• Home
  • SMWS
    • The SMWS Advent Calendar 2023!
    • SMWS New Wave Mavericks!
    • The SMWS Advent Calendar Countdown 2022!
  • Special Offers
  • New Arrivals
    • Master Of Malt
    • The Whisky Exchange
    • The Whisky Barrel
    • Tyndrum Whisky
    • Cognac
    • Gin
    • Rum
    • Vodka
    • Brandy
    • Tequila
  • Whisky Diary
  • Whisky Related
    • List of Malts
    • LAPHROAIG LIVE 2015
    • LAPHROAIG LIVE 2014
  • Other Spirits
    • Cognac
    • Gin
    • Rum
    • Vodka
    • Brandy
    • Tequila

Malthound

Whisky & Spirits Blog | Compare Buy Enjoy

  • Bluesky
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Campbeltown
    • Glen Scotia
    • Hazelburn
    • Kilkerran
    • Longrow
    • Springbank
  • Highland
    • Highland: A – F
      • Aberfeldy
      • Balblair
      • Ballechin
      • Ben Nevis
      • Ben Wyvis
      • Blair Athol
      • Brora
      • Clynelish
      • Dalmore
      • Dalwhinnie
      • Deanston
      • Edradour
      • Fettercairn
    • Highland: G
      • Glen Albyn
      • Glen Garioch
      • Glen Ord
      • Glencadam
      • Glenesk
      • Glengoyne
      • Glenlochy
      • Glenmorangie
      • Glenturret
      • Glenugie
      • Glenury Royal
    • Highland: H – M
      • Hillside
      • Inchfad
      • Inchmoan
      • Inchmurrin
      • Lochside
      • Millburn
    • Highland: N – Z
      • North Port
      • Oban
      • Old Pulteney
      • Royal Lochnagar
      • Stronachie
      • Teaninich
      • Tullibardine
  • Island
    • Arran
    • Highland Park
    • Isle of Jura
    • Ledaig
    • Scapa
    • Talisker
    • Tobermory
  • Islay
    • Islay: A – I
      • Ardbeg
      • Big Peat
      • Bowmore
      • Bruichladdich
      • Bunnahabhain
      • Caol Ila
      • Finlaggan
      • Ileach
      • Islay Whisky
    • Islay: J – Z
      • Kilchoman
      • Lagavulin
      • Laphroaig
      • Octomore
      • Port Askaig
      • Port Charlotte
      • Port Ellen
      • Smokehead
  • Lowland
    • Auchentoshan
    • Bladnoch
    • Dunglass
    • Glen Flagler
    • Glenkinchie
    • Inverleven
    • Kinclaith
    • Ladyburn
    • Linlithgow
    • Littlemill
    • Rosebank
    • St. Magdalene
  • Speyside: A – F
    • Speyside: A
      • Aberlour
      • Allt-A-Bhainne
      • An Cnoc
      • Ardmore
      • Auchroisk
      • Aultmore
    • Speyside: B
      • Balmenach
      • Balvenie
      • Banff
      • Benriach
      • Benrinnes
      • Benromach
      • Braes of Glenlivet
      • Braeval
    • Speyside: C – F
      • Caperdonich
      • Cardhu
      • Coleburn
      • Convalmore
      • Cragganmore
      • Craigduff
      • Craigellachie
      • Dailuaine
      • Dallas Dhu
      • Dufftown
  • Speyside: G – Z
    • Speyside: G
      • Glen Elgin
      • Glen Grant
      • Glen Keith
      • Glen Mhor
      • Glen Moray
      • Glen Spey
      • Glenallachie
      • Glenburgie
      • Glendronach
      • Glendullan
      • Glenfarclas
      • Glenfiddich
      • Glenglassaugh
      • Glenisla
      • Glenlivet
      • Glenlossie
      • Glenrothes
      • Glentauchers
    • Speyside: H – O
      • Imperial
      • Inchgower
      • Knockando
      • Linkwood
      • Loch Dhu
      • Longmorn
      • Macallan
      • Macduff
      • Mannochmore
      • Miltonduff
      • Mortlach
    • Speyside: P – Z
      • Pittyvaich
      • Pride of Strathspey
      • Royal Brackla
      • Speyburn
      • Speyside
      • Strathisla
      • Strathmill
      • Tamdhu
      • Tamnavulin
      • The Singleton
      • Tomatin
      • Tomintoul
      • Tormore
  • World Whiskies
    • American
    • Australian
    • Canadian
    • Dutch
    • English
    • Finnish
    • French
    • Indian
    • Irish
    • Japanese
    • New Zealand
    • South African
    • Swedish
    • Welsh
  • Blended Whiskies
You are here: Home / Archives for 2014

Archives for 2014

New Arrival Islay & Speyside Malts From Edencrofts!

December 2, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Glenglassaugh / Torfa (peated)

Glenglassaugh / Torfa (peated)

Edencroft has 6 New additions to it’s range this week with whiskies from the Islay and Speyside regions.

The brands include Benriach, Big Peat, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh & Tomintoul.

The ages of the new whiskies range from 16 to 30 Year Old malts.

Supplier Brand Bottle
Size
Price
Edencroft
Benriach / Batch 10 / Cask # 296 / 30 Year Old

Benriach / Batch 10 / Cask # 296 / 30 Year Old
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 30 Year Old   Strength: 43.9%.
Vintage: 1983   Bottler: 
Summary: Cask Type: Hogshead.
Style: Classic Speyside.
Colour: Crisp bright gold.
Nose: Vanilla-dusted sweet fruits, melon and pineapple combined with gentle soft oak.
Taste: Candied fruits mingle with soft vanilla and cinnamon. A honeyed oak note holds the elegant barley sugar finish.
Awards: 96 Points – Jim Murray's 2014 Whisky Bible.

70cl £ 205.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Glendronach / 1993 / Uk Exclusive / Cask# 39

Glendronach / 1993 / Uk Exclusive / Cask# 39
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 58.8%.
Summary: Distilled: Jan 1993.
Bottled: July 2014.
Age: 21 Year Old.
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt.
Nose: Rich dark crimson.
Colour: A rich, meaty character filled with dark fruit-cake and roasted coffee beans, leading to a gentle balance of sugared dates, zested orange and hints of red chilli.
Taste: Fantastic depths of allspice, dark chocolate and espresso coffee combine with delicate, warm, toasted oak spices. A soft, floral fruitiness appears in the long, unique sherried finish.

70cl £ 110.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Glenglassaugh / Torfa (peated)

Glenglassaugh / Torfa (peated)
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 50%.
Summary: At Glenglassaugh, in addition to the traditional production, they also produce a very limited quantity of whisky using richly peated malted barley as the cereal varietal. The malted barley has been dried in the traditional way, over peat infused kilns, giving the whisky its unique smoky flavour. Glenglassaugh ‘Torfa’, with its peaty, phenolic nature, is a unique expression, and is quite different to the usual style of whisky produced in the Highlands. Cask Formula: Fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels. Peat level is 20 ppm. Appearance: Gleaming yellow gold. Nose: Vivid, sweet, sooty campfire smoke and sea air infuses zest of lime, apricot jam and ripe soft fruits; all gently warmed by hints of stem ginger and cracked black pepper. Palate: An eloquent, sweet coastal peat smoke engulfs candied peel over melon, pineapple and roasted red apples. Oat biscuits, hints of heather honey and a gentle cigar box spice all combine to give a terrific balance to the expressive smoky character. Finish: A heady, yet elegant harmony of distinct coastal peat and striking spiced fruit flavours.

70cl £ 39.50  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Old Ballantruan / The Peated Malt

Old Ballantruan / The Peated Malt
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 50%
Summary: "Old Ballantruan" Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky is only one of a handful of peated malt whiskies from the Speyside region. After 'sleeping' for many years in hand-picked oak barrels, this whisky has been bottled at 50% volume and without any chill-filtration, to retain its layered and integrated peaty flavours. Nose: Heathery smoke balanced with subtle floral notes. Taste: Gentle "peat reek" flavours with hints of citrus tones and malty nuttiness. Finish: Lingering smoke and peat with touch of malted barley sweetness. Colour: Warm gold.

70cl £ 34.50  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Tomintoul / 16 Year Old Single Malt

Tomintoul / 16 Year Old Single Malt
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 16 Year Old   Strength: 40%
Summary: Pure ingredients and the natural environment add to smooth and mellow character of our award-winning Tomintoul Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, “the gentle dram”. Multi-award winning Tomintoul Speyside Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 16 Years has been lovingly crafted, from a selection of the finest bourbon casks, each aged for at least sixteen years. Nose: a fruity concoction of apples and pears topped with vanilla ice cream; even the vaguest hint of something smoky…one of the noses of the year…; Taste: soft, indeed every bit as gentle as the label promises, as the light oils coat the palate with a fabulously intense and delicately sweetened barley skin. The skeleton is playful oak; Finish: a wonderful, multi-layered interplay between malt and oak-vanillas. Long, curiously spice-free, increasingly dry but hugely sophisticated…; Balance: confirms Tomtintoul’s ability to dice with greatness.  

70cl £ 38.00  BUY NOW
Edencroft
Douglas Laing / The Christmas Big Peat 2011

Douglas Laing / The Christmas Big Peat 2011
Country: Scotland   Region: Islay
Age:    Strength: 57.8%
Summary: HISTORICALLY WE CALL THIS – WHISPER IT – A VATTED MALT, BLONDE IN THE BOTTLE – BUT WITH A BIG PEAT KICK
A SMALL BATCH BOTTLING TRADITIONALLY UNCHILL FILTERED CONTAINING ONLY ISLAY MALT WHISKIES!
But what exactly is a Vatted Malt? It is what the Scotch Whisky industry has traditionally called “a marriage of Malts”. Big Peat contains Malt Whisky ONLY from the island of Islay – some say it’s the ultimate taste of Islay!
Big Peat is a feisty Islay character has a sweet side too – ‘he’ carries a big peaty (“phenolic”), beachy, oceanic, rather ashy selection of malts only from the island of Islay. We do not chill filter – we prefer a more old fashioned traditional approach – so you will detect a massive amplification of sea-faring qualities on the nose, palate, and finish
Nose: just one of those noses where it takes a tremendous act of will to put the glass down…the interplay between the salts and sugars, the counterweights between the different varieties of phenols themselves;
Taste: when the delivery strikes home with the oils, phenols and sugars in immediate harmony, you know you are in for an experience. The question is: can it keep this quality to the end?
Finish: …indeed it can! In fact, it improves and so complex and tantalising are those astonishing Demerara and peaty riches, it is hard to quite know where the end begins. A number of teasing bourbon tones, on the liquorice and hickory side – perhaps with a hint of honey – stokes the fireside complexity further…;
Balance: I haven’t got a television these days as my life is simply too busy. And with entertainment like this in the glass to keep you occupied, who needs one…? I doubt if any Christmas special on the box came remotely close to matching this…!

£ 47.50  BUY NOW

Filed Under: 16 Year Old, 30 Year Old, Benriach, Big Peat, Edencroft Spirit Specialists, Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Islay, New Arrivals, Speyside, Tomintoul

Abbey Whisky: New Arrivals Monday!

December 1, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Supplier Brand Bottle
Size
Price
Abbey Whisky
Arran Orkney Bere Barley / Cask Strength Edition

Arran Orkney Bere Barley / Cask Strength Edition
Country: Scotland   Region: Island
Age: 10 Years Old   Strength: 56.2%
Vintage: 2004   Bottler: Arran
70cl £ 55.20  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Arran Single Cask #893 / 1998 / 2014 Autumn Release

Arran Single Cask #893 / 1998 / 2014 Autumn Release
Country: Scotland   Region: Island
Age: 16 Years Old   Strength: 54.3%
Vintage: 1998   Bottler: Arran Distillery
70cl £ 65.95  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Compass Box The Lost Blend

Compass Box The Lost Blend
Country: Scotland   Region: 
Age:    Strength: 46%
70cl £ 78.50  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Glen Spey 20 Year Old / Gleneagles 2014 Whisky

Glen Spey 20 Year Old / Gleneagles 2014 Whisky
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 20 Years Old   Strength: 46%
70cl £ 120.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Glendronach 1994 / Single Cask #3400 / AW Exclusive

Glendronach 1994 / Single Cask #3400 / AW Exclusive
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age: 20 Years Old   Strength: 54.8%
Vintage: 1994   Bottler: GlenDronach
70cl £ 97.95  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Macallan 1972 Speymalt / First Fill Sherry

Macallan 1972 Speymalt / First Fill Sherry
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 43%
Vintage: 1972   Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
70cl £ 482.40  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Macallan 1981 Speymalt / 2013

Macallan 1981 Speymalt / 2013
Country: Scotland   Region: Speyside
Age:    Strength: 43%
Vintage: 1981   Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
70cl £ 295.00  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old

Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old
Country: Japan   Region: Japanese
Age: 21 Years Old   Strength: 40%
70cl £ 102.50  BUY NOW
Abbey Whisky
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
Country: Japan   Region: Japanese
Age:    Strength: 43%
70cl £ 44.40  BUY NOW

Filed Under: Abbey Whisky, New Arrivals

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

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 32
  • Next Page »

SMWS Top Ten Bestsellers

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society




Browse SMWS Low Stock Whiskies

Browse SMWS Whiskies Arranged By Distillery (A - Z)

SMWS – New Whiskies!

The Whisky Exchange

Distilled: Whisky News – Summarised

Distilled: Whisky News - Summarised

Malt Whisky Regions

Scotlands Malt Whisky Regions

Calendar Club

Pour & Sip



Pour & Sip

Drams to your door!

Krystal Web Hosting

Recent Posts

  • Sampling Kilchoman’s 20th Anniversary Cask Series – Classy And Sublime!
  • Tormore is BACK with its first official release under Elixir Distillers!
  • DADS DESERVE DRAMS! Here’s some whiskies that could be a nice fit!
  • Sampling That Boutique-y Whisky Company New Range – I think I’ll have another!
  • “Full-throttle coal scuttle” – The Latest Whiskies From The SMWS!
September 2026
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« May    

Favourite Sites

  • Drink Supermarket
  • drinkaware.co.uk
  • Master of Malt
  • SMWS
  • The Whisky Barrel
  • The Whisky Exchange
  • The Whisky Wire
  • Tweet Tastings
  • Tyndrum Whisky
  • Whiskystats

Tags

10 Year Old 12 year old 15 Year Old 40% 43% 46% 1980 Ardbeg bottle bottled bottling bourbon Bowmore Caol cask casks distillery douglas Glen Glenfarclas Glenlivet Glenmorangie gordon Highland Island Islay laing Laphroaig Lowland Macallan macphail malt range rare refill scotch sherry signatory single Speyside Springbank strength whisky year years

Search

Archives

QR Code

QR Code for malthound.co.uk - scan the image with your smartphone & access malt whisky on the move!

· Whisky & Spirits Blog | Compare Buy Enjoy · About · Contact · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions · Copyright © malthound 2026 ·