I was feeling somewhat smug about a month ago. Bottling was already underway, and it seemed – for the first time ever – like I was ahead of the curve and could enjoy a civilised run-up to Christmas. Of course the universe cannot tolerate even this fairly mild hubris, and here we are – as usual – with a slight air of festive panic. I don’t know how Father Christmas doesn’t have an embolism quite frankly.

It’s quite alright though, as I have four brand new bottlings for you, all of which I’m really rather delighted with.

ps/ As well as the 4 newbies, there is also a small restock of the Dun Dearg 5yo available through the site now. This is the very last of it.

pps/ EU friends! Please check the note at the bottom of this email for some developments.

Onwards!

First up we have an 18-year-old Highland. This cask has had a slightly obscure history, but is alleged to be peated single malt from a well-known mountain-adjacent distillery in the western Highlands…

The nose starts with a rather complex and aromatic fruitiness: orange juice, mango, fig leaf, even a bit of Juicy Fruit gum. It then develops in a more savoury direction, with sweet soy sauce, touches of liquorice and sage, grilled bacon and a bit of smoky BBQ sauce.

The palate is sweet, lightly syrupy in texture, and smokier than the nose. I find papaya, lemon, salty green olives and coal dust, then rooibos tea with honey. The finish is quite long, with sweet, salty and slightly medicinal peat smoke and black treacle bacon.

A drop or two of water makes everything saltier, with green fruits, lemony smoke, herbal tinctures and tar.

It’s the balance of fruitiness / savoury smoke that really makes this one. It made me think of old Caol Ila and Laphroaig at points, which can only be a good thing.

This refill barrel produced 267 bottles at 54.0%, and they are available for £120 each.

Next we have a 14-year-old Bruichladdich. No funny histories here – this cask spent its entire life up until the last couple of months on the Islay shore.

On the nose: Bruichladdich! So, seashore, ozone, baled hay, mineral oil, tangerine peel, and all that good stuff. It really is one of the most distinctive distillates. I also get milk bottle sweets, mint leaf, bandages, and increasing apricots and honey as it breathes.

The palate has a lovely texture, with candied lemon and lime, salted butter, grassy olive oil, barley water, apricot jam, waxes and oils. The finish is really long, salty, malty, warmly peppery and orangey.

As usual for Bruichladdich this loves water. The diluted nose has herbs, melon, sweet lime, and touches of butterscotch and almonds, while the palate is a balance of citrus, plums, camphor and minerals. It just works a treat.

This first-fill bourbon barrel produced 229 bottles at 57.9% and they are available for £105 each.

Thirdly we have an 8-year-old Glen Ord. I know the last Ord I bottled about 18 months ago was a favourite for many (me too!) so I’m delighted to have another one.

On the nose then: butterscotch, peaches, cigarette smoke and coal tar. This is fun! And it really does feel like there’s some peat somewhere in the mix somehow… It develops on banana, hazelnut syrup, buttered panettone, peanut butter, a little aniseed and beech smoke.

The palate is fat, malty and buttery, with a smouldering coal dust backbone. (Can one have a backbone made of dust? Answers on a postcard please.) I also find lemon cake, hazelnut nougat, apple tarte tatin, caramelised banana, sloe syrup … and smoky malt running throughout.

Water really makes the fruity side of Ord pop – with toffee apple, limoncello and white blossom on the nose, and lemon & lime syrup, baked apple and dried pear on the palate. It still feels really fat and mouthfillng when diluted.

This is brilliant. It’s richer than the last Ord, but the smoke cuts through it beautifully. I’ve been holding onto this for a while as it feels like a perfect mid-winter dram.

This was fully matured in a first-fill PX hogshead which produced 304 bottles at 58.6%, and they are available for £65 each.

Foreign Affairs

I’m very happy to announce that Chorlton Whisky will shortly be available through Angel Share Spirits in Italy. EU customers will be able to buy directly through their website, and they’ll also be supplying trade customers in Italy at a better price point than before.

Hopefully between them and the Whiskybase Shop everyone across the EU should be able to get hold of Chorlton bottles at a sensible price, but please do get in touch if you’re having troubles on that front and I’ll try to help.

And…

…that’s it for now. I’d like to wish those of you who celebrate a very merry Christmas, and I hope you all find a little something from Chorlton Whisky in your stockings.

Thank you as ever for your support through another topsy-turvy year. It really does mean the world.

Cheers!

David

Winners of the Icons of Whisky Scottish Independent Bottler of the Year 2024!

For the third year in a row Paul and I collected the Independent bottler of the year award!

The award is based on a combination of a written entry and a submission of Whiskies that are judged by the Icon’s judges in competition with other entrants.

For us, winning is a huge achievement and an unexpected one when taken into context the competition and the demands required to win each year. We are still the same team of four that won it three years ago but we have continued to grow our operation with the Annex site which is allowing us to closely manage our casks so we are only releasing the very best spirit possible.

Thank you to all of our customers that have continued to purchase our releases despite what has been a challenging year!

Best,

Gregor

And that wraps up this special edition of the Lady of the Glen Newsletter. We hope it’s inspired you to try a dram! We always want to hear from you, so if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions, please feel free to email gregor.hannah@ladyoftheglen.com

Visit Our Website

Presenting Sheringham Whisky

A MESSAGE FROM JASON, MASTER DISTILLER

RESERVE WHISKY

Whisky Presale

EXCLUSIVE PRESALE OFFER FOR A LIMITED TIME

STORY

Jason’s whisky-making dream took its inaugural steps in our original distillery, perched overlooking the picturesque Juan de Fuca Strait in Shirley, B.C. This vision expanded to our Sooke distillery, where Jason continued to craft exceptional whisky, using exclusively local B.C. grains. Our commitment to sustainability extends to our spent grain, which was repurposed as feed for local farm animals. Jason’s meticulous approach to aging whisky ensures that each bottle becomes a coveted collector’s item.

The excellence of Jason’s craft was acknowledged, with the debut batch of whisky claiming the “Best In Class” title at the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC) and a Gold award in the “Merrit in Terroir” category.

Anticipation is growing as we prepare to unveil our latest whisky offering. It brings us great joy and honor to share this batch of rye whisky with you.

RESERVE WHISKY

PROCESS

This whisky was crafted in Sooke, British Columbia, using exclusively B.C. grain and traditional distillation techniques. The mash bill, consisting of rye, wheat, and malted barley, has been distilled in small batches and aged for a minimum of three years in premium American new white oak barrels. The robust and full-bodied flavour of this whisky comes from a combination of the mash bill, traditional distillation methods, the use of new American oak to age the spirit and the pure love of making whisky.

TASTING NOTES

Experience a deep and complex rye spice, complemented by notes of pepper, vanilla, cooked fruit, brown sugar, and a subtle hint of leather.

Whisky is available for pre-sale only at this time. Pre-sale is limited to British Columbia residents, with shipping exclusively within the province. Orders expected to ship February/March 2024.

Join the presale for a special limited time offer of $79.99 CAD for the month of December.

RESERVE WHISKY

Winter’s here, and we crave warmth, comfort, and connection. Cosy up by the fire with our Fireside Drams and discover the quintessence of winter whisky magic. Our Spirits team have curated a selection of Fireside Drams offering plenty of options to choose from, each with its unique character. Every sip reveals a story that you’ll savour and share.

So, coorie in and click below to explore our wintery drams

BROWSE ALL

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

SUCCESS AT THE SCOTTISH WHISKY AWARDS

Last week, the team celebrated a few remarkable wins! We attended the Scottish Whisky Awards in Glasgow and are proud to announce that both Mac-Talla and Old Perth have won gold in their respected categories. Winning the best product launch of the year was our Mac-Talla PX Fèis Ìle Limited Edition and for the best blended malt, our Old Perth PX won gold. There are still some bottles of Mac-Talla PX  floating around so be quick before this ‘award winning’ whisky sells out!

BUY MAC-TALLA PX

VAT 69 Scotch Whisky Christmas Advertisements

n 1882, William Sanderson prepared one hundred casks of blended whisky and hired a panel of experts to taste them. The batch from the cask (or “vat”) with number 69 was judged to be the best, and this provided the whisky’s brand name.

Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Welcomes General George Stillhouse
as Newest Craft Member

Farm Distillery Shows Off Kentucky’s Heritage, Combining Agriculture and Bourbon On-Site

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced General George Stillhouse in Grayson County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Located in Falls of Rough, General George Stillhouse was established in 2022 by Travis Wilson, a professor at Western Kentucky University. The farm distillery is located on property once owned by George Washington three miles from Rough River State Park.

General George Stillhouse operates two pot stills within their 7,000 square foot production facility. A third still will arrive next summer, allowing them to increase production to 12 barrels daily.

Expansion plans include a rickhouse, bottling line, additional staff and a tasting room in the next phase of the buildout.

KDA President Eric Gregory congratulated Wilson on his endeavor and noted this is the first distillery in Grayson County in south-central Kentucky. There are now distilleries operating or set to open in nearly 50 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

“The vision, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of new craft distillers like General George Stillhouse showcases the history and backbone of our extensive distilling heritage here in Kentucky,” Gregory said.

“We are proud to support Travis and his team in their venture, and we look forward to working with them and our friends in Grayson County. We are honored to officially welcome General George Stillhouse to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers.”

Wilson said the Kentucky Distillers’ Association has been supportive by providing resources and connections.

“We at General George Stillhouse are excited to become members of the Kentucky Distillers Association,” Wilson said. “The organization’s long heritage and leadership in making Bourbon central to Kentucky’s identity is one of many reasons for us to join.”

“As lifelong Kentuckians, we are honored to be members of the world’s premier spirits association.”

Learn more at https://www.ggstillhouse.com.

General George Stillhouse joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year. The KDA now has more than 60 member distilleries, the most since the glorious Repeal of Prohibition.

“Kentucky Bourbon entrepreneurs are showing people across the world how to do Bourbon right. Combining a passion for Kentucky, spirits, and making a difference in their local communities through job creation, tourism and agriculture,” Gregory said.

“Bourbon brings people together. And together, distillers are able to support each other and continue to innovate and grow the world-renowned industry that builds Kentucky while telling our story across the globe.”

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com

DISTILLERY NEWS

It has been a quietly industrious time for the production team this month. Production is running smoothly with a variety of casks being filled to contribute to our core products later down the line. The hardest part of whisky production is always the waiting, but it is always reassuring to know that when our delicious spirit enters our casks, they will go on to be something fantastic!

On that note, Lorena has been nosing and tasting a number of casks to select the perfect ones for export and UK customer single cask bottlings. Her desk is always a sight to behold, especially when she’s busy nosing at 9am – no matter how delicious the whisky, that would be too early for most of us!

The bottling team have been busy with a variety of bottlings from single casks through to our core products. Our Warehouse Assistant, Robbie (who also happens to be the MD Drew’s brother!) was helping to roll some of our largest casks, luckily in that jacket you’ll definitely see him coming!

We caught up with some two of our Production Operatives in the distillery last week to see what they were getting up to, and they were both enjoying getting their teeth stuck into new tasks. Scott said that his highlight of the month has been doing the mash by himself for the first time – and Charles’s highlight was training Scott on the mash!

Slàinte

Gary Haggart
Distillery Manager at Lindores Abbey

LINDORES ON TOUR

These are some of the busiest months in the year for us at Lindores so we have been out and about all over the country and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible!

Front of house team member, Seb (our Blender Lorena’s son) spent the day at Aitken Wines in Dundee spreading the excitement for Lindores. It was his first time running an instore tasting and he loved every moment of it, and those who came along to taste our drams were equally happy! We are sure Seb will be visiting more corners of the country in the coming months, so do pop along to meet him at one of his next tastings.

Two more of the Lindores team, Matt and John, headed to Stirling Whisky Festival two weeks ago for a jam-packed day of tastings. They had a fantastic time at this busy and lively festival where they shared our history and delicious drams with whisky enthusiasts from all over Scotland.

Robbies Whisky Merchants in Ayr have just brought out a Lindores market exclusive from one of our delicious port casks. Definitely make sure to give them a visit for the chance to sample and pick up this exclusive bottle.

Also coming up in the next few weeks:

Matt will be heading down to Kendal this weekend for the Kendal Whisky Festival – his Parson’s Terrier Ella is also coming along for the ride so you might spot them both around and about if you’re in the area! Make sure to pop over to the Lindores stand for a dram and a chat.

Lindores will also be in Perth this weekend for the switching on of the Christmas lights. Whilst crowds may be largely flocking to the city for the promise of hearing Boney M’s live backing music for the switch on, they can also pop into the new shop Malts And Spirits for a tasting with Ben who will have several drams on offer to warm you up!

There are plenty more tastings happening across the UK over the next month so make sure to follow our social media updates to let them know when and where we will be each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Christmas Crackers are taking the country by storm again, selling out extremely quickly so grab a stocking filler or secret Santa gift from your local specialist bottle shop while stocks last.

Finally, at the end of the month we will be at The Scotch Whisky Experience Distillers Fair on 29^th and 30^th of December in Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic show that brings together the best in the industry, so definitely worth a visit. We hope to see you there!

LINDORES INTERNATIONAL

Our export manager Elliot enlisted the help of lots of the team this month with Lindores representatives popping up all over Europe.

Our blender, Lorena, took a trip over to Denmark to visit our Danish friends at Mac Y. She was supporting them at their biggest annual show in Fredericks, just outside Viborg. The whisky and conversation were flowing, and she was thrilled to meet so many Lindores fans, both old and new!

Dean, our Assistant Distillery Manager, flew over to Germany a few weeks ago to lend a hand to our German importer Prineus at the Bottle Market Bremen show. It was great to have a member of our distillery team at the show to answer all your more technical questions and Dean reported back that those in our German Lindores Family continue to be our biggest fans!

Elliot himself took a trip over to snowy Oslo to discover a bit more about the Norwegian whisky scene and to work with the Vinmonopolet system to hopefully get a foothold in the market. He was then taken a bit further south to the Netherlands to support our Dutch importers, WIN Dranken at a show in The Hague which was thoroughly enjoyed by all, on both sides of the pourings!

CHRISTMAS DISTILLERY EXCLUSIVE 

We have a new Distillery Exclusive hitting the shelves on the 9th December. This beautiful Ruby Port Wine Barrique is the newest addition to our Distillery Cask series, and its colour really lives up to its name. This cask strength offering will be available to buy exclusively at the distillery and we shall be launching it at our Christmas Market.  It is limited to just 317 bottles so it is a must have addition to any Lindores collectors’ shelves.

Nose: Mellow prunes, figs, plums and dark berries, chestnuts. Taste: Fruity nectarines, caramel cream, dark chocolate orange, cinnamon spices, marzipan and roasted chestnuts. Smooth texture on the palate. Very Well Balanced and complex. Finish: Lingering spicy poached pears finish. Colour: Mahogany, henna notes

HOLYROOD DISTILLERY TASTING:

After landing the cover of Whisky Magazine in October, following the release of its award-winning inaugural whisky Arrival, Holyrood Distillery is well on its way to earning its “whisky stripes.”

As you may or may not know, the founders of SMWS Canada are also the co-founders of Holyrood Distillery, a new single malt distillery in the heart of Edinburgh.

To celebrate the arrival of Arrival into the Canadian market, Distillery Manager Calum Rae is travelling across the pond to share it with you, along with some single cask samples and experimental bottlings.

At only $20 per ticket ($15 each if you buy two!), this is not to be missed (plus, Calum is super-excited about coming to Canada for the first time, even though it’s in January, so let’s show him what a great whisky community there is in the Okanagan).

HOLYROOD DISTILLERY TASTING

at ARC LIQUOR – 1973 Harvey Ave. Kelowna

Tuesday, Jan. 23rd  7:00pm  $20

Please enjoy our products responsibly; no drinking and driving

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