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 Vignettes – Moments in Whisky was published on Monday May 30th and was submitted by Joe Barry of South Africa, click here to read it.
New Compass Box: The Great King Street Artist’s Blend
The chaps at Compass Box do seem to like keeping busy. After celebrating their 10th anniversary for most of last year they got their noses back to the grindstone and started work on some new whisky. We can happily say that the wait has not been in vain and we’ve got our hands on some of their latest bottling, the start of a new range of whiskies – Great King Street: The Artist’s Blend.…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…
Pulteney Distillery celebrates its 195th anniversary this year in the North Sea fishing town of Wick, Scotland. It’s the home of Old Pulteney single malt whisky, and distillery manager Malcolm Waring takes us on a tour in this week’s episode. In the news, new whiskies from Islay, Colorado, and the Lowlands of Scotland, an old whisky returns home to Islay, and the winners of the first WhiskyCast Father’s Day competition.
Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com
Celebrating Fathers Everywhere!
Well, it’s summer now on Islay, although it could be any season to be honest. We are all still recovering from the Islay Festival, in May, which was rather windswept this year, but everyone still had a great time. The remainder of the year won’t be quiet, as my official day job takes me to distant shores for our next ‘Laphroaig Live” show in October. The show is slated to be at a spectacular location – more details soon. In addition, later in the year I will land in North America, including Western Canada. Again more information soon!
Meanwhile, an unspoken Scottish tradition dictates that there are two things dads will want this Father’s Day – one is Scotch whisky… and well, that’s really all that matters!
Tradition is also the heart and soul of the distillery at Laphroaig. Generations upon generations have succeeded one another, and fathers have passed down knowledge and craftsmanship to sons and daughters since 1815. Weathered, grainy photos bear evidence to the men long-since passed who have braved seasonal extremes in their effort to create the most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies. I too am a 3rd generation of my family to work at Laphroaig, and so keeping up with traditions.
The spirit of Father’s Day is best said in Scottish Gaelic:
An uair as làine ‘n cupan, ‘s ann as dorr’ a ghiùlan
When the cup is fullest it is most difficult to carry
Here’s to all the fathers, past and present, who make this day so special.
“Slàinte mhòr agad!” (SLAHN-tchuh VORR AH-kut!)
“Great health to you!”
Slàinte
John Campbell
Distillery Manager
http://www.laphroaig.com/friends
THE ART OF JAPANESE WHISKY REVEALED IN A RITUAL TASTING
London, June 13, 2011 – The meticulous attention to detail and the blending of art with nature were revealed at an Omotenashi – ritual tasting – of Suntory Japanese whisky at the Saatchi Gallery on June 13.
Showcased were the Yamazaki 12 year old and Hakushu single malts and Hibiki 17 year old blended whisky during a tasting led by Mike Miyamoto, Suntory Global Brand Ambassador.
Suntory whiskies have garnered over 60 awards in the last eight years. Most recently, Yamazaki 1984 year old single malt was named Best Malt Whisky in the World, while Hibiki 21 year old was named Best Blended Whisky in the World.
In 2010, Suntory was named Distiller of the Year, the first time such an accolade had been given to a Japanese distiller,
Suntory has been perfecting the art of making whisky since the first whisky distillery in Japan was built by founder Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The whiskies were originally created to match the delicate Japanese palate and to complement the cuisine. Often they are drunk at mealtime straight, on the rocks, blended with water as a Highball or blended with water as a mizuwari.
While Yamazaki, Hakushu or Hibiki are a delightful partner to sushi or nigiri, it was demonstrated that the whiskies marry well with English cooking too. They were matched playfully with fish and chips, burgers and shepherd’s pie.
Another side to the versatility of Suntory whiskies was revealed in a menu of cocktails celebrating the 24 Japanese Seasons. Mixologist Zoran Peric has created a unique collection of Suntory cocktails.
Art of Whisky/2
A Japanese cocktail is about philosophy, nuance and refinement in which the final product inspires the imagination and triggers the palate, he explained.
The art of the east and the art of the west meet literally at the Saatchi Gallery where Suntory is a corporate sponsor. Suntory has a long history of association with the arts, said Makiko Ono, President of Suntory London. “Our founder, Shinjiro Torii firmly believed that a third of Suntory’s profit from all our business operations should be returned to society to enhance the Arts and Culture”.
Ms Ono added: “ I cannot emphasise enough how important the UK market is for Suntory. The Japanese have the highest respect for the United Kingdom and since 1971 London has been the hub of all Suntory operations in Europe”.
Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons Celebrating 60 Years of the Reign of Her Majesty the Queen 1952-2012
LONDON, June, 2011 – To mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, John Walker & Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, is to produce an extremely limited edition of 60 crystal decanters of ‘Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons’, a unique blend of whiskies distilled in 1952 and finished in a marrying cask of English oak from The Queen’s Sandringham Estate.
These rare editions will be offered, by invitation only, for private sale at GBP100,000 each. John Walker & Sons will donate all profits from the sale, with a guarantee of at least GBP1million, to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association. This will support the QEST Diamond Jubilee Appeal, through which it aims to grow its scholarship base, build a mentoring programme and enable traditional craftsmanship to flourish in Britain.
John Walker & Sons has harnessed the collective skills of some of the finest craftsmen and women, including fellow Royal Warrant Holders and QEST Scholars, to create exclusive, bespoke pieces to accompany the whisky; a stunning showcase of craftsmanship.
‘Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons’ will be presented in a lead crystal decanter adorned with a Britannia silver collar that features a half carat diamond set by hand, and an individually numbered silver seal. This will be accompanied by a pair of hand-engraved lead crystal glasses and a leather bound, personalised, hand-embellished artefact book, all housed in a bespoke cabinet incorporating woods from The Queen’s Sandringham and Balmoral estates.
David Gates, Royal Warrant grantee at John Walker & Sons said: “As a holder of the Royal Warrant, we felt compelled to mark this truly historic occasion with something truly exquisite. We look forward to sharing further news on this exceptional liquid very soon.”
Jim Beveridge, Master Blender for John Walker & Sons said: “These are extraordinary grain and malt whiskies that have been maturing slowly since 1952. It’s a huge privilege to work with them using all our resources and experience to craft a John Walker & Sons blend that’s fitting for this special anniversary. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sixty editions of ‘Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons’ will be bottled on 6th February 2012, exactly 60 years to the day since The Queen acceded to the Throne.
NOTES
ABOUT JOHN WALKER & SONS
John Walker & Sons is part of the Diageo Group.
Johnnie Walker(R) is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand, enjoyed by people in almost 200 countries around the world.
ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray and Captain Morgan.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
Amrut Special Reserve Tasting Notes
After a slight (ok, considerable) delay, the final TWE 10th anniversary bottling has finally arrived. Amrut has been one of the major success stories in the UK market over the last couple of years, and we’re delighted to present our own Amrut Special Reserve from this up-and-coming superstar distillery. First, though, a quick update …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…
Ahoy there land-lubbers we are aboard the Tall Ship ‘Antigua’ for a precious Scotch moment! Whisky Review 207 – Cutty Sark 18yo aboard the ‘Antigua’ with compliments from www.ralfy.com
Mortlach 16 Year Old
The quiet giant of Speyside, this 100% sherry barrelled whisky has toffee and raisins in abundance. Very limited offer while stocks last.
£37
To place an order please visit milroys.co.uk, call Lee on 020 7437 2385 or email Lee.Tomlinson@milroys.co.uk
Win Tickets to our True Tales Event in Canada
Hello,
You may remember I recently wrote about one of our True Tales events that was being held in Philadelphia and what a great time I had. There’s something really interesting about hearing another person’s story being told from the heart and the emotions it stirs in them.
A similar event is next being held at the………(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…
http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/06/win-tickets-to-our-true-tales-event-in-canada/
