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“I’ll give it a good go, but I don’t think you’ll ever get to the bottom of knowing every single thing there is to know about whisky!” Ever wondered why whisky is such a rich and worthwhile topic for study? We brought together a group of whisky experts and asked them why they love to learn more and more.🎬 Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post
The 10-Year Commemorative Bottle Series will Support Kentucky Nonprofits; Kentucky Harvest, Art Center of the Bluegrass & Blue Grass Farms Charities Named First
LEXINGTON, KY – Thursday, April 11th 2024 – Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Bourbon today announced a new chapter in their longstanding partnership with the launch of “Greats of the Gate,” a 10-year commemorative bottle series celebrating Thoroughbred racing’s most iconic horses – featuring a different horse each year.
Arriving this year in October exclusively at select Kentucky retailers, the inaugural bottle will honor the legendary Lexington-foaled Man o’ War, who competed from 1919 to 1920, winning 20 of 21 races, including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, while establishing seven track records for speed over various distances.
“Keeneland and Maker’s Mark have a rich history of working hand-in-hand to support organizations making an impact in Kentucky,” said Rob Samuels, Managing Director of Maker’s Mark and eighth-generation whisky maker. “We’re honored to partner each year in such a meaningful way, dating back to when Keeneland was our first customer serving Maker’s Mark in the 1950s and setting the stage for decades of collaboration to follow.”
The limited-editon bottle features an illustration by Kentucky artist Tyler Robertson with artwork wrapping around the bottle in yellow and black – the racing colors for Man o’ War. The horse is shown on both sides of the bottle in streaks of yellow to connote him coming around the final turn and heading down the stretch to the finish. The bottle’s crown will be dipped in bright yellow wax and topped with a black silk ribbon. This bottle will be available in October exclusively at select Kentucky retailers that sell Maker’s Mark.
Proceeds from each year’s “Greats of the Gate” bottle will benefit nonprofits that support Kentucky culture, including the horseracing industry, hospitality and the arts. Over the course of the 10 years, Keeneland and Maker’s Mark are committed to raising $4 million for various Kentucky nonprofit organizations through this bottle series.
“Keeneland is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Maker’s Mark to benefit both the Thoroughbred industry and our local communities,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland and Maker’s Mark share a mission of service and philanthropy, and the commemorative bottles have been a fun way to engage our fans and support deserving organizations through the years.”
For the first three years of the 10-year series, the “Greats of the Gate” bottle will support Kentucky Harvest, Art Center of the Bluegrass and Blue Grass Farms Charities. The Art Center of the Bluegrass connects people to art, culture, and creativity through exhibits, hands on art making, arts appreciation, and cultural experiences, while the mission of Kentucky Harvest is to end local hunger by connecting with food donors and engaging volunteers to rescue excess food and move it from those who have it to those in need.
Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC), which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, provides health and human services to those who work in the Central Kentucky Thoroughbred Industry, including a much-needed food assistance program. Proceeds from the Man o’ War bottle will support construction of a new food pantry located at The Thoroughbred Center (TTC) on Paris Pike, Keeneland’s year-round training facility, making it accessible to the greatest number of industry workers. BGFC continues to serve Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford, Scott and Jessamine area farms and facilities.
About Keeneland Race Course
Since its first race meet more than 85 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest-caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains the Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit https://www.keeneland.com/.
About Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Bourbon
In 1953, in Loretto, Ky., Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a handmade and delicious bourbon. He decided to make his whisky in small batches, using soft red winter wheat to enhance the softness and sweetness. He then rotated each barrel by hand for consistency and, finally, aged each barrel to taste. Bill Samuels, Sr., transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handmade spirit, and today Maker’s Mark continues to make its bourbon the same way. In recent years, Maker’s Mark has introduced thoughtful, super-premium innovations to its portfolio, including Maker’s Mark 46, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, Maker’s Mark Cellar-Aged, and Maker’s Mark Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. For more information, visit https://www.makersmark.com/.
This article appears here well after the original publication date and as a matter of interest.
($104.99)
The 2024 Càirdeas limited edition release is a 10-year-old Laphroaig with a bold combination of flavours from the casks of two popular previous releases: 2019’s Triple Wood and 2021’s PX Cask. Bottled at a fixed strength of 52.4% ABV for a memorable character to share with Friends. Tasting notes from the distillery, “Colour Dark, rich copper in colour Aroma of Laphroaig Scotch Whisky Nose: Brazil nut toffee brittle, with sweet vanilla custard notes and baking spice, followed by milk chocolate covered raisins and a suggestion of spiced orange. Palate. Rich, sweet and oily on the palate, with notes of smoked orange toffee, stewed peaches and smouldering campfire. Dried fruit notes balanced with hints of coffee grounds and liquorice root for a long lasting and slightly herbal finish. Finish Long, slightly sweet and dry with a long, slightly peppery peat-rich smoky finish.”
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 02, 2024
Bottled to commemorate 30 years of Friends of Laphroaig, this is the first Cairdeas I can remember caring and aged statement and they’ve done aware with the iconic tube in favor of a smart looking cardboard box. Every year the Cairdeas comes out and the real heads jump on it immediately, but the rest of the Laphroaig guys sit back to see what style we’ll end up with. I can unequivocally say that this one is for all the lovers of dark oaky wine-y Laphroaig. If you loved the 2021 PX release and always wondered what an older version with a healthy dollop of ex-bourbon American oak might feel like, you’ve finally arrived. Let’s taste it! Holy DARK Laphroaig! This is teetering on 1.6/1.7 (mahogany/burn umber). The nose is absolutely massive powerful dried fruit, exotic wood (sandalwood and teak), the finest Cuban cigars, roasting herbs, licorice root, hints of eucalyptus and camphor. The peat here is truly the frame and doesn’t push through on the nose like most laphroaigs, but is integrated nicely behind sweet ultra dense fruit, powerful wood aromas, and savory herbs and meats. On the palate though the singular dense kernel of peat stays smoldering on the center of the palate while the rest of the whisky expands into a bevy of wild flavors -0ld leather, whole mace, flinty cracked stones, dried leaves, more exotic woods dominated by candlewood. It’s all at once extremely intense and very drinkable. Adding water somehow heightens the spice, but softens the w
Michael Pires | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 10, 2024
Laphroaig’s Cairdeas releases are always special, and this one is spectacular! For those looking for a more complex and rounded version of Laphroag 10 cask strength, then this is for you. Laphroaig’s classic flavor profile is still front and center, but the peat smoke is slightly muted than what is typically perceived. What makes this whisky stand out from other Laphroaig releases is the rich notes of aged pipe tobacco, dark fruit, and wet stone. Well worth grabbing a bottle while you can. These will not last long.
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
We hope you’ve been enjoying the Autumn issue of Whiskeria magazine, with our distillery visit to Ardnahoe, cocktails from Noble Rebel and our cover story with Danni Menzies, where we explored her favourite Edinburgh whisky hot spots. If you’ve not got your copy yet, pop into your local The Whisky Shop store to pick one up.
This issue, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Quercus and Country Hotel Breaks to bring you an incredible prize!
Loch Lomond 2013, a 2-night Country Hotel Breaks retreat & a signed novel
An enthralling combination of prizes, to celebrate the launch of Peter May’s latest gripping thriller, set on the Isle of Lewis, The Black Loch: an exclusive vintage bottle of Loch Lomond 2013 10 Year Old 23/372-6, a Scottish Retreat in a sensational hotel of your choice, plus a signed copy of The Black Loch.
About the Author
Peter May was born and raised in Scotland. He was an award-winning journalist at the age of twenty-one and a published novelist at twenty-six. When his first book was adapted as a major drama series for the BBC, he quit journalism and during the high-octane fifteen years that followed, became one of Scotland’s most successful television dramatists.
In 2021, he was awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library Award. He has also won several literature awards in France, received the USA’s Barry Award for The Blackhouse, the first in his internationally bestselling Lewis Trilogy; and in 2014 was awarded the ITV Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year award for Entry Island.
Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯
Glencadam Reserva De Madeira Small Batch
Glencadam Distillery was built in 1825, within the Royal Burgh of Brechin, where heritage, tradition and hand crafting combine to create an elegant East Highland Single Malt. Glencadam Reserva de Madeira Single Malt has been created in small batches by the Master Distiller, who has carefully selected single malt matured in exceptional American ex-bourbon casks from the historic dunnage warehouses. The single malt in these casks has been expertly married then finished in the finest Madeira wine casks sourced from Portugal’s Madeira Islands. Glencandam Reserva de Madeira has been bottled at 46% ABV, at natural colour and is non-chill filtered.
NOSE Inviting aromas of cooked apples, brambles and custard tarts with syrup sponge cake, nutmeg and berry coulis.
PALATE A was of spiced fruits, cantaloupe melon, golden raisins and summer fruit pudding structured with dark chocolate and ginger spices.
FINISH Long and indulgent layers of brittle toffee, mocha and chocolate truffle cushioned with cosy cake spices.
£43.99
Glencadam Distillery was built in 1825, within the Royal Burgh of Brechin, where heritage, tradition and hand crafting combine to create an elegant East Highland Single Malt. Glencadam Riserva Di Amarone Single Malt has been created in small batches by the Master Distiller, who has carefully selected single malt matured in exceptional American oak ex-bourbon casks from our historic dunnage warehouse. The single malt in these casks has been expertly married then finished in the finest Amarone wine casks sourced from Italy. Glencadam Riserva di Amarone has been bottled at 46% ABV, at natural colour and in non-chill filtered.
NOSE Sweet aromas of cherry jam, marzipan, fruit nougat and pistachio bound with baking spices.
PALATE A wash of red fruits, crystallised ginger and strawberry liquorice mingled with oak spices, candied peels and cacao.
FINISH Layers of cappuccino, dark chocolate, morello cherry and raspberry jam leaving a warming wood spice linger.
£43.99
The 3 wave of releases from Murray McDavid in their excellent value Cask Craft range, featuring the craft and influences of the cask on the whisky. Mannochmore is a Speyside Distillery, with a character of Rich malt, mellow fruits with a dry and crisp finish. The Oak Cask is ex-Islay Barriques and Hogsheads from Caol Ila distillery, the influence of which is sweet smoke, mellow oak spice and hints of red fruits. Natural Colour, Malty & Peaty. From Murray McDavid, Mannochmore Single Malt Whisky
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom
We’re delighted to add another Level 1 (free) introductory course into the mix, allowing you to discover the rising star of the whiskey world that is American single malt. One of our Approved Course Providers, Daniel Whittington, explains in easy-to-follow video lessons how a little insight can go a long way when it comes to boosting your appreciation and enjoyment of American single malt whiskey.
American single malt whiskey is a rapidly growing category, combining the craftsmanship of traditional single malt producing countries (like Scotland) with innovation and boldness that is unique to America. If you haven’t yet dipped a toe into this exciting category, now is the time. Here are six American single malts you absolutely need to try today.💻 Read the Post
We are delighted to share the first review of our new Certificate in American Single Malt Whiskey from a candidate in Arizona: “I completed the course last night and I thought it was fantastic. The team did a great job capturing the diversity of American Single Malt Whiskey and the innovation that is occurring in this space. The interviews with the various distillers were fantastic as they highlighted not just what is being done, but what the future might hold. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn more about ASM.” Slàinte, Steven!
BOOKER’S BOURBON ANNOUNCES ‘THE RESERVES’, AN ANNUAL SERIES OF LIMITED-EDITION RELEASES, CELEBRATING BOOKER NOE’S LEGACY
Booker’s Bourbon ‘The Reserves’ is the Brand’s First Innovation in More Than Five Years
Clermont, Kentucky (August 29, 2024) – Today, The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller, are proud to announce the first innovation coming from Booker’s Bourbon since 2019 – Booker’s Bourbon ‘The Reserves’. The 2024 expression is the first of a new, annual limited-release series by Freddie Noe to commemorate his grandaddy, 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe, and his contributions to the bourbon world. Booker and Freddie Noe are American Whiskey trailblazers and Booker’s Bourbon ‘The Reserves’ honors Booker’s legacy by creating a full-flavored American Whiskey inspired by how Freddie believes his grandfather would be making whiskey in modern day.
The first release of ‘The Reserves’ is an 8 to 14-year-old blend that Booker’s Bourbon drinkers will recognize and continue to enjoy. Always uncut and unfiltered, always cask strength, and always pulled from the center cut in the warehouse – just as Booker envisioned when he created his Small Batch Bourbon Collection and forever changed the American Whiskey category. However, in many other ways, ‘The Reserves’ is something entirely new; due to the scarcity of the barrels, it’s released in smaller quantities than the four yearly Booker’s Batches and uses fewer, and older, barrels in the blend to achieve a layered and complex flavor profile.
“I created ‘The Reserves’ series to commemorate my grandaddy Booker,” shared Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. “Liquid like this can take a while to find, but when I do, it feels like the Big Man himself picked them out. It’s just the kind of Bourbon I believe my grandaddy would be making if he were still alive with us now.”
The 2024 release spans eight production dates and eight different warehouses, these barrels were aged as follows:
Booker’s Bourbon is inspired by and named after, 6th Generation Master Distiller, Booker Noe, who was known to have grown up at the distillery, in the heart of Kentucky. Freddie launched Booker’s Bourbon to pay homage to his grandfather, the founder of the “small batch” bourbon category. All Booker’s expressions are bottled uncut and unfiltered with liquid coming from the center of the rackhouse where the temperature and humidity stars align the create the deepest and most intense flavors.
Booker’s Bourbon ‘The Reserves’ 2024 Limited Edition Bourbon will be available in extremely limited quantities nationwide across the U.S. and in-store. For real-time information about Booker’s Bourbon follow along on Instagram @BeamDistilling and www.beamdistilling.com.
BOOKER’S BOURBON ‘THE RESERVES’ 2024 LIMITED EDITION BOURBON | 125.9 PROOF | SRP: $129.99
NOSE: Notes of dried fruit and nuanced brown sugar sweetness
TASTE: Complex rich vanilla with hints of charred oak
FINISH: Full bodied with long and lingering notes of baking spice
About Booker’s® Bourbon
Booker’s® Bourbon was inspired by a 200-year-old family tradition and came to life when Booker Noe selected the first bottles of Booker’s as holiday gifts for his friends and family. With its instant popularity within Noe’s close circle, Booker’s Bourbon was soon after bottled and made available on shelves for everyone to enjoy. Booker’s Bourbon is one of the only bourbons bottled straight-from-the-barrel at its natural proof, which varies from batch to batch. It is crafted in small batches and aged for six to eight years in charred oak barrels, which are stored in the center of the rack house. Today, Fred Noe personally tastes and selects every batch of Booker’s Bourbon to ensure every bottle contains a robust, full-bodied whiskey that has a taste, aroma and proof that matches Booker’s whiskey preference.
About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Suntory Global Spirits’ core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Suntory Global Spirits, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com.
