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The venerable Serge over at Whisky Fun recently featured a number of our TWB excusive whiskies including our Annandale, Glasgow, North British, Lindores and our Apollo 17.
Knob Creek “Single Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Barrel #15320 (Distilled 10/18/12, Warehouse K, Floor 04, Rick 032) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View
Nothing beats in-person selections from the rickhouses in Kentucky. After a pandemic enforced hiatus, the spirits buying team finally got back to the James B. Beam distillery in Clermont and selected a couple of winners from an enticing array of rolled out barrels.
Blended whisky, for whatever reason, always seems to sit in a predisposed spot in some drinkers minds. We can put this down to years of marketing, or snobbish attitudes that still remain in whisky. The latter is dying out though, so that’s a plus.
Toki was introduced to the whisky market at an interesting and high demand point in the current world of Japanese whisky. Insane demand and the seemingly slow drip of Japanese whisky, even as a concept, is still reaching people. As a result, people want the best, the most awarded and what experts recommend. But alot of Suntory and Nikka’s most lauded products are now obselete for the everyday enjoyer of whisky.
Enter Toki. A combination of Chita, Hakushu and a few other products in the Suntory line, the idea of the style is to be light, fresh and very easy to drink. Can confirm that it hits these points rather well, and it’s affordable. Which isn’t a word that is associated with Japanese whisky too much these days.
Think of this product as a perfectly fine neat spirit, not expensive at all, but does the job well in the Japanese style. But it’s a very good quality mixer that has a huge versatility, but you can’t go wrong with a classic highball of this and gingerale, little slice of apple or lime as a garnish. Perfect.
It’s not going to blow your mind, but it won’t blow apart yout wallet if you want a Japanese whisky that hits all the trademark style points.
DANCING GOAT DISTILLERY COMPLETES EXPANSION
Award-Winning Distillery Begins New Tours and Experiences
Sept. 8, 2022 – Cambridge, Wis. Dancing Goat Distillery is proud to announce that the long-awaited expansion is complete and the grounds are now ready for eager guests to visit. The project included the construction of its first open-air rickhouse in 2021 — which currently houses more than 6,000 barrels. The expansion concluded in July of this year, doubling the distillery footprint from 17,000 square feet to a remarkable 34,000 square feet.
Thanks to the new square footage, new Vendome 18” continuous column, and three 6,000 gallon open top fermenters feeding the still, whiskey production capacity has quadrupled, all the while maintaining the award-winning quality that Dancing Goat Distillery is known for.
Dancing Goat Distillery’s new space has contributed immensely to product release, as well. The additional 17,000 square feet allows for on-site bottling for the popular Limousin Rye retailer single barrel program. The program enables retailers to sample whisky with a range of profiles and hand-select spirits based on their store’s needs, catering to both their new and seasoned whiskey customers.
Dancing Goat Distillery is excited to welcome guests to explore the new grounds. From spirit production to hands-on distilling, Dancing Goat offers a range of tour options for every kind of spirit enthusiast. For more information, read below.
Come out and step into our production facility for a one-hour tour. Guests will be walked throughout the production floor learning how the Dancing Goat turns grain into one of our signature spirits. $10 per person. Must be 21 years of age and provide a valid ID.
During this ninety-minute experience, guests will be walked throughout the production floor learning how the Dancing Goat turns grain into one of our signature spirits. After an in-depth discussion of how spirits and produced and aged, you’ll step into our spirits vault for a guided sampling. Come on in and taste a little, learn a lot, and share stories that have been crafted for decades. $20 per person. Price includes a special Dancing Goat Glencairn glass. Must be 21 years of age or older and provide a valid ID.
WHERE
Dancing Goat Distillery
909 Vineyard Drive
Cambridge, WI 53523
608-400-5289
WHEN
Reservations encouraged. For walk-ins to be accepted, guests must be on time and the experience must have space available.
To make a reservation, go to www.dancinggoat.com or visit our Tock page online at www.exploretock.com
Follow @DancingGoatDistillery on Facebook and Instagram for updates and new experiences.
Milroy’s of Soho Shop
Milroy’s of Soho was founded over fifty years ago by John ‘Jack’ Milroy in 1964. John had begun his career at Kettners Wine Shop (now sadly closed) and left despite an attractive offer to stay. Instead, he decided to start his own wine shop just up the road at 3 Greek Street where we remain to this day.
The cellar bar has been reinstated plus we have a whisky bar on the ground floor. We have retained our excellent selection of whisky from Scotland and around the world, plus a great range of other spirits, wine and beer. The staff remain as knowledgeable and passionate as ever. Begin your whisky story with us today!
Milroy’s Hidden Treasure
Come down in Greek Street to discover the Milroy’s of Soho shop. It is always worth to pop down to discover the hidden treasure on the shelves of Milroy’s. We have over 350 bottle open behind the bar and another 200 available on the shelves for you to purchase.
The on-line website might be running out of some gems, but not to worry, you might be able to find them still on to the shelves of the Milroy’s of Soho shop.
Milroys of Soho
3 Greek Street
W1D 4NX
Opening Times:
Whisky Shop
Mon-Fry 10am
Sat 11am
Whisky Bar
Mon-Sat 3pm
The Vault
Mon-Sat 6pm
HEAVEN-SENT
Cask No. 12.62
Age: 31 years
Cask: First Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butt
£385.00
An aroma of incense of the most valued scented aloeswood which noblemen of the ancient Japanese imperial court called ‘Kyara Kongo’ and translates into ‘Diamond Kyara’ filled the room. On the palate somewhat heavy and dark but at the same time fruity and light as we envisaged watching the show ‘How the Andalusian Horses Dance’, an equestrian ballet accompanied by Spanish music in the Royal Andalusian School in Jerez. With a drop of water, we imagined the beating wings of a hummingbird, gracile, filigree, a playful elegance and seemingly without the slightest effort. A heaven-sent enjoyment you will not easily forget. After twenty-nine years in an ex-oloroso butt, we transferred this whisky into a first fill PX butt.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information
This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!
Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video
Just a relaxed reminder that you only have a few days left to get your ticket for this year’s Maltstock. You have until 18 September, so pop into our online shop now: https://www.maltstock.com/shop
It’s going to be a fantastically relaxed weekend! We’re really looking forward to it. You have as many as 4 very relaxed masterclasses to choose from on Friday. And we’re hosting a record breaking 32 “Drinks with…” sessions on Saturday, presented by no less than 12 different speakers. Saturday night will be the moment of truth, can you believe all the great stories and drams with Billy, Jess, Mark, Connas and Tatsuya! Reliable sources tell us they are having a blast preparing for this unique session.
NEW IN AT
THE WHISKY EXCHANGE
Discover the fourth release in Fettercairn’s Warehouse 2 series, abundant with tropical notes and soft spice, the 12th edition of Kilchoman 100% Islay, a balance of fresh fruit, caramel sweetness and peat smoke, and a wave of whiskies from the Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks series. For fans of rich and spicy single pot still whiskey, Red Spot 15 Year Old is back in stock, along with the mellow and sweetly smoky Caol Ila 18 Year Old for the Islay enthusiasts.
Derbyshire’s White Peak Distillery breaks record with inaugural whisky at auction for local charities
Derbyshire’s first ever whisky Distillery, White Peak, has sold its first 12 bottles of its inaugural Wire Works Whisky release for over £15,000 at auction for charity.
The individually-numbered bottles of Wire Works Whisky – Derbyshire’s first ever single malt whisky – have been auctioned via Whisky Auctioneer, with all of the proceeds going to local Derbyshire charities. Wire Works Whisky bottle no. 1 individually sold for an incredible hammer price of £9,900 – the highest price paid at public auction for a single bottle of English whisky*.
The auction ran from 26th August – 5th September and invited whisky lovers from the UK and beyond to place their bids individually for each of the 12 bottles of Wire Works Whisky. During the 10-day period, over 370 bids were received from bidders across the UK, as well as from Denmark, Singapore, China and Andorra.
White Peak released just over 5,000 numbered bottles of its long-awaited first release Wire Works Whisky single malt in February this year and the whisky received an extraordinary response from the Distillery’s loyal followers and supporters, selling out both in stores and online in just a few hours. Since then, the Distillery has released four more whiskies under the Wire Works label with each one receiving significant acclaim within the whisky community.
Since being founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team Max & Claire Vaughan – both originally from Derbyshire – the Distillery continues to go from strength to strength, having won awards for its Distillery visitor experiences, white spirits and – of course its well-known and much sought after single malt whisky.
Claire Vaughan from White Peak said: “We are absolutely delighted and humbled by the response to this charity auction. To have raised over £15,000 for our charity partners alongside Whisky Auctioneer is very special…. not to mention a special moment for English whisky! We hope that the proceeds can help to support our local community and some fantastic environmental projects for both Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and The Peak District National Park Foundation.”
The charities will receive 100% of the auction proceeds, as well as the auctioneers fees waived by Whisky Auctioneer. The Distillery has previously worked with both charities on numerous fundraising bottlings and activities, including limited-edition spirit releases and local environmental initiatives.
Joe Wilson, Head Curator and Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “This is an exciting result for both Whisky Auctioneer and White Peak Distillery. To break the world record in such a fast-growing category with a distillery’s first release is momentous and we congratulate Max, Claire and their colleagues. This historic moment challenges the traditional dominance of established regions such as Scotland and Ireland in the single malt category, and we look forward to the future development of England’s vibrant whisky industry. We are proud to have supported the White Peak team in raising over £15,000 for charity with the inclusion of Whisky Auctioneer’s donation of £1,394.30.”
For those wanting to visit White Peak, the Distillery is open Monday – Saturday for shop visitors, with tours available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For availability, timings and to book, please visit www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk
*according to research from publicly available data.
Provenance, heritage and flavour are at the heart of the Distillery ethos and whisky-making process, and its home at the dramatic former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works is celebrated within the whisky brand. The Distillery’s woodland home on the banks of the River Derwent has a long history of innovation and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wire Works Whisky celebrates its rich homeland and the brewing heritage for which the region is so renowned. Every aspect of production and maturation is done onsite at the Distillery to ensure that the unique location and environment can play their part in the provenance of the final spirit.
The lightly-peated single malt whisky has been created using a combination of English un-peated and peated malted barley. A flavour-focused four-day fermentation uses a unique yeast Blend incorporating live yeast sourced from a local Peak District brewery.
The Distillery’s traditional, bespoke copper pot stills have been hand-built by McMillan and are run slowly to help produce the desired flavour profile. The final spirit is matured in a variety of carefully selected first fill oak casks, including ex-bourbon, virgin and STR (re-conditioned casks that have been shaved, toasted and re-charred), adding the final rich flavours to the whisky.
Whisky Auctioneer is the global market leader and trusted authority on the buying and selling of whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Perth, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its expertise and knowledge combined with its auction platform to increase interest and passion in the whisky and spirits community.
Whisky Auctioneer endeavours to make the secondary market more accessible for buyers and sellers of any background and demographic, wherever in the world they are based. Its monthly global auctions feature the most comprehensive selection of old, rare and collectible whiskies and spirits online, and are unmatched in volume, variety of bottles offered and prices achieved. Whisky Auctioneer is passionate about connecting these bottles with those who share their passion and actively support their customers in their aims, whether consuming, collecting or investing.
In February 2021, the online auction house made history during the iconic sale of The Perfect Collection, when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old sold for a hammer price of £1 million. This was the first time a single bottle of whisky has sold at an online-only auction for one million pounds.
Whisky Auctioneer became the first online auction house to sell a million-pound bottle and outperformed the nearest traditional auction house by 200% in value from spirits sales in 2020, showcasing the move that whisky collectors, investors and drinkers have already made online and firmly establishing their leading position within the modern secondary whisky market.
The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe. It also opened its first European base in Germany in 2020.
The business’ Founder, Iain McClune, was listed as ‘One to Watch’ in The Telegraph’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2020 programme.
About Derbyshire Wildlife Trust:
They are a small charity with big ideas, uniquely positioned to lead change in Derbyshire. They are bold, grassroots-oriented and local whilst also being part of a strong, cohesive movement, the Wildlife Trusts.
Their goals by 2030 are as follows:
For more information and to support The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust visit: www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/support
About The Peak District National Park Foundation:
An independent charity that helps to care for the Peak District National Park and to make it accessible for all.
Their vision is a National Park enjoyed and conserved by everyone, forever. It should be a vibrant, colourful, and safe home for the wildlife we all love. Their right to enjoy the National Park was hard won by ordinary folk. In that spirit, let’s fight to make it ever more accessible, for everyone to enjoy. But it is also unique and very fragile; we must always strive to keep it special. This is what they believe – and why they exist. With your support, they can start to make good things happen.
OUR GLENFARCLAS 1992 KWM 30TH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY CASK IS HERE!
You don’t want to miss out on this one… This 29-year-old cask strength single cask Glenfarclas almost didn’t even happen… Which would have been a shame, as this could be one of the best casks we have ever bottled!
Glenfarclas 1992 KWM 30th Anniversary Family Cask– 52.6% – 29 Year – First Fill Sherry Butt –My Tasting Note: “Nose: big, rich, and nutty with loads of candied fruit, chocolate, licorice, and treacle; this is old school sherry, and very tropical… Five Alive, mangos, papaya, and nectarines; fancy Italian leather; cold tea dregs and Demerara sugars; a touch of menthol and eucalyptus. Palate: damn… this is every bit as glorious as the nose implied it would be; soooohhhh old school; loads of chocolate, smooth leather, and fruity tobacco; sticky toffee pudding with warm treacle sauce; dried and candied fruits, cracked nuts and a side of Manzanilla sherry; still tropical, more mango, papaya, and guava, but also some stone fruits too, plums and nectarines; decadent spices, licorice, anise, and candied fennel. Finish: long, elegant, and rich; more candied fruit, Christmas cake, treacle, and Aussie licorice; chocolate, leather and spices to boot, this is the full package! Comment: I never thought we’d ever have an opportunity to buy another single cask of Glenfarclas; but a little more than a year ago we were offered some samples of 1992 Glenfarclas, for consideration as a 30th Anniversary bottling, and one of them was stunning, we simply couldn’t turn the opportunity down; and best of all, the bottled product is as good or better than the sample we tasted in 2021; this is old-school, tropical, sherried whisky; it is the kind of whisky we don’t often see anymore… and it is glorious; best of all, in the time it took to get here, the whisky is looking like even better value than it did a year ago; you’ll never see another whisky like this, at anything approaching this price ever again!” –$600
