The Whisky Show 2018 – a preview

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is almost upon us! It’s our tenth show this year and we’re celebrating in style – we’ve got more whisky than ever before, bigger masterclasses, excellent show bottlings and even a guest spirit…

The Whisky

We’re still building the complete dram list (expect it on the Wednesday before the show, like every year – please stop asking me…) but we’ve broken the 650 mark and are still chasing up the final few bottles.

So far on the list we have whisky from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, France, Sweden, Denmark, India, Japan, Australia, Canada, USA, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Israel and the Netherlands.

Dream Drams

The Dream Drams are back: some of the world’s rarest and seldom-tasted whiskies, all open and ready to try. We’ll be updating the final list until the start of the show – as the distillers find dusty bottles hiding at the back of cupboards and at the bottom of spreadsheets – but you can find the current line-up over on the show website.

A few of the old and rare bottlings from last year

Like every year, make sure you get your Dream Drams in early – there isn’t much of any of these whiskies and they do run out. Grab any extra tokens you want early and make a beeline for your first choices.

Current highlights for me include Douglas Laing’s 50yo ‘Speyside’s Finest’ (it’s almost certainly a Glenfarclas), Springbank 32yo and the Rosebank Jealousy release, which I’ll be pouring on the Show Bottlings stand up on the mezzanine.

And if that’s not enough for you…

The Masterclasses

Every year we up the game when it comes to masterclasses and this year is no different. The Port Ellen Special Releases class (tasting the ninth through sixteenth editions with Georgie Crawford, former Lagavulin manager and now manager of the project to rebuild Port Ellen) and our ‘six of the best show bottlings’ classes are sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for the others.

They run the gamut from a beginners tasting hosted by me, to a Signatory Vintage 30th Anniversary tasting hosted by Edradour and Signatory owner Andrew Symington, who started working in the whisky world before I was born. There’s food pairing, geeky examinations of casks, history lessons, bourbon, new whisky makers, whisky heroes, and even a rum vs whisky battle featuring Luca Gargano and Whisky Exchange boss Sukhinder Singh. On top of all that, we’ve got cigar-pairing classes running through the day, matching up three different whiskies with the different stages of smoking a cigar. Truly something for everyone.

The complete list of classes is up on The Whisky Show website.

The Main Stage

Along with the masterclasses, we have a full program of short talks and demos through the weekend. Meet the distillers, hear what’s coming next, get geeky and try some great drams.

There are more seats this year, but definitely get there early to secure your spot

They’re all free to attend, but make sure you get there early – seats fill up quickly. You can find the complete schedule up on the show website.

The Future of Whisky – Fever-Tree and Scotchwhisky.com

This year’s overarching theme is ‘the future of whisky’ and we’ve asked soft drinks expert Fever-Tree and whisky magazine Scotchwhisky.com to each create a room that shows what they think is coming next. As you might expect, they’ve come up with very different ideas…

Head into the Fever-Tree Perfect Pairings bar to try a range of highballs. Whisky is commonly mixed around the world, but drinkers are realising there’s more to it than taking a random dram and splashing in soda or Coke. Fever-Tree have pulled together a collection of great pairings and they’ll be serving them up for you to try.

Scotchwhisky.com have created the Future Trends Lab, a curated room of experimental ideas from packaging to production to drinking, bringing together drinks experts from across the industry. Step into the unknown in the sensory transportation room, leap into European rye spirit, explore non-alcoholic whisky and discover botanical spirits that combine the past with the future of drinking. There’s quite a lot to see…

The Show Bottlings

While there’s loads more to see at the show (including lunch, whisky and food pairings, coffee, book signings, photo competitions and more), make sure you come and see me on the show bottlings stand. I’ve got a stack of great whiskies to pour, from very special bottles that are being to launched at the show to new Whisky Exchange exclusives and a couple of secret treats.

If you recognise this whisky, then definitely come to the show bottlings stand…

Full details will be released soon, but for now all I can say is that the show bottlings are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, and that if you like fruity Irish whiskey, you need to pop by.

Tickets

While Saturday is sold out, there are still Sunday tickets and a few weekend passes available. You can get them and find out loads more information at The Whisky Show website.

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show takes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September at Old Billingsgate in London. It is going to be excellent.

We just love boasting about our 0% commission for sellers with SWA. We know ‘mother’ always says don’t boast, but when it is this good, it’s hard not to.

Did you know we travel the length of the country collecting whisky from our greatly valued clients? Once a month we visit Inverness, Elgin, Aberdeen, London and Manchester, offering drop-off points for sellers. Not only do we visit mainland locations we also visit Orkney and Islay a few times a year. To sign up for the monthly reminders for each location please click on the map above.

FIND OUT MORE

Our mailing address is:
mail@scotchwhiskyauctions.com

New Arrivals on our  

Whisk(e)y wall.

As the rain pours down here in NYC – we remembered that our favorite thing about water is how it can expand the nuances of whisk(e)y. Then when we realized it has been awhile since we told you about some new arrivals. So – Happy reading and hopefully…ordering:)

Please contact us with any questions you might have.

Note – We will be closed Wednesday, September 19th in observance of Yom Kippur.

Cheers!
Jonathan, Marlon & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212-685-2442
jonathan@parkaveliquor.com

whiskyconn@gmail.com
eric@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com

Glenrothes ~ ‘Whisky Maker’s Cut’

Matured only in first fill sherry seasoned oak casks, and bottled at natural color at a strength selected by our Master Whisky Maker. Creamy vanilla, orange peel and nutmeg character.

Aroma: Resinous, candied peel and fresh oak notes.
Taste: Rich, spicy, creamy vanilla and orange peel.
Finish: Long, fruity, orange peel notes with a hint of nutmeg.

PRICE: $88/btl

’08 Ardmore by Mossburn: No. 6

“This is a 9 year old Ardmore single malt, independently bottled by Mossburn, owners of the Torabhaig distillery on the Isle of Skye (its own whisky is waiting to come of age, in case you were wondering).”

Nose: Freshly baked pretzels, cedar, dry smoke.
Palate: Lemon drizzle cake, milky coffee, earthy peat and peppercorn.
Finish: Waves of vanilla and a floral, oak smoke.”

PRICE: $71

Pinhook 2018 Bourbon release

Each fall, Pinhook releases a new bourbon connected to a promising young thoroughbred horse. The whiskey in each release is the best expression of their barrels at that moment in time. They blend and proof each release to be as unique as the horse on the label. The result is an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon that become instant collectibles. While it is impossible to know if the horse on the bottle will go all the way to the Kentucky Derby, there is no gamble on the quality of what’s inside. “Bourbon Country” is the 8th release. It’s been aged more than 3 years at Castle and Key Distillery in Millville, KY . Notes: A vibrant burst of ripe pear and baked apricot up front seamlessly give way to toffee, dates, and vanilla bean. A lingering and lifting finish of cinnamon, cedar, and peppercorn round out this complex, and exceptionally balanced expression.

PRICE: $55/btl

Boone County Distilling Co. 12 Year Old

“Boone County, once the largest producer of bourbon in Kentucky, has resurrected local distilling under the name Boone County Distilling Company and the launch of “Eighteen 33″- a 12 year-old straight bourbon whiskey. It has been profiled as rich and full bodied in the mouth with an almost everlasting finish, notes of aged oak, vanilla, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon.”

PRICE: $75

Corsair Ryemageddon

Corsair Ryemageddon American Rye Whiskey is distilled from a mash of 80% malted rye grains and 20% chocolate rye grains. After the grains have been harvested by local farmers, they are mashed and fermented before being twice distilled, first through an antique wash still and then again through a 240-gallon copper-pot still. It has an aroma of milk chocolate and peanut butter, along with notes of fresh rye toast, baking spices and buttered bread on the palate. The flavors lead gently to a warming finish with a touch of fruit, butter and vanilla.

PRICE: $53/btl

Matsui Whisky by Matsui-Shuzo The Kurayoshi 1910 Sherry Cask

Matsui Shuzo is known in Japan as both a sake brewery and shochu distillery. While the juice in Kurayoshi is 100% malted barley, the spirits themselves have been sourced from distilleries around Scotland before making their journey to Japan, where they are blended with Japanese-distilled malted barley then aged (3-18 years).

Nose: Walnuts and chocolate peanuts, with a touch of cranberry.
Palate: Sultana and honeyed bread, with a lingering touch of ground ginger.
Finish: Crunchy brown sugar, stewed pears and blueberries.

PRICE: $82

Due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. We are not responsible for any typographical errors or the New York Giants ‘revamped’ Offensive Line. Please contact the store with any questions.

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop | 212-685-2442 | 212-689-6247 | parkaveliquor.com

ralfy.com buys blended scotch for a change with ralfy review 744 – Hankey Bannister 12yo Blended Scotch @ 40%vol:

THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY BRING GLOBAL MEMBERS TOGETHER WITH VIRTUAL TASTING

Members of the iconic whisky club will sample the same five drams from the Society’s flavour spectrum

In celebration of its 35th anniversary, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) will be bringing their spiritual home in Edinburgh, The Vaults, to members across the world through a unique virtual tasting.

The tasting will be streamed live on the SMWS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk) at 7pm (UK time) Monday 24^th September with members invited to join in the tasting of five special drams from across the Society’s flavour spectrum. To get involved, visit http://bit.ly/2MHPrOF 

Join in the live tasting from around the world

Limited edition five-dram Discovery Packs are available to members for £35 to ensure that everyone taking part, regardless of where they are in the world, will taste the same hand-selected drams during the live tasting hosted by Master Brand Ambassador John McCheyne.

SMWS are also offering these Discovery Packs as part of an exclusive membership offer, which includes the five-dram 35^th Anniversary pack and Society membership, for £89 here: http://bit.ly/2MHRZMq

This is the first time that the SMWS will be hosting a tasting event that will encompass all of its global members, therefore creating a rare opportunity for like-minded enthusiasts worldwide to have a shared whisky experience and interact directly.

SMWS Master Brand Ambassador, John McCheyne, said: “It’s not often we get the opportunity to bring our global members together, so we’re really looking forward to having this experience and celebrating the last 35 years.

“Creating a community of whisky lovers was something that the Society was founded on and we continue to pride ourselves on that. This virtual tasting is a fantastic opportunity to see the scale which that community has grown over the years.”

Experience the event in person

There is the opportunity to experience this historic moment first hand, by attending the tasting live at The Vaults in Edinburgh. The price of the event ticket includes the five-dram Discovery Pack.

The tasting will also be streamed simultaneously to the Society’s Queen Street and Greville Street Member’s Rooms in Edinburgh and London respectively, giving people the opportunity to enjoy this historic experience in the company of fellow members. For more information on screenings of the event see here: http://bit.ly/2MCnG9T

Separate tastings will take place to allow to different time zones and will be screened to members in other countries, including Australia.

Members taking part in the virtual tastings are encouraged to join the conversation and share their experience of the event using #SMWSat35. 

35^th Anniversary Virtual Tasting Discovery Pack includes;

29.249 Sweet black tea in the surgery • Heavily Peated • 2nd fill ex-PX hogshead • 21 years

35.214 Without pretence • Sweet, Fruity & Mellow • 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel • 22 years

63.49 In the dark of the abyss • Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits • Refill ex-oloroso butt • 11 years

93.94 The final trawl • Oily & Coastal • Refill ex-bourbon barrel • 15 years

135.6 Cones vs crones • Spicy & Dry • 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogshead • 10 years

For more information on membership including a special offer on membership and the 35^th Anniversary Discovery Pack, visit https://www.smws.com/whisky-club-membership

Twitter: @SMWSUK  

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club that bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society only ever bottles single casks – each cask is unique, making every Society bottling a limited edition
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 135 distilleries in its history
• The Society releases a new batch of around 30 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar and Shop has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership’s packages which can be tailored. Please see https://goo.gl/vX5yQA
• For more information about the Society, visit https://goo.gl/vX5yQA

CHIVAS WELCOMES TOP BARTENDER, RHYS WILSON, TO THE TEAM

From Chivas Masters UK champion to Global Brand Ambassador 

September 13^th 2018 – Bartender, whisky aficionado, and UK winner of the 2017 Chivas Masters Cocktail Competition, Rhys Wilson, has joined Chivas as Global Brand Ambassador. Rhys steps in to a leading role where he will share his passion for Scotch whisky on the global stage and bring to life Chivas’ belief that blended is better, in life and in Scotch.

Rhys brings an incredible blend of industry knowledge, experience and success to the role. Formerly General Manager at London’s Happiness Forgets, winner of Best International Cocktail Bar at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, Rhys will be drawing on his 10 years of industry experience to deliver captivating experiences and tantalising serves for Chivas.

Speaking for the first time as the new Chivas Global Brand Ambassador, Rhys comments: “Taking part in the Chivas Masters was a huge turning point in my career, helping me learn a lot about myself, Scotch whisky and the path towards achieving success as a team. Perhaps most importantly though, it gave me the opportunity to become part of the Chivas family and really be inspired by the brand and its values. I’m honoured to now have the opportunity to help bring these values to life and work with the Chivas community around the world.”

Richard Black, Global Marketing Director for Chivas, adds: “We are delighted to welcome Rhys to the team as we have witnessed his charisma and dedication to the brand through his involvement with the Chivas Masters and believe he will bring a fresh new perspective to the role. We’re looking forward to working closely with him as he helps to strengthen our relationships with the bartending community and showcase our award-winning portfolio as we move from strength to strength globally.”

Notes

About Chivas

Chivas believes that blended is better, in life and in Scotch. The original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art of blending in 19th century Scotland. Since then, Chivas has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide – by bringing together the best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary.

Chivas believes in the power of blending in life, as well as in Scotch. In bringing people together to create a greater whole – which is why Chivas is proud to be the global spirits partner of Manchester United, the world’s biggest football club; and in blending ambition with generosity and using success to enrich the lives of others – which is why the Chivas Venture supports social startups with $1m in annual funding.

Chivas blends its home in Speyside, Scotland, with more than 100 countries across the globe, who together have made Chivas the global success it is today, selling more than 4.2 million 9L cases every year. The Chivas range blends timeless classics with modern innovation, including: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas XV, Chivas Mizunara, Chivas 18, Chivas Ultis, Chivas 25, Chivas Regal The Icon, and the Global Travel Retail exclusive Chivas Brothers Blend.

Chivas. Success is a blend. www.Chivas.com

Four Roses K&L Exclusive OESF (9 Years Old, 4 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View

Old Potrero “K&L Exclusive Barrel #3” Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $99.99 View

Old Potrero “K&L Exclusive Barrel #9” Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $99.99 View

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ABERFELDY 25 YEAR OLD 1993 CONNOISSEURS CHOICE

$545.78

ABV: 58.8%, AGE: 25 Year Old, VINTAGE: 1993, CASK TYPE: First fill Sherry puncheon, BOTTLER: Gordon & MacPhail, REGION: Highland

Aberfeldy 25 Year Old 1993 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask First fill Sherry puncheon bottled June 2018 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 444 bottles. Brothers John and Tommy Dewar established Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896 and commenced distilling there two years later in order to guarantee a supply of quality Scottish malt whiskey for their John Dewar & Sons range of blended scotch. Aberfeldy is a Highland malt whisky distillery situated in the heart of the Perthshire countryside and these days produces malt whiskey for its Aberlour 12 Year to Aberlour 21 Year Old range of single malts. This Highland malt whisky distiller’s four copper stills produce both un-peated and mildly peated whiskey. Aberfeldy’s old malt barns house Dewar’s World of Whiskey visitor centre.

https://youtu.be/SbukBruX9L4

NEW OLD PULTENEY! The Huddart, in some ways, a classic example of the OP brand, in some ways, not. It has character elements of the 12, it’s layered with vanilla, salt and a nice dollop of lemon/natural yogurt smells. The place where it changes up is the use of finishing the whisky in a peated cask. A cask from a distillery that has held peated spirit. Using this opens up different and new elements of OP that may have been missing over the last few years. Cheers!

BOWMORE® ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY RELEASES BOWMORE® 27 YEAR OLD PORT CASK — THE THIRD AND FINAL RELEASE OF THE BOWMORE® VINTNER’S TRILOGY 

Crafted in One of the World’s Oldest Scotch Maturation Houses, The Full, Collectible Trilogy of Luxury Whiskies is Now Available in the U.S. 

Islay, Scotland (September 11, 2018) – Bowmore, the oldest licensed distillery established in 1779 on Scotland’s isle of Islay, has released Bowmore® 27 Year Old Port Cask, the third and final expression in the Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintner’s Trilogy. Available as of September 2018, the 27 Year Old Port Cask joins Bowmore® 18 Year Old Double Matured Manzanilla and Bowmore® 26 Year Old Wine Matured, both released in November 2017. The now-complete Trilogy was created and matured in the distillery’s famed No.1 Vaults, one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation houses, imbuing the brand’s signature flavor with attributes of the finest ex-wine, ex-sherry and ex-port casks.

The Bowmore Vintner’s Trilogy is the result of generations of distilling expertise and the unique, sea-buffeted atmosphere of the No.1 Vaults. The whiskies within the Trilogy have been meticulously aged in manzanilla sherry, port, wine and bourbon barrels, imparting complex layers of flavor to the signature smoky Bowmore profile to produce this range of premium, collectable whiskies.

“We are thrilled to release Bowmore 27 Year Old Port Cask to complete the Bowmore Vintner’s Trilogy,” says Kale Schnettler, Director Super Premium Whiskey at Beam Suntory. “Steeped in nearly 240 years of heritage, coupled with our No. 1 Vaults aging warehouse has made this brand one of the world’s most coveted Scotch whiskies. This Vintner’s Trilogy exemplifies the expertise of our distiller and blender to produce three distinctly different, wine-matured whiskies meant to be sipped, savored and certainly collected.” 

THE HIDDEN GEMS OF BOWMORE’S VINTNER’S TRILOGY: 

BOWMORE 27 YEAR OLD PORT CASK

Released this September 2018 in the U.S., this exceptional limited-edition Scotch whisky is double matured, first for 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels, then for 14 years in port pipes, resulting in a deep mahogany coloring with flavors of sultanas, sugarplums and salted caramel added to Bowmore’s signature sweet and salty notes with a touch of smoke. To preserve the full flavor, this expression is non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength (48.3% ABV) for a suggested retail price of $520.00.

TASTING NOTES: On the nose, peaty and medicinal with a strong toffee, herbal and spicy character followed by heather and a hint of rosemary and old Port wine notes are complemented by raspberry coulis and red berries. The finish develops into earthy carbolic notes, with salted dates, dried herbs, sweet tobacco, sweet dried cranberries and a touch of white pepper.  

BOWMORE 26 YEAR OLD WINE MATURED

Available as of November 2017, Bowmore 26 Year Old Wine Matured spent its first 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels before a second maturation of 13 years in wine barriques, which gives the whisky a burnt amber coloring. In this expression, the brand’s signature earthy smoke mixes with redcurrant jam, camphor oil and cherry pie. This full-bodied whisky finishes with a hint of salt, resulting from the influence of Bowmore’s maturation warehouse being one of the only, in the world, that is below sea level. This expression is bottled at cask strength (48.7% ABV) and available for a suggested retail price of $540.00.

Tasting notes: On the nose you find spiced oak, papaya and mango and a honeyed sweetness. On the palate, the flavors develop into oak spiced smoke and rich dark chocolate with a long finish.

BOWMORE 18 YEAR OLD DOUBLE MATURED MANZANILLA

Also released in November 2017, Bowmore 18 Year Old is first matured in ex-bourbon barrels and then goes through a second maturation in ex-manzanilla sherry barrels. The sherry aging imparts an antique, gold coloring, while providing layers of fruity blackcurrants, spicy citrus and vanilla fudge to Bowmore’s legendary peat smoke. This expression is bottled at cask strength (52.5% ABV) and available for a suggested retail price of $127.00.

Tasting notes: On the nose, treacle, salted caramel, ripe blackcurrants, soft stone fruits, spiced Seville oranges with subtle hints of menthol and chamomile. On the palate, bitter oranges and a burst of smoke. 

ABOUT BOWMORE®

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest licensed distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; the malt is carefully smoked in a peat-fired kiln, using skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore adheres to traditional production methods which helps to shape the character of its single malts. Today, it prides itself as one of the rare distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its peaty overtones, the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults, one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouses, is where some of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault’s sea-facing wall. They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon and sherry, gradually developing rich and mellow flavors. It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

Bowmore domestic product range: Bowmore 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old.

www.bowmore.com; Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: BOWMORE 

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.