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Cotswolds Distillery Launches “Hearts & Crafts Pineau De Charentes Cask” Single Malt Whisky!

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Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask!

Cotswolds Distillery has celebrated St George’s Day by releasing today its second Heart and Crafts expression, which is a single malt whisky aged in Pineau de Charentes casks.

Pineau de Charentes is a little-known regional specialty of the Charentes Maritime region of France, sitting north of Bordeaux and encompasses the Cognac-producing region. It is made from fresh grape juice, which is blended with Cognac and left to age in oak barrels for a number of years. The sweetness of the grape juice tempers the bite of the Cognac, which combined with dry nutty notes from European oak casks makes it a great aperitif.

There are 1,600 bottles available

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask has been aged in the white grape Pineau casks and the French oak imparts a slightly more bitter and tannic note than the American oak used by the distillery for aging their whisky.

I first started drinking Pineau on a trip to the beautiful Atlantic island of Isle de Ré, just off the cost of La Rochelle, in 1994 and I’ve always had a soft spot for it.

Hence the excitement at the idea of aging our Cotswolds single malt spirit in these casks.
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

The whisky has been matured for its full term in the casks, and the techniques of rejuvenation and seasoning under pressure allows the distillery to get the best out of the wine and the wood. As the woodgrain is not tight, more tannins come into the spirit.

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement this second expression continues with a William Morris design, which is both classic and contemporary. This prolific and innovative designer was one of the leaders of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which was created in the late 19th century and stood for the importance of traditional craftsmanship, the same values upon which the beautiful rural distillery was built. William Morris spent much of his time in the summer in his Cotswolds home, Kelmscott Manor and the verdant green leaves featured on the label and luxury gift box are perfect for the lushness and vitality of spring and celebrate St George’s Day which is a highlight of spring festivities.

Tasting Notes:

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask is wonderfully indulgent. The sweet notes of this golden aperitif wine are balanced by the French oak tannins. Perfect for PX sherry fans who are looking for something different.

Nose: wonderfully rich, tonka bean, marzipan and caramelised peaches

Palate: raisins, brazil nuts, toffee, fudge and dried orange peel

Finish: warm and long finish, hints of white pepper and almonds

RRP: £74.95 ABV: 55.2% for a 700ml bottle.
Available to buy exclusively from cotswoldsdistillery.com
There are 1,600 bottles available.

Jameson Crested Launches Second Collaboration With Eight Degrees Brewing!

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Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees

Irish Distillers has joined forces with Eight Degrees Brewing to create a second experimental limited edition of the beloved Jameson Crested.

Launching this month, Jameson Crested Finished in Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel Barrels is the next step in an exciting collaboration between Irish Distillers and its Co. Cork neighbour, Eight Degrees.

Making the most of their close relationship, in 2020 Eight Degrees finished their Beligian Tripel craft beer in Jameson sherry casks. Named Devil’s Ladder after the best-known hiking route up Ireland’s tallest peak, the beer truly takes taste to new heights.

This is a limited-edition release of fewer than 6,000 bottles

Always seeking an opportunity to innovate, Jameson returned the compliment by selecting a special whiskey to mature in the beer-soaked barrels. After four months of maturation, the result is a stunning evolution of Jameson Crested, with abundant spices, floral hops and sweetness, while the oak and malt work in tandem to add a toasted cereal character.

It’s no secret that the flavours found in beer and whiskey complement each other.

We are delighted that in recent years our relationship and indeed proximity to Eight Degrees Brewing here in Cork has created a canvas for collaboration and experimentation in this space, both as part of the Jameson Caskmates Series and beyond.

The Belgian Tripel beer finish brings a balanced contribution to Jameson Crested, accentuating elements such as sweetness in the form of vanilla and brown sugar, as well as a roasted malt character and elevated clove notes.
– Dave McCabe: Irish Distillers’ Blender

It was in the spirit of innovation that we decided to rest Devil’s Ladder in Jameson sherry casks, adding sweetness and Christmas cake notes to our Belgian Tripel. We are thrilled that the story has now come full circle, with our beer imparting a delicate hoppy character to this iconic Irish whiskey.
– Daniel O’Shea: Head Brewer at Eight Degrees Brewing

A limited-edition release of fewer than 6,000 bottles, Jameson Crested Finished in Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel Barrels will launch in O’Brien’s Wines from 23rd April, specialist retailers off licenses from 26th April, and select markets through Jameson’s online shop at jamesonwhiskey.com from 28th April priced at €50 (70cl)

Jameson Crested Finished in Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel Barrels

Tasting Notes, by Dave McCabe, Blender, Midleton Distillery

Nose: Initial notes of clove spice and cinnamon along with rich caramelised brown sugar and a roasted malt character that complements the sherry casks’ influence of toasted oak and dried fruits.
 
Taste: Round with abundant spices and a delicate floral hoppy character. Vanilla sweetness comes to the fore with a soft fruit note lingering in the background while the oak and malt work in tandem adding a toasted cereal element to the whiskey.
 
Finish: Lingering with the spices slowly fading, allowing the sweet nature of the oak and malt to remain until the very end.

How to Drink:

Enjoy neat to get the best of this liquid or pair with a craft beer (Eight Degrees Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel). For something mixed try:

An Chéad Chéim / The First Step

Ingredients: 35.5ml Jameson Crested X Devils ladder, 150ml freshly squeezed Apple Juice (or store-bought cloudy apple juice), 3 dashes of cardamom bitters.

To Make: Fill Glass with ice. Pour whiskey. Add apple juice. Add 3 dashes of bitters, quick stir. Garnish with apple fan or wedge, serve.

Jameson Products are also available to buy from these Merchants:-

Glasgow Distillery Launches Exclusive “1770 Single Malt – The Coopers’ Cask Release” – Only 403 Bottles Available!

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Glasgow 1770 Single Malt, The Coopers’ Cask Release!

The Glasgow Distillery Company has announced the launch of their first distillery exclusive single malt whisky – Glasgow 1770 Single Malt, The Coopers’ Cask!

With only 403 individually numbered bottles available to purchase direct from the Glasgow Distillery website.

The Coopers’ Cask Release is the result of a collaboration between The Glasgow Distillery and US based Kelvin Cooperage, launched in celebration of the ancient skill of coopering; the art of creating casks made from wooden staves bound by metal hoops.

The brainchild of two highly skilled coopers, Hugh McMurray from The Glasgow Distillery and Kevin McLaughlin from Kelvin Cooperage, The Coopers’ Cask Release takes the unpeated spirit from an exceptional ex-port cask filled by the Glasgow Distillery in 2015, and lays it to rest in a unique hand-built cask which consists of half heavily charred virgin oak staves from Kelvin Cooperage and half ex-Glasgow 1770 Single Malt cask staves from The Glasgow Distillery.

Only 403 individually numbered bottles will be released!

Each set of staves interlocks with the other to form one unique vessel – a perfect Hogshead – which is said to highlight the power of Kelvin Cooperage’s virgin American Oak, balanced against the wonderfully smooth and fruity spirit being produced by The Glasgow Distillery.

The result is a wonderfully balanced single malt with soft notes of honey, summer fruits and toffee, a harmonious marriage of complex sweetness with a long, rich and slightly spicy finish.

The alliance forged between The Glasgow Distillery and Kelvin Cooperage not only seeks to celebrate the relationship between cooperage and distillery, but also embodies their mutual love of Glasgow; the industrious city where both the Kelvin Cooperage and Glasgow Distillery stories began.

The Glaswegian roots of Kelvin Cooperage can be traced back to the year 1963 when, on the banks of the River Kelvin, a local man, Ed McLaughlin, opened his own cooperage and started to repair and rejuvenate casks for whisky distilleries across Scotland and Ireland.

In the early 1990’s, Ed saw that the bourbon trade in the US was booming and, supported by his two sons Kevin and Paul, moved the business to Louisville, Kentucky where they began to service some of the biggest and best distilleries and wine producers in the country.

Despite being located at the other side of the Atlantic, the two brothers never forgot their roots and made frequent returns back to their home city, Glasgow.

Fast forward to 2012, The Glasgow Distillery sets out on a mission to bring single malt distilling back to the city, soon becoming Glasgow’s first independent single malt distillery for over one hundred years. The distillery then embark on a journey to find casks of the highest quality within which they could mature their spirit. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the name of a Kentucky-based cooperage was suggested, a familiar name: Kelvin Cooperage.

We are delighted to be collaborating with The Glasgow Distillery on The Coopers’ Cask Release. The Coopers’ Cask has been launched with the vision to bring our craftsmanship and expertise back to our home city of Glasgow in a way that is truly unique. This is Glasgow-distilled single malt, matured in a hand-built cask made by not just one, but two sets of Glasgow hands.

It is, however, with a heavy heart that we announce that Kevin, my much loved brother, Kelvin Cooperage’s fearless leader and one of the cooper’s who made this collaboration possible, passed away in December 2019 before the launch of this release. The Coopers’ Cask Release is therefore launched in honour of Kevin, who was instrumental in bringing this project together and whose memory lives on within the spirit.
– Paul McLaughlin: owner of Kelvin Cooperage

We’re very excited to launch our first Glasgow 1770 distillery exclusive – The Coopers’ Cask Release. This unique hand-built cask – cask no 15/87 – is the physical embodiment of the relationship that exists between cooperage and distillery and ultimately, the relationship between wood and spirit – the fundamental elements that come together to make great single malt scotch.

Kevin and Paul embraced our vision from the outset and we quickly became friends so it is a bitter sweet moment to launch The Coopers’ Cask Release without Kevin here to witness it. We are very grateful to the whole McLaughlin family for their continued support throughout this project, especially as it has been a particularly difficult time for them all.
– Liam Hughes: CEO and Co-Founder of The Glasgow Distillery

Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – The Coopers’ Cask Release – is The Glasgow Distillery’s first distillery exclusive bottling.

Each of the 403 individually numbered bottles come packaged in an individually numbered presentation carton, each containing a booklet that tells the tale behind the collaboration cask.
The spirit within is non-chill filtered and natural in colour, bottled at a strength of 53.3% ABV and priced at £59 per bottle, exclusively available to purchase on the The Glasgow Distillery website: glasgowdistillery.com.

TASTING NOTES

Cask No. 15/87
Abv: 53.3%

On the nose: notes of summer orchard and berry fruits, with peaches, plums and raspberries, open up to succulent toffee and notes of sweet vanilla.

Tropical fruit and biscuit on the palate with sweet peaches and toffee apples lead to rich honey with subtle layers of warm spice and a hint of soft liquorice.

The finish is long and smooth with hints of summer blossom harmoniously balanced with lingering tropical fruit and spice.

Glasgow Distillery products are available to buy from these Merchants:-

Sampling The Lakes Distillery “Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4” – More Please!

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The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4

English whiskymaker The Lakes Distillery has announced the release of their latest single malt whisky, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4!

An evolution in the journey to define their sherry-led house style, the new whisky is an artistic exploration of maturation and blending. Supremely balanced and complex, it is a single malt whisky matured in the finest, meticulously sourced Oloroso, PX and red wine casks, comprising Spanish, American and French oak.

A single malt whisky matured in the finest, meticulously sourced Oloroso, PX and red wine casks!

At 52% ABV and bottled at natural colour, it possesses the same sherry-led, wood-forward and flavour-packed characteristics of previous releases, with a more restrained, sophisticated, and almost Moorish influence.

From the American and Spanish oak casks, big notes of Manuka honey, sun-dried dates, and roasted cashew nuts lead to layers of dried fruit, nuts and spice, with an indulgent velvet-cream finish.

One of our most complex yet approachable whiskies in the series to date, this is a well-balanced and contemplative whisky, ideal to enjoy after dinner or with good friends.
– Dhavall Gandhi: The Lakes Distillery’s whiskymaker

Available now from LakesDistillery.com – the RRP is £65 for a 70cl bottle.

The Lakes Distillery have kindly sent me a sample of their new dram to try (Thanks Lakes Distillery!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 Single Malt Whisky (52%)

Nose: Sherry in abundance! Vanilla, creamy fudge, toffee which is countered by sharp blackcurrant, rich dark chocolate and blood oranges.

Palate: Punchy with sweet sherried fruits, dark chocolate, hints of blackcurrant and orange.

Finish: All the flavours above continue along very nicely with the finish ending in dry spiciness.

Overall: Morish the Press Release says? Yes I say!

A very satisfying blending with some nice sweet, tangy, spicy flavours.

More Please!

Other Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are available to buy from:-

About Lakes Distillery

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery creates an exceptional collection of whiskies, gins and vodkas and attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.

Twice named ‘one of eight distilleries to visit before you die’ by the World Whisky Day campaign, the visitor centre, bistro and tour has held Visit England’s Gold accolade for the last three years and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

On 7 September 2019, The Lakes Distillery unveiled the first in a series of widely available single malt whisky releases that will showcase their house style, defined by whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi.

The Lakes’ Story

The Lake District has long been a crucible for creativity, a place in which the imagination can flourish, and it’s no different for The Lakes Distillery. Taking inspiration from the UNESCO World Heritage Site where our state-of-the-art distillery has been built meticulously within a 160-year-old farmstead on the banks of the River Derwent, the idea of distilling being distinct individual elements is not how we look at the art. Rather it is part of a continuum, a net of possibilities where everything is interlinked. Change one element and the effect will change everything else.

Only by understanding how flavours are created throughout the spirit’s journey through the distillery can our whiskymaker fully comprehend the possibilities. That is why, unusually, Dhavall Gandhi is actively involved at every stage. It is holistic whisky-making, to ensure every flavour possibility is achieved.

Find out more about our whisky story at www.LakesDistillery.com

Recent Awards

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’ and 19th fastest growing brand in Alantra’s 2019 Food and Beverage Fast 50, The Lakes’ portfolio of award-winning spirits includes single malt whisky, blended malt whisky, blended whisky, gin and vodka. Recently, they received the following prestigious World Drinks awards:
2020:
World’s Best English Single Malt Whisky, No Age Statement (Gold Award) – The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
International Spirit’s Challenge (ISC), World Single Malt Whisky (Gold Award) – The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
International Wine And Spirit Competition (IWSC), Spirit Gold Award – The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1
2019:
World’s Best Blended Malt Whisky, No Age Statement (Best in English Category) – Steel Bonnets
World’s Best Blended Limited Release Whisky, No Age Statement (Best in English Category) – The ONE Sherry Expression
World’s Best Gin (Gold Award) – The Lakes Gin
World’s Best Gin Liqueur (Gold Award) – The Lakes Rhubarb & Rosehip Gin Liqueur
World’s Best Vodka (World’s Best) – The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur (World’s Best) – The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur

Sampling Kilchoman’s Loch Gorm 2021 – A ‘Jack Of All Flavours’ – And A Master Of All Of Them!

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The Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021!

The hotly anticipated Loch Gorm 2021 from Kilchoman Distillery has once again had its annual release!

Named after Islay’s largest freshwater loch neighbouring the distillery, Loch Gorm is their only annual limited edition matured entirely in oloroso sherry casks.

Year on year the vatting of Loch Gorm subtly changes (and sometimes not so subtly), in age, colour and character. 

The 2021 edition is a vatting of 24 oloroso sherry butts filled in 2011 and 2012

The 2021 edition is a vatting of 24 oloroso sherry butts filled in 2011 and 2012. These large 500 litre sherry butts have been sourced from Bodega Miguel Martin in Spain and filled with Kilchoman spirit peated to 50ppm.

Once these casks had been matured for a minimum of 9 years, they were then vatted together and bottled at 46% abv, resulting in 17,000 bottles being made available to Kilchoman fans around the world. 

Although we have always filled the bulk of our spirit into ex-bourbon barrels, the Loch Gorm releases have shown how well our peated Islay spirit can combine with sherry casks, something that’s not always an easy task.

Rich bold flavours with a breadth, depth and balance of character that sets it apart, the 2021 edition is packed with juicy fruit, macerated lemon and sweet chargrilled BBQ smoke.
– Anthony Wills: Kilchoman Founder and Master Distiller

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021 retails in the £69.95+ range.

Kilchoman has kindly sent me a sample to try (Thanks kilchomandistillery.com / @Kilchomanwhisky!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021 Islay Whisky (46%)

Nose: Rich, smokey, peaty nose with smooth sherry. Then along comes some apple and vanilla with buttery biscuit. The peatiness fades away after a time to be replaced by lemon creams and fruit cake – delightful!

Palate: Sweet, thick, plump fruits with sweet spices including cinnamon. Add in some lemon citrus and dark chocolate and you have a gorgeous palate right there!

Finish: Strong black pepper, sweet liquorice, smokey polish finishing with a dry peat, smoke finish.

Overall: A cracking dram and I love it! Rich flavours abound and I can’t fault it. This whisky is a ‘Jack of all flavours’ – and it’s the Master of all of them!

Kilchoman is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Many thanks to kilchomandistillery.com (@Kilchomanwhisky) for sending me the sample!

About Kilchoman

Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have been joined by their three sons; George, James and Peter.

Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this.

Sampling The Jura Rum Cask Finish – The Taste Of A Whisky Tropical Paradise!

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The Jura Rum Cask Finish!

Jura Single Malt whisky recently released their latest addition to their product range in the shape of Jura Rum Cask Finish, a fruity, exotic single malt bringing the lively taste of the tropical to its range of whiskies!

Perfect paired with pineapple!

Initially matured in American White Oak Ex Bourbon barrels, the spirit went on to conclude its maturation journey in hand selected Caribbean Rum Casks to create a smooth, creamy and fruity finish.

Our Jura Cask Editions have been created to showcase cask types in partnership with the Jura distillery character. The flavours offer interesting interpretations of our classic style, making them ideal for those looking to explore new flavours and finishes.

With Jura Rum Cask Finish, the taste experience has been enhanced through the finish to create a beautifully tropical and fruity result. In making this release, we wanted to share a Single Malt that’s easy drinking and great value with compelling character!
– Gregg Glass: Whisky Maker & Blender at Whyte & Mackay

Jura Rum Cask Finish has launched initially in the UK, available in Tesco stores at £45 for 1 litre.

Jura Whisky has kindly sent me a sample to try (Thanks jurawhisky.com (@jurawhisky!)

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Jura Rum Cask Finish (40%)

Nose: Hints of tropical fruits which steadily grows. There’s also vanilla, caramel, fudge and sweet muscovado sugar.

Palate: Sherbet sweet with vanilla, toffee and tropical flavours which start to make a slow appearance along the way.

Finish: Smooth finish with growing, warming pepper, tropical fruit hints and sweet vanilla. Moderately dry finish.

Overall: A great dram, the tropical flavours made me want to sing “Here Comes The Sun” over and over again while I was sampling!

And just to cap it all I also received some Pineapple pieces with which to try a bit of taste pairing: The result? Very nice – the two go together very well – a whisky tropical paradise in fact!

Once again, many thanks to jurawhisky.com (@jurawhisky) for sending me the sample!

Jura is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

Not Long Now! – It’s The SMWS April Virtual Tasting!

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The SMWS April Virtual Tasting!

Not Long Now!

The UK April Virtual Tasting will take place on
Thursday, 22 April at 8pm!

Buy Your Pack: £35.00

Hosted by Madeleine Schmoll who will be joined by Society favourites Olaf Meier and Kami Newton they will guide us through the five spectacular drams in April’s Discovery Pack!

All you need is a tasting mat, your drams pack and a computer to join us on their UK Facebook page (or the SMWS Silverscreen channel.)



Drams to be sampled on the night are:-

48.118 Trekking in the jungle

82.31 Give free rein to the imagination

26.160 Fruit market – candy store

G8.17 Candles, kumquats and polished oak

42.52 Wood smoke through a porthole

About The SMWS

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other.

As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, they are also internationally renowned for their mission: “to provide our members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest collection of single cask whiskies.”

Conceptualised in the late 70’s and established in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, now 35 years old, has branches and partners bars in 19 countries globally. The Society has a selection of over 500 casks every year, each cask yielding a few hundred or less whisky bottles which are unique to that cask.

Rather than name their Whiskies after the distillery, the Society has a coding system. The Society also creates fantastic tasting notes summaries for their Whiskies and other bottles. The whiskies are straight from the cask single malt, undiluted, without chill-filtration or colouring at cask strength.

More recently the Society has been named Independent Bottler of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Independent Bottlers’ Challenge (IBC) competition.

Compass Box’s Award Winning Whiskies Get New Look – Welcome ‘Artist Blend’ & ‘Glasgow Blend’!

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Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend

Compass Box Scotch Whiskymakers have evolved their permanent collection and redesigned the labels for two of their popular, award-winning blended Scotch whiskies and simplified their names to: Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend.

Artist blend

Loyal fans of the previously named Great King Street collection need not worry as both expressions contain the same award-winning liquid.

When I first created these blended Scotch whiskies I was inspired by the writing of Aeneas MacDonald in his classic 1930 book, ‘Whisky’.

MacDonald wrote about the distinct differences in whisky taste between the citizens of Edinburgh and Glasgow. He also detailed what blended Scotch whisky recipes were like at the time. This was all hugely inspirational to me when I first created Artist Blend and Glasgow Blend and it made these whiskies, in effect, an homage to Scotland’s two biggest cities.
– John Glaser: Compass Box founder and creator

Internationally renowned and award-winning designers Stranger & Stranger have added their own creative twist to both labels, conveying the tale of the two cities and two whiskies through new labels that celebrate the diversity of thinking and originality of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The designs are a homage to blending’s golden age in the late 19th century when individuals used artistry, creativity, and craft to pioneer the world-famous spirit: blended Scotch whisky (which is defined as a blend of single malt and single grain whiskies from different distilleries).

Artist Blend (formally Great King Street Artist’s Blend)

A tribute to Edinburgh, the new label depicts an artist in front of the world-famous Scottish National Gallery and embodies the creative spirit of Compass Box.

Compass Box Founder, John Glaser, first created this whisky in 2011 and was inspired by 100-year-old recipes. This blended Scotch whisky has a higher proportion of single malt whiskies than is normally found in blends today, and is reminiscent of apple, salted caramel and baking spices. Artist Blend has a notably creamy mouthfeel and long finish.

A vibrantly fruity and creamy flavour profile complements the artistic endeavour and creative flair that the city is famous for. Artist Blend can be drunk neat, with a splash of water or on the rocks, and is versatile enough for cocktail creation or even a classic Highball.

RRP: £37 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 43%, natural colour and non-chill filtered.
– Available from: compassboxwhisky.com

Glasgow Blend (formally Great King Street Glasgow Blend)

Glasgow Blend

Conceived as a contrast to Artist Blend, it represents the bold, fearless and humorous personality of the Glaswegians. One of Glasgow’s most iconic landmarks, the statue of the Duke of Wellington, which has had various traffic cones placed on its head for the past 30 years, is on the new label for Glasgow Blend as it is a symbol of the city’s sense of humour.

This is an old-school peaty blended Scotch whisky, originally created by John Glaser in 2014, that draws on an historical reference that Glaswegians have long preferred bigger, smokier whiskies.

With a high malt content, Glasgow Blend is full, bold and smoky on the palate and unites the rich spice and fruitcake-like notes of Sherry cask ageing with the maritime punch of Islay malt whisky.

Glasgow Blend can be poured into a tumbler or wine glass and enjoyed pre- or post-dinner, perhaps with a splash of water. The added weight of this bold blend brings extra depth to whisky-based cocktails.

RRP: £37 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 43%, natural colour and non-chill filtered.
– Available from: compassboxwhisky.com

These two versatile Compass Box whiskies, loved by bartenders around the world, can now take pride of place in home bars and are set to become the essential ingredient for home cocktail creation.

Compass Box is available to buy from these Merchants:-

ABOUT COMPASS BOX

We are Scotch whiskymakers. This word ‘whiskymaker’ is our word – it does not appear in a dictionary. And for 20 years we have been relentlessly focused on reinventing Scotch whisky, with every new blend designed to help make the world of whisky a more interesting place. Of course, we have not done it on our own. We have collaborated with some of the world’s most visionary bartenders and designers to really push the boundaries of what is possible. We have won more awards for innovation than any other producer in Scotland because we are always experimenting. Always looking for sparks of creativity that will deliver something totally compelling, yet completely surprising. Whiskies that just must be experienced. This vision motivates us as whiskymakers. Our blends are consistently rated equal to or better than the great single malts of Scotland by the most respected voices in the industry. Six-time Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year. 2020 Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee, John Glaser, Founder of Compass Box.

JOHN GLASER, WHISKYMAKER

American ex-pat John Glaser is the founder and head whiskymaker of Compass Box, the boutique Scotch whisky blending house widely recognised in the industry for their innovative approach to the creation and enjoyment of whisky. John began his career on a path to become a winemaker, before re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as a Marketing Director for Johnnie Walker in London. With a desire to do things differently, John started Compass Box from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000 in order to bring the joys of Scotch whisky to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most compelling whisky companies, re-imagining the standards for quality and style in the industry. In 2020, John was inducted into the Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame. Two decades later, Compass Box now has two blending rooms in London, a team of 20 working internationally and stocks of maturing whiskies in Scotland. In 2020, Compass Box celebrates its 20th anniversary. With a forward-looking approach and unrelenting focus on creativity and integrity, John and his team continue to take forward his mission to make the world of Scotch whisky a more interesting place.

New Balvenie Whisky Arrivals From Edencroft!

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The Balvenie / The Week of Peat Aged 14 Years.
£65.00

New Arrivals

The Balvenie / The Week of Peat Aged 14 Years.
The Balvenie / The Week of Peat Aged 14 Years.
£65.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age: 
Strength: %.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Balvenie.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Stories.

BOTTLED: 2019

AGE: 14 Year Old.

ABV: % Vol.

THE WEEK OF PEAT

Eager to experiment with The Balvenie profile using what he had learnt from a recent trip to Islay, distillery manager Ian Millar ordered a batch of Speyside peat for the kiln. For a week a year, The Balvenie distills a batch of peated malt, resulting in a whisky rich in honey, vanilla and citrus notes with an extra layer of delicate smokiness.

NOSE: Gentle sweet peat smoke, lighter floral notes and delicate butterscotch honey.

TASTE: Velvety and round to taste with the peat smoke balancing citrus flavours, oaky vanilla and blossom honey.

FINISH: Gentle smoke with a lingering and creamy vanilla sweetness.
The Balvenie / The Edge of Burnhead Wood Aged 19 Years.
The Balvenie / The Edge of Burnhead Wood Aged 19 Years.
£260.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age: 
Strength: 48.7%.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Balvenie.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Stories.

BOTTLED: 2020

AGE: 19 Year Old.

ABV: 48.7% Vol.

THE EDGE OF BURNHEAD WOOD

Inspired by the fragrant, heather cloaked highlands which surround The Balvenie Distillery, The Edge of Burnhead Wood celebrates the pastoral tale of how The Balvenie craftsmen experimented with the distillery’s natural resources to find the perfect match between fresh heather and barley. The expression, which is made from locally sourced ingredients found in the distillery grounds home grown barley malted at The Balvenie Maltings, water from the Robbie Dhu spring, and fresh heather from Burnhead Wood retains the familiar robust Balvenie taste, with a delicate fruitiness, as well as notes of light spice and juicy fruits.

NOSE: Nose: Lively and vibrant, this Balvenie has notes of fig and geranium oil perfectly balanced with fresh herbal undertones reminiscent of green woodland.

TASTE: Flavours of honey, cloves and caramelised baked dates are layered on top of delicate citrus and spice. The sweetness reveals an underlying oaky dryness.

FINISH: Lingering, oaky, dried blossom.
The Balvenie / TUN 1509 Batch 7.
The Balvenie / TUN 1509 Batch 7.
£300.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age: 
Strength: 52.4%.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Balvenie.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Batch 7.

BOTTLED: 2020

CASK TYPE: Refill Sherry Butts, Ex-Bourbon Barrels.

ABV: 52.4% Vol.

To create Batch No7 of the Balvenie Tun 1509, David C. Stewart MBE carefully hand-selected 21 of the finest casks – 4 ex-American barrels, 10 Sherry butts and 7 hogsheads – from the distilleries precious aged whiskies. These 21 casks then spent 3 months knitting together in a traditional marrying Tun to create this exquisite liquid.

The Whisky Exchange – Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish – Is It For You?!

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Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish!

Laphroaig 10 Year Old is one of the best-loved – and most divisive – single malt whiskies on the market.

Its powerful, peaty flavour has become synonymous with Islay, and also the whisky version of the Marmite test!

This newest incarnation takes Classic Laphroaig 10 Year Old, aged for most of its life in ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period spent in ex-oloroso sherry casks.

A beautiful balance of punchy peat flavour and rich, fruity sherry-cask influence!

So expect a richly-flavoured whisky, laden with notes of seaweed, dark fruits, honey and well-cured bacon.

Find out if this dram is for you!

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