Our best-seller The Hive is back in stock!

A small batch, hand-crafted Scotch whisky that captures the sweetness of Speyside in a smooth, honey-like expression. On the nose, a bouquet of florals and sticky blossom honey. On the palate, zesty orange and ginger tingle on the tongue. The finish is warm and zesty, with clove spiked grapefruit. Enjoy The Hive neat, or try a riff on a classic Old Fashioned or Whisky Sour.

SHOP HIVE IN THE UK

SHOP HIVE IN THE EU

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 465: Trip to Scotland Part 3 of 4

In September Mark took Dearly Beloved and his good friend Manny on a trip across the Scottish Highlands. In this third part of a four part series they enjoy the beauty of Orkney, are hosted to a fantastic private tour of the Highland Park distillery, return to the mainland to visit Wolfburn in Thurso and then trek across the mighty Highlands. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/PC35jXPfARs

BENRIACH LAUNCHES INAUGURAL NFT ON BLOCKBAR.COM 

Bridging physical and digital for the first time, Benriach today merges old with new as it launches a luxury twinset with two bottles, one Benriach The Forty and one Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured, exclusively as a non-fungible token (NFT).

Only ten twinsets will be available exclusively on BlockBar.com, the world’s first direct-to-consumer NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits.

It will be the only time these incredibly limited edition expressions are available anywhere in the world as a bespoke twinset. The launch brings to life the marriage between Benriach’s tradition and innovation, celebrating two expressions which speak to the heritage of eclectic cask exploration and spirit styles at the distillery.

Along with the digital NFT providing the right to acquire both bottles, and a certificate of authenticity from BlockBar, NFT owners of record as of December 1, 2022 at 21:00 GMT, will receive an invitation for an exclusive event at Benriach’s Speyside distillery, meeting the creative team of whisky makers at Benriach and exploring the world of flavour the distillery has to offer.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender for Benriach, commented:

“We are hugely excited that the launch of Benriach The Forty and Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured will happen via NFT marketplace BlockBar.com.”

“Fine bourbon casks have gradually developed exquisite notes of honeyed pomelo and lush orchard fruits to create Benriach The Forty, one of the oldest ever peated whiskies released from Speyside. Over the decades of maturation, the smoky character of peated Benriach spirit refines and mellows, transforming into ripe fruit sweetness. This intricate character is interwoven with dark notes of chocolate, rich plum and smooth walnut from port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal.

“Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured is the finest example of Benriach matured with creative consideration. The liquid was ingeniously nurtured in small octave casks, which are an eighth of the size of a regular cask. These casks were crafted from the staves of American oak bourbon casks, rich with indulgent orchard and dark fruits and a flawless silken oak finish. It is a testament to our history of creativity in cask exploration.”

The twinset will include bespoke customisation on the packaging and will be securely stored by BlockBar until redeemed. Buyers can also trade their NFT within the blockbar.com marketplace, store it in their virtual bar, or gift it through BlockBar’s new gifting platform.

Dov Falic, BlockBar co-founder and CEO, said:  “We are delighted that Benriach has chosen to partner with BlockBar to launch its first ever NFT. We look forward to building a great relationship together and releasing more exclusive drops for our BlockBar community.”

Each of the 10 NFTs will represent a set of two bottles, one Benriach The Forty and one Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured, and can be purchased exclusively on BlockBar.com. The drop goes live at 10AM EST on Tuesday 11th October on a first come, first served basis. Initially priced at USD$8000, each NFT is available to purchase with ETH or credit card. At 10AM, the first user(s) to reserve the NFTs will then have 10 minutes to check out. Users who successfully check out will receive the NFT(s) they purchased, each representing the right to own the physical bottles, which are stored with BlockBar until the bottle owner is ready to redeem from spring 2023.

Existing Blockbar NFT owners will receive early access 24 hours before the public release.

10 twin sets available exclusively through Blockbar retailing for USD $8000 RRP.

About Benriach Distillery

 A Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky as intriguing and extraordinary as Benriach could not have come to be without a unique whisky making heritage, dating from 1898, when founder John Duff built his distillery. Ruggedly beautiful, Benriach stands on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer, deep beneath the distillery.

Thanks to a long-standing tradition of distilling three styles of whisky; classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled, together with an eclectic selection of casks from around the world, our whisky makers are able to explore the full flavour possibilities of Single Malt, creating some of the richest, most multi-layered whiskies in Speyside.

This tradition continues today, under the guidance of Master Blender, Rachel Barrie. Benriach is the story of a hidden Speyside gem, quietly revealing its treasures to be discovered and savoured.

Facebook @Benriach

Instagram @Benriach

Twitter @TheBenriach

Benriach The Forty

Colour: Deep bronze

Nose: Richly fruity, with the exquisite scent of sweet orange, plum and honey pomelo laced with dark chocolate coated berries layered on smooth walnut and cherry liqueur.

Palate: Luscious orchard fruits unfold on the palate with silky morello cherry, soft nectarine, stewed red apple and white peach, lingering into the seductive velvety walnut and kumquat finish.

ABV 43.5%

Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured

Colour: Deep red mahogany

Nose: Rich with indulgent orchard and dark fruits, as sweet plum, cherry and honey glazed red apple interweave with aromatic sandalwood, ripe fig and sultana

Palate: A decadent interplay of ripe plum and pear, interwoven with dark berries, cedarwood and silken oak, leaving cocoa and blackberry in a flawless finish

ABV: 51.5%

Twinset RRP: $8000

About BlockBar:

www.BlockBar.com

Founded in October 2021, BlockBar sells NFTs directly from luxury wines and spirits brands. Each NFT corresponds to an actual physical bottle, exclusive to BlockBar, available to purchase with ETH, credit card or wire transfer. Owners can resell, collect, gift, or at any point «burn» their NFT in exchange for the physical bottle, shipped from BlockBar’s secure facility in Singapore with 24/7 security, motion sensors, and temperature control. BlockBar only partners directly with brand owners including LVMH, Diageo, Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, Sazerac, William Grant & Sons and more, and does not take collections from third parties or collectors. BlockBar is democratising access to luxury wines and spirits allowing anyone, anywhere in the world to participate, whilst offering bottle owners storage, insurance and a marketplace to re-sell their bottles purchased on BlockBar’s platform. BlockBar’s proprietary smart contracts verify authenticity tracing every transaction directly back to the partnering brand, and its partnership with top cyber- and crypto-security firms ensures that transactions are fully protected and transparent.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® DISTILLERIES RECOMMEND BOOKING TOURS IN ADVANCE

 Bourbon tourism expects another record-breaking year

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On the heels of National Bourbon Heritage Month, The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) today announced that 2022 is on track to be the highest distillery visitation year in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®’s 23-year history.

This thrilling milestone for Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries will likely exceed the record 1.7 million combined visits set in 2019, prior to pandemic shutdowns.

Due to the rise in Bourbon tourism and a growing demand for authentic curated experiences, many of Kentucky’s iconic distilleries are asking visitors to book their tours well in advance.

To support their efforts and ensure whiskey lovers from around the world can fully immerse themselves in all that Kentucky’s distilleries offer, KDA today launched a campaign asking people to “Book Now, Bourbon Later.”

A collaborative effort among KBT® and KBTCT® distilleries, the campaign aims to increase awareness of the need for visitors to plan their distillery experiences ahead of time to ensure they get the most out of their visit.

In addition to social media and blog content created by the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, participating distilleries will also promote the campaign.

Since reopening their doors to visitors after the pandemic shutdown, distilleries have seen staggering growth in visitation and demand, Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences Director Mandy Ryan said.

“The last thing we want is for any Bourbon fan to miss out on the experience they want,” Ryan said. “Since most of our larger brands cannot accommodate walk-in visitors, reservations are the key to a successful Kentucky Bourbon adventure.”

While not all 42 distilleries on the KBT® and KBTCT® require, or even offer reservations, the vast majority do. Same-day reservations or walk-in availability can be sporadic, and it’s better for visitors to not leave their distillery experiences up to chance.

Availability and experiences vary by distillery, which makes planning ahead a necessity. Many distilleries share availability, events and resources on social media to help visitors keep up with important updates.

“We want your visit to be as smooth as Kentucky Bourbon, so make sure to secure your distillery experiences, hotels and dining reservations well in advance of your trip,” said Ryan, with the KDA.

In addition to encouraging people to plan ahead, the KDA reminds visitors to experience the state’s legendary distilleries like a Kentuckian–with kindness, dignity and respect.

“Kentucky’s Bourbon culture is unlike anything in the world, and it deserves to be upheld with the utmost respect and appreciation,” said Dee Ford, brand home general manager of Angel’s Envy in Louisville. “When visiting our distilleries, please remember to be kind and respectful to our people, our spirits and the cities we call home. As interest in Bourbon continues to grow, let’s all do our part to represent the spirit of true Kentucky hospitality.”

The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880 to promote, protect and elevate Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

We are so pleased to have been shortlisted for Best World Whisky in this year’s OSWA awards – thanks for supporting us by taking a few minutes to vote before 16 October.

VOTE HERE

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

A classy coastal collaboration from Old Pulteney

This new dram from Old Pulteney sees the north of Scotland collaborate worth the southwest coast of France! This particular dram has ben finished off in oceanic influenced French oak casks in the coastal southwest of France which previously held Pineau des Charentes, an iconic regional aperitif. C’est tres bon!

Old Pulteney Coastal Series
Pineau Des Charentes

Here is the exciting first release from Old Pulteney’s latest collection, the Coastal Series. Fragrant honey, balsamic, raisin, and candied orange lead to an oaky and nutty palate with ground spice. This is a dram that will transport you to the seaside!

£75.00
BUY NOW

NEW EXCLUSIVES:
SCAPA 2003 & STRATHISLA 2007

Introducing our latest exclusive bottlings – cask-strength selections from Strathisla and Scapa. It’s very rare to see new official releases from this pair of distilleries and not only are they at cask strength, but they are also the first exclusive bottlings that each has produced.

Matured in American oak casks, each whisky is a chance to taste the distillery’s character at its most pure, showing why we are so pleased to have sourced these exclusives.

SHOP ALL EXCLUSIVES 

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 464: Trip to Scotland Part 2 of 4

In September Mark took Dearly Beloved and his good friend Manny on a trip across the Scottish Highlands. In this second part of a four part series they visit Clynelish and the recently re-opened Brora before driving all the way up to Wick for a quick stop at Old Pulteney. The next day they are happily surprised to find the brand new 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats before taking the ferry to Orkney to visit Scapa. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/IrxkPIGx4ks

BLADNOCH DISTILLERY EXPANDS ITS ‘CLASSIC COLLECTION’

Bladnoch Liora made from a duo of ex-Bourbon and New Oak casks joins the ‘Classic Collection’ of whiskies

BLADNOCH DISTILLERY, SCOTLAND – 205-year-old Lowland distillery, Bladnoch, are proud to announce the newest addition to their ‘Classic Collection’ of Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Liora. The name, Liora, has its origins in Hebrew, meaning ‘the gift of light’ and is the distillery’s first ever expression bottled at Distiller’s Strength of 52.2% ABV.

Liora is created using an exceptional pairing of casks: Bourbon and New Oak, and sits alongside the likes of Alinta, Vinaya and Samsara in Bladnoch’s ‘Classic Collection’ of whiskies. Master Distiller, Dr. Nick Savage, elaborates that “Liora embodies the delicate balance between the intensity of the New Oak and the sweetness of the Bourbon casks. On the nose you can expect juicy fresh cut apples along with toasted caramel and floral notes. As you taste Liora, on the palate you’ll get caramelised toffee apples along with peppery spices and fresh cut oak. A truly magnificent dram with a long finish with a slight warming dryness.” ⁠⁠⁠

Like all Bladnoch’s whiskies, Liora is hand-crafted using only the finest local ingredients resulting in a true Lowlands experience. It’s made using the pristine water from the River Bladnoch that flows alongside the distillery as well as Scottish barley which creates a rich, flavourful whisky that is best savoured.

Bottled at 52.2%, and without chill-filtration and with natural colour, Liora will be available in the UK, online via Bladnoch’s website and in their Visitor Centre at the Distillery. In the coming months, Liora will also be sold around the world through Bladnoch’s network of distributors.

For more information and the latest on their range of award-winning single malts, visit www.bladnoch.com.

Link for Purchase: https://uk.bladnoch.com/collections/whisky-shop/products/liora

Contact info@bladnoch.com for availability in other markets.

RRP: £70

Technical Details

Cask type: 1^st fill ex-Bourbon barrel and 1^st fill New Oak cask

Strength: 52.2%

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fresh cut apples, with toasted caramel and floral notes

Palate: Caramelised toffee apples with peppery spices and fresh cut oak

Finish: Long, with a slight warming dryness

Non-chill filtered, natural colour 

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch Whisky Distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, it is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’ Hand-crafted using only the finest local ingredients such as the pristine water from the River Bladnoch that flows alongside the distillery. Bladnoch Single Malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived by Master Distiller Dr. Nick Savage, formerly at The Macallan, and owner David Prior, a whisky connoisseur who is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch Whisky distillery. Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in the iconic distillery.

All treats and no tricks this October! Explore our devilishly good selection of new whiskies.

SALMON SURPRISE!

CASK NO. 88.28

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

BOTTLE NOTE:  “A real broad spectrum dram that takes in everything from exotic fruits, porridge, mushrooms and weird sushi. Huge fun and totally delicious!”

DARWIN’S TIPPLE

CASK NO. 35.309

INITIAL CASK:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Diverse, playful and hugely charming. Always light on its fruity feet but also complex, and showing an entertaining, constant evolution.”

 OAT SO STICKY

CASK NO. 77.71

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & sweet

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Toasted cereals and oily nuts merged with sticky maple syrup, butterscotch and orange Crème Brûlée in a funky old barn with cinnamon popcorn.”

1970’s MOVIE DRAM

CASK NO. 93.179

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Oily & coastal

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Engine room oily rags and antiseptic cream; medicinal smoke and hot stones (A Man Called Horse) and biting Peter Fonda’s (Easy Rider) bike jacket.

A MERRY-GO-ROUND OF MULTIFARIOUS AMUSEMENTS

CASK N0. 41.148

INITIAL CASK:  Ex-Oloroso butt

FINAL CASK:  1st fill PX butt

AGE:  14 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Hop aboard – and enjoy marzipan cherry cake and strawberry tarts, sticky toffee pudding, stem ginger, fennel seeds, orange oil and dates.”

PEAT FIRE TALES ON ORKNEY

CASK NO. 4.292

INITIAL CASK:  Ex-Oloroso butt

FINAL CASK:  1st fill PX butt

AGE:  19 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Lightly peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Fish and chips, honey blood orange margaritas with smoky lime salt and then by the peat fire, a ‘Smoky Tea Penicillin’ – works absolutely wonders!“

THE INLAND SHORE

CASK NO. 122.46

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  15 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Powerful and evocative whisky that takes in the farmyard and the seashore in equal measure. Superbly crisp, umami and salty with wispy smoke.”

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca