All whisky tastings take place on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until approximately 10pm at the Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotchland. You’ll find this location on Google Maps at the bottom of the page.

Thursday September 2nd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £23/20*

Caperdonich 40yo 02.69-05.09 2nd fill remade hogsheads 46% closed distillery Gordon & MacPhail

Caol Ila Feis Ile 2010 61.9% filled 19/8/99 European oak sherry cask

Aultmore 1991 - 07/08 11yo Bourbon hogshead 287 bottles 57.5% Cadenheads

J. & A. Mitchell’s 2010 Edinburgh International Festival blend 40%

Caledonian 1965 45yo 46.1% single grain closed distillery Clan Denny/Douglas Laing

http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/

Fancy a taste of the 40 year old Whyte & Mackay? Fancing winning a £550 bottle?

Rumour reaches me that there’s some fun being planned for me at WhiskyLive in Glasgow in September with free drams being handed out to anyone who comes along looking like me – and the best Richard-a-like getting a £550 bottle of the Whyte & Mackay 40 year old.

Even if you can’t make it along, you can join in the fun. Post a picture online of trying your best to look like me and I’ll pick one and send them a signed bottle of the 40 year old. Feel free to even post a link to your pic in the comments section below…( at http://tinyurl.com/2evoqv6 )

Of course, now that I know about this, it would serve you all right if I shaved my ‘tache off on the morning of Whisky Live!

WHISKY ON THE HUDSON
August 26, 2010, 7:00-10:30
Pier 59, West 23rd Street New York, NY

Join us for the Whisky on the Hudson, one of the premier whisky events in the Tri-State Area. We host Whiskey enthusiasts enjoy the opportunity to sample from more than 150 rare and exclusive whiskies,  by distillery managers and master blenders from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Japan.

Boarding Time: 7:00-7:30
Sail Time: 7:30-10:30

SHIP : CORNUCOPIA MAJESTY

Last chance for tickets http://www.whiskyguild.com/tasting_dc.html

The Tolbooth Tavern

All whisky tastings take place on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until approximately 10pm at the Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotchland. You’ll find this location on Google Maps at the bottom of the page.

Tickets : £17*/20 or when a tasting’s theme requires buying more expensive bottles the increase will be reflected proportionally in the ticket price.

At least 5 drams, cask strength being the preferred option when a choice is available and affordable.

Refunds only possible if tasting not sold out or if ticket can be resold.

The tastings aim to inform and entertain. The relaxed approach is still structured and props are used so the tastes and smells of the various influences on production can be experienced first hand, for example there will be the opportunity to smell and/or taste both malted and un-malted barley, yeast and new make spirit.

The tasting usually ends with a raffle where every entrant wins a miniature’s worth of whisky left over from previous tastings, entry to the raffle is an additional £2 and any further donations being collected for World Vision’s ‘Sponsor a Child’ scheme (we’ve collected more than £1500 to date).

All tastings include oatcakes, shortbread and chocolates. The Tollbooth offers meals up to the time of tasting.

ENTRY BY PREPAID TICKET ONLY - prices from £17* *first timers & members discount, 13 month membership = £10, 2nd year’s membership £5 then all subsequent years free. Want to taste the whiskies but can’t attend? We can bottle them for you to take away. Empty minis always appreciated.

Thursday September 2nd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual

Thursday September 16th old Caol Ila £t.b.c.

25yo 43% Diageo,

25yo 55.2% Cadenheads

25yo 54.1% Bladnoch Forum

30yo 54.2% Bladnoch Forum

another 25yo+

Thursday September 30th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday October 14th Longmorn £t.b.c.

official 15yo 45%

Duthies 19yo 46%

12yo 53.4% Bladnoch Forum

1971 43% Gordon and MacPhail

another

Thursday October 28th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday November 11th World whiskies No. 3 £t.b.c.

Millstone 8yo 43% (Holland)

Kilbeggan 15yo (Ireland)

Weidenauer (Austria)

Eddu Silver (France)

2 others

Thursday November 25th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday December 9th non-Islay peaty drams £t.b.c.

Caperdonich 10yo 58.5% The Whisky Exchange

Talisker 53.9% from distillery only

Longrow

two others

Thursday December 23rd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Future tastings:-

peaty blends 40% : date and price tbc
Islay Mist
Islay Hallmark 8yo
Black Bottle 10yo
Black Grouse
Black Bottle
plus a special guest (Brora or Port Ellen)

http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/

The Auchentoshan Introduction to Whisky
with Tom Jones in the Kilpatrick Suite

Participants will have the chance to taste the Auchentoshan core range as well as being given a demonstration of the effect various casks selected have on the new make Auchentoshan spirit. Hosted by Auchentoshan’s European Brand Ambassador Tom Jones.

From 11.30am – 12.30pm and 4pm – 5pm
£20 per person

Match Made in Heaven
Auchentoshan and Chocolate with Martine Nouet in the Kilpatrick Suite

Hosted by Martine Nouet, the editor of the French edition of “Whisky Magazine”. Martine’s area of expertise lies in both food and whisky, making her the ideal tutor to take you through this Chocolate and Whisky pairing class. Participants will sample a selection of the Auchentoshan range, all matched individually with handmade Scottish chocolates from the Islay Chocolate Company.

From 1pm – 2pm
£35 per person

Vintage Master Class
with Iain McCallum in the Blenders Room

A unique opportunity to sample some of the finest limited editions from Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch under the guidance of Morrison Bowmore’s highly acclaimed Senior Blender Iain McCallum. Such archive whiskies will include Gold Bowmore, Auchentoshan 1957 and the most recent edition to Auchentoshan’s limited edition collection, a Sherry Matured 1977 a rare release of only 240 bottles.

From 3pm – 4pm
£100 per person

2010 Festival Bottlings
 
1998 Limited Edition
£50.00
Auchentoshan’s Head Distiller Jeremy Stephens has hand selected the first two hundred bottles of this year’s limited edition release. A 1998 cask strength, Sherry Matured expression, bottled specially for the 2010 festival. Each bottle is hand numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jeremy.

Bottle Your Own
70cl £75.00, 20cl £25.00
A visit to this year’s festival will offer you chance to bottle your own Auchentoshan straight from the cask. Your bottle will be filled from a cask which has been specifically selected due to its excellent quality, exceptional flavours and to commemorate this years festival. The ultimate souvenir

For complete details on all activities visit http://www.auchentoshan.co.uk/festival/index.html

So the secret is out! We are broadcasting our fourth web show live from inside the Harvey’s Bodegas in Jerez, Andalusia, Spain on Thursday 23rd September 2010 at 20:00 Eastern Central Time(ECT). Please bookmark it in your diaries as it really will be our best show yet.

As you all know last year’s show was broadcast live from the Makers Mark distillery in Kentucky. This was because our two best selling expressions, 10 year old and Quarter Cask are matured exclusively in Bourbon casks. However this is only part of the Laphroaig story. We have been using the finest Sherry casks from Spain since our inception nearly 200 years ago and still use them to this day as they impart a completely different flavour to our spirit.

During the show we will be comparing classic bourbon matured Laphroaig –in this case Quarter Cask, with three other Laphroaig expressions. Our new Triple Wood which enjoys its third maturation in Spanish Oak, our cask strength 25 year old which uses both Fino and Oloroso sherry Butts in its maturation and a very special third, exclusively Oloroso matured expression – but you will have to watch the programme to find out more about this one!

Joining me on the panel this year are three good friends. Firstly, someone who will need no introduction to our American Friends of Laphroaig: Simon Brooking, our American Ambassador. I am also delighted to say that Jose Antonio Souto my opposite number, in charge of all Domecq and Harvey’s Sherries has agreed to join us. There is nothing Jose does not know about sherry, but he is also a keen whisky enthusiast –so who better to taste Laphroaig that has been sleeping in his very own barrels! Finally – one of you, a Friend of Laphroaig! He is from Italy and his name is Diego Sandrin. I have known Diego many years. He is famous for his music both as a singer and a songwriter indeed he has even co-written songs with Lisa Marie Presley. What people may not know is that he is an avid whisky enthusiast and has even blended some very fine expressions of Laphroaig himself.

Many of you wrote in saying how much you enjoyed our special food recipes on last year’s broadcast so we are delighted that one of Jerez’s finest chefs will be preparing some brand new tapas recipes especially designed to go with Laphroaig and Sherries. It’s going to be a fun evening I am certain.

Would you like to join us? Of course I understand that the vast majority of our 400,000 friends are spread around the Globe and will watch the show via the website, but, I will be holding our second official “Laphroaig Gathering” with a little “Ceilidh” (party) right after the broadcast. If you are in the area or can make the journey to Jerez, please let us know by e mail by September 5th 2010 as we will be preparing tapas (and whisky of course) and need to know rough numbers. We will then send you the exact address.

The broadcast on September 23rd will be 7.00PM UK time, which is 8.00PM Central European time. The website link for the Laphroaig live webcast will be www.laphroaig.com/live.  I have added a link on this page to a site where you can check what time that is in your country.

If you have any questions about the event just post them to either the chat site on our website or on our official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/laphroaig) and I will try to answer them all. I will write again closer to the time with more details, but look forward to joining with you all on this very special “Spanish” evening.

Slàinte,

John Campbell

Friends of Laphroaig web site

To access the private Friends of Laphroaig web site, use the link below:
http://www.laphroaig.com/friends

Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll, PA42 7DU, Tel. 01496 302418

Enjoy responsibly - http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

D Johnston & Company (Laphroaig) Ltd, 310 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, registered in the United Kingdom, registration number SC028072

Maltstock Newsletter 7   
  
Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

A good 2,5 weeks until Maltstock. Time for the latest news. And please remember, tickets for Maltstock have to be bought in advance. No ticket sales during the Maltstock weekend. If you haven’t got your tickets yet please visit our web shop now. For the full program and all information, please visit our website, www.maltstock.com

Breakfast whisky is ready
We have received news from the guys from Compass Box. The breakfast whisky is ready. This will accompany the Scottish breakfast at Maltstock provided by the Highlander Inn.  The Compass Box team on this unique whisky: “We have found an absolutely delicious whisky for you to have with The Highlander Inn Scottish breakfast at Maltstock. It’s from a really unusual old Bourbon cask of Eleuthera that we had forgotten we had! It has been gently maturing and marrying since we blended it all together 4 years ago. It is a blend of Clynelish and Caol Ila with an average age of 18 years. The alcohol level is 45.3%. The cask has been half full so the whisky is especially light, creamy, fruity and floral in character. It reminded Gregg of Scottish sliced fruit pudding so it sounds perfect for any proper Scottish breakfast!”

This very special breakfast whisky will only be available at Maltstock with the Scottish breakfast. It will not be available at Maltstock or afterwards. We can however order a few extra bottles before Maltstock. However, if you would a bottle of this as well, you have the to be fast. You can order either a 10 cl or a 70 cl bottle. But you need to contact us at the latest Wednesday August 18. After that it will not be possibe anymore to get a bottle.

Stuart Thomson campfire

Last year we had Jim McEwan and Billy Walker putting up a terrific show at the campfire. This year Stuart Thomson has agreed to tell some stories. We’ll also have some music at the campfire, McHollander will perform. It promises to be a great evening again.

Maltstock on the Scotch and Folk blog

A few days ago Maltstock was interviewed by Jock Shaw from the Scotch and Folk video blog. He has taped two blogs. Here are the links to these video’s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2z2umSSac and: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQn3ztJhuOU

Drinks by the Dram

The team from Drinks by the Dram will also be present at Maltstock. So you can save some on shipping costs. If you have something you would like to order, just mention you will be at Maltstock and they will bring it to Maltstock for you. Drinks by the Dram is part of Master of Malt.

Drinks by the Dram: http://www.masterofmalt.com/drinks-by-the-dram/
Master of Malt: http://www.masterofmalt.com/

Octomore 3_152 ppm – Maltstock special

Just a short reminder, it is possible to pre-order the upcoming new Octomore 3_152 with a special discount. Just 87,50 euro for Maltstock guests and 95,- euro for those of you who are not able to make it to Maltstock. Octomore 3_152 will be the world’s heaviest peated whisky. It has been matured for 5 years in ex-bourbon casks. If you want one or more bottles, please send an e-mail to info@maltstock.com

Four Roses – world première

Soon, very soon I hope to be able to send you another message. With a bit of luck we will have something very special for you from Four Roses. Something which has never been done before in the world. You might think having the ten different white dog is very special. Well you are right of course…. But wait until you find out what else we have. More to follow soon.

Music at Maltstock

We will have some live music at Maltstock this year. “Take the Biscuit” will play for us. And around the campfire we will have “McHollander”. If you feel like making some music as well feel free to bring your instrument.

Whisky quiz and raffle

We have been receiving some really terrific prizes the past few weeks for the whisky quiz and for the Maltstock raffle. So start practising whisky trivia and win some great prizes. And if you managed to just loose out at the whisky quiz, no problem, we will have a big raffle as well. So a chance for everybody to go home with some really great prizes.

Ian Gray prints -  20% discount

It is still possible to take advantage of a special Maltstock discount on Ian Gray prints. Even if you’re not coming to Maltstock. Please visit the specials in our web shop too find out more. Prints normally are 75,- euro but with the Maltstock discount they are available for just 60,- euro. A 20% discount!

Maltstock 2011

For those unfortunate whisky lovers amongst you who can’t make it to Maltstock this year, we already have the dates for Maltstock 2011. So put them in your agenda: 9-11 September 2011.

That’s all folks. Hope to see you all in a good 2,5 weeks. See you at Maltstock!

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
info@maltstock.com

www.maltstock.com
the relaxed whisky weekend

September 25 - Scotch Tasting in Woodbury

2:00pm - 3:00pm at The Cellars Wines & Spirits - Woodbury

“Vinocopia and The Cellars are teaming up once more to present to you a Scotch Tasting. Last years event was so popular we had to create a second session, so we ask that you sign up in store, or RSVP via Facebook to reserve a place.”

Woodbury Location
East side of Radio Dr., N. of Valley Creek Rd.
1815 Radio Dr., Woodbury, Minnesota 55125
651-738-8110•Fax: 651-578-9308
woodbury@TheCellars.com
  
http://www.thecellars.com/events.htm

Hi All,

Well that was it then.

The summer that was and then wasn’t. A summer of mixed sports results - a poor world cup (for any nation other than Spain), a good run at Wombledon by Murray and an unbeaten England cricket team. Some good weather, some not so good… Well I hope that you managed to have a great one whatever you did!

Whisky on the other hand waves goodbye to the hot weather with the promise of an exciting program of autumn and winter events here at The Whisky Lounge. We would be foolish to disappoint…

Festivals

The York Whisky Lounge Festival 2010
Saturday 18th September
The Guildhall, St. Helens Square, York
12-4pm, 5-9pm
£15 per session

The Manchester Whisky Lounge Festival 2010
Saturday 2nd October
The Castlefield Rooms, Castle Street, Manchester
11am-4pm
£18 per ticket

Both of these fantastic events return for more whisky-related fun than ever before! Both have new and old friends in attendance and both have a fantastic roster of masterclasses for you to choose from.

I won’t waste email space going on about exhibitors here - instead why not pop to the website to find out for yourself and to buy tickets. You will not be disappointed by the line-ups we have for you, with representatives from Scotland, England, Ireland, Japan, India and the USA!

Springbank Tastings

It has taken me a while, but I have finally talked the most staunchly independent of distilleries into doing a series tastings with us - a big seal of approval! For those of you who have never experienced Springbank, you are in for a treat. The only distillery in Scotland to malt all of its own barley also produces three different variations from the same site - Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow. These are produced using differing barley peat levels and distillation styles. They have also opened another distillery and will be sampling with us some of the newly matured Kilkerran from this! We will be welcoming Iain Scott, a very humorous and friendly character, to spill the beans on Springbank…

This is a great and truly iconic distillery and the whiskies are of the highest quality, so make sure you are at one of the tastings below to enjoy!

Friday 3rd September - Blackfriars, Newcastle
Friday 10th September - Britons Protection, Manchester
Friday 8th October - City Inn, Leeds
Saturday 9th October - The Hilton, Tower Bridge, London SE1
Sunday 24th October - Meltons Too, York

Tickets to all of these are £20, and Springbank are kindly offering one of their tastefully branded tasting glasses for everybody who purchases a bottle on the night! Again, go to the website to buy tickets or for further info.

I will have further news on our final tastings of 2010 very shortly, but that should keep you going for now!

I hope to see you at one or more of these events but in the meantime take care of you and yours and speak soon…

Slainte!
Eddie

PS. Don’t forget you can follow us more closely from the comfort of your own computer/phone/internet capable device on either or both Twitter and Facebook. See you there!

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

thewhiskylounge
www.thewhiskylounge.com
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com
Twitter me up
Facebook Group

07515 854210

IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present

Whisky World – 25th and 26th August

Love Whisky?

We do, and on August 25th and 26th The Oak Barrel will be immersed in the ‘water of life’ with Whisky World – a celebration of unique whiskies from Australia and around the world. Come into our ‘cave’ where an exhibition will showcase a variety of whiskies for your tasting pleasure. If you still want more, join us in the tasting room where each night will feature two master classes, each with a unique focus.

The ‘Cave’ Exhibition will feature a variety of whiskies such as Sheep Dip Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Tobermory 15yo Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky as well as distilleries including Glenmorangie and Talisker. If you are passionate about whisky, join us on Wednesday night as we explore award-winning whiskies from Victoria in our Bakery Hill Master Class. Presented by owner and distiller David Baker, Bakery Hill produces classic single malt whiskies with exceptionally fine flavour and aroma. Wednesday night will also feature a rare opportunity to sample not only the Classic Malts but also the “Boutique Barrels” from Isle of Jura distillery in Scotland. With a live Skype crossover to Scotland for the presentation, it promises to be a class to remember! Thursday night will kick off with Limeburners presented by Cameron Syme. Limeburners Whisky is made by the Great Southern Distilling Company on the picturesque Princess Royal Harbour in Albany, Western Australia. Cameron will be showing four Whiskies and a Whisky Liqueur from his stable of fine International Award Winning Whiskies. Last but not least is a family affair as we sample traditional, hand made whiskies from Springbank in Scotland. The oldest independently owned family distillery in Scotland, Springbank uses traditional methods at all stages of the distillation process and carries out the full production process on the one site.

So join The Oak Barrel team as we host this unique event dedicated to the worlds best whiskies. With a range of tickets available, Whisky World has something for everyone – whether you’re a whisky connoisseur or a new found lover, you will be sure to leave with a warm feeling inside!

NOTES

Quick Facts

Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm


Date: Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th August

Location: Oak Barrel, Tasting Room

Tickets: 
Platinum: $70 or $60 for members, includes: 2 Master Classes, entry to the   exhibition area over 2 nights.

Gold: $50 or $40 for members, includes: 1 Master Class, entry to the exhibition area for 1 night.

Silver: $20 includes: entry to the exhibition area for 1 night.

Book: events@oakbarrel.com.au