Chester Whisky Festival Saturday 29th Oct. 2011

This is the first Whisky Festival of it’s kind to be held in the Grand City of Chester. The venue is ‘The Pavillion’ at Chester Racecourse where you will find some of the most well known and renowned producers of Single Malt Whisky, Vodka, Liqueurs & cask ales in the country. We are inviting you to come to Chester to take you on a Journey of Alcoholic discovery.

Tickets are £20.00 each and are available via the link below;

Doors Open 10.30am.

http://chesterwhisky.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=49&products_id=894

Another month has passed and I’ve now completed my online shop, which accepts card payments through a secure payment provider.

I have selected and bottled a few casks, all of which are single cask bottlings, not chill filtered, with no added colourings and individually numbered labels. Hopefully a few more will be coming along soon.

For those among you who enjoy “blind” whisky tastings with your friends, there is a special “Mystery Whisky” which presents a fun option, with clues on the label as to where the whisky was produced. This makes a great gift for any fellow whisky lover but equally, a great present just for you!

NEW 70CL WHISKIES AVAILABLE NOW 

Bottles can be purchased from the Whiskybroker website by clicking “Online Shop” on the menu. Postage to other European countries is the same for one bottle as for six bottles so ordering in bulk with friends or as part of a club is a real money-saving option. Payment will not be taken for any orders placed until the order has been processed and is ready for posting. You will be notified when the order has been despatched and it is anticipated that this will commence next week.

GREAT VALUE CASKS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Please write a comment on the website guestbook, especially if you have made a purchase. Feedback will be appreciated. Finally, if you have any website related suggestions, don’t hesitate to send me an email.

Regards,

Martin Armstrong

www.whiskybroker.co.uk

info@whiskybroker.co.uk

40 Year-Old Whiskies: A Guide

Ok, we’re doing something a bit different today on The Whisky Exchange Blog – a collaborative post!  Yes, this particular blog on forty year-old whisky has been written by myself AND Sukhinder:  he’s supplied the history and the cold hard facts, while I’ve contributed a cod-philosophical waffle about perceptions of value at the start.  A winning…(click on the link below to read the rest of the post)…

http://tinyurl.com/3cknzkz

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Balmenach CC 1999 11yo’

Balmenach CC 1999 11yo
43% abv
£25.30 inc vat
£21.08 ex vat

Great value Speyside quality.

Refill sherry cask, a very satisfying Speysider.

Square F3 on the Flavour Map (in Dad’s opinion). Complex / Delicate

A ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ bottling from renowned bottlers Gordon & MacPhail.

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk 

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

Premium Whisky Brand Launched in Las Vegas

The world’s most expensive bottle of whisky, a journey through Scottish arctic conditions and a genuine love of the spirit are the inspirations behind an innovative premium whisky brand, unveiled at a major event in Las Vegas. 

The Sirius Intrepid Whisky Purveyors brand, which is the brainchild of Mahesh Patel (Atlanta, Georgia), renowned whisky collector, was unleashed at his own event, the “Nth” Universal Whisky Experience – the world’s first luxury whisky enjoyment experience – held in the prestigious Wynn Resort in Las Vegas (18/19 March 2011).

International creative branding and design agency, threebrand, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, was behind the brand concept, including DNA, packaging design and support sales materials, as well as resources for the launch exhibition.

The Sirius range contains four whiskies, which are limited in stock due to the nature of the spirit; one exceptionally rare cask from the world famous malt distillers at The Dalmore, a hidden single malt gem from Fettercairn and two rare single grain whiskies. Mahesh’s view on grain varieties is that they are “misunderstood and wrongly ignored”. He feels they will become extremely rare and highly collectable over time.

Whisky enthusiast, owner of Sirius and CEO Universal Whisky Experience, Mahesh Patel, said:

“I started my search naturally in Scotland and have spent 10 years visiting key distilleries there – both malt and grain – to uncover the very best stocks that are ripe for bottling. My journey in 2010 to discover these liquid treasures happened in the worst early winter snowstorm the country had experienced in over 50 years. I traversed the country, through the arctic conditions, to reach a Highland distillery where I was presented with over 100 of its rarest whisky casks. 

“When sampling my whiskies, I focus particularly on mouth feel, texture and finish and use my trusted blindfold method. The key for me is the drinking experience, its enjoyment and its delivery, which is what led me to the single grains in particular. It was important for the Sirius brand to reflect all of this – from the DNA to packaging and support sales materials.”

The range was unveiled to a select audience of whisky connoisseurs, collectors and enthusiasts from the USA, who also took part in various events, including, whisky and cigar / chocolate pairing, whisky mixology and a new spirits tasting enhancement method.

Initial reactions to the range have been very positive, with strong word of mouth recommendations expected to boost sales initially, before an exclusive deal is confirmed with an online retailer.

On selecting Edinburgh-based threebrand to handle branding and design aspects, Mahesh continued:

“threebrand’s tremendous packaging expertise, first class premium spirits’ experience and the fact that the team was quick to understand, provoke, uncover and ‘get’ the brief, allied with a strong chemistry, confirmed there could only be one winner for the business. threebrand understood my passion for whisky and my desire to develop a super premium independent bottler business.”

Sirius is one of many clients outside of the UK on threebrand’s extensive portfolio, including Heineken USA, Proximo Spirits and Philips (Paris).

Nick Cadbury, Creative Director at threebrand, said:

“We were recommended to Mahesh through a current whisky client and immediately took to his idea, enthusiasm and approach. The brief was to create an innovative new premium whisky brand, which would challenge the usual independent whisky bottler genre.

“We provided a simple solution using black and white – one for malt, one for grain. The creation of brand name – which literally means the brightest star in the sky – and icon, was pivotal to capturing the lengths Mahesh was prepared to go to whilst looking for this rare liquid.

“The “Nth” Universal Whisky Experience was the perfect launch pad for Sirius and we’re confident that the exclusive range will be popular with whisky connoisseurs across the world.”

For more information on Sirius, visit www.siriuswhiskypurveyors.com or for the “Nth” Universal Whisky Experience, www.universalwhiskyexperience.com

For more information on threebrand, log on to www.threebrand.com.

Notes:

threebrand:
• threebrand is a creative branding agency, launched in 2004
• Its hand-picked and highly motivated team enjoy working from Boat 1502U, located on the Water of Leith in the heart of Edinburgh’s creative community
• threebrand aims to help its clients create distinctive brands by following three simple steps:
o understanding the dynamics of their brands’ marketplace
o taking this knowledge and creating inspired design solutions
o ensuring brand integrity and consistent implementation
• threebrand PR compliments threebrand, offering both an integrated approach, together with stand alone PR consultancy and advice
• The company strongly believes that brands will benefit from a threebrand integrated approach with the new PR arm providing:
o a one team approach
o consistency and alignment of brand, guidelines, aims and objectives
o shared values, professionalism and expert advice
• PR support services will be recommended and tailored to the brand needs and requirements, but could include the following:
o brand management, reputation management and profiling (consumer and corporate), event management, media relations
o crisis and issues management (plus crisis/message training), web design and management
o press office support (proactive and reactive), research, planning and evaluation, special projects and professional consultancy

Sirius Intrepid Whisky Purveyors
• Sirius Intrepid Whisky Purveyors is the brainchild of Mahesh Patel, renowned whisky collector, investor and founder of Universal Whisky Experience
• Mahesh is a successful commercial real estate developer in Atlanta, Georgia. For the past two decades, the company has spawned commercial construction, development, management companies and hotel franchises throughout the south-eastern United States
• Mahesh’s great passion in life is whisky, namely ‘Scotch’ whisky and he has been a collector of fine and rare whiskies for more than 20 years
• A connoisseur and enthusiast, he frequently attends exclusive whisky events and gatherings both domestically and abroad
• Well-connected and respected among industry leaders, distillery managers and owners and brand ambassadors, Mahesh has leveraged these relationships and is excited to offer the world’s first luxury whisky enjoyment experience, the “Nth” 2011 Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Sirius has limited availability due to the nature of the spirit. To find out more on the range or if you are interested in purchasing, visit www.siriuswhiskypurveyors.com
• Prices range from £1,000 to £2,000 per bottle, with the four casks being filled from 1962 to 1967.

Master of the Quaich

We can’t resist telling you that on Monday this week our boss Richard Joynson was elevated to Master of the Quaich, the highest possible accolade the Scotch Whisky Industry can bestow upon it’s servants (there are only 140 Masters).

Loch Fyne Whiskies is the only retailer (whisky or otherwise) to be managed or owned by a Master.

Best regards,

David.
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Kilchoman Spring 2011

A mix of 3 year old and 4 year old matured in first fill bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts.

The first in a series of exciting new bottlings planned for 2011 from the Islay micro distillery.

£40.49 (£33.74 ex VAT)

Visit the Whisky Barrel for more New Releases and Collector’s Corner at www.whiskybarrel.com

Hello My Fellow Scotch Lovers –

This weeks Whisky Wednesday is an amazing opportunity to acquire a rare whisky, at an incredible price: Scott’s Selection Bladnoch 1984 Lowland Cask Strength Whisky.

Bladnoch is Scotland’s most southerly distillery, nestled on the green banks of the River Bladnoch, from which it takes its name. Located in this beautifully remote area of Galloway, the distillery has been producing the “Spirit of the Lowlands” since 1817.

F. Paul Pacult described the whisky as “The sweet nose and toffee flavor reveal a surprisingly light finish” in his Spirit Journal, and gave it a rating of 90-95 ‘Highly Recommended’.

Nicky No-Neck described the whisky “really friggin’ good” and has come through, yet again, with a price you can’t beat with a stick…and of course we’re passing those savings on to you, our subscribers: I am thrilled to be able to offer Scott’s Selection Bladnoch 1984 for $145/bottle(normally $175).

As usual, the product supply at this price is very limited…and once it’s gone, it’s gone.  So please purchase your bottle(s) ASAP if you are interested.

Finally, you won’t be hearing from me for a couple of weeks, as next week I travel to Scotland for 10 days of frolicking in the Scottish Highlands. I will be attending the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festivalwith my father, the Good Doctor Stone, who first introduced me to whisky many moons ago.

What better way to spend some time with your dad….eh?

We’ll be in touch in early May…until then,

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

SCOTT’S SELECTION BLADNOCH 1984 TASTING NOTES – WINE ENTHUSIAST

“The first nosings pick up beguiling scents of carnation, rose petal, spring garden, mint and cinnamon spiciness; further aeration adds nuances of white pepper, fir-tree needles, and a faint dollop of honey. The taste at palate entry is creamy and moderately spicy; at midpalate the flavor turns biscuity, doughy and Sherry-cask sweet. Concludes gracefully.” – 90-95 points (07/05)
___________________________________________________________________

WHAT THE HECK IS SCOTT’S SELECTION?

Admittedly, waiting for our rare casks of Scotch whiskies to reach their peak maturation points isn’t the most action-packed business, but the fruits of our labors are well worth our patience. Some years ago Robert Scott-former Master Distiller and renowned Scotch whisky connoisseur, whose “nose” for fine whisky is now legendary-began a quest. Joining forces with the Speyside Distillery, Scott expertly “nosed” his way through Scotland’s foremost distilleries, seeking out and purchasing rights to individual barrels with unusual promise. He possessed the rare ability to recognize potential greatness in a single malt Scotch with only a whiff of his nose. After hand-selecting the highest quality individual barrels, Scott waited. And waited some more. Finally, when the casks reached their optimum ages-always distinct from the time when the spirits were bottled by other distilleries for mass consumption-Scott bottled them. Thus, Scott’s Selection was born.

In addition to being aged to its optimum level, each finite stock of exceptional single malt (and one top-quality grain) is bottled with the greatest of care to ensure the malts keep as close as possible to their natural state in the cask. Every barrel of Scott’s Selection is bottled at cask strength, undiluted by water. Each bottle is non-chillfiltered; that is, the whiskies are not chilled during the filtering process prior to bottling. The chillfiltering process separates the whisky from its natural fats and oils and renders a clearer Scotch, and it is usually administered to more standardized Scotch whiskies. However, purists insist this process also compromises flavor, and that only by strict adherence to traditional whisky-making methods can the individual characteristics of each malt be appreciated.

The boys and girls at Auchentoshan, the triple distilled lowland whisky, have launched a completely restyled and revamped website at www.auchentoshan.com.

Check it out! Visit it often and sip generously (don’t gulp!)

Mark Dermul
A Toshan Man
(www.markdermul.be/toshanman)

Woodford Reserve® Bourbon Unveils World’s Most Luxurious Mint Julep Cup

Proceeds from one-of-a-kind Tiffany & Co. sterling silver cups to benefit The Heart of a Horse Foundation

Louisville, Ky., – Woodford Reserve bourbon is taking the traditional Kentucky Derby® cocktail, the mint julep, to a new level by unveiling the world’s most exclusive mint julep cup. The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience will feature the most exotic ingredients in the world and a collection of 103 sterling silver mint julep cups designed by Tiffany & Co. exclusively for Woodford Reserve. Proceeds from the cup sales will benefit The Heart of a Horse Foundation.  

“Woodford Reserve is proud to partner with Tiffany & Co. to bring horse racing fans the most well-crafted mint julep cup ever to be sold,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager.  “Woodford Reserve has been associated with the thoroughbred community since the brand’s beginning and through the sale of these cups, we look forward to assisting The Heart of a Horse Foundation in their horse rescue mission.”

In addition to the 103 traditional cups, there will also be three (3) “Prestige” cups available for auction. These sterling silver cups feature a design around the base in 24 karat gold vermeil originally used by Tiffany & Co. on a horse racing cup created in 1876. Bidding on these extremely rare cups will start at $2,000 each.

“Tiffany & Co. represents the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship in silversmithing today and we are thrilled to continue that heritage with the creation of these sterling silver mint julep cups,” said Susanne Halmi, group director of Tiffany & Co.  “It is an honor to partner with Woodford Reserve for a second year while also supporting the Heart of a Horse Foundation.”

 Owners of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup will enjoy a mint julep featuring a unique set of ingredients from around the globe: ice made of rainwater captured on the pristine island of Tasmania, Australia; rare Chocolate mint grown in San Diego, California; bourbon smoked sugar from Louisville, KY which combined raw Demerara sugar smoked in used Woodford Reserve barrels; and a small batch of the Master Distiller’s personal selection of Woodford Reserve super-premium bourbon. The 103 traditional cups and three Prestige cups will be presented on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs® in The Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Experience located near the clubhouse escalator inside Gate 10.

“We are honored to have The Heart of a Horse Foundation chosen as the beneficiary of this year’s Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sales,” said April Horowitz, Heart of a Horse Foundation President. “This program is an opportunity to promote our rescue mission and to raise awareness about horse welfare to millions of people both in America and abroad.”

Fans are encouraged to follow Woodford Reserve online from exciting Derby events and activities via Twitter at @woodfordreserve. Visit www.twitter.com/woodfordreserve for all the details.

2011 marks the sixth year of the $1,000 Mint Julep Experience program with over $300,000 raised for worthy equine and humanitarian causes over the past five years.

How to Purchase a Cup

Starting April 11, 2011 at noon, (EDT) consumers age 21 years and older can log on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase one of the 103 traditional cups or to bid on one of the three Prestige cups. Presented on one day, at one place only, all cups purchased must be picked up by the buyer or the buyer’s proxy on May 7, 2011, Kentucky Derby Day at historic Churchill Downs.

Traditional Cups

103 Traditional Cups will be sold online for $1,000 on a first come, first buy basis. (There have been 103 Kentucky Derby winners born in the state of Kentucky.) The cups are individually numbered and feature the Woodford Reserve logo along with a unique horse racing design. The handmade sterling silver cups have been designed by Tiffany & Co. and come with a sterling silver sipping straw. Each cup will be presented in a unique Tiffany & Co. Blue Box and will be set in a Woodford Reserve casing made from the same wood as Woodford Reserve barrels. The cups will be on sale from April 11-May 5 at www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com for $1,000. Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.

Prestige Cups

In addition to the 103 traditional cups, there will also be three (3) “Prestige” cups available for auction. These sterling silver cups feature a design around the base in 24 karat gold vermeil originally used by Tiffany & Co. on a horse racing cup created in 1876. The cups will be up for auction from April 11-May 5 at www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com with bidding on these extremely rare cups starting at $2,000 each.

The Mint Julep Cup’s Exotic Ingredients

The $1,000 Mint Julep will be made with the most exotic ingredients in the world

Ice made of rainwater captured on the pristine island of Tasmania, Australia, where the air is scientifically proven to be the purest in the world. The air travels over Antarctica and 10,000 miles of ocean reaching the western part of Tasmania called “The Edge of the World” where it is collected without ever touching the ground.

Rare Chocolate mint grown in San Diego, California. This unique mint adds a tantalizing touch of spring freshness to the classic Mint Julep.

Bourbon Smoked Sugar from Bourbon Barrel Foods in Louisville, KY represents the union of flavors that result when Woodford Reserve barrels are combined with raw Demerara sugar. The bourbon-soaked barrel staves are utilized during the smoking process to impart a sweet, caramel flavor and the essence of smoked oak.

A small batch of the Master Distiller’s personal selection of Woodford Reserve super-premium bourbon, selected specifically for the $1,000 Mint Julep. 

About Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is a super-premium Kentucky “small batch” bourbon distilled at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY. It is a bourbon of craftsmanship and the embodiment of substance and style. Woodford Reserve is also the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and its distillery is the oldest bourbon distillery in America. Woodford Reserve is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord and Tuaca. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com. 

About Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. operates jewelry and specialty retail stores and manufactures products through its subsidiary corporations. Its principal subsidiary is Tiffany and Company. The Company operates TIFFANY & CO. retail stores and boutiques in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe and engages in direct selling through Internet, catalog and business gift operations. For additional information, please visit tiffany.com or call the shareholder information line at 800-TIF-0110.

About The Heart of a Horse Foundation

The mission of The Heart of a Horse Foundation (HOAH) is quite simple when considering ethical and humane care, treatment and rescue of our equine companions. With 7 million horses in the United States alone The American Horse Council estimates there are over 170,000 unwanted and uncared for horses. Each year, 100,000 American horses are slaughtered unnecessarily. The Heart of a Horse Foundation’s mission is to maintain and stimulate the unwavering well-being of horses in America.

About Churchill Downs®:

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875.  Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2011. The track’s 2011 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 30-July 4.  Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record seven times and the event will return to the track for its next renewal on Nov. 4-5. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com. 

Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2011.