ELEMENTS OF ISLAY BRINGS THE HEAT TO FÈIS ÌLE 2024

 WITH LIMITED FIRESIDE RELEASE

Elements of Islay, the award-winning independent bottler, is launching an exclusive blend for Fèis Ìle 2024. Fireside is a limited release blended malt from two characterful Islay distilleries, with 264 bottles of Fireside (Fèis Edition) exclusively available at Fèis Ìle (24^th May – 1^st June) and an ensuing global release.

For this whisky, Elixir Distillers’ Head Blender Oliver Chilton took inspiration from the unpredictable elements of the island, and the image of enjoying a smoky dram with friends by the fire during an Islay downpour.

This blended malt brings together whiskies from two distilleries on the island’s north coast, matured in heavily re-charred barrels, American oak Oloroso sherry hogsheads and European oak Oloroso sherry butts. It is a rich blend of smoky and sweet charred wood that harmonises with juicy red fruit and candied orange flavours. 

Oliver Chilton says of the release: “Fireside is a simple blend of two distilleries and three cask styles, with rich, warmth, unctuous feeling brought in by Caol Ila matured in Pedro Ximenez, married with Bunnahabhain matured in American Oak Oloroso sherry hogsheads, giving a base of wood smoke and sweet spice. Lastly, we used some Caol Ila matured in re-charred Spanish wine casks that delivered sweet berry fruit notes and a sense of fun – inevitable when staying up late next to the fireside on Islay.”   

Elements of Islay and Elixir Distillers are a partner of Friends of the Fèis, an initiative created to give back to the island, benefitting the festival and the local community. Giving back to the festival committee in this way is a prerequisite for releasing an official Fèis bottling. With the anticipated development of Portintruan Distillery, Elixir Distillers are cementing themselves as a core part of Islay’s community and culture.

The Elements of Islay range of blended malt whiskies is inspired by the nature of Islay; the stability of its earth, its flow of water, its passion of fire and lightness of air. The taste of the brand’s core expressions is shaped by these elements, as is this limited release.

Elements of Islay Fireside (70cl, 54.5% ABV, RRP £84.95) will be available at the Islay Whisky shop during Fèis Ìle and the global release will follow in early June.

Tasting Notes by Oliver Chilton, Head Blender

NOSE:  Warm milk chocolate and smoked cherries are balanced against notes of ground cardamom and cumin. The smell of embers from a wood burner rise and mingle with sweeter strawberry shisha tobacco with a hint of lemon zest.

PALATE:  Thick and heady with rich aromatic smoke and dense dark chocolate. A lighter, more playful fruit flavour of strawberry and blueberry sweets runs through the middle of the palate, offset by cherry and blackcurrant tea. Flamed orange peel zest and cherry liqueur come through with time in the glass.

FINISH: The tannins allow the red fruit flavours to linger while the smoke evolves leaving notes of cacao nibs and milky coffee.

About Elixir Distillers

Elixir Distillers is a creator, blender and bottler of fine spirits, seeking to combine aesthetically beautiful design with delicious, characterful spirits. Their expertise is primarily Scotch whisky, together with Irish, Japanese and American whiskies as well as rum and Tequila. Their core brands include Port Askaig, Elements of Islay, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot which they export to more than 20 international markets. Every member of the Elixir Distillers team is a spirits enthusiast with immense product knowledge, looking to produce the world’s next great drink.

https://elixirdistillers.com/

WATERFORD DISTILLERY LAUNCHES NEW FLAGSHIP BOTTLING: THE WATERFORD – CUVÉE KOFFI

Waterford Distillery has launched its oldest whisky to date: The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi

In The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi natural flavour, unearthed farm by farm, is layered together to create the distillery’s most complex single malt experience

24 distinct Irish Single Farm Origins come together to create this lodestar release, in which terroir-driven philosophy meets cuvée creativity

French artist Nathanaël Koffi has created a packaging design to complement the whisky’s complex and intricate flavours

Waterford Distillery, producer of the most naturally flavoursome single malts, has today launched its new flagship bottling: The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi.

Inspired by greatest Bordeaux châteaux and Champagne Grande Marques, The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi’s distinct and natural profile has been curated through layering together 24 individual Single Farm Origins of between six and seven years of age. Each Single Farm Origin was distilled separately, using 100% local Irish barley grown on individual terroirs across the south east of Ireland.

Free from artificial colouring, additives and chill-filtration – bottled at a robust 50% ABV – The Waterford is an assemblage created from four distinct cask types: 36% First Fill American Oak, 17% Virgin American Oak, 21% Premium French Oak and 26% Vin Doux Naturel. At 6 years of age, this release marks a new era for the terroir-driven producer.

The Waterford also includes the brand’s signature TÉIREOIR code, providing drinkers with an unprecedented transparent and traceable overview of each whisky’s journey from barley to bottle.
To complement the whisky’s complex flavours, rising star of the French art scene, Nathanaël Koffi, collaborated with the brand to create a striking label and packaging design. The vibrant, multi-dimensional colours and patterns reflect the complexity of each bottling: the  component terroirs, the diverse cask profile, and assemblage – in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Mark Reynier, CEO and Founder of Waterford Distillery, said: “Our years of natural flavour exploration with have led us to this momentous bottling. The Waterford – Cuvée Koffi is no ordinary whisky. It’s our lodestar. Made from Irish-grown barley that is harvested, malted and distilled separately, then layered together on after another, to achieve the most natural, complex, flavoursome single malt.

“Our whisky has the audacity and generosity to actually taste of barley – ours is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product. Our vision from the start has always been to challenge the whisky status-quo and show how whisky’s core ingredient – the barley – is responsible for its natural flavours, and Cuvée Koffi is further proof of that concept. “The Waterford now becomes the apogee of our portfolio and the benchmark for future cuvée concepts we will bring to market later this year.”

Tasting Notes by Ned Gahan, Head Distiller at Waterford Distillery:

Appearance: Amber gold and thick oils that slowly descend the glass.

Nose: Interesting combination of red apple on homemade brown bread, washed down with a cup of tea, delish! Three peel marmalade, white pepper tingle, mixed dry herbs, cola cubes and sherbet sweets, light lavender in fresh soil.

Taste: Spices gently dancing on my tongue, lemon and strawberry shortbread biscuits, black pepper, grapefruit, chilli chocolate, oyster crackers, barley sugar, summer fruit compote, liquorice all sorts sweets.

Finish: Long and dry gentle spiciness that lasts and leads to mouth-watering with dried fruits which all meanders on.

The Waterford Cuvée: Koffi is available to purchase now from Waterford Distillery online, Master of Malt and worldwide at key retailers as a permanent listing, priced at approx. €85.50, £73 and US$91.50 respectively.

About Waterford Whisky   

Waterford Whisky produces the most naturally flavoursome single malts.

It is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies.

It is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvée Concepts revel in the ultimate complexity, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information, visit www.waterfordwhisky.com.

HISTORIC MACALLAN WHISKY FEATURING BLENDS FROM THE 1920S LEADS BONHAMS FINEST WHISKY SALE

From the distillery’s golden age 

The Macallan Anniversary Malt-50 year old-1928 whisky. Estimate: £50,000-75,000

Edinburgh– An exceptionally rare and collectable Macallan Anniversary Malt-50 year old-1928 whisky stars in Bonhams Finest Whisky and Spirits Sale from 20-29 May at bonhams.com. Produced from just three casks between 1926 and 1928 and bottled in 1983, this much sought-after bottle represents only one of 500 that were ever produced. The Anniversary Malt-50 year old-1928 release is offered with an estimate of £50,000-75,000.

Georgia Porteous, Bonhams whisky specialist in Edinburgh said, “The Macallan Anniversary Malt- 50 year old-1928 stands out for its rarity, quality and great age. Very few of this calibre have ever come on the market. Crafted only a decade after the First World War, this Anniversary Malt is truly a piece of history.”

Produced during the golden age of Macallan under the inspirational leadership of Janet “Nettie” Harbinson, who crafted one of the most prized whiskies ever to be sold at auction (The Macallan 1926), this particular bottle of Macallan Anniversary Malt whisky comes with its original wooden presentation case and leather straps.

The Macallan Anniversary Malt-50 year old-1928 whisky. Estimate: £50,000-75,000

Other highlights in the sale from The Macallan distillery include:

• The Macallan-1951, distilled 20th December 1951. Matured only in Sherry Wood. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. Casks #1541 and #1552. One of 632 bottles. In original presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £15,000-20,000.

• The Macallan Anniversary Malt-25 year old-1962, specially bottled for British Aerospace PLC by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. In original wooden presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £3,000-4,000.

• The Macallan Private Eye, selected by Whisky Maker F. A. Newlands at The Macallan Distillery, bottled to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Private Eye. Includes cask number 1580, bonded 1961.Bottle 4839 of 5000. 1 bottle. Estimate: £2,000-3,000.

Sale: Finest Whisky & Spirits Location: bonhams.com Date: 20-29 May 2024

Bonhams 

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement. More information and highlights can be found HERE For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

ARDNAMURCHAN THE MIDGIE

Ardnamurchan distillery have combined with Smidge for this latest limited edition release, The Midgie Release! Ardnamurchan peninsula is the home to an abundance of spectacular wildlife but during the Summer one animal makes quite an appearance so the distillery have decided to celebrate one of Scotland’s national treasures, the midgie! ‘The Midgie Release’ has ben created by combining peated and unpeated Ardnamurchan matured in Bourbon, Sherry, Sauternes and Madeira casks then bottled at 48% vol, unchill filtered and at natural colour.

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NEW EXCLUSIVE:
ARDNAMURCHAN 2018 CASK #1058

Ardnamurchan AD08:18 Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillery Bottling

70cl / 59.1%

Dive into the wild world of Ardnamurchan, a distillery breathing new life into a story once lost to time, and creating distinctive, characterful West Highlands single malts in the beautiful and remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula.

Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange, this single cask Ardnamurchan was created with unpeated Golden Promise barley, matured in a first-fill oloroso sherry butt and released at cask strength. This is a pure expression of the Ardnamurchan style with notes of white pepper, lemon tart, Chocolate Oranges and shortbread biscuit.

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Caol Ila 15 Year Old “Dramfool’s Middle Cut” Cask #313322 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 View

Matured 13 years in a bourbon cask with an additional 2 years in a red Bordeaux wine barrique. Distilled on July 4th, 2008 — a perfect dram to celebrate American Independence Day!

Caol Ila 15 Year Old “Dramfool’s Middle Cut” Cask #313328 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 View

Matured 13 years in a bourbon cask with an additional 2 years in a red Bordeaux wine barrique. Distilled on July 4th, 2008 — a perfect dram to celebrate American Independence Day!

Invergordon 35 Year Old “Dramfool – Middle Cut” Bourbon Barrel Aged Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 View

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

Tomatin unveils 12 Year Old Sherry Cask – the newest addition to its core range

Award-winning Highland distillery, Tomatin, has announced a new addition to its core range, the 12 Year Old Sherry Cask.

Launching on the 20^th of May, the whisky has been fully matured in sherry casks for 12 years.

This release builds upon the classically smooth Tomatin 12 Year Old, honing in on pure sherry maturation. The result is a remarkable dram that epitomises the exceptional craftsmanship, tradition and quality of the Highland malt, bringing together decadent, rich flavours imparted from the sherry casks.

Opening with sweet aromas of caramelised apple and sweet pears, complemented by a medley of citrus zest from sultana, orange peel and apricot with subtle undertones of aged leather on the surface.

Deeper on the palate, it leads with indulgent notes of velvety chocolate fudge, golden manuka honey and the crunch of dried fruit and nuts. It has a lingering warm finish, with a hint of sweet cinnamon spice.

This latest release debuts a striking new design, encased in a vivid scarlet exterior embossed with opulent gold foil accents, paying homage to the intricate flavours imparted by the wood during the cask maturation process.

Scott Adamson, Blender & Global Brand Ambassador at Tomatin Distillery, said: “The global demand for well-matured sherried malts, particularly in markets like Asia, has inspired this latest addition to our core range. Tomatin has a unique ability to balance tradition with innovation, embracing our time-honoured techniques and contemporary practices to push the boundaries of flavour exploration. For over a century, Tomatin has featured sherry casks in our maturation process, and this new release stands as the next evolution of this tradition.

“Our 12 Year Old Sherry Cask captures the essence of our renowned 12 Year Old, enhancing its signature smoothness and focusing its aromatic profile to create a sherry cask whisky with a depth of flavour that is luxuriously indulgent”

This latest expression (40% ABV, RRP £52) brings Tomatin’s core range portfolio to six, offering a diverse range of expressions matured in different cask types, each bursting with distinctive flavours and unique characteristics.

The 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is available to purchase from the Tomatin website and select specialist retailers worldwide. For further information visit HERE

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: Caramelised apple, pear, sultana, orange peel, apricot and hints of aged leather
• Palate: chocolate fudge, manuka honey, dried fruit and nut
• Finish: cinnamon spice

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its portfolio of refined and elegant whiskies.  The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainably at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin’s success continued when the distillery’s ‘Legacy’ was awarded Gold at IWSC. That same year, Tomatin also took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

Building upon this triumph, 2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secured Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status. Meanwhile, both Tomatin’s 45 Year Old and 12 Year Old, alongside Cù Bòcan’s 15 Year Old took home Double Gold Awards, and Cù Bòcan’s 12 Year Old also secured a prestigious Gold Award.

‘To What Matters’ is the latest chapter in the brand’s evolution; it is a positive call to arms that represents the spiritual DNA of Tomatin – a belief in savouring what is truly important in life and time spent together.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International

Oran Blended Scotch Whisky Wins Double Gold at

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 Both Take Home Coveted Double Golds

NEW YORK (May 15, 2024) – Oran Blended Scotch Whisky, introduced by The Perfect Fifth in late 2023, has won double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 bottlings.

Whisky expert Jim Murray blended both Scotches for The Perfect Fifth, designing Oran to be an “old school” blend recognizable to whisky lovers of the heyday of blended whisky some 100 years ago.  Oran’s grain and malt components are created separately but ultimately combined as the perfect complement to one another.

Both releases are 50-50-50 blends, 50 percent single malt Scotch Whisky, 50 percent single grain Scotch Whisky, and 50 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Both blends are limited releases, containing only 465 bottles each.

A total of 11 different casks were used to make both blends. Some of the casks were split between both blends but with differing ratios. Blend No. 1 is composed exclusively of Ex-Bourbon casks while Blend No. 2 distinguishes itself with the addition of a sherried cask component.

“I could not be more pleased to have both of our Oran blends do so well in one of the most prestigious competitions in the spirits industry, said Karl Schoen, founder and chief executive officer, The Perfect Fifth.  “The fact that blended Scotch is a new spirits category for The Perfect Fifth, and to take home double golds for both blends with our first release is a testament to the skill and expertise of Jim Murray’s blending prowess.”

Oran Blend No. 1 and Blend No. 2 are available in limited quantities at retailers in New York, New Jersey and California. It is also available online at www.theperfectfifth.com.  Suggested retail pricing is $189 per 700 mL.

About The Perfect Fifth

The Perfect Fifth was created in 2019 by Karl Schoen, who was inspired by watching his family members toast milestones with Scotch Whisky as he grew up.  As Karl began his own exploration into the world of Scotch Whisky, he enjoyed finding stellar single cask bottlings and sharing them with others.  This led to the formation of The Perfect Fifth, where Karl and his brother Ben source the best quality whisky from all over Scotland.  Together they travel throughout Scotland, sampling cask after cask until they find those worthy to be selected for The Perfect Fifth. Few casks make the cut, which is why The Perfect Fifth releases are limited editions.  Like the musical interval, The Perfect Fifth releases consist of multiple layers, each one broad and deep, which when combined, make a beautiful assembly meant to be shared with family and friends.

About The San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and is the largest competition of its kind with nearly 5,000 entries.  Each entry is judged double blind by a panel of spirits experts.  A double gold medal is awarded when each judge on the panel gives a gold medal to the entry.  The SFWSC medal is a testament to the hard work of the spirits industry’s distillers and producers and is a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Edition

The Sauternes Cask Matured limited edition has spent its full maturation in ex-sauternes wine casks, then bottled at 50%abv. Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder, selected a combination of fresh and refill sauternes barriques from 2017 and 2018, creating the perfect balance of buttery sweetness, barbecued pineapple, candied ginger and floral peat smoke.

£86.90

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Tasting notes:

Nose: Creamy, buttery notes with ripe fruits, hint of salty sea air and subtle peat smoke.

Palate: Butterscotch and floral notes combine with tropical and candied fruits with integrated peat smoke flowing throughout.

Finish: Sweetness continues onto the finish, balanced with clean lingering smoke and rich texture.

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