Takamine Whisky Tasting Event
I first tasted this whiskey at a very large event with hundreds of others. Hands down, Takamine 17 was “The Best in Show” Join us... Thursday, May 8th, 5:30pm. Read on...
May 8, 2025
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Takamine Tasting Event
THURSDAY May 8, 5:30.
Featuring – Rare Japanese Whiskey – Takamine 17 Y.O.
I first tasted this whiskey at a very large event with hundreds of others. Hands down, Takamine 17 was “The Best in Show”. And, judging by how quickly it became impossible to find, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. So when by some fortune a few additional cases of Takamine 17 surfaced from the whiskey gods, I didn’t hesitate to bring in what I could to Federal.
With generations of experience as sake makers, armed with unmatched Koji fermentation expertise, the Shinozaki family began distilling shoju in 1979. After nearly twenty years honing their skills in shoju distillation, Shinozaki Distillery set their sights on creating a Koji-fermented whiskey.
Koji fermentation is a process where a special mold is sprinkled on the barley to accomplish what normally occurs during malting. Like malting, this mold produces enzymes that break down starches and proteins into sugars and amino acids, making the whiskey more flavorful.
This Koji-fermented 17-year-old whiskey is all pot-stilled barley. It is a one-time micro-batch release aged in refilled American white oak casks. It is bottled at natural cask strength, non-chill filtered with no added color and comes in at 43.5% ABV.
Tasting Notes: My recommendation is to wait a few minutes before nosing to let some of the alcohol dissipate. The palate is where things really begin to shine as notes of coconut, banana bread, dates, tobacco, vanilla, and buttery oak subtly intermingle. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and the finish is long and rewarding – for me evoking the memory of Fruity Pebbles flavored milk. Like many other whiskey’s one is rewarded as you continue to sip, and your palate adjusts.
The Bottom Line: Takamine 17 is an extraordinary whiskey that is ideal for whiskey geeks who are looking for something different and exclusive. I know I am going to pick up a second bottle!
$249.99 (only 18 bottles available)
Brand ambassador Jake Tennenbaum will present the whiskey along with three other fine Takamine whiskies.
8-Year: $95.99 Special tasting price 89.99
17-Year: $249.99 Special Tasting Price $229.99
20-Year: $299.99. Pre-order only
26-Year: $499.99. Pre-order only
David Kreiss
Discounted pricing good through Saturday, May 10.
Free delivery in Boston Metro for orders over $200.
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- The Dumbarton Distillery, 31.1%
- The Cameronbridge Distillery, 29.7%
- The Strathclyde Distillery, 9.2%
- The Cameronbridge Distillery, 15.2%
- The Strathclyde Distillery, 14.8%
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From the Vault: Compass Box - Hedonism MMXVI-C
For our first whisky offer of the fall season, we thought it would be cool to give you access to an older release of Compass Box’s signature Blended Grain Scotch Whiskey, Hedonism.
October 23, 2024
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For our first whisky offer of the fall season, we thought it would be cool to give you access to an older release of Compass Box’s signature Blended Grain Scotch Whiskey, Hedonism.
Hedonism was the first whisky Compass Box brought to market in 2000 under the tutelage of master blender and founder John Glaser. While John left Compass Box this past May, we are fortunate to have a few bottles of his 2016 release in the cellar.
Hedonism is known for its vanilla cream, toffee, and coconut notes. In addition to just being delicious, this flavor profile makes Hedonism a great gateway whisky for the curious bourbon drinker.
The particulars for this blended batch:
The single grains are between the ages of 14 and 29 and bottled at 43% with no chill-filtration and no caramel coloring. All were aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and represent the following distilleries:
The main difference between single grain and single malt is that a single malt can only be produced from malted barley. Single-grain scotch whisky is made by one single distillery using any cereal from malted or unmalted barley, rye, wheat, and corn. Single” refers to the distillery, not the number of grains used. Another difference is grain whiskies are often distilled using column stills instead of pot stills, which are required for distilling single malts.
You will like the price, $114, the same as it was on release seven years ago in 2017. This price is good through the end of October, so get a bottle while the gettin’ is good!
Free Delivery in the Greater Boston area on orders at least $200,
Delivery in the rest of the state at standard FedEx rates
Sorry, we can’t ship of state
David Kreiss
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Free Delivery on Orders of $199 or more in Greater Boston
Fedex Delivery in Mass $20
Sorry, we cannot ship spirits out of state.
Dailuane 11 YO 59%
Fine Under the Radar Speyside. Read on...
April 29, 2021
Dailuane distillery was founded in 1851 and was once Scotland's largest single malt distilleries. It has made whiskies as components for blends for most of its life and still does with a large amount to Johnnie Walker. The distillery only began releasing single malts under its name in 1991 in the Flora & Fauna range.
This new release is aged in sherry casks and spends 11 years taking all the good things that barrel had to give.
Both first two customers who tasted it bought bottles, one of them who said he was a whisky lover, thought it must be a good value because it had so much going on.
This is a single malt to enjoy.
Nose: The sherry works in with some fruitiness. There is honey, too, in this very well-balanced malt.
Taste: The barley sings. It is very intricate... The honey comes through, and so much more. The sherry just brings it all together nicely.
Finish: Very nice, very long, and pleasant. A "moreish" malt one that makes you want just a little more.
Dailulane Speyside 59% Regular $114.99 - Sale $84.99
In stock
Free Delivery on Orders of 175 or more in Greater Boston
Fedex Delivery in Mass $20
Sorry, we cannot ship spirits out of state
- Joe Howell
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Torabhaig Distillery, Isle Of Skye - First Release - 2017 Legacy Series
"If you manage to get a bottle, for Christ’s sake open it." - Dave Broom read on...
March 24, 2021
This new independent distillery really excites me. It was started by the folks that bring us Mossburn. The Torabhaig first release sample I tasted last week was very impressive. Its mouthfeel and balance make for a special whisky and a special distillery that should be the first of many good things to come.
Whisky Magazine critic Dave Broom got it just right when he wrote:
"The first releases from Torabhaig, Skye’s newest distillery has arrived, and it is a belter. Inevitably this will sell out rapidly but hopefully there will be purchasers who are more driven by interest in flavour than venality.
"Nose: Light straw. There is light oiliness, and a real juicy melon-like sweetness melon. Behind this is smouldering smoke, and light mint leaf. Overall it comes across as cool and airy… and balanced with a poise belying its youth. The herbal side then comes through – sweet cicely, and green fern mixing with fresh mint, and then some dried beans which morphs into fresh barley. With a little water added, you get salt-washed rock, grapefruit, light smoke and potato starch.
"Palate: A sweet start smoke with touches of salted liquorice, violet and soft smoke. The mid-palate is beautifully textured, rounded and lightly clinging. It’s unusual to have such concentration so early in maturation.
In the middle of it all is prickly smoke, gentle fruit, light brine. Water shows the balance beautifully and the lack of any green edginess, or hollowness. There’s also more cereal now.
"Finish: Blooms into fresh fruits, and salt/smoke.
"Conclusion: Love the fact that the label has listed residual phenols (16ppm. for the geeks out there) rather than just the oft-misunderstood in-grain level (55ppm). Barley variety? Concerto. Yeast type? Pinnacle MG+.
A new star is born.
Talisker.. you’ve got serious competition.
If you manage to get a bottle, for Christ’s sake open it."
Collectors, yes. Speculators, no.
Limit - two bottles per person, please
In stock
Sorry other 49, we don’t ship out of state
Joe Howell .
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Introducing GlenAllachie
Billy Walker Back at Last. read on...
July 30, 2020
Most scotch drinkers know Billy Walker from his 2003 purchase of Benriach, and later GlenDronach and GlenGlasaugh distilleries. Anyone who tasted those malts under Billy’s direction knows he is an artist with whisky -- at any age, you know that whatever he’s putting in a bottle, it’s ready to drink. In 2016 he sold all three to Brown Forman (maker of Jack Daniels.) In 2017, Billy and two partners bought GlenAllachie.
The GlenAllchie Distillery was built in 1967 . Let’s just say, the first 50 years was just a practice run. Now it’s Scottish owned and making whisky for people that love whisky. In just a few years, this gentleman has done immense work: Since he reopened it in 2017 GlenAllchie has been honored as Distillery of The Year, and the whiskies have been taking medals. When it comes to blending and bottling he works it so well. This is the first run, so we will not have a lot of product, It will be first-come first-served.
We are offering the following:
10 Y.O. Cask Strength 55.5% Nose: A big experience of dark chocolate, raisins and heather honey,
with layers of sweet spice and orange peel.
Taste: Rich notes of dark chocolate, raisins, treacle and heather honey, sweet spices orange peel
and hints of eucalyptus. $89.99
12 Y.O. 46% Nose: Butterscotch and honey playing the lead, with raisins and mocha in the background.
Taste: Honey, marzipan and bananas, with lashings of butterscotch, raisins and a delicate hint of mocha. $69.99
15 Y.O. 46% Nose: Overflowing with raisins, butterscotch and sweet spices.
Taste: The rainbow of sweet spices, raisins and butterscotch develops to banana, orange peel and dark chocolate. $104.99
18 Y.O. 46% Nose: Fresh vanilla, toffee, butterscotch
Taste: Raisins, marzipan, heather and honey, with rich notes of dark cherries, spices
and subtle hints of dark chocolate. $174.99
25 Y.O. 48% Nose: Sweet spices, marmalade and sultanas balanced in total harmony.
Taste: Lashings of sultanas, pineapple and dark chocolate, followed by layers of Christmas cake,
marmalade and sweet spices. $474.99
Free Delivery on Orders of 175 or more in Greater Boston
Fedex Delivery in Mass $20
Sorry, we cannot ship spirits out of state
- Joe Howell
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
