The Whisky Exchange — Page 9

New & Exciting Drinks From The Whisky Exchange!

August 28, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Ben Lomond
Raspberry & Elderflower
Gin

Ben Lomond
Raspberry & Elderflower
Gin
£21.95

Fruity and floral with an underlying, complementary spice, this fresh-yet-earthy gin from Ben Lomond is sure to bring a little sunshine to your September evenings, whatever the weather.

Ben Lomond
Blackberry & Gooseberry
Gin
£21.95

Earthy juniper meets juicy blackberries and tart gooseberries in this fruit-infused gin from Ben Lomond. Just add tonic and a squeeze of fresh orange!

Filey Bay
STR Wine Cask Finish
English Single Malt Whisky
£58.95
Distilled in Yorkshire, England in 2016, this whisky was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before being moved to shaved, toasted and recharred wine barriques resulting in a fresh and fruity profile.

Maker's Mark
Cask Strength 55.05%
Bourbon Whiskey
£69.95

Small-batch bourbon from Maker’s Mark bottled at a natural cask-strength of 55.05% ABV for extra punch and a dialled-up profile of caramel, soft spice and sweet fruit

Kingston 62
Gold Rum
£18.45
New this summer from the people behind Appleton Estate comes this medium-bodied blend of pot-still and modern column-still spirit.

Daymark
Sailors Golden Rum
£29.25
Described by Daymark as a ‘session rum’, Sailors Golden Rum is crafted to be used in cocktails or with your favourite mixer, among friends. Expect notes of toffee, pineapple, ginger and white chocolate.

Glencadam
Reserva Andalucia
Sherry Finish
£37.95
This limited-edition whisky from Glencadam pays homage to the distillery’s relationship with the great sherry-producing region of Jerez, Spain. A delicate and creamy single malt with a richly-fruity, honeyed profile.

TOP 10 GINS

Hand-picked – our favourite gins of the moment.

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TOP 10 WHISKIES

Our favourite whiskies of the moment

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TOP 10 RUMS

Ten of our top rums right now

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The Whisky Exchange: All-Time Customer Favourites!

August 26, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Customer Favourites!

Johnnie Walker
Blue Label
SAVE £11!
£139

Bunnahabhain
12 Year Old
SAVE £4.80!
£40.45

Lagavulin
16 Year Old
£57.95

Koko Kanu
Coconut Rum
£19.95

Nikka
From The Barrel
£40.75

Redbreast
12 Year Old
£47.95

Glenlivet
12 Year Old
£36.95

Diplomatico
Reserva Exclusiva Rum
£41.95

Drumshanbo
Gunpowder Irish Gin
Half Litre
£32.45

Havana Club
7 Year Old
Anejo Rum
£25.95

TOP 10 WHISKIES

Our favourite whiskies of the moment

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TOP 10 RUMS

Ten of our top rums right now

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The Whisky Exchange – Top Highball Whiskies!

August 22, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Don’t be afraid to mix or dilute your whisky – you might be surprised at what you discover!

Hinch
Single Pot Still
Irish Whiskey
£39.95

Herbaceous and biscuity with notes of plum, blackberry, citrus and spice, this single pot still whiskey is crying out for two-parts tonic water and a couple of ice cubes.

Ailsa Bay
Sweet Smoke
Lowland Scotch Single Malt Whisky
£55.45

Both peatier and sweeter than the previous edition, this release of Sweet Smoke lends itself excellently to mixing. Expect notes of vanilla, toffee and candied orange peel.

Balvenie
12 Year Old DoubleWood
Speyside Scotch Single Malt Whisky
£39.95

Spice, red fruit and chocolate-y, malty notes combine in this single malt which, thanks to its double maturation, boats a richness and heft more than capable of withstanding tall serves.

Deanston 12 Year Old
Unchillfiltered
Highland Scotch Single Malt Whisky
£38.95

Heather, spice and a distinctive honey note make Deanston 12 Year Old as well-suited to water, tonic or a gentle mixer of your choice as it is to sipping neat.

The Whisky Exchange – A Round Up Of What’s New!

August 20, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Independent bottlers!

Independent Bottlings
We recently received no fewer than seventeen new whiskies from Signatory Vintage – one of our favourite independent bottlers – inculding well-aged Jura, Glentauchers, North British, Glenlossie, sherry-aged Caol Ila and more. If you like your indies – or, indeed, just great single malt – then these are well worth your time.

Gin Sale
Few things scream summer – or any season, really – quite like the perfect G&T. If you’ve been thinking about a restock, or you’re just keen to try something new, come and have a look around our summer gin sale for great savings and special offers.

Meet The Makers
For August, we thought we’d introduce you not just to some of our favourite drinks, but to the people who make them, too. From Dennis Malcolm, the man behind Glen Grant distillery, to Roberto Bava, the architect of vermouth’s inexorable rise, and Sophie Decobecq, the brains behind Calle 23 Tequila, come and meet some of the most interesting people in drinks right now.

Virtual Tastings In August
As ever, we’ve some great virtual tastings lined up for this month and beyond, including our Glenfiddich tasting this Thursday 20th August, and a fantastic Faces Of Vermouth tasting on the 27th, led by our own Dawn Davies MW and some of the biggest vermouth producers out there: Roberto Bava of Cocchi, Mark Ward from Regal Rose, and Max Wagner and Seb Brack from Belsazar.

Cask-finished Arran
Last week we welcomed three cask-finished single malts from Arran – one finished in an Italian Amarone cask, one in a Sauternes cask, and one finished in a port cask. All wrapped up in their fresh new packaging and bottled at 50% ABV, these are sure to be of interest to fans of punchy, fruity Highland whisky.

Review: McDonald's Traditional Ben Nevis
“Really very good. This is a lovely bright, lemony, briney dram that has nice rounded edges that recall vanilla custard. It’s really quite similar to Lagavulin 8, if you happen to have tried that (which incidentally is my favourite whisky full stop). It’s not incredibly complex and the finish is medium, it being 46%, but an enjoyable drop nonetheless.” – Jack Tomlin

Now Shipping Champagne to the USA
We’re thrilled that we can now ship our superb range of Champagnes to the USA, so whether you live there and you’re in need of some great fizz, or you’d like to send something special to a loved one across the pond, you can – plus, Champagne isn’t subject to tariffs, so if you’re buying from the US, you won’t be paying over the odds. Come and explore our range of Growers’ Champagnes to find out why we were named Champagne Retailer of the Year 2019.

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There’s Still Time To Vote For Whisky Of The Year!

August 17, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year!

For the second year running, whisky fans can become whisky judges for the internationally recognised award: The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year!

The Perfect Measure Packs – available from September 2020!

The first stage nominations are now open – meaning there’s never been a better excuse to re-taste some favourite drams!

The Whisky of the Year award is given to one whisky that stands out from the crowd each year, chosen by our customers for our customers.

The winning whisky is given a dedicated landing page on www.thewhiskyexchange for the year to showcase the distillery and the bottling, while customers can watch out for special offers online and in-store ‘Of The Year’ tastings.

In order to nominate their favourite dram, voters will visit here to put forward up to four whiskies. The three most popular nominations will be selected for the Whisky of the Year shortlist.

The criteria for nominations are:

· The whisky must have a retail price of £65 or less
· It must be 48% ABV or less
· It must be permanently available (ie. not a limited release)

A further three whiskies will be picked by co-founder of The Whisky Exchange Sukhinder Singh and head buyer Dawn Davies MW to complete the shortlist.

Once the whiskies have been selected, customers will have the opportunity to purchase a Perfect Measure tasting set featuring all six finalists. The whiskies will be labelled A to F so they can be judged blind and the sets will be available from September 2020.

For those who would like to judge alongside like-minded whisky lovers, a Whisky of the Year judging session will take place during the Virtual Whisky Show from 2 – 4 October.

Customers will then be able to cast their vote online for their favourite whisky at www.thewhiskyexchange.

Nominations opened at 10am on 10th August and will close on 24 August. The blind tasting judging packs will be available online and in-store from 28 September and the Whisky of the Year will be revealed on 1 December 2020.

The Whisky Exchange – Meet The Makers!

August 15, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Iain McAlister of Glen Scotia

Iain McAlister of Glen Scotia
Born and raised in Campbeltown, Iain McAlister has now been at Glen Scotia for more than a decade. Using his expertise as an engineer, find out how he has helped modernise and increase production at Glen Scotia, and helped the distillery solidify its signature style of single malt whisky.

Dennis Malcolm of Glen Grant
Having been actually born on the Glen Grant distillery grounds, it’s difficult to imagine master distiller Dennis Malcolm working anywhere else, and his tenure at the distillery has seen Glen Grant single malt become one of Scotland’s best-loved and most-awarded whiskies. Find out more about the man behind the whisky with our profile and video interview now.

Lorena Vasquez of Ron Zacapa
With a background in chemistry and a natural sensitivity to taste and aroma, Lorena Zasquez was probably destined to end up in the spirits business. But did you know that she previously worked in quality control at a brewery? And what might it have been like to join an industry which was for so long dominated by men? Answers to those questions and more, now live.

Roberto Bava of Cocchi
Renaissance man Roberto Bava balances an appreciation for history with an eye toward the future. This approach and a keen eye for detail and quality is what has led him to rejuvenate not just heritage wine house Cocchi, but the entire vermouth category, in a matter of years. Find out about how he makes his own fountain pen ink and more in our interview.

Sophie Decobecq of Calle 23
Having trained in biochemistry and engineering, a work placement saw Sophie Decobecq relocate to Mexico and fall in love with its culture and, crucially, its drinks. Intrigued by the processes involved, she began making small batches of agave spirits for personal consumption, but enjoyed it so much that she decided to turn it into a business, and thus Calle 23 was born. Find out more about her story and that of her Tequila in the interview!

Patrick Van Zuidam of Zuidam Distillers
Originally a producer of traditional fruit liqueurs, Zuidam Distillers is now a whisky and fine spirits producer with quality at its heart – and Patrick Van Zuidam at its head. After studying IT, Patrick joined the company on a temporary basis, and now finds himself running it. Watch the interview for more of his story.

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The Whisky Exchange – New & Exciting Drinks For August!

August 13, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Great new spirits from The Whisky Exchange!

Belvedere
Summer Bay
Vodka
A creamy and spicy, limited-edition vodka from Belvedere, Summer Bay is the perfect base for your fruity cocktail of choice.

The Channel Islands
Liquor Co.
Indica Rum
A blend of rums from the Americas and the Caribbean aged for a minimum of eight years, this rum is at once rich and sweet, and fresh and grassy.

Mezcal Neta Cucharillo
Celso Garcia Cruz
2018
Celso Garcia Cruz produces award-winning Mezcal in tiny batches of between 20 and 400 litres. This 2018-vintage batch of just 48 bottles has been made to showcase the cucharillo agave type.

Storywood
Reposado Tequila
Oloroso Sherry Cask Aged
Aged in oloroso sherry casks for seven months, this reposado Tequila from Storywood has an earthy, agave flavour augmented by sweet-cherry and dark-fruit notes from the cask.

Maison Monteru
Folle Blanche 2012
Grape Brandy
Double-distilled French grape brandy aged in American oak casks, this a nutty spirit with a rich undercurrent of dried-fruit flavours.

Tarquin's
Blood Orange
Cornish Summer Gin
Be transported to the sunny Cornish coast with this summery, blood orange-flavoured gin from Tarquin’s – just right for creating the perfect bittersweet G&T.

TOP 10 WHISKIES

Our favourite whiskies of the moment

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TOP 10 RUMS

Ten of our top rums right now

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The Whisky Show 2020 – Now It’s Virtual!

August 11, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Whisky Show 2020 – Now It’s Virtual!

WHISKY SHOW 2020 UPDATE

Due to the ever-changing landscape of the current pandemic, it is with great sadness that The Whisky Exchange has confirmed the cancellation of their Whisky Show 2020, which was due to take place at Old Billingsgate, London, between 2-4 October.

The team at The Whisky Exchange has been fighting to make the 12th year of The Whisky Show happen during an incredibly daunting time in the world. From relentlessly researching into PPE to cutting back certain aspects of the show to create the most secure environment possible, they have exhausted all avenues in bringing together the show safely for 2020.

£20 gives access to the whole event for the week!

But they are pleased to announce that the show will be taken online with the The Virtual Whisky Show 2020 – the largest of its kind – taking place from 2-9 of October. A week long whisky extravaganza!

The inaugural year of The Whisky Exchange’s Virtual Whisky Show is already shaping up to be an unforgettable experience for dram lovers across the globe. Whisky Show is known for its constant innovation, and the October event will be the very first of the biggest drinks shows to go fully online with a dedicated platform. Hosting the event is a face known to whisky lovers worldwide: award-winning writer and drinks superstar, Dave Broom, who will be joined by many of the whisky world’s most famous names throughout the week.

The show will feature more than 70 talks, plus the largest tasting line-up of any virtual show and the opportunity to meet ‘face to face’ with some of the world’s top distillers and industry legends. Talks will range from the introductory to the geeky, allowing everyone to expand their horizons and hear from the likes of Colin Dunn, Sukhinder Singh and Mark Gillespie on topics ranging from ‘Does Water Really Matter?’ to ‘For the Love of Islay’.

A selection of more than 30 Perfect Measure tasting packs will also be available for purchase, ensuring fans can taste alongside the experts from the comfort of their own home.

With the possibilities afforded by today’s technology, alongside the incredible success of our recent virtual tastings, we are delighted to have the resources to bring our biggest show online and to an even wider global audience. Our team has pulled together a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience sure to delight our customers throughout the world.
– Sukhinder Singh: The Whisky Exchange Co-founder

Virtual Whisky Show tickets are available now at whiskyshow.com – tickets are £20 gives access to the whole event for the week.

Those who had already purchased tickets to the physical show will be able to access a full refund. The team will be processing these over the coming weeks and customers can find more information at whiskyshow.com

The Whisky Exchange – Choose Their Next Whisky Of The Year & Be A Winner Yourself!

August 11, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

HELP CHOOSE THE WHISKY OF THE YEAR 2021!

COMPETITION
Everyone who nominates their favourite whisky is in with a chance to win a bottle of each of Benromach 15 Year Old single malt whisky, Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve rum and Henri Giraud Esprit Nature Champagne!

Nominate Now!

HALL OF FAME
We’ve been naming our Whisky of the Year every year for more than half a decade – from Glenfarclas 15 Year Old in 2014 to Benromach 15 Year Old, last year’s Whisky of the Year – and we truly believe each of them has been exceptional. Take a walk back through time and pick up some of our favourite bottles from years gone by.

TOP 10 WHISKIES

Our favourite whiskies of the moment

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TOP 10 RUMS

Ten of our top rums right now

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The Whisky Exchange – What’s New!

August 7, 2020 by Gary Leave a Comment

Secret Speyside

Royal Brackla Exceptional Cask Series
New from Highland distillery Royal Brackla come these three limited-edition whiskies. An 18-year-old vatting of two casks, finished in PX sherry casks, is joined by two single-cask 20-year-olds – one finished in a Moscatel cask, the other in a French red wine cask – both of which have been bottled at cask strength.

Virtual Tastings
From Glenfiddich single malt whisky to vermouth and Ruinart Champagne, August’s virtual tastings line-up is as good as any other month so far. Try some great drams, dip your toes into new drinks (figuratively, of course) and get your dose of social interaction, all without stepping outside your door with our purpose-made tasting packs.

Secret Speyside
This collection of single malts from ‘secret’, lesser-known Speyside distilleries – Longmorn, Glen Keith, Braes of Glenlivet and closed distillery Caperdonich – from Chivas Bros. aims to shine a light on some of what it feels are some of Scotland’s most under-appreciated drams

Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2009 Batch 4
” … The flavours keep coming on this one. A really enjoyable whisky that just reveals more flavours the longer you give it. Just lovely stuff!”

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