(From Mark at WhiskyCast);

Whisky is a treat for many of us, but the trick is finding the right one (obligatory Halloween reference). Keith Law is one of the master blenders for Diageo, and suggests that a blended Scotch may be the way to go for some people. In the news, English Whisky is just a few weeks away, the Knob Creek drought of 2009 is over, The Balvenie’s coppersmith celebrates his 50th anniversary, and tasting notes for several rare Islays and the 2000 Vintage Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon.

The week’s Park Avenue special is the Glenfiddich 21 Rum Cask, usually $135, but down to $117 this week. Mention that you heard of the special via WhiskyCast to receive the special price.

WhiskyCast is starting an e-newsletter for monthly updates on upcoming episodes etcetera; the sign-up is available at the WhiskyCast web site.

Listen to episode #224 at http://www.whiskycast.com/

GLENFARCLAS SPECIAL RELEASE
FAMILY CASK distilled 1968
Bottled 09/09/09
Cask : # 699
Now Available from Thosop bvba Import : www.thosop.com

Tasting notes : (c) Serge Valentin www.whiskyfun.com – 93/100

Nose: Right, this is exceptional indeed. An extremely luscious yet complex fruitiness that reminds me of the first 1965 Family Cask. Probably more various fruits than a costermonger would know and also some wonderful whiffs of beehive and a little vanilla fudge. Perfect balance.

Mouth: Extremely big, dense and assertive, tasting higher than +/-50%, starting very liquoricy and with notes of Mandarine Impériale and maybe a little raspberry eau-de-vie. Very concentrated and without one single sign of overaging, it’s almost a little rough when unreduced! Hints of grape skins.

Finish: Very long, even more on orange liqueur and pepper. Faint peatiness.

Comments: Big, big whisky. As they say, ‘I want to marry this whisky’.
And one would almost wish to acquire the Belgian nationality! 

Tastingnotes : (c) Martine Nouet Whisky Magazine

Nez : Riche. Confituré, fondu. Avec des notes gourmandes de fruits secs. Dattes, sirop de figues. Muscade. Vétiver. Devient de plus en plus pâtissier à l’aération. Dundee cake. Tarte chaude aux abricots. Evolue sur la réglisse et le pralin. Complexe.

Bouche : Ample, puissante. Le sherry se déploie avec majesté. Moût de café. Raisins surmûris. Chocolat amer (criollo). De l’amertume mais comme confite dans le bois. Se développe sur les épices.

Finale : Amère, comme un grand cru de chocolat. Epicée, gingembre.

Commentaire : A l’évidence un élevage dans un fût exceptionnel. Du grand, du très grand Glenfarclas. 

Luc Timmermans luc.timmermans@glenfarclas.be

CSN Whisky Festival – with Andrew Gray of Bruichladdich
Date: Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Time: 7 – 9 PM

Tickets: $50

CSN’s Whisky Festival is our biggest spirit event of the year.  Taste from a huge selection of different whiskies as you chat with the experts from the trade, including principles like Andrew Gray of Bruichladdich.  You’ll get a chance to taste amazing Single Malt Scotches, Irish Whiskies, sweet-tasting Bourbons, Canadian Whiskies, and much, much more.  Get your tickets before we run out… which we always tend to do.

The Single Malts of BenRiach – with Special Guest Alistair Walker of BenRiach
Date: Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Time: 7 – 9 PM

Tickets: $35

BenRiach is fast becoming one of the best Single Malt producers from Scotland’s famous Speyside region.  Come and sit down with Alistair Walker of BenRiach as we taste some of his amazing Single Malts.

Visit CSN at http://www.csnwine.com/

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for September 2007. 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

I shall be brief as there are only two items of interest for you. The first was that I was asked by the whisky magazine to be a judge in their ?Independent Bottlers? Competition?, which was an honour. So I was given the task of tasting and scoring 58 samples from both Speyside and the Mainlands. As you would expect it was a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the down right nasty! Anyway I will go into more depth on this in my next newsletter.

The second item of interest is that Bruichladdich have released the Port Charlotte PC6. As you are probably aware it has been released with six different labels, with pictures of the guys who make this fantastic spirit. Now I must say I have mixed feelings about this. Looking at it one way you could say that this is a tribute to the hard working men at Bruichladdich that do all the behind the scenes jobs and are not generally in the lime light, and without their work and love of the spirit there would be no plaudits for the distillery itself. On the other hand, the cynical side of me wonders whether this ?overt marketing strategy aimed fairly and squarely at the collectors market? was really necessary!

Now unfortunately I have not as yet had the opportunity to taste it, but having tasted the Port Charlotte spirit many times as you will recall from earlier newsletters, I think I can safely say that it is going to be damn good. So take it away Jim:

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC6 61.6% ?62.95

Sorrel chestnut/polished hazel in colour. The ultimate islay six-pack. It?s a war of the elements: gaelic skills, Atlantic tempests, ancient oak, smouldering peat all detonate from the

Glass in a thunderstorm of Hebridean spirit unrestrained by age. [Nose] Opens beautifully, balanced on malt, peat and young spirit. The youth and strength of the spirit infusing the aromas of green apple, mild mint, clove, bayleaf and forest greenwood. Given a dash of water and time little notes of meadowsweet, iris and honeysuckle put their head above the parapet but don?t linger too long as the next wave of bracken and smoke with a slipstream of vanilla is about to overload the olfactory senses. The madeira cask influence lies deep in the glass and brings the rich notes of syrupy dates and raisins which hold up well to the onslaught.

[Palate] Absolute rock ?n? roll Islay. The heat of 61.6% plus 40ppm peat ? and it?s still only six years old ? together develop into a unique palate experience. If you love peated malt this kid has the ?wow? factor. It?s got an effervescence of spindrift and smoke, sweet citrus ? the texture of the spirit is awesome due to trickle distillation. It?s the integration of all the characters of this island ? particularly the guys who made it ? that Gives this spirit a 100% Islay DNA. This is a spirit that challenges, it exhilarates and it delivers ? big time.

[Finish] Albert einstein said: ?everything that is great and inspiring is created of Individuals who labour in freedom?. I believe this spirit meets his vision.

As I have a limited allocation, I probably will not be able to let you have all six bottles, but I will do my best to make sure every body that ones some will get some. I would suggest that you email or call me on 0115 911 0555 with your wishes, because like the PC5 it isn?t going to around for long!

 Until next time

Regards

Chris Goodrum

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

Whyte & MacKay 30yo (40%, OB, +/- 2009)

The Best Blended Whisky at the International Spirit’s Challenge 2009 and on the 26th of November it will also be receiving the William Grant Independence Trophy for Best Blended Scotch Whisky. Let’s see what all the fuss is about (splendid packaging too!). The nose is at first quite closed but after a minute is opens up very nicely with dark dried fruit (think of raisins, prunes and black currents), some further sweetness, oaky dry notes, leather and Christmas cake. After a few minutes is evolves some more revealing cocoa and coffee. A nose of an aged single malt interestingly. The taste quite gentle at first and very earthy, think of a damp earth floor followed by some sweetness wonderfully intermingled with the leather, warm brown sugar and dry oakiness. There is also some of the Christmas cake along with some brown sugar and some slight hints of malt. What a lovely taste. After a short while some bitter chocolate arrives and it’s still quite lovely. The finish is warming, long and goes from sweet to dry to tobacco and back to dry along with the dark chocolate and unsweetened cocoa. Some new information; the finish is actually exceedingly long and is superb.

Two Awards? If Whisky Intelligence gave Awards this whisky would earn a third.

C$275

Score 91 Points

http://www.whyteandmackay.co.uk/

New Ralfy Scotch Whisky Video Review  now available on line; Whisky Review #86 Old Time New Year Liquor and the 88a & 88b – finding Ralfy busy coming up to the 31/10/09 when he will take part in the first ever Zombie Whisky Review followed by a Zombie Walk in Glasgow’s west-end.

Sounds a bit eccentric, but it will all make sense on the day !!!

Visit Ralfy at http://www.ralfy.com/ Click on “Whiskyreviews”

MEDIA INFORMATION

Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy. 30 October 2009.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

 Glenglassaugh 40yo Scoops another award.
 Jim Murray awards Glenglassaugh ‘Best 35-40yo Single Malt Scotch in latest ‘Whisky Bible’.
 Jim Murray, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010, on Glenglassaugh 40yo: “One of the great World Whiskies for 2010”

The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company is delighted to announce that Glenglassaugh 40yo Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky was awarded ‘Best 35-40yo Single Malt Scotch’ in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible World Whisky Awards 2010. Jim described the Single Malt as being “One of the great World Whiskies for 2010”.

Managing Director Stuart Nickerson commented “We have always known of the quality of Glenglassaugh and it is great to see that it is now being more widely appreciated and rightly receiving top accolades by distinguished whisky experts.”

This award comes only 2 months after the Single Cask, Cask Strength 40yo Glenglassaugh was honoured with the title of ‘Best 40yo Scotch Whisky’ by the International Wine and Spirits Competition. The world’s premier independent spirits competition also awarded the 30yo Glenglassaugh with the trophy for ‘Best Cask Strength Scotch Whisky’.

Glenglassaugh also recently offered consumers the chance to buy an Octave cask (50 litres, £500) of new make spirit and a Limited Release of 8,160 individually numbered 50cl bottles of new make spirit under the title “The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name™”, as well as “The Spirit Drink that blushes to speak its name™ “ which is new spirit matured for 6 months in Californian red wine casks both are available internationally from leading specialists at a RRP of £30 for a 50 cl bottles at 50% abv.

“All are selling very fast through our international distributors,” reports Nickerson “giving me great confidence in the future of Glenglassaugh. Perhaps purchasers of our Octave casks will find they have award-winning whisky in just a few years.”

Background/Further Information

Tasting Notes for Glenglassaugh 40yo Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Jim Murray, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010

Nose: The kind of oak that you would expect at this age – (if you are uncommonly lucky or have access to some of the most glorious-nosing ancient casks in all Scotland) – but there is so much else on the fruity font besides: grape, over-ripe yam, fat cherries. And then there is a bourbon element with molassed hickory and sweetened vanilla: wake-me I must be dreaming, on second thoughts don’t.

Taste: Pure silk on delivery. All the flavours arrive in one rich wave of consummate sweetness, a tapestry celebrating the enormity of both the fruit and the oak, yet condensed into a few inches rather than feet: plenty of soft medium roast Jamaican Blue Mountain and then at times mocha: on the fruity front there is juicy dates mulched with burnt raisin.

Balance: 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.

About Glenglassaugh

Glenglassaugh Distillery was founded in 1875 by local entrepreneur James Moir. Seeking a steady supply of high quality Malt Whisky for his Wine and Spirits business, he built his own Distillery at the foot of the Glassaugh burn.
Purchased by Highland Distilleries in 1892, Glenglassaugh was re-built in 1960 producing continuously until 1986 when it was mothballed.
However, a change of ownership in 2008 has seen the distillery re-furbished with an investment of more than £1m, and Glenglassaugh has reopened with a distinguished distilling team, once again producing a renowned spirit.
Since reopening, Glenglassaugh has won a number of awards in its first year of operation and a variety of exciting new products have been released including the Octave and 250 Club private cask sales programmes.
For more information, please visit www.glenglassaugh.com

Redevelopment

The refurbishment and reopening of the Glenglassaugh Distillery have been managed by Stuart Nickerson, a renowned whisky expert, who was the sole consultant during the acquisition. Nickerson has worked in the Scotch Whisky industry since 1981 with a significant part of his career being with William Grants, where he was Distilleries Director. Previously, he managed Highland Park Distillery, Glenrothes and Glenfiddich Distilleries in succession. He was appointed the new Managing Director of the Glenglassaugh Distillery Company in February 2008.

One of Stuart Nickerson’s first actions was the appointment of Graham Eunson as Distillery Manager, effective from 1st April 2008. Graham joined the Distillery from Glenmorangie where he was Manager of the world famous distillery for the last 12 years. Graham has also worked at Glendronach and Scapa distilleries.

Production at Glenglassaugh was restarted on 24th November 2008 by Rt Hon Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister and the distillery’s MP. Distilling was thus commenced under the guidance of Stuart Nickerson and Graham Eunson. “The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name™” was the first product released to be made by the new management team and rapidly followed by the Octave cask and 250 Club private cask sales programmes.

It is fair to say that everyone at Highland Park is a whisky romantic. If you are the same way inclined, you will relish Bottled History by Iain MacIlwain, a stunning fine art photographic portrait of a disappearing world, showing the remnants of Scotch malt whisky distillation prior to the advent of automation.

Over a five year period the author has photographed over 50 distilleries, focussing on disused buildings, obsolete and endangered equipment, and has complemented the pictures with stories collected from retired distillery employees. The pictures and stories encapsulate the working climate of the period between 1950 and 1980, making a perfect accompaniment to a glass of Highland Park.

Design and layout is by Eddie Ephraums – well-known in the world of photographic book production; Bottled History by Ian MacIlwain is a 12 x 12 inch 144-page book (www.bottledhistory.com) and costs £30. I recommend it highly. Signed copies of the hardback limited edition are also available as a slip–cased Collector’s Edition with an original signed and numbered fine art print at £75. We’ve bought a couple of copies for the growing whisky library at the distillery.

For more information about the Best Spirit in the World visit www.highlandpark.co.uk

Gerry
Head of Brand Education, Highland Park

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted some new items;

Dailuaine CC 1994
43% abv
£26.50 inc vat
£23.04 ex vat

Glenrothes 1978
43% abv
£385.00 inc vat
£334.78 ex vat

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at http://www.lfw.co.uk/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington Distillery District one step closer to revitalization

City approved for $45.8 million tax increment financing to boost historic preservation, urban entertainment, and tourist area adjacent to downtown Lexington, Ky.

Lexington, Ky., October 29, 2009 – KEDFA (Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority) has approved $45.8 million for the Lexington Distillery District to support a major re-development of the historic bourbon distillery area. The Tax Increment Financing (TIF) will assist with the development of Lexington’s former bourbon heritage corridor with new commercial, residential and tourism opportunities.

Secretary Marcheta Sparrow, Kentucky Secretary of Tourism, Arts and Heritage, stated “Lexington has a wonderful asset and opportunity with the mixed use redevelopment of The Distillery District. The project will help boost the impact of local tourism; it will help improve the area and will be a formidable connection to the Bourbon Trail. This is a superb project and I am enthused to support it.”

Nearly 300,000 square feet of industrial architecture at the National Register James E. Pepper Distillery and newly renovated Old Tarr Distillery will anchor the new arts, entertainment and urban residential district. Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association stated, “This project couldn’t come at a better time. Bourbon is experiencing an incredible resurgence around the world and that popularity is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the Bluegrass. The Distillery District will be a tremendous gateway for our famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which has grown into one of the Commonwealths’ most beloved
tourist attractions.”

NEWS

Gregory stated, “The KDA also is discussing the creation of an interactive “Bourbon Education Center” at the Distillery District to inform visitors of Bourbon’s rich heritage and significant economic and tourism impact. We’ve been impressed with the Distillery District’s work to promote our signature Bourbon industry and build upon Lexington’s Bourbon history.”

About The Lexington Distillery District

The Lexington Distillery District is the largest adaptive reuse project to date in Lexington, Kentucky. The District begins at a key intersection of the Newtown Pike Extension (NPE), Lexington’s largest roadway project in a generation. Now under construction, the NPE will connect the Blue Grass Airport and the Kentucky Horse Park, with the first phase along District expected to be complete before the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The District will allow Lexington, renowned as Horse Capital of the World, to further attract consumers, conventions and tourists by capitalizing on the District as a gateway to the already famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The District is slated to become a tourism driver with experiences such as an interactive Bourbon Center, active distillery, Town Branch Trail, and downtown Lexington’s first cohesive arts and entertainment district. The redevelopment to date includes several new businesses, including Barrel House Distilling, which is the maker of Pure Blue Vodka, Buster’s Billiard’s and Backroom music and entertainment venue and several art galleries. The District’s urban stretch of the Town Branch Trail, an eight-mile walking and biking greenway, is currently under design study and may now be accelerated by today’s TIF approval.

www.lexingtondistillerydistrict.com
www.townbranch.org
www.kentuckybourbontrail.com