AUCHENTOSHAN ANNOUNCES THE UK WINNERS OF ITS NEW MALT ORDER COMPETITION

Auchentoshan, has today announced the UK winners of their annual New Malt Order competition, where 48 bartenders were invited to enter for the chance to help curate the third edition of the Lowland whisky brands ‘The Bartender’s Malt’.

The UK final which was held at TT Liquor in London, saw each entrant undergo two rounds of judging by a panel of spirits and whisky experts, including Gary Sharpen and previous years’ New Malt Order winners Lachlan Rooney and Charles Roche.

Auchentoshan announces the UK winners of its New Malt Order competition

Bartenders were required to create a cocktail inspired by their home city, and then a cocktail made using the very first edition of the Bartender’s Malt, which is described by the brand as being the only whisky created by bartenders, for bartenders.

Contestants came from all over the UK to compete, but it was Adam Lynch, formally of Science & Industry Bar in Manchester, and Glen Howartson from Black Rock in London, who were declared as the winners.

Lynch, who hails from Manchester, created for the first round the cocktail ‘The Port of Manchester’ using Auchentoshan Three Wood Tawny Port, Cherry Heering and tiki bitters, whilst Howartson, who comes from the north of Scotland, mixed up ‘Farmer’s Dram’, using Auchentoshan Three Wood, vodka and raspberry jam butter.

Both Lynch and Howartson will represent the UK in helping to curate the Bartender’s Malt Number 3 along with winners from Canada, Germany and Russia, in Auchentoshan’s spiritual home, Glasgow later this month.

Commenting on his win, Glen Howartson, said: “It’s many whisky lover’s dream to have their name put on a bottle of their favourite drink and contribute to the overall taste.”

The third edition of Auchentoshan’s ‘The Bartender’s Malt’, will be released later next year.

Posted by Steve Rush

RARE 60 YEAR OLD MACALLAN BREAKS WORLD RECORD AT AUCTION

Bonhams Auction House in Edinburgh, has announced that a rare 60 Year Old bottle of Macallan single malt Scotch whisky, sold at auction yesterday for a record £848,750.

Bottled in 1986, only 12 bottles of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 Year Old, were ever produced.

The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 Year Old 60 Year Old

The Macallan originally commissioned artists; Valerio Adami and Peter Blake, to design labels for a very limited run of 24 bottles; 12 of the Adami labels and 12 of the Blake labels.

Valerio Adami, is an Italian artist famous for painting bold, flat forms outlined in thick, black lines, in a style reminiscent of comic art. He is among the most acclaimed of 20th Century Pop Artists.

Commenting on the news, Martin Green, Bonhams Whisky specialist in Edinburgh, said: " I am delighted at this exceptional result. It is a great honour to have established a new world record, and particularly exciting to have done so here in Scotland, the home of whisky. Bonhams now holds the record for the three most valuable bottles of whisky ever sold at auction."

The previous world record for a bottle of Scotch whisky, was set by Bonhams in May this year, when another bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 was sold for £814,081.

Posted by Steve Rush

GLEN MORAY LAUNCHES THE FIRST EXPRESSION IN NEW EXPERIMENTAL RANGE OF SINGLE MALTS

The Glen Moray Distillery, has today announced the launch of the first expression from its new Elgin Curiosity Range, which is said to embrace the brands passion for experimentation and its desire to push the boundaries.

Glen Moray Cider Cask Project (46.3% ABV) was initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being transferred and matured for several months in Thistly Cross Cider casks.

Glen Moray Cider Cask Project

Thistly Cross Cider, one of Scotland’s award-winning cider brands, has been using Glen Moray’s ex-bourbon barrels to create their own Whisky Cask Cider. As part of an experiment, Graham Coull, Glen Moray’s Master Distiller, decided to age some whisky in Thistly Cross Cider casks, for several months.

The extra period of maturation in the Thistly Cross Cider casks, is said to have resulted in a Glen Moray, which is incredibly light and fresh, delivering notes of caramelized apples, intense vanilla, candy floss, summer fruits and toasted oats.

Commenting on the launch, Graham Coull, said: “For me the inspiration was simple. When I first tasted the Whisky Cask Cider it was immediately obvious that the whisky flavours complemented the cider flavours perfectly. The logical next step for me was to see what the cider could bring to the whisky.”

He went onto say: “We are all very excited at Glen Moray Distillery about the launch of Glen Moray’s Cider Cask Project Whisky and The Elgin Curiosity Range. As Master Distiller of this historic distillery, I am keen to constantly evolve and create new whiskies which showcase the quality and breadth of whiskies which we can produce, reinforcing our message that Glen Moray is The Gateway to Flavour.”

Glen Moray Cider Cask Project, will be available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange until the end of this month, then from all specialist retailers in November, for a RRP of £54.99.

Posted by Steve Rush