NEW VAULTS COLLECTION BOTTLE:
ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS CAKE WHISKY

ANALYTICAL ALLURE

Cask No. 4.343

Age: 31 years

Cask: Second Fill Madeira Hogshead

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Share the spirit of the season, more Vaults Collection bottlings are available over on our website.

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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

DISTINGUISHED DISTILLERS ONE OF ONE CHARITY AUCTION WILL RETURN TO EDINBURGH FOR SECOND EDITION IN OCTOBER 2023

London, 12th October 2022 – The world’s most distinguished ultra-rare whisky auction, the Distillers One of One, has announced that the second edition will take place at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh on Thursday, 5 th October 2023. In partnership with Sotheby’s, the Distillers One of One brings together an unparalleled collection of one-off, never-to-be-repeated Scotch whiskies from distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland. The Distillers Charity expects to secure between thirty-five and forty unique lots, each showcasing the excellence and individuality of craftsmanship of Scotland’s most stellar distilleries.

The inaugural Distillers One of One Auction took place in December 2021, supported by leading brands from across the Scotch Whisky industry, and raised £2.4m for charity of which £2.2m was granted to the newly created Youth Action Fund. The Youth Action Fund was established by The Distillers’ Charity to support disadvantaged young people in Scotland, transform their life chances, and empower them to create positive change in their lives and communities. As John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, said “The success of the first auction in December 2021 was tremendous – the vision and work put in by the Distillers’ Charity supported by the contributions from the Scotch Whisky industry has established a new force in Scotland to back our young people in extremely difficult times. The creation of the Youth Action Fund will provide significant support to young people across Scotland to help them reach their full potential.”

Founder Donors of The Distillers One of One will be returning to create unique lots for the auction, including Bacardi (John Dewar and Sons), Brown-Forman, Campari Group (The Glen Grant), Diageo, The Glenturret, Holyrood, Pernod Ricard, and William Grant & Sons.

The Distillers’ Charity is also pleased to confirm the participation of Berry Brothers & Rudd, Bruichladdich, Gordon & MacPhail, International Beverage, Isle of Raasay, Kilchoman, The Glenmorangie Company, The Last Drop Distillers, The Borders Distillery, That Boutiquey Whisky Company, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Tomatin, Whyte & Mackay as well as the world-renowned glassmakers Glencairn.

Beanie Geraedts-Espey, Managing Director of Distillers Ventures, The Distillers’ Charity’s fundraising arm, said: “The Distillers’ Charity is hugely excited to announce the second edition of the Distillers One of One charity auction, such was the success of the landmark inaugural event last December which raised millions for disadvantaged young people in Scotland. It’s an extraordinary opportunity for passionate Whisky collectors and the entire Scotch whisky industry – among them family-owned enterprises and global brands – to come together and celebrate our craft, in the service of the young people in our communities. We hope that the results of this philanthropic endeavour will have far-reaching benefits for decades to come.”

Considered one of Scotland’s finest stately homes and lauded for its handsome grounds, the 17th century Hopetoun House is the family seat of the 4th Marquess of Linlithgow and will provide a suitably majestic atmosphere in which to bid upon and enjoy the finest, most exciting whiskies in Scotland. Further information about the contents and participating brands of The Distillers One of One will follow in spring 2023.

About Sotheby’s Wine

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits totaled an outstanding $92 million in 2020, with over 15,000 lots sold across 41 sales – a nearly 50% increase in the number of auctions held in 2019. Over $60 million of wine and spirits were sold to online bidders in 2020 versus $28 million in 2019, with 85% of all lots offered finding online buyers. Demonstrating continued strength in Asia, Sotheby’s led the market in the region for the third consecutive year, with over 70% of the total bid amount in all Wine and Spirits sales attributed to collectors in Asia.

Sotheby’s Wine’s has had the privilege of auctioning numerous record-breaking wines and spirits in recent years, with 2020 alone witnessing new world auction records for any bottle of Japanese whisky, any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery, as well as any bottle of Cognac. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

Stream live auctions and place bids in real time, discover the value of a work of art, browse sale catalogues, view original content and more at sothebys.com, and by downloading Sotheby’s apps for iOS and Android.

About The Distillers One of One

Launched in 2021, the Distillers’ One of One is a biennial series of auctions of Scottish whisky in aid of disadvantaged young people in Scotland. Organised by The Distillers’ Charity, and in partnership with Sotheby’s, it brings the Scotch Whisky industry together in a unique collective, philanthropic endeavour.

In 2021, over 38 participating distilleries and sponsors donated ultra-rare whisky and experiences for sale at auction raising in excess of £2.4 million (hammer price) on 3 December 2021 at Barnbougle Castle. The total hammer price of that Auction – and those that will follow – is granted to The Distillers’ Charity with ninety percent going to the Youth Action Fund which will be used to improve the life chances of disadvantaged young people in Scotland. The remaining ten percent is used by The Distillers’ Charity for its general charitable work.

Vocational Training & Education: to provide educational and development support to new and recent entrants to the UK spirits trade, encouraging high standards of distilling practice and service.

Livery & City giving: to fulfil our wider civic duties as a Livery, supporting the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the Master’s charity and other good causes aligned with our vision.

Youth Action Fund: created by The Distillers’ Charity to use proceeds from The Distillers One of One auctions to support young people in Scotland, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, to reach their potential and make a positive contribution to their communities.

About The Worshipful Company of Distillers

The Worshipful Company of Distillers (The Distillers) is an historic City Livery Company with a proud history and 21st century relevance. Established originally to monitor and regulate commercial distilleries within a 21-mile radius of The City of London, The Distillers have changed with the times. Still at the heart of the distilling industry the focus is now very much on philanthropy and fellowship.

Today, the principal activity is to support relevant charitable causes, underpinned by giving back amongst the Livery, recognising the value of time and talent as well as money. Beyond this philanthropic scope, The Distillers is at the heart of the spirits industry, by inspiring the craft, understanding and enjoyment of distilled products through industry championship and fellowship.

From its formation as a corporation by Royal Charter in 1638, The Distillers were raised to the status of Livery Company in 1672, the 350th anniversary of this is in 2022. There are 110 Livery Companies in The City of London who play an active role in the life of The City. For further information, please visit www.distillers.org.uk

We are live! Be the first to discover the bottles up for grabs in this month’s auction.

Closes from 8pm (BST) Tuesday 25th October

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

THE MACALLAN

JAMES BOND – 60TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE

Bonds love for Macallan can be traced throughout the franchise. Most Recently with mention of his “Particular favourite” being that of a “Aged Macallan” in Skyfall. The 43.7 % ABV single malt itself was curated by Macallan’s own Kirsteen Campbell. The luxuriously stylish packaging draws inspiration from the six iconic decades of 007 cinema. Macallan allocating a bottle to each decade in a tasteful, muted colour correlating with the decade’s trends. Each bottle in this striking collection showcases archived behind the scenes artworks drawn directly from the film’s set and prop designs, making for an impactful addition to any whisky collection. The distillery is hosting several exclusive film screenings to showcase such a special collection celebrating both Bond and Macallan’s distinctive Scottish heritage.

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LOCH LOMOND TASTING with Gary Mills

The original distillery held a set of pot stills with rectifying plates in their necks (also known as Straight Neck Pot stills), allowing different flavour streams to be produced. Expansion in 1990 saw a second pair of the same design being installed, before the distillery installed two continuous stills three years later in which to make its own grain whisky. Two ‘traditional’ swan neck pot stills were added in 1998, before an additional continuous still, set up to produce grain whisky from a 100% malted barley mash, was installed in 2007.

With the recent addition of two more Straight Neck Pot stills, Loch Lomond has the capability to produce 11 different distillates for its whisky brands (not including the spirit coming from Glen Scotia). Wine yeasts have also been used to help create different flavours. In many ways it is more akin to a Japanese approach to distilling than a Scottish one. In this particular evening Gary Mills will talk us through their expressions with a real breadth of flavours!

Loch Lomond Peated Single Grain
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old Inchmurrin
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old
Loch Lomond 14 Years Old
Loch Lomond 18 Years Old

And a special dram to finish of the evening direct from the distillery!

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Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom

With less than 10 weeks to Christmas, we’re celebrating the countdown by adding some new additions to our collection. For members who may have been ignoring that Christmas is coming, we started planning a little early this year – offering special prices on some seasonal suggestions AND releasing our 2022 Advent Calendar.

Click over to our website now to view our Christmas Collection OR keep on scrolling to discover our new additions with special price applied AND a brand new Vaults Collection bottle. Don’t miss our 2022 Advent Calendar either, watch our video to get a glimpse of its glam new box.

VIEW CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

BUY ADVENT CALENDAR

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

A Tale of The Forest

Following on from the super Tale of Cake and Tale of Winter, we’ve got the equally gorgeous ‘Tale of The Forest’ from Glenmorangie – It arrived today – so available for immediate dispatch. Their 2022 Wonder Maker Limited Edition is a liquid with a captivating story, driven by a true innovation. A whisky, infused with natural botanicals (juniper berries, birch wood and heather) during the kilning process, bringing flavours of peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, pine, wood sap, angelica, bitter orange and a hint of aromatic wood smoke.

This whisky was born over a thousand walks in the forest. Most mornings, their Director of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill wanders through the woods near his home and each time, he notices something new, be it the fragrance of last night’s rainfall or the sound of leaves rustling a particular way. Captivated by the notion of a whisky steeped in the scents, sights and sounds of the forest, Dr. Bill brought back an ancient method of infusing barley with botanicals – in this case, juniper berries, birch bark and heather blossom . The result is a botanical single malt that holds a forest-like magic.

How does it taste?
A botanical single malt with a forest-like depth of taste and aroma, commencing with a bouquet of pine, juniper and coriander, along with roasted chestnut and an intriguing whisper of smoke. Upon sipping, flavour explodes in the mouth. Whirls of peppermint. Bursts of eucalyptus. Rustles of bitter orange. All floating on clouds of vanilla with intriguing hints of black liquorice. It concludes with a slow and luscious finish featuring lemon, orange and a soft hint of oak.

Order Now £72.50 >>

GLEN GRANT:
FROM THE HEART OF SPEYSIDE

Over its more than 180 years of distilling, Glen Grant has developed a reputation for producing light and approachable Speyside drams loved around the world. A gentle whisky that is just at home in your glass after a short maturation or after decades in cask.

This can be best seen in the Glen Grant 15 Year Old Batch Strength release, which brings together the sweet spice and toasty oak of its casks with the distillery’s bright, fruit-driven spirit. Bottled at batch strength of 50% ABV, this is a dram which shows that this Speyside stalwart is still making excellent whisky.

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Our Harvest Series Golden Wold has proved popular since its launch last month. Perhaps one of our most complex whiskies to date, read about how our Whisky Distillery Manager, Alice developed Harvest Series Golden Wold’s beautifully balanced profile.

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Cotswolds Distillery Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road Stourton Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5EX

ralfy review 949 Extras – Sober October & the opportunity.

and a viewers reaction…

“Not for me. I drink very little in the summer, and prefer my whisky as the nights draw in and it’s colder. One may shove sober October right up ones ar$e 😉”

#Ardbeg #Untamed Islay #ArdbegCommittee #Ardbeg8YearsOld #8ForDiscussion #Smoky #Whisky 

ARDBEG INVITES WHISKY LOVERS TO JOIN THE DEBATE AND

GRAB THEIR OWN BOTTLE OF ARDBEG 8 FOR DISCUSSION 

For Ardbeg lovers around the globe, Islay’s peatiest single malt whisky is offering the chance to get hold of a bottle of the limited edition Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion this autumn.

Originally launched in summer 2021, Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion started life as a Committee Exclusive bottling, inviting Committee members to openly discuss the new release – how did it match up to its Ten Year Old sibling? As a big, youthful whisky with dramfulls of personality, it kicked off debate in the whisky world as a temporary addition to the Ardbeg range. Now with just a small number of bottles remaining, Ardbeg is throwing open its virtual doors and inviting peat-lovers to join the Committee and finally get hold of their own bottle before it goes….

This ‘For Discussion’ release started out as a thought experiment by Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden. As he sampled Ardbeg casks at different ages, he found new dimensions of smoky flavour in the spirit. He asked himself: What if, in an alternative universe, Ardbeg Ten Years Old was not the Distillery’s ‘flagship’ aged expression?  Perhaps a new whisky, smokier, but balanced by ex-Sherry casks, could be a worthy centrepiece to the Ardbeg core range?

This hypothesis gave birth to Ardbeg 8 Years Old For Discussion. And now after much discussion and dram-fuelled reflection, it appears that Ardbeg lovers are continuing to explore the alternative universe of the limited-edition.

Dr Bill said: “Ardbeg 8 Years Old is a delectable, young and curious whisky. I like to think of it as the ‘alternative universe’ version of Ardbeg Ten Years Old. Releasing an aged ex-Sherry whisky was new territory for us last year so it’s been fantastic to hear the Committee’s thoughts to help us find that smoky sweet spot that Ardbeg lovers look for.”

Colin Gordon, Ardbeg’s Distillery Manager, said: “We’ve had some interesting feedback from the Committee on the release. Its youthful, boldness seems to have made it popular as a fun dram with a difference. We hope that anyone who hasn’t yet tried it who loves smoky whiskies will seek out their own bottle and enjoy it before it’s gone!”

Ardbeg 8 For Discussion is available via www.ardbeg.com this autumn, RRP: £57.

The Ardbeg Committee is free to join at Ardbeg.com/committee.

www.ardbeg.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ardbeg

Twitter: @Ardbeg

Instagram: @ardbeg

TASTING NOTES: 

Colour

Pale Straw

Nose

Intense with a burst of charcoal, creosote, tar and treacle toffee, with curious hints of something vegetal, like fennel, celery and green peppers. Once these subside, there are hints of milk chocolate, aniseed and wood smoke. With a little drop of water, some more herbal notes appear, like fennel, coriander and lavender, along with some characteristic Ardbeg aromatic wood smoke and a hint of fresh, salty sea spray.

Taste

A distinctively peppery mouthfeel eases into a complex symphony of flavours; treacle toffee, aniseed, salted caramel chocolate, eucalyptus, menthol and briar wood, to name but a few. The ‘tingling’, peppery sensation on the palate continues, with the sweeter flavours giving way to more savoury notes like charcoal, smoked bacon, burnt toast and tar.

Finish

The aftertaste is long and lingering, with a suggestion of peppermint and clove.

ABV: 50.8%

RRP: £57 

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.  During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:
Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.