Offer Ends 4th of January 2024

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 513: Glengoyne 12 Year Old 2010 Cask Owner for The Glen Connection

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a single cask from Glengoyne. Some Belgian friends visit the Glengoyne distillery, enjoy both an extensive tour and a so-called blending masterclass afterwards and immediately decide to participate in the (now no longer active) Cask Owner’s Programme. They carefully choose a PX hogshead and pay for 10 years of warehousing in advance. This is 2010. The intention was to bottle the cask at 11 years, but the pandemic put a stop to that. In the end, the three (Koen, Charly and Glenn) had to wait until June 2023 before their cask #1837 was bottled. It yielded 318 bottles. The cask strength of 56.3% is impressive, but especially the deep bronze color immediately appeals to the imagination. Mark was blown away by this malt!

https://youtu.be/jOyYpC7yzdc

Usher’s Blended Scotch Whisky Vintage Advert

Usher’s father, whose name he shared, Andrew Usher (1782 – 1855), was a prominent Scottish brewer who had experimented with the blending of whisky in the 1840s. He had two sons, Andrew II and John. Andrew Usher II was made a partner of Andrew Usher & Co of Edinburgh in the late 1840s. Andrew Usher II perfected the eventual blending of whisky and as such is sometimes called the ‘father of Scottish whisky’. The subsequent blending and mass distillation enabled whisky to grow from a drink rarely consumed outside the United Kingdom, to be one of mass export.

As we reach the end of another remarkable year for Laphroaig, I wanted to reflect on the journey we’ve shared throughout 2023. And special acknowledgement is owed to the dedicated team members whose tireless efforts and commitment to peaty whisky have been the backbone of our success.

First and foremost, let’s raise a glass (filled with Laphroaig, of course) to our new production team members. DJ and Andy started on our malt floors, Cat is now running the stills, and with our new warehouses needing filled, we have welcomed Robert, James, Brian, Robbie and Katie to our expanding warehouse team. You’ve all embraced the spirit, both literally and figuratively. Welcome to the family!

Now, let’s talk about our visitor centre. The only place where even non-whisky drinkers leave with a newfound respect for the amber nectar. I want to thank our wonderful team for their passion, knowledge, and unwavering patience when dealing with tourists who pronounce our name in a dozen imaginative ways. You’ve made Laphroaig an immersive experience for all who venture onto our shores. Keep spreading the whisky love, one sip at a time!

But wait, there’s more! We have a brand-new addition to our clan: our very own Islay Brand Ambassador Kayla embodies the essence of Laphroaig, with a charm that could turn an enemy of peat into a loyal follower. Kayla brings the magic of our distillery to whisky enthusiasts worldwide, converting hearts, minds, and taste buds along the way.

Now, let’s talk about those lovely liquid gems we’ve released over the past year. From the bold and peaty expressions that make your taste buds dance a merry jig to limited editions that we have enjoyed sharing. Each bottle has been crafted with care, passion, and a touch of mischief. Let’s raise another glass to the masterminds behind these divine creations.

As we bid adieu to 2023 and leap into the excitement of 2024, I want to wish each and every one of you a year filled with laughter, joy, and an ever-deepening appreciation for the water of life. May you discover new flavours, share memorable drams with old and new friends, and continue to support our beloved Laphroaig team.

So, my fellow Friends of Laphroaig, let’s clink our glasses, set off fireworks with our peaty explosions, and create a New Year’s toast that will echo through time. Because when it comes to Laphroaig, we know how to celebrate like no other!

Yours in peaty revelry,
Barry MacAffer

visit Laphroaig.com

Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll & Bute Scotland, PA42 7DU, United Kingdom

The Grand Whisky Auction Christmas 2023 Auction CLOSES TOMORROW EVENING!

The auction closes on Monday the 1st Of January 2024!

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

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

As we welcome the New Year, the greatest joy lies in the moments shared with friends and loved ones, no matter the distance between us.

A Night on Earth – The Journey is the latest edition in our exclusive series. It captures the essence of new beginnings and the unforgettable moments when we gather from every corner of the globe.

Elevate these moments with an extraordinary single malt from our curated collection and make this celebration truly exceptional.

SHOP

BUNNAHABHAIN DISTILLERY

31 Year Old 1991 Old & Rare Platinum (2023)

Bunnahabhain 31 Year Old 1991 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single Oloroso sherry hogshead bottled September 2023 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum series. 85 numbered bottles.This deep-amber coloured whisky has intense notes of sherry oak on the nose with nutmeg, leather, ginger and red fruits. On the palate the dried fruit and oak notes combine along with the spices and a wonderful orange tang, leading into a long sweet and spicy finish.

Bunnahabhain Distillery was established in 1881 on the north eastern tip of the Isle of Islay by the shore of Bunnahabhain Bay and overlooking the Sound of Islay. All the building materials were transported by puffer and unloaded at the distillery pier. Now tucked away at the end of the single track ‘main’ road with spectacular scenery all the way. Bunnahabhain Distillery is equipped with four huge pear shaped stills and produces Scottish malt whisky which is released in blends and in single malt and single cask bottlings. A participant in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Core editions include Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old.

The latest Bruichladdich Micro Provenance release for The Laddie Crew!

Distilled 2nd November 2012, and bottled 16th May 2023
Matured in a Monbazillac 2nd Fill Cask, using Concerto Islay Barley, matured in Warehouse: WHSP3. L13

Cask number : 4121 and one of only 282 bottles.

Distilled at Bruichladdich Whisky Distillery on Islay

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

MacNairs Lum Reek
10 Year Old
Cask Strength Batch 2

£62.99

View Product

Bottling Notes:

Taking inspiration from MacNair’s discovery of the delights of a dram beside a smoky peat fireplace, Master Blender Billy Walker has drawn upon his half century’s experience in blending to develop a recipe fit for a traditional Scottish toast to long life: “Lang may yer Lum Reek”

In Batch Two Billy has created a sublime Blended Malt where the smoke of Islay is blended with the finest Speyside and GlenAllachie whiskies. The spirit was then rested in Spanish sherry casks.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Waves of grilled honeycomb, ginger and vanilla with cinnamon, campfire smoke and treacle

Palate: Bursting with dark chocolate, burnt orange peel and honeycomb.

Finish: Smoked spices, butterscotch and roasted coffee beans.

Raise a dram to Rabbie Burns with Bladnoch

As the world prepares to celebrate the life and work of iconic Scottish poet, Robert Burns, on Thursday 25th January 2024, Bladnoch has recommended some of its finest Lowland malt whiskies to toast Scotland’s national bard this Burns Night.

Bladnoch is the southernmost distillery in Scotland and one of the closest to where Burns spent his life in Dumfries & Galloway. The water which gave life to this historic distillery sustained the whiskies of Burns’ era, making Bladnoch the ideal dram to complement Burns Suppers this January.

The Bladnoch Classic Collection is expertly handcrafted by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage and his team, using water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery. All four whiskies – Vinaya, Liora, Samsara and Alinta – are natural in colour and non-chill filtered, to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

Bladnoch Vinaya, 70cl, 46.7% ABV, £50 / AUD $100 / USD $70

Vinaya, a Sanskrit word meaning respect and gratitude, pays homage to Bladnoch Distillery’s original founders who paved the way for the brand’s exciting new era of innovation and production.

Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Bladnoch Vinaya is matured in a unique combination of first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, a process which creates notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Bladnoch Liora, 70cl, 52.2% ABV, £70 / AUD $125 / USD $90

The name Liora has its origins in Hebrew, meaning ‘the gift of light’. The latest addition to the Classic Collection, Bladnoch Liora is matured in a combination of bourbon and new oak casks and is the first of the brand’s releases to be bottled at distiller’s strength of 52.2% ABV.

Liora embodies the delicate balance between the intensity of the new oak and the sweetness of the bourbon casks, resulting in flavours of fresh cut apples, toasted caramel, peppery spices and fresh oak.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers.

Bladnoch Samsara, 70cl, 46.7% ABV, £80 / AUD $160 / USD $100

Bladnoch Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of malts matured in Californian red wine and ex-bourbon casks.

Rich and sweet with notes of vanilla, fudge and citrus, this unique non-age-statement malt whisky is the perfect dram for the dark winter months.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers. 

Bladnoch Alinta, 70cl, 47% ABV, £80 / AUD $160 / USD $100

Alinta, an indigenous word from several southeast Australian language groups, means ‘fire’ and ‘flames’, and evokes the notes of campfire embers found in each sip.

A sweet, smoky, peated spirit, Bladnoch Alinta takes its flavour from maturation in Pedro Ximénez sherry and ex-bourbon casks, which sets this whisky apart from anything previously released by Bladnoch.

Available at www.bladnoch.com, Amazon and specialist whisky retailers. 

Tasting Notes

 Bladnoch Vinaya

Colour: Summer barley field.

Nose: Sweet floral grass with boiled sweets.

Palate: Fresh green apples and chocolate with a hint of pepper.

Finish: Light and refreshing.

Bladnoch Liora

Colour: Natural.

Nose: Fresh cut apples, with toasted caramel and floral notes.

Palate: Caramelised toffee apples with peppery spices and fresh cut oak.

Finish: Long, with a slightly warming dryness.

Bladnoch Samsara

Colour: Copper gold.

Nose: Vanilla cream, floral with fresh cut apples.

Palate: Thick vanilla fudge, sweet floral grass.

Finish: Rich, mouth coating, leading to refreshing citrus.

Bladnoch Alinta

Colour: Copper.

Nose: Smoky ice cream, delicate floral with sweet oak.

Palate: Campfire smoke, almonds and raisins with a white chocolate body.

Finish: Long with a sweet smoke.

 About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’

Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.

The team at Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in this iconic distillery.