THE ENGLISH WHISKY CO. 

SEASONAL INSPIRATION  

Crafted in the heart of Norfolk, our range of award winning single malt whiskies  are perfect to warm you up when the temperatures start to drop.

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THE ENGLISH ORIGINAL

Aged to perfection in specially selected Bourbon Casks.  This is an unpeated single malt whisky – a great easy-drinking classic single malt.

Tasting Notes: A gentle aroma with hints of vanilla and tropical fruits.  Like a soft whipped vanilla ice cream. Melts on the palate.  Slightly nutty with a long malty finish.  Finish is clean, dry and slightly salty.

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THE ENGLISH SMOKEY 

Aged to perfection in specially selected casks.  A peated (45ppm) single malt whisky.  A lovely waft of smoke on the palate, ideal alternative for the Islay fan. Tasting Notes: A gentle aroma with hints of vanilla, aniseed & ginger, a creamy palate, a little peat initially and then the smoke bomb! Finish is long, spicy and smokey.

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Glen Moray unwraps new 1998 Barolo Finish as second ‘Warehouse 1’ exclusive for 2021

Today (1^st October), the deep blue doors of Glen Moray’s ‘Warehouse 1’ release another hidden gem for whisky lovers to savour: the 1998 Barolo Finish, the second of three whiskies from the Warehouse 1 Collection scheduled for 2021.

Distilled in 1998, this beautiful dram was tucked away in the Elgin distillery’s celebrated warehouse to mature in ex-bourbon casks, before being transferred to three ex-Barolo casks for a final, flavourful finish.The resulting dram is autumn in a glass, bursting with flavour and perfectly marrying Glen Moray’s traditional sweet toffee and blackcurrant notes with deliciously rich hits of wood, leather, chocolate caramels and dark autumnal fruits, followed by a warming honey finish.

Just 863 bottles are being released exclusively to the UK market, exemplifying Glen Moray’s adventurous and experimental approach to small batch whiskies bottled under the Warehouse 1 banner.

Barolo Finish is the oldest release from the Collection to date and is the second of three launches scheduled this year – following on from this summer’s successful Tokaji Finish release. This year’s Warehouse 1 whiskies all share a common theme, celebrating Glen Moray’s classic Speyside spirit matured in casks sourced from some of Europe’s oldest, noblest and most distinctively flavoured wine varieties.

Considered by many to be the king of Italian red wines, Barolo is produced in the Piedmont region from Nebbiolo grapes, which are high in tannin and acid. Rich and full bodied, wine will have spent at least 18 months in the barrels used for final maturation of the Barolo Finish expression.

Glen Moray Distillery Manager Iain Allan notes: ‘Once again, our distillery team has bottled an absolute gem from Warehouse 1, their special place for experimentation, innovation and patience – time, as always, being one of the most important ingredients in creating our wonderful whiskies. ‘Our team searches the world for interesting and unusual casks, and they’re not afraid to use them to push the boundaries of flavour, as they have done with this very special 1998 Barolo Finish release. It’s a joy of a dram, a superb combination of our distillery’s sweet, light, citrus style with deeper notes of wood, caramel chocolates, plums, figs, brambles and honey. This is one to share around a table with good friends as the nights draw in – a rich, warming and very special dram from behind our big blue Warehouse 1 doors.’

Launched in late 2020 with the inaugural Sauternes Cask Matured expression, Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1 Collection promises small batch, limited release whiskies that are always non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength with natural colour.

Crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, Glen Moray distillers have been curious about flavour throughout their history. Surviving ledgers show that a wide variety of casks were used to mature new make spirit back in those early days, which was an unusual practice for the time. A deep knowledge and expertise of wood has developed at Glen Moray through generations of distillers, resulting in today’s exceptional range of whiskies with a style to suit everyone.

Glen Moray Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish is bottled at cask strength (52.9% ABV) and is non-chill filtered with natural colour. It is a UK exclusive, available in 70cl packs in specialist whisky shops, RRP £139.95. 

ABOUT GLEN MORAY

Glen Moray is one of Scotland’s best loved single malt whiskies. It has been crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, on what was once the Elgin West Brewery site on the banks of the River Lossie. Pure waters from the river, locally malted barley, distillation in traditional copper stills and maturation in American ex-bourbon casks combine to give the whisky its smooth, well-balanced, classic Speyside character. Glen Moray has always been a place where curiosity about flavour and cask maturation has been encouraged. Records dating back to the early days show new make spirit maturing in a wide variety of different casks – a highly unusual practice at this time. A passion for experimentation and a deep knowledge of wood have been passed down through generations of Glen Moray distillers. The result is today’s exceptional and extensive range of whiskies, offering a flavour and style to suit all tastes. Glen Moray is the 5th biggest malt whisky brand by volume in the UK and is growing in international markets.

ABOUT LA MARTINIQUAISE-BARDINET

Founded by Jean Cayard in 1934, La Martiniquaise is an independent French spirits group with a large portfolio of international brands. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries with 38 subsidiaries and production sites. The Group’s four pillars are Scotch whiskies, ports, brandies, wines, rums and craft spirits from France.  www.la-martiniquaise.com

Tasting Notes

Nose: a combination of sweet toffee and floral rose fading to a decadent aroma of caramel chocolates.

Taste: after an initial hit of tannic intensity, leather and wood combine to create a whisky of stature. Then, the sweeter elements begin to shine, with toffee-drizzled figs, dark plums and blackberries drizzled with cream.

Finish: pure runny honey: gentle, sweet and lingering.

OCTOBER OUTTURN ALERT

Three is the magic number for October as we delve into a tasty trinity of whisky, beer and food pairings. We’ll be taking you from the brewery to the spice cupboard to guide you to the perfect accompaniment for our mouth-watering selection of new whiskies.

With a bumper 38 new bottlings included in this month’s Outturn, there’s no shortage of flavour combinations you can create – the world is your oyster (or should that be korma?) To prep your pairings, head to the website now and read the full whisky list, ahead of its release at 9am (UK time) on Friday, 1 October.

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

VISIT OUTTTURN HUB

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

THOMSON PINOT NOIR CASK

One of the key players in New Zealand’s burgeoning whisky industry, Thomson started out bottling casks from Willowbank distillery. In 2014, the small team began to produce single malt of their own. This exclusive expression was matured in a single Pinot noir barrique which has infused it with aromas of maraschino cherry, baked apple and fruit cake. A real treat for wine cask lovers. A single cask New Zealand single malt, bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange by Thomson New Zealand. Made using Laureate malt grown in Canterbury, on New Zealand’s Southern Island, and matured in a 225 litre French oak cask that previously held New Zealand Pinot Noir red wine.

When this whisky was distilled, Thomson had only one still, meaning that the wash and spirit runs were completed in the same single copper pot. Drawing inspiration from Balcones in Texas, the still has been modified to have a longer neck, helping create an oily spirit with lots of body. While the barley that this whisky was made with came from New Zealand’s South Island, the distillery itself is located near Auckland on the North Island, and the maritime climate and stable temperatures throughout the year are key when it comes to making its whisky.

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Craft distillery Thomson began as an independent bottler, starting out with a handful of barrels from the now-closed Willowbank Distillery, which once distilled in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island. As the business grew, Thomson launched its own distillery near Auckland in 2014, starting out with only one still. Now the distillery has, along with years of experience, two hand-beaten copper pot stills and a pair of gin stills, and has created a range of New Zealand single malts, grain whisky and gins with a blend of traditional techniques and contemporary ideas.

TASTING NOTES

Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

NOSE ~ Freshly milled barley, maraschino cherries and strawberry jam. A touch of mint and menthol pushes through the centre, followed by creamy porridge sprinkled with sultanas. Hiding underneath are more cherries, raisin jam and a touch of dunnage earth.

PALATE ~ Richer and sweeter than the nose suggests, with plump and singed raisins giving a sweet and savoury balance. Baked apples, dark fruit cake and a spoonful of custard develop, all floating in a bowl of creamy porridge. Herbal notes hang around the edges: tarragon and mint.

FINISH ~ Apples linger – sweet and sour – accompanied by gentle spice, vanilla sponge cake and fruit loaf.

Glengoyne Legacy Series

The Glengoyne Legacy Series showcases fascinating stories of the people, the place and the history of Glengoyne Distillery, with each release representing a significant chapter of our legacy.

Chapter Two in the Legacy Series embodies the story of the Russell family, who ensured Glengoyne stuck resolutely to legendary Distillery Manager Cochrane Cartwright’s original vision, investing in the crafting and preparation of purpose made casks and the exploration of different maturation processes.

Matured in first-fill bourbon, sherry casks, and hand-selected refill casks, the Glengoyne’s Legacy Series, Chapter Two is well-balanced, packed with sweet fruity notes and a gentle spice finish with hints of sweet oak and dates.

DISCOVER GLENGOYNE MULTI-AWARD WINNING WHISKIES

Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow, G63 9LB.

T: +44 (0)1360 550 254
reception@glengoyne.com

stock photo

ralfy review 896 – Ledaig 10yo @46.3%vol: (2021)

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS DOUBLE CASK 30 YEARS OLD –

AN EXCEPTIONAL SINGLE MALT WHISKY TO BE SAVOURED

The Macallan has introduced Double Cask 30 Years Old into the coveted Double Cask range.

The new aged single malt whisky in the distinctive Double Cask flavour profile exhibits a rich depth of flavour and a complex character and tells the story of a journey which brings together two different worlds.

The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old has matured for 30 years in a harmonious union of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks, to create a sweeter, warmer taste and character. The sherry seasoned American oak imparts delicate, sweet flavours, while the European oak delivers the subtle and classic style of The Macallan.

The Macallan has collaborated with acclaimed American artist and photographer, Erik Madigan Heck to showcase the signature tastes and unique and distinctive flavour profile of Double Cask 30 Years Old. Heck shares many of The Macallan’s values including Nature, Legacy, Artistry, Creativity and Craftsmanship. Taking his inspiration from the natural landscape on The Macallan Estate and the complex flavours and natural colour of the whisky, he captured powerful imagery evoking the single malt’s character, depicting its flavours, textures and colour in a unique and contemporary way.

Heck’s incredible photography set features three striking compositions: a collection of ‘abstract leaves’ from an oak tree which like the whisky itself strikes the perfect balance of modesty and complexity; an image of a ‘blue tree’ representing Double Cask 30 Years Old’s simple yet rich and complex character; and a remarkable still life, reminiscent of the great Flemish still life paintings from the 17^th century which depicts the vibrant colours and varying textures of the flavours in the whisky.

Displaying a natural golden acorn hue, The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old imparts aromas of fresh honeycomb, sweet toffee, red apple, fig and vanilla pod. On the palate there is a smooth melody of cinnamon, ginger, Madagascan vanilla, dried fruits and oak flavours, while the finish delivers sweet oak, soft spice and toffee.

The Double Cask journey begins in the vast green forests of northern Spain and southern France, where The Macallan sources its European oak. New oak from the lush forests of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky in America is also transported to Spain. Both types are hand crafted into casks and toasted over an open-air fire in the cooperages of Jerez before being filled with the finest sherry wine and left to season for up to 18 months.

Once seasoned, the casks travel to The Macallan Estate in Speyside where they are filled with new-make spirit. Following years of slumber, The Macallan’s Whisky Mastery Team use their skill and expertise to select the best balance of spirit from both the American and European oak casks to create Double Cask.

Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said: “The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old is a modern take on our classic 30-year-old and is an exceptional aged single malt. With a rich combination and depth of flavour and a complex character, it is a whisky to be savoured, exhibiting notes of cinder toffee, fresh honeycomb, rich vanilla and red apples.

“The Macallan Double Cask brings together sherry seasoned American and European oak casks to create the perfect balance of flavours. It is the oak that gives the whisky its natural colour and is the single greatest contributor to the quality, distinctive aromas and flavours.”

Erik Madigan Heck said: “Nature lies at the heart of my work, and I was greatly inspired by the breath-taking natural landscape on The Macallan Estate. I was drawn to an oak tree and its leaves which provided the perfect subjects to evoke the seemingly simply, yet rich and complex character of Double Cask 30 Years Old and to depict the natural colour of the whisky.

“I also created a still life image featuring vibrant colours and varying textures to portray the whisky’s luscious flavours while natural light captures its depth of character. The whisky’s golden acorn natural colour provides the focal point of the shot, and its rich tone and translucent glow influenced the colour palette of the piece as a whole.”

The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old is encased in a luxurious solid oak presentation box and has an RRSP of US$4,000. It will be available at The Macallan Boutiques, premium bars and restaurants and premium specialist retailers globally from September 2021. For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Maker’s Notes:

ABV: 43%

Colour: Golden acorn

Aroma: Fresh honeycomb, sweet toffee, red apple, fig and vanilla pod.
Palate: A smooth melody of cinnamon, ginger, Madagascan vanilla, dried fruits and oak.
Finish: Sweet oak, soft spice and toffee.

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

TRIO OF INNOVATIVE EXPRESSIONS JOIN

THE GLENALLACHIE WOOD FINISH RANGE 

The Speyside distillery, led by iconic Master Distiller Billy Walker, releases

Pedro Ximénez, Ruby Port and Madeira wood finished whiskies 

The GlenAllachie Distillery, which won World’s Best Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021), today launches three single malts which form Batch 3 of its coveted Wood Finish range.

The new limited release Speyside Scotch whiskies include an 11-year-old Pedro Ximénez Wood Finish (UK RRSP £59.99, 48% ABV), a 12-year-old Ruby Port Wood Finish (UK RRSP £62.99, 48% ABV) and a 13-year-old Madeira Wood Finish (UK RRSP £67.99, 48% ABV). As with all GlenAllachie whiskies, each is presented at natural colour and non chill filtered.

The 11-year-old Pedro Ximénez Wood Finish was initially matured in American oak barrels for over nine years. The additional period of maturation in richly seasoned dessert sherry puncheons results in a sweeter, fruitier flavour experience.

After over ten years in American oak, the 12-year-old Ruby Port Wood Finish enjoyed secondary maturation in pipe casks which were previously used to age young, vibrant fortified wine from Portugal. As well as bestowing a vibrant ruby red colour on the spirit, the wood has added a depth of spicy ginger, damson jam and grape must.

The 13-year-old Madeira Wood Finish was re-racked from American oak barrels into casks that previously held wine made from Malvasia grapes – a richer Madeira style. This additional aging period has imparted tones of juicy pineapple, sugared almonds and stone fruits.

Each whisky was curated by distinguished Master Distiller Billy Walker, who next year celebrates his 50^th year in the industry. Walker is renowned for his unparalleled approach to wood management, seeking out the world’s finest casks and carefully monitoring the spirit development within each cask housed at the distillery’s 16 on-site warehouses.

Commenting on the trio of bottlings, Walker revealed:

“From the very outset of my days at GlenAllachie, I aimed to build a deep-rooted understanding of the spirit and how it interfaces with different wood types. This knowledge has allowed for increasing levels of innovation as the months and years have passed.

“The third batch of Wood Finishes are a fantastic representation of this innovation. We are delighted with the three very special single malts we have created, each bringing its own unique flavour experience.”

These new bottlings follow in the footsteps of other recent innovative releases from The GlenAllachie, including the first tranche of expressions in the Wine Cask Series. The range showcased three unique whiskies finished in unusual wine barriques – Grattamacco, Sauternes and Rioja.

Batch 3 of The GlenAllachie Wood Finish range is available from global specialist retailers, with UK RRSPs starting at £59.99.

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 2021 stands at an eye-watering £1m/$1.2m. 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 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 11-year-old Pedro Ximénez Wood Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Rich Mahogany.
• Nose: Waves of dark chocolate, plantains and sultanas, with pineapple and nutmeg.
• Taste: Dark chocolate, treacle and heather honey, fused with sultanas, pineapple, orange peel and cinnamon.

The GlenAllachie 12-year-old Ruby Port Wood Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Ruby Blush.
• Nose: Lashings of heather honey, grape must, treacle, bananas and ginger.
• Taste: Heather honey, toffee, damsons and grape must, fused with orange peel and ginger.

The GlenAllachie 13-year-old Madeira Wood Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Orange Gold.
• Nose: Waves of vanilla, apricots and plantains, with almonds, peaches and pineapple.
• Taste: Vanilla, treacle, apricots and peaches, fused with almonds, grapefruit and pineapple.

GET YOUR 3D GLASSES READY: ANNUAL WHISKY SHOW BOTTLINGS CELEBRATE THE SCIENCE OF FLAVOUR

September 2021: The Whisky Exchange invites whisky-lovers to embark on an adventure of flavour with the launch of a series of single cask bottlings for Whisky Show 2021. Each label design tells a three-dimensional story with superhero characters symbolising the flavour compounds in whisky production.

The theme of this year’s Whisky Show 2021, A Journey Through Flavour, inspired the designs created by Elixir Distillers creative director, Raj ‘MrC’ Chavda exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. He said: “When considering the show theme, I started to think about what makes up flavours and imagined these compounds as the heroes of whisky.”

Raj wanted to experiment with different dimensions using anaglyphs to try and convey depth of flavour. The anaglyph technique uses layered images of contrasting colours – typically red and cyan – that when viewed through 3D glasses trick the eye into perceiving three-dimensional shapes. Just as red and green lines can create an image that appears to leap off the page, so can flavour compounds evoke a favourite fruit, a piece of patisserie, or even a time or place. This illusory quality is a big part of what makes distilled spirits, and whisky in particular, so compelling – these artworks interpret the experience of drinking whisky.

Raj drew inspiration from the so-called silver age of comic books, as he explains: “Once we had the selection of whiskies we tasted them to pair each one with the artwork I’d created. For example, Ardbeg ‘The Phenolic Phantom,’ was easy because it was so distinctive with those smoky phenols – the chemical compounds within the peat smoke that are responsible for the distinctive smoky aromas and flavours.”

Ticket holders for both the physical and virtual Whisky Show 2021 will receive exclusive first access to the whiskies, which will be available via the on-site Whisky Show shop and whiskyexchange.com from 1 October 2021.

For further details: https://whiskyshow.com/london/what-s-on/show-bottlings/

Captain Congener

A Speyside Distillery – 20 Years Old

57.6% | 70cl | £135

Congener is the blanket term given to the flavour compounds that characterise our favourite drams. They are the chemicals that bring to mind tropical fruit or salt sprayed beaches and smoky hearths. This Speyside malt has a secret identity, though its particular combination of congeners might be familiar to keen-nosed whisky fans.

Nose: A balance of raisin fruitiness and savoury leafy bracken notes. Fruity cherries, and buttery an almondy Cherry Bakewells build. Green and leafy notes hide beneath, joined by runny caramel, stewed apple and white-wine-poached pears.

Palate: Buttered sponge cake, candied orange, butter cream and baking spice. Rich and creamy notes build, followed by sweet apple and pear jam, a touch of blackcurrant and some barrel char. Buttered malt loaf, mincemeat and more spice bring up the rear.

Finish: Blackcurrant on spiced fruit loaf. Damp oak and lingering leafiness.

Ester Elektron

Bunnahabhain Distillery – 19 Years Old

54.3% | 70cl | £150

What we might perceive in our glasses as pineapple or almond pastries is actually nothing of the sort – they’re merely chemicals that trigger memories. This label references esterification, the process by which flavour molecules are created during fermentation, distillation, and ageing. This particular bottling shows lots of white fruit, courtesy of molecules formed in the washbacks at Bunnahabhain.

Nose: Rich fruit and damp leaves – forest floors covered in rogue raisins. Toffee apples and toffee sauce build with apple crumble and a dollop of rich vanilla custard. Raisin jam, malt loaf and butter cookies fill in the gaps.

Palate: Thick on the palate and very rich. A touch of forest pond and bracken-covered earth is overtaken by dark chocolate sauce and heavily spiced fruit cake – buttery nutmeg and hot cinnamon. Cake-batter notes develop, sweet and creamy.

Finish: Spiced apple purée, toasted rye bread and a drizzle of custard on bread-and-butter pudding.

Aurora Aldehyde      

Blended Scotch Whisky – 41 Years Old

46.2% | 70cl | £240

The first of our four bottlings for the Whisky Show 2021 comes from an exceptionally long-aged parcel of blended Scotch. Filled in 1980, these casks represents a historic style of whisky making, full of eccentricity and character.

Nose: Fruit cake with lots of fruit: glacé cherries, sultanas, plump raisins and juicy dates, all topped with fruity caramel. Ginger cake develops, as well as leafy notes and damp earth. Polished oak, candied orange peel and spiced dark chocolate build.

Palate: Fruit loaf studded with singed raisins and spread with raisin jam is joined by charred staves, baked apples and woody spice with notes of candied pear developing. Riverbank loam and damp bark emerge, balanced by spiced toffee, dark chocolate, and black cherries and their stones.

Finish: Damp oak, cherry stones, char, lingering dark chocolate and singed orange.

The Phenolic Phantom                           

Ardbeg Distillery – 20 Years Old

51.4% | 70cl | £450

This Ardbeg – a distillery whose whiskies are rarely offered by independent bottlers – is an excellent example of well-aged peated malt, full of tarry phenols and unmistakable Islay character.

Nose: Sea spray and oily smoke. Darker notes of tarry ropes are balanced by singed citrus and buttery lemon shortbread. Orchard fruit – sharp apples and sweet apple purée – are dusted with icing sugar. Mulchy grass and fallen leaves roll in around the edges.

Palate: Sweet and smoky, with apple-and-cinnamon syrup poured over warm croissants, all topped with baked apples and pears. Mintiness builds through the middle followed by green leaves and driftwood. Seaside smokiness and salty sea air surrounds everything.

Finish: Singed oak, sweet apple and soft spice fade to leave barbecued fruit.

I hope this email finds you well and looking forward to a relaxing weekend with your friends and family.

If you didn’t already know, we hosted our first physical event, since March 2020, last weekend – The Liverpool Whisky Festival.
We want to thank everyone who turned out for what was a fantastic event. We were so touched by the positivity and good will from those of you who, in many cases, have been holding onto tickets since 2019!

So, following on from this, we are very excited to tell you that we are also going to be running our Manchester and York Festivals this autumn/winter! And tickets are now available to buy!

Read on…

29th-30th October 2021

We are excited (and unapologetic for the overuse of the word) to be coming back to Manchester after so long. We really hope you will join us as we have missed you as much as you (hopefully!) have missed us.

We are also ecstatic that we are back at the Manchester Cathedral, which is one of our favourite venues.

Those of you who bought tickets for the original 2020 event will automatically have their tickets carried over to this event, for the same session. We only have a limited amount of ‘new’ tickets we can sell, due to fact so many bought tickets in 2019 for the 2020 event, which we had to postpone.

As for Liverpool, we will have exhibitors, old and new, desperate to show you, and have you taste, their wares. Plenty of familiar faces and lots of new whiskies to go at!

The Covid bit

Everyone attending will need to have a vaccine ‘passport’ or proof of a lateral flow test done on the day of the event.

This is not only to ensure your safety, but also that of our exhibitors and team, plus it is a requirement of the venue itself, in order to protect their staff too.

Mask-wearing will not be mandatory, but you may well see exhibitors and team members wearing them. We would encourage you to wear one when you’re not tasting or chatting.

There will be plenty of hand sanitiser available to everyone throughout the venue, and we would encourage you to use it.

The capacity of the event has been reduced dramatically. A maximum of 350 people per session has been put into place.

Hopefully all of this will help to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

Obviously we have to caveat that, in the event of the current government rules surrounding the pandemic changing, we may have to alter or cancel the event. However, we are hopeful that this won’t happen this time!

Tickets

So, on to the tickets themselves. Due to the venue capacity being dramatically reduced and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our business, we cannot afford to run any ‘early-bird’ promotions, and we hope you understand this. However, we have kept the price to the previous full price of £50 per ticket, which we hope you’ll agree is still very reasonable for what you get;

– Entry to one session of the event
– A Glencairn Whisky Tasting Glass
– Access to dozens of whiskies from all over the world, with nothing more to pay
– Chat with whisky industry folk about their product at their stands

There will be THREE sessions;

Friday 29th October
6pm-10pm

Saturday 30th October
12pm – 4pm
5.30pm – 9.30pm

You can choose which session you’d like to attend.

Once again we are directing to you straight to Eventbrite for tickets, due to our new website not being quite ready, and our old one is….we don’t want to talk about it!

BUY NOW – Manchester Festival 2021 Tickets

Saturday 27th November 2021

What do they say about what happens when you’ve been waiting for one event…? Two turn up at once!

Yes, we are excited for this ‘home’ event obviously, but we will give it its moment in the sun in future mail-outs.

Suffice it to say, it is a fantastic event in its own right and, if you’re able, you should definitely come!

There will be 2 sessions for this one;

Early Session – 12pm-4pm
Late Session – 5pm-9pm

AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

Same deal for 2020 ticket holders – your current tickets will be valid for the rearranged event, so we hope to see you there!

BUY NOW – York Festival 2021 Tickets

If you already have a ticket carried over (for either event) and need to change sessions or can’t make it for any reason, please email info@thewhiskylounge.com with as much detail as possible.

Also, if you have a ticket for a different postponed event and would like to come to either of these, please let us know, as we can almost certainly arrange this.

We are planning on further live event announcements, so please do watch this space and our Facebook Page.

Please bear in mind that there is currently one person working one day a week in the business, so it WILL take a little while (two weeks plus) to get back to you.

That’s it for now but don’t forget to read The Gateshead Whisky News for all the latest industry buzz, from our very own Connas!

Thanks for listening and for your ongoing patience and understanding.

Have a great weekend!

Best Wishes,
Eddie
The Whisky Lounge