I have been talking to you for some time about our plans for the next live broadcast. Well I am extremely excited to announce that we have finally confirmed everything and this year’s broadcast will be live from the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky, USA.

For those of you who know a lot about Laphroaig you will know that we mature our whisky in Maker’s Mark barrels so it is a fitting collaboration I think – plus it’s a bit sunnier there than here on Islay so it should be a lovely setting!

We will be holding the event on Friday 25th September 2009 at 20:00 (EST – Kentucky time!).  For anyone in Europe this will actually be on Saturday 26th September due to the time difference. For those of you who want to work out the time in their country then you can use this site: http://www.timeanddate.com/. As the broadcast is from the US the timing of the broadcast isn’t ideal for our European FOLs but we have made the broadcast on a Friday so hopefully those of you who don’t have work on Saturday will still be able to log into watch the show.

The broadcast will last around 40 minutes and will include a live question and answer session where you will be invited to put your questions to the panel. This will include Kevin Smith- master blender for Maker’s Mark, John Hansell – author of the famous Malt Advocate and of course myself. We will also have Simon Brooking, our US Ambassador on hand to answer any questions.

Those of you who have watched our last two broadcasts will know that we very much concentrated on tasting our range. This year as we are the guests of Maker’s Mark we wanted to do something a little different. We will of course be discussing what makes the Maker’s barrels so special for us at Laphroaig (and of course tasting some of the fine spirit) but we will also be trying a few food dishes that go well with Laphroaig and Maker’s Mark and also trying our hand at some cocktails! If any of you have any suggestions on dishes or cocktails please email them into me at info@laphroaig.com with the subject line: Distillery Live Recipes and any that we decide to make will win a special prize.

Pass this email onto your friends
As you know we always ask our ‘friends’ to help us spread the word about Laphroaig. This live tasting would be the perfect way to introduce all your friends to our unique single malt so please pass it on – unlike normal whisky tastings the web can accommodate everyone!

I’ll be writing to you again in the next couple of weeks with all the confirmed details including the website address but I just wanted to get the date and time firmly in your diaries.

I look forward to ‘seeing’ you on 25th…or the 26th for some of you!

Slàinte,

John Campbell
Distillery Manager

P.S For anyone who hasn’t noticed I am now on Twitter. I’ll be updating my Twitter page with details of the event as well as the FOL page. http://www.twitter.com/laphroaigwhisky

Classic Expression report that their reprint of J A Nettleton’s The Manufacture of Whisky and Plain Spirit will arrive in the next few days and shipping will commence shorlty there after.

For full details visit Classic Expressions at http://www.classicexpressions.co.uk/

Image of the original version of the book

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted a new item, ‘New DEALS!’

Some new deals including the 4 whiskies featured in the Flavour Experience Pack (£12.90) and £8 off the magnificent Talisker 57 North

You may view the latest post at
https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2009/08/19/new-deals/

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

For the month of August we have only one (1) new bottling from PROVENANCE, sorry!

The PROVENANCE tasting notes follows:

PRV 0581 LONGMORN  10 YEAR OLD
Fresh, citric, herbal and barleyed on the nose – it is clean and vanilla toffee flavoured on its sweet palate – with that hint of fruit still apparent.  It runs to a finish which is spicy, gristy and lightly smoked.  (F)

All best wishes,
Fred

Visit Douglas McGibbon & Co at http://www.douglaslaingwhisky.com/

AUGUST release we have five (5) new bottlings of the OLD MALT CASK as well as one (1) OLD & RARE together.   Tasting Notes follow firstly for OLD MALT CASK:

OMC 1727 CAOL ILA   19 YEAR OLD    CLARET WINE FINISHED
Nose:  Red fruit and spices preface a sweet peat/maritime style
Palate:  Mouthcoatingly salty, tarred and phenolic (no hint of wine)
Finish:  Still peaty, warmly spiced now + tar + light wood-smoke  (F)

OMC 1729 CLYNELISH  20 YEAR OLD
Nose:  Sweetly citric + dark spices/liquorice
Palate:  With macerated sultanas/currants and oak
Finish:  Carries espresso, light smoke + dry spices (F)

OMC 1728 GLEN SCOTIA   17 YEAR OLD   BOURBON CASK MATURED
Nose:  Carries its bourbon cask influences evident – vanilla!
Palate:  Totally different from the nose – beachy, dry and salted
Finish:  The nose and palate combine here  most interestingly.  (F)

OMC 1725 GLENROTHES  14 YEAR OLD  RED WINE FINISHED
Nose :   Distinct wine character + home baked fruit tart + mint and tobacco
Palate:   Orange liqueur quality, tangy orange peel + honey sweetness
Finish:   Long and warming, the orange tang develops a long and dry note (F & J)
OMC 1652 SPRINGBANK  16 YEAR OLD
Nose:  Briny, clean and fresh – with sweet smoked nuts.
Palate:  Saline, gristy and lightly (citric) fruited in style
Finish:  Tannic, smoked, spiced and warming

The OLD & RARE tasting note follows:

OAR 0074 MACALLAN  30 YEAR OLD
This interesting Macallan without the sherry maturation is an example of refined complexity. The graceful and fresh nose carries a buttery, fruity sweetness (apples and apricots) and a hint of eucalyptus is coming through. The palate opens honeyed and runs to spicy caramelized baked apples and sweet ripe grapes. The finish is long and fresh, still sweet and develops a late and fruity tang. (J)

Beyond these, our Anniversary bottling this month is a 40 Year Old “SPEYSIDE’S FINEST” from a Sherry butt, probably selected by Fred Douglas Laing all those many years ago to increase his inventory. Stewart and Fred have already selected the 6 Malts, probably most appropriate to their late father’s taste, celebrating  6 decades in business. However, to end the year they have felt it would be fitting to select 2 cask favourites of their own. Watch out therefore (next month) for a very old Ardbeg as Fred’s selection, beyond the “regular” Anniversary release.

Based on the success of our DOUBLE BARREL (Macallan/Laphroaig) we can also inform you that through August we anticipate bottling 2 or 3 new, interesting, quality based and commercially attractive combinations to watch out for as September releases.

Warm Regards.
Fred

Visit Douglas Laing & Co at http://www.douglaslaingwhisky.com/

Glenrothes Alba Reserve now at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop

We recently received a shipment of great new bottling from The Glenrothes – Alba Reserve. We are big fans of all of the offerings from this well respected Speyside distillery and once again they don’t disappoint. See below for more info ‘Alba’ and a special appearance from a certain hard-to-find Islay malt.
As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Cheers!
Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
http://www.parkaveliquor.com

The Glenrothes ~ Alba Reserve
Glenrothes Alba Reserve is a new multi-vintage single malt from The Glenrothes, matured exclusively in American oak refill bourbon casks. Alba Reserve is a harmonious marriage of different years of distillation, all reserved for this bottling. It was hand-crafted by the malt-master in the same manner as The Glenrothes vintage malts, with focus on flavors and quality. It has a bright, pale straw appearance. The bouquet is fresh, floral and has notes of coconut, vanilla and American Oak. A soft and mellow palate evokes creme brulee and berry fruits. It all ends in a smooth, sweet, medium length finish. Did we mention that it’s also Kosher?

Our Price: $74 / btl

Hello All,

We are approaching the time when you have to consider selling the grandparents or trying to get a magical ticket to our amazing evening being conducted by Gerry Tosh of Highland Park Distillery.  This promises to be quite a fine evening and I am sure that the selection we will be sampling would cause even the most die-hard single malt fan to quiver in anticipation. 

The event itself will be held here at Vinopolis on Monday 7th September from 6.45pm. 

The price of the event will be £30.00 / ticket, with a maximum of 2 tickets/customer.

The tickets themselves will go LIVE on Monday 24th August at 3.00pm.  No reservations will be taken beforehand so don’t bother calling before 3pm.

Successful customers should meet in the Whisky Exchange shop from 6.30pm on Monday 7th September.

www.thewhiskyexchange.com

Event
Iowa Native Distillery Forum – Des Moines, IA
August 27

Please join the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission for a series of forums discussing Iowa Native Distilleries. Discover the history. Discuss the present. Design the blueprint for the future.

Thursday, August 27th, 1:30PM at the State Capitol (Room 22), East 9th & Grand, Des Moines, Iowa

Wednesday, September 9th, 1:30PM at Templeton Rye, 209 East 3rd Street, Templeton, Iowa

Thursday, October 22nd, 1:30PM at Cedar Ridge, 501 7th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Thursday, November 19th, 1:30PM at the Division’s offices, 1918 SE Hulsizer Road, Ankeny, Iowa

For further information please visit the romantically named  Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission  at http://www.iowaabd.com/about/updates/event/10

FOR IMMEDIATE USE:  17 AUGUST 2009 (From East Ayrshire Council)

STARS SIGN UP TO KEEP STRIDING MAN IN KILMARNOCK

Musicians Lloyd Cole, Saw Doctors front man Leo Moran and Katie Sutherland (aka Pearl of Pearl and the Puppets) took time out at the recent Kilmarnock Edition Music Festival to lend support to the campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock.

The stars, also including the Ballachulish Hellhounds, were happy to sign the petition to keep the company’s historic links with the town. Lloyd Cole assured a cheering crowd: “If Johnnie Walker leaves Kilmarnock, I’ll never drink their whisky again”.

Galway band The Saw Doctors are familiar with previous Diageo attempts to cut longstanding ties to an area, with the 2007 attempt to close the original Guinness brewery in Dublin.

 Such is the importance of Johnnie Walker to the history of Kilmarnock, that references to the brand appear in the Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition currently at The Dick. On display are an 18 year old Johnnie Walker Gold Label Centenary blend whisky, a Black Label water jug and vintage adverts. In addition, as part of his photo essay series, Kieran Dodds photographed the labelling machinery at the bottling plant, featuring the trademark Striding Man, in recognition of the role Johnnie Walker continues to play in the town.

The cross-party group leading the Johnnie Walker campaign said: “Having these famous music names sign our petition and declare their support so publicly takes the campaign to a whole new level.

“It also makes larger numbers of younger people more aware of the importance of what we are trying to do and brings in a different audience to help Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock”.

To add your name to the petition, visit http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com
For further information contact Carol Keohone on 01563 578154.

ends