Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Batch B523” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: July 19, 2023

A controversial release in the Elijah Craig pantheon, B523 is the first to be released under 12 years old. At 11 years and 5 months, it’s close enough for my palate. Like all ECBP, it’s uncut—bottled straight from the barrel without chill-filtration—and still delivers one of the best values out of Kentucky. This cask-strength batch comes in at 124.2 proof and delivers intense oak, sweet caramel, candied apples, and miles of vanilla, all with the punch and heat you’d expect from a full-proof bottling. To me, the standout difference in this release is a distinct peanut brittle note. It’s much nuttier than many releases and strikes me more like an older and higher-proof version of the excellent Heaven Hill 7 year. I, like most whiskey drinkers, love to see an age statement, but most of all, I care about how a whiskey tastes … and I’ll be damned if this isn’t just as delicious as I’d expect from Elijah Craig. It now fits more in line with their other premium brands like Old Fitz, which has a moving target age statement but is always an incredibly good premium pour.

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HIGHLAND PARK

DARK ORIGINS

70CL | 46.8%

£76.95

WAS £91.95

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A spicy and smoky Highland Park single malt matured in a combination of 80% first-fill sherry and 20% refill sherry casks. Expect a rich whisky with notes of sweet smoke, maraschino cherries, dark chocolate and black pepper spice. A sherried release from Highland Park, Dark Origins is a combination of 80% first fill sherry casks (of which 60% is European oak and 20% American) and 20% refill sherry. A dark expression which fits in with the distillery’s origins – founder Magnus Eunson being a smuggler who worked in the darkness of night.

ralfy review 998 Extras – Tasting a bottle that delivers a ‘finish’

The 40^th Anniversary year sees The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

release one of its oldest and most exceptional whiskies ever.

To close out its 40^th anniversary year, the biggest whisky fan club in the world, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, unveils a 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a Single Cask to share the society’s legacy in the best way they know how: with an exceptional whisky for its members.

The Society started with a group of friends who had the opportunity to buy and share a single cask of whisky and were dazzled by the unadulterated beauty of its flavor. At the time, they believed they had discovered the secret to drinking the best whisky on the planet. The philosophy of sharing and savoring single cask bottlings has stayed at the heart of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s maverick ethos ever since. This dedication to truly delicious drams has seen The Scotch Malt Whisky Society extend into 28 countries and boast almost 40,000 members globally.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 40th Anniversary release, Society Cask Number 12.79, is one of the oldest Single Malt Scotch whiskies the society has ever released. It follows hot on the heels of the Society’s success at the Distillers One of One Auction where The Only Drop, a bottling adorned with an innovative sustainable art sculpture, reached £15,000 at the prestigious charity auction.

This ex-bourbon barrel was first laid down in April 1983, at the very same time as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was starting its whisky journey, which makes it even more fitting that this is the final release in a collection of eclectic and wonderful celebratory whiskies that have been launched to celebrate this milestone birthday. In anticipation of 2023, the expert Spirits Team at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society handpicked and curated this cask in 2018 with a transfer to a refill Spanish oak sherry hogshead to deepen the flavor and add a brilliantly fitting birthday cake spice character to the liquid.

Maturing for a further five years, each and every year the liquid was sampled to ensure the whisky was just as intended until it was ready to bottle for the 40^th Anniversary. The result is a wonderfully mature and very elegant whisky that you’d be forgiven for spending hours unravelling the deep layers of its flavor and character with a drinking experience that’s enhanced by a beautifully unique, one-of-a-kind bottle. This whisky is the epitome of elegance and good taste and represents The Society legacy and why members around the world savor its whisky.

As such an exquisite and rare whisky – only 130 bottles of this will be available on sale solely to members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. What’s more is that, as part of the birthday celebrations, 40 members of The Society will be selected at random from all corners of the world and surprised with a complimentary dram of this celebratory expression, ensuring this whisky can be shared across the globe by members on The Society’s journey.

Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky Creation at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: “This cask was initially laid down to mature in 1983, which just so happens to be the year that the Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded.

“It seemed only appropriate that we chose it for the 40th anniversary celebrations. We’ve been monitoring this one very closely for a number of years. We knew this was the right time to bottle it and share it with people to enjoy this 40-year-old whisky in our 40^th year. After so many years of maturing in an ex-bourbon barrel, we decided to take the flavor in a different direction and moved the whisky into a refill Spanish oak, Oloroso hogshead. The key to it being refill was that it would be quite relaxed and complementary, adding another layer of complexity without being too intense for such an old fragile whisky. It stayed in that cask for a further five years. There are only 130 bottles of this. It’s just one to really savor and appreciate the influence of cask on flavor.”

Rebecca Hamilton, Chief Marketing & Experience Officer for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: “We are the original pioneers in cask strength, single cask, one-off Scotch whisky. We have kept this exceptionally aged, cask matured and flavor curated bottling true to our origins with a nostalgic nod to our celebrated past throughout the creation process. It is also in a beautifully minimalistic bottle that really ensures the whisky itself is the hero. We have treated this bottle as we would create a piece of art, with craftspeople working together to do justice to the years in cask. We also wanted to pay homage to our beloved iconic green bottle, collected by many the world over. This bottle has been a passionate collaboration of artists and designers and is also a reflection of how The Society began – from that ‘wow’ epiphany moment to the global single cask whisky fan club we are now. I know that members will cherish this spectacular piece for years to come.”

No paper labels are used in the design. Instead, the minimal words are printed directly on glass giving an unrestricted view of the unadulterated whisky within, ensuring it’s the real hero. One third of the bottle has also been hand dipped from cork to collar in dark green wax, which pays homage to the society’s infamous and iconic green bottle. As it has been hand dipped, the wax detail produces a different coating every time, meaning each of the 130 bottles is truly unique. The bottle rests on a handcrafted walnut plinth and a museum quality clear case finishes the piece and allows the member to proudly display it in their collection.

This special bottling will be available in the UK, Europe, US, China, Japan, Australia and Taiwan. Retail price into market will include £3000 GBP (for UK), $3995 USD (for US) and €3480 EUR for European markets.

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a global whisky club that celebrates 40 years of sharing delicious drams with its members in 2023.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 when a group of friends stumbled on the delights of whisky drawn directly from a single cask – undiluted and unadulterated.
• Over the past 40 years, the society has expanded to 28 countries and boasts almost 40,000 members and its focus on flavor discovery has never waivered.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society specializes in single casks bottlings of single malt whisky – it seeks out whisky in its most natural form and prizes the discovery of flavor above all else. Each bottling has a unique number identifying its origins and is given a curious name.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society releases almost 1,000 different bottlings a year, including rare single casks and single malt whiskies, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond.
• Members enjoy exclusive access to a constant variety of cask strength whiskies hand-picked by the Scotch Malt Whisky expert tasting panel, as well as access to four exclusive Scotch Malt Whisky Society Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• For more information about the Society, visit: www.smws.com, YouTube: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)

• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh.
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. In 2021, it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. which was inspired by its namesake who was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland in the 1700s. J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.

THE MACALLAN REVEALS A NEW EDITION OF THE HARMONY COLLECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH STELLA AND MARY MCCARTNEY

The Macallan has announced a collaboration with Stella and Mary McCartney, united by curiosity, respect and admiration for the natural world.

Stella and Mary have partnered with The Macallan on the creation of the third edition of The Harmony Collection – the limited annual release series which shines a spotlight on the brand’s inherent curiosity and innovative and creative mindset.

The third release in The Harmony Collection celebrates the lands of Scotland that connect all those who have stood upon them for generations.

The third instalment in the annual release series includes two distinctive expressions: The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow and Green Meadow, inspired by The McCartney sisters’ love of Scotland which stems from their memories in the Scottish countryside.

To mark this deep connection with the land, the presentation boxes and bottle labels have been made using discarded meadow cuttings embracing the re-use of natural materials to create beauty from resources at the end of their lives.

The packaging of each release features photography of The Macallan Estate captured by Mary McCartney.

The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team has taken inspiration from natural Scottish grasslands to create two distinctive, limited-edition whiskies, using a combination of sherry seasoned oak and bourbon casks.

Steven Bremner, Whisky Maker said: “There is so much to discover with The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow. It is a single malt redolent of warm meadows and mature barley fields, with a rich, citrus scented finish.

“The 100% natural summer evening colour derived from our exceptional sherry seasoned oak and bourbon casks reflects the richness of the flavour which awaits. On the nose fresh citrus fruits and honeysuckle are complemented by hints of vanilla, coconut and ripe barley fields. On tasting, notes of oak, lemon, melon are prominent, accompanied by flavours of classic scone and almond with green tea, before giving way to a rich and sweet long finish.”

The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow and Green Meadow will be available from October 2023 at a RRSP of £160.

The unique partnership will also focus on a Collection of lifestyle pieces.

A first for Stella and Mary, the partnership with The Macallan marks a creative union of the McCartney sisters. This debut joint venture combines their creative talents in a collaboration which enables them to celebrate their memories of Scotland.

TOGETHER: A Collection for The Macallan by Stella and Mary McCartney introduces a limited-edition Collection of 11 lifestyle pieces designed by the sisters and skilfully realised by master artisans and craftspeople.

The Collection showcases a curated selection of bespoke pieces including handmade glassware in vibrant shades that are coloured using natural minerals, an ombre ceramic flask encased in an apple leather alternative sleeve, a pair of brass ice stamps with meticulously hand-painted ceramic handles using a green and amber ombre colour blend and a brass napkin weight in the shape of an acorn, as a tribute to the exceptional oak casks which mature The Macallan whisky.  

Stella and Mary’s logo makes its debut across the full range, alongside The Macallan logo. TOGETHER is exclusively sold as a complete set and will be available in limited numbers from 11 October 2023.

For further information visit HERE

Tasting notes: The Macallan Harmony Collection Amber Meadow (ABV 44.2%)

Colour: Summer evening

Aroma: Rich orange and lemon, honeysuckle, vanilla, coconut and ripe barley fields

Palate: Rich oak, lemon, melon, classic scone, almond and green tea

Finish: Rich, sweet, long and complex

Tasting notes: The Macallan Harmony Collection Green Meadow (ABV 40.2%)

Colour: Spring morning

Aroma: Fresh orange and lemon, wild primrose, petrichor, honeydew melon, bluebells

Palate: Rich lemon, barley sugars, creamy vanilla, almonds, fresh oak

Finish: Sweet, fragrant, long and creamy

TOGETHER: A Collection for The Macallan by Stella and Mary McCartney includes:

Pair of Glass Tumblers

Glass Water Jug

Glass Ice Bucket and Brass Tongs

Ceramic Flask with Apple Leather Alternative Sleeve

Pair of Ice Stamps in Apple Leather Alternative and Wooden Presentation Box

Set of Three Ceramic Bowls

Set of Six Ceramic Coasters

Brass Napkin Weight

Brass Tray with Apple Leather Alternative Inlay

Lambswool Blanket

Pair of Limited-Editon Brass Framed Prints, Photography by Mary McCartney of The Macallan Estate

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland, The Macallan is renowned globally for its incomparable craftsmanship, creativity and innovation with each bottle of single malt whisky revealing its unique mastery of wood and spirit.

Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of The Macallan, and as part of its commitment to establishing a positive legacy it revealed its award-winning new Distillery in 2018. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills and is located on The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate. To this day, the single greatest influence on The Macallan’s sought after portfolio of single malts is its sherry seasoned oak casks from which its whiskies derive their distinctive flavours, aromas and natural colour.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

Ardmore Gordon & MacPhail 2003 Strath 20th Anniversary Single Cask – The Unbottling

It’s time to release the showpiece of The Strath’s 20th Anniversary series of Single Casks – it’s from Adam’s favourite distillery and was distilled on the year our store was founded!!  

Buy this whisky now at our online store 

Sherry Cask Exclusives from The Whisky Exchange

PX marks the Spot

On Thursday 26 October, our own Billy Abbott will be hosting a tasting of Sherry Cask Exclusives from The Whisky Exchange at our Great Portland Street store. This tasting will feature our Lagavulin 1991 Cask of Distinction alongside some other highlights from our range of exclusives.

Billy is an award-winning drinks communicator passionate about all things whisky and this is a great way to discover more about this incredible style.

Sherry cask-aged whiskies are some of the most exciting and most celebrated of drams, and at The Whisky Exchange we are fortunate to have an incredible selection of exclusives. These range from more traditional examples which balance barley, warming spice and dried fruit, classic peat and sherry combos and more contemporary examples which are pushing the boundaries of flavour. On Thursday 26 October, Billy Abbott will be hosting a tasting at our Great Portland Street store featuring our Lagavulin 1991 Cask of Distinction to celebrate these brilliant drinks.

⁠Book now 

The Details
Venue: The Whisky Exchange Great Portland Street
90-92 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 7NT
Date: 26 October 2023
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Price: £75

Book now

Torabhain Allt Gleann Batch Strength

Skye’s newests distillery, Torabhaig has captured the imagination of the whisky industry with some incredible new spirit and brilliant cask maturation. The traditional Allt Gleann is one of our favourite new distillery releases, capturing the heart of island life with sweet notes and briny falvours creating a wonderful dram. The team have ramped things up somewhat with this new release, the Allt Gleann Straight from the Cask Edition.

Bottled at a natural cask strength of 61.1%, this final batch of Allt Gleann completes the current chapter of the Distillery’s Legacy Series. Aged purely in American Oak casks, previously holding Bourbon, for around 60 months, the bottle was distilled at a hefty peat level of over 78PPM, and bottled at 22.8PPM.

Torabhain Allt Gleann Batch Strength

ralfy review 998 – Glen Scotia 11yo White Port @ 54.7%vol: