Whisky Intelligence has added a new category called ‘Vignettes – Moments in Whisky’ which will feature whisky moments as experienced by the readership. If you have a whisky moment please feel free to submit your moment and we’ll do our best to publish it. The very first Vignette – Moments in Whisky will be published on Monday May 30th and was submitted by Joe Barry of South Africa.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey…$15.99
Canadian Club 1.75L…$16.99
Canadian LTD 1.75L…$10.99
Canadian Mist 1.75L…$16.99
Crown Royal…$17.99
Dewar’s White Label….75L $26.99
Early Times 1.75L…$16.99
Jack Daniels Black 1.75L…$32.99
J & B Scotch 1.75L…$26.99
Jim Beam Bourbon 1.75L…$21.99
Johnnie Walker Black Label…$25.99
Johnnie Walker Red Label 1.75L…$27.99
Maker’s Mark Bourbon…$22.99
Seagram’s 7 Crown 1.75L…$15.99
Southern Comfort 1.75L…$19.99
Prices valid W/Binny’s Card through May 31, 2011. Not responsible for misprints or typographical errors. Sizes 750ml unless otherwise stated. Advertised items limited to quantities on hand.
Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com
Chivas Regal 12yo (40%, OB, +/- 2010)
A very famous blended Scotch whisky with Strathisla distillery at the ‘spiritual home’. On the nose there is some nice toffee along with some good rich fruit notes (think dried apricot, cherries and raisins). Very luscious and luxuriant and some hints of marmalade pop up looking for attention. All these notes are given some back bone by the oak spice that weaves in and out of the aromas. The taste is surprisingly gentle at first but it quickly grows in stature with a little ‘green’ notes and some good malt notes. The sweetness only adds to the collective and enhances the taste significantly. Well, well, what a nice little dram. A little oak spice also adds to the whole experience. The finish is also very good and is quite simply a mirror of the taste; it’s very long and warming.
Quite frankly this is a really excellent blended Scotch whisky which is very consistent from aromas through to finish.
A mere $23 in some markets
Score 87 points
2011 Buffalo Trace Grillin’ Contest
Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey Launches Online Recipe Contest
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 24, 2011) – Calling all Grill Masters! Buffalo Trace is calling for entries as it launches the 2011 Buffalo Trace Grillin’ Contest. Culinary dreamers and food experimenters everywhere can now share their unique recipes featuring Buffalo Trace Bourbon in a new digital cooking contest created by Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It’s a virtual contest located online within the whiskey’s social network website at www.buffalotracesaloon.com.
“The use of great whiskey in food is a tradition that many bourbon loving folks often enjoy,” said Buffalo Trace’s Kris Comstock. “This contest will allow them to share those great tasting recipes with other bourbon lovers.”
Buffalo Trace, the flagship brand of America’s oldest continuously operating distillery, will give away monthly gift certificates to Omaha Steaks for the best bourbon food recipe. To join the contest, upload a recipe that includes Buffalo Trace Bourbon to the “Grillin’” section on the Saloon website. The Buffalo Trace Saloon community will then review the submitted recipes for their favorites and vote. The recipe that receives the most votes during each month wins an Omaha Steak gift certificate.
“Our website has thousands of bourbon drinking members who already enjoy all sorts of games, videos and entertainment,” continued Comstock. “The Grillin’ contest will give them another reason to enjoy the Saloon, and give other Saloon members some great ideas on how to mix great whisky into their summer Grillin’.”
The contest is live and will continue through October. For further details on the 2011 “Buffalo Trace Grillin’ Contest,” visit www.buffalotracesaloon.com/grillin.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracemediakit.com.
Tuesday, May 31st, Rare and Precious Scotch, 6:30 p.m.
Precious and Rare Scotch
Warning! This class is not for the weak of heart. Here we will take a close look at some of the most exclusive bottles coming from Scotland, the innovation that has them turning heads, and the true beauty that over a century of practice can bring to your glass. Expect such delights as a not to be missed bottling of The Glenlivet, a rare vintage Macallan, and a few older malts. This is an advanced class, and fundamental Scotch knowledge is encouraged.
The cost is $120 per person all inclusive for the rare and precious series. The first round of food along with a cocktail take place between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. At 7:00 p.m., the tasting and lecture start, to end around 9:00 p.m., with a break in the middle for more passed hors d’oeuvres. As there are usually many questions, it is safer to plan on leaving at 9:30 p.m…
if you redeem a gift certificate, please bring it along.
Call to RSVP (and prepay if possible)
212.226.5545
with cheese and chocolate buffets
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Visit the Brandy Library at www.brandylibrary.com
A World of Whisky Events
PRESENTED BY LAPHROAIG
Here are some of the events going on over the next few weeks. There’s a full calendar at the WhiskyCast web site, and it’s brought to you by Laphroaig!
May 26: Whisky Live, Madrid, Spain
May 26: Jolly Toper Tasting, Tolbooth Tavern, Edinburgh, Scotland
May 28: Spirit School on Whisk(e)y, Brandy Library, New York City
May 29: Arran Distillery Open Day, Lochranza, Scotland
May 31: Queensland Whisky Expo, Brisbane, Australia
June 2-5: Masters of Food & Wine Tour Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC
June 3: SMWS Australia Chapter Members Tasting, Brisbane
June 5: Single Malt Tasting, Dundee Dell, Omaha, Nebraska
June 9: Tasting Benefit for The Soccer Learning Center’s Autism Project, Jersey City, NJ
June 11: Woodford Reserve Bourbon Academy, Versailles, Kentucky
June 11: Second Saturday Single Malt Tasting, Miner’s Delight Inn, Atlantic City, Wyoming
June 15: Auction of Rare Whiskies, McTear’s, Glasgow
June 16: Bourbon & Bowties Benefit for Kosair Children’s Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
June 17: Amrut Tasting with Ashok Chokalingham, Nickolls & Perks, Stourbridge, England
June 17-18: Whisky Live at the Games (Chicago), Illinois
June 18: Catoctin Creek Distilling Workshop, Purcellville, Virginia
June 19: Father’s Day Speyside Tasting, WhiskyCafe L&B, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –
If you’re like me, you spent the day Sunday in great celebration: dancing…drinking…singing…drinking…eating…and drinking. Did I mention drinking?
After all how often do you find yourself emerging from under your bed, where you spent the previous 24 hours shaking like a 16 year old chihuahua and sweating like Imelda Marcos in a Payless shoe store, to find that the world had in fact NOT come to an end!
It seems our friend Harold Camping has declared a Mulligan on his Doomsday prediction, and moved his date of total destruction back to late October.
So to celebrate the resilience of Human Kind (and because there just ain’t anything exciting to offer you this week) this weeks Whisky Wednesday opportunity is about YOU, the whisky drinkers who just wouldnt die!
For the next 48 hours, or until 11:59pm EST on Friday, ForScotchLovers is offering FREE FedEX Ground shipping on all orders of $150 or more, exclusively to readers of this email. Just buy whatever you want, and enter code FSLMay2011 in the coupon/promotion field of the shopping cart, and the FedEx Ground shipping is on us.
I hope you’ll take advantage of this offer…it’s a great way to stock up for the summer.
Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com
Antiquary 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2010)
A premium blend from the nice people at Tomatin Distillery and they described it as “A smooth well-balanced, deluxe blend which displays the mellowness expected from a top quality brand. Each whisky has a minimum age of 12 years and has been selected to combine all the strengths and subtleness of Scottish whisky at its best.”
The nose starts off quite citrusy, lots of lemon and herbs followed by some good malt and perhaps a little brine, a little short bread or cake. All very nice and clean, nothing to upset the apple cart. The taste is malty and very good while being slightly more rounded than the nose. This is actually very good. A little more character in the form of some goo influence from the cask(s) which binds it all together rather well. Some good sweet malt arrives after a moment or two. Some cocoa too. The finish is malty and clean with some of the above descriptors showing well. A long finish that leaves you chewing away at the malt for quite a while and thinking of the next sip.
What a surprise and a very pleasant one at that. All those positive comments on the Whisky Exchange website were bang on target.
£28
Score 85 points.
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES JIM BEAM ROYALITY IN CELEBRATION OF ‘THE NEW BLACK’
Fred Noe
Australia, 25th May 2011: Jim Beam, The Bourbon, is excited to welcome seventh generation Beam Distiller, and Jim Beam’s great grandson, Fred Noe, to Australia to celebrate the re-launch of Jim Beam Black.
Arriving at the end of the month, Noe will help promote Jim Beam Black as part of a wider strategy focused on repositioning the brand as THE premium bourbon. As part of this strategy, Jim Beam Black recently released sleek black and silver packaging, giving the brand a distinctive look which reflects its premium liquid.
“I’m looking forward to my visit to Australia at the end of May to celebrate the relaunch of Jim Beam Black. Jim Beam Black was rated the number one North American Whiskey by the Beverage Tasting Institute which goes to show what a great product it really is, and I’m sure Australians will think so too,” said Noe.
Reinforcing “There’s No Hiding The Flavour” with Jim Beam Black, Noe will educate consumers and the trade on the brand’s premium strength, quality and flavour through a range of product tastings and events. The events will take place in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, offering premium bourbon enthusiasts and retail the chance to meet Noe and learn about the brand’s premium quality credentials.
“With the relaunch of Jim Beam Black, Fred’s visit is a key part of motivating and educating consumers and trade partners on the products premium qualities. We’re really excited we have this opportunity to introduce Fred Noe to the premium bourbon drinkers of Australia, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to producing quality bourbon and is the perfect spokesperson for Jim Beam Black at this exciting time,” commented Jim Beam Brand Director Ray Noble.
Activity supporting the relaunch will include a range of below-the-line developments;including on and off-premise point-of-sale, ambient displays and consumer giveaways. In addition, the campaign will be driven by online media, sponsorships and PR activities.
Fred Noe will be visiting from 31st May – 11th June and will be hosting the following events:
Brisbane
Bourbon Appreciation Evening, hosted by Fred Noe and Jim Beam Racing
When: 6.30pm for a 7pm start, Wednesday 1st June 2011
Where: Dick Johnson Racing, 10 Emeri Street Stapylton
Sydney
Customer Lunch, hosted by Fred Noe
When: 12.30pm – 3.30pm, Friday 3rd June 2011
Where: Parra Firehouse, Parramatta Leagues Club, 13-15 O’Connell Street, Parramatta
Perth
5 Course Bourbon Themed Dinner including tasting and bottle signing by Fred Noe
When: 7.00pm – 11.00pm, Thursday 9th June, 2011
Where: Tiger Lils, 437 Murray St, Perth
Summer is just around the corner and things are warming up nicely here on Jura. I’m not talking about the weather of course – that’s as unpredictable as ever with yesterday’s gale force winds and today’s volcanic ash cloud!– but preparations for our annual whisky festival, taking place later this week, are well underway!
In fact this year looks to be one of our biggest celebrations yet, and tickets have sold out already. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get involved and enjoy a dram of your favourite tipple without having to visit us in person. Just visit our website – it’s just a wee bit easier to get to than the island itself!
Our website is all set up to capture the mood of the festivities perfectly. You can share your thoughts in our festival guestbook, upload images of Jura – past and present in our gallery and enter an exclusive competition to win one of several Jura Tasting Kits.
Regardless of whether you’re one of our lucky winners or not you’ll still be able to enjoy our special online (and exclusive to Diurachs) tasting session. I’ll be hosting this with Willie Tait and it will be available on the website for you to enjoy shortly after we’ve had time to recover from the festivities on the island.
You can take a sneak preview at this year’s programme here. Festivities include the release of a special bottling and a distillery tour taking in views from the island’s newest standing stone – and much more besides! We’ll also be filming all the best bits of the festival and putting them online so you can take part virtually anywhere.
So whether you’re coming in person or just in spirit, we look forward to welcoming you to the celebrations. Look out for our newly refurbished Distillery Visitor Centre – it’s bound to make an appearance in some of the footage.
And remember I love hearing from you so stay in touch.
Slainte
Willie Cochrane
Jura Distillery Manager
P.S. If you have friends or family who also share your passion for Jura whisky and might like to become Diurachs send them to www.isleofjura.com where they’ll discover more about our mystical isle.
