On top of the world – Bimber achieves the highest bottle of single malt on Earth

Bimber Distillery today announced that a bottle of its single malt whisky had reached the summit of Mt. Lhotse in Nepal – the fourth highest mountain in the world. At a height of 8,516 metres, this feat surpasses the previous record set in 1993 by over 2,000 metres.

During May 2023, Founder Member Philip Pinchin strove to climb Lhotse to raise funds for medical charity Cobalt. As part of Bimber’s support for this heroic endeavour, a unique marriage of three different cask types was created, including some of the distillery’s oldest and finest stock. A sample of the ‘Lhotse Challenge 2023’ release accompanied the climbing team from London all the way to Nepal and finally on the 24^th May 2023 the bottle was brought to the summit of the mountain.

Following the competition of the climb, the summit bottle has now been returned to Bimber and will shortly be auctioned together with a full-sized 70cl edition presented with a hand-painted label to raise additional funds for Cobalt.

Speaking of the achievement Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “We were astounded to discover that the climbing team had successfully reached the summit of Lhotse with the bottle of Bimber single malt. Similarly to all of the world’s highest mountains – climbs of this height are extraordinarily challenging to undertake and even more so to complete. To achieve the summit *and* to take the time to photograph the Bimber Lhotse Challenge 2023 bottle at the top is just remarkable. Together with our generous members and supporters we have raised over £7,000 for Philip’s charity climb – achieving the highest bottle of single malt on Earth at the same time makes us feel on top of the world!”

www.bimberdistillery.co.uk

About Bimber

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage, with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

Our June auction ENDS SOON!

Auction closes from 8pm (BST) Tuesday 27^th June

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Dallas Dhu
33 Years Old 1974

The Dallas Dhu distillery was one of the unfortunate distilleries to close in 1983 and has been a highly sought after commodity since. This single malt was first distilled in 1974 and was aged for 33 years before being bottled in 2007 by Historic Scotland, the current caretakers of the distillery. Being one of only 100 bottles, this whisky is unlikely to show up often, so get online and bid while you can!

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Lowland Single Malt 10 Year Old 2013 Rare Find #900105

£69.95

Gleann Mòr Spirits’ Rare Find range is full of gems. Bottled at natural cask strength with no added colour or chill-filtration, these whiskies are wonderful examples of what indie bottlers do best. This cask was sourced from an unnamed Lowland distillery, and it’s delicious. There are complex notes of hay, dark chocolate and liquorice, all wrapped up in an inviting maltiness. Refill sherry casks have worked their magic here.(Milroy’s tip: don’t be put off if a distillery remains secret – it’s usually just a contractual technicality when sourcing. The whiskies can be amazing!)Scroll on for four more independent bottlings we rate right now, delivering remarkable flavour at a brilliant price point. Pop in to pick up a bottle in store, or buy online!

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Sherry cask matured whiskies are renowned for their distinctive character and rich depth of flavour. These whiskies are matured in casks that previously held Sherry, a Spanish fortified wine. Sherry seasoned wood contributes a range of flavours that may include dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and spices.

Sherry Cask – Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Independent Bottlings

ralfy review 982 Extras – Scoring malt-marks in 2023

The Macallan and Grupo Estévez announce partnership

We are delighted to announce that The Macallan has formed a partnership with Bodegas Grupo Estévez, S.L., in an affirmation of the extraordinary lengths the brand will go to ensure that its Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured in the finest quality Sherry-seasoned oak casks.

Igor Boyadjian, MD, The Macallan, said the joint venture with Grupo Estévez and their superb and historic Sherries is the next natural step in The Macallan’s pursuit of incomparable craftsmanship and whisky mastery, ensuring a sustainable supply of highest-quality Sherry production for our Sherry-seasoned casks.

Igor said: “Our partnership with Grupo Estévez builds on The Macallan’s long-standing, deep relationship with the Jerez community and with our wide range of valued suppliers in the Sherry industry that have always played a critical role in the quality of our exceptional Scotch Whisky.

“We hand select our Sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez for richness and complexity. The partnership with Grupo Estévez demonstrates the creativity and innovation that has driven The Macallan since it was founded almost 200 years ago and continues the brand’s evolution through masters collaborating with masters.”

Grupo Estévez, led by CEO José Ramón Estévez, are owners of renowned vineyards and bodegas in Jerez’s “Sherry Triangle” where they make and mature the ultra-premium Valdespino brand of Sherries and aperitifs.  Valdespino is one of the most historic and prestigious bodegas in Jerez, dating back to 1264 and having ownership of exclusive vineyards in the Pago de Macharnudo, considered the “Grand Cru” of Jerez.

Under this new partnership, the Valdespino brand of ultra-premium Sherries and aperitifs will be added to the Edrington portfolio and their growth will be supported by the distribution and marketing capabilities of The Macallan in selected international markets. The expertise of Sherry Wine making will be retained through the existing leadership team led by Grupo Estévez CEO, José Ramón Estévez.

José Ramón Estévez said he and his family were incredibly pleased to be forming a joint venture with The Macallan, and explained that up till now, Grupo Estévez has focused on production of their ultra-premium Sherries and aperitifs.

He said: “This will be the first time we have used our beautiful Sherry for cask seasoning, and we are so pleased that we will do this exclusively for The Macallan, which is synonymous with the highest quality Scotch Whisky. We look forward to contributing to that quality in the years ahead through the seasoning of The Macallan casks with our Sherry.

“We are also extremely excited to be working with The Macallan team to help build our exceptional Valdespino Sherries and aperitifs internationally. Both The Macallan and Grupo Estévez have a shared commitment to quality for our consumers and respect for the societies we live and work in and to the environment.”

Scott McCroskie, CEO of Edrington said: “The Estévez family are a perfect partner for The Macallan in Jerez, owning some of the finest Sherries and Vermouths in the world, and custodians of such historic vineyards and bodegas. This is a partnership full of promise for The Macallan in the brand’s constant quest to continue producing exceptional quality Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that are so well-loved by consumers around the globe.”

Macaloney’s Island Distillery breaks new ground with inaugural release of peated whiskies

Vancouver Island distillery extends tradition with inaugural launch of locally sourced, peated single malt whiskies.

SAANICH, BC (June 19, 2023) – In a groundbreaking venture, Macaloney’s Island Distillery, known for their World’s Best and multiple Canadian best gold medal whiskies is thrilled to debut the inaugural release of its exquisite peated single malts:

• An Aba 12ppm, Sherry-influenced – 45 per cent bourbon, 25 per cent virgin American, 10 per cent Portuguese red wine and gold medal winner at the World Whiskies Awards (WWAs)
• Sio Dugall 27 ppm – 65 per cent bourbon, 25 per cent virgin American, 10 per cent Portuguese red wine and a gold medal winner at the WWAs
• Peat Project 54ppm single cask red wine – 100 per cent Portuguese STR red wine, with a gold medal at the WWAs, and
• Peat Project 54ppm single cask white wine – 100 per cent Moscatel sweet white wine

Each of these exclusive whiskies invites aficionados to exploer a world where the unique Pacific Northwest character harmonizes seamlessly with an age-old Scottish whisky craft.

Driven by a passion for authenticity and terroir, CEO and master whisky maker Dr. Graeme Macaloney championed the use of ingredients local to the Pacific Northwest. The superior flavour complexity of Canadian barley has led to the distillery adopting the practice of smoking their locally sourced barley on-site, a practice only still done by five of the greatest Scotch distilleries at this scale. This novel approach, combined with imported peat from Seattle, Washington, imbues the whiskies with a distinct taste and aroma that can be traced back to their roots.

“Our goal with the peated whiskey was to use the traditional peat-smoking methods I studied at Laphroaig, Bowmore, and Kilchoman on Islay, and marry these with our local ingredients,” said Dr. Macaloney, “Using a slow distillation process and one of the industry’s narrowest cuts, we were able to achieve an amazing newmake that won World’s Best in blind tastings at the World Whiskies Awards in the UK.”

The resulting range of peated whiskies showcase a uniquely approachable palate for connoisseurs and those new to exploring whisky. Enjoy a peated whisky with a medium peat nose with lots of fruity esters in balance with the phenols, and a peat palate with a dry finish and hint of salt, which reflects the distillery’s island location.

“I’m pretty proud of these whiskies,” says Macaloney. “The launch of these inaugural peated whiskies isn’t just about releasing new products for me. It’s also about realizing a dream steeped in passion and local craftsmanship. Every bottle is a testament to our team’s tenacity and relentless pursuit of excellence, and the gold medals awarded by the World Whiskies Awards reflect this.”

VIDEO: Inside the peat smoker

About Macaloney Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery: Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery is a destination craft distillery & brewery funded by Canadian single malt whisky & beer enthusiasts from coast-to-coast via an on-going crowdfunding campaign. The Visitor Centre gift store is normally open 7 days per week for kilt-clad guided tours & tutored tastings.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
761 Enterprise Crescent, Saanich, Greater Victoria, BC, V8Z 6P7
| 778-401-0410
macaloneydistillers.com

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association Selects Lewis

For Brand Refresh of its Legendary

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Program

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced its selection of Lewis to refresh its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® branding assets ahead of the world-famous tourism attraction’s 25-year anniversary next year.

Founded in 1951, Lewis is a full-service marketing agency that delivers business growth at pivotal times for organizations in categories from healthcare to beverage marketing to education, based on insights from their own proprietary business intelligence and data science, to deliver provable results with measurable return on investment.

Lewis is located in Nashville, Tenn. and has 100 total employees working across three offices including Birmingham, Ala. and Mobile, Ala. Creative work from Lewis has won hundreds of local, regional and national awards, and the agency has been internationally recognized with feature stories in Communication Arts, Graphis, and Novum. Graphis ranked Lewis as one of the top 15 advertising agencies worldwide for its creative product.

Mandy Ryan, the KDA’s Director of Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences, said the historic non-profit trade group received dozens of proposals from around the world to refresh the hallmark tourism program that the KDA founded in 1999.

“It was impressive to see the breadth of talent and incredible enthusiasm this project evoked from so many great agencies,” she said. “ Within that accomplished field, Lewis’ proposal immediately caught our attention.”

Ryan said the selection committee also was swayed by the Lewis team’s personable and passionate approach. “Their work is modern and engaging, and their excitement about this project put them over the top.

“We believe the expertise Lewis brings will provide the perfect approach to shepherd us into the KBT®’s next era.”

The last branding project took place in 2009 when only eight distilleries participated in the KBT® program. That number is now 42 distilleries, including 24 on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, created in 2012 as the first tour in the country to showcase smaller distilleries.

“It’s been incredible to witness how much KBT® has grown and evolved in the last 13 years,” Ryan said. “As we near the KBT’s 25th anniversary, we needed a refreshed look, feel and voice reflecting today’s Kentucky Bourbon culture and its affluent, diverse demographic.”

Additionally, Lewis and the KDA are exploring new digital tools to help tourists plan and guide their way across the birthplace of Bourbon. “In 2009, smart phones had just reached the market and there wasn’t much demand for digital assets,” Ryan said.

“Now people rely on their phones to plan their trips and navigate the Commonwealth’s scenic byways. Our new image must uphold our rich distilling legacy but help move tourism resources into the modern age, reflecting and welcoming the contemporary Bourbon consumer.”

Katie Peninger, VP Account Service at Lewis, said, “We were already thrilled about the opportunity to work on something as legendary as the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, but the minute we met them in person, there was an instant connection that just felt comfortable. We knew they were our people.”

Peninger said the agency’s work would build upon their previous brand experience with successful beverage companies as well as Lewis’ considerable tourism, economic development and placemaking experience. “It’s the perfect combination of needs for an agency like ours.”

About Lewis

Lewis is a full-service marketing agency that delivers business growth at pivotal moments for companies. With more than 100 employees at offices in Nashville, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., and Mobile, Ala., Lewis develops internationally-acclaimed branding and creative advertising campaigns, based on our own business intelligence and data science, to deliver provable results with measurable ROI. Learn more at www.lewiscommunications.com.

About The Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® are among the region’s most popular tourism attractions, with total attendance exceeding 2 million visits each year.

Guests come from all 50 states and around the world, with more than 70 percent from outside Kentucky.

The KBT® has advanced Kentucky’s hospitality industry through Bourbon-themed restaurants, hotels, tour companies and more. And, the KDA has led the way in modernizing Kentucky’s archaic alcohol laws to help distilleries reach a Napa Valley level of amenities and attractions.

Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism powerhouse sustaining more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has soared more than 475% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 11.4 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.6 million barrels last year alone, the fourth year in a row that production topped the 2 million mark.

Learn more at www.kybourbontrail.com and www.kybourbon.com.

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com 

Great BBQ food & whisky @ Maltstock 2023

Boy are we feeling relaxed today! It’s less than three months until this years’ Maltstock! And we’re back at our regular venue. No restrictions. Just a weekend of massive relaxed fun!

Our line-up is almost complete now. And we’ll be bringing you up to date on our Facebook page and coming newsletters.

We have some very good news for those of you who have forgotten to buy their ticket, we still have a few tickets available! So you can still join the relaxed fun. The fastest way to get relaxed is to simply click on this link:  https://www.maltstock.com/shop

Relaxed Maltstock crew at the Whisky in Leiden festival last weekend.

BBQGuru returns!

A lot of you will definitely remember the BBQGuru. They have spoiled us a couple of years by hosting the Saturday BBQ. Remember the roast hog? The past years they have been very busy with hosting excellent BBQ events worldwide and (successfully) competing in competitions. But now it’s time for them to get relaxed again.

So it’s with great pleasure we can announce that Harry Havinga and his relaxed team will return to Maltstock! We won’t put them to work too much. They will provide the Saturday midnight snack. We are really looking forward to this.

So with The Hielander Scottish breakfast, a Friday midnight snack by Sugar Hill and our fantastic regular BBQ team, we perhaps should consider renaming the weekend to foodstock 😉 (and we’ll have more food news in our next newsletter….)

P.S. Of course we also cater for those among you who like their plants better than meat or other dietary requirements! Just make sure to let us know!

Ian Forteath makes his debut!

Perhaps his name won’t ring a bell with everyone. But those who have met Ian know what an amazing relaxed, funny and knowledgeable man he is. We are very happy he will be coming to Maltstock this year. Ian is the Master Blender at angus Dundee distillers, who have Glencadam and Tomintoul in their portfolio. We had the assistant manager of Glencadam 15 years ago at our very first edition. So it’s great to see Angus Dundee return to Maltstock!

Ian will be hosting a masterclass on the Friday and several “Drinks with…” sessions on the Saturday. Definitely something to look forward to!

The Maltstock team will be relaxing in Campbeltown next week. More news when we return!

Have a wonderfully relaxed day!

Bob, Klaas, Stan & Teun

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Want get relaxed NOW and enjoy Maltstock in September?

Simply get your ticket here: https://www.maltstock.com/shop

We Choose To Go
To The Moon

TWB Apollo Whisky Collection

With the recent release of our two Apollo whiskies, Glencadam ‘Call That A Grand Prix, 11yo Apollo 16 and Deanston ‘ Magnificent Desolation’ 11yo Apollo 11, we are delighted to have now completed this ‘black label’ series.

Featuring images from each of the manned Apollo missions and an accompanying quote from members of the crew, the series began back in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Featuring a range of interesting and exciting whiskies, with Apollo 11 featuring four times and a double release for Apollo 10, each of the manned missions from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17 have been celebrated.

Check out the full series below. Some have sold out completely, some we’ve released a small number more and some down to the last bottles.

For what has become a collectable and sought after series and in the words of President John F. Kennedy ahead of the Apollo missions, “We choose to go to the moon”. And we did.

Shop – TWB Apollo Whisky