DAZZLING DRAM DEALS

All week we’re flying our colourful whisky flag and shining a light on some great golden whiskies that are so good they shouldn’t be overlooked. Dive straight in and explore these brilliant bottle offers, specially selected to tempt the senses and please the pocket. There’s three terrific Dazzling Dram Deals to enjoy, keep on scrolling to discover more.

OR click on over to our website to browse our new November Outturn bottling list. For a festive feast, our Christmas Collection brings an exceptional selection of specially priced whiskies to enjoy, buy now before they are gone forever.

SEE NEW OUTTURN

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

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

YAMAZAKI’S ONE-OFF SINGLE MALT WHISKY JUNSHIN EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATION AT BONHAMS HONG KONG SALE

Yamazaki Junshin Single Malt Whisky

Estimate: HK$250,000-300,000

Sold for HK$750,000

HONG KONG. – One of the only 200 bottles of Yamazaki Junshin, privately released this year as a special one-off single malt whisky, sold today at Bonhams Fine and Rare Whisky sale in Hong Kong for HK$750,000, tripling its estimate. 

The Junshin, which means “pure” and “true” in Japanese, is marketed as Yamazaki’s special one-off single malt whisky and presented to convey the essence of Japanese whisky and its industry to globally-renowned master blender Richard Paterson. It was only available to Suntory’s VIP clients and today’s sale marks its debut at auction.

Formulated by Fukuyo Shinji, Suntory’s Chief Blender, the Junshin takes its tasters down the memory lane of the distillery’s 100 years of whisky making. A unique combination of Yamazaki single malts aged in Mizunara oak casks, Spanish sherry oak casks, and peated malt matured in an American oak Puncheon, all aged for more than 20 years with some of the oldest Yamazaki single malts in existence matured over 50 and 60 years in Japanese Mizunara casks. The label, made with the traditional Echizen washi paper, features the word Junshin by famous calligrapher Takeda Souun. This also marks the very first time calligraphy has appeared on the label of a Yamazaki bottle. The terms “pure” and “true” were chosen to describe the whisky-makers’ pure intent for their craft.

Commenting on the result, Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky Specialist, said: “The Junshin excited a great deal of interest before the sale, resulting in spirited bidding today. Once again, the market responds robustly to fresh materials of top quality. Junshin is the perfect embodiment of that and the top price it has achieved was well deserved.” 

Other notable sales include: 

• Lot 444. Karuizawa-1981-32 year old-#4380-竹に鶏図 (1) Karuizawa-1984-29 year old-#3662-旭日松鶴図 (1). Sold for HK$375,000.
• Lot 375. Bowmore 1965-52 year old. Sold for HK$300,000.

Sale: Fine and Rare  Whisky Date: 18 November 2022Location: Bonhams Hong Kong, 20/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details – www.bonhams.com

GlenDronach 28 Years

Grandeur Batch #11. 2022 limited releases matured in the finest sherry casks. GlenDronach 28 Year Old Grandeur Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Batch #011 matured in PX and oloroso Sherry casks. Limited release of 3,181 numbered bottles.

Nose: Opulent and powerful with a symphony of sherry aromatics, interwoven with dark manuka honey, roasted almond and walnut. Baked plum and ginger captivate the senses, deepening to rustic vintage leather and freshly ground coffee.

Palate: Intense and full-bodied with dark fruit notes on a base of velvet and fine leather. A crescendo of black cherry and espresso adorns each mouthful.

Finish: Richly rewarding, with a persistent chocolate, liquorice and walnut finish.

MAXIMUM 1 BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER.

Buy GlenDronach 28yo»

£1,200.00

Glendronach Malt Whisky Distillery was established north east of Huntley in the Highland whisky region by James Allardice in 1826. The malting floors at Glendronach Distillery closed in 1996 and it was the last distillery in Scotland to heat its stills directly with flames from a coal-fired furnace, until it had to comply with new regulations in 2005. Glendronach Distillery is resplendent with a traditional cask iron mash tun, wooden washbacks, four stills. Famous for its well-aged and top quality sherried single malt, for example Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament, and single cask releases. The distillery is now owned by Brown Forman of America.

Our November Auction is now LIVE!

Only 8.5% buyer’s commission.

Auction ends Wednesday 30^th November.

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Click here to register as a user.

 Looking to sell in our next auction? 0% Sellers commission & FREE* UK doorstep collections.

We offer FREE valuations to give you an idea of what your whisky may sell for at auction.

Contact us to arrange a valuation or collection.

 www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Pittyvaich 1993 29 Year Old #3723 Description

An Unbeatable Holiday 4-Pack from a Best-Selling Brand
Elijah Craig Barrel Strength B522 and Toasty Goodness Pack (4x750ml) ($159.99)
Including reference-point favorites and coveted, allocated releases…

The iconic Heaven Hill distillery is the source for most of our best-selling whiskey bundles, and the Elijah Craig bottlings are the cornerstone of that success. Just in time for the holidays, we’ve assembled a must-have four-pack that will thrill longtime fans of this beloved brand, as well as anyone who just loves unbeatable value-for-price whiskey. Not only will avid bourbon aficionados be able to re-stock on the always excellent Small Batch and Rye at a below-market discount, but they will also get their hands on two highly coveted offerings that have always been under tight allocation—the Barrel Strength Batch B522, which just garnered 92 points and an Editor’s Choice designation from Whisky Advocate for its “perfectly tempered sweetness and depth,” and the 93-point Toasted Barrel, a ramped up rendition of the benchmark Small Batch that we seldom see on the open market. The best part, of course, is that our bundle price brings these four outstanding whiskeys to you for much less than what you’d pay at the individual retail prices, making it a can’t-miss proposition for bourbon lovers everywhere, or for anyone with a bourbon lover on their gift list. But fast action is required, as availability is limited.

Elijah Craig Barrel Strength B522 and Toasty Goodness Pack (4x750ml) ($159.99)

Heaven Hill makes some of the most sought-after whiskey in Kentucky. The Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Barrel Strength releases are highly allocated and nearly impossible to find at MSRP. Here you’re getting a bottle of Barrel Strength B522 and Toasted Barrel plus the Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and Rye. If you add up all of the MSRPs this bundle not only gives you access to the hard to find items, but saves you $20 over buying all four bottles separately. Hard to argue with that. Re-stock your bar with two of the best staples coming out of the Bluegrass State and sock the fancy stuff away for a rainy day. If you’ve got a bourbon lover on your holiday shopping list this year, they’re sure to be thrilled with this box.

Elijah Craig “Small Batch” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Regularly $24.99)

91 points Whisky Advocate: “Subtly complex and nicely rounded. A bed of sweetness (caramel, vanilla) peppered with honey-kissed fruit, golden raisin, and a hint of marzipan. Pleasing oak grip and dried spice on the finish. A great value for such a high-quality bourbon. (JH, Spring 2017)”

K&L Notes: Coming from the great master distiller Parker Beam, the Elijah Craig bourbon has to be one of the best value bourbons on the market! Great balance of sweetness and spice. Also, at 94 proof, it has just the right amount of kick.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 24, 2017

Elijah Craig Small Batch remains one of the best values in the shop. Composed of 8- to 12-year-old bourbons distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. Despite removing the age statement, Heaven Hill’s flagship brand remains one of the best values in the store. This style is dark, nutty, and honeyed with minty spice to round out the ultra-rich texture. The higher proof does great things for this one and not a whole lot of stuff can touch this in the price point.

Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) (Regularly $29.99)

94 points Whisky Advocate: “Elijah Craig always impresses with value, but until now has been confined to bourbon. This foray into rye whiskey sticks close to Elijah Craigs 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)” (03/2022)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: May 06, 2021

I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Elijah Craig Rye since it was first released to limited markets in the U.S. in early 2020. Over a year and many prominent awards and critical reviews later, it feels like I’ve waited a lifetime. Fortunately, now that it is actually in my glass, it has actually lived up to my expectations and the hype. It has fully delivered on the value proposition that is the Elijah Craig brand, a move that makes Heaven Hill one of the greatest in the business. The whiskey is bursting with flavor; rye obviously takes center stage, but it is so well supported by the high corn and malted barley content that it never overshadows its co-conspirators. Sweet spice (in other words, not peppery spice) envelops the palate. Generous toasted oak leans towards coconut. The caramels and vanillas are also there; I want to say prominent, but it isn’t the right word, because while it’s robust, there are no hard edges. It’s a rounded rye in style and texture. At 94 proof (the same as EC’s Small Batch Bourbon), it has the easy drinkability I associate with the brand without missing the punch so many modern whiskey fans love and expect. A modern classic, no doubt, and one that has managed to stay true to everything I expect from Elijah Craig. No easy feat considering the very high bar I hold for the mark.

Elijah Craig “Toasted Barrel” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) (Regularly $54.99)

93 points Wine Enthusiast: “This needs a few minutes to open up to reveal a rich caramel aroma. The palate is markedly sweet and spicy, showing vanilla, caramel and a mix of cinnamon and cayenne. Adding water tones down the heat and brings a flavor or cinnamon red-hot candies wrapped in caramel squares. A vanilla accent smooths over the long exit. It’s a small-batch Bourbon finished in toasted new oak. (KN)” (07/2021)

Whisky Advocate: “Initially reticent on the nose, with time this reveals gooey caramel, pralines, Hershey’s milk chocolate, and a touch of charred mint leaves. It’s chewy and occasionally sharp on the palate, with oodles of roasted nuts, polished oak, mint, peppery spice, dark chocolate, licorice, tobacco ash, and char. The medium-length finish holds tingling white pepper, unsweetened chocolate, and more polished oak. (SSB, Fall-2020)”

K&L Notes: This is a different take on Elijah Craig’s classic and beloved Small Batch Bourbon. A judicious application of a new toasted barrel takes the well-known profile of one of our best-selling bourbons and kicks it up several notches. This whiskey is a new offering from the brand and was recently launched on an allocated basis, making it highly desirable yet difficult to find.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Batch B522” Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) (Regularly $69.99)

92 points Whisky Advocate: “The maturity is instantly apparent, with a nose of chocolate cloaked in old oak and antique leather, but also offers red berries and aged herbs at the edges. Plenty of depth on a buttery palate of chocolate, almond, gooey caramel, vanilla ice cream, and ripe banana. On the finish, chocolate, raspberry jam, and espresso bean. This one has aged gracefully, with perfectly tempered sweetness and depth. *Editor’s Choice* (DF, Fall 2022)”

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

Saturday, December 3rd, 1PM – 5 PM

Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Tasting

with Robin Coupar

Join us for a tasting of Glen Grant single malt scotch presented by global ambassador and Keeper of the Quaich Robin Coupar! Established in Speyside in 1840, Glen Grant is one of the top five whisky producers in the world and consistently voted among the world’s best whiskies.

Featured Expressions

Glen Grant 12

Glen Grant 15

Glen Grant 18

About Robin Coupar:

Robin Coupar is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a leading Scotch and American whisk(e)y expert who has dedicated almost 30 years to the industry. As Global Ambassador for Gruppo Campari’s whisk(e)y portfolio, Robin covers a broad portfolio including The Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Wild Turkey, Russell’s Reserve Bourbon & Rye, and Forty Creek Canadian Whisky. Robin is a globally recognized category expert and brand advocate and leads Masterclasses, attends high-profile industry events, panel discussions and generates press coverage through media interviews. He also engages with key trade partners and accounts, assists in product launches, conducts consumer liquid to lips events. Over the course of his storied career, he has worked across 5 continents, including North & South America, Europe, Asia, and Indian subcontinent. In 2016 he was inducted into the prestigious Keepers of the Quaich organization, and he is also a judge in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Robin currently resides in California. His favorite drink is the Glen Grant 12 Year Old.

Click Here to RSVP

(or email us at info@whiskyshopusa.com)

ralfy review 954 – AnCnoc 12yo @ 40%vol

INNOVATIVE ENGLISH WHISKY PRODUCER, THE OXFORD ARTISAN DISTILLERY, ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT BY DIAGEO THROUGH DISTILL VENTURES 

17^th November 2022 (Oxford, UK): The Oxford Artisan Distillery, an ultra-premium English rye whisky producer seeking to revolutionise farming practices in the category, has announced that Diageo has made a minority investment in the company through Distill Ventures, the independent drinks accelerator devoted to building and scaling the drinks brands of the future.

Founded in 2016, The Oxford Artisan Distillery produces whisky using biodiverse populations of ‘heritage’ grains grown through an approach to grain farming known as Restorative Continuous Grain Cropping (R-CGC). These heritage grains and farming techniques have been developed in partnership with John Letts, a farmer and archaeobotanist with over 25 years’ experience, and an innovator in this field. The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distillery in the world with a license to use John’s grains, a proprietary mix of 30 to 100 different varieties grown exclusively for flavour and not yield.

The distillery’s first English rye whisky was released in April 2021, with a second batch available shortly after. To date, The Oxford Artisan Distillery has released a further nine batches of whisky and its distillery tour, just outside of Oxford, is rated one of the top things to do in the city on Tripadvisor. With ultra-premium whisky growing at 11% in the United Kingdom over the last five years^[1], the brand’s vision is to grow a modern and scalable whisky brand centred on restorative agriculture, driven by their forward-thinking approach to sustainable farming.

The investment will support the next stage of the company’s growth by enabling the upgrade and expansion of its production sites, and the continued development of The Oxford Artisan Distillery brand and its consumer experiences.

Dave Smith, CEO of The Oxford Artisan Distillery, said: “Over the last few years we have seen the industry take major steps towards addressing the climate crisis, but we have a responsibility to do more in tackling sustainable farming and grain production. With Diageo and Distill Ventures’ support, we believe we can use whisky to further a revolution in the field. We have been blown away by the team’s belief in our mission and could not be happier to be entering the next stage of our journey with them alongside.”

Frank Lampen, Founder and CEO of Distill Ventures, said: “Grain is becoming an important part of how whisky producers are continuing to innovate and develop new styles and flavours, and the heritage grains used by Oxford Artisan Distillery together with their ground-breaking approach to farming in a sustainable way make this one of the most exciting distilleries in the English whisky scene, and we’re delighted to be able to support them in their development.”

Eugene Khabensky, Vice President of Global Ventures at Diageo, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Oxford Artisan Distillery into the Distill Ventures portfolio. Its ultra-premium positioning coupled with its commitment to put regenerative agriculture at the heart of what it does, fits perfectly with our strategy to support premium and environmentally responsible brands.”

As with all brands within the Distill Ventures portfolio, the founding Oxford Artisan Distillery team will retain majority ownership and control of the business.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery

The distillery opened for business at its purpose-built site in Oxford on 27th July 2017.

It is Oxford’s first ever distillery and produces whisky with total provenance from grain to glass. The Oxford Artisan Distillery uses biodiverse populations of ‘heritage’ grains grown through a new approach to grain farming known as Restorative Continuous Grain Cropping (R-CGC).

R-CGC:

With Restorative Continuous Grain Cropping there are no fallow years, no tillage and no chemical inputs, leading to greater biodiversity in the field. As well as producing three times as much grain as any other modern rotational organic grain production system – driven by the fact that there is no need for rotation – R-CGC sequesters more carbon than any other modern organic grain production system. 

About Heritage Grain:

The Oxford Artisan Distillery uses genetically diverse populations of heritage grains – revived from historical sources by a leading archaeobotanist and grown sustainably on over 350 acres in the UK. The distillery’s grain contributes to biodiversity and soil health in the English countryside. The grains are the result of archaeobotanist, John Lett’s lifelong research on heritage grains: John has spent a large part of his life sourcing and growing heritage grains together, as polycultures. John takes 30-100 varieties of grain, mixes them up, and grows them together in the same field, at the same time. These sustainable fields are similar to what you would have seen in medieval times – the grains are grown specifically for the distillery, making The Oxford Artisan Distillery the only distillery in the world with a license to use John’s grains, grown exclusively for flavour and not yield.

Distill Ventures

Distill Ventures (DV) is the drinks industry’s first accelerator for new and growing brands. Since its founding in 2013, DV has invested in 35+ brands in a wide range of drinks categories, including New World whisky, premium gin, and non-alcoholic spirits. Through a combination of cash investment, mentoring support and access to a network of experts, DV works with founders from all backgrounds and stages of growth to help brands go further, faster.

Through both its traditional investment pathway and its Pre-Accelerator, which launched in 2021 and focuses on recruiting diverse entrepreneurs into drinks, DV operates across both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink categories, and invests at all stages, from pre-launch through to those requiring significant growth and expansion capital. It is operated independently and backed by Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company, providing investment funding, as well as resources and access through its global network of experts. For more info on, or to learn about our portfolio of current and exited brands, visit www.distillventures.com.

Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal and JεB whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

[1] IWSR, 2017-2021: by volume