Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022.

A Septuagenarian Scotch is named Single Cask of the Year While A Staggering Bourbon wins the Bible’s World Whisky of the Year Title.

One of the oldest single malts ever commercially bottled has this year been named as the World Finest Single Cask Whisky in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022.

Distilled in 1948 – the same year that the Big Bang theory was first hypothesised – Jim Murray considered the 72-year-old Glen Grant, Cask 440, from Gordon and MacPhail to be truly stella, giving it 97.5 marks out of 100.

Said Jim: “This whisky has had 72 years for something to go wrong with it. Instead, we have the near miraculous situation of a whisky sitting for 72 years in oak and everything going right with it. The chances for a whisky to reach this type of antiquity and hit this level of excellence is mind-blowing: it has to be one-in-a-million or more.”

The score equals the highest-ever recorded in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, which has now been published each year for the last 19 years, with over 20,000 whiskies tasted by Mr Murray during that time.

As well as being named the world’s finest single cask, it has also picked up the title of Scotch Whisky of the Year.

However, the actual World Whisky of the Year was again won by a bourbon, George T Stagg, from the Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky. This is a “big bang” whiskey in its own right, bottled at 65.2%abv, more than half the strength again of a standard bottle of whisky.

It was named World Whisky of the Year in the first-ever Whisky Bible, back in 2003 but had not won the coveted title since 2006.

But it means bourbon has been named World Whisky of the Year for five of the last 6 years.

Mr Murray explained: “Bourbon is going through a golden era right now with distilleries taking extraordinary care in many of the bottlings they produce. The high-end products, like George T Stagg, are individual works of art and it takes hours in the glass to fully unravel their secrets and mysteries.

In his notes on it Jim concluded: “Stagg hovering around about its ultimate. And we know what that means: one of the greatest whiskey experiences of your life. This is one of those whiskies where it is not a case of whether it is good enough for you. The question is whether you are good enough for it? Staggering. Quite literally.”

Stagg’s, stablemate from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, Thomas Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Rye was named the World second-best whiskey, repeating a 1^st and 2^nd placing last achieved in the 2013 edition.

A Scotch single malt came in Third. Again it was Glen Grant, this time with their 18-year-old, the third top three placing it has achieved in the last six year.

Of it, Mr Murray wrote: “You know that moment when the last notes fade on Vaughan-Williams’ A Lark Ascending, or you are in a hilltop meadow and a real lark sings sweetly above your head for its mate before fluttering and parachuting back to its grassy home, and you sit there quietly pondering on what you have just experienced. And so the nose, the best I have experienced all year, has the same effect here.”

This year Jim Murray tasted over 750 different whiskies from around the world.

Said Mr Murray: “We set a target of 750 this year instead of excess of 1,000, should I not be to travel because of Covid. Well, much of the book was written during Lockdown, travelling was impossible and so it was truly amazing that we hit our target. Hopefully next year I’ll be back travelling and we’ll be back to over 1,000 whiskies again.

Editor’s Notes Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022 contains tasting notes for nearly 5,000 drams from around the world. This is the biggest selling whisky guide, now in its 19th edition. Available from 25/11/21 at all good bookshops, retailers and whiskybible.com, priced £14.99. Press enquiries: Jane Garnett +44 (0)117 317 9777; jane@whiskybible.com

News at the Cutting Edge From Glencairn Crystal Studio

It’s been another busy year here at Glencairn Crystal and hard to believe it’s November already! We hope this newsletter finds you all well and that you’ve all had a healthy and successful 2021 to date.

This year not only have we been celebrating the 40^th anniversary of Glencairn Crystal Studio since the company was set up back in 1981, we’ve also looked to the future and invested over £2 million into ensuring that we are making our business as sustainable and environmentally sound as we possibly can – we don’t have all the answers yet but we’re doing our best to find them.

We’ve also been in the news with some stunning Glencairn Crystal decanters that we’ve had the privilege to create for some exceptional whiskies and have further news for you about a short story competition we’ve launched as well as a very special whisky auction in December.

Crystal clear on sustainability

As a socially and environmentally responsible family business we are strongly influenced by our families’ children’s views on the environment, as they are the future of both our business and our planet.
Hot on the heels of Glasgow hosting the COP26 conference this month, we’ve undertaken an extensive expansion and remodelling of our factory and offices at our headquarters in East Kilbride, just outside Glasgow, as part of our strategy to increase our level of sustainability and to re-use and reduce rather than just recycle.

This marks an exciting moment for us as we strive to become 100% dependent on our own solar energy. The energy generated by our brand new solar storage system will be over and above the required amount for our company to run off and any excess electricity generated will be sent back to the grid and can be repurposed for other local usage.

We’ve also invested in various other key initiatives and aim to remove the use of all plastic packaging entirely over the next five ears as well as the removal of gas energy altogether over the next ten years.

An extraordinary piece of whisky history to be auctioned for charity

With contributions from some of the world’s most iconic master blenders, we will be auctioning our Glencairn Ruby Tribute Blended Scotch Whisky in a unique hand crafted ruby encrusted decanter to mark our 40^th anniversary as part of The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ One-of-One Charity Auction, in partnership with Sotheby’s.

This very special whisky was originally presented to Glencairn Founder and CEO Raymond Davidson at Fettercairn Distillery in December 2004, to celebrate the production of Glencairn’s one millionth Glencairn Glass in a surprise gathering organised by Whyte and Mackay’s Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson. A special assemblage of malt grain aged whiskies – all at least 18 years old – were blended together and filled into a miniature oak cask and gifted to Raymond.

The auction takes place on 4th December at Barnbougle Castle on the Dalmeny Estate, near Edinburgh and the money raised will go to The Distillers’ Charity Youth Action Fund, helping to improve life chances of Scotland’s young people.

We’re hoping that the auction will capture the imagination of someone who would like to own a piece of whisky history and will help us to raise money for this important charity. Please visit www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the-distillers-one-of-one-2 for further details and spread the word!

Glencairn Crystal in the news

We’ve been in the drinks and packaging media lately with our latest decanter releases

In September came perhaps our most challenging decanter created to date – a contemporary cube shaped decanter for the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled – Generations 80 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery (Gordon & MacPhail’s).

Designed to appear as hewn from a single solid block of crystal, only 250 decanters were created and each decanter’s curving core needed to be individually hand-blown.

September also saw the launch of the 60 Years Old single malt scotch by Speyside distillery Glen Grant to celebrate master distiller Dennis Malcolm’s six decades in whisky.

We created each of the 360 decanters from hand-blown crystal glass and the shape was inspired by Glen Grant’s tall, slender pot stills. Each one is beautifully engraved and infilled with a champagne gold finish.

We had the honour of creating the exquisite decanters and lunawood packaging for the exceptionally rare Karuizawa 1981 single cask whisky ‘The Legend of Asama’ launched at the end of summer. Each rare set (only 30 exist) includes two bottles of the precious Japanese single malt whisky, one from each of two remaining casks (no. 4059 and 6183). For details about ‘The Legend of Asama’ Karuizawa 1981 collection, please visit: www.legendofasama.com

Berry Bros. & Rudd Royal Brackla Christmas Edition 70cl

The delicious Brackla was matured for around 12 years in refill hogsheads before being given an additional 2 years in a fresh ex-Pedro Ximenez butt.

Distilled: 2007 Bottled: 2021

Limited: 539 Bottles

Natural Colour | Unchill-Filtered

Tasting Notes:

Nose: An initial whack of milk chocolate combines with a wonderful spiced mix of fresh and dried fruits, apples, pears and melon from the distillate and sticky figs and date from the wood.

Palate: Leans more towards the thick sherry wood influence with prunes, clove rock, toffee and honeycomb all swirling around.

50.6% ABV

£91.80

Shop now

A New Collectible Triumph from an Islay Icon
Ardbeg 19 Year Old “Traigh Bhan – 2021 Release” Batch #3 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

Today’s offer brings us an absolutely rocking Islay standout from everyone’s favorite peat monster. It’s not every day that such a well-known and widely loved brand turns out a milestone addition to their regular roster. The Ardbeg 19 Year Old “Traigh Bhan – 2021 Release” Batch #3 Islay Single Malt is the latest version of a stellar new age-stated entry in the distillery’s line-up, the first such in over 20 years, and the results couldn’t be more astounding. Aged in a combination of American oak and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, this 95-point bruiser shows the highest degree of elemental, earthy complexity that long-time fans have come to love from this iconic, seaside distillery. Whether you’re shopping for a hard-to-please whisky fan or that hard-to-please whisky fan is you, this spectacular new addition to one of the Scotch world’s most beloved line-ups is a singular, one-of-a-kind bottling that belongs in any world-class collection.

Ardbeg 19 Year Old “Traigh Bhan – 2021 Release” Batch #3 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($299.99)

95 points Whisky Advocate: “The early nose offers hand-rolled tobacco, ginger, black pepper, and fragrant woodsmoke. Medicinal notes, brine, and lemon develop in time. Sweet peat smoke, tropical fruits, toffee, and aniseed on the palate, with smoked haddock and a suggestion of tar. Iodine, black pepper, and sea salt in the lengthy finish. (GS)” (02/2020)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 418: Auchentoshan 14 Year Old 2002 Provenance

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a teenage Toshan. Provenance is a series by Douglas Laing and I already tasted 3 Auchentoshan bottled under this label, an 11-year-old from 2000, a 12-year-old from 2001 and a 13-year-old from 2002. Douglas Laing released a 14-year-old in 2016 and that now sits in Mark’s glass.

https://youtu.be/v580KI-M64U

Sotheby’s Annual Wine & Spirits Auction Sales

Hit Record $132 Million

– 44% Increase on 2020 –

NEW YORK, 20 December 2021 – Sotheby’s Wine’s annual auction sales of wines and spirits reached record heights in 2021, led by a 44% increase in sales to a total of $132 million.

Looking back on the historic year, Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “2021 will be remembered as a transformative year in Sotheby’s wine and spirits business, where we repeatedly broke records in all areas of our business and launched new initiatives and partnerships across all categories and geographies. Our highest ever sales total of $132 million included market leadership in Asia with $67 million, standout growth in both spirits and wine, and a slew of record prices for both wines and whiskies. We launched our sales in Continental Europe and our first sale of Tea in Hong Kong. But, perhaps the most significant development of this year was our inaugural sales and partnerships with the Hospices de Beaune and The Distillers’ Charity, where we worked together with the négociants in Burgundy and the distilleries in Scotland to raise important funds to benefit their local communities.”

Facts & Figures

• By region: Asia: $67 million; USA: $26 million; UK: $21 million; France: $18 million
• By category: Spirits $21 million
• Volume of sales increases: Sotheby’s staged 51 sales in the categories this year, 24% up on 2020
• 19 single owner sales, with an aggregate total of $75 million, 57% of the combined total
• Asia powers the market, with sales in the region accounting for 51% of global total, placing Sotheby’s in market leadership position in the region for fourth consecutive year
• Bidders from 56 countries (38% Americas, 37% Asia, 25% Europe)
• Buyers from 52 countries:
  • Buyers from Asia accounted for 57% of auction sales (58% for Wine, 52% for Spirits)
  • Buyers from the Americas accounted for 20% of auction sales (20% for Wine, 20% for Spirits)
  • Buyers from Europe accounted for 23% of auction sales (22% for Wine, 28% for Spirits)
• New buyers of wine and spirits made up 40% of the total number of buyers
• One third of bidders on wine and spirits under 40 years of age
• The number of first-time bidders of spirits saw a more than four-fold increase on 2020, with collectors from North America accounting for 45% of the total amount bid by collectors new to the category
• Over $20 million in auction sales for charity partnerships
• Lots sold: 14,150

Moving Sotheby’s centre of gravity to stage auctions and experiences beyond the traditional saleroom centres 

“These new partnerships enable us to work in a much closer way across the entire wine and spirits industries, which provides greater opportunity and benefit to everyone, from the producers and their communities to consumers all around the world. We look forward to expanding this series in 2022, starting with our innovative new partnership with the Napa Valley Vintners, as well as additional charitable organisations that will be announced early in the New Year.” – Jamie Ritchie

In 2021, Sotheby’s made a significant commitment to work together with charitable organisations, uniting collectors with special opportunities to acquire rare wines and whiskies, while benefiting the communities of each region:

• Sotheby’s partnered with the Hospices de Beaune for the first time. The 161st edition of the charity wine auction on 21 November brought $14.2 million. In addition, the legendary Charity Barrel realised a record $900,000, bringing the grand total raised for charity to $15.3 million
• Records also tumbled at the inaugural charity Scotch whisky auction – ‘The Distillers One of One’ – near Edinburgh on 3 December, with an auction totalling $4.1 million, and $2.7 million raised for charity
• Looking forward, as auction partners to Napa Valley Vintners, Sotheby’s will, for the first time, partner with a wine region to help connect wine consumers, collectors and connoisseurs to its wines. More details to follow.

Spirits

The year saw several partnerships with leading distilleries:

• Sotheby’s X The Worshipful Company of Distillers and the Scotch Whisky Industry, for the first Distillers One of One auction – records for Bowmore, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Ladyburn, and Talisker, and more ($4.1 million total, more than double the low estimate; December, Edinburgh)
• Sotheby’s X The Macallan: A one-of-a-kind original bottle of 1967 whisky from The Macallan’s Anecdotes of Ages Collection with label artwork by Sir Peter Blake, sold for $437,500 (March, New York)
• Sotheby’s X Bowmore: The Black Bowmore Archive Cabinet – the complete Black Bowmore single malt whisky collection direct from the Bowmore distillery – sold for $563,000 (April, Hong Kong)
• Sotheby’s X Gordon & MacPhail: Auction record for a bottle of the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky – designed by architect and designer Sir David Adjaye OBE, Decanter #1 of Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80-Years-Old sold for $193,000 (October, Hong Kong)
• Sotheby’s X The Dalmore: Auction record for The Dalmore – a one-of-a-kind set of six vintage single malts direct from the distillery, sold for $1.1 million, establishing the most valuable whisky lot sold by Sotheby’s in Asia (October, Hong Kong)
• Sotheby’s X Diageo: Set #1 of the second release of Prima & Ultima, Diageo’s collectable series of rare, cask-strength single vintage malts containing eight whiskies from across Scotland, was offered exclusively through Sotheby’s directly from Diageo (September, Hong Kong)

A single-owner auction, Whisky & Whiskey | The Three Continents Collection, forming Part 1 of the largest collection of spirits by bottle count ever to be offered by Sotheby’s, totalled an above estimate $2.3 million and with 80% of the lots achieving prices above their high estimates (December, New York)

Looking ahead to 2022

“As wine regions and distilleries are increasingly looking for global reach and recognition, we will see a rise in on-site auctions and events enhanced with state-of-the-art digital experiences.” – Jamie Ritchie

Sotheby’s will hold its inaugural sale of Spirits in France from 12 – 21 January

More than 10 single owner sales are already scheduled 

Top Lots in 2021 

SPIRITS

Glenfiddich The 1950s Collection, sold for $1.4 million

The Dalmore Decades No. 6 Collection, sold for $1.1 million

Talisker Cask of Distinction 1978 + Artwork by Callum Innes, sold for $831,780

Black Bowmore Archive Cabinet Direct From Bowmore, sold for $563,000

Bowmore Onyx 51 Year Old 1970, sold for $532,340

Yamazaki 55 Year Old, sold for $525,000

Karuizawa 52 Year Old Strong Eagle Cask #5627 1960, sold for $495,200

The Macallan 1967 Anecdotes of Ages Collection “A New Era Of Advertising”, with Sir Peter Blake Print and Exclusive Experience, sold for $437,500

The Balvenie 56 Year Old 1964, sold for $232,900

Glenlivet Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80 Year Old 44.9 abv 1940 + Exclusive Experience, sold for $193,000

From our TWB family we extend to our customers our Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year.

It has been another challenging and unusual year but the support from our customers has been as phenomenal as ever – thank you. We remain open online throughout the Holidays for orders. And we will be toasting an extra large dram as we prepare for a big year ahead:- TWB | TheWhiskyBarrel.com has a very special birthday to celebrate!

Final New Whiskies of the Year!

Glenfarclas 29 Years

1991 vintage S21 cask #5676. Single sherry butt bottled June 2021 yielding 615 bottles.

Shop Glenfarclas 30yo »

Glenfarclas 30 Years

1990 vintage S21 cask #9256. Single sherry butt bottled June 2021 yielding 558 bottles.

Shop Glenfarclas 29yo »

Williamson 8 Year Old – 2013 | Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited

The festive season has seen the arrival of lots of new drinks here at The Whisky Exchange. If you’re looking for an exciting new whisky, look no further than the 2021 release of Fettercairn 16 Year Old and Bunnahabhain’s 12 Year Old Cask Strength, bourbon and rye American whiskeys from Rabbit Hole, or a fruity single malt from Tamdhu, designed as an accompaniment to cigars.

SHOP ALL NEW PRODUCTS

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 417: Auchentoshan 17 Year Old Bordeaux Wine Finish

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tastes an older release of Auchentoshan. A finish on wine casks is always a bit tricky, but Auchentoshan usually gets it right. And while Mark has tasted many of these, this 17 years old bottled in 2002 was one of the first that was finished on these Saint Julien Bordeaux wine casks and one he had not yet tried before!

https://youtu.be/pTBueX0lCyE