Coming down the track – Bimber Distillery reveals Release No.2 from The Spirit of the Underground Collection

London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the upcoming launch of the second release of ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ Collection, produced in conjunction with Transport for London.

The Collection, which will feature a total of 44 individual releases over a three-year period, features a selection of iconic single malt whiskies that celebrate the heritage and diversity of the distillery’s home city. With striking individual designs, each bottle presents a different Tube station on the London Underground network – the oldest underground passenger railway service in the world.

Following the rapid sale of the inaugural Collection releases, Release No.2 showcases four new stations: Chancery Lane, London Bridge, Paddington and Victoria – each again featuring stunning iconography that presents unique pieces of London’s history, and adorned with striking labels and packaging design that observes the significance of each station’s location.

Drawn from some of the distillery’s oldest stock laid down in 2016, the four new expressions include madeira, port, PX sherry and ex-rye casks, bottled at full cask strength and without chill filtration. Each displays its own highly individual character – demonstrating both the growing diversity of single malt styles produced by Bimber, as well as the extraordinary versatility of the London-produced spirit.

Release No.2 of The Spirit of the Underground Collection will be available directly from Bimber’s Spirit of the Underground website in November via weighted ballot, and with an RRP of £125 per bottle.

Speaking of the launch of The Spirit of the Underground Release No.2, Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “Following a terrific reception earlier this year to the first four releases from The Spirit of the Underground, we’re thrilled to unveil the next stations that will be joining the Collection. For this second collaborative release with Transport for London we have selected four distinctive and exceptional casks from amongst our very finest. Each typifies our hand-crafted approach to whisky making, whilst at the same time offering an ever-broadening selection of flavour experiences with which to celebrate the history and diversity of our home – London.”

All the expressions in The Spirit of the Underground Collection were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a rich fruit-forward, layered spirit.

The Spirit of the Underground Collection – Release No2

The Spirit of the Underground – Chancery Lane

Ex-Madeira Cask – Ref 107/1
Nose: Toasted almonds and orange peels join rich toffee, resinous oak and piquant cinnamon and nutmeg spicing.
Palate: An oily arrival of charred peaches and orange liqueurs sits alongside butterscotch and plump dates whilst robust spicing provides an invigorating lift.
Finish: Lingering with chocolate orange and spiced berries.
298 bottles
70cl
57.8% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – London Bridge

Ex-Port Cask – Ref 35
Nose: Jammy red and black berries together with suede leather, teacakes and toasted brioche.
Palate: Berry preserves, plums and prunes are livened with gingerbread and cinnamon-dusted chocolate bonbons.
Finish: Sustained sweet berry fruits with persistent ginger spicing.
305 bottles
70cl
58.7% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Paddington

Ex-PX Sherry Cask – Ref 20
Nose: Chocolate and nougat are given a fruit-packed lift from glace cherries, whilst sticky toffee pudding is dusted in cinnamon powder.
Palate: Velvety on the arrival and offering deep and alluring reduced fruits alongside chocolate torte, fresh coffee beans and leather.
Finish: Sweet sherried fruits together with ginger and cinnamon.
314 bottles
70cl
58.9% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Victoria

Ex-Rye Cask – Ref 233
Nose: Spiced malt loaf and pickles are joined by split vanilla pods, crunchy toffee and confectioner’s custard.
Palate: Sliced green apple and dried mango slices alongside vanilla cream and cashew nuts. A backbone of spiced oak together with cracked black pepper, all spice and star anise.
Finish: Dry earthy spicing with toffee and fading tropical fruits.
271 bottles
70cl
58.2% ABV

About Bimber
Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

About Transport for London
Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport. It runs the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network, including London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses and TfL Rail services, as well as managing London’s main roads. TfL does all it can to support the millions of journeys that are made every day and keep the city moving, working and growing. TfL reinvests all income generated through fares and commercial revenue to run and improve services and is committed to reducing costs. The licensing deal for this product was delivered through TSBA Group, TfL’s brand licensing partner.

M&H DISTILLERY RELEASES NEW “APEX DEAD SEA” WHISKY MATURED IN THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH

 Tel Aviv – November 2, 2021: M&H Distillery, Israel’s first whisky distillery, announces the official release in the UK of the “APEX Dead Sea” whisky, the eighth installment in the distillery’s signature core line of forward-thinking whiskies.

The APEX Dead Sea is the first result of M&H Distillery’’s research and development program, which spotlights Israel’s distinct terroir and environment by experimenting with different climates for cask maturation while staying faithful to Scottish whisky traditions and legacy. Pushing the sector’s traditional boundaries, M&H Distillery takes advantage of Israel’s five unique climate zones defined by Dr. Jim Swan, M&H Distillery’s late consultant, as the “Climate Playground” with the Dead Sea, Upper Galilee, Jerusalem mountains, the Negev desert, and the Mediterranean coast.

The Dead Sea experiment began in October 2018, when M&H Distillery placed 20 ex-bourbon, ex-red wine, and ex-STR casks on the rooftop of a hotel at approximately 1,387-feet (423 meters) below sea level. The casks matured in the Dead Sea for an entire year before being returned to the Tel Aviv warehouse and bottled in July 2021. The final result is a one-of-a-kind whisky that captures the Dead Sea’s distinct characteristics, including low annual precipitation, an arid and dry desert climate that can reach 122° fahrenheit in the summer and a salt content 9.6 times that of the ocean, resulting in “angel’s share” of up to 25% per year, compared to only 2% in Scotland.

Tomer Goren, M&H Distillery’s head distiller, explains, “Due to the evident rapid wood effect and maturation in this very hot and intense climate, we had to inspect the casks more frequently and thoroughly. Understanding the impact of the desert climate on the cask was a fascinating experiment and study project. I look forward to continuing our geographical experiments, with the Sea of Galilee and the Jerusalem Mountains coming up next.”

 Bottled at 56.2. % ABV, the APEX Dead Sea has a sweet nose with notes of French vanilla and chocolate, hints of cigar box, and a refreshing hint of spearmint, with a pleasant oakiness in the background. The taste starts with black tea leaves then builds with a robust surge of warm spices like cinnamon and coriander seeds, dark chocolate powder, and a pinch of crushed white pepper. The finish is long and pleasant, with candied ginger and cloves mingling with roasted herbs and coarse sea salt in a bouquet.

The APEX Dead Sea edition has already garnered several major awards, including Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021, Grand Gold in the Frankfurt International Trophy 2021 and Gold in the International Spirits Challenge 2021.

The first batch of the APEX Dead Sea is limited to 4,892 bottles and is available in select countries including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Taiwan and Germany.

For more information on M&H Distillery, please visit www.mhdistillery.com.

The APEX Dead Sea is available in select stores and online retailers such as The Whisky Exchange.

About M&H Distillery: M&H Distillery (Milk & Honey), established in 2012  by entrepreneur and investor Gal Kalkstein, is Israel’s first whisky distillery and produces high-quality distillates in Tel Aviv. All raw materials, equipment, casks and processes were selected to ensure that the final product – whether white distillates or aged whisky – meets the highest quality standards. M&H Distillery received guidance and advice from Dr. Jim Swan, a world-renowned master distiller. All the products of the distillery are kosher.

NOVEMBER OUTTURN ALERT

With celebrations somewhat restricted in 2020, we plan to make up for it this year and party like the 1920s as we look forward to the festive season and the arrival of the November Outturn.

Get set for glitz and glamour as we introduce 18 new casks as part of the main Outturn, followed by new whiskies EVERY WEEK throughout November. Head over to the website now, where you can explore all the special drams that will be released this month, along with the date they go on sale, so you can make your selections. Then, get ready at 9am (UK time) on Wednesday 3, November for the first release – and kick off the party season in style.

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

A Micro-Production, Sherry-Aged Single Malt Unlike Any Other
2009 Daftmill “Summer Batch Release” Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($229.99)
“Scotland’s only operational seasonal farm distillery is delivering perhaps the finest malts in the country.” — Andrew Whiteley

Just when you thought you had a bead on the world’s greatest collectible Scotch, along comes Daftmill. Brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert make arguably Scotland’s most compelling whiskies strictly from the barley that they harvest on their seasonal farm. There is simply nothing else in the whisky world that compares to these incredible expressions. Spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley explains, “The Cuthberts are redefining Lowland Single Malt, one miniscule batch at a time—and the new definition is exquisite.” This 11 Year Old Stunner is the Summer Release, which also happens to be the first batch that’s ever seen sherry casks. Far from compromising the singular character of the whisky, the sherry treatment simply adds additional layers of complexity to what is already a dizzying and mind-blowing profile. This batch was made in a painfully small quantity, and once the word is out on this flat-out otherworldly collectible, you can be sure we’ll see it fly out the door. Collectors and aficionados should beat a quick path to secure their allocations of one of the most unique and amazing whiskies on the market.

2009 Daftmill “Summer Batch Release” Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($229.99)

K&L Notes: The new release of Daftmill’s wonderful single estate Lowland Malt. Francis and Ian Cuthbert are making the most compelling malts in all of Scotland. They began production in 2005 but didn’t get cranking until 2006. During the farm’s quiet periods in the mid-summer and the winter they fire up the stills and make whisky from their own harvest. The purity and intensity of these whiskies is unmatched. The care and attention to detail is extraordinary. Often, they produce only about 100 casks per year. That’s less than a single shift’s production at many large distilleries. This batch was produced by marrying four casks, all filled in June and July 2009. While previous batches in the U.S. have been exclusively bourbon cask-matured, this is the first vatting to bring sherry into the mix. It is a first-fill oloroso butt and three first-fill bourbon casks yielding 1680 bottles at 46% ABV, bottled exclusively for the U.S. market.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 11, 2021

Francis and Ian Cuthbert have done it again. Scotland’s only operational seasonal farm distillery is delivering perhaps the finest quality malt in the country. Made from the Optic variety of barley, each release has been a positively stunning example of the complex development that’s possible in just over a decade. This 11 Year Old is the first release to feature a sherry cask in the mix, and it must be said that from the first sip, it appears their whiskies take to sherry beautifully. A luscious amber gold color, the whisky is striking even before you open the bottle. First nosing reveals the Oloroso immediately—a carefully oxidized citrus zest and toasted mixed nuts are playfully intertwined with the incredible cornucopia that has defined previous bourbon cask-aged releases. Everything from crisp apples to succulent stone fruits and amber waves of grain mingle and mix so well that it feels like the nose is alive; it is constantly shifting. When you get around to tasting it, things get even more complex. Honeyed oat clusters and both raw and roasted barley are distinctly present. Burnt orange peel, like a fancy cocktail garnish, gives the impression of acidity, sweetness, and savory all at once. A faint tropical note hums in the background. The mid- and back-palate are gently sweet and extremely pleasing. The stone fruit is reprised. The finish is long and compelling, inviting another sip, another pour, another bottle. The Cuthberts are redefining Lowland Single Malt, one miniscule batch at a time—and the new definition is exquisite.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 15, 2021

Here we have another beautiful expression from Daftmill in their seasonal release series, which produces legitimately small batches (1680 bottles in this case). At just 11 years old, there is surprising complexity and gentle maturity. The nose is bready/doughy with cinnamon, ginger snaps, and sandalwood. There’s also a high-quality top note to the scents here, where the Scotch gets very floral and citrusy. Sipping reveals a mouthcoating whisky with a soft and reserved spice, cereal notes that go on for days, old leather, dried orchard fruits, and nuttiness.

Welcome to our Cotswolds Distillery Diary, we’ll be sharing regular updates on what’s happening at our distillery.

Here’s what we’ve been getting up to recently!

Bringing Bourbon to the Collection

The month of October marked the launch of our Cotswolds Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky, the latest addition to our premium Cask Collection. Sweet and malty, this cask stength expression is a whisky for whisky lovers and we’ve already received lots of wonderful comments – thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback with us so far.

LEARN MORE

A Global Success

We’re extremely proud to announce that we have been included in the Drinks International 2021 list of the World’s Most Admired Whiskies. Determined by an academy of global whisky experts, it’s an honour to be one of the brands featured on this prestigious list.

Making Milestones

Recently, we filled our 5000th cask with our new make single malt spirit, making it a very exciting and momentous day for the whole team at the distillery. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us on our journey so far, here’s to the next 5000 casks!

Cotswolds Distillery
Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road
Stourton
Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5EX
United Kingdom

WHISKY.AUCTION
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Bid now on the greatest ever whiskies and fine spirits.
Auction ends Tuesday 9 November.
Get bidding and good luck!

Watch Our Live Auction

Sourced from Scotland’s finest distilleries within the Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Islay regions, our whisky is hand bottled at cask strength with zero tampering, chill filtering or colouring for maximum enjoyment. Each one is limited-run so check out our full range of unique spirits before they’re gone for good.

Lady of the Glen is an independent bottler bringing international whisky enthusiasts an exclusive taste of the nation’s traditional spirit.  In truth, this means we are part detective and a bit magician as we seek, source, and look after rare single malt whiskies from independent distilleries across Scotland, turning them into something special through traditional bottling techniques.

All Lady of the Glen brand releases are hand bottled at natural cask strength, without any chill filtering or colouring which means the original taste remains unaffected and the end flavour is pure, full, and always unique.

Each bottle alongside its distinctive floral label and whisky, receives a hand detailed number, making the bottles as individual as the whisky they contain.

Lady of the Glen whiskies are a homage to the long tradition of independent bottling in Scotland and of outstanding and unhurried techniques that create a product that is both rare and special.

Lady of The Glen Independent Whisky

Our pick of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is here!

Our Russell’s Reserve Single Barrell has arrived at The Party Source. This is our own hand-selected barrel pick that we chose just for you! This pick was distilled on 12/12/12, dumped on 5/19/21, and from barrel 21/0310.

Bottles are limited and will be sold on a first come first served basis starting at 3 PM, today, Tuesday, November 2nd. Limit 1 per customer. When they’re gone, they’re gone!

This is an in-store purchase only.

$64.99 + tax

Whiskey fans rejoice! Clonakilty Distillery launch new Galley Head expression as Whiskey sales expected to surge again for 2022

 Pent-up demand on international export market means Irish distillery stocking up for Christmas

Today, Thursday October 28^th marks a big day for Whiskey enthusiasts all across Ireland as Clonakilty Distillery launch their brand-new Single Malt whiskey which is the latest addition to their award-winning range of spirits.

The Galley Head expression represents a new departure for the Distillery as the brand sought to create a high-quality whiskey that was accessible in terms of price but still retained the quality and finish that Clonakilty Distillery has become renowned for amongst whiskey connoisseurs.

Matured and finished at their Atlantic Ocean Warehouse, Galley Head Single Malt represents a marriage of a re-shaved, re-toasted wine cask and Bordeaux red wine casks. Customers old and new will be able to enjoy aromas of cocoa and rich fruits which has flavours of dark chocolate, red berries and liquorice with a long finish of oak spices.

Clonakilty Distillery have said they are hopeful that this new release will provide a foundation on which they can continue and develop to grow their brand, in addition to attracting a range of new customers seeking to broaden their whiskey horizons.

The production and launch is also in anticipation of a return to strong whiskey sales on the international market once again.

A recent report published by the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) revealed that 96% of Irish whiskey sales have in the past been to markets outside of Ireland, and, pre-pandemic, exports were worth an estimated €890m across both the Republic and Northern Ireland.

The IWA report also stated 2020 sales for whiskey still exceeded expectations but suffered a decline largely due to a collapse of Irish whiskey sales in global travel retail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With international travel markets slowly reopening, it is expected that both sales and demand will both also return to pre-2020 levels.

The Galley Head expression will be available to buy from off-licences and Supervalu and Centra stores across Ireland, as well as the Celtic Whiskey Shop, priced at RRP €39.50. At 40% ABV, the 700ml can also be purchased online at www.clonakiltydistillery.ie.

Galley Head whiskey can be enjoyed neat, over ice or in a high-end whiskey cocktail.

Paul Corbett, Head Distiller at Clonakilty Distillery had this to say about the new whiskey, “We decided on single malt to produce a full flavoured, barley forward whiskey. We finished this single malt in two cask types, a re-shaved, re-toasted wine cask and a freshly disgorged Bordeaux red wine casks”.

“The rejuvenated wood imparts a caramel sweetness and complex spice to the whiskey while the fresh wine casks add a fruitiness that complements the cereal character of the malt,” he added.

The whiskey derives its inspiration from the Galley Head Lighthouse, which stands guard over the barley fields at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The Lighthouse, which was built in 1875, rises an imposing 53m above the roaring Wild Atlantic Ocean, just outside Clonakilty town.

The lighthouse is situated across the bay and can be seen from the warehouse where Galley Head whiskey is matured, finished, and bottled.

To keep up to date with all things Clonakilty Distillery, check out Clonakilty Distillery on Twitter @clondistillery, on Facebook @clonakiltydistillery and on Instagram @clonakiltydistillery.

About Clonakilty Distillery

Clonakilty is Ireland’s maritime distillery located on the southwestern tip of Ireland. Founded by the Scully family in 2016, the distillery includes an award-winning visitor experience and gin school. The distillery grows their own barely and mature whiskey on the farm by the oceans edge.

About Galley Head Irish Whiskey 

The newest addition to the already impressive range, the Galley Head Single Malt Whiskey is to be released as a core expression. Produced for domestic and export markets. Clonakilty currently export to the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Japan, and Russia, as well as 15 US states and two Canadian provinces.

The distillery has matured and finished a contemporary and modern new spirit, which reaffirms the company’s commitment to innovation and grow into the whiskey market and attract some new customers to the business.

Inspired by the iconic Galley Head Lighthouse, the whiskey showcases aromas of cocoa and rich fruits which will lead to flavours of dark chocolate, red berries and liquorice with a long finish of oak spices and smooth dark chocolate.

Still In Cask, a brand new global platform, is set to revolutionise the way whisk(e)y can be sold to the consumer.

Still In Cask is a brand-new global platform that, for the first time, will give consumers around the globe the opportunity to buy shares in a cask of spirit directly from a distillery, from as little as £20.00 a cask share. The innovative business has been developed to democratise the ownership of cask spirits and assures consumer ownership using the Stellar Network’s public blockchain.

The Still In Cask model is the brainchild of Liam Hirt. He founded Psychopomp Microdistillery and Circumstance Distillery and was the architect of the first whisky offering using blockchain technology. Working with Liam are his three co-directors, Zak Hirt*, Danny Walker* and Illy Jaffar*.

Liam Hirt commented “Cask ownership is usually reserved for those that can afford an entire cask or those that can form a syndicate of like-minded individuals, meaning many enthusiasts are therefore excluded. Cask purchases are historically complex and investment focused making it even harder to get involved”

He continues “Whisk(e)y and cask aged spirits are continuing to enjoy global growth, from everyday drinking to collectables. The consumer profile is getting younger, and they are no longer perceived as a male preserve. Still In Cask democratises the ownership of cask spirits for both consumers and distilleries and brings the service to life with immersive brand experiences in the digital and real world.”

Kicking off this innovative start-up, which will go live to the public on 15th May 2021, are the following progressive distillers: NcNean, Circumstance Distillery, Cotswolds Distillery, Mackmyra and Connacht Distillery.

Still In Cask is an online platform for mobile or desktop. stillincask.com. It offers a free service to customers, but they also have the opportunity to join the Still In Cask Reserve Club. The free service allows customers to buy cask shares and receive regular updates on their casks. The Reserve Club is a subscription costing £5 a month that gives priority access to all new cask’s listings for two weeks before those casks become available to other members. The reserve club also gives a number of other member perks including, meet the distiller tastings and events, discussion forum and a newsletter. Once a cask has been bought, Still In Cask will provide key updates of the stages of the liquid in cask.

Still In Cask is a part family run venture. Zak Hirt Is Liam’s brother and has taken the reins on the software development for the business. He commented “Blockchain brings something to a business that a traditional database architecture couldn’t. It’s a progressive platform that is great for innovation, but the most important reason for us is that our accounts and ‘Cask Shares’ are independent from Still In Cask. Should Still In Cask cease operations the consumers would still be able to redeem their ‘Cask Shares’ with the distillery. Secondly, using a blockchain allows easy, secure transfer of ‘Cask Shares’ between consumers, making gifting for landmark occasions a simple affair.”

Liam Hirt concludes “Still in Cask is about being open, unpretentious, and warm, and it embodies the generous hospitality that are trademarks of Cask spirits.” Consumers can register their interest via the website stillincask.com

Notes 

*LIAM HIRT – following a career in medicine using machine learning and AI for his research he founded Psychopomp Microdistillery and Circumstance Distillery. Liam is the Architect of the first whisky offering on a blockchain.

*ZAK HIRT – a qualified management accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the financial sector. His professional roles have encompassed trading, risk management, accounting, and technology. He is the founder and developer of napkin.co.uk, an epos system for hospitality and online ordering.

*DANNY WALKER – has over 20 years’ experience across the drinks industry as an international award winning bartender, brand ambassador, product developer and distiller

*ILLY JAFFAR – is an award winning marketer having worked with some of the biggest global brands in spirits and entertainment. Passionate about creativity and innovation Illy is a NED/Trustee and also a Keeper of the Quaich

How the block chain works:

Still In Cask is built on a public blockchain. Consumers create an account on the blockchain through the Still In Cask platform. When a distillery offers a cask for sale through Still In Cask it is divided into ‘Cask Shares’ (equating to a bottle of cask strength spirit) on the blockchain. When a consumer buys a ‘Cask Share’ from the distillery, the Shares are automatically transferred to the consumer’s account. It may take many years, but when the spirit has finished maturing the Cask Share can be redeemed and the bottle containing your cask share is sent to you to enjoy.