LITTLEMILL UNVEILS NEW ECHOES OF THE PAST COLLECTION OF RARE WHISKIES WITH RELEASE OF FIRST EDITION

Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill has revealed the opening release in a remarkable new collection of rare single malt Scotch whiskies, showcasing some of the final chapters from the lost distillery.

Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One is an exceptional 34-year-old single malt which marks the inaugural expression in a new four-part annual series, offering whisky connoisseurs and collectors the chance to experience the evolving maturation of a single Littlemill cask over time.

To create the collection, the final custodians of Littlemill will draw just 50 bottles of precious spirit each year from a single maturing Oloroso sherry cask for four consecutive years. The remaining spirit will be left to age further, deepening in flavour and complexity, with each subsequent release revealing the developing journey of this cask as the spirit draws even more character from its Oloroso finishing.

The cask selected for Echoes of the Past was distilled in 1990, during Littlemill’s final production years, initially laid down in a refill American oak hogshead for 25 years, before being recasked into a single Oloroso sherry barrel in 2015.

Littlemill’s final guardian, Master Blender Michael Henry selected the optimum moment to bottle the first release, resulting in an exceptional 34-year-old single malt which displays the perfect harmony of Littlemill’s distinctive summertime fruit character with classic sweet floral spice and sherried notes.

This extraordinarily rare echo of the past brings floral notes of rose petals and elderflower with dried apricot, kiwi and peach to the nose, a silk-like mouthfeel of melted brown sugar, honeysuckle and ginger spice with citrus peel on the palate, finishing with long layers of sweet citrus fruits.

Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One is presented in a beautiful solid oak display cabinet which features expertly curved, elegant facets, making it a striking addition to any collection. Inside, a stone interior adorned with a message from Michael Henry is revealed, paying tribute to Littlemill’s legacy as the cornerstone of the whisky industry.

The whisky is encased within an individually numbered Glencairn decanter with intricate engraving depicting the details of the single malt. Each cabinet also houses a 50ml miniature and a certificate of ownership so the very fortunate few recipients of this exceptional single malt can experience a taste of Littlemill’s past.

Founded in 1772 in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, Littlemill was at the forefront of innovation for its time. It closed in 1994, before being lost to a fire in 2004. Since then, Master Blender, Michael Henry has held guardianship of the last remaining casks. 

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Group, owner of Littlemill, said: “Each sip of Littlemill presents a remarkable opportunity to experience a taste of the distillery’s history and opens a window to its extraordinary past.  The Echoes of the Past Collection offers a new and unique opportunity for whisky connoisseurs to take a different kind of journey back to the final years of the distillery’s production, allowing them to experience an Oloroso finishing on a Littlemill malt at different ages.

“Though Littlemill distillery is lost to history, this cask carries its legacy forward, evolving with time. To witness its continuing journey of maturation and flavour over four releases is to glimpse a past that still lives on.

“Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One is a 34-year-old single malt which has rewarded us with the discovery of a new flavour dimension that enhances the distillery’s character, resulting in a wonderfully sweet, citrus and softly spicy dram.”

Nick Bradley, Prestige Portfolio Manager at Loch Lomond Group, owner of Littlemill, added:

“Incredibly, Littlemill’s story began back in 1772 as Scotland’s first licensed distillery, but with such finite and limited reserves remaining today, releasing a cask such as Echoes of the Past marks a special moment in the distillery’s history. 

“Each and every Littlemill cask provides a snapshot of history and when considering the creation of this collection, we wanted to offer travellers a special opportunity to experience these moments in time. This exceptional release offers the chance to follow a rare Littlemill cask on the final years of its journey. Like an echo, it changes with every repetition, eventually disappearing altogether.

“Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One showcases the beauty of this single malt, which with the right cask management, as well as patience and time, has allowed this exquisite cask the chance to reach its full potential. It is a testament to Michael Henry, who through his exceptional craftsmanship and unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the nature of the spirit, has honed it into something truly remarkable today.”

Released exclusively for select travel retail locations around the world, Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One was bottled at a cask strength of 48.5% and is natural in colour. Each individually numbered decanter has an RRP of £3,900. For support on where to purchase enquire via www.littlemilldistillery.com.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Floral rose petals, elderflower, dried apricot, kiwi and peach.
• Palate: Silklike mouthfeel, melted brown sugar, honeysuckle, vanilla fudge, lime juice, cinnamon and ginger spice with citrus peel.
• Finish: Long with sweet vanilla, grapefruit and caramelised sugar, dried fruit and citrus.

About Littlemill

The Littlemill distillery was established in 1772 on the site of an old brewery that had been founded during the 14th century in Bowling on the banks of the River Clyde near Glasgow.

It is rumoured that illicit distilling had taken place there since 1750 when the site was bought by George Buchanan, a malt master, and according to the renowned whisky historian and writer Misako Udo in her book ‘The Scotch Whisky Distilleries’, distilling may have taken place there for centuries before.

After one year, on the 2nd of November 1773, local Justice of the Peace records for Dumbarton show that ‘Robert Muir of Littlemiln’, an employee, was granted the first-ever license by the Government of King George III to “…retail ale, beer and other excisable Liquors”, thus making Littlemill Scotland’s first and oldest licensed distillery.

In 1931 Littlemill led whisky still innovation whereby its innovative design could create three styles of spirit under the stewardship of the American Duncan Thomas, including the light fruit-forward triple-distilled character Littlemill is most known for today. It was these stills that inspired the stills that remain in place at Loch Lomond Distillery today.

Littlemill fell into perpetual silence in 1994 and then the distillery was destroyed by fire in 2004. The remaining casks have since been under the care of Loch Lomond Distillery, stored just a short distance from where the original distillery once stood. In 2015 Loch Lomond Group released a limited number of its Littlemill Private Cellar Edition. Since then, a mere handful of bottles have been released annually, which have become sought after by collectors and whisky enthusiasts around the world.

Twitter: @LittlemillMalt

Instagram: @LittlemillMalt

Facebook: @Littlemillwhisky

https://www.littlemilldistillery.com/

Run to You… with whisky: Loch Lomond Whiskies delivers bespoke gift to Bryan Adams

Loch Lomond Whiskies has gifted a bespoke pack of its award-winning single malt whisky to Canadian star Bryan Adams – after the singer-songwriter said back in March that he loves the smell of Scotland’s national drink.

The independent distiller shared three iconic drams and a copita glass with the ‘Run To You’ hitmaker ahead of his headline performance at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow this week (Tuesday 13 May), part of the UK leg of his Roll with the Punches 2025 arena tour.

Each whisky in the pack – Loch Lomond Original, Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Perfectly Balanced, and Loch Lomond 18 Year Old – offer notes of fruit, honey and soft smoke on the nose, scents perfect to savour ahead of performing in front of thousands of fans.

Darroch Ramsay, senior global brand manager at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“As superfans of Bryan Adams, it felt only right to offer him a small gift from Scotland during his time in Glasgow. Nosing our single malt is a fantastic introduction to the craftsmanship and character that has made Loch Lomond Whiskies one of the world’s most acclaimed single malts. Our signature straight-neck stills make us one of the most adept distilleries in Scotland, with our innovation also extending to bespoke whisky nosing boxes – this one developed exclusively for Bryan.”

To find out more about Loch Lomond Whiskies, visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

Loch Lomond Whiskies is an award-winning, independent Scotch whisky distiller which has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.  As a Highland malt, it is part of the largest and most diverse whisky-making region in Scotland.

The original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbert, towards the northwest end of Loch Lomond. In the 1960s, under the leadership of American entrepreneur and chemist, Duncan Scott (who was instrumental in the ongoing success of Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill), a new site was created in Alexandria, which began a move to a more innovative philosophy and style of whisky-making that is still used today.

Located only a few miles from the famous loch, the distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other, using a combination of traditional swan-neck and its signature straight-neck-stills, which are unique to Loch Lomond Whiskies.

The straight-neck stills give Master Blender Michael Henry greater control over the distillation process, allowing him to carefully manipulate the flavour profile of each whisky, and providing a signature fruit, honey and soft smoke flavour profile.

Loch Lomond Whiskies is one of only four distiller’s in Scotland to have its own onsite cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing whisky.

The distillery’s multi-award-winning range includes Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 21 Year Old and Loch Lomond 30 Year Old, as well as Loch Lomond Single Grain (peated and unpeated) and the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature.

In 2023, it was recognised as the ‘Most Awarded Distillery’ at the globally renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, achieving multiple Double Gold and Gold Awards for its collection of malt whisky brands.

Last year, Loch Lomond 18 Year Old was revealed as The Whisky Exchanges’ coveted ‘Whisky of the Year 2024’, achieving superior scores from the judging panel for its full-bodied and fruity character.

Are you going to Whiskey Live in Dublin this weekend?

If so, we will see you there, same stand as last year!

As a heads up for those going, and those that are not, we will have an exclusive bottling for Whiskey Live – Celtic Whiskey Shop & Wines on the Green Exclusive Barántúil Bottling.

So what is this wonderful drop that we have for Whiskey Live Dublin 2025?

It’s a 3 Year Old Single Pot Still that has been full term in a PX Sherry Cask. This single cask expression encourages a marriage of drier Pot Still Spirit spice with the drier European Oak spices. These are wonderfully balanced with the thick sweet notes of the PX Sherry maturation.

As always, cask strength, non chill filtered, no colouring  just banging flavour from the spirit and the cask.

The bottles are exclusive to Whiskey Live and all are purchased through the CWS shop at the show. As we are not policing the shop there is no limit per person, but there are less than 170 available at a generous price for the show of €115.00 (RRP €130).

We look forward to seeing you all at Dublin Whiskey Live and if you can’t go get a friend going to pick up a bottle for you!! 😉

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

The Epicurean

Calvados Edition

Meet The Epicurean – our 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky character who was ever the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink. A master of versatility, this fresh, zesty, grassy marriage of the finest Lowland malts is perfect for cocktail hour or simply for sipping. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

Indulge in the rare allure of this Epicurean Limited Edition where the floral Lowland Malts of Scotland meet the orchard notes of Calvados, from the Normandy region of Northern France. By artfully finishing The Epicurean in the finest Calvados casks, we elevate the already fresh, vibrant and citrusy flavour profile to new heights. Sweet, juicy pears dominate the palate, complemented by smooth, creamy toffee.

EXPLORE

Region: Lowlands | Abv: 48% | Vol: 70cl | Cask: Finished in Calvados Casks | Spec: No Colour Added | Spec: No Chill-Filtration

DISCOVER BUNNAHABHAIN

Islay whiskies aren’t all about peat smoke and power. Bunnahabhain’s single malts range in style from un-peated and lightly sherried to elegantly smoky, all with a unifying thread of coastal freshness. 

SEE THE RANGE

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of bottlings in the new Cask Masters releases from Brave New Spirits. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 592 – Mastering The Art of the Cask Finish…? Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Golden Proof’ Royal Brackla 2012 (12 year old) 49.8%
Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Distillers Cut’ Inchgower 2016 (8 year old) 57.1%
Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Distillers Cut’ Tomintoul 2015 (10 year old) 55.3%
Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Golden Proof’ Benrinnes 2011 (13 year old) 51.9%
Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Distillers Cut’ Auchroisk 2011 (13 year old) 54.7%
Brave New Spirits ‘Cask Masters: Golden Proof’ Teaninich 2010 (14 year old) 51.9%

www.bravenewspirits.com

ANGEL’S ENVY ® Releases Newest Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels

The brand’s first Cellar Collection release under Master Distiller Owen Martin Available nationwide on May 31

ANGEL’S ENVY announces the launch of its newest Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels. For the first time ever, an expression in the series will be available nationwide on May 31. This remarkable release is a bold expression by Master Distiller Owen Martin that honors the brand’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of bourbon making.

To create the Vol. 5, Straight Rye Whiskey aged up to 7 years was finished in French Oak Extra Añejo tequila barrels for up to 12 months, then blended with an older Straight Rye Whiskey, aged for over 11 years, to lock the entire flavor profile together into a cohesive, yet layered experience. Martin traveled to Hacienda PATRÓN, the home of PATRÓN Tequila’s distillery in Jalisco, Mexico to select the barrels, immersing himself in the world of tequila making.

“This launch is very special to me as the first Cellar Collection innovation for ANGEL’S ENVY that I oversaw from beginning to end. As a part of the vision, we collaborated with PATRÓN Tequila’s Master Distiller, David Rodriguez, to identify a parallel between the production processes. We are always striving to showcase the unique character of a finishing cask and how it can amplify our base whiskey’s dynamic flavor – this release embodies that particularly well,” said Owen Martin, Master Distiller.

A golden caramel color, the new Cellar Collection expression is floral and fruit-forward on the nose, with a toasty vanilla and subtle clove smokiness. Flavors of baking spices and cracked pepper are tempered by notes of herbal agave for an earthy tobacco and brown sugar taste. The French oak finish ensures the liquid is soft and balanced, with orange blossom honey and tropical fruits.

Cellar Collection Series Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels is housed in a special-edition gift box, featuring a number of symbols, including the agave plant, reflecting the innovative union of flavors and ANGEL’S ENVY’s continued pursuit of excellence. It will be available at retailers nationwide and on ReserveBar (where eligible) for an SRP of $269.99 per 750ml bottle. Additionally, 500Main members can enter a lottery launching today, for a chance to purchase a bottle for in-person pick-up at the Distillery on May 31.

For more information and purchasing details, visit https://angelsenvy.com or on Instagram, @angelsenvy.

The Gauldrons

Sherry Cask Edition

A marriage of Single Cask Single Malts only from Campbeltown, this Gauldrons Sherry limited edition bottling is dynamic and silky-smooth, resulting from a lengthy finishing period in Spanish Sherry Casks. Occupying a remote location, even by Campbeltown’s standards, on the extreme west coast of Scotland, The Gauldrons literally means “bay of storms”. But, it’s not just the dark storm clouds that set the pulse racing here and set the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end… Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

Salty and maritime with an explosion of rich, dark fruits and spice.

EXPLORE

Region: Campbeltown
Abv: 50%
Vol: 70cl
Spec: No Colour Added
Spec: No Chill-Filtration

Gold-Medal Cask Strength Bourbon Bargain
New England Barrel Co. 3.5 Year Old “Cask Strength” Small Batch Select: Batch #2022-01 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

“Young, energetic, and flat-out delicious, it’s hands-down the best deal in the shop right now”— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

We have no right to be selling this whiskey at such a low price, and, equally, this humble whiskey has no right to be as good as it is. This award-winning young whiskey is never seen for less than $60 in California. At full cask strength and without chill filtration, it’s a powerful, heady bourbon of the highest order. Having won a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, it’s clear that we’ve secured an incredible price that won’t be matched anywhere in the country. Don’t be fooled—this isn’t the 99-proof version, but the highly awarded and much more expensive cask-strength release. K&L offers this exclusive price, unavailable anywhere else in the country.

–David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

New England Barrel Co. 3.5 Year Old “Cask Strength” Small Batch Select: Batch #2022-01Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Previously $60) ($22.99)

As one of the few truly transparent independent bottlers, the team at New England Barrel Co. consistently assembles stellar spirits. Thanks to a fortuitous shift in market conditions, we secured this exceptional batch of young Kentucky Straight Bourbon for well below its usual wholesale price. I’m thrilled to pass those savings on—what was already a fair $60 bottle now becomes an absolute steal and an easy slam-dunk for a high-proof Tuesday-night pour.

It’s the quintessential “bunker buy.” Need a robust Kentucky Bourbon for cocktails but don’t want to raid your precious Green River Cask Strength Single Barrels? This bottle has you covered. I’m stocking up before it disappears; it handles every gifting and giveaway need with ease.

The whiskey shows a gorgeous tawny hue (≈ 1.4 on the color scale). The nose bursts with burnt sugar, cherry compote, citrus oil, and fresh biscuits, opening to layers of baking spice, almond butter, apricot, and brown sugar. On the palate it’s oily, full-bodied, and remarkably gentle for full cask strength; the choice to skip chill-filtration clearly pays off in texture. Sweet corn and fruit drive through the mid-palate, finishing with a soft, satisfying spice.

Despite its youth, this bourbon never shows a rough edge—proof that well-made whiskey doesn’t always need decades in wood. Young, energetic, and flat-out delicious, it’s hands-down the best deal in the shop right now.

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

Whisky Words: Reflux

In Scotch whisky production, “reflux” refers to the process by which some of the vapour produced during distillation is condensed back into liquid and returned to the still for further distillation. This reflux is essential for achieving a higher level of purity and consistency in the final product.

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Reflux is an important property of distillation. When you boil liquid in a still, that liquid turns into a gas and rises inside the still. Now, if it turns back into a liquid before it gets out of the still, it falls back into the pot. That is called reflux. It’s very important because the more reflux you have in a still, the lighter the spirit you get at the end. The less reflux, the heavier and more robust spirit you have.” 

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