Careers @ The Whisky Exchange

The Whisky Exchange currently has two full time vacancies: we are looking for a Customer Services Administrator and a Web Content Editor.  Candidates ideally should be within a 10 mile radius of our head office in Park Royal as this is where they will be working on a daily basis.

Customer Services Administrator
The role will involve dealing with retail and trade customer orders from receipt through to despatch, including making recommendations where necessary; processing confirmed orders and any amendments on our internal admin and accounting systems; and full aftercare customer service support including liaising with customers to resolve any queries or order issues.

You will need to be polite and professional at all times, whether serving customers on the telephone, by email or on a face to face basis, as you will be the point of contact for ‘walk-in’ customers to our Park Royal showroom.

The ideal candidate should have some previous customer service and administration experience. Product knowledge and experience in retail or within the drinks industry are beneficial but not crucial.

Applicants for this position must be flexible & be willing to work on weekends during busy periods. For a full job spec for this position, please email kiran[at]thewhiskyexchange.com. CVs may also be sent to this email address for consideration.

Web Content Editor
The role will involve writing and managing the creative content of all our websites; generating valuable content for existing customers; attracting new customers to the site using both conventional PR (press releases) and digital media activity.

The candidate will need a good working knowledge of all categories of spirits and liqueurs, plus fast and efficient research skills and the ability to write clear, engaging and effective copy to tight deadlines. Flawless vocabulary and grammar skills are a prerequisite for this role.

You will need to be well-organised and self-motivated; comfortable under urgent time pressures; able to effectively prioritise a large and varied workload.

Roles & responsibilities will include: ensuring new products are added to websites swiftly, accurately and with a maximum of concise detail and description, including sourcing tasting notes where necessary; ensuring product info is up-to-date on our system; adding relevant articles and planning and executing new offers and features; writing newsletters and blog posts; taking an active role in digital media, including viral and affiliate marketing, social media, blog sites, forums etc..

Applicants for this position must be flexible & be willing to work on weekends during busy periods. For a full job spec for this position, please email kiran[at]thewhiskyexchange.com. CVs may also be sent to this email address for consideration.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/about-careers.aspx

ST. PATTY’S DAY SCOTCH & IRISH WHISKEY TASTING

Saturday, March 12, 1:00-4:00pm

Sample over 30 different single malts, Irish whiskies, and Scotch blends. Taste from a variety of well known distilleries that include Aberlour, Cragganmore, Laphroaig, and Glenrothes. Sample Dewar’s, Jameson, Tullamore Dew, and Chivas, as well as other favorites. Free W/Binny’s Card.

Call 847-966-2300 or email niles@binnys.com for reservations.

Niles Location

8935 N. Milwaukee | Niles | 847-966-2300

 March 2011

Dear Customer

Being released in March we have eight (8) new bottlings under the OLD MALT CASK label, and one (1) under the CLAN DENNY Grains label.

Tasting notes for OLD MALT CASK:

OMC 1992 Tamdhu 13 Year Old Wine Finish
Nose: Distinctly sweet and honeyed in aspect + sugary barley.
Palate: Mouth tingling spice + stewed apples + muscovado sugar.
Finish: Citric – vanilla’d – spiced – still honied – and interesting! (F)

OMC 1995 Glendronach 15 Year Old
Nose: Sweet & malty – runs to warm apples + milk chocolate
Palate: Spicy & sweet carrying a cocoa butter, banana & toffee character
Finish: Llong – rich – still spicy – develops to an elegant oak tang (J)

OMC 1997 Scapa 17 Year Old
Nose: Sweetly malted, fresh, clean and honied + oak.
Palate: Sweet with toffee, fruit, barley and late peppermint.
Finish: Scottish tablet – (lightly salted) + dry spices. (F)

OMC 1994 Bladnoch 18 Year Old
Nose: Clean & fresh carrying a sweet malty style + poached fruit
Palate: Sweet & creamy – herbal – runs to soft boiled fruity sweets
Finish: Long, still pleasingly fruity & sweet + ripe apples & pears (J)

OMC 1996 Aberlour 20 Year Old
Nose: Non aggressive – barley rich/ even barley sugared! – and spiced.
Palate: Lightly gingered beyond its sweet, soft, smooth maltiness.
Finish: Now dryly spiced + light oak + the lightest of smoke. (F)

OMC 1990 Macallan 20 Year Old Wine Finish
Nose: Lightly spiced + a fruit shop tone + dry toasted oak/late toffee
Palate: Viscous – with chewy fruit flavoured toffee + malt & spice
Finish: Now drier + a cough drop sweetness + late soft red fruit (F)

OMC 2000 Lochside 21 Year Old
Nose: Sweet + a tropical fruit style – running to spice + antique oak + barley
Palate: Richly spiced – still fruity – carrying a warming, sweet cedar quality
Finish: Llong & richly spiced alternated with a fruity (strawberry & cream?) style (J)

OMC 1999 Clynelish 21 Year Old
Nose: Clean, fresh & fruity, warm citrus fruit + crushed sugar
Palate: Still fresh & sweet, warms to a spicy, lemon pith quality
Finish: Llong, carrying a lemon meringue (slightly burnt) character (J)

Tasting Notes for the CLAN DENNY GRAIN

DEN 0059 Girvan 45 Year Old
Carries crunched sugar (then barley sugar) + spices, sweet oils and a bit of the original Bourbon cask – all on the nose. Massively sweet on the palate – distinctly syrupy it then warms to an Italian herbal liqueur style + those same earlier detected spices. It has a short but still sweet finish with a late/more oaky suggestion to it. (F).

We believe we have selected some real “beauties” for you to enjoy.

All best wishes

Fred Laing

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

Exclusive, 70 Year Old Malt and the ‘Lifetime’ of one of Scotland’s Most Iconic Whiskies Revealed

‘Sequel’ to world’s oldest whisky unveiled

From today, whisky lovers will get the chance to own the ‘lifetime’ of one of Scotland’s most iconic whiskies, with the jewel in the crown being a £13,000 bottle of 70 year old Scotch.

Family-owned whisky specialist, Gordon & MacPhail, will unveil one cask of The Glenlivet 70 Years Old, one of the world’s oldest whiskies, at a ceremony in Edinburgh Castle. Described as a “stupendous”, “smooth” and “voluptuous” single malt, and released under G&M’s Generations label, only 100 full-size bottles of this exclusive whisky will be available to buy in 2011.

To make these exclusive purchase extra-special, enthusiasts will also be able to buy a limited edition set, the “Private Collection: Glenlivet Decades.” This set contains a bottle from every decade from the 1950s to 1990s – giving collectors the rare opportunity to own the ‘liquid lifetime’ of the malt.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is known the world over as the custodian of some of the oldest and rarest single malts available. Members of the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family now own and manage the business.

David and Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Directors of Gordon & MacPhail, said:

“Following on from the phenomenal success last year of Mortlach 70 Years Old, we decided to release this ‘sister’ Generations cask as there is clearly an enormous demand for greatly aged Scotch Malt Whiskies.

“This cask of The Glenlivet was laid down on 3rd February 1940, on the instruction of our grand-father, John Urquhart. Since then, successive generations of the Urquhart family have been waiting for today – the day it would be ready to share with fellow whisky lovers.

“Throughout the 115 years since we were founded, we have made it our business to nurture and mature some of the finest whiskies Scotland has to offer. The ‘Glenlivet Decades’ collection revisits this special malt throughout the years, allowing whisky enthusiasts to get a real sense of how the cask and the maturation process change the character of a whisky.

“Altogether, these six whiskies represent the ‘liquid lifetime’ of The Glenlivet, and six decades of experience, dedication and passion on the part of our family. We’re confident that this investment has resulted in a suite of whiskies of unparalleled quality: a realcollector’s piece.”

The whiskies will be revealed to an audience of invited guests at a 1940s-themed ceremony at the historic location of Edinburgh Castle.

Well-known whisky connoisseur Charles Maclean described the launch:

“Made at the height of the Battle of Britain, The Glenlivet 1940 opens a door into a different time, another country. To smell and taste this exquisite whisky is to experience the past in a unique way – layer upon layer of flavour, profound and evocative. Its companions from the succeeding five decades provide an unrepeatable opportunity to explore subtle differences in the flavour of this Prince of Whiskies over half a century – as well as being a Blue Chip investment!”.

Each bottle will be beautifully presented in a tear-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter with an elegant British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter nestles in a sterling silver base and is framed in a handmade box, crafted in Scotland using Scottish Elm.

The Glenlivet 70 Years Old was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt, and bottled at cask strength (45.9% ABV). Only 100 70cl bottles and 175 20cl bottles will be released in 2011. The 70cl decanter has a recommended retail price in the UK of £13,000 and the 20cl version has a recommended retail price in the UK of £3,200. It is the second in a series of extremely rare malt whiskies to be released by Gordon & MacPhail under its ‘Generations’ brand.

Fifty limited edition collector’s packs are also available, containing all five Private Collection whiskies, priced at £2,850 per pack. The packs contain one bottle of each of the following whiskies: Glenlivet 1954 50.6%; Glenlivet 1963 40.6%; Glenlivet 1974 50.1%; Glenlivet 1980 48.5%; and Glenlivet 1991 54.4%.

The Private Collection: Glenlivet Decades bottlings are also available individually, with recommended retail prices in the UK ranging from £95 to £1,250.

Prices may vary in different countries due to different excise and sales taxes and currency fluctuations.

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

Notes:

About Gordon & MacPhail

GORDON & MACPHAIL GENERATIONS GLENLIVET 1940 – 70 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

100 x 70cl and 175 x 20cl decanters available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail price in the UK is £13,000 for 70cl decanter and £3,200 for 20cl decanter. Pricing in international markets may differ due to exchange rates and local taxes.

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Deep amber, with tawny lights.

Aroma: A mild nose-feel. The first aroma is of an old cocktail cabinet, with Sherry notes predominating: polished wood, soft leather and a trace of candlewax. Behind this are fruity notes, lightly baked apples (even Tarte Tatin), but also fresh orange juice, and just a thread of smoke or ash in the distance. Adding a drop of water suppresses the fruity notes and slightly enhances the sweetness (now tablet) and smokiness.

Taste: A waxy, teeth-coating, mouthfeel; smooth and voluptuous. The taste is sweetish to start, then savoury, with a trace of salt – might this be a rare example of ‘umami’ in whisky, the elusive fifth primary taste? The finish is long, with a faint smokiness in the aftertaste. Drinks well at natural strength. With a drop of water the flavours remain intact.

About others:

Gordon & MacPhail used a number of Scottish companies in the creation of Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old. Details of which follow below:

Navyblue design (www.navyblue.com) – original design
Glencairn Crystal (www.glencairn.co.uk) – decanter supply
Scottish Silver (www.scottishsilver.com) – silverware
Samson’s Joinery, a member of the Scottish Furniture Makers Association (www.samsonsjoinery.co.uk) – Scottish Elm box
Blue Box Design Ltd & Dewar Brothers Ltd – transit packaging
Gavin Watson & Reid Printers (www.gavinwatson.co.uk) – certificates and seals

To make these exclusive purchase extra-special, enthusiasts will also be able to buy a limited edition set, the “Private Collection: Glenlivet Decades.”  This set contains a bottle from every decade from the 1950s to 1990s – giving collectors the rare opportunity to own the ‘liquid lifetime’ of the malt.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is known the world over as the custodian of some of the oldest and rarest single malts available. Members of the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family now own and manage the business.

David and Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Directors of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Following on from the phenomenal success last year of Mortlach 70 Years Old, we decided to release this ‘sister’ Generations cask as there is clearly an enormous demand for greatly aged Scotch Malt Whiskies.

“This cask of The Glenlivet was laid down on 3rd February 1940, on the instruction of our grand-father, John Urquhart. Since then, successive generations of the Urquhart family have been waiting for today – the day it would be ready to share with fellow whisky lovers.

“Throughout the 115 years since we were founded, we have made it our business to nurture and mature some of the finest whiskies Scotland has to offer. The ‘Glenlivet Decades’collection revisits this special malt throughout the years, allowing whisky enthusiasts to get a real sense of how the cask and the maturation process change the character of a whisky.

“Altogether, these six whiskies represent the ‘liquid lifetime’ of The Glenlivet, and six decades of experience, dedication and passion on the part of our family. We’re confident that this investment has resulted in a suite of whiskies of unparalleled quality: a real collector’s piece.”

The whiskies will be revealed to an audience of invited guests at a 1940s-themed ceremony at the historic location of Edinburgh Castle.

GLENLIVET DECADES 5 BOTTLE PACK

50 Private Collection: Glenlivet Decades packs are available, priced at £2,850 per pack.

They contain one bottle of each of the following whiskies: Glenlivet 1954 50.6%; Glenlivet 1963 40.6%; Glenlivet 1974 50.1%; Glenlivet 1980 48.5%; and Glenlivet 1991 54.4%.

Limited quantities of these vintages are sold as single bottles. Tasting notes for each of these vintages follows below.

GORDON & MACPHAIL PRIVATE COLLECTION GLENLIVET 1954 50.6%

135 x 70cl bottles available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail in the UK is £1,250 per bottle.

Appearance: Deep amber, with rose lights.

Aroma: Very mild nosefeel; with an increasingly drying effect. Immediately, a profoundly fruity nose – juicy to start, then raisins and currants macerated in liquor; dry dates and figs; a trace of glace orange peel. A shake of fine hard-wood sawdust. Add only a spot of water to open it: now the aroma becomes sweeter, with an initial trace of fondant, then more vinous (old Madeira?), with a hint of pencil-boxes.

Taste: Sweet, then drying, with considerable spice in between and a long dusty finish, leaving a venerable ‘old wine’ aftertaste. A drop of water reduces all these characteristics slightly but leaves them intact.

GORDON & MACPHAIL PRIVATE COLLECTION 1963 40.6%

169 x 70cl bottles available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail in the UK is £750 per bottle. Pricing in international markets may differ due to exchange rates and local taxes.

Appearance: Pale amber.

Aroma: The low strength means a very mild nosefeel and a low aromatic intensity. The first nose was lightly fruity (fresh peaches in mixed fruit salad, becoming more acidic after a while – Kiwi fruits?), with a slight eucalyptus-leaf medicinal note, combined with a faint smokiness. Fresh and interesting.

Taste: Sweet and smooth, even slightly oily. A predominantly sweet taste, but with a slight citric tingle and a lengthy, warming finish. Liqueur chocolates in mid-palate and peach cream, soft-centre chocolates in the aftertaste.

GORDON & MACPHAIL PRIVATE COLLECTION GLENLIVET 1974 50.1%

189 x 70cl bottles available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail in the UK is £500 per bottle. Pricing in international markets may differ due to exchange rates and local taxes.

Appearance: Deep amber, with crimson lights; Cream Sherry.

Aroma: Very mild nose-feel. Takes a while to open up, but then cooked fruits, led by fresh strawberry jam, becoming ‘Jammy Dodger’ biscuits, then mince pies. Lightly nose-drying, with traces of lint bandages and sunflower oil. Water increases the oily note, and momentarily introduces a whiff of sulphur, soon vanishing into crème caramel.

Taste: Sweet and voluptuous; plenty of body; warming and drying as you swallow. A sweet taste overall, with a long finish and some bitter dark chocolate in the aftertaste. Becomes sweeterand drier with water, with some burnt caramel in mid palate and chocolate in the finish.

GORDON & MACPHAIL. PRIVATE COLLECTION GLENLIVET 1980 48.5%

61 x 70cl bottles available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail in the UK is £250 per bottle. Pricing in international markets may differ due to exchange rates and local taxes.

Appearance: Dark gold.

Aroma: Very slight prickle, and somewhat nose-cooling (pine sap). Dusty, with faint dried mixed herbs, and slightly waxy, but then increasingly sweet (even apricot-jammy for a moment), with an elusive scent of sweet chestnuts. Opens considerably when water is added; light coconut to the fore, with natural turpentine and fragrant wood behind.

Taste: Sweet and smooth, but with some peppery spice over the surface of the tongue. A return of the apricot jam in the aftertaste, which is surprisingly long. Water sweetens it, simplifies it and reduces the spiciness. Pleasant and easy to drink, with desiccated coconut in the aftertaste.

GORDON & MACPHAIL PRIVATE COLLECTION GLENLIVET 1991 54.4%

203 x 70cl bottles available for sale in selected markets worldwide. Recommended retail in the UK is £95 per bottle. Pricing in international markets may differ due to exchange rates and local taxes.

Appearance: Light gold.

Aroma: Mild nosefeel. A predominantly fresh-fruit aroma – fruit salad including apples, pears, figs and pineapple. Behind this a trace of marzipan, becoming sweet fondant. Somewhat shy and withdrawn before water is added, but with a dash of water opens up, becoming more floral-fragrant, with whin flowers and almond cream chocolates. Also more typically Speyside.

Taste: Sweet and fresh, with a fresh citric acidity, and light coconut (whin flowers) in the finish and aftertaste. Warming. A soft texture at reduced strength; not so sweet, but retains the lively acidity, and a curious taste, possibly umami, the mysterious fifth primary taste, rarely encountered in whiskies, and loosely described as ‘savoury’.

Visit Gordon & MacPhail at www.gordonandmacphail.com

From Yvonne Murray at the Inverness Whisky Festival;

I thought you might be interested in a sneak preview of the auction we are holding at the Inverness Whisky Festival on 9 April at Bogbain Farm.
 
We will have 100 lots for sale and below I have listed 37 of them in no particular order.  A full, comprehensive list will be posted on our website next week but I am sending this as an exclusive to interested parties. 
 
Please spread the word – this Festival is going to be a cracker, and the addition of these lots into the auction makes things even more exciting. As I said, there are around 70 more to be added and will be on the website next week.  Entry to the auction is only available to Festival ticket holders so please buy your ticket now if you want to buy anything at the auction – there are only 200 tickets available now and the event hasn’t gone to press yet, so limited availability.
 
Please contact me if you need any more info.
 
Slainte mhor,
 
Yvonne
 
Yvonne Murray
Festival Manager
 
www.invernesswhiskyfestival.co.uk
(m) 07523 843752
 
INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL

9 APRIL 2011

WHISKY AUCTION

1. Glen Moray 1962 wooden case

2. Port Ellen 1981

3. Macallan 75cl ten year old. Old bottling

4. Highland Park 1984 vintage cask 45

5. Glenlivet cellar collection French oak 1983

6. Milton Duff Glenlivet 100% 75cl old in box

7. Millburn 1971

8. MacDuff 1972 speyside malt

9. Dalwhinnie 15 year old 75cl old boxed

10. Benriach 1969 12 year old c’ choice 75cl

11. House of Commons 8 year old malt signed by Peter Mandleson

12. As above other bottle signed by Malcolm Rifkind

13. As above third bottle signed by speaker Michael Martin

14. 2006 Bowmore Feis Ile

15. 2007. Bowmore Feis Ile

16. 2008. Bowmore Feis Ile

17. 2009. Bowmore Feis Ile

18. 2007 Laphroaig Feis Ile

19. 2008. Laphroaig Feis Ile

20. Dailuaine Flora and Fauna 16 year old

21. Flora and Fauna Teannich

22. Bowmore 1971

23. Port Ellen 2008 Feis Ile

24. Bunnahabhain 1984

25. Glen Albyn 1968

26. Alloway Legend 12 year old (Robert Burns)

27. Bunnahabhain 1986 vintage

28. Stillmans dram Tamnavuilin 1970

29. Ardbeg still young

30. Glenmorangie single cask rare cask no 3170

31. Cardhu 12 year old 75cl old.

32. Tullibardine 1973

33. Talisker 25 year old first release

34. Singleton 12 year old presentation with tumblers

35.  50 year old Dalmore

36.  Mortlach 1938

37.  Glenury Royal

Ballantine’s 17yo (43%, OB, +/-2011)

A blended ‘Very Old’ scotch whisky and Jim Murray’s Scotch Whisky of the Year in the 2011 Whisky Bible. Now, here at Whisky Intelligence World Headquarters we are well acquainted with Ballantine’s 17yo but have never completed an official tasting note (but it’s highly unlikely this sample and Jim Murray’s are from the same batch) so…on the nose it presents rather delicately at first but a small amount of time in the glass allows it to open up. There is some honey notes, very slight hints of green grass followed by some delicate peat smoke, fruit and cereal notes, biscuits and perhaps some light floral notes but nothing dramatic and the later only adds to the collection of aromas. A little time hand warming brings worth more of the same but intensified; it’s very, very good. The taste is warming, honeyed and then the fruit and peat smoke arrive back by some really nice grains whisky notes. All very pleasant. A really fantastic inter play between the grain, the fruit, the honey notes and the peat smoke. Sensational stuff. The finish is malty and honeyed along with the fruit and a little less peat smoke but the malt notes are a little bigger on the finish. Still all very good with a long finish that becomes active and chewy are a minute.

A really nice dram, a good start to an evening to wake up the taste buds.

C$78 in some markets, more in many others.

Score 89 points.

Ballantine's 17 Year Old

March 2011

The Fifty-Fifth and Final Edition of “A Whiff of Peat Smoke….” , It’s not a Blog , it’s a web page………

Thunderbirds are go …..

——————————————————————————–

Announcement

You may have noticed above it says it’s the last edition of the “A Whiff of Peat Smoke” , well that’s because it is ! Normally at this point it would say ” that with a sadness in my heart i’m ending……” but it won’t…….. I’m ending this bit of the website frankly because i’ve had enough of it , i’ve run out of things to say , things to write . For over a year i’ve been thinking of killing the monster that is “Spirit of Islay” . Let me explain……..

When this site first started it was a tribute to that little Isle off the west coast of Scotland that was overflowing with Whisky distilleries , beautiful scenery and a population of wonderful people . Gradually as the site became known i got bits of information from the whisky industry , even the odd sample of new whisky but over the last few years things have dried up , completely now as it happens ! The industry seems to have taken the new Bloggers to heart and forgot about this little site . I’ve also found as the web goes into “whisky overdrive” my enthusiasm has waned , i’m struggling with wanting to write something new and interesting about whisky .

I’d just like to point out at this point i haven’t fallen out of love with Islay ! We (Mel and Myself ) still love the little Isle , definitely more so than when we were first going over , we’re enjoying seeing more of the Isle than ever through our walking . I still love my whisky , drinking it , chatting about it and going to Tastings . So where do i go from here ?

I’ll be stopping the “A whiff…..” as stated , i’ll be posting about our visits this year (in the ‘Trips to Islay’ Section believe it or not !) but not updating any other content . I’ll be renewing the hosting and domain name for one more year then after that it’ll stop ( may keep the domain name for e-mail sake…..haven’t decided yet on that one ) .

A few thanks seem in order at this point…….

To my good friends on the Chat and Forum who supported me in the past year , many thanks , it was most appreciated !!!

To everybody who has visited the site over the years , Slainte !

To those in the Industry that have supported and helped me Cheers ! Especially Mary and Ella at Laddie , Mickey and Jackie at Ardbeg , Martin at MHUK , Lillian at Bunnahabhain , Raymond and Florence at Bladnoch , Eddie from The Whisky Lounge and Sukhinder and Tim at The Whisky Exchange .

So long and thanks for all the Fish !  (Gordon Homer)

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES NAMED “DISTILLER OF THE YEAR” IN 17TH ANNUAL MALT ADVOCATE WHISKY AWARDS

Renowned distiller also captures “Best Buy Whiskey of the Year” co-honors for their Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, was named “Distiller of the Year” in the recently announced 17th Annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards.  The nation’s second-largest holder of aging Bourbon, Heaven Hill was also named co-recipient of Malt Advocate’s “Best Buy Whiskey of the Year” award for their Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon, which is itself the second largest selling brand of Bourbon in the United States and the world.

The Malt Advocate Whiskey Awards “recognizes the best in the world of whisk(e)y” and after 17 years is the longest-running whisky awards program in the country.  The awards are presented by Malt Advocate Magazine, America’s leading whiskey publication and the sponsor of WhiskyFest, the nation’s largest and most respected whisky tasting event.

In awarding Heaven Hill “Distillery of the Year”, John Hansell, Publisher and Editor of Malt Advocate Magazine, stated that “smart whiskey lovers know their reputation for delivering great value in their whiskey brands. They just celebrated their 75th anniversary in a big way, by filling their six-millionth barrel of whiskey. They’ve been pioneers with their Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage series and the Bernheim Original wheat whiskey. (Master Distiller) Parker Beam’s skills are celebrated with the eponymous and often stupendous Parker’s Heritage Collection…They have been at the spearhead of the rye resurgence, maintaining availability of their value brands (Rittenhouse and Pikesville) and also rolling out an amazing trio of ultra-aged ryes.  Heaven Hill takes whiskey seriously. They deserve nothing less.”

In his presentation of “Best Buy Whiskey of the Year” to Evan Williams Black Label—which is the first two-time winner of this award, having captured it previously in 2003—Hansell noted that “Evan Williams is a sophisticated whiskey for its price: smooth, a great aroma, and neither gets lost in nor dominates a cocktail, a classic table bourbon.”

Heaven Hill Distilleries President Max L. Shapira met the news with enthusiasm, stating that “we are particularly proud to be named ‘Distillery of the Year’, validating the hard work and passion that Parker and Craig Beam, and all our employees, invest every day, year after year.  This is the third major ‘Distillery of the Year’ award Heaven Hill has received in the last 6 years, and the fourth ‘Best Buy Whiskey of the Year’ award we have won from Malt Advocate, having won previously for Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon, Elijah Craig 12-year-old Small Batch Bourbon and Rittenhouse Rye. We sincerely thank John Hansell and all the people at Malt Advocate for the recognition of both quality and value in our American Whiskeys.”

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

News from St.George’s Distillery, home to English Whisky Co.

March 2011
  
Thank you for continuing to show an interest in our whiskies. The next whisky to be released from St George’s will be a very special single malt.

The commemorative limited edition decanter is filled with a carefully chosen mix of casks that our distiller has married together to create a beautifully flavoured whisky to commemorate the wedding of Prince William and Catherine. The whisky will be presented in engraved decanters which are in a one off tube; both Decanter and Tube bear Prince William’s Coat of Arms.

I am sure some of you will want to lock this in a cupboard as a memento of the event, but for those of you who do pull the cork – I am confident you will be delighted.

The distillery will now be taking orders and payment for delivery as soon as we have them available. Click here to pre-order. http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/acatalog/english-whisky-co-liqueurs.html
 
News And Views
 
Please note  As a pre-registered customer, this email gives you the thumbs up to this release ahead of a public announcement.  It does not automatically reserve you a bottle.  You must use the online shop or the above number to pre-order your bottle.

 Some details:

Whisky Name: Royal Wedding Single Malt
Strength: 46% abv
Size: 70cl
Price: £65.00 RRP (plus p&p)
Release Date: 21st March (hopefully!)