A PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN THANK YOU TO DAD

Salute your dad this Father’s Day with the proudly South African, award-winning Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky. Distilled and matured at the James Sedgwick Distillery near the foothills of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is South Africa’s first 100 % single-grain whisky.

Awarded gold and best-in-class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Challenge, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is the perfect gift to show your dad just how much you value him. Inspired by the pioneering pass builder Andrew Geddes Bain who created the Bain’s Kloof Pass amidst its natural beauty, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is crafted from the finest South African grain. The whisky is quite uniquely double-matured in specially selected first-fill oak casks. After the initial three years’ maturation the whisky is transferred to a second set of first-fill oak casks to age for a further two years. Its double-maturation imparts flavour and complexity, resulting in a smooth and distinctive whisky.

The whisky shows an exceptional interaction between spirit and wood to produce a mix of toffee, floral and vanilla aromas and flavours with a hint of spice softened by sweet undertones. The result is a warm and extended mouth-feel with a smooth finish.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is available, with or without a tin, from leading liquor outlets and retails for around R175 per 750 ml bottle.

Tasting Notes: Port Ellen 1982 Royal Wedding Whisky

Just arrived – our very special single sherry cask 1982 Port Ellen Royal Wedding Reserve!  We mentioned this in our earlier guide to Royal Wedding whiskies, so let’s try and give you an idea of what it’s all about with double tasting notes from myself and Billy. Port Ellen 1982 Royal Wedding Reserve Cask #2290, …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

June Outturn: An angel fallen to earth
This June Outturn welcomes TEN charming cherubs, fallen to earth and playing with our hearts…

CLOSED DISTILLERY
104.13 An angel fallen to earth
Speyside Lossie
£155.oo inc free p&p
There is no tasting note for this whisky our pathetic scribblings could not do it justice. In any case the Panel were dumb-struck (unlikely as that may seem) – this whisky closed down the logical, language side of the brain in favour of the more primitive pleasure receptors

31.22 An island worker’s dram
Highland Island
£60.10 inc free p&p
Very interesting – slightly sugary and salty – herbal, lemon grass, west coast machair, perfumed cigarettes, tar, iodine and ‘an old school satchel

23.69 Dusty muesli and green bananas
Islay
£61.30 inc free p&p
Big and tasty, with zesty marmalade and honey, tobacco leaf and mint, then a suggestion of spice – perhaps cinnamon toast.

33.105 Sweet and savoury
Islay
£56.40 inc. free p&p
Runny honey, Golden Syrup, Lindt chocolate, and toffee but a meaty note – uncooked cured smoked gammon and heather soap showed-up

June Recommendations:
PAIR: 121.45* & 28.23 for £93.50 (save £16.30)

TRIO: 5.30, 9.60 & 23.69 for £129.50 (SAVE £23.00)

CASE: Take the June PAIR & TRIO and ADD 37.47
only £279.00 (save £60.30)

*121.45 is an alternative bottle

Society Tastings & Events (66 Society tastings online)

Whisky Dinner  – Bistro du Vin, London, Sat 18 Jun
Enjoy three-courses of simple classic dishes complimenting five-unique Society whiskies served in the beautifully rustic ‘Whisky Snuggle’

Edinburgh ‘Ghost Tour’ Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Thu 28 Jun
A swift Dutch courage dram then our own private Ghost Tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town.  We finish with two more drams and supper

Vaults Botanic Tasting – RBGE , Thu 28 Jun
Enjoy four drams in the beautiful John Hope Gateway in the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.  Profits are donated to RBGE.  Exclusive RBGE Membership offer: Society members can enjoy a 10% saving on RBGE membership, call 0131 552 5339 for details

UK-wide Preview Tastings, Fri 24 June
Your chance to explore future bottling lists with a spot of supper
Inverness:           Kingsmill Hotel
Belfast:                   Hilton Belfast Hotel
Newcastle:           The Northern Counties Club
Glasgow:               Radisson Blu Hotel

Father’s Day up-ahead: Sun 19 Jun
Don’t forget to treat Dad – there are over 50 single cask bottles in the online shop waiting for a new home.  Or indulge him with a visit to the William Bros Brewery with The Vaults

Of course Society membership is the gift that keeps on giving, buy membership now until Wed 22 June and get a free four dram tasting at our London Members’ Room .  More details  (terms & conditions do apply).

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers. 

VILLEROY & BOCH RAISES THE BAR WITH NEW FINE FLAVOUR COLLECTION 

Whisky aficionados and epicures everywhere will delight in the sensory experience now made possible by Villeroy & Boch’s new Fine Flavour collection with two distinct lines—American Bar and Scotch Whisky.

By embracing the complexity of origin, the elegant crystal glassware complements the distinct flavors of various whisky varieties and is destined to be applauded by both connoisseurs and the occasional enthusiast.

Each line boasts exclusive Villeroy & Boch quality and optimum design, which carefully considers the variations in ingredients, production process, storage and origin of the whisky to be enjoyed from the superior crystal glassware.

The American Bar line features seven elegant pieces in a variety of sizes and was created to serve whiskey (with an “e”) distilled in America or Ireland.  The simple design boasts a narrow mouth and thick base to keep ice cold and is the perfect accessory for serving whiskey cocktails straight or “on the rocks.”

The Scotch Whisky line has been specially created for more exclusive varieties. With four product groups, including Single Grain, Single Malt, Blended Scotch and Decanters, the classic contour and optimum shape enable the nose to fully absorb the aroma of the whisky.

Designed to complement the taste of any distinctive spirit, the Fine Flavour collection – available as a gift box set of two – will be available in stores and online in November.

June 2011

Dear Client

Being released in March we have one (1) Old CLAN DENNY GRAIN.

Tasting Note for CLAN DENNY GRAIN

DEN 0066 STRATHCLYDE 23 Year Old Bourbon (ex- bourbon cask)
Soft, chewy toffee! Massively vanilla’d (plus clean fresh emulsion) on the warehouse wall with a good dark Italian espresso steaming all throughout the nose as well. On the palate the vanilla and toffee are way to the fore – with crème caramel and dark burnt sugar enhancing matters. The finish is – as customary – short, sweet and sugary. Great with a good coffee. (F)

And after all that – maybe you will need one of these fine Malts! Meantime – as always –we send you our

Best wishes

Fred H Laing

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

Sample Image

Sazerac Offers Two Canadian Whisky Suggestions

For Father’s Day 

The “Comeback Category” has a Single Barrel and Small Batch Offering Fit for any Budget

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  – With Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to get dear ol’ dad some amazing new whisky from a long forgotten category.

Until recently, Canadian whisky had deteriorated in prestige as consumer tastes moved to products like Bourbon and Scotch.  But that is changing and Canadian Whisky is now enjoying a renaissance of sorts as distillers like Sazerac have come out with premium offerings such as Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky, and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian whisky. 

“We introduced Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch last Spring and both brands are really starting to gain traction,” said Kevin Richards, Canadian Whisky brand manager at Sazerac, “Consumers are starting to become interested again in the Canadian whisky segment and with both of these brands picking up some very nice awards and ratings in the last year, consumers are becoming curious about rediscovering this once very popular segment of the liquor store.” 

In the past year, Caribou Crossing has received a 93 rating from John Hansell at Malt Advocate; was named “2010 Canadian Whisky of the Year” by canadianwhisky.org; won a double gold medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a gold medal and “90” rating at the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a silver medal and best in class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition; and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition. Whisky buffs can expect to taste radiantly-hued nectar with a nod to the tantalizing silky texture provided by the barrel. The rye grain cuts through the wood flavors making its spicy presence known without risking the creamy vanilla custard smoothness. The finish is oak with an orangey tang.

Not to be outdone, Royal Canadian Small Batch won a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a “90” rating from Wine Enthusiast; a silver medal in the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Spirits Competition. Royal Canadian is sweet and smoky like a Memphis BBQ. The initial sip is velvety smooth with huge flavors. There is a nutty praline sweetness that slides through the creamy rich sensations. The finish is a bold reminder that this is whiskey and the citrus-spicy conclusion just leaves you with the desire for the next notable sip.

“Both Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian are leading the comeback for the Canadian whisky category. When you can offer something new and different such as a single barrel or small batch, consumers are starting to realize that the category has merit and has changed from what their parents used to drink,” said Drew Mayville, Sazerac’s master blender who created both Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch. “The whole Canadian whisky market has so much potential right now and it’s really an exciting time to be in on it.”

It was Mayville himself who hand-selected the barrels used for Caribou Crossing, choosing the most mature and flavor-rich samples available and overseeing the bottling of each individual barrel.

The Royal Canadian Small Batch underwent the same stringent selection process under Mayville’s watchful eye.

The two Canadian whiskies make ideal gifts for Father’s Day, and are at price points for discriminating budgets. The Caribou Crossing retails for $49.99 for a 750 ml and the Royal Canadian Small Batch is $24.99 for a 750 ml.

As an extra bonus, Caribou Crossing comes in an elegant gift box, taking care of the gift wrapping for you. But no matter which one you choose, dad will know you think he’s hip too with a gift of this fine Canadian whisky.

 
About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California and Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday    each month    6 – 9 p.m.    no reservation required

Enjoy 5 half-ounce samples of single malt Scotch whisky: $20

♦  We feature 3 single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

♦  You roll a die then pick a whisky from one of the six Scotch regions

♦  You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of 73 single malts

Peruse our whisky library. Learn about our single malts in our menu book: distillery info, tasting notes, & more.  Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Non-whisky drinkers welcome.

Featured malts:

* 10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month

June 11 , 2011

Laphroaig 10 yo *

Aberlour 12 yo

Edradour 10 yo

July 9, 2011

Our 3-year anniversary of monthly single malt Scotch tastings. New Beginnings featuring whisky from 2 new distilleries and 1 under a new owner.   (6 – 9 p.m).

3 is a big number in Scotland. By Scottish law, a spirit distilled in Scotland must mature for 3 years in oak barrels before it can be called “whisky.” Join us to celebrate our 3rd anniversary of monthly single malt whisky tastings, where we pour from Wyoming’s best single malt Scotch menu.

Still $20, which gets you:

♦  five half-ounce samples, including our 3 featured malts and two of your choosing:

♦  Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release (Islay’s newest distillery in 125 years, began distilling in 2005) Malt Advocate magazine’s 2010 “Artisan Whisky of the Year” [July’s Malt of the Month, 10% off a bottle]

♦  Edradour 2003 Port Cask Matured (Scotland’s smallest distillery: a Highland distillery, began distilling under a new owner in 2002)

♦ Kilkerran Work in Progress 2010 (Campbeltown’s newest distillery in 124 years, and Scotland’s first new distillery of this millennium, began distilling in 2004)

♦  You roll a die then pick your choice from one of the six Scotch regions

♦  You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of 73 single malts

♦  hors d’oeuvres

♦  a coupon for 5% off a bottle (not including the Malt of the Month)

♦  entered into a drawing for door prizes (yes, you must be here to win)

August 13, 2011

Glenfiddich 15 yo *

Dalmore 12 yo

Deanston 12 yo

Visit the Miner’s Delight Inn at http://www.minersdelightinn.com/

Bob at work...

Are you looking for that perfect present for Father’s day?  Bored of giving him the same old presents of socks, ties etc…?

Look no further, as we are offering you the chance to give your father something he really wants….an offering from Wemyss Malts Single Cask Archive!!

For further information, please email info@wemyssmalts.com to ensure you grab a bottle before they all disappear!! Visit Wemyss at www.wemyssmalts.com

Dear Customer

Being released in June we have six (6) CERAMIC PREMIER BARRELS.

Tasting Notes for PREMIER BARREL

PBR 0093 MACALLAN 8 Year Old
A most magnanimous – some say munificent Macallan of merit offering observable and overt olfactory ovations of fresh fruit, malt and honey – plus a spiced and vanilla’d palate (older than its years belie!!) to seductively, salubriously, sympathetically, yet significantly stupefy. (F)

PBR 0094 BLAIR ATHOL 10 Year Old Sherry
A Blonde, yet balanced and burnished beatification of a BLAIR ATHOL with bravura and breeding to bedazzle and befriend. Hunger and hanker heartily hereinafter at its hallmarked homily to harmonious honey and guzzle gaily on this garnish of glorious gristiness galore – you gadabout (F)

PBR 0092 CRAIGELLACHIE 11 Year old Sherry
Crikey! … a cracking coronet of a crafted Craigellachie whose credentials are copiously crammed with crumbly cake and cream connotations – followed furthermore by a fun filled frolic of fabulous fructiferousness – spirited scion of its scintillatingly stylish and sympathetically satiating Sherry salutation. (F)

PBR 0091 BRAEVAL 11 Year Old Sherry
Bravissimo! To this bountiful, buttery, bonanza of Braeval’s bucolic barley – a byword to brandish for this brew of Scotia – a satisfyingly sacrosanct salutation of salubrious sugariness, and Sherry, swathed
in scrumptious spices to swallow …. for the sedulous Scotch scholar! (F)

PBR 0096 HIGHLAND PARK 13 Year Old
“Oh!”–somely Orkadian, this opulently omnipotent opus to ozone ….. sustaining a sumptuous and stylish striking smokiness – stimulated by a stealthy splice of spice – devoid (de facto) – of deficiency … so hail its hallmarked handle of honest, humble honey! (F)

PBR 0095 MORTLACH 14 Year Old
Most melodious and mollifying Mortlach! Partake in a palate of palpably propitious (perfect!) peach – or maybe muse at a morsel of macerated/mashed mango with its titillating taste of tremendously therapeutic toffee! (F)

And after all that – maybe you will need one of these fine Malts! Meantime – as always –we send you our

Best wishes
Fred H Laing

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

PREMIER BARREL

… what do you need to turn your whisky from pedestrian to super-ultra-mega-exclusive ?

 … a decanter !

Whisky Review #204 – Advice about whisky decanters,  is where Ralfy will show you how.

Visit Ralfy 24/7 at www.ralfy.com