ralfy.com has a quality moment with Springbank !

https://youtu.be/6zFzDaFhDjc

Glencairn Crystal shines as it delivers 15 consecutive years of global growth 

Family business demonstrates its global success and resilience as it reveals it has doubled sales every five years since 2004

• Glasgow based crystal glassware company has doubled sales every five years since 2004.

• Custom decanters (for the worlds’ rarest and most expensive spirits*) and unique glassware have driven the family business’ growth – up by a fifth in the last year. In the last eighteen months Glencairn has delivered projects that contribute to sales of £100 million.

• Over 65,000 Glencairn Glasses** are now sold per week globally.

Award winning family business Glencairn Crystal – owned and run by the Davidson family – has released its end of year figures to reveal an unbroken run of 15 years of continued business growth.

In 2004 the East Kilbride based company turned over £858K with the latest figures in 2019 reaching an unprecedented £11.3 million.

The exponential growth of the business comes from, not only existing markets, but the expansion into new markets – China being the largest that the company has gained traction in over the past 12 months. The US continues to provide huge growth for Glencairn and is now worth some £4m a year of the company’s business with US online sales alone accounting for nearly £1 million worth of this.

Glencairn now ships to 95 countries worldwide, working with over 600 distilleries directly.

*Some of the company’s most high-profile decanter projects include luxury bespoke decanters for a single malt whisky that have been hand engraved using rare gemstones. In the past year the company has been commissioned by over 30 different brands to create bespoke packaging for some of the oldest and most luxurious single malt whiskies ever released.

Scott Davidson, New Product Development Director at Glencairn said: “We are so proud of the success we have achieved in this past year. Our hardworking team and the worldwide growth of the spirits market, specifically whisky, has meant that we have been able to capitalise on what we do best – provide clients with a high-end customer service they can’t get anywhere else.”

He continued: “Above all else we continue to put our customers and their needs first – something that is demonstrated through fifteen years of continued growth.’

For more details about Glencairn Crystal, please visit www.glencairn.co.uk

**The Glencairn Glass is endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association as the official glass for whisky.

Notes 

Glencairn’s clients include leading drinks companies, brands and other outlets, including: BP, Brown-Forman, Cunard, Diageo, Houses of Parliament, Muller, Google, Scottish Parliament, Liverpool FC and the majority of the Scottish Whisky manufacturers, in addition to many of the international whisky and spirit producers.

Created in 2001, the Glencairn Glass has seen an average year on year global sales increase. Often referred to as the official tasting glass, the company makes over 3 million per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 90 countries worldwide.

Glencairn has previously won The Queen’s Awards as follows:

• The Queens Award for Enterprise 2017 and 2012
• The Queens Award for Innovation 2006 (with the Glencairn Whisky Glass)

A Classic Bottling for All Fans of Japanese Whisky
Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” ($74.99)
“Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki.” —Whisky Advocate

While age-statement whiskies from Japan appear to have gone the way of the dodo, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get your whisky fix from the Land of the Rising Sun. Suntory’s “Hibiki Japanese Harmony,” while not bearing an age-statement, still offers the classic profile collectors and connoisseurs expect from this legendary distiller. While there may have been a bit of skepticism when Suntory announced the inaugural release of “Harmony,” any hesitation was quickly swept away upon tasting. A beautiful whisky by any measure, it is delightfully complex while remaining approachable and utterly delicious from the first sip to the last. Smoky flavors mingle with subtle touches of oak, lemon, toffee, and vanilla. Perhaps most striking is how gracefully elegant the delivery is, especially given its underlying power and verve. Very attractively priced at under $75, the “Harmony” is a very affordable way to enjoy a classic Japanese whisky from one of the most highly regarded distillers in the world. Our allocations of “Harmony” always sell in the blink of an eye, so don’t delay in securing your bottles.

Suntory “Hibiki Japanese Harmony” Japanese Whisky (750ml) ($74.99)

91 points Wine Enthusiast: “The newest blended whisky offering from Hibiki is burnished gold in the glass and has a bold aroma that mixes vanilla, fresh pear and a hint of smoke. The smokiness comes forward at the first sip, wrapping around a core of oak and vanilla custard and finishing long, with a mouthwatering bitter chocolate note. *Best of 2016* (KN)” (03/2016)

90 points Whisky Advocate: “Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015)” (12/2015)

Wine & Spirits: “You can’t be a Japanese whisky enthusiast without having noticed that there’s a shortage of the stuff. What once was readily available is now hard to find. What once was affordable now costs various bodily limbs. It is due to more than a fad. The best Japanese whisky is remarkable stuff, and none are better than the top single malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hakushu and the blended whisky Hibiki. Hibiki comes in 12-, 17- and 21-year-old expressions, but even the youngest of these is now allocated. Harmony, the newest release, carries no age statement, indicating that it contains younger whiskies than other bottlings. Nevertheless, this is a welcome concession, with Suntory’s classic sense of balance, nuance and delicacy. *Best of 2015* (JM)” (11/2015)

K&L Notes: The newest incarnation of Suntory’s hugely popular Hibiki series, this time without an age statement attached. The same soft, mellow, vanilla-laden flavor is still here, however. It’s a true harmony of pure Hibiki flavor.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 10, 2019

If you haven’t had Hibiki Harmony recently, you must retry it. In all honesty, it’s not something we’ve opened for the staff here in a long time since it is so tightly allocated and sells out so quickly. It just wasn’t necessary. With our most recent drop of one of the most asked for Japanese whiskies on the market, I decided it was time to make sure the staff all knew what exactly we had. I must say, I was blown away by the richness in particular. The flavors are a delight, with crisp apple, fresh stone fruits, a touch of piquant pepper and a surprising amounts of vanilla and caramel. The palate has much more weight, presumably from a higher malt content, than I recall. It coats the tongue, but is never heavy. The finish is clean and bright and decidedly entices you to have another sip. We spend most of the year out of stock on this whisky just sadly telling customers, “no, it’s not available.” Today, we are sitting flush and want to let everyone know it’s here. The trick is, with the insane popularity of all true Japanese whisky, it won’t be here for long.

Whiskies you won’t find anywhere else 

Here at The Whisky Shop we pride ourselves on finding the very best casks and bottlings exclusively for our customers. Take a look at a handful of our favourites, we’re so proud of these whiskies and they can’t be found anywhere else, not even a certain retailer this Prime Day…

GlenDronach 1992

Single Cask #64
£259.00 Buy Now

Glen Scotia
1999 Single Cask

£135.00 Buy Now

Loch Lomond
2004 Single Cask

£110.00 Buy Now

Old Pulteney
2007 Single Cask

£110.00 Buy Now

Glenrothes 1968
Cask 13504

£5,400.00 Buy Now

Maker’s Mark Private Select

Batch #2 £85.00 

Buy Now

Shop more Whisky Shop exclusives that you won’t find anywhere else here

Buy Now

The Matsui Kurayoshi Mizunura Cask

Japanese Single Malt Whisky  

“Kurayoshi distillery is nestled in the heart of nature, close to mount Daisen and its fresh, soft spring. Located in Tottori, Japan. The Matsui Mizunara Cask has been aged in Japanese oak known as Mizunara. Oaky with hints of oriental spices, rich mouth feel and toffee-like sweetness.” 

PRICE: $93/btl

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 265: Smoky Scot

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries the Smoky Scot! While there is no mention of the distillery on the label anywhere, it is clear that this is an Islay whisky. In fact, this is a 5 year old Caol Ila that matured on bourbon casks, before being bottled at 46% by Aceo Ltd. And guess what? It’s a stunner and absolute bang for your buck!

https://youtu.be/PVAjwr3iQ5Y

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR, JR.  AMARANTH

BOURBON WHISKEY 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July 10, 2019) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release bourbon whiskey using Amaranth as the flavoring grain instead of rye.  This 100 proof Bottled-In-Bond small batch bourbon was aged over a decade and is a special one-time-only release.  Other grains used in this recipe are corn (Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1) and malted barley.

            Amaranth was originally cultivated by the Aztecs and is called “the Grain of the Gods.” It is similar to wheat, but offers a complex taste with subtle flavors ranging from a nose of butterscotch and spearmint, to a finish of pecans and dark berries.

Tasting notes describe this bourbon as having a fresh spearmint on the nose, followed by honey, with a hint of cherry.  On the palate, coffee and vanilla come through.  The finish is long, with oats and honey.

This Amaranth Bourbon Whiskey is the tenth and latest release in the collection of  E. H. Taylor, Jr. whiskeys, which includes favorites such as Single Barrel Bourbon, Barrel Proof Bourbon, Straight Rye Whiskey, and Small Batch Bourbon.

The Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection was first released in early 2011 and several subsequent releases have followed.  Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling is very limited.   Also consistent with past releases, the Amaranth Bourbon displays a vintage label and is offered inside a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago. These six bottle cases will again be shipped in an impressive wooden box first used for the Cured Oak release.  The boxes are modeled after the wooden crates used by Taylor to transport goods during the days before Prohibition.

            Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.  is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the distillery that is known today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

            This special bottling of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Amaranth Bourbon Whiskey will be available starting in late July in limited supply.  The suggested retail price is $69.99 per 750ml bottle.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Full of flavour and exotic vibes, explore our new selection of summer casks.

A DAY AT THE BEACH

FIRST RELEASE FROM DISTILLERY NO. 88 FOR SMWS CANADA

CASK NO. 88.11

CASK:  Refill barrel

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & dry

CAKE DOUGH REMINISCENCE

CASK NO:  71.54

CASK:  Refill barrel

AGE:  10 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

BUCKING BRONCO

CASK NO:  B3.4

CASK:  New oak barrel

AGE:  3 years

HESSIAN, WOOD AND INCENSE

CASK NO:  135.2

CASK:  1st fill Sauternes hogshead

AGE:  16 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

SPEYGERMEISTER

CASK NO:  76.139

CASK:  1st fill PX hogshead

AGE: 15 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

GREAT FUN

CASK NO. 66.128

CASK:  1st fill barrique

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

Flash Deal Macallan 18

Free UK Shipping 

Arguably the pinnacle of Macallan’s portfolio, the 18 year expression is aged in the finest Spanish sherry casks giving the spirit its distinctive rich and unctuous flavour profile.

£220

Stocks are limited.

Extra Age on a Classic, Bestselling Bourbon
Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon ($54.99)
“The perfect whiskey for fans of the old style Basil.” —Andrew Whiteley, K&L NorCal Spirits Buyer

If you are a fan of Basil Hayden, or even more broadly of high-rye whiskeys, then you simply have to try this spectacular 10-Year edition. Possessing all the hallmark characteristics of their standard bottling, but with even more woodsy spice and power, it’s a jaw-dropper that charms from one sip to the next. Brimming with flavors of caramel, crème brûlée, baking chocolate, and spearmint, it displays unmistakable refinement. Holding the center, of course, is Basil Hayden’s rye spice. The release holds its own against the classic bottlings from Old Grand Dad and serves as a delightful reminder of the celebrated Bourbons of a bygone era. Age-statement whiskeys are increasingly difficult to find under the $100 mark, so having this one for under $55 is a boon. Pick up a few bottles, as you’ll find yourself coming back to this 10 Year Old again and again.

Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) ($54.99)

The Basil Hayden 10-Year is the same high-rye bourbon Hayden fans know and love but aged longer for a softer, smoother experience. The deep rye grain is balanced perfectly with the mellow vanillas and sweet oak aromas. Basil’s trademark spice is always there keeping things honest. At 80 proof, it’s easy enough for anyone to appreciate. When you want to turn it up a bit, but not scare anyone off, the Basil 10-Year is a great choice.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2019

Basil Hayden has long been one of the most popular bourbons at K&L. The standard BH, long bottled at 8 years old, has presumably is now bottled in the 6-8 year range since it lost its age statement in 2014. Fortunately for fans of the woodier profile that comes with age, Beam has brought back a number for the front of the bottle in this 10-year-old release. Still bottled at 80 proof and showing off the signature spicy finish of the high rye mashbill, BH10 is the perfect whiskey for fans of the old style Basil. Richer in caramel, vanilla, mocha, and with a touch of fresh mint, the 10-Year is a huge step up from the excellent, but sometimes thin, regular bottling. The extra time in barrel provides the backbone that is characteristic of the higher proof in a bottling like Old Grand Dad.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 18, 2019

This is a high-rye Bourbon that doesn’t necessarily drink like one. It’s got big, smooth caramel running throughout, accented by baking spice. Notes of stewed apples mix with buttermilk creaminess and a bright cherry accent. This is a very smooth Bourbon with a long, earthy finish.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 17, 2019

Bourbon comes in many different styles, from rich and heavy to light and delicate. This Basil 10 is a classy example of the light and delicate style. The nose is pretty with a subtle aromas. In the mouth it is juicy and elegant, light and balanced with a subtle vanilla finish. This is a first-class bourbon that should please any whiskey drinker.