From the category archives:

For the collector

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This little beauty is the latest crème de la crème from Johnnie Walker and it’s called…John Walker. You may not have known before but Johnnie’s real name is actually John.

The John Walker represents the top notch of the Blue Label bottlings. The John Walker is created from a small number of fine whiskies, chosen from over seven million casks. Only nine distilleries (six malt and three grain whiskies) made it into The John Walker, some of which hailed from remaining casks from distilleries that have already closed, such as Glen Albyn and Cambus.

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The first bottle, bearing the signature of Master Blender Jim Beveridge, will be auctioned off, with bids starting from $3,000 and proceeds going to The Smile Train charity, which is dedicated to offering free surgery to poor children from developing countries suffering from cleft lips and palates.

According to the press release, the taste will reveal notes of fresh citrus slowly replaced by mature fruits on the nose. On the palate, you will be able to recognize the classic Walker Speyside whiskies – Mortlach and Dailuaine – with hints of vanilla oak sweetness, finally capped off by a smooth and mellow finish in rich smokiness.

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I am 37 years old. That’s 7 years older than the latest release from Old Pulteney. The single malt whisky has announced the launch of their oldest and most exclusive super-premium whisky. This rare 30 year old single malt was distilled at the most northerly distillery on the UK mainland and embodies the wind-swept and rugged character of the far north.

Matured at the distillery for 30 years in American White Oak, it offers connoisseurs of fine spirits and luxury scotch whisky enthusiasts an intensely complex single malt.

Already renowned for its 12, 17 and 21 year old whiskies, Old Pulteney’s 30 year old is perfect as an after dinner dram or to celebrate a special occasion. It is presented in a lacquered walnut burr box which is lined with sailcloth, reflecting the brand’s unique maritime heritage.

Old Pulteney’s senior brand manager, Iain Baxter: “We are really excited about the launch of our oldest ever Old Pulteney. This whisky has been looked after at the distillery for 30 years and the age contributes a huge amount of complexity. It has all the hallmarks of Old Pulteney; spice and green apples, and sweet vanilla and coconut notes from the American Oak. But unusually for such an old whisky there’s a remarkable touch of tropical fruit on the nose – some people have picked up guavas and mangos! I’d say that for a malt whisky with so much age and depth, it’s still incredibly approachable.”

To tie in with the launch of the whisky, Old Pulteney is running an online competition where visitors can win a bottle of this exclusive whisky. Each month for the next six months, visitors to the Old Pulteney website can guess where they think bottles of a missing crate of the 30 year old went missing around the coast of Wick where the distillery is based. You can find the competition at the Old Pulteney website.

Old Pulteney 30 year old retails at £250 in the UK, and due to limited supply it will be available from specialist stores only.

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A cold winternight, an open fire and in good company. That’s how Mackmyra themselves describes how you should enjoy their latest release – The Mackmyra Special: 01 – Eminent Sherry.

The new release lives up to its name. It’s a spicy yet sweet potion with a taste of raisins, dried fruit, vanilla, candy and toffee that has been aged on sherry casks. The whole thing has a nice smokey touch with a scent of oak to it. Being bottled at a strength of 51.6% I’m sure this beauty will live up to it’s name.

In Sweden Systembolaget has bought 8000 bottles and you better stand in line when they open the doors on the 1st of december, cause this beauty will be sold out.

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When every independent bottler around the world are experimenting with the contents of whisky ForScotchLovers founder Doug Stone takes another route.

This past summer Doug commissioned the artists at Inner Light Crystal to produce a limited edition of exactly twenty-one (21) engraved bottles of Macallan Fine Oak 21 years old whisky. Each bottle is signed by the artists and individually numbered,  and will be accompanied by a pair of CelticMalts Spirits Glasses, engraved with wonderful quotes, and a certificate of authenticity signed by the artists.  

The combination of the engraving on a bottle of incomprably delicious and enjoyable Macallan Fine Oak 21 whisky create an artistic combination that could turn out to be a great investment.

About the artists:
Glass artists Carol Iselin and Dave Sugar are the creative minds and partners behind Inner Light Crystal Studios in New York, a design studio they started almost 30 years ago. Through their collaborative efforts their artistic style has allowed them to push the cutting-edge of glass art technology, resulting in breathtaking and innovative installations at some of the worlds leading museums.

Their  engraved bottles have been collected by world leaders (every president since/including Ronald Reagan, Jacque Chirac, John Major, General Colin Powell and others.

More details on this piece of art can be found on ForScotchLovers.

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The Bruichladdich A Paulliac Cuvée 16 it the first out of totally 6 limited editions to be released under The First Growth label.

The First Growth series comprises of 6 limited edition Cuvées – labelled A to F. Each is a 16 year old Bruichladdich, American oak matured, with an additional cask evolution in French oak casks from each of the 1855 first growth chateaux, including Sauternes. The famous 1855 Classification of Bordeaux rated chateaux into 5 groups according to quality and price of their wines. The First Growths were the best. Today these legendary estates use casks coopered from the finest French oak, 150 to 200 year old trees from the forests of Tronçais, Allier and Vosges.

Bruichladdich Distillery managing director Mark Reynier, ex wine trade, works closely with master distiller Jim McEwan who is also a cooper: “The unusual concept should appeal to both whisky and wine fans alike – especially those who like to compare and contrast between different bottlings.”

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Details of Ardbeg Blasda is sipping out

September 15, 2008

 On september 28th Ardbeg are about to release a new bottling called Ardbeg Blasda.
Ardbeg will launch a digital drive some time the coming weeks to promote the new expression. The campaign, created by Story, will target Ardbeg customers to create a buzz around the new drink, Blasda, which is means ‘sweet and delicious’, in Gaelic [...]

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Oloroso and Manzanilla in Bruichladdich latest whisky comparison experiment

August 14, 2008

Bruichladdich has released two bottlings of the same vintage to compare and contrast.
In July 1998, identically distilled whisky was filled in to Sherry casks for full term maturation. Recent tastings proved that unexpectedly two types of casks were used.
One cask type had contained Oloroso, a dark, sweet, fortified wine, the backbone of ‘cream’ sherry. The [...]

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8 new bottlings and 4 premier barrels from Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co

August 9, 2008

Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co, headed by brothers, Fred and Stewart Laing released another eight new bottlings of their Old Malt Cask together with four (4) Premier Barrels .
Here are the tasting notes:
Tasting notes follow firstly
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Exclusive single malt whisky available in new online whisky shop

August 7, 2008

Dream Drams today announced the launch of their online shop.
Although newly launched, the company behind Dream Drams, MWBH Bottling Co. Ltd, has been bottling one-off special cask whiskies for over 10 years.
MWBH Bottling Co. Ltd are based in Kendal, Cumbria and owned by Paul Smith who originally set up the company to help those caught [...]

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The new single malt range from Tullibardine might be the perfect gift…to yourselves

August 5, 2008


The Highland whisky distillery Tullibardine has unveiled a range of personalised whisky bottles.
This new range includes a personalised whisky bottle containing the 1993 single malt whisky and a personalised cask of Tullibardine single malt whisky, the independently-owned company said late last week according to Just Drinks
The limited edition cask is available in either a Sherry or Bourbon [...]

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First Whiskey in 200 Years at George Washington’s Distillery

August 3, 2008

If you fancy getting your hands on some collectible, the mini bottle mashup made by portions of eleven of America’s most famous brands may suit you right.
In 1797 George Washington’s farm manager, a Scot named James Anderson, convinced his employer that producing whiskey made from corn and rye grown on the plantation would be a natural [...]

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Ardbeg takes you an adventure into the heart of Corryvreckan with their latest whisky

July 27, 2008

I stopped by Ardbegs website today and I noted that I’ve missed the news that another piece of ‘gunpowder’ whisky has come our way. But, better late than never.
The latest Ardbeg single malt whisky is called Corryvreckan – named after the fierce whirlpool to the north of Islay, and the Viking prince who braved the [...]

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