On 7th of March Malmaison Aberdeen will host what promises to be a truly unforgettable night of outstanding whisky and stunning food. Come along and join Richard Paterson from Whyte &Mackay for a Masterclass and Whisky Dinner for only £65.

Allow Richard Paterson 3rd Generation Master Blender, winner of “Blender of the year”, “Distiller of the year”, “Keepers of the Quaich” and many more awards to excite and enlighten you with a great selection of personally created whiskies for Whyte & Mackay including Dalmore, Fettercairn, Isle of Jura and Mackinlay’s Rare and Old Shackleton.

7.00pm start.

Love Whisky? Come along, We Dare You!

Please ask any of our bar staff or contact us on: bstaber@malmaison.com

Bernd Staber
Bar Manager
Malmaison Aberdeen
49-53 Queens Road
Aberdeen
AB15 4YP

After the success of our very first whisky and chocolate tasting collaboration with the famous chocolatier Paul A Young, we thought we’d better put another in the diary, please join us!

Whisky and Chocolate Tasting
1st March 2012, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek Street, London W1D 4NX

Price per ticket: £50

Be taken through an extravaganza of chocolate and whisky matchings with Paul A Young’s himself and his famous chocolates. The evening will leave taste buds tantalised and chocolate lovers satisfied.

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

Our mailing address is:

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

Whisky Live Dublin is back – building on the fantastic success from its debut in 2011. The world’s premier whisky tasting show will make a welcome return to The Round Room at The Mansion House in the heart of Dublin’s city centre on Saturday 26th May 2012.

NEW FEATURES FOR 2012 – mcleanscotland are the official tour agents for Whisky Live Dublin – and are offering the Grand Tour; 4 night’s accommodation Dublin City, 4 fully cooked Irish breakfasts, coach trips to Kilkenny Town, Cooley & Kilbeggan Distilleries and a ticket to Whisky Live! Even a castle hotel is available for those with a liking for luxury… www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/4nightwhiskylivetour.asp

Tuesday 22 May Café en Seine – whisky and food evening – whisky tasting with a wee bit of food to drive you insane! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/enseine.asp

Wednesday 23 May Clontarf Castle Hotel sample drams from the Castle Brands range, Celtic Crossing, Clontarf, Knappogue Castle single malts. See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/clontarfmasterclass.asp

Thursday 24 May Palace Bar – whisky evening 5 Irish whiskey’s from the Cooley’s range. Not a masterclass, rather an experience with Willie and friends with humour, whiskey and of course; the craik! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/dublinpalace.asp

Thursday 24 May 10am coach to The Old Kilbeggan Distillery See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/halfdaytrips.asp  

Friday 25 May A morning coach trip to Cooley’s Distillery, Dundalk. Unlike any other distillery, a rare chance to see into the workings of this gem with all its rough edges and non tourist tour! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/halfdaytrips.asp

Friday 25 May Whiskey Tasting, Dinner & Irish Show A superb whisky tasting, 3 course dinner and a night of Irish entertainment held at the Arlington Hotel, O’Connell Bridge. See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/fridaydublin.asp

To book tickets for Whisky Live Event on Saturday 26th May, simply visit www.whiskylive.com .

Tickets are limited so don’t forget to book now to avoid disappointment and we very much look forward to seeing you at Whisky Live Dublin.

VIP tickets also available – hurry for these, limited supply.

January Outturn Update: Five Favourites

With January’s Outturn release well under-way, here’s the top five member favourites from the list…

1) 29.110 Wild West cowgirl dressed in leather

2) 23.72 A big, eye-watering slap

3) 71.34 Rabbit, ginger & treacle tart

4) 105.16 Mulled cider & beef goulash

5) 73.46 Cockle-warming citric crush

January’s HEALTHY Offers

Our recommendations from January’s Outturn:

Pick-me up Pair
71.34 & 125.57 for only £89
Speyside Lossie & Highland Northern

Regional Trio: Three times daily
125.57, 1.162 & 23.72 for only £147
Highland, Speyside & Islay

Case Offer: Round ‘Em Up!
125.57, 71.34, 1.162, 23.72, 50.48 & 66.32 only £289
Lowland, Highland, Speyside & Islay

January Outturn
Browse all bottlings
(60 single casks online)

Society Burns Tastings & Events
Celebrate the Bard’s Birthday with our programme of Burns tastings and events. What’s more, join us at our Burns Suppers at The Vaults, London or The Dining Room at 28 Queen Street and save £10 on guest tickets.

Traditional Burns Supper – The Vaults, Wed 25 Jan*
London Burns Night – The Crypt, Wed 25 Jan*
Newcastle Alternative Burns – County Hotel by Thistle, Thu 26 Jan
Glasgow Alternative Burns Tasting – Radisson Blu, Fri 27 Jan

*Member and guest tickets the same price (save £10 on guest tickets)

Society Private Burns Celebrations
Book your own authentic celebration of the written Scottish word, the finest fare and our golden nectar in honour of the Bard.

Private Burns Celebrations

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.

Morrison Bowmore Whisky Tasting – Thursday 16th February

The Morrison Bowmore whisky tasting on 15th February sold out very quickly so to give those who missed out a chance to attend we are running a second tasting on Thursday 16th February. See below for full details but there are only a few tickets available as first refusal was given to those on the reserves list so you’ll have to be quick if you want to come along and get a taste of 6 great drams from three great distilleries.

See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us.

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

UPCOMING EVENT

AUCHENTOSHAN, BOWMORE & GLEN GARIOCH WHISKY TASTING

Date Thursday 16th February 2012

Time 7.00 for 7.30pm

Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren

Details This tasting with Phil Nickson of Morrison Bowmore is a great chance to compare and contrast three very different styles of single malts. The Auchentoshan provides a taste of how triple distillation can produce a delicate yet robust whisky, Glen Garioch will let you sample a Highland style malt from one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and, even if you have shied away from peated whiskies in the past, the smoky yet perfumed Bowmore may help change your mind as it is a great introduction to peaty whisky.

Tickets are £12.50 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting. Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and as they always sell very quickly it is best to book ASAP. To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

Happy New Year all!

We hope you had a fantastic festive season and the Father Dramness brought you something to warm the cockles!

2012 is set to be a big year for us at The Whisky Lounge with more tastings rolling out in more cities and venues than ever before. Plus a festival nearly once a month – it’s all go down here at TWL HQ. As January can often be a month of retreating to the warmth of our living rooms and settees in some kind of hibernation, we thought we’d fire you all an email to remind/inform of our events coming up before the end of the month, plus some Newcastle Festival news.

Hopefully one of these events, some tasty drams and some good company will lift those spirits.

BURNS’ NIGHT WHISKY TASTINGS

Our Burns’ night whisky celebrations are always well-received and attended and, in fact, the Manchester and Newcastle incarnations are now sold out. Sorry to those who wanted to come along – you’ll have to be quicker next time! Or we’ll have to do more!

However, we do still have a few tickets tickets for the following..

Thursday 26th January, 7pm – The Red Lion, Crown Passage, London, £25 a ticket
Come and join Eddie for a night of whisky and haggis. We will be tasting through our recently released single cask single malts so a real treat for you cask strength, unfettered fans… Click here to book now.

WHISKY LOUNGE HQ TASTING

Friday 27th January, 7pm – Unit 3, 61a Osbaldwick Lane, York, £10 a ticket

Now this is a new one for everyone! if you’re one of our home town crew (or even passing through) you are in luck. We’ll be revealing our new Headquarters in Osbaldwick, York and tasting through our new range of Whisky Lounge bottlings for only £10! And get this… if you order a bottle or two of the said liquid, we’ll give you your £10 back!

With Joe the newest member of the team acting as host, it should be a cracking night and I might even come along if I get back from London in time…

Click here to book this little beauty.

NEWCASTLE WHISKY FEST 2012

Civic centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Saturday 11th February, 12-5pm

£25 a ticket

Tickets for our 4th festival in Newcastle have been on sale for quite a while now and have been selling like hot cakes! We still have some tickets left, but we are not going to be filling the venue as per last year as we want you to enjoy the event as much as possible and without having to fight through hordes! If you haven’t got your tickets yet, I would recommend you get booking asap.

Click here to get booking or see further details on this ‘must-do’ event!

JOE’S WHISKY REVIEW

I thought it was high time we started to give you even more to read and enjoy. We have therefore created a new whisky review section on the brand new website. This is being written by our first employee Joe Clark, formally of the Whisky Shop here in York. Don’t ask me how he has managed to manoeuvre his way into a paid position where he gets to sample fine whiskies on our time! Oh well, he’s a nice lad and you’ll no doubt be seeing him soon.
If you would like to read his very first reviews (of our very own bottlings!) and follow his progress, head on over to his new page here.

MEMBERSHIP AND BOTTLINGS

Just a quick reminder that should you be stuck for a pressie for that special whisky-drinker/nerd/nut in your life, that we have your problem sorted! The new Whisky Lounge Membership is what you need! Discounts, benefits and much more to be announced are to be had, and – for a limited period – you get one of our 20cl Single Cask bottlings, all for only £50. Not to mention the sexy black card you get automatically as a member. If you’re interested in this and/or the new bottlings we did just before Xmas, please click here.

LIVERPOOL & BRIGHTON

We are working hard to bring events to all you guys in the above areas – please bear with us and watch this space – announcements should be made soon…

That’s enough for now – read, digest and come and see us soon.

Slainte!
Eddie

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

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

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

Come to the World’s with us!

THE WORLD’S As well as the coveted championship title decider, exciting competitive action across all Grades and the Drum Major contest, there are many exciting additions this year to keep you and your family entertained. Watch in awe as these strong men from around the world compete across several disciplines in the bid to claim glory! Games include favourites, caber toss, shot putt and the hammer. A day-long competition always draws the crowds! Enjoy the Scottish music and graceful dance displays in the Highland Dancing arena as the best highland dancers from around the world. Not to mention a full week long series of piping events throughout Glasgow. You’ll discover the experimental energy of today’s newest talent to the awesome accomplishment of established musicians from across the globe. There is something going on morning, noon and night. The venues are as varied as the performers, from workshops to masterclasses, ceilidhs to concerts and street performances. Its fast, fun, moving, informative, entertaining, exhilarating – it’s Piping Live! 6th – 12th August 2012.

THURSDAY 9, FRIDAY 10 & SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 2012. package includes; 3 nights accommodation in George Square, Glasgow city centre, overlooking the main events arena for the piping week, fully cooked Scottish breakfast each morning, ticket to the worlds, a ticket for the grand whisky pub tour with drams included (see below), fully printed tour notes with food & drink and event guide, mcleanscotland staff at hotel each day. COST per person sharing a double or twin room, from £295 We can offer you a “blend your own whisky“, take home a unique blended whisky, unique to you! Ask for details.

As above but with MORE WHISKY! 3 nights accommodation in 4 STAR Glasgow hotel, 3 x Scottish breakfasts, ticket to the worlds and the whisky pub tour, bottle of your own blended whisky and Auchentoshan distillery visit. COST per person from £355

Contact us for speedy booking; worlds@mcleanscotland.com            www.mcleanscotland.com/worlds2012package.asp

The whisky trail tour; Award Winning Whisky Tour in Glasgow. Covering: History, Theatre, Culture, Whisky and the great Glasgow “banter”! Jump aboard The Glasgow Whisky Tour bus & explore the passion, characters and FUN behind Glasgow’s whisky history. Hear how Glasgow was built at the many engineering works and shipyards…but fuelled by whisky, which by the way, is included in this tour!

For more information and to purchase tickets click here

This Thursday the MS Society of Calgary is holding a whisky festival to raise funds for their organization. The MS Society offers self-help groups, counseling, equipment support, family support, seminars, advocacy and funds for research. To support their works the MS Society in collaboration with the Kensington Wine Market and the finest distributors of single malt Scotch and other whiskies in Alberta is putting on a night of whisky, art, music and highland dancing at the Art Gallery of Calgary. Attendees to the event will have the opportunity to sample from more than 125 whiskies (120 Scotch whiskies) in a special glass created specifically for the event. The whiskies are represented by more than 15 Agencies, and have the opportunity to meet 5 Scottish brand ambassadors including: Anthony Wills, James Robertson, Jamie MacKenzie, Michael Urquhart, and Ranald Watson.

There are still tickets available for this worthy event at $95 apiece. In addition to whisky there will be great food, beer, art work, a piper, silent auction items and possibly some highland dancers. All of the proceeds from this event will be going to the MS Society. The event is also an opportunity to meet some principals from the Scotch whisky industry mentioned above and described in detail below. The whiskies and beers are all being donated by the participating agencies.

If you have nothing better to do than stay home and huddle for warmth this Thursday night, why not consider coming down to the Art Gallery of Calgary to warm up with a few drams of uisge beatha, the water of life! I’ve included a few more details on Thursday’s event below to tempt you. You can buy tickets through the Kensington Wine Market at 403-283-8000 or online at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  , and through the MS Society of Calgary at http://mssociety.ca/chapters/calgary/whiskey.htm  .

MS Calgary Special Guests

Anthony Wills of Kilchoman Distillery. Kilchoman is one of only six distilleries in Scotland to malt some of its own barley, and is one of an even smaller number that grows some of its own barley on site. Anthony Wills, the distillery’s director and one of its owners was the driving force behind its founding in 2005.

James Robertson of Tullibardine Distillery. Tullibardine was almost an unknown quantity until it was reopened in private hands in 2003. Since then its brand has been skyrocketing thanks in no small part to the efforts of James Robertson.

Jamie MacKenzie of Morrison Bowmore Distillers. Morrison Bowmore owns three Scottish distilleries: Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch and Bowmore which is one of Scotland’s oldest. Jamie is the firms most senior brand ambassador and one of the industry’s most respected ambassadors.

Michael Urquhart Co Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail and Benromach Distillery. Gordon & MacPhail is Scotland’s most respected independent bottler, and established in 1895, it is one of its oldest. The company bought Benromach distillery in 1993 and has brought it back to life.

Ranald Watson brand ambassador for Springbank and Glengyle Distilleries. Springbank is Scotland’s most traditional distillery; little has changed there in the last 100 years, and it is like stepping back in time. Ranald, a native in Campbeltown is the distillery’s senior brand ambassador.

The Whisky List – In No Particular Order

1.       Glendronach 1972 KWM Cask 711
2.       MacKinlay’s Old & Rare Highland Malt
3.       Nikka Yoichi 10 Year
4.       Nikka Yoichi 15 Year
5.       Berry’s Own Selection Bowmore 1994
6.       Berry’s Own Selection Teaninich 1973
7.       Duthies Ardbeg 16 Year
8.       Duthies Auchentoshan 11 Year
9.       Bruichladdich Sherry Classic
10.   Bruichladdich Laddie 10 Year
11.   Bruichladdich 17 Year Rum Cask
12.   Bruichladdich Islay Barley
13.   Port Charlotte PC 7
14.   Port Charlotte PC Mulitvintage
15.   Benromach Peat Smoke
16.   Benromach Traditional
17.   Benromach Organic
18.   Benromach 10 Year
19.   Smith’s Glenlivet 21 Year
20.   Athol Brose
21.   Tullibardine Aged Oak
22.   Tullibardine 1988
23.   Tullibardine 1er Cru Classe
24.   Tullibardine Port Finish
25.   Tullibardine Sherry Finish
26.   Tullibardine Rum Finish
27.   Hazelburn Sauternes
28.   Springbank CV
29.   Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength
30.   Springbank 15 Year
31.   Springbank 18 Year
32.   Longrow CV
33.   Kilkerran Work in Progress 2
34.   Kilchoman KWM Sherry Cask
35.   Kilchoman Winter
36.   Kilchoman Spring
37.   Kilchoman Summer
38.   Kilchoman 100% Islay
39.   Adelphi Private Stock Blend
40.   Adelphi Liddesdale
41.   Adelphi Fascadale
42.   Adelphi Bowmore 2001
43.   Adelphi Aultmore 1982
44.   Adelphi Night Cap
45.   Cragganmore 12 Year
46.   Dalwhinnie 15 Year
47.   Glen Kinchie 12 Year
48.   Lagavulin 16 Year
49.   Oban 14 Year
50.   Singleton of Glendullan
51.   Talisker 10 Year
52.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 3.175
53.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 7.69
54.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 7.71
55.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 29.105
56.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 35.62
57.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 36.49
58.   Scotch MaltWhisky Society 37.50
59.   Glenfarclas 10 Year
60.   Glenfarclas 12 Year
61.   Glenfarclas 15 Year
62.   Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength
63.   Glenfarclas 17 Year
64.   Glenfarclas 25 Year
65.   BenRiach Birnie Moss
66.   BenRiach 15 Year Madeira Finish
67.   Glendronach 15 Year Tawny Port
68.   Glendronach 14 Year Virgin Oak Finish
69.   Dalmore Castle Leod
70.   Fettercairn Fior
71.   Whyte & MacKay 21 Year
72.   Black Grouse
73.   Highland Park 12 Year
74.   Highland Park 15 Year
75.   Highland Park 18 Year
76.   Macallan 12 Year
77.   Macallan 18 Year
78.   Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year
79.   Macallan Fine Oak 21 Year
80.   OMC Blair Athol 21 Year
81.   Provenance Braeval Sherry
82.   Big Peat
83.   Big Peat Santa
84.   Double Barrel Macallan-Laphroaig
85.   Double Barrel Ardbeg-Glenrothes
86.   Double Barrel Highland-Park Bowmore
87.   Forty Creek Barrel Select
88.   Forty Creek Double Barrel
89.   Forty Creek Confederation Oak
90.   Forty Creek John’s Private Cask
91.   Auchentoshan Classic
92.   Auchentoshan Valinch
93.   Auchentoshan 3 Wood
94.   Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve
95.   Glen Garioch 12 Year
96.   Glen Garioch 1994
97.   Glen Garioch 1978
98.   Bowmore Laimrig
99.   Bowmore 12 Year
100. Bowmore 15 Year
101.   Bowmore Tempest III
102. Amrut
103.  Amrut Fusion
104. Amrut Intermediate Sherry
105. Stronachie 12 Year
106. Stronachie 18 Year
107.Rough Stock Single Malt
108.Rough Stoch Cask Strength
109.Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey
110.Arran 10 Year
111.Arran 14 Year
112.Arran Sleeping Warrior
113.Arran Westie
114.Arran Sauternes Cask
115.Finlaggan Cask Strength
116. Glenmorangie Original
117.Glenmorangie Lasanta
118. Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
119. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
120. Ardbeg 10 Year
121. Glenrothes Select Reserve
122. Glenrothes 1994
123. Glenrothes 1988
124. Balvenie 12 Signature
125. Balvenie 14 Caribean Cask
126. Balvenie 15 Year

 ______________________

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com . All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

You can follow me online on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy..

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8

scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com

Whisky and Chocolate Tasting
Tonight!19th January 2012, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek Street, London W1D 4NX
Price per ticket: £45

Be taken through an extravaganza of chocolate and whisky matchings with Paul A Young’s famous chocolates. The evening will leave taste buds tantalised and chocolate lovers satisfied.

To place an order please visit milroys.co.uk, call Elizabeth on 020 7437 2385 or email Elizabeth.Williams@jeroboams.co.uk
 
Our mailing address is:

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