ralfy.com tackles an old blend !

https://youtu.be/UC6YyMSEwvU

THE MILK & HONEY DISTILLERY JOINS THE MAVERICK DRINKS (UK) PORTFOLIO

Israel’s first whisky distillery names award-winning

Maverick Drinks exclusive UK distributor for its unique portfolio

Tel Aviv – March 2019: The Milk & Honey Distillery (M&H Distillery) has named Maverick Drinks as the exclusive UK distributor for its collection of whiskies, gins and herbal liqueurs.

Founded in 2012, The M&H Distillery is the first whisky distillery to open in Israel. Dedicated to genuine artisanal processes and passionate about creating high-quality liquid, The M&H Distillery’s team creates young single malt spirit, Levantine Gin and herbal liqueurs. They will be bringing Israel’s first Single Malt Whisky to the UK market in late 2019.

The M&H Distillery is located in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv which, with a raft of cocktail bars and restaurants opening in recent years, has become a destination for discerning food and drink aficionados.

Due to Tel Aviv’s hot and humid weather, The M&H Distillery’s whisky matures and extracts barrel flavour quickly, giving its young spirit plenty of flavour and characteristics of a whisky aged for much longer in a colder climate. Its current Young Single Malt is matured in three types of cask (bourbon, red wine and Islay) providing intense notes of black cherry and red berry fruits with hints of vanilla, candyfloss and a subtle smokiness.

Also in The M&H Distillery’s core range is its award-winning Levantine Gin, which features local botanicals like Za’atar (hyssop), lemon peel, orange and lemon verbena, and is also available oak aged. The distillery also makes an interesting herbal liqueur called ROOTS filled with delicious regional ingredients such as cardamom, thyme, almonds, coriander and jasmine. The final piece in the puzzle is the New Make, which is the base for all of the M&H Spirits, including the Young Single Malt and the Levantine Gin. All five spirits, alongside The M&H Distillery’s burgeoning range of products, will join the Maverick Drinks portfolio and are available to UK partners now.

Michael Vachon, Maverick’s Head of Brand Development, says; “The M&H Distillery is rightfully taking its place as a leader in the New World whisky category. Israel’s Mediterranean climate, unique among significant whisky producers, coupled with the innovative production methods laid down by the late Dr Jim Swan, an expert on warm weather distilling, mean their spirits have a real depth and maturity to them that is on par with (or better than) many much older whiskies.”

Eitan Attir, CEO of The M&H Distillery said: “The M&H Distillery is very enthusiastic about this future long term partnership with Maverick Drinks, who we believe is the best partner to develop and build the brand. The UK is one of our first markets outside of Israel and we are excited to bring to the country a bit of our Tel Avivian sun and fine spirit.”

The M&H Distillery joins Maverick Drinks’ growing roster of unique international craft spirits brands including Ableforth’s, Balcones, Bluecoat Gin, Brenne, Darkness!, Drinks by the Dram, Empirical Spirits,  FEW Spirits, Kyrö Distillery Company, Mr Lyan, New York Distilling Company, Oslo Distillery,Smooth Ambler, St George Spirits, Teeling, That Boutique-y Gin Company, That Boutique-y Rum Company, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Widow Jane and Wolfburn.

For more information about The M&H distillery, visit mh-distillery.com.

About The Milk & Honey Distillery

Milk & Honey Distillery (M&H), established by entrepreneur and investor Gal Kalkstein, is Israel’s first whisky distillery. The distillery produces high quality distillates and a commission on the first Israeli whisky, the first of which is being aged in casks and will be available at the end of 2019. All raw materials, equipment, casks and processes were selected to ensure that the final product – whether white distillates or aged whisky – meets the highest quality standards and taste. Milk & Honey received guidance and advice from Dr. Jim Swan, a world-renowned master distiller. All the products of the distillery are kosher.

About Maverick Drinks 

Maverick Drinks is on a mission to help its partners reduce their reliance on mainstream brands by introducing them to better quality products that their customers will love. Consumers are increasingly looking for products with provenance, authenticity and craftsmanship and Maverick Drinks is leading the craft spirits movement in the UK, having been awarded IWSC Spirits Distributor of the Year in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Our spirits are made available through our ever-growing network of partners, which include drinks wholesalers, high street outlets, online retailers and many more.

Get ready for an intriguing sensory adventure; challenge your taste buds as we celebrate the extraordinary with this exceptional selection of new single casks.

ANGELS’ TEARS

CASK NO. 7.203

CASK:  2nd fill barrel

AGE:  15 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

WOOED BY HONEYED WORDS

CASK NO:  37.105

CASK:  2nd fill barrel

AGE:  30 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Old & dignified

ELEGANCE OF PERFECTION

CASK NO:  12.10 (first release from distillery 12 for SMWS Canada!)

CASK:  1st fill barrel

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

SUMMER SEASIDE PICNIC

CASK NO:  93.93

CASK:  Refill hogshead

AGE:  16 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Lightly peated

THE CHIMNEY IN A BEEHIVE

CASK NO:  10.119

CASK:  Refill hogshead

AGE:  9 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

‘Ten Wee Drams’

On April 11th, Raasay Distillery will be hosting a live performance of ‘Ten Wee Drams’, a new set of works for solo bass and contrabass clarinet commissioned and performed by celebrated musician Sarah Watts. 

Sarah Watts has been hosting annual clarinet and bass clarinet courses on the Isle of Raasay for ten years. To celebrate this milestone anniversary she commissioned the composition of ten pieces which will be premiered at the Raasay Distillery this April.

Each Wee Dram takes inspiration from past and current culture, heritage, folklore and landscape of Raasay. Nine of the Wee Drams are by Scottish based composers Piers Hellawell, Alasdair Nicolson, Stuart MacRae, Iain Matheson, Oliver Searle, Jane Stanley, Pete Stollery, William Sweeney, and Sarah Watts. The tenth is by emerging composer Adam Lee – winner of the Ten Wee drams student competition.

The concert will take place in the distillery Gathering Room from 2.30pm (doors open at 2pm) with stunning views over to Skye, the afternoon will feature Sarah performing the Ten Wee Drams in a set lasting approximately 45 minutes. This event is free to attend and there will be a licensed bar, tea, coffee, and cakes.

Save the date: 14th April, 6-8pm

We’re delighted to say that we are back in London next week to collect whisky. April 14th, 6-8pm, St Paul’s Hotel Hammersmith. If you would like to attend this whisky rendez-vous please fill out the attendance form by clicking on the picture to the right. Additionally please click on the button below and fill out our ‘Submission Sheet’.

SUBMISSION SHEET

FIND OUT MORE

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1991

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 is the fourth limited-edition release in the Highland Distillery’s celebrated Bond House No.1 collection.

1991 is a significant vintage year for Glenmorangie as this was the year that their whisky creators dedicated themselves to furthering the emerging art of wood finishing. This whisky celebrates their pioneering vision, which still guides Glenmorangie’s expertise in wood today.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Mellow, deep, intense and fruity. Lots of apricots, plum and baked apples, with chocolate, gentle oak, and a hint of truffles and star anise. A splash of water releases deeper notes, reminiscent of hickory-smoked ham and a damp forest floor.

Taste: A slightly peppery mouthfeel leads to a burst of fruity flavours intermingled with lots of milk chocolate, stewed apples, plum and ripe, red fruits such as cherry and raspberry.

Finish: A hint of zesty citrus and finally an intriguing combination of oak, fruit and sweet spices.

£630.00 – Pre-order Now

Orders Dispatched This Week

https://youtu.be/LRNLb749moQ

Pot still whiskies are awesome and for a lot of people, they’re an untapped resource for Irish whisky. Produced by Midleton across a variety of ages and cask styles, Redbreast is THE definitive Pot Still whisky style and I’ll fight anyone who wants to argue it!  The 21 is unbelievable, but, in terms of value, this 15 wins it for me every time. Fruity, bold, spicy and as full of charisma as the lads and ladies who make it are. I really love this product and i can’t sing it’s praises enough. Cheers!

Darren Clarke

Putting extra work in on the range

Loch Lomond Whiskies adds new golfing special editions 

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two new special edition single malts to celebrate the award-winning independent distiller’s second year as The Spirit of The Open.

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019, created in conjunction with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ golf ambassador Colin Montgomerie and Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush 19 Year Old, crafted with former Open Champion Darren Clarke, also a Loch Lomond Whiskies golf brand ambassador, are designed to showcase the worlds of whisky and golf; two of Scotland’s most iconic exports.

The Open Special Edition 2019 encompasses four different spirit styles to deliver the distillery’s distinct fruity character underpinned with a gentle hint of peat and smoke. A complex single malt, it offers a vibrant palette of peach and pear, enhanced using specially selected spirit distilled from wine yeast fermentations. Notes of creamy vanilla oak and maple syrup add an air of sweetness before subtle peat smoke emerges, providing a balanced finish.

Crafted by Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender Michael Henry in partnership with brand ambassador Colin Montgomerie, who has won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019 is presented in a distinctive green golf-inspired box baring  Monty’s signature and is a perfect addition to any whisky collection. A limited edition release, Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2019  is priced at £37, and will be available to purchase worldwide from April 2019.

In honour of the 148^th Open Championship, which is returning to Northern Ireland after a near 70-year absence, Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush has also been created. The 19-year-old single malt was crafted in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ ambassador Darren Clarke, who has won 21 tournaments internationally including the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George’s in England.

To create the edition, Loch Lomond Whiskies Master Blender Michael Henry worked with Clarke to carefully select casks from the distillery’s onsite cooperage that capture the fruit character achieved by Loch Lomond’s innovative straight neck stils.  Matured in American Oak, the liquid was then finished in claret casks as an homage to the famous Open trophy, and as a result has developed a stunning rose colour. It has also help to deliver a beautifully balanced single malt, rich in honey sweetness with tropical fruits coming to the fore.

The release’s rich green packaging, which is signed by Clarke, depicts a map of Royal Portrush Golf Club course in the centre, creating what it is set to be a highly prized collector’s item. Priced at £150, Loch Lomond The Open Course Collection Royal Portrush has an ABV of 50.3% and is available globally from April 2019.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said: “Monty and Darren Clarke are two of the most respected players in European golf, and it’s fantastic to be working with them to raise awareness of Loch Lomond Whiskies around the world. We’re confident our new special releases developed in conjunction with the pair will be a great success among both golf and whisky fans.”

Commenting on the new releases, Clarke said: “The release of my own signature edition single malt marks an incredibly proud summer for me. To be able to tee up alongside the world’s best golfers at a course that I call home is incredibly special. To do it with The Official Spirit of The Open by my side is the stuff that dreams are made of.”

Colin Montgomerie

Fellow legend of the fairways Montgomerie added: “I had the pleasure of meeting fans in the Loch Lomond Whiskies bar at The Open last year, so I know first hand about the passion for whisky that the golfing public has.

“I know the new special editions will prove a huge hit again this year at Royal Portrush and I can’t wait to share a wee dram in July!”

Loch Lomond Whiskies is set to release an additional premium expression this summer which celebrates Colin Montgomerie’s achievements through his 30 year career. One of golf’s most successful players, Montgomerie has claimed more than 50 tournament victories and was the European No. 1 for an unprecedented seven years.

Loch Lomond Whiskies, based in Alexandria, near Loch Lomond, agreed a five-year partnership with The R&A in February 2018.  Known as “The One”, The Open is the most international of the major championships with qualifying events across five continents. The Championship is also broadcast to 600 million households in almost 200 countries around the world.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said: “We are proud to launch two limited editons to mark this year’s Open, which returns to Royal Portrush for the first time in almost 70 years. Each expression harnesses the spirit of our Loch Lomond distillery, conveying a fruity character punctuated with deep, complex flavours and delivering a rich mouth feel.

“Personally, these releases mean a great deal to me. Hailing originally from Northern Ireland, it is highly rewarding to be showcasing Scotch whisky to my home country and to have the opportunity to celebrate Royal Portrush.”

The Loch Lomond special editions will launch for sale in April. For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

The Open Collection

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 2018 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
• GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Scotch

• Loch Lomond Whiskies signed a five-year partnership with The R&A to become The Spirit of The Open in February 2019. The period includes the playing of the landmark 150^th Open in 2021 at St Andrews, the home of golf.
• For further information visit Loch Lomond Whiskies on Twitter: @LochLomondMalts, Instagram: @lochlomondmalts Facebook: Loch Lomond Whiskies and at www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

VIRGIN OAK
Small Batch Release

What started off as an experiment has turned out to be a winner. We are really thrilled with this single malt whisky

This whisky is rich and oily with hints of honey, toffee and chocolate; a taste of chocolate and cloves lingers on the palate?
What is there not to like?

Only 2689 bottles released.
£51.99

Only 2689 bottles released
£51.99

TASTING NOTES    BUY NOW

Friday, April 12th 5-7PM: 

AD Laws Whiskey 

Laws Whiskey House is a fiercely independent Colorado distillery committed to producing the highest quality whiskey using local ingredients. With a ‘no compromise, no shortcuts’ philosophy, each whiskey is 100% produced from grain to glass at their distillery. The results are flavorful, award-winning bottlings, (Their ‘Bottled in Bond Secale Straight Rye received ‘World’s Best Rye’ distinction,) showcasing the character of the grain and distilling processes unique to American whiskey.

More Details & RSVP