Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey
$379.99
Since its first release in 1984, the venerable Midleton Very Rare has been a blend of pot still and grain whisky that is produced at the new Midleton Distillery in East Cork. The releases of Very Rare are usually aged in ex-Bourbon casks, giving it a somewhat different twist than the more sherry-driven Redbreast Irish Whiskey range.
Midleton Distillery produces some of the best whiskey and most coveted expressions we see coming out of Ireland and Midleton Very Rare highlights that.
We are currently on the 2023 edition. Bottled at 40% ABV.
Producer Note: "Since 1984, each Master Distiller of Midleton Very Rare uses their eye for detail, their passion for quality whiskey and their exemplary skill to create the pinnacle of Irish whiskey—our special vintage release. The latest chapter of this renowned collection is adorned with the signature of our Master Distiller, Kevin O’Gorman. After months of exploration, O’Gorman crafted a balanced blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys from Midleton’s exclusive inventory to create this truly special release. Matured in lightly charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels, the Midleton Very Rare 2023 Vintage Release delights with decadent flavours and a tantalising aroma. The aroma, taste and finish of this whiskey will enliven the palates of those new to this collection while taking the seasoned whiskey collector on a journey through an exciting exploration of taste."
40% abv
Two Stacks Fruit Drops BB Brandy Cask
$79.99
Irish Whiskey finished in a Fruit Brandy cask, you say? Sounds delicious. This bottling from Two Stacks takes a blended Irish Whiskey and finishes it in Blackberry Fruit Brandy casks. That is not something we have seen much of! Bottled at 50% ABV.
Producer Description
"Two Stacks Fruit Drops Blackberry Brandy Cask expression beautifully integrates juicy blackberry notes with warm spice, and vanilla, creating a bold yet balanced whiskey perfect for both sipping and creative cocktails."
Blue Spot Irish Whiskey
$164.99
This single pot still Irish whiskey was bottled at no less than 7 years from a mix of Bourbon, Sherry, and Madeira casks, before bottling at cask strength. 58.4%
Producer Description
"Blue Spot’s name was derived from the Mitchell’s practice of marking their maturing casks of whiskey with a mark or daub of coloured paint to determine the age potential of the whiskey. Blue Spot was a 7 year old whiskey, Green Spot (10 year old), Yellow Spot (12 Year Old) and Red Spot (15 year old). As a colourful history would have it, this revered Blue Spot remained underground until now and its introduction reunites the historical Spot Family for the first time in over 56 years."
Paul John Roulette Peated Blend 40%
$33.99
Wanna play spin the bottle? From John Distilleries in India, the Roulette is a blend of peated malt whisky and grain whisky matured in American oak, then bottled at 42.8%.
Big Peat 12 Year
$114.99
Producer Note: "Big Peat is a marriage of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies only from the island of Islay. With Caol Ila spirit bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a degree of elegance, Big Peat represents all that is Islay in a bottle. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions."
Big Peat is an Islay icon at this point, but it's the variants in the range, such as this 12-year-old, that are keeping it in the spotlight. And if they're still declaring 'Port Ellen' on the label, you know that the 12 year age statement is more than three times younger than the oldest whisky in this bottling.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 46% abv.
MacNair`s Lum Reek 10 Year Cask Strength
$116.99
Bottled at 55.4%, this is Batch 1 of the Lum Reek 10 Year Cask Strength. This Blended Malt is a fusion of Speyside whiskies, including GlenAllachie, blended with Islay malt. The whisky was married and rested in ex-Spanish Sherry, Wine and Virgin Oak Casks.
About The Range
"Our multi-award-winning Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies combine Single Malts from Islay and Speyside – two of the most sought-after whisky regions in Scotland – marrying both peated and unpeated spirit to create perfectly balanced and satisfyingly complex malts. Taking inspiration from MacNair’s discovery of the delights of a dram beside a smoky peat fireplace, Billy Walker has drawn upon his half century’s experience in blending to develop a recipe fit for a traditional Scottish toast to long life; “Lang may yer lum reek”."
The MacNair's Story: "Ne'er happier than when exploring the globe or the spirit from the golden still, Harvey McNair was - in the parlance of his native Glasgow - a man or 'lad o'pairts': a true Victorian entrepreneur. A trader, thereby a traveller, an inventor of all sorts of mechanical contraptions, his genius lay in the blending of fine whiskies. He loved and championed the natural, unadulterated colour of whisky. "Pure gold' he said with a wink. Bon viveur and raconteur, he cut a dash about town and had a bursting social calendar. His best stories were always 'agin hisself', like how his neighbours thought him an alchemist or, indeed, how he discovered Lum Reek. But he knew a good dram when he blended it, or indeed stumbled across it. Just like our own 21st Century Whisky legend Billy Walker, who has recreated and refined the Lum Reek blend for the modern palate.
"One autumn evening in the 1860s, after a day's fishing, our man was quaffing a dram in the old stone bothy near GlenAllachie. Due to a blocked chimney (or lum) the room filled with smoke. It had "a marvellous effect on the whisky in my glass," confided McNair later to his merchant cronies. "Indeed, perfection!" Ne'er a truer word was spoken. Today's Lum Reek is the creation of our Master Blender Billy Walker, raising his hat to the top hatted Victorian. It's a heavily peated malt, marrying Islay & Speyside whiskies with rich GlenAllachie, to extend the flavour profile. Lum Reek is matured in GlenAllachie's warehouses, then bottled at 46% (and above), unchilfiltered, allowing its natural colour to shine like those golden autumns Harvey MacNair enjoyed, decked out in his waders."
Big Peat Feis Ile Edition 2024
$82.59
The 2024 Big Peat Feis Ile bottling was bottled at 48% after finishing in Rum casks.
Producer Description
"In celebration of Fèis Ìle 2024, Big Peat has finished his classic Islay Malt recipe in specially selected Rum casks to create a big, sweet Buccaneer of an Islay Malt!
"Big Peat is a marriage of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies only from the island of Islay. With Caol Ila spirit bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a degree of elegance, Big Peat represents all that is Islay in a bottle. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions."
G&M CRN57 The Cairn 40 Year
$859.99
This 40 year old "Blended Malt" is part of a range of whiskies released by Gordon & MacPhail to highlight what they are doing at The Cairn Distillery. The distillery's own whiskies won't be ready for some time, but in the interim they have created bottlings to show what the spirit might be like in 12, 18, 25, 30, 40, 57, and 70 years. The Cairn Distillery sits at 57 degrees north latitude-wise, hence the name CRN57 for these releases. 43%
PE: SMWS August Virtual Outturn Tasting
$41.25
Past Event: SMWS August Virtual Outturn Tasting
Did you miss out on one of our famous virtual tastings? Most of our tastings sell out, but occasionally, there are some kits leftover. This tasting consists of 6-8 samples (depending on the tasting) and can be enjoyed at your convenience. A QR code on the box is linked to the tasting video on our YouTube page.
Original Tasting Description
"Log in, pour your drams and join us from home, the cottage, or work... for the August Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Virtual Outturn Tasting! The KWM team will be your guide as you sample through an exciting range of 7 SMWS bottlings. SMWS Members Save $10 on their tasting registration (discount is limited to 1 per member if you are buying a ticket for another member as well as yourself, you will only get one member price)."