Curries and whiskies to enjoy for Diwali, the Festival of Light

Despite the post last week there’s a lot of people out there still thinking that whisky has to be enjoyed in solitude and while I have no qualms about how people enjoy their whisky (mostly) – as long as they are enjoying whisky – but it seems a shame that so many discount it with food – or as part of food.

To that end, it was delight to catch up again with my friends down at the Cinnamon Club last week and talk about what curry dishes went with Whyte and Mackay whiskies. Along with Vivek Singh, the Executive Chef, we looked at the best combinations of whisky and curry dishes for the festival of Diwali.

And we came up with a selection that, even if you aren’t celebrating Diwali, will give you some ideas for a curry and whisky tasting night.

The night also gave me the chance to meet up with a couple of bloggers – Joel from caskstrength.net and Matt from Whisky for Everyone and the lads were asked for their thoughts on curry and whisky too.

All in all it was a great night for curry, whisky and talking about Diwali and you’ll be able to see part of it soon as it’ll be online, part of our podcasts and also part of a 20-minute special on B4U, which I believe is available to Sky viewers in the UK.

Now you’re probably saying ‘that’s all and fascinating Richard, but what about the bloody whiskies and the curries?’ and I hear you. But so you don’t think I’m being biased, here’s what Whisky for Everyone had to say about them in their Scotch whisky and Indian food blog post:

Chicken tikka and Whyte & Mackay 22 years old and the smoky, charred flavours that the chicken had picked up from the tandoor oven were complimented well by the sweet and spicy palate of the whisky.

Then beetroot mini fritters and an onion salad were paired with the younger Whyte & Mackay 13 years old. The spicier nature of the two dishes were noted by Richard as being balanced by the delicate softness and sweetness present in the whisky.

The sweet dishes – ladoo (a sweet chickpea ball) and kulfi (a frozen reduced buffalo milk dessert covered in crushed pistachio nuts) – were combined with the Whyte & Mackay 30 years old blended whisky. This is the whisky that this week has won the Best Blended Whisky section at the prestigious International Spirits Challenge. The whisky has rich caramel, dried fruit (think of raisins and candied peel especially) and woody spice aromas that carry through on to the palate and combine with toffee and further spice (almost like cloves, but couldn’t quite place it). The combination, especially with the delicious kulfi was great with the characteristics from the whisky bringing out the subtle grassy notes in the dessert.

But what other curry dishes are out there that go well with whiskies? You’ll remember that in a previous post when talking about curries and whisky I mentioned:

Cured organic salmon with orange and mint salad, Bombay spiced vegetables with cumin pao was served with the Whyte & Mackay Special Blend whisky.

Pan seared breast of chicken with smoked buffalo cheese and korma sauce.Stir fry of paneer with baby corn and Kadhai spice with Jura Superstition.

Spiced mango brulee to accompany the rare Jura 1974.

Dalmore 40 years old and coffee with handmade bitter chocolate brought this memorable dinner to a classic conclusion.

But what else works together?

Let me know…

Share and Enjoy

(Richard Paterson)

Tomintoul 12yo (40%, OB, Oloroso, +/- 2008)

A limited edition bottling from Tomintoul distillery finished in Oloroso sherry casks for the last 18 months. The nose is of cereals and barley, pizza dough and warm bread with a back bone of sweetness that takes some gentle hand warming to bring out. There is also a very slight hint of soya sauce, which is a bit of a surprise. The overall nose is very gentle and is not aggressive. The taste is once again quite gentle and very smooth, the sweet sherry notes are this time more dominant that the cereals that were present on the nose and the overall taste is quite delicious. The taste is dramatically different from the nose; was this already mentioned? It’s very good and gentle and malty and sweet. The finish is of oranges, dark chocolate, malt, sherry, very mild oak and some more chewy malted barley. It’s quite long and very good. After a few minutes the sherry raises its head and smacks the other notes down. There is also a wave or two of the barley. The finish is loooonnng for such a gentle dram.

An impressive whisky and a great one to introduce to those who have very little experience with single malts.

£28

Score 84 Points

Visit Tomintoul Distillery at http://www.tomintouldistillery.co.uk/

Pittyvaich™ 20 Year Old 1989 ABV 57.5%
20 Years Old Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside.

Tasting Guide

Appearance: Pale Gold. Light beading.

Nose: Green, olive-oily then immediately fruity (oranges, white peaches), but soon develops a milk chocolate note. As it begins to open there’s a fleeting, mineral aroma, which adds a racy air, before it settles down as orange cream filling in milk chocolate or perhaps angelica cake decoration. Water improves things significantly, raising the mineral note again – grassy, and fresh cut grass at that – then introduces a fruity note, suggesting pineapple or green apple.

Body: Light to medium.

Palate: Appetising. There’s plenty of crisp, clean grassiness on show here. Sweet, but also slightly sharp (crisp green apples, surprising in such a long-matured malt). Again water helps, making it all clean, fresh and acidic, with a surprising trace of salt. At its heart, the mineral taste dominates. Very slightly oily.

Finish: Short to medium, then warming.

October 22nd 5 anonymous Islay malts 40% No.1 :

MacLeod’s 8yo single malt
Frasers Reserve single malt
Signatory 5yo single malt
Wholly Smoke blended malt (Oddbins)
Clan Denny 5yo (Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain and Bowmore)
plus a special guest : Brora 25yo 56.3% bottled 2008 3000 bottles

Tollbooth Tavern, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 24th September 2009 7.30pm
£20/17 (discount for first timers/members)

Check http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk for further details on these tastings as well as Bladnoch forum- events- Canongate tastings

SITUATION(S) VACANT!

As we approach ‘that’ time of the year we are looking to recruit one (or possibly two) part-time staff to work in our retail outlet near London Bridge.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN YOU?

We need to find someone who has a keen interest in all spirits with a leaning towards whisky. You need to be reliable, customer service focussed and eligible to work in the UK from late October – early January (possibly longer). As Friday’s and Saturday’s are our busiest days they will be the principal shifts that we need to cover, however, as we move closer to Christmas there may be an option for you to increase this towards a 4 or 5 shift week. Our hours of opening are as follows and, although we may be able to consider a ‘part-shift’ in some circumstances, in general the ‘shift’ would be for the whole of the relevant day.

Monday – Thursday       11.00am – 6.30pm

Friday                           11.00am – 7.30pm

Saturday                       10.30am – 7.30pm

Sunday                         12.00pm – 6.00pm

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

As a member of The Whisky Exchange ‘team’ you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the drinks industry as well as working in a specialist luxury retail outlet. As we’ve just added the International Spirits Challenge 2009 ‘Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year (UK) to the trophy cabinet, we’d suggest that the work experience would look very useful on the C.V. of anyone who’s considering a career in the spirits/luxury/FMCG industry

Competitive remuneration will be based on an hourly rate and you’ll also be entitled to the same benefits that apply to the full time staff.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Please send us a copy of your current c.v. accompanied with a brief letter which should include your current employment/study status and possible starting date.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2009

Kind regards

The Team

The Whisky Exchange

Vinopolis

1 Bank End

London

SE1 9BU

Tel:-  +44 (0) 207 403 8688

Fax:- +44 (0) 207 403 8788

e-mail:-   vinopolis@thewhiskyexchange.com

website:- www.thewhiskyexchange.com

Benrinnes™ 23 Year Old 1985 ABV 58.8%
23 Years Old Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside

Tasting Guide

Appearance: Rich, deep mahogany with good beading.

Nose: Classic, muscular Benrinnes with an added and immensely seductive sweetness rippling through it. Crème brulée with a highly caramelised surface. Intense black fruits (prunes), Christmas cake and dates, laced with rich sherry. Behind, a beefy note with some allspice, like a touch of gravy left in the meat pan. Water (just a splash) initially brings the toffee-apple
sweetness even more into focus above such meatiness. As it becomes waxier the fruity notes withdraw, yet some moist Christmas cake remains – much later, the meatiness reasserts itself. Superb balance and complexity.

Body: Heavy. Full. Immediate grip.

Palate: Big, powerful and immediately assertive. Sweet, then mouth drying, yet not astringent because that concentrated sweetness remains. Waxy-viscous texture; slight traces of brimstone. Raisin and lots of date. Softens as it moves slowly across the tongue. Water lightens the grip and introduces a lightly smoked character. The voluptuous texture is countered by tannic dryness. Sweet to start and beefy, in all senses. Very, very good.

Finish: Exceptionally long, dry and warming, leaving a mellow, lingering aftertaste of treacle and sandalwood.

The Balvenie 17yo Madeira Cask

•The latest in our series of six, the new 2009
release limited edition 17 year old finished in
Madeira casks.

•Matured & finished in traditional oak previously
used to fortify Madeira wine, a real treat for
enthusiast.

•Exceptionally rich luxurious aromas translate
into an equally rewarding flavour of spice and
dried fruit for malt enthusiasts will enjoy
discovering in the glass.

•Available in the UK and limited markets worldwide
•SRP £70.00 – L F W price to be determined.

Full details can be viewed at Loch Fyne Whiskies http://www.lfw.co.uk/

Whisky Bible Award and my latest Travelogue Entry
October 11th, 2009 
Jim Murray’s latest edition of his Whisky Bible came out this week and once again we did well with our 40 year old winning the award for the Best 35 – 40 year old single malt scotch (multiple cask). I am not sure about the multiple cask as it is a single cask bottling but I am very pleased with the accolade and in particular with Jim’s statement “it is as if this malt has gone through a 40 year marrying process: the interlinking of flavours and styles is truly beyond belief. One of the great world whiskies for 2010”

While not winning an overall award, Jim was very complimentary about the 21 year old listing it in his Liquid Gold Winners and also setting us a challenge “a malt which simply sings on the palate and a fabulous benchmark for the new owners to try and achieve in 2030!”

Last weekend was Pot Still Festival in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. We had sent across our new stand which was in use for the first time. Unfortunately the empty octave cask which we had also sent didn’t arrive in time (UK Royal Mail let us down) so I couldn’t show visitors exactly what these casks are like. I am hoping though that we manage to get it to Wild Whisky Weekend in Denmark for next Saturday. Our supply of “Blush” was also a bit tight as Van Wees had been selling it well and had only a small amount left for sampling.

The event is much smaller than Whisky Live Paris and those attending, in general, had not heard of Glenglassaugh. Once again though everyone was keen to hear about us, interested in what we had achieved and very surprised by the excellent quality of the new make spirits and extremely complimentary about the aged whiskies. This is another whisky event that I look forward to attending next year and renewing newly-made friendships.

This week has been a very busy week for us with orders despatched to 3 new destinations for us, Alberta in Canada, Denmark and Norway and our second order to Lithuania.

This week I am travelling to Lithuania where one of the Scaent Group’s company’s is launching the magazine “Intelligent Life” and is pouring our Spirit Drink products at the launch. I will be helping at the launch and hopefully this will be the start of building a good business into Eastern Europe. Being a country that I have never visited I am really looking forward to the trip.

News of this visit and next weekends trip to Denmark will be the topic of a future blog.

Slange

Stuart Nickerson

http://www.glenglassaugh.com/

Dear Friends,

Unfortunately I have to tell you that a part of my collection has been stolen. 183 bottles from my box in the storage house were I stored most off the total collection were gone when I visited this place last weekend.

I spent a lot of time at the police office to report everything last Sunday and had some serious discussions with my insurence compagny this week.

 Emotional I went through a mental rollar coaster for a few days, but am fine again at the moment. Because there are no signs of violence visable towards the box a rent, the insurance compagny for the moment refused to cover the financial damage.

There are some extreme rare bottles gone that will be very hard to find ever again, and of course some bottles that are easy to replace (when I want to, which I very much doubt at the moment).

Underneath the most valuable or rare bottle that are gone. The most painfull (emotionally) for me is the lost of the 4 local barley bottles as I was under the impression that I had the complete collection. Two of them (cask 509 and 496) were only released in Taiwan. It took quite some years to find them.

Please be so kind to inform me when you see one of the bottles somewere. Besides I would be very greatfull if you would be able to help me to replace the local barley bottles.

Hope my next mail will have a more positive message again.

Kind regards,

Michiel Wigman

Hazelburn 7 2001 d.2001 b.11-08 316 bottles 49,4 0,7 Cad
Hazelburn 8 1998 cask 7038 butt d.5-98 b.2-07 46 700 kings
Hazelburn 8 2000 d. 2000 b. 2009 366 bottles for belgium 49,1 70 DIST
Longrow CV bottled 2008 46 0,7 DIST
Longrow 1987 bottled 2007 cask 116 the last bottling 298 45 0,7 samaroli
Longrow 7 2000 wood expressions 5,5 y ref bourbon 1.5 y gaja 55,5 DIST
Longrow 16 1974 46 0,375 DIST
Longrow 17 1990 SMWS 114.6 d. 3-90 b.8-07 “a dragons Dram” 56,1 0,7 SMWS
Longrow 18 1990 cask 178 d.3-90 b.5-08 for magnus fagerstrom 54,1 DIST
Longrow 18 bottled 2008 46 0,7 DIST
Longrow 19 one from 218 46 0,7 DIST
Longrow 21 1974 cask 1549 350 bottles 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank triple S direct from the still (green label) 60 0,375 DIST
Springbank 12 mitchell’s blend 43 0,7 DIST
Springbank blend edinburgh festival 2008 2008 bottles 40 DIST
Springbank 21 campbeltown loch blend 40 0 DIST
Springbank 25 campbeltown loch blend 40 0,7 DIST
Springbank/Burnside 15 1979 bottled at springbank 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank/Macleod 15 deluxe malt produced for John Macleod of Macleod chief of clan Macleod 46 0,75 DIST
Springbank/european summit 15 special bottles for the european summit in 1992 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank founders reserve red label bottled for Japan 46 rochdale & co
Springbank founders reserve blue label bottled for Japan46 rochdale & co
Springbank christmas 2007 staff bot claret wood 70 bottles 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 1997 stills of Scotland bott for maison du Whisky 45 0,7 SIG
Springbank 1997 batch 1 bottled 2007 55,2 0,7 DIST
Springbank 1997 cask 789 b.1997 for oddbins 475 bottles 59,4 0,7 DIST
Springbank 1997 batch 2 bottled may 2008 54,9 0,7 DIST
Springbank 1996 cask 256 d. 1996 for hanseatisch b.2008 634 bott 56 DIST
Springbank 1990 bottle 151 from 271 for japan (bottled 2003) 50,6 0,7 kingsburry
Springbank 1991 bottled 2004 John Mcdougull bottled for Japan 59,7 0,7 kingsburry
Springbank 1991 bottle 12 from 287 for japan (bottled 2003) 57,1 0,7 kingsburry
Springbank 1991 mcintyre’s 60,35 0,7 SIG
Springbank 1989 cask 423 scoma bottling 46 0,7 scoma
Springbank 1975 celtic cross for the japanese market bottled by Sc indep. Dist. 46 0,7 Sc ind. Dist
Springbank 1975 black label mentioning 1975 1985 brown bottle 46 DIST
Springbank 1975 the merchant’s collection light 43 0,7 Zola
Springbank 1975 the merchant’s collection darker 43 0,7 Zola
Springbank 1972 tesco supermarket 46 tesco
Springbank 1968 cask 489 d.30-3-1968 b.2004 274 bottles bottled for forrester japan 49,2 0,7 pacific caled.
Springbank 1967 cask 1935 bottled 2000 238 bottles 46 0,7 DUN
Springbank 1965 cask 1277-1280 dumpy golf 46 0,7 LOM
Springbank 1965 cask 367 bottled 1987 504 bottles bottle 490 the birds 46 0,75 Moon
Springbank 1965 cask 363 bottled 1987 504 bottles bottle 494 the birds 46 0,75 Moon
Springbank 7 1999 Mike Ralston d.24-9-99 b. 25-4-07 54 liters of new make spirit first fill sherry 51,7 0,7 DIST
Springbank 8 pear shaped bottle black orange neck label 43 0,75 DIST
Springbank 8 1980 20th anniversary samaroli sherry of 540 50 0,75 Samar
Springbank 8 old ceramic book VOL I brown 43 0,75 DIST
Springbank 8 1987 ageing monography b.3-89 50 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 8 the uncollectable collection bottled mrt 08 50,5 0,5 hertwi
Springbank 10 older ceramic book VOL I black 43 0,75 DIST
Springbank 10 100 proof release 2007 black red label 57 0,7 DIST
Springbank 10 pear shaped 10 white red white label 43 0,75 DIST
Springbank 10 cask 578 bottled nov 2006 freitagstreff mainz mombach 57,2 0,7 DIST
Springbank 10 60th anniversary of speyside cooperage (b.2008) cask 814 359 bottles 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 10 60th anniversary of speyside cooperage (b.2008) cask 815 371 bottles 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 10 release 2008 black label 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 11 1996 smws 27.66 d.5-96 b. 8-07 57,9 0,7 SMWS
Springbank 11 1996 b.9-07 cream sherry butt 640 bottles 56,3 0,7 cad
Springbank 11 1997 d.jun-97 b. sep-08 refill sherry 550 bottles “1828-2008” society bottling 45,7 0,7 DIST
Springbank 11 smws 27.70 bottled 2008 237 bottles 59 0,7 SMWS
Springbank 11 1997 wood expressions d. 1-1997 b. 1-2009 madeira 9090 bottles 55,1 0,7 DIST
Springbank 12 pear shaped bottle black and silver orange neck 43 750DIST
Springbank 12 1987 ageing monography 50 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 12 jaeger 46 0,75 jaeger
Springbank 12 bond reserve (bottled late 2003) 51,6 0,7 CAD
Springbank 12 1991 d.1991 b. 10-04 234 bottles 56,6 0,7 CAD
Springbank 12 1995 smws 27.67 d.12-95 b.1-08 54,2 0,7 DIST
Springbank 13 1993 nc2 range 1993 2006 46 0,7 duncan taylor
Springbank 14 1979 cask 473 240 bottles b.93 46 0,7 Samaroli
Springbank 14 1991 cask 312 273 bottles bottled for japan 59,5 0,7 kings
Springbank 15 release 2007 green label 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 15 release 2008 black/green label 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 15 1987 ageing monography b.3-89 50 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 15 1993cask 195 d.93 b. 2009 46 0,7 berry broth
Springbank 16 1992 cask 71 d.92 b.2009 peat smoke 46 0,7 berry broth
Springbank 17 1989 d.12-89 b.10-07 for whiskyshop 272 bottl 50,1 70 D.L.
Springbank 17 1989 cask 145 d. 17-3-89 b.11-06 50,1 70 ACEO
Springbank 18 1989 smws nr 27.69 d.12-89 b.jun-08 52,8 0,7 SMWS
Springbank 18 bottled 2009 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 20 1987 ageing monography b.3-89 50 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 20 1967 casks 3131-3136 d.31-10-67 b.10-89 46 0,75 DUN
Springbank 20 barrel selection bottled by cadenhead 46 0,7 wilson morgan
Springbank 21 pear shaped bottle black silver silver neck 46 0,75 DIST
Springbank 21 1966 b. 1987 bottle 45 from 408 46 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 21 1967 cask 3140 d.1-11-67 b.10-89 600 bottles 46 0,75 SIG
Springbank 23 1965 ageing monography b.3-89 50 0,75 Samaroli
Springbank 23 1970 cask 1765 west highland malt d.6-70 b.7-93 323 bottles 46 0,7 DIST
Springbank 25 pear shaped bottle black and white 43 0,75 DIST
Springbank 26 1969 cask 1641 d. 16-7-69 bottle 93 46 0,7 direct wine
Springbank 28 1969 d.1969 b. 1997 bottle 100 of 590 51,6 0,7 DUN
Springbank 30 1972 cask 410 d.11-72 b.11-02 576 bottles 57,8 0,7 Chiefta
Springbank 30 1972 cask 789 d.11-72 b.3-03 252 bottles 46 0,7 Chiefta
Springbank 33 1970 cask 2965 d.12-70 b.1-04 hogshead 192 b 50,2 0,7 Chie
Springbank 34 1969 cask 50 d.1-69 b.11-03 300 b rum barrel 43,2 0,7 Chie
Springbank 35 1967 cask 1943 d.5-67 b.11-2002 of 218 40,5 0,7 Peerless
Springbank 35 1968 cask 1413 d.10-68 b.11-03 sherry 498 bottles 54,2 0,7 Chieftains
Springbank 37 1968 cask 1541 d.10-68 b. 2006 84 b sherry 56,5 7 dun bhea
Springbank 39 1968 cask 617 d. 4-68 b.11-07 47,6 700 acorn’s
Springbank 40 1968 rogha for japan 45,5 0,7 scots malt sales
Springbank 32 1966 barley malt cask 493 56,8 0,7 DIST
Springbank 32 1966 barley malt cask 496 55,1 750 DIST
Springbank 33 1966 barley malt cask 503 57,2 0,7 DIST
Springbank 34 1966 barley malt cask 509 54,4 750 DIST
( 6-packs)
Ardbeg 1990 airigh nam beist bottled 2006 46 0,7 DIST
balvenie10 older armagnac bottle 43 0,75 dist
Highland park 23 1985 d.1985 b.7-08 271 bottles 50,1 0,7 cad
longrow 7 2000 w expression gaja barolo d.10-2000 b.1-08 55,5 0,7 DIST
longrow 10 1995 w expressions tokaij wood 8 y refill 2 y tokaij 7440 bottles 55,6 0,7 dist
octomore 5 2002 d.16-10-02 b. 4-08 PPM 80.5 46 0,7 DIST
springbank 30 campbeltown loch bottled 2008 46 0,7 DIST
springbank 9 1996 w exp marsala wood 10-96 8-06 7740 bott 58 0,7 DIST
springbank 11 1997w exp madeira wood d. 6-97 b. 1-09 9090 bottl 55,1 DIS
springbank 14 1989 w expr 12 year sherry 2 year port 7200 bot 52,8 dist
springbank 12 older label 90ties 3 different labels 46 0,7 dist
springbank 12 1991 w expr bourbon wood 5986 bottles 55,5 0,7 dist
springbank 15 1987 46 0,7 dist
springbank CV 46 0,7 dist

You may contact Michael via his friend Hans Offringa at +31 641 257456 if you have any information on this theft.

Exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whiskies issued In time for end of year celebrations
Sunday, 11 October 2009

——————————————————————————–
A limited edition of nine Single Malt Scotch Whiskies – some among the rarest and most sought after – have just been released from Diageo’s stock. All are bottled at full cask strength.

The release includes three 30 year old Single Malts: Talisker™, from the famous distillery on the island of Skye, and two further releases, from finite and declining stocks, of Port Ellen™ and Brora™ – distilleries that closed for ever in 1983, and which have now acquired cult status among serious whisky enthusiasts and collectors.

The Port Ellen Single Malt is the ninth annual release, and only the second Port Ellen 30 year old to come from the distillers. The Brora 30 year old is the eighth of a very limited series of annual releases, and the most expensive of all this year’s releases, with a recommended price of £230.

Other popular continuations from previous years’ releases are a 12 year old Lagavulin™; the famously unpeated Caol Ila™ (but this time in a 10 year old expression) and another majestic 25 year old Talisker.

Unusual Speysides

This year, whisky connoisseurs and collectors will also be intrigued by the presence of three differently aged, unusual and rare Speyside Single Malts.

Benrinnes™, rarely available as a Single Malt, comes as a 23 year old, rich and dark from the influence of European Oak sherry wood casks. Pittyvaich™ has rarely been available and then usually in a heavily sherried style: this year’s 20 year old bottling comes from refill American Oak which reveals this closed distillery’s true spirit character. And a quite unique 18 year old Mannochmore™ has been assembled from a combination of reconditioned bodega European Oak, bourbon casks, and new American Oak casks.

Global Availability

On sale in some 15 markets in N. America and Europe, but not all markets take all 9 products. Also available in selected global duty free outlets.

“First and foremost, to be enjoyed…”

See quote from Nick Morgan:

Diageo spokesman Dr Nick Morgan said: “We have been selecting and issuing our Special Releases since 2001 and we know that whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs look forward every year to rediscovering new expressions of old favourites like Port Ellen, Brora and Talisker, and enjoying some fresh discoveries, such as the three unusual Speyside Malts that we are offering this year.

“Demand for rare Malt Whiskies continues to grow, and as before some of these being released this year are drawn from a finite and dwindling stock, as their distilleries were closed a quarter of a century ago. But although these will appeal to collectors because of their rarity, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that these are fabulous drinking whiskies with unique tastes and flavours, that have been bottled first and foremost to be savoured and enjoyed.”

Images: Bottle shots in low and high resolution and further information from Patrick Roberts at malts@cognispr.net or on +44 (0)7774 424 410.

Copyright : The Classic Malts, The Classic Malts Selection, Benrinnes, Brora, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Mannochmore, Pittyvaich, Port Ellen and Talisker words, the Quaich device and associated logos are trade marks. © 2009
This press release was distributed via Response Source, a service from Daryl Willcox Publishing, on behalf of Cognis Public Relations. For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/pressreleasewires