ralfy review 919 – Craigellachie 17yo @46%vol: (04-6137)

SCOTTISH OAK AMONGST NEW RELEASES

TO JOIN GLENALLACHIE VIRGIN OAK SERIES 

The Speyside distillery led by industry veteran Billy Walker expands its

 limited-edition range with three Single Malts finished in virgin oak casks

The GlenAllachie Distillery, winner of Icons of Whisky’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, today adds three new bottlings to their Virgin Oak Series; a limited-edition range which explores the influence of aging whisky in a variety of different oak species from around the world.

The new tranche of expressions consists of three Speyside Single Malts; the 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish, the 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish, and the 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish.

The marked flavour differences between the three bottlings are led by a variety of factors: the oak species, the local terroir and the period of natural air drying, along with the toasting, charring and coopering of the casks.

The Virgin Oak Series showcases the expert cask sourcing and wood management skills of Master Distiller Billy Walker, who this year reaches a staggering half-century as a blender and distiller in the Scotch Whisky industry.

Each expression was first matured in American Oak (Quercus Alba) ex-Bourbon Barrels. To add a distinctive layer of flavour characteristics, the whisky then underwent a secondary maturation period of approximately 18 months in virgin oak casks, all carefully selected by Walker.

The 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak (UK RRSP £175) – one of the few whiskies to ever be matured in Scottish oak – was finished in casks made of Sessile Oak (Quercus Petrae) sourced from the Atlantic coast of Scotland. Scottish oak is incredibly challenging to work with at all stages of production: growing, milling, and coopering. Its rarity, costliness and tendency to knot mean it is scarcely used for whisky maturation.

Before hosting the GlenAllachie spirit, the wood was air dried for 36 months, opening up the oak for maximum flavour extraction. After toasting and charring to a medium level, the small quantity of casks used have delivered just 2,250 bottles of truly exceptional liquid abundant in vanilla pods, ginger and cloves.

For the 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish (UK RRSP £61.99), Walker sourced casks made of French Oak (Quercus Robur) from the Haute-Garonne region, close to the Pyrenees. The fine-grained, consistent wood was air dried for 15 months before being filled with the whisky. The result is a subtly sweet yet earthy malt.

The 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish (UK RRSP £61.99) used wood from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri in the United States. Once air dried for nearly four years and toasted to a medium level, the casks made of Chinquapin – a sub species of Quercus Alba – have bestowed distinctive spicy, biscuity notes upon The GlenAllachie.

The three whiskies are proudly presented at their natural colour, non chill filtered and at a high strength of 48% ABV.

Commenting on the new trio, Walker said:

“Exploring the interaction of virgin oak with our whisky has become a real passion of mine over the last few years, and I feel it’s something that we are really specialising in. I don’t think it’s a secret that I am devoted to wood management and sourcing unusual casks, but I believe virgin oak is underexposed in the Scotch whisky industry; something we are eager to change.

“This expansion of our Virgin Oak Series showcases three superb Single Malts, each with incredibly unique attributes. I’m particularly proud to release a very rare Scottish Virgin Oak bottling; a long-held ambition of mine, with full appreciation of how challenging and expensive it is to work with. The result, in my humble opinion, is genuinely outstanding.”

The new GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Series bottlings are available via specialist retailers globally, with UK RRSPs starting at £61.99.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 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 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Golden Sunset.
• Nose: Bursting with honeycomb, vanilla pods and citrus fruits, with butterscotch, orange zest and white chocolate.
• Taste: Lashings of heather honey, caramelised pine nuts, cinnamon and toffee, followed by orange peel, lemon zest, banana and ginger.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Golden Bronze.
• Nose: Waves of orange peel, heather honey and soft spice, followed by caramel, orchard fruits and mocha.
• Taste: Layers of heather honey, mocha and brittle toffee, with grapefruit, cinnamon, earthy tannins and notes of ginger on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Rich Bronze.
• Nose: Bursting with orange zest, heather honey and pecan, with notes of butterscotch, nutmeg and liquorice.
• Taste: Lashings of cinnamon, barley sugar and toasted biscuits, followed by rose hips, orange peel and heather honey.

GLENLIVET DISTILLERY

45 Year Old 1976 Private Collection

Cask #21602601

£2,750.00

Glenlivet 45 Year Old 1976 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill sherry hogshead #21602601 distilled 30th January 1976 and bottled 15th November 2021 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Private Collection series. 266 hand-blown crystal decanters have been produced.

Sweet citrus notes are followed by rich fruitcake and butterscotch. Cinnamon and ginger spice complement subtle liquorice and oak.

Smooth tobacco flavours give way to rich raisins and subtle white pepper. Stewed fruits combine with walnut and plum.

A long finish with roasted nuts and fresh garden mint.

Having out-grown his distillery at Upper Drumin George Smith built a new distillery in 1858 at Minore just short distance upstream of the River Livet and which he opened the following year and named Glenlivet Distillery. During the 1850s the Edinburgh firm of Andrew Usher produced the first vatting of malt whisky from a single distillery using a number of different vintages of Glenlivet whisky. Following expansion in 2010 this distillery is now equipped with fourteen stills making it one of the largest malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. The range includes Glenlivet Founders Reserve and Nadurra.

Join us for our next virtual tasting!

Explore The Singleton’s famous Dufftown whiskies with Brand Ambassador Jo Last on Thursday 14th April at 7:30pm BST. Jo will be taking us through five drams of some of The Singleton’s finest single malts – including the 21 and 25 Year Old – all from the comfort of your own home!

Buy Virtual Tasting →

The Singleton of Dufftown
Virtual Tasting Pack
5x30ml

Including five 30ml drams of each of The Singleton 12, 15, 18, 21 and 25 Year Old single malts. Customers who purchase this tasting will also receive an exclusive discount on the expressions enjoyed on the night.

£40.00
BUY NOW

The event will be hosted on zoom and begin at 7:30pm BST. If you join before this time you will be in a waiting room and we will admit everyone at the same time. You will receive a private joining link the day before the tasting and if you have not received this by 12pm BST on the day of the tasting, please get in touch via info@thewclub.co.uk

The tasting will be recorded, and the recording made available to anyone who purchases the pack the day following the event. So if you can’t attend on the night, don’t worry – purchase and enjoy in your own time.

New Living Cask Batch 12!

Keep it local with our very own range of whisky and gin, and we can also personalise your bottle with a custom message for the perfect wee gift!

🔥 Free delivery over £75 🔥

View The Loch Fyne Range →

The Loch Fyne
The Living Cask Batch 12

Using some Batch 11 as the base this latest Batch 12 is comprised of whiskies from Linkwood, Mortlach and Ben Nevis. The Linkwood and Mortlach elements have been finished in Muscatel wine casks to add scrumptious sweet complexity.

£46.00
Buy Now

Angel’s Envy “K&L Exclusive” Cask #3259 Private Select Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml)

$89.99

View

This is technically our second ever cask of Angel’s, this is NOT the replacement for cask #4018, but another one that was selected around the same time as that infamous barrel. This new cask was selected by our buyer David Othenin-Girard in mid-2021. This blend of bourbons around 6 years old was finished for 6 months in ruby port casks. Bottled on November 29th 2021, the rich powerful flavor of Angel’s Envy Bourbon is turned all the way up to eleven in these high proof single barrel exclusive offerings. Dense and nearly purple in color the sweet port and spicy oak are tempered nicely by the warming heat of the bourbon. Barrel details (age, mashbill, finish times) hopefully to follow if the distillery is comfortable sharing.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY RELEASES FOUR NEW THOMAS S. MOORE EXTENDED CASK FINISHED BOURBONS

Second Release Includes Cognac, Madeira, Sherry and Merlot Finishes

            BARDSTOWN, Kentucky (March 17, 2022) – At the end of 2020, Barton 1792 Distillery defined a new category of “extended cask finished” bourbon whiskey, through the introduction of the Distillery’s first ultra-premium brand, named Thomas S. Moore. The collection provided new insight into the significance additional finishing imparts on whiskey, elevating flavors and aromas. Now Barton 1792 Distillery is releasing its second collection of extended cask-finished bourbon whiskeys in the Thomas S. Moore line. This release is made up of four different expressions, including a Cognac, Madeira, Sherry and Merlot finished bourbon whiskeys. These expressions will begin arriving in stores in March 2022.

To create these whiskeys, Barton 1792’s signature high rye recipe bourbon was aged for five to six years in new charred oak barrels before filling other casks that previously matured various wines or spirits from around the world. These whiskeys are then left to age an additional one to four years. This extended cask-finishing method results in elegant whiskeys, each displaying a distinct flavor profile, reflecting nuances of both the bourbon and the finishing cask.

“This second Thomas S. Moore release really reinforces that the extended aging is quite significant,” Master Distiller Danny Kahn said. “What we are seeing are complex, fuller textures being developed. Savory flavors and aromas are unquestionably enhanced and continue to develop in the secondary cask in ways that are very different from the primary barrel aging. The result is an elevated, premium collection unlike any other.”

The cognac barrels Kahn used generally held cognac for six or more years previously. The merlot barrels came from premium wineries from the Napa and Sanoma areas. The sherry barrels were all oloroso sherry. A variety of different types of madeira barrels were used.

Kahn, who personally tasted every single barrel that went into this release at least once, created a few sub-blends for each expression. From there, the sub-blends were sorted based on categories of flavors from which the final blends were chosen. The four resulting expressions are a beautiful demonstration of the art of blending.

Details for each of the whiskeys in this release are as follows:

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks is described as having scents of complex oak and madeira wine, with hints of tobacco, citrus and dried fruits interacting in a fascinating way. The aroma follows through on the palate, adding sweetness and subtle acidity to the mild, slightly soft, yet well-rounded whiskey. The finish is bright, complex, and pleasing. This whiskey was finished in madeira casks for approximately two to four years and is 96.5 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Merlot Casks carries an aroma of rich fresh fruit, including plums, raspberries, and dark cherries, followed by floral notes. It has a full and slightly soft taste, with long and lasting notes of fruit. The finish is long and savory with subtle tannins and toasted oak. This whiskey was finished in merlot casks for approximately two to four years and is 93.3 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks greets you with an aroma explosion of sweet, rich fruit and toasted nuts, followed by figs, hints of spicy tobacco and subtle cedar. The palate is sweet with a soft, round initial impression followed by a myriad of aged fruits and nuts. The finish is balanced and sweet with notes of spicy oak. This whiskey was finished in sherry casks for approximately one to four years and is 98.7 proof.

Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks has an aroma of complex fruit and bright citrus that mingle with slightly herbal notes and traces of jasmine and lavender. On the palate, notes of orange, apricot and vanilla are followed by complex earthy undertones, with a subtle toasted oak and cedar finish. This whiskey was finished in cognac casks for approximately two to four years and is 93.4 proof.

This line of bourbons intends to honor Thomas S. Moore, an innovative bourbon pioneer who built the Distillery known today as Barton 1792 Distillery. The tall, sophisticated bottles feature imagery that pays homage to the legacy of Thomas S. Moore. Each label displays the image of a racehorse standing tall, honoring one of Moore’s earliest whiskey brands, Belle of Nelson, named for the thoroughbred who won the Kentucky Oaks in 1878.

Suggested retail pricing for each Thomas S. Moore expression is $69.99; state taxes will vary per market. Additional cask-finished releases will be unveiled every year in the fall. For more information about Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit the brand at https://www.facebook.com/thomassmoorebourbon/ on Facebook and @thomassmoorebourbon on Instagram.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020.

SPEYBURN DISTILLERY

44 Year Old 1977 Private Collection

Cask #6045101

£2,259.00

Speyburn 44 Year Old 1977 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill sherry butt #6045101 distilled 13th September 1977 and bottled 17th November 2021 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Private Collection series. 414 hand-blown crystal decanters have been produced.

Subtle sherry aromas intertwine with walnut and cocoa powder. Ginger spice gives way to dried tobacco.

Sweet honey flavours complement Medjool dates and demerara sugar. Seville orange peel comes to the fore alongside autumnal spices.

A long finish with red apple, black pepper and menthol.

Speyburn Distillery was designed by Charles C. Doig and when constructed in 1897 it was the first malt whisky distillery to install Drum Maltings. Although the Drum Maltings closed in 1967 they have been retained and this is the only surviving example in Scotland. Speyburn is a malt whisky distillery situated in Scotland’s Speyside whisky region and operates with three stills of which two are spirit stills and connected to traditional worm tubs to cool the new spirit, a dunnage warehouse to house some of its maturing casks of whisky and has retained its classic pagoda roof over the old kiln house. Speyburn’s 10 Year Old is a popular core release.

Yes, we’re really sorry, there’s no Springbank here, it’s a Springbank free zone.
However… here is a recommendation if you do like that style of whisky:

BENROMACH 2009 12YO UK EXCLUSIVE SINGLE CASK #723, 58.5%

A single cask bottles exclusively for the UK. One of only 240 bottles available worldwide. Distilled: 07/09/2009. Bottled: 24/11/2021. Cask Number: 723. Cask Type: First Fill Bourbon Barrel.

Tasting notes: Sweet notes of rich apple, tropical fruit and honey, followed by light vanilla and soft smoke.

BENROMACH SINGLE CASK – UK EXCLUSIVE £74.50

RAER Blended Whisky Oloroso Finish, 40%

New blends tend to go under the radar compared to their malt focused brothers. But I’m a fan of blends, I love how complex they can be, how simple, tasty, great for cocktail useage, at home mixing, whatever takes your fancy.

RAER have released this new version of their standard blend, finishing it off in Oloroso sherry casks. Combining the usual suspects of malt and grain, this is a nice and affordable product to sink your whisky opinion into while they wait for their first malt releases….not long to go for that either.

But this a wonderfully easy drinker with a huge ginger beer note running through it from start to finish. Totally worth a look, especially for the price

https://youtu.be/cWbmM0yoxDY

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