Our December auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from Friday 16^th December until Tuesday 3^rd January, 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!

Dalmore – 51 Year Old (1968) Private Bottling

Karuizawa – 33 Year Old & 38 Year Old Geisha

Macallan – 71 Year Old (Red Collection)

Glen Grant – 1956 (Mr George Centenary Edition)

Highland Park – 8 Year Old (1970) & 12 Year Old (1966)

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.co.uk.

LAST TASTING OF THE YEAR

Compass Box Whisky was established by John Glaser in 2000.

It’s first commercial release was the blended grain Hedonism, offered the same year. Peat Monster was launched four years later, comprising heavily-peated Islay and medium-peated Highland malts, which went on to become the company’s best-seller.

The original version of The Spice Tree blended malt was marketed in 2005, but withdrawn the following year, being replaced by a variant with heavily-toasted cask heads instead of the staves disapproved of by the SWA. The Great King Street range of blended Scotch whiskies was inaugurated with Great King Street Artist’s Blend in 2011, followed by Glasgow Blend in 2014.

The Team of Compass Box will be down in Milroy’s of Soho in this particular evening talking us through the line-up below:

Compass Box Artist Blend
Compass Box Hedonism
Compass Box Orchad House
Compass Box Peat Monster
Compass Box Spice Tree
Compass Box Flaming Heart

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Blair Athol 11 Years Old 

This studiously chosen cask of Single Malt Scotch Whisky pays homage to a tradition of selecting the finest spirits and oak casks for maturation.  ‘Vino de Color’ is one of the oldest Sherry Wines of Spain, and the cask used to finish this whisky was over 150 years old and is believed to be one of only a few remaining to have contained a highly concentrated, syrupy, dark, rich unfermented Pedro Ximenez grape juice and Dark Sherry mix. After rinsing the cask with water, the whisky was finished for three months.

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TASTING NOTES

NOSE Charred edges of Christmas Cake, espresso, raising and treacle sponge with liquorice and black grape skins.
PALATE Black Tartarian cherries, treacle syrup with coffee liqueur, fine old cognac and bitter dark chocolate.
FINISH Treacle brittle, toasted hazelnuts and rum-soaked raisins.

Only 475 bottles were produced.

Kilkerran (Glengyle) 16 Year Old “2022 Release” Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $159.99 View

Macallan “The Harmony Collection – 2022 Intense Arabica” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $229.99 View

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

Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)  $29.99 View

 Elijah Craig always impresses with value, but until now has been confined to bourbon. This foray into rye whiskey sticks close to Elijah Craig’s bourbon roots by using only the minimum-required 51% rye in its formulation; however, it does achieve a nice departure in flavor. Aromas include butterscotch, caramel-nut clusters, and peppery spice. The spice ramps up on the palate, carried forward by the full body, hearty proof, and mouth-coating texture, as cherry cola, baking chocolate, and darker fruits emerge. Priced a notch below comparable peers, this rye delivers powerful flavors that feel excitingly untamed, and will impress bourbon and rye lovers alike. *#7, Top 20 Whiskies of 2020* (JL, Winter 2020) 

94 points Wine Enthusiast

 The complex aromas suggest red fruit, vanilla and allspice. The first sips open with oak, leading to hints of dried cherry and cranberry midpalate. That fruit note extends into the elongated, mouthwatering finish, backed by cinnamon and cayenne heat. *Best Buy* (KN)  (3/2022)

K&L Notes

The first rye to join the Elijah Craig brand, a nameplate synonymous with exceptional quality and extraordinary value. This wonderful example of barely legal rye is made with 51% rye, 35% corn, and a hearty 14% barley. The result is a sumptuous balance of spicy and sweet. This soon-to-be staple has racked up many awards and gushing reviews since it was released in 2020 (including a coveted spot at #7 on Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 of 2020), but it’s only now hitting CA shelves. Intelligently priced to fulfill your everyday rye needs, it’s hard to imagine this doesn’t become the first thing you reach for when making the classics. Try it in a Perfect Manhattan. Platinum Best of Class at SIP Awards, 2020. Fred Minnick: “Hello, the glorious nose of fruit, especially bananas, followed by toasted rye bread, burnt oven and oak. On the palate, it’s like butter, drenching down the jawline and hitting the tongue with a cadre of spice, from cinnamon to black pepper. The medium-to-long finish delivers a hint of rhubarb. Overall, this is a tasty rye and the price makes it all the more lovely.”

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 the temperature starts to drop, our thoughts have turned to sipping some sensational bottlings by the fire here at The Vaults. Warming our hearts, tongues and toes are these three NEW bottlings that we would recommend as the perfect fireside sippers this winter. Spend some time exploring the layers of flavours in these seasonal spirits and your patience will be rewarded.

Keep on scrolling to discover more or click on over to our website to browse all our bottlings but be quick, our last order date for guaranteed Christmas delivery is fast approaching.

BROWSE ALL BOTTLINGS

CHRISTMAS COLELCTION SPECIALS

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

ANNUAL CASK STRENGTH BOURBON RELEASE FROM A. SMITH BOWMAN IS BACK WITH AN EVEN HIGHER PROOF

Clocking in at 144.5 Proof, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2 Features the Last of the Barrels Laid Down by Former Master Distiller Joe Dangler  

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (December 6, 2022) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery, prior back-to-back “World’s Best Bourbon” winner at the World Whisky Awards, today unveils A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2. Aged a minimum of 10 years with barrels hand-selected by Master Distiller Brian Prewitt and Distiller David Bock, the annual cask strength offering is bottled uncut and non chill-filtered to offer fans the purest whiskey-drinking experience.

The second cask strength release from Virginia’s oldest distillery pushes the limits of high proof whiskey, coming in at 144.5 proof. Tasting notes describe this bourbon as starting with aromas of cherry and toast with a slight hint of leather and caramel. On the palate apple and cherry flavors show up first followed by vanilla and roasted nuts, striking a balance between soft sweet floral notes and strong wood char flavors. The finish is slick, quite peppery and crisp with an aftertaste that leaves your tastebuds bouncing with memory of the delightfully intense experience.

“A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2 is a high proof whiskey lover’s dream,” said Master Distiller Brian Prewitt. Distiller David Bock further elaborated on the second release of Cask Strength: “While last year’s inaugural Batch #1 boasted a more delicate profile that drank like a much lower proof bourbon (though it wasn’t!), this year’s offering really roars. Batch #1’s proof snuck up on you; Batch #2 slaps you in the char. Batch #2 also contains the last of the barrels Joe Dangler, former Master Distiller at A. Smith Bowman for over 30 years, laid down. We’re humbled to honor his lasting influence with this release.”

A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2 will be available in select markets in the United States beginning mid-December, as well through the A. Smith Bowman Distillery gift shop via online lottery. Bottles are packaged in 750 mL and available at a suggested retail pricing is $99.99.  For more information, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five years, including “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016 for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon and again in 2017 for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel at the World Whisky Awards. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

Auction Reminder

There is still time to register and bid for your favourite bottles in our inaugural auction at www.clickwhiskyauctions.com.

We have a wide variety of bottles to bid on, including some popular Macallan bottlings; Macallan Concept 2, Macallan Estate, Macallan Gold and Macallan Rich Cacao from the Harmony Collection.

An assortment of Ardbeg is also on offer, including special committee releases.

We have been working away in the background to try and bring a variety of whisky to Click Whisky Auctions, giving you a diverse range of mostly single malt bottlings from many distilleries, from Aberfeldy to Whyte & Mackay.

We have two stunning Whyte & Mackay bottles in the auction, a 21 year old and a 30 year old, both well worth a look. Remember to register to place bids. Registration has a one-off fee of £5 +VAT and gives you access to a dedicated dashboard where you can keep track of all of your bids and purchases. Remember – the auction closes from 8pm on Sunday 18^th December, so register early and don’t miss out!

We experienced some initial technical difficulties on the website, so apologies to anyone who had issues getting registered or viewing the bottles, it should all be working okay now. Please contact us with any issues, or to find out more about a particular bottle. We would be happy to help: support@clickwhiskyauctions.com.

Our office is now open to drop off or collect bottles at Unit 4, Chanonry Court, Chanonry Road South, Elgin, IV30 6NG.  Hours of operation are:

Weds to Fri – 10am to 5pm

Sat – 10am to 2pm

You can also call us: 07557 358541.

PARTNERED PROMOTION

FOCUS ON: TORABHAIG

Torabhaig’s Peat Elite Membership makes a dram fine Christmas gift for your whisky-loving relatives

Give loved ones the gift that keeps on giving with Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig’s Peat Elite members’ club. Discovering new single malts is one of life’s great pleasures, so why not give that joy this festive season? The Peat Elite is the perfect gift for those who enjoy peated whisky and are looking to expand their knowledge.

This club is more than just a mailing list: it’s a full immersion into the intricacies of Torabhaig’s elegantly rugged, smoky island single malt. The Peat Elite is a society dedicated to exploring the beauty of Torabhaig’s peated spirit, for the peat fanatics and those unafraid to get their fingers smoky. If this sounds like someone you know, they’re already among the ranks of the Peat Elite, so why not make it official?

JOIN THE PEAT ELITE

Exclusive bottlings for members

The Spring and Autumn Club Reserve bottlings are without a doubt the high points of the Peat Elite calendar. Each one will be from a single cask, bottled at cask strength, sent out to Peat Elite members and available to nobody else. That’s right – only a Peat Elite member will be able to have access to these exclusive bottlings.

Every whisky that’s sent will also be accompanied by an online tasting with the whisky team, as well as a question and answer session. This membership is perfect for exploring the new whisky classics and it keeps on giving long after Christmas is over.

To learn more about Torabhaig Distillery and its smoky house style, look no further than Whisky Magazine’s recent distillery focus article, now available to read online at whiskymag.com.

READ

Whisky wisdom

Members of Torabhaig’s Peat Elite will receive some very special and wholly exclusive spirits during the membership – whiskies that simply can’t be found anywhere else. By sharing the Torabhaig knowledge, members will learn everything there is to know about well-tempered peat.

There are many faces and moods to peat, and there is more to it than can be captured in a single linear chart of in-grain PPM values. For example, there is a lot to be learned through more in-depth analysis: by looking at the full spectrum of phenolic compounds and how they evolve as the spirit ages. This understanding is just one of the ways Torabhaig hopes to bring Elite members along their journey of exploration with distillers and whisky makers.

Learn more about Torabhaig’s smoky spirit at the link below.

LEARN MORE

Shaped by Skye

Skye is a uniquely awe-inspiring place. The island informs and shapes everything Torabhaig does, from the wilful climate that governs the rhythms of the distillery, the two burns that feed it with the purest island spring water, to the inspiration drawn from the rugged beauty of the wild landscape that surrounds it, the whisky is just one more expression of Skye. It’s Torabhaig’s muse as much as its home.

This is not the easiest place to get to, so this club was created to bring members closer to whisky-making on Skye. Torabhaig hopes to give Peat Elite members an exclusive window into the inner workings of the distillery at Torabhaig and an inside track on the development of peated spirit. Members are always welcome to visit the distillery in person and are guaranteed the warmest of welcomes.

Learn more about visiting Torabhaig at the link below.

LEARN MORE

Community

Simply speaking, Torabhaig is the people who make it and for most, the opportunities to have direct contact with distillers and whisky makers are rare at best. This club is a window into the distillery, an opportunity to connect with the people who make the whisky, as well as with fellow Peat Elite members. Through regular guided tasting sessions and Q&As with the whisky makers, members will be part of the discussion and have the opportunity to go as deep as they want. Short of working at Torabhaig, there’s no way of getting closer to the action.

Building a legacy

This Christmas, get your loved ones the best whisky present of all time to discover and plot what Torabhaig Single Malt can become. Legacy is at the beating heart of the brand, because that is what will be built over the coming years. The Peat Elite Membership fee is £200 for members with a United Kingdom address and £250 for other countries that Torabhaig can offer membership to.

BUY MEMBERSHIP