Dec 05
Box Whisky - Toasting Masterclass
Posted on 5th December 2013 by Pierre
Here at Whisky Marketplace there’s nothing we like more than an educational whisky product because, let’s face it, whisky appreciation is a voyage of discovery. Every whisky we taste teaches us a little more about the magic of the cask, or the still, or the mash, or the type of oak... you get the picture. Unsurprisingly this new release from Box, one of Sweden’s newest distilleries and a very stylish looking player on the world whisky scene, caught our eye.
Dec 03
Noah’s Mill
Posted on 3rd December 2013 by Tim
Part of producer Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) range of Small Batch bourbons, Noah’s Mill is bottled at 100 UK proof (57.15%) and is probably the most critically acclaimed of the company’s range, with regularly huge scores from the likes of Jim Murray and Paul Pacult.
KBD is a family company that has owned and operated the Willet distillery since 1935, but has been established as the US’s most important independent bottler since the 1980s. As a result, it’s impossible to say exactly where Noah’s Mill originates from – but while it tastes this good it’s probably better not to ask too many questions.
Dec 02
Chivas Regal 25 Year Old
Posted on 2nd December 2013 by Tim
Originally produced for the US market in 1909, Chivas Regal 25 year old was fairly revolutionary at a time when long-aged whisky was relatively unknown, but the brand disappeared in the aftermath of the Great War and Prohibition and was never reintroduced after Repeal, as it was felt that the Great Depression was not conducive to the successful marketing of a luxury product. Relaunched a few years ago as a limited edition to critical acclaim, happily Chivas Regal 25yo has now been rolled into the ongoing range of one of the world’s favourite blends. I don’t normally like to talk about presentation generally, but it also looks great.
Nov 28
Staff Picks - November 2013
Posted on 28th November 2013 by Pierre
One glance at this month's staff picks and you'll see what's happening at WhiskyMarketplace HQ. The nights are drawing in, the weather is getting colder and thoughts are turning to festive whiskies. Quality, richness and luxury are what we're looking for... unsurprising then to see two superb scotch single malts, a sensational Japanese blend and premium scotch blend.
Nov 26
Ben Nevis 1992 Signatory
Posted on 26th November 2013 by Tim
Ben Nevis flies under a lot of people’s radars, which is a shame, as the distillery is more than capable of putting out some excellent whisky – as would be expected for a distillery owned by Japanese giants Nikka, who have owned it since 1989.
Bottlers Signatory, meanwhile, eschew almost all publicity and promotion, and sadly this little sherry-matured gem has been languishing in obscurity since being bottled towards the end of last year.
Nov 25
Elijah Craig 12 Year Old
Posted on 25th November 2013 by Tim
Distilled by one of the USA’s largest producers, Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig is one of the company’s flagship long-aged bourbons, alongside Evan Williams. The eponymous Reverend Elijah Craig was something of a firebrand minister and part-time distiller, who was once briefly imprisoned after his sermons were found to have caused a breach of the peace.
The Revd. Craig’s lasting contribution to world culture was not religious subversion, however, but ironically something rather more mellowing – he is claimed, probably apocryphally, to have been the first bourbon producer to discover the softening effect of burnt barrels in the maturation of his whiskey. This miraculous discovery supposedly came about as a consequence of the minister being too tight-fisted to replace his barrel stock after a fire at the distillery had damaged them.
Oct 29
Staff Picks - October 2013
Posted on 29th October 2013 by Pierre
The days are getting shorter, the weather a little colder - in our part of the world at least. So it's no surprise that this month’s staff picks sees a selection of rich, warming whiskies. A classic Japanese blend is joined by three generously flavoured scotch single malts. With a good broad spread of prices there's something to suit most pockets too.
Jun 21
Staff Picks - June 2013
Posted on 21st June 2013 by Pierre
It’s scotch all the way this month for our staff picks. A pair of blends, from two of the most famous scotch brands, along with a couple of independently bottled, cask strength single malts. Sláinte!
May 10
Glenmorangie Ealanta 1993 Private Edition
Posted on 10th May 2013 by Stuart
For the better part of a decade now Glenmorangie has been constantly associated with a willingness to experiment. The company's Distilling & Whisky Creation Director - Dr. Bill Lumsden - and his team have long advocated the cask as the dominant factor in the final character of a matured malt, augmenting their ever-popular 10 year old with wine-cask finished bottlings such as Quinta Ruban (extra-matured in port casks) and an annual "Private Edition" release.
Last year saw a break from what had been a thoroughly modern series, and instead looked to what was an old style of Glenmorangie which, like the vast majority of distilleries, would have included more than a touch of smoke in years gone by. In contrast, 2013's Ealanta reads as quite the opposite; matured exclusively in virgin oak casks for 19 years, this could well be the very model of a modern vanilla drenched single malt.
Apr 24
Staff Picks - April 2013
Posted on 24th April 2013 by Jean-Luc
Each month here at Whisky Marketplace we put together a collection of staff recommendations to tantalise your taste buds.
This month we bring you two exciting new releases; we sniff out the last few remaining bottles of a rather special release by Highland Park before they disappear for good; and in the video podcast embedded above Pierre revisits the classic blended Scotch Chivas Regal 18 Year Old.