Whisky 101 Perfect Measure Tasting Set Give the gift of discovery this Christmas with this selection of classic single malt whiskies, accompanied by a Perfect Measure Glass from which to sip them. Visit the page for a tasting video with TWE ambassador Billy Abbott! £34.95 |
Singleton Of Dufftown 12 Year Old 2 Glass Set A smooth and mellow 12-year-old from the heart of Speyside, the Singleton of Dufftown has notes of blackberry, hazelnut and coffee, and here comes accompanied by a pair of tumblers. £41.95 |
Inchmurrin Miniature Gift Set A handsome gift pack containing three 5cl miniatures of Inchmurrin whisky – a 12-year-old, an 18-year-old and a Madeira-cask finish – distilled at Loch Lomond distillery. £24.95 |
Edinburgh Gin Olive or Twist Cocktail Set Give the gift of exploration with this lovely gift set from Edinburgh Gin. The set includes a bottle of Edinburgh Gin Classic, as well as a stylish mixing glass, cocktail spoon, measure and zester. £59.95 |
Talisker Miniature Gift Pack A great way for your favourite Talisker enthusiast to explore their favourite whisky. This three-sample set contains a 5cl miniature of Talisker’s Skye, Storm and 10 Year Old whiskies. £15.95 |
Mount Gay Rum Distillers Origins Gift Pack Two rums, identical in all but one respect: one is distilled in a pot-still and the other in a column. A great gift for rum fans looking to better understand how their favourite spirit is constructed. SAVE £10 |
Graham's Port Pack A prize gift for the budding port enthusiast, this pack contains 5cl samples of five different Graham’s ports: White, Ruby, LBV, Reserve and 10 Year Old Tawny. A delicious way to discover the differences between styles. £14.95 |
Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne Glass Set A bottle of Taittinger’s signature Champagne, and a pair of branded glasses from which to enjoy it. Chardonnay-heavy in its construction, this is a light and elegant wine. SAVE £5 |
Archives for December 2020
Christmas Top 10s At The Whisky Exchange – All The Festive Favourites!
New ‘WhistlePig’ Whiskey Arrivals At Edencroft!
New Arrivals
WhistlePig / FarmStock Crop Batch 002. £83.65 Country: American Region: American Age: Strength: 43%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: USA/Vermont. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Rye Crop – No. 002. BOTTLED: 2018 CASK TYPE: Vermont White Oak. ABV: 43% Vol. FarmStock Rye Crop No. 002 is the second blend of their limited edition annual FarmStock estate release. It is the latest of their products showing farm-based innovation and the next step in achieving WhistlePig FarmStock’s 100% Triple Terroir™ vision – whiskey distilled from their grain, proofed with their water and aged in their custom Vermont White Oak. The FarmStock Rye Crop 002 blend was crowdsourced from bartenders, influencers, and consumers from around the United States. The final blend is composed of 32% 2-year aged Triple Terroir™ whiskey made entirely from Rye, water and wood from the WhistlePig farm (up from 20% 1 year Triple Terroir™ Whiskey in Rye Crop no. 001), 45% 6-year aged whiskey from MPGI in Indiana and 23% 10-year aged whiskey from Alberta Distillers in Canada. Rye Crop 002 marries the untamed contours and boldness of WhistlePig’s young estate whiskey with the richness and complexity of aged ryes. NOSE: Orange zest, white chocolate, vanilla bean and fresh pear combine with a gentle Rye spice. PALATE: Delicate fruitiness gives way to a full-bodied burst of spice, rounded by notes of allspice and cinnamon and balanced with a pleasant dryness. FINISH: White pepper and oak spice leave a light and surprisingly lengthy finish. |
WhistlePig / FarmStock Crop Batch 003. £92.50 Country: American Region: American Age: Strength: 43%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: USA/Vermont. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig Distillery. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Rye Crop – No. 003. BOTTLED: 2019 ABV: 43% Vol. FarmStock Rye Crop No. 003 is the third release of the limited edition annual Triple Terroir Whiskey™ – created from their rye grain, distilled and proofed with their water, and aged in custom Vermont White Oak. This year’s release is a historical step for them – the first ever majority WhistlePig Whiskey. Comprised of 52% of their 3-year-old Rye Whiskey, blended with 31% 6-year aged whiskey and 17% 10 year aged whiskey from Alberta, Canada. NOSE: Sweet and aromatic, with Vanilla, Maraschino, Roasted Chestnuts and hints of Cigar Box PALATE: Oak, Toffee and Baking Spices followed by soft notes of Creme Brulee and Rose Petals FINISH: Warm and lasting with a pleasant Rye Spice |
WhistlePig / Home Stock. £92.50 Country: American Region: American Age: Strength: 43%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: USA/Vermont. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: . BOTTLED: 2020 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 25000 ABV: 43% Vol.
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WhistePig / Old World Series Marriage. £175.00 Country: American Region: American Age: Strength: %. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: USA/Vermont. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: . BOTTLED: NUMBER OF BOTTLES: ABV: % Vol.
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WhistlePig / The Boss Hog The Spirit of Mauve 2018 Edition. £595.00 Country: American Region: American Age: Strength: 57.9%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: USA/Vermont. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: The Boss Hog. BOTTLED: 2018 STATED AGE: 13 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Calvados Cask Finish. ABV: 57.9% Vol. |
WhistlePig / The Boss Hog 2019 The Samurai Scientist. £595.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 60.3%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Rye. DISTILLERY: WhistlePig. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: The Boss Hog Edition åÂ…. BOTTLED: 2019 CASK TYPE: Japanese Umeshu Finish. ABV: 60.3% Vol. Single Barrel, Bottled at Proof, Powerfully Complex, Distinctly Unique From Anything they've done Before. Stupendous. On the rare occasion that Dave Pickerell’s five promises are realized, they release a whiskey that epitomizes WhistlePig’s odyssey to unlock the potential of Rye Whiskey. The Boss Hog Edition åÂ… is the first American Whiskey finished using Japanese Umeshu, the result of a true collaboration between WhistlePig and Kitaya brewery on Japan’s Kyushu island. This well aged Straight Rye Whiskey was created using koji fermentation. Each bottle is adorned with The Samurai Scientist – JÅÂkichi Takamine – who pioneered koji fermentation in the American whisky industry over a century ago. Each bottle barrel is bottled at strength, between 120 – 122 proof. NOSE: Intensely aromatic, with cinnamon, maple, and toasted marshmallow that develops with time in the glass. PALATE: Tobacco, ginger, baking spices, and savory umami creating a remarkably rich, nuanced and elegant profile lending to soft, sweet notes that further color the mosaic of flavor. FINISH: Incredibly long, with oak spice, char, and just a touch of smoke lingers as the finish fades. |
Perfect For Christmas Gifts – New Arrivals From Edencroft!
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old & T Shirt BundleBuy Now: £50.00
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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, Coaster & Mug BundleBuy Now: £47.50
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Ledaig 10 Year Old, Coaster & Mug BundleBuy Now: £45.00
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Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Finish Whiskey & Hip FlaskBuy Now: £28.00
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Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey & Hip FlaskBuy Now: £23.50
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Tobermory 12 Year Old, Coaster & Mug BundleBuy Now: £50.00
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Ledaig 18 Year Old Bobble Hat BundleBuy Now: £75.00
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Just In Time For Christmas – What’s New At The Whisky Exchange!
Macallan Classic Cut 2020 Carefully crafted by melding traditionally sherry-cask-aged Macallan whisky with spirit matured in the finest ex-bourbon, American-oak casks, Macallan Classic Cut 2020 is a feast of soft vanilla, candied orange peel, honey and dried-fruit flavours. |
Black Tot 50th Anniversary Edition Rum An exceptional rum crafted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Black Tot Day – the day that the Royal Navy ceased to serve the daily rum tot which had been a staple for centuries – from Elixir Distillers. This limited-edition blend contains rums from Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad, paying homage to the Navy blends of yester-year using some of the finest rums in the world today. |
Top 10 Future Classics The Whisky Exchange co-founder Sukhinder Singh has chosen ten bottles which he thinks will be looked back on as classics in the years and decades to come! |
Our Drinks Of The Year Our 2020 Drinks of the Year have been announced! Blind-tasted and voted for our shortlist of six whiskies, and the winner has finally been crowned! |
Give A Gift, Get A Gift – Last Chance Personalised gin and whiskies make such great gifts that we’re rewarding everybody who buys a bottle with a complimentary £10 eGift Card, for showing such thoughtfulness and generosity. You give a gift, you get a gift. Hurry though, offer ends 13th December. |
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 2020’s Christmas Malt is a 19-year-old whisky packed with festive spice and Christmas-cake fruit! |
Spirit of Christmas Whoever you’re buying for, our Christmas page is set up to help you find just the right drinks for this Christmas! |
Jameson Distillery Bow St. Awarded “World’s Leading Distillery Tour” For The Third Year In A Row!
Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the third year in a row!
The awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence in global travel and tourism and the win further strengthens Bow St.’s position as a leader in tourism, globally.
The 27th World Travel Awards Grand Final Ceremony took place virtually this year. The ceremony marks the final of the WTA Grand Tour 2020, an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world, where the winners of WTA’s six regional ceremonies go head-to-head for the coveted world titles. Having been awarded Europe’s Leading Distillery Tour earlier this month, Jameson Distillery Bow St. competed against an impressive finalist list from around the world that included Macallan, Hennessy, Jack Daniels and Jose Cuervo.
We are extremely honoured to be awarded this very special accolade, which is voted for by travel and tourism professionals, and consumers worldwide. To win three years in a row is incredible and, given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the disruption that the travel and tourism industries have faced globally, this acknowledgement is particularly special this year.
The award honours and recognises our commitment to excellence at the spiritual home of Jameson and is an acknowledgement of the incredible work of our team at Bow St., who provide every visitor with an unforgettable and unique experience – in-person, and now, virtually. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued passion, dedication, hard-work and creativity, especially as we navigate these more difficult times together, as a team.
– Greg Hughes: Managing Director, Jameson Brand Homes at Irish Distillers
Congratulations to Jameson Distillery Bow St. on being named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards, for the third year in a row. It is a truly well-deserved accolade and an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of the team. In what has been an extremely difficult year for everyone working in travel and tourism, this is some really good news for Irish tourism.
Over the years, Jameson Distillery Bow St. has established itself as an important attraction on the itineraries of international visitors to Dublin. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the team there, in 2021 and beyond, to welcome many more overseas visitors when the time is right, coming to experience all that Jameson Distillery Bow St. and our great city of Dublin have to offer.
– Niall Gibbons: CEO of Tourism Ireland
The doors of Jameson Distillery Bow St. have been open for over two centuries, with millions of people crossing the threshold over the years. While in-person distillery tours are closed in line with Government recommendations, Bow St continues to welcome Jameson fans in new and unique ways.
This December, Government guidelines permitting, the home of Jameson will begin offering a range of interactive, fun and immersive virtual experiences from the comfort of home. From cocktail making classes to whiskey tastings perfect for teambuilding or Christmas parties, Jameson provides kits, know-how and of course, whiskey, to create a memorable at-home experience.
Jameson Products are also available to buy from these Merchants:-
Port Charlotte 10 Crowned The Whisky Exchange’s “Whisky Of The Year 2021”!
Port Charlotte 10 has triumphed in The Whisky Exchange’s annual tasting, taking the top spot in the only official blind whisky judging undertaken by members of the public.
Islay distillery Bruichladdich won the tightly fought battle in the annual Whisky of the Year blind tasting by specialist spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange. Their 10-year-old expression – a heavily-peated, rich and spicy whisky lives and breathes the distillery’s ethos that Islay whisky should express the aspects of the island’s character, from rich smoke to bracing sea breeze.
Six whiskies went head to head after they were nominated by global customers of The Whisky Exchange, with more than 2000 putting forward their favourites. The blind judging of the most popular was opened up to the world via the Whisky of the Year Perfect Measure Judging Set and online voting on 22 September. The sets were very popular with customers, selling out online in less than three weeks and resulting in more than 500 votes cast!
Starting with a blind tasting led by Dawn Davies MW at Virtual Whisky Show in October and continuing in the weeks after, whisky-loving consumers were encouraged to critique each whisky for nose, palate and finish, and select a first and second choice via the online voting form.
All whiskies in the tasting were under £65 retail price, and all ongoing, commercially available releases.
In addition to the winner Port Charlotte 10, the shortlist included:
Runner Up: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old
Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old
Port Charlotte whisky is a joy to create. The spirit is versatile and approachable, offering an alternative to the traditional Islay style, it’s a softer, heathery style of smoke.
I’m delighted to have the Port Charlotte 10 recognised by The Whisky Exchange as Whisky of the Year – it’s a testament of the commitment and passion our Islay team put into every bottle.
– Adam Hannett: head distiller of Bruichladdich Distillery
The aim of the Whisky of the Year competition is to make excellent affordable whiskies known to all spirit-lovers around the world. Port Charlotte is an exceptional rich and smoky whisky with a maritime tang – a worthy winner of the title.
– Sukhinder Singh: co-founder and owner of The Whisky Exchange
This year, the company wanted to recognise other drinks categories and has introduced Rum and Gin Of The Year alongside the Champagne of the Year – the fourth year it has been awarded. Each category has been nominated by industry experts and staff at The Whisky Exchange based on their quality and value for money.
This year’s winners are:
Gin of the Year 2021 : Lind & Lime Gin
Rum of the Year 2021 : Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend Rum
Champagne of the Year 2021 : Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne
The Whisky Exchange kindly sent me the six samples to try (Thanks @WhiskyExchange!) so I got a chance to sample them and make my own voting choice.
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Tasting Notes – A (45%)
Nose: Cane sweetness, toffee apples but this dram is slow to give up it’s flavours. After a time they fill the glass nicely – especially creamy toffee! Palate: Smooth and sweet toffee, fruity, slightly tropical. Finish: Tasty spice which is not too powerful. There’s a little grapefruit at the end. Overall: Good abv and very easy to drink!! |
Tasting Notes – B (43%)
Nose: Apples, tropical fruits, slightly cakey, toffee, slightly peaty as well with some furniture polish. Gives of itself quickly! Palate: Shades of peaty smoke and tropical fruits. Finish: Chilli spice, fruit, more apple with a short finish. Overall: The smoke was a surprise – dunno why! |
Tasting Notes – C (46%)
Nose: Smoke n’ peat, not too heavy – very nice! Sweet wood and quite coastal. Palate: Cane sweetness, smoke, peat, slightly antispetic – gorgeous! Finish: very smooth with just a smidgeon of pepper at the very end – which is long. Overall: Fireside sipper when the winds howling outside – so that no-one can hear you pouring another dram! |
Tasting Notes – D (46%)
Nose: Dark rich chocolate, molasses, sherry and toffee. Palate: Rich toffee and vanilla. Sherried fruits, chocolate with hints of orange. Finish: Breathtaking spice and richly fruited. Overall: Slow to develop but certainly worth the wait! |
Tasting Notes – E (50%)
Nose: Smokey with treacley peat, salty and coastal. Palate: Sherbet sweetness, smoke, charred wood and peat. Finish: Intense spice but still very sweet – quite unusual! Long finish. Overall: A tasty dram that is the sum of two very different halves – but better for it! |
Tasting Notes – F (43%)
Nose: Tropical fruits, furniture polish, plasticine, leather. Smoke gradually grows at the back. Palate: Tropical sweetness paired with smokey fireside flavours! Finish: Peaty with sweetness added. Overall: A classy dram that doesn’t dissapoint. |
So, which ones did I vote for?
MY FIRST CHOICE VOTED FOR WAS: D
MY SECOND CHOICE VOTED FOR WAS: E
And, the actual drams were:-
Whisky A – Nikka Coffey Malt
Whisky B – Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Year Old
Whisky C – Kilkerran 12 Year Old
Whisky D – Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old (Runner-Up)
Whisky E – Port Charlotte 10 (Winner)
Whisky F – Lagavulin 16 Year Old
YaY! I nearly got it right – just the wrong way round!
The Whisky Exchange Releases An Exclusive Loch Lomond – Sampling The Bountiful Orchard!
New Loch Lomond 2010 exclusive bottling from The Whisky Exchange!
The Whisky Exchange is continuing its programme of exclusive whiskey offerings with a new release from Loch Lomond distillery – Loch Lomond 2010, 10 Years Old Cask #849!
Selected by the team at The Whisky Exchange and available exclusively from them, this distillery bottling shows off the fruity character of Loch Lomond’s spirit, and how the distillery’s team amplify those flavours throughout the whisky making process.
The creation of the whisky’s character starts early in production, with the team using a wine yeast known for producing high quantities of esters – compounds that lead to fruity flavours and aromas – to ferment the wort.
The resulting wash was distilled using Loch Lomond’s unique straight-necked pot stills and collecting a narrow cut of spirit at high strength, again concentrating the fruity flavour compounds.
This was then matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, a smaller size of cask that gives more oak influence, giving the final whisky a complex character, combining the fruitiness of the spirit with sweet vanilla and spice from the wood.
The Whisky Exchange has kindly sent me a sample to try (Thanks @WhiskyExchange!).
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Tasting Notes – Loch Lomond 2010, 10 Years Old Cask #849 (57.7%)
– 241 bottles available
– Buy Now: £62.95 (70cl)
Nose: Orchards of crisp, crunchy, green apples! Blended with creamy vanilla, fresh pastry and white wood. There’s also hints of citrus, orange and some toffee which wanders along later. Palate: Syrupy, cooked apples with a sugar dusting – delightful! Finish: Lip-smacking chilli spice which is coupled with an apple pie finish that sure takes your breath away! Some liquorice and maybe a hint of blackcurrant. It’s a long finish that ends with a tannin dryness. Overall: Plenty of punch to this one! It’s both fruity and spicy and each one assails the taste buds full on! You might want to add a few drops of water to this dram to tone the chilli down a bit – it can take it! All-in-all a cracking dram that has plenty to offer for fruit and spice fans alike! |