Lochlea reveals the final chapter of Seasonal trilogy series:

Sowing Edition (Third Crop)

Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire is revealing the third ‘Crop’ of its renowned and much celebrated Seasonals range of whiskies, kicking off with the third and final part of the trilogy series – Sowing Edition (Third Crop) at the end of April.

The multi-award winning grain-to-cask distillery celebrates the farming calendar with the four Seasonal releases during the year, each one showcasing a different side to Lochlea’s house style of spirit. The four whiskies in the First Crop were released from early 2022, followed by Second Crop kicking off last spring with Sowing, ending with Ploughing in March earlier this year.  Once the Third Crop has been released this year, there will be no more Seasonal releases from the distillery.

This latest and final release of Sowing has been matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon barrels, allowing floral, fruity notes to really shine through in the final dram. All the casks that have gone into the final recipe have been hand-picked by John Campbell, Lochlea’s Production Director, and his team at the distillery. With each new Crop, the whiskies in the Seasonals range are getting older, with this latest release being nearly the same age as the recently released and sold-out Lochlea 5 Year Old.

Sowing marks the point of the year that the new barley crop is sown around the distillery on the farm – the start of spring and new life appearing. This spring will be the 8^th year of barley grown on the farm at Lochlea.

John said: “Our third and final Crop of the Seasonal releases will offer whisky lovers the chance to taste our maturing limited-edition releases and even compare them with the past two Crops, so they can see how our whiskies are evolving.

“The Seasonal Editions have been a brilliant platform for us to showcase our whisky in different cask types and highlight the farming calendar.

One of the main differences between our last Sowing Edition (Second Crop) and our new Third Crop is when the spirit was distilled. Second Crop was distilled in warmer months, whereas the new release in colder months. Distillation during warmer periods results in more of a stewed fruit flavour, whereas in the colder months we see much more of a crisp, fresh fruit flavour – in the case of this spirit, delicious green apple and pear.”

In terms of what the distillery plans next, John continued: “We have a wealth of ideas at Lochlea within the team and our ability to explore and innovate easily without too many constraints means there will be many more exciting whiskies to emerge from Lochlea beyond our Seasonals.”

Lochlea Sowing Edition (Third Crop) will be available from 25th April onwards via Lochlea stockists whilst stocks last, RRP: £51.50. And for those looking to enjoy other whiskies within the trilogy, First and Second Crop whiskies can be sought out via Lochlea’s retail partners here. Those who want to then taste with John and the team can take part in a live, virtual vertical tasting the distillery is planning this spring – for further information sign up to Lochlea’s mailing list at www.lochleadistillery.com  or follow the distillery on Instagram @lochleawhisky

In addition to the seasonal limited edition releases, Lochlea has a core whisky expression available all year round – Our Barley. This unpeated single malt has been matured in a combination of three different casks: first fill ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques, all of which add depths of flavour to the spirit. Launched in July 2022, Our Barley has received much acclaim as a superb example of a young non-age statement (NAS) Lowlands whisky, made entirely from the distillery’s own home-grown barley.

Sowing Edition (Third Crop) tasting notes:

Nose: Almonds, rose petals

Palate: White pepper, a vibrant burst of apple blossom

Finish: Warm straw, fresh grass

46% ABV

Non-chill filtered

Natural colour 

About Lochlea Distillery:

Lochlea was originally a 222 acre livestock farm before being purchased by Neil and Jen McGeoch in 2006. After much consideration of the future of the farm and a successful trial to grow its own barley in 2015, the couple transformed the land and existing farm buildings into a fully-operational distillery in 2017 and started distilling the following year. The farming side has remained a unique part of Lochlea, with the move into barley production – paving the way for Lochlea to be one of the very few fully grain-to-cask distilleries in Scotland. It also has a rich Scottish heritage with strong links to Robbie Burns, with the bard having worked and lived on the farm a several years.

For a full list of Lochlea stockists, visit: Lochlea Distillery stockists

IMPORTANT COLLECTION AT BONHAMS SKINNER IN APRIL

Six 750ml bottles of the Springbank Millenium Collection, estimated at $36,000 – 48,000. 

Boston – Bonhams Skinner’s Fine Wine and Rare Spirits department will present two sales in April that feature important collections from experts in their respective fields – Josh Raynolds, esteemed Wine Critic, and Joseph Congiusti, renowned international spirits authority and longtime Chicago retailer.

Rarest Spirits

April 8 – 18

Sale Page

One 750ml bottle of Bowmore Black Bowmore 1993, estimated at $10,000 – 15,000.

A collection of spirits from Joseph Congiusti (1950-2004), renowned international spirits authority and longtime Chicago retailer, will highlight the Rarest Spirits sale from April 8 – 18. During his 40-year career, Congiusti, known to his customers as Joe C., worked in many aspects of the liquor retail business and established an outstanding reputation with producers, wholesalers, suppliers and customers throughout the world. He was responsible for introducing and educating many consumers in the Chicago area about single malts in the early 1980s, building a demand, and then later in the decade, selecting and bottling casks of single malts. The offerings from the collection are highlighted by six bottles from the Springbank Millenium Collection, estimated at $36,000 – 48,000, as well as bottles of Bowmore ‘Black Bowmore’ from 1993, 1994 and the 1995 Final Edition, each estimated at $10,000 – 15,000.

About The Bonhams Network

Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement. More information here.

Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.

Top lots for 2023 include 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta, Sold at Quail Lodge, US for US$30,255,000. Tipu Sultan’s Bedchamber Sword (sold in London for £14m – a world record for both an Islamic and an Indian object); Paul Signac (1863-1935), Sisteron, 1902. Sold for US$8,580,000 (estimate US$4-6 million), and Claude Monet (1840-1926), La Seine près de Giverny, 1888. Sold for US$6,352,500 (estimate US$4-6m), both from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; A Gilt Copper Alloy figure of Virupaksha, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Early 15th century. Sold for HK$37.9m (£4,060,326) in Hong Kong. Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959) Three Stars. Sold for HK$36,754,000 (£3,930,914), also in Hong Kong.

More information and highlights can be found HERE

For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

Course Spotlight: Certificate in Scotch Whisky

Elevate your passion for whisky into expertise with our comprehensive online course. Whether you’re an enthusiast (newcomer or seasoned professional), or are already working in the industry (in a customer-facing role), you’ll love our dive deep into the rich heritage and intricate craftsmanship of Scotland’s most iconic export.

 Read More

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 526: Royal Salute 21 Year Old The Malts Blend

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, has a pal in the States. Every time his American friend John comes to visit, he brings a bottle, something Mark always say he shouldn’t do, but something he’s always glad he did. For example, on his last trip he brought this Royal Salute 21 Year Old The Malts Blend, bought in Japan. Well, the Malts Blend is of course a blended malt, which in this case was put together by Chivas’ master blender Sandy Hyslop, with no less than 21 malts that have all matured for at least 21 years and come from all the different whisky regions. Fascinating!

https://youtu.be/IGHEpivDrLQ

Diageo switches on solar panels in Scotland this Earth Day

Completion of 8,000 panel solar farm puts renewable power at the heart of our largest global packaging plant.

We’ll be switching on one of the largest private solar panel arrays in Scotland this Earth Day (22nd April). The solar farm will provide renewable energy for our packaging site at Diageo Leven, which produces more than 40 million cases of premium spirits each year, including Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s and Tanqueray.

The solar farm at Diageo Leven in Fife covers an area of eight football pitches which holds 8,000 panels. The farm will generate up to 22% of the site’s annual electrical demand and up to 60% in the summer months. The farm will produce 4.1MW of electricity will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 830 tonnes a year. The project is going live alongside a rainwater harvesting development that will deliver up to 7 million litres of water a year that will be reused on the site.

Stuart Galbraith, Operations Director at Diageo Leven, said: “This is a very proud moment for the team at Diageo Leven who have worked to make this project a reality. Our people are passionate about protecting the environment and building a more sustainable future. It is fantastic to know that as we work to make some of the world’s greatest quality products, we are doing it with renewable energy produced by the Scottish daylight.”

The investment in the solar panel farm is part of our ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, with a commitment to reach net zero across our direct operations by the end of the decade. We also aim to harness 100% renewable energy everywhere the company operates and we’ve committed to partnering with suppliers to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50%.

Delivery of the solar panel installation project has been supported by Emtec and E-ON.

Read more about our sustainability goals.

Watch the video below to find out more about the solar array:

This article appears here well after the original publicati on date and as a matter of interest.

Our April 2024 collection schedule has been finalised. Please click HERE to see the list of dates, locations and to register your interest in the  collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 15th April 2024.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions. Unfortunately this service is not available in London or to those customer who live within 10 miles of a collection point.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box. A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

NEW RELEASE: 100% NY grain Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon completes the Brooklyn distillery’s core line up

Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton Distillery announces the addition of a bourbon made entirely from New York grain to its Single Barrel range. Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon is a classic bourbon made from 100% New York grain that’s sourced from the Hudson Valley.

Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon will join the company’s flagship Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Rye, which is also sourced from 100% New York grain from the Hudson Valley, to complete its core lineup of Kosher-certified, craft spirits.

The mash bill for Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon is 85% corn, 10% rye and 5% malted barley, which represents the highest corn content of any of the Fort Hamilton whiskey range to date.

Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon is a 4.5-year-old bourbon matured in 53 gallon Char 3 American oak. It’s a bourbon for the bourbon enthusiast that sings of New York and is bottled at 47.5% ABV unadulterated and non-chill filtered.

Alex Clark, who co-founded Fort Hamilton alongside his wife Amy Grindeland, comments: “This is a classic bourbon for bourbon lovers with a nod to our home of New York. As our Fort Hamilton Single Barrel NY Rye comes of age, with batch 14 released this year at 5 years old, it was time to extend our hospitality into bourbon with a Single Barrel Bourbon made from all NY grain. Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon is a spirit born of that same independent, revolutionary spirit and is built for the bourbon enthusiast and is true to our New York roots.”

Tech specs:

Product name:  Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon Batch #1

Age:                     4 ½ years

Cooperage:        53 gallon Char #3 American white oak

Mash bill:           85% NY Corn, 10% NY Rye, 5% NY Malted Barley

Bottled at:          95 proof / 47.5% ABV

Barreled at:        125 proof

Filtration:           Non-chill filtered, certified kosher

SSP:                      $54.99

Tech specs:

Product name:  Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Rye Batch #14

Age:                     5 years

Cooperage:        30 gallon Char #3 American white oak

Mash bill:           90% NY Rye, 10% NY Malted Barley

Bottled at:          90 proof / 45% ABV

Barreled at:        120 proof

Filtration:           Non-chill filtered, certified kosher

SSP:                      $54.99

Fort Hamilton Distillery & Tasting room:

Fort Hamilton Distillery is a great example of a New York founder-led business with a hustle mentality and sense of community. The husband-and-wife team of Alex Clark and Amy Grindeland have built this brand from the ground up. Alex’s background in bartending influences many of the decisions behind the brand and ensures the liquid always hits the spot, behind the bar and in the glass. Amy is no stranger behind the stick either. Hospitality is in her blood, from a career spent as a flight attendant coupled with an upbringing in the South. These days, Amy’s feet are mostly firmly on the ground as she oversees the Fort Hamilton Distillery Bar & Tasting Room – a destination for whiskey lovers in New York looking for a good time and a great drink!

The mission for the Fort Hamilton Distillery was to recreate the original whiskey style of America, New York Rye. Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Rye was the first bottling and was inspired by a pre-prohibition era traditional 90% rye, 10% malted barley mash bill. Along the way, Fort Hamilton has extended into bartender-friendly Double Barrel bottlings of rye and bourbon, as well as producing the revolutionary Fort Hamilton New World Gin that’s bursting with fresh watermelon, cucumber and citrus and is inspired by the watermelon patch where the Battle of Brooklyn commenced and a NY corn-based vodka called Fortress Vodka, alongside other innovative bottlings. Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Bourbon released in Spring 2024 completes the core line up.

APRIL AUCTION NOW LIVE!

We have a fantastic little auction for you this month, packed with a diverse range of old and rare bottlings, including this stunning 21 Years Old Port Ellen 25^th Anniversary Maltings. This is an incredibly rare bottle from the closed but iconic Islay distillery.

Another highly regarded closed distillery is Brora and this gorgeous example was distilled only a year before it closed its doors. Bottled by the prestigious Gordon & MacPhail as part of their hugely popular Connoisseur’s Choice range.

How about something completely different? This Hankey Bannister 40 Years Old was bottled to celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of the company. Beautifully presented in a wonderfully crated decanter with stopper and a pair of branded glasses, along with a certificate of authenticity. It’s a little piece of history!

Released in 2004, this limited edition 1983 Old Pulteney 21 Years Old caused a real stir at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards in 2006, winning double gold at the prestigious event!

These are only a few of the bottles in our APRIL 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 21st April from 8pm GMT.

MEETING FINN THOMSON

Recently we had the pleasure of traveling down to Grandtully to find out more about his family story and try some amazing drams.The Thomson family has an astonishing nine generations of (documented) whisky history, so we were in for a treat. We started our day at Loch of Grandtully, where 300 years ago, John “The Rogue” Thomson sank his illegal pot still to evade the excise men.

From there, we moved to the Grandtully Distillery site, which was taken over by Donald and James Thomson. Sadly, the distillery is no longer there, but we did get to see the beautiful setting and read about the distillery from the First Edition of Barnadard’s Whisky Distilleries, painting a picture of the place and distillation techniques.

We travelled to the Grandtully Hotel to taste a delicious cocktail. Finn found the recipe in his family archives. This 1900s creation featured whisky, plum wine, pineapple and vino de color.

We had a go at rummaging through the archives ourselves. Discovering the merchant life of the Thomson family was a truly fascinating journey through the history of blending, selling, and purchasing casks.Along with the hotel and the bridge built by Finn’s family in the village, we got to see the most unique house, perfectly showing the character of Duncan “The Grand Old Man” Thomson, who met with an architect and placed two bottles of whisky on the table, instructing the man to “fill the space between” the result being the Bandarroch house with two turrets at the front.

We finished our day by paying our respects to James Thomson and visiting St Mary’s church.

James “The Rogue” Thomson marks the very beginning of the whisky history of the Thomson family and was buried near his farm, only a hill over from where he sunk his still.

We did not come back empty handed! 

In fact, we brought back highly collectible single cask bottling from Port Ellen, which features the incredible painted ceiling from St Mary’s church on the label.

Port Ellen 40 Years Old 

Private Cask Collection

This incredible single malt was distilled at Port Ellen Distillery in 1983 and was one of the last casks to be filled prior to the distillery’s closure in 1987. It was aged for 40 years in a single refill sherry butt. It is an exquisitely balanced malt. The sea-breeze smokiness combines with delicate citric undertones and delicate peaches and cream flavours, balancing the peatiness with fruit.  It was bottled without chill-filtration or artificial colouring.  Only 9 bottles were produced.

£5,000.00

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