MacNairs Lum Reek
10 Year Old
Cask Strength Batch 2

£62.99

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Bottling Notes:

Taking inspiration from MacNair’s discovery of the delights of a dram beside a smoky peat fireplace, Master Blender Billy Walker has drawn upon his half century’s experience in blending to develop a recipe fit for a traditional Scottish toast to long life: “Lang may yer Lum Reek”

In Batch Two Billy has created a sublime Blended Malt where the smoke of Islay is blended with the finest Speyside and GlenAllachie whiskies. The spirit was then rested in Spanish sherry casks.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Waves of grilled honeycomb, ginger and vanilla with cinnamon, campfire smoke and treacle

Palate: Bursting with dark chocolate, burnt orange peel and honeycomb.

Finish: Smoked spices, butterscotch and roasted coffee beans.

Raise a dram to Rabbie Burns with Bladnoch

As the world prepares to celebrate the life and work of iconic Scottish poet, Robert Burns, on Thursday 25th January 2024, Bladnoch has recommended some of its finest Lowland malt whiskies to toast Scotland’s national bard this Burns Night.

Bladnoch is the southernmost distillery in Scotland and one of the closest to where Burns spent his life in Dumfries & Galloway. The water which gave life to this historic distillery sustained the whiskies of Burns’ era, making Bladnoch the ideal dram to complement Burns Suppers this January.

The Bladnoch Classic Collection is expertly handcrafted by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage and his team, using water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery. All four whiskies – Vinaya, Liora, Samsara and Alinta – are natural in colour and non-chill filtered, to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

Bladnoch Vinaya, 70cl, 46.7% ABV, £50 / AUD $100 / USD $70

Vinaya, a Sanskrit word meaning respect and gratitude, pays homage to Bladnoch Distillery’s original founders who paved the way for the brand’s exciting new era of innovation and production.

Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Bladnoch Vinaya is matured in a unique combination of first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, a process which creates notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Bladnoch Liora, 70cl, 52.2% ABV, £70 / AUD $125 / USD $90

The name Liora has its origins in Hebrew, meaning ‘the gift of light’. The latest addition to the Classic Collection, Bladnoch Liora is matured in a combination of bourbon and new oak casks and is the first of the brand’s releases to be bottled at distiller’s strength of 52.2% ABV.

Liora embodies the delicate balance between the intensity of the new oak and the sweetness of the bourbon casks, resulting in flavours of fresh cut apples, toasted caramel, peppery spices and fresh oak.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Bladnoch Samsara, 70cl, 46.7% ABV, £80 / AUD $160 / USD $100

Bladnoch Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of malts matured in Californian red wine and ex-bourbon casks.

Rich and sweet with notes of vanilla, fudge and citrus, this unique non-age-statement malt whisky is the perfect dram for the dark winter months.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers. 

Bladnoch Alinta, 70cl, 47% ABV, £80 / AUD $160 / USD $100

Alinta, an indigenous word from several southeast Australian language groups, means ‘fire’ and ‘flames’, and evokes the notes of campfire embers found in each sip.

A sweet, smoky, peated spirit, Bladnoch Alinta takes its flavour from maturation in Pedro Ximénez sherry and ex-bourbon casks, which sets this whisky apart from anything previously released by Bladnoch.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers. 

Tasting Notes

 Bladnoch Vinaya

Colour: Summer barley field.

Nose: Sweet floral grass with boiled sweets.

Palate: Fresh green apples and chocolate with a hint of pepper.

Finish: Light and refreshing.

Bladnoch Liora

Colour: Natural.

Nose: Fresh cut apples, with toasted caramel and floral notes.

Palate: Caramelised toffee apples with peppery spices and fresh cut oak.

Finish: Long, with a slightly warming dryness.

Bladnoch Samsara

Colour: Copper gold.

Nose: Vanilla cream, floral with fresh cut apples.

Palate: Thick vanilla fudge, sweet floral grass.

Finish: Rich, mouth coating, leading to refreshing citrus.

Bladnoch Alinta

Colour: Copper.

Nose: Smoky ice cream, delicate floral with sweet oak.

Palate: Campfire smoke, almonds and raisins with a white chocolate body.

Finish: Long with a sweet smoke.

 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.

Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old “Rites of Passage” 1st Fill Oloroso Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $599.99 View

Rites of Passage is a new independent bottler committed to the old way of doing things. Lamenting the loss of medium- to long-term aged single casks, they only bottle superlative quality casks in premium barrels with a minimum age statement of 12 years old. Many of their casks will greatly surpass that – like this 30 year first-fill sherry cask from Bunnahabhain. Double barreled in first-fill Olorosso this particular whisky was distilled on December 2nd, 1991 and filled into first-fill sherry and was reracked into a new first-fill sherry cask in 2017 by Epicurean Selection, the company behind Rites of Passage. It was finally bottled on October 5th, 2022. It is dark as chocolate and clean as a whistle. Bottled at 47.3% ABV natural cask strength with no added color or chill filtration. Only 249 bottles produced.

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

WHISKY OF THE YEAR 2024
LOCH LOMOND 18 YEAR OLD

Choosing our Whisky of the Year is never easy, but thanks to our panel of industry experts and the attendees at our judging event in London, we whittled down a shortlist of six whiskies to one winner for the year ahead: Loch Lomond 18 Year Old.

This year’s shortlist included whiskies from Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, a smoky red wine cask-finished single malt, a rich Speyside whisky and a fruity, coastal malt. Save £8 on our Whisky of the Year 2024 or browse the rest of our shortlisted whiskies for more impressive Christmas gift contenders.

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We are pleased to share that The Macallan A Night on Earth – The Journey, is now available for purchase in our Online Boutique. A unique expression, this single malt was created using a perfectly balanced combination of exceptional first-fill American ex-bourbon barrels, along with European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks.

This exquisite single malt represents the journey to reunite with our loved ones, and those unique moments around the world when we come together.

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The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd, Easter Elchies,

Craigellachie, Moray, AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

Laphroaig 10 Year Old “Sherry Oak” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Previously $90) $54.99 View

Laphroaig 10 is definitely in the running for Scotland’s most iconic bottling. After years of pining for a sherried version—it’s finally here. The 10 Year Old Sherry Oak is finished in Oloroso casks providing a honeyed sweetness that perfectly compliments the salty smoke of Scotland’s most richly flavored malt. While it’s our hope that this will eventually be a staple on the shelves, the initial release is extremely limited and will certainly sell out in minutes.

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

White Heather 15 Years Aged – The Unbottling With Special Guest James Bornn

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY RELEASES THIRD BATCH OF ANNUAL CASK STRENGTH BOURBON WHISKEY

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (December 2023) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Virginia’s oldest distillery, today announces the return of its award-winning Cask Strength Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Now in its third year, the annual cask strength offering showcases the excellence in craft distilling bourbon enthusiasts have come to expect from A. Smith Bowman Distillery.

A.Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon is the result of continuous year-long tastings to blend the best barrels available. Hand-selected by Distiller David Bock, this year’s release is 135.1 proof and aged a minimum of nine years.

“When tasting through our barrel inventory, the 9-year-old barrels had a wonderful complexity and sweetness that I wanted to incorporate in this blend,” said Bock. “We believe our Cask Strength Whiskey is about crafting the best possible cask strength whiskey we can provide from our stocks. I’m excited for fans to try this year’s release!”

Bottled uncut and non chill-filtered, this bourbon boasts aromas of candy apples and strong maple; the palate offers pronounced sweet raisins and vanilla flavors, followed by toasted toffy. The tasting experience starts with very soft notes that continue to build toward a strong crispy finish indicative of higher proof bourbon.

A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #3 will be available in select markets in the United States, as well as through an online lottery. The online lottery will begin on January 3, 2024 at noon EST and ends January 10, 2024 at noon EST. The lottery is open nationwide, but winners MUST be able to purchase bottles in-person at the A. Smith Bowman gift shop within three weeks of winning. Limit one entry per person. To enter, please submit a form here. Winners will be randomly selected January 12, 2024, and notified by email immediately following the selection. Bottles are packaged in 750 mL and available at a suggested retail price of $99.99 (local taxes and fees apply).  For more information, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location. 

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five years, including “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016 for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon and again in 2017 for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel at the World Whisky Awards. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

With the Christmas season all wrapped up, e have some suggestions below as to how you might spend any upcoming downtime exploring your passion for whisky.

GOT 30 MINUTES?

Designed to give you a feel for how the EWA learning platform works, our Free Resources offer the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon dram. From How to Pronounce Scotch Whisky Distillery Names to Where to Start with Scotch Whisky, The A-Z of Scotch Whisky and The Scotch Whisky Tasting Toolkit, there’s plenty to get stuck into. We even have an Ultimate Quiz for Scotch Whisky Lovers if you’re feeling particularly competitive with family and friends.

GOT AN HOUR?

Our standalone Modules (£25) are a great way to spend an hour or so online. Focus on Flavour details the various stages during the Scotch whisky production process where key flavours are created. Wake Up Your Whisky Nose offers an overview of how your sense of smell works, with practical tips to boost your aroma memory. Both modules encourage you to consider your favourite drams a little differently and offer a greater appreciation of what goes into the glass.

GOT A DAY?

While there’s no deadline or time restriction for completing a Certificate course, we think there’s around 8-10 hours of material in both the Certificate in Scotch Whisky and Certificate in Irish Whiskey (£120). These detailed modular courses cover the fascinating history and business of each category, before journeying through the entire production process from grain to glass. With expert contributors including Dr Gordon Steele and Vic Cameron (Scotch) and Matt Healy and Fionnán O’Connor (Irish), you can be sure that you’re learning from the very best in the industry.

GOT A FEW WEEKS?

Immerse yourself in the world of single malt whisky when you study our flagship Diploma course online. For 2024, we’re pleased to announce the return of three-week guided study sessions for the Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (£1,015). While the immediate start, self-study option remains available and open to all, we’ve added three courses throughout 2024 which instead run to a schedule (start dates: 12 April, 2 August and 1 November). With live tutorials, regular drop-in dram sessions and a Community section, you’ll be in good company with likeminded whisky lovers from across the globe.

Shop All Courses

The world of drinks never stands still, happily at The Whisky Exchange we’re uniquely placed to explore these new developments. Our buying director Dawn Davies MW has picked out her drinks to watch for the year ahead, and is going to be hosting a tasting early in 2024 to explore them in more depth. In her own words: it’s always exciting to discover and understand the latest hot trends in the drinks industry. This tasting will give you an insight into what’s out there right now.

Whisky Makes the World Go Round

It is no surprise that we are continuing to see strong support for the whisky category, what is interesting is that we are seeing some incredible drams coming from countries well beyond the traditional whisky-making heartlands. A particular highlight at Whisky Show were the whiskies from Thomson in New Zealand which bring a fresh approach and flavours to their whiskies.

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