Whisky & Spirits Blog | Compare Buy Enjoy
Benriach’s got a shiny new look!
Benriach’s got a shiny new look!The distillery in Speyside has just launched its refreshed core range and if you pick up a bottle, you’ll also get a free Benriach travel tag, too! |
 Benriach The Twelve Benriach The Twelve |
 Benriach The Original Ten Benriach The Original Ten |
 Benriach The Smoky Twelve Benriach The Smoky Twelve |
 Benriach The Smoky Ten Benriach The Smoky Ten |
“Mary”
A global movement towards healthier lifestyles and a desire to know more about what we are putting into our bodies has inspired London start-up ILLOGICAL DRINKS, an alcohol company made up of four drinks experts (see below), to release Mary, a deliciously fresh low calorie, lower alcohol botanical blend made with responsibly sourced garden herbs.
Sales of No alcohol and Low Spirit alcohol are growing rapidly, significantly outperforming the Total Spirits category in value sales. It is also forecasted to increase even more during 2020.
So, Mary has come along at just the right time!
6% abv and only 9 calories per 25ml serving!
At just 6% abv and only 9 calories per 25ml serving, Mary is the world’s first low calorie, lower alcohol botanical blend, perfect for those wanting to moderate their drinking but not give up alcohol completely. You would need to drink six Mary & Tonics to equal one Gin and Tonic!
By adding just a small amount of alcohol, Mary still has a sophisticated feel that elevates it above a zero-alcohol or soft drink option, but doesn’t carry the heavy effects of a traditional spirit.
From the very beginning, every effort was made to ensure that Mary was a responsibly produced delicious premium beverage that has a light touch on your body, mind and the world.
Mary’s deliciously fresh, but sophisticatedly dry taste is derived from sustainably sourced plants including basil, thyme, sage, coriander seeds, angelica roots, pine needles and juniper. It is designed to match perfectly with tonic water.
It is also vegan, sugar free, zero carbs and only 9 calories per 25ml serving!
The packaging is also 100% recyclable – using as little plastic as possible while actively looking for solutions to eliminate it altogether.
There are a lot of pressures in today’s world. People are making lifestyle changes – including what they are drinking. So far, many new drink options are focused on zero alcohol, but not everyone wants to be a teetotaller or have a full-strength drink.
Some people want to simply moderate how much alcohol they put into their bodies and balance their lifestyle – but most of all they want to feel good about their choices. We made Mary, a drink you can feel good about by being lighter on you and on the world.
We wanted to offer something different. At 6% abv and 9 calories per 25ml, there is no one like us out there. As the world gets back to a new normal, we wanted to release Mary now so that drinkers have another option – in between full strength and zero alcohol.
We have also just been shortlisted by Food Matters Live in their “New Drink of the Year” category, which is great news for us!
– Eric Sampers: Managing Director of ILLOGICAL DRINKS
1-part Mary, to 2 parts tonic water with lots of ice works very well!
How did they decide on the name ‘Mary’ – as opposed to any other name?
We wanted a simple name, easy to remember, English (as the brand is made in London), easy to understand in many languages and that would make for a good brand call (Mary & Tonic). We also thought: There’s enough booze brands called Jack, Johnnie, George, William etc.!
So Mary came up quite naturally and we like the fact that there’s a lot we can play with (Bloody Mary etc.).
– Eric Sampers
Mary is now available online at drink-mary.com, and on Amazon.co.uk at the end of September, at a retail price of £23.90 for a 70cl bottle.
Mary’s taste is designed to go with tonic. Try it with soda for a lighter drink, or any of your other favourite mixes. Mary also works great in Spritz style recipes with Kombucha, ginger beer or tonic.
A mix of 1-part Mary, to 2 parts tonic water with lots of ice and garnished with cucumber & lemon thyme works very well!
Or maybe change the garnish to something savoury like sage and black pepper, or something citrusy like orange.
The folks at Mary have sent me some to try (thanks!) So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
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Colour: Lime green! Nose: Neat: Ginger & lots of it! Woody pine and savoury herbs. Adding ice: herby citrus flavours – predominanetly lime. Palate: With ice and the suggested tonic water: Very nice and refreshing with a big citrus hit! I also added some cucumber garnish which gives it a lovely clean, crisp, tasty edge. There’s also a little sweetness to compliment. Finish: The herbs make it slightly savoury – akin to a good gin with lots of botanicals – which has bags of flavour and interest. Overall: A light drink – without the heavy alcohol hit of standard strength drinks – which is actually very morish and refreshing! Additionally, it doesn’t have that after-taste bitterness that you can often get. All-in-all I liked it! |
Mary is now available online at at a retail price of £23.90
Many thanks to Eric at drink-mary.com (Instagram: @drink.mary) for such a delicious drink – I wish them every success!
London start-up ILLOGICAL DRINKS is an alcohol company that wants people to drink less and drink better – for the first time in history that might not be so illogical. Started by four drink’s industry professionals and entrepreneurs, who want to quench the thirst of consumers who want to drink with a lighter touch on their body, mind and the environment.
Eric Sampers, Managing Director at ILLOGICAL DRINKS and former Global Brand Director of Beefeater Gin at Pernod Ricard, with over 16 years of international experience in the alcoholic beverage industry. Eric led the team that brought Beefeater back to double digit growth globally.
Angel Garcia, Business Development at ILLOGICAL DRINKS and former Marketing Manager of Beefeater Gin at Pernod Ricard with over 15 years experience in alcohol marketing, sales and distribution for Pernod Ricard across Spain, UK, US and other global markets. Angel led the development of Beefeater Pink – a strawberry flavoured gin that became one of the most successful NPD in Pernod Ricard history.
Michael Scantlebury – Marketing Director at ILLOGICAL DRINKS and founder of Impero, The Drum Creative Agency of the Year, with 15 years of global drink marketing experience across spirits, wine, beer and soft drinks.
Ade Chong – Design Director at ILLOGICAL DRINKS and a multi award-winning Design Director with 13 years of agency experience launching global brands. Recently named Campaign’s Future Leaders of 2019.
Master of Malt Day celebrations!
Master of Malt Day festivities are afoot!To celebrate the new occasion, we’ve slashed our prices on delicious whiskies, gins, rums and more, saving you up to 25% in the process. What’s more, we’ve also got some incredible giveaways too! If you purchase any qualifying bottle on sale as available and listed here between now and the 25 September 2020, you’ll be entered into a draw to win some truly incredible prizes, including:
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 Valfather Highland Park Valfather |
 Rumbullion! Rumbullion! |
 Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old |
 McQueen Raspberry & Vanilla Gin McQueen Raspberry & Vanilla Gin |
 Angostura 5 Year Old Angostura 5 Year Old |
 Saigne Saigne – Ros Gin |
WATERFORD SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKY – WAVE 2
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Waterford Single Malt Irish Whisky – Wave 2 Irish, terroir-driven, single-farm sensation Waterford Distillery has added further 1.1 and 1.2 expressions to its range of single malt whiskies. Demand is expected to be high! |
 Glendronach 1993 Single Cask 26-year maturation in a single Pedro Ximénez sherry puncheon, and save £40 until the end of this month! |
 Virtual Whisky Show Now online from 2-9 October, you’ll be able to interact directly with producers, personalities and distilleries from all over the world through our schedule of more than 200 tastings and talks. |
 Diageo Special Releases Diageo’s annual show-stoppers! |
 Benriach New Range Benriach has reinvented itself with a new look for its core range. |
 Meet The Makers The people behind some of our favourite whiskies, to top-notch Tequila producers and more, get a little closer to the people behind the stills. |
 Fall Fizz Champagne and sparkling wine are fantastic – find your perfect partner for autumn with this hand-picked list! |
 The Whisky Exchange |
Angels awarded Great Taste stars!
Great Taste (greattasteawards.co.uk), the stamp of excellence for food and drink in the UK, has announced its stars of 2020.
Out of over 12000 entries from more than 100 different countries, Grantown-on-Spey based Highfern Ltd has been awarded a 2-star Great Taste award, for their Angels’ Nectar Islay Edition, the criteria for which is ‘above and beyond delicious’.
Launched last year the Angels’ Nectar Islay Edition is an Islay Single Malt bottled at 47% and at natural colour by Highfern Ltd and retails for around £49.50.
Launched last year the Angels’ Nectar Islay Edition is an Islay Single Malt bottled at 47% and at natural colour by Highfern Ltd.
We love the very pale, lemon-gold colour. Fantastic smokey-bacon, dry woodsmoke, subtle caramel aroma, with pine and leather notes. The palate is bright and energetic, the nose follows well – that woodsmoke lingers long. Subtly medicinal finish, all brilliantly in balance with a malty, cereal note. Citrus peel on the finish. There is a level of complexity and balance here that deserves an award.
– The Great Taste judges
Judged by 144 of the most discerning palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is the most coveted of awards for the speciality food and drink sector.
As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to an outstanding product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting.
Our intention with Angels’ Nectar is to showcase different styles of Scotch Whisky, with a series of small batch releases. It’s wonderful that our Islay Edition has received this recognition, based on taste alone, from the most important awards scheme for the speciality food and drink sector.
– Robert Ransom: Angels’ Nectar founder
Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging
Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging. Whether it is waffles, whitebait or whisky being judged, all are removed from their packaging before being tasted blind.
The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-Star Great Taste award. Despite the additional logistical challenges imposed this year due to lockdown, Great Taste adapted their processes to remote and socially distanced judging sessions, whilst ensuring that their robust judging standards were maintained.
There were 12,777 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 205 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,294 received a 2-star and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade.
The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking, Anna Jones, celebrated Spanish chef, José Pizarro, Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, and baker and author, Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose.
Angels’ Nectar is available to buy from these Merchants:-
· Highfern Ltd are the proprietors of Angels’ Nectar Whisky and importers of Langatun Whisky, Seven Seals Whisky, Smögen Whisky, Strane Gin & Kinghaven Rum. Alongside the Cairngorms Edition, Angels’ Nectar also offer Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Original 40%, Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Rich Peat Edition 46%, Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Islay Edition 47% and Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Cairngorms Edition 46%.
· In 2018 the Angels’ Nectar Rich Peat Edition was also awarded two Great Taste stars.
· For more information about Angels’ Nectar, please see: angelsnectar.co.uk (@angelsnectar)
Springbank 15 & 18 Year Olds!
 Springbank / 15 Year Old Single Malt. £62.50 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: 46.0%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Springbank. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLED: STATED AGE: 15 years old. STRENGTH: 46.0 % Vol. Like a storm gathering off the Kintyre coast, our 15-year-old Springbank is dark and ominous, yet delicious. Best enjoyed after dinner or with your favourite cigar, this is a true classic. NOSE: Demerara sugar, dark chocolate, Christmas cake, almonds, toffee, oak. PALATE: Creamy, raisins, dark chocolate, figs, marzipan, brazil nuts and vanilla. FINISH: Oak and sherry notes sustain and mingle with hints of leather. |
 Springbank / 18 Year Old. £105.00 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: 46%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Springbank. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. STATED AGE: 18 years old. CASK: 88% Bourbon and 12% Port. STRENGTH: 46% Vol. NOSE: Lemon, zesty, confectionery, soft ripe peaches. Hints of dunnage/earthy notes with honeycomb and sea salt. PALATE: Initially nougat, pecan pie, pine nuts and digestive biscuits. Becomes sweeter with notes of tropical fruit and wine gums. FINISH: The legendary Springbank style with a coastal tang, a hint of peat and earthy notes. |
 Kilkerran / Heavily Peated Batch 3. £42.50 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: 59.7%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glengyle. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Peat in Progress – Batch 3. CASK TYPE: 80% Ex-Bourbon & 20% Ex-Sherry. BOTTLED: 2020 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: ABV: 59.7% Vol. NOSE: Opens up to reveal citrus notes, vanilla cheesecake, rhubarb and custard sweets with delicate peat smoke. PALATE: Freshly baked Bramley apple pie and sweet salted caramel. The peat is prolific yet well integrated. A fresh coastal influence evokes memories of a blustery, busy, sea sprayed harbour. FINISH: Long and creamy. Notes of toasted oak and pencil shavings give way to a lasting sweet, fruity peat smoke. |
 Kilkerran / 12 Year Old Single Malt. £37.50 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: %. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glengyle. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Cask Strength. CASK TYPE: . BOTTLED: 2019 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: ABV: % Vol. |
 Hazelburn / 10 Year Old Single Malt. £42.50 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: 46%. Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Springbank. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLED: 09.03.2018 STATED AGE: 10 Years Old. ABV: 46% Vol. NOSE: Stewed pears and baked apples are followed by honeycomb and fudge notes. PALATE: A lovely and rich whisky with vanilla and honey flavours, liquorice follows with a refreshing zestiness. FINISH: A refined milk chocolate cream finish that is oily and chewy. |
 Longrow / 18 Year Old. £97.50 Country: Scotland Region: Campbeltown Age: Strength: 46%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Campbeltown. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Springbank. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky. BOTTLED: ABV: 46% Vol. Dark and slightly mysterious, the 18-year-old Longrow has a complex nose that unearths a peaty aroma reminiscent of dunnage warehouses. NOSE: A complex nose: Sweet fruits, citrus, peaches and orange zest at first before a gentle earthy peaty aroma reveals itself. PALATE: Rich and very, very tasty. Well balanced. Dark chocolate, creamy coffee and gingerbread to the fore, followed by rhubarb and vanilla custard. FINISH: Long and sweet, a hint of typical Longrow peat smoke combined with more chocolate and some dried fruits. |
 Bunnahabhain / Old Malt Cask 27 Year Old. £275.00 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 50%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Bunnahabhain. BOTTLER: Hunter Laing. BOTTLING SERIE: Old Malt Cask. DISTILLED: November 1991 BOTTLED: October 2019 AGE: 27 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 17325 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 209 ABV: 50% Vol. NOSE: ah the layering – Textbook stuff from the days before they started peating … which means that every nuance is there and unmolested by smoke. The citrus in particular shines, a kind of lime-blossom honey sweetness weighted by glorious butterscotch and vanilla mix. Occasionally head towards a slight bourbony note too … ; the pace, weight and complexity is borderline perfection. TASTE: brilliant mouthfeel: so silky and soft with the gristy sugars from the malt still at the vanguard. Buttery and rich, but the gently oak doesn’t allow for too much OTT floweriness. FINISH: the slow-motion movement towards spicy complexity is almost mesmerising … BALANCE: old school Bunna at its oldest! Love it! A truly exceptional cask that demands half and hour just to get to know. TASTING NOTES: Jim Murray's 2021 Whisky Bible. |
 Altt A'Bhainne / Old Malt Cask 27 Year Old. £170.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 50%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Allt A’Bhainne. BOTTLER: Hunter Laing. BOTTLING SERIE: Old Malt Cask. DISTILLED: May 1992 BOTTLED: October 2019 AGE: 27 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 16942 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 256 ABV: 50% Vol. NOSE: gorgeous moist marzipan with acacia honey and barley juice; TASTE: the kind of delivery that makes you wonder why a distillery is not more widely appreciated: classic Speyside flightiness but with a remarkable degree of intensity to the slightly grisy barley; the spices make an announcement at the midpoint …; FINISH: and decide they are there to stay. Brilliant layering to the vanilla-led tannin, weaving pretty patterns with the concentrated Malteser candy; the oils cling on gamely ensuing fabulously long finish; BALANCE: class in a glass. TASTING NOTES: Jim Murray's 2021 Whisky Bible. |
 Macallan / 25 Year Old. £1,550.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 43%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Macallan. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Sherry Oak Range. DISTILLED: BOTTLED: 2019 STATED AGE: 25 years old. CASK TYPE: Oloroso sherry oak casks from Jerez, Spain. STRENGTH: 43% Vol. The Macallan Sherry Oak 25 years old forms part of our Sherry Oak range which features a series of single malt whiskies matured exclusively in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez for richness and complexity. This special single malt delivers an intensely rich and full flavour character, citrus, dried fruits and wood smoke. |
 Miltonduff / 29 Year Old First Edition. £175.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 57.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Miltonduff. BOTTLER: Hunter Laing. BOTTLING SERIE: First Editions. DISTILLED: 1990 BOTTLED: October 2019 AGE: 29 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 16248 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 287 ABV: 57.2% Vol. NOSE: ridiculously seductive: the involvement of the tannin is precise, measured and delightful; TASTE: one of the most viscous mouth-feels I have ever encountered: actually needed to check the bottle to ensure this wasn’t a liqueur …! The initial heather honey sweetness on delivery adds to the effect. But soon those tannions so clearly defined on the nose are making their presence felt from about the fourth flavorwave onwards; FINISH: a teasing spices as the oak plays out its wonderfully orchestrated tune; BALANCE: a belting malt which will appeal especially to those with a very sweet tooth. But isn’t all one way traffic and some outstanding oak ensure balance. TASTING NOTES: Jim Murray's 2021 Whisky Bible. |
The new-look range of single malt whiskies from Benriach!
The new-look range of single malt whiskies from Benriach!
Carefully crafted by master blender Rachel Barrie, the collection explores the Speyside distillery’s potential in multiple directions – both its fresh-and-fruity side, and its rich-and-peaty side.
The range includes Two ten-year-olds, two twelve-year-olds; two peated whiskies and two unpeated.
 TOP 10 WHISKIES Our favourite whiskies of the moment SHOP NOW > |
BenRiach The Smoky Twelve
£45.80
 BenRiach The Original Ten £36.20 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 10 Years Old Strength: 43% 70cl |
 BenRiach The Smoky Ten £39.80 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 10 Years Old Strength: 46% 70cl |
 BenRiach The Twelve £41.80 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 12 Years Old Strength: 46% 70cl |
 BenRiach The Smoky Twelve £45.80 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 12 Years Old Strength: 46% 70cl |
 Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask #042 £135.00 Country: Taiwan Region: Age: Strength: 59.4% 70cl |
 Benromach 2009 Cask Strength Batch 1 £56.90 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 58.8% 70cl Vintage: 2009 Bottler: Distillery Bottling |
 Guyana Rum 10 Year Old – 2010 | Berry Bros & Rudd £67.50 Country: Guyana Region: Age: 10 Years Old Strength: 46% 70cl Vintage: 2010 Bottler: Berry Bros & Rudd |
 Barbados Rum 13 Year Old – 2007 (Foursquare) Berry Bros & Rudd £93.50 Country: Barbados Region: Age: 13 Years Old Strength: 46% 70cl Vintage: 2007 Bottler: Berry Bros & Rudd |
 Kilchoman 100% Islay 10th Edition £69.98 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 50% 70cl |
 Kilchoman Machir Bay Tumbler Glass Gift Set £49.98 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 46% 70cl |
 Waterford Sheestown: Edition 1.1 £69.90 Country: Ireland Region: Irish Age: Strength: 50% 70cl |
 Waterford Bannow Island: Edition 1.2 £69.90 Country: Ireland Region: Irish Age: Strength: 50% 70cl |
 Waterford Ballykilcavan: Edition 1.2 £69.90 Country: Ireland Region: Irish Age: Strength: 50% 70cl |
 Waterford Ballymorgan: Edition 1.1 £69.90 Country: Ireland Region: Irish Age: Strength: 50% 70cl |
Rebel Yell Cognac Finish!
Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers is launching its second limited edition release of Rebel Yell bourbon in the UK following the success of the brand’s French Oak Finish last year.
The new Rebel Yell Cognac Cask Finish is the distiller’s second bourbon which won’t be released in its US homeland, with sales of the limited edition reserved for its growing European market. Parent company Luxco saw its European sales rise by 22% in value last year.
A limited run of 6,000 bottles of the Cognac Cask Finish will be released
This year’s special release sees Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in cognac casks for six months, which gives the whiskey a golden amber appearance and an aroma of hints of oak and dark berries. The 45% ABV bourbon has notes of caramel, toasted sugar and raisins on the palate and will be on-sale from October at £34 per 700ml bottle.
Similar to last year’s Rebel Yell French Oak Finish, a limited run of 6,000 bottles of the Cognac Cask Finish will be released during the next 12 months. Lux Row Distillers’ master distiller and head blender John Rempe will then consider another special finish of the bourbon for 2021.
Secondary finishing is having a huge renaissance in the bourbon category, as it really appeals to consumers who typically value age statements and vintages in spirits. This is particularly true in the UK and Europe, where a secondary finish in bourbon is regarded as a yardstick for creative and complex flavours that must be tasted and savoured.
Last year’s special finish of Rebel Yell was a bit of an experiment to test demand amongst the brand’s European fanbase and to reward their loyalty. It proved such a hit that it inspired us to create this year’s cognac finish.
The challenge for us was to create another limited edition Rebel Yell that was distinctly different to the spicy, chocolate and ginger taste of the French Oak in 2019. The cognac casks really do give the bourbon a completely different character, with the subtle taste of raisins setting this year’s release apart.
– John Rempe: Lux Row Distillers’ master distiller and head blender
The secondary finish enables us to take the very best of the wheated Rebel Yell, which is aged over four years, and give its flavour a real point of difference that won’t necessarily be achieved by leaving the whiskey to sit for years longer in its original charred white oak barrels.
This innovative finishing really appeals to consumers who are increasingly inquisitive and adventurous when it comes to seeking out different tasting bourbons. It’ll help us further boost bourbon exports and grow the category internationally over the coming years.
– Greg Mefford: International Sales Director at Luxco
Rebel Yell Cognac Cask Finish will be distributed by Cellar Trends in the UK and be available through both the on and off-trade. The special finish is bottled at 90 proof and created using corn, wheat, malt and water at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. Following its UK launch, the Cognac Cask Finish will be released in Italy, Germany, Netherlands, France and Switzerland.
Many thanks to Andy (@ChapmanPoolePR) for sending me a sample!
And, of course, many thanks to luxrowdistillers.com (@RebelYell_UK) without whom!
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
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Nose: Sugary plump raisins, glorious orange and rich, fudgy, vanilla. It sure packs a sensory punch! To top it all there’s also a little white wood at the end. Palate: Rich, creamy, smooth sugared raisins with powerful orange, tangerines and juicy blackcurrant. Finish: Woody spice with hints of mint and treacle leaning towards dryness at the end. Overall: A magnificent dram – almost like orange liquor in parts and then back to familiar whiskey! Highly recommended! |
Rebel Yell is available to buy from these Merchants:-
Real roots, real family, real products: Lux Row Distillers – a bourbon distillery experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – is a family-owned venture, bringing the Lux family history and spirits tradition to the bourbon industry.
Owned by consumer products company, Luxco (www.luxco.com), Lux Row Distillers is the home of bourbon brands including Rebel Yell, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Located in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, the 18,000-square foot Lux Row Distillers site includes a visitor centre, barrel warehouses, a tasting room, and event space, making for an all-encompassing bourbon experience. The 90-acre property is home to an 18th century stone house, registered as a National Historic Place, and a long, tree-lined driveway providing a scenic entrance to the distillery.
www.luxrowdistillers.com
Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition
 Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition |
 Dead Man’s Fingers range Dead Man’s Fingers Passion Fruit Rum |
 Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish |
 Hospitality Gin Hospitality Gin |
 Whitley Neill Brazilian Lime Gin Whitley Neill Brazilian Lime Gin |
 Kingsbarns Family Reserve Kingsbarns Family Reserve |
