Hello Spirits Fans:

This is an exciting time of the year as we countdown to the upcoming Whiskies of the World® Expo in San Francisco at the end of March.

The 12th Annual Expo is certain to be one of the best events ever held and we want to whet your palate with a preview of a tiny selection of our hundreds of exhibiting spirits.  (See our website for a current pour list under the Events tab)

American

We start off the lineup with the return of San Francisco’s own Anchor Distilling and their amazing portfolio. At the top of the list stands Old Potrero Single Malt 18th Century Style Whiskey. This is the recreation of a recipe believed to have been followed by George Washington’s own distiller (an imported Scotsman!) and takes us back to the origins of American Whiskey with a rich, smooth single malt RYE unlike anything you have ever experienced. Back east at Mt Vernon, the entire distilling operation on Washington’s estate has been restored to historically accurate operation and as you sip the whiskey being made so artistically at Anchor Distilling, you can experience a true piece of American history and our country’s contribution to fine artisanal spirits starting back in the 1700’s!

The folks at Anchor extend their talents to two incredible gins as well as to whiskey. Junipero, a longtime award winning gin of distinction, is a “not to be missed” part of your time at the Expo. Made in small batch copper pot still style with at least a dozen botanicals, this is a dry style gin to rival any made in the UK or for that matter…made anywhere! Add to this line up a superior Genivier Gin from Anchor and you may almost feel you have had a totally satisfying evening’s tastings…but wait!

Scottish

We head to Speyside to delve into the BenRiach saga. Established in 1898 on the same site of the Longmorn Distillery during a boom time. Shut down in 1900 and reopened during Whisky boom time of 1965. Shut down again in 2002. Re-discovered in 2004 and now in the hands of Master Blender Billy Walker. An organic chemist with almost 30 years experience in the Whisky business and one of the most respected ‘men of whisky’ in Scotland.  Although it is a Speyside distillery, they produce a diverse range of award winning Malts.  At the WoW Expo, you can taste the BenRiach, Heart of Speyside, 12 year old, IWSC Silver Medal winner.  Also experience the Curiositas Peated. Another ISWC silver medal winner and best of class.  It doesn’t stop here. The Benriach Distillery is the proud owner of the GlenDronach Distillery, putting it under the artfull skill of Billy Walker and bringing us their wonderful 12 year old, sherried malt , and their renowned 15 year, full bodied, sherried single malt.  These fine malts can be sample at the Preiss Imports table.

Irish

After this tour of Scotland it’s time to move on and recall that Ireland is not to be forgotten on the world whiskey scene. The Expo is proud to host the Michael Collins bottlings…

Distilled at Cooley Distillery in Dundalk, the only independent distillery in the Republic of Ireland, this whiskey is named for Michael Collins, leader of Irish independence. Michael Collins whisky is double distilled for a proper balance of purity and character, then matured in bourbon seasoned casks. Both the Single Malt and Blended whiskeys are rich and smooth, characterized by complexity and backbone. Treat yourself to a post St Paddy’s day sampling of these fine examples of Irish distiller’s art.

American Again

And onto our final teaser for you this week. We trot the globe to land right back (where we started) in San Francisco , home to St George Distillery and the distinctive creation of distiller Lance Winters, St George Single Malt Whiskey. We know that Lance started laying down casks for his trademark bottling about a dozen years ago but you’ll need to go to the St George booth to find out exactly which of these incredibly small batch, artisanal bottlings are on display the night of the Expo. If you are lucky enough to meet the maker you are in for both a treat and a full fledged education! And don’t miss the beauty of the label –an original David Lance Goins- one of San Franciso’s most revered artists.

Tickets via; http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/store/index.php