Malt Maniac and Super Hero Peter Silver has published a new E-pistle

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

As many of you may already know the Kensington Wine Market is launching the MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt on Friday night at a special party we’re hosting at the store. The MacKinlay’s is a replica of the malt Ernest Shackleton took with him to Antarctica on one of his expeditions. Abandoned under the floor of his hut and discovered 100 years later the whisky has been faithfully reproduced with great care. Kensington Wine Market is the only store in Canada which will be stocking the MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt, and we are getting but 300 bottles. The first half of these have already arrived and been sold, and of the 150 coming in December many are already spoken for. At $194.99 I expect the rest of these bottles will be snapped up before Christmas!

When I first heard about the discovered whisky I said to myself, oh great, another lousy replica is coming. Sure enough about a year later the MacKinlay’s replica was announced by Whyte and MacKay, owners of the brand. The packaging looked great though and the story was captivating, so I approached their Canadian importer for exclusivity and 10 cases (60 bottles). I figured it was a gimmick, but a well executed one, and something that would sell. But then the reviews started rolling in, and they were favourable, also the importer got me a sample bottle and I was suitably impressed. It was much better than I expected, and more than just another gimmick to sell whisky, and that’s when the scramble began to get a bigger allocation. Sadly, only 50 cases, 300 bottles will be coming to Canada, and most of these are already spoken for. But it’s not too late to reserve one.

This is a really interesting whisky and such a great story. The bottle and label of the original have been meticulously reproduced and the box is inspired by the crates the whisky was found in. The whisky itself, a Blended Malt (not to be confused with Blends like Famous Grouse) is heavy on 30 year old Glen Mhor. Glen Mhor was the distillery which originally produced MacKinlay’s, and today its whisky is very rare and old, as it closed forever in 1983. So we’ve cobbled together an assortment of Shackleton enthusiasts, collectors and other guests to throw a special event here at the store tomorrow night. We’ve had a special whisky glass produced just for the event, will be sampling the MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt and about a dozen other whiskies from Jura, Dalmore and (a first in Canada) Fettercairn distillery. For just $30 you can take part in the fun, and as I write there are still about 20 of the 100 tickets still available…

I’ve included some info below on tomorrow’s tasting, how you can order the MacKinlay’s whisky and another event I am hosting on Monday night. Some of you may already know I am off to Scotland on Tuesday for some meetings and then a week-long tour of Islay and the West Coast. Before I go we are throwing an epic Rare Malts tasting, which will include three whiskies over 35 years of age, one of which is well over 40 year old as well as whiskies from two closed distilleries (including Port Ellen). It will be a grand tasting to be sure!

I hope you enjoy this Malt Messenger Bulletin. The next full Malt Messenger will be out on October 17th or 18th just after my return from Scotland, with some HUGE whisky news!

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

PS-Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy

MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt (Shackleton Replica) – $194.99 + GST

The world was abuzz last year with the announcement that a case of whisky had been found under Ernest Shakleton’s hut in Antarctica. Twenty five cases of Mackinlay’s were shipped to Antarctica in 1907 to help bolster the courage of the crew and keep the cold at bay. Early in 1909, with the expedition in peril, three crates of whisky had to be abandoned to the Antarctic winter and were stored under the shack. These rare cases were discovered more than 100 years later by a crew from the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust.

Mackinlays was a well respected whisky in its day and Ernest Shakleton specified its procurement for his expedition. The whisky was produced from malt whisky distilled at Glen Mhor distillery in Inverness. After its recovery a bottle was presented to Whyte and MacKay who own the rights to the brand, and they have meticulously recreated the whisky under the guidance of their Master Blender, Richard Patterson (the Nose). They have gone so far as to use very rare single malt whisky from the Glen Mhor Distillery which closed in 1983, painstakingly recreating the original bottle with the same imperfections and a reproducing the label by hand as the type face no longer exists. The box is inspired by the crates the in which the whisky was packed.

“Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland whisky, 47.3% “Rarely has a blend caused as much excitement as this one, but with good reason. This is also known as the Shackleton whisky, and is a recreation of the whisky abandoned in the Antarctic by explorer Ernest Shackleton more than 100 years ago. It has lemon, spring blossom, and wafts of smoke on the nose. The taste is full and citrusy, with peat and pepper in attendance. Beautifully balanced and outstanding, but there are just 50,000 bottles, so snap it up. (Dominic Roskrow) 92 Points!” – Malt Advocate Magazine

“I think the replication is absolutely bang on. Richard has done a great job as it’s a very tricky whisky to replicate. I’m blown away!” – Dave Broom (The only independent whisky expert who tasted the original and the replica!)

MacKinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt – Shackleton Replica – 47.3% – My Tasting Note (written by a lakeside fire): Nose: very soft and light with cold apple crumble, brown sugar, cinnamon toast and white chocolates; poached apricot and pears with fresh strawberries; if there’s smoke here I can’t tell thanks to the fire; Palate: rich, toasty and spicy, with honey, vanilla extract and more orchard fruits; more cold cooked apples, soft pear, cinnamon and some darker spices; the delicate smoke is discernible here with hints of salt and more sweet toasted oak; Finish: the whisky has good mouth feel and this presence lasts well into the finish with loads of toasted oak, wood smoke, cooked apple and honey vanilla tones; Comments: I will have to taste is again in a more controlled setting, but am again very pleased with it. I thought this one would be pure gimmick, but it is more than that! – $194.99

MacKinlay’s Shackleton Launch Party – Friday September 30th 7-9PM – $30

Ernest Shackleton, the great Antarctic explorer, was forced to abandon 3 crates of whisky in 1907 to try to save his doomed expedition. Discovered 100 years later, these rare malts have been painstakingly recreated by the distiller Whyte and MacKay. The presentation package is authentic, inspired by the original crates, the bottle was made with the same imperfections as the original and the lable has been hand drawn to reproduce a now extinct typeface. This is no gimmick; the whisky has been carefully blended to duplicate the original, and is mostly composed of whisky from the original, now closed Glen Mhor distillery. Only 300 bottles of this very limited whisky are coming to Alberta, all of them to Kensington Wine Market, and most are sold or spoken for. We will be throwing a party to celebrate the launch, with special guests, a commemorative glass and your first opportunity to sample whiskies from the Fettercairn distillery, as well as Jura and Dalmore.

Our special guests include Susan Eaton, a Geologist and Shackleton expert who followed in the footsteps of Shackleton’s ill-fated Trans-Antarctic Expedition on the Endurance 1914-17. Also Dr. Jane Cameron, a whisky aficionado and terrific amateur photographer will be showing some of her Antarctic penguin photos from a trip last year. To top this off a Shackleton collector(Cameron Treleaven of Aquila Books) will be brining some artefacts to showcase as well as an audio recording made by Shackleton himself. It will be a truly special evening, one not to be missed.

Rare Malts – Monday October 3rd 7PM – $75

Rare Malts is one of our more special tastings. In order to qualify for this tasting whiskies must meet one of three criteria: they must be especially rare; from a closed distillery; or more than 20 years of age. This rare malts tasting is going to set a new bar, admittedly one which will be hard to equal. We have two whiskies of more than 37 years of age, two whiskies from closed distilleries (one of which is a new bottling of Port Ellen) and another whisky which is part way between 40 and 50 years of age! This will truly be a tasting not to be missed! Tickets for this tasting can be bought by phone 403-283-8000, in store or on our website: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php ..

____________________

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson

KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW

Calgary, AB, Canada

T2N 3P8

scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com

THE WHISKY EXCHANGE WHISKY SHOW 2011
The Luxury Tasting Experience
‘The UK’s leading Whisky Experience where you can taste, learn about & enjoy the world’s finest whiskies’
Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, SE1, LONDON
7th and 8th October 2011

Food and Fun at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show

As we get closer to The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, we’ve been putting the final details into place. We have Dream Dram lists coming in from our exhibitors, along with hints as to what else they’ll be bringing on the day and have been working with Martine Nouet to finalise our food offerings.

As part of the all-inclusive ticket price, visitors to The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show will not only be able to enjoy a two-course meal in the Show Brasserie, but will also have access to our Food and Whisky Pairing area, where Martine has come up with several stalls, each exploring a different area of flavour.

The Food & Whisky Pairing area will be located in Vinopolis’s Academia room, an arched area which regular attendees to The Whisky Exchange’s monthly tastings will recognise from our events in the past. Martine has devised a selection of innovative pairings matching a variety of top class whiskies with Borough Market delicacies including smoked sausages, olives and chutney.

And what better to wash down these exquisite food pairings than a complimentary cocktail? Visitors to Academia can also sample a range of delicious bespoke cocktails at one of our two bars hosted by Monkey Shoulder and Ryan Chetiyawardana of The Worship Street Whistling Shop.

Academia will also be the location of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society lounge, where visitors can taste a variety of SMWS bottlings. And as a special offer for Show ticket holders, visitors who join the Society during the Show will receive a free bottle of single malt whisky from a TWE Whisky Show exclusive SMWS cask!

Meanwhile, the Show Brasserie will be situated in Vinopolis’s Mezzanine room, a large space in the eaves of the building featuring a high, wooden-beamed ceiling dotted with skylights.

Martine has designed a range of fabulously hearty food options over two complimentary courses for hungry Visitors seeking to refuel during the Show, and as before at our previous events, all food is included in the ticket price. Diners will also be treated to musical accompaniment from whisky fan and ‘Bleggae’ artist Tim Hain, who will be performing on both days of the Show.

We stillhave more details up our sleeves so expect more information to appear as we complete the final arrangements for The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show.

www.whisky-show.com

Notes

About The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is a premium two-day whisky festival running from October 7th to the 8th 2011 at Vinopolis in London, UK. The all-inclusive ticket includes free samples of some of the finest whiskies produced today, plus a hearty two-course brasserie meal and all samples in the food & whisky pairing area, with food-matches designed by food and whisky expert Martine Nouet using produce from the world famous Borough Market.

Visitors will also be able to try free cocktails from award winning bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana at the Whisky Exchange Bar, enjoy music from ‘Bleggae’ legend Tim Hain in the Brasserie and take part in exclusive Masterclasses from some of the biggest names in the whisky industry (Masterclass tickets sold separately).

In addition to the high-end whiskies that the exhibitors will be pouring, each visitor will be presented with two Dream Dram tokens, exchangeable for a number of super-premium whiskies at a rate of one token for whiskies with a bottle price up to £1000, 2 tokens for bottles valued at £1000-£2000 and 3 tokens for drams priced £2000 and above. Additional Dream Dram tokens will be available to buy on the day.

The Show Brasserie Menu

Main Courses
• Irish Stew cooked with Guinness and served with Dumplings
• Tagliatelle with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables, Olive Oil, Basil and Parmesan
• Seafood Cassoulet cooked in Spiced White Wine Cream Sauce, served with Basmati Rice

Puddings
• Bunnahabhain 12yo Orange Whisky Baba served with Custard
• Mixed Berry Pavlova misted with Ardbeg 10 year old

Food and Whisky Pairings
• The food for the pairings will be sourced from various stalls at Borough Market.

Savoury Pairings
The Road to India (Merchant: Gujarati Rasoi)
Date and Tamarind chutney paired with Amrut Single Malt

Smoky Selection (Merchant: Exquisite Deli)
Italian smoked sausages paired with Balvenie 17 year old Peated Cask

Cheese and Biscuits (Merchant: Neal’s Yard Dairy)
• Lincolnshire Poacher paired with Cragganmore 12 year old
• English Blue Cheese paired with Bushmills 10 year old

The Olive Garden (Merchant: The Fresh Olive Company)
• Bella di Cerignola Green Olives paired with Isle of Jura Prophecy
• Gaeta Red Olives paired with Dalmore 15 year old

Sweet Pairings
The Orchard (Merchant: Elsey & Bent)
Exotic Fresh Mango paired with Tyrconnell 10 year old Madeira Finish

Chocolate Heaven (Merchant: Rabot Estate)
• St Lucia Single Estate 66% cocoa chocolate with Scapa 16 year old
• St Lucia Single Estate 65% cocoa chocolate with Sea Salt paired with Aberlour 16 year old

Speyburn 25yo Solera (46%, OB, +/-2010)

Many may be familiar with the Speyburn 10 year old, Speyburn Braden Orach and now the Speyburn 25yo. That’s it, three whiskies to choose from. But we have the oldest to take a peak at. The nose is fragrant with heather and roses at first however this quickly is taken over by some sturdier notes in the form of malt, bees wax and warmed brown sugar (think of it in the pan just before the butter goes in). All in all it’s heady combination, some lemon on there some where or even some lemon lavender cake icing? Again it’s very good. The taste is fragrant malt (a bit of the malt and some of the heather and roses) however then the oak spice and cold sweetened tea make an appearance along with some cocoa. Not an off note in the whole picture and a very solid flavour profile. The finish is a rush of malt and icing sugar all tinged with some oak spiciness (think of black pepper and cinnamon), the later moments are quite dry but the sweetness is there also.

Very, very nice and lively

$100

Score 88 points

Visit Speyburn at www.speyburn.com

(From John Campbell at Laphroaig in a message to the Friends of Laphroaig)

Thank you for all of your interest in this year’s Laphroaig Live. I’ve received several emails asking which expressions will be tasted during this year’s live show.

We’ll be tasting the famous Quarter Cask. We’ll also taste another expression that spends part of its maturation in a Quarter Cask; as well as in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, hence its name: Triple Wood. Having been met with huge acclaim in duty free it is now being rolled out on general release.

We’ll also be reunited with a very old member of the Laphroaig family, not seen for over 50 years…

During this year’s live show we will be opening and tasting a truly historic Laphroaig 10 year old, distilled way back in the 1950s in one of the last batches ever to be bottled by Lin Johnston’s ancestors. Only one or two of these bottles remain today, and those that do are collectors’ items, so tasting this ancient liquid really will be a momentous occasion.

Of course a visit to Australia wouldn’t be complete without a barbeque, and what better whisky to complement the smokiness of barbequed food than Laphroaig! We’ve developed our very own Laphroaig barbeque sauce and our Australian FOLs have suggested a selection of barbeque dishes to go with it. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular suggestions for you to vote on and we will be cooking the top 5 dishes live on the night!

You can vote for your favourite dishes now on the Laphroaig Live page, where you will also find our panelist biographies and a countdown to the live show: www.laphroaig.com/live

Slàinte,

John Campbell

Join the Friends of Laphroaig

The Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess

of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada is pleased to present

Scotchtoberfest

When: 7 PM Saturday, October 29th, 2011 (doors open at 6PM)
Where: The Seaforth Highlanders Armouries, 1650 Burrard St.
Cost: $125 (including HST), $45 food only tickets
Dress: Smart business casual

What is included:
– 8 outstanding Whiskies
– Commemorative Glencairn Tasting Glass
– Robust Scottish Appetizers
Event Highlights:
– Tastings led by Andrew Starritt of Caskstrength
– Performance by the Pipes and Drums

To Register
Email: robertmbauman@shaw.ca Please tell us your name and the names of your guests. Then send your cheque to the address below.

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg: two great Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to taste with Dr Bill Lumsden this Sunday

This Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., Dr Bill Lumsden, the artist behind these two wonderful malts will join us at Brandy Library for a casual tasting of staples and new editions from both brands. You are invited, compliments of Glenmorangie-Ardbeg. Please RSVP to info@brandylibrary.com. As you know, the space is limited and we won’t be able to accommodate all Scotch Lovers, so act quickly but you must make sure to attend!

The event starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Only 2 guests per RSVP please.

Sincerely,
Flavien Desoblin
Brandy Library, 212-226-5545

Whisky Exports Drive Portfolio Success

Burn Stewart Distillers, producers of Scottish Leader, Black Bottle, Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig whiskies, have announced its financial results for the year ended 31st December 2010.

The main highlights of the announcement are:

• Strong performance by all brands in their key markets

• Gross profit £18.3m (2009: £17.2m)

• Net profit £3.7m (2009: £1.2m)

The company which employs 250 people across its distilling, blending, bottling, commercial and administration activities in the UK, and sales administration internationally has seen continued growth across its core brands with particularly strong performances in Taiwan, South Africa and the UK.

The key drivers for this success include the 13% growth of flagship brand Scottish Leader, coupled with the growth of Scottish Leader’s market share across all key markets. Overall, cased export revenue is also on the increase – achieving 11% growth on 2009 with notable success in Taiwan, US, and Baltics.

The company continues to invest in capital expenditure, allocating £0.4m in 2010, taking the investment for the last 3 years to £2.4m. The company has also invested in a new leadership staff training programme which has reached over 20% of the company’s workforce. Over the next three years a multi million pound capital investment programme is planned to further enhance the capability of the business. Included in this plan, is the creation of a new visitor centre at Deanston Distillery, opening during Spring 2012, which aims to significantly enhance the retail and consumer experience of the brand.

The entire malt portfolio – Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig whiskies – enjoyed an extremely successful re-pack in 2010 with new packaging, labelling and bottle design. Furthermore, presenting un-chill filtered malts creates exciting opportunities to position the malt portfolio as niche players in the industry. Future plans for the malt portfolio include further tapping into growing markets in Taiwan, USA and Europe, coupled with a strong investment focus on Russia.

Markets providing the key focus for Scottish Leader will be Taiwan, South Africa and The Baltics. In addition, the flagship brand will also be looking to build upon and strengthen existing distribution partnerships in the Ukraine, Poland and Russia to allow for further penetration into these emerging markets, and providing the backbone for growth.

The company’s portfolio of brands was strengthened in 2010 when a partnership deal with Angostura Holdings Ltd was signed. The deal announced that Burn Stewart Distillers would be responsible for distribution and marketing of the world renowned Aromatic Bitters and premium rum range across EMEA. This addition to the company portfolio compliments future plans for growth within the Scotch market and a growing rum category.

Commenting on the results, Fraser Thornton, Managing Director, said:

“It is very pleasing to note the sustained improvement in the financial performance of the company. Our primary focus is to develop and grow the strong portfolio of brands we have and, in so doing, continue to consolidate the relationships we enjoy with key retail partners, selected overseas bulk customers and our global distributor network. We have enjoyed another year of growth and have opened up new markets as well as continuing to build our brands in existing markets. Our bold move to un-chill filtered malts has excited our consumers and the trade and has allowed us to provide a niche offering to those consumers who want to explore. The investment at Deanston will allow us to develop a new brand experience for consumers and invest in the heritage of the Deanston brand. We believe the future is very positive for the Scotch Whisky Industry and we look forward to continued growth across our entire brand portfolio.’

Notes

• Burn Stewart Distillers Limited is a fully integrated Scotch whisky producer and brand owner with three single malt whisky distilleries and a strong portfolio of Scotch whisky brands.

• The company’s head office and bottling hall are based in East Kilbride, with blending and warehousing facilities at Airdrie, both near Glasgow. The three distilleries include, Deanston in Doune, Perthshire; Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay and Tobermory based on the Isle of Mull.

• Burn Stewart produces and markets a well balanced range of Scotch Whisky brands to appeal to every type of Scotch consumer and distributes to over 60 markets worldwide.

From www.aberko.com

DEERSTALKER HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT

Brand History
The Deerstalker brand was first owned by a wine & spirit merchant from Edinburgh named J.G.Thomson. He noted the importance of trade marks and realising that these proud, forthright men epitomized the Highland spirit, registered the name and a label with the character of a Deerstalker in 1880, just five years after trade marks came into being.

Since that time it has been trade marked in every major country and there are five marks in the UK alone. J.G.Thomson’s offices were in the port for Edinburgh (Leith) and became known as The Vaults. The building remains to this day and is now home to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Exports took place from the Vaults to all corners of the globe. The brand then changed ownership as a result of acquisitions, but in 1994 took on a new chapter in its history when purchased by Aberko Limited.

Stalking and Whisky
The stalking of deer in the Scottish Highlands is as much a tradition as the distilling of whisky itself, and may be traced back to the 1700’s. Most estates employed stalkers, fiercely independent men, who were respected for their knowledge of the ‘mountains’ and their abilities to track the native red deer.

Deerstalkers achieved notoriety in the Mid 1800’s when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert rebuilt Balmoral Castle & settled for much of the year in the Highlands fishing and stalking; characters such as John Brown became known far outside the Highlands. Whisky, already established in Scotland now became ever more popular south of the border partly as a result of the bond between the royal family and the Highlands.

Stalking deer in the Highlands and for that matter the Lowlands and the Western Isles has a long and noble tradition and is today a necessary activity for controlling numbers of red deer and for providing much needed income into Scottish estates. There remain today many professional stalkers who have inherited the skills of their forefathers, and provide a valuable contribution to the economy of the region.

It is appropriate that a whisky should be named after a profession so closely associated with the source of the national drink.

DEERSTALKER HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT – 18 YEAR OLD

The Distillery
The 18 Year Old Deerstalker Highland Single Malt takes its malt from the Balmenach Distillery. The distillery is located in a beautiful part of Speyside named the Haughs of Cromdale, site of a Jacobite battle in 1690 and of numerous illicit whisky stills prior to the era of licensing. Its ownership passed through the Macgregor family to DCL, United Distillers, and in 1997 to Inver House who have given their kind permission for Aberko to bottle limited quantities and to sell under the Deerstalker name.

It is extremely rare to find any Balmenach at 18 years of age and now unchill filtered at 46% abv and taking its colour entirely from the casks where it has ‘slept’ some 18 years we are delighted to present it alongside the 10, 12 and new 15 Year Old.

Balmenach 18yo (46%, Deerstalker, +/-2011) Whisky Intelligence Tasting Note

The nose is much like opening a tin of hard candies covered in icing sugar while at the same time revealing some excellent fruit in the form of banana and jam (but not berries, perhaps some marmalade?). After some small time in the glass there is some good malt, zest, dried fruit juniper and pine resin. The dusty icing sugar and malt continue throughout. The taste is strong and very solid, the dried fruit and malt are much more intensified than on the nose; very rich with some ground pepper, a little leather and tobacco and a wonderful sweetness that intermingles with the other descriptors so very well. Some dry notes arrive towards the end just prior to the mouthful going down the gullet. The finish is of bananas, the dried fruit and the pepper; all very vibrant and then after a moment a sensational arrival of the icing sugar dusted candies. The finish is very long and active with lots of malt.

What a sensational dram with something to like all along the journey.

$89

Score 87 points

The Athenaeum Hotel Launches ‘Whisky Socials’ Calendar

This winter the athenaeum is offering guests and visitors the chance to discover the rich and diverse world of whisky at hosted ‘Whisky Socials’ with leading connoisseurs. Participants will enjoy a truly unique whisky and food pairing experience that aims to welcome those new to the spirit whilst providing greater depth of knowledge for seasoned whisky enthusiasts.

The athenaeum’s ‘Whisky Socials’ will take place at regular intervals throughout the winter and will be co-hosted by the hotel’s dedicated whisky sommelier, who is one of only two in London. Each will be in partnership with a different leading premium whisky brand:

• 6th October 2011 – Aberfeldy & Dewar’s Whisky Social with Roger Mallindine

• 24th November 2011 – Balvenie Whisky Tasting with Dr. Andrew Forrester

• 25th January 2012 (Burn’s Night) – Macallan Whisky Tasting with David Frewin

• March (day TBC) – Dalmore Whisky Tasting with Richard Paterson

Whisky Socials’ at the athenaeum are priced at £39 per person and can be booked via the hotel’s website: www.athenaeumhotel.com or by calling 020 7640 3322

A vegetarian option is available upon request.