Diageo opens landmark global Johnnie Walker visitor experience

Flag raised to the future of Scotch whisky tourism to mark launch of pioneering attraction

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, 2nd September 2021 – Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the eight-floor new visitor experience for the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky, has today been launched in the heart of Scotland’s capital city.

Four and a half years in the making, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is the centrepiece of Diageo’s £185million pound investment in Scotch whisky tourism in Scotland – the largest single investment programme of its kind ever seen in Scotch whisky tourism.

To mark the opening a Johnnie Walker flag was raised above the landmark building by Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo, and Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, against the backdrop of Edinburgh’s iconic skyline, including the world-famous Edinburgh Castle.

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo said: “This is a proud day for everyone. Last year Johnnie Walker celebrated 200 years since founder John Walker opened the doors to his small grocery store and today represents the next chapter of the incredible story. Johnnie Walker Princes Street is a landmark investment in Scotch whisky and into Scotland and it sets a new standard for immersive visitor attractions. It celebrates Scotland’s remarkable heritage, our incredible skilled whisky-makers, and looks to the future by engaging new generations of consumers from around the world in the magic of Scotch whisky.”

Facts about Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor experience:

• Set over 71,500 sq ft, it takes the concept of personalisation to a scale never before seen in a global drinks visitor experience.
• Visitors on the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavour tour will have their personal flavour preferences mapped with drinks tailored to their palate.
• With more than 800 flavour combinations available in the innovative dispensation systems, one person could visit Johnnie Walker Princes Street every day for more than two years and not have the same experience twice.
• Over 150 diverse and talented new employees, speaking 23 languages between them, will bring to life the 200-year story.
• The cellar has become a true whisky treasury with some of the most unique whisky casks in the world gently maturing and waiting to be sampled by guests.
• The building – formerly a traditional department store for almost 100 years – will contain a state-of-the-art experiential retail space where shoppers can select from rare and exclusive whiskies, fill their own bottles and have them personalised.
• Johnnie Walker Princes Street opens its doors with a Green Tourism Gold Award – the highest sustainability accolade for a visitor attraction. The building includes roof terrace planters to provide herbs for garnishes and infusions for drinks, a sedum roof covering and bird boxes to encourage biodiversity.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is crowned by two world-class rooftop bars and a terrace with breath-taking views of the Edinburgh skyline, including the Explorers’ Bothy whisky bar stocked with 150 different whiskies, and the 1820 cocktail bar where drinks are paired with a carefully curated menu sourced from, and representing in culinary form, the four corners of Scotland.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is also committed to contributing to the community by offering its award-winning hospitality training programme for unemployed people in its special Johnnie Walker Learning for Life academy. The building can also host events in its 200-capacity space.

In 2019, the Scotch Whisky industry attracted a record 2.16 million visitors and Johnnie Walker Princes Street, and Diageo’s £185m tourism investment programme aims to help rebuild Scotch whisky tourism for the future. The investment includes the transformation of distillery visitor experiences around Scotland, including Glenkinchie, Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila – the Lowland, Highland, Speyside and Islay homes of Johnnie Walker, linked to Johnnie Walker Princes Street to form a world-class network of attractions the length and breadth of Scotland.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street will open its doors to the public at 1 pm on Monday 6th September. Tickets for tours start from £25 per person, including a 90-minute tour and three personalised Scotch whisky samples (all samples are provided with carefully controlled measures and non-alcoholic alternatives available to all guests).

To book and for more information visit www.johnniewalkerprincesstreet.com. For more information on Johnnie Walker please visit: www.johnniewalker.com

Glen Scotia Distillery Collaborates with Document Scotland

to Capture Whisky History

Photographic Exhibition Unveiled as part of Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival

A photographic exhibition showcasing the history and heritage of Campbeltown has been unveiled today (7 June 2021) as part of the Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival 2021.

Campbeltown was the whisky capital of the world in the Victorian era and as one of only three surviving single malt whisky distilleries located there today, Glen Scotia has collaborated with Document Scotland to shine a spotlight on the town’s whisky-making legacy.

A collective of three Scottish documentary photographers, Document Scotland share a vision to witness and photograph the important and diverse stories in Scotland. Through the partnership with Glen Scotia, Sophie Gerrard, Colin McPherson and Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert have captured modern-day photography of Campbeltown by exploring the themes of People, Place and Process, to tell the story of Glen Scotia and Scotland’s fifth malt-producing region.

Combined with historic photography of the distillery and the region, these captivating images from the past and the present are featured in an interactive online gallery to celebrate Campbeltown’s contribution to Scotch and uncover Glen Scotia’s long, rich history.

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “Since 1832, Glen Scotia has been shaped by the people, time and events; as well as the history of Campbeltown itself, and this remarkable Document Scotland photographic exhibition brings our unique whisky history and heritage to life. Our single malt reflects centuries of craftsmanship and experience associated with the region and is renowned for its Campbeltown character.”

Photographer Sophie Gerrard focused on the ‘People’ who could tell the story of whisky in Campbeltown. From those who work at Glen Scotia to the farmer who collects the draff to feed his cattle, and from those descended from the ‘big three’ whisky families of history to the new generation of young people making their lives and livelihoods from whisky in Campbeltown. Using her method of environmental portraiture, she photographed these people in their homes, at the distillery and in the hills and streets around the town, each of them connected in some way to the unique heritage of Campbeltown.

Sophie said: “As a photographer I’m always interested in the people behind the story and for this project to make a series of photographic works about Glen Scotia and the unique story of whisky in Campbeltown, I turned to the individuals which make this whisky so special. Each character has an individual story and a distinct connection to the past and the future of whisky in Campbeltown.”

Photographer Colin McPherson captured the theme of ‘Place’ around Campbeltown, taking his inspiration from the connections between the town today and its past. He looked for remnants of the ‘Whiskyopolis’ boomtown of old and set these in the context of modern-day Campbeltown, using the intense colours and light presented so dramatically by an Argyll winter and the town ’s architecture to make a series of images which transcend time.

Colin said: “Campbeltown has a special connection with whisky distilling, and it was fascinating to see so many traces of ‘Whiskyopolis’ - from disused warehouses, old gates and fences to buildings which are now used for other purposes. There is still a distinctive atmosphere in Campbeltown, one which evokes the past. A lot of this comes from the Glen Scotia Distillery, which is a living and breathing reminder of the town’s heritage, but one which is very important to its status today and for the future.”

Photographer Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert captured the daily lives of Glen Scotia employees and the patient ‘Process’ of distilling new-make spirit to fill into casks. His photographs illustrate the passion and human touch of the men and women for their craft, their immediate environment, the spirit and the all-important casks, which all bring unique ingredients, vital elements and distinctive flavour to the final whiskies.

Jeremy said: “As photographers we are passionate about our craft, waiting for the right light, looking for the perfect angle and bringing years of experience to every photograph we take, even though it may only be a fleeting moment we capture. This is mirrored at Glen Scotia and we found a perfect partner in the distillery, where Iain McAlister and his team bring passion and years of experience to their craft, to create exquisite single malts. This collaboration is a meeting of minds between two teams of modern Scottish craftspeople, aware of their place in contemporary Scotland, but also of the history that has gone before them.”

Campbeltown was once known as ‘Spiritville’ or ‘Whiskyopolis’ and at its peak in the Victorian era, there were around 30 legal distilleries operating in a town with a population of only 9,000. The unique photographic exhibition forms part of this year’s Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival, which will welcome thousands of whisky fans from across the globe to experience a range of online tours and tastings from the distillery.

Glen Scotia 25 Years Old single malt was recognised as the ‘Best in Show Whisky’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with judges awarding it as the overall winner of the competition, and therefore the best whisky in the world in 2021.

For further information about Glen Scotia and to view the photography exhibition, visit www.glenscotia.com

Lagavulin & Caol Ila Launch Limited Edition 2021 Fèis Ìle Bottlings

Lagavulin and Caol Ila announce the launch of festival exclusive Single Malt Scotch whiskies to celebrate the 2021 Islay Festival of Music and Malt, Fèis Ìle, available to purchase on malts.com from 1 June with a pre-sale for subscribers at 2pm (BST) 31 May.

Hand-selected by the distillery teams, the Lagavulin and Caol Ila Fèis Ìle bottles have been much adored, and their annual release for the festival has become a key moment in the whisky calendar. Each represents a precious part of the distillery’s rich heritage, offering whisky fans an exciting twist on the core expressions available at Lagavulin and Caol Ila.

Fèis Ìle Lagavulin 13 Year-Old is a glorious and unique bottling with a delightfully rewarding and unusual mix of richness, spice, and sweetness. This full bodied expression has fleeting sweet aromas of candied chestnuts somehow perfectly combined with oily mineral tones. The tones are intensified with a thick and oil-smooth texture. It is fleetingly sweet then piquant with spice that quickly rises in importance as rich waves of smoke, salt and hot pepper take over. Noticeably palate-drying, this superb Lagavulin has a long and intense finish with a pepper-spice warmth and delicious nutty and smoky aftertaste. Ideal to be savoured at natural strength or with a splash of water.

Vigorous and spicy, Fèis Ìle Caol Ila 12 Year-Old carries intense fruit notes and unusual floral traits from the nose to the finish. This rare release opens on the nose with a light green, faintly herbal top note, followed by lush scented fruit of sweet grapes and ripe peach. At natural strength, this luscious malt has a creamy-smooth texture intensely sweet to begin but quickly balanced with tones of pepper spice, a hint of salt and more rich fruit to develop a racy and embracing warmth. The finish is elegantly long with tangy and drying notes, leaving a lovely smoky aftertaste.

Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2021 – 13 Year Old
The Lagavulin bottling has been matured in refill American Oak casks and finished in high char Port-seasoned casks. The limited edition run of 6,000 bottles will be released with an ABV of 54.4%, and an RSP of £160 per 70cl. Available to purchase at Lagavulin Distillery and malts.com.

Pierrick Guilaume, Lagavulin Distillery Manager said, “Fèis Ìle is an incredible week for the island each year, allowing us to welcome whisky and music lovers around the globe to the island we’re so proud to call home. While our celebrations at Lagavulin Distillery are slightly different this year, we still have a fabulous line up planned who will treat online guests to some of Scotland’s best music and entertainment, as well as an incredible bottling which will excite fans of Lagavulin and the festival.”

Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2021 – 12 Year Old
The Caol Ila festival bottling has been matured in refill American-Oak and finished in high char Moscatel-seasoned casks. Fèis Ìle Caol Ila 12 Year-Old is bottled at 56.6% ABV, with only 3,000 bottles available. It will retail from £130 per 70cl. Available to purchase at Lagavulin Distillery and malts.com.

Samuel Hale, Caol Ila Distillery Manager said, “This will be my first festival as distillery manager of Caol Ila and although we are unable to host the event in Islay, we wanted to continue to honour the occasion with not only a wonderful online event but also by creating a remarkable bottling. We’re sure it’s going to be extremely popular with Caol Ila fans.”

Glen Scotia reveals line up for 2021 virtual festival

Glen Scotia has revealed the schedule for this year’s virtual Glen Scotia malts festival which will go live on 7th June. For the second year running, the festival will be run entirely digitally, with whisky fans from all around the world able to access a range of different events and content by visiting www.glenscotia.com/festival.  

Master Distiller Iain McAlister will be joined by a host of famous faces from the world of whisky to help bring the festival to life on screen.

This year’s packed programme includes a brand new interactive virtual tour of the distillery and a virtual tasting of this year’s festival edition, hosted by whisky historian Charlie MacLean. Whisky experts Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison will also be broadcasting a live tasting of Glen Scotia’s core range while exploring historic tales from the whiskiest place in the world, and the brand will also reveal a new digital photography exhibition celebrating the distillery’s rich heritage.

To celebrate the festival, Glen Scotia will also be releasing a limited number of Dunnage Tasting Boxes which come complete with access to a private dunnage tasting video, hosted by Master Distiller Iain McAlister. The dunnage tasting is always one of the most keenly anticipated events in the Campbeltown Malts Festival calendar. This year the tasting explores the influence of casks on the final liquid, with a particular focus on Bourbon, refill American Oak and European Oak finishes.

Only 600 Dunnage Tasting Boxes will be released in the UK ahead of the festival,  each containing five 25 ml samples (four of which are cask strength).  A further 2,500 tasting boxes will be distributed to markets around the world. The Glen Scotia Dunnage Tasting Box will be available to order from www.glenscotia.com priced at £50 (including free delivery) and The Whisky Shop (www.whiskyshop.com).  

Whisky experts Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison will be hosting a live event on Wednesday 16th June at 7pm which will see them lead a tasting of some of Glen Scotia’s favourite single malts including Glen Scotia Double Cask, Glen Scotia 15 Years Old and Glen Scotia Victoriana.  As well as the tasting, Neil and Joel will host a special discussion about Campbeltown’s fascinating history, including tales of illicit distilling and its Victorian heritage. A 5cl gift pack containing each of the three expressions is available to by online at www.glenscotia.com for those wanting to join in with the tasting.

A third tasting experience will be hosted by renowned whisky expert Charlie MacLean who will introduce the tasting of the Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition for 2021, which this year takes the form of an incredibly special 10-Year-Old Limited Edition Single Malt with a Bordeaux red wine cask finish.

Following in the footsteps of the last year’s limited edition which was awarded ‘Product Launch of the Year’ at the Scottish whisky awards in 2021, this year’s limited edition has experienced high demand since its release earlier this year. However, 200 bottles have been reserved for the festival launch, and will be available to buy from www.glenscotia.com on 7 June for anyone still hoping to get their hands on a bottle.

Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia reflects centuries of craftsmanship and experience associated with the region and its award-winning whiskies are renowned for their distinctive maritime influence and Campbeltown character. 

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “We were blown away by the response we had to last year’s virtual festival, which saw us host 10,000 visitors from across the world – five times more than we would usually expect to see in Campbeltown ordinarily!  

“This year we have developed our virtual line up even further with some well-known friends of the distillery joining us to host some of the sessions and really special interactive experiences for our guests to explore that will make them feel that they are right here with us.

“We’re really looking forward to it, and we hope that fans of our whisky, both old and new, will come and celebrate with us.”

For further information about Glen Scotia and to take part in the online festival visit www.glenscotia.com/festival from 7th June

Over the decades this small distillery lay silent, set amidst the dramatic Highland landscape
of its remote Highland home of Sutherland on the North East coast of Scotland. But during
this time, Brora became renowned for the exceptional quality and character of whisky maturing
in its shuttered warehouses. Viewed as one of the lost icons of the whisky world, the distillery
and whisky gained legendary status during its closed years. Historic bottlings of Brora Single
Malt Scotch Whisky found great acclaim amongst collectors with a bottle of Brora 1972 Limited
Edition 40-Year-Old sold as part of Sotheby’s Ultimate Whisky Auction in 2019 for a distillery
record of £54,450.

Brora-local Master Distiller Stewart Bowman, son of the last exciseman at Brora reopened the
Brora wildcat gates and filled the first cask of Brora spirit in more than 38 years. The cask was
carefully rolled through a sunlit courtyard to be housed in the distillery’s most hallowed
chamber: Warehouse Number One, home to the most precious relics of maturing Brora casks.

“In 1983,” Bowman comments, ”my father wrote in an old distillery ledger ‘Commencement of
Brora Distillery silent season (undetermined period)’. Growing up in the village we often
wondered whether Brora would ever return, but today we filled the first cask. It is with great
pride that I can now say to my father, the Brora community, and all the ‘old hands’ that worked
at Brora and helped to craft a legendary whisky, that the stills are alive and we are making
Brora spirit once again.”

In 2017 it was announced that Diageo would restore Brora as a part of a £35 million investment
to bring Brora and the equally iconic lost distillery of Port Ellen on Islay back to life, as a major
commitment to Scotland and its communities. Joanne McKerchar, Diageo archivist, played a
crucial role working with the community to unlock key details from personal memories of past
workers and their experiences at Brora before the time of closure.

McKerchar comments, “When we first opened the doors at Brora we walked into a time
capsule. As a historian and an archivist for malts, I had never seen anything like that before.
It was unbelievable just how untouched it was: as if the guys had just finished their shift and
walked out -but, of course, nobody then came back in. What must they have been thinking
the last time they flicked that light switch or they locked the doors not knowing whether we
were ever going to see this place open again? You’re not just looking at stills or a physical
building, it’s all of the emotion that would have went with that last day that suddenly comes
flooding back and then that coupled with a big question: so what are we going to do now, and
what lies ahead of us, and how are we going to achieve this? It was quite overwhelming.”

McKerchar and Bowman worked alongside a host of specialists, whisky noses and archivists
in the restoration of the distillery buildings and its prized spirit. On the restoration process,
Master Distiller Bowman comments, “We have gone to every effort to replicate, as closely as
possible, the conditions, equipment and processes from Brora in 1983 in order to recreate the
spirit for which the distillery is famous. The original pair of Brora stills travelled 200 miles across
Scotland to Diageo Abercrombie Coppersmiths in Alloa where they were refurbished by hand;
we raised up the original pagoda roof to conduct intricate repairs, and rebuilt the stillhouse


brick-by-brick using original Brora stone to restore this historic Victorian distillery.” Fully
committing to recreate the distilling processes of old, Brora will use a traditional rake and gear
mash tun and use malted barley from Glen Ord maltings, exactly as it did in 1983.

The process of restoration extended beyond the physical buildings to the cherished Brora spirit
that has made the distillery so legendary. Using a combination of the tasting notes for the
original new make spirit, stills refurbished to exact historic specifications, material from the
archives and more modern distilling knowledge, the restorers managed to replicate, as closely
as possible, the way the distillery operated in 1983. Celebrated whisky expert Master Blender
Dr Jim Beveridge OBE worked closely with technical partner Donna Anderson to restore
Brora’s spirit.

Dr Jim Beveridge OBE says “It was a wonderful challenge – one of the most rewarding that I
have faced in my career as a whisky maker. When I heard of the plans to bring Brora back, I
recalled tasting Brora stocks of the 1980s -one of my early jobs at Diageo many years ago.
By sampling remaining old stocks of Brora and using historic tasting notes, we slowly built a
picture. With my colleague Donna Anderson, we were able to make this vision of the liquid a
reality by reverse-engineering the production process. It is our hope that we have safeguarded
that beautiful Brora spirit character for generations to come.”

Along the restoration journey that lasted over three years, findings of documents led to Brora’s
distilling secrets being revealed. McKerchar comments, “As part of that first walkaround we
found records which happened to be the original Charles Doig distillery plans from the 1890s.
Until we found these plans we didn’t understand how the distillery had evolved over its 200
years of operation. It allowed us to map that out which allowed the full team of restorers to
understand how the distillery would have run then, informing how it should run for years to
come.”

As a jewel in the crown of Diageo’s distilleries across Scotland and one of its smallest, Brora
will produce carefully controlled quantities of spirit, up to approximately 800,000 litres a year.
The distillery will also be a carbon neutral site, powered entirely by on-site renewable energy
to safeguard a sustainable future for Brora.

One of the latest releases from the distillery, unveiled in April, is the Brora Triptych: a three-
piece collection of extremely rare Single Malt whiskies each representing a distinct style of
Brora’s proud and storied heritage. From today, Brora Triptych will now be available to
purchase, alongside the first in a new distillery exclusive bottling only available at Brora’s
newly restored home, The Brora Distillery Collection: Hidden Beneath, a Brora 1982 39-Year-
Old.

Brora will extend a warm Highland welcome to visitors in small numbers by-appointment from
July onwards, bookable via Brora.com. Master Distiller Stewart Bowman ‘When people walk
into Brora distillery, I want them to feel a connection to the past; to be able to understand the
history of the place and to understand why we’ve put the distillery back together in the way
that we have so that we can continue its legacy into future generations.’ Each guest will take
part in an experience that reveals a new and enriched vision of the distillery, its past and its
new spirit – one that is currently being laid down in warehouses for maturation, to be revealed
in decades to come.

From July visitors will be welcomed to Brora, with two experiences available via Brora.com:


Brora Awakened

To re-awaken a Victoria distillery, to restore the masterpiece – the challenge laid down to the
team of experts tasked with bringing about Brora’s return. Guests are invited to bear witness
to this meticulous process, explore the historic spirit that was almost lost to the world, and
craft the Brora of today. Glimpses of Brora’s storied past are brought into the present day
through original archive materials, personal tales from distillery workers before 1983 and, to
complete the immersion in Brora, tastings of Brora’s celebrated recent releases.

Includes: Light lunch of contemporary Scottish cuisine using local ingredients; tastings of
limited-edition Brora expression, and a guided new make spirit nosing.
Duration: 3 hours
Price: £300

The Eras of Brora

The past, present and future eras of Brora are explored in this engrossing day-long
experience. Guests will help craft the Brora spirit as they stand side-by-side Brora’s
craftspeople of today as they go about their careful work to lay down casks for maturation.
Journeying through tastings of new spirit and samples distilled almost half a century before,
the visit offers an opportunity to meet key craftspeople and culminates with a private tasting
of fleeting moments of Brora’s storied past in the Brora Triptych – a one-off special release
of three extremely rare Single Malt whiskies, each representing a distinct style of Brora’s
proud and storied heritage.

Includes: 3 course lunch of contemporary Scottish cuisine using local ingredients; tastings of
Brora Triptych and additional limited edition Brora expressions, ad a guided new make spirit
nosing.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Price: £600

Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Malt Whisky Named “Best Whisky In The World”  

Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky has been recognised as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), with judges awarding the Scotch single malt whisky from Campbeltown, one of Scotland’s smallest Scotch Whisky regions, as the overall winner of the competition, and therefore The Best Whisky in The World in 2021. 

This year the SFWSC judged 3,800 entrants across 31 separate categories, with Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old ultimately being named as Best in Show Whisky. 

The SFWSC is one of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions. Its judges are renowned experts in their fields with decades of industry experience.  The competition started in 2000, making it the second oldest spirits competition in the world, and the oldest and largest spirits competition in the US. 

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller, Glen Scotia Distillery said: “To receive such outstanding recognition and be awarded as ‘Best in Show’ at this prestigious competition is an honour, and a tremendous boost to the entire team here at Glen Scotia distillery. 

“The Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old (70cl, 48.8% ABV) is a really outstanding whisky and has collected a number of prestigious awards over the years, but this has to be the absolute proudest moment for the distillery to date.”  

Campbeltown, although Scotland’s smallest whisky producing region today, was in its heyday during the Victorian era known as “The Whisky Capital of the World” and home to more than 30 distilleries. Although now only three remain, Glen Scotia Distillery, captures the knowledge, experience, craft and passion learnt over the centuries of distilling in Campbeltown to produce an exceptional range of Scotch whiskies, all perfect examples of the classic, maritime Campbeltown style. 

The Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old is available to buy at www.glenscotia.com priced at £400. It is accompanied by an exceptional range of other whiskies from the distillery which are all award winners in their own right, including the Glen Scotia Double Cask (46% ABV, £40), Glen Scotia 15-Year-Old (46% ABV, £55) and Glen Scotia Victoriana (54.2% ABV, £65).  

For more information, please visit www.glenscotia.com 

Loch Lomond Whiskies unveils rare 45 Year Old 

Only 200 bottles of the super-premium expression are currently available

Award-winning independent distiller, Loch Lomond Whiskies, has unveiled its newest aged single malt; a 45 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The expression is the first of three releases in The Remarkable Stills Series of single malts to be released by the distillery which celebrate its innovative and unique straight neck pot stills.

Distilled in 1973, the super-premium Loch Lomond 45 Year Old has matured in American oak casks, before finishing for one year in a first-fill oloroso sherry cask to add a distinct sweet flavour.  

The liquid is presented in a Loch Lomond premium bottle, complete with a debossed copper plaque, and enclosed in a beautifully crafted oak wood box designed to mirror the design of the Loch Lomond straight neck pot stills. Only 200 individually numbered bottles have been released, making it one of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ rarest expressions to date.

The launch of the Loch Lomond 45 year old is the first in the distillery’s new Remarkable Stills series, a collection that will shine a spotlight on the Alexandria-based distillery’s innovative straight neck pot stills. The stills, which are unique to Loch Lomond, gives the distiller more control of the type of spirit produced, allowing for greater separation of flavours, helping to create the distinct fruity characters that Loch Lomond has become famous for.

The Loch Lomond 45 Year Old showcases flavours of red apple, pear, tropical fruits and honey. On the nose, the expression presents floral scents, before offering notes of orange blossom and melted brown sugar. The finish is long, and presents waves of warming cinnamon spice and tart green fruits.

Bottled at 42.2% and non-chill filtered, allowing the signature Loch Lomond flavours to come through, the Loch Lomond 45 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is priced at £3,450.

To mark the launch of the rare expression, a new webpage has been created which details exactly how the liquid was created, over more than four decades. The webpage details the characteristics of Loch Lomond’s unique pot stills, a key element to the creation of Loch Lomond 45 Year Old.

Master Blender, Michael Henry said: “Our straight neck pot stills connect us to the spirit of innovation that was built into our distillery from the beginning, and places flavour at the centre of what we do. It is only fitting that we mark their significance to us through the Remarkable Stills Series.

“It has been a pleasure working on the creation of the Loch Lomond 45 Year Old, our first release of the series. It is a truly beautiful expression and captures the essence of the Loch Lomond Whiskies spirit perfectly.

“After 45 years aging in American oak and oloroso sherry casks, the whisky retains the character of the distillery, and showcases Loch Lomond Whiskies signature fruity flavour beautifully. The flavours of the expression are wonderfully unique, and we hope whisky lovers will enjoy it.”  

John Grieveson, Chief Marketing Officer at Loch Lomond Group, said: “The Loch Lomond 45 Year Old is an exquisite single malt and we are very proud to launch it to market. A wealth of experience and craftsmanship goes into each of our expressions, and the Loch Lomond 45 Year Old is no exception. It’s a fantastic edition to our range of single malts and as the first expression in our Remarkable Stills Series, we’re very excited about its launch.”

Founded in 1814, the Loch Lomond distillery can trace its roots back to the Littlemill distillery, which was established in 1772 and is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Its current distillery, in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, close to the banks of Loch Lomond, was built in 1965 with first distillation in 1966.  

When it opened, Loch Lomond distillery’s ground-breaking straight necked pot stills were a revelation, enabling production of a lighter, fruitier spirit and greater control over the whisky’s character. Under the later ownership of the Bulloch family further distilling innovation took place with the aim of being self-sufficient. It is among only four distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry to maintain an onsite cooperage which  maintains and repairs up to 10,000 casks annually. 

For more information on Loch Lomond 45 Year Old, please visit https://www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/products/loch-lomond-45-year-old-single-malt.

For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

THE BRORA TRIPTYCH

A LEGEND SOON TO RETURN UNVEILS A COLLECTION OF THREE HISTORIC SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES

LONDON – April 7, 2021. Brora today revealed a one-off special release of three extremely rare Single Malt whiskies, each representing a distinct style of Brora’s proud and storied heritage. From mid-May, upon the completion of the restoration of Brora distillery, the Brora Triptych will be available, in celebration of its return.

In 1983, a small, Highlands distillery fell silent and the doors of the stillhouse locked. The distillery workers that had crafted spirit within it put down their tools and walked away, for what they thought would be for good. A distillery suspended in time for thirty-eight years, Brora will soon open its gates once again, after three years of meticulous brick by brick restoration.

Each collectible set of the Brora Triptych will be accompanied by a personal invitation from Brora’s Master Distiller Stewart Bowman to visit and experience Brora first-hand. Born in the town of Brora and with a long family connection to the distillery, Bowman worked alongside a host of artisans, whisky-makers and archivists in the restoration of the distillery buildings and its whisky and will carefully oversee the creation of new Brora spirit upon its return.

He comments,

‘The stories of Brora are woven into my own history and I am honoured to soon be able to share these stories with others. My father was an ‘old hand’ at the distillery, and I grew up in the village with the top of the distillery’s bell-tower visible from our kitchen window. In the years after Brora’s closure, I remember my father showing me the old cask ledgers and the records of those final casks distilled in 1983 and asking if Brora would return one day. It fills me with great pride that thirty-eight years after the doors of Brora closed, more casks will now be filled, and we will be able to welcome people once again to this special place. It is our commitment that we will do justice to the Brora of old and hope to welcome visitors to our restored home as soon as that is possible. In the Brora Triptych, we aimed to celebrate the great whisky styles of the past for which Brora is known.’

A three-piece whisky set, intended to be appreciated together, this Brora Triptych is a showcase of the distillery’s most famous three styles. Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson has selected the vintage Single Malt whiskies in the Triptych, and comments,

‘These are some of our very last precious relics from a Brora of bygone age. Each one represents a moment in time at the distillery and tasting these superb whiskies is to be part of a special moment in history. When selecting the casks for these rare bottlings, we wanted to celebrate those distinct characteristics that define Brora, and those that we seek to uphold as we begin a new chapter in its story.’

The first in the Brora Triptych, Elusive Legacy, is a 48-Year-Old and the oldest ever public release from the distillery. A very rare style from casks of 1972, this whisky represents an earthy expression of Brora, much sought after as it was only created in short periods throughout the distillery’s history. Warm chestnut in colour, there is a delicate aroma which blends wood spice with hints of peach tarte tatin, amidst a powerful rich maltiness.

The second, Age of Peat, is a 43-Year-Old heavily peated expression drawn from casks of 1977. This is a classic Brora style from the late 70’s, and one of the only examples of a highly- peated Highland whisky from that era. The few casks that were left from this phase matured remarkably well and the whisky is multi-layered and complex. Intensely deep and golden, this expression is elegant on the nose with creamy vanilla invigorated by freshly cut green apples and hints of beeswax, before a long, sweet finish of peat-fired smokiness.

Finally, Timeless Original, is a 38-Year-Old, from limited stocks of 1982 and represents the distinct waxiness that made Brora famous. This more modern and refined style returns to lower peating levels, reflective of Brora whisky before the Age of Peat. Glowing yellow gold in hue, sherberty lemon peel, and a touch of fresh green grass dance on the nose.

The three Single Malt whiskies are presented in one beautiful presentation case, inspired by Brora’s surrounding coastlines. Each crystal bottle is completed with Glencairn crystal stoppers, and the cabinet, built from ash wood all sourced in the UK, was crafted by Master Cabinetmaker and Royal Warrant Holder N. E. J. Stevenson.

Never before have three styles of Brora been released in one collector’s set and the Brora Triptych is an unparalleled capsule of the original and historic Brora stocks. Released at the same time as the distillery reopens, this once-in-a-generation collector’s set will be available globally for purchase directly from the distillery, Brora.com and specialty retailers starting in mid-May 2021. The botttles size is 500 ml and the price will be £30'000.

Tasting Notes for Brora Triptych by whisky writer Dave Broom:

Notes by whisky writer, Dave Broom. An author, lecturer and teacher he has written over a dozen books on spirits and is a Master of the Quaich.

Brora, ‘Elusive Legacy’, 48 years old (1972), 42.8%

COLOUR Full gold, shading to amber

NOSE (neat) There’s an immediate aroma of green apple, giving a freshness that’s surprising in a whisky of this age. This is surrounded by a salty, ozonic element – sea breezes – and a sweet note of creamy lemon posset.

This is a whisky which evolves slowly. Given time, the signature old-style Brora oils start to build.

There’s lanolin and smoke wreathing around a base of persimmon and overripe fruit – pineapple, pear, peach, medlar, and quince. It’s now miles away from that fresh opening: this is heavy, and oily, with the oxidised notes you only get from super-old mature whiskies.

It’s weirdly reminiscent of the smell of an artist’s studio: oil paints, primed canvas, old books; then comes lilac, and a smoored peat fire mixed with salted/smoked fish, a slight meatiness, then some camphor.

Bold, complex, all-enveloping and incredibly long-lasting. Highly complex. BODY Rich and oily.

PALATE (neat) This develops in three interlinked acts. First, light, drying woodsmoke kicks things off, giving the tip of the tongue a slightly ashy quality along with a tiny flaring of heat, as if from hot embers. As this shifts to one side, you begin to pick out pot pourri, dried fruits, some vanilla, and dried lemon peel.

By the middle of the tongue, however, you’re overwhelmed by the roiling, palate-coating mass of oils, which carry the fruits (ripe banana, stewed peach) along, smoothing out the tannins. It is huge and long-lasting, brimming with unguents and waxes, and flavours which are unfamiliar in whisky – and therefore very Brora.

This exotic, savoury, quality with umami/meaty elements is reluctant to give way, but finally, with a suggestion of fresh orange pulp, you are into the third act, and back on the shore again: salt, halibut oil, smoke, then a touch of pine, and green olive.

FINISH Ripe fruits, a peppery citric catch, some salted liquorice, clove, and a farewell puff of coal smoke.

Brora ‘Age of Peat’, 43 years old (1977), 48.6%

COLOUR Light gold

NOSE (neat) This starts quite closed, and seems light, a little prickly, lightly spiced, and with a tighter focus than the ’72. Then the weight of maturity becomes more apparent. Slowly, stealthily, the fruits make their way forward, giving it a greater solidity and robustness. There’s also a sense of compression. Fruits ripened in early autumn sun emerge.

This is Brora from the 70s, so there’s oils, but here they are more on the rancio side: beeswax, old leather, and a suggestion of tropical fruit: guava, mango, pineapple, a little peach, melon and quince.

All of this sits within Brora’s rugged seashore setting. Wax candles glimmer on a polished table. In time, there’s some damp earth/warehouse and a bready element. It flickers between the fruit, light smoke, and an almost starchy crispness.

BODY Medium weight. Oily

PALATE (neat) A soft, sweet and rounded opening. There’s rich, honeyed elements, and more of a noticeable liveliness from the spirit strength. The fruits now lean towards apricot, and there are also some lively acids keeping the taste buds tingling.

By the time it reaches the mid-palate, the juicy fruits have taken charge, alongside the oils which further plumps and fattens the overall effect. There’s this fascinating, and seemingly contradictory mix of ripe mango and peach with salty, mildly meaty, umami-rich flavours. Fruity, yes but not conventionally so.

There’s a light drying grip – cedar like – and the effect becomes firmer and slightly drier with an added spiced element (allspice, white pepper), some preserved lemon, and light woodsmoke. Things start gentle and soft, but end up retrained and more structured. An enigma.

FINISH Lightly oily, slightly acidic, with smoked salt.

Brora, ‘Timeless Original’, 38 years old, (1982), 47.5%

COLOUR Light gold

NOSE (neat) Bright and slightly lean to start with which is typical of these later Broras. A spray

of grapefruit oils on a cool day, and a slightly powdery quality. There seems to be a little more cask coming into play here – touches of vanilla, white chocolate, but even then it’s still a light touch.

It takes time for those more familiar Brora qualities to emerge, though this time there’s a dairy fat element rather than oiliness – clotted cream, buttermilk. In time, waxiness (old lipstick) and then sheep fleece.

More estery aromas come out – green apple, sour plum, ginger juice, bamboo shoots, acetone,

and ripe pineapple. Then there’s another wave of waxiness, now accompanied by cafe au lait, and ripe apricot.

BODY Light to medium. Waxy.

PALATE (neat) Soft, thick, unctuous and waxy to start. As with the nose this is accompanied by a bright energy. No real smokiness. A new era. The scented aromatics now come across as rosewater as well as a slight soapiness.

By the middle of the tongue things are becoming waxy. A peppery, unripe pear quality brings agave to mind. Now is the time for the acidity to set in – pink grapefruit, blood orange – and as it does so the dram seems to tense up, then release a crystalline saltiness.

FINISH Dusty tannins, the merest hint of smoke, then waxed lemon.

New Littlemill release is a testament to the past 

·       Limited release of 250 Littlemill Testament decanters launched globally

·       Four unique decanter sets complete the collection

Littlemill Testament, the oldest Littlemill expression to be released to date, has launched.

The new release celebrates Littlemill’s legacy as Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery and is contained in a luxury decanter which skilfully incorporates treasured remnants of the original distillery manager’s house giving collectors the opportunity to own a true piece of Scotch Whisky history. These pieces, which date back to 1772, include reclaimed glass, slate, wood and stone sourced from the roof, windows, walls and floors of the building, allowing Littlemill collectors to possess their very own piece of history. 

The liquid for the release has been taken from a single distillation date, on 4th October 1976. It was re-casked in 1996 into American oak Hogsheads, before Master Blender Michael Henry matured this liquid further in first-fill Oloroso sherry hogsheads for a final four-month maturation before bottling. 

Littlemill Testament – Limited Edition release (Recommended Retail Price £8,000, ABV 42.5%) 

Fitting for such a rare and important single malt, exceptional attention to detail has been given to the presentation of the whisky, which comprises a total of just 250 decanters. Each is crafted in hand blown Glencairn crystal, which have been facet cut at the base, mirroring the style of glass cutting during the Georgian period, and housed in a bespoke handmade cabinet.  

Each cabinet comes complete with a dress stopper made from the sandstone taken from the remains of the Littlemill distillery. Finally, for collectors who wish to leave the decanter untouched, each comes with a unique code allowing the owner to claim a 5cl of the precious liquid. An additional 5cl can be claimed at a future date, using the same code, protecting the investment by allowing a second owner to claim their 5cl to enjoy. 

Littlemill Testament – Four unique decanters 

These limited release decanters are joined by four unique decanters, which are all accompanied by a pair of specially sourced Georgian glasses, dating back to the 18th century with the facet cut on the stems of each pair and unique engraving around the bowl, replicated on each decanter. 

The dress stoppers within the limited editions are equally as unique, each crafted from one of the materials salvaged from the original distillery building, giving collectors the chance to become custodians of a rare piece of Scotch whisky history.  

The first decanter’s dress stopper is completed with slate sourced from the roof of the distillery manager’s house, the second with glass from the window, the third with wood from the floor, and the final stopper with stone from the building itself. Each special decanter contains a wooden disc cut from a stave from the Littlemill barrel, which conceals a unique code which can be used to request two 5cl samples of the Littlemill Testament liquid. 

The first of the four unique decanters was auctioned in China in January, reaching a price of £19,000. 

Colin Matthews, CEO, Loch Lomond Group commented: “Littlemill Testament is a fitting tribute to the rich heritage that this exceptional whisky enjoys, allowing whisky lovers to own a piece of history. I would like to congratulate our Master Blender Michael Henry for crafting such an exceptional liquid which perfectly reflects the Littlemill’s signature floral style.  

“In addition to our Limited Edition release, it is a pleasure to also reveal our four unique Littlemill Testament decanters, which offer the ultimate tribute to Littlemill’s fascinating past.” 

Michael Henry, Master Blender commented: “It is an honour to have been able to play my part, as current custodian of the remaining casks from the original Littlemill Disitillery, and release Littlemill Testament, which pays homage to this whisky’s unrivalled history. I’m very proud of the result, which perfectly capture Littlemill’s signature style.  

“On the nose there is crisp green apple and zesty grapefruit with notes of fragrant elderflower and ginger. Then, when you taste it delivers a vibrant fruity flavour, with hints of tangy pineapple and juicy peach overlayed with a lime citrus which is complemented by a melted brown sugar sweetness and creamy vanilla, giving way to a deliciously long finish with mouth-watering fruit, gooseberry and watermelon, and a gently warming cinnamon and nutmeg spice.” 

Littlemill Distillery has long laid claim to an extensive and fascinating history. For over 220 years a date stone on the gable end of one of the distillery’s warehouses carved with 1772 offered the best suggestion as to the age of this world-renowned distillery. In 2019, the discovery of the local Justice of the Peace’s records for Dumbarton, dated 2 November 1773, which states that ‘Robert Muir of Littlemiln’ was granted the first ever license by the Government of King George III to “retail ale, beer and other excisable Liquors”, conclusively proved that it was the oldest licensed whisky distillery in Scotland.   

Available to purchase at specialist retailers including www.whiskyshop.com

For further information visit www.littlemilldistillery.com

LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES KICKS OFF
PRO14 RUGBY’S COACH OF THE MONTH

This month, The Spirit of PRO14 Rugby launches the inaugural Coach of the Month award presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies. The accolade celebrates the excellence achieved by the winner and their team’s successes over the previous month which mirror the spirit of Loch Lomond Whiskies.

Beginning in January 2021, Loch Lomond Whiskies would like fans to vote for their Coach of the Month. Nominees will be put forward by PRO14 Rugby’s podcast ‘Under the Sticks’, who will explore those coaches who have demonstrated the spirit to drive their teams to success, with key characteristics such as passion, innovation, inspiration and teamwork traits that are shared with Loch Lomond Whiskies premium whisky range.

Fans can vote on PRO14 Rugby’s channels with the winner announced at the end of the week. And in return the Coach of the Month presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will receive a bespoke 18 year old single malt from the multi-award winning Loch Lomond Whiskies range.

David Jordan, Tournament Director, PRO14 Rugby said: “Our tournament provides so many challenges where our coaches must blend tactical and technical nous, a savviness in the recruitment market and ensure they are bringing through the next generation of international talent to the PRO14 while also managing some of the biggest talents in the game.

“As a result, we have some very innovative coaches in our tournament and in partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies it’s terrific that we can highlight their successes on a monthly basis.” 

The first Coach of the Month Award, presented by Loch Lomond Whiskies will be announced on Friday 5th February.

Earlier in 2021, multi-award winning Loch Lomond whiskies announced it will partner with PRO14 Rugby for the next three years. To learn more about the PRO14 Rugby partnership and to discover the Loch Lomond Whiskies range, go to: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

DIAGEO ANNOUNCES THE 2020 SPECIAL RELEASES WHISKY COLLECTION

Eight vibrant expressions carefully chosen to bring a taste of Scotland to every enthusiast’s home

Diageo is delighted to unveil the 2020 Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection, inspired by the globally celebrated theme, ‘Rare by Nature’. Curated by Master Blender, Dr. Craig Wilson this exclusive selection is comprised of eight cask strength single malt Scotch whiskies, drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting distilleries. 

The highly anticipated annual collection once again explores unusual age points, experimental maturation techniques and welcomes our first-ever release finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks. The encore theme highlights the extraordinary nature that surrounds each distillery, with each whisky visually brought to life through intricate illustrations that decorate the bottles.

Dr. Craig Wilson, Diageo Master Blender, says, “I’ve created this year’s Special Releases Collection, from some of my favorite distilleries across Scotland, with whisky enthusiasts in mind.  For those who enjoy spicy flavours, my recommendation would be to try our Cardhu, and for those who favour rich, intense and smooth flavours my choice would be Mortlach 21 year old.  If you are curious about discovering something very rare, the Pittyvaich - the single ghost distillery in our Special Releases Collection this year is an unforgettable dram.”

This one of a kind line-up highlights the diversity of Diageo’s most treasured reserves maturing in Scotland. With expressions from renowned to phenomenal and less-known locales, the unified collection marks the pinnacle moment in every whisky lover and spirit-enthusiast’s calendar.

For those curious to discover the very last drops from unique casks or savour a little taste of history, the collection includes: Pittyvaich, from the Speyside ghost distillery, finished in first fill ex-bourbon casks, a rare Highland expression of Dalwhinnie matured in refill hogshead casks filled in 1989, the best of Isle of Skye, Talisker, our foremost finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks, and the stalwart Lagavulin, a perfect expression of this Islay distillery’s character.

The 2020 Special Releases collection will be available in limited quantities from specialist Scotch whisky retailers and malts.com this Autumn.

 Availability
Autumn 2020 from specialist retailers in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, selected markets across Asia and in airport duty free.

Suggested Retail Pricing

Cardhu 11-Year-Old
ABV: 56.0%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From refill, new, and ex-bourbon American oak
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £85

Cragganmore 20-Year-Old
ABV: 55.8%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From refill casks and new fresh-charred casks.
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £130

Dalwhinnie 30-Year-Old
ABV: 51.9%
Region:  Highland
Cask: From refill hogsheads
No. bottles available: 6,978
RRSP £550

Lagavulin 12-Year-Old
ABV: 56.4%
Region: Islay
Cask: From refill American oak casks
Limited quantities worldwide  
RRSP £125

Mortlach 21-Year-Old
ABV: 56.9%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From Pedro Ximenez & Oloroso Sherry seasoned casks
No. bottles available: 7,692
RRSP £575

Pittyvaich 30-Year-Old
ABV: 50.8%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From first fill ex-bourbon casks
No. bottles available: 7,056
RRSP £400

Talisker 8-Year-Old
ABV: 57.9%
Region: Isle of Skye
Cask: From pot-still Caribbean rum casks.
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £90

The Singleton of Dufftown 17-Year-Old
ABV: 55.1%
Region: Highland
Cask: Matured only in refill American oak hogsheads.
Limited quantities worldwide  
RRSP £110

The new Special Release 2019 from Diageo have been annouced

CRAGGANMORE 12 year old
ABV 58.4%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From medium peated, refill American oak casks
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £85

MORTLACH 26 year old
ABV 53.3%
Region: Speyside
Cask: From fresh-toasted first-fill Pedro Ximenez & Oloroso Sherry seasoned casks
No. of bottles: 3,883
RRSP £1,500

CARDHU 14 year old
ABV 55.0%
Region: Speyside
Cask: Double matured in ex-Amontillado hogsheads
No of bottles: 4,860
RRSP £120

DALWHINNIE 30 year old
ABV 54.7%
Region: Highland
Cask: From refill hogsheads and butts
No of bottles: 7,586
RRSP £500

LAGAVULIN 12 year old
ABV 56.5%
Region: Islay
Cask: From refill American oak casks of high peating levels
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £110

PITTYVAICH 29 year old
ABV 51.4%
Region: Speyside
Cask: Double matured in Pedro Ximenez & Oloroso sherry seasoned bodega casks
No of bottles: 4,976
RRP £330

THE SINGLETON OF GLEN ORD 18 year old
ABV 55.0%
Region: Highlands
Cask: From fresh charred American oak hogsheads
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £130

TALISKER 15 year old
ABV 57.3%
Region: Skye
Cask: From freshly charred American oak hogsheads
Limited quantities worldwide
RRSP £110

            BRORA 40-YEAR-OLD: 200TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION

A RARE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY RELEASE FROM VINTAGE STOCKS OF A DISTILLING ICON, SOON TO RETURN

From August, the revered ghost distillery Brora will reveal one of its oldest ever releases, a year ahead of its re-opening. Brora 40-Year-Old is a limited-edition Single Malt bottled to commemorate two centuries in the lifetime of a distilling icon. Drawn from one dozen casks of vintage stocks from 1978, each of the 1,819 bottles, reflecting the year the distillery opened, offers a rare glimpse into a golden era of Brora’s past. 

Nestled on the windswept Sutherland coast in North East Scotland, Brora was founded in 1819. Generations later in 1983, its stills fell silent and the historic distillery was closed, suspended in time.  In the years since, the whisky resting within its final casks, developed an extraordinary rich complexity through further ageing, and scarce releases found the highest acclaim. 

From 2020, Brora’s gates will open after some 36 years of quiet, following meticulous, brick-by-brick restoration currently underway to bring the legendary whisky house back to life. To welcome this new era and celebrate the past craftsmen that made Brora over its 200-year history, comes this new release 40-year-old expression. Diageo Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson has selected just twelve American oak hogshead casks from Brora’s vintage stocks to celebrate a moment of the distillery’s history: The Age of Peat.

Dr Craig Wilson explains: “Of all the stories of Brora, there is one that seemed particularly fitting to tell on its 200th Anniversary. From 1969-83, there was a new experimentation phase in production and the Brora distillers created a smoky malt used heavily-peated Northern Highland barley. Used primarily in blends at the time, the few casks that are left from this Age of Peat, matured remarkably well and what remains is a multi-layered and complex Single Malt of astonishing quality. Little did the craftsmen at the time know, they had created a masterpiece. It is emblematic of the varied past of the distillery that makes it so special to all that know it: a humble story of experimentation, craft and happy coincidence.”

In searching for the casks for this release, Dr Wilson worked alongside the Diageo Archive Team that had unearthed original Brora production records as part of their ongoing work to assist in the distillery restoration.  This allowed the master blender to identify the years at which this now revered smoky style of Brora was at its peak, and following careful nosing of the individual casks, Dr Wilson made his selection: a 1978 40-year-old Single Malt of immense complexity that perfectly reflected this moment of Brora’s past.

Encased in a deep burgundy velvet display case, the bottle is adorned with the Brora emblem of the Scottish Wild Cat – crest of the distillery’s founder, the Duke of Sutherland. This is the first commercial release from Brora since the 2017 Special Releases and will be available starting this month at the suggested retail price of £4,500.

Claxton’s 2019 Spring Release  

Claxton’s is launching the first release of the year - ‘CLAXTON’S 2019 SPRING RELEASE’.  

This new outturn includes five Single Cask, Single Malt Scotch Whiskies hand-picked for their quality, diversity and value.  

Selected in this outturn are the following single cask releases:  

• TOBERMORY 1994 - 24 Years Old, Sherry Butt, 55.3% ABV 
• LOCH LOMOND 2005 (Heavily Peated) - 13 Years Old, Hogshead, 57.5% ABV 
• LONGMORN 2008 - 10 Years Old, Bourbon Barrel, 52.8% ABV 
• MILTONDUFF 2008 - 10 Years Old, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, 55.8% ABV 
• CAOL ILA 2012 - 7 Years Old, Refill Hogshead, 60% ABV 

Claxton’s 2019 Spring Release will be available globally in selected specialist whisky retailers from the end of March. As with all Claxton’s The Single Cask range, each bottling selected is available in limited numbers.

Previous releases have been praised by reviewers and fans across the globe for demonstrating the virtues of single cask whisky.

Claxton’s is a family owned, independent whisky bottling company based in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The Single Cask range of whiskies is available through a select number of specialist outlets in the UK, Europe and the Far East.

An elegant and complex Single Malt Scotch Whisky, expertly married from a selection of ex US-Bourbon and ex European Sherry refill cask. On the nose, it is mild to begin with, with an abundance of fruit. On the palate there is the regular smoke from classic Islay peat, but much softer – the sweet, salty then smoky taste gives a complex yet balanced finish.

Port Ellen distillery was closed over thirty years ago in 1983, set to remain silent for all time. It is now to be reopened in 2021, and while the world waits for it to start production again, only a very finite amount of its original stock remains.

Douglas Laing release their Old Particular 2019 “Elements” Single Cask Collection

Cara Laing, Douglas Laing’s Director of Whisky who selected the Whiskies, comments: “Our cask selection and packaging design pays tribute to the natural elements that contribute so significantly to the production of Scotch Whisky. From oak trees to charred casks, peat and of course water, this specialist Single Cask Collection celebrates the role of the Elements in the Whisky-making cycle.” The Old Particular Single Cask Collection features four Whiskies each paired with one of the Elements – they will be available globally from specialist retailers worldwide. The first release, Craigellachie 12 Years Old “Fire” Edition is at cask strength and is expected to retail at £95.

Kingsbarns Distillery’s Single Malt Takes Flight
New dram celebrates Wemyss family’s Fife whisky dream
 A long held dream to distil fine single malt whisky in the East Neuk of Fife becomes a reality today (24th January) for the founders of Kingsbarns Distillery, as they toast the launch of their first flagship expression: Kingsbarns ‘Dream to Dram’.

Named to mark the Wemyss Family’s vision to bring malt whisky distilling to their Fife home, the new release is a truly local dram, having been slowly crafted with barley harvested exclusively from the golden fields of East Fife.

Dream to Dram is packaged in gentle shades of blue, gold and brown to symbolise the natural elements of the East Neuk, with a pigeon motif representing the historic ‘doocot’ (Scots for dovecot) that sits at the heart of the distillery – a restored farm steading dating back to the 1800s.

Today, owners William and Isabella Wemyss are gathering friends, neighbours and whisky lovers from around the world at the Distillery to celebrate and share a first taste of Dream to Dram as it is shipped global markets.

The Dream
The Wemyss family has lived and worked in Fife for generations and has a longstanding passion for whisky dating back to the 19th Century, continuing to this day with their successful Wemyss Malts range. Their long held dream however was to make fine single malt whisky in Fife. When approached by former professional Kingsbarns Golf Links caddy Douglas Clement in 2010 with the idea of converting the semi derelict B-listed farm steading at Kingsbarns into a new distillery for the ‘home of golf’, their dream began to take shape. After a three year restoration project which carefully retained the building’s ancient features and charm, the distillery was officially opened on St Andrew’s Day 2014, with the first whisky laid down in March 2015.

The Dram
The East Neuk enjoys high levels of sunshine, good soil and not too much rain, which creates the perfect growing conditions for barley. Every drop of Dream to Dram is made from barley harvested in these sun-soaked fields. The addition of pure, rich mineral water drawn from an aquifer 100 metres below the Distillery adds to the local character and light, fruity flavour profile of the whisky.
A long, slow production process in copper pot stills is at the heart of distillation: a 3 – 5 day fermentation period, wash stills that run for 8 hours and a slow running spirit still with high cut points. That will never change and the stills will never run any faster.

Maturation is primarily in high calibre first fill bourbon casks (90%), sourced exclusively from Heaven Hill in Kentucky by Isabella Wemyss, with the remainder maturing in shaved, toasted and re-charred wine casks. All Kingsbarns casks are matured in warehouses not far from the distillery in Fife.

The Taste
The natural elements on Kingsbarns Distillery’s doorstep, combined with superior wood choice and long, slow fermentation give Dream to Dram its remarkably complex and distinctive Lowland character: light, intensely fruity, floral and balanced, with colour and richness coming from the wood. On the nose there is banana, pineapple syrup and summer berries, with a slight herbal note. There is soft toffee, custard pastry and redcurrants on the palate, with a finish of ginger syrup.

Speaking on behalf of the Wemyss family as they celebrate the launch of Dream to Dram today, William Wemyss said: ‘This is an immensely proud day for Kingsbarns Distillery and everyone who has been involved in turning our dream of making whisky in Fife into a reality. Dream to Dram is a wonderful single malt that I think perfectly captures the Lowland style and the character of our East Neuk home in Fife. So much hard work, skill and dedication has gone into crafting our whisky over the past three years so my thanks and congratulations go to everyone at Kingsbarns. We’ll be raising a glass of Dream to Dram tonight to toast what I’m sure will be a most exciting future for our new whisky as we share it with drinkers around the world.’

Dream to Dram is the first generally available single malt whisky from Kingsbarns Distillery. It follows a limited release of the exclusive ‘Founders Reserve’ for members of the Kingsbarns Distillery Founders Club in December 2018.
Dream to Dram is bottled in 70cl at 46%, RRP £44.95. It is available from the Kingsbarns Distillery online shop and at specialist and independent outlets across the UK.

www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com
Twitter @KingsbarnsDist / Instagram @kingsbarnsdist

The Edinburgh Whisky Academy launches an online Introduction to Whisky Certificate

The Edinburgh Whisky Academy, which is fully accredited by the Scottish Qualifi cations Authority (SQA), has launched their fi rst tier of education. The Academy was specifi cally created to fi ll a vital gap in Scotch Whisky education and is slowly developing its course offerings. A further course, The Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky is scheduled to launch in the Spring, more information to come.

The online Introduction to Whisky Certifi cate provides true knowledge and information on the key aspects of Scotch Whisky history and production. It was developed with the close involvement of notable experts within the whisky industry.

Kirsty said, “Until now, there was no recognised independent qualifi cation delivered online for whisky training. Of great importance is that the knowledge gained is totally impartial and neutral from any distillery or brand. The course will be welcomed by whisky industry workers, hospitality staff and spirits retailers and also by whisky enthusiasts keen to expand their knowledge” The Academy invites any industry or hospitality group who wants to use the course for their internal training to contact them directly.

For further information contact Ian McKerrow tel 07809 426771 email ian@edinburghwhiskyacademy.com www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com

THE GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
WHISKY COLLECTION PRE ORDER ANNOUNCEMENT
8 Whiskies, 8 Seasons— Pre-order Now on Amazon UK to toast the final season of Game of
 hrones
WHAT:
Joining White Walker by Johnnie Walker, a limited-edition blend inspired by the most enigmatic and feared characters on Game of Thrones— the White Walkers – comes the arrival of the Games of Thrones Single Malt Whisky Collection. The limited-edition collection is available now to pre-order from Amazon UK. For those that order early, the Games of Thrones Single Malt Whisky Collection will start to land on doorsteps from February 19th. The collection is inspired by the iconic characters and the creative world of Westeros and beyond, and arrive to tide fans over during their wait for the eighth and final season of the show.
WHO:
In celebration of the eighth and final season of the critically-acclaimed TV series, Game of Thrones, DIAGEO and HBO have released a limited-edition collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies celebrating the show. The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection features eight scotches, each paired with one of the iconic Houses of Westeros, as well as the Night’s Watch, giving fans an authentic taste of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection is available now for pre-order on Amazon UK.
To learn more about the collection, visit www.Malts.com and follow the conversation using
#GOTSingleMalts.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Suggested Retail Price:
• Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost; SRP: £48 for 700cl; ABV 43%
• Game of Thrones House Tully – Singleton of Glendullan Select; SRP: £38 for 700cl; ABV 40%
• Game of Thrones House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve; SRP: £48 for 700cl; ABV 40%
• Game of Thrones House Lannister – Lagavulin 9 Year Old; SRP: £65 700cl; ABV 46%
• Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve; SRP: £65 for 700cl; ABV 43%
• Game of Thrones House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve; SRP: £48 for 700cl; ABV 45.8%
• Game of Thrones House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old; SRP: £38 for 700cl; ABV 40%
• Game of Thrones House Tyrell – Clynelish Reserve; SRP: £48 for 700cl; ABV 51.2%

Notes:
House Tully located at Riverrun, rules as the lord of The River lands. The power of water flows
through both House Tully and The Singleton Glendullan Select as it is made on the banks of the River Fiddich in the wooded hills of Dufftown. Here they harnessed the water that flowed
through the land utilizing a water wheel to power the entire distillery.
• Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost
House Stark’s resiliency, strength and ability to thrive under the most intense situations are
greatly shaped by Winterfell’s frigid temperatures. Dalwhinnie, known for being one of the
highest distilleries in all of Scotland, is cold and remote much like The North where House Stark calls home, making the two an iconic pairing. Extreme conditions are responsible for shaping the signature Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost honeyed sweetness and spicy warmth. Naturally, it’s
best served chilled or over ice.
• Game of Thrones House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve
Fueled by the same fiery spirit of the fierce female leadership of Daenerys Targaryen, this single malt celebrates legendary women and their unwavering perseverance. The Cardhu distillery was pioneered by Helen Cumming and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth during the 1800s, a time when the whisky industry was almost entirely male-dominated.
• Game of Thrones House Lannister – Lagavulin 9 Year Old
Lagavulin is one of the most legendary single malt brands and has been crafted on the shores of Islay for more than 200 years – mirroring the meticulous calculation and tenacity employed by the Lannister’s in their rise to conquer the Iron Throne. This single malt whisky is a roaring single malt that recalls the Lannister’s riches and is best served neat or with a single drop of water.
• Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve
The Oban distillery sits beneath the steep cliff that overlooks the bay in the frontier between the west Highlands and the Islands of Scotland, separating land and sea, just as Castle Black, home of The Night’s Watch, sits between Westeros and the lands beyond The Wall. The liquid’s
richness is balanced with a woody, spicy dryness that The Night’s Watch could enjoy even on the coldest of nights.
• Game of Thrones House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve
House Greyjoy rules the Iron Islands and worships the Drowned God. Talisker was a natural pair for House Greyjoy as this single malt is distilled on the shores of the Isle of Skye, one of the most remote and rugged areas of Scotland. The layered flavors and signature maritime character of
Talisker Select Reserve are the result of its wave-battered shores. This liquid is an intense smoky single malt Scotch with spicy, powerful and sweet elements combined with maritime flavors.
• Game of Thrones House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old
Royal lineage drives the iconic pairing between House Baratheon and Royal Lochnagar. Similar to Robert Baratheon ruling the Seven Kingdoms upon the Iron Throne, Royal Lochnagar was
deemed a whisky worthy of a royal family as it was granted a Royal Warrant after Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery in 1848. Balanced with delicate fruits and spices,this taste of royalty is best enjoyed neat.
• Game of Thrones House Tyrell – Clynelish Reserve
House Tyrell of Highgarden rules over the Reach, the lush and fertile region of Westeros. Like the Reach, Clynelish is positioned among green pastures and rolling hills, with scenic views of the North Sea. This vibrant, golden Scotch is light and floral, like House Tyrell, and it’s not to be underestimated with its underlying complex combination of Highland and maritime qualities.
• The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Collection is new. And within the collection, there are six new liquids not including Cardhu Gold Reserve and Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old which are currently sold in the UK.

Discover the best kept secret in Scotch: Mortlach brings bold flavour to Speyside

Speyside distillery, Mortlach, unveils three new bottlings, providing a glimpse into the best kept secret in Scotch. The Single Malt Whiskies will delight flavour seekers, offering a new dimension that eschews the smoke traditionally associated with big-flavoured whisky.

In a region generally known for its smoother, gentler style of whisky, Mortlach’s exceptional flavour bridges the gap between mellow and smoky. The three new bottlings - 12-year-old “Wee Witchie”,16-year-old Distiller’s Dram and 20-year-old Cowie’s Blue Seal - are set to bring the dark side of Speyside to life.

Using a fiendishly complex distillation process unique to Mortlach known as “The Way”, the audacious approach to distillation has remained unchanged since it was invented by distiller’s son Dr Alexander Cowie in 1896. The precise 2.81 distillation process is a closely guarded secret, handed down through generations of Mortlach distillers.

It is this process which creates Mortlach’s distinct and thick character spirit, with dark, complex and rich notes, earning it the nickname, The Beast of Dufftown.

Dr Craig Wilson, Master Blender, said: “These whiskies really stand out in Speyside. For me it’s the way the unique 2.81 process gives you such an intensely complex liquid and character from the minute it comes off the still; it’s like having three distilleries at the one still house. Our job is to hone the character in the right way to give you three well balanced whiskies of unparalleled richness and complexity.”

Mark Brunton, Distillery Manager, said: “It’s an honour to work in a distillery with such a distinct heritage and I love the challenge that comes with it. We worked with our colleagues in maturation to create a diverse range with each at its heart still reflecting the bold distillery flavour. The 16-year-old is a classic Mortlach expression, while the 12-year-old offers a strong distillery character through its use of refill casks. The 20-year-old offers a balance of character and distillery character with active wood.”

Mortlach 12-year-old, 16-year-old and 20-year-old will first launch in Taiwan in autumn, followed by other markets.

Mortlach 12-year-old Wee Witchie

RRSP: £50

ABV: 43.4%

Barrels: European and American oak. Ex sherry & ex bourbon.

In brief: “It’s at its most expressive on the mid-palate where you pick out bitter chocolate, marmalade and light tobacco that’s balanced by a puddle of syrup before it deepens further…”

Mortlach 16-year-old Distiller’s Dram

RRSP: £80

ABV: 43.4%

Barrels: Ex-sherry

In brief: “Dark, full, liquorous, and rounded. As it moves into the back palate, so it starts to dry and pick up in terms of intensity…”

Mortlach 20-year-old Cowie’s Blue Seal

RRSP: £200

ABV: 43.4%

Barrels: Ex-sherry

In brief: “The mature depth seen on the nose comes immediately into focus, but before it goes towards the dark there’s a refreshing lift of aromatic and overripe fruits (quince especially) and a touch of spiciness…”

TALISKER LAUNCHES THE TALISKER BODEGA SERIES: TALISKER 40 YEAR OLD

Talisker unveils a 40-year-old Sherry finished single malt: one of the oldest and most unique expressions to date

Talisker introduces the Talisker Bodega Series: an exploration of exceptional Sherry Cask finishes on the finest of Single Malt Whiskies, celebrating age-old sherry relationships dating as far back as the 1900s. Adding to the Talisker portfolio, this new and exclusive series of Single Malt releases will offer collectors a taste of historic wineries of the renowned Sherry Triangle, where Talisker once sourced its casks.

In late June, the first exclusive release of the Talisker Bodega Series worldwide will be unveiled; Talisker 40 Year Old. With only 2,000 bottles produced, the 40 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is one of the oldest from Skye’s oldest distiller and is set to be one of Talisker’s most valuable expressions to date.

The liquid has been expertly crafted using some of the most renowned sherry casks. This is to reflect an exploration of an age-old relationship rooted in craft and excellence between Talisker and one of the world’s finest and oldest sherry producers, Delgado Zuleta, from the Marco de Jerez region.

To reinterpret the flavour profile of old, and commemorate these relationships, Talisker’s Master Blender has crafted this precious 40 year old liquid using a selection of the most mature and highly prized Vintage Talisker whisky, aged in refill casks. They then worked with the Sherry Masters at Bodega Delgado Zuleta, who hand picked five very special and unusual old ex-Sherry casks that once held the Bodega’s finest award-winning 40 year old Amontillado sherry.

The result is a deep, crystal gold liquid which signifies an echo of the old Talisker, enhanced by the gentle accent of the Amontillado sherry casks, with rich raisin, peaty aromas and a rare sweet opulence and fruity smokiness. On the nose it’s mild and rich, with a light prickle. This is paired with the depth of the rich Delgado Zuleta Amontillado casks which is present in waves of fruit and sweetness enriching the traditional Talisker pepper and yielding a remarkably vigorous 40 year old that is a pleasure to drink.

This golden spirit lies in a screen-printed bottle, and is housed in a hand-crafted wood casing to evoke the many stages of this whisky’s unique history. The design is inspired by the distinguished arches of the sherry Bodegas and architecture of the sundial of Sanlucar de Barrameda where the Delgado Zuleta casks are housed.

Donald Colville, Global Talisker Ambassador comments “This Talisker 40 Year Old, is an exquisite Single Malt Scotch Whisky which captures the age-old relationships with Delgado Zuleta and the high quality craftsmanship which took place throughout the creation of this rare expression. We are delighted to launch this as the first of the Bodega series and the liquid is something that we are extremely proud of.

It is a magnificent lion-hearted old Talisker, rich with the sophistication of age yet still full of life and retaining the make's familiar maritime and spicy character. With only 2,000 bottles produced this is the ultimate expression of luxury. Connoisseurs and collectors will aspire to have a bottle of Talisker 40 Year Old on their shelves, as it is a stunning example of where the warmth of Spain meets the wild of Skye.”

Talisker has combined traditional craft skills with modern maturation techniques to produce this rare and unique Talisker expression that is the epitome of an age-old relationship. This limited edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be a seamless addition to the finest of Whisky collections around the globe.

Talisker 40 Year Old will be available from selected luxury retailers globally from the end of June 2018 onwards.  In the UK (domestic), RRSP of £2,750 per 70cl bottle.

The 2018 Special Releases features eight single malt whiskies, plus a 48-year-old grain whisky.

The Port Ellen and the Brora will be released outside of the Special Release Serie

CARSEBRIDGE 48 year old
ABV 43.2%
Region: Lowlands
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads
No. of bottles: 1,000

CAOL ILA UNPEATED 15 year old
ABV 59.1%
Region: Islay
Cask: Refill & Rejuvenated American Oak
Hogsheads and Ex-Bodega European Oak Butts
Limited quantities worldwide

CAOL ILA 35 year old
ABV 58.1%
Region: Islay
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill
European Oak Butts
No of bottles: 3,276

INCHGOWER 27 year old
ABV 55.3%
Region: Speyside
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads
No of bottles: 8,544

LAGAVULIN 12 year old
ABV 57.8%
Region: Islay
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads
Limited quantities available worldwide

OBAN 21 year old
ABV 57.9%
Region: Highlands
Cask: Refill European Oak Butts
Limited availability worldwide

PITTYVAICH 28 year old
ABV 52.1%
Region: Speyside
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads
No of bottles: 4,680

THE SINGLETON OF GLEN ORD 14 year old
ABV 57.6%
Region: Highlands
Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads and Ex-Bodega
European Oak butts followed by a
unique maturation and marrying process
Limited quantities available worldwide

TALISKER 8 year old
ABV 59.4%
Region: Island
Cask: First fill Ex-Bourbon American Oak
Hogsheads
Limited availability worldwide

MMA 2017- The Results!

Since 1997, the malt maniacs (an international collective of malt whisky enthusiasts) have been enjoying and discussing the pleasures of (single malt) whisky with like-minded whisky lovers from all over the world. Since 2003, we have organised (non stop) our very own annual 'amateur' whisky competition. We like to think that, over the years, our modest little initiative has evolved into one of the leading (and most independent) whisky competitions in the world. You can find more details about our collective and its history on: www.maltmaniacs.net

MMA 2017: The Rules

Our fundamentals are:

• 100% Amateur
• 100% Blind

Awards

In the Malt Maniacs Awards, medals are won on merit, similar to the system that is used by the boy scouts. The winners in specific categories receive awards instead - hence the name of our competition. There are six award categories in three price brackets. We distinguish between these six awards categories:

• Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Overall top scoring whisky out of all Malt Maniacs Awards entries that year)
•  Best Natural Cask Award (Best whisky matured exclusively in 'untreated', regular casks)
• Best Sherry Cask Award (Best whisky matured exclusively in sherry casks)
• Best Peated Malt Award (Best whisky distilled from - relatively - peated malted barley)
• Thumbs Up Award (Most exciting new release in that price category that year)

Every bottle that is entered in our competition can win only one award (as well as only one medal). Apart from the six awards categories listed above, there are three different price brackets –

Daily Drams (the bottles with a retail price of up to 50 Euros), Premium Whiskies (the bottles with a retail price between 50 and 150 Euros) and Ultra Premium Whiskies (the bottles with a retail price of more than 150 Euros).So there are 18 'standard' awards that are assigned each year - provided we can find a suitable candidate.
If we feel that a certain whisky, bottler or distillery deserves special recognition in a particular year, we sometimes add one or more 'special' awards.

And finally, the moment you are waiting for......!!!!

AWARDS –Supreme Winner

Kavalan 2009/2017 'Solist' (58.60%, OB, C#S090306031, Sherry Cask, 481 Bts.)

AWARDS - Ultra Premium Category

> Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Ultra Premium)
Glen Grant 1965 (43.6% Gordon & MacPhail for LMDW, First Fill Sherry Cask, 19 Bts)
………………..

> Best Natural Cask Award (Ultra Premium)
22yo 1993/2015 (52.70%, Chieftain's Choice, C#3612, First Fill Sherry Butt, 579 Bts.)…………………

> Best Sherry Cask Award (Ultra Premium).

Yamazaki 25yo (43%, OB, Sherry)
…………………….
> Best Peated Malt Award (Ultra Premium)
Islay Distillery 25yo (48.7%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

> Thumbs Up Award (Ultra Premium)
Glenfarclas 10yo 2005/2015 (60.9%, OB, C#2424, Sherry Cask, 634 Bts.)
………………

AWARDS - Premium Category

> Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Premium)
Kavalan 'Solist' 2008 (58.6%, OB, C#S081217041, Sherry Cask, 476 Bts.)
…………..
> Best Natural Cask Award (Premium)
Edradour 11yo 2005/2016 (59.1%, OB for Drunken Master Bar, C#90, Sherry cask)
………………..
> Best Sherry Cask Award (Premium)
Kavalan 2009/2017 'Solist' (58.60%, OB, C#S090306024, Sherry Cask, 461 Bts.)
………………..
> Best Peated Malt Award (Premium)
Ledaig 12yo 2005/2017 (61.1%, Cadenhead's for HNWS Taiwan 12th Anniversary)
…………………
> Thumbs Up Award (Premium)
Amrut 2011/2016 (56.50%, OB for Hot Malt, C#4122, PX Sherry Cask, 624 Bts.)
…………………….

AWARDS - Daily Drams Category

> Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Daily Drams)
Elements of Islay 'Peat Full Proof' (59.3%, The Whisky Exchange, NAS)
…………..
> Best Natural Cask Award (Daily Drams)
Wemyss 'Treacle Chest' (46%, Wemyss Family Collection, First Fill Sherry Hogshead, 6300 Bts.)
……………………..
> Best Sherry Cask Award (Daily Drams)
Glenfarclas 105  (60%, OB, Sherry Cask)
……………………
> Best Peated Malt Award (Daily Drams)
Caol Ila 12yo (43%, OB)
………………………
> Thumbs Up Award (Daily Drams)
Laphroaig 10yo (40%, OB)
………………..

Gold Medals (GM)

Gold Medals as you all would agree are the cream of the crop! As mentioned earlier it is not easy to get a GM in MMA and the average GM winners per competition for last 14 years has been only eight!! The maximum of 15 were in the year 2006 with minimum being 3 in the inaugural year, 2003.
So this year we are not far away from our average number, which are:

1.Kavalan 2009/2017 'Solist' (58.60%, OB, C#S090306031, Sherry Cask, 481 Bts.)
2.Kavalan 'Solist' 2008 (58.6%, OB, C#S081217041, Sherry Cask, 476 Bts.)
3.Edradour 11yo 2005/2016 (59.1%, OB for Drunken Master Bar, C#90, Sherry cask)
4.Glen Grant 1965 (43.6% Gordon &MacPhail for LMDW, First Fill Sherry Cask, 19 Bts)
5.Yamazaki 25yo (43%, OB, Sherry)
6.Kavalan 2009/2017 'Solist' (58.60%, OB, C#S090306024, Sherry Cask, 461 Bts.)
7.Ledaig 12yo 2005/2017 (61.1%, Cadenhead's for HNWS Taiwan 12th Anniversary)
8.Kavalan 2009/2016 'Solist' (57.10%, OB, C#S090306012, Sherry Cask, 498 Bts.)
9. Undisclosed 22yo 1993/2015 (52.70%, Chieftain's Choice, C#3612, First Fill Sherry Butt, 579 Bts.)
10. Amrut 2011/2016 (56.50%, OB for Hot Malt, C#4122, PX Sherry Cask, 624 Bts.)
11. Edradour 11yo 2004/2016 (57.6%, OB, C#426, 674 Bts.)
12. Glenlivet 2007 (66.6%, Signatory Vintage for Whisky Live 2017, C#900188, 343 Bts.)
13. Kavalan 2010/2017 'Solist' (59.40%, OB for LMDW C#0100505013A, Port Cask, 196 Bts.)

Final words

The MMA cannot take place without the participating companies submitting their bottles to us. So, a big thank you to them!

The MMA2017 has been a very good year and as the next MMA will be the 15th anniversary of the awards, so malt lovers, expect something special in MMA2018!!

Milk & Honey Distillery – Israel’s first whisky distillery

is launching a second edition of its single malt whisky Experimental Series

After making history on International Whisky Day 2017 with the first single malt whisky in Israel, the Milk & Honey Distillery will launch a second edition of single malt whisky at "Whisky Live 2018 "

After making history in 2017 with the first  ever single malt whisky in Israel, sold at a particularly successful international public auction, Milk & Honey Distillery is launching an exclusive second edition of lightly peated  single charred barrel.

Similar to the first single malt whisky, this cask is also part of the Experimental Series, distilled in the early stages of setting up the distillery – before establishing the distillery in south Tel Aviv and acquiring the current industrial equipment, and before crowd-funding through Indiegogo. This cask was distilled during April 2014.

Distillation of the cask was carried out in a small pot still in a warehouse in the Sharon region by head  distiller Tomer Goren, accompanied by the late Dr. Jim Swan, an international master distiller, in his role as consultant to the distillery at the time. This was a period of experimentation for Dr. Swan and Tomer Goren, using various interesting raw materials, and in this special cask they first experimented with peated malt, which was crafted in house and gave the  distillate light smoky notes.

The liquid was aged and matured over 43 months in two types of barrel – first in a new 225 liter American oak cask, and then, after 28 months, it was transferred to an ex-bourbon cask for the remainder of the period in the distillation warehouse in Tel Aviv, and bottled at the optimal time.

This series is a harbinger of what is to come: a unique Israeli whisky, mature for its age thanks to aging in Israel’s hot climate.

The Milk & Honey Distillery products, including the single malt, are distributed and marketed exclusively by Hacarem Spirits Ltd., and sold at hundreds of points of sale across Israel. The second edition of single malt whisky can be tasted and purchased for the first time at " Whisky Live 2018" event. Afterwards the new single malt will be available at specialized stores around the country.

Tasting impressions

Nose – a delicate maltiness with a hint of lemon in the background, combined with light oak notes and cinnamon, all enveloped in light  peat smoke  appearing in the background.

palate – light-bodied with a malty sweetness, lemon and orange peel notes followed  by a light tang of black pepper and delicate peat smoke. These combine to make a whisky that is both balanced and complex.

Finish – long. Delicate peat dominates the finish, with a hint of maltiness in the background and dark chocolate notes.

General – a balanced and complex whisky. The combination of delicate maltiness and light  peat that creates an interesting whisky that develops as you drink.

Price: Edition 2 Single Malt Whisky 500 ml NIS 449

About the distillery

The Milk & Honey Distillery is the first and largest whisky distillery in Israel. The distillery produces superior spirits, and is working on an Israeli single malt whisky to be marketed commercially, whose first edition, the Founders Edition, sold out in a successful crowd-funding campaign, is aging in barrels and will see the light in 2019. All the raw materials, equipment, barrels, and processes have been chosen with the aim of ensuring that the final product – whether clear spirit or aged whisky – meets the most stringent standards of quality and taste, without making compromises or cutting corners on the long journey to produce the whisky: guidance and advice from the late Jim Swan, a world-renowned master distiller specializing in hot climate aging; specially designed equipment; carefully selected barrels; and the best raw materials available.

The Milk & Honey Distillery

16 HaTehiya St., Tel Aviv – 03-6320491

mh@mh-distillery.com

www.mh-distillery.com/he/visit-our-distillery

nown for its Lowland single malts, the distillery closed in 1993, when previous owner Diageo mothballed the building.

Ian Macleod Distillers, maker of the Glengoyne, Tamdhu and Smokehead Scotch brands, has entered into a binding agreement with Scottish Canals to purchase the site. The company has also acquired the Rosebank trademark, along with the distillery’s existing casks, from Diageo.

The distiller said its plans include a visitor centre to help tell the story of the Lowland single malt.

“Rosebank is one of the most respected and sought after single malts in the world,” said Leonard Russell, managing director of Ian Macleod.

“To bring back to life an iconic distillery and quintessential Lowland single malt is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The history of the Rosebank Distillery dates back to 1840, when James Rankine acquired the maltings of the Camelon Distillery, located on the opposite side of the Forth & Cyde canal to the main distillery.

Russell added: “The distillery has a very special place in Scotland’s whisky heritage and we are committed to ensuring this is the case. We will produce Rosebank Lowland single malt in exactly the same way as it is known, using the famous triple distillation and worm tub condensers. This way we ensure the revival of its classic style and taste.

“Over the coming months we will carefully review Rosebank’s rare stocks with a view to releasing some truly scarce and extraordinary whiskies.”

“We have no doubt that demand for these releases will be exceptionally high.”

The revival follows Diageo’s £35 million (US$46m) investment to revive two cult distilleries, Port Ellen and Brora, also announced this week. Source: https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/

Iconic “lost” distilleries revived in major scotch investment

PORT Ellen and Brora, two of the most revered “lost” distilleries in the global spirits industry, are to be brought back to life in a powerful statement of confidence in the future of Scotch whisky.

The Milk & Honey Distillery - Israel's first whisky distillery
is proud to launch:

Israel's first single malt whisky!

The wait for the first single malt whisky in Israel is over. Gearing up for World Whisky Day, that was marked on May 20, Milk & Honey bottled the first cask in its experimental series, an integral component of the formulation of the final product, now in production at the distillery. On May 20 - World Whisky Day, the first Israeli whisky was launched, and the initial sales of the distillery's first 391 bottles of single malt whisky will go on sale later in June.

Milk & Honey - Israel's first whisky distillery is chalking up another achievement, with the announcement of the hotly anticipated sale of Israel’s first single malt whisky. On World Whisky Day, which marked on May 20 2017, the whisky will be launched and towards mid-June a sales event with 391 bottles from the first cask of the distillery's "Experimental Series" will be held at Milk & Honey Distillery and at selected stores throughout the country.

Israel's first single malt whisky by The Milk & Honey Distillery is the first whisky to be produced and bottled in Israel after being aged in cask for minimum three years. It therefore complies with the definition of whisky in Scotland and most countries around the globe. It is the harbinger of what is yet to come - special Israeli whisky that is well mature, thanks to the warm Israeli climate.

The distillation of  this historical whisky began at the distillery's early stages - even before it was established at its current location in south Tel Aviv, before the current industrial equipment was purchased, and before the successful crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. The barrel was distilled in January 2014 in a warehouse in the Northern Sharon region  , by Head Distiller Tomer Goren, together with internationally renowned master distiller, the late Dr. Jim Swan, as part of his role as consultant to the distillery at the time.

The liquid was aged for 31 months in a 225-liter virgin American oak cask and then for another seven months in an ex-bourbon cask matured at the distillery's cask room in Tel Aviv.

The first bottles of Israeli single malt whisky will go on sale to the public in June, distributed by Hacarem at select stores nationwide.
Sales of the first bottles in the special edition (numbers 1-100) will begin on July 7, 2017 for 10 days through a special international online auction.

About the distillery

The Milk & Honey Distillery is Israel's first whisky distillery. It produces high-quality distillates and is working on Israeli single malt whisky that will be sold commercially. The first edition, the founders' edition, was sold entirely through a successful crowd funding campaign and is currently aging in barrels. It will be launched in 2019. All of the raw materials, equipment, barrels and processes were selected to ensure that the final product - white distillates or aged whisky - meets the strictest and most uncompromising standards of quality and flavor, without any shortcuts on the lengthy journey until the whisky is rolled out: training and consulting by the late Jim Swan - world-renowned master distiller, who specialized in maturation in warm climates; equipment that was custom designed and ordered; fastidiously selected barrels, and selection of the finest raw materials available.

The Milk & Honey Distillery

16  HaThiya St., Tel Aviv, +972 (0) 363 20491

mh@mh-distillery.com
www.mh-distillery.com

BLAIR ATHOL™ 23 year old

Distilled 1993 ABV 58.4%

Region: Highlands

Cask: Ex-Bodega European Oak Butts

No of bottles: 5,514

BRORA™ 34 year old

Distilled: 1982 ABV 51.9%

Region: Coastal Highlands 

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads

No of bottles: 3,000

CAOL ILA™ 18 year old

ABV 59.8%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads

Limited quantities available worldwide 

CONVALMORE™ 32 year old

Distilled: 1984 ABV 48.2%

Region: Speyside

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads

No of bottles: 3,972

GLEN ELGIN™ 18 year old

Distilled: 1998 ABV 54.8%

Region: Speyside

Cask: Ex-Bodega European Oak Butts

No of bottles: 5,352

LAGAVULIN™ 12 year old

ABV 56.5%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads

Limited quantities available worldwide 

PORT DUNDAS™ 52 year old

Distilled: 1964 ABV 44.6% 

Region: Lowlands

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads

No of bottles: 752

PORT ELLEN™ 37 year old

Distilled: 1979 ABV 51%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill American Oak Butts

No of bottles: 2,988

TEANINICH™ 17 year old

Distilled: 1999 ABV: 55.9%

Region: Coastal Highlands 

Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill American Oak Barrels

Limited quantities available worldwide