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ralfy review 799 – Caol Ila 8yo @46%vol: (Signatory)

https://youtu.be/Vs9EFafETow

The temperature is dropping, the nights are drawing in and First Friday is quickly approaching so it’s time to settle in with our new November Outturn and explore the 21 warming single casks which will get you ready for winter.

November Outturn will be released on Friday, 1 November at 9am. Get ready to order your favourite bottling.

PREVIEWS

READ OUTTURN

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

Decades of Success

Decades II, the new single malt that celebrates 50 years of excellence at Tomatin Distillery

24^th October 2019 – Award winning Highland distillery, Tomatin, has today announced the release of an exquisite single malt whisky: Decades II. The unique expression is a marriage of 21 casks, selected from key years throughout the last five decades. As a tribute to the Tomatin way of life, and the generations of staff that to this day remain custodians of this exceptional Scotch Whisky.

Decades II, bottled at 46%alc./vol and with a limited edition run yielding just 3,600 bottles will retail at £175.

With time spent maturing in a mix of traditional Scotch Whisky, ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and re-charred French oak casks from the last 50 years, Decades II is a rich and complex expression. With initial bursts of fruits giving way to hints of sweet pastry and wood shavings,  and aromas of both cooked fruits and floral coconut tones. The remarkable expression is unctuous, with notes of Christmas cake, maple syrup and fresh red berries giving way to tropical fruits ahead of a long waxy, tropical finish.

Graham Eunson, Distillery Operations Director at Tomatin said: “Balancing the flavour profiles of just a few casks can be a real challenge, so to marry five decades of Tomatin whisky in such a way that each cask compliments the next is a testament to the team, both those who work at Tomatin today and those that worked at Tomatin before us, who distilled and laid down some of the casks we’ve used. We’ve been the custodians of exceptional Scotch for generations, and that care and experience is really showcased by Decades II.”

As with the original Decades expression (released in 2011 to mark previous Distillery Manager, Douglas Campbell lifetime commitment to the distillery), Decades II combines some of the best whisky from Tomatin’s history, with each decade contributing a new flavour sensation:

1970s

Refill bourbon hogsheads: distilled on 23/02/1973, 10/07/1975 and 23/09/1977

Decades II’s robust flavour began by maturing in refill hogshead barrels. The malt has taken on very little oak influence, which has allowed the air and liquid in the casks to interact and develop a wide array of tropical fruit flavours.

1980s

Finished in first fill oloroso sherry butts: distilled on 02/12/1988

This 80s malt is sweet, fresh and has been finished for over three years in 1^st fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, resulting in a whisky reminiscent of aged Cognac. It complements the fruity notes of the previous casks by contributing tones of aged leather, polished oak and dark roast coffee to the finished expression.

1990s

First fill bourbon barrels: distilled on 04/10/1995 

Although well into its twenties, the characteristics of golden syrup and freshly baked pastries help make this bold malt stand up to the older casks. The use of 1^st fill Bourbon Barrels adds subtle spices and a layer of overall warmth to the expression, as well as being the source of Decades II’s long, waxy finish.

2000s

Recharred verdejo wine barrels: distilled on 28/01/2000 and 05/06/2009

Post 2000, Tomatin began to experiment with a wider variety of casks. The malt used from the 2000s onwards has been matured in Verdejo wine casks that have been re-charred to harness the full influence of the French oak. This flavour journey compliments the addition of the 1990s bourbon cask, adding additional notes of spice as well as a sweetness to the malt.

2010s

Second fill French oak barrels: distilled on 14/03/2013

The young Tomatin from this second fill cask imparts the fantastic distillery character to Decades II. Fresh green fruits and malty characteristics are at the fore with subtle spices and toffee in the background, resulting in a vivacious malt to balance the flavours of the older casks.

Notes: 

Tomatin Distillery has been producing and blending malt Scotch whisky since 1897. Over the last 50 years, the distillery has borne witness to vast change. At its peak in the 1970s, Tomatin was the largest distillery in the world operating 23 stills and producing 12 million litres of alcohol every year. Over the last decade, significant time has been invested in rediscovering the distillery, people and values, and in refining the business model to move away from the formerly lucrative bulk commodity market to now focus on Tomatin’s core range of single malts.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of soft and mellow whiskies, including a core range, a limited-edition range and a premium archive range (prices range from £35 – £10,000). Tomatin is one of the fastest growing whisky brands in the UK and ranks within the Top 10 Single Malt brands in the USA. Tomatin recently reported its turnover increased by almost 25% during the company’s most recent financial year (Dec 2016 – Dec 2017). Tomatin won Distiller of the Year 2016 and Brand Innovator of the Year 2017 at the Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards.

FULL LIST OF AWARDS 2019 

Tomatin Core Range 

Gold Medal                     – Tomatin Legacy Single Malt

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 12 Year Old Single Malt

Gold Medal                     – Tomatin Cask Strength Single Malt

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 14 Year Old Single Malt

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 18 Year Old Single Malt

Gold Medal                     – Tomatin 30 Year Old Single Malt

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 36 Year Old Single Malt 

Tomatin Travel Retail 

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 8 Year Old Bourbon Single Malt Travel Retail

Double Gold Medal          – Tomatin 40 Year Old Single Malt Travel Retail

Gold Medal                     – Tomatin 15 Year Old American Oak Single Malt Travel Retail 

Tomatin US Exclusive

Double Gold Medal           – Tomatin 21 Year Old Single Malt (North America Exclusive)

WANT AN UNUSUAL WHISKY? THEN HEAD TO DEMIJOHN

Oct 19

Scotland’s first liquid deli, Demijohn, is something of a whisky lovers emporium, for they source and sell some really unusual and quirky whiskies that are often not available in traditional shops.

Stocked for the winter 19/20 season is a rare Glen Moray 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside that has been bottled at its full cask strength of 56.4%. It’s the second Glen Moray cask Demijohn has stocked due to its popularity. It is strong to taste, yet delightfully smooth. An incredible hidden treasure priced at £17.20/100ml. 

A bestseller at Demijohn, is its Bramble Scotch Whisky Liqueur 23%. Made by two retired teachers near Edinburgh, this combines the rich fruit of brambles (blackberries to those outside Scotland) and Scotch Whisky to make a wonderful after dinner drink, or perfect in a hipflask when out and about on a cold day. Priced from £5.20/100ml.

Relatively new to the Demijohn emporium is Toffee Whisky Liqueur 20%, which was first created in Helensburgh on the coast north of Glasgow. Cleverly combining a blend of vanilla, caramel and Scotch Whisky into this unique liqueur, giving it an exciting sting in its tail. It will appeal to a whisky drinker and also delight those more nervous of whisky. Drunk as an aperitif or after dinner digestif, this also makes an indulgent sauce poured over a dessert such as ice cream. Priced at £5.20/100ml.

The uniqueness of Demijohn whiskies is that customers choose the size and shape of a re-useable bottle (from 40ml to 3 litres), which is then filled with the whisky of their choice from a demijohn, allowing them to choose exactly how much they would like. They can then return with the bottle to have it re-filled. And they can even have a personalised message added for free.

Demijohn was created in July 2004 by Angus and Frances Ferguson. They share a passion for fine food and drink and saw a need in Scotland for a European-style liquid deli selling products from large vats called demijohns. They now have two shops in York and Glasgow, a healthy online business and a number of concession outlets located within other independent retailers – www.demijohn.co.uk.

Angus Ferguson says: “The Scotch Whiskies we source and sell are very special. We always try to source products that are rarely available elsewhere.  Our 10 Year Old Glen Moray Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a good example of this, as it is 100% unique to us. This guarantees the quality which epitomises these drinks. As a gift or just to drink on your own, our whiskies are in a class of their own.”

Notes:

https://www.demijohn.co.uk/glen-moray-10-year-old-single-malt-scotch-whisky-56-4

https://www.demijohn.co.uk/bramble-scotch-whisky-liqueur-486

https://www.demijohn.co.uk/toffee-whisky-liqueur-20

https://www.demijohn.co.uk/demijohn-s-finest-blended-scotch-whisky-40

https://www.demijohn.co.uk/drinks/whisky 

Demijohn sources unusual, delicious artisan liqueurs, spirits, oils and vinegars from around the UK and Europe and sells them in a wide range of re-useable glass bottles. Each bottle can have a free personalised message added. Gift wrapping is also available. 

Demijohn

382 Byres Rd Glasgow G12 8AR

11 Museum St York YO1 7DT

   Tel: 0845 6048350

Open Mon-Sat 10-6pm, Sun 11.30-5pm   

www.demijohn.co.uk

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 282: Auchentoshan 22 Year Old 1996 Douglas Laing Old Particular Halloween Edition

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, celebrates Halloween. On a blue Monday this Halloween edition from Douglas Laing was announced on social media, but by the time Mark got home after a hard day’s work (yeah, right) it was already sold out. But he got lucky as a few days later Douglas Laing announced that a few more bottles would be put online. This time, Mark was ready, so he scored two bottles. It was distilled on the 31^st of October 1996, hence… Halloween!

https://youtu.be/TDgHhdBfS6w

Macallan Rare Cask Batch No.2

The 2019 release of Macallan Rare Cask Batch No.2 is now in stock and available order!

Plus, scroll down to see our favourite Macallan expressions that won’t dent your wallet.

📦 Free Standard UK Delivery On All Orders Over £99 🚚
🌎 We also ship to the USA! 🌎

Macallan Rare Cask Batch No.2 (2019)

70 cl / 43% abv

£230.00

Old Perth 24 Year Old | 1994 Vintage

Another well aged blended malt Scotch whisky from Morrison & MacKay, released as part of their popular Old Perth range. Distilled in 1994 and matured for 24 years, 630 bottles have been filled from a single cask at 45.1% vol. An excellent dram…

Limited stock available…

BUY NOW

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 281: Speyside Blended Malt 25 Year Old 1993 – Whivie’s 10^th Anniversary Release

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, celebrates ten years! ‘Whivie’ is his personal whisky blog and it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Obviously this is something he cannot let pass without celebration. So he searched for a nice whisky to conclude the first decade with. A good single malt would be the obvious choice, but then this sherry cask came his way. It was filled – in 1993 – with not one, but two single malt spirits. Blended at birth, as they say. The cask matured for a quarter century before Whivie was allowed to draw 100 bottles from it. ‘It goes without saying that I am pretty proud of this release. It’s a heavenly blended malt. It will be available as of 28th October 2019, ten years to the day of the launch of my blog,’ Mark beamed.

https://youtu.be/C4gfFHxoYqw

FRESH-TO-MARKET EXCEEDINGLY RARE 30-YEAR MACALLAN WHISKY CASK AT BONHAMS

*One of the oldest editions currently available*

Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky Sale

15 November 2019, Bonhams Hong Kong

Hong Kong – Bonhams is delighted to present an exceedingly rare 30 year whisky sherry hogshead cask from the famed Macallan Distillery (estimate: HK$3,600,000 – 4,600,000). Distilled in May 1989 and never since been moved from the distillery, it is currently one of the oldest editions of Macallan whisky cask available in the market. The cask with perfect provenance can be stored at Macallan for as long as the buyer wishes, or yielded into a total of 261 bottles.

Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, comments: “Whisky casks are trending because they offer much flexibility for collectors. Getting a good cask means that one can gain more quality bottles at a competitive price, or let it mature further to yield a higher value. The current 30 year Macallan cask is no doubt one of the finest of its kind available in the market yet.”

Bonhams currently holds the world auction record for a whisky cask, with An American Hogshead Cask from Macallan Distillery 1996–22 year old selling for HK$3,430,000 in Hong Kong in November 2018. The current cask on offer is an even older and rarer edition.

Two months ago, Bonhams set a new world auction record for a Japanese whisky collection, as Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series sold for HK$7,192,000 to an Asian female collector, nearly doubling the previous record set in 2015, also by Bonhams.

Other highlights in the sale include:

Scotch Whisky

·         Lot 906: Classic trio of Bowmore 1964 (estimate: HK$300,000 – 400,000)

o    Bowmore Fino Cask-1964-37 year old

o    Bowmore Bourbon Cask-1964-38 year old

o    Bowmore Oloroso Cask-1964-38 year old

·         Lot 784: The ‘Dreams’ series, one of legendary bottler Samaroli’s most well-known selections (estimate: HK$80,000 – 100,000)

o    Bowmore-Dreams-1984

o    Bowmore-Dreams-1991

o    Caol Ila-Dreams-1984

o    Caol Ila-Dreams-1990

o    Dailuaine-Dreams-1975

o    Glenrothes-Dreams-1969

o    Longrow-Dreams-1987

o    Linkwood-Dreams-1989

o    Mortlach-Dreams-1989

·         Lot 705: A complete set of Macallan Cask Strength series, a rare limited edition that can only be acquired from the Easter Elchies House. (estimate: HK$150,000 – 190,000)

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1981-#9780

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1980-#4063

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1980-#17937

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1990-#24680

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1989-#552

o    Macallan Cask Strength-1990-#24483

Japanese Whisky

·         Lot 874: Karuizawa-1960-52 year old-#5627, the oldest expression from the famed Karuizawa Distillery to be hand-bottled by former malt master Osami Uchibori. (estimate: HK$1,000,000 – 1,400,000)

·         Lot 873: Karuizawa Vertical Series 1975-1996, a full vertical vintage set of Karuizawa in 250ml, chronicling the golden age of the now closed distillery. (estimate: HK$180,000 – 240,000)

·         Lot 856: Yamazaki-35 year old. Matured in special 90 litre second-fill Spanish oak sherry butt. Released in 2006, this expression is one of the most collectable item from Yamazaki Distillery. (estimate: HK$620,000 – 780,000)

·         Lot 758: Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-10 of Spades, 23 lots of Hanyu Ichiro’s Card Series including the rarest 10 of Spades. (estimate: HK$300,000 – 400,000)

Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky Sale (Catalogue HERE)Bonhams Hong Kong Gallery, 20F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong KongPreview: 12 – 15 November 2019Auction: Friday 15 November 2019, at 12nn Specialist: Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia

NOTES 

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com