EPISODE 249: APRIL 19, 2010

I had a great experience today, and decided it warranted a special mid-week episode recorded on board a First ScotRail train from Aberdeen to Glasgow. Michael Urquhart gave me a private tour of the Gordon & MacPhail warehouses and sample room in Elgin, along with a tasting of several G&M bottlings, including the new 70-year-old Mortlach! Along the way, we talked about the family’s history in the whisky business, nosing and tasting, and much more!

EPISODE 248: APRIL 17, 2010

This episode comes from the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie, Scotland…the heart of Speyside! We’ll hear from Highlander co-owner Duncan Elphick and the manager of the Highlander’s world-class whisky bar, Tatsu Minagawa, about the Highlander’s history and its whisky selection. In the news, Scotch whisky exports hit a new high despite the economy, a mothballed Speyside distillery will be sold and closed forever, new distillery tours, and a new GlenDronach. I’ll also go to whisky school with Donald Renwick and the faculty at Royal Lochnagar!

EPISODE 247: APRIL 12, 2010

The whisky business is in good shape despite the global recession. That’s the view of Sir Gavin Hewitt, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association. I sat down with Sir Gavin during his visit to New York for Whisky Live and a seminar for trade professionals to discuss whisky exports and the impact of the new Scotch Whisky Law. I’ll also have highlights from Whisky Live New York, and word on new whiskies from Early Times, Caribou Crossing, an ultra-rare Macallan, and the results of the Alzheimer’s Association Chocolate Symphony Scotland tour auction!

Catch up with WhiskyCast at http://www.whiskycast.com/

Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter #4 – April 2004 – Scotch Whisky News

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for January 2004; a small sample of scotch whisky archeology. The author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights of whisky, which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday.  However as you may have noticed we are nearing the end of the series of his excellent newsletters. Enjoy one of the final installments!

Dear Whisky Customers

I hope that you all had a good Christmas and new years celebrations and have drunk the whisky cupboard dry, as I have some interesting new bottlings with which to temp you.

NEW WHISKY LIST

Please find attached to this newsletter a copy of the newly updated list. This is the first real whole scale make over the list has had in several years and I think it was long overdue. You will notice that the layout has changed and I hope that it easier to use as a result. The main and exciting changes are that we’ve added whiskies from three new Independent bottling companies. You will also see that there have been additions to both the Gordon & MacPhail and Distillery bottlings list. But first the new guys!

THE SPEYSIDE DISTILLERY COMPANY – SCOTT’S SELECTION

The Speyside Distillery company are a small independent whisky producer, owning their own distillery, blending and bottling plants. They produce a pleasant 10 year old malt from their distillery near Kingussie, close to the site of a distillery of the same name which had been established in 1895 and has long been out of production.

The whiskies that really interested me are from their Scott’s Selection list. In the 1970’s Robert Scott was appointed Master Distiller at the Speyside distillery. Robert like many other respected distillers had begun plying his trade at the tender age of 16 when he left school. Prior to his retirement, he was given one final assignment, namely to create a personal selection of his favourite single malt whiskies. Thus Scott’s Selection was born.

His criteria for this selection was that the whisky must be of the optimum level of age and top quality. They must be bottled in as natural a state as possible – no dilution by water or chill filtration. Over the past few years a number of new additions have been added to the portfolio while stocks of some others have inevitably been exhausted. The selection now reads like an encyclopaedia of great whiskies of Scotland.

From this list I have selected the following exceptional whiskies to add to our list.

SPEYSIDE

Glendulan Distilled 1981 52.6% £49.95
Mannochmore Distilled 1978 60.3% £54.95

HIGHLAND

Macduff (Glen Deveron) Distilled 1978 57.1% £60.95
Macallan Distilled 1979 54.7%£85.95

RARE MOTHBALLED/CLOSED DISTILLERIES

Milburn Distilled 1983 85% £64.95
North British Grain Whisky Distilled 1974 53.1% £59.95

HART BROTHERS

Hart Brothers is an independently owned family company, originally established in 1962 by the brothers Iain and Donald Hart as a wine and spirit wholesalers as well as whisky blenders.

In 1975 they were joined by Alistair Hart, the former chief blender and director of Whyte & Mackay Limited. It was his responsibility to buy new whisky from various distilleries in order to meet future sales of the Whyte & Mackay brands.

With his expertise, Hart brothers expanded into the bonded warehouse business where they blended and bottled whiskies for many U.K and overseas whisky marketing companies.

During this time they have been able to purchase stocks of aged malt whiskies, some from lesser-known distilleries and distilleries that are no longer in production or have been demolished. These casks were deemed far to good just to blended, and thus they created a list of these malt whiskies for the more discerning drinker.

I have chosen the following exceptional whiskies from their “Finest Collection”, to compliment our list.

SPEYSIDE

Balmenach 18 year old 43% £45.95
Benrinnes 18 year old 43% £45.95
Benriach 30 year old 49.8% £96.95
Glen Elgin 19 year old 43% £49.95
Glenlivet 23 year old 43% £55.95
Tamdhu 10 year old 43% £25.95

HIGHLAND

Glen Albyn 19 year old 43% £49.95
Glenglassaugh 22 year old 43% £54.95
Teaninch 24 year old 43% £58.95
Tomatin 37 year old 47.2% £115.95

ORKNEY

Highland Park 25 year old 43% £64.95
Highland Park 35 year old 43% £97.95

RARE MOTHBALLED/CLOSED DISTILLERIES

Inchgower 26 year old 49.9% £70.95

CHIEFTAINS CHOICE

Ian Macleod & Co was established in 1936 and now produces in the region of 15 million bottles of Scotch whisky per year. They hold stocks ranging from new distillates through to 50 year old single malts.

It soon became clear that they had some wonderful stock for single cask bottlings that would appeal to the specialist malt drinker, and so the Chieftains choice range was born.

As part of his daily routine Gorge Doctor, the chief blender samples hundreds of casks and is always on the look out for the most interesting casks to add to the range. Together with Antony McCallum, the Rare Malt manager they work together to produce a premium quality product.

We introduced the Chieftains Choice range during Christmas, and quite a few of you have hopefully enjoyed these whiskies over the festive period.

These are the currently available bottlings that I have added to our list.

SPEYSIDE

Glen Lossie Distilled 1992 43% £23.95
Tormore Distilled 1990 Port Wood Finish 53% £35.95

HIGHLAND

Glenturret Distilled 1991 43% £24.95

ISLAY

Caol Ila Distilled 1993 Rum Wood Finish 43%£26.95

RARE MOTHBALLED/CLOSED DISTILLERIES

Banff Distilled 1979 46% £55.95
Brora 20 year old Sherry Wood 46% £48.95
Dallas Dhu Distilled 1980 63.6% £64.95
Scapa Distilled 1979 Sherry Wood 55.6% £61.95

If you would like to order any of these bottlings, please send us an email or give us a call on 0115 911 0555.

FINALLY…………..SPRINGBANK

No whisky newsletter would be complete without a mention of Springbank. There are three releases planned for this year. These are:

Springbank Distiled 1991 Bourbon Wood 46% (March 2004) £47.95
Springbank 15 year old 46% (Available May 2004) £54.95
Springbank 14 year old 46% Port Wood (Oct 2004) £48.95

As you will appreciate demand for these bottlings will be extremely high, thus if you would like to reserve one, please let me know by the 14th February.

Sincerely

Chris Goodrum

Visit Gauntleys of Nottingham at http://www.gauntley-wine.co.uk/

“Stronachie 12 Year Old Single Malt wins yet another award….this time a Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  This precedes the new label format with distillery disclosure and the launch of our 18 Year Old on 27th May….more news to follow!”
 
Best regards
 
Nick White
Managing Director
A Dewar Rattray Ltd, “Whiskies of Distinction”

Mortlach G&M 1938 70yo 46.1%alc. 20cl

Please note that this is a 20cl bottle

Believed to be the oldest Scotch ever bottled!

The 70cl bottle at £10000 will be released soon.

(Loch Fyne Whiskies reports);

A very robust aroma, no difficulty with ageing here at all. Oak first, but then an overture of oak and tobacco, old Victorian Scottishness (gunrooms, worn tartan carpet, tobacco stained paintwork, wet leather and stuff like that). Then the smell that that old-style green garden string has – tarry, and now potting sheds with geraniums. Overall it’s the smell of whisky you recall from you childhood days.

Absolutely marvellous! The list goes on and is probably endless, ooop! here’s a little peat now, oh! and some toffee! Flippin’ heck this is a new experience completely.

It can’t just be suggestion but these ancient whiskies really do drum up evocative images of the time they were made, compare the Springbank 1919 (old army belts), this 1938 has a more Victorian feel, certainly in black & white. Ace.

Hard to place on the flavour map, rich anyway.

Price excluding VAT: £2,127.66
£2,500.00 Including VAT at 17.5%

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

New Glenfarclas 40 Years Old Launched

Glenfarclas have added a new 40 Years Old whisky to their portfolio of premium Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Glenfarclas 40 Years Old has been bottled at 46% vol. from casks filled in the late 1960s, and selected by George S. Grant, Director of Sales and the sixth generation of the family which own and manage the distillery.

With good stocks of casks filled in the 1960s, the distillery is now able to offer whisky with a 40 years old age statement as part of their core range. This whisky will be available worldwide, with a quarter of production destined for North America.
George Grant’s tasting notes for this new expression read: ‘The nose is reminiscent of relaxing in an old leather armchair, while eating walnuts and chocolate-covered raisins. It has a sweet initial taste – orange segments dipped in liquid chocolate – then a lovely flavour of burnt brown sugar at the back of the mouth. The dry finish oozes big tannins and more rich dark cocoa beans. Let this whisky breathe a little or add a drop or two of water to fully open up the dram.’

Glenfarclas 40 Years Old will be formally launched on the 29th April 2010, with a consumer tasting at the distillery during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Places at this unique tasting, hosted by George Grant, are available to book via the festival’s website.
 
Glenfarclas 40 Years Old is presented in the Glenfarclas amber bottle and a ruby gift tube, with a design akin to the Glenfarclas 10 Years Old. By deliberately not over-packaging this old whisky, J. & G. Grant are able to offer the Glenfarclas 40 Years Old at a competitive UK recommended retail price of GBP 350.00. As George Grant explained, ‘Compared to other whiskies of a similar age, this has been priced to open and enjoy.’ 
 
For those looking to try before purchasing a bottle, The Coburg Bar at the Connaught Hotel, in London’s Mayfair, and the Mash Tun Pub in Aberlour, Speyside, are already offering drinkers the chance to enjoy this exceptional whisky by the dram.

Glenfarclas
Email: info@glenfarclas.co.uk
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glenfarclas/
Tel: +44 (0) 1807 500257
Fax: +44 (0) 1807 500234
Address: Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire AB37 9BD, UK

By the time you set off for your summer holidays, we will have launched a whole new range exclusively for Global Travel Retail (which you and I still probably refer to as duty free). After check-in and security, remembering to put your shoes and belt back on, wander round the airport and you’ll be able to gaze in wonder at four new expressions of Highland Park.

I must stop myself here because that’s not the real reason to write to you at the moment. Don’t fret; you’ll find out all about the new range before anyone else.

Because of this new range, the days are numbered for Highland Park 16 year old and 21 year old. Both of these whiskies are being withdrawn so, if you are a fan or a collector, best snap them up while you can. They are available while the small amount of remaining stocks last.

Highland Park 16 year old was Best in Class at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2006. According to Whisky Magazine it is: “Malty, nutty, biscuity, mixed dried fruit (apricots?) Some creamy toffee and the faintest whiff of smoke.”

Highland Park 21 year old is a personal favourite of mine and I will miss it… Plenty to look forward to with the new whiskies, though; details will follow in a few weeks.

Highland Park 16 year old (40%) is available from our secure on-line shop at £49 (1 litre) and £6 (5cl miniature).

Highland Park 21 year old (40%) is available from our secure on-line shop at £80 (70cl) and £7.50 (5cl miniature).

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

Gerry
Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, 2010

The Brandy Library New York will host a Tullibardine single malt scotch whisky Scotch tasting on April 27th from 6 to 8 pm.

For full details contact the Brandy Library

http://www.brandylibrary.com/

Glenrothes NAS (40%, OB, ‘Select Reserve’ +/-2009)

The nose has several ‘whisky characteristics’ which is a good start; light floral/heather notes, cereals, pizza dough, vague hints of damp card board and toffee. There is also some fruit and some good oak notes. With more time in the glass it opens up to reveal more of the malt/cereals. The damp cardboard has now evolved into a gentle acetone and Marmite characteristic followed by some ‘green’ notes. The taste is good, strong along with some fruit, hints of the Marmite, malt and some really good sweetness (fire weed honey and toffee) but not over whelming. The finish is mildly bitter at first but some oak spice, sweetness and green malt soon take over. The finish is quite long and towards the end it has a brandy like quality inter mixed with green malt.

Good fun.

Score 81

EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP NAMED “OFFICIAL DRINK OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY®”

Consumers will have chance to submit artwork to be featured on 2011 commemorative bottle

Louisville, Ky (April 20, 2010) – For the past 23 years, the Early Times Mint Julep has proudly served as the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby®.”  In celebration of this, Early Times Kentucky Whisky continues its tradition with the release of the 2010 commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle.

The 2010 Early Times Mint Julep commemorative bottle holds special significance as the 11th and final in a series of paintings by the inimitable Celeste Susany, whose creations have graced the bottle every year since Kentucky Derby 126. In this year’s masterwork, entitled “A Golden Moment,” Susany adopts a more impressionistic style to capture the essence of this grand race. The scene spotlights the field of contenders galloping along the back stretch while the twin spires stand majestically in the background.

“Celeste’s work captures the true essence and emotion of Derby day and we’ve been so very fortunate to have her as our artist for the past 11 years,” said Joe Murray, Brand Manager for Early Times Kentucky Whisky. “The Early Times Mint Julep bottle has truly become a collectible among art, horse racing and whisky fans and is a must-have for Derby parties as the perfect way to serve a delicious mint julep in less than ten seconds.”

With 2010 marking Susany’s final year of doing the artwork for the commemorative bottle, Early Times is giving consumers the opportunity to submit their artwork for the chance to be featured on the 2011 Kentucky Derby bottle. Beginning April 20, consumers can log onto www.earlytimes.com/etmjartistsearch to submit their “What Derby Means to Me” artwork, as well as to see official rules and contest details.  The winner will win a VIP trip for two to the 2011 Kentucky Derby, $5000 in cash, along with having their artwork featured on the 2011 Early Times Mint Julep bottle.

 “It has been an honor to have the opportunity to do the artwork for the Early Times Mint Julep bottle for the past 11 years,” added Susany. “It’s time to give another artist the chance to have their work displayed for horse racing fans to collect and enjoy.”

During this year’s Derby week, more than 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are expected to be served at Churchill Downs®. Over the past 23 years, more than 2.5 million Early Times Mint Juleps have been served between Kentucky Oaks® and Derby Days at Churchill Downs. This year’s Kentucky Derby will take place Saturday, May 1, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Launching in April 2010, the newly labeled one-liter pre-mix bottle will be available in limited quantities throughout the United States for a suggested retail price of $14.99.

About Celeste Susany:

Celeste Susany was born in eastern Ohio in 1952. She spent a large portion of her life around horses in Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar, California. She received her degree from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Susany received recognition as a top American artist in the book Racing in Art, by John Fairley, published in 1990. She produced artwork in 1989, 1990, and 1996 for the Kentucky Derby.

About Early Times Kentucky Whisky:

Early Times Kentucky Whisky, 40% ABV, is the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby” made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Early Times Kentucky Whisky is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman Corporation, a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Old Forester, Fetzer Wines and Korbel California Champagnes.  Early Times reminds you to drink responsibly. For more information on Early Times Kentucky Whisky visit www.earlytimes.com.

About Churchill Downs®:

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010 and the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, 2010. The track will conduct its 2010 Spring Meet from Saturday, April 24, through Sunday, July 4.  Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.

Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

GLENFIDDICH 40yo

The sixth release of 40yo created using the remnant vatting system
Matured in oak casks for at least 40 years.

Bottles are individually numbered, signed, sealed with wax security tag &
inlaid with a copper badge.

The outer packaging consists of a calf leather case complete with loch
and key & matching leather-bound book detailing the whisky’s history
Includes space for personal tasting notes.

Nose
Beautifully rich with layer upon layer of dried fruits, dark chocolate,
roasted coffee and ripe black cherries and occasional notes of
gentle wood smoke, polished leather and cloves.
Taste
Silky smooth and luxurious with initial flavours of intense dried fruits,
Christmas cake, dates, raisins and stewed apples which are later
taken over by slightly dryish oak and some bitter chocolate notes
with a mere hint of peat.
Finish
Incredibly long lasting and complex.

World Wide Release 600
U.K. Release 24
SRP £1700.00