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The Akkeshi Distillery, based on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido has been releasing fantastic whiskies since its inception. Explore these fabulous expressions now.
Dekanta
2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo,
$39.99 View
This undeniably original expression comes one of Kentucky’s finest operations, while the contract prohibits the disclosure of its source and it is from one of the new distillers in the state, there are few out there who would argue that it’s not making some of Kentucky’s best rye whisky. This special mashbill was developed by the illustrious Ed Kohl, industry veteran and Keeper of the Quiach, a totally original take on the old recipe. Distilled on the traditional Kentucky bourbon column still with a traditional doubler. Ed envisioned fa “sweet rye” with a higher-than-normal malt and corn content. This might give you some clues to the source as the great rye recipe he’s referring to when telling this story is from across the river and has migrated to Kentucky at certain choice establishments. The mashbill -65% Rye, 15% Corn, 20% Malt-was distilled in a single batch and filled into newly charred 200L white oak barrels in fall of 2018 and transported to Ed’s warehouses in Tennessee. The barrels are stored in the hot and humid southern climate and this barrel was harvested in fall of 2022 at cask strength without chillfiltration. No other high quality American whisky distiller is offering 4-year-old cask strength single barrel rye for less than $40. You may try to guess the source and we’re certain hope that you do as it’s one of the best values in rye whisky on the market today. Expect it to be a deeper, sweeter side of rye that still packs plenty of spicy character.
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
Welcome to this week’s episode of the show. As nothing new is happening at the moment I have taken advantage of that to dig out a selection of distillery bottled samples to review.
The First Cask Collection: A Missed Opportunity?
Direct Wines commissioned the First Cask bottlings for their exclusive members’ club.
The First Cask collection is something of an enigma in the whisky world; high age statement, vintage releases, but at a fraction of the cost of most modern releases. They are often overlooked on the secondary market too. But what on earth are they?
Direct Wines created the First Cask Collection in order to distribute vintage whiskies to their members on a quarterly basis. The members were part of the First Cask Whisky Circle, entitling them to some impressive bottlings throughout the year. The series includes whisky from the likes of Caol Ila, Balvenie, Highland Park, and Macallan.
Direct Wines Ltd are a Berkshire-based wine merchant company which has an impressive outreach, with operations in Europe, the USA, and Australia. Although mainly dealing in wine, Direct Wines Ltd have also bottled numerous single malt whiskies and well over 500 casks since this venture first began in the early 1990s.
The First Cask Collection began in the 1990s and continued until the late-2000s. There is a very impressive range of whiskies in the collection, with 60s and 70s vintages and high-age statements (the oldest being a 41 year old Strathclyde released in 2007). As the collection was released exclusively to First Cask Whisky Circle members, it was not highly publicised, meaning that many of these bottlings have been flying under the radar on the secondary market.
First Cask is a generally undervalued series, with some fine examples of well-aged whiskies from renowned distilleries going for relatively low prices compared to similar ages and vintages from other independent bottlers or official releases.
With an incredible range of bottles to collect, the First Cask Collection is a great venture for any whisky enthusiast or collector.
Just some of the bottlings available on the Mark Littler Shop are a Caol Ila 1981 21 Year Old (£510), a Highland Park 1975 22 Year Old (£345), a Glenlivet 1968 27 Year Old (£498), and a Glen Grant 1976 24 Year Old (£615).
Browse the full collection on the Mark Littler Shop.
About Mark Littler Limited
Mark Littler is an independent whisky broker, market analyst and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Each week he publishes new videos on his YouTube channel about topics such as cask investment fraud (and how to avoid it), the history of distilleries and bottles, debunking whisky investment myths and much more. For more information visit www.marklittler.com
If you are interested in the First Cask bottles or would like to chat with one of the team about our other services, please get in touch.
Email: whisky@marklittler.com
Telephone: 01260 218 718
Macallan Robert Burns Semiquincentenary
A very highly prized Macallan decanter released to coincide with Homecoming Scotland 2009 marking the 250th anniversary of Robert Burn’s birth. A mix of two casks one each from 1997 and 1998 with identical cask numbers #1759 (the year of Burn’s birth). The presentation box is made from Scottish red pine and includes a Burns poem unique to the individual bottle. Limited release of 250 bottles which were only available to visitors at the distillery shop.
Buy – Macallan Burns Semiquincentenary – £25k / us$25.3K*
The latest stunning single casks on offer at Loch Fyne!
We have a fleet of indie bottlings and single casks from the likes of First Editions, Duncan Taylor, Old Malt Cask and more! If you’re after something a bit out-of-the-ordinary then look no further.
🔥 Free delivery over £75 🔥
The Octave Brackla 2011 11 Year Old LFW Exclusive #9336209
A stunning release from Duncan Taylor’s Octave series bottled specially for Loch Fyne Whiskies. This eleven-year-old Brackla single malt aged in oak casks before a nine-month finish in an octave cask. Just 84 bottles were filled in 2022 at 54% abv.
Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of The Macallan Estate and our spiritual home, Easter Elchies House, discover The Macallan Lifestyle Collection. Featuring a selection of bar and homeware, outdoor and travel apparel and bespoke art and stationery, we have collaborated with some of Scotland’s finest artisans and masters of their craft. This collection is exclusively available at The Macallan Estate Boutique and The Macallan Online Boutique.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 480: Wolfburn Love Potion
Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a relatively new Wolfburn. When he visited Wolfburn in September 2022, he had the misfortune that the Bottle Your Own was not available. The previous cask had been emptied a few days before by the visitors and they had not yet had (made?) the time to prepare a new one. Mark felt quite disappointed. But in the shop, there was a bottle that he hadn’t seen before, so he took it with him. Nice Valentine bottle, it seems, this Love Potion.
WHITE DOG TRADING & STORAGE
ADVANCES TO HERITAGE LEVEL MEMBERSHIP
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that White Dog Trading & Storage in Woodford County has advanced to the rank of “Heritage” member, the highest level in the non-profit group that unites and leads the state’s signature Bourbon and spirits industry.
Located at 167 McKinney Avenue in Midway, White Dog becomes the KDA’s 15th Heritage member, which comes with an expanded leadership role in the 142-year-old trade association, including a full voting seat on its visionary Board of Directors that helps guide the future of the iconic industry.
White Dog is licensed as a Class B distiller in Kentucky. Founded in 2016, it offers state-of-the-art storage and full-service barrel procurement services, specializing in sourcing, storing aged whiskey and brand consultation to help brands and non-producing distillers craft their future.
KDA President Eric Gregory said with production, procurement and storage in high-demand right now, White Dog’s potential for growth is unlimited. “White Dog’s business model makes them a vital resource for anyone getting into distilling right now,” he said.
“The leadership at White Dog is constantly identifying challenges in our industry and rising to meet them,” Gregory said. “We are excited by their growth, progress and plans for the future, and applaud their commitment to upholding the integrity of our beloved Bourbon heritage.”
“We look forward to welcoming White Dog to our leadership ranks.”
White Dog President Tyler Harris said, “We are honored to be moving up to Heritage level membership and working more with Eric and his talented team at the KDA. They have been a tremendous asset and driving force in the growth and long-term success to keep Kentucky at the forefront as America’s Native Spirit.”
To qualify as a Heritage member, distilleries must have at least 50,000 barrels of distilled spirits aging in Kentucky warehouses, although White Dog qualified under a 25,000 barrel requirement when it joined the KDA in 2020 as a “Proof” level member for medium-sized distilleries.
Learn more at www.whitedogllc.com.
Other KDA Heritage members include Bardstown Bourbon Company, Beam Suntory (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman, Castle & Key, Diageo North America, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Louisville Distilling Company, Lux Row, Michter’s, Rabbit Hole, Wild Turkey, Wilderness Trail and Willett.
Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of the timeless craft.
Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism engine that sustains more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year, and pays over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.
A key export, distilling has the state’s highest job spin-off factor among top manufacturers; buys at least 17 million bushels of corn and other grains every year, mostly from Kentucky farm families; and is currently investing more than $5.2 billion in new stills, warehouses, bottling lines, tourism experiences and more.
Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 475% since the turn of the century.
Kentucky now boasts more than 11.4 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.6 million barrels in 2021 alone, the fourth year in a row that production topped the two million mark.
Attendance at the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries has surged more than 300 percent in the last 10 years. Total attendance in 2021 was more than 1.5 million, just below the pre-COVID record of 1.7 million in 2019.
Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.
KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME®, ORDER OF THE WRIT®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL® and THE PROOF IS HERE® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly
LUCKY FOR SOME!
AUCTION TONIGHT AT 8PM.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
This brace of whiskies from silent distilleries were relatively easy to source when they were first bottled but harder to source these days. Both the Brora and Port Ellen were distilled in 1982, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for their Connoisseurs Choice range; whisky from both of these much revered distilleries are now at a premium due to their scarcity and demand from collectors and connoisseurs alike.
One of only 319 bottles , this stunning Glen Albyn 32 year old is a fantastic example of this now closed Highland distillery. Possibly its age makes the spirit one of the oldest examples of this Inverness distillery. Distilled in 1969 and bottled thirty two years later by Douglas Laing, this desirable release would surely enhance any drinks cabinet, or take centre stage in any whisky collection.
This wonderful trio of collectable whiskies from silent distilleries are featured in auction which ends tonight (Sunday 22nd January from 8pm).
Register now at www.clickwhiskyauctions.com to bid on these fantastic drams and many more besides.
