ralfy review 978 – Speyburn 15yo @46%vol:

JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLING CO. INTRODUCES CLERMONT STEEP™ AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

 Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of Fred B. Noe Distillery, Leads Beam Family’s First Foray

Into This Emerging Category of American Whiskey

 Clermont, Kentucky (May 16, 2023) – Today, for the first time, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. brings its 227 years of whiskey-making expertise and excellence to the American Single Malt Whiskey category with the launch of Clermont Steep™. Developed by Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, this venture into an emerging category explores the full potential of a single grain – American Malted Barley.

With little to no definition in the American Single Malt category, Noe developed his own defining guidelines, making intentional production choices to celebrate the flavor of this single grain at every step of development. Clermont Steep is a five-year-old liquid distilled and aged in Clermont, Kentucky, and matured in bespoke barrels to deliver warm toffee sweetness on the palate without overshadowing the unique, bready taste of American barley.

“As a new venture, crafting Clermont Steep has been one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced in the distillery, and I am incredibly proud of where we’ve landed,” said Noe. “This American Single Malt Whiskey is smooth, sweet and incredibly balanced, and it deserves a spot on any whiskey lover’s bar cart, right alongside their bourbons and ryes.”

Clermont Steep is a whiskey steeped in influence from both process and place. Just as single malt couldn’t exist without steeping the grain, this whiskey couldn’t exist without Clermont, Kentucky – the soul place of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. and the heartland of American Whiskey distilling culture. Noe and his team hand-selected the American malted barley for the mash and used Beam family jug yeast in the natural fermentation process. It’s the same yeast that is used in all Beam products, adding a sense of familiarity to every sip. The single malt was then distilled on a column still and aged for five years in barrels that were toasted, then quickly charred to a char level 1.

The launch of Clermont Steep marks a significant milestone in the American Whiskey landscape as James B. Beam Distilling Co., the world’s largest producer of Bourbon, takes a stake in a rapidly growing segment that has yet to be fully explored.

“I’m always looking toward the future of American Whiskey, and the boundless runway in this category intrigued me,” said Noe. “We don’t just want to participate in American Single Malt Whiskey; we want to help define it for the future of the category.”

The foray into an American Single Malt Whiskey is proof of the innovation possible within the Fred B. Noe Distillery under Freddie Noe’s guidance. The Fred B. Noe Distillery was named after 7^th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe and serves as the home to legacy small batch brands, such as Booker’s® Bourbon, as well as new-to-world whiskies, including Little Book® Whiskey, Hardin’s Creek® Bourbon and, in the future, Clermont Steep.

Clermont Steep will be available in select states across the US, in-store and on ReserveBar, beginning June 2023. For real-time information about Clermont Steep, follow along on Instagram @clermontsteep and ClermontSteep.com.

CLERMONT STEEP AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY | 47% ABV | SRP: $59.99

COLOR   Golden Honey

NOSE      Toasted Malt, Caramel, Toffee

PALATE   Vanilla, Caramel, Whole-Grain / Cereal

About Clermont Steep

Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey is the first American Single Malt Whiskey to be released from the James B. Beam Distilling Co. under Freddie Noe, 8^th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. As a formally undefined category, Freddie Noe purposefully developed his own guidelines and defining factors for American Single Malt Whiskey while operating under the ultimate creative constraint – using a single grain. Clermont Steep is a product of singular focus and results in a singularly focused whiskey experience. 47% ABV | SRP: $59.99). 

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands.  Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory’s core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com

Our May Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids until Sunday 28th May 2023.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Bowmore – 52 Year Old (ARC-52)

Dalmore – 1951 (Sirius) The Guiding Light

Macallan – 50 Year Old (The Red Collection)

Johnnie Walker – 40 Year Old (Master’s Ruby Reserve)

Savoy – The Savoy Collection (4 x 70cl)

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

NEW LIMITED RELEASES FROM

Kentucky Owl Tekumi Bourbon

Takumi translates as ‘Master’ in Japanese & this is an authentic way of highlighting the collaboration between a young, fast-rising Master Blender in Yahisa Yusuke and an industry veteran and Hall of Famer in John Rhea. It is a collaboration that encompasses not just the art of blending itself but also the different flavour and taste profiles each country has become famous for in making its whiskeys. Kentucky Owl’s Takumi Edition is an artfully blended limited 2nd edition aged bourbon that provides bourbon lovers with an insight into the flavour profiles sought by a Japanese Whisky Master Blender. This special release brings the best Japanese whisky-making skills to Kentucky Owl’s bourbon range. The initial wave of buttery rye bread provides a full-bodied taste & feel from the start. Across the tongue, the savoury mix of rye & caramel combines into a cinnamon & caramel sauce to bring out some fruitiness, mostly apple & pear, that all combined, provide a flavourful, pleasant, lasting finish.

£120.00

Shop now

An Ardbeg Limited Release Unlike Any Other
Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt Whisky
(750ml) ($134.99)
“This is for those who can’t get enough peat, earth, and smoke, or those who geek out on production details. Or both, ideally. A hell of a whisky.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

For the most fanatical peat lovers among our Scotch clientele, your ultimate wheelhouse whisky has just arrived. The Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt is quite simply a peat bomb of monster proportions. The Ardbeg malt is already known for its intensely smoky profile, and thanks to a deliberate change in the production process for this bottling, the Heavy Vapours ramps up the peat factor to eleven. This limited release is the first of its kind from the Islay icon, and we’re sure it’s going to find a devoted following among Ardbeg aficionados everywhere.

Ardbeg “Heavy Vapours” Islay Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($134.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 09, 2023

Ardbeg has always been a little silly on the marketing side of things, and this year’s Limited Edition is no different. They’ve created a graphic novel mystery about the missing purifier, the goofy dongle on the top of Ardbeg stills that magically provides the fruity ballast to Ardbeg’s incredible balancing act. Without it, heavy vapours accumulate, and you’re left with a much more robust, smoke-forward whisky. That’s not to say the fruit is gone, but the whisky is starkly different for this one change in the distillation setup. Setting aside their marketing schtick and whatever is to be revealed in the graphic novella on Ardbeg Day (June 3rd, 2023), I must say I only really care about the whisky itself. Let’s taste. At first pour the nose is just as advertised—intense smoke and peat. Heavy Vapours indeed. It’s remarkable actually. This is all about the raw materials. Not a ton of wood to be found. The color is pale straw, and there is a hearty amount of sweet malt underneath all that savory smoke and wet peat. The saline reads a bit like the scent of an indoor pool, somewhere between humid chlorine air and the iodine of Ardbeg’s neighbor up the road. It’s a sort of chemical nose that I, as a lover of all things Islay, find extremely comforting. The nose also holds sweet, candied malt notes, but they are decidedly hidden and only show after many minutes in the glass. On the palate, the malt jumps forward and is quite appealing—sweet barley, roasted and fresh, with a hint of green apple and vanilla. And wham—more peat, wet seaweed, salted earth, and lingering smoke. The finish is a bit of prickly pear and a mix of glycerol alcohol and creosote. It’s a hell of a whisky, but buyer beware. If you don’t love peat and smoke, this won’t be for you. This is for those who can’t get enough peat, earth, and smoke, or those who geek out on production details. Or both, ideally. A hell of a whisky.

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

As we get ready to move into our new Masterton Bond warehouse later this month, we’ve uncovered some hidden gems – the VERY last drops of some outstanding bottlings.

We’ve just added some unbelievable casks to our website at their original price. Don’t miss the opportunity to grab a bottle or two before they disappear forever… But be quick, numbers are low and limited.

LET’S GO

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

ralfy review 977 Extras – Navigating whisky.

Heaven Hill Distillery Named 2023 Global Icon of Whisky Distiller of the Year

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – The Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards announced Heaven Hill Distillery as the 2023 Global Distiller of the Year. The award was announced in London on March 30 at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2023, celebrating the very best people and places in the industry. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 was previously named World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon at the American Icons of Whisky Awards on February 9 in Louisville, Ky.

Previously announced as a 2023 American Icon of Whiskey Distiller of the Year, Heaven Hill Distillery was voted amongst an esteemed panel of judges to best this year’s finalists. Since 1935, Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond collection including its namesake Bourbon. Heaven Hill also invites more than 200,000 visitors per year through the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience and Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.

Announced in June 2022, Heaven Hill is celebrating a return to distilling in Bardstown after breaking ground on the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. Initial production at the state-of-the-art distillery is slated for 150,000 barrels a year after opening in 2024, and over time will have capacity to ramp up to producing 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s distilling that occurs at the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which will continue to operate at full capacity of 450,000 barrels annually.

“We’re honored to celebrate our contributions to distilling tradition, as well as continue to make an impact in innovation as we invest in the future of American Whiskey with the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller. “I’m proud to salute our legacy of distillers who helped build our brands over the years and look forward to the next generation of craft and quality from Heaven Hill Distillery.”

As noted by Christopher Coates, editor of Whiskey Magazine, “The 17th annual Icons of Whisky awards saw the stiffest competition yet. The experiences offered by the top whisky bars, retailers and attractions today are truly world-class – and have become bywords for hospitality and tourism excellence beyond just the drinks sphere.”

Several Heaven Hill brands were also recognized during the American World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky presentation. Notable awards include Sustainable Distillery of the Year, Lynn House as American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, and Connor O’Driscoll as Highly Commended Master Distiller. More information, including silver and bronze medalists, can be found at www.worldwhiskiesawards.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

AUCTION ENDS TONIGHT!

ENDS SUNDAY 21st  MAY FROM 8PM

Stylish 1968 Single Malt from a Silent Distillery.

We have some cracking bottles in our May Auction, which ENDS TONIGHT, including this vintage offering from silent still Ben Wyvis. The fact the distillery was only in operation from 1965 to 1977 means that any bottlings from this closed distillery are now very hard to find. One of only 151 decanters, it comes with a 5cl Miniature which is intended to be a nice wee taster of the spirit.

Nothing odd about this Springbank!

Distilled in 1996, this Springbank Single Cask was bottled for wine and spirits retailer Oddbins. Matured in a single Manzanilla Sherry Cask #260 then bottled in 2009 at Cask strength. One of only 588 bottles produced.

Get Your Glendronach!

We have a super selection of GlenDronach for you this month, from the 8 Years Old Octarine to the 21 Years Old Parliament.

Classic Bottlings

Check out our Friends of Classic Malts lots this month, including Cragganmore 14 Years Old and Talisker 12 Years Old.

Register now at www.clickwhiskyauctions.com to bid on these fantastic bottlings and many more besides.

SCAPA DISTILLERY OPENS THE ‘SCAPA NOUST’, A NEW WHISKY TASTING DESTINATION WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE DRAMATIC ORCADIAN LANDSCAPE

A hidden gem steeped in history and with local traditions at the heart, the Scapa Noust offers an unparalleled whisky tasting experience in Scotland.

This April, Scapa Distillery in Orkney is opening its new and intimate whisky tasting room, the Scapa Noust. Welcoming Single Malt fans and adventurers alike, the tasting room will offer uniquely immersive experiences for those looking to taste exceptional whisky in a spectacular destination, including The Cask Finished Edition, Scapa 19-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez hogshead finish, which launches as the newest addition to the Scapa Distillery Reserve Collection.

The Scapa Noust Tasting Room and experience

The distinctive clifftop location overlooking the natural harbour of the Scapa Flow and dramatic Orcadian landscape makes the Scapa Noust a truly special location to taste whisky. Tucked away on the Northern Isles of Scotland and surrounded by the elements, the Scapa Noust welcomes visitors to enjoy a dram of Scapa whisky Single Malt in an inviting and warm setting.

With touch points throughout reminiscent of the maritime heritage of the destination, the namesake harks back to the island’s traditional boat shelters, ‘Noust’, the Orcadian term for a safe haven for boats. After a tour of the working distillery and warehouse, up to twelve guests can enjoy tastings of Scapa Single Malt whisky around a central hand-carved long table featuring ripples inspired by the sea, whilst seated under a statement ceiling, crafted in the style of a traditional fishing boat’s interior. Visitors will take in views through the floor to ceiling glass, looking out over the Scapa Flow, an underwater landmark site where a shipwreck of a sunken fleet resides. Inside the Scapa Noust, there are nautical design touches from the local area as a reminder of the area’s history, including a traditional naval radio desk donated by a local Orcadian, as well as a helmet which is over 100 years old and was used by the British navy up until the 1970s.

Designed by a local Orcadian architect Mark Fresson, the tasting room pays homage to the traditions and crafts of the Orkney islands. Cassie stone from across the island has been re-used and repurposed outside, using a technique hailing from Medieval times. There are also examples of locally crafted and rare Orcadian basket weave inside. The Scapa Noust encompasses the contrast of wild and calm: being both surrounded by the harsh elements and cliff edge lapped by the sea, while also inside an oasis of tranquillity as a nod to the welcoming warmth of the Orcadian community.

Scapa Distillery Reserve Collection

To celebrate this opening, Scapa is launching a new addition to its Distillery Reserve Collection, The Cask Finished Edition, Scapa 19-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez hogshead finish. There are just 440 bottles of this rich and spicy whisky which will be available exclusively at Scapa Distillery and on the distillery website, priced at £185.

Jacques-Henri, Head of Brand Experience and Advocacy at Chivas Brothers commented:

“We are thrilled to open the doors of the new Scapa Noust tasting destination at our Scapa Distillery. The team are so proud to have brought this vision to life, designing a space with a modern and fresh interior, whilst simultaneously honouring the rich traditions of Orkney that make Scapa whisky what it is.

Orkney is a special place, perfect for those wanting to absorb rich local history and culture and experience the wild beauty of the Orcadian archipelagos. The stunning Scapa Noust offers an incomparable experience for whisky fans and adventure seekers alike”.

The Scapa Noust tasting room is open to the public from 1^st April 2023. With a new direct connection from London City Airport to Orkney launching this summer, it is now even easier to discover all that Orkney has to offer. To learn more, please visit Scapa Distillery (maltwhiskydistilleries.com) or contact Visitor Centre Supervisor Maria Letizia Bardelli at scapa.admin@pernod-ricard.com.