Tickets on Sale Monday April 2 at 10am!

Belated Happy New Year… it’s a grey winter day but hopefully this missive finds you healthy, happy and looking forward to this year’s 8th Annual Spirit of Toronto on Saturday, May 12 at Roy Thomson Hall.

We’re pleased to announce that tickets for this year’s show go on sale Monday April 2nd at 10:00am. Tickets may be purchased from Roy Thomson Hall’s box office online, by phone or in person. Tickets are $129 HST included and a reminder will go out on April 1st for those of you subscribed to this list.

Please note that masterclasses may be reserved at the same time as you purchase your tickets, and once again we expect that most classes will be fully reserved the same day that tickets go on sale.

Speaking of masterclasses, we’ve been hard at work programming this year’s schedule. Both this year’s show and Masterclass Series will offer something for everyone, with the opportunity to sample from a very diverse range of whiskies and fine spirits from the four corners of the globe.

In the meantime, please stay tuned for more news about this year’s show. Another update will be going out once the website is revised and we are ready to start announcing our 2012 guest speakers.

In the best of spirits,

Johanna

Executive Producer
Spirit of Toronto 2012
http://www.spiritoftoronto.ca/ 

SPRINGBANK SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Greetings Society Members

Things are starting to hot up here in Springbank, and I don’t mean theweather. We are getting into Open Day mode and starting to think about tours for this year.

We also have a new bottle out within the next couple of weeks – not for the Society – for general release, but I’ll tell you more about that later in the newsletter.

OPEN DAY – THURSDAY 24TH MAY

We will of course be having Masterclasses at both Springbank and Glengyle, but probably a slightly different format this year, so that you don’t get fed up with the same thing every year. These will be hosted by Gavin & Frank and Ranald.

We are also having a Springbank tasting in the Tasting Room with a little food to match the whisky in the morning, hosted by Jenny. In the afternoon there will be a Cadenhead tasting in the Tasting Room hosted by Grant, who has started to nag me already that I sold far too many tickets last year. BUT I am ignoring him. There will also be tastings in one of the warehouses, buy the tickets for this on the day – no need to book this one.

There will be two single casks, bottled on the day, still to be chosen. Free tours will be at specified times, so that we don’t get in the way of the Master Classes.

Local crafters will be joining us with a selection of their products: Gigha’s Natural Skin care, The Bathtime Cafe, Kintyre Design, Kintye Lampwork, Wee Toon Carver, Kintyre Candles, Eric Norman (wood turner), cheese from the local Creamery, with hopefully a few others.

There will be food from Auntie Mo’s, Ifferdale Lamb and we hope MacMillan Smokehouse. Fyne Ales will also be joining us for the entire day.

Music has still to be confirmed but there will be live music during the day, and in the early evening we will have one of the junior Pipe Bands, followed by another live musician (to be confirmed).

This year we will again have a “spooks” tour, and I have been promised it will be bigger and scarier than last year.

If we can keep Donald calm during the day he will be cooking burgers in the evening. I have probably forgotten some of the things we will have, but I will be updating as we go along. The master classes will have to be booked in advance as will the Tastings in the Tasting Room – Grant keeps reminding me that space is limited here!!!

Society Golf Open

This year’s golf open is being held on Friday 25th May at Machrihanish Golf Course. I am just finalising the details, but can tell you that it will be played as a 4 ball, tee off times between 9.06 am and 10.42 am. We are arranging for bacon rolls and coffee pre golf with a carvery lunch at the end. I will send the details of how to book your tee time very soon.

RUNDLETS & KILDERKINS

This will be available within the next few weeks from the shop – the price will be £57 plus postage and packing, but you will get your discount of 10%.

Here’s a wee photograph and a wee cartoon with the tasting notes: For the most part of the 17th and the 18th centuries Campbeltown was a smuggling centre, an occupation that was supported by the area’s geography, topography…. and the local gentry. One famous story tells of an old woman living in the town who was up before the Sheriff for smuggling. She had been found guilty and before passing sentence the Sheriff told her:

Colour: Russet

Nose: Honey, vanilla, chocolate, nougat and toffee in abundance followed by hints of wholesome freshly
ground nutmeg.

Palate: Creamy and rich as expected from the nose, with notes of chocolate covered honey comb mixed with
pistachio and crushed almonds. Rich and oily from its maturation in small casks, it gives an impression of  being older than its ten years.

Finish: “e ground nutmeg is still evident on the finish but the creaminess outstays the spices to a long smooth and sweet finish. With water this dram develops and even sweeter finish, fruity and sugar candy, it becomes even smoother.

So, as you can see, it is full steam ahead towards May.

We still have some of the latest Society bottling, Longrow 10 year old from a fresh sherry cask at £45 and we also have some of the Springbank 14 year old bottled in 2010 for Society members, also at £45.

We will be looking for something else to bottle for you very soon. I’ll see if we can get something a wee bit older, with some spiders in it!

Springbank spiders are very scary.

Burns Night with TWE & Vinopolis

For the Scotch whisky lover there’s one event that pops up early in the calendar that gives the perfect excuse for a bit of a special dram or three – Burns Night. On and around the birthday of Robert Burns … Continue reading >>

Patrick Van Zuidam Masterclass

6th February 2012, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek Street, London W1D 4NX

Price per ticket: £55

Patrick Van Zuidam’s constant search for perfection has led to the creation of an extraordinary range of exquisite Dutch whiskies. This is one of the highlights of our 2012 tasting schedule and a must for all whisky enthusiasts. Book early to avoid disappointment.

 To place an order please visit www.milroys.co.uk,call Elizabeth on 020 7437 2385or email  Elizabeth.Williams@jeroboams.co.uk 

Our mailing address is:

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX

Whiskies of the World San Francisco Update

Hello Whisky Fans!

We hope that you kicked off the New Year in a spirited mood! Don’t be too hard on yourselves for breaking some of those pesky resolutions. The WoW Expo staff only made resolutions we’re guaranteed to keep such as making the fast approaching WoW Expo the best whisky tasting event ever! Tickets are selling briskly and we’re fielding new requests from exhibitors every week so it looks like we’re on track to keep that resolution.

WoW 2012 Expo tickets
If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, we wholeheartedly recommend not waiting any longer! The show will sell out earlier than usual this year. Our friends who already bought tickets should start planning their sampling routes and whisky destinations. Our newsletters and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible can help guide you. Don’t have a Whisky Bible on your bookshelf? You can buy one on our website or win it in our contest: send us a 25-word narrative on “What’s the best thing about Whisky for you?” Send to contest@whiskiesoftheworld.com . Three lucky winners will score copies of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. It’s a wonderful chance to practice your creative writing! For those of few words but discerning palate, if you buy four or more Expo tickets we’ll send you a free copy of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible while supplies last.

General Admission: $120
VIP (Sold Out) $150
Dram Club: $130                                        
Dram Club Membership: $60

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Expo Update
Now for an update on some of the amazing spirits and features you will find at the 13th annual WOW Expo in San Francisco, Saturday night March 31, 2012 on board the docked San Francisco Belle. The Expo features three ballroom sized decks full of whiskies, music and food as well as an open air top deck looking over the Bay. While your taste buds anticipate hedonistic pleasures as you browse the current pour list, we’ll tease you with some of the other great fun to be had at the show.

The evening begins with the immensely educational and FUN Masterclasses presented by the stars of the whisky world. Sign up NOW, for no extra charge, on line at the website, to reserve your space at these limited experiences. Get up close and personal with Master Distillers and Blenders of some of the world’s most remarkable spirits. All the Masterclasses are very space limited and should be reserved in advance at the following sign up page. Click through and check out your incredible options…this isn’t fair! It’s too hard to choose!!!

In case you can’t wait for Expo night itself, our next WoW whisky dinner is set for Feb 22 at the Cigar Bar & Grill in San Francisco. If you can’t get enough of the whiskies presented at the Cigar Bar & Grill, just remember that you’ll be able to re-sample them at the Expo in the company of even more whisky enthusiasts. For more details and to reserve your space at this epicurean whisky adventure, click here.

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On to our featured whiskies and some wonderful palate pleasures of the culinary type
Scotland really fires us up this year with more new and unique expressions of highly individualistic single malts bottled by Douglas Laing & Company. At the Expo, take a chance and learn first-hand about the exciting success story of the family run Glasgow-based independent bottler and blender. The extraordinary Laing Brothers talents have been put to remarkable use selecting the finest casks available. This year WOW features the following expressions for your sampling pleasure:
• Douglas of Drumlanrig Breaval 11
• Douglas of Drumlanrig Mortlach 18
• Douglas of Drumlanrig Macallan 21
• Douglas XO Blended Scotch Whisky
• Clan Denny Speyside Malt
• Clan Denny Islay Malt
What else can we add? Every single whisky on the list shouts “WoW”, from the “who said I’m inferior to a single malt” Douglas XO Blended to the “as smoky as a Highlander is allowed to be” Macallan.

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Curious about the micro-distilling explosion in the USA?
Meet and talk with one of the most intrepid gents in the industry, Phil Prichard. He’s the classic tale of a man who followed his heart and a tradition started by his great-great grandfather by building the first new legal distillery in Tennessee in nearly fifty years! He’s made a name for himself, his spirits and his unique distilling process. Prichard’s Tennessee Whiskey, made of high-sugar white corn in a pot still according to true Irish traditions, will be an adventure on the palate for any whisky lover. Phil will talk to you all night, if you let him, about his passion for distilling and life on the US whisky trail! The Expo is proud to say that Phil is one of the many artisan distillers that we brought to the public eye through our support of craft brands! Be sure to ask him about granddaddy Ben’s original recipes and whether you can use his Sweet Lucy Bourbon Liqueur as a home remedy for the common cold (statements not endorsed by the FDA)!

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The Irish
After your sensory tour of Scotland and the US it’s time to move on. Ireland is a major player on the world whiskey scene. The Expo is proud to host Michael Collins Irish Whiskey. Distilled at Cooley Distillery in Dundalk, recently purchased by Beam Global, this whiskey is named for Michael Collins, leader of Irish independence. Michael Collins Irish Whiskey is double distilled for a proper balance of purity and character then matured in bourbon seasoned casks. Both the Single Malt and Blended whiskeys are rich and smooth, characterized by complexity and backbone. Treat yourself to a post St. Paddy’s day sampling of these fine examples of the Irish distiller’s art.

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Looking for a tasty snack between spirits? Back again with the the most delicious condiment this side of Loch Lommond, MacQuade’s Celtic Chutneys compliment all our spirits as well as the food samples you’ll find at the expo such as Californian old-fashioned raw-milk cheeses by Fiscalini and the unusual all natural Krave Jerky. Don’t miss any of these taste delights!

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Cigars any one?
Are you one of the many cigar lovers at the Expo? If so, don’t miss the Masterclass conducted by Ed Trevino from General Cigar Company. A knowledgeable brand ambassador with 20 years of experience in the premium tobacco industry, Ed has traveled to many exotic cigar producing countries and sampled myriads of iconic cigars. Ed is a true cigar lover himself! He likes his cigar, either Cohiba or Partagas, paired with a glass of scotch or bourbon. Did anybody think it would be coffee? We’ll pair Cigars with Douglas of Drumlanrig Mortlach 18 and Richard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon during the Masterclass. All cigar and whisky enthusiasts and experimenters are welcome to join this highly informative and “perfect” pairing session. Remember – you are encouraged to SIGN UP IN ADVANCE at the website to reserve your seats for this limited-seating masterclass.

We’ll leave you here to dream of Expo eve and hope you’ll bring friends and co workers who have never before experienced this greatest of whisky events!

Slainte!

Douglas Smith

WHISKY FESTIVAL ORGANISERS IN HIGH SPIRITS

Organisers of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival are in high spirits after witnessing the busiest 24 hour period after launching the programme of events since the Festival began thirteen years ago.

Whisky enthusiasts worldwide wasted no time accessing the Festival’s website when it went live at 19.00 on Saturday, 21st January and within 12 hours, 33 of the 300 events were sold out, including the exclusive Opening Dinner which is being held at The Macallan Distillery this year.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, running from 3rd-7th May, has grown in stature year on year to become one of the most important whisky festivals in the world and one of the key festivals on the Scottish events calendar.

Mary Hemsworth, Festival Manager said that everyone was thrilled with the response to this year’s line up of events, but that there were still plenty of outstanding and quality events for visitors to book.

She commented: “Ticket sales for the first day were in excess of £50,000 with three months still to go until the Festival itself. It’s also encouraging to see that thousands of our whisky fans are keeping up-to-date with the Festival via Facebook and Twitter – they’ll be the first to know of any new events that are added to the programme, and any key announcements we may make over the coming months.”

The most popular events included exclusive tours of distilleries not normally open to the public, ‘ultimate’ tours of some of the finest whisky distilleries in the world, whisky and food pairing workshops, the intriguing Mystery Bus Tour of Speyside, a tour around the five distilleries of Elgin and the popular Seven Stills Bus Tour.

Visitors to the Festival will be coming from as far afield as Japan, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Canada and the USA with the majority making the journey from closer shores such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

Festival goers from across the globe come to Speyside for the authentic whisky experience in Malt Whisky Country where they are treated to a selection of events that showcase the true spirit of Speyside, with workshops, tutorials, tours, instruction, nosings and tastings on offer from some of the industry’s top experts – from blenders to coopers and mashmen to managers. And there are opportunities to delight in the dram in superlative surroundings – at the top of a mountain or on a train, straight from the cask or in the shadow of a historic castle.

Exclusive tours can be booked at distilleries usually closed to the public – including Glen Elgin, Glenlossie and Mannochmore, Glen Spey, Speyburn and Glenrothes – and visitors can enjoy a dram alongside some of the region’s award-winning produce at whisky and food pairing workshops and on the popular Whisky and Food Tours. This year sees the introduction of a Ceilidh Trail, and the Festival atmosphere will be buzzing with the sound of local bands playing in many of the area’s hotels, bars and traditional pubs.

Mary continued: “Speyside and the wider area benefit greatly from the Whisky Festival each year, both in terms of reputation and financially. So it’s important that we offer a strong line up of events to encourage visitors to return year after year to share their passion for the world’s finest whiskies, and to appeal to new visitors to come and experience Malt Whisky country and the Whisky Festival for themselves.

“From the response we’ve seen in these first few days we will be welcoming the usual big crowds, but hopefully this may be the best attended and finest Festival yet.”

February Previews PLUS Pay-weekend Parcel

Hip, hip hooray…its pay-weekend! And just in time, we’re not only releasing two fine preview bottlings from our February Outturn but there’s also our very limited Pay-weekend Parcel.

26.83 Cosmo with perfume samples
Highland Northern
Exclusive to our preview pair
Milk chocolate and refreshers, something meaty and savoury (biltong?) sharp fruits (kiwi, star-fruit), light smoke and salt

123.7 Unusual and highly enjoyable
Highland Southern
£42.30 inc. free p&p*
Totally magnificent nose – plentiful plum jam, candy floss, toffee crisp, fudge, jammy dodgers and port wine, but with deeper layers of tobacco, liquorice and Eastern spices. (Mmm…Pink whisky)

February Preview Pair: 26.83 & 123
Highland Northern & Southern
Only £79.00 inc. free p&p*

January Pay-weekend Parcel: Only £105 inc. free p&p*
In celebration of this fabulous pay-weekend, we have put together a very limited edition parcel. Only 60 available online (and on a first-come-first-served basis) this mystery parcel contains three 70cl single cask from a mixture of ex-bourbon & ex-sherry casks.

Some examples of the bottlings that may be included in your parcel…

30.64 Sunday high tea (18 years old)
44.44 Continental brunch (15 years old)
5.27 Coconut & vanilla (11 years old)
35.45 Stollen (10 years old)
7.64 School tuck-shop fantasy (7 years old)

Buy Now

Pay-weekend Parcel offer ends Mon 30 Jan (or when we run out!)

January Outturn & Previews
Browse all bottlings
(60 single casks online)

Society VALENTINE Tastings & Events
Make at least one HOT date this February…
Vaults Valentine Celebration: Love, Songs & Whisky, Tue 14 Feb
Valentine Champagne or Whisky Tasting: Queen Street Tue 14 Feb
Valentine Dinner: The Dining Room, 28 Queen Street, Tue 14 Feb

Dining Room Offer: For those booking an á la carte meal quote ‘Romance’ (0131 220 2044) and we’ll welcome you and your guests with a glass of sparking wine. In the QS Members’ Room, there’s free dessert with two-courses from the bar menu (just bring this email).
From Mon 13–Sat 18 Feb

Click HERE for more Society tastings around the UK

A Valentine Private Soiree: For couples wanting to celebrate their passion for malt whisky and one another, why not try a ‘Love is Blind’ whisky tasting – a romantic, blindfolded whisky tasting experience and sensory adventure; or a SMWS Taster Menu. Call our events team on 0131 555 2266 to discuss you’re heart’s desire

2012 Independent Bottler of the Year www.whiskymag.com/awards/ibc/2011/ 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Greetings (again) whisky drinkers,

Hi again!

Now we’re not in the business of peppering your inbox with constant emails – it just ain’t our style.

But we thought we’d better let you all know that due to technical difficulties, the HQ tasting, scheduled for this Friday (27th), regrettably has been postponed until the 17th of February. Apologies for this and we hope that any of you that had planned to come along will be able to make it to the new date – we are probably more disappointed than all of you put together! Tickets will be on sale soon, so watch this space.

Newcastle Whisky Fest Masterclasses and stuff!

- Beginner’s Class at 12.45pm with Joe Clark of the Whisky Lounge. Tickets £5
- Six of the Best – Diageo Workshop at 1pm with Colin Dunn. Tickets £10.
- The Whisky Lounge ‘Speakeasy’ – with Eddie, from 2pm-4pm (see details below)
- Balvenie – Tasting Workshop at 3.30pm. Tickets £7.50

Tickets and further info for the above can be found here. Book asap to avoid dissapointment on the day!

Introducing – The Whisky Lounge ‘Speakeasy’

This is an experimental private seated area away from the hustle and bustle of the festival, where you can come and enjoy some seriously impressive drams.

How do you get a place in this much sort after area?

Well if you’re in possesion of a Whisky Lounge membership then you can swan in, pick up three free poker chips with which to swap for fine whiskies not available in the hall, and enjoy all that the Speakeasy has to offer.

However if you’re not a member, you can still come in, but this privilege will cost you £10 – which also includes three poker chips. Now as you’re well aware, tokens in exchange for drams is not the norm for us, and just to be clear these will only be in place in the Speakeasy, not in the rest of the festival. The drams in the Speakeasy are over and above what you will find in the rest of the festival. Additional poker chips will be available in the Speakeasy at the cost of £3 for one or £5 for two.

Food (or drams) for thought.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Slainte,
Eddie

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

thewhiskylounge
IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present
www.thewhiskylounge.com
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com

We are pleased to announce our events for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which this year runs from the 3rd to the 7th of May.

Friday 4th May 2012
10.00 – 13.00
Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery
With Ian Buxton and George Grant
Published by The Angel’s Share to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Glenfarclas Distillery in 2011, Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by renowned whisky writer Ian Buxton, is both a biography of the family owned distillery and a record of a remarkable year in the distillery’s long history, preserved for the future. Delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, this book has been carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery’s archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul.

After a tour of the distillery join Ian Buxton and George Grant for a Glenfarclas tasting, during which Ian Buxton will share with you his experiences of researching Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery. Included in the price of the event is your personal copy of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, signed for you by Ian Buxton and George Grant.
£50.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=830

Saturday 5th of May 2012
14.00-16.00
Glenfarclas Chairman’s Reserve Tasting
With Kate Wright
Consider this the post-175th Anniversary wrap party and an excuse to try 4 fantastic Glenfarclas, all over 40 years old! After the obligatory tour of the distillery with Kate Wright, Sales & Marketing Executive, you will try the Chairman’s Reserve, bottled in 2011 to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Glenfarclas Distillery, along with single cask offerings from each of the three years that went into this limited edition – 1969, 1966 and 1965.
£40.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=952

Sunday 6th of May 2012
19.00-22.00
Glenfarclas Dinner at Cragganmill Restaurant, Grantown-on-Spey
With Graham Harvey and Robert Ransom
Enjoy a four course Glenfarclas Whisky Dinner at Craggan Mill Restaurant, Grantown-on-Spey. Graham Harvey and Sheila McConachie, chef/patrons of Craggan Mill, and co-authors of the award winning book The Whisky Kitchen, will present a four course dinner, with each course inspired by an expression of Glenfarclas. To start, the Velouté of Haggis with Glenfarclas 15 Years Old, which featured in Graham’s winning menu for the 2007 Spirit of Speyside Chef Competition. Robert Ransom, Director of Sales & Marketing, of family owned Glenfarclas, will introduce an expression of Glenfarclas to accompany each course.
£65.00
NB: Only 2 places left
To book please visit: http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=492

Monday 7th of May 2012
10.00-12.00
The Family Casks – Help Choose the 1997 Bottling
With George Grant
The Family Casks are a unique collection of single casks whiskies, with at least one cask bottled for every year from 1952 to 1996. To select the casks for each year, George Grant has nosed over 200 different casks. Now he would like you to assist in selecting the cask for the 1997 vintage to add to the collection. After a tour of the distillery, and a tasting of a selection of The Family Casks, George Grant will introduce a short list of 1997 cask samples, for you to nose, taste, comment on and then vote on. The chosen cask will then go forward for bottling, to be released for sale later in the year.
£40.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=708

Glenfarclas
Email: info@glenfarclas.co.uk
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glenfarclas/
Tel: +44 (0) 1807 500257
Fax: +44 (0) 1807 500234
Address: Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire AB37 9BD, UK