https://youtu.be/tlqi7llIOTw

I’m a big fan of Clynelish and Lagavulin, two of my favourite distilleries that have ever existed in all of whisky.

Cutting a long story short… these whiskies are wonderful. They’re genuinely complex, classic examples of what these distilleries became famous for. However, there is a crux to this praise, and that comes in the way of a £310 price tag for two twelve year old whiskies. Stop me when you think this is getting absurd.

Price increases on special release bottles aren’t unusual, and I expect it when it comes to the really old, very rare, very unique examples of any type of whisky. But for two bottles of an average age that are classic examples of distillery character, where’s the price justification?

Brauerei Locher and Authena Present a Swiss Premiere:

First Swiss Whisky Embraces NFTs

In cooperation with the start-up Authena, Appenzell-based Brauerei Locher presents a Swiss first: Authena provides the “Karl Locher’s 60th – Founder’s Anniversary Reserve”, a 60-bottle limited edition of the Swiss Säntis Malt whisky, with both physical and Blockchain-based protection in the Metaverse. Thanks to NFT digital rights, each bottle becomes a unique collector’s item, with NFC tags making it counterfeit-proof. The renowned Appenzell artist, Martin Fuchs, has created an exclusive painting for this special edition, depicting 60 select scenes from the Appenzell region and showcasing the beauty of the Appenzellerland, home to the Säntis Malt whisky and founder Karl Locher. Buyers of an anniversary-edition whisky also obtain a corresponding NFT image which forms an integral part of the bottle and can only be traded freely in connection with it.

This special bottling by Brauerei Locher is offered as an exclusive, limited, and numbered edition of 60 bottles and is dedicated to Karl Locher himself, who turned 60 and initiated this project. The distillate from eight different exclusive casks, matured in the largest whisky cellars in Switzerland, was combined to produce an exquisite Single Malt whisky. Amongst other distillates, the “Karl Locher’s 60th Founder’s Anniversary Reserve” contains the very first Swiss single malt whisky. The new make spirit matured on the premises for at least two years in 80- to 140-year-old beer casks soaking up a fascinating history of our ancestors. Afterwards they get the second maturation in carefully selected cask of different origins, giving the whisky its distinctive flavour and colour. A personal statement by Karl Locher, the 60 whisky bottles tell company and family history in their own unique and authentic way.

Bottle and image belong inseparably together

“Innovation always starts in the mind with a bold idea and the courage to take risks. The idea for this limited edition arose in a conversation with Authena about novel technical possibilities of an NFT insert, in which real objects can be secured and inseparably encoded with virtual images. The picture accompanying the whisky shows an Appenzell landscape, where essential raw materials for the production of these exclusive whiskies come from,” says Karl Locher, owner of Brauerei Locher and founder of the renowned Säntis Malt. Karl Locher collaborates with 40 Swiss farmers who grow two-row barley in Appenzell’s and the Bündnerland region’s highlands (1100–1400 masl), which is used in the whisky alongside Alpstein spring water.

First Swiss whisky on the Blockchain

Information about the individual whisky bottles can be accessed at any time by using a smartphone to read the NFC tag applied to the bottle. At the heart of the system is Authena’s blockchain-based technology, which makes it virtually impossible to counterfeit exclusive bottles by protecting each individual unit with an NFC physical-digital. As soon as the bottle is opened and thus the seal is damaged, a corresponding message appears the next time the NFC tag is read by any user via smartphone.

This technical solution offers the greatest security to the clientele and at the same time enables permanent interaction between the involved parties and the final product. “This new crypto technology promises a new level of security for top global products. Our blockchain-based technology combined with physical-digital seals make product counterfeiting economically non-scalable and therefore unprofitable worldwide,” says Matteo Panzavolta, CEO of Authena AG.

Each of the special-edition bottles of the Karl Locher’s 60th Founder’s Anniversary Reserve”, strictly limited to 60, corresponds to an NFT. In this particular case, the NFT is proof of authenticity and ownership in the form of 1/60 of the 60-part Appenzell art piece by Martin Fuchs.

Each NFT image corresponds to a specific bottle and cannot be separated from it. As exclusive property of the owner of the respective bottle, it is recorded in a crypto wallet, making counterfeiting impossible. All owners become members of an exclusive circle at Brauerei Locher, giving them access to invitations to events, guided tours, special discounts and subscriptions.Brauerei Locher

Brauerei Locher AG is the most sustainable brewery in Switzerland and has been an independent, family-owned business for five generations. Diverse and high-quality specialist products are inspired by a drive for innovation and include way more than renowned beer specialities such as Quöllfrisch. Next to its core business, Brauerei Locher is the only Swiss brewery to employ ten people to develop, produce and market high-quality foodstuffs from by-products. https://www.appenzellerbier.ch/en/home.html

Brauerei Locher whisky

The production of high-proof beverages from grains or potatoes (staple foods) was illegal in Switzerland up until 1999. This law was repealed on July 1, 1999. Under the strict supervision of the Swiss Alcohol Board, Brauerei Locher had started producing the Appenzeller Säntis Malt whisky a year earlier and launched it in 2002. Both grains grown in the Swiss mountains and Alpstein spring water are used to produce this whisky. It is the only whisky worldwide that matures in beer casks that are up to 150 years old, embodying decades of brewery and tap tradition from over 100 breweries in Continental Europe. The distillates have been recognised on several occasions at international competitions, with the “Dreifaltigkeit” edition being voted the best European whisky by Jim Murray in 2010 with 95 out of 100 points.

Authena

Authena is the world’s leading provider of blockchain-based authenticity and traceability-as-a-service solutions that enable infrastructure-free end-to-end communication between producers and end consumers. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, the start-up was founded in 2018 and employs 22 people internationally. The company combats counterfeiting, parallel imports, and detours of e.g., pharmaceutical, and premium products worldwide. Using active and passive IoT devices, such as NFC physical-digital seals, brands can guarantee the authenticity of their products, detect unauthorized interactions with their goods in real time, and communicate their sustainability efforts directly to their consumers. Authena is committed to ecological and transparent production lines and sustainable trade systems.

Caption: Martin Fuchs, artist: 60-part “Wonder-Wanderland Appenzell”.

Landing page: https://saentismalt.ch/en/

NFT Collection in OpenSea: https://opensea.io/collection/saentis-malt-karl-locher-60th  

The 138th auction is now live with over 9000 bottles to choose from.  With an auction this large we thought we’d save you some scrolling time, so we’ve highlighted a few special expressions to get you started.

Macallan Red Collection 71, 74 & 78 Year Old 3 x 70cl

The Macallan Red Collection is one of the finest series of bottlings released in recent years.  This lot contains 3 of the oldest bottlings in the series, the 71 Year Old, 74 Year Old and the oldest bottling in the collection the 78 Year Old.  It’s rare to see even one of these come to the secondary market, so the chance to purchase all three in one fell swoop really doesn’t come around that often.  If this is something you’re collecting then this is an opportunity to purchase almost half the entire collection in one go.

Bowmore 1969 50 Year Old Vaults Series

This outstanding release is the final whisky in the acclaimed Vaults Series, the Bowmore 1969 50 Year Old. Matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, Bowmore themselves describe the flavour profile as ‘undefinable’ and boasting of an equally cryptic ‘enigma of flavours’.  This is the first time through one of our auctions for this grand old dram, and we expect there to be high demand for this vanishingly rare and exceedingly exquisite expression.

Springbank 1966 Local Barley Cask #441 75cl

The Campbeltown region, once known as ‘the whisky capital of the world’, produces some of the finest single malts in Scotland.  This Springbank 1966 Local Barley Cask #441 75cl is yet another spectacular dram from the Campbeltown distilling heavyweight.  Distilled way back in January 1966 this rare whisky was then held in a single sherry cask before finally being bottled in June 1990.  The 1966 vintages from the Springbank Local Barley Series have steadily grown in legend and stature in the whisky collecting world, using only local malted barley and bottled at a mighty 61.2% this dram is not for the fainthearted.

Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 Lalique Decanter

Finally, we’ll finish up with another remarkable expression from Speyside’s most famous distillery, the Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 Lalique Decanter.  We’ve had this through the auction a few times now and whenever we do it never fails to elicit a gasp or two from our staff.  As if the 1950 vintage malt wasn’t enough this breathtaking whisky is presented in a bespoke Lalique decanter which is itself housed in a weighty leatherbound almanac of the highest quality.

As well as these top-shelf drams we also have over 9000 other bottles to choose from.  With this many bottles in the auction there really is something for everyone so dive in to this month’s auction, start building your watchlist, and happy bidding to one and all!

Our Winter Limited Release Is Here!

Sugar Plume has been aged for 25 years in a Hogshead cask from Bunnahabhain Distillery. This extremely rare and covetable single cask single malt (only 66 bottles available to UK customers) was batched during the smoky trials under Burn Stewart’s ownership in 1997. Playfully named after the Sugar Plum Fairy, due to it’s sumptuous and saccharine notes, infused with a plume of smoke.

Nose: Met with delicate, light tropical sweetness and faintly maritime. Soft, balanced with a gentle integration of smoke.

Palate: Gentle warming reveals sweet citric notes which follow through to the rich, mouth filling palate.

Finish: Sweet, smoky malt evolves alongside the citrus; resulting in a sweet, smoky and citric sensation.

Each purchase comes with a beautiful gift box, making it the perfect gift for you or someone special. This product is only available to our UK customers at this time. Shipment and availability to the EU will be communicated soon.

SHOP LIMITED RELEASE

Legendary Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Program Seeking Proposals for Brand Refresh, Digital Platform

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced it is seeking proposals to refresh branding assets for its world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tourism attraction and develop a digital platform for the exceedingly successful Passport program.

The KDA created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour in 1999 to welcome visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most iconic Bourbon brands. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® was born in 2012 to showcase the burgeoning craft distilling movement.

Mandy Ryan, the KDA’s Director of Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences, said the last branding project happened in 2009 when only a handful of distilleries participated. “It’s been incredible to witness how much the tour has grown and evolved in the last 13 years,” she said.

“As we near the KBT’s 25th anniversary in 2024, we need a refreshed look, feel and voice reflecting today’s Kentucky Bourbon culture and the affluent and diverse visitors making their way to the birthplace of Bourbon.”

Additionally, the KDA is looking to develop a digital Passport program to meet modern visitors’ needs. The KDA created the Passport program in 2007 to encourage guests to explore multiple distilleries, with a free T-shirt as a reward for visiting them all.

Currently, visitors can purchase a physical Bourbon Trail™ Passport & Field Guide book containing information about KBT® and Craft Tour distillery attractions. Passport holders are able to “unlock” items and experiences that only they can purchase or enjoy.

“In 2007, smart phones had just come out so there wasn’t much need for digital assets. But with 42 distilleries to tour next year, people rely on digital platforms to plan their trip and navigate the Commonwealth’s scenic backroads.”

For the full RFP, click here: https://kybourbontrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/KBT-Brand-Refresh-RFP.pdf

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® are among the region’s most popular tourism attractions, with total attendance reaching nearly 2 million visits each year. Guests come from all 50 states and around the world.

The KBT® has advanced Kentucky’s hospitality industry through Bourbon-themed restaurants, hotels, tour companies and more. And, the KDA has led the way in modernizing Kentucky’s archaic alcohol laws to help distilleries reach a Napa Valley level of amenities and attraction.

“Survey research shows the KBT® brand is blessed with 91% name recognition and a 98% positivity rating,” Ryan said. “Our new image must uphold this legacy and move into the modern age, reflecting and welcoming the contemporary Bourbon consumer.”

Learn more at www.kybourbontrail.com and www.kybourbon.com.

 Questions about the RFP are due by Dec. 9, 2022, and will be compiled and disseminated by Dec. 15. Proposals are due on Jan. 10, 2023. The KDA anticipates making a final decision by Feb. 3.

Questions and proposals must be submitted via email to mandy@kybourbon.com.

For more information about the RFP, contact Mandy Ryan at mandy@kybourbon.com.

Founded in 1880, 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

Singular Treasures from the Most Dynamic Names in Bourbon

Anyone who’s even dipped a toe into the collectible bourbon market can tell you that pricing is … well, let’s say difficult. And that’s spirits buyers David Othenin-Girard and Andrew Whiteley spend so much time going directly to the source. In their extensive visits to America’s most interesting, innovative, and dynamic distillers, they’ve cultivated direct lines to some of the most unique and distinctive stocks available. As a result, we’re able to bring you countless spectacular bottlings, including collectible treasures, from the most coveted names in the game. David’s hand-selected roster below represents some of the finest bangs for your bourbon buck, starting with the rye and straight bourbon casks from the renaissance star Ezra Brooks for under $50. Denver’s LAWS Whiskey House is on the cutting edge of craft distilling, and the cask below is, as David describes it, “a dang fun barrel of whisky, different enough to feel exciting without straying out of the flavor category that I want when I reach for bourbon.” Of course, no serious bourbon enthusiast should miss anything put out by the inimitable Barrell Craft Spirits. The pair below highlights the incredible blending talents of their team in the Private Release C94A, as well as their keen ability to select the most impressive single barrels, as seen in the 5 Year Old Single Barrel. Where the market for big-name bourbon collectibles is hotter than ever, our exclusive casks provide all the singular character and style of those sought-after trophies. And yet, they’re available at pricing that invites anyone and everyone to jump into the rare bourbon game and find out just how much there is to discover.

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

Mannochmore 2007

Aged 12 Years

Bourbon Barrel

Cask No. 13211

Cask Strength 58.7%

£45.00 (for December only)
normal price £57.00
CLICK HERE TO BUY

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 473: Highland Park 15 Year Old Viking Heart

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries an Orkney malt. When he was guided through the shop after the tour at Highland Park, Mark’s eye fell on this ceramic bottle from Highland Park. He took it home because it was Dearly Beloved’s favorite of the tasting. Time to thoroughly test it himself.

https://youtu.be/Fc5xdEZBrDU

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS NEW GUEST RELEASE FOR THE RED COLLECTION

An expression of the brand’s rich history and heritage

The Macallan has introduced an exceptional new single malt whisky into The Red Collection – The Macallan 77 Years Old.

The Red Collection is a range of distinguished and rare single malt Scotch whiskies which captures The Macallan’s respect for tradition and craftsmanship. Inspired by the significance of the colour red throughout the history of the brand, it features a carefully curated selection of ongoing aged expressions and occasional high aged guest releases.

The Macallan 77 Years Old is an extraordinary, high aged single malt and the first guest release to be inaugurated into the collection since the launch of the range in 2020. An incredibly rare whisky dating back to 1945, it is among the world’s oldest Scotch whiskies and is one of the oldest bottlings ever released by the brand.

At the heart of The Red Collection is The Macallan 40 Years Old, The Macallan 50 Years Old and The Macallan 60 Years Old. Available in limited quantities globally, they are the oldest ongoing expressions ever offered by The Macallan. From time to time they are joined by special high aged guest releases, which commenced with The Macallan 71 Years Old, The Macallan 74 Years Old and The Macallan 78 Years Old in 2020 and are now followed by The Macallan 77 Years Old.

Together the revered bottlings reflect the pursuit of uncompromised excellence which has driven The Macallan since 1824.  The colour red has deep and long-standing significance for The Macallan. The red thread begins with Alexander Reid, the farmer and teacher who founded The Macallan in 1824. His surname means ‘the red one’ in Scots and was originally associated with red hair.

In 1903, owner Roderick Kemp launched The Macallan Choice Old range, reportedly shipped in cases labelled with distinctive red print to distinguish it from the brand’s existing whiskies, which featured black labelling. And in 1980, red featured strongly again in the release of The Macallan’s then oldest vintages as Allan Shiach, chairman at that time, tied a red ribbon around them to denote their age and value.

Distilled decades ago, in The Macallan’s signature curiously small copper stills, the ‘new make’ spirit was laid down in hand-picked oak casks and left to mature for 77 years. Over time, the carefully selected wood has shaped the unique character of the whisky, delivering the natural colour, distinctive aromas and full flavours of this aged single malt.

A beautiful balance of citrus fruits with hints of woodsmoke and antique oak open on the nose, paired with sweet notes of raisin and plump, chewy dates. Extremely rich and resinous, sumptuous baked custard, crystalised ginger, marmalade, sticky treacle and sweet smoke open on the palate, before moving into a medley of dried fruit. The finish is long with sweet woodsmoke, with the traditional flavour of Cherry Bakewell and the linger of tropical fruits.

In keeping with previous releases in the collection, the new expression is encased in a handcrafted oak presentation box, created in the UK, using the same sustainable European oak used to craft The Macallan’s oak casks. The box has been upholstered with sustainably sourced, soft red Scottish leather from Bridge of Weir Leather. The bottle itself has been hand finished and signed by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell.

Kirsteen said: “The Macallan 77 Years Old is an incredible new high aged guest expression for The Red Collection, which has been crafted from some of the world’s oldest and rarest casks. It is a peerless single malt whisky that has slowly matured over seven extraordinary decades until it reached peak perfection.

“This exquisite release reveals The Macallan’s legacy of incomparable craftsmanship, knowledge and skills nurtured by The Macallan’s master whisky makers, past and present. It is a great privilege to play a role in crafting the remarkable single malts which form The Red Collection today.”

A new animated film and series of illustrations have been created, depicting The Macallan Red Collection transcending from the past to the present, in collaboration with renowned Spanish painter and artist Javi Aznarez. The Spanish creator is acclaimed for his striking graphic art which has featured in several Hollywood films, including respected director Wes Anderson’s recent feature, The French Dispatch.

The Macallan 77 Years Old has an RRSP of US$87,000 / £65,500 for the 70cl bottle and will be available from The Macallan Estate Boutique and The Macallan’s global network of domestic and travel retail outlets and in countries around the world from November 2022. For further information visit www.themacallan.com 

Whisky Makers Notes

ABV: 43.2%

Colour: Golden oak and 100% natural.

Nose: Extremely rich and resinous, antique oak, raisins and dates, citrus fruits, cherry pie and hints of woodsmoke.

Palate: Pineapple, demerara sugar, crystalised ginger, treacle, intense dried fruits, woodsmoke, antique oak, marmalade, baked custard moving into dried fruits.

Finish: Long with sweet woodsmoke, Bakewell pie and tropical fruits. 

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.