Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 255: Wagging Finger New Make Spirit

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a Dutch new make spirit. You know he has a weak spot for new make, we’re sure. He has been able to try quite a few. The Dutch distillery Wagging Finger is best known for their lovely gin and they’ve recently also launched an Old Geneva, but Mark tries their spirit that has just been put to sleep to become whisky. The spirit in front of him was distilled on 6th February of this year and cut to 50%. It is lightly peated: 20 to 25 ppm. Mark predicts it will become a lovely whisky.

https://youtu.be/wagsY9qmfho

TWO BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY BOURBONS AWARDED DOUBLE GOLD AT 2019 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Four other Barton 1792 whiskies awarded silver 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (May 15, 2019) –The 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition announced this year’s results, awarding Double Gold to two bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery. In total, whiskies from Barton 1792 Distillery received six medals from the competition out of the record breaking 3,000 spirits entered.

Double Gold

• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Very Old Barton 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Zachariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

Forty-four of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry in a blind taste test to award top selected spirits. All Silver, Gold, Double Gold and Premium awarded whiskies will be featured in the August 2019 issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine. Results from the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/overview. 

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY AWARDED TWO GOLD MEDALS AT THE 2019 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Three A. Smith Bowman spirits received Bronze 

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (May 16, 2019) – At this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, two Gold medals were awarded to whiskies from A. Smith Bowman Distillery. Its John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon and Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Port Finished Bourbon each received top honors. Three other A. Smith Bowman spirits received Bronze for a total of five medals among the near 3,000 competing spirits.

Gold

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Port Finished Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Vanilla Bean Virginia Whiskey
• Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon Whiskey

Forty-four of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry in a blind taste test to award top selected spirits. All Silver, Gold, Double Gold and Premium awarded whiskies will be featured in the August 2019 issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine. Results from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/overview.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five years, including “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016 for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon and again in 2017 for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel at the World Whisky Awards.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

GEORGE DICKEL ENTERS BOTTLED IN BOND CATEGORY WITH 13-YEAR-OLD LIMITED RELEASE 

Cascade Hollow Distilling Company Releases Latest Innovation that’s a High Quality Whisky and Great Buy for Whisky Lovers 

TULLAHOMA, TN, May 15, 2019 – In 1897, the federal government enacted The Bottled in Bond Act to help guarantee a spirit’s authenticity and quality. Fast forward more than 120 years, Nicole Austin – General Manager and Distiller of Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. – is trying her hand at this special offering and reinforcing George Dickel’s commitment to making unique, high quality whisky available at a great value with the release of George Dickel Bottled in Bond as her first innovation since joining the company in 2018.

George Dickel Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whisky is a limited release, 13-year-old whisky that has already racked up a score of 95 (on a scale of 100) and earned the designation of “Best Buy” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Additionally, George Dickel Bottled in Bond took home a Gold medal this spring at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

At 100-proof (50% ABV), George Dickel Bottled in Bond offers a bold and assertive profile with a well-balanced finish highlighted by tastes of light honey, tropical fruit, warm spices, and a touch of leather. George Dickel Bottled in Bond has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $35.99, making it a must-try for whisky lovers.

The first bottles of George Dickel Bottled in Bond will be available for purchase in the Bottle Shop at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. this Friday, May 17, and then will roll out to retailers nationwide later in the month. For information on the distillery and Visitor’s Center, please visit www.georgedickel.com.

“We wanted George Dickel Bottled in Bond to be rooted in authenticity, quality and truth, reflective of the values we feel are most important when making Tennessee’s finest whisky,” said Austin. “The aged whisky stocks we have access to here at Cascade Hollow are absolutely beautiful, and it’s important to me that we create whisky that’s sure to be a great value for the quality you’re getting.”

To be labeled as Bottled in Bond, a spirit must be: composed only of the same class and type of spirits, the product of one distillation season by one distillery (distilled by Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. at Cascade Hollow Distillery, DSP-TN-2, during the fall season of 2005), unaltered from the original condition or character, stored in oak containers a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision  (stored at Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tullahoma, TN) for at least four years (13 years old) and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) and reduced in proof only by the addition of water to not less than 100 proof. George Dickel Bottled in Bond has been aged and bottled according to this special set of regulations from the U.S. government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits.

While Nicole Austin recommends first trying the whisky neat or on the rocks to realize the full flavor profile, George Dickel Bottled in Bond can also lend a beautiful backbone to popular cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

George Dickel Bottled in Bond has a mash bill of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley. It is chill charcoal mellowed like the rest of the George Dickel Tennessee Whisky portfolio, which helps it get that the smooth mouthfeel for which the brand is best known.

As with all the whiskies in the George Dickel family, your friends at Cascade Hollow encourage you to sip this new offering the same way it’s made – slowly and responsibly.

About George Dickel Tennessee Whisky 

Back in the late 1800’s, George Dickel worked to fulfill his dream for crafting the smoothest Tennessee Whisky around.  Over a century later, we continue to honor George’s timeless values and tradition.   Legend has it that early on George discovered that whisky made in the cold winter months tasted smoother.  Today we honor this tradition by chilling our whisky before filtering it through sugar-maple charcoal so it’s mellow as moonlight just how George liked.  For more information, please visit www.GeorgeDickel.com and always remember to drink responsibly.

About DIAGEO

DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

DIAGEO is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about DIAGEO, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit DIAGEO’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

 Follow us on Twitter for news and information about DIAGEO North America: @Diageo_NA.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

FREE MAINLAND GB DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £15* WITH

CODE

TREATDAD

Spoil your dad and make this Father’s Day one to remember; our bottles of award-winning whiskies are something special for everyone.

Why not treat yourself whilst you’re shopping!

Offer ends midnight on Monday 3rd June.

Single Malt Whisky
Rich, fruity and sippable
£44.95

Founder’s Choice
Single Malt Whisky
Hints of dark chocolate
and fresh red fruits
£64.95

Gifts and Accessories

WEMYSS MALTS CASK CLUB

AN ANTIQUE ARMCHAIR – 31 YEAR OLD SINGLE CASK BUNNAHABHAIN

BUNNAHABHAIN I 1987 I 451 BOTTLES I 70CL | 46% abv.

The second exclusive release for the Wemyss Malts Cask Club; An Antique Armchair is an astonishing single cask single malt from Bunnahabhain distillery. Known as the ‘Gentle Giant‘ of the Islay distilleries it can often be found in one of Wemyss Malts releases but in many different styles, from light and malty through to heavily peated. This particular, unpeated spirit has spent just over three decades in a single sherry Butt developing sumptuous rich and leathery notes to complement the maritime character of the distillery.

£234.95 ~ Join the Wemyss Cask Club to Purchase

VIEW RELEASE INFO

An Antique Armchair is named after the aromas and flavours found in the whisky ‘An Antique Armchair’ is a 1987 vintage, 31 year old Bunnahabhain matured exclusively in an ex-Sherry Butt. It has an outturn of 451 bottles and has been bottled in its original natural russet-like colour at an alcohol volume of 46%. Selected by famed whisky writer Charlie Maclean and noted by the Wemyss Malts tasting panel as another perfect example of an old Islay malt with leathery, earthy aromas as well as a long, deep and rich dried fruit character.

The bottling of ‘An Antique Armchair’ will be released on Thursday the 30th of May at 12pm noon simultaneously on wemyssmalts.com to members of the Cask Club as well being released at Islay’s first ever independent whisky festival; The Indie Whisky Fèis Ìle 2019. The festival, hosted in collaboration with the Feis Ile and independent bottler Dramfool will feature multiple stands offering a wide range of whiskies to sample and purchase including a dedicated Wemyss Malts stand offering an array of Islay single casks and peated blended malt whiskies. 

Wemyss Malts will also host a masterclass tasting during The Indie Whisky Fèis Ìle 2019 pouring ‘An Antique Armchair’ alongside a selection of Islay single cask single malts.  A custom Peat Chimney malt whisky will also be created by and for attendees live at the tasting to bottle, label and take home for themselves.

 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INDIE WHISKY FEIS ILE

In just a couple of weeks, we’ll be making our way up to the beautiful city of Edinburgh! 

We are very proud to announce a Whisky Lounge first, with the legendary Mark Watt of Cadenhead’s honouring us with a masterclass. Join us in the sumptuous setting of the Assembly Rooms on Saturday 15th June for the Edinburgh Whisky Festival 2019. We still have a very limited number of special offer tickets available through our website, so what are you waiting for?! Did your beloved dad get you into whisky? Celebrate Father’s Day in style with him this year and grab one of our 2 for £60 offers.

Kilchoman STR Cask Matured

Distilled in 2008, this limited edition single malt whisky from Islay has been matured in special STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) casks. This process adds a great interaction from the cask, resulting in a big and bold flavours.

“Rarely have I tasted such a fruit-forward Kilchoman that accentuates the peaty, smoky character rather than masking it. The summer fruits and citrus combine with an earthy peat smoke character to create a combination of flavours that I haven’t tasted in our whiskies before.”

James Wills, Sales and Marketing Manager

BUY NOW

SEDUCTIVE SILKIE IRISH WHISKEY LAUNCHES IN UK

Fresh from widespread acclaim in its homeland, the award-winning and legendary Silkie blended Irish whiskey is now available to UK drinkers. Named after the mythical seals that transform into irresistible maidens when ashore Donegal’s beaches, the whiskey is as smooth as its name suggests.  Available from Amazon, Master of Malt and Whisky Exchange at an RRP of £32.99 for 70cl (40%ABV).

Created by James Doherty, a returning Donegal ‘scatterling’, Silkie is made from a blend of carefully selected malt and grain whiskeys.  By using a higher malt percentage – with malts aged up to eight years including some sherry wood – James is able to produce a signature-soft mouth feel and silken, easy character.

On the nose, Silkie evokes brisk green apples opening to a more honeyed butteryness. On the palate, it suggests orange zest, digestive biscuits and stem ginger, all with the signature softness. The rich, sweet taste provides a sublimely gentle finish.

Commenting on the arrival into the UK, James Doherty, Managing Director, Sliabh Liag Distillers said: “As a young lad, my mother used to tell me all about the silkies emerging from the wild Atlantic ocean and beguiling the men they encountered.  We’ve worked hard to create a blended Irish whiskey that is rich, soft and very easy-drinking and are confident drinkers across the UK who encounter our Silkie will be as equally mesmerised by it as the Donegal seafarers of old were by its namesake.”

Given its soft character, Silkie can easily be enjoyed neat but also works superbly as an Old Fashioned cocktail, especially if rhubarb bitters are used instead of the traditional Angostura variety. For a more refreshing drink, a “Silkie Rua” – Silkie with ginger ale garnished with an orange peel twist hits the spot.

Notes 

• Sliabh Liag (pronounced ‘sleeve league’) Distillers is committed to reclaiming the distilling heritage of Donegal. In addition to Silkie, the company also produces An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin at its distillery, near Carrick.  Planning has also been submitted for a new distillery at Ardara, co Donegal.

• Silkie and An Dúlamán are both distributed by Vine Distribution Services in the UK. Established in 2000, Vine Distribution Services (VDS UK Limited) are importers and distributors of premium drinks and other FMCG brands in the UK. Founded by Steve Brown and Paul Macgregor, VDS is a sales, marketing and distribution company that specialises in the development of premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands.

The Fisherman’s Retreat launches fourth and fifth edition whisky

Following the success of its previous three editions, The Fisherman’s Retreat, located just beyond the picturesque town of Ramsbottom, has launched its fourth and fifth edition single malt whisky.

From buying the first few single malt whiskies to stock the bar back in 1992 to purchasing the first cask in 1995, whisky has always been at the heart of The Fisherman’s Retreat.

Now in its 27 th year The Fisherman’s Retreat now stock over 500 different Scottish single malt whiskies, with the majority of these available to try by the dram or purchase by the bottle from their onsite shop.

Their online shop has just launched which showcases some of the more fine and rare whiskies The Fisherman’s Retreat has to offer.

The 90 litre Octavius red wine cask was filled in 2013 with new make Arran spirit, the smaller cask enabled a faster maturation, thus rendering it ready for bottling after just five years. Bottled at 54% ABV this is a very limited edition at only 191 bottles.

One of the whisky industry’s best-known figures, Jim McEwan, the former master distiller of Bruichladdich, and good friend to the Magnall family has written the tasting notes for the whisky, describing its palate as:

“Amazingly complex for one so young. Layered and seductive. The flavours of the toasted barley, rich wine soaked oak and spicy vanilla is impressive for such a young spirit. Little hints of tangerines & almonds bring this amazing Yalumba matured spirit to a most surprising and satisfying conclusion”

Jim’s notes on the whisky’s aromas focus on the impact of the Yalumba cask:

“Brilliant combinations of mellow oak & concentrated fruitiness from the Yalumba wine cask. No other influence can encourage such an ambrosial intensity. It’s a luscious aroma cradled in a halo of toasted malt with an overture from the Flora & Fauna from this stunning Island”

Edition five has been 10 years in the making. This unique single cask bottling sees a return to Bruicladdich for The Fisherman’s in the form of this heavily peated Port Charlotte. Distilled November 2008 at Bruichladdich distillery on the Isle of Islay and peated to 40ppm this Port Charlotte ticks all the boxes when it comes to embodying Islay’s peaty history.

Spending all its life maturing in a warehouse on the windswept shores of Loch Indaal this whisky has endured everything the elements have thrown at it and used them to create something exceptional. The former Haut-Brion red wine cask has also played an immense role in the making of this whisky, imparting its unique characteristics over many seasons to leave us with a deeply rich and well-rounded malt, accompanied by the unmistakable flavors that can only be found in an Islay aged whisky. Hand bottled in December 2018 at 54%ABV this release has produced 360 bottles.

https://www.fishermansretreat.com/