BEST IN FIELD

Black Bull 12yo awarded Best Blended Scotch at World Whisky Awards

BEST BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 12 YEARS AND UNDER

Rob Allanson, Editor

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky are proud to announce that Black Bull 12 year old, our award winning deluxe blended scotch whisky has been crowned ‘Best Blended Scotch Whisky aged 12 years and under’ at the World Whisky Awards 2011.

Tenaciously fending off the comcompetition, Black Bull 12yo impressed the judges with its robust, powerful yet sublimely balanced character to be recognised as the very best in its field, globally.

Stoically Independent and without compromise, Black Bull 12yo is blended at an unusually high ratio of 50% malt to grain whisky. Released at a muscular 50% abv the blend offers a unique sensory experience and delivers indulgent, uncompromised depth. Like all Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, Black Bull 12yo celebrates nature; unfettered by chill filtration and artificial colouring, it allows the character of each carefully selected malt and grain whisky to shine through.

The Black Bull brand has been synonymous with quality and innovation since 1938 when it became the first ever 100 proof blend to be sold in the US. Following a rebranding in 2008, Black Bull’s stature and range has grown, winning critical acclaim and a plethora of awards including the International Wine and Spirits competition, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and the New York International Wine and Spirits contest.

WWW.BLACKBULLWHISKY.COM

Arran Releases 2011

Arran have announced their forthcoming releases:

Premium Single Cask Range

Sleeping Warrior – Vintage 2000 Cask Strength in association with The National Trust for Scotland

Machrie Moor II

12 Year Old Cask Strength Batch #1

Visit Isle of Arran Distillery at www.arranwhisky.com

Ralfy @ www.ralfy.com has an Official Announcement to make concerning an exclusive-inclusive ulta-premium one-of-a-kind deluxe Event ! …whisky review 197 – Glengoyne 12 yo, up and running ! … hurray ! (and sorry for farting during the recording)

Come and Taste a Wee Dram

The worlds leading malt whiskey specialists host “Single Malt whiskey- The taste, History and Mystique”

Get Answers To The Questions:

Why is Scotch whisky made only in Scotland?

Why does Scotch whisky taste smoky?

Why are single malts more expensive?

Why do single malts differ in taste?

Is older whisky always better?

Does water really intensify the whisky flavor?

Why are single malts so popular now?

How long can single malts be stored?

Why do single malts vary in color?

What does “cask-strength” mean?

What is Malt? The aging process & blending concept?

Textural and Taste Differences Between Blends and Single Malts

What is the “proper” way to drink Scotch?

The presentation and tasting of Popular Single Malt Scotches of different ages. Discussion of the maturation process of the Scotch and factors, including the effects of geography, cask type and length of maturation is included.

WINEGLOBE invites you to a Single Malts Scotch Tasting & Seminar on Thurs. May 5th, 2011 India Community Center at 6:30PM in the 525 Los Coches St. Milpitas, CA 95035  (Banquets Hall)

The following Representative Single Malts Scotch will be presented:

Auchentoshan (Signatory) 11 Yrs
Tulibardine 1993, 15 Yrs
Edradour 10 Yrs
Islay of Skye
Ardmore 1992, 18 Yrs
Highland Park 1991, 19 yrs
Amrut Fusion Indian Single malt
Smoke Head Islay
Teaninich Cask strength, 28Yr

and many more……

TASTING TO BE HELD AT:

India Community Center (Banquets Hall) 525 Los Coches St. Milpitas, CA 95035 Tel: 408-416-0215. For information and reservations. Please contact India Community center Map
WHEN: Thurs. May 5th, 2011, TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, FEE: $35.00 (Includes sumptuous appetizers… ) $35.00  for ICC members $25.00. Inquire about large groups and corporate discounts (650-298-8548).

DISCOUNT: Special Discounts offered at Tasting.  For Information and reservation, click here or call 650-298-8548 Email: tony@wineglobe.com. Don’t forget to bring a designated driver with you. (Sumptuous snacks to accompany tasting). Visit Wine Globe at www.wineglobe.com

The Master Blender

 

What’s the best whisky to go with Easter eggs?

Admit it, since you opened up those Easter eggs today you’ve been thinking “hmm, chocolate is nice, but what’s the best whisky to be having with them?”

And now I’m here to give you the answer…

As with all things involving whisky and chocolate, it really is a matter of preference – only an idiot would say there’s one definitive answer that covers every person, so get all your whisky bottles and Easter eggs out to mix and match and then when you find the right combination, just sip and savour away.

Having said that, the basic rule to consider is this: the darker the chocolate the older and more complex the whisky should be, so something like Whyte & Mackay 13 year old or Dalmore 15 year old whiskies for the standard milk chocolate Easter egg. If it’s darker perhaps something along the lines of the Dalmore King Alexander III, Dalmore Mackenzie or the Whyte & Mackay 30 year old (though I think that last one goes quite well with milk chocolate too).

How to taste it

Don’t just throw it all in your mouth and go “mmffm mmmmff mmfffm” and swallow – that’s the equivalent of just knocking back the whisky. (and for God’s sake don’t speak with your mouth full.)

If you’ve got coffee involved as well (because that can really add to the flavours), start with the coffee, feel the flavour rising through your mouth, warming it for what’s to come. Then take the whisky and – holding it in your mouth at least one second for every year the whisky is aged – move it over and under your tounge, letting the complexities of the dram come out. Finally, add the chocolate and the coffee and whisky will bring out the flavours embedded there, but again treat it with respect, enjoy it in your mouth, not just “chomp chomp chomp”.

And compare and contrast, try the coffee, chocolate and whisky without combining them to see what the pairings bring out in each of them.

But most of all, enjoy and have a fantastic Easter. (This arrived a little late but is sound advice none the less)

Visit Whyte & Mackay at http://www.whyteandmackay.co.uk

AUCHENTOSHAN LAUNCHES AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITON WHISKY – Bourbon Matured 1975 THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S ITEM FOR THE SINGLE MALT ENTHUSIAST

This May, Auchentoshan will release a rare limited edition, aged for 35 long years in fine North American Oak casks – The Auchentoshan Bourbon Matured 1975. With only 500 bottles in existence, collectors will be able to savour this fine expression at its optimum; cask strength and non-chill filtered.

Presented in a premium black double fronted box, both the carton and the bottle deliberately retain a subtlety and understated luxury best reserved for higher aged vintage releases.  The packaging reflecting the character of the copper gold liquid.   The name and label are slimmer revealing the liquid as the true hero, as is the neck, which exposes the natural cork.

Hannah Fisher, Brand Manager for Auchentoshan commented, “ This is a truly exceptional release; hand picked by our Distillery Manager from our older casks which sit within Warehouse Number 3,beneath the Kilpatrick Hills. With only 500 bottles in existence, this sweet yet spicy malt speaks for itself.”

The Bourbon Matured 1975 becomes part of a series of superb vintage releases from the late 1970s including last year’s 1977 Sherry matured and the 1978 Bourbon cask.  As Scotland’s only triple distilled whisky, dating back to 1823, Auchentoshan is a lowland Single Malt renowned for its smooth and gentle flavour. Its modern font, label and taste make it approachable to a wide audience from the younger emerging whisky drinkers to the single malt evangelists.

Tasting notes:

On the nose, is sweet butterscotch with a rum and raison toffee aroma.

On the palate hints of wood spice cutting through the sweetness, leaving a gentle lingering barley malt finish.

The Auchentoshan 1975 (RRP £350) 46.9% ABV, will be available from specialist whisky suppliers from May 2011.

For more information visit and www.auchentoshan.com

Slàinte!

Mark Dermul
A Toshan Man
(www.markdermul.be/toshanman)

WHISKI Rooms

Address: 4, 6 & 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh
Located on the Mound with fabulous open views over Edinburgh, just around the corner from Edinburgh Castle.

General Information

The WHISKI Rooms is due to open in early summer 2011 (planned for June) and will be a completely new concept in whisky retailing. Comprising of three separate units, (formerly two gift shops and a branch of the Bank of Scotland ) knocked through into three interlinked spaces, it will comprise a whisky shop with a dedicated tasting room, a bar and a bistro where customers can walk from one to the other.

The principle for the venture has came from customers repeatedly asking where they can buy the whiskies they tried and enjoyed in the original WHISKI bar. Hence the “try before you buy” concept has evolved where customers can try a whisky at the bar and if they like it, go into the whisky shop and buy it there and then or alternatively order it online and we will ship it to their home. With an all day fresh Scottish food offering, extensive drinks list including 100’s of whiskies, daily whisky tastings and educational videos being shown in the tasting room – we feel that the WHISKI Rooms will be a unique venue to promote and showcase Scotland’s national drink, whisky and Scottish produce in general.

Background

WHISKI launched in May 2007 on Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile with the intention to create an upmarket whisky bar offering fresh Scottish food and a great Scottish experience in Edinburgh. Within two years the bar had received many awards and gathered a worldwide following, appearing in many TV shows and magazine articles across the globe. 

Owners Background

Owned by husband and wife team, Gary & Anne Still. After very successful corporate careers, they decided it was time to take the plunge and move into hospitality – a industry they had passion for and had talked about doing for years. They eventually bought Clever Dicks in the Royal Mile and took over in Dec 2006, launching WHISKI in May 2007. 

Main Contact : Anne Still

Web:       www.whiskibar.co.uk
Email:     info@whiskibar.co.uk
Twitter:   www.twitter.com/whiskibar

GLENLIVET SEMINAR

Friday, April 29, 6:30-8:30pm

Glenlivet Brand Ambassador Winston Evans will lead this seminar and sample some of the finest Glenlivet whiskies available. This seminar will include 12 year, 15 year French Oak, 18 year, 21 year Archive and more. $10 W/Binny’s Card / $15 non-members. Seating is extremely limited and paid reservations are required.

Call 847-831-5400 or email highlandpark@binnys.com for reservations.

Highland Park Store
153 Skokie Valley Highway | Highland Park | 847-831-5400

Charles Maclean is one of the world’s top whisky writers, and is marking 30 years of writing about the water of life this year. We’ll hear from this Master of the Quaich about how he developed his love for whisky and his nosing skills, along with what he likes and doesn’t like about whisky these days. In the news, Graham Eunson leaves Glenglassaugh to become distillery manager at Tomatin, Diageo’s Scotch distilleries show an increase in visitor traffic, and the UK prepares to mix whisky with politics…in one polling place.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com