Archives for June 1, 2016

Scapa Jutland Commemorates Battle & Raises £45,000 For RNLI

June 1, 2016 by Gary Leave a Comment

RNLI Lifeboat crew member Graham Campbell and Nicola Stevenson, Scapa Distillery Visitor Manager, present Scapa Jutland, a new single cask single malt Scotch whisky crafted to mark the centenary of the Battle of Jutland on 31st May 2016. Scapa was used as a base by the British naval fleet during the First World War and the artisanal island single malt distillery has released 249 bottles of Scapa Jutland (RRP £200) with all profits from their sale, estimated at over £45,000, to be donated by Chivas Brothers to the RNLI.

Of the 249 bottles released, 11 have been named in memory of ships from the British and German Navies that fought during the conflict, including HMS Invincible, HMS Queen Mary and HMS Indefatigable. HMS Indefatigable will be placed up for auction through Master of Malt in future in order to raise further funds for the RNLI.

Produced in association with the family of Admiral John Rushworth Jellicoe – Commander of the British Grand Fleet that fought at Jutland from 30th May to 1st June 1916 – Scapa Jutland is exclusively available from the Scapa Visitor Centre alongside the centenary commemoration of the Battle of Jutland on Orkney, 31st May 2016, at the RRP of £200.

Scapa and the British Royal Navy share over 100 years of cooperative history dating back to when Admiral Jellicoe used the distillery, situated overlooking the Scapa Flow on the remote Orkney Isles, as his base during the First World War. Admiral Jellicoe saved the distillery from a fire during his tenure and thanked Scapa for services rendered during the war, by building a wooden staircase in the mill room as a memorial to the British Royal Navy.

We are thrilled to present Scapa Jutland, a true Orcadian Single malt that has been crafted using traditional methods and thoughtfully matured for 16 years in a single first-fill American oak cask.

Bursting with sweet, tropical fruit flavours and notes of vanilla, toffee and butter scotch, this single cask expression is harmoniously balanced with a long, sweet and spicy finish and is a fitting tribute to the commemorations here on Orkney.
– Brian MacAulay: Scapa Master Distiller

The RNLI are very grateful to Chivas Brothers and the Scapa Whisky Distillery for their generous offer of donating all profits from the sale of Scapa Jutland to help fund the crew training requirements at our three Orkney Islands Lifeboat Stations. Crew training is a substantial investment but a vital one. RNLI volunteer crew really are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and we owe it to them to provide the best training possible.

The funds raised from the sale of this limited edition malt will be used to support our lifesavers and help us continue to save lives at sea.
– Ross Martin: RNLI Corporate Partnerships Manager

Scapa Jutland (40% ABV) tasting notes

Nose: Bursting with sweet tropical fruit notes of pineapple and mango intermingled with wonderful notes of vanilla toffee fudge

Taste: Delicate and sweet with flavours of sweet ripe pear, vanilla, honeycomb candy and butter scotch sweets

Finish: Long and sweet with a spicy finish

*The net sales proceeds from the sale of this product will be paid in support of the RNLI. Payments are made to RNLI (Sales) Ltd (which pays all its taxable profits to the RNLI, charity registered in England, number 209603). The RNLI has agreed to use the funds raised by the sale of this product for the benefit of lifeboat operations and lifeboat stations in the Orkney Islands.

Jameson Restructures Portfolio With New Family of Irish Whiskeys!

June 1, 2016 by Gary Leave a Comment

Jameson Family Line Up

Jameson has unveiled a new structure to its family of Irish Whiskeys, representing a unique re-interpretation of the super-premium whiskey category. The new portfolio is made up of The Whiskey Makers Series, the range of Heritage whiskeys and The Deconstructed Series with the original Jameson Irish Whiskey at the core. Together, the new portfolio showcases the brand’s rich heritage, celebrates its remarkable present and shares an insight into its innovative future, underpinned by our communications platform of Sine Metu.

The restructure manifests Jameson’s ambition to drive interest globally in Irish Whiskey, a trend that has been led by the brand in recent years. The new family of whiskeys is set to further impact this movement, highlighting Jameson’s wider offering and giving drinkers a meaningful exploration path into super premium whiskey. With a strength of storytelling throughout the range, the new portfolio is rooted in the interests of Jameson’s fans who are seeking to learn more about the people and craft, heritage, taste and ethos of fearlessness behind the brand.

The restructure of the Jameson family is the most significant move in our brand’s recent history. This is an exceptionally exciting development that positions Jameson at the forefront of innovation and advance within the Irish Whiskey category.

The family, comprised of The Whiskey Makers Series, the range of Heritage whiskeys and The Deconstructed Series is underpinned by the brand’s people and craft, heritage, taste and fearlessness; in short, the qualities for which Jameson is celebrated throughout the world. Today we finally get to unveil our new family globally and witness Irish Whiskey fans discovering new stories, flavours and experiences from Jameson.
– Daniel Lundberg: Global Brand Director for Jameson

The Whiskey Makers Series

A brand new range of super-premium Jameson whiskeys – The Whiskey Makers Series – sits within the refreshed family and is comprised of three whiskies that celebrate the people behind Jameson and their craft. Created collaboratively by Jameson Head Distiller, Brian Nation; Head Cooper, Ger Buckley; and Head Blender, Billy Leighton, the range gives Midleton’s craftspeople a unique opportunity to shine a light on their individual areas of expertise. The Whiskey Makers Series is set to deepen consumers’ understanding of Irish Whiskey production through the exploration of three key tools, after which the products are named: The Distiller’s Safe, The Cooper’s Croze and The Blender’s Dog.

The Distiller’s Safe celebrates the role of Jameson’s Head Distiller, Brian Nation, and is a true showcase of the original copper pot still distillate. A purist of whiskey making, Brian explores the influence of the copper on the new-make spirit, using a maturation process that skilfully preserves the qualities of the original distillate, allowing the flavours developed in the pot still to take centre stage. Brian’s tool of choice – the spirit safe – allows him to fine tune the whiskey’s style at any point during the distillation process and the resulting blended whiskey carries distinct sweetness from barley sugar and gentle notes of apricot, cinnamon and melon. A smooth, light whiskey with a luminous, zesty finish.

The Cooper’s Croze showcases the role of Jameson’s Head Cooper, Ger Buckley, and explores the influence that maturation in casks has on whiskey. A fifth generation cooper, Ger has a deep relationship with wood and is tasked with selecting, repairing and maintaining Midleton’s diverse and treasured barrels. Ger’s prized possession – a croze – passed down through his family, is used to make the groove where the head of the cask is positioned. The resulting blended whiskey is matured in virgin American oak barrels, seasoned bourbon barrels and Iberian sherry casks, a combination that delivers vanilla sweetness, rich fruit flavours and a balance of floral and spice notes.

The Blender’s Dog celebrates the role of Jameson Head Blender, Billy Leighton; a tribute to the fine art of blending. A master at matching whiskeys across ages and characters, Billy is tasked with uniting the crafts supplied by distiller and cooper to create harmonious, perfectly balanced whiskeys. Billy’s go-to instrument – a ‘dog’ – is used to collect whiskey samples from the casks, allowing Billy to bring together complementary spirits from Midleton’s extensive range of maturing stock. The Blender’s Dog is a perfect balance of spirit, wood and time; a rich, rounded whiskey with butterscotch sweetness, spices, tannins and an exceptionally long finish.

The range of Heritage whiskeys

Heritage whiskeys is a new collection of super-premium Irish Whiskeys that bring to the fore over 200 years of remarkable stories and milestones from the brand’s rich history. Created to better highlight three world-renowned Irish Whiskeys – Jameson Black Barrel, Jameson Crested and Jameson Signature – each expression in the range tells a different story from Jameson’s past.

Jameson Black Barrel is a triple-distilled Irish whiskey that pays tribute to the cooper’s method of charring barrels for a second time. Charring is a traditional method for invigorating barrels, although today at Midleton double-charred barrels are used by choice rather than through necessity. The expression uses a blend of ‘small batch’ grain and traditional pot still Irish Whiskey, which is distilled just once a year at Midleton, and is matured in a combination of American oak, sherry casks and double-charred bourbon barrels. Time spent maturing in these barrels imparts the whiskey with intensified notes of vanilla sweetness and caramel, alongside toasted wood, fruit, and warm spice.

Jameson Crested, launched globally in March 2016, is a triple-distilled Irish Whiskey that celebrates the first drops of whiskey to be bottled, sealed and labelled at the Bow Street Distillery in Dublin, marking the moment in time (1963) when Jameson took full control of the whiskey making process, from grain to glass. Up until then, distillers – including the Jameson Distillery – sold barrels of whiskey to bonders to bottle themselves, however, reports of whiskey bonders watering down their whiskey in the 1960s led Jameson to complete the process inside the distillery walls to protect the quality of the whiskey. Jameson Crested brings together rich pot still Irish Whiskey and grain whiskey, matured in a high proportion of sherry casks, as well as bourbon barrels. The result is a nose of vivid sherry and pot still aromas, a palate of toasted wood, spice and chocolate, and a warm, lingering sherry finish.

Jameson Signature is a triple-distilled Irish Whiskey that bears the signature of John Jameson, a mark of quality that has appeared since the early days of the Bow Street Distillery, when all casks were signed off by John Jameson. The expression celebrates this tradition and the generations of meticulously transcribed distillers’ notebooks, a sign that attention to detail remains at the heart of Jameson. Jameson Signature is a commitment from the brand to uphold the founder’s core values of craftsmanship and quality, with a robust and complex whiskey that boasts deep flavours of cedar, vanilla, citrus and dried fruits and a smooth balance of honey.

The Deconstructed Series

The Deconstructed Series is a range of super-premium Irish Whiskeys that explores the key flavour notes of the original Jameson Irish Whiskey. Launched in Cannes in October 2015, the expressions – Jameson Bold, Jameson Lively and Jameson Round – are named after three key taste characteristics found within the family’s core expression, amplifying each flavour trait to offer three new drinking experiences.

Jameson Bold, influenced by pot still whiskey, is an intense and robust whiskey, with a strong influence of spices. Initially sweet and creamy, with an abundance of soft fruits, the pot still spices develop to bring a perfect balance of rich barley notes and mellow baked apple.

Jameson Lively, influenced by grain whiskey, offers an elegant and floral taste combined with a citrus lightness. Its soft and sweet taste, provided by the perfume bon bons alongside turkish delight, combines with drying hints of citrus to balance the sweetness. A little chilli oil brings a prickle of spices to the mouth.

Jameson Round, influenced by the wood contribution, is a balance of rich and plump charred wood tones. A perfect harmony of diverse flavours, sweet vanilla fuses with soft ripe fruit and, together, combines with the rich Pot Still Spices on a firm foundation of toasted oak.

Whisky & Whiskey New Arrivals – Courtesy Of Edencroft!

June 1, 2016 by Gary Leave a Comment

Nikka / Pure Malt Black
£32.50

New Arrivals

Kentucky / Vintage Small Batch Bourbon
£34.50
Country: American
Region: American
Age:
Strength: 45.%

Summary: Country/Region: USA / Kentucky.
ABV: 45%.
Light, but not to be confused with lacking in complexity, just a very elegant, easy-sipper that is truly wonderful on it's own or a slight splash of water. This is an example of a versatile Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey!.
Nose: Oranges, lemon, tangerines, clover honey.
Palate: Ginger, butter, apples, light mouth-feel, creamy texture.
Finish: Short to Medium finish; White pepper, almonds, evergreens.
Ratings: 94.5 Points / Jim Murray's 2016 Whisky Bible.

Nikka / From The Barrel
£32.50
Country: Japanese
Region: Japanese
Age:
Strength:
50cl

Summary: Country/Region: Japan.
Unit: 50cl
Alc: 51.4%
This is a blend of mutliple types of malt and grain that Nikka reserves. Nikka From the Barrel was created to deliver full flavors and richness of whisky "from barrels" which only blenders can sniff and taste.
As the whisky contains so many characteristic components at a higher alcohol of 51.4%, it is essencial to let the liquid "marriage" in used casks for 3-6 months for it to stabilize and harmonize.
The concept of the unique short squared bottle is "a small lump of whisky", which perfectly visualizes the rich and strong taste of the whisky inside.

Nikka / Pure Malt Black
£32.50
Country: Japanese
Region: Japanese
Age:
Strength:
50cl

Summary: Country/Region: Japan.
Unit: 50cl
Alc: 43%
The "Black" is a Pure Malt (Blended Malt) whisky which is characterized by powerful peat, rich taste and firm flavour.
The unique bottle that has a laboratory feel to it was designed by the same designer who created From the Barrel.

Nikka / 12 Year Old Miyagikyo / No Box
£250.00
Country: Japanese
Region: Japanese
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Japan.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 45%
Age: 12 Years Old.
Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky is distilled and aged at the Miyagikyo Distillery, which is known for its lighter, more floral malts (as opposed to the heavier, more oily malts produced at Yoichi).
Made from 100% malted barley and distilled in pot stills that are heated with steam as opposed to coal fire, Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky is then aged for 12 years in ex-sherry casks.
As a result, the whisky has a delicate and modern aroma of bitter green apple, citrus zest, nougat and ginger, which leads to a palate filled with vanilla custard, nutmeg and cinnamon, along with a subtle smokiness. The finish is light and smoky, with notes of dried mango, breakfast cereal and honey.

Nikka Whisky / 10 Year Old Yoichi / No Box
£195.00
Country: Japanese
Region: Japanese
Age:
Strength: 45.%
70cl

Summary: Country: Japan.
ABV: 45%.
Unit: 70cl.
NIKKA’s historical Single Malt, guardian of tradition, YOICHI is a revelation for those seeking an uncompromising whisky. With its coastal and delicately peated aromas, supported by a perfectly balanced oak maturation, this exceptional Single Malt displays a truly authentic character.
This 10 year old bottling unmistakably carries the Yoichi pedigree, which propelled Japanese whisky to international recognition. Peat notes surround a core of ripe fruit aromas, while a rich texture and underlying power make this the most masculine of Japanese single malts.

Nikka / 17 Year Old Taketsuru / No Box
£200.00
Country: Japanese
Region: Japanese
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Japan.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 43%
Age: 17 Years Old.
Nikka Taketsuru 17 Year Old Japanese Pure Malt Whisky is a marriage of single malt whiskies distilled at the Yoichi and Miyagikyo Distilleries. Once each of the whiskies has been distilled, they are aged for a minimum of 17 years before being vatted together in order to create Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky. As a result of this vatting, Taketsuru 17 Year Old Pure Malt has a malty aroma, with hints of fruit salad, berries and plantains. The aroma gives way to notes of vanilla, blood oranges, whipped cream and milk chocolate on the palate, and leads to a finish with hints of bittersweet oak, cocoa and fruit.
Nikka Taketsuru 17 Year Old Japanese Pure Malt Whisky earned the Gold Medal at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, where it was named the World's Best Blended Malt and the Best Japanese Blended Malt Whisky.
Malty aroma, with hints of fruit salad, berries and plantains. Notes of vanilla, blood oranges, whipped cream and milk chocolate on the palate. Finish with hints of bittersweet oak, cocoa and fruit.

Speyburn / 10 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£33.45
Country: Scotland
Region: Highlands
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 10 Years Old.
Distilled: 2004
Bottles: 2015
Cask: Filled from a Sheery butt.
Bottles Filled: 444
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Talisker / 5 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£43.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 5 Years Old.
Distilled: 2009
Bottles: 2015
Cask: Filled from a refill hogshead.
Bottles Filled: 216
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Port Charlotte / 12 Year Old Smws Cantina Mexicana / Cask # 12744
£195.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Age:
Strength:

Summary: Country/ Region: Scotland/Islay.
Alcohol by volume: 65.9%
Bottler: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Cask No: 127.44
Age: 12 years.
Cask Type: Second fill Oloroso butt.
Bottles Filled: 588
Society Brand Ambassador Phoebe previews our special release Feis Ile bottling: I was lucky enough to taste last year’s SMWS Feis Ile bottling at the 2015 SMWS open day at Islay House – it was my first time on Islay so it was a particularly special dram for me. Needless to say, I was very excited to sample this year’s release – Cantina Mexicana!
Not only does it look lovely in the glass – a wonderful deep amber colour – but its aromas manage to fill the room before I’ve even begun nosing. The powerful nose transports me to the ‘The Great Outdoors’ – campfires and their dying embers on an autumnal evening – commingling with fresh pine needles on a warm breeze. Campfires became BBQ’s – smoked pork, Manzanilla olives and a leafy rocket side salad with a balsamic dressing.
Patience before feasting eventually reveals a clandestine sweetness – toasted almonds, rock candy and salted Moffatt toffee reveal the cask’s heritage.
On the palate it was smoke pork, especially pork scratchings – initially crisp, salty and dry. The BBQ smoke and nutty sweetness of the nose is mirrored in the palate though tasting transforms the nose into a more perfumed, floral, sherried character.
It becomes incredibly salty and maritime – smoked salmon and rock salt on board an old trawler. Despite the hubbub of the fireside camp found in the nose, the palate is deceptively mild-mannered and like the perfect dinner guest, regales and entertains without overstaying its welcome. The finish is peppery and rich, with cinder toffee, chocolate, liquorice and peppered steak.
If you don’t make it to this year’s Feis Ile, then one sip of this whisky does a very good job of transporting you there.

Inchgower / 8 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£32.25
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 8 Years Old.
Distilled: 2008
Bottles: 2016
Cask: Filled from a wine finished hogshead.
Bottles Filled: 395
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Aberlour / 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured
£30.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 40%
Age: 12 Years Old.
The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour’s raw spirit is deftly softened by double cask maturation. Traditional oak and seasoned Sherry butts are both used to great effect, as the mellowed spirits within are combined to deliver a subtly balanced flavour.
Colour: Golden amber with hints of ruby.
Nose: Soft and rounded, with fruity notes of red apple.
Palate: A fine sherried character, balanced with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and ginger spiciness.
Finish: Warming and lingering – sweet and slightly spicy.

Aberlour / Abunadh Batch 55
£37.50
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 60.9%
With each batch carefully made by hand, Aberlour A’bunadh is a unique cask strength whisky that has achieved cult status among whisky connoisseurs.
Meaning ‘the original’ in Gaelic, A’bunadh is made in homage to Aberlour’s founder, James Fleming, using only traditional methods without chill filtration or other modern processes.
The result is a heavier, creamier single malt than most have ever experienced – memorably flavoursome, with an intense raisin character.
Colour: Deep rich amber.
Nose: Terrific aromas of allspice, praline and spiced orange, in harmony with deep notes of Oloroso Sherry.
Palate: Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger, spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with lingering Sherry and oak. Superlatively full bodied and creamy.
Finish: Robust and long lasting, with bittersweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak.

Aberlour / 15 Year Old Double Cask Matured
£40.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 40%
Age: 15 Years Old.
Aged in a mix of Bourbon ‘Hogshead’ and Sherry butts for 14 years, the casks are then blended together and refilled into a new sherry cask to achieve a unique finish.
Demonstrating the perfect harmony of the Distiller’s art and Blender’s skill, this process adds considerable depth and complexity to the whisky.
Colour: Elegant golden ochre.
Nose: Opening with flowery, grassy notes, with an underlying citrus burst of pink grapefruit.
Palate: A creamy balance of sweet sherry nuttiness, orange and toffee, with smoky undertones. Wonderfully rounded, thick and velvety.
Finish: A buttery smooth finish, with superb length and balance.

Auchroisk / 12 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£38.15
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 12 Years Old.
Distilled: 2003
Bottles: 2015
Cask: Filled from a refill hogshead.
Bottles Filled: 375
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Dailuaine / 8 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£32.25
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 8 Years Old.
Distilled: 2007
Bottles: 2016
Cask: Filled from a Sherry butt.
Bottles Filled: 391
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Glenburgie / 8 Year Old Hepburn's Choice
£32.25
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age:
Strength:
70cl

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
Alc: 46%
Age: 8 Years Old.
Distilled: 2007
Bottles: 2015
Cask: Filled from a refill Bourbon Barrel.
Bottles Filled: 348
Always from a specially selected single cask, the Hepburn's Choice is bottled at 45% alcohol, and naturally without artificial coloring or chill-filtration.
Each bottle is chosen to showcase the specific characteristics of one of Scotland’s whisky producing regions or those of a distillery in particular.
This range is named in honour of one of the directors of Hunter Laing’s late maternal grandfather William Hepburn, who travelled the globe with his job in the Diplomatic Service, with a fine judgement honed at many Embassy Functions. Mr Hepburn was a connoisseur of his homeland’s whiskies, with this in mind we believe these bottlings would indeed have been Hepburn’s Choice.

Compass Box / The Lost Blend
£79.85
Country: Scotland
Region: IslaySpeyside
Age:
Strength: 46.%

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Islay/Speyside.
ABV: 46%
In 2001, Compass Box created their first single malt blend which they called Eleuthera. It was an elegant and simple blend of approximately 80% unpeated Highland and 20% peaty Islay single malts. Alas, after 3 years, they were suddenly no longer able to obtain one of the key whiskies required for the recipe so, sadly, they retired Eleuthera in 2004. Quietly, they have always been looking for whiskies that we could use to bring it back, even if temporarily, but not with any luck. Until now.
I’ve had a name that I’ve been waiting to use for a whisky project like this—The Lost Blend, inspired by the O. Henry story of the same name. This sharp and witty portrait of life in a New York bar in the early 1900s was published in 1907 and centres around two business partners who try to recreate a blend of different spirits with close to supernatural properties.
Having been blending Scotch whiskies as an amateur and a professional for the better part of 20 years, I can say with confidence that I believe there exist “magic” combinations of whiskies. For me, they are like the whisky blending equivalent of spiritual truths. And what better name to lend to our lost blend, but “The Lost Blend”!
John Glaser, Whiskymaker.
Availability: A limited edition of 12,018 bottles. Bottled in August 2014.
Flavour Descriptors: An elegantly complex union of two fruity Highland single malts and a peaty Islay single malt. An ethereal fruit and herbal character and a sweetness on the palate is buttressed by an underlying smokiness.
Distillery Sourcing: Single malt whisky (of a certain age) from the Clynelish distillery, and a small cache of extraordinary whisky from the Allt-A-Bhainne distillery, aged in American oak barrels and just a few years shy of two decades old, combined with malt whisky from the Caol Ila distillery.
The Labels: Compass Box have created three different front label designs all around the same theme: lost items. The whisky behind each label is the same, and the three labels have been randomly bottled and put into cases, which allows you an additional discovery to the whisky itself: which label did I get?
Ratings: 96.5 Points and Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year / Jim Murray's 2016 Whisky Bible.

Compass Box / The Peat Monster 10th Anniversary
£80.00
Country: Scotland
Region: IslayHighlands
Age:
Strength: 48.9%

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Islay/Highlands.
ABV: 48.9%
Ten years Compass Box created a bespoke blend of their peaty single malts for the owners of the Park Avenue Liquor Shop in New York.
They named it “Monster” and for the label graphics they used a 19th century illustration of a bizarre and strangely beautiful creature that appeared to them to capture the idea of the whisky.
It sold so well that when it became endangered they decided to share the idea with the rest of the world. They appended “The Peat” to the front of “Monster” and breathed fresh life into the beautiful beast. It has gone on to become their best-selling Compass Box whisky.
In 2013, let’s celebrate ten years of sharing the joys of the craft blender’s art, of inspiring others in the industry and of enjoying the balanced, peaty charms of this creation.
Heavy peat and smoke, combined with notes of malty richness.
For this special bottling, they have produced a special recipe of The Peat Monster, maintaining the smoky, heavy-peated intensity of the classic bottling and adding a bit more malty richness through the use of some very special, quite odd casks of peaty Highland single malt.
Availability: Limited Release of approx 5,700 bottles.
Bottled: September 2013.
Flavour Descriptors: Intense aromas of peet-reek, smoke, seaside character and burnt ropes, with a subtle apple-fruitiness in the background. The palate is full, round and tremendously complex. Water brings out a spiceladen, sweet vanilla character, as well.
Recommendations: A fantastic late-night digestif malt whisky.
Distillery Sourcing: Islay single malts distilled on the south shore of the island and in the village of Port Askaig. Balanced with a rich, smoky Highland single malt and a fruity oily malt from the village of Brora.
Wood: Primarily a mix of first-fill and refill American oak, plus approximately 2% new French oak for finishing.
Ratings: Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year / Jim Murray's 2015 Whisky Bible.

Compass Box / Double Single
£110.00
Country: Scotland
Region: SpeysideLowland
Age:
Strength: 57.%
70cl

Summary: To celebrate their 10th anniversary Compass Box brought back a small-batch whisky they first and last made in 2004. “Double Single” was a marriage of two single whiskies – one single malt and one single grain. The idea highlighted the true virtue of blending grain whisky with malt whisky to create a truly elegant style.
“Double Single 10th Anniversary” was a one-off, limited release of 876 bottles made of 18 year-old single malt whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery (76% of the vatting) combined with a single cask of 21 year-old grain whisky distilled at Port Dundas (24%).
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside/Lowland.
ABV: 57%.
Unit: 70cl.

Scapa Jutland Commemorates Battle & Raises £45,000 For RNLI

Scapa Jutland (40% ABV) tasting notes