THE ENGLISH – 11 YR
4300 bottles available
£59.95
70cl   46% ABV

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The 132nd auction is now live!

We are live a day earlier this month as the office is closed tomorrow in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

This month Scotch Whisky Auctions will be donating more than 50 bottles, with 100% of the hammer price and commission being donated to the DEC to support their ongoing relief efforts in Ukraine.  By clicking the ‘Charity’ tag you can navigate to all the Ukraine charity bottles once the auction goes live, but here are a few of the highlights.

Glenlivet 80 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Generations with Sample Set

Before we get into the charity bottles here is an exceptionally rare whisky which was actually distilled before Queen Elizabeth II had even sat on the throne, the peerless Glenlivet 80 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Generations.  The oldest whisky ever bottled until the Macallan Reach was announced earlier this year, this expression is a frankly astonishing release from Gordon & MacPhail and will be sure to take pride of place in one lucky collection at auction end.

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Release

A fantastic bottle from one of Speyside’s heavy hitters, The Macallan.  The Classic Cut series, besides being incredibly tasty, has gone from strength to strength in the secondary market.  This 2017 has been achieving record prices recently and shows no signs of stopping.

Lagavulin 22 Year Old Jazz Festival 2020

The Islay Jazz Festival has given us some terrific Lagavulin bottles over the years, and none more so than this 22 Year Old for the 2020 iteration.  This is another release whose value has been steadily increasing lately at auction, and would be a welcome addition to any collection.

Daftmill 2007 Single Cask #43 for Abbey Whisky

One of the new kids on the block Daftmill is actually a working farm and has only been making whisky since 2005, so this 2007 hails from the early days of the distillery.  Bottled in 2020 for online whisky shop Abbey Whisky this is an ex-Heaven Hill bourbon single cask of undoubted quality.

By donating these bottles we are trying to make a genuine and positive contribution using the best means available to us, with the only intention being to raise the largest amount of money that we can for a worthy cause.

We sincerely hope that these bottles will achieve the highest prices possible, and in some small way we can all help to ameliorate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Highland Park 1989 32 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice

Aromas of orange oil and nutmeg linger, moving to toffee apple and a surprising but welcoming hint of menthol. 

This Highland Park single malt is part of the Connoisseurs Choice Series. This expression spent 32 years slumbering in a refill sherry butt before 347 bottles were filled at 51.9% abv.

On the nose, there is orange oil, golden syrup, and nutmeg. The palate has sweet caramel coated apple complemented by a surprising but welcome menthol hint before leading into the spicy medium finish.

£779.00
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Limited edition

BUNNAHABHAIN ABHAINN ARAIG

Fèis Ìle 2022 starts today and in celebration of this iconic whisky festival, Bunnahabhain has released Abhainn Araig, a rich and velvety limited-edition single malt inspired by the waters of Islay. Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks, Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and sherry octaves, this bold and spicy dram is packed with flavours of dried raspberries, milk chocolate, macadamia nuts and cinnamon.

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New Riff “K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #18-8658″ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $49.99 View

Knob Creek “Single Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Barrel #14479 (Distilled 10/10/12, Warehouse I, Floor 6, Rick 68) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

Knob Creek “Single Barrel Select” K&L Exclusive Barrel #14675 (Distilled 10/10/12, Warehouse G, Floor 3, Rick 48) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $59.99 View

Jack Daniels “ Barrel Proof” Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $62.99 View

ralfy review 929 – GlenAllachie 13yo @ 48%vol: (Madeira cask finish)

Joint Honours for the Urquhart Brothers

Michael (L) and Ian (R)

Gordon & MacPhail has offered their warmest congratulations to two of their former Managing Directors who were both awarded CBEs in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours List this week.

Ian and Michael Urquhart, both third generation owners of the Elgin based Scotch whisky specialists were granted their honours for services to the Scotch Whisky Industry and to Charitable Work in Moray.

Ian, Managing Director of G&M from 1990 until 2007, having started in the business in 1967, said it was an honour and a pleasure to receive the award in her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year. He continued: “I have had the privilege to lead two successful family-owned Moray companies. They are two very different businesses – single malt Scotch whisky and Scottish cashmere – yet they share a commitment to producing the highest quality iconic products, now exported to over sixty markets throughout the world.  None of this would have been possible without the support of my family and the wonderful staff at both Johnstons of Elgin and Gordon & MacPhail who I have worked with over the last fifty years.”

Michael Urquhart added: “I am delighted to receive this honour in such a special year for Her Majesty. I like to think this is not mine alone but recognises the Urquhart family as a whole and our role in building a grocer’s shop in Elgin into a thriving business which exports around the world and is now the owner of two distilleries. Ian and I are only sorry our late brother David is not here to see the family honoured in this way.

“None of this, of course, would have been possible without the support and hard work of our wonderful staff at Gordon & MacPhail over the years. And of course, I also have to thank my wife Ailsa and our four children for putting up with my almost nonstop travelling over the years.”

Michael was Joint Managing Director, together with David Urquhart, from 2007 until 2012 when he became sole Managing Director until his retirement in 2014. A Chartered Accountant, he had initially joined the business in 1981 as Finance Director.

Both Ian and Michael continue to be active in local charities and in the wider business community. Ian remains a Deputy Lord Lieutenant and is also President of Johnston’s of Elgin. Michael is as busy as ever in the Scotch whisky industry, as Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and is also a non-Executive Director at the National Theatre for Scotland and leads the Strategic Business Forum on the Moray Growth Deal.

Gordon & MacPhail was established in Elgin in 1895 and continues to be owned by members of the Urquhart family. The company owns Benromach Distillery in Forres and will its second distillery, The Cairn, is due to open later this year.

Notes 

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distilleries, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door and the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits, along with a high-quality retail outlet.

The company owns Benromach Distillery located in Forres in Moray.  Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky is handcrafted using traditional methods by a small team of distillers using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. The multi award-winning portfolio of single malts is enjoyed by whisky drinkers worldwide.

The company launched Red Door in the summer of 2018. Created at Benromach Distillery, this award winning, small batch Scottish gin now forms a strategic part of the company’s product portfolio.

Work commenced in July 2020 on The Cairn, the company’s second distillery, overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms.  The new site will add further distillation capacity and brand ownership to the company’s asset base and is a key part of the plans to continue building a long-term sustainable business.  A high-quality visitor experience offering tours and tastings will also attract visitors from around the world.

Since the founding of the business in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to Scotch whisky distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new-make spirit, before being left to mature for many years either at the distillery or in their bonded warehouses in Elgin.  The Gordon & MacPhail portfolio offers some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to discerning whisky drinkers globally.

The company’s wholesale business serves customers throughout the United Kingdom selling Benromach Single Malt, Red Door gin and Gordon & MacPhail whiskies into the on and off trade. The business also exclusively represents a number of ‘distributor’ brands and stocks premium whiskies and spirits.

The retail shop in Elgin remains the ‘spiritual home’ of the business, 127 years after it was first established in 1895.  The shop is home to a large selection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and is a destination for many whisky aficionados from around the world.

SECOND BATCH OF 30-YEAR-OLD

GLENALLACHIE HITS THE MARKET

Batch 2 of The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Single Malt is

world-leading Master Distiller, Billy Walker’s latest creation 

Hot on the heels of announcing whisky veteran Billy Walker’s 50^th Anniversary in the Scotch Whisky industry, The GlenAllachie today launches the second instalment of its oldest and most prestigious core offering: The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The annual batch-release by the leading distiller debuted last year to great acclaim, with the small quantity of bottles issued being met with substantial demand.

Batch 2 (UK RRSP £600) is a limited release of just 2,000 bottles globally, each encased in a premium black rigid box with impactful gold foil detailing.

The second instalment marries antique whiskies from eight casks handpicked by Walker from stocks spanning more than 50,000 maturing across 16 on-site warehouses at GlenAllachie.

To create this sophisticated whisky, Walker meticulously selected 1990 and 1991 vintages matured in six former Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry hogsheads and puncheons, along with two 1990 American virgin oak barrels which were toasted and charred to a medium level.

The result of Walker’s exceptional blending and wood management prowess is an outstanding whisky that epitomises rich Sherry-matured elegance, with flavour profile revealing layers of Seville orange, coffee beans, desiccated coconut and Medjool dates.

The remarkably opulent Speyside Single Malt is bottled at its cask strength of 50.8% ABV, non chill filtered and without added colour.

Reflecting on the exclusive release, Walker comments:

“When we first unveiled our 30-year-old Cask Strength annual release last year, we were completely overwhelmed and humbled by the immensely positive response from whisky fans around the world. This fuelled me with great enthusiasm to get underway with the next batch, endeavouring to raise the bar even higher with this instalment.

“We’re delighted to present the second batch of our eldest core release, delivering a bold and complex organoleptic profile truly representative of our house style and where we are taking The GlenAllachie Distillery.”

The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 is available from specialist retailers globally, with a UK RRSP of £600.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 – 50.8% ABV

Colour: Rich Mahogany.

Nose: Bursting with heather honey, sultanas and mocha, followed by waves of cinnamon, coconut shavings and dried fruits.

Taste: Lashings of dark chocolate, figs and orange zest, with hints of treacle, raisins and cinnamon, with nutmeg on the finish.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Limited Edition Whisky to Celebrate

The Open’s 150^th Championship

Award-winning, independent distiller Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited edition single malt whiskies in celebration of The Open.

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022, and Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022, have been created to mark the 150^th year of golf’s prestigious The Open Championship, of which Loch Lomond Whiskies is the official spirit partner.

The 150^th Open will be played on the historic links of The Old Course, St Andrews, this July.

Each single malt expression has been carefully crafted using Loch Lomond Whiskies’ remarkable straight-neck stills, which are entirely unique to the distillery.

These innovative stills allow Master Blender, Michael Hendry, to explore the flavour profiles in an imaginative way.

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022 has been crafted in partnership with legendary golfer Colin Montgomerie, who worked closely with Master Blender Michael Hendry to create a whisky worthy of The Open’s historic anniversary.

Perfectly capturing the distillery’s signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke, this unique single malt is bursting with flavour, carrying notes of strawberry, peach and lime citrus, a creamy fudge sweetness, a lingering oak spice, and soft smoke finish.

The Open Special Edition 2022 has been aged in American Oak casks before being hand-selected for additional finishing in Bordeaux Red Wine Barriques, creating an additional layer of complexity.

Montgomerie’s signature appears on each bottle, adding an extra special touch to this wonderful edition.

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022 is a rich and elegant single malt whisky which pays homage to all the golf courses where The Open has taken place, from the first ever championship in Prestwick in 1860 to St Andrews where the 2022 event will be held.

The limited-edition single malt is a rare expression which captures the distillery’s spirit of exploration and unique whisky-making style.

First distilled 22 years ago, The Open Course Edition 2022 delivers notes of stewed apple, pear and black cherry with vanilla and dark chocolate, a warming ginger spice and wood smoke finish. It is aged in American Oak casks before being finished in the finest Haut-Médoc Claret Barriques for 36 months.

The Open Course Edition 2022 is presented in a striking blue case and boasts an elevated bottle design, making it the perfect gift which will stand out on any whisky cabinet.

Andrew Jack, Head of Whisky Marketing at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“The Open is a such a prestigious event, bringing together some of the world’s best golfers. At Loch Lomond Whiskies we are very proud to show our support as the official spirit partner of this momentous anniversary.

“The ties between golf and whisky in Scotland date back generations. Our two new, limited edition single malts are highly valuable additions to our whisky portfolio, demonstrating the breadth of distillation techniques Loch Lomond Whiskies is capable of. We’re confident both expressions will appeal to a variety of tastes, budgets and interests, particularly in the lead up to Father’s Day in June.” 

Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2022 (ABV 46%, RRP £45) is available from www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/loch-lomond-open-special-edition-2022

Loch Lomond The Open Course Edition 2022 (ABV 48.2%, RRP £225) is available from www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/loch-lomond-open-course-collection-2022

For further information, please visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.

• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.

• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day.

• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old Perfectly Balanced which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020.

A selection of other recent medals include:

Loch Lomond 21 Year Old Perfectly Balanced – Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2021

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin – Best Highland Scotch 12 Year Old & Under, World Whisky Awards 2021; Gold International Sprits Challenge 2021; Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2020.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan – Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2020; Gold International Sprits Challenge 2020

Loch Lomond 30 Year Old – Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2021

May has come and gone and we were so happy to once again be able to hold The Bear Burning, which was a great success everyone seemed to have had a marvellous time, and it was brilliant to host such a big event here again.

Those of you who live nearby, or who have visited recently may have noticed that those lovely copper works of art seen through the distillery windows are hot again? We are extremely happy to be distilling once more. It’s also a joy to be welcoming so many visitors to the brand home. The Visitors’ Book tells a fabulous story – on some days there are visitors from nine or so different countries, all raving about what a wonderful experience they have had.

Stay safe and stay well, from our corner of Fife

Slàinte

Drew & Helen McKenzie Smith
Custodians of Lindores Abbey Distillery

DISTILLERY NEWS

We in operations find ourselves moving at a blistering pace. Whether that be in distillation or bottling, it’s currently all systems go –  all the time. Why is this? Because the brand is being so well received; and as our distributors, importers, social media, pilgrims, supporters and good old “word of mouth” works its magic, more and more people want to try our whisky.

That can only be taken positively so today I am going to start with thanking the operations team for maintaining this pace.

The US market will be opening up very soon and that will keep us even busier as we try to keep up with that demand.

From the distillery and the warehouse, it’s pretty much business as usual. Maintaining that Lindores Character in the SRWV ( Spirits Receiving Warehouse Vessel ) ready for cask filling is all important, and that recipe that will not get changed. Yes, there may be a little refinement, but the key ingredients will remain the same: local malt, local water, yeast and that secret ingredient, people!

We have lots of casks coming in and out of the warehouse including some that are bringing back memories. Can you believe it, we are already starting to bottle 4yo whisky. When and where did that happen? We have also done some private cask bottling which has been hugely enjoyable, and a great experience for all involved.

Slàinte

Gary Haggart
Distillery Manager

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

For the past few weeks I have been working on the sensory analysis of the different casks that are in the process of maturation. I evaluate their organoleptic characteristics, checking how the spirit is developing different flavours and aromas. I enjoy discovering that every single cask has its own profile.

Recently I have been sampling some Bourbon, Sherry and STR casks, all of them around 4 years old and I can confirm that Lindores Spirit is behaving well inside our different casks, influenced by the DNA in our New Make Spirit: mellow fruity, apples and ripe pears with soft elegant aromatic floral notes.

The Bourbon releases beautiful vanilla, butterscotch, custard cream and on the palate, a silky texture with a rounded finish. The Oloroso Sherry cask from Jose y Miguel Martin Cooperage is outstanding with mellow fruity raisins, marmalade tastes and rich chocolate notes. The STR casks are releasing fruity black cherry jam and spicy woody notes.

All these casks maintain the Lindores character. Most of these casks are well balanced and complex and could perhaps be classified as a ‘special occasion dram’. As you know our Lindores MCDXCIV is a blend of these three different type of casks, the Bourbon, Sherry and the STR Wine Barrique, producing an interesting, unique profile.

The heart of Lindores MCDXCIV comes from Bourbon casks with mellow vanilla and caramel notes; the influence of STR Wine barriques and Sherry Casks add expression to the final formula. The STR casks provide balance with a powerful combination of spicy woody notes and a subtle red wine touch that combines beautifully with the rich dried fruits and nuttiness of the Sherry casks.

Slàinte

Lorena Baez
Product Development

FATHERS DAY 2022

Want to get an amazing gift for Father’s Day but aren’t really sure where to start? Then why not let us take away some of the hassle with our easy to follow Father’s Day gifts guide on our website that should hopefully provide some inspiration, and will make a change from the usual socks!

FATHERS DAY GIFTS