Glenfiddich’s Throwback 19 Year Old

Not only is Glenfiddich one of Scotland’s oldest and most iconic distilleries, it’s also one of the last family-owned.

With the consolidation of corporate-owned single malts into global portfolios, Glenfiddich remains in the hands of the Grant family, who continues to operate the historic distillery in conjunction with Balvenie, forming what is easily the most heralded duo in all of single malt whisky.

There’s a reason Glenfiddich (along with Balvenie) continues to create amazing whiskies year after year after year: the Grant family has kept standards high and quality strong for a century and a half. Whereas many of our favorite single distilleries have had their reputations watered down by financial ambition and corporate realignment, Glenfiddich has remained a true unicorn, capable of greatness without the need for gimmicky marketing.

Case in point: the fantastic new 19 year old Bourbon Barrel Reserve, which tastes like a throwback to the old days of Glenfiddich when single malt whisky was just straightforward and outstanding. There are no tricks to this whisky, whatsoever. It’s just a simple 19 year maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels, allowing the vanilla, fruit, and spice of the whisky to shine through.

There’s so much toffee and vanilla on the finish that it comes across as creme brulée-like in a river of richness that lasts for minutes. For those shopping for the high holidays, the new 19 year old Bourbon Barrel Reserve is also certified Kosher Mehadrin.

If you like really good single malt Scotch that tastes like old fashioned, no frills, just downright delicious Scotch whisky from the past, the new 19 year old Glenfiddich hits every note: texture, weight, sweetness, depth, and deliciousness. Just like the Grant family has been doing for almost 150 years at this point. 

Italy's Top Emerging Winery Arrives at Mission

The first time we tried the white wines from Maugeri, we knew immediately they were something special. Given the estate has only been in production for the past few years, we were completely out of the loop when our friends at Oliver McCrum Imports poured the high-end expressions for us at a recent appointment.

Then the big announcement came out.

This past month, Gambero Rosso awarded just two white wines from Etna the coveted Tre Bicchieri (three glasses) as the region’s best, and Maugeri’s Etna Bianco Superiore Contrada Volpare was one of them.

In addition to the Tre Bicchieri, Maugeri was also honored with the award of top emerging winery in all of Italy, with Gambero Rosso writing: “Etna continues to produce spectacular new labels and new wineries. In just three harvests, the winery of Renato Maugeri and his daughters Carla, Michela, and Paola has established itself as one of the denomination’s most significant, from vineyard-specific winemaking to a complete hospitality system.”

What makes the wines from Maugeri so distinctive is their dedication to typicality and locality. There’s no flashy winemaking interfering with the inherent character of the grapes or the expression of the land. The location is allowed to speak for itself and the Maugeri family has proven itself to be the perfect steward for these vineyards.

There are three core wines from Maugeri, but we are focusing on just one of them today: the 2022 Contrada Praino “Frontemare” Etna Bianco Superiore. Made from 100% Carricante, the wine has the same creaminess of texture and flinty minerality we expect from top Burgundy producers in Montrachet. Grown in sandy decomposed lava soil near Milo, on the east side of Mount Etna, the vines were planted around 2010, on terraces surrounded by dry-stone walls and forest, at about 2,300 feet above sea level. The fruit from this vineyard translates into flavors of wet stones and Mediterranean herbs in the glass with bright acidity and a stunning minerality that transcends the finish.

2022 Contrada Praino “Frontemare” Etna Bianco Superiore $74.99

94 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - Fresh and crunchy with sliced lemon, spiced pear and cooked apple with bright acidity. Medium body, with a solid and layered core of fruit. It’s bright yet deep with plenty of structure and fruit. Flinty and minerally at the end. Drink or hold.

93 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2022 Etna Bianco Superiore Contrada Praino Frontemare opens slowly with a nuanced blend of citrus-tinged green apples, ginger and candied lime. This is cool-toned in feel with soft textures and ripe orchard fruits that swirl across a core of brisk acidity. Its minerality comes through on the flinty, stony finish, tapering off with a subtle hint of chamomile.

GAMBERO ROSSO - Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) - Highest Score

One of Italy's Most Outstanding White Wines

While the big scores and Parker points are usually reserved for red wines, those of us in the wine industry tend to drink a lot more white wine these days—especially from Italy. With so many incredible and expressive native grape varieties, there is much to explore from north to south.

Most red wine lovers know Prà for its incredible Amarone, but today we want to highlight one of its most dynamic whites: the incredible Monte Grande Soave Classico. Made from one single vineyard planted to Garganega and Trebbiano on volcanic soils, the minerality is what immediately stands out. The wine’s unique character is why Prà keeps this vineyard’s fruit separate from its other white wines, creating one of the region’s most coveted crus.

As Eric Guido wrote for Vinous, the wine has “wonderful lift” with texture and richness reminiscent of a great white Burgundy. Yet, while the best Burgundy crus will run you $100 or more, you can enjoy a similar level of quality from Italy at just $39.99.

If you’re a Chardonnay fan looking to branch out, or you need the perfect off-the-beaten-path Thanksgiving wine, we highly recommend trying this. There are few wines with this much precision and depth under $50 these days.

2021 Prà Soave Classico Monte Grande $39.99

93 POINTS: VINOUS -  A vivid blend of wildflowers, yellow apples and ground ginger forms a captivating bouquet as the 2021 Soave Classico Monte Grande blossoms in the Soave Classico Veneto. This is round and supple, with cooling minerality and fresh acidity, adding wonderful lift as ripe pit-fruits and minty herbal tones resonate. A tinge of lime and a salty flourish add lovely punctuation as the 2021 finishes long and staining, yet graceful and floral. What a darling.

93 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST - Aromas of an elegant bouquet of white blossoms, crushed stones and ripe apricots. Its palate elegantly navigates between a silky texture and a vibrant acidity, culminating in a flinty minerality that captures the essence of the Soave landscape.

The Single Malt Scotch Whisky Deal of 2024

The single malt whiskies bottled by Alexander Murray need little introduction to our Scotch connoisseurs here at Mission. Just about every time we feature a new AM release it sells out as fast as it came in, and those of you who shop at Costco already know the amazing value of their Kirkland single malt releases.

Hence, when Alexander Murray reached out to us recently about the remaining inventory for a bespoke private label 12 year old, our ears perked right up. Here’s the scoop:

An American retailer commissioned the Scotston 12 year earlier this year, but was not able to deplete the inventory. There were still 600 bottles remaining in the Alexander Murray warehouse that needed a home, so we worked out a price for that inventory. Whereas that retailer was selling the Scotston 12 year for $40 a bottle, we’re offering it today for just $25.99.

What are the specs, you ask?

12 year old single malt whisky from an undisclosed Highland distillery. Fortunately, we know which distillery it came from and we’re thrilled as to its origins. Per our contract, we cannot reveal that name, but we can tell you two things: the distillery name starts with a “B” and it does have its own full-time brand on the market (which we carry at Mission). Compared to the cost of that distillery bottling, you’re saving $40 per bottle.

Named after the birthplace of Alexander Murray, the Scotston 12 year is the best deal on any single malt whisky we’ve both seen and tasted in 2024. It’s rich and inviting on the palate with rounded honey notes, creamy barley, a hint of citrus, and loads of vanilla on the finish. You could buy a case of this for holiday gifts and the recipients would believe you spent a lot more than $25.99. Trust us.

We’ve got 600 bottles and when it’s gone, that’s it. Do yourself a favor: order a bottle immediately and taste it ASAP. Once you realize how good of a deal this is, we can promise you’ll want multiples.

Scotston Highland Single Malt 12 Year Old $25.99

Belle Glos Single Vineyard Pinot 50% Off

Joe Wagner’s Belle Glos label has been one of California’s most prestigious over the last decade, with a bottle almost as iconic as Maker’s Mark with its recognizable red wax seal. While not quite as famous as his signature Caymus brand, it’s a close second in terms of popularity.

Working with single vineyards near the Pacific Ocean, the goal of the label was to showcase California’s best coastal sites and highlight the merit of our state’s Pinot Noir, with wines made in a similarly rich style for fans of Caymus.

We almost never see deals for wines of this status and caliber here at Mission, but we’re living in strange times and it feels like anything can happen in the wine and spirits industry each day we show up to work. As you can imagine, we were shocked to procure this deal today: a single vineyard Belle Glos Pinot Noir from Eulenloch Vineyard in Napa.

Located in Carneros, Eulenloch’s clay soils and cool breezes create Pinot Noir grapes with nuance and complexity, bolstered by richness from new French oak barrel aging. For those of you who like rich and mouth-filling Pinot Noir—and if you like saving money!!—this is the wine for you.

While supplies last!

2019 Belle Glos Eulenloch Pinot Noir $29.95

96 POINTS: TASTING PANEL - Brimming with boysenberry, lavender, and black tea, this expressive, well-structured Pinot Noir made with freerun juice aged in (60% new French oak for nine months is equal parts juicy, dense, energetic, and glossy. Sweet tobacco, vanilla wafer, and pomegranate align with supple tannins. Delicious.

90 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - A spicy pinot with dark cherries, dark raspberries and tree bark. Flavorful on the palate, with some oak spices and dried herbs. Firm, but quite polished. Drink now.

Over 50% Off Highly-Rated Boutique Napa Cabernets

We’re back again with more insane pricing on some of California’s most highly-rated red wines, including two vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon from Vineyard 29, sourced from the same Aida Vineyard from which Turley made its legendary Petit Sirah.

Per the norm, we encourage you to do a quick Google search for both of these wines so that you’ll quickly find the $250+ pricing still in place at most retailers nationwide. With an MSRP of $289.99 upon release, we think you’ll be pleased with today’s $124.95 offer on these beauties.

Vineyard 29 is one of Napa’s most prestigious boutique bottlers, with a club subscription that rivals some of the finest wineries in the world. There’s a reason their wines receive top marks every single vintage: they source from the state’s best vineyard sites and their wines are approachable upon release.

Simply read the reviews for the 2019 and 2018 Aida Estate Cabernet Sauvignons and you’ll understand what the fuss is about. Because of limited inventory, we’re only able to offer these prices online. Check out ASAP to secure your bottles!

2019 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $124.95

97 POINTS: WINE ENTHUSIAST - Rich, broad and impressively saturated, this full-bodied wine from stony soil north of St. Helena floods the palate with überripe black fruits, mocha and bracing black currant, blackberry and blueberry flavors with well-integrated tannins for grip without grit. Made with just 2% Cabernet Franc, the wine has been fermented for 30 days in oak tanks and matured for 20 months in 80% new French barrels.

95 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE - While I adored the Turley Petite Syrahs (yes, that's how they were labeled) sourced from this vineyard, it's hard to argue with the Cabernet Sauvignon that replaced those old vines. Vaguely smoky, with layers of dark fruit—black cherries, plums, cassis and blueberries—framed by lavish vanilla and cedar notes, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is full-bodied and expansive in the mouth, richly textured and tannic, with a long, velvety finish. It should begin drinking well in a few years and continue to do so for up to two decades.

2018 Vineyard 29 Aida Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $124.95

97 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE - A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate has a deep garnet-purple color and flamboyant notes of stewed black and red plums, boysenberries and black currant cordial plus touches of bay leaves, tilled loam, charcoal and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with tightly knit black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and savory.

Save Big With Our GlenAllachie Bundle

There’s a reason we all fell in love with GlenDronach single malt whiskies a decade ago when the brand revamped itself for a new generation of Scotch drinkers. With its incredibly decadent, Sherry-laden single malts, the secret sauce was whisky hall of famer Billy Walker’s meticulous cask management. Using only the best Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry butts, Walker was able to transform not only the reputation of GlenDronach, but also its sister distillery BenRiach.

In fact, Walker did such an amazing job with those distilleries that Brown-Forman swooped in and purchased them both in 2016, which left the 50 year veteran in search of a new adventure. That’s when Billy decided to purchase GlenAllachie distillery and continue his vision at a new facility.

GlenAllachie’s Sherry-matured whiskies picked up right where GlenDronach left off, but the cask enhancing didn’t stop there. Free to experiment with new types of wood, Billy Walker’s talents were displayed in a new line-up of Virgin Oak editions utilizing Hungarian, Scottish, and Spanish oak barrels, each of which pushed the flavor profile further.

In order to truly appreciate just how awesome these GlenAllachie Virgin Oak editions are, tasting them side-by-side is paramount. That’s why we’re offering Mission customers a MONSTER $70 discount when you purchase all three of them. If you’re looking for a fun activity to do with friends, invite some of your buddies over and pour each one a flight of all three Virgin Oak expressions.

Here’s the breakdown:

GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Bundle $189.99

GlenAllachie 7 Year Old Hungarian Oak - Bottled at 48% ABV and finished in rare Quercus Petraea wood from the Zemplén forest, the toasted Hungarian Oak finish adds nutty flavors and a mellow toffee note that lasts long on the finish. It’s one of the first single malt whiskies to ever be matured in oak of this type.

GlenAllachie 8 Year Old Scottish Oak - A Scotch whisky matured in Scottish Oak! Bottled at 48% ABV, the aromas imparted from the Scottish Sessile oak are immediate on the nose. Dark chocolate and zesty orange peel emanate from the glass. Because it’s extremely difficult to cooper, Scottish Oak is almost never used for whisky maturation, but the effects here are fascinating. Toasted oak on the finish lingers for minutes.

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Spanish Oak - Matured in Spanish Oak from Galicia and Asturias, specifically from forests in the Cantabrian Mountains, this mahogany malt showcases exotic spices and loads of candied ginger alongside shortbread and dried fruits. The difference from the previous two whiskies is night and day, even with the 48% ABV being the same throughout. The spices carry the finish into completely new single malt territory.

New Angel's Envy Delivers More Than Just Marketing Hype

“Five-year-old bourbon is put separately into second-fill Hungarian oak for about six months, new Chinkapin oak for about six months, and new French oak for about three months. All three liquids are blended together to create the final product, and the results are excellent.”

-Robb Report

Everyone we’ve spoken to seems to agree: many cask-finished Bourbons are too gimmicky or marketing-focused, but NOT the new Angel’s Envy Triple Oak Bourbon.

With the standard Angel’s Envy as the base, the addition of Hungarian oak, Chinkapin oak, and French oak add sweetness, spice, and richness the likes of which we’ve yet to taste in many similarly-marketed Bourbons.

What makes this release different from the others? The flavor, pure and simple.

The combination of nutty, sweet, spicy, and oaky is dialed up and concentrated together in a way that is completely different from the Port-finished Angel’s Envy Bourbon we all know and love. There is nuance, depth, and complexity to unlock with every sip, from intense flavors of roasted peanuts and chocolate to exotic spices and sweet toasted vanilla beans.

There’s plenty to unpack.

If you’re looking for a new Bourbon that actually delivers on the promise of its premise (or one that’s greater than the sum of its parts), we think the new Angel’s Envy Triple Oak is that whiskey.