The small strange Isle of Mull is famous for its colorful village and unusual distillery. Licensed for legal production in 1798, the Tobermory distillery chugged along until the distillery ran out of warehouse space in the 1970s and was forced to stop production. Having an unplanned lack of warehouse space is a good sign that things weren’t going well for the distillery and indeed the entire industry took a hit in the early ‘80s when many famous distilleries were forced out of business. Tobermory survived that slaughter and became part of the Burn Stewart family in 1991 for less than £1 million.

Burn Stewart itself was acquired by South African drinks company Distell in 2013. Since then they’ve recommitted to the promise of making a traditional unchill-filtered Island malt, both peated and unpeated, at their gorgeous facility on the Western Coast of Scotland. They’re beginning to unearth some real treasures in the stocks as well as investing in high quality casks for extra maturation. Today we have three excellent and rare malts from this little distillery that represent some of the most unusual and exciting offerings to date.

Tobermory 21 Year Old “Manzanilla Finish” Unfiltered Cask Strength Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($239.99)

A gorgeous example of Cask Strength fully aged unpeated malt from the Tobermory Distillery. It’s been finished in one of the rarest casks in scotland, Manzanilla Fino Sherry. The Manzanilla cask is unusual not only because of their rarity, but also because of the unique flavor profile it provides. You’d expect that ultra dry salty sherry to turn the briny side of the Tobermory malt up to eleven, but instead we see more nuttiness than brine. There’s tons of dried, maybe lightly salted stone fruits, and a dense, almost thick mouthfeel. I’m not sure if that comes from the sherry or simply the age of the whisky, but the oily texture and wild flavor profile make it one of the most unusual new whiskies this year. Considering the 15-year sells typically for an astonishing $140+, this cask strength full throttle and no holds barred version is a real treat for any adventurous drinker despite the price tag. While we’ve purchased every bottle we could, collectors have already cleaned out most of the east coast. With the lowest price in California by a healthy margins and no additional stock on the horizon this will be a fun yet fleeting experiment.

1996 Ledaig 19 year old “Sherry Cask Finish” Isle Of Mull Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

Another well aged Sherry finished peated from the Tobermory distillery. These guys have really turned up the quality in the last several years, taking good aged stock and filling them into ultra high-end Sherry barrels to give them that extra little something. For those wanting that peat and Sherry combo there’s very little out there in the same range, particularly if you don’t want the sappy sweetness added by PX (I’m thinking Lagavulin DE). Yet the Ledaig has a ton of the same dark nuttiness that you’d expect from a fine Oloroso cask and just the right amount of stewed fruit to keep it from feeling hard edged. The last vintage was an absolute sleeper and I’ve had several customers come back asking for it. Now we’ve got the whisky back one year older and just as delicious. One of the most unusual and distinct offerings from any distillery to date.

Ledaig 19 year old “Marsala Cask Finish” Isle Of Mull Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($164.99)

One of the most unusual and distinct offerings from any distillery to date. I can’t remember the last time we saw peated Whisky in Marsala casks, but it may have been back in the good old days of Murray McDavid and their range of Ace’d malts. While I expected the Marsala to add tons of sweetness, we’ve actually moved much further into the sauvage quality that Ledaig is sometimes known for. Lamb drippings over smoking embers. Big smoldering spice sprinkled over a well aged gouda. Wild and structured on the palate with more of the savory stuff, green peppercorns, mulled wine, tart red fruit. This malt reminds me a bit of a Christmas dinner in London’s West End, maybe one to save for cool weather, but this is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and most arresting malts of the year.

That’s it for this week, but stay tuned for the next edition of the Whisk(e)y News!

David Othenin-Girard
SoCal Spirits Buyer
http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com
http://onthetrail.klwines.com

© Ian Gavan

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BRAND HOME

The new Macallan Distillery and Visitor experience marries our whisky making heritage with the innovative vision that sits at the heart of The Macallan and guides our future. As the first distillery in Speyside to be designed by an internationally acclaimed architect, our brand home opens a window onto the whisky making process like no other.

Doors open 2nd June 2018.

VISIT                  EXPLORE

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 204: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries the lastest Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare. Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the epitome of luxury (in the affordable range at least). It is very popular as a gift, hence the endless stream of special editions. Luckily it is also very good. But in 2017 Johnnie Walker launched a new, limited edition of their Blue: the Johnnie Walker Ghost & Rare. The protagonist of the first release is Brora. But Pittyviach and Cambus – also closed distilleries – play an important part as well. The other whisky’s are Clynelish, Royal Lochnagar, Glenlossie, Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge. The result is a bottle of 250 EUR, albeit in an exquisite packaging. But is it worth it?

https://youtu.be/dV2cSxJVJ3o

Saturday, June 2, 2:30 – 5:30PM 

Bourbon Tasting: Balcones 

From humble beginnings an old welding shop under a bridge in Waco, Texas, Balcones distillery is now recognized worldwide for their bold and intense flavors. From blue corn grown in New Mexico to the first Texas-grown malted barley, they’ve taken pains to create a truly Texas spirit – which is then distilled in magnificent copper pot whisky stills designed by Forsyths of Scotland. The result is a decadent and densely flavorful whiskey.

Their Texas Single Malt was crowned “Best American Single Malt” at the 2016 whisky awards, plus numerous gold medals from Whiskies of the World and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

We’ll be pouring a variety of favorites and new releases, presented by distillery representatives and our own in-store whiskey experts.

Click Here for More Details and RSVP

CHIVAS REGAL UNVEILS FRESH NEW LOOK FOR CHIVAS 18

New global campaign reminds whisky drinkers that some things in life can’t be simplified

Chivas Regal, one of the world’s most iconic blended Scotch whiskies, has announced a new global campaign in celebration of the dedication, skill and time it takes to craft its award-winning Chivas 18.

Still expertly blended to the original recipe developed by Colin Scott, Custodian Master Blender at Chivas Regal, and one of the world’s most experienced Master Blenders, Chivas 18 is a distinctively rich and multi-layered blend, representing complexity at its very best. In an age that revolves around instant gratification, the new campaign encourages consumers to appreciate the more intricate things in life, which, like Chivas 18, take time and skill to create.

The campaign coincides with a new label and box design, featuring rich vibrant colours and luxurious textures, befitting of one of the world’s most loved blended Scotch whiskies. Refreshing the iconic Chivas 18 blue with a sophisticated new tone, used on both the pack and the label, will help it stand out on shelf and the back bar, while also better reflecting the brand’s ultra-premium credentials. Whisky fans need not worry though; the award-winning taste that consumers have come to know and love remains the same.

Richard Black, Global Marketing Director at Chivas Regal, commented: “Taking no less than 18 years in the making and with 85 flavour notes packed into every drop, Chivas 18 is the epitome of complexity. In celebration of this unrivalled spirit, our new campaign highlights its rich, multi-layered flavour whilst also honouring the expert blending process which leads to its creation. Through it, we want to remind consumers that some things in life can’t – and shouldn’t – be simplified.”

Notes: 

About Chivas Regal

Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide and today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Chivas Regal range includes: Chivas Regal 12, Chivas Regal Extra, Chivas Regal Mizunara, Chivas Regal 18, our first blended malt Chivas Regal Ultis, Chivas Regal 25, pinnacle of the range and ultra-prestige blend Chivas Regal The Icon, and the Global Travel Retail exclusive Chivas Brothers Blend. www.chivas.com

Sharing whisky – it’s better with friends

As someone who spends a lot of time writing tasting notes for whisky on his own, I sometimes forget that the true joy of a dram is sharing it with someone. Father’s Day is just around the corner and in the office, we’ve spent the past few weeks talking about which whiskies we’d share with our dads. Just the thing to give me a kick and remind me to share the whisky love, and not just with my dad.

When it comes to sharing a whisky or three, you have lots of options. While ‘sharing a dram’ almost always used to mean cracking open a bottle with friends at home, there are now loads more ways to taste great whiskies.

Get a tasting set

If you don’t feel like braving the outside world, then let the whisky come to you. Over the past few years, there has been an explosion in the number of companies that now offer samples of whisky for you to try at home, expanding way beyond the miniature bottles that fill hotel minibars.

Five vintages of Lagavulin Distillers Edition, with tasting notes and a glass? That’ll do

For a one-off tasting, we have a range of Perfect Measure tasting sets – curated packs of whiskies complete with tasting notes from me and The Whisky Exchange team. If you can’t find the set you want, we also have lots of other samples, so you can create your own custom tasting. Each sample is 30ml – enough for a pair of tasters, or a big dram for yourself…

See The Perfect Measure range

There are also great ways of regularly receiving whisky without the effort. Folks like Whisky-Me and The Dram Team offer regular deliveries of whisky samples to your door.

Just add a glass…

The idea is simple: they do the choosing and you get something tasty through the post. Whisky-Me sends out a large dram (enough for at least two) in a pouch that fits through your letterbox, and lets you share your thoughts online with everyone else – a virtual community drinking the same dram each month, all from the comfort of your sofa.

Go to a tasting

I started regularly going to whisky tastings about a decade ago. Even though I live in London, a city which caters for every interest from the popularist to the most niche, finding regular whisky meet-ups was difficult. Fortunately, I ran into a few like-minded souls attending monthly get togethers at The Whisky Exchange Shop, as well as occasional appearances by our friends at The Whisky Lounge.

Ten years on, I now run a monthly whisky club (and some members have founded their own clubs), The Whisky Lounge does tastings all over the country and we run even more tastings than ever before.

See all of our upcoming events

Whether you want to meet other whisky fans or drag your dad out for a night of drams, keep an eye out for tastings – there will almost certainly be some near you.

Share your favourites

In the end, it doesn’t need to be about variety. Whisky fans often spend a lot of time seeking out the new, rare and different, but sometimes it’s nice to sit down with a dram that you love.

On my shelf at home, I always have an open bottle of Clynelish and Laphroaig. When friends come to visit, they’re the first bottles I’ll reach for – reliable and tasty. We might dig into my box of cask samples later, but if you want to sit around, talk rubbish and drink whisky, then an old favourite is what you want.

And the best thing about a bottle of whisky? Stick the cork back in, and you can share the rest of it another day.

Ardbeg Friday at MusthaveMalts.com

One day before the official Ardbeg Day, we will be celebrating our own Ardbeg Friday at MusthaveMalts.com!

On Friday the 1st of June, not only Ardbeg Grooves will be available for purchase: ALL our peaty Ardbeg sweetness will sell at discount prices. Groovy! But please hold on to your Glencairn, because sale will only last one day… So, if you are a fan of seagull’s wingpits, granny’s medicine cabinet, sooty, sooty bonfires and licking the inside of oil drums, Friday the 1st of June will be your day!

The details of Ardbeg Friday

Our very own Ardbeg Friday will start 12.00PM CET (Amsterdam time). It will last until Saturday the 2nd of June at 12.00PM. ‘But what kind of Ardbeg do you have in stock?’, we can hear you ask. Good question! We have all kinds of collectible whisky from this fantastic distillery, like vintages, private bottlings, Feis Ile releases, discontinued Ardbeg and bottles that we could obtain only by selling our dear mother. Woa! Or, as a salty, peg legged sea captain from Islay would say: ‘Yarrr!’

Get notified

Want to get notified about the start Ardbeg Friday? Sign up to our newsletter!

https://www.musthavemalts.com/newsletter/

About MusthaveMalts.com

Musthavemalts.com – MHM for friends – is a website that specializes in collectible whiskies, whiskeys and bourbon. Our aim is to create a personal and easy shopping experience for everyone who would normally spend a lot of time on their passion: expanding their awesome collection of even more awesome drams. See Musthavemalts.com for all our collectible whiskies. For more information on our Ardbeg Friday, please contact us on info@musthavemalts.com.

Friday, June 8th, 5-7 PM

SIA Scotch

Two Scotches in one day! Stick around after our Glen Grant tasting to sample SIA blended scotch whiskey. Ever since it’s uniquely crowd-funded release, SIA’s reputation as a a smooth, distinctive scotch whisky has garnered praise from whisky newcomers and connoisseurs alike.  

Click Here to RSVP

https://youtu.be/893gADv85t4

One of the finest! One of the most affordable and indeed, one of the most old school approaches to producing that wonderful thing that we all know and love, Bourbon. I had the privilege to meet, Eddie Russel in Manchester a few weeks ago – what a man! As down to earth and Kentuckian? As you could ever want, managed to get him to sign this bottle as well, we’re all allowed to geek out in situations like this. Utilizing some of the finest stocks in their warehouses and cultivating yeast strains that date back to pre-prohibition, Wild Turkey and all of it’s wonderful little facets are on display in abundance here. Dark chocolate, fruity tobacco, strawberry, blackberry, caramel and butterscotch – all rounded off with a still present tobacco note that ups the ante of that rye grain and gives a finish that is truly superb. To this day, this exact whisky was not only the first Bourbon bought for me by a future ex-girlfriend but it also made that greatest Old Fashioned cocktail, which to this day, still hasn’t been topped! Enjoy!

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday ~ Facebook.com/whiskytube ~ Twitter.com/whiskytube ~ Youtube.com/whiskywednesday

Plans for a new distillery at Craggan announced

Plans have been announced for a new distillery at Craggan, near Grantown-on-Spey. It would become the first new malt whisky distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park since its creation in 2003. The multi million pound investment by Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd is expected to become a major tourist attraction and significant local employer.

Speymalt is the parent company of Gordon & MacPhail, the family owned whisky specialist, wholesaler and retailer. The company also owns and operates Benromach Distillery in Forres.

As part of a strategic growth plan, Speymalt hopes to build the new distillery overlooking the Cairngorm mountains in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.

As Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director, Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd explained: “Building a second distillery is an important part of our business plan and we have spent some time researching a suitable site. We believe we have found the perfect place for our new distillery at Craggan. It’s a stunning location with strong transport links and can accommodate the distillery, warehousing and a visitor experience.

“The Cairngorms are a beautiful part of the world and we aim to design a distillery which will be in keeping with this wonderful landscape.

“We continue to build our business using our expertise and skill in the industry. The purchase of Benromach Distillery and the growth of this brand internationally over the past twenty years has proved to be a huge success. Constructing a second distillery will enable us to continue creating a sustainable long term legacy for future generations.”

No decision has been made on a name for the distillery.

The company now hopes to start the consultation process with the local community before submitting a planning application later in the year. If planning is approved, building is expected to start in 2019 and should take 12 months to complete.

A public exhibition on the plans will take place over the summer.

Speymalt is a fourth-generation family owned business which has built its knowledge and experience of the Scotch whisky industry over a 120-year history. The Urquhart family realised a long held ambition when they acquired Benromach Distillery in 1993.  They reopened it after extensive refurbishment in 1998 and are celebrating the 20^th anniversary this year.  A member of the world famous Malt Whisky Trail, Benromach Distillery attracts over 13,000 visitors to the area every year. Work recently started on creating a gin distillery and visitor experience at the Benromach site.

Notes 

Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd is the parent company of Gordon & MacPhail and owner of Benromach Distillery.. The company, whose headquarters are in Elgin, Moray, employs 150 people.

Benromach Distillery is based in the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres, Moray. Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when Speymalt Whisky Distributors Ltd purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.