ralfy review 1061 – Bunnahabhain 12yo @60.1%vol: (2023 Edition)

KENTUCKY DISTILLERS’ ASSOCIATION WELCOMES BALANCE DISTILLING COMPANY AS NEWEST MEMBER

VETERAN-OWNED DISTILLERY TO REVIVE MAMMOTH CAVE BOURBON

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Balance Distilling Company in Warren County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

A veteran-owned and operated distillery, Luke Jean founded Balance Distilling in 2020 and began production in 2022. Starting with batches of rum, gin, moonshine and whiskey, Balance is resurrecting the historic Mammoth Cave Bourbon brand that dates back to the 1860s.

The brand will also be found at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave, where many visitors who have traveled to experience the world’s longest cave system begin their journey. This partnership will highlight the history of local moonshiners who have used intricate cave systems throughout Kentucky for generations.

Located at 3558 Bohannon Road in Smiths Grove, the distillery has the ability to produce 5,000 proof gallons annually. Balance Distilling is currently the only operating distillery in Warren County, which began allowing legal alcohol sales in 2019.

A public affairs officer with the Army Reserve and a graduate of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Jean said joining the KDA is a significant moment that symbolizes upward growth for Balance Distilling and the Western Kentucky region.

“We built our distillery and revived an important Bourbon brand on the heritage and legacy of one of the great wonders of the world — Mammoth Cave,” he said. “Our products and our business will continue to build on those attributes, integrating what we learn from our new Bourbon family with the KDA.”

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “We are thrilled to welcome Balance Distilling as our newest member and a shining example of how Bourbon curiosity continues to drive new tourism, new businesses, new jobs, and new opportunities to communities across the Commonwealth.”

As proof of how Bourbon Builds Kentucky®, Gregory said the Western Kentucky region now features 18 distilleries responsible for 1,300 jobs carrying an $80 million payroll, generating $443 million in annual economic impact and $10 million in local and state tax revenue.

Learn more about Balance Distilling Company at www.balancedistilling.com.

Balance Distilling Company joins KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 1,000 barrels per year. The KDA now has over 120 members, including 70 distilling members and more than 50 industry partner and champion members.

Visit the KDA and its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com for more information and details on how to join the KDA’s growing Bourbon family.

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA)  is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™.

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com

Springbank Signatory Vintage Symington’s Choice Single Cask Whisky 35 Year Old · 1989 Vintage

Nose: Deep and complex with rich dried fruits, dark chocolate, and a hint of spice.

Palate: Full-bodied with flavors of raisins, prunes, and a touch of oak.

Finish: Long and smooth, with a lingering sweetness and a subtle smokiness.

£1,999.95

Bowmore 18YO Whisky Sponge Edition No. 74

This is a sibling cask to the 17 year old Bowmore they bottled as Whisky Sponge Edition No.50, except this time it has an extra year of maturation under its belt and – as this is the last cask of this parcel of stock – they’ve bottled it at natural cask strength. Whisky Sponge Edition No.74 sees them returning to one of their most beloved distilleries: Bowmore!

This is an 18 year old Bowmore. It was distilled in 2003 and matured in a refill sherry butt, however a few years ago its maturation was ‘broken’ by spending some time out of cask. It was then put back into a different refill sherry butt to continue maturing. Hence the age being 18 years old.

This cask isn’t quite as sherry-forward as its sibling. It’s a more exuberantly fruity and classical modern Bowmore with beautiful inflections of soft, dry peat smoke, a wealth of coastal freshness and mineral character and lighter background hints of leather, tar and eucalyptus from the refill sherry influence. Beautiful, powerful, chiselled and complex.

No soap was detected or utilised during the shepherding into being of this bottling.

The entire Decadent Drinks team would like to thank Rembrandt for kindly dying in 1669, thus allowing us to riff on his masterpiece ‘The Storm on the Sea of Galilee’ without fear of legal reprisal.

They hope you enjoy this very special bottling, it’ll probably be their last Bowmore for quite a length of time.

£299

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Glen Elgin 12 Years Old Tri Carragh

This single malt was distilled on July 6, 2011, at the Glen Elgin Distillery in Moray, in the Speyside Region of Scotland. This beautiful single cask offering has been re-racked into 1st fill Tawny Port Cask for the last 15 months of its maturation, imparting rich, sweet notes into the malt. It was bottled without chill-filtration or artificial colouring and at natural cask strength by Stravaig Spirits for their Tri Carragh collection. Only 292 Bottles were produced. £73.00

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We’re already two weeks + into 2025, how did that happen!?

Firstly, a very Happy New Year to you. We hope you enjoyed the festive break, and that this year brings you happiness, health and a really good dram or two.

If you’ve been hit with a bit of the January blues, don’t worry. We’ve got some winter warmers to bring back your glow this month.

Our Visitor Centre is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm, so why not come and visit us for a tour, tasting, or even a coffee. We’re 100% dog friendly and would be delighted to welcome you and your four-legged friends into the warmth of the distillery. Don’t forget, we’ve got a super offer on the Lindores Day Out voucher (two tours, tasting and charcuterie platter) which is available to purchase here for just £40 (usually £80!).

On Saturday 25th January we’ll be hosting our annual Burns Night celebration and you’re invited! Join us for a hearty plate of haggis, neeps and tatties; an address to the haggis; a piper and a dram of Lindores raised to Robert Burns. There will be entertainment for all and it promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable night. Tickets are £20 per head which includes your supper and a dram. They can be purchased at the distillery or online here.

We’ll be opening up our Legacy Bar from 5:30pm on Friday 31st January for anyone who wishes to join us for our monthly bar night. We’ll have a food truck onsite, so come down for a drink and something to eat without having to worry about the washing up! No booking required.

If you’d like something to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, don’t forget that all our bottles are available to order online, including our newest additions, the 50ml and 200ml Casks of Lindores series – perfect for gifting or drinking!

So really, January isn’t looking all that bad after all! We hope you stay warm and look forward to seeing you soon.

Slàinte Mhath!

Sutherland Bottled By Thompson Bros. 5 Year Old Limited 2024 Release Blended Highland Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($99.99)

The incredible Dornoch Distillery is easily the most exciting new distillery operation in Scotland today. Run by brothers Phil & Simon Thompson, they understand the desires of true whisky lovers like few other distillers in the region. While their tiny distillery can only produce a handful of barrels a year, they’re in the process of building a much more substantial plant and while we wait, they’ve built an excellent independent bottling operation known as Thompson Bros (Redacted Bros stateside.) This special whisky pays homage to their home region, a gorgeous slice of Scotland known as Sutherland. This windswept county stretches from just north of Tain over the Dornoch Firth to the tip of northwestern Scotland and the North Atlantic Sea. Every drop of malt in this blend is distilled in Sutherland county and there are only three distillers in the area – Dornoch, Clynelish, and Brora. With a rough breakdown of 1/3, 2/3 and 1%, all three are represented within this bottle. This is the first product commercially available featuring Dornoch’s delicious own distillate yet to be released in the US. Widely sought-after in markets across the world and available exclusively at K&L. This release has completely sold out in other markets in a matter of minutes and the US pre-arrival is priced 20-30% below what it commanded in the UK.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Discover Your Passion, Elevate Your Expertise

As the new year unfolds, it’s the perfect time to turn ambitions into action. If whisky is your passion, why not make 2025 the year you dive deeper into its fascinating world?

At Edinburgh Whisky Academy, we offer online and in-person courses tailored for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Whether you’re captivated by the art of whisky production or keen to refine your tasting skills, we’re here to help you reach your goals.

What We Offer

• Certificate Courses: Immerse yourself in Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, or American Single Malt Whiskey and impress friends with your expert knowledge.
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• Approved Course Provider Programme: Turn your passion into a profession by teaching EWA courses and building a rewarding spirits education business.
• Free Taster Courses: Curious but unsure? Try our introductory courses in Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, and American Single Malt Whiskey —for free! Get a glimpse into our learning platform and see if a deeper dive is right for you.

Don’t let another year pass by without taking the first step toward your whisky education journey. 2025 is your opportunity to achieve, grow and savour the richness of whisky knowledge like never before.

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Bunnahabhain 1998 Manzanilla Cask, Feis Ile 2023

Distilled on 28th October 1998 and filled into American Oak casks then finished in first fill Manzanilla sherry casks on 25 th May 2016. The result is a warmly welcoming dram, with notes of salt & spice, fitting for the best of celebrations.As Islay’s most northern distillery, Bunnahabhain are known for their unpeated, classically sherried single malts. And with its beautifully harmonious character, this limited release is quintessentially Bunnahabhain in style.

Manzanilla sherry is famed for its coastal, nutty characteristics; characteristics shared by our own Bunnahabhain spirit. And that’s why they work together beautifully. The result is a warmly welcoming dram, with notes of salt & spice, fitting for the best of celebrations. So let’s raise a glass to friends near and far.

£399

Tasting notes:

Nose: Notes of freshly baked pastry with sweet almonds, rose petals, grapefruit and dried spices are balanced with a touch of mahogany and incense.

Palate: Coastal influence of seaweed and fresh sea air are met with raisins and dates and intertwined with creamy fudge, waxed red apples and a warm sweet spice reminiscent of star anise.

Finish: Spicy and aromatic with caramelised walnuts; the star anise fades to reveal lemon peel and pears with a lingering note of sea salt.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom