It’s that time of the year again…it’s the last tasting of this semester!

Laphroaig vs. Ardmore at the Orchid Bar!

We have had a super year – so lets go out on a BANG! (not literally)
NOTE: This event will not be at the Chaplaincy.

Directions to ORCHID!

Head along King Street (or other) to Union Street. Walk until you see the Peckhams on the right hand side. Turn Left – when you see Oddbins – Turn Right and the bar is on the left after about 200m

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Limited tickets are on sale (from Chaplaincy office) now – we hope you can come!

Orchid Bar
Langstone Place (behind Union Street)
West End,
Aberdeen

Directions to ORCHID!

Head along King Street (or other) to Union Street. Walk until you see the Peckhams on the right hand side. Turn Left – when you see Oddbins – Turn Right and the bar is on the left after about 200m

7.30pm START – Wednesday 12th May
Come along early for some drinks and feel free to stay at the end for more drinks!

Are you “attending?”

University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Chaplaincy
High Street
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3TT
aberdeenwhisky@googlemail.com

The starting point for any great whisky is the new make spirit. The liquid that comes off the still is, literally, the essence of single malt Scotch whisky. I’ve always thought we make excellent spirit and that we should sell it. At last, the powers that be have seen sense.

As you know, Highland Park is the most respected single malt in the world: Earl Magnus winning New Release of the Year at the World Whisky Awards 2010 is simply the latest in a long line of awards for every expression we produce.

This wouldn’t happen without the highest quality spirit. It always surprises me by its freshness and complexity; the spirit already features the trademark balance between sweetness and peat. Highland Park’s spirit forms the DNA of the flawless character of every expression of our award-winning whiskies. Now you can taste it for yourself…

It is distinctively aromatic, full-bodied and floral. Orkney peat – thousands of years old and based on hardy heather – imparts wonderful honey sweetness. The shape of the stills, coupled with the expertise of our stillman, emphasises the delicious fruity flavour.

The judicious addition of water assists in the revelation of the sprit’s complexity; peat, pear drops and freshly cut grass are immediately obvious. These flavours develop until the arrival of a lingering, smoky aftertaste which gently dries the mouth.

Highland Park New Make Spirit is being sold reduced to 50% abv. Why reduced, you ask? Well, although we sell whiskies at a higher strength than this, they are at a much higher price. At £20 for a 35cl bottle we would not like to be thought of as being socially irresponsible by bottling at full strength.

Highland Park New Make Spirit is available exclusively from our secure on-line store and the distillery.

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

 
Gerry
Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, 2010

Mark at WhiskyCast reports;

Dennis Hendry is one of the true characters of the whisky business. He manages the visitors center and leads tours at Aberlour, and is regarded as one of the top distillery tour guides in Scotland. You’ll hear why in this week’s episode, along with some of the behind-the-scenes stories that usually never see the light of day. In the news, a new lawsuit reveals the reason for Sazerac’s split from the Kentucky Distillers Association, results of the latest McTear’s whisky auction, and the cartoonists do it again…taking a swipe at Glenfiddich!

Listen to episode# 252 at http://www.whiskycast.com/

MAKER’S MARK BOURBON

Just before that on Thursday 20th May we have the honour of hosting a small informal evening here in the shop with Kevin Smith (no, not Silent Bob) the Master Distiller at Maker’s Mark.

Maker’s Mark is one of the few Bourbons to eliminate the use of rye in its mash bill, replacing it with red winter wheat, which gives it a lovely light delicacy, with no bitterness.

We will taste Maker’s Mark as it grows up – from the ‘white dog’ (straight from the still), all the way up to an over-aged version that shows us that age does not necessarily mean wisdom!

Needless to say, this is a rare opportunity to actually meet the guys behind one of the most popular American Whiskeys around today.
 
Tickets for this fabulous evening will go on sale on Tuesday 11th May at the usual time of 3pm. They are £15 each and are limited to 2 tickets per booking. There are very limited places to this tasting so please be quick. 

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/Vinopolis

May Outturn ON SALE NOW

May Outturn: 13 single casks that’ll SUIT YOU Sir?

With such outstanding variety this Outturn, there’s sure to be something to suit all tastes and moods.  Of course, if you’re finding it hard to decide there’s always the Society’s recommendations.

These dapper drams are our picks of the bunch; the bottlings that tickled our noses and had us giddy with excitement. Give them a twirl…

Smoky Sherried Pair: Buy 10.71 & 93.38 for £85 (save £10.40)

10.71 Onions Spring Enternal                                        £44.70 inc. Free P&P
Islay: The orimental flavours of the east meet sweet in this golden beauty. Grab the chopsticks and tuck in (Forks available on request

93.38 Stirs the atavistic soul                                      £50.70 inc. Free P&P
Campbeltown: Lip-smacks you between the eyes. A deliciously complex beast of a dram, one minute singing with chocolate, the next singeing with burning twigs

Best Buy Pair: Buy 95.11 & 35.38 for £88.50 (save £11)

95.11 Punched in the face with happiness       £57.30 inc. Free P&P
Speyside Spey: “Call the surgeon, this one’s got one heck of a nose on it!” Syrups and sandelwood, teas and Turkish coffee, you won’t know where to look

35.38 “Fire in the hole!”                                              £42.20 inc. Free P&P
Speyside Lossie: “Sweet, with pecans and popcorn, old-fashioned sweetiBOOM! Chillies cinder toffee and lava explode out of nowhere in the mouth.  So moreish.”

Case Offer: Buy all SIX for £287.70 (save £35)
                                                                        
10.71 Onions Spring Enternal                                   £44.70 inc. Free P&P
Turn your nose east and waft up the asian flavours

9.49 It’s in the bag                                                             £78 inc. Free P&P
Sod Terry and Dawn.  This sweet choccie orange is ours

35.38 “Fire in the hole!”                                                £42.20 inc.  Free P&P
hooo…hooo…ha….ha..ha. A spicy wee devil this one

125.35 Amontillado and Aubergine                     £64.40 inc. Free P&P
A complex discusser – things kicked off amongst the Panel and taste buds

39.75 Cuban Memories                                                 £46.70 inc. Free P&P
Gunpowder, cigars, riches galore -viva la Revolucion!

G1.7 Flamed Christmas Pudding                            £46.70 inc. Free P&P
Sweeeeeet! Christmas comes especially early in this rich dram

SIX of the BEST
@ Aberdeen Mal & Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin
125.35 Amontillado and Aubergine
35.38 “Fire in the hole!”
95.11 Punched in the face with happiness
93.38 Stirs the atavistic soul
53.140 Swelling, crashing waves of flavours
G1.7 Flamed Christmas pudding

Enjoy six of the best single cask single malts from May Outturn at the bar at Aberdeen Malmaison and Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin.

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

Birmingham Preview Tasting – Brighton Hotel Du Vin, Fri 14 May
Cafe Spice Nameste – Cafe Spice London, Tue 18 May
Cardiff Preview Tasting – Novotel Cardiff Centre, Fri 21 May
Islay and Island Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Sat 22 May
Cafe Fish & 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 – Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Fri 28 May
Bristol Preview Tasting – Hotel Du Vin, Fri 28 May
Pan-Asian Curry Experience – London, Sat 29 May

Visit the Society at  http://www.smws.com/

The tickets for the  Aberlour Tasting on the 24 th of May are now on sale.
They are £25 each with a maximum of 2 tickets per booking and are obtainable by calling us on  0207 403 8688.

Please remember we only have one phone line,  so patience is a virtue.

Many thanks,

The Team

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for July 2003; 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 now at the end of the series of his excellent newsletters. Enjoy the final installment!
GAUNTLEYS WHISKY NEWSLETTER No1 JULY 2003

Welcome to the first in hopefully a regular round up of what is new in the
Whisky World according to Gauntleys. As you will probably know from visiting
the shop or the web site, that there has been quite a few developments on
the whisky front since my return from a week at the Bruichladdich Distillery
on Islay.

JOHN McDOUGALL
As you will be aware we are proud to be the only midlands stockists for the
extraordinary Whisky Life and Golden Cask bottlings. Over the years he has
built up a number of contacts and can source interesting casks which he
bottles by hand in his spare time. Full tasting notes for the range that we
currently stock, can be found on the offers page at www.gauntleywine.com.

All I can say is that they are simply stunning, and very attractively priced
too, and if you love the purity of ex-Bourban oak then you should try them.

POTTED HISTORY
His father had a grain company in Edinburgh where John worked until he
joined Scottish Malt Distillers as a trainee in 1963. His first distillery
was Aultmore, followed by Knockdhu, Balmenach, Imperial, Banff, Teaninich,
and Daluaine.

After spells as distillery manager at Balvenie (1968), Laphroaig (1970), and
Tormore (1974). His skill led him to the post of Manager/Production
director? at the Springbank Distillery, Campbeltown, one of my own personal
favourite distlleries, for a ten year spell between 1986 and 1996.

Since 1996 he has taken a freelance consulting role, and has lent his
considerable knowledge and skills to the relauch of Bladnoch, plus the new
projects on the Shetland Islands and at Kilchoman on Islay.

THE RANGE
WHISKY LIFE:  All bottled without colour or chill-filtration, bottled in 50cl
bottles at 50% abv.

Dailuane 1989 £25.95 Balblair 1990 £23.95 Glenrothes 1988 £26.95

GOLDEN CASK SERIES: All bottled at cask strength again not coloured or
chill-filtered, in 70cl bottles.

Aultmore 1989 (13 year old) 56.3% £36.95 Glen Grant 1988 (14 year old) 56.1%
£37.95 Dalmore 1990 (12 year old) 58% £37.95

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE WHISKY LIST

MURRAY McDAVID
Just because we are currently very excited about the John McDougall range.
We have not forgotten the wonderful range of whiskies from Murray McDavid.
Indeed as you will probably know the team of Mark Reynier. Gordon Wright,
Simon Coughlan, and the irrepressible Jim McEwan are the driving force
behind the relaunch of Bruichladdich.

Thus we have added the following bottlings of theirs to the range.

Currently in stock:
Macallan 1990 46% £34.95 – A simply stunning Macallan!
Auchtentoshan 1992 46% £31.95 – A lovely expression

The following should be in stock in August.
Craggenmore 1990 46% £31.95 Pure, complex and luscious
Lochside 1981 46% £32.95 – Glorious!
Jura 1989 46% £32.95 – Intense, oily & peaty.

Glenlivet 1974 (28 year old) 46% – Misson Series £89.95
Clynelish 1972 (29 year old) 46% – Misson Series £89.95
Royal Brackla 1975 (27 year old) 46% – Misson Series £89.95
Highland Park 1979 (23 year old) 46% – Misson Series £89.95
Dallas Dhu 1979 (23 year old) 46% – Misson Series £89.95

If you would like to reserve one of the mission bottlings, please let us
know. A small deposit will be necessary.

OTHER BOTTLINGS
The following bottlings have been added to our list.

Balvenie 1989 Port Wood Finish 40% £31.95
Edradour 1991 59.3% 50cl £42.95
Isle of Jura Superstition 45% £28.95
Lagavulin 12 year old 58% £47.95
Talisker 20 year old 62% £100.95

AND FINALLY……. SPRINGBANK
As some of you will know, this famous old distillery is celebrating its
175th Aniversary. To that end it has released a 12 year old to mark the
occasion, priced at £42.95 and we would also like to welcome back the 15
year old, priced at £54,95. Both of these whiskies are very limited, so if
you would like one please let us know as soon as possible.

AND VERY FINALLY
From time to time, interesting bottlings come onto the market, and as much
as we would like to add them to our list, space in the shop is quite
limited. Thus with each newsletter I will include a selection of interesting
bottlings that have become available, which we would be more than happy to
order for you. Again a small deposit will be required.

Bowmore 25 year old 43% £137.95
Brora 30 year old 54.2% £227.95
Glenfarclas 1987 43% Single Oloroso Cask £143.95
Glenfarclas 1987 46% Single refill Sherry Cask £58.95
Linkwood 1975 (25 year old) 56.1% £392.95
Oban 32 year old 55.1% £233.95
Isle of Skye 50 year old 50% Limited Edition Numbered Bottles £477.95

CONTACT
We would welcome any comments you would like to make about this newsletter,
any of our products, or how we can improve our service. Please feel free to
contact us on rhone@gauntleywine.com
Sincerely
Chris Goodrum

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

This month, we place the spotlight on Speyside, and the new releases from some of its most loved distilleries.  Glenfarclas, The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Tomintoul are all featured.

If you can make it to London for mid-June, please do pop in to Milroy’s of Soho to taste the latest Compass Box whiskies.  Please read on for further details.

MAY WHISKY OF THE MONTH – GLENFARCLAS 15 YEAR OLD

Glenfarclas 15 year old takes the spotlight as our whisky of the month for May.  This cultured Speysider matured in a combination of American and European oak.  Bottled at 46% ABV without chill-filtration, the whisky pours mid-amber in colour.  The nose suggests a generous Sherry influence in the form of toffee, caramel and wood-spice, reflected on the palate, which is full bodied, voluptuous and silkily textured.  Glenfarclas 15 year old is a mighty fine malt, especially for those that like their whiskies packed full of flavour.

£39.95 per bottle

Free miniature of Glenfarclas 15 year old with every bottle

GLENFARCLAS 40 YEAR OLD

Kudos to George Grant and the team at Glenfarclas distillery.  In an era when greedy brand-owners seem to be outdoing themselves to produce the most expensive mature malt whisky, Glenfarclas has release a new 40 year old expression that is just about affordable to the ordinary whisky lover. 

This new addition to the Glenfarclas line-up is bottled at 46% ABV and is everything one would expect of this distillery.  Deep amber in colour, the whisky yields a distinctive spice laden, rum-like nose, with hints of demerara sugar. In the mouth, it is sweet, rich and full bodied.  The dark rum characters follow through, together with dried fruit, roasted spices and a hint of wood.  A drop or two of water brings it to life.

£295 per bottle

Exclusive Newsletter Offer – receive a free bottle of Pol Roger Vintage 2000 with every bottle of Glenfarclas 40 year old.

GLENLIVET TRIUMPHS – THE GLENLIVET NADURRA TRIUMPH 1991

The Glenlivet Nadurra was an extremely welcome addition to the distillery’s core range when launched a couple of years back.  Following the success of the cask strength Nadurra bottling, the folks at The Glenlivet distillery have announced the releases of a new expression, Nadurra Triumph 1991.

What makes this new expression different you may ask?  Nadurra Triumph is based solely on spirit distilled in 1991, using the Triumph barley variety.  In the early 1990’s Triumph barley was highly regarded for its ability to boost alcohol yield.  Unlike the cask strength non-vintage Nadurra (which undergoes maturation exclusively in 1st fill Bourbon casks), Glenlivet Nadurra Triumph 1991 is matured in a combination of American and European oak casks.

How does it taste?  In response to the most important question, our answer is an unquestionable “Mighty fine!”  As always with Glenlivet, the nose is lively and fruity (peaches, pears).  The European oak lends a touch of sweet caramel and toffee, reflected on the palate, which is at one elegant and full flavoured.  Barley sugar, orange zest and sweet vanilla lead to a long and satisfying finish.

£47.95 per bottle

Exclusive newsletter offer price – £44.50 per bottle

TOMINTOUL STEALS THE SHOW AT WORLD WHISKY AWARDS – TOMINTOUL 33 YEAR OLD

We have a bit of a soft spot for the much under-rated Tomintoul distillery.  It is elegant, subtle, gently fruity with a slightly floral edge; perfect as an aperitif for warmer weather drinking or when one wants something lighter. 

We were therefore extremely pleased to hear that at the 2010 World Whisky Awards, Tomintoul 33 year old was recognised the Best Single Speyside Malt – 21 years or over.  With 30 plus distilleries in Speyside this is no small achievement.

The whisky is very much in keeping with the Tomintoul house style – elegance takes centre stage.  In the mouth, the whisky is supple and round, with a touch of toffee and rum-like sweetness, balanced by cedar-wood, vanilla and a touch of spice (cinnamon, nutmeg).  It is a great malt, and the price is more than reasonable.

£125 per bottle

Exclusive newsletter offer price – £115 per bottle

GLENFIDDICH RICH OAK

On the back of the very successful Distillery Edition 15 year old Cask Strength, Glenfiddich has launched another new bottling, Glenfiddich Rich Oak.  As the name would suggest, Rich Oak is finished in new oak casks, a combination of new American and European oak.  Bottled at 40% ABV, Glenfiddich Rich Oak boasts a supple palate of spicy oak, sweet vanilla, dried fruits and roasted nuts.  It is very much in the Glenfiddich house style, but is elevated from partial maturation in new wood – a real crowd pleaser.

£31.50 per bottle

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £28.95

ENGLISH WHISKY HAS LANDED – ST GEORGE’S CHAPTER 6, ENGLISH WHISKY COMPANY

We are delighted to welcome to Milroy’s of Soho the only English whisky.  Distilled, matured and bottled at the St George’s distillery in Norfolk, this highly anticipated arrival is a fascinating insight into an evolving malt.   On tasting St George’s, my colleague and I were mightily impressed by the quality of the spirit.  We look forward to following its progress over future releases.

£37.95 per bottle

COMPASS BOX WHISKIES IN-STORE TASTING – MONDAY 14 JUNE

Gregg Glass of whisky innovator Compass Box whiskies will be joining us during the afternoon of Monday 14 June to taste through the range of Compass Box whiskies.  This is a great opportunity to taste some of their wonderful distinctive whiskies and perhaps buy a bottle or two.  Any purchases from the Compass Box range on the day will be eligible for a 5% discount.

Until next month, slàinte!

Best regards

Philip Shorten

Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, W1D 4NX

T: 020 7437 2385

F: 020 7437 1345

E: philip.shorten@milroys.co.uk

W: www.milroys.co.uk

£20,000, VERY RARE BOTTLE OF 1937 GLENFIDDICH AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE

ONLY 11 BOTTLES MADE

An exceptionally rare bottle of Glenfiddich distilled in 1937 is for sale at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on 16 June.

It is one of only 11 bottles of the 1937 produced by the distillery and is the first to appear at auction.  Having matured for 64 years it is also one of the oldest whiskies ever released onto the market.  It is estimated to make between £15,000 – 20,000 and is likely to be keenly sought after.

Bonhams Whisky consultant, Martin Green, commented, “It isn’t very often that such a rare bottle comes along and it’s a privilege to be handling it.  As soon as I recognised the significance of the bottle I got in touch with the distillery to let them know that we were including it in the auction.”

Libby Lafferty speaking for Glenfiddich said, “We were very excited when we heard that the 1937 was going into the sale and immediately invited Martin Green from Bonhams to bring the bottle back to its home distillery to photograph for our archives.  It really is that special.”

ends

For further sale information please go to www.bonhams.com/whisky

Notes

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com (February 2010).

Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London,  W1S 1SR United Kingdom