Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tastings: Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday    every month    6 – 9 p.m.    no reservation required
 
Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate between 5 half-ounce samples of single malt Scotch whisky: $20. (Cash bar for non-whisky drinkers)

 ►  Enjoy 3 featured single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

 ►  Roll a die and choose a single malt from one of the six Scotch regions

 ►  Pick your connoisseur’s choice from our single malt Scotch whisky menu

October 9, 2010

Benromach 10 yo *

Speyburn 10 yo

Edradour Caledonia 12 yo

November 13, 2010

Old Pulteney 12 yo *

Ardmore Traditional Cask

GlenDronach 12 yo

December 11, 2010

New Beginnings:

This tasting will include three young, limited release whiskies from privately held distilleries: One’s a new distillery (Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release *), one’s a newly reopened distillery that sat silent for more than a century (Kilkerran 2009 Work in Progress), and  one’s a reopened distillery that had been mothballed for the better part of a decade (Bruichladdich 2001 Resurrection Dram)

January 8, 2011

Balvenie 12 yo DoubleWood *

Glenfiddich 15 yo

Deanston 12 yo un-chill filtered

February 12, 2011

Balblair 1997 *

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Strathisla 12 yo

www.minersdelightinn.com

Bob at work....

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition’

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1994/2010
43% abv
£59.90 inc vat
£50.98 ex vat

Bottled 2010

Transferred to a Pedro Ximinez (a rich unctuous sherry that the Spaniards put on their ice cream!) cask for finishing to develop a more tarry and smoky character.

Not necessarily better – but different – and has many fans.

Flavour Map Ref: J10
Rich / Smoky

Lagavulin 1994 Double Matured in Pedro Ximenez Cask Wood
Barcode: 5000281014036

Price excluding VAT: £50.98
£59.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk
https://www.lfw.co.uk/

Dear Customer,

With Christmas in mind – sorry! – we are releasing as many as thirteen (13) OLD MALT CASK bottlings, three (3) OLD & RARE’s together with three (3) additions to the 20 cl range. Beyond these Malts are two (2) old Grains under the CLAN DENNY label.

Tasting notes for the OLD MALT CASK follow:

OMC1912 ALLT A’BHAINNE SHERRY 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet, carrying a honey & chocolate cereal quality
Palate: Still sweet – now warms to rich spices and caramelized nuts
Finish: The spicy sweetness runs through on the gristy finish (J)

OMC1845 CLYNELISH 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Barleyed, honeyed, oaked, spicy and citric
Palate: The very distinct honey dominates late oak and grist
Finish: Lightly smoked, rather spiced, very sweet (F)

OMC1911 CRAGGANMORE 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Opens fresh/grassy/gristy – runs to a floral/heathery style
Palate: Elegant – carries a herbal, green fruit character with chamomile
Finish: Medium long, barley sugared with more spice appearing late (J)

OMC1898 HIGHLAND PARK 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Honey sweet – with barley and a hairdressing style.
Palate: Initially toffee’d then dry earthy, dark peat kicks in.
Finish: Still earthy + waves of more toffee and light smoke. (F)

OMC1896 TOBERMORY REFILL SHERRY BUTT 15 YEAR OLD
Nose: Clean, fresh, salty, spiced and gristy dry.
Palate: Peppery hot with sweet barley and more spice.
Finish: Barleyed, sweetly spiced, with some cough drops warmth. (F)

OMC1913 GLEN SCOTIA 18 YEAR OLD
Nose: Toffee & shortbread, dried fruit + a buttery sweet character
Palate: Opens sweetly, then warmingly spiced + a dry oaky style
Finish: Long, dry, runs to a nutty/late herbal (camomile?) quality (J)

OMC1910 AUCHENTOSHAN 20 YEAR OLD
Nose: Gristy sweet + macerated oranges + late ripe bananas
Palate: Still fruitily sweet (fermented bananas) + a sherbet zing
Finish: Long, carries a ripe fruit style + dried raisins + sweet ginger (J)

OMC1895 ROSEBANK 20 YEAR OLD
Nose: Soft and subtly herbal sweet – aperitif style.
Palate: Still herbal + crunched white sugar and camphor.
Finish: Now drier – herbal – spiced – Italian digistif style (F).

OMC1914 ST MAGDALENE 27 YEAR OLD
Nose: Fresh and florally sweet – runs to minted fruit salad
Palate: Interesting/warming character – still sweet, now with spices
Finish: The fruit quality returns + a liqueur chocolate aspect (J)

OMC1916 TEANINCH 27 YEAR OLD
Nose: Opens sweetly and carries a spicy caramelized fruit quality
Palate: Very gentle + a toffee & milk chocolate character
Finish: Round + vanilla tablet + gentle spices that linger (J)

OMC1917 INCHGOWER 28 YEAR OLD
Nose: Fresh, coconut cream style + macerated oranges and toffee
Palate: Sweet & spicy + a sweet walnuts & coffee cake character
Finish: Long, still sweet + coffee and dark chocolate late (J)

OMC1925 PORT ELLEN 27 YEAR OLD
Nose: Lightly tarred – distinctly phenolic – now rather dry.
Palate: Initially very dry – peated as it warms – earthy.
Finish: Distinctly Islay in style still – oily, creosoted, salty (F)

OMC1909 LINKWOOD 28 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet & spicy, with a toffee and caramelized apple quality
Palate: Initially toffee’d – runs to attractive malt, spices + dried fruit + oak
Finish: Cedar wood – still spicy + a sweet liquorice root character (J)

Tasting Notes for OLD & RARE:

OAR0102 ARDBEG 19 YEAR OLD
Initially barley sweet with vanilla fudge and subtle spices – it then warms through a certain citric style to something more salty, and darkly peated. That citrus is still apparent on its soft early palate – with some chocolate? – which then heads to a Fisherman’s Friend spiced style plus vanilla and more peat. On the finish detect the cough drop’s camphor, smoke, and liquorice – with a late ongoing and long lasting beachy and long lasting phenolic quality. (F)

OAR0108 TAMDHU 20 YEAR OLD
Its deep amber colour reveals its Sherry cask maturation – reflected by a nose full of dark oily macerated/liquor soaked fruit, beeswax and spice. The palate is massively spiced – yes with a bit of oak apparent too – tending to late dryness. Seville orange marmalade on light burnt toast finishes. (F)

OAR0105 PORT ELLEN 30 YEAR OLD
Quite distinctly and interestingly citric on the nose – anticipate and detect also a bonfire ash style allied to homebaked scones. Palatewise the sweetness is carried over – then heads into soft summer tar, and dry soot with a drift of sweet smoke. Long on the finish – it is very camphor and (old fashioned) cough drop in style.

The 3 20 cl ADVANCE SAMPLES are:

SMC0374 MACDUFF 10 YEAR OLD
SMC0376 HIGHLAND PARK 13 YEAR OLD
SMC0375 CLYNELISH 13 YEAR OLD

Lastly Tasting Notes for the CLAN DENNY GRAIN:

DEN0045 STRATHCLYDE BOURBON 40 YEAR OLD
On the nose, detect sweet spices, caramelised peaches, toffee and vanilla. The mouth coating palate is still sweetly spiced and carries a creamy caramel quality with coconut and milk chocolate. The sweet spices run through on the finish and develop to an interesting orange pith character. (J)

DEN0046 INVERGORDON BOURBON 45 YEAR OLD
Opens sweetly on the nose and carries a concentrated vanilla quality plus gentle spices. Vanilla returns on the rich, mouthcoating palate – now with a caramel and coffee quality. For a Single Grain, the finish is interestingly long – now with honey and more vanilla… very dessert-like. (J)

We believe that is an interesting new selection from all the Scottish regions – hoping that you similarly agree.

Yours faithfully
Fred Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing at www.douglaslaingwhisky.com

“It’s smokey and it’s peaty and it’s called Joe ! Ralfy presents another Vlog called ….

Whisky Review #152 – Smokey Joe

A good example of a MaltBlend type of Scotch, … a blend of Single Malts from different Distilleries, bottled at 46%, non chill-filtered and (probably) no Caramel added either. … and it works.”

www.ralfy.com

England v Scotland in Single Cask Rivalry

6 October 2010, Dumgoyne: Award-winning Glengoyne Distillery has  challenged some of England’s best known and highly respected independent whisky retailers to select a rare limited edition single cask from the Glengoyne warehouses that they would be proud to name The English Merchants’ Choice. This will be the second Merchants’ Choice Single Cask bottling release, with the first being chosen by a team of Scottish specialist retailers.

Taking place in Glengoyne Distillery’s state-of-the-art Blending Room, the group of six whisky connoisseurs nosed, sampled and debated a wide range of Glengoyne’s finest single cask malts before collectively selecting a 13 Years Old European Oak Sherry Hogshead cask, bottled at 54.6% vol to have the honorary title of The English Merchants’ Choice.

Not only tasked with selecting this exceptional single cask, the Merchants had to unanimously agree on all of the Merchants’ Choice values, from the bottle, packaging, label design and wording, to its name and tasting notes. 

The final tasting notes from the selection panel included an appearance of light straw with a nose of green apples, vanilla and leather followed by notes of ginger bread and orange peel on the palate. The bottling was also described as bold, elegant and delicately balanced.

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, brand owners of Glengoyne commented: “We had a fantastic response to our Scottish Merchants’ Choice release in December 2009 and thought a bit of healthy North-South rivalry had some great potential.”

“It is a novel proposition allowing our Merchants to select their own bottling but with their expert knowledge and passion for whisky, they were bound to pick a winner from Glengoyne’s finest casks. Now we will just wait to see which proves more popular – the English or Scottish selection.”

Just 291 bottles of this limited edition bottling are available now (UK only), from the six selection panel whisky specialists (see below), with an RRP of £105.00

With special thanks to:

Ben Ellefsen (Master of Malt)

David Gardener (Nickolls & Perks)

Isabel Graham-Yooll (Milroy’s)

Michael Hopert (Royal Mile Whiskies London)

Malcolm Mullin (The Vintage House) 

Mark Rowe (Constantine Stores)

For further information visit Glengoyne Distillery at visit www.glengoyne.com

Notes:

Tasting notes

SINGLE CASK-  The English Merchants’ Choice 1997 (13 Years Old)
 
Description

Appearance: Mahogany/Iroko

Nose: Raisins and citrus developing to sweeter mocha with a hint of leather

Palate: Intense complemented with orange peel and dried fruits

Finish: Delicate, yet bold and balanced
 
Wood Type- European Oak Sherry hogshead                                                                     
 
Cask No. 2716
 
No. of Bottles 291
 
Strength  54.6% vol                                                                                                    
 
Distillation Date 17th June 1997
 
Bottling Date 21 September 2010
 
Approved By  Ben Ellefsen (Master of Malt), David Gardener (Nickolls & Perks), Isabel Graham-Yooll (Milroys), Michael Hopert (Royal Mile Whiskies London), Malcolm Mullin (The Vintage House) and Mark Rowe (Constantine Stores)

We’d like to inform you that The Macallan will be holding Master Class Whisky Tastings in 6 markets this Fall. Together with global charity partner, Charity Water, we’ll uncork several of our older & rarer expressions including the Sherry Oak 25 Years Old and Fine Oak 30 Years Old. We’ll be holding Master Classes in the following markets & dates:

Chicago – October 15th

Denver – October 22nd

San Francisco – October 30th

Los Angeles – November 5th

New York – December 4th

Boston – December 10th

The events will be held from 6:30-8:30PM and we’ll be pouring the Sherry Oak 12, Fine Oak 15, Fine Oak 17, & Sherry Oak 18. We’ll be sampling the Fine Oak 21, Sherry Oak 25, Fine Oak 30 and as a surprise The Macallan Cask Strength expression. Family style food will be offered as well as a chance to ask the National Brand Ambassador in-depth questions.

Please visit this link for more details: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/899397121

Dave Broom will be in New York City October 26th from 5PM to 7Pm for a book signing for his new book The World Altlas of Whisky at the Brandy Library.

& 27 if you are interested in an interview.

We have available 1000 Cases of 50cl bottles of Johnnie Walker Red Label. There are 24 Bottles per case. Current Location Netherlands. Ex warehouse Price per case is USD 130.00

We also have 648 Cases of 37.5cl bottles of Johnnie Walker Red Label, there are 24 bottles per case. Current Location Netherlands. Ex warehouse price Price per case is USD 103.00

AND

480 Cases of 20 cl Bottles of Johnnie Walker Red Label, there are 24 Bottles per case. Current Location Netherlands. Ex warehouse price Price per case is USD 113.00.

We ship these products worldwide. These products ship from Rotterdam to your specified port at extra cost which we will quote on request.

We have more photographs available if required

Hugh Belsham

Trentino Distribution

tel +44 1992 637373

The Organic

Once Again Dram and Land United

Islayʼs only organic whisky has now been released as a full scale world-wide bottling.

The Organic follows the inaugural, limited-edition bottling released last year by Bruichladdich. Organically grown Chalice barley was again used, this time from three Scottish farms – Mid Coul, Coulmore and Mains of Tullibardine.

Based on the 2003 vintage, matured in American oak casks (both used and new wood), it was created by head distiller Jim McEwan as a multi-vintage bottling – each of the three origins harvested, malted, distilled and matured separately – for ultimate complexity.

The strength was reduced to 46% with Islay spring water, bottled non chill-filtered, caramel-free and certified organic by the Biodynamic Agricultural Association. Distillery MD Mark Reynier said “This is extra-ordinary stuff. Though young it has a highly individual character: itʼs intriguingly layered with astonishing definition, an intoxicating intensity, extraordinary purity, and a finish that is simply to die for. Itʼs one of a kind.”

Only three distilleries market an organic single malt. Of those Bruichladdich commissions the largest volume of organic barley of any Scotch whisky distillery; depending on harvest, almost half of Bruichladdichʼs annual requirement is organically grown on Scottish farms.

The Organic now forms one of the central planks of the definitive Bruichladdich range. It retails at £34. Uk distribution: Blavod. Exports: andrew@bruichladdich.com

A REVOLUTIONARY OLD IDEA:

IN VICTORIAN TIMES WHEN BRUICHLADDICH DISTILLERY WAS BUILT, ALL SCOTTISH BARLEY WAS ORGANICALLY GROWN, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF FARMER WITH HIS SOIL AND THE SEASONS, AND DISTILLER WITH FARMER WERE INTIMATE AND ENDURING. THESE NATURAL RHYTHMS AND TIES WERE LOST AS INDUSTRIALISED FARMING CUT THE ANCIENT SYNERGY OF MAN, SOIL, CROP, LIFE. AN AGE OF SUPER- EFFICIENT BLANDNESS WAS BORN; THE COST – A LOSS OF SOUL, IDENTITY AND DEFINITION.

WITH THIS WHISKY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR ORGANIC FARMERS, SIR WILLIAM ROBERTS OF MAINS OF TULLIBARDINE, WILLIAM ROSE AT MID COUL AND NEIL SCOBIE AT COULMORE, WE ARE RECONNECTING, REDISCOVERING THAT SOUL. ONCE AGAIN LAND AND DRAM UNITED.

SUPREME QUALITY BARLEY COMBINED WITH A SLOW TRICKLE-DISTILLATION TO DO IT JUSTICE, AND SOME NEW OAK HAS RESULTED IN THE CREAMIEST SPIRIT WE’VE EVER SEEN. THIS IS HOW IT USED TO BE IN A MORE INNOCENT AGE BEFORE THE COMMERCIAL PRESSURES OF COMPUTERISED DISTILLING AND INDUSTRIAL CONFORMITY.

REFLECTING THIS, THE TIN’S IMAGE IS OF BRIGHDE, PRONOUNCED “BRIG-HEED-HER”, THE GAELIC GODDESS OF FERTILITY, HARVEST AND HOME. SHE IS A POWERFUL SPIRIT OF THE LAND AND “MOTHER OF THE ISLES”, SHE IS THE VERY LIFE-FORCE OF THE HEBRIDEAN ISLANDS THEMSELVES.

DISTILLERY NOTES:

THE ONLY ORGANIC ISLAY SINGLE MALT. 100% ORGANIC CERTIFIED BY THE BIODYNAMIC ASSOCIATION. 100% SCOTTISH-GROWN ORGANIC BARLEY. SINGLE VARIETY BARLEY: CHALICE. THE FIRST MAINSTREAM ISLAY ORGANIC BOTTLING. BRUICHLADDICH’S “CREAMIEST SPIRIT EVER”. MULTIVINTAGE BASED ON 2003 HARVEST. 7 SCOTTISH TERROIRS FOR ULTIMATE COMPLEXITY, PROVENANCE AND TRACEABILITY. TIN DESIGN FEATURING BRIGHDE, GAELIC GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND HARVEST. MATURED IN AMERICAN OAK CASKS – NEW AND USED. TRICKLE-DISTILLED, MATURED AND BOTTLED ON ISLAY AT 46% ABV. NATURAL WHISKY: NON CHILL-FILTERED, COLOURING-FREE, BOTTLED WITH ISLAY SPRING WATER.

BALLANTINE’S REVEALS EXCLUSIVE PREMIUM BLEND FOR FESTIVE SEASON
 
Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 range of blended Scotch whiskies, has added its first seasonal limited edition expression to the range, with the unveiling of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve.  Aimed at attracting new and existing customers during the festive season, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve will help to strengthen the brand’s position in key European markets.
 
Created by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is an exceptional blended whisky of superior quality which will be available annually for a limited period. The non-aged expression is a Scotch whisky category first, with its familiar seasonal notes and luxury Christmas aromas such as sweet wood, dried fruit, raisins and cinnamon.
 
Peter Moore, International Brand Director for Ballantine’s comments: “Predictably there’s always a strong focus on gifting at this time of the year so it was important for us to respond with a unique expression which would appeal to new customers as well as existing customers who are keen to trade up. Although a first for Ballantine’s, the Christmas Reserve perfectly represents the flair and substance that underpins the brand”.
 
Available from October to December 2010 in key markets such as Spain, France, Poland and Taiwan, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is presented in a white card box, with embossed snowflakes and elements of gold foil adding a premium festive feel.  Moving away from the traditional blue packaging that is synonymous with the brand, the striking new expression will ensure maximum shelf stand out for Ballantine’s during the busy sales period.
 
Tasting Notes

On the nose, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is rich, deep and fruity with hints of moist raisin fruitcake and sweet candy apples perfectly balanced out by caramel toffees and soft ripe pears. It tastes sweet with succulent tangy orange and a superb liquorice root and ginger flavour. The finish is very long, round and sweet.
 
Notes:
 
About Ballantine’s

Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 range of blended Scotch whisky, has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.
 
About Chivas Brothers

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 and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.
 
In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.