ralfy review 979 Extras – Avoiding mistakes !

A VISIT TO THE CAIRN DISTILLERY, SCOTLAND

by Paul Mclean

The sun is finally shining here in Glasgow and our glorious (if brief) summer is upon us, and to celebrate why not buy a bottle of something special from our now live 144^th auction!  It’s a very healthy auction this month with well over 7000 lots of fantastic drams to choose from, whether that be a top-shelf beauty or a summer drinker we’ve got the lot.  Here are a few special bottles from this month’s offerings to check out.

W & A Gilbey from the Wreck of the SS Politician

We often say bottles are ‘historic’ or ‘legendary’ but in the case of the W & A Gilbey from the Wreck of the SS Politician we really mean it.  The inspiration for the famed Ealing comedy Whisky Galore from 1949, The SS Politician was a cargo ship bound for Jamaica which ran aground off the coast of Eriskay in 1941.  This bottle was salvaged by a diver from the slumbering wreck and is accompanied by a letter, magazine article and USB stick full of research documenting the bottle’s journey from the seabed back into circulation.  A truly one-of-a-kind lot.

Macallan 1950 Exceptional Cask #13 2018 Release

Next up is a bottle of unmistakable quality, the Macallan 1950 Exceptional Cask #13 2018 Release.  Distilled over seven decades ago by the Speyside giant, Macallan, this tremendous liquid was then aged for a jaw-dropping 67 years in an American Oak 1^st Fill Sherry Butt.  One of only 336 bottles released this dram comes in at hugely respectable ABV of 53.4%, impressive given its long slumber in oak.  This is your chance to own by far the most sought-after bottle in the Exceptional Cask series.

Yamazaki 1990 ‘The Cask’ Sherry Butt

Japanese whisky has long been growing in popularity amongst consumers and investors impressed by its impeccable production, smooth flavours and robust value.  And this Yamazaki 1990 ‘The Cask’ Sherry Butt certainly ticks all the boxes.  Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2008, this delicious looking dram is one of only 471 bottles released and weighs in at a rather hefty cask strength of 60% ABV.  If you haven’t experienced Japanese whisky at its finest this would be a great place to start.

Laphroaig 1960 Vintage Reserve

Finally, we have an absolute corker from Islay (the undisputed heartland of peaty whisky) the Laphroaig 1960 Vintage Reserve.  Distilled at the start of the swinging sixties and bottled in 2001 at the birth of the new millennium, this is a rare example of a very old Laphroaig.  After spending four decades ageing in wood this dram is described by Laphroaig as being “surprisingly smooth and gentle” while still packing that peaty punch so admired by their legions of aficionados worldwide.There are literally thousands more fantastic bottles just waiting to be discovered in this month’s auction, so now is the time to get scrolling through them and picking your favourites.  Best of luck to all and remember…………don’t lose your bottle.

Kentucky Senator Bourbon Announces Its Newest, Small Batch Bourbon: The John Sherman Cooper Release

This marks the fourth very small batch
released by award-winning Kentucky Senator Spirits.

LEXINGTON, KY — Kentucky Senator Bourbon is set to unveil its fourth release of Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey, named after U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper of Somerset in Pulaski County.

Hitting shelves this summer, the John Sherman Cooper Release comes on the heels of the announcement that Kentucky Senator Spirits won an ASCOT Award – the famed international bourbon competition – for quality of taste of previous releases.

This highly anticipated release is named after the esteemed U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper. Aged eight years in oak barrels, this Bourbon is 107 proof with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley.

Kentucky Senator Spirits will distribute approximately 1,000 bottles of this 2023 limited edition small batch Bourbon, to be sold with a suggested retail price of $134.99. It has been distilled and aged in Kentucky, bottled at Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington and is being distributed by Kentucky Eagle Wine & Spirits.

The John Sherman Cooper Release will be rolled out at select Kentucky retailers, with a single barrel private selection at all Liquor Barn stores. This limited-edition release is also available online at www.BourbonOutfitter.com

In addition to the small batch bottles available next month in Kentucky liquor stores, bars and restaurants, Kentucky Senator Bourbon will feature a limited quantity for sale at the world-famous Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C.

“Damon and I have been able to unleash our passion for Kentucky’s native spirit,” said co-founder Andre Regard. “Our very first batch was honored with an ASCOT Award for taste, and we have been pleased to let our subsequent releases speak for themselves. This fourth release demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver only the finest taste in each pour.”

“We are featuring the same mash bill as our second and third bottling, this time aged eight years instead of seven or six,” said co-founder Damon Thayer. “As always, Kentucky Senator will be released at 107 proof and, this time, we have paired our release with the popular Senator Cooper, who was one of the most consequential Kentuckians of the 20^th Century.”

Each release is named for a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. To learn more about why John Sherman Cooper was chosen for Kentucky Senator’s fourth release, visit the company website, www.KentuckySenatorBourbon.com

The Kentucky Senator Bourbon brand was revived in 2019 by co-founders, Andre Regard and Damon Thayer. They are passionate about offering the finest-tasting Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, serving up great Kentucky Bourbon with a side of Kentucky history.

Andre Regard (left) and Damon Thayer (right)

BOILERPLATE:
The Kentucky Senator brand originated from Crigler and Crigler in northern Kentucky. The brand was later distilled and bottled by Double Springs Distillers, Inc. in Bardstown. Today, Kentucky Senator has been given a fresh look thanks to local co-founders Andre Regard and Damon Thayer. Both men possess a unique background in Bourbon that they bring to the management team of Kentucky Senator Spirits, LLC.  More can be read about the management team in their online bios (https://www.kysenatorbourbon.com/).

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s inaugural release, the Alben W. Barkley Release, was highlighted in Forbes Magazine.

Noted Bourbon author, Fred Minnick, also honored Kentucky Senator’s first release in his ranking of the Top 100 Whiskeys of 2021.

Fred Minnick reviewed the Alben W. Barkley Release for his YouTube Channel, acknowledging the release as a “top-rated, 15-year-old Bourbon.”

Kentucky Senator also made the ranking for Minnick’s subsequent Top 100 Whiskeys of 2022 list.

Kentucky Senator Bourbon was recognized by the American Spirits Council of Tasters in 2022, receiving a Gold ASCOT Award for taste and a Double Platinum ASCOT Award for overall marketing and brand design.

Ardbeg Day 2023

ARDBEG HEAVY VAPOURS

Released for Ardbeg Day – the last Saturday of Islay’s annual whisky festival, Fèis Ìle – Heavy Vapours is an experimental limited edition single malt distilled without a copper purifier, resulting in less of the Islay distillery’s typical floral fruitiness and more of its pungent and aromatic peat.

SHOP NOW

Mac-Talla PX Editon, Feis Ile 2023

Sumptious PX Sherry Wood, rich with the flavours of luxurious grape of Southern Spain, picked at the peak of sweetness and natural acidity. Creating a complex whisky with the perfect balance of jammy sweetness and peat. A sweet, smoky symphony of burnt toffee, stewed berries and maritime smoke. The influence of PX sherry casks bring a rich, fruity sweetness, as well as structure and depth to this smoky Islay malt.

£71.90 >

Secret (M)acallan

Single Bourbon Hogshead from the Secret Easter Elchies Distillery

Secret Speyside 14 Year Old 2009 for TWB

Distilled at a Speyside distillery that is now so revered it is only to be spoken of as its entire region.

Matured in a single ex-bourbon hogshead #163 and bottled May 2023 by Signatory Vintage for the Un-Chillfiltered series at cask strength 64% abv.

Expect a soft and creamy palate, with oak spices and a basket of tropical fruits.

373 bottles… WHILE STOCKS LAST!

Shop – Speyside 14 Year Old 2009 – £79.99 / u$81* / €76*

MYSTERY MALT SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Mystery single malt that don’t want to reveal their true identity. Rummage around and with a bit of investigation you are sure to find a rare unspecified bottling from independent bottler.

Our signature core range have been downsized…

Our core range – The Hive, Peat Chimney and Spice King – have been tapped off into miniature 5cl portions just for you. Now you can buy and try all three, at the same time if you really wanted to (though we wouldn’t advise it). These vivid expressions in whisky were crafted by our Production Director Isabella Wemyss to showcase the three main avenues of scotch: Sweet, Spicy and Smokey.

The Hive 5cl Miniature

£5.00

Buy Now

Peat Chimney 5cl Miniature

£5.00

Buy Now

Spice King 5cl Miniature

£5.00

 Buy Now

Another of our Fynest single casks:
Ben Nevis 1996 25 Year Old #1402

We have dropped yet another incredible single cask dram, if we do say so ourselves! But the real work was done by our friends up at Ben Nevis, and an incredible refill hogshead cask for a quarter of a century. Secure a bottle to add to your collection today.

Ben Nevis Fynest 25YO →

Aged for a whole 25 years in a refill hogshead, this Highland whisky has been bottled at 47.03% abv. With just 289 bottles in existence, it’s a limited-edition beauty. Discover some tasty notes on the palate of exotic fruits, vanilla and dark chocolate, with gentle peaty undertones. Another belter!

🔥 Free delivery over £99 🔥

Welcome to the second episode of the show for this week. In this episode I’ll be reviewing a few new-ish releases from Mossburn and a couple of older releases in Elixir’s elements of Islay range.

https://youtu.be/oo3ZcL66oZA