www.ralfy.com uncovers a secretive side to American grain spirits with Whisky Review 590 – two Bottled In Bond Bourbons

FOUR SPIRITS FROM BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

AWARDED “BEST OF CATEGORY”

AT 2016 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

Total of 12 spirits awarded medals 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (June 28, 2016) Four spirits from Buffalo Trace Distillery were awarded “Best of Category” at the 2016 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, including Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey. An additional 12 medals were awarded to spirits from Buffalo Trace Distillery, seven of which were Gold Medals.

These spirits were ranked among 401 spirits that were submitted from a total of 29 countries.

Spirits earning medals include:

Gold Medal

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Eagle Rare Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey
• E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream

            Silver Medal

• Benchmark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Wheatley Vodka
• Platinum 7X Vodka
• Rain Cucumber Vodka

            Bronze Medal

• E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

            The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world.  The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Sept. 2 – 25, in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”

            Complete results of the 2016 LAIWSC are available at www.laspiritscomp.com/.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Happy 4th of July to our friends in the United States of America!

After two years of intensive research, the German publisher Alba-Collection is pleased to present the new and detailed “Bourbon – Rye – Whiskey Distilleries in USA“ whiskey map. The map contains 805 distilleries and shows the great variety of the American whiskey landscape. It is probably the most detailed special subject map of its kind.

The map is accompanied by a 24-page booklet, which gives the details of all 805 distilleries. Apart from a few dozens of large distilleries, we also found many hundreds of small craft and micro distilleries, which fall into 10 distinct whiskey categories. This also shows the enormous upswing whiskey has taken in the USA during the past years.

The map is supplemented by a set of 12 regional whiskey maps due to the high density of distilleries in some areas. Also new in our publishing portfolio the maps · „Canadian Whisky Distilleries“ and · „Whisky Distilleries in Japan“ .

You can take a look at our map collection at www.alba-collection.com/ or facebook: Alba-collection. All maps come in several sizes. We also offer attractive bundles for resellers. For further information, please contact hirst@alba-collection.com.

Excerpt of the Alba-Collection Publisher Portfolio: 

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA  Large Map (40 × 28 inch)    ISBN: 978-3-944148-31-1

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA  Medium Map (24 × 17 inch) ISBN: 978-3-944148-32-8

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (complete)      Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-33-5

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 1) ME – VT – NH – MA – RI – CT          Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-36-6

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 2) NY – PA – NJ – DE – MD – DC          Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-37-3

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 3) Virginia – West Virginia       Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)            ISBN: 978-3-944148-38-0

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 4) North Carolina – South Carolina     Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-39-7

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 5) Kentucky – Tennessee         Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)            ISBN: 978-3-944148-40-3

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 6) Ohio – Indiana – Illinois       Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)            ISBN: 978-3-944148-41-0

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 7) Michigan – Wisconsin          Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)            ISBN: 978-3-944148-42-7

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 8) Texas – Oklahoma – Kansas            Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-43-4

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 9) Colorado       Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-44-1

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 10) California – Nevada            Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)            ISBN: 978-3-944148-45-8

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 11) Oregon         Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-46-5

Bourbon-Rye-Whiskey Distilleries in USA (Part 12) Washington Tasting Map (14 × 10 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-47-2

Canadian Whisky Distilleries           Medium Map (24 × 17 inch) ISBN: 978-3-944148-34-2

Canadian Whisky Distilleries           Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-35-9

Whisky-Distilleries in Japan Medium Map (24 × 17 inch) ISBN: 978-3-944148-25-0

Whisky-Distilleries in Japan Tasting Map (10 × 14 inch)   ISBN: 978-3-944148-30-4

Contact:

Alba-Collection Verlag GbR

Owner Ruediger Joerg Hirst & Frank Rittel Meldorfer Straße 11b

D-20251 Hamburg

Germany

hirst@alba-collection.com

http://www.alba-collection.com/

facebook: Alba-collection

Alba-Collection was founded in 2011. Since then, we have sold our high-quality whisk(e)y maps into over 100 countries of the world.

What is bourbon? A guide from The Whisky Exchange

What is bourbon? That’s Jack Daniel’s, right? Whiskey? Something to do with rye? Well, yes to all three, actually. Very simply, bourbon is a mixture of grains, ground up, mixed with water and heated, fermented with the help of yeast, distilled, then aged in oak barrels.

All very simple. But are bourbon and American whiskey the same thing? No. One way to remember is that all bourbons are whiskeys, but not all whiskeys are bourbons. American whiskey includes sub-categories including bourbon, straight bourbon, rye, wheat, malt, rye malt and corn, each with its own set of rules. For example, corn whiskey must be made with at least 80% corn; the grain mixture (‘mash bill’) for rye whiskey must be a minimum of 51% rye, and so on. But all American whiskeys have the following in common:

• they must be distilled at no higher than 80% ABV
• they must be matured in charred, new oak containers (with the exception of corn whiskey, which can be stored in used or uncharred barrels)
• the ABV of the whiskey must be 62.5% ABV or lower when it enters the cask.

The four main grains used in bourbon. Clockwise from top left: wheat, barley, corn, rye

The grains

Corn The main ingredient in bourbon, corn must make up at least 51% of bourbon mash bills; in practice, it makes up about 70%. When the spirit is very young, the corn flavour is very noticeable, but mellows with age, although the sweetness will persist.

Rye Delivering peppery spice and power, rye is the most characterful of all grains used in bourbon production. Typically, rye normally makes up 10% of the mash bill, but ‘high-rye’ bourbons, such as Four Roses Single Barrel, are higher, up to about 35% rye.

Barley Used primarily because it is so effective at converting fermentable starches to sugar, barley is the workhorse ingredient, and usually makes up 10-15% of the mash bill.

Wheat The opposite of rye, the addition of wheat will make the resultant spirit softer and smoother, and – because wheat’s inclusion will usually be at the expense of rye – sweeter. In practice, wheat rarely makes up more than 10% of the mash bill.

How is bourbon made?

The grains are ground up then added to a large ‘mash cooker’ along with water and cooked for 30 minutes, to break down the starch into fermentable sugars.

The mash is then transferred to a fermentation tank along with a small proportion of ‘sour mash’, spent mash from a previous distillation which helps get fermentation going, a similar effect to a yeast ‘starter’ used when making sourdough bread. The finished product is a beer-like substance with an ABV of around 6-8%.

The liquid is then distilled twice; the first time in a column still to approximately 50-60% ABV, then a second time, this time in a copper pot still, up to roughly 70% ABV. The new-make spirit, known as ‘white dog’, is transferred to new, charred, white-oak barrels (almost always American, but French is also permitted).

Bourbon categories

Straight bourbon If you see the term ‘straight bourbon’ on your bottle, you know that the liquid has been aged in new oak for a minimum of two years.

Single barrel Single-barrel bourbons are always worth trying, given that the vast majority of bourbons are made by mixing (or ‘vatting’) dozens or even hundreds of barrels to ensure consistency of flavour.

Small batch Any bourbon bearing the words ‘small batch’ on the label could be a batch of 10 barrels or 10,000. In practice, the vast majority of small-batch bourbons will not be a marriage of hundreds of barrels, and more importantly, the reality is that extra care and attention is placed on these bottlings.

You will often hear people tell you that Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon, as it undergoes the Lincoln County Process – that is, filtered through maple charcoal, which actually removes flavour rather than adding it, so technically it is allowed to be called ‘bourbon’. You won’t find the word anywhere on the label, though, as the company chooses to describe it as Tennessee whiskey.

How do you drink bourbon?

Bourbon is a highly versatile spirit, and can be drunk neat, mixed and served long. There are also a number of iconic bourbon cocktails, such as the Manhattan, Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour – so it’s a great idea to have a bottle in your drinks cupboard. Oh, and despite some of the headlines you might see, there’s no such thing as the best bourbon – it’s all down to your personal taste. So, if you find an entry-level bourbon you prefer to one twice the price, no problem!

Bourbon facts

• there are more barrels of bourbon in Kentucky than there are people
• the first-ever single-barrel example was Blanton’s bourbon, released in 1984
• Buffalo Trace, founded more than 200 years ago, is the oldest continuously running distillery in the US
• 75% of all Kentucky bourbon is made by Jim Beam
• 95% of US bourbon is made in Kentucky.

1792 SMALL BATCH BOURBON AWARDED “BEST OF CATEGORY”

AT 2016 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS COMPETITION

Four Barton 1792 Distillery bourbons receive medals 

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (June 30, 2016) – 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was awarded “Best of Category” at the 2016 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. An additional four medals were awarded to bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery.

            These spirits were ranked among 401 spirits that were submitted from a total of 29 countries.

Bourbons earning medals include:

Gold Medal

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Flatboat Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

            Silver Medal

• Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

            The Los Angeles International Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world.  The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Sept. 2 – 25, in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”

            Complete results of the 2016 LAISC are available at www.laspiritscomp.com/.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com/.

FOUR LOCAL CHARITIES CHOSEN BY CHIVAS BROTHERS EMPLOYEES

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, is today awarding a combined £20,000 to four charities across the UK as part of its ongoing commitment to build strong relations with the local communities where it operates.

Each year, Chivas Brothers’ 1,600 employees across four regions collectively select their favourite causes to support, with each charity receiving a £5,000 donation. The chosen charities for 2016 are:

• Macmillan Cancer Support in the West of Scotland (Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire)

o   A £5,000 donation ensures that a Macmillan nurse is able to give in-home support for people living with cancer for a whole month

• Beatson Cancer Charity (Dunbartonshire)

o   A £5,000 donation will support the charity’s pioneering work, which supports the 8,000 new patients and their families who attend the cancer centre every year.

• Alzheimer Scotland (Northern Scotland region)

o   A £5,000 donation will support the charity’s work across Aberdeenshire and Moray through initiatives such as dementia cafes, carer groups and the Aberdeen Dementia Resource Centre

• Jake McCarthy Foundation (London and Plymouth region)

o   Last year’s £5,000 contributed to The Wall of Hope, a symbol of the ongoing aim to eradicate brain cancer, with each brick representing one day of research for glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type of malignant brain tumour

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, said: “It is a great pleasure to announce the four charities that our employees have chosen to support this year. We are dedicated to being a part of the communities where our employees live and work, and therefore to support this incredibly worthy cause that is so close to the hearts of our workforce across the country. The Charity of the Year initiative is a great opportunity for Chivas Brothers to give back to our local communities.”

For the second consecutive year, Hammersmith, Kennington and Plymouth sites voted for The Jake McCarthy Foundation, which was set up in memory of the brother of an employee and aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours to help ensure early diagnosis.

Josh McCarthy (pictured), Senior Brand Manager for Chivas Brothers, is Jake’s brother. He said: “I’m thrilled that the Jake McCarthy Foundation has been chosen as 2016 Charity of the Year. Chivas Brothers has such a warm, welcoming community of people and their compassion and support for our cause just showcases the kind-hearted nature of the people I’m lucky enough to work with each day.

“It is obviously a cause extremely close to my heart and with brain tumours still responsible for more cancer deaths in under 40s than any other illness, the support amongst such a big business like this helps our cause enormously. This partnership helps us to fund further research into the disease as well as get support from a wide community of people.”

The annual charity vote is just one of a number of initiatives that Chivas Brothers’ employees can take part in throughout the year, including a ‘doubling-up scheme’ where the company matches funds raised for good causes by workers in their spare time.

Notes:

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 world’s No.2 single malt 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 € 8,558 million in 2014/15. 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 40index.
www.pernod-ricard.com

GET BIDDING THIS WEEKEND!

Our current auction is in full swing and we’ve already seen a lot of interest in some of the rarest bottles.

This weekend is the perfect opportunity to take a look at the hundreds of items listed in our auction.

CHIVAS BROTHERS’ NORTHERN SCOTLAND EMPLOYEES DONATE TO ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, is today awarding £5,000 to Alzheimer Scotland after employees across its Northern Scotland operations voted in their droves to support the charity.

Each year, Chivas Brothers’ staff select their favourite causes to support as part of the company’s commitment to build strong relations with the local communities where it operates. As the leading dementia organisation in the region, Alzheimer Scotland provides a wide range of specialist services for people with dementia and their carers. A £5,000 donation will support the charity’s work across Aberdeenshire and Moray through initiatives such as dementia cafes, carer groups and the Aberdeen Dementia Resource Centre.

“On behalf of Alzheimer Scotland, I would like to thank everyone at Chivas Brothers for supporting our charity”, said Andrea Watt, Aberdeen-based Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer Scotland. “Funds raised will help us to continue to run our new Dementia Resource Centre here on King Street, Aberdeen, plus our various groups and activities across Aberdeenshire and Moray. In addition these vital funds will help ensure we continue to provide dementia advisors and dementia nurse consultants to help people live well with dementia and to make sure that no one faces dementia alone.”

Elma Mackay (pictured), Alzheimer Scotland Community Fundraiser in Inverness, added: “Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s leading dementia charity, offering specialist support services, community activities, information and advice at every stage of the dementia journey, from over 60 locations across Scotland. We depend on generous donations and fundraised income to maintain and develop our work to improve quality of life for the 90,000 people in Scotland with dementia and their carers”.

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, said: “It is a great pleasure to announce that our employees have chosen to support Alzheimer Scotland this year. We are dedicated to being a part of the communities where our employees live and work, and therefore to support this incredibly worthy cause that is so close to the hearts of our Northern Scotland workforce. The Charity of the Year initiative is a great opportunity for Chivas Brothers to give back to our local communities.”

Karen McGillivray works for Chivas Brothers at Strathisla Distillery. She said: “My uncle has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it’s not until you are faced with conditions like these that you can fully understand and appreciate the work that these charities do, not only for the patient but also for their partners and families. I have read up on all the benefits and effects the work the charity does and appreciate this.”

The donation to Alzheimer Scotland forms part of a £20,000 contribution to four charities across the UK, each representing a region in which Chivas Brothers operates and includes; Alzheimer Scotland, Northern Scotland region; Macmillan Cancer Support West of Scotland, Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire; Beatson Cancer Charity, Dunbartonshire; and the Jake McCarthy Foundation, London and Plymouth region.

The annual charity vote is just one of a number of initiatives that Chivas Brothers’ employees can take part in throughout the year, including a ‘doubling-up scheme’ where the company matches funds raised for good causes by workers in their spare time.

Notes:

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 world’s No.2 single malt 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 € 8,558 million in 2014/15. 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 40index.
www.pernod-ricard.com

Bag one of these new batches!

It’s going to be a big week with the Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3 limted edition and Aisla Bay Batch 2 from Girvan Distillery both available to order at The Whisky Shop. These new batches are highly sought-after so don’t wait around or you’ll surely miss out!

Free delivery available on all orders over £75 Next day delivery available

The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3

The much-anticipated annual release from the Balvenie Distillery, Tun 1509 marries together casks hand-picked by Malt Master, David Stewart MBE, to create a unique expression that possesses those familiar Balvenie characteristics that made previous batches so popular. A whisky of “rich complexity with elegant oaky notes and dried fruits balanced by mellow cinnamon spices and ginger,” as Stewart describes it. “It also has lovely layers of vanilla oak, rich woody spices, dark fruits and a definite sherry character interspersed with elegant honey.”

£280 Buy Now

Ailsa Bay Batch 2

This second batch from Girvan Distillery is a uniquely balanced single malt whisky that refuses to be defined by its geography. A Lowlands expression with a beautifully precise smoky:sweet ratio, this dram defies the traditional Scotch Whisky Region classification. An intense nose with smoky phenol notes balanced with creamy honeyed sweetness followed by smoky bacon. The palate has a zingy, peaty kick and layered sweetness with crispy rashers and a touch of maple syrup, while the finish is big and lingering.

£59.99 Buy Now

Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserves 21 Year Old

William Grant & Sons’ Rare Cask Reserves line presents this 21 year old blended Scotch that contains some very exclusive whisky from long closed distilleries such as Ladyburn, Inverleven and Dumbarton. Inheriting fresh fruity notes from the Dumbarton grain components, light oaky notes and hints of floral blossom from Inverleven, while Ladyburn adds its unique robust flavour profile.

£120 Buy Now