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J&B Rare Re-launch

Author: Chadwick Delaney, Managing Director, Justerini & Brooks

1. Where was J&B Rare distributed before it was taken back?

From 1997 until April 2018, J&B Rare was distributed initially by Diageo Great Britain, and then subsequently through a third party. The decision was made to return distribution back to Justerini & Brooks as of 1st May 2018. A move that made perfect sense, given the heritage and association of the brand: Justerini & Brooks being the original creators of J&B Rare back in the 1930s.

2. Was it available in the UK during this time? If so, where?

Between 1997 and April 2018, it was available principally in Grocery and Convenience stores. Bringing the whisky back into the Justerini & Brooks wine and spirits portfolio made perfect sense: we maintain strong ties with both premium on and off trade clients, with the J&B Rare serves now being listed across Drake & Morgan and Darwin & Wallace groups.

3. Why now for its return?

As the creators of one of the world’s most distinctive whisky brands, Justerini & Brooks was delighted to welcome J&B Rare back to the family and introduce the blend to a new generation of whisky drinkers. We believe the timing is perfect: consumers are more and more concerned with provenance, heritage and brand stories. Originally enjoyed by maverick men and women and brought to eminence by the Hollywood rat-pack, J&B Rare has amassed a rich heritage, alongside delivering a quality blend that is enjoyed neat as a cocktail. J&B Rare’s return to Justerini & Brooks marks a pivotal moment in the company’s longstanding association with its house brand and are excited to introduce J&B Rare to a new whisky audience throughout Great Britain in 2018 and beyond.

4. Why Waitrose?

Waitrose and Partners is a company that we are delighted to be working very closely with: they provide the perfect platform to introduce new customers to J&B Rare. We were delighted to be part of the wonderful Waitrose Drinks Festival this year and invite their customers to sample J&B Rare. We had fantastic feedback on the quality of the liquid, especially its versatility and mixability.

5. Any plans to build further off-trade distribution?

Yes! We are very excited about the many, varied opportunities we have in 2019 and beyond to further elevate distribution of the brand in the GB on and off-trade.

J&B RARE SCOTCH WHISKY FACTSHEET

J&B Rare Scotch whisky is a blend of 42 malt and grain whiskies. It is one of the most popular blends in the world, known for its subtle, smooth and complex flavour. Created in the 1930s, its lighter style suited the palates of post-Prohibition America, rising to prominence from its public association with the Hollywood Rat Pack in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Since early 2018, Justerini & Brooks took back the exclusive distribution in Great Britain after 21 years.

Prior to this, J&B was distributed by Diageo via a 3rd party, and only available in the UK market from a small number of grocer and cash & carry’s. The whisky now sits alongside Justerini & Brooks’ existing portfolio of fine wines and rare malts.

Tasting notes:

Fruity and aromatic on the nose with notes of soft apple and pear. Naturally pale in colour with layers of rich vanilla, well balanced with a smooth finish. Matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years, the finer heart malts are aged for longer to add fullness and depth of flavour, creating the unique taste of J&B Rare. Lively and light, New Grain creates a subtle canvas for the blend. New Malts add body and aromatic notes of spice and fresh fruit. These are perfectly balanced by American oak and just a hint of smoke.

RRP: £22.50 (Currently available at £18.50, Waitrose & Partners nationwide until 1 January 2019)
Strength/size: 70cl, 40% vol
Distributer: Justerini & Brooks

Macallan Crabbie 25 Year Old – Limited Release

Spoiler alert! – If it tastes like Macallan, and it looks like Macallan then it must be Macallan!

An absolutely sensational release, 25 year single malt from a ‘mystery’ unnamed Speyside distillery.  An official bottling comes in around £1500 more so there you go! 

The nose is rich and smooth.  Rounded with warm dark fruits and toasty oak.  The palate is unsurprisingly rich and complex with toffee apple, honey, spice, raisins and sweet spice.  The finish is long lasting, fruity and a slight wisp of smoke (wood char).

This is a sublime whisky and an incredibly rare opportunity to own a bottling of this age for this price!

This is Hard To Find Whisky’s investment tip for 2019 – get it while you can

£299.95

The beautiful and flexible Haggis 

THE FANTASTIC HAGGIS NEEPS & TATTIES a true Scottish extravaganza on a plate. I am an expert, having eaten maybe a half ton in my life (guessing here), with more to follow. One of my favourites is Simon Howie haggis  made from traditional recipe by award winning chefs and butchers. Their original 454g Haggis is the UKs best-selling haggis for the second year in a row. (Source: Nielsen Scantrack 52w/e 06/05/17, Volume Sales)  As well as being Scotland’s national dish eaten to celebrate Burns night in January, haggis is hugely versatile and can be enjoyed all year round. Howie is a Perth company.

Health Benefits Of Haggis  Haggis is Scottish and although people are put off by its’ description, if you’ve ever tried it, you’ll know just how amazing it tastes. Haggis is made with sheep heart, lungs, and liver, all minced together with onions, suet, salt, spices, oatmeal, top quality meat and vegetable stocks, as well as a touch of whisky. The ingredients are then packed into the stomach of the animal and are gently boiled. Now, when you read it like that, it may not sound all that pleasant, but when you taste haggis, you instantly understand why it is so popular, as it tastes divine, if you are vegan or vegetarian, you can now buy vegan haggis which replaces the offal with fresh vegetables so anyone can enjoy the taste of haggis – meat or not!  But what makes it healthy? Rich in Vitamins. Haggis contains top quality offal, including heart and liver. Both of which are full of vitamins that do the body a world of good. In particular, haggis is rich in vitamins A, C, B6, B12, Niacin, and vitamin D. These vitamins strengthen the immune system, promote energy production, promote healthy vision, and assist with nutrient uptake from other sources. Rich in Minerals. It is the mineral content that makes haggis so healthy. Offal is notoriously rich in minerals, and the ingredients in this dish do not disappoint. Thanks to the heart, lungs, and liver, haggis is packed full of iron, magnesium, selenium, calcium, zinc, and copper. These minerals contribute towards healthy immunity, they strengthen the bones, they regulate hormone levels, they promote healthy circulation and oxygen transportation, and they can even help lower blood pressure. Great Source of Protein.  Liver and heart, in particular, are both packed full of proteins and amino acids, which promote cellular health and function and assist with the growth and repair of muscle tissue.

Health benefits of tatties Mashed tatties are simply mashed potatoes and they are very healthy. Some primary health benefits include: Great source of energy As potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, they have a very low glycemic index, so insulin levels will not spike following consumption. What will happen, however, is that your muscle glycogen levels will be replenished. Rich in Potassium is another mineral required by the body, that not only helps to reduce lactic acid build ups and muscular fatigue, but it also helps regulate blood pressure. A potato actually provides almost twice as much potassium as a banana. Health benefits of neeps or turnips are a staple food served alongside tatties and haggis. Some of their key health benefits include: rich in antioxidants Turnips are packed full of phytonutrients and antioxidants, including glucosinolate, which inhibits tumour growths, helps rid the body of toxins, strengthens the immune system, and fight the harmful effects of toxins and carcinogens. Great for the heart  – rurnips are rich in folate, a B vitamin which has been found to lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels and promote cardiovascular health in the body. Great for the bones  – turnips are rich in calcium, which is a mineral that is vital for optimal bone health. By combining turnips with haggis, your bones will absorb much more of the calcium from these root vegetables, helping to keep them strong and healthy.

Haggis & whisky crisps (chips to my American family) Mackie’s Crisps are the creation of an award winning family business – Mackie’s at Taypack Ltd. – which was founded in 2009 as a joint venture between Perthshire potato farmers, the Taylor family, and Mackie’s of Scotland, renowned for their luxury ice cream. The Taylor family have been growing potatoes in Perthshire for generations. The Mackie’s have over 20 years’ experience in ice cream from their farm in Aberdeenshire. All crisps are made in Perthshire, a few miles from the Taylor’s family farm, ‘Moncur’. Ingredients – potatoes, high oleic sunflower oil, whisky & haggis seasoning (7%) (sugar, yeast extract powder, spice, yeast powder, barley malt extract, rusk (wheat), natural flavourings, sea salt, onion powder, acid: citric acid, oatmeal powder, natural clove flavouring. Makie’s is a Perth company.

Of course you must use a whisky sauce or better still a few drams of whisky in a glass to down with the above. Whisky sauce is a sauce in Scottish cooking, has become popular globally. It is created by pouring an amount of whisky into a saucepan. It is then set alight, in order to make sure that the sauce is not too bitter. Double cream is added whilst stirring. The heat is then reduced so that the sauce can thicken and finally seasoning such as salt and pepper is added, the documentation of whisky in savoury cooking goes back to at least Victorian times, where its use in meals is documented in Isabella Beeton’s famous cookery book Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management. Due to the Scottish nature of the sauce, recipes including whisky sauce have been popularised as dishes to be eaten on Burns supper along with the traditional main course of Haggis – or any time of year.

Scotland’s national chef Gary Maclean and Simon Howie delicious haggis recipes with a twist. TV’s Masterchef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean’s show-stopping haggis dish took him to the show’s finals, and he’s got a few more tricks up his sleeve for our national dish. Working with Howie, the duo have come up with three exciting recipes to re-invent the Scottish staple, including crispy fried haggis, haggis burgers and haggis Yorkshire puddings. Maclean’s Crispy Fried Haggis, first seen on MasterChef: The Professionals, turns the classic texture of haggis on its head, shallow frying Simon Howie haggis wrapped in a light filo pastry and combining it with a red onion chutney, mashed potatoes and roasted turnip. http://www.thescottishbutcher.com/recipes/haggis-recipes/gary-macleans-crispy-fried-haggis    GARY; Born in Glasgow, this multi-award winning chef has been hailed as a major talent, a gentleman of the kitchen, a world class educator and one who could step into a three Michelin-star kitchen and feel at home. Gary Maclean, husband, father and chef – is one of a kind. He of course is a Maclean, say no more.

PAUL MCLEAN Michelin (tyres) awarded whisky drinker. If you come on any of our Scottish tours, you are likely to come up against the age old problem “do I try haggis or not?” Honestly, the amount of people who tried have agreed it is delicious, similar to a stuffing maybe you put in a turkey. Like whisky and golf, you cannee go far in Scotland without coming in touch with the wee haggis, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deep fried or with chips. It does NOT have a consistent taste as each chef will use his/her own recipe. My advice, try a nibble at breakfast, if you like it, get a larger portion later that day – with a dram.

A personal blether from Paul McLean. www.whiskytours.scot

ralfy.com discovers that a malt from Orkney is also called Highland Park.

https://youtu.be/c7t8vWPHlRQ

Happy Robbie Burns Day! Burns was a man of the people, and I can’t think of a better way of celebrating the birth of Scotland’s favourite son, than by giving the people a deal on John Barleycorn (aka Whisky), Wine, Beer & Other Spirits!

We kicked off our SALE last night with our 3rd Annual Burns Bash. It is actually our 15th or 16th year celebrating the Bard’s birth and all things Scottish. A few years ago we learned we couldn’t host Burns Dinners in collaboration with restaurants or other venues. So instead we invite 100 of our closest whisky friends in to the shop and open just as many bottles. It was a great night had by all!

This weekend is the one some people wait for all year: our Year End Inventory Sale. It is Kensington Wine Market’s biggest sale of the year and there are some massive deals to be had. Of the many thousands of products in-store, less than 100 are not on sale. Almost every whisky in the store is 10-35% off, with the exception of some Scotch Malt Whisky Society whiskies and Membership Kits. Even our KWM 2018 Whisky Advent Calendar is 25% off!

Deals over 15%!

There are huge deals throughout the store. SAVE 15-40% on all in-stock Wine. SAVE 5-25% on all in-stock Beer. SAVE 10-30% on all in-stock Spirits. The details and sale rules can all be found below. All of the whiskies discounted by 15% or more, can be found in the attached document!

Happy Hunting!

Andrew Ferguson

Kensington Wine Market

PS – Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter:

@scotch_guy, Instagram: @thescotch_guy/ , @KensingtonWM

 or @kwmwhisky and Facebook: facebook.com/scotch.guy.1

Thank You for Reading the Malt Messenger! 

Contact & Disclaimers 

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change and don’t include GST. In the case of discrepancies in pricing, the price in our in store point of sale will be taken as correct.

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger

Wishing you all a fantastic Burns Night

We hope you all have a lovely time celebrating this Scottish tradition today and tonight.

We are having a simple dram of our very own Glen Moray 1990 this year.

We hope that your evening is filled with plenty of delicious drams, haggis, poems and laughs.

“Oidhche Bhlas Burns”

Bartels Whisky
4 The Old Glebe
Loughborough, Lec LE12 8LB
United Kingdom

SOUTH AFRICA’S OLDEST SINGLE GRAIN WHISKY LAUNCHED 

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, the proudly South African and internationally award-winning single grain whisky, has launched a limited edition 15-Year-Old Single Grain Whisky exclusive to Big5 Duty Free Cape Town International and OR Tambo International Airports, and The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington.

Only 3600 bottles have been made available with the first bottles sold signed by Founder Distiller, Andy Watts.

Crafted at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, South Africa, the 15-Year-Old is the first of the Founder’s Collection series of whiskies launched, showcasing the exceptional quality of South Africa’s sun-kissed grain whisky.

The 15-Year-Old single grain whisky started its life off as Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and spent an additional 10 years maturing in older American oak to reveal new depths and layers of flavour and smoothness.

Andy says Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is one of his finest whiskies he has ever created and when launched in 2009 he knew then that it would only be the beginning for this whisky.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky was awarded as the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the 2013 and again in 2018 at the World Whiskies Awards held in London along with as a host of gold and double gold medals at all the major international whisky competitions.

It is the only whisky in the world to be made from 100% South African sun-kissed grain, and double matured first for three years in casks previously used for the maturation of bourbon before being re-vatted into a fresh set of ex-bourbon casks for double the extraction of flavour.

“It took me 10 years to perfect Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and it was during this time that I realised that it has the potential to age much further than originally anticipated due to the flavour profile being upfront and complex. But in the world of whisky nothing is immediate or guaranteed and so I went about on an exploration, hoping that my experiment would not disappoint my vision.”

“And my curiosity certainly paid off! I re-vatted the Bain’s into 3rd and 4th fill American Oak and for 10 years regularly tasted the whisky to track its progress. At 15 years, the whisky was at its most optimum. Bottled at a strength of 52.5% Alcohol by Volume, the whisky’s complexity and flavour driven profile shines through.”

Dark amber in colour, soft floral notes intertwining with spice, tropical fruits, banana and teak aromas open-up on the nose. Sweet butterscotch, raisins and banana loaf flavours coats the mouth with a complex, smooth and delicately lingering taste. The finish is warm and spicy with an incredibly smooth and silky mouthfeel.

This first in the Founder’s Collection series pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain who built the Bain’s Kloof Pass, one of his most spectacular mountain passes constructed across South Africa.  Completed in 1853, the pass winds through the Limietberg Nature Reserve with sharp hairpin bends and to this day remains one of the most picturesque routes in the Cape.

The tribute to Bain will continue over the next few years when the Founder’s Collection will see a number of limited release single grain whiskies launched, featuring the magnificent passes he built.

The whisky will retail for R950 at Big Five Duty Free until stocks last. The whisky will also be available for R1000 at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington only when visiting the distillery as part of the pre-booked tasting and tour (to book a tour and tasting visit www.webtickets.co.za).

Social media: @BainsWhisky #BainsMoments

Singular Peated Expressions from Two Great Highland Distilleries

We are constantly on the hunt for great peated whisky. It’s easy to fall into the trap of tunnel vision in that quest and focus only on the famed Isle of Islay. While it’s true that the world’s most famous peaters come from Islay, the fact is some Highland distilleries have held onto the old way of doing things. There are a select few distilleries in the Highlands that are making spectacular peated drams. Ardmore and Loch Lomond are two of these “off-the-peaten” path gems. One young, and one old, both Loch Lomond’s Croftengea and Ardmore’s 21-year-old expression show the uniqueness of non-island peat. Each of these whiskies lacks the brine associated with the island, but delivers the pure and clean smoke, rich texture, and fruity components of the Highlands—all in one package.

It’s only January, but we may be offering the two most compelling peated whiskies we will see in 2019 right now.

Croftengea is a true rarity. While most rarities in the whisky world come with a hefty price tag, the obscurity of Loch Lomond means it has remained a hidden gem. Somewhat reclusive, this eponymously named distillery on the lake has always been self-sufficient. They are unique in that they produce every component of their blended whisky in house, be it grain whisky, or many different malts at varying peat levels. At one time, each of these malt components has been bottled on its own, but now, they are impossible to find. We dug up a single cask of Loch Lomond’s most heavily peated whisky, which goes by the name Croftengea. At its young, yet respectable age of twelve, and at full cask strength, the bright smoke of a raging fire jumps out. It plays perfectly with the bright fruits and oily texture of the malt to make for what is undoubtedly one of the best deals in peated whisky available anywhere in the world.

For every bit as amazing as the Croftengea find is, aged Ardmore, like the bottling featured here, is practically unheard of. The current lineup of official distillery bottles doesn’t go past 12 years old. An aged 25-year-old bottling can still be found, but will easily run you several hundred dollars. To be able to offer this 21 year old cask of heavily peated malt for under a hundred bucks is an absolute dream. The intensity of the peat smoke has faded into a rich and heady collection dry wood fire, honeyed fruit, and silky smooth vanilla notes.

2006 Croftengea 12 Year Old “Hepburn’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($59.99)

This oddball little malt is the first Croftengea (pronounced “Croft-N-Gay”) we’ve ever seen. The heavily peated malt from the reclusive Loch Lomand distillery is easily the best thing they make. A stupendous Highland peater that definitely has some of the more woodsy earthy smoke as well as hints of briny kippers and sea spray. A gorgeous pointed citrus quality and warming fresh bread note round out this powerful yet elegant peater and solidifies it as one of the most affordable and interesting malts we’ve ever sold this year. Similar bottles from other independents are selling for more than twice this price due to the quality and rarity. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more from this part of Loch Lomond’s oddball line up.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 14, 2018

This gorgeous little peater is more proof the preconception in malt whisky does a disservice to all involved. Personally, I have a terrible image of the Loch Lomond distillery. Mostly that’s because the distillery bottlings are somewhat underwhelming, but also because some of the single casks we’ve come across have been down right unpleasant. So when I saw this peated version I was not expecting much. How goddamned wrong I was! This is Highland peat in its most pure form. Here the smoke has developed in a completely different way from its Islay cousins. On the nose powerful smoke ham and delicate stone fruit. There’s still a subtle salinity—oyster brine poured over roasted apricots. Some herring being smoked in the distance. On the palate it’s absolutely pristine. Fresh clean soil, smoldering clean coal briquettes, mirabelle. This is peated whisky that will satisfy even the most sensitive palate, but still interest a real Islay lover. Altogether a somewhat Bowmore-y Highlander that is making me very, very happy.

William Beare | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 26, 2018

“Peat and roses!” It works as a description or an exclamation, and either would apply here. This is a surprisingly complex peated scotch right from the get-go. I always taste whiskey out of a wine glass so as not to leave any notes left behind—but this can be tough with high-proof peaters that breathe fire through the sinuses. With this beauty, the sting fades away after the first few breaths. It smells like a handful of smoky earth and fragrant flower petal. The taste is rich and full, without any overwhelmingly medicinal qualities (hard to find in a well-priced peated scotch). Instead, there are big savory doses of chipotle pepper and candied almonds hiding in the wings of each sip.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 26, 2018

Luscious vanilla from the start blends into cocoa and dried hot peppers. I’m picking up some dried/candied fruits and salted toffee, with just a little oily peat peeking through on the nose. Then whoa, I was not expecting that much peat on the palate. The spicy peppers blend with some tasty tarry smoke, dark leather, earth, and brine. The scotch gets chewy as I roll it around my tongue, and the flavors stay with me a long time. This is what I’m going to sip on while I decorate my house in the coming dark and chilly evenings.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 16, 2018

This cask is a wonderful addition to the single malt selection at K&L. On the nose there are nice light smoke aromas . In the mouth smoke notes and malt flavors blend well in a the light-bodied single malt. There is a pleasant sweet finish. This is one that is going to be easy to drink and enjoy, offering something that is different and tasty.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2018

In the world of whisky “rare” is generally synonymous with “expensive.” This doesn’t have to always been the case, sometimes you just need someone like K&L to dig up a rarity ,so obscure that the market hasn’t quite figured out what it should cost yet. Loch Lomond is an enormous distillery at the foot of its namesake lake which has the capacity to produce an entire range of spirits, 11 different makes in total. While nearly everything they make has been on the market at one time or another as an official bottling, they really mostly exist in the “behind the curtain” independent bottling and blending world. Croftengea is the most heavily peated malt they produce at Loch Lomond, and one of the most compelling. Its peat is that of pure smoke, not the sea brine associated with Islay, the spiritual home of peated malt. The fruitiness of the malt comes through in a big way, it showcases citrus, sweet pear, and ripe stone fruits that all play beautifully with the smoke of a roaring fireplace. It’s so bright that I’m tempted to call it a refreshing malt, but the idea of a refreshing smoky malt does seem odd. In tasting it I’m inclined to think it would make the perfect smoky highball. However you decide to drink it, if you like peaty whisky, you’re sure to enjoy this rarely seen brand. At the absurdly low price, you’ll be able to enjoy it now and often.

1996 Ardmore 21 Year Old “Old Malt Cask” K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

Usually when we’re offered old peated malt, it comes with some expected sticker shock. We’ve had great opportunities in previously offering some older peated stocks, in particular from Old Particular via the Bowmore Distillery. And while those whiskies are relatively affordable compared to other Islays on the market, they are by no means overtly undervalued. They’re fairly priced, but still a stark premium above a regular Highlander. Right now, if we want to buy 12-year-old Laphroaig in a private barrel we’re paying upwards of £100 a bottle before importation costs. But a little distillery in the Highlands has been cranking out top-notch peated malt for decades without many people taking any notice. Partly that’s because the distillery doesn’t do much marketing, always in the shadow of the big Islays in the portfolio, namely Laphroaigh. And of course the Highland peaters have their own character and it’s especially rare to see an old one like this, some might brush this cask off because of their experience with the younger distillery bottlings. How wrong you would be to ignore stunning example. The complexity achieved here is absolutely astonishing. Sadly countless people will nonetheless skip over our poor little Ardmore due to some preconceived notions or expectations. For those who have a bit of faith and don’t want to overspend for Islay wonders, you may have found your whisky of the year. Few bottlings will deliver more pleasure for less than this buoyent little bounty.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 20, 2018

So my business acumen was challenged with this one. I really believed that we could have easily sold it for upwards of $130+ considering how few old peaters we get and the quality of this excellent cask, but when we saw the prices I just about lost my mind. Do I take advantage of the situation and make a bit of extra coin or just put our normal mark up on this one and let it fly? Ownership probably doesn’t need to know that we could have easily made an extra $50 a bottle here and still had hundreds of happy customers, but I just couldn’t bring myself to charge more. So now we’ve got one of the best values we’ll ever see in peated malt and while it’s not the big intense Islay that the Caol Ilas are, it offers depth and complexity way beyond the price point. The peat after two decades turns into a heady bouquet of smoked orange peel, granny smith apples, salted honey candy, and exotic vanilla bean. On the palate, deep dry peat smoke (not acrid at all) that’s warming and absolutely balanced. It reminds me of a cleaner Springbank. Shimmering and still with tons of freshness, the peat adds nuance, but is not the centerpiece. Instead, more sweet citrus, earthy malt, deep spice. Absolute balance is the key here. This might be the best value of the year.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 13, 2018

A slamming selection of 20+ year old malts this year offer incredible value. The Ardmore fits right in. The gentle wood smoke-like peat of Ardmore has melted into the background with the age of this cask. Golden fruit, golden grain, and golden color is the name of the game here. The beautiful fruity malt of Ardmore’s long and clean fermentations rides high above the peat that has softened incredibly with age. At the time this cask was distilled, Ardmore still coal fired their stills. This process, while extremely dangerous, does seem to yield a more rich and complex flavor due to hotspots on the still. It’s so important in fact, that Ardmore build specially kinked steam coils to replicate these hot spots when they moved to the safer method of heating the stills. This is a rare chance to grab a glass of whiskey history, as only a tiny handful of distilleries still direct fire.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 26, 2018

A very delicious single malt. The nose is complex with delicate smoke dominating aromas. In the mouth it is soft, round, and light to medium bodied. A nice kiss of sweetness helps add complexity. A steal at this price.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 26, 2018

So. Much. Honey! Coming along with the beehive are notes of stone fruits and melted butter, like in a freshly baked pie. Those familiar with Ardmore are used to a bit of peat in this old-school Highland malt; there’s a little less smoke on this cask than with the standard bottling, but still enough to please long-time fans of the dram. The palate is good and salty, leathery, and dusted with white pepper. The medium-long finish is very drying and earthy.

GlenDronach 26 Year Old – 1992 | AW 10th Anniversary Exclusive

We’re finishing our 10th anniversary journey back where we began, with this stunning single cask GlenDronach. We want to wrap up a year of phenomenal releases with something exceptional and this dram certainly ticks that box. Those familiar with our previous GlenDronach releases know the style that we adore so much from these big hitting sherry bombs, this 92 vintage certainly holds up to those values!

Pre-order now available…

PRE-ORDER NOW

Abbey Whisky Ltd
6 Sorley’s Brae
Dollar, FK14 7AS
United Kingdom