Welcome to WhiskyIntelligence.com where we'll be gathering information on the whisky industry and scotch whisky news in the form of press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes and comments.
Please submit your press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes or comments.
Win an incredible VIP Tour with Glenfiddich
Buy any of the expressions within the Grand Series range from now until 18th June.
Discover Glenfiddich Grand Series →
InchDairnie is a Fife based distillery that takes an innovative approach to flavour and pushes the limits of Scotch whisky production. Their unique mash filter, grain selection and fermentation process is opening up new complex corners of the flavour map, not yet reached by other distilleries.
RYELAW
Fife Single Grain Scotch Whisky 2017 Vintage
70cl | 46.3% ABV
A spectacular rye whisky that challenges traditions, the inaugural release of RyeLaw from the InchDairnie distillery was distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2022. This Scottish rye is a limited release and is the outcome of just a single week’s production, meaning that only 200 casks of this particular vintage were bottled to be released worldwide.
As the only precision-distilled, malted rye Scotch whisky in the world – RyeLaw is a stand-out in modern distilling, in a field of its own.
NOSE: Distinguished rye spiciness mingling with mellow oak above a soft layer of vanilla.
PALATE: Cascading pepper from the rye caressingly wrapped in mouth-coating, oily viscosity and sweet biscuity, cereal and dried fruit notes
£106.95
Cambus 1982 40 Year Old XOP, Xtra Old Particular Cask #17181
Cambus 1982 40 Year Old
Matured in a refill hogshead.
One of only 157 bottles produced.
One of only 157 hand-filled bottles available. From the ‘XOP Old Particular’ range of whisky by Douglas Laing. From Cambus Distillery. Distilled December 1982, bottled March 2023, from a Refill Hogshead – DL17181. Natural Cask Strength, Natural Colour – No Chill Filtration.
Official notes from Douglas Laing:
Opens roundly sweet, and full of bourbon, coffee, plus later citrus and cereal. More (Arabica) coffee on the palate ahead of liquorice and slightly burnt vanilla toffee. The coffee finish now carries cream and sugar, ahead of the whisky.
Cask Strength – Set in a gorgeous wooden presentation box. From Cambus Distillery. Matured and bottled by Douglas Laing.
START the summer here…we’re shaking the senses and embracing the rising temperature by enjoying our whisky outdoors or within a tasty cocktail concoction. Our NEW Outturn is bursting with fresh flavours and inspiration, click over to our website NOW to explore OR keep on scrolling for our Outturn highlight you won’t want to miss…
CHERRY CHANTILLY CAKE
Cask No. 112.118
Age: 18 years
Cask: First Fill #4 Charred Hogshead
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information
This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!
Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video
FETTERCAIRN DISTILLERY ANNOUNCE 2023 EDITION OF
PIONEERING WHISKY – FETTERCAIRN 18 YEAR OLD – SCOTTISH OAK
Fettercairn distillery has announced the 2023 release of their pioneering, limited-edition, Scottish Oak-matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fettercairn 18 Year Old.
First launched to market in 2022, the release of Fettercairn 18 Year Old marked a new dawn in progressive whisky making as the whisky enjoys a unique, hand-crafted finish in 100% locally sourced Scottish Oak barrels.
Fettercairn 18 Year Old is the complete embodiment of Fettercairn’s values and their commitment to the future of progressive, flavour led, whisky making. This expression is both innovative in style and substance and celebrates what makes Fettercairn different, from their unusual tropical house style – achieved by the unique copper cooling ring distillation – to their future-focussed approach to local sourcing.
Golden amber in colour, expect aromas of sugared almonds, baking spices and a tropical sweetness of passionfruit and guava. To taste, enjoy exotic syruped fruits, patisserie sugars, brioche and spices with soft hints of berry fruit. To finish, savour soft spice, cacao and natural vanilla.
Fettercairn 18 Year Old is created through a marriage of American White Oak casks and a hand-crafted finish in 100% Scottish Oak. Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, this whisky has been bottled perfectly at an ABV of 46.8% and consumers can expect to enjoy the same great quality liquid in this 2023 edition, as with the initial 2022 release.
Beyond the 18 years dedicated to making this remarkable whisky, this Single Malt is part of something truly significant. Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass founded the ground-breaking Scottish Oak Programme which, whilst born at Fettercairn distillery, was created to ultimately support the drinks industry for generations to come.
Scottish Oak imparts incredible flavour and the programme – which has seen ancient forests replanted as well as skills honed in sawmills and cooperages – has created a circular economy for future whisky makers.
Gregg Glass was named as Global Master Distiller of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards, in part for his innovative and pioneering work on the Scottish Oak Programme, which has also since been awarded the industry’s Innovation of the Year*, reflecting this pioneering approach to flavour-led whisky making.
The first release of Fettercairn 18 Year Old received an overwhelmingly positive response from whisky lovers and curious explorers alike. With liquid scarce, it is anticipated that the 2023 annual release will be highly sought after.
Fettercairn 18 Year Old 2023 limited-edition annual release, will be available to purchase from premium and specialist retailers from June onwards in key markets including UK, France and Germany, priced at £200 ($275).
For those keen to explore Fettercairn and take a journey through unexpected flavour experiences, further whiskies available in the core collection include a 12 Year Old, 22 Year Old and a 28 Year Old. Fettercairn also has a number of rare and aged whiskies including 40, 46 and 50 Year Old expressions, as well as an experimental series, The Warehouse Collection, which concluded this year.
* Whyte & Mackay Scottish Oak Programme, winner of The Spirits Business Award for Innovation in Production 2022
About Fettercairn
Fettercairn Distillery is a hidden gem – a Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery located in the heart of a thriving agricultural community, Aberdeenshire – ‘The Garden of Scotland’. A spark of whisky making ingenuity is what makes Fettercairn special. A sense of wonder has been a constant theme back to 1824, as illustrated by our beautiful copper cooling ring, which produces a uniquely tropical style of new make spirit, and our Scottish Oak Programme from which we developed our Fettercairn 18 Year Old Scottish Oak. Today we continue to take a progressive outlook and make new unexpected journeys in flavour led whisky making. We invite curious whisky lovers and connoisseurs to explore and enjoy Fettercairn Single Malt.
www.fettercairnwhisky.com
About Gregg Glass- Master Whisky Maker
Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year, Scotland 2023
Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker. Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.
Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.
Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio.
Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay
Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador, Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo.
In the UK the company produce Whyte & Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte & Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.
In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.
Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.
Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.
Summer awaits, and with it, another selection of tasty tipples to shake up the season. Enjoy them on their own, over ice on a hot evening, or in a cool cocktail. They’re yours to enjoy!
WICKEDLY VILE AND DESPICABLY DREADFUL!
REGION: Speyside
CASK TYPE: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
AGE: 19 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Spicy & dry
BOTTLE NOTE: “You will not like this whisky! It is not painfully exquisite and drenched in old style highland waxiness. Nowt to see or sip with awe here!”
LIP-SMACKING, CITRIC AND SUMMERY
REGION: Speyside
CASK TYPE: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
AGE: 8 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Sweet, fruity & mellow
BOTTLE NOTE: “Suede, burlap and tatami; rain forests and heathery hillsides; coconut and tannic oak; a jackpot of melons, pineapple, papaya and lemons.”
A STICKY, SWEET, SPICY TREAT
REGION: Lowland
INITIAL CASK: Ex-bourbon barrel
FINAL CASK: 2nd fill HTMC hogshead
AGE: 16 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Juicy, oak & vanilla
BOTTLE NOTE: “Aromas of banana skins, stone fruits and raisins joined sticky flavours of butterscotch, caramel and custard with nutmeg and a menthol finish.”
CHANGES FASTER THAN A CHAMELEON
CASK NO. Distillery 93 small batch
REGION: Campbeltown
CASK TYPE: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels
AGE: 8 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Oily & coastal
BOTTLE NOTE: “This is firmly in our Oily & Coastal flavour profile that is often associated with Campbeltown. There is no peat influence but still a coastal salinity, while the 1st fill bourbon barrels bring a lovely woody influence with vanilla and spice to balance everything beautifully.”
ONE FANCIES A SHERRY
REGION: Speyside
INITIAL CASK: Ex-bourbon hogshead
FINAL CASK: 1st fill PX barrique
AGE: 13 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Deep, rich & dried fruits
BOTTLE NOTE: “Dark chocolate cherry liqueurs, roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese tart followed by creamy spicy jalapeno jam, hoisin sauce and ginger cake.”
FROM COAST TO KILN
REGION: Highland Island
INITIAL CASKS: Ex-bourbon hogsheads
FINAL CASK: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
AGE: 10 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Lightly peated
BOTTLE NOTE: “In typical Orkney style: coastal on the nose, then peat arrives on the palate. Single malt originally from hogsheads, married in this cask.”
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca
Lord Elcho
Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume and crafted from a carefully chosen selection of the finest malt and grain whiskies (minimum 40% malt content) Lord Elcho is truly a noble whisky with a noble heritage. Packed with more whiskies than most blends, this expression is a complex curation of flavour with a greater depth than most anything you can find on the shelf. Lord Elcho also comes as a 15 year old version, showing what maturation can do to the liquid.
Lord Elcho – Blended Scotch Whisky (70cl)
Nose Fresh and lively. A fruit salad of green apple, grape and pear. Warmer notes of freshly cut hay follow. Fragrant eucalyptus infused wood shavings.
Palate Full and soft with waves of chewy caramel. A hint of ginger syrup reveals a warming spiciness. Lovely neat, but water develops the spiciness with notes of red fruits like pomegranate.
Finish Dry and long. Crushed brazil nuts.
Lord Elcho 15 YO – Blended Scotch Whisky (70cl)
Nose Rich and warming with subtle hints of sweet spice and sandalwood.
Palate Mouth-coating, robust and smoothj with luscious spiced fruits and cloves.
Finish Long and luxurious.
“A smooth, slightly gingery blend with a noticeable sherry cask influence. For a foray into blending, they’ve set the bar pretty high.”
Ian Buxton, 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die
The Macallan Rare Cask is crafted with only the finest and rarest sherry seasoned casks, hand-selected for their unique ability to impart rich flavour profiles, and depth of natural colour.
The Macallan Rare Cask is crafted with only the finest and rarest sherry seasoned casks, hand-selected for their unique ability to impart rich flavour profiles, and depth of natural colour. Bottled at 43% abv, the indulgent whisky provides a complex and highly sensorial drinking experience.
Expect aromas of vanilla bean, apple, lemon and orange, followed by an intense sweet raisin flavour that bursts onto the palate, before giving way to delicate vanilla and dark chocolate, with a hint of citrus. A long, rich and velvety finish closes this magnificent dram.
Very Olde St. Nick 8 Year Old 86.8 Proof Ancient Cask Rye Whiskey
(750ml) (Previously $160) $79.99 View
The Very Olde St. Nick brand is generally well received for its excellent quality, but complained about for its price. We’ve fixed that by chopping the price in half! The Ancient Cask 8 Year Old Rye is stupendous. Golden straw in color and lusciously smooth it’s a bit of a dichotomy on the palate. It has tremendous sweetness and weight, but immense rye spice at the same time.
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2023, 52.3%
I’m back with more Laphroaig! Are Laphroaig the distillery of 2023? Looks that way in my eyes.
I haven’t purchased a Cairdeas release for a very long time, 2016, I think, was the last time with a madeira finish. Anyway, I saw the email for this and bit the bullet – worth every single penny.
75% of the maturing stock has been in second fill madeira casks, with the other 25% being finished in mostly white port casks. A little summer time smoke infused dream of white peaches, white grapes, ashy classic Laphroaig peat, vanilla, toffee, honey, mint, and agave syrup
It’s impossible to hide my love for Laphroaig. It does everything you get from unpeated whiskies, but with peat. Winner all around. I’m incredibly happy to have this open on the shelf. Well done, Laphroaig.
