A new article “Merry Christmas from Glenglassaugh 2012” by Stuart Nickerson has been posted and can be read at the Glenglassaugh Distillery blog.

BENRIACH IN HIGH SPIRITS AS 10,000th CASK IS FILLED

AWARD-WINNING BenRiach distillery reached another fantastic milestone this week – for the first time since it changed ownership in 2004, the distillery has managed to fill 10,000 casks of single malt whisky in one year.

The cask, containing approximately 500 litres, was a second-fill Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon filled with classic-style BenRiach.

Stewart Buchanan, Production Manager at the Elgin distillery, said: “This is an amazing achievement. The distillery was built by John Duff in 1898 and we have an uninterrupted inventory of single malts dating back to 1966.

“The casks we have filled since then contain the highest-quality whisky and the many expressions are incredibly complex and varied. There is no doubt in terms of blood, sweat and tears, this has been the busiest year we have had at the distillery since it became independent. As we entered December, we had a wee suspicion that we might hit the magic 10,000 cask number for the first time so we were keeping a close eye as the cask numbers ascended and we eventually filled cask No. 10,000 on Wednesday December 14th.”

Managing Director Billy Walker said: “This milestone in our distillery production coincides with a really interesting period for BenRiach. We’ve won a number of high-profile awards recently, our worldwide sales are strong and we’re opening up new markets for BenRiach.

“This is a further indication of the current popularity of Scotch whisky and the confidence the industry has that demand will grow going forward.

“Cask No. 10,000 will no doubt attract more attention than others and it will be interesting to see how the whisky contained within it develops over the years!

“Congratulations to Stewart and everyone at BenRiach on a tremendous achievement.”

Jameson Irish Whiskey Tasting
Thursday 22 nd December 2011

The Jameson Reserves range and the Single Pot Still range will be on taste in The Cellars this month when and I will be thrilled to introduce
Mr Ed McAvoy the Jameson Brand Ambassador to you all. With two distinct Irish whiskey styles on show and many hard to find bottles amongst them
this will be a rare occasion not to be missed!

On taste:

Jameson
Jameson Select Reserve
Jameson Gold Reserve
Jameson 18yo
Green Spot
Redbreast 12yo
Powers John’s Lane Release
Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy

Tickets : £25 per person
Start time 7:30 pm

By return here or on
01384 394518

slainte

TWE Blog’s Christmas Whisky: Bowmore Tempest 3

There’s been a few great whiskies this year, many of them Irish and some classics from independent bottlers (including a few zingers from our good selves, I must add immodestly). So this is not my Whisky of the Year – there’s just too … Continue reading >>

Christmas Countdown: 20% Off Your Order

We’re counting-down the days to Christmas with different member treats and offerings. Yesterday we released a selection of WOW bottlings, today (until Fri 23 Dec) get a massive 20% off your order.

Items that haven’t already been discounted are included in the offer so get ordering…all bottles included in the sale are listed HERE

Simply use ‘XMASWEEK’ as your promo code at the checkout

Merry Christmas!

Delivery UPDATE: Yesterday was our last day for guaranteed Christmas delivery (based on the bad weather conditions last year). Looking at the forecasts for this week, we are expecting double-digit warmth in the UK. So altho’ we cannot be 100% sure that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas if you order now, it looks very promising!

Saturday deliveries are also still available for an additional charge

Cask Ends Sale – VERY Limited Parcels Available

Cask Ends Parcel 1: 3 x Ex-sherry casks
£105 OR £148 with 26.82

Cask Ends Parcel 2: 3 x Ex-sherry & Ex-bourbon casks
£99 OR £142 with 26.82

Cask Ends Parcel 3: 3 x Campbeltown & Islay Casks
£115 OR £158 with 26.82

26.82 Soft light at sunset
15 yo, Ex-sherry butt (Highland Northern)
Light and fresh with a hint of Palma violets…
Available only with our Cask Ends Parcels

Cask Ends Parcels
Society Little Extras
Browse all bottlings
(50 single casks online)

WOW Bottlings: Rare & Tasty Treats
As part of our Countdown to Christmas Week, we have released a number of hard-to-come-by and mouth-watering Society bottlings. Have a VERY Society Christmas…. 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.

MORE BIG PEAT SANTA HAS JUST ARRIVED IN ALBERTA!

AVAILABLE ON OPEN STOCK!

Merry Christmas!

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET YOUR GIFTS FROM DRAMBUSTERS… LAST POSTING DATE FOR ARRIVAL BEFORE CHRISTMAS IS WEDNESDAY 21ST DECEMBER

Black Bull 40yo
Batch 1
Cheapest on the Web!
 
Black Bull 40 year old is 90% single malt and 10% single grain and is bottled at cask strength. The spirit is completely natural, without chill filtration or added colourant.

Official Tasting Notes

Nose: Sweet, Grapefruit, vanilla, iced buns, apples and mint
Flavour: Mild, juicy fruits, slight touch of oak and a soft coastal note. Raisins and cinnamon, exceptionally smooth
Finish: Vanilla, some kiwi fruits, freshly cut grass and a faint hint of aniseed

BUY BLACK BULL 40YO NOW!

Was £108 –  Now only £88

Our mailing address is:

T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU

Teacher’s Scotch launches Super Premium Portfolio from India

Teacher’s 25 Year Old 700 ml, priced at Rs 26, 230 in Delhi, Rs 33,225 in Mumbai; Rs 32,368 in Bangalore and Rs 31,000 in Kolkata. Soon also available at Airport duty free at US$ 250

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt from the Ardmore Distillery 750ml priced at Rs 4210 in Delhi, Rs 5000 in Mumbai, Rs 4544 in Bangalore, Rs 3900 in Kolkata. 1 litre variant soon also available at Airport duty free at US$ 40

December 5, 2011: Teacher’s, the No 1 Scotch portfolio in India with a robust portfolio of blended Scotch whiskies announced new introductions in the super premium and luxury Scotch expressions with the global launch of Teacher’s 25 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky and Teacher’s Highland Single Malt Whisky from the Ardmore Distillery The global launch of both these premium spirits from India is a reiteration of Beam Inc’s commitment to the Indian market and a salutation to a country that made its flagship Teacher’s Highland Cream the dominant market leader across India.

Beam Inc., the 4th largest spirits company in the world is committed to its consumer insight driven innovations agenda and is encouraged with strong growth witnessed in emerging markets. India continues to be jewel in the crown emerging market for Beam with a very successful Teacher’s portfolio. Teacher’s currently markets Teacher’s Highland Cream, Teacher’s 50 – 12 Years Old and recently introduced premium innovation – Teacher’s Origin.

There are a rare chosen few, who lead a life which is a superbly crafted symphony of achievements – one shining moment leads to another lustrous one. The notes of success build upon themselves – inevitable, inexorably, leading to a high that has the world look up.

Speaking at the global launch of the two super premium expressions from India, Mr. Harish Moolchandani, CEO & Managing Director (India & Indian Sub Continent), Beam India & ISC said, We have seen some very exciting times in the last year. Teacher’s as a brand outperformed the market and expectations and its elevation to the numero uno position in India has reaffirmed our belief in the understanding we have of the Indian consumer and their requirements. Teacher’s 25 Year Old and Teacher’s Single Malt are very premium expressions that will help us break through the clutter in the Indian Scotch Whisky market and offer the finest experiences to whisky aficionados. The Teacher’s 25 Year Old is truly a feather in the cap for Beam Inc. It is for connoisseurs ready to experience the ultimate and we are certain to see it become an exclusive and aspirational expression of achievement.

Mr. Robert Hicks, Teacher’s Master Blender, added, Teacher’s 25 Year Old is the oldest Teacher’s blend that has ever produced by us for sale and has been specially created to show how important it is to Teacher’s. The blend is so rich and full of flavour and stays true to William Teacher Senior’s guiding principles of a high malt content blend. If he were here now, he would be exceedingly proud of this supreme Teacher’s blend. While, Teacher’s Highland Single Malt is produced at Ardmore Malt distillery in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland and was designed and built in 1898 by Adam Teacher, one of the sons of William Senior, Adam wanted a very individual single malt whisky to be distilled for use in Teacher’s and to achieve that he bought the New Pitsligo peat bed in Banff to ensure the quality of the peat used in drying the malted barley. A quality we are proud of and dedicate to you.

Teacher’s 25 Year Old – the highest note yet in William Teacher’s legendary quest for perfection.

Teacher’s 25 Year Old is a rare and exclusive blend of the finest Scotch whiskies, available in individually numbered, exquisitely crafted ceramic decanter carriers to preserve exclusivity. This expression is distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland. It contains an unusually high percentage of malt whisky. In particular, the main flavours are provided by our own Ardmore Single Malt from the Ardmore distillery, which has been producing the finest Highland peated malt whisky for the Teacher’s family since 1898. To create the blend, only the finest aged casks of at least 25 years of age are first hand selected, followed by the art of blending – which is more art than science – to craft the finished spirit. The result is a supremely characterful, rich and smooth blend with subtle hints of unique peat smoke.

TASTING NOTES:

Colour: Bright Gold

Nose: At natural strength the immediate aroma is of spice and fruit, a trace of cinnamon and possibly nutmeg that encapsulates the peach and sweet orange creaminess that has a slight hint of lemon backing. With a trace of water the whisky opens to a multitude of additional flavours that gives the whisky a magnificent complexity. The mix of soft red apples, spice and a touch of sherbet are strengthened by the distinct tang of highland peat that then finishes with a soft creamy caramel sweetness.

Body: The vast complexity is well balanced by the rich sweetness

Palate: Again without water the taste is round, smooth and soft with touches of spices, fruit and peat smoke. Just a touch of water allows the mass of fruit and many soft spice flavours to develop. This slowly fades into the tang of smoky peat that is well balanced by the nutty creamy oak flavours.

Finish: Initially sweet but fades into a surprising dryness that allows the smoke to linger on for ages

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from the Ardmore distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, established in 1898. It is distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland. A 100% peated Highland malt, the spirit is lightly, yet entirely peated – and has been so since 1898 when the Teacher’s family first decided to build a distillery in the Highlands. From the beginning, Ardmore was designed to create a very high quality malt whisky which would form the heart of Teacher’s Highland Cream, the Teacher family’s famous blended Scotch whisky. Today, Ardmore still uses the highest quality production methods, including traditional wooden wash backs and peats it’s malt with peat taken only from the Highlands. The result is a rich, complex malt whisky with very balanced smoky notes – the result is Teacher’s Single Malt Whisky.

TASTING NOTES:

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt From The Ardmore Distillery

Colour: Burnished gold.

Aroma: A rich softness linked with a smooth, slightly dry aroma, combined with a gentle, earthy, peat smoke.

Body: Full with subtle gentleness.

Palate: Full and rich flavours fill the mouth with a creamy peat tang and a touch of vanilla and sweet ripe fruit.

Finish: Full, succulent and quite long.

Just in time for Christmas we have exciting news of a special release of a single cask Madeira finish BenRiach available to buy exclusively from Arkwrights.  See below for the full details!

And if you’ve still got last minute presents fo buy for the whisky lover in your life (including yourself!) then there are just a couple of days for you to get your order in for Christmas delivery in the UK so take a browse round on the website now and if you need any advice just contact us.

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken

BENRIACH 1997 14 YEAR OLD WHISKY – KING’S ROYAL HUSSARS BOTTLING

When the first limited edition of BenRiach bottled for the King’s Royal Hussars was released in May 2011 it was extremely well received and sold out within a matter of days.  Now we can bring you the exciting news that the KRH whisky team have been busy again and selected another single cask of BenRiach to bottle – this time round it’s a 1997 14 year old that has been matured in American bourbon barrels, then ‘finished’ in a ‘Henriques and Henriques’ Madeira Hogshead.

Only 350 bottles were released and, as with the first edition, the majority of these are only available through the regiment but we are again fortunate that here at Arkwrights we have an allocation available to sell exclusively through the shop and online.

Retailing at just £59.99, the majority of the profits will go to the KRH appeal to support any of their soldiers who have been adversely affected during operations – which is currently of particular significance as they are due to deploy to Afghanistan in 2012.

This is a whisky that will appeal to both whisky lovers and collectors alike and demand is sure to be high so for further information and to buy click here.

 
Arkwrights Whisky & Wines. Phone No. 01793 765071 Fax No. 01793 764860 The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire, SN6 7PE

Now for the 2nd year the Hielander Whisky Festival in Alkmaar The Netherlands.

A completely independant festival organized by restaurant owner Wullie Macmorland (Hielander Scottish Restaurant) Organized under the motto of “why does it have to cost so much?” The first festival drew 2000 visitors in two days, this year the standholders have been doubled, meaning that there can now be space for 2500 visitors.Every session has live folk music and there is traditional Scottish food available (e.g smoked salmon, Haggis, cock-a-leekie)

Email: hielander.whiskyfestival@gmail.com