BONHAMS TO OFFER THE RAREST OF FINE JAPANESE WHISKY: YAMAZAKI 50-YEAR-OLD FIRST RELEASE

From left) Yamazaki 55-Year-Old. Estimate: HK$4,000,000-5,000,000. Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release Estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000. Yamazaki 35-Year-Old. Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,300,000.

The Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release is considered the king of Japanese whisky for many reasons. In 2005 when it first hit the market, it was the oldest edition ever produced by the famed Yamazaki distillery. There were only 50 bottles from the first release, many of which ended up in local whisky bars within Japan, where bottles after bottles were opened and enjoyed over the years. After breaking the auction record twice in 2018 and 2019, the Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release has now become the rarest of fine Japanese whisky, with what is believed to be no more than a dozen of them still existing in the market. An outstanding example of this ultra-rare whisky will be offered at Bonhams Fine and Rare Whisky Sale in Hong Kong on 20 May 2022. It has an estimate of HK$3,500,000-4,500,000.

Yamazaki distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, was Japan’s first commercial whisky distillery. There is a total of three editions of 50-year-old Yamazaki. The first edition was bottled in 2005, the second in 2007 and the third in 2011.

Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release Estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000.

Christopher Pong, Head of Sale at Bonhams Wine and Whisky Department, commented: “The first edition of Yamazaki 50-Year-Old is always eagerly sought after by collectors. I am expecting a lot of interest.”

The Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release is now the second-oldest expression by the distillery, just after the 55-Year-Old released – in 100 bottles – and set the new auction record for a single bottle of Japanese whisky at Bonhams in 2020 for HK$6,200,000. Another bottle of Yamazaki 55-Year-Old, including a miniature 50ml sample, will be offered in the May sale, with an estimate of HK$4,000,000-5,000,000.

Apart from Japanese whisky, the sale also spotlights an eclectic Scotch collection from one of Asia’s leading whisky collectors – Aaron Chan. Also the owner of the eminent Club Qing which has for years served as a destination whisky bar of Asia, Aaron from Hong Kong is now offering his personal collection of Scotch whisky in more than 220 lots. This is considered to be the most eclectic and extensive single-owner collection of old and rare Scotch to come to the market. Highlights include: 

Bowmore 1955 in Ceramic Jug. One of the most iconic Bowmore with only 100 half-bottles ever produced. Estimate: HK$150,000-200,000

Tormore Samaroli-1966. An ultra-rare and prestigious sherry-wooded whisky from the legendary Italian bottler. Estimate: HK$180,000-250,000

Laphroaig Osteria Apostoli-1970-#4367. Arguably the best Laphroaig ever produced. Estimate: HK$180,000-250,000

Christopher Pong commented: “Bonhams’ long-standing rapport with Aaron Chan is founded on our shared vision to develop whisky collecting in Asia. After a momentous sale of Club Qing’s Hanyu Full Card Series in 2020, which set a new auction record for a collection of Japanese whisky, Aaron has now consigned with us his personal Scotch collection, offering many old bottlings from 1950s through the 60s, all in pristine condition. It is rare to have a private Asian Scotch collection to come to the global market, and this is surely one to watch out for.” 

Fine and Rare Whisky, Featuring Aaron Chan’s Spectacular Scotch Whisky Collection

20 May 2022Bonhams Hong Kong, 20/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty.

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

Bevridge Announces a New Way to Experience Spirits

On-demand content paired with premium spirits that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April, 2022) – This April, Bevridge releases its highly anticipated first-of-its-kind tasting experience which pairs on-demand video content with premium whisky samples. The first, limited-edition experience, which celebrates American Single Malts ($250) features 10 carefully curated 50ml bottles paired with bespoke digital content that will transport you to distilleries around the country, from the comfort of your own home.

As the American Single Malt designation is expected to become an officially recognized spirits category in the US this year – represented in a larger way on liquor stores shelves and bar menus – the Bevridge American Single Malt Tasting Experience offers a great way for you to taste and learn about many of the most respected American Single Malts, including Balcones, Boulder Spirits, Sante Fe Spirits, Virginia Distillery Company, Westland Distillery and Westward Distilling, all at the same time.

This Bevridge tasting experience is enhanced through unparalleled access to the biggest names in the spirits industry and distilling through specialty content. At Bevridge.co, customers can access the library of digital videos, panel discussions, and guided tastings – including conversations with brand owners and Master Distillers on how their brands were started, guided tours of their distillery floors and rickhouses, and most importantly, tasting through their portfolios right with the producers themselves!

Future tasting experiences will explore whisk(e)y subcategories from all over the world.

Start your journey today by creating a profile on Bevridge.co and purchase the inaugural American Single Malt Tasting Experience ($250) at Bevridge.co, ReserveBar.com and fine spirits retailers around the US.

“Forgotten” Macallan cask expected to fetch world-record price

A rare “forgotten” cask of Macallan 1988, bought for just £5,000, is expected to set a world record price as it opens for bids on specialist whisky auction site, Whisky Hammer.

Originally filled on 5^th May 1988, the 374 litre refill butt has been held in bond at The Macallan Distillery for almost 34 years and is expected to break the record set in 2021 by Bonham’s for the sale of a 30-year-old re-racked Sherry hogshead from Macallan, which fetched $574,000. The ongoing Whisky Hammer April auction, which includes more than 2,000 lots, is live until Sunday 24^th April at 7pm (BST).

The Macallan cask seller, an ex-pat who bought the cask on a whim over three decades ago, had forgotten about it until reminded by Macallan that it remained maturing in the warehouse.

Bids for the incredibly rare cask have already reached $170,000 since the auction went live, with prices expected to soar in the coming days. The team at Whisky Hammer anticipates a global bidding war for the rare cask which, if bottled today, would yield 534 x 70cl bottles of 33 year old Macallan.

Daniel Milne, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Whisky Hammer, said: “Casks of this age and size are extremely rare, especially from The Macallan. This is, without doubt, one of the most exciting casks we’ve seen come to auction in recent years and we expect it to set a new world record by the time the auction closes on Sunday.”

For further information or to register interest, visit whiskyhammer.com

Notes

Whisky Hammer is a family run whisky auction service founded by brothers and keen whisky enthusiasts Daniel and Craig Milne, who are supported by a team of passionate experts acting as trusted advisors to both buyers and sellers.

Whisky Hammer’s monthly auctions bring a range of desirable, rare and collectable bottles to market for buyers, alongside offering a hassle-free premium service for those looking to sell. As a truly global auctioneer with offices in the UK and Hong Kong, Whisky Hammer can deliver whisky and represent sellers worldwide, investing heavily in the safest warehouses on the market to store prized bottles appearing at auction.

The superior service offered by Whisky Hammer means it is trusted by some of the world’s most prominent whisky collectors and sellers, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.

For more information, visit whiskyhammer.com.

The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 Description

Looking to treat yourself this Easter? Handpicked by The Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh, our single cask selection features whiskies he loved enough to release them under our own name.

The range showcases the flavours and styles we love in whisky today – from a herbal and smoky 15-year-old Croftengea to a 2008-vintage Glen Elgin packed with orchard fruit flavour. Find a dram you’ll love from one of Scotland’s finest distilleries.

SHOP SINGLE CASKS

Fettercairn
Warehouse 2 Batch 3

Fettercairn’s latest Warehouse 2 batch 3

These Warehouse 2 releases from Fettercairn really do sell like hot cakes, so makes sure to grab a bottle of this third batch whilst we have it! With a combo of tasty casks paired with their tropical style spirit it is sure to be a winner.

£60.00
BUY NOW

The English Royal Platinum Jubilee

To mark this extraordinary event of seeing our Queen reign for 70years, we are releasing a wonderful single malt to join our Royal range of whiskies. This range is only bottled to mark births, marriages, coronations and jubilees; so any launch is always rare and sought after.

This launch is to celebrate the Queens platinum jubilee is no exception, with the whisky being a single malt sourced from the finest oak casks that have been sleeping in our maturation warehouses on site at the distillery.

46% ABV

Receive 10% discount when you purchase 6 bottles of  the Royal Platinum Jubilee Decanters.

Holyrood Distillery to Introduce Two New Strong Waters to UK Market

This Spring, Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery is set to introduce two ‘Strong Waters’ into the UK market. Launching in April, the new varieties, named Charmed Circle, are the magnificent results of Holyrood’s experimentation with heritage barleys and their progressive approach to spirit-making.

Fuelled by a passion for Edinburgh’s brewing past and the land that surrounds the distillery, Nick Ravenhall and Marc Watson set about trialling some of the UK’s most famed barley varieties, as well as digging deep to explore the very water that is found under the city. Drawing on Scotland’s native drinking culture around white spirits, Holyrood has categorised these spirits as ‘Strong Waters’ which is an archaic name, usually referring to any alcoholic liquids that were not being set aside as aqua vitae.

For centuries distillers have focused on a barley’s efficiency rather than its flavour, and as a result so many of Britain’s most popular barleys have been abandoned over time in favour of higher yielding varieties. By examining other properties and potential of heritage barley varieties such as Golden Promise and Chevalier, Holyrood’s team soon discovered the innate and powerful flavours, textures and aromas they could produce.

Holyrood distilled these barleys as part of their signature single malt new make and then blended them with neutral grain spirit, intensifying the flavours of the barleys, whilst also developing their richness and mouthfeel, creating texture in the resulting spirits. These innovative liquids aim to bring flavour back to the white spirit sector, to be enjoyed neat and in longer mixed drinks.

While Scotland’s capital has an established brewing history, not many modern spirit makers are utilising the city’s terroir and high-quality water supply that once powered brewing in the city. The very name of the new Strong Waters refers to a collection of wells situated around Arthur’s Seat. Known as the ‘Charmed Circle,’ this cluster of wells supplied the flourishing brewing community the city once held, with some of the wells and water aquifer still in use underneath the distillery today.

Heritage barley connects the liquid with the land in the same way as wine relates to its terroir. The two expressions reveal interesting facets of the cityscape, the brewers that came before and the season in which they were developed. The Golden Promise is a classic British spring barley variety that was the dominant variety in Scotland during the 1970s, whilst Chevalier also dominated the English brewing crop for around 60 years. Holyrood aims to bring these barleys back to their former glory, highlighting barley as a key flavour component in white spirit making.

Tasting Notes

Golden Promise: Comprises 15% Golden Promise – New Make Spirit + 85% GNS + water
– N. Bright, citrus, lemon zest, refreshing orange blossom
– B. Clean, mouthcoating, lemon blossom lift
– F. Clean, gentle, moreish

Chevalier: Comprises 15% Chevalier – New Make Spirit + 85% GNS + water
– N. Creamy, butter, digestive biscuit
– B. Rich, mouthcoating, churned cream and butter
– F. Long rich, moreish

Holyrood’s spirit making ethos remains the same, to share their making journey, inspired by the city which makes them as a team and the liquids they produce.
Charmed Circle’s RRP is £34.99 and will be available from April 2022.
www.holyrooddistillery.co.uk
@holyrooddistillery

Ross & Squibb Distillery releases Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof

Annual, limited-release straight rye whiskey, now featuring a 7-year age statement 

ST. LOUIS (April 12, 2022) – Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the launch of Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof, its annual, limited-release straight-rye whiskey. Set to reach retail shelves across the country starting this month, this limited allocation of 3,000 six-pack cases was bottled at 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) and has a suggested retail price of $69.99.

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof features a medley of straight-rye mash bills, distilled by one of the largest producers of rye whiskey in America – Ross & Squibb Distillery. The flavor profile includes an aroma of rye spice, vanilla, caramel, oak, and slight chocolate; forward flavors of sweet caramel and vanilla, moving to baking spices and chocolate; and a lingering finish of rye and a hint of sweet mint.

There were 82 barrels selected for this year’s release, which is displayed on each bottle of Rossville Union Barrel Proof. And for the first time, every bottle prominently features a 7-year age statement.

“Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof is another example of the great rye-whiskey tradition we’ve carried on at Ross & Squibb Distillery and yet another reason Indiana is the rye capital of the world,” said Ian Stirsman, master distiller at Ross & Squibb distillery. “As the popularity of rye whiskey continues to grow, we’ve selected another exceptional medley of rye mash bills to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes among the ever-growing numbers of rye-whiskey drinkers.”

The award-winning Rossville Union Family of brands also includes a 94 Proof offering – Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey, which has a suggested retail price of $39.99. 

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from five distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where the George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced; and the Washington, D.C.-based Green Hat Distillery, producer of the Green Hat family of gins. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.