Why you need Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks

Japanese Mizunara Oak is perhaps one of the rarest oaks used in storing whisky, indeed more scarce than European or American, and so much more expensive than the rest…

The wonderful story of Mizunara Oak…

Its story begins in World War Two. During the war, much like most other countries, Japan had no access to imports, making whisky maturation from ‘traditional’ barrels nearly impossible. Although whisky itself was not of the most importance during this time, its consumption levels increased as it was becoming the main drink consumed by the Japanese army. Therefore, producers had an increase of demand and little imported oak to mature whiskies.

Japanese whisky distillers had to find an alternative, which lead to using Japanese Mizunara oak. This alternative made perfect sense, why import when you could just use local oak instead. This eventually led to the widespread use of Japanese oak within the whisky world, or better known globally as “Mizunara Oak”.

The supply of this oak was not without its initial struggles; the two hundred year wait to make a proper cask, the shape of the tree and whether it is more prone to leakage are just some examples of what the Japanese had to deal with. Up until very recently, Mizunara oak was deemed to be below the standard of American and European oaks. Ask any self-proclaimed whisky expert and they’ll tell you Mizunara oak is at the highest level of prestige and is deemed the finest oak to mature whiskies. 

Why is Mizunara Oak so different (and so much more expensive) than traditional oaks?!?

Firstly, its flavour profile widely differs from that of a traditional barrel. When left to mature correctly, a Mizunara aged whisky offers predominantly fresh fruit, cocoa nibs, coconut, vanilla, floral honey, and blossom. It also contains a subtle hint of Japanese incense (known as “Kara”) and spices, including nutmeg, mace, clove, which all get added to the whisky. To achieve this, maturation takes roughly twenty years but can be much lower.

Its expense comes purely from its prestige and rarity. Mizunara oak is extremely well-regarded and seen as very luxurious and superior. Limited supply is also an issue regarding its price, as Mizunara oak is tough to source, even in Japan. The Whisky Cask Company offers virgin Mizunara casks, which will genuinely enhance and greatly increase the value of any whisky matured within the casks. It is also one of the only companies that offer an investment into this cask, which should lead to even higher returns. 

Why is it good for keeping whisky? 

The unique flavour profile previously stated is a good start, combine this with the exclusivity of the wood makes it the best option for storing whisky. Its exclusivity helps increase the selling price, as even partly blending the Mizunara whisky with another significantly increases its cost and appeal. Pure bottles can sell for $1000+. Most of the whisky matured in Mizunara oak is sold exclusively in Japan, meaning casks and bottles outside of Japan will sell for much more.

The Whisky Cask Company brings the Finest Scotch to a Global Market. For additional information, visit www.whiskycaskcompany.com.

World’s first regulated whisky fund reaches the UK

The Single Malt Fund – the world’s first regulated and publicly listed single malt whisky fund – has arrived in the UK.

Supervised by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and listed on the Nordic Growth Market (NGM) exchange in Stockholm, Sweden, The Single Malt Fund aims  to raise a maximum € 25 M, and has already started to collect capital from Sweden’s retail investors.

Having been operational for six months, the next phase of growth will see the Fund targeting professional investors via UK wealth managers and family offices, with a minimum investment of €100,000 per investor.

As the only regulated and listed ‘passion pursuit’ on the market, The Single Malt Fund is aiming to tap into a growing demand among high net worth individuals for investing in alternative assets as part of a balanced portfolio approach.

Over the period from December 2014 to June 2019, Rare Whisky 101’s leading index for rare whisky, the Apex 1000 Index, which tracks the best performing 1000 bottles of rare whisky, rose by 162.22%, outperforming the Liv-Ex Fine Wine 1000 (39.58%), FTSE 100 (13.09%), Brent Crude (11.09%) and Gold (19.16%).

Since launching earlier this year, The Single Malt Fund has established its headquarters in Dublin and recruited Ed Forrest a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience at LVMH and Diageo, to run operations for the Fund, including responsibility for buying and selling whisky for the Fund. Three of the Fund’s most notable investments to date include:

• A cask of 1977 Littlemill – some of the oldest available single malt whisky from the oldest distillery in Scotland.
• Port Ellen 37 YO: a once in a generation cask whisky. Only 174 bottles released worldwide.
• A full collection of the Midleton Very Rare releases. The most prized collection of Irish whiskey available.

Unlike other whisky-focused funds, The Single Malt Fund’s whisky under management will also be made available for sale as and when it realises its investments. The Fund’s current investment strategy is focused on turning over 60% of its stock per year. Sales of its rare and collectible whisky will be managed through an online store which will launch early in January, when the Fund plans to start turning over its investments.

A key characteristic of the Fund’s investment strategy is that it focuses on buying from the primary market, including producers, distillers and distributors, below the market price, using the margin to hedge against secondary market price fluctuations.

Single Malt Fund CEO Christian Svantesson said:

“The Single Malt Fund is unique in that we are not only creating a vehicle for whisky enthusiasts to invest in whisky. We are also allowing them to indulge in their passion by providing first access to bottles of rare and collectable whisky once the Fund decides to sell.

“By launching this fund, we are tapping into a growing demand among high net worth individuals for investing in alternative assets such as art, wine, cars and watches. However, unlike any other passion pursuit, The Single Malt Fund is regulated and listed on a public exchange, making our investment process fully transparent. We believe that this strong corporate governance, aligned to whisky’s strong performance in the secondary market, will appeal to the clients of wealth managers and family offices, offering a truly unique investment proposition.”

For more information, visit www.thesinglemaltfund.com

UNPLUGGED & DISTILLED… 

Balcones Distilling partners with Texan singer-songwriter Jarrod Dickenson for UK Tour 

A Waco-born distillery with a Waco-born songwriter: Unplugged & Distilled Tour

22^nd November – 7^th December 2019

Lovers of good whisky and great music know what a perfect pairing the two make – a pleasure for the senses. This season, trailblazing Texas distillery Balcones Distilling has partnered with renowned Texas singer-songwriter Jarrod Dickenson for his long-awaited UK tour, to create the idyllic Texas partnership for whisky and music lovers.

Both hailing from Waco, Texas, Dickenson and Balcones have much in common to share and celebrate together: a gathering of some of the finest sensory stimulation to come from The Lone Star State, brought together by a passion for being individual, creating their own paths and being recognised as the finest examples of curation and craft within their cultural circles.

Kicking off in November, Dickenson’s 13 date UK tour will offer fans the chance to hear him playing past and present hits in an acoustic setting, whilst savouring a dram of Balcones award-winning range of whiskies: from Baby Blue, made with roasted Texas blue corn, to Texas Rye 100 and the much-celebrated Texas Single Malt.

For this tour, fans will get to see Dickenson performing entirely acoustically in small, intimate spaces that have been hand picked to fit with the performance and ambience. No band, no electric guitars or much electricity at all – just two voices, a few acoustic instruments and one microphone. His set list will comprise new material, as well as some old favourites and tunes written by his idols. All presented in a manner in which they were written – Unplugged….

Spirits have long been associated with music and creativity, Balcones being no exception with regular live music stars performing at the distillery’s seasonal events and celebrations. During Dickenson’s tour, every guest will have the chance to enjoy a dram of Balcones during the gig – Distilled….

To add to the musical delight of each gig, American folk singer Darrin Bradbury will be opening each show, ahead of Dickenson’s set.

A third dimension of the tour – adding cultural relevance and originality – is the involvement of Irish artist Mark Reihill, who has designed all of the artwork for the tour. Mark is best known for his work with the famed cocktail bar, The Dead Rabbit in New York, as well as the award-winning comic book series ‘Off Girl’. Aside from his artist talents, Mark is a devoted lover of both music and whisky.

The tour schedule is as follows:

The Cavendish Arms, London:                        Friday 22^nd November

Broadhempston Church, Totnes:                    Saturday 23^rd November

Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury:                     Sunday 24^th November

Gullivers, Manchester:                                     Monday 25^th November

The Lantern, Halifax:                                        Wednesday 27^th November

Waterfront Studio, Norwich:                            Thursday 28^th November

The Cavendish Arms, London:                        Friday 29^th November

Prohibition Recording Studios, Liverpool:        Saturday 30^th November

The Blue Arrow, Glasgow:                               Sunday 1^st December

Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh:                            Monday 2^nd December

The Cluny 2, Newcastle:                                  Tuesday 3^rd December

Rough Trade, Bristol:                                        Thursday 5^th December

Ulster Sports Club, Belfast:                               Saturday 7^th December

The tour is selling out fast, with five shows already sold out! For more information or if you’re wanting to purchase tickets, go to: Jarrod Dickenson UK tour 2019

For more information about Balcones Distilling, visit: BalconesDistilling.com

Deep Discount on an Impeccably Crafted Campbeltown Malt
2003 Glen Scotia “Malts Festival 2019 Limited Edition” Rum Cask Finish Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Elsewhere $109) ($69.99)
“While most other places are selling this at $110 bucks, we backed up the truck and are able to offer it at just $69.99! I suggest you do the same since this limited Malts Festival release won’t be around for long.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

We absolutely love the unique single malt expressions out of Campbeltown, and this holds especially true when it comes to Glen Scotia. So, imagine our excitement when we happened upon a limited edition bottling priced at 35% less than the rest of the market. The 2003 Glen Scotia “Malts Festival 2019 Limited Edition” is about as handsomely crafted a peated malt as you’ll find anywhere. Aged first for fifteen years in American hogsheads and finished in demerara Guyana rum barrels, it is an engagingly complex affair while remaining infinitely sippable. Delivering a mélange of tropical notes, baking spice, brown sugar, and subtle smoke, it glides effortlessly across the palate. $110 is the right price for a dram of this caliber, but a one-time deal allows us to offer it for a fraction of that. This is easily one of the finer values we’ve found out of Campbeltown and is a must-have for any collector of peated malts. Buy a bottle to carry you through the coming holidays and another simply because the price is too good not to.

2003 Glen Scotia “Malts Festival 2019 Limited Edition” Rum Cask Finish Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $109) ($69.99)

Once hailed as the whisky capital of the world, Campbeltown has seen its number of distilleries reduced to just three. All three make peated and unpeated whisky in a unique style that gives credence to Campbeltown’s designation as a unique whisky producing region in Scotland. This 2019 limited release for Cambeltown’s Malts Festival spent 15 years in American oak hogsheads and then an additional eight months in demerara Guyana rum barrels. The results are stupendous—sweet peat jives with malty goodness loaded with orange peel and sweet baking spices. The mellow smoke goes perfectly with the caramel and brown sugar notes of the American hoggies. Bottled at cask strength and unchillfiltered with no coloration, this is a pure celebration of Cambeltown from Glen Scotia.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 11, 2019

I fell in love with this whiskey months ago when I tasted a preview sample. Now that’s it’s here I simply cannot get enough of it. It’s the perfect sweet peater, in fact it should be the definition of “easy peat.” There is just enough smoke to frame the presentation of the other aromatics and to bolster the intensity of the wonderful citrus and tropical fruit that takes over the nose. Sweet baking spices and molasses coat your palate. There is a bit of salinity, particularly on the finish, that leaves you satisfied and yet going back for sip after sip. While most other places are selling this at $110 bucks, we backed up the truck and are able to offer it at just $69.99! I suggest you do the same since this limited Malts Festival release won’t be around for long.

Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 12, 2019

This is the most expressive, balanced peated single malt I’ve tasted in a while. Aromas of bright tropical fruits like pineapple and mango mixed with honeycomb, wet gravel, toasted wheat, and scorched earth, with a rich mouthfeel and super-smooth profile. What a pleasure to sip!

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 11, 2019

Bountiful butterscotch and wisps of earthy smoke characterize this tasty Scotch. Glen Scotia is one of only three operational distilleries in the Campbeltown region, and I’m very happy they’re carrying on the tradition and keeping distillation alive in this historically important area in Scotland. Of course, none of that history matters much if the whisky isn’t good, and thankfully this bottling is great. The peat is very moderate (unlikely to scare away too many folks) and exquisitely proportioned with the influence of the rum cask finishing. Tropical aromas of freshly-opened vanilla bean morphs into salted caramel that then becomes rich butterscotch. Scents of buttery dessert biscuits topped with pepper-peach jelly make my mouth water. The palate has more dessert flavors without becoming cloying at all. Then that peat comes in, yet it always stays in check and never dominates the other flavors. It’s earthy, robust, and leathery with just a little medicinality. The rum and peat continue to roll over each other again and again on the palate, and it seems like there’s just no stopping this Scotch. There’s not really a finish in a sense because the whisky just melts into the tongue and stays with you.

Thursday, November 7th 5-7PM

Indian Whisky: Paul John 

Take a sip of the soul of India! The Great Indian single malt whisky Paul John will be featured at this expert presented tasting.

Distilled in the valley of Goa, India, Paul John whiskey is traditionally made in copper-pot sills without artificial colors, flavours, or chill-filtration. The mash is made from a heritage variety of six row barley, harvested in the foothills of Himalayas. Goa’s tropical climate naturally accelerates the maturation process, taking an angel’s share of 8% per annum for its contribution. Paul John’s resulting whiskies have received multiple international awards, receiving Gold from both World Whisky and Wizards of Whisky Awards.

Click Here to RSVP

Complete your Collection

We’re having a massive sale on ‘Game of Thrones’ branded whiskies, with most 50% to 75% off their original sale price! Even if you’re not a series fan, you can get Lagavulin, Talisker, Clynelish, and more single malt scotches at a fraction of the price during this sale.

Click Here for the Game of Thrones Single Malt Sale

Explore our interactive Christmas Catalogue featuring a huge selection of Whisky, Advent Calendars, and festive Gifts.

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Hanson of Sonoma Distillery Introduces Japanese-Inspired 

Single Malt Double-Barrel Whiskey

Sonoma, CA | October 23, 2019 – Hanson of Sonoma Distillery, known for its small batch organic grape-based vodkas, has recently released an American single malt double-barrel whiskey. Initially release to members only, starting Nov. 15 Hanson’s whiskey will be available to the public for purchase.

Hanson Whiskey is a blend of tradition and technique from both Scottish and Japanese whiskeys. They start with a mash of four distinct malted barleys, imparting notes of caramel, biscuit, and chocolate. The whiskey is aged for four years in bourbon barrels, giving it a rich and balanced blend of soft vanilla and sweet barley. Adhering to Japanese whiskey finishing techniques, Hanson Whiskey is then cask-finished in a variety of different barrels, including Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. The sherry barrels, which have been aging wine for several years, impart a sweet and subtle flavor to the whiskey.

Hanson Whiskey is bottled at 100-proof in a black antique-colored wide-shouldered 750ml bottle. The striking dark metal plate label design was influenced by the artwork of distillery co-owner Scott Hanson, a metal sculptor, and artist.

Hanson of Sonoma Distillery Single Malt Double-Barreled Whiskey is a limited production and available for purchase at the Sonoma Distillery and Sausalito tasting room locations. Each 750ml bottle retails for $125. Tastings are also offered at both locations.

ABOUT HANSON OF SONOMA

Hanson of Sonoma is a family-owned small-batch distillery. Owned and operated by four siblings – Chris, Brandon, Alanna, and Darren – and their parents Scott and Judy, Hanson of Sonoma has been making organic vodka since 2015. In the fall of 2019, Hanson launched its first 100 proof single malt double-barrel whiskey. Hanson of Sonoma’s line of infused vodkas includes Original, Cucumber, Ginger, Mandarin, Habañero, and Meyer Lemon, plus rotating seasonal flavors, including Boysenberry and Espresso. Hanson of Sonoma’s wine country tasting room offers a unique experience to visitors, including vodka flights, expertly-crafted cocktails, distillery tours, and special tastings such as Martini and caviar pairings, vodka and chocolate truffle pairings, and more. Hanson of Sonoma Distillery is located at 22986 Burndale Road in Sonoma, CA. The Sonoma tasting room is open every day from 11 am – 5 pm. Hanson of Sonoma’s Marin County tasting room is located within the Hanson Gallery of Fine Art at 669 Bridgeway in Sausalito, and is open on Thursday – Saturday from 11 am till 7 pm, Sunday – Wednesday from 11 am – 6 pm.  More information can be found at HansonofSonoma.com.

HOW WE DRINK

THE STORY OF THE SPANIARD

When we released The Story of the Spaniard a little over one year ago, we designed it to be charming and sumptuous. After two further batches, as well as plenty of casual sipping and experimentation, we have discovered it to be extraordinarily versatile too.

Built around four distinct styles of maturation (first fill red wine casks, Sherry butts, American oak barrels, and custom-made casks with heavily-toasted French oak heads), balancing the influence of each ensures that The Story of the Spaniard stands apart in the world of Scotch whisky.

Here are two of the numerous serves that we have discovered for The Story of the Spaniard.

MANIPULATE THOSE BOLD FLAVOURS

The Story of the Spaniard boasts flavours of spices, honey and dried fruits and will satisfy those searching for a classic digestif.

Playing with temperature alters the aroma and texture of the whisky: chilling it will emphasise the baking spice notes from the French oak, while warming the glass in your hand unleashes the jammy fruit character supplied by the red wine casks.

BRING OUT THE CHEESE

As we discovered during our 2019 Yearbook research, with the help of food writer Elisabeth Luard, The Story of the Spaniard excels as a cheeseboard accompaniment.

Match it with members of the Camembert family and prepare for pleasure. Our favourite is Tunworth, a British example of this mould-ripened cheese. Soft-centred, buttery and grassy, the textures and flavours of the cheese combine with the whisky to outstanding effect. The whisky’s mouthfeel is heightened, and sweeter notes emerge.

A WORD FROM OUR WHISKYMAKER

For John Glaser, The Story of the Spaniard represented a new challenge.

“Launching a widely-available whisky with prominent wine-style maturation was a significant departure for us; it needed to be both delicious and distinctive from sherried malt whiskies already available. We chanced upon an exceptional parcel of red wine-matured single malt whisky from the Teaninich Distillery and just had to create a whisky that could benefit from it.

“As we use the last of this parcel, we will look to discover more ways in which former wine casks can play a role for us at Compass Box for future batches of The Story of the Spaniard. Whiskies matured in them can prove extremely adaptable, with a boldness and deliciousness that wants to be shared.”

These are just two of our favourite ways to enjoy The Story of the Spaniard. You have our permission to invent your own.

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Speymalt from Macallan

Available for Preorder now

A 14 year old Macallan bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for the Speymalt series.

Distilled 2005 in refill sherry hogsheads and refill sherry butts.

Bottled 2019

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Macallan Edition No.5

Don’t miss out on the highly anticipated Macallan Edition No.5. Limited to 1 per customer, guarantee yours today!

🚚 Free Standard UK Delivery on Orders Over £99 📦
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Macallan Edition No.5

70cl / 48.5% abv

£98.50

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