94: The Exceptional Whisky with Don Sutcliffe

The Spirit Guide Society

While we're sure you can make many puns about their name, The Exceptional Whiskey is nothing to scoff at. This blended whiskey is birthed from the minds of some of the most prolific spirit importers of our time; every expression is made by people who truly love whisk(e)y.

Don Suttcliff, co-founder of the brand, joins Pedro in Bar Jackalope to talk about the brand.

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What we drank:

The Exceptional Grain

The Exceptional Malt

The Exceptional Blend

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From their website:

A series of significant small batch Scotch Whiskies created by Don Sutcliffe, managing director of Craft Distillers and 35-year veteran of distilled spirits marketing, in collaboration with Willie Phillips, for 23 years managing director of The Macallan.

While others blend to produce year-in, year-out consistency, each edition of The Exceptional will offer a Whisky that is authentically individual, selected from several different distilleries, each barrel chosen for its distinctive & memorable characteristics; every release will be possessed of its own qualitative and stylistic distinction.

The inaugural release, autumn 2013, was The Exceptional Grain. The Exception Malt was released in June of 2015; the Exceptional Blend will arrive in late 2015.

The Exceptional Grain

A blend of remarkable aged grain whiskies, including a barrel of 30-year-old from the Carsebridge Distillery, long since closed. Blended by Willie Phillips, formerly of The Macallan; finished in first-fill sherry casks. Subtle, elegant, authentically individual, with great structure. (750ML/43%abv)

The Exceptional Malt

Complex and balanced blend of whiskies from Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Alt-á-Bhainne, Auchroisk, Clenallachie, Westport, Speyside, and a 30-year-old Macallan, finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. (750ML /43% abv.)

The Exceptional Blend

Mature grain whiskey from North British, Strathclyde, and Cameron Bridge distilleries blended with selected barrels of aged, malt whisky from 11 distilleries, including a 30-year-old Macallan. Deep and layered complexity. Superb whisky. (750ML/43%abv)

~ https://craftdistillers.com/trade-info/the-exceptional-info/

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Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/