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Laphroaig 30 Year Old The Ian Hunter Story Book One
This 30-year-old single malt is the first release in The Ian Hunter Story from Islay’s Laphroaig distillery.
The story is a fifteen-part series of rare aged single malts, celebrating chapters in the life of Ian Hunter, the last member of the distillery’s founding family to own and manage Laphroaig. This series commemorates Hunter’s influence and celebrates the unique spirit that he helped create. This 2019 release is aged for thirty years in first-fill American white oak bourbon barrels and bottled at a strength of 46.7% abv free from chill filtration, with just 4,800 bottles produced.
Dark and wintery Mondays can be a struggle, but we’re bringing some festive cheer to your day with four striking new single casks, available online today. Each showcasing a different flavour profile, get ready to take your taste-buds on a fairground ride of flavour.
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
The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky
Part 2 now LIVE on Amazon Prime!
Part 2 of the Amazon Prime travelogue series with a drinks twist, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky, is now streaming live on Amazon prime with new episodes.
The series follows TV Presenters and professional drinks writing trio, Helena Nicklin, Aidy Smith and Colin Hampden-White on a new adventure through Scotland. Starting on the isle of Jura and heading west through Campbeltown, ‘the whiskiest place in the world’, the trio take in Glasgow and the university’s ground-breaking whisky tongue before taking a road trip through stunning locations, trying their hands at various physical challenges and of course, tasting drams at distilleries.
“Episodes 5, 6 and 7 have quite a different feel,” says Smith. “There’s more adventure, more travel and tourism and we even start to taste spirits – shock horror – other than whisky!”
The team visit new brand partners: The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt, Glen Scotia, Loch Lomond Whisky, Glen Moray and taste curious tipples from Firkin Gin and Master of Malt.
You can watch all episodes now on Amazon Prime here. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, please contact us for a private Vimeo link to the new episodes.
Episode 5
Colin, Aidy and Helena head back up to Scotland to replenish their whisky stocks and discover more that the country has to offer. From enjoying the peace (and whisky) of Jura, where George Orwell wrote his last masterpiece, to visiting Campbeltown and discovering its rich whisky history, The Three Drinkers are back with a – freezing cold – splash! Brands featured: Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Scotia.
Episode 6
Lord Aidy finally gets to visit ‘his’ castle and he has a surprise for the others. Colin and Helena discover the real reason people enjoy salmon fishing and Glasgow University pits their artificial tongue against our human experts. Brands featured: Loch Lomond, Master of Malt Drinks by the Dram, Glen Moray, Dunkeld Salmon, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel.
Episode 7
In this episode, Helena busts some myths about the real Macbeth and Cawdor Castle, Colin gets jealous when Aidy tastes a very rare dram and after chasing whisky waterfalls and a spot of ghost hunting, the trio get competitive to win some very special bottles. Brands featured: The Dalmore, Fettercairn Highland Single Malt, House of Mulben, Firkin Gin, Edinburgh Ice Company, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
Photo stills from the show can be downloaded here.
To celebrate the end of the series, the trio also sourced their own limited edition whisky inspired by all the locations in the show. Cask Selection No. 1 is a 17 year old blended malt available exclusively through Master of Malt for £39.95.
Press & Interviews
The Three Drinkers are available for interviews to discuss the show, the latest drinks trends or even to explore the bizarre drinks they’ve tried from around the world live on radio, TV or online/magazine format. Please see an example written interview on The Independent.
Brand Collaborations
For brands looking to collaborate with The Three Drinkers, they frequently host consumer masterclasses and influencer events alongside a host of digital activations. Please contact marketing@thethreedrinkers.com for more information.
You can follow The Three Drinkers progress via their website and social media channels:
Instagram: @TheThreeDrinkers | Twitter: @The3Drinkers | thethreedrinkers.com
The Three Drinkers are a trio of expert drinks writers and presenters of ‘The Three Drinkers’ TV series on Amazon Prime. Through The Three Drinkers Productions, they offer a 360 degree approach to drinks content through the creation of short films, written features, social campaigns and strategic consumer events plus documentary series and branded content TV shows for streaming services. Authentic, credible and engaging, The Three Drinkers get liquid on lips and build new audiences for your brand through their informative, lifestyle approach to drinks.
Our latest batch of Double Cask Single Malt Whisky is now ready for release exclusively to our mailing list members.
Double Cask Batch DC104 is made of up of French Oak ex-tawny casks and American oak ex-bourbon casks between ten and fourteen years old. Bottled at 45% abv, this batch produced only 1,296 bottles.
“This whisky is super mellow and easy to drink, but incredibly interesting and complex at the same time. We’ve used smaller portions of a wide range of casks for this batch, giving us a broader colour palate to work with and really upping the level of complexity.”
– Heather Tillott, Head Distiller
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: A broad sweet nose of toffee apple and brown sugar with buttery shortbread, orange marmalade and the signature Sullivans tropical fruit notes along with a darker, more herbal note providing balance.
PALATE: Creamy and waxy on the palate with berry pie, caramel fudge, orchard fruits and nice oaky spice providing structure.
FINISH: Vanilla and sour cherry pastry for days with the tropical fruits making a last minute reappearance with lingering orange, fudge and vanilla custard.
Strictly limited to one bottle per customer. Click the link below to purchase.
Don’t miss out on both of these highly sought after single barrel bourbons, with the Gold Edition being awarded single cask of the year in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2019. These bottles are always extremely popular so buy now to avoid disappointment!
Free UK standard delivery on all orders over £99
We also ship worldwide
Blanton’s Gold Edition
£129.95
Blanton’s Original Single Barrel
£79.95
Struggling to think of gift ideas? Don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered with an original gift from The Glenlivet’s online boutique.
Don’t keep your feelings bottled up; put them on a bottle. Completely free (yes, you read correctly) and unique. Create Label
SOCIETY MAKES IT THREE-IN-A-ROW WITH INDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has claimed a third consecutive top award in Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.
The award, which recognises the consistently outstanding quality of their whiskies, is an unprecedented three-in-a-row for the title and a remarkable seventh time they’ve picked up the accolade in the past 10 years.
The Society also won the regional awards for Independent Bottler of the Year for Lowlands, Islay, Speyside and American whiskies. Their partner bars also picked up several accolades, with Campbeltown’s Ardshiel Hotel winning Hotel Bar of the Year and Dornoch Castle being named Highly-commended, while the Glasgow partner bar the Bon Accord won Bar of the Year.
The Society, which is the world’s leading whisky club, specialises in single cask whisky and takes a unique approach to their bottlings by celebrating the flavours across whisky through 12 flavour profiles.
Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “What a fantastic achievement for the Society, which we’re delighted to share with all of our members.
“Winning the overall title of Independent Bottler of the Year for the third time in a row is a huge endorsement for our ever-more creative approach to the whiskies we are able to offer our members, whether they are single cask bottlings, whiskies that we’ve additionally matured, or our experimental range of blended malt bottlings.
“We’re currently offering a wider range of whiskies than ever before, and this accolade demonstrates that we’re serving our membership well – and giving more and more whisky lovers good reason to join our ‘All Together Unique’ Society.
“Prospective members can look forward to even more amazing offerings in 2020, so it’s the perfect time to sign up and share our love for amazing whisky and good company.”
This Society’s latest award as Independent Bottler of the Year for 2019 comes on the back of a hugely impressive year of accolades, with a ‘best in show’ win in the recent Luxury Masters award as well as the Scotch Whisky Masters, along with top awards in the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the International Spirits Challenge, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
See below for the full list of SMWS winning bottles:
CAMPBELTOWN
12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 93.119: Charcoal in a honeypot
12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 93.111: Sea through the smoke
12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 93.108: Earthy and masculine
ISLAY
Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year
12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 33.138: A thigh-slapping dram
12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 10.162: Big wave sofa
12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 10.181: Feast of St Columba
13 to 20 Years: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 29.260: A visceral elemental experience
21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 29.258: Remembrance of fruits past
21 Years & Over: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 53.308: Let the Tempest tout an’ blaw!
HIGHLANDS
12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 96.31: Poised and balanced
12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 123.31: Death by florist
21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 77.51: Flower shower
21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 66.145: Flambe away
ISLANDS (NON-ISLAY)
13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 4.249: The mermaid’s marmalade
LOWLAND
Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year
12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 136.2: Paradise in a paradis
13 to 20 Years: Gold gold medal
Cask No. 5.71: Elbow patches and saucy librarians
21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 50.109: Mangroves and marshmallows
21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner
Cask No 97.22: Emerald-masked triple thrill
SPEYSIDE
Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year
12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 35.247: In a tabanco in Jerez
13 to 20 Years: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 46.84: Velvety complexity
13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 37.128: Big bold and boisterous
21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 1.212: Beeswax on barrels
21 Years & Over: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 9.169: Enthralling and enchanting
IRISH
13 to 20 Years: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 51.11: Irish danger juice
13 to 20 Years: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 51.13: Fifty shades of lemon
GRAIN
21 Years & Over: Gold medal winner
Cask No. G1.18: Pyjamas for the soul
21 Years & Over: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. G7.15: Mind-altering hugs
NON-SCOTCH
No Age Statement: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 139.2: A tropical affair
No Age Statement: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 139.1: Chomping on a herbal cigar
12 Years & Under: Bronze medal winner
Cask No. 140.1: Cornography
AMERICAN
Winner, Independent Bottler of the Year
12 Years & Under: Gold medal winner
Cask No. 140.2: Shotgun whirligig
12 Years & Under: Silver medal winner
Cask No. 140.3: Nik nak woody
Notes:
About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk
i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/
yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos
#SMWS
K&L Top Picks—December
Four Roses Small Batch Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($54.99)
93 points Whisky Advocate: “The limited-edition releases from Four Roses are always top-notch, but this bourbona permanently available addition to the lineupproves itself every bit the equal of its rarer brethren. Made with the distillerys F yeast strain, among others, it has a perfumed nose, with orange blossom, cedar chest, berries, spearmint, tobacco leaves, sassafras, licorice, and layers of earthy spice. The palate is consistent and deep, with flavors of cherry Coke, cough syrup, orange oil, leathery dark fruit, black pepper, chili flakes, and chocolate, shifting into a minty finish replete with pepper, cinnamon, dark chocolate, cooked berries, and roasted walnuts. Full, rich, and utterly satisfying.”
K&L Notes: *#3 on Whiskey Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskies of 2019.* For the first time in 8 years Four Roses has added a new bourbon to their core lineup. The Small Batch Select is a 104 proof bottling that is made from the following recipes: OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, OESF. It’s a blend of 6 and 7 year old bourbons and is a worthy addition. It’s loaded with spiciness and a bit of sweet fruit on the nose and morphs into vanilla, cigar box, and stone fruits on the palate. It finishes long and clean with a touch of fresh mint lifting it and begging you to sip again.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 27, 2019
We’ve been quietly cranking through this incredible Four Roses offering since it launched earlier this year. It’s become a staple on the bar of nearly ever staff member in our Redwood City store, and with good reason. Now with the major accolades bestowed upon it by Whisky Advocate, I’m guessing it will be on nearly every whiskey lover’s bar by the end of the year. It is perfect holiday drinking. Loaded with insane amounts of cinnamon, it would sit next to any dessert splendidly at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Cigar box and cherry fruit notes blend together in a hedonistic concoction worthy of any bourbon lover’s adoration. The oak vanillins carry sweetness to every corner of your mouth. The finish hints at the fresh mint and other herbal notes found in Four Roses F yeast strain. It goes on and on and then keep on going thanks to the 104 proof which is absolutely the best decision Four Roses could have made for a blend of this caliber. Huzzah to Brent Elliot Master Distiller since 2015 and the “Master Mind” behind this great new offering.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 18, 2019
Woody and spicy and fruity! Oh my! This newest project from Four Roses is a special blend of six of their mashbill/yeast recipes. It is more robust and richer than the previous standards from Four Roses, lending a heavy-handed approach to a classic. Cinnamon and clove burst out of the glass with heavy oak toast scents and orchard fruits. On the palate, everything is just… more. Hotter spice is also joined by mint, while those orchard fruit notes are intensified and taste like they’ve been baked into a pie. The wood flavors get heavier too with well charred oak and cedar notes just barely calmed down by vanilla sweetness.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 02, 2019
I typically adhere by the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It seems Four Roses disagrees. With three solid core offerings, they decided to double down on the small batch, offering this great, mid-tiered whiskey at a higher proof (you won’t hear me complaining). On the nose I get sweet notes of candy corn and golden raisins with a slight hint of ripe green plum. The palate is definitely kicked up a notch from the regular small batch (which incidentally was my gateway bourbon). Sweet apple notes, with a bit of saigon cinnamon spice make their way forward and leave my tongue tingling with a bit of oak and a small hint of vanilla and finishing with sweet white peaches. The regular small batch got me into bourbon and Four Roses whiskey, and this new Select offering brought me back.
Bunnahabhain has been doing its thing since 1881 with just a short shutdown in the early 1980s. The massive distillery was built at a time of booming confidence in the Scotch industry and everything about it reflects that, from the enormous sprawling distillery to the massive stills. Historically destined for blends such as Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse, it’s in the modern booming era of Scotch that Bunnahabhain has really come into its own as a single malt. Known today for its unpeated malt on an island famous for peated spirit, Bunna at 30 years old is a rarity and something something truly to behold. Last year we offered a 30 year old Bunna that clocked in at a modest 44% ABV, this year we have secured a refill hogshead cask of the same age that retained its proof and is as massive as the distillery itself – 57.3% ABV. That extra oomph translates into a combination of age and power that is virtually never available; especially for $350 bucks. Consider the 25 year old distillery bottling averages over $800 and the value here becomes abundantly clear. Just 140 bottles came out of this cask and they won’t last long.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 21, 2019
We’ve worked with several old barrels of Bunnahabhain over the last few years. We’ve seen a wide variety of offerings from 23-30 years old. But these last two years we’ve been given access to two of the most special Bunnahs we’ve ever sold, both distilled in 1988 and complete opposites in style. So if you have last years incredible refill sherry butt at 44.5% and your wondering why you’d buy another bottle from the same vintage, rest assured that this one is on the complete other end of the spectrum. What last years cask had in poise and ease of consumption, this one has in powerful and complexity. And it’s true, age is just a number, but there’s no doubt that the Laings have been stashing their best casks to be released at the BIG 30! I often don’t recommend drinking old whisky like this with too much water, but the proof is seemingly daunting and I think this whisky swims astonishingly well. Without water expect it to be rather shut down on the nose. Hints of malt, herbs, roots, salt, gravel and wisps of smoke. On the palate you can tell that behind the baffling nose is so much tension and complexity it’s brimming with power. Now proof this down under 50% and you’ll open up a completely unparalleled experience. The unique ability of Bunnah to seem of Islay without any peat is clear. Salted lemon peel, oolong, hints of camphor/creosote, gentian, lemongrass and the tiniest bit of ozone. The palate is ultra linear and long. Grassier than the nose and cleaner. A bit of earthiness and the bold citrus and salt that I loved on the nose. Power, tense, unrelenting and wild. Not as simple and forward as last years, but arguably a more exciting malt for those who love the true essence of Bunnahabhain. Don’t forget the water or you’ll end up a bit disappointed.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 21, 2019
This whisky is stunningly complex. While we had a 30 year old Bunna last year that was dark with sherry, this impressive cask is all about the character of the malt itself. It is a perfect example of why Bunnahabhain is such a well regarded distillery. The malt itself feels drizzled in honey. A slight cream provides richness. There is a dizzying array of fruit that ranges from tropical pineapple to honeycrisp apples. It’s basically a breakfast bowl of yogurt, granola, and fresh fruits, but with an enormous wallop of power. Under the obvious notes on the nose is a gentle sea brine and herbal quality both of which provide lift and freshness. The body is full, but not heavy. An the finish lights up your tastebuds with the priqlyness of high proof and the sweetness of creme brulee. A masterpiece malt not to be missed by any serious whisky drinker or collector.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 18, 2019
This 30 year old single malt is alive and packed full of drinking pleasure. In the nose there are savory and malt notes. In the mouth it is light bodied but is mouth coating with delicate savory flavors. With a splash of water the nose opens up and provides savory and bees wax aromas. In the mouth it becomes softer and more delicate. This excellent single malt offers finesse and shows what Bunnahbahain distillery is capable of producing.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2019
This dram had a certain je ne sais quoi about it. Everything from the nose to the finish blew me away. Pretty and elegant on the nose with a delicate hint of smoke with red summer berries and canned mandarin oranges. The palate was equally as impressive, with more of a sweet tangerine flesh note with light oak tones and chocolate malt; it felt like sunshine in my mouth. The finish didn’t disappoint, as the sun started to set it left me with a flavor that reminded me of one of my favorite candies- peach gummy rings. This is an absolute dream of a scotch, no water necessary, and with tariffs going up, I’d definitely pick this bottle up for future consumption.
