Benromach picks up silver and bronze at Malt Maniacs

Speyside’s smallest whisky distillery, Benromach has another duo of top awards to celebrate. Their Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 30 Years Old has won a silver medal in the 2011 “Malt Maniacs” Awards.

Matured in first fill and second fill Sherry casks, the 30 year old Single Malt, scored 85 points.

And it wasn’t the only Benromach whisky to receive a top accolade as their 2001 Cask Strength vintage received a bronze award.

Malt Maniacs, which is in its ninth year, say theirs is “probably the world’s most independent whisky competition and perhaps the most gruelling!”

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.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be awarded a silver and bronze medal ahead of another 171 fine whiskies is a wonderful achievement.

I am delighted that our flagship Benromach range continues to be honoured at respected events like these.”

The “Malt Maniacs” award is the latest accolade for the whiskies from Speyside’s smallest working distillery. Top awards include Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Year Old being awarded a gold medal at TheFiftyBest.com tasting event in New York City. Benromach 30 Years Old was described as “magnificent, one of the outstanding malts of the year”, scoring 95.5 points out of 100, in Jim Murray’s famous Whisky Bible 2012.

Benromach 30 Years Old has a RRP of £149.99 in the UK. Benromach Cask Strength has a RRP of £40.50 in the UK. Prices in Export markets will vary depending on import charges and taxation

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 10 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.

Benromach 30 Years Old

Matured in 1st fill and refill Sherry casks Benromach 30 Years Old is complex, with hints of rich Sherried Christmas cake and a touch of marzipan. Some mixed spices emerge. Smooth and creamy with mouth warming qualities.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

Hi all,

Well here we go again, another year, another Xmas and even more whisky things to speak of!

I have a lot to tell you, so without any further ado here we go…

NEW WHISKY LOUNGE WEBSITE & SHOP
Our new friends at North & South Digital have done us proud with a shiny new website with lots more going on and things for you to look at and find out about whisky. We would love to hear from you what you think of it, but please read the rest of this email before you head on over!

WHISKY LOUNGE BOTTLINGS – Exclusive database gift-box offer!
New for this Xmas are some fantastic single cask, cask strength bottlings that would make fantastic presents for the whisky-lover who has everything (or perhaps nothing!). They vary from a lovely, fruity, floral Longmorn, to a big, spicy, juicy Sherried Bunnahabhain, all the way to a pair of peaty numbers, in the form of a Laphroaig and a Caol Ila. Bottled in 20cl to make sure they are affordable and accessible to all, they are all fab! For our loyal database customers (i.e you!), we are offering a free gift box and glass set with every single bottle purchase leading up to Xmas. I reckon I can get these to you before the day itself, but don’t take too long to decide!
Click here to go straight to these little beauties.

GIFT VOUCHERS
Whisky Lounge gift vouchers have fast become the must-have gift among the whisky-cognesenti and those in the know. They are the gift that keep on giving – well, until they are spent of course. Well, these are now available from the website in denominations of £10, £20 and £50, and will be emailed to you, upon purchase, in the form of a PDF for the purposes of speed and ease of use! Click here to be taken directly to them.

BURNS’ TASTINGS AND DINNERS 2012
We currently have three lovely Burns dinner/tasting events in January. Newcastle on the 25th, London on the 26th and Manchester on the 28th. These would make another ideal present for your whisky-loved-one (and they will probably need someone to go with…) and are a snip at £25-£30 a ticket, which includes you Haggis and your whiskies! Click here to check them out.

NEWCASTLE WHISKY FESTIVAL 2012
We have decided, for many reasons, but predominantly because we wanted to, to bring this iconic event forward by several months. We have therefore settled upon Saturday 11th February at the Civic Centre again. Tickets are now available to purchase online at £25 each.

BUT WAIT! BEFORE YOU RUSH ONTO THE WEBSITE TO BOOK – READ THIS…

We will not be doing the Groupon in Newcastle in 2012 as we felt last years event was perhaps too full, but we wanted to give our loyal followers (that’s you btw!) the opportunity to take advantage of a pre-Xmas offer. Therefore, for the first 100 people to book, we are offering tickets on a 2 for £30 basis. We have set up a separate page altogether for this mechanic, please click here to be taken straight to it.
This is a limited offer as already mentioned, and is limited to 2 pairs per customer so please be honest and quick!

EVENTS 2012
As you will probably guess, there are more events than ever planned for 2012. We are planning to begin a regular tasting program in Brighton and Liverpool, as well as re-establish in York, Leeds and further cities. Please keep a close eye on the website for these happenings and as always I will try and keep you abreast through the medium of email. Don’t forget you can also follow our progress through Facebook and Twitter.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, have a fantastic Xmas and New Year with your loved ones. Keep safe and warm and don’t talk to strangers – unless they bear fine whisky. I look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Cheers!
Eddie

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

thewhiskylounge
IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present
www.thewhiskylounge.com
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com

Whisky Review 236 – Blend-your-own Whisky (by Ralfy at www.ralfy.com) always happy to share some whisky-experience with whoever’s interested.

Go on malt-mates, Blend your own!

Dalmore Releases 1995 Vintage

Dalmore Distillery has released a 1995 vintage whisky that will be exclusively available at The Whisky Shop.

Named ‘The Distillery Manager’s Exclusive’ the whisky was chosen for release by Distillery Manager Ian Mackay and his team up at the newly refurbished Dalmore Distillery Visitor Centre.

The ‘Distillery Manager’s Exclusive’ has been matured in Matusalem sherry and American white oak casks to create this exceptional whisky. It is available at The Whisky Shop priced £84.99 and is limited to 1800 bottles.

The Dalmore 1995 Vintage

Nose: Powerful and positive on the nose. This expression is full bodied and vibrant, as richly orchestrated notes of spicy cinnamon, dark roasted coffee and chocolate rise in a rhapsody of pleasure.

Taste: The music continues on the palate as enticing flavours of tangy orange peel, ginger, liquorice and walnuts lead this encore. However this is quickly followed by the final overture of ripe plums, glazed forest fruits and wild berries. ABV: 40%

Dalmore Distillery Manager, Ian Mackay

“I was delighted to be able to choose a whisky that would represent my favourite style of whisky for the Whisky Shop. I’ve selected a whisky that has been matured in two of my favourite casks, Matusalem Sherry and American White oak. However with the balance of sherry wood outweighing the American White oak, it gives the whisky a rich orange and dark berry flavour, which is my own favourite style of Dalmore. I just hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I do!”

Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, Andrew Torrance

“Ian Mackay has had over 30 years experience working in the whisky industry, and his choice of cask for us certainly didn’t disappoint. The brand has gone from strength to strength over the last few years both in liquid supremacy and packaging excellence – in fact we have just named the Dalmore 12years old as our best seller for 2011 – so having our own exclusive chosen by the Distillery Manager will be a real asset to our collection.”

www.thedalmore.com

Black Bull 40 year old, the flagship of Duncan Taylor’s award winning range of deluxe blends has seen off competition from some of the world’s most respected whiskies to be named as the overall winner at this year’s Best in Glass awards.

Held annually in London, the Best in Glass awards consist of a blind tasting of short listed whiskies by leading industry figures from the wine and spirits sector. A spokesman for the judges commented:

“The panel were wowed by the balance of this superbly put together whisky, which demonstrated incredible fruit, vanilla and complex, aged oak notes, with a rich and highly moreish character.”

Scott Watson, CEO of Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited, commented:

“It’s tremendous to see Black Bull 40 year old recognised with a prestigious Best In Glass award. To come out top in a blind tasting from such an esteemed panel of Independent judges is a great honour and a fantastic testament to Black Bull’s boldly Independent character.

A small batch release, the indulgent, sublimely balanced profile of Black Bull 40 year old is delivered by a 90% malt to 10% grain marriage of some of the rarest vintage whiskies in the world today.

Black Bull has always been coveted by the world’s whisky connoisseurs and we are very proud to see our key brand receiving global recognition as one of the very best in its field.”

In addition to the Best in Glass Award, Black Bull has received 5 key wine and spirits gold medals in 2011 so far. These include accolades from the World Whisky Awards, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, International Spirits Challenge and the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.

Now in its fourth year, the Best in Glass awards subjects a shortlist of whiskies to 3 rounds of blind tasting by a panel of experienced judges.

www.duncantaylor.com

Thumbs up for Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies

A bottle of whisky from Gordon & MacPhail’s Rare Vintage Range, Strathisla 1970, has become one of the highest scoring whiskies in the 2011 “Malt Maniacs” Awards.

Despite almost 200 entries, the Gordon & MacPhail Strathisla 1970, bottled at 43%, was among only eight whiskies to achieve a gold medal, 90 points, and was also the winner of the ‘Thumbs Up’ award,

for most exciting new release of the year in that price category.

Malt Maniacs, which is in its ninth year, say theirs is “probably the world’s most independent whisky competition and perhaps the most gruelling!”

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be awarded a gold medal and Thumbs Up award ahead of another 171 fine whiskies is a wonderful achievement. The Strathisla 1970 is testament to our approach for matching the right type of cask to this particular whisky.”

Strathisla 1970 is a robust and moreish after dinner dram with a nice depth and complexity, which display hint of festive spices, almonds and a burst of stewed fruits. Smooth and very enjoyable

The “Malt Maniacs” award is the latest accolade for the whiskies from Gordon and MacPhail. Their Miltonduff 1969 also walked away with a silver award at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge which was held in November.

Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Strathilsa 1970 has an RRP of £149 in the UK. Prices in Export markets will vary depending on import charges and taxation.

Notes

About Gordon & MacPhail:

· Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

· Since its founding, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

· Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled Single Malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

· In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres. After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be fully certified by the Soil Association.

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

Abbey Whisky – The Secret Casks

We are proud to announce the release of ‘The Secret Casks’ series, a trio of single malt Scotch whiskies, aged 30, 40 and 50 years old, matured at Speyside’s finest distilleries and bottled under the Abbey Whisky label.

These malts are available at a special introductory rate as part of the Abbey Whisky Winter Whisky Festival 2011 and prices will be frozen for the duration of the festival.

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Abbey Whisky 30 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

Wonderful deep sexy colour oozes from this 30 year old Speyside malt. Matured at a secret Speyside distillery and bottled for ‘The Secret Casks’ series by Abbey Whisky.

This 30 year old single malt whisky boasts deep sherry flavours combined with hints of toffee apple, butterscotch and baked apple crumble. Exudes all the character you would expect from a classic Speyside single malt aged and matured in Sherry casks.

Festival Price £89.10

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Abbey Whisky 40 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

Reminiscent of walnut & date pudding in both colour and flavour this 40 year old Speyside is a tremendous, silky single malt whisky with wonderful deep flavours of treacle syrup, muscovado sugar and hints of oak.

Whiskies of this age are extremely rare and one at this price, demonstrating such depth of flavour and balance offers incredible value for money. 

Festival Price £125.10

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Abbey Whisky 50 Year Old
The Secret Casks – Speyside

As the oldest and rarest in the series this 50 year old single malt whisky delivers everything you might expect from such a mature whisky. The nose gives deep oak flavours with smokey undertones. The taste is heavenly on the palate delivering smooth deep flavours of sweet honey, toffee, caramel with a hint of vanilla. The finish is delightful!

An absolute gem of a malt and as special as they come…

Festival Price £224.10

Abbey Whisky | Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive scotch malts. | Edinburgh, Lothian PO Box 23996, United Kingdom

Introducing Dimensions: the new core range from Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited.

The Dimensions collection is an outstanding range of single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies encompassing the full breadth of the Duncan Taylor portfolio. Containing whiskies aged up to 39 years, the Dimensions collection showcases the multi dimensional levels of character and flavour available from individual distilleries and casks.

The Dimensions collection consists of single cask, cask strength releases and exclusively numbered small batches at 46% abv. Neither chill filtered nor coloured, only the finest whiskies are selected for inclusion, ensuring that every bottle delivers the Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky ethos: Whisky Without Compromise.

The Dimensions collection is presented in new luxury packaging. Each bottle features full details of the whisky inside, including distillation and bottling dates, batch number and region of origin. Single cask releases are individually numbered and provide individual cask details.

The Dimensions collection will be available from December 2011 through all good whisky stockists. Initial releases include: Aberlour 1993, Bunnhabhain 1988, Cameronbridge 1978, Clynelish 1995, Glenlivet 1981, Glen Moray 1988, Glenrothes 1992, Royal Brackla 1997, Macduff 1997 and Mortlach 1989.

For further information on The Dimensions collection and the full range of Duncan Taylor whiskies, visit: WWW.DUNCANTAYLOR.COM

Email: info@duncantaylor.com or Telephone: + (0)44 1466 794055

Dimensions Cask Strength packaging

Dimensions 46% packaging

THE CLAYMORE TIMES
-All The News That’s Fit to Drink-

GORDON & MACPHAIL 1975 DALLAS DHU RARE VINTAGE (LCBO # 2081603) 

Here’s the first whisky for the coming winter months but because of it rarity it can only be found in seven LCBO stores, albeit, you can ask your local store to acquire a bottle for you.

This is a very rare 1975 Dallas Dhu from a distillery that went silent in 1983, this particular barrel was bottled 2007 giving it a distillation period of 32 years and is on the shelves at $312.92. Certainly one that could be squirreled away by a collector or to be shared at a special event e.g. this Christmas.

Dallas Dhu Distillery was built 6 miles from Dallas by Wright & Greig Ltd, a Glasgow based blending company. Construction was completed in April 1899. The distillery changed hands twice before it was taken over by the DCL in 1929. In April 1939 the distillery went on fire causing £7000 worth of damage. During the second World War the distillery remained closed. In 1950 the distillery was connected to the national grid. Up until 1971 the wash still rummager was powered by a water wheel. Dallas Dhu stopped production in 1983. In 1988 it was bought by Scotland’s Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate, it is now a museum and part of Speyside’s Whisky trail.

1)   Dallas Dhu was one of the first distilleries with a pagoda roof. It was designed by the company of Charles Doig and his two sons who were involved with the design of more than a hundred distilleries in Scotland and Ireland. Dozens of them have been active until this day – like Glenfarclas, Highland Park, Lagavulin, Talisker and Bushmills (in Ireland).

2)   The most popular blended whisky of Wright & Grieg Ltd. at the end of the 19th century was “Roderick Dhu”.

3)   Between 1921 and 1929 Dallas Dhu distillery was owned by Benmore Distillers Ltd., an English consortium that also owned the Benmore and Lochhead whisky distilleries in Campbeltown and the Lochindaal distillery on Islay.

4)   Even though the Dallas Dhu distillery was closed in 1983, warehousing continued at the premises until the distilling license was cancelled in 1992.

5)   The name “Dallas Dhu” has sometimes been spelled as “Dallasdhu” in the past.

6)   The old distillery buildings of Dallas Dhu are now used to house a museum.

Tasting Notes:

AROMA without water

Fruity notes present – fresh pear and peaches. Subtle ester influences, a delicate malty edge is present. A complex aroma.

TASTE without water

Mouth watering, remains fresh – peach elements, a subtle vanilla comes to the forefront.

AROMA with water

Prominent malty note with more subtle influences if fresh and ripe water melons. A subtle chocolate coffee note becomes apparent.

TASTE with water

Heavy tropical fruits initially, retains a certain freshness and becomes mouth drying.

Locations for Dallas Dhu (LCBO # 2081603)

1. TORONTO-CENTRAL 10 SCRIVENER SQUARE
 YONGE & SUMMERHILL
 
2. TORONTO-CENTRAL 2 COOPER STREET
 QUEENS QUAY & YONGE
 
3. OTTAWA 275 RIDEAU STREET
 RIDEAU & KING EDWARD
 
4. TORONTO-ETOBICOKE 2946 BLOOR STREET WEST
 BLOOR & ROYAL YORK (KINGSWAY)
 
5. TORONTO-NORTH YORK 2901 BAYVIEW AVENUE – UNIT #125
 BAYVIEW & SHEPPARD (BAYVIEW VILLAGE)
 
6. TORONTO-NORTH YORK 1838-1844 AVENUE ROAD
 AVENUE & LAWRENCE
 
7. OAKVILLE 321 CORNWALL DRIVE
 CORNWALL & TRAFALGAR 

Bill Somerville
Claymore Imports Inc.
bill@claymoreimports.ca

J. & G. Grant, in partnership with Glasgow based publishers The Angel’s Share, are pleased to announce the publication of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by Ian Buxton. This biography of the family owned distillery has been commissioned as part of the distillery’s 175th Anniversary celebrations.

Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery is both the definitive history of the Glenfarclas Distillery, which was first licensed in 1836 and unusually has been owned and managed by the Grant family for six generations, and is also a record of a remarkable year in the distillery’s long history, preserved for the future.

The Glenfarclas story has been bought to life by renowned whisky author Ian Buxton, delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, and carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery’s archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul.

Commenting on the project, Ian Buxton, said, “In an industry dominated by multi-nationals the Glenfarclas story is a remarkable and engaging one. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to tell it”.

Notes

• To view images and a PDF extract of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery please follow this link; http://www.akel.co.uk/work/books/glenfarclasbook.html
• RRP: GBP 34.99 ISBN: 9781906476755
• Available online on at www.nwp.co.uk  , www.glenfarclas.co.uk  and www.amazon.co.uk.