Whyte & Mackay invites whisky fans into the sample room with new podcast 

A new whisky podcast from Whyte & Mackay granting exclusive access to the people, places and stories behind some of Scotland’s top distilleries has gone live today, with world-renowned master distiller Richard Paterson featuring as its first guest.

Live From the Sample Room explores the remarkable careers, and groundbreaking techniques used by the people responsible for crafting Scotland’s most loved whiskies.

Hosted by food and drink columnist Abbie Moulton, the first season will see the release of a series of episode specials, each focusing on an inimitable guest who has made a lasting impact on the whisky industry. Guests will bring on a whisky of their choice for a tasting to finish each podcast.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making credentials are unrivalled, with prized single malt’s The Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn and Tamnavulin, the shining stars in its portfolio.

The podcast’s first episode will feature one of the world’s best known whisky personalities – the prolific master distiller of The Dalmore, Richard Paterson.

The debut episode takes a rare deep dive into Richard’s five-decade strong career as a whisky maker and explores how his passion for the spirit has led to him becoming one of the most recognisable faces in the industry. 

Kieran Healey-Ryder, Head of Whisky Discovery from Whyte and Mackay, said: “We’re incredibly excited to launch Whyte & Mackay’s first ever podcast. In this production, we are bringing whisky enthusiasts into the sample room to meet the personalities behind Scotland’s most famous export. The first series is bursting with never-heard-before content which casts light on the stories and personalities behind our whisky making.”

Podcast host, Abbie Moulton, said: “So often, whisky is something we only get to enjoy from afar and for that reason it can, at times, feel quite mysterious. It’s been a real joy to be able to delve deep into the casks for the stories and the secrets behind each of these highly respected distilleries, and to uncover the personal stories behind the processes that make their quality so admired around the globe. From the forward-thinking innovations of Gregg Glass, to the jewels of wisdom shared by Richard Paterson, and all of the journeys in between, I hope this series opens up the world of Scotch and all of its pleasures.”

Other episodes in the first series include an intimate look at life on the Isle of Jura – with Brand Home Manager Mark Bruce talking about the logistical challenges of making whisky on one of Scotland’s most remote islands.

The series will also feature Fettercairn distillery manager Stewart Walker who will sample a cask that he laid down over a decade ago live on the podcast; experimental pioneer and blender, Gregg Glass talks about the Scottish Oak Programme and how he is innovating the category using wood in entirely novel ways; and Joanne Reavely, distillery manager of Speyside’s Tamnavulin, explains how a previously silent distillery rose to meteoric levels of popularity.

This series has been produced by Rethink Audio, makers of a wide portfolio of award-winning podcasts including Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place, The Week Unwrapped with Olly Mann and Tales of Silicon Valley with The Sunday Times.

The first episode is now available to download from Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts:

• Spotify – HERE
• Apple – HERE
• Google – HERE

Notes:

Whyte & Mackay was founded in Glasgow in 1844, and today celebrates its 175th anniversary with a multi-award-winning portfolio of brands which includes The Dalmore, Jura, Tamnavulin and Fettercairn whiskies alongside its namesake Whyte & Mackay Blended Whisky.

Recent years have seen the addition of several new to world spirit brands to the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, including Shackleton Blended Malt, The Woodsman Blended Scotch, Wildcat Gin and the independent experimentation arm of the business, Whisky Works.

The global spirits business is headquartered in the heart of Glasgow, and employs over 500 people around the globe, across five international offices, five distilleries and a state-of-the-art bottling plant in Scotland.

Today, with the support of its owners Emperador Inc,. Whyte & Mackay is building a progressive, passionate and ambitious company for the future. Emperador is a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group, Inc (an international conglomerate listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange).For more information, please visit www.whyteandmackayltd.com 

About Live from The Sample Room

Live From The Sample Room is a new podcast from Scotch Whisky makers, Whyte & Mackay, exploring the people, places, and passions behind their Scotch Whisky. Join drinks columnist, Abbie Moulton, on a journey to unveil the stories and secrets of the whisky makers shaping the industry today – and crafting the whiskies of tomorrow. The podcast is available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts from November 2020. Follow Live From the Sample Room on Instagram for the latest updates.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery Receives Tasting Awards
at 2020 International Spirits Challenge 

FREDERICKSBURG, KY (Dec. 1, 2020) – Seven of A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s spirits took honors at the 2020 International Spirits Challenge, receiving Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. The list of winners includes four whiskeys, three of which are bourbon whiskeys, and a gin, vodka and rum.

The three Gold Medal winners include Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Virginia Whiskey, Bowman Brothers Small Back Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey and John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Silver Medal honors went to Isaac Bowman Port Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Sunset Hills Small Batch Gin and Deep Run Small Batch Vodka. George Bowman Small Batch Dark Rum took home a Bronze Medal.

“We are thrilled to have such a variety of spirits recognized by such well-respected judges across multiple categories,” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt said. “We strive to produce the highest quality spirits across the board and feel honored that our commitment was evident to the judges.”

The International Spirits Challenge launched in 1995 to promote spirits from across the globe, offering five medals per category. The ISC Tasting Awards establish their winners based on a rigorous judging process involving over 12 days of blind tastings by panels of more than 50 industry professionals. Complete results for the 2020 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/2020/en/page/2020-results.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the

Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain

from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which was named America’s Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon at the 2020 American World Whiskies Awards. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

Exclusive Apollo 10
Back Home. Almost.

“Snoopy” Strathmill 14 Year Old 2006

Fifty-one years ago Apollo 10 pioneered a full dress rehearsal for the first historic moon landing. Lunar module, dubbed “Snoopy” stopped short of landing on the lunar surface. As ‘Snoopy’ docked with command module ‘Charlie Brown’, Pilot Eugene Cernan proclaimed “Man, we is back home. Almost.” The seventh bottling in the Apollo series is a dark sherry butt from the Strathmill distillery located in the heart of Scotch whisky country. Sweet fruit cake, fudge, tobacco, spices and sherry soaked raisins. Marvellous!

Shop – Strathmill Back Home. Almost. – £125 / €138* / $140*

Your LAST CHANCE to give the gift of Whisky Magazine…

The perfect Christmas gift from just £28.49

SAVE up to 40% OFF the regular rate

Receive FREE magazine delivery direct to the door

Open up the gateway to the world of whisky

Last orders for Christmas: 9th December 2020

ORDER NOW

Christmas inspiration: whisky gift sets

A special present for any whisky lover: our whisky gift sets include stunning glassware, branded goodies and more. Shop our top picks below.

Shop All Gift Sets ›

Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Named 2020 Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate

Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey also awarded #7 for 2020

BARDSTOWN, KY – Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon was named Whisky Advocate’s 2020 Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey was also named #7 in the 2020 lineup. Both products join previous, recent Heaven Hill Distillery winners — Elijah Craig Barrel Proof was named the 2017 Whisky of the Year and Heaven Hill 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond was named #4 in 2019 on Whiskey Advocate’s renowned and highly anticipated top 20 yearly listing.

As noted in the Whisky Advocate Fall 2020 Buying Guide, “Larceny’s barrel proof expression…is a treat worth waiting for.” Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 are chosen each year from a collection of the highest-rated whiskeys nominated by the Buying Guide reviewers, and ranked based on quality, value, and availability. Heaven Hill Distillery has received top ten recognition for four whiskeys across three different mashbills since 2017, showcasing the consistency across a diverse portfolio of products. Read about and watch the full reveal on Whisky Advocate’s website for Larceny Barrel Proof here and Elijah Craig Rye here.

“For 85 years the Heaven Hill Distillery team’s commitment to quality and perseverance has set the course for our historic brands to thrive,” said Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “Rooted in a storied brand, Larceny’s relatively new appearance to the category has inspired our innovation process. For two of our mashbills to receive the highest Whisky Advocate recognition in their purest, barrel proof forms is a testament to Heaven Hill’s distilling legacy.”

Larceny Barrel Proof launched in January 2020 as the first line extension for the brand, offering whiskey fans an opportunity to taste Larceny as Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller does, straight out of the barrel. Descendant of the wheated Bourbons that make up the historic Old Fitzgerald franchise acquired by Heaven Hill Distillery in 1999, the non-chill filtered bottlings are released three times per year. While the top award for Larceny Barrel Proof was for the B520 release, Whisky Advocate Executive Editor David Fleming notes “you’d be wise to give any of them a try.”

Continuing the tradition of Old Fitzgerald using wheat in place of rye as the secondary grain in the mashbill, Larceny uses more wheat than any of its competitors for a softer, rounder character. The brand is inspired by the history of John E. Fitzgerald, who as a treasury agent in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s was one of the only people legally allowed to carry the keys to the barrel storage rickhouses. With a discerning palate for fine Bourbon, John E. Fitzgerald often used his rickhouse keys to gain access to some of the finest Bourbon barrels for himself. Those barrels from which he chose to help himself were often referred to as “Fitzgerald barrels” around the distillery. Larceny Barrel Proof is released three times per year in limited quantities nationwide for a suggested retail price of $49.99.

While Larceny Barrel Proof is released in limited quantities, it’s mainline brand Larceny Small Batch is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $24.99. First launched in 2012, Larceny Small Batch is one of the most successful new-to-the-world Bourbons in the past decade.  At 92 proof, Larceny Small Batch has also enjoyed both critical and consumer acclaim, receiving Gold from the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a 93 rating and Tried and True Award from the 2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and a Consumers’ Choice ranking from the 2020 SIP Awards.  Learn more about Larceny at larcenybourbon.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.8 million barrels aging in 62 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year and previously held the titles of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

Jim Beam® Bourbon is Spreading Kentucky Cheer Through a One-of-a-Kind, Distillery-Inspired “Beam Snow Globe” Experience

Uhuru Scotch Whisky Supports Conservation Charity Tusk

Ethical spirits brand released from the wild to support conservation charity

If you missed all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday noise and have still to start your Christmas shopping, but want to find gifts that are kind to the planet then look no further. Boutique bottling and spirits business, Young Spirits have launched its first single cask whisky, Uhuru, which means freedom in Swahili. They have partnered with leading conservation charity, Tusk, to support their efforts to protect African wildlife including African elephants, with 10% of the purchase price (£42.99) being donated to the organisation.

Co-founder, John Ferguson fell in love with Kenya as a child and spent many summers there soaking up the beauty of the country, as well as being surrounded by its incredible wildlife. From this early age he formed a special attachment with Africa and in particular its majestic elephants. However, his wildlife companions have become increasingly at risk of extinction from issues including habitat loss and the illegal ivory trade. This led to John’s vision to create Uhuru as a new spirits brand with a charitable and ethical difference, offering exceptional liquid and founded upon strong philanthropic values.

The first single cask release selected for the Uhuru range is a 10-year-old blended malt Scotch whisky from Ailsa Bay Distillery. It was chosen as an ideal introduction to malt for newcomers to the spirit, with its enticing fragrance of light smoke and cinnamon, entwined with caramelised almonds creating a gentle, soft honeyed experience on the palate.

Whilst our travel plans might be on hold for the remainder of 2020, if you want to create that safari experience from the comfort of your own living room this festive season, then try out the Uhuru Campfire Old Fashioned cocktail.

Uhuru can be purchased for RRP £42.99 for 70cl bottle/55% ABV via our Shop [www.14serves.co.uk]

NOTES 

Young Spirits

Young Spirits was established in June 2019 by co-founders John Ferguson and Alex Harrison as a boutique bottling and spirits business. They identified a gap in the market to provide bottling services with short lead times to meet the demand of the growing craft spirits market. The business began as a team of two and within 18 months rapidly expanded to 19 employees. Young Spirits is a young, innovative company with great ambitions to help the planet through its progressive, sustainable business practice.

Tusk

Tusk was established in 1990 in response to the poaching crisis of the 1980’s, since when the charity has become a highly effective and efficient force in African wildlife conservation. Tusk’s success is rooted in the understanding that the interests of both people and wildlife are inextricably inter-twined, and that both must be served if conservation achievements are to last and Africa’s unique wildlife and habitat are to survive.

Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old 1997 Single Cask

Matured in a single bourbon hogshead selected by House of Macduff exclusively for TWB.

A rare peated example of the Islay malt whisky distilled 1997 bottled at natural cask strength 52.3%

Expect peat smoke, sea air, pineapples, warm spices… and more bonfires.

277 numbered bottles just in time for the Holidays!

Shop – Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old – £135 / €145* / $148*

Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond 100 Proof Rye Whiskey (750ml) $23.99 View

George Dickel 11 Year Old Bottled In Bond Tennessee Whisky (750ml) $42.99 View

Lucky Seven “Holiday Toast” Batch #1 Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $79.99 View

Lucky Seven 12 Year Old “The Hold Up” Batch #1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $89.99 View

1992 Probably Speyside’s Finest (Glenfarclas) 28 Year Old “Old & Rare” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $179.99 View

Hombo Shuzo Mars Shinshu Komagatake “Limited Edition 2020” Single Malt Japanese Whisky (750ml) $199.99 View

1996 Bowmore 24 Year Old “Old & Rare” K&L Exclusive Single Hogshead Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $299.99 View

1988 Tormore 32 Year Old “Old & Rare” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $399.99 View

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