Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, Johnnie Walker Blue Label plus Accessory Bag

Johnnie Walker OB Blue Label & Accessory Bag 40%alc.

A special edition with the bottle of Blue Label presented in an accessory bag.

Scotch is one of the world’s greatest currencies, and this is the most prestigeous gift. A blend of whiskies, some reputedly over 65 years old, true to the Walker style full flavoured, well ballanced, impecable.

Price excluding VAT: £123.40
£144.99 Including VAT at 17.5%

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Whisky Dinner This Thursday

Chasing Five Courses With 8 Whiskies!
Martins West Gastro Pub
http://www.martinswestgp.com/grubandgrog.html

Thursday, May 27: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
831 Main St, Redwood City, CA

Join us for a spectacular Whisk(e)y Dinner featuring Compass Box (Scotch) and High West (American).

Martins West is a new Pub in Redwood City establishing itself as a High Quality restaurant and Whisky Bar.

Although it’s called a Pub, the qualifying adjective Gastro, means it is not Pub food. You’ll be impressed by the presentation, quality, and savory delight of the food.

On this evening, you will discover a dimension of sights, smells,  and flavors as we travel through two continents and you enter the Whisk(e)y zone. Enjoy the evening as we explore the combination of these distinkly different whiskies within the same dish.  You will be taken through a five course dinner, each course  paired with one or two whiskies.

Because all items are made with fresh ingredients, advanced planning/ordering must be done. Please reserve by Monday. It may not be possible to add seats after Monday.

Price is $65 all inclusive if you reserve by Monday. Discount Code: MW5D
Price is $70 all inclusive. Dram Club Members will receive $5 cash back at the event.

MENU
Scottish Eggs and Caramelized Haggis Tartlette
Pork Rib Rarebit with celery and pickled beet
Petite Chicken Roast with spring vegetable champ and cider jus
Shepherds Pie – slow cooked lamb shank & goat cheese whipped potatoes
Sticky toffee pudding with almond date salad and brown butter ice cream

WHISKIES
High West:      Rendezvous, Bourye, Silver Whiskey, Straight Rye
Compass Box: Asyla, Peat Monster, Spice Tree, Hedonism

Buy tickets at WoW Shoppe : http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/store/index.php

Ralfy reviews Finlaggan (old reserve) in Episode #133 -Part A from the comfort of home. www.ralfy.com for his take on this fine dram.

Laphroaig is one of those whiskies that you’re either going to love or loathe…with no middle ground. Today is Laphroaig’s day at the Islay Festival of Malt and Music, and this episode was recorded at the distillery on a windy, but sunny and warm day. We’ll hear from distillery manager John Campbell, master blender Robert Hicks, get a cooking lesson from Gordon Harvey, one of the authors of  “The Scotch Whisky Cookbook,” attend the Feis Ile whisky nosing competition, and hear music from Brigid Kaelin.

Listen at www.whiskycast.com

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TO OPEN EXPANSION AT THE GLENLIVET DISTILLERY
 
It was announced today that Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (or The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as they are known in Scotland) will open a new expansion to The Glenlivet Distillery on Friday 4 June during a visit to Speyside, Scotland.
 
Completed earlier this year, the new facility will deliver a 75% increase in production capacity to satisfy future global demand in the buoyant market for single malt Scotch whisky.  
 
During the visit, Patrick Ricard Chairman of brand owner Pernod Ricard, and Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO, of Chivas Brothers, will invite Their Royal Highnesses to tour the distillery’s facilities, meet key members of staff and unveil a commemorative sculpture.
 
Local benefits
 
The investment has already brought real benefits to the local business community, with a team of local contractors involved in the expansion. Overall design was by architects LDN of Forres, while the principle contractor was A.D. Walker of Banff. Sub-contractors included Simmers of Keith, which built the steel structure, specialist vat builder Joseph Brown of Dufftown, which installed 8 new traditional wooden washbacks, and coppersmith Forsyths of Rothes, which built 6 new stills exactly replicating the distillery’s famous tall, wide still shape.
 
The construction of the new building was also the first major duty of newly appointed Master Distiller Alan Winchester, a lifelong resident of Speyside who has been a leading light in the industry for 34 years.
 
Alan commented: “The opening will be a momentous occasion in the long and proud history of The Glenlivet Distillery. It was a privilege to be involved with the new building and we are honoured to have such distinguished company to mark the occasion.”
 
Notes
 
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky with a portfolio that includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.
 
The Glenlivet is ‘the single malt that started it all’. It was the first licensed distillery in the remote LivetValley. Created by George Smith, The Glenlivet in turn defined the Speyside style of whisky which became the heartland of Scotch malt whisky production.
 
From its pioneering Scottish roots, The Glenlivet was the first malt to be promoted in the US, as soon as Prohibition was lifted. Today, it is the USA’s No1 single malt and the world’s No2, and one of only two malts ever to sell more than 600,000 nine litre cases.

Glenlivet Distillery Manager Hamish Proctor

May Top-up Tipplers:
Stop to Re-fuel with 1.153 & 27.80 
BUY the pair for £86 and save £10.40

1.153 A cornucopia of mellifluous sweetness
Speyside Spey
£42.20 inc. Free P&P
Chocolates, toffee, coconut, currant buns, millionaire shortbread, biscuit box and manuka honey. Hints of menthol, mint and smoke prevented it floating away like candy floss on a summer’s breeze
Age: 9 years            Cask:  First-fill ex-bourbon barrel

27.80 Old hemp ropes in a fishing boat
Campbeltown
£54.20 inc. Free P&P
We were sniffing and imagining all sorts – oilskin coats, lobster boxes, freshly dug soil and balls of wool; sage, heather, linseed oil and polish.
“National Geographic magazines in a bothy” and “old hemp ropes in a fishing boat” will give a flavour
Age: 13 years            Cask:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

May Outturn Recommendations: TOP-UP while you still can (selling fast)

Smoky Sherried Pair: Buy 10.71 & 93.38 for £85 (save £10.40)
Best Buy Pair: Buy 95.11 & 35.38 for £88.50 (save £11)

Case Offer: Buy all SIX for £287.70 (save £35)
10.71 Onions Spring Eternal                                 
9.49 It’s in the bag                                                           
35.38 “Fire in the hole!”                                               
125.35 Amontillado and Aubergine                 
39.75 Cuban Memories                                               
G1.7 Flamed Christmas Pudding

SIX June Outturn Previews

@ Aberdeen Mal & Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin
Be amongst the first members to sample six preview drams from June Outturn. From Mon 31 May, SIX new June drams will preview behind the bar at Aberdeen Malmaison and Birmingham and Brighton Hotel du Vin. 

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

Seafood & Society Dram Tasting – The Vaults, Mon 24 May
All things Japanese Night – The Vaults, Thu 27 May
Liverpool Preview Tasting -Malmaison, Thu 27 May
Aberdeen Preview Tasting – Thistle Hotel, Fri 28 May
Bristol Preview Tasting – Hotel Du Vin, Fri 28 May
Pan-Asian Curry Experience – London, Sat 29 May
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 5 June
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 6 June
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 7 June
Whisky & Gems with Nicholas James – London, Wed 9 June
Whisky & Diamonds with Eric Emms – London, Thu 10 June

For your chance to join the Society please visit them at www.smws.co.uk

Indeed, Ralfy has something to smile about; two episodes from Islay. Interviews with Duncan at Bruichladdich. Watch for yourself at www.ralfy.com

Limited Edition Malt Sale ends Wednesday

We are getting ready for inventory with a few bottles from The Masterclass that need to find good homes.

These are all Limited Edition single malts, some from closed distilleries.

They include some of the last bottlings from Brora and Port Ellen. All too often I have to be the bearer of bad news and tell people that bottlings have sold out or that we did not get an allocation in the U.S. Don’t you be one of those I have to tell.

We have fewer than six of most of these special bottles. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. No matter what, these special prices are only good until the end of business Wednesday May 26th.

All are very very good. Get them while they are here. After Wednesday they will be gone.

Brora 30 Y.O. 55.7% $419.99 $389.99
An amazing bottling from this closed distillery, one not to miss.

Port Ellen 30 Y.O. 57.7% $415.00 $385.00
The first 30 Y.O. release from the distillers, simply stunning, from this closed Islay distillery.

Oban 18 Y.O. 43% $184.99 $169.99
Only bottled for the distillery and the U.S, a gem from a great distillery.

Glen Ord 30 Y.O. 58.7% $335.99 $199.99
Some at the Masterclass felt that this was the best bottle of the evening.

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 43% $110.00 $99.00
A Lagavulin with sherry, a precious Islay single malt that was not in the U.S. for many years. One not to miss.

Deadline for orders, 7:00 (7PM) Wednesday, May 26.

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits

——————————————————-

Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: 617-367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Caol Ila Distillery may have the most beautiful setting of any of Islay’s distilleries. It sits on the Sound of Islay directly across from the Paps of Jura, and when the skies are clear, you can see the Isle of Mull on the horizon. This is Caol Ila’s festival day during the Islay Festival of Malt and Music, and we’ll hear from distillery manager Billy Stitchell, taste some Caol Ilas, and talk to a local lobsterman and a precocious 3-year-old.

Listent o Episode #256 at http://www.whiskycast.com/

From Colin;

As promised here is the link to vote in a Dragon’s Den-style competition within Shropshire where I have been fortunate enough to get through to the final.

The voting will be decided by 1/3 online voters, 1/3 by the interview panel (who I am presenting to in the video), and 1/3 from the audience at the Shropshire Industry awards on 4th June.  As well as a £4,000 prize which I will put towards bottling equipment to start exporting the publicity will be of great help for when I begin trading in June.

Video where people can vote for THE WHISKY TASTING COMPANY:
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/business/2010/05/10/star-idea-finalist-video-for-the-whisky-tasting-company/

The voting is at the bottom of the text on the page (just select ‘Whisky Tasting Company’ and then click on ‘VOTE’)

Preview of web site (Please note: there is no functionality on this early version, and this is not yet on my own web site)
http://www.fisheye-webdesign.co.uk/preview/whisky/dark/

I’ve also attached some photos of the whisky sets in case you send this on to people who don’t know about what the product is. (See below)

p.s. I hope to be open at the start of June at www.whiskytastingcompany.com – ready for the fathers’s day rush !

Thanks for your vote !

Colin Sinclair
The Whisky Tasting Company Ltd.
179 Wenlock Road
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6LB

colin@whiskytastingcompany.com

Vote for Colin!