July has the Japanese feeling the heat so they cool down – with a Yamazaki Shousho or a Hakushu Taisho cocktail

London April 2012: What better than an ice cool cocktail to defeat the heat of summer. It’s a solution the Japanese come up with in July and it works. In fact they have an appropriate cocktail to mark each of their 24 seasons, created by Zoran Peric, Brand Ambassador, using the remarkable whiskies of Suntory. In July the seasons are named Shousho and Taisho and here’s how to cool down in the heat.

Yamazaki Shousho – Little heat (July 5)

Recipe:

50ml Yamazaki 12 year old single malt

75ml infused water: orange blossom, lemon zest, lemon grass

Pour over large chunks of ice, stir 24 times, add lemon zest

Serve in a chilled Highball glass, garnish with lemon grass and lemon twist

Hakushu Taisho – Big heat (July 21)

Recipe:

50ml Hakushu 12 year old single malt whisky

12.5ml Elderflower cordial

100ml soda water

Coat large chunks of ice with elderflower cordial

Pour in Hakushu and stir 5 times

Add soda water and stir 5 times

Finish with lemon zest, serve in chilled Highball glass

Garnish with elderflowers and berries and lemon

Yamazaki Shousho and Hakushu Taisho are just two of the delightful 24 seasonal cocktails created by Zoran Peric for Suntory and Japan’s 24 seasons.

With more than 60 international awards gained since 2003 the Yamazaki 25 Year Old single malt has just been voted the Best Malt Whisky in the World at Whisky Magazine’s 6th world whisky awards. Last year it was the Yamazaki 1984 that took this honour and for Suntory to win for two successive years against some formidable whiskies shows just how far the Japanese have come in mastering the art of producing great whisky.

Notes

Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Yamazaki single malt whisky and Hibiki blended whisky are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:
Yamazaki 12 year old £40

Hakushu 12 year old £49

The Suntory range of Japanese whiskies is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

On May 14th, 2012 The Gohan Society and Suntory Whisky are presenting a seminar/tasting entitled ‘The Art of Japanese Whisky’.  The invitation is above. Master Distiller Hiroyoshi ‘Mike’ Miyamoto will discuss the processes involved and elements that comprise Japanese whisky.  Acclaimed chef Lee Anne Wong will create tasting dishes and discuss the pairing of Japanese whisky with food. Tastings will include the Yamazaki family of Japanese Single Malt whiskies as well as the newly available Hakushu Single Malt. This seminar is open to culinary and beverage professionals and media only.  All attendees will receive a gift from Suntory at the conclusion of the seminar.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Fifth Round of Single Oak Project Bourbon

One Year Into Experiment, Which Barrel is in the Lead?

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May, 2012) – One year ago Buffalo Trace Distillery unveiled its Single Oak Project and its quest for the perfect bourbon. Now as the fifth round of Single Oak Project Bourbons are released, there has been much excitement and many reviews, but still many questions to be answered.

The fifth round of experiments will focus on three variables, the recipe, rye vs. wheat; the entry proof, 105 vs. 125 proof; and wood grain size, tight, average, or coarse. All of the other variables such as barrel stave seasoning, aging warehouse, char level, and tree cut (top or bottom) remain constant.

As with the other four releases, Buffalo Trace hopes whiskey enthusiasts can continue to rate each whiskey they taste online at www.singleoakproject.com. To date, more than 1700 accounts have been created online, and nearly 1,550 reviews have been given on the four various releases so far.

The whiskey reviews have been tallied and the leading barrel after one year is…. a three way tie!! Barrels #10, 106 and 184 are all tied for first place. With all three of those barrels having different variables, it seems the only thing the three have in common is that the oak was harvested from bottom half of the tree! The other six variables of the leading barrels vary.

“Quite a mixed bag so far,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon brand manager. “It seems the only thing people can agree on so far is that they like bourbon aged in barrels made from the bottom portion of oak trees, opposed to the top half. Good thing we have 3 more years, 144 more barrels, and thousands more reviews to come!”

After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, help Buffalo Trace Distillery create the perfect bourbon!

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first releases hit select stores in 2011. This fifth release will reach stores towards the end of May. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The fifth release is made up of barrel numbers 1, 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113, 129, 145, 161, 177. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated barrel based on online consumer feedback, make more of that product and launch it under the Single Oak Project nameplate.

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

www.ralfy.com takes you on a trip to Speyside with Whisky Review #269 – Cragganmore 12yo (Speyside Region) …. lovely stuff!

The Whisky Shop 

Talisker Isle of Eigg

Talisker Distillery was founded by two brothers from the Isle of Eigg – Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill who has settled on Skye in 1825. The millennium bottling has been prepared for the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust to mark its historic purchase of the Island. Bottled at 60% volume. Click here to read the full article

The Whisky Shop
www.whiskyshop.com

Shackleton

Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt
Limited edition bottling

Special commemorative bottling of a truly unique blended whisky liquid.

Faithful reproduction of the actual Mackinlay’s whisky taken on the ill-fated Shackleton Antarctic expedition to the South pole in 1907.
Presented in a replica bottle and wooden case – just as Shackleton left it.

“The most exciting find of scotch whisky since days began”

Tasting notes:

Colour – Light honey, straw gold with shimmering highlights.

Nose – Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse the senses. The spirit is exciting and vibrant with attractive notes of oak shavings that release hints of buttery vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg. A whisper of marmalade, cinnamon and even a tease of smoke, ginger and muscovado sugar completes this spectrum of delight.

Taste – With a generous strength of 47.3% this gives the spirit plenty of impact on the palate but in a mild warming manner. Harmonious and exhilarating. Whispers of gentle bonfire smoke slowly give way to spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan nuts. These enticing flavours linger lovingly on the palate but are soon combined by a sensual, complex array of creme brulee, orange rind and freshly baked bread. It is a remarkable tapestry of tantalising taste sensations which truly rewards the palate

£97.99 inc VAT

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Hello Fellow WhiskeyLovers – 

An enthusiastic, if somewhat belated, “Happy May Day” to you all.  

As any of you may are probably aware, “May Day” is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night.   Despite considerable time spent in consternation yesterday afternoon, I was unable to find  a finer way to celebrate the day than to raise a glass of whisky…and so I did.

Feeling in the mood for a “local” whiskey, a few moments of thought culminated in my snatching a bottle I acquired this past February when Ian Buxton, in the US for a few distillery visits and Burns Nights, and I hopped in my car and drove a couple of hours north from my home to visit with distillery founder Ralph Erenzo and the team at Tuthilltown Spirits. 

Ian and Ralph and a Chuckle

For those of you not familiar with Tuthilltown, the distillery is located in the exquisitely beautiful Hudson Valley region of  NY state, and was the the first whiskey distillery to open in New York since prohibition. The distillery is located adjacent to the Tuthilltown Gristmill, a 220 year old landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that used waterpower to render local grains to flour.

In 2001 Ralph Erenzo and Vicki Morgan acquired the property and with the help of partner Brian Lee,  converted one of the mill granaries to a micro-distillery.  Two and a half years later, Tuthilltown Spirits produced their first batches of vodka from scraps they collected at a local apple slicing plant.

The distillery now produces a whole range of spirits, from fruits grown at orchards less than 5 miles away and grain harvested by farmers less than 10 miles away, that include a rum and vodka, Baby Bourbon, Manhattan Rye, and of course a Single Malt.  Which brings me to this weeks Whiskey Selection featured whiskey: Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Single Malt Whiskey

Hudson Single Malt Whiskey is made with whole ground malted barley and nothing else and is aged in small new oak casks. The new oak contributes a deeper woody affect to the spirit, and aging this way is a departure from traditional single malt “Scotch”. But what is truly amazing and innovative is the use of sound to expedite the aging process.

The Ceiling and Speakers in the Aging Room

The aging room has four large speakers in the corners.  At night, as Ralph explained to us, they pump a steady stream of the loud, bass-resonating-cask-vibration-causing music into the room. This causes the liquid in the barrels to vibrate and ripple, thereby exposing more liquid to more wood….faster.

The result is single-malt whiskey that is an American reinterpretation of traditional Scottish and Irish whiskies. Bottles at 92 proof, Hudson Single Malt stands up nicely to a splash of water, which releases aroma and softens the spirit on your lips.   Produced in very small batches, Hudson Single Malt is a terrific whisky that should be a proud American addition to your bar.

And with the help of our man Nicky The Neck” – who has a friend who’s got a friend – we’ve been able to acquire a limited quantity of the whiskey at a phenomenal price: Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Single Malt Whiskey for $39.95/ bottle. 

I urge you to give this wonderful American interpretation of single-malt whiskey a try.  You will be very glad you did. 

And until next week…have fun!

Doug StoneFounderForWhiskeyLovers.com 

The Dalmore Constellation Collection Shines Light On The Distillery’s Brightest Stars

The launch of a new collection of the some of world’s rarest single malts has encouraged an even rarer partnership between a duty free retailer, an airport owner and a luxury brand.

The Dalmore has released a collection of its very best whiskies – created at the Highland distillery between the years 1964 and 1992 – through World Duty Free Group’s main tax and duty free store at Heathrow Terminal 5.

The exclusive arrangement lasting four weeks, along with the appeal of the collection, encouraged Heathrow to get involved by offering additional promotional space and allowing the use of the Royal Suite for the launch.

The Dalmore Constellation Collection initially consists of 21 individual expressions, which have spent their lives finessing in the finest casks from around the world before being bottled at natural cask strength and at natural colour.

The plan is to release approximately 20,000 bottles – 4,000 a year – under the Constellation Collection banner.

Prices range from £20,000 RSP for a bottle of the Vintage 1964 to £2,000 for a bottle of Vintage 1992. The entire collection will sell for £158,000 and World Duty Free Group has been allocated two complete collections; all the number 1 bottles from each year and all the number 8 bottles from each year.

QUOTES

The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson

“In selecting these casks, we have identified our brightest stars from our darkest warehouses. Although much has changed since 1964, what has not is the consistency of quality inherent in each and every Dalmore expression. We’re very proud to share the shining lights of our Distillery with whisky lovers the world over.”

Global Head of Liquor & Tobacco for World Duty Free Group, David de Miguel

“The approach taken by The Dalmore to release and market a range of luxury whiskies as a collection which can grow year on year is inspired. We have a fantastic reputation for identifying and selling the finest whisky that money can buy. We are therefore delighted to be an exclusive partner for this prestigious launch, which ensures we are able to give our valued customers first access to this magnificent range.”

Retail Director for Heathrow, Muriel Zingraff

“Heathrow’s Terminal 5 is a renowned premium shopping destination and has become a powerful showcase for the very best in luxury brands. We pride ourselves on being able to offer our customers exclusives and we are very proud to be part of Dalmore’s launch at the airport.”

NOTES

The Dalmore is the third fastest growing malt in the world, and the distillery owns some of the rarest and oldest stocks in Scotland.

Dating back to the days of King Alexander III, The Dalmore gained its iconic 12-point stag emblem in 1263 when one of the Mackenzie clan saved the king from being gored by a stag.

The Dalmore has also adopted a version of the Mackenzie clan motto ‘I Shine Not Burn’, which highlights in a relevant way the brand’s commitment to illuminating the brilliance in everything that it does.

Unlike other whiskies The Dalmore is produced in very limited quantities. Due to the distinctive distillation process no two batches will be exactly the same, ensuring that each release of the The Dalmore is unique.

A bottle of The Dalmore 62 Sinclair sold last year in Changi Airport, Singapore, for £125,000, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold in retail. The first whisky to break the six figure barrier, The Dalmore Trinitas was launched in 2010 with the final bottle acquired by Harrods and subsequently sold for £120,000.

In the last two years The Dalmore has sold a number of rare and precious whiskies in record time. Dalmore’s Sirius peaked at £10,000 a bottle, and with only 10 available worldwide in 2009, the bottles sold out in four days and now change hands for twice that price.

The global whisky market is currently undergoing a significant boom in sales and as part of this growth Dalmore is seeing a real appetite for rare, luxury stocks.

www.worlddutyfree.com www.baa.com

Instructor Jordan Via with students at Stillwater Spirits in Petaluma, CA

Hands-on Whiskey Class: Grain selection, fermentation, distillation, barrel aging, proofing & bottling

Class Includes:

Denver International Airport shuttle to and from Breckenridge
Sunday night welcome BBQ
Five nights lodging in Breckenridge
Breakfasts and lunches
Hands-on instruction with Master Distiller Jordan Via (Monday through Thursday)
Demonstrations and presentations by industry professionals and suppliers
Optional morning walk with ADI President, Bill Owens

-Jordan Via and the staff at the American Distilling Institute

For more information, call Bill Owens at 510-886-7418

Bill’s Warning: consuming alcoholic beverages at high altitude can get you drunk fast, so limit your drinks to 1 per hour. Bottom’s up!

Location: Breckenridge Distillery, Breckenridge, CO

Dates: Sunday, June 3 through Friday, June 8, 2012

Sign up today!

Send a check for $35,00 to:

ADI
Box 577
Hayward, CA 94541

or… visit distilling.com to pay online

Glen Garioch, Single Malt Scotch Tasting on Tuesday, May 15th: you’re invited!

Join us for a vertical tasting of Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch (with cheese pairings) hosted by Morrison Bowmore Distillers and directed by Master of Malts Iain McCallum.

The tasting will include Founder’s Reserve, 12 years old and three special vintages: 1994 Small Batch Release, 1997 Single cask exclusive to Park Avenue Liquor Shop and 1998 Single cask exclusive to Astor Wines and Spirits. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Please RSVP by May 10th to Ashley@savonacommunications.com