Located on Islay’s south coast, Laphroaig is one of the most iconic of all Scottish distilleries. The profound and unique character of these oily, smoky, medicinal whiskies has divided opinion since the distillery was founded in 1815.

Once highly prized by blenders, Laphroaig is now the best selling Islay single malt, enjoyed by whisky enthusiasts the world over, including Prince Charles who awarded the distillery a Royal Warrant in 1994.

Loved and loathed in equal measure, the whiskies are bold, pungent, intense, and not for the faint hearted!

BROWSE OUR FULL LAPHROAIG RANGE HERE

Continuing our series to introduce you to the hard-working individuals at the Cotswolds Distillery, meet Connor, our Events Coordinator.

Have a read on our latest blog to learn more about Connor’s role and to find out his favourite pubs in the Cotswolds for a bite to eat!

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Palatial surroundings for whiskey

The Palace Bar in the heart of Dublin City, Ireland. The Bar is long and narrow inside you need to be slim! This wee pub has been the haunt of some of the best writers in the country for generations. The Irish Times is the best paper in the country and it is a stones throw away. For years journalists and writers of the Times have come to the bar for beer’s, ales, whiskey’s and wines. Charles Acton, Brendan Behan, John Banville, Liam MacGabhann, Maeve Binchy, Vincent Browne, Garret Fitzgerald. All of these names passed through the corridors of the Times, and Palace bar.

Nae loud music or dancing here, just drinking and conversation. The Victorian pub built in 1823, and in the mid 1940s was sold for an extortionate amount of money. Many questioned if  Bill Aherne the buyer at the time, was off his head, considering the astronomical fee for the little pub. But Aherne believed he was getting a bargain. So it was, in 1946 Bill Aherne shelled out the £27,000 for pub and became Palace Bar’s new owner. If you go into the Pub today you won’t see Bill Aherne, you will see his grandson William and his father Liam. It was from the 1930s to the 1960s that some of Ireland’s most talented writers, poets and journalists were regulars. They drank at the Palace largely because Robert M. Smyllie drank there. Smyllie was editor of the Irish Times from 1934 to 1954. So he stopped in often, and the city’s literary talent followed, hoping to get a piece commissioned. Four bronze plaques set in stone on the ground outside depict regulars: Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien and Con Houlihan. Liam Aherne, can remember a certain Mr Kernoff putting up his art pieces. His studio was off the South Circular Road, on Stamer Street. Kernoff’s work was under appreciated until his later years. But over the decades, dozens of his paintings were sold at the Palace, usually for £10 to £20, if you were lucky. The Palace’s decor is the same today as it was when it first opened. When in Dublin I usually am to be found in here at least once a day, so if you want some grand chat, talk or just listen, and you can actually get in, then do so.  They have a huge selection of every imaginable Irish whiskey behind the bar.

Once in, look and listen, locals and tourists alike are here, when I was in last time it was fun. Sat sittin at the bar was an old guy with a dram and half pint chaser, he was chatting to two pals. All three looked like they could do with a good meal, and a shave. Sliding up a bit to get a better listen, their conversations made me laugh, women, drinks, friends, but most of all, horses. Now I know a wee bit about horses – my grand dad bred them doon in Kilkenny, and I worked on an equestrian magazine for a while. They were talking about racehorses, they knew stable boys and jockey’s that much was clear. All talking about how horse racing is a big con, fixed, the boys and jockeys know, now I had a better understanding. My grand dad had told us this years ago. One old timer saw me listening and nodding to myself, he wagged a finger callin me over. As you do, I turned round to see who he was calling, it was myself. I pointed to my own chest, he nodded, I went over. Asked if I knew anything about horses, I told him what I knew. They ordered drinks and a Coleraine for me. We talked for at least an hour before one had to go. I bought a round or two of the turf style, was enjoying this. Turns out one used to be a jockey, one a journalist – horse racing – and the other a writer of novels. One of my best ever nights in Dublin.  Paul McLean aka Sean Daley

#ardbeg #untamed #islay #shortie #weebeastie 

ARDBEG WEE BEASTIE – THE DISTILLERY’S LATEST SMOKY WHISKY IS WREAKING FLAVOUR IN ITS PATH 

Ardbeg launches a new permanently available 5 Year Old expression – Ardbeg Wee Beastie

From April of this year, whisky lovers around the world will get the chance to experience the latest permanent expression to join the Ardbeg core range – Ardbeg Wee Beastie. And at just 5 years old, this feisty and intensely powerful smoky whisky is untamed by age.

From elusive sea creatures to eerie hillside half-breeds, the Ardbeg Distillery has a history of exploring inexplicable legends in their bottlings. However, their next unearthly expression is said to have emerged from the peat bogs of Islay themselves. Ardbeg Wee Beastie has been described as a ‘monster of a dram’… with a formidable bite.

Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie bristles with intense aromas of cracked black pepper, sappy pine resin and sharp tangs of smoke. An explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. As savoury meats sink into the palate, the long salty mouth coating finish slinks away.

Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “I’m in no doubt that Ardbeggians will love this tongue-tingling expression. The casks chosen for its creation make it ideal for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail.”

Mickey Heads, Ardbeg Distillery Manager, said: “A new permanent expression in the core range is always momentous for the Distillery, but Wee Beastie is a particularly special dram. As it’s a younger whisky, it means we’re able to get as close to the still as possible. So it’s safe to say this is a ferociously good wee nip!”

Wee Beastie will be available in the UK from May onwards, RRP: £39.

www.ardbeg.com

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NOTES 

Tasting Notes:

Colour:           Bright Auric 

Nose:              Very bright, fresh and herbal, with hints of vanilla, pear, freshly cracked black pepper, honey-glazed ham. Rich Turkish coffee, sappy pine resin.

With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel, along with aniseed, green apple and leather. 

Taste:              A rich, explosive mouthfeel with lots of chocolate, tar, creosote and smoked bacon, followed by a burst of antiseptic lozenges, eucalyptus and more aniseed. 

Finish:              A long, salty and mouthcoating finish with hints of cocoa, fudge and savoury meats.

Casks:            Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry

RRP: £39 

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.  During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.  

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the third time in four years. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery was named the Distillery of the Year 2019.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

DOUGLAS LAING’S THE EPICUREAN LOWLAND MALT

SEEKS TO SUPPORT THE ON-TRADE COMMUNITY

As the spirits trade faces mounting challenges from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, leading Whisky specialist, Douglas Laing & Co., has today announced The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky will support the on-trade workforce on two fronts.

The plans confirm that with immediate effect, The Epicurean Lowland Malt is committed to donating £1 for every litre of The Epicurean sold globally – to The Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland on a long-term basis. The BEN Society delivers financial, social and emotional support to those who have committed three years+ to working in Scotland’s licensed trade – and thousands of bartenders are expected to benefit from the charitable partnership.

Douglas Laing & Co also announce, in a bid to reduce the immediate financial pressure on bartenders faced with reduced hours, they will recruit talented mixologists with a passion for Whisky to develop innovative, new perfect serves for the award-winning Epicurean brand at home. Dubbed “The Epicurean’s Cocktail Quarantine”, the activity is intended to economically support members of the on-trade whilst bringing some of the best bars – and indeed bartenders – to everyone’s home via Social Media.

Chris Leggat – CEO of Douglas Laing & Co. said: “The spirits category is in the thick of an exceptionally challenging period and we want to do what we can to support and give back. We’re acutely aware of the harsh reality that jobs will be affected, which is why our Epicurean Lowland Malt is looking to the future whilst also striving to alleviate some of the immediate financial pressure on some of the great people within our great spirits industry.”

Commenting on the long-term partnership, President of The BEN, Stephen J McGowan, said: “What a fabulous gesture from the good people at Douglas Laing. This is a period of extreme difficulty for staff working in the hospitality industry and the monies raised will go straight to our lifeline fund for staff affected by this pandemic”

Cara Laing, Director of Whisky at her family firm, comments: “The Epicurean, if he were a “real” person, stands for community spirit, humanity and social good. Whilst we are under no illusions about the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on the on-trade – both now and for a long time to come – we are committed to making our contribution, however slight, towards looking after our passionate, motivated bartending community.” 

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

www.douglaslaing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/douglaslaingwhisky

Instagram: @remarkable_malts

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Islands (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

£1200 OFF

Our biggest discount ever on a bottle of Macallan

Order Now

M Black evolves the highly expressive aesthetic of Fabien Baron’s creative vision that makes its statement in M, in black crystal form. An evolution of the iconic M Decanter, this new step into lustrous black crystal from Lalique was crafted to reflect the diverse history of The Macallan single malt – a striking complement to a subtly smoky Macallan, The Macallan M Black is the latest and most complex release in the range. Designed specifically to celebrate a deep and smoky Macallan than its founding relation, the crystal that houses this precious spirit was also pushed into new territories. Requiring detailed research, prototyping and experimentation, the development of the M Black decanter was an adventure in crystal that produced an end product as unique as the whisky itself.

A rich pecan coloured M lies in wait inside this lustrous black decanter. Dried fruit and orange move to an intense, long peat smoke finish.

15% OFF NOW – ORDER TODAY

The Hive is a malt whisky carefully created from a selection of high quality casks from Scottish distilleries, with a predominant focus on Speyside malt whiskies.

Over 50 single malt distilleries can be found in Speyside and whilst the most famous whiskies from this region are know for their estery fruit character, there are indeed many different styles of malt whisky that can be found in the region, from light and delicate, oily, meaty and even smoky.

It is from this diverse selection of malt whiskies that we select casks to create a subtle yet complex blend with the ultimate aim of creating luscious honey like sweetness. Additional notes of flower blossom, malty spice and orange oil can also be detected on the nose and palate.

THE HIVE PAIRS WELL WITH:

Cheese: A soft and fresh goats cheese or even a lighter cream cheese.

Meat: Honey and clove roast ham works perfectly when paired The Hive. The whisky refreshes the palate from the saltiness of the meat, whilst maintaining the honey flavours.

Dessert: A creamy Vanilla Panna Cotta or the richer caramlised sugar flavours from a Crème Brûlée work well against The Hive’s medium sweetness.

Beer: Innis and Gun Original. Both The Hive and Innis and Gunn Original impart sweet honey, vanilla and malty characteristics making an intense and indulgent pairing although the orange notes in the whisky and citrus notes from the hops in the beer should stop it from being to cloying.

In these difficult times, it’s important to keep our spirits high. We’ve now set up our virtual Members’ Room where we plan to entertain members with daily whisky-related articles, news and guidance on how we can survive this period of isolation together. We’ll also be hosting live whisky reviews and tastings, more details to follow.

Now is the time to expand your whisky know-how, click over to our blog now to discover more and make sure you follow us #alltogethersmws

VISIT BLOG

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Japanese Whisky (750ml)  $74.99 View  90 points Whisky Advocate  Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)  (12/2015)

Springbank 15 Year Old Rum Cask Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $179.99 View  92 points Whisky Advocate.  The nose is complex, with almonds, coconut, soft leather, tropical fruits, and stewed black tea. Hints of brine and peat appear. The palate is rounded and rich, with more tropical fruits, sherry, caramel, pipe tobacco, wood smoke, and spicy tannins. The finish is relatively long and creamy, with lingering smokiness. All the classic Springbank elements merge nicely here. (GS, spring 2018) 

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

Sotheby’s Sells the Most Valuable Bottle of Japanese Whisky 

A Bottle of Karuizawa 52 Year Old Cask #5627 Zodiac Rat 1960

Achieves £363,000 / $435,273

“Against a backdrop of extraordinary circumstance, the persistence and commitment of collectors came through in yesterday’s sales, where a bottle of Japanese whisky became the most valuable ever sold, accompanied by strong prices for Scotch whisky, led by the Macallan in Lalique Decanters. Collectors also continue to compete for the world’s greatest wines, and when there is an opportunity to acquire the very best the market has to offer, as with the two cases of the legendary Cheval Blanc 1947, they are willing to stretch to the highest level.”

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine 

LONDON, 19 March 2020 – Yesterday’s sales of Finest & Rarest Wines and Spirits at Sotheby’s in London brought a combined total of £3.7 million / $4.4 million (est. £2.8 – 3.8 million / $3.3 – 4.5 million). A substantial proportion of lots achieved prices above their high estimates, and in a category where online bidding is traditionally strong, over 50% of the buyers placed their winning bids online.

AUCTION RECORD FOR JAPANESE WHISKY

• A new auction record was achieved for a bottle of Japanese whisky, with a bottle of ‘Karuizawa 52 Year Old Zodiac Rat Cask #5627 1960’, sold for £363,000 / $435,273 to an Asian private collector, and far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £160,000-220,000. The oldest Karuizawa to have been released, this iconic bottle is one of only 41 that were produced, each uniquely identified by an individual netsuke carved from the oak cask head of cask #5627.

SALES AT A GLANCE

• Finest & Rarest Spirits totalled £1,401,122 / $1,680,085 (est. £1 – 1.45 million / $1.2 – 1.7 million)
  • 45% of lots sold achieved prices above the high estimate

TOP LOTS

• The auctions were led, respectively, by two landmarks in the world of whisky, and one of the most legendary Bordeaux:

• • The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection, rarely seen in an unbroken vertical, sold for £423,500 / $507,819 (est. £320,000-480,000)
  • A decanter containing the oldest whisky ever to be released from The Macallan Distillery – The Macallan Lalique Genesis Decanter 72 Year Old – brought £84,700 / $101,564 (est. £70,000-100,000)
  • A bottle of Karuizawa 52 Year Old Zodiac Rat Cask #5627 1960 became the most valuable bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold, achieving £363,000 / $435,273

STATISTICS ON BIDDERS & BUYERS

• Participants hailed from 21 countries, from across Asia, Europe and North America