Ralfy wishes all the merry maltsters around the World a happy New Year’s Vlog with the first of a mini-series about Springbank Distillery and it’s Malts.

Beginning with WhiskyReview 176 – Introducing Springbank Malt Whiskies  with a seven part comprahensive Tour of Springbank Distillery happening in review 177…… hooray for ralfy.com, the most eccentric whisky-stuff on the internet.

 Visit Ralfy at www.ralfy.com

Burns Supper at the City Club of San Francisco with SKYY Spirits and Robin Coupar

Oh Whisky! Soul o’ plays and pranks!
Accept a bardie’s grateful thanks!

— Robert Burns

 
Raise your glass!
Just a few days ago, at the stroke of midnight, we were all ringing in 2011 with the time honored tradition of raising a glass of Champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne. On Friday, January 21st, from 6:30 – 9:00 pm, we will raise our glasses, filled with whisky this time, for Robert Burns who penned this timeless poem and the literary legacy he left the world.
 
This formal dinner takes place at the City Club of San Francisco and will start with the Selkirk Grace as it follows the traditional format of the supper. Robin Coupar of Skyy Spirits will be on hand to help us celebrate. This dinner is going to be filled with merry-making and glee.  We will have several courses of a traditional Scottish Supper, each being paired with an exceptional Scotch from SKYY Spirits.

While our goal is to savor and experience the uniqueness of each whisky, this evening is intended to be a celebration. So please be understanding if the night is more festive than our usual Whisky Pairings;)
 
Menu:
Cock-A-Leekie Soup
Traditional Haggis
Steak Balmoral – USDA Prime Tenderloin with Sauce Balmoral
Roasted Root Vegetables
Mashed Potatoes
Dessert: Scotch Trifle

Cheese & Oatcakes served after wards with coffee & tea

Whisky List
The Glenrothes Vintage 1998
Bowmore 15 Year Old
Auchentoshan Three Wood
Glen Grant 16 Year Old
Glen Garioch 12 Year Old

* All Guest Must RSVP by purchasing a Ticket in advance
* Must be 21 Years and Older to Attend.
* Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Purchase your tickets via http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=121

Hello everyone,

I know I run the risk of sounding like somebody who only speaks about the weather but I just got back to work today and saw the pictures below in our internal magazine. They are far better than the ones I shared with you back in December.

The pictures show Warehouse 28 in Dufftown and…(check out the rest of the post and pictures via the link below)

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/01/warehouse-28/

Kind regards,
Ludo

For the first time ever (it would seem) The British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch has heavily discounted (& one must ignore the ruinous price to start with) a narrow selection of premiumwhiskies:
 
Balvenie 30 year old: Now $318.49 down $136.50 from $454.99
 
Chivas Regal 25 year old: Now $223.43 down $95.75 from $319.18
 
Tullibardine 1966: Now $574.18 down $143.54 from $717.72

Spanish Twist for New Benromach Wood Finish

Speyside’s smallest distillery has introduced a Spanish flavour to its range of award-winning Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, with the addition of Benromach Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish.

Benromach’s latest offering –  a soft, fresh single malt with a pronounced malty character and a rounded sweetness – was ‘finished’ for 30 months  in Spanish oak casks from the Pedro Ximenez soleras of Williams & Humbert, one of the world’s most prestigious wine producers.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Benromach Distillery owners Gordon& MacPhail, said:

“We’re delighted to unveil the latest addition to the Benromach range, which has been finished in casks from Bodegas Williams & Humbert, a wine producer with a history going back nearly 130 years. The end result is a golden malt with hints of delicate spice and almond.

“Benromach is Speyside’s smallest distillery and as a ‘boutique’ distillery we are keen to embrace innovation and try new and different things – in this case, we found that the richness of the Pedro Ximenez casks perfectly complemented the complex style of Benromach. We are confident that fans of other Benromach products will love this expression.

Benromach Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish will be available as a limited release in 70cl (for selected markets), bottled at 45% from whisky specialists and fine wine and spirits retail specialists with a suggested UK retail price of £29.50.

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Tasting notes – Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish

UNDILUTED

Nose: A subtle ash note is followed by a fruity edge with hints of ripe peaches. Some delicate fresh mint notes linger.

Palate: Defined spices – cinnamon. Hints of almond are infused with sweet influences and creamy textures.

WITH WATER

Nose: Fresh with toasted malt notes. Hints of ripe banana and delicate esters emerge. A defined Sherry influence develops.

Palate: Creamy and sweet with delicate spices. The palate is well rounded and balanced.

Body: Medium.

Finish: Long.

Cask Type: The whisky is matured in 1st fill Sherry and bourbon casks. Finished in Pedro Ximenez casks.

www.benromach.com

www.gordonandmacphail.com

A very Happy New Year to you all, and to chase away the post Christmas blues we thought you’d like to know that tickets are now available for our next tutored tasting.   We’re going to start the year off with a selection of Irish whiskey and are very fortunate to have Noel Sweeney, Master Distiller, coming along from Cooley Distillery on Wednesday 9th February.

 
Recently named European Distiller of the Year for the third year running at the 2010 International Wine and Spirit Awards, Cooley distillery was established in 1987 and so is only relatively young.  However, the vision when it was created was to restore the ancient distilling techniques of Irish whiskey and bring back to life some of the famous old Irish whiskey brands. This means that Cooley distillery uses centuries old methods of Irish pot still distillation when producing their whiskey.  Additionally, whilst all their brands display the characteristic smooth and sweet taste of Irish whiskey the fact that Cooley have both malt and grain distilleries means they are able to produce a wide range of styles – including peated and unpeated single malts, aged blends, wood finished and cask strength whiskies, and single grain whiskey. 

As you can see, this is going to be an interesting and diverse whiskey tasting, with something for every taste and the added bonus of the master distiller himself being here to take us through the drams and give us the inside story on this award winning independent distillery.  A great start to our whisky tasting year so don’t miss out!

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

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and, as most of you already know, these tickets always sell very quickly so it is best to book ASAP.  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 most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

These evenings are a great chance to try some new whiskies that you might not encounter otherwise, and to be educated and entertained at the same time.  Come along and join us!

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

Stanton House

Whisky lovers take their passion into all sorts of areas. Shai Gilboa decided to look into the history of a fairly obscure blended Scotch whisky after coming across an old bottle of Stewart’s Cream of the Barley during a tasting in Israel. He not only studied the history, but tracked down a current bottle of Stewart’s and sent samples of the old and new bottlings to friends around the world to compare. In the news, Ralph Erenzo’s condition improves, Skye loses one of its champions, and Early Times brings out a new bourbon in the U.S.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com 

The Quaich Awards™

Announcing the most prestigious whisky awards in North America

                                            Entry details

Mission Statement

Companions of the Quaich, Canada’s Premier Malt Whisky Appreciation Society, is proud to announce the establishment of an awards program to recognize and reward licensed restaurants, hotels and bars across Canada that meet the highest standards of excellence in the provision and promotion of Malt whisky.  This award will be the most prestigious and desirable of its kind in North America.

The Quaich Awards will honour establishments that exhibit a passion for Single Malts by offering a significant number of brands served by knowledgeable professionals.

All entries will be assessed by a panel of qualified whisky and hospitality judges. 

THERE IS NO CHARGE  OR FEE FOR SUBMITTING ENTRIES.

Five Levels of Recognition

One Quaich  will recognize establishments which offer up to 25 selections.

Two Quaichs   will recognize establishments up to 50 selections and a good cross-section and regional representation.

 Three Quaichs  will recognize establishments with up to 100 selections and a good cross section and regional representation.

 Four Quaichs   will recognize establishments with up to 200 selections and a good cross section and  regional representation.

 Five Quaichs  will recognize establishments with over 300 selections and a complete representation from all regions of Scotland and the world, and well informed staff.

Rare Platinum Award  will recognize establishments with over 500 selections, a complete regional and world representation, appropriate equipment and trained staff.

Our goal is to recognize those establishments which already have a great Single Malt list and encourage everyone to move towards the ultimate award of Five Quaichs.

The Companions of the Quaich is proud of all the many establishments across Canada which feature Single Malt whisky.  We believe you should be honoured.  We want to highlight the excellence of Single Malt on the world stage.  We are creating a web directory with you in it so that Single Malt lovers know where to find a great dram wherever they are in Canada.

There is no charge or fee for submitting entries or receiving awards.

Submit to the email provided a copy of your list in pdf (we do not want a hard copy) a brief description of your restaurant/bar/hotel and your philosophy on whisky (100 words or less).  Please enclose a picture of your establishment for the website.

All entries will be assessed by our team of qualified whisky and hospitality judges.

http://thequaichawards.com/

Woodford Reserve ® and Esquire to Showcase Nation’s Ultimate Manhattans

Finalists’ creations to be showcased at January 10 event at Top of The Standard
 
Louisville, Ky. (January 5, 2011) – With the recent resurgence of pre-Prohibition bourbon cocktails, the classic Manhattan is making a comeback across the country. Woodford Reserve bourbon and Esquire magazine have searched the country for the nation’s ultimate well-crafted Manhattans and will feature 11 “Masters of the Manhattan” on January 10 during The Manhattan Experience Finals in New York City.

Each bartender showcased their own spin on the historic cocktail at events across the country and will present their own well-crafted Manhattan cocktails at the Woodford Reserve/Esquire Magazine Manhattan Experience. The event takes place in New York City on Monday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Top of The Standard. There, the bartenders’ creations will be reviewed by a panel of experts, including Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris and spirit journalist Paul Pacult.

“We have had some wonderful and creative recipes submitted during our search over the past few months, highlighting all of the flavors of Woodford Reserve,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “Along with our partners at Esquire, we look forward to showcasing the cocktail craftsmanship of some of the finest mixologists in the country.”

All 11 finalists will be featured in a Woodford Reserve advertisement in the February issue of Esquire.

To celebrate the spirit of crafting the ultimate cocktail, Esquire’s resident mixologist David Wondrich has developed the Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve. The cocktail recipe is as follows:

Esquire Manhattan featuring Woodford Reserve

1.5 to 2 oz Woodford Reserve

1 oz Martini & Rossi red vermouth

1/2 oz Fernet Branca

Stir well with cracked ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and twist swatch of thin-cut orange peel over the top.

About Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman

Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Fetzer, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, and Bonterra. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

About Esquire

Esquire (www.esquire.com), published by Hearst Magazines, was the winner of the 2009 National Magazine Awards for “Feature Writing,” “Personal Service” and “Leisure Interests.” It is the most-honored monthly magazine in America with a total of 13 awards. Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with Esquire mobile (m.esquire.com). In addition to its U.S. flagship, Esquire publishes 16 editions around the world. 

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2011.

January 2011 Outturn: New Year, New Adventure

Start 2011 as you mean to go on…explore the dizzy new heights of our latest crop of the finest single cask, single malt whiskies on the planet.

Pair Recommendation: Buy 9.56 & 26.71 together and save £16

9.56 Mom’s apple pie 
Speyside Spey
£38.90 inc. free P&P
The first impression is of sweet pastry and fresh apples (perhaps with a trace of mint); a soft nose, with light vanilla and some barley-sugar

26.71 The Great Outdoors  
Highland Northern
£74.40 inc. free P&P
The fresh nose brought us outdoors – wet sand, chalky cliffs and rock pools with fishing nets catching shellfish and crabs.

Trio Recommendation: Buy 93.43, 76.79 & 23.68 & save £18.30
93.43 Two-faced duality
Campbeltown
£43.20 inc. free P&P
The nose somehow balanced grapefruit, juniper, sandalwood, sweet tobacco, syrupy cherries and plum against oily, metallic machine smells

76.79 Sherry fusion
Speyside Spey
 £49.60 inc. free P&P
The full inviting and juicy nose oozed fruitcake and leather; a fusion of venison and deep currant jus, gutsy steak, walnut and prunes

23.68 Smoky Pavlova
Islay
£41.10 inc. Free P&P
The intriguing nose had smoked cheese, evostick and peppermint, tarragon, butterscotch and vanilla cream

**Tasting Panel Recommendation…
27.89 Greek lamb with a leather handbag

Society 2011 Burns Whisky Tasting & Events

Aberdeen Burns Tasting – Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Fri 21 Jan
Edinburgh HDV Burns Offer – Bistro, Mon 24 – Fri 28 Jan
Traditional Burns Supper – The Vaults, Tue 25 Jan
Traditional Burns Night – London, Tue 25 Jan
Burns Dinner, The Dining Room – Queen Street, Tue 25 Jan
Bristol HDV Burns Dinner – The Sugar House, Tue 25 Jan
Girls’ Burns – Queen Street, Wed 26 Jan
Dunfermline Burns Tasting – Garvock House Hotel, Thu 27 Jan
Newcastle Burns Tasting – Northern Counties Club, Fri 28 Jan
Glasgow Burns Tasting – Malmaison, Fri 28 Jan
Edinburgh HDV Burns Dinner – Bristo Place, Fri 28 Jan
Harrogate HDV Burns Dinner – Prospect Place, Fri 28 Jan

YOUR OWN Private Burns Celebrations

Did you know you could arrange your own private Burns dinners and suppers at the Society? Including theatrical entertainment and music, delicious food and of course, the finest whisky. 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

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