WORLD RECORD SMASHED AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

£46, 850 PAID FOR BOTTLE CELEBRATING THE 110 YEARS OF LIFE OF SCOTLAND’S OLDEST INHABITANT

A rare and exclusive bottle of 55 Year Old Glenfiddich commemorating and celebrating the 110th birthday of Janet Sheed Roberts, the granddaughter of William Grant – founder of the Glenfiddich distillery – and the oldest person in Scotland sold for a world record £46,850 at Bonhams Whisky auction in Edinburgh today (14 December). The previous world record for a bottle of single malt at auction was £29,700.

The cask was filled on New Year’s Eve 1955 and over the past 55 years so much of the liquid has evaporated or soaked into the barrel that there is only enough whisky left to fill 15 bottles. Eleven of these – one to celebrate each decade of Janet Sheed Roberts’ life – will be sold at auctions round the world over the coming 12 months to raise money for charity. The proceeds of the bottle auctioned today will go to support Water Aid.

Bonhams Head of Whisky, Martin Green, said, “It’s a great privilege to have sold a bottle with such a distinguished pedigree and for such a good cause. We area all delighted.”

In total the sale raised £215,000 and 93% the lots were sold.

For further sale information please go to www.bonhams.com/whisky

Notes

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES
LAST EXPERIMENTAL COLLECTION OF 2011
Bourbon made with “Rice” and “Oats” Are the Latest Two Experiments

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Dec., 2011) Those creative distillers have been up to it again at Buffalo Trace Distillery. The latest round of whiskies in the Experimental Collection are two bourbons – one made with rice and one made with oats. And like their breakfast-sounding names, both provide a hearty mouthful without being over powerful.

“For this experiment, we were curious to taste what would happen when we substituted the rye grain in our traditional recipe with other grains like rice and oats,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “The results are very different from each other, and different than typical bourbon, but both are pleasant surprises.” This whiskey experiment yielded very few bottles, but some will be available in select U.S. stores in late December.

Details are as follows:

Rice Bourbon Whiskey – These barrels were filled on April 30, 2002, and aged on the 7th floor of Warehouse I for 9 years and 5 months. Corn, malt and rice are the ingredients used in the recipe, resulting in a very clean aroma with the barrel notes of caramel and spice. A crisp flavor on the tongue is noticed, without any heaviness or oiliness whatsoever. A slight dryness near the end provides a quick finish. It is a very delicate whiskey.

Oat Bourbon Whiskey – These barrels have the same fill date, aging location and aging time as the Rice Bourbon. Corn, malt and oats are the ingredients used in this recipe, resulting in a pleasantly smoky nose with a rich aroma of toasted oats that offers a nice complexity. On the palette, the smokiness intrigues as hints of dried fig and stone fruit come through, and eventually give way to an earthy finish.

There are more than 1,500 experimental barrels of whiskey now aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of these barrels has unique characteristics that differentiate it from all others. Some examples of these experiments include unique mash bills, type of wood and barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery.

The Experimental Collection will be packaged in 375ml bottles. Each label will include all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys will retail for approximately $46.35 each. They are 45% alcohol by volume. Each experiment is very rare and very limited. For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Kris Comstock at kcomstock@buffalotrace.com .

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 .

Late Winter Outturn Offerings

Teasing torture in Granny’s cupboard

Cask No. 30.67
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)

On the nose, attractive sweetness (pancakes and maple syrup, honey, vanilla, Tia Maria) was balanced by polished wood, beeswax, bergamot, dried fruit, menthol and eucalyptus; a mixture that evoked one panellist’s ‘grandmother’s cupboard’. The palate carried caramel, butterscotch, coffee, oranges and mint humbugs – a sweet, tasty package shot through with various interesting elements, all tied up in oaky, tannic ribbons of tongue-drying, teasing torture. The reduced nose actually changed little – dark cherries, dry wood and tea were identified; but on the palate, the ‘torture’ faded to light coffee and quinine, while the sweeter side swelled deliciously. From Rothes’ second distillery.

Drinking tip: To share with special friends – give it time

Colour: Maple candy
Cask: Refill sherry butt
Age: 30 years
Date distilled: July 1980
Alcohol: 53.3%

$180

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Lamb chops, mint sauce and blueberries

Cask No. 44.49
Highlands, Speyside

One Panellist was tucking into lamb chops with boiled potatoes and mint sauce while the rest of us found cherry pie, white pepper, dried fruit and pot pourri on the nose. To taste we too found lamb chops with mint sauce but also crème brûlée, cola cubes and Twiglets with a hot finish reminiscent of English mustard. Water yielded sliced ham and Fruits of the Forest, vanilla, blueberry muffins, and Jammy Dodgers smothered in natural yogurt. We found more of the same on the palate but also milky coffee and a lasting minty freshness. The distillery name means ‘rocky hill’

Drinking tip: Reading a short story before Sunday lunch to get the gastric juices flowing

Colour: Old trombone
Cask: Refill sherry butt
Age: 11 years
Date distilled: August 1999
Alcohol: 58.7%

$95

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Lovehearts in a coal sack

Cask No. 53.153
Islay, North Shore

The nose was a fabulous mix of smoke, scorched heather, TCP and clean seaweed with marshmallows, vanilla and fresh laundry. The unreduced palate had soot, ash, lime and honey-coated burnt heather stems, with a treacly, woody aftertaste; some (but not all) found it a little harsh. The reduced nose was fresher, with lovehearts, refreshers, twizzle lollies and Jolly Ranchers as well as heather honey, smoke and empty coal sacks. The reduced palate had soapy, salty notes, butterscotch, burnt sticks and pine notes in the finish. This non-typical sample from Islay’s biggest distillery had panel members facing off in mild contretemps.

Drinking tip: After a few douce drams when you need something heftier

Colour: Moonlight and lemon juice gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 14 years
Date distilled: March 1997
Alcohol: 56.5%

$115

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Cask No. 77.25
Highlands, Northern Highlands

First impressions were of fresh pipe tobacco drenched in cider or damson vinegar, floral notes soon became prominent with rose, elderflower and geranium buoyed up by stewed apples & pears with lemon rind. To taste the Panel were licking caramelised chilli tobacco on new leather but softened by floral and woody undertones. A little water released aromas of red apples, liquorice, dried rose petals, lemon rinds and vanilla tobacco all in a leather pouch, while to taste it was sweet – coconut, vanilla; fruity – stewed apples with cinnamon, but still pleasantly floral. This is the only distillery on the Black Isle.

Drinking tip: For discussion

Colour: Buttery gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 23 years
Date distilled: August 1987
Alcohol: 56.8%

$145

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Please click on the LINK to read further and visit the SMWS of America at www.smwsa.com  for information on how to join.

Canadian Club 1.75L…$16.99
Canadian LTD 1.75L…$10.99
Crown Royal 1.75L…$34.99
Dewar’s White Label 1.75L…$25.99
Early Times 1.75L…$15.99
House Of Stuart Scotch 1.75L…$14.99
J & B Scotch 1.75L…$24.99
Jack Daniels Black 1.75L…$34.99
Jameson Irish Whiskey…$17.99
Jim Beam Bourbon 1.75L…$21.99
Johnnie Walker Black Label 1.75L…$54.99
Johnnie Walker Black Label …$24.99
Johnnie Walker Blue Label…$159.99
Johnnie Walker Red Label 1.75L…$26.99
Knob Creek Bourbon…$24.99
Seagram’s 7 Crown 1.75L…$16.99
Seagram’s VO 1.75L…$17.99

Canadian Club w/jigger…$12.99
Crown Royal w/stocking…$17.99
Drambuie Liqueur w/glasses…$29.99
Jack Daniels Honey w/glasses…$19.99
Maker’s Mark w/glasses…$22.99

*Prices valid W/Binny’s Card December 14 thru December 20, 2011. Not responsible for misprints or typographical errors.  Sizes 750ml unless otherwise stated. Advertised items limited to quantities on hand. Binny’s Beverage Depot | 5100 W. Dempster | Skokie | IL | 60077

The calendar illustrates all of the Islay distilleries with pages dedicated to the Malting and warehousing. The text on each page offers some history and unique features relating to each distillery, truly a flavour of Islay whiskies, especially Lagavulin.

The calendar is a comprehensive and collectable publication for all malt whisky enthusiasts.

CLICK HERE FOR LAGAVULIN BOTTLES

The Malt Maniacs have published a new e-pistle by Ralfy (Yes that Ralfy) and you can read it all for yourself HERE

Speyside’s smallest distillery toasts increase in sales

Sales of Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Years Old, are pouring off the shelves in the run up to Christmas with figures increasing by 40 per cent across the UK from last year.

According to new figures from Speyside’s smallest distillery, Benromach, sales of their flagship Single Malt shot up between 1 March 2011 and 30 November 2011, compared to the same period last year.

Sales south of the border increased significantly by 83 per cent during the same period.

Benromach 10 Years Old is a multi-award winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky hand-crafted at Speyside’s smallest working distillery. Initially matured in a mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks, the whisky is transferred to

European oak Oloroso Sherry casks for a final period of maturation.

The result is a beautifully balanced dram, displaying a rich Sherry character, summer fruit flavours, malt creaminess and a light peat smoke influence.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Benromach 10 Years Old is an ideal, affordable Christmas present for the whisky lover who enjoys something unique and of high quality. As a boutique distillery, run by two men, we pride ourselves in hand crafting award winning, quality single malt whiskies.”

Benromach 10 Years Old is one of a range of single malt Scotch from the Speyside distillery which are available from whisky shops and fine wine and spirits retail specialists.

For more information visit www.benromach.com  

Notes:

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by 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.

Just two men hand-craft Benromach using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years. The Benromach portfolio includes the award winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.

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

Christmas Cask Ends Sale: Limited Number Online
Christmas is well-and-truly on its way…our Cask Ends Sale has landed. We’ve packaged together the last few bottles from some outstanding casks we’ve bottled over the last few months and are offering them to our members at a Merry Christmas price. Our parcels are very limited in number this year so please order now to get yours!

Buy our Cask Ends Parcels with or without our special bottling 26.82 Soft light at sunset. Sale ends Sat 31 Dec (subject to availability)

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

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

Cask Ends Parcel 3: 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
(55 single casks online)

WIN Whisky For A Year: Placed Your Order Yet?
Imagine Whisky For A Year and not just for Christmas. Place an order with us online now up until our last orders date on Mon 19 Dec and we’ll automatically enter you to win Whisky For A Year – 12 bottles delivered direct to your doorstep over the course of next year.
Whisky For A Year

A Midwinter Feast at The Vaults: Last Call for tickets
The final tickets for our Midwinter Feast will be on-sale until tomorrow so let us know if you would like some. Expect carols and Dickensian buffet washed down with mulled cider. More details

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.

Welcome to Angels December newsletter.
 
First of all may we take this opportunity to welcome all the new members signed in recently! We hope you enjoy the website as much as you do the actual drams of your choice!
 
With the holiday season just around the corner, we thought we would wish you all a Happy Christmas and an even better Hogmanay (new Year). Liz and Paul certainly will be enjoying a dram or four this December in between tours – aye, we have three in December!
 
So what’s new at Angels?
 
Seasonal cocktails; http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/whiskycocktails.asp  why not enjoy a seasonal cocktail, whisky of course!
 
Well – how would you like a blend your own bottle?
It is an online blending session, then posted to you (some countries may find difficulties in this) becoming an exclusive one off whisky!
Let us know what you think and we can send you details.
 
Jim Murray Whisky Bible; we had many comments on our question; “Is there any point to this book?”
Please see http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/membersclubpage.asp for the conversations that went on! We welcome more thoughts and any suggestions on this whole tasting/scoring topic.
“It is up to readers to make up their own minds and their discover for themselves what they like/dislike, not to short-circuit the process using someone else’s opinion”.  Charles Maclean. Votes now being taken on your “Favourite Whisky 2011”  let us know your top ten – or top three, or THE BEST one.
 
The Big Whisky Interview. More of these are planned covering a wide scope of topics and individuals, not only people in the trade!
If you have an idea or person to interview, please let us know.
 
Whisky Cruise; aye, we are in the planning stages of a whisky cruise 2012. This will be from Liverpool to Manchester and in conjunction with a whisky festival.
All interested please ask for further details of this unique “first” for the Mersey ferries.
 
Whisky Live.  Next year we have been made official agent for whisky live Dublin. Apart from arranging many tastings and events, we have an easy to book tour to coincide with this.
All welcome to tour Irish distilleries and sample the drams with us in Dublin next May, just let us know.
 
Own your own cask;   more and more popular, we have had several members asking for guidance and ideas on this topic, http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/angelscaskoffer.asp
We are here to advise and help, we do not hold casks ourselves and are not connected to any trade house or distillery that does, hence we are impartial. Can we assist you?
 
Ernie, one of our new members; “I will send an article on an Austrian Distillery called Roggenhof, in January as I have many tasting in the coming weeks to prepare…and above all Xmas is coming”.
Ernst J. Scheiner.   Do you have a story to tell?

THE BEST WHISKY FILM I HAVE SEEN LATELY SUPERB!!! LOOK ON OUR HOME PAGE, lower left area, a stunning wee trawl with a good dram. Many more of these online at Angels.

Signing off with a Christmas Turkey dinner;

20 Easy Steps to Cook a Turkey
1. Go and buy a turkey.
2. Take a drink of whisky (scotch or bourbon).
3. Put turkey in the oven.
4. Take another two drinks of whisky.
5. Set the degree at 180 ovens.
6. Take three more whiskies of drink.
7. Turn oven the on.
8. Take four whisks of drinky.
9. Turk the bastey.
10. Whisky another bottle of get.
11. Stick a turkey in the thermometer.
12. Glass yourself a pour of whisky.
13. Bake the whisky for four hours.
14. Take the oven out of the turkey.
15. Take the oven out of the turkey.
16. Floor the turkey up off the pick.
17. Turk the carvey.
18. Get yourself another scottle of botch.
19. Tet the sable and pour a glass of turkey.
20. Bless the saying, pass and eat out.

www.angelswhiskyclub.com

BASED IN SCOTLAND for members around the world! 

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Bourbon 750ml – 3 available ($49.99)

Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof, Bottled in Bond 750ml (3 bottle limit) ($21.99) It is back but we don’t know for how long. Buy, buy, buy! Rye was the first true Colonial American whiskey and was the most popular spirit for more than a century. Originally made in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, it is now distilled primarily in Kentucky. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey is a Pennsylvania style Rye that carries a famous old Philadelphia name. “Best Buy of the Year” at the Malt Advocate Whiskey Awards at WhiskyFest New York November 2006 “North American Whiskey of the Year” 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Bonded whiskey is not blended. It has been stored continuously for at least four years in wooden barrels and which is bottled at 100 proof ; it must all be the product of a single distillery, by the same distiller, during a single season and year. It is then entitled to be labeled as “bottled in bond”.

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Bowmore 11 Year Old Hart Brothers Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($69.99)

1974 Glenglassaugh 37 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($599.99)

1968 Springbank 40 Year Old Chieftain’s Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($1,199.99)

Ireland – Irish Whiskey

Connemara 12 year old Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey ($99.99)

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

Johnnie Walker Blue Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml ($179.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Glenfiddich 15 year Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($39.99)

Macallan “Fine Oak” 10 Year Old Single Malt 750ml – 2 available ($29.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA