White Peak showcases Wire Works Full Port

& collaboration with Michelin Star Chef Sat Bains

White Peak Distillery from Derbyshire has added a special limited-edition whisky to their Wire Works collection for Christmas this year: Wire Works Full Port.

This latest special release of Wire Works has been matured exclusively in Tawny Port casks, giving it a rich marzipan, chocolate and cinder toffee flavour profile – perfect to enjoy and gift to whisky lovers this Christmas.

Wire Works Full Port is the first whisky from White Peak that has been fully matured entirely in Port casks, bottled at 52.4%, with just under 2,000 bottles available.

The port casks were chosen to compliment the lightly-peated Wire Works spirit and the cask supplier is borne out of a whisky-making ethos around provenance, heritage and flavour. For over 5 years, founders Max & Claire Vaughan, have worked closely with Sandra Dias and the team at her cooperage near Porto, Portugal. Dias Cooperage is a 4^th generation, family-run cooperage, producing quality oak casks in a time honoured way, that White Peak has selected for all of its wine casks.

Claire said: “We wanted to create a whisky that celebrates a twist on our provenance, heritage and flavour. We have visited the cooperage where we sourced our port casks from on numerous occasions and greatly admire the intimate style of the business, the highly-skilled small team and the traditional techniques used that are passed down through the generations of the same family. All these factors ensure that we are using casks of an exceptionally high quality, which lead to a complex maturation of our whisky, adding further layers of complexity to the final spirit.”

Max said: “With Wire Works Full Port we were looking to maintain the house style but with an explorative, complimentary new twist on what people might have previously tasted. On the nose, there’s lots of cinder toffee and burnt sugar, with marzipan, vanilla fudge and dark chocolate  coming through on the palate, and a bonfire toffee and hibiscus finish. Our Wire Works house style is ever present, but with some of the signature rich sweet notes amplified through the port wood influence.”

Wire Works Full Port is available now via specialist retailers and the Distillery, RRP: £67.

Wire Works Full Port:

Tasting Notes  

Cinder toffee, burnt sugar and cherry lozenges on the nose, with flavours of vanilla fudge, dark chocolate and marzipan on the palate with a bonfire toffee and hibiscus finish.

Nose

Bakewell pudding, milk chocolate, cinder toffee, burnt sugar, cinnamon buns, liquorice all sorts, cherry lozenges, toasted almond, candied ginger, strawberry jam.

Palate

Marzipan, strawberries and cream, tinned peaches, lemon curd, vanilla fudge, spearmint, dark chocolate, grapefruit zest and iced buns.

Finish

Cherry pie filling, bonfire toffee, hibiscus, biltong, and eucalyptus.

WHITE PEAK AND SAT BAINS COLLABORATE ON WIRE WORKS WHISKY:

In addition to Wire Works Full Port release, this festive season White Peak is also celebrating a partnership with leading Michelin Star Chef Sat Bains, renowned for his much-decorated Restaurant Sat Bains (RSB) in Nottingham.

Sat and his team at RSB visited the Distillery back in February to understand White Peak’s approach to whisky-making, taste some Wire Works whisky and share ideas on a possible collaboration.

The resulting whisky comprises three separate co-branded Wire Works / RSB releases. Each of the three whiskies has been crafted in very small batches that celebrate variety in taste, aroma and texture. English single malt whiskies with roots firmly in Derbyshire, where Sat – like Max and Claire – grew up.

After sampling numerous casks with the RSB team, the 3-bottle collection developed from one of the original first fill ex-bourbon barrels that the Distillery team filled back in 2018. The team then worked with Sat to understand what whiskies he enjoyed and arrived at two separate finishes to the ex-bourbon foundation spirit. The collection consists of 3 (very limited-edition) 90-bottle releases. RSB Cuvee #1 is full maturation ex-bourbon, RSB Cuvee #2 is finished in an Oloroso sherry quarter cask and RSB Cuvee #3 is finished in virgin English oak. All are bottled at 48% ABV.

Sat said: “As a Chef, I have been obsessed with flavour for as long as I can remember, it is something I am fortunate to create every day in my working life of over 35 years.​ ​The idea of creating a limited release whisky with Wire Works was a no brainer.” 

“​Meeting up with Max and his team at Wire Works and being asked to go on this incredible journey made so much sense, both of us from Derby celebrating our professions of flavour and taste. ​Picking the aging barrels based on my favourite cask finishes and tasting the whisky at each stage has been an eye opener into the level of detail and expertise this collaboration has harnessed”.

Wire Works Whisky RSB Cuvee Collection is available exclusively through the RSB website (whilst stocks last) from 6^th December.

White Peak Distillery is open Monday – Saturday for shop visitors, with tours available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December. For availability, timings and to book, please visit www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

White Peak Distillery Awards:

2022 and 2023 has seen White Peak also win numerous awards for their whiskies and packaging, as below:

UK Packaging Awards 2022:

• Corrugated Pack of the Year
• Best Packaging of a New Product
• Glass Pack of the Year, Spirits, Perfumes and Cosmetics

The Global World Whisky Masters 2022:

• Necessary Evil: Gold
• Small Batch: Gold

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2022:

• Best Contemporary Design: Wire Works Whisky

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2023:

• Caduro: Gold

People’s Choice Awards 2023:

• Best Whisky: Wire Works Whisky Small Batch – World Whisky Category

2023 World Whisky Masters, Wire Works Caduro: Gold Medal

2023 World Whisky Masters, Wire Works Alter Ego: Master Medal

2023 Spirits Business Design and Packaging Masters, Wire Works Whisky: Master Medal

English Whisky Guild:

White Peak Distillery is one of the 11 founding members of the English Whisky Guild, that was established in 2022 by the English whisky industry to represent the interests of the increasing number of English whisky distilleries (currently 40+) on the world whisky stage.

For further information visit:  English Whisky Guild

Halfway Point!

As we approach the halfway point in this month’s auction, let’s take a look at some of the cracking bottles we have this month, including these outstanding bottles of 1970 and 1974 18 Year Old Macallans.

Continuing with the 1970’s, we have a lovely bottle of 1976 Millburn Connoisseurs Choice by bottling supremos Gordon & MacPhail, bottled in 2002 and a stunning 1974 Glen Albyn 26 Years Old by independent bottler First Cask.

Another 1974 offering, this time from Old Pulteney, bottled at a hefty Cask strength on 56.9% abv. for the Caithness Club, this is a rare and quirky expression worth putting on your watchlist!

These are only a few of the bottles in our December auction, we have much more to enjoy, including bottles from many of your other favourite distilleries. 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 17^th December from 8pm GMT.

TWO EVENTS!

JANUARY SMWS OUTTURN TASTING & HOLYROOD DISTILLERY TASTING

Kick off the new year right! The January Outturn tasting at ARC Liquor will be here before you know it, so grab your spot now. This is also a chance to get some holiday shopping done: tickets to a tasting for a whisky lover in your life will make a great present or stocking stuffer!

SMWS JANUARY OUTTURN TASTING:  Registration is open for the January SMWS Outturn tasting at ARC Liquor in Kelowna. You can expect another great line-up of drams, including:

-two bottlings from the same distillery in polar opposite flavour categories – a great compare-and-contrast opportunity

-a new distillery code in the form of the 2023 Lowland Whisky Festival bottling with an interesting back story

-a smoky treat from our rarely seen “Heavily Peated” flavour category described as “mad and brilliant”

Bring a friend (or 2 or 3 or…) and enjoy a night of great drams and great company as you sample your way through January’s new releases.

This is open to members and non-members alike; contact ARC Liquor (Harvey Ave location) at 236-420-4060 or email ajay.s@armstrong.coop to get tickets.

Or sign up below and keep reading to find out about another cool event!

SMWS JANUARY OUTTURN TASTING

at ARC LIQUOR – 1973 Harvey Ave. Kelowna

Friday, Jan. 5th  7:30pm

Please enjoy our products responsibly; no drinking and driving

SIGN UP FOR SMWS JANUARY OUTTURN TASTING

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

SIGN UP FOR HOLYROOD DISTILLERY TASTING

One last update – Friend at Hand – Barántúil

We had to make an exception to sending out a rare press release because we keep getting so much good news, this will be the last one for a while but should leave you in a high.

1. Frend at Hand Exclusive – Barántúil – The Silent Valley – Gleann An Chiúnais
2. Killowen wins Gold – Again

Friend At Hand exclusive Barántúil – The Silent Valley – Gleann An Chiúnais

The legendary Friend At Hand Belfast is a mecca for whiskey enthusiasts with so many brands hoping to have an exclusive bottling there, only a few are ever approached. As such Killowen are delighted to be among them.

Belfast legend Willie Jack who many see as curator of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter has been as a pivotable to the blossoming of the city centre in recent decades. The iconic Hill Street, Duke of York and her umbrellas are just some of these examples and this exactly why Killowen are delighted to have a cask here.

The cask pays homage to the men of Mourne who built the Silent Valley in 1923 a century ago, as a water source for the expanding city, Silent Valley has created a connection between Belfast & The Mournes which continues to this day; with people, culture, trade & especially whiskey. Made predominantly with oats originating where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea, this bottling was slightly reduced in strength by Willie Jack himself using water drawn directly from Silent Valley on bottling day. Killowen has only produced three firkins of this incredible whiskey, each in a different cask. After years of contribution to Irish whiskey and to the city of Belfast, it is only fitting that the The Friend at Hand receive such a valued cask. The perfect spirit for Belfast’s most prestigious whiskey destination.

The small batch whiskey was then filled into a fresh Cabernet Sauvignon cask was reduced from litres to 70 litres, then re-charred to a medium toast before filling. This provides a red fruitiness that marries beautifully with the creaminess of the rare Mourne oats. This small cask only allowed us to fill 108 bottles of which only 50 are being sold by Friend at Hand – what’s more, they are only being sold to walk-ins.
Willy Jack and Jill went up the Hill

In order to fetch a pale of water Jack and I walked up the hill to The Silent Valley under the guidance of Joanne Jack. This wasn’t simply a fun excursion on a cold and wet November day but instead Willy was put to work to collect water so the cask could be diluted to his own desired drinking strength of 53.87% – unfortunately many bottles where devoured in the making of this decision. This symbolic gesture was an iconic one in cementing the link between the Silent Valley and the Belfast city Whiskey – watch the short clip here

Killowen wins Gold again

Killowen’s Peated Port Cask #KDC031 won gold at the Irish Whiskey Awards. Considering the consistent approach of all Barántúil releases this cask was particularly beautiful and we were delighted to receive Gold. Sadly these all sold out some months ago but there are other treats available on our webshop.

We wish you all a very happy Christmas!

Find Out More

Find the perfect whisky gift this Christmas

This festive season, give the ultimate gift to any whisky lover – a subscription to Whisky Magazine! Whether you want to treat yourself or surprise a loved one, we have an exclusive deal just for you.

For a limited time only, enjoy 3 ISSUES of Whisky Magazine for just $19.99! That’s right, three jam-packed issues filled with the latest news, expert reviews, and captivating stories from the world of whisky. But that’s not all -as an added bonus, you’ll also receive the latest edition of the Scotch Whisky Annual absolutely FREE.

But wait, there’s more! In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we have partnered with four renowned brands to give you the chance to win £1,000 worth of whisky.

Don’t miss out on this amazing offer – it’s the perfect opportunity to share the joy of whisky this Christmas.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

MACALLAN A NIGHT ON EARTH
THE JOURNEY

A special seasonal release from the Macallan is now available for pre-order. The Journey is the second release in Macallan’s A Night On Earth series which has been created in collaboration with Shanghai-based Chinese artist, Nini Sum.

Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, the palate offers layers of citrus fruits, creamy vanilla and toasted coconut, alongside sherried notes of dates and fruit cake. Order your bottle today and it will be despatched after Friday 8 December.

SHOP NOW

THREE Excellent complex single malts for 2024

Don’t make pour decisions that leave your finances on the rocks: City of London Police urges people to stay vigilant over misleading whisky investment ads

City of London Police is urging people to take proper measures online, after whisky investment advertisements on social media left people high and dry.

The lure for potential investors is that you buy a cask of whisky when it is first produced and as the whisky ages in the barrel, it becomes something worth more to the consumer and as such, your initial investment becomes more valuable.

Claiming that potential investors of whisky could expect to see modest returns of between eight – 12 per cent a year, paid advertisements on social media sites for one company have now been found to be misleading.

Detective Inspector Nichola Meghji, from the Fraud Operations team at the City of London Police, said:

“As we approach the run up to Christmas, we would like to remind people of the potential risks associated with investment opportunities, especially around whisky.

“Much like gin, the interest in micro-breweries and independent distilleries has grown exponentially over the last decade as the British consumer has become more interested in home grown spirits versus imported beers and wine.

“An investment of a cask of whisky may seem like a wise choice, and perfect as a Christmas present to some, but we would encourage everyone to stay vigilant and to not be sucked in – especially if adverts guarantee you will get year-on-year returns. Certain companies prey on peoples lack of knowledge around investing, which is then exploited at a great cost to the consumer.”

The City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee oversees the Square Mile’s Trading Standards operations. Its Chair, Mary Durcan, said:

“City Corporation Trading Standards team has serious concerns over the whisky investment schemes that have sprung up over the last couple of years.

“Casks are being sold as a long-term investment because whisky takes time to mature in the cask, consumers are being told. This means that it could be several years before investors realise their investments aren’t performing.

“It is vitally important to remember that whisky investments are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority which means that there is no recourse to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if anything goes wrong.”

The investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found that these risks were not highlighted in advertisements on social media, with some claiming that whisky cask investment was a suitable means to fund early retirement.

The terms and conditions provided in some advertisements also didn’t state that fees would be incurred, meaning that some investors were stung with a charge later down the line.

In one particular case, complaints were raised regarding the misleading advertisements of Blackford Casks Ltd. Subsequent investigations upheld these complaints, determining that although no fraudulent activity occurred in this case, the ads needed to be revised and not to quote average returns without adequate evidence. This was found by the ASA to be irresponsible as the adverts were not easy to understand and took advantage of consumers’ lack of experience and credulity.

In 2023, there were 89 reports made to Action Fraud about alcohol investments, with losses totalling over £3 million. This shows that aside from misleading advertisements, fraudulent activity is taking place with whisky investments proving to be an enticing opportunity for unsuspecting investors.

Whisky investments, like any investment, are never a sure thing when it comes to seeing a profitable return. External factors, mostly out of the investor’s control, play a part in either a dip or a rise in the market.

To prevent becoming a victim of investment fraud:

• Take your time considering investment opportunities:don’t be rushed into making an investment. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into investing on the spot.
• Seek advice first:before making significant financial decisions, speak with trusted friends or family members, or seek professional independent advice.
• Check the FCA register:use the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn’t regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money.

Lastly, if you aren’t an expert in a certain field of investment, or feel that you don’t know enough of the markets, then it’s probably best not to invest. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

City of London Police would also urge the public to follow the Take Five to Stop Fraud advice.

• Stop: taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe
• Challenge: could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore ant requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
• Protect: contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

If you think you have invested money into a fraudulent investment, or you have been contacted about an investment that doesn’t seem right, report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk. Reports can also be made by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, reports of fraud should be made directly to Police Scotland on 101.

Craftsman Brands Presents Three-Quarter of a Million Dollar Check

to Vendome for First Still for New Distillery

Louisville, KY – Craftsman Brands co-owners and staff presented renowned still maker Vendome Brass and Copper a check for $750,000 last week as a down payment for a 28-inch copper still expected to be delivered next August at the distillery’s proposed location near Louisville, Kentucky.

           According to Avrie Fenney, Co-Founder and Director of Distilling Operations, “A still crafted by Vendome Brass and Copper is especially important because Vendome’s expertise is incomparable, and their people are motivated. I have a lot of respect for Rob Sherman, President of Vendome; his experience in the industry speaks volumes, and those achievements influence his employees on all levels.”

           The company plans to build an eco-friendly distillery to create premium and luxury Bourbons and high-end spirits to capitalize on premiumization in the alcohol industry. Craftsman Brand Distillery will be part of a high tourism resort featuring tours of the distillery and rick-houses, an upscale hotel and restaurant, a bottling and canning plant for “ready-to-drink” spirits, and other hospitality venues. The distillery will begin operating in 2025, and up to sixty high-paying jobs are expected to be created.

            Craftsman Brands was founded in 2023 to offer consumers an opportunity to enjoy elite spirits in a new mainstream alcohol market. Behr Neighbors, Co-Founder and Director of Special Projects for the new company, explained that Craftsman will be a premium alcohol company that crafts, purchases, and enhances top-shelf spirit brands.

          Co-founders attending the check presentation were Isaac LaFond, Steve Camisa, PJ Fox, and Behr Neighbors. Craftsman’s current brands include Crème of Kentucky, High Plains Rye, Square One Vodka, Merlet Cognac, and Kentucky Par Bourbon.

The Grand Whisky Auction is now LIVE with a selection of 45 casks from Adnams Copper House Distillery!

The auction closes on Thursday 14th December at 9pm!

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

T.+44 (0)1463 210 427 – sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com