Craft Distillers support Japan

A group of independent Scottish Distilleries have agreed to collaborate to produce a unique whisky and donate all proceeds to the disaster relief effort in Japan.

Each of the seven distilleries, representing the best craft producers in the Scotch whisky business, will donate a cask of their single malt that will be expertly blended to create a limited edition whisky, appropriately called the Spirit of Unity, which will never be produced again.

The connections between the malt whisky industry and Japan are strong as few consumers are as passionate about malt whisky as the Japanese and it has been a major export market for many years.

The idea came from Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers. Mitchell explained: “Many in our industry, like me, travel regularly to Japan and have made friends and contacts with Japanese whisky enthusiasts.

“On seeing the scale and horror of the problems they are facing we were moved to help and other craft distillers immediately came onboard.”

 The distillers are Arran, BenRiach, Bladnoch, GlenDronach, Mitchell’s Glengyle, Kilchoman and Springbank. Each of them is a multiple award-winning independent business. They have never collaborated in this way and are never likely to again.

The combined contribution will produce approximately 2,000 bottles with 1,200 available in the UK.  The remainder will be shipped to Japan with some being donated for sale in New Zealand to assist with relief in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

It is expected that the release will be oversubscribed as soon as it is made available.

With the support of suppliers and partners, including retailers, a conservative estimate is that at least £50,000 will be donated to the relief effort.

Independent whisky expert David Broom comments: “This is a marvellous and compassionate response to the dreadful tragedy which has befallen Japan and is a beautifully symbolic gesture of how the craft distillers of Scotland are working together to help their friends in that country.

“What’s more, with the pedigree of the distilleries involved I know that this will be a superb whisky.

“Nothing like this has been produced before and whisky lovers around the world will be clamouring to own and taste this one-off bottling. In doing so, they will be helping aid the Japanese people.”

For whisky fans the leading producers each represent acclaimed malt whisky regions in Islands, Speyside, Highland, Islay, Campbeltown and Lowland.

The producers will offer the limited bottling available through two leading online whisky retailers; Royal Mile Whiskies and Loch Fyne Whiskies, and in their respective shops in Edinburgh & London and Inveraray.

Euan Mitchell: “Not a penny of profit will be taken from this project by any of the parties involved with the packaging being donated free of charge by Chesapeake Branded Packaging.

“The Spirit of Unity will be available in store and for despatch by the end of April with details being posted on the websites of the distillers and retailers.”

Pre-orders at £59 per bottle (+p&p) are now being taken at www.royalmilewhiskies.com and www.LFW.co.uk 

NOTES

Dave Broom is Editor-in-Chief of Whisky Magazine Japan

For more information on each producer visit their websites:

Arran Distillery: www.arranwhisky.com

BenRiach Distillery: www.benriachdistillery.co.uk

Bladnoch Distillery: www.bladnoch.co.uk

GlenDronach Distillery: www.glendronachdistillery.com

Glengyle Distillery: www.kilkerran.com

Kilchoman Distillery: www.kilchomandistillery.com

Springbank Distillery: www.springbankdistillers.com 

UPDATE : Craft Distillers Produce Unique Whisky to Support Japan

Following the release of unique whisky ‘Spirit of Unity’ in aid of Japan’s disaster relief effort, 100 of the 1,000 bottles available in the UK has already been sold.

This represents the sale of 10% of the limited edition bottling and a total of £5,900 raised within just 24-hours.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, comments: “We are overwhelmed with the reception of our unique dram and are thrilled to be well on our way to our £70,800 target in the UK.

“We hope the generosity of UK whisky lovers brings some swift relief to those suffering in Japan.”

‘Spirit of Unity’ is a combined effort from a group of Scottish craft distilleries including Arran, BenRiach, Bladnoch, GlenDronach, Mitchell’s Glengyle, Kilchoman and Springbank.

Pernod Ricard – Glenlivet et all

The Britons Protection, Manchester 
Friday April 8th 2011, 7.30pm 

£22.00 / ticket

Pernod Ricard is a company not too many people know a great deal about when it comes to whisky. However, when they aquired the Chivas Brothers portfolio from the dismantled Seagram in 2001, people began to take notice. They now have the responsibility for several key malt distilleries as well as the Chivas Regal and Ballantine blends.

Phil Huckle, the Chivas UK Brand Ambassador, will be joining us as we look at the rich and varied range of whiskies available from this diverse company. This includes some rarer bottlings of the famous Glenlivet distillery, but also the lesser known, but highly sought-after Longmorn and Scapa – among others…

As always each tasting is designed to be fun and enjoyable for all levels of whisky drinker, and is not a lecture. You will almost certainly learn something new every time, but if you don’t walk out with a smile on your face then there we have done something wrong!

If you would like to order tickets for this tasting as a gift, we can email you a PDF with ticket/s for you to print and pop in a card. Just email us at info@thewhiskylounge.com after placing your order.
 
You will not be sent a ticket through the post. Your details will be added to the event register and all you need to do is print the payment confirmation page and bring it with you to the event.

Visit the Whisky Lounge at  http://www.thewhiskylounge.com/

The Britons Protection, Manchester

Victoria Highland Games Beam Global Whisky School

J. Wheelock - photo credit Jen Steele

Please join the Victoria Highland Games Association in welcoming J. Wheelock, well-known Ambassador for the excellent scotch whiskies of the Macallan, Highland Park and the Famous Grouse, to name but a few. J. will lead attendees through four classes which will focus on these fine examples of the distillers craft. Tickets are $35 each and are strictly limited to 40 seats in each class.

Saturday 1:15 Highland Park – This class will focus on the whiskies of Highland Park Distillery in Orkney.
Saturday 3:15 Macallan – This class will focus on the whiskies of the Macallan Distillery in Speyside.
Sunday 1:15 The Famous Grouse – This class will focus on the constituent malts of the famous blend (Glenturret & Tamdhu for example) along with a vintage, all malt-version of the Famous Grouse.
Sunday 3:15 The Trinity – J. Wheelock is keeping the whiskies in this class a secret; however, expect great things!

The registration form may be downloaded via;

http://www.victoriahighlandgames.com/events/2011/highland-games/whiskey.html

Glencairn whisky nosing and tasting glasses are available at a cost of $12 each and must be reserved at the time of ticket booking. Classes are always sold out at the Games, so be sure to register soon!

Further information may be found at www.victoriahighlandgames.com

The Claymore Times

~ All The News That’s Fit To Drink ~

Greetings malt lovers

Get set for a spectacular, once-a-year evening that features a dazzling array of 100 plus single malts and premium spirits, tutored tastings, live jazz and bossa nova, gourmet table d’hote from Daniel et Daniel, classic cocktails, and a poolside cigar bar on the outdoor lower level of Roy Thomson Hall.  We had a fantastic time last year and without doubt this is the best run whisky fest in Ontario, as an added feature we have our very own Michael Urquhart hosting the ‘Masters Class’, I can hardly wait. Set your calendars and phones for May 14th and we’ll see you there.

Highlights for 2011 include…

Early Admission:

Spirit of Toronto will be opening its doors early so that patrons can attend their choice of one of the following 4 pre-show masterclasses being presented from 5:30 to 6:30pm, and then enjoy priority entry to the main tasting halls:

Compass Box, Past and Present
Gordon & MacPhail’s Speyside Greats
To Peat or Not to Peat?
Highland Park, Tradition and Novelty 

Classic Cocktails:

Spirit of Toronto welcomes Tokyo bar champion and cocktail designer Yuki Yamazaki as he hosts this year’s bar, preparing tried and true classics along with his own original whisky cocktail creations, complete with hand carved Japanese Ice Balls.

Blind Whisky Challenge

Fan favourite Regis Lemaitre returns to grace Spirit of Toronto with his inimitable Gallic charm… This year Regis puts forth a seemingly straightforward question: Single Malt, Grain Whisky or Blend? Challengers will have 15 minutes to correctly identify 3 blind samples, with prizes and bragging rights for the winners, and an educational tasting experience for all.

Notes:

Also arriving very soon: Benromach Origins Batch number 1

Regards,

Bill

Global Operations Director

Claymore Imports Inc.

Mail: bill at @claymoreimports.ca

Visit the Spirit of Toronto at www.spiritoftoronto.ca

NEW WHISKY AND FOOD TOURS SHOWCASE SPEYSIDE’S FINEST

With a higher concentration of whisky distilleries than any other region on earth, a host of iconic family-owned food producers and some of the finest raw ingredients anywhere, the rich, fertile area of Speyside and the Moray coast is one of the star turns in Scotland’s bountiful larder.

Each year this fact is celebrated at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, a five-day festival running from 28th April to 2nd May, that showcases the very best of this historic and beautiful area of north-east Scotland nestling to the west of Aberdeen and the east of Inverness. With well over 200 individual events throughout the area, the festival has grown in importance over the past 12 years to become one of the leading whisky events in the world.

Although Speyside and the Moray coast is the epicentre of the whisky universe, the area has much more to offer than just the “water of life”. This is reflected in the growing number of food events centred around traditional, family-owned companies such as Walkers, the shortbread manufacturers who are now Scotland’s biggest food exporters.

To provide a sense of what Speyside has to offer, organisers of the Festival are running two day-long weekend tours that encapsulate all that is good about the area’s food and drink, by combining an unforgettable whisky experience with an insight into the rich culinary and agricultural heritage of this area.

Visitors can see around Benromach Distillery, the smallest distillery in the Highlands, or enjoy a behind-the-scenes visit to The Glenfiddich Distillery uniquely designed for the whisky festival (The Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre was recently named ‘Scottish Visitor Attraction of the Year’), and the Sunday tour incorporates a visit to the ancient community of Benedictine monks at the 800 year old Pluscarden Abbey to sample their Gregorian chants and their home-made elixir of apple juice and honey – the alternative ‘spirit of Speyside’.

The unique tours also include a visit to meet some of the local Speyside farmers who make some of the finest malting barley in the world, and whose beef and vegetables end up on the tables of some of Europe’s finest restaurants.  There’s even time on the Saturday to pop in to Walker’s Shortbread’s Highland headquarters for afternoon tea and a sample of the Queen’s favourite shortbread, and the chance to eat some of the best food in Scotland at award-winning Knockomie Hotel in Forres or at The Glenfiddich Distillery’s Malt Barn Restaurant.

There’s always more than just whisky on offer at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – the blend of whisky, music, food and fun guarantees that visitors will be immersed in the culture of Malt Whisky Country and experience the true taste of the Speyside spirit of hospitality.

To find out more and book tickets go to www.spiritofspeyside.com, and keep up to date with the Festival programme on www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky and Food Tours run on Saturday, 30th April and Sunday, 1st May.  The cost of £75 and £90 respectively includes travel by luxury coach, an experienced guide, all tours and lunch/dinner.  Full details are available at the festival website www.spiritofspeyside.com

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011 runs from Thursday, 28th April-Monday, 2nd May.  www.spiritofspeyside.com

Speyside is easily accessible by rail or air, including a number of low-cost airline options to Aberdeen and Inverness airport.

The Festival runs a subsidised Book-a-Bus service and taxi voucher scheme.

The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including a Photographic Competition and the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011 has received funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

EventScotland is the national events agency.  EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.  For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org

The Year of Active Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative being delivered by EventScotland and VisitScotland which began on the 1st January 2011. For more information go to www.eventscotland.org/activescotland

A series of focus years running from 2010 to 2013 will ensure co-ordinated national activity that will spotlight some of Scotland’s great assets as we journey towards 2014.  The four focus years are centred on domestic and international tourism and the development of the events industry in Scotland. These focus years will celebrate our reputation as a land food and drink, as an active nation, as a place of culture and creativity and as a place of natural beauty.

EventScotland in partnership with Volunteer Development Scotland is delivering Event Team Scotland, a new web – based portal which matches volunteers across Scotland with exciting sporting and cultural events.

For more information please visit www.eventteamscotland.com

Further media information and photographs from Caroline Keith at theKeithconsultancy on 01463 811000 or 07734 543923 

Auchentoshan 1998/2010 (54.6%, OB, Sherry Cask Matured) Limited Edition

“Distilled in 1998 and matured in European Oak, Fino Sherry barrels until bottled in 2010. Limited Edition.  The nose is clean and vibrant with lots of sherry goodness along with cedar influence, hints of candle wax, varnish and cold unsweetened black tea (and no milk).  It’s good. There are also some Christmas cake but the light version, not the heavy dark version. Hints of marmalade too. The box of tricks here. With water a bit more of the green emerges and a bit more of the varnish. The taste is malty at first with some hints of green and then the sherry and European oak take over and at cask strength it’s very strong and alive, vibrant with some Weetabix like in the back ground. With water it is significantly more approachable and more syrupy but the sherry notes are still present. The finish is a roiling adventure with the sherry notes, the malt and the cedar/oak spice having a really good tussle. It’s quite long and certainly not gentle but it’s good. Water smoothes it out and actually lengthens and broadens the finish. A bit more of the ‘all mouth’ experience.

Takes water but don’t go over board. An interesting variation from the other official bottlings and very good.

S65

Score 84 points.

Visit Auchentoshan Distillery at www.auchentoshan.co.uk

Royal Wedding Whisky: A Guide

So, unless you’re one of those lucky people who live in a cave or on top of a pillar of stone without access to a decent Wi-Fi signal, it’s unlikely to have escaped your attention that in a month or so’s time the UK’s first significant Royal Wedding since 1986 (or 1981 for the purists) will be hitting London… (click on the link below to read the rest of the very amusing post)…

http://tinyurl.com/royalwedding-love

Dear Customer,

The DOUGLAS brand of Malts continues to find new markets and where that happens sales have been increasing. That success allows us to expand considerably the offering we make – to a point that we have twelve (12)new bottlings to add to the price list. These include Malts from the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside and Islay – some from Sherry casks, some from first filled Bourbons and others from refill hogsheads.

Tasting Notes follow:

DOD0160 MACALLAN 8 YEAR OLD

Style: Fresh +honeyed – spicy ginger + vanilla – sweetly malted (F)

DOD0165 AUCHENTOSHAN 10 YEAR OLD

Style: sweetly fruited – spicy & barley sugar’ed – nutty & spicy (J)

DOD0167 BRAEVAL SHERRY MATURED 11 YEAR OLD

Style: sweetly fruited – spicy & barley sugar’ed – nutty & spicy (J)

DOD0157 ROYAL BRACKLA 11 YEAR OLD

Style: clean & fruity + peated malt + warming smoke (J)

DOD0164 ABERLOUR 11 YEAR OLD

Style: clean & fresh – sweet + barley & honey – ginger-y spiced

DOD0166 BENRINNES SHERRY MATURED 12 YEAR OLD

Style: gristy & sweetly spiced – fruity (raspberries) + raisins & vanilla (F)

DOD0169 BOWMORE 12 YEAR OLD

Style: sweet & softly peated – salty & ashy + dark chocolate (F)

DOD0159 GLENROTHES 12 YEAR OLD

Style: Buttery sweet + vanilla’d – distinctly toffee’d – mellow.

DOD0168 LINKWOOD BOURBON C ASK 13 YEAR OLD

Style: sweet & fruity – macerated pears – orange bitters (J)

DOD0161 CAOL ILA 14 YEAR OLD

Style: sweet & smoky – dry ashes & beach bonfire + coffee (J)

DOD0163 CRAIGELLACHIE 14 YEAR OLD

Style: Barley sugar with citrus – plus sweet spices and light camphor. (F)

DOD0162 CLYNELISH 15 YEAR OLD

Style: cedar wood & fruit boxes – spicy caramel – toffee & coffee

Thank you for your support in the past. We will look forward to working further with you after review of this latest addition to the range when you can be assured of our best and personal attention.

All best wishes,

Fred H Laing

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

www.ralfy.com     … happy to host whisky review 194 – recommended Independant Scotch Malts     … which commences a six part series on Independent Distillery Scotch Whisky and growing availability due to on-line retailers.