….We’re waiting for the details…update…it looks like due to technical issues Phil will not publish this week.

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Release of 2019 Parker’s Heritage Collection Limited Edition Bottling

13^th edition of the annual ultra-premium release is a Heavy Char Rye Whiskey, continues the distillery’s commitment to support ALS research and patient care

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the 2019 limited edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection Heavy Char Rye Whiskey, the first Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey of the series. The 13^th edition will ship nationally beginning in September at an SRP of $149.99.

As one of the only heritage distilleries to consistently produce all five styles of American Whiskey, this edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection showcases Heaven Hill’s traditional Rye Whiskey mashbill. This edition, however, differentiates itself through its aging process. Instead of aging in Level 3 charred barrels, as is customary for most Heaven Hill products, this Rye Whiskey was aged in Level 5 charred barrels for eight years and nine months on the seventh floor of Rickhouse Y. Level 5 charred barrels are charred 50 seconds longer than the Level 3 barrels.  This more intense char allows the liquid to penetrate deeper into each barrel stave, interacting further with the oak and extracting deep notes of spice and wood on the resulting flavor.

Bottled at 105 proof (52.5% abv) and non-chill filtered to preserve all the flavor compounds, the limited edition bottling honors the original concept of the Parker’s Heritage Collection – to showcase the quality and broad range of the Heaven Hill portfolio. With more than 1.5 million barrels in inventory, this collection produces an innovative, highly sought after bottling each year and now serves as a remembrance of the collection’s namesake

“As the second largest holder of aging American Whiskey, Heaven Hill Distillery has the privilege of showcasing the quality and range of our distilling craft through the Parker’s Heritage Collection,” said Susan Wahl, Group Product Director at Heaven Hill Distillery. “We continue this series with thoughtful offerings that showcase the care and attention to detail for which Heaven Hill Distillery is known. Parker was involved in the development of this bottling over eight years ago and will continue to leave his mark on many future bottlings. It is in tribute to Parker and his legacy that we continue to support ALS research and patient care with this series.”

The late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2010. The past six editions from 2013-2018, including the “Promise of Hope” Bourbon, the “Original Batch” Straight Wheat Whiskey, the Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey, the 24-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, the 11-Year-Old Single Barrel, and Orange Curaçao-finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, respectively, have raised over one million dollars toward ALS research and patient care through contributions made by Heaven Hill for each bottle purchased. With the 2019 Heavy Char Rye Whiskey edition, Heaven Hill will again contribute a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to the ALS Association.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous twelve editions, but with a green colored label, the newest Parker’s Heritage Collection is available in a three-bottle case and will be available at retail starting in September. With previous releases having won multiple awards from Whisky Advocate magazine, Whisky Magazine and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the series stands as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Past bottlings have won awards ranging from “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year” to “Best of Show, Brown Spirits.”

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.5 million barrels aging in 58 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Best in Show Whiskey, and previously held titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

After 2018’s super-early April announcement of Diageo’s annual Special Releases collection surprised everyone, we’ve been wondering what they were up to this year. The radio silence has now been broken, and the first tidbits of information about the range of whiskies has now landed.

Don’t know what the Special Releases are? Learn all about them in our handy guide: Diageo Special Releases – what are they?

Diageo Special Releases 2019: the line-up

This year’s collection will feature eight new cask-strength Scotch whiskies, and they’re all single malts this time.

The line-up is:

• Cardhu 14 Years Old
• Cragganmore 12 Years Old
• Dalwhinnie 30 Years Old
• Lagavulin 12 Years Old
• Mortlach 26 Years Old
• Pittyvaich 29 Years Old
• Talisker 15 Years Old
• The Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Years Old

It’s an interesting selection, with some potentially very interesting whiskies. It’s also missing a couple of things that we’ve come to expect.

Missing in action

Firstly, there’s no blended malt this year. The past two releases have seen Collectivum XVIII and Cladach in the line-up, both blended malts with a theme – the former was made up of single malts from Diageo’s 28 working distilleries and the latter featured whiskies from coastal distilleries. They both divided opinion, but I’m sad to see them go. Unless there’s a mysterious ninth bottle waiting in the wings for a late announcement, as both Collectivum and Cladach were…

Secondly, there’s no grain whisky this time. The past four years have seen long-aged single grains, from the comparitively youthful Cally 40 Year Old, to the elegantly wizened Port Dundas 52 Year Old, but this time the focus is back on malt.

And there’s no Caol Ila. A mainstay of the collection since almost the beginning, the yearly release of Caol Ila Highland is the general public’s only chance of getting its hands on this otherwise unobtainable unpeated version of the Islay whisky. It’s been a reasonably priced hit in every year’s line-up, so it’s both unexpected and sad not to see it this time.

What’s new?

While the Lagavulin 12 Year Old is an old friend, and most of the rest of the list are drams that are reminiscent of ones we’ve had before, there are a few whiskies in the announcement that have piqued my interest:

Talisker 15 Year Old – I do love a Talisker and, after last year’s eight-year-old release picked up fans, I’m intrigued to see what they do with an older entry in the Special Releases collection. The announcement described it as ‘A sweet, yet deep and spicy bottling layered with unmistakeable maritime flavours’ – that suggests a sherry-matured dram to me. Will it be a replacement for the Caol Ila Highland or something a bit different?

Mortlach 26 Year Old – the now discontinued Mortlach 25 Year Old, launched a few years back as part of the revamped range, remains one of my favourite whiskies from the distillery. However, will this 26-year-old focus on a bourbon-cask maturation, as the 25 did, or will it go for the more traditional sherry maturation?

Cragganmore 12 Years Old – Cragganmore was one of my first whisky loves, but even so a 12-year-old release wouldn’t normally inspire much interest from me. However, this one has an interesting word hidden in the short description we’ve been sent: ‘A complex and intriguing bottling that combines Speyside elegance with a touch of spice and smoke’. Smoke. Hmm…are they talking a touch of char or have they been playing with peat? Only time will tell…

We expect to see the Diageo Special Releases 2019 arrive in the Autumn, and until then all we can do is wait. Along with the current heat wave, it’s another reason to wish for the summer to end sooner rather than later.

If you want to see what’s happened in previous years, we’ve got details and tasting notes for the past decade of releases here on the blog: 2008 pt1/2008 pt2, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

We still have a few bottles from previous year’s releases – you can find them on our Diageo Special Releases page.

Introducing the two newest additions to our whisky family, Jura Aged 21 Years: Time and Tide.

In the vast wilderness of our tiny island home, it’s easy to lose track of time. But if you stop a moment in that beautiful wilderness and listen to the silence, the only sound to be heard soon helps you find it once more: the tide. Like the whisky in our casks, it’s an irresistible reminder of time’s power.

JURA AGED 21 YEARS: TIME

A Travel Retail Exclusive, this exclusive 21 year old single malt is part of our Aged Vintage series. Bottled at 47.2% ABV. Sweet island smoke is revealed in this dark amber autumn gold spirit. Matured for 21 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and finessed in ex-peated malt casks.

JURA AGED 21 YEARS : TIME

An exclusive 21 year old single malt from the Aged Vintage series. Bottled at 46.7% ABV. Sweet and smoky from 21 long years of maturation first in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and further finessed with a spicy character from hand-selected virgin American White Oak casks.

Friday, August 2nd 5-7 PM: 

Scotch Tasting: 

Bunnahabhain & Tobermory 

Presented by whisky expert John Pauley, this tasting features Islay distillery Bunnhabhain and Tobermory of Mull. Pourlist yet to be determined – RSVP to be notified when pours are revealed.

Click Here to RSVP

LIMITED EDITION SCOTCH TEES OFF CRISTIE KERR PARTNERSHIP

New single malt captures spirit of Kerr Cellars with Pinot Noir finish 

Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Official Spirit of The Open, Women’s British Open and Ladies Scottish Open, has released a very special limited edition single malt Scotch crafted in partnership with US women’s golf icon, Cristie Kerr.

Kerr, who won the 2007 U.S Women’s Open and the 2010 Women’s PGA Championship, became Loch Lomond Group’s first female golf ambassador last year. She now owns and operates Kerr Cellars in Napa Valley, USA, and is a qualified sommelier. This is the winery’s first partnership in spirits.

The Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 was finished in French oak barrels which previously held Pinot Noir red wine from the Kerr Cellars winery.

The 2002 spirit was selected to celebrate Cristie’s first win on the LPGA tour and spent six months maturing in the Pinot Noir barrels, which were shipped to the Loch Lomond Distillery in Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, in October 2018.

The barrels are composed of Vosges Oak from the Alsace mountains in Eastern France. They were seasoned for three years prior to being delivered to the Loch Lomond cooperage and used for six months to mature the 2002 spirit carefully selected by Loch Lomond Master Blender Michael Henry to form the release.

The Pinot Noir finish has amplified the fruit characteristics associated with the Loch Lomond Distillery to create a truly special single malt Scotch.

Colin Matthews, CEO, said: “It is extremely exciting to be offering this truly unique limited edition release created in partnership with our ambassador, women’s golfing star Cristie Kerr. Since Cristie launched Kerr Cellars she has applied the same rigour and pursuit of excellence she displayed in golf to producing some of the world’s best wines.

“Our Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 captures the best of both worlds, wine and whisky, to offer a very special Scotch which will be sought after by golf fans and those who know their drinks alike.”

The Loch Lomond Single Malt Vintage 2002 has an ABV of 48.14%. It is presented in elegant navy-blue packaging which incorporates a discreet rendition of Kerr Cellars’ distinctive logo and also bears Cristie’s signature, creating a must-have item for followers of both golf and whisky.

Since turning professional in 1996, Kerr has recorded 20 wins on the LPGA Tour in addition to her two Majors. She was also World No. 1 on three separate occasions throughout 2010.

Kerr said: “I’ve long admired Scotch whisky and it is a great privilege to be working with such an acclaimed distillery to create my first single malt. The French Oak Pinot Noir casks we shipped to Loch Lomond Whiskies’ cooperage previously held some of our most highly rated red wine and I can’t wait for golfers and whisky fans to discover the superb single malt Scotch that they have helped produce.”

For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

Tasting notes

The Loch Lomond 2002 Vintage Single Malt delivers fresh red berries, strawberry and cranberry with creamy vanilla. There is green apple and kiwi fruit with lime citrus and a gentle honeyed sweetness before mouth-watering fruit and warming ginger spice on the finish. Bottled at 48.1% ABV and non-chill filtered ensure a rich mouthfeel and a deep and complex flavour, just as nature intended. 

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12 Year Old which has been awarded a Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge 2017. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 50 Year Old: the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Reserve
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious and coveted global competitions:

• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond Signature

July 2019 Auction
is now LIVE!

Welcome to our July Auction.

This month’s auction features a stellar line-up of spectacular whiskies.
Take a look at some of our highlights below.

Brora and Old Clynelish Bottlings
Our July Auction has a stunning selection of desirable original Clynelish and Brora examples. We asked rare whisky expert, Angus MacRaild, to pick out some interesting bottles and share with us what makes them so special here.

Collectable Chichibu’s
From this very small and hands-on Japanese distillery, we welcome a huge selection of interesting single cask and exclusive bottlings this month.

Daftmill 2006 European Retail Exclusive | Charity Lot
One of only 213 bottles, this first fill ex-Heaven Hill bourbon barrel was bottled exclusively for retail in Europe.

Bottle 7 from cask #77 has been kindly donated by Daftmill distillery proprietors, Francis and Ian Cuthbert, to Mr James Aitken to help raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease Scotland (registered SC217735). All proceeds from the sale of this bottle will be donated to the charity.

If you would like to find out more about Jim’s charity efforts and donate to his cause, you can do so here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JimAitken

Kingsbury Selection
Kingsbury are Japan’s most sought after independent bottler. July’s auction features a collection of their “Unicorn Label” bottlings which includes the highest rated Ardbeg on WhiskyFun.com with a staggering score of 97 points!

Treasured Talisker’s
A stunning range of Taliskers from the 1950s to 1970s feature in this month’s auction. These were bottled under license by Gordon and MacPhail.

Impressively Aged Islay’s
Explore some of these extraordinary bottles that have spent decades maturing on the famous whisky isle. Our July Auction features some spectacularly well-aged Bowmore, Laphroaig and Port Ellen examples.

Interested in selling whisky?
Next auction: 23 Aug – 2 Sep
Bottle deadline: 12 August

Free expert valuation for your bottle(s) on request at info@whiskyauctioneer.com

Complimentary Collections
We are frequently travelling around the UK and can arrange a personal collection from you. This service is perfect if you want to avoid courier costs. Please get in touch and we can get it organised for you.

Not in your area? Just let us know where you are in the UK and you can request a personalised pick-up from your home, we will try to arrange a collection from you as soon as possible (available for sizeable consignments).

Glasgow | 8 August
Edinburgh | 9 August
Inverness | 12 August
Aberdeen | 13 August
London & M6/M1 Area | 17 & 18 August

Keep up with our Latest News!
We are excited to now feature a News section on WhiskyAuctioneer.com

We will regularly feature Auction Highlights, Industry News, Blogs/Articles and Guest Writers so be sure to check it out to keep up to date with whats going on at Whisky Auctioneer and in the whisky world!

Check out our first articles here

NEW IN AT NICKOLLS & PERKS HQ

Another busy month of new whiskies making there way to our shelves, including two private cask reserve bottlings from Bruichladdich, Hunter Laing’s Kinship Collection and the return of The GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival.

SHOP ALL NEW ARRIVALS

ULTIMATE TASTING TOUR

THE ENGLISH WHISKY CO PROUDLY PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE TASTING TOUR – £45 P/P

We take you on a journey of discovery that lasts 2 hours and takes an in depth look at the distillery and barrel warehouses.  You will then have an hour in a private room tasting the various whiskies produced at St George’s Distillery.  This very sought after tour runs on a Saturday and Sunday once a month.
Whilst visiting, why not stay and eat in our fully air conditioned restaurant or dine out on our terrace al fresco.

Buy a gift voucher or call 01953 717939 to book!

FIND OUT MORE