NEW 18 YEARS OLD MARKS FETTERCAIRN’S

FIRST EVER SCOTTISH OAK RELEASE

Landmark moment for progressive whisky making

First release from Scottish Oak Programme, led by pioneering whisky maker Gregg Glass

First-ever 18-Year-Old latest innovation for the relaunched Fettercairn, which will be an annual release

First Fettercairn Scottish Oak Release with complete finish in Highland Scottish Oak

Fettercairn distillery today announced the arrival of a new dawn in its progressive whisky making with the launch of its inaugural 18 Years Old single malt and its first ever whisky finished in locally sourced Scottish Oak. The culmination of years of planning and innovation, Fettercairn 18 Years Old is the very embodiment of Fettercairn’s commitment to the future and to its local communities.

Fettercairn 18 Years Old has been realised from a refined marriage of American White Oak casks with an exceptionally hand-crafted finish in 100% Scottish Oak, sourced from the Scottish Highlands.  Progressive and innovative in style and substance, this whisky celebrates what makes Fettercairn different – from the surprisingly tropical -house style achieved by the distinctive copper cooling ring distillation; to their future focused, innovative approach to local sourcing and working with the land in Aberdeenshire – ‘The Garden of Scotland’.

Bottled perfect to be enjoyed at 46.8%, natural in colour and non-chill filtered, this single malt showcases a meticulous approach to cask management and whisky making.   With a character defined by richness and depth, it plays on mature fruit flavours, toasted oak, fresh patisserie aromas and rich mouthfeel with soft spice balances cacao and berry fruits.

Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker, explains: “Fettercairn 18 is a culmination of an approach to whisky making I have developed across a number of years. This first release reflects the dedication not just of myself, but of our partners ‘from Forest to Field’, who each played a role in rekindling the skills required to harvest Scottish Oak. At Fettercairn we are passionate about the potential of Scottish Oak and the unique flavour characteristics it offers to the whisky maker.”

Brought to life through our ground-breaking Scottish Oak programme and calling on a 100% finish in Scottish oak sourced from the Scottish Highlands, this whisky represents a long-term vision coming to life.  Born from an initiative which extends far beyond cask production to the creation of a circular economy and the future-proofing Scottish Oak for the next generation of whisky makers. 

www.fettercairnwhisky.com

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TASTING NOTES

Colour: Golden amber

Nose: Sugared almonds, baking spices and tropical sweetness of passion fruit and guava

Taste: Exotic syruped fruits, patisserie sugars, brioche and spices with soft hints of berry fruits

Finish: Soft spice, cacao and natural vanilla

About Fettercairn 

Driven by a progressive ethos at the heart of our distilling philosophy since 1824, today Fettercairn Distillery lives by a long-standing commitment to unfettered thinking.

We’re not like other distilleries and we’ve never been afraid to tread our own path.  It’s only by defying convention, tradition and expectation, we can adopt an enlightened and progressive approach.

Take our cooling ring, our home grown Scottish oak and single estate whiskies, the special collaboration with 200 local farmers, the Warehouse 2 Collection. And not forgetting the unicorn on our bottle!

Our vision is future facing, so we don’t need to look back to move forward.  But ultimately, all of this leads to an unwavering commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for whisky making.

We are Fettercairn; the home of enlightened whisky making. 

www.fettercairnwhisky.com

About Gregg Glass- Master Whisky Maker

Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker.

Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.

Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.

Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio. 

Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay

Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte & Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte & Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.

A Long-Awaited Bourbon Release Unlike Any Other
Fortuna Sour Mash Small Batch #1 (Bottled 9/22) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($84.99)
“…this has all the presence and character of the great small batches from the big dogs but adds a level of nuance and complexity that’s rarely seen in modern bourbon.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

This might be the most anticipated craft bourbon brand release of the year, and for so many good reasons. The team at the trailblazing bottler Rare Character is responsible for some of the most compelling new bourbons hitting the market, and Fortuna might just be the pinnacle effort of the whole project. Painstakingly recreated by master blender Pablo Moix from a legendary 19th-century whiskey of the same name, it isn’t merely a new run of juice made according to an original recipe. Instead, Pablo composes each six-barrel batch guided only by his own palate’s impression of the original Fortuna spirit itself, drawn from his own personal collection. It’s artisanal blending in the most authentic fashion. Distilled by one of the legacy Kentucky distillers (we can’t say by whom), the result is a sour mash spirit unlike any other. As David Othenin-Girard declares, “I’d be genuinely shocked if anyone else is taking so much time and energy to put together such a delicious product.” Supremely balanced yet decadent and packed with old-school bourbon character, Fortuna is everything we thought it would be when we first heard of its impending release. New brand releases with this kind of pedigree are unicorns, and this first batch of Fortuna is very likely set for legendary status down the road, so savvy collectors will want to take full advantage of the very first offering in California, before it inevitably sells out.

Fortuna Sour Mash Small Batch #1 (Bottled 9/22) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($84.99)

K&L Notes: The Fortuna Brand was once one of the most sought-after and well regarded names in Kentucky. Founded by Phil Hollenbach in the 1870s and distilled at the once famous Glencoe Distillery, the Fortuna brand is finally back. Reimagined by the Rare Character team, Pablo Moix, Andy Shapira and Pete Nevenglosky, the goal of the brand has remained the same for more than a century—to share “the taste of good fortune.” Hollenbach was a legendary gentleman. Having emigrated from Germany in 1869, he was running a successful blender and bottler by the late 1870s. His partners, the Stitzle Bros., distilled Fortuna and Glencoe at the facility in Louisville until at least the early 1900s. The modern story is much the same. The greatest bourbon brands are great because of the exacting commitment to quality of their owners. There’s no question that Rare Character has been able to source top-tier juice for this special product. Beyond the quality of the spirit, each batch is carefully blended by Pablo Moix, one of the world’s most experienced palates, to mimic the character of an original bottling of the Fortuna brand. That’s right—Pablo meticulously puts each six-barrel batch head to head with the original Glencoe juice to get as close as humanly possible to that legendary pour. This is the first batch to be released and was bottled in September of 2022. We’re proud to be selling Fortuna in California, and we’re extremely excited to share this special product with our customers.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: September 21, 2022

The story behind the Fortuna brand is only eclipsed by the incredible quality of the spirit in the bottle. Re-established by Pablo Moix of the prominent Rare Character bottler, the original brand was once one of Kentucky’s most sought-after. Phil Hollenbach created the brand to share his “good fortune” with the world, and now we’re extremely grateful and lucky to do the same. Each tiny, six-barrel batch is hand-blended by Pablo. While he can’t tell us who is distilling for him, he can tell us who is not. The product is produced “on the shelf,” referring to the famous limestone shelf that makes bourbon country, and its water, so special. It’s not a sweet mash or a pot still, so not being sourced from any number of new distillers. So that leaves one of the legacy distillers, which to be honest is absolutely incredible on its own. There are no new brands that get access to stocks from legacy distillers—even ones that seem to have access from certain places are working through limited brokered stocks. But beyond the access that Fortuna has garnered, Pablo’s incredible breadth of tasting knowledge and experience is unprecedented. Here, Mr. Moix tries his hand at blending, and I have to say he’s hit an absolute home run. Guided by samples of the original stocks, which come out of his personal collection, Pablo carefully mingles these stocks with the goal of capturing the original character of this historic whiskey brand. I’d be genuinely shocked if anyone else is taking so much time and energy to put together such a delicious product. Let’s taste it! Right out of the bottle the nose is absolutely singing. Big, sweet aromas of marzipan, vibrant red cherry, caramel candies, Seville orange oil, roasted clove, and fresh-ground cinnamon. The nose is absolutely enchanting and exemplifies the goal of recreating the flavor profile you might expect from a pre-pro bottling. It even seems to have that little twinge of dustiness that I always associate with whiskies that have been in the bottle for many decades, albeit not to an overwhelming degree. On the palate, an extremely velvety texture and rounded mouthfeel, with even more cherries, candied now, plus gingerbread, sweet vanilla bean, brown sugar syrup, and baking spices of all kinds. The finish is long and very easy. No tannin or burn coming through whatsoever, but the ultra-sweet caramel character is tempered by a slight spicy bite. The key takeaway here is balance! So many whiskeys we drink these days are just absolute bombs, and this has all the presence and character of the great small batches from the big dogs but adds a level of nuance and complexity that’s rarely seen in modern bourbon. I guess that’s why they call it Rare Character. We’re all so FORTUNATE to have Pablo bringing these incredible barrels to our shelves and proud to be Fortuna’s first customer in California.

Michael Pires | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 23, 2022

This is one of the best sour mash bourbons I have ever tasted! The higher proof and oily texture give this bourbon more body, making it pleasant, balanced, and complex. Aromas of caramel, stone fruit, curaçao, and oak spice shine, and a little water opens this bourbon up nicely. A great sipper that would pair fantastically with a cigar.

Austin Jenkins | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 23, 2022

Wow, it’s not very often we get to encounter something so “new” and so refined. New is in quotation marks because Fortuna has a history. With that being said, however, this bottle is nothing to scoff at. The aromas just off the initial pour alone are enough to get the mouth watering; brown sugar and maple, with the most subtle char. The flavors are heavy on the warmed spice side but not so intense to the point of unbalance. It’s chased by caramel for a long-lasting finish. The texture is extremely silky. Even now as I’m writing this, I’m considering going back for a second dram. This is a legendary bottle produced by a soon-to-be (if not already) legendary team. I foresee this bottle sweeping out in the coming days. And considering at the time of posting this the juice was bottled only one day ago, so get it while it’s hot—or rather, get it while you can.

Illya Haase | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 22, 2022

I love Bourbon! I also lean towards high proof and a high-rye mash bill. But, sometimes one comes across my desk and shakes me out of my preference. The Fortuna shattered that preference! One word: balance. Water need not apply. From start to finish, it’s near perfection. It opens up with white honeysuckle just like the kind that we used to pick off the bushes in Kentucky. Fresh-cut wood and roasted peanuts. Candy caramel and butterscotch. That is just the nose. First sip is lively and bright with flavors of spearmint and baking spice. Mid-palate is heavy with wonderful array of creamy caramel and bright cherries. Balanced flavors, where nothing over takes the other. The finish is long with that Kentucky hug right down in the chest. Even though it is not a crazy high proof, it has an amazingly lengthy finish. I can hear it now. Well, “it is only a six year.” Like I say all the time, “I don’t really care how old it is, it has to be good!” And damn, this is good!

ARDNAMURCHAN AD/09.22

The latest cask strength offering from Ardnamurchan distillery has arrived, crafted from Highland single malt distilled in 2016 and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. This latest expression has a higher proportion of heavily peated spirit, perfect for the colder months ahead!

We’ve just sampled some of this latest batch and can confirm it’s another stellar release from Ardnamurchan distillery.

Available now and as ever, if you have any questions, please just get in touch.

Slàinte Mhath

SHOP ARDNAMURCHAN

Staff Pick #7
James is back for our 7th staff pick.

Ben Nevis 2012 9YO

Ben Nevis 2012 9YO TyndrumWhisky Exclusive Cask #1683

James has selected our very own Ben Nevis for this weeks staff pick. Their whisky creations team have filled this rich highland malt from Ben Nevis Distillery into a specially selected barrique sourced from the iconic Premier-cru vineyards in Pauillac, Bordeaux. Maturing for an additional three and a half years within the prestigious red wine cask, has produced an opulent style of Ben Nevis like no other – a coming together of sublime Scottish spirit and prestigious French oak.

View More >> £72.90

Their whisky creations team have filled this rich highland malt from Ben Nevis Distillery into a specially selected barrique sourced from the iconic Premier-cru vineyards in Pauillac, Bordeaux. Maturing for an additional three and a half years within the prestigious red wine cask, has produced an opulent style of Ben Nevis like no other – a coming together of sublime Scottish spirit and prestigious French oak.

Murray McDavid’s whisky team have selected this outstanding cask of single malt exclusively for TyndrumWhisky. Expertly matured within Their traditional dunnage warehouses at Coleburn and bottled at an untamed strength of 57.6%. This special selection is amongst their most distinctive drams and boldest creations.

Initially matured in a bourbon hogshead before spending 3 and a half years in a Premier-Cru Classé cask.Cask #1683. Distilled 2012. Aged for 9 years. Non chill filtered and natural colour. One of only 324 bottles available exclusively from TyndrumWhisky.

Tasting notes:

Nose: rich malt, blossom, fruity.

Palate: Chocolate, currants, spice.

Finish: Long, creamy malt, floral.

Distilled at Ben Nevis Distillery and bottled by Murray McDavid exclusively for TyndrumWhisky.

LAPHROAIG

CASK STRENGTH – BATCH 015

ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

70cl | 56.5% ABV

Original Cask Strength is an uncompromising and genuine taste. It’s a powerful, pungent and rich character where the peat smoke, heather and sea salt notes of Laphroaig run wild. Laphroaig don’t chill-filter their Original Cask Strength, and don’t reduce its natural strength. So what you pour is what they draw from the barrel — the heart of charred seasoned oak barrels, blue peat smoke and nutty barley, in a truly natural experience.

£73.95

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NOSE

Sweet cereals with biscuit notes, fresh oak, smoked cedar and Manuka honey. Amsterdam pipe tobacco, shoe polish and old leather combined with a touch of waxy church candle, vanilla cream, nutmeg and oak extracts.

TASTE

Sweet and spicy, with burnt oak staves, barbecued marshmallows, toffee and sea salt, vanilla and Belgium caramel waffles. Roasted coffee fudge cream on sticky toffee pudding, with a hint of white pepper and crushed cinnamon.

FINISH

Floral with spicy oak tannins, iodine and sea salt.

ralfy review 946 – Braeval (Braes Of Glenlivet) 13yo @55%vol: (North Star)

THE MACALLAN RELEASES NEW COLLECTION TO CELEBRATE

THE 60^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JAMES BOND FILM FRANCHISE 

The Macallan James Bond 60^th Anniversary Release has been unveiled to mark The Six Decades of James Bond films.

The remarkable collection comprises six limited edition bottles encasing a single malt whisky in unique packs, each featuring an original illustrative design and colour to denote the decade it represents. The distinctive packaging brings to life the creative development process of the films in a behind the scenes exploration of the James Bond archives.

A celebration of 007 and The Macallan as modern innovators linked by their Scottish heritage, the release showcases a timeless and graceful spirit balanced by incredible strength and depth of character.

The exceptional single malt whisky has been created by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell to reflect the enduring character of James Bond, a force of nature defined by his Scottish heritage, who carries himself with modesty and humility. Like James Bond, the expression exudes a sense of style and maturity which has evolved over the years. It has a natural colour of Suisse gold and an ABV of 43.7% as an homage to James Bond’s agent number, 007 and is consistent across all six packs in the collection.

The distinct set tells the story of innovation over 60 years and the pioneering character attributes of James Bond and The Macallan.

Scotland is renowned for its inventors and 007’s gadgets are a hallmark of the films’ popularity, while The Macallan has unwavering character, deep roots, and a continuous pursuit to innovate.

James Bond’s roots are unmistakeably British – his heritage Scottish – yet he is the very definition of a man of the world. Born to a Scottish father, Andrew Bond from Glencoe and a Swiss mother, Monique Delacroix from the Canton de Vaud, he spent much of his childhood at Skyfall Lodge – his family’s Scottish Estate in Glencoe.

In recent years, The Macallan has become James Bond’s whisky of choice, reflecting his appreciation for the finer things in life. They have shared many moments together on screen, including in Skyfall when James Bond drinks The Macallan Fine & Rare 1962 as an ode to the 50^th anniversary.

Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan, said: “This October, James Bond will celebrate its 60^th anniversary, making it the longest running and one of the most loved franchises in the world of entertainment, comprising 25 films over six decades and six lead actors over time. The Macallan is James Bond’s whisky of choice and as two renowned global brands, we share many synergies, most notably as modern innovators linked by our Scottish heritage.”

The Macallan has also created a series of immersive experiences to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of James Bond including a unique exhibition – The Macallan in Cinema – at The Macallan Estate, which will take viewers through The Macallan’s history on film and transport them through the six decades of James Bond. A selection of films from across the years will also be shown at The Macallan Estate during a series of exclusive screenings.

The Macallan James Bond 60^th Anniversary Release will have an RRSP of US$800 / £600 and will be available from The Macallan Online Boutique, The Macallan Estate Boutique, the global network of domestic and travel retail Boutiques, and in premium and specialist retailers and bars in countries around the world from September 2022. There will be limited availability worldwide. For further information, visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Maker’s Notes:

The Macallan James Bond 60^th Anniversary Release

ABV: 43.7%

Nose: Fresh and vibrant notes of lemon and lime, a sprinkle of sherbet, leading into a sweet vanilla and coconut, with a hint of dried fig and raisin.

Palate: Orange zest and fizzy sherbet with a lemon freshness, gentle oak and subtle ginger spice, leading into a deep dark chocolate, figs and baked apple tart with a honey drizzle.

Finish: Sweet and long with complex layers.  

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 EON Productions

EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/ Wilson family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company that has made the James Bond films since 1962 and together with Danjaq controls all worldwide merchandising. For more information, visit 007.com & 007Store.com

Five New MASTERS OF SCOTCH Announced by THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS

Speyside, Rothes Glen Castle

Group photo of judges

The COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS, a U.S. education body dedicated to whisk(e)y, has conducted its first global MASTER OF SCOTCH examination and named 5 new MASTERS OF SCOTCH in a historic announcement.

Last week, a remarkable group of candidates and judges took residence at Rothes Glen Castle in Speyside, Scotland, to undergo 3 intensive days of masterclasses, tasting and examination that led to the identification of an inaugural class of MASTER OF SCOTCH titleholders.

The examination included a comprehensive blind tasting of single malt scotches, a detailed oral theory exam, as well as a 6-question essay exam. Candidates were examined on all aspects of the world of Scotch whisky, covering history, production, regions, trade, tasting, presentation, and more.

The international judging panel consisted of the Council’s advisory board members, featuring globally acclaimed whiskey authorities. This year’s judges in residence were Tobias Gorn, Charles MacLean, Arthur Nägele, Hans Offringa, Bernhard Schäfer, as well as Rebecca Offringa, who was officially appointed as a new advisory board member during the event. A majority of this judge group holds Keeper or Master of the Quaich designations.

Judges evaluated all candidates independently and elected new MASTERS OF SCOTCH based on agreed-upon standards developed and upheld by the Council. To become a candidate in the MASTER OF SCOTCH program, individuals must first pass the CERTIFIED SCOTCH PROFESSIONAL exam, and in a second step pass the CERTIFIED WHISKEY SPECIALIST exam to demonstrate global knowledge. The study program is open to all individuals, around the world, through enrollment at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

Today, THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS congratulates the following professionals on their monumental achievement in Scotch whisky:

Daniel Crowell, Master of Scotch

Dan Crowell is the Glenmorangie brand ambassador for the United States. With nearly 30 years of spirits experience, Mr Crowell is one of the most highly decorated professionals active in the whisky industry today, holding awards from countless respected institutions. Mr Crowell lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

Jerad Justesen, Master of Scotch

Jerad Justesen has been a dedicated analyst and advanced student of Single Malt Scotch for several decades, with outstanding articulation of flavor components, as well as deep competence in the causality of production methods. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Guy Sporbert, Master of Scotch

For many years, Guy Sporbert has served as a Scotch Ambassador at the Westin Kierland Resort’s Scotch Library, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr Sporbert gathered several decades of expertise in the spirits business, after transitioning from a accomplished career with the U.S. Air Force.

John Wabeck, Master of Scotch

John Wabeck serves as the beverage director for the Richard Deshantz Restaurant Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr Wabeck has dedicated several years of professional study to the understanding and appreciation of Scotch whisky.

Samuel Wright, Master of Scotch

Sam Wright has studied the production, history and profiles of Scotch whisky for several decades while continuing an accomplished career in engineering. Mr Wright lives in Colorado.

As of September 10th, 2022, the above individuals have joined the COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS as members for life, subject to the Council’s code of ethics. Those candidates who did not pass all parts of the exam will be supported and mentored by the Council toward success in later examinations.

The COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS currently consists of 36 full members, including existing advisory board members, executives, and the new MASTERS OF SCOTCH. Since 2019, the Council has developed and served thousands of certification candidates, located in 45 different countries.

The next MASTER OF SCOTCH exam will take place in Bardstown, Kentucky, between April 25th and April 28th of 2023, at a private ranch in the heart of Bourbon country.

During those days, the first global MASTER OF BOURBON examination will also be held on site, judged again by the globally respected members of The COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS. The Council expects a total of 25 candidates to be examined at the Master level during this event.

Enrollment is now open for the 2023 Master examinations. To be eligible for either exam, candidates must first take levels 1 and 2 of the Council’s certification program.

All program and contact information can be found at www.WhiskeyMasters.org

The full list of board members is published at www.whiskeymasters.org/whiskey-masters

SHIRAKAWA (SILENT)

1958 VINTAGE

JAPANESE SINGLE MALT WHISKY

70cl | 49% ABV

Discover the remarkable story of Japan’s rarest Single Malt Whisky, from the long lost Shirakawa distillery.

Shirakawa Distillery was one of the pioneers of Japanese malt Whisky production, but the Whisky was never bottled as a Single Malt. The majority was used as a blending component for Takaro Shuzo’s King Whisky. The distillery produced malt Whisky until 1969, and was demolished in 2003.

In 2019, a vat of unblended Single Malt Whisky was discovered at one of Takara Shuzo’s production facilities in Japan. The Whisky was distilled in 1958, and was matured in oak (probably Mizunara) before being transferred into ceramic jars, and eventually stainless steel.

The discovery was the result of an extensive search through Takara Shuzo’s records and facilities. It is unlikely that any more exists, making this the first, last, and only Single Malt Whisky from Shirakawa Distillery.

THE TASTE OF LIQUID HISTORY

Award winning and internationally acclaimed Whisky writer Dave Broom presents his tasting notes for Shirakawa 1958 Japanese Single Malt:

Nose: Resinous, slight dry earth, dried citrus peels, a hint of wax. Aromatic. A drop of water makes it more vibrant and also shows clear maturity as well as a hint of incense. Exotic.

Palate: The palate is expansive with a succulent texture and hints of fragrant grass. Fruits emerge in the middle. Layered, spiced, and dry. Water brings out ash from an incense burner, a satisfying mouthfeel and surprisingly perky acidity.

Finish: Nicely balanced and persistent on the finish which picks up mint flavouring and makes it more camphor-like.

£25,000

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Meet The Maker:
Drew Mayville Master Blender of Buffalo Trace Tasting

Join us on Friday 30th of September for a peek behind the scenes of one of America’s most prestigious  whiskey brands!

We will be hosted by Buffalo Trace’s  one and only Drew Mayville, Master Blender and Director of Quality of Buffalo Trace. The only distillery to win “Distillery of the Year” an unmatched seven times!

At Sazerac, Drew has worked hands on with all the award-winning products produced at Buffalo Trace in addition to the other highly acclaimed spirit categories of the company. Drew is active in overseeing a number of award-winning products produced at various locations for Sazerac, and promoting and educating the public on some of the world’s finest spirits. His passion is not only to make the finest quality products but also to delight and excite the consumer with his work.

About the Evening

Friday 30th of September

19:30 – 21:00

£120 ticket price

You will be walked through this amazing line up by the man responsible for the blend in each bottle. You will also be given a sneak peak at a new blend that Drew has created.

Book Your Ticket!