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Archives for November 2014

Ballantine’s Launches Its 2014 Christmas Reserve Limited Edition!

November 27, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Ballantine's Reserve - The Taste of Christmas

Ballantine’s Reserve – The Taste of Christmas

Ballantine’s has launched its 2014 Christmas Reserve Limited Edition. Together with a marketing campaign entitled, ‘The Taste of Christmas’, it aims to maximise awareness and create demand by educating customers and engaging them with the festive drink.

First launched in 2010, the fifth edition of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is today available in 20 countries worldwide.

‘The Taste of Christmas’ campaign communicates the expression’s signature festive characteristics and captures the sensory experience of its seven tasting notes – ginger, moist raisin fruitcake, ripe pears, sweet candy apples, caramel toffee, tangy orange and liquorish root.

The print and digital advertising, for use across both on and off trade, features illustrations of the tasting notes. A Facebook and iPad App, ‘Discover Your Taste of Christmas,’ has also been developed, allowing fans to select their preferred tastes and Christmas elements which then results in a recommendation of the ideal Christmas Reserve serve for them.

A hugely popular signature cocktail, ‘The Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve Cinnamon Sleigh’, has also been developed to match the seasonal tasting profile of the expression. First created in 2013, the winter cocktail is served warm and uses cinnamon to underline the blend’s fruity depths.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, said: “We are delighted with the global sales success of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve, which has more than doubled in growth since its 2010 launch.

“Our esteemed Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, created this blend to naturally exude the spirit and taste of Christmas, resulting in a delicious drink for our fans around the world to enjoy – or gift for someone else to enjoy – during the 2014 festive season, and which stays true to both our Scottish heritage and quality values.”

About Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve

Different from other whiskies and inspired by Christmas, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is a blend of subtle details, aromas and tasting notes exclusive to this period: sweet candy apples, ripe pears, caramel toffee, tangy orange…it’s not just one of them, but the sum of them – together, their express its spirit.

Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is also soft, sweet, round and smooth – all signature characteristics of Ballantine’s. The malts and grains have been expertly selected for their sweet, fruity flavours, creating a unique blend that makes Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve the perfect drink to celebrate Christmas.

Tasting Notes

Colour: The deep, dark colour reflects the complex toffee flavours that make the blend so sumptuous and perfect for Christmas indulgence.

Nose: Rich, full and fruity with the flavours of luxurious moist raisin fruitcake and sweet candy apples. Perfectly balanced with caramel toffee and soft ripe pears.

Palate: Deliciously sweet, with notes of succulent tangy orange. Bursting with fruit and finishing with superb hints of liquorice root and ginger.

Finish: Long, round and honeyed.

Filed Under: Ballantines, Christmas, News

Edencroft New Arrival: Ancnoc / 18 Year Old Single Malt!

November 26, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Edencroft has a special New addition to it’s range this week with this 18 year old AnCnoc whisky.

Supplier Brand Bottle
Size
Price
Edencroft
Ancnoc / 18 Year Old Single Malt

Ancnoc / 18 Year Old Single Malt
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 18 Year Old   Strength: 46%
Summary: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.  As a result this dram may develop a light haze with the addition of water or if kept at a cold temperature. This haze is a natural characteristic of whisky that is non chill-filtered.
Colour: Bronzed amber.
Nose: Gentle spices and intense sweetness of dried fruits are topped with chocolate, ripe oranges and oiled leather.
Taste: Full-bodied and bold, aromatic spices, fruit loaf and candied lemon are followed by a surge of vanilla, honey and caramel. The finish transforms from peppery and hot to deliciously sweet and smooth.

£ 70.00  BUY NOW

Filed Under: 18 Year Old, An Cnoc, Edencroft Spirit Specialists, New Arrivals, Speyside

Maverick Drinks named IWSC Spirits Distributor of the Year!

November 25, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Maverick Drinks is absolutely thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the Trophy for Spirits Distributor of the Year 2014 by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Established in 2013, Maverick Drinks had a simple goal: To scour the globe for the very best craft and artisan products and make them available for all in the UK to enjoy.

Starting from nothing, it’s extraordinary success in creating a new market for craft spirits and unique gift ideas has now been recognised by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition, who awarded Maverick Drinks the 2014 Trophy for Spirits Distributor of the Year ahead of some impressive and very well-established competition.

For a new distributor that represents a number of smaller brands and truly innovative products to win one of the highest accolades in the drinks industry is nothing short of incredible. Michael Vachon, Head of Brand Development at Maverick Drinks said: “More and more consumers are choosing products with provenance, authenticity and craftsmanship they admire, and Maverick Drinks continues to pioneer bringing these types of products to market whilst championing the craft distilling movement.”


Maverick Drinks represents some astonishing brands, from the award-winning Bathtub Gin by Professor Cornelius Ampleforth, to several trailblazing spirits brands from the USA (Balcones Distilling, FEW Spirits, New York Distilling Company, Smooth Ambler Spirits, and St. George Spirits) as well as three inspirational European brands (Filliers, Spirit of Hven, and Vestal Vodka).

Each brings something genuinely unique and refreshing to a UK market dominated by mainstream brands. Maverick Drinks also distributes Drinks by the Dram’s unique selection of spirits-filled Christmas Crackers and Advent Calendars.

Filed Under: Awards, Maverick Drinks, News

‘Ballantine’s Live’: A Unique Digital Campaign For Whisky Drinkers!

November 24, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

‘Ballantine’s Live’: Catch Up - Celebration

‘Ballantine’s Live’: Catch Up – Celebration

Ballantine’s, the No.1 whisky in Europe, has launched ‘Ballantine’s Live’: a unique social experiment that explores how the world is drinking whisky through the data generated on social media platforms. The campaign seeks to engage with fans of Ballantine’s Finest, driving awareness and education of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old, and encouraging trial of the super-premium spirit.

Using the data generated by hashtags, images, filters, time of day and locations used by fans to share their whisky occasions online, Ballantine’s will be able to then define whether the posts are typical of either a Ballantine’s Finest or 12 Year Old occasion. This information will then be published on Ballantineslive.com, which will feature the most talked about Finest and 12 Year Old occasions on Twitter, the most ‘checked-in’ bars where people are enjoying their Ballantine’s via Foursquare, and the most popular filters used on Instagram for people sharing their Ballantine’s consumption moment.

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, said: “We are excited to launch a new and innovative campaign that will educate Ballantine’s Finest drinkers about the qualities of our 12 Year Old expression in a way that is both interesting and engaging. Ballantineslive.com will explore how internet users are drinking whisky in real time, while inspiring young adults to embark on an explorative journey of our award-winning Ballantine’s range.”

2014 has marked a strong period of successful and innovative initiatives for Ballantine’s, which has seen the brand launch its ground-breaking online Ballantine’s Golf Club, partner with popular music channel Boiler Room, challenge entrepreneurial bartenders to present their own vision for a dream bar and generate global support for the creation of the world’s first whisky emoji.

Visit Ballantineslive.com to be part of Ballantine’s social experiment.

Filed Under: Ballantines, ballantineslive.com, News, Stay True

Abbey Whisky: New Arrivals & De-frosters For The Soul!

November 24, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Supplier Brand Bottle
Size
Price
Abbey Whisky
Blair Athol Batch 1

Blair Athol Batch 1
Country: Scotland   Region: Highland
Age:    Strength: 48.9%
50cl £ 75.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Bruichladdich Black Art 4 / 23 Year Old

Bruichladdich Black Art 4 / 23 Year Old
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age: 23 Years Old   Strength: 49.2%
Vintage: 1990   Bottler: Bruichladdich
70cl £ 179.80  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2007

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2007
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 50%
Vintage: 2007   Bottler: Bruichladdich
70cl £ 44.40  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Bruichladdich Valinch / The Guitar Man

Bruichladdich Valinch / The Guitar Man
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age: 18 Years Old   Strength: 50.2%
Vintage: 1992   Bottler: Distillery Bottling
50cl £ 148.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Caol Ila 1996 / 17 Year Old / SMWS 53.202

Caol Ila 1996 / 17 Year Old / SMWS 53.202
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age: 17 Years Old   Strength: 56.4%
Vintage: 1996   Bottler: SMWS
70cl £ 98.40  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Clynelish 2004 / 9 Year Old / SMWS 26.100

Clynelish 2004 / 9 Year Old / SMWS 26.100
Country: Scotland   Region: Highland
Age: 9 Years Old   Strength: 56.5%
Vintage: 2004   Bottler: SMWS
70cl £ 79.80  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Glenfarclas 1984 / 1995 / SMWS 1.65

Glenfarclas 1984 / 1995 / SMWS 1.65
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 10 Years Old   Strength: 57.9%
Vintage: 1984   Bottler: SMWS
70cl £ 252.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Glenfarclas 1986 / 27 Year Old / SMWS 1.179

Glenfarclas 1986 / 27 Year Old / SMWS 1.179
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 27 Years Old   Strength: 47.2%
Vintage: 1986   Bottler: SMWS
70cl £ 186.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Hanyu 2000 - Ichiros Malt / Whisky Talk 2012

Hanyu 2000 – Ichiros Malt / Whisky Talk 2012
Country: Japan   Region: Japanese
Age:    Strength: 60.1%
Vintage: 2000   Bottler: Hanyu
70cl £ 378.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Highland Park Dark Origins

Highland Park Dark Origins
Country: Scotland   Region: Islands
Age:    Strength: 46.8%
70cl £ 65.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Macallan 1994 Speymalt

Macallan 1994 Speymalt
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 43%
Vintage: 1994   Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
70cl £ 64.25  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Mortlach 1995 / 18 Year Old / SMWS 76.115

Mortlach 1995 / 18 Year Old / SMWS 76.115
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 18 Years Old   Strength: 56.5%
Vintage: 1995   Bottler: SMWS
70cl £ 132.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 / Heavily Peated

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 / Heavily Peated
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 50%
Vintage: 2008   Bottler: Bruichladdich
70cl £ 54.90  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Springbank 12 Year Old Green / Bourbon Cask

Springbank 12 Year Old Green / Bourbon Cask
Country: Scotland   Region: Campeltown
Age: 12 Years Old   Strength: 46%
70cl £ 58.94  BUY NOW

Filed Under: Abbey Whisky, New Arrivals

Ballantine’s Tweet Tasting: Five Classic Blends To ‘Stay True’ Too!

November 21, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Stay True To Ballantine's Whisky Range

Stay True To Ballantine’s Whisky Range

Wednesday nights Tweet Tasting, which was once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire, gave us the opportunity to sample one of the worlds powerhouse whisky blends in terms of global sales and awareness.

I’m talking, of course, about Ballantine’s which is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No. 2 Scotch whisky in the world with their range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide.

Winners of more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years, Ballantine’s is known for its outstanding quality, unique richness of character and perfect balance.

The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, continuing the brand’s tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

We were particularly honoured to have Sandy tasting along with us tweeters on the night which makes a special event even more special – after all, it’s always great to get the facts straight from the Head Drammers mouth!

Their was a fantastic selection of five whiskies being sampled on the night and they were:-

  • Ballantines Finest
  • Ballantines 12 Year Old
  • Ballantines 17 Year Old
  • Ballantines 21 Year Old
  • Ballantines 30 Year Old

If you want to catch up on what all the tasters had to say, you can view the tweets by searching for the hash tag #BallantinesTT on Twitter.

So, what did I think?

Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!

Tasting Notes – Ballantines Finest ( 40% )

Ballantine’s Finest is the oldest recipe in the current range, created in 1910 by the Ballantine’s family.

There are more than 40 malts & grains in this blend (with particular emphasis on Miltonduff and Glenburgie), carefully selected from 4 different iconic Scottish regions and matured in American Oak Barrels.

Ballantines Finest was Jim Murray’s No Age Statement Blend of the Year with a whopping 96 points!


Nose: Sweet vanilla & toffee – fruity and slightly woody with a bit of yummy spice!

Palate: Sweet fruits & honey with vanilla! Apples and a little grapefruit.

Finish: Warming and spicy with a long caramel backtaste.

Overall: A really nice blended whisky this, made even more remarkable by the retail price – amazing value for money!

Tasting Notes – Ballantines 12 Year Old ( 40% )

Ballantines 12 Year Old has won 26 medals in the world’s top spirits awards over the last 10 years.

The signature malts within the blend are Glenburgie & Miltonduff and the malt and grain whiskies used to create this 12YO are predominantly aged in American oak casks.


Nose: Subtle nose – vanilla & promises of something sweet … maybe icing sugar. Apple and oakyness come thru a little later but you have to be patient!

Palate: Sweet pear and creamy toffee, quite thin and light in the mouth.

Finish: A short finish with a nice spice and vanilla combination going well together.

Overall: Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop said this was his favourite blend of the range and I can see why – fantastic, all round flavours at an incredible price!

Tasting Notes – Ballantines 17 Year Old ( 43% )

This was Jim Murray’s Scotch Blend of the Year for 2010!

Every cask of Ballantine’s 17 is nosed before it’s emptied to be blended. Nothing is left to chance.


Nose: Faintly smokey with a lovely fruit hit!

Palate: Powerfully sweet with hints of stewed fruit – very smooth & luxurious – creamy even.

Finish: Tempered ginger spice, slight tanin – maximum yummy! 🙂

Overall: The stronger smoke adds something very special to the 17YO. Coupled with the smooth sweetness and you’ve got a very drinkable dram!

Tasting Notes – Ballantines 21 Year Old ( 40% )

The 21 Year Old has a higher proportion of whiskies matured in European oak casks compared to the rest of the range.


Nose: Rich, with a stronger woodiness to it – sweet n’ fruity with little whiffs of smoke.

Palate: Generous mouth feel, caramelised fruits, salty and a delicate taste of liquorice – lovely!

Finish: Satisfyingly long spicy finish with a gorgeous sweet n’ peppery finale!

Overall: The 21YO is a robust dram that’s got some serious Oomph! Very sure of itself and it has every right to be – it delivers!

Tasting Notes – Ballantines 30 Year Old ( 43% )

The very first batch of the Ballantine’s 30 was sold in 1930, so the stock was first laid down in 1900.

It won a Gold at the International Spirits Challenge and Jim Murray gave it 92 points.

Some of the whiskies are incredibly rare, from distilleries that are no longer in existence, Dalmunach and Dumbarton being two of them.

When asked to sum the 30YO up in five words, Sandy replied: “Fruity. Sweet. Voluptuous. Velvety. Balanced. That’s my taste of Ballantine’s 30yr old.”

He also added that for every Ballantine’s 30 yr old they sell, they lose 2 bottles to the angels. Eeek!


Nose: Fantastic pear – I can almost feel the grainy pear-ness! Mint, vanilla, banana, spice – all sorts of mature goodiness! A little bit of woodyness is in there as well.

Palate: Smooth, so smooth. Lovely sumptuous flavours of apricot & mango! Rich, sherry sweetness.

Finish: Smooth, mature, fruity sweetness and tempered spiciness that goes on and on in a glorious fashion!

Overall: A big hit wth the tweeters on the night and it’s not surprising – this is an exceptional dram that really shows the breadth of maturity that this fine blended whisky range can attain.

My Favourite On The Night

Well that has to be the Ballantines 30 Year Old – a standard defining blended whisky with a superior taste!

I was also well impressed with the 17YO – especially if the wallet is complaining – which it usually is!

Last, but certainly not least, I shall certainly be adding the 12YO to my drinks cabinet – a lovely ‘daily’ dram – and at such a fantastic price point!

Many thanks to The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire) for a great dram evening and the team at Richmond Towers (@DrinksPRAgency) for sending the samples!

And of course, @Ballantines, without whom!

My fellow Tweeters were:-

@TheWhiskyWire @EdinburghWhisky @TheWhiskyBoys @WhiskyWardrobe @Girl_Whisky @DrinksEnthusist @LRWhisky @TonyWTC @Whisky_Magazine @whiskyjunkie @OliverKlimek @champdenwhite @MCRWhiskyClub @Whisky_Belfast @SWWIG @WhiskyCorner @ben_cops @winepaper_fr @Thibaut_Octave @luxsure

Ballantines is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

  • The Whisky Exchange
  • Master of Malt
  • Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
  • Abbey Whisky
  • Whisky Online
  • The Whisky Barrel
  • The Green Welly Stop

Filed Under: 12 year old, 17 Year Old, 21 Year Old, 30 Year Old, Ballantines, The Whisky Wire, Twitter Tasting, Whisky tasting

The Glenlivet: ‘It All Comes Back To The Original’

November 20, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Glenlivets new global campaign

The Glenlivets new global campaign

The Glenlivet, the single malt that started it all, has announced the launch of its new global communications campaign: ‘It All Comes Back To The Original’.

The campaign, which is rolling out around the world, aims to capture and celebrate The Glenlivet’s spirit of originality, communicating its role as a single malt with a style to which others can only aspire and encouraging the same originality from its fans.

Developed to engage directly with discerning men in emerging, developing and mature malt markets, the campaign assets include a film for TV and online usage, print, out of home and digital banners. Following a successful launch in the US last month, spearheaded by the TV Commercial, the campaign is now rolling out globally.

The creative features inspiring words that relate to The Glenlivet’s reputation for setting the quality, craft and style benchmarks of the Speyside region. These words are presented in a bold, confident style and, in each creative, a word with the opposite meaning is then further shown as a shadowed reflection.

Furthermore, the look and feel of the headline words in the print, out of home and banner advertisements are inspired by authentic distillery materials such as copper, oak and steel.

The campaign film is shot with a balance of tradition and heritage with contemporary imagery, and depicts the comparative sets of words against the renowned Speyside landscape and the bustling distillery during the production process, reinforcing the premium and craft credentials of the range.

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director for The Glenlivet, said: “2014 has been a landmark year for The Glenlivet – a result of consistent innovation, the buoyant global malt market and our on-going commitment to setting the quality benchmark for Speyside.

“We expect the market’s dynamism to remain and, with this new global advertising campaign, we are confident that we will engage and inspire consumers with the core values of The Glenlivet. In speaking directly to discerning men and conveying The Glenlivet’s crafted quality and originality, we hope to engage with them as they seek to be originals in their own lives too.”

The campaign video can also be seen here.

Filed Under: Glenlivet, News, The Glenlivet

A taste of Kentucky in Edinburgh: The Maker’s Mark Treasure Trove Cocktail Nights!

November 20, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Tim Pryde from The Voodoo Rooms

Tim Pryde from The Voodoo Rooms

Discerning drinkers of Edinburgh will have the chance to taste The Hanakotoba Punch, a unique cocktail serve cooked up by Tim Pryde from The Voodoo Rooms, winner of the Maker’s Mark Bartender Trove cocktail competition.

Premium bourbon Maker’s Mark has collaborated with competition winner Tim Pryde to give bourbon fans the chance to experience his creative cocktail The Hanakotoba Punch for two weeks only.

On selected nights between 24th November and 4th December, cocktail lovers will immerse themselves in the world of handcrafted bourbon, Maker’s Mark.
They will be able to discover, nested in a Treasure Trove, all the ingredients that compose the Japanese-inspired serve which is made using Umeshu liqueur and hibiscus blossom cordial. They will also have the opportunity to chat to the experienced bartender and his team, who are renowned for their quirky and inventive mixology skills, and discover more about his inspiration and the story behind the drink.

The Maker’s Mark Bartender Trove, which was launched in 2013, inspired a first-of-its-kind collection of bar wares and prized treasures from across the UK bartending scene. The competition reflected the precise craftsmanship of Maker’s Mark, from the hands-on 19 barrel production process to the inclusion of red winter wheat, which results in a smoother bourbon.
Maxxium UK’s Mixxit Manager, Amanda Humphrey says: “The Maker’s Mark Bartender Trove provided the perfect platform to inspire bartenders to get creative with this iconic and coveted bourbon. The competition challenged them to think on their feet, incorporating unusual and precious ingredients while keeping Maker’s Mark at the heart of their creations and we’re delighted that Bourbon lovers in Edinburgh will be able to discover this unique Bourbon”

In addition, consumers ordering the serve will be invited to tweet a picture of the cocktail using #makersmarktrove to be in with a chance to win an exclusive set of Maker’s Mark gifts.

The Maker’s Mark Treasure Trove cocktail nights will take place on Monday 24 November – Thursday 27 November and Monday 1 December – Thursday 4 December at The Voodoo Rooms, 19a W Register St, Edinburgh EH2 2AA

Filed Under: Makers Mark, News

Royal Salute 21 Year Old Unveils New Packaging

November 19, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Royal Salute 21 YO ruby

Royal Salute 21 YO ruby

Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky has unveiled a contemporary new look for its 21 Year Old expression reinforcing its position as a modern, luxury product of hand crafted quality.

Royal Salute seeks out the most precious materials to craft its blend – from perfectly matured single malt whiskies to the porcelain flagons in which it is presented. Robust, durable and strong, the opaque body of the flagon acts as a powerful guardian to the precious liquid. Crafted over five days from Cornish clay in Great Britain, Royal Salute’s high quality is further reinforced by the new artistic decoration on its cap that includes a guilloché pattern, while the label emphasises the brand’s legacy, which dates back to 1953 when Royal Salute was launched in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation.

Elaborate engraving of a lion and cannon smoke on the bottle retain Royal Salute’s rich heritage as a powerful and sophisticated prestige Scotch whisky, with the expression being named after the traditional 21 Gun Salute. In 2012, the brand became the first ever to be officially associated with the Royal Gun Salutes at the Tower of London, further celebrating the brand’s celebration of royalty, a tradition that continues today.

Royal Salute 21 Year Old’s new bottle reflects the power and grace of Master Distiller Colin Scott’s craftsmanship. Colin Scott maintains consistent high quality throughout the production process, selecting rare and prized malt and grain whiskies laid down over 21 years ago for the final blend, which he describes as both subtle and strong, like “an iron fist in a velvet glove.”

Global Brand Director for Royal Salute, Neil Macdonald says: “There is a tremendous opportunity for Royal Salute to become a true and legitimate luxury brand. We have powerful credentials with our sumptuous whisky which has always used whiskies aged at least 21 years of age Now the new design complements with a modern look for our iconic 21 Year Old expression that alludes to the power and grace of our range. Royal Salute is steeped in royalty and history and this new contemporary packaging helps us bring the legacy of our crafted whisky to life. We are proud to present a bottle that today’s whisky connoisseurs, collectors and discerning drinkers alike will appreciate.”

Colin Scott, Master Blender for Royal Salute, continues: “21 years is an age necessary to capture the power and grace that defines this unique blend’s style. The new packaging enhances the exclusive Royal Salute experience.”

The new Royal Salute 21 Year Old flagon will remain available in three colours, including sapphire, ruby, and emerald complemented by a matching velvet pouch.

Filed Under: 21 Year Old, Chivas, News, Royal Salute

Edencroft: Invergordon, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Lagavulin & Talisker New Classic Malts!

November 18, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Bruichladdich / Octomore 063/ 258 Ppm Islay Barley 2009

Bruichladdich / Octomore 063/ 258 Ppm Islay Barley 2009

Supplier Brand Bottle
Size
Price
Edencroft
Invergordon Single Grain Whisky 25 Year Old / Hunter Laing Sovereign

Invergordon Single Grain Whisky 25 Year Old / Hunter Laing Sovereign
Country: Scotland   Region: Lowland
Age: 25 Year Old   Strength: 58.1%
Vintage: 1988   Bottler: 
Summary: The Hunter Laing Sovereign Single Grain bottlings are increasingly becoming firm favourites with Whisky enthusiasts around the globe.
Hunter Laing select only the finest casks which have been lying untouched in cold, dark and damp Scottish warehouses for many decades.
Typically their aged Single Grain whiskies have a deliciously sweet and distinctly fruity character as a result of many years in the finest oak casks during maturation.
Nose: rich with spiced sultana and butterscotch concentrate;
Taste: fabulous delivery: arrives silky and soft and immediately explodes into an unbelievable couldron on spices and fruit;
Finish: more mooerish magnificence on a vague fruit and rape seed honey theme;
Balance: ignore the fact this is grain and not malt, just grab yourself a bottle of something rather beautiful.
© Tasting Notes from Jim Murray's 2015 Whisky Bible.

70cl £ 85.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Strathclyde Single Grain Whisky 36 Year Old / Hunter Laing Sovereign

Strathclyde Single Grain Whisky 36 Year Old / Hunter Laing Sovereign
Country: Scotland   Region: Lowland
Age: 36 Year Old   Strength: 58.1%
Vintage: 1977   Bottler: 
Summary: The Hunter Laing Sovereign Single Grain bottlings are increasingly becoming firm favourites with Whisky enthusiasts around the globe.
Hunter Laing select only the finest casks which have been lying untouched in cold, dark and damp Scottish warehouses for many decades.
Typically their aged Single Grain whiskies have a deliciously sweet and distinctly fruity character as a result of many years in the finest oak casks during maturation.
Nose: just about enough thickening grain – and alcohol to make this into a whisky. Otherwise the nose is pure cream oloroso, of the fruitiest variety possible;
Taste: the delivery is one mouth coating homage to the gods of sherry, slightly sticky, gently sweetened and dripping in sharp grape and emboldened by a vague but busy spiciness. And so it continues…;
Finish: the finish is all about offering balance as the grape at last punches itself out. The oak come into its own now, a kind of spiced Cadbury’s fruit and nut candy bar;
Balance: those who fell in love with Marcallan all those years back because of its faultlessly silky sherry influence are about to have their hears won again. It’ll be love at first flight…
© Tasting Notes from Jim Murray's 2015 Whisky Bible.

70cl £ 99.50  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Bruichladdich / Port-charlotte Islay Barley 2008

Bruichladdich / Port-charlotte Islay Barley 2008
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 50%
Summary: PORT CHARLOTTE ISLAY BARLEY REPRESENTS A MILESTONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, PERHAPS IN THE ISLAND’S HISTORY, A HEAVILY-PEATED SINGLE MALT HAS BEEN DISTILLED USING ISLAY-GROWN BARLEY.
The wind-driven rain that lashes Islay's fields, and the Atlantic air breathed by the casks as they mature by the shores of Loch Indaal, gives the whisky its signature salty, citrus tang.
Harvested in Sepetember 2008 from the farms at Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside, Starchmill & Sunderland, peated to 40 PPM, then distilled in December of the same year, this is a whisky of flawless provenance. A true Ileach.
Character: Absolutely flawless construction and balance. Young, confident, zesty and absolutely delightful, the texture is smooth, succulent and stimulating.
Colour: Gilded lily.
Nose: Totally disarming considering the age of the spirit. It opens with bracken and bluebells, then the warm crisp peat-dried barley with the smokiness drifting sensuously from the glass shadowed by a salt sea breeze. The brilliant aroma of toasted oak sugars combines with the succulent soft fruits from slow distillation. You will find guava, papaya and kiwi with a squeeze of lemon. It’s feisty, it’s fresh, it’s smoky, sweet, minty and marine.
Palate: The warmth of the spirit is impressive, not aggressive. It’s incredible. You have the dryness of the peat smoke together with soft fruits splashed with sea spray, all held in a crunchy basket of caramelised wood sugars sprinkled with lemon and pepper. It is a rare and special experience to taste a spirit that is 100% Islay, but also shining through is the artisanal skill of our distillers who, using the original Victorian equipment, are creating the most exciting single malts in the world today.
Finish: Parting from a special one is never easy, especially when you have enjoyed their company, lingering with every drop in the glass. Kick back and relax – the aromatics and flavours will stay with you for some time.
Mood: Enjoy your spiritual visit to Islay, this magical rock in the Atlantic Ocean where our single malts sleep to the sound of the sea.

£ 55.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Bruichladdich / Octomore 063/ 258 Ppm Islay Barley 2009

Bruichladdich / Octomore 063/ 258 Ppm Islay Barley 2009
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 64%
Summary: FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE ARE PROUD TO RELEASE OCTOMORE WHISKY DISTILLED FROM 100% ISLAY BARLEY AND HARVESTED IN 2008 BY FARMER JAMES BROWN AT LORGBA, A SINGLE FIELD ON HIS OCTOMORE FARM.
Peated to a stratospheric 258ppm, the highest ever released in the industry, this extraordinary dram embodies its island origins and carries its phenol count with an effortless grace.
High on the hill above Loch Indaal, Octomore faces the rage of Atlantic weather systems and once housed its own farm distillery, most likely producing a very heavily peated spirit from home-grown barley.
In homage to its origins, this is Octomore of Octomore.
Character: Mesmerising in its potency – with perfect balance. The texture is like warm honey, the taste rich with a depth of character that can only be found on Islay.
Colour: Autumn sunshine – citrine.
Nose: It opens with the call of the sea, the thundering west coast waves driving a gentle mist onto the moorland and tempting the wild plants to release their unique aromas. Notes of myrtle, meadowsweet, mint and heather flowers drift across the nose. Wild thyme and red clover dance in perfect harmony with the strong uplifting peatiness of the Islay grown barley. It’s exhilarating, and seriously dramatic.
Palate: When the heat of the peat fires cool there is a spontaneous detonation of soft red grapes, cherries, Russian toffee, bitter chocolate, maple syrup and mellow oak. It is a taste like no other, a whisky cut loose, unhindered, unchanged. This is sorcery.
Finish: Long and strong, it warms the soul and lifts the heart. It evokes memories of those early years when the sweat of men instilled the spirit with a unique character. Join us as we look to the past, celebrating our Islay DNA while journeying into the future in a never-ending quest for the rainbow’s end.
Mood: The flavours just keep evolving to the point where it is driving you crazy with joy and you just want to tell the world what is happening. Relax and keep it to yourself – it’s not for sharing and when the glass is empty you will feel like the ultimate warrior.

£ 145.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
 Caol Ila / Distillers Edition

Caol Ila / Distillers Edition
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 43%
Summary: Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine.
This extraordinarily stylish and complex expression of Caol Ila has been double-matured in carefully selected Moscatel casks. The wood is not over-evident and instead balances perfectly with this richly flavoured single malt.
Appearance: Clear gold.
Nose: Wonderfully concentrated pure, clean Caol Ila – peaty and medicinal, with rich fruit, spicy and fragrant. With water, the fragrant smokiness comes singing through.
Body: Medium.
Palate: Sweetness and maltiness strike first, then are quickly overwhelmed by peat smoke and intense, clean, crisp flavours. Caol Ila’s signature smoky bonfires are here, and build to quite a size. Overall, drying, in a beautifully balanced, complex, elegant development, complemented with cinnamon spice.
Finish: Long, rounded, robust and multi-layered.

70cl £ 63.50  BUY NOW
Edencroft
 Lagavulin / Distillers Edition / 1996

Lagavulin / Distillers Edition / 1996
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 43%
Vintage: 1996   Bottler: 
Summary: A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay – but also offering a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram.
Lagavulin is an intensely flavoured, smoky-sweet single malt with seaweed flavours and a huge finish, aged in oak casks for at least sixteen years.
Appearance: Deep amber gold.
Nose: Intensely flavoured, peat smoke with iodine and seaweed and a rich, deep sweetness.
Body: Full
Palate: A rich, dried fruit sweetness with clouds of smoke and strong, barley-malt flavours, warming with an intense flavour. At the back of the mouth is an explosion of peppery smoke.
Finish: Huge, long, warming and peppery with a distinct appetising sweetness.

70cl £ 80.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
 Talisker / Distillers Edition / 2012 Release

Talisker / Distillers Edition / 2012 Release
Country: Scotland   Region: Isle of Sky
Age:    Strength: 45.8%
Vintage: 2001   Bottler: 
Summary: “Crisp peat at first then softens to enormous richness in the mouth. There’s sweet, roasty malt with a heathery dryness. The sherry notes keep back some of the usual Talisker pepperiness. In its place is luscious, slightly oily sweetness – with ripe, juicy fruit and vanilla”
Donald John McEwen Process Operator
The Distillers Edition is unique: after its usual aging process in American oak casks, the whisky undergoes a second maturation in casks previously holding sherry. The result is older, sweeter and richer than the regular bottlings.
Appearance: Chestnut brown.
Nose: Sharp and well focussed; no lingering, rambling smoke here. A sultana sweetness. One of the most tantalising sherry noses – certainly the cleanest
Body: Full
Palate: Crisp peat then softens to great richness in the mouth. Sweet, roasty malt with heathery dryness. Sherry notes keep back some pepper. In its place is luscious, slightly oily sweetness with juicy fruit and vanilla.
Finish: Some very deep cocoa notes, vanilla and lingering quite earthy peat. An enormously chewable single malt, with sweetness having the edge on dryness.

70cl £ 52.75  BUY NOW

Filed Under: 25 Year Old, 36 Year Old, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Edencroft Spirit Specialists, Invergordon, Islay, Isle of Skye, Lagavulin, Lowland, New Arrivals, Octomore, Port Charlotte, Talisker

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