Welcome to WhiskyIntelligence.com where we'll be gathering information on the whisky industry and scotch whisky news in the form of press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes and comments.
Please submit your press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes or comments.
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year Old
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year Old
Isle of Jura, a distillery that in my eyes was always a, ‘jack of all trades’ – Had such a large market share but never really had a house style of sorts. Some peated, some un-peated, NAS, Age Statement…what do you want guys?
Well, know we have that house style – five bottles in a range, all slightly peated with some interesting and much more captivating potential for a market that has firm foundations in Jura as a brand. This offering is the Seven Wood – one type of American Oak and size types of French Oak, five of which I can’t pronounce, so i won’t. Its a pleasant surprise from a distillery that has avoided my attention for quite a long time. Cheers.
Little Rock, AR – (April 4, 2018) – Rock Town Distillery is pleased to announce it’s Arkansas Bourbon and it’s Four Grain Sour Mash Bourbon have been awarded a 93 and a 91 respectively by the prestigious 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge in New York. The full list can be found on the World Gin Award’s website by clicking this link: Full Results
Rock Town’s ratings can be found here for the Bourbon and Four Grain Sour Mash.
“It’s great to get these marks from a competition at this level” said distillery founder and head distiller Phil Brandon. “These are two different styles of bourbon and for both to score this high is a testament to our efforts”. Rock Town’s Arkansas Bourbon is distilled from 82% Arkansas grown corn, 9% Arkansas grown wheat and 9% malted barley. Rock Town’s Four Grain Sour Mash Bourbon is distilled from a mashbill consisting of 73% Arkansas Corn, 9% Arkansas Rye, 9% Arkansas Wheat and 9% malted barley. The mash is soured by using part of the previous batches stillage to start the sour mash bourbon cook. Both bourbon’s were aged in new charred oak barrels.
ABOUT ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY
Rock Town Distillery produces the award winning Arkansas Bourbon, Arkansas Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, Arkansas Rye Whiskey, Arkansas Lightning, and Rock Town Vodka which are distributed to 15 states and the United Kingdom, Canada and Taiwan. Winner of the 2015 US Micro Whisky of the Year Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas’ first legal distillery since prohibition, is located in downtown Little Rock at 1216 E 6th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202 and will be moving soon to 1201 Main Street in Little Rock. The distillery is open for tours 7 days a week. To find out more please visit www.rocktowndistillery.com
About The Ultimate Spirits Challenge
Ultimate Beverage Challenge is the definitive spirits and wine evaluation company today. Its two world-class competitions: Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge provide unparalleled value, providing results that are reliable and easily understandable in today’s marketplace, creating opportunities for the industry, and establishing the platinum standard that defines what beverage evaluation should be.
All products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry’s foremost experts. This year’s judges included USC Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Eric Alperin, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, Tim Cooper, Dale DeGroff, Meaghan Dorman, Tyler Hudgens, Tess Rose Lampert, Justin Lavenue, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, Joaquin Simo, Charlotte Voisey, and Jillian Vose..
Our mailing address is:
Rock Town Distillery
1216 E. Sixth Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202
Families have always been a part of The Glenrothes Distillery. Over the years our team has included plenty of people who share both a passion for whisky and a close family connection. Perhaps, that’s because the art of whisky making runs in the blood.
This month, we pay tribute to the Tweedie brothers. Between them, Gordon and Alexander Tweedie have given over 40 years of service to The Glenrothes whisky. Gordon Tweedie, who has been with The Glenrothes Engineering Team since 1990, is retiring this April. His brother Alexander Tweedie was Distillery Manager and part of The Glenrothes Production management team from 1991 to 2000 and retired last year. Since retiring, he has recently been back at the distillery hosting our special guests.
We would like to wish the Tweedie brothers health, happiness and plenty of fine Glenrothes single malt in this new stage of their lives.
The Brothers in Wood:
The story of the Tweedie brothers got us thinking about the relationship between every cask and the whisky inside. Despite sharing the same essential ingredients of water, spirit, wood and time, the whisky that emerges from two twin casks can often have a very different character.
In 1976 we filled two identical Bourbon hogshead casks on the same day with the same spirit. The two casks sat next to each other in the Glenrothes warehouse for 39 years until Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker at The Glenrothes, deemed them to be at their optimum moment of excellence, he sampled each of them and, to his surprise, found two single malts with very distinct characters.
They were bottled and are now ready for release. We’ll soon be offering these Brothers in Wood to our Glenrothes insiders.
Stay tuned for more information and for a rare chance to visit our distillery in person.
The Glenrothes
Highland Distillers Ltd
100 Queen Street
Glasgow, G1 3DN
United Kingdom
This limited edition challenges whisky fans’ to put their senses to the test to decipher the tasting notes of The Glenlivet Code. Crafted with casks never before used in The Glenlivet, the flavour promises to be a completely new experience.
Aspiring code breakers are invited to join an interactive adventure by scanning the bottle’s code in the Shazam app. Those who manage to pass the ultimate flavour test will be presented with a cipher of their tasting notes and a score comparing their accuracy to that of Master Distiller, Alan Winchester.
£100 Pre-Order Now
Orders will be dispatched w/c 16th April
We have some tremendous new releases available at Loch Fyne. Two brand new limited editions from The Glenlivet and Glenmorangie have just gone on pre-order……..
Glenmorangie Grand Malt Vintage 1989
Glenmorangie’s Vintage Collection honours former
still house’s final spirit
— Second release in Bond House No. 1 Collection showcases whisky part-matured in ex-Côte-Rôtie casks —
#Glenmorangie
Spirit from the final days of Glenmorangie’s former still house is celebrated in the inimitable cask assemblage of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989, the first Glenmorangie expression to be part-matured in rare ex-Côte-Rôtie casks. This rich and complex single malt whisky is the second limited release in Glenmorangie’s prized Vintage Collection – Bond House No.1 – which explores some of the Highland Distillery’s most prestigious parcels of aged whisky. Marked for greatness from their year of origin, each expression has been captured in its prime by Glenmorangie’s whisky creators – and is deemed ready to share only at the perfect moment of maturation.
The story of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 begins with some of the last spirit ever to emerge from the Distillery’s former still house, home to Scotland’s tallest stills for more than a century. Soon after the expression’s spirit was distilled, Glenmorangie’s signature stills were moved from this venerable, yet modest-sized building, signalling the end of an era. Instead, as the Distillery sought to meet whisky lovers’ growing desire for its single malt, Warehouse No.1, the largest of Glenmorangie’s 19th century Bonded Warehouses – and namesake of the Vintage Collection – was transformed into the renowned still house which houses the stills used today to create Glenmorangie’s spirit.
While this distinctive vintage lay maturing in the finest casks, its extraordinary flavour captured the imagination of Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks: he vowed to celebrate its character in a remarkable assemblage, which would honour the former still house’s legacy. Harnessing his renowned creativity, he arranged for select parcels of 1989’s spirit to be finished in a handful of highly sought-after casks – the most prestigious of which once contained Côte-Rôtie wines. Just as they reached their prime, he reunited these exquisite parcels in a momentous single malt, distinguished by its intriguing softness, oaky depths and hints of ripe, red fruits.
Dr Bill said: “After 27 years of patient maturation, I knew that Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 was ready to share. Each cask in the assemblage had been carefully chosen to complement the exquisite depths brought to the whisky by the parcel finished in ex-Côte-Rôtie casks. The resulting expression beautifully balances the subtle finesse of Glenmorangie’s spirit with a rare richness and intensity. Connoisseurs will delight in its smoky and sweet aromas – extraordinarily varied for a whisky of such age. It is peppery on the palate, with glorious, full tastes of baked apples and buttery fudge, leading to a long and powerful finish brimming with honey, notes of leather and classic wood spices.”
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1989 will be available from specialist retailers and Clos 19 (www.clos19.com) from Friday 6th April, RSP: £550.
Find us online at: https://www.glenmorangie.com/
Follow Glenmorangie on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glenmorangie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGlenmorangie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenmorangiecom
NOTES:
Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 is chill-filtered and bottled at 43% ABV.
Colour: Russet
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, almond, and a curious, perfumed top note. Some classic, buttery notes of vanilla and fudge, then a burst of fruit notes. Baked apples, red fruits, blackcurrants, some tropical fruits, fragrant wood smoke, freshly baked bread and beeswax.
Taste: An oily, viscous mouthfeel with a gentle peppery sensation on the palate. More baked apples, fudge and gentle citrus flavours.
Finish: Floral orange blossom and honey, hints of eucalyptus oil and sweet aniseed, along with some leather and oak. With water, more tropical fruits and an intensified citrus note, like dried zest of clementine. The long finish ends with classic wood spices and oak shavings.
About the Bond House No.1 Collection:
The Bond House No.1 Collection is an exclusive collection of vintage expressions, all exceptionally fine and smooth. The series, which celebrates Glenmorangie’s most prestigious aged whisky, has been created for connoisseurs and collectors. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990, released in 2016, was the first expression in the collection. It has been lauded by industry experts, winning first place at the International Whisky Competition, in the category Single Malt Whisky 12 Years and Over, and gold medals at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 is the Collection’s second release.
About Glenmorangie:
Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at
the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland for a purer spirit, expertly matured in the finest oak casks for great depth and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is among the pioneers in its field, uniting tradition with innovation.
About Dr Bill Lumsden:
Dr Bill Lumsden is Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation, Distilling & Whisky Stocks. Dr Bill is regarded by the malt whisky industry as an innovator, creating whiskies which have revolutionised the single-malt market. In recognition of his team’s work, The Glenmorangie Company was named Distiller of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012. Dr Bill, who has a PhD in biochemistry, has combined art and science in his work since he joined The Glenmorangie Company in 1995. He is renowned for his groundbreaking wood management techniques, experimentation with exceptional casks at various ages, and use of extra-maturation. Dr Bill has won a series of prestigious awards and accolades. He recently added to his plaudits by winning the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year 2016 and 2017. He was further honoured with the title of Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2016 awards.
About the creation of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989:
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 has its own unique story to tell. Created from select parcels of 1989’s distinctive spirit – some of the last ever distilled in Glenmorangie’s traditional still house – this exquisite expression is the Distillery’s first single malt whisky ever to be part-matured in ex-Côte-Rôtie wine casks. Wines from the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation (French for ‘roasted slopes’) are named after the steep hillsides on which the vineyards are located – and the long hours of sunshine they receive. The wines are created from the rare co-fermentation of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, bringing forth contrastingly floral and meaty aromas. Glenmorangie has never before harnessed the power of ex-Côte-Rôtie casks – and Dr Bill was inspired to discover the character they might bring to Glenmorangie’s soft spirit, by judiciously finishing a tiny parcel of 1989 spirit within. He then united this precious parcel with spirit from the same vintage, finished in a handful of other prestigious casks, such as superior ex-wine casks, finest ex-Oloroso sherry casks and superior ex-bourbon casks. And in this remarkable assemblage, he realised his vision for the powerful complexity of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989.
About Glenmorangie’s traditional still house:
At the centre of the Distillery, today welcoming visitors from around the world, are the sandstone walls of Glenmorangie’s former still house. This traditional building was constructed in 1887. That year, the Distillery was rebuilt by its new owners – a consortium of businessmen who bought it from Ann Matheson, widow of Glenmorangie’s founder William Matheson, who ran the Distillery for 25 years after her husband’s death in 1862. At first, this still house contained just two of Glenmorangie’s signature copper stills, the tallest in Scotland. Then, as the world’s appetite for Glenmorangie grew, their number increased to four, in 1977. In 1990, Bonded Warehouse No.1 was transformed into a new still house, capable of housing further stills – and the former still house, for so long a vital part of Glenmorangie’s story, prepared for its own renaissance. Converted into a part of the new reception centre and museum soon after, it now brings the Distillery’s past alive
for the many visitors who journey across the globe, to discover the place in which Glenmorangie has been crafted since 1843.
About Bonded Warehouse No.1:
Warehouse No.1 was the largest of the traditional 19th century Bonded Warehouses at the Glenmorangie Distillery, with a capacity of up to 2,000 casks. It was unusually tall, with three storeys. In 1990, Warehouse No.1 was transformed into the Distillery’s still house, allowing Glenmorangie to meet the surging demand for its finest single malt from whisky aficionados around the world. As the very heart of the Distillery, this majestic building became home to eight of Glenmorangie’s signature tall stills. The exceptional height of the building and of Glenmorangie’s stills – renowned as the tallest in Scotland, with necks the same height as an adult male giraffe – has led it to be known fondly as Glenmorangie’s Highland cathedral. Today, there are 12 stills.
Responsible Drinking:
The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.
The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive bottling, GlenDronach 25 Year Old 1993 Exclusive.
Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release an exclusive single cask bottling of the Highland distillery, GlenDronach, known for its famous sherry cask single malts. This 25 Year Old 1993 vintage single Sherry Butt Cask #658 has been hand selected under the guidance of Brown-Forman.
It is well known that a 1993 vintage GlenDronach has become something of a rarity. Casks laid down in this year are never short of praise. TheWhiskyBarrel.com selected this 1993 vintage amongst others as it clearly stood out as a perfect example of the full bodied Highland single malt.
The GlenDronach Distillery sits in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills near Aberdeenshire. It is named after the source of its water; the Dronac burn. Founded in 1826, the distillery was one of the first licensed distilleries. Throughout the years, GlenDronach has maintained its true Highland style that stands it out from other malts. Renowned as the masters of sherry cask maturation, these Highland whiskies are well recognised by their deep colour and rich flavours.
GlenDronach has a very strong reputation in the whisky world. The Highland distillery under the ownership of Brown-Forman has continued to release highly prized single cask scotch. The Whisky Barrel is, therefore, delighted to have 557 bottles of this exclusive GlenDronach 1993 vintage cask #658.
Available exclusively from The Whisky Barrel, shipping to customers Worldwide including the United States of America, Canada and Japan.
GlenDronach 25 Year Old Exclusive | 1993 | Cask #658 for TheWhiskyBarrel.com | 59.3%
Tasting notes
Colour: Ruby red
Nose: Cloves, eucalyptus, oak, orange peel, plum pudding and toffee
Taste: Dry oak, milk chocolate, cinnamon custard, blackcurrants and liquorice.
Finish: Long and sweet.
Price: £250 GBP (£208.33 ex. VAT) / $295 USD (+ P&P)
| The Whisky Barrel | E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com |
| Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com | T: +44 (0)845 2248 156 |
| Find us on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram |
Notes
Q) What is the product called?
A) GlenDronach 25 Year Old 1993 Exclusive.
Q) When will this product be released/was it released?
A) Friday 6th of April 2018.
Q) Where is it available?
A) Scotland, off-trade, TheWhiskyBarrel.com.
Q) Is this product already available in other markets?
A) Scotland only, TheWhiskyBarrel.com ships worldwide.
Q) How much is it?
A) £250 GBP (£208.33 ex. VAT) / $295 USD (+ P&P)
Q) Who handles the product’s distribution?
A) In-house at TheWhiskyBarrel.com.
Q) What is the ABV of this product?
A) 59.3% ABV natural cask strength.
Q) Why has this product been launched?
A) Limited Edition single cask distillery exclusive for The Whisky Barrel.
The Whisky Barrel is a speciaslit online whisky and spirits merchant based in Fife, Scotland and was established in 2007. The Whisky Barrel won Whisky Magazine Online Retailer 2018 and was International Wine & Spirits Competition runner-up in 2016.
N.B. Prices correct at the time of publishing and are subject to currency fluctuation.
CIDER CASK FINISHED VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND WHISKY WINS GOLD, BEST OF CATEGORY & BEST OF CLASS
We are very excited to announce that our Cider Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky was awarded a GOLD medal, Best of Category AND Best of Class at the American Distilling Institute 2018 Judging of Craft Spirits.
The ADI Judging of Craft Spirits is the largest & most respected judging devoted to craft spirits. US and international entries are tasted blind and evaluated by an expert panel of judges made up of distillers, journalists, bar owners, bartenders, retailer, wholesalers, distributors and importers.
It is an honor to receive this kind of recognition from the American Distilling Institute. We’ve loved having the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of partners as we get ready to release our ultra-premium American Single Malt whisky in the Spring of 2020.
Marlene Steiner (Brand Director), Nancy Fraley (Consulting Master Blender), Gareth Moore (CEO/Chairman) and Jerry Heddy (Operations Director) accepting our awards in Portland, Oregon.
PORT CASK FINISHED
VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND WHISKY
AWARDED 96 POINTS AND
CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY
Our Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky was recently awarded 96 points AND the Chairman’s Trophy by the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The Ultimate Spirits Challenge is the world’s most prestigious and progressive global spirits and cocktail competition. This year was the eighth consecutive year of record entries from no less than 52 spirit-producing nations. The judging, which was held throughout March, determined 40 Chairman’s Trophy winners, the beverage industry’s most coveted award.
MAY WHISKY RELEASE:
CHARDONNAY CASK FINISHED
VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND WHISKY
We’re getting excited for the release of our Chardonnay Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky (Batch 2) in May!
It is released annually in the Spring, after resting for up to 18 months in Chardonnay finishing casks from a variety of wineries. Each partner barrel brings nuance and complexity to the whisky, with notes of honeysuckle, green apple, lemon and caramel on the nose. Hints of pear and toasted pecans add intrigue on the palate, finishing with a hint of vanilla. It will be available at our Visitors Center on May 12th and in Virginia ABC Stores and retailers in other markets soon after.
Our mailing address is:
Virginia Distillery Company
299 Eades Lane
Lovingston, VA 22949
