Category: Whisky Regions

Johnnie Walker Bolsters Ghost And Rare Series

Almost in time for Halloween – but certainly with the Halloween spirit – blended whiskymaker Johnnie Walker has raised the cloak on their Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich – their fourth release in the limited edition series that celebrates whiskies from so-called ‘ghost’ distilleries which have long since closed. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost […]

Almost in time for Halloween – but certainly with the Halloween spirit – blended whiskymaker Johnnie Walker has raised the cloak on their Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich – their fourth release in the limited edition series that celebrates whiskies from so-called ‘ghost’ distilleries which have long since closed.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich is a blend emphasizing the Pittyvaich distillery, a Speyside distillery that was in operation from 1974-1993, but also incorporates whisky in the blend from Port Dundas and Carsebridge, other Speyside distilleries Mannochmore, Auchroisk, Cragganmore and Strathmill, as well as Royal Lochnagar.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich was bottled at 43.8% alcohol by volume [87.6 proof] and is said to contain notes of apple, butterscotch and cinnamon.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich is being made available for $375 per 700ml bottle beginning on – alas, November 1, 2021 – the day after Halloween.

Spirits Network Preparing For December UK Launch

New York-based NBTV – a direct-to-consumer personalized video shopping platform – is preparing to launch in the UK in December 2021. Founded in 2018, NBTV via their Spirits Network is a streaming service featuring ‘shoppable entertainment’ in the form of original programming focused on spirits and cocktails. NBTV is currently scheduled to debut in the […]

New York-based NBTV – a direct-to-consumer personalized video shopping platform – is preparing to launch in the UK in December 2021.

Founded in 2018, NBTV via their Spirits Network is a streaming service featuring ‘shoppable entertainment’ in the form of original programming focused on spirits and cocktails.

NBTV is currently scheduled to debut in the UK in December with a new series called “Shake Off”, in which bartenders compete to create the best cocktail for a panel of judges, with the winner receiving a cash prize.

Ice Cream, You Scream, Everyone Screams For Ardbeg Halloween Ice Scream Tour

Islay distillery Ardbeg officially hops on the Halloween promotional bandwagon with their Monster Ice Scream Truck Tour, which begins today and will travel to three UK cities serving special edition treats through Halloween [October 31]. The Ardbeg Monster Ice Scream Truck Tour will travel to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London offering three exclusive ice cream serves […]

Islay distillery Ardbeg officially hops on the Halloween promotional bandwagon with their Monster Ice Scream Truck Tour, which begins today and will travel to three UK cities serving special edition treats through Halloween [October 31].

The Ardbeg Monster Ice Scream Truck Tour will travel to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London offering three exclusive ice cream serves – all of which can be made with or without Ardbeg’s single malt Scotch whisky – along the way.

The ice creams to be served by the truck will include Cookies & Scream: Ardbeg Wee Beastie ice cream sandwiched between charcoal cookies, and coated in ‘crunchy mealworms’; the Ahhh, No! Bar: Lapsang Souchong ice cream with an Ardbeg An Oa caramel center coated in white chocolate; Ice Cream Groan: a charcoal cone filled with Ardbeg Ten smoky blackcurrant ice cream, and topped with sour cherries and topped with “insect-flecked” bits.

More specifically, the Ardbeg Monster Ice Scream Truck Tour will be stopping at Covent Garden Piazza [London] today and tomorrow, then move on to Drygate Brewery in Glasgow for a stop on October 29, 2021 and finally coming to rest [in peace] in Edinburgh at the St. James Quarter on October 30, 2021 before finding its final resting place on Castle Street on Halloween.

The ice cream portion of the offerings are a result of Ardbeg’s collaboration with artisanal ice cream parlor Ruby Violet – where all three ice creams are currently available at the King’s Cross Coal Drops Yard outlet in London.

The truck features horns, tentacles and beady eyes, and visitors can also book a 45-minute slot in an extension of the spooky-themed truck, a ‘Monster of Smoke cage’, which allows “victims” to try ice cream and cocktails.

Those cocktails include the Cherry Lipsmacker, a Halloween-themed version of the classic whisky and cola; the Begroni, a serve made with Ardbeg Wee Beastie; and a New Fashioned, made using Ardbeg Ten Years Old.

Smokehead Reveals Twisted Stout

Islay distillery Smokehead has released Twisted Stout – a limited edition single malt Scotch whisky partly finished in stout casks. Smokehead Twisted Stout has been partly finished in stout casks, bottled at 43% alcohol by volume [86 proof] and is said to contain notes of chocolate, coffee, toasted marshmallows and toffee. Smokehead Twisted Stout is […]

Islay distillery Smokehead has released Twisted Stout – a limited edition single malt Scotch whisky partly finished in stout casks.

Smokehead Twisted Stout has been partly finished in stout casks, bottled at 43% alcohol by volume [86 proof] and is said to contain notes of chocolate, coffee, toasted marshmallows and toffee.

Smokehead Twisted Stout is being made available exclusively from Smokehead’s official website [www.smokehead.com] for $70 per bottle.

Lochlea Set To Debut Inaugural Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Lowland-based Lochlea Distillery has released their inaugural single malt Scotch whisky – appropriately titled, Lochlea Single Malt First Release. Lochlea Distillery is located in Ayrshire, on the site of the former home of Scottish poet Robert Burns, who lived there from 1774-1784. Lochlea Single Malt First Release was matured in both first-fill ex-bourbon casks and […]

Lowland-based Lochlea Distillery has released their inaugural single malt Scotch whisky – appropriately titled, Lochlea Single Malt First Release. Lochlea Distillery is located in Ayrshire, on the site of the former home of Scottish poet Robert Burns, who lived there from 1774-1784.

Lochlea Single Malt First Release was matured in both first-fill ex-bourbon casks and PX sherry casks before being bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof].

Only 7,000 bottles of Lochlea Single Malt First Release are being made available for $70 per 700ml bottle beginning in November 2021 in the Europe, North America and the UK.

Glen Moray Adds To Their Warehouse 1 Collection

Speyside distillery Glen Moray has released 1998 Barolo Finish – a single malt whisky finished in ex-Barolo wine casks – as the third addition to their Warehouse 1 Collection. Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1, is claimed to be home to the distillery’s ‘innovative’ maturing casks and Barolo wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmont […]

Speyside distillery Glen Moray has released 1998 Barolo Finish – a single malt whisky finished in ex-Barolo wine casks – as the third addition to their Warehouse 1 Collection.

Glen Moray’s Warehouse 1, is claimed to be home to the distillery’s ‘innovative’ maturing casks and Barolo wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Glen Moray Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish was matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in Barolo wine casks for at least 18 months, bottled at 52.9% alcohol by volume [105.8 proof] and is said to contain notes of blackcurrant, caramel, chocolate, figs, honey, leather and toffee.

Only a mere 863 bottles of Glen Moray Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish are being made available – exclusively in the UK – for $190 per 700ml bottle.

Celtic Distillery Debuts Gwalarn Blend

Brittany, France-based Celtic Whisky Distillery has released a blended whisky called Gwalarn – honoring the distillery’s practice of collecting whiskies in the Celtic region and blending them in Brittany. Celtic Gwalarn is subsequently diluted with natural mineral water that flows through the region’s pink granite rocks, which are said to impart notes of gingerbread, honey, […]

Brittany, France-based Celtic Whisky Distillery has released a blended whisky called Gwalarn – honoring the distillery’s practice of collecting whiskies in the Celtic region and blending them in Brittany.

Celtic Gwalarn is subsequently diluted with natural mineral water that flows through the region’s pink granite rocks, which are said to impart notes of gingerbread, honey, leather, peat and vanilla.

Celtic Gwalarn is being made available for $45 per bottle.

Diageo Reveals 2021 Legends Untold Group

Spirit-producing behemoth Diageo has revealed the single malts selected for the 2021 Legends Untold special releases collection. The 2021 Legends Untold collection are being made available in Autumn 2021 in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the USA and global travel retail venues. The 2021 Diageo Legends Untold whiskies are: Mortlach 13 Years Old Speyside 55.9% alcohol […]

Spirit-producing behemoth Diageo has revealed the single malts selected for the 2021 Legends Untold special releases collection.

The 2021 Legends Untold collection are being made available in Autumn 2021 in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the USA and global travel retail venues.

The 2021 Diageo Legends Untold whiskies are:

Mortlach 13 Years Old
Speyside
55.9% alcohol by volume [111.8 proof]
$180 per bottle

Singleton of Glendullan 19 Years Old
Speyside
54.6% alcohol by volume [109.2 proof]
$190

Talisker 8 Years Old
Isle of Skye
59.7% alcohol by volume [119.4 proof]
$120

Lavagulin 26 Years Old
Islay
44.2% alcohol by volume [88.4 proof]
$2,215

Lavagulin 12 Years Old
Islay
56.5% alcohol by volume [113 proof]
$175

Cardhu 14 Years Old
Speyside
55.5% alcohol by volume [111 proof]
$160

Oban 12 Years Old
Highland
56.2% alcohol by volume [112.4 proof]
$140

Royal Lochnagar 16 Years Old
Highland
57.5% alcohol by volume [115 proof]
$270