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Sampling The Irishman Whiskies – Tweet Tasting Some Irish Magic!

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The Irishman – The Harvest

Last Wednesday nights @TweetTastings, hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire, gave us the opportunity to sample The Irishman range of whiskies.

The drams sampled were:-

  • The Irishman The Harvest
  • The Irishman 12 Years Old
  • The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish
  • The Irishman Cask Strength 2022

If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #TheIrishmanWhiskey on Twitter.

So, what did I think?

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

Tasting Notes – The Irishman The Harvest (40%)


Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Cask: American oak Bourbon barrels
Blend Mix: 70% single malt – 30% single pot still
RRP: £34.00

As part of the brands recent €500,000 rebrand, The Irishman – The Harvest, which was previously known as Founder’s Reserve, is a marriage of American oak Bourbon matured single malt and single pot still whiskeys, triple distilled and made using 100% Irish barley.

Nose: Crisp, green apples, fruit juice sweetness with lemon and hints of orange & citric acid.

Palate: Creamy, sweet palate with luxurious mouthfeel. Green apples, cane sugar, tropical fruits and growing chocolate.

Finish: A touch of spice and a dash of dryness but the honeyed sweetness wins out in the end!
Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Tasting Notes – The Irishman 12 Years Old (43%)


Irish Single Malt Whiskey
ABV: 43%
Cask: First-fill charred Bourbon barrels
RRP: £43.00

Triple distilled and made using 100% Irish barley.

I didn’t get the chance to sample this dram but it was a cracker if the comments by my fellow tweeters was anything to go by!

Tasting Notes – The Irishman Caribbean Cask Finish (46%)


Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Casks: Initially matured in American oak Bourbon barrels, before being finished in Chairman’s Reserve St Lucian rum casks for 6 months.
RRP: £58.00

Said to be a combination of St Lucian character and Irish heritage, it is triple distilled and made using 100% Irish barley.

Nose: ‘Earthier’ than the previous whiskies with apples and banana giving way to stewed fruits and rum n’ raisin ice cream with biscuit. Add in some fruit pastry and hints of coffee and I’m well and truly hungry!

Palate: Creamy tropical banana with melted rum and raisin ice cream atop. Plus, there’s sweet digestive biscuits dipped in!

Finish: Some strong dark chocolate at the end tops off a very remarkable dram!
Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Tasting Notes – The Irishman Cask Strength 2022 (54.9%)


Blended Irish Whiskey
ABV: 54.9%
Casks: American oak Bourbon barrel matured single malt and single pot still whiskeys
RRP: £115.00

An annual release, limited to just 6,100 bottles, it is triple distilled and made using 100% Irish barley.

Nose: A subtler nose for this dram but there’s apples, vanilla & citrus.

Palate: Mmm … very lush! Thick, creamy and fruity! Plump raisins, vanilla and toffee.

Finish: The palate continues joined by woody dryness plus sweet, dark chocolate.

Overall: A cracking dram – well worth the investment!
Available to buy from these Merchants:-

Part of The Irishman range of whiskies!

My Favourite On The Night

1. Cask Strength 2022
2. The Harvest
3. Caribbean Cask Finish

Cask Strength 2022 knocks it out of the park for me – a subtler nose but a cracking palate!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for a great evening and The Irishman (@WalshWhiskey) for sending the samples and without whom!

My fellow Tweet Tasters on the night were:-


@TheWhiskyWire @WhiskyLee232 @WhiskyWings @whiskyrover @WhiskyWithMolly @FiShoop @TomsDram @PhilScott101 @WalshWhiskey @sprungatom @ManyMilesWhisky @WhiskyUnplugged @scotch_whisky78 @MaltBox @whiskyRubhach @_PMcDermott @ultanfinegan @bogstandarddram @StillTripleDist @sirdeco @Marc_Whiskey @WhiskeyPundit @grainnemoshea @dram_gazette @IRLWhiskeyStout

The Irishman is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Compass Box Releases Limited Edition “The Circle, No. 2” – Transforming Colour Into Flavour Through The Phenomenon Of Synaesthesia!

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COMPASS BOX RELEASES THE CIRCLE, NO. 2

Compass Box Scotch whiskymakers announce an exciting new Limited Edition. The Circle, No. 2 is the latest to emerge from their global bartender competition, The Circle, and is inspired by a rare sensation known as synaesthesia.

The whisky will be available in the UK from 1st June, with only 3,113 bottles available worldwide.

The Circle programme serves to connect the creative processes of the blending room with those of the bar trade, exploring imaginative and unusual ideas and bringing like-minded individuals together to learn, share and create. Mannie Monaghan won the competition in 2019, the last time The Circle was able to run. Mannie, owner of the bar, Below Stairs, in Leeds, UK, tapped into the phenomenon of synaesthesia, asking the Compass Box whiskymakers “Is it possible to make a whisky that evokes the colour coral?”

There are only 3,113 bottles available

Synaesthesia refers to a blending of the senses. It can involve hearing shapes, tasting days of the week, or smelling colours and is as varied in its forms and intensities as the people who experience it. As a synaesthete himself, Mannie, was able to bring the full force of his taste buds and personal colour palette to the Compass Box blending rooms, fostering a unique creative process for the whiskymaking team.

What does the colour coral taste like? It’s unmistakably warm, familiar, and powerful.

Translating that sensation into whisky has led us to create wonderful warm whisky that expresses the positivity and vibrancy of Living Coral, Pantone’s colour of the year in 2019.
– Mannie Monaghan: Global bartender competition winner 2019

Over two lengthy sessions, Mannie joined whiskymaker James Saxon in the Blending Rooms. Not synaesthetic himself, James relied on Mannie to first identify parcels of whisky with coral-like qualities. This was an exciting challenge and great fun, scouring the shelves for samples of whiskies with the intensity and beauty that matched the colour in Mannie’s mind.

Gradually a lovely, soft, and sweet whisky took shape. More than half of the recipe is tropical, pineapple-accented whisky from the Glen Elgin Distillery, while whiskies aged in Sherry casks lend warmth, energy, and a clinging texture. Dashes of a peated whisky, and a little malt whisky further matured in STR wine casks, bring contrast and depth. The Circle, No. 2 was created as an outdoor whisky to be enjoyed with friends, lounging on a lazy afternoon as the sun sets.

Key flavours expressed by the whisky are pineapple and stewed peach alongside vanilla, honey and sultanas soaked in Cognac. Compass Box wanted the label design to reflect the collaborative whiskymaking process and the fusing of the senses, as well as bring to life the luminous beauty of coral.

Creating The Circle, No. 2 with Mannie has shown us that the senses can be blended together, and that they can inform one another. This is the beauty of collaboration – we have only had the opportunity to run two editions of The Circle programme, but hopefully we can have many more surprising meetings of minds in the years to come.

Not being synaesthetic, working with Mannie in the Blending Rooms was a bit like trying to learn a new language. Gradually, I was able to suggest parcels of whisky that met Mannie’s vision more precisely. By the end, I did feel as though I was seeing colours too! We are so pleased to finally be able to release this whisky, and that we can start to look forward to bringing bartenders together again.
– James Saxon: Lead whiskymaker

Compass Box Limited Edition The Circle, No. 2 (RRP £130, ABV 46%) @CompassBoxWhiskyCo (Instagaram)

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.

ABOUT THE CIRCLE PROGRAMME

Compass Box launched The Circle programme in 2018 to connect the creative processes of their Blending Room
with those of the bar trade. The programme involves inviting a select group of bartenders from around the globe
to join the Compass Box whiskymakers on an adventure of flavours by undertaking a series of creative challenges.
A number of heats take place globally before a three-day global final in London. A winner is then selected who is
rewarded with the opportunity to create their own limited edition Compass Box whisky for everyone to enjoy.
2018’s winner was London’s Rosey Mitchell from the bar Three Sheets. After an unavoidable pause on the
programme over the past two years, Compass Box are looking to the future and ways to expand and develop The
Circle.
Synaesthesia is as far outside most people’s perception as a fourth dimension. Yet to some, the concept of the
senses entangling so they can taste music or see flavour is entirely natural. The Circle, No. 2 is an experiment in
one bartender’s fascinating sensory world. Like all their whiskies though, the ultimate experience is shaped by the
individual. To other synaesthetes, a sip may evoke the colour purple, or taste like D minor, while those with
conventionally connected senses will still interpret the deliciousness in their own idiosyncratic way.

Elixir Names Their New Islay Distillery PORTINTRUAN!

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Elixir Distillers has confirmed that their new Islay distillery will be called PORTINTRUAN!

Just over six months after breaking ground, and after much speculation from whisky enthusiasts around the world, Elixir Distillers has confirmed that their new Islay distillery will be called PORTINTRUAN!

Located just outside the town of Port Ellen on Islay’s south coast on the way to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries, Portintruan is pronounced Port-nah-truan. It takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located and means ‘place of the stream’.

Elixir Distillers has always taken a flavourled approach and this will be the Portintruan philosophy as well. We will be utilising a number of old-style
production techniques which we believe will accentuate the depth and character of the spirit.

A key part of the process will be using malt predominantly from our own floor maltings on-site, and we will be using direct-fired wash stills for the distillation. We plan to work with different phenol levels across the range, which will all have their own specific flavour profiles.
– Sukhinder Singh: Co-owner

Portintruan will be where the past meets the future, combining these old-style production techniques with modern technology to improve process and quality, and of course sustainability. Being sustainable is one of the most important factors in Portintruan’s plans.

Working within what is currently possible on Islay, we want to be as green and as responsible as we can. We are talking to the Islay Energy Trust, our fellow distillers on the island and suppliers to ensure we take all opportunities to be greener.

We are using the latest technology to implement a heat loop for our water usage to ensure the maximum amount is recycled and reused with the heat recovered for other processes. We’re also using a bio diesel for our direct-fired stills which is the cleanest fuel we can currently source, and we’re building the distillery so that it can use hydrogen power once that is available.
– Georgie Crawford: Distillery Manager

Portintruan will be adding an experimental distillery within the site – so it will be two distilleries in one. This will enable the team to produce not only different Scotch whisky styles but also rum. Plans for the distillery site also include 14 houses for Islay families working at the distillery, a visitor’s centre, a bar and restaurant, a tasting room bothy overlooking the sea, and a multi-purpose educational facility which will serve as a base for an apprentice programme to train the next generation of distillers.

The distillery name is being announced in time for the 2022 Fèis Ìle, the annual festival of whisky and music on Islay which will be held in person for the first time since 2019. The festival runs from Friday 27th May to Saturday 4th June and is set to welcome around 10,000 whisky-loving visitors to the island.

The Elixir Distillers team will be setting up two cabins on the distillery site to welcome Islay whisky enthusiasts wishing to see Portintruan in the earliest stages of its development.

Visitors will be able to peruse the distillery plans, look out over the site of the distillery and chat with members of the Elixir Distillers team over a dram or two of one of their Islay whiskies. Elixir Distillers will also be running a number of tastings and events across Islay during the festival. Full details can be found on the festival website

Work on the site is well underway, with ground works complete and foundations about to commence, followed by the steel work. Portintruan is anticipating starting distilling from early 2024.

The Dalmore Distillery Announces New Investment Programme!

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The Dalmore Distillery

Founded in 1839,The Dalmore has gone on to become an exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky, admired for its depth and finesse. Despite experiencing phenomenal demand for its whisky, the distillery has retained a uniquely intimate scale, nestled beside North Scotland’s great waterway – The Cromarty Firth.

The capital investment programme proposes a new whisky making facility and visitor experience, whilst retaining the distinctive character of the distillery. A beautiful Pagoda, sat elegantly atop The Old Dalmore Kiln, will mark the heart of the reimagined distillery. Existing estate will be repurposed, breathing new life into historic realms, to create an iconic distillery, home to an exceptional Single Malt.

The vision is to honour the whisky making artistry that takes place at The Dalmore. The distillery is unique; known for its idiosyncratic symphony of stills, and curation of exquisite casks, it has been the birthplace of an unrivalled catalogue of rare and aged releases. The programme will retain the character of the estate, taking great care with the unique nature of the distillery and that of its famed new make spirit. The reimagined distillery will allow The Dalmore’s whisky making artistry to shine.

The investment will ensure a sustainable future for The Dalmore and its exceptional whisky making. In 2021 the parent group – Whyte and Mackay Ltd – published The Green Print; their sustainability strategy, which set the objective to become Net Zero by 2040. This investment will create a new whisky making and production facility, built to exacting sustainability standards, and transitioning the site to a green energy solution.

The announcement is made as The Dalmore continues to enjoy unrivalled demand, becoming the No.1 fastest growing Single Malt. In 2021 The Dalmore achieved a record-breaking performance at auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, whilst industry authority Rare Whisky 101 recognised the brand as one of the world’s most investible Single Malts.

Threesixty Architecture have been appointed architects, Blyth and Blyth Consulting Engineers lead designers and whisky industry authority Forsyths are consulting on the process and the whisky making aspect of the development. Formal Planning Application has been submitted.

Whyte & Mackay Announces Industry First!

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Whyte and Mackay Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass (third from left) is joined by colleagues and members of the Scotch Whisky Association – including CEO Mark Kent (fifth from left) – at the filling of Scottish Oak barrels at the Tamnavulin distillery, Speyside.

Esteemed whisky making house Whyte and Mackay has announced a landmark achievement, with every distillery in its collection now incorporated into the company’s industry-leading Scottish Oak Programme – an industry first!

The initiative, founded by pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass, led the industry to explore the potential for responsibly sourced, locally grown Scottish Oak to mature Scotch Whisky. The industry has historically favoured Oak sourced from outside Scotland.

Tamnavulin, in Speyside, joined the programme this week as Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), joined the whisky makers to personally fill these special Scottish Oak casks.

The distillery follows island distillery Jura, and Fettercairn, located in ‘the Garden of Scotland’ – Aberdeenshire, where the initiative was born. Each distillery now has whisky experiments laid down to explore and evaluate the impact locally grown Oak has on each distinct distillery style and to identify the flavour characteristics that Scottish Oak lends to Scotch Whisky.

In doing so, the distilleries are paving the way for the wider use of responsibly sourced Scottish oak for future generations of whisky makers.

Led by Gregg Glass, Whyte and Mackay’s move towards Scottish oak maturation is an exploration into the unique flavour that the oak species possesses, as well as future-proofing both the sourcing and seasoning of cask options for the wider whisky industry, striving towards a more sustainable future.

The filling of these special casks is really a celebration of the partnerships Whyte and Mackay has nurtured over time, which will ultimately benefit the whole industry.
– Ludo Ducrocq: Head of Whisky Experience at Whyte and Mackay

Glass has been exploring the use of native oak species for many years through Whyte and Mackay’s experimental arm, Whisky Works, which has previously celebrated the release of The King of Trees, a 10 year old blended malt finished in Scottish oak casks.

Since his appointment in 2016, Glass has developed long lasting partnerships with landowners and cooperages that share Whyte and Mackay’s vision for the future. Rooted in exemplary forestry management and considerate cooping practices, Whyte and Mackay believes that focusing on responsible sourcing and meaningful partnerships will drive positive change in the industry, leading to better whisky for everyone.

The Scottish Oak Programme seeks to inspire change within the Scotch whisky industry. We want to champion the potential that home-grown oak offers the spirits industry, and the incredible diversity of flavour it offers the whisky maker.
– Gregg Glass: Master Whisky Maker

The Picture above shows From left to right:

Joe Ricketts, Blender and Whisky maker

Kieran Healey-Ryder, Head of Whisky Discovery

Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker

Gavin Shearer, Distillery Team

Mark Kent, CEO Scotch whisky Association

Lindesay Low, Deputy Director – Legal Affairs, Scotch Whisky Association,

Shane Healy, Distilling Director Whyte and Mackay

Sam Douglas, Brewer Tamnavulin

Leon Webb, Distillery Manager Tamnavulin

Kirsty Hodge, Blender and Whisky Maker

Sampling The Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition – An Inviting Whisky Where Everyone’s Welcome!

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Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition!

Speyside’s Tamnavulin Distillery has launched its latest creation, Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition, following on from the success and popularity of the Red Wine Cask Editions!

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition showcases the distinctive orchard fruit character of the Speyside distillery, which complements the flavours enhanced by the white wine finish. In line with Tamnavulin’s tradition of double matured whiskies, this expression began its life in American White Oak barrels, before undergoing its second maturation in Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition Goes Really Well With Elderflower & Soda!

The resulting whisky is rich, fresh and fruity with a soft, dry finish. It is defined on the nose by signature orchard green apple notes which combine with banana, ripe honeydew melon and white peach together with fresh citrus, jasmine and vanilla coconut cream. Flavours of lemon, grapefruit and baked apple tart together with a hint of cinnamon spice, ginger and lime biscuits please the palate.

The influence of the white wine cask offers a bright and fruity accompaniment to the sweet, mellow and smooth character of Tamnavulin and taps into consumers’ love of white wine. A finish rarely seen in the retail space, this whisky has an accessible fruity profile as well as offering drinkers greater choice and diversity of flavour without breaking the bank.

The Speyside single malt brand was brought back to life in 2016 to offer a compelling single malt proposition to price conscious consumers looking for a credible, quality alternative to blends and a solution to those looking to begin exploring the malt category. Since then, it has fast developed a reputation as a premium, trusted brand which is demanding consumer and trade attention alike.

This success is testament to the quality of Tamnavulin’s single malts and demand for such whiskies at a competitive price, which is fuelling repeat purchase and encouraging blended whisky shoppers to trade up.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition is now widely available in the UK with the US and select European markets following in the coming months, at an RSP of £32.

So, what did I think?

Tamnavulin has kindly sent me a sample to try. Thanks Tamnavulin / @tamnavulinwh!

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

Tasting Notes – Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition (40%)

Nose: Crisp, green apples with creamy cane sugar, banana and tropical fruit hints.

Palate: Apples, cane sugar, light caramel and lightly floral creaminess with dryness slowly coming through.

Finish: The dryness continues but there’s a nice tropical sweetness making a welcome appearance together with a hint of spice.

Overall: Light is the key with this dram which would be most welcome as a Summer tipple. A light, delicate whisky that’s inviting – but not pushy!

Tamnavulin is available to buy from these Merchants:-

About Tamnavulin

On the Southern edge of Speyside, in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, lies Tamnavulin Distillery. Built in 1966, the Distillery takes its name from the Gaelic for ‘mill on the hill’, the distillery was named after the historic woollen mill which still sits next to the distillery. After closing in 1995, the distillery underwent a major refurbishment before it was re-opened in 2007. The first whisky from the newly opened distillery was launched in 2016, much to the anticipation of whisky fans.

Tucked away on the edge of the River Livet, set on the bank of the Allt’ a Choire, Tamnavulin draws water from underground springs in the Easterton hills formed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. This water is naturally filtered through ancient limestone rock before reaching the distillery, resulting in some of the purest spring water to be found in Scotland.

The small group of skilled, time-served craftsmen began creating Tamnavulin’s signature Speyside malt whisky over fifty years ago using the finest ingredients combined with age-old distilling expertise and sophisticated techniques.

Since its launch in 2016, Tamnavulin has driven a successful path which has seen it become the fastest growing single malt globally in 2020 (IWSR ‘000’s 8.4L cases) and the no.4 brand by volume in the UK (Nielsen Scantrack/Kantar date to 9th of October 2021).

The Latest Stock From The SMWS Including Their Festival Tasting Pack 2022!

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FESTIVAL SMWS TASTING PACK 2022!

New Arrivals From The Scotch Malt Whisky Society!



“Bright, breezy botanical beast”
Cask No: 1.255
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Origin: Scotland
£55.00

Qty left: 111


“Curiously crazy!”
Cask No: 44.153
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-px hogshead
Distillery: Craigellachie
Origin: Scotland
£76.20

Qty left: 111


“Lime and thyme”
Cask No: SM0.16
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels

£90.00

Qty left: 123


“That floated our boat!”
Cask No: 36.188
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
Distillery: Benrinnes
Origin: Scotland
£70.30

Qty left: 124


“Comfort and joy”
Cask No: 26.196
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
Distillery: Clynelish
Origin: Scotland
£57.50

Qty left: 133


“Cinnamon snickerdoodles and sanded pine”
Cask No: 9.236
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
Distillery: Glen Grant
Origin: Scotland
£65.00

Qty left: 135


“Beach hut bonkers”
Cask No: 135.34
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
Distillery: Inchmoan (Loch Lomond Distillery)
Origin: Scotland
£86.00

Qty left: 150


“Hazelnut bubble gum”
Cask No: SM0.23
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels

£90.00

Qty left: 167


“Changes faster than a chameleon”
Cask No: SM0.19
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels

£58.00

Qty left: 185


“Fruity time travel”
Cask No: SM0.20
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogsheads

£130.00

Qty left: 191


“Festival SMWS Tasting Pack 2022”

£35.00

Qty left: 214


“Throw the cork away!”
Cask No: SM0.21
Cask Type: 1st fill American oak ex-oloroso sherry hogsheads (formerly in bourbon hogsheads)

£65.00

Qty left: 425

Sampling The Lakes Distillery “Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5” – Made With The Art Of Elevage!

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The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5

On a journey to define their signature style, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 is the latest in what has become an internationally award-winning series of single malt whiskies made by The Lakes Distillery!

Matured in the finest, bespoke Oloroso, PX, and red wine casks, comprising Spanish and American oak, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 is an elegant and Moorish evolution, possessing the same sherry-led, wood-forward characteristics as its predecessors.

Now available throughout the UK!

Drawing inspiration from Cognac’s cellarmasters, The Lakes has taken the art of élevage to create a whisky with complexity and depth. Rather than sealing the oak and waiting for the result, unlike other distilleries, they take an active involvement that requires patience and time, and an intimate understanding of how the flavours in each cask are developing.

By frequently effecting change throughout the whisky’s maturation, whether by moving a cask’s location, or transferring the spirit between casks, The Lakes seek to evolve an array of intriguing layers of flavour from which they can blend the final whisky.

With The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5, we wanted to create a whisky with a similar sherry-led profile to previous releases, but with certain characters restrained to achieve a textural refinement.

This is a whisky with seductively aromatic notes of dark chocolate and dried fruits, and a smooth finish with intricate layers of wood spice.
– Dhavall Gandhi: The Lakes’ whiskymaker

To celebrate the release of The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 and to connect the complexity of élevage with the simplicity of enjoying flavoursome whisky, The Lakes Distillery sought the imagination of some of the best Old Fashioned makers in the world.

By adding a twist to the traditional, layering complementary and contrasting flavours, and integrating personal influences within the recipe, mixologists from Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace, The Goring Cocktail Bar, The Chinoiserie at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, and The Northall Bar at Corinthia London have used The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 to develop their own delectably delicious takes on the eminent Whisky Cocktail.

The result is a series of sophisticated and dramatically different serves, each designed to tell a story through the art of flavour creation, and available to enjoy from 1 June throughout the summer at any of these world-renowned bars.

Non-chill filtered, bottled at the natural colour, and 52% ABV, The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.5 is now available from LakesDistillery.com and throughout the UK with a recommended retail price of £70

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

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.5 (52%)

Nose: A bit shy on the nose at first but there’s creamy, silky vanilla with spiced apples and hints of spice. Later on I detect slightly tropical fruits with mint.

Palate: Creamy, sherried fruits with chocolate and some coffee.

Finish: Sweet spices with shades of wood but it’s also peppery and gets more so with time.

Overall: A delicately balanced dram. Very fine with a subtleness to it’s flavours that’s very welcome in this world of taste-bud overkill!

The Lakes Distillery sought the imagination of some of the best Old Fashioned makers in the world!

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

Kentucky Owl – The Wiseman Bourbon Launches In The UK!

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Kentucky Owl The Wiseman

Renowned Bourbon whiskey maker Kentucky Owl has launched its latest expression, Kentucky Owl The Wiseman in the UK!

This luxury, ultra-premium award-winning Bourbon is a blend of Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons, along with 5 ½-year and 8 ½-year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons. Kentucky Owl The Wiseman is the latest addition to the Kentucky Owl portfolio, with its last blended bourbon, Confiscated, released in 2019.

The Wiseman and Soda

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman is an artful balance of soft wheat and spicy high-rye that provides a smooth but complex bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.

It leads with a beautiful caramel flavour and aroma followed by notes of allspice, citrus fruit and a nudge of oak.
– John Rhea: Kentucky Owl Master Blender

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon has recently been awarded a Double Gold at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the world’s largest and one of the world’s most prestigious spirits awards. This is the first Kentucky Owl release under Master Blender John Rhea, a 40-year Bourbon industry veteran who joined Kentucky Owl in June 2021.

Stoli Group, the leading global ultra-premium spirits and wine company, purchased Kentucky Owl in 2017. Originally founded by C.M. Dedman in 1879, the Kentucky Owl distillery in Salisa went dark during the Prohibition era and remained dormant until a family descendant revived the brand in 2014. Since then, the company’s small batch releases have sold out quickly and received rave reviews.

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon Signature Recipes:-

Boulevardier

50ml The Wiseman™ Bourbon | 25ml Sweet Red Vermouth | 25ml Italian Bitter Liqueur

Garnish – Cherries

Rocks Glass

Manhattan

50ml The Wiseman™ Bourbon | 25ml Sweet Red Vermouth | 2 Dashes of Bitters (to taste)

Garnish – Cherries

Coupe Glass

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman is available to buy from these Merchants:-

A luxury, ultra-premium award-winning Bourbon!

Kentucky Owl has kindly sent me a sample to try. Thanks kentuckyowlbourbon / @kentuckyowl!

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

Tasting Notes – Kentucky Owl The Wiseman (45.4%)

Colour: Lovely rose pink sherried tinge.

Nose:Heavy toffee, vanilla, cane sugar with stewed fruits including figs but what comes along later are fantastic oranges!

Palate: Fruity and sweet with syrupy fruits, chocolate and the most amazing sevile orangeswhich reminded me of Cointreau!

Finish: A spicy, dry finish but not forgetting that morish orange that goes on and on!

Overall: A fine sipping whiskey and I haven’t even tried it in any cocktails yet!


About Kentucky Owl

Founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman, Kentucky Owl™ offers an artfully blended line of craft bourbons and ryes. Kentucky Owl is for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship and authentic heritage. For more information, visit kentuckyowlbourbon.com.

About Amber Beverage UK

Established in 1999, Amber Beverage Group UK (previously known as Cellar Trends) has an enviable record in building brands of wines, spirits and associated products in the UK. The company serves all sectors of the UK drinks trade in both on- and off-trade categories with a portfolio of 60 international brands. Since 2018, the company has been a part of Amber Beverage Group. amberbev.co.uk

About Stoli Group

Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of a global spirits and wines portfolio. Mainly known for the Stoli® Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded to appeal to luxury on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli® Vodka, elit™Vodka, Bayou® Rum, Kentucky Owl™, Villa One™, Gator Bite™ Rum Liquers, Cenote™ Tequila, Tulchan Gin™, Se Busca™ Mezcal and Stoli Group’s wine division, Tenute del Mondo®. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli has production facilities in Spain, Italy, Argentina, and the United States, some of which are steeped in history dating back to the early part of the last century. For more information, visit stoli-group.com.

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