Sample Bottle

 

 

Tomatin 30yo (43%, Classic Cask, +/- 2005)

A single cask bottling for “The Classic Cask” and imported into the USA by Spirit Imports which are the same nice people who operate the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. The nose is spirity at first but this quickly evolves a very nicely fragrant collection of aromas; heather, roses and some light pine. Then there is a good back ground of resin, coffee grounds (cold & not espresso but American standard or institutional grind), there’s also some good oak spice and vanilla. After 30 years the oak has not dominated the aroma. The taste is vibrant, spicy and solid with some good wood notes from the oak contributing very well to the taste. There is also some tinned tree fruit and toffee but the later is merely an accompaniment rather than dominant. The spice is really very nice and there is something akin to mildly smoked ham or even smoke honey. In any case it helps out nicely. The finish is spicy, fruity and long and after a short while some really excellent cocoa and malt comes crashing to the fore.

What an excellent dram! The down side of single cask bottlings; there’s only a finite quantity available.

$225

89 points.

The fourth in series of Scotch whisky reviews this week that feature samples from 24 years of age to 41 years of age.

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks Bruichladdich Octomore 3_152 5yo OB 59%Abv.

LFW reports; This release of Bruichladdich’s peatiest-ever whisky variant which just got peatier! A fall in the alcohol strength to 59% seems to have raised the measured phenols to 152ppm, up from 140, but who cares about these stupid numbers? What’s it like?

Peaty, like the others but unlike the Orpheus (2.2) the oiliness is reduced, giving a less cordial impression, and better for it I think.

A nose that is very clean and pretty peaty with fruit for those with time and patience. Once over the gums there is an instant bright flash of peat which settles allowing the fruit and malted barley to surface. There is tremendous power but it’s safe and comfortable, you’re well strapped in. The finish is particularly long with a bitterness to remind you you’ve been there and survived!

A peaty ace and on the Flavour Map I have it in square B10, because there’s no B11 Light & Smoky.

Bruichladdich Octomore 3_152 5 year old
Barcode: 618105002067

Price excluding VAT: £69.36
£81.50 Including VAT at 17.5%

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

THEY’RE BACK!!!

Already lined up for this year…whisky before study

BALVENIE
SPRINGBANK
ARDMORE
TOMATIN

and many many more…!

University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Chaplaincy
High Street
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3TT

aberdeenwhisky@googlemail.com

Warehouse 24 has been updated with stories from the distillery and brand new nosing and tasting films.

The latest Inside Story explains why making The Balvenie takes the time it takes, while Letter from Dufftown muses how a rainy summer doesn’t always mean a washout year.

There’s also some news about The Balvenie Forty as well as an intriguing Special Feature about the new limited edition, The Balvenie Peated Cask, explaining how this 17 year-old expression came about.

THE BALVENIE DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED
Registered in Scotland. Registered Number SC138003
Balvenie Maltings, Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland AB55 4BB
See the newest features at www.thebalvenie.com

Sep 16, 2010 11:06 ET Laphroaig® Invites Whisky Fans to Experience a Taste of Scotland With a Flavor of Spain Award-Winning Laphroaig® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Hosts Its Fourth Annual Online Tasting “Distillery LIVE 2010”

DEERFIELD, IL–(Marketwire – September 16, 2010) –  Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch, the most richly flavored of all Scotch whiskies, invites consumers of legal purchase age to discover what Southwestern Spain and the remote Scottish island of Islay have in common during its fourth annual LIVE Webcast on Thursday, September 23. Hosted by Laphroaig Distillery Manager John Campbell, Laphroaig U.S. Brand Ambassador Simon Brooking and Harveys Bristol Cream General Manager Jose Antonio Sauto, “Distillery LIVE 2010” will broadcast live from the Harveys’ Bodegas in Jerez, Spain to celebrate the distinctive taste of Laphroaig expressions that have been matured in Sherry casks.

“I am delighted to host ‘Distillery LIVE 2010’ in Spain with our friends at Harveys,” said Campbell. “This year’s tasting is one that Scotch and Sherry lovers alike can truly appreciate. Online tasting participants will be taken on a tasting journey they will find to be insightful and entertaining.”

By introducing Laphroaig to Sherry casks for maturation, a uniquely rich flavor and hue is added to the whisky, delivering the unmistakable taste of Laphroaig with characteristics of the Sherry. A relatively rare process, industry estimates suggests that less than seven percent of whisky is matured in Sherry casks compared to Bourbon casks.

On September 23 (2:00 p.m. EDT), Campbell, Brooking and Sauto will conduct a 45-minute tasting from Harveys’ Bodegas. International singer/songwriter and Friend of Laphroaig Diego Sandrin will also make a special appearance. The online tasting and educational seminar will provide a closer look into the ‘marriage’ between the Sherried oaky flavors derived from the Oloroso Sherry casks and the sweet flavors from oak bourbon barrels, comparing the flavors of each expression through its maturation process. Featured expressions will include Laphroaig Quarter Cask, newly released Laphroaig Triple Wood, Laphroaig 25 Year Old and a special exclusively Oloroso-matured expression that will also be tasted during the program. Harveys Fino and Oloroso Sherries will also be showcased during the live tasting.

Featured Expressions

Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Double-cask matured in American Oak barrels and newly created quarter casks, Laphroaig Quarter Cask is deep, complex and smoky with a surprising gentle sweetness.

Laphroaig Triple Wood
Enjoying a third maturation in Spanish Oak, Laphroaig Triple Wood brings a gentle mixture of sweet raisins and creamy apricots to the palate with just a trace of the dry peat smoke; the smoother nutty flavors combine all these flavors into one smooth, syrupy whole.

Laphroaig 25 Year Old
Matured in both Fino and Oloroso Sherry Butts during its maturation, Laphroaig 25 Year Old offers a rare combination of bold peat flavor spiced with sweet sherry notes and rich oaky undertones.

Harveys Fino
Matured in very seasoned American Oak Butts, Harveys Fino is a full-bodied dry sherry that features a subtle almond aroma and provides a balanced and round taste to the palate.

Harveys Oloroso
Deep and amber in color, Harveys Oloroso provides a round and velvety finish with an elegant after taste that’s sure to please the palate.

Participants of legal purchase age can download tasting notes and guides and submit their questions in advance at Laphroaig.com. For more information, visit Laphroaig.com/live.

Program Viewing Information

To view “Distillery LIVE 2010” log onto http://live.laphroaig.tv.

About Friends of Laphroaig

The Friends of Laphroaig began in 1994 as a way to communicate news about the distiller and connect with other Laphroaig lovers around the world. Today it has grown to more than 400,000 members from more than 150 countries. Each fan receives a lifetime lease on a square foot of land next to the distillery that they can visit, view online and collect a dram of ‘rent’ for, should they ever visit the island. The members-only section of Laphroaig.com boasts contests, e-cards, chat boards, photo albums, printable personalized business cards and more. Membership is free with proof of purchase of 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 18 Year Old, 25 Year Old, 30 Year Old, Quarter Cask or Cask Strength Laphroaig. New members can register at www.laphroaig.com/friends.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine

Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, EFFEN® Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, Teacher’s® Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper® Cordials and Liqueurs and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43%, 48% and 55.7% alc./vol.
©2010 Laphroaig Import Company, Deerfield, IL

New edition of Malt Whisky Yearbook (2011)

The Distillery Section completely revised with all the latest news:

* The chapter on Foreign Distilleries now bigger than ever.
* New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Charles MacLean, Ian Buxton, Gavin D Smith, Ian Wisniewski, Dominic Roskrow and Hans Offringa.
* Completely new Japanese chapter by Chris Bunting
* More than 100 new tasting notes (a total of 250), including also Japanese malts.
* A detailed and updated chapter on Whisky Production.
* Expanded section on Independent Bottlers.
* Last year´s success, Meet the Manager, continues with ten new interviews.
* The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you´ll find of the news and trends in the industry.
* All the latest info on bottlings, web sites, whisky shops, books as well as the latest statistics and figures.

All in all – the most updated whisky book on the market!

Published by MagDig Media Ltd.
Publication date; 8 October 2010
Number of pages; 276
ISBN 978-0-9552607-7-3
Recommended retail price in UK; £12.95
Contact; ingvar.ronde@magdig.com
www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com

GLENFIDDICH UNVEILS 1978 VINTAGE RESERVE

– – – Pioneering process sees whisky selected via Twitter – – –

Dufftown, 20 September 2010: Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, today announced the release of the Glenfiddich 1978 Vintage Reserve, an exceptional single malt with classic Glenfiddich characteristics. This year’s Vintage Reserve is not only the first released under the stewardship of Glenfiddich’s recently appointed Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, but also the first Vintage Reserve selected via Twitter.

On 9th June 2010, Brian Kinsman was joined online by a global panel of eight influential whisky bloggers and journalists.  The group nosed and tasted four single malts and compared tasting notes via the microblogging site.

Their thoughts and impressions on each sample were tweeted and followed live on http://www.glenfiddichvintagereserve.com, before the panel came to a conclusion and selected cask number 28152 as their favourite.

Cask number 28152, which has a strength of 50.7% ABV, will produce 184 70cl cask-strength bottles which will retail at a RRP of £480.
 
Brian Kinsman, the sixth Malt Master in Glenfiddich’s long and distinguished history, commented: “Selecting this year’s Vintage Reserve was hugely exciting for me. Not only was it my inaugural Vintage Reserve selection, but to use Twitter was truly pioneering. It was fantastic to be able to lead a panel of experts from around the world and select such a wonderful whisky.

“For two hours, we nosed and tasted samples from four pre-selected casks, all of which were filled from the same batch on the same day – 25th September 1978. Despite being filled with identical spirit, each American oak hogshead cask imbued its contents with a distinctive personality and characteristic – producing a truly unique whisky. I’m delighted with the panel’s final decision and it’s great to see cask number 28152 released globally.”

The panel agreed that cask number 28152 has a beautifully balanced nose with the hallmark Glenfiddich single malt pear and fruity character. Summer grass, hints of orange marmalade, green bananas, herbs – thyme and bay leaf – and delicate toffee oak notes shine through. It is velvety smooth to the taste, with rich vanilla oak flavours intriguingly punctuated with a vibrant fruitiness. The addition of a little water accentuates the fruit aspect with distinct citrus and red summer berries notes. Over time the spicy character comes through without ever dominating.  Its finish is long and rich with the signature fruity distillery character leaving a lasting impression.

The full conversation can be viewed on Twitter at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23vintagereserve or at http://www.glenfiddichvintagereserve.com.

The 1978 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve will join the award-winning range of Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whiskies, which also includes Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 18 Year Old, 21 Year Old, 30 Year Old, 40 Year Old, and 50 Year Old.

Notes
 
The Vintage Reserve selection process took place between midday and 2pm (GMT + 1), on Wednesday 9th June 2010
The 2010 panel was made up of eight whisky bloggers from Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA, Canada, Russia, Denmark and India
Ho-Cheng Yao, Taiwan. Twitter: @kingfishertw Blog: Single Malt Lover!
Lucas Dynowiak, UK. Twitter: @EdinburghWhisky Blog: Edinburgh Whisky Blog
Noah Rothbaum, USA. Twitter: @liquordotcom Blog: Liquor.com
Rick McGinnis, Canada. Twitter: @rickmcginnis Blog: Rick McGinnis
Hans-Henrik Hansen, Denmark. Twitter: @hhhglenfiddich
Anish Trivedi, India. Twitter: @anish_trivedi Blog: Raw Spirit
Jerry Lindahl, Sweden. Twitter: @avecprovning Blog: blog.livetsgoda.se &
Herr J. Lindahls avecprovning
Ilya Krasilshchik, Russia. Twitter: @maliar Blog: twitter.com/maliar
Prior to the Vintage Reserve selection process, the panel were sent samples of whisky from four American oak hogshead casks, all filled from the same batch on 25th September 1978.

William Grant & Sons Ltd:

William Grant & Sons is an independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today still controlled by the fifth generation of his family.  The Company distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s favourite single malt Glenfiddich®, the handcrafted range of The Balvenie® single malts and one of the world’s best loved blended Scotches, Grant’s®, as well as selected other spirits, including Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum and Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey® 
 
Visit www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands

Glenfarclas 41yo 1966/2008 (48.1%, SMWS, 1.141, 157 Bts.)

Another excellent opportunity to sample a bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and an elder Glenfarclas too. Once again a Society bottle indicates ‘Cask- Refill Hogshead – ex Bourbon’ so if you have any questions about this combination of casks, address them to the Society.  The undiluted nose is sensational. One is tempted to go no further and nose this for a period however discipline must be maintained. There is both fruit and dusty malt intermingled with ‘old’; wooden musical instruments, hints of clove and quite a bit of vibrancy. Rich cake laced with lots and lots of booze. There are also some hints of cocoa with hints of red chilies (spicy).  With water it holds together nicely however it is better at cask strength. The taste is citrusy with sweetness, the afore mentioned booze soaked cake, some hints of leather and cedar, a little bees wax and a syrupy mouth feel after a moment of two. The taste continues to evolve and it’s very rich and very good. Late arrival of orange and tinned fruit.  Sensational. With water it sweetens considerably and while still very good it is not the vibrant dram as when sampled without water. However it’s still very good. The finish is slightly muted at first but them the cocoa, chilies and orange comes racing back followed by some dryness (but not too much). Again the finish is pleasing, not overly bitter or overly sweet but just right. Some later arrival of oak notes. The finish is very long and after some time there are hints of malt and more of the oak notes.

Sincere thanks to Jane and Tony for this excellent example of Glenfarclas. What a treat.

$ unknown

Score 90 points

New Bottle Style

The third in series of Scotch whisky reviews this week that feature samples from 24 years of age to 41 years of age.

Ledaig 10yo OB 46.3%alc. [NEW STYLE]

(LFW Comments) Half of the whisky made at Tobermory Distillery is heavily peated and sold as “Ledaig Single Malt”. This new-style 10yo is bottled at 46% and free of flavour filtration.

An aroma of peat and must, a suggestion (to me) of smouldering railway sleepers, primarily pure peatiness. The flavour continues the mostly peaty character with some sea-lemon (whatever that is). A warm and dry finish where the Tomermory signature note of cloves pushes through.

Ledaig 10 year old
Price excluding VAT: £25.11
£29.50 Including VAT at 17.5

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

Park Avenue Liquor Shop has spirit for the new Spirits from the U.S.

U-S-A!  U-S-A!  U-S-A!

A lot of exciting spirits from across the United States have recently hit our shelves. New distilleries seem to be popping up in just about every state. DIY distillers  are taking what was once a hobby and turning it into a full time business. Below are some of our favorites from this booze renaissance.

If you have a question about these or any other product we carry, please contact  the store. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Cheers!

Jonathan & Eric
Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com

Kings County Distillery ~ Corn Whiskey

Kings County Distillery is New York City’s first whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Their unaged corn whiskey is double pot-distilled from organic corn grown near the Finger Lakes as well as a little malted Scottish barley. This young, tiny distillery is only capable of producing 2.5 gallons of finished whiskey each day, so each 200ml bottle is rare and precious. The whiskey is unusually smooth and flavorful with aromas of yeast and fresh dough.

$21 per 200ml bottle

Redemption Rye ~ Batch #2

Redemption Rye Batch #2 now in stockComing to us from Indiana, Redemption Rye uses a mash made from 95% premium rye. Its spicy and bold flavor that comes from using high quality ingredients. Redemption Rye is bottled in small batches and aged for longer than the U.S. Government Standards requirement of 2 years in new charred oak barrels. This process gives Redemption  its optimal color and flavor. After the barrels are emptied and filtered, the rye is cut to a healthy 92 proof, bottled and hand numbered.

$28 per bottle.

WhistlePig Straight Rye

Straight Rye Whiskey is a 100 proof, 100 percent rye whiskey, aged for a minimum of 10 years in oak barrels. The whiskey was discovered by Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, who spent more than a year on an exhaustive search of North America for the best rye whiskey. He believes that this embodies  the perfect combination of proof, percent and age — hitting what he calls “the sweet spot” in all three categories. WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey is hand bottled at the WhistlePig Farm Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont and is available in a limited initial offering of only 1,000 cases.

$73 per bottle

Death’s Door ~ White Whisky

This 80 proof wonder is made with organically grown hard red winter wheat from Washington Island and Wisconsin malted barley. It has been doubled distilled, rested, and then aged in new oak barrels for less than 72 hours – not long enough to get color from the barrel. All bottles have been made in small batches, hand filled, sealed and  labeled. On the nose you get notes of sweet fruit and light grain that’s reminiscent of a reposado tequila or a pisco. The taste gives a creamy mouth-feel with sweet, light vanilla tones. This one is a smooth and easy sipper.

$45 per bottle

High West ~ Rendezvous Rye

Rendezvous Rye is named after the first recorded Whiskyfest out West…in Utah.  The “rendezvous” was the annual summer gathering of mountain men to exchange pelts for supplies. This rye is a marriage of two straight rye whiskies: a 6-year old and a 16-year  old both of which have a high rye percentage. This non-chill filtered whiskey is  spicy with notes of cinnamon, crisp mint and fennel. Underlying sweet notes of  caramel, molasses, vanilla and candied fruit enhance Rendezvous’ complexity.

$56 per bottle

2008 Double Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
95 Points from John Hansell of Malt Advocate.
93 Points from Jim Murray’s 2009 Whiskey Bible.

High West ~ Rocky Mountain Rye 21 Year Old

Batch #3 currently available. The Federal Government term for this is “Whiskey Distilled from Rye Mash Stored  21 Years in Re-Used Cooperage.” Translation: This is very rare whiskey aged in USED barrels. The mash is 53% rye, 37% corn and 10% barley malt. John Hansell of Malt  Advocate describes the previous batch as, “One soft, smooth rye whiskey. Gentle  mint, green tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted nuts, glazed fruit and candied corn  all lie on a bed of vanilla and caramel…I could drink this stuff all day long.”

$150 per bottle

High West ~ Silver Whiskey, Western Oat

This a very smooth un-aged oat whiskey made of a mash containing 85% oats and 15% barley malt. We’ve never experienced a ‘nose’ like this on a white whiskey. There are notes of rich vanilla, tropical fruits including banana and coconut. The flavor brings tastes of soft biscuits with berries and vanilla nuttiness. The finish? Ripe Honeydew. Yep. As in, the melon.

$46 per bottle

2010 winner: “Best un-aged whiskey”- American Distilling Institute, Craft Whiskey Competiton Gold medal – International Review of Spirits

Ransom’s ~ WhipperSnapper Oregon Whiskey

WhipperSnapper is a pot distilled, handcrafted whiskey made by dedicated artisans. Aromatically, this whiskey is more similar to a non-peated scotch or irish whiskey. It is made from barley malted in the Pacific Northwest and Willamette Valley in  Oregon and a base of Kentucky corn whitedog. It is then distiled in Sheridan, Oregon. Aging takes place in used French coopered pinot noir barrels, new American coopered whiskey barrels and used American whiskey barrels. It is aged for an average of  1 year. WhipperSnapper is then hand bottled, hand labeled, and hand waxed “without the use of computers or robots”.

$38 per bottle

Due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Please  contact the store with any questions regarding shipping.