Back to its best – GlenDronach Cask Strength

The GlenDronach Cask Strength offers connoisseurs a deep insight into the distillery’s signature character, by bottling at the whisky’s natural cask strength, as was the custom before the turn of the 20th Century.

Add a drop or two of water to reveal a cornucopia of flavour – from dark cherry to honeyed sultana and lingering ginger jam. Such is the reward of our tenth batch of The GlenDronach Cask Strength, a richly sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks.

As with all expressions of The GlenDronach, all of the natural colour is drawn from slow maturation in Spanish oak casks.

Order Now – despatching this week

Tasting Notes:

Colour: Chestnut bronze.

Nose: Mocha, apricot and baked orange chocolate cake, with roasted almond, walnut and raisin on a base of aromatic toasted oak.

Palate: Richly spiced fruitcake with nectarine, dark cherry and honeyed sultana.

Finish: Lingering ripe apricot layered with ginger jam and indulgent caramelised date.

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St. George’s Distillery Harling Road, Roudham, Norfolk, NR16 2QW

01953 717939

BUNNAHABHAIN

AONADH
10 YEAR OLD

70CL | 56.2%

£99.95

WAS £110

SAVE £10.05

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A 10-year-old limited release from Bunnahabhain, matured in a combination of port and sherry casks. Aromas of rich creamy vanilla, dark berries and subtle oak spice lead to a fruity and spicy palate with flavours of blackberries, cinnamon, roasted nuts and dark chocolate.

https://youtu.be/RTfWr92En2M

It’s been a while since I reviewed a Kilchoman product, and Madeira seems to be the thing at the front of my mind right now. So this offering from the family run marvel is not disappointing! The colour of this product isn’t really shown off in the light of this video, but it has this beautiful pinky/orange hue to it.

A rich tapestry of grilled banana covered in toffee sauce. Orange, lime, kiwi and some pineapple notes make it through the thick fog of peat that sits in the glass; all stormy and dying to jump out. Palate wise, it’s just what you want. Thick, oily and wonderfully ashy in all ways. The indulgent fruitiness disappears and is replaced with this thick, boggy and infamously noticeable peat character. The Madeira casks are working incredibly well, but this is still and Islay whisky, albeit limited to 17,000 bottles across the world.

Cheers!

BONHAMS TO SELL OUTSTANDING COLLECTION OF ULTRA RARE WHISKY

View the catalogue: Bonhams : The Old, the Rare and the Only an extraordinary single owner collection of Whisky, Part 1

Glenfiddich Rare Collection-64 year old-1937. Estimate: £80,000-90,000

London – Bonhams is to sell one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of rare Whisky, Cognac and Armagnac to appear on the market for many years. The Old, The Rare and The Only: an extraordinary single-owner collection of rare Whisky will be offered over two sales in London on 13 April and 10 June 2022. The private collection took more than 20 years to assemble and includes some of the most desirable and rarest bottles ever to appear at auction.

With more than 400 Single Malts, the collection is a Scotch Whisky time capsule. There are vintages from eight decades from the 1920s to the 2000s with many whiskies matured for up to 60 years and beyond.

Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky specialist in London said: “This wonderful compendium of old, rare, and unique aged spirits was put together by an avid collector who travelled the world chasing down the rarest and most desirable bottles of single malts. The quality is staggering and there are bottles on offer of such rarity that collectors can spend a lifetime waiting for them to appear on the market.

Highlights of the 13 April sale include:

Whisky

• Glenfiddich Rare Collection-64 year old-1937. Regarded as the most legendary Glenfiddich ever produced, this is bottle No. 9 of 61 (£80,000-90,000).

• Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5-31 year old-1964. This legendary Bowmore vintage was first bottled in 1995. Renowned for its unparalleled taste, it was re-bottled in 2020 and is presented in a decanter that incorporates a genuine Aston Martin DB5 piston. It is decanter 19 out 27 (£75,000-85,000). 

• Mortlach-70 year old-1938. One of the oldest single malts ever bottled was distilled in 1938, bottled in 2008 and released in a strictly limited edition of 54 of which this is decanter number 16 (£25,000-35,000).

• Ardbeg Double Barrel-1974. Two bottles from a limited edition of 250 pairs. Presented in an original bespoke leather-bound gun case made by Purdey & Sons, the pair comes with eight engraved sterling silver drinking cups (£20,000-25,000).

• Glenfiddich 1978-32-year-old. The Rafael Medina Edition is incredibly rare, and this is bottle 2 of only 7 in the world (£10,000-12,000).

• The cream of the crop of the Macallan’s legendary 1940s’ production era including The Macallan 1949 Millennium Decanter 50-year-old (£25,000-30,000); The Macallan Select Reserve-51 year old-1948 (£14,000-16,000) and The Macallan Select Reserve-52 year old-1946 (£13,000-15,000). 

• Glenfarclas 60-year-old. Bottled 2014, it is one of 360 bottles (£14,000-16,000).

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewellery, watches, wine and whisky. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

SCOTTISH ENTREPRENEUR’S DREAM COMES TRUE AT NEW YORK TARTAN DAY PARADE

Proud Scots from an award-winning glassmaking firm will join New York’s Tartan Day Parade for the first time ever this Saturday.

And they hope New Yorkers will love the four-foot-high inflatable Angel, sporting her bespoke tartan scarf, they will be parading along the streets with them.

The trip is a dream come true for Managing Director Karen Somerville and Customer Service Assistant Helen Kerr from whisky-themed giftware company Angels’ Share Glass.

The firm is well known in Scotland for capturing the spirit of a whisky producers’ legend, known as the Angels’ Share, through the creation of handmade glass angels filled and sealed with whisky in a secret process.

Karen and Helen, along with the inflatable Angel which represents the brand, are travelling to New York from Stirling as part of a trade mission aimed at forging new transatlantic links between Scottish and US businesses.

They’ll spend Tartan Week liaising with US retailers and enjoying all the celebrations culminating in the Parade at which they will celebrate Karen’s 50^th birthday and the ninth anniversary of the firm’s launch.

Karen says: “I’m overwhelmed to be taking part in the Parade this weekend and spending Tartan Week in New York.

“This really is a dream come true and a lifelong ambition for me and my team having watched the parade on TV and read about it in magazines over the years.

“We are so excited to be marching through Manhattan amid thousands of other lovers of all things Scottish and we’re hoping our inflatable Angel will help us stand out from the crowd!

“We’ll also be holding our tartan banner to celebrate the launch of our very own Whisky and Water Tartan and hope New Yorkers will get a kick out of seeing us and give us a wave and a cheer when they spot us coming!

“I remember my mentor telling me when I first started the business to imagine one day taking part in the New York Tartan Day Parade as an established Scottish firm.

“I was never sure something so amazing could happen to me but now here we are heading to New York as proud Scots.

“It’s also my 50^th birthday and the ninth anniversary of the launch of Angels’ Share Glass which will make the Parade experience even more special.”

Karen is hoping for the chance to meet Grand Marshal and fellow Scot Karen Gillan during the Parade and gift her a limited-edition whisky-filled glass angel.

She says: “Both mine and Helen’s families are huge Marvel fans and so meeting Karen and getting the chance to speak to her would be amazing.

“I’m really hoping for the opportunity to gift her one of our angels – that would make the whole experience even more memorable.”

The team from Angels’ Share Glass are among 13 Scottish companies selected to travel to New York on a trade mission run by Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce.

FVCC President Lynn Blaikie said: “Karen is amazing and I’m delighted the Angels’ Share team are part of the delegation.

“They are fantastic Ambassadors for Scotland and the handcrafted whisky-related glass gifts they make are unique and something incredibly special to behold.

“I think they will have enormous success with the US retailers they meet during the mission and be a big hit with New Yorkers as they stride through the streets with their inflatable Angel during the Parade.

“We had an incredible level of interest in the New York mission and I wish Angels Share Glass and the other Scottish firms well as they forge exciting new links this week.” 

During the trade mission entrepreneurs from the companies, which include Ardgowan Distillery and Glasgwegin Scottish Gin, will hold meetings with US retailers and showcase their products.

The Angels’ Share Glass creations, which include handmade glass whisky water droppers and tartan accessories, will be featured in a display at a Scotland House pop-up in the Blackbarn Restaurant on East 26^th Street. 

Karen and Helen will also hold meetings with high-profile US whisky retailers and enjoy all the official Tartan Week celebrations and Scottish-themed festivities including a Ceilidh.

Angels’ Share Glass specialises in crafting whisky-based gifts and launched in 2013 with the creation of handmade glass angels filled with the ‘Angels’ Share’ of whisky.

Last year, the family firm created its own tartan – Whisky and Water by Angels’ Share Glass – which reflects the glassmakers’ story and is used to complement its products.

For more information, visit www.angelsshareglass.com

Notes: Angels’ Share Glass is a family-run business based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. The firm was co-founded by Karen Somerville and her father Tom Young MBE – a world-renowned Master Craftsman who has been glassblowing and making lamp-work glassware for 60 years. More information about the company can be found at www.angelsshareglass.com

ANDREA MONTAGUE APPOINTED AS HEAD OF ADVOCACY AT EDRINGTON UK

Tuesday 8^th March 2022, London: Edrington UK today announces that Andrea Montague has been appointed Head of Advocacy in a newly created role for the business.

As Edrington UK’s new Head of Advocacy, Andrea will lead and champion brand advocacy, education and training – from bartender engagement activities to customer activations to industry events – across the company’s wide portfolio of premium spirit brands, including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes, Brugal 1888, House of Suntory, Courvoisier, Laphroaig and Maker’s Mark amongst others.

With over 15 years’ experience in the drinks industry, Andrea is a respected figure in the spirits category having worked both at some of the most prestigious and highly respected establishments across London, as well as for leading brands, creating global advocacy programmes and education platforms for ambassador teams

With this she brings extensive experience in mentorship and project leadership as she heads up the company’s extensive advocacy team, including Edrington UK’s core Brand Ambassadors, Whisky Specialists and Serve Specialists, uniting them to create one centre of advocacy excellence, driving them to achieve the business’s brand ambitions through best-in-class advocacy and brand building.

Following another challenging start to the year for the hospitality industry, Andrea’s appointment comes during a crucial time as the on-trade looks towards recovery.

Zak Laurence-Whalley, General Manager at Edrington UK, said: “Advocacy has always been at the heart of Edrington UK’s brand-building strategies. We have delivered a wide range of globally recognised advocacy projects across our brands such as the House of Suntory Dojo programme, The Macallan and Rosewood London Partnership, and our bartender community space ‘Tending to the Tenders’ at London Cocktail Week. Andrea’s appointment is a vital step in recognising our advocacy successes to date and demonstrates our commitment to advocacy as a business. 

Consumers are discovering new and vibrant ways to enjoy dark spirits and the opportunity for the category is vast. Edrington UK has an enviable premium dark spirits portfolio, and we are perfectly pla­ced to lead the charge. By investing in high-calibre talent to create and execute our advocacy strategies, we are able to transform the premium spirits category hand-in-hand with our customers. We are excited to see Andrea drive our brand building vision forward.”

Commenting on her new role, Andrea stated: “I am honoured to be appointed as Edrington’s UK’ new Head of Advocacy for the UK. Having spent the last four years dedicating myself to single malts, I am delighted to be working with such a rich, premium dark spirits portfolio. As we continue to accelerate our brands in the premium space, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to support and unite our advocacy team to drive our business vision forward.”

About Edrington UK

Edrington UK is the UK’s number one whisky supplier, part of the global Edrington family and responsible for the UK sales, marketing, and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Famous Grouse, Naked Malt and Brugal.

As a valued distribution partner of Beam Suntory, Edrington UK also represents many of its brands in the UK marketplace, such as Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Courvoisier, and The House of Suntory range of Japanese craft spirits.

Edrington UK also handles sales and distribution for a portfolio of liqueurs and specialities including 1826 Cocktails, Sourz, and AfterShock.

Our March Auction ENDS SOON!

Auction closes from 8pm (BST) Tuesday 5th April.

www.speysidewhiskyauctions.co.uk

Great selection of Macallan whisky available in this month’s auction.

We are now operating from our new home!
110B High street, Aberlour. AB38 9AB
+44 (0)1340 835445Interested in Selling Whisky?

Click below for more information or to arrange a FREE* Bottle collection

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Join The W Club today – read about all the benefits below!

After an unusual two years for everyone, we here at The Whisky Shop have been working hard to ensure we are delivering a whisky club that gives members unrivalled benefits and value, of which you can read all about below. With Netflix costing more than four times as much each month than our W Club, sign up and get involved!

Join The W Club →

In-person tastings have returned, or are due to return in April, to the following shops: York, Birmingham, Norwich, Oxford, Trentham, Nottingham, Piccadilly and Manchester. Both shops on Victoria Street and at Waverley Mall also continue to host virtual events for customers in Edinburgh until we can host in-person events.

The Singleton x Chocolate Tasting
TWS London Piccadilly
13/04 @ 6:30PM

Hosted by Global Brand Ambassador Jo Last, who will guide guests through an incredible range of drams from The Singleton, all paired with luxury chocolates – a match made in heaven.

To book your place email the shop or call us on 020 7499 6649.

£25.00 W Club
£30.00 Non W Club

The Lakes Single Malt Tasting
TWS Manchester 27/04
TWS Piccadilly 28/04

Join Christopher Pateman of The Lakes Distillery as he guides us through a line up of whiskies from a distillery that is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about in the UK.

To book your place email or phone the Manchester or Piccadilly store.

£20.00 W Club
£25.00 Non W Club

In February W Club members were given the opportunity to purchase an exclusive single cask from Glen Scotia which was exceptional value for money, with the feedback from W Clubbers being overwhelmingly positive. We are also re-launching the Cask Committee programme where a select group of members will receive single cask samples to give their feedback; the most popular will go on to to be a future W Club exclusive releases. Members of the committee will be selected at random from the pool of W Clubbers who opt into this programme. We will have the Cask Committee running soon, so make sure your membership is up to date!