November 2014 Release – Springbank 12 y/old Green & Rare Springbank 25 y/old

As we have been saying for some time now Springbank are releasing a new 12 year old expression called Springbank Green. It’s an organic barley but we hope you will find it’s the best of its kind on the market with its distinctly rich aroma of soft peat smoke being a notable difference to other Springbanks of the same age.

The second and no doubt most anticipated is the rather rare Springbank 25 year old matured in Sherry & Bourbon casks then for the last few months married in a port wine cask. Only 180 bottles in the UK

Whisky Tasting & The 2014 Chiltern Street open evening 27.11.2014 12 noon – 9pm

We will be marking the beginning of the Chiltern Street Christmas season with another open day tasting session.

We will have some of our favourites open as one would expect such as The Tasting Room London’s favourite Miltonduff 20 & Clynelish 24. We will also have a very limited supply of Springbanks January 2015 special release of 17 Year Old Sherry Cask and depending on availability Springbank Green.

Also at this tasting we hope to have some of the Macallan Malts available so we can help you discover the new range from one of the worlds most iconic distilleries.

The whole of Chiltern Street will be hosting sampler events or meet and greet sessions so you can discover the amazing variety of shops in our neighbourhood. I am sure a lot of you will have seen or read about Chiltern St being the coolest place in London as celebrity after celebrity has been photographed arriving or leaving Chiltern Fire House, The top restaurant and boutique hotel in the masterfully restored Fire Station across the road from our store.

WHISKY TASTING

At Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop & Tasting Room London

If you wish to attend one of our tasting sessions in 2015 then you can buy a tasting voucher online for yourself or as a gift.

Once your ready to book then simply call us on 0207 935 6999 to check availability and give us the vouchers unique number.

Visit The web site for info and to buy vouchers

Ardbeg Supernova 55% NAS Committee Release 2014 

Buzz Lightyear’s dram. Heavily peated. On the nose there’s lots of juniper, peat smoke and butter or perhaps more accurately fair ground soft fudge or tablet as they call it in some places. It’s a heady combination. Perhaps some slightly burnt embers from a fragrant twig? The taste is of apples (briefly), surprisingly muted peat smoke, perhaps tempered by some sweet chocolate and some of the tablet, not crystal grainy but very smooth and quite lovely. A hint of salted peanut butter (creamy not crunchy). The finish is amazingly creamy and then the peat smoke arrives to assert command (Caine Mutiny style). It’s very, very long and very, very good.

Lovely stuff and a reputation well deserved. No need for water.

90 points

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #97

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries a vatted – sorry, blended – malt from Compass Box: the Eleuthera – Greek for ‘freedom’. The whisky was created by John Glaser, four time winner of the Whisky Innovator of the Year Award, mind you! Mark shot the video in Paris, the City of Lights.

http://youtu.be/nXy4ucMbq3E

anCnoc Whisky Launches New 18 Year Old Single Malt

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has announced the release of its eagerly awaited 18 year old expression. With only 1000 cases available worldwide, this very special single malt from Knockdhu Distillery will join the brand’s award winning portfolio, which celebrates the traditional art of whisky making with a modern twist.

Matured in hand selected Spanish oak ex-sherrycasks and American oak ex-bourbon casks, each 700ml bottle will retail at £70 with an ABV of 46%. On the palate, the non chill-filtered single malt is bursting with oriental spices and toasted vanilla, with a full bodied taste and a surge of honey and caramel to finish.

The packaging stays true to anCnoc’s trademark minimalistic style, featuring an artful depiction of the landscape surrounding Knockdhu.

anCnoc Assistant Brand Manager, Stephanie Bridge commented:

“2014 has been anCnoc’s most ambitious year to date: we revealed a peated global collection in April, two new expressions for the travel retail market and our hugely popular 2000 Vintage. anCnoc18 years old has been eagerly anticipated for a number of years, it’s a fantastic whisky and the unique packaging, still distinctively anCnoc, will be a visually striking addition to any collection or a welcome Christmas gift!”

anCnoc, which is part of the Inver House Distillers portfolio, is a brand closely associated with the arts and renowned the world over by malt enthusiasts for bringing a modern twist to the traditions of fine whisky, producing a single malt that is accessible and versatile for all occasions. The brand launched its peated collection earlier this year with four expressions of varying peat strength – aiming to help drinkers find a dram to suit their palate and to ‘shine a light’ on the dark, enigmatic world of peat.

Notes 

About anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced at the Knockdhu Distillery which was established in 1894 and is one of the smallest and most enchanting in the Scottish Highlands. It’s renowned the world over by malt enthusiasts for producing a single malt that makes every day a special occasion.

The new peated collection from anCnoc aims to unravel the mysteries of peated whisky for modern drinkers, this new range fromtheKnockdhu Distillery features anCnoc’s classic light, easy-drinking style but with a dark, distinctive and smoky twist.The first four releases in the collection Rutter, Flaughter, Tushkar and Cutter were unveiled earlier this year.

About International Beverage

International Beverage Holdings (http://www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (http://www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
• The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

THE EXCLUSIVE MALTS BACH #6 

ImpEx Beverages, Inc. is delighted to announce the new release of widely popular Exclusive Malts Expressions. After a careful selection process, the new five casks have been bottled and are currently en route to the United States. They should be available in November 2014. Please check the next pages for more information and prices. 

 ImpEx Beverages encourages responsible drinking

360 Swift Ave Side B # 9, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Ph. 650-872-1113, Fax 650-872-1114

www.impexbev.com

 *****

 Ben Nevis’ 98 15 yr Highland

102.20 proof

Matured in a Port Cask

Situated at the foot, and named after Scotland’s tallest mountain, the Ben Nevis distillery has spent much of its life contributing to blended Scotch intended for the Japanese market. Its whisky is often full-bodied and robust, and this cask does not disappoint with an added sweetness from the Port cask maturation.

RRP $ 139.99

 *****

Littlemill’ 88 25 yr Lowland

103.80 proof

Matured in a Sherry Cask

A rare gem from a now lost distillery. Littlemill was demolished in 2004 and only a few casks remain of this wonderful, fruity whisky. This cask has slowly matured for 25 years in a refill ex-Sherry hogshead, resulting in a rare example from this exceptional, yet sadly missed distillery.

RRP $ 229.99

 *****

Speyside’04 10 yr Speyside

115.40 proof

Matured in a Port Cask

This cask distilled at an undisclosed Speyside distillery near Aberlour, is a brute of an offering. Full bodied, sweet and fruit-laden this cask has been bottled at natural cask strength. So it may take a moment or two to show its full complexity, and, perhaps a drop or more of water to really bring it to life.

RRP $ 109.99

 ******

‘Ledaig’ Tobermory’97 17 yr Island

109.80 proof 

This smoky Island whisky is distilled on the Isle of Mull at the Tobermory distillery – a distillery not normally associated with smoky whisky. Using dried peat in the kilning process, the barley is infused with the peat smoke. This results in a whisky redolent with bonfires, barbecues and burning heather. A real distillation of the Islands of Scotland.  

RRP $ 149.99

 *****

Tomatin’04 10 yr Highland

114.80 proof

Matured in a Sherry Cask

Situated just outside the Highland city of Inverness, Tomatin Distillery was once the largest in Scotland providing its malt whisky to most of the large blenders. Now its sought-after whisky can be found as a single malt. This cask, matured solely in a refill ex-Sherry cask is full of the sweet fruit associated with this wonderful distillery.

Paul John prize draw winner, and more competitions to come…

As mentioned on the blog previously, we’ve recently run a prize draw with our friends at Paul John: everyone who bought a bottle of Edited, Brilliance, Peated Selected Cask or the Classic Select Cask was entered into a draw to win a £500 shopping trip on The Whisky Exchange website. Our trusty random number generator was fired up and a winner chosen.

Paul John prize draw winner, Mags Brolly

We’d like to congratulate Mags Brolly of north London on winning the prize, and also on her excellent choice in festive spirits, including another bottle of Paul John whisky.

It’s not our only prize draw – we are giving away bottles of Grey Goose vodka and Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac, and a huge £1,000 shopping voucher giveaway in conjunction with the folks at Chivas Brothers is now up on the site. Click through those links to find out how to enter, and keep an eye on The Whisky Exchange website, as we’ve got even more up our sleeves…

Bunnahabhain Ceòbanach 

Bunnahabhain Ceòbanach (which means “smoky mist”) is, unusually, a peated expression from one of Islay’s few  unpeated distilleries. A small batch release, with the peatiness harking back to Bunnahabhain of the 1800s.

Although there is no age statement on the bottle, we hear that this has been matured in ex-bourbon casks for around ten years and is bottled un-chill-filtered, to retain the oily character along with the wonderful harmony of flavours.

Click here to buy – £60

www.ralfy.com examines the different experience of a 40% malt and a cask strength malt with Whisky Review 502 – Isle Of Arran 12yo cask malt @ 53.9 %vol

GIFT SOMETHING UNIQUE THIS CHRISTMAS WITH THE FAMOUS GROUSE FAMILY

With Christmas just around the corner, you are probably scratching your head wondering what to gift your loved ones this year.

Well look no further than The Famous Grouse where our selection of premium and exciting gifts are guaranteed to spread festive cheer this Christmas. From personalised bottles to some of the most indulgent whiskies around, we have the perfect present for that special person in your life.

The Famous Grouse Personalised Bottle – A Gift To Treasure

Why not make your loved ones famous this Christmas by gifting a personalised bottle of Scotland’s favourite whisky, The Famous Grouse? This timeless keepsake is the perfect memento to acknowledge your talented relatives or for remembering that special event you shared together. And this year, for the very first time, your personalised gift can also include a photograph.

The personalise label is completely free, all you have to do is purchase a bottle of The Famous Grouse and visit http://www.makesomeonefamous.com/ to upload your photo and required text. The free label will then be delivered direct to your door ready for you to attach.

Behind the label is also something special. The Famous Grouse is a blend of the finest malts and grains, married and matured in sherry casks, skilfully brought together by the Master Blender to create a rich and well-rounded whisky.

For a winter warmer, try The Famous Hot Toddy. Take 50ml of The Famous Grouse, one teaspoon of heather honey, a squeeze of lemon juice, some winter spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and star anise, add earl grey tea bag, and top with hot water. Please note each Hot Toddy contains 2 units of alcohol and tea bag should be removed before drinking.

RRP £17.10 for 70cl bottle or £23.10 for 1L bottle. Label is free.

The Black Grouse – For the distinctive character

The Black Grouse is a bold and distinctive whisky with an intriguing blend of smoky, peated malts – perfect for the family member with a unique character of their own. The whisky is an intriguing blend of The Famous Grouse with specially selected peated malts giving the whisky its distinct smoky smooth flavour profile. On the palate, the peaty character comes through in spice and dried fruit flavours, and smoky oak that leaves a long aromatic finish. For a simple Christmas cocktail, we recommend The Black & Black – The Black Grouse with cola and a twist of orange.

The Black Grouse is available in all major retailers. A special gift pack will be available in Waitrose stores from December.

RRP £18.64  

The Black Grouse Alpha Edition – Perfect for those long, dark winter nights

Indulge your loved ones this Christmas with The Black Grouse Alpha Edition. Created by blending a greater concentration of aged, peaty malt whiskies to achieve a fuller, richer, premium whisky – The Black Grouse Alpha Edition is the perfect whisky to savour as the nights draw in. This whisky is a perfectly balanced, rare blend that has a flamboyantly rich and sweet at first before giving away to layers of smoke. The Black Grouse Alpha Edition is presented in a striking gift box, which tells the story of this rich, smoky premium liquid and the bird that it is named after.

Available from selected Waitrose stores.

RRP £36.49 

The Naked Grouse – For the sophisticated whisky drinker that savours a dram

The Naked Grouse is a unique and expertly crafted, small batch blended Scotch whisky containing hand-blended world-renowned malts that combine to produce a sweet, rich and smooth taste. The exceptional blend was inspired by William Gloag of The Famous Grouse family and his pioneering discovery of sherry cask maturation. This innovative process, along with an enduring legacy of expertise, creates a stunning example of the blender’s art and results in a sophisticated dram with notes of cherry compote, spicy cinnamon and dark chocolate.

For a classic cocktail this Christmas, treat yourself to The Naked Grouse signature serve The Old Fashioned. Simply put a small heap of ice into the bottom of the glass then pour in the whisky, bitters and sugar syrup in any order. Stir vigorously for 20 seconds, before garnishing with orange zest. This serve is a simple combination of traditional ingredients resulting in a smooth and sophisticated drink with lots of taste.

The whisky is available in high end bars and retail outlets such as Sainsbury’s.

RRP £25

Ginger Grouse – The whisky ginger beer – Refreshingly FAMOUS

Ginger Grouse, the whisky ginger beer with a splash of The Famous Grouse whisky, citrus notes and warming spice. This refreshingly Famous serve (4.0% ABV) is also perfect as a mulled Christmas serve. So, why not spice things up this Christmas with a fiery Mulled Ginger Grouse? This cosy cocktail is made by heating apple and pear juice in a pan with mulled winter spice teabags until warm. Then simply add the Ginger Grouse and a few slivers of orange peel and heat again to your desired temperature.

Available from all major supermarkets.

RRP £2.25

For further Christmas gift inspiration, take a look round our online shop at www. www.thefamousgrouse.com/shop .

Please enjoy responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk

NOTES

About The Famous Grouse

The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in Scotland and no. 4 standard blended whisky worldwide (IWSR data 2012).

The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries.

Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand. The brand became so popular that on August 12^th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse. The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery –  Glenturret.

Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is  the most visited distillery in Scotland (www.thefamousgrouse.com/experience).

NEW ARRIVALS

United States – Single Malt Scotch (Obviously NOT SCOTCH! – WI)

• Seven Stills Chocasmoke Whiskey 375ml ($35.99)

BACK IN STOCK

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Springbank 21 year old 2012 Release Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($449.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA