Matthias Clock

About Matthias Clock

Brand evangelist, digital marketer, cigar and spirits expert specializing in consumer tasting and educational events. Matthias made the long trek from his hometown of Portland, Oregon to New York City in 2007, and in nine years has hosted more than 120 events and helped promote and launch dozens of cigar and whiskey brands in the U.S. In 2016, he joined the Cigar Journal Tasting Panel, blind-reviewing pre and new release cigars.

Posts by Matthias Clock:

The GlenAllachie Distillery Unveils Meikle Tòir, New Range of Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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The GlenAllachie Distillery has unveiled its new peated Scotch whisky brand, Meikle Tòir, meaning “big pursuit” in Scottish Gaelic. The distillery has been running a seasonal peated production campaign since 2018, utilizing mainland peat sourced from St. Fergus. The production cycle spans roughly six weeks per year and results in approximately 100,000 Litres of Alcohol annually.

Master Distiller Billy Walker, who took ownership of the distillery in 2017, has fully overseen the launch of this new brand. Meikle Tòir’s core range consists of four different expressions: The Original, The Sherry One, The Chinquapin One, and the limited annual release The Turbo 2023 Edition. Each whisky carries a five-year age statement and was subjected to an extended fermentation period of 160 hours. The whiskies offer varying flavor profiles ranging from sweet spice to smoky earthiness, all without added coloring and non-chill filtered.

The Original 5-year-old expression features aging in first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks, and Rye barrels. The Sherry One undergoes additional maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons after an initial period in American oak. The Chinquapin One is first aged in American oak before transferring to Chinquapin virgin oak barrels from Missouri, USA. All core range products have a spirit PPM (Phenol Parts per Million) level of 35. The Turbo 2023 Edition, a super-limited bottling, has a spirit PPM of 71 and is the result of aging in American virgin oak and Oloroso sherry hogsheads.

Billy Walker said about the launch, “Five years in the making, it represents the culmination of our endeavours since we took over the reins at the distillery. One of the key decisions was to significantly extend the fermentation period to 160 hours, creating thick, ester-rich distillate.”

The UK Retail Recommended Selling Prices (RRSP) for Meikle Tòir start at £50. The packaging for the new brand was created with environmental considerations, exclusively working with UK-based packaging suppliers. The new brand will be showcased at a series of tastings across Scotland, concluding at The Whisky Exchange Show in London. Availability will expand globally starting today.

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General Cigar Co. and Flint Knoll Winery Release Barrel-Aged Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 2

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General Cigar Co. and Napa Valley’s Flint Knoll Winery are back with the Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 2, a unique cigar blend aged in wine barrels. Retaining the blend of its debut release, this cigar features a Connecticut-seed wrapper from Ecuador and a Connecticut broadleaf binder, aged in the barrels used for Flint Knoll’s 2019 Royal Appointment Cabernet Sauvignon. The additional fill comprises Brazilian mata fina, Dominican olor, an undisclosed varietal from Nicaragua’s Jalapa region, and Dominican piloto cubano.

The 2019 growing season in Napa Valley marked exceptional conditions, fostering a wine noted for its complexity and spice. These characteristics have been infused into the tobacco through the barrel aging process, delivering a spicier smoking experience compared to the original release. The binder leaf’s aging in French Oak barrels has imparted flavors of creamy vanilla, toasted almonds, dark currants, and cedar to the Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 2.

Available in Toro (6 x 54) and Churchill (7 x 52) sizes, priced at $19.99 and $21.99 respectively, these cigars have been meticulously crafted to present an unmatched smoking experience. The Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 2 is set to ship to stores on October 2. The total number of cigars available for this release, however, remains undisclosed.

Basil Hayden Introduces New Malted Rye Whiskey

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Basil Hayden is enhancing its diverse whiskey portfolio with the addition of a new permanent expression, Basil Hayden Malted Rye. This new expression presents a fresh entrant into the rye category, offering a unique gentleness unusual for rye whiskey, owing to a special malting process.

Crafting the Malted Rye

Freddie Noe, the eighth-generation master distiller, crafted this unique release. The distinctive malting process used in the production transforms the rye grain, resulting in a milder spice with understated sweet and floral notes. This innovation highlights the potential diversity in whiskey flavors and presents a more refined facet of rye. The resultant whiskey balances between Basil Hayden’s hallmark smooth taste profile and the traditional spicier notes of rye.

In Freddie Noe’s words, Basil Hayden Malted Rye “introduces an entirely new flavor profile within the whiskey category,” offering an “unexpected softness and approachability.”

Tasting Notes

With a light amber hue, the 100% malted rye mash bill blends diverse flavors, creating a whiskey with an elegant floral aroma and soft notes of vanilla and toasted rye. The whiskey concludes with a warm spice finish. Bottled at 80 proof, the Malted Rye promises a balanced and refined drinking experience, best enjoyed neat to fully appreciate the mash bill’s nuances.

Availability

Set to grace the shelves nationwide in September 2023, Basil Hayden Malted Rye arrives just in time for the holiday season. It is priced at $59.99 for a 750mL bottle, presenting an accessible way for enthusiasts to explore this new expression of rye whiskey.

Bunnahabhain Releases Annual 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition

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Bunnahabhain Distillery, known for its classic unpeated sherried house style, has announced the launch of its third annual small-batch 12 Year Old Cask Strength release. Named the Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition, this limited edition expression allows enthusiasts to savor the essence of Bunnahabhain whisky.

Originating from the remote north-eastern coast of Islay, the whisky is crafted with natural spring water from the Margadale spring. This year’s release pays homage to Bunnahabhain’s renowned 12 Year Old signature expression, continuing the tradition with an increased alcohol by volume (ABV) of 60.1%, compared to 56.6% in 2022 and 55.1% in 2021.

The 12-Year-Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition has been matured in both first and second-fill oloroso sherry casks, and then finely balanced with a touch of bourbon. Each cask is handpicked by Master Blender Julieann Fernandez to ensure the distinctive Bunnahabhain flavor profile. The maturation in sherry casks has contributed to the release’s notes of stone fruits and figs, paired with lingering hints of vanilla for a refined finish.

In her remarks, Fernandez expressed her pride in the 2023 release, noting its embodiment of all Bunnahabhain stands for: “unpeated, sherried and full of intense flavor.” She described the newest offering as having prominent notes of roasted nuts and cinnamon spice in every dram.

The Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition, available for purchase at the distillery or through their website, is offered at £85. The non-chill filtered expression invites whisky aficionados to enjoy the spirit as authentically as possible, echoing the distillery’s commitment to providing a pure and unaltered tasting experience.

Diageo Unveils Annual Limited-Edition Whisky Collection with Noteworthy Inclusions and Firsts

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Diageo has disclosed specifics of its annual Special Releases collection, named Spirited Xchange for this year. The collection comprises eight limited-edition, cask-strength Scotch whiskies, and the selection has been overseen for the first time by Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison.

Among the notable highlights is the introduction of a 12-year-old single malt from Roseisle, marking the first-ever bottling from this distillery established in 2010. Another attention-worthy inclusion is a non-age stated Mortlach, uniquely finished in whisky casks from Japan’s Kanosuke Distillery. The collection also brings forth the oldest bottling from the Lowland distillery Glenkinchie, a 27-year-old malt, marking its first appearance in the Special Releases since 2016.

Despite the absence of a significant price increase this year, the collection notes the youngest age statements in its history. This shift began in 2018, with the exclusion of significant expressions like Port Ellen and Brora. In 2019, Diageo re-introduced the Special Releases with new packaging and a condensed eight-bottle range. The year 2020 saw the launch of Prima & Ultima, a new annual series of collectible rare whiskies, typically sold as a set.

This year’s collection is characterized by a rich diversity of whiskies. Each label features artwork by different artists, aiming to visually represent the whisky’s tasting notes. The Mortlach, with no stated age, is finished in pinot noir and Japanese whisky casks and is priced at $280. The Talisker, also without an age statement, is finished in a variety of port casks and priced at $135.

Diageo’s announcement has also revealed limited quantities of the 2023 Special Releases will be available from September 18th on malts.com, and from October 1st at specialist retailers across various global locations, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, selected Asian markets, and airport duty-free stores.

Several whiskies in the collection, such as the Oban 11 year old, are making their seventh appearance, with this year’s expression being finished in Caribbean pot-distilled rum casks. Others, like the Lagavulin 12 year old, have been consistent features, with this year marking a first with finishing in Don Julio añejo tequila casks.

A notable first in this year’s collection is the public release of Roseisle as a single malt. The Roseisle 12 year old, priced at $150, has been matured in first-fill bourbon and refill casks, showcasing the diversity and innovation present in the 2023 Special Releases collection.

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