BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY PRODUCES THREE “BEST OF CATEGORY” WINNERS AT THE 2011 LOS ANGLES INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS COMPETITION

Blanton’s, Pappy Van Winkle 15 and Sazerac Straight Rye Named “Bests”

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July, 2011) – The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition announced the winners from its recent 2011 competition held in late May and Buffalo Trace Distillery received 10 accolades for its whiskeys produced at its Frankfort, KY distillery. The award-winning entries were selected out of 154 spirits from 47 producers.

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s top winners include:

· Best of Category: Single Barrel American Whiskey 10 Years or Less

o Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

· Best of Category: Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years or Older

o Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

· Best of Category: American Straight Rye

o Sazerac Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s whiskeys also won numerous medals, including:

· Gold Medal

o Blanton’s

o Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

o Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

o Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

o Eagle Rare Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

· Silver Medal

o Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

· Bronze Medal

o Buffalo Trace Distillery White Dog Mash #1

“I’m very proud of our team here that consistently produces whiskeys that win such esteemed awards as these,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.

Complete results of the 2011 LAIWSC are available at www.fairplex.com/wos/spirits_competition . The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, September 3 – October 2, 2011 in “The Wine & Spirits Marketplace.”

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 whiskey 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 .

Tomatin OB Decades 46%alc.

To celebrate 50 years service at Tomatin, Master Distiller Douglas Campbell has created this using whiskies distilled in each of the 5 decades he has worked at the distillery.

Price excluding VAT: £48.25
£57.90 Including VAT at 20%

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

Distilled in 1982, this 29year old limited edition Bowmore is one of only 501 bottles and is sure to be highly sought after.

On the nose: – detect barley sugar and gentle peat smoke coupled with delicious Peach Melba ice cream and vanilla pods. Anticipate fresh lemon pepper on the palate followed by earthy smokiness. The Finish is sweet and fruity and lingers on perfectly. Bottled at 47.3% volume.

Hand crafted to perfection, this rare spirit has been nurtured in specially selected North American oak casks during its long maturation.

Simply click on the link to purchase one.

click here to buy

www.ralfy.com presents whisky review 209 (7/7) – Whisky Masterclass (Quiz) …. take the challenge and test yourself !

A new Drinkaware tool

Hello,

A more sober post from me this week as I would like to highlight an excellent new tool which has been developed by drinkaware , the leading source of medically verified information on alcohol.

I clearly have an enjoyable job but as much as I like having a good time, I also believe in the responsible……(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/07/a-new-drinkaware-tool/

Kind regards,
Ludo

GEORGE T. STAGG NAMED TOP SPIRIT IN THE WORLD 2011

American Bourbon Beats Scotch Whisky!

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July,  2011) – George T. Stagg, the iconic uncut, unfiltered bourbon released annually from Buffalo Trace Distillery, has been named the number one spirit in the world, knocking off the perennial favorite Highland Park 18 Scotch Whisky for the first time since 2005. The list, compiled annually by noted sprits reviewer F. Paul Pacult, was released in his June 2011 issue of The Spirit Journal. The George T. Stagg is also the first American Whiskey to ever be named number one in The Spirit Journal’s 13 years of tabulating.

Notes Pacult, “This version (2010) of the GT Stagg is the latest layer in an incredible body of work performed by Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley that deserves to be recognized as genuinely great.”

The George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey is part of the Antique Collection that is released each fall from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Long considered the frontrunner of the Collection, the Stagg has collected numerous awards over the years, including the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Competition Chairman’s Trophy Winner; 2011 Double Gold Winner, Best Bourbon, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; the 2010 American Whiskey of the Year from Jim Murray’s 2010 Whiskey Bible; 2009 Bourbon of the Year and Best Bourbon Aged 13-17 Years from Jim Murray’s 2009 Whiskey Bible; and the Best in Class in the 2009 New York Spirits Awards, among others.

“This is such an honor,” notes Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “To be the top spirit, not just the top whiskey, but top spirit, in the world, and then to find out it’s the first American Whiskey to hold that distinction is quite a privilege – especially coming from someone as well respected in the industry as Paul.”

Adds Pacult in his review, “This is more of a clarion call that American whiskey distillers run with the best of Scotland and Ireland and, in some cases, like GT Stagg, eclipse them.”

The 2011 version of the George T. Stagg will be released later this fall with the Antique Collection. Suggested retail pricing of the Stagg is $69.99.

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. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracemediakit.com .

Whisky Archive will be hosting a tasting at Guerrero Gallery in San Francisco Thursday July 28

The “Tour de Scotland” tasting will begin at 7:00 and end at 9:00 pm.

Tickets $75.00 each ($65 this week only) – Please book your ticket early as we have very limited availability in order to keep the event intimate and educational.

Event Details:

Whether you’re new to single malt or an experienced connoisseur, this tasting will be appropriate for all knowledge levels. In addition there will be complimentary Hors D’oeuvres for guests.

At this tasting, whisky specialist Mark Cassidy share his knowledge and passion.

We will be sampling:

•Lowland: Glenkinchie 12 yr
•Speyside: Benromach Organic               
•Highland: Glenglassaugh Fledgling XB
•Island: Highland Park 12 yr
•Campbeltown: Springbank 12 yr
•Islay: Kilchoman Exclusive

Location:
Guerrero Gallery
2700 19th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Tasting Notes:

•New, edgy and delicious, exclusive and ending with peaty
•The Glenglassaugh is so new (under 3 yrs) it can’t be called whisky – described as: sharp, sweet & fruity
•The Benromach Organic – only 2 single malt organics in the world – described as: dry, citrus, fragrant
•Kilchoman – the newest distillery in Scotland – about 5 yrs old – first one built on Islay for over 120 yrs – this cask is exclusive to The Whisky Shop – described as: peppery, peaty, green apple
•Springbank – newest release – just been out 3 weeks

About Mark Cassidy:

Mark Stewart Cassidy is “the” Scotch whisky specialist at The Whisky Shop, located in downtown San Francisco, where he has served discriminating clientele since February 2002.

Mark grew up in Dunblane, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow, is a Scottish Historian and well knows Scotland’s Whisky Trail!

Mark is clearly defined by his insatiable thirst for whisky! Mark is in demand throughout the year for his single malt Scotch whisky tastings. He also provides orations on the life, times and poetry of Robert Burns, especially in January, at the many Burns’ Suppers that are held in the Greater Bay Area. Additionally, he performs “parlour readings” on, amongst many other topics, Scotland and San Francisco’s historic ties.

A formidable researcher and creative writer, Mark has a specialty niche writing introductions to books, art shows, web sites and magazines for artists worldwide. He was recently published in Baseline Typographics Magazine, a piece titled “Stone Cairns”. He’s also published in Hasselblad Magazines, in four languages worldwide, and been featured in the Bay Area section of the NY Times when he gave a tasting at Omnivore Books in Noe Valley.

As Robert Burns said …”a man’s a man for all that”!

Tickets may be purchased at http://whiskyarchive.eventbrite.com/

Highland Park 25yo (48.1%, OB, +/-2010)

The nose is slightly diesel oily with some good malt, some very good notes that are characteristic of Highland Park along with some very good sweetness. This is not a giant collection of aromas but some what subtle but still very good; they all work very well together. Perhaps a tinge of smoke lurking in the back ground? Time in the glass only improves the overall collection of aromas. The taste is honeyed with some good malt moments and lashings of orange and citrus, dry cake, wet cotton and a hint of smoke (or not) it’s quite vague. But it’s all very good. The finish is warming, long, sweetish and tinged with some good oak moments. Some more of the citrus and now some oak spice along with a little tobacco (unlit like when you crumble a cigarette and smell the tobacco in your hands). Dried fruits (apricots, apples & peaches.

Huzzah! Well done

$283 or £135 from the Whisky Exchange

Score 91 points

If I was to say Earl Magnus and Saint Magnus, I am pretty confident that you will say what about Earl Haakon? Well for some time now Highland Park fans around the world have been patiently waiting for the third, and final, edition in Highland Park’s Magnus Series.

But now I can exclusively reveal to you, and only you as an Inner Circle member and foot soldier in the Highland Park army, that Earl Haakon will be available from today.

The long-awaited and much anticipated Earl Haakon continues the story from the Orkney Inga Saga but reflects the darker, more sinister character by bringing the murderous cousin into the spotlight. Whilst the first two bottlings in the Series celebrated the influential 11th century Earl Magnus who was canonised to become Saint Magnus only 20 years after his untimely death, his cousin Haakon was far closer to the warmongering and violent Viking of legend. It was in fact Haakon who ordered the death of Earl Magnus under the most deceitful and murderous of circumstances.
 
The story of Magnus and Haakon is truly legendary in Orkney. The two were joint rulers of Orkney for a period of peace and harmony however things changed and they become enemies. Legend has it that the two agreed to meet for a peace meeting but the treacherous Haakon sailed up with eight fully-equipped warships, outnumbering Magnus and sealing his fate. Haakon had won the battle for supremacy over Orkney but it is Magnus who is remembered today.

Earl Haakon adopts the character of its namesake through 18 year old cask strength single malt giving a character-busting ABV of 54.9%. This Orcadian beast encapsulates the spirit of Haakon, a true berserker and warrior, to capture the depth of flavour of Highland Park’s multi-award wining 18 year old but adding a new dimension achieved through one vatting.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Rich russet, clear and bright
Nose: Shellac, hot fudge, gingercake, lemon zest and blackcurrants with a hint of damsons
Palate: Sweet vanilla, wood smoke, cedarwood and ginger
Finish: Lingering spiciness, medium sweet and long

This time around we are only making 3,300 bottles for the whole world, so I would set pretty good odds that this will sell out in record time and build on the success of both Earl Magnus and Saint Magnus. Earl Haakon will be available from www.highlandpark.co.uk at a RRP of £160.

I do hope that you will act quickly and take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, as I’ve no doubt that Earl Haakon will become a legend in the history of Highland Park.

Slainte!

Gerry Tosh
Head of Brand Education,
Whisky Ambassador of the Year

August Outturn Previews: The Magic Number
THREE…terrific bottlings released early from our August Outturn. Buy 50.44, 73.43 & 93.45 for £132.20 (save £15)

50.44 A pleasant little charmer
Lowland
£56.50 inc free p&p
This little charmer pleasantly surprised us all – the nose had tropical fruits (orange, pear, lychee, glacé cherries) sunny splashes of flowers (violet, jasmine, geranium), grass and toffee and rum-and-raisin fudge

73.43 Meadow flowers and herbs de Provence
Speyside Deveron
£47.50 inc free p&p
The nose started clean and fresh with fruit (green apple, pineapple) flowers (lilies), butterscotch and polished wood, turning herbal later (herbes de Provence we were assured)

93.45 An unusual sweetie shop
Campbeltown
£43.20 inc free p&p
Treacle toffee, liquorice, aniseed, tattoo ink (what?) and moist ginger cake followed each other in rapid succession: a dark, rich nose, with a hint of yoghurt and a sweet, spicy taste of plain chocolate Smarties (and their tube!)

JULY SUMMER SIPPING SAVINGS (Offers ending soon):
SPORTY PAIR: 1.158 & 76.83 only £89.90 (save £10)
1.158 Cricketer’s Dram
76.83 Cocktails after rugby

Za Za Zoom Trio:
125.45, 36.53 & 29.101 for £135.40 (save £15)
125.45 Complex and thought-provoking
36.53 Syrupy zestiness
29.101 Tarred, feathered and set on fire

Harmonious six: All of the above PLUS 7.66 for
£283.70 (save £30)
7.66 Harmonious co-existence of flavour

Browse all bottlings  (66 single casks online)

Society Tastings & Events (55 Society tastings online)
Wokingham Preview Tasting – Cantley House, Fri 22 July
Falkirk Wheel Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 28 July
New Members Tasting – London, Thu 28 July
Greenock Prevew Tasting – The Tontine Hotel, Fri 29 July
Tunbridge Wells Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Fri 29 July
Stirling Preview Tasting – Golden Lion Hotel, Fri 29 July
Blind Man Bluff – The Vaults, Fri 29 July

More Society tastings

Edinburgh Festival Fever: August is on the horizon
The Edinburgh Festival is nearly upon us, get your tickets NOW for our Big Malt Hitters events with Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich & John Campbell, Distillery Manager at Laphroaig. And your taste-buds are in for a treat; the casks we’ve squirreled away for our three-dram Tutored Tastings are fantastic!
Don’t miss out…. More

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.