Every batch of The Hearach single malt we release comes with its own information sheet, full of details about how and when your dram has been made, an island snapshot story written at the time of bottling, and accompanying tasting notes from a local person.

We believe everyone brings their own story to our whisky, and the sensory pleasures enjoyed while spending time in The Hearach’s company will spark personal thoughts and memories unique to the drinker.

The tasting notes for Batch 9 were created by Gemma McNally who lives in our home village of Tarbert, not far from our distillery door.

Gemma sat down with us to enjoy a dram and we had a good chat about the flavours and aromas she found in her glass…

“I get a light, fresh sort of woodsmoke on the nose straight away, it reminds me of campfires at Scarista beach on those long summer nights we get in Harris. I get cereal notes, and spiciness on the palate, a sort of pepperiness like rocket leaves. There’s not much smoke when I sip it, but there’s a nice clean greenness instead. A little water makes it very sweet, like the sticky toffee pudding I bake myself at home with dates. It’s smooth and there’s so many lovely flavours unfolding.”

We’d love to know what you find in your glass next time you pour a good measure of our island spirit, so drop us a line to share your stories!

Batch Run
12,385 Bottles

Bottling Dates:
15.01.24 – 30.01.24

Casks Used
Heaven Hill Bourbon (21%) + Buffalo Trace Bourbon (64%) + Oloroso Sherry (11%) + Fino Sherry (4%)

Fermentation Times
40% Short (70 hours) + 60% Long (120 Hours)

Marrying Time
16 Weeks + 3 Days

Barley & Yeast
Concerto Barley
Lallelmand + Distilamax MW yeasts

Peating Level
12.9 PPM (Averaged)

READ THE BATCH 9 SHEET

On Saturday 18 May 2024, we are raising a dram and live streaming non-stop from The Whisky Exchange HQ for 24 hours. The 24-hour broadcast will be co-hosted by The Whisky Exchange’s very own buying director Dawn Davies MW and our brand ambassador Billy Abbott alongside special guest co-host Ortis Deley – founder of Glassmates and a TV presenter known for The Gadget Show.

With our Perfect Measure tasting sets, you’ll be able to join in with each tasting from the comfort of your own home, or with your own whisky-loving friends. Whether you’re a novice, geek or a fun-seeking whisky drinker somewhere between the two, there will be a session for you, from panels on big topics in the world of whisky to guest appearances from producers, bartenders, whisky club members and more.

  SHOP TASTING SETS        VIEW SCHEDULE  

Glen Garioch – Macbeth Act One – Thanes Series – Angus 31 year old Whisky

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 550

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a selection of releases from the Cardrona Distillery in New Zealand. – I’m Flying Without Wings… Or A ‘chute..!

Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring Cardrona

‘Growing Wings’ Single Cask 5 year old 66.5%

Cardrona ‘Growing Wings’ Single Cask 5 year old 67.4%

Cardrona ‘Cardrona Day Release’ 52%

Cardrona ‘The Falcon’ 52%

Cardrona ‘Full Flight’ Single Sherry Cask 62.7%

Visit Cardrona Distillery HERE

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces the Release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25^th Anniversary Edition

This edition is just the third release in the VVS (Very Very Special) line of the Decanter Series

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (April 2, 2024) – Today Heaven Hill announced the release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25^th Anniversary Edition commemorating the anniversary of Heaven Hill acquiring the historic Bernheim Distillery (DSP-KY-1) in Louisville, Ky and along with it the Old Fitzgerald brand. Comprised of 13-year-old barrels, this edition ushers in the latest release to the decanter series and adds to Heaven Hill Distillery’s bottled-in-bond legacy.

After the catastrophic fire at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in November 1996, Heaven Hill acquired the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville in April 1999. The barrels used for this release were produced in September 1999, emptied in March 2013 and bottled in February 2024.  When these barrels were tested in 2013, it was decided that the taste profile at 13 years old was exceptional and the profile would be reserved for a special occasion, such as this 25^th Anniversary Edition. Thirteen is also a lucky number for Heaven Hill, as the company filled its first barrel ever on December 13, 1935.

 “The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since,” said Executive Chairman Max Shapira. “We are honored to have been able to continue the Old Fitzgerald legacy since that time and look forward to many more years of exceptional releases from Bernheim Distillery and from the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open early next year.”

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series is comprised of three types of releases: Spring, Fall and VVS. This special edition is denoted by a maroon label. Since 2018, there have only ever been two other VVS releases, including VVS 2018 14-year-old and VVS 2020 16-year-old. The 2024 edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis as an exclusive Kentucky release to select retailers and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Ky. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. This edition is available at the suggested retail price of $229.99.

The liquid within this release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series bares a bright burnished copper color, with a rich and warm nose of cinnamon toast followed by nutmeg and allspice with sweet oak notes. On the palate rich honey and vanilla sweetness are balanced by notes of baking spices. The finish is soft and warm with hints of oak and a gentle peppery finale.

The legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald, whose legacy is also heralded by the Larceny Bourbon brand. Both brands use Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over two million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

The batch is made up of 5 production dates stored in 4 different aging warehouses. The age is 7 years, 7 Months, 8 days, and is 124.5 proof. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is as follows:

• 17% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
• 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
• 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 45% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

The color of this Booker’s batch is a rich golden amber from over 7 years of aging in the new white oak barrels. The nose has a nice, pleasant aroma of sweet brown sugars and vanilla. The taste is balanced with a pleasant heat.

Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Booker’s

From Gordon & McPhail’s ‘Private Collection’, a unique collection of greatly aged single malts from celebrated, little known and closed distilleries in Scotland. Here we have a 47 year old single malt from Linkwood distillery aged in Refill Sherry Hogshead’s with only 190 bottles produced from its 4,359th cask.

Nose: Rich vanilla upfront with sweet treacle, dates, chocolate and festive spices

Palate: Stewed apples lead to soft citrus and subtle black pepper which leads to sultanas and toasted almonds

Finish: Long and full with spice and aged oak

GLENALLACHIE

THE WOOD COLLECTION

Just in from Billy Walker and his team at GlenAllachie Distillery is this fine new trio of bottlings. Dubbed the ‘Sherry Series’, each expression has spent an initial period in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels before being transferred to the expertly selected Sherry casks. Six single malts will be released over two instalments this year, showcasing the unique contributions of each style.

The first three drams have been finished in, Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks and have all been bottled at a generous 48% vol, without any additional colouring or chill-filtration.

Available now for immediate dispatch in limited numbers.

As ever, if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

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SHOP GLENALLACHIE

Unique Springbank at The BonAccordBar, Glasgow.

GORDON & MACPHAIL REVEALS FOURTH EDITION IN ‘MR GEORGE LEGACY’ SERIES

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the fourth edition in its annual series celebrating the legacy of George Urquhart – the man described by whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt whisky’.

The Mr George Legacy 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery was laid down by ‘Mr George’, as he was known to those who knew him best and has been left to mature for 65 years in cask no.3818, a first-fill Sherry butt made to his exact specifications. Bottled in November 2023 at a cask strength of 56.5% – remarkable considering its age – the release is priced at £7,000. Just 376 bottles are available for sale worldwide.

This edition’s packaging and support campaign is themed around having the courage of one’s convictions, symbolised by ‘The Lone Oak’. Mr George’s approach – to age whisky for as long as it needed – was seen by some as eccentric during his lifetime. The theme celebrates this philosophy of occasionally going against the grain but always standing firm to one’s principles in pursuit of perfection.

More than six decades of maturation has delivered a smooth, full-bodied whisky with sweet and warm spices on the nose. Packed with Seville orange peel, dark morello cherry and coffee bean flavours, the long and balanced finish fades with a hint of smoke.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “My grandfather had a particular affinity with Glen Grant Distillery. Local to our home in Elgin, Mr George had a strong relationship with the owners and distillers through the decades and he enjoyed experimenting with different casks to complement the distillery’s lighter spirit style.

“Back in the 1950s, the spirit would have been slightly smoky due to floor maltings and a small level of peat being used, which is a style rarely seen in today’s modern Speyside whiskies, giving this whisky a charred oakiness, balanced by long-term maturation in a Sherry cask made of European oak.”

Charlie MacLean, whisky writer and expert, added: “This is an exceptionally fine old whisky, hugely complex, but still remarkably vivacious. Another worthy tribute to Mr George Urquhart, the man who put malt whisky on the map.”

‘Mr George’ Urquhart, second generation of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, was a true pioneer of whisky. In 1968 he created the iconic Connoisseurs Choice range featuring single malts at a time when most were used for blending, with his inquisitive nature and patience providing time for each whisky to mature to its full potential. His spirit lives on in this release and his legacy has provided knowledge that continues to provide a guiding light for future generations.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has bottled spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries, developing unique experience of how to mature single malts for many decades in their own casks.

For more information, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

#GordonandMacPhail

RSP: £7,000 ABV: 56.5%

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and hint of cocoa powder.

Palate: Smooth and full bodied, Seville orange peel and dark morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak and a touch of liquorice is present.

Finish: Long and balanced with a faint hint of smoke.

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its casks.  It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.