It is that happy time again. New releases for Norway. They go on sale on Friday juli 1 at 8 AM. We have 77 new releases this time around! Looks like they did some major summer cleaning in the warehouses at the importer for G&M! Also a few interesting releases in the Blackadder Raw Cask series. […]...

In 2014 Buffalo Trace distillery purchased 293 acres of farmland adjacent to the distillery property for construction of additional barrel warehouses. While awaiting construction permits corn was planted on 18 acres of the property with the idea of creating a, “farm to table “single estate” bourbon experience,” according to the press release. See the full details below.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY DISTILLS FIRST CORN CROP  FOR FARM TO TABLE BOURBON

Second Year of Corn – A New Variety – Planted

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (juni 23, 2016) A little over a year ago, Buffalo Trace Distillery quietly purchased an additional 293...

The island distillery of Arran was the inspiration for our latest TWE tasting, hosted by sales manager Louisa Young. Although it was only founded relatively recently – in 1995 – Arran is well known among whisky drinkers, and is currently planning to build a second distillery on the island. We tried five whiskies from Arran’s core range, and the extra treat of choosing our favourite from two cask samples, the winner of which will be bottled as a TWE exclusive later in the year.

The distillery

In Their Own Words – Louisa Young

‘Our founder, Harold Currie, was a bit...

In september 2015, Nikka announced to discontinue all of its Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malt ranges. Not just their aged bottlings (10, 12, 15, 20 years old) but also its NAS offerings and a lot of its blended whiskies. Stocks have simply fallen too low and it will take years before we can think of aged single malt expressions again.

The Nikka Yoichi NAS we’re having today was available in Japan for the last ten years or so and also appeared in Europe a couple of years ago. I understand it is now gone as well and replaced by a...

We’ve already posted information on the forthcoming Diageo Special Releases 2016 with Port Ellen 37 and Brora 38 in the limelight. In the last few years, we came to expect those releases (along with the Caol Ila and Lagavulin) but we always have a supporting cast from other distilleries in Diageo Portfolio and it seems like we have four new addition to the Special Releases 2016 and the current list is as the following:

• Lagavulin 12 Year Old 2016 – 57.7%
• Caol Ila 15 Year Old Unpeated – 61.5%
• Port Ellen 1978 37 Year Old – 55.2%, 2940 bottles
• Brora...

As reported in Whisky Advocate magazine’s summer 2016 issue, Lagavulin distillery is celebrating its 200 ^th anniversary this year. As a tribute to the distillery managers throughout Lagavulin’s history, Diageo announced today the upcoming release of a sherry cask matured Lagavulin 25 year old. It is a limited edition cask strength bottling. Only 8,000 bottles produced, 1,200 of which will be released in the U.S. in early fall. It has a suggested retail price of $1,200.00 per 750 ml. See the press release included below for further details.

Lagavulin™ Releases 25 Year Old Limited Edition Bottling to Honour  200 Years...

Maureen Robinson has been working in the whisky industry for nearly 40 years

Maureen Robinson is a master blender for Diageo’s whisky team, and is involved in both blended Scotch and single malts, as well as helping to choose the eagerly awaited Special Releases each year. She is also a judge at whisky competitions, and was made a Keeper of the Quaich in 2012. Here, she shares some views on her role:

‘For the first nine years at Diageo, I learned about the science of whisky , then I moved on to working with blends ’

‘Seeing something you’ve created is a...

Bruichladdich Islay Barley was originally a small batch limited edition, released for the first time in 2013, but our bottle was filled in 2015 so it has more or less become a regular expression. The grain was harvested in 2006, the whisky distilled in 2007 and matured in ex-bourbon American oak.

The Islay Barley is made solely from barley grown on the Rockside Farm on Islay. Bruichladdich has always been working with the idea of terroir in whisky and this is a good example. They source barley from 10 local farms on Islay and also from a few others around...

Tomatin Legacy is a NAS expression matured in virgin oak and then in ex-bourbon casks from Maker’s Mark. A slightly unusual recipe.

What you see in the picture is the new bottle design and branding, available since mars 2016.

Tomatin Legacy (43%, OB 2016)

Nose: light, and it seems bittersweet, although you can’t smell bitterness of course. I get some green notes, like pine wood and green tea. Slightly plankish. Big lemon, some vanilla too. Not much flavour besides this: really neutral and grainy. Hints of dough. Mouth: funny – uncommon flavours for a single malt, and really...

Mackmyra Special 02 Jubileumsutgåvan, NAS, 50,6 % Here is the second release from Swedish distillery Mackmyra’s Special series. The Mackmyra Special 02 Jubileumsutgåvan (the anniversary edition) was released in the Summer of 2009. It was released in time for Mackmyra’s 10th anniversary, hence the name. This whisky has been mainly matured in ex-bourbon casks, but […]...

After cask strength versions in 2004 and 2005, Caol Ila 25 Year Old became a permanent addition to the core range in 2010, the oldest to date except for a couple of special releases of course.

Caol Ila 25 yo (43%, OB +/- 2015)

Nose: it maj start on minerals and salty kippers, but it quickly becomes sweeter, more dignified and smoother with the arrival of fruity notes. Apricot, hints of vanilla and pear, with a light minty touch, which grow towards soft medicinal notes. Very nice ashy and oily notes in the background. Delicate, complex nose. Mouth:...

A couple of weeks ago, the Remarkable Regional Malts collection from Douglas Laing was completed with the launch of The Epicurean , a marriage of Lowlands malt whiskies.

We now have Timourous Beastie from the Highlands, Scallywag from Speyside, Rock Oyster from the Islands, Big Peat from Islay and The Epicurean from the Lowlands.

The Epicurean (46,2%, Douglas Laing 2016)

Nose: starts a bit too mashy and feinty for my taste. Sweet grasses after a while, with some citrus fruits and green banana. Hints of grappa. Faint metallic notes too. Takes a bit of time before the typical...

I’ve left the world of wine marketing to dip my toes into the world of whisky and spirits at The Whisky Exchange. I was raised in America, earned my BA in History in Devon, and been captivated by all things wine in Berkshire and London. And now, with Independence Day on the horizon, I thought it would be interesting to highlight the key events that shaped the wine and spirit world in the US.

Americans have a varied and rich history with alcohol in its many forms, and to celebrate the uniquely American holiday of 4th of juli – we’ve...