Balblair NAS 2000 (43%, OB, 2010)

A brand new bottling due to be released into the UK market (Please see the press release above for full details). Quite pale in colour however the nose is quite the opposite with some vibrant and slightly aggressive malt backed by citrus and green apples followed by different malt style which is quite sweet and honeyed. Also some cut grass and black pepper. After some time in the glass it starts to open up and the sweetness changes to brown sugar but still the fruit is present along with some hints of leather. Sour cherries tussle with the malt. What an excellent collection of aromas, they work very well together. The taste is quite different from the nose (at first) but still strong with lots more emphasis on the malt and the oak/wood spice notes; the leather (and now tobacco) is more evident and the fruit has taken a back seat. It’s delicious. Perhaps now some toasted malt and crusty bread. After a short while some of the fruit (sour cherries & green apples) peak back from behind the curtain. The finish is malty leather and slight tobacco followed by more malt and it’s very nice, VERY long, slightly warming and then all of a sudden the fruit returns. After a few minutes the malt is the dominant characteristic and it’s still very good. Quite sensational actually.

What a grand dram, well done!

£32

88 points

For several years, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited has been in the forefront of trying out new ideas and innovative in a number of fields, despite maybe not getting the acknowledgement that we deserve.
 
The Brilliant Idea

50 years ago Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited started laying down malts for long term maturation. Quite an investment when you consider it closely, few companies lock up an investment for no return within the lifetime of its management.

This investment and the quality of its whiskies provided a platform for many of the multinational whisky companies you see today to launch very old vintages. Yes, that’s right, whiskies sourced from Duncan Taylor. Many current multinational drinks groups didn’t even exist when Duncan Taylor was laying down its whiskies! They were still pastis companies, rum companies, venture capital groups, some were blenders not yet into malts.
 
Where We’ve Been

100 proof blends were first brought to market by Duncan Taylor back in the 1930’s via George Willsher & Co Ltd, their associate company.

In the ‘60s,  we created “Scotch’n Orange” when a certain new innovative blender was still in diapers.

Twenty years ago we were pioneering the vatting of malts from different distilleries and different regions, some worked and some didn’t, though we had loads of fun trying.

About eight years ago, we launched a range of grain whiskies, when grains were considered the poor cousin of malts and were shunned by the “cognoscenti”. I’m glad to see where we lead others are now following!
 
Our Newest Innovation, Now Available

For upwards of thirty years we have been occasionally maturing whiskies in smaller casks, predominantly octaves and quarters with great success. So much so that we created the Octave and Quarter range just over four years ago, this range has been growing and is now so unique to Duncan Taylor that we intend to roll it out to the masses, albeit, only to those that appreciate the finer things in life.

So where does the company go from here, watch this space, there’s exciting times ahead and rest assured, whoever comes along with us for the ride won’t be disappointed.

Select your cask today, contact our sales team on +44 (0)1466 794055 or email sales@quartercasks.com

Visit our Website www.DuncanTaylor.com

The O&Q Range

Our Octave and Quarter range has invigorated the Single Malts and Single Grains industry.

After a second maturation of three months, the octave casks has breathed new life into the whisky, quickly changing hue, taste, form and character of the spirit. The whisky is rejuvenated, a little more aggressive, with the commanding presence of a mature, well-balanced Scotch Whisky.

With fewer bottles from each cask, the spirit becomes all the more exclusive. There never has been, nor will there be anything exactly like it.
 
Available casks:

Aberlour 1993
Auchentoshan 1999, 2000
Auchroisk 1999, 1988
Aultmore 1989
Balblair 1991
Balmenach 2000
Ben Nevis 1995, 1998
Benriach 1990
Bowmore 1968, 1982, 1998, 2002
Bunnahabhain 1968, 1969, 1970, 1997
Cameronbridge 1978, 1979
Caol  Ila 1980, 1981,  1982, 1983, 1984
Caperdonich 1968,  1969, 1972 Carsebridge 1979
Cragganmore 1992
Craigellachie 1999
Dalmore 1990
Glenburgie 1988
Glen Elgin 1991
Glen Grant 1969, 1970,  1972,  1974, 1991
Glenlivet 1968, 1970
Glen Moray 1971, 1973, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988
Glengarioch 1991
Glenrothes 1968, 1969, 1970 Highland Park 1970
Imperial 1997
Isle of Arran 1996, 1999
Isle of Jura 1992
Invergordon 1965
Kinclaith 1969
Ladyburn 1973
Laphroaig 1997
Linkwood 1991
Macallan 1969, 1996, 1997
Macduff 1968, 1969
Mortlach 1993
North British 1978
Port Dundas 1973
Strathclyde 1973, 1980
Strathisla 1968
Tamdhu 1968
Tamnavulin 1989
Teaninich 1996
Tomatin 1965, 1976

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted their, ‘Christmas Whisky DEALS! 2010’

Now available online, over 100 whisky DEALS! available until 20th December or whilst stocks last.

Also available as a pdf for download.

You may view the latest at
https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2010/11/12/christmas-whisky-deals-2010/

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

www.ralfy.com @ Glasgow’s Whisky Festival Vlogs 1 to 23 .. a big single-Festival feature at ralfy.com designed to compliment Whisky Fringe and Victoria Whisky Festival by giving a different view of what Festivals offer !

Like previous Independent Festival features, the format has been changed to offer additional perspectives    23 in all !

… ralfy recommends drinking Whisky whilst watching !

Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy.  10 November 2010.

• First Minister and Chinese Consul General celebrate new Scotch Whisky Status at Glenglassaugh Distillery
• Unique cask of whisky filled with future bottling for charity

First Minister and Consul General with the celebratory octave cask

A visit from a very special guest to a small distillery in the north-east of Scotland has produced the opportunity for whisky lovers the world over to toast a piece of history.

First Minister Alex Salmond chose to mark a momentous occasion for Scotch Whisky at Glenglassaugh Distillery on the Moray Firth this week.

To mark the signing of a document giving Scotch Whisky recognition and protection in China, Glenglassaugh Distillery has produced a special Octave – 50 litres -of the amber nectar to be auctioned off for charity in five years time. The first minister gave this cask his seal of approval this week on his visit to the distillery as he was helped to fill it by Madam Tan Xiutian, Consul General for the People’s Republic of China in Scotland.

Mr Salmond chose Glenglassaugh Distillery in Portsoy to celebrate Scotch Whisky being given Geographical Indication of Origin Status in China, which means copycat versions of the famous drink can no longer be legally sold in China.

It was a very exciting day for Glenglassaugh, which was previously mothballed and only re-opened two years ago.

Managing director of the distillery Stuart Nickerson said: “I am delighted that the first minister and Consul General are marking this important day at Glenglassaugh.”

Mr Salmond had helped celebrate the re-opening of the distillery in 2008 and was very happy to be back.

“I was delighted to visit Glenglassaugh once again. Almost two years since I re-opened the distillery it was good to meet Stuart and the rest of the staff and great to see that Glenglassaugh is going from strength to strength,” he said. He added: “This is a highly important day for the Scotch Whisky industry and this designation is enormously helpful for the industry.”

The distillery took the opportunity to ask Mr Salmond and Madam Tan to fill a one-off octave of whisky which will be in high demand by bidders when it is opened in five years. It is expected that this will yield 50 to 60 bottles which will give whisky connoisseurs a chance to purchase a piece of history.

Madam Tan and the first minister signed the small cask marking the agreement which will hopefully see sales of genuine Scotch Whisky rise in China.

Madam Tan said of the agreement: “This designation is very important for both the whisky creator and the consumer.”

Bidders for one of the octave bottles will be in for a treat as one of the Glenglassaugh whiskies was recently described as “one of the great world whiskies for 2010” by acclaimed whisky writer Jim Murray and the aged whiskies have won several awards and much praise.

Mr Nickerson said: “China is a key Market for Glenglassaugh and this announcement means we can re-focus our efforts with renewed confidence, knowing our products and customers are protected.”

Glenglassaugh has a range of whisky available from 26 years of age to a 43 year old and more information on these and how to purchase them as well as your own Octave cask can be found on the distillery web site www.glenglassaugh.com .

The company also has a range of Spirit Drinks and more information on these can be found on www.thespiritdrink.com .

November Nips & Top Five Hits
The November Outturn has landed with full-force, have you got your bottle yet? If you’re not sure what to top-up on, here are the five most popular bottles from this month’s First Friday release:

Number 1:  127.5 Morning dew on Islay                 
£43.70 inc. Free p&p
A platter of seafood awaited us; shrimps, oysters and crabs, with a boiling pot of crayfish and lobsters

Number 2: 44.47 Strawberries dangling over straw 
£41.20 inc. Free p&p
Buttered toast and an earthy fruitiness, like summer strawberries dangling over straw19.48 Big, friendly, toffee nose

Number 3:  76.78 Foamy bananas dipped in cayenne pepper 
£49.70 inc. Free p&p
Rum fudge, vanilla, French toast, brown sugar, toffee apples and polished red leather Chesterfields

Number 4: 121.39 Easy-drinking dream
£45.70 inc Free p&p
Rich treacle toffee, banana Toffoes, spun sugar, Maltesers and banoffee

Number 5:  7.60 Life is a Cabaret, old chum…
£69.40 inc. Free p&p
1930’s Berlin cabaret – fag packets, cheap perfume, lipstick, seamed stockings, grease paint, serge uniforms, leather jackboots and bacon crisps (did they have those in the ‘30’s?).

Sherry Butt Pair:
76.78 & 44.47 for £81 and save £9.90

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

South African Rugby Brunch – The Vaults, Sat 20 Nov
Christmas Outturn Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 25 Nov
Winchester Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Thu 25 Nov
Glasgow Preview Tasting – Malmaison, Fri 26 Nov
Pan-Asian Curry Experience – London, Sat 27 Nov
Christmas Parcels Tasting – London, Thu 2 Dec
Newcastle Christmas Tasting – Northern Counties Club, Fri 3 Dec
Christmas Drinks 101 – Queen Street, Fri 3 Dec

Visit the Society for your chance to join at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships

Glenglassaugh Distillery ‘The Manager’s Legacy’
Release No.2 – Dod Cameron 1986 45.3%

The second in a series of four single cask releases to celebrate the achievements and influences of Glenglassaugh distillery managers during the period 1964 – 1986. Bottled on site at natural strength, without colouring or chill-filtration. The Dod Cameron release is limited to 500 individually numbered bottles from a refill sherry butt filled in December 1986 and was one of the last casks filled at Glenglassaugh under its previous ownership.

Age: Distilled December 1986
Volume: 700ml
Strength: 45.3% abv

Tasting Note
Colour: Orange Gold
Nose: Fresh and fruity with barley sugar sweetness. Boiled sweets, stewed plums and a sprinkling of demerara sugar. Banana skins and orange essence giving way to clove oil and liquorice.
Palate: Juicy, syrupy and round with sweet stewed plum and orange flavours, balanced with gentle oak spice and nuances of clove and liquorice.
Finish: Lingering fruits, warming spice and liquorice.   

Excl. VAT: £135.00 Incl. VAT: £114.89

The Rare Cask Series

With cask stocks continuing to deplete, Glenglassaugh’s youngest whisky is a 26 years of age. It’s still the same tear-drop bottle but with the older age on the neck label.
Excl. VAT:£127.65 Incl. VAT:£149.99
 
Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone: 0845 6066145
email: info@singlemaltsdirect.com
web: www.singlemaltsdirect.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*DOUGLAS LAING & CO WHISKY TASTING – WEDNESDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2010*

For our final whisky tasting of the year we are pleased to be welcoming Jan Beckers Malt Ambassador for the independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co.  Established in 1948 in Glasgow, Douglas Laing is a family company that has built it’s reputation on the quality whiskies they bottle from their vast stock of casks that hail from many different distilleries.  The Laing family’s huge passion for their product, their insistence on no added colour or chill filtering for their whiskies, and the wonderfully quirky tasting notes they produce, all add up to a truly independent company whose aim is to make the discerning whisky drinker happy.

Amongst the whiskies that Jan Beckers will be presenting for us there will be some from the renowned Old Malt Cask range.  These are single cask bottlings from a  variety of distilleries, including a number of closed ones.  There are always some real stars to be found in this range, and all the whiskies are bottled at 50% abv (known as the ‘Golden Strength’).  Also on show will be some of the Provenance collection, an intriguing range of small batch and single cask expressions that feature the season the whisky was distilled (be it Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter) on the bottle label.  Last, but certainly not least, there will be a guest appearance from that wonderful Islay character Big Peat.  Rapidly becoming one of our best selling whiskies, this vatted malt has some of the real big hitters from Islay – Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen are all brought together in one glorious breath of peat reek that is an ideal dram for a cold winter’s night (or any other night really)

This is the last tasting of the year so don’t miss out.  Come along and enjoy some great whiskies (and start compiling your Christmas ‘wish(ky)’ list!)

*How to book*

The tasting will be at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Tickets for the event are priced at just £10.00, and this includes a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night. We accept cash, credit/debit card or cheques.

Tickets are limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire. Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and Arkwrights reserve the right to restrict the number of tickets per person.

Tasting tickets always sell very quickly (usually within 48 hours) so it is best to book ASAP.

We look forward to seeing you for another great evening of whisky tasting.

Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

Maltstock
Discount reminder

Hello whisky enthusiasts,

Just a short reminder that you get a 10% discount on your Maltstock 2011 tickets if you buy them before the end of 2010. Click here to go directly to our webshop.

The first tickets for Maltstock 2011 have already been sold. We expect many to follow. Remember there’s a limited number of tickets available. So avoid disappointment and get yours in time.
We already have one special tasting lined up for Maltstock 2011: the guys from Master of Malt will do a closed distilleries tasting. We will of course keep you updated on the Maltstock 2011 program.

This weekend the Maltstock team will be at the whisky fair in Leiden. We look forward to meeting you there. Also in Leiden will be the terrific team of the Highlander Inn, Craigellachie, Speyside. They made a superb Scottish breakfast at Maltstock this year. And we are very happy that they will be back next year!

Any questions? Just let us know! You can also follow us on Facebook.

Slainte!

The Maltstock team
Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
www.maltstock.com

Malt Advocate held its annual WhiskyFest New York this past week, and the microdistilling community was out in force. Some of the most creative experiments in distilling are being done at American microdistilleries, and you’ll hear from some of the distillers in this episode. In the news, a boiler explosion shuts down Springbank, a $160,000 bottle of whisky is still on the market, and the Friends of Laphroaig visit the Statue of Liberty.

Listen to episode #289 at www.whiskycast.com