This last while has been a busy time at the Malt Maniacs, Chris Bunting (Nonjatta) and Bert Bruyneel have decided it’s time for them to leave the mad house however on the other hand Ben Chen and Ralfy Mitchell (Ralfy) have stepped up and joined the collective.

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Corsair Experimental Kentucky Rye Whiskey 750ml ($49.99) Once again we’ll be the only store in California to land any of Corsair’s delicious young rye. We didn’t bother with an exclusive label this time around, but the whiskey is still exclusively ours. This was a huge success for us last time around and was a surprise favorite of many a customer. Here are the notes: The American craft whiskey movement is starting to gain some serious steam and we’re happy to be helping its momentum. We’ve had to search high and low to find the tastiest, most exclusive products available and this time we wound up at one of Kentucky’s newest distilleries. Available only at K&L in California, this whiskey is from a 100% rye mashbill giving the flavor a true injection of peppery spice. Because rye whiskey needs legally to be only 51% rye, most distilleries lower their production costs by adding corn and barley to the remaining 49%. To get a pure rye spirit is very rare and to get one with any kind of age on it is even more difficult. While young, the Corsair has really taken to the new oak barrels and explodes with vanilla, cherries, and a touch of smoke. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

Canada – Bourbon and Rye

Masterson’s 10 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml ($64.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Brora 30 year old Rare Edition 2009 Release Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($399.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

An Autumn of Bourbon…

Autumn is a special time of year in the world of bourbon. With the hot summer done the distilleries knuckle down and push their various special releases for the year out of the door. Despite their being shortages in the USA of various whiskeys at the moment we’ve managed to get our hands on a […please click below to read the remainder of the article…]

THE LINK

He carries around a gold pen specially...

Monday, September 19th Single-Malt Scotch Tasting with David Blackmore Global Brand Ambassador for Glenmorangie

Joe writes,

Some of you will remember the huge success of the last Glenmorangie tasting we hosted – we certainly do. We’ve invited Mr. Blackmore back to the store to do another couple tastings with us. Per usual there will be two free tastings; one beginning at 4:30 PM and one at 6:00 PM. It is worth mentioning that the Glenmorangie company also owns one other distillery: Ardbeg. More details to follow next week.

www.federalwine.com

GLENDRONACH TO SUPPLY 25 YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT FOR DONALD TRUMP’S NEW £750M SCOTTISH GOLF RESORT

GLENDRONACH Distillery has been selected by Donald Trump to supply the commemorative 25-year-old single malt that will mark the opening next summer of his £750 million golf complex on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The rare whisky chosen for the official Trump International Golf Links has been hand-selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker from the thousands of top-quality single casks maturing at GlenDronach’s warehouses at Forgue, near Huntly.

Mr Trump has chosen one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries to create a limited edition whisky for his eighteen-hole championship golf course.

It will be known, quite simply, as “Trump Scotland Single Malt Scotch Whisky”.

GlenDronach, founded in 1826, will initially supply 500 bottles to celebrate the grand opening.

Last year Mr Trump invited a handful of distilleries close to the course to create the finest whisky available for the resort.

Billy Walker, Managing Director of The Benriach Distillery Company, owners of GlenDronach, said his team were “extremely proud” to be involved with the Trump golf resort.

“As we are an Aberdeenshire distillery, we have close geographical proximity to the superb Trump development and as such see our award-winning whisky as a natural choice to commemorate the opening.

“When it opens next summer, Mr Trump’s golf course will be a byword for excellence, as will the rare GlenDronach single malt we have specially selected for the occasion.”

Mr Walker would not be drawn on specific details of the single cask, but confirmed it would be a classic GlenDronach – a silky-smooth fusion of sherry sweetness and concentrated fruit. The whisky will be released during the first half of 2012 to coincide with the opening of the golf complex.

Spanning approximately 500 hectares of land on the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire, the Trump development comprises a world-class championship links golf course suitable for hosting major international events and a second 18-hole links golf course; an iconic hotel set amidst an array of luxury holiday homes; and a residential village formed within the unique setting of Menie Estate.

Unfortunately the web site www.whiskyfest.co.uk has not yet been updated to accept sales of these event tickets…..so please return requests directly to me David Gardener david@nickollsandperks.co.uk or on 01384 394518

Class 4- Springbank

Tickets are now on sale for the Springbank master class with Frank McHardy at £10.

We are delighted to have secured Franks commitment to run a master class at this years 2011 whisky festival. Frank is the man from Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown who has a mountain of experience and a great depth of knowledge with which to entertain us all. We will be lucky at this class to be amongst the very first to taste NEW release whiskies from cask samples :-

*Longrow 14 year old Burgundy Wood Expression ( Bottling in the next couple of Months )

*Springbank 10 year old small cask to be bottled as ( Rundlets & Kilderkins ) Bottling in January 2012

*Springbank 12 year old ( New edition ) Bottling in next couple of months

*Hazelburn 12 year old new batch ( Bottling mid September 2011 )

The Frank McHardy Master class lasts 45 mins : time 4.45 – 5.30 pm.

Tickets £10 only.

NB:You must be in possession of a festival entry ticket before buying master class tickets.

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Ardbeg Alligator’

 Ardbeg Alligator
 51.2% abv
 £58.70 inc vat
 £48.92 ex vat

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk or visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

An Interview with John Scott

Hi all,

If you are a regular reader of my blog, John Scott will be a name you are probably familiar with as I recently wrote about an interview he gave to a South American website.  This particular blog generated quite a few comments and a number of requests for a chat with John in English,…

THE LINK

Kind regards,

Ludo

Dear Customer,

This month we are pleased to offer you seven (7) new bottlings under the OLD MALT CASK label, two (2) from OLD & RARE, and five (5) Old CLAN DENNY GRAIN bottlings. There is also an update on BIG PEAT.

Tasting notes for OLD MALT CASK follow –

OMC 1985 Auchentoshan 13 Year Old
Nose: Opens fresh & sweetly – runs to toffee’d apple + vanilla & liquorice
Palate: The round & mellow character carries a caramelised fruit quality
Finish: Replicates nose and palate – now with an attractive orange tang (J)

OMC 2052 Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old
Nose: Opens fresh – runs to an earthy style – a bonfire in a damp forest!
Palate: Surprisingly smoky – softly peated with an attractively sweetly spiced style
Finish: Remains softly smoked – now with burnt orange peel + leather (J)

OMC 1889 Probably Speyside’s Finest 18 Year Old Wine finished
Nose: Opens fresh & sweet and runs to macerated raspberries
Palate: Warmingly spiced, still sweet, chewy – with a mulled wine style
Finish: Long with a spiced/fruit tang – black cherries in dark chocolate (J)

OMC 2077 Laphroiag 19 Year Old
Nose: Opens with a peat and ash character-runs to a flamed lemon zestiness
Palate: Mouth coatingly peated with a rich creosote style plus damp bonfire ashes
Finish: Long – with a lingering soot and burnt wood quality + creosote (J)

OMC 2080 Blair Athol 21 Year Old
Nose: Opens sweetly – carrying a freshly baked pastry style + ripe fruit
Palate: Still sweet with a spicy fruit in syrup quality + an orange pith trait
Finish: Medium long – still fruitily spiced running to a drier gristy style (J)

OMC 2082 Bunnanabhain 21 Year Old
Nose: Opens fresh & honeyed and runs to polished wood & bees wax
Palate: Rich & mouth coatingly spiced, creamy + a liqueur chocolate style
Finish: Medium long – still sweetly spiced in a more-ish kind of way (J)

OMC 2078 Clynelish 28 Year Old
Nose: Fresh, clean & citrusy – very ripe lemons, spiced with cloves
Palate: Round with candied lemon peel + orange flambéed crepes (suzette)
Finish: Medium long carrying a crushed sugar and candied orange style (J)

Tasting Notes for OLD & RARE are:

OAR 0143 Macallan 32 Year Old
Honeyed and spiced initially on the nose – it opens beyond that to a light oak and dried fruit profile. Soft on the palate – then when held there – detect that same light oak and spiced formula plus juicy, chewy barley and a hint of smoke …… all leading to a finish carrying malted barley, camphor, coconut, more spice, honey and drifting smoke. (F)

OAR 0142 Banff 35 Year Old
First impression when nosing this dram is like walking into a damp dunnage warehouse – fresh, spicy carrying an old oak-saturated-with-whisky character plus an attractive citrus style. The richly spiced quality immediately coats your palate with caramelised peaches & cinnamon running to more (now dry) oak. The finish is long and remains oaky and spicy with a pleasantly sweet creamy toffee character – culminating in soft chewy leather, tobacco and cedar wood. (J)

And lastly, Tasting Notes for CLAN DENNY GRAIN –

DEN 0076 Cameronbridge 21 Year Old
Clean and fresh on the nose carrying a fruity (grated lemon zest) character with a sherbet style. The palate is sweet, still zesty with a fresh fruit trait running to a peaches-in-alcoholic-syrup trait. The finish is typically short and remains fruitily sweet now with an attractively spiced quality. (J)

DEN 0077 Port Dundas 33 Year Old
Opens sweetly spiced on the nose with a rich cinnamon and vanilla character. The mellow palate remains sweet carrying a warming and mouth coatingly spiced trait showing the American origin of the cask. The finish is long for a Grain Whisky and runs to an attractive oak and chocolate style. (J)

DEN 0072 Carsebridge 45 Year Old
Beautifully fruity and full on the nose with vanilla, barley sugar and Bourbon all evident. The soft palate warms to spices and Caribbean citric fruits in a sauce – poured over alcoholic vanilla ice cream. The (longer than anticipated) finish on this Carsebridge is spiced, citric and creamy. (F)

DEN 0073 Caledonian 45 Year Old
Sweetly spiced on the nose, running to warm butterscotch sauce on vanilla ice cream. The palate remains sweet & vanilla’d and is reminiscent of hard almond biscuits dipped in mocha. The finish is surprisingly long for a Grain Whisky and has a warming Rum-style character – with honey & spices. (J)

DEN 0075 Dumbarton 46 Year Old Bourbon finished
Massively and sweetly spiced early on the nose – it then softens to a truly fruity mixed bag – beyond which detect sugar and light oak. The palate is BIG, still fructiferous but carries black coffee, sweet spices and vanilla flavours – all neatly (and too swiftly) replicated on the finish. (F)

REALLY BIG PEAT could make a huge impact as his increased stature commands more attention in 4.5 litre capacity – released officially now, together with the first (soon to be the last judging from initial interest) of BIG PEAT@CHRISTMAS. Bottled at cask strength as you can see, he has disguised himself as Saint Nicolas, but his normal big feisty Islay character cannot be hidden – he is straight down the chimney (as he does in Britain) dusted in soot and ash.

Hopefully all these releases will be useful for you to consider.

Yours sincerely

Fred Laing

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

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES 2011 ANTIQUE COLLECTION

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (August, 2011) The long wait is over! Buffalo Trace Distillery will release its 2011 Antique Collection in September. The much anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs. Here’s what ardent fans can expect:

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Last year’s release was given a liquid gold award and a 97.5 rating in Jim Murray’s 2011 Whisky Bible. This 2011 rye whiskey release is described as “intense spice with underlying sweetness and dry finish.” Hopefully critics agree this batch is just as good, or better!

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old

The previous edition of this bourbon was honored with a Gold Medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 2011 edition was distilled in the Spring of 1993 and has been aging on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th floors of Warehouses I and K. After 18 years and 7 months of aging under its belt, it brings to the table notes of leather, vanilla and tobacco.

George T. Stagg

The 2010 release of this long-time favorite was named “Spirit of the Year” by F. Paul Pacult in the 2011 Spirit Journal. The 2011 George T. Stagg was found in Warehouses H, I, and K. This uncut, unfiltered bourbon was distilled back in the winter of 1993 and weighs in at 142.6 proof—some bold stuff! This whiskey tastes of espresso, chocolate and vanilla.

William Larue Weller

William Larue Weller is the Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon. The previous edition was named “Bourbon of the Year” in Jim Murray’s 2011 Whisky Bible. The 2011 offering was distilled in the summer of 1998 and aged on the fourth and fifth floors of Warehouses N, O, and P. This William Larue Weller release registers in at 133.5 proof – a lot stronger than last year! It tastes of honey, caramel, light toffee and pipe tobacco.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye is an uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. The 2010 edition was named “Rye Whiskey of the Year” by Jim Murray in his 2011 Whisky Bible. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2005, aged on the sixth floor of Warehouse K and weighs in at 128.6 proof. The flavor has been described as “Christmas cake and allspice. Bold and yummy.”

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs. Since 2000 these whiskeys have garnered numerous awards from such notable publications as Malt Advocate Magazine, Spirit Journal and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

“It will be hard to top last year’s batch of awards,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “But we think this year’s collection has just as much to offer. I’m anxious to hear if everyone else agrees.”

These Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September. Suggested retail price is $70 each. For more information visit www.greatbourbon.com or contact Kris Comstock at kcomstock@buffalotrace.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com.