Kilchoman Launches 2006 Vintage

Kilchoman, Islay’s Farm Distillery, is delighted to announce the release of its 2006 vintage; the first 5 year old from the first distillery to be built on Islay for over 120 years.

Matured from 80% first fill and 20% refill bourbon barrels and reduced to 46%abv; the 2006 Vintage is a limited release and available in mature malt markets around the world at a  UK RRP £49 per bottle.

Anthony Wills commented, ‘This is another milestone for Kilchoman, the additional two years of maturation has given the 2006 vintage an extra dimension and depth of character’.  

Tasting Notes

Colour- Light beech darkening nicely with age.

Nose – Peaty aroma, nice soft cooked fruits, Christmas cake.

Palate – Cloves, butterscotch, soft citrus, mouth –filling with a lasting sweetness.

Finish- A classic Islay Malt, now showing the benefit of ageing; peaty, fresh and clean at the end.

DRAM LOVERS ARE IN ‘GOOD COMPANY’ WITH THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

One of the UK’s most discerning members clubs, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, has unveiled its freshly distilled corporate membership package with a one-off membership reduction for companies who sign up before 31 November 2011.

The Good Company Membership will see corporate members enjoy a variety of new benefits. Among its most appealing new features is the Company Sharecard, which can be passed between staff, providing access for the entire organisation to the Society’s three exclusive Members’ Rooms.

The Society is relaunching the corporate membership with an extra special offer, waiving the £150 joining fee, allowing corporate members to enjoy the host of new benefits for the annual renewal fee of £260 alone. This exclusive offer is only available until 31 November 2011.

Membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society allows anyone within the company to host a bespoke private event at SMWS or another venue of their choice and benefit from a new discounted rate, on top of existing preferential member rates. And for those with plenty of business travel, or simply an excuse to get spoilt, membership further includes access to special Society rates at all 26 Hotel du Vin and Malmaison hotels across the UK.

Celebrated the world over for its unique approach to providing members with the best single cask, single malt whiskies – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society decided to expand its corporate offering and provide membership for businesses with an unrivalled access to its exclusive offerings.

Mark van der Vijver, UK Sales Manager at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society says: “Our members join the Society to sample from the world’s finest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies. With greater access to our Members Rooms we offer a unique and welcoming atmosphere for them to enjoy with guests, whether it’s for business or pleasure.

“After a nip here and a tweak there, we’ve now ensured corporate members have even greater access for their entire organisation to our special malts and hospitality services with improved savings.

“With members dating back to the early eighties, the Society has a reputation for offering incredible malts and service to match. Our Good Company Membership is a shining example of this.”

Corporate members will also receive three luxury welcome packs comprising four different 10cl single cask bottles in each and named membership cards, as well as discounts on events services for everyone within their company.

All members have full access to the three society venues – two in Edinburgh and one in London – as well as opportunities to purchase rare single cask, single malt whiskies and Society gifts.

Further, all members will receive a personal invitation to the Good Company Soiree which takes place only once a year.

For more information on the Good Company Membership, visit www.goodcompany.smws.com , or alternatively call the Membership Team on 0131 555 2929.

Notes:
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society began 27 years ago when a group of discerning friends shared the price of a single cask of fine malt whisky.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society recently scooped 12 awards in Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottler’s Challenge including the overall Icon of Whisky title for the Independent Bottler of the Year.
• The Society bottles over 300 single casks of malt whisky a year for its members and selects them from a range of more than 128 distilleries.
• The Society also has an exclusive partnership with the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin group, with various benefits for members and the opportunity for potential members to sample SMWS malts at 17 of their locations.

Good Company Membership offers corporate entertaining with a difference along with some rather nice perks… Access
• The use of three superb venues in Edinburgh, Leith and London, including exclusive Member lounges and award-winning Dining Room restaurant.
• Three named Membership Cards, presented in luxurious welcome packs including four different 10cl single cask bottlings.
• NEW company ‘ShareCard’, with flexibility to be circulated to ensure access for all staff to all services.
• Option to acquire up to two additional ‘ShareCards’

Bespoke Services
• Seven unique and impressive private function rooms for corporate entertaining.
• A dedicated team of Event Experts to manage your bespoke Private Dining, Whisky Tasting and Meeting events.
• Personal corporate gifting services and special offers, on the rarest single cask, single malt whiskies and Society gifts.
• Attendance by invitation-only to the annual ‘Good Company Soiree’

Savings
• NEW additional 5% discount* for private events, on top of existing preferential member’s rates.
• Good Company rates available to everyone within your company hosting private events with SMWS.
• Further reduced rates for block bookings of events.
• Complimentary roomhire for your first event each year, valued at £168.
• NEW special overnight rates at all 26 Hotel du Vin and Malmaison luxury hotels.

Good Company Membership costs £410 to join, with an annual renewal of £260 after the first year. For more information visit www.smws.com  / www.goodcompany.smws.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies is delighted to advise the naming of our BOTTLING OF THE YEAR for 2012.

(From LFW) The nomination comes as a result of our many customers’ reaction after an in-shop taster. The most democratic possible of all recognition by those who actually buy it, a reflection of the quality, wide appreciation and value of the whisky.

BRUICHLADDICH’s new 10 years old whisky “The Laddie Ten” was a clear choice, a complex single malt with a great flavour experience that changes over time and stays in the mouth and memory for a long time.

Bruichladdich 10yo The Laddie Ten OB 46%Abv. LFW’s Bottling of the Year 2012

LFW’s Bottling of the Year 2012

(From the Joynson) It’s taken me six weeks (so far) to write this tasting note – it’s been important to nail the emotion and joy of this particular bottle of whisky.

Long ago, I really-really rated the 15yo, 40% Bruichladdich bottled by the various previous owners (LFW price £32.90 in 1993). One of my top-top favourites. Despite being an unloved offering from a neglected distillery, produced by a variety of owners, all of whom were hard to like, or hate – or have any feelings for. Nonetheless the mature single malt from Bruichladdich was absolutely delicious, sitting in the complex category of single malt flavours.

For ten years we have watched the new management bugger-about with umpteen-and-then-some expressions; with wine, with wood, with smoke and with mirrors. My fear was that this, their new standard offering, their benchmark and my old talisman, would reflect some of that hither-and-thither stumbling.

My fear was unfounded. And with hindsight should never have been considered much, who could possibly forget the reason why they buy a distillery if that reason is because the whisky is bloody good?

And this is bloody good! Extra strength at bottling gives the impression of additional maturity and allows me to let myself consider that this Laddie Ten is as good as my inflated memory of the 15yo of old.

I’m so happy!

Tasting notes? Jumble up these any way: Complex, delicious, lightish, aromatic, warm, gotta-take-a-sip, mixed, exciting, varied, oiliness, hints, fresh, whiff, breeze & now drink.

An ace dram, oh joy!, whisky emotion, join in.

Same Flavour Map square as Clynelish; E5 Complex.

Price excluding VAT: £26.58
£31.90 Including VAT at 20%

Whisky Review 232 – Movember (Prostate Cancer Check for men)

… go on boys, ralfy recommends you have a check for any \’nasties\’ that could ruin your life. Then reward yourself with a whisky.

Kilchoman 2006 5yo 46%abv  2006 Vintage Release

“This is the first 5 year old release from Kilchoman and has been aged in a combination of fresh and refill bourbon barrels.”

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks ‘Kilchoman 2006 Vintage Release 5yo’

Price excluding VAT: £40.75
£48.90 Including VAT at 20%

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Benromach wins Gold at New York tasting awards

Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Years Old been awarded a gold medal TheFiftyBest.com in New York City.

Tasted among 19 other whiskies, a gold medal was awarded in a Single Malt Scotch 10 to 12 year old tasting event in recognition of its “spicy, pure and velvety” flavour.

The accolade adds to the growing list of awards for the whiskies from Speyside’s smallest working distillery and the increasing success of Benromach across the UK and internationally. Benromach 30 Years Old won a bronze award at The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge in Edinburgh on Thursday night (November 3). Judges described it as the “perfect after dinner whisky”.

TheFiftyBest.com rating the finest in wines and spirits turned their attention to Single Malt Scotch Whisky this year for the first time. Malt whisky aficionados, wine and spirits writers, retailers and bartenders were the judges at the formal tasting in NYC.

Using professional criteria, the scotch whiskies were served “blindly” one at a time, and rated on a 1-5 point scoring system with 5 being the best. After totalling up the scores, the Single Malts were ranked according to the total scores received.

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.

Gordon & MacPhail’s Miltonduff 1969 also walked away with a silver award at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge which was held at Number 12 Picardy Place in Edinburgh.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be recognised both at home and abroad is a significant achievement. The international appeal of Benromach is continuing to grow and it is exciting to see our range of whiskies being honoured at respected events like these.”

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 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.

Message in a Bottle – by Paul Mclean

After a long chat with a “friend” about a weird and strange “happening” up on the west coast, I had to go and see for myself. The story went, that bottles of excellent whisky are being washed up and, just there for the picking! I must admit I thought it a joke, but with a few days to myself, there’s no stopping me from visiting the fantastic west coast, even if it rains.

Thursday morning I set out north, now at this stage I’m asking myself “do I say where I have been?”, well with so many wee bays, coves and inlets, some hidden, some no, why not say – so, started with a meeting with a good friend at the Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum (picking up a painting), then wandered into the superb whisky shop there, I was so tempted with; Arran / 1995 First Production One of 1000 bottles from the first ever production at The Isle of Arran Distillery. Each bottle is individually numbered on the label tag. This is from one of the very first casks to be filled, laid down in the Summer of 1995. This is also CASK STRENGTH 60.3% vol Distilled at Isle of Arran Distillery £249.99

Hmmmm … Aberlour a’bunadh limited edition Sterling Silver Label. 12 year old single malt, I was yearning for bottle number 219, och but look was all I managed! Comes in a hesian bag, but inside is a lovely 58.7% dram, costs £249.99. It was then the bells rang in my heid, “time to go”. So headed up through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. Dreich but fantastic scenery. From there through Fort William and turning left towards Mallaig. A grand road so it is travelling through many lochs and glens, once past Glenfinnan, the road gets a wee bit more “wild”- on then to the Back of Kepoch, where I was lodging that night, took a few pix and scoured a few hidden places lookin for the drams. None to be found. Och well, back to the hotel restaurant and some excellent local fish for my supper, chased doon with some red wine.

Friday; my search began once again, over the day I drove all over the place and around lunchtime, was at Ardnamurchan, the most westerly point on the British mainland. After a quick lunch I started oot again on my search. Low and behold, look what I found! A very nice bottle of Glen Garioch in its old broon bottle, and … a very nice Mannochmore. Now – I’m no being fussy, but someone had helped themselves to a lot of the Mannochmore, what a cheek!!! Whereas the Glen was complete. What can you do? I sat doon on the kelp covered rock and took a wee nip to myself, ah! Acting as a life saver, I rescued both bottles and walked them to my car. My day continued as I caught the ferry to Mull and another to Oban, where I strayed down to Connel for an overnight stay.

Alone in my room, I opened the Mannochmore, what was the message? DRINK ME, DRINK ME! So being the kind soul I am, I drank some… a slight hint of chocolate, sawn wood. Excellent dram, now can taste apples and lemons (lets just say citrus). Very fruity with a balance between bourbon and sherry wood matured whiskies that make up. I was tempted to sample a wee bit too much, but resisted!

Saturday; On my way home next day I took some photos; here’s one, Kilchurn castle in the morning mist, aye its a Campbell castle, but I thought I would take a shot at it!

I am thinking of doing some more messages pretty soon…

Send us your own ‘Vignettes – Moments in Whisky’. If you have a whisky moment please feel free to submit your moment and we’ll do our best to publish it. Go on, you know you want to be famous…

Don’t forget about the trip today if you have a ticket!

Glen Garioch Today!!!

(pronounced Glen Gear-ee)

Leaves 2pm Today

from Butchart Centre

Tickets have already sold out!

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Whisky Trip to Edinburgh!! – 25th-26th November

Depart at 1pm on the Friday.
Visiting whisky pubs, Glenkinchie and Scotch Whisky Experience.
Price max of 50£.
Limited to 15 people.
If interested, send us an email: aberdeenwhisky@gmail.com

Our mailing address is:

University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Butchart Centre
University Road
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3UT

Dear friends,

The waiting is over, ticket sales for Whisky Festival North Netherlands have started!

Close to 5000 visitors attended the 6th edition of our festival in March 2011 and keeping in mind that the whole fair is run by volunteers only this is something to be very proud of. We had many articles and reviews in national and international printed media, including Whisky Magazine UK, we had live exposure on dutch national radio and television, who can ask for more? In just 6 years time our festival has matured from a small local fair into a serious contender among the big international whisky festivals, some of which can learn a thing or two from us.

Helen Arthur stated on behalf of all our guests: “This is the most friendly festival in the world”.

What can you expect at our upcoming festival:

Of course you will find that not only every major whisky importer will be present in Groningen, but also most of the smaller brands will be there, allowing you to taste many different whiskies from all over the globe. You can attend many Masterclasses on a whole variety of subjects, ranging from Single Grain whisky to the combination of whisky and music, many international reknown writers will be present, and so on.

An still we managed to keep the entrance fee low for yet another year, admission tickets still cost only € 25,00 each.

Tickets can be obtained through the menu of our webshop at http://www.wfnn.nl

And while you’re at it, spare a thought to our Japanese friends:

Support Japan Aid by donating 1 euro and you might win one of the many prizes our exhibitors have donated for this cause. The donations will be transferred to the International Red Cross, this cause was suggested by Martine Nouet and Dave Broom. Make as many donations as you want, each month a name will be selected from all who have participated. Winners will receive a personal notice, they can collect their prizes at the WFNN info stand during the festival.

For Twitter you can go to http://twitter.com/wfnn

Our facebook is located at WFNN

So keep following us through our website, on Twitter and on Facebook to receive the latest scoops, we’ll also send an email update from time to time, but you may run the risk of missing out on important info.

Slàinte mhat!

Henk Seine (secretary of WFNN)

JIM MURRAY’S WHISKY BIBLE 2011

95.5 POINTS
Benromach 30 year old in Jim Murray’s 2011 Whisky Bible judged the best single malt whisky in the 28-34 year old (multiple casks) category.
SOLD OUT IN 2011!!!

Benromach Whisky’s Currently Available in Alberta

Benromach 10 year old – 87.5 Points CSPC# 737873
Benromach Peat Smoke – 90.5 Points CSPC# 727524
Benromach Traditional – 86 Points CSPC# 714036
Benromach Organic – 85.5 Points CSPC# 737876

Arriving in 2012

Benromach 30 yr old – 95.5 Points CSPC # 746694
Benromach 25 yr old – 92 Points CSPC # 746236