photos are credited to the team at @frombarreltobottle

We are pleased to announce the Springbank, Kilkerran & Cadenhead’s events which will take place during the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2024. Events will run from Monday 20th – Saturday 25th May.

Traditionally, Thursday is dedicated to Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow with Friday being a combined celebration of Kilkerran and Cadenhead’s. As 2024 is the 20th anniversary of Kilkerran Single Malt, the main focus for Friday will be on Kilkerran. This year, Cadenhead’s will feature throughout the week with tastings each day instead of only on Friday.

To join the Springbank Society contact them at society@springbank.scot

Springbank Distillers Ltd, 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Scotland, PA28 6HZ

Website

Glenturret 30 Year old

This Glenturret 30 year single malt has a complex, sweet character that offers dark toffee, chocolate, almonds, cinnamon and caramelised bananas. Glenturret is officially the oldest whisky distillery still in operation in Scotland.

Some of the precious 30 year old spirit for this release was put into new, specially selected European oak sherry casks where it matured for another year.

Available at WhiskyGenie.com

Glenturret 30 Year old

£650

ralfy review 1012 – Campbeltown Loch Malt Blend (OSWA winner 2023)

Killowen Distillery Update – Distillery of the Year, Cork Whiskey Fest & Location of Special Killowen Bottles? 😁

Killowen Distillery Crowned Distillery of the Year!

A few weeks ago, whiskey enthusiast Sean Kincaid, also known as @darkcloudwhisky on Instagram crowned us ‘Distillery of the Year!’ On his page, he uploaded a video with his impressive Killowen collection, where he wrote: ‘this was by far one of the easiest choices of the entire awards.’ He then continued by saying ‘Killowen Distillery is one of the smallest distilleries in all of Irish Whiskey but they are having one of the largest impacts!’

It is our absolute pleasure – thank you Sean.

This is also fitting as PWS Imports in Alberta currently have their own Part 1 of 2 Killowen Barántúil. This beautiful Single Pot Still has been split in two smaller casks with the other half resting in a secret cask for the future. Click here for pre-orders.

Killowen’s spirit – Where can we get it?

We are experiencing many calls from whiskey lovers requesting some of our single casks – there are no recent Killowen whiskey releases available from our website due to sell-out editions.

Cork Whiskey Fest 2024

The countdown to Cork Whiskey Fest is on. With less than 2 months to go, we are so excited and have prepared some very special samples to share with you all. The second annual Cork Whiskey Fest will take place on 22nd – 24th March – a weekend full of craic and fantastic whiskey experiences! We added some more tickets this year after last years sell out so come have a ball with us.

Limited tickets remaining – click here to get yours while you can!

See you all there 🙂

We are live!

Auction closes from 8pm (GMT) Tuesday 6th February  

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

Macallan – 37 Years Old – 1964 – Fine & Rare

A stunning bottling of Macallan which was distilled in 1964. The natural beech colour and rich, perfumed character strongly indicates this was matured in first Fill American Oak Sherry Cask.

Filled on 5th September 1964 and aged for 37 years in a single hogshead cask #3312 which was selected as the best current expression of that year. Left to lie until it was then bottled in 2002 at natural cask strength with no chill filtration. Allowing this whisky to get all of its colour naturally from the 37 years it spent in the cask.

Glenfarclas – 50 Years Old – Bicentenary of John Grant’s Birth

This special bottle from the famous family-owned Speyside distillery was distilled on the 30^th September 1955 and was matured over a long 50-year period before being bottled in 2005 to celebrate the Bicentenary of the birth of John Grant, who had purchased the distillery in 1865. Only 110 of these elusive bottles were released and they don’t show up often, so be sure to head online now and bid while you can!

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Ben Nevis 27 Year Old 1995 Whisky Blues 50.6% 70cl

£430.00

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It’s no secret that we’re a bit obsessed by Ben Nevis here at Milroy’s at this 27-year-old is everything we want it to be and more. After nearly three decades in a sherry butt, it has reached an ABV of 50.6%.

The nose abounds with citrus, orchard and tropical fruits then honey, cream wax and spice. There’s bags more fruit on the palate then shortbread, nuts and cardamom before a triumphant finish of yet more fruit. This is a very approachable yet deeply satisfying dram.

Balmenach 2009 14YO, Cask #18603404

Bottled Exclusively for the UK.

One of only 274 bottles from a first fill sherry hogshead.

£110.00 >

This release is from Balmenach Distillery, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. Coming in the ‘Cask Strength’ range of Connoisseurs Choice. Bottled exclusively for the UK. Distilled: 2009. Bottled: 17th November 2023. Batch number: 23/063. Cask number: 18603404. Cask Type: First Fill Sherry Hogshead. Aged for 14 Years.. One of only 274 bottles.

Notes:

Coffee aromas give way to mixed nuts and stewed raisins. Smooth raspberry compote flavours complement dark chocolate and citrus peel. A full finish with lingering forest fruits and toffee.

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

Virginia Distillery Co. 11 Year Old “First Fill Bourbon and Moscatel Cask #2847” Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

You’d never know it from the label, but this is 100% Scotch Single Malt – with a twist. It wasn’t bottles in Scotland and therefore it has foregone it’s moniker. Virginia Distilling purchased some Scotch in first fill Bourbon casks and imported them to Virginia. The original plan was to blend it with some of their early distillate, but a few of the casks were so special they just held onto them. At 6 years old, they recasked them into some particularly delicious fresh Moscatel casks – then they left them alone for another 5 years. When we saw the price on the table for cask strength 11 year old single malt that basically had a full first maturation in 1st fill Bourbon and a 2nd maturation in Moscatel – a sweet fortified wine from Portugal – we just had to taste them. We picked the best barrel of the bunch and it’s finally bottled and here as a K&L exclusive! At a whopping 60.3% ABV and bottled without adjustment, color or filtration, just the way it should be.

Wathen’s Private Barrel “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #4498 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 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

ralfy review 1012 – The Art of Up-Blending.

Naked Malt announces the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ cocktail making competition winners

30th January 2024: Naked Malt, the award-winning* and top-trending** blended malt today unveils the champions of its renowned 2023 bartender engagement programme, the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’. Five bars have been crowned national winners from France, Denmark, Taiwan, the Netherlands and South Korea, following a rigorous three-stage competition, focused on the brands signature serve, a reinterpretation of the classic whisky sour, a ‘Naked Sour’.

Recipients of this year’s prestigious industry award are Cuckoo Bar, Tainan, Taiwan; The Cambridge Public House, Paris, France; Zest, Seoul, South Korea; Ruby, Copenhagen, Denmark and Fitz’s Bar, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

As part of the prize, the winners will go on to take part in a global bar exchange this year, to inspire them and offer a fresh perspective, living out Naked Malt’s ethos. The ‘swap’, which will see two bartenders from winning accounts switch countries with their peers, will be a culturally immersive experience and help participating bartenders expand their knowledge, learn new skills and build relationships across the global bartending community.

The bar swaps will take place in the first quarter of the year, and will see the Taiwanese and French winners swap, champion bartenders from Denmark will visit Korea, the Korean victors will visit the Netherlands and the Netherlands winners will visit Denmark. As part of their prize, the international champions have also been automatically appointed to the judging panel of the 2024 competition in their visiting country.

Isac Melander, Global Brand Ambassador at Naked Malt, said: “This year’s ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ was a spectacular celebration of the very best industry talent working across the globe. After an incredibly challenging period for the hospitality industry, we wanted to reunite our Naked community over a Naked Sour serve. We aimed to inspire a new generation of bartenders and consumers to explore the very best of Scotch whisky and challenge conventional thinking. Through liberating, inspirational, and educational experiences bartenders were able to reconnect, share their creativity, their skills and most importantly experience what it means to ‘Live Naked’.”

During the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ competition two bartenders from each participating bar were tasked with designing their perfect, stripped back Naked Sour serve and asked to share the story of their creation through a series of engaging social media posts. Competition participants were then invited to attend a national finale event where they presented their Naked Sour in front of an expert panel. They were finally challenged on the spot to serve up a bespoke cocktail, using only a selection of mystery ingredients.

Competition finale events in each country were underpinned with interactive and immersive activities, designed to embody the brand’s ‘Live Naked’ ethos – freedom from conventional thinking – and provide a memorable out-of-bar experience, this included various creative and outdoor activities such as yoga classes, sand surfing, painting workshops. The aim was to take entrants away from the pressures of everyday life behind the bar to enjoy the spirit of freedom the brand represents.

Produced in Scotland by ultra-premium spirits company, Edrington, Naked Malt, launched a new bottle design with 100% recyclable packaging in 2021. The launch saw no change to the liquid which is comprised of the world’s finest single malts, extra matured in first-fill (or naked) Oloroso sherry casks for 6 months. The brand seeks to inspire a new generation of whisky drinkers by offering a great quality, yet accessible whisky that’s versatile for any preferred whisky serve.

Venues interested in entering the next ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ competition should get in touch with their Naked Malt account manager or representative to find out more.

Notes

For more information about Naked Malt or the ‘Live Naked Bar Swap’ please contact: bronte.stephens@havas.com Naked Malt is available in 70cl at 40% ABV In the US & South Africa its available in 75cl at 43% ABV In Global travel retail Naked Malt is available in 1L at 40% ABV

About Naked Malt

Naked Malt is a blended malt whisky produced in Scotland by ultra-premium spirits company Edrington.  It initially launched as a blended Scotch under the name Naked Grouse in 2011 before relaunching as a blended malt in 2017, in line with the increasing popularity of contemporary whiskies. In 2021, a new brand name of Naked Malt was revealed to cement the brand’s place as the drink of independent and freedom-seeking consumers with a revised bottle design including a portrait of the first-fill casks against a sleek, modern glass bottle.

Naked Malt is comprised of a selection of Scotland’s finest single malts – a unique blend of the world’s finest single malts. The blended malt is matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry oak casks, and it is from these “naked” casks that have never held whisky before, that Naked Malt takes its name and its distinctive flavour. The ageing process, along with the blend of single malts, results in a rich and fruity whisky with a soft spice finish.

Naked Malt has become the fastest growing contemporary whisky with consecutive years of double-digit growth and is currently distributed in 63 markets globally. (IWSR 2022).

Naked Malt tasting notes:

Nose: Buttery toffee, apples, sweet spice

Taste: Vanilla custard, stewed fruit, raisins and sultanas

Finish: Rich sherried spice

*Naked Malt award wins

2024

**Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #6 Drinks International, Top Ten Best Selling Scotch Whisky #10

2023

Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Excellent (94 points) Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Finalist Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Great Value World Spirits Competition, Double Gold Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #4 Drinks International, Top 50 World’s Most Admired Whiskies #43

2022

Drinks International, Top Trending Scotch Whisky #10 International Spirits Challenge, Silver (Taste) World Spirits Competition, Best of Class World Spirits Competition, Double Gold Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Excellent (94 points) Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Finalist Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Great Value IWSR, Silver

2020

International Spirits Challenge, Gold

2019

World Spirits Competition, Double Gold