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Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at some bottlings by That Boutique-y Whisky Company.
#ardbeg #islay
PREPARE FOR A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ARDBEG SUPERNOVA
— This year’s limited edition arrives with a mission – to take Ardbeg Committee Members on a journey of unbelievably peaty proportions —
In October this year, still in the glow of winning Distillery of the Year 2019, Ardbeg Distillery will take its Committee Members on a journey like no other – as Supernova 2019 makes one more brief and earth-shattering return.
The Supernova Series is a collection of limited edition Committee favourites, first released in 2009 and most recently in 2015 to celebrate the groundbreaking Ardbeg space experiment. This experiment saw Ardbeg become the first whisky brand in space, where a vial of Ardbeg spirit orbited the earth for three years aboard the International Space Station.
Still in pursuit of the phenomenal, this year’s Supernova limited edition challenges sensory perceptions of what a whisky can be, as it transports the taste buds to peaty parts unknown.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Ardbeg, said: “Supernova is the peatiest expression we produce at Ardbeg. The way the flavours build and build and then explode in a burst of pungent peat and smoke is truly astonishing.”
Mickey Heads, Ardbeg Distillery Manager, said: “The incredible peat explosion in Supernova probably explains why these bottlings have been so popular with the Ardbeg Committee over the years. Supernova 2019 is the fifth edition in the series, and I’m sure it will be snatched up in no time at all.”
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NOTES:
Tasting Notes:
ABV: 53.8%
Colour: Pale Bronze
Aroma: Clouds of pungent aniseed, menthol and eucalyptus are underscored with sweet notes of treacle toffee. Hints of peppermint, a frisson of fennel, and a mysterious camphorous scent in the far distance… With water, more toffee notes emerge with a burst of dry, earthy peat.
Taste: A tingly, peppery mouthfeel leads to a veritable explosion of intense, earthy, smoky notes – a nebular of bonfires, soot, charred oak, birch tar and menthol.
Finish: Unbelievably long, with layers of treacle toffee, aniseed, oak tannin, clove and just a hint of bittersweet, tangy Seville orange on the aftertaste.
RRP: £140
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 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. Both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail were 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 won the Distillery of the Year.
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
Balcones “K&L Exclusive” Cask Strength Single Barrel #16003 Texas Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
$79.99 View
This is our first single barrel of the wonderful Balcones Single Malt. The outstanding distillery in Waco has been at the forefront of craft distilling since the start. They’re making ultra high quality single malt and aging it in a variety of barrel types. This exceptional single cask was aged in New American oak for 2.5 years in the very hot and dry Waco weather. The resulting whisky is incredibly mature and complex for it’s youthful age statement. Chalk for of spicy woodiness, deep chocolatey malt and sweet roasted vanilla bean. Bottled at a staggering 128.2 proof, this stuff doesn’t drink hot and shows an unbelievable amount of sweet maple syrup and heady raw honey to balance out the intense oak. Balcones has been named the world’s best single malt and it’s barrels like these the remind us that the little distillery in Waco is a real heavy hitter. This barrel of new heavily charred American Oak was distilled on December 17th, 2017 and bottled on July 4th, 2019. We’re calling it the “Independence Barrel” because one taste of this stuff and you’ll be throwing all the tea into the bay. Awards received for Balcones: World Whiskies Awards, 2016: Best American Single Malt Whisky; International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2015: Silver Outstanding; World Whiskies Awards, 2015: Best American Single Malt; International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2014: Bronze; World Whiskies Awards, 2014: Best American Single Malt No Age Statement.
This limited edition is the fifth release in The Macallan’s ‘Edition’ series of annual releases. Inspired by the natural colour of The Macallan’s whisky, the renowned Pantone Color Institute have created a unique and complex shade of purple especially for this release.
Made with a vatting of 525 American oak casks from three distinguished bodegas, each one primarily chosen for its colour and matched to their closest Pantone colour references, this expression has been bottled at a strength of 48.5% abv, at natural colour – naturally.
Wednesday, October 9th 4-6 PM
Garrison Brothers Whiskey with Charlie Garrison
Special guest Charlie Garrison joins us for this tasting of Garrison Brothers whiskey! Three time winner of the Jim Murray Whisky Bible’s “Micro-distillery of the Year” distinction, the Garrison Brothers whiskeys are well known for their extraordinary quality and taste. Come by from 4-6 PM to try Garrison Brothers whiskies and learn what goes into making award-winning Texas spirits from the distillery owner himself.
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
ralfy goes cheap !
ralfy review 795 – the cheapest bottle I have ever reviewed !
COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES NEW PEATED CASK WHISKY
The Cotswolds Distillery is set to release the inaugural batch of its peated cask single malt whisky
The whisky is aged in ex-peated quarter casks to develop a balanced rich and fruity flavour with notes of peat smoke
The Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky Peated Cask will be bottled at cask strength and will be available on the Cotswolds Distillery online shop and from specialist retailers with an RRP of £64.95
The award-winning Cotswolds Distillery is set to release the first batch of its Single Malt Whisky Peated Cask, the first-ever whisky matured in peated barrels in the Cotswolds.
Available for sale from the 1st October, the whisky is made using un-peated local barley which is mashed and fermented before being distilled in bespoke copper pots. The whisky is then aged in ex-peated quarter casks from Scotland, creating a balanced rich and fruity flavour with subtle notes of peat smoke.
Dan Szor, founder and CEO of the distillery said: “The subtle notes of smoke and peat which these wonderful Islay casks impart to our Cotswolds Single Malt complement the fruity notes of our spirit without overwhelming it. The result is an eminently drinkable and very moreish dram, even at cask strength.
What started as an experiment now becomes the newest addition to our growing core range of Single Malt Whiskies.”
The release comes following a year of success for the distillery’s whisky offerings. The flagship Single Malt Whisky has won multiple awards across the world including the World Whisky Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirits Awards, while the Founder’s Choice cask has won multiple gold medals and was the only whisky to be given three stars at this year’s Great Taste Awards.
Consisting of 2,950 bottles per batch, the peated whisky is bottled at cask strength (59.3% ABV) with no added colouring. The whisky is available from specialist retailers and the Cotswolds Distillery’s online shop from October at an RRP of £64.95.
Notes
Peated Whisky
Peated Single Malt Whisky is available to purchase from the Cotswolds Distillery online shop and via specialist retailers.
Founders Choice
Founders Choice is available to purchase from Harvey Nichols and specialist retailers Master of Malt and Gordon and MacPhail.
The Cotswolds Distillery
Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the distillery has become a premier local attraction, offering tours and tastings daily, and now receives 30,000 visitors a year.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It recently won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and took 2 stars (one of only two whiskies to do so) in the 2019 Great Taste Awards. The distillery’s cask strength whisky release, Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, was recently awarded the title of Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.
In Jim Murray’s 2019 Whisky Bible, the Cotswolds Distillery received 5 ‘Liquid Gold’ awards. Three of their whiskies scored 95 points, with all of the distillery’s samples scoring over 88 out of 100.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available nationally and in 31 countries across the world. Key UK retailers include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.
The distillery also produces Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was named Best London Dry at the 2016 World Gin Awards and received the top Gold Outstanding award in the 2017 International Wine and Spirits Competition. Difford’s Guide recently ranked the Gin as one of the top 20 Gins available in a survey of 450 brands.
Cotswolds Dry Gin is on sale nationally and in over 30 countries. Key national accounts include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Fortnum & Mason.
For more information, please visit www.cotswoldsdistillery.com.
Novelty Bottles – Cask Finishes Edition
Casks, amirite? Some of them are familiar, some of them are less so – all of them have an irrevocable (or irreparable, depending on where you’re sitting) effect on the spirit matured within them. In honour of Whisky Show and its theme – The Journey of the Cask – today we’re exploring some of the less familiar – or downright odd – cask-matured drinks wandering the spiritscape, from new releases to storied oldies.
You know what they say: ‘when life gives you left-over grape bits, distil them and whack the resulting high-strength spirit in a red wine cask for six months.’
East London liquor company East London Liquor Co. have followed that old adage to the letter, teaming up with Renegade London Wine to take 2017’s Hereford Bacchus grape pomace and turn it into a hilariously punny, full-flavoured, grappa-style spirit, bottled with a healthy, healthy dose of 80’s film nostalgia.
In many ways, like weird, grapey cask cannibalism.
Now, this one isn’t going to make an awful lot of sense unless you’ve tried it.
The cask impact on this spirit cannot be understated, especially when you consider that this batch of WhistlePig rye whiskey rested in its South American amburana-wood cask for a period of just ten days. Ten days. The result is a powerfully fragrant, richly spicy whiskey, riddled with coconut flavours and tonka-bean character.
Unlike anything you’ve tried before, unless you’ve tried it before…
It’s well known that whisky-maturation regulations are – if you want to be taken seriously, at least – pretty strict. Not only does this ensure that whisky in a bottle is more or less what we think it should be, but it also encourages people to work out some pretty fascinating work-arounds.
One such work-around comes in the form of Amrut Naarangi, which deftly side-steps the question, ‘how do I infuse my whisky with orange without actually infusing my whisky with orange?’ by filling an ex-oloroso sherry cask with white wine and orange peel for three years, emptying it out, then finishing a three-year-old whisky in it for three more years.
Bravo, Amrut. Bravo.
What happens when you – rumour has it, accidentally – finish a single malt Scotch whisky in a cask which previously contained gin? Well, Glorious Bastard, that’s what.
Contrary to common sense, academic wisdom and, indeed, previous personal experience, whisky + gin seems to, in this instance at least, work. Juniper enhances this single malt’s citrus character while balancing out some of its sweeter parts with that particular gin-y bitterness.
Also, being a child stuck in a grown-up’s body, I think swear words on commercial goods are funny.
Bastard. Hehe.
Have you ever been just kind of, you know, hangin’ out, chillin’, letting your mind wander, and suddenly thought to yourself, ‘phwoar, yeah, whisky and tequila and mezcal probably taste pretty nice together’?
Now we’re no mixologists but, no, neither have we, to be honest. But then we’re not superstar independent Irish whisky bottler JJ Corry!
The Battalion, named for a battalion of Irishmen who fought for Mexico in 1846, is a blended Irish whisky finished in ex-mezcal and ex-Tequila casks. Sounds like a strange choice but, now we think about it, that slightly smoky, herbal edge might be pretty interesting.
A recent re-do of Scotch whisky maturation rules to allow ageing in agave-spirit casks means we’re likely to see a whole lot more of this sort of thing, too…
The world of cask-finishes has been to some weird places, and it’s not getting any less adventurous. That being said, there are some places which, once visited, need not be explored again.
Billy’s very own bottle of Hotscotch.
In 2002 for instance, the SMWS finished whisky in a cask seasoned with Tabasco sauce. The result was, by all accounts, a brain-meltingly fiery whisky which, while undrinkable on its own, went on to live a happy life of saucedom in the form of Hotscotch.
Image from ScotchWhisky.com.
The descent into madness continues with the now all-but-ungettable, nigh-on-mythological Fishky – a single cask of Bruichladdich finished in a cask previously used to store herring. It is, according to our very own Billy Abbott, “very bad” – he’s not tried it himself, but has patiently held the hand of many an adventurous whisky geek who has, as they tearfully recounted its terrible, innate, fishy wrongness. But ours is not to wonder why – only to marvel at the, well… marvellousness of it all.
