BLACK FEATHER WHISKEY WINS DOUBLE GOLD AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION AND DOUBLES DOWN ON DIGITAL EXPERIENCE 

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Black Feather Whiskey has been awarded the rare Double Gold distinction at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). Known amongst industry insiders as the ‘Grammys of the spirits world,’ SFWSC is one of the world’s most respected spirits competitions due to its sterling ethics, procedural transparency and esteemed panel of judges.

Black Feather joins an elite group of brands that have won Double Gold in the history of the competition in the small-batch bourbon aged under five years category. With nearly 2,500 spirits submitted, Black Feather Whiskey stood out to the competition’s all-star panel of judges, who – after a rigorous four days of entry rounds, without receiving any information on the products they taste through, followed by the medal round – all furnished the American bourbon with a gold rating in a double-blind taste test.

Black Feather Whiskey was created to be accessible – a premium, but not precious, go-to American bourbon to be enjoyed by all levels of whiskey drinkers, whether poured neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. A true whiskey workhorse, Black Feather starts big with an 86-proof kick, followed by an easy going finish. Its founders and investors include three media and entertainment platform builders, Jeremy Rawle and Travis Pastrana from the Nitro Circus franchise; and advisor/investor Rob Dyrdek, known for shows in which he has both starred and produced.

In addition to its smooth-drinking whiskey, Black Feather has become known for its many creative endeavors, the most recent of which is a new app that brings the brand’s illustrated crow, Odin, to life, sharing with fans the latest news about the brand, such as its strong showing at SFWSC. Through the app, now available for download from Google Play and the Apple App Store, users can interact with an animated Odin by pointing their smartphone at a bottle of Black Feather.

“The new app provides us with a mechanism for which to share with our fans the personality of our unofficial mascot, Odin, and to get the word out about our Double Gold distinction, all while having a little fun with our brand,” said Jeremy Rawle, CEO, Black Feather Whiskey. “Inspired by the hard-working artists, craftsmen, creators, doers and tradesmen, who like their lives driven by the creative fires that stoke within, its important for us to tell their stories. We’ll continue to develop content that will live on channels such as our app that share and honor those whose path in life is driven by living what they love.”

ABOUT BLACK FEATHER WHISKEY

Founded in 2016, Black Feather Whiskey is a true American product with handpicked allotments from Indiana, bottling in Houston, Texas, and headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Black Feather Whiskey is currently available in Texas, Utah, Colorado and California—and plans to open Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida in the coming months, with Illinois and Canada to follow. The average retail price is $30.00 for a 750ml bottle.

For more information on upcoming events, news and content releases and to join the #Featherhood, please visit blackfeatherwhiskey.com or stay connected on Facebook: facebook.com/blackfeatherwhiskey, Twitter: @bfwhiskey and Instagram: @blackfeatherwhiskey.

Monday 2nd July 2018 marked the re-launch of GlenAllachie Distillery. Many of you may never have heard of this distillery. But today has been a highly anticipated day. Highly anticipated whisky too. Ever since news broke last year that Billy Walker headed up a team to purchase the lesser known GlenAllachie Distillery, whisky fans have been waiting. Specifically, fans who followed Billy and his remarkable success with GlenDronach Distillery. We have been looking forward to this too. GlenAllachie has echoes of The Whisky Barrel, being an independent Scottish owned and run business. There is a strong familial feel to the setup too. We now have our hands on the full new range of GlenAllachie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. All available now at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

Unsurprisingly, Billy and his team are going with a formula that proved very successful at his previous haunt. Sherry cask matured, strong age statements and 46% or more.  So now is the chance to get hold of brand new Whisky. The time has come to revive a once understated and overlooked blending whisky. The time has come to explore GlenAllachie Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch #1 57.1%

At 57.1% ABV The GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch #1 is a limited release of 2,000 cases. Matured American Oak, Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and Virgin Oak. This is the release that allows you to taste Glenallachie whisky as it comes from the cask, full throttle. Billy and his team’s notes allude to spices, heather, honey and toffee. Speyside indeed.

GlenAllachie 10 year old Cask Strength available to buy online now at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old 46%

The flagship bottle of the new GlenAllachie range is the GlenAllachie 12 year old.  At an easy price point to allow the novice to dip into this whisky. This is the whisky to show off the new core range of GlenAllachie whisky. Matured in Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and Virgin Oak. Unchillfitlered and natural colour. The spirit and the casks have done all the work. Notes of butterscotch and honey are prominent at the front with almonds and and hint of bitter chocolate levelling it out. There is good depth to this. For an entry level core bottling, it offers plenty.

The GlenAllachie 12 year old available to buy online now at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

GlenAllachie 18 Year Old

The GlenAllachie 18 year old is limited to an annual release of 1,000 cases worldwide. Billy has carefully selected casks from the GlenAllachie warehouses to make his mark on the 18 year old release. With access to Glenallachie casks back to the 1970s, this is a treat. More maturation in American Oak, Pedro Ximinez and Oloroso casks and bottled at 46%. There is an added level of depth with the sweeter notes of vanilla, butterscotch and toffee being left with notes of spice, raisins, dark red cherries and dark chocolate. An extra bite to the 18 year old.

The GlenAllachie 18 year old available to buy online now at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

GlenAllachie 25 Year Old

This GlenAllachie 25 year old is something even more special. Bottled at a higher 48% it is limited to just 1,000 cases worldwide. American Oak, Pedro Ximinez and Oloroso cask matured this offers real luxury whisky. A rich and complex whisky with big influence of the sherry casks but in perfect harmony with the spirit. Brings notes of sultanas, dark chocolate, Christmas cake and crisp citrus fruits. There is a distinctly more luxurious mouthfeel. This is peak Glenallachie whisky.

GlenallAchie 25 year old available to buy online now at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

TWB Favourite?

Each of these new releases offers something different. The 12 year old offers a superb flagship bottling. At 46% and with a lovely balance between the sherry oak and spirit, it offers the whisky fan something very interesting and enjoyable. For the new whisky drinker, it is a taste of what a very good whisky experience is all about.  But if we had to pick one it would be the 25 year old. Yes, we know, the most expensive. But the combination of American oak, Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks has worked wonders with the spirit providing great depth and a good bite with the flavour profile. But we also like the 10 year cask strength…and the 18 year old! GlenAllachie Distillery is sure to quickly be a favourite here at TWB HQ.

So, a huge congratulations to Billy and all the team up at GlenAllachie Distillery. Fantastic to see this previously quiet and lesser know distillery now firmly placed on the single malt scotch map.

THE IRRESSITABLE SINGLE CASKS OF JOHN MILROY

Over the years we’ve worked closely with nearly every Scottish independent bottler. Often times we are the first retailer in the U.S. to feature a particular brand, but it’s not often that we’re able to secure a truly exclusive sale. We’re not an importer and have no particular rights or claims to any brand. Instead, we build relationships through positive interaction and responsible stewardship. We’ve brought many brands to the US that our importers would otherwise not have the opportunity to sell and likewise we’ve secured exclusive rights with certain international brands in California.

The John Milroy line of single malts is precisely one of those relationships. We’re not going over there to select casks. In fact, we rely on the honorable Doug McIvor to make his astute selections for the brand. He is the Director of Spirits for the formidable Berry Bros & Rudd Co. in London. This wonderful company is a hybrid of high-end retailer, negociant, independent bottler, and brand incubator. He started his illustrious career running the Milroy of Soho whisky shop – the baby (the shop is tiny) of brothers John and Wallace Milroy. When Jack Milroy sold his diminutive Soho shop, he turned to Doug to help continue his legacy of bottling exceptional single malts.

We’ve tried many times to work directly with BBR and had only limited success. Our industry is a complicated web of relationships, trade agreements, and back channel dealings. Most brands can’t simply turn around and sell products to us directly. We’re just not a big enough fish to fry when it comes to some of the other national relationships BBR has developed over the years. When the Milroy line came up as an independent brand free from the complexities of Berry Bros other dealings, I jumped on the opportunity to work with them. While these aren’t true direct buys and we only take a fraction of the total amount imported, we are negotiating incredibly advantageous pricing and selling these exclusively in California. That means if you live in CA, you’re going to spend 30-50% less for a bottle of Milroy’s than if you lived anywhere else in the world.

After our initial purchase a year ago, we’ve had to wait a long time before the right casks popped up. Since we’re not fully in control and even though Milroy is offering exceptional quality across the board, we simply can’t offer products that don’t provide our customers with the extreme level of value that they expect. We’re lucky to have found these three special casks that represent the ethos brand and its highly distinctive style perfectly; an odd, yet wonderful Island whisky, a shockingly affordable and bizarrely drinkable young peater and a classic zesty summer Speysider. We’re still a few months out from the next big container of whisky (The Season is coming, don’t worry) but these three gorgeous casks will help you bridge the gap.

2013 Staoisha (Heavily Peated Bunnahabhain) 3 Year Old “John Milroy – K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($34.99)

An astonishing whisky in so many ways. We’ve tasted young peaty whisky many times and while it can sometimes be delicious (I’m thinking Kilchoman here), it’s typically much more neutered and spirity than you’d expect. The peatiness can take many years to really poke through, especially when you’ve got high proof and powerful malt to hide behind. This goofy whisky, however, is exactly the opposite. It’s a true peat bomb even at this young age. But that’s not all: the dense ashy smoke is tamed by robust sweet malt and some hints of salty fruit. This is an impressive whisky by any account and while it will by no means be in anyone’s top five, I’ll challenge anyone to name a more interesting and drinkable cask strength peater under $35 that’s even half as good. I’m not sure what they’re doing over there at the bay north of Port Askaig, but there’s definitely something amazing happening there. We can only pray that we’ll continue to see such affordable and delicious whiskies coming out of Scotland in the future.

2008 Tobermory 8 Year Old “John Milroy – K&L Exclusive” Single Refill Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($54.99)

This crazy little Tobermory is exactly what I love about this unique distillery on the Isle of Mull. It was filled into a used sherry butt in 2008. This distillery sometimes gets a bad rap, in particular because the independently bottled stuff is usually filled into 4th and 5th fill cask. The slightly feinty style of the malt really needs some higher quality oak to be softened enough to release its complexity, but once it does it can be an absolute treat. There’s no question that Tobermory has the potential to provide incredible depth and enjoyment, but it’s often a challenging whisky not necessarily designed for the novice. This particular cask represents that dichotomy perfectly. Second fill sherry butts are perhaps the perfect vessel for this funky spirit, adding and taking from the whisky in perfect balance. As expected this whisky is fun and funky, but it also represents one of the starkest examples of the benefits a few drops of fine spring water can bring to a quality single malt like this one. It’s nearly mandatory with something this youthful to at least try it with a few drops of water and thank god we did because this thing absolutely transforms. What was once hard edged and idiosyncratic is now opulent and enlightening. There is a complete turnaround in the glass and one of the most unique and exciting drinking experiences we can offer at any price point. An odd yet beautiful whisky that will appeal to the real malt geek.

1995 Glen Keith 21 Year Old “John Milroy – K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($109.99)

This wonderful cask of Glen Keith was selected by our friend Doug McIvor for its exceptional balance and character. The distillery in Keith has been rare in modern times due to its closure from 2000 until 2013. While it served as a partner to neighboring Strathisla as one of the component malts in the Chivas Blend, it was also the site of much experimentation and some unusual production techniques. There they developed unique yeast strains and alternative ways of peating whisky–namely the use of extremely peaty water to ferment the mash. Keith has long remained out of sight and out of mind of the modern whisky consumer, but now we’re starting to see wonderful casks pop up from the period right before the closure. The gorgeous aromas and purity of malt are astounding. Extremely round, ripe orchard fruit and subtle highland grasses. The seamless body and silky texture are what set this whisky apart and create the perfect frame for the creamy malt and subtle savory nuttiness to balance the zippy citrus and apple fruit. A subtle whisky that might seem a little shy at first, but blossoms into something absolutely lovely. An easy go to for the summer Scotch drinker.

Steel Bonnets Blended Malt Whisky

Created to honour the ‘Steel Bonnets’ or Reivers of the Borders Marches in the Late Middle Ages, this blended malt has been created by The Lakes Distillery using The Lakes Single Malt and some of the finest Scotch malt whiskies. Bottled at a strength of 46.6% abv, this is the first whisky of its kind. The palate is creamy and full bodied with notes of vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and dried fruits, all held together with sweet wood smoke.

£65 Pre-Order Now
(£58.50 for W Club Members)
Orders will be dispatched w/c 9th July

JULY OUTTURN ALERT

July Outturn sees us celebrating our 35th anniversary with some distinguished characters – taste and explore 19 rare breeds featuring each of our 12 flavour profiles. Whisky guru Charlie MacLean has also hand-picked a collection of his favourite single casks this First Friday, look out for our special ‘moustache and monocle’ stamps.

Don’t miss out on your favourite bottlings, click over to our website now and get yourself familiar with the full listing ahead of the release on
Friday, 6 July at 9am.

 READ OUTURN

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

MILROYS TASTING EVENTS

Milroy’s public tasting events are held every Monday evening at 6.30pm until approximately 8pm.
Women’s Whisky Night is held the first Tuesday evening of every month.

Book a ticket to come and learn something new about a favourite distillery, try a few drams from somewhere unfamiliar, or just because the nights are always a fine time!

Head over to our website to keep an eye out for current future events.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

First core range release from The GlenAllachie Distillery 

Independent, boutique Scotch whisky distillery, The GlenAllachie has unveiled its first core range of aged single malts, which have been specially selected by Master Distiller and industry icon Billy Walker.

The release from the Speyside distillery all feature age statements ranging from 10-year-old cask strength, the flagship 12-year-old alongside 18 and 25-year-old bottlings.

This is the first core range release from the new company – Billy Walker acquired The GlenAllachie Distillery, with business partners Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson, from Pernod Ricard in October 2017 in a multi-million-pound deal.

Billy Walker GlenAllachie Managing Director and Master Distiller explained: 

“The first release of our GlenAllachie core range has been a culmination of months of hard work and a passion to turn GlenAllachie into a very popular and much sought after single malt whisky.  It is an honour to be its custodian and to develop this range of single malts. 

“The range of casks we have warehoused is tremendous with nearly 50,000 maturing at our distillery, some of which date back to the 1970’s. Our aim is to nurture this tremendous spirit and for these single malts to be admired both home and abroad.”

Each release is natural colour, non-chill-filtered and bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV:

• The 10-year-old expression reflects Walker’s desire to showcase a taste of The GlenAllachie Distillery bottled straight from the cask at natural strength. The 57.1% whisky was matured in American oak, Pedro Ximinez, Oloroso and virgin oak casks, and is described as tasting of honey, vanilla, toffee, marmalade with a layer of rose hip and Caribbean spices.

• The 12-year-old single malt is described by Walker as “the heart of our range.” Matured in Pedro Ximinez, Oloroso and virgin oak casks, the whisky imparts sweet Butterscotch notes on the nose, and a taste of honey, marzipan and bananas, plus further lashings of Butterscotch.

• The Glenallachie 18-year-old exemplifies the signature style of GlenAllachie – a combination of rich and robust spirit with heather and butterscotch notes, along with subtle hints of dark chocolate.

• The pinnacle of the range, the 25-year-old, is a beautiful beaten copper colour following its quarter of a century maturing in Pedro Ximinez, Oloroso and American oak casks. This regally rich single malt whisky delivers lashings of sultanas, pineapples and dark chocolate, followed by layers of Christmas cake, marmalade and sweet spices.

The GlenAllachie now has distribution in more than 28 countries including strategic markets – the USA, Germany, Taiwan, China and France. In the UK The GlenAllachie is available from specialist retailers.

All the bottles bear the words ‘From the valley of the rocks’, translating from the original Gaelic name “Gleann Aileachaidh.”

Notes

Recommended Retail Selling Price (RRSP):

• The GlenAllachie 10 YO 57.1% cask strength – £57.00
• The GlenAllachie 12 YO 46% – £43.00
• The GlenAllachie 18 YO 46% – £92.00
• The GlenAllachie 25 YO 48% – £232.00

The GlenAllachie Distillery was designed by William Delme-Evans – the architect behind Jura, Macduff and Tullibardine – and was built in 1968 by Mackinlay McPherson, the distilling arm of brewers Scottish & Newcastle.  It sits within a 20-acre estate and uses water sourced from Hangman’s Craig and Black Banks on the slopes of Ben Rinnes. It has four stills but unusually it also has two separate spirit safes, one for each set of stills.

Walker has converted existing buildings on site to dunnage warehousing bringing total to 16 warehouses holding almost 50,000 casks of GlenAllachie. An additional 2 dunnage warehouses will also be built at the distillery along with a bottling line.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

KILCHOMAN PORT CASK MATURED

NEW PRODUCTS FROM 
BENRIACH DISTILLERY CO.

BenRiach Single Cask:

2008 / PEATED / PORT CASK
Batch 15. 9 years old, 61.7%, Cask #2048
£69.95
BUY NOW

2007 / PEATED / OLOROSSO SHERRY CASK
Batch 15. 10 years old, 58.3%, Cask #3071
£79.95
BUY NOW

2007 / OLOROSSO SHERRY CASK

Batch 15. 10 years old, 58.5%, Cask #3236
£75.95
BUY NOW

GlenDronach Cask Strength:
OLOROSSO & PEDRO XIMENEZ CASKS
Batch 7, 57.9%
£59.95
BUY NOW

GlenAllachie 2018 First Release

The first core range from Billy Walker’s (formally of GlenDronach & BenRiach) Speyisde distillery has landed. Sherry cask matured and bottled non-chill-filtered. This first release is tightly allocated, when it’s gone, it’s gone!

Shop – GlenAllachie 2018 Release