The Exceptional
Don Sutcliff, a 35-year veteran of distilled spirits marketing who managed sales for Craft Distillers, and Willie Phillips , for 23 years managing director of The Macallan, collaborated to create this significant small-batch Scotch Whisky.
Ranked #2 in Paul Pacult’s SPIRIT JOURNAL 2014 list of the world’s best spirits
Don Sutcliffe evaluating old whiskey
Willie Phillips tasting
Candidate whiskies for the Exceptional Malt
Willie Phillips & Bill Arthur having fun with candidates for the Malt
A barrel of Carsebridge, source for the Grain
A first-fill sherry cask of the Exceptional Blend
Don proud of his whisky
The perfect match, Best Manhattan ever
The Exceptional Grain (BATCH 2) – $110. A blend of remarkable aged grain whiskies, including a barrel of 33-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 finest grain whisky I’ve had? Damn close”
******/highest recommendation
– Paul Pacult/SPIRIT JOURNAL
The Exceptional Blend. (BATCH 2)– $120. Mature grain from North British, Strathclyde, and Camercnbridge blended with selected barrels of aged malt from 11 distilleries, including a 30-year-old Macallan. Finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Deep & layered complexity. Superb whisky. (750ml /43% abv).
The Exceptional Malt (BATCH 3) – $120. Complex and balanced blend of whiskies selected from Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Alt-a’Bhainne, Auchroisk, Clenallachie, Westport, Speyside, 3 great Speysides whose names we can’t print, and a 30-year-old Macallan, finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Unusually rich. (750ml /43% abv)
ANSLEY COALE TALKS ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONAL