Rare Whiskies — Malthound

New Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Arrivals From Edencrofts!

April 16, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 1601

Supplier	Brand	Bottle Size	Price
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 1601 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 45 Years Old. Strength: 44.3% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Sherry Hogshead. Finish: Sherry Finish. Appearance: Rich autumn gold. Nose: Long and luxurious. Heady red candy apples balance with a delicate spiced orange; all softening to a distant pineapple juice. Palate: Crisp oak spices soften to reveal elegant waves of fresh green apple and wisps of ripe banana. Delicate of hints of passion fruit, cedar wood and lime zest bring a fantastic depth to the long finish.	70cl	£ 1,170.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 1803 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 35 Years Old. Strength: 41.6% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Sherry Hogshead. Finish: Sherry Finish. Appearance: Rich antique gold. Nose: Golden sultanas and touches of soft ripped mint evolve to hints of dried apricot, ripe peach and mandarin. Palate: Caramelised apple and pear drizzled with a spiced golden syrup softens to gentle, warm toasted oak, zest of lime and barley sugar candies.	70cl	£ 355.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 1810 Country: Scotland Region: sSpeyside Age: 35 Years Old. Strength: 42.9% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Port Hogshead. Finish: Port Finish. Appearance: Hints of rose in a rich golden body. Nose: Creamy raspberry jam and warm white pepper spice fill an intriguing delicate coastal note. Palate: Red fruit compote spiced with gentle black pepper corns and clove mellows to sour cherries and distant ground almonds in the finish.	70cl	£ 355.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 7301 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: 38 Years Old. Strength: 40.7% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. Finish: Sherry Finish. Appearance: Golden oak. Nose: A deeply captivating aroma combining fruit salad syrup, warm toasted oak and a gentle warmth of white pepper. Palate: Vivid tropical fruits burst on the palate and combine with sweet barley and gentle hazelnut. Gentle touches of caramelised orange run through the refined classic character.	70cl	£ 432.00 BUY NOW

Rare Glenglassaugh & New Compass Box Malts From Edencrofts!

April 9, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

One of the Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask range

Supplier	Brand	Bottle Size	Price
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 2114 Country: Scotland Region: sSpeyside Age: 41 Years Old. Strength: 50.6% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Refill Sherry Butt. Finish: Fully sherry matured. Appearance: Full amber glow. Nose: Revealing depths of prunes and rum raisins over milk chocolate releases harmonious crisp oak spices and zest of lime. Palate: Fantastic spiced honey and stem ginger rolls to prune syrup and hints of cocoa. Gentle cantaloupe melon with a dusting of ground almond and warm white pepper liven the crisp finish.	70cl	£ 585.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 6801 Country: Scotland Region: sSpeyside Age: 40 Years Old. Strength: 52.1% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Manzanilla Sherry Puncheon. Finish: Sherry Finish. Appearance: Deep crimson edged with gold. Nose: Magnificent full bodied, yet elegant sherry character. Plum juice and dates carry bursts of orange sherbet and touches of gentle anise. Palate: The freshness of candied peal balances the rich dark chocolate and sherried dark fruit character. A subtle grapefruit and warm oak spice lightens and adds a citrus twist to the finish.	70cl	£ 526.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Glenglassaugh – Rare Cask Batch 1 / Cask # 7801 Country: Scotland Region: sSpeyside Age: 38 Years Old. Strength: 42.4% Summary: Cask Size and Type: Moscatel Hogshead. Finish: Moscatel Finish. Appearance: Summer harvest gold. Nose: An initial suggestion of boiled sweets with a spearmint warmth gently flows to soft mango, caramelised green pears and cracked black pepper. Palate: Delicate fruit salad balanced with a warm black pepper spice softens to waves of gentle orchard fruits, rich oak and a beautiful fresh barley finish.	70cl	£ 432.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Compass Box – Last Vatted Malt Country: Scotland Region: IslaySpeyside Age: Strength: 53.7% Summary: This special limited edition bottling is a valedictory farewell to the Vatted Malt, one delivered with honour and pride. This whisky is made from a marriage of fine, old single malt whiskies from Islay and Speyside distilleries. It combines intense aromas and flavours of dried fruits and maltiness underscored by a subtle, sweet smokiness, all robed in the revealing signs of whiskies of antiquity. Only 1,323 bottles have been released for sale. Nose: the work of both oak and the peat kiln appear to be well matched here. Though perhaps it is the orange blossom and pear fruitiness that really makes the heart skip a beat; Taste: a sublime delivery. The Compass Boz marque of oakiness is stamped prominently, but couched this time by a stunning mix of creamcocoa, lightly sweetened by Demerara. Improbably, half way in there is a steady stream of juicy barley…about the same time you notice how well balanced the smoke is: like a great football referee, you dont actually notice him being there, but makes all else run beautifully; Finish: doesnt try to develop. Just allows the elements that make up this complex whisky the space to run their own course…; Balance: being an American, Compass Box founder and blender, John Glaser, knows a thing or two about pouring two fingers of whisky. So I join John in raising two fingers to the SWA and toast them in the spirit they deserve to thank them for their single-minded and successful quest to outlaw this ancient whisky term. Each bottle personally signed by John Glaser.	70cl	£ 175.00 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Compass Box – Oak Cross Vatted Malt Country: Scotland Region: Blended Age: Strength: 43% Summary: They call this malt whisky Oak Cross because it offers the best characteristics of both American and French oak aging. A rich, medium-bodied malt whisky, Oak Cross combines vanilla characters from American oak and spicy, clove-like characters from French oak. Flavour Descriptors: on the palate, notes of clove and vanilla accent a sweet maltiness and subtle fruit character. Recommendations: Suitable as an aperitif served with a chilled water in the winter months. Full enough to serve as a summertime digestif. Excellent match for many cheeses. Distillery Sourcing: made entirely of Highland single malt whiskies led by Teaninich and balanced with malts from the villages of Brora (for fruitiness) and Carron (for weight). All 10 to 12 years-old. Wood: all the whiskies are aged for their primary maturation in a mix of American oak cask types. The marrying casks are a mix of first-fill Bourbon barrels and our proprietary “Oak Cross” casks made of American and new French oaks. Bottling Details: bottled at 43%. Not chill filtered. Natural colour.	70cl	£ 33.30 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Compass Box – Spice Tree Vatted Malt Country: Scotland Region: Blended Age: Strength: 46% Summary: As in the past, The Spice Tree is 100% malt whisky sourced from northern Highland distilleries, (notably and primarily malt whisky distilled at the Clynelish distillery). The primary maturation is in a mix of first-fill and refill American oak. Nose: quite paradoxical,. First sniff and you think: "whoa! Thats a big-un." Then you nose again, slowly and carefully you realise that whilst the nose does seem superficially big, it is actually made up of dozens of tiny aromas ganging together. The main theme is delicate tangerine and vanilla – almost like tangerine yogurt – but there are weightier spices to note, all of them fragments, especially the watery allspice and ginger…sublime. Taste: and now the palate continues with exactly the same theme: a million little flavour explosions, all timed to go off one after the other, but all on a sweet muscovado sugar bed created by the superb base malt of Clynelish. Finish: thins rapidly into a more basic vanilla, though there is still a spice pulse and glow; just a little bitter at the death. Balance: having initially been chopped down by the SWA, who were indignant that extra staves had been inserted into the casks, The Spice Tree is not only back but in full bloom. Indeed, the blossom on this, created by the use of fresh oak barrel heads, is more intoxicating than its predecessor – mainly because there is a more even and less dramatic personality to this. Not just a great malt, but a serious contender for Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2011 World Whisky of the Year.	70cl	£ 38.26 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Compass Box – The Peat Monster Country: Scotland Region: Blended Age: 46% Strength: Compass Box Summary: Rich and loaded with flavour: a bacon-fat smokiness, full-blown peat, a maltiness, hints of fruit and spice. The finish is very long, echoing peat and smoke for several minutes. Flavour Descriptors: rich and loaded with flavour: a bacon-fat smokiness, full-blown peat, a maltiness, hints of fruit and spice. The finish is very long, echoing peat and smoke for several minutes. Recommendations: a fantastic late-night digestif malt whisky. Also suitable for taking the chill off a cold day. Excellent with blue vein cheeses. Distillery Sourcing: Islay single malts from the village of Port Askaig as well as some south shore whisky (as of late 2007); and Ardmore. All aged from 10-16 years. Wood: a mix of first-fill and refill American oak. Bottling Details: bottled at 46%. Not chill filtered. Natural colour.		£ 36.95 BUY NOW
Edencroft	Douglas Laing – The Christmas 2011 Big Peat Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 57.8% Summary: HISTORICALLY WE CALL THIS – WHISPER IT – A VATTED MALT, BLONDE IN THE BOTTLE – BUT WITH A BIG PEAT KICK A SMALL BATCH BOTTLING TRADITIONALLY UNCHILL FILTERED CONTAINING ONLY ISLAY MALT WHISKIES! But what exactly is a Vatted Malt? It is what the Scotch Whisky industry has traditionally called “a marriage of Malts”. Big Peat contains Malt Whisky ONLY from the island of Islay – some say it’s the ultimate taste of Islay! Big Peat is a feisty Islay character has a sweet side too – ‘he’ carries a big peaty (“phenolic”), beachy, oceanic, rather ashy selection of malts only from the island of Islay. We do not chill filter – we prefer a more old fashioned traditional approach – so you will detect a massive amplification of sea-faring qualities on the nose, palate, and finish Nose: just one of those noses where it takes a tremendous act of will to put the glass down…the interplay between the salts and sugars, the counterweights between the different varieties of phenols themselves; Taste: when the delivery strikes home with the oils, phenols and sugars in immediate harmony, you know you are in for an experience. The question is: can it keep this quality to the end? Finish: …indeed it can! In fact, it improves and so complex and tantalising are those astonishing Demerara and peaty riches, it is hard to quite know where the end begins. A number of teasing bourbon tones, on the liquorice and hickory side – perhaps with a hint of honey – stokes the fireside complexity further…; Balance: I haven’t got a television these days as my life is simply too busy. And with entertainment like this in the glass to keep you occupied, who needs one…? I doubt if any Christmas special on the box came remotely close to matching this…!		£ 47.50 BUY NOW

Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival Now On

April 28, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival

Devotees of the dram and non-whisky drinkers alike will be able to discover even more about the delights of Scotland’s Malt Whisky country this month as the 12th annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival starts.

The five-day festival’s packed programme of over 200 events starts today and runs until the 2nd. May. There is something to suit all levels of interest, from the exclusive three day intensive instruction on offer at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky School to a more light hearted look at the world of whisky with stand up comedian Vladimir McTavish.

Included in this year’s programme is the opportunity to become a Benromach warehouseman for the day, offering enthusiasts a unique opportunity to be initiated into the ultra exclusive whisky world with the chance to take part in the time honoured preparations of the iconic drink before hand-filling a bottle of Benromach as a souvenir of this unforgettable experience.

Whisky lovers can also take part in the Cask Strength Challenge Quiz at Strathisla Distillery, with the winning team taking away rare limited edition bottles of Deoch an Doras 36 Year Old whisky, produced by the now defunct Inverleven distillery.

For those who want to let their hair down while in Malt Whisky country there are a range of exciting daytime and evening entertainments showcasing the best of Speyside spirit including the Coleburn Distillery Fun Day and Ceilidh, an extravaganza added to this year’s programme offering whisky barrel buggy racing and some traditional craic at an evening ceilidh.

Other brand new musical highlights include a celebration of contemporary Scottish music at the Celtic Spirit evening at The Glenfiddich Distillery and the Whisky and Jazz event at the Craigellachie Hotel, where Dutch whisky author Hans Offringa will be on hand to sign copies of his book ‘The Road to Craigellachie – Revisited’ which will be officially re-launched as part of the festival programme offering enthusiasts the change to get their hands on a copy of this whisky themed travel book that quickly became a collector’s item after its first edition was released in 2004.

Over the course of the Festival visitors will have the opportunity take part in numerous long-standing favourite events such as guided tours of many of Speyside’s 50+ world renowned distilleries, including some not usually open to the public, as well uncovering the unique appeal of this amazing area of north east Scotland on a range of whisky themed walks and tours.

Outdoor events include the festival’s famed “Dramble” where walkers can sample the spirits on offer at the seven stills of Dufftown by foot, a selection of whisky and wildlife walks guided by local rangers, as well as exclusive motorised tours taking in the backcountry braes that used to conceal the smugglers stills by four wheel drive or even in an amphibious argocat.

Connoisseurs will have the chance to blend their own whisky at the Cardhu distillery as well as sampling some superb single malts and helping to select the winning whiskies at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards prior to the annual opening dinner at Knockando Distillery.

Tastings will also be offered at a range of other events including the foodie friendly Sweet and Savoury Whisky Pairing workshops at Gordon and MacPhail where guests will receive guidance on how to select the top tipples to complement their favourite foods. Whisky and food will also be the subject of some new additions to the festival programme with tasting tours taking place on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

For more information: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011

Bonham’s Rare Whisky Auction

April 12, 2011 by Gary Leave a Comment

Two Macallans from Bonham's Rare Whisky Auction

Have you got a day or two free?

Able to leave pretty much straight away?

Got a bit of loose change in your pocket?

Don’t have a fear of flying?

If you can answer YES to all four of the above then you’ve still got time to attend Bonhams first Whisky and Wine sales of 2011 in New York.

In the early evening of Thursday April 14 (April 14, 5pm EST, Bonhams New York to be precise), Bonhams will hold Whisky, a 322-lot sale that includes three notable private collections, along with a variety of other Scottish single malt whisky consignments.

The auction is dominated by three notable private collections. The first two are consigned from an East Coast collector and a whisky aficionado from Virginia. They both represent a wide, eclectic mix of Scottish single malt whiskies, including whiskies for current drinking, rare bottlings from independents, and sought-after rarities.

Highlights include:-

a Macallan Private Eye individually numbered bottle (est. $600-800 / £368 – £491);
a 12-year-old Ghillie’s Dram Macallan (est. $450-600 / £276 – £368);
three bottles of Ardbeg 1974 Provenance (est. $600-900 / £368 – £552 per bottle);
two bottles of Black Bowmore 1964 (est. $2,800-3,500 / £1,700 – £2,150 per bottle).

A third collection comes from a Brooklyn consignor featuring exceptional rarities, including:-

Macallan 55 year old in Lalique decanter (est. $16,000-22,000 / £9,800 – £13,500, which is pictured above);
Macallan 57 year old in Lalique decanter (est. $15,000-20,000 / £9,200 – £12,300, pictured above);
Glenfiddich 50 year old (est. $15,000-20,000 / £9,200 – £12,300);
the Bowmore Trilogy (est. $15,000-20,000 / £9,200 – £12,300);
a six-bottle Springbank Millennium Set (est. $9,000-12,000 / £5,500 – £7,350);
a six bottle original wooden presentation case Macallan-Speymalt set (est. $8,000-12,000 / £4,900 – £7,350).