Kindred Spirits
December 2009
 
Merry Christmas

Everyone at The Glenrothes would like to wish you, our friends, kindred spirits, like-minded people – in fact all of you who have ever enjoyed a glass of Glenrothes – a fun-filled festive season: wherever you are and with whom you choose to share a dram at this time of year.

The Glenrothes has always been a malt for sharing with those people with whom we want to spend time – savouring a new Vintage perhaps while righting the world’s wrongs, or just in a calm moment of companionable silence. Whatever suits you, we trust the spirit of The Glenrothes will be with you.  
 
 
We’ve had a really busy yet enjoyable 2009. Throughout the year we’ve released quite a few new expressions. Each one, as always, unique in its own way.
The Vintage 1988 with its delicious cooked orange flavour and oodles of fruit.
The Vintage 1998 – Gordon Motion, the new Malt Master’s, first bottling – which he describes as ‘Carmen Miranda’s hat in a bottle’.
The Alba Reserve – a Kosher Glenrothes with no sherry influence at all; yet bursting with sweet vanilla and coconut.

The ‘Three Decades’ – only available in Duty Free, but with its combination of Glenrothes from across the decades that we have been bottling vintages, it’s worth travelling for.

And, to mark John Ramsay’s retirement in July as Malt Master, his very own legacy, aptly named ‘John Ramsay’ – just 1400 bottles of a rich, spicy expression full bodied with blood oranges, vanilla, oak and tropical fruits.
What a Christmas gift that would make!

We’re looking forward to lots more goings on in 2010 and to keeping in touch with you throughout the year.

Ronnie, Gordon, Luke, Sandrine, Sandy, Eric, Caroline and the entire Glenrothes team raise a glass to you!
Yours aye,
 
 

‘Octave Invigorated’

Single Malts Direct are proud to be the first to offer Duncan Taylor’s Octave Collection of single malt and grain whiskies.  We are offering these first bottlings exclusively to you as a Single Malts Direct customer, there are 3 types available in the range initially, Bowmore 1982 @ £89.99inc VAT, Caperdonich 1972 @ £114.99 inc VAT  and Cameronbridge 1978 @ £79.99 inc VAT.  These can be purchased individually or as a trio for £250.00 inc VAT

The Caperdonich bottle will be provided with a signed certificate (see below) to show the authenticity of this first release, each bottle is numbered and signed by Euan Shand of Duncan Taylor.  Caperdonich is even more highly sought after amongst drinkers and collectors alike due to the recent news that the distillery will officially never produce whisky again, therefore a great collectors item and a must have however this bottling should be drank so why not buy 2, one to drink and one to add to your collection!

The whisky in the Octave Range has not been chill-filtered or coloured, whiskies were originally matured in standard sized casks before undergoing Sherry Octave Invigoration for the final three months.  This process has energized and added vitality to the whiskies as shown by the before and after tasting notes on the back label of the bottles.  Each Octave has produced only 70 bottles and each cask is uniquely numbered.  Grab your chance of being one of the first in the Octave revolution.

 Tasting Notes

 Caperdonich

 Before:  Green apples, mown grass, lemon, lime, sweet.

 After: Tutti fruity sweets, slightly medicinal, spicy oak, red fruits, white pepper.

Bowmore

 Before: Warm grass, slightly smoky, spirit.

 After: Balsam, bananas, rice pudding, crushed heracleum maximum, rounded.

Cameronbridge

 Before: Dry straw, spicy, peppery, alcohol buzz.

 After: Sweet, creamy, light cinnamon, sweet tea, citrus.

Ardbeg 21 Year Old, Committee Reserve 2001

Rare limited release 2001 Ardbeg Committee bottling. A vatting (or blended-malt) of 12 ex-bourbon casks from 1979 & 1980.

2,500 bottles.

Ardbeg is generally peaty, rich, smooth and very complex. Sweet malt, sea salt, dried fruits and rich Islay peat reek. Subject to closures, most recent reopening was 1998; the new 10 year was unveiled in 2008.

Product Details

Age: 21 Years Old
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 56.3%
Bottler: Distillery Bottling

Caperdonich 36 Year Old, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld

Single cask #7446. Bottled 2009, this is a 36-year old Caperdonich from the award winning Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld series.

283 numbered bottles.

Founded in 1897 and opened in 1898 with the somewhat reductive title of Glen-Grant No 2 Distillery. It was conceived at a time when whisky sales were on the up and up, Glen-Grant needed extra capacity and so a new distillery was commissioned. No 2 opened when whisky sales crashed and subsequent wars and prohibition inhibited a recovery. And so having closed in 1902 it remained mothballed until 1965 when the stills were fired up once again. Closed again in 2002, and still closed.

Product Details

Age: 36 Years Old
Vintage: 1972
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 51.1% (Cask Strength)
Bottler: Duncan Taylor

Brora 30 Year Old, 2002 Release

A much sought after malt from the closed Highland distillery. The first official bottling of Brora for the Diageo Annual Release series.

3,000 bottles released in 2002.

Founded 1819 and renamed Brora in 1975. From the early 1970s until closure in 1983 it produced a highly peated malt. Still in situ after a quarter of a century of silence are its red brick chimney, pagoda, bellcote topped with gilded weather cock, external wooden worm tub, miniscule gauger’s house and two wee copper stills.

Product Details

Age: 30 Years Old
Volume: 70cl
ABV: 52.4%
Bottler: Distillery Bottling

Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.com for pricing and shipping details.

HIGHLAND PARK LAUNCHES TASTING COLLECTION

Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky has for the first time launched a Tasting Collection allowing consumers to sample five of Highland Park’s award-winning single malts.

Assuring undeniable quality with Orcadian hallmarks of smokiness, peat and heather-honey, the Tasting Collection comprises five 5cl miniatures of the most popular Highland Park expressions, 12, 15, 18, 25 and 30 year old.

First in the range, Highland Park 12 year old is lauded as “the greatest all rounder in the world of malt whisky” by late drinks writer Michael Jackson and embodies a rounded smokey sweetness to appeal to whisky devotees and newer consumers alike.

Highland Park 15 year old is an exceptionally fine whisky with a remarkably complex nose and the flavour from the rich, mature oak casks makes a truly smooth and satisfying malt.

Recently named ‘the best spirit in the world’* for the second consecutive time, Highland Park 18 year old boasts rich full flavour with hints of honey and peat with a soft, long rounded finish.

Highland Park 25 year old, neat to enjoy, is an immense vanilla sensation with the characteristic honey sweetness developing into complex aromas of cinnamon, nuts and dark fruit. 

The fifth in the collection, Highland Park 30 year old is merited with time and attention and bursts fudge sweetness together with complex aromatic spices and dark chocolate orange.

Priced at £42.50 (RRP), the Tasting Collection is presented in a stylish windowed box with tasting notes for each expression. It is available online at www.highlandpark.co.uk and at whisky specialists nationwide.

-Ends-

Issued by The BIG Partnership on behalf of Maxxium/Highland Park

 For further information or photography, please contact:

Linda Edstrand / Sarah McDonald, The BIG Partnership

Tel: 0131 555 5522

Email: linda.edstrand@bigpartnership.co.uk or sarah.mcdonald@bigpartnership.co.uk

Please enjoy our brand responsibly.
www.highlandpark.com
www.drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

* Paul Pacult named Highland Park 18 year old ‘Best Spirit in the World’ for the second consecutive time in his Top 115 Spirits in June 2009 and in his last Spirits Journal rating in June 2005. 

Highland Park:

Five keystones contribute to making the Best Spirit in the World:

·         Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

·         Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world.  For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection.   Its range of 12, 15, 18, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts.  Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently including ‘best new whisky release of the year 2009’ for its 40-year-old single malt and ‘best whisky in the world 2009’ for its 21-year-old expression in the World Whisky Awards, as well as four double gold awards in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009.

Sarah McDonald

 Account Executive

The BIG Partnership

Suite 4/3, Great Michael House, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 7EZ

Tel: 0131 555 5522
Fax: 0131 554 3742
www.bigpartnership.co.uk

Tullibardine 16yo 1993/2009 (54.5%, OB, for Kensington, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, C#15081, 332 Bts)

Matured 14 years in American oak and finished for 2 years in Pedro Ximenez sherry cask. On the nose there is some strong alcohol at first followed by some green malt and cereals which in many ways is very typical of Tullibardine. Behind this there is some very good sherry, mild clove, warm caramel, Christmas cake and then wood notes (think spice and cedar). After a few minutes the sherry moves to the front as the sample warms in the glass and the green malt, cereals and spice take a back seat. What a lovely nose that will be appreciated by Tullibardine devotees. The taste is strong and a good follow through from the nose with many of the same characteristics along with a hint of lovage and maybe some Hessian, the intermingling of the PX sherry and the malty notes are very good. There are also some later notes of leather and cured tobacco that give the palate a slightly firm characteristic. The mouth feel is very creamy despite the high alcohol. The finish is at first malty quickly followed by the sherry,  then the leather and tobacco all of which quickly mellows into a very decent finish that is quite dry towards the very end. The finish is quite long and lingers away softly with nary and off note.

$110 at http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/ and Tullibardine Distillery at http://www.tullibardine.com/

Score 88 Points

UK SHIPPING £6.99 UP TO 12 BOTTLES

Last UK postal date: 22nd December
Last Overseas postal date:18th December

With only 9 days to go until Christmas our little whisky elves are frantically packing malts for despatch around the world. We would like to wish all of our customers a “Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year”, and we would like to say thank you for your very valued custom during 2009. We are really proud of our level of service, the team have worked tirelesly this year. We have increased our product selection and more importantly kept our prices at the lowest possible to benefit our customers.  
 
Very best regards and the “Season’s Greetings” to you all.
 
Duncan & Ronnie

and……

Longmorn 30 Year Old 43%
 
RRP – £78.99
NOW – £68.99
SAVE – £10.00 

     
 
  
New Glengoyne On-line Shop Launched

 In the last few weeks we have launched our completely new Glengoyne Shop.

The new shop has been designed to be much easier to use both when exploring our product range and also when it comes to checking out.

You can now set-up your own account when checking out so that if you buy products from us regularly you do not need to enter your address every time.

You can also sign-up in the shop to be the first to be notified of any special offers we are running.

Visit the Glengoyne shop at http://shop.glengoyne.com/

Last minute 2009 Award Winning Whisky…
 
 
Best Peated Malt 2009
(Malt Maniacs)
 

 
Bowmore 36 Year Old
£273.99 (£238.25 ex VAT)
******************************
 Gold Award 13-18 Year Old
(Whisky Magazine)
 

Glen Scotia 16 Year Old
£54.99 (£47.82 ex VAT)
******************************

 Gold Award – Island Malt
(IWSC 2009)

Scapa 16 Year Old
£51.89 (£45.12 ex VAT)
************************* 
 
Overall Winner
(Scottish Field Challenge)
  
Glengoyne 21 Year Old
£89.99 (£78.25 ex VAT)
 *************************
 Best Cask Innovation 2009
(Malt Maniacs)
 Lagavulin 1991
£54.99 (£47.82 ex VAT)
*************************** 
 Gold Award – Cask Strength
(IWSC 2009)

Benromach Origins Batch 1
£37.49 (£32.60 ex VAT

Visit The Whisky Barrel at http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/

Hazelburn 12yo (46%, OB,, 12,000 Bts., 2009)

From the Springbank website; ‘The newest addition to the range of whiskies produced at Springbank, Hazelburn gains it’s light, delicate character through being distilled three times in the distillery’s old copper stills.  Hazelburn is made with unpeated barley, making the spirit light, fruity and very, very subtle.  1997 saw the first distillation of Hazelburn and the first release of the whisky as an eight year old in 2005 was so successful that all 6,000 bottles sold out within a matter of weeks.  Like Longrow, Hazelburn is named after one of the old Campbeltown distilleries. Most of the distillery buildings are still standing, though the distillery is long defunct. Hazelburn is available as an 8 year old, with a 12 year old due to be released in 2009’.

It’s occurred; the 12yo is now roaming the planet, without caramel and without chill filtration. The nose is very Springbank but without the gentle smoke along with some really good fruit (warm lychee right off the tree, fruit cake, plump raisins and dried tree fruit) and an enjoyable malt delivery. There is also some slight brine, brown sugar and wood spice. What a sensational nose (think of Barbara Streisand; but not for too long). The taste is of vanilla, light damp cotton, malt, the rich dried fruit, the Christmas cake, the brine, very slight hints of tobacco and leather that increases with every passing moment (you should have stopped thinking of Barbara Streisand by now). Hold this sensational whisky in your mouth for a minute or two; it’s simply very, very good. Oh my….what a huge mouth feel for a triple distilled malt. The finish is malty, wet cotton, sweet and then dry oak notes intermingle with the very slight tobacco and leather. There is also a wonderful moment of bitter chocolate which quickly converts to a creamy smoothness that goes on for a long period.

What a sensational dram.

C$100 and worth every penny

Score 89 points

Visit Springbank Distillery at http://www.springbankwhisky.com/