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GRAND VINTAGE
8TH RELEASE – 1998 – 23 YEAR OLD
70cl | 43% ABV
Delicate and spicy with a wonderful amber glow, the Grand Vintage 8th Release showcases some of the first Glenmorangie ever aged in new charred oak. Aged for 23 years, the Whisky is extraordinarily vibrant with rich fruits, smooth toffee and ginger – truly a testament to the elegant, experimental style of Glenmorangie.
£629.95
Grand Vintage Malt 1998 is like embarking on a transatlantic journey from the world of classic bourbon, to the sherry bodegas in Jerez, both finessed with virgin new charred oak. Rich with vibrant fruits, smooth toffee, and ginger, this whisky’s eloquence is a symbol of our elegant, experimental style.
Delicate and spicy with a wonderful amber glow, this whisky showcases some of the first Glenmorangie ever aged in new charred oak. Dr Bill was particularly eager to explore the wonders new charred oak barrels might bring to Glenmorangie’s soft, fruity spirit. And so he earmarked a handful of carefully crafted casks, tailormade to enrich the Distillery’s single malt. By charring the virgin wood of these bespoke casks for the first time, Dr Bill hoped to create a striking style of single malt, intense in colour and spice. Dr Bill used most of these early casks to wood finish whisky, balancing their spice with Glenmorangie’s complex fruits. But with a true creator’s vision, he also filled a few with new-make spirit, dreaming of a spectacular single malt. He left those experimental new char casks to age in the cool, quiet of an earth-floored warehouse for more than two decades. As he waited, the spirit transformed into a deliciously buttery whisky, surging with vanilla, chocolate laced with orange, ginger and sweet chilli. In addition he layered those oaky notes with soft, fruity Glenmorangie aged in first-fill bourbon casks. Then brought sweet subtlety with a hint of whisky finished in oloroso sherry casks. Aged 23 years, his creation bursts with ripe fruits and rich orange chocolate, gently threaded with sugared almonds and spice. Extraordinarily vibrant, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 amplifies the Distillery’s signature elegance with a glorious spicy glow.
North British 1988 34YO
Distilled: 17/06/1988
Bottled: 17/07/2022
Cask No: 34451
Cask type: Hogshead
One of only 199 bottles available worldwide
£185.00
Without even knowing at the time, North British was Finn Thomson’s first introduction to the world of Scotch whisky. Nestled between Murrayfield and Tynecastle Stadium, the malty smells from the distillery were synonymous with his trips to watch football and rugby matches. Even now, living in central Edinburgh, he still gets wafts of the sweet, biscuity wort being produced when the wind blows the right way.
It is a distillery of great significance to his family as his grandfather and great grandfather’s company, Peter Thomson Ltd, once had a stake in North British and it formed the grain base for their popular Golden Beneagles blend.
This particular cask has been filled into a fairly active American Oak hogshead. The creamy character of the spirit has been transformed into toffee and caramel sweetness. The American oak has worked its magic and those trademark vanilla notes are very present.
Maker’s Mark 46 K&L Exclusive “Maker’s Squared” 109 Proof Private Select Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
David and Andrew carefully crafted the two latest Maker’s Mark Private Select casks overlooking the on site reservoir behind the distillery. They had two goals in mind – transporting drinkers to this special spot in Loretto, KY with one dram and showcasing the brand new stave profile. In the end the goals required 2 seperate casks. Maker’s Squared is the transportation cask – working closely with the Maker’s team staves were chosen to truly highlight the soft wheat and sweet American oak that is so critical to the world reknowned profile of Maker’s Mark. 3 Baked American Pure staves amp up the vanilla and toasted coconut. 2 Seared French Cuvee staves bring out a bit more spice and tannic bite, which interplays with the higher 109 proof beautifully. 3 Roasted French Mendiant (the new stave) highlight a sweet milk chocolate profile that is often overlooked, but always present in the classic Maker’s. And 2 Toasted French spice staves act as a binding agent to bring the otehr 3 profiles together with Maker’s hallmark balance. The end result is perhaps the best barrel we’ve ever put together under this incredible cask program. Entirely Maker’s Mark, yet something more powerful and robust without yeilding balance. It could be called nothing but Maker’s Squared.
Rare Character 6 Year Old “Our Lady of the Angels” Barrel #RIO-234 Cask Strength Indiana Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $79.99 View
Rare Character has quickly become one of the most exciting and inventive new bottlers on the market today. This stock of exceptional MGP distilled high-rye bourbon (75/21/4) aged for more than 6 years in the famous warehouse B is more proof that Rare Character is able to source and select some of the countries most special bourbons. If you’ve tried any of the bourbons aged in this special warehouse you’ll know that something unique is happening here. At 534′ feet long, warehouse B is the world’s longest whiskey aging warehouse and it’s hundreds of windows create and almost wind tunnel like effect. The result is extremely mature tasting bourbons even at the relatively youthful (albeit often ideal) age of 6 years old. Like all Rare Character bourbons, it’s adorned with a gorgeous unique label this time a photo taken by Christopber Blakely (Father of SoCal Spirits Guru Will Blakeley). His stunning image of the famous Robert Graham sculpture at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles is a striking homage to the wonderful city that we call home. A fitting vestment for this fabulous bourbon.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 459: Lindores Exclusive Casks: Bourbon vs Sherry
Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries to single casks from the Lowlands. Lindores, like many other distilleries, also started releasing single casks. The first two – a bourbon cask and a sherry butt – are the ones that I would like to try. It’s not a veritable head-to-head, of course, for they are quite different.
Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® | Class of 2022 Inductees
Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® To Induct
Six New Members In September
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® will induct six individuals into its elite ranks next month, including two distillery founders, influential lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, a groundbreaking industry veteran and the acclaimed grandson of a Bourbon baron.
The Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on the late Stephen Francis Thompson, founder and president of Kentucky Artisan Distillery, who unexpectedly died in 2021 after an accident. He was 79 years old.
“Since we lost the past two years to COVID-19, this is officially the 20th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, whiskey’s most spirited honor,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, which founded the Hall of Fame in 2001.
“Congratulations to this year’s esteemed class which celebrates the visionaries, artisans and partners that have made Kentucky Bourbon – and our beloved Commonwealth – the gold standard of American whiskey. And, on behalf of our industry, a heartfelt thank you.”
This year’s inductees are, in alphabetical order (full bios, as provided by each inductee, are attached via the below link:
· Retiring Rep. D. Chad McCoy, R-Bardstown, Majority Whip, Kentucky House of Representatives, two-time recipient of the KDA’s “100 Proof” award for public service and champion of several landmark pieces of legislation.
· The late Stephen Francis Thompson, Founder and President, Kentucky Artisan Distillery (Lifetime Achievement Award), former president of Brown-Forman Distilleries and a pioneering resource for craft distilleries across the country.
· Julian P. Van Winkle, III, President, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, heralded grandson of Bourbon legend Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, creator of the ultra-aged premium Pappy Van Winkle brand and the very first James Beard winner from Kentucky, as well as numerous other accolades.
· Andrea Marie Wilson, distinguished industry veteran, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Master of Maturation at Michter’s Distillery, and in 2009, the first woman to chair the KDA Board of Directors.
· Retiring U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, Co-Founder of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus and Chair of the House Budget Committee who helped lead a permanent reduction on the federal excise tax on distillers among other key measures.
· Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Whiskey Maker and CEO, Rabbit Hole Distillery, left Iran in 1979 during the revolution and founded Rabbit Hole in 2012. He blends the immigrant whiskey maker tradition with time-honored methods, diverse perspectives and modernist aesthetics.
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant and transformational impact on Bourbon’s stature, growth and awareness. It is the highest honor given by the signature industry.
The invitation-only ceremony will be held Sept. 13 at My Old Kentucky Home state park in Bardstown, Ky., one of the state’s most revered historic sites. It is held annually in conjunction with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which runs Sept. 16-18 in Bardstown.
Following the induction ceremony, there will be an exclusive reception sponsored by Independent Stave Company, a KDA “Champion” level industry member. ISC President & CEO Brad Boswell and his father, John, are both Hall of Fame members.
The two-year break due to the pandemic allowed the KDA to evaluate its Hall of Fame processes and protocols, Gregory said. The prestigious event is known for its intimate celebration of the industry’s most revered champions and attracts dignitaries from around the world.
This year, for the first time ever, a blue-ribbon committee of renowned Hall of Fame members reviewed and selected inductees. Candidates are nominated each year by the KDA and its member distilleries in three categories: Industry, Roll of Honor and Lifetime Achievement.
The selection committee includes all living recipients of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award: Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller of Wild Turkey; Bill Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Maker’s Mark; Max Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands and Even Kulsveen, Executive Director of Willett Distillery.
Also serving were Kevin Smith, Chairman of the KDA Board of Directors and Vice President of Kentucky Bourbon Affairs for Beam Suntory; Chris Morris, Governor of the Order of the Writ – Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon Society and Vice President and Master Distiller at Brown-Forman Corp.; and noted author Dixie Hibbs of Bardstown, who was appointed by the KDA President.
The KDA also commissioned glassblowing artist Brook Forrest White, Jr., of Flame Run in Louisville to craft unique and contemporary awards that incorporate Bourbon-inspired motifs such as amber colors, oak, copper and water.
A student of the late famed glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell at Centre College in Danville, Ky., White’s work has been recognized nationally, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at several distilleries in Kentucky.
Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism engine sustaining more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year, over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.
A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.
Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 435% since the turn of the century.
Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.
“We look forward to seeing all our living legends next month and celebrating the best of the best of our historic industry and toasting our success,” Gregory said. “Thanks to our partners at Independent Stave Company and our distinguished members.”
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact KDA President Eric Gregory at eric@kybourbon.com.
Bios, as provided by each inductee, are below in alphabetical order:
Rep. D. Chad McCoy~ Late Stephen Francis Thompson + Red ~ Julian P. Van Winkle, III~ Andrea Marie Wilson ~ U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth ~ Kaveh Zamanian
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the historic voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces 90 percent of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft and treasured economic engine. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. 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. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
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
Mark Reynier is the founder and CEO of Waterford Distillery and will be here at The Kitchen on Sunday September 11 to host our first Whisky Pairing dinner since January 2020.
Mark grew up in the wine business and in 1996 he established Murray McDavid Independent Bottlers, we still have some of his bottles on the shelves and more in storage. The Murray McDavid team purchased the mothballed Bruichladdich distillery on Islay in 2000.
With Mark’s background in wine he learned much about terroir and the science behind wine making. He believed that terroir wasn’t just indicative to grape growing and the wine industry. Whilst at the helm of Bruichladdich he set out to prove that the soil where the barley was grown was as important as the soil for grape production. Bruichladdich still has terrior specific releases. In 2012 Remy Cointreau purchased Bruichladdich and Mark went searching for a new distillery location where he could grow the best barley. When the opportunity to purchase an old Guinness brewery in Southern Ireland presented itself, he jumped at the chance and Waterford was born.
Mark’s goal was to take his decades of expertise and “break the norms” by creating whisky with a focus on terroir. By using new technologies, avoiding shortcuts in the distillation process, and working directly with Irish farmers, Waterford is able to produce purer flavours. With their single farm origin whiskies, you can truly taste the flavours or Ireland in a unique way.
Demand Triggers Increased Production Of Hard Truth Distilling Co.’s Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey
NASHVILLE, IND. (August 29, 2022) – Hard Truth Distilling Co. has announced an increase in production of its Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey following a successful late-2021 launch and current high commercial and consumer demand.
This comes on the heels of Hard Truth’s recent announcement of a major expansion that includes constructing a second rackhouse twice the size of its current rackhouse, tripling storage capacity from 4,000 to 12,000 barrels for its critically acclaimed Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey and other whiskies.
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is Hard Truth’s debut sweet mash whiskey — the first to be distilled, aged, and bottled on Hard Truth’s 325-acre campus in Brown County, Indiana. It’s crafted using the sweet mash method and 100 percent fresh ingredients before aging in new, custom-charred, white oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey – Batch #001, Mash Bill 01 was released in November of 2021, with batches #002 and #003 having entered the market in the first half of 2022.
This was the first whiskey released in what will become a series of sweet mash whiskeys from Hard Truth. Over the next few years, the distillery will introduce whiskeys from four unique rye mash bills and four unique bourbon mash bills, bringing a variety of flavor profiles to market.
“We’re on the forefront of a new era of whiskey-making as sweet mash pioneers here in the state of Indiana,” said Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith. “There is a small, but mighty group of distillers making sweet mash whiskey and celebrating this innovative way of making whiskey, and I feel honored and proud to be in such great company.”
Most whiskeys are produced using a sour mash method — a process that uses leftover mash from previous distillations in each new batch of whiskey. Historically, this was done out of necessity because the high acidity of the leftover mash helps ensure no bacterial contamination or other infection in the new batches.
Advances in distilling systems and sanitization processes, however, enabled the development of sweet mash — a process where each new batch starts entirely fresh — an exciting way to create whiskeys with characteristics unique to the method.
“The standard sour mash process can mute some amazingly complex and pleasant grain flavors that the sweet mash process tends to highlight. It is a more expensive and labor-intensive process to make whiskey this way, but the final product speaks for itself,” explained Smith.
Hard Truth’s Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey has a layered and complex flavor profile and the sweetness of the grain features more prominently on the palate. According to Smith, “Most rye whiskey drinkers expect savory and spicy only from a rye whiskey, but with Hard Truth’s sweet mash, you expect bright fruit, complex brown sugar and mocha with baking spice in the finish.”
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye is a deep, clear mahogany color with an aroma featuring notes of mocha, nutmeg, and ripe orchard fruit. It offers rich toffee, brown sugar, and peach flavors that envelop the palate, and the finish is smooth with lingering notes of chocolate, oak, and pepper.
“Authenticity is at the core of our whiskey making, which is why we are bottling our sweet mash rye whiskey at barrel strength, uncut and unfiltered — a true expression of our whiskey making,” Smith explained. “We are so very pleased with our whiskey at this younger age and are incredibly excited about sharing future releases as the whiskey gets older.”
Smith encourages rye fans to come to Hard Truth’s Brown County, Indiana campus to see it being made, taste it, and experience Hard Truth in a very real and up-close way.
“We are hardworking, real people, making incredibly innovative, high-quality whiskey, and that passion for hard work and making a quality product resonates with people.”
Available in 750 mL bottles, Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is bottled at barrel strength — with batch proofs ranging between 100 and 120, with ABVs ranging between 50 and 60 percent. Bottles are available for purchase on the Hard Truth campus and in retailers throughout Hard Truth’s distribution area with a suggested retail price of $69.95 plus tax.
For more information on where to purchase Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey or any other Hard Truth product, visit: hardtruthdistilling.com/spirit-finder. Visit hardtruth.com for the complete Hard Truth experience.
About Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Headquartered in Nashville, Indiana, Hard Truth Distilling Co. produces more than 20 premium spirits, including critically acclaimed Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey and top-selling Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, and Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum Cream.
Hard Truth’s spirits are distributed throughout Indiana and Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine with several new states coming on board in 2022.
Founded in 2015, Hard Truth Distilling Co. quickly outgrew its original production space, and, by 2017, construction had begun on its current facility, an 18,000-square-foot distillery equipped with a state-of-the-art Vendome Copper & Brass distilling system. Hard Truth’s destination campus spans 325 wooded acres in Brown County, Indiana — an artists’ colony and tourist destination known for its natural beauty.
August 2022 Auction // 26 August – 5 September
A warm welcome to our August Auction. Featuring over 8,500 rare whiskies and fine spirits, this is a unique opportunity to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after bottles.
We have legendary bottlings from Springbank including each release from the famed Millennium Collection, a selection of high age-statement bottlings including the Mortlach 75 Year Old from G&M and the 55 Year Old Six Pillars release from The Macallan, plus an array of independent bottlings from Samaroli and the Whisky Agency (among many others!).
Also featured this month are three exceptional casks of whisky, with a particular highlight being a single hogshead #5486 from Jura distillery, distilled in 1992 and maturing as we speak at Whiskybroker’s bonded warehouse.
Wire Works Charity Auction: Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to partner with White Peak distillery to auction the first 12 individually-numbered bottles of Wire Works Whisky – Derbyshire’s first ever single malt – with all proceeds being donated to charity, discover more below!
Browse some of our curated highlights below and add to your collection.
Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to partner with White Peak distillery to auction bottles #1-12 of their innaugural Wire Works release in aid of Derbyshire Charities.
Read our exclusive interview with Claire Vaughan, Co-Founder of White Peak.
The bottles will be offered exclusively through our August Auction from 26 August – 5 September with all proceeds, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, donated to two Derbyshire charities: the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Peak District National Park Foundation.
Browse these exclusive lots in our August auction.
Mortlach 1939 75 Year Old from Gordon & MacPhail’s Generation Series
Springbank Millennium Collection 25–50 Year Old Vertical
Still in Oak // Exclusively at Whisky Auctioneer
Our August Auction features three incredible casks of whisky from three distilleries spanning the Highland and Island regions. This is an exceptional opportunity to own your own cask of single malt whisky. Featured are:
– Glen Garioch 2011 Bourbon Barrel #2756
– Orkney Single Malt 2008 Single Refill Butt #2
Browse casks featured in our August Auction now.
Japan’s Finest – Yamazaki Single Casks
Iconic Bottlings by Silvano Samaroli
Glenfiddich Private Vintage – Distilled in 1955
+8,500 lots to browse in our July Auction now.
Interested in selling in our next auction? Fill out our Seller Form today.
Benromach 2012 B1 Cask Strength
Rich and spicy sherry aromas, vanilla and hints of chocolate with a palate of orange zest, black pepper and a soft smoky finish. Their cask strength single malt whisky delivers rich and spicy sherry aromas, vanilla and hints of chocolate with a palate of orange zest, black pepper and a soft smoky finish. Tasting notes: Colour: Light Mahogany Aroma: Vanilla pod and fruit cake aromas with hints of dark chocolate. Festive spices give way to citrus fruit and charred oak. Palate: Black pepper on the palate initially, leading to orange zest and stewed fruit. Red berries and subtle ginger spice. Finish: Long and full with lingering sulatana and soft smoke.
Only £59.95
