Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

MEMBER OFFER: EDINBURGH WHISKY SOLSTICE 2016

Partnering up again with the whisky Lounge for the 4th year, we’re heading back indoors and will be setting up our Edinburgh Whisky Festival in the Assembly Rooms on George St. This iconic Georgian venue has long been at the heart of Edinburgh hosting thousands of events from Royal banquets to film festivals, but for this day in June it will play host to Scotland’s most iconic drink – whisky! As in previous years you can expect to see a fantastic display of whiskies from Scotland and around the world, we’re also working on some sensational master-classes which will leave even the most seasoned whisky drinker astounded and amazed…

Date: Saturday 25 June

Time: 12 – 5pm

Location: Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street

Tickets: £30

SMWS MEMBER OFFER: 2 tickets for £40 – save £20!   

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

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

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

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

www.ralfy.com spends a brief malt-moment with Whisky Review 582 – Aberfeldy 12yo @ 40%vol:   and discusses how to recognise quality in a whisky.

Diageo Brands Awarded Top Honors for Superior Quality at the 16th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Caledonian Sleeper Raises a Glass to World Whisky Day with Tomatin Distillery 

The Caledonian Sleeper is inviting overworked city slickers keen to escape the bustle of the Big Smoke to enjoy a nip of award-winning Tomatin single malt at a series of on board events in celebration of World Whisky Day (21 May).

Guests looking for a break north of the border will avoid the hassle of airport queues and begin their experience with a showcase of the distillery’s range of whiskies on board the Caledonian Sleeper to Inverness on Wednesday 11 and Wednesday 25 May.

The tasting provides the perfect nightcap before tucking into bed and being teleported overnight from the hubbub of London to the majesty of the Scottish Highlands, awaking refreshed and revived at their destination.

Alistair Mutch at Tomatin, said: “World Whisky Day has become an annual phenomenon which shines a spotlight on Scotland’s national drink and we are excited to share these tastings with guests to mark the occasion.

“What better way to celebrate than to raise a toast to ‘the water of life’ than with a dram on board the historic Caledonian Sleeper.”

The Tomatin tasting events form part of a series of on board food and drink events that were introduced last year to the Caledonian Sleeper.

Caledonian Sleeper Guest Experience Director, Ryan Flaherty, added: “Enjoyed from the comfort of the lounge car, the on board events are the perfect place to relax and unwind whilst socialising with family and friends.

“Guests can enjoy a wide variety of locally sourced produce, freshly prepared in our Highland kitchen and with kids under the age of 12 eating free, there’s something for everyone to indulge in before bedding down for the night.”

For more information about the Caledonian Sleeper and future on board events, visit www.sleeper.scot/.

For more information about Tomatin, visit www.tomatin.com/

Notes

About the Caledonian Sleeper

• The Caledonian Sleeper service is an overnight rail journey between the Scottish Highlands and central London.
• Scotland’s Caledonian Sleeper service has been hailed as one of Lonely Planet’s ‘Super Sleeper Trains’ and the London to Fort William service made the world’s best-selling travel guidebook’s top ten list.
• Every night, apart from Saturday, guests are transported both north and south between Inverness, Aberdeen, Fort William, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London Euston.
• Travel bookings can now be made up to one year in advance on www.sleeper.scot/.
• The Caledonian Sleeper service currently offers a range of ways to travel – comfortable and affordable seated carriages, shared berths and first-class private accommodation – with a dining car offering an extensive locally-sourced menu.
• Caledonian Sleeper is committed to supporting local communities and suppliers:
  • 92% of food produce is sourced within 50 miles of the food production operation in Dingwall.
  • All guests are provided with an Arran Aromatics sleep pack which includes sleep mask, socks and toiletries.
  • The Head Office and Guest Services Centre are located in Inverness employing around 30 people from the locality.
• Brand new trains are going to be launched in 2018, which will offer innovative ways to travel in comfort on the Caledonian Sleeper service as well as a brasserie-style club car for dining.
• The Caledonian Sleeper service is operated by Serco on behalf of Transport Scotland.

About Tomatin Distillery 

• The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.
•  Website: www.tomatin.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897 www.facebook.com/CuBocan Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897
• More information on the products here http://www.tomatin.com/home-1
• Press Kit can be downloaded here: http://www.tomatin.com/contact/
• The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.
• Tomatin Distillery also produces Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
• The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.
• The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

AMERICA’S OLDEST REGISTERED DISTILLERY TURNS 150 IN 2016

Jack Daniel’s celebrates the 150^th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. – Jack Daniel’s has announced plans to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg and around the world in 2016. Through events, special promotions and new products, Jack Daniel’s will share the authentic stories of America’s oldest registered distillery with friends of Jack, both old and new.

In 1866, Jasper “Jack” Daniel had the foresight to place his distillery at a source of limestone water flowing from a cave spring in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Jack Daniel’s has been at the forefront of whiskey-making ever since. Today, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is a true global icon found in more than 165 countries around the world and is revered for its individual character and authenticity.

“In a world where change is a constant, it is an incredible achievement to be making whiskey in the same way, in the same place, after 150 years,” said Mark McCallum, President of Jack Daniel’s. “I believe the endurance and success of Jack Daniel’s is the result of our ability to continue to operate according to Mr. Jack’s lifelong motto, ‘Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can.’ During this milestone anniversary, we will celebrate our history, traditions and values by continuing to tell the unique and powerful stories that make Jack Daniel’s the unique and very special global brand that it is today. We are looking forward to delighting our brand fans all over the world in some very special ways to celebrate this milestone for Jack Daniel’s.”

Jack Daniel’s 150^th yearlong celebration includes:

• Commemorative 150^th Anniversary Bottles
• Global Barrel Scavenger Hunt
• Global Master Distiller for a Day Contest
• Renovations and New Facilities at the Jack Daniel Distillery
• Celebration Event in Lynchburg in October
• Closing Bell Ringing and Anniversary Reception at the New York Stock Exchange

In the 150 years of the Jack Daniel Distillery, the distilling process has largely remained unchanged. From meticulously crafting each barrel to mellowing each drop of whiskey through 10 feet of charcoal, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is made with the same process pioneered and perfected by Mr. Jack himself. Today, the quiet town of Lynchburg still produces every single drop of the world’s Jack Daniel’s, proof that mastering a craft with a focus on quality can propel a brand beyond borders and across cultures.

For updates and more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com/.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. © 2016 Jack Daniel’s. Tennessee Whiskey Alcohol 40% by Volume (80 proof). Distilled and Bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Malt of the Month

The Malt of the Month is Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1998. Thiss bottling was introduced in 1997 with the 1979 vintage and is the most popular entry in Diageo’s range of cask-finished whiskies. This has been bottled at around 18 years of age after a final maturation in ex-Pedro-Ximénez sherry casks, which adds richness and freshness to the classic peaty and maritime character. We’ve knocked a tenner off and it’s £63.95 for the whole of May.

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1998, 43%

Producer’s Tasting Notes

Nose: Intense peat and vanilla. A raisin sweetness checks the smoke. Iodine-edged peat and crisp, roasty malt. Satisfying and enticing.

Palate: Full bodied and rich in texture. A clear, grassy malt, then the peat lands – smoke filling the mouth. A very salty tang, the middle offers coffee, vanilla and fruit.

Finish: Incredibly long, even by Islay standards. Fruit, peat and long-lasting oak. Very chewable.

MAY OUTTURN: MAGICAL SPECTRUM 

May Outturn beams a magical spectrum of 17 flavoursome new single casks. This First Friday, all 12 of our flavour profiles make a mouth-watering appearance, bringing a colourful diversity of tastes and aromas for you to explore. If you need some extra help choosing your bottles this month, SMWS Ambassador Phoebe Brookes shines a light on our favourites, read the reviews on our blog

Young & spritely

39.123 A juicy jamboree
Price: £46.00
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Sweet, fruity & mellow

73.75 Raspberry Atholl Brose
Price: £61.80
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9.106 Fun without fireworks
Price: £95.80
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Spicy & sweet

41.73 One night in Bangkok
Price: £48.80
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46.39 Continental breakfast
Price: £95.80
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123.16 Madagascan white chocolate mice
Price: £51.00
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Spicy & dry

7.131 Apples in the cellar
Price: £55.10
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Deep, rich & dried fruits

30.91 Deliciously dark and sweet
Price: £69.70
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Old & dignified

35.144 Punch with a punch
Price: £98.30
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Light & delicate

26.117 Silky smooth sundowner
Price: £68.50
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Juicy, oak & vanilla

36.102 After the rain
Price: £55.30
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Oily & coastal

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES & LOW AVAILABILITY

3.259 An old sea-dog
Price: £91.40
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31.33 Avuncular intrigue
Price: £124.20
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Lightly peated

3.260 Delicate perfumed sweetness
Price: Exclusive to May offers
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Peated

10.93 Sweet but dangerous
Price: £58.10
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66.83 A memory of summer
Price: £54.00
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Heavily peated

29.180 An apothecary shop on the shore
Price: £80.80
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Browse Current Outturn >
Browse All Bottlings >

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

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

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

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

This week Joe Ellis reviews the Jim Beam Black 8 Year Old U.S.A edition.

https://youtu.be/EkaRA7mDev4

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

14 Million Barrels and Counting: Jim Beam Makes History with Milestone Fill

Clermont, Kentucky – May 2, 2016 – Jim Beam® Bourbon, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, made history today with the filling of its 14 millionth barrel of bourbon since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The milestone barrel — a bourbon industry first — was personally filled and sealed by seventh generation master distiller Fred Noe and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin at the company’s flagship distillery in Clermont, Ky.

“History is what you make it,” said Noe. “And, here at Jim Beam, we’re proud to make it one barrel at a time. This milestone is cause for celebration both for our employees and bourbon fans around the globe. Fourteen million is a big number, and it says a lot about the success of our whiskey and the growing passion for bourbon around the world.”

The historic milestone, achieved just two years after the filling of Jim Beam’s 13 millionth barrel, serves as a testament to the continued global bourbon boom.

“Kentucky bourbon has become not only an American icon, but an international symbol of our proud heritage and craftsmanship,” said Governor Bevin. “I’m pleased to toast Jim Beam’s impressive milestone, rich history and spirited future.”

The 14 millionth barrel will join the nearly two million barrels of bourbon currently aging in Jim Beam’s rackhouses across the Commonwealth.  It will be stored inside the distillery’s historic rackhouse D, a nine-story warehouse re-built by Jim Beam after Prohibition on the Clermont distillery grounds. The rackhouse is open to visitors as part of the Jim Beam® American Stillhouse tour.

According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, bourbon is now a $3 billion state industry, providing more than 15,000 jobs and generating more than $166 million in tax revenues annually. Over the past five years, the bourbon industry has grown 35 percent.

As the producer of more than half the world’s bourbon, Jim Beam has played a leading role in this growth. At one time known for primarily one brand, the iconic Jim Beam portfolio now offers a wide range of award-winning expressions including Jim Beam Black®, Jim Beam® Apple, Jim Beam® Single Barrel, Jim Beam® Devil’s Cut®, Jim Beam® Honey, Jim Beam® Maple, Red Stag by Jim Beam®, Jim Beam® Bonded, Jim Beam® Rye and Jim Beam® Distiller’s Masterpiece.

“When Jacob Beam, Jim Beam’s great, great grandfather, filled his first barrel of bourbon in 1795, he had no real idea of what he was starting,” said Noe, who has been on hand for the previous six “million barrel” milestones, starting at the filling of the 8 millionth barrel in 1998. “All he wanted to do was make the best bourbon possible. The growth of this company reflects that dedication. For more than 220 years, we’ve made every barrel count.”

Beam has continued to expand its operations in Kentucky, fueled by a commitment to innovate and meet surging global consumer demand. Over the next five years, Beam Suntory plans to invest more than $1 billion to make bourbon in the Commonwealth.

For more information on Jim Beam®, please visit www.jimbeam.com, www.facebook.com/jimbeamus, or @jimbeamofficial.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.