Happy New Year!
Don’t forget about…

The Wemyss Malts Tasting Today
Come & Try Some Awesome Drams with Susan from Wemyss!

Get yer tickets from the AUSA reception in Butchart Centre!

Have a break from revision and come for a dram!
 
Location: Butchart Centre University Rd, Aberdeen
When: 7pm, Wednesday 12th January 2011
What to Bring: Ticket + Membership Card + Raffle Money!

University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Butchart Centre
University Road
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3UT
aberdeenwhisky@googlemail.com

JANUARY WHISKY SALE

10% OFF absolutely everything – Limited Time Only.

We thought as this is our first ever January trading online as www.SpecialistWhisky.com we would bring you 10% off all our Whisky online, this offer is ONLY available online.

Customers in all our delivery countries can take advantage of this offer – it will not last long, and subject to removal without notice.

Visit us soon!

Craig

www.Specialistwhisky.com

Ralfy wishes all the merry maltsters around the World a happy New Year’s Vlog with the first of a mini-series about Springbank Distillery and it’s Malts.

Beginning with WhiskyReview 176 – Introducing Springbank Malt Whiskies  with a seven part comprahensive Tour of Springbank Distillery happening in review 177…… hooray for ralfy.com, the most eccentric whisky-stuff on the internet.

 Visit Ralfy at www.ralfy.com

Burns Supper at the City Club of San Francisco with SKYY Spirits and Robin Coupar

Oh Whisky! Soul o’ plays and pranks!
Accept a bardie’s grateful thanks!

— Robert Burns

 
Raise your glass!
Just a few days ago, at the stroke of midnight, we were all ringing in 2011 with the time honored tradition of raising a glass of Champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne. On Friday, January 21st, from 6:30 – 9:00 pm, we will raise our glasses, filled with whisky this time, for Robert Burns who penned this timeless poem and the literary legacy he left the world.
 
This formal dinner takes place at the City Club of San Francisco and will start with the Selkirk Grace as it follows the traditional format of the supper. Robin Coupar of Skyy Spirits will be on hand to help us celebrate. This dinner is going to be filled with merry-making and glee.  We will have several courses of a traditional Scottish Supper, each being paired with an exceptional Scotch from SKYY Spirits.

While our goal is to savor and experience the uniqueness of each whisky, this evening is intended to be a celebration. So please be understanding if the night is more festive than our usual Whisky Pairings;)
 
Menu:
Cock-A-Leekie Soup
Traditional Haggis
Steak Balmoral – USDA Prime Tenderloin with Sauce Balmoral
Roasted Root Vegetables
Mashed Potatoes
Dessert: Scotch Trifle

Cheese & Oatcakes served after wards with coffee & tea

Whisky List
The Glenrothes Vintage 1998
Bowmore 15 Year Old
Auchentoshan Three Wood
Glen Grant 16 Year Old
Glen Garioch 12 Year Old

* All Guest Must RSVP by purchasing a Ticket in advance
* Must be 21 Years and Older to Attend.
* Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Purchase your tickets via http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=121

Hello everyone,

I know I run the risk of sounding like somebody who only speaks about the weather but I just got back to work today and saw the pictures below in our internal magazine. They are far better than the ones I shared with you back in December.

The pictures show Warehouse 28 in Dufftown and…(check out the rest of the post and pictures via the link below)

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/01/warehouse-28/

Kind regards,
Ludo

For the first time ever (it would seem) The British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch has heavily discounted (& one must ignore the ruinous price to start with) a narrow selection of premiumwhiskies:
 
Balvenie 30 year old: Now $318.49 down $136.50 from $454.99
 
Chivas Regal 25 year old: Now $223.43 down $95.75 from $319.18
 
Tullibardine 1966: Now $574.18 down $143.54 from $717.72

Spanish Twist for New Benromach Wood Finish

Speyside’s smallest distillery has introduced a Spanish flavour to its range of award-winning Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, with the addition of Benromach Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish.

Benromach’s latest offering –  a soft, fresh single malt with a pronounced malty character and a rounded sweetness – was ‘finished’ for 30 months  in Spanish oak casks from the Pedro Ximenez soleras of Williams & Humbert, one of the world’s most prestigious wine producers.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Benromach Distillery owners Gordon& MacPhail, said:

“We’re delighted to unveil the latest addition to the Benromach range, which has been finished in casks from Bodegas Williams & Humbert, a wine producer with a history going back nearly 130 years. The end result is a golden malt with hints of delicate spice and almond.

“Benromach is Speyside’s smallest distillery and as a ‘boutique’ distillery we are keen to embrace innovation and try new and different things – in this case, we found that the richness of the Pedro Ximenez casks perfectly complemented the complex style of Benromach. We are confident that fans of other Benromach products will love this expression.

Benromach Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish will be available as a limited release in 70cl (for selected markets), bottled at 45% from whisky specialists and fine wine and spirits retail specialists with a suggested UK retail price of £29.50.

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.

Tasting notes – Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish

UNDILUTED

Nose: A subtle ash note is followed by a fruity edge with hints of ripe peaches. Some delicate fresh mint notes linger.

Palate: Defined spices – cinnamon. Hints of almond are infused with sweet influences and creamy textures.

WITH WATER

Nose: Fresh with toasted malt notes. Hints of ripe banana and delicate esters emerge. A defined Sherry influence develops.

Palate: Creamy and sweet with delicate spices. The palate is well rounded and balanced.

Body: Medium.

Finish: Long.

Cask Type: The whisky is matured in 1st fill Sherry and bourbon casks. Finished in Pedro Ximenez casks.

www.benromach.com

www.gordonandmacphail.com

A very Happy New Year to you all, and to chase away the post Christmas blues we thought you’d like to know that tickets are now available for our next tutored tasting.   We’re going to start the year off with a selection of Irish whiskey and are very fortunate to have Noel Sweeney, Master Distiller, coming along from Cooley Distillery on Wednesday 9th February.

 
Recently named European Distiller of the Year for the third year running at the 2010 International Wine and Spirit Awards, Cooley distillery was established in 1987 and so is only relatively young.  However, the vision when it was created was to restore the ancient distilling techniques of Irish whiskey and bring back to life some of the famous old Irish whiskey brands. This means that Cooley distillery uses centuries old methods of Irish pot still distillation when producing their whiskey.  Additionally, whilst all their brands display the characteristic smooth and sweet taste of Irish whiskey the fact that Cooley have both malt and grain distilleries means they are able to produce a wide range of styles – including peated and unpeated single malts, aged blends, wood finished and cask strength whiskies, and single grain whiskey. 

As you can see, this is going to be an interesting and diverse whiskey tasting, with something for every taste and the added bonus of the master distiller himself being here to take us through the drams and give us the inside story on this award winning independent distillery.  A great start to our whisky tasting year so don’t miss out!

The tasting will be held at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm.  Tickets are £10.00 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and, as most of you already know, these tickets always sell very quickly so it is best to book ASAP.  To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

These evenings are a great chance to try some new whiskies that you might not encounter otherwise, and to be educated and entertained at the same time.  Come along and join us!

Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

Stanton House

Whisky lovers take their passion into all sorts of areas. Shai Gilboa decided to look into the history of a fairly obscure blended Scotch whisky after coming across an old bottle of Stewart’s Cream of the Barley during a tasting in Israel. He not only studied the history, but tracked down a current bottle of Stewart’s and sent samples of the old and new bottlings to friends around the world to compare. In the news, Ralph Erenzo’s condition improves, Skye loses one of its champions, and Early Times brings out a new bourbon in the U.S.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com 

The Quaich Awards™

Announcing the most prestigious whisky awards in North America

                                            Entry details

Mission Statement

Companions of the Quaich, Canada’s Premier Malt Whisky Appreciation Society, is proud to announce the establishment of an awards program to recognize and reward licensed restaurants, hotels and bars across Canada that meet the highest standards of excellence in the provision and promotion of Malt whisky.  This award will be the most prestigious and desirable of its kind in North America.

The Quaich Awards will honour establishments that exhibit a passion for Single Malts by offering a significant number of brands served by knowledgeable professionals.

All entries will be assessed by a panel of qualified whisky and hospitality judges. 

THERE IS NO CHARGE  OR FEE FOR SUBMITTING ENTRIES.

Five Levels of Recognition

One Quaich  will recognize establishments which offer up to 25 selections.

Two Quaichs   will recognize establishments up to 50 selections and a good cross-section and regional representation.

 Three Quaichs  will recognize establishments with up to 100 selections and a good cross section and regional representation.

 Four Quaichs   will recognize establishments with up to 200 selections and a good cross section and  regional representation.

 Five Quaichs  will recognize establishments with over 300 selections and a complete representation from all regions of Scotland and the world, and well informed staff.

Rare Platinum Award  will recognize establishments with over 500 selections, a complete regional and world representation, appropriate equipment and trained staff.

Our goal is to recognize those establishments which already have a great Single Malt list and encourage everyone to move towards the ultimate award of Five Quaichs.

The Companions of the Quaich is proud of all the many establishments across Canada which feature Single Malt whisky.  We believe you should be honoured.  We want to highlight the excellence of Single Malt on the world stage.  We are creating a web directory with you in it so that Single Malt lovers know where to find a great dram wherever they are in Canada.

There is no charge or fee for submitting entries or receiving awards.

Submit to the email provided a copy of your list in pdf (we do not want a hard copy) a brief description of your restaurant/bar/hotel and your philosophy on whisky (100 words or less).  Please enclose a picture of your establishment for the website.

All entries will be assessed by our team of qualified whisky and hospitality judges.

http://thequaichawards.com/