Speyside

Single Malt Scotch Whisky!

Some of our Speyside Favourites

Speyside is a ‘sub-region’ of the Scottish Highlands, named as such due to the large number of Scotch whisky distilleries in a comparatively small area. In fact, there are 84 working distilleries in Speyside, including the world’s most famous and popular: Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan. From this region, the style of whisky produced has altered significantly over time, and thus there are a wide range of whiskies displaying different characters that are available to enjoy.

A traditional Speyside single malt whisky would not be dissimilar to a Highland whisky, with a robust character and hints of the well known peated flavour. However in recent times, expressions have become lighter and sweeter, lacking the peaty punch of the Islay and Highland Drams. Due to Speysides location and low mineral content in the water, the whiskies are normally very low in peat, if not totally unpeated. There are certainly no definitive rules as to the characteristics of Speyside whisky, especially as age often brings increased body and most are matured in either ex-bourbon or ex-sherry casks, which adds a lot of strong flavours.

It can definitely be said that Speyside whiskies are subtle and for this reason tend to be a great ‘entry level whisky’ for those beginning to discover their tastes when it comes to drinking single malts. We certainly believe that there’s a dram for everyone in Speyside!

https://youtu.be/rmaMqLUUGpE

Macallan. There you go, most of you may have already ignored this post.

Hopefully not though! As much as this whisky can annoy retailers and customers alike, it is a whisky with a flavour profile that matches the ‘new direction’ of Macallan. Years ago I fell in love with that chocolate orange depth charge that belonged to the old Macallan 10’s, 12’s, etc. But now we have this dark chocolate, milky coffee style of Macallan that I do enjoy…but comes with its heftier price tags.

The whisky itself is a collaborative between Jordi Roca and Polly Logan, teaming together a selection of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks, taking inspiration from Jordi’s expertise as a world renowned pastry chef and Polly’s professioanl whisky making approach. Utilising Macallan as the launch platform for another Roca Brother inspired release, a fair few have already seen the light of day, most notably, Macallan Edition 2 and Macallan Distil Your World: London Edition.

The box is made from recycled cacao husks which is a little different, always nice to see some greener elements filtering in to bigger releases. Anyway, check out the video and leave your own thoughts and feelings on this instant sell out bottle of Macallan.

#whisky #whiskey #whiskywednesday #thisiswhiskywednesday #macallan #richharmony #cacao #harmonycacao #jordiroca #pollylogan #whiskymaker #limitededition #naturalcolour #chocolate #coffee #honey #cinnamon #vanilla #flagtimefilms #Manchester #thewhiskyshop #macallanwhisky #macallandistillery #hashtag #scotland #scotch #singlemalt #sherry #americanoak #europeanoak

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New team taking shape at The Cairn Distillery

The management team is now in place to run the new distillery on the outskirts of Grantown on Spey being built by family-owned whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail.

Distillery Manager Mhairi Winters and Visitor Experience Manager Andy Kitchin are already hard at work getting ready to begin whisky production and to welcome visitors from summer 2022.

The pair bring with them a wealth of experience in whisky production and visitor management.

Mhairi Winters joins Gordon & MacPhail from William Grant & Sons Distillers, where she was Team Leader for Balvenie and Kininvie Distilleries. Mhairi has worked in the Scotch Whisky industry for twenty years in a variety of industry roles from tour guide to technical support and then production management.

Mhairi said: “I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the team bringing The Cairn Distillery to life. It’s not every day that a brand-new Distillery of this scale is built and it was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by. I’m extremely passionate about our industry and our products. I am excited to begin commissioning and start creating our new spirit.”

Meanwhile Andy Kitchin has most recently been part of the team managing the visitor experience at The Falkirk Wheel.

Before working with Scottish Canals, he was at sea for more than 10 years, managing multiple visitor experience teams onboard P&O cruise ships. He has worked at various luxury Scottish leisure resorts, but has always been focused on creating lasting memories, whether on land or sea.

Andy added: “For me, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a stunning new venture in a wonderful part of the Scottish countryside. I am very much looking forward to opening our doors to welcome our visitors and let them share the Cairn experience.”

The Cairn will be the second distillery for Scotch malt whisky experts Gordon & MacPhail who bought and re-equipped Benromach Distillery at Forres in the 1990s.

The company prides itself on the positive relationships it has built with the local community in the areas in which it works and has been keen to replicate that approach in Grantown.

As Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, explained: “We have been delighted by the incredibly positive welcome we’ve had locally. Now we have a local team in place we are keen to continue the process of building long term relationships with the community and local businesses. Andy in particular will be focusing very much on getting to know people in the local area while Mhairi focuses on the production of The Cairn spirit. I’m sure they will enjoy the same warm welcome we have already experienced.”

The Cairn lies in a spectacular location, looking out across the River Spey towards the Cairngorm Mountains.  It will offer a range of immersive visitor experiences, whisky tastings and bistro with a menu shaped by ingredients from the local area.

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, 125 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.

Lochlea First Release Ballot

Ballot Delayed – Now open from 9am January 25th

At the request of the Lochlea Distillery we have suspended our ballot until 9am on Tuesday, 25th January to coincide with the release of the bottle.

The ballot will now close at 1pm on Tuesday, 25th January 2022.

To be entered into the ballot you must already have a purchasing history with Inverurie Whisky Shop – this is to ensure our more regular customers are getting the chance to buy this great release.

Anyone without a purchase history from us will be excluded from the draw.

Please go through the checkout process for this bottle as you would for a normal purchase – you do not have to enter any card details.

Please select wether you wish to opt in to sign up to our newsletter or opt out using the drop down menu available.

Only one ballot entry will be allocated per person – please do not make multiple purchases.

Enter Ballot

Just landed:
Loch Fyne The Living Cask Batch 11

Our latest batch of The Living Cask has arrived! The series continues with a portion of the previous batch living the the next, and so on… With Burns Night just around the corner we have added a load of new sale bottles with a strong Scotch focus for that special night! Free delivery on orders over £75. Slainte!

View Whisky Sale here →

The Loch Fyne Living Cask Batch 11

Batch 11 is reminiscent of days by the sea and at the beach – the perfect dram for the approaching warmer months! Containing 15% of Batch 10, our delicate sweet, fresh and smoky blended malt is the perfect addition to your collection.

Nose: delicate smoke, vanilla, coastal salt air. Palate: crisp red apple, citrus, caramel. Finish: sweet, spicy, smoky.

£46.00
Buy Now

Until midnight on Wednesday 26th January, we’re offering you the chance to receive a complimentary branded Glencairn Glass, worth £6.95, when you purchase one of our single malt whiskies.* The perfect addition to your whisky cabinet, it also makes for a beautiful gift to which you can add a personalised gift note.

Offer available both online and in-store.

SHOP NOW

2000 Glen Scotia 18 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #326

Single Refill American Oak Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

$199.99 View

It was in December when we first launched the Teapot Dram Batch 008, with the second release this month. On both occasions, this highly sought after single malt sold out online within days. Although the Teapot Dram is no longer available to purchase from Glengoyne.com, you can still buy a bottle by visiting our Distillery Shop.

Distillery Opening Times

The Teapot Dram Live Tasting – CANCELLED

We planned to host a live tasting of the Teapot Dram with Robbie Hughes, Gordon Dundas and friends. However, unfortunately, we have had to cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances. We have various events in our Glengoyne calendar for this year, and we are looking forward to sharing the details with you in the coming months.

WATERFORD TASTING
SOHO WHISKY BAR
7th February 2022 – 6:30PM

Nathan Shearer will be talking us through the line-up below:

Waterford Hook Head 1.1  / 50% / 70cl
Waterford Ballymorgan 1.2 / 50% / 70cl
Waterford  Grattansbrook 1.1  / 50% / 70cl
Waterford  Sheestown 1.2 / 50% / 70cl
Waterford  Gaia Organic 1.1  / 50% / 70cl
Waterford  Luna 1.1 Biodynamic / 50% / 70cl

Buy Now

A STORY OF RARE DEDICATION: THE GLENDRONACH UNVEILS
OLDEST EXPRESSION

The GlenDronach is today announcing the limited release of its first-ever 50 Year Old Single Malt; the Highland Distillery’s oldest and rarest whisky to date. Distilled in 1971, this expression represents a milestone in the near two-hundred-year history of The GlenDronach Distillery.

The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years has quietly slumbered over five long decades in rare Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, from the Spanish bodegas of Jerez in Andalucía. Personally selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, these exquisite casks have been married for a final maturation in a single Pedro Ximénez cask. Only a small number of casks are chosen to reach such a celebrated age, and just 198 bottles will be available worldwide of The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years.

Protected and nurtured in The GlenDronach’s traditional dunnage warehouses for over half a century, this rare liquid has survived floods and howling Highland winters, as well as being haunted by the legend of a Spanish ghost. This expression tells a story of the rare dedication and mastery of those custodians who have devoted their lives, through highs and lows, to protecting and nurturing this exceptionally rare Single Malt.

Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, said:

“The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is the most prestigious expression of what this timeless, richly-sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to offer.

“At 50 Years Old, it is exceptionally rich and seductive, with mellow layers of alluring complexity. On the nose, ripe dark cherry and plum are the preludes to the harmony of rolling stone fruit, while the palate brings an exquisite overture of flavour with dense undertones of dark chocolate, tobacco, and cocoa.  

“It has been a privilege to be the final custodian of our oldest expression to date, passed down through generations. The result is a hand-crafted Highland Single Malt that tells a story of rare dedication, of which The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is the rarest of them all.”

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Antique mahogany chestnut

Nose: Ripe dark cherry and plum are the preludes to a harmony of rolling stone fruit, gentian, and a plume of smouldering tobacco – lifted by lilting notes of bramble, orange, and cranberry.

Palate: Dense undertones of dark chocolate, tobacco, and cocoa form an exquisite overture of flavour. A perfect counter comes in a crescendo of elegant plum and luxurious black cherry, enrobed in a swathe of velvet espresso.

ABV: 43.8%

RRP: £20,000 GBP (including all taxes. Global markets may vary.)

Each hand-numbered bottle of The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is presented in a luxurious, genuine leather case accompanied by an embossed leather booklet detailing the distillery history, tasting notes, and unique craft.

Bottle No. 1 of The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years was proudly donated to the inaugural Distillers’ One of One Auction in December 2021, raising £40,000 in support of disadvantaged young people in Scotland.

The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is bottled at 43.8% ABV, and as is the case for all The GlenDronach expressions, has developed its deep colour naturally over time from the Spanish oak in which it has rested. The GlenDronach Aged 50 years will be available to purchase from selected specialist retailers worldwide from January 2022 (global markets may vary).

About The GlenDronach Distillery: 

Nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills, is The GlenDronach, one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland. The GlenDronach is of true Highland style: a complex and full-bodied spirit, perfect for slow maturation in Spanish sherry oak. At The GlenDronach Distillery, we have carried forth the tradition of our founder James Allardice since 1826, maturing our Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the finest Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Spain.

Our richly-sherried Highland Single Malts are recognised for their deep colour and complex flavour profiles, which range from the sweet fruity flavours of the Pedro Ximénez casks we select, to the dry and nutty notes of our Oloroso casks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT:

www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk

Facebook: /TheGlenDronach

Twitter: @Glendronach

Instagram: @Glendronach