Categorie: Whisky nieuws

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

The niche fad for so-called “hazmat whiskeys” underlines that there are two ways to view a cask strength or otherwise high proof bottle of whiskey. The traditional and more widely shared view is that a cask strength whiskey is essentially a concentrate, because palate fatigue is a thing, and the point is to dial the liquid down to the desired strength. Some cask strength releases can be enjoyed as is, but only some, and even fewer are actually at their best at their bottle proof. The other view is that strong whiskey puts hair on your chest, and the more you have to suppress the wince the better.

As the title tells us, this is a 118 proof version of the standard Still Austin Bourbon, which is about 20 points higher than the standard bourbon (98.4 proof). Still Austin Bottled in Bond Bourbon has a different age attached to it, but comes from the same stock and sits right in the middle. That stock is made from a 70% locally grown and milled white corn (if you enjoy local bakery-made tortillas in Austin, it’s the same stuff), 25% rye (note: 25% isn’t high rye) and 5% malted barley mash.

The Bourbon
This one is proof of Kurt Maitland’s dictum, that stronger whiskey is better whiskey. That might sound odd, given my introduction, but one needs to keep in mind that I dialed my sample down to about 10 points stronger than the stuff I tried three years ago. It’s darker, and the nose is crisper. The scent and palate were better balanced and weightier than the standard version, bringing out more rye spice and oak, while adding a note of earthy cocoa to the candied caramel. Simply put, taking things up a couple of notches brought more out of the liquid, and that really is the point of being cask strength. It’s not about putting hair on your chest, but finding the right mark for you.

The Price
As good as the contents is the price tag: $60. Compare that to a lot of the cask strength regulars out there, and one can see how fair, even inexpensive that is.

 

THE GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY

DEBUTS PEATED WHISKY BRAND

Award-winning Speyside-based single malt producer reveals new peated Scotch whisky label

 Independent Scotch whisky distillery The GlenAllachie reveals its new peated single malt Scotch whisky brand: Meikle Tòir (pronounced mee-kuhl tor).

Spearheaded by celebrated Master Distiller Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery, which surpassed £20 million in sales for the first time last year, has won countless notable awards, including the hotly contested World’s Best Single Malt title (World Whiskies Awards, 2021).

The launch introduces Walker’s first core releases to have been fully overseen by him since he took ownership of the distillery in 2017.

Meikle Tòir, which means ‘big pursuit’, represents Walker and his expert team’s relentless seasonal peated campaign at The GlenAllachie, which began in 2018.

Using mainland peat from St. Fergus, the peated production runs for around six weeks per year, producing approximately 100,000 Litres of Alcohol annually.

The peated label’s core range consists of The Original (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51), The Sherry One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50) and The Chinquapin One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50), as well as annual small-batch release, The Turbo 2023 Edition (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51). Each whisky carries a five-year age statement.

All Meikle Tòir expressions were subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours – nearly triple the industry average – which adds a fruity, ester-rich character to the subsequent whisky.

The Original 5-year-old was aged in expertly sourced first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks and Rye barrels, imparting “waves of stem ginger, sweet spice and oak-smoked sugar”.

After an initial period in American oak, The Sherry One underwent additional maturation in quality Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons. The result is a single malt with “impeccable balance between dark fruits, mocha, treacle and puffs of earthy peat smoke”.

The Chinquapin One was first aged in American oak before being transferred into superior Chinquapin virgin oak barrels from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri, USA. Drinkers can anticipate “smoked spices, roasted nuts, campfire smoke and crème brûlée”.

The Original, The Sherry One and The Chinquapin One all have a spirit PPM level of 35, with the mainland peat delivering a more sweet and oaky smoke style in comparison to the flavour contribution of a coastal peat.

The Turbo, a super limited annual bottling, captures ‘the heart of the heart’ of the peated distillate: the spirit cut with the highest phenol content.

The 2023 Edition, a run of just 2,500 bottles, was left to slumber in three American virgin oak casks and five Oloroso Sherry hogsheads for five years. The resulting whisky is said to offer “a powerful punch of peat, amounting to a spirit PPM of 71, alongside notes of toasted honeycomb, burnt orange peel and worn leather”.

All Meikle Tòir products are proudly bottled without added colouring and non-chill filtered for optimum drinking experience.

The eye-catching packaging features a hand-drawn illustration by prominent Scottish artist Iain McIntosh that depicts the rugged terrain surrounding the distillery, including the iconic peak of Ben Rinnes. The complementary “earthy” colour palette was chosen to hint at the smoky flavour profile.

Despite the additional costs associated, the brand exclusively works with UK-based packaging suppliers in order to reduce its impact on the environment.

The launch will be bolstered by a series of tastings across Scotland this week, both at barrel-top sampling events in retail stores and invite-only drinks evenings, concluding in Meikle Tòir’s presence at The Whisky Exchange Show in London at the weekend.

Commenting on the new brand, Walker remarks:

“This incredibly exciting launch is a key milestone for us all at The GlenAllachie. Five years in the making, it represents the culmination of our endeavours since we took over the reins at the distillery. Our intention has always been to release a peated single malt, and this is no surprise to those who have followed our journey from the start.

“Every element of the production process was carefully considered to ensure our vision was met. It’s not about accelerating the journey; it’s about expanding the experience. One of the key decisions was to significantly extend the fermentation period to 160 hours, creating thick, ester-rich distillate. Another was to use mainland peat, which delivers a more oaky style of smoke. These choices, along with the use of quality oak casks, are all factors steering us in our pursuit of peated perfection”.

Meikle Tòir will become increasingly available worldwide from today, with UK RRSPs starting at £50.

ABOUT MEIKLE TÒIR:

Guided by revered Master Distiller, Billy Walker, our team is on a ‘Meikle Tòir’ (meaning ‘big pursuit’). The goal: to carefully craft and cask-perfect a peerless peated single malt at our Speyside home, The GlenAllachie Distillery.

Being independent, we have complete freedom to do things our way. Every step of the whisky-making journey has been meticulously considered and masterfully optimised to steer the ensuing aromatic and flavour characteristics of the whisky.

Using premium mainland peat for an oaky, sweet smoke style; a process of extended fermentation, exacting distillation and expert maturation elevates the spirit to its pinnacle. After years of patient slumber, the spirit within each cask must meet Billy’s rigorous standards to reach the bottle.

Where pioneering passion and painstaking precision are paramount. All in the pursuit of peated perfection. 

Facebook: /MeikleToir         |             Instagram: @MeikleToir

 ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed spirits companies, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts over a half-century’s tenure in whisky.

Our brands include The GlenAllachie Single Malt, Meikle Tòir Single Malt, MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

TASTING NOTES:

Meikle Tòir The Original, 5-year-old – 50% ABV

Nose: Baking spices, burnt honey and roasted coffee beans, leading to hazelnuts, smoked almonds and butterscotch.

Taste: Wisps of sweet peat, with rich chocolate and heather honey, followed by cinnamon, ginger and oak-smoked sugar.

Meikle Tòir The Sherry One, 5-year-old – 48% ABV

Nose: Cedarwood and cigar box, alongside butterscotch, mocha and orange peel, with hints of honey and plum jam.

Taste: Rich dark chocolate, smoked honey and mocha, followed by fig syrup, treacle and burnt sugar, with puffs of peat smoke on the finish.

Meikle Tòir The Chinquapin One, 5-year-old – 48% ABV

Nose: Aromas of smouldering oak embers, burnt liquorice and honeycomb, with wild heather, ginger, butterscotch and orange peel.

Taste: Dark chocolate, crème brûlée and toasted almonds, leading to cinnamon, brittle toffee, aniseed and lingering campfire smoke.

Meikle Tòir The Turbo, 5-year-old – 50% ABV

Nose: Manuka honey, worn leather and rich chocolate, with hints of toasted hazelnuts, dried sultanas and burnt orange peel.

Taste: Intense peat, heather honey and mocha, followed by smoked spices, roasted chestnuts and charred oak.

The House of Suntory Launches Limited-Edition Hibiki 21-Year-Old Whisky and Hibiki Japanese Harmony Bottle Design in Honor of Centennial Anniversary

The pioneering house of Japanese whisky reveals two new limited-edition bottlings within its six-part celebratory centennial range. 

NEW YORK, NY, September 18, 2023 – As 2023 marks a momentous year for the House of Suntory, the founding House of Japanese whisky is thrilled to reveal the long-awaited centennial release of Hibiki 21-Year-Old and a limited-edition bottle design of Hibiki Japanese Harmony that honors the four seasons and is a nod to the past, present, and future. The two limited releases mark the latest centennial whisky offerings from the House of Suntory’s anniversary celebration, honoring a century since founder Shinjiro Torii established Japan’s very first malt whisky distillery in 1923.

Originally making its debut in 1989, Hibiki is considered among the most prestigious whiskies in the world and has become one of the most sought-after Japanese blended whiskies. Hibiki is a harmonious blend of various malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. The limited-edition Hibiki 21-Year-Old is a delicate marriage of malt and grain whiskies that are meticulously blended to create an orchestra of flavors and aromas. For this special centennial edition, rare Mizunara oak is placed at the forefront, profoundly influencing the blend while still maintaining Hibiki’s character and essence.

“For the limited-edition Hibiki 21-Year–Old, our team took on the challenge of crafting a new blend to celebrate our centennial,” says Chief Blender of Suntory Shinji Fukuyo. “With meticulous precision, we managed to harness the challenging-yet-rewarding characteristics of Japanese Mizunara oak to accentuate the unique flavor profile for which our Hibiki whiskies are known. This special whisky showcases our continued dedication to craftsmanship at the House of Suntory.”

The centennial anniversary label design on the Hibiki 21-Year-Old bottle artfully displays a gradual transition of colors that evoke the sunrise in Japan, a symbol of life, vitality and the ever-flowing passage of time. In Japanese culture, the sun holds deep meaning, as it nurtures the surrounding nature and provides essential energy. It stands as a reminder to appreciate life and embrace the changes that come with each passing moment.

Tender gold in color, this extraordinary whisky embodies the spirit of “Wa,” or oneness, with enticing aromas. It offers refined and elegant notes of kumquat and jasmine with Japanese incense. The palate is subtly sweet and floral combined with spiced sandalwood and agarwood. The result is a long and deep finish with undertones of spiced Mizunara wood. Hibiki 21-Year-Old is bottled at 43 percent ABV. It is available globally in select markets with a suggested retail price of $5,000 a 700-ml. bottle.

The House of Suntory’s centennial Hibiki Japanese Harmony bottle design brings the art of “Monozukuri” craftsmanship to life—it’s this same relentless pursuit for quality, ingenuity, and expressiveness that has inspired the design of each of the house’s centennial limited editions. The Hibiki Japanese Harmony centennial edition packaging features motifs of snow, moon and flowers representing Japan’s changing seasons. The ‘Kakehashi’ (bridge) depicted on the bottle links Japan and the world to the past, present and future. The water flowing underneath is pure and clear, symbolizing the cleansing of hardships and calamity. The ‘Kakehashi’ symbolizes the emotional connection of the Japanese people to their country’s unique seasonality and its significance in everyday life, fostering an appreciation for time that deeply resonates and inspires Hibiki.

Amber in color, this luminous and delicate whisky presents notes of rose, lychee, a hint of rosemary, mature woodiness and sandalwood on the nose. On the palate, it offers aromas of honey-like sweetness, candied orange peel and white chocolate. The finish is both subtle and tender with a hint of Mizunara. Hibiki Japanese Harmony is bottled at 43 percent ABV. It is available globally in select markets with a suggested retail price of $200 a 750-ml. bottle.

Earlier this year, the House unveiled its centennial edition Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt whiskies. Limited 100th anniversary labels of the flagship Yamazaki 12 Year Old and Hakushu 12 Year Old were also released for the centennial. All four are available in select markets around the world.

The House of Suntory invites fans to join its new global membership program, offering exclusive benefits such as early access to new releases, priority invitations to consumer experiences*, distillery news, cultural insights and more. To sign up and learn more about the House of Suntory, please visit us online here.

*Limited number of invitations in key cities.

About The House of Suntory

Since 1923, Suntory has been renowned as a pioneer of Japanese Whisky for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, and the Suntory legacy continued with Torii’s son and Suntory’s second Master Blender, Keizo Saji, who continued to establish distilleries including the Hakushu Distillery. As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation. The House of Suntory has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014). Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio includes Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita, Kakubin, Hibiki, Suntory Whisky Toki and Ao. The House of Suntory portfolio also offers Roku Japanese Gin and Haku Japanese Vodka. Created from Japanese ingredients by the master artisans at the House of Suntory, Roku Gin and Haku Vodka represent the nature and spirit of Japan. This year, Suntory Whisky celebrates one hundred years of whisky innovation—a major milestone not only for the brand’s history, but for Japanese spirits culture as a whole. To mark this anniversary, the House of Suntory will be rolling out its centennial campaign throughout 2023.

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands.  Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki®; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails. 

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory’s core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to inform consumers as they make choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com 

HIGHLAND PARK PARTNER WITH THE SINGLE MALT SHOP TO REVEAL NEW WHISKY

 — Only 513 bottles of new single malt Scotch Whisky available —

Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has partnered with The Single Malt Shop to unveil its latest whisky, a bespoke single cask bottled exclusively for the Ireland based drinks specialist.

Hand selected by Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, the 18 Year Old, single cask whisky is limited to just 513 bottles and is bottled at cask strength to capture the purest flavour.

Gordon Motion, Highland Park, master whisky maker explains: “When it comes to whisky that’s matured for 18 years and more, I have fewer casks to choose from so those in our Single Cask Series are, quite simply, the most exceptional Highland Park casks available.”

The 18 year old refill butt delivers aromatic peat smoke and heather honey flavours which makes Highland Park single malt whisky so distinctive. Casks contribute up to 60 per cent of the flavour. Highland Park works in partnership with bodegas in Spain to source the finest sherry seasoned casks available.

Gordon Motion, continues: “Some of our most outstanding single cask bottlings come from refill casks, as they have often previously held whisky for only a short period of time, so have much to give in subsequent maturation. I chose this cask for The Single Malt Shop due to its interesting and exciting flavour profile to offer something special for their whisky fans.

“As well as the distinctive Highland Park flavours, I also get notes of sweet, toasted oak, vanilla fudge ice cream, roasted almonds and violets with lingering flavours of floral peat smoke, cinnamon bark and lingering spiciness.”

The RSP of the Highland Park single cask exclusively bottles for The Single Malt Shop is €440.00.

Ed Forrest, Managing Director of The Single Malt Shop said: “We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Highland Park on this 18-year-old single cask release. As a premium, specialist whisky retailer, we are always looking to work with distilleries to showcase their best expressions and this one complements the Highland Park line up very well indeed. We are very excited by the Highland Park brand now. It is a perfect entry point into whisky with a very well-rounded flavour profile. This single cask bottling is a real delight with dark chocolate, honey and molasses to the fore, balanced by a light, lingering peaty finish.”

Based in Orkney, Scotland, Highland Park has been a working distillery since 1798 and uses local peat in the whisky making process, delivering a balance of aromatic smoky peat and sweet heather honey.

The Highland Park Single Cask bottled exclusively for The Single Malt Shop will be available to pre order from September 4th 2023, and on general release from September 11th 2023, at, www.thesinglemaltshop.com, priced at, £379.43.

For further information about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com

About The Highland Park Single Cask bottled exclusively for The Single Malt Shop:

RRP: €420.00 / £379.43

ABV: 57.4%

Volume: 700ml

Natural colour 

Tasting notes:

Enticing aromas of heather honey, lemon peel, new oak, pecans with pleasant aromatic light peat. Intriguing flavours of sweet, toasted oak, vanilla fudge ice cream, roasted almonds and violets with lingering flavours of floral peat smoke, cinnamon bark and lingering spiciness.

About Highland Park:

We’ve been crafting our award-winning whisky at the Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Now, 225 years later, we are one of the ten oldest working distilleries in Scotland. Age, experience, and respect for tradition may define our whisky but it’s Orkney that differentiates us.

It’s not just the influence of the finest sherry seasoned oak casks on our whisky as it matures, it’s the salty sea winds that batter Orkney’s rugged coastlines, the intensely floral character of our treeless but heather-rich peat, and the fiercely independent Viking spirit that drives us. These are the elements that go, untamed, into our whisky-making to create a wild harmony of sweet-smoky flavours that is, uniquely, Highland Park.

www.highlandparkwhisky.com

We hope you have enjoyed the summer and had plenty of family (or otherwise) fun. I know it is still hot for most of us this week, but the cooling autumn is just round the corner, and I, for one, am quite looking forward to it!

With the autumn comes the 2nd half of our festival year. Liverpool is just a week away, with York, Manchester and, finally, Nottingham waiting in the wings. Tickets are still available for all of these and, if you’re quick, there might well be some juicy ‘early-birds’ still left for some of them.

I thought for this newsletter, we could focus on some new exhibitors, fresh to our festivals, for you to look out for…

Saturday 7th October 2023
York Racecourse

Buy Tickets Now!

Although not new to us, we have not had Compass Box at our events for a good few year, and god did we miss them. Creative, innovative and always pushing the whisky boundaries, the line-up they have on offer at their stands has already delighted festival-goers…

Friday/Saturday 20th/21st October 2023
Manchester Cathedral

Buy Tickets Now!

These two, relatively new distilleries are both doing very exciting things and are well worthy of your attention. WEETWOOD are a Cheshire brewery and distillery, only a (long) stones throw from both Liverpool and Manchester. Only distilling since 2018, they are very keen to experiment with all the variables that make a difference, such as different yeast strains, maturation ABVs, distillation cuts and more.

NC’NEAN, from close to Oban, Scotland, are an organic whisky-maker, with one of the only net zero carbon whisky distilleries in the world. Aside from the mission to be as planet-friendly as possible, they make very tasty whisky indeed, so be sure to seek them out in Manchester!

Saturday 4th November 2023
St.Mary’s Church

Buy Tickets Now!

Ok, so neither of these guys are new to us, sorry! However, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society have not done all of our shows for a long time and, being one of, if not THE world’s largest independent bottler, they have really gone all out this year, in terms of breadth of range. Come and see and taste for yourself! When the guys and gals at Ardnamurchan told us they wanted to more shows this year, we were very excited!

We have know Antonia of Adelphi for a long time and were delighted when the long awaited distillery came on stream in 2014. The whiskies from this beautiful, west of Scotland located distillery are very exciting too, normally with bold and slightly smoky characteristics.

 

Tomatin | The Italian Collection

Tomatin – The Italian Collection. A limited edition trio of Italian wine cask finished Tomatin whisky. Each are 2012 vintages aged 12 years with two years spent in three different wine casks to impart their unique styles: Marsala, Amarone and Barolo. Tomatin single malt Scotch is renowned for its softer and fruity character allowing the wine cask influence to shine through.

SHOP NOW

ralfy review 996 – Kilchoman Machir Bay @ 46%vol:

7 Stars 30 yo ‘Cask Strength’ (48.2%, Cadenhead, blended Scotch, sherry, 2023)
Blended Malt 50 yo 1971/2022 (49.5%, The Whisky Exchange, Celebrating 50 years, Speyside, refill sherry butt, 303 bottles)
Blended Malt 44 yo 1978/2023 (59.8%, Spheric Spirits, refill sherry butt, cask #6, 331 bottles)
Blended Islay Malt 8 yo 2013/2021 (58.7%, Elixir Distillers, The Whisky Trail Taiwan, bourbon barrel, cask #24, 253 bottles)

Isle of Harris Distillers has launched its first single malt, The Hearach. The name is the Scottish Gaelic word for a native of Harris.

The first legal dram from the Outer Hebridean Isle of Harris, handcrafted by a team of island locals, has been distilled, matured (in first-fill bourbon, oloroso and fino sherry casks), married and bottled (at 46% ABV) on the island. The distillers describe it as ‘complex and utterly delicious’, reflecting in part its use of the softest of water and the Harris climate, second to none for the maturation of spirit.

Purchasers will be able to acquire one bottle from each of the eight batches online, via the Harris Distillery website, and in person at the distillery itself, at a UK RRP of £65. The whisky will then be made available from October in specialist retailers and bars across the UK and in over 20 countries globally.

Conceived by Anderson Bakewell, who has a 50-year relationship with Harris, the distillery opened in 2015 to act as a symbol of hope and optimism for the Harris community – creating sustainable jobs for local people and supporting the wider island economy for generations to come. Starting life with a team of just 10 locals, today the distillery family numbers some 48 full-time staff. The Hearach single malt whisky, supported by Isle of Harris Gin, will enable the distillery to continue supporting the local community and provide exciting job opportunities for islanders.