In the embrace of the longest night, we find the promise of returning light

The longest night of the year has arrived, we at Glengoyne wish you a joyous and peaceful Winter Solstice. We hope this season brings warmth and light to you and your loved ones. We are thrilled at the response the Winter Solstice 2024 limited release has had from the Glengoyne family. This limited release draws inspiration from a year-long solargraphy project, capturing the sun’s journey over Glengoyne Distillery throughout the year. As the nights grow shorter, we eagerly anticipate its return. We have a very limited number of bottles remaining – Don’t miss out on this final chance to own a bottle of our Winter Solstice whisky, crafted to celebrate the season’s spirit.

Winter Solstice

Penelope Bourbon introduces Havana

Annual release in Penelope’s Cooper Series of cask finishes stands apart as an indulgent bourbon experience that balances tropical elements with rich, warm maple notes

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 10, 2024) – Penelope Bourbon announced its latest innovation in cask-finished bourbon with the release of Havana. Always at the forefront of innovation, the Penelope team capitalized on the popularity of maple with Havana, and redefined the double cask finish by taking a Caribbean rum finish for a base of molasses and tropical sweetness and enhancing it with a unique maple syrup cask finish to transform the entire flavor journey. The casks for the second finish have a distinctive life cycle – they were used to age Penelope bourbon, then were repurposed to age maple syrup before being used for Havana’s second finish. This special finish adds depth and warmth for an innovative and distinctive yet approachable experience for bourbon connoisseurs and adventurous newcomers alike.

“This is much more than a rum-finished bourbon – it’s a standout in our collection of cask-finished bourbons,” said Danny Polise, Penelope Bourbon Founder and Master Blender. “The maple finish is the perfect complement to the initial rum-finished bourbon by further elevating the blend and creating balance between savory, sweet and oak spice.”

As the latest premium release in the Penelope Cooper Series of cask-finished bourbons, Havana begins with Penelope’s signature Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged four years with a mash bill of 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat and 3% malted barley. The final expression is the result of aging 12 months in Caribbean rum casks and one month in the unique maple syrup barrels. Bottled at 93 proof (46.5% ABV), a limited allocation of 4,500 cases (6-in) ship this month at a suggested minimum retail price of $79.99.

Havana imparts an aroma of molasses, banana bread and rich maple with tastes of robust caramel corn, charred oak and candied pecans. The finish features lingering vanilla, brown sugar and syrup with hints of mellow tobacco and spice.

“We’ve been working on Havana for a long time to deliver the perfect product, and we couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out,” said Michael Paladini, Penelope Bourbon Founder and Vice President of Strategy for MGP Ingredients. “We really try to push the boundaries of innovation with every release in our Cooper Series. Havana’s double cask finish delivers rich flavor and complexity we think our fans will love.”

Penelope Havana is one of five special annual cask finish releases in Penelope Bourbon’s award-winning Cooper Series. The other offerings include Rio, double finished in American honey and Brazilian oak casks; Rosé, finished in French Grenache rosé wine casks; Tokaji, finished in Hungarian wine casks; and Valencia, finished in Vino de Naranja casks from Sevilla, Spain. A product locator for the Penelope family of bourbons can be found here.

ABOUT PENELOPE BOURBON

Founded in 2018, Penelope Bourbon has become one of the country’s fastest-growing whiskey brands. Named after founder Michael Paladini’s daughter, Penelope Bourbon offers a range of uniquely blended and finished straight bourbon and rye whiskey expressions, known for their smoothness and rich flavor, perfect for sipping neat or mixing in cocktails.

Penelope’s core expressions, including Four Grain, Barrel Strength, Architect, and Toasted Bourbon, have won more than 40 awards across the spirits industry. In 2024 alone, Penelope won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Barrel Strength and Toasted Rye, alongside innovation awards for limited releases such as Rio.

Penelope Bourbon continues to innovate within its Cooper Series, Limited Releases, and Estate Collection, further establishing its place among the top premium whiskey brands. Today, Penelope is available in 49 states and seven countries, proving that with passion, dedication, and love, anything is possible.

For more information, visit penelopebourbon.com or follow us on social media @penelopebourbon (Instagram/Facebook).

Whisky Auctioneer Extended December Auction

20.12.24 – 06.01.2025

Now Live: Extended December Auction

Featuring over 8,000 rare whiskies and fine spirits, this auction offers a truly unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles.

This month’s highlights include the exceptionally rare and legendary Port Ellen 12 Year Old Queen’s Visit 1980, an impressive vertical of over 21 Macallan 18 Year Old bottlings from 1966–1986, and the ultra-rare Tormore 1966 Samaroli Sherry Wood / Silver Cap, complete with a hand-drawn label by Samaroli himself.

We’re also delighted to present over 250 miniature bottles, featuring many whiskies that have scored 90+ on Serge Valentin’s Whiskyfun.com – a fantastic opportunity for collectors to sample and experience legendary malts.

 Impressive Macallan 1966-1986 18 Year Old Vertical x 21

Legendary Port Ellen 12 Year Old Queen’s Visit 1980

Tormore 1966 Samaroli Sherry Wood / Silver Cap – Hand-drawn Label Version

Photo 5 – 250+ Incredible Whisky Miniatures

Jefferson’s Presidential Select 1991 18 Year Old Bourbon / Stitzel-Weller

Finn Thomson Invergordon Single Grain 50 Year Old 1974

This rare single grain whisky from Invergordon, Scotland’s northernmost grain distillery, is a masterpiece shaped by time and tradition. Known for producing whiskies with a uniquely smooth and creamy profile, this 50-year-old expression exemplifies the transformative power of extended maturation. Left undisturbed in a single cask for exactly half a century, the whisky has evolved into an extraordinary spirit, showcasing a stunning array of flavours.  This rare release not only celebrates the art of grain whisky but also redefines its potential, proving that, when given time, grain whisky can rival even the most revered malts in depth and complexity.

£370.00

Tasting Notes:

Bursting with notes of ripe peaches, nectarines, and delicate vanilla cream, it offers a velvety mouthfeel complemented by subtle hints of almond, coconut, and a whisper of oak

Finn Thomson Tamnavulin 33 Year Old 

Few distilleries tell the modern story of scotch whisky better than Tamnavulin. Built in the height of the blended whisky boom in the 1960s, much of its production was destined for the expanding American market. The style of the distillery represented the consumer tastes of the time: malty and light, this was a malleable whisky and a blender’s dream.

With the fall in fortunes of the industry in the 1990s, Tamnavulin was one of many distilleries victim to closure. Indeed, this very cask was filled just a few years before the distillery was mothballed and not opened again until 2007.

That old style of Tamnavulin is almost lost, and what makes this cask so special is that the character of the original distillery shines through. Childhood memories of eating bowls of Golden Grahams come flooding back.

£500.00

This is a flashback to the best of the 1990s, sadly never to be repeated again.

Our US Site Has Landed

Today, we’ve launched a dedicated website for our US customers! Shopping with us just got even better—US-based customers, you can now browse and shop on your very own version of our website, designed to offer improved shipping rates and a more seamless experience.

On our new US site, you’ll find your favourites from Kingsbarns Distillery and Wemyss Malts. We can’t wait for you to explore the new site. Cheers to making things simpler, smoother, and just a little bit more special for our US customers!

Sláinte,

The Wemyss Malts Team

Visit Our US Site

A Note On Shipping Costs:

1 lb – 12 lb (1–4 bottles) – $10.00
13 lb – 24 lb (5–8 bottles)  – $34.00
25 lb – 36 lb (9–12 bottles) – $51.00
37 lb – 48 lb (13–15 bottles) – $68.00
49 lb – 60 lb (16–19 bottles) – $85.00

Scallywag

Signature Series – 13 Years Old

This extraordinary expression has been expertly crafted and matured for 13 years in the finest Spanish Sherry Oak Casks, delivering a rich and indulgent flavour profile that embodies the true spirit of Scallywag.

Timorous Beastie

Signature Series – 18 years Old

This special release has been crafted with meticulous care and aged to perfection in the finest Spanish Sherry Casks. Limited to just 650 bottles globally, you can expect a richer, sweeter profile of vanilla, juicy barley and dark chocolate…

Big Peat

Hameldaeme Edition

We have finished this rare marriage of Islay Single Malt in specially selected White Port Casks. The resulting Big Peat Blended Malt delivers a defined Islay peat smoke combined with spiced fruit, toffee, and honey, fused with waves of almond and vanilla. Sip, savour and enjoy this unique taste of Islay.

ralfy review 1085 – West Cork 10yo Irish Whiskey @40%vol:

Hidden Barn Releases Latest in Series One Bourbon, “Slow Fade”

Slow Fade marks 10th Release in Series Created by Jackie Zykan

SPARTA, KY (Dec. 12, 2024) –Hidden Barn Bourbon is releasing its latest offering in its Series One expression, titled Slow Fade, named for its sweet, slow fade on the finish.  Slow Fade is the tenth release under the Series One line, the bourbon brand started by Master Blender Jackie Zykan in 2022 in partnership with Neeley Family Distillery.

Slow Fade is a blend of five-to-six-year-old barrels distilled by Royce Neeley and blended by Jackie Zykan. The mashbill consists of Neeley’s flagship of 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley.  Like all Neeley Family Distillery distillates, this bourbon was double pot distilled after fermenting with wild-crafted Appalachian yeast, a practice the Neeley Family has used for generations.  The unique process also includes utilizing sweet mash as well as open cypress fermentation tanks to achieve products with rustic depth and dimension.

Tasting notes from Zykan describe this release as “Very well balanced, with brown butter, black cherry, and a bit of orange zest on the nose.  Dark cacao and hazelnut lead the palate and the mouthfeel is perfectly viscous.  The sweetness slow fades on the finish, rounding out with balanced warmth and clean longevity.”

Slow Fade was bottled at 106.5 proof with only sediment filtration. Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Series One Slow Fade Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is $79.99. It is available at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Ky, online, and at retailers in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

About Hidden Barn Bourbon

Hidden Barn’s name harkens back to the local communities who painted their barns black in solidarity with distillers during Prohibition.  This sense of community is continued today through the passion for quality whiskey and camaraderie shared by its three partners, Jackie Zykan, Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar.  Together, the three friends bring their own strengths – a superior palate, distilling prowess, and a powerhouse connector to form Hidden Barn Bourbon.  Previous Hidden Barn Series releases have earned Best of Class in the Small Batch Bourbon Up to 5 years by The Tasting Alliance, Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023 and 2024, and Best Small Batch, 1st Place at the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.  Hidden Barn Bourbon is owned by Neeley Family Distillery.   The brand is available online and in select states. For more information visit hiddenbarnwhiskey.com

The ReCollection Series #3   

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: To create Single Malt Scotch Whiskies of exceptional quality in their own casks. The Recollection Series revives the spirit and character of now closed or long time silent Scottish Distilleries. Series #3 features six single cask whiskies from Rosebank, Glenlochy, Port Ellen, North Port, Imperial and Convalmore Distilleries, each bottled at cask strength.

Working with Emmy award-winning illustrator, Bruno Mangyoku, these distilleries have been brought back to life through artworks which celebrate their former glory. These vanishingly rare whiskies provide a unique opportunity to enjoy forgotten masterpieces

Rosebank Distillery 1991
32 Year Old
£2100.00

The history of Rosebank Distillery has been directly linked with the Forth & Clyde canal which sits in its shadow. The waterway linked Scotland’s west and east coasts, and therefore its two main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A distillery called Rosebank was operating as early as 1817. From 1840, under the ownership of the Rankine family, Rosebank prospered. The canal, however, became neglected and the distillery eventually closed its doors in 1993. It was reopened under new ownership to great fanfare in 2024.

This release, a lost work of art, is one of the oldest and rarest Rosebank single malts ever released.

Convalmore 1984 39 Year Old
£2300.00

Opened as the fourth of Dufftown’s famed seven stills in the heart of Speyside in 1894, Convalmore’s waxy, fruity spirit has very rarely been seen as a single malt whisky. Dedicated almost entirely to blended whiskies, production was interrupted in 1909 by a fire.

The distillery expanded in 1964 but was mothballed in 1985. The original buildings are still on the site but the production equipment has been removed. This 39 year old single malt, matured in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask, is a forgotten masterpiece; a lost work of art that revives the spirit of a bygone era

Glenlochy 1979 44 Year Old
£4000.00

Founded in 1898, on the banks of the River Nevis shortly after the completion of the West Highland Railway, Glenlochy was well positioned to transport its whisky to Glasgow. The bulk of spirit from its stills was destined for blends so any release featuring the distillery name is extremely rare.

Glenlochy was eventually closed in 1983 and sold for redevelopment as a hotel in 1991. All of the original buildings have since been demolished apart from the kiln building, but within this single malt,its spirit endures

North Port Distillery
1981 44 Year Old

£3850.00

Single malts featuring the distillery’s original name, Brechin Distillery, are vanishingly rare. Founded in 1820 near Scotland’s east coast by three brothers, David, John and Alexander Guthrie,the distillery stood half a mile from the River Esk.

It remained in family ownership for over a century, renamed North Port Distillery, before new owners closed its doors in 1928. It reopened after the Second World War only to fall silent again in 1983, with the site demolished in 1994.

Whisky writer, Michael Jackson, described its spirit as ‘dry and fruity’ and this whisky, matured in a Gordon & MacPhail cask, is a forgotten masterpiece that revives the spirit of a bygone age.

A Gift Fit For Royalty

We have proudly partnered with Highgrove to create our limited-edition Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky, the perfect gift for any whisky lover this Christmas! This special edition whisky has been crafted using heritage Plumage Archer barley grown exclusively at Highgrove Estate and aged in a combination of ex-red wine and first fill bourbon casks. Only 400 bottles were produced, each presented in a gift box which features a watercolour of Highgrove House painted by His Majesty King Charles III.

This whisky is now exclusively available to purchase on Highgrove’s website. Purchase yours below while stocks last!

SHOP HIGHGROVE HERE