The 2023 Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards Scotland regional winners were announced in an in-person ceremony in Edinburgh on Thursday 8th December. Held at The Balmoral Hotel, the evening event brought together the Scotch whisky industry’s finest, from bartenders to brand ambassadors and retailers to visitor attraction managers, to celebrate the best of Scotland’s whisky.

Holyrood Distillery is a modern distillery in the heart of historic Edinburgh. Dedicated to shaping the spirit of tomorrow, it is both rooted in and elevated by the city’s surroundings. Founded with a mission to bring a new kind of whisky distillery to the city, Holyrood’s maker’s mindset remains fixed on innovating the Scotch whisky space, whilst making spirits for which its home city will be proud. The distillery picked up an array of awards from Whisky Magazine (listed below), no small feat considering the distillery is still yet to release its inaugural single malt.

• Holyrood x Pilot Stout was the Category Winnerfor New Make
• Holyrood was namedBrand Innovator of the Year
• Marc Watson was honoured with Distillery Managerof the Year
• Highly Commended Craft Producer of the Year

The distillery was delighted to be honoured with a gold medal and as a Category Winner for its specialist New Make in collaboration with Pilot Beer. The ‘Holyrood x Pilot Stout’ was the distillery’s first liquid to be awarded at a whisky awards with the brand’s inaugural release not expected until 2023. The team were thrilled to see their recipe based approach honoured with the top award. The distillery was also named Brand Innovator of the Year, commended for their iterative approach and their work examining raw materials and the role these can play in flavour creation. Finally, Marc Watson was awarded Distillery Manager of the Year. Praised for creativity and boundless enthusiasm, Marc is putting Holyrood on the whisky making map!

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.