Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We’re very proud to announce that The Whisky Exchange at Vinopolis has been invited by Ardbeg to become an official Ardbeg Embassy – a privilege only a handful of specialist retailers around the globe have been offered. As an Ardbeg Embassy, we will always have a healthy range of bottles from the distillery open to sample in store. We will also be given a glorious 4.5 litre bottle of the new Ardbeg Alligator for its Committee Exclusive launch on the 1st June, which we’re under strict instructions to drink and share with other Ardbeg Committee members only. How about that!
 
ARDBEG EMBASSY LAUNCH,
with Michael Heads
Tuesday 31st May, 7:00pm

In celebration of this very exciting collaboration with one of our favourite Islay distilleries, we’re hosting an Ardbeg tasting evening on Tuesday 31st May, presented by Distillery Manager Michael Heads. This will also serve as a sneak preview of the Alligator, which will be sampled on the evening, just before its Committee Exclusive launch the following day. The exact line-up will remain a closely guarded secret, but suffice to say that Mickey will be bringing down a few treats from the distillery’s warehouse for us to try. We also heard a whisper that the delectable Ardbeg Land Girls may be accompanying him, so we’ve invested in a set of super-strength shackles for Toby, just in case.

For those of you unfamiliar with the distillery, Ardbeg is renowned for its heavily peated, intensely smoky style of malt whisky, very much typical of the Island – Islay – from which it comes. If you are a fan of Laphroaig or Lagavulin, this will most likely be up your street. If you’ve never tried a peated style of whisky before, it may well be worth trying a dram of Laphroaig at a reputable hostelry before you consider attending this tasting.

As demand for this tasting is likely to be astronomical, we will be offering places at the event in a slightly different fashion to the usual first-come, first-served manner. To make things as fair as possible to anyone who may be indisposed, stuck at work or otherwise unable to call us in the usual manner, we will be drawing names from a hat and offering the selected names a chance to buy 1 or 2 tickets. If you would like to come along to this spectacular night, please either send an email with your name and preferred contact number to vinopolis@thewhiskyexchange.com, or alternatively give us a call during our opening hours on +44 (0)207 403 8688. The deadline for doing this is 3:00pm, Monday 23rd May. We will run the draw on that evening, and notify the randomly selected lucky people the following day (Tuesday 24th May) by phone. You will then have 24hrs to purchase your ticket(s), priced at £30 each; otherwise we will pass the offer on to the next person in the list.

We hope that you understand our rationale behind offering places in this manner. We’d also like to point out that this is not how we intend to proceed with all tastings, it’s just that Ardbeg has something of a cult following and there’s likely to be a minor stampede for places! Also, it’s worth mentioning that while none of the TWE Team here at Vinopolis would claim to possess unwavering moral fortitude, we won’t be accepting bribes for places from anyone (you know who you are!).
  
Sláinte,

The Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Hi,

What is the legal definition of Scotch whisky? Which spelling is correct, whisky or whiskey? What are the total stocks of Scotch whisky? How should I store my whisky? Can whisky be enjoyed as part of a gluten-free diet?

These are questions I am asked on a daily basis and today I would like to point…(please click on the link below to read the rest of the article)

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/05/frequently-asked-questions/

Kind regards,
Ludo

Loch Fyne Whiskies reports that some new  Auchentoshan, Bowmore &  Glen Garioach are arriving soon:

Bowmore Vintage 1982 RRP £300

Auchentoshan Valinch RRP £40

Auchentoshan 1975 RRP £350

Glen Garioch 1994 RRP £60

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

Find, Compare, and Decide on The Best Whiskey for You- FindTheBest.com

With hundreds of distilleries across the world making a wide range of whiskies how do you go about finding the best whisky for you? Do you associate price with quality or is age your measure for greatness? No need to worry my fellow whisky enthusiasts FindTheBest.com aims to alleviate your plight with their Whiskey, Scotch, and Bourbon App. The application allows you to view, compare, and decide on a whiskey that’s best for you based on price, age, region, distiller, Expert Rating, and more. The Expert Rating is a weighted average of the top whiskey testers. Some of our sources include The Beverage Testing Institute, The International Wine and Spirit Competition, and The LA Whisk(e)y Society. FindTheBest eliminates the hassle of finding and cross referencing sources; you’re welcome!

In addition to gathering the relevant data FindTheBest also provide a guide for selection. At the bottom of the Whiskey, Scotch, and Bourbon App is a break down of how age and price relate to excellence. FindTheBest also reveals how their expert rating is formed; complete transparency. FindTheBest.com sole purpose is provide objective data and guidance so you can find your whiskey!

So you’ve found your top five whiskies for under $200 now what? You share with your friends of course! FindTheBest.com allows you to take your comparisons and create a sharable slideshow. Take a look at my “Top Five for Under Two Hundred.”

FindTheBest is an objective, socially curated comparison engine that allows you to find a topic, compare your options and decide what’s the best for you. FindTheBest is your one stop best-finder!

The site was first published back in 2010 but unfortunately, it is no longer a working website. A recently published an article explains what happened to FindTheBest.  It’s n interesting story, here’s the article if you want to take a look: https://www.bestspy.co.uk/what-happened-to-findthebest/

Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

The past few weeks the Maltstock promo team was in Scotland for the Spirit of Speyside festival and in Limburg, Germany for the whisky fair. It was great meeting lot’s of you there. If you haven’t been to either of these events yet, I higly recommend both of them!

Dorms

Meeting lot’s of people is a great way of getting some feedback. One of the questions we were asked was regarding the sleeping accommodation at Maltstock. We have bunk beds at the Maltstock venue. These are in small dorms. Toilet and showers are shared. Most dorms are for either 4, 6 or 8 persons. So if you come with some friends, let us know and we will try our very best to give you your own dorm.

Jock Shaw – Scotchandfolk

We are very happy that Jock Shaw has agreed to bring some friends from his Scotch and Folk band and perform at Maltstock. Jock knows how to entertain with stories and songs! More info on his Dutch website www.scotchandfolk.nl

Masterclasses

We hope to have the final masterclasses confirmed within the next few weeks. We expect to have them all online and bookable for you in the second half of June. Of course we will let you know in advance.

Accepted casks – rejected casks

Anthony McCallum-Caron already told us his plans for Maltstock. He will be hosting a masterclass with new Chieftain bottlings. There will be samples from accepted casks which will be bottled and also from casks were rejected. That promises to be a very interesting tasting.

The Whiskyshop Dufftown

As mentioned before everybody coming to Maltstock will get a 10% discount at The Whiskyshop Dufftown. And every reader of this newsletter will get a 5% discount (use the code: WSDMaltstock). Mike Lord from the Whiskyshop will be at the Islay festival next week. And he is willing to take your bottle(s) there if you like. Just make sure you order before this Saturday. Delivery at Maltstock is of course also possible.

Limited availability

Just a reminder to get your Maltstock tickets in time. There’s limited availability at Maltstock and tickets sales are going really well. We already sold more tickets than we did the entire first year. So go to the the Maltstock shop  and make sure you don’t miss out.

If there are any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Hope to see you all in September!

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
www.maltstock.com

Description

Single cask #85074. 28-year old Bowmorefrom the award winning Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld series. Distilled October 1982 and bottled April 2011. 184 numbered bottles.

Distillery: Bowmore

Founded 1779. 228 years of fine tuning and we have deep and complex whiskies with fabulous Bowmore reek, salt, spices, dried fruits, smooth and lasting.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Smokey ash, cream and honey sweetness. Palate: spicy with fruit and smoke emerging followed by crème catalan. Finish: Smokey and mouthcoating with touch of lime.

Product Details

Age: 28 Years Old, Vintage: 1982, Volume: 70cl, ABV: 53.5%, Bottler: Duncan Taylor.

£94.99 (£79.16 ex VAT)

Visit The Whisky Barrel at http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/

www.ralfy.com has a second part to the mile-stone WhiskyReview 200. …whisky review 200 (2/2) – The Anniversary Glenfarclas Malt Review… concluding the examination of this excellent Malt.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

We live in strange times. 

Case in point: Harold Camping, the 89-year-old leader of the ministry Family Radio Worldwide and who’s spent a good part of his life flipping pages of The Bible, has authored a book report that would make his mother proud. In it he convinces himself and his followers that the world is going to end on May 21, 2011….that’s right, this Saturday…as in three (3) days from now .

Actually, the complete destruction may take up to six months, but certainly no one should make plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

So this weeks Whisky Wednesday opportunity is about broadening horizons and trying something new before “Last Call”…three truly terrific whiskies from Wales (yes, Wales): Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whiskies.

There are three delicious expressions from Penderyn: Penderyn Madeira Finish($68.60); Penderyn Sherrywood Finish(75.50); and Penderyn Peated Single Malt Welsh Whisky ($75.50).  

As usual, these are very limited production whiskies, so the availability is also limited…and once it’s gone, it’s gone.  So please  purchase your bottle(s) ASAP if you are interested.

Oh…and by the way…did I mention to keep a very close eye on these emails?  You should, because over the next few weeks I’ll be making some exciting announcements…including really great news about our Whisky Explorers Club…so STAY TUNED!

Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com

PENDERYN SINGLE MALT WELSH WHISKIES

  
THE STORY OF PENDERYN WELSH WHISKY 

The first Welsh distillers in more than a century, the Penderyn distillery is located in the old village of Penderyn, nestled in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, and the Brecon Beacons National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty famed for its breathtaking scenery, open moorland, clear rivers and tumultuous waterfalls.

The distillery produces just one cask per day of the finest malted barley spirit. The majority of thier spirit goes into cask for ageing in thier cellars. Minute quantities are diverted to craft other award-winning products. The availability of their whisky has to be on strict allocation to markets outside Wales. It is one of the rarest, finest and most delicate malt whiskies available.

PENDERYN MADEIRA FINISHED SINGLE MALT WELSH WHISKY

“This single malt Welsh whisky defines our ‘house style of whiskies’ being distilled in our unique copper pot still, matured in bourbon barrels, finished in rich Madeira wine casks and bottled at premium strength. This single malt whisky is smooth, light in character and softly golden in colour.

At premium strength (46% vol) Penderyn single malt whisky has an exceptionally balanced taste with an aroma of cream toffee and fleetingly of fresh new leather. Then, as the initial sensations fade, the finishing notes of tropical fruits, raisins and vanilla emerge strongly and are long lasting.” – distiller

REVIEW OF PENDERYN MADEIRA FINISHED – by CHRISTOPHER NULL/ DRINKHACKER.COM 

Yes, Virginia, they make whisky in Wales. And as in Scotland, they spell it without the E.

Penderyn is the best known Welsh whisky on the market, probably because it’s the only operating distillery left in the region.

Penderyn makes several bottlings, but this, in the company’s “house style,” is one of its best-known, a single malt which is matured in bourbon barrels and finished in old Madeira wine casks. It bears no age statement but is lightly golden in color and the balance indicates it’s quite young.

Wood and leather notes are surprisingly prominent in the body, which exhibits a buttery, honey-like consistency. The Madeira character is considerably different than in, say, Balvenie’s Maderia-finished Scotch, ending not so much with wine-like notes but with bittersweet chocolate and more cask wood character. I’d like more balance and cohesion in all of these flavors, but I do appreciate this whisky’s moxie. – 92 proof/ B+

PENDERYN SHERRYWOOD FINISHED SINGLE MALT WELSH WHISKY

“The fine single malt whisky is finished to impart a generous flavour of subtle complexity.  Hand crafted to perfection, the unique distillation and maturation produces a single malt whisky in which the Penderyn style is enhanced by rich tones of dry Sherry. This fine whisky captures the true spirit of Wales.

At premium strength (46% vol) Penderyn Sherrywood single malt whisky yields rich dark fruits and caramels from dry Oloroso sherry casks which intermingle with green apples, hazelnuts and hints of sugared almonds. The nose is quickly reminded of Penderyn whiskies’ classic freshness. The taste begins with remarkable sweetness that gives way for a moment to a refreshing dryness in the mid palate.  Caramels and sultanas persist into a long finish.” – distiller 

PENDERYN PEATED SINGLE MALT WELSH WHISKY

“Our peated single malt whisky is finished to impart a generous flavour of subtle complexity. Hand crafted to perfection, the unique distillation and maturation produces a single malt whisky in which a delicate spirit underlies a medium peaty character with light golden tone. This fine whisky captures the true spirit of Wales.

At premium strength (46% vol) the sweet aromatic smoke of Penderyn Peated single malt whisky is immediately obvious but soon vanilla, green apples and refreshing citrus notes mingle to give an array of gentle flavours that challenge even the most sophisticated palate.  A medium finish with residues of smoke and vanilla that leaves the palate thirsting for more.” – distiller

Glen Breton Wins Prestigious Awards
 
Lauchie MacLean, President of Glenora Distillers, producer of Canada’s Most Famous Single Malt Whisky, is pleased to announce that the whiskies of Glenora have been accorded highest awards in a series of recent international competitions:

Glen Breton Rare Aged 10 years won Gold Medal, 95 points, “Exceptional” at The 2011 International Review of Spirits, held in Chicago.

Battle of the Glen, our Special Edition Glen Breton 15-Year Old, commemorating the final victory of Glenora in a nine-year contest to register Glen Breton as our flagship trade mark, won Gold Medal, 93 Points, “Exceptional” at the competition.

In 2011 “World Whiskies Awards” competition, sponsored by the authoritative spirit journal, Whisky Magazine, awarded Battle of the Glen, “Best Rest of the World Single Malt 13 years and Over.”

In 2006, Glen Breton Rare was rated as one of the world’s “Top 50 Spirits” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Glen Breton Ice, the world’s first Single Malt Whisky aged in Ice Wine Barrels” won Silver Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

 “This is a proud day for all of us at Glenora Distillers. We are truly delighted that the unique character of the single malts from our beloved Highlands in Cape Breton have been so honoured in the world’s most prestigious competitive whisky evaluations. The recognition and following we have gained with whisky lovers globally has been hard won, and we believe, justly earned.”  – Bob Scott, Executive Vice President.

Visit Glen Breton and Glenora Distillery at www.glenoradistillery.com

Win the Consumer’s Beverage of Choice

The Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards takes a fresh approach to beverage competitions by linking producers to the people who matter the most – the consumers.  The contest organizers invite all producers of alcoholic spirit beverages to submit entries for the annual consumer-judged awards competition.  The SIP Awards were instituted in 2009 to celebrate the diversity and high quality of spirits and to recognize the best of the best in an effort to generate unbiased and impartial acknowledgment. 

The SIP Awards are different from similar competitions because they use consumer judges instead of industry professional judges. “We wanted to find out which spirit brands would come out on top if all of the hype and marketing were taken out of the equation,” says Paul Hashemi, executive producer of the SIP Awards. They remain steadfast in their goal of providing one of the most reliable measures of beverage quality in the world. By working directly with educated and impartial consumers, The SIP Awards has established a completely merit-based awards system that effectively levels the playing field for beverage producers, both seasoned and new.

Spirits entered in the competition will be judged in a blind tasting that is strictly based on the characteristics of aroma, taste, and finish. By winning a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum SIP Award, a brand is empowered and transformed into the consumers’ choice for its spirit category.  In 2010, 162 brands entered in the global competition, with 29 receiving platinum medals. The consumer judging panel stripped away the layers of elaborate marketing, brand recognition, price point disparity, and most importantly, the bias of established judges, to reward the brands that are truly the best in class.

Winners of the SIP Awards will also receive exclusive exposure through internet media, social networking sites, television, and print publicity campaigns.  Brands that win SIP Awards are distinguished as a preferred brand by consumers, which strengthens the brand to rise to new heights in marketing and sales.  Beverage industry media partners offer special promotions extended only to SIP Award medal winners, which further contributes to their public relations activities. 

The SIP Awards is sponsored by the most well-known industry publications, such as:  Bar Business Magazine, Nightclub & Bar Magazine, Chilled Magazine, Food & Beverage Magazine, Modern Distillery Age, Proof66, DrinkedIn, Mutineer Magazine, and DrinkMe Magazine.  As an international competition, the SIP Awards’ reach is far and wide and, as such, a portion of all proceeds are annually donated to the American Red Cross, an organization whose long history of good will is felt worldwide.

The deadline for entering the SIP Awards competition is June 3, 2011. For entry forms and information on the upcoming competition, please visit http://www.sipawards.com or
call 1-888-254-1764