Stellum “Leo F3” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $54.99 View

Knob Creek “Single Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Barrel (Distilled 6/10/2016, Warehouse N, Floor 05, Rick 18) Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

Get ready to take taste to another level…buckle up and enjoy the ride. Our latest experimental small-batch release Marmalade overdrive has arrived in top gear. Similar in character to our Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits flavour profile but with BIG notes of oranges and candied peel this rare release has that lovely dark colour that makes your mouth-water. The whisky and its casks have been on quite a journey giving an experience not to be missed…and all for just €83.30.

Go fast track and buy now OR click over to our website to read the adventures behind the bottling. Our own Julien Willems has suggested some sweet and savoury pairing suggestions to stir the senses into complete overdrive.

Discover that flavourful blast below.

VVVroooooooommm!

DISCOVER MORE

SEE ALL WHISKIES

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

OSWA Voting ended 16/10/22

THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY INTRODUCES

HIBIKI^® BLOSSOM HARMONY™, A LIMITED-EDITION BLENDED WHISKY

AND HIBIKI® 30 YEAR OLD IN THE U.S.

 The U.S. welcomes Hibiki® Blossom Harmony™, a blended whisky finished in Sakura (cherry blossom) casks for a limited time this fall, and Hibiki® 30 Year Old, a rare annual release. 

CHICAGO, IL (October 4, 2022) – The House of Suntory, the founding House of Japanese Whisky, announces the release of Hibiki® Blossom Harmony™, a limited-edition blend featuring whiskies finished in Sakura casks and for the first time Hibiki 30 Year Old will be available in the U.S. 

Hibiki® Blossom Harmony™

Sakura Blossom season in early spring has always been an occasion for celebration in Japan, with many gathering around the beautiful flowering Sakura trees that inspire the Japanese to appreciate life as it blooms. Hibiki Blossom Harmony captures this joyful spirit by blending a rare selection of whiskies finished in Sakura wood casks with diverse matured malt and grain whiskies to create this particular Hibiki.

This limited-edition bottle will be available beginning in October in select global markets including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The expression is bottled at 43 percent ABV and has a suggested retail price of $160 USD.

Inspired by Sakura

Hibiki is a harmonious blend of various malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. Constantly pushing the boundaries of what Japanese Whisky can be, the House of Suntory continues to explore and experiment with various wood types. The Sakura cask was one that intrigued Fifth Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo.

“I have been mesmerized by the Sakura cask for the last five years now due to its symbolism, but also because of its distinctive, subtly floral and spicy aroma and flavor notes,” says Fukuyo. “There have been many experiments with malt and grain whisky components, and we found that there was a special alchemy between the grain whiskies and the Sakura cask. It is this special relationship – harmony – that inspired me to create this blend.” 

Achieving the right balance and orchestration proved to be a great challenge from the start since the Sakura cask is one with strong character that can easily become overbearing. After a period of trial and error, Fukuyo found that the grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask best elevated the overall balance.

TASTING NOTES: HIBIKI BLOSSOM HARMONY – 43% ABV

Color: Amber

Nose: Wafting floral scents, sakura, fragrant olive

Palate: Smooth mouthfeel, expanding fragrance, acacia honey, French pear and a refined sweetness suggestive of sakura mochi

Finish: Long-lasting rich and brilliant aftertaste 

Meaning “Resonance” in Japanese, Hibiki embodies the Suntory philosophy To Create Harmony with People and Nature. As a House of Master Blenders, the House of Suntory has gone to great lengths to explore the breadth and depth of what Harmony can mean for a blend. Hibiki 30 Year Old and Hibiki Blossom Harmony celebrate this particular kind of Harmony.

Hibiki® 30 Year Old in the U.S.

Released in 1997 as a rare, limited edition, Hibiki 30 Year Old represents the paragon of the Hibiki brand and the art of Japanese craftsmanship. For the first time, this exquisite bottle will be available in the U.S. as of October for a suggested retail price of $5,000.

Hibiki 30 features a select blend of Yamazaki® malt whiskies that are 30 years and older from Suntory’s treasured historic collection, with mild grain whiskies that have also matured at least 30 years. With a mere few thousand bottles produced each year, each is bottled by hand. This luxurious liquor has received accolades and awards from whisky connoisseurs around the world and it represents the pinnacle of whisky making at Suntory. 

TASTING NOTES: HIBIKI 30 YEAR OLD – 43% ABV

Color: Deep amber.

Nose: Leather, raisin, prune, sweet chestnut.

Palate: Brown sugar, dried fig, apricot jam, cedar and pain d’epices (gingerbread).

Finish: Extremely rich, cinnamon and Mizunara (Japanese Oak) 

ABOUT HIBIKI

The Hibiki brand was introduced to the world in 1989 and since then has been embraced as the paragon of The Art of Japanese Whisky, the very product of Japanese nature and people. It is not only Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, but also among the most prestigious and honored whiskies in the world. Hibiki is a harmonious blend of various malt and grain whiskies from House of Suntory Whisky’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. This delicate blend creates a oneness unfolding a full orchestra of flavors and aromas. Today Hibiki is one of the most awarded blends in the world. For more information on Hibiki brand, visit https://whisky.suntory.com/en/na/products/hibiki.

ABOUT HOUSE OF SUNTORY

Since 1923, Suntory has been renowned as the pioneer of Japanese Whisky for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, and the Suntory legacy continued with Torii’s son and Suntory’s second Master Blender, Keizo Saji, who continued to establish distilleries including the Hakushu distillery. As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation. The House of Suntory has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014). Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies: Yamazaki—Japan’s number one single malt, multi-layered and profound, and Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki—Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky and Suntory Whisky Toki. The House of Suntory portfolio also offers Roku Japanese Gin and Haku Japanese Vodka. Created from Japanese ingredients by the master artisans at the House of Suntory, Roku Gin and Haku Vodka represent the nature and spirit of Japan.

whisky.suntory.com                #SuntoryWhisky                     @SuntoryWhisky

ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® bourbon brands and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks® Premium Cocktails.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com

A Benromach Tasting Experience with Alastair Milligan Saturday 29th October 2022 7pm

£30.00

Join us for an exceptional tasting event with Alastair Milligan from Gordon & MacPhail, owners of the classic Speyside Distillery of Benromach.  Having undergone a brand change recently, Benromach is in high demand at the moment and features proudly as our Malt of the Month for October.

Your line up will include 6 wonderful and unique expressions, including a special secret dram. (These may be different from the pictured whiskies) Explore the traditional ways of the age old techniques still used at Benromach, providing a unique, mulit-award winning whisky in the Heart of Speyside.

Our unique hybrid style event combines the best of our virtual experiences with our in house event located above the Inverurie Whisky Shop in our beautiful Whisky Bar.

Select from the drop down menu whether you would like a tasting pack sent out to you, or you would like to join us in house.

Limited tickets available

Over 18’s Only

7pm for 7.15pm Start

Shop now

The Loch Fyne
Living Cask Batch 13

We’re now at Batch 13 and The Living Cask® process will never die; always an evolution of its Islay origins. Every batch we craft is different, blended with some of the previous batch, meaning each intriguing expression is a limited edition release, and part of an ongoing series which is as collectable as it is delicious.

Why have one Living Cask, when you can have two? Inspired by our award-winning The Living Cask 1745, we created a second cask of equal quality. To begin, we part filled it with our 1745, which we then topped up with a selection of carefully chosen Highland malts. We christened this The Living Cask ‘Batch 1’. Because of how it was made, stocks were limited, and it soon sold out.

We then set about creating Batch 2. Taking the depleted stocks of Batch 1, we poured in a selection of delicious Speyside single malts. Once again, stock was limited and The Living Cask Batch 2 sold out as well. Next came Batch 3 – we took what remained of Batch 2 and added some amazing sherry cask single malts. Batch 4 followed, taking the depleted stocks of Batch 3 and adding some of the best bourbon cask single malts we could find.

We’re now at Batch 13 and so the process will go on. The Living Cask® will never die and will always be an evolution of its Islay origins. Every batch we craft is different, meaning each intriguing expression is a limited edition release, and part of an ongoing series which is as collectable as it is delicious.

Start your remarkable collection now, and remember, no two batches are ever the same. (Nor are three, four or… you get the picture…!)

£48.00
BUY NOW

Knob Creek 9 Year Old Single Barrel Reserve Kentucky Bourbon (750ml) $49.99 View

 This new single barrel expression of Knob Creek tastes very similar to the original “small batch” Knob Creek (when brought down to the same alcohol level). If anything, it’s slightly drier, more elegant, not as heavy on the palate, and more sophisticated — but I am reaching here. The similarity is a good thing, because I really enjoy the original expression. Keeping in mind that no two barrels are exactly alike, your decision to purchase the single barrel might just come down to whether you want to pay a little more for a higher strength version, and whether knowing that it might taste a little different than the standard small batch bottling excites you. This is a stylish, big, broad-shouldered bourbon with a thick, sweet foundation (nutty toffee, pot still rum, maple syrup) peppered with spice (cinnamon, but also vanilla and evergreen) and dried fruit. Dry, warming, resinous finish. (JH, Winter 2010) 

Rebel “K&L Exclusive” Single Barrel #7903533 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $54.99 View

High proof wheated Bourbon is back on the menu. Rebel barrels offer one of the rare opportunities to get your hands on that sweet sweet KY wheated Bourbon without paying through the nose for the unicorns that drive the category. It’s unfortunate that Rebel has made the choice to bottle these with a giant “cask strength” on the front when all of the barrels are proofed to 60% ABV, but no matter, it’s still plenty high and those that prize those sweet creamy flavors but want a good kick will find it here a at reasonable price. Barrel #7903533 was filled 1/16/18 and dumped in Q3 of 2022.

ralfy review 948 Extras – My history with Springbank

ralfy review 948 – Springbank 10yo @46%vol: (2019/2022)