Whisky Review 232 – Movember (Prostate Cancer Check for men)
… go on boys, ralfy recommends you have a check for any \’nasties\’ that could ruin your life. Then reward yourself with a whisky.
Kilchoman 2006 5yo 46%abv 2006 Vintage Release
“This is the first 5 year old release from Kilchoman and has been aged in a combination of fresh and refill bourbon barrels.”
Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks ‘Kilchoman 2006 Vintage Release 5yo’
Price excluding VAT: £40.75
£48.90 Including VAT at 20%
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk
Benromach wins Gold at New York tasting awards
Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Years Old been awarded a gold medal TheFiftyBest.com in New York City.
Tasted among 19 other whiskies, a gold medal was awarded in a Single Malt Scotch 10 to 12 year old tasting event in recognition of its “spicy, pure and velvety” flavour.
The accolade adds to the growing list of awards for the whiskies from Speyside’s smallest working distillery and the increasing success of Benromach across the UK and internationally. Benromach 30 Years Old won a bronze award at The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge in Edinburgh on Thursday night (November 3). Judges described it as the “perfect after dinner whisky”.
TheFiftyBest.com rating the finest in wines and spirits turned their attention to Single Malt Scotch Whisky this year for the first time. Malt whisky aficionados, wine and spirits writers, retailers and bartenders were the judges at the formal tasting in NYC.
Using professional criteria, the scotch whiskies were served “blindly” one at a time, and rated on a 1-5 point scoring system with 5 being the best. After totalling up the scores, the Single Malts were ranked according to the total scores received.
Under the management of Gordon & MacPhail, Benromach is handcrafted by just two experienced distillers. Using their unique skills they have developed the distillery’s portfolio which includes the popular Benromach 10 Year Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first fully certified organic single malt.
Gordon & MacPhail’s Miltonduff 1969 also walked away with a silver award at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge which was held at Number 12 Picardy Place in Edinburgh.
David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be recognised both at home and abroad is a significant achievement. The international appeal of Benromach is continuing to grow and it is exciting to see our range of whiskies being honoured at respected events like these.”
Notes
1. Benromach distillery is Speyside’s smallest. Based in Forres, just two expert distillers make this, golden malt whisky.
2. Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by family firm Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.
Other Benromach expressions include:
Benromach Ten Years Old
Benromach Ten Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.
Benromach Traditional
A rich and mellow single malt with fruit and malty tones, balanced with a hint of smoke.
Benromach Peat Smoke
Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.
Benromach Origins
A series of special bottlings crafted to highlight how small changes in the art of whisky-making can help to shape the character of the final single malt.
Please visit www.benromach.com for details.
Message in a Bottle – by Paul Mclean
After a long chat with a “friend” about a weird and strange “happening” up on the west coast, I had to go and see for myself. The story went, that bottles of excellent whisky are being washed up and, just there for the picking! I must admit I thought it a joke, but with a few days to myself, there’s no stopping me from visiting the fantastic west coast, even if it rains.
Thursday morning I set out north, now at this stage I’m asking myself “do I say where I have been?”, well with so many wee bays, coves and inlets, some hidden, some no, why not say – so, started with a meeting with a good friend at the Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum (picking up a painting), then wandered into the superb whisky shop there, I was so tempted with; Arran / 1995 First Production One of 1000 bottles from the first ever production at The Isle of Arran Distillery. Each bottle is individually numbered on the label tag. This is from one of the very first casks to be filled, laid down in the Summer of 1995. This is also CASK STRENGTH 60.3% vol Distilled at Isle of Arran Distillery £249.99
Hmmmm … Aberlour a’bunadh limited edition Sterling Silver Label. 12 year old single malt, I was yearning for bottle number 219, och but look was all I managed! Comes in a hesian bag, but inside is a lovely 58.7% dram, costs £249.99. It was then the bells rang in my heid, “time to go”. So headed up through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. Dreich but fantastic scenery. From there through Fort William and turning left towards Mallaig. A grand road so it is travelling through many lochs and glens, once past Glenfinnan, the road gets a wee bit more “wild”- on then to the Back of Kepoch, where I was lodging that night, took a few pix and scoured a few hidden places lookin for the drams. None to be found. Och well, back to the hotel restaurant and some excellent local fish for my supper, chased doon with some red wine.
Friday; my search began once again, over the day I drove all over the place and around lunchtime, was at Ardnamurchan, the most westerly point on the British mainland. After a quick lunch I started oot again on my search. Low and behold, look what I found! A very nice bottle of Glen Garioch in its old broon bottle, and … a very nice Mannochmore. Now – I’m no being fussy, but someone had helped themselves to a lot of the Mannochmore, what a cheek!!! Whereas the Glen was complete. What can you do? I sat doon on the kelp covered rock and took a wee nip to myself, ah! Acting as a life saver, I rescued both bottles and walked them to my car. My day continued as I caught the ferry to Mull and another to Oban, where I strayed down to Connel for an overnight stay.
Alone in my room, I opened the Mannochmore, what was the message? DRINK ME, DRINK ME! So being the kind soul I am, I drank some… a slight hint of chocolate, sawn wood. Excellent dram, now can taste apples and lemons (lets just say citrus). Very fruity with a balance between bourbon and sherry wood matured whiskies that make up. I was tempted to sample a wee bit too much, but resisted!
Saturday; On my way home next day I took some photos; here’s one, Kilchurn castle in the morning mist, aye its a Campbell castle, but I thought I would take a shot at it!
I am thinking of doing some more messages pretty soon…
Send us your own ‘Vignettes – Moments in Whisky’. If you have a whisky moment please feel free to submit your moment and we’ll do our best to publish it. Go on, you know you want to be famous…
Don’t forget about the trip today if you have a ticket!
Glen Garioch Today!!!
(pronounced Glen Gear-ee)
Leaves 2pm Today
from Butchart Centre
Tickets have already sold out!
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Whisky Trip to Edinburgh!! – 25th-26th November
Depart at 1pm on the Friday.
Visiting whisky pubs, Glenkinchie and Scotch Whisky Experience.
Price max of 50£.
Limited to 15 people.
If interested, send us an email: aberdeenwhisky@gmail.com
Our mailing address is:
University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Butchart Centre
University Road
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3UT
Dear friends,
The waiting is over, ticket sales for Whisky Festival North Netherlands have started!
Close to 5000 visitors attended the 6th edition of our festival in March 2011 and keeping in mind that the whole fair is run by volunteers only this is something to be very proud of. We had many articles and reviews in national and international printed media, including Whisky Magazine UK, we had live exposure on dutch national radio and television, who can ask for more? In just 6 years time our festival has matured from a small local fair into a serious contender among the big international whisky festivals, some of which can learn a thing or two from us.
Helen Arthur stated on behalf of all our guests: “This is the most friendly festival in the world”.
What can you expect at our upcoming festival:
Of course you will find that not only every major whisky importer will be present in Groningen, but also most of the smaller brands will be there, allowing you to taste many different whiskies from all over the globe. You can attend many Masterclasses on a whole variety of subjects, ranging from Single Grain whisky to the combination of whisky and music, many international reknown writers will be present, and so on.
An still we managed to keep the entrance fee low for yet another year, admission tickets still cost only € 25,00 each.
Tickets can be obtained through the menu of our webshop at http://www.wfnn.nl
And while you’re at it, spare a thought to our Japanese friends:
Support Japan Aid by donating 1 euro and you might win one of the many prizes our exhibitors have donated for this cause. The donations will be transferred to the International Red Cross, this cause was suggested by Martine Nouet and Dave Broom. Make as many donations as you want, each month a name will be selected from all who have participated. Winners will receive a personal notice, they can collect their prizes at the WFNN info stand during the festival.
For Twitter you can go to http://twitter.com/wfnn
Our facebook is located at WFNN
So keep following us through our website, on Twitter and on Facebook to receive the latest scoops, we’ll also send an email update from time to time, but you may run the risk of missing out on important info.
Slàinte mhat!
Henk Seine (secretary of WFNN)
JIM MURRAY’S WHISKY BIBLE 2011
95.5 POINTS
Benromach 30 year old in Jim Murray’s 2011 Whisky Bible judged the best single malt whisky in the 28-34 year old (multiple casks) category.
SOLD OUT IN 2011!!!
Benromach Whisky’s Currently Available in Alberta
Benromach 10 year old – 87.5 Points CSPC# 737873
Benromach Peat Smoke – 90.5 Points CSPC# 727524
Benromach Traditional – 86 Points CSPC# 714036
Benromach Organic – 85.5 Points CSPC# 737876
Arriving in 2012
Benromach 30 yr old – 95.5 Points CSPC # 746694
Benromach 25 yr old – 92 Points CSPC # 746236
Balvenie’s Batch 2s – Tun 1401 and 40 year old
The folks at Balvenie like keeping busy. After a summer of random events they’ve hunkered down as we approach the end of the year and have done that which we know them for most – made some excellent whisky. Not … Continue reading >>
Old Pulteney Whisky Launches New Look Packaging Across Range
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky has revealed a re-fresh of the design of its full range, at the end of a year that has seen the ‘maritime malt’ awarded some of the whisky industry’s highest accolades.
The re-design is the first significant update of the brand’s identity for several years, and follows Old Pulteney 21 Year Old winning four of Jim Murray’s 2012 Whisky Bible Awards, including ‘World Whisky of the Year’.
It also marks an impressive year of sales for Old Pulteney, which has enjoyed 62 per cent growth in the UK as well as significant expansion in key markets across the globe.
The re-design includes a striking new look for the bottle and pack of the 12, 17 and 21 Year Old expressions in both the domestic and travel retail sectors. Changes include:
A new logo which features the year the whisky was established – 1826 – and the rugged coastal Wick location where Old Pulteney is distilled in the very north of Scotland’s mainland
Greater use of foil on the packaging and bolder lettering
A re-drawing of the traditional herring drifter that’s based at Wick, and has become a symbol of the brand
Senior Brand Manager for Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Margaret Mary Clarke commented: ‘Our decision to refresh Old Pulteney’s packaging has been taken with a great deal of care, given that the brand’s distinctive look has been so successful for many years. We believe the new look creates a modern evolution for the brand, reinvigorating the original design while enhancing the history and maritime identity that are so important to Old Pulteney. After listening to consumer feedback, we believe this redesign will bring greater visibility and appeal, providing a contemporary edge that continues to communicate our whisky’s quality and rich heritage.
‘The launch of this new packaging couldn’t come at a better time, following Old Pulteney 21 Year Old’s recent industry awards, which are amongst the most prestigious a whisky can receive in terms of global recognition.’
The new look Old Pulteney is now available in stores. www.oldpulteney.com
International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.
Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.
International Beverage brands include:
Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of people of more than 12 nationalities, speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.
BIG November Outturn: Peek, pick, plunge in…
Whisky Season has arrived, and with it our Christmas Countdown List, packed to the gills with over 40 mouth-watering delicacies to help you pluck this year’s perfect presents
Not officially released until Fri 18 Nov, plunge in
Browse all bottlings
(89 single casks online)
Fishing for ideas? Suggestions…
Regional Trio: 121.50, 44.50 & 53.156 for £125
Xmas Pair: 125.54 & G1.7 for £95
Speyside Pair: 30.68 & 44.50 for £87
Cask Type Trio:123.6, 44.50 & 85.22 for £145
Christmas Case: 121.50, 44.50, 53.156, 125.54, G1.7 & 30.68 for only £255
SMWS Tastings & Events (39 events online)
All about wood – Queen Street, Thu 17 Nov
Greenock Preview Tasting – The Tontine Hotel, Fri 18 Nov
Aberdeen Preview Tasting – Caledonian Hotel, Thu 24 Nov
Winchester Preview Tasting – Winchester Royal Hotel, Fri 25 Nov
Glasgow Preview Tasting – Radisson Blu Hotel, Fri 25 Nov
Harrogate Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Fri 25 Nov
Wokingham Preview Tasting – Cantley House Hotel, Fri 2 Dec
Book an Event: Festive Dining & Suppers
This year the Society is capturing the essence of Christmas with a feast for the senses. Enjoy flaming cocktails, a fabulously festive three-course meal and whisky ‘affogato’
More details
Whisky Magazine’s 2012 Independent Bottler of the Year www.whiskymag.com/awards/ibc/2011/
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.
