Last Updated: 25 June 2009 12:16 AM

• Source: The Scotsman http://news.scotsman.com/
• Location: Edinburgh

A Book Launch and Whisky Tasting for “Whisky Legends of Islay” by Robin Laing will be held at Edinburgh Central Reference Library from  7:30pm to 9:30pm on Friday June 26th, 2009. The event is free however you must reserve a ticket via central.music.library@edinburgh.gov.uk    The book is  available from Amazon.

Two casks married to make this bottling from Signatory Vintage and their Un-Chillfiltered Collection bottled at a reduced strength of 46%. The ‘water mark’ on the label states “HEAVILY PEATED”; fasten seat belts please. The nose is a little sharp with loads of peat smoke characteristics, mild roofing tar and creosote that quickly becomes sweet but the peat smoke predominates and is the main delightful characteristic. The taste reveals a huge sweet peat attack followed by Chinese food style malt. Bizarre I know but it briefly reminded of Chinese food; perhaps mild Soya sauce? After a few moments the green notes take over, fresh hay backed by chewy malt. The finish is quite long; at first there is a mild battle between the sweet honey and the malt however both are swiftly over taken by the peat smoke which is quite strong. The malt however refuses to pass into the night and makes a chewy peaty reappearance.

£27.50 at http://www.lfw.co.uk/Cheap as chips for an interesting dram such as this.

Score 86 Points

If you’d like to chat to like minded people about whisky, here’s your chance.

From Mark at Whisky Whisky Whisky;

Whisky Whisky Whisky is an independent whisky forum which aims to promote unbiased discussion regarding all types of whisky and whiskey. Over 240 members have signed up since the forum was launched in November 2008 and there are already over 500 tasting notes which have been posted by members and are listed by distillery. The forum runs regular monthly live online tastings, having previously covered Japanese whisky and single grain whiskies, as well as being simply a place for a chat about whisky, whether it’s information or humour you are after.

To take part in this excellent forum please visit http://www.whiskywhiskywhisky.com/forum/index.php

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America has published their Fall Calendar of Events at http://www.smwsa.com/calendar.html commencing with Chicago in October.

For those looking for PC6 The Strath Spirit Merchants in Victoria, BC still have a good supply…and they ship!

Visit the Strath at http://www.strathliquor.com/

Enter for a chance to win a bottle of single cask Ardbeg 1992 signed by distillery manager Micky Heads at http://www.ardbegbeastiemobile.co.uk/

The Beastie Mobile is on tour in the United Kingdom.

July 9th World whiskies: cost to be confirmed
Chichibu Newborn Japanese malt whisky spirit cask 127 distilled & bottled 2008 62.5%
Canadian Indian corn distilled at Potters Distilling Co., Kelowna, B.C 11yo 55.1%
Woodford Reserve sweet mash bourbon 43.2%
Amrut peated Indian single malt 62.78%
Grenore 15yo Irish single grain 43%
+ a mystery dram

JULY 16TH THURSDAY £20/17*
5 anonymous 46% peaty malts
Peat Monster
Duthies
Auld Reekie 10y
another one
Carn Mor (single)
plus a special guest (Brora or Port Ellen)

Visit http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/ to buy your tickets.

Cask Ends Sale: Back for an Encore
Mon 22 June to Thu 2 July
Members loved our last Cask Ends Sale, so much so we’re offering another bite of the cherry.

Back is our ever-popular Mystery Malt parcel with a selection of spectacular Society single casks. We’re also mixing things up with three Regional parcels and parcels from both the Speyside and Highland regions. We’ve given the identity of one bottle in these parcels but the rest are a mystery.

You can be certain that all the bottles taking centre-stage are one-of-a-kind, Society single cask, single Scotch malts.

Parcel prices start from only £80!
Availability is very limited and the sale ends Thu 2 July. So in other words, be quick to bag your parcel.

Full detaisl on membership and how to purchase excellent Society malts visit http://www.smws.co.uk/shop/whisky/