Douglas Laing & Company have launched a Single Cask bottling of their finest Old Malt Cask – chosen to commemorate Scotland’s long association with the Gurkhas – Nepal’s legendary fighting men. Gurkhas first fought alongside Scottish soldiers in 1817 and have continued to do so with courage and professionalism to this day. Their 13 Victoria Crosses bear testament to their unfailing valour and loyalty to the British crown.

As with our Allt-a-Bhainne Highland Malt, the Gurkhas also come from wild and high places.

Fred Laing the company’s MD says:”Every year we select a charity for which we will bottle a Single Cask from our stock. This year we have chosen the Gurkhas. Their famous war cry “Ayo Gorkhali!” translates as “The Gurkhas are here!”, and whilst Douglas Laing & Co has no such famous war cry, we are proud and happy to send all proceeds of this bottling to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.”

Only 298 bottles have been filled of this 20 years old Allt-a-Bhainne, with a rrp of approximately £75.

For any questions on availability – contact info@douglaslaing.com

Dear Whisky Friends,

Bowmore and Rob Allanson, editor of Whisky Magazine, are hosting a very special whisky tasting in Glasgow on Friday the 15th of July 2011 in aid of the Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge.

Participants will enjoy a tailored whisky tasting including some very unique limited edition whiskies from Auchentoshan and Bowmore, plus a few other special drams! Canapés will be served before the tasting, which will be followed by a raffle and silent auction featuring some rare whiskies signed by Bowmore distillery manager Eddie MacAffer.

The Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge supports Capability Scotland and sees teams of disabled and non-disabled people work together to take on the challenge of scaling the UK’s highest peak, Ben Nevis on Saturday 20th August.

Money raised by the challenge will go to Capability Scotland to support them in their work campaigning with and supporting disabled people of all ages in Scotland at home, at work and at school.

Bowmore Ben Nevis Charity Whisky Tasting will take place at

Thistle Hotel Glasgow,
Cambridge Street
Glasgow, G2 3HN

Friday 15th July 2011
Guests to arrive at 6pm
£30 per ticket

Available via http://www.singlemaltwhiskyshop.com/store/bowmore/whisky-tasting/ben-nevis-whisky-tasting.aspx

For more information on the Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge visit www.bowmore.com/ben-nevis

Royal Mile Whiskies Smokin’ New Whiskies!

We think it’s great what Kilchoman has achieved so far. Considering that it is already producing fantastic whiskies at just 3 years old makes it exciting to think about what is coming in the future. Kilchoman 100% Islay 

This peaty wonder from Campbeltown is released under strict and severely limited allocation. It is unlikely this will change until 2015 at the earliest, as there is simply not enough aged stock to add it permanently to the Longrow range. Longrow 18 Year Old

Still a work in progress and progressing well. The third bottling from Springbank’s most recent distillery, Glengyle, shows much promise and bodes very well for the future. Kilkerran – Work In Progress 3

Signatory continue to out do some of the Islay distilleries at their own game, by releasing these great value, ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ type peaty drams. Laphroaig 1999 Signatory

There is something in the water and it will soon be making it’s way over from Islay…

Never cry over spilt milk. It could’ve been whiskey.

~ “Pappy” Maverick, in Maverick (the TV series)

Slainte!
Royal Mile Whiskies
Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011’

FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 0131 524 9380

or email contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

Edinburgh Shop:
379 Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1PW
Tel: 0131 225 3383

London Shop:
3 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QE
Tel: 0207 436 4763

*All bottlings subject to availability, prices inclusive of VAT and subject to change.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

If you’re reading this email, then you deserve a hearty slap on your sunburned back for having successfully navigated your way through a weekends worth of explosives, missiles and drunk boaters. I commend each and every one of you.

This weeks Whisky Wednesday email takes us on a trip to the far east…Japan to be precise….where they are producing what is generally regarded as some of the finest whiskies in the world. “They”, of course, are Suntory…the Japanese distiller that has been producing amazing spirits since 1899. In 1989, Suntory launched Hibiki, their premium line of blended whisky.

If you think the Japanese know how to make a car, you ought to try their whisky. And if you have been wanting to try a great Japanese whisky, there is no time like the present. Our normal retail price for a bottle of Hibiki 12 Year Old blended Japanese Whisky is $63.85…not a bad price if you look around. But Niki-the-Neck, who dabbles in the art of Sumo Wrestling when he isn’t shaking down liquor distributors, was able to parlay his contacts in the Japanese Underground to get us a great price on the whisky, which allows us to offer it to you foronly $57.85/ bottle.

I hope you will take advantage of this great offer, and try a whisky from the other side of the world. Your perception will definitely be turned upside down.

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

_______________________________________________________________________
SUNTORY HIBIKI 12 YEAR OLD BLENDED JAPANESE WHISKY

_______________________________________________________________________

HIBIKI 12 YO BLENDED JAPANESE WHISKY – TASTING NOTES

A wonder of fruity, clean, rich, pure taste.

Color: shiny amber

Nose: pineapple, plum, raspberry, honey, custard

Palate: soft, mellow and smooth, sweet

Finish: long and sweet, spicy-fruity, hint of sourness

_______________________________________________________________________

ABOUT SUNTORY HIBIKI

The legendary Hibiki represents true harmony. The enigma of perfection, the paragon of the art of whisky and the art of Japan’s artisans. Hibiki, meaning resonance in Japanese, speaks to the soul and emotions of the most discerning whisky lover.

Hibiki resonates from nature, and all the subtleties found from the twenty four seasons of the old Japanese lunar calendar. Numerous types of pure single malt whiskies ageing in various types of casks, including Mizunara, a very rare Japanese oak, all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

Seductive, blossoming and enigmatic, Hibiki celebrates the unrivaled art of blending, fine craftsmanship, and sense of luxury of the House.

Shanghai Whisky Live 2011, September 2 & 3

The Luxury Interactive Experience
 
Mainland China’s biggest whisky festival returns to Shanghai on September 2 and 3.  Whisky Live & Fine Spirits Shanghai, now in its third year, promises to be fun and educational with an interactive twist in new, luxurious surroundings.

The festival has a name for interaction, giving everyone from complete novices to experts, the chance to learn more about the huge range of whiskies on offer and cut through baffling terminology. This year the event has a new, five star venue and there will be more single malt whiskies than ever before along with ultra deluxe blends such as Royal Salute & Ballantine’s

Show Director, Stephen Notman, said: “Mentorship lies at the very centre of slowly introducing and sustaining a foreign drinks culture in China. With more single malts being showcased at the event than ever before, it is important we empower consumers with the right tools to continue their journey into the world of whisky.”

The Education Zone returns where you can discover what whisky is and how to taste it. You also have the unique opportunity to create your very own blended whisky in the Blending Zone.

New to this year’s festival is the Whisky Live Passport. Find out which single malt region of Scotland the dram you are trying is from, and receive a stamp in your passport- the ideal souvenir.   
Also at this year’s show, the winners of the Shanghai Icons of Whisky Awards 2011 will be announced. Judged by industry professionals, the awards are for those driving awareness, educating consumers and increasing the profile of whisky. This year there’s an extra category- Best Newcomer.

And there’s live entertainment too guaranteeing a fun, educational day out.

Notes:

-Whisky Live is the world’s premier whisky tasting and sampling show, taking place everywhere from London to Tokyo, Paris to Glasgow.

-Whisky Live provides whisky enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to taste the finest whiskies the category has to offer. With industry experts on hand using simple and easy to understand whisky terminology, this is the ideal way to start your journey into the world of whisky. 

-Whisky Live & Fine Spirits will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel Puxi, 500 Hengfeng Lu, near Tianmu Xi Lu, Zhabei District, Shanghai, on September 2 and 3. Tickets: Consumers 150RMB, VIPs 900RMB.

Follow Show Director Steve Notman on Twitter for the latest updates from the Far East: @Whiskyasia

Maltstock Hotel

Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

We know that some people do want to come to Maltstock, but prefer not to stay in one of the small dorms at Maltstock. For all of you who appreciate a little bit more privacy we now have special Maltstock rates at hotel Umberto in Wijchen. Hotel Umberto is the hotel nearest to the Maltstock venue (it’s just over 4 kilometers away). The hotel offers free parking and gets good ratings (8,1 out of 10 on average).

Special Maltstock room prices, excluding breakfast:
Double room = € 74,- per room per night
Single room = € 60,- per room per night

Breakfast is available in the hotel at an extra € 10,- per person per night. But there’s of course also the full Scottish breakfast at Maltstock.
Additional costs: Tourist tax à € 0,65 per person per night, to be paid at the hotel.

To make a reservation simply send us an  e-mail.

For more information on the hotel, please visit their  website.

Only 10 more weeks until Maltstock. Hope to see you all there!

Teun van Wel

www.maltstock.com
the relaxed whisky weekend

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday   every month   6 – 9 p.m. No reservation required for tastings.

Taste 5 half-ounce pours 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 77 single malts

Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate between pours. Non-Scotch drinkers are welcome to enjoy something from our non-whisky menu.

Featured malts:

* 10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month 

July 9, 2011

Our 3-year anniversary of monthly single malt Scotch tastings. Click for details.

Thanks to the following for publishing our 3rd anniversary news:

Lander Area Chamber of Commerce

Wyoming Business Report

Wyoming PBS

August 13, 2011

Glenfiddich 15 yo *

Dalmore 12 yo

Deanston 12 yo

September 10, 2011

anCnoc 12 yo *

Cragganmore  12 yo

Arran Machrie Moor

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

Bob at work...

Welcome to part two of my epic jaunt around the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.  Click  here  if you missed Pt. 1 (or if you just fancy reading it again).

By Tim F.

The following morning, after a fine fry-up in Linn House’s impressive dining room, our destination was Longmorn distillery, where we were accompanied on a tour of the equipment by the delightful Ann Miller from Chivas and the (somewhat unconventionally) English distillery manager Neal Corbett, a charming Midlander (stop laughing at the back) who dealt amiably with our interminable silly questions..…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Note to distillery managers: Never remove an unmarked bottle of whisky from your pocket while your colleague is talking

So what’s the latest on the Shackleton whisky?

Richard Paterson reports: I’ve been asked on Facebook and Twitter recently for some more details about the Shackleton replica whisky and the basic news is that it’s still going tremendously well – it’s selling as quickly as we can make it!

But if you’ve ever wanted to know what goes into nosing and making a whisky, do I have the technical document for you to read…

The Shackleton whisky has reached Australia and is expected to hit US shores in a couple of months – there was a very nice piece in the Huffington Post by Tony Sachs about it.

There’s also an incredibly detailed piece (PDF format I’m told) about the whisky and a detailed breakdown of what is in it at Sensory and Chemical Analysis of ‘Shackleton’s’ Mackinlay Scotch Whisky which should have enough detail for even the most ardent whisky fan!

Once again, my thanks to everyone across the globe who has shown interest in this exquisite dram over the last few years – and my thanks to everyone at Whyte & Mackay for helping make it the success that it has been.

Now if you’re looking for a bottle, this site (UK) or this site (most of the world)  might be able to help.

Lagavulin – a place of pilgrimage for many adorers of this quintessential Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

But before the malt whisky comes the malt – in this case, famously imbued with the memorable aromas of Islay’s peat. The malted barley for Lagavulin, and for several other Islay distilleries, is created just up the road, at the Port Ellen Maltings.

It’s rarely open to the public, and even then, many parts are off-limits to visitors.

So the visit you’re now invited to make through You Tube is a privileged ticket to areas that most people have never seen – where the operators themselves can explain how we make the malt that makes some of the world’s most famous Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

Full link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVIBCv5X1OM