Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins’

Springbank OB Rundlets & Kilderkins 49.4%alc.

Distilled November 2001

Bottled January 2012

I love this because of its lack of subtlety, as enjoyable as a Die Hard movie.

A limited release of 9,000 bottles matured in mini-casks formerly described as ‘rundlets’ or ‘kilderkins’. Small casks give more wood in contact with less whisky and so more maturation effect in time.

A lovely deep old-gold in colour (according to our LFW Descriptors mat), it has a witching, dark aroma of sinister things… Thick smoke (dragon breath, coal and tobacco) with tomatoes, cloves and greenhouse elements. It’s woody – new wood, pepper, nutmeg and sandalwood and also estery – oranges and Dundee cake. Lots going on but all quite straightforward.

To taste it’s initially salty and so big flavours result of new cedar wood. It is fizzy and vigorous with no subtlety; a cross between Vinnie Jones and Sid James, with a tad surgical spirit in the swallow.

Water (it’s 49%) reveals more fruit as oranges, solvent as cellophane (that’s a first for me) and distinct medicinal characters but not of the peaty-phenolic sort, more surgical spirits or sour-esters. The harrr filling the mouth after swallowing is like the aftermath of tarry ciggies (Player’s No. 6).

We all enjoy this, it’s defiantly different but still a rich whisky that sherry fans will be happy with.

Difficult to place on the Flavour Map but I’d have it in square I 5 Rich

Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins

Price excluding VAT: £47.08
£56.50 Including VAT at 20%

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Ballantine’s Gives the Traditional Valentine’s Day Card a Make-Over

Valentine’s Day should be a day to share with everyone you love, including friends, so for those looking to rise above the clichéd messages and send something fun, Ballantine’s have created two light-hearted alternative Valentine’s Day e-cards.

The world’s No 2 Scotch whisky brand is celebrating Valentine’s Day the Ballantine’s way, with the e-cards designed by two influential artists: Piano Fuzz of Brazil and Blanca Gomez from Spain.

Each design is unique, with each showing how to do Valentine’s the Ballantine’s way. The e-cards will be available to download and share on Facebook from 10th February at http://www.facebook.com/ballantines

“Ballantine’s is about doing things differently so we wanted to put a twist on the traditional Valentine’s Day card and create something to escape the cliché’s and inject some fun into Valentine’s Day!” says Peter Moore, Global Brand Director, Ballantine’s.

Notes:

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s Finest is a complex blend of single malts and grain whiskies from four renowned whisky regions of Scotland – Islay, Highlands, Speyside and Lowlands. Its elegant signature style is a balance of soft and sweet, due to the key malts of Glenburgie and Miltonduff.

About the Artists

Piano Fuzz
Pianofuzz Design Studio is a collection of projects located in Londrina, Brazil. A design studio formed by people who share artistic values, Piano Fuzz create design in a variety of mediums.

Blanca Gómez
Blanca Gómez is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Madrid, Spain. Blanca likes making small things with care; her website is called “cosas mínimas,” which means “tiny things” in Spanish.

For further information: Visit: www.chivasbrothers.com

The Claymore Times

~ All The News That’s Fit To Drink ~

1993 Glendullan 43% (LCBO# 266833)

Just released, Speyside malt from Dufftown, a 1993 Glendullan distilled at 43%. Dufftown is known for its distilleries or as they say ‘Rome may be built on seven hills but Dufftown was build upon Seven Stills” Glendullan being the last one built in 1897 with this particular whisky being priced at $85.95 per bottle.

If you want to sample this and other classics, I’ll be hosting a tasting in Whitby later this month, plus Jim McEwan will be in town and I had a lovely wee evening with Simon Brooking (Laphroaig) and Marc Laverdiere (Macallan and Highland Park) see pages 4+5 for more details.

Set in Glen Fiddich – the valley of the deer – Dufftown was founded by the 4th Earl of Fife to provide employment after the Napoleonic Wars. Thanks to its naturally pure water, it soon became the centre of the distilling industry. Today, the town lays claim to the title of “Malt Whisky Capital of the World” and the Glendullan distillery continues to thrive on the original site where it was built in 1897.

Production began in 1898 and in 1902 the Glendullan single malt was supplied by royal request to King Edward VII. In 1972 the distillery was expanded to meet demand, with six stills added.

What’s going on in the area:

The LCBO Scottish whisky extravagance was an excellent night out with Simon Brooking representing Laphroaig and Marc Laverdiere representing Macallan and Highland Park.  Very educational and entertaining, we even got to try the newly released Highland Park THOR and as an extra bonus the Four Seasons Hotel served Haggis, what more could one ask for?

I’ll be hosting a whisky tasting in Whitby at the Dockside Pub on the 21st February at 7:30pm. The dockside is located at 1600 Champlain Av, Whitby, call the Dockside at 905-571-1600 for tickets. There will be a flight of 5 whiskies and owner Rob Schofield will be supplying some Hors d’oeuvres that his master chef has created especially for this evening, should be a fun night and a chance to nose some rare whiskies, tickets are $49 each.  

Neil Middleton and Companions of the Quaich (Niagara on the Lake) are having a whisky tasting on the February 7th with some whiskies that are not available from the LCBO and promises to be an interesting night, contact Neil at 905-468-0802 or email nmiddleton@cogeco.ca for more information.

Stephanie of The Dam Pub is hosting on the 21st of Feb a 3 flight whisky tasting for $25. Time is 7:30 at 53 Bruce Street South, Thornbury, ON 519-599-2110 or email at stephanie@thedampub.ca

Jim McEwan is the guest for an evening of tasting and dinner at The Oakville Club, 56 Water Street on the 24th Feb.  Enjoy an evening of mirth, music and 5 malts with Bruichladdich’s Master Distiller plus a three-course dinner & coffee/tea – Members  $80, Guests  $90.

If your local establishment is planning on hosting an event in the month of February please let us know.

Other Whiskies coming soon

Caperdonich
Aultmore
1997 Dailuaine
 
Sláinte

Bill Somerville
Global Operations Director
Claymore Imports Inc.
EMail:     bill@claymoreimports.ca

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY AWARDS -FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The Glenlivet triumphed in the first round of judging of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards 2012, featuring in each of the three categories of the prestigious awards.

The judging panel for the first round of the awards, including industry representatives, whisky writers and specialist retailers, gathered at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday, 26th January for a blind tasting of 56 of Speyside’s finest malts hosted by Richard Lochhead MSP.

The judges selected two finalists in each of three categories resulting in a good representation of sherry influenced whiskies, a new release from Tomintoul Distillery and another fine representation from Chivas Brothers.

The shortlisted finalists are:

12 Years and Under:
– Tomintoul 12 Years Old (Oloroso Finish)
– The Glenlivet 12 Years Old

13 to 20 Years Old:
– Aberlour 18 Years Old
– The Glenlivet 15 Years Old (French Oak)

21 Years and Over:
– The Glenlivet 21 Years Old (Archive)
– Knockando 25 Years Old (2011 Special Release)

Jim Royan, Chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival said:  “Many of the world’s most popular whiskies come from Speyside, so these shortlisted spirits are expressions of some of the highest quality malts to be found in the region.  We look forward to the next round of judging when visitors to the Festival will be the final decision-makers of the winning whiskies.”

Susan Young, editor of Dram magazine was attending as a judge for the first time.  She said she had been pleasantly surprised by the high quality of entries which she felt demonstrated the depth of whiskies available in Speyside. “When you’re tasting blind, you’re not influenced by packaging or presentation but judge purely on the taste.  The selection of whiskies entered for the awards was excellent which made it more difficult, particularly in the 12 years old and under category.  There were a few good whiskies I tasted on the day which I would definitely like to have in my drinks cabinet at home!”

The six finalists will now to on to a public vote at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival on Thursday, 3rd May, a unique judging process which has helped the Awards gain international recognition since their inception in 2005. 

Visitors to the Festival can book tickets for the exclusive final judging of the best of Speyside malts, and the winners will be announced shortly afterwards at the Opening Dinner to be held at The Macallan.

Tickets to take part in the judging of the Awards finals at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival and to view all 300 events in the Festival programme are available at www.spiritofspeyside.com.  Whisky lovers can keep up-to-date with the Festival programme on www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside.

Notes 
– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 3rd May – Monday, 7th May.  Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside
– The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards as well as the Photographic Competition
– The Festival runs a subsidised taxi voucher scheme
– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners
 
– EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about

EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org

– About the Year of Creative Scotland 2012: The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative. The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.

TheWhiskyBarrel.com Launches Affiliate Partnership

Online whisky shop TheWhiskyBarrel.com has partnered with Affiliate Window to launch a new commission channel for beverage web sites for bloggers, news editors, message forums and shopping portals.

Our new revenue sharing programme rewards our partners for their own marketing efforts. By promoting TheWhiskyBarrel.com products on your web site, we pay a commission reward for each sale generated from your platform.

The Whisky Barrel is an online whisky shop specialising in fine and rare Scotch, Japanese, English, Indian and Swedish whiskies. The online catalogue boasts over 1,000 whiskies and ships to over 50 countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and Taiwan.

Our Affiliates benefit from:

* Exclusive access to our cask samples for editorial

* Approved sales of alcohol to Sweden

* Tailored creative for our best Affiliates

For the first month of our programme we are offering affiliates joining the program a lucrative commission rate, including sales generated for TheWhiskyBarrel.com exclusive bottling’s.

Join in by visiting www.thewhiskybarrel.com/p/10/affiliates to sign-up and start earning in 2012.

The Whisky Barrel
www.thewhiskybarrel.com

facebook.com/thewhiskybarrel
twitter.com/whiskybarrel @WhiskyBarrel
www.thewhiskybarrel.com/blog

Dear Client This month we are proposing eight (8) different OLD MALT CASK bottlings as well as three (3) OLD & RAREs, plus one (1) new DIRECTOR’S CUT and one (1) OLD MALT CASK Cigar Malt. The second bottling of our Mortlach/Laphroaig DOUBLE BARREL will also be released. The first bottling sold out very fast through the latter part of 2011.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK:

OMC 2140 Caol Ila 15 Year Old Nose: BarBQ’d steaks+ sweet smoky bacon + ash/burnt twigs. Palate: Damp earthy + barley juice …… smoky with more ash – now tar. Finish: Sooty, with sweet tar which runs long. So mellow!(F)

OMC 2142 Glenburgie 16 Year Old Nose: Polished wood & sweet spices – like an old style sweetie shop Palate: Smooth & mellow – softly spiced – runs to a butterscotch style Finish: Long – replicating nose & palate + warming sensations (J)

OMC 2134 Strathisla 16 Year Old Nose: Fresh & clean + a spiced fruit quality + a wooden fruit boxes style Palate: Opens sweetly & softly spiced – runs to honey on buttered toast Finish: Long – still buttery – developing to a sweet oily/waxy character (J)

OMC 2143 Glen Grant 18 Year Old Nose: Light & fresh – sweetly fruited – running to a barley sugar style Palate: Sweet & softly spiced – developing to a fruity wine gum quality Finish: Medium long, still sweet – with vanilla and spicy orange pith (J)

OMC 2132 Laphroaig 18 Year Old Nose: Surprisingly sweet & vanilla’d + waves of smoked ham & ashes Palate: Distinctly Islay with honeyed burnt toast + sweet chimney soot Finish: Sweetly smoked with dry wood fire ashes & soft chewy tar (J)

OMC 2113 Glenlossie 18 Year Old Nose: Light & sweet – carrying a vanilla + home baked character Palate: Clean & fresh with barley sugar + attractively sweet spices Finish: Medium long, still sweet + orange zest coated in milk chocolate (J)

OMC 2147 Benriach 21 Year Old Nose: Fragrantly fruity – subtly spiced,lightly barley’d/lightly oaked. Palate: Dessicatingly citric – gristy + light gingery spices and distinct oak. Finish: More spiced now – soft but warming with late barley sugar (F)

OMC 2139 Macduff 21 Year Old Nose: Fresh & fragrant – a Macedonia of fruit + honey & vanilla Palate: Sweetly spiced + candied fruit + lemon & honey cough drops Finish: Sweet + a citric tang – reminiscent of a lemon meringue pie (J)

Tasting Note for OLD MALT CASK CIGAR MALT follows OMC

2145 Laphroaig 10 Year Old Nose: Sweetly smoked – creosoted + bonfire ashes Palate: Distinctly Islay – smoke + ashes + sweet tar Finish: Long + sweet liquorice & a charred fruit style (J)

Tasting Notes follow here for OLD AND RARE

OAR 0164 Glenrothes 21 Year Old Sherry Big – full of dark fruits and lively spices on the nose initially – it mellows as it warms to tobacco smells and a damp whisky warehouse character. On the palate the Sherry cask influences it early with more (now macerated) fruit – then sweet barley, more tobacco, vanilla and mocha flavours alternately appear. The finish is more vanilla’d now plus late cough drop style warming (now menthol!) spices. (F)

OAR 0148 Laphroaig 25 Year Old Spirited and sweet on the initial nosing – it warms to a more phenolic, oily, then barely sugar style, drifting back to peat. Palatewise it is subtly and sweetly peated – running to camphor laden cough drops with late – very late – tar….. then its finish carries a long, now more iodine and old creosoted beach fence character. (F)

OAR 0154 Glencadam 34 Year Old Sherry The nose opens with a complex mix of aromas ranging from sweet leather and nuts to dried orange peel. The palate is rich, mouth coating and carries an interesting tobacco quality which runs to warm oranges and cloves. The long finish is overall spicy with a hazelnut marzipan character lingering on. (J)

The Tasting Note for DIRECTOR’S CUT is:

DIR 0008 Bunnahabhain 20 Year Old Nose: Fresh & fragrant – sweetly gristed + vanilla tablet & orange blossom Palate Has a distinct spiced fruit character + a sweet, softly oaked quality Finish: Long & spicy – carrying an orange pith and liquorice/cloves style (J)

We believe these are great additions to our ranges – exemplifying the best of young and middle aged/old casks with the best of the best (O&R), but that decision rests with you! We hope to be of assistance to you, and send you our ….. Best wishes

Fred H Laing Managing Director

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Arran 10 Year Old Amarone Finish Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($72.99)

Arran 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($69.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Breckenridge Distillery Colorado Bourbon 750ml – 9 available ($42.99)

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

Loch Fyne Whiskies has Published a  ‘Collectors’ Loft New Edition’

Today we have listed a new edition of our Collectors’ Loft where you can find some old and discontinued bottlings.

You may view the latest post at https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2012/02/07/collectors-loft-new-edition/

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

The Dalmore Releases Zenith

The Dalmore has released some of the oldest and rarest bottles of whisky in the world which are being highly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike as they vie for a piece of distilling history.

The latest exceptional malt to be released from the distillery is Dalmore Zenith, which is crafted from three very old Dalmore whiskies; The Dalmore 1964, The Dalmore 1951 and a historic 52 year old Dalmore distilled back in 1926, which were brought together and further finessed in Oloroso Sherry casks. This singular precious whisky, is currently being auctioned exclusively through The Whisky Shop.

This valuable single malt is encased in a bespoke crystal decanter of unsurpassed quality and clarity and is presented in a one of a kind English oak and Rosewood veneer cabinet.

The decanter and its cabinet are currently making their way around The Whisky Shop’s stores throughout the UK as the interest and bids accumulate for this most exclusive Highland malt.

The Dalmore Zenith is available exclusively through The Whisky Shop http://www.thewhiskyshop.com/. Reserve bids start at £50,000. Bidding closes on the 31st March 2012. 10% of the final selling price will be donated to the Red Cross.

The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson
 
“This is truly a one of a kind whisky. It contains some of the most precious stocks we have, including some of my last drops of The Dalmore 62 years old. For me, it glitters like a galaxy of amber gold and tastes like pure heaven, with notes of pistachios, coconut and cracked black pepper which only the aging in the oldest woods can provide”.

The Dalmore Zenith

Tasting notes:

Colour:
A galaxy of glittering amber gold laced with facets of black diamonds

Nose:
Pure heaven as exquisite aromas of black cherries, raisins, fig cake and caramelised citrus fruits flaunt themselves in an enticing cluster of unashamed pleasure. Age has not diminished this golden nugget as it shines with layers of over ripe apricots, rich praline, chocolate ganache, coffee esque, intimately interlaced with ginger sultanas and spice. Muscatel and wisteria complete this gallery of delight.   
 
Taste:
The palate is deep and languorous with a festoon of pistachios, hazel nuts and crushed almonds. However this soon gives way to a sensual array of toasted Colombian coffee, coconut blancmange, cracked black pepper and moist banana cake. The after taste is a fusion of festivities on your tongue as dense notes of frangipane, pineapple, soft liquorice tempered by honeyed mulled wine gently drift over the tongue. The palate is truly rewarded with these rare attributes that only age in the finest woods can only provide. Savour these memorable flavours with reverence and pride.
 
WEBSITES

http://www.thedalmore.com/

http://www.thewhiskyshop.com/ 

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday each month 6 – 9 p.m. no reservation required

Enjoy 5 half-ounce samples of single malt Scotch whisky: $20

♦ We feature 3 single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

♦ You roll a die then pick a whisky from one of the six Scotch regions

♦ You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of single malt menu 

Peruse our whisky library. Learn about our single malts in our menu book: distillery info, tasting notes, & more. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Non-whisky drinkers welcome.

February 11

BenRiach Curiositas 10 yo *
Cardhu 12 yo
The Arran Malt 10 yo

March 10

Ardmore Traditional *
Glenlivet 16 yo Nadurra
Auchentoshan Valinch

April 14   

Highland Park 12 yo *
Bruichladdich Laddie Ten
Tullibardine Aged Oak

May 12   

Balblair 1997 *
Edradour 10 yo
Glenkinchie 12 yo

June 9   

Kilkerran Work in Prgress 3 (2011) *
Isle of Jura 16 yo
Deanston Virgin Oak

Price goes to $25 July 14   

Balvenie Signature 12 yo Batch 4 *
Glenrothes Alba Reserve
Tullibardine 1993

10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month *

Bob at work….

Visit the Miner’s Delight Inn at http://www.minersdelightinn.com/