* Maltstock special *

20% discount on selected Ian Gray paintings   

Ian Gray is a Scotsman, based in Germany who travels the whisky world with his outstanding work.  Known for his Scottish landscapes and paintings of Scottish and American distilleries, Ian works with photography, oils and impasto to create photorealism with a twist. Commissions for his work hang in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh, Ardbeg Distillery, Glenfarclas Distillery and the George Washington Museum at Mount Vernon,Virginia. His collectors include Glenmorangie, Citibank, The American Distillers Council, State of Singapore, BYC Germany and many private collectors!

20% Discount
Get your Ian Gray print now with a very special Maltstock discount. Normally the prints are € 75,- each. Until Maltstock you can buy them for just € 60,- each. A 20% discount!

To order simply go to the Maltstock website and visit the “specials”in the Maltstock shop. Or click here to go to the shop directly. http://www.maltstock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=38

Visit Ian gray and his wondeful art at http://www2.clikpic.com/derendorf1/index.html

From TWE Staff;

We are very pleased to announce that we now have some exciting new whiskies in our casks at The Whisky Exchange Vinopolis.

The current line-up consists of:

• Arras NAS / 57.8% / Blended Malt
• Speyside 1993 / 60.6% / Speyside Single Malt
• Bunnahabhain 1997 / Heavily Peated / 56.8% Islay Single Malt
• Craigellachie 1997 / 58.1% / Speyside Single Malt

So feel free to come down and have a little try

Whisky review #139 – Jura 15yo single cask at  www.ralfy.com   ‘whiskyreviews’

‘cos ralfy’s here to be helpful !

Weekly Liquor Specials

Canadian Club 1.75L…$16.99
Canadian LTD 1.75L…$10.99
Chivas Regal…$19.99
Dewar’s White Label 1.75L…$28.99
Jack Daniels 1.75L…$34.99
Jim Beam 1.75L…$21.99
Johnnie Walker Black…$26.99
Johnnie Walker Red 1.75L…$27.99
Seagram’s 7 Crown 1.75L…$16.99

Don’t forget to use your Binny’s Card! Get discounts on mixed case wine purchases and work towards a 2% rebate on every $500 of eligible purchases. Get your free card at a Binny’s near you.

Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com

The Brewery

The Ultimate Tasting Experience

The Whisky Show is the UK’s most important whisky tasting event, showcasing the very finest examples of the distiller’s art. The inaugural event, held in 2009 at London’s Guildhall, was attended by an international audience of visitors from as far afield as Hong Kong, the USA, India and Japan, as well as passionate aficionados from all over Europe.

This year’s event will be taking place at a bigger venue – The Brewery in London’s Barbican at the heart of the City – to accommodate the increased demand generated by the rave reviews the inaugural Show received, which created a global buzz within the whisky industry. A dedicated Whisky & Food Matching area has been added – and once more all tasting samples, food pairings and a hearty two course meal will be included in the ticket price.

• The Whisky Show is a luxury whisky event that showcases the finest examples of the distiller’s art to city professionals and fine whisky consumers alike.
• After the roaring success of 2009’s inaugural event, this year’s expanded Show is taking place at The Brewery in London on 29th-30th October 2010.
• Focusing on premium whiskies above each brand’s standard expression (longer-aged whisky, new releases and special bottlings).
• Generous portions of luxury whisky-themed food in the Whisky Diner.
• Two bars serving delicious whisky cocktails.
• A range of delicious food-pairing suggestions, with the new addition this year of a dedicated Whisky and Food-Matching room at the event.
• Sensational Masterclass tastings, hosted by some of the most famous names in the industry and featuring some truly spectacular whiskies well above the standard fare offered at other whisky shows. Confirmed exhibitors at The Whisky Show 2010 include Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, Springbank, Glenfiddich, Laphroaig and Johnnie Walker.

Full details of all exhibitors are available on the regularly-updated Show website www.thewhiskyshow.com.

Standard tickets for The Whisky Show are priced at £95 and include:

• Entry to the event and a free tasting glass.
• Free samples of any exhibited whisky – there is no voucher system at The Whisky Show.
• A hearty two-course meal at The Whisky Diner.
• Access to the Whisky and Food-Matching room and free samples of the featured pairings.
For more details on all aspects of The Whisky Show, please visit our website: www.thewhiskyshow.com.

Visitor testimonials

“Your event was fabulous. Very enjoyable, educational and the most civilised of shows.”

“Well I went to the show on the Friday with a friend and all I can say is WOW. I have been to many whisky events and that was far the best. It was in another league.”

Confirmed Exhibitors include:

A full list of sponsors and exhibitors at the Show is available at www.thewhiskyshow.com
______________________________________________________________________

NOTES

The Whisky Show is about helping whisky fans to develop an understanding and appreciation of this complex spirit – particularly useful for the enthusiastic amateur. Exhibitors fully understand that many visitors to the show are not aficionados and present their brands accordingly. The Whisky Show truly lives up to its tag as The Ultimate Tasting Event. In 2009, dozens of extraspecial ultra-premium whiskies – some with price tags in the thousands of pounds – were available for visitors to taste free of charge, with all samples included in the price of admission. The range
and quality of the whiskies at the Show was unprecedented, and was far superior to any previous whisky festival in the UK. The Whisky Show offers a fantastic opportunity to the knowledgeable connoisseur and potential investor, as well as the passionate whisky fan wanting to learn more. The aim of the Show is to create a superb atmosphere – a world away from the stressed, workaday nature of many other whisky festivals. The Whisky Show unequivocally promotes and encourages responsible drinking by all visitors to the Show. Perhaps uniquely for a whisky tasting event, the organisers have gone to great lengths to stress quality over quantity and consumption in moderation. The Whisky Show is all about appreciation of the world’s finest spirit. More details and a full list of sponsors and exhibitors at the Show are available at www.thewhiskyshow.com. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of The Whisky Show, please contact Graeme Wallace at Graeme@thewhiskyshow.com.

The Whisky Show is organised by whisky book publishers GW Publishing (www.gwpublishing.com) and The Whisky Exchange (www.thewhiskyexchange.com), the world’s leading whisky specialist. For further information please contact Graeme Wallace at Graeme@thewhiskyshow.com Visit The Whisky Show 2009 picture Gallery
www.thewhiskyshow.com/2009/picture-gallery

TheWhiskyShow.com – Tel: +44 (0)208 838 9388

Scottish Whisky Tour Specialists

MCLEANSCOTLAND recently undertook a huge Scottish tour for a client from Russia, shown below is the feedback after the tour from that same Russian guest;

“Paul, I think it was really the best vacation of mine – ever.  This was a VERY impressive tour – lots of great sightseeing places of Scotland, beautiful castles and the most important – wonderful 36 whisky distilleries (with 21 full-scale distillery tours – I have counted them all ! )!  Lots of fun, tasty meals (especially legendary haggis), magnificent drams of true scotch and a very lovely and friendly atmosphere.  The tour was truly fabulous – perfectly planned, greatly executed, every little detail was considered.  Oh, aye, I really enjoyed your birthday – slighly crazy restaurant party, but very nice!   Of cause, I liked very much Islay trip with Lamont, he was a very funny and very knowledgeable man who knew everything and everyone in Islay, and the tour around Scotland with you, Paul, was TRULY SUPERB – I think it was fantastic what I have seen and tried during those 6 days! This was a whisky tour of my dream – a trully marvelous experience for a true whisky lover like me !!! (remember the Dufftown distillery visit?!!)   And I very much apperciate your highly professional approach, your vast historical and folklore knowledge, your lovely sence of humour.  I would have no hesitations in recommending mcleanscotland as the best Scotland tour operator (esp. whisky tour!), with you and Liz !  I look forward to visiting Scotland with my wife next year again – and only on YOUR tour!  Slainte mhath !!!”

Could you place this message on your web-site, please?

Kind regards,
Timofei Prokopov
CFO, Vice President
Finance & Investments
OAO “Protek”
Russia”

MCLEANSCOTLAND are recognised as one of the best (if not the best) whisky tour companies in Scotland. With vast experience and untold knowledge of the whisky industry, they design whisky tours to suit the client and then add a wee bit more fun into the blend; special tastings, educational trips, whisky dinners and distillery tours, a blend of golf & whisky, sightseeing, historical sites, not only that, allow them to look after all your needs!

www.mcleanscotland.com

Lord Robertson (the other Lord of the Isles) Single Cask bottling released!

Lord Robertson Single Cask bottling in support of Erskine

Ardbeg single cask bottlings don’t appear often, but this one is particularly special. In 2000, to commemorate the distillery visit of then NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson (native of Port Ellen), cask number 1217 was laid down.

10 years on, this special cask has been bottled. The outturn was just 202 bottles. And each and every one has been hand signed by Lord Robertson. They will be available in the online Shop on Wednesday the 7th July from 9am.

All proceeds from the sale of these rare bottles will go to Erskine, a worthy charity supported by Lord Robertson, which provides nursing and medical care for former members of the Armed Forces. Find out more about Lord Robertson single cask including tasting notes http://www.ardbeg.com/shop/lord-robertson.html

Lord Robertson Single Cask
 
• 70cl
• Single Cask 1217 from the year 2000
• Non chill-filtered
• Hand-signed by Lord Robertson
• All proceeds donated to Erskine
• Just 202 bottles available from
  Wednesday the 7th of July
• 1 per member only!

Description

Tasting Notes

The whisky has a superb complexity and incredible finesse and balance. The peat is sophisticated and sweet with chocolate and toffee, smoky violets and creamy meringue with cherry pie, clove and star anise. The palate is dark and deep yet also sensuous and gentle – peat smoke, sweet barley and cocoa.

A mighty whisky with supreme delicacy.

Background

This rare Ardbeg single cask bottling was laid down 10 years ago to commemorate the distillery visit of Lord Robertson, formerly NATO secretary general.

Born in Port Ellen, Lord Robertson could be considered the original Lord of the Isles and is an Ileach through and through. He has hand signed all 202 bottles from this special cask.

As a dedicated supporter of Erskine, the charity that cares for ex-service men and women, all proceeds from the sale of Lord Robertson’s Single Cask bottling will be donated to this worthy charity.

http://www.ardbeg.com/distillery/didyouhear/lord-robertson

Eades Double Malt Whisky is now available here in Virginia as well as DC, Maryland and Delaware. We’ve launched the Second Editions of our Eades Double Malt Whiskies — Islay, Speyside and Highland — now top restaurants and bars are starting to carry the products with many more to come. We hope you’ll try our whiskies, and please let us know what you think. We’re eager to hear back from malt drinkers everywhere.

 
New VDC Website Goes Live

Join us online at the new Virginia Distillery Company (VDC) website. It includes indepth Whisky information and the story of our company. You’ll also be able to find where to buy our Eades Double Malt Whisky as well as where to join us for free tastings. Our blog contains weekly updates and news for whisky drinkers as well. Let us hear from you! Click on the image below for the new site or go to www.vadistillery.com.

Whisky Tasting Dates

All of the Jolly Toper’s whisky tastings take place on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until approximately 10pm at the Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, meals available up to the time of the tastings.

Future dates:-

8.7.10 Theme : bottled at the distillery- taken directly from a cask for distillery visitors. £26/23*

Longrow Shiraz hogshead 08.01 – 20.05.10 8yo 58.5% 414 bottles

Aberlour first fill Bourbon cask 27.06.95 – 12.03.10 14yo 63.3%

Benromach Bourbon cask 01.05.10 – 03.05.10 10yo 60.1% first fill Boubon barrel

Bruichladdich Feis Ile fresh sherry butt Islay barley 2004 – 2010 57.5%

Old Pulteney 1990 2010 19yo 57.4% Bourbon cas

22.7.10 Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c. including:-

Rare Ayrshire (Ladyburn) 1975 45.2% Signatory

Laphroaig Cairdeas (11yo to 19yo) 2010 Feis Ile 57.3%

Bladnoch 03.03.2001 – 20.01.2010 8yo single sherry butt 55.0% (possibly)

something unusual

something else

+ a mystery dram (probably)

Thursday September 2nd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c

Thursday September 16th old Caol Ila £t.b.c.

25yo 43% Diageo,

25yo 55.2% Cadenheads

25yo 54.1% Bladnoch Forum

30yo 54.2% Bladnoch Forum

another 25yo+

Thursday September 30th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday October 14th Longmorn £t.b.c.

official 15yo 45%

Duthies 19yo 46%

12yo 53.4% Bladnoch Forum

1971 43% Gordon and MacPhail

another

Thursday October 28th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday November 11th World whiskies No. 3 £t.b.c.

Millstone 8yo 43% (Holland)

Kilbeggan 15yo (Ireland)

Weidenauer (Austria)

Eddu Silver (France)

2 others

Thursday November 25th Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Thursday December 9th non-Islay peaty drams £t.b.c.

Caperdonich 10yo 58.5% The Whisky Exchange

Talisker 53.9% from distillery only

Longrow

two others

Thursday December 23rd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual £t.b.c.

Future tastings:-

Peaty blends 40% : date and price tbc

Islay Mist
Islay Hallmark 8yo
Black Bottle 10yo
Black Grouse
Black Bottle
plus a special guest (Brora or Port Ellen)

Visit the Jolly Toper at http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/

For Medicinal Purposes Only

…is an excuse dressed up as a joke that barely pauses to wink at the truth.

Clearly there are no obvious or demonstrable health benefits to be gained from drinking whisky but this hasn’t stopped generations of whisky drinkers pouring themselves a dram and with a wink, insisting that it is: “for medicinal purposes only, honest.”.

In this month’s Whisky Traditions we explore how this reputation as a curative has played a significant role in the history of whisky and invite you to share your own experiences of this popular myth at http://www.tastetheglenlivet.co.uk/

The single malt that started it all