Whiskybroker.co.uk Update  April 2012

Keeping Busy

In case anybody is wondering life is like when you work with whisky full-time, perhaps this might interest you…

In the past 3 months, Jane and I have bottled 33 casks, or approximately 8000 bottles. On top of this, we have regauged every cask which has come into and out of my Excise Warehouse, which means emptying, weighing and refilling each one to find out how much is in each.

Bowmore wine finish ready for bottling

The rest of our time has seen the two of us labelling, packaging and posting bottles from the online shop, completing VAT returns, Customs & Excise Warehouse Returns and I’ve been busy stowing and removing casks in the warehouses at Bladnoch.

More difficult than you might think…

I mentioned above filling in the HMRC warehouse returns. This basically involved letting HMRC know how much you have in your warehouse “Duty Free” at the end of each month, as well as what has come in and out during that month. Where this is difficult with whisky is that whisky evaporates (or leaks) from the cask. This means that each warehouse return must account for losses. For example in February I moved a Macduff Sherry Butt into my warehouse. Say 200 litres of pure alcohol (about 480 litres) were moved in. I then split the butt into 7 or 8 x 60 litre containers. To do this, I must inform HMRC that the cask has been removed and containers brought in. Then when a customer buys the container and I bottle it, I must “check out” the container and “check in” the bottles. Then I need to check out the bottles whenever they are shipped out. You end up with about 15 entries for the one cask!

Casks Available Now

Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you have any questions that I might be able to help with.

Many thnaks for reading!

Martin Armstrong

www.whiskybroker.co.uk

info@whiskybroker.co.uk

***Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience unveils new £1 million shop***

Edinburgh based five star visitor attraction, Scotch Whisky Experience, has opened the doors to its innovative new whisky shop, following a £1million refurbishment.

The new facility is forecast to increase the attraction’s retail revenue by 15% in 2012, adding to the 55% growth in this area over the last three years.

The new shop is the latest stage in the five star attraction’s multi million pound overhaul and marks the most significant development since the unveiling of the Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection – the largest of its kind – in 2009.

Susan Morrison, Director and General Manager of the Scotch Whisky Experience, is determined to blow away the myths and stereotypes surrounding whisky and make it easier for people to find their ideal dram.

She said: “Recognising the importance of retail to our business, we have invested in our shop to create an interactive, customer-friendly environment with a quality of experience which leaves a lasting impression.

“With many of our visitors coming from abroad, our shop plays an important role in promoting whisky and educating people about the industry following the experience of the tour. We find our visitors respond well to the use of flavours in choosing their whisky, encouraging diversity in choice as well as using the traditional methods of geography or well loved brands.”

She continued: “We have aligned the shop with our tour, which already introduces people to whisky using flavours and scents, while simplifying and explaining the drink. The new development has made our shop both more accessible and welcoming, with the design and creative touches such as using recycled wood from cask ends for our counter tops, giving visitors a modern and lively environment. “

Key features of the new shop include an interactive flavour map and touch-screen distillery guide, which will enable customers to discover new options at the tap of a button, based on brands or flavours with which they are already familiar. The flavour map has been created with the help of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and involved a comprehensive evaluation of Scotland’s single malts to plot their individual characteristics.

Whisky connoisseurs will also be able to enjoy a new VIP area in which to browse the premium collection on a tailor made iPad application.

New touch screens can be accessed in 20 individual languages including Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Brazilian – reflecting the importance of emerging markets for the Scotch whisky industry.

Scotch whisky exports are now worth over £4.5 billion annually, and while the USA continues to dominate in terms of overall spend, demand from Asian and South American markets is increasing rapidly. In line with these trends, 80% of visitors to the Scotch Whisky Experience in 2011 were from overseas, with significant growth in the number of visitors from China and Brazil.

The Scotch Whisky Experience is open daily, from 10am until 6pm. For further information contact 0131 220 0441 or visit www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk.

FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ONLY!

GLENFARCLAS 15YO GIFT PACK ONLY £34.99 (was £49.99!)

Offer includes a 70cl bottle of Glenfarclas 15yo (normally £39.99 on its own) PLUS a miniature of Glenfarclas 21yo AND a miniature of Glenfarclas 25yo worth (together) over £15

This fantastic offer is for the month of April only and saves you another £5 off the previous price!

IT’S MADNESS!!

Get yours now before they all hop off!

Our mailing address is:

T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU
United Kingdom

Four Highly Respected Moray Licensees Honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Moray Licensed Trade

Four highly respected Moray licensees have been honoured by the Moray Licensing Forum for their outstanding contribution to the licensed trade at a special awards presentation held at Gordon & MacPhail’s Benromach Distillery in Forres on Monday 26th March 2012.

The awards, sponsored by Gordon & MacPhail, acknowledges the professional manner in which the establishment has been run, length of service as well as the positive contribution the individual has made to the local Moray community, tourism and society.

The recipients of the awards are Wilma McBain – The Grouse Inn, Cabrach, Joseph Brandie – Fiddichside Inn, Craigellachie, Elsie McWhirter – Spar Shop, Buckpool, Buckie and Catherine Longmore – Costcutter, C&W.A. Longmore, Rothes.

The four licensees are either over 80 years of age and still running licensed premises or are an individual whose family have had the establishment for over 60 years and they continue to run the premises on a daily basis. The announcement comes during the Diamond Jubilee year celebrating Her Majesty’s

60th year on the throne, whilst remaining an active and enthusiastic octogenarian.

Linda Davidson, Convenor of Moray Licensing Forum said: “Our four recipients have all made an exceptional contribution to the licensed trade in Moray. Throughout their careers they have acted in a totally professional manner to run their establishment, whilst serving their communities to the highest

possible standards.”

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail said: “As a long established wine and spirits merchant, serving the licensed trade in Moray, Gordon & MacPhail is delighted to support this initiative. We congratulate the recipients of these awards who are all shining examples of responsible

license holders. They are a credit to the communities they serve and to the wider Moray economy.”

Attending the awards will be representatives from The Moray Council, Trading Standards, Moray Licensing Board, Local Licensing Forum, Grampian Fire & Rescue, Grampian Police, NHS Grampian, Drug and Alcohol Awareness Partnership, Moray Economic Development and Gordon & MacPhail.

Notes:

About Gordon & MacPhail:

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its founding, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled Single Malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres. After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be fully certified by the Soil Association.

Paul was chatting to Willie Tait, of Jura Distillery.

Willie, Many thanks for agreeing to our interview, much appreciated.

Q; You are not Distillery manager any longer at Jura, but can you give us a wee insight into what it was like when you were?

A; I lived on Jura for 25 years and I was the manager for 15 years, still the longest serving Manager. Being the Manager was the best thing that ever happened to me and my family. Making the Jura whisky was a real pleasure and just being a part of the Jura history was the greatest part of my career.

Q; How was it passing over the manager role to Willie Cochrane?

A; Sorry I didn’t pass the role too Willie, but Mickey Heads who is now at Ardbeg, he was my successor. Willie is now the Manager and is doing such a fantastic job.

Q; You now travel the world on behalf of Jura, what a hard job you have, but is it so hard?

A; Tasting and telling the world about Jura whisky is certainly not hard work, but the travel can be hard at times.

Q; What is most the enjoyable thing you do in your work?

A; I enjoy the pleasure people get from tasting whisky that I have made, not many can say that.

Q; Travelling worldwide, what has been the most exciting country?

A; I love working in the USA, saying that I find all countries exciting.

Q; Do you always look forward to returning to Scotland?

A; Home is always home and it’s always great to get back.

Q; In the Whyte & Mackay portfolio there are many drinks, not just whisky. Do you have to taste these also?

A; I have tasted some wonderful whiskies, saying that I always return to my Jura 16yr, best dram for me.

Q; Is there a favourite of yours in all these drinks?

A; I laid down a cask in 1989 and put into bottle last year, and yes it’s a wonderful dram.

Q; Finally, how do you see the whisky industry advancing in the coming years?

A; I have been in this business for 38 years now and I think its in good hands for the future.

Many thanks for the chat Willie, hopefully we shall meet up again at a whisky festival somewhere! – slainte!

Jura distillery can be found at; www.isleofjura.com  www.whyteandmackay.com

Diurachs is the Gaelic word for the people of Jura. Proud of their land and their whisky, they will gladly bend the ear of anyone willing to take the time to listen. They are a small and close-knit community of less than 200, united by the island we love and the warmth of its people. With a dram of the good stuff in hand, they toast the health of friends near and far. Life doesn’t get any better. So why not become an honorary Diurach and join their community?

Paul is already a Diurach and many of the people he takes to the isle are also, why not become one yourself? www.isleofjura.com/diurachs.aspx

Paul McLean

www.angelswhiskyclub.com

www.ralfy.com is happy to help … with Whisky Review #262 – Laphroaig 18yo

A Taste from the Past – Grant’s Classic 18 Years Old (bottled in the 1990s).

Good afternoon all,

‘A Taste from the Past’ is becoming a bit of a classic feature on my blog as today marks my 10th review of a rare, discontinued bottle of Grant’s. What could be more suited than this 18-year-old blend of ours called ‘Classic’?

I’ll admit I chose this one because of its name more than…(please click on the link to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

The A-Z of the World’s Best Bars: M and N as compiled by the Master Blender Richard Paterson

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 03:05 AM PDT

New whiskey and classic favorites win 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Blanton’s Bourbon and Caribou Crossing Whisky Win Chairman’s Trophies

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (March, 2012) – The winners from New York’s 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge have been announced. Buffalo Trace Distillery was honored for several of its new whiskeys, along with some classic favorites. 

Judges awarded Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon the highest honor of “Chairman’s Trophy” winner among all other bourbon whiskeys. Blanton’s was the first Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey ever commercially sold back in 1984 and remains a favorite among connoisseurs.

Within the Canadian Whisky Category, Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky was awarded the “Chairman’s Trophy.” This $50 Canadian Whisky is the first Canadian Single Barrel whiskey of its kind and has been well received by both consumers and reviewers alike since its introduction in 2010.  

Other highly recommended whiskeys from Buffalo Trace Distillery include:

• Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon (NEW)
• William Larue Weller Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
• Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year Old Bourbon
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon
• George T. Stagg Bourbon
• Kentucky Tavern Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey
• Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky 

“The Ultimate Spirits Challenge is a prestigious spirits tasting competition, judged by some of the industry’s best.  To have only 31 Chairman’s Trophies presented total, and for us to win two of them, makes us immensely proud,” said Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller.

Find a complete list of winners online at http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/the-results/2012-spirits-results/. 

About Buffalo Trace

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 http://www.buffalotrace.com/.

Tuthilltown’s Hudson Whiskey

Over here in the UK we don’t hear all that much from the burgeoning US craft distilling movement, apart from occasional articles in magazines and on blogs assuring us that it is growing. The problem with a small distiller is … Continue reading >>