Masterclass preferences

Meeting old and new friends, sharing relaxed drams. That’s what Maltstock is all about! But we know our guests are really keen on attending our masterclasses and Drink with… sessions as well! Last Monday we’ve sent an e-mail to all ticket holders to ask them which masterclass they want to attend, and 61 of them have already chosen! You have until the 3rd of September to let us know, and if you don’t have a ticket yet… now would be a great time! So get the most out of your relaxed whiskyweekend experience and join us for this relaxed edition!! Which masterclass and Drinks with… sessions would you attend?

Bob, Klaas, Stan & Teun

Tickets

Get relaxed while you can!!  Tickets are available from:

 www.maltstock.com/shop

Looking forward to meeting you all!

https://youtu.be/GSB5Vb4hIz8

I’m pretty sure everyone I’ve ever met enjoys Bunnahabhain, I’m pretty sure of that?

The 18YO is a full maturation of ex-sherry casks and Bunnahabhain’s slightly salty spirit. Excellent companions! The unique way that sherry and Bunnahabhain’s spirit mix together makes for a very special style of whisky, and it isn’t something that is classically sweet and overly decadent.

It has balance of sweet, savoury, nutty, that all collide in the most wondeful way.

Much has been said about Bunnahabhain’s batch quality in the last few years, but having had the chance to try a few batches of the 18YO, the style seems more consistent in their older stocks. Prices are rising and this is now an allocated product on UK shores. But with the rising insanity of 18YO prices, and the way whisky is being gobbled up by anyone who can quote Peaky Blinders lines in your face, Bunnahabhain maintains a relative calm.

WATERFORD DISTILLERY BEGINS BOTTLING THE FIRST PEATED IRISH WHISKY MADE FROM IRISH BARLEY

Waterford Whisky has bottled the first Irish-peated whiskies in generations: Peated: Fenniscourt and Peated: Ballybanon

The products are two new bottlings in Waterford Distillery’s “Arcadian Farm Origins”, which explore the old ways of farming and whisky in search of real rarity and intense flavours

Both peated whiskies combine 100% Irish peat and Irish-grown barley – celebrating a return to traditional ways and flavours of Irish whisky production from over a century ago

24^th August 2022: Waterford Distillery has bottled the first modern Irish Peated whiskies in generations – Peated: Fenniscourt and Peated: Ballybanon, from barley grown on two distinct Single Farm Origins.

The new single malt whiskies use both Irish peat and Irish-grown barley – the first distillery in generations to do so – as part of Waterford’s quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours and commitment to Irish-only ingredients.

Both bottlings are the latest addition to Waterford’s Arcadian Farm Origins, which represent real rarity in whisky due to the scarcity of the raw materials. This range – which include Ireland’s only Organic whisky and the world’s first Biodynamic whisky – reimagines the old ways of production in the pursuit of flavour intensity over yield imperatives.

The arrival of the new Irish peat bottlings, spearheaded by CEO Mark Reynier, has been in development since 2017, though kept a secret until this year. The approach included selecting two Single Farm Origin barleys – from distinctive terroirs – to see if the flavour profiles could stand up to the smokiness of peat.

In true Waterford Whisky style, the approach needed a radical approach to ensure its Irish provenance. Irish peat has been redundant in whisky production since the turn of the 20^th century, which meant all knowledge of how to use Irish peat had passed out of memory. Therefore the project involved ambitious collaborators, as well as trial and error in sourcing the appropriate peat sources with the moisture levels appropriate for whisky production.

Waterford Distillery sourced small amounts of peat cut from County Kildare, and worked alongside their established malting partner, Minch Malt. Because there was no infrastructure in Ireland capable of peating barley, Waterford Distillery needed to ship small amounts of Irish peat and Irish barley to Scotland, iconic home to peated malt whisky, for the kilning process to take place – before being shipped back to Waterford for distillation.

Providing drinkers with full product transparency and traceability is Waterford Whisky’s trademark. Through TEIREOIR CODE technology, available on each and every bottle, drinkers can follow how the barley was harvested, stored, malted, and distilled – guaranteeing the integrity of each Single Farm Origin.

Neil Conway, Head Brewer of Waterford Distillery – explains: “Peat was a core part of Ireland’s heritage, whether that be commercially, for heating homes in rural countryside, or for the production of whisky. It was the ancient fuel source.

“At Waterford Distillery, since we place barley – the source of whisky’s natural flavour – at the centre of our universe, we are gathering the widest array of pure and natural flavour components. It felt only natural to nod to our cultural heritage, preserve old ways, and explore the peating process with modern varieties.

“Malt whisky is already one of the most complex spirits in the world because it is made from barley – the best in the world coming from Ireland. So combining this with ancient peated methods that are no longer widely available in Ireland, added intriguing new layers of flavour complexity. Cultivating Irish peat and learning how the impact of moisture levels can determine the whiskies smokiness is just another step to quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours.

“Of course it made little financial sense, but we did it for taste – and taste alone. Once we’d tried it, it was just too good to ignore and we thought that people really need to try this.”

Tasting notes by Ned Gahan, Head Distiller at Waterford

While the Peated: Ballybanon has a stronger, smokier flavour and with an intense finish, the Peated Fenniscourt is a more subtle smokiness, with a softer finish.

PEATED: BALLYBANNON: Matured in a combination of 39% first-fill US oak; 21% virgin US oak; 21% Premium French oak; and 19% Vin Doux Naturel casks.

Colour: light gold with everlasting oils.

Nose: soft peat, almonds, lavender honey,

a seaside escape, driftwood fire smoke,

green apples.

Taste: peat kick, very chewable, BBQ fish by the

sea, buttery, samphire, warm apple and almond tart with honeycomb ice cream, endless finish.

PEATED: FENNISCOURT Matured in a combination of 37% first-fill US oak; 19% virgin US oak; 20% Premium French oak; and 24% Vin Doux Naturel.

Colour: rich buttermilk with fabulous oils.

Nose: turf! Saltiness, pear skin, woodland moss,

dried thyme, malted biscuits, marzipan,

baked banana.

Taste: dry rope, barbecue, bog myrtle, white  pepper, meaty; soft, earthy warmth, a dry finish in gentle waves.

About Waterford Distillery 

Waterford Whisky is on a quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours. Influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Distillery obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to single malt whisky.

Using 100% Irish barley, widely considered to be the world’s finest, its Single Farm Origin series is an uber-provenance range of limited edition natural whiskies that explore Irish terroir one farm, once place, at a time. They are expressions of precision and rarity, showcasing barley flavours derived from individual Irish farms and harvests. The distillery’s ultimate aim is that these component single malts come together to create the world’s most unique, complex and profound whisky.

For more information, visit https://waterfordwhisky.com/

SEPTEMBER TASTINGS

Milk & Honey Distillery construction began in June 2014.

Within a year the first spirit flowed from its pot stills, located in a former bakery in an urban neighborhood of Tel Aviv. There’ve been a few highly limited releases, but now Milk & Honey is finally ready to conquer the world of whisky with the release of its first widely-available single malt. Among the original Israeli dreamers is Milk & Honey Head Distiller Tomer Goren. Partly self-educated, Goren also spent time honing his craft at distilleries in Scotland, as well as at the British Institute of Brewing & Distilling. He quickly discovered that distilling in the hot Israeli climate is a far cry from the mild weather in Scotland. Goren talked with us to discuss the advantages and challenges of producing whisky in Israel. Shilton Almeida the Area Sales Manger and Brand Ambassador for Milk & Honey Distillery will be talking us through the following line-up:

Milk & Honey Classic
Milk & Honey Elements Sherry
Milk & Honey Elements Red Wine cask
Milk & Honey Elements Peated
Milk & Honey Apex Pomegranate
Milk & Honey Apex Dead Sea

Buy Now

The distillery, originally named Scotia, was built in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith & Co who ran it until 1895. In 1919, it was one of the founding members of West Highland Malt Distilleries which brought together six Campbeltown distilleries in an attempt to share costs and stave off potential closure. Five of the six failed, but in 1924 when the axe was falling across Campbeltown, Scotia was purchased by Duncan MacCallum who had founded Glen Nevis. He was forced to close it in 1928, but it reopened in 1930. That year however, MacCallum committed suicide after owing his life savings in a scam (his ghost is said to haunt the distillery) and it was bought by Bloch Bros [see Glengyle, Scapa] which added ‘Glen’ to the name.

In 1994, Gibson’s whisky interests were bought by Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd which promptly mothballed Glen Scotia once more. It worked intermittently until 1999, when it returned to fully staffed production. Although a 12-year-old was available, it was more widely available through occasional bottlings by independent bottlers. In 2012 however a new range, with striking wrap-around packaging featuring Highland cows, was launched. With Glen Catrine’s subsequent purchase in 2014 by private equity firm Exponent, there are hopes that there will be further investment in plant and brands.

The Master Distiller Iain McAlister will be coming down for this evening, with an unique cask tasting, all from never released stock. Reveal of the special casks on the evening, a night to don’t miss!!

Buy Now

The Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014 by Dan Szor. A native New Yorker, Dan had been working in finance in London and was looking for a new direction that would let him move permanently to the countryside and do something he was passionate about. He began his production in September 2014, just a few months after the distillery was commissioned. Since then we have produced a number of different spirits and liqueurs, from absinthe to a rye whisky, whilst also steadily increasing production of our Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky.  Dan will be coming down to Soho for this evening, he will talk us through the line-up below:

Cotswolds Signature

Cotswolds Reserve 

Cotswolds Founder’s Choice

Cotswolds Sherry Cask

Cotswolds Bourbon Cask

Cotswolds Peated Cask

Buy Now

The origins of distilleries are often, as they should be, obscured by the clouds of half-truth and myth. Such is the case with Highland Park. Was it founded by famed priest turned smuggler Magnus Eunson, or by farmer David Robertson in 1798? The distillery’s ornate wrought ironwork gate certainly attests to the 1798 story. It first appeared as single malt in the late 1970s, as an eight-year-old, but the packaging was revamped in the 1980s (and repeatedly ever since) when the 12- and 18-year-old expressions were introduced. It soon built up a strong, even cult, following with the range expanding continually. As well as a core range with age statements, various series have been released themed around Orcadian history and Norse gods. In this particular evening David Miles will be coming down talking us through the line-up below:

Highland Park 12Years Old
Highland Park 15 Years Old
Highland Park 18Years old
Highland Park Cask Strength

Buy Now

Limited-Time Pre-Arrival Pricing: A Supremely Rare Sherried Malt
1995 Cragganmore 26 Year Old “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” First Fill Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($250.00)

It’s difficult to say which of our independent bottler partners is our favorite, but we may just have to give the crown to Hunter Laing if they keep bringing us showstoppers like this. We rarely see single casks of any age from this prized Speyside distillery, but this 26-year-old stunner takes things to a whole new level. An amazing tightrope balance between the cherished Cragganmore style and the first-fill sherry butt influence, it’s a primetime proposition for hardcore sherried malt fans everywhere. We cannot underscore enough how rare this oppportunity is, so much so that we’re comfortable in saying, if you must prioritize your collector’s acquisitions at all this year, this cask should take precedence over anything else on the market right now. It’s also worth emphasizing that this astounding pre-arrival pricing will absolutely not remain in place upon the cask’s arrival in our stores, so the savvy move is obviously to secure your desired allocation now, while it remains the most spectacular buy in luxury Scotch in our inventory.

1995 Cragganmore 26 Year Old “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” First Fill Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($250.00)

*Pre-arrival item is expected to be available for shipment or pickup in early 2023.

K&L Notes: This stupendously rare and delicious cask from one of Diageo’s most prized distilleries is a true diamond in the rough. The last time the owners of this special distillery released a malt of equivalent age, they asked over $500. Now we’re offering a single first-fill sherry butt from this famed yet under valued distillery for half that price. This special pre-arrival price will not remain in place on arrival, and we expect the price on the shelf to be easily $50 more and still well-worth the price of entry. A similar sister cask was on sale in the UK last year for nearly $400, and that sold out very quickly from the top retailers. We’re extremely lucky to have access to this incredible sherry butt from this exceedingly rare and undervalued distillery thanks to our good friends at Hunter Laing. This well-matured malt offers all the classic sherry bomb flavors—spiced plums, antique oak, raisins, wild honey, and more. We very rarely come across barrels like this and have never ever been offered Cragganmore of this quality and character. All who appreciate the majesty that the highest quality sherried malts can offer must consider this outstanding deal before any other. The tasting notes as follows: “Rich, fruity, and slightly spicy on the nose with plums, cherries, and walnuts and some leather. More spices on the palate with cinnamon, some ginger, walnuts, and dark chocolate-coated raisins leading into a long, peppery finish.”

We are pleased to introduce the visionary design for the first product collaboration between The Macallan and Bentley Motors, an inspirational and innovative limited edition single malt whisky. The product incorporates six unique upcycled, repurposed, or ethically sourced materials which are integral to both brands.

Extensive collaboration has led to the development of this product prototype, where purpose meets innovation, skilled workmanship, and beauty.

A fusion of traditional craftsmanship and unique materials, the cutting edge technology features an exclusive horizontal design and more details about the whisky will be shared prior to release in summer 2023.

DISCOVER MORE

There’s two episodes of the Good Dram Show this week! Here’s the first https://youtu.be/seUy2rvFAYM part 2 of my look at Annandale Distillery featuring the peated Man O’ Swords range.

THE MACALLAN AND BENTLEY MOTORS UNVEIL PROTOTYPE FOR THE MACALLAN HORIZON: WHERE PURPOSE MEETS INNOVATION, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND BEAUTY

Unique concept of first product collaboration is revealed

The Macallan, together with its luxury automotive partner Bentley Motors, has revealed the remarkable vision and design of The Macallan Horizon, the inspirational and highly innovative limited edition single malt whisky in development by the brands.

The prototype of The Macallan Horizon, which will be available as a whisky product from summer 2023, fuses both traditional craftsmanship and innovative materials, with cutting edge technology to create an exclusive horizontal design. It was visualised following extensive collaboration between The Macallan and Bentley Motors.

In homage to The Macallan’s acclaimed Six Pillars – the foundation stones of the brand that account for its distinctive single malt whiskies – The Macallan Horizon concept product incorporates six unique upcycled, repurposed or ethically sourced materials which are integral to The Macallan and Bentley Motors.

Among them are recycled copper from the disused curiously small spirit stills which were located within The Macallan’s former Distillery; aluminium recovered from the Bentley Motors manufacturing process; recycled wood; recyclable glass and carbon neutral leather, locally sourced and also used in the recently unveiled Bentley Mulliner grand tourer.

The final component is the very special single malt whisky being created for The Macallan Horizon. The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell developed the flavour profile for the whisky following a visit to Bentley Motors in Crewe, where she observed first hand their shared passion for creativity, craftsmanship and innovation.

Together, the six key materials, the majority of which have been sourced and produced locally in Scotland and the UK, form a unique concept that defies the traditional vertical aesthetic of a whisky bottle and reflects the horizontal trajectory of the automotive world, pushing the boundaries and the art of the possible.

The visionary design also features a glass bottle with an extraordinary 180-degree twist, representing the mastery of space and time achieved by The Macallan and Bentley Motors in creating the prototype, which has no standing base.

Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan, comments: “Taking inspiration from the automotive industry, we are showcasing our creative vision and concept development of The Macallan Horizon, which is among the most unique projects we have embarked on in our almost 200-year history.

“Our collaboration with Bentley Motors and the knowledge exchange we have undertaken as a result has inspired us to see things very differently. In the spirits world, everything is upright, such as our stills and our bottles. When we looked at the horizontal direction pursued by Bentley Motors as part of the automotive industry, it made us consider if and how we could adapt this format for whisky, which ultimately requires to be poured.

“I am incredibly proud of the beautiful design we have created together for The Macallan Horizon and the unique materials we are incorporating. It simply would not be possible without the incomparable craftsmanship and creativity for which The Macallan and Bentley Motors are renowned and is the embodiment of the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since 1824.”

Bentley’s Product and Lifestyle Design Manager, Chris Cooke, comments: “Our prototype for The Macallan Horizon is truly pioneering in both its design and use of materials. It’s a fusion of the sharply defined yet curvaceous Bentley design DNA, The Macallan’s innovation and recycled materials from both iconic British brands. The form of the design has allowed us to almost treat light as another material in itself, and the interplay between light and the wood, aluminium and copper materials is extraordinary. In being both an object of beauty in itself and demonstrating such innovation, it’s a representation of what’s coming next from our partnership.”

The Macallan and Bentley Motors launched their global brand partnership in July 2021. United by a dedication to craftsmanship, creativity, innovation and sustainability, both brands have committed to share learnings from their respective industries while continuing to pursue the uncompromised excellence for which they are renowned.

Information regarding pricing and availability of The Macallan Horizon single malt whisky will be shared closer to its release on www.themacallan.com and www.bentleymotors.com

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly. Do not drink and drive.

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland, The Macallan is renowned globally for its incomparable craftsmanship, creativity and innovation with each bottle of single malt whisky revealing its unique mastery of wood and spirit.

Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of The Macallan, and as part of its commitment to establishing a positive legacy it revealed its award-winning new Distillery in 2018. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills and is located on The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate. To this day, the single greatest influence on The Macallan’s sought after portfolio of single malts is its sherry seasoned oak casks from which its whiskies derive their distinctive flavours, aromas and natural colour.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.  

About Bentley Motors

Bentley Motors is the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering, and production of the company’s five model lines: Continental GT, Continental GTC, Flying Spur, Bentayga and Bentayga EWB. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 4,000 people at Crewe.

MACALLAN – XOP BLACK

31 YEAR OLD

70cl | 42.3% ABV

This Single Malt from the Macallan distillery has spent 31 years maturing in a single Sherry Hogshead. Bottled at natural cask strength, only 174 bottles exist globally. This exceptional bottling is rich and complex, with notes of caramel cream and barley sugar.

£3,648.95

Add To Basket

BOWMORE

25 YEAR OLD

70cl | 51% ABV

Only 194 bottles are available of this 25 year old Single Malt. Distilled in June 1996 at Bowmore, the spirit enjoyed a lengthy maturation in a single hogshead cask. As to be expected, the Whisky delivers Islay in a bottle – seaweed, charred oak and streaky bacon.

£549.95

Add To Basket

CAOL ILA

40 YEAR OLD

70cl | 54.6% ABV

This Single Malt from Caol Ila has spent 40 long years maturing in a single refill hogshead; bottled in June 2021, only 206 bottles exist globally. On the nose there is the expected oceanic west coast of Scotland character, with enticing yet subtle phenols to follow.

£1,749.95

Add To Basket

CAMBUS (SILENT)

45 YEAR OLD

70cl | 49.1% ABV

This Single Grain Whisky hails from the now silent Cambus Distillery. It was laid down in a single refill hogshead cask in 1976, patiently maturing for 45 years. This Whisky is fulsome and creamy, there is an abundance of vanilla, maraschino cherry and honey.

£409.95

Add To Basket

GLENBURGIE

40 YEAR OLD

70cl | 40.8% ABV

This Glenburgie has been aged with exceptional patience. Allowed to develop a unique character for 40 years in a single cask (#15090, to be precise), this Single Malt immediately delivers a sweet malty character, alongside chocolate shavings and ripe apricots.

£819.95

Add To Basket

BRAEVAL

30 YEAR OLD

70cl | 50.2% ABV

Bottled at natural cask strength (of which only 230 bottlings were produced), this Single Malt from Braeval was matured in a single refill barrel for 30 years. This is a smooth and rich expression – expect notes of barley, boiled sweets and tangerines.

£499.95

Add To Basket

Love American whiskey? Treat yourself to a hard-to-find treasure from one of the biggest names in bourbon for insight into blending techniques and flavour profiles of years gone by. Get started with some of the latest rare discontinued American whiskeys we’ve discovered.

From a litre bottle of Maker’s Mark with a message of ‘Get out and vote!’ produced for the US elections to a 2019 bottling of George T Stagg bourbon from Buffalo Trace distillery. Or start exploring and find a favourite from our entire American whiskey collection…

SHOP ALL AMERICAN WHISKEY