New whisky arrival at Miner’s Delight Inn
The Two-bit Cowboy Saloon in Miner’s Delight Inn Bed & Breakfast recently added a new blended malt Scotch whisky to its recycled snow fence backbar.
Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky
Every September, whiskey lovers start prowling their favorite liquor stores for the arrival of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection whiskies. This year’s lineup of three Bourbons and two Ryes was unveiled this week, and Kris Comstock of Buffalo Trace joins me to discuss them. I’ll also have tasting notes for all five, and compare this year’s George T. Stagg Bourbon to previous years. In the news, birthdays, big bottles and a “tun” of news from The Balvenie’s Sam Simmons.
Visit WhisyCast at www.whiskycast.com
Chieftain’s Range
Rare Single Malt Scotch Whiskies
•Since 1936, Ian Macleod Distillers, through its dedication to tradition and quality, has amassed an unrivalled cask stock from Scotland’s many distilleries. This enviable collection includes extremely rare malts, some from closed or mothballed distilleries. The Chieftain’s collection hallmark is that each bottling must be fit for a King, a Leader or in the Celtic world, a Chieftain
•The new look Limited Edition Chieftain’s will appeal to the specialist, connoisseur, collector, enthusiast and those seeking an exceptional premium malt whisky gift. Each bottle is signed by our Chieftain’s Rare Malt Manager, and provides details of the wood type, cask number, number of bottles, vintage year, age and bottling date
•The small batch releases of Chieftain’s are selected for the Spring and Autumn collections each year with a variety of distilleries, vintages, wood maturations and strengths being made available
•The new, elegant antique bottle is reminiscent of a 1900 whisky bottle. It is decorated with a new style label design complete with new branding, calligraphy and watermark illustrations of Scotland, representative of the 5 different whisky producing regions. Each region is colour coded to signify the differences in the style of each whisky
•The new more individual rigid presentation gift box, surrounding the antique bottle, in ribbed and matt black with gold lining, is a true reflection of the quality of the whisky, and with its folding back head beautifully presents the product. On the rear of the box you will find a label describing the various styles of whiskies you can get from the different regions of Scotland, all of which are represented in the Chieftain’s range
•Chieftain’s is bottled at natural colour and unchill-filtered to preserve all the natural esthers of the whisky for fuller flavour and smoother taste.
•Each Chieftain’s bottling has its own personality and may vary in strength, colour and style. From the very pale, bourbon cask matured to the very amber sherry cask matured
•When finishing the whisky in a variety of wood, each cask is checked and selected by our expert noses and released only when we believe it has reached its peak and has not masked the personality of the original spirit
•Multi-award winning
The Cigar Malt Fifth Edition 15yo (46%, Chieftain’s Range)
Bottled at “Natural Colour, unchill-filtered” from an un named distillery. On the nose there’s some good cocoa or dark chocolate right away or even chocolate covered cherries along with some good sweet malt notes. Hints of maple and crème brulèe and some really nice fruit or fruit cake. All very pleasant. The taste is quite big with some vague hints of green malt hidden in the background (reminds one of Dalmore), some good malt, moments of the cocoa and chocolate with the addition of the fruit however nothing dramatic jumps out. Some slight floral notes come visiting (heather or mint or even lavender?) Hard to say but the floral does add some character. So far so good. The finish is long and little fruity with once again some good malt and more of the chocolate. The malt really takes over after a while and is very nice.
Price unknown
Score 81 points
Aultmore 12yo 1997/2009 (46%, Chieftain’s Range, Medoc Finish)
The nose is mildly industrial at first followed by some nice pleasant sweet notes which arrive bearing warm lychee, citrus and marmalade. After some time in the glass some good wood notes also emerge (clove and varnish) but they are very subtle. The nose is very nice and happily some good malt pops into the picture a little late in the game but welcome none the less. The taste is a some what drier than anticipated with some cured unlit tobacco, a little leather, coconut matting, cedar and then some malt. The malt is consistent in arriving late which is some what consistent. The wood notes continue yet while they are ever present they are not over whelming; some sweetness in the form of rich sun dried raisins does make an appearance. The finish is more of the industrial and is very active, the wood notes as described with some malt and the raisins but a bit of a jumble. It’s quite long and even; the malt wins in the end. Oh! Spoken too soon; some green malt pops up at the last (slightly bitter) and a hint of smoke.
What part the Medoc plays is unknown; it all seems to work but confused at some junctures.
$68
Score 80 points
Glen Grant 13yo 1997/2010 (46%, Chieftain’s Range)
The absolute palest sample ever seen at Whisky Intelligence; not that it matters but it does stand out for the unusual lack of colour. On the nose there are some green notes right off along with some over ripe fruit (apples, pears etc) then some malt and slight hints of perfume emerge from the glass. Interestingly there are very vague hints of smoke which is intriguing. Improves with some time in the glass. The taste is much as described on the nose but more emphasis on the malt, some really good black pepper (I say, perhaps Sumatran?) and then green malt and chocolate. Again quite intriguing. All very good, a little bit of a tussle between the malt and the green malt notes but in the end they work well together. Hints of juniper. The finish is once again much as the nose and the taste however a little bit more of the pepper and some oak spice and hints of the smoke again. A medium long finish. After a minute or two the malt really becomes evident as does the smoke….
An enjoyable dram that has not suffered from a lack of colour at all (Let that be a lesson to you). A peated Glen Grant…mysterious.
$50
Score 84 points
Ardbeg 1998 12yo (46%, Chieftains’ Range)
The nose has some quite nice peat smoke backed by some cedar aromatics, bees wax, and very clean, indeed some brine, coal smoke and iodine plus a little chocolate? A little time in the glass brings out some really good earthy notes; images of Islay peat bogs swirl into the imagination, the peat smoke and earthiness is also complimented by a little lemon and creaminess. All very intoxicating. The taste is a little fragrant at first (some juniper and cedar- very much form the oak side of the house) this quickly morphs into the chocolate and the earthiness as previously observed on the nose. A little prickly in the mouth and lashings of peat reek; all very Ardbeg at it’s best. The finish is quite dry; like stuffing wads of cotton in your mouth along with the peat characteristics, the citrus and earthiness. Very long, warming and pleasant. Cold unbuttered toast and lashings of crunchy peated malt…blood oranges. Ah very complex…
Perfect for either a winter night by the fire or a cool summer night by the ocean, a very enjoyable dram.
$90
Score 89 points
Many thanks to Sam Filmus of Impex Beverages for the samples…apologies for the delay in posting these tasting notes.
COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR, JR. SINGLE BARREL BOURBON WHISKEY IS THE LATEST RELEASE IN THE EPONYMOUS COLLECTION
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 2011) – Buffalo Trace Distillery announces the second release in the Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. collection, a single barrel bourbon aged in the very warehouse Col. Taylor built in 1881.
The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon was aged for 11 years 7 months and “Bottled in Bond” at 100 proof.
This new Single Barrel Bourbon is the second in the line of the E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection of whiskeys to be released over the next few years. It joins the Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon Buffalo Trace released earlier this year. Like the Sour Mash, this Single Barrel will have very limited availability and will be packaged in a similar vintage label and canister, which are reminiscent of Taylor’s bottles nearly one hundred years ago.
Taylor is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the now Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.
“Colonel Taylor was a pioneer with the highest standards for whiskey. We hope this bourbon honors his legacy,” said Kris Comstock, brand manager. “This Single Barrel Bourbon was aged nearly twelve years in Warehouse C, which was built by Taylor and proven to be an excellent aging warehouse. We tasted through numerous samples and choose 36 individual barrels. The nose reminds me of lightly toasted oak, with dried figs and butterscotch. Sweetness on the tongue remains balanced with tobacco and dark spices that finish just long enough to prepare the palate for another sip.”
The E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel will be available for $59.99 per 750ml bottle.
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
A Wee Bit o’Scotland at Oakridge
Our 3rd Scottish Celebration – Private Malt Tasting Join us at Oakridge Golf Club on Friday Oct. 21 at 6:30pm when Marc Laverdiere, brand ambassador for Highland Park and The Macallan will take us on a sensory journey way up to the Orkney Islands and to the Highlands!
Claidhmor will entertain us once again. And they have a great new album out!!! Stewart will bring both Claidhmor cds for sale.
Yes, there will be a highland dancing demo by Young Stars Dance and, of course, our resident piper Mark Lethbridge will pipe us into the Clubhouse. And, there will be haggis!
We’re in for a real treat of an evening, Marc Laverdiere’s master classes at WhiskyLive and Spirit of Toronto always sell out quickly.
He’s informative and very passionate about his single malt! Checkout the menu at http://golfoakridge.com/htmls/ScotCeleb10.11.html
It will be a night you don’t want to miss out on! Be sure to tell your friends. There is only room for 64 guests, so don’t delay – reserve your spots today!
With 18 holes of golf $118 (2pm tee off) Without golf $85 Without malts – food and entertainment only $50
There will be some great prizes to be won over the course of the evening!
Call John 905.985.0883 x144 or email john@golfoakridge.com to reserve your spots.
See you here… and don’t forget to wear your tartan!
Slainte Mhath!
Oakridge Golf Club
35 Lauren Rd., Port Perry, ON
L9L 2A7
Beam donates $100,000 to Operation Homefront
Fred Noe, seventh-generation Jim Beam family distiller (L), with the help of Kid Rock, presents Jim Beam’s $100,000 donation to Amy Palmer, COO of Operation Homefront, backstage at Kid Rock’s concert in Tinley Park, Ill., on Aug. 19. Since forming a 2008 partnership with Operation Homefront, a provider of emergency financial aid and critical assistance to U.S. troops, their families and wounded veterans, Jim Beam has donated more than $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the organization.
Sky´s The Limit For Fearless Whisky Worker
Donald Jenkinson (57), who has worked for Chivas Brothers at its Kilmalid bottling plant in Dumbarton for 37 years, undertook the hair-raising challenge for ex-servicemen’s charity Erskine. The parachute jump took place at Strathallan airfield in Perthshire, where he was able to get coast-to-coast views of Scotland as he hurtled to the ground.
Donald, who lives near Dumbarton Castle, raised £550 sponsorship cash through the daring stunt, with another £500 added by Chivas Brothers through the company’s doubling up scheme, which matches charity amounts raised by employees.
Donald said: “I had decided a while ago that I wanted to do a skydive before my 60th birthday and this gave me the prefect excuse as I knew the company would help me reach my goal amount for the charity.
“The scariest part was taking-off as the plane has no doors. Once I jumped the first 5,000 feet were amazing as I was just freefalling. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I want to do a bungee jump next, but my wife thinks I’m mad.”
Chivas Brothers Communications Director Vanessa Wright added: “Our employees are so generous with their time and money when it comes to a good cause, and Donald is certainly no exception to this.
“We’re delighted he was able to raise so much for Erskine, and that we were able to contribute further to this through doubling up. I hope this will be an incentive for even more employees to do their bit for charity.”
Notes:
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.
In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.
September Outturn: A Summer Songbird
Summer isn’t over until our songbird has sung, and this September Outturn carries a perfect-pitch note. Spread your wings and fly with TEN harmonious single casks
35.53 Old Jazz Bar
Speyside Lossie
£76.60 inc. free p&p
Mellow nose with Calvados, baked banana and apple crumble with caramel, almonds and ground nutmeg on top, consumed in an old jazz bar with polished brass and leather straps
29.100 A league of its own
Islay
£50.70 inc free p&p
Wet peat, raw oysters, almond oil, smoked mussels, crispy duck, heather smoke, hot diesel engine, earthy dunnage floors and a whiff of perfumed new make made a diverse first nose
EXPLORE our September Recommendations:
PAIR OFFER: Buy 23.69 & 7.67 for only £91.30 (save £10)
23.69 Dusty muesli and green bananas
7.67 Breakfast dram
TRIO OFFER: Buy 125.46, 9.61 & 30.66 for £148.70 (save £15)
125.46 Bright and vivacious
9.61 A hot summer’s day among the gorse
30.66 Muscovado, Macadamia and Manuka
CASE: Take the Sept PAIR, TRIO and ADD 76.81 for £271.50 (save £30) 76.81 Vanilla malt shake
Browse all bottlings (45 single casks online)
Society Tastings & Events (51 Society tastings online)
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 3 Sept
New Outturn Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 4 Sept
Free Live Music – The Vaults, Sun 4 Sept
Steak & Whisky Tasting – London, Mon 5 Sept
New Members Tasting – London, Thu 15 Sept
Rum Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 16 Sept
All about smoke – Queen Street, Tue 20 Sept
Colin Dunn’s Society Choice – London, Thu 22 Sept
Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Sat 24 Sept
From Leith to Bavaria – The Vaults, from Mon 26 Sept
New Outturn for the Cheese Lover – Queen Street, Tue 27 Sept
New Outturn for the Meat Lover – Queen Street, Wed 28 Sept
All things Bavarian – The Vaults, Wed 28 Sept
October Outturn Preview Tastings
Your chance to taste and explore October’s Outturn (FIVE drams!) with a spot of supper.
Guildford – Manor House Hotel, Thu 29 Sept
Dunfermline – Garvock House Hotel, Thu 29 Sept
Brighton – Hotel du Vin, Fri 30 Sept
Manchester – Malmaison, Fri 30 Sept
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.
Canadian Club 1.75L…$16.99
Canadian LTD 1.75L…$10.99
Cutty Sark Scotch 1.75L…$19.99
Dewar’s White Label 1.75L …$26.99
House Of Stuart Scotch 1.75L…$14.99
Jack Daniels Black 1.75L…$34.99
Jim Beam Bourbon 1.75L…$21.99
Johnnie Walker Red Label 1.75L…$27.99
Maker’s Mark Bourbon…$22.99
Southern Comfort & Lime 1.75L…$19.99
*Prices valid W/Binny’s Card September 1 through September 6, 2011. Not responsible for misprints or typographical errors.Sizes 750ml unless otherwise stated. Advertised items limited to quantities on hand. Don’t forget to use your Binny’s Card! Get discounts on mixed case wine purchases and work towards a 2% rebate on every $500 of eligible purchases. Get your free card at a Binny’s near you.
Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com
Make it snappy or we’ll see you later, urges Ardbeg
— An Islay-gator Tale: Iconic Islay whisky distillery “unleashes” its annual Limited Edition…Ardbeg Alligator —
— Previous Limited Edition – Ardbeg Supernova – won Scotch Whisky of the Year title in 2010 —
Bosses at Ardbeg – the iconic whisky distillery on the remote island of Islay – are urging whisky aficionados to snap up their annual Limited Edition Ardbeg Alligator…before it’s too late.
Described as a “whisky with bite”, it is hoped Ardbeg Alligator will go on to emulate the success of last year’s limited edition – Ardbeg Supernova – which not only sold out in record time but also won the coveted Scotch Whisky of the Year award.
On sale from today (September 1 2011), there are a limited number of bottles of Ardbeg Alligator available worldwide. With an RRP of £65 Scottish stockists include Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh and Luvians Bottle Shop in Cupar, Fife. It is also available online at www.ardbeg.com
Ardbeg Alligator is the result of experimentation carried out many years ago by the Distillery and its team headed up by Dr. Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation.
“Alligator Charring” describes the method of charring (or burning) the inside of the oak casks before they are filled with spirit. The burnt wood staves take on the appearance of an alligator’s scales, hence the name. The heart of Alligator is spirit matured in ‘Level 4’ casks – the most intense type of charring you can achieve.
Lumsden said: “Since we bought and restored the Ardbeg Distillery we have undertaken lots of experiments, laying down spirit in different types of casks. This began back in the late 1990s and Alligator is a good example of one experiment that has definitely worked.
“The key for us was to “marry” the intense smoky bacon and charcoal taste of the whisky from these heavily charred casks with the equally intense smoky peaty flavours of hallmark Ardbeg and get the right taste. We are intensely pleased with the results and it would be fair to say that this whisky has bite.”
On the launch Hamish Torrie, Ardbeg Brand Director explained: “It is a limited release and, judging by the reaction of our Ardbeg Committee Members to the few bottles we pre-released in June it will be snapped up very quickly!”
Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.
Ardbeg was voted Scotch Whisky of the Year three years in a row (2008-2010) by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
Ardbeg Alligator has been bottled at 51.2% ABV and as with all Ardbegs is non chill-filtered for extra texture and mouth-feel.
Notes:
Responsible Drinking
Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.
About The Glenmorangie Company
The company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whiskies and Ardbeg Single Islay malt.
