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.
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Enter our latest Golden Dram Giveaway for the chance to win a bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Small Batch and 15 Year Old Trilogy. Just buy any bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old, 14 Year Old or 18 Year Old to be entered into our prize draw. Closes 24th March – good luck!
Read Our Tullamore D.E.W. Journal Post→
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Our Vaults Collection offers members the chance to journey back into whisky history – and we are delighted to offer you these exceptional bottlings from Islay which are AVAILABLE NOW to buy (Membership info shown below).
These drams will not only transport you to another place, but to a different era. We’ve delivered timeless twins, with a split oloroso sherry butt from Distillery 53 which we divided into an ex-bourbon barrel and an ex-rye barrel after 27 years, for a further four years of maturation.
Keep scrolling to learn more about each of these bottlings, or WATCH our introduction below.
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
Jura Distillery Trials Green Building Repairs
Jura Distillery partners with University of Hertfordshire and industry partners to test self-repairing building surface
Jura Distillery, home to the UK’s number one single malt whisky brand[1], will become the first building in the country to trial an innovative self-repairing limewash as part of the whisky maker’s commitment to sustainability within the industry.
The new coating, developed by the University of Hertfordshire and leaders in bio-based construction, UK Hempcrete, aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the island whisky makers, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in April.
The ground-breaking solution increases a building surface’s absorption of CO2 and this project will be the prototype for a potential solution in building conservation, which could help many businesses in their commitment to a zero-carbon approach.
The beachside distillery is located on the Hebridean Isle of Jura, home to a tiny island community of just 212. Currently, wind-driven rain on the island weathers the distillery, which prompts annual repainting to protect the building. As well as disrupting production and tourism, which is a core part of the island economy, it also increases carbon emissions through the transportation of materials to the island and the fulfilment of the maintenance works.
This new, more-robust surfacing is self-repairing, which is expected to reduce how often the repairs are needed, therefore reducing the annual carbon emissions from the distillery.
The initiative forms part of ‘The Green Print’, the roadmap to net zero created by the wider Whyte and Mackay whisky house, which lays out the Scottish whisky maker’s vision for a sustainable future.
Jura’s Distiller Manager Jamie Muir comments: “The Isle of Jura is beautiful place to make Scotch Whisky, but it is not necessarily the easiest place be a whisky maker.
“When we created The Green Print, we laid out our commitment to make a positive impact on the local community where we make our whisky. This partnership with our friends at UK Hempcrete and the University of Hertfordshire will deliver a pilot which we believe could make a positive impact across the Scotch Whisky industry and beyond.”
The project has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, as part of the Design Exchange Partnership Programme. The trial will aim to establish whether this is a sustainable solution for the building industry long term.
Alex Sparrow, UK Hempcrete’s Managing Director, adds: “This collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire and Whyte and Mackay is a perfect fit for UK Hempcrete.
“This is an opportunity to develop an innovative new low-carbon product alongside the development of primary research at the university, and simultaneously see its application in a real world context. This fits exactly with our ethos of improving the technical performance of buildings in the real world, whilst lowering their carbon footprint.”
Whyte and Mackay – Award-Winning Whisky Makers
Whyte and Mackay is a famed whisky house, home to an award-winning collection of Single Malt Whiskies, led by The Dalmore. The collection includes Jura, the UK’s Number 1 Single Malt[2], Tamnavulin, the world’s fastest growing Single Malt[3] and Fettercairn, home to enlightened whisky making.
The Whyte and Mackay Green Print laid out their vision for a sustainable future as whisky makers. In addition each Whyte and Mackay distillery has been inducted to their Scottish Oak Programme, a whisky making initiative that seeks to harness the potential of native, local sourced, Scottish Oak in the whisky making process.
In 2020 the company was 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 recently celebrated their 175 year anniversary, and were recognised as Distiller of the Year 2021. 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 – The Invergordon Distillery is home to Whyte and Mackay Blend, as well as contemporary Scotch Whiskies – Shackleton and Woodsman.
About the University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire brings the transformational impact of higher education to all. Its students, staff and businesses consistently reach their full potential. Through high quality teaching, 550 degree programmes, cutting-edge research projects and powerful business partnerships, they think bigger, stand out and positively impact local, national and international communities. For more information, visit www.herts.ac.uk .
The University’s Zero Carbon Lab is a unique interdisciplinary research group, where design thinking and advanced computer modelling methods are brought together to seek solutions to the toughest open problems in the urban environment.
Founded by Professor Ljubomir Jankovic to consolidate the multitude of ongoing work facets in this field, Zero Carbon Lab collaborates nationally and internationally with industry and academia to facilitate a wider take-up of zero carbon design and retrofit of buildings, and on wider societal sustainability issues.
UK Hempcrete – Innovation in Bio-based Construction
UK Hempcrete is an innovative market leading company in the UK, specialising in hempcrete and other bio-based, low- or zero-carbon products in construction, in both new build and retrofit contexts.
Its staff team has many years of experience of the design, specification and installation of lime and bio-based building products in buildings in the UK and abroad.
The company has pioneered several successful innovative approaches to the construction of low- or zero-carbon buildings, and is now working to scale up these technologies into the commercial sector.
The recent launches of UK Hempcrete’s in-house design and practice, Studio Bio, and specialist bio-based building product supply business Natural Building Store, allow the company to provide a seamless range of services to clients in all sectors, who want to build the true net-zero carbon buildings of the future, today.
[1] Nielsen UK Off Trade MAT 26.03.22
[2] Nielsen UK Off Trade MAT 26.03.22
[3] IWSR 2020
BALCOMIES CASK STRENGTH
LIMITED 2022 EDITION
Balcomie Cask Strength is a limited edition for 2022. This light, sweet and fruity Single Malt has been matured in American oaks butts which have previously been used to age sherry using the traditional solera system. This means that the harsh wood characters have been removed, resulting in an elegant whisky where the sweet spirit is balanced perfectly by the gentle sherry notes of the cask which nurses it to maturity.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Soft caramel fruit cake packed with sultanas, raisins and treacle.
PALATE: The palate follows on with the sweetness of pineapple syrup and cinnamon spice.
FINISH: Good length of crystallised ginger and hazelnut milk chocolate.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 10 AM – 5 PM
Mystery Whisky Tasting with Sam Filmus
Master of all things Scotch and guiding light of JVS Imports, our friend Sam Filmus returns to The Whisky Shop with a selection of world-class whiskies! Sam Filmus’ previous tastings have included some of the rarest and oldest drams ever tasted at The Whisky Shop. Whether you’re looking for a unique new scotch experience or simply thirsty for a taste of whisky, this tasting is sure to delight and surprise.
(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)
2006 vintage refill sherry butt selected for the Connoisseurs Choice series. Glenturret 15 Year Old 2006 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill sherry butt #543 bottled April 2022 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. 551 bottles.
£131.00
Stewed raisin aromas combine with festive spice and a hint of beeswax polish. Orange marmalade flavours are balanced by cracked black pepper and toasted oak. A long finish with grapefruit zest.
Glenturret Distillery was established on the banks of the River Turret at Hosh to the north of Crieff in Scotland’s Highland whisky region in 1775. Now one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland and with mash in the mash tun stirred by hand using a long-handled wooden paddle and just two small stills it is also amongst the smallest. Glenturret whisky is released in a limited range of official single malts and is available from independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and the MacPhail’s vintage Collection series. Glenturret Distillery is home to The Famous Grouse Experience.
Benromach Cask #771
Matured in specially sourced Polish Oak. This results in aromas of Seville orange, festive spices and raspberry, followed by stewed raisin and milk-chocolate on the palate, with forest fruits and bonfire embers to finish. This limited-edition Benromach single cask release was matured in specially sourced Polish Oak. This results in aromas of Seville orange, festive spices and raspberry, followed by stewed raisin and milk-chocolate on the palate, with forest fruits and bonfire embers to finish.
Distilled: 21st November 2011
Bottled: 1st November 2022
One of only 264 bottles produced.
Benromach Cask #772
Matured in specially sourced Polish Oak. This results in aromas of stewed fruits, citrus zest and cocoa powder, followed by forest fruits and toffee on the palate with blueberry and bonfire embers to finish. This limited-edition Benromach single cask release was matured in specially sourced Polish Oak. This results in aromas of stewed fruits, citrus zest and cocoa powder, followed by forest fruits and toffee on the palate with blueberry and bonfire embers to finish.
Distilled: 21st November 2011
Bottled: 31st October 2022
One of only 263 bottles produced.
ROYAL SALUTE DROPS FIRST EVER EXPRESSION AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AS AN NFT ON BLOCKBAR.COM
Royal Salute, the master of exceptionally aged Scotch whisky, has announced a new NFT exclusive release; the Royal Salute 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish. The brand has partnered with the world’s first direct-to-consumer NFT (non-fungible token) marketplace for luxury wines and spirits, BlockBar.com, to drop the special release of just 315 flagons, all bottled from a single cask, as individual NFTs. Continuing its commitment to innovating within Web3, this is the first time that Royal Salute has released an expression exclusively as an NFT, that will only be available to purchase with one retail partner, BlockBar.com.
BlockBar democratizes access to luxury wines and spirits whilst offering bottle owners storage, insurance and a marketplace to resell their bottles. Upon purchase of the limited-edition Royal Salute 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish, the physical version will be held securely by BlockBar, with a record of authenticity held on the blockchain as a digital certificate of ownership. The bottle owner may redeem the physical product and have it delivered from BlockBar’s secure storage facility by burning the relevant NFT, safely trade its NFT version within the BlockBar.com marketplace, gift it or showcase the NFT in their virtual bar.
In addition to being Royal Salute’s first BlockBar-exclusive NFT release, the 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish showcases the Scotch’s innovative approach to the art of whisky blending as, once blended, the expression was fully finished in a single cask. The individual cask is a first fill sherry hogshead which has held a rare Oloroso for 18 months before being filled with the rich blended Scotch and left to finish for a further six years. After the cask has finished imparting its rich flavours to the whisky, every drop is then bottled into 315 precious flagons, offered as individual NFTs for this drop on BlockBar.com.
In keeping with Royal Salute’s rich history and innovative approach to whisky blending, the 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish has been expertly developed by Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to intrigue the tastebuds with a complex profile. The expression has flavours of dark chocolate ganache, ripe plums and freshly baked ginger cake, with notes of dark toffee, Florentine biscuits, morello cherry jam and warming cinnamon leading to a rich and slightly dry finish with gentle spice.
Mathieu Deslandes, Royal Salute Global Marketing Director commented:
“While Royal Salute is steeped in history and heritage, as a brand we are always looking to the future, finding new ways to connect with those that are as passionate about whisky as we are, be it in the physical world or the metaverse. Our partner, BlockBar, has allowed us to enter the digital space in an exciting and seamless way. After two successful NFT launches of singular flagons that were well received, it was a natural progression to release an expression exclusively on the BlockBar.com marketplace.”
Dov Falic, BlockBar co-founder and CEO said:
“We’re excited Royal Salute has chosen to partner with BlockBar for the third time as we continue to support the brand on its Web3 journey. Being chosen as the only retail partner to release an entire expression is a real honour and we will continue to offer its community and ours not only exclusive releases, but storage, insurance and a marketplace for reselling.”
The 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish is housed in a regal purple flagon, paying homage to Royal Salute’s heritage which has inspired the brand since its inception. The pack features a recurring motif that utilises the iconic Royal Salute double diamond, reminiscent of the windows of royal residences.
315 flagons of the Royal Salute 27 Year Old Single Cask Finish NFTs will drop exclusively on BlockBar.com, at 10PM GMT on Tuesday 1st November 2022 for customers to purchase. Priced at $965 USD (0.74 ETH equivalent) the NFTs will be available to purchase with ETH and credit card and customers will have 10 minutes to check out. Users who successfully check out will receive an NFT representing the physical bottle, which is stored with BlockBar until the bottle owner is ready to redeem. Early access will be granted to BlockBar and Royal Salute NFT holders.
Two bottle owners will have the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Tour of the Strathisla Distillery for two, including one nights’ accommodation in Scotland, to taste the rarest Royal Salute inventory of maturing whiskies (redeemable from 1st November 2023, travel excluded).
For more information, visit royalsalute.com or follow @royalsalute.
This article is published as a matter of interest and is published after it’s original release date
Our March auction is now LIVE!
Place your bids from Friday 17th March until Sunday 26th March 2023.
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!
Macallan – 72-Year-Old (Lalique) The Genesis Decanter
George T Stagg – Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (2003/04/05) 75cl
Karuizawa – 50 Year Old (1968) Single Cask #6223
Macphail’s – 50 Year Old (1937) 75cl
Glen Grant – 60 Year Old (1952) The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (Gordon & MacPhail)
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.
Our new release in celebration of St Patrick’s Day TODAY brings a beautiful richness in indulgence of flavour. Taste and explore FIVE lucky green bottlings that are sure to surprise and delight the senses – including the utterly exciting, NEW DISTILLERY cask 155.1 The rye pretender PLUS exceptional whiskies from our Peated, Spicy & Sweet and Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits profiles.
KEEP ON scrolling to discover these new drams OR click on over to our website to buy now.
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
