The Epicurean Pays Homage to City of Glasgow with Launch of New Ex-Cuvée Oak Finished Edition

Award-winning Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky brand, The Epicurean, today reveals the latest release dedicated to “his” home City of Glasgow – also home to independently family-owned parent company, Douglas Laing & Co.

This limited-edition expression marries together the finest Single Cask Single Malts from the Lowland region of Scotland, before enduring a lengthy finish in some of the “finest” French ex-cuvée oak casks. Offered at a natural cask strength of 50.4% alcohol, proudly without colouring or chill-filtration and strictly limited to just 5,100 bottles globally, this release is expected to be snapped up quickly.

The Epicurean is said to be “the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink” so this bottle was designed to embody just that. Presented in a black bottle with gold foil detailing and packaged in a premium gift tube, the black and gold design brings a “true sense of luxury” to this release. Tasting notes are said to reveal “bursts of malted barley, vanilla blossom and lemon zest,” a dram the Douglas Laing team describe as a “something truly special”.

Commenting on this new bottling, Scott Morrison, Brand Manager, said:

“This latest Epicurean Glasgow Edition is one we are particularly proud of. The unique finish is a first for the Douglas Laing team and is a credit to the continuous innovation and quality we strive to achieve. The eclectic array of flavours imparted from the French ex-cuvée oak casks combined with the exceptional packaging make this release one not to be missed!”

The Epicurean Glasgow Limited Edition will be available from specialist Whisky retailers around the world, plus online retailers, from August 2023. It carries a suggested retail price of £55.00 / €64.00.

ABOUT THE EPICUREAN

Twitter:  @DLaingWhisky

Instagram: @theepicureanwhisky

Facebook: /dltheepicurean

Meet The Epicurean – our 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky character who was ever the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink. A master of versatility, this fresh, zesty, grassy marriage of the finest Lowland malts is perfect for cocktail hour or simply for sipping.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

It’s been an exciting twelve months as we’ve continued on our whisky journey here at North Uist Distillery. With distilling equipment ordered, our cask offer sold out and the bere barley ripening on the machair, it really feels like time to celebrate!

As part of the second annual Hebridean Whisky Festival we will be throwing open the doors at Nunton on September 4th and welcoming whisky lovers from near and far to Nunton Steadings for a day of tastings, tours, and much much more.

We hope that you can join us to raise a glass or several to the next stage of our journey, and to the joys of uisge beatha in general.

Slàinte!

Tours will be held throughout the day on September 4th, with our dream team leading visitors through the history of Nunton and the future of North Uist Distillery whisky. See our historic island home, visit the fields where our bere barley will be grown, learn about the grain to glass process that will make our Hebridean whisky so very special and ask all of your burning questions to our distiller and NUD co-founder Jonny.

Join us for ticketed whisky tastings with our very special guest, Iain Faller from Island Spirit Whisky Shop in Stornoway. Iain will be leading this Hebridean whisky tasting exploring the flavours and tasting notes of four Hebridean Whiskies. There will be two tastings throughout the day, one at 12pm and one at 2pm, and the selected whiskies will be for sale after the tasting.

Whisky Tasting 12-1pm

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Whisky Tasting 2-3pm

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Our friends at Lochmaddy Bay Prawns will be with us, gracing the courtyard with their presence and cooking up a storm of freshly caught local shellfish – a  perfect accompaniment to a drink from the Island Life Bar, which will be serving whisky cocktails alongside delicious Downpour G&Ts and soft drinks.

Grab a drink and pull up a pew for our free 3pm screening of Hebridean whisky cinema classic, Whisky Galore. The film will be shown in the main hall at Nunton, right in the very spot where our own whisky will soon be flowing.

Based on Compton MacKenzie’s 1947 novel, Whisky Galore tells the story of the SS Politician, which ran aground in 1941 on the island of Eriskay with a cargo that included 28,000 cases of malt whisky. At the height of wartime rationing and with government officials keen to reclaim their cargo, it is needless to say that chaos ensued.

(We will be showing the 1949 version. A poll was held, opinions were had, judgements were questioned, and the OG film won with a landslide 338 votes to 30. Thank you to everyone who took part.)

We will be joining the other five distilleries that make up the Hebridean Whisky Trail on Saturday September 9th, for the ultimate celebration of Hebridean whisky at Talisker in Skye. The festival finale will see all six distilleries pitched up in the breathtaking location and offering whisky lovers the chance to sample all of their offerings. We will be there with the award winning Downpour Gin range and look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets for the Hebridean Whisky Festival Finale concert at Talisker Distillery, featuring Charlie Mckerron & Friends, are available below.

BUY TICKETS

Our August 2023 Auction is now LIVE!

Whether it’s to expand your collection or to find that perfect drinking dram, you will be sure to find what you are looking for in our LIVE auction!

Auction closes from 8pm (BST) Tuesday 29th August

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

Macallan – 71 Years Old 1950 – Tales of The Macallan Vol.1

This landmark release from The Macallan is the first volume in their ‘Tales of The Macallan’ series. This bottle celebrates the life and legacy of Captain John Grant, Laird of the Easter Elchies Estate. A uniquely old vintage, this expression was distilled in 1950 and was selected for bottling in 2021 after an extended maturation of 71 years! Featuring a bespoke crystal decanter handcrafted by French glassmaker Lalique, as well as being contained within a beautiful 800-page almanac created by Shepherds Bookbinders, this bottle is one of only 300 and is not to be missed!

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GLEN ALBYN DISTILLERY 43 Year Old 1979 Private Collection (2023) Cask #3857

£3,500.00

1979 vintage from this very rare lost distillery which was demolished 1986. Sherry puncheon #3857 at 56.4% and only 95 bottles. Glen Albyn 43 Year Old 1979 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill Sherry puncheon #3857. Distilled 19th September 1979 & bottled 9th January 2023 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Private Collection Lost Distilleries Recollection Series #2. Just 95 hand-blown crystal decanters have been produced.

Buy Glen Albyn 43yo »

Nose: Rich roast coffee aromas give way to fruitcake. Subtle spice and beeswax polish notes. Treacle toffee and charred oak with a hint of dark chocolate.

Taste: Smooth with dried fig, ark cherries and oramge peel followed by dark chocolate flavours tempered by cracked black pepper and charred oak.

Finish: Full bodied finish revealing lasting hints of oak and liquorice.

Glen Albyn Distillery was established in 1844 on the east bank of the Caledonian Canal in Inverness. Whilst the canal opened in 1822 in order to facilitate a short cut between the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea for our navy during the Napoleonic wars, it provided ready access for shipping raw materials in and whisky casks out when the distillery opened. Glen Albyn Distillery closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1986 although some fragments of its old walls can still be found. Albyn Distillery is a lost Scottish Highland malt whisky distillery and releases are scarce with Gordon & MacPhails 1976 Rare Old an example.

ralfy review 991 – Arran Quarter cask @ 56.2%vol:

We are delighted to announce that we have won top prize with a Gold accreditation from the Green Tourism Awards!

This recognises our ongoing commitment to achieving the highest possible standards of sustainability at Glengoyne Distillery.

The Green Tourism Awards are acknowledged worldwide as an indicator of good environmentally friendly practice.  They are a hallmark of green achievement.

Read on to find out what we’re doing to minimise our environmental impact and support our local community.

GLENGOYNE WETLANDS

We were the first distillery to adopt a wetlands facility to manage 100% of the liquid waste we don’t need. The liquid makes its way through a series of twelve pools; each is thick with reed beds. This slows down the flow and removes anything that would harm the delicate balance of the local burn.

The water is then safe to rejoin the burn, which winds its way into the river and on to Loch Lomond. Less waste. Less energy. More wildlife.

The wetlands cut our waste by around 25% – and because the process uses gravity, it only takes a 1.5KW pump to send the spent lees on their way. What’s left of the solid waste is then harvested sustainably for enough energy to power 354 homes each year.

Eleven years on from the introduction of the Glengoyne Wetlands, biodiversity is alive and well at the Glengoyne Distillery.  Our wetlands are made up of 12 individual cells which are home to 14,500 plants of 20 varieties and provides a haven for local wildlife today.

Like our namesake geese, we also harness the power of the wind to help us reach our destination by sourcing 100% of our electricity from turbines.

So, with every sip of Glengoyne, we continue our journey as we raise our glass to a greener and more sustainable future.

Learn more about the Glengoyne Wetlands

PLAN BEE

Honeybee populations are declining rapidly – which is bad news for the environment. That’s why we’ve got two beehives at the Distillery.

Plan Bee’s idea is simple: rent beehives to businesses across Scotland and help the honeybee population recover – one hive at a time.

We’ve installed two hives in the distillery grounds, contributing to healthier, more varied plant and animal life. Not to mention a delicious pot of honey or two.

STRATHBLANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Our Glengoyne Distillery volunteer group was out in force last month at Strathblane Wildlife Sanctuary, removing seed heads from ragwort and clearing bracken from around young Scots pine trees to allow them breathing space to flourish.  The Sanctuary is a beautiful place, and a well-used resource for the local community.

GLENGOYNE PACKAGING

The Glengoyne collection is made with 100% recyclable and locally sourced packaging.

Most of the material used in our packaging originates from our home country, in many cases right next to our distillery. The only exception is our corks and capsules which come from Europe. To top it all off, we’ve removed all plastic, metal and magnets from our packaging.

The beautifully crafted wooden boxes of our Fine & Rare Collection, including Glengoyne 25 and 30 Year Old, have been carefully designed to allow easy second use by its owner. Each box features personalisable plaques, peelable labels and removable inner fitments to allow the box to be used as a luxury storage cabinet once the whiskies inside have been savoured to their very last drop. This is the first packaging solution in the industry which actively promotes reuse rather than recycling and we are thrilled to lead this innovation.

Explore the Glengoyne Collection

We are proud to integrate these environmentally-friendly practices into the daily operations at the Distillery for the sustainability and future of our environment, without compromising any quality in our whisky.

Visit the Award Winning Distillery and see how Glengoyne is crafted

Scottish Independent Bottler Announces Addition to its Award-Winning Range of Whiskies in the US with Import Partner ImpEx Beverages

August 2023. Adelphi Distillery Ltd and ImpEx Beverages are proud to announce the release of Maclean’s Nose, a new blended Scotch whisky. Adelphi has been one of Scotland’s most acclaimed independent bottlers since 1993, producing a wide range of whiskies, from iconic Single Casks to a quality blend. It is also the parent company of the Ardnamurchan Distillery.  The new addition to Adelphi’s range is Maclean’s Nose, a traditional blend, with some modern twists, which takes its name from a rocky outcrop not far from the Ardnamurchan Distillery.

What sets Maclean’s Nose apart is its high malt content of 70% and the significant presence of ex-Sherry casks, which imparts a rich depth of flavor. This unchill-filtered whisky showcases its natural color and is bottled at 46% abv, allowing the true essence of the spirit to shine through. The first batch of 25,000 bottles is available worldwide now, 3,384 of which were shipped to the US.

Enchanting the senses, Maclean’s Nose reveals a captivating array of tasting notes. Expect the delightful interplay of burnt citrus peel, invigorating sea salt, indulgent white chocolate, and the smoky essence of a bonfire by the beach. This deluxe blend encapsulates the rugged and alluring spirit of the Scottish West Coast.

A prominent feature of the Ardnamurchan coastline and only a short distance from the distillery, Maclean’s Nose is a bit of a geological and historical wonder. Its wild, rugged beauty inspired the creation of this new blend, Maclean’s Nose, as well as Adelphi’s link with well-known whisky specialist, Charles MacLean.

The Ardnamurchan Team Discuss Maclean’s Nose

Alex Bruce, Managing Director of Adelphi Distillery Ltd says: “I remember at the opening of our new distillery in Ardnamurchan in July 2014, our longstanding sensory mentor, Charlie MacLean, telling me that we were now officially the closest distillery to his nose. It didn’t sink in until sometime later that he was actually referring to the famous promontory off Ben Hiant just a few miles down the coast.

Formed some 60 million years ago from a giant volcanic eruption, Maclean’s Nose has long been used as a navigational aid by passing boats. The multi-colored agglomerate, once lava flow, also inspired our slate-blue Ardnamurchan Single Cask bottle color.

We are really proud to now be able to celebrate both our chief nose and our neighboring nose together in this exciting new West Coast blend. As with all things Adelphi, it is an unashamedly flavor-first whisky, and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do.”

Carl Crafts, Sales Executive added, “The team from Ardnamurchan Distillery in partnership with ImpEx Beverages are thrilled to announce the arrival of its new Blended Scotch, Maclean’s Nose, to the United States! We have created a whisky that we hope reminds all of us that blended scotch does not equal a poor-quality experience. In reference to the iconic and characterful Western Highland blends of decades past, we flip the script as far as standard blend proportions go by using 70% malt whisky, sourced exclusively from Western Highland and Campbeltown distilleries, along with 30% grain whisky from the Lowlands – much of the maturation comes from Sherry casks as well.

We hope you all enjoy Maclean’s Nose and can’t wait to hear what you think. Our tremendous thanks go out to our US importer, ImpEx Beverages, for continuing to represent our products throughout the United States.”

Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages said, “The addition of Maclean’s Nose to the ImpEx portfolio was a no-brainer.  The quality we have come to expect from Adelphi and Ardnamurchan continues through to this amazing blend.  Seeing something that showcases the talent and sophistication of the team at Ardnamurchan Distillery coming through in such an approachable whisky (both from the price and taste perspective) is a real win for fans across the US.  This combined with the approval of the Chief Nose himself, Mr. Charles MacLean has brought together something truly spectacular in Maclean’s Nose.”

In addition to the remarkable whisky within, Maclean’s Nose embraces sustainability in its packaging. The Whisky is presented without a gift box, simply in a clear 700ml glass bottle with a label made from Crush Barley, the newest sustainable paper available to print. This innovative material is crafted from a combination of post-consumer waste and barley draff, which would otherwise end up in landfills. The back label features a QR code which tells the story of the whisky and its make up. By prioritizing the circular economy and responsible packaging, Adelphi sets a new standard for eco-consciousness across the whisky industry.

Adelphi worked in collaboration with young Scottish artist – Reuben Sian de Gourlay, to create the artwork for the front label. Born in Dundee in 1998, Reuben recently graduated from UAL Camberwell College of Arts with 1^st class honours. In 2020, he was awarded ‘Young Fine Artist of the Year’ in the Scottish Portrait Awards.

Maclean’s Nose is available at specialty retailers across the country, please reach out to Office@ImpExBev.com for more information on where to locate this truly lovely dram.

About Adelphi Distillery Ltd
Adelphi is the parent company of the Ardnamurchan Distillery and Adelphi Selection, Scotland’s most acclaimed independent bottler of rare Scotch whisky. The award-winning distillery produces world class whisky on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula, Scotland’s rugged west coast. They apply a sustainable approach to distilling and were awarded the VIBES Good Practice Award in 2021.

About ImpEx Beverages
ImpEx boasts an impressive portfolio, including some of the most notable small to medium sized distilleries and independent bottlers.
ImpEx Beverages imports Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Mezcal from Scotland, Wales, Japan, Israel, Mexico, England, the Caribbean, India, and New Zealand with future anticipated additions from unexpected destinations. We also feature a fine line of Liqueurs and Cordials produced in the US.
Regardless of your preference, you are sure to find something that pleases from the ImpEx Beverages Portfolio.

St. Magdalene 40 Years

1982 vintage from the lost distillery at Linlithgow, Edinburgh. Refill hogshead #2100 at 54.5% and just 150 bottles of history. St. Magdalene 40 Year Old 1982 vintage Lowland single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill American hogshead #2100. Distilled 1st July 1982 & bottled 6th February 2023 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Private Collection Lost Distilleries Recollection Series #2 . Just 150 hand-blown crystal decanters have been produced.

Buy St Magdalene 46yo

£3,000.00

Nose: Clove-studded orange aromas combine with sweet red apple and a hint of grapefruit. Butterscotch develops alongside subtle cocoa powder and mature oak.

Tatse: Sweet, smooth citrus fruit flavours are balanced by buctle black pepper. Poached pear comes to the fore, leading to walnut and subtle marzipan.

Finish: Full and spicy finish with lingering ainseed.

St. Magdalene’s malt whisky distillery was established by Adam Dawson at Linlithgow in 1824 and opened shortly thereafter. The Union Canal flowed right by on its southern doorstep and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway steamed right past on its northern flank ensuring easy access to rapidly expanding markets. St. Magdalene’s Distillery closed in 1983, later converted into private housing and is now a lost Lowland malt whisky distillery. All the whisky from St. Magdalene’s four stills went into blends during its working life, the few single cask bottlings are a modern development and listed amongst their limited number is Carn Mor’s 1982 vintage.