – sharing is highly encouraged!

Featured Whiskies

Springbank 10 Year Old

Springbank 15 Year Old

Springbank 18 Year Old

Tasting Sets are available for $25 and include

a small bottle of each featured whisky

Click Here for more Details & RSVP

Additionally, all Springbank single malts are 10% off with the coupon code ‘VIRTUAL’ at checkout.

Mid-week slump? Our Black Friday Sale has come early to perk you up!

Get the home-bar kitted out for winter and bag a brilliant bargain on delicious drams from Macallan, Loch Lomond, Bushmills and many more.

Remember: we offer free UK shipping over all orders over £75.

Check out today’s top deals below…

Shop Black Friday Deals ›

Discover the famous whisky from one of Japan’s most renowned distilleries.

Don’t miss our biggest sale of the year, signup for Black Friday Alerts now.

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Alasdair Anderson: 40 years and counting

This is Alasdair Anderson, industry stalwart and Distillery Manager here at The Glenrothes. 2020 marks Alasdair’s 40th year in the whisky world, and yet you might never have heard of him. That’s because, much like the whisky he helps produce, Alasdair is understated and incredibly humble. He believes it’s not about him; what matters most is the whisky and the people making it.

Alasdair has seen and done it all, working his way to the top through hard work and a desire to learn that’s never wavered. We sat down with him to discuss the past, the future, and all the barrels and barley in between.

READ THE INTERVIEW

One of 2020’s Most Collectible Single Malts

1995 Aberlour 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive

Single Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

For time-sensitive bottles this November/December, please get your orders in early. Thanks and happy holidays! We appreciate your business. NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

Aberlour has a large and devoted following, having made its name with its absolutely stunning sherried expressions. But highlighted today is a real rarity from this distiller’s impressive range—a rare hogshead with 25 years of age. Single malts with this kind of significant age statement are exceptionally hard to find, and when they do, they always command a princely sum. Finding one from Aberlour is rarer even still and a real boon for collectors who enjoy the malts from this Speyside master. The whisky is every bit as tantalizing as one might expect, albeit in a different vein than those which spent their time in a sherry cask. This beautiful 25 Year Old, while possessing all the power you’d expect from a cask strength bottling, is remarkably nuanced and pure. A connoisseur’s dram if there ever was one, this is the perfect gift or addition to your own collection of Scotland’s best. Precious few bottles were drawn from this cask, so we expect our limited allocation to disappear within days, if not hours. If you are to splurge on one bottle of single malt this year, let this be the one.

1995 Aberlour 25 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($299.99) —This product is expected to arrive for shipment or pickup by late November 2020.

This gorgeous little distillery at the entrance of the tiny town of the same name has quietly become one of the Scotch-loving world’s darlings. The distillery, owned by blending giant Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard), was built in 1879 and features two 21,000-liter wash stills and a pair each of spirits stills that are 20,000 and 15,000 liters respectively. The distillery’s name means “mouth of the babbling brook,” and indeed a stream meanders next to the building, but their water actually comes from Ben Rinnes like many of the other distilleries around the famous mountain. We’ve never been offered a barrel of Aberlour, much less one of such astonishing age. While the distillery itself has been focused on NAS bottlings like their popular A’Bunadh series, the older expressions have become extremely rare. This single hogshead was selected not only for its incredible provenance and rarity, but also its extreme deliciousness. Unlike many modern Aberlours, which have become synonymous with hardcore sherry, this is much more nuanced and idiosyncratic. While by no means a value buy, it does represent a malt that is otherwise unobtainable at nearly any price and its inherent quality and unique character easily merit the price of entry. Only 184 bottles came out of this old hogshead. It was bottled at cask strength without chill-filtration or coloring of any kind.

Winners Announced in 2nd Annual
Scottish Whisky Awards

The national awards programme which promotes and celebrates Scotch Whisky has announced its winners as part of its second annual competition.

The Scottish Whisky Awards is a comprehensive year-round programme which assesses Scotch whisky producers in both business performance and taste.  This year, it involved a rigorous judging process with a panel of 40 experts and the blind tasting of 155 Scotch whisky products.

The ultimate award in the competition, Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers, was presented to Glasgow Distillery after a tremendous year of business progress and having won two Gold medals in the taste competition…..

Read Full Article

View All 2020 Winners

Talisker 8 Year Old 2011 Hepburn’s Choice

Another big name in Scotch whisky. Stunning sweet and salted notes on this dram. Delicious! Talisker 8 Year Old 2011 vintage Island single malt Scotch whisky from Skye. Single sherry butt bottled 2020 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Hepburn’s Choice series.

Brothers Hugh and Keneth MacAskill Talisker Distillery was established at Carbost on the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland in 1830 with construction commencing the following year. Soaking up its own reflection from Loch Harport one day yet fending off North Atlantic gales the next. Talisker is an Islands malt whisky distillery equipped with five stills and has retained its traditional five round wooden worm tubs. There is an excellent range of official bottlings, including Talisker 10 Year Old and Distillers Edition supplemented by independent bottlings in the Secret Stills and Old Malt Cask ranges.

£65.00 / €72.46* / $71.61*

Shop – Talisker 8 Year Old

ralfy review 848 – Three great single malts for 2020

Scotch whisky stalwart Michael Urquhart appointed as 2021 president of the prestigious IWSC 

-Former Gordon & MacPhail managing director to take up high-profile industry position-

Michael Urquhart, former managing director of family-owned Scotch whisky and premium spirits specialist Gordon & MacPhail, has been named 2021 president of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

The IWSC’s president represents the organisation’s objective to promote the production of quality wines and spirits throughout the world.

From the beginning, IWSC says it has placed special emphasis on the analysis and independence of its judging process and it is now one of the oldest and most respected industry competitions. It has hundreds of international experts – including buyers, producers, distillers, sommeliers, distributors and influencers – judging wines and spirits throughout the year.

Michael replaces 2020 president Tamara Roberts, CEO of English wine producer Ridgeview. He is the first Scotland-based president since former chair and chief executive of Edrington Sir Ian Good who held the position in 2009. Other iconic members of the wine and spirits industries who have been president include Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Wolf Blass, Robert Mondavi and Napa Valley winemaker, Warren Winiarski.

Michael retired as managing director of Elgin-based Gordon & MacPhail, the fourth-generation business owned by the Urquhart family, in 2014 and stepped down from the board in 2017 after serving over 36 years in the company.  He travelled extensively throughout the world promoting single malt Scotch whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail and also from the family’s owned distillery, Benromach.

Becoming president of the IWSC adds to the many accolades Michael has received as a result of his dedication to the Scotch whisky industry.  In 1999 he was made a Keeper of the Quaich and in 2012 a Master of the Quaich in recognition of services to the promotion of Scotch whisky worldwide. At the end of 2013, The Whisky Advocate, one of North America’s leading drinks publications presented Michael with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was also inducted to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2014.

Michael Urquhart said: “It’s a real privilege, and I’m humbled, to be chosen as president of such a prestigious organisation as the IWSC. I believe this is a reflection of Gordon & MacPhail’s standing in the drinks industry and I thank all those involved in our family business for their support and contribution to our success over the years.

“I’ve always had the greatest respect for the IWSC and the excellent work it does in maintaining and developing the high-quality reputation of the global wine and spirits industry. I’m very much looking forward to getting behind the IWSC and ensuring it continues to work in the best interests of the entire industry.”

Christelle Guibert, IWSC CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be able to name Michael Urquhart as our new president. The president is chosen for their stature and reputation in the wine and spirits industry, and Michael perfectly fits this remit. He has dedicated his life to representing high quality sprits, in particular Scotch whisky, through his family’s business, Gordon & MacPhail. We’re sure Michael will continue to build the excellent, long-standing reputation of IWSC.”

Ewen Mackintosh, managing director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “We have seen first-hand how hard Michael has worked for our family business and on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry as a whole. This is yet more well-deserved recognition for Michael, and Gordon & MacPhail, and we’re sure he will be an excellent president.”

Notes 

For more on IWSC please visit: https://iwsc.net/

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is a family owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distillery, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door and the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits, along with a high-quality retail outlet.

Benromach Distillery

The company owns Benromach Distillery located in Forres in Moray.  Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is handcrafted using traditional methods by a small team of distillers using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. The multi award-winning portfolio of single malts is enjoyed by whisky drinkers worldwide.

The company launched Red Door in the summer of 2018. Created at Benromach Distillery, this award winning, small batch Scottish gin now forms a strategic part of the company’s product portfolio.

The Cairn

Work commenced in July 2020 on the company’s second distillery, overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  The new site will add further distillation capacity and brand ownership to the company’s asset base and is a key part of the plans to continue building a long-term sustainable business.  A high-quality visitor experience offering tours and tastings will also attract visitors from around the world.

Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

Since the founding of the business in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to Scotch whisky distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new-make spirit, before being left to mature for many years either at the distillery or in their bonded warehouses in Elgin.  The Gordon & MacPhail portfolio offers some of the world’s most unique and rare Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to discerning whisky drinkers globally.

Bimber Distillery adds two new releases to its Small Batch collection 

Batch 002 of Ex-bourbon Oak Casks and Batch 003 of Oloroso Cask will be available to order directly from the distillery from Wednesday 25^th November

Latest Small Batch releases have been produced to meet growing global demand for the London-based distillery’s single malt whiskies

Bimber Distillery today announced the upcoming release of two new batches from its popular range of Small Batch single malt whiskies. The Ex-bourbon Oak Casks Small Batch single malt has been crafted from a vatting of carefully selected American Oak ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2016 – Bimber’s first year of production. Batch 002 is bottled at 52.2% ABV, limited to 2950 bottles and will be available at an RRP of £65.

Oloroso Cask Small Batch has been produced from a vatting of 1^st fill ex-bourbon casks that have been finished in Spanish oloroso sherry casks. Batch 003 is bottled at 51.4% ABV, limited to 980 and will be available at an RRP of £75.

Whilst the cask composition of both new bottlings remains the same as previous batches, the taste profile of each instalment changes as the distillery’s stock continues to mature. As such, each subsequent Small Batch release offers a deeper understanding into the continued progression and versatility of Bimber’s characterful spirit.

Speaking of the new Small Batch releases, Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “We’re thrilled to close out what has been a tremendous year for Bimber with the release of two new bottlings from our popular Small Batch range. The newest editions of our Ex-bourbon Oak Casks and Oloroso Cask Small Batch expressions offer existing Bimber drinkers a continued insight into the development of our maturing stock. But at the same time, they also provide those newer to Bimber with a perfect entry point to our range.”

He added: “Despite the tests and trials of the last nine months we’ve seen the demand for our products grow exponentially. There’s a real thirst for Bimber and the team is working hard to quench the continued global demand for our single malt whiskies.”

Both of the new Small Batch expressions were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a light, fruit-forward, layered new make spirit.

Notes 

Bimber Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Small Batch 002  

A vatting of American Oak ex-bourbon casks  

Nose: Bright and elegant fruits – ripe apples together with apricots and peach melba. Split vanilla pod and sponge fingers are joined by coconut shavings and freshly toasted bread

Taste: Fruit-forward and with a delightfully syrupy body. Apricot halves and fresh peaches are perfectly balanced against vanilla-imbued crème patisserie and elegant peppery spiciness.

Finish: Lingering stone fruit sweetness and enduring spice   

2,950 bottles

70cl

52.2% ABV

RRP £65

Release date: Wednesday 25^th November 2020

Bimber Oloroso Oak Casks Small Batch 003 

Matured in 1^st fill ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in casks which previously held Spanish Oloroso sherry.   

Nose: Cinnamon rolls, freshly baked waffles and sweet buns sit with fresh and dried red berries whilst stem ginger is tempered by vanilla cream and lemon posset

Taste: Elegantly textured and with plentiful rich sherried notes – bright red berries, chopped bananas and chocolate-dipped walnuts. Golden syrup and pineapple chunks join cinnamon dusting and scorched orange peels

Finish: Sustained refined spicing alongside receding sweet sherry    

980 bottles

70cl

51.4% ABV

RRP £75

Release date: Wednesday 25^th November 2020  

About Bimber  

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.