On Nov. 14 Christie's will auction fine spirits in New York for only the second time since Prohibition began in 1920, headlined by the first U.S. offering of the extremely rare 1964 Bowmore Trilogy of single malts estimated at up to $24,000. Some $2 million worth of wines and spirits will cross the auction block, including over 40 lots of carefully-curated whisky, bourbon, cognac, armagnac, and rum, plus a fine crop of champagne. The Bowmore Trilogy, comprised of White, Black and Gold Bowmore, was matured below sea level for 42 - 44 years at the famed distillery on Islay in Scotland. Other lots include the Ardbeg Double Barrel, a two-bottle lot sourced from two 1974 whisky barrels in a bespoke leather shotgun case with eight solid silver cups, estimated at $15,000 - $20,000, and a 100 year old armagnac from Baron de Sigognac, est. at $2,000 - $3,000.

[via Duncan Quinn]

John Ramsay has been with The Glenrothes since 1991, and if you've bought a bottle of the single malt Speyside whiskey since 1994 you'll find his name on it. The Malt Master retired this summer, and to celebrate his tenure The Glenrothes has produced a limited edition bottle not only bearing his name, but also his blending genius.

Ramsay selected 30 casks -- second-fill American oak sherry casks from vintages ranging from 1973 to 1987 -- to create a single malt. After blending, but without being chill-filtered, the result is a whiskey with flavors of spice, mango, blood orange, vanilla, and dark chocolate, and a long, oak finish.

Only 1,400 of the 70cl, non-vintage Legacy bottles are being released worldwide. Each bottle is numbered and comes in a glass-fronted oak box, and a secret drawer at the base of the box hides a booklet by Ramsay with tasting notes. It is available now in the UK and at The Glenrothes for £699.

[Source: Lussorian]

Trilogies are uncertain things: after a fabulous introductory act you never know which way progress will decide to turn, and it is far more common for the second and third installments to veer the way of uninspired, if not downright awful. Bowmore, the maker of full-bodied scotches on tucked among the Hebrides, has worked for 45 years to avoid that trend with its latest troika. First there was Black Bowmore in 2007, White Bowmore in 2008, and now Gold Bowmore makes the play complete.

Distilled on November 5, 1964 the 84.8% proof scotch has been matured in three bourbon casks and one Oloroso sherry cask in Bowmore's Number 1 vault, tucked below sea level. When the resulting elixirs were married, the Oloroso cask's sherry and walnut hues found their way into the mix, imbuing the final liquid with "a darker, reddish-amber" tint. Or perhaps it should be called the final nectar: the aroma is described a combination of passion fruit, papaya, and vanilla. Add that to Bowmore's trademark smoky peat undertones, and you could have something special in your hands.

There will be 701 bottles of the gold version, the smallest number among the three. What will not be smallest is the price: $6,250 for a hand-numbered bottle in a Burr Elm box. Although that price might seem untoward, you can look at it as an asset -- an unopened set of Bowmore's first trilogy, released in the early nineties, sold for $17,530 at auction in 2007. Even if you do spend six large on a bottle of Gold Bowmore and then thought better of it, we don't think you'll be sorry -- buyer's remorse has probably never tasted so good.

[Source: Bowmore]

Among Scotch drinkers The Macallan sets a gold standard, so news that the famed Scotch distillery is launching a new family of single malts is sure to be welcomed with thirst and enthusiasm. The Macallan 1824 Collection includes four distinct expressions; each one, created by the Master Whisky Makers, showcases the spectrum of flavors and aromas associated with the beloved distillery. The four expressions of the The Macallan 1824 Collection - Select Oak, Whisky Maker's Edition, Estate Reserve and 1824 Limited Release - ranging in price from $53 to $2,000, were created by John Ramsay, Master Blender Emeritus for parent company The Edrington Group, and Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan's Whisky Maker, who between them have over 50 years of experience. The most precious is The Macallan 1824 Limited Release ($2,000, available in October), bottled at 48% and drawn exclusively from sherry seasoned Spanish oak casks which have been solely grown, cared for and crafted for this bottling.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Dalmore tasting with the United States Bartender's Guild led by the eccentric and hilarious Richard Paterson, author of "Goodness Nose" and third generation master blender, in full Scottish regalia (right).

Oh my, where do I start? You may remember Dalmore from our past articles about the Dalmore 50 and the $58,000 Dalmore 62 -- and no, I didn't get to taste it -- but this tasting was more about history, and less about money. Paterson led us through the story of scotch, which somehow included:

• Beetles
• China
• Catherine of Aragon
• Christian missionaries
• Christopher Columbus
• "oops-a-daisy"
• Scandinavia
• Femininity
• and Mary Queen of Scots

It was a tale peppered with digs at England, facts about marmalade (Mary-maligned?) and a lot of laughter from the USBG crowd. Then, we proceeded to learn an awful lot about Dalmore.

Some things: Dalmore, which means "big field" was founded in 1839 by Sir Alexander Matheson. It is made in copper pot stills (see gallery) which they like to call "the big bastards," just beyond Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The scotch whisky is aged in American white oak for a minimum of ten years. Dalmore is currently releasing new bottles with metal detailing, and will be 100 percent converted to the new bottles by October.

"Love makes the world go 'round?" posits Paterson, rhetorically. "Total rubbish. Whiskey makes the world go 'round."

Check out the gallery for more about the tasting itself, and see the video below for a little lesson on glassware.

If you watched Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson in the travel film Lost in Translation, the name Suntory may ring a bell. It's the Japanese whisky which Murray's character was promoting on a trip to Japan, but now it's the whisky that's reciprocating by making the trans-Pacific voyage to American shores. Previously unavailable in the United States, the Japanese distillery has announced plans to import its coveted Hibiki 12 whisky (pictured at right) to the American market. Priced at around $60, the Hibiki 12 is an 86-proof blend of whiskies ranging from 12 years to 30 years old, filtered in bamboo charcoal.

Around the same time, Suntory is also launching a special-edition Yamazaki 1984, a 96-proof blend of some 30 whiskies selling for around $600 to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary – although the distillery itself was actually founded in 1899. Suntory whiskies are considered some of the world's best and have even been awarded top honors by several prestigious whisky tasting authorities, and should find a welcoming market in the United States. Thanks to Ben for the tip!

[Source: Cigar Afficionado]

Every year, Queen Elizabeth II awards miniature bottles of whisky to the guards at her estate in Sandringham. And we'd be telling you more about them – what kind, how much they're worth, how many she hands out annually – if not for a blanket classification issued on the subject by local police. That's right, the bottles of scotch handed out by the Queen are considered a matter of national security.

According to Norfolk police, if they divulged how many bottles were distributed, it would give away how many guards are stationed there. And if Al-Qaeda found out, it would make it easier for them to kidnap members of the royal family. That might seem like an extreme measure of paranoia, but not in the context of break-ins at royal residences in recent history. Aside from terrorism, one man infiltrated Buckingham Palace in 1982, the Queen awaking to find him sitting on her bed. Ten ears later a man was arrested on the premises twice, while another intruder broke into St. James Palace and had himself a scotch. Two years later, a drunken man knocked on Princess Anne's door to ask for directions to the railway station. The embarrassing intrusions have left local police on high alert to prevent further incidents, hence the refusal to disclose details of the whisky distribution. And there you have it.

[Source: The Daily Mail]

Among connoisseurs of single malt Scotch, whisky from the Springbank distillery in Cambeltown is highly prized. A new rare, limited edition bottling of Springbank 40 Year Old from Ian Macleod Distillers' Chieftain's Single Malt Whisky collection is sure to be snapped up quickly. Only 398 bottles of the exceptional natural strength, natural colour and unchill-filtered whisky, distilled in 1968, are being produced at a price of €800 or about $1,300 each. the bottle rests in a silver leather-lined, piano finished, solid oak box which has been stained black and lacquered 11 times to enhance the natural wood grain. Two silver plaques on the front of the box display all the individual bottle details, as does a certificate of authenticity scroll personally signed by Antony McCallum-Caron, Chieftain's Rare Malt Manager. A neck tag hung on a silver chain features detailed tasting notes.

Fans of Washington's Dry Fly Distillery will be very happy when August rolls around. That's when the craft distillery, famed for its simple and clean vodka and crisp gin will be releasing their first Washington Wheat Whiskey. Since Dry Fly launched back in 2007 they've been promising loyal fans a whiskey. The spirit, made with local grains, spent the last two years maturing in charred whiskey barrels. The magic day has finally arrived but retail customers are going to have to act fast. On August 7 stores listed on the Dry Fly website will begin selling whatever product remains after they are done selling to restaurants and bars. The distillery will also sell around 20 cases but caution that they expect to sell out in hours even with a two bottle per person limit.

Dewar's Blended Scotch Whisky and Callaway Golf Company have teamed up to launch a nationwide sweepstakes and longest drive charity competition across the U.S. where each winner will win a $5,000 prize for the charity of their choice. The partnership coincides with the introduction of Callaway's Big Bertha Diablo Driver and Dewar's 18 Founder's Reserve Scotch (right).

There are three Sweepstakes Grand Prizes of a VIP Golf Experience, which include roundtrip travel for the winner and one guest to the Callaway facility in Carlsbad, California, hotel accommodations, meals, custom Callaway golf clubs professionally fitted by Callaway's experts, a Callaway golf bag and a round of golf with a Callaway-certified instructor. 10 Second Prizes of Callaway's new Big Bertha Diablo driver will also be given away.

The Dewar's and Callaway Golf Longest Drive Charity Competition event will take place in New York on June 24 as well as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Miami. Each event will also include a special Dewar's sampling to celebrate the partnership with specially-created golf-themed cocktails. More info. and entries can be found anywhere Dewar's is sold as well as online at www.dewarsproshop.com.

Rare whiskies from the different regions of Scotland were carefully selected by the brand's Master Blender for Dewar's 18 Founder's Reserve. The color is a warm, golden amber; vanilla and toffee notes dominate the palette with a mellow, soft sweetness, lingering creaminess and a full bodied oakiness, followed by a long, soft and warming finish with a slight dryness.

Famed Speyside distillery The Balvenie has just released the second batch of Signature, its celebratory single malt Scotch whisky, created by Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart in celebration of his 45th year in the whisky industry.

Available in in a very limited edition of 1000 cases, with a recommended retail price of $52 per bottle, the 12 year old single malt is a "skillful marriage" of three cask types - first fill bourbon barrels, refill casks and sherry butts - to create a completely unique nose and taste.

The bourbon barrels add subtle vanilla, oak and layers of honey and the refill casks impart delicate, sweet notes and smoothness, while the sherry butts bring rich fruit and spiciness, resulting in a perfect balance of all.

"It has given me great pleasure to create a signature whisky as part of The Balvenie range," says Stewart, whose signature is on every bottle. "Maturing and marrying the finest single malt Scotch whisky has been my passion for over 45 years and it's an honor to mark the moment with an addition to The Balvenie family."

Even when dad's not available I like to spend Father's Day with the family – the Johnnie Walker family. They have a Scotch for every occasion, and, as it happens, every dad as well, with five varieties ranging in age, complexity and exclusivity. Having tried (and tried and tried) every blended Scotch on the market over the years, I long ago settled on JW as the best; judging by the Royal Warrant on the bottle, that famous souse the Queen of England agrees. For one thing, it's the only one that's got any real peat to it, and of course we've always been fond of the "Striding Man" on the bottle; We like to think he's striding off in search of a damn drink after a long day's foxhunting, hoping the family is lined up waiting at home. Let's meet 'em:

The classic Red Label (which dates from 1906) and Black Label (1909) are old standbys, of course. We like the former with soda and the latter on the rocks. Originally known as Extra Special Old Highland Whisky in the 1800s, Red Label ($23) is a combination of 30 spicy, smoky malts, such as Talisker, and lingering, lighter grains. It has notes of clove, butterscotch, spice and vanilla, with a robust, smoky character and a warm finish.

Black Label ($34) contains as many as 40 whiskies all aged in oak casks for at least 12 years, including Talisker and Cardhu. The result is a rich combination of dry smokiness, with malt and peat overtones balanced by hints of cedar and fruit, with trademark dark chocolate and vanilla notes.

On to more recent innovations: Green, Gold and Blue Label. Green Label ($60) is actually a blend of 15-year-old Island and Speyside malt whiskies. Notes of spice, green fruit and nutmeg, are accompanied by an aroma of green apples and pears with a hint of sandalwood.

Gold Label ($85) is crafted from blend of 15 different whiskies, each aged at least 18 years. It's a very mellow Scotch, with a creamy, honeyed body and a slight caramel and vanilla nose. Some folk like to freeze it for 24 hours to release its true character as the whisky warms in the mouth.

Finally Blue Label ($220) is the ultimate luxury blend. Many of the rare whiskies come from distilleries that no longer exist, hence the pricetag. The nose has hints of smoke, sherry and fruitcake, while the body is soft and mellow with sherry, honey and vanilla notes married with peat and dark chocolate. The bee's knees.

How much do you love your dad? Enough to buy him a $5,000 bottle of Scotch for Father's Day? You know he'll appreciate it, right? Scotland's storied Glengoyne Distillery founded in 1833 has just announced its oldest, most valuable Highland single malt ever, the Glengoyne 40 Year Old (above). The rare whiskey is bottled in a hand-blown Glencairn Crystal decanter with an individual number engraved in the base, decorated by an engraved sheaf of golden wheat on the stopper. The decanter is housed in a lacquered, piano-finished, solid oak wood presentation box, complete with gold plates on the front and hand-stitched cream leather interior. Only 250 bottles will be available worldwide, priced at about $5,000 apiece.

[via JustLuxe]

Templeton Rye, a small batch rye whiskey from Iowa, has quite an interesting history; it was first introduced in the 1920s and was made illegally throughout the Prohibition Era. During that time Templeton was at the center of Al Capone's bootlegging empire, and was even shipped to him during his imprisonment at Alcatraz.

The end of the Prohibition came in 1933, but the production of Templeton Rye continued, and the whiskey has only been made privately and in small quantities for loyal patrons since. Templeton Rye launched its first legal product in 2006, and is currently only available in Illinois and Iowa, though that will hopefully change soon.

Following the Prohibition Era recipe, Templeton is aged for more than four years in charred new white oak barrels. While a rye whiskey must by definition be made from a mash containing at least 51% rye, Templeton is made from a mash of more than 90% rye. As the bottle says, it makes for "a smooth finish and a clean getaway."

The unique whiskey presents a rye spiciness and almost bittersweet taste that is found in the rye grain, along with notes of dried fruit, toffee, caramel and allspice. Texturally, the deep amber-colored whiskey is thick and almost chewy. The mellow, yet complex rye has a clean, spicy finish. The rye taste mixed with spiciness and sweet undertones are well balanced, a sign of careful aging.

So I will be toasting tonight with Casa Noble tequila, which just received USDA organic certification. It still doesn't quite qualify as health food, but Casa Noble's triple-distilled tequilas are made from the organically-grown slow roasted hearts of blue agave cactus, fermented without additives, and aged in French White Oak barrels. The Añejo rests two years in the barrels and it's smooth, woody and just a touch fruity. It retails for $59.95, and the beautifully designed purple decanter is an added bonus. In a nod to fine whiskey, Casa Noble also has started to offer a limited edition single barrel line. For this version, the Añejo rests for five years, and costs $129.95.

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