Kentucky Distillers’ Association To Celebrate 25^th Anniversary of World-Famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tour

Launching a sleek new kentucky bourbon trail® brand and continued growth of bourbon tourism

(Louisville, KY ) – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is joining elected officials and Bourbon luminaries to celebrate 25 years of Bourbon tourism on the world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail®experience. As part of the celebration, a bold new brand and digital experience will be unveiled to usher in a new era of the Kentucky Bourbon legacy – bringing authentic, innovative spirits to the world and building strong communities across the Bluegrass State.

WHAT: Kentucky Bourbon Trail® 25^th Anniversary and Landmark Announcement

WHEN: Thursday, June 20^th at 2:30 p.m. EST.  Doors open at 2 p.m.;  press conference begins promptly at 2:30

WHO: U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus,  U.S. Congressman Morgan McGarvey, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Jes Pendergrass – KDA Chair, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Heaven Hill and Eric Gregory – President, Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

WHERE: Frazier History Museum,  First Floor Great Hall,  829 West Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

RSVP REQUIRED: Attendance is by invite only and not open to the public.

LIVE STREAM: The event will be live streamed on KDA’s Facebook page.

2012 GlenAllachie 11/12 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive First Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask

Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

(700ml & Pre-Arrival)

$79.99

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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

Big Bad John’s Northern Promise Single Malt Batch 1 

The Unbottling

Adam and Andrew hang out in the legendary BBJ’s to show off the brand new collaboration between The Strath and Fermentorium Distillery. Discover the unique story behind this historic new release that’s been 70 years in the making.  Order your bottle right now!

PREORDER Big Bad John’s Northern Promise – Single Malt Batch 1

Bladnoch Distillery unveils The Wave – a new limited-edition series showcasing the five pillars of whisky making

Bladnoch, Scotland’s southernmost whisky distillery, has launched The Wave, the second chapter within the Master Distiller’s Collection. 

The Wave is a five-part limited-edition series which demonstrates the marrying process of whisky casks, with each annual release revealing one of the five whisky making pillars used by master distiller, Dr Nick Savage.

Released  June 2024, Wave I: Time & Maturation epitomises Bladnoch’s method of selecting casks at the peak time in their maturation process to ensure optimal flavours in the whisky.

The Wave is a natural progression from The Waterfall Series, which concluded with the release of Bladnoch Waterfall 05 2024 which was unveiled at the distillery’s annual Waterfall Day festival in May. Both The Waterfall Series and The Wave form part of Bladnoch’s Master Distiller’s Collection.  

To embark on The Wave journey, Dr Nick Savage selected five 1,500 litre Amontillado sherry tuns.  Each tun is filled with whiskies from various combinations of cask types to marry together from the distillery’s 207-year-old bluestone warehouses. Each year the cask types will be revealed and depict another pillar of Bladnoch whisky making. The remaining whisky will be decanted into the following year’s tun, creating a common thread and a wave effect throughout the series, with the fifth and final release featuring components from the full collection.

Under Nick’s exceptional care, the first Amontillado sherry tun used to craft Wave I: Time & Maturation was filled with a combination of remarkable ex-bourbon casks from Bladnoch’s maturing stocks and married with the remaining whisky from Waterfall 05 2024 Edition of the first Master Distiller’s Collection. This unique approach connects both series in an infinite whisky voyage.

Over the course of five years, each release in The Wave series will be accompanied by a music track which represents the whisky’s unique journey and signifies how each cask takes notes from the other, building year on year. The piano composition released with Wave I: Time & Maturation reflects how the whiskies develop over time.

Dr Nick Savage, Master Distiller at Bladnoch Distillery, said: “We only ever select a cask when the time is right, not because it’s old or has reached a certain age. That right ‘time’ is determined by our deep understanding of maturation dynamics. It’s the moment of peak flavour in our warehouse environment – a climate where nothing is forced.

“The Wave is a strong example of Bladnoch’s taste-first approach to whisky making and a real demonstration of our bold Galloway spirit. With these single malts, we not only strive to take people on a journey into whisky making, but also to provide them with a taste experience, aiming to challenge preconceptions and build understanding along the way.”

Bottled at 53.8% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Wave I: Time & Maturation opens with floral pine needles, fresh cut oak on the nose and imparts notes of sweet oak and toasted coconut on the palate, with a sweet, warm, refreshing finish.

The edition is limited to 1,817 bottles in tribute to the year the distillery was founded and has an RRSP of £150. It is available exclusively in the UK and Australia from bladnoch.com.

To celebrate the new chapter in The Master Distiller’s Collection, the distillery will host Bladnoch Wave Weekend in June 2025. Details will be released first to those who purchase Wave I: Time & Maturation.

Dating back to 1817, Bladnoch Distillery is one of the oldest single malt Scotch whisky producers in the world and is enjoying a bold and powerful revival. The legacy brand has been revived in recent years by David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery. 

Tasting notes  

Floral, oak, sweet

Nose: Floral pine needles with fresh cut oak

Palate: Sweet oak and toasted coconut

Finish: Sweet, warm and refreshing

ABV: 53.8%

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’

Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.

The team at Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in this iconic distillery.

JUNE AUCTION HALFWAY POINT!

We are half way through our June auction. It may be small but it has some mighty good whiskies, including three wonderfully aged Duncan Taylor bottlings; Cameronbridge 1979 25 Years Old, Mosstowie 30 Years Old and a stunning Macduff 35 Years Old.

We have several vintage bottlings available this month, including this superb 1971 Glenmorangie, released in 1993.

Here is another fine vintage. Distilled in 1965 by the now closed Inverness distillery Glen Mhor and bottled in 1994 by bottling royalty Gordon & MacPhail.

This bottle of 21 Years Old Springbank was released in the early 1990’s, featuring the parchment label signed by Hedley G. Wright, the distiller of that era.

These are only a few of the bottles in our June auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 23^rd June from 8pm BST.

We have launched a brand new rewards scheme, which will grant all of our customers the ability to collect points with every purchase to trade for money-off vouchers. There will be three tiers of The W Club Rewards: Points, Delivered and Premium.

It is super easy and free to join and can be used online and across our 20 stores in the UK.  We look forward to welcoming you!

EXPLORE NOW ❯

W Club rewards tiers

The free Points tier gives those with an account the ability to earn two points per pound and, also, a sweet birthday treat. Delivered expands upon our previous Unlimited offering which gives members free unlimited next day delivery. This tier is £15 per year, and now grants members three points per pound.

The Premium tier is the place to be for those looking to expand their whisky world. Building upon the W Club, and absorbing all current members, the top tier brings an almost endless array of benefits, including a subscription to Whiskeria (our industry-leading magazine), ballots, discounts, in-store tasting invites and many more treats throughout the year. A bargain for £30 per year.

EXPLORE W CLUB REWARDS ❯

JOIN TODAY & CLAIM 10% OFF!

As a special sign up treat, everyone who signs up to our W Club Rewards scheme will receive a massive 10% off their next purchase!  Once you follow our super simple sign up process, you will receive your sign up offer via email.  Take the QR Voucher into store or copy the code at checkout to enjoy this offer!

If you already have a Whisky Shop account with us, you are now in our Points tier. Check your Account here, as we have added a bundle of points to spend for every member. If not, it’s super easy to join and we’ll give you 10% off your first purchase just for being a member. We look forward to welcoming you!

JOIN NOW ❯

Introduction to Irish Whiskey

In this free course, one of our contributing experts, Michael Walsh, will explain 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 Irish whiskey. Upon completion, you’ll be ready to register for the Certificate in Irish Whiskey, our intermediate level eight module course which has been meticulously authored by Matt Healy and Fionnán O’Connor.📖  Learn More

Milestone: 11k Students 🌟

We’re delighted to have surpassed 11,000 students on our online learning platform! Huge thanks to every one of you who’s helped us get here. We’re extremely proud of our growing global community of certified whisky enthusiasts and industry professionals. There’s so much fun to be had in discovering more and more about the drams that you love and appreciating how they made it into your glass. Unlock your learning potential and get started with a new course today.

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Turntable Spirits: One Way or Another Blended Whisky, 46%

One Way or Another Blended Whisky

I’m back again with some of the nicest blends I’ve ever been able to try from the folks at Turntable Spirits. One Way Or Another is a 46%, natural colour, non-chill filtered blend that comes in at 78% grain and 22% malt whiskies. Lathered in sweet salted caramel, banana, walnuts, some fresh lemon zest sprinkled – this stuff is a must-have for those of us with a sweet tooth.

The breakdown of contents goes as so:

30% 1st fill bourbon Strathclyde.

21% Ex-red wine Invergordon.

15% Ex-marsala Cameronbridge.

12% Ex-madeira Cameronbridge.

22% 1st fill bourbon Linkwood.

All of this stuff combined gives us a rich yet light approach to a blended whisky that is much more transparent than some of its rivals. With a generally nicer approach to naming, labelling, and sound.

CASK TRADE CELEBRATES 5^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CHARITY BOTTLING IN SUPPORT OF THE DRINKS TRUST

To commemorate its 5^th anniversary, Cask Trade hope to raise £10,000 for The Drinks Trust by selling bottles of cask-strength whisky in aid of the charity.

The cask whisky company has bottled 200 bottles from 2 barrels of 2015 single malt Scotch whisky from The Speyside Distillery.

Cask Trade has celebrated many milestones since its inception five years ago including the opening of an office in Asia, and the launch of Auction Your Cask and Regent Street Cask Bottlers.

CEO and Founder of Cask Trade Simon Aron says a lot has happened in what has been an extraordinary time for cask whisky. “The cask trading sector has changed immeasurably from when I started Cask Trade five years ago,” says Simon, who adds: “There are now ten times more cask traders, a thousand more independent bottlers and cask whisky has become truly global in this relatively short space of time. 

“The variety and choice of casks available has risen dramatically and people’s tastes have changed as they become exposed to different distilleries and styles of whisky available to them in bottles bought from specialist shops and drunk in bars around the world,” he explains. 

Simon says he is delighted to support The Drinks Trust. “I think it’s important to support our industry and the people who work within it. The financial help, training and wellbeing programmes offered by The Drinks Trust are a much-needed lifeline to the drinks industry.”

The special charity bottling will be unveiled at Cask Trade’s anniversary party at Watches of Switzerland later this month (June). It is also available to purchase via website priced at £85 per bottle.

Chief Executive for The Drinks Trust, Ross Carter, says: “Our work with donors, Cask Trade amongst them, is rapidly evolving and helping to deliver vital funds and services for our beneficiaries, whilst also helping businesses achieve CSR goals. These partnerships help the industry as a whole and elevate the profile of the charity so that it can continue to expand its reach and impact.”

To read more about Cask Trade’s success, challenges and thoughts for the future click HERE

ABOUT CASK TRADE:

Cask Trade was set up by Simon Aron in 2018, born from his personal experiences of buying casks as a passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years.

Having found cask ownership difficult to navigate with few reputable companies operating, he envisioned creating a marketplace that made buying and selling casks transparent, open, and honest.

Cask Trade has grown from strength to strength, building its success off several core values:

• Stockists, not brokers – Cask Trade own all its stock, giving buyers a 100% transactional guarantee and the peace of mind that all casks have been through stringent quality checks.
• Market leading stocklist – since 2018, Cask Trade has represented over 170 distilleries across the world of whisky, rum, Cognac and Armagnac.
• End-to-end support – Cask Trade nurtures client relationships beyond the point of sale and offers full cask management, sampling, re-gauges, and multiple exit options when customers come to sell on their cask.
• Trust and transparency – The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.
• Expert team – above all, the Cask Trade team are passionate about cask ownership and strives to help clients achieve their goals, whether they are looking to buy, sell or bottle their casks.

Alongside cask sale and ownership, Cask Trade has two unique services which help clients sell and bottle their liquid when the time is right:

Auction Your Cask

Auction Your Cask is the world’s first dedicated online cask auction site. With four auctions a year, clients as well as the public can either submit a cask to sell or bid on other casks with 0% seller fees and an agreed reserve.

Regent Street Cask Bottlers

For clients looking to bottle their cask, Cask Trade offers a unique bottling service – Regent Street Cask Bottlers. The expert team take the hard work out of bottling, helping customers bottle for trade purposes, to celebrate a special occasion, or even buy pre-bottled casks.

Recognition

Acknowledgement for the achievements of Cask Trade has been recognised by the FT1000 when the business was ranked as one of the fastest-growing companies in Europe; listed in The Sunday Times Hundred fastest-growing private companies in Britain and named among the UK’s most innovative new businesses’ by StartUps 100 Index.

Why We Choose Our Own Casks –
Education Series – Part 2

We are proud to unveil the second part of our Wemyss Malts Education Series: Why We Choose Our Own Casks. Our Production Director, Isabella Wemyss, believes in crafting whiskies that stand out for their consistency and quality. It’s not just about the spirit; it’s about the cask and wood type it matures in.

In part 2 of our Education Series, Isabella explains why selecting the perfect casks is integral to our process. Each whisky’s flavour is a result of the intricate dance between the spirit and the cask it calls home. That’s why we match cask types to flavour profiles, ensuring each component is in harmony.

Every cask has its own unique character, influenced by the wood itself, chemical reactions, and its history. Whether it’s the sweetness of a first-fill bourbon cask or the subtlety of a refill cask, each choice is deliberate, aimed at achieving the perfect balance.
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Watch the full length video on why we choose our own casks below:

The Hive 70cl | Peat Chimney 70cl | Spice King 70cl

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