Glenfiddich Unveils its Masterpiece

Rare and precious 50 Year Old Single Malt Makes Long-Anticipated American Debut

NEW YORK, – Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, today announced the U.S. launch of its much-heralded Glenfiddich 50 Year Old expression.  One of the rarest and most precious expressions of authentic Single Malt Whisky ever released by Scotland’s most distinguished distillery, Glenfiddich 50 Year Old will be available in extremely limited supply, with only a handful of bottles available in the U.S.

          Beginning in December, Glenfiddich 50 Year Old will be available exclusively at three U.S. hotels, with one additional bottle scheduled to be sold at a charity auction on December 7, making this one of the most sought-after expressions of Glenfiddich ever released.

For half a century, two casks of whisky have aged gently in Glenfiddich’s Warehouse 8, under the watchful eye of the industry’s longest-serving and most experienced Malt Master, David Stewart.  As a consequence of this care and attention, Glenfiddich 50 Year Old is imbued with a unique preciousness that only time can bring, and remains remarkably light and elegant on the palate. The nose is beautifully harmonious with an uplifting, vibrant and complex aroma. The taste is initially sweet with a zesty orange marmalade and vanilla toffee, which then cascades through a wonderful series of layers: aromatic herbs, floral and soft fruits, silky oak tannin and hints of gentle smoke. The finish is exceptionally long with a touch of dry oak and the merest trace of peat.

“Time and tradition, and a small, significant measure of the unknown have contributed to making every drop of this beautifully-matured fifty year old whisky, some of the most precious Glenfiddich has to offer,” said David Stewart.   “It is some of our finest whisky, nurtured over many years by generations of dedicated and distinguished long-serving craftsmen using techniques lost to most other distilleries. Only an independent, family-owned distillery can remain true to its founding principles and continually pioneer in its pursuit of excellence.”

In addition to this, the packaging, rich with authenticity and heritage, also reflects the excellence of the whisky: Design cues have been painstakingly taken from archives that record the distillery’s 120 year history; the hand-blown bottles are individually numbered and presented in beautifully hand-stitched, leather-bound cases, which were inspired by William Grant’s personal ledgers.

“As the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glenfiddich has a long tradition of innovation and setting the benchmark for quality” said Caspar MacRae, Category Director – Scotches, William Grant & Sons USA.  “The introduction of Glenfiddich 50 is a testament to the quality and pioneering spirit that has gone into the production of Glenfiddich for more than 120 years.”

American buyers will have the opportunity to bid for the sole bottle available for home purchase in the U.S. at a charity auction event, held simultaneously at New York’s Mandarin Oriental hotel, Miami’s Fountainebleau hotel and the SLS hotel in Los Angeles on December 7.  These hotels will also be the only places where the whisky will be available by the glass, until the next batch is released in 2010.  Proceeds of the auction, which will be conducted by Christie’s Head of North American Wine Sales Charles Curtis MW, will go to Friends of Scotland, the charity founded by Sir Sean Connery, dedicated to advancing contemporary Scottish causes in the United States via educational scholarships, and to benefit veterans of foreign wars. In addition, Sir Sean has agreed to provide the winning bidder with a personal letter.

Interested bidders should contact 646-356-8350 for the opportunity to take part in the auction.

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for February 2007; a look back in time. The author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights into the whiskies being commented on which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday.  Enjoy!

Dear Whisky Customers

Well that’s Christmas done for another year, and like last year judging by the amount of whisky that we have sold a great many of you will have had some cracking drams over the festive period. I’d like to start by saying a big thank you for all your support in the previous year and a thanks to those of you who popped into the shop and said hello.

So what’s up in this newsletter. Well first up the usual bit of fun which is the Gauntleys top 20 whiskies of 2006. It has been enlarged from last years 15 due to the sheer volume that we sold during the year, and I think that you find some surprise goings on. The beginning of the year tends to be a bit of a quiet time on the new releases front but I have been tasting a few new things (see the section later) and now is the time to restock your cupboard after the annual Christmas booze fest!

GAUNTLEY?S TOP 20 WHISKIES OF 2006

(Last years position in brackets)

(1) Penderyn Welsh Whisky
(-) Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC5
(-) Bruichladdich 15 year old 2nd Edition
(-) Bruichladdich 7 year old Waves
(-) Benromach Organic
(8) Laphroaig Quarter Cask
(-) Ardbeg Still Young
(-) Hazelburn 8 year old 2nd Edition
(-) Nikka Pure Malt Red
(-) Knappopgue Castel 1994
(-) Benriach 10 year old Curiositas
(-) Murray McDavid Glendronach 1990
(-) Raymond Armstrong?s Craggenmore 12 year old 40%
(-) Ardbeg Aigedail
(14) Edradour 10 year old
(-) Oban 14 year old
(-)Caol Ila 12 year old
(-) Magilligans 1991 Sherry cask
(2) Springbank 10 year old
(-)Raymond Armstrong?s Caol Ila 15 year old

Well there is no surprise at the top. For the third year in a row the mighty Welsh whisky again is our top seller, and by quiet a margin. The biggest surprise is the fall from grace of the Springbank 10 year old. Now earlier in the year I heard rumblings that things were not quiet what they were with this once majestic malt, as you know a brand new bottling of it was released this year and there were rumours that it wasn’t quiet up to the mark. It wasn’t until late November when I actually tasted the new bottling. I was in a pub with a whisky novice and decided to introduce them to one of my favourite distilleries. Now we didn’t have proper tasting glasses, just pub tumblers but even so the aromas were thin, oily and somewhat youthful. Once I had tasted it my suspicions were confirmed that it was certainly way short of the mark. While I sat there somewhat disappointed it appeared to me that firstly the quality was sort of still there it just was far too young. Now I know that Springbank only really starts to come into its own when it is into its teens, thus the older bottling of  ’10 year old’ must have had a fair degree of older spirits in the blend. Also there was considerably less sherry cask influence on the new bottling as well. So I think that is the reason for its fall from grace. It’s not bad, just no longer great.

I don’t think there any surprise that the Port Charlotte was second as everybody and their mother was waiting for it, although I think the guys at Bruichladdie will be chuffed at the on going success of the second edition 15 year old and the positive impact of the 7 year old waves, which is absolutely superb value for money. I wondered if the quarter cask would continue its strong sales even after its price rise, but that hasn’t appeared to have dampened sales. It’s also nice to see a couple of Raymond’s bottlings in the top 20 as they are truly superb and tended to fly off the shelves when we got some stock in. (See the round up for details of his latest one!).

A GENERAL ROUND UP OF NEW STUFF

DEWAR RATTRAY

My good friends at Dewar Rattray have send me down some of their new bottlings for evaluation and all I can say is that they are going from strength to strength and have found some cracking young malts. For those of you who read the whisky magazine you will have seen some very positive reviews of their bottlings in Issue No 60. So when they really hit the big time remember that you read it first here!

I don’t think I need to remind you of my, how shall I say it? disappointment with regard to bottlings of Clynelish. For some reason I have a soft spot for this distillery but most bottlings have a tendency to leave me cold, at best they can be described as ‘blending fodder’ and at worst down right awful?. But (cue fanfair!) I have found a good one. On sticking my nose into the glass the first two words on the tasting sheet were Yum, Yum! It is a very good sherry cask, luxurious and full of lovely natural honey. Now somebody tell me why the distillery bottled 14 year old can’t be this good.

Another distillery I have a problem with is Royal Lochnagar, as you know it isn’t a bad whisky it is just?.. well?.. dull!…..But (cue another fanfair!)? Look an interesting bottling. I think this must be mine or probably your lucky day. It’s almost water white in colour which suggested a very re-fill bourbon cask and lo and behold the citrus splendour of the malt shines through with just the barest vanilla influence. The other two samples were a Glen Grant and a Glenturret, which are both excellent examples of those distilleries.

Royal Lochnagar 1996 (10 year old) 59.6% £44.95

Re-Fill Bourbon

A lovely, clean and crisp nose of citrus fruit and a faint touch of coal smoke. Quiet estery without water a vague note of tropical bananas. On the palate it again displays the crispness evident on the nose with lovely, delicate, very pure citrus fruit. Easy going with a very long length displaying the tropical banana notes in the finish. A drop of water brings out a grassy, garden fruits note on the nose and on the palate really gives it a lovely, creamy texture, emphasising the white floral notes and botanical notes on the finish It has a lovely delicacy and would be ideal for those of you who love good Irish whiskey.

Glen Grant 1995 (11 year old) 59.9% £45.95

Bourbon

Another superb nose. Deep and silky with spicy orange fruit, dripping in oodles of natural honey and beeswax along with an earthy/ dunnage floors note. On the palate it is soft and honied as the nose suggests with earthy, spicy orange fruit. Not the most complex of malts (given its age) but the depth is exceptionally good, the orange fruit flavour last for ages and finishes with an estery, very spicy finish. A drop of water softens and melds it into a harmonious mouth full bringing out a light vanilla note

Glenturret 1993 (13 year old) 56.4% £46.95

Bourbon

Deep, rich aromas of apricot and tangerine fruit rise from the glass. This is lovely, bursting with fruit, with hints of earth and powdered spice. In the mouth it is soft and extremely fruity with apricot, sweet toffee, raisins and a late powdered spice note. Yum, it has a glorious mouth feel all cinnamon coated honey malt and the spices are well just ever where! A drop of water mellow and brings it all together nicely bringing out a touch of vanilla oak and not dulling the spiciness. Personally I would drink it neat in order to experience the full force of its personality.

Clynelish 1996 (10 year old) 59.7% £45.95

Sherry

Yum, yum! (look I told you!). This is scrumptious, laden with coffee coated luxurious orange fruits and lazy spices, more coffee with a touch of mocha and earth. Very, very pure and clean with touches of natural honey and lanolin. On the palate the senses are assaulted by the weight of coffee-malt and rich sherry spices. Very mouth filling with a tangy/ spicy/ silky finish. The natural, pure honey coats the mouth and there is some noticeable wood tannins and peppery spices and a slight botanical note. Finishes with the return of the coffee flavours. A touch of water emphasises the toffee, coffee and clean sherry fruits (if that’s possible) and brings it all together. This is a real malt extravaganza, big, rich and super smooth and with flavours that last for ages. All I can say is go on treat yourself!

RAYMOND ARMSTRONG

When Sue at Bladnoch said that Raymond was in the process of bottling an old Port Ellen and would I like a sample, well what do you think I said! Now Port Ellen is one of those malts that really trades on its name and rarity, and to be honest sometimes I wonder if they are really worth the large amount of money that they retail for. I mean I have tasted a few private bottlings and they have been ok, but when you think about shelling out three figures I think hmmm. So knowing Raymonds incredible nose, well not personally, I pretty much new that this was going to be something exceptional and I wasn?t wrong. And as it retails for less than a hundred quid, it seems like an absolute bargain. Now I think I am right in saying that this cask only produced about 156 bottles, so if you want one, and believe me you do, then let me know asap.

Port Ellen 24 year old 60.4% £80.95

Is this really 24? I swear it is only a teenager! There are oodles of bog myrtle-peat, quiet Laphroaig-esque in fact with iodine and medicinal notes and a great depth of coastal orange fruit. This is extremely good, wild, windswept and vegetal with a decent level of peat ? Love it! (how heavily peated was this at birth?). Mature wood notes add complexity. It is quiet oily and fruity on the palate with iodine, salt, peat, bog myrtle and loads of smoke which wafts in on the middle and fades gracefully to leave the medicinal Laphroaig-esque peat backed up by some great oak and mature wood notes. A drop of water emphasises the vegetal fruit aromas, making it deliciously soft, succulent and fruity. On the palate it is much the same bringing out it’s oiliness and emphasising the coastal smoke and melt in the mouth fruitiness.

JAMES MacARTHUR

I was pleased to see that sales of their whiskies went well over the Christmas period, as I had only just introduced them. Me personally I’m currently enjoying a bottle of their Glen Garioch which is absolutely stunning. So if you were one of the lucky ones to get this or their Longmorn in their stocking on Christmas morning then I’m sure that you will agree with me. Anyway I was a bottle short in my latest order and Arthur said to me ?do you fancy a bottle of Girvan?? and as I had just sold the last of the Blackadder Girvan I said why not. And boy was I in for a surprise!

Girvan 16 year old Cask Strength £38.95

Oh my, this isn’t whisky it’s gin!!!!! And very good gin at that. Quiet estery on the nose with garden flowers, juniper and botanicals, yet lurking underneath is a crisp grain note. The palate is just like the nose suggests, light, very gin like, whistle stop clean, with a touch of natural sweetness and oodles of juniper. A drop of water brings out its complexity, a citrus lemon note and a slight banana and apricot note. On the palate it softens, again emphasising the citrus lemon and oh so sweet and juicy apricot fruit, with the perfumed botanicals returning on the finish. So if you are a gin lover, give this one a try ? it’s certainly unique!

JOHN McDOUGALL

This isn’t exactly a brand spanking new bottling, it’s just that I don’t think I?ve reviewed it before. I could be wrong and some one might tell me, but never mind!

Tamdhu 1994 (11 year old) 60% £35.95

Scintillating aromas of rich orange fruit and sticky toffee. Big, complex, full and luscious with a touch of smoke and apricot fruit. Smooth and sliky on the palate with sticky toffee, apple, orange fruit and quiet a smoky middle. This is a big fruity monster, immensely so with loads of intense spices along with a touch of earth and garden flowers. A drop of water mellows the monster, yet doesn’t detract from its complexity.

AND FINALLY SPRINGBANK

A few years ago you might remember than the distillery released a stunning Rum Cask finished expression which was so good that it is currently being offered at around three times its original retail price. I should have put my bottle in the pension fund, but unfortunately it got drunk and enjoyed! So why am I wittering on about this? Well in September they will be releasing a 16 year old version, and although I haven?t had the opportunity to taste it, I?m sure that it is going to be very impressive. It will retail for £54.95. So if you would like to reserve a bottle please let me know as soon as possible as I have a small but perfectly formed allocation.

Ok, that’s about it for now. I have attached a current copy of the whisky list as we are in the process of having a new web site designed and the current one on the web site is a bit out of date. If you have any comments or suggestions, you can find me at the usual place. Until next time.
Sincerely
Chris Goodrum

http://www.gauntley-wine.co.uk/

Kilchoman 2nd Release – On-line 22nd December 2pm
No pre-orders, and not available for delivery before the New Year.

Visit Royal Mile Whiskies at

Royal Mile Whiskies
Office: 0131 5249380 (all mail order enquiries here please!)
379 Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1PW
Tel: 0131 225 3383

3 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QE
Tel: 0207 436 4763

info@royalmilewhiskies.com

Whiskies of Scotland 1997 12 Year Old Imperial Distillery 55%

This is an extremely drinkable expression from Imperial distillery, bottled exclusively for our Shop, “Whiskies of Scotland”. We won’t bottle just anything, hence the reason you don’t see too many bottling under this label, however, if you do then you know you can trust its quality. This bottling was chosen by Ronnie Routledge, our shop manager who, as a “Keeper of the Quaich

Nose: Freshly cut hay and floral aromas to the fore, with sweet fudge and a light milky cocoa notes following on. This is a light to medium dram with notes of sawn oak and extremely gentle spices and the merest hints of sweet pineapple. The high strength is not so apparent on the nose.

Palate: Light at first sip, firming up as the juicy fruits develop and tickle the tip of your tongue. A sweet and sour sensation plays with your taste buds when you add a couple of drops of water, initially sweet, then a briny, savoury blanket fills your palate before spiky fruity notes poke through and turn things around again into a sweet, tropical-fruity delight. Rounded oak-spices emerge late and dance on your tongue with the nutmeg finish.

£37.99 inc. VAT £33.03 ex. VAT

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted a new item, ‘SWEDISH CUSTOMERS’

 We now have full Swedish Tax Registration as a distance seller. This means we can properly sell whisky to individuals while guaranteeing payment of all taxes to the Swedish authorities as required under European law. There is more detail here but – it’s great to be back!!

You may view the latest post at

https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2009/12/03/swedish-customers/Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

Based on the success of last year’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label engraving, we are conducting 4 more engraving dates in December in the two weeks prior to Christmas. Engravings are complimentary with the purchase of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Please feel free to e-mail to your customers, friends, family and colleagues that you may think would benefit from a great gifting opportunity. If you have never had a chance to try Johnnie Walker Blue Label, please come by and have a dram.

If you cannot read the image, please let me know.

Regards,

Kris Steed
Reserve Brands & Wine Specialist

RESERVE BRANDS GROUP
A division of Diageo Canada

P: (604) 928-7959
F: (604) 542-9400
E: kris.steed@diageo.com
www.weareworldclass.com
“Live, eat, breathe luxury”

Hi everyone!

We, the Aberdeen University Malt Whisky Society (@aberdeenwhisky) are hosting a Glenfarclas Single Malt Whisky Tasting next Wednesday and we would like to make it the FIRST EVER WhiskyWave TASTING!

So get your bottles of Glenfarclas out of the cupboard – or buy a few miniatures and join us next Wednesday at 7pm (GMT)!

For more info see: http://eepurl.com/ftU4

“Attend” on our Facebook group and also tweet us while its happening with the #tag #whiskywave

Or if you already have googlewave join the wave!

See you then!

Or in person;

Glenfarclas Whisky Tasting

Buy your tickets from Gillian in the Chaplaincy Office – £3 a ticket
Location: The Chaplaincy (upstairs), High Street, Aberdeen
Time & Date: 7pm, Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
What to Bring: Membership card, Ticket

The First Ever WhiskyWave Tasting on Googlewave.com
Host: Aberdeen University Malt Whisky Society
Type: Meetings – Club/Group Meeting
Network: Global
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Chaplaincy, High Street, Old Aberdeen

What is a wave?

A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.

A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

 
From the Award Winning BenRiach Distillery, we have two holiday gift packs. These are quite limited, so see below for ordering information.
 
Some exciting news from Scotland – Springbank Distillery has won two prestigious medals for 2010. Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year and Young Ambassador of the Year (for Peter Currie). The award cabinet for our Scotch brands continues to grow…you might recall in 2009 BenRiach won Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year and Malt Advocate’s in 2007 as well as Mark Watt from Duncan Taylor winning Young Ambassador of the Year 2009.
 
GlenDronach is set to arrive next month. After some delays, the whisky is finally going to arrive around December 15th. We will miss the holiday season but you should start seeing it on store shelves in January. We are proud to represent this great line of whiskies! Keep an eye out for cask strength single barrel bottlings in 2010.
 
Duncan Taylor won Jim Murray’s Scotch Grain Whisky of the Year 2010!
 
Hazelburn 12 year old has arrived! This new bottling is from Springbank Distillers and has aged nicely since the last edition of the 8 year old was released.
 
Wishing everyone a warm holiday season.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken Young
Preiss Imports
ken@preissimports.com

 
BenRiach Mini Gift Sets
A Speyside treat for your loved ones
 
Classic Pack 4x50ml

 
Classic & Peated Pack 4x50ml
 
 
What a great gift from Speyside. Two packs are available this holiday, The Classic Pack featuring the “Heart of Speyside”, 12 year old, 16 year old, and 20 year old expressions; and The Classic & Peated Pack featuring their two peated whiskies, 10 year old “Curiositas” and 21 year old “Authenticus” along with the 12 year old and 16 year old regular Speyside malts.
 
These little packs are very limited, so order soon. They are available at the following retailers.
 
Beltramos
Binny’s
D&M Liquor
Hi Time Wines
K&L Wine
Wade’s Wines
Wally’s
The Whisky Shop
Wine Specialist
Wine and Liquor Depot

Springbank: Distiller of the Year 2010
Whisky Magazine declares J&A Mitchell as Distiller of the Year 2010

This is big news for Campbeltown’s oldest running distillery, and the same for their U.S. Importer, Preiss Imports, whose Scotch Suppliers now hold three novel Distillery of the Year Awards over the past 3 years (BenRiach has 2007 and 2009).

This award will quickly dispell rumors about the Springbank Distillery closing down. In 2008, they decided to cut back production due to the high cost of utilities and barley – a prudent step with the global economy the way it is now. After 180 years experience in distilling, they are confident in their decision making.

Be sure to get your hands on their newest release, Kilkerran Work In Progress.

Springbank: Young Ambassador of the Year 2010
Whisky Magazine awards Peter Currie with Young Ambassador of the Year 2010

Peter Currie has certainly made his mark during his tenure at Springbank Distillers. He has become respected throughout the Whisky Community as a Sales and Marketing Manager who has an in-depth knowledge of Scotch Whisky.
 
Congratulations Peter! 
 
Welcome Back A Sleeping Giant

GlenDronach is set to arrive in December, customers anxiously waiting

Back in August, we proudly announced we would be representing the GlenDronach Single Malt Brand for the United States. Since then we debuted these fine sherried whiskies at both WhiskyFest San Francisco and New York. The consumer and trade response has been sensational! We are looking forward to having full distribution of these products in 2010. States will start to receive inventory in Decemeber – sorry but most of you will miss Christmas, hopefully an IOU will do…

Scotch Grain Whisky of the Year
 
Duncan Taylor & Co have been awarded Jim Murray’s World Whisky Awards 2010 for best Scotch Grain of the Year!The winner of this prestigious award is our Rare Auld Grain bottling of
North British 1978, cask Q247, 54.7%alc/vol.
 
 
Jim’s notes and score are as follows:
Nose: The jackpot!! Well, nearly. Everything here I look for from this distillery at this kind of age: a complex, softly spiced layering to the usual corn field. Busy and gloriously three dimensional.
Taste: What a delivery! Canadian from the top drawer in so many aspects! A real fizz to this as the spices move in and break up any corn mafia that’s thinking about dominating proceedings: the starchy backbone also has light banana-vanillas and weak Demerara sugar to contend with.
Finish: Those soft spices spin on even as the corn oils begin to gain a belated foothold. The vanillas are faultless.
Comment: Golden proof that great grain is a match for anything.
Score: 95 points 
 
Hazelburn 12 Now Available 

Hazelburn is named after one of the old Campbeltown Distilleries. Hazelburn is made with unpeated barley, making the spirit light, fruity and very, very subtle. The Hazelburn 12 Year Old is the third release under this label for the U.S. The malt was first distilled in 1997 and every year since. It is triple distilled, and dried over hot air ONLY. No peat is added.

Nose: Incredibly rich, the influence of the sherry casks is immediately apparent. Sweet and chocolatey, there are also notes of apricot, orange marmalade, almonds and marzipan.

Palate: Malty, fruity and elegant. A very well-balanced and rounded dram with hints of oak, figs and nuts.

Finish: A long, lingering fruity sweetness.

Visit Preiss Imports at www.preissimports.com

Grand Scotch Whisky Master
Diageo’s Single Malt Scotch Whiskies win prestigious title again

The coveted prize of Grand Scotch Whisky Master has been awarded to Diageo for the success of their Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The announcement came at this week’s Spirits Masters Awards in London.
This is the second year that Diageo have won this award, decided by independent judges from outside the industry. The Spirits Masters competition is sponsored and organised by The Spirits Business magazine.
The Singleton™ of Glen Ord 12 year old and Cardhu™ 12 year old won Masters medals, as did Talisker™ 10 year old and Lagavulin™ 16 year old.
Talisker, Lagavulin and The Singleton of Glen Ord won the same top awards in last year’s competition, under a different set of judges.

Nick Morgan, Diageo Scotch Knowledge and Heritage, commented:
“We’re obviously thrilled to have earned this highly esteemed award again. Above all, it’s a tribute to those skilled people in Scotland who make our malts. Talisker, Lagavulin and our other well-established Whiskies from the Classic Malts Selection regularly score top marks in international competitions, but we never take this for granted.

“The increasing success of The Singleton™ in competitions like this is a great tribute to our colleagues who conceived, developed and produce these Single Malts. The Singleton is now celebrating being the world’s fastest growing  Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the Top 40, reaching 100,000 cases in just 3 years (Source: International Wine and Spirit Record).

“The Singleton™ of Glen Ord, in particular, is doing extremely well in Asia, and these awards confirm our faith in these new brands.”

The Grand Scotch Whisky Master award was announced at The Spirits Masters Awards dinner held on 1 December at Cinnamon Kitchen in the City of London.
ENDS

Notes
Further information from Pat Roberts • cognis.pr@zen.co.uk • +44 (0)7774 424 410

Awards details

Scotch Whisky Grand Master, The Spirits Masters 2009
Diageo plc

The Singleton

The Singleton is the world’s fastest growing Single Malt Scotch Whisky  in the Top 40, reaching 100,000 cases in just 3 years (Source: International Wine and Spirit Record)

In Taiwan, the campaign for The Singleton of Glen Ord received the accolade of ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ in the Asia Pacific Hero Awards.

Individual wins

The competition awarded four Masters and eight Gold Medals to Diageo’s Single Malts. Diageo Single Malt Whiskies took four of the ten Masters given out in the Single Malts category this year, and eight of the 14 Gold awards.

Cardhu™ 12 year old  Master
Lagavulin™ 16 year old  Master
Talisker™ 10 year old Master
The Singleton™ of Glen Ord 12 year old  Master
Clynelish™ 14 year old  Gold
Dalwhinnie™ 15 year old  Gold
Lagavulin™ 12 year old  Gold
Lagavulin™ Distillers Edition™ Gold
Oban™ 14 year old Gold
Royal Lochnagar™ 12 year old  Gold
The Singleton™ of Glendullan 12 year old  Gold
Talisker™ Distillers Edition™ Silver

The judges

The judges in this year’s blind tastings included Neil Ridley, caskstrength.net blog; Cris Maclean from The Whisky Shop; Sukhinder Singh, owner of The Whisky Exchange Company; Doug Mclvor, the well-known spirits buyer of Berry Bros & Rudd; Dominic Roskrow, former editor of Whisky Magazine; and Patience Gould, editor of The Spirit Business.

About Diageo

Diageo is the world’s leading beverage alcohol business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker® Blended Scotch Whisky, Guinness® beer, Smirnoff® vodka, J&B® Blended Scotch Whisky, Baileys® Irish cream liqueur, Cuervo™ tequila, Tanqueray® gin, Captain Morgan® rum, Crown Royal™ blended Canadian whiskey and Beaulieu Vineyard™ and Sterling Vineyards™ wines.

The Classic Malts Selection, Cardhu, Clynelish, Dalwhinnie, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Talisker, The Singleton and Distillers Edition words, the Quaich device and associated logos are trade marks. © 2009

Amrut Fusion named Best Natural Cask whisky by Malt Maniacs

Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky has picked up an award from a prestigious group of malt whisky lovers. Fusion was named the Best Natural Cask whisky in the Daily Drams Category at the Malt Maniacs Awards 2009. It picked up the award for the best whisky matured exclusively in “untreated”, regular cask(s) in the category for whiskies with an average street price of up to 50 euros. It was also awarded a Silver medal.

Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish – with the latter being peated. It comes from Amrut Distilleries, the Bangalore based company which introduced the first single malt from India to the UK in 2004.This is the second important award for Fusion within two months: leading whisky expert, Jim Murray named it as the third best malt in the world in his Whisky Bible 2010 which was published in October 2009.

The Malt Maniacs are an international on-line collective of malt whisky lovers which have been spreading the gospel of single malt whisky since 1997. Each year members form a jury to sample – completely blind – hundreds of whiskies, in what is probably the only consumerdriven
whisky competition.

The Maniacs’ comments about Amrut’s Silver-medal winning Fusion included: “All jurors agreed that this bottling from India deserved a medal, but opinions were divided about the colour.

Robert loved [it] and gave it a score of 92 points [gold].”
Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut’s International sales manager, said: “This recognition for Amrut’s special East-meets-West whisky underlines the quality of our malt. We are delighted that such passionate whisky enthusiasts enjoyed our subtle fusion of Indian and Scottish barleys. It
proves that Fusion, a whisky that has been highly rated by distinguished experts, is also a malt for armchair connoisseurs everywhere.”

In The Whisky Bible 2010, Fusion gained 97 points. Murray said it “has to be one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the word this year”. In his tasting notes, he adds: “It is one of those which command a big mouthful, a chair with a headrest … and silence. You will chew for seemingly hours and never quite get to the bottom of its mystical complexity. It is massive whisky, but its genius is that you get the feeling that there is some almost invisible element keeping the malt together so the proportions are never less than perfect.”

Amrut’s Indian barley comes from the Punjab and the distillation takes place in the tropical garden city of Bangalore at 3000ft. The barley from Scotland is also distilled in Bangalore and both are matured there separately. After they have reached their peak, the two whiskies are married in the bourbon casks in proportions which give both a subtle peat flavour and a rich fruity flavour from the Indian barley. This is bottled at 50% abv to reflect the depth and finish of the whisky. This rare combination of Indian and Scottish elements means Fusion has a really excellent mouthfeel and palate, combining oak, a hint of vanilla, fruit and the sublime peat.

2 December 2009

More information: Ashok Chokalingam, General Manager – International Operations

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 3PF.
Tel: + 44 191 233 6316. Fax: +44-191 233 6346.

Email: ashok@amrutdistilleries.com

Malt Maniacs 101

Although they do meet in real life, The Malt Maniacs, founded 1997 by Johannes van den Heuvel, are the most well known of all Web-based whisky communities. The only 24 members of Malt Maniacs are scattered all around the globe: Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Africa. Amongst them famous whisky writers Martine Nouet, Dave Broom and Charles MacLean.

The Malt Maniacs are 100% independent and only their amateur members are entitled to score whisky for Malt Maniacs. The three websites that make for the Malt Maniacs’ online platform are www.malmaniacs.org, www.maltmadness.com and www.whiskyfun.com. Together they gather around 300,000 single visits a month.

The Malt Maniacs Awards, sometimes called ‘The Formula One Grand Prix of Whisky’, are organised every year since 2003. More than two hundred whiskies are usually preselected and submitted by more than sixty different distillers, bottlers or brands and tasted blind by from ten to twelve independent jurors from various countries (India, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Europe…) There are no fees involved whatsoever. The results, usually published on December 1., are always eagerly awaited and commented on by the whole whisky community.

Should you like to know more about the Malt Maniacs and/or the Malt Maniacs Awards, please contact Johannes van den Heuvel at maltmaster@gmail.com