We’ve collaborated with one of Scotland’s finest contemporary artists to help save one of our most iconic landmarks: the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art. We asked artist John Lowrie Morrison – known as Jolomo and famous for his striking landscapes – to create a collection of seasonal paintings inspired by the distillery. He used to sketch here as a student, and the Dumgoyne landscape means almost as much to him as it does to us.

Each painting will be printed on a limited edition gift tin. And for every gift tin sold we’ll donate a contribution to The Mackintosh Appeal, which was set up after a tragic fire damaged the art school in May 2014. ‘Autumn Moon over Glengoyne’ is the first painting in the series – a burst of orange and gold inspired by the season. Inside the tin you’ll find a bottle of the 10 Year Old, so you can raise a dram, and raise funds while you’re at it. With your help, we hope to reach £50,000. You can buy the special limited edition tin from the online shop.

Sláinte!

Robbie Hughes

Distillery Manager

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 2016 Edition

£948.28

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 1985 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey. 2016 limited edition double matured in ex-bourbon barrels. Laphroaig Distillery was established in 1815 on the rocky south coast of the Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. This malt whiskey distillery continues to malt barley using its traditional malting floors and malt kiln. In 1994 the distiiley was awarded the Royal Warrant. The core range is quite extensive and supplemented by limited releases including a 21 year old was issued in 2015 to celebrate 21 years of Friends of Laphroaig. Independent bottlings are also available from Signatory, Cooper’s Choice and Hunter Laing. Laphroaig distillery also participates in Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

An independent, family-owned whiskey makers with a world-class distillery in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. All of the ingredients (corn, wheat and barley) that go into the Wyoming Whiskey are non GMO, are sourced from inside the state and the water is pulled from a natural limestone aquifer that gives the whiskey a very unique texture and minerality. 5 years old at 44% ABV

TASTING NOTES:

COLOR: dark amber.

NOSE: floral, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel pudding.

PALATE: floral with brown baking spices and browned butter, vanilla crème, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon.

FINISH: medium length finish with toffee. Spice and vanilla fade.

Fountana Beverage Corp.

LONGMORN UNVEILS LUXURY PORTFOLIO OFFERING

Introduction of Longmorn 23 Year Old and a definitive new reinterpretation of the iconic Longmorn 16 Year Old completes single malt’s luxury portfolio

Longmorn single malt Scotch whisky has unveiled two new expressions to complete the Longmorn portfolio; Longmorn 23 Year Old and a luxurious reinterpretation of the renowned Longmorn 16 Year Old. The bottlings join Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice in the line-up, offering Scotch whisky connoisseurs around the world the ultimate single malt Scotch whisky experience that pushes the boundaries of luxury, quality and craftsmanship.

The new Longmorn 23 Year Old is the culmination of more than two decades of maturation in the finest traditional oak casks, chosen to complement the soft, creamy and rich flavour profile of the Longmorn spirit. Longmorn 23 Year Old is the peak interpretation of the distillery’s inimitable character and is bottled without chill-filtration, offering flavour notes of ripe pear and soft red apples that give way to a long, smooth finish. The expression is available at the RRP of $1,450.

The definitive Longmorn 16 Year Old is now the ultimate version of what made the classic expression so revered; crafted using a higher proportion of rare first-fill American oak casks, the new Longmorn 16 Year Old offers a more luxurious mouth-feel, drinking experience and increased smooth, vanilla flavour notes. Rested in a combination of ex-sherry, American and traditional oak casks and still bottled without chill-filtration, Longmorn 16 Year Old has an enriched flavour profile of ripe orchard fruits, sweet vanilla and smooth milk chocolate and is available at the RRP of $252.

Founded in 1894, the Longmorn Distillery has a rich history of crafting exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies. Built during the golden age of industry, its founder John Duff ensured it would emblemise his pioneering insight into craft distilling and use the latest technology available. Established to cater for a growing appetite for fine whisky and luxury, each bottle of Longmorn single malt reflects this dedication to innovation and excellence and has been crafted to offer the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience, the product of exceptional talent and precision.

As part of the renaissance of Longmorn today, each expression in the range is presented in distinctive packaging that better befits its quality and reputation; the glass bottles have high, broad shoulders, a long pouring neck and are largely transparent to showcase the quality of the whisky inside. Other modern luxury cues reflect the golden era of luxury and the Industrial Revolution, when the distillery was founded. Longmorn 23 Year Old, is presented in a lacquered wooden gift box, underpinning the indulgence of the portfolio.

The completion of the Longmorn range follows the release of Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice in January 2016, whose name was inspired by the legend that Longmorn was every distiller’s favourite dram apart from their own. Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice offers a new way to enjoy the renowned classic toffee flavours found within the spirit from the distillery and has been well-received in 27 markets to date. The introduction of the Longmorn range is set to excite luxury spirits drinkers and is in response to an increasing demand for the most indulgent Scotch whiskies.

Trevor Buckley, Longmorn Master Distiller, adds: “It is a great honour to be able to share two new prized creations from the Longmorn Distillery, Longmorn 23 Year Old and Longmorn 16 Year Old. The craft production methods at Longmorn have not changed since the days of John Duff and today we reap the rewards of this commitment, as they have allowed us to push the boundaries of quality and luxury in Scotch whisky.

“Longmorn 16 Year Old has long been a firm favourite among Scotch whisky connoisseurs, but we wanted to make it even more luxurious than it was before and the Longmorn team has certainly achieved this. Similarly, Longmorn 23 Year Old offers the pinnacle presentation of the inimitable Longmorn spirit and provides the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience. I very much look forward to seeing whisky connoisseurs the world over discover one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets and I hope they enjoy these new expressions of this Speyside icon.”

Miriam Eceolaza, Longmorn Brand Director at Chivas Brothers, comments: “Through the addition of Longmorn 23 Year Old and the new Longmorn 16 Year Old, we are excited to unveil the newly complete Longmorn range to Scotch whisky aficionados around the world as it represents the ultimate luxury Scotch whisky experience from the distillery. Building on the unmistakable characteristics of excellence laid down by John Duff, who founded the distillery in the late 19th Century, the new Longmorn family has pushed the boundaries of luxury and quality and offers a new journey of discovery for discerning drinkers through the prestige whisky category – it’s certainly Longmorn’s time to shine.”

NOTES EDITORS

Longmorn 16 Year Old tasting notes (48% ABV)
Nose: Stewed orchard fruits, layered with indulgent notes of sweet vanilla crème brûlée
Taste: The palate is rewarded with the rich flavours of ripe fruity pears and luxuriously smooth, creamy milk chocolate
Finish: Full-flavoured and exquisitely drawn out

Longmorn 23 Year Old tasting notes (48% ABV)
Nose: Soft vanilla fudge and creamy caramel, dipped in milk chocolate and honey
Taste: The taste leads with ripe pears and sweet red apples interlaced with tantalizingly spiced ginger cake
Finish: An exceptionally long and velvety smooth finish. A fitting reward for the patience and perfection that its founder put into its creation

About Longmorn
Founded in 1894 by pioneering Scotsman, John Duff, Longmorn is the ultimate luxury single malt whose spirit is revered for producing a Scotch whisky with a unique depth and intensity. In setting up the distillery, Duff embraced the philosophy of intelligent luxury to combine the adventure, ambition and craft of the late 19th Century with emerging technologies to create a whisky for the growing luxury appetite. Known as the best-kept secret in Scotland, Longmorn has long been considered top class by whisky distillers, blenders and connoisseurs.

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com

@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
www.pernod-ricard.com

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017 – the winners

Jim Murray knows how to surprise. Two years ago, he named Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as his World Whisky of the Year, while last year saw that honour go to Canada, with Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye taking the top gong. And now, the 2017 winner has just been announced. Jim Murray’s best whisky in the world is: Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old. Jim described it as having a ‘brain-draining, mind-blowing’ nose with a finish of ‘amazing depth’, adding that it is a ‘staggering example of a magnificent rye showing exactly what genius in terms of whiskey actually means’, scoring it 97.5/100 points.

BOOKER’S RYE 13 YEAR OLD, 68.1%

Producer’s Tasting Notes An intense flavour profile with pronounced, well-balanced notes of wood and oak from the longer ageing process. The deep amber liquid offers a complex aroma with spicy notes from the rye in the mash bill. This uncut rye has a big bold flavour, but is not overpowering. It can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

The other big news of the 2017 Whisky Bible is that a Scottish whisky has made Jim’s World Whiskies of the Year shortlist for the first time since 2014. The runner-up is Glen Grant 18 Year Old – here is the top three:

JIM MURRAY’S 2017 WORLD WHISKIES OF THE YEAR

1. Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old
2. Glen Grant 18 Year Old
3. William Larue Weller Bourbon (Bot.2015)

The full winners list

Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky of the Year Glen Grant 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) That Boutique-y Whisky Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5

Scotch Blend of the Year The Last Drop 1971

Scotch Grain of the Year Whiskyjace Invergordon 24 Year Old

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year Compass Box Flaming Heart 2015 Edition

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) Glenlivet Cipher

No Age Statement (Runner Up) Port Askaig 100 Proof

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 10 Year Old

10 Years & Under (Single Cask) Kilchoman Guze Cask Finish

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks) Lagavulin 12 Year Old

11-15 Years (Single Cask) The Single Cask Glentauchers 2002 14 Year Old

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 18 Year Old

16-21 Years (Single Cask) Scyfion Choice Mortlach 1996 19 Year Old (Berry Bros & Rudd)

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks) Dalwhinnie 1989 25 Year Old Special Releases 2015

22-27 Years (Single Cask) The Boutique-y Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks) Port Ellen 1983 32 Year Old Special Releases 2015

28-34 Years (Single Cask) Cadenhead Caol Ila 31 Year Old

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks) Brora 37 Year Old Special Releases 2015

35-40 Years (Single Cask) Cadenhead Glentauchers 38 Year Old

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks) Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952

41 Years & Over (Single Cask) Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1950 65 Year Old

Blended Scotch

No Age Statement (Standard) Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium) Ballantine’s Limited

5-12 Years Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

13-18 Years Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak

19 – 25 Years Royal Salute 21 Year Old

26 – 50 Years The Last Drop 1971

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year Redbreast 21 Year Old

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year Redbreast 21 Year Old

Irish Single Malt of the Year Bushmills 21 Year Old

Irish Blend of the Year Jameson

Irish Single Cask of the Year Teeling Single White Burgundy Cask 2004

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year William Larue Weller 2015 Release

Rye of the Year Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old

US Micro Whisky of the Year Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up) Koval Four Grain

Bourbon

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) William Larue Weller 2015 Release

No Age Statement (Single Barrel) 1792 Single Barrrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

9 Years & Under Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009

10 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels) Blade & Bow 22 Year Old

Rye

No Age Statement Thomas H Handy 2015 Release

Up to 10 Years Pikesville 110 Proof 6 Year Old Straight Rye

11 Years & Over Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old

Wheat

Wheat Whiskey of the Year Bernheim Original

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

JAPANESE WHISKY

Japanese Whisky of the Year Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels) Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple) English Whisky Co. Chapter 14 Not Peated

European Whisky of the Year (Single) Langatun 6 year Old Pinot Noir Cask

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year Kavalan Solist Moscatel

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year Heartwood Any Port in a Storm

October Whisky Auction Ends Sunday 23^rd

Just a reminder the 35^th Just Whisky monthly auction ends soon. Check out some of the highlights …

Glen Grant 60 Years Old 1952 – G&M Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

The 1952 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Glen Grant expression, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, was laid down in oloroso Sherry casks four days before Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1952 and bottled on 2 February 2012 to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. The rare expression is bottled in a Glencairn decanter, topped with a Swarovski crystal stopper and packaged in a box made from Scottish elm sourced from Holyrood house. It comes with its own Harris Tweed bag. Only 85 bottles were made of this highly collectable whisky.

Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Committee Only Edition 2016

Sold out within minutes online during its September 2016 release, this is a long-awaited 21-year-old from Ardbeg. From the makers themselves: “Ardbeg Twenty One. A rare glimpse into Ardbeg’s precarious past. A shining example of its unwavering quality. This momentous bottling contains whisky distilled during some of the most precarious days of Ardbeg’s past, when only a handful of casks were set aside. Sumptuous and soothing, melding pepper, rye and Ardbeg’s famous peaty smoke, this is a golden dram born from adversity, determination and dedication”.

Full details on this release are thin on the ground, but it’s rumoured to have been limited to around 4,000 bottles for Committee members only.

View the full auction here:

www.just-whisky.co.uk

Our First Commonwealth Collection Whisky Is Finally Ready!

Join us this Saturday, October 22nd for the release of our  Cider Barrel Matured Virginia Highland Malt Whisky (Cider-Finished).  It will be available to sip and purchase at our Lovingston, Virginia Visitors Center from 11am-6pm.

The Commonwealth Collection features our whisky cask-finished in different barrels from around Virginia. The first release is a cider-finished whisky, with barrels coming from our friends at Potter’s Craft Cider in Free Union, Virginia. It is perfect for the Fall season, when temperatures are starting to cool and leaves are turning.

We only produced 261 cases so it won’t last long!

Virginia Distillery Company

299 Eades Lane

Lovingston, VA 22949

…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

A Beginners Guide to Lowland Whiskies

Click HERE to view it.

BALLANTINE’S LAUNCHES THE SECOND ‘ARTIST SERIES’ WITH THREE LIMITED EDITION GIFT PACKS

DESIGNED BY MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER, DAVE MA

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, has partnered with renowned music video director and photographer, Dave Ma, to launch three new limited e dition gift packs for 2016. Created to champion inspiring and innovative individuals who are committed to expressing their creativity in unique ways, for its second year Ballantine’s Artist Series gift packs showcase Dave Ma’s unique perspective of Scotland, the home of the whisky, in a series of stunning aerial photographs.

Moving to London from the beaches of Sydney a decade ago to pursue a career in music photography and video direction, Dave Ma started a ‘zine’ to showcase his work with emerging bands. Dave has worked with some of today’s most exciting music artists, including Bastille and Rudimental, however his repertoire extends well beyond music photography, with a newly discovered passion for capturing aerial landscape photographs.

Travelling around the world, Dave began to realise that the best TV screen was his aeroplane window . This kick-started a desire to shoot aerial views whilst flying, and, after realising that by playing with the colours in his shots he could make terrains look ‘otherworldly’, his first series of aerial landscapes were featured on the Jagwar Ma single artwork for Come Save Me.

To push his landscape images of the Scottish Highlands beyond realism, Dave reworked his striking photographs for the Ballantine’s Finest Sleeve and Tin with a bold two-tone colour palette to reflect the energy and youthful personality of the Finest blend. For the first time, tactile technology has been used on the Ballantine’s Finest Sleeve to reflect the look and feel of the rugged terrain of this corner of Scotland. For the Ballantine’s 12 Year Old Tin, Dave added depth to his stunning photograph with a rich blue colour palette to reflect the complexity of flavours in this distinguished 12 year old blend.

Dave Ma said of the collaboration: “I was ultimately drawn to working with Ballantine’s for the excitement of doing something completely different, that would still represent my artistic style. It was awe-inspiring to see that part of Scotland, and to be able to shoot a really unique perspective of that landscape. My focus was to capture the natural beauty of the terrain, but I wanted to move the images away from the all-too-familiar green landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and give each gift pack its own distinctive look, which reflected the personalities of each of the blends.”

Sophie Gallois, Global Marketing Director for Ballantine’s, added: “The Ballantine’s Artist Series champions unique individuals that ‘stay true’ to their creative style and Dave Ma is no exception. He captured the beauty of our Scottish heritage, resulting in these striking gift packs that will no doubt be a great addition to any whisky connoisseurs’ collection and complement last year’s designs as part of the Ballantine’s Artist Series collection.”

The 2016 Ballantine’s Artist Series Limited Edition gift packs will be available globally from October 2016.
For more information, visit Ballantines.com.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past ten years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, continuing the brand’s tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. In 2013, Ballantine’s continued its innovative approach by launching Ballantine’s Brasil, a spirit drink made from selectively cask steeping Scotch whisky with Brazilian lime peel.
www.ballantines.com

Twitter: @Ballantines

Facebook: facebook.com/ballantines

Twitter: twitter.com/ballantines

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ballantines

About Dave Ma
Dave Ma is a renowned photographer and music video director. The son of a greyhound racing trainer, he grew up part way between the beaches of Australia and the dog track. He first established himself after moving to London a decade ago, where he began collaborating with the band Foals, shooting numerous press campaigns and music videos for the band. He has since shot portraits and music videos for artists, icons and musicians including Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, Diplo, Skrillex, A$AP Rocky and Jagwar Ma. In addition to his celebrated work in the music industry, Dave Ma’s experience in shooting the intricate detail of different terrains aerially was an angle that inspired the designs for the 2016 Ballantine’s Artist Series. Dave Ma splits his time between Los Angeles and London.

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s No. 2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the single malt whisky that set the standard; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com
@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
www.pernod-ricard.com