WHISKY ON THE HUDSON
August 26, 2010, 7:00-10:30
Pier 59, West 23rd Street New York, NY

Join us for the Whisky on the Hudson, one of the premier whisky events in the Tri-State Area. We host Whiskey enthusiasts enjoy the opportunity to sample from more than 150 rare and exclusive whiskies,  by distillery managers and master blenders from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Japan.

Boarding Time: 7:00-7:30
Sail Time: 7:30-10:30

SHIP : CORNUCOPIA MAJESTY

Last chance for tickets http://www.whiskyguild.com/tasting_dc.html

Item Number 300456699703

An opportunity for the collector of rare and unusual whisky bottles. Bottle No1 of 222 bottles taken from cask No. 6966, a 28 yo hogshead of Inchgower distilled on the 30th of June 1982 and bottled on the 5th of August 2010 at cask strength 50.7% abv.  It was bottled by the lads at Bladnoch Distillery ably assisted by Ralfy whilst all the time continuing to run his video camera. Although Raymond and Ralfy have both signed the bottle, Raymond takes no responsibility for the angle at which Ralfy applied the label, no alcohol having been consumed during the filming.

The bottling process has been recorded for posterity in one of Ralfy’s famous UTube videos and the proceeds will go to a local old folks charity in Wigtown, so bid as generously as you can (a very old Wigtown Charity called the Wigtown Players who provide Christmas dinner for old folk).

To view the bottling process at Bladnoch visit;  http://whiskyreviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/bladnoch-forum-bottling-factory.html

To view the ebay auction visit;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/28yo-Inchgower-UTube-bottle-signed-Ralfy-Raymond-/300456699703?pt=UK_Collectables_Bottle_Pots_ET

Ralfy & Raymond

In a burst of energy Ralfy is dashing around Scotland; “just recorded a three-part at Daftmill with Francis to go on-line later this year, included a warehouse nosing review! … interesting stuff !” and “New this week at www.ralfy.com  …whisky review #146 – Penderyn Welsh Whisky“. (Yes, we know Penderyn is not in Scotland).

“Also look out for three Flash-Vlogs relating to the unique Bladnoch Forum Inchgower on e-bay ! (This is part of the ‘Scotland dashing’).

Blended Scotch Whisky On Sale

J & B Rare 70cl Save £3 Was £16.99  Now £13.99
Monkey Shoulder 70cl Save £3 Was £22.99 Now £19.99

Scotch Whisky MALTS On Sale

Malt of the Month (when it’s gone, it’s gone…)
Aberlour 10yo 70cl Save £7 Was £26.99 Now £19.99

Cragganmore 12yo 70cl Save £5 £29.99 £24.99
Glenkinchie 12yo 70cl Save £6 £32.99 £26.99
Talisker 10yo 70cl Save £5 £33.99 £28.99
Singleton Dufftown 12yo 70cl Save £6 £33.99 £27.99

Information below about some of the tastings going on in the Edinburgh stores as part of the Edinburgh festival.

(From Rebecca at Oddbins);

Our Royal Mile store will be holding in-branch tastings, which are free of charge. Malt suppliers will be coming to each of the tastings and showing their malts, so do feel free to pop along and sample. The store is having malt tastings every day except Sundays, until the 5th of September. They take place in the afternoons between 1 and 5pm. I have included their address and phone number; do feel free to contact them (or Annabelle and I) with any questions::

Royal Mile Store
223 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1PE
0131 220 3516

In addition, our Queensferry Street store is holding a paid malt tasting tomorrow at 7:30pm (August 25th). It takes place at the address below and the tickets are £15:

The Magnum
1 Albany Street
EH1 3PY

For any any further details, please feel free to call the store on 01312267589.

Finally, please see below a selection of additional malts on promotion for the Edinburgh festival. This promotion will run until the 12th of September and will apply to all Scottish stores.

Caol Ila 12yo, £26.99, reduced from £31.99, save £5

AnCnoc 16yo, £32.99, reduced from £42.99, save £10

Old Pulteney 17yo, £39.99, reduced from £49.99, save £10

Macallan Fine Oak 10yo, £24.99, reduced from £29.99, save £5

AnCnoc 12yo, £22.99, reduced from £27.99, save £5

Benriach 15yo, £31.99, reduced from £36.99, save £5

Dalwhinnie 15yo, £28.99, reduced from £33.99, save £5

Glenkinchie 12yo, £26.99, reduced from £32.99, save £6

BUSHMILLS MASTER DISTILLER ANNOUNCES FINAL NINE IN GLOBAL CHALLENGE
 
Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan today announced the names of the nine contenders who will represent their countries in the international finals of a Bushmills Irish Whiskey® competition that has attracted the interest of tens of thousands of people around the globe.
 
The finalists from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, South Africa, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria will be competing for their chance of glory in the Make it at Bushmills finals later this month. The overall winner will be announced on Thursday 26 August at an awards dinner in the village of Bushmills on Ireland’s stunning north coast.
 
The line-up for the finals was decided by votes, cast by members of the public, on Facebook, for the hundreds of contenders who originally entered the competition. Launched in the New York Stock Exchange on St Patrick’s Day, it offers a prize of a 30 day stay in Bushmills, a chance to be the first person ever from outside the distillery staff to create a new blend of one of the world’s best loved Irish whiskeys, a month’s luxury penthouse accommodation in Ireland and £5,000 spending money.
 
The overall winner will be selected following a two-day ‘Bushcamp’ later this month when contestants will face the Master’s Challenge – a test of skill set by Master Distiller Colum Egan. The performance of the contenders will be judged by a panel that includes Irish rugby legend, Keith Wood and Foy Vance, one of Ireland’s most respected singer-songwriters.
 
Congratulating the shortlisted contenders, Colum Egan said:
 
“All of the finalists have done a fantastic job to make it this far – they have already won their place at Bushcamp. Their character, sense of humour and passion for life are what inspired people to vote for them. I have no doubt these qualities will be tested at Bushcamp when all nine contenders attempt to prove to us they have what it takes to make it at Bushmills.
 
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest Make it at Bushmills has generated and it’s been fantastic to see the competition talked about in blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV shows all around the world.
 
“The strong international interest in Bushmills is further reflected in the fact that since creating our first official Bushmills Global Facebook page earlier this year, it has attracted more than 30,000 fans, making it the world’s second biggest Irish Whiskey Facebook site,” adds Colum.
 
The finalists’ progress at Bushcamp will be charted on-line from 25-26 August at the Bushmills Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608.
 
NOTES 
 
The nine finalists for the Make it at Bushmills Challenge are:
Ivan Ivanov – Bulgaria
Koen Cassiers – Belgium
Loïk Tavernier – France
Sietse Offringa – Netherlands
Allister Brown – Northern Ireland
Kevin O’Sullivan – Republic of Ireland
Lance Ralph – South Africa
Nick Ord – United Kingdom
Joshua Wortman – United States

The Old Bushmills Distillery: The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim.

Macallan 18yo (43%, OB, -/-2009)

“Exclusively Matured In Selected Sherry Oak Casks From Jerez, Spain” On the nose there is Christmas cake, toffee, plump brandy soaked raisins and fruit cake. There are also loads of sherry and hints of cinnamon, heather and clove with oak notes in the back ground. A very nice collection of aromas that work well together. The taste is strong at first with sherry and cocoa along with the wood notes and the Christmas cake. Spicy. Loads of sherry, this is a big sherries dram and quite so. The finish is once again of sherry and the oak, it’s long and sweet at first but the finish soon changes to dryness and some hints of malt pop up. A really nice finish to be sure.

A big sherried whisky to be sure with good depth.

C$250

Score 87 points

The Tolbooth Tavern

All whisky tastings take place on Thursday nights from 7:30pm until approximately 10pm at the Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotchland. You’ll find this location on Google Maps at the bottom of the page.

Tickets : £17*/20 or when a tasting’s theme requires buying more expensive bottles the increase will be reflected proportionally in the ticket price.

At least 5 drams, cask strength being the preferred option when a choice is available and affordable.

Refunds only possible if tasting not sold out or if ticket can be resold.

The tastings aim to inform and entertain. The relaxed approach is still structured and props are used so the tastes and smells of the various influences on production can be experienced first hand, for example there will be the opportunity to smell and/or taste both malted and un-malted barley, yeast and new make spirit.

The tasting usually ends with a raffle where every entrant wins a miniature’s worth of whisky left over from previous tastings, entry to the raffle is an additional £2 and any further donations being collected for World Vision’s ‘Sponsor a Child’ scheme (we’ve collected more than £1500 to date).

All tastings include oatcakes, shortbread and chocolates. The Tollbooth offers meals up to the time of tasting.

ENTRY BY PREPAID TICKET ONLY – prices from £17* *first timers & members discount, 13 month membership = £10, 2nd year’s membership £5 then all subsequent years free. Want to taste the whiskies but can’t attend? We can bottle them for you to take away. Empty minis always appreciated.

Thursday September 2nd Old/Sherried/Peaty/Rare/Unusual

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)

http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/

The Auchentoshan Introduction to Whisky
with Tom Jones in the Kilpatrick Suite

Participants will have the chance to taste the Auchentoshan core range as well as being given a demonstration of the effect various casks selected have on the new make Auchentoshan spirit. Hosted by Auchentoshan’s European Brand Ambassador Tom Jones.

From 11.30am – 12.30pm and 4pm – 5pm
£20 per person

Match Made in Heaven
Auchentoshan and Chocolate with Martine Nouet in the Kilpatrick Suite

Hosted by Martine Nouet, the editor of the French edition of “Whisky Magazine”. Martine’s area of expertise lies in both food and whisky, making her the ideal tutor to take you through this Chocolate and Whisky pairing class. Participants will sample a selection of the Auchentoshan range, all matched individually with handmade Scottish chocolates from the Islay Chocolate Company.

From 1pm – 2pm
£35 per person

Vintage Master Class
with Iain McCallum in the Blenders Room

A unique opportunity to sample some of the finest limited editions from Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch under the guidance of Morrison Bowmore’s highly acclaimed Senior Blender Iain McCallum. Such archive whiskies will include Gold Bowmore, Auchentoshan 1957 and the most recent edition to Auchentoshan’s limited edition collection, a Sherry Matured 1977 a rare release of only 240 bottles.

From 3pm – 4pm
£100 per person

2010 Festival Bottlings
 
1998 Limited Edition
£50.00
Auchentoshan’s Head Distiller Jeremy Stephens has hand selected the first two hundred bottles of this year’s limited edition release. A 1998 cask strength, Sherry Matured expression, bottled specially for the 2010 festival. Each bottle is hand numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jeremy.

Bottle Your Own
70cl £75.00, 20cl £25.00
A visit to this year’s festival will offer you chance to bottle your own Auchentoshan straight from the cask. Your bottle will be filled from a cask which has been specifically selected due to its excellent quality, exceptional flavours and to commemorate this years festival. The ultimate souvenir

For complete details on all activities visit http://www.auchentoshan.co.uk/festival/index.html

Ever have one of those conversations that seems like just a few minutes, until you look at the clock and realize it’s gone on for a long time? That sums up my chat this week with Robin Blackadder, the “nom du whisky” for Blackadder bottler Robin Toucek. We discussed everything from how he picks single casks to whisky festivals, politics, and small animals, and you’ll hear our chat in this week’s episode. In the news, Dr. Martin Tangney of Edinburgh Napier University explains his new technique for turning distillery waste into usable biofuel, along with details on new whiskies and auction results for old ones.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

So the secret is out! We are broadcasting our fourth web show live from inside the Harvey’s Bodegas in Jerez, Andalusia, Spain on Thursday 23rd September 2010 at 20:00 Eastern Central Time(ECT). Please bookmark it in your diaries as it really will be our best show yet.

As you all know last year’s show was broadcast live from the Makers Mark distillery in Kentucky. This was because our two best selling expressions, 10 year old and Quarter Cask are matured exclusively in Bourbon casks. However this is only part of the Laphroaig story. We have been using the finest Sherry casks from Spain since our inception nearly 200 years ago and still use them to this day as they impart a completely different flavour to our spirit.

During the show we will be comparing classic bourbon matured Laphroaig –in this case Quarter Cask, with three other Laphroaig expressions. Our new Triple Wood which enjoys its third maturation in Spanish Oak, our cask strength 25 year old which uses both Fino and Oloroso sherry Butts in its maturation and a very special third, exclusively Oloroso matured expression – but you will have to watch the programme to find out more about this one!

Joining me on the panel this year are three good friends. Firstly, someone who will need no introduction to our American Friends of Laphroaig: Simon Brooking, our American Ambassador. I am also delighted to say that Jose Antonio Souto my opposite number, in charge of all Domecq and Harvey’s Sherries has agreed to join us. There is nothing Jose does not know about sherry, but he is also a keen whisky enthusiast –so who better to taste Laphroaig that has been sleeping in his very own barrels! Finally – one of you, a Friend of Laphroaig! He is from Italy and his name is Diego Sandrin. I have known Diego many years. He is famous for his music both as a singer and a songwriter indeed he has even co-written songs with Lisa Marie Presley. What people may not know is that he is an avid whisky enthusiast and has even blended some very fine expressions of Laphroaig himself.

Many of you wrote in saying how much you enjoyed our special food recipes on last year’s broadcast so we are delighted that one of Jerez’s finest chefs will be preparing some brand new tapas recipes especially designed to go with Laphroaig and Sherries. It’s going to be a fun evening I am certain.

Would you like to join us? Of course I understand that the vast majority of our 400,000 friends are spread around the Globe and will watch the show via the website, but, I will be holding our second official “Laphroaig Gathering” with a little “Ceilidh” (party) right after the broadcast. If you are in the area or can make the journey to Jerez, please let us know by e mail by September 5th 2010 as we will be preparing tapas (and whisky of course) and need to know rough numbers. We will then send you the exact address.

The broadcast on September 23rd will be 7.00PM UK time, which is 8.00PM Central European time. The website link for the Laphroaig live webcast will be www.laphroaig.com/live.  I have added a link on this page to a site where you can check what time that is in your country.

If you have any questions about the event just post them to either the chat site on our website or on our official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/laphroaig) and I will try to answer them all. I will write again closer to the time with more details, but look forward to joining with you all on this very special “Spanish” evening.

Slàinte,

John Campbell

Friends of Laphroaig web site

To access the private Friends of Laphroaig web site, use the link below:
http://www.laphroaig.com/friends

Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll, PA42 7DU, Tel. 01496 302418

Enjoy responsibly – http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

D Johnston & Company (Laphroaig) Ltd, 310 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, registered in the United Kingdom, registration number SC028072